This Full House Reviews

HEALTHY HALLOWEEN SNACKS: California Raisin Spooky Spider Recipe

California Raisin Spooky Spiders

Halloween is just around the corner (no, my two youngest STILL don't have their costumes..DANGIT!) I like to cook, but often find it hard to fit in (don’t we all!) so, the good folks at California Raisins thought this might be a perfect time to send along a fun (and healthy) recipe that the kids and I could make together and, you know, get in the Halloween spirit.

Yes, it is THAT EASY!

Free Yoplait 50-Calorie Fiber One Yogurt Giveaway

In my never-ending battle to EAT HEALTHY, while attempting to CUT BACK and SAVE MORE MONEY grocery shopping -- I know, good luck with that one, right? -- I am very happy to partner with the good (and healthy) folks at Yoplait in helping to promote their new micro site and pass along an awesome chance to get some FREE FIBER ONE YOGURT in the fridge at your house, too!

The first 50 readers to click the widget above will receive the opportunity to sign-up to receive a coupon for A FREE 4-PACK of FIBER ONE YOGURT!

The widget also provides some pretty useful information, like:

• Weight management tips from best-selling author and food expert Lisa Lillien (a.k.a. Hungry Girl)
• Additional product information about Fiber One Yogurt
• A downloadable $1.00 off Fiber One Yogurt coupon

Personally, I could do with a little less guilt; how about you?  Hope this helps!

DISCLOSURE:  NO PAYMENT, PRODUCT OR ANY OTHER CONSIDERATION, BESIDES A CHANCE TO SHARE FREE PRODUCT & HELP FAMILIES (LIKE MINE) SAVE A LITTLE MONEY, WAS RECEIVED FOR THIS BLOG POST -- COURTESY OF CONE, INC. ON BEHALF OF YOPLAIT.COM.

[Please, clean off a chair and stay a while - subscribe to our feed or, if you really, really like me, then visit with me at my parenting blog and I'll love you forever!]

© 2009 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Yoplait Save Lids to Save Lives & Coupon

"One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer within her lifetime!"

To quote my two oldest girls:

"That just plain SUCKS!"

Since there is no cure, Yoplait and Dr. Kristi Funk, celebrity breast cancer surgeon, are raising awareness about the disease.

Watch what Dr. Funk has to say about joining the fight!

You too can make a difference when participating in Yoplait’s Save Lids to Save Lives:

Yoplait will donate 10 cents to Susan G. Komen for the Cure® for every pink lid sent in by December 31, 2009, up to $1.5 million, with a guaranteed donation of $500,000.

Here's how:

• Log on to YourLidMatters.com and start your own lid collection team.
• Print the coupon (above) and start collecting!

Why?  Because, cancer sucks and needs a good old fashioned virtual bitch-slap!

DISCLOSURE:  NO PAYMENT, PRODUCT OR ANY OTHER CONSIDERATION, BESIDES A CHANCE TO GIVE CANCER THE BITCH-SLAP IT DESERVES, WAS RECEIVED FOR THIS BLOG POST -- COURTESY OF GENERAL MILLS and YOPLAIT.COM.

[Please, clean off a chair and stay a while - subscribe to our feed or, if you really, really like me, then visit with me at my parenting blog and I'll love you forever!]

© 2009 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

Easy Cheesy Burger Casserole With a Twist and BIG BOX-O-KRAFT Giveaway

[CONGRATULATIONS, TAWNDA (#10 - 9/15/09) PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS!!!]

Congratulations, you just scored yourself a brand new fancy-type baking dish, now what are you going to do!?!?

Sure, I love to cook; when the moon is full, all the planets are aligned, tides are low and there's no soccer, or field hockey practice! 

"Raising 2 very active teens and 2 rambunctious tweens leaves very little room for fuss." 

At least, that's what I told the very nice people over at Kraft, when visiting their kitchens, where they were all, like, yeah, we've got kids, too. 

That's when I learned about the many cool new features on Kraft.com, like their budget-friendly recipes and cooking school, including how-to videos that even wannabe home chefs, like me, can follow.

I received a copy of Kraft Velveeta Crowd-Pleasing Recipes and a lovely Le Creuset 13 x 9 baking dish and Holy Hannah Montana, I've always dreamed of owning a piece from Le Creuset, but was never allowed to have one, since, you know, I break things, a lot.

So, I put them to the test -- I had about 15 minutes, in between field hockey and soccer practice, for a total of 30 minutes, to make dinner, last night, with stuff I already had at home, that my kids will, you know, actually eat. 

Ready...set...oh, wait...did I mention...there's this pesky little thing called work, too?

Eating Right Kids & Other Stuff Parents Can Do, Too!

It's no secret.  We are ALL trying to get our kids to eat better and almost everyone (and their mother) pretty much knows who Bugs Bunny is, right?

However, all 4 of my kids have about 20 minutes to eat their lunches (sometimes, including a quick dash outside for recess) and, taking into consideration that my youngest (she's 8) already 'fessed-up to swapping lunches, on more than one occasion, there's no guarantee that they will actually eat, what we packed for them, anyway.

Childhood obesity is no joke, I get that.  

Still, now that they're getting older, it can be difficult to find healthy options, when all they insist on eating is peanut butter (like, my 8 year-old daughter) or grape jelly sandwiches (like my 10 year-old son) if anything (like, my two teenage daughters) at all.

Let's face it, parents (like me) are just really tired -- seriously, we've graduated and become a two shopping cart family -- and some of us need some serious remedial help, too!

Enter, Bugs Bunny and Eating Right Kids, stage left!

Back to School $55.00 Savings Booklet From Kraft

Courtesy of Todd Rosenberg Photography

I was very excited to have been one of the bloggers invited to get a sneak peek into the Kraft Kitchens, last month -- actually, they knew we were coming and even made me wear an apron -- but, the best part (besides, the food) was being able to sit with the folks from Kraft and share quick, easy and healthy meal planning ideas for families, like mine.

It was nice to know that I am NOT the only one who has trouble in this area, or planning anything, in general, any more.

At our house?  Coupons are the new black and -- especially now, that we've had another unexpected yet major expense -- finding ways to save on food, which is one of our biggest expenses, is pretty much keeping us out of the red, at the moment.

So, I am very pleased to be able to continue the conversation and share the awesome stuff happening at Kraft.com!

Like, the Pack a Kraft Smile Savings Booklet and Calendar that the good folks at Kraft have put together.

It's a year-long savings booklet which they hope will help me and other families (like mine) save $55.00 throughout the school year!

The booklet is available online by registering at www.kraftbacktoschool.com.

[Note:  The offer is open while supplies last.  So, I registered this week.  When registering, you will be asked for your mailing address so that the booklet can be mailed directly to you and instructions said shipping can take 6 to 8 weeks.]

Why not get your dibs in, too?  Go ahead, I'll wait.

[No payments or products were received for this blog post, though my trip was paid for, I'm not under any obligation to write about stuff, you know, I don't want to.  Just passing along some information I find in my mailbox that you might like, too]

Check out other Weekend Specials and Reader Discount Codes

© 2009 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

WONKA Gummies: When Puckerooms and Sluggles Gummies Attack!

[COMMENTS ARE CLOSED: WILL BE SHARING THIS WITH ONE OF YOU, REALLY SOON!!!]

We love gummy-type stuff like bears, fruit, hot dogs, life-savers, penguins, sharks, teeth, worms and basically anything that can be molded into something totally gross-looking, like slugs!

So, when the kids found out that Wonka brand candies has a new collection of gummie candies that hit stores this summer, featuring Sluggles Gummies and Sour Puckerooms Gummies, well, they tore into them like mosquitoes on exposed, sweaty skin...nasty little blood-sucking-ankle-biters that they are -- I mean, the mosquitoes...not my kids!

Wanna see?

WeightWatchers.com: Sensible Foods - When all I really want is chocolate!

I recently entered a giveaway (yeah...I like getting stuff, too) and was announced as one of the winners in the NYC Moms Giveaway Contest - Weight Watchers Way to a Sensible You.  The box arrived and sat by our front door for a few days.

No, I wasn't in a rush to open it.

Why?

Oh, I was grateful to have won.  I needed a new scale and haven't had one in the house since, well, forever.  It's just that, you know, it was from Weight Watchers and "sensible" just doesn't taste as good as chocolate, right?

You'd be surprised - I was.

This Full House Giveaway #26: Pillsbury Savoring the Moment Gift Bags

[This giveaway has ended:  WE HAVE OUR WINNERS - Congratulations, Jamie Z and sandy!!!]

Hey, it's Friday [sound of trumpets] and, at our house, we celebrate the end of the work week with pizza and a movie - or, anything that doesn't involve cooking, really - while, my husband Garth (not his real name) and I savor the thought of NOT having to rush through the evening, or help anyone finish their homework!

[heavy sigh]

Yep, it's the quiet little moments (like tonight) that make parents (like us) a little happier and now, thanks to our generous friends at Pillsbury.com, you can bring happy hour home to your house AND in just 20 minutes, too!

This Full House Giveaway #9: It's A Fancy Nancy Sleepover

[Edited 6/18/08:  This giveaway has ended (thank you for participating) a winner has been drawn and announced on PRIZEYWinners!]

   
Meet Fancy Nancy by New York Times bestselling author Jane O'Connor and beautifully illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser from HarperCollins

When our oldest daughter was born, my husband and I thought we were ready for anything and everything there was to know about raising girls and - though, I still don't understand how it can be 14 years, already - today, I can say that I am truly certain of only one thing.

[cracks knuckles and striking a defensive pose]

That if her father ever does decide to allow her to date, before her 21st birthday, Thing One is lucky!

Still.

My youngest daughter is turning 7 next week and you won't believe what is on the top of her birthday list!

Nature Valley: The Nut Lovers Energy Bar With A Heart of Pink!

Raising four children in a busy house filled with schedules, reminders and yellow sticky notes posted on nearly every surface - free of dust bunnies and stickable, I mean - we are a family on the run and total snack enthusiasts!

With that said, having received two boxes of Nature Valley Roasted Nut Crunch to try, my enthusiasm was about to increase, exponentially!

Containing only six ingredients, each Nature Valley Roasted Nut Crunch Bar contains 7 grams of protein, 2 grams of fiber and no cholesterol and is the first brand to unveil nationally a "real nut bar."!

I received two choices - almond crunch, or peanut crunch - which is a good thing, because my two oldest like peanut and my two youngest prefer almond.

Me?

Unfortunately, I'll eat anything - especially, if I'm hungry enough - but, the slightly sweet flavor of the crunchy nuts made this a very satisfying snack. It travels well - fits in my purse AND jeans pocket - and doesn't crumb, like some other energy bars tend to, while I'm having breakfast...I mean...driving the car.

Sadly, they're ALL gone.

General Mills has always been a family favorite - my kids' schools have been collecting Box Tops, for years - but, this just makes me want to break out in little pink hearts:

"In addition to donating $2 million to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, General Mills, along with the help of TV personality and comedian Ellen DeGeneres, is introducing PinkTogether.com an ever-growing online community of support and hope that brings together those touched by breast cancer."

This is where people touched by breast cancer are invited to share their stories.

"Recognizing that it’s through the collective effort of many that together we will make a difference in the fight against breast cancer, General Mills will donate $1 for every story shared on PinkTogether.com, up to $100,000, through October 31, 2007. This is in addition to the original $2 million donation to Susan G. Komen for the Cure."

Healthy products manufactured by a Top Ten Company (via:  Working Mother) makes General Mills our new Full House Favorite - welcome to the family!

[Suggested retail price:  $3.39 for a 7.2 oz. box containing 6 bars.]