McKinney Mommas: May 2015 Google+

Friday, May 22, 2015

Chiquita Banana Sing-Off - are you brave enough to enter?

Are you a Top Banana?

I don't have the pipes of an opera singer...so I'm not going to sing for ya, but I sure don't mind pasting my picture onto a silly singing Banana-gram for the chance at $100!

You only have a few days left to enter Chiquita Banana's Sing-Off, as all entries must be received by May 29th, 2015!

Now, if you are brave enough to sing a little tune and dance a little jig, you could win $5,000 - that could buy you...well....a whole HEAP of bananas! 




Since hearing about the Chiquita Sing Off, I shared the lyrics of the Chiquita Banana Song to my two little girls and they have been humming and saying parts of it all week long!  

"......you never keep bananas in the 'frigerator......bananas like to ripen in a certain way.....I'm chiquita banana and I'm here to say...." - heh, heh these girls are awesome.


How did I never know this song until now?!


If you want to help embarrass me, feel free to check out MY Banana-gram submission here!



Then be sure to head over to the Chiquita Sing-Off Page to enter your own!

Note: I was not compensated for this post, however Chiquita did sent a box of bananas on my behalf to our local Food Bank - Yolo Food Bank....aren't they awesome?! All opinions are 100% my own.

Sunday, May 17, 2015

Summer Grilling With Jarlsberg Cheese + Win A Grill!

Can you smell that?

It's the barbeque from your neighbor's house!  Or, it was in my neighborhood anyway today.

That smokey smell reminded me that it's almost summer and the grills are starting to come out of hiding.

Honestly, mine needs to go back into hiding...it needs a major overhaul so I've set my mind to try and WIN a grill one since the ol' budget is tight right now.





Starting, May 23rd, 2015 Jarlsberg® Cheese is going to give you (and me) the chance to do just that - WIN A PROFESSIONAL GRILL!

You'll be able to enter once per week, between May 23rd and August 31, 2015 by filling out an easy form on the Facebook/Jarlsberg USA site.

Each week a winner will be randomly chosen and emailed about their prize. 


So, to get you in the mood. Here are some tasty grilled recipes, courtesy of Jarlsberg® Cheese to get you prepped and ready for summer cookouts....and seasoned to win that professional grill (of course).


The Jarlsberger



Ingredients:
4 Jarlsberg® Cheese slices
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 tablespoon steak seasoning
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
4 hamburger buns
4 ripe tomato slices
4 pieces lettuce
4-8 red onions slices
 
Instructions:
 1. Mix steak seasoning and Worcestershire sauce to ground beef and make 4 patties
2. Grill the patties until perfection—8 to 10 minutes. During the last couple minutes of grilling, put 1 slice of Jarlsberg on each patty to melt. Assemble your burger with lettuce, tomatoes and onion slices. 
        
Optional: add crispy bacon pieces to ground beef and mix before grilling and/or as topping.  
   

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _


Jarlsberg® Grilled Fig Pizza




Ingredients:
2 cups Shredded Jarlsberg® Cheese
 1 pound of dough (buy at your local pizzeria)
1 can crushed tomatoes
Olive oil spray
Toppings as desired
Figs – fresh and as many as you desire
Salt, pepper and basil to taste
 
1.       Before you light the grill, spray olive oil over grill, being sure to cover well. Once grill is hot, gently lay the dough, stretched out already, on the grill.
2.        Cook for 3 minutes or until crust starts to brown slightly, then flip.
 
3.       In a separate bowl, mix crushed tomatoes, adding in salt, pepper and fresh basil to taste.
4.       Lay tomato mixture and Jarlsberg® Cheese on top of crust, and scatter some fresh, sliced figs.
5.       Cover for 4-5 minutes, until cheese is melted.
 
Use a large spatula to remove pizza from grill.
 

ENJOY the recipes...and don't forget to come back May 23rd, to enter to win that professional grill! 


I know I won't forget - I can't afford any more embarrassing stares when neighbors peek over my fence at my rusty old grill! 

 

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Gifts That Give Back at GreaterGood + #Giveway

Quick! 

Somebody's birthday is coming up and you need to find a unique gift.

Where do you go that both has handmade, unique and exciting gifts but ALSO raises money and awareness for causes like:
  • Autism
  • Breast Cancer
  • World Hunger
  • Literacy
  • Diabetes
  • Alzheimer's

GreaterGood Shop, powered by NOVICA gives to charities with each purchase you make.  They have raised more than 35 million dollars for charities across the world since 1999.

I've always loved how well organized the NOVICA gift shop is, and GreaterGood is very similar.  There are lots of search categories that make it easy to get to the perfect gift or item quickly.

You can search by type of item, like jewelry & apparel, or by charity topic/cause-related like: breast cancer or autism. 


For Example: I clicked on the "Animals" toolbar pictured below to find items that would give to charities that rescue animals and here are a few of the unique gift ideas I came up with: 



If you're not shopping for a cat or dog lover, don't fret, there's LOTS of other fun gifts for your niece, boss, brother or girlfriend. 

Here are some of my favorites - an wise owl hooded jacket, fab fairy soft dolls, mayan creation bracelet, and an east meets west ceramic bird feeder:


Do you know anyone who would love to receive a gift, knowing that the gift also  contributed some good to humankind?

I would!

Shop GreaterGood & make not one, but TWO people smile! 


Next time you think about a gift you need to purchase, check out GreaterGood and give DOUBLE by purchasing from a company who pays it forward in so many ways!


Enter To Win! 
Prize: $50 Gift Certificate to GreaterGood
  • ends 5/13/2015 - please check email as gift certificate expires 5/16/15
  • US entrants, 18+ eligible
  • complete Rafflecopter form to be eligible to win




a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Mother's Day In Hollywood Swag Bag + #Giveaway


We've all heard of SWAG bags, right?

You go to some event and get a swag bag, chock full of fun goodies from local companies or sponsors of an event...if you're lucky enough to have attend an event like that.

Or, more realistically, you've heard about how celebrities go to an event and receive a swag bag of goodies from premium companies to spoil them.

How would you feel, receiving a "Mother's Day In Hollywood" swag bag yourself, from Distinctive Assets, the company who started the whole swag bag trend? 



This year, 25 of Hollywood's most famous stars - that yes, are more importantly mothers, will receive a swag bag full of unique, innovative and useful items. 

Mommy celebs including, Kate Hudson, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Mila Kunis are among the lucky recipients and YOU could be one of them too!

A gift bag worth over $8,000 is something to get excited about, no?



So, What is In This Gift Bag? 

  • Lesportsac Diaper Bag - need I explain ;-)
  • Haze Vaporizer - portable vaporizer that can use wax, oils, or dry blends
  • Ibiza Soul - flip flops from the white isle of Ibiza
  • DermaWand - reduces fine lines and wrinkles
  • Nest Designs - Bamboo Blankies
  • Slimware - chic dinnerware
  • COAL & CANARY - soy vegetable blend floral scented candles 
  • Penguin Young Readers - Eric Carle’s Very Little Library, Corduroy by Don Freeman, etc. 
  • Purely Inspired - 100% plant based, dairy and gluten free protein shakes 
  • Healthy Mama Brand - OTC remedies for pregnant and nursing mothers
  • Earth's Best - chlorine free diapers
  • SWAG Laundry Detergent - natural luxury detergent
  • La Croix - #1 selling flavored sparkling water in the US...and my personal fav! 
  • Soft Star Shoes - handcrafted leather shoes for the whole family
  • The Veggie Republic - california produce inspired jewelry that donates food to families in need. 


  • ......and other items from MyM&M's, Adoratherapy, Purabela, Wellness360, Polar A300, Dermabrilliance, Adri & Sara, XO Mints, Rejuvel, Damsel in Defence, Down etc., Archibald's Next Big Thing, Mysti Taylor, Shama Jade, Ruma Organics, Pond's, Tags Boutique, Arts&Scents, Cheeki, Lat & Lo, The Golden Door, Sheec, Violet Iodine, Rivulet, Big Cat Rescue, Garden of Life, Sizers, Author J.T. Willow, Gleener, Teeth Fairies, D'Milikah, Harry's Garden, Starlettos, SkinFix, Helen & Harold's, Nolables, Krystal Klear Water, Ultimate Ears, Piper, Reset Yourself, and Logitech

~ Enter To Win ~

PRIZE: One McKinney Mommas reader will receive a "Mother's Day in Hollywood" Swag Bag with 10 exciting items from the list above!

  • Entrants must have a US address, 18+
  • Giveaway ends May 11, 2015 at 11:59pm ET
  • Complete Rafflecopter Entry form below for your chance to win! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway