Grilled Green Beans

Hubby is a great griller and will cook anything on the grill. We really love veggies cooked on the grill - the flavor is very similar to roasting in the oven but we don't have to heat up the house.

When I tell folks that we grill things like fresh green beans they usually give me a confused look. Many ask how we keep them from falling through the grates - sometimes when I feel silly I just tell them Hubby is very careful about it LOL.

The truth is that we use a grilling skillet. You can find these with the grilling accessories in almost any store for less than $10 even many times. We just throw in the veggies and grill away.

For grilled green beans (or any veggies) just snip off your ends of the beans and toss them with a marinade of your choice. You could do just olive oil, salt, and pepper even. Last night I used Kraft Zesty Italian Dressing because that is also what we used to marinate our steak. The beans I just let sit for 10 minutes or so and then on the grill they went. You really want them to get those dark caramelized spots on them to get that great flavor. Generally, about 15 minutes or so will do. If you are doing denser veggies you might want to parboil them first before cooking on the grill.

Last Day To Win Michael Buble!

Today is the last day for your chance to win 1 of 5 Michael Buble DVD/CDs here on my blog! Make sure you get your entries in. He is such a fabulous singer and I know the winners will love their prize!

As always, you can see all of my current giveaways on the Giveaways & Winners page. Right now I still have the $200 Amazon.com Gift Card prize, an Energizer Power Through It All Kit, and some great New Wave Enviro products up for grabs! Good luck!

Wal-Mart Site to Store - Thumbs Down

I have only had one experience with Wal-Mart's Site to Store shopping method. Basically you shop on their website and then you select to have your items shipped to your local store and pick it up there. The shipping is free doing this.

I had received $40 in Wal-Mart gift certificates that I could only use online. Now I do shop at Wal-Mart for things like household supplies and such, but those aren't the kinds of things you can buy online from them. It took me several weeks to finally come up with something to buy. I decided on a new bathroom scale, they had one for just under $40. I paid for it online with my gift certificates and a few cents on a credit card (tax). There was no problem with the actual process online. I received an email confirmation of order and a couple of other emails about the stages of the order, and then a week or so later one saying my item was ready to be picked up. I printed out that email and headed to my local Wal-Mart.

Now the negative part begins. We head to the back of the store to the Site to Store pick up area. No one to be found. We looked around for a bell or something and didn't spot anything. A few employees had gone in and out of the employee area while we waited but no one said anything. Finally, we asked one worker. She said press the button on the black box. We looked all over and didn't see a black box, she is saying right there - the black box. The only thing we see is the cash register and the swipe box for using your credit card which is gray. She huffs and then walks over to the credit card machine and says right here on the screen it says press for service and then walks away. Hmm, not a nice person and doesn't know black from gray. Honestly who would look at the credit card swipe thingie to press for service anyway? A minute or so later a lady appears and we tell her we are here to pick something up. She takes my paperwork and spends some time typing things in/scanning things. Then she says my item is all the way over in another part of the store and she has to go get it and it will be a few minutes. I ask if I can go do my other shopping while she is gone, the answer is no because no one is staffed back here. Geez! So we wait as she goes to fetch the item. When she returns more typing and scanning, showing my ID, opening the box, trying to see if it is the right scale even though there is no item number on my email print out, putting things back in the box. This lady was polite, but it took forever and a day to pick this item up.

If Wal-Mart is going for convenience with the Site to Store option then they have totally missed the boat. It was anything but convenient. Sorry Wal-Mart, you get 2 big thumbs down for this one.

Robyn's Lasagna

I gave you a heads up yesterday that today (7/29) was National Lasagna Day. You know that I just had to celebrate such an event (and just another FYI that tomorrow is National Cheesecake Day). Lasagna is one of those items that I am kind of picky about; I don't like just any lasagna. For that reason I prefer to just eat my own homemade versions. This is what I came up with tonight. It was delicious if I do say so myself!

PASTA

• 1 box of lasagna.

I prefer the curly edge type, but whatever works for you. Cook them according to the package directions - be sure to add salt to your water. When they are done remove them from the water and it helps to put a bit of olive oil on them and just lay them out (stacked is ok) so they don't stick to each other.

RICOTTA/PARMESAN LAYER

• 16oz whole-milk ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup freshly ground Parmesan cheese (the canned cheese doesn't work well in this recipe)
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1/8 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley
  

Combine all ingredients well. Set aside until assembly.

SPINACH LAYER

• 10 oz box of frozen chopped spinach

Unwrap the spinach and defrost it in the microwave for a couple of minutes. When done, put inside a clean kitchen towel and squeeze well to get the extra liquid out. Just use your hands to spread/pull the spinach back apart before using in the spinach layer.

MOZZARELLA LAYER

• 2 cups of shredded mozzarella
  

You need to divide this into two 1 cup portions. I just use the regular pre-shredded bag type for this.

MEAT SAUCE

• 1 lb Italian sausage
• 3/4 lb ground sirloin
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 medium white onions - finely chopped
• 6 large cloves garlic - roughly chopped
• 4 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 Tbsp sugar
• 3 Tbsp tomato paste
• 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tsp dried Italian seasoning
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 cans (14.5oz) petite diced tomatoes
• 2 cans (14.5oz) crushed tomatoes
• 4-6 leaves fresh basil - cut into thin strips
  

Brown sausage and sirloin in large skillet. You want the meat in small pieces. Remove from pan and set aside (drain if needed). In same pan add olive oil and heat up. Then add the onion and garlic and saute for about 6 or 7 minutes until they have some color. Now add in balsamic vinegar, sugar, tomato paste, crushed red pepper flakes, freshly ground black pepper, dried Italian seasoning, and salt. Stir to combine. Once combined add in all the tomatoes. Stir well and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes. Add fresh basil (if you need to use dried basil add it with the other dried seasonings
instead). Add the browned meat back in and let simmer for another 5 minutes or so and then remove from the heat.

LAYERING

1. Bottom of pan - just a little sauce
2. Layer of pasta
3. spinach
4. 1 cup mozzarella cheese
5. layer of pasta
6. 1/2 the remaining pasta sauce
7. layer of pasta
8. ricotta/Parmesan layer
9. layer of pasta
10. remaining pasta sauce
11. 1 cup mozzarella cheese
12. 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan

Bake in 375 oven for 30 minutes covered, then 30 minutes uncovered. Let set 15 minutes before serving. Use a serrated knife to cut portions - this helps in serving quite a bit. Serve with more freshly grated Parmesan cheese on top.

New Wave Enviro Giveaway & Review

Back to school season is coming and while we homeschool and usually eat lunch at home, we do still have the need to pack a lunch and take it with us on occasion. Usually we do this when we are going on a field trip with other homeschoolers. Sometimes Taylor and I like to go to the park to do school also and it's nice to pack a snack or a lunch to take along also. In our attempt to be more green we have found some great products thanks to New Wave Enviro Products to help us do that with our packed lunches and snacks. They sent us a great stainless steel water bottle, a lunch bag, and stainless steel food container.

Right off the bat everyone in the family wanted the stainless steel water bottle. Hubby and Taylor both thought it was very cool looking with metallic blue color. It holds 1 liter of water and is easily refilled so we don't have to keep using the plastic water bottles. In the end Hubby took claim of this because he wanted it for work to keep at his area. I think I will be picking up 2 more of these - one for me and one for Taylor.

The stainless steel food container is very nifty. It has nothing to leach into the food and is reusable forever. The lid locks in place with 2 clasps. Perfect for a sandwich, a small salad, fruit, or some chips. We used this to pack food and tuck inside the bamboo lunch bag. The lunch bag is made out of 100% bamboo - it is amazingly soft but yet super strong! It is also naturally anti-bacterial and hypoallergenic. There is a small closure flap at the top and 2 handles that make it very easy to carry even with your hands full.

I really like all of these products and feel good about using them. These types of products are perfect for kids too because they already seem to get the whole going green thing and accept it so easily. Buying items like this to show your kids that you care about the environment also is a great way to lead by example and it makes the kids feel good to help save our planet! There are no paper or plastic bags to throw away and take up the landfill and you don't have to keep buying those expensive disposable bags all year either. You can find all of these items, plus several other great eco friendly items, at natural food stores nationwide - to find your closest location go to the store locator at NewWaveEnviro.com

The Giveaway: One luck winner will receive a stainless steel water bottle, stainless steel food container, and a bamboo lunch bag! Value $55.97

Required Entry: Visit NewWaveEnviro.com and tell me another product of theirs that looks interesting to you.

Extra Entries: The following are all extra things you can do for more entries. Leave an additional comment for each thing you do to earn extra entries.

• Blog about this giveaway on your own blog (please don’t copy my entire post onto your blog though). Leave the direct link to your post in your comment for an extra entry.
  
  
• Subscribe via email to my feed and let me know in your comment for an extra entry.
  
  
• Follow me on Twitter @RobynsWorld and send a tweet about the giveaway. Leave a direct link to your tweet (instructions here) in your comment for an extra entry. Here is a tweet you can use (or make your own):
  Win eco-friendly items to pack your lunch in from @RobynsWorld http://snurl.com/o5sbu Please RT
  

Rules: Only one of each entry method listed per person/family/household. No entering on behalf of others, using extra identities or others identities, no automated program entries, etc. If I catch you cheating you will be banned from this and all of my future giveaways! This giveaway is only open to those in the USA, ages 18+ only. All entries must be received by 11:59 pm Central Time on Tuesday, August 11 2009. I will pick the winner and email them and they have 48 hours to claim the prize. If no response, I will pick a new winner. Good luck!

Thanks to New Wave Enviro Products for our items and also for providing me an extras to give away to a reader!

Tomorrow is National Lasagna Day

Just giving you all a heads up that tomorrow (Wednesday July 29) is National Lasagna Day! I will be making homemade lasagna for dinner and will blog about it tomorrow night. If you don't have Wednesday night dinner planned then try a lasagna. Make sure to blog about it and share your posts too.

Mangia, mangia!

Laughter & Cookware

Need a giggle? A smile? A chortle? A big whopping belly busting laugh? Head on over to Nanny Goats in Panties ASAP! The name alone is catching enough, but once you start reading Margaret's posts I promise you will be smiling and LOL too. I always like to visit but even more so when I am having a rough day. Just a moment or two on Nanny Goats in Panties will lift my spirits and get me through that rough spot. Sometimes it's the stories, sometimes it might even be just those crazy goat pictures!

Now on top of getting your funny bone tickled you can also win a fantastic set of Rachel Ray Cookware at Nanny Goats in Panties! WooHoo! Laughter and food go hand and hand in my book. They both bring people closer together and can make you feel wonderful. It is easy to enter - 4 different easy ways as a matter of fact. You only have until August 2 though so act fast!

Energizer Power Through It All Giveaway

I told you all before that I am really afraid of storms and those bad ones seem to come in the middle of the night when it's dark! ACK! Right now we are in the middle of summer storms and hurricane season and Energizer and the IAFC (International Association of Fire Chiefs) have a new initiative called "Power Through It All".

We all have had the power go out on us in the middle of these storms. Luckily, we have a lot of ways to Power Through It All. Of course, there are candles, but you do need to be safe with those flames. My poor cat, Lottie, has caught her tail on fire and so we don't use candles as much these days. Instead we use the battery powered candles (love them!) and flashlights when the power is out. All of us should really have an emergency kit - Energizer has helped my family get a new one started and I have another kit to giveaway (more on that later).

In your own Power Through It All Kit consider these items and tips:

• Put your kit in a location that is easy to access for all family members.
• Include at least one flashlight for every member of the household, such as a Compact LED Flashlight
• Include a battery-powered lantern for illuminating larger spaces and rooms
• Include a battery-operated weather radio to track the storm
• Include extra batteries of all different sizes and types for your flashlights, lanterns, hearing aids, glucose monitors, and other necessities
• Add a battery-operated cell phone charger like the Energizer Energi To Go to keep your family connected during the storms
• Water & Food for at least 3 days per person
• First aid kit
• A whistle to signal for help
• Dust masks to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to help keep dust and debris out of your space
• Wet wipes and bags for personal sanitation
• Wrench for turning off utilities.
  
• Remember to review your emergency kit each spring when you set your clocks forward. Replace and add to it as needed each year.
  

There are even more ideas to add to your kit on Energizer's Power Through It All site and on Ready America. They both have a lot of other great info, downloads, tips, and more to help you stay safe.

The Giveaway: One luck winner will receive this Energizer Power Through It All Kit!

Required Entry: Tell me another thing you suggest keeping in an emergency kit

Extra Entries: The following are all extra things you can do for more entries. Leave an additional comment for each thing you do to earn extra entries.

• Blog about this giveaway on your own blog (please don’t copy my entire post onto your blog though). Leave the direct link to your post in your comment for an extra entry.
  
  
• Subscribe via email to my feed and let me know in your comment for an extra entry.
  
  
• Follow me on Twitter @RobynsWorld and send a tweet about the giveaway. Leave a direct link to your tweet (instructions here) in your comment for an extra entry. Here is a tweet you can use (or make your own):
  Win an Energizer Power Through It All Kit for emergencies from @RobynsWorld http://snurl.com/o2y76 Please RT
  

Rules: Only one of each entry method listed per person/family/household. No entering on behalf of others, using extra identities or others identities, no automated program entries, etc. If I catch you cheating you will be banned from this and all of my future giveaways! This giveaway is only open to those in the USA, ages 18+ only. All entries must be received by 11:59 pm Central Time on Friday, August 7, 2009. I will pick the winner and email them and they have 48 hours to claim the prize. If no response, I will pick a new winner. Good luck!

Thanks to Energizer for my own Power Through It All Kit and for also providing me an extra to give away to a reader!

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS CLOSED
Check the Giveaways & Winners page for more!

Custom Dog Bed

As I mentioned in my last post, my parents both have July birthdays. They really buy anything they need or want on their own so gift giving is pretty tricky for the two of them most of the time. We try to be creative and make things or do things for them when we can. They have a pug dog named Mabel who they just adore, so this year we decided to make a gift for Mabel because we thought Mom & Dad would really appreciate that.

A few weeks ago the Lowe's Creative Ideas Magazine came in the mail and they had a cute dog bed as one of the projects. While our bed is different from theirs, it was a jumping off point for us to get us started.

What I found first was the pillow for the inside. A harder task than I thought it would be because it seems only giant dogs want pillows I guess. Eventually I found the square checkerboard dog pillow. Hubby cut out the base from plywood. We used a 1x4 for the side rails. I created a pattern for the headboard and Hubby cut that out of plywood as well. The feet on the bed are actually wooden doll heads, and the "M" was a precut item. Taylor and Hubby assembled and sanded, then Taylor and I painted. It was a fun family project that we all worked on equally. Our cats seem to like the bed also so now we are going to make one for them also.

Saturday night was the party at Aunt Judy's so we gave them the bed then. Then Sunday we went to my parent's for a work day (once a month we go to their house and do whatever odd jobs they need us to) so I was able to get a picture of Mabel in her new bed. She seems to like it and I know my parents really seemed to like that we took the time to make Mabel something.

Happy Birthday Mom, Dad, & Brother!

Saturday night we celebrated the July birthdays in our family. This includes Mom, Dad, and Brother - I am the oddball with a birthday in April instead of July.

After the Twitter Party

I want to take a minute to thank EVERYONE who joined me on twitter for the first twitter party that I played hostess at. The #NotAtBlogHer party was a success I think and it seems like everyone had a good time. We talked about the BlogHer convention - both the '09 and upcoming '10, about our blogs, and of course, about the prizes.

I have a lot more respect now for the folks who regularly do parties - like @ResourcefulMom and the #GNO gals. It is hard keeping up with all of that stuff flying by you on the screen! Even though it was hard work it was still a lot of fun.

There may definitely be a few more twitter parties for me to host in the future. I would love any feedback you all have if you attended. What did you like, what you didn't like, what topics you would like to see covered, etc.?

Thanks again to all of you!

Twitter Party Friday Night #NotAtBlogHer

I'm sure many of you may have been seeing all sorts of blog posts and tweets about folks going to BlogHer lately. It is a fantastic convention in Chicago and many bloggers have started making their way to Chicago for the big event over the next few days.

However, not all of us are going! So I've decided to have a #NotAtBlogHer Twitter Party this Friday night at 8:00 pm Central. Anyone who is not at BlogHer is welcome to attend. We can talk about why you didn't go, if you wanted to go, all about our blogs, and just have a general good time.

Please help spread the word about our #NotAtBlogHer party by tweeting about it! Send folks to this post also to RSVP. To be entered to win the prizes you must RSVP below with your twitter info and then come to the party and watch for the easy trivia!

Follow me @RobynsWorld so you know what is going on - then follow the other folks who have RSVP'd also so you enjoy the party! Remember 8:00 pm CT this Friday night!

Please add your Twitter name and Twitter link below to Mr. Linky to RSVP. The first line type @yourtwittername and the second line will be http://twitter.com/yourtwittername

PRIZES!

Thanks to GemAffair.com for sponsoring our party and offering two great prizes! One is this great Ruby and CZ Sterling Silver Set. The other prize will be a package of sterling silver items valued at about $100!


Thanks also to Marcy at The Frugal Kennedys for sponsoring our party. She is offering a $10 gift card to CVS or Walgreens (winner's choice).


JUST IN: There is also another Non Blogher Party tonight on Stickam. You can find out the details on Mom of 2 Boys Wife of 1 and on Mommy's Quiet Time

Why Milk?

Well why not milk? It's delicious and refreshing plus it is good for you in so many ways. I have always been a milk drinker, Hubby and Taylor both are as well. I find it odd when people say they do not like milk - I mean what's not to like? My favorite time to enjoy a glass of milk is actually when I wake up thirsty in the middle of the night. Nothing seems to quench my thirst more at that time than a nice tall cold glass of milk!

On the WhyMilk? website you can find a lot of useful information about milk. One thing is that milk really fits into our budgets - it averages about 25¢ a glass. That's a lot of nutrition for just a quarter. If you would like to have some healthier cool treats for the summer for you and the kids why not try a smoothie? They have several recipes available including a Carrot Cake Smoothie and Blueberry Blast Smoothie! If you are trying to get rid of some extra weight or just get in better shape there are some great workout tips to read. It's nice to know after my exercising it is actually good to have that ice cold milk! Tons of other great info on the WhyMilk website - well worth the time.

One of my own milk tips now. I grew up drinking 2% milk and when I moved out that is what I continued to buy. I decided we needed to switch to skim milk to be a bit healthier. Hubby and Taylor were none to pleased about this, but I just bought it and after about 2 weeks of some grumbling they have adjusted quite well. So my tip is to just do it if you want to make the change. It doesn't take long to adjust!

If you are a big milk fan you can also follow them on twitter @MilkMustache or become a fan of theirs on Facebook.

Thanks to Mom Central and the Milk Council for asking me to participate in this blog tour.

Win a Wii Fit!

With childhood obesity reaching an all time high across the country, many parents struggle with how to help their children maintain a healthy weight with proper nutrition.

Dr. Joanna Dolgoff, the official doctor of Camp Shane and a board certified pediatrician, has created Dr. Dolgoff's Weigh, a traffic-light system that allows kids to learn which foods are healthiest without counting calories. To spread the word about her site and program, Dr. Weigh, is sponsoring a Wii Fit contest to help you get your family up and moving this summer!

To Enter:
To enter to win the #KidsWeigh Wii Fit contest, check out client testimonials and fabulous Dr. Weigh success stories then fill out this secure contest form telling us which story was your favorite!

Form: http://tinyurl.com/kidsweighcontest

One grand prize winner will receive a Wii Fit. Two runners-up will receive a free one month membership to Dr. Weigh. This contest ends Friday, July 24th at 11:59 a.m. ET. and is brought to you by Momfluence.

Summer Comment & Win a $200 Amazon Gift Card!

We are in the thick of summer so I thought we would do a Summer Comment & Win. This time the prize has gone up and is a $200 Amazon.com Gift Card! The giveaway runs pretty much the same as the past, but please take a moment to read thru the rules to make sure you understand.

What can you win? A $200 Amazon.com Gift Card

You earn entries just be making comments on any of my OTHER posts here on my blog from July '09, August '09, or September '09. That means you go to the other posts (start on the main page if you like) and read and at the bottom of that post click the comment link and tell me what you think about that post. No need to tell me you are entering the giveaway - you are automatically entered just by making the comment (I get an email every time a comment is made). The requirements of getting an entry for your comment are:

• Your comment must either have a profile linked to it with a visible email on the profile or you must include your email in your comment If you aren't sure about the profile thing look at this for help.
• You can earn one entry for EACH comment you make on my different posts from July, August, or September
  
• The comment MUST be more than thank you, how cute, wow, etc. just to get a quick entry
• Only the first comment per post will count
• Only comments made from 7/21/09 to 9/30/09 will count.
  
• You may not enter on behalf of others or use multiple identities (if I catch you cheating you will be banned for life from all of my giveaways)
• You must be 18+ and a resident of the USA or Canada
  
• You must reply within 48 hours to your win notice or I will move on and pick a new winner
• The giveaway ends on September 30, 2009 at 11:59 pm (CT)

Again, don't comment here on this post. Just go to any of my other posts (look at the archives over on the right side to find all of them for July, August, and September) to make your comments. Want to know when I add new posts so you can get more entries? You can subscribe to my feed via email or a reader.

Earn 1 extra entry for each of these things you do:
If you have done anything to earn an extra entry just send me an email with a subject line of Comment & Win Extra Entries letting me know and I will credit you the extra entries. You can include all the extra entries in one message to me.

1. Subscribing to my feed via email
2. Blogging about this giveaway on your own blog (must send me a direct link)
2. Adding my button to your sidebar (must send me a link)
2. Follow me on Twitter (@RobynsWorld) and then send a tweet about the giveaway. You can do this once per day! Each tweet must include the link below and @RobynsWorld in it to count. For credit send me an email with a direct link to your tweet (see instructions here). A tweet you can use is:
   Win a $200 Amazon Gift Card from @RobynsWorld. Enter now http://snurl.com/noio5 Please RT

I really enjoy reading every one's comments and appreciate you taking the time to stop by. Good luck everyone!

If you don't understand how to enter or have a question - just ask.

Don't forget to enter all of my current giveaways while
you are here for your chance to win some great prizes!

Skinit.com Days of Summer Giveaway

Skinit.com is having a Days of Summer Giveaway where they are giving away 10 free skins a day all summer long. You can enter everyday to increase your chances of winning.

These are really great skins for all your electronic gadgets. I had a beautiful peacock feather skin for my RAZR phone from them and it held up so well. I plan on getting more skins for some of our other cell phones and laptops from Skinit.com

Good luck!

The Cutest Crunch Contest

Are you a pickle person? How about your kids? Vlasic Pickles is in search of "The Cutest Crunch" and you could win a trip to New York, $1,000, and a 1-year supply of Vlasic Pickles - that's a lot of crunching!

Just submit a photo that captures the cutest pickle crunch by October 31 for your chance to win.

Basil Parmesan Dip with Pita Chips

Tonight we were all outside working on a project for an upcoming birthday present (I'll share that next week). Most of the work tonight was done by Hubby and Taylor was assisting. I felt a little guilty just sitting there watching so I decided I would make us all a snack for when they were finished.

In the July 09 issue of Cooking Light Magazine they had lots of basil recipes. Basil is one of the things we have been able to grown well in the garden and have plenty of so I saved a few of the recipes. Tonight I tried the first one, Basil Parmesan Dip with Pita Chips.

I loved the entire thing, chips and dip. Taylor did not care for the dip - too much basil for him (he is like that always though). Hubby wasn't sure with the first bite or two, but then he said it really grew on him and he liked it as well. I think next time I will cut back on the basil a tiny bit - maybe just 1/2 cup lightly packed instead of the 1 cup called for.

The pita chips were delicious and very easy to make. I liked them much better than store bought pita chips which I don't generally care for the texture of. These were just right - the thicker pieces a tiny chewy, the thin pieces just crispy enough. The salt and pepper on them was very nice as well.

All in all a yummy appetizer or snack. It makes more than I thought it would so we obviously have leftovers. Give it a try and see what you think!

Momfinitions

It seems us moms have our own unique language that pops up throughout the lives of our children. Even now I am still coming up with new ones. ParentsConnect.com and TwitterMoms want to know about all of our "momfinitions" - you can play along or just read the fun stuff others have come up with.

Teen Eyes: the constant state of rolling the eyes seen in nearly all teenagers.
The opthamologist said there was nothing to worry about, our son just had a case of Teen Eyes.

Monty Hall-itis: what your teenager gets when they really want something badly and start trying to make deals with you left and right for it!
Honey, be careful when you get home! Our son has a serious case of Monty Hall-itis because his favorite band is coming to town.

Teenie Weenie: the younger siblings who want to act like the older teenagers do.
The Teenie Weenies are all following about 20 paces behind the teenagers walking down the street.

Boogey Man: the creature your toddlers become when they have a cold and produce giant boogers and you are amazed something so big could come out of a nose so small.
Oh no! The Boogey Man has taken over our child!

Stink Bomb: the stealthy weapon that somehow constantly explodes in your teenage sons room - what IS that smell?
I swear another stink bomb has exploded in his room and this time it is making it's way down the hallway!

If you have some of your own momfinitions why not play along? You can find all the details on how to enter over on Twitter Moms. There are prizes of $100 and $200 to be won! If you play be sure to leave your link here to share with everyone. Good luck!

Birds Eye Steamfresh Review

One of the biggest areas of our family budget that we are working on is our dining out. In the fall, winter, and spring it is not so bad, but when summer rolls around we find ourselves eating out more often. All year long the lunch budget is a bit high, especially for Taylor and I. Even though I prefer "from scratch" cooking at home, convenience foods can sometimes be handy to help avoid going out to eat. When Taylor and I saw the Birds Eye Steamfresh Meals for Two at the store we thought we would give them a try for just this reason.

Today we had it for lunch, it was the Grilled Chicken in Roasted Garlic Sauce. Super simple to prepare, just throw the package in the microwave for 10-13 minutes. You really can't get much simpler than that. We took it out of the bag and gave it a gentle stir. You can see in the picture what it looks like compared to the picture on the bag. It tastes okay. It is not a gourmet meal by any means, but it's tasty enough. There was plenty of sauce and vegetables. Taylor thought it could have had more pasta and we both thought it could use a little more chicken. The veggies were tasty with the asparagus being our favorite. Portion size was perfectly fine, each bag is 2 servings which was more than enough. We both added a bit of Parmesan cheese and fresh black pepper which helped boost the flavor up a bit.

With all that being said I'm not sure that we will buy it again for us, but I think folks who eat a lot of frozen meals would probably enjoy the Birds Eye Steamfresh meals.

OXO Hand-held Slicer Review

On gift giving occasions Hubby always asks me for a list of things and I am happy to oblige. I try to give him a large selection to pick from so at least I am somewhat surprised at what he picks from it. Kitchen items are generally on my list - I enjoy cooking and like all the different things that go with it. Last xmas Hubby surprised me by picking something NOT on my list - it was the Oxo Good Grips Hand-Held Mandoline Slicer

I really wasn't sure if it would be something I would like or not. He did pick a brand he know I liked though, OXO. There items have consistently been favorites of mine. It took me a while, but once I finally tried the slicer I was pleasantly surprised at how much of a help it was in getting small things sliced. I have found it great for when I need something done quickly and don't want to get out my bamboo cutting board and large knife. It saves on prep time and on clean up, especially since it is dishwasher safe.

The hand guard/holder has little nubby things on it to hold the item you are slicing which is helpful. I usually do not use the guard until the item gets smaller though, it's just easier to hold it in my hand and be careful not to get my fingers. The base has 4 settings - a lock, and 3 different widths. The blade is nice and sharp and has held up really well with a lot of use. The size of the entire unit is small enough to easily fit in your gadget drawer also.

Do you have a tool you have been unexpectedly surprised with the usefulness of?

Organize the Little Stuff

Resourceful Mommy posted about how she uses a shoe organizer that goes on a door to organize her kids toys. I know I like that lady - I do the same thing! Well, not exactly the same since Taylor has outgrown all the small toys. Instead ours is on our office door and it holds all those odds and ends that we used to always be looking for or didn't know where to put.

Now we always know where the Sharpie's are, where the extra tape is, pencils, votive candles, Post-It Notes and more! Very handy and a very economical way to keep track of things.

One thing I am going to do is put some Velcro dots or some other gizmo at the top of some of the pockets to sort of hold them in a little more. Since I'm not putting big shoes in them I don't need them to open as wide for heavier items.

You can find the Over-the-Door Shoe Organizers at lots of stores, but if you can't find anything locally Amazon carries them also.

Fruit Cobbler

They had blackberries on sale this week so I picked some up to make Hubby a blackberry cobbler. I tried a new recipe from AllRecipes tonight, Easy Batter Fruit Cobbler. It was easy to make. Hubby said it was yummy! I was sort of more along the lines of it was ok - the crispy edges were the best part for me.

Fantastic Forecast!

I'm sitting outside on my deck right now working and helping Taylor with some math. It is gorgeous out here for the middle of July! Normally it is in the upper 80's or low 90's this time of year in St. Louis which is a bit warm for my liking. Right now it is only 76° and sunny with a good breeze - amazing.

Even better is the forecast for the whole weekend! If only all of summer could be like this!

Orangina?

I was at the grocery store today with Taylor and we spotted this product. Hmmm. That is an interesting name I guess. It is really not something I would want to drink I don't think. Sounds more like the name of a feminine hygiene product than a beverage.

Evian Roller Babies Video

Remember that sort-of-creepy dancing baby animation years ago? Well, this is much better and much cuter! These are roller skating babies in an Evian commercial.

Aurora - Free Photo Software

I have not tried this program myself, but just wanted to give a heads up that Aurora, a visual photo editing, organizing, sharing, and storing software title, is available free forever for today only! Normally it is $19.95. Use code: FREE24 to get it for free! Just select Buy Now and then enter the code. The offer expires at 9:15 am ET on 6/16 so hurry while it lasts.

They are also having a photo editing challenge, so download the program and start playing around with it. They have some nice prizes to offer in conjunction with the contest. You can find the full details on their Facebook page.

Chex Mix Bars Giveaway & Review

I recently received some samples of the Chex Mix Bars as part of the MyBlogSpark program - YUMMY! They are the turtle variety with caramel-covered Corn Chex pieces, Wheat Chex pieces, chocolate, peanuts, and pretzels (and odd recipe for turtles - but still tasty). They are quite chewy, but in a good way. Hubby, Taylor, and I all enjoyed these tasty treats and would recommend them to anyone who likes these flavors. They are less than 150 calories per bar (full nutritional info here) and have 4g of dietary fiber per bar. The bars are a decent size also and one bar is very satisfying.

The Giveaway: Three lucky winners will each receive 2 box of Chex Mix Turtle Bars!

Required Entry: Tell me what your favorite way to eat Chex is? (just as cereal, in a mix, etc.) - feel free to share a recipe if you want even!

Extra Entries: The following are all extra things you can do for more entries. Leave an additional comment for each thing you do to earn extra entries.

• Blog about this giveaway on your own blog (please don’t copy my entire post onto your blog though). Leave the direct link to your post in your comment for an extra entry.
  
  
• Subscribe via email to my feed and let me know in your comment for an extra entry.
  
  
• Follow me on Twitter @RobynsWorld and send a tweet about the giveaway. Leave a direct link to your tweet (instructions here) in your comment for an extra entry. Here is a tweet you can use (or make your own):
  Win yummy Chex Mix Turtle Bars from @RobynsWorld http://snurl.com/chexbar Please RT
  

Rules: Only one of each entry method listed per person/family/household. No entering on behalf of others, using extra identities or others identities, no automated program entries, etc. If I catch you cheating you will be banned from this and all of my future giveaways! This giveaway is only open to those in the USA, ages 18+ only. All entries must be received by 11:59 pm Central Time on Friday, July 24, 2009. I will pick the winner and email them and they have 48 hours to claim the prize. If no response, I will pick a new winner. Good luck!

Thanks again to MyBlogSpark who provided me with the samples and the prizes for the giveaway!

Michael Buble Giveaway & Review

I had heard Michael Buble's name, but I honestly hadn't realized the type of music he did. When I was asked to review his work I said sure, then I listened - Wonderful! His latest offering is a DVD/CD:

Following his first #1 Pop album and his third platinum-plus disc, 2007's Grammy® winning Call Me Irresponsible, singing sensation Michael Bublé returns to the stage with the live CD+DVD package Michael Bublé Meets Madison Square Garden. Featuring powerful performances of his hits 'Everything,' 'Home' and 'Feeling Good,' he brings the December 2008 concert at one of the most famous venues in entertainment history home to fans with Michael Bublé Meets Madison Square Garden.

I was very pleasantly surprised with Buble's sound - it very much reminds me of Frank Sinatra. The music sets a stage of an elegant evening for me, a feeling of an past era that i was never a part of, but truly wished I could have experienced first hand. This is the kind of music that Hubby and I will dance to in our living room (yes we really do that from time to time). It's the kind of music that makes you happy and relaxed all at once. Buble will now be a regular addition to our CD collection here at home and on my iPod!

You must head over to MichaelBuble.com to hear some of his music, see some video, and read more about this fantastic artist. Even if you think this isn't your type of music go have a quick listen. I think you will be surprised at the sound and really enjoy it. Plus I have been given a coupon code to share with all of you - use this link for the store and then enter code: bublemom15 to get 15% off everything in the store!

The Giveaway: Five lucky readers will receive A copy of the CD/DVD combo Michael Bublé Meets Madison Square Garden. Value $24.98 each!

Required Entry: Visit Michael Buble's website and tell me something that you find interesting or intriguing about this wonderful performer!

Extra Entries: The following are all extra things you can do for more entries. Leave an additional comment for each thing you do to earn extra entries.

• Blog about this giveaway on your own blog (please don’t copy my entire post onto your blog though). Leave the direct link to your post in your comment for an extra entry.
  
  
• Subscribe via email to my feed and let me know in your comment for an extra entry.
  
  
• Follow me on Twitter @RobynsWorld and send a tweet about the giveaway. Leave a direct link to your tweet (instructions here) in your comment for an extra entry. Here is a tweet you can use (or make your own):
  Win Michael Buble Meets Madison Square Garden DVD/CD from @RobynsWorld http://snurl.com/swoon Please RT
  

Rules: Only one of each entry method listed per person/family/household. No entering on behalf of others, using extra identities or others identities, no automated program entries, etc. If I catch you cheating you will be banned from this and all of my future giveaways! This giveaway is only open to those in the USA, ages 18+ only. All entries must be received by 11:59 pm Central Time on Friday, July 31, 2009. I will pick the winner and email them and they have 48 hours to claim the prize. If no response, I will pick a new winner. Good luck!

This giveaway has ended. Winners will be posted on the Giveaways & Winners page plus you can see all of my current giveaways.

Three Things You Didn't Know About Me

Mcklinky list for this week is "Three things you didn't know about me". Hmmm, I tell you all a lot of things, but I will do my best to give you some new info.

1. I am terrified of thunderstorms! Really - they scare the poop out of me and get me all nervous when I know we have a high chance of severe weather even. I try really hard to not let it bother me, but I feel like it's a lost cause most of the time. One of the silliest thing that goes along with that fear is that lightning will strike my roof just above the ceiling fan in my bedroom and it will cause the fan to spin super fast and it will fall off and chop off my legs if I am laying in bed. Crazy - I know!

2. Red is my favorite color. You wouldn't know this from the design of my blog but it is true. For a while I wore red every single day even.

3. I just learned this year to make decent mashed potatoes. I tried and tried when I was first married and they all turned out terrible. For years and years I used Betty Crocker boxed mashed potatoes and was ok with that. Finally a few months ago I thought I would give the mashed potatoes a try again and they worked and were fantastic! Go figure!

Twitter Questions?

I know that lots of you have finally jumped in and started using twitter. Some are active, others have an account but really aren't sure what to do with it. It really is a lot of fun. They have a great help section available, plus I am always happy to try to help out folks when I can. Just ask away with your twitter questions - you can leave a comment here or send it to me on twitter @RobynsWorld

Close Call Fly-by

This is a Navy F18 flying really close to an apartment building on the Detroit River. It was part of a demonstration. Yikes! That is too close for comfort in my book. Can you imagine what that guy on the balcony must be thinking?

Wave LX Review

A few weeks again the folks at Street Surfing contacted me about reviewing a Wave LX Board. Taylor skateboards already, so I thought this would be something new and different for him to try.

As you can see from the pictures right away, it's not a skateboard. Instead of one long deck, the Wave LX has 2 independent pieces that you stand on. This makes for a unique look! Once you flip it over the changes are even bigger. A traditional skateboard has 2 wheels at each end and they only roll forward and backward. With the Wave LX you can see that it only has one larger wheel at each end and these are more like casters - the rotate 360° which means you can go a number of directions easily on the board.


Over the last couple of weeks Taylor has tried out the Wave LX along with his friend JK and his cousin The Republican. I would say that out of the three of them JK is the most proficient skateboarder and he seemed to take to the Wave LX fairly quickly. Taylor and The Republican both found it a bit more difficult. Regardless of the skill level we all would suggest you definitely wear safety gear when riding the Wave LX, especially in the learning stages. They all enjoyed that it is a new and unique board that offered an even greater flexibility that their traditional skateboards. In the end it really wasn't something that Taylor said he would be comfortable using all the time, he personally likes the skateboard better - he does think that those who want more challenges would really enjoy the Wave LX though.

Thanks again to Street Surfing for the chance to review the Wave LX. You can see more pictures and watch videos of it in action and buy it on the Street Surfing website.

Win Big Prizes!

I thought you all might like to try out a few non-blog sweepstakes and contests. Yes, people really do win these big prizes - the trick is you have to enter! Good luck!

• Win Dale Jr's Camaro, plus a trip to the Chevy Rock & Roll 400, meet Dale Jr. and an autographed guitar. Enter by 8/17/09


• Lowe's Campus Kickoff Contest - this one is open to college students 16-29 and ends 7/31/09. This one requires more work, but there will be fewer entries. The prizes include Lowe's gift cards and various dorm room essentials!


• Rhino is offering Guitar Hero Smash Hits for Xbox 360 - enter by 7/31/09


• Travel Channel is offering a trip to Chile in their Travel Bug sweepstakes - enter by 7/31/09


• Ile de France is giving away a Chef's Basket of goodies each week until the end of the year - Yummy!


• Organize.com is also doing a Dream Dorm Makeover Giveaway which runs until 8/17/09 for your chance to win a $1000 gift certificate and more


• If you are a Seinfeld fan like me you will love the Newegg.com Summer of George Sweepstakes. Just watch Seinfeld between July 6th and August 3rd for trivia answers for your chance to win a $2,500 Newegg.com Gift Certificate, Sony VAIO notebook, Sony Cybershot digital camera and more.


• Cooking.com and Blinds.com are giving away a total of $1,000 in gift certificates - get your kitchen looking great. Expires 7/31/09

What a Man!

Just had to share a little something with you all about my Hubby. I found out today that my little visit to the ER back in April is going to cost us over $1,000 out of pocket with having to meet our deductibles and copays and crap. Ugh - not what I wanted to find out today (why does it take them so long by the way?).

Anyway, I sent Hubby a text message telling him this because I needed to vent. I honestly expected a reply something like a sarcastic great or figures - something like that. But Hubby surprised me today and sent me this as a reply instead...

"Thats better than having 2 pay the whole amount, and its worth a hell of alot more than that 2 me 2 have u feeling better sweetie"

I truly think that was the best text message he has ever sent to me and yes, it made me cry - a good cry. What a man and he's all mine!

Outback Steakhouse Thumbs Up!

We were out running some errands tonight and stopped in at Outback Steakhouse for dinner. We are really trying to cut back on our spending so we all wanted to stay under $10 a person, usually we spend more than that at Outback. I've always gotten Twoomba Pasta (spelling?) in the past but those turkeys took it off the menu a while back (argh!), so I had to find something new. I decided on the Outback Special & Grilled Shrimp on the Barbie which was only $9.95.

The picture looks yummy, but I have to say when it arrived at the table it didn't look quite this yummy. My steak was a bit of an odd shape - kind of like a bicycle seat, and the shrimp were just sort of thrown on the plate in a clump, and overall the plate was just messy. After seeing my plate I wasn't expecting a lot but then I tasted it and I was pleasantly surprised! The steak and the shrimp both were cooked perfectly and had a wonderful flavor. The sauce was great even though it is super spicy, and the baked potato was nice even. Thumbs up on the taste of everything!

Hubby had the Bloomin' Burger - the first time any of us had a burger at Outback and he was very pleased with it. Taylor was the only one a little let down with that Walla Pasta (I was surprised he ordered it) which was pasta with veggies for $8.95. He asked about adding chicken but that bumped the price up to $15.95 (ack! for chicken?) so we stuck with the plain version. I'm sure it wasn't bad, just not what he had been in the mood for.

Overall, definitely a thumbs up trip to the Outback Steakhouse! G'day mate!

Wordless Wednesday

My Taylor as a toddler - about 12 years ago

Mom Central's Summer Giveaway Bonanza!

Mom Central is at it again with another great giveaway! This one is a great Summer Giveaway Bonanza with your chance to win Crocs sneakers, a Hoover vacuum, a 20th Anniversary Super Soaker, and more. Just head on over to Mom Central to check out the prizes and follow the entry instructions. Good luck!

Velveeta Shells & Cheese Cups

I know that these does not fall into the super healthy category, but with a teenage boy in the house sometimes we just need quick, easy, and satisfying. Thru the Kraft First Taste program I received some coupons for free samples of Velveeta Shells & Cheese cups. Taylor is a big fan of the regular boxed Velveeta Shells & Cheese, but he is not normally a fan of these little cups where you just add water. He was quite surprised when he opened one up today for an afternoon snack that it has a little foil package of the squeezy Velveeta just like the box mixes. These are quick and easy - just add water, microwave, add cheese, stir and eat. The shells are smaller, but other than that it tastes just like the regular version. It is something we will probably buy more of in the future.

Car Haggling Is a Thing of the Past

When I bought my first brand new car I was a senior in high school. My parents signed with me since I wasn’t 18 yet, so Dad was there when I went to actually buy the car and negotiate. I remember that he and I agreed on a price of $7,500 for a 1988 ½ (yes that was what they called it) Suzuki Samari. It was red and I loved it – I didn’t care that there were all these reports of it tipping over (I wasn’t a crazy driver). Dad said don’t worry if they say no, we will leave and they will call back because it is a fair price. He was right, at first they said no and we said sorry and left. Later that evening our salesman, Scooter (yes that was really his name) called and said we could buy it for that price. I enjoyed the negotiating process! I’ve bought several other cars, both new and used, over the years and still have enjoyed that bargaining each time.

Times seemed to have changed lately though. Now everywhere you go they have “no haggle pricing” or “bottom line pricing” meaning they do not want to negotiate. Wait a minute that was the fun part! Now I am supposed to just accept the price on the window? That stinks! Last week we bought a new (preowned) car for Hubby and it was murder trying to negotiate with these dealers. They have taken all the fun out of it. I was able to come down some eventually, but the joy of haggling is gone now. You would have thought in this economy for the auto industry it would have been easier – but no.

At least Hubby has a newer car that is much more fuel efficient now to drive back and forth to work. Now the task of selling his old van – anyone want to buy an old ’79 Dodge Van? We are hoping maybe a van enthusiast will want to buy it ASAP. Keep your fingers crossed!

Chicken Enchilada Casserole Recipe with La Tortilla Factory

I like all sorts of wraps. They are so easy to customize to suit everyone's on tastes and they are great for the summer when you want cool foods too. You know that I have been trying to find healthier items to put into our meals at home and multi-grain items have been one way for me to do that. I've stopped buying white bread, and now I am going to stop buying plain flour tortillas thanks to La Tortilla Factory's Smart & Delicious EVOO SoftWraps!

A couple of weeks ago I received an email letting me know about the great varieties La Tortilla Factory makes and I was intrigued. After replying Allison asked if I would like some samples and she shipped them out. They are REALLY good! Honestly, I like them better than the plain flour tortillas we have always used. These have a better flavor and aren't as dry and powdery as the regular ones we have used. On top of tasting better they are better for us with the La Tortilla Factory EVOO Multi Grain Softwraps having in each tortilla: 100 calories, 3.5 g total fat, 0mg cholesterol, 290mg sodium, 18g total carbohydrates, 12 g dietary fiber, 1g sugars, and 9g protein. La Tortilla Factory has plenty of other healthy varieties of tortillas including organic and gluten free!

Tonight for dinner I used more of them. This time a new recipe I came up with for Chicken Enchilada Casserole. Rolling enchiladas never works well for me, so instead I just layered everything, sort of like a lasagna, and it was a hit! Here is the recipe if you would like to give it a try. It is much better than the picture - but casseroles like this are hard to photograph!

Chicken Enchilada Casserole

• 24oz Tostitos Chunky Salsa (or any salsa you like)
• 5 cloves garlic, peeled
• Juice of 1 lime
• 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro (from my garden!)
• 1 can Healthy Request Cream of Chicken Soup
• 1 small can diced green chiles
• 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon fresh black pepper
• shredded cooked chicken - about 3 cups or so (I bought a whole roasted bird at the store)
• 4 La Tortilla Factory EVOO Multi-Grain SoftWraps
• 2 cups (1 bag) Mexican blend shredded cheese
• sour cream
  

Preheat oven to 350° F. In a food processor add the salsa, garlic, lime juice, and cilantro and process until big chunks are gone. Set aside. In a large bowl combine soup, green chiles, minced onion, ground cumin, and black pepper. Combine well, then add the shredded chicken (it can be cold) and toss to coat all the chicken.

In a 13x9 baking dish spoon about 1/3 of the salsa mixture in. Now place 2 tortillas in the bottom - they will overlap and it isn't a problem. Next spread half the chicken mixture over the tortillas evenly. Top with half of the shredded cheese. Now spoon over another 1/3 of the salsa mixture. The layering starts over now with the other 2 tortillas, then the rest of the chicken mixture, and the rest of the cheese. On top I used the remaining salsa down the center - I just think it looks prettier than all cheese on top.

Place in the oven and bake for 40 minutes. Remove it from the oven and let it rest for at least 10-15 minutes to set up a bit before serving. When you are ready to serve use a knife to cut gently into serving sizes before lifting out with a spatula. Serve with sour cream on the side.

Thanks again to La Tortilla Factory for the samples!

Summer Product Reviews & Giveaways

Looking for some great products to make your summer that much more fun and enjoyable? Looking to pamper yourself while the kids are off at camp? Or maybe you're dealing with summer bumps and bruises. Momfluence has collected some reviews of great products that you need to know about! Check out what our reviewers had to say about these great summer finds. And don't forget to stop by the Momfluence member giveaways listed at the bottom for some summer winning!

Featured Products

FishBites Swimmies- Spending time in the water is one of the most fun and exciting parts of summer. FishBites Swimmies by Swimways is a great solution to give the little ones the extra security they need in the pool, in a fun and exciting way.

Delsey Helium Fusion Carryon - If you are hitting the road or flying the skies this summer for your family vacation, the Delsey Helium Fusion carry-on offers a lightweight solution for packing your travel essentials.

Do Something Daily Calendar - Tired of hearing the kids say they have nothing to do? The DoSomethingDaily Calendar offers fun and exciting suggestions for things to do on each and every day of the year. Make memories with your family, every day!

Perlabella Pearls - Want to combat some of the wrinkles cause by sun damage? Perlabella's Retinol solution helps to fight the signs of aging, that can be caused by excessive sun exposure and other factors.
More Summer Fun
iTurtle
Playdoh Spaghetti Factory
Submergency
Nerf NFL Progrip Football
SuperSoaker 50
Boochie Game
Good For The Kids
Talking To Toddlers
Two Belles and A Bead Engraved Necklace
Cardstore
Jumeau Handbags
Staphaseptic

Member Reviews/Giveaways

Bonggamom - $50 Tiny Prints Gift Certificate
IceFairy's Treasure Chest - KiNeSYS, Purex 3-in1, and more
Eccentric, Eclectic Woman - Bra Barrette, Skipping Hippos
Riding With No Hands - 20 Piece Rubbermaid Set
Consumer Queen - FurBuster
PlusSizeMommy - Giant Hershey Bar, Zensoy, and more
MommyNotGuilty - KidBanz Sunglasses
Robyn's Online World - Kodak Digital Frame
Simply Being Mommy - EA Sports Active
Lattes and Life - Oscar Meyer Hot Dogs & Parent's Choice Formula
Motherhood Moment - Summer Fun
A Simple Kinda Life - Summer Soiree of Giveaways
From Cribs to Car Keys - EcoStore $25 Gift Certificate and more
Miscellaneous Finds 4 U - Tiny Prints and more

All Momfluence guide reviews are product-provided, featured positions were purchased by vendors. Member reviews and giveaways are not associated with Momfluence.

Hoops & YoYo 4th of July

Off! PowerPad Lamp Giveaway & Review

We finally broke down this spring and bought a new patio table, chairs, and umbrella. Nothing fancy, but it suits our needs and we have been enjoying many evenings sitting on the deck. Taylor and I even take our laptops out there. One problem, especially for Hubby this year, has been mosquitoes. I used to be the one who always got bit, but this year it is him. When Family Review Network asked if I would be interested in trying the new Off! PowerPad Lamp I knew this was something we wanted to try.

I love the look of this little lamp. It isn't an ugly burning coil or a ugly candle with plastic netting on it, instead it looks like a decorative light for the most part. The only part that isn't is a tiny bit of the heat activated PowerPad that sticks out of the top, but it's very small and dark green so it is barely noticeable, especially at night. The first 15 or 20 minutes after lighting it was a tad bit smoky, but no harsh scents. After that it was a much lighter smoke that came off of it. The sides of the lamp were not overly hot, just the top where the PowerPad pokes out. Obviously, you would always want to keep something like this away from the little kids, pets, and anything flammable to start with.

The big question, of course, is does it work to protect against those mean little mosquitoes? Yes! Last night we took our sample Off! PowerPad Lamp outside and lit it and stayed out for a few hours. I was enjoying the fresh breeze outside while attending an online twitter party, Taylor was looking up our local ordinances of fireworks, and Hubby was making a list about his van that he is trying to sell. While we did have lots of harmless fireflies around us, and a few annoying gnats, none of us had mosquito issues! Happy Dance! I think we will be getting replacement PowerPads so that we can continue to use the Off! PowerPad Lamp all summer and I would recommend them to all of you!

The Giveaway: One lucky winner will receive their own Off! PowerPad Lamp!
Required Entry: Tell me what outside place you could use the Off! PowerPad Lamp to help keep those mosquitoes away from you and your family.

Extra Entries: The following are all extra things you can do for more entries. Leave an additional comment for each thing you do to earn extra entries.

• Blog about this giveaway on your own blog (please don’t copy my entire post onto your blog though). Leave the direct link to your post in your comment for an extra entry.
  
  
• Subscribe via email to my feed and let me know in your comment for an extra entry.
  
  
• Follow me on Twitter @RobynsWorld and send a tweet about the giveaway. Leave a direct link to your tweet (instructions here) in your comment for an extra entry. Here is a tweet you can use (or make your own):
  Win an Off! PowerPad Lamp & keep mosquitoes away from @RobynsWorld http://snurl.com/ldnc6 Please RT
  

Rules: Only one of each entry method listed per person/family/household. No entering on behalf of others, using extra identities or others identities, no automated program entries, etc. If I catch you cheating you will be banned from this and all of my future giveaways! This giveaway is only open to those in the USA, ages 18+ only. All entries must be received by 11:59 pm Central Time on Friday, July 10, 2009. I will pick the winner and email them and they have 48 hours to claim the prize. If no response, I will pick a new winner. Good luck!

This post was written for Family Review Network as part of a program by SC Johnson, who also supplied the product for review and giveaway.

The giveaway has ended
Watch the Giveaways & Winners page to see if you won!

Stuck-Up Stars

Just a small annoyance I had to share today. I'm annoyed when TV celebrities or movie stars who go on TV shows to promote things, go on about how they do NOT watch TV. They sound so snobby and stuck-up about it like they are too good for TV. Ugh! If it is so beneath you then why do you make a fortune being on it or promoting your other projects on it? I don't care if people watch TV or not, it's just those stars that annoy me about it.

Ok - down off my soapbox. Another new giveaway (not TV related) starts this afternoon - stay tuned!