There is a New Phone Coming To Town Soon – Windows Phone 7

While I was at Blogher this past week in New York City. I got to have a sneak peek at the new, coming soon (this holiday season) Window’s Phone 7.

From the integrated calendar that allows you to combine schedules from multiple places, full Facebook integration weaved right in to your contact list and Bing Search that can help you find anything you’re looking for quickly and easily, Windows Phone 7 helps to get you to what you care about in less steps.

I love this phone, it really has some neat features that I haven’t seen on other phones out there. The sneak peek I saw wasn’t a totally complete phone as it is still in the making but what I have seen so far looks cool. The only recommendation I would make would be there to be a slide out keyboard, but the lady (Katy) I spoke with at Blogher said that the touch screen was easy to get used to and that since it was a prototype (that I saw) there may be a keyboard, but she didn’t yet know for sure.

It is also not sure which cell phone carriers will carry this phone. So that will make a difference if I am able to get this phone or not, but stay tuned for more possible coverage on this great new phone!

Here is a YouTube video on the new Windows Phone 7 below so you can check it out for yourself! :

The Plus Size Mommy

Say Cheese This 4th Of July

Summer means fun with family and friends and lots of outdoor entertaining, from backyard grilling to pool parties and picnics in the park. Finlandia Cheese, the #1 imported cheese in the country, provides delicious, high quality cheeses with robust flavor, sure to make grilling and sandwich favorites even more delicious this summer season. Finlandia offers the finest line-up of premium, all-natural, imported and domestic cheeses available.

This summer, make your burger better with Finlandia Imported Muenster. This mild, creamy, full-bodied cheese is tangy and slow melting because it is made from the purest milk and aged over 60 days. With over 150 years of master cheese making experience, Finlandia creates expertly crafted, delicious tasting cheeses that are rich, robust and full of flavor. Finlandia cheeses are also all natural, lactose-free, and hormone-free.

Finlandia’s array of premium all-natural cheeses are available at your corner deli, your supermarket’s deli department and at club stores. Delicious Finlandia cheeses are available sliced at the service deli counter or pre-sliced in the self service deli section. You can also find Finlandia in chunk sizes perfect for snacking. Finlandia’s line-up includes: Swiss, Light Swiss, Lacey Swiss, Muenster, Gouda, Havarti and Double Gloucester Cheddar and Oltermanni.

“Our biggest fans are our consumers,” says Frank Belfiore, Marketing Director. “They consistently tell us that nothing compares to the taste, quality and flavor of Finlandia cheese. That is what we strive for.”

From the beach to the ballgame, layer on your favorite cheese slices as the perfect compliment to any sandwich, burger or deli meats. Try some of the recipe ideas below:

The Ultimate Cheeseburger

Ingredients
1 ¼ pounds lean ground beef
1 ¼ cup chopped onion
3 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon prepared horseradish
2 teaspoons prepared mustard
Salt & pepper to taste
Suggested Finlandia Cheese: Swiss, Muenster or Gouda
4 sesame seed buns or hard rolls

Combine lean ground beef with onion, ketchup, horseradish, mustard, salt and pepper. Gently mix with hands till all ingredients are just blended. Shape into 4 patties about ½ inch thick. Grill or broil to desired doneness. Pile high with your favorite Finlandia cheese.

Fresca Crab Panini

Ingredients
2 lbs. king crab leg meat
5 oz. Finlandia Swiss cheese
2 ripe avocados
1 tsp. Old Bay Seasoning
1 tsp. lemon pepper seasoning
3 oz. diced Bermuda onion
1 small Habanero pepper
1 tbsp. diced red peppers
1 tbsp. diced green peppers
1 tbsp. diced yellow peppers
2 oz. alfalfa sprouts
8 leaves red leaf lettuce
16 slices Tuscan bread
Olive oil needed for Panini grill

Blend mayonnaise, Habanero, one avocado and ½ of the Bermuda onion in blender. Roughly chop crab meat and toss in a mixing bowl with remaining onions, tri-color peppers and avocado mayonnaise. Chill mixture for 15-20 minutes Lay out slices of Tuscan bread and lightly spray each side with olive oil. Layer 1 lettuce leaf, 2 slices of Finlandia Swiss cheese, 4 oz. of crab mixture, 3 slices of avocado, 2 slices of Finlandia Swiss cheese, sprouts and top layer of bread. Toast sandwich on Panini grill for 6 to 8 minutes until bread is toasted well and cheese is melted thought. Cut in half and serve immediately.

Big Apple Turkey Rye Not

Ingredients
2 Tbs. apple butter
1 Tsp whole grain mustard
2 slices marbled rye bread
¼ cup shredded coleslaw
2 oz. thinly sliced turkey breast
2 oz. sliced Finlandia Swiss Cheese
2 slices red apple

Mix apple butter and mustard. Toast bread, if desired. Spread apple butter mixture on each slice of bread. Then layer one slice of bread with coleslaw, turkey, Finlandia Swiss and apple slices. Top with remaining bread slice.
Serves 1 sandwich

The Dakota

Ingredients
Chunky California Chicken Salad (chicken salad prepared with
mayo, raisins, almonds and dried cranberries)
Crisp bacon slices
Finlandia Swiss cheese
Submarine sandwich roll

Pile Chunky California Chicken Salad on a sub roll. Top with generous slices of crisp bacon and smother with Finlandia Swiss. Grill sandwich in pan or in the oven until cheese melts. Serve.
Makes 1 sandwich

Shared By : The Plus Size Mommy

*Disclosure – I received a product coupon for Finlandia Cheese.

Celebrate Father’s Day With 1-800 Flowers & WIN!

The best way to celebrate someone special is with love. This Father’s Day show the man you love how much you appreciate him with a special gift from

1-800-FLOWERS.COM! With 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, you can select from a wide variety of gifts available in our Father’s Day collection including:

• • • Sauza Tequila Grilling Steak Sauces : Spice up Dad’s grill and say Happy Father’s Day in a unique and tasty way with Sauza® Tequila Grilling Steak Sauces Gift Set.
    • Father’s Day Dish Garden : Add fresh summer style to Dad’s office or makeover his “man room” with our colorful, blooming Father’s Day dish garden. The handsome planter provides a touch of class, while the nifty “Dad” plaque makes his celebration extra-festive.
    • Cool Golf Bag Cooler with Snacks: Help Dad get his golf game on and sink a sudden snack attack with this cool golf bag cooler full of sweet and savory snacks.

This Father’s Day put a smile on Dad’s face with 1-800-FLOWERS.COM and let him know he is truly loved and appreciated.

From ME :

At the top of the page, you will see the Father’s Day Dish Garden that I sent from my kids to my husband for Father’s Day. We sent it to him at work and it was a huge surprise.  In the 2nd picture, you will see that after my husband brought it home from work we used the plant garden to decorate our breakfast table for Father’s Day. It has been a very special day for dad today. He is enjoying relaxing.

He really likes the dish garden. It will last a good while, and it is easy to take care of. He was very surprised when they brought it to him at work.  And all of his co-workers smiled when they saw it too.

Now you can WIN !!!!

One lucky reader from my blog has a chance to win a $40 gift certificate from 1-800 Flowers to put a smile on someone they love’s face this summer!

There are lots of great celebrations throughout the summer. From holidays such as Independence Day to Labor Day. Other celebrations like weddings, showers, reunions, graduations, and so many more celebrations I am sure it will be easy to use the $40 certificate to brighten someone’s day or even to use for yourself to get you in the summertime mood

How to Win :

1. What is your favorite Summer Celebration and why ? – leave me a comment and give yourself an entry!
2. What are your plans for Father’s Day today ? – leave me a comment and give yourself 1 more entry!
3. Visit 1-800 Flowers and browse their site, which flower arrangement or product would you love to use to decorate your home with this summer? – leave me a comment and give yourself an entry.
4. Follow me on Twitter : Here http://www.twitter.com/plussizemommy = leave a comment you are = 1 entry
5. Follow my blog on Facebook via Networked Blogs Here : http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Plus-Size-Mommy/208847305617?ref=ts = 1 entry
6. Tweet the following up to 3 times per day for a total of up to 3 entries/day :  ” Win a 1-800Flowers gift $40 gc Here (ends 6/28) http://bit.ly/9JUDVo    ”  = comment with tweet thread, separate comments please.

This giveaway starts NOW and ends on June 28th, 2010 at 10PM EST. One winner will be chosen by random.org.

Winner will NOT be contacted. Winner will be posted to this site by June 29th, 2010. Prize will be fulfilled by the company. Must be a citizen of USA to win.

Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or another winner will be chosen, no extensions or exceptions allowed.

Thank you to all who enter and Good Luck!

The Plus Size Mommy

*Disclosure – A Plant (as seen above) was sent to my husband for Father’s Day for my time to write this post. All idea’s and opinions are 100% my own and never swayed in any way.

Last Minute Father’s Day Gift’s For Every Kind Of Dad

Father’s Day is HERE! , the scramble for a great gift begins. Whether you have a modern dad that is concerned with grooming and looking polished to a dad who values his downtime and appreciates comfort, here are some ideas for you from  men’s fashion, lifestyle and grooming brands.
For the Dapper Dad: Modern Dad Kit: Perfect for a Father’s Day gift or simple token of your appreciation, Every Man Jack has made it easy to give dad a complete collection of grooming products that will keep him looking sharp. The kit includes a deep-cleaning Face Wash, soothing Shave Cream or Gel (depending on your dad’s preference), healing Face Lotion, protective Twin Pack Lip Balm, and a bonus toiletry bag that he can use on your next family vacation. Retail price: $15.00 Available at www.everymanjack.com
For the Fashion Forward Father: 191 Unlimited Men’s and Boys’ Shirts: Button downs make the perfect Father’s Day gift for the fashion savvy dad. 191 Unlimited combines affordability and fashion together for both fathers and sons this season. These button down shirts are available in a variety of styles and colors that appeal to any individual styles. Retail Price: Boy’s $54.00, Men’s $84.00 Image to the left is Special Service Men’s/Boy’s, available at  http://www.191unlimited.com
For the Sporty Papa: Equmen is the leader of men’s shape wear, providing optimal performance for every man. These products are ideal for the health- conscious and active dads who strive to stay in shape. These products make the perfect gift to help dad meet his athletic goals for on the court, field or course. Equmen Core Precision Undershirt Retail Price: $89.00 (Singlet), $99.00 (V-Neck),  $109.00 (Long Sleeve) Equmen Precision Underwear Retail Price: $59.00 – $65.00 (Long Trunks), $52.00 – $59.00 (Trunks), $49.00 – $55.00 (Briefs) Equmen Precision Socks Retail Price: $45.00 Available at www.equmen.com or saks.com
For the Downtime Diddy: The Ultimate Comfort Lounger by The Company Store provides dad the ultimate atmosphere to relax in. This lounger is an “easy chair” for your bed that is designed by back specialist Dr. Robert Swezey. It offers luxurious cloud-like comfort while providing full body support with adjustable firmness to dad’s taste. The lounger easily adjusts to any activity (wife not included), with its reclining and upright features. Retail Price:  Bed Lounge $140.00, Leg Lounge $80.00 Other accessories available at www.thecompanystore.com

Shared by: The Plus Size Mommy

Disclosure – I was sent some of the products shown above in return for my time in sharing this post.

Linens ‘N Things is Offering YOU a Coupon Code*

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Linens ‘N Things. All opinions are 100% mine.

Linens ‘N Things has offered me an exclusive Coupon Code to share with you.  The Code is good through June 1, 2010. It is for FREE Shipping on orders of $26 or more. Here is the code :  MOMBLOG

Linens ‘N Things has everything you need to get your Memorial Day party going. Also they have wonderful bedding and towels and bath products. I love the 6 piece towel sets they have by Laura Ashley.

I also love the Egyptian Bedding. They are so comfortable to sleep on and they help you to get a nice night’s rest. My husband loves all of the gadgets that they have. I will surely be taking my kids there to shop for something for Father’s Day.

They have everything you need to entertain at your picnic’s this summer and also everything you need for more special events such as wedding showers and baby showers and anniversaries. Dad will love the grill sets they have to offer to make his Father’s Day complete.

Go and visit LNT.com today and tell me what you would love to have from them. Also, if you have ever bought anything there what is your favorite item(s) ?

You can also sign up for their newsletter and also get sale notices.

The Plus Size Mommy

Introducing AbesMarket.com An Online Marketplace

Introducing  AbesMarket.com as an online marketplace. There are of natural, organic, and sustainable product and gift ideas for everyone from moms and babies to dads and dogs. Whether it’s green beauty products, recycled yoga mats, organic chocolates, and more.

Here are a few green gift ideas for Mother’s Day, with something worthy of Mom to fit every budget:

Under $10. Between work, family, friends, and more, Moms sure have a lot on their minds. Give her a place to jot it all down with this elegant journal, letterpressed in eco-friendly chocolate soy ink. She’ll be thanking you- either in person, or on paper! Delphine Amelie Letterpress Journal, $9 at AbesMarket.com.

Under $25. Cater to Mom’s sweet tooth with a giant, fluffy 2 lb. marshmallow! Made with natural extracts, this gourmet indulgence is also gluten-free and uses no corn syrup. Available in Vanilla Bean, Peppi-Mint, and Chocolate Chipetta. Plush Puffs Giant 2 Lb. Marshmallow, $23.99 at AbesMarket.com. Or, get Mom a smaller pack(great for s’mores or hot chocolate) for $5.99, with additional flavors like Lemony Meringue and Caramel Swirl.

Under $50. For the Mom who loves to be pampered, this “Day at the Spa” kit features natural, organic, and botanical products that are individually hand blended. Includes peppermint and tea tree bath & shower wash, hydrating honey sugar scrub, lavender bath and body oil, and a Dead Sea mineral mud masque – plus 3 packs of Tazo Zen Green Tea and a tied cotton washcloth. Valley Green Naturals A Day At the Spa box, $49.95 at AbesMarket.com.

These are just a selection of products available at AbesMarket.com for  Mother’s Day, and other occasions.

Shared by : The Plus Size Mommy

Easter Celebrations

In our home, as we are a Christian family; we celebrate Easter with Jesus in mind. We spend a lot of Easter Sunday in church. And every Friday after Ash Wednesday, we go to support local churches and businesses that have fish fry’s. In the Pittsburgh area, a lot of the volunteer fire and EMS companies  do fish fry’s to raise money.

When I was a child growing up, Easter was very much like Christmas as far as presents are concerned. We always got a ton of presents. We were also a Christian family, as far as we believed in Christ, but we never went to church much.

Since marrying a very Christian man and starting to go to church regularly and finding more about the meaning We knew that when we had children we wanted to change this tradition, and make the holiday a lot more about Christ and less about The big bunny.

However, We also wanted to keep it fun for the children as well. So we do still go see the bunny at the mall, which is more just as a fun treat, and the kids ride the EasterEggspress train. And we also go to egg hunts around town. Just to spend time together.
about 2 nights before Easter Sunday we dye eggs as a family and write on them Christ, crosses, Happy Spring, and everyone’s names, and other things like this.

We kinda keep the bunny part to celebrate the upcoming of Spring, which to us here in Pittsburgh is definitely something to celebrate and look forward to nicer, longer days and sunnier, warmer days for the kids to play outside more. And the dreaded winter is over. To us it is a sign of a new beginning and new life. The flowers will soon be out, and we have a “contest” every year to see which kid can see the first signs of spring (robin, flowers, leaves on trees, buds, blossoms) first, the winner doesn’t win anything except to be able to say, they saw it first, but it is something fun our family does.

On Easter Sunday, however, like I said, we are almost at church all day. We dress better then any other time of year, and spend the day singing, and praying, and just worshiping Jesus.
After that is when we do come home, and the children have a small basket to open. Usually it contains some candy, maybe 1 or 2 small gifts, sometimes a video, and a religious item.
That is about it.

We then have our own Easter Egg hunt in our backyard and all the children, mine and my sisters, and who ever else may be coming over under the age of 13, get to participate. The older children are the ones who get to hide the eggs, which they like to do anyway. The grandparents take turns every year putting money (change) in each egg.

*Funny side note* The first year my in -laws did the egg hunt they didn’t know how much money to put into each egg, I don’t think they got the concept, they actually put like 50cents in each egg, well, there are well over 200 eggs that get filled !!! So, you can imagine how much they spent !!! My mother couldn’t believe it (she does a lot of eggs with just a few pennies, and only a couple with maybe one dollar coins, but she maybe spends $50 at the most). Needless to say, all the kids were “rich” that year.

The kids then go out, youngest to oldest and one at a time to get their eggs (babies that cannot walk yet, parents help them of course). Then after all the kids find all the eggs (usually they dont find them all, and around october we still find a couple, what a treat that is!!) they come in and get an adult buddy that helps them tally up the amount they have in their eggs and then they see who got the most money for their piggy banks. It is pretty fun.

After that excitement, my 2 boys, 12 and 9, and my husband play their instruments; violin, viola, and piano. They play some more Easter church music and springtime favorites, and we sing. This is a very enjoyable time.

By now we are all hungry so we eat a big family dinner, usually consisting of ham, scalloped potatoes, pickled eggs & beets, cucumbers in vinegar, rolls, (my sister always brings butter shaped like a rabbit….don’t ask), potato salad, cole-slaw, macaroni and cheese, and rice and peas (a Jamaican tradition), sometimes I will make collard greens, but only sometimes.
Desserts are peach cobbler, apple pie, cheesecake with cherries, and cookies.

Now, I am wondering:

1. How do you spend your Easter, and where in the world do you live ? (so I can see if it differs from place to place)

2. Do you make Easter more religious or more Easter Bunnish ?

3. Do your kids get presents like it is Christmas, or not ?

4. If your not Christian, do you even celebrate the holiday at all, or do you celebrate because of society and just make it about the bunny/spring ?

5. Do you have any different traditions then you were brought up with (have you incorporated any new ones of your own ?)

6. What traditions if any from when you were growing up have you kept ?

7. Do you spend a lot of money at Easter time ? If so, what on ? Food, Presents, games, decorations ?

8. Do you do any pre-Easter things ex: egg hunts, spring events ?

I am just interested in knowing how your Easter is from your little part of the world, Thank you for sharing 

The Plus Size Mommy

Expressions Exchange from 1-800Flowers & I am Featured!*

Expressions Exchange is an informative, online resource for connecting, gifting, etiquette, décor and much more. 1-800-Flowers.com has created this site so people can share their stories with others. I am a Featured Guest Contributer for the site.

I also wanted to remind you to enter to win a $50 gift card to 1-800-Flowers.com that you can use to brighten someone’s Easter, Mother’s Day, or just to cheer yourself up!  You can enter by going here :  http://twurl.nl/h6ean6 .

And even if you aren’t my winner, everyone wins with this 15% off discount code with any flowers ordered through 4/30/2010, The code is  TULIP15 .

Have I told you by the way that Tulips are my favorite flower? So if you win and can’t decide who to send some flowers too….lol  (j/k)

So enjoy the code with the great discount and good luck to you for the giveaway. And thank you for checking out the Expressions Exchange at 1-800-Flowers.com . I am honored to be a featured contributer of theirs. I received the floral arrangement shown above with the tulips from 1-800- Flowers.com. It looks exactly like the one in the photo! I am loving the beautiful arrangement it is so beautiful and really cheers up my day when I pass by it. It is like Spring came a little early for me and a touch of it is inside my home

Happy Spring !

The Plus Size Mommy

*Disclosure – I was sent a floral arrangement at no charge to me from 1-800-flowers.com. All opinions, thoughts, and idea’s are my own. The image above of the tulip arrangement is courtesy of 1-800-flowers.com as well.

Ride & Learn Giraffe from VTech Toys*

The Jungle Gym Ride & Learn Giraffe Bike teaches toddlers (ages 18–36 months) letters, objects, numbers, animals and melodies through active play.

FROM ME : I was sent this toy from VTech Toys prior to Christmas, and cannot believe I forgot to do the review and let you all know about how wonderful this toy is. (I am so ashamed believe me ).

This toy is one of my daughter (who is now 21 mo. old) favorites and she learns form it. Not only educationally but also I think she will be learning to ride a bike this summer! And although it makes an awesome Holiday gift around Christmas time, it still is an awesome gift at Easter as well.  So if your wondering what you can get your toddler this Easter or for their birthday this is definitely a toy they will love.  It has music, games, and it is a cute giraffe that looks like a stationary bike. When your child is playing the games they can win as they pedal the bike part! It is a great invention for children. It is very stable too. This was one of my concerns as I didn’t want it to be able to tip over. But it’s platform is spread wide so chance of tipping is minimal. The base also is adjustable so that as your child gets older and bigger, it “grows” with your child for many fun years of play!

You can see more about the Ride & Learn Giraffe and also more of the great VTech toys here : http://www.vtechkids.com/

My household has always been a VTech Toy family. I have 4 children and all of them grew up playing with VTech toys. They are educational fun which I love and so do they

VTech Toys was also so great to work with over the Winter Holiday Season, they allowed me to Donate some wonderful toys to a local church to brighten 4 children’s Holidays. I was able to donate 2 of the VTech Kidizoom camera’s and also 2 of the V-Smile Motion game systems. I donated them to 4 children in the community where I live. These children’s parent’s were not able to provide too many presents for them this past Christmas and so I was happy to be able to help them with some great presents for their children. The children were VERY happy and thankful to receive these very nice presents this Christmas.

THANK YOU VTech !!!

The Plus Size Mommy

*Disclosure – VTech sent me the Ride & Learn Giraffe and also the 4 presents for donation FREE of charge to me. My review of the Ride  & Learn Giraffe from VTech are my own honest opinions on this product. The idea’s are mine as well. Please also know that the PR firm OlilvyPR, that VTech uses maintains a HIGH standard and code of ethics with bloggers. Also maintains a very high standard of integrity. Therefore in no ways shall this Free product sent to me for me to review shall be held as compensation for a favorable review. As stated before all of my reviews and comments and idea’s about a product are my own honest opinions.

#Wispkiss #NYE 2010 Part 2

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