Mixed feelings

Well volleyball season will be coming to a close next week. Chardie's team improved tremendously this year although it was not enough to take them to the play-offs. Brie's team is undefeated as of this week. Next Wednesday is the final game of the season and that will determine who the District Champions will be. We are facing an equally talented team so it's any one's game. I won't lie, my nerves are bad right now!

I am really happy in some ways that the season is almost over yet really sad. The girls really love the sport and don't want it to end. The bright side of things for them is at least they can have more time for schoolwork, friends and family. During v-ball season they have no life. Just school and volleyball. I have really enjoyed watching some good volley action and next year both girls will be at the same school together. This means only going to one school for both! I really am so happy about that yet at the same time I can't believe little Brie (although she is taller than me) will be a freshman in high school *sighs* I guess growing up is something that can't be avoided. I sure am proud of those girls. At least now I can see them a lot more and I can have my shopping partners back. It's not the same gallivanting all over without them :)

Yo Gabba Gabba! prize pack giveaway

**Contest Closed**
Winner is #9 Heather~ Congratulations!

Hey guys! I have no shame in admitting that I (along with the entire family) LOVE Yo Gabba Gabba! We all flipped out when we found out that the YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE!: THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY! North American Tour is coming to our city of Columbia, SC on Nov 2! Show times are at 2 and 6:30 p.m. at the Township Auditorium. Tickets are $39 and $29, plus applicable service fees, available at Township Auditorium Box Office, All Ticketmaster Outlets, by phone at 800-745-3000, or online at http://www.ticketmaster.com.


Champions on the stage and in the community, the Gabba Gang will partner with Habitat for Humanity to further their homebuilding efforts in Columbia. In addition, $1 from every ticket sold for YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE!: THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY! in Columbia will be donated to the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate. VIP packages with premium tickets and meet and greets will also be available. For complete tour, ticket information and VIP packages, visit www.yogabbagabbalive.com. Children under one year of age will be admitted free to sit on a parent’s lap. *Dates, venues and ticket prices are subject to change.

The state-of-the-art production features music, singing, dancing and animation. The show is an interactive experience that offers audience members of all ages the opportunity to witness their favorite characters come to life. Joining the characters on stage will be hip-hop legend Biz Markie to teach kids how to beat box with “Biz’s Beat of the Day”. Special guests will join the party on stage for the Super Music Friends Show and Dancey Dance segments.

Be sure to go to www.yogabbagabbalive.com to see if the show will be visiting your city.
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GIVEAWAY:
I am so excited about the great Yo Gabba Gabba! prize pack that I get to give away to one lucky reader! The prize pack includes a Yo Gabba Gabba!, Party in My Tummy book, a Yo Gabba Gabba! Clubhouse DVD and a Yo Gabba Gabba!: Music is Awesome Volume 2 CD!

The Nickelodeon DVD “Yo Gabba Gabba!: Clubhouse” released on June 15 and features performances by musical guests Erykah Badu, The Killers, Jimmy Eat World and more.

Based on the popular song from Yo Gabba Gabba!, Party in My Tummy makes healthy eating fun for little ones! Lift the flaps, sing along, and find out what everyone in Gabba Land is bringing to the party!

YO GABBA GABBA! MUSIC IS AWESOME! has a compilation of music featured from Seasons I, II & III

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To Enter (Mandatory) Tell us who your favorite Yo Gabba Gabba! character or episode is. Maybe you have a favorite guest from the show.

For additional entries:
~ "like" Momfiles and Yo Gabba Gabba! on Facebook
~ Follow YGG! on Twitter
~ Follow Momfiles via GFC
~ Sport the Momfiles button on your blog
~ Follow Momfiles on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway (once daily):

Get your sillies out with a Yo Gabba Gabba! prize from @momfiles http://blog.momfiles.com/2010/10/yo-gabba-gabba-prize-pack-giveaway.html

Giveaway is open to US Residents only and will end on October 29, 2010 at 9:00 pm EST. Please leave a visible email address if you do not have a Blogger account.

Disclosure: I will receive complimentary tickets to the YGG! Live show as compensation for my post.

Wordless Wednesday

William was about 10 months in this photo.

Pink Together, Raising Awareness and a Giveaway

**Contest Closed**
Winner is #77 sohamolina~ Congrats!

I am sure that no matter where you shop you have noticed that everything is in pink to represent Breast Cancer Awareness. General Mills created Pink Together. Pink Together is a campaign that aims to raise greater awareness of the disease and to help those touched by breast cancer find strength together. You are encouraged to visit PinkTogether.com, an ever-growing community of hope of more than 680,000 breast cancer survivors and supporters. There you can share stories, post comments of encouragement and send virtual flowers to let someone know you are thinking of him or her. There are so many inspiring stories on there and it is a great feeling knowing that you can get support from others- even from strangers.

To encourage personal connections in the online community, General Mills will donate $1 (up to $20,000) to Komen for each inspirational story submitted, encouraging comment posted, or virtual flower of support sent on PinkTogether.com, and for each shared message of hope posted on Pink Together’s Facebook fan page during the month of October (up to $5,000). This $25,000 is in addition to the $2 million donation General Mills has committed to Komen to advance breast cancer research and support education and community outreach projects.

I was provided with a “Connecting for a Cure” gift pack for spreading the word about this great cause from General Mills through MyBlogSpark. My gift pack included a Pink Ribbon car magnet and key chain, travel mug, and drawstring backpack, along with coupons for free packages of one Big G cereal, Green Giant® Frozen Veggies, Macaroni Grill® Dinner Kit, Fiber One® Bars and Progresso® Soup . All of the items included in the gift pack are from ShopKomen.com, where 25% of the merchandise purchase price benefits Komen. Let me tell you, there are some cute things on the site for all pink lovers!


MyBlogSpark is also providing another "Connecting for a Cure" gift pack for one lucky Momfiles reader to win! Here's how to enter:

Mandatory: "like" the Pink Together Facebook page and send a message of hope. I did it and it only takes about 20 seconds!

Additional entries:
~ Sends a virtual flower or add a comment on the Pink Together site.
~ "like" Momfiles on FB
~ Follow Momfiles on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway (once daily)-

Win a #myblogspark Connecting for the Cure gift pack @momfiles http://blog.momfiles.com/2010/10/pink-together-bringing-awareness-and.html

~ sport the Momfiles button on your blog
~ Check out the ShopKomen site and tell us which item you would be interested in purchasing.

This giveaway is open to US Residents only and will end on October 28, 2010 at 9:00 pm EST. Winner will be selected via random.org and contacted by email. Please be sure to leave a valid email address if you do not have a Blogger profile. Good luck!

Disclosure: General Mills provided me with information and giveaway through MyBlogSpark

When the neighbors give you eggplant....

You make Eggplant Parmesan!

It was easy and complicated at the same time to make. I started with about 3 big sized eggplant. I washed, peeled and sliced them into 1/2 inch thick slices. I had 3 separate dishes set up for dredging. First bowl had some plain flour. The second bowl had beaten eggs with some seasoned salt, cracked pepper & some Kosher salt. Third bowl- plain fine breadcrumbs. I lightly coated each slice of eggplant with flour then into the egg and then into the breadcrumbs. I fried the slices in Canola oil for about 4-5 minutes (until nice and brown).

I prepared my sauce. I used 2 jars of Barilla tomato and basil sauce. I added my own seasoning to taste including a little sugar, garlic, some hot pepper sauce etc... I also added good handful of freshly chopped cilantro instead of the traditional basil.
I started the layering process with the sauce and cheeses. I used Mozzarella, Feta and Parmesan. I know Feta in not traditionally used either.
I baked it covered for 25 minutes at 375 and then for another 10 minutes uncovered to brown the top. It makes the entire house smell so good!

Here is the final product. It came out delicious and the Feta and cilantro were the secret ingredients to make it extra special.