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Give Back to U.S. Troops with Kernel Season’s + My Hero Is…

Kernel Season's LogoI am always for supporting our troops and I love seeing all the different ways people and companies show their support. I was excited to learn about what Kernel Season’s is doing for October, National Popcorn Month. For every picture of a hero that is posted on their Facebook page this month, they will donate an entire case of Kernel Season’s seasonings overseas to the U.S. Troops! What a great campaign and it’s easy to participate.

My hero is my little brother. Sometimes, it’s still hard to believe my little brother has grown up to be such an honorable man. He joined the Marines over 5 years ago and has completed two tours in Afghanistan. During his first deployment, my nephew (his son) was born. Fast forward about two years after that, a few days before he deployed for his second tour, they found out they were expecting their second child. Luckily, he was only overseas for six months, so was home for her arrival. This is the picture I posted of my brother and his family the day he returned home from his second tour. I love you, Shane and you make me proud to be your big sis!

It’s not to late to help out and post a picture of your hero (they don’t have to be in the military). So lets all help send some flavor overseas to our U.S. Troops! Click here to visit their Facebook Page.

So, who’s your hero?

I received samples in exchange for this post, but all opinions are 100% mine. Photo courtesy of CLB-8’s Facebook Page.

October 27 Lowes Free Kids Workshop – Creepy Keeper Box

Lowes Free Kids Workshop 10/27Lowe’s offers a great ‘Build and Grow’ Clinic for kids every few weeks. This Saturday, October 27th at 10am the kids will be building a Creepy Keeper for Halloween.

The first 50 to register and be present at the store will receive the kit, an apron, and goggles. the recommended ages is 1st-5th grade.

For more information, store locations, and preregistration visit Lowe’s Build And Grow here. They also have fun activities, kits you can purchase and family projects.

 

Snacking Healthier with Del Monte’s New Fruit Cups #SmartSnack

When it comes to snack time in my house, my kids typically want cookies. I am trying to give them healthier snacks and avoid the cookies as much as possible. How great would it be if they were asking for fruits, not cookies every day? However, I have yet to find that perfect fruit snack that they crave and ask for. I wanted to find something new not only for my sons to enjoy, but also that I would like. I tend to skip meals sometimes, because I easily lose track of time trying to get other things done around the house. When I need a quick snack, junk food is always at hand and I end up with regret after I eat it. In search for that perfect snack food for the family, I headed to Walmart.

Del Monte Fruit Cups at Walmart

While shopping, I was excited to find some new flavors of Del Monte fruit cups: Diced Apples & Pears with Caramel flavor and Diced Pears with Vanilla & Spice. Not only did they look delicious, but they just sound like they would be full of flavor. I purchased a few to give them a try. When I pulled them out for snack time, my sons were very interested.

Del Monte Fruit Cups

We first tried the Diced Apples and Pears with Caramel flavor. Caramel is my favorite flavor and it definitely gives the fruit cups a sweet addition. There is just a hint of caramel so it is not overwhelming. Both my sons loved them. My three year old wanted more when he finished his cup. My two year old managed to drink all the juice out of the cup after he was finished. Almost the whole time he was eating, he was saying, “mmm, yummy” repeatedly. The small size of each fruit piece was perfect for the little ones. The Diced Pears with Vanilla & Spice was also just as delightful and flavorful. The cinnamon spice gives it an extra kick of flavor with each bite. They are easy and convenient for the kids and myself.

I am proud to say, the same day they first tried the fruit cups, they asked for them that evening! Healthier snacks: Total Success!

How healthy are Del Monte’s new fruit cups?

Each fruit cup has a full serving of fruit and just 60 calories. Unlike a lot of other fruit products I have purchased in the past, they have no high fructose corn syrup. They are in a extra light syrup and are gluten free.

Del Monte Fruit Cups

With their convenient size and packaging, I have added two cups to my ‘ready-to-go’ tote/diaper bag. When we are out running errands or on play-dates, I will always have a healthy snack on hand.

I can’t wait to try more flavors. I think I may try the Diced Peaches in light syrup with Cinnamon and Brown Sugar next time.

Be sure to check out my Google+ photo album for my full shopping trip and experience. For the latest updates and snacks visit Del Monte, follow @DelMonteFoods on Twitter, and become a fan on Facebook.

 

“I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Del Monte #CBias #SocialFabric. All Opinions expressed are 100% mine.”

Decorating for Halloween with Hallmark + Prize Pack Giveaway (ends 10/23)

Hallmark Halloween DecorationsEven in this digital age, I still prefer paper greeting cards. I still use ‘snail mail’ to send cards to friends and family for holidays, birthdays, and just to say I am thinking about them. When you think of greeting cards, what is the first thing the comes to your mind? For me, it’s Hallmark. I love everything about Hallmark. Not only do they have greeting cards for just about everything, they also have great gifts. This year I was excited to learn about their Halloween Decor. My little guys love Halloween and they enjoy all the decorations around the house.

Hallmark Greeting Cards

From humorous to sincere, Hallmark has greeting cards to send to someone special for Halloween or fall. I love the over-sized witch one I received. My sons’ favorite part are the “googly-eyes” and we have set it up on our mantle for display. I also received a “Thinking of You” card with an autumn theme that I sent to my grandparents that live out-of-state. I know they really enjoy receive greeting cards and what can be better than a surprise card when you least expect it?

My Pet Ghost

Hallmark Pet GhostMeet our pet ghost, Julian Hijinks. Safe in the bottle, Julian makes an appearance when the top bottle stopper is pushed. With spooky sounds and different sayings, this pet ghost is a hit with my preschoolers. The boys love that they have control over when the ghost appears and it can keep them entertained for quite some time. I have a feeling after Halloween, when all the Halloween decorations get packed up, I will have a hard time getting them to say goodbye to Julian. Hallmark also sells two other pet ghosts, Maxwell McSpooky, Genevieve Ruffles. Each ghost is different, but all share that spooky fun.

 

Witch’s Hat Door Decor

The Witch’s Hat hangs on your door and is motion activated. When someone walks by it, a witch’s face appears and it cackles and says ‘Happy Halloween’. To ensure my sons get the most out of the Witch’s Hat, we have it hanging in our living room. They can’t get enough of the witch. When it goes off, they laugh, jump up and down, and yell, ‘Again, Again!’ Since we do have it in a high-traffic spot, we only leave it turned on a few times a day for the kids, which is easy with the ‘on-off’ switch. On Halloween I will move it to the front door so the witch can surprise unsuspecting trick-or-treaters!

Hallmark Witch's Hat Door Decor

You can purchase Hallmark’s Halloween Decor at your local Hallmark store or near the greeting card section at retailers such as Walmart. Hallmark is also offering you 30 percent off Hallmark’s selection of Print On Demand photo cards and party plates with the online coupon code Blog30.

Win it!

Hallmark is giving one lucky Nifty Mom reader a Witch’s Hat Door Décor and a gift pack of Halloween greetings!

No purchase necessary to enter. The giveaway is open to US residents only, 18+ and giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST October 23rd, 2012. Winner will be selected via random.org and contacted by email. The winner has 24 hours to reply to confirm their prize or a new winner will be picked. Sponsor is responsible for shipping the prize to the winner, not Nifty Mom. If you have any issues entering or have any questions, please email me at contact (at) niftymom(dot)com.

GOOD LUCK!

**THIS GIVEAWAY IS OVER**

Disclosure – I received the named products at no cost to conduct this review and was in no other way compensated. All opinions expressed are 100% mine.

Fog Machine & HalloweenCostumes.com Review & Giveaway

HalloweenCostumes.com Not only do I love fall, but I love Halloween. We have been getting our two and three year old sons pumped up for Halloween and they are getting super excited. We’ve been decorating, doing crafts, and baking treats. This year my husband and I have decided to have a Halloween party and we’ve been on the hunt for party supplies. One thing we didn’t have was a fog machine. While browsing HalloweenCostumes.com, I found a 400W Fog Machine that seemed perfect for any party and especially a Halloween Party. I also had to get a quart of Liquid Fog to run the machine.

Halloween Fog Machines

The fog machine has basic instructions that are easy to follow. I simply poured the liquid into the designated reservoir and plugged it in. As instructed, I waited for the red light to come on and switch the machine to on. It soon released fog into the room. After a minute or so, it shuts off and ‘rests’ before releasing more fog. It continues to cycle until it runs out of liquid or is switched off and/or unplugged. The 400W Fog Machine create 2,000 cubic feet of fog per minute. I let it cycle for 3 or 4 times and it was pretty foggy in my house. The kids definitely enjoyed it. It will certainly be a great addition to our Halloween party this year and can be used for other parties throughout the year. I did find that the machine does get pretty warm, so one should use caution when around it and picking it up after using it.

About HalloweenCostumes.com:

HalloweenCostumes.com is one of the largest retailers online for Halloween costumes. They have hundreds of costumes, with something for everyone. Their site is easy to navigate, browse categories, or search for something specific. Not only do they have costumes, you can also find accessories and Halloween Decor. Stay connected for the latest updates and become a fan on Facebook, Follow @funcostumes on Twitter, and Pinterest.

Win it!

HalloweenCostumes.com is giving one lucky Nifty Mom reader a costume (or decor) of their choice up to $40. Entering is simple using the Rafflecopter form below.

No purchase necessary to enter. The giveaway is open to US residents only, 18+ and giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST October 17th, 2012. Winner will be selected via random.org and contact by email. The winner has 48 hours to reply to confirm their prize or a new winner will be picked. Sponsor is responsible for shipping the prize to the winner, not Nifty Mom. If you have any issues entering or have any questions, please email me at contact (at) niftymom(dot)com.

GOOD LUCK!

**GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED**Halloween Costume Win

Disclosure – I received the named product at no cost to conduct this review and was in no other way compensated. All opinions expressed are 100% mine.

‘Start Simple, Start Right’ with Kellogg’s Cereals

Kellogg's LogoSome mornings I need to get breakfast on the table as quickly as possible. Not because we are in a hurry or have somewhere to be. But because when my sons are hungry, they become very impatient and think that food should just appear in front of them instantly. Trust me, listening to a 2 year old and 3 year old competing to be the loudest one to say ‘Mom.Breakfast’ over and over, while a 9 month old is beating on his tray trying to be heard over his brothers isn’t always the most pleasant way to start a morning. When I need something quick, I love to turn to cereal. Not only can I get it on the table within minutes, but there area lot of healthy options.

Start Simple Start Right Cereals

We normally keep at least 5 different cereal boxes in our pantry. Not only is it a great breakfast choice, it is also a healthy snack. When my husband gives my sons their evening snack, he typically give them cereal and sits down to enjoy a bowl with them. Most of the cereals we eat are Kellogg’s. It is a brand I grew up with and a brand I will always trust. They have a little something for everyone. Some of the healthy wholesome cereals we have been eating thanks to Kellogg’s:

My sons are both a fan of Rice Krispies. They love the ‘snap, crackle, pop’ and they even enjoyed the Gluten Free one. I have also been a huge fan of Corn Flakes. I decided to share some with my sons to let them try it out. My two year old said ‘Mmmm, Yummy’ while rubbing his belly. I would say that is a sign of approval from him! My husband’s favorite is the Raisin Bran (and one of my other favorites). We really enjoyed all the Kellogg’s cereals and it is comforting as a Mom to know my family is eating a healthy breakfast (or snack).

All the above cereals are made with seven ingredients or less, plus vitamins and minerals, and all start with just a single grain. This is Kellogg’s Seed-to-Spoon approach. In just a few steps, all the cereals go from being a single grain, to being the cereal we all enjoy. I just love seeing how simple the process is and knowing where the food I feed my family comes from.

Kellogg's Start Simple Start Right

Also, you can see just how each cereal goes from being a simple grain to the cereal in your bowl in the follow videos.

Be sure to check out Kellogg’s ‘Start Simple, Start Right’ website for more information on the simple grain cereals. I know after learning about their Seed-to-Spoon process, I will start paying more attention to the ingredients in all the cereals I purchase.

 

“I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Kellogg’s. I received sample products to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item as a thank-you for participating.”