Product Review and Giveaway | Shaklee

Shaklee challenged me by asking:  "What's under your kitchen sink?"  In all honesty, I'd never looked!  And afterwards, I wish I hadn't.

 Shaklee is proud of the things you won't find in their line of cleaning products.  Their cleaning products have been reviewed and endorsed for saftety by  Healthy Child Healthy World.

Shaklee believes that health isn't just about what you put in your body; it's about everything around you. They offer a full line of natural and nontoxic cleaning choices that are Safe for You, Your Home, and Your Planet®called Get Clean®.

 

·         No harmful fumes or hazardous chemicals.

·         Outperforms 20 national leading brands.

·         You would spend $3400 for ready to use cleaners to get the same amount of clean found in the Get Clean Starter Kit!*

·         Features Basic H2® Organic Super Cleaning Concentrate - just 1/4 tsp. makes 16oz. of all-purpose cleaner for only 3 cents.

·         And when you purchase the Get Clean Starter Kit you also make a positive impact on the planet:

·         Keep 108 pounds of packaging waste from landfills.

·         Eliminate 248 pounds of greenhouse gas.

* Based on comparing number of uses as set forth on product labels of conventional, ready-to-use cleaners.

* * On a personal note:

This was my first experience with the Shaklee line of products, but I had heard so many positive things online that I was excited to try them. 


The first item that I tried was the Basic H²® Organic Super Cleaning Concentrate and following the directions, I mixed 1/2 tsp of concentrate with 16 ounces of water in one of the included spray bottles.  

My mission was to clean the bath tub to see if the Shaklee cleaner could handle the job.  One of the first positive things I noticed was the absence of a strong odor.  Secondly, I was impressed with how well the cleaner worked on some pretty tough stains.  Most importantly, the sheer amount of cleaner that you get from one bottle of concentrate spoke very loudly to my frugal heart.

One Keeping Your Cents reader has the opportunity to win a Get Clean Household Mini Kit with arv. of $46.

THE DETAILS OF THE PRIZE: 

The Get Clean Household Mini Kit from Shaklee includes:

• Basic H²® Organic Super Cleaning Concentrate, 16 oz. (1)
• Basic H²® Wipes (35 count)
• Germ Off Wipes (35 count)
• Scour Off
• Measuring Spoon
• Dropper Pipette
• Spray Bottles (3-pack)

HOW TO ENTER TO WIN:

Enter to win the Get Clean Household Mini Kit from Shaklee on the Rafflecopter widget found below by completing the following items:

• Examine the cleaners under your kitchen sink to see if you find any of these ingredients in your products: kerosene, phenols, cresol, lye, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, sulfuric acid, petroleum distillates, ammonia, sodium hydroxide, butyl cellosolve, phosphoric acid, formaldehyde, chlorine bleach, morpholine, and phthalates?  Leave a blog post comment on what you discovered & why you need a green cleaning  makeover!
• Like Shaklee on Facebook.
• Follow Shaklee on Twitter.
• Like your host, Keeping Your Cents, on Facebook.
• Tweet about the giveaway on Twitter.

THE FINE PRINT: 

• The Get Clean Household Mini Kit from Shaklee Sweepstakes begins Thursday, April 5, 2012, at 12:01 AM EST and ends Saturday, April 14, 2012, at 11:59 PM EST
• Open to U.S. residents only.
• All entries must be completed on the Rafflecopter widget as stated, supplying all requested information and will be verified for completion.
• Winner notifications will be sent to the email address associated with your Facebook account.

Official Rules can be read HERE.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

* This review and giveaway was made possible by the Shaklee Corporation & Mom Spark Media. Incentives, product and support were provided, but thoughts and opinions are my own.

Please note that Mardesia, owner of Keeping Your Cents are not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. 

We have represented each sponsor with the expectation they will fulfill their prize and in a timely manner. The sponsors, in most cases, are shipping their items to you directly. We will make every effort to assist you obtaining your prize to the best of our ability.

This post may include affiliate or referral links.  By clicking on those links I may receive a small reward of cash and/or points that can be redeemed for gift cards.  

This Giveaway is not affiliated with, associated with or promoted by Facebook. 
Happy Entering!

Website Review | Coupon Chief

I recently discovered a website that I think the readers of this blog will like. With over 12k fans on Facebook, I'm wondering why no one share this site with me.  All is forgiven, I guess, since I had so much fun on CouponChief.

Some of the great features of CouponChief & benefits of signing up for a account:

• Find coupons for 1000s of retailers.
• Search for coupons and browse by product category.
• All coupons are valid and rated by community.
• Rate coupons and leave comments.
• Set coupon alerts and view your browsing history.
• Share coupons with friends and relatives via email.
• Submit coupons and earn some cash.
• CouponChief's Coupons-4-Causes Program

With Coupons-4-Causes, you can help support your favorite cause every time you shop. Just use our coupons for your online shopping, and CouponChief will donate up to 20% of the purchase to your favorite charity, school, or church.

Coupons-4-Causes works by allowing visitors to select a favorite cause at Coupons-4-Causes, searching by name or location to find a local cause. Tens of thousands of causes are already listed, and if you can't find yours, you can email CouponChief.com to add it.  

Share your support by Facebook, Twitter, or email, or place a badge on your blog or site. By spreading the word to others, you can help your cause earn big donations each and every month. To kick off the program, Coupon Chief has started off each of the 1.8 million US nonprofits with a donation account of $25.

So what are you waiting for?  Sign up now for your own account. 

Still have questions about how CouponChief works?  Watch the demo video or read the list of FAQs.

Check them out on Facebook * Twitter


* This review and information was made possible by CouponChief.com. Incentives and support were provided, but thoughts and opinions are my own.  This post may include referral links. By clicking on those links I may receive a small amount of money and/or points that can be redeemed for gift cards or other rewards.

Product Review and Giveaway | Kong Toys

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This is a guest post and the review is in the sole opinion of CrazyAboutDeals.com

Thanks to Kong!!!  We are lucky to be able to review a Kong Classic, Kong Stuff’n Yogurt Spread, Kong Air Dog (Tennis Fetch Toy), and a Kong Squeezz toy and sponsor our giveaway.  In order to understand how long these toys last, you’ll need to know a little bit about our dogs.  They are so different from each other.

From time to time you might hear me mention my dogs on my Facebook posts.  Both of my dogs are as different as can be.  Parisa is a purebred 5lb Yorkie.  She is my smallest dog of the two.  She is also a tough chewer.  She can take apart toys that are made for tough chewers.  When she was younger during her teething stage, she once chewed the corner of my wooden nightstand.  It freaked me out that one she can chew through wood and two what would the wood do to her system.  Luckily she’s fine.  Preston is a Yorkie Mix (not sure what he’s mixed of) that is approx7 lbs.  He is the gentle dog that will gnaw on toys and his plush toys will last him years.

We decided to test a toy a day.  Preston did great with all the toys.  He was excited to test out all these new toys.  We played fetch with the tennis balls. He ran around the whole condo with a tennis ball in his mouth.  The ball still looks new.  As Preston was gnawing on the Kong Squeezz, he discovered that it also squeaks.  From there on the toy didn’t stop squeeking (wouldn’t recommend it at night…lol).  Preston was not interested in the Kong Classic until there we put the Stuff’n Yogurt Spread into the Kong Clasic.  After that he couldn’t put it down.  And now the review from a tough chewer, my little Princess Parisa.  She however was not so gentle with the toys.  She tried to strip the fuzz from the tennis ball so I had to take it away.  She was okay with the Squeezz but noticed some wear and tear.  When Parisa had the Kong Classic with the Stuff’n, she was more focused on trying to take the food out. She didn’t try to destroy it. So if you have a dog like Preston then your toys will last them a lifetime. =)

Enter to win your very own set of toys from Kong Toys for the pampered pooches in your life.  Enter on the Rafflecopter widget found below by logging into your Facebook account.  Winner notifications will be sent to the email address associated with your Facebook account.

THE DETAILS OF THE PRIZE: 

The Kong Toy Bundle includes:

• (1) Kong Classic toy
• (1) Kong Air Dog (Tennis Fetch Toy)
• (1) Kong Squeez Toy
• (1) Kong Stuff'n Yogurt Spread

THE FINE PRINT: 

• The Kong Toys Sweepstakes begins Sunday, March 18, 2012, at 12:01 AM EST and ends Wednesday, March 21, 2012, at 11:59 PM EST
• Open to U.S. residents only.
• All entries must be completed on the Rafflecopter widget as stated, supplying all requested information and will be verified for completion.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

* This post may include referral links. By clicking on those links I may receive a small amount of money and/or points that can be redeemed for gift cards or other rewards.

The Taste and Smell of a Memory

As an adult, there are many times when I will catch a whiff of a specific combination of smells and I am transported back to memorable times as a child.

More recently the memories that drift on the breeze as it eddies through my window are thoughts of one of our favorite vacation destinations. I almost don't have to say it, but it is Walt Disney World.

Knowing of my love for WDW then it will come as no surprise that when I was invited to sample Ghirardelli's new Milk & Truffle Squares, my first thought was of Disney.

Why you ask?

Because Walt Disney World has it's own distinctive smells that conjure up special Disney memories.  Opening the bag of Ghirardelli Milk & Truffle squares, I closed my eyes and just had a nice long smell of the sweet aroma coming from the bag. 

Instantly I was transported to Downtown Disney in Orlando, FL standing outside the doors of the Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop.  There is a welcoming cast member standing just inside the entrance with a basket of chocolate squares neatly cut open.  The invitation is extended, "Please try one of our new Milk & Truffle squares."

Hmmmm.....exquisite!

* I received a sample of Ghirardelli Milk & Truffle Squares through a program with SheSpeaks to evaluate.  No further compensation was supplied.  The opinions expressed are 100% mine and/or those of my immediate family.

This post may include referral links. By clicking on those links I may receive a small amount of money and/or points that can be redeemed for gift cards or other rewards.

Product Review | Frosted Toast Crunch and Prize Pack

Tired of the same old breakfast routine?

Introducing NEW Frosted Toast Crunch, with the delicious taste of frosted vanilla*, this cereal is totally irresistible. 

Just one bite of the new Frosted Toast Crunch will send you into breakfast bliss, with each crunch square baked with the delightful taste of artificially flavored frosted vanilla and dusted with a delicious dash of cinnamon.
 

With 11 grams of whole grain, 9 grams of sugar and a good source of calcium, Frosted Toast Crunch offers a good start to the day Crave those new FROSTED crazy squares? They’ll be available in your local grocers early January, just in time for return-to-school Take your cereal to the next level with this wholesome breakfast. Your taste buds will be swirling with excitement! If you have read my earlier review of General Mills cereal, you know that once the cereal hits the front door it is game on with the hubby and the kids.   Cinnamon Toast Crunch is another of my husband's favorite cereal.  Don't tell him I told you this, but he squealed like a girl when I took the Frosted Toast Crunch out of the box.   By the time the sun had set, half the box of cereal was gone!  I mean to tell you that Frosted Toast Crunch is good and addictive.  We told ourselves we were just going to have a taste and leave the rest for the children.  Uhmmm...see what had happened was.... Enter now to win your very own Frosted Toast Crunch prize pack; including: * New Frosted Toast Crunch Cereal * A Spilt Milk Bowl * A Lickety Spoon * A Frosted Pitcher

The Rules of the Giveaway:
* Keeping Your Cents Giveaway of a Frosted Toast Crunch Prize pack is open to US residents only.

* No purchase or consideration necessary to enter. 

* The Frosted Toast Crunch Giveaway begins at 12:01 am Monday, January 2, 2012 and ends 12:01 am Monday, January 9, 2012 

* One winner will be chosen with Random.org on or about January 11, 2012 and will be contacted via email. You will have 48 hours to respond or an alternate winner will be chosen. 

* Your prize pack will be shipped directly from the sponsor. 

* This giveaway is not associated or affiliated with Facebook or Twitter. 

* Keeping Your Cents is not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prize obligation.

* You are sharing your information with Keeping Your Cents for the purpose of this giveaway only. Winners info will be shared with sponsor for prize fulfillment only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

* Disclosure:  Frosted Toast Crunch, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

This post may include referral links. By clicking on those links I may receive a small amount of money and/or points that can be redeemed for gift cards or other rewards.

Product Review | Greased Lightning

I admit that I make a lot of admissions to you dear readers here on Keeping Your Cents. I'm sure that some of them might make us both blush at times, but this is one that I think might surprise some of you.

As a working mom of three I hate to clean! Oh my goodness.  That felt so naughty, and yet, on some levels so freeing to say that.

Things have to be mighty bad for me to pick up the mop and broom. On rare occasions when I do clean, I want it me be as quick and as painless as possible. My cleaner has to get the job done efficiently on its own because momma doesn't like to add a lot of elbow grease to the equation.

Usually around the children's school vacations, we plan a camping trip with several of our friends and my family members.  This year we are heading out to a great state park and enjoying nature.  

No camping trip just happens though.  There are a boat load of things on my to-do list and the majority of them center on cleaning.

Want to see the tough job that was on my to-do list before we headed on our family camping trip?

I won't scare you with the items needing to be cleaned on the inside.  Just take my word that it is only slightly better than the outside.

So when I was sent a full-sized bottle of Greased Lightning Multi-Purpose Cleaner & Degreaser, I was really excited to give it a try.

My first thought was heading to the camper for some really tough jobs.

Here is a shot of the spot test that I did.  I honestly just sprayed a spot, waited a few seconds, and wiped it off.

Success!

I ran inside and got my hubby to tell him about my brand new bottle of Greased Lightning and how awesome it worked on the camper.  He seemed impressed and only complained a little bit when I asked him to wash the rest of the camper.  Lol!


I found myself walking through the house with my Greased Lightning looking for other stuff to clean.  How sick is it that I actually want to clean.  Wow!  This stuff is powerful.

Greased Lightning Super Strength can help you survive those everyday messes during the holidays, like drink spills on your carpet, day-old food residue on your kitchen counter and even grass stains from the family football game!

Great for surfaces in every part of your house and even for stain removal, Greased Lightning is a multi-purpose cleaner and degreaser that removes grease and grime, laundry and carpet stains, soap scum, and much more.

* Disclosure:  I received a bottle of Greased Lightning to review through Mom Spark Media.  However, the views expressed are 100% mine.

This post may include referral links. By clicking on those links I may receive a small amount of money and/or points that can be redeemed for gift cards or other rewards.

Product Review | The Slice Safety Cutter

Hello, my name is desiab and I am a coupon addict!  That is an admission I make freely and happily to anyone that will listen.

Lately my coupon addiction has left me overloaded with too many coupon inserts stacked up on the table.  The husband and children graciously offer to help me clip my lovely money-saving slips of gold.  But my coupons are precious to me and cutting them precisely is not to be taken lightly.

When the lovely folks at Tomoson.com asked me to test out the new Slice Safety Cutter, I immediately thought about my coupon hoard.  I would be able to put my nifty new cutter to the ultimate test.  


Could it tackle my stack of coupons?

I am happy to report that it did.  While I had to be careful not to stack to many together at one time, the Slice Safety Cutter handled it like a pro.

Another nice thing about the Slice Safety Cutter is it can easily and safely be thrown in my purse or coupon binder.

Be sure to check out all the latest information about the Slice Safety Cutter and any new products introduced on their Facebook page.

* This post may include referral links and by clicking on those links I may receive a small amount of money and/or points that can be redeemed for gift cards or other rewards. 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Book Review | A Different Kind of Hero

A Different Kind of Hero written by Leah Beth Evans and illustrated by Colleen Gedrich.

Synopsis:  "The rainforest is under attack.
One monkey is determined to save it.
His name is Tomagochi.

He’s brown.
He’s small.
He’s plain.

But when a group of men enters the rainforest armed with bulldozers and axes, Tomagochi the monkey springs into action to defend his natural habitat.

While larger animals like Peshe the tiger run and hide, Tomagochi charges into battle.

Will he be victorious?
Will the rainforest be saved?

Join Tomagochi as he fights to protect his home and discovers just how special he truly is." 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I was born the middle child of three; older sister, younger brother.  My sister and I are polar opposites in temperament, personality, and the like.  She's reserved and quiet to my sometimes brash and larger than life persona.  So for some reason once I hit my teenage years I fell into the role of protector, her hero if you will. She didn't honestly need my protection, but at times I mistakenly saw her mildness and lack of strength.

In later years, we purchased homes in the same town on the same street.  The proximity still allowed me to feel like I was helping to watch over her.

Through a unique mix of unfortunate circumstances, my sister and I were involved in an automobile accident in March of 2000.  When the tumble of metal settled, the SUV was resting on the passenger side where I lay unconscious.  My sister was badly shaken, but thankfully completely unharmed.  

In the few conversations we have been able to have about the accident over the last 10 years, my sister says that she was momentarily paralyzed by fear.  As has been the case in times past, she was looking to me to decide what should be done next and I wasn't able to tell her.  The decision on how to proceed would have to be made by her.  Somewhere she found the strength to climb up and jump out of the car onto the highway to get help.

For many weeks, my sister slept on the floor next to my marital bed.  She was the second person I saw when my eyes opened every morning.  

When the surgeries, therapy and hospital stays were mostly done, I remember lying in bed thinking back to that day and the ones that followed.  All along things were just the opposite of what I believed.  My sister had and still is watching over me; protecting me.  

Being a hero in my life.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Leah Beth Evans's Bio: 

Leah Beth Evans was inspired to write her story as a 4th grade student after studying about the rainforest. She continues to enjoy writing stories and poetry. However, her story A Different Kind of Hero has always been one of her favorites.  Visit Leah on Facebook

Visit Leah Beth Evans through one of her social media links:

Colleen Gedrich's Bio: 

Colleen, a lifelong resident Throop, PA, earned a BFA in illustration from Marywood University in 2002. Since that time, she has worked part-time as a freelance illustrator specializing in animal-themed work. She enjoys creating her art using mostly watercolor and pastel. 

As a dedicated animal rights activist and full-time program coordinator for International Society for Animal Rights (ISAR), Colleen lives her dream of joining her passions for animals and art to promote a more harmonious world with a touch of beauty. Recent works produced by Colleen include t-shirt and invitation designs, children’s book illustrations, and book covers. Colleen has also teamed up with her very talented artist mother, Kathy Holmes Gedrich, and paints murals for children’s nurseries.

Visit Tribute Book through one of their social media links:

* This post may include referral links and by clicking on those links I may receive a small amount of money and/or points that can be redeemed for gift cards or other rewards. 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Book Review | Slippery Willie's Stupid, Ugly Shoes

Willie Wiggles hates his slippery feet. He just slips, slides and spins all over the place. But what he hates even more are the special shoes that have been made for him that will help him to walk just like all the other kids. Willie thinks that they are the "stupidest, ugliest shoes in the whole world."


* * * * * * * * * *
Most people will be able to relate to the message in Slippery Willie's Stupid, Ugly Shoes by Larry Peterson.

For most of my adult life I would say that I have worn my hair in a socially acceptable way. Recently I decided to make a change to something a little more natural that my husband really liked.  My hair was finished, I rode home and then the doubt set in.  Looking in the mirror I felt like I had the stupidest, ugliest hair in the whole world.

I work at an elementary school and the children can at times be merciless with the teasing.  Was I setting myself up for being teased?


So the next morning, instead of being confident in my choice I made the decision to wear a scarf.  Every day for a week I wore a different scarf to match my outfits.  Finally my husband questioned me as to why I was hiding my cute hair under scarves.


It took his questions and reassurances to make me take off the scarves and go to work with my new hairdo.  The funny thing was nobody was laughing and pointing.  Everywhere I went the kids told me how cool my hair was and how much they liked the style.


A week spent worrying myself to death for nothing! 

In Slippery Willie's Stupid, Ugly Shoes, discover how sometimes we worry about things about ourselves when actually there is nothing to worry about in the first place.

• Watch the YouTube video book trailer above.

• Read an excerpt from Slippery Willie's Stupid, Ugly Shoes on Freado.

• Also, go to the Slippery Willie blog to share your thoughts and ideas on accepting the differences of others.

Author Bio:
Larry Peterson was born and raised in the Bronx, New York. As a freelancer, he has written many newspaper columns for local publications. Slippery Willie's Stupid, Ugly Shoes is his first children’s book. Peterson has lived in Pinellas Park, Florida for the past 28 years.

Visit Tribute Book through one of their social media links:

* This post may include referral links and by clicking on those links I may receive a small amount of money and/or points that can be redeemed for gift cards or other rewards.I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Product Review | Pillsbury Egg Scrambles and Prize Pack

Weekday mornings can seem like a balancing act.  Between scrambling to get yourself ready and the kids dressed for school, it can be a challenge to fit in a good, hot breakfast that will set you up for a good day.  Now Pillsbury is bringing your weekend favorites to the weekday breakfast table with new Pillsbury Grands! Biscuit Sandwiches and Pillsbury Egg Scrambles. 

• Available in your grocer’s freezer, Pillsbury Grands! Biscuit Sandwiches and Pillsbury Egg Scrambles heat up in minutes in the microwave.

•  Made with quality ingredients like fluffy real egg, tasty meat, cheese, Grands! Biscuits and Green Giant® vegetables, the new line of quick and delicious frozen breakfast dishes comes in six flavorful choices:

• Sausage & Cheese Biscuit Sandwich
• Bacon & Cheese Biscuit Sandwich
• Ham & Veggies Biscuit Sandwich
• Bacon & Veggies Egg Scrambles
• Sausage Egg Scrambles
• Sausage & Veggies Egg Scrambles

Start your morning off right with these satisfying, hot and tasty breakfast options and share your tips for a great day ahead!  

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

With the early morning work schedules of my husband and I, the kids eat their breakfast at school.  Because of that we miss the fun of eating our breakfast favorites during the week.

At my house, the quickest way to get my children excited about dinner is to tell them we are having breakfast.  So today I surprised them by announcing on the way home that we were trying the new Pillsbury Egg Scrambles for dinner.

We selected the Pillsbury Sausage & Veggies Egg Scrambles to sample.  The Scrambles paired with toasted cinnamon raisin bagels, fresh fruit, and milk made a breakfast/dinner the kids were excited about.



Enter now to win a Pillsbury Breakfast Prize Pack. 

Your prize pack will contain:
• 3 coupons to purchase a free package of new Pillsbury Grands! Biscuit Sandwiches or Pillsbury Egg Scrambles
• Doughboy Keychain
• Doughboy Beanie Doll

	"Disclosure: The VIP coupons, prize pack, information, and giveaway have been provided by Pillsbury through MyBlogSpark."

Book Review | Weirder Than Marshmallows

I recently was sent a copy of Weirder Than Marshmallows by Dan Fogg of NightFire Publications to read and review.

Before you break out the sticks and start the fires the preface explains what the book is about: "This book is about stories.  Stories that are, like marshmallows, strange, mind boggling, but somehow appealing to the public at large.  Hard to explain, impossible to ignore."
 
From the moment I read the synopsis of this e-book, I knew that I had to read this book. There are people who are doing stupid and/or ignorant stuff and need to be ridiculed? Well then sign me up!

My dear hubby has the nickname around our house of Sarcastro and I must admit that I could easily be Mrs. Sarcastro.  What can I say, it's my super power? 

Mr. Fogg definitely raises some interesting questions/observations in his 5 essaysabout the things that people do and the curious warnings found on product packaging.  Many times I found myself smiling and nodding as I read his words.

For a limited time, if you  purchase Weirder than Marshmallows for the Kindle and forward your receipt to dc@nightfirepublications.com you will receive a special Scentsy Pumpkin Marshmallow Scent Circle.

Be sure to like NightFire Publications and Weirder Than Marshmallows on Facebook.

* This post may include referral links. By clicking on those links I may receive a small amount of money and/or points that can be redeemed for gift cards or other rewards.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Big G Breakfast Savings and Giveaway

General Mills and MyBlogSpark understand that "between finding that missing sock and making sure that the dog didn't eat last night's homework assignment, it can be tough to sit down for breakfast with the family.  But did you know that breakfast eaters tend to have better nutrients intake and kids who eat breakfast tend to perform better in school.  

This back to school season, enjoy the most important meal of the day while finding great savings on your favorite breakfasts with a little help from Big G cereals.  

• In your grocer’s cereal aisle, keep an eye out for specially marked boxes of Cheerios^®, Chocolate Cheerios^®, Cookie Crisp^®, Golden Grahams^®, MultiGrain Cheerios^®, and Total^®
• Use the coupons printed inside the box to save up to $5 when purchasing select products from brands including Betty Crocker^®, Nature Valley^®, Pillsbury^®, Big G, and Maxwell House

Start the day off right with Big G cereals, and keep your stomach – and your wallet – full. To learn more about the benefits of breakfast, visit CerealBenefits.com today."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

On a personal note--
My dear husband was like a little kid when he saw the cereals included in our review box.  He made a mental checklist of "his" cereals as he placed the boxes in the kitchen.  During the next few days he went on at length with the children about which cereals were his favorite, now and as a kid.  

Of course this is when the children choose to listen to a parent!  Did they listen when he said they should do homework in a timely manner?  Nope.  Did they listen when he said they should clean their rooms?  Nope.  But they sure did listen to which cereals he wanted to eat.

Saturday morning my Dear Husband decided to sleep in a little later.  My children decided to wake up early and make themselves some breakfast.  Yep you know where this is going.  There was half a box of Cookie Crisp left and somebody was disappointed.  You know what they say about the early bird.


This week in my house has been a game of hide and seek with the partially remaining lone box of Cookie Crisp.  Dear Husband's strategy is to hide it in plain sight.  Youngest dear daughter (6) went with mind games.  The youngest sits at the table on Sunday morning eating her bowl of Cookie Crisp and in walks my 16 year old daughter wanting a bowl too.  Youngest informs the oldest that the cereal is off limits because it is daddy's favorite, but she has been given special permission because she is the youngest.  My oldest daughter bought it and ate some Golden Grahams.


Never a dull moment in my house!

Big G cereal and MyBlogSpark are offering one Keeping Your Cents reader the opportunity to win their very own breakfast prize pack (including your own Cookie Crisp).   Enter now throw September 26, 2011 12:01 cst to win.

Your prize pack will include one box each of the following cereals with coupon savings up to $5 in each box :

• Cheerios
• Chocolate Cheerios
• MultiGrain Cheerios
• Cookie Crisp
• Golden Grahams
• Total 

(Click Read More below to load Rafflecopter form.)

* Disclosure: The cereal, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark. This post may include referral links. By clicking on those links I may receive a small amount of monetary compensation or points that can be redeemed for gift cards or other rewards.

Book Review and Giveaway | Midnight's Wild Passion by Anna Campbell

First let me say that reading romance novels is one of my guilty pleasures and historical romance makes me feel like a giddy toddler sitting in the corner eating an entire box of chocolate devil's food cookies.  So I was beyond excited when Anna contacted me to say that she was mailing me a copy of Midnight's Wild Passion to read, review, and giveaway.  

I forbade everyone in my house from checking the mail, lest they be the ones to get "the package".  On the day that "the package" arrived, I ran into the house squealing and in general acting like I had just won a much needed new car (hint, hint).  The dear hubby seriously didn't get it quite like I thought he would, but he is an avid reader, so that part he could understand.  The rest he chalked up to mental instability.

In all of the excitement there was just one problem.  There was currently another book bookmarked on my nightstand.  A book that up to this point I had been enjoying in small snatches of borrowed time.  Dear blog readers can you see my dilemma?  How do I tell the other book that I need time and space to see where our relationship is going?  Yet, I need to do it in such a way that we could maybe revisit this at a later time.

It is not my fault that so much stuff got placed on my nightstand that the other book fell into the crack between it and the bed.  So when I am ready to go there again, I will just brush Mr. Dusty Book off, apologize profusely, and pick up where we left off.

For 8- 12 wonderful hours I got to immerse myself in the sensual world of  the ton, debutantes' balls, and unraveling intriguing secrets of the main characters.

In Midnight's Wild Passion, Nicholas Challoner, Marquess of Ranelaw, has never forgiven Godfrey Demarest for the scandal that ruined his sister.  He has vowed to repay in kind by seducing and publicly ruining Demarest's daughter Cassandra.  Only one person stands in his way -- Miss Antonia Smith her formidable chaperone.

From their first meeting there is an undeniable attraction, but Nicholas can't deviate from his purpose and his plan.  Antonia can't allow herself to be seduced again by a notorious rake and her first priority is protecting Cassandra.  But who will protect her heart?     

Throughout the book, I found the characters to be well developed and their actions were believable.  I especially enjoyed the verbal sparring between Nicholas and Antonia.

I also applaud Anna Campbell for writing an entertaining, engaging story that acknowledges the intelligence on the part of her readers.  Okay maybe she gave me too much credit because several times I had to pull out the dictionary.  But I now have a slew of new words to add to my repertoire.  

Her choice of rich language and imagery stayed with me long after the last page was read.  This will be one of the few books in my collection that I plan to read again. 

Want to know if Nicholas succeeds in his plan?  Want to find out what happens to Nicholas and Antonia?  Want to know who Antonia really is?  Then enter to win your own signed copy of Anna Campbell's Midnight's Wild Passion.  Click "read more" below to pull up the rafflecopter form.

*I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are 100% my own and based on my observations while reading this novel.