Kroger Buy 5 – Save $5 Event + $25 GC #Giveaway

Do you have a Kroger Co. store in your area?

We have a local Fred Meyers, but other Kroger store names include: Kroger, Ralphs, King Scoopers, City Market, Dillons, Smith’s, Fry’s, QFC, Baker’s, Owen’s, Jay C Food Stores, Hilander, Gerbes, Fred Meyer, Pay Less Supermarkets and Scott’s Food & Pharmacy.

October 14th - October 24th they are offering a 

Buy 5, Save $5 Event.

 Look for some of your favorite participating General Mills products like Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Pillsbury Toaster Strudel, Betty Crocker Cake and Brownie Mixes, Hamburger Helper, Totino’s Party Pizza, Yoplait** and many more! Promotions vary from store to store so check with your local Kroger Family store or check the Kroger website for additional details.

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Follow Kroger on Twitter and Facebook to stay up on future events and promotions.

* Products must be purchased during one shopping visit. To view a list of participating products see your store for details. The $5 coupon offer off your next shopping trip offer expires 1 week from the print date, with the coupon prints ending October 24th. Any offers printed on October 24th will expire on October 31st.
**Yoplait items vary by state
***Excludes Food 4 Less

Disclaimer - The gift card, information, and additional sample have been provided by Kroger and General Mills through MyBlogSpark. All opinions expressed are my own.

Yoplait : Now Endorsed by Weight Watchers - #Giveaway (#MyBlogSpark)

What could make this moment even better?

Why a Yoplait light or Yoplait Greek 100, of course! And they come in over 20 delicious flavors for only 2 Weight Watchers PointsPlus values each.

I have to admit that I usually grab the original, but switching to either light or Greek 100 is a simple switch I can make at the grocery store and not think about in my daily life. Easy, right?  I love how convenient it is to grab a single serving of yogurt for a quick breakfast or as a between meal snack. And now, Yoplait  is the only yogurt endorsed by Weight Watchers!

Smart eating choices are one part of a healthy lifestyle and losing weight, the other of course is exercise. To help you along with your own journey, I have this great prize package available from Yoplait that I want to share with one luck reader.

Giveaway Time!!

Win a prize package including, Yoplait Light VIP coupon*, Yoplait Greek 100 VIP coupon*, Yoga ball,  Water bottle and Work-out towel. *The coupon offer for Yoplait yogurt is not valid in some states, including Louisiana, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota and Tennessee.

Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. This giveaway ends 10/12/2012 midnight PST. Good luck!

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*Disclaimer - The product, gift pack, information, and additional sample have been provided by Yoplait through MyBlogSpark. I received the same gift package that I am giving away. All opinions and experiences are my own. 

Let Progresso Recipe Starters Help Tonight #MyBlogSpark (+Giveaway)

I don't usually make Chicken Parmesan. Why? Oh, the work...

Usually I save my 'Chicken Parm' nights for nights out at a restaurant. Somewhere where someone else handles the cooking and clean-up afterwards.

Who has time to prepare the cutlets, the sauce, the pasta? Guess what, now I do! With a little help from Progresso Recipe Starters I put a lovely Chicken Parmesan on the table and completely surprised my husband after a long day of work.

Inspired by the 5 "Mother Sauces" of classical French cooking, Progresso Recipe Starters sauces are available in five varieties to get dinner on your table faster and easier than ever! Creamy Parmesan Basil: This creamy, full-bodied and indulgent sauce that was inspired by alfredo and creamy pesto sauces can be used to make dishes such as Crispy Garlic-Parmesan Chicken, Creamy Chicken Alfredo, Basil Chicken Ravioli Carbonara and Basil Chicken Thai Noodle Creamy Roasted Garlic with Chicken Stock: With caramelized, roasted chicken broth, garlic and a touch of cream, this stock is perfect for dishes such as Creamy Lemon Chicken, Chicken Pot Pie and Chicken Enchiladas Fire Roasted Tomato: A medium-thick tomato sauce, accompanied by flavors of roasted, caramelized tomatoes, oregano and bell peppers, which can be used as a great way to begin creating  Pulled Chicken Sandwiches, Easy Weeknight Chicken Parmesan, Cheese-stuffed Mini Meat Loaves and Mole Tacos Creamy Portabella Mushroom: Creamy and highly indulgent, this smooth sauce is rich with sautéed Portabella mushrooms,  giving you any easy way to start delicious dishes like Easy Weeknight Beef Stroganoff, Steak and Mushroom Sandwich and Tetrazzini Creamy Three Cheese: Rich and creamy with a blend of yellow and white cheeses, and a savory background of chicken stock, onion, garlic and cracked pepper, this is a great way to satisfy cheese lovers with Easy Weeknight Bacon Mac & Cheese, Twice-Baked Potato Pizza and Cheesy Egg Breakfast Tacos  For some inspiration to get you started, Progresso created 80 recipes using their line of cooking sauces that can be found on Progresso.com/RecipeStarters. From family classic, to new ideas, these recipes are a great way to beat the dinner planning slump. After looking through the recipes I found this easy Easy Weeknight Chicken Pamesan recipe.

Just a few ingredients and I was ready to make dinner in 30 minutes!

Pounded, seasoned and breaded, the chicken looked amazing! All I had left was to add the Fire Roasted Tomato Recipe Starter and a little mozzarella to the top! Here is the recipe:

Chicken Parmesan
from the Progresso website

INGREDIENTS

• 8 oz uncooked spaghetti
• 1/3 cup Progresso® Italian style panko crispy bread crumbs
• 1/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, flattened slightly
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1 can (18 oz) Progresso™ Recipe Starters™ fire roasted tomato cooking sauce
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (4 oz)

1. Cook and drain spaghetti as directed on package.
2. In large resealable food-storage plastic bag, mix bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese. Shake each chicken breast in bread crumb mixture; set aside.
3. In 12-inch skillet, heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Stir in garlic; cook until garlic starts to brown. Add chicken breasts; cook 6 to 10 minutes, turning once, until browned. Pour cooking sauce around chicken; sprinkle chicken with remaining bread crumb mixture and mozzarella cheese. Heat to boiling. Cover; reduce heat to medium. Cook 5 to 8 minutes or until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (at least 165°F) and cheese is melted. Serve with spaghetti.

Want to try them for yourself? Download a printable coupon for $.65 off the purchase of 1 can of Progresso® Recipe Starters Cooking Sauce.

Connect with Progresso on Facebook for future announcements and promotions!

Giveaway Time!!

Win the same products I received for my review. Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Cookies should be enabled to use the widget and collect daily entries. This giveaway ends 9/26/2012.
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*Disclaimer - The information, products and Progresso™ Recipe Starters™ gift packs were provided by Progresso through MyBlogSpark. All opinions are my own.

Betty Crocker Shake-N-Pour Dessert Mixes #Giveaway

Don't have an egg handy? No oil? Don't want a sink full of dirty dishes?

Well, Betty Crocker has a new, fast way to make some of your favorite treats! I was sent 3 of their Shake-N-Pour Dessert Mix varieties, Chocolate Cup Cake Mix, Confetti Cup Cake Mix and Brownie Mix plus some other goodies to get my baking done in the kitchen.

Sound easy? Truly they are. Here is a step-by-step look at how they are made:

This is so easy even my 5-year old could make these with little to no help. Though I usually make our treats from scratch, these new products would be perfect for skiing into the cabin because I wouldn't make a big mess or need other ingredients. They would also be a big hit with a sleepover group, or for traveling.

The brownies were a good consistency. I usually like them a little more fudgey and less cakey, but next time I might even throw on some walnuts or chocolate chips. The ways to dress or decorate these are endless, but the basic recipe is fast, simple and fun! Even a non-baker would shine with these.

Have you seen these in your grocery store yet?

I remember how exciting the microwave versions were for simple treats when I was younger, these Betty Crocker Shake-N-Pour creations make baking even easier.

Connect with Betty Crocker on Facebook or Twitter for new product information and promotions.

Would you like to win the same package and samples, I did?

Giveaway Time!!

Enter via the Rafflecopter widget below. This giveaway ends September 19th.

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*Disclaimer - The product, gift pack, information, and additional sample have been provided by Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark.

Ready for Back to School? #Giveaway fun with Target, General Mills and Crayola #MyBlogSpark

Are you ready for it?

Despite my best laid plans, there are still items I want to grab while the price is right in all those back-to-school sales. Glue sticks for 10 cents and crayons for 50 cents are too hard to pass up!

This is also a great time to stock up on other items, too, like cereal and lunch or snack items. Target has some great promotions going on right now.

Available exclusively at Target Stores during the month of August:

• Purchase specially marked Nature Valley® Crunchy Granola Bars, Pillsbury® Toaster Strudel® Pastries, and Big G Cereal packages and you could save up to $5 on Crayola products
• Participating Big G cereal boxes will feature a fun Crayola coloring activity on pack
• Save on General Mills products when you purchase specially marked Crayola 64-CT Crayons

I was sent the above package to help get me and my family ready for the school season. I am loving the dry erase Crayola crayons, cheerios are a pantry must-have and who couldn't put a Target gift card to use this time of year? Keep reading to see how you can win a package just like this one.

Be sure to check out the Grocery Savvy Crayola^® Back To School” Sweepstakes! on Grocery Savvy's site. You could win one of the 700 Crayola^® 8-count Washable Dry Erase Crayons or one of 20 Crayola^® Dry-Erase Activity Centers Zany Play Edition. Be sure to also take advantage of coupons and recipes while you are on the site.

Giveaway Time!

Want to win the same prize package I received? Just enter via the Rafflecopter widget below. This giveaway ends 9/5. Good luck!

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*Disclaimer -  The product, gift pack, information, and additional sample have been provided by Crayola, Target, and General Mills through MyBlogSpark. All opinions are my own.

Progresso Recipe Starters - Use Them to Start Dinner Tonight! #MyBlogSpark

Some nights dinner sneaks up on me...

My family expects me to have a home cooked meal ready on the table when dinnertime rolls around, but some days the laundry, the kids or an episode of Burn Notice distracts me.  Progresso wants to help and now is offering Recipe Starters, in five varieties, to help you get started on your next meal.

This is not your average can of soup! Inspired by the 5 mother sauces of cooking (the bases for basically every dish!) these cans can help give the simplest ingredients a flavorful kick that would normally take hours to achieve.

Each can comes with an under label recipe specific to that flavor, but you can also check out Progresso.com or scan the label QR code to access 80 recipes created for this line. The 5 flavors and some common recipes are:

• Creamy Parmesan Basil: This creamy, full-bodied and indulgent sauce that was inspired by alfredo and creamy pesto sauces can be used to make meals such as Crispy Garlic-Parmesan Chicken, Oven Basic Chicken Risotto, Creamy Chicken Alfredo, Basil Chicken Ravioli Carbonara and Basil Chicken Thai Noodles
• Creamy Roasted Garlic with Chicken Stock: With caramelized, roasted chicken broth, garlic and a touch of cream, this stock is perfect for dishes such as Curry Chicken, Chicken Pot Pie, Creamy Arroz Con Pollo and Chicken Enchiladas
• Fire Roasted Tomato: A medium-thick tomato sauce, accompanied by flavors of roasted, caramelized tomatoes, oregano and bell peppers, which can be used as a great way to begin creating  Pulled Chicken Sandwiches, Double Mozzarella Margherita Pizza, Cheese-stuffed Mini Meat Loaves,  Easy Chicken Cacciatore and Mole Tacos
• Creamy Portabella Mushroom: Creamy and highly indulgent, this smooth sauce is rich with sautéed Portabella mushrooms,  giving you any easy way to start decedent meals like Easy Weeknight Beef Stroganoff, Steak and Mushroom Sandwich, Smothered Pork Chops and Potatoes, Chorizo Beans and Rice and Tetrazzini
• Creamy Three Cheese: Rich and creamy with a blend of yellow and white cheeses, and a savory background of chicken stock, onion, garlic and cracked pepper, this is a great way to satisfy cheese lovers with Easy Weeknight Bacon Mac & Cheese, No Bake Cheesy Skillet Lasagna, Inside Out Double Grilled Cheese, Smoky Sausage Penne and Creamy Cheese Broccoli Rice Bake.

I was sent a booklet with a few of the recipes off their site and chose the Creamy Lemon Chicken to make for my family using the Creamy Roasted Garlic with Chicken Stock recipe Starters.

I love that the recipe even had side suggestions. I went with a wild rice, instead of white and a rubbed kale salad with tomatoes. I love color on the plate! The recipe was fast, easy and I love that I didn't have to take the time to create a sauce base. I love cooking, but can think of many things I would rather be doing than whisking and reducing!

I was pleasantly surprised by the taste. Usually condensed soups are too salty for my family, but again the recipe starters were different. I let my family salt the dish on the table and we agreed it needed a little added. The sauce wasn't overpowering but was very flavorful. And I was thrilled at how fast I had dinner on the table.

Just two nights later I tried a Cheesy Broccoli Rice Bake and found the Creamy Three Cheese Recipe Starter easy to use even without following a recipe. What can I say, I am happy to have found them.

Progresso's Recipe Starters will be available later this Summer. Which recipe or starter do you want to try first? Connect with Progresso's Facebook page to stay up on new products, offers and promotions.

*Disclaimer -  The information, products and Progresso™ Recipe Starters™ gift pack was provided by Progresso through MyBlogSpark. All opinions are my own.

Fiber One: Nutty Clusters & Almonds #Giveaway #MyBlogSpark

Yes, fiber can taste this good!

Fiber One has a new flavor in the line-up, Nutty Clusters & Almonds. With 11 grams of fiber and full of nut clusters, sliced almonds and whole grain flakes.

Now I know that fiber isn't always exciting, but Fiber One has sweet, crunchy and tasty all wrapped up in one box for me.

Did you know that 9 out of 10 Americans don’t get enough fiber in their diet*? I try hard to watch my whole grains and eat plenty of veggies, but I still worry that I am falling short. Do you always get your recommended daily value of 25 grams a day? I love to knock out some of that fiber first thing in the morning and my bowl is always ready and willing to help.

One bowl of Fiber One helps me feel full till lunch... and for those late night snack attacks, a handful gives me the crunch that I crave.

Want to try Fiber One Nutty Clusters & Almonds for yourself? Go to http://bit.ly/Fiber1NCAcoupon to download a printable coupon for $1.25 off one box of Fiber One Nutty Clusters & Almonds cereal today! 

Connect with Fiber One on Facebook for promotions and product announcements.

...and enter to win your own Fiber One prize package!

Prize package includes: 

• (2) boxes of Fiber One Nutty Clusters & Almonds cereal
• ‘Nut’ Bowl & Spoon

Enter through the Rafflecopter widget below. The giveaway ends 8/28/12 at midnight PST. Good luck.

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*International Food Information Council
**Disclaimer - The product, gift pack, information, and additional sample have all been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark. All opinions are my own.

Mott’s Medleys Fruit Flavored Snacks - Review & #Giveaway

My kids must have hollow legs because they can snack all day and still be hungry at meal time!

I try to keep the snacks healthy and fruit snacks are one of their favorites. So I was excited when I heard Mott's was offering a fruit snack with real fruit and vegetable juice, pear, apple and carrot juice concentrate, and using natural flavors and colors, I got really excited.

I was sent both the berry medley and the assorted fruit to try with my little testers. They were so excited! My kids tore into a box of each right away and remarked how cute the little gummy carrot and grapes are. Perfect for little fingers and tasty enough for even picky eaters.

Each box contains 10 pouches with 8oz of snacks in each and only 80 calories.

I threw a few pouches into my purse, stashed a few in the car and have been doling them out for mid-morning snacks for the past two weeks. I will be taking a box along with us as we head to camp with the kids next month since I know they will get hungry on the long car ride.

An added bonus is each box comes with Box Tops for Education to collect for your school.

But don't take my word for it, Go ahead and snag a coupon to test out your own box of Mott's Medleys.

Visit http://bit.ly/MottsCoupon to download a printable coupon for $0.60 off the purchase of (1) Mott’s® Medleys Fruit Flavored Snacks today!

Connect with Mott's on twitter or Facebook to stay connected with promotions and announcements.

Okay, now I am sure you want to try your own, so snag that coupon and then enter below to win your own gift pack of Mott's Medleys Fruit Flavored Snacks!

There will be 4 lucky winners. This giveaway ends 7/24. Enter with the Rafflecopter widget below and good luck!

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*Disclaimer - The product, gift pack, information, and additional sample have all been provided by Mott’s® through MyBlogSpark.

Fiber One Chewy Bars - A Real Hit! #MyBlogSpark

If you are like me, snacks need to be filling, delicious... and well, holds up to being packed around. Luckily I found something that fits all of my wants and desires, Fiber One Chewy Bars.


Check this out:

• Fiber One Chewy bars contain 20% of the Daily Value of fiber and 10% of the Daily Value of calcium
• These 100 or 110 calorie bars contain no high fructose corn syrup, and only 7 or 8 grams of sugar
• According to the results of a recent taste test, kids prefer Fiber One Chewy Chocolate bars over Quaker Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

Available in both chocolate and PB&J, these delicious little bars are a snack I can look forward to on the go.  If your Summer schedule is as busy as mine, that is a nice treat.

From My Blog Spark I was sent a fun little package to enjoy with my bars:

Giveaway Time!! 


Everything you need to get out, have fun and work up an appetite for those Fiber One Chewy Bars. One lucky reader will win their own pack, just leave a comment telling me what is keeping you busy this Summer and I will use Random.org to pick a winner on 6/29.


Here is what the package contains:

• (1) Box of Fiber One Chewy Chocolate Bars
• (1) Box of the Fiber One Chewy Strawberry PB&J Bars
• Drawstring Sack Pack
• Water Bottle
• Flexi Flyer
• Soccer Ball
• Sidewalk Chalk

That is it! Good luck.

*Based upon independent taste tests, with kids aged 8-12, of Fiber One Chewy Chocolate versus Quaker Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars. Quaker is a registered trademark of the Quaker Oats Company. All trademarks property of their respective owners


*Disclaimer - The product, gift pack, information, and additional sample have all been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark. All opinions are my own.

New 2 Box Cheerios - So Smart! #Giveaway #MyBlogSpark

As a busy Mom, I love shopping at Costco. All the things my family needs and loves in packages big enough to last. But Cheerios made my cereal shopping experience even better by introducing new 2 box Cheerio packaging.

Now instead of buying the large box and having two bags of cereal, these are two individual pull-apart boxes with less air and 10% more cereal per box. So, easier to store, pour and even comes with more! I  love the sound of that.

This new and improved 2 box Cheerios are now available on the shelves of Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s nationwide. Check out this clip with the added environmental benefits from this new package design.

So what do I think? I am thrilled with these improvements and hope all the General Mills cereals will follow this model. It would save me time, money and the hassle of dealing with the loose bags. Of course the Cheerios are still one of my favorite, classic cereals. Great for finger food, car snacking and starting my day.

So what do you think of the new 2 box design?

Giveaway Time!!!

2 lucky Adv. in All Things Readers will win 2 boxes of 2 Box Cheerios. Entry is simple, just follow the Rafflecopter prompts below. Giveaway ends 5/27/12. Good luck! 

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*Disclaimer - Cheerios® cereal, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark. All opinions are my own.

Every Last Drop! Big G Curvy Straws #Giveaway #MyBlogSpark

Did you know that simply drinking the leftover milk from cereal bowls may help kids work towards fulfilling their body’s daily dairy, calcium, and Vitamin D needs? Well, Big G cereal has just the trick to get your kids excited about drinking that last drop - Curvy Straws!

Fun, colorful and available in specially marked boxes of Big G cereal, the fun straws had my kids smiling and sipping away.

• You can collect all six different colorful straws featuring beloved Big G cereal characters
• Participating Big G cereals include Cinnamon Toast Crunch® (17 oz.), Lucky Charms®(16 oz.), Reese’s® Puffs (18 oz.), Honey Nut Cheerios® (17 oz.), Trix®(14.8 oz) and Cocoa Puffs® (16.5 oz)
• Made with more whole grain than any other ingredient, Big G cereal, combined with a ½ cup of milk, can help provide a great start to your family’s day

My kids' favorite is Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and yes, using the straws did make it more fun for them to finish off their milk. 

Do you need more cereal to go with your milk? Visit this link to download a printable coupon for $1.25 off of the purchase of (2) boxes of participating Big G cereal today!

To celebrate the new Curvy Straws, I was sent the following promotional package:

You can win the same package (cereal may vary) that includes:

• 1 box of a participating Big G cereal
• 1 Curvy Straw
• 1 ‘spilt’ milk bowl
• 2 glow cups
• 2 tangle toys

Giveaway Time!!

One lucky reader will win a Curvy Straws prize package. Giveaway ends 4/23. Entry is simple, just enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.

#Giveaway: Promote Creative Play Outdoors with Crayola's Outdoor Colored Bubbles #MyBlogSpark

In my opinion, childhood should include fresh air, creativity, running and fun!

I love that my favorite creative art brand is now getting my kids out of the house and out chasing bubbles! Of course, since it is Crayola, the bubbles are colored!

Who can resist chasing or popping a brightly colored bubble? Well, not my kids!

The minute our box of Crayola Outdoor Colored Bubble Supplies arrived, my kids couldn't wait to play. The Oregon weather didn't cooperate over the weekend. But we admired the goodies till the sun finally came out.

I love how the box says "Messy Fun!" Isn't that the best kind? I was impressed with the colors and the fact the Outdoor Bubble Launcher requires no batteries. See the bottom left-hand corner where it says "Kid Powered"? That is music to this Moms ears.

 I was also impressed with the packaging. The straps were soft and easy to cut. No fighting with packaging required.

Out of the box it is easy to assemble. Just open a bottle of bubbles and screw onto the launcher. My kids were cranking the handle immediately. 

We had a lot of fun! The colored bubbles really showed up in the sunlight. It was a great change from the classic clear soap bubbles.

Here are Crayola's tips for making Crayola Outdoor Colored Bubbles play and clean-up more fun:

• Dress for Mess. Wear washable play clothes and shoes. It's best to not wear suede, leather or any other material that can't be washed.
• Play Outside. An open grassy area is best away from new concrete, decks and porous surfaces like marble. Don't use at formal events like weddings.
• Rub skin to remove color.
• Launder clothes promptly with water and detergent. Repeat washing may be needed.
• Hose off outdoor surfaces like sidewalks and driveways to wash away color. 

I appreciate that Crayola suggests children wear play clothes while playing with these colored bubbles. There is a warning on the package about staining. I was careful to dress my children accordingly, but of course didn't think about what I was wearing. I actually dumped the remaining bubble solution (fuchsia!) down the front of myself on accident. I immediately rinsed the stains and then laundered my clothing. Luckily it came out of my jeans and cotton T-shirt. This product may stain some clothing, so enjoy it accordingly. 

The bubble solution and bubble launcher would make great additions to any Easter basket. I will be including these and an assortment of other Crayola products in my kids' baskets this year.

You can connect with Crayola on Twitter or Facebook or watch their product video on YouTube.

GIVEAWAY TIME!!

One lucky reader will win a package like the one I reviewed. Enter with the Rafflecopter widget below. This giveaway ends 4/12. Sorry, this prize will not arrive by in time for Easter, but these products are currently available in stores.

Kroger Cart Buster 5.0 Event! #MyBlogSpark

The Kroger Cart Buster Savings Event is back!

The in-store promotion has already started and will end March 6th, so head to your participating store soon to stock up on the deals. With great prices on more than 35 brands, find savings across the store at the Kroger Family of Stores including:

Kroger Ralph’s King Soopers City Market Dillon’s Smith’s

Fry’s QFC Baker’s Owen’s Jay C Food Stores Hilander

Gerbes Food4Less Pay Less Super Markets Scott’s Food & Pharmacy

Stores Be sure to check with your local store to confirm the exact dates of your Cart Buster Savings Event. Then get shopping!! Some of my favorite brands are included this time around and I will be stocking up on essentials like Pampers, Yoplait, Quaker and Stacy's products.

Starting today (2/29) you can also take advantage of the Deal of the Day - a super hot and exclusive offer good for one day only. Some of the savings will be up to and over 50% .... maybe even a freebie? You can find the Deal of the Day on my right side-bar. Just scroll down a bit for the Kroger Deal of the Day widget. You can also find more savings at CartBuster.com as well as a list of participating brands at your store. The Deal of the Day promotion is just for one week and will end 3/6/12.

Stay connected with offers and future promotions by following the Kroger Facebook Page or @KrogerCo on twitter.

Giveaway Time!

One lucky reader here on Adventures in All Things Food will win a $25 Kroger Family of Stores gift card. Just fill out the Rafflecopter widget below. This giveaway ends 3/6/12.

Draw on Creativity - Join "Inside the Crayon Box" Live Chat

Creativity matters in our house!

Just check out the stains, messes and mystery smears that pass through my laundry room. I am forever grateful that Crayola make the clean ups easy so we can get back into the fun.

Learning to be creative is a skill that easily starts at home and Crayola wants every child to reach down and learn to be a critical thinker, problem solver and future leader.

Crayola has created "Inside the Crayon Box" a live chat opportunity with celebrities and parenting experts to answer questions on how to spark your child's creative thinking. Catch the first chat,

"Inside the Crayon Box" 

live Wednesday, March 7 at 9 p.m. EST.

This 45-minute chat will be joined by Lisa Loeb, musician, children's author and mom, on the Crayola Facebook Page. Topics to be covered include:

• Why Does Creativity Matter? Creativity is not about who´s the best artists or becoming an architect. It´s a way of thinking that encourages kids´ original ideas and develops their confidence.
• Growing Up Creative. Lisa will share stories about growing up in a home where creativity was encouraged.
• Simple Tips. Easy Ideas. Like most moms, Lisa juggles a lot. She´ll share simple, easy ways she sparks her daughter´s creativity as part of their daily routine.

Check out Lisa's book Lisa Loeb's Silly Sing-Along: The Disappointing Pancake and Other Zany Songs, which includes a 10-song CD, available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com. Feel free to sing, laugh and play along with Lisa and enjoy the activities, games and recipes that accompany her songs. 

Join in the live chat to ask Lisa questions, as well as listen to how she incorporates creative play into her daughter's day. It should be a fun chat and I hope to see you all there.

*Disclaimer - I was not compensated for this post. All opinions are my own. The information was provided to meby Crayola through MyBlogSpark.

Start the Day with Gevalia Kaffe (Review & #Giveaway) #MyBlogSpark

I enjoy starting my day with a cup of hot coffee...

Of course I am always looking for the best coffee to put in my mug. I deserve a little bit of liquid happiness to warm up my cup.

MyBlogSpark gave me the chance to try out Gevalia Kaffe, a Swedish-style coffee with a rich, smooth flavor. Not bitter, it dances on the tongue.

...well, at least mine did.

I was sent a bag of French Roast and also the House Blend. Both were a wonderful departure from my usual cup. First I savored each without any sugar or creamer... then gave it a little mellow cushion with my favorite cream.

My favorite by far was the French Roast. I love the dark roasts the best... full flavor, nice strong coffee with an aroma and flavor to really make even the grumpiest of mornings more enjoyable.

Gevalia has a great tradition. It is the official coffee of the Swedish royal court in a country where the Swedish drink more coffee than most other parts of the world.

Luckily, you don't have to take a trip to Sweden in order to enjoy a cup of this coffee. Safeway is offering up Gevalia Kaffee in their grocery aisle.

You can buy one of their top-ten varieties here in the US  including roast and ground, whole bean, flavored and decaffeinated.

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

Mmm... nothing like treating yourself to a great cup of coffee.

You can connect with Gevalia, other fans and stay up to date with their products on Facebook.

Giveaway Time!

Would you like to win a prize pack just like the one I reviewed? Well, one lucky reader here at Adventures in All Things Food will have a chance to enjoy their own cup of Gevalia Kaffe. Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. I love comments, but they will not be used for the prize drawing.

Ready to Bake! Shape Cookies from Pillsbury #Giveaway

Valentine's Day is next week! Where did the time go?

If you are feeling a time crunch, but still want to share a little warm, baked up Valentine's fun with your family, why not check out Pillsbury's Ready to Bake! Shape Cookies with your child's favorite Disney characters. Bake up some treats with Mickey and Minnie Mouse, or how about the Disney Princesses?


Ready to enjoy in only 8-10 minutes, they can be found at your local grocer.


Bake your way into your family's hearts this February with Valentine's Pillsbury Ready to Bake! Shape Cookies. Download a printable coupon HERE for $1.10 off the purchase of (1) package of these Pillsbury Ready to Bake! Shape Cookies.


I was sent this adorable set to get my family baking:

It included a VIP coupon for my own Pillsbury Ready to Bake! Shape Cookies, cookie jar, oven mit and a spatula. My kids were so excited to see it all come out of the box. Too bad I have decided to make the kids wait for Valentine's Day to bake our cookies.


This is one project even my 2-year old can do with me. The cookies are pre-cut and ready to be placed on the cookie sheet and baked. No mixing bowls or spoons to dirty, and very little to clean up afterwards.


Connect on the Pillsbury Facebook page, and follow @Pillsbury on Twitter.

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

One lucky reader will also win a prize package just like I received. Though the prize will not arrive in time for Valentine's Day, the character cookies would be a treat anytime!

Whole Grain First Ingredient - #Giveaway #MyBlogSpark

What is the first ingredient in your cereal?

Go ahead and look. I'll wait.

Does it say whole grain? Don't you think it should?

General Mills is making it easier for Moms like me to find a healthier cereal by placing a white check on boxes of their family favorite cereals. The check means there is more whole grain in that cereal than any other ingredient.

I still recommend you read the entire ingredient list for you cereals on shopping day, but the white check will give you a place to start.

My children have a very restricted diet, but one of the options I give them is General Mills' cereals like Cheerios or Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

They love the taste and I am happy that they start the day with whole grains. So, how do you look for whole grains in your cereal? Well, look for the white check!

Dr. Travis Stork, from "The Doctors", has some other ideas for adding whole grain into your diet.

• Start Early! The Dietary Guidelines recommend people get at least 48 grams of whole grain in their daily diets. Get a jump-start on the day’s nutrition by incorporating whole grain into your morning routine. For instance, when choosing cereal make sure whole grain is listed as the first ingredient. One easy choice is cereal with the white check, which have more whole grain than any other single ingredient.
• Make Simple Swaps. Choose whole grain versions of the foods you love. Great options include whole wheat pasta and whole wheat bread or even whole grain crackers. Also, try different types of whole grain. Use brown rice instead of white rice as a side dish at dinner or popcorn, which is a whole grain, for a snack.
• Don’t Judge a Food by Its Cover. The front of food packages provide good nutritional cues, but don’t forget to read the ingredients and check the nutrition label and side labels for additional health information. Cereals with the white check even include the amount of whole grain per serving on packaging.

 General Mills developed “Fast Lane for Whole Grain,” an online educational game to help consumers choose products with whole grain.  Navigate a virtual grocery store aisles and identify products that have whole grain as the first ingredient, and even enter a sweepstakes to win one of each of the 50 cereals with the white check. 

Make a commitment to add more whole grain to your diet by simply pouring a bowl of cereal with the white check including Cheerios^®, Lucky Charms^®, Cinnamon Toast Crunch^®, Honey Nut Cheerios^®and Total^®. 

Enter the “Fast Lane for Whole Grain” sweepstakes at  visitwww.WholeGrainNation.com.

Giveaway Time!

One reader will win a prize package containing 5 boxes of General Mills Cereal with the white check. Just enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.