Soft Scrub Cleaner Review and Giveaway

Who likes to clean,not me. If you got to clean you might as well have a cleaner that works great. The Soft Scrub Total cleaner is a new cleaner that I like. It is tough on stains but gentle on surfaces. It comes in a cool bottle that sprays upside down to get in all those dirty places. You can also choose the cleaner to spray as a foam or a spray. I was sent two products to review - Soft Scrub Total with bleach and Soft Scrub Total bath and bowl. I first tried the bathroom on in my toilet. I love how I was able to spray a foam all over the inside of the toilet,even spraying upside to get those yucky places. The cleaner,being a foam stayed where I sprayed it until I scrubbed it with my brush. I was amazed that the toilet bowl was clean. I then used the Soft Scrub Total with bleach in my bathtub. I have a fiber glass bathtub and I knew the cleaner would be gentle on it. The Sotf Scrub made cleaning the soapscum  off the tub easy and it left a nice clean bleach scent.

Soft Scrub is also holding a contest on their website with $3,000.00 in prizes. One lucky person will win $1000.00 and 50 people will win $40.00 each. Just go here to enter  Soft Scrub contest  or here http://insiders.purex.com/soft-scrub?id=44441t 

 I was also given coupons to giveaway on my blog so you can try the Soft Scrub Total cleaner. Just enter on the Rafflecopter form below. I am giving two lucky readers a free coupon.

"These opinions are my own. I was give the product to review by Purex insinders."

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Samsung Dishwasher Deal

If you are needing a new dishwasher or other kitchen appliances now is the time to buy as Labor day weekend sales are here. My dishwasher broke a week ago so being a saver I wanted the best deal. I found a Samsung dishwasher at Lowes  http://www.lowes.com/pd_332886-149-DMT400RHS_4294857924__?productId=3294740&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1 for $539.10 marked down from $699.00,but that was not the price I paid. The deal gets better,I had a 10% off coupon(you can get these from the post office in the change of address books) and found a rebate for $125.0  .http://site.us-appliance.com/pdfs/samsung125_aug27.pdf  . That made my price $360.20 almost half the price.  This is a nice dishwasher,all stainless steel inside and out. My dishwasher also had free delivery. I can't wait for my husband to install it as washing dishes by hand is no fun.

Zucchini Recipes

My neighbor has  lots of zucchini and shared with me. Here are two wonderful recipes I found to use my zucchini. One is for

Dark Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal, Zucchini Cookie

http://www.food.com/recipe/dark-chocolate-chip-oatmeal-zucchini-cookie-463032

The other is for

Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

http://silksoymilk.com/recipes/chocolate-zucchini-muffins

 Both of these recipes are wonderful ways to use zucchini and you can't even tell there is zucchini in them.

Progresso Recipe Starter Sauces

I discovered a new product from Progresso. These Progresso Recipe Starter Sauces help me  get dinner on the table when I am out of ideas on what to make.  Progresso Recipe Starter Sauces come in five wonderful flavors and are the starter to create wonderful dishes your family will enjoy. The five varieties are:

• Creamy Parmesan Basil: This creamy, full-bodied and indulgent sauce that was inspired by alfredo and creamy pesto sauces can be used to make meals such as Crispy Garlic-Parmesan Chicken, Creamy Chicken Alfredo, Basil Chicken Ravioli Carbonara and Basil Chicken Thai Noodle
• Creamy Roasted Garlic with Chicken Stock: With caramelized, roasted chicken broth, garlic and a touch of cream, this stock is perfect for dishes such as Creamy Lemon Chicken, Chicken Pot Pie and Chicken Enchiladas
• Fire Roasted Tomato: A medium-thick tomato sauce, accompanied by flavors of roasted, caramelized tomatoes, oregano and bell peppers, which can be used as a great way to begin creating  Pulled Chicken Sandwiches, Easy Weeknight Chicken Parmesan, Cheese-stuffed Mini Meat Loaves and Mole Tacos
• Creamy Portabella Mushroom: Creamy and highly indulgent, this smooth sauce is rich with sautéed Portabella mushrooms,  giving you any easy way to start decedent meals like Easy Weeknight Beef Stroganoff, Steak and Mushroom Sandwich and Tetrazzini
• Creamy Three Cheese: Rich and creamy with a blend of yellow and white cheeses, and a savory background of chicken stock, onion, garlic and cracked pepper, this is a great way to satisfy cheese lovers with Easy Weeknight Bacon Mac & Cheese, Twice-Baked Potato Pizza and Cheesy Egg Breakfast Tacos

You can find many wonderful recipes to help you get started at the Progresso website

 Here are some links to get some yummy ideas for dinner.

• Progresso on  Facebook
• Creamy Lemon Chicken http://goo.gl/2feUL
• Crispy Garlic-Parmesan Chicken http://goo.gl/yPeOL
• Bacon Mac n’ Cheese http://goo.gl/cM90b
• Beef Stroganoff http://goo.gl/IMZc2
• Pulled Chicken Sandwiches http://goo.gl/wMy6p
• Chicken Enchiladas http://goo.gl/2UEj9
• Easy Weeknight Chicken Pot Pie http://goo.gl/amWvN
• Creamy Arroz con Pollo http://goo.gl/QxzlA
• Curry Chicken http://goo.gl/SlvWI
• Basil Chicken Ravioli Carbonara http://goo.gl/A9Ns2
• Basil Chicken Thai Noodles http://goo.gl/NsGWJ
• Easy Weeknight Creamy Chicken Alfredo http://goo.gl/eJKDk
• Oven Basil-Chicken Risotto http://goo.gl/oSkHh
• Cheese Stuffed Mini Meat Loaves http://goo.gl/p9D9h
• Double Mozzarella Margherita Pizza http://goo.gl/ohYVo
• Easy Chicken Cacciatore http://goo.gl/r1bwB
• Easy Mole Tacos http://goo.gl/FNcKU
• Smothered Pork Chops and Potatoes http://goo.gl/E1xhA
• Steak and Mushroom Sandwiches http://goo.gl/6hPQm
• Tetrazzini http://goo.gl/nXtvT
• Chorizo Beans and Rice http://goo.gl/CdDZS
• Creamy Cheese-Broccoli Rice Bake http://goo.gl/eqU43
• Inside-Out Double Grilled Cheese http://goo.gl/2gCEl
• No Bake Cheesy Skillet Lasagna http://goo.gl/jOxOw
• Smoky Sausage Penne http://goo.g l/mh8C5    

 I made two dinners with the Progresso Recipe started sauces. The first was the

Creamy Lemon Chicken

Here is the recipe:

• INGREDIENTS

  • 1/4 cup Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 can (18 oz) Progresso™ Recipe Starters™ creamy roasted garlic with chicken stock cooking sauce
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • Chopped fresh parsley, if desired
  • Grated lemon peel, if desired
  • Hot cooked rice, if desired
• 1. Between pieces of plastic wrap or waxed paper, place each chicken breast smooth side down; gently pound with flat side of meat mallet or rolling pin until about 1/2 inch thick. In small shallow dish, mix flour with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; dip each chicken breast into flour mixture, coating all sides.In 10-inch skillet, heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Cook chicken breasts in oil 6 to 8 minutes, turning once, or until brown. In small bowl, mix cooking sauce and lemon juice.
  2. Pour sauce mixture over chicken. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 5 to 10 minutes or until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (at least 165°F). Sprinkle with parsley and lemon peel. Serve with rice.
  3. It was simple to make and I loved that it did not have too many ingredients.

  
  

  

  
  

  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  

  
  

  1. The next one I made was 

     Crispy Garlic-Parmesan Chicken

     

     INGREDIENTS

     • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
     • 1/4 cup butter, melted
     • 1 can (18 oz) Progresso™ Recipe Starters™ creamy Parmesan basil cooking sauce
     • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
     • 2/3 cup Progresso® Italian style panko crispy bread crumbs
     • 2/3 cup finely shredded Parmesan or Asiago cheese
     • Hot cooked pasta or mashed potatoes, if desired

     DIRECTIONS

     1. Heat oven to 400°F. Line cookie sheet with foil; spray with cooking spray. Between pieces of plastic wrap or waxed paper, place each chicken breast smooth side down; gently pound with flat side of meat mallet or rolling pin until about 1/2 inch thick. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper to taste.
     2. In shallow dish, mix butter, 3 tablespoons of the cooking sauce and the garlic powder. In another shallow dish, mix bread crumbs and cheese. Dip chicken into butter mixture, then dip into bread crumb mixture to coat. Place on cookie sheet.
     3. Bake 12 to 15 minutes, turning once, until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (at least 165°F) and coating is golden brown. Meanwhile, heat remaining sauce until hot. Serve chicken with pasta and sauce. Sprinkle with additional cheese and basil.

     
     

     

     
     

     

     
     

     
     

     

     
     

     

     
     

     

     
     

     

     
     

     

     My family enjoyed both meals and I liked how easy the recipes were to follow. I was able to serve chicken in a new way to my husband and he liked having something different for dinner. So try Progresso Recipe Starter Sauces tonight and your family will thank you.

     
     

     "These opinions are my own and Progresso provided me with the free product, information and gift pack through MyBlogSpark."

     
     

     
     

Do Those Travel Sites Like Priceline Save You Money?

I have been busy the last few days planning a trip to Great Lakes, Illinois for my sons Navy boot camp graduation. I love to save money so I checked out all the travel websites to buy my airline,hotel, and car rental. While those sites are great for one stop shopping,they really don't save you money. In fact some of them add on their fee and it costs more. The prices for air fare on sites like Price line,Expedia,and Hotwire to name a few are the same as buying on the airlines website. I found the best deal for hotels on the hotel's website,if I prepaid.The hotel site are great for finding your hotel,but once you do go to the hotel's website to see which site has a better deal. If I added my hotel and airfare together on the travel websites it actually cost me more. The only advantage I found was pairing up airfare and car rental on the travel sites. My car rental was cheaper for me that way. I was renting a mini van and car rental places never have any coupons for those. So it might be a better deal on the rental site,with a coupon,for a economy car. So how did I end up making all my reservations? I found the best deal on Hotwire pairing up my airfare and car rental together. I save about 50.00 that way. I reserved my hotel directly at the hotels website for the best deal. You may love hunting for the best deal so try my way or you may want the easy way so use the travel websites.

Updated 9-25-2012
I am back from my trip and have more advice on those travel sites. I feel it was not worth the 50.00 savings to use Hotwire for travel. Since we booked our plane tickets with them we were not able to choose our seats,we got stuck on the back of the plane both ways. Returing from our trip they were not able to sit all 6 of us together. We did have the little ones next to us but the older kids had to sit away from us and not even together. Next trip I make I will buy my plane tickets directly from the airlines so I can choose my seats. If we need to rent a car I will search for a coupon and book with the car rental place. Also I will look and see what the type of plane we will be flying on,as we were on a smaller one. We did not have any in flight movie or snacks. I feel safer and more comfortable on bigger planes.

How To Rid Of Ants and A Giveaway

Here in Albuquerque,New Mexico I think our houses are built on a big ant nest. No matter how clean you keep your house,the ants come in. Every summer I dread ants. I go to bed and wake up to ants,sometimes in my kitchen and other times somewhere else in the house. I have tried many different sprays to get rid of the ants but they only work for a short time. I discovered a new product called Combat Source Kill Max Ant Gel and Baits. Unlike sprays that kill only the ants it sprays Combat Source Kill Max has a chemical called Fipronila fast-acting active ingredient that's speed is still slow enough for the ants to ingest it and take it back to the colony to feed to all the ants including the queen. The entire colony is killed. That means no more ants.

The Combat Source Kill Max baits facts are:

-Kills ants without messy residure and without insecticide odors

-Quick kill formula

-Destroys the queen and the entire colony

-Provides long lasting any killing power

-Child-Resistant

The baits are great for places where ants like to visit like under the sink.

The Combat Source Kill Max Ant Gel facts are:

-First specially formulated ant gel

-Preferred food form for ants

-Fast killing formula

-Works within hours and up to 1 month

-Kills ants and the colony

You simply place the gel near ant trails and the ants take it back to all the ants.

This stuff works! The other day I woke up to ants on my counter. I follow the trail and it was on the top of the door frame. I put some of the gel there and tons of ants came out to eat the gel. I have not seen the ants since then.

Now for the fun part :

Combat is having a Contest of their own.  They are giving one lucky winner $1000 to hold their own "bug free backyard bash." To enter go t0 Bug Free Backyard BashThe winner will also receive an assortment of Combat brand product to ensure ants don't spoil the Bash.  Be sure to enter that fun contest.  Good luck to all.

Combat is also letting me give away one box of the Combat Source Kill Max Ant Gel to one lucky winner of my blog.  Just look on the rafflecopter form to enter.

(Disclosure:  Combat provided a free sample of their Ant Bait and Gel so I could review them  However, all of the opinions expressed here are my own)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

5-hour ENERGY®

Try 5-hour ENERGY®!

Finding the energy for work and family responsibilities is hard enough. Throw in a second job, go back to school, or simply have a sleepless night and you’re bound to hit the wall. So what do you do when that afternoon lull strikes? Run for more coffee? Grab a soda? But how long does that last before you need a refill? Try this instead – take one 5-hour ENERGY®. It’s the quick, simple way for hard working people to feel alert and energized for hours

The key ingredients in 5-hour ENERGY® are also available in every day foods. It contains zero sugar, zero herbal stimulants, and four calories. It also contains about as much caffeine as a cup of the leading premium coffee.

10 reasons to try 5-hour ENERGY®

• Groggy mornings
• The afternoon lull
• Long hours on your feet
• Shift work
• Long drives
• Busy weekends
• Action-packed vacations
• Workouts
• Overtime
• Business travel

7 reasons to trust 5-hour ENERGY®:

• People choose 5-hour ENERGY® over 9 million times a week
• Key ingredients are available in everyday food
• Packed with B-vitamins and nutrients
• Contains about as much caffeine as a cup of the leading premium coffee
• Manufactured and bottled in the USA
• Complies with the provisions of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act as regulated by the FDA
• 5-hour ENERGY® is in its 8th year of helping hard working people feel alert and energize

For more information click on this link.

http://smiley360.com/728956.cfm

I received a sample of the product from Smiley360 and the opinions are my own.

NECTRESSE™ Natural No Calorie Sweetener

I was given a sample of this new sweetener made by Splenda. These are the facts about the sweetener.

• NECTRESSE™ Sweetener has the rich taste of sugar, but without all the calories, making it ideal for anyone who wants to reduce the calories from sugar in their diet.
• Monk fruit is hand-picked in remote mountain regions and has been cultivated for hundreds of years.
• Each pack of NECTRESSE™ Sweetener provides all the sweetness of two teaspoons of sugar without all of the calories.
• NECTRESSE™ Sweetener does not include any gluten containing ingredients.

I used the sweetener in my coffee and it had a sweet flavor. This product is 100% natural. For more info click on this link  

http://smiley360.com/743450.cfm

I was given samples from Smiley360 to reveiw

Nuby iMonster Feeding Set

I am excited to tell you about this colorful Nuby iMonster feeding set. Included in the iMonster feding set is a  plate,bowl and spoon and fork. All the products as see in the below pictures have monsters on them. My son loves the Monster Inc. movie so this set was perfect for him to use at mealtime.

This iMonster feeding set makes mealtime more fun and enjoyable for my son. He loves to feed the monsters food and then gobble it up with the spoon and fork. The set is very colorful and cute with monster eyes looking at you. It will encourage your little one to eat their food. The iMonster feeding set are made to withstand daily use and maintain it's brightness. The set is microwave safe and dishwasher safe. The  eye on the bowl also makes a carry handle for the parent to hold when feeding younger children. I love how the fork and spoon fit my sons little hands making it easy for him to use.

The Nuby iMonster and other colorful products are sold at Burlington Coat Factory and online at ·          www.BuyBabyDirect.com.

"These opinions are my own and I was given the product to review as being part of the Nuby Mommy Blogger program."

Boys Just Want To Have Fun

I have four boys and they know how to entertain themselves most days. I am not one who buys the latest toys nor do we have a video game system,so my boys are very creative. It was a hot day the other day and mom did not feel like filling up the kiddie pool. My boys went outside and decided to play with the sprinkler. Of course that is fun in itself,but not for my boys. The one of the older boy who is 12 wanted to make a fun ride for the younger 4 and 5 year old boys. I thought this was pretty cool! He wrapped the hose around the swing set and attached the sprinkler. As my younger boys said "this is cooler than the water park!"

Rubbermaid LunchBlox Sandwich Kit

I am excited to tell you about the Rubbermaid LunchBlox Sandwich Kit! This cool product from Rubbermaid helps keep your lunch organized in your lunch sack.
                         The product features are:

 Modular containers snap together in to save space in your lunch bag
 Kit includes specially designed Blue Ice™ pack that works with LunchBlox containers to keep
lunches chilled on the go
 Containers are perfectly portioned for lunch foods commonly carried away from home
 Microwave-, dishwasher- and freezer-safe and BPA-free
 The Sandwich Kit includes a sandwich container sized for regular and specialty breads, two snack
containers (perfect for yogurt or nuts) and a snack container (perfect for fruits, vegetables and
chips)

This Lunchblox comes with four containers and an ice pack that you can freeze. As you can see from the photo there is a larger container for your sandwich,a medium container that is good for fruit or veggies, and two smaller containers that could be used for anything from salad dressing to cookies. As you can see from the photo the smaller containers hold three sandwich cookies so you can understand the size. After you make your lunch all the containers snap together with the ice pack. That makes it easy to pop into your lunch sack.

My older daughter takes her lunch with her every day and loves how easy it is to make her lunch. I love that the containers are reusable and I am saving money and the environment by not using plastic baggies.

The LunchBlox Sandwich Kit is currently available for purchase at Rubbermaid.com, Target,
Kmart, Kroger, Safeway, Bi-Lo, Winn-Dixie, HEB, other grocery stores and select Wal-Mart stores

"These opinions are my own and I received the product to review from Rubbermaid."

Nuby Easy Go Suction Bowl And Spoon

This is a cool bowl and spoon set made by Nuby products. It is great for taking food for your child when you are on the go. You simply place the food like cereal in the bowl and snap and the lid that seals tightly to prevent spills. The lid also had a snap on feature to store the included spoon. It makes it easy to take some food with for later in your diaper bag. The product is made of break resistant plastic and is microwavable/dishwasher safe.

On the bottom of the bowl there is a suction cup so the bowl won't fall off the table. This prevents a bowl of cereal and milk from going all over the floor. That means one less mess for mom to clean up.

My little one enjoys eating his cereal from the bowl and I love the Nuby Easy Suction Bowl and Spoon for how easy it is to take his food on the go.The bowl also comes in pink and green.  You can buy the Easy Suction Bowl and Spoon and other cool Nuby products at www.amazon.com and www.diapers .com

These opinions are my own and I was given the product to review as part of being a Nuby Mommy Blogger.

Just Do It !

Many of you might not know I am a runner. I run to stay in shape and once in a while I like to compete,so I run races. To stay in shape in takes motivation and setting aside time every day. I usually run in the morning about 7:30 am. I am not a morning person so when that alarm goes off,I want to go back to sleep. I have to force my self out of bed sometimes and I do so by talking myself into it. I tell myself that I can walk that day. So I get up,get ready and get outside. I begin by walking but then realize I should be running. So I again tell myself just to run until I reach the first fire hydrant(it helps to pick an item you see.) If I still don't want to run I pick another object I have to run to. Most days this helps and I end up running for 30 minutes. When I get home I feel so much better that I ran instead of walking. I am sure there are many other areas in our days that we don't want to do things. So give yourself that pep talk and "just do it!"
The medal I am holding is from a recent race I ran with my sons who also are runners. I got 2nd place in my age category. That day it was hot out and I did not feel like running fast so I told my self just run and have fun.  I did just that and I won a medal.

Nuby Snack Keeper

I was given an opportunity to try a Nuby Snack Keeper and as with all Nuby products I loved the bright colors. I love the Snack keeper for being a container for mess-free snacks. The container holds 9 ounces of a dry snack like cheese crackers or cereal. The soft flaps make it easy for your little one to get a snack without making a mess. The top of the container comes off to put the snack in and while it is easy for mom to take it off,it is not for your little one. The Nuby Snack Keeper is also dishwasher safe as we moms are too busy to wash dishes.

My little one enjoys using his Snack Keeper as it is fun to use and I love that it is mess free. If he tips it over the crackers stay inside.

Here he is showing what is inside his Nuby Snack Keeper.

This container is great for on the go or for use at home. It also will not scratch surfaces with the soft protective bottom. You can buy this colorful Snack Keeper and other wonderful Nuby products at www.BuyBabyDirect.com

These opinions are my own. I was given the product to review as part of the Nuby Mommy blogger program.

I Need A Nap

We came home the other day from grandma and grandpa's,Jesse had fallen asleep in the car. He walked into the house and decided this was a good place to finish his nap. He just did not have the energy to make it to the couch. I love how he can sleep anywhere. 

My Boys and How They Have Fun.

My boys were outside playing and riding their bikes. The next thing I knew they were inside the mail boxes. We have community mail boxes on our block and the boxes they are in is where the mailman puts the packages. The boys wanted to see if the could fit inside and found out they could. My next door neighbor saw them inside and said" I wonder if I could fit inside." I of course told him not a good idea and he might get stuck. He was disappointed he could not join in the fun. 

Nuby iMonster Snack Keeper

When I first saw this snack keeper,I knew I had to have it for my boys. My boys love the movie Monsters Inc. and watch it a least once a week. I thought this cute snack keeper would be great for their snacks. When we received it,the boys were excited and said "cool,I want that!" Below is one of my boys holding the iMonster Snack Keeper.

I love this snack keeper not only for it's cuteness but for how it works. You fill the keeper with snacks and your little one gets to stick their hand into the monsters mouth to get a snack. What little child won't think that is fun. Moms will love that the snacks will not fall out and make a mess as the soft silicone flaps keep the food inside. This iMonster Snack Keeper is also dishwasher safe and retains it's bright colors. I have washed it several times in my dishwasher and it still looks wonderful.

The Nuby iMonster Snack Keeper makes snack time fun for little ones and less messy for mom. You can find this wonderful Nuby product and others at Burlington Coat Factory or online at www.amazon.com and www.buybabydirect.com.

These opinions are my own. I was given this product to test from Nuby as I am a Nuby Mommy Blogger.

Boogie Wipes Back to School Contest

Backpacks, Binders, BOOGIE WIPES, Oh-My! Does your child think their class is Boogietastic? Click the link below to learn more about this exciting contest. Those who enter could win $500 and other cool prizes for their entire class! 

https://www.facebook.com/boogiefans/app_95936962634