The Jungle Book – coming to Theaters April 2016

Growing up The Jungle Book was one of my favorite Disney movies. We even had the “sing-a-long” VHS (Yes, I know, I’m showing my age) and I think my Mom still puts them on for the kids time to time – these are the ‘bear necessitates’ tune starts ringing in my mind as soon as I think about this movie. I absolutely cannot WAIT to see this movie!

Directed by Jon Favreau (“Iron Man”), based on Rudyard Kipling’s timeless stories and inspired by Disney’s classic animated film, “The Jungle Book” is an all-new live-action epic adventure about Mowgli (newcomer Neel Sethi), a man-cub who’s been raised by a family of wolves. But Mowgli finds he is no longer welcome in the jungle when fearsome tiger Shere Khan (voice of Idris Elba), who bears the scars of Man, promises to eliminate what he sees as a threat. Urged to abandon the only home he’s ever known, Mowgli embarks on a captivating journey of selfdiscovery, guided by panther-turned-stern mentor Bagheera (voice of Ben Kingsley), and the free-spirited bear Baloo (voice of Bill Murray). Along the way, Mowgli encounters jungle creatures who don’t exactly have his best interests at heart, including Kaa (voice of Scarlett Johansson), a python whose seductive voice and gaze hypnotizes the man-cub, and the smooth-talking King Louie (voice of Christopher Walken), who tries to coerce Mowgli into giving up the secret to the elusive and deadly red flower: fire. The all-star cast also includes Lupita Nyong’o as the voice of the fiercely protective mother wolf Raksha, and Giancarlo Esposito as the voice of wolf pack’s alpha male Akela. “The Jungle Book” seamlessly blends live-action with photorealistic CGI animals and environments, using up-to-the-minute technology and storytelling techniques to immerse audiences in an enchanting and lush world. The wild adventure swings into theaters in 3D on April 15, 2016.

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My 9 Tremendous Keep Fit Suggestions for Busy Moms

As a busy mom, I appreciate that it might seem like keeping fit is a luxury. It often feels like there’s so much to do that you don’t have the time for anything else. But, in reality there is always time to keep fit. It’s just a case of finding the time and being efficient with the opportunities you have. And I’m going to use this keep fit guide to show you exactly how to do that.

By taking a look at the suggestions on here, you’ll find it much easier to exercise. You’ll be able to develop ways to work out and still fulfil all your other daily obligations too. So, what are you waiting for?! Get reading!

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  1. Exercise at Home

 

The simplest and most effective thing to do would be to exercise from home. This

is convenient because it means you don’t have to leave the house. I like to come up with a fitness schedule that I’m able to do around the house. This means that whenever I get a spare half hour, or so, I can use it working out. It might be an idea to try to create a workout space for yourself in the home. This will make it easier because you’ll have a dedicated place to carry out your exercise.

 

  1. Hire a Personal Trainer

 

A lot of the complaints I hear from moms is that they’re too busy to go to the gym. Now, this might be the case, but that’s no excuse to not keep fit. There are plenty of fitness opportunities available to you without going to the gym. For instance, hiring a personal trainer is a fantastic idea. I did this for a while and found that it really helped me start taking exercise seriously. The great thing about a personal trainer is the convenience. You don’t have to worry about traveling to the gym. They will come out to you, and you can schedule them for times that suit your needs.

 

  1. Multitask

 

Now, everyone knows we ladies are the masters of multitasking. And in my opinion there’s no better woman for multitasking than a mother. In fact, it’s almost a prerequisite of being a mommy! So, why not use your amazing multitasking abilities to help you keep fit?! How, you ask? Well, there are a number of ways to achieve this. You could take the dog for a walk, and use the time to go for a jog around the park, for instance. Need to pop to the shops for something quick? Why not cycle instead of taking the car. It’s inventive ideas like this that will make your life so much easier.

 

  1. Build Something Around Your Schedule

 

The key to keeping fit as a busy mom is to build something around your schedule. Trust me; I’ve perfected this over the last few years. What you’re going to need to do is make sure you know your calendar inside out. Then, make sure you plan to do things while the kids are busy. Is your son at soccer practice and your daughter at the Girl Guides? Great, use this hour to take a body combat class or something. It’s vital to build something around your schedule. This way you can still keep fit and healthy, but you don’t have to worry about the kids while you do it.

 

  1. Go Cycling

 

One of the best forms of keeping fit that I would recommend would be cycling. In fact, I would probably rank this above swimming and jogging. The benefits of cycling are that it is a very efficient form of exercise. It’s an excellent way to lose weight and keep yourself fit and healthy. And, the best part about it is that it’s quick. You can go for a twenty or thirty-minute bike ride, and you’ll burn off more than you might with a run. It’s efficient and high-reward.

 

  1. Make Some Time for You

 

When you’re a mommy, it’s imperative that you take some time for yourself. This is essential in any aspect of life. But when you want to keep fit it’s even more important. You need to make the time to do the things you want to do. And you shouldn’t have any problems making the time to do it. Put yourself in the calendar. Remember, your schedule is just as important as anyone else’s. If you have the mind-set of making time for yourself, you’ll find it much easier to fit in exercise.

 

  1. Keep Spare Workout Stuff

 

I’ll let you in on one of my little secrets – I always make sure I have spare workout clothes lying around. You’ll be surprised by just how much of a difference this can make to you. And I mean the whole nine yards here. Spare clothes, clean towels, and even a sweatband set. What’s the one thing that seems to be never ending for us moms? That’s right, washing. So the last thing you want to do is wait a couple hours while you wash your dirty gym clothes. Always have spares lying around as it’s much more efficient, and means you’ll always have clean stuff to use.

 

  1. Wii Fit!

 

There’s a good bet that someone in the household will be into video games in some way. If you have a Nintendo Wii at home, then you really need to make use of this. I discovered plenty of interactive fitness games such as Wii Fit. These give you programs to follow and monitor your fitness levels. They are a great way to cram in a short and intense workout from home. Do some research and maybe even talk to your hubby, brother or kids about getting a Wii.

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  1. Take up Yoga

 

One of the biggest problems facing busy moms is the levels of stress we encounter. I think it’s important to unwind and try to de-stress where possible. This makes our schedules easier and means we will get through more in a day. So, I would recommend taking up something like yoga or tai chi. Both are excellent methods of keeping fit and getting rid of the stress in your life. You’ll be amazed how much these sorts of things can help you.

 

As you can see, there is quite a bit of choice for us moms, no matter how busy we may be. Try to make time for yourself, and always remember to keep organised. Organisation is key. And you’ll find your life in general runs much smoother with organisation. If you can follow these tips, you’ll be able to prioritise fitness and exercise no matter how hectic your schedule. I’m going to go for a quick workout now, and I suggest you work towards doing the same!

 

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Alligator Cupcakes

Cupcake Ingredients:

1 3/4 C Flour
2 C Sugar
1 C Cocoa
1 1/2 TSP Baking Soda
1 1/2 TSP Baking Powder
1 TSP Salt
2 Eggs
1 C Whole Milk
1/2 C  Oil
2 TSP Vanilla
1 C Boiling Water

Cupcake Directions: 

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
-Mix the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
-In a separate bowl add the eggs, whole milk, oil, and vanilla.
-Add the bowl containing the eggs, whole milk, oil, and vanilla to the bowl holding the dry ingredients.
-Mix all together until fully incorporated.
-Beat for 3 minutes on medium.
-Slowly add the boiling water starting with a small amount then pour in the remaining boiling water.
-The batter may be a little runny.
-Scoop  batter into cupcake paper liners until 3/4 full.
-Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
-Remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes.
-Remove from cupcake pan and place on a wire rack and allow to completely  cool.

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Frosting: 

Frosting Ingredients: 

1 C soft unsalted butter
4 + C powder sugar
4 TBSP heavy whipping cream
Blue gel food coloring

Frosting Directions: 

-Cream the butter and powder sugar until it looks light and creamy.
-If it doesn’t cream add several drops of the heavy whipping cream until it creams…..Add the blue gel food coloring….mix well.
-Test to see if the frosting can form and hold a stiff peak by taking a spoonful of frosting and turning the spoon upside down. If the frosting stays on the spoon it is ready if not then….
– Add more powder sugar 1/2 C at a time…. mix well.
-Test to make sure that the frosting can make and hold a stiff peak.
-If ready scoop the frosting into a pastry bag with a large tip.
-Twist the open end of the pastry bag to push the frosting to the tip.
-Frost.

* Repeat the frosting recipe and directions except for adding green gel food coloring instead of the blue. Once the frosting is done then begin to make your “gator”.

“Gator” 

-Using a 13 inch round tip with a pastry bag start building your gator….Begin by building a  basic capital “T” .  After the “T” is completed… start building the eyes by making a medium dollop on each side of the top of the “T”. Place edible eyes in the center of that dollop on each of them.. To make the “gator” nose… add another medium sized dollop to the bottom end of the “T”…. add two mini chocolate chips.

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Perfectly Simple Enchiladas

Ingredients:

1 pound of ground beef (You can also use Turkey)

1 14 oz. can of Chili with beans

1 sliced Tomato (If not in season use can of diced tomato’s)

1 can of red enchilada sauce

Large Burrito Size Tortillas

3 cups of grated cheddar

Ingredients

 

Directions:

In a skillet over medium heat brown ground beef until no longer pink. Drain.  Add in 1 14 oz. can of chili with beans to your ground beef mixture; add in tomatoes and ¼ cup of red enchilada sauce.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  .  Onto each tortilla, place some of the meat mixture and add a small amount of grated cheese. Roll up the tortilla to contain the filling inside.

In Process 4

Place the tortilla seam-side down in the baking dish. Repeat with the rest of the tortillas. Pour reaming amount of red enchilada sauce on top of enchiladas in baking dish.  Top with remaining cheese.  Optional:  You can also top with green peppers, tomato, black olives or any other topping.  Bake for about 20 minutes or until bubbly.

Serve with rice and chips and salsa.  Enjoy! ☺

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White Castle’s #WCGrandparentsContest Sweepstakes!

For many years, grandparents have passed their love of the Crave onto the future generation of Cravers – their grandchildren. National Grandparents Day is September 13, but White Castle will celebrate grandparents and their special holiday the entire month of September by investing in the next generations’ future. Through White Castle’s charitable outreach initiative, Castle Shares, ten Cravers will receive a $500 savings bond to put toward their education.

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Grandparents and grandchildren ages 13 and older are invited to submit their memorable moments, photos and videos on Instagram and Twitter with the hashtag, #WCGrandparentsContest for a chance to win.

The contest ends September 30 and White Castle will notify the 10 winners by October 20th. To learn more or for rules and regulations visit whitecastle.com/grandparents

 

 

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