Tag: My Blog Spark

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Pillsbury Thanksgiving Fun Pack

Anyone ready for Thanksgiving? How about the holidays period? Not me! In fact I am hosting Thanksgiving at my house again this year and I am just at a loss. Totally unprepared. I am in the process of baking my pies (yes they are my signature…move over Martha!) and I know not everyone loves pie, especially the kids.

Pillsbury and MyBlogSpark provided me with a great holiday alternative, cookies! Plus they provided me with some fun Thanksgiving fun goodies.

Cookies you ask? Yes cookies. Wonderful sugar cookies. Kids love sugar cookies. And these wonderful delights (in moderation of course Mom) have a Turkey shaped right into them to celebrate the season. These cookies will help to celebrate and are a great alternative to pies. If your kids happen to object to pie.

Keep in mind these are the great Pillsbury® Ready to Bake!™ and they are for a limited time! Be sure to get them now before the holiday hits and you wish you bought some. Or if you want, you can win some here along with a great Thanksgiving gift pack to help relieve all your stress!

Thanksgiving Fun Pack:
Coupon for a free package of the Pillsbury Thanksgiving Shape® sugar cookies, as well as a turkey-shaped stress reliever, pencil, and finger puppet

MANDATORY ENTRY:  Tell me what stresses you out about the holidays that your stress Turkey will help to relieve….and of course the cookies or what is most fun about Thanksgiving to you! Comfort food…ahhhh.

EXTRA ENTRIES:

  • Blog this giveaway
  • Follow my blog
  • Follow me on Twitter
  • Tweet this giveaway (once daily entry, ONLY after the mandatory entry has been met)
 CONTEST ENDS NOVEMBER 25TH @ 
MIDNIGHT ARIZONA TIME
*Five Fish always blog ethically and with transparency. Click HERE!  
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Cheerios Spoonful of Stories Prize Pack

Over the past eight years, Cheerios has given away more than 40 million children’s books by distributing them free inside cereal boxes and has donated $3.2 million to First Book, their non-profit partner, which provides books to children from low-income families. The program is part of Cheerios’ ongoing commitment to helping parents provide their children with a healthy, nutritional and educational foundation.

Beginning this month, Cheerios is again bringing books to the breakfast table, by providing six million children’s books free inside Cheerios boxes. The books are for children ages 3 to 8 years old, and include a brand new book in the popular “Trucktown” series, available only inside Cheerios boxes. And for the first time, all five books have been specially printed in both English and Spanish. This year’s book offerings from Cheerios – all by Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing – are:

Junkyard Fort, written by Jon Scieszka, and illustrated by David Shannon, Loren Long and Dave Gordon: Join Gabriella, Jack, Melvin, Ted, Lucy and the other Trucktown characters as they make their own fort, using things found in the junkyard. Ages 4-8.

Tea for Ruby, written by The Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, and illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser: Wherever Ruby goes, a bit of disaster seems to follow. But one sunny morning, things change when the postman brings Ruby an amazing invitation: would she like to have tea with the Queen? Ruby needs to polish her manners, and quickly. Ages 4-8.

Sleepyhead, written by Karma Wilson and illustrated by John Segal: In this rhythmic bedtime story, a cat is the parent and a teddy bear is the child who doesn’t want to go to bed. All ready for bed with teeth brushed and story read, Sleepyhead teddy tries anything to prolong his bedtime; books and his quilt provide ample fodder for his imagination. Ages 3-7.

Ballyhoo Bay, written by Judy Sierra and illustrated by Derek Anderson: Mira Bella, an artist who teaches painting and sculpture, loves Ballyhoo Bay and what it offers: sun, sea, sand, and sky. But one gray day a billboard arrives, announcing an impending development that would take all the fun out of the place. Read along to see if Mira Bella and her art can save the day and Ballyhoo Bay! Ages 4–8.

What’s Under the Bed?, written and illustrated by Joe Fenton: Young Fred cannot stop worrying about the scary creature that might be hiding beneath his bed. Finally summoning the courage to peer under his bed, Fred, with his cumbersome glasses, sees that the only thing there is Ted, his friendly Teddy Bear! Ages 3–7.
[Courtesy of MyBlogSpark and Cheerios (a General Mills Brand)]

We here at The Five Fish LURVE Cheerios. My kids had Cheerios as their first finger foods, my son eats Cheerios for breakfast because of the low sugar content, and who doesn’t just love a handful as a snack on a road trip. In no way did this program affect us, other than the additional reading material we received as part of this wonderful promotion.

DH and I strive to read and sing to our kids all the time. We think reading helps to foster imagination, improve educational strengths, and reading is a fabulous hobby. I mean I blew through the Twilight series in like four days flat. Non stop reading. We want our children to enjoy reading as much as we do and we also encourage Big G to read as much as he can on his own. Especially since he is doing the Harcourt reading program at school!

The Spoonfuls of Stories books we think fit into his Harcourt reading program. The books are great short stories that engage a child and their imagination, not to mention the cool activities at the back of the books. Grant is a HUGE fan of reading on his own now and as a parent the most wonderful feeling is seeing the lights click and the bulb light up when your child begins to read on their own, without the phonetic and parental attempts and assistance. Truly an indescribable feeling. Since he is such a new reader he has lots of fun books to read from educational to story-time books, so no specific favorite just yet. My favorite books as a child were Ramona, The Box Car Children, Charlotte’s Web, and as I got older I became a fan of novels, poetry, prose, and comedies. (Yeah I am a bit of a literary snob at times)

So in an effort to promote a strong educational foundation with reading and healthy eating with Cheerios, The Five Fish are bringing you a Cheerios Spoonful of Stories Prize Pack which also includes a $25 Gift Card to Barnes and Noble!

PRIMARY ENTRY:  Tell me your reading story ritual with your children or maybe the importance of reading in your children’s lives or maybe tell me your favortite character from your favorite book (childhood or otherwise)
(Please make sure you have an email address or your Blogger account is public, I like Sherlock Holmes, but I don’t like to play detective.)


EXTRA ENTRIES:

  • Follow my blog (or tell me you do)
  • Follow me on Twitter (or come tell me you do)
  • Tweet this Giveaway “Promoting healthy habits and reading for life with @CheeriosBrand and @KariewithaK, Win a Cheerios Prize Pack http://tinyurl.com/yzy5n3h” (once per day)
  • Technorati fave this blog
  • Enter one of my other giveaways (3 extra entries)
  • Fan The Fish on Facebook
  • Blog about this giveaway (minimum of 100 words) (worth 5 entries)
 CONTEST ENDS NOVEMBER 8TH 2009@ MIDNIGHT
Best of luck to you all!
*Five Fish always blog ethically and with transparency. Click HERE! 
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Yoplait Fiber One 50 Calorie Yogurt Giveaway & Review

The folks over at Yoplait have been INGENIOUS with creating foods especially for those who are on a diet but still want flavor and those who are pressed for time. As a mom of three kids, two are 18 month old twins, time is but a luxury. Meals have to be made and made fast. Leaving me scrambling in the kitchen for something that resembles a meal and a meal that is healthy and filling. Moms are the ultimate short order cooks. So when I am left feeling hungry and not quite satisfied after my rushed meal, or I have a craving for some snacks, or my ultimate comfort food……ICE CREAM…..I have been reaching for the Yoplait Fiber One 50 Calorie Yogurt.
Can you see that!!?? (Please click to see my great circling job!!)
50 calories! 3 grams of protein, ZERO fat, not to mention LOW CARB, look at the 5 grams of fiber. That is the secret to this tasty snack is the fiber.
Fiber is great for your diet. Hello ladies, having trouble with your “deuce?” Yeah, can you say FIBER!
Plus 20 percent of the Recommended Daily Value of fiber. It is also a good source of calcium and vitamins A and D, making this an all-around great choice for dieters and those watching their weight.
Here is the true “skinny” for all of you dieters and moms out there who are curious as to how good this yogurt can really taste, especially at 50 calories. Take it from Hungry Girl okay?
The folks over at My Blog Spark sent me this great Yoplait Snack pack and the opportunity to go get some Yoplait Fiber One yogurt for myself to try out. Truly I love this stuff!! I thought, “Man this is gonna taste like diet food….total ass.” NO WAY!! Still the same great super creamy taste that Yoplait has to offer without the guilt! I can have the perfect lunch of a grilled chicken salad with a side of yogurt and I am completely satisfied. I get my sweet fix without the guilt. I have to admit that the Key Lime pie IS. MY. FAVE! Not too bitter, not too sweet and hey the strawberry is fabulous with chunks of real strawberry inside. YUMMO!
What is even better than telling you about this great snack?
I get to give THREE lucky readers a gift bag that includes a Fiber One yogurt VIP coupon (good for a free 4-pack of Fiber One yogurt), cooler pack, and other storage items for you to carry your snacks and yogurt- it’s great for work and other on-the-go activities!

Here is how you can enter to win:
  • Leave me a comment telling me what your diet secrets are, your guilty snacking pleasures (mine is ice cream), and or what are you doing to manage your weight?
Want additional entries for these goodies?
  • Follow my blog (the button is at the bottom) and tell me you do
  • Follow me on Twitter
  • Tweet this Giveaway (up to twice a day!) Leave a comment for each tweet status
  • Subscribe to my feed (on the left)
  • Fan the Fish on Facebook (on the left)
  • Fave me on Technorati
  • Stumble my Blog (not this post)

PLEASE be sure you leave your EMAIL address along with corresponding links for Tweets, etc.
Giveaway will end on September 18, 2009 @ 10am Arizona Time.

Good Luck and Have Fun!!
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Honey Kix Giveaway

As I said before school is nearing…..did I mention school starts soon?! Man am I ready for school to start! I can tell you the one thing that really helps Big G is a good breakfast in the morning. A tasty breakfast that I know will fill him up and keep him satisfied until lunch is a great start to any day and helps the little guy focus and stay on task at school. Otherwise…the kid is all over the place mentally, I mean he already is as a kindergartener….but seriously….I need not torture his teachers more. Plus breakfast is the most important meal of the day and helps to regulate your daily and overall blood sugar and well being.

Well the folks over at My Blog Spark must know that we love food in this house, and breakfast is a biggie!

I am not a big cereal fan, I eat Honey Bunches of Oats and Cheerios….es todo (that’s all). But I have to say that Honey Kix is a new favorite! I love a sweet cereal without seeming like a kids cereal that has a TON of sugar and I feel all amped. I mean the last thing we need in this house….is sugar! So a bowl of Honey Kix, a banana or an apple and milk….
Good. To. Go.
Everyone is fed and the day is off to a great start.


So a lucky reader gets to enjoy a box of Honey Kix, just in time for school mornings!!

Breakfast can be a hassle, so take the hassle out of the morning with cereal and a cereal kids, and adults alike will enjoy. Not to mention all the cool stuff that comes with the Honey Kix, courtesy again of the folks @ My Blog Spark and General Mills.

Here are the winning items of this giveaway, and my Big G….LOVES IT!!

  • Free Box of Honey Kix
  • Honey Kix breakfast bowl
  • Travel bowl with freezer safe insulated bottom, 2 pieces (breakfast on the go!)
  • Honey Kix storage container, so your breakfast is stashed in a fashionable tupperware container (and not the gawdy box!)
  • Honey Pot (DH was loving this! We looked everywhere to find one…low and behold…one comes in the mail….prayers answered about honey problem)
So seriously who wouldn’t want to enter this totally cool giveaway! I mean I was absolutely stoked when these items arrived…..I ran over and got the box of cereal to munch on while blogging…..I know shame on me.

Here are the deets:

  • Leave me a comment and tell me how much of a PAIN breakfast (or sometimes a lack thereof) and mornings are before school and your email address for the winnings.
Additional entries:
  • Follow this blog (or tell me you do)
  • Technorati fave me (or tell me you have)
  • Stumble my blog (or tell me you have)
  • Follow me on Twitter (or tell me you do)
  • Tweet this giveaway
  • Fan the Fish on Facebook!
  • Blog about this giveaway, come and tell me you did
Good luck!
CONTEST ENDS AUGUST 5TH 2009 @ 10AM ARIZONA TIME

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Chex Mix Bars Giveaway & Review

Okay, you have seen how I am a professed food junkie. I love food. I love to cook food, eat food, hate food. You saw my post on snacks, everyday you need a snack. Some days though, you want something deep fat fried and smothered in chocolate. You know you do! You, just like me want that sweet, salty, tang, ooey, gooey, crunchy goodness.

Well by golly General Mills made a snack especially for people like me, who want something deep fat fried and smothered in chocolate but you do not want all the guilt, I mean calories associated with a snack that is perfectly delicious.

Here is some great info about Chex Mix and Chex Mix Bars:

Low in fat and cholesterol free, moms love Rice Chex and Corn Chex cereal because they are low in sugar. For more than 60 years, Chex has offered calcium, vitamins and an enjoyable crunch.

Each bar is less than 200 calories and less than 4 grams of fat per serving! (Talk about guiltless snacking right?) Chex Mix Bars come in two flavors Turtle and Chocolate Chunk.

This delicious snack combines crunchy Chex pieces, pretzels and peanuts with chewy and indulgent ingredients like caramel and chocolate. And if that“s not enough, they have less than 150 calories per bar and provide at least 8 grams of whole grain per serving (48 grams recommended daily)! A great combination of the ingredients you love, Chex Mix Bars are a tasty treat that will leave you feeling satisfied and guilt-free!

Now our house was able to test (HA! You mean demolish) two boxes of Chex Mix Bars in Turtle. The ladies and gents over at My Blog Spark must have known that I absolutely LOVE anything with caramel and chocolate. Seriously, my favorite ice cream (next to Mint Chocolate chip) is Baskin Robbins Gold Medal Ribbon, which is vanilla with chocolate and caramel. YUM.

So seriously we receive the boxes like a few days after we demolish the Nature Valley Nut Clusters. Yeah, like I said, we are addicts. But we receive the boxes and that day and for some reason or another I am annoyed about something. I am driving my mad blond self around the house directionally cleaning. So I am like a street sweeper right, picking up stuff that will only get tossed around again by the gnomes. Pointless. But nonetheless cleaning. DH is snacking on one of these bars. The annoyed level goes to an all time as he is smacking on those things, just oozing how fabulous they are. Right, I pass on trying one. STUBBORN! ASS! I should have ripped it out of his hot little hands and munched on it!

Chex Mix Bars Turtle are my slice of heaven. I for one am not a fan of bars of anything. I rarely eat granola bars again for the mess, or candy bars for the guilt. Again, H-E-A-V-E-N!! So here is the skinny:

Me: They are crunchy without being too crunchy and not too squishy or sticky like some candy bars are and not too crunchy like granola where you have crumbs everywhere making you look like that Rock eating monster from The Neverending Story. (You know which one right?) I feel satisfied without feeling guilty or like I need to spend an extra hour RUNNING my tail down to work off those extra chocolate calories. Plus, LOW IN FAT! They have a few grams of protein, not a massive amount of sugar, and fiber. We all need fiber.

DH: “OMG have you tried these? Seriously take a bite? THOSE ARE FREAKING SO DAMN GOOD! They have to be illegal. Do they have them in the store, can you go buy some more?”

Yeah he is super easy. I think he said the same thing about the nuts too. Anyway, I love them, Big G loves them the Squids even had some nibbles and walked off lip smacking too which is a sign that The Fish family enjoyed the Chex Mix Bars.

Now all the cool and fabulous deets about this tasty giveaway. I am pleased to announce that I will be giving away SIX (6) boxes total of these Chex Mix Bars to three of my readers. So each of the three winners will receive TWO (2) lip smacking goodness boxes to enjoy in your home.

Here is my question to you and the fun part of the giveaway:
How do you indulge? What is your guilty pleasure?

 

Leave me a comment tell me your guilty pleasure, along with your email addy.

 

NO EMAIL ADDY, NO CHANCE TO WIN! NO SNACKS FOR YOU!

 

So please be sure to leave your email address with your comment so I have a way to tell you “Hey, you won! I get to send you some really awesome swag!”

Okay, the rules:

  • Tell me “How do you indulge? What is your Guilty pleasure!?”

Now these are all extra credit: (Thank you Eileen for pointing out the error of my ways)

  • Follow my blog, or tell me you already do
  • Follow me on Twitter, or tell me you already do
  • Tweet this giveaway, come back and tell me you did
  • Subscribe to my blog, (I check so no cheats! Or tell me you already do)
  • Grab my button
  • Fave my blog on Technorati, or tell me you already have
  • Stumble this blog, or tell me you already have (Many thanks to Leslie on the new found info about SU TOS….which we think is LAME!)
  • Blog about this giveaway and tell me you did (Worth 5 entries, leave a comment for each)
  • Become a Fan of The Fish on Facebook!
GOOD LUCK!!

 

~~~~~~CONTEST ENDS JULY 16TH @ MIDNIGHT AZ TIME~~~~~~~
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Nature Valley Nut Clusters Snack Review

The folks at My Blog Spark sent me these snacks. Now I am a huge food lover! I do. I love food, I hate what food does to me sometimes (the waistline), but I love my food. What I hate are snacks. Snacks are evil. Snacks are hard to find that are healthy without being completely bland, make you want to gag, blah! I received the box and when I opened the shipping package I knew I was in trouble.

DH was standing right there. He has eyes like a hawk for food.The packages were swooped up like a newborn being carried off by the stork.

Before I get into too much detail about how we Fish snacked on these packages, lets present the facts, some information on My Blog Spark and Nature Valley:

My Blog Spark
MyBlogSparkâ„¢ is a fun and exciting program that gives you access to exclusive offers, sampling opportunities, prizes to give away to your readers, surveys, and events where you can meet up with fellow bloggers.

Nature Valley
A General Mills brand. Nature Valley created the granola bar category in 1975. Today’s lineup includes great-tasting Sweet & Salty Nut, Chewy Trail Mix and Heart Healthy chewy granola bars that are a good source of fiber. Nature Valley also provides consumers with cereal that is bursting with crunchy chunks of granola bars.

General Mills also enriches people’s lives around the world with programs such as Eat Better America and Nourishing Lives, by innovating a way to make people’s lives healthier, easier, and richer.

So now that you have all the fabulous deets on these folks here is the skinny on the snacks:


Nature Valley Nut Clusters come in four different nut cluster flavors for each type of nut and granola lover you may be. Right did I not mention that? These are great little nut and GRANOLA clusters, so the protein of the nut without all the extra calories that you get from eating a handful of nuts! Fantastic right?!

So the four flavors that did not survive a week in my home are: Nature Valley Honey Roasted Peanut Nut Cluster, Nut Lovers, Roasted Almond (one of my favorites….fights PMS too ladies!) and finally Roasted Cashew.

My take: I love that they are these bite size, and I truly mean perfect bite sized snacks that you just pop in your mouth. Some granola snacks get to be messy and fall apart or you have those nasty, salty, sugary, greasy feel from handling nuts (no pun intended there!) leaving you feeling yucky and regretful for eating all those calories. Plus the kids….LOVE THEM. They are perfect for their little hands and very little to no mess and no worries about choking on nut pieces, the nut pieces are small enough their little mouths can handle them. Score! No Heimlich in my house.

The DH’s Review: “You gonna get any more of these? How about you buy some when you get to the store next time? I mean these things are just sinful!” As he stands in the middle of the pantry popping them in his mouth like they are about to disintegrate. in his hot little hands.

Now everything else is up to you whether you are a fan of granola. Are you a fan of nuts? How about both? Have you ever wanted to incorporate both say into a snack, or a dish, these would be great with vanilla ice cream, maybe some yogurt, a salad maybe. What would you do with your Nature Valley Nut Cluster Snacks? Would you devour them like we did or get creative?