M.O.M. (Motor Oil Matters) - Win a $35 Jiffy Lube Gift Card!

April is both National Car Care and National Informed Women Month and a perfect opportunity to get empowered to care for your car!

Did you know that in the United States the average age of cars and light trucks on the roads today has reached a record high of 9.4 years? That means it’s more important than ever to take proper care of your vehicle. With the informative Web site www.MotorOilMatters.org (created by the maker of industry-leading brands Pennzoil and Quaker State) you can easily locate key information about how quality motor oils can help prolong your engine’s life and improve overall efficiency, as well as help answer other questions you may have about motor oil.

In addition, the site offers a fun, educational game for you to play called “M.O.M. Knows Best” where you can put your motor mind to the test with an interactive quiz.

Did you know...

• According to a recent survey from the Automotive Service Association, more than 54 percent of customers who take their vehicles for service and repair are women
• Using a high-quality motor oil in the right grade can help maximize fuel economy
• Low-quality oils that do not meet industry standards or the vehicle manufacturer’s requirements could cost consumers in the long run by potentially damaging the vehicle’s engine or possibly voiding the manufacturer’s warranty
• Another reason to look to a high-quality motor oil – like Pennzoil and Quaker State - is that it is designed to meet the demands of today’s engines

Thanks to Shell Lubricants and My Blog Spark, I visited the nearest Jiffy Lube for an oil change in my Mommy Mobile (read: minivan).

The folks at the Jiffy Lube on Memorial Boulevard in Murfreesboro, Tennessee were very friendly and the service was....well, JIFFY! ;)

Not to mention that the waiting area was CLEAN...which is a HUGE plus with me!

Next time you need an oil change, seriously consider Jiffy Lube.  To find the location nearest you, visit http://www.jiffylube.com/findlocation/storelocator.aspx

GIVEAWAY! Shell Lubricants and My Blog Spark is offering one lucky reader of The Mom Trap a sample kit just like I received! Here's what you need to do to enter:

•Leave a comment here telling me what "Green" thing your family does (i.e., recycling, clothesline drying)

Want to increase your chances of winning with extra entries? (Leave a comment for each additional entry; i.e. 2 extra entries = 2 comments)
•Become a Jiffy Lube Facebook Fan (1 extra entry. Already follow? That counts too!)

•Become a Facebook Fan of The Mom Trap at www.facebook.com/themomtrap (1 extra entry. Current followers also receive extra entry.)

•Follow The Mom Trap with Google Friend Connect. (1 extra entry. Current followers included.)

•Follow The Mom Trap on Twitter (1 extra entry. Current followers included.)

•Tweet this giveaway for 5 extra entries. (Include the Tweet status URL in your comment.)

•Blog about this giveaway for 5 extra entries. (Be sure to include the URL of your post in your comment)

The Fine Print: Contest ends at 11:59:59 PM Central Time on Tuesday, June 1, 2010. Winner will be chosen by random number generator. Must be 18 years or older to enter. Open to U.S. and territories residents only. Winner will be announced here and notified via email on Wednesday, June 2nd, and will have 48 hours to claim their prize or an alternate winner will be chosen.

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10,000 Reasons for Mom To Go Back To School

As more people find their unemployment benefits exhausted, the already competitive job market is about to get even worse.

That's why it's important to have a competitive edge with education.


Returning to school, especially for Moms, has never been easier.   Today many colleges and university offer full online degree programs.

No longer is it necessary to miss classes when the baby is sick, arrange babysitters for that staggered schedule class, or miss those important milestone events because you're sitting in a classroom.

Yes, those roadblocks of education are now a thing of the past!

And that pesky little problem of paying for your education can be a thing of the past too!  Scholarships for Moms is giving away a $10,000 scholarship to hardworking Moms looking to obtain their degree or further their education.

Whether you're looking to get your secondary education started, advance in your present job, or earn a degree to start a new career, then you'll want to check out Scholarships for Moms for information on how you can get started.

In three simple steps, you'll be on your way to finding the degree program that's right for you and be entered to win a $10,000 scholarship to get your started!

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Hidden Valley Ranch Mock Mash Potatoes Recipe, Salad Style.

I'm always looking for new recipes and new ways to add a little more healthy foods to our diet.

Disguised, of course.  You know how picky little kids can be!

So when Hidden Valley© and TwitterMoms encouraged Moms to "recreate" Hidden Valley's Mock Mash Potatoes recipe, I jumped on it!

My creation turned into the Hidden Valley© Ranch Mock Mash Potatoes Salad.  Doesn't it look yummy?

Wanna try it?  Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:

• 
  
  1 head cauliflower, washed and broken into florets (about 4 cups)
• 
  
  1/2 cup Hidden Valley The Original Ranch Dressing Light
• 
  
  1 tablespoon fat-free milk
• 
  
  1 tablespoon light margarine (tub style) or butter
• 
  
  1/4 teaspoon salt
• 
  
  Classic Iceberg Salad (pre-mixed)
• 
  
  Bacon pieces
• 
  
  Croutons

Directions:

1. 
   
   Steam cauliflower until tender.  (About 20 minutes)
2. 
   
   While steaming, place salad mix in to a bowl.
3. 
   
   Place cauliflower into blender.  Add dressing, milk, and margarine.  Blend until mixture reaches the consistency of mashed potatoes.
4. 
   
   Scoop mixture into center of sald mix.  Sprinkle with bacon pieces and croutons.
5. 
   
   Add salt and serve.

I served it as a side dish to chicken strips and it was a HIT with my family!   Especially the 5-year-old who is the SUPER PICKY eater of our family. 
It's tasty.  It's healthy.  And it's a fun "disguised" food.  So we'll definitely be having again!

If you decide to try it, be sure to let me know how it turns out!

This post is part of a blogging contest from the TwitterMoms community. There is a chance this post could be selected to win a $25 AmEx Gift Card, so wish me luck! For more details, you can view the contest page here.

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What Are You Getting Mom for Mothers Day?

I love my Mom.  I can't think of anyone who has spent the last 30-plus years being there for me when I most needed someone; even though sometimes I wasn't very easy to deal with.

So every year I always want to get a great Mother's Day gift; something that she will really enjoy.

Fortunately, my Mom loves flowers.  She enjoys beautiful arrangements for indoors as well as things to plant outside.

But regular readers here know I also love to save money, so I always look for the best deals on gifts.  Like using a ProFlowers coupon code on a vast selection of beautiful bouquets perfect for Mother's Day.

But sadly enough, I can be a bit of a procrastinator too; especially when it comes to my gift shopping. 

Fortunately, the folks at ProFlowers deal with a lot of people like me so they have a lot of pre-made arrangements that guarantee a Mother's Day delivery - most by noon.

Can you say, "Perfect"?

So now it's off to flower shopping I go.  Then I've got to push my way through the crowds at Hallmark for the perfect card.

Maybe next year will be the year I do this much earlier!

So what you are getting Mom for Mother's Day?

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