Because I Must Review It

Monte Carlo Movie Review

2011-07-05T08:36:00.000-07:00

Recent high school graduate Grace Bennett (Selena Gomez) is Paris bound with her best friend Emma(Katie Cassidy) and stepsister Meg (Leighton Meester). Shortly after arriving, Grace realizes the tour she'd saved for wasn't all she hoped it would be. Frustrated and down the three girls take a break from the tour and accidentally happen upon an heiress (Gomez) who just happens to be Grace's doppelganger. Things quickly turn for the girls as Bennett assumes the heiress' lifestyle and the three head to Monte Carlo. While there they each have the fantasy trip they hoped they would have and manage to find out who they really are in the process.

Monte Carlo starts out slow and misses the mark in really developing some of it's character relationships. Early on we're told Grace and her stepsister don't get along. They're forced in to the trip together and the tension is palpable. Then, it's just gone. There is no real heart to heart or no turning point. They just magically start getting along. It would have been nice to see more explanation about that transition or truthfully that piece could have been left out all together. That said, the scenery is amazing, Gomez is positively adorable and when the heiress discovers her identity has been stolen the hijinks that ensue are amusing.

Monte Carlo is just ok. Parents, if you've got a die hard Selena Gomez fan like I do, I say check out the matinee. It probably won't be your favorite picture of the year but your tween will likely enjoy it.

Betty Crocker "loaded" Instant Mashed Potatoes Review and Giveaway

2011-04-11T06:31:00.000-07:00

I love potatoes. Deeply. Baked,fried,mashed I don't think there is much you could do to a potato that I wouldn't like.

Enter Betty Crocker's new "loaded" Instant Mashed Potatoes. Instant? You might question. And I hear you there. But here's the thing: sure sometimes I feel all gourmet and like making my mashed potatoes from scratch but during the week when I'm pressed for dinner prep time after work instant is a godsend.

Each box comes complete with two packages which for many families might make two dinners but for my tribe of eaters made one. I've purchased other varieties of Betty Crocker Instant Mashed Potatoes before and these potatoes, if I'm being honest,weren't my favorite. That's not to say they weren't good. They just weren't as flavorful as I would expect "loaded" potatoes to be. They tasted more like regular mashed potates than "loaded".
What I did love about these is that they're incredibly easy to prepare. Seriously. Add milk,add water,stir a little and you're done. What could be easier than that?

Want to check them out for yourself? Simply leave a comment indicating your favorite way to prepare potatoes and you'll be entered to win a prize pack including 1 box of Betty Crocker Instant "loaded" Mashed potatoes, a mixing bowl, a magnetic hanging pot holder,silicone spoonula and measuring cup.

You may also tweet about and or post about this contest on Facebook for extra entries (1 each). Please leave a seperate comment for each entry.
Contest ends 4/21.

*Disclosure - I was provided with the product, prize pack, information and additional prize pack to give away from Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark.*

Mars Needs Moms!

2011-03-07T11:02:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday the kids and I had the opportunity to preview Disney's latest animated film Mars Needs Moms.

The movie, centers around 9 year old Milo (Seth Green) and his quest to save his mom (Joan Cusack) from martians who have kidnapped her in order to use her super mom skills for their own "nannybots". Along the way, Milo meets such colorful characters at Gribble (Dan Fogle) who endears himself with his sense of humor and casual "dude I got this" type attitude and rebel, spraypainting, hippy-esque martian Ki (Elizabeth Harnois), who although she has no nose is postively cute as a button.

Mars Needs Moms is really a pretty cute film replete with plenty of comedy and action that will keep you entertained. In fact, there might be some jokes that are more entertaining for the parents than the kids. The "animation" is phenomenal. The characters are so lifelike it's amazing.
It is important to note that this film is rated PG, and does have some material that could be scary for some very young viewers (aliens shooting, and allusion to death). That said,my family (which at the time was 7 year old twins and my 16 year old stepdaughter) and I got an absolute kick out of it and I feel pretty confident in saying yours will too.

Here check out a short preview for yourselves:

And because I want to share the love I offer to one lucky reader a Mars Needs Moms prize pack (1 Adult tshirt,1 youth tshirt and character tattoos)

Simply leave a comment with your favorite Disney movie and you'll be entered to win. One winner will be chosen from all entries received by 3/18. The contest is open to US and canadian residents only.

And finally, you should also consider visiting the Mars Needs Moms Facebook page because there you can enter to win a Nissan Quest or a trip for 4 to Disneyland to see a movie premiere simply by liking the page. What could be more fabulous than that, right !?

Good luck!

Disclosure:I was invited to screen the movie for free to facilitate this review. Additionally, I attended a promotional party post screening.

EcoStore USA

2010-10-15T14:35:00.000-07:00

My sincerest apologies to the folks at EcoStore as I was sent some products to review months ago and failed to post until now. I'll tell you as I told them I was hesitant to post anything at all as I really didn't care for these products as much as I thought I would.

But in the interest of full disclosure I'm posting now and you can take it for what it's worth.

First, I love what the company is doing. Their entire product line is EcoFriendly and free of harsh chemicals. I wanted to love these products and free myself of the toxic ones currently in my cabinet.

However, when it came right down to it their All Purpose cleaner, while incredibly pleasant to smell did not tackle the kind of stains my household generates. In terms of general after meal clean up /wiping down counters/stove and refrigerators it was ok. But when it came down to certain stains which unfortunately my 7 year olds tend to create plenty of I had to use another cleaner to fully tackle the stains (reddish juices, sauces, soups).

Additionally I tried the Automatic dishwasher powder and found that glasses were left with spots and remnants of the powder. And yes, I used the powder in several cycles just to be sure it wasn't a flukey , one timey kind of thing.

So ultimately, I have mixed feelings. These products wouldn't be the best bang for my buck if I were deciding what to purchase in store however the health benefits to my family tell me not to completely rule out other products in their line.

*Disclosure I received the All Purpose Cleaner and Dishwasher powder free of charge to facilitate this review.

Foster Farms - Great Bites Chicken Cheesburgers Review and Giveaway

2010-09-27T12:54:00.000-07:00

Hey! Did you know this past September 18th was National Cheeseburger Day ? Yeah me neither.

But get this, Foster Farms the folks whom you know from the amazingly funny Foster Farms Chicken "No plumping" commercials did and introduced their latest in the Great Bites line, new mini flame-broiled chicken cheesburgers just in time for said "holiday".

Little bigger than a half dollar coin Great Bites really pack a punch in the flavor department. Great Bites come in two varieties: All-American BBQ burger with real smoky bacon and cheddar cheese, and, the Santa Fe burger with real creamy pepper jack cheese and chipotle sauce.

While they're both incredibly tasty , my family, preferred the BBQ burger (my daughter thought the Santa Fe burger was a little spicy). Thinking about it now is sending my belly into a frenzy of happiness. Great Bites would be perfect for afterschool (or anytime) snacks. The best part is that these burgers are very quickly and easily prepared in the microwave and frankly taste as good if not better than other varieties of microwave burgers. In fact, I'd go out on a limb and say these had more of the freshly prepared rather than the frozen to microwave vibe.

Want a chance to try new Foster Farms Chicken Cheesburger Great Bites ? Simply leave a comment telling me which version you'd like to try and you'll be entered to win. Six lucky winners will receive a coupon for a free 6 pack of Great bites from all entries received by October 8th.

*No compensation was received for this post. I received samples of Great Bites and Great Bites coupons to facilitate this review and giveaway.

Support National Parks and enter to win a Prize pack from Nature Valley

2010-08-18T09:17:00.000-07:00

***This contest is now closed. Commenter 24 - Tina Reynolds is the lucky winner

Since the dedication of Yellowstone as the world’s first national park in 1872, America’s parks have been visited by hundreds of millions of people who marveled at their beauty, found peace in their wildness and shared their experience with others.

However, these national treasures need care and support to help them flourish. Years of underfunding and environmental problems such as pollution and climate change are threatening our National Park system. To help preserve our national parks and ensure their existence for generations to come, join Nature Valley® and Patricia Shultz, internationally best-selling author of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die and travel industry leader, to help support the National Parks Project. This year, the National Parks Project will focus on restorative work at Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Biscayne National Parks.

To get involved, simply purchase a box of specially marked Nature Valley Bars and mail in your wrappers to the address below:

National Parks Project
PO Box 450328
El Paso, TX 88545-0328

Nature Valley will not only recycle the wrappers, but will also contribute $0.10 to the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) for every wrapper received (up to $600,000 in total). To learn more about the National Parks Project and how you can make a difference, check out PreservetheParks.com today. And don’t forget to visit Nature Valley on Facebook or Nature Valley on Twitter to “Like” or “Follow” the brand. Facebook fans can enter to win a trip, as well as share photos and videos of their summer vacations. All of these sites will also feature updates on the restoration projects, as well as videos and pictures from “National Parks Project” volunteers.

There are many other ways you can enjoy the natural beauty and diverse wildlife of our national parks this summer while supporting the cause. The easiest thing you can do to support the national parks is to experience them for yourself and share them with your family – remembering as always to “take only pictures and leave your footprints.” So grab your backpack, your boots and some granola bars and go soak in the scenery.

To help you get a jump start enter to win a A Nature Valley Prize Pack .

Your prize pack will include
a box of Nature Valley Granola bars
a mini backpack
a military grade compass
a solar-powered, key chain flash light
a reusable water bottle
and
a copy of Patricia Shultz’s 1,000 Places to See Before You Die: A Traveler’s Life List.

Simply leave a comment telling me which park you'd most like to visit and you'll be entered to win. For an extra entry you may tweet about this giveaway (please leave a seperate comment).One winner will be selected at random from all comments received by 11:59 p.m. pst August 25.

* Information contained in this post and giveaway are provided by Nature Valley through MyBlogSpark. I received a Nature Valley Bars prize pack to facilitate this post.

Standing Ovation Movie Giveaway

2010-07-12T12:05:00.000-07:00

***contest closed (note that this contest was previously hosted on my personal blog) *******
From the moment I told my 7 year old daughter about the new movie Standing Ovation she's been over the moon. I kid you not. Of course this is a kid who's 7 going on 13, loves to sing and dance and is becoming quite the little social butterfly so I'm not sure what else I expected.

Admittedly, I'm just the tiniest big geeked too because as quiet as it's kept I like some "tween" programming. Sure, were it not for my kids I'd probably not have been exposed but the fact is I do have children and I'm happy to find something we (parents & children) all can enjoy watching (that's not your typical purple dinosaur singing the same song over and over until you want to gag).

Think Junior High School Musical...original music and dance delivered by a cast of "talented" newcomers for the tween set. 5 best friends ,despite various odds chase their dreams of winning a national music video contest. However they must face off against their rivals who will stop at nothing to win.

C'mon you know if you were a tween you'd be squee -ing like you've never squee'd before!

It's good clean family fun with a little sass added in. That's how I'm envisioning Standing Ovation. But take a look and decide for yourself.

Standing Ovation will be relased in theatres on Friday, July 16th.

And Guess what Seattle ? I've got 3 pairs of tickets* to an advanced screening of the film on July 14th at Alderwood Mall. Wanna go ? Simply leave a comment telling me what you think you and/or your child would like about this movie. In addition, one of you lucky commenters will win a movie prize pack! 4 winners will be selected at random from all comments received by July 7th.

Disclosure - Opinions in this post are my own. Advanced screening "tickets" and prize pack courtesy of Kenilworth Films. I will receive passes to the advanced screening
*Winners will have their names placed on the guest list for the advanced screening.

Keeping My Ride Alive - Jiffy Lube Gift Card Giveaway

2010-07-12T08:42:00.000-07:00

***Contest Closed. Winners (commenters 2 & 9) have been contacted***************

If you're like me, you want to get the most you can out of your vehicle. I'm fortunate enough to be car payment free and I intend to keep it that way by preserving the life of my current vehicle with regular maintenance.

According to Jiffy Lube International, more than half of U.S. drivers hope to hit more than 150,000 miles on their vehicle before replacing it. I'm at 147,000 miles and going strong and the car gods willing, I'll be driving my ride for another 147,000 miles!

A recent Jiffy Lube International survey reveals that though drivers universally acknowledge that regular maintenance can help extend the life of their vehicle, many are looking for more out of their maintenance experience.

Nearly one in five Americans believe the most important thing when having their oil changed is being able to have multiple services performed in a single visit, and more than half (59%) want to have their oil changed in 30 minutes or less.

Jiffy Lube offers the Jiffy Lube Signature Service® Oil Change to address these needs, providing drivers with much more than just an oil and filter change. The service includes changing, inspecting, checking/filling and cleaning key vehicle parts and fluids and offers drivers a quick and convenient way to maintain their vehicle. The Jiffy Lube Signature Service® Oil Change is a convenient solution that can help drivers preserve the value and longevity of their vehicle.

Jiffy Lube wants you to "Keep Your Ride Alive" and has generously offered two $35 gift cards good on any service Jiffy Lube offers

To enter:

Take a spin through the new Facebook community - Keeping My Ride Alive, “Like” it. Then come back and leave me a comment about which mileage category you fall into (must do this to be entered)

Consider sharing your story by uploading an image of yourself/your vehicle and information in the appropriate mileage category on the “Share Your Story” tab (2nd entry, please leave seperate comment)

Two winners will be selected at random from all comments received by 7/26.

Gift cards and information in this post provided by Jiffy Lube

Crystal Light Pure Fitness Review

2010-06-09T13:28:00.000-07:00

I'm a horrible water drinker. Sure I understand the benefits of drinking water but sadly knowing those benefits has done little to get me past the fact that plain old water is flavorless and unexciting

I know,I know, before you mentally crucify me let me tell you how I've managed to get water in my diet. Flavors! Flavors! Flavors!

Crystal Light just a launched a cool new line called Pure Fitness which I was recently able to sample*. Having already been a fan of Crystal Light drinks, I was eager to check out the new line. What I loved was the absence of artificial sweetners! These single packets (which you mix with 16.9 oz of water) went down smoother than other varieties of Crystal Light and when mixing didn't have the "powder cloud" that I've encountered before in powdered drinks which I inevitably inhale and cough and sputter on. The taste was nice, light and refreshing.

The deets on the new drink:

Crystal Light Pure Fitness is the first nationally-available, low-calorie fitness beverage mix with no artificial flavors, preservatives or sweeteners and colored with natural ingredients. With only 15 calories per serving, it’s sweetened with evaporated cane juice and TruviaTM, an all-natural, calorie-free sweetener derived from the stevia plant, and it’s colored and flavored with natural ingredients. Pure Fitness also contains electrolytes to aid hydration during light physical activity, making it a great fitness partner.

It's available in Lemon Lime, Strawberry Kiwi or Grape (my fave). Check it out!

*I received a sample of Crystal Light Pure Fitness from Kraft Foods.

Help support local Schools with Supervalu & General Mills (and enter to win a $25 Amex card)

2010-05-28T14:50:00.000-07:00

******This contest is now closed. Congratulations to Ames!*******

Every year 24 million parents and children join in clipping Box Tops to support their local schools. As a result, SuperValu shoppers helped participating schools earn more than $10 million in the 2008-09 school year alone!

To make it even easier to participate in the program, the SuperValu family of stores (ACME, Albertsons, Cub, Farm Fresh and Jewel-Osco) joined Box Tops for Education in creating a website that not only tracks your Box Tops contribution and the school’s redemption, but also offers recipes, coupons, store promotions and more.

From now through May 31, SuperValu stores and Box Tops for Education are giving you a chance to win 50,000 bonus box tops for your school. That’s a $5,000 value! All you have to do is register at www.GrowingLocalLearning.com, and click the link to the 50,000 bonus box tops sweepstakes*. You will automatically receive 5 Bonus Box Tops just for signing up!

After you’ve entered the sweepstakes, be sure to stick around and browse the website where you’ll find a variety of great offers on your favorite General Mills brands including Betty Crocker®, Old El Paso®, Totino’s® Pizza Rolls® and Pillsbury®. Once you register you can also find recipes that will earn you even more Box Tops and you can access coupons for the latest deals at your local SuperValu store!

Great, right !? Wait, there's more. One of you lucky readers will win a $25.00 American Express gift card which would be perfect for use at a participating Supervalu store towards General Mills box top products (hint, hint!)

Simply leave a comment telling me how you support your local schools or one of your favorite recipes made with General Mills Box tops products, and you'll be entered to win. Winner will be chosen randomly from all comments received by 5/31/10.

*Sweepstakes not available in all states. See website for details

Disclosure - American Express gift card, information, and giveaway were all provided by SuperValu and General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

Feel Like Throwing Things ?

2010-02-09T08:31:00.000-08:00

Anyone who doesn't like snowball fights, please raise your hand. Right, it's just as I thought. You , much like I loved a good snowball fight as a child and secretly or maybe not so secretly get your throwing arm in shape whenever snowfall is predicted to this day.

I get it.

And so does the International Federation of Snowball Throwing (IFST). Which is why they've launched a full on campaign to have snowball throwing added to the Olympics and I quote "IFST’s official mission is to have snowball throwing recognized as a legitimate sport and the superpowers of snow honored on a global stage". Please go and check them out here.

If the official uniform doesn't get you, I don't know what will. Oh and while you're at the site checking out all the um official videos please oh please consider signing the petition to bring this super rad "sport" to the Olympics.

And to entice you to support the Olympics and get you jazzed about snowball throwing and playing in the snow , I offer two of you IFST t-shirts and collector sets of Coke bottles from the 2008 Bejing Olympics.

Simply leave a comment telling me your favorite video on the IFST site or why you think Snowball throwing should be added to the Olympics and you'll be entered to win.
Two winners will be selected at random from all comments received by Thursday, February 11.

*Disclosure- I'm receiving an IFST t-shirt and collector Coke set courtesy of Coca Cola. No other compensation was received for this post

Great Wolf Lodge, Grand Mound WA - Family fun at it's finest

2010-01-08T21:51:00.000-08:00

In early December a group of Seattle Mom bloggers were invited to attend snowland events at Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound.

I was overjoyed when I got the invitation because after having gone to GWL in September of last year I'd quickly fallen in love.

For those of you not in the know, Great Wolf Lodge is an hotel/indoor waterpark extravaganza.

In a word: it's fantastic.

Not more than an hour away from where we live, GWL is a wilderness/wolf themed waterpark with so many activities those ages 0-100 will surely enjoy it. The primary feature, the 84 degree waterpark, has a wave pool and plenty of water slides from the small to the adventurous! Try the Howling Tornado and be sure to sit so that you're facing backwards when you go down the slide. It's a thrill like none other that will have you screaming in both panic and delight.

The coolest thing about this particular trip was that the lodge lobby was completely decked out for the holidays and the piece de resistance: snow falling indoors two times per day. (side note:Santa was also there but my kids were enjoying the waterpark too much to stop and visit with Santa)

My little ones absolutely loved it.

That and story time in the lobby. At around 8 pm kiddos can come dressed in their pajamas and listen to a cute little interactive story and shake hands with the GWL mascot.

My teenagers look foward to both the arcarde and Gr8 space...particularly when it turns in to a teen dance spot in the evening.

There are so many activities it's almost hard to pack them into a one night stay.
Rest assured what ever you do you'll have a fantastic time.

If I had to give one tip for the budget conscious, each room comes complete with a mini fridge and microwave so bring a cooler with your favorite foods and do a meal or two in the room. That way you'll be able to save money for the Bear Paw Cafe which makes the most decadent treats ever (I big puffy heart the mint sundae).

Check it out folks , you'd have to be a complete Grinch not to have fun at Great Wolf Lodge

*Disclaimer:Great Wolf Lodge offered us their media rate for our one night stay. No compensation was received for this post.

How Eating Cereal can get you a free movie!

2009-12-10T10:16:00.000-08:00

I've written before about how much we looove cereal in my home. General Mills Cereals just happen to be some of our faves.

Well get this, you can receive a free movie ticket when you purchase two specially marked packages of General Mills´ Cereals. After purchasing two cereals, visit generalmills.com/moviecash to enter the code found inside each box of cereal and print your free movie certificate good for admission to any movie.

Participating brands include select sizes of: Honey Nut Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Lucky Charms, Trix and Reese´s Peanut Butter Puffs.

To find a participating theater near you, log onto
http://emoviecash.com/dis_locator/.

And to celebrate this cool promotion, I get to offer one of you lucky peeps a "Movie Moment" prize pack that includes 4 e-movie cash certificates ($12 each) and one (1) free coupon for a General Mills cereal.

Simply leave me a comment telling me your favorite movie and you'll be entered to win. One winner will be selected at random from all comments received by Tuesday 12/15/09. For an extra entry, you may tweet about the giveaway. Please be sure to leave an additional comment with the link to your tweet.

And don't forget to leave a valid email address so I can contact you if you've won.

*disclosure- General Mills and MyBlogSpark furnished me with a Movie Moment Prize pack and the information contained in this post.

Chicco Toy Giveaway: Billy Fun Wheels *** Updated with Winner

2009-11-16T14:42:00.000-08:00

***** Congratulations to commenter number 10 Chris**********

It's no secret I have a love affair with Chicco. No it's not because they send me free things(in fact, I didn't receive free products for this or the last giveaway I did for them)

No, no it's because I honestly believe Chicco makes great quality toys. Sure my twins are six now and have outgrown many of their Chicco items. But when I think about the remote control cars, the beginning roller blades and countless other Chicco toys we've had, I look back on them as some of the best toys we've had for their ease of use, sturdiness and outright entertainment value! And if I can bring that to you...then why the heck not.

The deets on Chicco's latest Billy Fun Wheels

The first motion-controlled monster truck for preschoolers!

Intuitive steering wheel can be rotated left or right to steer the truck

Realistic engine, reverse capability, and honking sounds

Headlights light up -

Rubber threads help prevent damage to floors

For children ages 2 years and up

Where you can find it:

Diapers.com, ToysRUs.com, EToys.com, Rightstart.com (retail 34.99)

Or win it here! Simply enter a comment telling me the one toy your child absolutely has to have this season. For an extra entry tweet the contest and leave a seperate comment with the link.

One winner will be selected at random from all comments received by 11/24.

Oh and please be sure to leave a valid email address so I can contact you if you've won!

Promise to Make a Difference

2009-10-26T14:10:00.000-07:00

According to the American Cancer Society, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer within her lifetime.

Two years ago one of those eight women was my mother. And while she's doing wonderfully today it's become my personal mission to support breast cancer research and raise awareness. Which is why supporting companies like Yoplait is crucial as they've donated more than $22 million to the breast cancer cause through Save the Lids.

For every pink lid mailed in by December 31, 2009, Yoplait will donate $0.10 to the Susan G. Komen for the cure, up to $1.5 million with a guaranteed minimum donation of $500,000.

It's easy to help. You can visit Yourlidmatters.com to create online lid collection teams and engage and inspire your friends family and colleagues to join the cause.

And to one of my readers I offer a "Promise to Make a Difference" gift pack* which includes a free coupon for Yoplait YoPlus Yogurt, a breast cancer awareness bracelet and a leather jewelry case as pictured above.

If you'd like to win this great gift pack simply leave me a comment telling me how you support breast cancer awareness and or research and you'll be entered to win. One winner will be selected at random from all comments received by November 2.

*Gift pack courtesy of MyBlogSpark and Yoplait who also furnished me with a gift pack

Family Fun at Disney on Ice and a Special Offer

2009-10-26T13:30:00.000-07:00

I know where I’ll be the weekend after next. My twins, who are both big Disney fans, and I are positively geeked to be heading to the Everett Events Center for Disney on Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy.

The Deets:

Worlds of Fantasy showcases beloved characters from Disney/Pixar's Cars, Disney's The Lion King and The Little Mermaid, as well as a live debut of the magical cast of new Fairies from the 2008 release of Walt Disney Pictures Tinker Bell DVD.

In a captivating "fairy tale" segment, audiences will enter into the wondrous world of Pixie Hollow and meet the Disney Fairies from Tinker Bell. The entire ice floor will transform into springtime, as the fairies' magical role in the mysteries of nature is finally revealed. From wheels to waves, Pride Lands to pixie dust, your family's favorite Disney moments come to life at Disney On Ice presents World of Fantasy with dazzling skating, special effects and beloved characters certain to create a lifetime of memories.

What’s that you say? You have no plans and your kids will never talk to you again if you don’t take them. Well I’ve got just the thing for you. Everett Events Center has a special offer:

4 tickets for $44
click here and enter "mom" to purchase

Special Bonus! Disney Princess Pre-Show: Arrive up to one hour early to tour our dazzling display of gorgeous gowns.

Hope to see you there

Yoplait Delights with a new yogurt treat

2009-09-08T12:21:00.000-07:00

Delights parfaits are the latest in Yoplait's line of lowfat yogurt treats. At only 100 calories per serving and totally portable, these incredibly creamy, melt in your mouth goodies are the perfect snack anytime of the day.

A great new twist on an old fave,Yoplait pairs two decadent flavors for a match made in heaven. The lemon torte is absolutely to die for (totally taste like pie filling, y'all) and with 3 other flavors including Chocolate Raspberry, Triple Berry Cream and Creme Caramel you're sure to find your favorite in the bunch too.

Cheers to Yoplait for coming up with a line of delicious treats to help win the war against sweet tooths and expanding waistlines everywhere.

Go check 'em out. They're now available in major grocery stores. And be sure to grab a coupon too http://bricks.coupons.com/bstart.asp?o=58158&ci=1&c=GM&p=mtiwHNq8.

Chicco - Talking Vacation Car Giveaway ******Updated with winner

2009-07-20T08:54:00.000-07:00

*********Congratulations to lucky commenter number 12, Nad!

Having just come back from a family vacation, I know the stress of wanting to keep children entertained while in transit.

Prior to our first time traveling with the twins several years ago, I asked everyone and read everything I could get my hands on in an effort to make sure that we weren't those parents(you know the harried, sweating, stressed out parents with the unhappy, bawling kids). It was then that I came upon the best recommendation I could have ever imagined. That recommendation: To bring a brand new toy that the kids have never seen - worked like a charm.

Enter the brilliant minds at Chicco and their Talking Vacation Car. Yay for Chicco for being in tune to what we parents and our kiddos want and producing some of the highest quality, fun and educational toys for babies and kids.

The Talking Vacation Car is a convertible car with flashing headlights and working wheels that not only helps your child develop language skills in English and Spanish, it has 3 different modes to help them discover new words, complete stories and solve riddles. It's bright,colorful and full of fun sound effects to keep the kiddos (don't worry parents, there is volume control) entertained. For children 18 months and up the Talking Vacation Car will be yours (and your childrens)best travel buddy.

And you can win one here. Simply leave a comment telling me your best (or worst) vacation story and you'll be entered to win. One winner will be chosen at random from all comments received by 7/28.

For extra entries
1 entry - Tweet the contest
2 entries - Blog the giveaway

Please be sure to leave a comment for each entry method and a valid email address so I can contact you if you've won.

Special K Protein Shakes (Review & Giveaway!) ***Updated with winners

2009-06-30T08:44:00.000-07:00

**** Congrats to Encheva, Lisa, Angela R and justme.

I’m a Special K fan. As someone who's actively trying to watch her weight, I have been for a while. Their cereals, particularly the Chocolatey delight and Red Berries, have been mainstays in my pantry. It’s a brand I’ve come to know and trust. So you can imagine my excitement when I was asked to try Special Ks new protein shake.

The shake arrived in the evening and as much as I (and my kids) wanted to tear into it that evening I decided the true test would be to have it the following morning, on my way to work. On an empty stomach.

The shake was well worth the wait. With its rich, creamy, decadent chocolate flavor the shake felt like a real treat. The part of me that loves everything chocolate found myself craving another. Of course what I’m learning is that I need to be more in tuned to how I’m really feeling and not to just eat because something tastes good. And what I really felt was full. Surprisingly so. I really did not expect that a shake would make me full. I’ve tried other meal replacement shakes before and was hungry within five minutes. Not so here. The shake kept me full for a good couple of hours which was perfect for me because I tend to like to eat smaller meals and/or snacks every few hours instead of 3 large meals.

Each shake contains 10 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber (which I'm sure accounts for why they're so filling). The French Vanilla and Strawberry flavors are 180 calories, the Milk Chocolate is 190, which for you Weight Watchers folks like me is only 3 points.

Want to try the goodness for yourself? Click here for a coupon for $1.00 off of a 4 pack (good through 7/30/09). You'll find them in the diet and nutrition aisles of your local grocery store (I've seen them at drugstores too)

**And, the Kellogg’s PR folks graciously allowed me to give away shakes to 4 lucky people. Simply leave a comment telling me your favorite Special K or Kelloggs product and you’ll be entered to win. Winners will be selected at random from all comments received by July 7th.
Please be sure to leave a valid email address so that I can contact you if you're a winner

The Wiggles Live! - Review & Giveaway****Updated with Winner

2009-06-23T12:45:00.000-07:00

***********Congrats to commenter number 1, Annie!

One of my favorite memories is of driving home after work with my not quite 2 year old twins watching the Wiggles DVD on the portable player. Although they had a rather limited vocabulary at the time, they would sing their little hearts out chanting "Go,Go,Go,Go,Go" and bobbing their little heads.

I got such enjoyment from seeing their delighted little expressions in the rearview mirror. And so began our love affair with the Wiggles. We had to start our weekend days after the Wiggles came on in the morning. Our DVD collection grew exponentially as did the Wiggles themed toys and gear.

On more than one occasion, I caught myself singing "Fruit salad, yummy yummy" or "Where's Jeff ?" at work. Truthfully, I think I got as much of a kick out of them as the kids did. They were songs we could all sing along to. It was good clean, wholesome family fun. Months later when I discovered the Wiggles were coming to the Tacoma Dome I was overjoyed and quickly purchased tickets for our family.

The day of the show, hubby and I were like teenagers about to attend their first rock concert. Seriously, we were so jazzed to be able to experience the Wiggles live with our little fans.

The stage was set amazingly,resembling the tv show to a tee. I was suprised at how excited I got when Greg, Murray, Anthony and Jeff (I know there is a new Wiggle now...forgive me) arrived on stage in The Big Red Car. We danced , we sang, we wore out our throats hoping Dorothy would come to us and get roses. It was great fun spending that family time being silly and enjoying the show.

And I'd like for one of you to share that same experience with your family. Comcast Arena has graciously offered four tickets for the July 17th, Wiggles Go Bananas show in Everett, WA. To enter: simply leave a comment with your favorite thing about the Wiggles. One winner will be selected at random from all comments received by July 10th,11:59 PST.

For extra entries (each counts for 1 entry)
1) Tweet about the contest
2) Blog,post to FB, or if you don't do either, email your friends and family about the giveaway

**Please be sure to leave a valid email address and comment for each entry method completed.

Cheerios Spoonful of Stories Program

2009-06-08T10:28:00.001-07:00

I love that Cheerios Spoonful of Stories Program has given away more than 35 million children's books by distributing them in cereal boxes and partnered with First Book, a non profit organization that provides books to children from low income families.

In my book (I couldn't resist),Cheerios deserves major kudos for this. Thus I'm doing my part to support their efforts by bringing this contest to you.

Cheerios is hosting it's 3rd annual Spoonful of Stories New Author Contest. Entries are being accepted through July 15, 2009 and will be judged on appropriate story and content for ages 3-8 , emotional connection, writing quality, uniqueness and read-aloud potential(additional details can be found here

And whether you're an aspiring author or simply someone who loves to read aloud with your children I've got a cute set of books from the Spoonful library to offer including "The Great Dog Wash" from the first years winner.

Simply leave me a comment letting me know your favorite children's book and you'll be entered to win. One winner will be chosen at random from all comments received by June 15th at 11:59 p.m. PST.

Applied Labels : Review and Giveaway!

2009-04-01T12:37:00.000-07:00

As a mom of two kindergartners, I find that stuff that is sent to school often gets misplaced, lost or forgotten. Easily. From gloves, to jackets, to glasses. I almost had a coronary when my son "lost" his $300 glasses. Sure we'd written his name inside the case but over time that had worn. Fortunately, they resurfaced a few days later in the lost and found. We were lucky... that time.

Enter Applied Labels. At first glance these labels appeared like something that could be done on any laser printer. Honestly, I was a little hesitant to review them. But when I received my packet I was clearly proven wrong.

Not only do they have a completely professional appearance, these suckers are indestructable.

Applied Labels, a company started by a chemical engineer turned mompreneur produces such high quality labels they withstood sweaty kid feet, several washing machine cycles, rain and snow. They are easy to apply and a challenge to remove, which is exactly what I like. The twins loved putting labels with their very own name on their coats, shoes and backpacks. In fact they loved it so much I've found Applied Labels on socks, dolls,toys and on food packages in the pantry. I know...but what can I say - my kids totally got a kick out of them.

I loved the peace of mind they gave me that my kids would return home with the items they'd gone to school with.

Ideal for daycare, preschool or camp, Applied Labels come in your choice of 4 fonts and can be ordered in quantities of 30,60 or 90.

And because I found them so useful, I'd like to share them with one of you.

One lucky winner will receive a $50 gift certificate to Applied Labels. Go on check 'em out. Then come back and leave me a comment telling me how you'd use your labels. One lucky winner will be selected at random from all comments received by 04/10.

*For an extra entry, Tweet the contest using @twinmomoftwinz.

Good luck!

"One" terrific way to increase your fiber intake and enjoy doing it - A Giveaway ***Updated w/winners

2009-03-03T11:41:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Kathy55439,Melissa and Amy. You 3 are the lucky recipients of a Fiber One Spa Break gift basket.

***************************************
Ever since my daughter, J was told she needed to be on a high fiber diet in order to regulate her digestive system it's been a constant quest to add more fiber to my family's diet. We've tried just about everything.

Nothing has been quite as satisfying as Fiber One Chewy Bars. Seriously. They're like eating candy bars without all the fat and calories plus there's the added perk of getting 35% of your recommeded daily value of fiber in each bar.
We got the opportunity to try out the new mocha flavor recently and if you're a fan of coffee flavors you will absolutely enjoy them. While my daughter didn't love this flavor as much as she does the Oats and Chocolate, I enjoyed it's rich decadence.

Still wondering what all the fuss is about fiber ? Did you know that in addition to helping keep your digestive system on track , fiber helps satisfy your appetite and research suggests that people who have high fiber intakes have healthier body weights. Who's not for that, right?

Well guess what ? Three of you have the opportunity to win your very own Fiber One Chocolate Mocha Chewy Bars Spa Break gift basket: complete with a coupon for a box of Chocolate Mocha Chewy Bars, a bath pillow, chocolate scented soap, lotion and bath salts and a coffee scented candle.

Simply leave a comment telling me your favorite Fiber One product and you'll be entered to win. Three winners will be selected at random from all comments received by Tuesday, March 10 11:59 pst.

Yoplait Does it Again!

2009-02-05T09:23:00.000-08:00

A few months ago I had an opportunity to review Yoplait's cake inspired yogurt flavors .

In a word they were incredible. At just 110 calories I remarked that they were perfect for those afternoon and evening sweet cravings and don't come with the guilt of having had that slice of cake or worse yet, that full bag of cookies.

This month, Yoplait does it again with the introduction of two new flavors from their Light,Thick and Creamy line.

The new Cinammon Roll and Cherry Cobbler flavors are decadent and delicious and allow you to indulge without the guilt.

Fat free,100 calories and containing 20% of the recommended daily value of calcium and vitamin D, these gems are perfect for those of us that are waistline conscience or anyone simply wanting a healthy sweet treat.

My fridge is now stocked with them. Wait 'till you try them. You'll want to do the same. Ooh and here's a little coupon love to entice you to go and get some.

Personalized Fruit Rollups Winner **Edited

2009-02-02T11:05:00.001-08:00

Congrats to The Student! She was lucky number 12 (drawn via random.org)

****My deepest apologies to The Student,who graciously emailed to let me know I am a fool and didn't realize these couldn't be shipped to Canada. Sorry!!

I've selected another winner. McGann, you're it. Congrats.

Personalize your Fruit Roll-ups just in time for Valentines Day

2009-01-27T10:07:00.000-08:00

My kids are big fans of Fruit Rollups, as am I. We love the taste, the fact that they are great grab-n-go snacks and the fact that they're just plain fun to eat.

Just when we thought we couldn't have any more fun with these delightful snacks they introduced a website where you can personalize your fruit rollups with your very own message which I reviewed last year. My kids got such a kick out of giving out Fruit Rollups that actually had their names and a thank you message to their friends that attended their birthday party.

I loved that it took just a few minutes on an easy to navigate site and then we had such a wonderfully unique party favor.

Now, Fruit Rollups have made the experience even cooler with new design themes, new art and you can even upload your own picture. Sheer awesomeness.

And for one of you I offer the chance to win a code for a case(30)of personalized Fruit Rollups.

Simply leave me a comment telling me your favorite Fruit Rollup flavor and you'll be entered to win. Hurry, as this giveaway ends Sunday,February 1 at 11:59 p.m. pst.

Pillsbury "Home is Calling" Gift basket Winners

2008-11-25T10:24:00.000-08:00

Congrats to Cathyhall (comment 57),Valerie2350(comment 16) and tigger210 (comment 127).

You three are the lucky winners of the Pillsbury "Home is Calling" gift baskets.

Enjoy!

P.S.
Stay tuned for more giveaways

Pillsbury "Home is Calling" Gift Basket Giveaway

2008-11-17T07:55:00.000-08:00

I love Pillsbury. I grew up on their products and now enjoy making them regularly for my family. From biscuits to crescent rolls to cakes to cinnamon rolls, Pillsbury has been a part of my life for several years now.

Pillsbury recently launched a great new campaign, "Home is Calling", which reminds us of how we all look foward to getting home at the end of the day to reconnect with loved ones (and of course think about the aroma of something irresistibly warm and delicious baking at home). So please head on over to the "Home is Calling" site to view the campaign ad and be sure to forward it to friends and family because each time you do Pillsbury will make a donation to help deliver more than one pound of groceries to America's food banks.

Incredible right? But the magnanimous folks at Pillsbury didn't just stop there, they've given me the opportunity to give three lucky individuals "Home is Calling" gift baskets.

These fabulous baskets include a coupon for Pillsbury refrigerated crescent rolls, a magnetic coupon holder, a house shaped mouse pad, pot holders, a cookie sheet, a bread basket and a Pillsbury Doughboy figurine.

I know. Pretty great, right ? Simply,leave me a comment telling me your favorite Pillsbury product and you'll be entered to win. Three winners will be chosen at random from all comments received by 11/24

Chex Mix Basket of Indulgence Winners

2008-11-03T09:26:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to commenters 51,99 and 122: Baby4,Lilith Silvermane & Shannon These lovely ladies are the three lucky winners of Baskets of Indulgence.

Enjoy!

My sweet tooth and my waistline thank you, Yoplait

2008-10-28T10:57:00.000-07:00

I have the worst sweet tooth. One that I'm rarely ever successful at fighting off. When the mood strikes me I typically go for whatever sugary treat is closest and I pay for it with that extra nagging 5lbs (and guilt and regret).

Imagine my delight when I was asked to try Yoplait Light's new cake inspired flavors which include Strawberry Shortcake, Raspberry Cheesecake and Pineapple Upside-Down Cake. All with only 110 calories and 0 grams of fat.

Ok, let me repeat that: 0 grams of fat.

Sweeter then your average yogurt, Yoplait's cake inspired flavors are rich,creamy and seriously a perfect alternative to grabbing an actual slice of cake that your waistline will later make you pay for.

In a word they are wonderful. Perfect for those afternoon and evening sweet cravings and the best part is eating them doesn't come with all the guilt.

Now, go forth and get some and be sure to bring this coupon with you when you go.

Chex Mix Bars: Basket of Indulgence

2008-10-27T08:54:00.000-07:00

Because I love to make people happy and thought it would be fun to participate in the Bloggy Giveaways Fall Carnival, I offer three very lucky people Baskets of Indulgence courtesy of new Chex Mix Bars.

Chex Mix bars combine crunchy Chex pieces, pretzels and peanuts with chewy and indulgent ingredients like caramel and chocolate. And if that's not enough, they have less than 150 calories per bar and provide at least 8 grams of whole grain per serving.

This fabulous basket includes a box of tasty Turtle Chex Mix Bars, chocolate candles, caramel lotion and spa essentials like a loofah, hand massager, nail brush and spa towel.

Heavenly right ? What are you waiting for ? Leave me a comment and you'll be entered to win. But hurry...because this contest ends 10/31.

Savorings Winner

2008-10-27T08:30:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Andrew ! He was lucky comment number 42.

Savoring the flavor

2008-10-08T13:56:00.000-07:00

I love that Pillsbury's tagline on their webpage devoted to new Savorings is "Bring happy hour home with Pillsbury Savorings".

Frankly, Savorings kick traditional happy hour fares heiny. These little "flaky pastry bites" are nothing like the bowl of stale pretzels or overloaded nachos you might experience at your local watering hole. We tried the Spinach and Cheese flavor and seriously these babies are like little bites of heaven. The perfect mix of flavors, Savorings are buttery and flavorful and practically melt in your mouth. From your grocery store freezer section to your table in about 20 minutes, Savorings are truly worth the wait.

And in true Because I Must Review It fashion, because I heart you and I want you to share in my joy, I've got a wonderful Savorings gift bag to give away.

The winner will receive a coupon for a free package of Savorings, a wine opener, a wine stopper, a package of wine glass charms, an appetizer plate that holds your wine glass and a Wine & Food matching guide .

Pretty cool huh ? Well what are you waiting for? Hurry up, leave me a comment telling me what appetizer you love and you'll be entered to win. One winner will be selected at random from all comments received by 10/24. (Sorry...but this one is only open to U.S. and Canadian residents )

YoPlait Yo-Plus Winner

2008-10-08T08:48:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Valerie2350!

And to the rest of y'all, stay tuned for another very cool giveaway in the next couple of days. You won't want to miss it!

Yo, wanna improve your digestive health ?

2008-09-29T11:10:00.001-07:00

I've always liked yogurt, but when I started to hear about new "special" yogurt containing ingredients to promote digestive health I have to say that it kind of creeped me out.

I mean, why can't "medicine" stay bottled and putrid tasting and food stay yummy and tantalizing ? Lets keep the two separate I thought.

But then I was offered the opportunity to try Yo-Plait Yo-Plus' new Blackberry Pomegranate flavor (they've also just introduced Cranberry Raspberry) and being a fan of yogurt I couldn't pass it up.

Truth is one would never know the difference were it not for the marked packages.

This yogurt is flavorful,creamy and really good. And if I'm helping my digestion in the process well then that's even better.

And come to find out, according to Yoplait's recent digestive health survey, eight out of ten women prefer to regulate their digestion through foods. So there you have it.

Interested in trying some of your own ? Well you'd be in the right place. I've got a coupon for a free 4 pack for one of you lucky readers. Simply leave a comment with your favorite yogurt flavor and you'll be entered to win. Winner selected at random from all comments received by October 6.

Cocoa Puffs Combos Winners

2008-09-26T09:19:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Shana and JanetFaye !

Curly Qs Winner

2008-09-15T08:27:00.000-07:00

Moushka is the lucky winner of the Curly Qs haircare products sample kit.
Congratulations!

Cuckoo for Combo Puffs!

2008-09-11T11:47:00.000-07:00

We love cereal at our house. It's quick, it's easy. What's not to love?

Step in to my pantry and you're guaranteed to find at least two boxes at any given time thus you can imagine my excitement when I got an opportunity to try new Cocoa Puffs Combo Puffs. In their first venture out in to new "flavordom" since 1958 the Cocoa Puffs folks came up with a winner. It's the perfect combination of the Cocoa Puffs you know and love paired with new vanilla puffs. It's really a match made in heaven. The best of both worlds.

A great source of calcium and vitamin D, Cocoa Puffs combos have just the right amount of chocolate and vanilla and stay nice and crunchy in milk (I detest cereal that gets soggy quickly). My kids like the Combo Puffs so much they not only ask for them at breakfast they ask for them sans milk in a baggie as snack.

Sound good ? Want some of your very own ? I can make that happen for 2 very lucky people. Simply leave a comment with your favorite breakfast food (be it cereal or otherwise) and you'll be entered to win. Two winners will be selected at random from all comments received by 9/25/08.

At a loss as to how to tame your multi-racial child's curls ? I've got the products for you

2008-08-26T09:41:00.000-07:00

When my son turned one we took him for his first haircut at one of those speciality "kiddie cut" salons. Although, we opted to have the stylist shave his hair down she preserved a little curl and then added some product to enhance what little curl he did have left. Stepping back and looking at how adorable he was with his tiny tight curls I asked her what she'd just put in his hair.

It was at that time that I was introduced to the hair nectar of the Gods. Moist Curls.

I soon began using it on my daughter whose hair is incredibly curly and can be challenging.

I once read that curly hair is dry hair, my daughter is no exception. Moist curls keeps the dryness at bay, protects her curls from the elements , has a nice light fragrance and isn't heavy or greasy like other products I've tried. Seriously, I use it morning noon and night and of late have been pairing it with my second fave product from the Curly Qs line, Princess Glaze. Princess Glaze gives her that additional shine and hold and helps tremendously with the end of day frizzies that tend to creep up.

Curly Q's has a great product line that takes you from shampoo to style all made with natural ingredients and not tested on animals. We've tried them all (love,love, love the Coconut Dream conditioner) and honestly you can't go wrong with any of them.

And guess what ? I'd like to share their magnificence with all of you. Head on over there check out their products then come back and tell me your thoughts and you'll be entered to win your very own Curly Qs sample kit but be sure to enter by by September 12.

Belli Product Winner

2008-08-25T10:57:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Gina in Texas !

Note to mah darlin' Gina - I have no way to contact you so please email me within three days as I'd absolutely hate to have to give your goodies to someone else.

And to the rest of y'all stay tuned for more reviews and giveaways this week!

Fry-delicious! Or why we now think Burger King Rules

2008-08-11T09:03:00.000-07:00

"Fry-delicious" was my 5 year old daughters proclamation after having tried Burger King's new Apple Fries.

My kids have always been fans of apples so when I was asked to try out BK's new Apple Fries I readily agreed. First, let me say that BK doesn't half step. Our samples arrived packed in a quality reusable lunch pack perfectly cold and incredibly crisp.

My kids,well what can I say, they scarfed those suckers down as if it were their last meal. The loved them and if they'd had it their way we'd have driven to BK that instant to grab more.

As a parent, I think Apple Fries could possibly be the most clever food product geared towards kids. Ever. No, of course they don't taste like fried potatoes but with their fun shape and tasty low fat caramel dipping sauce they offer a healthy alternative and a fun experience for the kiddos.

I can't help but wonder if another fast food joint who shall remain nameless, but rhymes with pic-ronalds, isn't jealous they didn't come up with this first.

We love Belli Skin Care

2008-08-05T08:40:00.000-07:00

Belli Skin Care is a company I've come to know over the last several months and absolutely fall in love with. Founded by Annette and Jason Rubin, MD, Belli offers the most divine skin care products for pregnant women, new moms and babies. My family are huge fans of the talc and I'm a personal cheerleader for the eye brightening cream, but frankly you can't go wrong with any Belli products.

Their "love of pregnancy and motherhood guides everything they do" which is why all of their products are thouroughly screened so as to exclude any ingredients that could possibly be linked to pregnancy complications, birth defects and harmul effects during breastfeeding ( You know all the stuff that you as a mom to be/mom would want a company to do for you and your child).

Today Belli Launches their new website and as part of the launch party they've graciously offered my readers 30% off of everything (use code VIPBLOG30 at checkout). Believe me, you should feel special, because guess what? No one else gets that. Just you, my VIPs! So head on over there and show the Belli folks some love.

Then come back and tell me what you liked about Belli and their site and you'll be entered in a drawing to win the eye brightening cream and the All Day Moisture lotion.

VIP discount offer and giveaway end August 22nd.

So hurry. You'll be glad you did!

More to Come...

2008-07-29T15:14:00.000-07:00

Along with the need to blog comes a burning need to review stuff too (read: I finally decided to keep reviews/giveaways seperate from my "regular" blog). That said clap your hands , stomp your feet,just plain get buckwild crazy for the debut of my new review blog.

I know you can't handle the excitement can you ?