MISSION Athletecare’s EnduraCool towel

Fitness is very important to my oldest daughter. She just asked for a Fitbit on her birthday. So, naturally when I was asked to review the MISSION Athletecare’s EnduraCool towel she wanted to try it out on her "workout" LOL. She pretty much does stretches and when she starts to sweats calls it quits. But she does love to look the part:)

I'm a little more realistic and tried it out at the pool. I'm usually pool side fully dressed watching my two girls swim which can get pretty hot here in Texas. I dropped it around my neck to take the edge off. It's become my next best friend. I also really like the fun, funky colors they come in. Thank you MISSION Athletecare for letting me review the new EduraCool towel.

General Mills Brings Minions Buddies in Your Cereal Box & $25 Fandango Gift Card Giveaway

General Mills has partnered with the Minions. For a limited time in participating boxes of General Mills cereal you can collect miniature minions like the one shown on the box. To me they resemble little christmas tree ornaments. You can also see their cute faces on the Betty Crocker fruit snack boxes. My kids absolutely love Betty Crocker fruit rolls. As soon as the box came out they were devoured. Hence, no picture of those. Minions In the City movie is currently showing in theaters.

In exchange for this review we were given a $25 Fandango gift card to view Minions in the city. It is super hot here in Texas right now so my kids were absolutely delighted when I asked them if they want to chill out in the cool theater to watch one of their favorite movies yet. 

GIVEAWAY:

Our sponsor is giving away a prize pack containing:

• A participating General Mills cereal
• 1 box of participating Betty Crocker fruit flavored snack
• An exclusive Minions Buddy
• $25 Fandango gift card

To one of my Keeping My Cents readers. All you have to do is enter below leaving a comment on which General Mills you would buy.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Little Tikes Cape Cottage Review

Someone is excited they got a new Little Tikes Cape Cottage Playhouse! Even looks great in the box.

The Little Tikes Cape Cottage Playhouse is so easy to assemble that even my 4 year old daughter was able to lend a helping hand deciphering the instructions for us.

I was pleasantly surprised at how simple all the parts snapped together and how sturdy everything felt once in place.

Putting the Little Tikes Cape Cottage Playhouse together proved to be a family affair with even the little one screwing some of the screws in place. 

As you can see in the pictures the playhouse was not only adored by by 4 year old daughter it was very enticing to my 9 year old daughter as well.  The playhouse can span a variety of ages and in my opinion you could also buy one of these for a child younger than the recommended age of 2.  My girls loved the windows that can be opened and shut as well as having 2 doors one on each end.  As my husband works for the Postal Service they also found the mail slot to be quite entertaining as well.  The Cape Cottage Playhouse is light and durable and can easily be moved around the yard, driveway, or basement.  The vibrant colors make it very aesthetically pleasing to look at in your yard as your children spend hours in and out of the playhouse.  Little Tikes has a great reputation for building quality children's toys and the Cape Cottage Playhouse definitely lives up to all expectations and is a must have for any household with kids. 

*This was a sponsered post from Little Tikes but all opinions were forthright and truthful regarding the quality and craftsmenship of the Cape Cottage Playhouse.

SOL REPUBLIC DECK Speaker Giveaway & Review!

Do you want a sound booming, portable, party favorite speaker? Then the SOL REPUBLIC DECK speaker priced at a modest $199.99 is the audio device for you.  These are available in array of colors to match your personality too. They come in blue, black, yellow, or red. I have put this sleek looking little sound echoing device thru a battery of field tests in which it conquered like an Olympic athlete.

First, I took this little sound monster down to our apartment pool for a little mood music while the kids were swimming. Transporting this speaker to your favorite hangout couldn’t get any easier as I placed it in the top zipper compartment of my soft-side cooler. I was pleasantly surprised at the volume level this stylish speaker could reach all the while not comprising sound quality. I was also not expecting the blue tooth distance this device afforded me as I forgot to take my iPhone out of my pocket when I took my youngest in for a bathroom break almost 100 feet away from the pool!

Second, I took my SOL REPUBLIC DECK speaker with me to the golf course for a relaxing day at the links. My golfing buddies were in awe of the powerful sound this dynamic speaker could belt out in such a vast outdoor setting. The Deck speaker fits perfectly on the cup holder of the golf cart tucked in right behind your favorite tasty cold beverage and the rubber anti-slip backing on the Deck will prevent your speaker from sliding off into any potential water hazards!

Next up for the SOL REPUBLIC DECK speaker was a trip to my local poker night. My buddies were all-in when they discovered the “heist” feature on the Deck which allows up to five devices to be paired at one time and to hijack the speaker to their favorite song. There was no bluffing when I informed them of the unheard of battery life of the Deck which can last an amazing 10 hours on a single charge!

Lastly, I decided to take the SOL REPUBLIC DECK speaker with me on one of my many business trips. I’ve had trouble in the past watching Netflix on my iPad and actually being able to hear the audio without the use of a hearing aid! Not a problem anymore with the DECK! I can simply lay back and enjoy my cartoons and never again have to strain my eardrums to get a refreshing audio quality that the Deck delivers.

So if you want a portable, clear, sound rocking, trendy audio speaker then the SOL REPUBLIC DECK speaker is the next must purchase item for you. Trust me, you and more importantly your eardrums will thank you!

Lucky for you... you can possibly win one of your own. If not so lucky, you can also purchase them HERE as well. 

* Only one winner per 6 month period of a SOL REPUBLIC device. I love all the SOL REPUBLIC fans but we have to spread the love around:)

Review: Mommy Hook

I love when I find a gadget that actually makes life easier! I received this Mommy Hook to review and I am so glad that I did. I almost bought this a couple of weeks ago at Babies R Us and decided that I didn't need it. Boy, was I wrong. This is a must have. Don't get me wrong this isn't a Mommy gadget but an anyone gadget. I love it.

I hate making multiple trips out to the car to carry in all the groceries...well problem solved with the Mommy hook. They say a picture is worth a thousand words and it really is. Look at this picture of me carrying all those bags in at once.

I usually can only carry in a few at once because I'm afraid one will slip out and the whole bag will drop and everything will break.  But not with this. The padded handle makes it easy to carry alot of weight on it and it allows you to have a firm grip. I now wonder what did I do before this. I only wish I had had it when I lived upstairs in an apartment because I REALLY hated making multiple trips up and down those stairs for the groceries. This hook is also designed to fit on any brand of stroller so you can attach bags while you are shopping or to your purse to make shopping easier. I always hate having to stuff things down in the bin below because it is so hard to get back out. I strongly recommend you go and buy one or more of these even if you don't have a stroller or baby. I think it is fantastic that it can function for more than just one reason. Love it!

The Mommy Hook is sold in over 20 countries.  Click here to buy one for yourself.

Review: Family Facts Pregnancy ~ Organizer & Planner

I love being organized but was having a hard time keeping all the "baby" stuff together until I was sent the Family Facts Pregnancy organizer by Pam Socolow.  One of the greatest things about this planner is that it is designed for first time mom's and for mom's with children already (like me).

Let me share with you some of the contents inside this little jewel....I wish I had discovered this the first go round.

*Prenatal Visit Log (includes weight, blood pressure, and things of important to note.)  I recently dug out the sheet that was copied from my first birth to compare to my current pregnancy and would have liked so much more to have this pretty little organizer to reference.

*Who to contact when in Labor

*What mommy and baby need

*Baby Shower Gift Log

* Baby Registry

*Delivery Day Bag

*And MUCH more!

If you know me then you know I love checklists and places to write things down.  This planner is perfect for a keepsake to cherish for years to come.  I would have loved if my mother had one of these where I could feel like I was sharing her experience with my own.  This is a must have for new mom's and existing mom's too.  For under $20 bucks I call it a bargain.  You can buy it online here.  In 2009, the Family Facts Pregnancy Planner was voted a must have by Pregnancy Magazine.

Review: Baby On Board Apparel

Happy and Healthy Mom had me review the leah tunic from Baby on Board Apparel and let me tell you I am so happy they did.  This shirt is super flattering with its super comfy material that is form fitting but not to tight.  My only complaint is that it is a little long but I am only 5'2 and just today 6 months pregnant so I'm sure that I will be just fine with the length the further along I become.  Since it is so long it would be great to wear with leggings.  I also like that you can dress this shirt up or down.  I easily could wear it out to dinner with my husband or lounge around the house in it.

Click here to find a shirt all your own.  I saw some other great looking pieces I would love to have namely this one.  I do like having shirts that your not having to constantly to pull down every time you stand up or move around and these shirts I assure you will do that job.  Thanks BOBA for the wonderful shirt I will be able to wear throughout my pregnancy and while nursing.

UPDATE: I loved this shirt while I was pregnant and I wore it all the time.  It did shrink some or I got fatter (well both probably:).  But I continued to wear it while nursing, which happened to turn out to be two years. I know that is a little long for most but it worked for me and my baby. I loved this shirt while I nursed because it isn't one of those that had that strange material inside when you pull it down.  It just is a basic criss cross that is easily pulled down to nurse. Also, I'm one of those weird people that still wear some of my maternity clothes because honestly you can't tell it is maternity/nursing shirt.  Still so cute!

Review: Baby Kiss & Coo Dvds - Soothing Shapes & Sounds

Baby Kiss & Coo™ was founded by Ms. Gianni, a busy Los Angeles mother of three boys, who noticed her first baby's fascination with shadows cast through the window at sunset by a banana plant.

The Dvds have silhouettes set against the beautiful colors of the Pacific Ocean at sunset while classical music plays in the background.  Baby Kiss & Coo™ line helps to engage, soothe and stimulate a baby's senses. 

Titles include:

• "At The Zoo" -- friendly zoo animals frolic before baby's eyes while the music of Mozart and Beethoven calms their senses.
• "Come Ride With Me"-- familiar modes of transportation travel by as baby listens to the music of Mozart and Bizet.

• "At The Farm" -- playful barnyard animals dance across the screen to the music of Mozart, Handel and Beethoven
• "Under The Sea" -- enchanting sea creatures float along to the music of Bach, Mendelssohn and Rameau.
• "Bugaloo Baby" -- delightful bugs crawl by as baby listens to the music of Mozart Handel and Grieg.

• "Look! Shapes!"-- fascinating shapes bounce before your baby's eyes along with music by Mozart Tchaikovsky, Debussy, Dvorak, Bach and Schumann.

I was given the Shapes & Under the Sea Dvds to facilitate my review and I think they are absolutely adorable and would grab any baby's attention expecially when you need to take a shower or get dinner started. All you have to do is pop one of these Dvds in and put baby in their bouncy seat and let the capitvating images occupy and amuse your baby so you can get some of the everyday chores done.

Review: Holiday Cards from Paperspring.com

It's time again to start thinking about Holiday cards.  I loved my invitations so much that I sent out earlier this year from Paperspring.com that I used them also for my Mom's holiday cards.  Paperspring.com is so FAST.  They got both the orders I used them for within a week of submitting the order.  I love it when they arrive so quick especially when it's invitations.

For her holiday card I used pictures of all of her dogs and her horse.  I loved how they turned out.  Remember Paperspring.com is also wonderful about making minor changes if you would prefer something a little bit different than what they have at no additional charge.  This is the first time I've seen that and I LOVE it.  They are offering 15% off any order and FREE shipping until 11/21/10.  Use coupon code THANKS at checkout.

I also made these labels that I will use to put on my homemade gifts such as jellies and such for Christmas.  Remember sometimes you need to think outside the box. These are originally used for address labels but since we are moving soon I thought they would work great as labels.

Thank you Paperspring.com for providing me with products to review!

Review: Halo Sleep Sack

Halo SleepSack sent me a sleep sack to review and I am happy to say that is so soft to the touch and kick proof.  Besides being soft and warm sleep sacks help reduce SIDS by providing a safer way to sleep.  Halo is deeply committed to increasing awareness about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).  So much so that they have a page dedicated to more information about how to help reduce the risk of SIDS at www.halosleep.com/safesleeptips.  Halo SleepSack are working with more than 400 hospitals to provide Halo SleepSack wearable blankets as part of their Hospital Safer Way to Sleep initiative.  This is such a wonderful thing to know that a company is taking on this devastating tragedy that happens to many infants.

Halo SleepSack can be bought conveniently at Target stores or you can find a local store near you.

Giveaway:

Halo graciously is providing one of my readers a free HALO SleepSack wearable blanket. To enter:

1. Visit halosleep.com and tell me your favorite sleepsack.

Additional entries:

2. Like Halo SleepSacks on Facebook.  Leave your facebook name in your comment.

3. Like Halo SleepSacks on Twitter. Leave your twitter name in your comment.

3. Become a follower of this blog.

4. Place my blog button in your sidebar or somewhere on your blog.

4. Post about this giveaway on your blog and leave a separate comment with a link to your post. Your blog must be family friendly.

Giveaway ends 11/10/10! One winner will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. The winner will have 72 hours to respond to the notification e-mail or another winner will be selected.

Pumpkin Carving Using Pumpkin Master Carving Kit

I love carving pumpkins.  I think it so much fun but, if I had to do it the way my parents did it with me (using a kitchen knife), then I would say "no thank you"!  You definitely have to have the right tools for the job and I love using the Pumpkin Master Carving Kit that was sent to me to review.  I almost always use my own template and so the tracing tool works like a charm to transfer my pattern onto my pumpkin.  The finger saw does the cutting part perfectly unlike my parent's kitchen knife.  And don't forget SAFER.  Safety is always important since my four year old is always helping me.  She loves to use the scoop to scoop out the innards.

The Pumpkin Master Kit also has a lot of wonderful patterns to use also but I like to be creative and use my own.  If you are going to carve a pumpkin this year I highly recommend getting a Pumpkin Master Carving Kit it will last you many years to come. It also will give you a variety of patterns to choose from or you can create your own like I did.

Happy Carving!

Review: Lisa Leonard Designs

Lisa Leonard at lisa leonard designs has teamed up with Mom magazine and graciously allowed to choose one of her beautiful necklaces to review on my blog.  I've been lazy and haven't gotten around to posting this since I've had it for a couple of months. I couldn't put it off any longer since I promise everywhere I go from garage sales to the coffee shop I get complimented on my new necklace.  I absolutely love it.  The only thing is once you order one of her items it truly makes you want to order more.  I bought the family tree necklace knowing we were trying to have another baby but since it wasn't happening I decided to go ahead and go for it.  Well guess what one month after I ordered it I found out we are indeed going to be adding another member to our family so that means I need a new necklace when the baby comes since the new baby's name is not on the necklace.  But I am happy to wear my necklace everyday until my new little bundle arrives. 

 One of the people that have actually stopped me while out shopping asked me if it was a Lisa Leonard design. I told her yes and how much I love her products. She then told me that she went to her website wrote down the exact design she wanted, what she wanted written on it, and put it on a piece of paper and told her husband now surprise me and DON'T deviate from what is written on the paper.  I laughed so hard and told her I understand, you do have to be very specific with men.  But even though it was funny it is a good idea.  Especially with Christmas coming.

Review: Bright Starts Around We Go Activity Station

I was thrilled to receive Bright Starts Around We Go Activity Station to review on my blog. This activity station was nominated for the SheKnows 2010 Parent's Choice Awards. The coveted award recognizes outstanding products and services in the parenting industry, based on functionality, quality, convenience and best bang for the consumer’s buck. Winners will be announced Oct. 10, 2010 on SheKnows.com.

This is a great alternative to a walker. There is some assembly required but it is well worth it.  It took me approximately 25-30 minutes to put it together.  This activity station is great to put baby in while making dinner to keep baby where she can see Mommy and is occupied at the same time. I also find it very handy that the seat is detachable so when baby gets too big for the seat she still can use it as an activity center.   Supplies hours and hours of safe entertainment from infant to toddler. I would definitely recommend Bright Starts Around We Go Activity Station for any infant.

About Bright Starts™Bright Starts™ is an innovating brand of juvenile products that provides parents with smart, fresh solutions.  With a growing portfolio of over 100 innovative activity centers, play gyms, bouncers, swings, play yards, and toys; Bright Starts’ large selection of progressive products inspire confidence and engage curiosity.  Backed by awards from numerous leading industry and consumer organizations, Bright Starts™ is a trusted name for cleverly-designed, quality products for young children.

From the manufacturer:

Wonderful activity center without the danger and the only product of its kind designed to grow with baby through the toddler years. Seat easily removes so toddler can enjoy as a play table. Piano stations with 3 play modes. Use flip book to activate: melodies, silly sounds and piano. Action/reaction station with bead chaser, "popping characters" and bug spinner with sliding frog. 2 plush stalk toys: turtle with rattle and caterpillar with fabric accents.

*  Other toys include frog popper, spinner ball, ratcheting bee stalk toy and mirror station

*  Removable toy tray is easy to clean

*  Designed to grow with baby through the toddler years

*  Rotates 360 degrees allowing baby to walk around play table

*  3 play modes with two plush stalk toys

Winner for Chex Gluten Free Prize Pack!

Chex Gluten-Free Giveaway!

Why is gluten free imortant?  Well some people usually avoid eating gluten because of a health issue. Some people notice that they do not feel as well when they eat gluten, and they decide to eat a gluten-free diet so that they feel better. Others have actually been diagnosed with gluten intolerance or celiac disease, and their doctors have advised them to stop eating gluten.  And now if you are trying to avoid gluten too I have good news for you.  Nowadays more and more companies are marketing towards their customers that are trying to avoid gluten.  Chex at General Mills happens to be one of them.  They are now offering these varieties gluten free:

Rice Chex
Corn Chex
Honey Nut Chex
Chocolate Chex
Cinnamon Chex

General Mills has also 300 more products that are gluten free.  Here is also a website that you can check out for gluten free recipes.

As a reminder, please be sure to check the label when buying any gluten-free cereal to make sure it does not have any ingredients that contain gluten.

Giveaway

 

Chex gluten-free cereal prize pack that includes a VIP coupon for a free box of Chex cereal, a microwavable bowl, a Chex gluten-free recipe card and measuring spoons and cups.

Main entry:

What kind is your favorite Chex?

Bonus entry:

Become a follower of this blog.

The VIP coupon, prize pack, information and additional prize pack to give away were all provided by Chex cereal through MyBlogSpark to facilitate my review. Giveaway ends 09/27/10! One winner will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. The winner will have 72 hours to respond to the notification e-mail or another winner will be selected.

Bridal Shower Invitations by Paperspring Review & Giveaway!

When Paperspring offered me a chance to review their product I was so excited.  As you all know I love paper goods.  Paperspring had sent me some samples and I knew they had excellent printing quality.  This is what I am always fearful of when I'm ordering online and can't see a hard copy of what their finished product looks like in print.  So trust me they look great.  What really put me over the top with this company was that they have a comment box on everything you order asking for specific requests or instructions.  For example, on the bridal shower invitation I was considering it was perfect except I wasn't crazy about the crown.  Well, guess what?  They took it off.  And me being picky as I am I also asked if they could center my address labels more and they kindly did that too.  I was ecstatic when I received them only 3 business days later.

Below you can see the actual invitation on the frame that will greet you as you walk into my home for my niece's bridal shower.  And here is a picture of my "address labels" repurposed as gift labels.   I can't say enough good things about this company their customer service is awesome, their products are gorgeous, and say HELLO to free shipping.  If you need any paper goods please stop by and consider Paperspring.com.  They are wonderful, trust me.

Paperspring is so fabulous they are sponsoring a $50 gift card to one of my readers.  Here's how to enter to win:

1. Visit Paperspring.com and leave a comment telling me what you like and what you would order if you won. Leave Your email for each entry so I can notify you if you are the winner!

(Additional Entries)

2. Become a follower of this blog

3. Place my blog button in your sidebar or somewhere on your blog.

4. Post about this give away on your blog and leave a separate comment with a link to your post. Your blog must be family friendly.

Giveaway ends 8/23/10! One winner will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. The winner will have 72 hours to respond to the notification e-mail or another winner will be selected. Thanks Paperspring for giving me a gift card to facilitate my review and sponsoring this giveaway.

The Importance of a Healthy Breakfast! Review & Cereal Giveaway!

General Mills provided me with coupons for free cereal through MyBlogSpark.  Since, I already buy Cheerios & Kix regularly I was happy to get them. 

I eat Kix and my daughter eats Cheerios, almost every morning.  I like eating Kix because it's low in sugar and calories and helps me maintain my weight and it's quick and easy.  I feed my daughter Cheerios because she has been eating them since she was able to chew solid foods on her own as snacks and then naturally it then became her cereal of choice to eat in the morning.  I like it and feel good about feeding to her because it has fiber, low in calories, and sugar.

Here is some information provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark:
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.

Did you know that ready-to-eat cereal eaters consume less fat, less cholesterol and more fiber than non-cereal eaters? Cereals also deliver important vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients, making cereal a top source of key nutrients in children´s diets.

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.

I'm a label reader so I thought you might like to read the labels for yourself.

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

Also, I will be giving away one coupon for 1 FREE box of your choice of any General Mills Cereal (up to $6.00) to help your family come together at the breakfast table every morning. 

You will have two methods of entry:

* Leave me a comment telling what your favorite General Mills cereal is.

* Become a follower.

Don't forget to leave your e-mail so, I can notify you if you are the winner.  Giveaway will end 1/11/10.

If winner doesn't respond within 48 hours another winner will be chosen.

Lemon Spaghetti Recipe: Using California Olive Oil

I was given the opportunity to try California Olive Ranch Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) courtesy of MomSelect.  I love using olive oil to cook with because it has healthy omega 3 fats unlike vegetable oil that I used in the past until I found out how great olive oil is for you.

Did you know that extra virgin olive oil is the top grade....and the most expensive?  True extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) can't have flavor "defects" - moldy olives, for example, can make the oil musty.  California is the only state that has legally adopted the international standards for any olive oil sold in the state. Wow, this information was new to me until recently that I wanted to share with you too.

I have one recipe in particular that I love that I use olive oil in which is lemon spaghetti.  I hope you like it too.  It's quick, easy, and light.

Lemon Spaghetti

Prep Time: 10 min Inactive Prep Time: -- Cook Time: 8 min Level:

Easy Serves: 6 servings

Ingredients

* 1 pound spaghetti

* 1/3 cup olive oil

* 2/3 cup grated Parmesan

* 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (about 3 lemons)

* Salt and freshly ground black pepper

* 1 tablespoon lemon zest

* 1/3 cup chopped fresh basil leaves

Directions

Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk the oil, Parmesan, and lemon juice in a large bowl to blend.

Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid. Toss the pasta with the lemon sauce, and the reserved cooking liquid, adding 1/4 cup at a time as needed to moisten. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with lemon zest and chopped basil.

You can also use linguini if you don't have spaghetti on hand.  I usually add shrimp to mine too.  It just seems to stay with you longer if have some type of meat in it.

Build A Bear: Holly & Hal Moose

Thanks to MomSelect I was given the opportunity to share with you my thoughts about the newest editions to Build A Bear: Holly & Hal Moose. I have a three year old daughter and have always wanted to take her to Build A Bear to "build a bear or animal" but, I didn't think until now that she was quite old enough.

I was able to take my nieces in the past to Build a Bear and haven gotten to share in the special bonding time that takes place when you create an animal.  It is so cute and fun. 

I haven't been into Build A Bear in awhile so, I was super excited to see what arrived in my mailbox. I am actually quite suprised at the quality of the two stuffed moose. I am giving these early to my daughter for an early Christmas present since they are festively decorated. Hal (the boy moose) is so cute he has a little button on his left hand that when pushed lights up the Christmas lights on his antlers. My daughter finds this quite amusing and cute too.

This Christmas I will definitely be giving my daughter a Build A Bear gift card.  I know she won't think much about this "gift card" when she opens it up but, it will be nice to take her out after all the holiday hoopla has died down and get to give her one last gift that we can share together.

This holiday season, you can make some memories of your own with the newest collection of holiday Build a Bear friends just like Holly and Hal Moose.  Below are some other examples of how you customize Holly & Hal Moose.

Hellmann's Real Holiday Helpings Site & $25 American Express Card Giveaway!

I visited Hellmann's Real Holiday Helpings website and discovered this fantastic dessert recipe for Oven Roasted Apple-Cranberry Crisp With Creamy Spiced Chantilly.  This recipe uses mainly things that I call staples in my pantry so it should be relatively inexpensive to make.  It sounds so yummy and I can't wait to try it.  I always like to try my recipes before the actual event and I thought I would try this one to see if it would make the cut for Christmas dinner. Now I haven't been cooking that long, so I was actually surprised that mayonnaise goes into a dessert;  but, it does and it sounds delicious.  There are some other really great recipes that you should browse through on this site.  The recipes are for Real Food that tastes great and is made from simple ingredients including Hellmann's Real Mayonnaise (made with eggs, oil and vinegar). You can also watch video demonstrations that showcase stand-out holiday dishes.

Bobby Flay gives a really good tip on how to crush garlic during the video of how to make caesar salad crostini.  Gotta love tips from a professional chef!  Also if you want a tip from a professinal cleaner, remember my tip that you can use mayonnaise to remove water stains on wood.  Leave them over night, wipe clean, and repeat if necessary.  Yes I do consider myself a professional cleaner since I think that falls under the wife and mommy category.  Click here for the previous post on water mark removal.

They also have a $1/2 Hellmann's mayonnaise coupon. This should make for a really good deal especially if your grocery store doubles. I know I always use a lot of mayonnaise around the holidays because I love to make deviled eggs.

Don't forget to enter Hellmann's Real Holiday Helpings sweeps to try and win a year worth of groceries.  Who couldn't use that? 

Also, I will be giving away a $25 American Express Card courtesy of Hellmann's.  This will hopefully help with real holiday food shopping.  There are two ways to enter:

(1) Become a follower on Keeping My Cents or let me know that you already are one.
(2) Tell me what is your favorite recipe using Hellmann's mayonnaise.

*Please remember to leave your email address so, I will be able to contact you if you are the winner.
A winner will be chosen by random.org on December 11, 2009. If I do not receive a response within 48 hours to my email notifying you that you are the winner, another winner will be selected.