Skinny Cow Ice Cream Pure Indulgence Without The Guilt

With the weather warming up we spend a lot of time outdoors as a family.  One thing that I love about summer and remember as a child was the local ice cream truck that came through the neighborhood.  So, I have always associated the warmer weather with ice cream and who doesn’t love ice cream?

Nowadays when I have ice cream, I always feel like I am over indulging, and most ice cream is high in sugars and fat, so if you just look at the container it seems like you can gain five pounds.  Until recently, I had never tried any low fat ice cream, simply because I figured that it would be rather tasteless as most fat free things can be.  They either taste horrible or have no taste at all.  Thanks to Mom Central, I got the chance to try Skinny Cow ice cream.   I had always seen it in the store but just assumed it wouldn’t taste that great.

Skinny Cow’s low-fat ice cream sandwiches are a great way to enjoy ice cream as part of a healthy lifestyle. Each ice cream sandwich only has 150 calories and 2 grams of fat,so you don’t have to feel guilty about when reaching into the freezer for a snack. The light and creamy frozen treats come in seven different flavors, including cookies ‘n cream, chocolate peanut butter, and mint.   These sandwiches taste anything but low fat, and I love them!

So if you are looking to enjoy an ice cream with your kids without feeling like you have to skimp, Skinny Cow is definitely a healthier alternative and it tastes like you are getting a real treat.  I tried out the Truffle Bars as well, and I wound up hiding the box in the freezer so I could have them all to myself!  Thank you Mom Central for this wonderful opportunity!

Heys Xcase Mini Perfect For The Little Traveler

I am the homebody in the house and I am not usually that keen on any sort of travel.   When me and my husband first met, I was much more excited to see new places.  We traveled to Europe, a few places here in the United States, and went to New Zealand for our honeymoon.  Since we both have family that lives overseas and all over the United States, we do a fair amount of traveling. With that comes all the hassles and all the luggage, and since we have two children, we now have kid’s luggage to think about as well.

Since having the boys, we have had to adjust the way we pack and how much. When they were babies we could manage getting it all in with our suitcase, but now that they are getting close to the three year mark, they sort of require their own personal piece of luggage.

I have been on the lookout for some of the better pieces of children’s luggage that would sort of stick with them for at least a few years and withstand the rigors of being tossed around into cargo, a three year old tugging it around and something that was sized appropriately for them. I usually prefer a suitcase that is basically a semi hard shell but doesn’t weigh 50 lbs before you even get a pair of pants in it. If you do a lot of travel you know that the airlines will rip you off if you have a suitcase that is even slightly overweight, not to mention the $25 they now charge to even check a bag! Even better for the boys, is a bag they can handle and we can just bring on board.
I was given the opportunity to review and xcase Mini by Heys USA and I must say that I impressed by this suitcase. I love that it is small enough for the boys to handle, and one key factor is how lightweight it is at a mere 4.9 lbs! Another cool feature is that the wheels have led lights in them, so when your child is strolling through the airport you can keep an eye on them, and they also get a big kick out seeing the lights. I wasn’t sure is they would be able to handle a suitcase yet but this made it easy and they fight over who gets to pull it.

Features

The xcase Mini® is the smaller version of Heys famous xcase®. It is ‘Light’ – LITERALLY – as it has special LED LIGHTS within its wheels. These wheels Light-Up when the case is rolled creating a dazzling effect.( Watch the Video ! ). This ‘strobe-light’ effect will surely get you noticed strolling across airport aisles, as if the shiny xcase® hadn’t already garnered enough attention your way. This xcase Mini® is ideal for anyone traveling on a particular airline that has very stringent carry-on restrictions, as some charter airlines restrict carry-ons to only 18″, instead of the industry-standard of 20″ It is also perfect for kids, as its ‘mini’ size suits children better then our standard 20″ xcase®.

The xcase Mini® has the same feature set as the original xcase®, with its curved handle system, internal divider, glossy surface, and of course, it being the World’s Lightest Carry-on at only 4.9 lbs ( 2.2 kg ).

I love the xcase Mini as a suitcase for young children because it is the right size for them to handle, has some really neat features and is roomy enough to hold their clothes or accessories and they are able to easily pull it along. It comes in seven brilliant colors so they are easy to spot and are hard to lose. I think they would make a great first suitcase for your little one and are reasonably priced so they won’t break the bank, even better when you have to buy for more than one child!

Heys USA has a whole selection of beautiful luggage and is well known in the celebrity world for its high class in design and lightweight luggage and accessories. If you are in the market for a good suitcase for kids, the xcase Mini, has this Mom’s seal of approval.

Macaroni Grill Meals Made Easy Review and Giveaway

We are huge fans of pasta and Italian dishes of any kind in our house.  I love to cook  in general and I love trying new things.    We were recently given the opportunity to try Romano’s Macaroni Grill Favorites, courtesy of My Blog Spark.  Not only was I excited to try these new meals, but I am a huge fan of Macaroni Grill Restaurant, so if it tasted anything like what I bought at the restaurant then I am a happy camper.

I must admit I have never been a huge fan of meals in a box but I can honestly say that I was pleasantly surprised!  We tried the Creamy Basil Dinner, and all you have to do is add chicken and a little milk.  The meal was extremely easy to prepare and took about 20-25 minutes to make.

The boys completely finished their plates and were saying “mommy more pastas please.”  So, for them this was a big hit.  Toddlers can be some of the pickiest eaters around, and I think they tend to get bored with the same things, so this adds a little variety and they loved it.  The only thing is that I would have to prepare two boxes to feed out family of four, but other than that it was delicious.

The dinner kits include everything needed to create a high-quality meal in one box including premium ingredients such as such as vine-ripened tomatoes, select cooking wines, specialty herbs and 100% semolina pasta. All you have to do is add one pound of chicken or your choice of proteins such as shrimp or Italian sausage. Varieties of Romano’s Macaroni Grill Restaurant Favorites dinner kits include Garlic & Herb Chicken Penne, Creamy Basil Parmesan Chicken & Pasta, Chicken Alfredo with Linguine and Chicken Marsala with Linguine.

I have only tried the Creamy Basil so far and I am very eager to try the others, because if they are anything like the first, then I will have 3 more easy meals to prepare.  It helps to take the guess work out of what’s for dinner and makes it easy when you have had a really long day, or you just want something that is quick.

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED!

Would You Like to Try Macaroni Grill Favorites?

DoubleBugs and My Blog Spark are giving away What’s For Dinner Gift Baskets to 3 lucky readers.

Gift Basket Includes

Sample of the Creamy Basil Parmesan Chicken Pasta variety

Three coupons for you to try the other varieties the next time you visit your local grocer,

A Colander

Serving spoon

Cheese grater.

Here’s What You Have to Do To Enter

How to Enter

1.  Visit restaurantfavoritesathome.com and tell me which other Romano’s Macaroni Grill flavor you think you would enjoy.  You can also print out a $1 coupon on this site.

2.  Subscribe to my blog vis RSS or Email, then leave me a comment to tell me you have done so.  If you are already a subscriber, leave a comment to let me know.

For Additional Entries ( Leave a separate Comment for each additional entry)

1.  Add Me To Twitter

2.  Add my blog to your Technorati Favorites

3.  Tweet About This Giveaway

4. Blog About This Giveaway

I reserve the right to delete comments not adhering to the above entry guidelines.

You can enter anytime now through June 8, 2009 at 11 PM EDT. Three winners will be selected at random. I will contact the winners by email shortly after the giveaway ends, and the winners will have 48 hours to respond. If a winner does not respond within that time frame, an alternate winner will be announced.  Open to US residents. Must be over 18 years of age.  Void where prohibited.

Charm Story at Things Remembered

One of the best gifts that anyone can get is one that comes from the heart and is personalized gift just for you.  I have never been a huge fan of jewelry but I have always wanted something that reminded me of all the important moments in my life.

I received a beautiful necklace with two very special charms for Mother’s Day from the Charm Story line at Things Remembered.  Everything about it was so very special right down to the way it was even packaged.  I sat there for a moment and just appreciated how pretty the box was, and then I opened it up.  I cannot tell you how special and how beautiful the charms were.  Not only that, it was personalized just for me, with the names of my two babies and their birthdays.  Now I can be reminded of the two special lights in my life and keep them close to my heart.

The nice thing about Charm Story is you can tell a story and you can always add to it.  So, your bracelet or necklace, can always change to reflect your life and will always be special and beautiful to you.  Things Remembered has always been known for their great selection of personalized gifts and is always a great way to remember someone special on their birthday, Mother’s Day, or any occasion.  There is a wide variety of charms to choose from, so you are sure to find that special combination to make your gift meaningful. This is such a perfect way to give a gift that will be treasured for always.  I will definitely be nudging my husband to get me more charms as my story continues!

Allergy Protection With 3M Filtrete

Both my husband and one of my boys have extreme allergies. I love Spring and all the flowers blooming but along with all these wonderful things comes the sniffling, sneezing and breathing issues.  One of my sons is always rubbing at his little nose, and nose drops have become a nightly routine just to keep him from sneezing so much.

Because of his allergy issues, it is imperative that I keep up with cleaning the house and taking measures to prevent allergens in our home.  We have the pillows and mattresses coveres, and air purifier running at all times in the room, we keep the dog out of the bedrooms, and I am vacuuming sometimes twice a day.

One important factor that many people forget is to change their furnace filters.  For us, it is one of those things that is out of sight and out of mind until you realize that you are way past due for a filter change.  But since we have allergies running rampent in this house, I put a reminder to change the filter on our calendar.

Studies indicate that indoor levels of many pollutants may be two to five times higher than outdoor levels, making it one of the top five urgent environmental risks to public health.  In fact, many seasonal activities such as cooking, spring cleaning and redecorating can spread indoor pollutants.

Dr. Neil Schachter, M.D., past president of the American Lung Association of the City of New York, suggests a “home health check-up” to help make your home a healthier place to live.  He recommends avoiding cleaning products that contain ammonia or chlorine, and limiting your pet’s access to certain areas of the home, including the bedroom. A high performance air filter, such as a Filtrete filter, may also help improve indoor air quality.

It is currently recommended that you change you air filter at least once per season.  This is about every three months. This may be the last thing on your mind especially when you are busy with life in general.  3M, makers of Filtrete filters recognizes that this is often neglected, so they offer the Clean Air Club.  You can receive a season e-newsletter featuring special offers, better home living tips, and filter change reminders.  Plus the first people to sign up each week will receive a free bamboo plant.  Plants act as a natural air purifier in your home!

If you or anyone in your house suffers from seasonal allergies or allergies in general, this is a great resource to help you get on your way to a cleaner, more allergy free home.  Thank you to Mom Central and Filtrete for helping to understand the importance of how to help better your home for allergen protection.

Bob Evans Has A New Look!

Bob Evans has taken their store and restaurant favorites and built a new home online to make the Bob Evans experience even better. A new store locator, menu information, and a special kids section make the site even better than ever!

Bob Evans has always been one of my favorite places to go for breakfast.  The best part about getting breakfast is that you can order it at any time of the day.  There isn’t anything better than breakfast for dinner in  my opinion.  Bob Evans has always been known for their wonderful home cooked style meals and the prices are great too.  As a family of four now, my husband and I, almost cringe at the cost for all of us to eat at a restaurant these days.  We love heading to Bob Evans however, because we can all eat at around $30 for the entire family.  This is so wonderful, especially during this economy, and we can all feel like we get a chance to go out.

They also have a newly revamped online site where you can go to get tasty recipes each with a mouthwatering picture and even coupons to help you make a culinary masterpiece.  There is a little something for everyone including the kiddos!  They have fun online activities as well as, a Kid’s Club where they can sign up to receive a free kid’s meal for their birthday!  It’s very easy to navigate and it offers information on their full line of products available at the grocery store, their restaurant menu, store locations, and much more.

With Bob Evans you will almost never be at a loss for knowing what there is to eat.  You can try a new recipe, try one of their yummy products like their sausage, or side dishes, or head up the road to your local Bob Evans restaurant and enjoy a wonderful home cooked meal in a warm and homelike environment.  The possibilities are endless whether you have a big family to feed, you are on the run, or you just want to keep it simple. I love having all the choices and especially at the grocery store too!  There is something that is sure to please.

This Contest Is Now Closed

Would you like to try some wonderful Bob Evans products from your local grocery for free?

DoubleBugs and Bob Evans would like to give readers the chance to win 5 free frozen product coupons valued at $5.00 each to one lucky winner!

Here’s What You Gotta Do!

Visit the Bob Evans site and let me know what you like about the new site

For Additional Entries

• Tweet about this giveaway
• Subscribe to my blog
• For 5 additional entries blog about this contest link to me and Bob Evans in your post and leave me the link
• Add my button to your blog

Contest Starts May 12, 2009 and Ends June 1, 2009

Good Luck!!!

Bunny Slippers for Mom

I will have to admit that I am a sucker for all the fun slippers that you see when you are out shopping.  Just a couple of years ago my mom got me some ones that looked like big sneakers, and I have some fuzzy zebra striped ones too.  They are so comfy just to slip on.  I wear mine around the house when it is chilly and out to get the mail.  I am sure that I am a sight for the neighbors, but what is life if you can’t have fun?

When given the opportunity to check out Bunny Slippers, I was delighted at all their fun choices for slippers.  They have them for the whole family too.  They have such an adorable selection of bunny slippers, and they even have bunny slipper flip flops!  They have so many different kinds of slippers they I was finding it hard to choose just one that I like.  I love the lady bug slippers that I received because they are so bright and cheery and the boys even had to try them on.  They have slippers for young children, but it was nice to having something whimsical that is meant for me.

Their new bunny flip hop spa sandals would make a perfect gift for Mom or for anyone.  How fun would it be to get these for all your bridesmaids and hand them out at a spa day?  They are ultra comfortable and the bunny part is not overly obnoxious, but are just fun enough to add a little personality.  They also have some of the most adorable bunny slippers for tiny feet and these would make a really cute gift for a new baby.  If you have a fun personality or just want to be adventurous you should check out Bunny Slippers!

Strider Running Bike Review

I can remember learning to ride a bike when I was in kindergarten, and I remember the bent training wheels that when you rode your bike you could lean from side to side. About 8 months ago I was introduced to something called a running or a balance bike.

I had never heard of a running/balance bike.  Apparently, these bikes are becoming incredibly popular. When you look at them, you will quickly notice that there are no pedals and no training wheels. My husband and I, were wondering how these would be beneficial to the boys.

The whole idea behind the Strider Running Bike is that a child can learn to balance before he is able to actually pedal a bike. The theory is that they can learn to ride a regular bike much quicker this way. The child is able to ride on the bike and gradually get to a point where they can balance and are able to lift their feet and coast. This makes transitioning to a regular bike easier and eliminates the need for training wheels. I know that my boys currently are just now starting to figure out how to pedal but they are already ahead of the game because, they can balance on their two wheel bikes!

About Strider Running Bikes

Strider™ The Strider™ running bike teaches kids age 1-5 years old how to balance and steer a two-wheeler. The simple, thoughtful design offers them easy control and helps build their confidence. They will never need a tricycle and never need training wheels when they start out on a Strider™.

* One of the LOWEST seat heights in the industry… just 11″ from the ground.
* One of the LIGHTEST running bikes on the market at just 6.9 pounds… less than 1/2 the weight of a tricycle.
* The ONLY running bike with frame-integrated Launch Pad™ footrests ergonomically located below the saddle. (U.S. Patent Pending). Launch your child’s skills to the next level: gliding with feet up, riding while standing up, jumping & bunnyhopping.
* Kid and parent-friendly EVA polymer tires are light weight, airless and super durable.
* One of the most ADJUSTABLE running bikes on the market with 3″ of handlebar height adjustment and 5″ of seat height adjustment (plus additional 2″ adjustment available with optional seatpost).
* User-specific Progression™ headset is lighter than a typical bearing headset, has no grease, and requires no adjustment. It also offeres a steering speed damping effect during break-in which is helpful to young riders who are still learning to keep both hands on the bars. As their skills speed up, so will the steering.
* Optional foot brake adds even more fun and learning for the advanced rider… can you say skidmark?!!

The Strider™ brand running bike gets kids started younger, adjusts with them as they grow, and keeps them riding longer and learning more through the unique frame design with integrated footrests and optional brake.

When we first received these bikes the boys were hesitant and somewhat disinterested. Being only just 2 years old when they started it took my husband and I a lot of coaxing to get them to use the bikes on a regular basis. In fact, we went through a phase where they wanted nothing to do with them, and as you know every kid is different. They would get on, go down the sidewalk for only a few feet and tell us they were done. Personally, I would say they were still a little young. But something magical happened over the past 3 months and they absolutely love them now.  They are zipping and zooming all over the place and even more impressive, lifting their feet! They ask for their bikes every time we are out. They are so incredibly lightweight too, so it is so easy to just toss them in the car and take them with you to the park or over to grandma’s. I can imagine that by the time they are three they may even be riding a regular bike with pedals!

Take A Look!

I would highly recommend these bikes if you are interested in giving your child an advantage in teaching them early! Thank you Strider Sports!

Edible Gifts Plus Review and Giveaway

Mother’s Day is just around the corner and if you are like me, I am always thinking of something that is different or original. for gifts.  When I think of Mother’s Day, it is a special time where you get to honor Mom and give her a day that belongs only to her.  I enjoy the simple things, like a clean house, not having to cook, and maybe something to indulge in.  These are the things that I think of.

A delightful package showed up at our doorstep over the weekend from Edible Gifts Plus.  I was so excited to receive this special box of goodies to try.  I’ll have to admit that I went and hid while opening the box, otherwise I would have to share.  I am all about sharing, but these treats were all mine!  I received a few samples of some really yummy things like chocolate dipped rice krispie treats, and chocolate covered fortune cookies just to name a few.  Everything Edible Gifts Plus has to offer makes it very hard to choose, because I wanted just about everything I saw!

Even more special than all the wonderful things on the site is how it all got started.  Owner Margo Rappel started her confectionery  about 1 1/2 years ago.    Margo is a single mother with three children and single handedly runs all aspects of Edible Gifts Plus including product buying, website production, order processing and customer service.  Margo credits the success of Edible Gifts Plus to her “above and beyond” customer service philosophy and offering customers many delicious ways to make an impact with a personalized gift without breaking the bank.

In her own words “Edible Gifts PLUS is the result of years of party planning, research, and lots of delicious sampling!!  It is this experience and lifestyle that has enabled me to arrive at this business.  My enthusiasm for this special collection of cookies, chocolates, dipped fruits, pretzels, popcorn, and so much more is evident with each and every customer. “

Everything we received was so wonderful and decorated so pretty that it just gives it that personal touch and would be a perfect thing to give as a special gift for Mother’s Day, or for any special occasion where you want to make a statement.

Would you  like to give some of these tasty treats a try?

Edible Gifts Plus and DoubleBugs would like to give you a chance to win a $40 gift certificate to buy some of these tasty treats of your very own. Also, if you just can’t wait you can use the coupon code doublebugs10 for 10% off your purchase!

Here’s What You Gotta Do!

Mandatory

Visit Edible Gifts Plus and come back here and leave a comment on what you might like from their site and who you would give it to.

*For additional entries

Tweet about this contest

Blog about this contest

Put my button up on your sidebar

Subscribe to my blog

Contest Starts April 30, 2009 and Ends May 14, 2009

Good Luck!!!

Smitten by David Gordon

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