This post is sponsored by Serve from American Express. Sign up for Serve and receive $10 credit towards your first use. Comment below within the next 7 days for your chance to win an extra $100 credit to your account!

One of my most favorite things to do with my family and friends is go out to eat. As someone who spent a long time working in the service industry as a fine dining server, cocktail waitress and bartender, I have a decent amount of etiquette and food knowledge. I love eating good food, drinking amazing wine and most of all, I love spending time doing all of these things with my favorite people. There is always an awkward moment at the end, though, when everyone goes to throw in their credit card and divvy up the bill more than a few ways. I know that it’s not only NOT fun for the server, but it also can be uncomfortable to divide the bill exactly amongst more than a few people.

I was invited to try Serve, the new service and app from American Express that makes sending money to friends easy. As a part of this program, I was able to take my family out to a beautiful dinner at The Water Club, a gorgeous restaurant on the East River just before Christmas. We ordered an amazing Chardonnay from Napa to pair with our entrees: Two Grouper specials, Beef Wellington and my stuffed pork chops with an amazing side of quinoa and almonds.

The best part: at the end of the meal after indulging in a gorgeous strawberry shortcake dessert, my sister paid for the entire meal on her card and we were able to send her money right there from the Serve app. She had the cash in her account at that moment-easy peasy. It actually left us with more time to finish our coffee and spend more time chatting with each other than fussing over the least fun part of eating out: Paying.

We all appreciated this experience and the special time spent together, and I’m sure there will plenty of times when I’ll need send my sister and mother money in the future.

BONUS GIVEAWAY: If you leave a comment, you’ll be entered to win $100 credit for signing up for Serve. One winner will be chosen from this post-so enter away!

Remember to sign up for Serve and receive $10 credit towards your first use. Comment below within the next 7 days for your chance to win an extra $100 credit to your account! Official sweepstakes rules and regulations may be found by clicking here. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

I’ve made countless discoveries since moving to this big city with my children two years ago. Before we moved to Manhattan, I made it a point to shop in small boutiques for all of my kid’s clothing because I knew I would find unique and well made pieces. There are downfalls to boutique shopping, however: The prices are usually a pretty high, and it’s never really easy to return something if needed. I was totally fine with all of those things (I learned to buy fewer, more versatile pieces rather than the splashy expensive ones), but I was definitely in need of an alternative shopping method-a budget conscious and easy one.

Boutiques are even harder to find in New York City, so I started poking my nose into the bigger stores to find my children’s clothing. When I discovered H&M Kids, I felt like I had really scored. Not only are their children’s clothes unique, but they are nicely made and last through the wear, tear and many washes that a 3 & 4 year old will put them through. The best part? They are priced really well. It’s evident that H&M stands behind their philosophy: To bring style and quality at the best price. They are also the #1 provider of organic cotton-their entire Baby Basics line is made with organic cotton. This was something I didn’t know and was pleasantly surprised to find out, especially as we just welcomed our third baby.

A couple of weeks ago, I was invited to shop at H&M Kids along with a few of my fellow NYC blogging friends at their new (and huge) store in Midtown.

I came home with $100 worth of clothing for all of my children-each of them got an outfit and a few accessories that they really loved (Spiderman and Hello Kitty pieces made me the hero of the day). Here are some of my favorite looks:

They’ve been wearing these throughout the last couple of weeks: To meet Santa, in their school play of The Nutcracker, and to the playground a few times. It’s nice that the clothes are versatile in that way. I’ve been a shopper at H&M for as long as we’ve lived here, and while I do miss my boutiques back home, it’s nice to have this as our go-to for children’s clothes.

Win It:

I’m so excited to be able to gift one of you not only a $100 H&M gift card but a VIP discount card as well (these are hard to come by, trust me)!

To Enter:

Leave a comment telling me what is important to you when shopping for children’s clothes.

Extra Entries:

Follow Momma’s Gone City on Twitter
Friend Momma’s Gone City on Facebook
Subscribe to my RSS Feed

Leave ONE comment per each entry telling me that you did, or already do!

Sweepstakes run from today, December 20th until Tuesday night, December 27th at midnight, PST. Winner will be chosen randomly.

UPDATE: WINNER CHOSEN!

Congratulations to Rebecca! Our winner was chosen randomly via And The Winner Is, a WordPress plug-in. Thank you to everyone who entered! Happy New Year!

I was given a gift card to H&M for purposes of this review. All opinions are, as always, my own.

One of my favorite things to do with my kids is host play dates. It’s the perfect thing to do on rainy days, especially when those of us that don’t drive are stuck in our apartments entertaining small children with every available resource.

It turns out that during Winter on the East coast, we are doing that pretty much every single day. I have already started my list of creative things to do while indoors with my 3 year old, 4 year old, and soon-to-arrive baby #3, and much of the list involves creative play and imagination.

We were invited to host a play date courtesy of Paddywhack Lane toys to kick start our winter season of homebody activities. I was very pleasantly surprised to see all of the elements that Paddywhack Lane incorporates in their figurines.

The super cute figurines come with little costumes and play scenes, not to mention there is an entire area online where you can print up costumes for your children to incorporate during the dramatic play. My children had a blast not only creating different stories with the characters, but also dressing up and getting involved with the stories themselves. It is the perfect rainy day activity.

Author/Illustrator Bob Fuller and his wife Sandy created Paddywhack Lane together. The Fullers have eight children ages 9-26, and you could say they’ve seen it all. Unlike even the most classic children’s fairy tales and films, on Paddywhack Lane there are no scary parts and no bad guys. “The Costume Trunk” book and the accompanying line of posable toy figures are all about creativity, confidence and costumes.

Win It!:

I’m happy to be able to give one of you a Paddywhack Lane play date package of your own. I’m giving away one Costume Club Treehouse and a copy of The Costume Trunk!

TO ENTER:

Leave a comment telling me what your favorite indoor activity is with your children. I need ideas to stave off cabin fever this winter!

One comment per person, please.

EXTRA ENTRIES

*Follow Paddywhack Lane on Facebook, and leave a comment letting me know you did (or already are).

*Follow Momma’s Gone City on Facebook and/or subscribe to Momma’s Gone City and leave a comment letting me know you did (or already do!).

*Tweet about the contest using the following:” I’ve entered to win a play date package from @MommasGoneCity and @PaddywhackLane here:http://t.co/rZ3BYlHF”

Leave one comment with link to let me know you tweeted about the contest (one per person).

Contest runs from today, November 22nd until midnight PST Tuesday, November 29th. Good luck!

Update: Winner Chosen

Congratulations to Beth (Disney with Children)! Thank you to all who entered!

I was compensated and provided products for hosting the Paddywhack Lane play date. All opinions are my own.

I wrote last week about our new fascination for making dinners in the crock pot. It’s super easy, the dinners usually turn out really good, the apartments smells so divine, and the clean-up is minimal. The best part: Even the kids enjoy them.

Last weekend, my husband hopped on his bike and rode 80 or so blocks up to Costco and filled his backpack with as much bulk food as he could possibly fit. We don’t get up there very often, mostly because we need a car for transporting all of our Costco bounty, but when we do get to go, it makes me positively giddy (does that show my age? sigh). Easily his best purchase: A four pack of pork sirloin tip roast for $18.56. That’s at least 5 or 6 healthy & easy dinners for our family.

Sundays are my favorite days-our local farmer’s market is open and I can take the kids to the park and shop for organic produce in the same trip. Yesterday, in my usual Sunday fashion, I stocked up on fruit and vegetables and created a recipe for the pork we bought to use in the crock pot and created what I call Sweet Harvest Pork with Truffle Mashed Potatoes.

Sweet Harvest Pork Recipe

1 1/2 lbs Pork Sirloin Tip Roast
2 Tbs Olive Oil
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
3 apples (tart ones, like Pink Ladies or Honey Crisp)
2 Bosc pears
3 fresh figs
1 med sized onion
3 sprigs thyme
3 sprigs sage
1/4 c apple cider
2 Tbs cornstarch

Season pork with salt and pepper and sear in a non-stick pan. Core apples and pear, slice horizontally and throw into the crock pot with halved figs, chopped onion, thyme, sage and pork. Cook on high for 3 1/2-4 hours.

When finished, place pork and fruit/onion mixture aside, cover with foil, and pour remaining juices into a skillet on the stove. Slowly whisk in apple cider and cornstarch on medium heat until thickened and garnish as needed.

Truffle Mashed Potatoes

Peel and slice 6 russet potatoes into quarters and steam until tender. Drain and blend with mixer along with 3 TBS Milk and 1 tsp truffle salt.

Enjoy!

ADDED BONUS: A GIVEAWAY

I’m happy to extend the joy of shopping at Costco to one of you in the form of a $25 gift card.

To Enter:

Leave me a comment telling me what your favorite dish is for fall (and leave the recipe! KIDDING).

Extra Entries:

*Follow Momma’s Gone City on Facebook and/or subscribe to Momma’s Gone City and leave a comment letting me know you did (or already do!).

*Follow Momma’s Gone City on Twitter and leave a comment letting me know you did or already do.

*Tweet about the contest using the following:” I’ve entered to win a Costco gift card from @Mommasgonecity here: http://t.co/GPNKM2UU ”

Leave one comment with link to let me know you tweeted about the contest (one per person).

Sweepstakes run from today, October 17th until Monday, October 24th at midnight PST. Good luck!

A couple of weeks ago, we were invited to a Pamper’s party at Dylan’s Candy Bar to celebrate the not only the launch of 3-Way-FIt diapers but Christina Milian was also there celebrating her adorable daughter’s birthday.

We’ve been a Pampers family from day one when our son Jack was born. The Swaddlers are the softest, and the Cruisers are the only ones that don’t leak or cause other problems (as far as we have seen), so it was an easy event to say yes to. I’m interested to see what the 3-Way-Fit’s bring to the changing table.

Pampers prides itself on being at the forefront of comfort and performance which is why we’re excited to introduce newly improved Pampers Cruisers with 3-Way-Fit. New Pampers Cruisers give baby the freedom to play their way with a unique three-way fit that adapts to their waists, legs and bottoms. Pampers Cruisers with 3-Way-Fit also incorporate improvements that parents asked us for – including a softer, quilted back-sheet (like our Swaddlers), and most fun of all, new Sesame Street designs.

Win It

(1) Jumbo Pack of newly improved Pampers Cruisers with 3-Way Fit diapers (retail value $13.99/each)
(1) 64-Count Tub of Pampers Thick Wipes ($4.49)
(1) 12-Count Travel Pack of Pampers Sensitive Wipes ($1.99)
Hasbro’s new Let’s Rock! Elmo is ready to take the stage singing and making music! Elmo comes with his very own microphone, tambourine and a drum set and sings six rockin’ songs. Toddlers can choose which instrument Elmo plays, and he magically recognizes which one you give him. (Value $69.99)
TOTAL VALUE: Roughly $100

To Enter:

Leave a comment telling me what is the dream birthday party for your child would be.

One comment per person, please.

EXTRA ENTRIES

*Follow Momma’s Gone City on Facebook and/or subscribe to Momma’s Gone City and leave a comment letting me know you did (or already do!).

*Follow Pampers on Facebook and let me know that you did in a comment.

*Follow Momma’s Gone City on Twitter and leave a comment letting me know you did or already do.

*Tweet about the contest using the following:” I’ve entered to win a @Pampers Party Package from @Mommasgonecity here:http://t.co/mGLIzEHr #PampersCruisers”

Leave one comment with link to let me know you tweeted about the contest (one per person).

Contest is open to US Residents only, and begins Tuesday, October 11th until Wednesday, October 19th at midnight, PST. Winner will be chosen randomly. Good luck!

UPDATE: Winner Chosen!

Thank you so much to everyone that entered! Our winner was chosen via WordPress Plug-in And The Winner Is: Congratulations to Debbie Jackson!

I was not compensated for this post. All opinions are my own.

Last week, Jack and I swabbed his room for germs and sent them away to Dr. Tanner’s Laboratories to study the results of our germ testing. The following Friday, Jack and I held a play date of sorts at home to talk about the results and discuss the benefits of being more aware of germs and cleaning regimens.

The results of the germ testing were in, and we discussed the process a bit at the party. The dirtiest place in our nursery: The changing station. Fortunately for us, no really bad germs were found, but I can tell you that I’ll be so much more diligent in the future about wiping everything down at least once more.

We’ve been diaper free now for about three months, but that is all about to change in less than 9 weeks when baby #3 comes along-which means we’re in the market for a new diaper pail.

Playtex’s Diaper Genie II Elite Disposal System is perhaps the very best on the market (my opinion!):

Patent pending double-locked pail design and multi-layer refill helps seal in odor and germs
Antimicrobial protection inhibits odor-causing bacteria
Diapers only touch refill film, not the pail, so no messy residue is left behind
Foot pedal allows for easy, hands-free opening
Ergonomic, no need to bend down
5 layer refill bags help seal in odor and germs
Holds up to 38 newborn diapers

Win it:

I’m giving away a Playtex package, full of goodies worth upwards of $300+:

1 Playtex Diaper Genie II Elite Disposal System
2 Playtex Diaper Genie II Elite Refill Boxes (3 refills per box)
1 Pureguardian Clean2 UV-C Air Sanitizer & Hand Vac
2 Canisters Wet Ones
3 Travel pack of Wet Ones
1 $100 Gift Certificate to Babies R’ Us

TO ENTER:

Leave a comment telling me what methods you use to keep your nursery clean.

One comment per person, please.

EXTRA ENTRIES

*Follow Momma’s Gone City on Facebook and/or subscribe to Momma’s Gone City and leave a comment letting me know you did (or already do!).

*Follow Momma’s Gone City on Twitter and leave a comment letting me know you did or already do.

*Tweet about the contest using the following:” I’ve entered to win a @PlaytexBaby Party Package from @Mommasgonecity here: http://t.co/1SWbLPhB ”

Leave one comment with link to let me know you tweeted about the contest (one per person).

This is a quick contest! It officially runs from today. October 9th until midnight on October 13th. Good luck!

UPDATE: Winner Chosen!

Congratulations to Judy S. who was chosen randomly using And The Winner Is! Thank you to all who entered!

Playtex is paying me to participate and providing the prizes for this promotion at no cost to me. This promotion is not being administered or sponsored in any way by Playtex or its affiliates, but solely by Momma’s Gone City. Any questions or comments regarding this promotion must be sent to me at Momma’s Gone City and not to Playtex.

As the kids have gotten older, we’ve gotten more mobile around the city via public transportation. Where we used to walk for blocks and blocks, two kids tucked in the stroller and myself armed with a latte, we now pack light and simply walk to the nearest bus or subway station. Being that Zoe is still young enough that her little legs just can’t carry her around the city without getting tuckered out, we tend to bring a stroller out with us, anyway. This means that the particular stroller must be light enough to carry up and down steps and compact to fit onto trains and busses.

Enter the Maclaren Volo. Closing in at 9 pounds including the shopping basket and hood, this stroller is nearly the perfect travel companion. My favorite feature of the Volo is the attached strap that allows for the stroller to be carried in the folded position, slung over my shoulder along with my purse and shopping bags.

The Maclaren Volo allows me to go anywhere and everywhere, and that is a bit of freedom that is very rare when traveling with strollers & children. I don’t have to worry about the space that it takes up at tiny restaurants or boutiques, or being able to get into and out of taxi cabs in a hurry. As a parent, anything that lends ease and adaptability is welcomed 100% into my life. Not to mention, with a brand like Maclaren, you know they stand behind their product and make excellent strollers.

Specifics:

Basic Weight
4.0kg/ 8.8lb
(without hood, shopping basket or raincover)
Carrying Capacity
up to 15kg/ 55lb (US)
Appropriate From
Six months
Recline
One position
Wheel Size
11.4cm/ 4.5in

The only issue that I had with the Volo is the absence of a recline position. Given the lightweight aspect of the stroller, I understand how that is a compromised feature but for us it’s a pretty big one. Once we are out and about, usually we are gone for hours and typically Zoe needs a nap. Even still, she doesn’t seem to mind-it doesn’t affect her ability to fall asleep!

Win It!

I’m so thrilled that I can pass along one of these awesome strollers to one of my readers! Loving is sharing, right?

TO ENTER:

Leave a comment telling me what aspect you appreciate the very most in a stroller.

One comment per person, please.

EXTRA ENTRIES

*Follow Maclaren on Facebook, and leave a comment letting me know you did (or already are).

*Follow Momma’s Gone City on Facebook and/OR subscribe to Momma’s Gone City and leave a comment letting me know you did (or already do!).

*Tweet about the contest using the following:” I’ve entered to win a Maclaren Volo from @MommasGoneCity and @MaclarenNA here: http://t.co/ucXwsOWO ”

Leave one comment with link to let me know you tweeted about the contest (one per person).

Contest runs from today, September 28th until midnight PST Friday, October 7th. Good luck and happy traveling!

UPDATE: Winner Announced!

Our winner, chosen by And The Winner Is, is Lisa Danielle Grice! Thank you to everyone who entered! Congratulations, Lisa!
I was not compensated for this post, however I was provided with a Maclaren Volo Stroller for purposes of this review. All opinions are my own.

My kids are now a week into school and truly loving every single moment. They love the confidence it brings, the creativity they are encouraged to explore, and their peers most of all. It’s almost like having two new little kids at our house- the routine has been SO great for them, especially being able to get out of the apartment consistently every single day.

Now that the seasons have seemed to change literally overnight, I’m so excited to go shopping for fall clothing for them. I can’t wait for the cable knit sweaters & tights, boots, and dapper long sleeved shirts that look so handsome and proper on children, but are still easy to play in and very comfortable.

Win It

In honor of Back To School, I’m giving away a $25 gift card to JC Penny’s American Living.

To Enter:

Leave one comment telling me your favorite part about the Back to School season.

Extra Entries:

Leave one comment telling me your favorite piece from American Living’s Kids line.

Two entries possible, per person. Contest runs from today, September 19th until Monday, September 26th at midnight EST. Winner will be chosen randomly.

Good luck and happy shopping!

Update: Winner Chosen

Congratulations to Ashley H! Thank you to all who entered!

For the past week I’ve been in suburbia, living the quiet life without any children or anything to clean. A press trip-turned-hurricane-detour has left me in the lap of luxury: A quiet, cozy space in my mother’s home, with my mom’s cooking, with full use of my mother’s vehicle.

I’ve almost completely forgotten what it is like to walk everywhere, loading and unloading strollers while carrying scooters and groceries to and from our destinations. Living this suburban lifestyle has gotten me very interested in the minivan/SUV market, especially with our third child on the way. I even caught myself briefly fantasizing about our future minivan ownership and all of the travel that we’ll be doing in less than a couple years upon our move back to California.

With the purchase of a new car, we’ll be also in the market for car seats and car insurance. Since we’ve been here, we’ve rented a few cars through various different services, and have borrowed from friends. Insurance hasn’t been a worry, but it’s always been a consideration. We haven’t-fortunately-had any significant issues while traveling on the East Coast with kids, but there have been times when I’ve really worried what would happen if I did get stuck. Who would I call?

It’s nice to know that there is an option out there that doesn’t require a huge commitment, especially for those times that the need is temporary, just like how we need it right now. This type of coverage is perfect for those families and individuals that take frequent road trips, as it’s the perfect roadside assistance for the minor times when you need a little extra help.

I can tell you there have been many, many times in my life that I have been locked out of my car, been stuck on the side of the road without gas and have needed a change of a tire. This program is a simple phone call away-nice especially when you don’t have any friends or family around.

Allstate Good Hands Roadside Assistance is a new Allstate service that gives you free access to Allstate’s 24/7 Roadside Network should your car break down for any reason. They can be reached at any time by calling 1-800-ALLSTATE.

~ No annual fees. Pay only for the service as you need it and when you need it – in most cases just $75 per tow and $50 per other service.
~ Available to everyone in the U.S. – not just Allstate customers.
~ Service covers any driver, any car, any time.
~ Download the Good HandsSM Roadside mobile app to your smartphone for faster, easier service.

I know I’ll be looking forward to utilizing this service more when our third baby comes, as we’ll need more adventures outside of the city requiring a vehicle.

Happy Driving!

Giveaway!

I’m giving away a $50 Amazon gift card to one of my readers! Just tell me your best piece of advice for family road trips.

Leave the answer below in the comments as your first, mandatory entry.

Bonus Entries:

2 entries
· Register for the program and comment that you registered
· Download the mobile app and comment that you downloaded it

1 entry
· Tweet about the giveaway and comment that you tweeted: “Just entered the Allstate #ghrgiftcardgiveaway via @MommasGoneCity. Could win a $50 Amazon Gift Card. Your turn!”
· Share post to Facebook (through widget or copy and paste link) and comment that you shared it

This giveaway will run from tonight until midnight PST on September 5th. Winner will be chosen randomly.

No purchase necessary to enter or win. Odds of winning are not increased by a purchase.

UPDATE! Winner Chosen

Our random winner of the $50 Amazon gift card is Amanda S.! Congratulations and thank you to everyone that entered!

This post was sponsored by Allstate. I’m running this giveaway, however Allstate is donating the prize. All opinions expressed are my own.

I love to cook. In fact, I foresee many features involving food in the future on Momma’s Gone City because I have so much fun cooking and creating dishes for my family.

So, when I was invited by The Motherhood to participate in a recipe challenge with Lawry’s, I eagerly agreed. The hard part would be making up my very own dishes sans recipe, but it proved to be much easier when certain ingredients were involved.

I was given three Lawry’s ingredients to work with for my summer recipes: Seasoned Salt, Balsamic Marinade and Seasoned Salt Marinade.

Since I’ve been pregnant, all I’ve wanted is Mexican food, so I decided to prepare a Fresh Taco Salad using the Seasoned Salt Marinade.

Ingredients:

1lb Ground Turkey
1/2 cup chopped onion
3 Tablespoons Lawry’s Seasoned Salt Marinade
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon chili powder
I head of chopped romaine lettuce
1/4 head chopped purple cabbage
Red bell pepper
Yellow bell pepper
1 can corn
1 can black beans
1/2 pint cherry tomatoes
2 Tablespoons Mexican cheese
3 Tablespoons balsamic vinaigrette

Sautee onion and ground turkey in a non-stick frying pan until meat slightly browns. Add Lawry’s Seasoned Salt Marinade, garlic powder and chili powder and continue to cook until brown. Cover and set aside.

Chop and mix lettuce and add bell pepper and tomatoes and set in fridge to crisp. Drain black beans and corn. Build salad as desired! Fresh, healthy and very tasty.

Recipe #2:Fried Chicken Summer(a family favorite!)

My kids aren’t lettuce eaters, so I decided to also put together a meal that they would devour-and they did.

Ingredients:

4 Chicken Breasts
1/2 cup Canola Oil
1 cup flour
3 eggs
2 heaping Tablespoons Lawry’s Seasoned Salt
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon pepper
3 Tablespoons butter
4 yukon potatoes
3 Tablespoons lowfat milk
4 ears fresh corn or 1 can corn

Heat canola oil over medium/high heat until hot (test by dripping a splash of water- if it spatters, you’re good to go). Mix flour, Lawry’s Seasoned Salt and paprika in large bowl and set aside. Beat eggs in separate bowl and set aside. Dip rinsed chicken breasts into eggs first, then coat completely in flour mix and place in to pan on stove until brown.

Peel, chop and steam potatoes until they fall apart, drain and add butter. Beat with mixer on med speed gradually adding milk until desired consistency.

Steam corn for ten minutes.

Easy prep and the entire family enjoyed it!

Interested in trying my recipes or putting together your own Summer dishes with Lawry’s?

Win It:

Enter to win the package that I was given to create your dishes:

1 Lawry’s Seasoned Salt
1 Lawry’s Seasoned Salt Marinade
1 Lawry’s Balsamic Marinade

*Leave one comment telling me your favorite summer dish.
*”Like” Momma’s Gone City on Facebook and leave a comment.
*Tweet about the contest using the following: “I’ve entered to win a @lawrys package from @MommasGoneCity http://t.co/5vba3ez #lawrys #TEAMNYC” and leave a comment!

I can’t wait to hear about your favorite family dishes!

I was compensated for this post, however all opinions are my own.