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Happy Birthday Entenmann’s® Little Bites® + Giveaway

Coupons for product redemption, information, and gift card have been provided by Entenmann’s® Little Bites® so that I could try the product and share my thoughts and information about Entenmann’s® Little Bites®. The opinions expressed in this post are my own and do not reflect the opinions of Entenmann’s® Little Bites®.

It’s birthday season in our house! February kicks it off shortly after Valentines, followed by 2 in March and then 2 in April. I love birthdays. Celebrating my family and the fact that they are mine.

You May Also Enjoy: How to Have Big Conversations in Little Moments

When I heard that Little Bites® was turning 20, we knew we had to let them in on the action. Normally, I would purchase a couple different varieties of Entenmann’s at the store, but this time I went solely for the Party Cake Muffins.

Really, who doesn’t love a little confetti in their cake? My kids couldn’t wait to dig into the boxes, but I encouraged them to wait so we could celebrate our favorite after school snack the right way – with a little fire.

What you REALLY want to know, though, is where are the presents?! Well, no birthday party can be complete without showing a little love. So I of course have 2 ways you can get in on the Birthday Celebration for Entenmann’s Little Bites.

Give A Present

This is so super simple, and the impact is going to go a long way! For every Birthday message you share with Little Bites, Entenmann’s will donate $1 to The Birthday Party Project.

To submit your birthday wish text LITTLEBITES20 to 555888 or submit it online.

Also, when you submit your birthday message above, you’ll be entered to win a prize pack featuring:
– $500 donation to a charity of your choice in your name
– $500 gift card toward an ultimate birthday party for your child and their friends.
– One year supply of Little Bites® Muffins

Entries are open until March 29, 2019

Get a Present

Guess what! Little Bites® wants my readers to enjoy a little birthday party as well! So one lucky reader right here will win a $25 gift card and 3 coupons each for $5 off Entenmann’s Little Bites. All you have to do is follow the easy entry on the form below.
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February 26, 2019
Light the World + A Christmas Ornament Giveaway

I’ve said it every year, but my favorite reason to celebrate this season is the immense amount of giving back that happens. I wish we did it more throughout the whole year. I received a Light The World ornament in exchange for this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

You may also enjoy reading: Feed the Hungry as You Light The World this Christmas

I always go into the new year with a goal to do better at giving service. Without setting down a plan, though, that goal goes nowhere. It’s similar for most of our goals isn’t it?

A Goal to light the World

So here’s my plan to achieve this goal of more service in the New Year. I’m starting now. Using the Light the World plan from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints, I’ll make service a habit through out the month of December.

Starting a habit is the hardest part. This calendar of ways to Light The World this coming month is the perfect asset to get started on this habit of service. Download a copy for your family.

Starting in January our church has decided to change our Sunday worship. We’ve been going to a 3 hour block for my entire life – Sacrament meeting, Sunday School, Relief Society/Priesthood. The new outline is a 2 hour block, with the encouragement to start living the gospel more fully in our homes and lives – not just at church.

We’ve sat down as a family and discussed different ideas to use this “extra” hour of church on Sundays. I believe it will be important going into the new year with a plan, or we’ll find ourselves being lazy instead of taking the opportunity to grow our faith and testimonies.

So, we came up with a family plan. Each Sunday we will designate to an extra activity. They are not set in stone quite yet, but at least one Sunday every month we will find a service project to do together. It may not always be easy to find something, but I am confident that if we make it our focus, the Lord will direct our hands to those who need His hands.

In this way, we can light the world all year round. Will you join us in giving service this year?

Christmas Ornament Giveaway

I am so excited to share this Christmas Ornament with one of you this season. May it be a reminder that the Lord needs us to be His hands. To help those in need, lift the weary, feed the hungry, and comfort the sick. May you have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Giveaway is open to US 18+ and ends 12/10/2018. Enter on the form below.

November 30, 2018
A Sacred Christmas Music CD Giveaway

Happy Holidays! Enjoy A Sacred Christmas with original music from Garth Smith.

Christmas music is quite easily my favorite to listen to. I’m not one to listen to it all year round, but I never mind hearing it – no matter the season. So, yes, in our house, as soon as Halloween is over, I start playing the Christmas tunes.

This year I was especially excited to check out a new to me artist – Garth Smith. Garth is a Utah native and current California resident. You can read more about him on his website – www.garthsmithmusic.com. Every arrangement is his testimony of Christ. I truly feel that as I listen to each arrangement on his newest CD, A Sacred Christmas.

Since a young age, I’ve found a love for and my own testimony of Christ within the hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. One of my favorite scriptures is in the Doctrine & Covenants where the Lord tells Emma “For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads.”

When listening to A Sacred Christmas, I hope you will be able to feel the Spirit of Christ in your homes and hearts. Check out the playlist for some of the beautiful songs you’ll hear on this album.

A Sacred Christmas playlist

For Unto Us A Child Is Born
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Still, Still, Still
I Wonder As I Wander
Gesu Bambino
Sankta Lucia – Swedish Carol
Away In A Manger
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
Heaven’s Hallelujah
O Holy Night

How To Listen

Purchase A Sacred Christmas CD’ in Deseret Book, at Your LDS Music Store, and at Garth Smith Music.
Sheet Music is available for purchase on Garth Smith Music.
Digital Downloads are available on all major downloading services.
Tune in to the Garth Smith Holiday channel on Pandora.
Tune in to Garth Smith Piano on Facebook Sunday nights for a live devotional with Garth Smith. Every Sunday at 9:30 pm MST.

A Sacred Christmas Fireside

If you can, check out one of Garth Smith’s firesides during the month of December and as part of the #LightTheWorld campaign. You can find him at the following dates and places (7 PM start time):

Dec. 9th – Sandy Utah Crescent North Stake
Dec 16th – St. George Tabernacle
Dec 23rd – Los Angeles Temple Visitors Center
Dec 29th – Oakland Temple Visitors Center

A Sacred Christmas Giveaway

Open to US readers 18+. Giveaway ends 11/11/2018. Enter on form below.

November 1, 2018
How to Take Your Pre-Teen on a Lunch Date

It’s inevitable – with 5 kids, at some point they will all feel like we’ve spent more time with the other kids than with them. So it’s important that we make time to spend one on one with each of them. It doesn’t have to be crazy exciting, or cost and arm and a leg, but making sure they get one on one adult time really helps build their self-worth. I received compensation for this post. All opinions are my own.

First – find a really good excuse. Something like – new shoes! Chloe gets all her shoes as hand me downs from Venice, but truth be told, their feet are very different in shape, and they are almost too close in size to even pass down anymore. After a cleaning out of the shoe closet, and tallying up who had what shoes, it was decided – Chloe would be the lucky recipient of some new shoes.

Second – put the baby down for a nap, and leave Dad with plenty of snacks for the other kids. Then run like the wind! Get out of the house before anyone can ask questions, beg to be brought along, or wake up the baby!

Third – Run your errands. Hey, one on one time doesn’t mean things can’t get done! Chloe and I started our lunch date at the Keen’s children’s shoe store where we bought her a new pair of Keens (we happened to have a gift card that covered all but $4! – score!). We were out of a few necessary groceries as well, so after Keen’s, we made a stop at Kroger.

Finally – End your lunch date with lunch! We headed over to Steak ‘n Shake, because it was a weekend, and Kids Eat Free on the weekends at Steak ‘n Shake. The food is delicious, and unlike other “fast food” joints, if you go inside Steak ‘n Shake they actually seat you and take your order at your table.

It’s important that you go in and dine with your children. For one, the kids eat free promotion only works if you dine in, and it’s also the whole reason you made all these arrangements to get out of the house. While you wait for the delicious food to be brought out, now is a great time to get to know your pre-teen. What do they like to do? Who’s their favorite musician? What’s the name of their best friend?

You may think you know the answers to most of these questions, but make sure you turn it into more conversation. Why do they enjoy that friend so much? What are they doing to be a good friend? Take the time to truly listen to your pre-teen on this lunch date.

I know you thought your lunch date was over, but not quite! Before you leave Steak ‘n Shake, make sure you grab one of their Zagat rated milkshakes to bring home to Dad. Afterall, he did just hang out with the other kids so you could get this one on one time in.

Lunch Date Giveaway

With the Kids Eat Free on the Weekends*, it really makes for a pretty cheap lunch date that you can repeat week after week until you’ve had time with all your kids. However, I want to make that worth even more to you, so grab an entry or two on the Rafflecopter below, and you just might be the lucky winner of a $50 Steak ‘n Shake Gift Card! That’s a lot of lunch dates.

Open to US 18+. Ends 6/29/2018.

*Kids eat free promotion: Must purchase minimum $9 to get a free kids plate.

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June 18, 2018
This Fathers Day Spend Time Doing what Dad Loves

Entenmann’s® Little Bites® provided me with coupons to redeem product and a gift card to share my thoughts and information about Entenmann’s® Little Bites® products and Fathers Day with you.

I always spend a lot of time trying to come up with the perfect Fathers Day gift for Mark, and it finally dawned on me this year – the perfect gift is giving him time with the kids, sharing in one of his passions.

Mark absolutely loves Hiya Miyazaki movies. One of our favorite, and the one that really turned us onto the anime genre, is Ponyo. So for the last few years, usually a day before Fathers Day, as we browse through the stores we try and find a copy. It’s never been in stock when we’re looking though – I know I know, why didn’t I just buy it on Amazon.

Well this year, we got lucky! I was at Walmart grabbing some items for dinner when Venice insisted we find Dad a present. I love when the kids take the initiative, don’t you? To our absolute delight, there it was!

To go along with a Fathers Day movie night, I grabbed one of our families favorite treats – Entenmann’s Little Bites. We grabbed the new flavor – Vanilla – Dad’s favorite – Fudge – and the kids favorite – Chocolate Chip. The new Vanilla flavor is only available through the end of June, so make sure you try it out! Flavored naturally, it’s a classic everyone loves.

Try this fun Hole In One treat for Fathers Day

The kids cuddled up with Mark on the couch and I served up the treats. Harold really enjoyed hanging out with Dad and trying his very first mini muffin. He thought the new Vanilla flavor was the best.

This year instead of getting Dad a new tie, try spending some quality time with him and the kids. Often Dad’s get pulled along for the ride. Here I tend to take charge of our daily activities and summer plans. Mark comes along as his work schedule allows. I’ve realized we don’t do a whole lot to make quality time between Mark and the kids. So this year I’m going to make more of an effort to help them find little moments to enjoy and get to know each other better.

Entenmann’s wants to help celebrate those little moments with Dad, so right now 10 lucky Dad’s can win a specialty Little Bites tie along with coupons to share a snack with their kids. Five extra lucky Dad’s will win a $100 Amazon gift card to help create those little moments. All you have to do to enter is share why you love Entenmann’s here.

Excited to win? One lucky reader here will win a $25 visa gift card and coupons to purchase their Fathers favorite flavor of Little Bites! Open to US 18+. Ends 6/18/2018. Enter on Rafflecopter below.

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June 12, 2018
Are you a Chief Donut Officer? Enter Entenmann’s® Contest today + WIN $25 Visa gift card

Do you have what it takes to earn the honorary title of Chief Donut Officer? Read on to find out how you can earn that honor. This post is sponsored by Entenmann’s®. All opinions are my own.

Well, our school has been out for a week now. It just so happened that the first day of summer break for my kids was also National Donut Day. We, of course, had to celebrate school being out with our favorite treat – donuts.

Entenmann’s® donuts are some of my favorites to pick up for quick treats with a variety everyone can love. There’s chocolate covered, cinnamon, powdered sugar, plain, and the always favorite glazed donut holes.

Often during the year I just toss a snack on the table, and let the kids have at it. This time I wanted to go that little extra mile, and make our snack more fun. Afterall, buying a box of donuts is pretty easy on my part. Here’s what I did – I grabbed these cute milk bottles that my kids adore, adding fun colored straws, and then accessorized with Entenmann’s® donuts!

Really, it’s so simple, and the kids think they’re being treated like royalty.

Right now, Entenmann’s® is on the search for the country’s biggest donut fan. I kind of think that might be someone in my house, but maybe it’s you or your kids? You have until June 30th to enter the Chief Donut Officer contest and win the honorary title as well as $5000 and a years supply of donuts!

That’s a lot of donuts!

So how do you enter? Well, first you’ll want to visit the Chief Donut Officer contest page. Then all you have to do is share your love for Entenmann’s® and any ideas you might have for product innovation. You’ll then be judged on passion, creativity, and originality.

The grand prize winner will be announced August 7th, but if it’s not you, don’t despair! There will be 4 runners up, each of who will also win $1000 and a years supply of donuts! That’s right, a total of 5 people will be winning a year’s supply of donuts!! Hmm, I have 5 kids…ah wait, you have to be 18 or older to enter, drat.

Not sure you have what it takes to be the Chief Donut Officer? Well, that’s OK! You can enter right here to win a $25 Visa gift card provided by Entenmann’s®. That’s 6 chances to win something! Enter the visa gift card giveaway on the Rafflecopter below. Open to US 18+. Ends 6/17/2018

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June 8, 2018
Skeeter Syndrome and a Thermacell Patio Shield Giveaway

Have you ever been afraid to enjoy the outdoors because of the fear of mosquito bites? If so you might have skeeter syndrome. I received a Thermacell Patio Shield in exchange for this post.

I came across this syndrome recently as I was looking up why Venice gets a bug bite and it turns into a large welt, while the rest of us have almost no reaction beyond a little itching. Turns out, she’s probably got skeeter syndrome.

All it means is that her body is more sensitive to the proteins in the mosquito’s saliva than others. You can read more about different reactions to mosquito bites in this article. The first time it happened, we thought maybe she had a spider bite. They were hard welts, and very warm to the touch. It wasn’t until I knew she’d been bit by a mosquito and watched it swell that I knew she never had a spider bite.

While her reaction is more severe than the rest of us, mosquito bites are pretty annoying for all of us. We keep a bottle of bug spray by the back door, and we never leave the house without one during our summer adventures.

When Thermacell reached out to see if I’d like to try out the Patio Shield and give one away too, well I jumped on that! The Thermacell Patio Shield creates a 15×15 foot mosquito repelling zone in minutes. It is virtually odor free – something we’ve all been waiting for with bug repellant, am I right?

The Patio Shield works with a butane cartridge and repellent mats. The cartridge heats the mat to disperse a mosquito repelling solution. Each mat lasts up to 4 hours.

It’s easy to use, and it works! With school getting out soon, we’ll be spending any nice day in the backyard – a place mosquitos have loved hanging out in the past. This year it’s going to be different! It can be for you too!

One lucky reader will receive a Patio Shield from Thermacell to start their summer festivities mosquito free. All you have to do is enter on the Rafflecopter below.

Open to US 18+. Ends June 3, 2018.

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May 24, 2018
Health Benefits of a Pineapple Turmeric Cleanser + $25 Visa Giveaway

The product, information, and gift card for Health Benefirst of a Pineapple Turmeric Cleanse have been provided by the makers of In The Raw® so that I could try the product and share my thoughts and information about Stevia In The Raw®. The opinions expressed in this post are my own and do not reflect the opinions of the makers of In The Raw® sweeteners.

When In The Raw® sent over this recipe for a Pineapple Turmeric Cleanser to start out my New Year, I was intrigued and figured why not.

It’s a new year, and like most, I’m trying to get my health back on track after the holidays. Too many sweets and a lull in my exercise routine left me gaining back the weight I had recently lost over the summer.

When looking at the recipe though, the one question many readers were asking is “What does this cleanse?”

While I can’t tell you for certain what the cleansing properties are, I did do a little digging into the ingredients and the health benefits you can find with this Pineapple Turmeric Cleanser.

Pineapple

A dose of pineapple is not just tasty. It has many benefits that include dietary fiber. Fiber is essential for intestinal health. On top of the dietary fiber, the dose of Vitamin C found in pineapple will help you fight off illness during cold and flu season.

Turmeric

Turmeric contains around 300 components to aid in your health. These include fiber and vitamin C. Add it to the pineapple, and you’ll be ready to take on the winter season.

Cayenne Pepper

With beta-carotene and antioxidants, just add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the pineapple turmeric cleanse. The additional spice from cayenne and other peppers, create saliva that will also help in your digestion.

Stevia

Since we are trying to cleanse our bodies for a healthy new year, exchanging Stevia In The Raw® for sugar can make a big difference. A natural sweetener derived from the Stevia plant, it contains zero calories but has the same sweetness as 2 teaspoons of sugar.

Related:
Probiotic Peanut Butter Smoothie
Super Fruit Stevia Smoothie

Giveaway

One lucky ready will win a $25 Visa Gift Card and Stevia In The Raw® sample to start your New Year off right. Open to US 18+ Ends 1/29/2017.

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January 15, 2018
Abodent Vintage Hooks and Knobs £25 Voucher Giveaway

Let’s start the New Year with a giveaway open World Wide! Abodent offers a selection of vintage style knobs and hooks at great prices, and they ship internationally!

When I was picking the hooks for our Hat Rack, I was sucked into all the fun different knobs and hooks on Abodent.com. So along with the porch hooks, I also picked these fun map cupboard knobs. Lincoln is obsessed with making treasure maps, so these really made a special addition to his room.

Along with hooks and knobs, Abodent also offers completed racks, shelves, and other accessories and oddities. I’m personally loving this Key holder and box – it would help clear up the counter space that always gets cluttered with pockets being emptied.

Do you have any home improvement projects to complete this year? Whether you want to replace some cupboard knobs in the kitchen or bathroom, or create something new, Abodent is the place to go! That’s why I’ve teamed up with them to give one lucky winner a £25 voucher and free* worldwide shipping.

*Free shipping excludes larger items like coat racks and cushions on addresses outside of the UK.

Enter on the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway is open WORLDWIDE to readers 18+. Ends 1/24/2018.

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January 10, 2018
25 Advent Activities and Snacks for Christmas + $25 Visa Giveaway

*Snacks for our Advent Activities were provided by Entenmann’s® Little Bites® so that I could try the product and share my thoughts. The opinions expressed in this post are my own and do not reflect the opinions of Entenmann’s® Little Bites®.*

I love the holidays! As soon as December hits, I’m ready to have all kinds of fun activities with my kids. I’m sort of an advent hoarder. This year we have 4 going to keep the kids busy, and everyone happy. I’ve compiled 25 fun advent activities you can include in your countdown to Christmas.

December is the one month a year that we seem to make a celebration out of every day. Whether it’s staying home watching movies, or getting out and serving others – every day holds an adventure. Having a quick snack on hand is key to moving from school and homework into each days activity. For our activities outside the house, we like Entenmann’s® Little Bites® paired with some chocolate milk.

Turning chocolate milk boxes into a Santa was so simple too! Just wrap each box with red and black construction paper and secure with tape. The kids get so excited when these come out. They know we’re about to head out for our daily advent activity.

25 Advent Activities

Sing Christmas Carols – either around your home, or head out to the neighbors, or a senior citizen home.
Bake Cookies – these ones are delicious.
Build and Decorate a Gingerbread House – or get creative like this planes hangar.
Drive Around Looking at Lights
Learn about another country’s Christmas traditions – we celebrate Sinterklass.
Watch Christmas Movies
Jump in a Pile of Leaves
Shovel Snow for a neighbor
Build a Snowman
Enjoy some Hot Chocolate – try this Creamy Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa.
Visit Santa
Go Christmas Shopping
Grow your own Snowflakes
Decorate Sugar Cookies
Make Salt Dough Ornaments
Take Treats to Your Neighbors
Write Letters to Santa
Make a Garland
Sleep by the Christmas Tree – the kids absolutely love this!
Read the Christmas Story
Attend Christmas Eve Church
Visit a Live Nativity
Go Ice Skating
Volunteer at a Soup Kitchen
Bake Pretzels – let the kids design their own shapes.

Giveaway

One reader will win a $25 Visa Gift Card to enjoy some Advent Activities with, and 3 coupons for FREE Entenmann’s® Little Bites®. Giveaway open to US 18+ Ends 12/10/2017

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December 6, 2017