Pillsbury Baguette Chips Review and Giveaway

I always love trying out new snacks, and I recently had a chance to try the new Pillsbury® Baguette Chips!

These hearty chips are sliced from oven baked bread and topped with savory seasonings bringing the unique and contemporary flavors of Italian Cheese & Herb and Cheddar Sun-dried Tomato to gourmet snack chips. The delicious flavors and perfect texture of these crispy chips can help you round out any recipe.

The Pillsbury Baguette Chips are my favorite kind of snack - savory, flavorful, and versatile.

I really enjoyed both flavors, but if I had to choose a favorite between the two, it would be the Italian Cheese & Herb.

I like how each baguette chip had a nice crunch and that they were flavorful, but not overpowering.  The baguette chips are great eaten straight out of the bag, accompanying a sandwich, or crushed up on soups, casseroles, and salads.

I also like that they have 50% less fat than regular potato chips*.  Even though each baguette chip is smaller than a typical potato chip, a serving is about 21 baguette chips, which I thought was quite filling!

I think the Pillsbury Baguette Chips are great for snacking or for adding a savory crunch to dishes, and I hope they come out with more great flavors!

Savvy Savings:  To download a printable coupon for $0.75 off one package, visit http://bit.ly/PBCcoupon.

Win: One lucky winner will receive a Pillsbury Baguette Chips Prize Pack consisting of 3 bags of Pillsbury Baguette Chips in Italian Cheese & Herb, and 3 bags of Pillsbury Baguette Chips in Cheddar Sundried Tomato.

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to freddie!

• To enter, comment on a flavor you'd like to see Pillsbury Baguette Chips come out with next.
  
• 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 Pillsbury® Baguette Chips (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--you may tweet once per day based on HST (leave the link in your comment) 
• The deadline for entries is July 14, 2012 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 July 15, 2012 (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 respond.
• 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!

*Pillsbury Baguette Chips (5g fat per 29g serving); regular potato chips (11g fat per 29g serving). See nutrition information for sodium content.

Disclosure: The product, gift pack, information, and additional sample have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

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Stella & Dot - Extra 20% Off Sale Items

Are you ready to sparkle this Independence Day? Stella & Dot's Sparkle Sale is running now through 7/4 offering an EXTRA 20% off already-reduced sale items! Below are some of my favorite pieces . . .

The Threaded Turquoise Necklace is beautiful. It's entirely handmade with delicate turquoise teardrops balanced on silk and metallic thread. Wear while running errands or with that little black dress! The Wishing Nugget Bracelet is gorgeous and has crystal pave balls, a turquoise nugget and wooden beads--making it a perfect accessory for your summer attire. The 14kt gold Signature Leaf Charm is stunning on its own or paired with other charms. Wear this charm to a summer bbq or a girls night out. Sparkle all summer long wearing these great accessories!

The above is an affiliate promotion.

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Culturelle Kids! Chewables Review

For a while now I've been giving Musician Culturelle Kids! Packets, but the past few days I've been giving him Culturelle® Kids! Chewables.

Culturelle® Kids! Chewables is the #1 pediatrician recommended brand of probiotic supplements for children. It is the only probiotic supplement brand in the U.S. containing 100% Lactobacillus GG, one of the most scientifically studied probiotic strains for digestive health and immune support specifically for growing children. It helps restore the natural balance of good bacteria in the digestive tract to help alleviate occasional digestive upset as well as support a child’s own natural defenses.  Culturelle Kids Probiotic Chewables is for children weighing 50 to 100 pounds and comes in a great tasting sugar-free berry flavor.

I absolutely love the Culturelle Kids! Chewables.

Although I still use the packets for Smiley (since he doesn't meet the weight range), the chewables are just so much more convenient!

The packets are sometimes difficult to tear open, so often times I have to look for kitchen shears or a knife to open them.

Also, it has to be mixed in a cool liquid or food, such as juice or yogurt, so I have to make sure the boys drink all their juice or eat all of their yogurt to make sure they're getting all of the probiotics.

With the chewables, I don't have to worry about any of the above issues.

I simply pop a chewable out and give it to Musician.

I can give it to him anytime, anywhere, without having to worry about finding something to mix it in, and he loves the berry flavor (he says it tastes like strawberry).

Although the chewables are a bit pricier than the packets, I am definitely buying them from now on for Musician, and when Smiley enters the appropriate weight range I'll be giving them to him too.

Culturelle Kids! Chewables offer an easy and convenient way for kids to get his daily probiotics!

For more information on Culturelle products, probiotics and Lactobacillus GG, visit the Culturelle website.

Shop: You can purchase Culturelle Kids! Chewables at various retailers online and nationwide (SRP $26.49 for 30 Chewables)

Savvy Savings:  Click here for a coupon good for $1 off Culturelle Kids! Chewables.

Thank you to the sponsor for providing the product free of charge.  I received no monetary compensation for this post.

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Pampers Teams Up with Jennifer Hudson; Offers Free Download of Lullaby and Goodnight

Pampers, the world-renowned diaper brand, has partnered with Grammy Award-winning recording artist and mom Jennifer Hudson to pay tribute, through the power of music, to the joyful and genuine love that parents feel for their babies each and every day. Pampers understands that expressing love through songs and melodies is a naturally powerful way for parents and babies to connect and bond – and a huge part of this musical experience surrounds the revered tradition of the evening-time lullaby. To celebrate the beautiful lullaby ritual, Jennifer Hudson has teamed with Pampers to record an original rendition of the bedtime classic “Lullaby and Goodnight” – exclusively available for free download on Pampers Facebook. 
 
To celebrate the release of this exclusive track, which officially launches today to the general public on Pampers Facebook, Pampers hosted a special live “Pampers Lullabies” event last night in New York City at Espace. The event was attended by Jennifer Hudson, along with an audience of parents and their babies, who came together for a live “listening party” and musical preview to celebrate how music evokes emotion and parent/child bonding. At the “Pampers Lullabies” listening party, Pampers rolled out the “teal carpet” for babies and their families who were treated to a special celestial-themed celebration – offering a cozy bedtime-style bonding experience enhanced by music and song. Attendees had the opportunity to meet and greet the Pampers lullaby songbird and delight in all of the essential elements that lull little ones into a good night’s sleep – from a shining moon and twinkling stars, to stuffed plush bear stations, to lullaby serenades, bed-time stories and a special rocking chair lounge!

“Music offers a powerful and emotional way to enhance the natural loving connection between parent and child,” said Fama Francisco, Pampers General Manager. "We are thrilled to pay tribute to the beautiful role of songs – and in particular to the endearing role of the evening-time lullaby – by teaming up with Grammy winner and mom Jennifer Hudson to offer parents a contemporary, fresh take on a bedtime favorite. The joyful spirit of music offers moms just one more way to express love for their little ones and ease their transition into peaceful sleep.”

To enjoy the free download of Jennifer Hudson’s original rendition of “Lullaby and Goodnight” created exclusively for Pampers, consumers can log on to Pampers Facebook page (www.facebook.com/pampers). 

For more information on Pampers visit www.Pampers.com. 

I received no monetary compensation for this post.

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Blurb 15% Off Discount

Did you know that there are approximately 5,919 people getting married every day? That means a lot of wedding photos! Create a Blurb photo book capturing all your favorite moments. Blurb makes it easy to publish and share your wedding photo book with family, guests, and faraway friends. Order one book, or one for everyone! Wedding party and family members can even buy their own copies of your wedding photography book in the Blurb Bookstore. And in one click, you can use Blurb BookShow to share your wedding album on Facebook, your blog, or website.

Still need ideas for bringing a personal touch to your big day? With Blurb, you can even make a beautiful bridal shower photo book, an engagement photo book, a wedding anniversary book, or a custom wedding guest book! Best of all, save 15% when you create your Blurb book today with promo code BLURBBOOK15OFF. Happy Creating! 

The above is an affiliate promotion.

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Ice Age: Continental Drift - Do the Sid Shuffle!

Ice Age: Continental Drift opens in a couple of weeks, on July 13, and until then, check out this cool new dance!

Scrat's nutty pursuit of the cursed acorn, which he’s been after since the dawn of time, has world-changing consequences – a continental cataclysm that triggers the greatest adventure of all for Manny, Diego and Sid. In the wake of these upheavals, Sid reunites with his cantankerous Granny, and the herd encounters a ragtag menagerie of seafaring pirates determined to stop them from returning home.

I received no monetary compensation for this post.

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Favorite Grilling Recipes - Free eBook from Food & Wine Magazine

Just in time for summer, get a Free Grilling Recipe eBook from Food & Wine Magazine compliments of American Family! Click here to get your copy!

The above is an affiliate promotion.

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New Mabel's Labels Products

Mabel's Labels is offering some great new products!

Mabel's Labels just introduced its first ever self laminating write-on labels that are ready right away. These labels are perfect for lunch containers, toys, baby bottles, school supplies and more. The Preschool Shoe labels are also great because they help identify footwear so small kids can tell their left feet from their right. Pre-readers can simply match the halves of familiar shapes, making learning and dressing fun!

Always lending out movies and games? Be sure to remind the borrower that they belong to you with Mabel's Labels new Book & Media labels. 

The Tween labels that feature a first name in your choice of boy or girl designs. These labels are perfect for lunch and camp gear, water bottles, school supplies, journals, electronics, sports equipment and much more. Be sure to check out all of Mabel's Labels great new products today! 

Happy Labeling! 

The above is an affiliate promotion.

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WW: A Magic Moment

(One of my favorite photos taken during our recent trip to Disneyland - Baby watching the fireworks display.  Just the look of wonder and happiness on his face makes my heart melt!)

Visit Wordless Wednesday for more participants.

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Shout Her Lovely Name by Natalie Serber Giveaway

Mothers and daughters ride the familial tide of joy, pride, regret, loathing, and love in these stories of resilient and flawed women. In a battle between a teenage daughter and her mother, wheat bread and plain yogurt become weapons. An aimless college student, married to her much older professor, sneaks cigarettes while caring for their newborn son. On the eve of her husband’s fiftieth birthday, a pilfered fifth of rum, an unexpected tattoo, and rogue teenagers leave a woman questioning her place. And in a suite of stories, we follow capricious, ambitious single mother Ruby and her cautious, steadfast daughter Nora through their tumultuous life — stray men, stray cats, and psychedelic drugs — in 1970s California. Gimlet-eyed and emotionally generous, achingly real and beautifully written, these unforgettable stories lay bare the connection and conflict in families. Shout Her Lovely Name heralds the arrival of a powerful new writer.

Here’s what others are saying about Shout Her Lovely Name:

“From the very first page, this extraordinary collection of short stories grabbed me by the throat and wouldn't let go. It is filled with poignant, thought-provoking observations on the delicate yet unbreakable bond between mothers and daughters. Serber has given readers a remarkable, heart-felt book to be savored, shared and passed on from one generation to another.”
—Anderson McKean, Page & Palette, Fairhope, AL

“Coming of age is a painful and beautiful experience in Natalie Serber's hands. These are funny and poignant pieces, building a book that feels novelistic in sweep, yet true to the precision and direct aim of the short story. A real pleasure.”

—Antonya Nelson

“Shout Her Lovely Name joins the ranks of the finest books ever to address relations between daughters and their mothers—equal parts love and sandpaper. I ached for these characters and cried at their hard-earned moments of joy. A book to make you marvel that someone really does understand, to make you grateful that she wrote it all down so fiercely, so tenderly.”

—Robin Black, author of If I Loved You I Would Tell You This

 

Shop: You can purchase Shout Her Lovely Name at various retailers online and nationwide (SRP $24.00).

Win: One lucky winner will receive a copy of Shout Her Lovely Name!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to lilyk!

• 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 Shout Her Lovely Name (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--you may tweet once per day based on HST (leave the link in your comment) 
• The deadline for entries is July 10, 2012 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 July 11, 2012 (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 respond.
• 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. Click here for my disclosure policy.

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Coupons for L'oreal, Land O'Frost, TUMS, and More!

Here are some new coupons being offered on RedPlum:

SAVE $1.00 off any TWO (2) packages of Vanity Fair® napkins

SAVE $1.00 on ONE (1) 2-Giant Roll or larger package of Brawny® Paper Towels

$1.00 OFF TUMS® freshers™ (50ct.)

SAVE $0.75 on any TWO (2) Luigi's® Real Italian Ice products

$1.00 OFF any TWO (2) packages of Land O’Frost Premium®, DeliShaved® or Bistro Favorites™

SAVE $1.00 on ANY L’Oréal® Paris Excellence shade

SAVE $1.00 on ANY Garnier® Fructis® shampoo, conditioner or treatment (Excluding trial size)

SAVE $1.00 on ANY Garnier® Fructis® Style product (Excluding trial size)

BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE ANY flavor Good 'n Natural® Bar

The above is an affiliate promotion.

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Extra 25% Off Sale Items at Tea Collection

Starting today Tea Collection is offering an EXTRA 25% off already marked-down clothes with promo code SUMMER25. This extra savings is good now through July 1st at 11:59 pm PST while supplies last. Now's the best time to shop Tea Collection and save on cool clothes for your kids that are perfect for summer. 

Happy Shopping!

The above is an affiliate promotion.

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Knott's Berry Farm Review

During our recent trip to Southern California, we visited Knott's Berry Farm.  It was our kids' first visit to Knott's and we couldn't wait to take them on the various rides!

Upon arriving at Knott's Berry Farm, we first went to the Information Center to obtain a Guest Assistance Pass for Musician.  Although children in general can sometimes get impatient while waiting in line, for those with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, waiting even a short time can easily result in increased anxiety, meltdowns, and tantrums, so to try and prevent such situations, we knew it was important for us to request a Guest Assistance Pass.

The pass does not give him "front of line" access or immediate boarding as some people mistakenly believe - it simply allows for "modified waiting times to attractions."  There could still be a wait depending on the length of the line.

Note: For guests with special needs, there are two different types of passes - a yellow pass in which the guest will wait on the sidelines for the rest of their party to get through the line, and a blue pass in which the guest gives the pass to the ride operator, who gives a time to return (the time will be what the operator believes it takes to get through the line).

I brought along all of Musician's documentation and explained Musician's situation to an employee who was standing right outside of the Information Center.  She proceeded to ask me how many people were in my party, and I told her 5 (myself, my husband, and my 3 sons, including Musician), and she ended up giving me a blue pass after writing down "4 total" on the pass.  I assumed that 4 is the maximum number, but because Musician already started to get anxious and started stimming in the short time I was requesting the pass, I was unable to ask for clarification (the pass itself notes that ONE riding companion may board with the guest, so I was grateful that she even allowed us more than 1).  

The employee who gave us the pass seemed very informed about those with special needs, including an ASD.  When I mentioned Musician had an ASD, she was readily aware how problems can occur when those with an ASD are waiting for a very long time.  I was very appreciative of how knowledgeable she was.

After getting the Guest Assistance Pass, we headed straight to Camp Snoopy.

Luckily, there was little or no wait for most of the rides which Musician wanted to go on, and we only used the Guest Assistance Pass once while in Camp Snoopy.

The first ride he wanted to go on was the Balloon Race (there was no line) and he just loved it!

He also wanted to go on the Red Baron ride, which had a fairly long line, so we used the Guest Assistance Pass. We had no issues when we showed the pass to the Ride Operator, but just as Musician was about to go into one of the planes, he started crying for some reason, and he ended up not going on the ride.  The Ride Operator was very empathic, saying it was okay and not a problem.

As for Smiley, he loved the Log Peeler.  He rode it twice!

Both of the kids also loved Charlie Brown's Speedway.

After a few more rides at Camp Snoopy, we explored the rest of Knott's Berry Farm, where we rode on a few more rides.

Musician's favorite rides at Knott's happened to be any that involved a train, and it was so great that Knott's has several!  He rode the Calico Railroad, Calico Mine Ride, and our entire family got to ride the Grand Sierra Scenic Railroad.

The one ride we used his Guest Assistance Pass for outside of Camp Snoopy was the Timber Mountain Log Ride.

Once again, we had no issues whatsoever using the card. We simply presented the pass at the ride exit where the attendant wrote down a "board time." Once the board time expired, Musician and I presented the pass to the ride operator and went on the ride.

Of all the rides at Knott's, the one thing that Musician loved the most was not even a ride - it was the Angry Bird carnival-type game (he LOVES Angry Birds!).

Also, Musician really enjoyed watching all of the roller coasters throughout the park. He loves riding them, and always asks to "ride the big roller coasters," but he loves to watch them too - the repetitiveness just intrigues him.

Overall we really enjoyed our visit to Knott's Berry Farm. We love that the park is autism-friendly and that the employees were not only friendly and helpful, but they seemed to be knowledgeable about those with special needs.

I liked that there's a nice variety of rides. There are many thrilling roller coasters perfect for adults and older kids, and Camp Snoopy offered a lot of great rides for the little ones.  I also liked that there were a few rides that our entire family could go on together.

There was so much to see and do at Knott's.  We were there for four hours and I wish we had more time there since there were a few things we didn't get to do, but with 3 kids ages 5 and under, you can imagine how cranky and tired they were getting (I think I may look into staying at the Knott's Berry Farm Hotel the next time so we can take the kids back to the hotel to nap and return to the park).

We can't wait to go back again, and by then Musician will be older and taller, and maybe he'll get to ride the "big roller coasters" that he can't get enough of watching!

Knott's Berry Farm.  Enjoy!

Knott's Berry Farm: 8039 Beach Boulevard  Buena Park, CA 90620; 714-220-5200

Thank you to Knott's Berry Farm for providing the complimentary admission tickets.

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Monsters University - In Theaters June 21, 2013

I'm so excitied for Monsters University!  We just saw the preview at the theaters and the whole crowd was just laughing!

It's just too bad we have to wait an entire year for it to hit theaters!  Until then, you can check out the trailer below.

Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan are an inseparable pair, but that wasn’t always the case. From the moment these two mismatched monsters met they couldn't stand each other. “Monsters University” unlocks the door to how Mike and Sulley overcame their differences and became the best of friends.

Screaming with laughter and fun, “Monsters University” is directed by Dan Scanlon (“Cars,” “Mater and the Ghostlight,” “Tracy”) and produced by Kori Rae (“Up,” “The Incredibles,” “Monsters, Inc.”). The film opens in U.S. theaters on June 21, 2013, and will be shown in Disney Digital 3D™ in select theaters.

I received no monetary compensation for this post.

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Dirty Jobs Coupon Benefitting mikeroweWORKS Foundation

When it comes to dirt, Mike Rowe is the undisputed CEO. Inspired by the working men and women who have some of the country’s messiest occupations as seen on the Emmy®-nominated Discovery Channel series, Dirty Jobs™, the new line of Dirty Jobs cleaning products was formulated to handle your toughest jobs. Rowe got involved in the marketing of this new line of cleaning products because “celebrating the hard working people that make civilized life possible for the rest of us and making it easier to clean up at the end of the day was great motivation." His goal is to raise awareness of the serious issues facing our country with a growing skills gap in the trades, aging working and unfilled jobs and lack of new workers to fill those jobs. The mikeroweWORKS Foundation was founded as a “PR campaign for hard work and skilled labor” and to call attention to the widening skills gap.

Available at Walmart and Lowe’s nationwide, My Dirty Jobs has partnered with mikeroweWORKS to raise money for the cause. Each container of the My Dirty Jobs cleaning product has the mikeroweWORKS stamp of approval, encouraging consumers to visit Mike Rowe’s website and get involved in working for a brighter future in the American labor industries. For each $3.00 coupon redeemed during this campaign, My Dirty Jobs, LLC will donate $1.00 directly to the mikeroweWORKS Foundation.

“In spite of its name, the mikeroweWORKS Foundation does not benefit me - it benefits men and women who wish to pursue a career in the skilled trades,” said Rowe. “We subsidize tool stipends, scholarships and other forms of skills training.” To help the cause, customers can simply visit www.trydirtyjobs.com, download the redeemable $3.00 coupon and not only purchase one of the best cleaning products in the nation, but also support the mikeroweWORKS Foundation’s mission to help reinvigorate trade school enrollments and close the skills gap across America.

“Given our close affiliation with Mike and the hit series Dirty Jobs™ which profiles real-life heroes who work hard every day, there is a natural tie-in to the mikeroweWORKS Foundation and the My Dirty Jobs line of cleaning products”, added President & co-founder of My Dirty Jobs, Adam Lerner. “Customers can simply print out a coupon, save money, use a great product in their homes and support an extraordinary cause all at once.”

For more information on the coupons, please visit www.trydirtyjobs.com and for additional information on the mikeroweWORKS Foundation, supporters can visit www.mikeroweWORKS.com.

I received no monetary compensation for this post.

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Mott's Medleys Fruit Flavored Snacks Review and Giveaway

My kids love fruit and fruity snacks, so when they saw the boxes of Mott's Medleys Fruit Flavored Snacks that we were fortunate to receive to review, they couldn't wait to try them (and I couldn't wait to try them too)!

Summer is on its way and with that comes a schedule jam packed with play dates, summer camp, and road trips. With all these activities planned, there is one thing your kids are sure to need ... great tasting snacks! Fortunately the Mott’s® taste that kids love is now available in yummy fruit flavored snacks! Available in Assorted Fruit and Berry varieties, Mott’s® Medleys Fruit Flavored Snacks are the ideal blend of great tasting and quality ingredients that will make both kids and moms happy.

Mott's Medleys Fruit Flavored Snacks are so yummy.  My kids kept asking for more and I literally had to hide all of the boxes.  They're so good that it's hard to just eat one pack - and I know because I tried them too.

They are made with real fruit and vegetable juice, and they taste really fruity.  They're great for after school snacks, lunch box treats, snacks for travel, or even goodie bag favors!

I love that the packs of Mott's Medleys Fruit Flavored Snacks are easily portable - we've been taking them all over - even to Musician's baseball games to share with the other kids!

What I also love is how the boxes come with Double Box Tops.  I'm always cutting out Box Tops for Musician's school, so the Double Box Tops will really come in handy!

For a delicious fruit-flavored treat that's great just about anytime, anywhere, try Mott's Medleys Fruit Flavored Snacks!

Savvy Savings: Visit http://bit.ly/MottsCoupon to download a printable coupon for $0.60 off the purchase of (1) Mott’s® Medleys Fruit Flavored Snacks today!

Win: Four lucky winners will each receive a Mott's Medleys Fruit Flavored Snacks Gift Pack which contains 3 boxes of Assorted Fruit flavor and 3 boxes of Berry flavor.

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to 1porkshop, susan, mail4rosey, AngelaH!

• To enter, comment on when you'd give Mott's Medleys Fruit Flavored Snacks to your kids (after school, play dates, etc.)
  
• 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 Mott's Medleys Fruit Flavored Snacks (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--you may tweet once per day based on HST (leave the link in your comment) 
• 6)Follow Mott's on Twitter (leave your user name in your account).
• The deadline for entries is July 7, 2012 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 July 8, 2012 (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 respond.
• 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!

Disclosure: The product, gift pack, information, and additional sample have all been provided by Mott’s® through MyBlogSpark.

. Click here for my disclosure policy.

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Thomas & Friends: Schoolhouse Delivery DVD Giveaway

Thomas & Friends: Schoolhouse Delivery:

Thomas and his engine friends are taking you right to the head of the class in the all-new, release Thomas & Friends®: Schoolhouse Delivery, available on DVD, Digital Download and On Demand July 10, 2012 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. Get ready to learn about loyalty, friendship and fun with the engines on Sodor with special deliveries and new adventures on the tracks.

For over 65 years, the award-winning Thomas & Friends has taught timeless life lessons of discovery, friendship and cooperation, inviting generations of children to enter a world of imagination through the tracks of a train and the words of a story.

DVD SYNOPSIS
School’s in session and there are important lessons to be learned on the Island of Sodor. Diesel gets a hero’s welcome when he makes a Really Useful delivery to the schoolhouse. Percy gets a lesson in responsibility after he runs into trouble trying to be like the bigger engines! Henry gets trained in how to handle health and safety emergencies; while Hiro teaches Thomas about his happy homeland. Join the Steam Team for a bright journey to the Head of the Class!

Episodes include:
· “Diesel’s Special Delivery”
· “Being Percy”
· “Henry’s Health and Safety”
· “Happy Hiro”

DVD BONUS FEATURES
· “The Mighty Magnet” Game
· “Guess Who?” Puzzles

Shop: You can purchase Schoolhouse Delivery at retailers online and nationwide beginning July 10 (SRP $14.98).

Win: One lucky winner will receive a copy of Schoolhouse Delivery!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to Kim!

• To enter, comment what your favorite subject was when you were in school.
  
• 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--you may tweet once per day based on HST (leave the link in your comment) 
• The deadline for entries is July 7, 2012 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 July 8, 2012 (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 respond.
• 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. Click here for my disclosure policy.

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Sizzling Stress Free Summer Apps (not the edible kind)

Even during the lazy, hazy days of summer vacation, when you’re reclining in your beach chair, soaking up the sun and sand, you can’t completely relinquish your role as a superhuman – admit it, you still need to be the activities coordinator, head shopper, meal planner, and everything in between.

Don’t fret! There is still a way to fulfill your responsibilities at the swipe of a finger, while still sipping your frozen drink!

Below are easy, engaging, and information-rich iPad, iPhone and Android apps that can be used right from the beach.

With all the stuff you need to bring to the beach – towels, sunblock, and snacks – your beach bag is already overflowing! With LevelUp, you can leave the wallet at home! LevelUp is the free mobile app that lets you pay with your phone to save time and money. LevelUp can even provide you with information on the nearest food truck offering the best lobster rolls for lunch!

Love to shop for fashion, food, housewares and more, but refuse to leave the beach to head to an indoor mall? Catalog Spree, the highest rated shopping app for the iPad® offers over 230 catalogs and allows you to discover, share, and buy with the touch of a finger.

After a relaxing day at the beach, it’s now time to take the evening by storm. timeRAZOR, the free, dynamic hyper-local events app, gives you the scoop on tons of cool events near where you live, work, play (yes, even on vacation). With timeRAZOR, you can find fun activities for the kids, such as "Ultimate Putt-off" at the local putt-putt course. And for some adult nightlife, timeRAZOR can help you discover the trendiest entertainment nearby whether it is a hot local band playing seaside, a karaoke contest, or even a wine tasting!

Good Looks is a new fashion app for the iPhone® that allows users to capture, sort and plan their outfits using the iPhone’s built-in camera function. The last thing you want to worry about on vacation is what to wear. Good Looks takes the guesswork out of getting dressed, letting you line up your outfits ahead of time and even serves up the local weather to help you plan!

Finally, with summer travel looming, most moms will be feverishly checking the weather report to make sure their vacations don't get rained out. But what if more severe weather hits while they're already on the road or at the beach? Ping4 is a brand new free app for iOS and Android that automatically sends a real-time, rich-media "ping" or notification to your device when severe weather is near, based on your location.

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Road Trip Tips

Don’t worry about record-breaking gas prices – the U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates prices to be $3.79 a gallon this summer, less than in 2008.

That’s good news for families considering reviving the tradition of a road trip vacation, one of the best experiences parents and kids can share, says Michael DiLorenzo, author of Adventures with Jonny: Road Trip to the Parks! (www.adventureswithjonny.com).

“This is a shared experience, and one that will be talked about during family gatherings for years to come,” says DiLorenzo, a father of three. “For busy parents, this is a time to savor their children’s youth. As moms and dads eventually find out, they grow up fast.”

It’s also a chance to get children outside and away from their computers, he says. Children today already have a deep-rooted interest in technology, which is why a road trip to a natural, outdoor destination is an opportunity to “give your child the gift of the outdoors, which is a gift for life,” says DiLorenzo.

The journey to a national park in the United States or Canada – perhaps Yellowstone in Wyoming or Banff in Alberta – is as bonding an experience as whatever happens at the destination.

“And there are parks in every state,” he notes. “If you don’t have the time or money to go cross country, pick a park closer to home.”

DiLorenzo offers these helpful tips for the road:


• Games, games, games!: Yes, there is ample entertainment for both drivers and riders in cars these days. BUT, the goal is to bond with the family, so consider a fun, albeit off-color game like “Road Kill Round-Up.” A point system might break down like this: two points for the first to spot a poor critter; three for whoever first correctly identifies the species; two points subtracted for a false road-kill call; three points subtracted for misidentifying the kind.

• Beware of dairy drinks (and other smelly snacks): A spill in the backseat can eventually create quite a stink during a summer road trip. But do pack plenty of healthy snacks to save on pricey pit stops and avoid all the sugar and salt in junk food.

• Avoid big-city rush hours: When traveling through metropolitan areas, consider the busiest traffic periods. Whether you plan to stop and check out the city or simply zip through it, bumper-to-bumper traffic is something to avoid. A bit of consideration can save your family hours of grid-locked misery.

• Tech help: Various apps and websites can help drivers find the cheapest gas prices, food options, hotel rates and travel routes. Also, don’t forget a music mix that appeals to the entire family on one of these devices. (Remember, leave work at home – forget about work-related calls, texts and emails! Use a non-work-related smartphone, if needed.)

• Schedule pit stops: Being in a hurry should be left for the morning commute; vacation should be different. When traveling across states and provinces, consider local culture. For example, barbecue in South Carolina is very different from Missouri’s version. Enjoy diners and unique attractions, and don’t be afraid to take notes.

“The greatest family memories are created in shared adventure,” DiLorenzo says. “Outdoor recreation is filled with these memories just looking for a family to bring them home.”

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Disney/Pixar's Brave Review

The highly anticipated Disney/Pixar's Brave is finally in theaters today, and our family was fortunate to watch an advanced screening a few nights ago.

Set in the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland, Disney•Pixar’s “Brave” follows the heroic journey of Merida (voice of Kelly Macdonald), a skilled archer and headstrong daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). Determined to change her fate, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the unruly and uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane), unleashing chaos in the kingdom. When she turns to an eccentric Witch (voice of Julie Walters), she is granted an ill-fated wish and the ensuing peril forces Merida to harness all of her resources—including her mischievous triplet brothers—to undo a beastly curse and discover the meaning of true bravery. Directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman, and produced by Katherine Sarafian, “Brave” is a grand adventure full of heart, memorable characters and signature Pixar humor.

If you had a chance to change your fate, would you?

That's the question that presents itself in Brave, as Merida finds herself being forced to marry someone she doesn't even know simply because of tradition.

Merida does not want to marry. She'd much rather be out shooting her bow and arrow and exploring the Scottish countryside with Angus, her Clydesdale, but her mother, Queen Elinor, believes Merida should be ready to wed, and just like her - prim and proper.

Since her mother refuses to break tradition, Merida ends up taking fate into her own hands.

After her suitors compete in an archery contest to win her hand, she ends up competing herself to win her own hand, and when she ends up the winner, the Queen is furious and she and Merida end up in a very heated argument that results in Merida's beloved bow being tossed into a fire.

Terribly upset, Merida runs off with Angus, and she eventually stumbles upon the Wisps, which are small blue lights that lead the way to one's destiny. She does not hesitate to follow the Wisps, who lead her to a very funny witch who tries to disguise herself as a whittler.

Once Merida discovers the whittler is a witch, she makes a deal to buy all of her carvings in exchange for her pretty necklace and a spell - a spell to change her fate; a spell to change her mother.

The witch then proceeded to create a special tart, which Merida took to her mother to eat.

After eating the tart, Queen Elinor did indeed change, but not as Merida had hoped or expected.

Merida eventually discovers she must "mend the bond torn by pride," or risk losing her mother, and tearing up her family, forever.

Ultimately, Merida is successful - successful in mending her relationship with her mother, keeping her family together, and making her mother realize that it's okay to break tradition, and that when it comes to love, everyone should be able to find love on their own, when they're ready.

Merida's physical bravery is evident throughout the movie, but it's her emotional, spiritual, and intellectual bravery that proved to be most important. Because she was brave enough to speak up for herself, follow her heart, and stand up for what she believed in, despite risking disapproval and ridicule from others, she was able to change her fate.

Our family really enjoyed Brave. There were a lot of hilarious moments (many which involved Merida's brothers, the Triplets), and the animation was simply amazing.

The scenic landscapes and the immense detail throughout the film (one scene in particular that stands out is in Merida's slow-motion archery scene) really made the film visually stunning.

I also thought it was great how the movie incorporated so many Scottish cultural details - the language, the rituals, the attire, and even the food (I don't blame the triplets for not wanting to eat Haggis - a Scottish pudding made out of "sheep’s heart, liver and lungs, encased in a sheep’s stomach and cooked for several hours").

Throughout the movie there were a few instances I couldn't understand what the characters were saying because of the Scottish accents (and I doubt anyone could understand what Young MacGuffin, one of Merida's suitors, said since he had a very unusual dialect which made the crowd crack up), and there were also many Scottish sayings that made me a bit confused (e.g. when Merida realized the witch gave her a "gamy spell," I didn't know gamy meant "bad"), but it just made me more eager to find out more about Scottish culture and phrases.

In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Brave helps increase interest in Scotland tourism - I know I would love to visit one day after seeing Brave!

Overall I thought Brave was a great movie. Despite a few scary scenes, Brave was full of stunning scenery, lovable characters, hilarious moments, and thoughtful lessons.

Brave opens today, June 22, in theaters nationwide and in Disney Digital 3D™ in select theaters.

Thank you to Disney for the complimentary screening passes.

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NIVEA PDA Day + Coupon for Free Lip Care and Giveaway

Did you know that Americans today touch their cell phones more than their loved ones? NIVEA conducted a study of 1,433 men and women and found that Americans are starving for affection and human connection. The results showed that while our display of affection has diminished, our need for it has not.

To help encourage a more loving America, NIVEA has declared June 20th as “PDA Day," encouraging a Million Moments of Touch. Why? Because it’s the first day of summer and the longest day of the year, which means even more time for hugs and kisses! 

To participate in NIVEA's Million Moments of Touch,
 
1. Go to the PDA Lip Giveaway Tab on NIVEA’s Facebook page 

2. Upload a “PDA” photo of yourself and a loved one or friend

3. Get a coupon for a free NIVEA Lip Care product! 


Win: One lucky winner will receive a set of two NIVEA Lip Care products!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to Aimee!

• To enter, comment on someone you love to shower with some hugs and/or kisses (your significant other, your child, a parent, etc.). 
  
• 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 NIVEA's PDA Lip Giveaway Tab (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--you may tweet once per day based on HST (leave the link in your comment) 
• The deadline for entries is July 5, 2012 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 July 6, 2012 (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 respond.
• 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. Click here for my disclosure policy.

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Stay Safe for Summer Staples – Travel, Pool and Grilling Safety Tips

Backyard BBQ’s, pool parties and weekend getaways are the staples of summer fun, but unfortunately, they can also leave families susceptible to threats such as backyard fires or home burglaries.

Protection 1, the nation’s second largest electronic security company, offer the following safety tips to ensure summers are safe and secure:

Travel Tips
1. Secure all windows, including those upstairs and reduce the chance of easy entry by cutting tree limbs away from second-story windows;
2. Remove objects that might allow access to your home. Summer is a peak time for construction and home improvements so make sure equipment like ladders, that can be used to enter a window or scale a fence, are put away;
3. Do not leave Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus posts letting people know that you will be out of town;
4. Never leave a key hidden outside. Burglars know all the best hiding places.
5. Consider having a professionally monitored security system installed that will dispatch the authorities in the event of a break-in or fire. Web-based security systems can even send vacationers email and text-message alerts of security events on their smart phones or laptops, and allow you to check in through video cameras.

Fire Safety Tips
1. Limit or eliminate altogether the use of lighter fluid if using a charcoal grill. Instead, use charcoal that’s already been treated with starter fluid or devices such as a charcoal chimney.
2. Always handle propane tanks with care. That means ensuring there are no leaks as the high-pressure liquid can quickly ignite devastating fires. A warning sign of leakage is the scent of rotten eggs in the air.
3. Trim low-hanging branches away from the grilling location. Additionally, position the grill at least two feet away from decks, siding and any outdoor equipment that can catch fire quickly such as pools and playground sets.
4. Always keep a portable fire extinguisher nearby. Read the instructions in advance as there will not be time do so in the event of an emergency.
5. Have a security system installed that includes a 24-hour fire monitoring service that automatically dispatches the fire department if the smoke alarm is triggered.
 
Pool Tips
1. Install a four-foot or taller fence around your pool with self-closing and self-latching gates.
2. Do not leave chairs, ladders or tables around the outside of the fence that encloses your pool. Kids can use these items to climb over the fence and into the pool at night or when homeowners are gone.
3. Install and use a lockable safety cover on your spa or pool.
4. Monitor the pool area when you’re away from home to make sure children are not swimming unsupervised. Consider installing a Web-based home security system such as eSecure from Protection 1, which allows you to receive text and email notifications and videos in the event the patio door is opened or kids access the pool area.
5. Most importantly, never leave a child unattended when they are near any type of water (pool, lake, ocean, hot tub, river, stream, etc).

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People Like Us - New Clip

People Like Us opens soon - June 29, and until then, here's a new clip!

From DreamWorks Pictures comes “People Like Us,” a drama/comedy about family, inspired by true events, starring Chris Pine (“Star Trek”) as Sam, a twenty-something, fast-talking salesman, whose latest deal collapses on the day he learns that his father has suddenly died. Against his wishes, Sam is called home, where he must put his father's estate in order and reconnect with his estranged family. In the course of fulfilling his father's last wishes, Sam uncovers a startling secret that turns his entire world upside down: He has a 30-year-old sister Frankie whom he never knew about (Elizabeth Banks). As their relationship develops, Sam is forced to rethink everything he thought he knew about his family—and re-examine his own life choices in the process.

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Protect a Bub Classic Sunshade Review

On our recent trip to Disneyland, I was fortunate to try out the Protect a Bub Classic Sunshade (unfortunately no photos of my own were taken due to my stroller being stolen on the first night and the Protect a Bub was attached to it!).

The Classic Sunshade (SRP $44.99) is rated UPF 50+, and was very easy to attach to my stroller (a Peg Perego Aria).  The Sunshade itself was pretty large, so it offered good coverage from the sun, and I liked that it's breathable, allowing air to circulate, which I thought was very important during the summer heat at Disneyland, or anywhere else.

I really liked how it folded up compactly into its own carrying bag.  However, most times I just kept it attached to the stroller folded up stashed into the side of the stroller so I didn't need to keep attaching and reattaching it.

There are other styles of Protect a Bub sunshades that provide different types of protection, but I thought the Classic Sunshade was ideal for our stroller and our usage.

I'm really bummed that our stroller got stolen and so many items along with it, including the Protect a Bub.  We'll be attending so many of Musician's baseball and soccer games during the summer, and the Protect a Bub would have come in very, very handy, however, I would not hesitate to buy one for myself, because it offers great coverage and does a nice job of keeping Baby protected from the sun.

Shop: To purchase Protect a Bub products, click here to find a store near you.

Thank you to the sponsor for providing the product for review free of charge.

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Adventure City Review

While searching online for things do with our kids during our trip to Southern California, I discovered Adventure City. Despite all my years of traveling to Southern California, and even living there while attending college, I had never heard of Adventure City even though it's been open for many, many years!

After reading more about Adventure City and their rides and attractions on their website, I knew all of my kids, including Musician, who has an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), would love it!

On the day we arrived, there were many school groups in attendance - there were at least 5 or 6 different classes with at least 20 kids each.  I thought this would result in us having to wait a long time for the various rides, but turns out that there was little or no wait for all of the rides! 

It can be difficult for children to be patient while waiting in long lines, but for kids with an ASD, waiting can even be more problematic.  Fortunately, almost all of the rides at Adventure City were quick, meaning any lines went through quickly as well.

There is a good variety of rides, ranging from those that are "tame" to "thrill," that are perfect for little ones.  Some of the tame rides include the Carousel,  Rescue 911, and the Crank 'n' Roll.

There are several rides that are a bit more adventurous, such as the Barnstormer Planes, Crazy Bus, and Giggle Wheel.

And then there are the "thrill" rides, which include the Freeway Coaster, Tree Top Racers (unfortunately it was closed when we visited), and the Drop Zone.

Throughout the day I heard numerous kids, including my own, comment on how much they loved certain rides, however, what seemed to generate the most excitement out of most of the kids, especially my boys, was not even a ride at all - it was the Rain Room, where fine mists of water are sprayed in a tent.  It was such a fun way to cool off on a very hot day.  My boys didn't want to leave the Rain Room!

The boys also really loved the Thomas the Tank Engine play area.  There is a small table where kids can build tracks, and there's also a big box of Thomas the Tank Engines.  My boys could've spent hours just in that area!

On site there's also an Arcade, a Children's Theater, a Petting Farm, Parker's Fill-Up Station (food and drink), a Party Station and Party Tree House where kids can hold birthday parties, and a gift shop that carries all kinds of fun and colorful items.

I really liked that there is a lot of seating all throughout the park (benches, tables and chairs), which allowed me to sit down with Musician whenever he felt too overwhelmed by all the sights and sounds, and I also liked that there wasn't a huge crowd of people, since crowds can be intimidating for Musician.

Most of the staff we encountered were very friendly, with the exception of one ride operator who did not smile or talk to or acknowledge any of the kids AT ALL, but there was one employee who really stood out, and that was Pat.  Pat, who was at the Thomas the Train kiosk, was pleasant and helpful.  She chatted with me about Baby, and when I asked her if there were any Adventure City brochures, she told me they were in the process of reprinting them so unfortunately they didn't have any available, but she went to the front office area to see if there was anything she could give me with information on Adventure City, and brought back some flyers.

Overall we had a really nice time at Adventure City.  We were there for about two hours, and the boys got to do and ride everything they wanted to without having to wait in very long lines.

If you have little ones, I would highly recommend visiting Adventure City.  The price is reasonable, there is no charge for parking, and there is a nice variety of rides and attractions.  It's truly a hidden gem in Southern California!

Here are more photos I took of Adventure City. Enjoy!

Adventure City: 1238 South Beach Boulevard, Anaheim, CA 92804, 714-236-9300

Admission: Child $14.95 (Infants 12 months and younger admitted free); Adult $14.95; Senior $9.95 (55 years and up); Arcade and Climbing Wall not included in admission price.

 Thank you to Adventure City for providing the complimentary admission tickets for my family.

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Blurb 15% Off Discount through 6/30

If you know of a friend or family member who is celebrating a graduation this year, a wonderful gift would be a Blurb book filled with favorite memories and moments from throughout the years past.

Photos of classmates, field trips, band trips, and school parties from preschool through high school (or college) would make any graduate smile and reflect on such wonderful times throughout his or her school years.

Photos of family vacations, sports games, and birthday parties would also help to make a Blurb photo book special.

A Blurb photo book would also make a treasured gift for a graduate who will be going off to college, especially if the college is somewhere far away from friends and family.

Photo books always make wonderful gifts, and right now you can save 15% with promo code BLURBBOOK15OFF .

Happy creating!

The above is an affiliate promotion.

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Fun Father's Day Apps for a Tech-Savvy Dad

Catalogue by TheFind is a free new way to browse through your favorite store catalogs on your iPad, Kindle Fire, Kobo or Andriod phone. At any time, there are roughly 95 catalog merchants featuring 175-200 issues inside the app that has tons of popular catalogs for the whole family. Specifically for Father’s Day, they’ve created a catalog that has tons of gift ideas from a variety of stores like Lands End, Victorinox, Wal-Mart, Sports Authority and Sur La Table.

If shopping isn’t your thing, Catalogue is featuring a contest on their Facebook page where you can enter to win a $250 gift card to Best Buy by “liking” their page and encouraging your friends to join as well. More information can be found at ( https://apps.facebook.com/thefind_contests/?page=promo&id=1277532135)

iCookbook is the ideal mobile app for any dad who loves to get his hands dirty in the kitchen or out by the grill! iCookbook (available for the iPhone, iPad, Android and Windows 8) has all the bells and whistles of the best cooking apps out there; thousands of recipes, sorting tools like finding recipes based on ingredient or occasion, cooking tools like timers, conversions, substitution charts and grocery lists. The most unique thing about iCookbook is that it is also voice activated. You can set your iPad or iPhone on the counter and easily turn pages, start and stop timers, or check notes with simple voice commands.

For the meat-loving Dad, the makers of iCookbook have also recently released Johnsonville Kitchens, an entire app devoted to recipes made with Johnsonville Sausage. Johnsonville Kitchens has all of the same features as iCookbook, including iCookbook's voice command technology as well as with the ability to share your favorite recipes with friends in family through Facebook or email!

I received no monetary compensation for this post.

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The Odd Life of Timothy Green - New Video Spot

I just returned from the movies today, and one of the previews I saw was for The Odd Life of Timothy Green (see below).

Just from watching the preview, I got teary-eyed, as Timothy reminded me of Musician (who has an Autism Spectrum Disorder) in the sense that they're both special in their own ways despite being "different."

I cannot wait to see this movie!

Academy Award®–nominated director/writer Peter Hedges (“Dan in Real Life,” What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?”) brings enchantment to the screen with “The Odd Life of Timothy Green,” an inspiring, magical story about a happily married couple, Cindy and Jim Green (Jennifer Garner and Joel Edgerton), who can’t wait to start a family but can only dream about what their child would be like. When young Timothy (CJ Adams) shows up on their doorstep one stormy night, Cindy and Jim—and their small town of Stanleyville—learn that sometimes the unexpected can bring some of life’s greatest gifts.

The Odd Life of Timothy Green hits theaters August 15th!

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Celebrate Dad with Wendy's Sixth Annual Father's Day Frosty Weekend

Now through Father’s Day, anyone can help children in foster care find permanent, loving homes.
 
Continuing its Father’s Day Frosty Weekend tradition for the sixth year in a row, Wendy’s is inviting customers to help raise money for Wendy’s Wonderful Kids. This signature program of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is dedicated to finding permanent adoptive families for children in foster care.

How to participate:

· Re-tweet: Starting now through Father’s Day, customers can re-tweet one of @Wendys special Twitter posts with the hashtag #TreatItFwd. Wendy’s will make a 50-cent donation for each designated re-tweet made from Treat it Forward. Follow @Wendys at https://twitter.com/wendys.
· Buy any Frosty product: On Saturday, June 16 and Sunday, June 17, for each Frosty product purchased, participating Wendy’s will donate 50-cents to Wendy’s Wonderful Kids. This includes the original, parfaits, shakes and floats.
· Use a mobile-friendly website to check in at Wendy’s: Wendy’s will donate 50-cents for every customer that checks in at Wendy’s restaurants during Father's Day Weekend (June 16 and 17 only) using Wendy’s special mobile-friendly website found at www.wendys.com/treatitforward. 


I received no monetary compensation for this post.

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Chevys Fresh Mex Big Brew Pa-Pa Father's Day Promotion and Giveaway

This Father’s Day, Chevys Fresh Mex is helping families celebrate their padres and all the amazing things they do by rolling out the Big Brew Pa-Pa, a triple play of father-favorite specials. Dads who visit their local Chevys this Father’s Day weekend, June 15-17, can enjoy manly-sized $5 Dos Equis Grande Drafts and $5 Dos Equis Micheladas – a classic Mexican beer concoction made with beer, lime, fruit and tomato juices, and spices, all served in a chilled, salt-rimmed glass. Chevys will also give every padre a complimentary, specially packaged pint of fire-roasted salsa, so he can keep the fiesta going when he gets home. 

Finally, Chevys is giving away Be Our Guest cards to 25 lucky Facebook Fans. Family members can visit Chevys’ Facebook page through June 17 and tell the Brew Pa-Pa app about their dad for the chance to win a free entrée and nonalcoholic beverage.

Whether he’s into a night out with the family or a night out with his fellow dads, Chevys promises a fun, border cantina atmosphere and made-from-scratch Fresh Mex cuisine for any type of fiesta. Kids can play with masa dough balls, coloring books, balloons and grow-your-own avocado pits, while parents can enjoy a wide selection of refreshing beverages from the Cantina.

Click here to find a Chevys Fresh Mex near you.

Win: Two lucky winners will each receive a Chevys Fresh Mex Be Our Guest Card (each card is good for an entrée and a non-alcoholic beverage).

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to Laura Love, Carolyn Daley!

• To enter, comment on your favorite menu item at Chevys Fresh Mex.
  
• 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 Chevys Fresh Mex (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--you may tweet once per day based on HST (leave the link in your comment) 
• The deadline for entries is June 29, 2012 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 June 30, 2012 (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 respond.
• 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. Click here for my disclosure policy.

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Tea Collection $15 Off and Buy 2 Boxes Sets Get 1 Free Promotion

Did you know that in the United States, summer months have higher birth rates than winter months? So whether you're a mom-to-be or you want to stock up on baby shower gifts be sure to shop with Tea Collection! For 4-days only, Tea Collection is offering $15 off Tea Baby with promo code BABY15 during their Tea Baby Sale.

Tea Collection is also offering buy two Gift Boxed Sets and receive an Explore Gift Boxed Set for free. Enter GIFTGIRL for a free Explore Akita Gift Boxed Set (size 6-9 months). Enter GIFTBOY for a free Explore Moon Gift Boxed Set (size 6-9 months). GIFTGIRL and GIFTBOY codes cannot be combined on one order and cannot be combined with other promotions. Be sure to check out the Tea Baby Sale today because quantities are limited.

Enjoy! 

The above is an affiliate promotion.

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Radisson Blu Resort, Marina & Spa, St. Martin Offering Summer Discount

We are excited to announce that we have earned the prestigious
2012 Certificate of Excellence award by Tripadvisor!
Thank you to our guests who have shared their experiences and recommended the
RadissonBlu Resort, Marina & Spa St. Martin.
We aim to please and make every guest’s journey unforgettable.


40% Off Super Summer Sale


Superior Guest Rooms €229 €138 / $179*
Deluxe Guest Rooms €279 €168 / $219*


Receive a complimentary UPGRADE to a Marina Suite
when you book a Deluxe Guest Room, based on availability.
Rates include full breakfast buffet for 2 daily at Le Marche


+ Complimentary Full Breakfast Buffet for two 

+ Secluded cove on the French side of St. Martin
+Updated four-diamond AAA rated luxury resort 

+ Watersports, Guest Activities
+ Concierge at your service 

+ Full service Marina and Dive Center on property 

+Exclusive Le Spa 

+ 24hr Fitness Center

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Matisyahu: Spark Seeker Giveaway

Since first emerging on the international stage in 2005, Matisyahu has established a reputation for following his muse—from the stripped-down roots reggae of the gold-certified Live at Stubb’s to the trippy ministrations of Youth to the polished pop eclecticism of Light. Then, in 2010, he returned to the venerable Austin venue that introduced him for Live at Stubb’s II, demonstrating that all those travels had somehow only strengthened his connection to his musical bedrock. It was a whirlwind half-decade journey, one that earned Matisyahu a place in pop culture at large.

And it was only the beginning.

Now based with his family in Los Angeles, Matisyahu blasts off yet again with Spark Seeker, a bold new studio album that finds the one-of-a-kind vocalist and songwriter exploring uncharted territory with help from an expansive cast of collaborators. “My musical tastes are all over the board,” he says in reference to a record that mixes ancient traditional sounds with futuristic electro beats, rapping with singing, songs of the spirit with songs of the body. “And, besides, my music has never been about the outer garment. It’s about searching out inspiration wherever it lies. This album is about seeking that spark within.”

Outer garments, of course, long defined Matisyahu in the eyes of many. “I was the Hasidic reggae superstar,” he says with a knowing laugh. So when Matisyahu took to Twitter late last year to post a picture of himself with his new look, he did it with a certain amount of relief. “It just felt good to sort of restart everything,” he says, adding that the transformation actualized one of the central themes of Spark Seeker: the impermanence of the physical form. “The Spark Seeker digs for truth and meaning and is willing to let go of everything to find it. He’s honest and authentic with himself and lives life from the inside out. He creates music from the depths and doesn’t worry about what category it or he fits into.”

“We live in a world where people tend to think in extremes and categorize with ultimate statements,” Matisyahu says. “While it’s true that at one point it would’ve been pretty accurate to describe me as Hasidic reggae, for most of my career my music has been a blend, a mixture.”

For Spark Seeker—not just a collection of random tracks, but a complete piece of work made with one producer—Matisyahu spent a year recording with Koool Kojak (Nicki Minaj, Travis Barker, Ke$ha) at the latter’s home studio in L.A. Then the pair went to Israel with an open slate. “We booked a studio there and invited various friends and musicians—including Zohar Fresco, Daniel Zamir, Ravid Kahalani and rapper Shyne—to come and simply play music,” Matisyahu says. “We began to blend all of this live instrumentation to create a unique record, made by multi-faceted human beings who have many sides and many sources of inspiration.”

“This is definitely pushing the boundaries of what I’ve done before,” he acknowledges. “It’s a new kind of record for me.” At this point we’d expect nothing less.


Shop: You can purchase Spark Seeker beginning July 17 (pre-order on iTunes - SRP $7.99)

Win: One lucky winner will receive a copy of Spark Seeker!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to susansmoaks!

• To enter, comment on your favorite Matisyahu song (excluding anything mentioned in this post).
  
• 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 Matisyahu (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--you may tweet once per day based on HST (leave the link in your comment) 
• The deadline for entries is June 28, 2012 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 June 29, 2012 (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 respond.
• 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. Click here for my disclosure policy.

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