Archives for March 2014

5 FREE Apps to Help With Spring Cleaning PLUS a $25 Visa Giveaway

March 21, 2014 By 55 Comments
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Thank you for visiting Cori's Cozy Corner! Please make sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and subscribe to our E-mails!

“5 Free Apps to Help Kick-Start Spring Cleaning (and Savings)!”

Today is the first day of Spring and many of us will start that annual tradition of Spring Cleaning.  Below are 5 FREE apps that will not only help you save time but also money while helping you with your Spring Cleaning.  They do everything from give you lists on what to clean to sales on supplies you need such as cleaning products.
Now if only there was an app that would do the cleaning for me!
flipp
Flipp – Save valuable time and money and find the best deals on all the things needed to store/organize, garden and clean
Flipp on iTunes  and Flipp on Android
hometalk
Hometalk – Home design tips and advice
Hometalk on iTunes 

spring cleaning checklist
Spring Cleaning Checklist – Helpful tips and lists of what/how to clean and organize
Spring Cleaning Checklist

garden
Gardening Guide – Advice and tricks to help plant a garden
Gardening Guide on iTunes
my things
My Things – Keep track of household items for easy access and organization
My Things on iTunes

What Spring Cleaning tips do you have?
Please share them below and enter to win a $25 Visa Gift Card

Here’s how to enter:

First of all – you must follow my blog – The giveaways I host are for my wonderful readers. To be considered a Cori’s Cozy Corner reader, you must receive my once daily email.  This is not considered an entry, but rather a requirement in order to enter any of my giveaways.  🙂
I do verify that you subscribe to my e-mail at the time of the winner drawing.  You can sign up for my once daily email easily by entering your e-mail address right here:

Once you are a Cori’s Cozy Corner reader via email you can continue onto the Entry Form Below.
Good luck!

Filed Under: For The Home, Freebies, Giveaways and Contests Tagged With:
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Help Bring Back INSP Family Friendly Programming to DirectTV

March 21, 2014 By Leave a Comment
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Disclosure- This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of INSP.  All opinions are 100% my own.
inspHow many times have you flipped the channels on the tv, found a show you thought looked family friendly only to have to jump for the remote when something inappropriate for your children came on?  Even when you set your tv to only play G or PG shows there are still things that might not be in line with your family values.  There are some children’s channels but what if you are looking for family friendly shows that the whole family can enjoy?  INSP is that channel.

INSP is family friendly, “lunge-free” programming. That means you can watch INSP worry free—never being forced to “lunge” for the remote due to inappropriate programs or even commercials. Family values are a part of what makes America great and INSP celebrates those values with shows that promote families, honor veterans and capture the American spirit.  Unfortunately, on February 1, DIRECTV removed INSP from their line-up which created even less family friendly programming available to families on TV.

Facts about INSP and DIRECTV
• You can find additional information about INSP at:
http://www.insp.com/about-insp/ and http://www.insp.com/about-insp/the-insp-fact-sheet/
• INSP’s programming promotes families, honors veterans and captures the American spirit.
• INSP is offered free to TV providers and doesn’t add one single penny to your monthly satellite bill.
• INSP offers the perfect solution: Good family programming for DIRECTV customers, and help for DIRECTV in controlling costs.
• All commercials are screened to ensure they align with INSP’s standard of family friendly viewership so you never have to worry about the commercials your children view.

Based on http://www.parentstv.org/ptc/facts/mediafacts.asp here are some interesting facts:
o Of American families who had recently been part of the Nielsen ‘People Meter’ panel wanted more shows ‘without profanity or swear words.
o Children younger than 8 cannot uniformly discriminate between real life and fantasy/entertainment. They quickly learn that violence is an acceptable solution to resolving even complex problems, particularly if the aggressor is the hero. – ibid
o By age 18, a U.S. youth will have seen 16,000 simulated murders and 200,000 acts of violence. – American Psychiatric Association
o Over 1000 studies – including a Surgeon General’s special report in 1972 and a National Institute of Mental Health report 10 years later – attest to a causal connection between media violence and aggressive behavior in some children. Studies show that the more “real-life” the violence portrayed, the greater the likelihood that it will be “learned.” – American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement, Volume 95, Number 6 – June 1995
o In a national opinion poll conducted for TV Guide (8/2/03), 57% of TV viewers said they ‘noticed an increase in offensive material on television lately.
o Find more facts at: http://www.parentstv.org/ptc/facts/mediafacts.asp

• On February 1, 2014, DIRECTV removed INSP from their line-up.
Why would DIRECTV remove INSP when these statistics are so disturbing?

How You Can Help:
• Call DIRECTV and ask them this simple question, “Why won’t you carry family friendly programming like INSP?”
• Call DIRECTV at the toll-free number: 1-844-GET-INSP (1-844-438-4677)
• Fill out the petition available at http://iwantmyinsp.com/
• Go to DIRECTV’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/directv) and tell them why INSP is uniquely important to you.
• Go to DIRECTV’s Twitter page (https://twitter.com/DIRECTV) and tell them why INSP is uniquely important to you.

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Filed Under: Education, Family Fun, Parenting Tagged With: ,
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MARUKAN VINEGAR GOURMET GIFT-PACK REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

March 21, 2014 By 16 Comments
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Thank you for visiting Cori's Cozy Corner! Please make sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and subscribe to our E-mails!

Disclosure- I received a gift pack of Marukan Rice Vinegars and Ponzu Sauce to affiliate my review but all opinions are 100% my own.

marukan I love cooking with Asian flavors so I was excited to try Marukan’s rice vinegars and ponzu sauce.  I use rice vinegar when I am making rice for sushi.  Marukan’s Seasoned Gourmet Rice Vinegar is great for adding a little something extra when making sushi.  It is also a great base for making vinaigrette dressings.  I add it to a little extra virgin olive oil, some orange juice, and some fresh herbs for a light citrus dressing.  I had some asparagus that I didn’t know what to do with so I decided to create an Asian inspired side dish.  I sauteed the asparagus in some extra virgin olive oil, 1/4 cup of Marukan Ponzu Sauce, 1 packet of Stevia for sweetness, and a Tablespoon of Marukan Seasoned Gourmet Rice Vinegar.  It came out tender and delicious.
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Experience the Marukan Difference: Premium Rice Vinegar!
Producing rice vinegar with legendary taste and mildness takes time. Marukan Vinegars are slowly and naturally brewed, using traditional methods developed by over three centuries of experience by Japan’s finest artisans. The delicate aroma, rich flavor and mild taste of Marukan are all the result of this natural, slow-brewed process.

• All Natural Ingredients
• Slow Brewed for Flavor and Lower Acidity
• Non-GMO Verified
• Kosher Certified by Star K
• Certified Organic
Gift3

• MARUKAN GENUINE BREWED Rice Vinegar: This exceptional artisan vinegar takes 2 months to brew in the traditional way with NO sodium and all natural ingredients to heighten the flavor of any recipe. The delicate acidity is versatile and excellent as an addition not only to Japanese but also Chinese, European or American dishes. You can use it straight from the bottle, or as an ingredient for salad dressing and sushi rice.This product contains NO sodium, fat, sugar, artificial ingredients or calories. Naturally gluten free and non-GMO. 

• MARUKAN SEASONED GOURMET Rice Vinegar: Marukan’s best-seller for sweeter marinades and more flavorful dressings, dips and sauces. We have more recipes featuring our Seasoned Gourmet than any other variety. Blended with care according to Marukan’s very own processing technique, it can also be used in preparing delicious sushi rice at home by simply mix 1 oz. Marukan Seasoned Gourmet with each cup of steamed short-grained rice. Because it does not contain any fat, it also serves as a healthy ingredient for marinades by mixing it with your choice of oil or creamy dressing. Non-GMO and naturally gluten and fat free. 

• MARUKAN All Natural PONZU – Premium Soy Dressing with Sudachi Citrus: Our premium ponzu is made from natural sudachi lime extract imported from Japan. The ponzu is a perfect match for steak and BBQ, but it can also be used as an alternative to regular soy sauce for almost any dish. The sudachi citrus is high in vitamin C with a refreshing citrus flavor. This 100% vegan ponzu contains gluten.

Marukan Rice Vinegar in the Spotlight 
It’s all the rage with chefs and celebs such as Martha Stewart, Hoda Kotb and Kathy Lee, Veg TVs’ Marie Oser and international chef and famed restaurateur Walter Staib.

• Today Show with Hoda Kotb and Kathy Lee:
 

• Martha Stewart:

Where to Buy: Find Marukan in the Asian foods section or wherever fine vinegars are sold, including major retailers nationwide like Whole Foods, Ralphs, Smart & Final, Stater Bros, Jons, Albertsons.

Sriracha Hummus
AMAZING 3 & Go RECIPE: Sriracha Hummus – Quick Dish with Awesome Flavor

1 sm can of chic peas (garbanzo beans)
1 oz. Marukan Seasoned Gourmet Vinegar
3 Tbls Sriracha hot chili sauce

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend to a smooth texture. Add garnish if you like. Great as a dip or a spread on sandwiches.

Website:             http:// www.marukan-usa.com
Facebook:            https://www.facebook.com/MarukanVinegar
Twitter:                    https://twitter.com/marukanvinegar

Want to try Marukan for yourself?  One lucky winner will receive a Marukan Gourmet Gift-Pack including GENUINE BREWED Rice Vinegar, SEASONED GOURMET Rice Vinegar, and All Natural PONZU – Premium Soy Dressing with Sudachi Citrus.

Here’s how to enter:

First of all – you must follow my blog – The giveaways I host are for my wonderful readers. To be considered a Cori’s Cozy Corner reader, you must receive my once daily email.  This is not considered an entry, but rather a requirement in order to enter any of my giveaways.  🙂
I do verify that you subscribe to my e-mail at the time of the winner drawing.  You can sign up for my once daily email easily by entering your e-mail address right here:

Once you are a Cori’s Cozy Corner reader via email you can continue onto the Entry Form Below.
Good luck!

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Filed Under: Food, Food Reviews, Giveaways and Contests, Recipes, Recipes and Cooking, Reviews Tagged With: , ,
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Pop Up Port-A-Bug and Live Praying Mantis Egg Case Review and Giveaway

March 21, 2014 By 3 Comments
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Thank you for visiting Cori's Cozy Corner! Please make sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and subscribe to our E-mails!

Disclosure- We received a Pop Up Port-A-Bug and Live Praying Mantis Egg Case to facilitate our review.  We received no other compensation and all opinions are 100% our own.

praying mantis review
Last year we reviewed Insect Lore’s Ladybug Land and my girls saw that they also had praying mantises to hatch and observe.  We had to wait until Spring because that is when it is praying mantis season and Insect Lore can ship the egg case safely.  My girls were so excited when we received the Pop Up Port-A-Bug Case and Live Praying Mantis Egg Case.
egg case
It was a little confusing at first to figure out how to set the egg case up inside the port-a-bug case but I went online and found pictures of what to do.  Once I went outside and found the perfect twig to put the egg case on, it was easy.  It said to keep the egg case off the bottom of the container so I taped a twig with 2 “legs” going down so the egg case would rest in it above the bottom of the container.  We sprayed the container with a mist of water once in a while and kept the container in a warm area of our house.  In a few weeks my older daughter came running upstairs to tell me that our egg case had hatched a ton of baby praying mantises, also called nymphs.  She wasn’t kidding!
praying mantises
The Port-A-Bug case was filled with tons of these amazing insects.  They were so cute!  Yes, I said an insect was cute.  They were fun to watch.  We kept the praying mantises in the Port-A-Bug case for a few days and then released most of them into our yard as the directions said.  (Otherwise they would each each other since they eat insects.) We then caught some moths and other bugs to feed our remaining praying mantises.
cute praying mantises
Unfortunately our praying mantises didn’t seem to like what we caught for them.  We checked on them the next day and the moths and other bugs were dead inside the container as were the praying mantises.  Of all of the insects we have hatched (ladybugs, butterflies, and praying mantises) the praying mantises were the hardest to maintain because you need to find food ie. other bugs for them to eat or they will eat each other.  We weren’t really prepared for them to hatch when they did.  My grandmother had just passed away, things were crazy around here, so finding bugs outside to feed them was difficult some days.  I didn’t think to check with a pet store for insects but I just read another post where the person bought insects from the pet store to feed their praying mantises.  That would have made feeding them much easier.  Overall it was a fun and educational experience for all of us. I would like to hatch some praying mantises again with my girls soon and this time have food on hand from the pet store so hopefully we’ll be able to keep them through adulthood this time.  Wish us luck!  Meanwhile my girls are enjoying using the Port-A-Bug to catch other insects.

Want to win your own Port-A-Bug and praying mantises?
Here’s how to enter:

First of all – you must follow my blog – The giveaways I host are for my wonderful readers. To be considered a Cori’s Cozy Corner reader, you must receive my once daily email.  This is not considered an entry, but rather a requirement in order to enter any of my giveaways.  🙂
I do verify that you subscribe to my e-mail at the time of the winner drawing.  You can sign up for my once daily email easily by entering your e-mail address right here:

Once you are a Cori’s Cozy Corner reader via email you can continue onto the Entry Form Below.
Good luck!

Filed Under: Education, Giveaways and Contests, Kid Stuff, Product Reviews, Reviews Tagged With: ,
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Spring Cleaning Made Easier With #MrCleanMorePower @SheSpeaksUp

March 20, 2014 By Leave a Comment
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Thank you for visiting Cori's Cozy Corner! Please make sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and subscribe to our E-mails!

Disclosure- This is a sponsored post for Mr. Clean written by me as part of a She Speaks Blogger Campaign.  All opinions are 100% my own.
mr clean liquid muscle
It’s that time again.  Today is the first day of Spring with bring the annual tradition in many homes, Spring Cleaning.  Most of us don’t really like to clean but I found a new tool for my cleaning bag of tricks, Mr. Clean Liquid Muscle.  As much as I would like to be able to say that I used it on my own home because it should could use a good cleaning, things have just been too crazy here with my grandmother’s recent passing.  I’ve been spending a lot of time at my mother’s house this past week because my mother was sitting shiva which is part of the Jewish mourning process.  My mother had tons of friends and family visit her over the last week so I decided to bring over my Mr. Clean Liquid Muscle and help get my mother’s kitchen clean.
mr clean
First I have to tell you how wonderful the Mr. Clean Liquid Muscle smells because it has Febreze in it.  It made her whole house smell fresh and clean.  I used it right from the bottle onto a wet sponge to clean up my mother’s counters, sink, cabinets, and the outside of her refrigerator.  It was so quick and easy and I didn’t really have to scrub at all.  When you use it directly from the bottle onto a sponge you do need to wipe it down with water after to get everything squeaky clean and fresh.I love that it works on so many different surfaces.
mr clean bucket
What I love about the Mr. Clean Liquid Muscle bottle is that it has a special valve on it so when you turn the bottle upside down and squeeze it into a bucket, you can only squeeze one specially measured amount.  It is 1 squeeze per 1 gallon bucket.  Easy peasy!  No need to worry if you aren’t putting enough or you are putting in too much.  Of course for those extra grimy surfaces you can add a second squeeze.  I put warm water in the bucket, squeezed one measured amount, and got to work on my mother’s floors with a clean rag.  With almost no effort at all her floor was clean in minutes.  It made a big difference.
before and after
(There are some nicks in the tiles on her floor so those are the black spots you still see on the tiles in the picture.)
My mother was so grateful to have a clean floor.  There are so many places in my own house I plan on cleaning this week with Mr. Clean Liquid Muscle when I do my own Spring Cleaning.  The kitchen and bathrooms are first on my list as they always seem to get the messiest.
What are the messiest rooms in your house?
What are your tips for cleaning them?

Website: http://mrcleanliquidmuscle.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mrclean
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RealMrClean

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Filed Under: For The Home, Product Reviews, Reviews Tagged With: , ,
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Disney On Ice presents Rockin’ Ever After @DisneyOnIce

March 20, 2014 By Leave a Comment
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Disney On Ice presents Rockin’ Ever After in Sunrise – BB&T Center, March 20-23 and Miami – AmericanAirlines Arena, March 26-30.
Disney On Ice
We went to the show on March 20th at the BB&T Center and had a great time.  It featured our favorite Disney character, Ariel, of course!  But it was also nice to see other favorites such as Belle, Rapunzel, and even Merida from Disney/Pixar’s Brave.  Having 2 daughters, we’re no strangers to Disney On Ice shows but they are always fun for the whole family.  We all enjoy watching the beauty as the characters spin and twirl as they skate.  It’s amazing to see what they can do on the ice.  My favorite of this show was Belle.  I’ve seen Ariel in a few other Disney on Ice shows but seeing Belle and the Beast was my favorite part.  Make sure to check out Disney On Ice’s Rockin’ Ever After when it comes to a town near you!
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Get ready to rock out with some of the most magical idols of all in a musical showcase that features the hottest tunes and talent from across the kingdom in Disney On Ice presents Rockin’ Ever After! Jam to a Scottish jig as a group of royal contenders from the latest Disney/Pixar film, Brave, competes to win the heart of headstrong, sharp-shooting Merida, making her ice debut! Experience a show-stopping performance as Sebastian breaks out of his shell for one night only to make waves with Ariel. A chorus of harmless hooligans from Tangled unleashes musical mayhem when they get a visit from the sassy and spirited Rapunzel and her charming ally Flynn. And, get your feet moving as the Beast and his castle’s enchanted entourage take center stage in a spectacular show for Belle.

Buy 4 tickets for only $54 when you use code FAMILY online with Ticketmaster or over the phone.
Good for Friday, March 21st 10:30am and 7pm; Saturday, March 22nd 11am; Sunday March 23rd 1pm; Thurs., March 27th 7pm; Friday March 29th 2pm and 7pm; Saturday, March 30th 11am; and Sunday March 31st 1pm.

Offer excludes Front Row and VIP seating. A minimum of 4 tickets is required; additional tickets can be purchased at $13.50 each. No double discounts. Service charges, handling and facility fees may apply. Tickets are subject to market supply and demand.

Get Your Tickets Today!
Sunrise only: http://www.ticketmaster.com/venueartist/107150/1742147
Miami only: http://www.ticketmaster.com/venueartist/106601/1742147

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Filed Under: Disney, Family Fun, Local/South Florida, Reviews, Travel Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
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Disney’s “The Pirate Fairy” Sneak Peek

March 20, 2014 By Leave a Comment
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pirate

From the world of “Peter Pan” comes “The Pirate Fairy,” a swashbuckling new adventure about Zarina (voice of Christina Hendricks), a smart and ambitious dust-keeper fairy who’s captivated by Blue Pixie Dust and its endless possibilities. When Zarina’s wild ideas get her into trouble, she flees Pixie Hollow and joins forces with the scheming pirates of Skull Rock, who make her captain of their ship. Tinker Bell (voice of Mae Whitman) and her friends must embark on an epic adventure to find Zarina, and together they go sword-to-sword with the band of pirates led by a cabin boy named James (voice of Tom Hiddleston), who’ll soon be known as Captain Hook himself. With laughter, heart, magic and thrills, “The Pirate Fairy” sets sail April 1, 2014.

Filed Under: Disney, Movies
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Sneak peak into #Maleficent in Theaters on May 30th

March 20, 2014 By Leave a Comment
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male

The film stars Angelina Jolie as Maleficent, Sharlto Copley, Elle Fanning, Sam Riley, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple and Lesley Manville.

“Maleficent” is produced by Joe Roth and directed by Robert Stromberg, with AngelinaJolie, Don Hahn, Palak Patel, Matt Smith and Sarah Bradshaw serving as executive producers. Linda Woolverton wrote the screenplay. “Maleficent” opens in U.S. theaters on May 30, 2014.

Filed Under: Disney, Movies
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MUPPETS MOST WANTED FREE Printable Activities! #MuppetsMostWanted

March 20, 2014 By Leave a Comment
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muppetsmostwanted526ecae2bfbad

Here are a bunch of printable activities and more from Disney’s Muppets Most Wanted which will be in theaters March 21st, 2014.  Click each image to go to it’s larger, printable image.

door hanger
Printable Door Hangers

draw animal
How to Draw Animal

draw beaker
How to Draw Beaker

draw fozzie
How to Draw Fozzie Bear

draw kermit
How to Draw Kermit the Frog

draw piggyHow to Draw Miss Piggy

 send invisible notes
How to Send Invisible Notes
kermit post card
Send a postcard from Kermit the Frog
gonzo maze
Gonzo Maze
gonzo post card
Postcard From Gonzo
kermit coloring page
Coloring Page

Like The Muppets on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Muppets
Follow The Muppets on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheMuppets
Follow Miss Piggy on Twitter: @RealMissPiggy
Follow The Muppets on Tumblr: http://themuppets.tumblr.com
Follow The Muppets on Instagram: @TheMuppets
Visit the Official Site: http://disney.com/muppets

MUPPETS MOST WANTED opens in theaters everywhere on March 21st!

Filed Under: Crafts, Disney, Education, Family Fun, Fun Stuff, Movies Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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Muppets Most Wanted Inspired Nail Art Tutorials #NailArt #MuppetsMostWanted

March 20, 2014 By Leave a Comment
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 Check out these fun Nail Art Tutorials inspired by Disney’s Muppets Most Wanted which will be in theaters March 21st, 2014. 
Which one will you try first?
I love the first one!
Click each image to go to it’s larger, printable image.
kermit nail art kermit piggy nail art interpol nail art moles nail art

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Filed Under: Beauty, Disney, DIY, Movies Tagged With: ,
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