General Mills Cereal: Review & Coupon

This morning during breakfast, Little Man looked at me and announced: Look at you. You're eating good, you're eating healthy. Is it sad that my 5 year old has taken notice of my morning coffee habit, and was surprised to see me actually eating breakfast?!

I stress to him the importance of breakfast constantly. It helps him focus throughout the day, gives him energy for recess, and keeps away the "grumpies" that sneak in when we haven't eaten well. (Seriously, this little one gets mean if he's too hungry.)

Cereal is a big part of our morning routine, and sometimes even shows up for an afternoon snack. So I was happy when I found out that General Mills is continuing to decrease the amount of sugar in their cereals targeted towards the under 12 crowd. They are also increasing key nutrients like calcium and vitamin D.

At the grocery store this week, Little Man was able to pick two cereals out. His first pick was Lucky Charms. While it has 11 grams of sugar per serving, it also offers 10% of the daily recommended amounts of both calcium and vitamin D. Little Man loves the new swirled marshmallow charms, and devoured his bowl in nothing flat. Lucky Charms are a perfect special occasion breakfast or afternoon pick-me-up.
Little Man's second choice was Cheerios. While there were several varieties available, he stuck with the plain Cheerios. A classic favorite. With only 1 gram of sugar, plus fiber and whole grains, they are a great source of vitamins and minerals. Cheerios are a huge hit with the whole family and a very common sight at our breakfast table.

Eating cereal for breakfast includes many benefits. According to studies:

• Ready-to-eat cereals, including presweetened cereals, account for only 5% of sugar in children's diets.
• Ready-to-eat cereal is the #1 source of whole grains in a child's diet today.
• More frequent cereal eaters tend to have healthier body weights and lower Body Mass Index measures.

You can find more information about kids and cereal at Cereal Health and Wellness. And you can print a $1 off coupon for General Mills cereals.

VIP coupons, information, and online coupon link have all been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark. All opinions are our own.

Dean's Dip: Dipstakes & A Giveaway

***Closed: Congrats to Jenna!***

With the holidays, comes one get together after another. Seems that we are always heading to someone's house to celebrate, or people are flocking to our door. Sometimes without any notice.

I love having entertaining staples on hand. Cookies, pretzels, chips and dip. They are all so easy to keep on hand, and perfect for times when friends and family stop by without warning. French Onion Dip from Dean's Dips is one of my hubby's favorite to have in the fridge. (Though it doesn't usually stay there too long.)
But did you know Dean's Dip offers a variety of dips?! I knew they made the French Onion and Ranch, but I also learned that they make Veggie, Green Onion, Bacon & Horseradish, Guacamole, and Creamy Taco, among others. Plus they offer two pretzels dips: Cheddar Cheese and Honey Mustard.
Currently, Dean's Dip is in the midst of the Dipstakes! It's simple to play. Just head over to the Facebook page from Dean's Dip. You can submit your picks and earn points.

Just like the Jets and the Giants, there are longstanding rivalries in amongst dips as well. Are you a Honey Mustard loyalist, Guacamole diehard or an Onion Dip fanatic? Vote for your favorite dip and help us settle this once and for all!

During the 15 weeks of winners, you can win a Dean's Dip Tailgate Pack, the Sports Package, or a BBQ Grill Set. A grand prize winner will receive the Ultimate Home Entertainment System.

Buy It:
Dean's Dip can be found in your grocer's refrigerator section.

Win It:
One lucky reader will win a Dean's Dip prize pack, including a voucher for free dip, a dip tray, and a stadium blanket!

To enter: Visit Dean's Dip and tell me which dip is your favorite.

Want extra entries? (Leave separate comments for each)

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Be sure to leave a way to contact you.
Giveaway ends 1/10 at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be notified via email. Open to US only.

Thanks to Dean's Dip for providing the product for review. All opinions expressed are our own.

Happy 2010!

Hope everyone has a wonderful start to 2010 today!We have been busy building snowmen, racing cars, and cleaning.

I have lots of goals for the new year and am so excited to have started on many of them already.
But for today, I'm enjoying my little one, spending time with family, and having fun.
Happy New Year!