Friday, May 18, 2012

Let's Doodle Lunch: Rudi's Organic Bakery Giveaway

***Closed: Congrats to Sarah!***

My son has packed lunch every day since starting school.  That's three years of packing lunches.  Every. Single. Day.  In order to keep his lunches fun, we've cut sandwiches into funky shapes, used bright lunchboxes, and let him help choose what to pack.  But one thing that remains consistent is our use of reusable containers.  I don't even want to imagine how many baggies we'd go through otherwise.

Rudi's Organic Bakery has come up with a way to make your kid's lunch containers even more exciting: the Let's Doodle Lunch campaign.  From May 1st until June 30th parents can upload their children's artwork and receive a free sandwich box with their child's work featured on it.  Plus, those who submit their work on Facebook will be eligible to have their artwork become the Official Sandwich Box of Rudi’s Organic Bakery.

Rudi's Organic Bakery was founded more than 35 years ago on the idea that there is a better, brighter way to make bread, leading the company to become a trailblazer in the bread industry. They have been baking bread free of artificial ingredients and preservatives after pioneering the use of organic ingredients in its breads and baked goods more than 20 years ago.

Rudi's Organic Bakery recently introduced Sandwich and Bagel Flatz to their product line. All of the Flatz are 110 calories or less per serving and have 3 to 5 grams of fiber and 23 to 25 grams of whole grains.  Perfect for the lunchbox!

Win It:
One lucky reader will win a Rudi's art-inspired prize pack!



Mandatory entry: To enter, tell me which variety of Flatz you want to try first.

Want extra entries? (Leave separate comments for each)
  • Follow me on Blogger
  • Grab my button
  • Add me to your blog roll
  • Follow me on Twitter (Leave your username)
  • Tweet this giveaway (Leave link/Once a day only)
  • Blog about the giveaway with a link to this post. (Leave your link)
  • Submit your kid's art to Let's Doodle Lunch and tell me about it!
  • Like Rudi's
  • Follow Rudi's
Be sure to leave a way to contact you.
Giveaway ends 5/30 at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be chosen with Random.org and notified via email. Open to US only.

Information and samples were provided for our consideration.  All opinions are our own.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

The Long Way Home: Book Review

I have finally discovered that if I sneak a book to bed, I can get some reading in (by light from the closet) while everyone else slumbers. While it may not be a perfect solution, it is nice to read a book that doesn't rhyme or include superheros.

When I heard Karen McQuestion was publishing a new novel, I was very excited. You may remember, I sung praises to her other books, A Scattered Life, Favorite, and Life on Hold.  McQuestion's writing style is captivating.  Her characters draw you in and keep you turning the pages.


The Long Way Home is the story of four strangers who come together because of loss and start on an unexpected road trip across the country.  The ladies, ranging in age from a 20-something to senior citizen, each have their own distinct personality.  And, as with McQuestion's other books, each character immediately brought to mind someone from my own life.

The obstacles that arise (from messages from the dead to car troubles to trips to the ER), the friendships created, and the journey of each character will hold your attention from start to finish.  Throughout the book I found myself not wanting to put it down.  I had to know what would happen next!

The Long Way Home would make a great read for a summer book club or in the car on your own road trip. 


Buy It:
The Long Way Home is available in paperback for under $8 or for your Kindle at $4.99

A copy of the book was provided for review.  All opinions are my own.

Moms are Every Day Heroes: DG Giveaway

***Closed: Congrats to Zestywonderland***

Mother's Day may be over, but Dollar General is continuing the celebration all month.  As part of their Every Day Heroes initiative, Dollar General and Proctor & Gamble are honoring the sacrifices moms make for their family. To celebrate moms, Dollar General is inviting customers to upload a video describing why their moms are "Every Day Heroes."

If your mom deserves to be recognized, head over to the Dollar General site and share what makes her amazing!  While you're there, you can also enter to win a trip to a U.S. Olympic Training Center by buying participating products and entering the code on their site.

Win It:
To join in the fun, I have a special prize package for one lucky reader that includes: Tide Pods, Febreze Auto Air Freshener, Always Radiant, Tampax Radiant, Secret Coco Butter Clear Gel, Old Spice Champion Deodorant and a Dollar General chip clip.


Mandatory entry: To enter, tell me one thing that makes your mom special (or one thing your kids love about you.)

Want extra entries? (Leave separate comments for each)
  • Follow me on Blogger
  • Grab my button
  • Add me to your blog roll
  • Follow me on Twitter (Leave your username)
  • Tweet this giveaway (Leave link/Once a day only)
  • Blog about the giveaway with a link to this post. (Leave your link)
Be sure to leave a way to contact you.
Giveaway ends 5/30 at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be chosen with Random.org and notified via email. Open to US only.

Procter & Gamble provided the prize for our consideration, as well as the giveaway prize. All opinions are our own. .

Monday, May 7, 2012

Fresh Produce Review

I love spring weather.  The cool, crisp mornings and breezy afternoons.  But it seems that we practically skipped spring this year and dove straight into summer weather.  I, for one, am not ready for temps in the 80s yet.

Even with the quick rise in temperatures, many mornings are still chilly enough that I need to throw on a sweater to drop Little Man at school.  I recently received the Standing Ovation Cardigan from Fresh Produce and have loved wearing it in the mornings.
The Standing Ovation Cardigan is a lightweight cardigan that is perfect for those days when it's too cold for just a tee, but too warm for a sweatshirt.  It's made of 100% linen jersey and is incredibly soft and comfortable.




I love the dramatic drape offered by the Standing Ovation Cardigan and the angled hem.  Wearing the sweater over any tee or tank helps me to look much more put together first thing in the day.  (Which is never easy when you've gotten very little sleep and are running around getting the boys ready.)

I ordered the cardigan in a M/L and love the fit.  It is a perfect length for my torso, plus the flowiness of the top is flattering and comfortable.  The sweater is also very versatile.  It can be worn in comfort with jeans and flats or added over a sleek dress for a night out.

In addition to cute cardigans, Fresh Produce offers lots of spring clothing, including dresses, shorts, and tees. 

Buy It:  The Standing Ovation Cardigan is $74 and the other casual tops start at $15.99

Product was provided for review.  All opinions are my own.