Celebrating a Girls Night In @Michael_Angelos Style

Every once in a while a girls night in is needed. To de-stress, regroup, and chit chat. The best thing about girls nights is the company, but second best is the food. So we decided to have a little fun and do a taste test... to see who has the best lasagna!

About two years ago I was introduced to Michael Angelo's frozen Italian entrees. Not only do they not use preservatives, the food is made in small batches with fresh foods found at the market place (not the science lab) to make sure that using fresh ingredients goes a long way. Just as you would prepare an extra lasagna for another night and put it in the freezer, Michael Angelo's prepares and packages their meals for your family.

It's All About The Family
And with any good meal comes the people behind it. And I can tell you first hand that the people behind Michael Angelo's are pretty special. Michael Angelo's was started by Michael Angelo and his mother, Sara, and every box carries their family name.

Like any good son, Michael believes that sharing Sara's home-style Italian cooking is the best way to deliver quality and convenience to anyone who truly cares about what they eat. In the Angelo family, authentic, Italian taste is everything.

Inviting the Family Over
So in keeping with the family theme, I invited a few special women over for a night of pasta, wine, and fun! My in-laws! You see... my mother in law is one of 5 girls. Can you believe it? So we invited 4 of the sisters who are in town over for a night in. My sisters in law were busy so it was just the 5 of us.

Knowing these ladies pretty well, I knew they'd be up for anything. So when I had comment cards and pens out, they had no problem taste testing for me and giving me their full opinion. And they didn't even need some wine to win them over. Cookies were a must though.

Cooking Up The Lasagna
Any good taste tester knows that variety is key. We can't just compare two dishes, we needed three lasagnas to really test the competition. So I prepared three different brands for my in-laws. What was most surprising, besides the fact that each looked different from the other, was the fact that each had a different cooking time! Ranging from 35 minutes all the way up to 80 minutes. And no, I didn't use the microwave.

Without telling my family what lasagna was which brand, we dug in and tried each three. I set out marker cards so that the ladies could decide what they thought about each lasagna. And these ladies had some pretty detailed opinions about the pasta!

The Sides and Drinks
In an effort to give a well-balanced meal, I also picked up a bag of Green Giant Seasoned Steamers. The Tuscan-Style broccoli was the only one Target carried that sounded good with the pasta so we went with that.

Each of the ladies also tried the broccoli and sadly it didn't meet the mark. Most thought the broccoli was too soggy for their taste even though I cooked it the minimum amount of time. It just didn't work for this family. However I think if we would have been able try one of the other flavors we would have enjoyed it a bit more! I'll be giving the Mediterranean blend a try soon.

I also served some yummy wine (which I partook in) and delicious cookies from Uncle Biffs for dessert. While my in-laws aren't crazy about wine, they are crazy about cookies! No, seriously... you should see our Christmas get togethers. Cookiepalooza!

Our Results
While all of the lasagnas were tested, there clearly was no winner. Our group was split between two brands (and one of them was Michael Angelo's!). We did agree on one thing. The brand we didn't like. Sorry, Stouffers!

What most liked about Michael Angelo's was the cheese factor. This lasagna is tasty and has plenty of delicious cheese in the center. The flavor was great, not too spicy, and it wasn't runny or juicy. And it was known to have hte best sauce. However a few preferred the Marie Callendars lasagna (with a lot more fat!) because of the texture. The noodles in the Michael Angelo's lasagna were too thick.

I absolutely loved the Michael Angelo's lasagna and the thick noodles added to that love for me. From the amazing meaty sauce to the thick delicious noodles and the surplus of cheese, Michael Angelo's was the winner for me hands down.

A Great Time All Around
After we finished our dinner we decided to enjoy a fun game of Spontuneous. And the rest of the night was a blur of cookies, laughter, and fun. If you're planning a night in for the girls and don't want to futz with dinner, consider grabbing a frozen lasagna (or three) and a large salad, pairing it with some wine, and enjoy a night without worrying about what's for dinner!

You'll enjoy a tasty meal filled with delicious ingredients right from the grocery store with an Italian taste that you can't get anywhere else! Well... besides Italy.

A Trip To Italy!
If you're interested in enjoying your meal in Italy, Michael Angelo's is offering one grand prize winner an eight-day trip for two through the Trip to Italy sweepstakes. Winners will stay in a private villa with the Michael Angelo’s family, and will tour the region throughout the trip, including an exclusive event at Castello Banfi. Founder and CEO Michael and his mom Sara spend a great deal of time in Italy, and they make great tour guides!

The sweepstakes is open now through November 4, 2012. I encourage you to enter the sweepstakes and to share it with your friends, family, and more! Who knows? You might be enjoying your lasagna in Italy!

Disclaimer: I received a Walmart Gift Card to facilitate this taste test for review purposes only. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 

Just Keep Swimming over to the Theater {Finding Nemo in 3D - In Theaters September 14th}

Every once in a while there's a movie that is just made for the big screen. And experiencing it in any other way does the film an injustice.

One of my favorite Disney movies of all time is Finding Nemo. Sure it isn't a "classic" but it's an amazingly triumphant story that gives hope to anyone who's just a little bit different. In 2008, Finding Nemo was named one of the top 10 greatest animated films ever made by the American Film Institute. And I agree!

This past weekend my husband had the opportunity to take our son to see Finding Nemo in 3D. I thought it fitting that a father take his son to see the movie and they had an absolute blast. With popcorn and water in hand they headed to the theater with their 3D glasses.

Since my son is a bit too small to fully see the screen, they grabbed a booster seat to make it easier for him.

Once settled, they munched on popcorn and waited for the movie to start. Throughout the movie my son kept mentioning how cool it was to see the fish so big. He even asked if we could upgrade our fish tank to be the size of the screen. Sadly, my husband had to tell him no.

The experience of watching Finding Nemo in 3D on the big screen was definitely one that made memories for my husband and son. And I'm sure I'll be hearing about it for months to come...

On September 14th, Finding Nemo is coming back to theaters. And it isn't just coming back, it's coming back in 3D! 

So if you missed out on experiencing Finding Nemo in theaters the first time around, here's your chance to relive the story of Nemo, his father, Dori, and all of the other marine life under the sea. You won't be disappointed.

And if you don't head to the theaters, Bruce just might pay you a visit!

Finding Nemo returns to theaters for the first time in 3D September 14th, 2012!  

For more information check out Finding Nemo 3D  on Facebook or head on over to the Disney's Finding Nemo website and take a look at sneak peeks, games to play online, activities to do at home, and more.

Disclaimer: I received two tickets to the pre-screening of Finding Nemo 3D. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

All in the Family with Alexander Lacey and Ringling Bros

The circus has come to town! And boy was it amazing. I hadn't gone to the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® circus since I was a kid and I had fond memories of cotton candy, spinning light toys, and entertainment. Not much has changed although seeing it all through my children's eyes was amazing.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® is all about the family experience. Not only do they have an amazing show geared towards all ages, they also have a pre-show where you can come with your family to get an up close look at the animals. You can see the elephants, tigers, lions, goats, horses, llamas, and ponies right in front of you before they get in the center ring to perform.

Ringling Bros Big Cat Trainer, Alexander Lacey, took a few moments along with his daughter, Katrina, to talk about the cats in the show and how they work with these amazing animals. We were lucky enough to get an up close and personal glance at exactly how amazing these trained cats are.

Lacey showed us his fine tuned skills working with the cats by heading into the tiger cage with a 5 gallon bucket of human-grade steak and two sticks. What he was able to make miss Bella (tiger in the photos below) do with just those three items was rather amazing!

Before heading into the cage, Lacey asked his daughter to help him. She had the big task of bringing him the large tub of meat once he was situated in the tigers' cage. Since he, of course, didn't want to turn his back on these big cats for one moment, she was able to help hand over the meat once he was safely inside.

The cats were very aware of the meat and what the sticks meant. We learned that through training the tigers with the sticks, a form of sign language is used. Each stick in each hand means something different whether it be to go up or down, left or right, etc. Just as I've taught my kids sign language, the cats are taught at a young age, around 4 months old. 

Once Lacey was in the cage he moved rather swiftly to place each of the cats he was not going to work with in a separate caged area so that only one cat was in the cage he was in. Once Bella was the only tiger left he got to work quickly showing how he used the sticks, treated her with the steak (which is the same stuff delivered to the local hotels!), and talked to us about what he was doing the whole time.

It was so interesting to watch his bond with these animals. It was as if his every sense was on alert the whole time while his body and reactions let off a sense of serene and calmness at the same time. There was definitely a mutual respect between the cat and Lacey.

The most awe-inspiring moment through the presentation was when Lacey not once, but twice, leaned in for a kiss with this big cat! Amazing!

After we saw exactly how these big cats were trained we were able to ask some questions of our own.

And I was delighted to see that my little boy had his hand proudly, and patiently, raised up high waiting for his moment in the spotlight. Finally when it was his turn he asked, "Cats eat in the morning?" and Lacey confirmed that yes, as he had discussed before in the presentation, the big cats are fed up to 16 pounds each of the best beef steaks, livers, and hearts every day in the early morning.

Because the cats digest the meat while they sleep, they need to eat first thing in the morning so that everything is digested by showtime (Bella is not yet in the show so she could snack all she wanted during the presentation).

We also learned that big cats are rather lazy, sleeping an upwards of 22 hours during the day! Sound familiar? My cats growing up seemed to do the exact same thing! As does my dog. Ahh... the life of a cat.

But just because these large animals seem lazy doesn't mean their senses don't need to be constantly heightened and challenged. Each city brings on new smells, sights, and people! So every week these animals are in a different environment to keep them on their toes.

The position of the other animals around them also helps. By having the elephants to the north east and the horses and other small animals to the south west the lions and tigers are getting a constant sniff (as are the other animals) of those around them. 

And through the interactive toys left in their cages, there is also plenty of time to play and converse with heir fellow big cats. Bella was still wet from a little swim she had in their small pool. There were also branches and balls for more fun play!

We absolutely loved learning more about these beautiful big cats and hearing how Lacey works with them and trains them to become the stars they are. 

To learn more and read all about the Lacey family check out the Ringling Bros website!

If you're looking for an amazing, family-friendly activity to do this weekend and are in the San Diego area, head on out to the circus for a fun-filled experience!

You will absolutely love the performance and I am sure will be in awe as I was at the skilled performers throughout the show.

For more information check out my post here (includes show times, where to purchase tickets, and more!)

Disclaimer: As a Feld Family Ambassador, I received a family 4-pack of tickets to this show. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 

Jumping for Joy with @Chobani and @KidsFestSD #NaBloPoMo

Watching the joy in my children's faces as they enjoy awesome activities makes me jump for joy. Being able to take them to a place that's filled with discovery, adventure, and fun is one of the best parts about being a parent. 

And being in San Diego we're quite blessed to have many opportunities to experience joy with our kids. The weather, the activities, and the events we have around town just can't be beat. This past weekend we had the pleasure of attending KidFest San Diego and boy did we have some fun!

Thanks to Chobani and the Chobani Champions bus I was able to pass on tickets to KidsFest to the families of my playgroup. Since we had already won a family 4-pack of tickets from Stacey of San Diego Bargain Mama we didn't need a set, but we wanted our friends to join in on the fun with us!

The first stop we hit when we got to the event was the Chobani Champions bus to endulge in full size samples of the new Chobani Champions. My daughter chose the banana honey, I had some chocolate and vanilla, my husband enjoyed the orangecicle and my son devoured the very berry. Our friends also enjoyed their samples as well. My friend Kari, from Mommy To Elodie, and her family were there to enjoy most of the event with us. And we were so glad they did!

We hula hooped courtesy of SitterCity. Kari showed the kids how to do it and got quite into it. She even had to take off her sweater to get more speed. My son absolutely loved trying it out and Elodie got quite into the action as well.

We built castles with The Village Blocksmith.These blocks were absolutely stunning! Each set builds a small castle that would make any kid excited. I'm definitely putting this on my wish list for Christmas this year. If your kids love building I highly suggest taking a look at his website.

We made awesome strawberry mice courtesy of Muffin Tin Mom. We took a strawberry, some chocolate chips, almond slivers and twizlers and created these adorable little forest creatures. I don't know what it was but as soon as my daughter saw the little mice she decided she wanted to devour every single one. I had to keep a few set aside for my husband and son to enjoy as well. We'll definitely be making these again! We love all of the wonderful ideas we get from Muffin Tin Mom.

We ate yummy food from the food trucks! I got a burger and tater tots from Recess to share. The kids had never tasted tater tots before (except for the sweet potato ones we attempted to make in the oven... not good!) and love them. Lucky for me and my diet they ate all but one. I enjoyed my delicious cheeseburger with grilled onions. 

Kari got lucky and scored big with the breakfast burrito she ordered from Delicioso. This bad boy was only $5 and was on the kids menu! Can you believe it? She thought she was going to get something half the size and was pleasantly surprised.

And we got messy and made mud pies and pinatas! The kids were given sand, water, and all the tools needed to make mud pies. They had a blast doing what they know best... making messes! They also were able to decorate a pinata filled with fun goodies from CircleBuzz. These were quite the hit and the kids used all of their creative juices to make theirs unique.

All of this fun and more lead to a very joyful family day. We enjoyed family, friends, food, and fun! How could we not want to jump for joy after all of that? I definitely will be making my way to KidsFest San Diego next year and will hopefully be bringing along more friends!

Did you make it down this year? What was your favorite part of the event?

What makes you jump for joy? 

 

Prayers and Good Thoughts Needed... and some Chocolate Pie

When I'm happy I eat. When I'm sad I eat. When I'm upset I eat. When I'm mad I eat. See a pattern here? For the most part I've been able to curb this addiction but lately I am thinking about food all the time. My grandma is in the hospital. Has been since last Thursday.

Congestive heart failure, renal failure and pneumonia.

Not a fun trio. For the most part she seems herself although she's hating the whole hospital thing. And if she can get her oxygen levels up and breathe on her own again she might just be able to work on everything else going on.

But for now she waits. And waits.

So we wait with her. I find other family members willing to watch the kids while I visit. The visits aren't all that exciting and for the most part I just sit with my aunt, uncles and mom while reading a book. I haven't read this much in a long time. But every once in a while I'm able to visit with her alone. And we chat. Small things, big things. It's nice.

I haven't really thought that it's impacted me much but I think it is. The other day I went into the pantry, went into the fridge and checked out the freezer. Nothing sounded good. Nothing looked good. Ugh.

So I figured I'd check out a few of my recipe books and I grabbed one of my favorites, Dorie Greenspan's Baking from My Home to Yours. And I happened to open it on a recipe for chocolate pie. With a chocolate shortbread crust. I already had some pie crust in the freezer so I grabbed that and let it thaw. Now I should have stopped right there. If I had time to thaw crust I had time to realize that this was just a bad plan all over.

I am losing weight, on the right track, just got over a 6-week weight loss challenge.Why sabotage these efforts? Because I could. 

So I made Dorie's chocolate tart filling.

Added some diced macerated strawberries and waited for the mix to chill in the fridge. As it was chilling I baked up the pie crust and let it cool. Once it was cool I grabbed the chocolate/strawberry filling, poured it into the crust, and smoothed it all down. If I had any whipping cream in the house I probably would have whipped that up and layered it on as well. But lucky for me I didn't. And I was out of chocolate.

Half of the pie was gone the next day. Oy...

So I ask for your prayers. No, not so that I stop eating. Only I can work on that. Prayers for my grandma. Prayers that she finds peace, gets better, makes it to her 60th high school reunion later this year. She says she's ready but I know she wants to do just a bit more. Let her visit with her sister at least.

I thank you in advance for any positive thoughts or prayers you have to offer. I truly appreciate it!

Oh, and the pie was amazing.

I'll have to make it again. And maybe isntead of strawberries I'll throw in a swirl of peanut butter. Yum!