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Feb
7

Monster Jam at Cowboys Stadium Ticket Giveaway!!

by Brandy

Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam (monster truck competition) will be at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, February 25, 7PM.

Ticket prices are $45, $40, $35, $30 with a limited number of Total Access Passes available for $140. All kids’ seats are half price. Tickets may be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 800/745-3000. Tickets may also be purchased at Ticketmaster Retail Locations or by purchasing them at the stadium’s box office. All seats are reserved. Visit www.MonsterJam.com for various discounts and promotions.

We attended this last year and it was so much fun! Make sure you bring something for your kids ears though because it is LOUD! Also, get there early!

Here are a few shots from my cellphone last year. We had fantastic seats!

USHRA Monster Trucks including Grave Digger® driven by Dennis Anderson, Maximum Destruction® driven by Tom Meents, Monster Mutt® Dalmatian driven by Candice Jolly, El Toro Loco® driven by Marc McDonald, Mohawk Warrior? driven by George Balhan, Advance Auto Parts Grinder? driven by Frank Krmel, Superman driven by Sean Duhon, Iron Man driven by Lee O’Donnell, Son-uva Digger? driven by Ryan Anderson, Avenger driven by Jim Koehler, Wrecking Crew driven by Steve Koehler, Bounty Hunter driven by Daron Migues, Iron Outlaw driven by Ben Winslow, King Krunch driven by David Smith, El Matador driven by Daron Basl, Black Stallion driven by Mike Vaters, Iron Subject to change without notice.

The MetroPCS Party in the Pits on Saturday, February 25 from 2:30PM to 5:30PM give fans the opportunity to get a view of the trucks up close and meet the drivers of the massive monster trucks. The pit party gives all fans a chance to meet the stars of Monster Jam up-close while taking pictures and getting autographs. Pit Passes available at participating MetroPCS locations from 2/3/12 through 2/24/12 while supplies last.

THE GIVEAWAY!

1 Categories : Contests

Feb
6

Recipe for Easy Stuffed Crescents with Petit Jean Ham #TXBacon #Cbias

by Brandy

As I am sure you know already, yesterday was Superbowl Sunday. I’m not really a fan of football, but I am a fan of any excuse to have friends over and eat yummy foods. These are the days that I do not cook dinner, I create lots of finger foods for everyone to enjoy.

Since the Dallas Cowboys were not playing, we really didn’t root for anyone. Jeremy enjoys the occasional football game and as games go, I think this was considered a good one. Seriously, I am not going to pretend to know anything about football. I just know about feeding the masses super yummy goodness.

We headed to Walmart to get all of the ingredients for our goodies. You can see what we bought by viewing my Google+ album.

The first thing I made was my awesome recipe of Heaven on a Jalapeno! People normally make these with the bacon wrapped around them. I don’t like it that way, my way is easier and tastier with tons of bacon!

My family has become big fans of Petit Jean Meats. I can not wait until they carry the bacon at Walmart! Right now they only carry the ham, but my family loves this ham more than any other!

So using the Petit Jean Ham (Official Ham of the Dallas Cowboys) I created the perfect Superbowl munchie recipe! I like easy things and this my friends is EASY! During the holidays I always make ham rolls with sliced ham spread with cream cheese with a green onion rolled up in the middle. I wanted to put that flavor into something fun and filling. The recipe below is what we came up with. The masses loved it! I hope you do too!

The Ingredients!

Recipe for Easy Stuffed Crescents with Petit Jean Ham #TXBacon #Cbias

Recipe type: Appetizer

Author: Brandy ~ Not So Average Mama

Prep time: 20 mins

Cook time: 10 mins

Total time: 30 mins

Serves: 8

Easy stuffed Crescents with Ham, Cream Cheese and Green Onions.

Ingredients

1 Package Petit Jean Sliced Ham
2 Packages of Cream Cheeses
1 Bunch of Green Onions
2 Packages of Crescent Rolls

Instructions

Preheat the oven according to the directions on the Crescent Rolls.
Dice the Ham
Slice the Green Onions
Mix the Green Onions and Ham into the Cream Cheese
Lay out your Crescent dough
Add the Cream Cheese filling and roll the Crescents, being sure to pinch the ends closed
Bake according to directions on the Crescent Rolls.

Notes

See the images below for step by step!

Google Recipe View Microformatting by Easy Recipe

If you make these please let me know! I would love to hear what your family and friends thought!

This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias

1 Categories : Recipes, Uncategorized

Feb
1

Wordless Wednesday with Linky!

by Brandy

I had such a busy weekend and I completely over did it. I’m paying for it for sure, but the weekend was well worth it.

Friday night we had our Benefit Show for Reece. This was to raise money for my friends family. Reece had a heart attack right before Christmas and then passed away a few days before New Years. It has been very hard on his family. He was very young and left behind a wife and two young children. So we arranged a benefit show to help raise money to support the family during this time. It was great! The turnout was amazing! That was Friday. I finally made it to bed at 5am. Being on my feet for hours on end was hell on my body.

All shots taken without flash, existing lighting only.

I have tons more that will be on my flickr. I don’t want to put too many here. Saturday was Roller Derby and I have a ton of great shots for that as well. I will have to make a separate post. Then Sunday I did maternity photos. Now…I can barely walk. I totally put my body through too much this weekend. Ow….

1 Categories : Around Our House

Jan
23

Orchid Face Products, Review and Giveaway! #hebbeauty

by Brandy

Woohoo for another year as an H-E-B Beauty Blogger! I love blogging for H-E-B and sharing these great beauty products with you through reviews and giveaway. I love testing out new skincare, because as I age my skins is changing constantly!

I am super impressed with the Orchid Face Products! I also love the brightly colored packaging as well. I was so surprised when I opened up the package to find they had presented the products so nicely. I felt like it was Christmas all over again!

Once I opened it, I was doing the happy dance over the goodies inside!

So what’s all in there?

First I pulled out the Anti-Aging Eye Roller. It is used to reduce puffiness around the eyes as well as fine lines and wrinkles. I’m a puffy eyed girl on most days.

It feels nice and soothing. But, I’m not sure if I notice a difference. Maybe with everyday use over a period of time I would notice more of a change?

Firming Lift Face Serum

This stuff makes my heart go pitter patter. I love it. I am definitely sold on Face Serum’s and this one is at the top of the list! Makes my skin feel younger. That’s a good thing when you feel like you are trapped in the body of an 80 year old!

Acne Spot Treatment

I was able to truly put this to the test. Every month I get a visit from this hormone monster that wrecks havoc on my face. I look like a pizza faced teenager and I don’t care for that look at my age. It’s not cool at all. NOT cool. I like to be cool. I used it and it really helped reign the zit monster in! I used it as soon as I noticed one trying to bust through and it works!

Thermal Clay Mask

This is definitely the winner of the bunch! Something that feels like a treat! As my RSD progress’s I am feeling it in all parts of my body. Including my neck and face and it sucks. Heat is one of the only things that gives me a little bit of relief. This mask get’s warm immediately! I use it in the shower and I love that warming feeling all over my face and neck. It makes my skin feel nice and clean as well as soft! This is something I can see me continuing to use for a long time. In the past I didn’t really care for masks. They were always a pain to remove. Residue getting in my hair and stuff. This rinses off so easily!

All of the Orchid Face Products smell fantastic! I love the fresh clean scents, nothing perfumed. All in all these products are winners in my book! With these products you can have your own mini facial anytime you want!

Right now there is a coupon to help you try out the Orchid products! Buy Orchid Firming Face Serum or Anti-Aging Eye Roller and get free Orchid Thermal Clay Mask or Acne Spot Treatment. Use this Orchid Coupon to get the deal!

The Giveaway!

Two (2) Not So Average Mama readers will each win an Orchid Face Products set!

This Giveaway will end on February 20th, 2012!

I received the products mentioned above to facilitate this review. No compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

26 Categories : Contests

Dec
30

We Went to the Lone Star Circus Last Night!

by Brandy

It was absolutely amazing! Wow! The kids and I had such a fantastic time! It was small and you felt like show was just for you! The Lone Star Circus is Dallas-based non-profit circus. Last night was sold out and so is tonight’s show. But if you head over now, maybe you can still score tickets for the weekend?

There is a discount code you can use to save 10% on your tickets! Save 10% on any performance by entering LSC in the promo code box atwww.LoneStarCircus.org.

Ticket prices range from $20-$45. Tickets are available by calling 214.740.0051, or visiting online at www.lonestarcircus.org. For group sales information, contact Mark Doyle at markdoyle@lonestarcircus.org or 214.237.2515.

The weekend show times are as follows:

Saturday December 31st 2:00 pm, 5:30 pm
Sunday January 1st 2:00 pm, 5:30 pm

The location is: Rosewood Center for Family Arts (Dallas Children’s Theater) at 5938 Skillman Street in Dallas, TX 75231

Check out some of the photos I was able to get last night!

2 Categories : Around Our House

Dec
21

Wordless Wednesday! With Linky!

by Brandy

There is so much going on as we get ready for Christmas! I’m sure you all have been busy too! We had rain for days and that kept us on lock down in the house. Cabin fever set in and we all went crazy. Look at Emma, she’s looking a bit rabid…

We survived though.

Another thing that has happened is the American Heritage Girls awards ceremony. Lauren and Morgan received a bunch of badges for their accomplishments. Morgan dodged the camera, I did get this photo of Lauren’s vest covered in badges that she already had. Now she has a ton more!

Hmmmm, other things done this month? I had a ton of Christmas Shoots! One of my favorite boys to photograph is Jonah. This time he brought a few of his furry friends…

Last but not least, check out Jonah’s Kung Fu!

Be sure to link up your Wordless Wednesday as well!

17 Categories : Around Our House

Dec
15

Allen Texas Community Ice Rink Events for December!

by Brandy

Intro to Skating Holiday Camp

Session 1: Tuesday, December 20 & Thursday, December 23 from 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Session 2: Tuesday, December 27 & Thursday, December 29 from 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.

Spend your holiday break learning to ice skate. Participants receive 30 minutes of instruction followed by an hour and a half open skate. Only $30 and skate rental and open skate sessions are included. Registration is limited. All on-ice participants must wear skates. For more information call 972-912-1097 or visit AllenParks.org.

Jr. Americans Holiday Hockey Camp

Session 1: Tuesday, December 20 – Thursday, December 23 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Session 2: Tuesday, December 27 – Thursday, December 29 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Looking to perfect your goal scoring dangles or develop a wicked hard slap shot over the holiday break? If so, the Jr. Americans Holiday Hockey Camp is for you! This three day camp includes 60 minutes of skill instruction and 30 minutes of small area games. Clinic is open to all Mite, Squirt and Pee Wee youth hockey players. Only $99 per session and registration is limited. All on-ice participants must wear full equipment. For more information call 972-912-1097 or visit AllenParks.org.

Holiday Skate

Friday, December 23 from 12:15 – 3:45 p.m.

Celebrate the holidays with the whole family at the Allen Community Ice Rink. Enjoy various on-ice games and activities for everyone including pictures with Santa, chance drawings for a FREE Learn to Skate semester and much more. Admission is $5 per person and Skate Rental is $3 per person. Come dressed in BOTH Green and Red and receive FREE skate rental. All on-ice participants must wear skates. For more information call 972-912-1097 or visitAllenParks.org.

New Year’s Eve Lock-In

Saturday, December 31 from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 a.m.

Spend your New Year’s Eve at the Allen Community Ice Rink Lock-In. Participants will watch the Allen Americans take on the Laredo Bucks at Allen Event Center. Then get the players autographs and take pictures. Students will spend the rest of the evening ringing in the New Year with on and off-ice games, open skate, broomball, movies, board games, chance drawings and more! Pizza and desserts are provided. This fun-filled night is only $85 and is open to children in grades 3^rd – 6^th. Registration required and limited. For more information call 972-912-1097 or visitAllenParks.org.

0 Categories : Did You Know?

Dec
9

The Lone Star Circus! Discount Code and Giveaway!

by Brandy

I am so excited to be spreading the word about the Lone Star Circus! The Lone Star Circus is Dallas-based non-profit circus . Every year they have a holiday show at the Dallas Children’s Theatre.

The opening night performance will be on Thursday, December 29, 7:30PM. There is a discount code you can use to save 10% on your tickets! Save 10% on any performance by entering LSC in the promo code box at www.LoneStarCircus.org.

Tickets for LONE STAR CIRCUS are already on sale. Ticket prices range from $20-$45. Tickets are available by calling 214.740.0051, or visiting online at www.lonestarcircus.org. For group sales information, contact Mark Doyle at markdoyle@lonestarcircus.org or 214.237.2515.

We are so excited to go! I have never been to the Dallas Children’s Theatre! There will be artists from all over the world including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Italy, Kazakhstan, Peru, and the United States.

Here are the scheduled show times:

Thursday December 29th 7:30 pm
Friday December 30th 7:30 pm
Saturday December 31st 2:00 pm, 5:30 pm
Sunday January 1st 2:00 pm, 5:30 pm

The location is: Rosewood Center for Family Arts (Dallas Children’s Theater) at 5938 Skillman Street in Dallas, TX 75231

LONE STAR CIRCUS is the performing arm of LONE STAR CIRCUS ARTS CENTER, a Dallas-based non-profit organization, whose purpose is to promote circus arts through training, performance and community outreach. Its Founder is Fanny Kerwich, an 8th generation circus artist of French descent, who started teaching circus arts several years ago at Dallas International School, and in her own studio, The Expressionists. LONE STAR CIRCUS ARTS CENTER was incorporated in 2006. Its circus school, LONE STAR CIRCUS SCHOOL, organizes recreational and professional training in circus arts for children and adults. They also provide circus-themed entertainment for fundraisers and corporate and civic events. For more information, visit www.lonestarcircus.org or call 214.564.9259.

The Giveaway!

One Not So Average Mama reader will win a family 4 pack of tickets to opening night, Thursday, December 29, 7:30PM.

Main Entry: Spread the word about this event in one of the following ways. Share this post on Facebook, Share this post on Twitter, email this post to your friends and BCC that same email to me (at: Brandy [at] NotSoAverageMama [dot] com), don’t worry…I will not contact your friends! Leave a comment below telling me what you did to spread the word!

Bonus Entries: You must complete the mandatory entry before any of the bonus entries. Leave a separate comment for each entry.

Follow me on Twitter @stitchblade
Tweet about this giveaway: “I just entered to win The Lone Star Circus! @stitchblade http://wp.me/prmOk-47O #Giveaway #Dallas” Leave a comment with the tweet status URL, you may do this up to 3 times per day but please space them out! I see people just tweeting one after another, don’t do that. Be sure to leave a comment for each tweet.
Become a fan of Not So Average Mama on Facebook. (3 entries, post 3 comments for this)
Post about this giveaway on Facebook, please leave a comment with the URL to where you posted.(Daily Entry! Post it to your facebook everyday and earn an entry each time. Be sure to post a comment with the URL each time.)
Follow me on Facebook Networked blogs located in my sidebar. (3 entries, post 3 comments for this)
Comment on a NON-GIVEAWAY post! You can do this daily! Leave a comment below with a link to the post you commented on.

This Giveaway will end on December 21st, 2010!

37 Categories : Contests

Dec
7

Wordless Wednesday with Linky!

by Brandy

I wanted to share some more photos from Jones Farm. I just love the shots I was able to capture there. All are natural lighting, I don’t use lighting equipment and there is no electricity in the home. I hope you like them! I also included a few shots from the Pistons & Paint car show.

29 Categories : Around Our House

Nov
16

Wordless Wednesday with Linky

by Brandy

Oh man, did I get some awesome photos this past weekend! I’m not even close to be done going through them yet, I do have a few to share and will most likely share a few more in another post. You can always keep up with my photography by becoming a fan of Loudmouth Photography on Facebook, as well as following me on Flickr.

So Jenny and I (along with 27 other photographers) were granted permission to visit Jones Farm. It is located at Lake Ray Roberts and is completely fenced in and not open to the public. This day they allowed all 29 of us access to the whole area of the old Jones farm. Insides, outside and all over! It was amazing! The home was built in the 1800′s and has been empty for quite awhile. There were barns full of awesome stuff!

I’m really happy with what I got that day, but like I said…I still have a bunch more to come, so be sure to like me on Facebook! Be sure to link your Wordless Wednesday up below!

After this we headed to a car show…soooo many photos!

13 Categories : Around Our House

Nov
9

Disney on Ice Family 4-Pack Ticket Giveaway for The Allen Event Center!

by Brandy

It’s that time of year again folks! Mickey and Minnie’s Magical Journey will be playing at the Allen Event Center, November 23-27. We go every year and the kids always have a wonderful time! I do too!

Mickey and Minnie will be traveling to four destinations! You will be able to experience the awesomeness of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Lilo & Stitch and Peter Pan! This is always an experience that the entire family can enjoy together!

WHERE:

Allen Event Center, 200 East Stacy Road, Ste. 1350 in Allen, TX 75002

WHEN:

Wednesday, November 23, 2011 — 7:30PM
Friday, November 25, 2011 — 11:30AM, 3:30PM, 7:30PM
Saturday, November 26, 2011 — 11:30AM, 3:30PM, 7:30PM
Sunday, November 27, 2011 — 1:30PM, 5:30PM

TICKETS:

Tickets are already available at www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets are $75 (Rinkside), $45 (VIP), and $30. All seats are reserved, and tickets are available by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 toll free. Tickets may also be purchased at Ticketmaster Retail Locations, including Fiesta Mart, or by purchasing them at the arena’s box office.

So are you excited?

The Giveaway!

One Not So Average Mama reader will win a a family four-pack of tickets. Tickets are for the Wednesday, November 23, 7:30PM performance at the Allen Event Center.

Please be sure you can attend before entering! This is the night before Thanksgiving. Tickets will be held at Will Call under the winner’s name. Be prepared to show ID.

My family will receive tickets to the show in exchange for hosting the giveaway.

15 Categories : Contests

Nov
9

Wordless Wednesday with Linky!

by Brandy

Teenagers…they’re so weird! Recently Morgan’s best friend turned 13. So now they are teenagers together. Jenny, my bestie and also Hanna’s mama took the girls to downtown Dallas for some fun photos. The girls had a blast and so did we. Below are just a few of the shots from that day.

I have a ton more, but I’m only going to share one more today…… Be sure to like Loudmouth Photography on Facebook!

Hanna says “What’s that smell?“

Be sure to add yours in the linky below!

8 Categories : Around Our House

Nov
4

Happy Feet Two, Free Advance Screening Tickets!

by Brandy

HAPPY FEET TWO comes out in theatres November 18th. There is an advance screening on November 10th in Plano, Texas. Download FREE passes!

2 Categories : Did You Know?

Nov
2

Wordless Wednesday, with Linky!

by Brandy

How was your Halloween? Are you children in sugar coma’s yet? Have your husbands ransacked the candy bags? My kids keep tricking me. They know I am easily distracted. When I am concentrating on something they ask me if they can have “…just one more piece?” I unknowingly say “yea, sure“. Totally taking advantage of their sick mama!

Seriously though, they haven’t tricked me too many times…but they sure keep trying!

Leave your link below!

6 Categories : Around Our House

Oct
26

Wordless Wednesday! With Linky!

by Brandy

They are sisters, they are best friends! They get a long so well and I hope they stay this close! They do bicker at each other once in awhile, which is to be expected, but they LOVE to be together! Makes my life a whole lot easier that’s for sure!

This is from the same day that we went to the Pumpkin Patch. The photos below were taking at “Goat Man’s Bridge” or it’s proper name, Old Alton Bridge. It’s a pretty nice place to go, with a very long walking trail! Sometimes you will see some horses on the trail, this day we were following horse tracks, trying to track them down haha!

Oh and we learned something that day! Never kick a cactus! There was a group of kids hiking the trail and one of the boys kicked a cactus and it went right through his shoe and into his skin! Ouch!