Healthy Snack: Funky Monkey

Disclaimer: I have received free product and samples from Funky Monkey.

Have you heard of Funky Monkey Snacks?

These are healthy snacks for kids and parents alike – they are gluten-free, sugar-free and preservative free – nothing but three servings of fruit in each bag. Funky Monkey has just released three new flavors to check out: Applemon, Pink Pineapple and MangOJ.

Moms, don't fret...The snacks are perfect for those on the go and are a healthy alternative to chips or candy.

Funky Monkey Snacks are a more nutritious and natural alternative to dried fruit, which does not preserve all the nutrients of fresh fruit, or fruit snacks that can contain added sugars, colors and preservatives.

Citrus Bowl Parade: Geaux Tigers!

LSU is playing in the Citrus Bowl (or Capital One Bowl I guess!) this week. I brought the kids to the parade today. It was so much fun!

I love all the floats assembled from citrus. This was my favorite:

Baking at Christmas

The kids wanted to bake Santa a cake!

Yum, chocolate Santa hugging a candy cane. Chocolate dipped pretzel rods!

Christmas at Disney's Beach Club Resort

Is this not impressive? It is Disney's Beach Club Gingerbread Carousel Display! Yup, it's all edible. Yum! If you want to see more check out HGTV's Behind the Magic: Disney Holiday show!

We will miss you Kelly!

Our babysitter for three years just finished college and is moving! We are so sad. The kids love her so much. To celebrate her graduation, we brought her to Disney's Epcot with us yesterday for one last day of fun!

WordFUL Wednesday: Video

Princess Mimi's class sang "Frosty the Snowman" today. It was so stinking cute! This is a 55-second video of the performance!

Christmas Morning Menu

So, what do you serve on Christmas morning? The past two years I have done a cinnamon monkey bread for the kids. (They love it!) I throw it in the oven after we open our stockings, before heading to the gifts. I put it on a big platter in the middle of the living room and everyone can "dig in"!

After gifts our open, I usually throw a breakfast casserole in the oven (which I make the night before and refrigerate) and mix up mimosas for hubby and I. As the kids play with their toys, we try to sneak in a few minutes to exchange our gifts.

Do you have any recipes that you make on Christmas morning?

But everyone is doing it (I think not!)

It's been really interesting talking to friends about the Tiger Woods news. Personally, I was in shock!! I did not see it coming. I bought in to the pictures of the "perfect family". My heart aches for Tiger's beautiful wife, Ellin. I can't image the pain she must be feeling. I can't imagine how she can ever trust (or love) him again.

Many of my other friends have the attitude, "it doesn't surprise me since affairs are so common!"

I won't buy into that. Maybe I am naive. Maybe I am blind.

But I have a wonderful, loving husband and I believe in the commitment of marriage, especially one made in a Church under the witness of God. I don't believe affairs are common and I surely don't believe they are acceptable just because they are so common today (what an excuse).

What are your thoughts?

Attention (Online) Shoppers

Bookmark this site: http://www.freeshipping.org/! It lists hundreds of stores offering free shipping along with shipping promo codes. If you're a bargain shopper likeme, you're gonna love it! Happy shopping.

More "quick and easy" recipes

Here are two easy, healthy, and affordable recipes for busy moms!

Chicken & Vegetable Bake

Not only is this recipe delicious and easy, it's affordable coming in at less than$10.00 for a dinner of four. You can't beat that!

http://www.campbellkitchen.com/RecipeDetail.aspx?recipeId=24242

Chicken Pot Pie

This recipe is one of the most popular from the Campbell's Kitchen. Kids andgrown-ups just love this hot, comforting dinner. http://www.campbellkitchen.com/RecipeDetail.aspx?recipeId=25510

Movie: The Young Victoria

Do you need a break from the holiday hussle and bussle? Try a movie!...(Opens December 18)

In The Young Victoria, Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada) delivers an incredibly compelling performance as Queen Victoria in the turbulent first years of her reign. Rupert Friend (Pride & Prejudice) portrays Prince Albert, the suitor who wins her heart and becomes her partner in one of history’s greatest romances. This love story, set amongst all the intrigue of the court, also features Paul Bettany (Iron Man, The Da Vinci Code), Miranda Richardson (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire), Jim Broadbent (The Damned United, The Chronicles of Narnia), Thomas Kretschmann (Valkyrie), and Mark Strong (Sherlock Holmes, Tristan & Isolde).

Yum, Tyson’s new Any’tizers

I received free product from Tyson to sample, in return for a blog post. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hey moms, You know those nights you are just too tired too cook!? Perhaps you had a long day at work or busy with your Holiday shopping? Well, keep a bag of Tyson's new Chicken Breast Chunks with Spicy Sweet and Sour Sauce in your freezer and you can have a great meal in no time! (Add a side of white rice or noodles for a complete meal).

So pick up a bag this week....it's the holidays, and you never know when guests will stop by! It's great to have an appetizer you can bake in minutes!

As an afternoon snack, my kids love the Tyson Chicken Fries! (They have a little more flavor/spice then the original Tyson chicken nuggets).

Not only do these two Tyson products taste great, but they are made with the highest quality boneless chicken chunks and contain no MSG, soy protein or fillers!! (As a migraine sufferer and a concerned mom I watch carefully for MSG-free products!)

For more information on the new Tyson® Any'tizers® varieties with Sauce and Stir™ sauce packets, visit http://www.tyson.com/.

CONTEST: The first three people to comment on THIS POST will receive a coupon for a FREE box or bag of any Tyson Frozen Breaded Chicken! ($10 value)

Videos: The kids singing Christmas Carols

New comforter set

We had to put our cat down recently. (Poor hubby had her for 15 years, wow!) Well we had been waiting until her passing to get a new comforter, and today was the day! It was originally $200 but with sales and coupons, I got it down to $84.99...and then had a $50 gift card. I paid $41.50 for the comforter, dust ruffle, two shams and three decorative pillows! I love a good sale!

Christmas Lights at Hollywood Studios

We took the kids to see the Osborne Family Christmas Lights at Disney's Hollywood Studios tonight. We got them each a small Santa Mickey and Minnie! Trying to catch "snow" (soap bubbles)

We had pizza at "Pizza Planet" (inspired by Toy Story)I love the Christmas-themed cups and popcorn containers! Mimi did too!

Lights at Disney Tonight (Video)

If you have never seen the "Dancing Lights" at Hollywood Studios, it is SPECTACULAR! Here's a quick little video I shot tonight at Disney.

Disney Characters!

We haven't been to Disney since April! wow. So this afternoon I loaded up the kids and went out to Hollywood Studios to see the Christmas lights. Of course, my two just LOVE the Characters...

Dear Weather Channel

Dear Weather Channel,

For years I relied on you for my daily forecasts, but lately I am losing respect and trust in your channel.

A few weeks back, I turned to you to get the current temperature, but instead saw over three hours of coverage on "balloon boy".

Last week, before getting on the Interstate for a long drive, I turned to you for a forecast only to see "March of the Penguins" on your station!

I can turn to MSNBC or CNN to get breaking news. And if I want to see a movie, I can turn to HBO.

Please stick with the weather.

Thank you!