3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires: 8/1/09

Giveaway & Review: Treasure Chest of Pirate's Booty Snacks [CLOSED]

Now that Jake is starting kindergarten, I need to be able to come up with a healthy snack for him Monday through Friday from September through June. The thought of this task is quite daunting to me. That is why I have been searching for healthy ready-to-serve snacks to pack for my son that would go well with a juice box or a small bottle of water. These all-natural snacks called Pirate's Booty sounds like it would fit those prerequisites, but how do these healthy snacks taste?

What my family and I thought about Pirate's Booty snacks:

1) I was extremely impressed with the wide variety of snacks and flavors offered by Pirate's Booty! The varieties include rice puffs, corn puffs, and corn sticks. The assortment of flavors are some that I look for regularly in the snack aisle at the supermarket, such as Sea Salt & Vinegar and Barbecue. Also, if you like dip, you will probably like the Veggie Pirate's Booty. That could very well be my favorite flavor.

2) These all-natural snacks are baked and free of gluten and trans fat. They have about 50% less fat compared to the same serving size of the average potato chip. The crunchy corn sticks called Tings are a smart alternative to Cheetos, as are the Smart Puffs to Cheez Doodles.

3) We served the Pirate's Booty to our 2.5yr old twins during family movie time instead of popcorn (which I am always afraid they will choke on). They absolutely loved it! Luke ate his as fast as he could and Makenzie savored hers slowly so they would last her until the end of the movie. I am so happy they liked the rice puffs, because those are easy to eat plus they would dissolve much more quickly than popcorn if they were accidentally swallowed whole.

4) I also like that Pirate's Booty is available in 2 different size bags. The smaller one would be perfect for a single serving for a kindergartner, whereas the larger size would be good for sharing. That is my opinion as a parent, but somehow I get the feeling that Jake disagrees about the sharing of the larger bags . . .

This snack has been approved by every member of our family as far as taste goes. I would love to see something similar to a cheddar and sour cream flavor or something hot and spicy added to the Pirate's Booty selection in the future.

Currently, you can find Pirate's Booty snacks at most major supermarkets. You can also purchase them by the case through The Pirate's Booty Store.

Thank you to Pirate's Booty for providing us with both a review product and a contest prize free of charge.

What you can win:
One lucky reader will receive a Treasure Chest filled with 7 varieties of Pirate Booty snacks.

Limitations:
This giveaway is open to U.S. addresses only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. If you enter anonymously and do not include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing.

How to Gain Entries:
Browse the selection of Pirate's Booty snack foods. Then leave a comment telling me which 1 out of the 7 varieties you are most anxious to try. You MUST do this to be eligible to win this contest.

Extra Entries:

1) For 5 extra entries, leave a relevant comment on one of my non-giveaway posts. Then leave FIVE separate comments with the name of the post on which you commented. You will earn 5 extra entries for each different non-contest post you comment on.

2) For 5 extra entries, enter one of my other contests. Leave FIVE separate comments here telling me which contest you entered. You will earn 5 extra entries for each contest you enter.

3) Add this blog to your Technorati Favorites. Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so and under what username. Add to Technorati Favorites

4) For 10 extra entries, blog about this contest linking back to this post AND PiratesBooty.com . Then come back here and leave TEN separate comments with the link to your blog post.

5) Follow me on Twitter. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Twitter profile.

6) Tweet about this giveaway linking back to this post. Then come back here and leave the link to your tweet in a separate comment. You may do this once per day until the end of the contest.

7) Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or you can follow me through Blogger or subscribe via email (widget is on sidebar). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

8) Add my button or blog link to your blog's sidebar. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your blog.

9) Add my "Monterey Car Seat" giveaway button to your blog's sidebar. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your blog.

(All entries will be verified prior to awarding this prize.)

Random Drawing:
This contest will be closed on Monday, September 21st, 2009 at 11:59pm EST. A random number drawing will be held shortly after. The winner will be announced here and will be contact via email or through their blog. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new number will be drawn.

Good luck in the drawing!

Monday, August 31, 2009

Raw and Spicy

This week's Ruby Tuesday post is actually the beginnings of a slow cooker meal. The end result was a yummy pot roast. I almost used the photo of the raw meat bare without the seasonings, but I didn't want to scare anyone off. For the longest time, I couldn't stand to look at raw meat, even though I'm not a vegetarian.

If you'd like to see more Ruby Tuesday photos, go visit Mary at Work of the Poet!

Shop 'n' Share: Build-A-Bear Workshop's August Sale

As far as I can recall, Build-A-Bear Workshop rarely has many promotional sales. Once in awhile, I do see that they temporarily lower the prices of a few of their animals, but that is about it.

We did not need more Build-A-Bear plush animals by any means, but I just could not resist this sale. I've been thinking about it all month and decided we just had to stop in before the end of August because it was such a great price and the experience is always so much fun for all three children. They are offering any one animal, any hanging outfit, and any pair of shoes . . . all for just $29.99 plus tax.

Here are the latest additions to our collection. Meet Romeo, Juliet, and Spot . . .

I think we have enough now so we can officially be categorized as Build-A-Bear addicts.

Today's the last day for the sale if you want to squeeze in a trip to BABW!

Twintuitive Product #14

I chose this side-by-side stroller organizer to feature as a "TWINtuitive Product" because I personally prefer a side-by-side stroller over a front-back twin stroller. The main drawback with a side-by-side is that there is usually not a storage tray up by the handles. For this reason, many people do not opt for this type of stroller. The Sicily Double Stroller Cup Holder is an affordable solution to this problem.

What I thought about this double stroller organizer:

1) I was very impressed with the design, which was sturdy and allowed a custom fit to our stroller. The Velcro spans almost the full length of the three sets of straps (one for each handle and one for the center bar).

2) I like that the fabric is thick, strong, and water resistant.

3) I was very pleased to find out that the center pocket (located right below the Carry You label) is roomy enough to hold a large fountain drink.

4) The two cup holders at the ends are the perfect size for baby bottles, sippy cups, and 16oz bottled beverages. The tops are elasticized so it can keep cups with smaller circumferences in place.

5) It is extremely convenient that we do not need to remove the organizer before folding up the stroller.

This Carry You product more than solved our problem. The Double Stroller Cup Holder actually has the capacity to hold much more than a regular stroller tray would.

To view the full line of Carry You stroller accessories, visit CarryYou.com .

Thank you to Carry You for providing us with both a review product and a contest prize free of charge.

What you can win:
One lucky reader will receive a Sicily Double Stroller Cup Holder.

Limitations:
This giveaway is open to U.S. addresses only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. If you enter anonymously and do not include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing.

How to Gain Entries:
Browse the selection of Carry You products. Then leave a comment telling me which product looks like it would be especially useful (other than the Sicily). You MUST do this to be eligible to win this contest.

Extra Entries:

1) For 5 extra entries, leave a relevant comment on one of my non-giveaway posts. Then leave FIVE separate comments with the name of the post on which you commented. You will earn 5 extra entries for each different non-contest post you comment on.

2) For 5 extra entries, enter one of my other contests. Leave FIVE separate comments here telling me which contest you entered. You will earn 5 extra entries for each contest you enter.

3) Add this blog to your Technorati Favorites. Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so and under what username. Add to Technorati Favorites

4) For 10 extra entries, blog about this contest linking back to this post AND CarryYou.com . Then come back here and leave TEN separate comments with the link to your blog post.

9) Add my "Monterey Car Seat" giveaway button to your blog's sidebar. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your blog.

(All entries will be verified prior to awarding this prize.)

Random Drawing:
This contest will be closed on Monday, September 14th, 2009 at 11:59pm EST. A random number drawing will be held shortly after. The winner will be announced here and will be contact via email or through their blog. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new number will be drawn.

Good luck in the drawing!

In honor of National Grandparent's Day(September 13th, 2009), Grandparents.com has teamed up with YourVoice to offer a free service which is designed to give grandparents something to smile about. Simply stated, YourVoice allows your child to record a special voice message and then email that recording to his or her grandparents.

Listen to Jake's Message To His Grandparents
(Click the back arrow on your browser to return to this article.)

This service is extremely user-friendly and could not have made it easier to complete the recording. All you need to do is call the phone number, enter the pin number provided to you, and then have your child record a special message to the grandparents. Then you have the opportunity to listen to the recorded message and to decide if you are satisfied with it or would like to record a new one. The site even offers you a few suggestions if you and your child cannot come up with something to say on your own. The message can be brief or it can be as long as a book reading.

After the message has been recorded to your satisfaction, you then enter the email or emails to which you would like it to be sent. You can even write a custom message to go in the notification email. The recipient need only to click on a link to listen to the message. They can listen to it as often as they'd like and can even download it to their own computer.

Overall, this is a very easy process for both the sender and the recipient. It is a free service, but the number to call is not toll free. We do not have to worry about long distance charges because of the type of phone service we use, but please be aware of this potential cost to you before you make the call to record your child's message.

This is one of my favorite photos of my mother with our daughter Makenzie when she was an infant . . .

I received a gift card from BSM Media as a thank you for trying out this free service.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Creating With Colors: How to Make Personalized Pencil Cases

This "Creating With Colors" project was inspired by the challenge of organizing my 5-1/2yr old's desk. He does not have a lot of room to store things because his desk as no drawers and little shelving. I had attempted to sort things into see-thru shoe boxes which were stacked to the back right of his desk. After awhile, I realized that a few of the shoe boxes were half empty and that was a waste of space. So I decided to make a project out of decorating these canvas pencil bags with fabric markers to hold different things. Then all the pouches would go into a small basket.

Today's Project: Personalized Pencil Cases

With your help, ask your child to design a pencil case with their name (or another word or words) using fabric markers.

Supplies Needed:

At least one Canvas (or Fabric) Pencil Bag
Non-Washable Fabric Markers (Could be substituted with fabric paints, but markers are easier for younger children to manage)
(Optional) If you are making organizational pouches like we did, then you will need a small oval or rectangular basket or plastic container about the length of your pencil bags.

Tip #1: To make the project more interesting, I thought it would be fun if my son and I each chose a guideline. I decided that each bag should only be decorated with 2 colors other than the outline for the lettering and I allowed my son to choose the colors for each of the 5 bags we decorated. My son decided that we were not to color inside the letters, but rather only in the space around and in between them.

Tip #2: If your child is younger, then you may want to draw the lettering for him or her. This also applies to the general shape of a border, if one is desired.

Tip #3: If your child is known to be less than careful, you may want to use a smock or encourage him or her to wear an old shirt. Fabric markers that are not washable are made to be permanent on fabrics.

Tip #4: Lay your pencil cases out flat to dry completely because the color will come off on your child's hands if it is handled too soon. You should read the instructions on your particular package of fabric markers to find the recommended drying time and the amount of time you should wait before wetting or washing your child's project.

Here is the result of our project:

My son was very pleased with his new basket of storage pouches. His favorite pouch is the red one he designed to hold his pens. He also said that this was a fun project, which made me feel extremely pleased. I'm also happy that the result is something he can use daily.

Thank you to Discount School Supply for supplying us with canvas pencil cases and fabric markers for this project.

We actuall tried to clean our house this week. My allergies have been out of control ever since. Anyways, I've been too busy cleaning and sneezing to take too many photos this week (that's my story and I'm sticking to it), but here are a few that I have to offer . . .

"Caffeinated Goodness"

"Fee Fi Fo Fum!"

"Golden Goodies"

Thank you for taking the time to view my photos this week! If you'd like to play along or see more great photos, stop by to see Lotus at Sarcastic Mom.

Twintuitive Product #13

I chose this baby-friendly toy cleaner to feature as a "TWINtuitive Product" because everyone knows how important it is to keep toys clean for infants and toddlers who still mouth their toys. When one has twins or multiples in general, there is an additional concern, which is having the children pass germs back and forth because they are both putting the same toys in their mouths. Of course, to combat this, cleaning may occur more frequently, which makes it even more important that chemical-free cleaners be used.

What I thought about Dapple Toy Cleaner:

1) The first thing I noticed was the clean citrus scent. I was surprised at how fragrant the cleaner was just from being scented with essential oils.

2) I like that this cleaner contains no dyes, no bleach, no artificial fragrances, no sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES), and is phthalate-free and paraben-free.

3) I do think this cleaner gets toys as clean as hot soapy water would. It is not an anti-bacterial cleaner, which I prefer. I really do think it is better for my children to build healthy strong immune systems.

4) I opt for the toy cleaner wipes when I am cleaning board books or other things I do not want to get overly wet. They work just as well as the spray cleaner.

5) I've found the travel size pack of wipes to be extremely convenient to fit in my handbag or diaper bag. These are perfect for when one of the children drops a toy on the ground in a public place but is truly desperate to have it back right away.

6) Overall, Dapple toy cleaner is not as powerful as chemical cleaners, but it does get the job done with a little elbow grease. The extra effort is worth it, in my opinion, if it means keeping harmful chemicals out of our children's mouths.

To learn more about Dapple natural cleaners, visit DappleBaby.com . In addition to their website, you should be able to find Dapple products at major retailers, such as Babies R Us, Toys R Us, and Bed Bath & Beyond.

Thank you to Dapple Baby for providing us with a review product free of charge.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Kindergartner-in-Training Review: "Let's Go to School" LeapFrog DVD

It's no secret that I am a huge fan of Leapfrog learning DVDs. I partially credit them with how advanced Jake is in his reading. We own all the previous DVDs, so when we had an opportunity to review the first new release in years, we were more than happy to accept.

LeapFrog: Let's Go to School was officially released on August 18th, 2009. It is perfect for children who are starting preschool or kindergarten this fall, who might be feeling nervous because they do not know what to expect. This is exactly how the twins Tad and Lily felt in the DVD. Their worries were put to rest after a tour of their new classroom the day before school started.

Tad and Lily were able to get a sneak peak at what was to come during the school year. This included exciting things such as learning the alphabet, the days of the week, the months of the year, how to tell time, and all about a variety of animals. These lessons are presented in a fun dynamic way. After their tour, Tad and Lily's minds were put at ease, as will your child's after watching this DVD.

If your child has been preparing for school, then they will already know some of the lessons presented in the DVD. If they have been resisting learning any of those things, then this DVD might show them that they will be expected to learn such things outside of the home. It could also help encourage a child to apply themselves to learning these basic skills so they will be able to keep up with the rest of the class.

You can find this DVD in the Lionsgate Shop and most places where children's educational DVDs are sold.

Thank you to Lionsgate for providing us with a review product free of charge.

Friday, August 28, 2009

For Better or For Worse: Building a Strong Foundation

I bet you thought I would be talking about building a strong foundation for marriage, huh?

Well, I actually wanted to show everyone what a great Dad my dear husband is for building this Lego tower complete with a built-in railroad for our 3 children while he was home sick with a cold. He even rebuilt it with some extra supports after the kids accidentally demolished it.