Star Wars pens in specially marked packages of GM Cereals (giveaway) #myblogspark

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace premieres in theatres in 3D!  This is a film that will appeal to the younger generation, as well us older folks.  Remember, we actually saw Star Wars in reverse, with Episodes 4 - 6 coming out in the late 70s and early 80s, with the Episode 1 not actually not released until the late 1990s.  Some would disagree, but isn't technology great?   You can check out the trailer here.

To celebrate the release of Star Wars in 3D, General Mills' participating cereal products will feature eight character pens.  You will want to collect them all!  I know my son will be begging me to buy cereal with these pens on the front of the box so he can own them all.  Look for Anakin Skywalker, Obi Wan Kenobi, Queen Amidala, Yoda, R2D2, C3PO, Jar Jar Binks, and Darth Maul in specially marked packages of:

• Cinnamon Toast Crunch® (12.8 oz.)
• Lucky Charms®(11.5 oz.) 
• Reese´s® Puffs (13 oz.)
• Cheerios® (14 oz.)
• Cookie Crisp® (11.25 oz) 

My son just loves Star Wars and I know that he would enjoy going to the movies to see this with his dad (a Star Wars fan from way back).  The kids both want the pens, so I guess I'll be buying a lot of cereal!

Get some!  Look in your store's cereal aisle for specially marked participating Big G brands that have these special edition pens inside.   I saw some packages at my local Walmart.

Win it!  You know you want to win an awesome prize pack containing...

Your prize pack will contain:
• 2 Boxes of Big G cereal (products shown are indicative of participating products; you may receive different cereal than pictured above)
• 4 Star Wars character pens 
• Star Wars sticker sheet
• Star Wars magnets

Disclosure:  Prize pack, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark
 
Here's what you need to do to enter!

Gevalia now available at Safeway (review, plus giveaway!) #MyBlogSpark

My husband is the coffee drinker in our house.  I like to pick up different brews for him to try because sometimes you just need a little variety.  My parents always had the same coffee growing up --- you know, that brand in a blue can -- and I bet they would have enjoyed something different every now and then.  Gevalia, a premium Swedish coffee, used to be available online only... but it is now available at Safeways!  Yes, this is the same Gevalia that has been blending it's extra fine ground Arabica beans from around the world since 1853.  It's top ten varieties will be available at Safeways, such blends will include round and ground, whole bean, flavored, and even decaf. 

Here's a list, as described by Gevalia, so you can scout out your favorite blend to try the next time you shop at Safeway:

• Gevalia Traditional Roast (ground and whole bean):
  Gevalia Traditional Roast provides a perfectly balanced taste every time. Our most beloved blend – made of choice, mountain-grown Arabica beans – this coffee has a distinctive body and flavor with a lighter intensity. (Medium Roast).
  
  
• Gevalia House Blend:
  A Gevalia favorite, House Blend is a robust yet never bitter coffee. This roast has a captivating aroma that is only matched by its exceptional flavor. (Medium/Dark Roast).
  
  
• Gevalia House Blend Decaf :
  Delivering the same rich, never bitter flavor, House Blend Decaf has the same robust taste without all the caffeine. (Medium/Dark Roast).
  
  
• Gevalia French Roast (ground and whole bean):
  Gevalia French Roast is a coffee of impressive richness and dimension, expertly crafted from prized Arabica beans grown in Colombia and Brazil. Hints of aromatic smoke give this dark-roasted French Roast blend an intense, yet uniquely satisfying flavor. (Dark Roast).
  
  
• Gevalia Colombia:
  Grown high in the Colombian Andes, these beans produce a rich, bright and well-bodied Colombian coffee. This single origin classic is world-renowned, which is why we have sourced these beans for decades. (Medium Roast).
  
  
• Gevalia Espresso Roast:
  Gevalia Espresso Roast is made of premium, mountain-grown Arabica beans from East Africa and Central and South America. This roast is bold and full-bodied with a hint of caramel undertones. (Dark Roast).
  
  
• Gevalia Vanilla:
  This rich blend with vanilla flavor notes is crafted from choice mountain-grown Arabica beans, then roasted for exceptional body and flavor. Gevalia Vanilla is a flavorful and balanced experience with a heavenly aroma.
  
  
• Gevalia Chocolate Mocha:
  Gevalia Chocolate Mocha allows you to indulge your passion for decadent flavor. Rich, velvety chocolate flavor is blended with mountain-grown Arabica beans for a sweetly satisfying experience.

Kraft, via MyBlogSpark, provided me with Gevalia's ground House Blend (med/dark) and Gevalia's French Roast (dark).  Of the two blends, he liked the House Blend best.  He doesn't like dark coffee as much and preferred the House Blend, calling it "pretty smooth" and said that it "had a nice flavor" and tasted "very good".   

We followed the directions on the bags and it made a strong cup of coffee.  After we cut back almost by half, he found the House Blend to taste a lot more to his liking.  It was a little strong following the suggested directions (those Swedes must like a stiff cup of joe!).  So definitely tweak how much coffee you use to suit your taste.

Giveaway!  Win a Gevalia prize pack... check out this picture.

• (1) sample of the House Blend from Gevalia Kaffe
• (1) sample of the French Roast Blend from Gevalia Kaffe
• A Gevalia Kaffe branded coffee mug

{Bubbles of Love} Ocean Spray Fruit Snacks Giveaway #BlogPop #MyBlogSpark

  

I know what you're thinking.... what do fruit flavored snacks have to do with Valentine's Day?  This is actually a kid-centric giveaway and I hope you enjoy learning more about Ocean Spray Fruit Snacks and why they'd make a good snack choice for your child's Valentine's Day party.

Some quick facts...

• Ocean Spray fruit flavored snacks are made with real fruit juices (apple, pear, and cranberry juice) and natural colors and flavors.  I personally read labels and was excited to see this information.  As someone sensitive to food dye (Blue 1), I also know that a surprising number of my friends do what they can to avoid red food dye in their child's diet.  If natural colorings are important to you, check these out!

• They're gluten free.  This is something I also look for and I do know a child who has that double whammy of no red food dye and needing food to be gluten free.  These are a perfect fit for a snack for her.  

• Ocean Spray fruit flavored snacks are just 80 calories and contain 100% of the Daily Value of Vitamin C.

• They are a BTFE participating product and are available year round with double boxtops!

Save with a coupon
Click here to download a printable coupon for $1.10 off of the purchase of (2) Ocean Spray^® Fruit Flavored snacks. 


What did we think of the taste?


I love these snacks and I have been eating them just as often as the kids have.  I thought with them being an Ocean Spray brand that they might be tart, like a cranberry.  But this isn't the case.  These are sweet to taste.  Of the two varieties I was sent to sample, I liked the Berries and Cherries the best.  The other variety, Assorted Fruit, was tasty, but I liked the cherry taste of the other kind just a little more.


Win some!


There will be four winners for this contest!  Each winner will receive...

6 boxes (3 of each variety) of Ocean Spray^® Fruit Flavored Snacks

This giveaway will run through January 27, 2012 at 11:59 PM Eastern time.  The winner shall be chosen via Random.org on or about January 28, 2012.  Winner will have 48 hours to respond to an email from me asking for shipping information.  If winner does not respond within that time frame, I must choose a different winner.  Therefore, it is imperative that you ensure that you leave your email address a comment (preferably the mandatory comment) or ensure that your Blogger profile has your email visible to me.  Giveaway is open to US residents, 18 years and older.  Void where prohibited.

Mandatory entry:  Leave a comment telling me which variety of Ocean Spray's Fruit Flavored Snacks you'd try first:  Berries and Cherries or Assorted Fruit.

Extra entries:   Each action is an entry, so be sure to leave a comment for each separate item below.  Remember, if you've already friended/followed, just let me know in a comment.  Pinching Abe appreciates all her followers whether new or old!  Extra entries only count if the mandatory entry is completed.

• Like Making Ends Meet on Facebook 

• Follow me on Twitter

• Follow Blog POP! on Facebook

• Follow the Blog Pop! blogs (right side bar) --- Each blog you follow on GFC is worth an entry!  Maximize your entries by following them all.   

• Subscribe via email (right side bar)

• Daily Entry:  Tweet this giveaway out and/or share it with your friends on Facebook.  Sharing tools are below.  You can tweet (or retweet)/share one time per day; just be sure to leave a separate comment for each day you share and leave me a link to your share/tweet if possible.

• Be my Google Friend  (right side bar)

• Enter Dad of Diva's Ocean Spray Fruit Flavored Snacks giveaway and then come back and leave me a comment letting me know you entered at his blog.

Disclosure: Ocean Spray^® Fruit Flavored Snacks, information, and giveaway have been provided by Ocean Spray^® through MyBlogSpark.

Blog POP!, nor the blog hosting is responsible for lost, unclaimed, or undelivered prizes. The hosting blog will do everything possible to ensure the prize is transferred and received in a timely manner.

As required by the FTC: I received no monetary compensation for this post. I received product samples to facilitate my post. All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

Printable Coupon: $1 off one package of Yoplait Frozen Smoothies #myblogspark

Here's a new printable coupon:  $1 off one package of Yoplait Frozen Smoothies.  They have a new flavor, Chocolate Banana.  

*This coupon offer is not valid in the following states: including California, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota and Tennessee. 

Thanks to Yoplait through MyBlogSpark for allowing me to share this coupon offer with my readers.

A Chex Party Mix-change for the Holidays, plus giveaway! ($20 debit card + more) #MyBlogSpark

I'll admit it, I'm a bit of a wall flower.  I typically shy away from parties (particularly hosting one), mainly because I don't feel I am a good hostess.  Call it lack of perceived culinary skills, but I don't want to disappoint friends with my food.  That honor is solely reserved for family!  Plus, I have some odd food allergies and that can make entertaining a bit hard at times too.  However, I did accept a party assignment for Chex, via MyBlogSpark.  They have many cereals that are gluten free, thus allowing me the ability to make a gluten free snack that I can enjoy with everyone else too.  As it happened, I had the chance to host a party at my sister's house.  We gathered there after my mom's memorial service, and I know my mom would want us to get in the holiday spirit because she always loved Christmas best of all the holidays.  I secured the OK for providing snacks and made these goodies with a little help from my twin sister and some photo assistance from my 10 year old daughter.


I received two boxes of Chex, plus a $20 debit card to help buy some of the ingredients that I would need.  I sent hubby on this errand, and, well, he did forget the M&Ms, but I still think the two mixes I made turned out great.  My twin sister texted me on her way back to Maryland that they were enjoying the caramel Chex in their car on the long ride back.

These pictures above show me melting caramel.  I was able to do it in the microwave, a huge plus when you're using someone else's kitchen.  My hubby couldn't find actual caramel squares, but he did find some round caramel pieces, and they worked perfectly for the Caramel and Chocolate drizzles recipe I used.  I did have some issues with the chocolate chips not melting perfectly for drizzling, so I had a chocolate paste at the end.  That was disappointing, but I did manage to smear it on some Chex and it still tasted good.

These are pictures of the chocolate and peanut butter Chex mix that I made called Chex PB and Chocolate Blast.  This was the recipe that asked for M&Ms, and I do wish we'd have had them to toss into the mix.  The choco/peanut butter Chex Mix included some salted peanuts too and was the mix my hubby liked best, but he's a peanut butter lover to the extreme.

Find these holiday recipes I used and more at the Chex Party Mix-Change Website. I think I'll try the Chex Pumpkin Pie Mix next.  If you're involved with a holiday cookie exchange, there are lots of Chex Mix recipes to use or to adapt for some cookies of your own.  Even better, get your friends together and invite everyone to make a different recipe to exchange instead of exchanging cookies. 

One lucky Making Ends Meet reader will win a Chex prize pack, which includes the items pictured above, plus a $20 debit card to purchase ingredients.  Included are a box of Rice Chex, box of Corn Chex, a $20 debit card, recipe cards, and Chex Party Mix containers to send home with your guests so that they can enjoy the Chex Mix you prepare at home too.

This giveaway runs through 12/19/2011 at 11:59 PM Eastern time with the winner drawn via Random.org on or about 12/20/2011.  Winner shall have 48 hours to provide information.  If winner does fails to respond within that time frame, a different winner shall be chosen.  Please leave your email in your mandatory comment or ensure that your email is publicly viewable in your profile as I need a way to reach you if you should win.  Mandatory entry required before extra entries come into play.  **Please note:  I cannot, nor can the sponsor, guarantee delivery by Christmas if you should win.  Please bear that in mind! **

Mandatory entry:  Leave a comment letting me know the answer to either one of these:  1) How you plan to put a fresh spin on the traditional cookie swap at their Chex Party Mix-Change or 2) Which Chex Party Recipe you would try first.  As a reminder, you can check out all of the recipes at the Chex Party Mix-Change website.

Extra entries:   Each action is an entry, so be sure to leave a comment for each separate item below.  Remember, if you've already friended/followed, just let me know in a comment.   Pinching Abe appreciates all her followers whether new or old!  Also, it's not required that you leave a note on a sponsor's Facebook wall.  Just let me know you've completed the action.

• Like Making Ends Meet on Facebook

• Follow me on Twitter

• Tweet out a link to your favorite Chex Party Mix-Change recipe with these hashtags: #ChexPartyMixChange #MyBlogSpark and leave me a link to your tweet in the comment.  Have more than one fave?  You can do this entry option up to three times.  Not on Twitter?  You can share your faves on your Facebook page too - it counts!

• Follow Blog POP! on Facebook

• Subscribe via email (right side bar)

• Tweet this giveaway out and/or share it with your friends on Facebook.  Sharing tools are below.  You can share one time per day for each platform (once daily for Facebook, once daily for Twitter); just be sure to leave a separate comment for each day you share.

• Be/become my Google Friend  (right side bar)

• One last easy entry:  Leave me a comment letting me how you would package up Chex Mix for party guests.  Do you love the "take out" containers (as seen in the picture above) or do you have your own special way of packaging up cookies and Chex Mix gifts?  A tin? Holiday themed baggies? Something else? Let me know in a comment.

Good luck to all!

Disclosure:  The Chex Party Mix-Change product, information, and giveaway have been provided by Chex through MyBlogSpark.

$1 printable Totinos coupon while supplies last, first 5 get free coupon - hurry! #myblogspark

Watch the video and get your $1 off coupon that's only available while supplies last.  The first five readers to click through can claim a FREE product coupon!  Check out the exclusive video content of a new mom-focused video series featuring actors from the renowned improvisational group Second City, as they search for the next Totino’s Pizza Stuffers Mom.  Hilarious!

Do your kids come home looking for a snack?  Mine do.  I hear, "Mom, I'm hungry!" the moment they enter the door.  Dinner isn't for another hour or two, so I let them have a snack.  Did you know that 90% of moms think it is important to give their kids a snack between lunch and dinner?  That's according to the Totino's Pizza Stuffers Survey.  What to feed the kids though.  Moms don't like messes and I'm definitely firmly in that camp!  If a snack is messy, I steer my kids away from them onto something that isn't going to leave slops, glops, or drops on my table and floor.


Totino's has a new product offering that would be great for snack time, and less mess.  The new Totinos's Pizza Stuffers come in three varieties (pepperoni, cheese and combination, which is sausage and pepperoni) and can be microwaved in just minutes if you're pressed for time, or can be baked for a crispier snack if you prefer to use your oven. Their half-moon shape is kid friendly too.  There are four stuffers in the box, have an average retail price between $3.99 and $4.29, and they are available in frozen food departments in stores across the country.

Disclosure:  Totino's and/or General Mills provided me with the above widget offering coupons to my readers via MyBlogSpark.  Information was also provided to assist me with providing a product overview. 

Pink Together: Unique Community to Connect & Share Breast Cancer Stories #myblogspark {giveaway}

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and as a MyBlogSpark blog member, I was provided information about a unique community, Pink Together, where members can connect and share breast cancer stories and offer encouragement and hope to others.  Cancer can feel so isolating and it can be a great comfort to connect with others who have trod the path, know the fear, and have overcome adversity.  They're there to cheer on those who are struggling and to offer encouragement to keep the hope alive.

A Little About Pink Together 

• Visit PinkTogether.com to share your personal story and messages of hope and read about others´ personal journeys. 

• General Mills wants to encourage personal connections.  They'll donate $1 (up to $25,000) to the Komen organization for each Message of Hope that is sent to someone who shared their story on  PinkTogether.com during October. The Message of Hope donation is in addition to a $2 million donation General Mills is making to the Komen organization. Look for specially marked boxes of General Mills cereals because many are turning pink in October as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

• For the first time in its five-year history, consumers can choose how $1 million of the donation will be shared between two Komen programs:  Treatment and Assistance Program, a program which helps women secure the care they may otherwise be unable to afford, and Prevention Research, which is working toward preventing breast cancer.

How Breast Cancer Touched My Life:  My Younger Cousin

Has breast cancer touched your life or someone in it?  My younger cousin was diagnosed a few years ago and she took that cancer by the horns and kicked it to the curb. Her positive can-do attitude fortified her during her struggle.  She lost her hair to chemo (most do) and was surprised to see her new locks come in a bit darker and curly.  Curly?  She'd always had straight hair.  She embraced the new her and hopes to complete a clinical trial in the near future with an eye on perhaps finally starting a family of her own.  She was in her early 30s when diagnosed and newly married.  To say that breast cancer came out of left field is an understatement.  She has no embarrassment about talking to family members about the importance of monthly breast exams. Don't just assume you don't need to be checking for lumps while you're young.  She found hers early and had a great outcome.

Giveaway How would you like to win a Pink Together prize pack?  I knew you would!  Please enter and encourage others to enter by sending them a link to this contest.  Spread the hope and message of Pink Together!  One lucky winner will win this prize pack:

• A 16 oz. box of Total cereal
• VIP coupons valid for one box of Cheerios and Multigrain Cheerios cereal and one cup of Yoplait yogurt
• Betty Crocker Living with Cancer Cookbook Pink Together Edition, which includes a collection of more than 150 delicious recipes with complete nutrition information and a 32-page Pink Together Survivor Ambassador bonus section that shares inspirational personal stories of survival as well as recipes
• Water bottle and removable silicone awareness bracelet
• Drawstring sport backpack
• Rhinestone ear buds

This giveaway will run through October 17, 2011 at 11:59 PM Eastern time with the winner being selected via Random.org on or about October 18, 2011.  Winner shall be notified via email and asked to respond within 48 hours to provide shipping information.  If winner does not respond within that time frame, a new winner will be selected.  This giveaway is only valid for US residents who are 18 or older.  The mandatory entry is required before additional bonus entries are considered.  Please ensure that you leave an email within a comment (preferably mandatory comment) or that your email is visible via your public profile.  Please take advantage of extra entry options to increase your chance of winning.  Remember, sharing this contest also shares Pink Together with others who may find comfort in the community.

Mandatory Entry:  Leave a comment letting me know the first name of someone you know who has been touched by cancer, breast cancer or otherwise!

Extra Entries:  Each action is one extra entry (leave a separate comment for each action you complete)

• Visit Pink Together on Facebook and vote for either Research or Treatment Assistance and leave a comment letting me know which you chose.  Voting is open until April 2012 (if you've gotten here after the contest closes!)  I voted for Treatment Assistance.  Someone very close to me is going through cancer right now and has no health insurance.  Cancer is a scary thing to face, and you shouldn't have to worry about whether you can afford to treat it.  While you're there, check out the stories of hope and be inspired.

• Be/Become my Google Friend (right side bar)

• Like or have Liked Making Ends Meet on Facebook  Feel free to say hi (not required to enter)

•  Tweet out this giveaway.  You can do this daily, just leave a separate comment for your daily twitter tweets and include a link to your tweet. Suggested tweet:  Learn more about Pink Together during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, plus win Pink Together prize pack! #myblogspark http://ow.ly/6PogF

• Share this giveaway post with your friends and family on your Facebook wall.  You can do this entry daily.  Please leave a link to your share if possible.

• Subscribe to Making Ends Meet via email.  (right side bar)

And one last extra bonus entry:

•  Enter another blogger's Pink Together contest.  Let me know which blog you entered at.  Here's a short list of other blogs hosting this same contest:

Centsable Momma (ends 10/10)

Happy Nester (end date not listed)

Bargain Hunting Moms (ends 10/15)

We Share With You (ends 10/15)


The Midlife Woman (ends 10/23)


Disclosure:  The Pink Together prize pack, information and coupons have been provided free of charge by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

Hearts For Hearts Dolls: Explore other cultures and help a cause #MyBlogSpark {Review/Giveaway}

If you have a daughter, you might have heard her talking about Hearts for Hearts dolls.  My 10 year old latched on to the Hearts for Hearts doll that I received from Playmates Toys via MyBlogSpark and excitedly jumped up and down, begging to open her.  Why was she getting so excited over a doll?  She told me she'd seen them on TV and wanted one "sooooo bad, Mom!"

Who are the Hearts for Hearts Dolls?


Have you met them yet?  My daughter met Tipi, who is from Laos.

• Meet Consuelo from Mexico City. Colorful and warm, Consuelo provides aid to hungry children who are homeless and live on the streets near her parents´ bakery.
• Meet Lilian of Belarus. Determined Lilian provides aid to girls whose parents must find work in the big city and are forced to leave their children with orphanages.
• Meet Dell from the heart of Kentucky´s Appalachian Mountains. Dell creates music and knitwear to share with others in need of warm clothing.
• Meet Rahel of Ethiopia. Rahel, who dreams of becoming a doctor so that she can make a real difference for people in her region, journeys with her family into the wilderness of Ethiopia to help bring back aid to her community.
• Meet Tipi from Laos. Based on a real girl who shares her art and storytelling with others through dancing, drawing, and puppetry, Tipi leads her school in a mural contest in hopes of winning much-needed books for her class.
• Meet Nahji who hails from Assam, India. Brave Nahji breaks tradition to bring courage and education to the girls who work in the tea fields of India.

 What I liked about the Hearts to Hearts dolls

As I researched the doll, I loved the idea that for every purchase, a donation is made through one of their charitable partners, World Vision.  The donation goes to help girls in that country.

I also liked that each girl has their own story, which makes the idea of proceeds from purchase more tangible to me.  You aren't buying a doll, you're helping a real someone in your doll's country. Having the doll makes it easier to picture someone you're helping.  Instead of some faceless person you don't know, you have Tipi from Laos or Nahji from India to draw inspiration from.  You're helping someone just like the doll your daughter has come to know and love.

Another aspect that I liked was that you receive a code with the doll that will unlock online activities.  Some are already free, but the code will only expand upon the site's enjoyment and foster a bigger connection to your Hearts for Hearts doll.  Why I like this is that for younger children, you don't have to let your child go online to enjoy the doll.  However, for older girls, they will love the online interaction. 

I'm hoping that they expand the clothing and accessories at some point.  Tipi arrived with an accessory set including a doll sized pie.  It was so cute and didn't look or feel cheap or shoddy to me.

Buy them!  In case you were wondering how to Purchase a Hearts For Hearts Girls Doll, you can go here: http://bit.ly/ShopH4HG

Priced under $30, Hearts for Hearts dolls are affordable as gifts or to collect.

Want to win?  I know you do!  The giveaway winner's prize pack will contain:

• One Hearts For Hearts Girl, accompanied by a friendship bracelet, story booklet, donation for girls in need through partner World Vision and a special product code your daughter can use to unlock a free membership to the Hearts For Hearts Girls website, which provides access to the "myHeart" page and an array of games and activities.
• An outfit that is authentic to one of the Hearts for Hearts Girls´ culture, in which your daughter can also dress her doll

Giveaway:  This giveaway will run through 9/29/2011 at 11:59 PM with the winner being drawn via Random.org on or about 9/30/2011.  Winner will have 48 hours to respond to an email asking for further information.  If winner fails to respond within that time frame, a different winner will be chosen.  This contest is open to US residents only who are 18 or older.  Please ensure that your email is provided within at least one comment or that your Google profile is public.  I must have a way to notify you if you are selected as winner.  Mandatory entry is required before any extra entries are considered.

Mandatory entry:  Which Hearts for Hearts Girl would your daughter most like to meet and learn more about?

Extra entries:  Each action is an extra entry and each action you perform must be a separate comment.  For daily entry options, leave a comment each day for the action you performed.  If you already liked/subscribed/follow, please leave a comment stating so.

• Like Hearts For Hearts Girls Facebook http://on.fb.me/H4HGFbook

• Like Making Ends Meet on Facebook

• Like Blog POP on Facebook so you can keep abreast of new developments as we move closer to our 'Christmas Wishes' event in early November.

• Subscribe/be Subscribed to Making Ends Meet via email (right side bar)

• Be/Become my Google Friend via Google Friend Connect (right side bar)

• Share this contest with your friends on Facebook.  Please leave a link to your FB post in the comment.  You can do this entry daily.

• Tweet this contest out to your friends on Twitter.  Please leave a link to your tweet in the comment.  You can do this entry daily.  (Note: Sharing tools are at the foot of this post.)  Suggested tweet:  Meet the Hearts to Hearts girls and enter to win a Hearts to Hearts doll of your own!  #MyBlogSpark #giveaway #toys http://ow.ly/6ylW1

Thanks for entering and good luck to all.

Disclosure: The Hearts For Hearts Girls doll, and information have been provided by Playmates Toys through MyBlogSpark.

General Mills' Cereal Treats Bars for Back-to-School or for hurricane preparedness! #myblogspark {giveaway}

As you may know, we weathered Hurricane Irene last weekend.  We sat in our home in Virginia sans power for about 38 hours from mid-day Saturday through the early hours of Monday morning.  My kids are used to eating cereal for breakfast and we didn't want to open the refrigerator to get out the milk for breakfast knowing that once we broke the seal, we pretty much were sentencing every bit of dairy food in there to the trash bin later since it would be impossible to re-cool the air once we cracked open the door.

Thankfully, I'd remembered that I had Lucky Charms Treats and Golden Graham Treats cereal bars to offer my kids for breakfast.  The box of Lucky Charms Treats cereal bars was the first to be eaten, with the Golden Grahams following shortly thereafter.  They ate them for breakfast and for snacks during our outage.  With our eye on the forecast, I'll be grabbing more of these to keep on hand for power emergencies!

These Cereal Treats bars also be good for back-to-school.  Sometimes my kids eat their breakfast and then say they're still hungry (usually right at they are getting ready to go out the door).  These portable bars are just the perfect thing for them to snack on while they wait for the bus or for a special lunch box treat that I know they'll love.

Some quick facts, courtesy of General Mills and MyBlogSpark that you might be interested to know:

• Flavor varieties include the ever popular Golden Grahams® (130 calories) and new Lucky Charms® Treats (100 calories), loaded with popular favorites like chocolate and marshmallows.
• Cereal Treats Bars contain less than 140 calories per bar and are made with wholesome cereal, making them a snack option that you can feel good about giving your kids.
• TWO Box Tops for Education seals on each box of Cereal Treat Bars, making earning cash for your school doubly cool!

Buy them:  Cereal Treat Bars are widely available in grocery stores.  I've even seen them as larger sized individual bars at convenience stores.  Look for the boxes sporting two Box Tops For Education on them.


Win some:  One lucky reader will win their own Cereal Treat Bars prize pack.  Take a look at the picture below to see what's included!

• One box of Lucky Charms^® Cereal Treats Bars
• One box of Golden Grahams^® Cereal Treats Bars
• Lunch bag
• Locker whiteboard
• Colored pencil set

This giveaway will run through 9/14/2011 at 11:59 PM Eastern time.  The winner shall be drawn on or about 9/15/2011 via Random.org.  Entrants must be U.S. residents who are 18 or older.  Winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond to my request for information.  If winner does not respond within that time frame, a different winner will be selected.  Please ensure that you leave an email in the mandatory entry or have an email visible in your blogger profile.  I must have a way to reach you should you win.


Mandatory entry:  Leave a comment telling me how you will use Cereal Treats Bars to help make Back-to-School season cooler for your kids.  Will you hand them out when you're running late?  Tuck them in their lunch box as a treat?  Or keep them in the car for them to eat on the way to school?  Let me know in a comment how you'll use the product.

Extra entries:  Each action is worth one entry, and you must leave a separate comment for each action.  If you've already liked/friended/subscribed, just leave a comment letting me know.  With regard to actions on Facebook, please do not leave a message about this contest on sponsor's wall if you opt to Like them.  Just leave me the comment letting me know that you completed that entry! 

• Like Betty Crocker's Facebook page
  

• Like Making Ends Meet on Facebook

• Like Blog POP! on Facebook

• Subscribe to/be a subscriber Making Ends Meet via email (right side bar - also, please be sure you've confirmed your subscription)

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• Share this giveaway on Facebook.  Please come back and leave a link in the comment for this entry.  You can do this once per day.  Leave a separate comment each time if you choose to do this daily.

• Tweet out this giveaway.  You can do this once per day.  Leave a separate comment each time if you choose to do this daily.  You can use:  Enter to win a Cereal Treats Bar prize pack just in time for back-to-school!  #myblogspark  http://ow.ly/6gKQp

• One last entry for fun:  Tell me if you eat/would Cereal Treats bars too and which variety you'd try first. These cereal bars are 140 calories or less (Lucky Charms Cereal Treats bars are only 100 calories) and may fit your breakfast needs as an adult too.  

Thanks so much for entering!   My thanks to General Mills and MyBlogSpark for this opportunity.

Disclosure: Cereal Treats Bars, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.  The opinions expressed are my own.

June 30: Last day to submit recipes for Gluten Free Baking Challenge! #myblogspark

Gluten free bakers:  June 30 is the last day to submit your holiday gluten free recipes using Betty Crocker's gluten free dessert mixes or Bisquick's Gluten Free All Purpose mix.  I'm looking forward to seeing what the recipes are!  Last weekend, I used a Betty Crocker Gluten Free Yellow Cake and swirled in some gluten free lemon frosting to give it a lil kick (I didn't have any lemon flavoring on hand...).  Two thumbs up!  It was yummylicious!




Disclosure:  I am writing this post as a reminder.  I have previously hosted a giveaway (closed) on behalf of sponsor, Betty Crocker, via MyBlog Spark.  I wasn't compensated for this reminder post.

Yoplait Kids Snack Chat - Find tips on shopping for wholesome food with a toddler in tow! #YoplaitSnackChat

 

Shopping with a toddler can be tricky! I know my kids were fairly picky at that age and it was a struggle to talk them into things other than crackers and chips. Even now, I struggle to get my kids to eat their veggies. However, they love fruits. I find myself buying them the fruits that they love because I know that they will eat them. They also know not to ask me for anything other than a "healthy snack" after we've eaten dinner and they get the munchies an hour later.

Take a look at this video featuring Christine Coppa, who is known for her Mama's Boy blog over at Parenting.com. She talks about how she encourages her son to choose healthy snacks.



Here's another one on packing healthy snacks for their lunches!  I like the idea of having things already portioned out.



There are other videos in the Yoplait Kids Snack Chat series if you're interested.  The links below will take you straight to the video chats on YouTube.

Links to Snack Chat Webisodes 1 - 8

http://bit.ly/YPKSnackChat1
http://bit.ly/YPKSnackChat2
http://bit.ly/YPKSnackChat3
http://bit.ly/YPKSnackChat4
http://bit.ly/YPKSnackChat5
http://bit.ly/YPKSnackChat6
http://bit.ly/YPKSnackChat7
http://bit.ly/YPKSnackChat8

Disclosure:   Yoplait, via MyBlogSpark forwarded me links and other information so that I could make this blog post.  In return for making this post sharing the video above, I will receive coupons.  Speaking of coupons, did you know that you can print out a coupon good for 50 cents off a 4-pack of Yoplait Kids Yogurt by going here.

P.S.  What did you think of the video?  I really liked the idea of handing your child a basket and asking them to choose their favorites.

Enter the 45th Annual Pillsbury Bake-Off (plus giveaway) #MyBlogSpark

Today, I received a package from Pillsbury via MyBlogSpark that included the 100 winning recipes from Pillsbury's 44th Annual Pillsbury Bake-Off.  My husband actually leafed through the winning recipes and pointed out various ones that he wants to try -- including main dishes, breakfasts and, of course, desserts!  Some of them look pretty yummy and one of the ones high on his list for "make soon" was the Double Peanut Butter Fudge Pie. As a side note, when I see the next edition of this beautifully delicious looking recipe booklet, I'm going to buy it!  I found a lot of inspiration inside and my husband didn't mind pointing out recipes that he thinks he would enjoy as well.

There's still time to enter to win Pillsbury's 45th Annual Pillsbury Bake-Off! Between now and April 18, 2011, you can enter your own recipes at www.bakeoff.com.  Of all that enter, 100 lucky finalists will compete for the grand prize.  Those finals take place March 25 through March 27, 2012 in Orlando, Florida.  Please visit the website for more information about this contest, the official rules, prizes and how your creation will be judged. 

Thanks to Pillsbury and MyBlogSpark, I get to give away the same prize pack that I received today!  MyBlogSpark will fulfill.  Take a look the apron, recipe book and pen that is part of the prize pack:

You'll find inspiration, just like I did, not to mention keep your clothes spic and span as you wear the cute Doughboy apron while you put the finishing touches on your own Bake-Off worthy recipes!  This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only who are 18 years and older.  The giveaway will run through 2/28/2011 at 11:59 PM Eastern.  Winner shall be chosen via Random.org on March 1, 2011.  Winner has 48 hours to answer the winning email or I will have to choose another winner. 

Mandatory entry:  Visit the Pillsbury Bake-Off site and then come back here and tell me which recipe you want to try out in your own kitchen.  You must leave your email or acknowledge that your profile has it listed if you are on Blogger.  I need a way to reach you if you win.

Extra entries:  Share the 45th Pillsbury Bake-Off with friends!  Tweet about it using this tweet (1 entry):

Enter a recipe in the 45th Annual Pillsbury Bake-Off!  You could win $1 Million dollars.  Details at www.bakeoff.com #MyBlogSpark

and/or


Share the www.bakeoff.com link with your friends on Facebook (1 entry).  By posting this to your page:   

Enter a recipe in the 45th Annual Pillsbury Bake-Off!  You could win $1 Million dollars.  Details at www.bakeoff.com

 Leave me a link to your twitter post and/or Facebook post if not private.

Other additional entries (you must still complete the mandatory entry above)

You also can gain extra entries for following me on twitter (1 entry), being/becoming my fan on Facebook (1 entry), being my Google friend (1 entry - right side bar), subscribing to me by email (1 entry - right side bar) and for tweeting out this contest (1 entry).  If you already follow me, just leave a comment letting me know.  If you tweet, please use this:

Win a Pillsbury Bake-Off Prize Pack at Making Ends Meet!  Enter here:  http://bit.ly/ghL9Sl Ends 2/28 #MyBlogSpark

There's lots of extra entries to increase your chance to win.  Please share with your friends and max out on all the entries.  This recipe book is awesome and I love that the recipes can be pulled from inside and kept in a recipe box.

Disclosure:  Pillsbury, via MyBlogSpark, provided me with the prize pack listed above, as well as information about the 45th Annual Pillsbury Bake-Off.  The opinions are 100% my own or are derived from comments by my family.  This blog post is not a compensated one. 

MultiGrain Cheerios Twitter Party 8 PM tonight! #MyBlogSpark

Tonight while the Biggest Loser airs, you can join the MultiGrain Cheerios Twitter party!  I love Twitter parties because they are fun and fast paced.  How they work is that you join the party with the hash tag (in this case it is #MGCheerios) and answer questions, making sure that you include the hash tag as part of your tweet.  It is nearly impossible to keep up with a party using plain old Twitter, so use a Twitter client like Tweet Grid.  Here's the info the folks at MyBlogSpark sent me as a reminder:
 

What: MultiGrain Cheerios Twitter Party

Date: Tuesday, January 11th

Time: 8 - 9 PM EST/ 7 - 8 PM CST

Hashtag: #MGCheerios

Panelists: @MGCheerios, @LKnerl, @DietsinReview

TweetGrid: http://tweetgrid.com/grid?l=2&q1=group:+mgcheerios,+lknerl,+dietsinreview,+blmark&q2=%23MGCheerios&q3=%23bl11

Be sure to join the party tonight to tweet with past contestants and swap tips with other tweeters.


Disclosure:  I am sharing this information, which was provided to me via MyBlogSpark.  This blog post is unpaid and is merely shared for reader interest.