Christmas Cards with Shutterfly.com

For the past few years, Shutterfly has been my go to for all photo greeting cards. Their service is reliable, and they have the cutest designs. Oftentimes there are great coupon codes too, which really helps when it comes to holiday cards and Christmas cards.

This was my son's first birthday invitation, and to this day it is one of my favorites. I just love how it shows his growth over his first year of life.

This year Shutterfly has got some great Christmas Card options. They have some for every family ranging from classic to modern. Check out some of my favorites:

So I'm pretty sure this is going to be my Christmas card this year! (Sorry to ruin the surprise for all my friends and family!) I really like to have a religious Christmas card, and I love how this one is simple and classy. I also like the four photo option, so we can have a single photo of each or our babes and one family photo too! Plus I love the black and white photos with the black and white card, just beautiful!

I love this card! I really like how the photo is the background, which makes it feel very modern, but then it has the old-timey touches with the font and holly berries. I also like how the text block at the bottom is semi-transparent so it doesn't cover up the picture.

And here's another adorable one. I guess I just really love the simple clean cards. These cards really put the focus on the pictures, and for me that is what Christmas is really about, family. And personally, I use Christmas photo cards in scrapbooking, and often times frame them as well. So I appreciate when the card is mostly picture as opposed to a lot of text, and a smaller picture.

So tell me, what do you look for in a Christmas Card? Have you started thinking about your Christmas Cards yet? 

Do you want 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly? Click here to go to Shutterfly for information on how you can get 50 free cards this holiday season, and make sure to select Clever 1000 as the referral source.

This post is part of a series sponsored by Shutterfly. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

Pear Tree Greetings - Christmas Card Review and Thank You Card Giveaway! - CLOSED

This giveaway has ended.

I'm proud to be a Pearista and bring you the latest news and products from Pear Tree Greetings. Recently, Pear Tree Greetings sent me a sample of their Christmas cards, with hundreds of new designs just released for the 2010 Holiday Season. We purchase Christmas cards every year, and I love to order the photo Christmas cards to share with our family.

When I opened up my sample, the first thing that struck me was the quality of the paper the cards are printed on. It is a very heavy card stock, and just the feel of the cards is high end. According to Pear Tree Greetings, the paper is "heavy 100 lb Matte Card Stock, which is also 100% post-consumer recycled". I love that these cards are printed on recycled paper!

I also thought that each card they sent me was just beautiful. Not every design was something I would choose for myself, but every design was classy and modern.

Another special design element that I really like is that the folded card they sent me was decorated both on the front and on the back of the card. It really just makes the card feel much more expensive and unique.

Pear Tree Greetings is a company that I'm proud to represent. Everything they have sent me to sample has been high-quality and something I would definitely use. This is why I'm excited to bring you another giveaway from this great company!

This month's giveaway is a free set of personalized note cards (up to 16 cards) for one of my fabulous readers! These note cards can be used as thank you cards or make great gifts for hostesses, friends, family and beyond. You can choose from their beautiful line of Christmas Thank You Cards, or Thank You Cards for any occasion!

Just a few weekends ago, we went back to Nebraska for a friend's birthday party. Through the grapevine, I received a baby gift from a former student. Mind you, Clara was born in May, and this student has since graduated, so I was pleasantly surprised to recieve a gift from her in October! But, when I opened the gift not only was there an adorable onesie, but there was the best Thank You note I have ever received. This sweet student reminded me why I love teaching, and told me that my smile made her come to school each day and always cheered her up when she was feeling down. It continued on and by the end of the note I was bawling. The note is now sitting up on my jewlery box along with a Valentine's Day card I got from my hubby and a special note from my best friend, all special handwritten memories that I will keep forever.

Handwritten thank yous mean so much, especially in the world we live in today where everything is a click away. So, good luck my friends! I can't wait to hear how you're going to use your Pear Tree Greetings Thank You Cards!

Thanks to Pear Tree Greetings, one of you will get a set of Thank You Cards FREE! 

To enter, simply tell me the best thank you card you've ever received. That's it! Be sure to include your email address on your entry, so I can contact you when you win. 

This giveaway runs from October 17th to October 31st. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. A winner will be chosen using random.org. Make sure to include your email address with your comment so I can contact you once the giveaway has ended. Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. I was given sample products for review purposes only and was not compensated in any other way for this review. These opinions are my own. The prize will be shipped by Pear Tree Greetings and not by this blog.

Save Money and Reduce Your Carbon Footprint - Sodastream Review

When I first heard of the Sodastream machine, I knew this was something I had to try. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to review this product and share my experiences with you.

Sodastream is an at home soda machine, that allows you to make carbonated soda in a variety of flavors right in your own home! There are four components, the soda maker machine, flavors, bottles, and the carbonater. You use tap water straight from the faucet to make your soda, and you don't need a power source or batteries to use this machine.

I found that making the soda was incredibly simple. I must admit that when I opened the box, I was a little overwhelmed, but I was able to figure it out right away. You first add the designated amount of water to the bottle, then use the Sodastream machine to add carbonation, next add in the flavor of your choice, and it is ready to drink! I really love how it makes just a liter at a time, so you can enjoy different flavors often.

Sodastream has over 30 flavors and several options of soda types including Regular, Diet, Energy Drink, Sparkling Naturals, and "My Water".

When compared to other competitors in the soda market, you can see that SodaStream's sodas are a healthier option. I think it is amazing when you compare the amount of sodium in Coca-cola to the amount in SodaStream. I certainly feel much better giving SodaStream to my hubby, having this knowledge.

I love how you can save money, and save the environment with this product!

Here's What I Love About SodaStream:

1. No Trash - Here in Iowa, we have a can deposit. That means we recycle all of our cans, so we make sure to get our $.05 back per can. But, it can be a pain in the butt. I hate storing all of those cans in our garage until we find time to make the next trip to the store. I strongly believe in recycling, but even better than recycling cans is having no waste product at all!

2. Easy to Store - I really appreciate the extra fridge real estate I have without all of the soda cans taking up the shelves. It saves space not only in the refrigerator, but also in our garage, which is where we store our stockpile of soda. One bottle of mix makes 33 cans of soda, that frees up a ton of space!

3. It's fun! - I love having so many options for soda choices, and being able to change it up whenever I feel like it. My children are too young for soda, but I can imagine that pre-teens and older would love this.

4. Carbonation - You get to decide how much or how little carbonation you want in your soda. I love this, because I like really carbonated sodas and waters. It was really fun to be able to make it exactly how I wanted it.

Here's What I Would Change About SodaStream:

1. Splenda - All of SodaStream's mixes, both Regular and Diet, are made with at least some Splenda. I am sure this allows them to make a much healthier product than name brand sodas. I however, do not like Splenda.

Go here and check it out for yourself, their website is really well designed and you can easily find the answers to any questions you might have. 

I was given sample products for review purposes and was not compensated in any other way for this review. These opinions are completely my own.

A Complete Laundry System - Wonderball Review and Giveaway! - CLOSED

This giveaway has ended.

In my effort to find all things frugal, I have been scouring the Internet trying to find ways to cut down on laundry costs. With a family of five and two pets, we have a lot of laundry. Throw in the fact that I have two of the messiest eaters, and that all of my children generally wear at least two outfits a day because of food, poop, spit-up and the like we have a lot of really dirty laundry. We do try to rewear things, and I do most of our wash in cold water. I also use very little detergent because research says that you don't need nearly as much as the little lines tell you. But, I thought if I could totally cut out detergent and fabric softener, well then I'd be golden.

So in my efforts, I came across Mystic Wonders Inc. and their Complete Laundry System. It includes one Wonder Laundry Ball for the Washing Machine, and Two Wonder Dryer Balls to be used together in the dryer. Using this system is supposed to eliminate the need for both detergent and fabric softener.

From their website:

"The Wonder Ball works through physics. The frequency enhanced mineral blend within the ball creates an energy field when agitated in the machine. When this energy meets with the water, the water is in its best cleaning state. It is the water that does the cleaning. No detergent needed."

"Together in balance, the [dryer] balls keep your clothes separated. The nubs keep redistributing the heat; cutting drying time."

The Laundry ball is good for three years, and the dryer balls are good for a lifetime! I have had this product for some time because I really wanted to be able to give it a thorough and thoughtful review.

In the end I was really surprised at how well the Wonder Laundry Ball worked. I think it works great at really getting the clothes clean without detergent. I honestly had no problem with stains, and my clothes look really clean!

I especially recommend it for parents of infants, or families with allergies because using this Laundry System means that you don't have to use any kind of chemicals on your clothing.

But, the one concern I had is that while it worked great on stains and most odors, it did not get out my hubby's BO smell. My poor husband has had serious body odor problems his whole life, and it is a chore to ensure that he smells like Old Spice everyday and not something else. So, that is the one downside to the Washer Ball that I found, however I think there are many benefits that outweigh this one fault. And, I don't think it is a problem that most people have to deal with.

I LOVE the dryer balls. I was able to cut down our drying time by 1/3, which was not something I thought of in the beginning! So now, not only am I saving money on dryer sheets or fabric softener, but also on our electric bill too! The balls do make the dryer pretty noisy, and my laundry room shares a wall with my one-year old's bedroom, so I haven't been able to run the dryer during nap time. But, I don't care, these things are awesome.

Thanks to Mystic Wonders Inc., I get to offer one of you a Complete Laundry System of your own valued at $49.95! 

Please leave a separate comment for each entry, along with your email so I can contact you if you win!  

 
Mandatory Entry: Tell me why you want to win the Complete Laundry System!

Extra Entries:
1. Follow me using Google Friend Connect.
2. Visit Mystic Wonders' website and tell me one other product you would be interested in buying.

3. Like Frugal For My Friends on Facebook.
4. Enter one of my other giveaways listed on the right hand column of my blog.
 

This giveaway runs from October 12th to October 26th. This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canadian residents. A winner will be chosen using random.org. Make sure to include your email address with your comment so I can contact you once the giveaway has ended. Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. I was given sample products for review purposes and was not compensated in any other way for this review. These opinions are my own. The prize will be shipped by Mystic Wonders Inc. and not by this blog.

Zevia Soda Review and Giveaway - CLOSED

This giveaway has ended.

I'm just going to come out and say it, I'm addicted to Diet Coke. It's not like I haven't tried to kick the habit folks, I've gone through three pregnancies and several liturgical seasons where I purposefully gave up soda because I know how bad it is for me. Then, after the birth of my third darling, my gestational high blood pressure was no longer gestational...just high blood pressure. I knew that I had to start taking better care of myself. Giving up diet soda was going to have to happen.

I'm gonna be honest, I made it a few weeks without pop. But then, the being up all night and trying to take care of my three babes during the day was catching up with me. I didn't even necesarilly miss the caffeine, but the crisp sound of a can opening and the fizzy carbonation were calling me over to the dark side. I decided that I needed to be a big girl and put on my big girl pants, so I started looking for other options. There has to be a healthy soda, right? Right?

Well my dears, that is how I found Zevia. Zevia is made of all natural ingredients AND is diet! They use the natural sweetener stevia, and no artificial flavors and colors. Zevia is the only truly all natural zero calorie soda on the market. Aha, this is what I was looking for. Thrilled as I was when Zevia agreed to do a review and giveaway I was more than skeptical. Could they really replace the sweet though deadly nectar of the gods?

Well friends, they do deliver! I tried six of their seven flavors, and they are all pretty yummy. They do have a different taste than regular diet soda, but it is the taste of sweet life, not artificial sweeteners dragging your one foot into the grave. (Yes, I may exaggerate a little.) Anyway, it took me a few times to get used to the taste, but I really do like all of their flavors. My all time favorite is their Ginger Root Beer. It is soooo good, it has the bite of ginger and the yummy richness of root beer, and it hands down my new favorite root beer.

Zevia comes in Cola which is caffienated, and Dr. Zevia, Ginger Ale, Black Cherry, Orange, Twist, and Ginger Root Beer which are not caffienated.

And c'mon even Oprah endorses Zevia. In the September issue of O Magazine Oprah says, "You may try this Stevia-sweetened soda because it contains no calories, no sugar, no aftertaste, no artificial anything, but you'll stick with it because it's delicious." If you can't trust Oprah's opinion, really who can you trust?

Thanks to Zevia, I get to offer one of you a mixed six pack to try Zevia for yourselves! 

Please leave a separate comment for each entry, along with your email so I can contact you if you win!  

 
Mandatory Entry: Visit Zevia's website and tell me something you learned that is not mentioned in this review.

Extra Entries:
1. Follow me using Google Friend Connect.
2. Like Zevia on Facebook.

3. Follow Zevia on Twitter.

4. Like Frugal For My Friends on Facebook.
5. Vote for me here and leave a comment.

6. Follow So Sweet Designs, my lovely blog designer. 
 

This giveaway runs from September 23rd to October 7th. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. A winner will be chosen using random.org. Make sure to include your email address with your comment so I can contact you once the giveaway has ended. Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. I was given sample products for review purposes and was not compensated in any other way for this review. These opinions are my own. The prize will be shipped by Stevia and not by this blog.

No Throw Sippy Cup Tether - Review and Giveaway - CLOSED

This giveaway has ended.

You know the smell of that sippy cup of milk that was lost in your car for a week? Of course you do, because that smell burns a permanent sensory path in your brain. Unfortunately, it happens quite often in our home. One of the three throws a cup and momma can't reach it while she's driving, then by the time we get home all I care about is getting everyone in the house. Thus, the process of turning milk into cottage cheese begins...

Yes well, this hasn't happened since we received our No Throws! Two fabulous mommies came up with this idea, and it shows that it was made by moms in the know! Available in several prints and patterns that are great for boys and girls they also have gender neutral options.

One end of the No Throw attaches to your sippy cup or bottle and the other to your car seat, high chair, stroller, diaper bag, etc. I love it because when my kiddo drops his sippy cup and needs it in the middle of the car trip, he can pull it right back up! There's no more dripped milk all over my floor at dinner time either, because my sweet Rosie can't throw her cup any more. And best of all, we won't lose any more sippy cups out on stroller-rides when a sly babe throws it out when mommy isn't looking.

In myexperience it works on all varieties of sippy cup, but it works better on those that get slightly bigger toward the bottom unlike the one in my picture.

Thanks to No Throw, one of my readers will win a No Throw in their choice of color!

Please leave a separate comment for each entry, along with your email so I can contact you if you win!  

 
Mandatory Entry: Visit No Throw's website and tell me which one you will choose when you win!

Extra Entries:
1. Follow me using Google Friend Connect.
2. Tell me one of the places where you can purchase a No Throw.

3. Like Frugal For My Friends on Facebook.
4. Vote for me here and leave a comment.

5. Follow So Sweet Designs, my lovely blog designer. 
 

This giveaway runs from September 23rd to October 7th. This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canadian residents. A winner will be chosen using random.org. Make sure to include your email address with your comment so I can contact you once the giveaway has ended. Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. I was given sample products for review purposes and was not compensated in any other way for this review. These opinions are my own. The prize will be shipped by NoThrow and not by this blog.

Coupon Beat - Purchase Your Coupons Online ~ Giveaway - CLOSED

This giveaway has ended.

Have you ever purchased coupons online? I thought it was slightly crazy until I did it, and saved myself $30 on baby wipes! I was going to have to purchase the wipes no matter what, but by buying extra coupons online I saved a ton of money.

Coupon Beat is an online coupon clipping service. They cut the coupons, you buy them and save. Their coupons are shipped after payment, usually the same day as ordered. When you like them on facebook you get notice of special offers and discount codes. And coming soon, Coupon Beat will have an option to bid for coupons in their online auction.

Thanks to Coupon Beat, one of my money-savy readers will win a $5 gift code to Coupon Beat to purchase the coupons of their choice. It will also include free shipping and a few "HOT" coupons!

Please leave a separate comment for each entry, along with your email so I can contact you if you win!  

 
Mandatory Entry: Visit Coupon Beat's website and tell me one coupon that you will purchase with your gift code.

Extra Entries:
1. Follow me using Google Friend Connect.
2. Like Coupon Beat on Facebook.

3. Like Frugal For My Friends on Facebook.
4. Vote for me here and leave a comment.

5. Follow So Sweet Designs, my lovely blog designer. 
 

This giveaway runs from September 23rd to October 7th. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. A winner will be chosen using random.org. Make sure to include your email address with your comment so I can contact you once the giveaway has ended. Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. I was given sample products for review purposes and was not compensated in any other way for this review. These opinions are my own. The prize will be shipped by Coupon Beat and not by this blog.

Nachomamatees.com - Review and Giveaway - CLOSED

This giveaway has ended.

Nachomamatees.com is a website where you can get a variety of vintage shirts, 80's shirts, and just plain funny shirts. Check out the one I chose for my hubby:

For those of you out there that aren't Back to the Future Enthusiasts (like me), I hear that this shirt is very cool! You have to know that getting this shirt was like the highlight of his week. Seriously my 28 year old husband waits for me to do the laundry so that he can wear this shirt.

I like it because it is soft, and when I washed and dried it for the first time it didn't shrink or bleed. We ordered a size XL for my hubs, and it was sized perfectly. One of my pet peeves is when you order something in the size you wear and it is totally too small, but when we got a size XL it was really an XL.

Nachomamatees carries men and women's t-shirts, and here are some of my personal favorites!

Thanks to Nachomamatees.com one of my fabulous readers will get a $15 gift certificate to put toward a tee of your choosing!

Please leave a separate comment for each entry, along with your email so I can contact you if you win!  

 
Mandatory Entry: Become a facebook fan of Nachomamatees.com, through their parent company Crazydogtees.com.

Extra Entries:
1. Follow me using Google Friend Connect.
2. Post a comment on, or "Mark as Favorite" one of Nachomamatees.com's Flickr photos.
3. "Like" or "Share" on facebook one of the products on Nachoomamatees.com's website.  The buttons for these are on all product detail pages, above the main image.

4. Like Frugal For My Friends on Facebook.
5. Vote for me here and leave a comment.

6. Follow So Sweet Designs, my lovely blog designer. 
 

This giveaway runs from September 23rd to October 7th. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Winners cannot have won a shirt from Crazy Dog or have been sent a shirt for promotional purposes in the last 90 days. A winner will be chosen using random.org. Make sure to include your email address with your comment so I can contact you once the giveaway has ended. Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. I was given sample products for review purposes and was not compensated in any other way for this review. These opinions are my own. The prize will be shipped by Nachomamatees.com and not by this blog.

Frecklebox Personalized Gifts - Review and Giveaway - CLOSED

This giveaway has ended.

So maybe it's just me, but I'm obsessed with personalized everything for my kids. All three of them have their names on the wall, and my favorite baby gifts were the ones that incorporated my cutie patooties' names. I mean c'mon, you think about those names for at least nine months and then you precious one comes and you love the name even more.

Well obviously I'm not the only one, because Frecklebox has a huge selection of personalized items. From coloring books and stickers to lunch boxes and notebooks, they have something for every child, no matter the age of your "baby".

Frecklebox was kind enough to send me this beautiful personalized growth chart.

 They had such a big selection, that it was easy to find one that matched my little girls' room. The growth chart is made so well, and is heavy weight canvas. It, very obviously, will last a long time. The heavy wood dowels keep the growth chart straight, and I love how easy it is to hang up. I can't wait to make memories on every birthday with my sweet baby Clara. I remember how excited I used to be to mark my height every year on my birthday and see how much I had grown, and now I get to share that with her!

Ordering from Frecklebox was so easy, and the package shipped quickly and efficiently. My mailman was able to stick the package in my mailbox, which makes me very happy because our mailman has a bad habit of ringing the doorbell while my babies are sleeping.

Check out some of my other favorites from Frecklebox!

So here's the great part folks, Frecklebox is going to give one of you lovely readers your very own personalized gift! You can pick one item up to $40 to personalize for your favorite little one!

Please leave a separate comment for each entry, along with your email so I can contact you if you win!  

 
Mandatory Entry: Visit the Frecklebox website and tell me which item you would like to personalize and the name you are going to use.

Extra Entries:
1. Follow me using Google Friend Connect.
2. Like Frecklebox on Facebook.

3. Follow Frecklebox on Twitter.

4. Like Frugal For My Friends on Facebook.
5. Vote for me here and leave a comment.

6. Follow So Sweet Designs, my lovely blog designer. 
 

This giveaway runs from September 23rd to October 7th. This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canadian residents. The winner cannot have previously won a Frecklebox giveaway. A winner will be chosen using random.org. Make sure to include your email address with your comment so I can contact you once the giveaway has ended. Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. I was given a sample product for review purposes and was not compensated in any other way for this review. These opinions are my own. The prize will be shipped by Frecklebox and not by this blog.

Kidorable Review and Giveaway! - CLOSED

This giveaway has ended.

I have to admit, about some things I am selfish. And though it may be strange, I selfishly love gift-giving. I love to give people gifts that will top all others; items that will be the one thing they remember from their birthday. It makes me feel good to give just the right gift and this is why I love Kidorable.

Kidorable has rainwear, knitwear, and other items for children in the most adorable patterns you have ever seen. It is the kind of gift that moms and children will both love to receive. Their products are practical and fun!

They sent me a ladybug towel, dinosaur towel, and kitty rain coat to review. Something for all three of my kidorable babies.

My babies loved all three of these delightful items. All three are so well made.

Those towels will last as long as my kids want to use them, and I'll be able to pass them down to my sweet baby because I know they will still be in good condition. The towels are available in two sizes, Small for up to two years and Medium for 3-6. I love that I could get my big boy a big towel that would fit him for awhile. Both towels have a little snap under the chin that keep the kids covered and make the towel seem even more like a costume. My kids love them after baths and love to wear them running around the house too.

The "Lucky Cat" raincoat is so super cute. I like that it has the ears on top of the hood and it even came with a matching kitty hanger. Any little girl would love this coat, or any rain gear from their product line. I also love the "Space Hero" raincoat that has a hood which looks like a little astronaut's helmet!

All of their products are perfect for pretend play, but they are also very well-made, sensible items. I also love that they make several things in each line, so for example I could get matching rainboots and an umbrella all in the "Lucky Cat" design.

I think Kidorable is the perfect place to go when you need to buy a child's gift, especially if you like to be the talk of the party! Plus, their goal is to delight as many children as possible across the world, so when you  follow Kidorable on Twitter you can get a special code for a free umbrella!

Thanks to Kidorable, one of my lucky readers will win an umbrella of their choice!!

Please leave a separate comment for each entry, along with your email so I can contact you if you win!  

 
Mandatory Entry: Visit the Kidorable website and tell me which umbrella is your favorite!

Extra Entries:
1. Follow me using Google Friend Connect.
2. Like Kidorable on Facebook.

3. Follow Kidorable on Twitter.

4. Like Frugal For My Friends on Facebook. 
5. Enter the Tommee Tippee giveaway at and Potato Makes Three and leave a comment here saying you did. (2 Extra Entries)

6. Enter one of my other giveaways and leave a comment here for each one you enter. See the list on the right hand column of my blog. 

7. Sign up for Swagbucks using my referral link. (5 Extra Entries)
8. Vote for me here. (5 Extra Entries) 
 

This giveaway runs from September 10th to September 24th. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. A winner will be chosen using random.org. Make sure to include your email address with your comment so I can contact you once the giveaway has ended. Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. I was given sample products for review purposes and was not compensated in any other way for this review. These opinions are my own. The prize will be shipped by Kidorable and not by this blog.
 

Baby Diner Review and Giveaway ~ Two Winners!

I often dread meal time. It means preparing a meal that my kids aren't likely to eat, then wiping down my children, cleaning off the table, doing the dishes, and lastly washing the floor under the chairs that is now covered in whatever we had for dinner that day. In my search to make meal time less stressful and a little more pleasant, I found Baby Diner. I was encouraged when I read that Baby Diner was invented by two moms, if anybody knows about making products for my babes, it has to be moms who know what I am going through!

With Baby Diner you are able to use any plate, and have it actually stay on the table! I was skeptical, because I've tried the toddler plates and bowls that come with suction cups on the bottom, and they have never worked. I tell you, my children are nothing if not vigilant, so they work taking those plates off the table until they are successful.

The Baby Diner has two suction cups on bottom, and one on top that hold the plate to the Baby Diner and the Baby Diner to your table or any flat surface. You can use it on any flat surface whether it is rough or smooth, and with any type of plate or bowl. Best of all, you don't need to wash it after every use.

Here you can see my precious Rose bud starting her dinner. It always seems sweet and precious in the beginning...but, I knew once that food was gone, she would move on to the plate. She tried to pull, and she tried to push. She worked and worked, but that sucker would not budge. She eventually got it to slide a little, but that was it. Finally she tried biting the plate, just to see if that would help.

Eventually she gave in, which led to this look of frustration. I suppose it didn't help that Mommy had the giant grin of success on her face!

The Baby Diner, saved me time and allowed me to enjoy my food when it was still warm! My daughter eats better with the Baby Diner because the food doesn't go straight to the floor if she doesn't want it. The plate has to stay there in front of her, so she ends up trying some things that she wouldn't have before.

The Baby Diner is great for travel too, it fits easily in the diaper bag and doesn't take up much space! Now you can take your kids to restaurants and have a better chance at actually enjoying the experience. Plus, I'm sure that your server will appreciate not cleaning up tiny pieces of pizza off the floor!

I would definitely recommend the Baby Diner, it is really a great time-saving product for moms and their kiddos.

Thanks to Baby Diner, two of my lucky readers will receive a Baby Diner!

Please leave a separate comment for each entry, along with your email so I can contact you if you win!  

 
Mandatory Entry: Visit the Baby Diner website, and tell me where you can purchase their products.

Extra Entries:
1. Follow me using Google Friend Connect.
2. Like Baby Diner on facebook.

3. Follow Baby Diner on Twitter.

4. Enter one of my other giveaways and leave a comment here for each one you enter. See the list on the right hand column of my blog.
5. Sign up for Swagbucks using my referral link. (5 Extra Entries)
6. Vote for me here. (5 Extra Entries)
 

This giveaway runs from September 1st to September 15th. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. A winner will be chosen using random.org. Make sure to include your email address with your comment so I can contact you once the giveaway has ended. Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. I was given sample products for review purposes and was not compensated in any other way for this review. These opinions are my own. The prize will be shipped by Baby Diner and not by this blog.

Peeled Snacks - Review and Giveaway!

Always the snacker, I've been on the lookout for healthy foods that don't break the waistline. You know, now that I'm finally not pregnant I don't really have anybody else to blame for these extra pounds. Plus, I'm trying to instill better eating habits in my children than I have, so healthy snacking is a must no matter how much I want to eat that whole block of colby jack sitting in the fridge.

Peeled Snacks is a great way to sneak in healthy snacking. They sell organic dried fruits and nuts from sustainable farms with super-cute names like, Much-Ado-About-Mango and Cherry-Go-Round. Even Oprah says she snacks on Peeled Snacks, and really if we can't trust Oprah, what is the world coming to? We were sent Pine-4-Pineapple, Much-ado-about-Mango, and Banan-a-peel to review.

I was a little unsure, but when I tried them I was surprised at how strong the flavors were from the dried fruits. My favorite was the Much-Ado-About-Mango. I'm actually not a big Mango person at all, but in dried form it is super sweet and tropical. It was the perfect snack on a summer's day along with a handful of cashews.

My kiddos loved the bananas. Unlike other dried bananas that we've tried, these still had a little chew left in them so they were a lot easier for my kids to eat. My little Rosebud loves all three of the flavors and ate the Pine-4-Pineapple all on her own!

You can buy Peeled Snacks in Starbucks across the U.S. and Canada, and online!

Thanks to Peeled Snacks, one lucky reader will win the "Tropical Organic Mix" which contains 9 snacks: 3 each of pine-4-Pineapple, much-ado-about-Mango & Banan-a-peel!

Please leave a separate comment for each entry, along with your email so I can contact you if you win!

 
Mandatory Entry: Visit their website and tell me which fruit you think sounds the yummiest!

Extra Entries:
1. Follow me using Google Friend Connect.
2. Like Peeled Snacks on Facebook.

3. Follow Peeled Snacks on Twitter.

4. Enter one of my other giveaways and leave a comment here for each one you enter. See the list on the right hand column of my blog.

5. Like Frugal For My Friends on Facebook.  
6. Sign up for Swagbucks using my referral link. (5 Extra Entries)
 

This giveaway runs from August 24th to September 7th. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. A winner will be chosen using random.org. Make sure to include your email address with your comment so I can contact you once the giveaway has ended. Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. I was given sample products for review purposes and was not compensated in any other way for this review. These opinions are my own. The prize will be shipped by Peeled Snacks and not by this blog.

Amy's Organics Review & A Yummy Chicken Biscplosion Recipe

My mother recently became vegan....I know, right? It is something I could never do. Not that I would miss meat so much, but oh how I would miss dairy. However, she switched for medical reasons and is already feeling so much better. Watching her become a more healthy person has made we try to make more healthy food selections for my family that still fit into our budget. We don't have any dietary restrictions, but organic is something I am trying to encorporate.

Amy's Kitchen is an organic food company that has some of the yummiest enchiladas I have ever tasted. They specialize in frozen organic vegetarian meals for those who want to eat fast and healthy (hard to do)! They have gluten free and vegan meals as well. 

From their website:
"We didn’t set out to become the nation’s leading natural frozen food brand. All we wanted to do was create a business that would allow us to earn a living by providing convenient and tasty natural vegetarian meals for people like ourselves, who appreciated good food, but were often too busy to cook "from scratch."

So, what did I decide to try you ask? Well, I thought I would try some things that my family normally eats, but do them Amy's style. So, I left the store with a can of Organic Cream of Mushroom Soup and 2 Rice Crust Cheese Pizzas.

Here's what I made with that can of Cream of Mushroom Soup! The bubbling over let's you know it is DELICIOUS!

Chicken Casserole (Yeah, bad name)....How about....Chicken Biscplosion

1/2 Cup Chopped Celery

1/4 Cup Chopped Onion
1 Tbsp Butter
2 Cups Cut-up Cooked Chicken
1 Cup Grated Cheddar Cheese
Pillsbury Buttermilk Biscuits, Cut in Quarters
1 Can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1/2 Cup Milk
Some Sort Of Cruncy Topping - I used Crispix, you could use Potato Chips or French's Fried Onions, etc.

Saute celery and onion in the butter, (Yes, it has to be real butter!). In a greased casserole dish layer chicken, then shredded cheese. Add celery and onion mixture. Place biscuits cut in quarters on top. Simmer mushroom soup and milk. Pour over all and add crushed chips on top. Bake at 350 degrees, covered for 1 hour. 

P.S. - Use a 2 Qt. Casserole, or you may have some Biscplosion like I did!

So what does this have to do with Amy's. Well I did use their product to make a meat dish, but I think it added a ton of flavor!!! Their Cream of Mushroom Soup was the best canned product I have ever used, hands down. I personally hate mushrooms, and this did contain a lot of mushroom pieces, but in this casserole I didn't even notice. All I noticed was the creamy deliciousness that melted into the biscuits and created a very earthy flavor. Seriously, you have to try this. It seems so simple, but it was soooo good!

Finally, we tried their Rice Crust Pizza. I thought it was super yummy and I was very skeptical. My daughter and I had it for lunch one day, and I honestly thought the crust was better than any other frozen pizza I've had. It had a nice texture to it, instead of being just a cracker like crust as some other frozen pizzas can be. Also, my one year old daughter really loved it too. She still doesn't have very many teeth, and so table foods are hard for her. But, at the same time she really wants to eat what we are eating, so this was perfect. The crust is more mealy than other pizzas, so she was able to break it down with her gums as opposed to other pizzas. 

I would give both Amy's Kitchen products I tried a five star rating, and would recommend them to anyone! Plus, you have to try this recipe....so....good!

Newman's Own Organics - Review

Newman's Own Organics started in 1993 as part of Newman's Own, making pretzels as their first product. But, they have since grown into an independent company, making products ranging from snack foods to tea to balsamic vinegar and olive oil! They even have their own pet food line, sold in specialty pet stores and other health-food stores.

One thing I love in a company is charitable giving. The sale of all Newman’s Own Organics products generates money for the Newman’s Own Foundation, and Paul Newman and the Newman’s Own Foundation have donated more than $285 million dollars to educational and charitable organizations worldwide! That is some serious cash!

Check out the awesome review package they sent for me and my family to try. It was like Christmas morning when we opened the box. Just like children eying the loot under the tree, we wanted to open it all at once. Of course, the first thing I did was shoo my kiddos out when I saw the cookies and chocolate! And then, we broke open were those chocolate bars. So let me give you the break down of everything, here are my top 5 favorites:

1. Newman's Own Organics Protein Pretzels - So yes, these are tasty pretzels, but that is not why I am in LOVE with them. My two-year old son is such a picky eater, basically he survives on carbs and dairy. He eats absolutely no meat or beans, so when he wanted to snack on these pretzels I did a little jig. What a great way to get protein! I'm going to be buying these for the rest of my life.

2. Newman's Own Organics Newman-O's - Really, you HAVE to try these. They are better than Oreos, hands down! They are so good and so filling. Honestly I could sit and eat a bag of Oreos in a sitting, but I could only eat 3 or 4 of these because they are so rich, in deliciously evil way.




3. Newman's Own Organics Super Dark Chocolate (70% Cocoa) - I really like chocolate, but I'm not a huge fan of dark chocolate. However, this was the best dark chocolate I've ever had. It was smooth and rich, but not bitter like you might think super dark chocolate would be. I shared the bar with one of my girlfriends over a bottle of wine and I can tell you we had a very good night!

4. Newman's Own Organic Soy Crisps Barbecue Flavor - These were just plain good! My kids both loved them and so did I. Once again, I love that these have protein because they are made with soy. The flavor was a sweet barbecue that paired well with the crunchy cake. This was the second thing gone from our sampler package, even before the cookies!

  





5. Newman's Own Champion Chip Cookies, Chocolate Chip - Honestly, this is my new favorite packaged cookie. It sounds ridiculous, right? I can't help it, they are divine. There is something about the pairing of the sugar and chocolate they use that just makes it soooooo good. I ate one and thought, "oh, that is pretty good", ate two and thought "wow, these are yummy", ate three and thought "must eat cookies, nom, nom, nom". I didn't share this bag with anyone in my house. I think you would be very hard pressed to find another packaged cookie with the same flavor, organic or not!

I know it seems like I am over selling these products, but honestly, they really are that good! I'm a convert, and you will be too when you try any one of Newman's Own Organics products.

YoBaby Review and Giveaway! - CLOSED

This giveaway has ended.

So you may have heard by now that I have a picky eater, yes that's right, I recently posted how he just ate veggies for the first time in a year! Well, obviously I'm always looking for a way to get him to eat right. On the other hand, I have a little 16 month old wild child that eats everything. One thing they can agree on though, is their love for yogurt. They both devour it, and they also both love to smear it on the table, put it in their hair, and draw with it on their plate...but, I digress.

Since my kiddos love yogurt so much, I've been on the lookout for a product that incorporates veggies into yogurt. Before my son ate table food, I always mixed his veggie purees in with whole yogurt, it got him protein and he ate his vegetables too! Since then he has been introduced to fruit yogurt and so he will no longer eat the savory kind.

But, then I found YoBaby 3-in-1 meals yogurt!!! It is organic whole milk yogurt mixed with organic fruit and veggie purees and it comes in three yummy flavors.

Apple & Sweet Potato

Pear & Green Beans

Peach & Squash

So, I was very interested to see my kiddos' reactions. Rosie loved them! She gobbled them down like they were going out of style. Abe, not so much at first.  He knew something was up right away and wouldn't try it the first time I served it to him. The second time, he tried it and said he didn't like it. The third time I mixed it with a little bit of blueberry yogurt to change the color and then he gobbled it right up (it is all in his head). 

Here is my little Rosebud bypassing the spoon to scoop up the deliciousness with her hand.

Which means....this yogurt really is delicious and nutritious! What a great idea to combine fruit and veggies with yogurt. I really like that they have one variety with green veggies because that is the hardest for me to get in my kids. It was hard for me to find the meals at my local grocery stores. The only place I could find it was at Whole Foods, but I think it is worth the trip if it gets my kids proper nutrition.  Plus, YoBaby is totally natural and organic which is better for my family and the planet. In the past 11 years, Stoneyfield Organics has prevented the use of over 1 million treatments of animal synthetic drug treatments, and that is amazing!

So, one lucky reader will win a Yobaby prize pack, whoo hoo! 

The prize package includes:

 

• 1 Yobaby Tote Bag
• 1 Yobaby Travel Bowl with Lid
• 1 Yobaby Organic Cotton Bib
• 1 Eric Carle Growth Chart
• 3 Free Yobaby Coupons (Meals or Yogurt 4-Packs)

Please leave a separate comment for each entry, along with your email so I can contact you if you win!

 
Mandatory Entry: Tell me which flavor of YoBaby meal your family would like to try?

Extra Entries:
1. Follow me using Google Friend Connect.
2. Like Yo Baby Yogurt on Facebook.

3. Visit their website here, and tell me one reason why YoBaby is best for your little ones.

4. Enter one of my other giveaways and leave a comment here for each one you enter. See the list on the right hand column of my blog.
5. Sign up for Swagbucks using my referral link. (5 Extra Entries)
 

This giveaway runs from August 17th to August 31st. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. A winner will be chosen using random.org. Make sure to include your email address with your comment so I can contact you once the giveaway has ended. Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. I was given sample products for review purposes and was not compensated in any other way for this review. These opinions are my own. The prize will be shipped by YoBaby and not by this blog.