February 28, 2011

Culturelle for Kids! Review

I've been reading and hearing so much about the benefits of probiotics, and thanks to Mom Central Consulting, I was able to have my boys try out Culturelle Probiotics for Kids!


KIDS' IMMUNE SYSTEMS ARE CONSTANTLY BEING CHALLENGED

Between school, the playground, the bus and even at home, kids constantly face a myriad of bad bacteria. Culturelle for Kids contains Lactobacillus GG, one of the most clinically studied probiotic, or “good bacteria”, in the world. The good bacteria safely and naturally displace the bad bacteria, supporting kids’ natural defense systems, and reducing digestive upset.
Culturelle for Kids is one of the very few probiotics available that is 100% dairy and gluten free.

CULTURELLE IS THE #1 PEDIATRICIAN RECOMMENDED PROBIOTIC BRAND

Culturelle's LGG probiotic has been extensively studied for safety in children of all ages, including neonatal and infants, and those studies have proven that Culturelle given to children:

  • Supports their still-developing immune system*
  • May help reduce upset stomach*
  • Helps to reduce occasional diarrhea*
  • Helps reduce the length and severity of antibiotic-associated diarrhea*

Over the past week and a half, I have been giving my boys the Culturelle probiotics.

I would pour a packet each into their milks every day. It dissolved easily, and it didn't alter the taste or smell of the milk (I gave it a try to make sure). It was simply like drinking "regular" milk!

What I noticed after several days was how "regular" Smiley became. He usually goes 2-3, sometimes 4 days without a bowel movement, but since I started giving him Culturelle for Kids, he has been going daily (sometimes more than once daily!). I don't know if that's simply a coincidence or not, but I really think that the Culturelle for Kids! has something to do with his regular bowel movements.

As for Musician, he's usually pretty "regular," but I'll continue to give both of the boys the Culturelle for Kids!, because I personally think it only benefits them and their digestive and immunity systems.

To find more information about Culturelle and the benefits of probiotics, click here.

I wrote this review while participating in a Mom Central Consulting blog tour on behalf of Culturelle. I received a Culturelle for Kids product sample and a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

February 27, 2011

Thomas & Friends: Pop Goes Thomas DVD Review and Giveaway


Thomas & Friends: Pop Goes Thomas:
Thomas is bubbling with excitement as he delivers special cargo to the picnic extravaganza!  His friend Percy joins in on the fun for a game of Hide and Seek and Emily goes full steam ahead to cheer on the Sodor soccer team! Join Thomas and your favorite engine friends as they explore the sights and delights of Sodor in these exciting episodes.
Episodes include:
· “Pop Goes Thomas”
· “Jitters and Japes”
· “Thomas’ Crazy Day”
· “Pingy-Pongy Pick Up”

DVD BONUS FEATURES
· “Sodor Hide and Seek” Game
· Roary the Racing Car™ Bonus Episode - "Roary's First Day"

Pop Goes Thomas was yet another enjoyable Thomas & Friends DVD. Musician loved the title episode. Whenever Thomas went to find a bumpy track, Musician would say "Thomas is going to bounce!" He thought it was so funny whenever Thomas bounced around on the bumpy tracks and the Lemonade corks would pop off.

He also really enjoyed Jitters and Japes. Thomas took Dowager Hatt (Sir Topham Hatt's mom) to sightsee, and wanted to make sure he didn't excite her too much since Sir Topham Hatt warned that she was "older." But it turned out that she was extremely bored on the ride until Thomas took her through the Hollow Tree Tunnel and on the Shake Shake Bridge (which was Musician's favorite part--he loves the Shake Shake Bridge!).

Pop Goes Thomas is simply another Thomas & Friends DVD that both my boys loved and I know they could keep watching it again and again!

Shop: You can purchase Pop Goes Thomas at various retailers online and nationwide beginning 3/1/11 (SRP $14.98)

Win: One lucky winner will receive a copy of Pop Goes Thomas!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to sueparks2003!
  • To enter, comment on your/your child's favorite engine or other Thomas & Friends character.
  • You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
  • 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Thomas & Friends (leave the link in your comment)
  • 2)Subscribe to my feed
  • 3)Add my button to your sidebar
  • 4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
  • 5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
  • The deadline for entries is March 13, 2011, 11:59pm HST.
  • If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on or about March 14, 2011 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
  • Valid for US addresses only.
  • By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
Good luck!

Thank you to the sponsor for providing the product for review and/or giveaway free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

February 26, 2011

Vaseline Intensive Rescue Giveaway on My Island Views

For those of you who don't already know, Kailani at An Island Life was a great inspiration in terms of me starting Sage and Savvy, and I was so excited for her when she was chosen to be a part of the Vaseline Dry Skin Patrol!

Check out my post on My Island Views for information on the Vaseline Dry Skin Patrol Facebook Contest and to enter to win a full-sized bottle of Vaseline Intensive Rescue!

Infantino Cloud Shopping Cart Cover Review

As an Infantino Test-Drive Mom, I was fortunate to receive a new Infantino Cloud Shopping Cart Cover to review.

Infantino Cloud Shopping Cart Cover: Let your little one ride on a cloud - just pop it open, stretch it over a shopping cart or highchair and you've got a comfy, clean spot for cruising or chilling.

  • 2-in-1 extra plush cover for shopping carts and highchairs
  • 360 degree coverage protects baby from dirt and germs
  • Folds up quickly for easy storage
  • Wrap around coverage keeps baby clean and comfy
  • Stretches to fit most carts and highchairs
It's pretty obvious why the shopping cart cover is called a "Cloud"--it's so puffy and comfy-looking, especially compared with our other shopping cart covers which are so thin.

The Cloud Shopping Cart Cover is not only great for use when out shopping, but also for when dining out--it easily slipped onto a high chair.
It covered the entire high chair, and no parts of the high chair were exposed for Smiley to get his hands on.

The Cloud Shopping Cart Cover is washable, and comes with a safety belt and loops to attach toys. Although it is a little on the bulky side, even when folded or rolled-up, at least I know when Smiley (and soon DS3) uses it, he'll be comfy and clean (except for when dining out and he spills food all over himself!).

Shop: You can purchase the Cloud Shopping Cart Cover at various retailers online and nationwide (SRP $29.99).

I am a participant in a Mom Central Consulting campaign for Infantino and have received various Infantino products as part of my participation.

February 25, 2011

Ziploc's Partnership with RecycleBank and Prize Pack Giveaway

There are many people, myself included, that use Ziploc bags, and now there's great news for people like me who are trying to be more eco-friendly--Ziploc is continuing to progress with their sustainability efforts, and now bags can be recycled!

Ziploc has partnered with RecycleBank, the leading sustainable action platform that motivates and enables individuals to make a collective impact on the environment, to provide families special incentives to increase recycling, which in turn, will help keep our country’s landfills from growing. The initiative aims to educate and inspire families to divert more waste from landfills.
Families can now recycle Ziploc bags!
· Ziploc is making it easier for families to get involved and recycle. Currently, clean and dry Ziploc Brand Sandwich, Storage and Freezer Bags can be recycled at in-store bins at approximately 18,000 participating retail locations that accept plastic shopping bags for recycling. Also, Ziploc Brand Containers are reusable and a great green alternative for packing lunch or snacks and storing leftovers.
· Within the next two months, they will be able to receive Recyclebank rewards points when they pledge to recycle Ziploc bags and packaging by entering the code from inside specially marked packages of Ziploc Brand Sandwich and Snack Bags.
· Educate your family on recycling and landfill growth. Here’s a great, family-friendly video:
http://www.ziploc.com/Sustainability/pages/Recyclability-and-Earning-Rewards.aspx
For more information on Ziploc's sustainability efforts, visit www.ziploc.com/sustainability.

Win: One lucky winner will receive a Ziploc Prize Pack!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to Art H.!
  • To enter, visit Ziploc and comment on a product that you often use (please be specific).
  • You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
    1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Ziploc (leave the link in your comment)
    2)Subscribe to my feed
    3)Add my button to your sidebar
    4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
    5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
  • The deadline for entries is March 11, 2011, 11:59pm HST.
  • If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on or about March 12, 2011 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
  • Valid for US addresses only.
  • By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
    Good luck!

Thank you to the sponsor for providing the product for review and/or giveaway free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

February 24, 2011

Pocoyo Academy Awards Promotion and DVD Collection Giveaway

Hollywood’s big night for celebration is right around the corner--The 83rd Annual Academy Awards® on February 27, 2011! Everyone is excited to watch the movie stars walk the red carpet and receive their awards for great performances! And, Pocoyo, who has himself won many awards around the globe, has a special surprise to share to celebrate the event!


Pocoyo will be starring in his very own advertisements starting this week throughout the month of February on the premiere entertainment channel, E! Entertainment Television! And, if you watch E!’s Pre-Awards Show on the night of February 27th, you will no doubt see Pocoyo doing what he does best, playing and having fun with his friends!

Celebrate the awards with Pocoyo and download the awards ballot for the big night to share with family and friends!

Shop: You can purchase Pocoyo DVDs on NCircle Entertainment and at various other retailers online and nationwide.

Win: One lucky winner will receive a Pocoyo DVD Collection which includes the following 3 titles:
  • Meet Pocoyo!: Pocoyo and friends explore the world around them. In seven hilarious stories, Pocoyo enjoys making music, blowing bubbles, solving puzzles and even watching an egg hatch
  • Super Pocoyo: Pocoyo explores, discovers, encounters, laughs, questions and celebrates. Join Pocoyo and his friends Duck, Elly, Loula and Sleepy Bird as they play hide and seek, fly an airplane and go on a camping adventure
  • Fun & Dance: Whether he is playing with a beach ball or thumping on the drums, the charming Pocoyo loves to have fun with his pals, Pato, Loul and Sleepy Bird. From skipping rope to building textiles, adorable Pocoyo spends his days discovering new things in seven engaging stories.


***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to Jennifer!
  • To enter, view/download the Pocoyo's Academy Awards ballot and comment on which movie you think will win Best Picture.
  • You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
    1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Pocoyo (leave the link in your comment)
    2)Subscribe to my feed
    3)Add my button to your sidebar
    4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
    5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
  • 6)Follow Pocoyo on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
  • The deadline for entries is March 10, 2011, 11:59pm HST.
  • If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on or about March 11, 2011 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
  • Valid for US addresses only.
  • By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
    Good luck!

Thank you to the sponsor for providing the product for review and/or giveaway free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

February 23, 2011

WW: Satisfying a Craving


French Fries with Gravy...YUM!
(You can see more of my indulgences at My Island Views.)

For more participants, visit Wordless Wednesday.

February 22, 2011

Frito-Lay Review

DH always teases me that I snack too much. I don't deny that I do. I do try to incorporate healthy snacks into my daily diet, such as ones that have whole grains or don't have a long list of artificial ingredients, such as those I recently received from Frito-Lay.

Did you know that:
  • Frito-Lay starts with fresh, farm-grown ingredients, making many of our chips with just three simple ingredients: potatoes or corn, all-natural oils and salt.
  • Frito-Lay was the first major food company to remove partially hydrogenated oils from our cooking oil way back in 2003. That means Frito-Lay chips have 0 grams trans fat because we use all-natural oils such as corn oil and sunflower oil.
  • Many varieties of Frito-Lay chips provide whole grains like Tostitos® snacks, which contain 8 grams of whole grain corn per serving, and SunChips®, which brings 18 grams of whole grain per serving to your diet! SunChips is also a good source of fiber.
  • Frito-Lay supports American farmers and buys the potatoes used to make our potato chips from 80+ farms across 27 states.
I was fortunate to receive a bag of goodies from Frito-Lay, which included a bag of SunChips Original Flavored Multigrain Snacks, Lay's Lightly Salted Potato Chips, and Tostitos Scoops! Tortilla Chips.

I usually prefer "flavored" chips, but during this pregnancy I've only been able to stomach "plain" chips (my taste buds are still going wacky!), so the chips I received were perfect to satisfy some of my snack cravings!

The SunChips were great as is, and so were the Lay's. I couldn't tell the difference in saltiness from regular Lay's, but I did notice they seemed to be a lot thinner.

As for the Tostitos, well, I make nachos at home a lot, so they were the perfect chips to make nachos with!

It's great to know that I can still enjoy yummy Frito-Lay chips as part of a balanced diet, and I don't have to deprive myself from all that crunchy goodness!

Thank you to Frito-Lay for providing the products for review free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

February 21, 2011

Achooz Saline Nose Wipes Review and Gift Pack Giveaway

Last month our entire family was sick--cough, fever, runny noses...it was awful! Thankfully my boys had some Boogie Wipes for their runny noses, but DH and I had to settle for plain old tissues. It's too bad we didn't have Achooz at the time, which was recently introduced by the makers of Boogie Wipes!


Having a runny nose doesn't have to be painful.

next generation in tissue.™

I was fortunate to receive samples of Achooz Saline Nose Wipes in both Fragrance Free and Cool Menthol Scent.

The wipes were indeed soft enough to not leave my nose all sore, red, and peeling like many tissues do.

The Cool Menthol Scent was very subtle, and I like that the wipes contain not only saline to help break down mucus, but Vitamin E and aloe to prevent my nose from feeling even worse.

Achooz is great to have on hand for whenever a cold strikes, and the next time one does, I'll be reaching for the Achooz instead of the tissues!

Shop: To purchase Achooz, click here to find a retailer (SRP $1.99/pack).

Savvy Savings: Receive a $.50 off coupon if you subscribe the Achooz Newz!


Win: One lucky winner will receive an Achooz Gift Pack!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to maryjaco1!
  • To enter, comment on why you'd like to win!
  • You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
    1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and (leave the link in your comment)
    2)Subscribe to my feed
    3)Add my button to your sidebar
    4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
    5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
  • Follow Achooz on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
  • The deadline for entries is March 7, 2011, 11:59pm HST.
  • If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on or about March 8, 2011 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
  • Valid for US addresses only.
  • By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
    Good luck!

Thank you to the sponsor for providing the product for review and/or giveaway free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.
When colds and allergies set in, all the blowing and wiping with regular tissues can leave your nose feeling sore, red and raw. Now, you can make your nose happy with Achooz Saline Nose Wipes, the

February 20, 2011

The Jellybeans: Back in School CD Giveaway


The Jellybeans: Back in School:

When you’re eleven and twelve years old, there usually isn’t much to tell about your career as a performing artist, but that is not the case here. The Jellybeans are eleven girls from Our Lady of Mercy Academy in Jersey City, who began singing together four years ago when they were in third grade as part of the children’s choir. They sang their first original song at their school concert that year and have been doing so ever since. In fourth grade, some of the girls performed solo parts in their second song, “Round And Round,” and those girls were the beginning of The Jellybeans. A year later two of the girls helped write some of the lyrics for their new song,” A Perfect Summer’s Day” and performed it at their spring concert. This year, while in the sixth grade, they formed this group to record an album of concert songs, formally became The Jellybeans and performed for the first time at their concert as this group. Several of the girls contributed ideas for the lyrics to their newest song, “Back In School,” which became the title of their album. Quite a lot of growing up musically from third to sixth grade and they have a lot of growing ahead of them. In fact, they’re going to grow into their second album very soon. They have a lot of songs to record.

Shop: You can purchase Back in School on CD Baby (SRP $8.00)

Win: Five lucky winners will each receive a copy of Back in School!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to Jennifer, Mandy, Tori, susanlanai, Stacey L.
  • To enter, visit The Jellybeans and comment on your favorite song.
  • You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
    1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and The Jellybeans (leave the link in your comment)
    2)Subscribe to my feed
    3)Add my button to your sidebar
    4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
    5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
  • The deadline for entries is March 6, 2011, 11:59pm HST.
  • If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on or about March 7, 2011 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
  • Valid for US addresses only.
  • By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
    Good luck!

Thank you to the sponsor for providing the product for review and/or giveaway free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

February 19, 2011

Munchkin Safety Gates Contest and The Deco Gate + $50 AMEX GC Giveaway

Sometimes when I visit a friend who has an infant and/or toddler and I see that there are no gates at the top and/or bottom of the stairs, I cringe. Of course in such a case I mention how I have gates on the top and bottom of our stairs as well as at the entryway of any room that needs one and how it's better to be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to our kids.

Munchkin, a company that is known for a variety of baby products, knows how important child safety is, as is evident in their line of Safety Gates.


Years of safety research and engineering have gone into the development of Munchkin safety gates. The smallest details on every gate have been designed to maximize safety. Each gate has at least two locking mechanisms to ensure a child cannot open it. Vertical slat or dowel design eliminates potential footholds for a child to climb over. Pressure mount gates employ a sturdy U-shaped powerframe made of steel to generate a strong four-point seal in openings.
  • Munchkin safety gates are built to the highest quality standards and rigorously tested to meet or exceed both U.S. and European safety standards
  • Munchkin infant safety gates are aesthetically pleasing and come in a wide range of measurements, price points, styles and mounting types.
  • For more information please visit www.infantgates.com


Right now, through May 15, Munchkin has a great Facebook contest to promote their safety gates, Protect Your Baby's Every Move, which you could enter to win some great prizes!

Munchkin knows the importance of keeping your child safe. That’s why we want to protect your baby by giving away our new safety gates every week! Share a cute video or photo of your baby moving, dancing or taking first steps. We'll choose the best every Friday.

Munchkin will select a weekly Facebook winner (from Feb. 15 – May 15) to win a safety gate and $50 gift card to redo the nursery. One grand-prize winner will also receive a nursery set from Munchkin (valued at $530) and a $250 American Express gift card to help with the design. A second winner will receive a $250 American Express gift card to help decorate a child’s room.
So go ahead and upload a funny picture or video of your baby dancing, walking, or moving, and you could end up a winner!

Shop: To purchase a Munchkin Safety Gate, click here to find a retailer near you.

Win: One lucky winner will receive The Deco Munchkin Safety Gate and a $50 American Express Gift Card.

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to gnwg!
  • To enter, comment on where in the house you think you'd use The Deco Munchkin Safety Gate.
  • You may do any of the following for extra entries (be sure to leave a comment on this post for each “entry”):
  • 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Munchkin Safety Gates; leave the link in your comment (1 extra entry)
  • 2)Subscribe to my feed (1 extra entry)
  • 3)Add my button to your sidebar; leave the URL (1 extra entry)
  • 4)Add my Baby Essentials & Gift Guide button to your sidebar; leave the URL (1 extra entry)
  • 5)Follow me on Twitter; leave your Twitter name in your comment (1 extra entry)
  • 6)Tweet this giveaway; leave your link/Twitter name in your comment (1 extra entry)
  • 7)Tweet the following "Check out @sagemom's Baby Essentials & Gift Guide http://tinyurl.com/29gb9uk"; leave your link/Twitter name in your comment (1 extra entry)
  • 8)Leave a comment on the Must-Have Baby Products post stating what your all-time favorite baby product is; please be specific (3 extra entries)
  • The deadline for entries is March 5, 2011, 11:59pm HST.
  • If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on or about March 6, 2011 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
  • Valid for US addresses only.
  • By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
    Good luck!



Thank you to the sponsor for providing the products for review/giveaway. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

February 18, 2011

New Restaurant.com Discount

Now through Feb. 21, you can get a $25 Dining Certificate from Restaurant.com for up to 80% off! Use code EAT.






Sage and Savvy is a Restaurant.com affiliate.

Shaun the Sheep: Spring Shenanigans DVD Review and Giveaway


Shaun the Sheep: Spring Shenanigans:
Spring with excitement and jump with joy, because Shaun the Sheep is back for more wild adventures from the Oscar®-winning creators of Wallace & Gromit. Fun on the farm with Shaun and his barnyard buddies springs to life, from bouncing sheep and a super-sized Timmy to bagpipe buddies and a short-sighted farmer, there’s no limit to the wild things these animals will do. So hop along with Shaun, Bitzer, Shirley, Timmy and those Naughty Pigs next door in some sheep-herding mayhem that’s sure to give you a lift!

Episodes include:
· “Spring Lamb” - It’s bath time for a reluctant Timmy. In trying to escape, Timmy gets a spring attached to his tail. It’s up to the flock to catch the bouncing baby sheep and return him to the tub before he destroys the farm.
· “Supersize Timmy” - Timmy accidentally eats a tomato grown with “Miracle-Grow” fertilizer and expands to become the King Kong of sheep. Shaun must keep the giant toddler out of sight while trying to figure out how to return him to normal size.
· “Bagpipe Buddy” - The sheep discover a set of bagpipes on the rubbish dump which they immediately misidentify as a sick emu. They set about trying to nurse it back to health before releasing it back into the wild.
· “Cheetah Cheater” - A wildlife film inspires Pidsley the cat to play a prank on the flock by disguising himself as a leopard. Shaun is convinced there is a huge beast on the loose and concocts a plan to catch it.
· “Lock Out” - While preparing for bed, the Farmer manages to lock himself out of the house and is stuck outside in his pajamas. He decides to spend the night in the barn but his incessant snoring drives the flock mad. Shaun heads up an operation to return him to his bed without waking him up.
· “Draw the Line” - The flock hijack a road line-painting machine and cause chaos while creating giant works of art in the field.
· “Ewe’ve Been Framed” - When Shaun accidentally breaks the farmer’s glasses, he and Bitzer have their work cut out trying to prevent their short-sighted master from having mishaps around the farm. Things get a little hair-raising for the flock before Shaun manages to replace the smashed up spectacles.

We've never heard of Shaun the Sheep before, but my boys do enjoy watching Timmy Time, which happens to be a spin-off series of Shaun the Sheep, so I had a feeling they'd enjoy watching the Spring Shenanigans DVD!

In Spring Lamb, when Timmy got the spring stuck to himself, Musician cried "oh no," but after seeing how fun it was for him to jump around on the spring, he thought it was so funny. He giggled as the lamb bounced all over the place, especially since he didn't want to take a bath.

The boys enjoyed the other episodes too, especially Supersize Timmy. He got really, really big, and he wasn't the only animal that got big!

Despite there being other sheep in the episodes, I thought it was cute how Musician would call each one he saw on screen Timmy, since he's more familiar with Timmy. I tried to explain who the other sheep were (that I could figure out), but he still called them all Timmy anyway.

Spring Shenanigans is a lot of fun to watch, especially since there are no words that are spoken. The boys can figure out what's happening simply by the noises and actions of the animals on screen, and regardless if it's Timmy or Shaun or any other sheep, they enjoy watching all the animal antics!

Shop: You can purchase Spring Shenanigans at various retailers online and nationwide (SRP $14.98).

Win: One lucky winner will receive a copy of Spring Shenanigans!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to crystletellerday!
  • To enter, comment on why you'd like to win.
  • You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
    1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Shaun the Sheep (leave the link in your comment)
    2)Subscribe to my feed
    3)Add my button to your sidebar
    4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
    5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
  • The deadline for entries is March 4, 2011, 11:59pm HST.
  • If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on or about March 5, 2011 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
  • Valid for US addresses only.
  • By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
    Good luck!

Thank you to the sponsor for providing the product for review and/or giveaway free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

February 16, 2011

WW: Why it Takes Me Forever to Do Laundry

(because the boys and/or their toys will always be in the laundry basket)

For more participants, visit Wordless Wednesday.

February 15, 2011

Restaurant.com Dining Certificate Discount

Today through Feb. 17, Restaurant.com is offering a $25 Dining Certificate for up to 80% off!

Use code MENU to take advantage of this great deal!

Sage and Savvy is a Restaurant.com affiliate.

Free Samples of Quaker Life, Maybelline, and More!

New Coupons for Various Blu-rays/DVDs, Pet Food, and More!

Here are more great money-saving coupons from Coupons.com!

$1.50 OFF 1 Philadelphia Cooking Creme
$1.50 OFF 1 Wanchai Ferry Frozen Entree
$1.00 OFF 1 Hormel Always Tender Product
$1.00 OFF 1 Simply Orange Juice 59oz Or Any Variety
$1.00 OFF 1 Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Dinner (5-pack)
$1.00 OFF 1 Velveeta Product (32oz)
$1.00 OFF 1 Weight Watchers Sweet Bakery Item
$1.00 OFF 2 Yogi Granola Snack Crisps
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Thomas & Friends: Wobbly Wheels and Whistles DVD Review and Giveaway

Thomas & Friends: Wobbly Wheels and Whistles:

Travel along with Thomas for a wonderfully wobbly and wheel-spinning good time! The No. 1 blue engine has bridges to cross and tracks to uncover in these exciting adventures. When Victor gets overloaded with too many tasks, can Thomas help him let out steam? And while trying to get Scruff as clean as a whistle, will Thomas have to get his own wheels dirty?   Just when things seem to be rolling along, will Ol’ Wheezy make a wobbly mess of Thomas’ special delivery? Hold on for exciting surprises waiting to be delivered just for you!
Episodes include:
· “Jumping Jobi Wood”
· ”Thomas and Scruff”
· “Victor Says Yes”
· “Toby and the Whistling Woods”
DVD BONUS FEATURES
· “The Steam Team” Puzzles
· Bonus Episode: Timmy Time™ - “Timmy’s Plane”

Wobbly Wheels and Whistles is one of my boys' favorite DVDs so far. I can't even tell you how many times we've watched it already.

Their favorite episode by far, especially Musician's, is Jumping Jobi Wood.
They enjoyed watching Thomas and Edward traverse the zipline bridge and the shake shake bridge, and when they did, Musician kept saying "be careful Thomas and Edward!"

In fact, he enjoyed the episode so much, that he kept making his own "shake shake bridge" with the train tracks we have at home. It was so cute!

The boys also met a lot of new engines they haven't seen before in other episodes, including Scruff.

I thought the lessons taught in the episodes were great, such as how it's okay to ask for help regardless of how young or old you are, and it's okay to say "no" when necessary so you don't get overwhelmed with work.

Wobbly Wheels and Whistles is a DVD I know the boys will keep watching again and again!

Shop: You can purchase Wobbly Wheels and Whistles at various retailers online and nationwide (SRP $14.98)

Win: One lucky winner will receive a copy of Wobbly Wheels and Whistles!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to Carol M!
  • To enter, comment on why you'd like to win.
  • You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
    1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Thomas & Friends (leave the link in your comment)
    2)Subscribe to my feed
    3)Add my button to your sidebar
    4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
    5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
  • The deadline for entries is March 1, 2011, 11:59pm HST.
  • If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on or about March 2, 2011 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
  • Valid for US addresses only.
  • By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
    Good luck!


Thank you to the sponsor for providing the product for review and/or giveaway free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

February 14, 2011

Yoplait Frozen Smoothie Review and Giveaway

During this pregnancy I have been craving a lot of sweets, especially fruity sweets, so I was really excited to try Yoplait Frozen Smoothies thanks to MyBlogSpark to healthily indulge my sweet tooth!
Including Yoplait Frozen Smoothies in your diet is a quick and easy way to help you get important nutrients, like vitamin C or calcium your body needs. And with seven out of every ten Americans not eating the recommended two to four servings of fruit per day, Yoplait Frozen Smoothies could help you reach that goal. Each package of Yoplait Frozen Smoothies contains one full serving of fruit (1/2 cup) and 110 to 120 calories per serving. Not only does Yoplait yogurt contain live and active cultures, but when prepared with skim milk and made according to package directions, Yoplait Frozen Smoothies are a good source of calcium.

I received a coupon good towards a package of Yoplait Frozen Smoothies (maximum value $3.88, and I ended up choosing the Strawberry Banana flavor ($4.59 in Hawaii).

Each package makes 2 servings of smoothies. I emptied out the entire package contents into a blender and added 1 cup of milk, and in about a minute the smoothies were ready!

I actually ended up dividing the smoothies into several small cups so my boys could have cool treats after lunch.

I thought the Strawberry Banana Smoothie was fruity and yummy, and so did Musician, who ate it all really quickly, all the while saying it's "cold, cold."

Yoplait Frozen Smoothies make it easy and delicious for my family and I to get the essential nutrients and vitamins we need daily!


Savvy Savings: Like Yoplait Frozen Smoothie on Facebook to download a $1.00 off coupon!




Win: One lucky winner will receive a Yoplait Frozen Smoothies Prize Pack consisting of: a VIP coupon to try Yoplait Frozen Smoothies, a drawstring backpack, a water bottle and a fitness journal.


***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to GabbyLowe!






  • To enter, visit Yoplait Frozen Smoothies and comment on which flavor is your favorite or you're most eager to try.
  • You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
  • 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Yoplait Frozen Smoothies(leave the link in your comment)
  • 2)Subscribe to my feed
  • 3)Add my button to your sidebar
  • 4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
  • 5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
  • 6)Follow Yoplait Frozen Smoothie on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
  • The deadline for entries is February 28, 2011, 11:59pm HST.
  • If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on or about March 1, 2011 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
  • Valid for US addresses only.
  • By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
    Good luck!

Thank you to Yoplait and MyBlogSpark for providing the information and prize pack for review/giveaway. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

February 13, 2011

Big G Cereals Hot Wheels Promotion and Prize Pack Giveaway

It started with just one.

And now we have too many to count.

I'm referring to Hot Wheels.

We have so many Hot Wheels in our home that I find them all over the place.

But does that stop us from buying more?

No.

And guess what...now some of my boys' favorite Big G Cereals come with Hot Wheels!


Now though February 27, specially-marked boxes of Big G® cereals (Cinnamon Toast Crunch®, Cookie Crisp®, Lucky Charms®, Cheerios® and Reese’s Puffs®) will include one of four custom-designed Hot Wheels pullback racers to make breakfast fun.

So if you or your kids love Hot Wheels just as much as my boys do, make sure to pick up a box (or two, or all five) of the specially-marked boxes of Big G Cereals!

Win:
One lucky winner will receive a Hot Wheels Super-Fan Family Prize Pack full of Hot Wheels merchandise, additional racetracks, Big G cereal and all four custom-designed pullback racers.
***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to Hifam!
  • To enter, comment on what makes your family a Hot Wheels Super-Fan Family.
  • You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
    1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Big G® cereals (leave the link in your comment)
    2)Subscribe to my feed
    3)Add my button to your sidebar
    4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
    5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
  • The deadline for entries is February 27, 2011, 11:59pm HST.
  • If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on or about February 28, 2011 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
  • Valid for US addresses only.
  • By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
    Good luck!
Thank you to the sponsor for providing the product for review and/or giveaway free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

February 12, 2011

stride rite Glitzy Pets Glamorous Sneaker Giveaway

Not too long ago, while on Twitter, I asked about what kinds of shoes other parents like and buy for their babies and kids, and many people said stride rite. It's no surprise, since not only do they offer a lot of cute styles, but after watching a stride rite webcast, it's evident that they invest in a lot of research and technology to help create the best possible shoes for babies and kids.


With stylish kids' shoes from stride rite, you can begin a lifetime of healthy walking patterns from the start. Our children's shoes come in playful styles that kids love. And moms trust the fact that they're designed using the latest technology and only the best materials. Shop for baby shoes, toddler shoes and more – and get the perfect fit every time.

stride rite has a lot of cool shoes (I think my boys would love the Star Wars line), including those in the Glitzy Pets line for girls, such as the Glitzy Pets Glamorous:
This Glitzy Pets sneaker is as Glamorous as it gets! With a new fashion outsole, vibrant leather and mesh upper and cool lighted technology this pair is sure to turn heads. Plus, sizes 10.5 and above come with a Glitzy Pets charm that attaches to the elasticized laces for a little extra fun.
  • Leather and mesh upper
  • New fashion platform outsole
  • Elasticized lace closure with Glitzy Pets charm (sizes 10.5 and above)
  • Lighted technology

For more information on this and other fun and functional shoes, visit the stride rite website!

Shop: To purchase the Glitzy Pets Glamorous sneaker, or any other stride rite products, visit the stride rite website to find a location near you.

Win: One lucky winner will receive a Glitzy Pets Glamorous sneaker (winner to indicate size).

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to kellyr78!

  • To enter, visit Stride Rite and comment on your favorite sneaker (excluding the giveaway item).
  • You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
    1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Stride Rite (leave the link in your comment)
    2)Subscribe to my feed
    3)Add my button to your sidebar
    4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
    5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
  • The deadline for entries is February 26, 2011, 11:59pm HST.
  • If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on or about February 27, 2011 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
  • Valid for US addresses only.
  • By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
    Good luck!
Thank you to the sponsor for providing the product for review and/or giveaway free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

February 11, 2011

Kid's Music Connection Free Downloads and Children's CDs Giveaway

A couple of months ago I posted about how you can download free children songs from Kids Music Connection, and the songs are still available for download!

You and your children will be able to discover and learn about great new artists and songs!

Please visit http://kidsmusicconnection.com/childrens-music-guide/ for more information and to download the free songs!

Win: One lucky winner will receive three (3) of the following five (5) CDs (winner's choice):

Paul Rogers http://www.thosedarnaccordions.com/paul/
Rik Barron http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rikbarron5
Jeremy Plays Guitar http://www.jeremyplaysguitar.com/
Dennis Caraher http://www.dogbonetown.com/
Oran Etkin http://www.oranetkin.com/

You can preview a song from each artist below:



***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to Rachael!
  • To enter, comment on which 3 CDs you'd pick if you won.
  • You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
  • 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Kids Music Connection(leave the link in your comment)
  • 2)Subscribe to my feed
  • 3)Add my button to your sidebar
  • 4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
  • 5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
  • The deadline for entries is February 25, 2011, 11:59pm HST.
  • If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on or about February 26, 2011 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
  • Valid for US and Canada addresses only.
  • By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.

Good luck!


Thank you to the sponsor for providing the products for giveaway free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

February 10, 2011

New Coupons for Campbell's, Nature's Own, and More!

I'm Ready, but I'm Not

I'm ready to be done with all of the pregnancy-related heartburn, acid reflux, coughing (from the acid reflux), peeing (CONSTANTLY), and aches and pains.

I know it's all worth it, but I'm looking forward to being able to lie down when I sleep even if it's only for a few hours a night (currently I have to sleep upright because the heartburn and acid reflux is so bad), and to actually be able to walk normally.

But I'm also not ready...

Even though I've been through it twice before, I'm nervous to go through labor and delivery again.

I'm nervous about having a newborn in the house again.

Will I remember what I'm supposed to do? Will I remember how to give him a bath? How to swaddle him (do they still swaddle?)?

As you can see, I'm ready to have the baby, but in many ways, I'm still not...

February 9, 2011

WW: Bubbles + Parachute = FUN!


For more participants, visit Wordless Wednesday.

February 8, 2011

Boys Infant/Toddler Clothing Giveaway

As I posted about previously, in cleaning and organizing to get ready for DS3's arrival, I found a huge bin of unused/new infant-toddler clothing. Nothing is wrong with them--it's just I either already had the same types of clothing or exact same item, they were the wrong size, etc., and I just never got around to returning them.

Since there was interest in a giveaway, I went ahead and picked up a large flat rate box from USPS, and stuffed whatever I could in there. It turns out that I couldn't fit as much as I had hoped, so if this giveaway gets a decent response I may do another giveaway and stuff more items in another large flat rate box.

Here is a list of the items and photos (I apologize in advance for the photos--I'm terrible at taking photos and I do need a new camera...also, some items were put on hangers for picture-taking purposes only; if they came on a hanger it will be shipped with the hanger):


  • Precious Moments Baby Memory Book
  • Gerber Onesies 5-pack (0-3 mos)
  • Gerber Onesies 5-pack (3-6 mos)
  • Old Navy PJ Set (3-6 mos)
  • Old Navy Onesie (3-6 mos)
  • Old Navy Long Sleeve Onesie?-I can't quite tell what it is because it's in a package (3-6 months)
  • Carter's Onesie (6 mos)
  • Lord of Hawaii Aloha Wear (18 mos)
  • Gymboree Sweater and Pants (6-12 mos)
  • Gymboree Socks (3-6 mos)
  • Carter's Quick & Cute Combos (12 mos)
  • The Children's Place Long Sleeve Shirt (3-6 mos)
  • The Children's Place Overalls (3-6 mos)
  • Small Wonders 5pk Body Suits (6-9 mos)

Hopefully someone will be able to make good use out of these!


Win: One lucky winner will win a box full of Boys Infant/Toddler Clothing + the Precious Moments Memory Book!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to amyd!

  • To enter, comment on why you'd like to win!
  • You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
  • 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy (leave the link in your comment)
  • 2)Subscribe to my feed
  • 3)Add my button to your sidebar
  • 4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
  • 5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
  • The deadline for entries is February 22, 2011, 11:59pm HST.
  • If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on or about (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
  • Valid for US addresses only.

Good luck!

February 7, 2011

Fireman Sam: Ready for Action DVD Review and Giveaway

Fireman Sam: Ready for Action:

Fireman Sam is ready for action in five exciting episodes!  The alarm has sounded and the Pontypandy crew is off to rescue their friends and others in need. From engine sparks and wild fireworks to water rescue and more, you won’t want to miss these adventures with your favorite hero!
Episodes:
· Going Out With A Bang
· Sticky Situation
· Best Foot Forward
· Hot Air
· Alarm on the Beach

My boys and I have never heard of Fireman Sam before, but I knew the boys would be excited to watch it because every time we pass by the fire station near our home they always exclaim "Fire Trucks!"

Fireman Sam did indeed turn out to be a hit. The boys enjoyed learning about the various ways Firemen not only put out fires, but help people as well as animals too. They also learned important lessons about safety, following directions, as well as different things about fires, such as how they can start, how air makes them worse, etc.

Their favorite episode was Going Out with a Bang episode because of the fireworks--they love to watch fireworks, but only from a distance.

The characters in Ready for Action were amusing too, which made the DVD both fun and very educational to watch!

Shop: You can purchase Ready for Action at various retailers online and nationwide (SRP $9.98).

Win: One lucky winner will receive a copy of Ready for Action!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to Super Blogger Girl!

  • To enter, comment on why you'd like to win!
  • You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
    1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Fireman Sam (leave the link in your comment)
    2)Subscribe to my feed
    3)Add my button to your sidebar
    4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
    5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
  • The deadline for entries is February 21, 2011, 11:59pm HST.
  • If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on or about February 22, 2011 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
  • Valid for US addresses only.
  • By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
    Good luck!


Thank you to the sponsor for providing the product for review/giveaway free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

February 6, 2011

Nature's Path Love Crunch Cereal and Love Crunch Cheesecake Recipe


This Valentine’s Day, why not indulge your sweetie’s sweet tooth and your heart? Serve up a special love-themed breakfast treat: Nature’s Path has partnered with Whole Foods Market on an exclusive, one-of-a-kind, limited-edition Love Crunch cereal to make your day and the day of someone in need very special.

Inspired by a true-life love story and philanthropic endeavor (see the Love Crunch Story below), each box of Nature’s Path Love Crunch sold donates $1 to help give women the chance to create or expand home-based businesses and lift themselves and their families out of poverty.

Love Crunch is the perfect marriage between the whole grain goodness of flax cocoa granola, rich dark chocolate chunks, the sweetness of strawberries, the tartness of raspberries and the decadence of coconut.

Like all Nature’s Path products, Love Crunch is USDA certified organic which means it does not contain artificial preservatives, additives, genetically modified organism (GMOs) or synthetic pesticides.

Here are a few ways you can indulge your sweet tooth while indulging your heart:

  • Simple Breakfast Treat Love Crunch is the perfect breakfast treat to serve your sweetie on Valentine’s Day morning and because Valentine’s Day is on a Monday, Love Crunch is a quick and easy way to start the special day with a delicious surprise for your loved ones.
  • Love Crunch Cheesecake (recipe below)
  • Love Crunch Topping Love Crunch makes a tasty topping for your favorite desserts. You can use it to top a yogurt parfait or a creamy bowl of ice cream for an added hint of love.

Diane Henderiks’ Strawberry Cheesecake
CRUST
1 3/4 cup Love Crunch cereal
1/2 cup Smart Bran cereal
1 tablespoon dark cocoa powder
1/3C butter; melted

CAKE
1/2 cup Lifeway Strawberry Greek Yogurt
4 oz. Lifeway Farmers cheese, room temperature
8 ounces low fat cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
2 tablespoon whole wheat flour
2 cups pureed fresh strawberries
1 cup Love Crunch cereal
12 fresh strawberries
fresh mint sprigs

1. Preheat oven to 350°
2. Combine cereals and cocoa in blender, process until blended to fine crumbs. Reserve 1/4 cup of crumbs.
3. Return reserved 1/4 cup of crumbs to blender and grind to fine powder. Set aside for garnish when cake is completed.
4. Make the crust: Combine all ingredients for crust in a large bowl. Press into bottom of 9” springform or cake pan and set aside.
5. Make the cake: Combine yogurt, farmer’s cheese and cream cheese in a large bowl. With electric mixer, completely beat in sugar. Beat in vanilla, spices and flour. Stir in pureed strawberries. Pour into pan.
6. Bake for about 1½ hours or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
7. Remove from oven and let stand 30 minutes.
8. Cover and refrigerate at least 6 hours before serving.
9. Dust entire top of cake with reserved finely ground cereal and sprinkle Love Crunch cereal around the edges.
10. Fan sliced strawberries in center of cake and place whole strawberry in the middle. Garnish with whole and sliced strawberries and mint sprigs
11. Enjoy!
Serves 12



Recipe courtesy:
Diane Henderiks, R.D.
Personal Chef/Culinary Nutritionist
www.dishwithdiane.com
Dietitian in the Kitchen?


I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Cleaning with Chocolate

The other day Smiley was playing with a Halloween ink stamp and he wanted to stamp me on the arm, so I let him.

I forgot about the stamp on my arm though, so when I went to close a window, I stuck my arm through the opening of the WHITE shutters and a few hours later I noticed orange marks on the shutter from the ink.

I thought, "no problem," I'd just wipe it off.

But it did become a problem.

I used organic cleaners, alcohol, baby wipes, paper towels, soap--whatever I could think of to get rid of the orange ink stains, but nothing would work!

I was so bummed, because the orange stains were really obvious.

But then I remembered seeing something on a show about using chocolate...

In Hawaii, a lot of Japanese television shows are broadcast, and one show that I've been watching is 26 Hours in a Day. The show demonstrates all sorts of time-saving tricks, such as how to peel 5 eggs in 20 seconds, restore the splayed bristles on a toothbrush, or restore a stretched out neckline on a t-shirt.

One trick that was demonstrated was how to get rid of permanent marker on furniture. All it took was a bar of chocolate!

The demonstrator rubbed the chocolate onto the mark, and it started to disappear! It had something to do with the oils in the chocolate breaking down the stain.

Or something like that. I really don't remember. I was just quite impressed.

So, I thought to myself I should try it on the ink stain and see if it would work. The worst that could happen was that my white shutters would be orange AND brown.

I took a single chocolate chip and started to rub it on the smaller of the two orange stains.

And it began to disappear!

I was so elated (and relieved that I wouldn't have to explain to DH how the orange stains got there).

I started to work on the bigger stain, and that quickly disappeared too.

WHEW!

I'll be looking around my house for other stains I could try the chocolate on. Of course, if you try using chocolate to clean, just test it on a small area first since you don't want to end up with brown stains on your furniture.

I've always loved chocolate, now I love it even more!

February 5, 2011

Thomas & Friends: The Lion of Sodor DVD Review and Giveaway


Join Thomas as he roars down the tracks with the most special delivery yet, The Lion of Sodor. Thomas’ special delivery is not what he thinks it is - a real lion.  When the other trains try to tell him that it’s actually a statue, he is too excited to listen. Join Thomas as he learns the importance of listening to others in this lionhearted collection of tales from the tracks. 

Episodes include:
· “Lion of Sodor”
· “Thomas and the Pigs”
· “Time for a Story”
· “Hiro Helps Out”
DVD BONUS FEATURES
· Party Train Match Game
· “Determination” Karaoke Song
· Bonus Episode: Timmy Time™ Sneak Peek- “Timmy’s Plane”

My boys LOVE Thomas & Friends. They have many of the trains and other Thomas & Friends toys, and they love watching Thomas & Friends episodes on On-Demand on TV. They only have one Thomas & Friends DVD though, so when we received The Lion of Sodor, I knew they would be excited to watch it!

In the title episode, Thomas thought he was transporting a real lion and asked some of his fellow trains for things that he thought the lion would like, such as sticky syrup, fish, and straw. Despite the other trains trying to tell him it wasn't a real statue, Thomas was too excited to listen and kept going.

However, when it was revealed that the lion was not a "real" lion but instead a statue, Musician became a little upset when he saw that it was covered in sticky syrup, fish, and straw.
He exclaimed "OH NO!" It was so cute.

Eventually Thomas made the statue look like new again, and the episode offered a really good lesson on the importance of listening.

The boys really enjoyed the other episodes too, especially Thomas and the Pigs, because they got to see and identify a lot of different farm animals, such as cows and goats.

What was really neat about this DVD that's different from the other DVD we own and the episodes we watch on On-Demand is that the trains talk! The boys thought it was so neat to hear the trains actually speak.

The Lion of Sodor is a great addition to add to our DVD collection, especially since my boys love Thomas & Friends!

Shop: You can purchase The Lion of Sodor at various retailers online and nationwide (SRP $14.98).

Win: One lucky winner will receive a copy of The Lion of Sodor!
***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to icequeen566!
  • To enter, comment on why you/your child(ren) like Thomas & Friends.
  • You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
    1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Thomas & Friends: The Lion of Sodor (leave the link in your comment)
    2)Subscribe to my feed
    3)Add my button to your sidebar
    4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
    5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
  • The deadline for entries is February 19, 2011, 11:59pm HST.
  • If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on or about February 20, 2011 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
  • Valid for US addresses only.
  • By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
    Good luck!


Thank you to the sponsor for providing the product for review/giveaway free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

February 4, 2011

FiberChoice Review

I read and hear so much about how important fiber is in your daily diet, and thanks to Mom Central Consulting, I received a coupon to try a free FiberChoice product!



FiberChoice® Chewable Fiber Supplement is a simple, convenient, natural fiber that provides the regular benefits of fiber, while also helping to support the immune system, digestive tract, and overall health. · The main ingredient in FiberChoice® tablets is inulin, the same healthy fiber found naturally in many fruits and vegetables. · Inulin is “prebiotic,” which means it nourishes the friendly, “good” bacteria in the digestive system.

  • The main source of fiber in FiberChoice® is inulin, the same kind of fiber you'll find in fruits and vegetables.
  • Convenient, chewable tablets --no water needed -- get your fiber on-the-go!
  • Variety of great-tasting flavors -- we were the first to offer a variety of flavors.
  • More fiber per dose than other brands.
  • 2 in 1 options -- get your fiber plus Weight Management, Calcium, or Multivitamins.
  • I went to a local grocer and used the coupon towards a bottle of FiberChoice Sugar-Free Chewable Assorted Fruit Tablets.

    When I opened up the bottle, I admit I was a bit intimidated by how large the tablets were. I thought to myself "I need to take two of these?" (for adults 2 tablets are recommended daily). I also was afraid it would taste too chalky.

    But I was pleasantly surprised at how the fruit flavors tasted and although I thought the tablets were a little too "crunchy," they were easy to go down after all.

    Note: The FiberChoice website states: It is appropriate to use regular orange, sugar-free orange and sugar-free assorted fruit tablets during a normal pregnancy. We recommend you discuss the use of FiberChoice Weight Management with your physician prior to taking. Since I'm pregnant, I ALWAYS ask my doctor about taking any additional supplements, so if you're pregnant, you should too.

    I think it's great that not only does FiberChoice provide fiber, but it also helps to support the immune system with prebiotics!

    I will definitely have DH take FiberChoice as well, because I know he needs more fiber in his diet as well, and hopefully the prebiotics will help his digestive system too.

    I think the FiberChoice tablets are an easy, convenient, and tasty way to get the fiber I need!

    Shop: You can purchase FiberChoice® at various drugstores and grocers nationwide (available in 10, 90 and 220-count bottles, ranging in price from $2.49 to $19.99).


     
    I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of FiberChoice and received a coupon to facilitate my review and a gift code to thank me for taking the time to participate.

    February 3, 2011

    CSN Stores $45 Gift Certificate Giveaway

    In our neighborhood is a home with a swing set in the backyard, and I keep telling myself one day we'll get one for our backyard too since I know the boys would love it.

    If you're looking for some great backyard items, like a swing set or a trampoline, or anything for your home at all, CSN Stores has a vast selection of items to choose from!


    Beyond stellar customer service, our 200+ sites at CSN Stores offer the largest selection of items for most home and office goods. And these items are priced right to be very competitive with other sites, providing our customers with strong savings, too. This combination of benefits is rare among online retailers and is what sets us apart. Leading brands on CSN Stores' sites include: La-Z-Boy, Herman Miller, iittala, Kartell, LG, Rachael Ray, Sanyo, Diaper Dude and many, many others. The variety of products is also staggering, with some one million available.

    Whether you're looking for playhouses or swing sets, office furniture or water beds, CSN Stores has a huge selection at great prices!


    Win: One lucky winner will receive a $45 Gift Certificate to CSN Stores!

    ***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

    Congratulations to Nicole Greene!

    • To enter, visit CSN Stores and comment on which item you'd use the gift certificate for.
    • You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
    • 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and CSN Stores (leave the link in your comment)
    • 2)Subscribe to my feed
    • 3)Add my button to your sidebar
    • 4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
    • 5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
    • The deadline for entries is February 17, 2011, 11:59pm HST.
    • If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on or about February 18, 2011 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
    • Valid for US or Canada addresses only.
    • By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
    • Good luck!

    Thank you to the sponsor for providing the product for giveaway free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

     
    The review posts published on Sage and Savvy are personal opinions only. Press releases and other information from business are shared if I believe it may be of interest to Sage and Savvy readers. Press releases/information from businesses do not reflect my personal opinion. Unless otherwise specified, products are provided by the sponsor free of charge, and no monetary compensation is received. Sage and Savvy assumes no liability for any malfunction, injury, or other loss or damage, whether direct, consequential, or incidental, arising out of services, companies, or products that have been featured, reviewed, given away, advertised, or written about on Sage and Savvy. Click here for my Terms of Use.

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