Saturday, August 22, 2009

Honey Kix Winner And More Stuff!

I did my random.org this afternoon, and ummm if someone can teach me how to make it show up here all pretty like, that would be great. In the meantime, you'll have to trust me.

The winner of the way cool Honey Kix package (and our cereal is loooooong gone) is:

True Random Number Generator

Min:
Max:
Result:
14

Based on the entries that followed the directions of entering, the winner is:

Mrs4444!

Send me your address within 48 hours, and I'll get that package sent off to you. Otherwise, I'll choose a new winner. Enjoy your Kix and the rest of the treats!

And I have some other fun to promote, too.

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In the interest of continuing with my back to school theme lately, Hellmann's® and Best Foods® Mayonnaise are working with Billy Ray Cyrus to raise money for Feeding America®, the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity. Remember when you took your sack lunch to school and everyone else's lunch looked better than yours? What did you do? Why, you traded of course! The first time I tasted wheat bread was via a trade, and I'm sure I'm not alone in my fond memories of that.

Basically, they have put together an app on Facebook that made a virtual Sandwich Swap 'n' Share program. Click here to access it.

For every sandwich created as part of the virtual Sandwich Swap 'n' Share program on Facebook.com/hellmanns, Hellmann's® and Best Foods® will donate 7 lunches (a $1 donation that equates a lunch, max 700,000) to Feeding America®.

And as those great informercial guys say: but that's not all! By creating and sharing that sandwich, you just might win something, too! Each sandwich created will automatically enter you for a chance to win a $250 grocery store gift certificate. And for every friend on Facebook® that you share your sandwich with, Hellmann's® and Best Foods® will donate an additional 7 lunches to the charity.

Soooo for those of you who see me on Facebook, look out for that sandwich coming your way!

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Lastly, this one is for the Chicago area people out there.

Disney on Ice is coming to Chicago next month (ok in a few weeks, but I'm not ready for September to be a few weeks away) with their 100 Year of Magic tour. It's performing at the UC September 8 to 13.

You can get tickets for $44 for a 4 pack (and $11 thereafter) by going to Ticketmaster and entering promo code MOM. There's a $3.50 per ticket handling fee, but you can choose standard shipping for free.

I'll be there on the 8th, and I can't wait to see the show. It's a surprise for Mister Man and Little Miss, but who doesn't love Disney? And how can you beat tickets for $11?

See you soon with more fun to give away!

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Giveaway: Honey Kix Package!

I was recently asked to review Honey Kix by MyBlogSpark. This was something I hadn't heard of before, but both the wee ones are honey fans, so I agreed.

In the interest of full exclosure, in exchange for my reviewing the product, I was sent: a coupon for a free box of cereal so I can try it, a cute cereal bowl, a really cool honey jar, a cereal and milk to go container, and a storage container.

I received my coupon in the week before I went on vacation. I had meant to take it with me to try the Honey Kix while we were there, but accidentally left it at home. I figured I'd buy it while there anyway, but no dice.

When I returned home and did my grocery shopping yesterday, I looked for it at Caputo's. Nope, not there. Knowing that Caputo's is a specialty grocer, I wasn't shocked. Dominick's? Nope. Wal-Mart? Nope (though this wasn't a Super Wal-Mart). Target? Nope - again not a Super Target.

Today, we tracked it down at Jewel. Yay! This is a new product per the packaging and one I hadn't heard of yet, so the distribution may still be expanding.

In looking at the ingredients, I was pleased by serveral things:

The serving size is 1 1/4 cup. Go check out the cereal you have in your pantry now. 3/4 cup? 1 cup? That's more typical, and I've seen some that are 1/2 cup. 1 1/4 cup is probably more typical, and a reasonable comparison.

Even with the larger serving size, Honey Kix has only 6g sugar. Most cereals -- with a smaller serving size -- have 9 or more grams of sugar. And there is no corn syrup at all, let alone high fructose corn syrup that I really try to avoid. And it has 16g of whole grain per serving.

All in all, this is something that I can feel pretty good about feeding the wee ones. I usually feed them Cheerios with dried coconut mixed in or something similar, so I am happy to add a little variety.

Since it's taken me so long to get the sample itself, I wanted to try it out as quickly as possible. It became our treat after dessert, and both the wee ones were excited. Their thoughts?

Mmmmmmmm, ummmmmm!

I like it THIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIS much, Mommy!

It's yum in my tum!

I want to eat this for breakfast tomorrow.


You get the idea.

I tried it out, too, and I have to say that ummm I had to go put it into that storage container they sent me in order to stop snacking on it. It's good and crispy with just a light touch of sweet to it. When the wee ones put the cereal into their cups of milk (we do cereal oddly here, deal) then later offered me a taste, it was still crunchy and not soggy. And for me, cereal that gets soggy quickly is not one that I'll buy again.

Oh, and did I mention that as a General Mills cereal, it's part of the Box Tops program? Every top I clip is another ten cents for our school. This is only an added bonus, but I'll take that bonus!

Phew - I liked it. And I'm ok with my wee ones eating it. And lucky for one of you, I have another package to give away with the cereal coupon and the storage goodies!



I'll give you a few ways to enter:

1) Mandatory entry With the school year approaching and me needing to not only get Little Miss on the bus and Mister Man driven to school, but also pack a lunch for Mister Man, I'm getting worried about fitting it all in. Tell me how you simplify your morning routine.
2) (After the mandatory) Follow this blog (one additional entry) - Leave a separate comment, and yes, I will verify.
3) (After the mandatory) Comment on my "regular" blog Honest and Truly! (one additional entry) - Leave a separate comment here telling me where you commented.

This contest will run until Friday August 21 at 10pm CDT. I will use random.org to select a winner based on the comments that meet the criteria listed above. The winner must include a method of contact. The winner will have 48 hours to respond once I send a notice or another winner will be chosen via random.org.

Good luck!