Crock Pot Mondays: Sesame Ginger Chicken from Crock-Pot Cuisine

Another Monday... Another meal in the crock pot. Seriously, I don't know what I do without the crock pot. Well, I do. My kids would probably eat crackers, apple slices, and milk for dinner and be perfectly happy with it. But, luckily that's not the case.

Tonight we have the Sesame Ginger Chicken from Crock-Pot Cuisine a try. Being able to rip open a package, dump it in the crock pot with a cup of water, and then ask my sitter to add vegetables at 4:30... Delightful. Easy. Easy. Easy. Which I need on days like today.

I wish I had been home earlier to taste it when the broccoli would have been at its best. Instead it had a little too long to cook, so didn't have the firm, crispness I was hoping for. But, seriously, that's what vegetables do after 90 minutes of cooking... Otherwise, it was pretty tasty. W ate out the chicken, broccoli, and carrots. B ate out the carrots (you can't win them all). And A ate most of it. In my continued attempts to cut gluten I picked out some chicken and veggies so I could taste-test. I added a splash of sriracha, which made it awesome. Oh yeah, and the wine I drank helped... Matt spiced his up with sriracha and was a happy camper.

All in all, I can still say these meals are solid. This was an all-in-one kind of meal, which was great. I didn't have to make anything else. I'm really looking forward to trying their other meals. The fresh ingredients made it a no-guilt pre-cooked meal that I feel good about feeding the kiddos.

As I mentioned last time, the online order process is really user-friendly and you can still save 25% through the end of the month on any order with this coupon code: CPC25BLOGK.

Disclosure: I received complimentary Crock-Pot Cuisine Meals and a Crock-Pot. All opinions are my own.

Schoolhouse Rock(ed)

W and I love fun opportunities to see some theater. He really, really enjoys seeing shows. Musicals just make him happy. SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE! was one of these musicals. We went to the production at The Marriott Theater for Young Audiences last weekend and I've caught him singing a few of the songs since... songs he didn't know before the show. 

We have a Schoolhouse Rock cd, but haven't listened to it a ton. Other than one song, the kids weren't too familiar. And - trust me - he informed everyone sitting around us in his talk-scream voice that he knew a song. It made me wish I had listened to the cd with the kids more because I think he would have been engaged in the show in a difference way.

We have a tendency to just take W places and assume B isn't ready for stuff. We've really been trying to break out of that habit, so I brought him along. He did OK, but I have to admit he was probably a little too young and too tired to enjoy it as much (he fell asleep in the car and woke up cranky). He spent most of the show snuggled in my lap and started to whisper about going home near the end. It's an hour-long production recommended for ages five and up, but I do think some three and four year-olds would totally dig it.

All smiles... Bring on the show! B never left my lap.

What I like most about the Marriott Theater for Young Audiences are the actors. This is the second show we've seen there and every cast member has been really great. There were even a few actors who were in both productions. They just put on a terrific show. The boys were dragging their feet to leave, so we were heading out by the time the actors were walking out. One of the actors waved at us and for W it might as well have been a major celebrity. It made his day... And he can't wait to go back.

My personal favorite... And the song W knew.

Have I mentioned W loves anything about planets???

SCHOOLHOUSE ROCKS LIVE! will run at that Marriott Theater for Young Audiences through May 4th. The show plays most Thursdays through Sundays at 10 AM and tickets are $15/person. You should go! It's just a sweet and easy way to introduce your kids to theater and do something special... Especially during this never-ending winter.

Disclosure: We received three complimentary tickets. All opinions are my own.

Crock Pot Mondays: Lemon Herb Chicken from Crock-Pot Cuisine

I spend two days a week in the office. To some moms who are in the office five days every week, this is nothing. But, those two days make dinner tough and the crock pot is my best friend. So, I'm going to feature some of my favorite crock pot meals on Mondays each week... Cuz you know you need some ideas, right?

While my preference is to make homemade, healthy, natural food for my family, it's just not always possible or convenient. As a rule I generally do not make pre-packaged meals. But sometimes I need to be able to call it in. When I read about their natural approach to a new line of meals by Crock-Pot, I knew they were worth a try. Typically pre-packaged meals are full of stuff I can't pronounce and lots of salt, but the ingredients list on the box supported it.

We tried the Crock-Pot Cuisine Lemon Herb Chicken this week and honestly I was prepared to be all meh about it. Matt handled all the preparation for me since he was working from home. I came home, threw together a salad, and then served it up for everyone. The truth? I was pleasantly surprised (without that sounding jerky). It was really tasty.

See? Real, bright veggies!

Everything cooked really well. The green beans were nice and crisp - and fresh tasting. The flavor was good, the chicken tasted like read chicken, and nothing got gummy or overdone. Like I said, very tasty. And everyone in our house enjoyed it, which doesn't happen too often.

I think the packaging also deserves a shout-out... Matt actually pointed it out to me. The directions are incredibly easy to follow and it includes chef tips. For someone like me, it's not all that helpful (just being honest), but for someone who doesn't cook too much the tips on adding in sliced mushrooms or topping with cranberries is a real help.

Also great? The online order process is really user-friendly, making it easy for busy families and I think that the price is close to what you would spend on chicken breasts, green beans, onions, and rice. Not to mention the extra convenience.

Here is something fun for you... Until March you can save 25% on an order with this coupon code: CPC25BLOGK.
 
So, the verdict? I'll let the smile on my PICKIEST eater's face say it all...

Hi, I'm a picky eater... Wait a second...

Disclosure: I received complimentary Crock-Pot Cuisine Meals and a Crock-Pot. All opinions are my own.

BubbleBum Inflatable Seats Give Away

We're in preschool now. We have friends and play dates and lots of offers to pick up each other's kids. That's what moms do: we pick up each other's kids. We throw them in the back and act like it's no big deal. We pile them in and unload them when we get home. But our kids are still in car seats and boosters, so it can be complicated.

W is just about to transition from his car seat to a booster. We're still keeping him strapped into his Britax for now, but pretty soon he'll be in a booster. This is the age when car seats get weird. They're bulky and expensive and you always seem to need an extra one. It's hard being the mom who doesn't have the extra booster. W can fit into his Britax, but a lot of his friends are bigger than him and cannot.

A while ago I was given the opportunity to try out a BubbleBum. They launched this cool new product at the beginning of 2013 and did a roll out at Target. Cool, huh? I was originally supposed to be part of the launch, but W didn't weigh enough to test the seat and you can see by my lack of posting that the blog has fallen way down on my list. But, this is a call product and I'm true to my word. I only do give aways that I think my readers will like and/or find useful and this one fits the bill.

So, I'm finally giving one away to a lucky reader! I have readers still, right? I kid... I know there are two of you left!

Let me tell you about the BubbleBum... It's the first inflatable booster seat designed to make travel and car pooling safe. It deflates small enough to be kept in a large purse or back pack. It's pretty genius. W doesn't weigh enough to get in one of these yet, but I'm excited to try it out when he does. It already has its spot in our car and when I practiced using it, I found it to be really easy.

Holy crap, is this my future or what?!? Except without the red hair. And perfectly smiling kids.

If you don't have time to run out to your local Target to grab one, you're in luck! Enter to win one here...

Here's how to enter:

1. Comment on this post and share your favorite trick to make carpooling easy. Be sure to include an email address if it doesn't connect back to your blog. (You must comment to be entered!)

2. Follow Hannemaniacs. (Look on the right side bar to follow.) Click on the "Join this Site" button.

3. Like the Hannemaniacs Facebook page.

4. Follow Hannemaniacs on Twitter.

5. Mention this giveaway to your network on Facebook and/or Twitter (one entry for each) by pasting this in your status: Enter to win a BubbleBum inflatable booster at www.hannemaniacs.com. 

6. Like the BubbleBum Facebook page.

7. Follow BubbleBum on Twitter.

Please let me know which of the above actions you have done to be counted. That's a lot of entry opportunities!

Contest ends at 5 pm Friday, April 12th. Enter now!

THE WINNER (chosen on Random.org): Vanessa.

If you did not win, you can purchase your BubbleBum at Target. Find your store with this locator or visit one of these Chicagoland Target locations: Alton, Normal, Rockford, Glendale Heights, Naperville, Gurnee, Moline, Peru, Tinley Park, Broadview, and Bourbonnais.

Disclosure: I received one complimentary BubbleBum and one to give away to a reader. All opinions are my own.

Lessons From The Dailey Method

I've been going to classes at The Dailey Method for the last few weeks. It's been really great for me. Not only has it given me time for myself, but it's also been a good reminder that pregnant ladies need to get their exercise on.

Here are five things I've learned from working out at The Dailey Method:

1. The Dailey Method (like so many other types of exercise) is a practice... You have to work at it, sometimes you're just a mess and other days you're in the zone. There are hundreds of things that affect you each day, so don't stress if you're not "on." Practicing is a step in the right direction.

2. You look and feel better when you're working out in nice gym clothes. Yes, lululemon and Lucy and Athletica might be a little expensive, but worth getting some good basics. You're going to watch yourself in a mirror, splurge a little and feel good about what you see.

3. Little movements make big differences. Just go to a class and you'll understand.

4. Pregnant women can work out and will feel better if they do. Yeah, sometimes you have to modify an exercise or stop for water more often... But, all in all, even a tough work out - like The Dailey Method - is doable.

5. Mom needs some time. The women who own this location are moms, most of the teachers have been moms. They get it. Remember the failed attempt at keeping the boy's in the kid's room? No one judged me for leaving my kids in there in the first place... Instead, they apologized that I wasn't able to use the hour of time I had carved out for myself. I knew they understood.

I've loved these classes. Loved clearing my head, feeling good afterward, and feeling strong. So, moms, whether it's The Dailey Method or something else, find your outlet.

Full disclosure: I received an unlimited month of classes at The Dailey Method North Shore location. All opinions are my own.

My Protect-A-Bed Summer Sleep Thoughts and A Giveaway

We don't get a ton of sleep around here. Matt has always been an early riser and our kids have followed in dad's footsteps. We usually start the day by 6 am, sometimes closer to 5 am. And while our kids observe their early bedtimes, Matt and I try to get in a little time to get stuff done or hang out together or just veg in front of the tv and get about six hours of sleep. It's not terrible, but it would be nice to get more.
Sometimes as a parent you stress so much about making sure everything is perfect for your kids, you forget about your health and needs. We make sure the kids have new mattresses, allergen-free pillows, cozy pajamas, safe bedding, sound machines, and a comfortable room in every way. Sometimes we forget about those upgrades for ourselves. I just bought us new bedding last year, which replaced sheets and a duvet cover we'd been using since we were dating. I splurged at Target and bought some new soft pj's for the first time in years and it felt really good. With the basics covered, I realized my next step: protecting our bed.

When W moved into his big boy bed we purchased a Protect-A-Bed mattress protector, which has proved to be totally waterproof annd comfortable. But, Matt and I are still sleeping on an old, quilted mattress protector. With a kid sometimes creeping in our bed, Matt's allergies, and the male ability to get crazy hot (and let's face it) sweaty at night, it was time for a change. So, when Protect-A-Bed offered me a Luxury Mattress Protector I jumped on it. And we've been comfortably using it since. I'm feeling good about our sleeping arrangement, but we're not always sleeping at home.

In the summer months we do a lot more bed hopping and spend some time at my family's lake house in Michigan, which was purchased by my grandparents in the later 60's. Countless people have slept in the 13 beds and laid their heads on the pillows.

Now consider this: According to Protect-A-Bed, dust mites are impossible to see and live in mattresses and pillows, living on human skin cells, and thriving in hot and humid conditions (like, for instance, a lake house in the midwest). Female dust mites produce one to three eggs per day within their 30 to 90 day lifespan. Despite their tiny size, they create 10-20 waste particles a day, each containing a protein known to cause allergies and asthma.

Now the thought of these mattresses full of dust mites is kind of gross, but not gross enough to keep me from sleeping on them. What freaks me out is the thought of W and his issues with asthma sleeping on them. What's our plan? We're bringing our mattress covers along when we go to Michigan at the end of the month.

What's your plan to ensure your family enjoys safe, healthy sleep this summer? Leave a comment here and you'll be entered in a giveaway for a Protect-A-Bed Luxury Mattress Protector. They're not only perfect for families with allergies, but they're even better for families with little kids and need a soft waterproof mattress cover. Not the plastic ones we used to have to sleep on that made noise every time we moved. Remember those? Yuck.

Here's how to enter:

1. Comment on this post and share your summer sleeping secrets. Be sure to include an email address if it doesn't connect back to your blog. (You must comment to be entered!)

2. Follow Hannemaniacs. (Look on the right side bar to follow.) Click on the "Join this Site" button.

3. Like the Hannemaniacs Facebook page.

4. Follow Hannemaniacs on Twitter.

5. Mention this giveaway to your network on Facebook and/or Twitter (one entry for each) by pasting this in your status: Enter to win a Protect-A-Bed Luxury Mattress Protector at  www.hannemaniacs.com. 

Please let me know which of the above actions you have done to be counted.

As always, that's SIX possible entries per person. Contest ends at 9 am Friday, July 20th. Enter now!

Disclosure: I received one complimentary Luxury Mattress Protector and one to give away to a reader. All opinions are my own.

May is National Strawberry Month:A Giveaway From Stonyfield & Tom's of Maine

W's most favorite food are strawberries. No matter what the season he craves them and has an endless appetite and ability to consume them with incredible speed. Needless to say, strawberries don't last too long around here. Right now strawberries are in season, and I found some great ones at our Farmer's Market last weekend. It's feels much better buying them there than it does when I buy them in the middle of winter. We try to buy according to what's in season, but we'll always have to bend the rules when it comes to strawberries for W.

YoKids is teaming up with Tom's of Maine on strawberry flavored goodies and I'm excited to have package for one of you lucky readers... A YoKids lunch sack filled with several Tom's of Maine products including a full 4.2oz tube of Silly Strawberry children's toothpaste, as well as samples of their Naturally Dry deodorant and Daily Moisture soap.  The bag also includes FREE YoKids and YoKids Greek coupons, YoKids temporary tattoos, and YoKids Strawberry-flavored Eco Lips chapstick!

We've been using Tom's strawberry toothpaste for William since we started brushing his teeth and he totally loves it. I've been trying to switch over to as many of their natural products as I can and have been happy with what I've tried so far, including the deodorant. Being a Yo-Getter allows me to try fun products like this and enjoy coupons for Stonyfield products, like their Yo-Kids Greek Yogurt.

Here's how to enter:

1. Comment on this post and share your favorite strawberry treat. Be sure to include an email address if it doesn't connect back to your blog. (You must comment to be entered!)

2. Follow Hannemaniacs. (Look on the right side bar to follow.) Click on the "Join this Site" button.

3. Like the Hannemaniacs Facebook page.

4. Follow Hannemaniacs on Twitter.

5. Mention this giveaway to your network on Facebook and/or Twitter (one entry for each) by pasting this in your status: Enter to win a package of strawberry flavored goodies from Stonyfield and Tom's of Maine at www.hannemaniacs.com. 
Please let me know which of the above actions you have done to be counted.

So, that's SIX possible entries per person. Contest ends at 9 am Wednesday, June 6th. Enter now!

Disclosure: I received one complimentary package of strawberry flavored goodies for my family and one to give away to a reader. All opinions are my own.

L'Occitane's Angelica Instant Hydration Mask Works With My Easy Skin Routine

I am all about easy when it comes to just about everything, especially my beauty routines. If it's not fast and simple, I just can't be bothered. I wash my face and put on moisturizer. But, when I had the opportunity to take part in the campaign for the L'OCCITANE Angelica Instant Hydration Mask, I was willing to add a few minutes to my routine. And that's all it took. 3 minutes.
I haven't done a mask in about 20 years. And when I think of them I think of the crazy colored, strong scented, turn into cement masks that my friends and I experimented with at junior high sleepovers... Yuck, right? But this mask is totally, totally different.

Here is my little vlog telling you all about it. (Note: The boys were sleeping in close proximity to our bathroom, which might explain what comes across as low energy...)


See other videos on the L'OCCITANE Facebook page here. Disclosure: I received a tube of L'OCCITANE Angelica Hydration Mask for review and a basket of L'OCCITANE products for my time. All opinions are my own.

Toydozer

I spend a lot of time asking W to clean up his toys. And I spend even more time picking them up myself. I know, I know... I'm taking the easy way out and he's learning nothing. But, sometimes the fighting just isn't worth it. He helps clean up at preschool (or so his teachers say), so he is clearly capable of doing it. For now doing it at home just isn't that much fun, I figure.

So, when I was given the opportunity to review a new tool made to make clean up easier for me and the kiddies... I jumped. We need help. We received the Toydozer, which is a product that both parents and kids can use to make clean up easier and more fun. The Toydozer has two parts: a "gatherer" and a "scoop" designed to collect small toys.

It's easy to use. I used it and had W give it a try. He's a little young for it, as it's really designed for kids over five. However, I think a coordinated four year-old would be able to use it easily. I felt like the toys we were cleaning up were too big, but here is W cleaning up with the Toydozer:

Here we are scooping into the gatherer. The pile behind him could use an actual bulldozer.

He wasn't coordinated enough to get it into the bin, but he tried.

The Toydozer would be awesome for dealing with a pile of little Lego's, rather than super hero figures and farm animals. I am positive the Toydozer will be a very useful companion when the boys are in their Lego stage. We were also using it on carpet, which worked just fine -- But I think it would be best on hardwood floors. I imagine it would also work well for klutzy crafters (which clearly I am not).

Here's the fun thing... I have a Toydozer to give away to one lucky, lucky reader! And I also have a discount code to share (BLOGGER20 will get you 20% off on Toyzdozer.com).

Here's how to enter:

1. Comment on this post about what you want to clean up with a toydozer. Be sure to include an email address if it doesn't connect back to your blog. (You must comment to be entered!)

2. Follow Hannemaniacs. (Look on the right side bar to follow.) Click on the "Join this Site" button.

3. Like the Hannemaniacs Facebook page.

4. Follow Hannemaniacs on Twitter.

5. Mention this giveaway to your network on Facebook and/or Twitter (one entry for each) by pasting this in your status: Enter to win a Toydozer at www.hannemaniacs.com. 

Please let me know which of the above actions you have done to be counted.

So, that's SIX possible entries per person. Contest ends at 9 am Friday, May 4th. Enter now!

THIS GIVE AWAY IS NOW CLOSED. THE WINNER IS ONLY LAILA @ONLY LAILA! PLEASE SEND ME YOUR MAILING ADDRESS, LAILA! CONGRATULATIONS!

Disclosure: This post is part of a Toydozer blogger outreach campaign. Participating bloggers have been provided with a complimentary Toydozer to review and have been compensated for their time. 

Bringing Some Green Into My February at The Chalet

This has been a really special winter, I know. The sun has been shining, the temps have been mild, and you can actually hear birds singing every now and then... But I'm still feeling that mid-winter longing for green plants and the opportunity to play with some dirt.

The Chalet (my amazing local gardening center) invited me to take part in a Terrarium Workshop earlier this month and I jumped on it. I had already planned to take the day off and it just sounded like a nice thing to do for myself (read: by myself). I love planting flowers in the summer. It's usually more of a hectic experience, but I realize it's some of the very little alone and quiet time that I get. Like planting my flowers, terrarium building was a nice, calm activity. And the terrarium I made is so cool. I love it. (You can see a little vlog that Kim made about building her terrarium at her Reluctant Renovator blog.)

I was worried that as a non-crafty person, I might zone out or get frustrated rather quickly, but I actually didn't. The women at The Chalet were informative and fun and kept the workshop moving while answering my many plant questions such as:

1. A former boss (who is quite possibly one of the most terrible people I have ever met) used to put the bottom of her Diet Pepsi in her plant everyday and would tell anyone who would listen that caffeine makes plants grow. Answer = NOT TRUE. Coffee grounds help with soil and composting, but for different reasons.

2. My grandmother used to pull the heads off of inpatients and place them in the ground next to the flower. She claimed they doubled the amount of flowers you could get. ANSWER = KIND OF. Pulling off the head helps keep the plant focused on growing. Plants are like ladies, they focus on getting all pretty, hit a peak, and then things go downhill (I kid, I kid...). And the head stuck in the dirt has the possibility of sprouting roots, which would create another flower.

3. I always thought you needed to get a little rough and pull apart the roots when removing a plant from its little plastic container and planting it. ANSWER = NO! All you have to do is "tickle" the roots a bit. Apparently one gardening guru with a lot of influence started this rumor, which horticulturists have been fighting ever since.

But, I have to share what I thought was the best takeaway (other than the terrarium)... Jennifer Brennan shared the best gardening advice I have ever received. Before you start gardening, slather your hands with lotion. Get it into all the creases, under your nails, work it into any space where dirt could worm in. The lotion forms a barrier for dirt and it keeps your hands easy to clean. It worked like a charm.

Looking for something to do this weekend or a good escape? Give the Terrarium Workshop on Feb 24th or 25th a try. It was really a nice way to spend a February day. And if you can't make it for the workshop, I highly recommend checking out all the other things The Chalet has to offer, like an amazing gift and home decor area, warm greenhouse area with gorgeous orchids, and a plant diagnostic center.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary Terrarium Workshop session, which included all of the items necessary to make the terrarium. I was under no obligation to post and all opinions are my own.

No Name Premium Meats: Review and Give Away

I really try to make sure we all sit down and eat together each night. I know that W is only 3 and B is 8 months, but I feel like I'm building our family dinner foundation now. There are all sorts of studies about communication, brains, healthy eating habits, yada, yada, yada that encourage doing this.

But, that's not what makes me want to make family dinners a priority. We both grew up with family dinners and I think it's a very important part of family life. It allows us all to take some time together before bedtime. Our week nights are crazy hectic. I get home at 5:00. Matt doesn't get home until close to 6:30 and B goes to bed at 7:00, so dinner has to be ready when he gets home.

Meal planning and having some reliable standbys make dinner possible each week. I don't like to rely on pre-made, packaged meals. But, that being said, I'm not opposed to using packaged items during busy weeks. They're great for the base of a meal with fresh sides.

Last week was one of those weeks... We were gone over the weekend. I didn't have time to pull my meal plan together. And I had a few No Name Premium Meats in the freezer for this kind of week. So, No Name became our meal plan.

On Monday I made the Original No Name Steaks:

Photo courtesy of my sweet skills with my iPhone. I wish I had a better picture.

I don't cook red meat often. Once a month tops, so I'm not very confident when I do cook red meat. I seasoned this with salt and pepper and followed the exact directions to cook it on the stove top in a pan. And, I have to say, it was awesome. Really, really good. They were tender and there wasn't a trace of fat on them. W and I split one and I think we both would have had more.

True story: Matt and I went out for my birthday dinner two nights before I made this and Matt thought this steak was better than the $42 steak he had when we were out. True story.

I made a quick chopped salad to go with this and it was a very nice dinner. This was probably more labor intensive than I would usually do on a weeknight, though. On a stressful, hectic night I would opt to bake these in the oven.

On Tuesday night I made the No Name Superb & Simple Parmesan Crusted Chicken Breasts:

The color of this meal is freaking me out. It looked much prettier on the plate. Trust me.

I'm a fan of just about anything parmesan, let's just get that straight. As far as flavor and tenderness, these chicken breasts were great. I also followed the directions specifically and they baked perfectly.

These are not something that I would normally use, because we don't usually eat chicken with breading. But, this was good chicken and went really well with fresh handmade Mushroom Pasta from Pasta Puttana and peas.

This was the easiest meal by far.

On Wednesday I made No Name Original Salmon Fillets:

Don't judge based on this sad picture. Seriously, I need photo lessons.

I thought the salmon itself had good flavor and I liked the pop-up timer indicator (see them in the photo?). Of the three meals, I enjoyed the salmon the least. I found it to be over seasoned and needed more time to bake than the directions indicated. Matt really liked it, he is easy to please and loves salmon.

I served the salmon with sauteed cabbage, which was not my original plan, but I had an entire head of cabbage (which I purchased to stuff my bra to bring down the awful engorgement from laying off the nursing). I hate to see a whole cabbage go to waste, so I used it and it was pretty good.

My favorite product by far were the steaks. I would absolutely cook them again. I like to know what is going into our food and I felt these steaks really allowed me to control the flavor and seasoning level. It's only fair to mention that eating these products on a regular basis doesn't fit in my goal for 80% of our meals to be organic, but leaves room for them. All the meals were easy and pretty healthy and I would eat them again.

Did all this meat talk make you hungry? Well, here is your chance to try out some No Name Premium Meats yourself. I'm giving away a package that will give you coupons for free steaks and chicken, as well as an additional $5 off coupon. That's a $45 value!

Here's how to enter:

1. Comment on this post about which No Name Premium Meats product you'd like the most. Be sure to include an email address if it doesn't connect back to your blog. (You must comment to be entered!)

2. Follow Hannemaniacs. (Look on the right side bar to follow.) Click on the "Join this Site" button.

3. Like the Hannemaniacs Facebook page.

4. Follow Hannemaniacs on Twitter.

5. Mention this giveaway to your network on Facebook and/or Twitter (one entry for each) by pasting this in your status: Enter to win free No Name meats at www.hannemaniacs.com. 

Please let me know which of the above actions you have done to be counted.

So, that's SIX possible entries per person. Contest ends at 9 am Friday, February 24th. Enter now!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED! The winner was chosen by using RANDOM.ORG: Nicki from What Others Dream, Dreamers Do! I'll contact you for addresses and the meat will be sent to you!

Thanks for everyone for participating!

Disclosure: I received the above mentioned No Name Premium Meats complimentary for review, as well as a prize package to give away. All opinions are my own.

Meal Planning: Week 6 No Name Premium Meats Makes It Easy

I am not excited about meal planning this week. Period. I'm feeling tired and overwhelmed for some reason. We went out of town over the weekend and after too many meals out celebrating my birthday (woot!) and battling some sort of bug, I'm just not in the mood to deal with food.

A while back No Name Premium Meats contacted me about reviewing their products. I figured I would hang onto them for a week that this working mom needed a little help. And here it is! This is what we're eating this week, thanks to No Name Meat Products...

Monday: Original No Name Steaks with chopped salad
Tuesday: No Name Parmesan Crusted Chicken Breast with Pasta Puttana fresh wild mushroom pasta
Wednesday: No Name Salmon Fillets with brown rice and peas

Matt won't be home for dinner on Thursday and we're celebrating my dad's birthday on Friday night, so no plans!

Easy week, huh? Look for a review on the No Name products later this week!

Disclaimer: I received all No Name Premium Meats mentioned in this post complimentary. All opinions are my own.

Meal Planning: Week 5 Thanks to Artizone

Boxes full of goodness...

I ordered groceries for the first time ever and I think I'm in love. Chicago has a great new grocery delivery service called Artizone. They deliver fresh food from specialty, independent, locally owned shops to your door. I was super excited to get my first delivery on Friday night (right on time and a nice delivery man!), which had lots of good stuff for our meals this week:

Monday: Roasted vegetables and amish chicken
Tuesday: Pasta with shrimp, shallots, and lemon
Wednesday: Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin and butternut squash risotto
Thursday: Wild mushroom pappardelle and a salad
Friday: Dinner out for my birthday!

We also ordered some salmon, which I made on Saturday and was possibly the best salmon we've ever had. Also, we have come Cowda cheese in the fridge just waiting for us...

Have you ever had your groceries delivered? It's pretty amazing and I'd recommend trying it. Artizone is offering free delivery until February 15th, so you might want to give it a whirl. I still had to go grocery shopping today to fill in the pantry and some staples, but I'm a firm believer that fresh, finer ingredients are worth the extra money and I continue to be disappointed in what I find at any chain grocery stores in my area. Ordering through Artizone saved me some mileage and time this weekend and made my meal plan a ton easier.

Disclosure: I attended the Artizone kick-off party recently where I received a $30 coupon with no obligation. Opinions are my own, as always.

Call Me A Mom Blogger, But Don't Treat Me Like An Idiot

There are a few perks of blogging... I often get invited to fun events, I get complimentary products to review and sometimes offer to my readers. In turn, a lot of my non-blogging friends comment on the cool stuff I get and how fun it must be. It is fun, but it's also work, just like any other job.

So, while it seems fun and exciting to get all of this complimentary stuff, there are also pitfalls of having the mom blogger label. Like I said, blogging is like another job. A job I am not paid for, but just like any other job, I expect to be treated like an adult and a professional. Calling me a mom blogger is OK with me, though a lot of "mom bloggers" take issue with it. I take issue with the stereotype, not the title.

I'm going to share an interaction that I had with a PR professional last year to give you a taste of the other side of mom blogging. I agreed to REVIEW a product and do a give away. I am blocking out anything that would tell you the name of the product. I am not going to tell you what it was, only that you can take a look at my PR disclaimer and see my reminder to her.

She asked me to include mention of what a great gift I thought the product was and requested more than I was comfortable doing, to which I replied:

Hi "PR Professional,"

Yes, I will link back to your sites. I'll mention the gift stuff, as long as I really believe it. I don't agree to review products that I am not confident that I'll like, but I'm honest.

So, I laid it out clearly, right? A week late I put my post up and sent her the link. Imagine my surprise when I received this email:

Lisa,

Thanks for sending me the link.  I'm a little disappointed that you posted some negative comments.  I don't see how providing you with a free personalized book is going to help my business with this review . :(   The company that made this book has no relationships with a fishing company.  All I have gotten with other Moms have been great reviews on the books I sent them.  I didn't see any mention to our Facebook and Twiter sites - can you pls put that info in.   Sorry this book wasn't a great fit for you family.  I wish I knew about it ahead of time before you posted the review.

Kind regards,

"PR Professional"

Side note: My review was not negative. Basically she is expecting me do something that is totally unethical and I don't believe in, by not including any thoughts that could be read as negative. And she is also acting as if I was hired and my time is worth about $10, which is roughly the value of the product.

My response...

Dear "PR Professional"

I'm surprised you felt this was a negative review. I think that I gave my readers a good review with an overall positive opinion. However I think you need to understand that I never offer positive reviews, only honest ones: http://hannemaniacs.blogspot.com/p/pr.html

Nowhere did I say this wasn't a good fit for our family. I said it has staying power, will work for years, and that our son may have been a little too young to grasp the story and that we weren't into fishing. Had we been given an option of what book would work best, I would have chosen one that fit, but you never gave me an option.

I'm disappointed that you feel that a blogger should post positive reviews because they receive something for free. I usually receive items that are valued much higher than this and have never received that type of input. If you are looking for someone to "help" your business, you should plan to pay them for it. A book is not payment. I have worked with companies that compensate me in return for partnering with them on a campaign. This was not the case.

I plan to promote the giveaway this week through my Twitter and Facebook pages. Including Twitter and Facebook links were requested, but not part of what I felt was required or works with my post. There are multiple links to your website within the review.

For what it's worth: I'm really surprised the company doesn't have a relationship with Bass Pro Shops. Their logo was on the jacket and the hat of all the bears on every page of the book and the description of going to the store seemed like an advertisement to me. Telling my readers that I felt it was distracting is my honest opinion. Rather than take that as a negative, I would hope you would value the input from your target audience.

Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Thanks,
Lisa

In her response she admitted that she did her homework and she was incorrect in telling me that I wrong about a particular item in my post and learned something about working with Mom bloggers, which I can appreciate. But, my job is not to teach her a lesson on being professional. When I am working at the job that actually pays me, I don't experience this treatment.

When I first started blogging there was a lot of animosity between PR companies and mom bloggers. It was a dialogue that I walked into. I didn't really know what earlier mom bloggers had experienced, so I kind of rolled my eyes and figured most of these ladies were being big complainers. It couldn't be that bad, right? (To be honest, I have always had pretty good interactions with PR companies.) For all of you non-bloggers, the issues are of compensation, being treated like a professional, being valued for your partnership, etc. etc. And with the perspective I have now, they were right on, but things have started to change in the last couple of years. Except there are still people out there who don't get it. Like this "PR Professional."

I do reviews and giveaways, because they're usually fun and it means I can offer something to my readers. I like when my friends and family ask about the blog and are interested or excited about the opportunities that come my way, but here's the flip side. And I don't take well to people who treat me like I'm an idiot. Because I'm not. And neither are most of the other moms out there blogging.

Books You'll Find Under Our Tree: AMMO Books Review

In true second child fashion, I am totally stumped about what to get B for Christmas. I'm pretty much done with W, but it's hard to justify getting new stuff for a baby who can't open gifts and won't remember any of it anyway. So, I decided that books would be the best thing for me to focus on this year. And, let's face it, W will get his hands on any book that I buy for B, as well. Though we have tons of books , we can always use new ones. Mom and Dad get tired of reading the same books over and over and over...

I received Colors by Charley Harper and Counting in the Garden by Emily and Patrick Hruby from AMMO Books. And they're really good for both boys. I love the art in them. The colors, the black outlines, and the patterns just seem to mesmerize B. And he grips the corner of the page and only lets go when he's ready to move on. I love that the more you look at the pages, the more you see in them. We spent plenty of time with B gripping the book and staring while W pointed out shapes and other objects in the photos.

My favorite of the two is Counting in the Garden. We planted our first vegetable garden this summer (though it performed terribly) and W checked on the progress of his tomatoes and green beans multiple times a day. I like that this book focuses on not only counting, but shows how things add up when you're planting a garden.

i find that counting books are often a drag. We have plenty of books that just show a sleu of items with a big number next to them. The number 20 with a photo of 20 hats doesn't do much for me. I prefer books that can count with a point, like this one.

Colors is great, because it has multiple styles and lots of fun, super bright colors. Again, color books are often boring. Seriously, how many books do you need that spell the color blue and then on the other page show a blue show, blue hat, and blue car. BORR-RINGGG. This book is much more hip and fun. I found myself genuinely enjoying the pictures.

They'll be wrapped and under the tree when the big day rolls around, but I had to give them a once over first. I would highly recommend you consider putting them under your tree as well.

I encourage you to check out the website for AMMO Books. They're really fun and exciting and have a lot of great things to offer. It's a very different style of children's books.... One that we Hannemaniacs really appreciate.

Disclosure: I received complimentary copies of these books. The opinions in this post are my own.

Attune Foods Give Away

I like to feel good about what I eat and feed my little guys. The more I learn about what is going into our food, the more determined I am to make good decisions, so I appreciate companies that deliver good organic options, like Attune.

I try to buy organic as much as possible. My goal is that 80% of everything we eat is organic. It isn't that hard and it's more expensive, but I like knowing that our food is as pure as possible. If I can't actually make it myself, the fewer ingredients and chemicals I can't pronounce, the better.

I really like trying different options for organic snacks, so was happy to try some Attune products for the family. They have a few different product lines and I tried options that I thought were good fits for us:

Uncle Sam Multi-Grain Cereal: If you like really healthy tasting cereals, you'll love this cereal. It's full of fiber and hearty. I especially enjoyed it in yogurt or mixed with another cereal. It is a little hard to eat on its own with milk. I also think it would be a good addition to homemade granola. I didn't attempt to give this to W, because I'm pretty sure he wouldn't be into it. This is definitely more of a mom cereal.

New Morning Cinnamon Graham Crackers: These taste like a less sweet version of the graham crackers that we're all used to, which I liked. There is a really nice, strong cinnamon flavor, but they don't necessarily hold their crispness when enjoying with coffee in this morning. W actually really liked these and I handed them to a couple of other kids who were used to regular graham crackers and they didn't seem to notice a difference.

Erehwon Crispy Brown Rice with Mixed Berries Cereal: This is great cereal. It works on its own with milk, but can also be mixed with another cereal (like the Uncle Sam's) and stays pretty crispy. I especially enjoyed the berries and the larger sized crisped rice. I didn't get a chance to give it a try, but I think I could have made some pretty awesome rice krispie treats with this cereal.

Attune Chocolate Probiotic Bars: I tried the Milk Chocolate Crisp Probiotic Bar and the Mint Chocolate Probiotic Bar. (All in the name of research, right????) Chocolate with probiotics... Enough said. But, seriously, these were really, really good. Nice flavor. Super tasty. Very crispy. Healthy chocolate (yay!).

All in all, I think they have a lot of great products for my tastes. I like things that taste healthy. Don't you?

So, here's your opportunity to give Attune products a try! I'm excited to hold a giveaway for your choice of five Attune Foods products. TWO WINNERS will be chosen!

Here's how you can enter the Attune Foods Giveaway:

1. Comment on this post about which product you'd like to try. Be sure to include an email address if it doesn't connect back to your blog. (You must comment to be entered!)

2. Follow Hannemaniacs. (Look on the right side bar to follow.)

3. Like the newly-created Hannemaniacs Facebook page.

4. Follow Hannemaniacs on Twitter.

5. Mention this giveaway to your network on Facebook and/or Twitter (one entry for each) by pasting this in your status: Enter to win Attune organic food products at www.hannemaniacs.com. (please let me know in your comment that you have done these!)

So, that's SIX possible entries per person. Contest ends at 9 am Wednesday, November 2nd. Enter now!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED! The winners were chosen by using RANDOM.ORG and are... Kari and Rita from Look It's Megryansmom. Please contact me with your address and the package will be sent to you! (If I don't hear from the winner by Friday at 9 am a new winner will be chosen.)

Thanks for everyone for participating!
Disclosure: I received five complimentary Attune food products to review. All opinions are my own.

Huggies Little Movers Slip-On Diapers Giveaway

I'm up to my eyeballs in diapers. They're a constant theme when you have a three year old and a four month old. (Yes, we have a three year old in diapers, which is not what I was hoping to have at this point. W was interested in potty training for a few weeks, but changed his mind.) So, we're not only spending plenty of money on diapers, but plenty of time changing them. While changing diapers is a pretty simple thing in general, it's a pain. And I'm always looking for ways we can make it easier and/or faster.

Enter Huggies Little Movers Slip-On diapers. Truthfully, I've always been a fan of Huggies, so I was excited to try their newest product. I'm a good tester considering I have the infant and the toddler angle. So, did they work for both boys? Yes.

The best part of these diapers is that you don't have to hold down a squirming kid to get his diaper on. People totally underestimate the strength of a fussy baby or strong-willed toddler. It's no joke. Sure, you still have to lift them and scoot the diaper up a bit, but it's a faster diaper all around and you'll have less of a fight to get them on in the end.

Plus, they seem to fit more comfortably. I always feel bad for kids with diapers tightly cutting in under their belly, but this doesn't happen with the Slip-Ons. They fit higher and don't have to be pulled tightly to stay on, so don't cut in like regular diapers. They just seem to give the kid more breathing room and better coverage.

So, what's the difference between these Slip-Ons and Pull-Ups? That was the first thing I asked myself when I heard about them... And there is a considerable difference: Slip-Ons have tabs on the sides that are a lot like regular diapers and can be opened and closed. Slip-Ons are also thicker and are like a real diaper. (It's like pulling together the best of diapers and Pull-Ups.)

I didn't have any issues with leaking, but I did have an issue with them falling down on W once he'd been wearing them for a while. He's gotten really skinny lately, which means most things hang off of him. And he hates having his diapers changed, so we really stretch time between diapers for him these days. (So, it was more of a case of them being WEIGHED down.) All in all, I am really happy with these and I think you will be too... And now's your chance to win some!

I'm thrilled to offer my readers the opportunity to participate in a giveaway for a Huggies Little Movers Slip-On Diapers Prize Package, plus a $25 gift card that can be used at Jewel-Osco®, Albertsons®, Cub®, Farm Fresh®, SHOP ‘n SAVE®, Shoppers®, Hornbacher’s ®, Lucky® and Shaw’s®.

Here's how you can enter the Huggies Little Movers Slip-Ons Giveaway:

1. Comment on this post about how many diapers you think you've changed in your life. Be sure to include an email address if it doesn't connect back to your blog. (You must comment to be entered!)

2. Follow Hannemaniacs. (Look on the right side bar to follow.)

3. Like the newly-created Hannemaniacs Facebook page.

4. Follow Hannemaniacs on Twitter.

5. Mention this giveaway to your network on Facebook and/or Twitter (one entry for each) by pasting this in your status: Enter to win a Huggies Little Movers Slip-Ons Prize Package and a $25 gift card at www.hannemaniacs.com. (please let me know in your comment that you have done these!)

So, that's SIX possible entries per person. Contest ends at 9 am Wednesday, October 19th. Enter now!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED! The winner was chosen by using RANDOM.ORG and is... Lisa Noel! Please contact me with your address and the package will be sent to you! (If I don't hear from the winner by Friday at 9 am a new winner will be chosen.)


Thanks for everyone for participating. Look for another giveaway up soon!
Disclosure: I received two complimentary packages of Huggies Slip-Ons and a gift card (which I actually used on more Slip-Ons). All opinions are my own.

Just Kids Gifts Personalized Book: A Giveaway

Like most people with toddlers, books are a major part of our life. They're all over our house and we can never have too many of them. So, I thought a personalized book would be just about the most exciting thing we could present to W.  I remember a personalized book that I received when I was younger and I totally cherished it. I would read it again and again.

I received a book called My Fishing Adventure from Just Kids Gifts after filling out a very short list of questions about W. The book came shockingly fast and we jumped on the couch to read it. At first W didn't seem to believe that the book was about him. I mean, after all, the illustrations were of a bear, so he just had some trouble imagining the bear was him. Once we got to the part that included names of his friends, he gave me a big smile. I think he thought I was teasing him by claiming the book was about him, but having Griffin, Parker, and Jack mentioned was beyond exciting for him.

So, what do I think?

There are some great things about this book: For a kid who loves to read, I can't imagine something more exciting than being part of a story. It's a book with major staying power that will work for years and I was happily surprised by the cost ($16.95). If you're the total opposite of me and already thinking about holiday gifts, this would be a fun surprise. Also, the delivery was fast and it has a sturdy, lightweight hardcover.

A couple of things that kind of bugged me: I don't know if a particular fishing store sponsored the book or has a relationship with the company, but their logo is all over it and the store is mentioned in it, which seemed really weird to me. And very distracting. The story was a little confusing, but I think that's due to W's age more than anything. We're also not that into fishing (read: have never been fishing), so I think it would have been better if it was something W is into.

All in all, I think stuff like this is really cool, which is why I'm excited to offer a copy to one of you! You get to choose from one of the books from Just Kids Gifts. There are some pretty fun options, so check them out.

Here's how you can enter the Just Kids Gifts Series Giveaway:

1. Comment on this post about your favorite childhood book. Be sure to include an email address if it doesn't connect back to your blog. (You must comment to be entered!)

2. Follow Hannemaniacs. (Look on the right side bar to follow.)

3. Extra entries for mentioning this giveaway to your network on Facebook and/or Twitter (one entry for each) by pasting this in your status: Enter to win a personalized Just Kids Gifts book at www.hannemaniacs.com. (please let me know in your comment that you have done these)

So, that's THREE possible entries per person. Contest ends at 9 am Wednesday, September 28th. Enter now!

PLEASE NOTE: Just Kids Gifts ships to the U.S. ONLY, so you must have a U.S. mailing address for shipment.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED! The winner was chosen by using RANDOM.ORG and is... Catherine from Everyday Epiphanies! Please contact me with your address and the package will be sent to you! (If I don't hear from the winner by Friday at 9 am a new winner will be chosen.)

Thanks for everyone for participating. Look for another giveaway up next week!
 

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of My Fishing Adventure for this review and giveaway. All opinions expressed are my own.

Back to School Tip from Hannemaniacs and Whole Foods

Whole Foods is one of my most favorite places to shop. I mean, seriously, who doesn't love that joint?

So, when they asked me to create a video to be featured in the Whole Foods Back to School Campaign, I was really excited. Talking about my kids, food, healthy feeding, and Whole Foods... I could go on forever. I decided to share my dipping, stacking, crunching tips that work for W.

Check out my tip for healthy back to school eating on one of these local Whole Foods store Facebook pages:
http://www.facebook.com/WholeFoodsMarketPalatine
http://www.facebook.com/WholeFoodsMarketRiverForest
http://www.facebook.com/WholeFoodsMarketSauganash
http://www.facebook.com/WholeFoodsSchaumburg
http://www.facebook.com/wfmwheaton
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Whole-Foods-Market-Willowbrook/102781769596
http://www.facebook.com/wholefoodsmarket.Hinsdale
http://www.facebook.com/wfmchi
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Whole-Foods-Market-Deerfield/112971536365
http://www.facebook.com/WFMEVANSTON
http://www.facebook.com/wholefoodsnpv
http://www.facebook.com/wholefoodsnbk
http://www.facebook.com/WholeFoodsMarketAnnArbor
http://www.facebook.com/WholeFoodsMarket.MetroDetroit
http://www.facebook.com/WholeFoodsMarketLakeCalhoun
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Whole-Foods-Market-St-Paul/107741135641
http://www.facebook.com/wfmyorkville
http://www.facebook.com/wfmoakville

Also, be sure to checkout the Weekly Special Sign-Up for a chance to win a $500 gift card to Whole Foods.

Now it's your turn... What is your favorite healthy tip for sending the kids back to school?

Disclosure: I was compensated for taking part in this video campaign. The thoughts are my own.

Getting Organized With Blue Sky Home Series: A Giveaway

I keep track of everything in my head. This never used to be a problem for me... And then I had W and things started to slip a little bit. My memory failed me a time or two and I've missed a few things on my to-do list. I'm going back to work. My mind is worse than ever. And my to-do list is longer than I ever imagined. I need help.

When I got my first smart phone last year I thought it would solve my problems, but I'm terrible about using the calendar and can't be bothered to figure it out. Then when I switched to an iPhone earlier this summer I was positive it would be my new key to organization. It's better, but I'm still keeping things in my head or notes on scraps of paper. I really remember things from writing them down. No matter how far technology goes, I'm still going to have to use some sort of a book that I can physically write in.

Right now I'm kind of loving the Blue Sky Home Series products. My never-ending to-do lists and scraps of paper with notes floating around started to make me a tad bit crazy and their planner was a great answer. You get a full month calendar with a to-do list next to it broken down by DO, CALL, or BUY. I needed this. There's also a week by week calendar with a notes section.

I need the ability to keep lists and write random notes, which is what I feel like I can't get from my phone. It's also broken down from July - June, which totally makes sense to me. I mean, seriously, the calendar year may begin in January, but for most people the year really starts in July as you start to focus on fall, whether that means back to school or getting serious after enjoying the summer.

Here is my August list and calendar. See how everything is broken out. I like that:

In addition to the planner, there are all sorts of handy organizing pads, like a grocery checklist, mouse pad, and a quick reminder pad that is designed to hang from your door. If you're like me and usually put post-its on your door as reminders, this could really come in handy.

So, if you too like to use the old pen and paper to keep yourself (and your brain) organized, this might just be the thing to help you out.

And lucky for you, I'm giving away a set of Blue Sky Home Series products. Yay!

Here's how you can enter the Blue Sky Home Series Giveaway:


1. Comment on this post about your favorite organization secret. Be sure to include an email address if it doesn't connect back to your blog. (You must comment to be entered!)


2. Extra entries for mentioning this giveaway to your network on Facebook and/or Twitter (one entry for each) by pasting this in your status: I'm getting organized! Enter to win a Blue Sky Home Series set at www.hannemaniacs.com. (please let me know in your comment that you have done these)


So, that's three possible entries per person. Contest ends at 9 am Wednesday, August 24th. Enter now!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED! The winner was chosen by using RANDOM.ORG and is... Linz! Please contact me with your address and the package will be sent to you! (If I don't hear from the winner by Friday at 9 am a new winner will be chosen.)

Thanks for everyone for participating. Look for another giveaway up next week!
Disclosure: I received complimentary Blue Sky Home Series products for this review and giveaway. All opinions expressed are my own.