Foldin’ Money Review & Giveaway

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It’s almost time for school! A little less than a month to go, so what does that mean? Back to School shopping! As my boys get older it seems like they have more and more to carry and my oldest has taken to carrying his binder while everything else is in his back pack…But this year, with a little help from Mead FiveStar®, he can fit EVERYTHING in his backpack!
The Five Star® Expandable Backpack has a front pocket and main compartments creating seven inches of extra storage that every student can use. It has comfortable, ergonomic straps that distribute weight, allowing all those heavy books to be carried easily. The Expandable Backpack also features an extra-large main compartment to easily accommodate all your school supplies. There is a separate padded laptop compartment as well.
But that’s not all! My 5th grader can easily carry and organize (finally) his school work in their FiveStar® 2″ Zipper Binder!
The FiveStar® 2” Zipper Binder has an expandable compartment allowing for quick textbook access and storage, while the stretchable bands allow for more storage when it’s needed and less when it isn’t (zips back up!). For enhanced portability, the Five Star® 2” Zipper Binder + Expandable Pocket features an adjustable strap that gives students the option of either carrying the binder on their back or messenger style. It also has a softly-lined, padded pocket for a tablet.
We have many Mead FiveStar® products in our house, but these are by far the most useful and the “coolest!”
The FiveStar® Twitter account, @MeadFiveStar, will be hosting a Twitter Chat for fans tomorrow, August 4, 2015 from 3-4 p.m. Several prize packs containing Mead FiveStar® school supplies will be given away during the hour. Anyone who uses the hashtag #FiveStarBTS will be entered.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

This post may contain affiliate links which fund the My Sparkling Life blog.
First football ended, now its time for basketball season to come to an end. Creating new recipes to enjoy while hosting game night is always fun. Today I’m going to share with you a Beer Battered Fish Tacos Recipe using a provided sample of Sapporo Beer. My hubby is a huge beer drinker and absolutely loved the flavor and lightness of this beer. Now I’m not a beer drinker, but I love to cook with it..it just adds a flavor that you can’t get anywhere else!
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 egg yolk
1 ¼ cups Sapporo beer
1 teaspoon salt
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ to 2 lbs firm white fish in serving-size pieces
Instructions:
Sift 1 ¼ cups of the flour with a teaspoon of salt into a bowl.
Make a well in the center and add the egg yolk, beer and 1 tablespoon of oil.
Beat this mixture using a whisk until you have a smooth batter.
Let it rest for half an hour.
Preheat oven to 200 degrees F.
Heat the oil in a deep fryer to 370 degrees F.
Season the fish with salt and pepper.
Fold the egg whites into the batter with a spatula or wide metal spoon.
Put a cup of flour in a big bowl and dip the fish in the flour.
Make sure the fish pieces are well coated and then shake off any excess.
Dip the fish into the batter until it is evenly coated, and let any excess drip off.
Drop the fish into the hot oil in batches, frying until the batter is golden brown.
Transfer the cooked ones to the oven while you finish the rest.
Set out your fish, corn tortillas, lime slices, cheese & sriracha mayo sauce and let your guests create their own tacos, or just create pre-made tacos for your guest to grab and enjoy.
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 egg yolk
1 ¼ cups Sapporo beer
1 teaspoon salt
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ to 2 lbs firm white fish in serving-size pieces
Sift 1 ¼ cups of the flour with a teaspoon of salt into a bowl.
Make a well in the center and add the egg yolk, beer and 1 tablespoon of oil.
Beat this mixture using a whisk until you have a smooth batter.
Let it rest for half an hour.
Preheat oven to 200 degrees F.
Heat the oil in a deep fryer to 370 degrees F.
Season the fish with salt and pepper.
Fold the egg whites into the batter with a spatula or wide metal spoon.
Put a cup of flour in a big bowl and dip the fish in the flour.
Make sure the fish pieces are well coated and then shake off any excess.
Dip the fish into the batter until it is evenly coated, and let any excess drip off.
Drop the fish into the hot oil in batches, frying until the batter is golden brown.
Transfer the cooked ones to the oven while you finish the rest.
My Sparkling Life https://mysparklinglife.com/
Whether your team wins or looses, you will win over your guests with this delicious recipe!
And for those still battling the chilly north, you might also like some comforting Game Day Crockpot Chili:
12 oz. Sapporo beer
2 T. olive oil
2 lbs. ground beef
coarse salt and fresh ground pepper
1 1/2 c. frozen corn
1 white onion
3 garlic cloves
1/4 c. chili powder
1 T. dried oregano
1 1/2 t. ground cumin
2 cans whole tomatoes, coarsely chopped with their juices
1/3 c. chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for serving
2 cans dark red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
Heat olive oil in a large stock pot over medium heat. Brown ground beef (seasoned with salt and pepper), drain and add to Crock Pot set on low heat. Return pot to heat, add onions and garlic, saute for about 5 minutes and add to Crock Pot.
Add the cilantro, corn, tomatoes, seasonings and Sapporo beer. Cook on low for 6 – 8 hours. During the remaining 30 minutes, add the kidney beans, stirring well to combine. Season to taste with salt.
Serve with sour cream, shredded cheddar and more fresh cilantro.
12 oz. Sapporo beer
2 T. olive oil
2 lbs. ground beef
course salt and fresh ground pepper
1 1/2 c. frozen corn
1 white onion
3 garlic cloves
1/4 c. chili powder
1 T. dried oregano
1 1/2 t. ground cumin
2 cans whole tomatoes, coarsely chopped with their juices
1/3 c. chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for serving
2 cans dark red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
Heat olive oil in a large stock pot over medium heat. Brown ground beef (seasoned with salt and pepper), drain and add to Crock Pot set on low heat. Return pot to heat, add onions and garlic, saute for about 5 minutes and add to Crock Pot.
Add the cilantro, corn, tomatoes, seasonings and Sapporo beer. Cook on low for 6 – 8 hours. During the remaining 30 minutes, add the kidney beans, stirring well to combine. Season to taste with salt.
Serve with sour cream, shredded cheddar and more fresh cilantro.
My Sparkling Life https://mysparklinglife.com/ Enjoy your game day recipes, but remember to ALWAYS drink responsibly!

We all know that babies love to go once they figure out the techniques of it…My 6-year-old had us running. He started crawling early, then we put up diaper boxes around the living area (classy I know), but it was more like and Adventure Course, so he couldn’t escape and run the house….but it wasn’t long after that he was pulling up and walking along them!! He took his actual first steps when he was 8 months and was cruzin pretty good by 9.
I don’t know about you, but I LOVE toys that can entertain your little cruiser!
Dive into adventure! The Lil’ Ocean Explorers 3- in- 1 Adventure Course stimulates and entertains your baby throughout 3 key developmental milestones: sitting, crawling and standing. When sitting, baby gets tactile with features like the submarine Peek-A-Boo door, the marine wall, ball drop periscope and multiple clicker knobs. When crawling, watch as your baby explores and discovers new ways to play with the different different features of the adventure course. When standing, your baby will hear sounds and phrases from their new octopus friend and will be encouraged to play and run when the octopus throws balls! Each play station on the Lil’ Ocean Explorers Adventure Course is interchangeable and removable.
The Lil’ Ocean Explorer 3-in-1 Adventure Course stimulates and entertains babies with 3 key developmental milestones: sitting, crawling and standing.
Features of the Lil’ Ocean Explorer 3-in-1 Adventure Course:
The Ocean Adventure Course play center has three interchangeable play stations that can be configured in different ways by snapping the legs together in each section
The Octopus play station has a ball drop, clickers and spinners with fun sounds and music to give positive reinforcement when your child stands or interacts with the toy
The Submarine play section has a peek-a-boo door with a rotating wheel, a ball drop, stretch fabric and spinners and clicker knobs.
Your child will squeal with delight playing peek-a-boo or watching the ball come through the shoot.
The stretch fabric on the toy is a new play feature that your child will be sure to love.
The Underwater play section is a fabric canopy that your child will love to crawl through. An adorable squid rattle hangs on one side.
The Little Tikes adventure course contains 20+ sounds
Volume switch under the octopus handle
With all of that excitement it’s sure to keep your little one happily busy!
It was so easy to put together..and even though he’s now two, my youngest couldn’t wait to get playing, he just loves fish and was excited about that aspect of it the most I think. He did get bored quickly..but he is two and beyond play like that. The most he did was crawl through it and thought that was just the funniest thing.
Related

Your favorite monkey is swinging into your home. All 9 seasons of Curious George, as well as the animated film Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey, are now streaming only on Hulu. As with all Kids programming on Hulu, Curious George streams commercial-free.
Curious George is an animated series based on the popular books by Margret and H.A. Rey. Aimed at preschool viewers (ages three to five), the goal of the series is to inspire children to explore science, engineering, and math in the world around them. And what better guide is there for this kind of exploration than the world’s most curious monkey?
What is Hulu?
Hulu is a premium streaming TV destination that offers hundreds of thousands of hours of the best of current season programming, premium original content, films and full seasons of hit series to subscribers with limited commercials for $7.99 per month or commercial free for $11.99 per month. Hulu is the only streaming subscription service that offers current season content from 5 of the 6 largest U.S. broadcast networks. Since its launch in 2008, Hulu has been at the forefront of entertainment and technology and continues to redefine TV by connecting viewers with the stories they love.
What makes Hulu different from other streaming services?
We are the only streaming service that can offer:
– Current season (last night’s TV) from top networks ABC, NBC, FOX and the CW
– A growing library of full prior and upcoming seasons of hit series – ex. Inside Amy Schumer, Broad City, Empire, South Park, Seinfeld, CSI, Fargo and The Mindy Project
– High profile original programming: 11.22.63, The Path, Casual, Difficult People, The Mindy Project
– Blockbuster films from Paramount, MGM and Lionsgate: Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation, Interstellar, Selma, Top Five and The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water, etc.
Our competitors don’t have all of those boxes checked. We are the only service that can offer all of these on one easy-to-use platform.
Which devices is Hulu available on?
Hulu is available on most internet-connected devices. Examples: Apple TV, Roku, PlayStation, Xbox, Smart TVs, Laptops + PCs and mobile phones like iPhone and Android-operated phones
For $7.99 a month, the Hulu subscription service offers premium programming anytime with limited commercials.
For $11.99 a month, you can watch Hulu’s premium programming with no commercials.
And, for an additional $8.99 per month, Hulu subscribers can add SHOWTIME to their subscription. Making Hulu the only streaming destination with SHOWTIME’s service fully integrated into its user-friendly platform
All content is available on most internet-connected devices. Visit Hulu.com to start a free 1-month trial, for a limited time only.
WIN!
One (1) lucky My Sparkling Life reader is going to win a Curious George hulu prize pack including: 3-month hulu gift subscription & Curious George youth t-shirt. This giveaway is open to residents of the US who are 18+ until 12:00 PM EST May 4, 2016.
THE FINE PRINT: ENTERING THIS GIVEAWAY MEANS THAT YOU ACCEPT BOTH MY RULES & DISCLOSURE. I WILL NOTIFY WINNER VIA E-MAIL AND THEY WILL HAVE 48 HOURS TO REPLY BEFORE I AM FORCED TO REDRAW WINNERS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. EACH HOUSEHOLD IS ONLY ELIGIBLE TO WIN THIS PRIZE VIA BLOG REVIEWS AND GIVEAWAYS ONCE. ONLY ONE ENTRANT PER MAILING ADDRESS PER GIVEAWAY. IF YOU HAVE WON THE SAME PRIZE ON ANOTHER BLOG, YOU WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO WIN IT AGAIN. WINNER IS SUBJECT TO ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION. MANY WILL ENTER, FEW WILL WIN! PLEASE ALLOW 8-12 WEEKS FOR DELIVERY OF PRIZING. MY SPARKLING LIFE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY LOST OR MISDIRECTED PACKAGES. PRIZING PROVIDED AND SHIPPED BY BIG HONCHO MEDIA. IN THE RARE OCCASION THAT A PRIZE DOES NOT ARRIVE (WHICH HAS HAPPENED), PLEASE NOTIFY ME.

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Make it a family movie night with the beloved blue creatures in the fully animated, all-new take on The Smurfs when Sony Pictures Animation’s SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE debuts on Digital June 20 and on 4K Ultra HD™/Blu-ray™ + Digital, Blu-ray + Digital and DVD July 11 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE follows Smurfette and her friends Brainy, Clumsy and Hefty on an exciting and thrilling race through the Forbidden Forest filled with magical creatures to find a mysterious lost village before the evil wizard Gargamel does. Embarking on a rollercoaster journey full of action and danger, the Smurfs are on a course that leads to the discovery of the biggest secret in Smurf history!
SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE features an all-star voice cast, including platinum-selling recording artist Demi Lovato as Smurfette, Emmy®-nominated comic actor Rainn Wilson as Gargamel, Joe Manganiello as Hefty Smurf, Jack McBrayer as Clumsy Smurf, Danny Pudi as Brainy Smurf, Michelle Rodriguez as SmurfStorm, Ellie Kemper as SmurfBlossom, Ariel Winter as SmurfLily, with Mandy Patinkin as Papa Smurf and Academy Award® winner Julia Roberts as SmurfWillow.
SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE is bursting with bonus materials on the Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD, DVD and digital releases. Along with filmmaker commentary, there are 10 fun and interactive featurettes, including Meghan Trainor’s “I’m A Lady” music video and “Lost Village Dance Along” where you can join in the Smurf dance party. Get ready to represent your Smurf style with “Smurfify Your Nails” and create a Lost Village inspired manicure, then go inside “Baker Smurf’s Mini Kitchen” to follow along and guess what’s cooking, plus get step-by-step tutorials on how to draw your favorite Smurfs with three “how to” videos. Fans can also go behind the scenes as Demi Lovato auditions for the film and goes through a pretty tough interview with Smurfette herself in “Demi Lovato Meets Smurfette.”
DVD and Digital Bonus Materials Include:
Filmmaker Commentary
Meghan Trainor “I’m A Lady” Music Video
The Emoji Movie Sneak Peek
Featurettes:
“Kids at Heart! The Making of Smurfs: The Lost Village
“Demi Lovato Meets Smurfette”
“Lost Village Dance Along”
“Smurfify Your Nails”
“Baker Smurf’s Mini Kitchen”
Meghan Trainor “I’m A Lady” Music Video
“How To Draw Smurfette”
“How To Draw Brainy”
“How To Draw Clumsy”
“Making The Song ‘You Will Always Find Me In Your Heart’”
“The Sound Of The Smurfs”
Blu-ray & 4K Ultra HD Exclusive Bonus Materials Include:
Everything listed above, plus:
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes:
Digital (iTunes, Vudu and Xfinity) Exclusive Bonus Materials Include:
Everything on the DVD, Blu-ray & 4K Ultra HD
“Girl Power! Making Meghan Trainor’s ‘I’m A Lady’”