Betty Crocker Fruit Flavored Snacks Giveaway – Win One Give One Laptop!

My two kiddos love the great taste of Betty Crocker Fruit Flavored Snacks so they were very happy to see two boxes sitting on my door step given to me from Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark!  They have fun unrolling the fruit and munching down the sweet fruity treats.  I would much rather them reach for the gluten free Fruit Roll-Ups than candy and try to always keep a few boxes within their reach.   Now just by doing what they like to do best (snacking),  they have a chance to win a laptop and more importantly to help make a difference to a child in Africa.

With specially marked boxes of kid favorites – including Fruit Roll-Ups, Gushers, Fruit by the Foot, and Stickerz & Shapes – your child could win one laptop to keep and Betty Crocker Fruit Flavored Snacks will donate another to a child in Africa.

Each day from now through May 30, 2010, one laptop prize will be awarded to a U.S. winner. For every laptop won, one laptop will be donated to an African child through One Laptop per Child , an organization that creates educational opportunities for the world´s poorest children by providing each child with a rugged, low-cost, low-power connected laptop with content and software designed for collaborative, joyful, self-empowered learning. For your chance to win, simply enter the unique online code printed on participating Betty Crocker Fruit Flavored Snack packages on www.WinOneGiveOne.com.

GIVEAWAY

To enter the giveaway for the chance to win the Betty Crocker Fruit Flavored Snacks along with the $25 donation on your behalf,  please leave me a comment sharing  what you  have done to encourage your children to help others or what  your favorite experience has been with helping others.

Extra Entries

1. Mention the giveaway on your own blog linking back to this post and MyBlogSpark.  Leave an additional comment with a link to where you blogged about the giveaway. This is worth 10 extra entries.  Make sure you leave ten separate comments. (example blogged extra entry #1, blogged extra entry #2, blogged extra entry #3, ect…)

2.Place my button on your blog and then leave an additional comment with a link to the page where you put the button. If you already have my button leave a comment letting me know you already have it.

3. Follow my blog and leave me an additional comment. ( There is a little widget on my sidebar that shows my followers. Just click follow). If you already follow leave me a comment letting me know you already do.

4. Follow me on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway. Please make sure you leave the link where you tweeted in your comment. TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING I AM ALLOWING 1 TWEETS PER PERSON DAILY.  USE THE RETWEET BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST FOR EASY ENTRY.

5. Subscribe to my feed and leave a comment. If you already subscribe leave a comment telling me you are already a subscriber.

A winner will be chosen at random via Random.org. Upon notification the winner has 72 hours to send me their contact information.  Information will be forwarded to sponsor for prize fulfillment.

Open to US residents only 18+

The contest ends March 2,  11:59 PM eastern

FTC  disclosure :  In adherence to the  FTC   it  is necessary  to add when ever I receive any compensation in return for posting about a company or product.  Betty Crocker provided me with free product, information, and gift pack through the MyBlogSpark Team . No further compensation was received.    Even though a free product was received,  the opinions were of my own.

Chocolate Cheerios – A Perfect Touch Of Chocolate – Review, Recipe, and Giveaway!

Have you tried General Mills Chocolate Cheerios?  Each bite of the chocolaty goodness has a balance of healthy whole grain combined with a perfect touch of chocolate to delight your taste buds.  One yummy serving of Chocolate Cheerios has 9 grams of sugar,  at least 8 grams of whole grain, is low in fat, and is only 100 calories.   The cereal is a good source of calcium and vitamin D too!  Your kiddos will enjoy the sweet taste of real cocoa and you will love they are starting off their day with a delicious and nutritious breakfast.

General Mills (through MyBlogSpark) sent me a Chocolate Cheerios gift pack that including a box of Chocolate Cheerios, a chocolate scented spa kit, a ceramic cereal bowl, product information, and some suggested recipes.  I tried making the Chocolate Cheerios Marshmallow Hearts.  The recipe was fairly easy to make and a great snack to prepare for handing out on Valentines Day!  My suggestion is if you plan on trying this recipe is to make sure you have a very sharp heart shaped cookie cutter and to chill the mixture before you attempt to cut  it.  The only alterations I made to the recipe was to dust the Chocolate Cheerios Marshmallow Hearts with powdered sugar and I served them with a few slices of strawberries.  My daughter, son, and hubby thought they were incredible!  Here is the recipe…

Chocolate Cheerios Marshmallow Hearts

Prep Time: 30 Minutes
Start to Finish: 1 Hour 45 Minutes

Crust
1 cup Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
1 cup Chocolate Cheerios® cereal, crushed
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups miniature marshmallows

Topping
2/3 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 bag (11.5 ounces) milk chocolate chips
4 cups Chocolate Cheerios® cereal
Candy sprinkles, if desired

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Line bottom and sides of 13×9-inch pan with foil. In large bowl, mix all crust ingredients except marshmallows with electric mixer on low speed until crumbly. Press firmly into bottom of pan.
2. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove from oven. Immediately sprinkle with marshmallows. Return to oven; bake an additional 1 to 2 minutes or until marshmallows just begin to puff. Cool while preparing topping.
3. In large saucepan, place all topping ingredients except cereal and sprinkles. Heat over medium-low heat just until chips are melted and mixture is smooth, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in 4 cups cereal. Immediately spoon warm topping over marshmallows; spread to cover. Sprinkle with candy sprinkles. Cool completely, at least 1 hour.
4. Using foil to lift, remove mixture from pan; remove foil. With deep 2 1/2-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out 18 hearts. Store loosely covered.

*Diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease. Chocolate Cheerios cereal is low in fat, saturated fat free and naturally cholesterol free.

WIN WIN WIN

MyBlogSpark would like to give one of my readers a Chocolate Cheerios gift pack!  To enter the giveaway please leave me a comment sharing what your family does to start the day off with a smile.

Extra Entries

1. Mention the giveaway on your own blog linking back to this post and MyBlogSpark.  Leave an additional comment with a link to where you blogged about the giveaway. This is worth 10 extra entries.  Make sure you leave ten separate comments. (example blogged extra entry #1, blogged extra entry #2, blogged extra entry #3, ect…)

2.Place my button on your blog and then leave an additional comment with a link to the page where you put the button. If you already have my button leave a comment letting me know you already have it.

3. Follow my blog and leave me an additional comment. ( There is a little widget on my sidebar that shows my followers. Just click follow). If you already follow leave me a comment letting me know you already do.

4. Follow me on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway. Please make sure you leave the link where you tweeted in your comment. TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING I AM ALLOWING 1 TWEETS PER PERSON DAILY.  USE THE RETWEET BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST FOR EASY ENTRY.

5. Subscribe to my feed and leave a comment. If you already subscribe leave a comment telling me you are already a subscriber.

A winner will be chosen at random via Random.org. Upon notification the winner has 72 hours to send me their contact information.  Information will be forwarded to sponsor for prize fulfillment.

Open to US residents only 18+

The contest ends February 10th,  11:59 PM eastern

FTC  disclosure :  In adherence to the  FTC   it  is necessary  to add when ever I receive any compensation in return for posting about a company or product.  General Mills provided me with free product, information, and gift pack through the MyBlogSpark Team . No further compensation was received.    Even though a free product was received,  the opinions were of my own. *All product claims were directly taken from Chocolate Cheerios packaging.)

General Mills – A Healthy Breakfast And Savings!

Did you know cereal is one of the healthiest breakfast choices you can make? It is a nutrient- dense food that is packed with plenty of vitamins and minerals. Breakfast eaters who consume cereal tend to eat less fat, less cholesterol, and more fiber than noncereal eaters over the coarse of their day.   In fact data from the National Weight Control Registry showed that participants who ate breakfast had a likelihood of maintaining weight loss and a healthier body weight.

Cereal is a staple in my house and I always have a box of Cheerios or Lucky Charms in my pantry.   My finicky toddler is extremely difficult to get a balanced meal down him, but he will eagerly grab fists full of his favorite cereal and munch away without hesitation.   I know by him eating the cereal he is at least getting some key nutrients such as iron, vitamin A, zinc, and folate.  However, I have been concerned about the amount of sugar included in the cereal so I was happy to learn that General Mills has made a commitment to further reduce the sugar in cereals to kids under 12 to single digit grams of sugar per serving.  The company has already been reducing sugar in cereals while increasing essential nutrients, such as calcium and vitamin D, and providing whole grain.  This is great news to parents who love the benefits of quick ready-to-eat cereals, but don’t like the negative effects of  sugar on already overly active children.

Other cereal benefits:

• Ready-to-eat cereals, including presweetened cereals, account for only 5% of sugar in children´s diets.




• Ready-to-eat cereal is the No. 1 source of whole grains in a child´s diet today.




• More frequent cereal eaters tend to have healthier body weights and lower Body Mass Index measures.

Studies also demonstrate the benefits of eating breakfast. A 1998 study showed that children who eat breakfast tend to perform better at school. Compared to children who skip breakfast, children who eat breakfast score higher on tests, are less likely to miss class or be tardy, have fewer reported discipline problems, and make fewer trips to the office.

For more information about kids and cereals, please visit Cereal Health and Wellness.

SAVE!

Right now if you visit here you will find a $1 off coupon for one of four General Mills cereals!

Go here to sign up to receive $4 in coupons and the chance to win a free box of Cheerios!

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. MANY WILL ENTER, FEW WILL WIN. Open only to legal residents of the United States 18 years or older. Ends: 12/31/2010.

To enter and for Official Rules, including odds and prize description, visit www.BeginWithCheerios.com.

(Information provided  by General Mills (through MyBlogSpark).  Even though free product and information was received, my opinion was of my own.)

Progresso High Fiber Soup – Review and Giveaway

Are you getting enough fiber in your diet?  I know I’m not getting as much as I should be.  I need to be eating more plant foods and increase my daily fiber intake.

Why is high fiber diet so important?  A diet high in fiber has many health benefits, which include lowering blood cholesterol, controlling blood sugar levels, helps aid in weight loss, prevents constipation and lowers your risk of digestive conditions.

An easier and tastier way of getting more fiber is by eating Progresso’s new High Fiber soups.  The High Fiber line offers four delicious varieties that have 28% of the recommended Daily Value of fiber (7 grams) per serving and have no added MSG, or artificial flavors.  The new varieties include

Creamy Tomato Basil*

Hearty Vegetable Noodle*

Homestyle Minestrone*

Chicken Tuscany*

MyBlogSpark sent me a Progresso Chicken Tuscany soup sample to try .   The soup contained chunks of chicken and bits of carrots, celery, zucchini, onions, beans, and spinach.  The aroma was incredible and each bite tasted delicious.  It’s hard to believe the soup came out of a can and it had a nice homemade appeal to it.   I’m looking forward  to trying the other Progresso High Fiber soups!

Along with the soup I was also sent two really nice blue Progresso branded soup mugs and branded spoons which made eating the soup even more fun!

Progresso History

“Over 100 years ago, the business now known as Progresso Foods started. A young Sicilian, Vincent Taormina, first imported foods from Italy to meet the need for high-quality ingredients familiar to Italian-Americans. As more family members became involved and importing grew both in volume and locations, the business merged in 1927 to become the Progresso Italian Food Corporation and the Progresso label was born. It is now part of General Mills and continues to adhere to the original premise of providing high quality food ingredients at a reasonable price for the discerning home cook.”

(FTC  disclosure :  In adherence to the recent FTC changes pertaining to blogger product reviews and sponsored postings  it  is necessary  to add when ever I receive any compensation in return for posting about a company or product.  I received the free product, information, and prize pack through MyBlogSpark Team. No further compensation was received.  Even though free products were received,  the opinions were of my own. )

* Pictures borrowed from Progressosoup.com and MyBlogSpark

GIVEAWAY

The MyBlogSpark team has set aside a Progresso prize pack  (see photo above) to give to one of my readers.  To enter the giveaway please leave me a comment telling me how you try to incorporate more fiber into your diet.

Extra Entries

1.Mention the giveaway on your own blog linking back to this post and MyBlogSpark.  Leave an additional comment with a link to where you blogged about the giveaway. This is worth 10 extra entries.  Make sure you leave ten separate comments. (example blogged extra entry #1, blogged extra entry #2, blogged extra entry #3, ect…)

2.Place my button on your blog and then leave an additional comment with a link to the page where you put the button. If you already have my button leave a comment letting me know you already have it.

3. Follow my blog and leave me an additional comment. ( There is a little widget on my sidebar that shows my followers. Just click follow). If you already follow leave me a comment letting me know you already do.

4. Follow me on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway. Please make sure you leave the link where you tweeted in your comment. TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING I AM ALLOWING 1 TWEETS PER PERSON DAILY.  USE THE RETWEET BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST FOR EASY ENTRY.

5. Subscribe to my feed and leave a comment. If you already subscribe leave a comment telling me you are already a subscriber.

6. Facebook, Digg, or Technorati this post and leave me TWO extra comments. ( At the bottom of this post you should see a bookmark button to make this an easy option.)

7.  Enter any of my other giveaways.  Leave me a comment telling me which giveaway you entered.  The giveaway must be still active in order to gain an extra entry.

Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters Review and Giveaway!

You know how I LOVE granola and nuts right? Well MyBlogSpark sent me all four varieties of the Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters to taste. The bite size treats are a blend of %100 natural ingredients that include roasted nuts, whole grain oats, and a touch of honey for the perfect amount of sweetness. YUMMY! The snacks have a mouth watering sweet & salty combination with a delightful crunchy texture and come in an easy to grab 5 -ounce re-sealable pouch. The little bits of nature are a great wholesome pick me up during the day and ideal to place in a backpack to bring along during hiking, shopping trips, or when ever hunger might strike!

Varieties

The four Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters flavors include…

(description directly quoted from packaging)

Nut Lovers

Imagine a lightly sweet, yet salty, combination of roasted pecans, cashews and peanuts gently rolled in Nature Valley granola and a touch of honey. It’s a taste of nature, one delicious bite at a time.

Ingredients:

Roasted Peanuts Cashews Roasted in Safflower Oil, Sugar, Whole Grain Oats, Pecans Roasted in Safflower Oil, Rice Flour, Canola Oil, Soy Protein Concentrate, Tapioca Syrup, Honey, Salt, Natural Flavor, Rice Maltodextrin, Baking Soda, Almond Flour.

Roasted Almond

Imagine a lightly sweet, yet salty, combination of roasted almonds gently rolled in Nature Valley granola and a touch of honey. It’s a taste of nature, one delicious bite at a time.

Ingredients:

Roasted Almonds, Whole Grain Oats, Sugar, Rice Flour, Canola Oil, Soy Protein Concentrate, Tapioca Syrup, Honey, Salt, Natural Flavor, Baking Soda, Rice, Maltodextrin, Nut Flour (Pecan, Cashew, Peanut).

Roasted Cashew

Imagine a lightly sweet, yet salty, combination of roasted cashews gently rolled in Nature Valley granola and a touch of honey. It’s a taste of nature, one delicious bite at a time.

Ingredients:

Cashews Roasted in Safflower Oil, Whole Grain Oats, Sugar, Rice Flour, Canola Oil, Soy Protein Concentrate, Tapioca Syrup, Honey, Salt, Natural Flavor, Baking Soda, Rice Maltodextrin, Nut Flour (Pecan, Almond, Peanut).

Honey Roasted Peanut

Imagine a lightly sweet, yet salty, combination of honey roasted peanuts gently rolled in Nature Valley granola and a touch of honey. It’s a taste of nature, one delicious bite at a time.

Ingredients:

Honey Roasted Peanuts (Peanuts, Peanut and/or Cottonseed Oil, Fructose, Salt, Sugar, Refiners Syrup, Honey, Xanthan Gum), Sugar, Whole Grain Oats, Rice Flour, Canola Oil, Soy Protein Concentrate, Tapioca Syrup, Honey, Salt, Natural Flavor, Baking Soda, Rice Maltodextrin, Nut Flour (Pecan, Almond, Peanut)

WIN WIN WIN

MyBlogSpark is generously  giving one A Happy Hippy Mom reader a cool Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters “Snack Pack” prize pack that includes;

1.  All four 4 varieties of the Granola Nut Clusters

2.  Sling backpack

3.  Stainless steel water bottle

4.  Flashlight

5.  Binoculars

To enter the giveaway leave me a comment telling me some of your favorite elements of nature.

Extra Entries

1.Mention the giveaway on your own blog linking back to this post and MyBlogSpark.  Leave an additional comment with a link to where you blogged about the giveaway. This is worth 10 extra entries.  Make sure you leave ten separate comments. (example blogged extra entry #1, blogged extra entry #2, blogged extra entry #3, ect…)

2.Place my button on your blog and then leave an additional comment with a link to the page where you put the button. If you already have my button leave a comment letting me know you already have it.

3. Follow my blog and leave me an additional comment. ( There is a little widget on my sidebar that shows my followers. Just click follow). If you already follow leave me a comment letting me know you already do.

4. Follow me on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway. Please make sure you leave the link where you tweeted in your comment. TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING I AM ALLOWING 50 TWEETS PER PERSON.  USE THE RETWEET BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST FOR EASY ENTRY.

5. Subscribe to my feed and leave a comment. If you already subscribe leave a comment telling me you are already a subscriber.

6. Facebook, Digg, or Technorati this post and leave me TWO extra comments. ( At the bottom of this post you should see a bookmark button to make this an easy option.)

7.  Enter any of my other giveaways.  Leave me a comment telling me which giveaway you entered.  The giveaway must be still active in order to gain an extra entry.

NEW Febreze Home Collection-Sprucing Up Your Home With Premium Scents- Review and $20 Walmart GC Giveaway!

Have you tried the new Febreze Home Collection products yet? Thanks to Febreze and MyBlogSpark,  I was recently able to try several products of the new modern  collection.   I received a fantastic kit which included a packet with product information and images,  Green Tea & Citrus Flameless Luminary, three refill shades, Green Tea & Citrus Soy Blend Candle,  canister of Green Tea & Citrus Room Spray, and a Green Tea & Citrus Diffuser.

About the Febreze Home Collection Products

The Febreze Home Collection gives your home a refreshing atmosphere with its inspirational modern designs and unique premium scents.  Freshen your room with the herbal earthy and soothing scent of the Green Tea Citrus,

the invigorating fruity wholesome fragrances of the Pomegranate Mango

and tart Cranberry Pear,

or add a breath of fresh air with the gentle aroma of the Willow Blossom.

No matter what you choose, the Flameless Luminaries, Soy Blend Candles, Scented Reed Diffusers, or room sprays, the Febreze Home Collection will refresh your home and  welcome you with an enjoyable aromatic ambiance.

The Febreze Home Collection Flameless Luminary.

The Flameless Luminary happens to be my favorite product out  of the Febreze Home Collection.  It is powered by two batteries and the soft, flickering light automatically turns off after 4 hours. The Luminary has a wooden base and you simply change the shade to match your room decor or mood.  The manufacture recommends to change the shade weekly to refresh the scent.

I have a mischievous toddler running around who gets into EVERYTHING. The Flameless Luminary is much safer to have around him than a hot waxy candle.  I love that I can still get the feel of a warm inviting candle burning without the actual flame.

The Febreze Home Collection Scented Reed Diffuser.

The scented reed diffuser adds a fabulous stylish flare to a room and keeps an area fresh for up to 60 days.  The diffuser comes with 10 slender rattan reeds which absorb the scented oil and releases the fragrance into the air.

I placed the reed diffuser in my foyer to make a good first impression of my home.  The delightful crisp Green Tea Citrus welcomes my guests as they walk through my front door.

Febreze Home Collection Soy Blend Candle

The soy blend candle is slow-burning and lasts for 30 to 40 hours.  As the candle burns, the scented oils in the soy blend release their fragrance into the air giving a “premium scent experience.”   It comes with a nice wooden lid which also works as a decorative base for the candle.

I’m using the candle in my kitchen to freshen the room from the lingering smell of my cooking.  Fish has a way of staying around for a while after cooking it and the candle takes away the odor. Plus, the soft glow of the candle looks beautiful displayed on my counter.

Febreze Home Collection Room Spray

With a few simple sprays you can enjoy the Febreze Home Collection premium scents in each room.  The Room Spray is easy to use and has a decorative stylish canister.

I know you may think this is to much information, but I have the Room Spray stored on the back of my commode.  This way after someone uses the bathroom they can easily refresh the room with a few spritz of the spray.

For more tips on how you can use the Febreze Home Collection to enhance your home check out www.walmart.com/febrezehomecollection .

(This product review was based on using complimentary Febreze Home Collection products provided by P&G. P&G does not represent or warrant the accuracy of any statements or product claims made here, nor does it endorse any opinions expressed within this blogsite.)

Product  claims are based upon manufacturer product descriptions.  The opinions expressed in this review are of my own.  Other than the complimentary products for testing, no further compensation was received.

Win Win Win

MyBlogSpark also sent me a $20 Walmart GC to give away so one of my readers can purchase and try the new Febreze Home Collection.  To enter the giveaway leave me a comment on how you would use the Febreze Home Collection to spruce up a room.

Extra Entries

1.Mention the giveaway on your own blog linking back to this post and Febreze.  Leave an additional comment with a link to where you blogged about the giveaway. This is worth 10 extra entries.  Make sure you leave ten separate comments. (example blogged extra entry #1, blogged extra entry #2, blogged extra entry #3, ect…)

2.Place my button on your blog and then leave an additional comment with a link to the page where you put the button. If you already have my button leave a comment letting me know you already have it.

3. Follow my blog and leave me an additional comment. ( There is a little widget on my sidebar that shows my followers. Just click follow). If you already follow leave me a comment letting me know you already do.

4. Follow me on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway. Please make sure you leave the link where you tweeted in your comment. TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING I AM ALLOWING 50 TWEETS PER PERSON.  USE THE RETWEET BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST FOR EASY ENTRY.

5. Subscribe to my feed and leave a comment. If you already subscribe leave a comment telling me you are already a subscriber.

6. Facebook, Digg, or Technorati this post and leave me TWO extra comments. ( At the bottom of this post you should see a bookmark button to make this an easy option.)

7.  Enter any of my other giveaways.  Leave me a comment telling me which giveaway you entered.  The giveaway must be still active in order to gain an extra entry.

Wanchai Ferry Winner

The winning results to the Wanchai Ferry Giveaway are…

Congrats to Joie!  Please respond to my email within 72 hours to claim your prize.  Thank you to MyBlogSpark and Wanchai Ferry for sponsoring the giveaway and to all the readers who entered!M