Summer is in full swing and if your kids are like mine, they think ‘Snacktime‘ should be about once an hour.;)  It always seems like a brutal shock to them when I say no.  Funny how that is.  And when I guide them towards the fruit-veggies-nuts and such,well, I must be speaking a foreign language.
Here are some great suggestions and ideas to keep snacks easily portable, sun-proof, and diet-friendly from dietitian and nutritionist, Elisa Zied, author of Nutrition at Your Fingertips:
1. Nuts- Crunchy and delicious, nuts provide omega-3 fatty acids that …

In honor of Mother’s Day, Kim from What’s That Smell? and I have put together a gift guide to help you find that perfect gift for the mom on your list, and maybe even provide YOU with some ideas for things that you would like to receive as a gift for Mother’s Day this year so you can drop some hints for your family.
We have 4 different categories of gifts and with such a wide variety of great gift ideas, you are sure to find …

Fiber-licious.
Yep, I think they should rename them.
Wait, you have not tried them yet?  They are these great tasting high fiber snack bars by General Mills. Made from rolled oats, crispy rice, and then whatever the flavor listed on the box is -
Chocolate Mocha – the newest flavor
Oats & Chocolate
Oats & Peanut Butter
Oats & Caramel
Oats & Strawberries with Almonds
Oats & Apple Streusel
Soft and chewy, they have a sweet and wholesome taste that really satisfies my sweet tooth while they provides 9 grams of fiber, about 35 percent of the Daily …

As a true lover of almost all thing French, I have been enraptured over learning that French Macarons are quite delicious apparently.  My favorite is still baguettes and Chasson des Pomme but wanted to share this with you.

Waukegan, Illinois – One whiff of French Almond Macaroons (or Macaron) diners will know Spring is on its way. The light-as-air macaroons have special ingredients – orange blossom water and rose water – to give them a vibrant springtime flavor and aroma.
Nielsen-Massey Vanillas’ orange blossom water is distilled from Spanish and Middle Eastern …

While I may not love to cook dinner for picky children , I do love to bake.  It is pretty cute too because the second I start to get my ingredients out, I start hearing a cacophony of “Mom, I want to help!’.:)  Well, with St. Patty’s Day upon us, Duncan Hines sent us a couple of packages of mixes so that we could make the recipes below. These are both super easy, yet really yummy. Give ‘em a try!
CLOVER PATCH BROWNIES
Bring a bit-o-luck to the kitchen …

This video says it all – Win a LapTop, Give a LapTop & Change the World, One Child at a Time.

Often children have warm and giving hearts and are willing to give when they have the opportunity.  P2 is even like that when she sees an opportunity to give, all by herself.  Heard the term ‘would give you the shirt off her back’?  She just came from Heaven that way and what a delight she is for it.
Of course, P2 and her sisters love and adore Betty Crocker’s Fruit Flavored …

Family Fun Magazine is one of my favorite spots to get great ideas for fun with my family.  We do not have a ‘tradition’ regarding St. Patrick’s Day but this year I totally aim to start one!!  Here are the ideas they have presented this year:
Crafts and Games
Wee Leprechaun: Make-your-own leprechaun! http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/wee-leprechaun-667671/
Make a Festive Bowl-er: Create leprechaun hats by painting and embellishing paper bowls. (p. 34)
St. Patrick’s Day Scavenger Hunt: Follow fun all the way to a faux pot of gold. http://familyfun.go.com/playtime/st-patricks-day-scavenger-hunt-708446/
To Catch A Leprechaun: Three clever traps for taking …

I was flipping through my emails and saw an ad for this:

Don’t they look yummy??  So then I thought I would stop in at the website for them, Shari’s Berries and I saw these…

They made my mouth water… as did these…

Berries AND Cheesecake…covered in Chocolate.
Now what could be better than that.:)

When I was offered the chance to review the delicious Pillsbury Orange Sweet Rolls, how could I say no? Quick to make and delicious to eat, there is nothing like eating them fresh out of the oven . . . all soft, gooey, and warm. You also put on the icing yourself so you control how much or how little you want and with a family like mine, that is really important. Some, like P1, want little to no frosting (is the child sick?) then there is P2 who is …

I am so not a gossiper.  Seriously.  Just not my thing.  But when I was given the chance to share something really Juicy with you, well this was one time I just could not pass it up.  That is right, I am truly and honestly a Tropicana Juicy Insider!
So what does a Tropicana Juicy Insider do, pray tell? Well, this means I get to do a couple of things.  I get to try out the great new Tropicana Juicy Rewards program and tell you all about it!  You have yet …

This contest has closed and the winners are announced HERE.
Thanks to everyone whoo enjoyed our little inpromptu giveaway!  Watch for our Mother’s Day one in April!
Trying to lose weight and eat healthier?  I know I sure am.  Well, if you have not tried Uncle Sam cereal, you really should consider it.  What, you did once years ago?  You think it is a Granny cereal?  Bahhh!
Seriously, my Mom has eaten this for years and we all love it.  As you can see from the nutritional data, it is full of fiber …

JUST IN TIME FOR NATIONAL PANCAKE MONTH
AUNT JEMIMA FROZEN BREAKFAST SAVES THE MORNING

WHILE NATION FACES WAFFLE SHORTAGE, CONSUMERS FLIP FOR PANCAKES!
MOUNTAIN LAKES, NJ (January 27, 2010) — February is National Pancake Month, giving pancake lovers across the country the perfect reason to start the day off right with a warm breakfast. With the nation currently facing a hot breakfast shortage due to the lack of frozen waffles, Aunt Jemima® Frozen Pancakes offer families the perfect path to delicious pancakes.
“It’s time to l’eggo your Eggo,” says Eric Hintz, Category Manager …

Oh! Nuts is a family-owned business that has been serving up great gift and goodies since 1992.  Take a look at the huge assortment of fresh and yummy candy, chocolates, and gifts offered at Oh! Nuts, including beautiful chocolate flowers, candy kisses, specialty candy, dried fruits and nuts,  rich flavored chocolates, sugar-free candies, and you will soon have a hard time choosing!  We were sent a selection of Onion Garlic Pistachios,  Assorted Pastel Jordan Almonds, and Roasted Salted Cashews and let me tell you ~ they were DELICIOUS!

Want to get …

I knew my girls would get really excited when the package containing boxes of Cheez-its arrived at our house.  Seriously, we go through those and crackers like them,  in record time during snack time after school.    Little did they know  that Sunshine has just come out with new flavor, Italian Four Cheese.  As soon as the package arrived,my girls brought me the box and it was HUGE.  I could not imagine what was inside.  Well, before long I knew – these boxes were full of yummy, nummy flavor! I really …

The giveaway has ended and the winner has been drawn – Congratulations to #28 Jo!!!!
Thanks to all who participated!!
When people come together for a party, any party, chips and dip are practically a requirement.  Potato chip and  Tortilla chip lovers alike have one thing in common – the search for a great dip. Dean’s® Dip recently gave me some vouchers to try out their dips so that I can share my thoughts with you about them as well as my honest opinion.
For our New Year’s Eve party, we tried their French …

I find it rather humorous that on National Go Red for Women Day, it is also…..
World Nutella Day : February 5, 2010!

Happy World Nutella Day!
Join the celebration!

Learn how to participate

Check out the action at the World Nutella Day Fan Page on Facebook!
Follow our Twitter stream @nutelladay for updates

Follow live Tweets with the event Twitter hashtag: #nutelladay
Get creative with more than 400 Nutella recipes
Some tips on how to Host a World Nutella Day party at home

New to Nutella? Learn what the fuss is about

Nutella is more than just a “chocolaty hazelnut …

Having a Chinese child has changed many things in our home from the Holidays we celebrate (Chinese New Year, for example) to some of the meals we eat.  One instance here is the fact that I include rice in many more of our meals than ever before.  Now lately, with my emotional ups and downs and what have you, I have been trying to buy the items for meals that are quick and easy so Brett doesn’t have to come home and having to cook the entire meal himself.
Well, recently …

GORDONSVILLE, VA., December  2 , 2009—PBM Products, LLC, a leading infant formula company that supplies store-brand infant formulas to Walmart, Sam’s Club, Target, Kroger, Walgreens, and other retailers, has received a favorable jury verdict and a $13.5 million damages award in its false advertising lawsuit against Mead Johnson & Co., the operating subsidiary of   Mead Johnson Nutrition Company (NYSE: MJN) (“Mead Johnson”), the makers of the national-brand Enfamil® LIPIL® Infant Formula.  Mead Johnson is 83 percent-owned by Bristol-Myers Squibb.
PBM’s lawsuit claimed that Mead Johnson engaged in false and misleading campaigns …

Are you a baker?  I may not be Betty Crocker but I do like to bake.  Last August at BlogHer, I got to try some of this yummy, nummy Pillsbury Easy Frost frosting in a can.  It was smooth and creamy and just like (or better) than the sort you buy at the store on the cake aisle above the boxed cake mixes.
The makers of Pillsbury baking products announce the “Pillsbury Easy Frost No-Fuss Frosting Challenge,” and call on all dessert lovers to unlock frosting fun, think creatively …