A Healthy Choice Meal is Also a Delicious Choice

Last night we had Healthy Choice meals for dinner.  I had the new Lemon Garlic Chicken & Shrimp Café Steamers.

When I first looked at the package contents it didn't look like enough to fill me up for dinner, but after I made it and put it all together and ate it, I was surprised with how much was actually in the package.  Which proves the idea that Healthy Choice is trying to convey that their products are not "diet food".

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So You Want to Win a 100,000 Dollars...

Can't the people that schedule things ever learn that there are seven days in the week?  Of course not.  They always seem to schedule everything on the same day, at absolutely the worst time.  Just right before or right after dinner.

On days like those when we're running in the door from swimming, have less than an hour only to leave again for skiing, I'm glad I keep some Banquet Entrees on hand.

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I Don't Want to Miss...

Kids carry backpacks and school books everywhere.  They end up on desks, bathroom floors, school bus seats and who knows where else.  Do you remember high school biology?  Then you can only imagine what sort of microscopic germs your child is carrying with them all day long.

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Out Of Office

No not me, lol (at least not yet!) ~~ Out of Office is FedEx Office's blog! And it's chocked full of ideas for you to get for the 3 P's. That would be Projects, Parties and Presents!

If you're at a loss of where to start when it comes to a specific project you've decided to undertake, you may want to mosey over to the Out of Office blog because they'll help your planning with projects for:

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Green Works Laundry

I just love sharing the products that come my way via the Mom Central blog tours. This time it's two of the newest offerings from Green Works. And yes it's something everyone can use, laundry products.

I admit to not having "tough" laundry loads. Meaning that except for food stains (I do have sloppy eaters in my home), I don't have a lot of outdoors or grease type stains to deal with when I do laundry. Maybe that's why laundry is my favorite household chore! It's always a good thing when I can find a detergent and stain removal products that don't just work and smell good, but are also friendly on the environment.

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Ultimate Party Meatball Recipe

Even before I received the invitation to be a part of the Mom Central Ultimate Party Meatball Recipe Blog Tour, I was looking for an abundance of meatball recipes. 

You see a few weeks ago, I was wanting to make a recipe that required meatballs.  That was the week we were doing our once a month warehouse club run.  I had thought of just running to the grocery store to pick up a package of meatballs, but that would require an extra trip, so I got a warehouse sized bag.  Um...that's a lot of meatballs for three people to eat, LOL!!  Hence the looking for recipes to use meatballs with.

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Hickory Farms

Hickory Farms has great gift basket ideas. I have often had to buy a gift, not having a clue as to what the person wants or needs. Have you ever had that experience? Yeah, I thought so. During the holiday season we often have to buy gifts for teachers, co-workers, business colleagues, and really know nothing about what they would like or their hobbies. But what better way to show your appreciation for what they have done through the year, than by giving them a consumable gift from Hickory Farms.

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Ronzoni Smart Taste Pasta and Supermom Video

The holiday season is always so busy.  Concerts, parties, shopping and other activities keep us hopping and out and about for many nights of the week.

It is not always easy to have a healthy meal on the table during these weeks, but I was recently introduced, through Mom Central, to an easy healthy way to get a yummy dinner on the table that your whole family will enjoy.

Ronzoni Smart Taste comes in a variety of different noodles (spaghetti, thin spaghetti, rotini, elbow macaroni & penne), all of which are fortified with calcium and fiber.  I was a bit skeptical before we tried it, because we have tried whole wheat pasta before and weren't thrilled with the texture or the taste of it.

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Listerine Oral Care Challenge Blog Tour

Holidays are so much fun!  As we head in to the end of October, we're hitting at least 4 or 5 holiday celebrations (and maybe more for some of you!) between then and mid-February.

And with the holidays generally comes; sweets, chocolates and sugar laden treats, which are yummy for the tummy, but not so great for the teeth.

Kids like it when everyday activities don't feel like chores.  That's why Listerine and Reach help make dental care habits fun.

Together they have created the "October Oral Care Challenge" for children 6 and older.  To complete the challenge, you and your child have to brush, floss and rinse 2x every day, for 2 weeks.

Here's some products from Listerine and Reach that help make oral care fun for the kids.

Pre-Brush:  Agent Cool Blue - Before Amber had braces put on her teeth, she used this product daily.  We were actually introduced to it when she spent the night at a friend's place.  Kids take a pre-measured amount, swish it around in their mouth, and spit it out.  What's left?  Agent Cool Blue leaves his mark on the plaque on the teeth, so kids can easily see where they need to concentrate their brushing.

Brush:  Reach has fun toothbrushes for the kids to use.  Licensed ones like Batman and I saw some Curious George ones in the store the other day.  For some reason kids are more willing to brush when their "friends brush with them".  They also have a line of toothbrushes called Wonder Grip.  These brushes help kids easily clean the hard to reach places in their mouth.  Designed especially for a child's mouth, they are clinically shown to remove plaque from back teeth.

Rinse:  Smart Rinse is another product that we were already using before this Mom Central Blog Tour.  Amber's orthodontist suggested with her braces that she uses a prescription toothpaste for more fluoride.  It was very expensive (the toothpaste) and so we decided to pick up some of this Smart Rinse to use after she had finished brushing for a fluoride boost.  So far so good, as the orthodontist says her teeth are looking good, so we'll keep using it.  She especially likes the berry flavor.  Click here to download a $1.00 coupon at ListerineKids.com.

Did you notice the Oral Health Care Challenge included parents? Lol!  You know though, doing this with your children, shows them that you value good dental habits and they'll take note of it.  The old monkey see monkey do analogy comes into play here.  Listerine and Reach haven't left you out, there's some great products in their lines for you too.

Floss:   Reach has great options for flossing.  One of them is the Reach Access Flosser.  A neat little tool that takes the work out of flossing.  My husband has used this for a long time and he loves it.  Reach Total Care Floss is a new product for me.  Not only is it pretty (lol, the one I received in my package is purple!), it is textured unlike other flosses.  That enables it to scrape off more of the plaque between the teeth.  It also slides in and out between your teeth very nicely.

Rinse:  The punch Listerine packs is almost a trademark in itself, and just like their regular mouthwash, Listerine Total Care kills bad breath germs, but it also provides 5 other benefits in one solution.

To find out more about these and other Listerine products and the Oral Care Challenge visit Listerine.com. 

So join our family and take up the October Oral Care Challenge.  We've got our 2 week chart nearly completed with little happy tooth stickers marking our success!  Good dental care habits are so important, and your kids will thank you when their dentist visits are painless because you've encouraged them to take good care of their choppers!

"I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Listerine and Reach and received Listerine and Reach products for the Oral Care Challenge and a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate."

Frigidaire and a Secret Celebrity = Make Time for CHANGE

When we moved to our home 10 years ago, I got to purchase a new washer and dryer. I was so excited that I could have a front loading set, and at the time money was a little tight with a brand new home and all, so I got the entry level Frigidaire stacking system, and it performed great for me for 7 years.

Then we sold that house, and the appliances with it. When we moved into our new home 3 years ago, it was not even a option to get any other brand. I moved up a bit in the world of washer/dryers and purchased their Affinity set.

Like Frigidaire's new line of appliances that their celebrity ambassador
Jennifer Garner is introducing, my washer and dryer perform with features (like the dryer's cycle is equivalent to a wash cycle, so you never have to wait for a load to dry, while the wet clothes sit in the washer!), that save busy moms time.

Start thinking ahead to November 1st.  That's when we "fall back" and change our clocks.  Here's the question...what are you going to do with the extra hour you find yourself with?

You could pledge to use that hour to make a difference in the lives of children.  "Make Time for CHANGE" campaign supports Save the Children's U.S. Programs, dedicated to making a difference in children's lives.  CHANGE is an acronym for Creating Healthy, Active and Nurturing Growing-Up Environments  to promote healthier lives for children in poverty by providing nutritious snacks and opportunities for them to participate in physical activity regularly.

Would you join with Frigidaire, Jennifer Garner and Save the Children and visit Frigidaire.com?  For each person who pledges, Frigidaire will donate $1.00 to CHANGE.  As part of this, if you pledge you will also be entered to win a Frigidaire Double Wall Oven.

Mom Central is also in on the goodness!  If you visit them and tell them about your pledge and how you are planning on giving back to children in need, you can get a chance to win a Frigidaire Double Wall Oven on their site as well.

With the "extra" time I'll gain, there are so many opportunities in our community that I may just have to "stop the clock"!  I may get in on one of the service projects my daughter's Girl Scout troop takes on for cancer patients, help a family in our neighborhood out with some childcare if needed or fill a stocking with some extras for those who don't have as much as we've been blessed with.

Be a 'celebrity ambassador' in your own community, the payout will worth far more than you can imagine.

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

Text KELLY For A Cause

Ovarian Cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death among U.S. women. This disease often attacks without warning.

The symptoms are vague and so it can be difficult to diagnose. Only 19% of cases are caught prior to the cancer spreading to the pelvic region. 1 in 67 women have the risk of being diagnosed.

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and the familiar names of Electrolux and Kelly Ripa are teaming with the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF) to help raise money to expedite a cure.

As innovative as Electrolux Appliances, a campaign launching today "Text-a-Thon For A Cause" will raise awareness for the support of research and promote early detection in the field of Ovarian Cancer.

You can donate $5.00 to the cause by texting "KELLY" to 85944 from your cell phone (your standard text messaging rates apply) - or by logging on to www.kelly-confidential.com.

Many causes have a color associated with them and so does the one recognizing Ovarian Cancer Awareness it is teal.

Electrolux will donate $200 from every Washer/Dryer pair purchased in the Turquoise Sky color,  inspired by the teal ribbon, to the OCRF.

In addition to that, you can pick up a limited edition t-shirt at kelly-confidential designed by Kelly Ripa. 100% of the t-shirt sales will be donated to OCRF. You can also send a virtual t-shirt to a friend and Electrolux will donate $1.00 for every one of those.

How would you like to text for a cause AND get the chance to win an Electrolux Washer/Dryer set in the Turquoise Sky color? Each day you log to the website you are entered for a chance to win. A set will also be given away at MomCentral.com.

Cancer research is very important to me as I have two people in my life that survived the battle because of all the advances that have been made in the past. I know that many more don't make it though, so let's all work together so that all the Moms, Wives, Sisters, Aunts and Friends have that same chance.

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

Mom's Homeroom @ msn.com

Two Great Lessons for Moms and Kids!

Lesson 1 - How To Keep Your Kid Full and Focused

• Give them one of many varieties of Kellogg's Frosted Mini-Wheats for breakfast

Lesson 2 - How Moms Can Stay Encouraged During the School Year

• Visit Mom's Homeroom on msn.com (brought to you by Frosted Mini-Wheats)

I learned about Mom's Homeroom.com from Mom Central, and was so glad because I found tips and tools to help Amber succeed at school.

There are unscripted videos, articles, printable resources and a message board to share ideas and concerns with other moms.

7 different topic areas are highlighted in their articles and tools.

There are also quizzes for moms and kids powered by Encarta.  These are quite fun.  I took the "Do You Speak Better Than a 10-Year-Old?"  and found that I'm Grammar Royalty!  (I have now been flaunting that title to my daughter all day, much to her chagrin!) 

You can also find resources from Scholastic on the site.

I think one of the things I appreciated the most about this community is that one of the mom's on the panel is a homeschool mom.  That's unusual on a mainstream site where education is discussed, and very nice to see.

So if you are interested in getting tips and articles about Back To School, Attentiveness (the 8 layers of whole grain fiber in Frosted Mini-Wheats helps with that by the way ☺), Reading Writing and more head over to Mom's Homeroom @ msn.com.

Oh yeah, and by the way, the Frosted Mini-Wheats Little Bites™ Cereal in Chocolate makes an excellent snack in addition to breakfast.  I should know since I ate almost half the box in one sitting.....

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Kellogg’s Frosted Mini-Wheats and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. In addition, Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

Review for New Atkins Products

While the idea of being able to shed pounds quickly and easily appeals to just about everyone, reality suggests that one needs to use a weight loss program that will be possible to follow for the long haul in order to keep the weight off.

Recently as part of this Mom Central blog tour, I was sent some new Atkins products to try in my home, and they weren't at all what I expected.  I had always felt that I could never follow the Atkins program because of the low carb issue, but with these products I would not feel that I am missing out on anything.

Of course I couldn't make a judgment without actually trying the products so for a couple of nights at dinner we tried them out.

The first product I used was the All Purpose Baking Mix.

The nutritional stats compared to a generic brand of low fat all purpose baking mix I currently have in my cupboard are pretty much the same.  The Atkins one has 1.5 more grams of fat but it has 6 grams of fiber per serving (with the generic one have a big 0 grams of fiber!).  There is a recipe for pancakes on the package, but I chose to make some Garlic Cheese Biscuits with it.

The biscuits had a bit of different texture to them, but everyone in the family ate them without complaining, and I personally had seconds.   I have not used the mix for anything else yet, so I'm not sure if the texture issue was just with this recipe (which is not an Atkins one), or not.

I think I could really keep the motivation to follow the Atkins program though with this next product.  The Penne Pasta.

We are big Penne noodle eaters.  It is my husband's favorite pasta.  I made it for dinner last week, and I was expecting a big ole harrumph out of him when he tasted it.  He did however proclaim it to be excellent.  I too agreed with his opinion, and the 13 year old had a second helping!  The texture was perfect, a lot of times I find certain brands of pasta get too starchy when they're cooked or have a mushy texture even if you follow the cooking directions.  Not these ones.

The 18 grams of fiber per serving plus the great taste would convince me to purchase these even without following the Atkins program.

To celebrate the launch of these new products, Atkins has announced an online recipe contest where you can share your own recipes that you serve in your dining room, featuring the All Purpose Baking Mix or Penne Pasta and win great prizes.   Recipes can be submitted to atkins.com by September 30, 2009.

I guess I should get busy thinking of some new dinner ideas!

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

Clorox College Survival Guide 2009 - Tips & Advice

The Clorox College Survival Guide 2009 is a .pdf featuring advice compiled from current college students and of course their moms ♥. The up and coming freshmen can check this out to find out what to pack for the dorm room, the latest fashions they'll see on campus, and of course what mom has to say. (Somehow if it comes from "someone" else's mom it's worth listening to right?)

It includes useful advice like: The School Part of going to "School", How To Do a 5 Minute Dorm Room Clean-Up, and the Correct Way to Cover Your Cough (so you don't get your room mate sick!) This guide is worth printing off and tacking to the cork board, both while getting ready for and at college.

A National Version of the guide is available at Mom Central, and Regional Versions can be found on the Clorox Survival Guide's Facebook Fan Page, on the left hand side. I've become a fan of the page, because the information is useful even if you don't have a child going off to college.

To give you a better idea of what the College Survival Guide 2009 is about, here's a video introduction from one of the contributors.

If you found this post helpful, fee free to tweet about it and use the hashtag #collegeguide so others can find it in their search for college prep.

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

Gather.com

Just the fact that you're reading my blog is proof that social networking is where it's at these days. There are so many social network sites out there, that it is tough to choose which ones to join, know how they're different, and figure out what they have to offer you. If you need to check just one more let me introduce you to Gather.com if you haven't already heard about it.

Even prior to this Mom Central blog tour, I was a member of Gather.com, and I knew I wanted to share with those of you who have never checked Gather.com out. Much like other networking sites after signing up, you build a profile, find your friends and join groups with people who share your interests.

There's a twist to Gather.com though that makes it stand apart from other social sites, you get points. The more you participate within the network, the more points you'll rack up.

Once you find the groups to join that you're passionate about, you'll watch your points grow just for chatting about stuff you love. How easy is that?

With your points you could give a donation to charity or you could get gift cards to: grab a coffee at your favorite place, get stuff for your latest home renovation or get that book you've been wanting to read (and then you could chat about it with other book lovers on Gather.com and start all over again!)

So what are you waiting for? You have nothing to lose and gift cards to gain, so head over to Gather.com, get an account and don't forget to take the laundry out of the washer, because you may get caught up in all the gatherings!

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog and giveaway campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Gather. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”