Lagoonies The Under The Sea Search Game #Giveaway

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Wild Republic Huggers Plush Pets Hug You Back #Giveaway

Kids love huggable, plush friends. How about a lovable, cuddly plush animal who hugs you back? Well, Wild Republic’s Huggers Pets do just that.

These soft, cute, stuffed animals will wrap their arms or wings around your wrist, backpack, ankle, doorknob and more. These detailed stuffed friends conform to your wrist or whatever, so one size fits all!!! Huggers come in so many different kinds of animals, they are all so cute, you will want to collect them all.

Huggers make great gifts & kids love them! it’s like having a stuffed animal, and an awesome bracelet in one! everyone loves hugs! We like them so much, they were added to our 2017 Holiday Gift Guide. 

Giveaway:

Wild Republic is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win 2 Random Wild Republic Huggers Plush Pets! Thank you to Wild Republic for the review Huggers and for sponsoring this amazing giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.

2 Wild Republic Huggers Plush Pets Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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Techno Gears Marble Mania Extreme 4.0 -Video Review & #Giveaway

 

Marble Run Toys are so exciting and fun! Techno Gears Marble Mania Extreme 4.0 is jam-packed with fun and excitement in every piece! With over 200 pieces, this set creates marble runs like never-before with 3-D connectors, channels, a motorized power lifter and much more! The possibilities are endless with so many ways to build and “Power Up” hundreds of marble run designs! Requires two “AA” batteries (not included).  Ages 6+ years

This is something we had to show you in a video, you can watch our video review below:

 

We added this to our 2017 Gift Guide because it is a fun and exciting toy for older kids. We love that it is a STEM based building toy.  We are also happy to announce that we are running a giveaway for a Techno Gears Marble Mania Extreme 4.0. Enter below for your chance to win.

Giveaway:

The Learning Journey is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win a Techno Gears Marble Mania Extreme 4.0 ! Thank you to The Learning Journey for the review Marble Mania Extreme 4.0 and for sponsoring this amazing giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.

Techno Gears Marble Mania Extreme 4.0 Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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Italian Ricotta Cookies – Full Recipe and Video Tutorial

If you are looking for a tender, cake-like cookie that is not too sweet, but has a delightful lemon flavor that makes it perfect to pair with coffee or tea, this Italian Ricotta Cookie recipe will be one you want to try. These cookies are always a hit at our house. I even made 2 batches during Christmas in order to have some for my daughter to take back with her.

They are such a festive looking cookie to bake during Christmas and New Year’s, but you can make them any time of year. If you want, you can tint the icing with food coloring.  Some people like to tint it red or green for Christmas. You could tint it pink or blue for baby showers or gender reveal parties as well. I prefer white and just change the colors of the nonpareils or sugar sprinkles I use if I want to make them a bit different.

 

 

It is very important to use whole milk ricotta when baking these cookies, part skim does not taste the same. Also, be sure to cool the cookies on cooling racks before icing them. Never frost a hot or warm cookie. The recipe says to chill the dough, but if you are pressed for time, I have made them without chilling the dough and they came out fine.

Italian Ricotta Cookies

Ingredients

  • Ingredients For Dough
  • I cup of softened butter
  • 2 cups of sugar
  • 1 ¾ cups (15 oz) of whole milk ricotta cheese
  • Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
  • 2-1/2 tsp of pure vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs
  • 4 cups of flour
  • 2 tsp of baking soda
  • 3/4 tsp of sea salt
  • Ingredients For Icing
  • 1 tbs of melted butter
  • 1-1/2 tsp of pure vanilla extract
  • 4 cups of confectioners’ sugar
  • Juice of one lemon
  • 1/4 to 1/2 cup of milk (use as needed to think icing to correct consistency)

Instructions

  1. Cream the 2 sticks of butter with sugar until fluffy with electric mixer. Add ricotta, lemon zest, vanilla extract and mix well. Add in eggs, one at a time. Scrape sides of bowl and then begin to slowly mix in flour, one cup at a time. Add baking soda and salt and mix until blended. If you want you can chill dough for several hours or overnight. You can also bake immediately.
  2. Scoop with a cookie scoop and place about 2" apart onto a non-stick baking sheet liner or parchment paper. Bake cookies at 350 degrees F. for 15 minutes or until golden brown on the bottom. Remove cookies and let cool on wire rack.
  3. To make icing, melt 1 tablespoon of butter and whisk into the confectioners sugar with lemon juice, add enough milk to make a spreadable icing. Using an offset spatula or butter knife, spread icing onto top of cookies and sprinkle with sprinkles, nonpareils, decorative sugar or other decors. Let cookies set until icing is hard.
https://www.mommyramblings.org/2017/12/29/italian-ricotta-cookies-full-recipe-and-video-tutorial/

Watch my complete baking tutorial video for these cookies below.

 

Please let me know if you try them and what you think.

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Mini Cupcake Surprise Dolls -Little, Sweet & Don’t Cause Cavities #Giveaway

Mini Cupcake Surprise Dolls transform from  festive decorated miniature cupcakes into beautiful mini princess dolls.  The dolls are available in 12 styles with 6 different scents including: chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, grape, chocolate, lemon and caramel.

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These dolls are so sweet and fun we added them to our 2017 Holiday Gift Guide. They make perfect stocking stuffers!!!

Emco is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win 2 Mini Cupcake Surprise Dolls! Thank you to Emco for the review dolls and for sponsoring this sweet giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.

Mini Cupcake Surprise Dolls Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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Easy and Delicious Mini Cheesecake Recipe

I have been making these mini cheesecakes for my family for over 20 years. If I didn’t make them, my kids would be crushed, because it is one of my traditional dessert recipes that I bake for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve, New Years Day, Easter and other special occasions.

They are very easy to make, and they are such a hit because you can top them several different ways which makes them even more appealing. If you are looking for a mini cheesecake recipe that is easy and delicious, you found it! This tried and true recipe is posted for you below.

 

This recipe is supposed to make 18 mini cheesecakes, but there is always enough filling for a few more, so I add the crumb mixture to 3 or 4 additional, lined muffin cups. I hope you give this recipe a try,  I think you will really like them.

Mini Cheesecakes

Mini Cheesecakes

Mini Cheesecakes

Ingredients

  • • 1-1/2 Cups of Graham Cracker Crumbs
  • • 5 Tbsp. Melted Butter
  • • 3 Softened 8 Ounce Packages of Softened PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese
  • • 3/4 Cup of Sugar
  • • 2 Tsp. of Pure Vanilla Extract
  • • Zest of 1 Fresh Lemon
  • • Fresh Lemon Juice (I use the juice from ½ of the lemon)
  • • 3 Large Eggs

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325°F.
  2. Mix graham cracker crumbs and butter; press evenly onto bottoms of 18 lined muffin cups. I always have enough mixture for more than 18 cheesecakes so I put the mixture into at least 21 lined muffin cups. Put these into the oven for 5 minutes or until lightly golden brown.
  3. Raise oven temperature to 350°F.
  4. Beat cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, lemon zest and lemon juice in large bowl with mixer until well blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Fill your muffin cups about 3/4 of the way with this mixture.
  5. Bake 20 min. or until center is almost set. Cool completely. Refrigerate 3 hours.
  6. Before Serving top each cheesecake with about a tablespoon of the pie topping. You could also top with whipped cream and fresh berries, fruit preserves or jam.
https://www.mommyramblings.org/2017/12/27/mini-cheesecake-recipe/

 

Let me know what you think if you try this recipe.


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Filed under Baking, Cooking, Home & Garden, Recipes

Express Your Creative Side with Clickformers #Giveaway

In the past, we have told you how much we love Magformers. This year we were asked to review another construction toy that is made by the same company. This new construction toy clicks together to make many different creations and is called Clickformers.

Clickformers are very secure when clicked together properly. In fact, the only issue we have with them is that they can be a challenge to unclick. You can purchase Clickformers in sets that include wheels and colorful pieces of different shapes and sizes to build something from the booklet or your own unique design.

We have Clickformers on our 2017 Holiday Gift Guide at Mommy Ramblings. You can also enter the giveaway to win a 50 piece set of Clickformers below.

Clickformers is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win a 50 Piece Basic Clicformers Set! Thank you to Clickformers for the review set and for sponsoring this amazing giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.

Clickformers 50 Piece Set Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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Inspiring Creative Kids with Creativity For Kids Art Kits & Products – #Giveaway

We love drawing, painting and sketching. My kids always have too! Our 10-year-old will draw his favorite super heroes for hours. His drawings are quite good, and we encourage our childrens’ creativity by providing them with all kinds of paper, easels, paint, pencils and more. That is why I was thrilled to check out some art kits and watercolor pencil sets from Creativity For Kids by Faber Castell. 

GRIP Watercolor Colored EcoPencils

These pencils are perfect for older children, they feature an ergonomic triangular barrel and patented Soft-Grip zone. This ensures fatigue-free and comfortable drawing. The high pigmentation in the lead makes colors very vivid. The water-soluble pigments give fantastic results: simply draw your picture then apply water to a paintbrush to create beautiful watercolor images. These Watercolor EcoPencils are a winner of the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award.
Pencil Features:
  • Watercolor paint is in the pencil! Smooth colors that dissolve instantly with water
  • Made from re-forested wood, 24 artist-quality, vibrant colors blend easily
  • More pigment for richer color lay down
  • Easy to hold triangular shape with a unique “Soft-GRIP-Zone” for a secure hold and ergonomic grip
  • Leads are glued the entire length of the barrel and will not fall out
  • Easy to sharpen in any standard sharpener
  • Paint brush included
  • Non-toxic, conforms to ASTM D-4236

The pencils colored so effortlessly and smoothly while the GRIP-Zone provided secure handling which worked especially well, when coloring in narrow lines, and other small detail areas. Using a bit of water on the paint brush, we could create a watercolor paint effect to our designs.

Do Art Drawing & Sketching Kit

This set is ideal for beginning artists. The kit includes quality art materials and step-by-step illustrated project instructions. 

The four Graphite Pencils vary in lead density and the book explains when to use each one. Kit also contains 2 Black Ink pens with varying point sizes, a 24 page Sketchbook, Colored Paper, Tracing Paper, a 20-Page Instruction Booklet, Copy Grid, Pencil Sharpener, Eraser and Clear Zippered Pencil Pouch.

The booklet is very easy to follow and explains art concepts and techniques in terms and images that kids can easily see and understand.

Do Art Watercolor Pencil Art

The Watercolor Pencil Art Kit is another beginning art kit with quality art materials and step-by-step illustrated instruction booklet. This kit teaches children to paint with Watercolor EcoPencils and explains the techniques in words and images they can clearly understand and see.

The kit includes 10 Watercolor Pencils, Clear Zippered Pouch, 24 Page Watercolor Paper Pad, 20-Page Instruction Booklet, Pencil Sharpener and Paintbrush.

We love these products so much, you will find them on Mommy Ramblings’ Holiday Gift Guide.

Giveaway:

Creativity For Kids is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win All Three Creativity For Kids Products and Kits Shown Above! Thank you to Creativity For Kids for the review art kits and products and for sponsoring this amazing giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.

Creativity For Kids Art Kits & GRIP Watercolor Pencil Set Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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Save on Red Baron® Deep Dish Single Serve Pizza at Sam’s Club with this Ibotta Offer #RedBaronHolidaySavings

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, INC. and its advertiser, all opinions are mine alone. #RedBaronHolidaySavings #CollectiveBias

Running around getting everything done before the holidays can be hectic. Thank goodness I can pick up Red Baron® Deep Dish Single Serve Pizza at Sam’s Club. The single serving size gives us the flexibility we need these days. That means less stress, and that is always a wonderful thing.

Craving a delicious, deep dish fix for dinner? Looking to save you and your family time and money during this busy holiday season? Pick up Red Baron® Deep Dish Single Serve Pizza from your local Sam’s Club! Don’t miss this great Ibotta offer! When you buy Red Baron® Deep Dish Pizzas at Sam’s Club, you will earn $2.50! *Offer available through 12/31/17.


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How Do You Take Care of Hardwood Floors?

Those who embrace the green lifestyle know the value of wood in building sustainable homes. Wood provides good insulation—400 times more effective than steel is—because of its air pockets. This means you don’t have to spend money on synthetic insulators, which can cost more and may be made using materials that are not naturally biodegradable or renewable.

Reducing carbon footprint is one of the main goals to avoid climate change. Wood contributes to that reduction by storing carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, from the atmosphere and releasing oxygen instead. Carbon is then absorbed and used in the tree’s leaves or roots.

Hardwood flooring exudes a timelessness and sophistication that other kinds of flooring may not be able to imitate. More than that, though, wood is sturdy, lasting for a long time when taken care of properly.

How do you care for and maintain hardwood floors then? You may have your own system for doing that, but there are correct cleaning practices to follow. Aside from that, you should use durable microfiber mops and organic cleaners. The usual cleaning agents may contain toxic chemicals or irresponsibly sourced materials.

Read this infographic for suggestions on how to clean hardwood floors and what kind of cleaning you should do at certain periods. When you’ve finished reading that guide, you make sure that cleaning the floor consistently becomes part of your housekeeping activities.

The journey to a green lifestyle starts with using sustainable materials, like hardwood, and avoiding waste. When you have good cleaning habits for your hardwood floors, you are making a step toward this environment-conscious way of life.

This is a sponsored guest post that does not necessarily represent the views or ideals of Mommy Ramblings.


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