Cooking with Coke- Share your recipes & memories {Giveaway}

Contest Closed
Winner is #61 Julie~ Congratulations!

Hey friends! I am so excited to be working with Coca-Cola on the launch of their new website called Cooking with Coke- a site dedicated to Coke-loving moms and families. Celebrity chefs Ingrid Hoffman and G. Garvin are featured on the site and they both share their memories of Coca-Cola along with some great recipes. I am sure Coca-Cola has been a part of your family gatherings, barbecues, parties and just everyday life since you were a kid. I know it has been that way for me! I have passed along my love for Coke with my kiddos and they always insist on the Coca-Cola brand every time we shop.

Cooking with Coke is intended for moms and families to share their recipes and stories with others. I think most of you will agree that food and Coke are a great combination! Here is my recipe. I loved browsing through the recipes of other fellow Coke lovers.
One of my Coke memories~ Check out these Coke bottles we have had since 1999 (still with 12+ year old Coke in them). They were given to us by my mother-in-law as a souvenir from when the Super Bowl came to Miami, January 31, 1999. We had moved up north but Miami was always in our hearts so it was a big deal when they had the big game in our hometown. We also have some Florida Marlins Coke bottles (when they won the World Series in 1997) in our storage room. Hmm, maybe I should re-do my kitchen with a Coca-Cola theme?!
For the giveaway: In an effort to help promote the Cooking with Coke site, Coca-Cola is providing an Ingrid Hoffmann 12qt Tamale Pot and Steamer with Lid by T-fal® {$59 value} to give away to one lucky Momfiles reader! Nice huh? Imagine all the new food memories you can create with this beauty...
To enter *Mandatory: You must go to the Cooking with Coke site and submit your favorite recipe. It does not have to contain Coke as an ingredient. It's really easy (I promise)- You connect through Facebook and it brings up a simple form to add your recipe with an option to add a photo and to share a memory. It can be as simple as a drink or a dessert. You can refer to my recipe as an example. You must then leave the link to your recipe. If you do not leave your link then your entry will not be valid and it will be deleted. This will count as 5 entries (just leave the link and #1, #2 etc... as an individual comment)

You can gain additional entries by any of the following:
~ "like" Momfiles and Coca-Cola on Facebook and leave your name you are liking from
~ Follow Momfiles and Coca-Cola on Twitter (leave your Twitter name)
~ Tweet this (once a day):

Enter the @CocaCola Cooking with Coke #Giveaway @momfiles http://tinyurl.com/3cfnf3b to win a 12qt Tamale Pot and Steamer w/ Lid by T-fal®

~ Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect
~ Sport the Momfiles badge on your blog/site

This giveaway is open to US Residents and will end at 9:00 PM EST on April 29, 2011. One winner will be selected via random.org and will be contacted via email. Be sure to leave your email address if you do not have a Blogger profile. Good luck!

This giveaway prize was provided by The Coca-Cola Company. The Coca-Cola Company is not a sponsor, administrator or connected in any other way with this giveaway. T-fal® had zero involvement with this contest. I will receive the same prize as a thank you gift for spreading the word about the new site.

WTH Wednesday | Walmart edition

Most of you who read Momfiles regularly, are friends with me on Facebook or Twitter or if you know me personally then you know I am a regular Walmart shopper. I go in there about 2-3 times a week. Time after time I am faced with the ugly side of Walmart but I have learned to deal with it. Now today I greeted the cashier in my usual friendly way by saying "Hello, how are you?" She mumbled something and kept sucking her teeth and rolling her eyes. I obviously did not get the picture that she did not want to be bothered so I proceed to ask her how her day was going so far. Her response was "it's a day". What the hell kind of response was that? Meanwhile she goes back to her eye rolling, disgusted "I hate my job" attitude. I had some items that I had a FREE coupon for, meaning the items would not cost me anything. I even left those 3 items last and put the correct coupon on top of each item to make it easier for her (nice huh?) I also did it because Walmart cashiers treat me as if I am robbing the store when I present a coupon for something free. She then goes on to ring up the last items and scans the coupons. The items cost $2.89, $2.50 & $2.98. The coupon amounts she took off were $2, $2 & $1. Hmm, that doesn't make sense if they were for a FREE product right? I asked her about it and she rolls her eyes and tells me that they round coupons down to cover the tax. I was confused. I do know that Walmart has updated their coupon policy and I can understand most of the rules but not honoring a legit free coupon? What the hell! That is ridiculous and the fact that I have to deal with Ms. Attitude doesn't make it any better. She tells me that she does not agree with the policy and that Walmart must have gotten tired of giving things away for free. I just wanted to smack her. Walmart WILL get their money back when customers use coupons. What a freakin' crock! Needless to say I will NOT be buying anything that requires a coupon at Walmart and as a matter of fact I will be taking a break from giving them my money. In the famous words of Dwayne-- "Now that's some BULLS@#T!"

Random family updates

Is it just me or has time been flying by? I swear it was just January and I look at the calendar and we are about halfway through April. Last week was Spring break and it was wonderful. The girls had an actual break from the usual 4-7 hours of school work they have on a daily basis (weekends included). They had to nerve to complain that they were bored! I told them they had better enjoy that down time since from here until June 3rd there will be no school work break. We sort of lingered around all week and did a little shopping, eating out and getting together with friends. I enjoyed the quality time with the girls that we don't get much of during the busy school week. William was treated like a King while the girls were home. I hate to admit that William is a bit spoiled. The even carried him around like a baby! He loved every minute of it.

Now I am back to my usual getting up at the crack and driving kids everywhere. I would not have it any other way. Chardie has been getting some driving practice in although she will not be getting a car until she graduates high school. There's no need for it if I am available to drive them anywhere they need to go. I don't mind waiting either. I will let her drive herself to school once she gets her license. I'll just have to scoot myself back in the driver's seat and go home.

I have been working with William on his "school" work and he is doing an amazing job! He knows the entire alphabet phonetically and recognizes a lot of words. He has been saying a lot of bigger words as well as speaking in complete sentences. It's amazing how much he adds to his vocabulary daily. We are very proud. We have also been working on potty training. He is getting good at going pee pee and staying dry all day and overnight. Poo poo is a whole other beast. He still hided when he has to go. I don't really know what to do about that one. I guess I have put it in my head that he will get it eventually and thankfully since he is not in daycare/preschool it won't be as big a deal to be fully trained. I'm not stressing.

Dwayne and I have been talking about getting a treadmill. I am willing to buy one that is used but we have not been able to find what we want within our spending limit. I can't believe people think they can sell their USED treadmill for $800! If I was spending money like that I would buy it brand new. We are hoping the right deal will come along.

We have been getting some home improvements done. We are doing a little at a time since we don't use credit cards. Cash goes FAST! I feel like our bank account is a recycling center. All in all everything is going well for the Ismail family. How is everything going with you?

Purex® Complete with Zout® | Review & Giveaway

Contest Closed
Winners are #118 Jim & #57 Kittenish~ Congratulations!

As a member of the Purex Insiders, I was happy to receive a bottle of the new Purex® Complete with Zout®. I was even happier that is was the Free & Clear version since my 16 year old is allergic to most scented laundry detergents. It comes in both Free & Clear and also Fresh Morning Burst scent. Purex® Complete with Zout® combines the proven performance of Purex detergent with the triple-enzyme stain-fighting power of Zout® pretreater. This powerful combination works to get stains out the first time, even tough stains like grass, chocolate, and tomato sauce. The best part is that you can't beat the price!

A cool thing about Purex® Complete with Zout® is that it can be used in both traditional and HE machines. It does not suds up as much in my old washing machine but it still cleaned my clothes like I expected it would. If you are not sure if the product works you can prove it to yourself by signing up for a FREE sample (while supplies last)

The great folks from Purex® have provided me with coupons for 1 FREE Purex® Complete with Zout® detergent to give away to 2 lucky Momfiles readers.

To enter *Mandatory- Leave a comment telling us which scent of Purex® Complete with Zout® you would choose and if you are already a Purex® user.
For additional entries:
~ You can "like" Momfiles and Purex on Facebook
~ Write on the Momfiles wall and let me know you entered this giveaway
~ Follow Momfiles and Purex on Twitter
~ Tweet this giveaway (once daily) and leave a link to your Tweet:

I entered to win a coupon for a FREE bottle of @Purex® Complete with Zout® @momfiles http://tinyurl.com/3fx4jnz #giveaway #laundry

~ sport the Momfiles button on your blog and leave me a link

Giveaway is open to US Residents only and will end at 9:00 PM EST on April 28, 2011. Winners will be chosen via Random.org and will be notified by email. Please leave your email address if you do not have a Blogger profile. Good luck!

Disclosure: I was provided with a product sample to review and all opinions are 100% mine as always.

FRESCHETTA® By The Slice {Giveaway} CLOSED

Freschetta® By The Slice is quite simply one perfect slice of pizza. It has the fresh taste you love in Freschetta® pizza but now in a single slice cut from a whole pizza. Freschetta® By The Slice delivers one perfect slice of pizza in minutes with the same premium ingredients and oven-baked taste right out of the microwave. This would be perfect for an after-school snack or a quick lunch.
It comes in 4 varieties~ BBQ Recipe Chicken~ Chicken, Spinach & Mushroom~ Six Cheese Medley~ Vegetable Medley. I tried the Chicken, Spinach & Mushroom variety and it was delicious. Oh man, it tasted like you pulled it straight out the oven!

The great folks from the Freschetta® Pizza have provided me with a coupon for one FREE Freschetta® By The Slice product as well as a 6 piece container set sporting the Freschetta® logo on the lid to give away to one lucky Momfiles reader.

To enter: *Mandatory- Let us know what variety of FRESCHETTA® By The Slice variety you would like to try.

For additional entries (be sure to leave a separate comment per entry method to count):
~ Follow Momfiles and Freschetta® on Twitter
~ Tweet this giveaway (twice daily) Example:

I entered the @FreschettaPizza #giveaway from @momfiles http://tinyurl.com/5t6bqhk #pizza #contest

~ "like" Momfiles and Freschetta® on Facebook
~ Comment on the Momfiles wall letting me know you entered the Freschetta® By The Slice Giveaway
~ Sport the Momfiles button on your blog
~ Follow Momfiles via Google Friend Connect

This giveaway is open to US Residents only and will end on April 26, 2011 at 9:00 PM EST. Winner will be chose via random.org and will be contacted by email. If you do not have a Blogger profile then be sure to leave your email address. Good luck!

Disclosure: Freschetta® Pizza contacted me and provided products for me to review. All opinions are 100% mine as always.