To support our military families, Cheerios and the USO are partnering in the Cheer Postcard Campaign. Until the end of November 2011, specially-marked boxes of Cheerios cereal will feature Cheer postcards on the front of the box.

All you need to do is cut out the postcard, write a message of thanks on the back, add a stamp, and mail the pre-addressed card to the USO. This would be a great project to do with your kids!

The USO will then deliver the Cheer card to military families across the country. For each postcard received, Cheerios will make a donation to the USO to help fund programs designed to support military families, up to a total maximum donation of $250,000. To kick off the program, Cheerios has already donated $150,000 to the USO and will donate up to an additional $100,000 based upon the number of postcards received.

It’s a simple way to say thanks and lift the spirits of our military families, especially during the holidays when their love ones are away serving our country.

The Cheer program helps support military families

There are more than 1.4 million active duty members in the US military. They’re supported by more than 3.6 million family members. In addition, more than 70 percent of married service members have children under 12.

“The Cheer program offers an easy way for us all to touch the lives of military families. It’s a simple gesture, and a Cheer postcard will be a welcome reminder that others really care,” said Sloan Gibson, CEO and president of the USO. “We love this campaign because it gives cheerfulness directly to individuals while providing funds to support programs that will reach all of the people we serve.”

About the USO

The USO lifts the spirits of America’s troops and their families millions of times each year at hundreds of places worldwide. They provide a touch of home through centers at airports and military bases, top quality entertainment and innovative programs and services. They also provide critical support to those who need them the most, including forward-deployed troops and their families, wounded warriors and their families, and the families of the fallen.

The donation from the "Cheer" program will help fund services and programs like the following:

USO Centers - supporting and comforting military families throughout the world

Military families, whether on bases or in their communities, face isolation, relocations, single parenting duties and often, economic stress. At more than 160 locations, the USO steps in by offering social activities for families, navigation tools for moving to new communities, and support during difficult times such as deployment and loss of a loved one. 

USO Centers adapt to the changing needs of families. In these difficult economic times, they've begun offering “No Dough Dinners,” where military personnel and their families can get a free dinner when the paycheck runs low, no questions asked.

With You All the Way - helping kids cope when mom or dad is deployed or comes home different

Imagine what it’s like to be a child knowing that your parent is in harm's way, and yet trying to be a typical kid like all your friends. “With You All the Way” is one of the USO's signature family programs developed in partnership with the Trevor Romain Foundation to help children and their families prepare for deployment, stay connected during the separation, plan for reintegration and at times, cope with the wounding or loss of a military parent.

“With You All the Way” reaches kids through performances at schools, DVDs and kits to provide them with the tools they need to live a normal life while mom or dad is away serving.

United Through Reading's Military Program - keeping families connected through the power of a simple story

The USO joined United Through Reading® in 2006 to host the Military Program. Using all the emotion and inflection as if they were in the same room with their children, troops visiting a host USO Center, or even stationed at a Forward Operating Base in Afghanistan, read one of many available storybooks into a video camera.  The USO mails the DVD recording and book home, and kids can watch and listen to mom or dad at bedtime, naptime, or anytime. Families back home complete the circle by sending back a touch of home – a photo of the child watching the deployed mom or dad reading the book. 

In 2010, the USO shipped more than 70,000 books and DVDs to military families, bringing the total recordings for the past three years to more than 184,000. 

OPERATION PHONE HOME® - connecting families with their loved ones abroad

With OPERATION PHONE HOME®, the USO provides that very important personal connection that helps deployed troops reach out to their families and stay in touch. Since the program's inception, the USO has distributed more than 2.8 million prepaid international calling cards, each featuring 300 units of talk time. 

In 2009, the USO launched a satellite-based connectivity network, providing a private phone network, high-speed Internet bandwidth and WIFI access points for deployed troops in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait. In 2010, troops made nearly 2.5 million free phone calls home using this network – an average of 200,000 free calls per month. Also thanks to this network, a number of deployed fathers in forward operating bases have gotten the chance to see the birth of their children via Skype.

The USO is a private, non-profit organization, not a government agency. They rely on the generosity of volunteers and donors. To join them in this patriotic mission, and to learn more about the USO, please visit www.uso.org.

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Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Cheerios and received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to post.

Support our military families through Cheerios’ Cheer postcard program #CheeriosCheer is a post from: This Mama Cooks! Stop by for more healthy recipes!

I’m helping SheSpeaks spread that word about Macy's Recipe Share Contest! It’s a great way for you to share your favorite holiday recipe for a chance to win $1,000 and have it featured on Food Republic.

You can submit and vote on your favorite holiday recipe November 1 through November 30. All you need to do is:

1. Go to www.facebook.com/macys.
2. Click on the Recipe Share tab.
3. Submit your recipe.
4. Share the contest via your Facebook and Twitter profiles.

Join SheSpeaks and Macy’s for a #RecipeShare Twitter party!

Attend the SheSpeaks #RecipeShare Twitter Party to learn more about how they’ve teamed up with Macy’s to help you cook, share and celebrate your favorite holiday recipes through Macy’s Recipe Share Contest. Also, it’s a great way to learn more about the contest and how your recipe can be featured on Food Republic’s site!

When you RSVP for their #RecipeShare Twitter Party, you’ll be entered for the chance to win Macy’s gift cards, too!

• When: November11/9 at 8 pm ET
• TweetGrid dashboard: http://bit.ly/tn7IQR
• Follow: #RecipeShare
• RSVP: bitly.com/sYftgI

About Macy's

Established in 1858, Macy's is the Great American Department Store - an iconic retail brand with over 800 stores across the country and online at macys.com. Macy's offers an incredible selection and the best brands, tailored to each and every customer, while providing an experience that transcends ordinary shopping.

A big part of Macy's unique heritage includes their special events like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Fourth of July Fireworks, flower shows, fashion extravaganzas, celebrity appearances and holiday traditions that range from the arrival of Santa Claus to tree lightings and festive window displays. But beyond their signature events, Macy's delivers magical moments every day through our shopping environment, service and merchandise - a great deal of which is sold exclusively through our stores. It's all part of the excitement they've been creating for 151 years, and it's all part of the magic of Macy's.

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Disclosure: SheSpeaks and Macy’s compensated me to share this news with you. All opinions are my own.

Enter Macy’s Recipe Share Contest! #RecipeShare is a post from: This Mama Cooks! Stop by for more healthy recipes!

Two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of hosting the Hunt’s Dinner Sauces Supper Club event at Mise En Place in Denver for a group of local food and mom bloggers. I demoed two recipes for the group, Southwest Stuffed Peppers and Chicken Cacciatore for Pasta (recipe below), to show how easy it is to use Hunt’s Dinner Sauces to create yummy and healthy dishes in 20 to 40 minutes.

Then we dined on the fabulous dishes that the Mise En Place staff created for us.Inspired by the Hunt’s new versatile and delicious sauces, they created some amazing dishes like a spicy gazpacho, a quinoa and vegetable dish, and turkey meatloaf. Even professional chefs like the versatility of Hunt’s Dinner Sauces!

What I love about using Hunt’s Cacciatore Dinner Sauce to make Chicken Cacciatore for Pasta is how quickly you can cook it up from ingredients you probably have on hand like frozen chicken breasts and dried pasta. You can make this recipe even easier by using presliced mushrooms and prediced onions from the grocery store.

Chicken Cacciatore for Pasta

Ingredients:

• PAM Cooking Spray
• 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
• 1 package (8 ounces) sliced fresh mushrooms
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1 jar (16 ounces) Hunt’s Dinner Sauce Cacciatore
• Hot cooked pasta – whole wheat or gluten free (brown rice also works well)

Directions:

1. Spray large nonstick skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat.
2. Add chicken, mushrooms and onion and cook 6 to 8 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink and mushrooms are tender, stirring occasionally.
3. Add Cacciatore Sauce and cover and simmer 5 minutes or until hot.
4. Serve chicken mixture over pasta.

More about Hunt’s Dinner Sauces

Hunt’s Dinner Sauces combine the high quality and backyard garden fresh taste of Hunt’s Tomatoes with other premium ingredients such as vegetables, herbs, spices and olive oil. They come in four flavors:

• Tuscan: a taste of Tuscany with rich olive oil, basil and garlic.
• Southwest: hearty black beans and red bell peppers.
• Greek: a blend of savory artichokes and oregano is inspired by the tastes of Greece.
• Cacciatore: the flavors of Italy with sweet bell peppers and aromatic herbs.

Each 16-ounce jar sells for around $2.49. Right now they’re only available in Colorado in the Denver, Boulder and Colorado Springs areas. They should be coming to a grocery store near you in 2012.

You can learn more about Hunt’s Dinner Sauces at www.hunts.com or HuntsDinnerSauces.com. You can also connect with them on Twitter @HuntsChef and Facebook.

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Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Hunt’s, but my opinions and experiences are my own.

Hosting the Hunt’s Dinner Sauces Supper Club {Chicken Cacciatore for Pasta recipe} #huntsdinnersauces is a post from: This Mama Cooks! Stop by for more healthy recipes!

Last month, along with several other food and mom bloggers, I participated in a filmed roundtable with Jennifer Garner and Frigidaire to help support their charitable efforts on behalf of Save the Children. During our session, we “Talked Turkey” with Jennifer about Thanksgiving, traditions, and how to help families in need this holiday season. You can see the videos at maketimeforchange.com (I’m in the Holiday Feel video.)

You see, Jennifer and Frigidaire are continuing their work on behalf of Save the Children to help support families in need. They also asked us bloggers to help get the word out and encourage you to visit maketimeforchange.com. Every time you do, Frigidaire will donate a turkey and $1 to Save the Children to help support families in need. 

Also, visitors are entered for a chance to win a Frigidaire Gallery® Range with Symmetry™ Double Ovens, the new freestanding range that can roast two large turkeys at once or multiple dishes at different temperatures for maximum cooking flexibility. (Awesome ovens. I now have total oven envy and am hoping that our next home in Massachusetts needs new kitchen appliances. I’ll really miss my Frigidaire Gallery range, microwave and dishwasher.)

Talking Turkey with Chef Suzanne Goin

Before meeting with Jennifer, we also attended a filmed demo with Chef Suzanne Goin, owner of critically acclaimed restaurants, Lucques, A.O.C., and Tavern in Los Angeles. She’s wonderful and had so many delicious and fairly healthy ideas for Thanksgiving like her Braised Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta, Balsamic and Breadcrumbs and her Sweet Potatoes with Sherry, Young Spinach and Romesco. She also demoed a Pumpkin Cake with Pecan Streusel, Creme Fraiche and Maple Ice Cream that was delicious.

You can see all of Chef Goin’s Thanksgiving recipes on the Talking Turkey website. While you’re there, check out videos of Chef Goin cooking with Jennifer. When you do, Frigidaire will donate a turkey and $1 to Save the Children to help support families in need.

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Disclosure: Travel, meals and lodging were provided by Frigidaire. I also received a goodie bag to help me prepare a Thanksgiving meal.

Talking Turkey with Jennifer Garner, Chef Suzanne Goin and Frigidaire is a post from: This Mama Cooks! Stop by for more healthy recipes!

Earlier this summer, my family and I were invited to attend the the Second Annual Snowmass Culinary & Arts Festival in Snowmass, Colorado. The event brings foodies, wine and spirit connoisseurs, and art lovers together in one beautiful location to sample some of the best of Colorado food and art.

Celebrity chefs for 2011 included:

• Chef Richard Sandoval, internationally recognized as the “father of modern Mexican cuisine.”
• Chef Hosea Rosenberg, Bravo TV’s Top Chef 2009 Winner.
• Chef Alex Seidel, Food and Wine’s 2010 Best New Chefs in America.
• Chef Frank Bonanno, owner of six restaurants and bars in Denver.
• Chef and host of PBS Texas Cooking & Lifestyle series host, Christy Rost.
• Diane Hendericks, a food and nutrition specialist, personal chef, cookbook author and on-air contributor for Good Morning America Health.

Due to family obligations, I was only able to see a few of the food demonstrations and was unable to attend the alcohol tastings. However, the cooking demos I did attend were worth sitting in a hot tent all day.

Christy Rost was lovely and I appreciated her healthful, colorful and delicious home cooking. If you’re a home cook who wants to serve healthy and delicious food using fresh and local ingredients, you must check out her show and her cookbooks.

Chef Rosenberg was incredibly down to earth and generous. He shared not only his cooking expertise, but his experiences on Top Chef. He had no problems answering embarrassing questions about the show’s “make out scene” or the trials and tribulations of being a reality show contestant. He’s a very humble guy.

I was also inspired seeing how easily Chef Seidel made fresh ricotta. Really, there’s no excuse not to make it yourself. I also loved hearing about his farm and goats and made a mental note to make a reservation at his restaurant, Fruition, soon.

Affordable, yes. But family friendly?

Compared to other Colorado food festivals like Aspen’s Food & Wine Classic or the Denver International Wine Festival, the ticket price for the three-day event was a reasonable $65, which included all the demonstrations and the Palette of Pairings on Saturday. Separate event tickets for Tequilas & Tapas were available for $30, and Palette of Pairings tickets were $45. The Viking Stage Kitchen Cooking Demonstrations on Friday and artist exhibition were free with your pass.

The promoters told me the low ticket price was to keep the event more family friendly. However, children are not allowed at any of the alcohol tastings and could be bored at the cooking demos. My advice is to bring someone along (grandparents, a teenage babysitter, or a non-foodie spouse) who will occupy the children while you watch the cooking demonstrations.

Lots of stuff for families in Snowmass

There were many fun things for families to do outside of the festival, such as visiting the Snowmass Mall and seeing the Ice Age exhibit about the mastodon, mammoth and other bones they found recently in the area. I think I enjoyed the exhibit more than the kids.

There’s also hiking, mountain biking, golf, fishing, horseback riding and other outdoor activities in the area. We went on a gondola ride up the mountain, and the views were gorgeous. Of course, there’s the pool at the hotel, which my kids loved and hated to leave.

The Sweet Life

One place you may want to bring the kids to is The Sweet Life restaurant in Snowmass. (They also have a place in Telluride.) It features typical ‘50s diner fare like burgers and fries. But if you have a picky kid who only eats corndogs or if you’re dying for a delicious ice cream shake, this is the place for you. (Luckily, they did have several salads on the menu if you’re trying to eat healthy.)

Nathan got a Ultimate Mushroom Burger with a “shooter” of the milkshake of the day. (Nathan thought the shooter was really cool.) Lucie insisted on getting corn dogs bites since they ran out of corn dogs on the kids menu. Both kids had milkshakes, which they loved. Nathan said it was one of the best burgers he ever had and Lucie was happy with her bites. I had the Double Scoop salad with egg salad and tuna salad. It was delicious, very filling and the greens were very fresh.

While we had a lovely view of the mountain, the place did seem a bit run down (not dirty, just worn out). For being in a higher end resort and after looking at the pictures on their website, I was surprised by that. With the prices they charge ($11 for my salad), it could have been a bit nicer.

Staying at The Viceroy

The highlight of our time in Snowmass was our stay at The Viceroy Snowmass. First, I couldn’t believe the room rate - $125 for a suite that included a full kitchen, a living room, a master bedroom and bath, a second bathroom and a den. Both the den and the living room had pull out sofas, so my kids had their own rooms and flatscreen TVs. (No fighting over what they wanted to watch!) I had a bedroom all to myself and a tub I could do a few laps in. (Well, almost.)

We also had a balcony, which made me sad since my husband, Paul, was unable to join us as he was on a business trip that weekend. After putting the kids to bed, it would have been lovely to talk and enjoy a few glasses of wine together while sitting outside.

Of course, the kids loved swimming in the pool and hanging out in the hot tub. The pool was surrounded by chaise lounges and sunning platforms. There was also cocktail and food service by the pool if you needed a drink or snack.

Dining at The Viceroy

Dining at the Viceroy was wonderful, too. One night the kids had room service while I attended a media dinner at the Eight K Restaurant upstairs. (My kids are old enough to stay in the room by themselves. Even so, I instructed them to call the desk in case of an emergency and not let anyone in the room but me, a police officer, or a firefighter.)

If the gorgeous rooms didn’t sell me on the Viceroy, the food did. While, I’m sure they went overboard since it was a media event, I was very impressed by the fare, the presentation, the variety, the taste, and the knowledge of the staff. Definitely a place for a romantic meal (great views!) while the kids stay in the room.

Making Snowmass Culinary & Arts Festival even more family friendly and affordable

It looks like we’ll be moving out of state sometime this year and leaving our beloved Colorado behind. However, if we were staying, I’d definitely attend the Snowmass Culinary & Arts Festival again next year, but I’d do things differently.

First, I’d bring my husband along to keep the kids busy with outdoor activities during the day. Yet he loves to cook and watch cooking demos, too, so maybe we’d bring his mom along to babysit. I know she’d enjoy the trip and spending time with her grandkids at the pool while we attended the festival and went to the wine and spirits tastings. (Frankly, all the kids wanted to do was watch TV, swim in the pool and take rides up and down the mountain. The cooking demos were completely lost on them.)

I’d also take advantage of having a kitchen and stop along the way up to Snowmass to buy groceries. (I did bring some food, but not enough, which is why I had to order dinner from room service for the kids.) There’s no point in spending money on breakfast and lunch when you can easily make them yourself and save your appetite (and money) for the food at the evening tastings or at the Eight K Restaurant.

If you don’t have the advantage of having a babysitter to bring on the trip, the Viceroy also offers children’s activities and full day summer camp. (Call the hotel for details.)

Or you can leave the kids at home, get a smaller room, and enjoy a romantic weekend taking in the gorgeous views of Snowmass and the delicious tastes and sights of the Snowmass Culinary & Arts Festival. The festival would also make a great Girls Getaway Weekend for you and your foodie gal pals.

Hope to see you next summer in Snowmass!

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Disclosure: I was provided with a room, an invite to the media dinner, gondola ride tickets, festival passes, and a meal with my family at The Sweet Life. All opinions are my own.

Best of Colorado summer: Snowmass Culinary & Arts Festival is a post from: This Mama Cooks! Stop by for more healthy recipes!

Have your heard about Team Continuum and Pixels of Promise? Founded as a not for profit charitable organization in 2003, Team Continuum provides immediate, vital, non-medical assistance to cancer patients and their families where the diagnosis results in disruption, hardship and uncertainty in their everyday lives.

They also provide funding to health care facilities and foundations, to enhance the delivery of care, communication and educational services for cancer patients.

Some examples of how they’ve helped include:

Buying airline tickets, purchasing schoolbooks and laptops for children, paying bills for patients struggling to take care of themselves and their families. They’ve also funded patient narrative programs, cooking programs, bought wheelchairs for under-funded hospitals, spruced up waiting rooms, and even brought a Christmas tree to a hospital.

You can help sponsor Pixels of Promise

The Pixels of Promise website is where you can sponsor a Pixel of Promise to help Team Continuum help cancer patients focus on getting better by:

• Paying their bills for immediate, non-medical expenses such as rent and utilities.
• Supporting programs at healthcare facilities.
• Helping Team Continuum athletes raise funds as they participate in major endurance events.

Pick a pixel, read about someone’s story, and sponsor them by donating to a great cause.

Not Called Team CAN For Nothin'

This year Team Continuum is honored to be an official Charity Partner of the New York Road Runners. They’re among the largest independent teams in the world-class 2010 ING NYC Marathon.

And now you can run with them! If you’re interested in running the NYC Marathon, but didn’t get in via the lottery or did not register at all, you can secure an entry by joining Team Continuum online teamcontinuum.net. Benefits include coaching, race day gear, and a private pre-race pasta party.

For more information visit teamcontinuum.net or call 917-595-4168.

Connect with Team Continuum

You can find Team Continuum on Facebook and on Twitter @TeamContinuum.

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Disclaimer: This sponsorship is brought to you by Team Continuum who I’ve partnered with for this promotion.

Team Continuum and Pixels of Promise: helping to support cancer patients is a post from: This Mama Cooks! Stop by for more healthy recipes!

SUBWAY®’s one of the few fast food places that I feel good about taking my kids to. Not only do my kids love their sandwiches, we can get a healthy meal at a pretty decent price. It’s been a timesaver too as it was my go-to place last summer to stop for sandwiches to before Nathan’s Little League games.

SUBWAY® Restaurants have proudly sponsored Little League® Baseball and Softball since 2005 as a way to encourage Little Leaguers and their families to live active lifestyles and eat healthy. That’s why I’m happy to promote SUBWAY® restaurants's third annual SUBWAY® Baseball DeSIGNS Tour, which includes more than 40 baseballs designed by young artists and signed by celebrities and athletes including:

• musician Katy Perry
• actor Zac Efron
• gold medal-winning swimmer Michael Phelps
• pro football’s Drew Brees
• baseball star Ryan Howard
• basketball Rookie of the Year Blake Griffin
• NASCAR driver Carl Edwards
• tennis superstars Serena and Venus Williams
• celebrity chef Robert Irvine
• Jared Fogle, the “SUBWAY® guy”
• and many others.

You can view all the baseball designs here.

SUBWAY® Baseball DeSIGNS Tour

The SUBWAY® Baseball DeSIGNS Tour will visit three U.S. cities – Los Angeles, Phoeniz and New York – and end at the Little League® Baseball World Series in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The baseballs will then be auctioned off on eBay with all proceeds benefitting the Little League® Baseball Urban Initiative program, which helps fund start-ups, developments, equipment, clinics and field maintenance for inner-city youth leagues and teams.

“As the world’s leading youth sports organization for over 70 years, Little League® is focused on providing a community program that includes the opportunity to promote physical activity and a healthy lifestyle through participation,” said Stephen D. Keener, President and Chief Executive Officer of Little League® Baseball and Softball. “SUBWAY® continues to reach out and embrace the focus of the Little League Urban Initiative and its benefits to Leagues. We’re looking forward to this summer-long event and its culmination in August at the Little League Baseball World Series.”

How you can help

Besides supporting your local Little League teams and players, you can help inner-city youth leagues and teams by bidding on the celebrity SUBWAY® Baseball DeSIGNS Tour baseballs on August 19 through August 28 on eBay at www.ebay.com/subwaybaseballdesigns.

For more information about the SUBWAY® Baseball DeSIGNS Tour, visit SubwayKids.com and the Official SUBWAY® Facebook page.

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Disclosure: This post was sponsored by SUBWAY®. All opinions are my own.

Help SUBWAY® raise money for the Little League Urban Initiative is a post from: This Mama Cooks! Stop by for more healthy recipes!

This year’s BlogHer conference was at the San Diego Convention Center and the San Diego Marriott Marquis and Marina. I’ve been attending BlogHer since 2006 when there were only 600 women in attendance. This summer there were over 4,100 attendees!

Many told me they felt that this year’s conference was positive, fun and mellow. Maybe it was the gorgeous San Diego weather and the lovely breezes coming off San Diego Bay. It could have been the beautiful views of the Coronado Bridge. Or maybe we were just energized by working out with Bob Harper from The Biggest Loser, Quaker’s new spokesperson.

The hunt for stevia

This year, I was thrilled to be sponsored by the Global Stevia Institute to talk to other attendees about stevia and to find stevia-sweetened products at BlogHer 2011.

Sadly, there was no Pure Via presence at BlogHer 2011 even though PepsiCo has been a longtime sponsor of the conference. However, they did have a booth where attendees could sample Trop50, which is sweetened with stevia. They featured the Lemonade and the Raspberry Lemonade flavors, which are delicious. However, my favorite is still the Pomegranate Blueberry.

There was only one other stevia sweetened product on the expo floor – nimble by Balance Bar. It’s sweetened with stevia and brown rice syrup, and made especially for women and moms.

There were no stevia packets available at the coffee and tea service areas – just the usual pink, blue, yellow and white stuff. It was the same at the parties and in the local restaurants and coffee houses. This was surprising as the conference offered a variety of healthy, vegan and gluten free meals.

Let’s talk about stevia

While I’m beginning to find stevia packets here in Colorado at hotels, restaurants and coffee houses, I don’t see it in other places I visit. That’s why I always carry packets of stevia in my purse. It’s a great way to start a conversation about the benefits of stevia as a zero calorie, natural sweetener.

When talking with other attendees about stevia, many were very knowledgeable about it, loved using stevia in their coffee and cooking, and even told me their favorite brand. Usually they mentioned Truvia, as the company has done several campaigns with bloggers through various public relation and marketing agencies.

All in all, I can’t wait for BlogHer 2012 in NYC and have already bought my ticket. Hope to see you there! I'll be the one digging the stevia packets out of my purse.

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Disclosure: the Global Stevia Institute sponsored my time at the Blogher 2011 conference.

Looking for stevia in San Diego at BlogHer 2011 #blogher11 is a post from: This Mama Cooks! Stop by for more healthy recipes!

My husband and son are avid golfers and they’re getting my daughter, Lucie interested in playing golf, too, this summer. (Having a set of really cool, pink clubs from Santa certainly helped.) That’s why I wanted to share with you that not only is July Family Golf Month, but this week (July 4-11) is Take Your Daughter to the Course Week.

PGA/LPGA Professionals at golf facilities in your area are offering special events, rates and programs to families in July and throughout the summer, making it a great time to try out the game and spend quality time as a family.

During Take Your Daughter to the Course Week, over a thousand courses nationwide offer a free greens fee to young women accompanied by a paying adult, making it a great opportunity to take daughters, granddaughters or nieces to the local course and introduce them to playing golf. Many facilities also host special promotions and a free clinic during the week.

The updated list of Family Golf Month events can be found at PlayGolfAmerica.com.

Why golf is a great sport for children and the whole family!

Suzy Whaley, a PGA and LPGA Professional, is one of the nation’s most acclaimed golf instructors and public speakers. Here are her tips and reasons why you should play golf as a family and how to get your family and children started in golf.

• It provides uninterrupted family time outdoors and is also a great way to spend quality time with your family (and friends!)
• It’s great exercise in a beautiful setting. Studies show that walking the golf course reduces levels of bad cholesterol, burns calories, prevents heart disease, and helps oxygenate the body and improve posture.
• Golf helps children learn how to focus and teaches great life lessons - respect, integrity, sportsmanship, camaraderie and problem solving.
• Golf’s a great business tool for networking for when they get older – for both boys and girls!
• Golf is a game for a lifetime and can enjoyed by the young and old. How many other sports can a parent, child and grandparent participate in together?
• Golf is a non-contact sport and does not require a great deal of athletic prowess.
• Many golf facilities offer discounted junior rates and discounted “locals only” rates, making it an affordable family activity.
• It’s fun!

Ways to get your family to start playing golf

• Visit PlayGolfAmerica.com to find family programs in your area.
• Contact your local PGA of America Section at PGA.com for a list PGA Professionals in your area.
• Contact your local parks and recreation departments for children and family programs.
• Visit your local public golf facility and gather information on their children and family programs.
• Enroll your children in the “Golf in Schools” program if they are offered in your area.

How to get your kids started in golf

• Encourage your children to hit balls with you at the driving range.
• Make golf a family activity.
• Watch or attend a golf tournament together.

Why This Mama Cooks! loves golf

• I’m not a golfer, so playing golf gets all the noisy, messy people out of the house so I can get some work done around here.
• It gets the kids outside doing something physical. Plus it lets them spend some one-on-one time with their dad.
• You can play golf even if you’re pretty beat up physically. If your knees are bad, get a cart!
• You can always find good deals on golf, from Twilight Rates to discount coupon books.
• When you’re child is old enough, you can drop them off at the course by themselves to take a lesson and play in a junior league with other kids. Give them a few bucks for lunch so they can hang out even longer. The pros and course staff love having kids around and always keep an eye on them for you. (A cellphone in their golf bag is a great idea, too.)
• High school golf teams – great competitive sport without the risk of serious injuries like concussions from football. Also, if your child is good enough, talk to their coach or a golf pro about applying for golf scholarships for college.
• High school golf team members can usually get local caddying jobs during the summer. Great way to earn money, improve their skills and build a resume.
• Don’t forget the sunscreen, hat, glove, band-aids, bug spray and a water bottle!

July is Family Golf Month – get out and play! is a post from: This Mama Cooks! Stop by for more healthy recipes!

 If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you may remember when the kids and I attended the Kids Good for You Cooking Academy Event with Jennifer Garner and Frigidaire back in January. We had a fantastic time and Nathan’s picture made People magazine, the New York Post and several celebrity gossip websites.

Well, earlier this month, actress Jennifer Garner once again joined parents and children, this time for a lesson in eating fresh and healthy. The farm fresh cooking experience was led by Adam Kaye, chef and kitchen director at Blue Hill at Stone Barns restaurant, a pioneer in the farm-to-table movement.

Together, they kicked off the Frigidaire Kids’ Cooking Academy Summer Session, giving families the chance to learn about the seasonality of food and gain first-hand experience preparing just-picked ingredients.

“I’m a huge fan and avid supporter of my local farmer’s market,” said Jennifer. “Showing kids how foods go from farm to table is an important first step in creating healthy eating habits. The Frigidaire Summer School is a great way to educate kids and their parents about the importance of eating fresh.”

You can check out tips and recipes from Chef Adam Kaye on Frigidaire’s Make Time for Change website.

Check in with Gowalla and raise money for Save the Children

To help give more children access to fresh foods, Frigidaire is working with Gowalla, a social media smart phone app. Using Gowalla, every time you check in at your local farmer’s market, Frigidaire will make a $1 donation to Save the Children as part of their $500,000 commitment to the cause.

“We’re proud to be partnering with Frigidaire and Jennifer Garner to raise awareness for such an important and mobilizing issue,” said Andy Ellwood, director of business development at Gowalla. “We’re working together with our community to encourage people to participate and show their support for Save the Children. It truly embodies Gowalla’s philanthropic mission, and is a great example of using social media for social good.”

You can also make a commitment to eat fresh at Frigidaire.com to trigger a donation. Plus, you’ll be automatically entered for a chance to win a new Frigidaire Gallery French Door Refrigerator.

For more information go to maketimeforchange.com or connect with Frigidaire on Facebook or Twitter.

All pictures courtesy of Frigidaire.

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Disclosure: I’m a former Frigidaire Test Drive Mom and was sent a gift card and a reusable shopping bag to take my family to our local farmer’s market.

Eating fresh this summer with Jennifer Garner, Frigidaire and Gowalla #eatfresh is a post from: This Mama Cooks! Stop by for more healthy recipes!