Passing the Purse for October - Domestic Violence Awareness Month

*Disclaimer - This post is part of a sponsored campaign with The Allstate Foundation and MomSelect. All opinions and experiences are my own.

Did you know that domestic violence affects 1 in 4 women in their lifetime? I have seen what domestic violence can do to a woman's self esteem and self confidence, and that isn't even the physical outward signs of abuse. What amazes me is that most people are unaware someone is suffering around them. It is always easier to turn a blind eye, but women are also good at hiding the signs out of fear, shame, etc.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and time to start up a conversation with family, friends and coworkers about getting help and letting others help. 

The Allstate Foundation started the  Purple Purse campaign as a symbol for domestic violence. By gaining financial independence, women can break the cycle, hence the purse. Whether it is fear for themselves or for their children, many women are afraid to walk away. Currently in it's third year, this campaign  has pledged to donate up to $350,000 to the YWCA for programs designed to assist survivors of domestic violence and other women in need.

So what can you do? Well, start passing the Purple Purse.

I will be getting a physical purse to pass on thanks to the Allstate Foundation and MomSelect, but everyone can get involved by passing around a virtual purse. Head over to www.purplepurse.com or click on the image above, enter the code: 0030, and then enter your zipcode on the map.

I would love to see this purse being passed all over the country, so send a virtual purse to your friends and relatives. Start that conversation and make a difference in the fight against Domestic Violence.

Check out the Facebook page for the Purple Purse campaign to learn even more. Talk about it online and follow using hashtag #purplepurse.

Enter the Help Your School Excel with Excedrin Contest

*Disclaimer - This post is part of a sponsored campaign with Excedrin® and MomSelect. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The start of the new school year may or may not have come with it's own headaches. Did you get all the supplies your child wanted, I couldn't find a Minion notebook last-minute for my son, or did you get the teacher you or your child hoped for?

In  in a recent survey by the makers of Excedrin®, 69% of parents said that they were excited for their child's first day of school. Interestingly enough, 44% of parents also say they expect to get a headache during the back to school season! I know that I expect to be part of that 44%, what about you?

Headaches have become a regular occurrence in my average day. With 3 kids to keep up with and life's little surprises in there too, I have to take a pain reliever at the first sign of pain. I just can't afford to let a headache or migraine keep me from my day.

Since my son is in Kindergarten this year I am trying to set some habits to cut-down on the Back to School headaches. First, I bought him a special folder for all the important papers from his teacher to go into. We open up his backpack and take a peek in the folder everyday after school. I also have him sit down and talk to me about his day right when he gets home. Over a snack we are communicating about what happened and if anything is coming up. My husband and I have also kept the lines of communication open with my son's teacher and principal about his medical issues. I am trying to be proactive from the start to hopefully avoid too many unnecessary frustration or problems.

Of course, I know I am not immune to something going wrong this year. For those times at least I can grab some Excedrin.

Excedrin is not only helping out busy parents like me, but your purchase could also help with the Back to School headaches of your teachers or school. What school couldn't use a little extra money? With every purchase of Exedrin, you can enter for a chance to win $10,000 for your child's school.

Enter the "Help Your School Excel with Excedrin" sweepstakes on Facebook for the chance to be one of five lucky winners. Be sure to enter your UPC code by September 15th, 2013. You can find complete sweepstakes rules on the Excedrin Facebook page.

Matchbox Heroes Wanted! Celebrate the 60th Anniversary with a chance to Win #spon

Our world is full of heroes. My son knows that and loves dressing up as a firefighter, police officer, soldier or doctor. What kind of hero does your child look up to? Do they dress-up and pretend to be any of their real-world heroes at home?

My son has dressed up as a firefighter for the past 3 years. This particular costume is far too short, a little too tight, but he refuses to give it up. I know I will be replacing it when Halloween rolls around again. He just admires our local firefighters so much.

This year marks the 60th Anniversary of Matchbox and they are celebrating with a Matchbox Heroes Wanted contest. They will be giving away 60 prizes each week from April 1st - 21st, with a grand prize of a $60,000 scholarship!

To celebrate the heroic attributes of children who love their Matchbox toys, Matchbox is asking parents to submit photos of their little heroes (age 3 - 10), between now and May 13th, 2013, dressed up like their favorite real-life icons and caption it with why they are a true Matchbox hero. Submissions will be showcased on the Matchbox Heroes Wanted Facebook Gallery and are automatically entered to win.

So grab your camera, get out the dress-up box and enter today.

What real-life hero will your child be dressing up as?

*Disclaimer - I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Select. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating. All opinions and experiences are my own.

It's Not Your Fault and I Can Prove It, by Steve Shenk

Released February 22, 2013, It's Not Your Fault and I Can Prove It is a motivational primer that asks us to believe in magic. Yes, we hold the power to create our own success, happiness and future. The key is to let go and remember it's not your fault.

Written by Steve Shenk, with 40 years behind him in sales and market development, he came across hundreds of people all who helped to shape his understanding of the human experience. Through their struggles and triumphs he saw a chance to achieve greater things and even reach magnificence. As we all know, humans have basic needs: food, shelter and safety. We all start out with those same needs, but why do some people succeed where others fail? This book attempts to answer those questions by leading us through a series of encounters and conversations between the "Guardian" and a man named, Michael.

"This book is called It's Not Your Fault. (xxi)" ...and if that sounds like a strange way to begin a motivational journey (no, it's not an excuse!), just hold onto your hat because there are a lot of statements included in this book to really get you thinking.

Michael is a reflection of all of us with our own struggles through life - good or bad. The Guardian shares with Michael keys to grow, succeed and make changes in his life. All which help him to let go of blame and feelings of victimization enabling him to be happy and find personal success.

Some of my favorite points in the book included:

• Making Lemonade out of our lives
• Letting Go of Fault and Blame
• The Past Doesn't Exist
• And the Power of Faith

As I read Steve Shenk's book, I realized that many of the concepts were not new to me. Perhaps they are not new to you either, but I loved that they were all bound up together in one book meant to make us think and question what is holding us back from happiness. Many of the keys the Guardian passed to Michael were very similar to things my Grandmother used to say or passed down to her family. She definitely believed in working hard and creating a positive outlook on life.

We can take control of our lives and "It's Not Your Fault" is a great way to begin.

Giveaway Time!!!

I have one copy of "It's Not Your Fault and I Can Prove It" by Steve Shenk to give away to one lucky Adventures in All Things Food reader. This book makes a fascinating read or a great gift for someone that might need some words of wisdom. This giveaway ends 3/21/2013 at midnight PST. Open to the US.

1. Just leave a comment below with why you would like to win a copy.

2. For an additional entry, tweet the following & leave the URL in the comments section:

Win a copy of "It's Not Your Fault" & get the secrets to finding magnificence in your life. @notimeMom (ends 3/21) http://bit.ly/W7fLnJ

*Disclaimer - I received a copy of "It's Not Your Fault and I Can Prove It" for this review from MomSelect and the publisher.  All experiences and opinions are my own.

Grab HP XL Ink Cartridges at Walmart - A Convenient & Frugal Choice #Giveaway

I get a lot of use out of my printer on a daily basis. For crafting, blogging and recipes I am always printing something out to take or use. Unfortunately that means I go through a large amount of printer ink.

I hate going to the store just for ink.

With my husband's printer we have to go to the large office supply stores to get a price on ink cartridges. Luckily this savvy Mom has a new HP Deskjet 3052A printer and now I can pick up my ink cartridges right at my local Walmart while doing the rest of my shopping or on walmart.com/HPink.

Have you heard about HP's XL ink cartridges?

These are so slick! I can save up to 40% on printing with these new cartridges that hold more ink. Your store's prices may vary from mine, but it is still a frugal printing option. The 'XL' only refers to the amount of ink in the cartridge, not the actual cartridge size, so don't worry about it fitting into your HP printer. 

Check out my little video comparing a regular HP ink cartridge with a new HP XL:

MomSelect challenged me to see how good of a deal the XL ink cartridge really was. I was sent to my local Walmart with a $75 Walmart gift card. After purchasing the HP XL ink cartridge, they wanted to see how much I could get with the remaining balance.

I grabbed the black ink since I do more basic document printing than color photos and then off we shopped!

This was my haul. From a new small cast iron pan to pantry staples, and treats for later in the week I got all of this for $75, the ink cartridge included. Now, this is why I enjoy shopping at my local Walmart.

So not only do I not need to shop for ink as often, I can save money and do all my shopping in one stop. That makes me a smart and happy mom.


Giveaway Time!

I have one $20 Walmart Gift Card to give away to one lucky reader. Giveaway ends 10/26/2012 midnight PST. Must be 18 years or older to enter and in the US. Winner will be chosen through random.org.

Mandatory Entry: Tell me what you would print with the HP XL cartridge. Leave your comment on this post, and make sure I have a way to contact you if your blogger profile is not public. (1 entry)

Optional Entries: Share this post on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, pin on Pinterest, Stumble or share my Youtube video. Do this once daily in as many different channels as you like. Leave a separate comment with each link to receive credit.

Good luck!


*Winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize via email. Please respond to my winner's notification or a new winner will be selected. The prize will be sent from the participating PR agency, I am not responsible for lost or misdirected items. Prizes take 4-8 weeks to arrive, after that time if your prize has not arrived please contact me via email.
**Disclaimer - I received a Walmart gift card as part of a promotional program with MomSelect. All opinions expressed and experiences are my own. 

LeapFrog Touch Magic - It's a “Rock ‘n Learn” Party

I had the chance to throw a fun playdate for my children and their friends. We already enjoy LeapFrog products so when I heard about the Touch Magic toys, the Rockin' Guitar and Learning Bus, I knew my kids would love a chance to try them out.

Ever notice how a child's favorite toy usually makes noises? Well, maybe that is just my kids. I have a 2 (almost 3) year old and a 4 year old. The noisier the toy, the better and music is a real plus. This was a great opportunity to slip in a musical and educational toy into playtime.

I was sent two Rockin' Guitars, a Learning Bus and a whole host of information, activity sheets and party ideas. The goal of this party was fun and creativity so I prepared some snack, treats and drinks, invited over some families with young children and let them explore this new toys.

All the children spent time playing with the Learning Bus, though I am going to have to show my children the alphabet features on the toy. They were so busy playing with the keyboard they missed the other features on the toy. The Learning Bus was fun for all the ages represented at our party.

The Touch Magic Learning Bus combines music with the alphabet, animals and early vocabulary. With 40+ touch points (letters, piano keys and more), kids can switch between 3 learning modes: Learning, Letter Exploration and Music. So many ways to keep little fingers busy and busy minds engaged.

There was a wide variety of ages at the party from 1-year olds to a 7-year old. With help, even the youngest party goers had fun with the Rockin' Guitar. This little guy enjoyed the music. 

My daughter had a blast playing. She jumped and danced along with the songs. I didn't show the children how to play with these toys. I set them in the living room and let them explore on their own. Before we knew it the kids wanted to put on a show for all the parents. It was unprompted, freestyle and a great chance to preform in front of an audience.

The Rockin' Guitar allows several different ways to play. For ages 3+, it allows for solo playing, with a band or along with 10 different learning songs. Loaded with buttons, this guitar comes with applause, percussion and sound effects. Speed it up, add a guitar riff or just get plain silly for a unique song and play experience. It is currently available at Target and other major retailers.

I love seeing the kids use their imagination and really get into play. This little rock band had a great time and kept all of us entertained. Overall I was very happy with the LeapFrog Touch Magic toys. The kids were so excited to try them out and my daughter has played with the guitar every day since.

Here is a video I put together of the kids playing and describing the Rockin' Guitar and Learning Bus. Check it out:

Right now LeapFrog is running a Rockin' Guitar Contest for a chance to win $500! The contest is going on right now through November 30th. Grab a Rockin' Guitar or a substitute prop and create your own video. Videos will be voted on and judged. Visit the Touch Magic LeapFrog site for more information and complete contest rules.

I know once my kids got the Rockin' Guitar in hand, they were more than happy to play and dance for the camera. I can't wait to see what LeapFrog will think of next.

*Disclaimer - I received free LeapFrog products in order to host the LeapFrog sponsored Rock'n Learn Party. All opinions are my own.

A Baby Brezza Wasn't the Only Surprise!

I was thrilled to be selected by Mom Select and Baby Brezza to give a Baby Brezza One Step Baby Food Maker to my SIL at her baby shower. She was getting ready to be a first time Mom and after having two of my own children I had my eye on this Mom-friendly product for our next child.

The Baby Brezza tops my wishlist, in fact!

Did you make your own baby food when your babies started on solids? I had a hand mill that was portable but not so convenient and very messy. To make things, unless they were soft fruit like bananas, I also had to steam or boil the food creating more work and clean up after. This One Step Baby Food Maker does the steaming and pureeing all in one.

Since our family's farm has fresh produce available, this seemed like the perfect gift for this new family. This is a great way for them to share our fresh picked peas, carrots and other treats with their new baby.

Unfortunately, the baby shower didn't quite go as planned...

My little nephew made his appearance 7 weeks early and instead of throwing his Mama a baby shower, we headed up to visit them all in the NICU.

Since every birth should be celebrated with presents, we gave them their Baby Brezza One Step Baby Food Maker there at the hospital along with some other goodies for both Mom and baby.

Now I am happy to say my little nephew is home and doing well with his new parents. He is still quite small, but eating like a champ and growing stronger every day. I am sure he will appreciate all the healthy, fresh baby food in his future... and his parents will appreciate how easy it is to make.

I can't wait to hear their thoughts on this baby food maker and see what creations my little nephew enjoys the most.

A big thank you to both Baby Brezza and Mom Select for the opportunity to share a great product with a new family.

*Disclaimer - I received a Baby Brezza to give away as a baby shower gift through Mom Select. I was not compensated in any other way for this post. All opinions and experiences are my own.

Hurry! Apply for the Huggies MomInspired Grant Program

Have a problem? Since you are probably creative, (don't Moms have to be?) I'm sure you have had an idea or 2 about how to improve things around you. Don't waste your ideas, instead Huggies wants to help you make them into a reality.

Years ago my husband mentioned the automatic stirrers used in his chem class would have helped me out with sauces at home. Just this week I saw an add for a jelly stirrer using the same technology! If only we had the opportunity to see that idea through. Luckily a Mom will thanks to the Huggies MomInspired Grant Program.

Now in its third year, the Huggies MomInspired Grant Program celebrates the natural creativity of moms, who solve real parenting challenges every day in innovative ways.

Huggies® knows how creative and resourceful Moms can be. They want to give moms a chance to bring their ideas to life for innovative new baby or child care products. Up to twelve grant recipients will receive $15,000 in seed capital as well as business resources to help turn their ideas into real-life inventions.  Applications are currently being accepted through the end of the month (July 31, 2012). Grants will be announced and awarded in Fall 2012.

Previous Huggies® MomInspired™ Grant recipients have developed products such as:

• Nausea relief band to ease pregnancy symptoms
• Magnetic baby clothing for easy diaper changes
• Sleep coaching

Learn more about the program, past winners and submit your innovative idea at HuggiesMomInspired.com from April 25 – July 31, 2012. Grants will be announced and awarded in fall 2012.

...and don't keep this info to yourself! Be sure to share with your friends, family or on social media. I personally would love to see what Moms out there are creating! Good luck!

This post is part of a compensated campaign with Huggies® , Huggies®  MomInspired Grant and MomSelect. By blogging and sharing this info I have been entered to win.  All opinions are my own.

Do You Know the Next Little Miss Coppertone?

I think there is a little Miss Coppertone in all of us, regardless of our age, and right now you can take their Facebook quiz to find out what kind of Coppertone girl you are!

Coppertone is also looking for Little Miss Coppertone. You know, the iconic little girl with piggy-tails that I grew up seeing on bottles of lotion ...

Merck, the company behind the COPPERTONE brand,  launched a nationwide search for Little Miss Coppertone. Alison Sweeney, host of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” and mother of two will be part of judging team for this fun Facebook photo contest. Then the finalists will be up for a public vote online. The winner, who will win a seven-day, six-night family vacation and will be featured in a Coppertone print ad!


All little girls, ages 2-8, who personify the spirit of Coppertone are encouraged to apply. Just submit a photo of your little cutie. The Little Miss Coppertone Contest ends June 22nd, so get over there and enter. Good luck!


*Disclaimer -  I was entered for a chance to win a gift card in exchange for this post.  No monetary exchange took place.  As for the contest, No Purchase Necessary. Contest Ends on 6/22/12. Click for Details.

Premama, Not Your Mama's Prenatal! Review & #Giveaway

I am back on the prenatal vitamins! Yes, gagging down those huge pills are not my favorite thing, but while TTC my first two children, during pregnancy and while breastfeeding, I dutifully did it. I wanted to make sure my body had everything it needed to grow and nurture future life.

Oddly enough, when my husband and I started taking fish oil tablets he complained about the enormous size of the pill! I politely pointed out that was the same size as my usual prenatal vitamin. *sigh*

 I am happy to say, there is a better option out there. Premama is a prenatal vitamin drink mix with DHA.

Ready for the busy Mom or Mom-to-be, the little packets are easy to slip into my purse or diaper bag and just need to be mixed with 12 ounces of water.

During my second pregnancy my morning sickness was a real problem. I was so nauseous in the morning and couldn't always keep my food down or had not appetite. Of course, that is when I usually took my prenatal vitamin. Premama allows me to take just half of the packet in the morning and half later. 

The drink mix contains folic acid, iron, DHA, CoQ10 and calcium. The ingredients are 100% natural, only has 6 calories and is *flavorless.

*I thought the mix had a very slight flavor, though it was pleasant and really not too noticeable. If you are worried about the flavor I suggest mixing it with ice water or your favorite juice.

Giveaway Time!!

I am happy to offer one lucky reader a 30-day supply of Premama to try for themselves. Are you TTC? Currently pregnant or nursing? Be sure to enter and try this great product. Giveaway ends 5/23/2012.

Entry is simple!

Mandatory - Just leave me a comment below on why you want to try Premama.

Extra entry - Tweet about this giveaway or share on your favorite site or giveaway linky. Leave me a link to your post or tweet. One entry per day per method you use.

Be sure to leave an email contact if it isn't visible in your Blogger profile.

Good luck!

*Disclaimer - This review and giveaway was made possible by MomSelect and Premama. All opinions are my own. My experience may be different than yours.

The Moshi Monsters Know How to Party! (#BobbleBots)

Have you met the Moshi Monsters Bobble Bots 'Moshlings' yet?

Spin Master (a favorite toy company of ours) and Mind Candy created them... now the toys are vibrating all around town.

We were sent a big party pack to enjoy and share with our friends. These little toys wiggle and bobble their way all around the town you can create out of their play sets. If they seem familiar, it is because they are made by the creators of Hexbugs. We love the way they randomly move about and I was excited to try out these toys as well.

I love how bringing new toys out of their packages really gets kids excited! No explanation necessary. My only concern was how long it took to open the packaging. The kids were pretty impatient.

I was not happy about the noise involved with the Moshi Monsters. We started out playing with them on the hard floor and I would suggest putting these over carpeting to muffle the vibration. The kids loved the movement.

Not only can kids play with the sets and toys, but they can use secret codes found inside the packages to log on to www.moshimonsters.com and play in the online community. Adopt a monster, name it and start playing! My son enjoyed getting online. I rarely let him use the computer, so it was a real treat.

The toys are small enough to fit in a hand and even travel with you. I love all the cute faces and personalities. It is really hard for the kids to keep them on the set. These little Moshlings seem to want to go everywhere!

Connect with  Bobble Bots on Facebook  or

Follow @BobbleBots on Twitter

*Disclaimer - I received a host pack for our Moshi Monsters party made possible by MomSelect and MommyParties. All opinions are my own. Your experiences may vary.

Jump, Twist and Jive Your Way to a Prize - 3rd Annual Family Dance-Off

The Primrose Schools Family Dance-Off is back!

This 3rd annual event benefits Children's Miracle Network Hospitals^© and helps fight the childhood obesity epidemic by promoting physical activity, healthy lifestyle choices and quality family time...things this Moms can get behind. Primrose Schools^© is the leader in educational child care.


Now is your chance to ENTER

1. Record a 30-second video of your family's best dance moves. Don't be afraid to let loose and be silly!
2. Visit www.familydanceoff.com and upload your best take between February 25th and March 23rd.
3. Share your video with your friends via email, Facebook, Twitter, etc.
4. View and vote daily (you can place one vote per day per device) for your favorite family dance video!

And of course there are some great prizes! Primrose Schools has prizes for the winners, and the ultimate winner, The Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. See all the details and prize information on the website, along with how you can enter today. Remember, this contest ends 3/23, so get dancing.

*Disclaimer - I was entered for a chance to win a gift card in exchange for this post.  No monetary exchange took place and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Freschetta® Rally for Real Pizza campaign

Do you love real pizza?

Right now you can submit a photo for Freschetta's mosaic to Rally For Real Pizza and be entered to win some great prizes! I submitted a cute pic of my son since he is such a fan of pizza.

Frozen pizza shouldn't simply taste better. It should be better. Freschetta®frozen pizzas are made with top-quality ingredients and taste-tested recipes, just to make sure your pizza will always deliver Fresch® flavor.


My family loves real, fresh pizza. Sometimes life gets busy and I can't make my own. If we go for frozen, I love to grab a Freschetta pizza. You might have seen my previous posts about their large pizzas and single slices. My favorite, by far, is the spinach and mushroom pizza. Yum!


My family loves a good pizza night, but they expect the pizza I serve to taste great! I have enjoyed the veggie selections and thick cheese on the Freschetta pizzas. Warm from the oven it is pretty hard to resist. Would your family rally for a slice of the real stuff?


Okay, here is your chance to score some real pizza. Submit a photo to the Rally Mosaic on Facebook www.facebook.com/freschettapizza. Each week Freschetta will select 100 winners -- to each receive 5 Freschetta®Pizzas. On March 30, they will also select 10 winners - who will each receive Freschetta®Pizza for a year! That is a lot of pizza nights.


Good luck!


*Disclaimer - I occasionally receive compensation in the form of products for posts. However, the opinions I share are solely my own.

Happy Birthday Build a Bear! (#FriendsCount)

Build-a-Bear Workshop is celebrating it's 15th Birthday this year!

The company opened its doors in St. Louis Galleria on October 27, 1997 it has grown to become a global brand while being recognized as a company with heart. In honor of their birthday and helping create 100 million best friends, Build-A-Bear Workshop wants to spread the word that Friends Count! Whether your best friend is one of your longtime gal pals, your spouse, your pet, or even your teddy bear, we can all agree that our friends have enriched our lives.

We know how much our furry, cuddly friends mean in our house. My children are very attached to their Build-a-Bear friends and cherish every one of them. Building a friend is a rare treat for us since the closest store is an hour away.


Both my children were born with PKU and weekly blood draws and numerous doctor's appointments have become a way of life. Most activities dealing with their condition are routine, but occasionally we hit a hard day and for me as a Mom it can be tough.


One particular lab day was harder than usual for my son. The Phlebotomists had a hard time drawing enough blood for their samples. They attempted several different locations and even switched who tried the blood draw. It was a very traumatic day for a 3-year old and he was extremely and vocally upset. 


We had been to Build-a-Bear once before and knew he enjoyed it, so we promised him that he could go back after the lab work was finished. He chose a white owl to fill and dressed him in comfy pajamas. The whole process of making his friend and personalizing him was very healing. He created a friend he could hug, talk to and take on trips.

"Dr. Hoot" still holds a prominent place on my son's bed at night and I was so happy to find something to make him smile that day. My son's stuffed owl means a lot to him and so I am excited to celebrate both of Build-a-Bear's amazing accomplishments this year.

Happy Birthday, Build-a-Bear! May 100 Million more friends be made in your stores to come!

*Disclaimer - I wrote this as part of a promotion with MomSelect and Build-a-Bear. By posting, I was entered to win a gift card.. All opinions and stories are my own. No other compensation was received. 

Ice Cream & New Year's Resolutions - Weight Watchers Has You Covered #Review

Ice cream...

There is something about that sweet, creamy, cold treat that defies the seasons for me. Dig into a big bowl of ice cream in the heart of Winter? Why not?

My only hang up is the guilt. I am trying to lose weight and ice cream is not always so figure friendly. But, Weight Watchers has come out with these four snack-sized ice cream treats to let consumers indulge without blowing their New Year's Resolutions.

I was sent this selection of 4 bars:

Dark Chocolate Raspberry Bars - Dark chocolate covering low-fat raspberry ice cream. The raspberry flavor is decadent and offset by the bitter dark chocolate. I liked the flavor even though raspberry isn't usually a favorite of mine. Only 2 points per bar and only 80 calories.

Chocolate Fudge Bars - These took me back to the bars of my childhood. Rich, smooth chocolate goodness! PointsPlus value of 1 and only 45 calories.

Dark Chocolate Dulce de Leche Bars - These were my stand out favorites! Caramel swirled through a luscious creamy ice cream and dipped in chocolate. Oh, my. They are 3 points and only 120 calories. The highest calorie content of the group, but oh so worth it!

Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Bars - These strawberry ice cream bars are dipped in milk chocolate and are the perfect combination of light and fruity with rich, silken chocolate. These were my second favorite bars. These were worth 3 points and only 100 calories.

I was impressed with the flavor in these bars. They didn't taste like dieter's ice cream or low-calorie ice cream. If you have ever tried reduced calorie treats you probably know what I mean. There was no bad after taste or film in my mouth. It was just an enjoyable ice cream treat minus all the extra calories and guilt. I truly could enjoy every bite or lick and not think about the calories.

There are other flavors I have eyed in my local grocery store. Next I want to try their Divine Triple Chocolate Bars or maybe their Ice Cream Candy Bars.  Oh, yeow-za!

So if you have a sweet tooth and losing weight is part of your New Year's Resolution in 2012, why not try Weight Watchers Ice Cream Treats? Find out where you can purchase your own by using Weight Watchers' product locator.

*Disclaimer - I received ice cream bars and coupons for review purposes through Weight Watchers and MomSelect. All opinions are my own.

In 2012 I have Goals for my Kids: GoalForIt #Review

I have already shared my New Year's Resolutions here, but I also have some goals for my oldest son. He is 4 and ready to take on more responsibility around the house and for his own behavior. I thought he was a good candidate for a chore chart, a way for him to see our expectations for him and also develop confidence as he makes those goals

I had been thinking about this for the past few months. I just wasn't sure how I wanted to set it up. Then I was given the chance to try out GoalForIt.com with MomSelect and I think it was exactly what I was looking for.

The best part? Besides all the options, customization and cute graphics to get kids excited... it is FREE!

First I set up my profile. Super simple. I can keep all our family's goal charts in one place and even set up email reminders to keep us motivated.

Then I had to decide on a chart type. I made mine for my 4-year old, so we chose the Firetruck theme and then went to add daily tasks and behaviors to goal for.

The actions are simple and geared for even a young child. Graphics help them recognize what the goal is for. There is also a place for parents to choose whether there is a monetary incentive and even which days they are responsible for the task. I loved there were options for our current potty training goals listed.

When my son is older I could customize his chart with more school related items like homework and getting to school on time. For now, we can check off the day's tasks before bedtime and discuss our plans for the next day.

Besides tasks, I can also list behavior goals such as 'no whining' or 'no tantrums'.

This example shows a possible chore chart. Aren't the aliens cute?

I am a big believer in goal charts. There is something quite satisfying about seeing your own progress. I remember those gold little stars given out in class. Oh, I couldn't wait to earn mine! This option is more geared for today's tech savvy kids, tweens and teens, and you won't be finding little gold stars stuck to everything!

2012 is sure to be more goal focused in our home thanks to our new GoalForIt charts. Want your own? Just head over to GoalForIt.com and remember, it's FREE.

*Disclaimer - This is a sponsored post for GoalForIt through MomSelect. I was asked to write my own unbiased review. I was compensated, but it didn't affect my opinions.