Something Like Life

There are many things in life that I love, the crunch of popcorn is one of those. So of course when I got the opportunity to review Rocky Mountain popcorn from Open Road Snacks I was beyond excited. When it first arrived my kids and I were both very eager to dive right in and review, we did :). I was really shocked at how many different flavors of popcorn there were. White Cheddar(my personal favorite), Butter, Caramel(okay so maybe this is my favorite I think it is a tie), Kettle, Jalapeno, Naked(lol plain), Cinnamon with Sugar and Southwest Cheddar(I didn't get to try this one but sounds yummy).
When shopping for snacks for my children it is so important to find not only something that is good for them, but also something they enjoy. Of course at the end of the day fruits and veggies are the best for you but sometimes you just need a special treat. Rocky Mountain Popcorn offers that for us. You can have either a sweet treat, something a little more savory or we can add just a lit…

Packing lunches for 3 children and making them happy can be nothing short of a miracle to say the least. My family going gluten free has made that even more of a challenge. Recently I was given the chance to review a product that not only gives my that gluten free option I have been searching for but it adds a little crunch to an otherwise boring lunch. Poplets Toasted Corn Centers are a crunchy snack that is available in three flavors, Asiago Ranch,Chili Picante and Sea Salt & Butter.

As a family we try to do our part to help the environment, it isn't always easy though. Finding ways to live a greener life, while getting the things we need for back to school has been quite a challenge. Recently I learned about a company called TerraCycle that creates great new products from hard to recycle or previously thought of as non-recyclable products. Products that most families just throw away such as binders, candy wrappers, glue bottles and more! We received so many great products to help us stay green this school year. I can't wait to show you some of the amazing things this company is doing with "trash" and maybe even encourage your family to get in on the action.

I can't believe how fast the school year is coming, it seems like only yesterday that summer had just begun. As I think about the school year it is only natural to start thinking about what I am going to put into my child's lunch this year. Recently I was given the chance to review and consider KIND Snack Bars. We received 5 great flavors to try, and of course like all reviews I do for food, the kids were more the eager to lend a hand!

<a href=" http://totsandme.blogspot.com/search/label/Tuesday%20Giveaway%20Linky "><img alt="Tots and Me" src="http://i597.photobucket.com/albums/tt58/kewkewphoto/TuesdayGiveawayLinkup2.jpg" border="0" alt="num2"></a> Welcome to Tuesday's Giveaway Link Up with your hosts Karen @Tots and Me and Emily @ Emily Reviews

So glad you could join us as we share our giveaways on  Tuesday's Giveaway Link Ups. 
Our co-hosts this week are Ashley from Forgetful MommaandMellissa from Something Like Life.

This link up will be posted Monday at 7 PM est. and run all week long! Make sure you stop in as often as you can to list your latest giveaways.
Here is how to use the Giveaway Link Up

Last week when my son was cutting up his apple he found an apple seed that had a root coming out of it. Right away we planted it root down with in some loose local dirt, watered it and cover it is plastic. By day 3 we had to remove the plastic and on day 9 this is what is growing! I will be updating once a week now, probably on Saturdays I hope you come by and see how our apple tree grows :) I wish we could get more seeds to sprout!

It amazes me to think the the school year is only days away for our family. As we get back on schedule and the rush, rush, rush begins I can't help to think of fast and nutritious breakfast that I can feed my family. Recently I was given the chance to review a great new breakfast item that not only gives me something that is fast, but is also good for them. Better yet it is something that I can give my children a an on the go item. Nature's Own Oatmeal Toasters are such a neat idea to me. We have all seen traditional toasters covered in icing and filled with sugary substances, and of course our children would love those. Nature's Own has made something that is still appealing with sacrificing the great taste.
     My kids were a little leery to try these at first, of course because they looked healthy and what child just wants something healthy, they want it covered in sugar. As soon as I popped them into the toaster though their minds started to change. The house fill…

Whether we like it or not there is one thing in life we just have to do, laundry. Recently I was given the chance to review a product that I had heard a little about but wasn't really sure how they worked. Woolzies Dryer Balls are 100% New Zealand wool dryer balls that are said to do everything a traditional fabric softener would do, PLUS reduce drying time by 25%. This was very interesting to me, because as we have spoke before i am always looking for ways to save money! In the home the dryer can cost you nearly $20 a month for the average family. Take into account the expense of fabric softeners and you could be saving a minimum of $10 a month. I know I could use an extra $120+ a year! With 1,000 or more loads guaranteed per load, these will last for years on end to!

With school starting I am back to running, running, running. Some days I feel like I don't have time to take care of myself. I always have on hand though my Blender Bottle and some protein powder. Recently the Blender Bottle company gave me the chance to review a great new revolutionary item to help me stay prepared for those busy days. The Blender Bottle GoStak is a portable protein & supplement carrying system and offers some great features.

Features Twist n' Lock™ System connects jars with easeSecure Seal for worry-free portabilityDurable Eastman Tritan™ material resists stains & odorsFits Inside your BlenderBottle Classic™  or SportMixer™Mix and Match jar sizes for a perfectly customized stack

As the summer rolls on I fall more and more back into the life of a stay at home mom. The last year I had devoted my life to helping my students so much that I think perhaps I had neglected my own family a bit. I'm not just talking about my children and husband(although they had to much of not enough), but about my mom. If you remember back a couple of months ago I talked about my mother and her impact on my life. If you didn't get to read it you can HERE. Recently I have been able to do something I missed more then probably anything in the world, I got to talk to my mom. Sure I always had her there, I would make a noisy after school call as the children tried to relax for the day by fighting like mad! Actually being able to have a conversation for the first time in a year with my mom has really taught me so much now as an adult.

Of course a big topic has always been health, I think we kind of keep each other in check. Those little things that have been passed down from one gen…

Bosch home appliances, long recognized as the quietest dishwasher brand, has partnered with the Jamaica Tourist Board, Delta Vacations and the Palladium Hotels & Resorts to launch the Bosch Dishwasher Review Sweepstakes, giving one lucky winner the opportunity to leave the dishes behind and embark on a four-night  beach getaway for two at the Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort & Spa in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
From now until January 31, 2014, Bosch dishwasher owners can enter the sweepstakes by writing an online review about their dishwasher on the Bosch home appliances U.S. website at www.bosch-home.com/us.

Around my house yogurt has always been a big favorite. With so many options these days it can often be hard to find a yogurt that is not only healthy, but something that my children will enjoy. Recently my family was given the chance to review a new line of Greek Yogurt products from Chobani. When our package arrived I was nothing short of amazed by the variety that I had been sent.

The first day of school is such a rush. You need to remember exactly what time to set the alarm, exactly when the bus is coming, and exactly what to pack for lunch. Wouldn't it be great to take one moment to just pause during the first day rush? Hallmark has come up with a way to do just that. Hallmark created the Pics ‘N’ Props School Days Activity Kit. The kit comes with a chalkboard your child can hold, with cards that read each grade level, from pre-school to graduation. You can take one photo on the first day of school each year, then place it in the accompanying album. You can also fill out a card that summarizes your child's school year with things from teachers' names to friends' names. This is such a sweet way to look back on your child's education. Living Frugal with Erika had the chance to review the awesome and adorable Pics 'N' Props School Days Kit. YOUR BLOG HERE is joining with Living Frugal with Erika to give away this activity kit -- pl…

I have talked a handful of times about my middle son. He not only struggles from many health challenges but he also suffers from many learning disabilities. When a review came available on the book Don't Count Me Out by Barbara Dianis, MA ED I was excited to give this book a read. Like most people I started with the back cover lol, but I found some facts that just blew my mind! Did you know that every day over 7,000 teenagers decide to drop out of high-school?? That is more then 1.3 million children annually! To me that is just an amazing number of children who feel like they can just not do it any longer. Seeing my son struggle this past year it became a strong reality that if this path continues my son could very easily be part of that statistic. Don't Count Me Out is a book of hope though, more accurately two books put into one. A guide to better grades and test scores, pre-k through 12th grade. 
       I liked a lot of things about this book, first off I LOVED the p…

If you have a little girl then likely you know all excitement behind My Little Pony and the joy they bring. Build-A-Bear has listened and created a great line of stuff friends for your little one, or inner child. The newest addition to their My Little Pony family is Princess Twilight Sparkle.
        It is always a fun moment when your new friend arrives in their little house. Unfortunately we are 6 hours away so most of our pets arrive by mail. They are always packed with care and love in their own house. Princess Twilight Sparkle was no different because Build-A-Bear gives every friend the royal treatment. Measuring 16 inches tall she is very large and filled how you want her. In our case she has a nice firm filling so she is able to stand on her own, after all you cannot rule a house without being able to stand on your 4 golden shoes.
        As you can see when we received Princess Twilight Sparkle it was love at first sight for my daughter. Like all the Build-A-Bear friends…

We all know what a hassle back to school can be, this is cool, that is cool..........what is cool now?? Recently I was given a chance to meet up with style expert Nicole Feliciano and discuss this school years hot trends, and ways to help your family get ready for the coming school year.
     Trends this year seem to be headed back to a time I know to well........80s here we come! That's right just think of it this way, if Madonna liked it your daughter will probably want it to. Popular jean brand l.e.i. is back at it with their colored denim, which is not only going to be popular with girl but with boys as well. Oh yes you heard me colored jeans are coming back for boys as well. While I am talking about jeans and boys the rocker look is coming back. I'm not talking skin tight skinny jeans but buying them a little snug this year is sure to please. If you have a boy with a smaller waist then Wrangler has the product for you, with their new adjustable waist jeans even the mo…

I have talked many times on the blog about how much I love a good pen. Recently I was sent an amazing selection of pens from Pilot Pens, so many in-fact I will be dividing this review into two parts! 
        With the school year coming pens are on my mind more then they normally would be, I need black pens and red pens, blue pens and cool pens. It amazes me these days how different they make them all and how as a child even the wrong pen can seemingly make you the target of being bullied. My oldest son is getting to that age. Pilot offers so many different pens it is hard to know where to even start, I guess I will start with the basics.
        The Pilot Precise V7 is an extra fine tipped pen, with a unique liquid ink technology this pen offers a consistent flow of ink. We are really enjoying this pen, I actually have exchanged my normal pen that I keep in my wallet for this pen. The main reason being I hate when it is time to sign a check or a receipt and my pen misses part o…

You may remember a while back I posted about some great new PEEPS flavors for the summer. If you missed that post you can head over HERE and check it out. Recently I was given a chance to try these two new flavors. While I have to say I was a little bit leery to try something new I love traditional PEEPS so I figured these were worth a try.  The first one my kids and I tried was the new Bubble Gum PEEPS. I love that they come in a large 10 pack, because in a family of 5 anything less might have caused a riot.lol I was really shocked when I opened them how much they smelled just like original bubble gum. I have to say these were by far the freshest package I have have had as well. Another fun thing was they are all pink. Unlike traditional PEEPS that are covered in colored sugar, yet remain a white marshmallow. We really enjoyed these, the flavor was light and sweet. It was so funny my son kept asking if he was suppose to eat it like gum or a PEEP. We also tried the Sweet Lemonade flavor o…

With the school year fast approaching, we are constantly looking for great snacks to add to our children's lunchboxes. Something not only fun but healthy as well. Recently we were given the chance to review some great products from Simply Snackin. Are dried meat snacks packed with protein and low in calories. One of the best parts for our family is they are Gluten free as well. We received a great variety of snacks to try from simplysnackin.com which included the following flavors.
Beef Sirloin with cranberries & blueberriesBeef Sirloin with apples & cherriesTeriyaki Beef Sirloin with pineapplesChicken Breast with black bean salsaItalian Chicken Breast with Romano cheeseTeriyaki Chicken Breast with mangoes & papayas          I was really surprised what a great size these were. They seemed much larger then a "regular" dried meat snack. I really loved the flavor of them all but the two Teriyaki flavors were really my favorite. The dried Teriyaki Beef Sir…