Cooling Off With Breyers *Giveaway*

This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks for stopping by.  The winners are Jackie and Kristen.  Congrats!

It’s hard to believe that August is here.  Our typical desert-like weather has been mild and temperate…cool even.  But I know that August is always the hottest month of the year. To cool off, we’ll head over to our community pool, run through the sprinklers and eat ice cream.

Breyers recently introduced their new Smooth & Dreamy line of ice cream bars and sandwiches.  Each bar contains 160 calories or less and 4-6 grams of fat.  We picked up a box of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Sandwiches which feature cookie dough flavored ice cream between two chocolate chip cookies.  I would have never known that these particular ice cream sandwiches contain 160 calories and 4 grams of fat, particularly because a comparable product typically contains 500 calories and 20+ grams of fat.  The ice cream is creamy (despite the fact that it’s light) and the cookies are soft (well…once they aren’t as frozen) and yummy.

Breyers new Smooth & Dreamy line of ice cream bars and sandwiches are in stores now and priced around $4.00.

Win It!  Two of you will two coupons to try out Breyers new Smooth & Dreamy line of ice cream bars and sandwiches.  Simply leave me a comment with the flavor you’d like to try.  Comments will close on August 14, 2010 at 11:59 PM PST.   Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn. Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.

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I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Breyers and received products necessary to facilitate my review. In addition, I received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Ronzoni Smart Taste Photo Contest

It’s very, very rare that I enter general contests (but blog giveaways, absolutely!).  With that being said, I’ve entered my son into Ronzoni’s Smart Taste Photo Contest.  Very soon, consumers (and you!) will be able to vote on your favorite photo.  Pasta is one of my son’s favorite foods so I thought this would be a fun little project for us.

Since we were only allowed to enter one photo…here is the one we submitted and the runner-up.

To vote on any of the entrants, just visit the Ronzoni website.

And stay tuned for my review!

I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Ronzoni and received products necessary to facilitate my candid review and photo contest entry. In addition, I received a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

Keeping An Allergen-Free Home

My husband loves it when I clean the house (which is less often that we’d both like these days with two kidlets running around).  But finding the time to clean it from top to bottom (literally) is a challenge.  More often than not, sections of the house get cleaned…just in time for other areas to get dirty.

For some parts of the country, allergy season is still very much a problem.  Bedding, stuffed animals, and carpet can house bacteria, mildew, and dust mites, making it essential to take the necessary steps to keep them at bay.  With environmental allergies affecting all of us, we take several steps to keep our home clean and allergen-free.

1.  We encase our pillows and mattresses with covers from Aller-Ease.

2.  We regularly wash our sheets, pillow-cases, and comforters.

3. We regularly wash my son’s stuffed animals

4.  We regularly change our air filter (usually when the seasons change) (Filtrete’s Elite Allergen Reduction filter from 3M can capture pollen, smoke, dust mite debris, and pet dander from the air).

5.  We use a vacuum with a HEPA filter

6.  We My husband dusts everything (including fixtures) since I’m allergic to dust

3M, the makers of Filtrete Filters created the Clean Air Club which offers filter change reminders and home living tips.  You can sign up for free on their site.

What tips do you have for reducing the allergens in your home?

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Filtrete and received a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Save on Summer Travel With Juicy Rewards

In just a few weeks, my husband and I will take a little trip up the coast  It will be our first trip away from both of our kidlets, and while short, we are hoping to make the most of this time to rejuvenate.  Since we’re going to a quaint town, we decided to book massages, stroll through their downtown area shops, and eat at unique, family-owned restaurants.

I started thinking about where to look for discounts on some of the activities I’d like to do with my hubby while we’re away.  If you’re traveling this summer, and you’re looking for discounts to area-specific events, tourist locations, and restaurants, be sure to check out Tropicana Juicy Rewards.  I found discounts on theater tickets, whale watching, massages, and the restaurant my mom ate dinner at the night before she went into labor with me.  Many of the offers can save you up to 50%.

I decided to use my remaining points towards activities and dining on our trip. Searching by zip code and distance helped me narrow down those activities and restaurants within the vicinity of the hotel we’ll be staying at.  The only thing I would like to be available on the site is customer reviews of the places listed.

For a list of discounts in your area (or the area you’ll be traveling to this summer), visit Tropicana Juicy Rewards.

I wrote this review while participating in the Tropicana Juicy Insiders Ambassador program by Mom Central on behalf of Tropicana. I received 12 free Juicy Rewards points and a $50 Visa gift card to use in redemption of the points and to facilitate my review.

Summer Camp at KinderCare Learning Centers

Last summer, we finally decided to put our son in a preschool. After much research and several site visits, we settled on a KinderCare Learning Center in our area.  We initially only placed him in the center two mornings a week, but every morning he’d wake up excited to go to “school” and see his teachers and play with the kids.

KinderCare Learning Centers also offers a Summer Camp, developed in partnership with teachers. KinderCare Summer Camp surveyed 3,000 kids to find out how they like to spend their summers.  The consensus was that kids want adventures, arts and crafts, and trips.  I take my son a lot of places and I know that when we have to stay home, he isn’t totally happy about it.  KinderCare Learning Centers developed 12 unique week-long camps with themes like Wild Wild West, Wilderness 101, Dig Ancient Egypt, You’ve Got Talent, Puppeteer Road Show, Gross & Gooey Science, Spectacular Sports, Animal Antics, Science Adventures, Art Expo, Kids’ Kitchen, Splish Splash, Surfs Up!, and Everday Heroes.  Last summer, my son caught the tale end of their summer camp and really enjoyed the water play days.  Because the themes are a week long, parents are offered the flexibility to sign their children up for as few or as many sessions as they’d like.

My son and I have had the opportunity to personally experience KinderCare Learning Centers and I can attest to how caring their teachers are.  My son new his teachers by name and would ask for them.  We’re planning on putting him back once cold & flu season is over.

There are 1700 KinderCare Learning Centers within 39 states (including DC) and offer a variety of educational programs and after-school care for infants (6 weeks old) to school-aged children (up through the age of 12).  The centers are accredited as an early childhood provider and are run by specially trained, passionate teachers who fully embrace a balanced approach to learning.  KinderCare Learning Centers aim to educate and entertain children within nurturing environment, and encourage strong communication between families and teachers.  I really like how my son would get a progress sheet on the day’s activities every day he was there.  I knew what he ate, how many diapers he had, what he learned and how he interacted with the kids.

For more information on KinderCare Learning Centers, just visit their website.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of KinderCare and received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.  However, we have had my son at a learning center for almost one year.

Pampering Discounts With Tropicana Juicy Rewards

I have been exploring Tropicana’s “Juicy Rewards” in search of something to splurge on (thanks Mom Central and Tropicana!).  As a mom, I don’t pamper myself nearly as much as I’d like to.  Before children (and a husband), I made it a priority to get manicures/pedicures, facials, and massages.  That might sound a bit indulgent, but in all honesty, it’s all about self-care.  I work in a job where I give a lot of myself emotionally and I believe it’s important to do something every now and then that makes me feel relaxed and pretty and feminine.

So, as I explored the local rewards available to me, I found several options that would suffice for a day of pampering.  Here is just a sampling of what’s available down here in the OC (keeping in mind I have 13 points to my name):

1.  20% off services (up to $20) or a complimentary Private Hydrotherapy Bath with a booking of a 60 minute service at Skinsations Spa (8 pts)

2.  20% off the regular price of any spa service at Total Body Care (5 pts)

Tropicana’s Juicy Rewards Program

I drink a lot of orange juice…particularly because I have cut out all dairy from my diet and am having difficulty finding food sources of Calcium and Vitamin D.  Tropicana is a brand that has been around a very long time…one we’ve purchased time and time again over the years.

Tropicana recently introduced their new Juicy Rewards Program.  If you drink orange juice (who doesn’t drink orange juice? hehe!), why not save money while doing it?  Specially marked containers of Tropicana Orange Juice contain a code for points you can enter on the site to redeem for discounts.  Each carton of Tropicana Orange Juice is worth up to $15 in savings.  The site contains over 20,000 ways to save on things like workout gear, services, classes, entertainment and more.  Partners include Adidas, Coleman, EA Sports, and Coleman.

If I can save money, while consuming something I already use, why wouldn’t I participate?  Stay tuned…I have lots more to share with you about Tropicana’s Juicy Rewards Program.

If you sign up on the site (it’s free), be sure to enter the code  “MOMCE-NTRAL” and you’ll receive one free point to get you started.

Right now, you can enter for a chance to win one of four trips to Las Vegas, New Orleans, Atlantic City or Lake Tahoe.

I wrote this review while participating in the Tropicana Juicy Insiders Ambassador program by Mom Central on behalf of Tropicana. I received 12 free Juicy Rewards points and a $50 Visa gift card to use in redemption of the points and to facilitate my review.

Healthy Choice Café Steamers

My husband and I opt for home-cooked meals whenever it’s feasible.  But there are some nights, when he comes home late or I’ve had a busy day with the kids, that just don’t feel like cooking.  Since eating out is expensive (particularly since we only eat out at quality restaurants) we try to reserve this for special occasions where we can splurge.  The alternative is some type of prepared meal.

We don’t usually eat frozen foods, but I would readily consider them if healthier options were the standard.  I’m starting to try different brands, in hopes of finding a healthy alternative for the nights we don’t want to cook.  Now that we have two children, it’s a bit more of a challenge to get meals on the table seven days a week.  And we could both use a break at least one day during the week.

Over the years, I’ve tried several products from the Healthy Choice line of foods.   What I like about the brand is that it aims to provide a healthy, balanced meal rather than a meal to help you lose weight.  Healthy Choice recently introduced 11 new entrées to its Café Steamers, All Natural Entrées, and Select Entrées product lines.  I tried the Lemon Garlic Chicken and Shrimp and the Grilled Vegetables Mediterranean, two of the brands Mediterranean Inspired Meals.

Café Steamers are microwave meals that utilize a DuoTray Steamcooker to keep your vegetables crips, your meat tender, your pasta firm, and your rice fluffy.  They’re made with wholesome ingredients including whole grain rice, whole grain pasta, and vegetables.  Most of the meals are under 300 calories and do not contain trans fats.  The only thing I noticed was that the sodium content is quite high.  Unfortunately, it’s really not noticeable, and if you don’t read labels, you wouldn’t necessarily know this based on the way the meals taste.

Regarding taste…they’re really good.  I could eat them once a week and be quite content because they include a generous serving of vegetables and whole grains and pack in a ton of protein.  They’re quite tasty, considering they’re frozen.  Very often, I’ll peruse the frozen dinner aisle at the grocery store, only to find shelves of boring meals laden with sodium, preservatives, calories and fat.  I like the ethnic influences that Healthy Choice attains with their use of ingredients and spices ad the fact that they’re preservative-free and relatively low in all of the above.

Healthy Choice is the only major brand in its category FDA-approved to call its products “healthy.” Each meal must be low in fat and saturated fat, have a controlled amount of sodium and cholesterol, and provide 10% of the daily value of three beneficial nutrients (calcium, protein, fiber, iron, vitamin A, vitamin C).

For more information about these new entrées, just visit their website.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Healthy Choice and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Banquet’s Thanks a Million Sweepstakes

My husband and I work very hard to ensure that on most nights, we have a home cooked meal.  But you know that I don’t like to cook.  And with two kiddos to look after, there are some nights when I get a little lazy and resort to take out or something that can be prepared in just a few minutes.

Banquet, a company that has been creating home-style frozen dinner meals for over 50 years, is giving away over $1 million worth of redeemable cash prizes through the month of April.  Just look for Banquet frozen-dinner meals with the “Thanks a Million” logo on the box.  Each of these boxes will contain a special game piece and your chance at one of 16,000 prizes worth $10 to $100,000 or a Banquet coupon.  This is the company’s way of saying “Thanks a Million” to their loyal customers.

I had not heard of Banquet meals until just recently, so we picked a few up to try them.  The varieties are typical American meals like Macaroni & Cheese, Chicken Fingers, and Spaghetti & Meatballs for kids, and Sweet and Sour Chicken, Turkey and Gravy, and Lasagna.  They’re quick and easy to make and taste good.  The one suggestion I would make is that I’d love to see the company come out with lower sodium versions.

For information, just visit their site.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Banquet and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

It’s a Baby Shower…With Johnson’s

I’m surrounded by pregnant women.  Shanna, Jen, and Kara-Noel are 3 fabulous women I’ve gotten to know through my Orange County blogging connections.  They’re also going to be having babies sometime this year.

When I was pregnant with my son, 2 incredible women threw me a baby shower.  It was such a blessing to be surrounded by family and friends.  When our daughter was born, several people offered to throw me a shower, but we had so much from my son that I opted not to have anything formal.  Pregnancy is something to be celebrated.  Whether you’re a first-time mom, or an experienced mom, every pregnant woman should have a shower, because every baby should be celebrated.

Johnson’s recently introduced their Baby Bedtime Bubble Bath & Wash, designed to help babies sleep better. It smells lovely and is designed not to irritate a child’s eyes.  It’s formulated with Naturalcalm essences, a unique blend of soothing aromas to help babies sleep better.  Some of Johnson’s most popular baby essentials include their Pink Baby Lotion, Gold Baby Shampoo, Head-To-Toe Wash, and Desitin.   Many diaper cakes include mini versions of these products to get moms started with the basics she’ll need.  And many of their products can be used by moms as well.  I had no idea that their baby oil could be used in place of shaving cream (I must try that) or that their baby powder could be used as a dry shampoo.

On Febuary 23rd, Mom Central is hosting a Johnson’s Baby Shower Twitter Party at 3 pm EST to talk about favorite baby shower gifts, using Johnson’s Baby products to gift at showers and tips and tricks for new moms.  There will be prizes including Johnson’s products.  You can follow on Twitter using the hashtag #MCBabyShower.

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Johnson’s and received samples of Johnson’s Baby products to facilitate my review.”

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