HAPPYFAMILY GENERATION HAPPY VIDEO CONTEST

Submit your video for a chance to win fantastic prizes! Submit a 10-minute or less video of your child up to 3 years old. Entries are posted for public voting.

Grand Prize: $10,000 college scholarship savings bond.

Second Prize: One-year supply of HAPPYFAMILY products (ARV $2,000).

Third Prize: Six-month supply of HAPPYFAMILY products and Stokke Tripp Trapp high chair (ARV $1,250).

Weekly Prizes (5 - 1 per week): HAPPYFAMILY books and products and products from California Baby, Dr. Sears Family Essentials, Dr. Weil Baby, Eat Cleaner, iPlay, Honest Kids, KIWI magazine, MiYim, My Gym, Sigg, or Stokke (ARV $60).

The video with the most votes will win the $10,000 college scholarship! Voting closes on Friday, March 25, 2011. Open to residents of the 50 United States & D.C. 18+

Click HERE to enter Generation Happy Video Contest!

GOOD LUCK TO EVERONE WHO ENTERS!!! :)

CAJUN SHRIMP ETOUFFE RECIPE

Cajun Shrimp Etouffe

An authentic Louisiana recipe with a rich and spicy fresh tomato based roux with fresh garlic, bell peppers, celery and onions mixed with shrimp. A little time consuming but well worth it!! Serve over steamed rice with hushpuppies and/or crackers on the side.

Servings: 6

Ingredients
* 1/3 cup vegetable oil
* 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
* 1 small green bell pepper, diced
* 1 medium onion, chopped
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 2 stalks celery, diced
* 2 fresh tomatoes, chopped
* 2 tablespoons Louisiana-style hot sauce
* 1/3 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (optional)
* 2 tablespoons seafood seasoning
* 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
* 1 cup fish stock
* 1 pound medium shrimp - peeled and deveined

Directions

1. Heat the oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat. Gradually stir in flour, and stir constantly until the mixture turns 'peanut butter' brown or darker, at least 15 or 20 minutes. I use a large fork with the flat side to the bottom of the pan in a side to side motion. This is your base sauce or 'Roux'. It is very important to stir this constantly. If by chance the roux burns, discard and start over.
2. Once the roux is browned, add the onions, garlic, celery and bell pepper to the skillet, and saute for about 5 minutes to soften. Stir in the chopped tomatoes and fish stock, and season with the seafood seasoning. Reduce heat to low, and simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Season the sauce with hot pepper sauce and cayenne pepper (if using), and add the shrimp. Cook for about 10 minutes, or until the shrimp are opaque.

SALON GRAFIX 450 MAXIMUM HEAT PROTECT SPRAY GIVEAWAY (*CLOSED*)

Salon Grafix has long been known for making affordable salon quality hair care products, so every woman can enjoy quality and value when it comes to their hair. Whether you are looking for styling products like hair spray or mousse or our unique dry spray shampoo, Salon Grafix offers a complete line of products… for super sexy hair every day of the week.

Salon Grafix’s 450 Maximum Heat Protect Spray is a necessity when trying to protect your hair from the extreme heat of blow-dryers, flat irons and curling irons. All you have to do is spray the 450 Maximum Heat Protect Spray evenly throughout your hair and you’re ready to blow-dry for that perfect style you love. For more information, please visit www.salongrafix.com.

The key to the 450 Maximum Heat Protect Spray is in one of its secret ingredients, VP/DMAPA Acrylates Copolymer. It’s a unique and patented polymer that delivers excellent hold and conditioning effects to hair. It significantly minimizes damage caused by hot irons that can reach up to 400-450 degrees Fahrenheit. In the end, you will be left with long lasting curls and improved stiffness even in 90 degree humidity. Its pseudo cationic nature makes it substantive to hair providing conditioning and bodying effects as well as improved shine, better manageability and a cleaner feel.

Quick Facts

*FIRST ever 450 degree thermal protection spray in the industry
*Conditioning spray that protects hair from the extreme heat of styling appliances
*Suitable for all hair types
*Enhances effectiveness of blow-dryer, flat iron or curling Iron
*Protects hair from the hottest temperatures up to 450 degrees
*Available for purchase at CVS and Rite Aid for $7.49

Salon Grafix is offering one Mother of 1 Princess and 2 Princes reader a chance to win a bottle of Salon Grafix’s 450 Maximum Heat Protect Spray.

MANDATORY: (To Enter FIRST YOU MUST BE A FOLLOWER OF MY BLOG) Visit Salon Grafix Facebook Page and "LIKE" them also you need to tell them I sent you.

FOR EXTRA ENTRIES: (The Above Must Be Done First To Be Eligible For The Extra Entries)

1.) Become a Subscriber. (On Sidebar On Top Right Side)

2.) Friend me on Facebook.

3.) Follow me on Twitter.

4.) Tweet this giveaway.

5.) Blog about this giveaway linking back to this giveaway and Salon Grafix website.

6.) Follow Salon Grafix on Twitter.

7.) Visit Salon Grafix website and tell me another product you would like to try.

Open to U.S. Giveaway ends March 15, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. CST. Winner will be selected by random.org and notified by email and will have 48 hours to reply back before a new winner is selected. Please remember to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win. GOOD LUCK!

FREE SAMPLE OF PURINA ONE BEYOND DOG OR CAT FOOD

Request a FREE Sample of Purina ONE Beyond Dog or Cat Food! Simply wait for the orange 'Get a Free Sample' button to appear, and click on it to request your sample.

Click HERE to receive your FREE sample of Purina ONE Beyond Dog or Cat Food. Allow four weeks for delivery!

BUY 1 GET 1 FREE BETTER OATS OATMEAL (COUPON)

Click HERE to receive a coupon for Buy 1 Get 1 Free Better Oats Oatmeal. Taste for yourself FREE!

FREE SAMPLE OF EUCERIN DAILY SKIN BALANCE BODY LOTION

Head on over to the site linked below to score a Free Sample of Eucerin Daily Skin Balance Body Lotion! Simply "Like" their page on Facebook, and then click the "Get Sample Now" button to request your free sample of Eurcerin Lotion.

Click HERE to receive your FREE sample of Eucerin Daily Skin Balance Body Lotion.

SEND A FRIEND A FREE COKE

Welcome to Ahh Giver, where you can send a friend a personalized pick-me-up, courtesy of Coke. You provide the message, the polar bear provides the grunts, and Coke provides the English sub-titles (not to mention a Coke for your friend*).

Click HERE to send a friend a personalized pick-me-up courtesy of Coke. Happy Ahh Giving!

FREE SAMPLE OF HEALTHIDENT DOG TREATS

Head on over to the site linked below to score a FREE Sample of HealtiDent Dental Dog Treats! Simply click on the purple "Get Your Sample" button to access the request form.

Click HERE to receive your FREE sample of HealthiDent Dog Treats. Your sample should arrive within four weeks!

FREE U BY KOTEX SAMPLE (NEW OFFER)

Get a FREE U by Kotex Sample! Simply click the link below and click on the 'Try U Free' button towards the bottom to access the request form.

Click HERE to receive your FREE sample of U By Kotex. Expect this to arrive within 6 to 8 weeks!

QUICKCHECK: FREE 20oz. SIERRA MIST (COUPON)

Live near a QuickCheck? If so, be sure to take advantage of this freebie! Print out this coupon, which is linked below, and take it into any QuickChek location for a FREE 20oz. Sierra Mist! This coupon is valid only until March 7th, 2011. Click here for the QuickChek Locator.

Click HERE to receive your FREE QuickCheck 20oz. Sierra Mist!

FREE FEKKAI HAIR CARE SAMPLE

Sweet! Score a FREE Sample of Fekkai Hair Care! You can choose between two different samples. This freebie is being offered by Costco, but you do NOT need to be a member to request this. You will receive your sample in 4-6 weeks!

To get to the request form, you need to copy & paste this URL:
https://secure.startsampling.com/sm/fekkai101636

FREE KIRKLAND HOUSEHOLD SURFACE WIPES SAMPLE

Head on over to the site linked below to snag a FREE Sample of Kirkland Household Surface Wipes! This sample is being offered by Costco, but you DO NOT need a Costco Membership Number to request this!

Click HERE to get your FREE sample of Kirkland Household Surface Wipes. Allow 4-6 weeks for delivery!

MYBLOGSPARK MONEY MINDED MOMS SUZE ORMAN'S BOOK ' ACTION PLAN' R EVIEW & GIVEAWAY (*CLOSED*)

With families evaluating their personal finances for 2011, Suze Orman has pledged to provide answers, support, and encouragement by empowering moms like yourself to make finances a family affair.

MoneyMindedMoms community members have free access to valuable, easy to follow advice about topics such as erasing and managing debt, raising money minded kids and coupons and discounts. Providing moms with sound advice is Suze´s top priority and she takes the time to personally respond to questions from members and has even been known to post a video response in some cases. Plus, every month through May, one lucky member will win 1-on-1 time with Suze through the "Ask Suze" Sweepstakes. The site offers useful tools like a debt eliminator and expense tracker, a coupon savings center, as well as forums for sharing stories and insights with like-minded moms.

To help get started with taking control of finances and getting back on track this year, Suze has also created a list of the 11 things moms can do to increase their financial savvy in 2011:

1. Stand in your truth
2. Make finances a family affair
3. Live below your means but within your needs
4. Hope for the best, but plan for the worst
5. Get rid of credit card debt
6. Save an 8-month emergency fund
7. Fund your 401k to the match
8. Fund your Roth IRA to the max
9. Start a 529 plan for your kids´ college education
10. Be "happy you did" vs. "wishing you hadn´t"
11. Never forget people first, then money, then things

To find out more details about how to accomplish these 11 goals, visit www.MoneyMindedMoms.com. You can also connect with Suze and the MoneyMindedMoms community on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Times have changed and the rules have changed, but financial security is still the goal. Do you know how to get there?

There is a new reality out there—a new normal. What was once certain—that you would be able to retire comfortably, that you would pay for your kids’ education, that your home would appreciate in value—is no longer a sure thing. So much has changed on the financial landscape that it’s hard to know which moves are the right ones to make. Suze Orman’s million-copy bestselling financial action plan—fully revised and updated for 2010 and beyond—will show you the way.

Suze Orman has always offered exceptionally sound financial advice based on personal accountability and moderation. The New Rules for New Times stays true to this message by providing an abundance of strategies for a large assortment of potential financial issues.

The format of the book is very straight forward, containing descriptions of financial situations followed by immediate action plans. This approach permits one to immediately focus on those areas that are most personally relevant. Suze also includes a chapter on introducing finance to children that any parent should be aware of. If this book is your only introduction to Suze Orman, you will be served well.

MyBlogSpark is offering one Mother of 1 Princess and 2 Princes reader a chance to win a copy of Suze Orman's book 'Action Plan'.

MANDATORY: (To Enter FIRST YOU MUST BE A FOLLOWER OF MY BLOG) Visit MoneyMindedMoms and tell me how do you you plan to get your finances in order this year?

FOR EXTRA ENTRIES: (The Above Must Be Done First To Be Eligible For The Extra Entries)

1.) Become a Subscriber. (On Sidebar On Top Right Side)

2.) Friend me on Facebook.

3.) Follow me on Twitter.

4.) Tweet this giveaway.

5.) Blog about this giveaway linking back to this giveaway and MoneyMindedMoms website.

6.) "Like" Money Minded Moms on Facebook.

7.) Follow Money Minded Moms on Twitter.

Open to U.S. Giveaway ends March 13, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. CST. Winner will be selected by random.org and notified by email and will have 48 hours to reply back before a new winner is selected. Please remember to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win. GOOD LUCK!

*I received the info and Suze Orman book from MoneyMindedMoms through MyBlogSpark. I received this prize package at no cost from MoneyMindedMoms through MyBlogSpark to share with my readers. All opinions stated in this post are my own and I was not compensated in anyway for a positive review.*

MEATBALL NIRVANA RECIPE

Meatball Nirvana
Cover with your favorite red sauce and serve with pasta or in crusty garlic bread rolls.

Servings: 4

Ingredients

* 1 pound extra lean ground beef
* 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
* 1 small onion, diced
* 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
* 1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
* 3/4 teaspoon dried oregano
* 3/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
* 1 dash hot pepper sauce (such as Frank's RedHot®), or to taste
* 1 1/2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
* 1/3 cup skim milk
* 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
* 1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs

Directions

1. Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2. Place the beef into a mixing bowl, and season with salt, onion, garlic salt, Italian seasoning, oregano, red pepper flakes, hot pepper sauce, and Worcestershire sauce; mix well. Add the milk, Parmesan cheese, and bread crumbs. Mix until evenly blended, then form into 1 1/2-inch meatballs, and place onto a baking sheet.
3. Bake in the preheated oven until no longer pink in the center, 20 to 25 minutes.

FREE PERSONALIZED ELMO SONG FOR YOUR CHILD

FREE Personalized Elmo Song For Your Child!
Enter Code: myelmo
There is also 3 songs you can download.

Click HERE to get the FREE Personalized Elmo Song for your child!

FREE WATERPROOF PLAYING CARDS

In order to promote their services in the community they offer free waterproof playing cards from their salon so that you can test them out and see how you like it. Please fill the form with the requested information to receive your FREE waterproof playing cards.

Head over to Beauty Herbal Spa and fill out the information form for your free package of waterproof playing cards. It may seem cold now, but summer is coming, and wouldn’t these be fun in the pool?

Click HERE to receive your FREE waterproof playing cards from Beauty Herbal Spa. You should receive your gift within 5-15 days after the gift is shipped!

AIR WICK OIL WARMER AND REFILL REVIEW & GIVEAWAY (*CLOSED*)

Think that most people would agree that when you own or rent your own home, you always want it to smell clean. For me, when I walk into my home, I don't want to smell my pets, garbage that needs to be thrown out. It is important for me, being a clean freak, that my home have a pleasant scent especially if you might have someone pop in. My mother is one that loves to do the pop in and so I try to maintain a nice looking home without any funky smells.

~The Scented Oil Warmer~

Air Wick Scented Oil Warmers are made of plastic. They are very light in weight before you put the oil refill in for use. The front of the warmer has "Air Wick" imbedded in it as their logo. On the very top of the warmer is a hole about 3/4 of a centimeter large in diameter. At the top of the hole are five small bumps. The bumps get larger as they go from left to right signifying the strength in oil that you would want to choose from. The dial itself is wrapped around the hole on the top and is easy to move back and forth.

After the Air Wick Scented Oil Warmer is plugged into an outlet the hole at the top is where the scent comes out. The back of the warmer has the plug at the bottom of it. It is just two-pronged for regular outlets. Once you add a Air Wick Scented Oil Refill the warmer is considerably heavier. If your outlet is not tight on your warmer plug, it may dip down and not work effectively. I have had this experience with poor plug outlets in my home and had to move the Air Wick Scented Oil Warmer and Refill to a better spot.

The Air Wick Scented Oil Warmer is three and half inches tall. The base is two inches in width. The top where it is a bit sleeker in design contours to just an inch and half.

AIR WICK® Scented Oils adds a warm and consistent long-lasting fragrance. The advanced design allows you to adjust the fragrance to the level you desire and its sophisticated look compliments your home décor. It comes with a rotating plug for horizontal and vertical outlets and leaves the second outlet free. When the AIR WICK® Scented Oils runs out of oil, simply replace with any AIR WICK® Scented Oil refill.

~The Scented Oil Refill~

The Air Wick Scented Oil Refill has 0.71 fluid ounces inside. The oil is held in a glass case. I have never experienced any leakage with refills with Air Wick designs. The refill comes with a plastic cap on top of it that you screw off. You then place it inside the warmer. Simple as that.

The instructions show clear small pictures on the back of the package on how to use the refill correctly. It does warn you about not to put the Air Wick Scented Oil Warmer and Refill upside down or sideways in a plug outlet. It needs to remain vertical at all times. The instructions are virtually the same whether you are reading the "Warmer Instructions" or the "Refill Instructions."

The glass case looks like half of a very small bottle with a screw top. It is screwed into the Air Wick Scented Oil Warmer very easily. The refill itself reminds me of a cheap perfume bottle. The refills are easy to remove and replace. I always wash my hands after so that I don't get the fluid in my eyes or skin.

Visit Air Wick to see all their wonderful products they have for your home such as the Air Wick Night Light Scented Oils, Air Fresh Air Freshener and Stick Ups Air Freshener.

Air Wick is offering one lucky Mother of 1 Princess and 2 Princes reader a chance to win a Double Pack Air Wick Scented Oil Warmer and a Double Pack Lavender & Chamomile scented oil.

MANDATORY: (To Enter FIRST YOU MUST BE A FOLLOWER OF MY BLOG) Visit Air Wick and tell me another product you would like to try.

FOR EXTRA ENTRIES: (The Above Must Be Done First To Be Eligible For The Extra Entries)

1.) Become a Subscriber. (On Sidebar On Top Right Side)

2.) Friend me on Facebook.

3.) Follow me on Twitter.

4.) Tweet this giveaway.

5.) Blog about this giveaway linking back to this giveaway and Air Wick website.

Open to U.S. Giveaway ends March 12, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. CST. Winner will be selected by random.org and notified by email and will have 48 hours to reply back before a new winner is selected. Please remember to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win. GOOD LUCK!

WINNER FOR THE SECRET GIVEAWAY

cpage2323 said...
gfc follower(cpage2323) i want to try their oh-la-lavender body splash. i didnt even know they made body splash!
trixie420247 at yahoo dot com

FLORIDA'S NATURAL ORANGE JUICE REVIEW

Florida's Natural Growers Refrigerated Juice Natural Orange have that right-from-the-grove, fresh-squeezed taste. And, just like fresh-squeezed juice, there’s no water, sugar, or preservatives added, only 100 percent pure premium quality pasteurized orange juice.

Orange juice has been a staple in my home for my entire life, in one form or another. I first started drinking Florida's Natural Home Squeezed Style Orange Juice in the last year or so. Florida's Natural had only the slightest advantage of a more fresh squeezed orange taste. To me, this was well enough.

Orange juice is an excellent source of calcium which is pretty essential to women over 25, and it is loaded in Vitamin C which is a natural antioxident. It's great for breakfast, if you don't already incorporate oranges in your meal . (We sometimes eat sliced oranges with breakfast, so this is what I refer to) But, it's also great for drinking. We have used it to make an orange cream homemade ice cream also.

We love orange juice and were so excited to receive a coupon to try Florida's Natural Orange Juice courtesy of Smile.ly.

The difference is in how the fruit is processed. Not-from-concentrate means the fruit is squeezed, the juice is pasteurized and then packaged. From-concentrate means the fruit is squeezed, the water is extracted, which produces a concentrated form similar to that you see in the frozen food department. At a later time the water is added back in and the juice is pasteurized and packaged.

On FloridasNatural.com/fun-stuff/where-does-your-juice-come-from, you can take a simple test to find out how much you know about your orange juice!

Thanks to Smile.ly I received coupons to share with friends and family.

MARDI GRAS KING CAKE RECIPE

"Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez" (Let the Good Times Roll)

This a sweet bread that is made during Mardi Gras in New Orleans. It has a cream cheese filling and a simple glaze. A tiny plastic baby (Who represents Baby Jesus) baked into the bread and will bring good luck to whoever finds it.

Ingredients

PASTRY:
* 1 cup milk
* 1/4 cup butter
* 2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
* 2/3 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
* 1/2 cup white sugar
* 2 eggs
* 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
* 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
* 5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

FILLING:
* 1 cup packed brown sugar
* 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
* 2/3 cup chopped pecans
* 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
* 1/2 cup raisins
* 1/2 cup melted butter

FROSTING:
* 1 cup confectioners' sugar
* 1 tablespoon water

Directions:

1. Scald milk, remove from heat and stir in 1/4 cup of butter. Allow mixture to cool to room temperature. In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in the warm water with 1 tablespoon of the white sugar. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
2. When yeast mixture is bubbling, add the cooled milk mixture. Whisk in the eggs. Stir in the remaining white sugar, salt and nutmeg. Beat the flour into the milk/egg mixture 1 cup at a time. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 to 10 minutes.
3. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth or plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 2 hours. When risen, punch down and divide dough in half.
4. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease 2 cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.
5. To Make Filling: Combine the brown sugar, ground cinnamon, chopped pecans, 1/2 cup flour and 1/2 cup raisins. Pour 1/2 cup melted butter over the cinnamon mixture and mix until crumbly.
6. Roll dough halves out into large rectangles (approximately 10x16 inches or so). Sprinkle the filling evenly over the dough and roll up each half tightly like a jelly roll, beginning at the wide side. Bring the ends of each roll together to form 2 oval shaped rings. Place each ring on a prepared cookie sheet. With scissors make cuts 1/3 of the way through the rings at 1 inch intervals. Let rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 45 minutes.
7. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes. Push the doll into the bottom of the cake. Frost while warm with the confectioners' sugar blended with 1 to 2 tablespoons of water.

You can buy the babydolls usually at Party City or party places aroung you. There usually in the Baby Shower section. Have fun making the Mardi Gras King Cake and it is a little work but in the end it is worth it. TRUST ME!

HAPPY MARDI GRAS EVERYONE!!! :)