Did you hear? Barbie is leaving Malibu! Yes, that’s right. She’s fed up with Ken and she’s hitting the road (kidding of course!). She’s touring 13 different cities in search of a new home. That means the Barbie is Moving Tour is coming to Chicago on June 21-23. All families are invited to come out and experience the Barbie is Moving mobile tour!

Young (and old) fans will get to experience Barbie like they never have before. They will receive an all-access, free pass to the “best of” Barbie, including:

• A fashion runway experience (complete with photo opps)
• Mega Bloks Barbie play area where girls can build, design and decorate their own mini Barbie room
• Fashion design area where each girl can create, customize their own Barbie outfit to take home

And be able to enter for a chance to win super-luxe prizes including:

• The ultimate bedroom makeover by a Mattel designer
• The new Barbie Dreamhouse

Growing up, I wasn’t a huge Barbie fan. But then I remember being introduced to them at a friends house. She had it all. Ken, the Dream House, the fancy schmancy car… And then I realized that Barbie was more than just a doll you could dress, she had accessories! My daughter has been a fan of them every since she saw her first Barbie at her friend’s house. Just the other day she told me Babes (her baby doll) needed new friends. Well, Babes is going to be ecstatic that Barbie is considering a move to Chicago! Now we just have to convince Barbie that a move to Chicago is what she needs….

Top 5 Reason Why Barbie Should Move To Chicago

Why would Barbie want to move to Chicago? Well, let’s see….

1. Croughnuts. If you haven’t heard of croughnuts get out of bed early and head of to Gur Sweets Bakery in Elmhurst to snag a delicious croughnut before they sale out! I know Barbie watches her weight and all but even she can’t resist a piece of flakey goodness.
2. Chicago Style Pizza. Forget about those thin crust pizzas! Barbie will be head over heels in love with our thick and saucy Chicago style pizza from such Chicago treasures such as Giordanos and Gino’s.
3. Italian Beef. Big Al’s. Do I need to say more?
4. North Avenue Beach. After Barbie gets done eating all that food, she’ll want to work out at one of the best strips of beach on the lake. North Avenue Beach will keep Barbie in shape as she jogs and walks with the best of them.
5. Michigan Avenue. We all know that Barbie likes to shop. Where else can she get everything she needs in one short mile?

The Barbie is Moving mobile tour will stop in Chicago on Friday, June 21 11-3 pm at the Toys “R” Us in Niles, Saturday, June 22 11-3 pm at the Wal-Mart in Rolling Meadows and Sunday, June 23 11-3 pm at the Kmart on S. Kedzie in Chicago. We’ll be at the Rolling Meadows store so come out and join us!

As a Cascade #MyPlatinum ambassador I have to do a LOT of hard work,  I have to cook yummy recipes created by the amazing Gail Simmons and then write about them. Woe is me. 

Because I’m a doughnut girl, I thought I’d try out Gail’s Sugared Doughnut Holes with Raspberry Compote and Caramel. Only I had one little problem. I didn’t have enough vegetable oil to fry the doughnuts. And because gas is RIDICULOUSLY expensive right now, I’m trying to do all my errands at one time. So I did the second best thing, I put on my workout shoes and walked over to a doughnut shop not far from my house.

These bad boys were delicious. I drizzled the homemade raspberry compote on doughnut and the caramel on the other but to my surprise, what tasted the best was the combination of the two sauces. Trust me, you should try it.

Did you also notice how bright and shiny my serving platter is? Doesn’t it make those doughnuts look even more delicious? I owe it all to the Cascade Platinum Pacs I’ve been using. I’m purposely not rinsing my dishes (it’s a hard habit to break) and I haven’t been disappointed yet. My dishes come out sparkling and instead of looking at every single piece to make sure they are clean, I just put them away. Talk about a time-saver! I don’t have to worry about someone pulling a glass out of the cabinet with water spots or, egads, stuck-on food! My dishes come out clean every time.

The #MyPlatinum Instagram contest is still going on so make sure you tag your entries  with @MyCascade and the #MyPlatinum hashtag. The grand prize winner receives a platinum kitchen makeover! Will it be you?

You can also check out these other great recipes from Gail Simmons!

• Bumbleberry Summer Sundae via Formula Mom

What is the one thing you would like to change about your kitchen?

My daughter is the 2nd from the right, wearing her favorite purple shirt.

Last year we found out that her school would be closing so there was no doubt in my mind that I would attend her last school field trip. This wasn’t the last trip of the school year, it was the last trip for the school forever. When the permission slips came home and clearly stated, “all parents are welcome to attend,” I immediately emailed her teacher to let her know I would be there. Being a working outside the home mom (is there an acronym for that?) it was difficult to attend her field trips. They were either during the middle of the day or at a time where I had “important” meetings scheduled. You know the kind, the ones that are important to someone else.

Brecken and her besties.

After five minutes of being with my daughter and her friends, I realized that I had been missing out on something much more important than those meetings. I missed out on the opportunity to see my daughter in her own element. I learned that she and her best friend have a love/hate relationship. They share the same favorite color, they both want to make each other happy and for whatever reason, they both had to hold my right hand. Just like little girls do, they were making each other cry one minute (the whole right hand thing) and the next, they were hugging and talking about who was going to sit by the window on the bus ride home.

I think these kids are awkward stretching!

As the day came to an end, I gave Brecken the option of riding home with me or going back to school with her friends. She chose going with her friends and I’m glad she did. It was another opportunity for her to spend time with her friends doing what 3 and 4 year olds do. Since school has ended, she hasn’t seen any of her friends. She misses them. Heck, I miss them.

Next month is her best friend’s birthday party and it may be the last time she sees her. Next year they are going to different schools. Even though we’ve said we’ll try to get the girls together this summer, I suspect it won’t happen like we hope. Lives are busy, we’ll be moving soon and the list goes on. But, just like the rest of the friends we’ve moved away from over the past few years, we’ll keep in touch via social media and Brecken will make new friends. The biggest difference? I won’t miss out on it this time.

I remember the day I received a Facebook friend request, from my 9-year old nephew. At first I thought someone had created an account in his name, after all, he was only 9-years old. After confirming with his dad that it was actually my nephew and he really did approve of him having a Facebook account, I accepted his request but ever since then, I worry about his safety online. He’s a kid. An innocent 9-year old kid that has a social media account and really doesn’t understand what kind of responsibility that entails.

The Facts

My nephew? He’s one of more than 5 million kids under the age of 10 who have a Facebook account. That’s a big number to comprehend. What’s even more mind-blowing is that 1 in 3 teenagers have been a victim of cyber bullying and only 7% of parents are concerned about their children being cyber-bullied. As parents, we’re a bit clueless as to what is going on out there in cyberland. The numbers don’t lie and that’s why it’s important for parents to be even more vigilant in educating their children about being safe and responsible online.

How To Become A Cyber Smart Parent

1. Be friends with your child on whatever social networks they use. This allows you the ability to see what they are posting and how they interact with others online.
2. Have conversations with your child about internet safety. There is no magic number but make sure you are having regular conversations with your child.
3. Google your child’s name. I just googled my step-son’s name and low and behold, some of his tweets in his Twitter feed came up. Make sure you set their social networking privacy levels appropriately.
4. Check your child’s phone. Did you know the average teen sends over 1600 texts per month?! By checking their phone you’ll know who they are talking to and what they are saying.
5. Check the privacy settings on Facebook. Is your child’s profile set to public, friends/friends of friends or custom? Remember, Facebook updates their platform frequently, make sure you verify your child’s privacy settings didn’t change.
6. Learn more about the social media world. It’s hard to monitor something if you don’t truly understand it. Don’t worry, organizations such as the Boys and Girls Clubs of America are here to help you! Use their resources at CyberSafeFutures.org to learn more about internet safety for teens.

Do you know anyone who has been a victim of cyber bullying?

Peach season is here! That means that everywhere you turn juicy, ripe peaches are going to be staring at you. And if you’re like me and shop at Costco, you might have waay too many peaches go ripe at the same time and need something to do with them.

Am I right?

Well you’re in luck! Because we’ve rounded up some amazingly delicious and awesome recipes that will help you use up all of those ripe peaches!

10 Awesome Peach Recipes

1. Peach Upside Down Cake – this delicious cake from the Simmworks Family Blog is a twist on your classic pineapple upside down cake, this delicious dessert is perfect for your next barbecue! Simple to make and even a little healthy (shhh! Don’t tell Dad!). You can find the full recipe here.

2. Peach Turnovers – Looking for a simple and quick way to serve up a delicious breakfast? Why not pair Del Monte peaches and pie crust for a yummy turnover! Staci of 7 on a Shoestring shows us how with her Peach Turnover recipe.

3. Peach Julius – In need of a little refreshment? Try this Peach Julius from Around My Family Table and enjoy the flavor burst of a summer favorite. It’s the perfect smoothie to serve to guest coming over for a nice backyard dinner.

4. Peach Shortcake – Another perfect way to make a deliciously tasty treat for the kids at dessert time, Formula Mom takes a light and fluffy store bought shortcake and adds some diced peaches and cream to the top making a simple Peach Shortcake.

5. Peach Dump Cake – It can’t get any simpler than this. Cake mix, peaches, buttery spread, and cornstarch. What do you get when you mix all of these ingredients? A Peach Dump Cake! See how Long Wait for Isabella shows us how to make a tasty cake with only 4 ingredients!

6. Peach & Yogurt Granola Parfait – You can’t get more basic than a Peach & Yogurt parfait for breakfast. The delicious creaminess of the yogurt pairs perfectly with the peaches. And topped with the granola it’s the perfect way to wake up the senses in the morning.

7. Overnight Baked French Toast with Peaches – Having summer guests overnight? Try this overnight baked french toast recipe made with peaches and they’re sure to want to keep coming back! It’s the great make-ahead breakfast that you put together the night before.

8. Peach Pinwheels – Now for a healthy and tasty snack for the kids this summer! These Peach Pinwheels are the perfect thing to roll up for snacks at the beach or the park. And they’d make a perfect addition to any party spread.

9. Peach & Prosciutto Pizza – Pizza has it’s own food group in our home. So when I saw fresh fruit on a pizza I knew I had to check it out! This Peach & Prosciutto Pizza from In The Know Mom looks absolutely to die for! And how impressive would it be to serve to guests? Definitely have this on my must-make list this summer!

10. Farm Fresh Peach Cobbler – Ahhh… the classic peach cobbler. You can do no wrong with this dish. Rural Mom did it all sorts of right in her farm fresh take on this peach cobbler recipe. Especially since she used Bisquick in the mix!

How do you enjoy your peaches?

One of the perks about moving back to the midwest is getting to spend time with my nephew. While he’ll always be a little kid to me, I’m starting to see how he’s growing up. He no longer rides a scooter, he rides a pocket motorcycle. He doesn’t play with toys, he likes to build things. So instead of our usual games, I thought it would be fun to get him outside and build a raised bed planter.

I’ve been wanting to teach the kids where food actually comes from. Living in the midwest, there are farms all around us but much to the disbelief of many of my non-midwestern friends, I did not grow up on a farm! Growing up my grandmother grew every kind of fruit and vegetable imaginable but it was in a plot in her backyard. Knowing that my dad wouldn’t let us till up his yard, my brother and I decided we could start Tanner small with just a few plants and if that went well, they’d plant more.

The boys were having a great time building (and I had a great time “supervising”) and then the rain came. And our project had to be postponed until the next day. That gave my daughter and I time to run to Sam’s Club and pick up some some Tyson Chicken Fries. I had promised the boys I would make them lunch and decided to try out a new recipe on them.

The rain held off the next day so we were able to finish the planter. For having no plans, it turned out pretty good! Brecken and Tanner enjoyed mixing the top soil and compost and actually planting the plants. For me, it was nice to do something that didn’t involve electronics for once. I was able to spend some time with my favorite kids doing an activity that they will both remember.

And as promised, I made everyone lunch. I wanted to do something simple but a little bit different than what the kids were used to eating. Because every likes cheese and marinara sauce, it only made sense to make a chicken parmesan sandwich.

The sandwich was really easy to make using the Tyson Chicken Fries. After toasting the buns under the broiler for a few minutes, I cooked the chicken fries according to the package directions. While the chicken fries cooked, I began to prep the sandwiches. On one side of the bun I put a thin layer of marinara sauce (so the bread wouldn’t get soggy) and once the chicken fries were done, I put about 4-5 on top of the marinara sauce and then added a few slices of cheese.

The sandwiches went back under the broiler for just a few minutes, just enough to melt the cheese. Make sure to watch this carefully as my first batch burned just a bit. Once you pull them out of the oven, add some more marinara sauce and serve!

The sandwiches were a hit. The planter was a success. And look, I even got a picture of my nephew and his dad with a slight smile. Complete success!

 Stay Social

Follow Tyson on Twitter (follow hashtag #ChickenFryTime) and Facebook (where you’ll soon get to enter to win free Six Flags tickets for your next family vacation).

Summertime means sleeping in late, lazy days at the pool and taking in all the summer blockbusters. My step-son is a movie buff. When he was younger, we took him to see many movies because it was something the entire family enjoyed doing. Living in Wichita it was hard not to be a fan of going to the movies because of the big, beautiful Warren theaters. Now that he’s older I don’t get to spend as much time with him but I can bet money that he’s seen or will see the majority of these movies. Here are 5 movies to see with your teenage son (or step-son).

1. Iron Man 3

In my humble opinion, this is the BEST Iron Man movie of the trilogy. Pepper Pots kicks some butt in this movie and Tony Stark is his usual, sarcastic self. There are twists and turns that you’d never expect.

2. Fast and The Furious 6

I honestly didn’t even know there were a Fast and the Furious 3-5 but had I known, I would have watched them just for the action. And Vin Diesel. And Paul Walker.

3. World War Z

Brad Pitt and zombies. Need I say more? While I don’t get the whole zombie craze, I can see how this movie would appeal to most teenage boys. If zombies ruled the world…

4. The Lone Ranger

Starring Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer, this classic television show gets an updated look.

5. Man of Steel

Teenage boys love movies about comic book heros and Man of Steel will be no different. In this version, Clark Kent, played by Harry Cavill, is forced to confront his secret extraterrestrial heritage when Earth is invaded by members of his race.

For the first time ever, tickets to the EXCLUSIVE pre-screening of Man of Steel on June 13th are available only at Walmart! The pre-screening will be shown at specified theatres at 7PM. Tickets can be purchased at any Walmart in the Electronics Department and include an exclusive digital comic book written by David S. Goyer, writer of Man of Steel, as well as an exclusive opportunity to pre-order an HD digital download or Blu-Ray copy of the film.

How cool is it that you pick your tickets up at Walmart? I mean, for me, I’m there shopping for random items anyway. It only takes a few minutes to swing over to the electronics section and purchase the tickets. I personally think if my step-son had to spend some quality time with me, he’d much rather see a pre-screening of Man of Steel vs. shopping clothes.

Purchase tickets to the exclusive pre-screening of Man of Steel [PG-13] on June 13th, 2013 at 7 PM at your local Walmart! Tickets can be purchased in the Electronics Department and include an exclusive digital comic book written by David S. Goyer, author of “Man of Steel”, as well as an exclusive opportunity to pre-order an HD digital download or Blu-Ray copy of the film.

• Go to your local Walmart
• Visit the electronics department
• Purchase your EXCLUSIVE Man of Steel prescreening tickets (available in 2D or 3D)
• Take your family to the theater location noted on your ticket and watch the EXCLUSIVE 7 p.m. premiere of Man of Steel on June 13th!

Learn more here!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Warner Bros.

 

I’ve never been a morning person. Never. I’m the person who hits the snooze button at least two times and waits until the very last minute to roll out of bed. That’s why having a morning routine that will get me out the door quickly is so important. Over the years I’ve learned a trick or two on how to maximize your time in the morning and today I’m sharing them with you! Here are 5 ways to get ready faster in the morning.

1. Pick out your clothes the night before. Do you remember in elementary school when your mom would pick out all of your clothes for the week? Well, the entire week is a bit hard since the weather changes hourly around here but the night before, decide what you’re going to wear. I always wake up feeling thinner than when I went to bed so how my clothes fit in the morning is not a factor. Check the weather report and pick accordingly. Don’t forget accessories and shoes!
2. Pack your bag(s). Make your lunch, pack your briefcase and do whatever else you need to the night before. Make sure your bags are sitting in a place where you will easily see them in the morning. Nothing is worse than getting to your car or the train and realizing you forgot your lunch! Do this for the kids as well. Make them pack everything they need for next day’s activities so you’re not scrambling that morning.
3. Get up at the same time every morning. Now, I will admit this is a difficult one for me. When I worked outside the home it was a bit easier since I had to be at work the same time every day. But now that I work from home? DIFFICULT! But, for me, I have two dogs with bladders that can’t wait so I try to get up at the same time every day. Our brief morning walk gets all of us going.
4. Check your email AFTER you get ready. This is probably my biggest downfall. Before I even put my contacts on my eyes, I’m going through my email accounts to see what things have happened overnight. 90% of the time there isn’t anything that needs my immediate attention but I feel I need to respond. Your email account can wait. If someone really need to get in contact with you, they’d call.
5. Have a morning beauty routine. This is so important! Having all your beauty basics in one place will save you a lot of time and allow you to get ready faster in the morning. Pick products that are meant for speed. If you have to fumble with hard to remove caps, or products that take time to absorb into the skin, you’re wasting precious minutes! One of my favorite new products is Vaseline Spray and Go Moisturizer. Instead of constantly rubbing in my previous lotion, I spray this product on and in seconds it’s absorbed into my skin. 

Confession time. I worked for a cosmetic dermatologist and had some of the driest skin in the office because I didn’t have the time in the morning to slather my body in lotion. The products we recommended were great, they just took some extra efforts to make sure they were completely absorbed into the skin. Because my time was so precious in the morning, many times I would skip this step. With Vaseline Spray and Go Moisturizer, I don’t have to do that any more. It moisturizes and absorbs (this part is key) in seconds and my skin doesn’t feel greasy or sticky afterwards. I shaved 10 minutes off my morning routine, which means that I can now hit the snooze button one more time.

For more great tips on how you can maximize you can maximize your morning, checkout Emma’s speed dressing! I’m not sure that we can all do that but it sure is some motivation! 

Vaseline® Spray & Go Moisturizer is a quick, continuous 360° spray lotion that moisturizes deeply and absorbs in seconds, so you can put your clothes right on and get on with your day! Available in three formulas – Total Moisture®, Aloe Fresh, and Cocoa Radiant™ – this fast to apply, quick to absorb line of lotions leaves skin instantly soft – not sticky or greasy. Find out more at www.maxthemorning.com!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Vaseline. The opinions and text are all mine.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Vaseline.  The opinions and text are all mine.

Now my parents will drink coffe when it’s 100 degrees outside. It doesn’t matter to them. My brothers, not so much. It seems like every time I visit Iowa, it’s either unseasonably cold or raining and this weekend was no exception. We braved the weather and worked on several DIY projects (in between rain showers) and made a raised bed garden.

And I made a simple patriotic table decoration using one of the empty International Delight bottles that we had. With Flag Day and Independence Day quickly approaching, what better way to repurpose an empty ID bottle than with some spray paint and ribbon?

After a chilly afternoon (that sunlight you see in the pictures is deceiving), the boys helped themselves to a hot cup of coffee with some International Delight. I tried talking them into trying a different flavor but they wouldn’t have it. Not only are they brand  loyal but they are also flavor loyal! These boys are passionate about their favorite flavors.

What’s Your ID? #WhatsYourID

International Delight wants to know what flavor you are passionate about! Is it French Vanilla or Irish Creme like my brothers or do you prefer more sophisticated flavors like Salted Caramel Mocha or White Chocolate Raspberry? You can visit whatsyourid.com to create a flavor profile and learn how to win some awesome prizes such as:

• International Delight Coffe Mugs, Tumblers & Creamers
• International Delight Re-usable Grocery Bag
• Beach Towels
• VISA Gift Cards
• Cold Stone Gift Cards
• Free International Delight for a YEAR
• Baking Kit: Kitchen Aid mixer, apron and coupons
• Coffee Bar Kit: Kuerig Coffee Maker, Folgers K-Cups, coupons, mug and Cinnabon Cinnamon
• Magical Trip GRAND PRIZE

What’s Your ID? International Delight is looking for their most passionate flavor fans. Put your ID on the map to enter to win a Magical Trip, play games and discover more unexpected delight. Share your ID flavor at http://whatsyourid.com. 

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight. The opinions and text are all mine.

Remember last week I talked about being a Cascade #MyPlatinum ambassador and having the opportunity to try out the new Platinum Pacs? Well, I finally did get a chance to use them. My friend Emily will probably kill me but the picture on the left is of her dishwasher BEFORE I ran it through a wash cycle. Notice the stuck on bits of what I think might have been some type of cheesy rice casserole?

As you can see in the picture on the right, the food is gone and Emily’s dishwasher is much cleaner! And if this screen were scratch and sniff you would be able to tell that the dishwasher also smells fresh. The Cascade Platinum Pacs are so powerful that they eliminate the need to pre-rinse your dishes which means saving water and less work for you. A win-win situation if you ask me.

Cascade Partners with Gail Simmons

Now, more than ever, people eat with their eyes, and the evidence is all over sites like Facebook and Instagram. With that in mind, Top Chef judge and editor of Food+Wine magazine, Gail Simmons, has partnered with Cascade to discuss why presentation is just as important as preparation.

• From prep to plating: It’s more than just a great-tasting recipe, but also perfect presentation. Sparkling dishes, shining flat ware and spot-free glasses truly let you put your best food forward with culinary creations that pop!
• Gail recommends impressing with a Platinum Presentation: “The easiest recipes pop with unexpected, gourmet presentations. Drizzle bright sauces on sparkling white plates or layer desserts in crystal-clean glassware. Keep your presentation sparkling with Cascade Platinum, which keeps dishes perfect for anytime entertaining and impromptu guests.”

Learn more about Cascade’s partnership with Gail Simmons by viewing all the videos available on the Cascade Facebook page and the Cascade YouTube page.

Cascade Platinum Contest Details

Cascade wants you to show off your sparkling dishes, silverware and glassware or a chance to win great prizes by entering the “My Platinum” Instagram contest. Each week there is a different theme and two contestants will be selected to receive a brand new Whirlpool dishwasher. Additionally, one lucky grand prize winner will receive a Platinum kitchen makeover!

• Week 1: My Platinum Plate (Entry Period: 6/3-6/9) Show us your best dish styled from the sparkling plate up!
• Week 2: My Platinum Bite (Entry Period: 6/10-6/16) Show us your best bite and most creative use of sparkling silverware!
• Week 3: My Platinum Clink (Entry: 6/17-6/23) Show us how you serve up creative concoctions in sparkling glasses. Cheers!
• Week 4: My Platinum Table (Entry Period: 6/24-6/30) Show us your sparkling tablescape for your most special celebrations!

To win, users have to both register and upload a photo with the #MyPlatinum hashtag and tag @MyCascade. Participants that have not registered will be disqualified from winning so make sure you register! The contest runs for June 3-30th.

For more information on how to enter and submit images, visit the contest landing page.

Have you tried the new Cascade Platinum Pacs?