Pedigree Ambassador/New Food Transition

I've mentioned previously that our family adopted a wonderful Pekingese named Preston from the Pet Pal Animal Rescue in St Pete. He continues to be the light of our life! The entire family shares in the responsibilities and joys of pet ownership and care - which has actually been less burdensome that I had expected! We had actually avoided pet ownership for over 20 years - but we're all so thrilled to have little Pressy Prancy Pants join us in our adventures!

Pedigree and MomCentral Consulting have selected Preston and our family to serve as Pedigree Ambassadors to share some great opportunities and petcare information in the coming weeks. We received a supply of their new Pedigree Dog Food for Small Dogs to help Preston experience this great new and improved formula. They have provided us with some great tips to help our pet in his transition to the new food, which I share here:

When changing pet foods, you will want to slowly transition your dog to the new Pedigree food by inserting increasing amounts of Pedigree into his or her regular food. For days 1+2 insert 25% of the new food into the dog’s current dry dog food. For days 3+4, 50% new food should be in the dish. For days 5+6, 75% of the food will be the new Pedigree, and beyond 7 days the food will be 100% of the new Pedigree.

We've now completed the transition to 100% of the new Pedigree. Preston LOVES it - it's apparently very tastey and easy for his smaller mouth to chew...

Preston and the Fritz Family will be sharing more Pedigree facts and fun with you soon...

Please visit these links to Pedigree.com, the @PedigreeUS Twitter handle, and Pedigree Adoption Drive Facebook page

I wrote this review while participating in an Ambassador campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Pedigree and received dog food to facilitate my reviews and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Family Movie Night: TRUTH BE TOLD ON 4/16/11 FOX TV

Our family is thrilled that P&G and Walmart are continuing their partnership to host fun family movie night presentations on FOX TV. We have thoroughly enjoyed these outstanding family-themed films with relevant topics and family-friendly themes. What a breath of fresh air! We're hosting a family viewing party on Saturday night with lots of friends and snacks - no drama, no parking, no gas, no expensive movie tickets, no outrageous soda and snack charges or lines at the theater....

Millions of families are rediscovering their family rooms and actually
watching TV ... together. Thanks to Walmart and P&G, great family
movies are now being broadcast FREE on network TV. Their mission is to offer great quality movies that are good for the entire family.


We serve up lots of snacks and goodies to enjoy throughout the movies - we munch and discuss some important topics while watching and following the movies. These movies have built-in teachable moments (remember those awesome "After School Specials" of the 1970-80's???)- PERFECT family entertainment! Past movies we enjoyed over the past year were the "Jensen Project" and "Change of Plans". My kids and I discussed the topics raised including honest, responsibility, sacrifice, and empathy. All the core values I strive to share with my children in a special package topped with POPCORN!

The premiere of “Truth Be Told” is on Saturday, April 16th on FOX at 8pm/7ct. Please visit the official Family Movie Night “Truth Be Told” website: http://www.familymovienight.com/truth-be-told/ and Facebook page www.facebook.com/familymovienight
Check out the trailer on YouTube:this link to the official “Truth Be Told” movie trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJk-LXCFB5I
Here's a brief peek into the movie:

When leading marriage counselor Annie Morgan (Candace Cameron Bure) is offered an opportunity to host a relationship talk show, she jumps at the chance. But fearful that being single might ruin her big break, she conspires with an old college friend and recent widower, Mark Crane (David James Elliott), to pose as a married couple with kids. Their story starts to unravel when Annie and Mark join her eccentric soon-to-be boss (Ronny Cox) for a weekend at his ranch in New Mexico. Comical misunderstandings mark the event as Annie struggles to keep up the ruse, finding herself emotionally invested and conflicted by her own conscience. Will she confess the truth about her marital status and her feelings for Mark... and will the truth set them free.

I had an opportunity to view a preview trailer and LOVED Candace Cameron Bure as she wrestles with important themes of honesty in a family-toned manner.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of P&G and received a movie kit to facilitate my review and a gift code to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Pedigree Ambassador!

We just learned that our dog Preston has been selected to be a Pedigree Ambassador! I'll post soon about our wonderful dog's journey to our home...as well as updates on his progress with Pedigree


I will receive a gift card, pet food sample, and pet care journal for participating in this ambassador program from MomCentral and Pedigree.

Paint It Purple With a Welch-arita!

As a busy mom with alot goin' on, I can relate to the challenge many parents face with less-than-ideal diets for routine family snacks and meals....I have embraced a colorful pallete of foods on my family's plates! Banish the blah of starches and over-processed foods and celebrate with a kaleidoscope of foods pleasing to the eye and taste buds...

How about some lucious purple and blues of fruits and veggies such as grapes, blueberries, cabbage and eggplant - so rich in natural antioxidants and flavor! We've been exploring a variety of fun and interactive ways for our family to PAINT IT PURPLE to help the kids become more aware of the benefits of enjoying a colorful diet.

My daughter Krissy and I enjoyed a "PAINT IT PURPLE" mom and daughter afternoon to celebrate with some fun Welch-aritas (non-alcholic) and mani's featuring a deep plum nailpolish to bring out our inner-divas!:

WELCH’S MOCKTAILS
Welcharita
1 ½ tablespoons fresh squeezed lime juice,
½ cup Welch’s 100% Grape Juice, ¼ cup water,
1 teaspoon fresh squeezed orange juice

According to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, half your plate should be fruits and vegetables. Incorporating immune- and heart-supporting nutrients into our children's diet is not only important, but also could help shift the trend of nearly half of all Americans who still do not consume the recommended daily amount of fruits and vegetables.

One easy way to get this recommended daily amount, is to drink 4-oz. (or a 1/2 cup) of Welch's 100% Grape Juice made with Concord grapes, which offers a full serving of fruit. Best yet, it is has no added sugar. It's the Concord grape that offers antioxidants along with a mix of plant nutrients called polyphenols, which may benefit heart health!

In honor of March and National Nutrition Month, Welch's is sharing its resources that help steer us to better health or even just start those important conversations among family members:


Welch's Family Vine Tool, allows you to trace your family's heart history
GrapeScience.com is a destination for the science behind the Concord grape's health benefits .Welch's also has the best grape- and grape-juice inspired recipes at the Welch's Recipe Box.

Welch’s National Nutrition Month tools:
Diet and exercise affect your heart but so do your genes. That’s why it’s important to understand your family’s heart health history. Welch’s is helping spreading heart healthy awareness with its Welch’s Family Vine Tool, which enables families to trace their personal health histories and share the results among relatives. For more visit,

www.welchsfamilyvinetool.com


The Grape Science Center is a valuable resource to learn about the growing Concord grape research in areas like heart health, cognitive health, immune system health and more. For more information on the science behind the Concord grape’s health benefits, visit the Grape Science Center at www.grapescience.com.


In addition to promoting heart healthfulness, Welch’s has prepared recipes and other tips for creating tasty meals and snacks with vibrantly colored fruit. Find these and more at the Welch’s Recipe Box or via www.welchs.com/products/recipe-box. Please also direct readers to the Welch’s Twitter Handle: @Welchs and Facebook Fan page at: http://www.facebook.com/welchsgrapes.
Post your comments about your efforts to put MORE PURPLE INTO YOUR FAMILY'S DIETS...

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Welch’s and received a product sample to facilitate my review and a gift code to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Macaroni Grill & Wanchai Ferry At Home - Prize Pack Contest

Date-cation the new wave for cash and time-strapped couples? Hubs and I haved enjoyed special evenings together and they really help rev up a sometimes harried and hectic married/family life - we totally understand the value of investing time together to benefit our marriage! I've missed special date nights with my hubs because of our budget saving efforts. Thank goodness Wanchai Ferry and Macaroni Grill At Home products have entered the picture to give us some well-deserved "couple time" together without busting the budget! These flavorful and easy to create meal kits provide deliciou taste, semi-homemade convenience, and some special time together at home for a fraction of the cost of a meal at a sit-down restaurant - plus we avoid the hassle of one-hour waiting for tables and less-than-ideal babysitter rates! I just crack out the nice dishes, some candles and put the kids down a bit early and relax with my special guy and a glass of my favorite wine! I even have a special dessert and a DVD planned...

Enjoy an Asian escape with Wanchai Ferry restaurant-inspired dishes by simply adding your own protein to delicious entrees like Cashew Chicken, Spicy Garlic Chicken, Orange Chicken, and Kung Pao Chicken. Or bring the romance of Italian cuisine to your kitchen with Macaroni Grill favorites such as Chicken Piccata and Angel Hair Pasta, Creamy Basil Parmesan Chicken & Pasta, Chicken Alfredo with Linguine, Garlic & Herb Chicken Penne, and Chicken Marsala with Linguine.

So stay in and go all out!® Make your meal an experience by perhaps adding some ambiance with candles and flowers.

For more information and dinner tips, visit WanchaiFerryAtHome.com and MacaroniGrillAtHome.com. And be sure to follow Macaroni Grill on Twitter and "Like" the Facebook page to keep up with all of the latest news on your Macaroni Grill favorites!

Be sure to take advantage of this online coupon http://www.myblogspark.com/uc/main/198d/ for $1.50 off two packages of Wanchai Ferry and/or Macaroni Grill Dinner Kits!

PRIZE PACK CONTEST:
Enter my blog contest today to win a free Date Night Prize Package of one Wanchai Ferry dinner kit, one Macaroni Grill dinner kit, and a $25 Visa gift card to help you enjoy your own Special Date Night At Home. Please post a comment and tell me what your at-home Date-Cation plans will be. One lucky winner will be randomly selected from all entries received by Monday, 11/22; 12PM. Be sure to include your email contact information. Winner will receive the Prize Package directly from MyBlogSpark. Contest open to US residents only. Thank you for participating and Good Luck!


Wanchai Ferry, Macaroni Grill At Home and MyBlogSpark provided me with a prize package as well as a second prize package for a blog contest to facilitate my honest review.

Hershey's Moderation Nation - Win a Prize Pack!

"Everything Good In Moderation..." - Sometimes it's especially difficult to embrace this wise philsophy - especially during the holiday season! Our friends at Hershey's steps in with some great tools and suggestions to help us all enjoy without guilt...

With Moderation Nation, a new national program created by the Hershey Center for Health & Nutrition, (HCHN) in collaboration with the American Dietetic Association, you can now have access to a variety of tools that will help you achieve moderation - and you don´t even need to give up your favorite foods!

For on-the-go needs, the new Moderation Nation iPhone app, free and available on iTunes or via www.themoderationnation.com, will reward you for the activity you´re already doing, while encouraging you to do even more in a way that suits your busy lifestyle. With an easy-to-read tracker and a comprehensive list of activities to choose from, you can earn badges for your progress and go from a Starting Gun to a Healthy Hero!

The Moderation Nation Web site (www.themoderationnation.com) provides a host of new tools for you and your readers, including:
Recipes and Expert Tips. Here you´ll find advice from Cheryl Forberg, registered dietitian (RD) for NBC's The Biggest Loser, award-winning chef and New York Times best-selling cookbook author


Additional recipes and tips from Regina Ragone, Food Director at Family Circle magazine; Keri Glassman, author of the O2 diet; and Liz Ward, author of Expect the Best Pregnancy.


Moderation Menus. Seven-day meal plans - with snack ideas - that will help you plan out your week. Each menu is based on an individual lifestyle, such as Single, Adults with Kids and Adults with No Kids.


Balance the Meal. This cool balancer tool allows you to input your main dish and its preparation method; in return, you´ll receive ideas for complementary side dishes that round out the meal smartly.


Useful Facts. Here you´ll find everything from a "portion distortion" guide - providing cues on what actual portion sizes should look like - to a grocery shopping fact sheet - to a guide on how to start and maintain a food journal.

Hershey's and MyBlogSpark provided me with a "Moderation Nation" prize pack, which includes a Moderation Nation t-shirt, Hershey´s chocolate and a nutrition journal to track your food and activities as well as another Prize Pack for one lucky reader! Please post your comment on my blog and tell me what is your favorite Hershey's chocolate moment. One winner will be randomly selected from all entries received by Monday, 11/22/10; 12pm. Winner must be a US resident. Please be sure to include your email contact information in your comments so we may reach you. Prize will be mailed to winner directly from MyBlogSpark. Thank you for participating - Good Luck!

I received a prize package for myself and the opportunity to host a contest for an additional prize package for one winner from Hershey's and MyBlogSpark to facilitate my review.

Life-Long Potty Learning Or Things Momma Never Told You: Cottonelle Flushable Moist Wipes

Is it time to "clean up your family's act"? LOL
Since my personal potty training journey never seems to end - kids and hubs are certainly well beyond diaper stage and graduated to the toilet a number of years ago, I imagined that my potty learning was complete - until I really focused on the "end results"! I recognized that some additional benefits could be realized by everyone since trying a sample of Cottonelle's Flushable Moist Wipes! I keep them handy on the very cool Command Hook enclosed free in a promotional packaging available in stores now. These flushable gems come packaged in decorative containers which easily match your decor.

To help break the ice on "toilet talk," the brand launched GetFreshWithaFriend.com, which features a special "Funny or Die" video (check it out and you might just see a familiar face…) as well as fresh reward offers that encourage people to try the products. Current users of the product even describe trying Cottonelle Flushable Moist Wipes as an "aha moment."
I definitely did! Who doesn't want to feel fresher and more comfortable through their day? I have personally recommended getting the Cottonelle wipes for every bathroom in your home to my friends - I even find them to be invaluable during my monthly cycle - what a relief!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of the Cottonelle brand and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. In addition, I received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.