BK CROWN Program (review and giveaway)

(This giveaway is now closed and a winner has been notified.  Thanks so much for entering!)

We recently returned from a marathon vacation.  We headed out from our home in Connecticut and drove down to Tampa to board a cruise ship.  After that?  More driving to get us up to Indiana for Thanksgiving. And once the turkey had been consumed?  You guessed it.  More driving back to New England.  All told, our children saw fifteen states over the course of our journey!

While we dined on elegant fare onboard the ship and filled our bellies with Grandma's comfort food in the Midwest, those six days en route meant we needed some quick, on-the-go lunches.  One of my children's favorites that we grabbed on the road?  The Kids Meal boxes as part of the BK Crown program.

On top of the box is a removable crown (and it may just be me, but I think these have been redesigned to better fit smaller heads).  My two princess-lovin' girlies were all about that.  The box is also covered with various games and activities which delighted my puzzle-solving little boy.  He loved telling us about what he found on there and what he was working on.

Truth?  The times we rely on fast food, I generally just order something off the dollar menu for my kids.  They don't have much Kids Meal experience.  So there was definitely some novelty factor there.  Still, I liked seeing their excitement and I have to admit I was really happy to hear my son ask this question:

"What does this mean?  'Go to BKCrown.com, enter your Crown Code and choose a way to help.  Burger King Corp. will make a donation to the charity you've picked.'?  Can I do that?  Can I pick someone to help???"

He was so eager and I'm a big fan of any and all opportunities to talk about giving!  BK has established a fund to help support the  Wildlife Conservation Society, National Parks Conservation Association, DonorsChoose.org and Have It Your Way™ Foundation.


Perhaps you'd like to explore the new BK CROWN Program with your children?  (You don't need to have a big voyage on the agenda! ;))  You're in the right place!  I have a $25 BURGER KING Crown Card for one of my winners to purchase a kid's meal featuring the BK CROWN Program.  (And, yes, you can definitely buy way more than one kid's meal with that card-- you might want to try out a "BK Family Bundle for $9.99 which includes: WHOPPER^® sandwich, WHOPPER JR.^® sandwich., two small fries, two small soft drinks and a Kids Meal)



For a chance to win (or a few chances) just do the following:

1) Leave a comment answering this question (mandatory):

How do you try to make mealtimes fun and engaging with your children?


2) Feel free to earn extra entries by sharing about this giveaway on Twitter, Facebook, or your blog and coming back to let me know in additional comment(s).

Thanks and good luck!



Winner will be selected on Monday, December 5th.




(Disclosure: The BK CROWN^TM/MC Program prize pack, information and coupon have been provided by Burger King Corporation through MyBlogSpark.)

Who COULDN'T Use a Walmart Gift Card???

This giveaway is now closed; thanks so much!!!


When my older two children were just starting out in preschool, I remember perusing the classroom volunteer opportunities and feeling discouraged.  Their class schedule was such that, if one was in school, the other needed to be with me.  Not tiny babies, I couldn't just drag them along.  Not yet old enough for "big kid school", they were always with, well, ME!  Saddened that I couldn't be more help IN the classroom (because, I'm sorry, it's NOT help if you're just dragging another kid along for them to entertain), I talked to the preschool secretary.

And I got a volunteering opportunity!

For the entire time my children attended that school, I was in charge of organizing the Box Tops 4 Education.  It was a task I could do in the evenings while my littles slept and I was happy to do it.  In part because of that experience, it is a program that is near and dear to my heart.

Provided with a gift card thanks to Walmart and General Mills, I had the recent opportunity to peruse many of the participating products from this great program... and right now, each is bearing four box tops!  That right there is easy money for the school of your choice!  Many of these products- from brands like Nature Valley, Cheerios, and Yoplait- are things that help make the busy school year a bit easier.

Would you like a $25 Walmart gift card of your own?  I know most of us have ever-growing back-to-school lists this time of year!  Even if you just need to stock up on some handy snacks, a little extra money would sure come in handy, would it not?

To enter, simply leave a comment letting us know:

What's the number one back-to-school item on your list?  (I just about bet Walmart has it!)

For an extra entry or two, please feel free to share about this giveaway on Twitter +/or Facebook and leave an additional comment (or two) if you do!

Good luck!


(a winner will be selected on 8/2/2011)




Disclosure: I was provided with information and a gift card from Walmart and General Mills through MyBlogSpark.  All opinions, forever and always, are my own

Fiber One (Giveaway!)

This giveaway is now closed- thank you!!!

Cereal?  Is not my first choice breakfast.  This is mostly because I have a passionate love for eggs.  And cinnamon rolls.  And English muffins.  And... well, you get the point.  There are so many great options for breakfast and, as a stay-at-home mom to littles, I often have the luxury of variety and a little extra time when it comes to breakfast prep.  Still, cereal definitely has a place in our home.  Not only do I serve it to my kids every single Sunday morning before we venture off to the earliest church service that's offered, I also like to have it on hand for quick snacks or to incorporate in trail mix.  When I do choose a cereal, I like one with enough fiber to keep us full for more than, I don't know, ten minutes.

Fiber One offers a whole array of cereal choices to meet just about any taste preference.  Each contains at least 30% of the daily recommended amount of fiber.  This helps the cereal feel more "stick to your ribs" than many I've tried.

Simply put, fiber is good for you.  And, while I may prefer to get my fiber from ample fruits and veggies, it's nice to know that I can nosh on something else crunchy and sweet and be getting something beneficial from it!

Would you like to try out what Fiber One has to offer?  One of you will get the chance as I have the opportunity to give a prize pack containing five (!) boxes of Fiber One cereal:

• Fiber One Original
• Honey Clusters
• Raisin Bran Clusters
• Caramel Delight
• Shredded Wheat (<-- our fave!)

To enter, simply leave a comment letting us all know what your favorite way to sneak more fiber in your diet is. 

Also, be sure to visit Fiber One online for great information on healthy living and additional ways to incorporate fiber into your diet.  You can also check out the Fiber One Facebook page to get involved in the conversation.

For an extra entry or two, please feel free to share about this giveaway on Twitter +/or Facebook and leave an additional comment (or two) if you do!

Good luck!

winner will be chosen on Tuesday, 7/19/11


Disclosure: I was provided with all five varieties of Fiber One cereal to try from General Mills through MyBlogSpark.  All opinions, forever and always, are my own.

Kung Fu Panda Giveaway

(This giveaway is now closed- thanks!)

I recently had the privilege, thanks to General Mills and DreamWorks (through MyBlogSpark), of seeing Kung Fu Panda for the very first time!  So fun!

Our family cherishes our times together having "Pizza & A Movie Nights" every Friday.  Sometimes we just watch a PBS or Playhouse Disney show streamed from the laptop.  Other times, we actually pop in a full length film.  (Confession: some of these are still VHS tapes.  Yes, we are that old.)  It is exceedingly rare that we rent or even borrow any "newer" movie.  Having a brand new DVD (!) to watch was quite a treat indeed!


My six-year old son takes karate and he really got into watching this movie- it was particularly exciting for him since he had just broken his very first boards in class!   He thought Tigress was super cool, probably because tigers are among his daddy's favorite animals.


I was excited to learn that Kung Fu Panda 2 is out now.  While it is unlikely we'll see it in the theater (we're just not "movie-goin' folk"), I will definitely be looking out for this one's video release!


In honor of Kung Fu Panda being back, I have the opportunity to give away a prize pack to one of you lucky readers!  In it, you'll find:

• One box of a participating Big G cereal with a spin fighter toy inside (Mine contained Apple Cinnamon Cheerios, a very yummy addition to the trail mix I put together for our letter-boxing hikes!)
• An additional spin fighter toy.  (Handy if you have more than one kiddo!)
• Your own copy of the original Kung Fu Panda

To enter, simply leave a comment letting me know who you'd love to watch Kung Fu Panda with!  (Or, if you've seen it already, who would you love to take to Kung Fu Panda 2?)

To earn additional entries, you may:

1. Follow on Twitter.
2. Like on Facebook.
3. Share via blog or email.

Simply leave one additional comment for each additional entry method you complete.

Winner will be selected Tuesday, June 14th.  Good luck!

Fireplace In A Jar

I love candles. I love the soft flickering (flattering) glow of them. I love the gentle aroma given off by yummy scented ones. I've loved candles since I was in middle school, I think. I had a candlelit wedding. Love.

Sadly, we don't have candles going nearly as often as we once did around here. Three babies in less than five years made candles an unsafe lighting option around these parts. With a one year old currently underfoot, it's still not the greatest option.

Nonetheless, I simply could not say no when given the opportunity to try the new Febreze Home Collection Wooden Wick candles. The theory behind the wooden wick is that it will create the ambiance of a fire with its warm glow and crackling sound.

And it does! Albeit, a very small fire. :) Still, when my sister comes to share a cup of coffee while the baby naps, I love to light one of these candles and enjoy the fragrance and the soft crackle noises. So homey!

Would you like to experience this new line for yourself? They're available at Walmart and I have a $15 gift card for one of you so you can choose a scent and bring these new candles into your home!

To enter:

Leave a comment and tell me which of these yummy scents you'd love to try:

• 
  

• Green Tea Citrus
• Pomegranate Mango
• Cranberry Pear
• Orange Honeycomb
• Rosewood Plum
• Willow Blossom
• Anjou Pear Spice (seasonal)
• Gingersnap Vanilla (seasonal) <--this would be my pick!!!
• Yumberry Sangria (seasonal)

For up to two additional entries, please feel free to share about this giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter and leave an additional comment(s) letting me know you have done so.

This giveaway will end Sunday night, November 21st when a winner will be selected via Random.org. Good luck!

Febreze provided me with the candles to try, information about the product, and a Walmart gift card to give away though MyBlogSpark. Now aren't they nice?

This post is linked to TILT at The Diaper Diaries.

Progresso Prize Pack Winner

Congratulations, Colleen! I hope you enjoy your Prize Pack. Thanks to all of you for entering!True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:1Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Mmmm... Soup! A Giveaway From Progresso

Brrr... an autumn chill is in the air and with it come two fabulous things- gorgeous New England foliage and major cravings for SOUP! I simply love soup, most often for lunch but sometimes supper, and I love that it is so simple and can also be a great, healthy way to fill up.

I make some of my own soups and I am famous for my "Souped-Up Tomato Soup", but sometimes I also like to just open up a can and enjoy it, as is. Soup is so easy! How fantastic that it can also be a really healthy choice.

According to the folks at Progresso (and relying on information from the American Heart Association, 2008):

• Choosing select Progresso Reduced Sodium soups may help lower cholesterol when eaten with other heart healthy, soluble fiber containing foods.
• Progresso provides the "May Help Lower Cholesterol" banner and the Hearth Healthy logo on certain varieties of Reduced Sodium soups to make it even easier to stick to a heart healthy diet.
• There are five Progresso Reduced Sodium favorites that contain enough hearty veggies and legumes to provide 1 g of soluble fiber in every bowl, my favorite of which is the Italian Style Wedding!

To me, that means that these soups can be a part of a healthy diet. Being conscientious about cholesterol and sodium intake is part of responsible eating, in my opinion!

Just as important as healthy eating? Exercise and staying fit! I've always been proud of my abs (though they could use some additional toning these days!) and my very favorite way to keep them strong and tight is by using a balance ball. I have always been very open about the fact that I think part of why I tend to bounce back easily after pregnancy is because I start out with a tight tummy. I am a believer in the balance ball! I am so excited to be able to give one away!

Here's what's included in this great prize pack:

• 2 cans of Progresso Reduced Sodium soup (I'm not sure if they're all the same or not, but I received the new Tomato Parmesan Reduced Sodium variety and it was fantastic!)
• A Progresso soup mug
• A fitness ball (which I refer to as a "balance ball"... but it's the same thing!)

Sound good? Fabulous!

To enter:

Please leave a comment letting us know which variety of Progresso Reduced Sodium soup you are most looking forward to trying. (Reminder: the varieties are- Italian Style Wedding, Minestrone, Garden Vegetable, Beef and Vegetable, Chicken Gumbo, and Tomato Parmesan) If you choose to share about this giveaway on Twitter or Facebook, please leave an additional comment letting me know you did so for additional entries! Thanks and best of luck!

This giveaway will end on Monday, November 1st, when a winner will be chosen via Random.org.

The product, information, and prize packs needed for this giveaway were provided to me from Progresso through MyBlogSpark. All opinions, from the love of soup to the desire for tight abs, are mine and mine alone.

This post is linked to Things I Love Thursday!

Lawry's "What's Your Flavor?" Winner!

Well, you all must really love Lawry's! After 68 entries (a record for this here blog!), the winner was lucky number 12- Andrea. Like most of you, as it turns out, she prefers her food spicy! Congrats, Andrea... hope you enjoy it!

Lawry's "What's Your Flavor?" Giveaway

Here's something I'm not sure if you know about me- I do NOT like plain meat. If a recipe involves the use of only salt and pepper or, heaven forbid, suggests baking the meat (*gag*), I can pretty much guarantee I will not be trying it. Herbs, spices, and sauces are my friends!

I feel like I have good natural instincts when it comes to adding flavors and I absolutely LOVE finding new marinade ideas around the blogosphere! I've had great success with the suggestions of my bloggy friends. I'm blessed to have some very wise brains to pick whenever I need something new to try.

When I'm not near a computer, am running low on ingredients, or just want something super simple to add flavor to my meat, I've long relied on Lawry's. I usually have a bottle of their marinade somewhere on the top shelf of my pantry. My fave? Sesame Ginger. Yum!

This is why, even though I do the lion's share of my cooking from scratch, I was so excited to receive a fun Lawry's prize pack in the mail! In it?

• 2 Bottles of Marinade- Szechuan Sweet & Sour BBQ and Tuscan Sun-Dried Tomato (mmm... tomato...)
• 4 Seasoning Mixes- Asian Style Beef & Broccoli, Chimichurri Burrito Casserole, Mediterranean Sundried Tomato & Garlic Chicken, and Tuscan Style Chicken Marsala with Garlic and Basil (If you know me at ALL, then you know I have a passionate love of Chicken Marsala!!)
• Marinating Dish- I don't know what I was expecting here, but I was so impressed with the size and quality of this covered Pyrex dish!
• Set of Skewers- These are metal skewers- not bamboo- so you will not need to be soaking them.
• Bottle of Lawry's Seasoned Salt (I'm excited to use this when making Amy's Breakfast Burritos!)

I love the idea of having some quick meal fixes on hand! Would you like to have some too?

Here's what you need to do:

• Leave a comment letting us know what your flavor preference is- tart, spicy, sweet, or savory. (For the record, I like all those flavors, but my top Lawry's pick is a sweet one... which apparently means I'm a "Sweet Lifer"... "As a Sweet Lifer, home and family are close to your heart. You are the kindest and most loyal, although you probably wouldn’t admit that as you are also the most modest. As an individual that prefers sweeter flavors (honey and fruit-infused), you are influenced by your parents, enjoy family entertainment, and consider yourself spiritual." Does that sound like me?)
• If you choose to share about this giveaway on Twitter or Facebook, please just leave an additional comment letting me know you did so!
• A winner will be chosen on Wednesday, October 6th.

Note: I was provided with a prize pack for myself and one to give away by Lawry's through MyBlogSpark. All opinions about the products are, as always, my own, and I received no further compensation.

This post is linked to Things I Love Thursday.

Wanchai Ferry Winner

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

5

Timestamp: 2009-09-16 10:54:32 UTC

Congratulations to thediaperdiaries!

I've already sent you an email... hope you enjoy your Wanchai Ferry prize pack. Thanks to all of you who entered this fun giveaway. I have another fun and yummy treat coming up soon!

Wanchai Ferry Yumminess!

A few weeks ago, I had an opportunity I rarely have-- I got to try the new Wanchai Ferry frozen meals. As part of the My BlogSpark program, I was able to sample the Orange Chicken variety. Now, I have to say... we do not eat many frozen meals around here (with the notable exception of when I was pregnant- then, convenience reigns as I battle all-day sickness that lands me in the hospital). I love to cook, and I love to cook with fresh ingredients, from scratch. One of the perks of being a stay-at-home mom (and, honestly, one of the responsibilities in my opinion) is cooking homemade meals for my family.

Anyway, the point of all this is... I may very well not have ever tried the Wanchai Ferry meals had it not been for this Spark. But I'm so glad I did!

One busy night I had managed to feed all three children and had them tucked away to bed by 7:30 pm. And then I realized-- oh, yeah, WE'RE supposed to eat too! I was happy to have that Wanchai Ferry meal tucked in the freezer!



It cooked up in about 15 minutes and what I loved the most was that you brown the (fully-cooked) chicken in the pan for a bit before adding the other ingredients. This keeps it from getting soggy and makes the meal taste a lot more like a good take-out might.

Even more fun- I had received these cute bowls, chopsticks, and place mats along with the meal. All of a sudden a crazy evening morphed into a fun date night!

I have to say I enjoyed this meal even more than I expected to. I think you will too!

I'm excited to be able to offer one of my readers a Wanchai Ferry prize pack that will include two Asian inspired rice bowls, chopsticks, and bamboo placemats along with two coupons for free Wanchai Ferry frozen meals! (Each meal serves two people- probably not two super hungry people, but it was plenty of food for my hubby and me!)

To enter, please leave a comment telling me which of these flavors you'd love to try:

• Orange Chicken
• Shrimp Lo Mein
• Spicy Garlic Chicken
• Sweet & Sour Chicken
• Sweet & Spicy Shrimp

This giveaway will run until Tuesday, September 15th. Good luck!

This post is linked to Things I love Thursday!