Archive for the ‘party’ Category

Fantasy Football Fever

My husband has seven Fantasy Football teams to manage this year. Seven. Last year, I was amused by the time and energy he put into the entire football season and this year, I somehow found myself in charge of two teams myself. Together, we play in two leagues, one family league with my in-laws and my sister and her husband. The other team is a group of friends that my husband and I are still in touch with from our college days so both are great ways to keep us all in touch long-distance.

Every Sunday now, I find myself glued to the TV as well as updating the live stats on the Yahoo site (or the Yahoo app on my iPhone) to check in and see how my players are doing. I’ve become obsessed and it’s only two weeks into the season.

Throughout the week, I’m monitoring the injury list and updates on the players so that I can be sure to get my team line up ready come Sunday morning or Monday afternoon. It’s time consuming, that’s for sure, but it also gives my husband and I something else to chat about and he’s loving my involvement.

Driving to pick up my son from school on Monday afternoons, I find myself listening to the Fantasy Freakin’ Football report on my local station, which is very entertaining, as well as informative. My husband can listen in (2,000 miles away) on iHeart radio so together we can listen in and enjoy the same commentary. It’s great!

And then we get to the menu items for the weekend games. Here on the West Coast, the first games start at 10:00 am which means breakfast takes place just before we get ready to watch the first game of the day. Normally, I’ll have some fresh fruit (strawberries, granola,  & yogurt or apple slices with caramel dip) to munch on early in the day. Later on, during the afternoon game, we have a typical lunch followed by an afternoon snack that oftentimes consists of nachos with guacamole or something else that’s quick to make while the game’s going on.

Yes, I’ve become a completely different person on the weekends and while I don’t think that getting married is necessarily a cause to try and change someone, I do think it’s a healthy thing – for my husband and I – that we can bond over football and put our energy into a competitive ‘game’ that also unites us with our family and friends.

To get ready for my weekend and upcoming week of putting together school lunches for my son, a trip to Smart & Final was in order. They have great deals all the time which help me save money on the things I already purchase and this last time, I had fun adding up the savings while I shopped and after looking at my receipt when I got home.

Can you tell my mouth is watering already, thinking about the guacamole dip for tomorrow? Here’s an awesome recipe, which I recommend:

Holy Guacamole
  • 2 ripe organic avocados
  • 1/2 red onion, minced (about 1/2 cup)
  • 1 tablespoon of fresh lime or lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • A dash of freshly grated black pepper
  • 1/2 ripe tomato, seeds and pulp removed, chopped
  • Tabasco sauce (to your liking)
Ripe avocados are the key to any guacamole recipe. Mash anyway that works best for you and simply add the rest of the ingredients. If you want to keep the guacamole green longer, put the avocado pit in the dip to help it last a little longer.

The beer I'll enjoy after the baby comes!

In my three years of blogging, I think this is the first time I’ve shared a recipe – and it’s a good one! Enjoy, and please share your favorite Tailgate Party recipe or your Fantasy Football experience! I’d love to hear from readers who “get” my new obsession!

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home

What the Fudge!

I scream, You scream! We all scream for ice cream!

Growing up, I have fond memories of enjoying ice cream treats with my family – it was a special dessert that we enjoyed quite often and I continue the tradition with my son who is just as big of an ice cream fan as I am.

When I was asked to participate in the Lovin’ Scoopful promotion, I was thrilled. I look forward to hosting an Ice Cream Social here in San Diego and share the story and mission behind the company!

This line up of flavors :

  • Caramel Chocolate Crispy Treat- Uses creamy vanilla with chocolate covered crispy rice pieces, and then swirl in a thick caramel ribbon.
  • Oh My Blueberry Pie- Uses swirled blueberry ribbon into churned light blueberry ice cream and then mixed in sugar coated pie crust pieces.
  • Super Duper Peanut Butter Cup- Uses churned light peanut butter ice cream loaded with mini peanut butter cups and slathered in a thick fudge ribbon.
  • Mintalicious- Uses green mint flavor by mixing in mint filled milk chocolate hearts along with the chocolate chips.
  • Cozy Vanilla- Made with all natural bourbon vanilla extract.
  • Out of this World Chocolate- Uses exotic rich chocolate.
  • So Good Cookies and Cream- Uses milk chocolate and cookies & cream churned light ice cream.
  • Caramel Chocolate Heaven- Churned light caramel ice cream is packed with caramel filled chocolate cups and slathered in a thick fudge ribbon.
  • Yummy Cake & Cookie Dough- Uses cake batter mixed in chunks of chocolate and heaps of chocolate chip cookie dough.
  • What the Fudge!- Made exotically rich ‘Out of This World’ chocolate smothered with fudge.
  • Baba’s Butter Pecan Brittle- Uses butter pecan brittle bits.
  • Mad About Mud Pie- Made with coffee, cookies and cream, almonds and fudge.
  • Rockin’ Raspberry Cheesecake- Made with raspberries and cheesecake bits.

Launched in 2008, Lovin’ Scoopful ice cream has half the fat and 1/3 fewer calories than other premium ice creams. It’s also made from milk and cream of cows not treated with rBST.

Lovin’ Scoopful is committed to donate 25% of its profits ($50,000 minimum annually) to Special Olympics and other causes. The Special Olympics was founded by Maria Shriver’s late mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, in 1962 and this family business is just one way to honor and raise awareness for this great cause.

Maria Shriver is the Creative Director behind Lovin’ Scoopful and has been involved with each step of the developmental process, from coming up with the flavors and names to helping in the design of the logo and quality of the ice cream itself.

Learn more about Lovin’ Scoopful, search for a store near you where you can purchase the ice cream and stay tuned for an awesome giveaway. You can also “like” them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.

Please share in the comment section which flavor – you can only pick one – you are most excited to try! A Lovin’ Scoopful Prize Pack could be yours (one random winner will be selected after the ice cream social takes place).

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home

Moms Rock the Economy

I listened to the Sugar Buzz this morning and heard guest Leah Segedie from Moms Rock the Economy talking about the new site and what it’s all about. She and Kelly Loubet created this online directory to help promote mom-owned businesses. There are plenty of them out there but now we can find them all in one place, not only supporting other moms and families, but promoting local businesses and encourage others to do the same.

The ladies are hosting a Twitter party on September 17th, featuring plenty of giveaways and a chance to meet some awesome moms who rock the economy! Bookmark the page, add your own boutique or business to the directory and take the pledge!

Stop back often because I have a feeling that many more sites will be added once the word gets out…

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home

Back-to-School Bash (Parents Only)

A VIRTUAL BACK TO SCHOOL PARTY JUST FOR PARENTS!

Hey, moms and dads! Getting ready for back to school isn’t easy. We deserve a bash, don’t we? Come to this back to school bash for a chance to connect with other parents and win some cool prizes (not JUST back to school gear for kids, but some great goodies for mom and dad, too).

Date: August 16
Time: 9pm
Location: MommyTalk

We will also announce the winner of the big Back to School Contest, which you can enter here until August 15th. The grand prize is a Back to School Prize Pack worth more than $140! Be sure to register ahead of time (it’s free!) so you can hop right into the chat room. Just show up at the time of the Back to School Bash and you’re in.

BE SURE to invite your parent friends… Everyone is welcome.

Parenting Party

The first annual HAPPY HEALTHY HIP PARENTING Party – sponsored by Java Mama - will take place at The Airport Lounge in Little Italy on Thursday, May 22nd at 8pm.

Tickets are $10 per person ($15 at the door). Each guest will receive two drink tickets and a chance to win some FABULOUS prizes throughout the night. Appetizers will be served until 9:30pm and there will be music and fun to help keep the party going.

Book your babysitter now so you can join us May 22nd at The Airport Lounge.

Tickets are ON SALE NOW!

Sponsoring companies who are donating

prizes/gift certificates for the event include:

Welcome to eBags.com!







Thank you to all of the sponsoring companies!

San Diego Women’s Networking Event

I attended a networking event over the weekend, where I met many wonderful business owners from the area.

Interestingly enough, many of these companies were those I’d have recommended to others, had I discovered them on my own.


Having met so many successful business-owners at this event, I’m even more inspired now to share my services through Happy Healthy Hip Parenting.

I was thrilled to be talking to others about my company and to discuss the importance of family with parents like myself and to encourage them to see the value of investing in the most rewarding relationships they will ever have – the relationship between parent and child as well as the relationship between co-parents.

Already, after marketing and advertising for only six months I have received a number of inquires, enrolled several people in the parenting workshops scheduled at Java Mama in La Mesa, and have witnessed amazing moms and dads with unique family dynamics learn to work together and welcome into their lives a new way of communicating and growing as a family.

There are many unique and wonderful family-owned businesses in the San Diego area. I encourage you to check out the companies listed here and include any comments you may have about these, or other locally-owned businesses that you support.

Super Sunday

Less than one week away, the Superbowl will be the most viewed television event this year (so far)! If you’re looking for a great gift for the party, or a sports fan, don’t miss out on these great gifts:

Teamstore.com

GourmetGiftBaskets.com (Chalifour Flowers and Gourmet)

ESPN Shop

NHL Interactive

It’s Party Time!

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 63 other followers