CLOSED - Nature's Peak Frozen Fruit - review and giveaway!

I LOVE fruit. It's why summer is one of my favorite times of year, and winter is by far my LEAST favorite! Frozen fruit has always been a go-to for me during the colder months, it tends to be comparably priced but much fresher than the shipped-in offerings in the produce section. When Mom Central offered to let me try out Nature's Peak frozen fruit, I was ready for it! I received the Sun Ripened Trio (a mix of peaches, strawberries and mango), and the Sunburst Mango to test out.

Nature's Peak frozen fruits have no added sugar and are quick-frozen at the peak of ripeness for the best possible flavor. When I opened the bag, the fruit pieces were brightly colored and not pale from being picked too early or frozen incorrectly. The bags are resealable, which is a HUGE bonus - unless I'm going to use the whole bag in one sitting, I want to know that the bag will still protect my food!

I made a smoothie for myself from the Sun Ripened Trio, and it was SO convenient to be able to toss the ingredients together into my blender without having to chop, pit, and clean up! The smoothie was a yummy way to start the day, too! The Sunburst Mango had a great recipe for Mango Salsa right on the bag (their website has a recipe section if you're looking for new ways to incorporate frozen fruit into your meals!) but I actually used it for baby food! I pureed some of the mango chunks, mixed it with a little baby cereal to thicken it up, and my 5mo old LOVED it! I used both varieties as mix-ins for my homemade yogurt as well. It was so much easier to use than fresh fruit and I love not worrying about wasting fruit because we didn't eat it often enough, or having to buy something that's less-than-fresh because it's out of season.

Nature's Peak has mixed fruit blends in Berry Quartet, Paradise Fruit, Sun Ripened Trio and Summer Fruit Salad. They also have single-fruit varieties in Harvest Gold Pineapple, Country Strawberries, Cranberry Harvest, Ruby Raspberries, Sunburst Mango and Wild Blueberries. They are currently available in the following areas:
Florida (All Regions)
New England (All Regions)
New Jersey (All Regions)
Maryland (All Regions)
Virginia (All Regions)
Washington (Seattle Area)
Oregon (Portland Area)
California (Los Angeles, San Jose Areas)
Arizona (Phoenix Area)
North Carolina (South West Area)
South Carolina (North West Area)
Georgia (South East and North East Areas)
Missouri (Northern Area)
Louisiana (New Orleans Area)
Arkansas (Little Rock Area)

I have TWO coupons to give away for a FREE bag of Nature's Peak frozen fruit!

For your first (mandatory) entry, visit the recipe section at the Nature's Peak website and tell me what you'd like to try with your coupon! **be sure to leave your email address in any comments so that I can contact you if you win!

For additional entries (one comment each):
- Follow me on Google connect
- subscribe to me via email or in a feed reader
- Follow me on twitter @scorbett and tweet about this contest! You can copy and paste the following: I just entered the Nature's Peak Frozen Fruit giveaway at The $200 Mission! Ends 1/21! @scorbett http://tinyurl.com/y9jvvbx
You can tweet once per day, comment with the link to your tweet.

Giveaway will close on 1/21 at 10PM EST. I will choose TWO winners via Random.org and notify them via email. Winner(s) will have 72 hours to reply and confirm before the contest is re-drawn.



I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Nature’s Peak and received a sample to facilitate my candid review as well as two coupons to giveaway. In addition, Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate. I did not receive any other compensation for this review. This review reflects my honest opinion based on my experience in using the product, and this post was not edited or reviewed by anyone.




Stumble It!

Kid K'nex Sesame Street fun - Review

My toddler is really starting to get into building with his blocks and creating stories - so when Team Mom gave me the opportunity to review the new K'Nex Sesame Street Neighborhood Collection (designed for ages 2-5), I knew he'd put it to the test!



We received the Sesame Street 1-2-3 Brownstone set, which included an Elmo and Cookie Monster figure as well as all the pieces to build the 123 Sesame Street brownstone. The pieces are well-sized for his toddler hands, and he got right down to business putting things together! He instantly recognized the Sesame Street characters, and we had a great time following the instructions - that is, before he took everything apart and started putting Cookie Monster's head everywhere but on his body :)

The Brownstone set has windows that open and close, plus trees (brown poles with pinwheel-like green toppers) and a fire hydrant - he had the two figures peeking out of all the windows, trees growing out of the roof, and I believe the fire hydrant piece became a pinwheel, Cookie monster's body, and a hat for Elmo over the course of the afternoon. The whole set is well-designed for creative play, and we will definitely be adding some of the other sets (like the Police Station or the Ice Cream Truck) to our collection. Our bonus discovery - K'nex is TOTALLY compatible with LEGO Duplo blocks, so he could use the blocks with the sets he already had! The K'Nex seemed to "click" together better than the LEGOs do, so when he builds his "tall towers" they don't keel over - anything that avoids a toddler meltdown is good in my book!



K'Nex sets are available at all major toy retailers.

This is a sponsored post, and I did receive compensation in the form of free product for this review. I did not receive any other compensation for this review. This review reflects my honest opinion based on my experience in using the product, and this post was not edited or reviewed by anyone.





Stumble It!

Sneak a little extra "healthy" into your kids' diet!

My toddler is a HUGE pasta eater. And like other moms, I struggle to make sure he's eating balanced meals and getting everything he needs nutritionally - but it's hard when he picks around all the meat and veggies to scarf up the pasta! So when Mom Central offered to send me a box of Ronzoni Smart Taste pasta to try on him, I took it!

Ronzoni Smart taste looks JUST like regular white pasta - but it's been fortified with extra calcium and fiber. It's also got NO sodium or preservatives, and is lower in fat than regular plain pasta. I served it twice, once with an Italian Chicken dinner and once with shrimp scampi. BOTH times, the Boy Wonder ate all his pasta! We noticed that unlike traditional "whole grain" pasta, the Ronzoni Smart Taste doesn't taste any different than regular pasta, so it's easy to use without changing the flavors of my usual dishes.

The Ronzoni folks made this fun "Supermom" video spoof, with more than half of us worrying about getting our kids the proper nutrition we can use a good laugh!

Overall, we were definitely impressed with Ronzoni Smart Taste! I'd definitely recommend it, especially for moms whose kids don't like the "healthy" pasta - they'll never know...hee hee! For more nutritional info, and for a $1 coupon, be sure to visit the Ronzoni SmartTaste webpage!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Ronzoni Pasta and received a sample of Ronzoni Smart Taste Pasta to facilitate my review and a $20 thank-you gift certificate. I did not receive any other compensation for this review. This review reflects my honest opinion based on my experience in using the product, and this post was not edited or reviewed by anyone




Stumble It!

Ultimate Party Meatballs!

I love finding new recipes, especially new twists on old favorites! So when MomCentral offered to let me review the Ultimate Party Meatballs recipe from Heinz and Ocean Spray, I was happy to oblige! I'd heard of people making cocktail meatballs with grape jelly and cocktail or chili sauce, but the Heinz/Ocean Spray pairing sounded really good...

The recipe is SUPER simple:
1 jar Heinz Chili Sauce
1 can Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberry sauce
2 pound bag of frozen cocktail meatballs
Either combine in a crockpot and cook on high for 4 hours, or heat the meatballs and sauce in a pan, for about 20 minutes.

I made this recipe for our Thanksgiving dinners (my parents and hubby's), but since I'm FRUGAL I made my own meatballs with this recipe:
Mix 2 lb ground beef with 3 eggs, 1/2 cup plain bread crumbs, 1.5 TBSP garlic powder, 1.5 TBSP onion powder, 2 tsp white pepper and 2 tsp Turmeric. Squish with your hands! Roll into small meatballs and pan-fry until browned on all sides. Transfer to paper-towel lined plate and let drain. (can be made ahead of time)

I decided to add a drained can of pineapple tidbits to the sauces in the crockpot, and cooked on high for just under 4 hours. The end result? NO LEFTOVERS!!! Yay! Both families RAVED about the flavor, and even though we didn't get to my dad's till much later in the day, they reheated wonderfully. I'm definitely putting this on my regular party appetizer list, and I've already gotten requests to make it for the annual Superbowl party!

Be sure to visit the Ultimate Party Meatballs site for recipes, and great tips on entertaining during the holidays! (And while you're there, be sure to enter their $3000 Ultimate Party sweepstakes!)

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Heinz and Ocean Spray and received the ingredients necessary to facilitate my review. In addition, Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate. I did not receive any other compensation for this review. This review reflects my honest opinion based on my experience in using the product, and this post was not edited or reviewed by anyone.




Stumble It!

SodaStream home sodamaker - Review!

My husband is a Type 1 diabetic, which means he can't drink juice or milk without having to take some insulin. He hates plain water, so his beverage of choice is almost exclusively diet soda. The cost was killing me - I'd be buying 8-10 2 liter bottles a week, and the cost plus deposit added up FAST. So I was SUPER excited for the chance to test and review one of SodaStream's Fountain Jet home soda makers!

If you haven't seen one of these units, they're slick little gadgets. SodaStream/Soda Club entered the US market in 2002 but they're well known in Europe as an environmentally conscious, economical way for folks to enjoy soda straight from the pantry! (They've been making soda machines since 1903, they definitely know their stuff.) They provide BPA-free plastic bottles, so you don't pay the redemption fee or send more plastic to the recycling center. They recycle the carbonation canisters and pay for return shipping of empty units. And if that isn't good enough, the REGULAR soda mix has 8-9g of carbs per 8oz (compared to 21-28g of carbs in most regular soda), and about TEN PERCENT of the sodium. Diet sodas are 0 carbs and also very little sodium.

Out of the box: not too many parts, NO batteries or electrical! Easy to start using right away. Took me about 2 minutes to read through the instructions and connect the CO2 canister, then I was in business!

Ease of use: It really is this simple - fill the bottle with cold tap water, screw it into the SodaStream unit, and press the carbonation button till it buzzes until the water is at your desired level of carbonation. It took 3 bursts of carbonation to get a good "fizz". My 2.5 year old wanted to hear the "cool sound" from the machine and was imitating the buzzing noise all night :) Then you add the flavor syrup and you're good to go!

They offer a great array of knockoff soda flavors, in bottles with measuring cup lids that remind me of laundry bottles :) The great thing about this is that whether store soda is too sweet or not strong enough, you can adjust and customize the flavor to your taste buds! I had read some previous reviews of the SodaStream and a few people mentioned the flavor improved if you let it sit for a while. I made a bottle of diet cola and put it right in the fridge to let hubby try when he got home from work. He was impressed! The flavors definitely "mature" after a few hours in the fridge, but were still tasty if just made. After drinking nothing but SodaStream soda for a week, he actually found store-bought soda to be LESS flavorful and preferred his new homemade version!

SodaStream units can be purchased online at SodaStreamUSA.com and at select major retailers - units start at around $99 and include everything you need to get started. If you have a big soda drinker on your holiday shopping list, this is one gadget worth having!

This is a sponsored post, and I did receive compensation in the form of free product for this review. I did not receive any other compensation for this review. This review reflects my honest opinion based on my experience in using the product, and this post was not edited or reviewed by anyone.





Stumble It!

CLOSED Vaseline Sheer Infusion with Stratys-3 - Review and Giveaway!

Winter is approaching, and (at least in the Northeast) so is the dry skin that comes along with the cold weather. If the outside cold air doesn't get you, the dry heat inside will! So it was very timely that I received Vaseline Smooth Infusion with Stratys-3 to try out and review for you!


I'm pretty picky about my lotions because I have my hands in everything during the day and can't deal with sticky or greasy feelings that linger. The first time I tried the lotion, it went on SO smooth and soaked in almost immediately. I noticed that the LOOK of my hands had changed, even after a few hours - the skin looked smoother and healthier, and I didn't feel like I needed to re-apply every hour to keep that hydrated feeling.

Vaseline Sheer Infusion delivers two times more moisture than leading body lotions and is the only lotion that can infuse and suspend moisture into each layer of the stratum corneum (surface skin) – the top, the core and deep down. This results in unprecedented hydration leading to better, more healthy moisturized skin and an unmatched silky skin feel. Clinical studies show that more hydration leads to improved skin softness, smoothness and quicker elimination of dry skin.

The real test for me was a lingering dry spot on my ankle - the one that in my wedding pics looks like someone colored my anklebone greyish white and wouldn't go away with pumice stones, creams, scrubs or anything else. I used it in that particular spot for a week and there was a NOTICEABLE difference in the skin - it was less scaly, more skin-colored and started to feel softer. That alone makes this lotion a necessity in my beauty arsenal!

One lucky reader will win THREE full sized bottles, one each of Botanical Blend, Mineral Renewal and Vitamin Burst. For your first (mandatory) entry, visit the Vaseline website and comment with something you learned about Vaseline Sheer Infusion, or another Vaseline product that helps you fight dry skin in the winter! (and don't forget to pick up this $1.50 coupon so you don't have to wait for the contest to try it out!)

For additional entries (be sure to leave a comment for each!):
- Become a subscriber to my blog via email
- Follow me on Google Reader or subscribe in a feed
- Follow me on Twitter (@scorbett) and tweet this contest! (One entry per tweet, one tweet per day) You can use the Tweet link at the top of this post, or just copy and paste the following: Stay smooth all winter! Vaseline Sheer Infusion giveaway at The $200 Mission http://bit.ly/2d0Do @scorbett ends 11/18

Contest ends at 10pm on November 18th, when the winner will be chosen via Random.org. Winner will be notified via email and will have 72 hrs to claim their prize!

This is a sponsored post and giveaway, and I did receive compensation in the form of free product for this review. The sponsor also provided free product to be awarded in a giveaway. I did not receive any other compensation for this review. This review reflects my honest opinion based on my experience in using the product, and this post was not edited or reviewed by anyone.




Stumble It!

Exergen Temporal Artery Thermometer - Review and Giveaway! - CLOSED

I hate having to use a thermometer on my kids. Let's face it, there's nothing pleasant about having to put something....um...down there when your kid already feels miserable. And you can't tell an infant to stop flailing your legs, or this could get ugly.

So I was THRILLED when given the chance to try out Exergen's Temporal Artery Thermometer! Their thermometer measures the body's core temperature from your temporal (forehead) artery. The results are as accurate as what you would normally get from a rectal temp. And because you are "scanning" the forehead, you can take your child's temperature even while they are sleeping!

The science behind it is pretty impressive:

"With a gentle stroke of the forehead it captures the naturally emitted heat from the skin over the temporal artery, taking 1,000 readings per second, selecting the most accurate. With its patented Arterial Heat Balance system the Temporal Scanner measures ambient temperatures, mathematically replaces the small temperature loss from cooling at the skin, and displays an accurate arterial temperature."

Temporal readings will be more accurate because the arterial temp reflects your body's true core temperature sooner than a rectal temperature, and a temporal scan isn't affected by movement (coughing, breathing, shifting position) as with traditional thermometers and ear scanners.

When I received my scanner, one thing impressed me - its simplicity. Single button operation, no disposable covers like with ear thermometers, and 2-second results mean that when I have a sick child and my nerves are frayed, I won't be fumbling with extra parts or waiting too long for results. We didn't have any illnesses in the house so we just had some fun testing it out on each other!

It was incredibly easy to use - just place the sensor on the center of the forehead, press the scan button, and move the sensor over to the hairline, and your temperature immediately displays. I even sneaked into my toddler's room one night to test him while he was sleeping, he never stirred! I wanted to test the accuracy, so I used it on my squirmy infant right after taking a rectal temperature - it was accurate within 0.2 degrees and my baby was a LOT more comfortable during the scan!

Exergen's Temporal Artery Thermometers retail for about $49.99 and are available at Walgreens, Wal-Mart, Costco, Drugstore.com, Babies R Us/Toys R Us and http://www.baby.com/. But one of my lucky readers will win a scanner of their very own!

For your first (and mandatory) entry, visit http://www.exergen.com/ and share something you learned that wasn't mentioned in this post! Be sure to leave your email or blogger contact so I can reach you if you win.

For additional entries:

1. Subscribe to my blog via email or feed (comment if you already subscribe)
2. Follow me on Blogger (let me know if you already follow)
3. Add my button to your sidebar or blogroll page (or let me know if it's already there)
4. Blog about this giveaway with a link back to my blog, leave a link to your post in the comment (2 entries, leave 2 comments)
5. Become a fan of Exergen on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Exergen-TemporalScanner/37004097909
6. Follow me on twitter @scorbett and tweet about this giveaway! Leave a link and your twitter name in your comment. You can tweet this contest once a day! Copy and paste this text:
RT: WIN a Temporal Artery Thermometer from The $200 Mission! @scorbett ENDS 9/25 http://tinyurl.com/psvegt

Contest will end at 10PM EST on Friday, 9/25. Winner will be chosen via Random.org, notified via email and will have 72 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. Sponsor will ship prize directly to the winner.











Stumble It!

Book review and giveaway! - CLOSED

IF YOUR KID EATS THIS BOOK EVERYTHING WILL STILL BE OKAY!

Not just good advice, but also the title of a great new book I had a chance to read! Written by Dr. Lara Zibners (an Emergency Medicine pediatrician), this book is meant as a medical companion guide for parents and it delivers! Dr. Zibners offers sound advice on everything from bumps to bodily functions to real emergencies. As the book says, over half of the 25 million visits children make to the Emergency room are unnecessary or can be avoided - but unless you have a doctor in your living room, how is a mom to know what to do?

If you have "What to Expect..." books or any of Dr Sears' books, this is a MUST-HAVE addition to your library. Dr. Zibners has put together an easy-to-read guide that covers just about any medical situation you could encounter with your child...and be assured, you will have to be "Dr Mom" more often than you might like! She divides the book into areas of the body for easy reference. She writes in a great casual style - I never felt like I was reading an encyclopedia, I felt like I was talking to a real, experienced mom! At some points I was laughing out loud :) And she offers solid advice (never push your doc to prescribe antibiotics, since most of our kids are ill from viruses not bacteria!), funny stories (what has she found up the nose of a toddler?), and good home remedies and treatments when it's safe to do so (like liquid antacid for diaper rashes).

If Your Kid Eats This Book, Everything Will Still Be Okay: How to Know if Your Child's Injury or Illness Is Really an Emergency can be found currently on Amazon.com and in Borders Bookstores near you starting today. This is one book that I will include in every baby shower gift from now on! And FIVE of my lucky readers will win a FREE copy for their own home libraries!

To enter:

1. Follow me on Blogger or subscribe to my blog and leave a comment letting me know you've done so. If you're already a subscriber leave a comment for your first entry. Be sure that you have included an email address where I can reach you!

2. Follow me on twitter and tweet the contest! One additional entry per tweet, please include the link!

3. Share a story! Moms encounter so many weird, scary and silly medical situations with their kids, share something you experienced and/or learned while being "Dr. Mom"! Leave a comment, get another entry!

Contest will close on 6/24 at 10PM EST, winners will be selected by Random.org!

Dr. Lara Zibners on Facebook
Hatchett Press Publishing









Stumble It!