Scrutiny by the Masses

Fruit Loops with Fiber

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Kellogg’s and received boxes of Froot Loops and Apple Jacks and a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.

I will say that I don't typically buy these cereals for my kids. I find them to be too high in sugar and don't consider them to be a great breakfast choice. I was, however, intrigued enough by the claim of added fiber - with no discernible taste difference - to agree to sample these cereals. I know that my children don't eat enough fiber and this seemed to be an interesting way to handle that challenge. My kids ate them mixed with Cheerios - our typical MO for eating sugary cereals.  I find this to be a great compromise - this way, my kids get the experience of eating the more sugary cereals and I know that they have not eaten as much sugar as an entire bowl of it.

Like adults, 9 out of 10 kids lack enough fiber in their diets. Kellogg Company knows how tough of a time Moms have finding ways to increase their child's intake, and they came up with a great solution by adding a boost of fiber to some of their most popular kids' cereals. They started with two kids' favorites: Apple Jacks and Froot Loops cereals, which now have three grams of fiber per serving and are currently available on grocery shelves. These cereals include ingredients such as whole-grain corn flour, whole-grain oat flour, oat fiber and soluble corn fiber. In addition, Kellogg Company plans to extend the added fiber benefits to their other cereal lines over the next year.   

So, how did they taste? Absolutely the same. There was no difference in the flavor of the cereals with fiber added. We also made a version of Rice Krispie Treats, using Froot Loops, and my kids inhaled them. I could see these cereals as an occasional, special purchase for my kids.

My Baby: First Steps

I was provided a copy of this game in exchange for posting a giveaway.

Following in the footsteps of My Baby Boy or Girl, My Baby: First Steps continues the journey of raising a baby at 15-months-old. You will get the challenging, yet very rewarding, task of teaching their baby how to walk, talk and more. With so many games for girls out that send the wrong message, My Baby: First Steps lets little girls play baby dolls in a tech-savvy, 21^st century way. The game is available just in time for the holiday season.

See my earlier review of My Baby Boy and leave a comment below for a giveaway of this brand new Nintendo DS game!

Campbell's Soup and a Thermos AND a Lunchbag!

I was recently sent a great little gift bag from the lovely folks at Campbell's Soup, and they have graciously offered to donate one to a lucky readers. In the basket it a lunch bag, a water bottle, two cans of Sponge 8Bob chicken noodle soup ( our favorite go-to when someone is sick!) and two bottles of V-8 Fusion juice.

I've gotta tell you - my little girls LOVE the green lunch bag and small SIGG bottle - they fight over it ever.single.flippin.day and it's gotten to the point of needing to split the items apart and rotate them. Yeah. We have ISSUES.

Leave me a comment and one lucky reader will win cans of soups, two bottles of V-8 Fusion (the best juice ever, and we don't drink juice otherwise!), a green lunch tote AND a small SIGG water bottle.

Pop's Authentic

When I received an email, asking if I'd be interested in reviewing meat sticks, I'll admit, I laughed a little. After all, meat sticks - the concept is funny, the name is odd, and it's not my typical idea when I think "Snacks for my kids".

But I agreed. After all, a PR person who takes the time to personalize an email to me and actually sound as if she'd read the blog longer than .001 seconds - that person is due a second look as well.  And so I said yes, I'd like to sample your meat sticks.

And then, I can't help it, I snickered. Just a little, cuz I'm not a 17 year old boy.I have class, after all.

When the meat sticks arrived, they looked just like those ubiquitous other meat sticks, The Slim Jim.And I HATE those things, so I was not excited. Reading the promotional material was intriguing, though:

Pop's Authentic - Handmade Artisan Meat Snacks are locally sourced and crafted with the highest standards of quality by a family-owned company in small-town Missouri. Made from a family recipe passed down from Pop Jennings, the patriarch of the family, the snack sticks are the perfect addition to the lunch box, backpack or vehicle glove box!

I'll bite. How did they taste? Exactly like they were supposed to - and that's no mean feat. One thing I hate about Slim Jims is how ever loving SALTY they are - but these meat sticks were flavorful and not tough. They were the perfect snack to keep in the car for my son, who is always, always hungry. Offered in bacon, habanero and peppered, there was a taste for everyone in my family. I'll be buying these again, that's for sure, and now is the perfect time to do so, thanks to their newest promotion:  If you buy two 12-count boxes, you’ll receive one free. 

So the moral of this story is that the very words, "Meat Snacks" might make you want to laugh like a high school boy - but your mouth might just be too full to make a sound.

Greensbury Market Organic Meats Really Deliver

Recently I was sent two ribeye steaks and four chicken breasts from Greensbury Market Organic Meats to review. While I was provided the meat for free, I was not paid for this review and the opinions expressed are all my own.

The meats arrived at my house, packed in a styrofoam cooler with dry ice, frozen completely solid. I knew nothing about the company, however, so I took a few minutes to look at their website. The premise is solid:

Greensbury is a modern-day market specializing in healthy, great-tasting, certified organic meats. Launched in 2004, Greensbury is the vision of four “meat guys” with more than a decade of experience in gourmet food distribution. We believe in supporting sustainable agriculture, family farms, and organic practices that produce healthy, environmentally friendly food. We’ve traveled all over the country to find meats that are not only organic, but also tender, juicy, and delicious. We’ve visited dozens of farms and built relationships with farmers who do things the old fashioned way - meaning they take care of the land and humanely raise animals without antibiotics, synthetic hormones, or synthetic pesticides.

I absolutely believe in organic meat and organic produce. It's not in my budget, unfortunately, to feed eight of us organically on one salary - but if it was, I'd be there in a heartbeat, based just on the quality of the meat I was given to sample.The steaks were delicious, well marbled, tender and full of flavor, but the chicken breast was outstanding. I don't think I've ever eaten such tender chicken in my entire life, and the fact that it was organic meat from grain fed animals just sealed the deal.

What makes grain fed animal meat better? From the site:

Grass-fed meats also have two to four times more omega-3s than meat from grain-fed animals. Omega 3s are heart-friendly, “good” fats that play a vital role in every cell in your body. People with ample amounts of omega-3s in their diets are less likely to have high blood pressure and 50 percent less likely to suffer a heart attack. In addition, omega-3s are essential for proper brain functioning and may reduce the risk of cancer.

I highly recommend Greensbury Organic meats - if it's not in your budget for every day, perhaps for a special occasion or as a gift for a friend or relative. (Hint: Gift giving season is coming up, and my birthday is this weekend...)

Ice Age is Back and Better Than Ever!

There's a new Ice Age movie out, and it's better than ever! Ice Age and Ice Age: the Meltdown are two of my kids favorite movies, and the newest in the trilogy, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs is already on their list of must see movies. I can't tell you how funny we all find these movies.

Want to win copies of the first two movies? Leave me a comment here, telling me your favorite character from the movie! This contest will close on November 5 and the winner will be chosen by Random.org

Good luck!

BOO! TCP Makes Halloween Easy!

This is a compensated review from The Children's Place. I was sent three adorable (!!) costumes for my children and asked to give my honest opinion.  I was not asked to say anything other than my own thoughts. Their press information appears below my own thoughts, and don't miss the TWO GIFT CARD GIVEAWAYS for you below that!

 

Could you die from such cuteness? Emma loves her costume from TCP - I didn't get pics of the other kids, but Riley is a fairy and Gabriel will be a pirate. The costumes are great - seams well sewn, no itchy fabric, colors are vibrant and true. TCP is a store that I shop at often - the prices are low enough that I don't contemplate skipping the power bill to buy jeans, and the quality is high enough that I often pass the outfits down more than once. It's a store that I go to again and again, and with good reason. It's win-win for me. And it can be for you as well!

Get in the Spooky Spirit with The Children’s Place this Halloween. The Children's Place has once again designed a variety of unique costumes to outfit every trick-or-treater. Find costumes for all kids – there are costumes available for girls, boys and newborns! Each costume and accessory is created with the same attention to detail, quality and value that they have come to expect from The Children's Place. The ultra-durable costumes last long after trick-or-treating is over for dress-up sessions all year long. Every costume is machine washable and made of comfortable fabrics that, unlike many costumes on the market, never irritate or itch. Plus you won’t break the budget! Great costumes with all the extras at goblin good prices – costumes from $22.50 - $29.50. And Halloween wouldn’t be the same without those little extra treats. From candy corn-adorned scrunchies and witch-hat hair bands to pumpkin and cauldron trick-or-treat pails; The Children’s Place has all the Halloween accents kids need to add to the celebration.

*****The Children’s Place has launched a new and improved Facebook page and is now offering fans – old AND new – some really sweet giveaways. Starting today through October 31st, The Children’s Place will be offering a $50 gift card giveaway EVERY DAY to one lucky fan. All you have to do is become a fan (if you aren’t already!). And if you leave a comment here, telling me your favorite clothing from TCP, I'll be giving away a $50 gift card as well! Who can't use $50 to TCP - prices are low enough there that you can do some real damage with $50.*******

 

The Kitchen Ninja is Ninja-riffic!

The EuroPro company paid my travel expenses and my hotel stay for the launch of their new product, The Kitchen Ninja. The company sent me the product, a steam mop and a vacuum for my enjoyment. All opinions in this review are my own. I did love NYC tremendously and this was a great trip. Especially meeting great friends and seeing myself on the Today Show - but I NEVER should have worn those sweatpants! Eek!

The EuroPro company sent me to NYC to see the launch of their new product, the Kitchen Ninja. I always love New York, and, very surprisingly, I had NO Bad Travel Karma. Shhh.  Maybe I lost it. Be very quiet. Maybe it won't find me again. I was put up in a great hotel and after a wonderful dinner out with Ilina from Dirt and Noise, Kim from Hormone Colored Days, and Jenn From Frugal Upstate at Ellen's Stardust Diner, we walked about 100 blocks through Times Square to the LUSH store  (my idea!  Sorry, ladies - I love to walk!) and headed to a sponsored meet and greet. I bailed after about 15 minutes - I was tired and it was just too much noise and too crowded. I needed my sleep.

The next day we walked about another 100 blocks to get to the Mandarin Oriental.  Seriously, the most beautiful hotel ever. Filing into the hall, we were greeted by Food Networks own Robin Miller, who proceeded to show us the many uses and the stunning capabilities of the Kitchen Ninja -

And then we were able to lay our hands on not only the Ninja, but the Steam Mop, the Steamer, and several different versions of vacuum cleaners. We were allowed to select which products we wanted to try at home, and I picked the Ninja, the Steam Mop and a vacuum. All of which came very quickly!

And, you know what? I am impressed with the Ninja! I was really very skeptical, but it actually does what it claims - it blends things smoothly and cleanly. Ice shaves to a powder - especially great for mixed drinks - so say my friends who came over for a fight party. We use this product EVERY.SINGLE.DAY.  we make smoothies, chocolate milk, milk shakes, mixed drinks, coffee drinks - the double blades blend everything to a smooth and creamy consistency. My husband drinks the MOST disgusting combination every morning - skim milk, grape juice, carrots, spinach, banana, raw oatmeal, wheat germ, peanut butter - and it all blends to a consistency that is easy to get down.

Not so easy to look at, but whatever. The Ninja isn't a miracle worker.

I especially like that fact that the Ninja won't operate unless the lid is locked in place - which means that my kids are denied access to the double blades - an important safety feature that is vital with my special brand of curious kids. It also keeps the product off my ceiling. No, don't look up. Really. Don't. It's not pretty - I don't recommend whirring hot spaghetti sauce in your blender. Sigh.

The Ninja comes with a the 2-cup mixing bowl and a 48-ounce pitcher, Both the bowl and the pitcher come with lids, so it's easy to store them in the fridge right in those containers. The Ninja retails for about $50 and can be found in various retailers. I am happy to recommend this product!

Boiron Works. No, Really, It Does

I'm writing this post on behalf of Boiron and the OnetoOne Network. I was provided samples of their products - which I use anyway! - and a chosen entry will win a $250 Visa Gift Card. In the interest of full disclosure, I'd love to win a Visa Gift Card. All opinions in this blog post are my own.

One of the schools in my area was recently closed for two days due to overwhelming illness. More than 2/3 of the school was out. My high school senior informed me this morning that half of HIS school is out due to illness. Four of my six kids have asthma and all of them have allergies. To say that back to school time brings illness could be understating it just a little bit. Again I went over the details with my kids this morning:

• Wash your hands often. Use hand sanitizer whenever you can.
• Don't hug or kiss anyone - I know - I'm encouraging them to be unfriendly!
• Cough into your sleeve or down your shirt front
• TAKE your VITAMINS - my guys hate them
• Get enough sleep
• Eat your fruits and veggies!
• Keep your hands out of your nose and mouth

About 87% of that was ignored, I'm betting. I know my little ones heard the "hand sanitizer" part - that's their favorite thing!

When I was a new mother, I was introduced to the art of homeopathy - homeopathic medicines work to stimulate the body's own healing processes by using natural substances in micro-doses. It sounded like voodoo to me, and my hubby wasn't on board at all, but he became a believer the year he took the Oscillococcinum. I swear that stuff is magic. It's been part of my medical cabinet ever since.

I'm looking for safe ways to keep my kids healthy this cold and flu season. We did get flu shots and I'm thinking HARD about the H1-N1 shot - I think, due to the asthma, that we are going to get it. Other than cramming vitamins down their throats along with the veggies, and sending them to bed at a reasonable time, what are some other things that you find helpful in keeping your family healthy?

Evaporated Milk is a Winner in My House

This is a compensated review. To offset the cost of the groceries necessary to complete the review, I was supplied with a gift card as well as coupons for Carnation Evaporated Milk from the One2OneNetwork.

I've known about Carnation Evaporated Milk since I was in junior high Home Ec class. Evaporated milk is just fresh milk with half of the water removed to make it richer and creamier. To be honest, my most often use of evaporated milk is at the holidays, when I mix a can of evaporated milk with a can of pumpkin, an egg, some sugar and spices and make my very favorite dessert - Pumpkin Pie. (Yum - there just happens to be some in my fridge right now. Made with Evaporated milk, thank you very much. I think I'll go have a piece right now. Excuse me...) But I really haven't ever used it for other cooking, and I was asked to try it in place of milk, as well as to use evaporated milk in a savory recipe - because, after all, evaporated milk is not just a dessert ingredient. Evaporated milk is a Cooking Milk. It comes in full fat, low fat and skim, and all of it is interchangeable in cooking - to the benefit of my diet.

I was game.  After all, we are big milk drinkers. There are always a few gallons of milk around, but often when I am ready to cook, I find myself out of milk, or know that there's just enough for dinner that night. That's one reason I always try to keep evaporated milk in the house - it makes those dinner emergencies just a bit less frequent. I've often made a noodle packet and used evaporated milk, and it makes for a smooth and creamy side dish. In fact, I prefer it to regular milk - especially as it comes in a fat free version. Using regular skim milk makes a noodle type dish watery, but by substituting the evaporated milk, none of the creaminess of full fat cooking is lost and there's no additional fat added. It's truly genius cooking at it's best! But adding it to a noodle packet isn't really and truly cooking - and I was interested in seeing how well Carnation Evaporated Milk performed. 

Man, oh man, am I a believer in Carnation Evaporated Milk. I was sent a book of recipes, and from it I chose the Loaded Potato Potluck Favorite.  Basically a mashed potato casserole with cheese and bacon, it was gobbled up within minutes and the entire pan was scraped clean, with requests for more over the next three days. It's a must make recipe for Thanksgiving already, and my kids have added potatoes to the permanent grocery list just for this recipe. I used, again, the skim version, and it truly seemed as if I'd used heavy cream in the recipe - it was smooth and creamy.

I've become a firm believer in the magic that is Carnation Evaporated Milk - it truly is a good milk for cooking. Thanks so much for the opportunity, One2One and Carnation!