Poppin Prints Winner

 

#16

Helena said... 

 

#4 I've got your button and I blogged this! http://helena-agalneedsatleast2blogs.blogspot.com/2010/02/great-giveaway.html

Congrats Helena an email will be sent shortly!

"Bubble & Brown" Stoneware Baker Set *Giveaway*

I love bakeware, cookware, stoneware..well anything that goes into the kitchen. I love to buy and love to win it! So today I am hoping to win from Adventures In All Things Food.....

 

Rachael Ray “Bubble & Brown” 2-Piece Stoneware Baker Set in Blue! It will perfectly match my Rachel Ray Cookware set (in blue) that I got a few Christmas's ago. Love it! You can buy yours at CSN Store Online.

Flexi 8 Review - Watch out you'll LOVE it!

I am a claw clip type of girl. You know the plastic clips with the "claw" fingers that if you squeeze too hard the middle spring brakes or if you hit your head while wearing it, a couple of the teeth will snap off... yep those ones. Yet I still buy them because they are cheep and easy, even if not very stylish, but who has the time?

With the same amount of time it takes to use one of those cheap claw clips you can be styling using the Flexi 8. This is a truly amazing product perfect for us on the go mommies who want just a little bit of glam. Of course they are also perfect for your little princesses who love to be like mommy. These clips are not only easy as you'll see, but so comfy. I do not even realize I am wearing a clip (I actually wore mine to bed last night..oops) and no ouchy pain when I rest my head on the back of a chair.

Flexi 8 has 6 different sizes perfect for you to mix and match based on hair type and the style you want to create. After you choose your size browse through dozens of different bead types, colors and styles.

"The Flexi 8 is a completely unique, flexible barrette that holds thick, thin, curly, straight, fine and coarse hair. The Flexi 8 comes in a variety of sizes and hundreds of ever changing styles. Flexi 8 uses an ingenious patented locking mechanism to secure it in your hair. It's such an attractive and unique accessory for your hair, once you try the Flexi 8, LOOK OUT! (you're in love)."

 

Features I love about this clip are simple. Besides being ultra stylish, they are very well made, so simple to use and it's only one piece! The patented locking chopstick like piece is actually linked to the whole thing so you will never lose a piece and not be able to use it. I have used similar concepts but they are 1) not flexible and 2) are multiple pieces and I always seem to lose one, which is why I stopped buying them. Those are not problems with Flexi 8.

John Dorsey is the creative mind behind the Flexi 8. 18 years ago he started by making beaded chopsticks after being fascinated by the expensive ones his wife had purchased at Nordstrom. Friends and major retailers made these beaded chopsticks a success selling several million pairs nationwide.

Over time like many of us there were ups and downs. The economy took a turn and sometimes made it hard for them to make rent (boy do I know that feeling). That is when Johns wife Missy said "pull out some of your old beads and wire, make something and go sell it...NOW or else!" Out of this need to follow his wife's "or else" orders the Flexi 8 was born.

It does not matter how long, short, thin, thick, curly or straight your hair is, anyone can use the Flexi 8!

  

Pretty right! I have above the shoulder, baby fine hair. Here I am using the size extra small clip and the "half up" style.

(Do you know how hard it is to take a picture of the back of your own head..lol) 

 

C has long wavy thicker hair. Here she is with her hair in a loose "tails up" style using the size extra small clip

M is my crazy hair child. Curly, thin and always messy. Here she is with a "half up" style using the size mini clip.

These simple styles were done in a snap. To see exactly how easy the Flexi 8 is to use checkout their instructional videos. Be careful, as soon as you see how easy it is to create these wonderful styles you will be ordering yours!

DISCLAIMER: I was given the opportunity through Double Duty Divas to review for Flexi 8. I was sent the Flexi 8 products by O'Dorsey Inc to sample and write an honest review. All opinions expressed in the above post are mine and mine alone and are unbiased.

Follow Me Fridays & Friday Follow

Once again here are 2 great ways to make new bloggy friends and followers!!!

Stop by Trendy Treehouse for Follow Me Fridays!

Here is how it works....

• Add your blog link to the MckLinky  ~ Remember to leave your blog name under Your name.
• Follow Trendy Treehouse ~ They will follow you back
• Grab the Follow Me Friday Button for your blog ~ so more people can share in this FUN!
• Follow other Blogs that have linked up ~ Don't forget to comment saying that you are now following them and visiting from Follow Me Friday!
• If someone follows you make sure you follow back ~ It's only fair. LOL

After you visit her stop by........

Welcome to the Friday Follow celebration hosted by One 2 Try, Hearts Make Families and Midday Escapades! We invite you to join us every Friday to get more blog followers and to follow other interesting blogs. It is all about sharing and having fun.

Here's how YOU can join the celebration:

--Link up your blog name and URL using the MckLinky below. Only need to add on one blog to be seen on all the blog hops.

--Follow the Friday Follow hostesses listed in the first 3 slots. We will follow you back.

--Follow as many blogs as you'd like.

--Take a moment to comment on the blogs telling them you're from Friday Follow.

--Follow back when you get a new follower through Friday Follow.

The Blog Hop is the same at each of our three hosts blogs so you do not have to add your blog at each site. Just one - but you can follow each blog. Follow a few or follow them all.

My Yummy Breakfast & A Kitchen Tip

So I decided to use what I had in my pantry and make a version of HG's McGriddle that I posted this morning. Now I do not know the calories (which I know defeats the purpose of the original recipe)..but all I know is that I was hungry from staring at the picture on my blog all day..lol

So I used....

I love these easy packs! Add 1 cup of water and poof...pancake mix!

1 egg
1 slice Tillimook Cheddar
2 Turkey Sausage links cut down the middle

...and bam, breakfast!

 

YUMMMM!

*Kitchen Tip*

A while back I had heard that the expiration date on eggs can actually be extended for 2 weeks (or more). This date is just for grocery stocking and when they get pulled off the shelves and sent back to the "farm", the eggs are actually checked and repackaged with a new expiration date. Hmmm do not know if this is true, but decided to do some research to find out HOW you know your eggs have gone bad..this is what I found.

 

Put your egg into a glass of water if the egg floats it is bad. Floating means that air has penetrated the shell and you do not want to eat that yolk! The egg in my picture has an "expiration" date of Feb 14th...today is the 25th. My egg sinks, it is still good and I used it for the above recipe and it was yummy! 

"If the egg sinks to the bottom, but stands on its point, it's still good but needs to be used soon. Since egg shells are porous, overtime the liquid in the egg evaporates and is replaced by outside air. This results in more buoyant eggs."

Do you have any egg or kitchen tips? I would love to hear it!

Hungry Girl Thursday - ChickGriddle

It's HG Thursday. Time for a yummy recipe. If you missed the previous post, check it out HERE.  Watch the video from the HG/Yoplait event the girls and I went to....you might even spot M in the video...and get your coupon for $1.00 of Fiber One yogurt!

To receive all these super yummy recipes sign up for Hungry Girls Newsletter!!

Hungry G's Sausage, Egg 'n Cheese ChickGriddle Pancake Party!


As big fans of the whole sweet 'n salty combo, we HAD to make over this tempting breakfast treat from Mickey D's. Get ready to FLIP over Hungry G's Sausage, Egg 'n Cheese ChickGriddle!

Ingredients:
1 tsp. light whipped butter or light buttery spread (like Brummel & Brown)
2 1/2 tbsp. sugar-free pancake syrup
1 1/2 tbsp. whole-wheat flour
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1 Morningstar Farms veggie sausage patty (or another low-fat sausage patty with about 80 calories)
1 slice fat-free American cheese
1/4 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute (like Egg Beaters Original)
Optional: additional sugar-free pancake syrup, for dipping

Directions:
To make the pancake batter, place butter in a microwave-safe bowl and nuke for 10 seconds, or until melted. Add syrup, flour, and baking powder, and mix thoroughly.

Bring a skillet sprayed with nonstick spray to medium heat. Add batter to form two small pancakes. Cook for 3 - 4 minutes per side, flipping carefully, until golden brown. Then plate and set aside.

Cook sausage patty according to package instructions, either in the microwave or in a skillet sprayed with nonstick spray. Top one pancake with the cheese slice, followed by the sausage patty. Set aside.

Re-spray the skillet and return to medium heat. Pour in egg substitute and allow it to spread out evenly -- do not scramble. Once mostly cooked through, flip and allow it to finish cooking. Gently fold it in half once, and then in half again. Place over the cheese-topped sausage patty, and finish it all off with the remaining pancake. If you like, dunk your ChickGriddle in some syrup. Yum time!

MAKES 1 SERVING


Serving Size: 1 breakfast sandwich (entire recipe)
Calories: 210
Fat: 5g
Sodium: 834mg
Carbs: 20g
Fiber: 2.5g
Sugars: 2g
Protein: 22.5g

POINTS® value 4*

Horizon Chocolate Milk Winners!!

Congrats to:

#6 -

Luvdaylilies said...

I now follow you on twitter~Luvdaylilies & I tweeted=) http://twitter.com/Luvdaylilies/status/9317492804 Luvdaylilies at bellsouth dot net

and

#4

 

 

Birdy's Boutique said...

I also follow your blog. Congrats ladies an email will be coming your way soon. Enjoy your ultra yummy Chocolate Milk!

Wordless Wednesdays - Family Game Night

 

Sponge Bob Square Pants Operation! 

Don't forget to stop by Sookie's blog for her WW :)

Post It Tuesday

Last week was busy and so I missed that weeks PINT with Supah, but I'm back this week. Have something to say...stop by her blog and join us!

  

(In case you missed this post, you have to see the picture HERE)

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Fiber One Yogurt and Coupon!

As you know I am a fan of Hungry Girl Lisa Lillien and of Yoplait Fiber One yogurt. Now here is a wonderful opportunity to see Lisa talking with consumers about this tasty snack at the recent tasting event that the girls and I went to (see post here) and get your hands on a $1.00 off coupon! If you watch the video and look really hard when they switch to the table shot of the Fiber One Cups you'll see M standing by the table hanging out!! This is literally her 15 seconds of fame..lol

Yoplait Fiber One 50-calorie yogurt is the only leading nonfat yogurt with 50 calories and 5 grams of fiber

· Available in four flavors – Strawberry, Vanilla, Peach and Key Lime Pie – Fiber One 50-calorie yogurt contributes 20% of the recommended daily value of fiber and is a good source of calcium as well as vitamins A and D

· Instead of munching on boring lower-calorie foods, you can now snack with zero guilt on Fiber One yogurt, a tasty way to help watch waistlines and keep calorie counts in check

· Fiber One 50-calorie yogurt features a ‘Hungry Girl Seal of Approval’, the first nationally distributed yogurt to receive this endorsement.

Smarti Pants Cloth Diaper Giveaway

When my second daughter M was born I wanted to be more "natural" in everything I did for me and my family. One of the things I decided to change was how I was going to diaper my new princess. I became a cloth diapering mama. Not only buying them but I handmade a few AIO's (all in one's) and doublers myself. I loved my fluffy stash, loved the money I saved and loved knowing I was doing my small little part in the world.

Smartipants is one of these companies that knows just where I was coming from. The designer and vision behind Smartipants is also the inventor of the original one size pocket diaper. She called them Wonderoos. Yep, I had one or two of them in my stash. "As a company Smartipants is committed to making cloth diapering not only easy, but affordable. Our mission is to provide smart parents with smart solutions. We are dedicated to being 100% green, environmentally friendly, economical, and determined to keep our diapers proudly made by mothers in the United States of America!We have a facility with over 7 years of diaper making experience and look forward to changing the world one smart parent at a time."

Smartipants™ diapers are both easy to use and easy to care for. Just place the absorbent insert into either side of the sleeve, and it will stay snugly in place until you remove the diaper from your baby. Once the diaper is removed, there's no need to take out the insert -- it comes out in the wash!


All of our diapers are proudly made in the USA!

Smart for your baby: Smartipants™ diapers feature our Leak-Guard Technology, keeping moisture contained, and your baby dry. Our diapers are made with “breathable” fibers and are free from any chemicals or irritants. Smartipants™ reusable diapers are designed to grow with your baby from newborn to toddler, babies 7lbs - 35lbs.

Smart for your wallet: Instead of requiring 7,000 disposable diapers, the average baby needs only 24 reusable diapers, resulting in a net savings of nearly $3,000.00! In addition, Smartipants™ are not only the most advanced reusable diapers on the market, they are also the most affordable! Our products are all produced in our own local manufacturing facilities, and we are able to pass on those savings to you!

Smart for your environment: Every year our country contributes roughly 3.4 million tons of disposable diaper waste into landfills. Using reusable diapers not only reduces the amount of solid waste, it also reduces the amount of harmful chemicals, oils, and trees required to produce them!

How To Get It!

Smartipants are sold as a Single Diaper, the Smart Start 3 Pack and if you need extra Inserts they have a 10 pack for the best value.

Win It Here!

Smartipants is offering one lucky winner (1) Diaper in their choice of color! Choose from 7 brilliant colors!

How To Enter:

Mandatory Entry: Visit Smartipants and tell me what color you would choose for your dipe. Please make sure if you do not have a valid email address on your blog or profile, add it to your comment so I can contact you easily. NOTE: If you skip the mandatory entry, none of your entries will count for the giveaway.



Extra Entries: (leave separate comments for each entry)



* Follow Me (1 entry)


* Follow My New Blog (2 extra entries)

* Follow Smartipants on Facebook (1 entry)


* Grab my Blog Button or Sew Fierce badge and blog about the giveaway (4 extra entries)


* Follow Me and Smartipants on Twitter and RT this: (please leave status link in your comment) (1 entry)

Smarti Pants Cloth Diaper Giveaway @sewfierce @thesmartipants
http://apocketfullofbuttons.blogspot.com



Giveaway open to USA and Canada Only



Giveaway closes March 8th @ 11:59pm (PST) Winner will be picked March 9th by Random.org and notified by email, a post will follow. Winner has 72 hours to reply to my email otherwise a new winner will be picked.


DISCLAIMER: I was approached and given the opportunity to host a feature and giveaway for Smartipants. I in no way received any products for personal use or was financially compensated for my Feature. Any opinions expressed in the above post are mine and mine alone and are unbiased.

Friend Makin Monday

 

Stop by Amber's blog aefilkins and sign up for FMM! 

p.s. she is opening a shop and it looks like it is going to be adorable!

This week, inquiring minds want to know: What did you do this weekend? Confess it.

Did you sleep in late? Were you lazy? Were you productive? Did you do anything special? Tell us all about it.


This weekend was fabulous.

-Friday night I did more work on Sook's blog, made myself a Gin & Tonic and watched TV with the fam.
-Saturday morning I wanted to sleep in but as usual, that didn't happen. The rain came back to SoCal.
-Saturday afternoon there was a brake in the rain, the sun came through so we all went to Dog Beach. The girls played in the surf and had a blast.
-Saturday night we made homemade pizza for dinner a pigged out.
-Sunday morning woke to rain again. Hubby was up at 0330..poor Sook had been sick all over the house..must have been the salt water from the beach.
-Sunday afternoon hubby and I took the girls to the base theater for Alvin and the Chipmunks 2. It was very cute.
-Sunday night I made a yummy cheesy chicken casserole. The girls had bath time and we all hit the rack early.




So what did you do?

Le Creuset Prep Bowls Giveaway

A Gal Needs At Least 2 Blogs is hosting a giveaway for a set of Le Creuset Prep Bowls!

*Fingers and toes crossed* This would be awesome to go with the 6qt Pot I won last week!!

Cards For Cancer

As I do every morning I sign into SITS roll call. You have heard me many times talk about them but if you forgot SITS (The Secret Is In The Sauce) is an amazing support group of blogger woman who love to leave bloggy lovin. So stop by and check them out, you will love being a SITSta!

Anyways the post today is about Cards For Cancer  have had two grandmothers pass away from cancer. One from breast cancer and one from lung cancer (and she didn't even smoke), so I always try to participate in event related to cancer as I can. So here is what SITS posted today and I wanted to pass along....

Some of you may be familiar with Spirit Jump, a nonprofit organization dedicated to lifting the spirits of men, women and children battling cancer. SITS has been a strong supporter of this organization for the past year, throwing a hugely successful fundraiser for them in Las Vegas. We are excited to announce Spirit Jump has started a new project called Cards For Cancer Day.

On or around April 10th, 2010 Spirit Jump and team leaders around the world will bring bags of cards to their local cancer centers to be given to those battling cancer. Spirit Jump’s founder, Meaghan Edelstein, has asked us to help make this day a huge success. They are looking for people who can make, collect and deliver cards to local cancer centers and of course…blog about the experience. This is the perfect project for kids and families and a great opportunity to help those in need.

There are several ways you can join Cards For Cancer Day:

1- BECOME A TEAM LEADER: a Team Leader makes and collects uplifting cards and commits to deliver the cards to local cancer centers on or around April 10th.

2- TEAM MEMBER: a Team Member helps make and collect the cards and then passes these cards to their Team Leader in time to be delivered.

3- TELL EVERYONE: Blog and Tweet about the event.

It’s really that simple and they need more people to help them reach their goal of delivering over 100,000 uplifting cards.

If you would like to learn more about Cards For Cancer Day you can visit their blog www.cards4cancer.wordpress.com If you would like to participate just click on the tab in the upper right hand corner of their blog.

Sewing For Sookie

I did some sewing for Sook yesterday, stop by her blog and take a peak. Also if your in San Diego get the info on tomorrows "Bark In The Park" event  in Balboa Park!!

Sookie's Pit Bull Paradise

Holey Donuts! Review

Okay when I say "heaven" what do you think of? How about "soft", "sweet", "gooey", "decadent"..now what comes to mind? What I now associate with these words  is......Holey Donuts! Oh..my..god, I think I am in love. I feel the fluttering butterfly's, my hearts pounding and the smirky smile that comes over my face as I open the box knowing what lies inside. Yep, it's heaven!

Holey Donuts! The only low fat, super yummy, guilt free donut. While most donuts have 15-20 grams of fat per donut, Holey Donuts! have a mere 3 grams. That's right 3. Now you know you donut eaters like me do not stop with just one donut especially is you have your hot coffee too. I admit I have been known to eat 2 (or 3), now that is a possible of 40-60 grams of fat..oh lord. Not with my new found hero Holey Donuts!, my "normal" donut eating would only be 6-9 grams...amazing!

 

I contacted Holey Donuts! myself via email about writing a review for them. I normally do not do this but after seeing them all over the blogosphere, I had to know for myself if all the claims were true. Sure I expected the product probably be good, but not knock my socks off fantastic. After my email exchange with Holey Donuts! I was glad to see they were as excited to work with my little blog as I was to work with them. My contacts are super sweet and you can tell they love their company.

A day later,the FedEx man was at my house..wow super quick! I opened the big box to find sampler boxes packed nicely in dry ice and still frozen solid. The donuts need to be shipped this was because "Our donuts must be shipped frozen due to a lack of hydrogenated vegetable shortening, which is the harmful ingredient in other donuts that keeps them "fresh" for days or months. We prepare your donuts fresh and by hand, then freeze them to lock in the freshness."

  

This is the Sampler Favorite A and this is how it looks still frozen right out of the packing box. The label on each box tells you what is inside and gives you the ingredient list of each one of their donuts not just what is inside. I couldn't wait to dive in. On the box it tells you how to thaw your donuts. Microwave or "natural" counter top thaw. Now since I am not good with the micro (I've been known to walk away and then what ever was in there turns into a rock), I decided I would bite my tongue and counter thaw my donuts. So I went about my business and before I knew it, they were thawed and ready for me to pounce on.

  Reduced Fat Blueberry Crumb 

Unbelievable. The texture was fresh and soft and the filling was perfect. Not too sweet and still had the distinct blueberry tang. The girls and I had a blast trying each others donuts. C tried the Reduced Fat Fudge Boston Cream and M picked the Reduced Fat Raspberry Vanilla Truffle. Just reading the names of the Holey Donuts! just makes your mouth water right?

The true test of  how good a low fat donut could by lied with hubby because "nothing low fat tastes good". When he returned home from work I immediately shoved the box in his face and told him to pick one. I didn't inform him of what he was about to eat besides the obvious "it's a donut I am reviewing". He chose the Reduced Fat Caramel Apple (dang, I wanted that one next..lol). As I watched him chow down and hearing the "yumm" coming from his full mouth I knew it was a hit. I then asked him in one word to describe it.."real buttery and fresh, this is great". Okay so he is a Marine and not good with following directions if there are not pictures attached, but I think we all know what he thinks about this product.

-I see other donuts advertised as Trans Fat Free. What makes Holey Donuts!® different?
There is a huge difference between Low Fat and only being Trans Fat free. Many donut companies are jumping on the trans fat free bandwagon but those donuts are still deep fried and loaded with fat and calories. Trans Fat free only means the donuts don't contain harmful trans fats, which is good but that's only half the story. Only Holey Donuts!® has a unique cooking process that avoids deep frying altogether, creating a truly "low fat" donut and we have always had zero Trans Fats even before it was so chic.

-Does Holey Donuts! use artificial sweeteners?
No, we do not use any artificial sweeteners or fat substitutes like Olestra. As such, our donuts are healthy and safe whether you are an expectant mother or just concerned about what is in the foods you enjoy.

-Are your Donuts "Low Carb"?
Our donuts have carbs just like any ordinary donut. The goal at Holey Donuts!® was not to make a diet donut, but to make a better donut. As donut lovers ourselves, we always hated that we had to limit our enjoyment of donuts because they were so fattening. We set out to cook our donuts differently and as a natural side effect they happened to have between 3 and 4 grams of fat, whereas the average donut (even those that are trans fat free) can have as much as 25 grams of fat per donut. Our donuts are included in some of the country’s largest and most successful weight loss/food delivery programs across America.

 Reduced Fat Boston Cream Oreo Cookie

How to get your hands on this handmade yummy goodness?

WIN IT!

* Enter to win a February Love Assortment. One lucky reader will win  4 boxes of their latest,

best selling, super yummy Holey Donuts! Low Fat Treats and $250 Holey Donuts! store credit good for 1 year.

HOW TO ENTER:

Go to Holey Donuts! "contact me" page. Enter your name and email addy, then in the subject line you need to add "A Pocket Full Of Buttons". In the message box add " Giveaway". There your done! Only 1 entry person please.




More Ways To Get It:

* Buy your own Holey Donuts! and get FREE 30 of their Low Fat Cinnamon Glazed Donut Holes with any online order! Promo Code AWNY

* Follow Holey Donuts! On Facebook .

* Sign up for their newsletter and do not miss any of their FREE deals and  special offers!