How to Save Some Green for your Family with Lowest Priced Unlimited Plans

This #MarchIntoSavings shop has been compensated by #CollectiveBias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. 

Have you noticed how expensive kids are these days?

Not only that, but a family of 5 always needs something. Summer is coming up and we need new Summer clothes for all 3 kids, new shoes, etc. On top of that, as my husband and I discussed adding another phone for our family, the plan costs had me sweating bullets. Currently we pay about $200 for our 2 phones.

We no longer have a land line in the house. It was something rarely used and a good place to cut the budget, but that means we don't have an emergency phone, a back-up or a way for my son to stay in touch if he is busy at activities or away from home.

Have you tried to find a payphone these days? I am not sure my son even knows what a payphone is!

After doing some research I found the Walmart Family Mobile - Walmart Best Plans are an inexpensive way to go. It is a great place to start for a phone and reasonable service plan.  I loved that I could hop onto their online site and check to see if my area would have coverage for their plans first.

I went to the electronics department in Walmart to find the Walmart Family Mobile display. You can't miss it!  There were several phone options, but I chose the Alcatel Evolve 2 ($39.83 - was $59.88), and the $29.88/month (for the first line) Unlimited Talk, Text & Data service plan which includes up to 500MB of 4G LTE data.

This is a post-paid plan, so we will pay for our cell service at the end of each month. I also love that it has no contract, so early termination fees or penalties are not a problem.

That saves me a whole lot of "green" right there! 


Disclaimer: All prices for phones and plans included in this post are accurate as of the date of posting; however, these prices are subject to change. Please refer to http://cbi.as/aafid or your local Walmart for current pricing.

To get started, I just needed to buy the phone, and a starter kit. I had the choice to sign-up for service in-store or do it from home. With the whole family in tow, I opted to sign-up later and finish the rest of our shopping quickly. I love saving money by getting all our household needs at one store.

I would love to tell you that I am amazingly tech savvy... but, I won't lie. Luckily, the instructions in my starter kit made set-up fast and simple.

Time is money, right?

The Alcatel Evolve2 had everything we needed in a new phone; a 5MP Camera, built in WiFi and an Android operating system. We were all excited to see how it would work around the farm, especially my son. I mean, we have to stay connected to find one another around here. There is a lot of acreage. 

The phone was easy to use, and signal strength is great. The new 4G LTE service is a great choice for fast service and clear calls.

And for my little budding farmer, he can snap pics of the plants, or bugs and send them to his Dad to help identify. I was impressed with the photo quality.

So, my kids are growing up. My son has a lot to learn about cell phone etiquette and online safety. I am just thrilled that Walmart Family Mobile has options that allow us to teach my son, while not putting a squeeze on my wallet.

You could say I am feeling a little lucky that I have more money in my pocket for our growing family's other expenses this Summer. Saving sure does feel good.

I shared how we will be saving some money this Summer, now I'd love to hear yours!

Check out the Newest Switch & Go Dinos - Bronco plus Giveaway!

I was sent a VTech Switch & Go Dinos Turbo - Bronco The RC Triceratops in order to create my review.  the VTech products and information have all been provided by VTech. All experiences and opinions are my own.

My kids love remote controlled toys! From cars to airplanes and helicopters they will spend hours driving or flying them around the house. But VTech offers the only car/dinosaur combination I have seen. 

From the first Switch and Go Dinos I blogged about in 2012, to Blister the Velociraptor we loved last year, the new Bronco the RC Triceratops has been an instant hit in our house.

For ages 3-8 years (MSRP: $44.99) this is an RC toy especially for little hands. Just one touch at the top of the controller switches from car to dino mode.  It includes a steering wheel, directional button, headlight button, turbo boost button as well as sounds and talk buttons.

This Switch & Go Dinos  is the first RC toy that my 5-year old was able to use unassisted out of the box. Unlike other remote control toys, it also included an LCD screen display for dinosaur eyes or the car driver (kids can choose from 4 options). 

And even though my 5-year old was good to go, that didn't mean that older kids weren't interested. Her 7-year old brother and his older friends were very interested in it at a recent play date.

Both the remote and car take batteries, but we filled our with rechargeable to cut down on the cost.

And here it is changing from car to Triceratops:

In race car mode the vehicle really moves! The kids have had a great time racing it down halls and maneuvering it around the obstacles of the playroom. 

Overall, if you are looking for a cool new toy to gift this Christmas, the Switch & Go Dinos are sure to be a big hit. They are a great first RC toy for a girl or boy on your list this holiday season.  From personal experience, my kids have enjoyed all of their Switch and Go Dinos, but the toys keep getting better year after year. 

Connect with VTech on Twitter and Facebook to stay up on their latest and greatest toys and promotions.

Giveaway Time!!

Would you like the chance to win your own Switch & Go Dinos Turbo - Bronco The RC Triceratops? VTech has generously offered to sponsor this giveaway so you can share it with your child. US residents only please. Enter on the rafflecopter widget below. Giveaway ends December 1st, 2014 (US residents only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

"Leap into Gaming" with LeapFrog LeapTV

I received free products in order to host the LeapFrog sponsored MommyParty. The opinions expressed here are my own. #LeapTV #MommyParties

Oregon is known for it's wet weather, dark Winters and annual feelings of cabin fever have already started to appear. It is hard to keep kids, young kids especially, moving and active during the darker, colder months. So our LeapFrog LeapTV was a welcome addition to a rainy weekend and we even had friends over to share the fun!

If you have ever tried using a gaming system with young children, it can be a challenge, especially to find something where they can understand the instructions (often written) and can stay engaged at their learning level.

So what is LeapTV?

Take a game that is focused on kids, with sports, characters and activities that kids enjoy, give it an easy to use controller and then mix in basic learning lessons in a fun way. While my Kindergarten age daughter played the dance game, she also worked on forming compound words, and picking out the "striped fruit" on the screen or the "longest fruit".

My favorite part is the kids can be active while learning and playing interactive games! Targeted for kids ages 3-8, there are currently 9 cartridge games to choose from and 100+ games and videos available by year-end.

Our LeapTV system came with a console, motion-sensing camera so the players can see them selves on the screen, a transforming controller, power adapter, HDMI cable and a camera mount so the camera could be placed on top of our TV.

We were also sent 2 games to try; LeapFrog Sports and LeapFrog Dance & Learn.

Set up was easy. In fact, my husband was thrilled that most of the account set-up could be done on his smart phone. We didn't have to do any awkward typing with the controller or have to find a computer to finish set-up. The easy-to-follow instructions had us go from box to playing in just a few minutes.

The transforming controller can go from a classic hand-held controller for easy button reach and finger toggle to a pointer with both ends stretched out.

Even better, for the dance games, only body movement is necessary, so younger kids can push buttons and select fruit without having to worry about selecting the correct button.

Another feature I loved was that beginning readers were given verbal cues and help, so no one at our party was left out. This is exactly the type of gaming program I have searched for for years. True story, my oldest has always wanted to play on family game nights, but when he was younger it was frustrating that there wasn't an age appropriate system. Luckily, now there is!

One aspect the kids really enjoyed was being able to watch themselves on the screen. Our only issue was for a larger party kids behind the camera had to remain still or they could could interfere with some of the actions. We ended up placing our small chairs around the sides of the room so our guests could take turns in the fun.

From soaring around and flapping their wings...

...to creating compound words for real things...

"The sun did not shine.

It was too wet to play.

So we sat in the house

All that cold, cold, wet day."

- Dr. Seuss

...well, until these Oregonians got their LeapTV and made the most of their blustery day!

Check out a video of some of the fun. LeapFrog LeapTV

You can pick up your own #LeapTV in time for Christmas, along with various games. Look for them wherever other LeapFrog products are sold. 

Thrilled to Upgrade Our Keurig - 2.0 Is the Way to Go!

It is no secret that I love a good cup of coffee.

Getting our Keurig changed my world from pots of lukewarm or stale coffee to fresh cups of just what I wanted. We have been through 2, and I wouldn't be without a Keurig and my K-Cups.

So when I learned about the Keurig 2.0, I talked my husband into getting one. Jumping with both feet into the improvements that had me all excited. A chance to have the coffee my way, with even more options.

First of all, after a little online research I decided to go with the Keurig 2.0 K560. This is the model available right now at Costco.  One of the big differences between the different models is the water reservoir. The K550 and K560 both have an 80oz water reservoir. These models also both have a customizable night-light in the water reservoir. Okay, this was not a big selling feature for us but I did set ours to display green for our beloved Ducks.  Both come with a variety of K-Cups and K-Carafe packs, but the one at Costco was a better overall price.

You can also find the Walmart version, the K500 with the same model features, just a smaller pack of K-Cup and K-Carafe samples. Overall, the price was between Costo and the Keurig brand site.

I really liked the new look of the 2.0. Though aesthetics are such a small part of a coffee maker, I thought they really improved the look of a machine that will be gracing my counter top.

The water reservoir redesign was fabulous! I loved how the top lifted up for easy refills. The other big bonus was the water filter that will keep me from having to wait for our water to filter before adding it to my machine. We are on well water and there is fine sediment that wreaked havoc on our past machines. Now my Keurig has a filter and even has a program (which you don't have to enable) that will tell me when maintenance is needed.

Oh, and that 80oz. means I don't have to keep refilling throughout the day.

Another big difference is the base completely pulls out for easier cleaning and to fit in the carafe. Keurig boasts that the machine can tell if you are brewing a single cup or a carafe and this is why. Do you notice the notch in back?

That is where the carafe fits in. It has a magnet so it fits snugly into place.

Our machine came with a plastic carafe. We decided to do the upgrade to the stainless Thermal Carafe to help keep our pots of coffee warmer longer. This is a feature I plan to use more for our Sunday morning breakfasts. That is when we are more likely to use regular mugs and take a little longer to enjoy our morning coffee.

The display has also been redesigned. One of the biggest reasons why my husband and I chose to upgrade right away was the strength feature. Both my husband and I prefer a stronger brew than usually Keurig has to offer. This allows us to make our favorites stronger. And yes, it works!  As the machine brews, it sounds different. The water is put through in intervals instead of straight through.

As always, select the size cup you want and now you can even choose hot cocoa or "other". Then push the button for the water to dispense.

Another great feature is hot water dispensing. My old machine would dispense water, but without a K-Cup the water went all over and wasn't directed down. I even tried putting in a reusable, empty K-Cup, but wasn't thrilled with the results. Now I have taken my hot water pot off the counter because the Keurig 2.0 now will dispense without problems.

If you are a current Keurig owner, you will notice that the biggest change is you must use a Keurig licensed K-Cup. They have changed the packaging and generic pods are no longer accepted by the system.

I would say that is the biggest downside of this new product. But take heart, there are some hacks out there online. I haven't tried them myself, so I won't go into detail. The biggest grumble I had was for the leftover K-Cups in my pantry (yes, even licensed ones) that didn't have the new packaging. My stores, even in rural OR, are now carrying the newer acceptable version.

Overall I love the new machine! We ended up giving away our old Keurig. It still had some life left, but my new Keurig 2.0 now fits my family's needs better. Even with the larger water reservior, the machine didn't take up much more counter space. It is taller, and overall better than the original.

Do you own a Keurig? Will you make the upgrade?

Beamly: Stay Cool While You Dish with Fellow Fans

Is it hot? We have reached the hottest stretch in Summer and now I finding myself enjoying my favorite chair and air conditioning even more at the end of the day. Whether you TiVo or map out your night around your favorite shows, I hope you will come and join me on Beamly. Available on both the website and mobile through the Free Beamly App. It is the Summer home stretch for many of my favorites, as well as time to start trading news clips and updates about my Fall favorites set to return soon.

With just few more home chefs left for the final episodes of MasterChef (FOX), and the first episode of the much anticipated Outlander series coming in August to Starz. There is a lot of great shows to fall in love with, catch up on and talk about.

Then there is my favorite drama, Suits. With Mike hitting rock bottom, who knows what is going to happen?
And any Dr. Who fans out there? With a new Doctor things are sure to be interesting.

So head over to Beamly, look me up (Andrea Kruse) and connect so we can talk about some of your favorite shows. Everything's better with friends, and friends don't let friends obsess about TV alone.

Beamly is THE 24/7 social and content network for TV and TV fans. Join me today in TV conversations and get the latest juice and gossip about your favorite shows!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Beamly. The opinions and text are all mine.

Connect with Fellow TV Fans on Beamly

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Beamly. The opinions and text are all mine.​




What are you doing at 8pm? Do you have a standing prime time engagement?

After I tuck my kids into bed it is "me" time. Time that I like to unwind with my favorite shows. Unfortunately, my husband is more of a Top Gear and Discovery Channel sort of guy, so my dramas, science-fiction and food programming is something I enjoy alone.

Well, not anymore at least. I have found a fun, interactive community online where I can share episode thoughts, dish about my favorite actors and discuss plot lines and those horrid cliff-hangers. Yes, no one quite gets my weird ideas on Orange is the New Black like the community at Beamly.




Beamly is an interactive, online community for TV fans. There are places to chat about the show episodes (TV rooms), as well as learn more about the show, and even keep track of the TV schedule. I usually forget to watch Suits when it airs, but now that I can use the Beamly phone app to remind me of a new episode, I am there.

Yes, you can either check Beamly out on your computer, or download it free to your smartphone. I enjoy tweeting during my favorite shows anyway, so I just keep the Beamly app open and I can not only chat with fellow fans about how Mike and Harvey from Suits need to make up and start working together again, but I can also send my tweet with the show hashtag (#Suits) right there. It connects me with the wider online community of fans.




Now I recently was turned onto watching MasterChef on FOX. Many of my favorite shows are between seasons and I always love interesting food challenges. I learned all about the show, the cast and even the program schedule through Beamly.

Speaking of MasterChef, did anyone watch last night's episode? I am really loving the idea of that Prosciutto, Guinness and Maple donut that Gordon Ramsey gushed about. Okay, he didn't really gush (does he ever?), but he did give it rather surprising praise.

So I guess you could say Beamly has taken my TV viewing to a whole new level. I am interacting with fellow fans, learning more about the behind the scenes workings of the show and even finding new shows to fall in love with.

Okay, so put down the remote for a moment, go create your own profile on Beamly and follow my profile (Andrea Kruse) while you are at it. I would love to discuss the finer points of prison food (Piper style - OITNB) or tell you why I think Donna is the glue that holds together Suits. But, I am sure there are a whole bunch of other Beamly users who would love to chat with you too.

What is your current favorite show? Which Beamly TV room would you join?

Beamly is THE 24/7 social and content network for TV and TV fans. Join me today in TV conversations and get the latest juice and gossip about your favorite shows!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Beamly. The opinions and text are all mine.

Grab the Remote and Come Join Me on Beamly! The Social Network for TV Fans

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Beamly. All opinions and experiences are my own.

Do you have a favorite TV show?

Bound to the home and stuck with my children's animated and educational shows by day, during prime time it is Mommy's turn with the remote. In the evening I can escape into my favorite drama, fantasy and science fiction television series.

Of course, yelling at the TV screen isn't as much fun as dishing with friends. Beamly is the new social and content network for your favorite television shows. Discuss the shows, share your reactions, set reminders for which shows you want to watch and even keep up on the current news regarding your beloved shows.

Television fans everywhere rejoice! ... then come check out Beamly.

I love that I can customize my avatar, screen and info. Then follow others. Come check me out and follow my profile. I would love to chat with you.

You can download the Beamly app FREE for your iPhone or Android.Now I can vent or dish in my spare time.

So what are my must-see shows? Right now I am watching Once Upon a Time. It is the best way to start my week with a new Sunday night installment. This season's twist on The Wizard of Oz has me on the edge of my seat. I am rooting for Hook, by the way. What is it with smoldering pirates wearing eyeliner? Followed of course by Revenge later the same evening. That show jerks me around and I love it.

To satisfy my love for good Sci-Fi, I also religiously watch Haven, and Warehouse 13. I expect both of these seasons to end with a bang, especially since this is the last season of Warehouse 13.

Of course, I'm secretly watching Resurrection and the verdict is still out on Continuum. But you can see all my thoughts and opinions right there in the different television show rooms.

Love a show? Then GET A ROOM! ... just do it on Beamly. You can learn more in the Beamly youtube video.

Beamly is THE 24 X 7 social and content network for TV and TV fans. Join me today in TV conversations and get the latest juice and gossip about your favorite shows!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Beamly. The opinions and text are all mine.

The LEGO Movie Video Game - In One Word? Awesome!

Like many families, our kids dragged us to the  theater to watch a family flic, The LEGO Movie. Okay, I was dragged, my husband, who grew up being a total LEGO enthusiast, was not so hard to convince. I was a little skeptical. Oh boy, it was so good - never saw that coming!

In retrospect it is stacked with an amazing cast of voices, lots of LEGO favorite sets and a whole lot of good nostalgic fun. Why did I not expect more from this movie? Oh, yeah... it is a family-friendly film.

By family-friendly it was not filled with non-stop bodily noises or bathroom humor. Instead it relied on what LEGO does best, creativity and building. The themes of the movie were ever changing but it touched on being part of a team, creativity, being special and allowing yourself to just play.

Amazingly under-merchandised (other than the movie building sets) I agreed to get The LEGO Movie Videogame for our Xbox One. I was actually hoping to get my son a T-shirt, but this ended up being better.

The game closely follows the movie plot, so don't play until you have watched the movie - *spoilers* Average builder Emmet finds the peice of restance and is identified as "The Special". Wyldstyle swoops in to take him to see Vitruvius and they set out to stop Lord Business and save Bricksburg as well as the greater LEGO world. With 15 levels and the ability to use up more than 90 film characters, there is a lot for your Master Builders to do.

My favorite part of the game? Actually getting to build on screen. There is a time limit, but the build is pretty simple. I just enjoy that it stays true to the purpose of these building toys.

This is the first non-sports game my son has attempted and he is having a blast playing it with his Dad. Watching them in demolition mode, laughing as they tear through Bricksburg, makes me smile. Dad is a big LEGO fan, having spent hours as a child playing with his sets and my son is the next generation to love the toys. Both boys are loving that every stage in the movie and object is created with digital LEGO bricks. That is a first from previous LEGO games.

It really is intended to be a 2 person game. Yes, you could play on your own, but several tasks require the help of another character and having a partner along the way will make the game go more quickly.

Some of the most notable movie voices also were included in the game like Emmet (Chris Pratt), Vitruvius (Morgan Freeman), Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks), Batman (Will Arnett) and Lord Business (Will Ferrell).

The game is rated E10+ for everyone and is available for multiple platforms including Xbox One ($59.99)

Snacks and Video Games? What More Could You Want Under the Tree but Xbox One.

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community. I plan to include Forza 5, M&M's and Xbox One under our tree this year. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and its client. #FueledbyMM 

Last year my husband and I decided that each holiday season we should get one large gift for the whole family to enjoy. Something for the house, the yard or to put towards vacation. I wanted to cut back on all the small things, the clutter, the long hours of shopping. This year I knew exactly what I wanted to get for our crew.

Why an Xbox One, of course!

Shhh... don't tell anyone.

I love the Kinect Sensor with our Xbox 360, but the reviews I have heard for the Xbox One blow it out of the water. We love spending our rainy Oregon evenings up dancing, jumping and racing in the comfort of our own living room.

Since I already had plans to get our family the newest gaming system and a few of our family's favorite games, I was excited to see the M&M's and Forza Motorsports 5 -  Buy, Snap, Redeem promotion advertised in our local Walmart. Did I mention that my husband is a huge Forza fan?

Of course, as you might have noticed here on the blog, I already my M&M's. It wasn't hard for me to decided to buy participating M&M products and the newest Forza game at the same time to redeem my eGift card.

What do you need to to?

1. Buy the Forza Motorsports 5 game for Xbox One at Walmart.

2. Buy participating M&M's products - these include: M&Ms Peanut 42oz Stand Up Pouch, M&Ms Milk 42oz Stand Up Pouch, M&Ms Peanut Butter 38oz Stand Up Pouch, M&Ms Pretzel 30oz Stand Up Pouch, M&Ms Peanut 19.2oz Large Laydown Bag, M&Ms Milk 19.2oz Large Laydown Bag, M&Ms Peanut Butter 18.4oz Large Laydown Bag, M&Ms Pretzel 15.4oz Large Laydown Bag.) Total M&M purchase must be at least $8 for the offer to work.

3. Snap a photo of the items purchased on the same receipt. Text to 811811 and include the code: M&M.

4. Redeem. You will be texted back a reward code for a $10 eGift card to Walmart.

Of course, that isn't all the fun you can have if you are a gamer. The M&M Pixel Art Instagram contest is still running through December 18th. Just use your M&M's to create a gaming image. Post your photo to Instagram and Twitter with the hashtags #FueledByMM and #Contest. 

One lucky artist will win their own Xbox One console and Gaming Is Better With M prize pack featuring Forza Motorsport 5. Now, that would make for a Merry Christmas, wouldn't it?

Again, I am drawing images from my childhood to create out of M&Ms. Remember when all games were full of Pixel Art and that was high tech?

There is still plenty of time to enter. What will you create?

Whether you sneak a game or gaming system under your tree this year, or some M&M's in the stockings, these items are sure to be a hit this Christmas season with your family, too.

Just remember, grab your own eGift card, enter to win an Xbox and sit back and be a holiday hero.

Revving Up with M&Ms for Forza 5 and XBox One

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community. We are excited for the upcoming release of Forza 5 and XBox One. See how we play and snack with M&;M's. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and its client. #FueledByMM

Originally I purchased our Xbox 360 for family nights. Oregon Winters can be so wet and muddy I needed something to keep us active and entertained. The Kinect games were the perfect solution for a restless family of 5.

But with all the active games, dance games and kid's games, my husband wanted something for himself. He is a big fan of  the BBC's Top Gear TV show and so of course he loves the Forza Motorsport games. Design the perfect cars, race on closed circuit tracks - it is the best racing simulation game out there. The graphics are phenomenal and the car details and information is perfect for the car enthusiast lacking the cash to own his own ride. Yes, Forza 4 is the perfect racing fantasy for big kids.

This is the game my husband and his friends love to play.

Last Christmas we bought my husband Forza 4 and the racing controller. Despite the Kinect possibilities, my husband likes the hands-on feel of the controller.

Do you like his pink race car? My daughter designed it. It was her idea to stick the big white grasshopper on the back. I think my husband spends just as much time on his cars as he does actually racing. That is what makes this game so much fun. Oh, the possibilities.

When we have friends over the kids usually grab their favorite games, but the adults like a chance to play, too.

Of course playing Forza 4 is a great way to get excited about the upcoming release of not only Forza 5, but also Xbox One. Yes, it is on my list for this year. It will probably end up being our big family item we splurge on. I have heard nothing but great reviews on the system as well as the new racing upgrades. The graphics alone for the new game look amazing. I can't wait to try it out. Both will be released November 22nd and available at Walmart.

Now, if you are as crazy about Xbox and Forza Motorsports as we are, then there are a few great promotions you don't want to miss.

BUY, SNAP, REDEEM
Starting November 22nd, Go to Walmart and

• Buy the  Forza 5 game
• Buy participating M&M products (including M&Ms Peanut 42oz Stand Up Pouch, M&Ms Milk 42oz Stand Up Pouch, M&Ms Peanut Butter 38oz Stand Up Pouch, M&Ms Pretzel 30oz Stand Up Pouch, M&Ms Peanut 19.2oz Large Laydown Bag, M&Ms Milk 19.2oz Large Laydown Bag, M&Ms Peanut Butter 18.4oz Large Laydown Bag, M&Ms Pretzel 15.4oz Large Laydown Bag.)
• Snap a photo of the qualifying items on your receipt and text it to 811811
• Redeem - You will be texted back a reward code for a $10 eGift card to Walmart

Also, Microsoft will have a Pixel Art Instagram competition, 'Gaming is Better with M'. Create your own Pixel Art, inspired by your favorite video games or racing, using M&M's (R) candies and snap an Instagram Photo. Tag your image with #FueledByM AND #Contest and post the image on Instagram and Twitter. Don't upload your entry until the contest begins though to be eligible.

One lucky Pixel Artist will win a new Xbox One and Gaming is better with M pack including the Forza 5 Motorsport game and a 14 oz bag of M&Ms(R).  Contest runs Dec. 4th - Dec. 18th and winner will be chosen at random.  

My video game or racing inspired pixel art is a nod to my childhood. Did anyone else ever play Space Invaders? Long before the Xbox 360, I passed the time with an old school Atari and a handful of games including Space Invaders.

What will inspire your pixel art masterpiece?

M&M's remain one of my favorite stand-alone candies because a big bowl of brightly colored M&M's is always fun. Grab a few between turns on the game, or spend a few extra minutes and bake some up in a classic bar cookie. Everyone needs a little racing fuel, right?

M&M Cookie Bars
You Will Need:

• 2 1/4 c. flour
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 3/4 c. unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), melted
• 1 c. brown sugar, packed
• 1/4 c. sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 large egg yolk
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 c. M&M's + 1/4 c. for spreading on top

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees, move the top rack in to the center of the oven. Spray a 9"x13" baking dish with nonstick spray, set aside. 

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt and baking soda.

In a large bowl, mix the melted butter, and sugars together till smooth. Whisk in the eggs and vanilla and mix well. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture. Press the dough in the baking dish and smooth with a spatula. The dough will seem thin, but it will puff up nicely.

Bake for 27 - 30 minutes or until the top and sides of the bars turn golden brown. The center will still be soft, but not wet. Let the bars cool completely before cutting into bars.

So, ready to get racing? I am sure this will be one hot item under the tree this year.

Have you played Forza 4?