Need Flowers for that special occasion coming up? Just want to send flowers to someone to let them know you love them and your thinking about them? Or just want to surprise someone, or send a beautiful bouquet “Just Because” ?

Now is your chance. One of my lucky readers will be able to enter to win a wonderful bouquet from Bloom Avenue!
The winner will receive the following:
‘You’re in My Heart’ bouquet. (below) – VALUE : $59.94

Isn’t it simply beautiful?! I LOVE the vase and I love the floral arrangement they chose for it, which includes : Dazzling hot pink miniature gerbera daisies, pink lily, heather, tulips* and red roses.

EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT CODE :

And Everyone is really a winner because you all can use the discount code “plussizemommy” with your order from Bloom Avenue and you will get 15% off your purchase!

Here is how you can WIN :

1. Follow me on Twitter, I am @plussizemommy = 1 entry (comment and tweet me, and tell me you are)
2. Follow me over on Networked Blogs, look over in my right sidebar and just click follow = 1 entry (comment and let me know you are)
3. Follow me over on Facebook, I am “The Plus Size Mommy” , please “Like” me and leave a comment on my wall about the Bloom Avenue giveaway, leave me another comment here = 2 entries (separate comments please)
4. Follow @BloomAvenue over on Twitter, Tweet them and let them know @plussizemommy sent you, then leave me a comment letting me know you did = 2 entries.
5. Visit BloomAvenue.com and browse around the site, come back over here and let me know what your favorite arrangement is = 3 entries. (separate comments please).

This giveaway is for continental USA winners only. This giveaway starts NOW and ends on 2/22/2011 at 9 PM EST. Winner WILL NOT be notified. Winner will be chosen via random.org and then listed in a separate post (so please look for it on the 23rd). Winner will have 48 hours to respond to claim their prize. Prize will then be shipped from the company directly. Winners who do not reply within 48 hours of winner post will be disqualified and a new winner will be chosen.

PLEASE LEAVE separate comments for each entry. Otherwise you will only receive entries based on how many comments you leave.

Thank you for entering and GOOD LUCK!

The Plus Size Mommy

Disclosure – I was sent a Bloom Avenue Floral Arrangement at no charge to me for this review to be conducted. All opinions of mine are my own 100%. Opinions may vary for anyone. The Winner will receive their arrangement directly from the company. I am not responsible for any lost or damaged products.

I was recently given the opportunity to try out a new kind of hot Cocoa. It is made by Cold Stone Creamery. And it is soooo good. We did a shop at Walmart for the Cocoa and then we had a family night where we decorated Holiday cards for a local nursing home (for the patients) and drank the hot cocoa while making them.

Here is my story via a Whrrl picture slideshow :

Cold Stone Cocoa is sold at Walmart stores and when I bought it I was able to get it on Rollback, at less then $2 a box!

This is a great way to spend family time on a cold winters night. Whether it is during a family game night, snuggling up on the couch and drinking it while eating popcorn and watching a movie, or just to have it with some whipped cream or tons of Marshmallows (like we love it) as a dessert after dinner.

Whatever way you like, Cold Stone Creamery Cocoa is definitely worth the try. You can learn more about it and also find some coupons and recipe idea’s here : http://www.realhotchocolate.com/

Cheers!

The Plus Size Mommy

Disclosure- I was compensated for this shop. All idea’s and opinions of Cold Stone Cocoa is my own.

An FYI for my readers, I will be having many giveaways coming up soon. I will be holding Santa Sack giveaways of many of the items that are being featured in my Holiday Gift Guide. So, stay tuned. I am pairing up items and each Santa Sack will hold more than 1 item.

Please pay attention to all the rules of the giveaways as winners WILL need to adhere to them in order to qualify to win.

Also, please follow me on Twitter = @plussizemommy
and also “Like” on Facebook = www.facebook.com/Plussizemommy

I will be having some great cookbook giveaways Thanks to Unilever Brands and my Partnership with them on The Family Dish Website. These will be given away at random to people who follow me and comment to let me know you follow me on Twitter and/or Facebook.

Many great things coming soon !!!!!!

Thank you for being a reader of my blog and follower on Twitter and/or Facebook. You are all appreciated. And to Thank you, you will not want to miss all the great surprises coming up SOON !!!!!

PS> to give you a head start on other contestants, I will tell you, the #1 rule of the giveaway is that you MUST be a follower of this blog to qualify to win, so why not join my site via email now ?!

The Plus Size Mommy

Disclosure- All prizes are sponsored by their corresponding companies as listed in the Holiday Gift Guide. Cookbook giveaway is sponsored by Unilever, as part of my contributor contract to their website. Thank you to all of the companies and brands for all of the wonderful prizes that I will be giving away! Happy Holidays!!!

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

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.

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.

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.

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 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

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