Giveaway: Chicken In The Car And The Car Won't Go

School is out, and we're even partway through summer school. We've done the obvious things with the wee ones - from heading to Legoland to visiting the zoo. The further we get into summer - and the older the wee ones get - the more we search for something unique and different to do.

Enter Chicken in the Car and the Car Won't Go: Nearly 200 Ways to Enjoy Chicagoland with Tweens and Teens. This book, written by Melisa Wells, is a travel guide to Chicago and its suburbs that isn't meant for parents with young kids nor adults. It's a market that doesn't really have anything out there, and as a parent of kids who like to do "grown up" things sometimes, this is perfect for us.

I love finding hidden gems all around Chicago that Melisa has uncovered, from the drive-in in West Chicago that I didn't know existed to Dave's Down to Earth Rock Shop & the Prehistoric Life Museum in Evanston. Both were news to me, and hello, I went to college in Evanston. We found a ton of things to do that we've never experienced before, and they span a variety of seasons, so this book is valuable for far more than just summer vacation.

Melisa did a great job organizing it, so you can scan through activities by section of Chicago so that you can find things to do in specific areas. There's also an index by city in the back - as well as an index by location name and by type of activity (show, sports, fun and games, food, etc). Each entry not only has the location details from website to address, but also includes the hours and approximate cost of each entry. They all have detailed descriptions to help you understand if the activity is up your alley or not - and let's face it, we all have different interests.

Chicken in the Car and the Car Won't Go also includes tons of useful information about Chicago in the front of the book to help with planning. She shares local information on television and radio stations, as well as how to get around Chicago and more. I love her suggestions of how to use social media to get discounts and answer questions. She really thought this through, and it's an easy to use book. I can't wait to go visit some of the new places we've discovered since paging through the book. I may even devise a summer camp later this month, as Melisa details how to do in the introduction.

But wait - so you live in or someday want to visit Chicago and need this book? You could go buy it. Or you could win an autographed copy from me! I have one to give away. So what do you have to do to win? First of all, let me stress that you must follow all the rules. If you do not follow the rules, your entry will not count!

This contest is open until Monday July 11 at 7pm CST. I must have a valid way to reach you, so leave me your email address in your comment or be sure your profile has your email address visible. No duplicate comments will count. This giveaway is open to US residents age 18 and older. Winners will be selected via random.org and must respond within 48 hours of being notified by me or I will select a new winner.

Mandatory Entry: Tell me - what is your favorite touristy activity?

Bonus Entries (leave a comment for each entry - if you put it all in one comment, I'll count it as one entry):

1) Earn one additional entry for following me on Twitter, then tweeting this contest with the following tweet: "Need to find something for tweens or teens to do in Chicago? Win the perfect book from @honestandtruly http://bit.ly/jRSx30" (leave a link to your tweet as your comment and make sure you do all the steps!)
2) Earn one additional entry by following this review blog publicly via Google Friend Connect.
3) Earn one additional entry by following my “regular” blog Honest & Truly! publicly via Google Friend Connect.

Good luck!

In the interest of full disclosure, I was given a copy of this book by its author. I also helped with some of the editing of the book and provided encouragement for it along the way. That said, I have not received any compensation, and as always, all opinions expressed remain my own.

Review: Here, Home, Hope

Ah, summer. The time for sitting on the beach or by the pool with a good book, soaking in the sun, and just relaxing. Or so goes the theory. Personally, I love curling up with a good book any time of year, but summer is my favorite. When I read, it is my downtime, my escape from the pressures of everything that has to be done now. It allows me to recharge my batteries.

Needless to say, I read a lot. I average at least two to three books a week - more if I have some "extra" time.

Because reading is my relaxation, I generally prefer books that are on the lighter side. They don't need to be brain candy - although I'm definitely not opposed to that - but I love a good fiction. I had the opportunity recently to read Here, Home, Hope by Kaira Rouda thanks to the One2One Network, and I really enjoyed it.

The novel shares Kelly Mills Johnson's midlife crisis. She's thirty-nine and vaguely unhappy with her life, frustrated with where she is but not quite sure where she wants to go or what she wants to do. Her sons are at camp, and her husband is busy with his career, while her friends have perfect lives she envies. The premise to me sounded rife for lots of whining and complaining. I wasn't sure if I would like this, afraid it would be a downer.

I was surprised that I really enjoyed it. Kelly is not your typical protagonist. She may be vaguely unhappy with her life, but she doesn't just whine about it. She has spunk and is forthright with herself, with plenty of wit and sarcasm to keep me interested in her. She isn't a perfect size six, and her goal isn't to become one - something I found refreshing. Her marriage wasn't in trouble, and her husband was refreshingly supportive - while being realistically clueless periodically. Let's just say I'd enjoy hanging out with Kelly.

As she decides to reinvent her life, she creates a "Things to Change" (T2C) list on Post-It Notes that she places throughout her life. They range from remembering her blessings to yelling without crying (when in a disagreement) to not comparing herself to others. So many of the items on her list are ones that we all need to focus on more and live by, and this book was a great way to put it all in perspective.

Kelly didn't, of course, simply make the T2C list. She put it into action. She wasn't successful with all the items immediately, nor did she stick to any given one all the time. That simply made her more human, along with her hair angst and other personality quirks that made her so easy to relate to. I know I've been there!

As she worked on her T2C list, she began to find that she wasn't so much a victim. She had a lot of power and a lot going for her, and things began to fall into place because of how she was taking charge of her life. I found it inspiring, as there are so many times I feel that way myself - vaguely dissatisfied but not quite sure what to do next. Kelly took that leap, and her gambles repaid themselves in so many ways from becoming so much closer and more open with her friends to finding her passion and being able to run with it to finally telling off that mom who consistently finds little things to nit pick with everyone.

The novel isn't perfect, but that's part of what makes it so enjoyable. It doesn't go in the direction you expect it to, but the reactions of the characters to each of the situations is definitely realistic. Granted, some of the situations are a little out there and unrealistic, but hey - it's a novel. And I enjoyed it enough that I'll seek out her other two novels this summer as I'm looking for something to read.

Want to buy the book yourself? You can also follow Kaira Rouda on Twitter or like her on Facebook.



In the interest of full disclosure, I received a copy of "Here, Home, Hope" for review purposes only. I have not received any compensation, and as always, all opinions expressed remain my own.

Review: Mr. Popper's Penguins

Last week, the wee ones and I attended a preview screening of Mr. Popper's Penguins. Mister Man has been beyond excited since he discovered this movie was being made back in April. His class was in the process of reading the book, and he was enjoying it immensely. Seeing the book come to life was a dream come true to him.

After seeing the previews myself and realizing that Mr. Popper was being played by Jim Carrey, I knew the movie was going to be nothing like the book. As someone who generally avoids seeing movies based on books - especially books I've enjoyed - that put up a little red flag for me. As much as Mister Man loved reading the books, how would he do with the movie being different?

Having seeing the movie now, I can count on one hand the things in the movie that are the same as the book. It's hard to even say the movie is based on the book with all the differences. In a way, I think that made it easier for Mister Man to enjoy it, as it was a whole new story. I would have been just as happy with the original book turned into a movie, set in the beginning of last century and all.

In the movie, Carrey plays Mr. Popper, a man who grew up with a father who was always traveling to remote places looking for "something" that is never defined for us. He keeps in touch with his son primarily through radio contact when he can, but Mr. Popper grows up to be nothing like his father. He is a hard dealing, slick businessman who works for a company purchasing real estate to turn into a whole new entity. He's thisclose to making partner at the firm, and all he needs to do is get the owner of Tavern on the Green in Central Park to sell to him.

Enter the penguin who is left to him by his father in his will. Although there are more penguin excrement jokes in the movie than I needed, hilarity ensues. Mr. Popper does his best to return the penguin but accidentally orders five more. And then his son comes over to celebrate his birthday - he and his wife are divorced, and Mr. Popper's son and daughter live primarily with her - and thinks the penguins are his for his birthday.

The fact that the movie doesn't take itself seriously helps. A lot. Mr. Popper's assistant Pippi, played by Ophelia Lovibond, speaks completely in "P" alliterations. Amanda - Mr. Popper's ex-wife, played by Carla Gugino - has an over-the-top the world is full of sunshine and roses boyfriend Rick played by James Tupper. And then there's the wonderful surprise of seeing Angela Lansbury play Mrs. Van Gundy, the owner of Tavern on the Green.

Yes, the story is predictable. And yes, it's completely different from the book. And yes, there is some sophomoric humor tossed humor tossed in there that I personally could have done without. That said, the wee ones really enjoyed it. Mister Man was bouncing in his seat, and Little Miss was enthralled. It wasn't too scary for her (and trust me, she ran up to her room because Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was too scary for her).

There were many cute parts in the movie from the penguins sleeping with Mr. Popper to the penguins invading a black tie event looking for him to Captain flying using a kite. It was better than I had expected, although still so different from what I had anticipated walking into the movie.

The movie opens today, June 17, in theaters nationwide. It is rated PG and runs just over an hour and a half.

In the interest of full disclosure, the wee ones and I attended a screening of "Mr. Popper's Penguins." I have not received any compensation, and as always, all opinions expressed remain my own.

Winner!

Congrats to Angie from Antics With Angie for winning the Kung Fu Panda 2 gift pack from MyBlogSpark. She has 48 hours to get back to me with her contact information. Congrats again to her!

As always, look for more fun to come!

Giveaway: Wendy's Gift Card

I am all about giving back to my community when and where I can. That's why I'm on the board of the PTO for both the wee ones schools and seem to spend more time there than at home sometimes. Blogging has given me a great opportunity to connect blogging and companies' desires to give back, too.

Wendy's is the company who is making the donations this time around, and they are for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption that focuses on finding permanent adoption homes for all children who need them. They go through a wide variety of avenue to accomplish this from education to supporting adoption agencies throughout the US and Canada to sponsoring A Homes for the Holidays, an annual CBS special on foster care and adoption featuring stories from some children and musical guests.

As with every charity, there is always a need to fundraise, and this weekend, Wendy's is partnering with ... us to support the DTFA and its program Wendy's Wonderful Kids, which is a program that helps foster children in need find great homes. There are lots of ways to participate, and only purchasing Frosties this weekend (June 18 and 19) costs any money - but who doesn't want an excuse for a Frosty?

You can use Twitter, Facebook, FourSquare, or buy that Frosty.

With Twitter, you can use the Treat it Forward application on the Frosty Facebook page via the Treat it Fwd tab, or tweet with the hashtag #TreatItFwd. A fifty cent donation will be made by Wendy’s for each designated tweet or retweet made from Treat it Forward.

You can also send a Facebook friend a “virtual” Frosty, or tell friends about Father’s Day Frosty Weekend through the Facebook application, again on the Treat it Fwd tab of the Frosty Facebook page. When you do, Wendy’s will make a donation.

Also, from Facebook, on Father’s Day Weekend only (June 18 & 19), offer a “Here’s to You, Dad!” Frosty “virtual toast” by snapping a photo of you raising your Frosty cup to Dad, tagging it with the words “Wendy’s Father’s Day Frosty Weekend” and posting it to Wendy’s Facebook wall or tweeting it. That's another donation from Wendy’s.

Plus, every person who checks in at a Wendy’s during Father's Day weekend only (June 18 & 19) will result in a donation from Wendy’s.

And of course, every Frosty purchased during Father's Day weekend - again, that's this weekend for those of us who haven't prepared to honor the fathers in our lives yet, June 18 and 19 - will result in a $0.50 donation to the DTFA.

I love it - and guess who's getting Frosties this weekend?

I have a Wendy's gift card to give away to one lucky reader who can go enjoy a couple yummy Frosties courtesy TheMotherhood. So what do you have to do to win? First of all, let me stress that you must follow all the rules. If you do not follow the rules, your entry will not count!

This contest is open until Thursday June 30 at 7pm CST. I must have a valid way to reach you, so leave me your email address in your comment or be sure your profile has your email address visible. No duplicate comments will count. This giveaway is open to US residents age 18 and older. Winners will be selected via random.org and must respond within 48 hours of being notified by me or I will select a new winner.

Mandatory Entry: Tell me - if you could donate $0.50 to any cause in the world, what would it be?

Bonus Entries (leave a comment for each entry - if you put it all in one comment, I'll count it as one entry):

1) Earn one additional entry for following me on Twitter, then tweeting this contest with the following tweet: "Win a @Wendys gift card from @honestandtruly. Tweet #TreatitFwd by 6/19 & you donate $0.50 to @DTFA too http://bit.ly/iZ3k2H" (leave a link to your tweet as your comment and make sure you do all the steps!)
2) Earn one additional entry by following this review blog publicly via Google Friend Connect.
3) Earn one additional entry by following my “regular” blog Honest & Truly! publicly via Google Friend Connect.
4) Like my blog on Facebook and let me know what name you used to like it.

Good luck!

In the interest of full disclosure, I was provided with a Wendy's gift card to go buy a Frosty this weekend via TheMotherhood. I have not received any compensation, and as always, all opinions expressed remain my own.

Winner! Cooking Matters Gift Bag

I feel sort of sad. My official connection with Cooking Matters is coming to an end. With all that I've learned over the past several months, I truly wish that I could get involved long term in teaching and volunteering with the program, but the location in Chicago is too far. That won't keep me from advocating for them though, and I still do aim to get involved with the Northern Illinois Food Bank because of my experience.

Want to know why?

Read Part 1 - the first day of my Cooking Matters Bloggy Boot Camp experience last week
Read Part 2 - my experience with the Cooking Matters Boot Camp here
Read Part 3 - discussing the Cooking Matters class I took back in Chicago
Read Part 4 - interview with the Cooking Matters director on the program in Chicago here

Summer has arrived, and that means hunger is here more than before. The school programs that fed kids breakfast and lunch have ended, and those meals are no longer being provided. More than sixteen percent of the population in Cook County (where Chicago is located) are food insecure, and 35% of those are more than 185% over the poverty threshold. Thirty-seven percent of the people served by the Food Depository are children under 18. How scary is that?

We can all make a difference whether it's donating to our local food banks, helping with the Cooking Matters programs to increase education, or something else entirely. You can take a pledge to help end childhood hunger by 2015, which has tons of information and opportunities to get involved.

And if you're in Chicago, there's a fundraiser for Taste of the Nation on August 10 at Navy Pier. For $95, you can get a ticket to Taste of the Nation Chicago, with a gathering of talented local chefs from Chicago and celebrated mixologists. You will be served all sorts of great bites, in addition to fine wines, local craft beers, and premium spirits. The evening also features live entertainment by DJs, and a silent auction. You can purchase tickets here.

And yes, I do have a winner for that Cooking Matters gift bag. Congrats goes to Lexiquin! She has 48 hours to get back to me with her contact information before I have to choose a new winner. Congrats - and don't forget, there is so much you can do for childhood hunger!

In the interest of full disclosure, I was provided with some of the items in the gift bag (the tote bags, calculator, measuring cups, cutting board, etc but not the gift card) as a thank you from ConAgra Foods Foundation. I was also compensated by the ConAgra Foods Foundation for my participation in the Bloggy Boot Camp and the posts I've written. That said, all opinions expressed remain my own.

Giveaway: Theraderm Skin Renewal System

I'm in my 30s. And like most women, I'm starting to look at people around me and realize that those people who looked so old to me when I was in my teens are now ... my friends. We don't look old to me now, though, and I want to be sure I for one never do. That said, I'm not willing to invest hours and thousands of dollars on treatments and skin creams and specialty this and that. It just doesn't fit into my schedule.

Therapon Skin Health sent me their Skin Renewal System, which is a four step product. Let's just say that I wasn't sure how that would go. I've used other products that have multiple steps to their systems, and I've never stuck with it. I don't like the smell of them, or they take too long, or I don't like how they make my skin feel, or something else. This one I've been using for almost a month, and I'm good with it.

I keep the cleansing wash in the shower and use it every morning when I'm taking a shower. It's perfect, as the directions suggest using a washcloth to wipe the foam away, and I have everything I need right there. I like the cleaner because it doesn't have a scent - something I'm sensitive to - and it makes my skin feel clean without drying it out or making it super squeaky.

The next step is the fruit acid exfoliant, which sounds only slightly cooler than it is. The system includes little pads to apply the exfoliant, which is a nice bonus. I like the frugality of Therapon here (the system is $137.50, so it's all relative, right?) where they recommend using both sides of the pad rather than using it once and throwing it away. Simply place ten drops on the pad and that's enough for your entire face. When I do this, I have a bit more what looks like dirt come off onto the pad, but I'm pretty sure that's just dead skin cells, which is the point of this step.

The third step is the OPC Reparative Gel. This one is the step that gave me pause at first. It's brown, which just seemed odd to me. It takes two squirts to cover my face and neck, as directed. Fortunately, the color immediately disappears, and it isn't sticky the way I'd feared the gel would be. It dries pretty quickly, too, which means that by the time I've brushed my teeth, I'm ready for the last step.

I really like the gently moisturizer. It takes just a tiny amount to cover everything, and it doesn't leave me feeling greasy. It has a very subtle citrus scent that I like, and I can apply my makeup almost immediately after the moisturizer since it doesn't take long to absorb into my skin.

Best part of the whole system? My skin looks and feels great. It feels soft without being greasy. Interestingly, I've found that while I don't have regular breakouts, I do get them somewhat at that time of the month, but while they haven't completely disappeared, they were minimal this time around, and I love that. This has been my only change, so I have to figure that the Therapon Skin Renewal System had at least something to do with it.

I do wish some things were a little different though. Remember the two squirts of the reparative gel I mentioned? I need one squirt of the cleanser, ten drops of the fruit acid exfoliant, and just a tiny bit of the gentle moisturizer, but two squirts of the reparative gel. I doubt that I'm going to finish up any of the portions of the system anywhere near the same time. I would like the sizes of the products adjusted so that you did finish things up near the same time. Granted, I can purchase the individual components, but it's cheaper to buy the system of course.

I also wish that the moisturizer had sunscreen (physical barrier versus a chemical barrier!) included in it. Once I put on my moisturizer, I don't want to add another lotion, as that is too heavy for my skin, and it makes me feel greasy. Down the road, I can almost guarantee that I'll simply switch out the moisturizer for one with sunscreen.

All in all though, I'm really happy with the system. Yes, it does cost $137.50, but in the month or so that I've been using it, I've barely made a dent in the product. This is going to last me a long time, making it easier to justify the purchase price for the system that makes my skin feel good.

Even better, one of you will get to try out the system, too! I have a Therapon Skin Renewal System to give away to one lucky reader. So what do you have to do to win? First of all, let me stress that you must follow all the rules. If you do not follow the rules, your entry will not count!

This contest is open until Wednesday June 29 at 7pm CST. I must have a valid way to reach you, so leave me your email address in your comment or be sure your profile has your email address visible. No duplicate comments will count. This giveaway is open to US residents age 18 and older. Winners will be selected via random.org and must respond within 48 hours of being notified by me or I will select a new winner.

Mandatory Entry: Tell me - what is your biggest skin challenge?

Bonus Entries (leave a comment for each entry - if you put it all in one comment, I'll count it as one entry):

1) Earn one additional entry for following me on Twitter and and Therapon on Twitter, then tweet this contest with the following tweet: "Need a new solution for your skin? Win a Skin Renewal System from @honestandtruly and @TheraponSkin http://bit.ly/lgPuBX" (leave a link to your tweet as your comment and make sure you do all the steps!)
2) Earn one additional entry by following this review blog publicly via Google Friend Connect.
3) Earn one additional entry by following my “regular” blog Honest & Truly! publicly via Google Friend Connect.
4) Like my blog on Facebook and let me know what name you used to like it.
5) Like Therapon Skin Health on Facebook and let me know you did.
6) Sign up for Therapon Skin promos here and let me know you did so.

Good luck!

In the interest of full disclosure, I was provided with a Theraderm Skin Renewal System for review purposes from Therapon. I have not received any compensation, and as always, all opinions expressed remain my own.

Winner!

Congrats goes to Deanna G - whoops, not sure where I got her blog from initially! She doesn't have one (and that's ok; you don't need one to enter) - for winning the Lands End gift card. I'm sure she'll put it to good use - IF she gets back to me within 48 hours. My apologies for the delay in getting the winner out for this one; the last week of school has been a busy nightmare for me, and I haven't been near my computer at all.

That said, look for more fun to come!

Giveaway: Kung Fu Panda 2 Prize Pack

Do you remember growing up and getting to choose your own cereal at the grocery store? Maybe this is why I love grocery shopping to this day? Hmmm. Anyway, one of my favorite things to do was to get to walk back and forth down that cereal aisle trying to figure out what I was going to choose. I always chose a cereal I liked, of course, but a big factor was also what toy or special thing on the box was available at the time. They used to have some really neat ones.

Actually, I shouldn't say they used to. Cereal manufacturers still do, to be honest. Have you seen the General Mills promotion now? Inside specially marked boxes of Cocoa Puffs®, Trix®, Golden Grahams®, Reese’s Puffs®, Cheerios®, Apple Cinnamon Cheerios®, Cookie Crisp®, Lucky Charms®, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and Honey Nut Cheerios, there are Kung Fu Panda 2 spin fighter toys.

Do you remember spin fighters? They were the little circle helicopter like things that you placed on a base, wound up and then released to go flying through the air. Once upon a time, I could really get them to fly high. I tried again with these new ones, and I almost got it to hit our cathedral ceiling, but ... my talents have definitely diminished over the years!

These spin fighters feature many of the characters from the Kung Fu Panda 2 movie that is out right now. There are eight different characters in the boxes, Po, Tigress, Shifu, Monkey, Lord Shen, Mantis, Crane, and Viper. The boxes add more fun to the spin fighter game. There are targets on the boxes for you to cut out and set up, then attempt to knock over with your spin fighters. Did I mention my skills have diminished? I have yet to hit a single target.

Sound fun? You can win your own Kung Fu Panda 2 prize pack that includes one box of a participating Big G cereal, a Kung Fu Panda 2 spin fighter toy, and the original Kung Fu Panda movie on DVD. (Since we missed the first one, as the wee ones were too young to see it in 2008, this is perfect for us to catch up before seeing the sequel!)

So what do you have to do to win? First of all, let me stress that you must follow all the rules. If you do not follow the rules, your entry will not count!

This contest is open until Thursday June 16 at 7pm CST. I must have a valid way to reach you, so leave me your email address in your comment or be sure your profile has your email address visible. No duplicate comments will count. This giveaway is open to US residents age 18 and older. Winners will be selected via random.org and must respond within 48 hours of being notified by me or I will select a new winner.

Mandatory Entry: Tell me - who is your - or your child's - favorite character from the Kung Fu Panda movies?

Bonus Entries (leave a comment for each entry - if you put it all in one comment, I'll count it as one entry):

1) Earn one additional entry for following me on Twitter and tweeting this contest with the following tweet: "Win a Kung Fu Panda 2 prize pack with the first movie DVD & more from @honestandtruly and #myblogspark http://bit.ly/jclsdy" (leave a link to your tweet as your comment and make sure you do all the steps!)
2) Earn one additional entry by following this review blog publicly via Google Friend Connect.
3) Earn one additional entry by following my “regular” blog Honest & Truly! publicly via Google Friend Connect.
4) Like my blog on Facebook and let me know what name you used to like it.

Good luck!

In the interest of full disclosure, I was provided with a Kung Fu Panda 2 prize pack as described above courtesy General Mills and DreamWorks through MyBlogSpark. I have not received any compensation, and as always, all opinions expressed remain my own.

Giveaway: Cooking Matters Gift Bag

Read Part 1 - the first day of my Cooking Matters Bloggy Boot Camp experience last week
Read Part 2 - my experience with the Cooking Matters Boot Camp here
Part 3 - discussing the Cooking Matters class I took back in Chicago

***

I have really loved getting to know about Cooking Matters. I wish there were more opportunities closer to me (Hello, Northern Illinois Food Bank!) so that I could get involved. I'd really love to teach the classes actually. I did my best not to pipe in too much yesterday during the cooking portion, but what can I say, I love to cook and teach people how to do so. Actually, the wee ones asked me to do some cooking classes for their friends this summer, which I may yet do.

That said, it was really interesting to see the differences between the focuses of the programs in Dallas - and from what I understand most locations in the US - and the Chicago Cooking Matters program. As the Chicago one is affiliated with a health center, the focus there tends to be less on learning healthy food habits and finding ways to stretch the food from any food stamps or items from food pantry that the class participant receives and more on eating healthfully for medical reasons - to get off meds or reduce weight and the like. That's no less valid a goal or reason by any stretch, just a difference that I found interesting.

The Cooking Matters Americorps Member Kristen Nachtwey who taught the class I attended graciously agreed to answer many of the questions I had about the program in Chicago.

The person who attends the classes varies greatly, as there are several different types of programs offered at various sites throughout the city. They offer adult classes in English and Spanish, classes for teens, kids, families, parents of young children and young parents. The average adult participant is usually female. They see very few males in class, usually one or 2 at most. Participants are usually overweight or obese, often recently diagnosed with diabetes or high blood pressure or have it in the family (as they are partnered with a health center, which is where they get the majority of their referrals for class), and most are low income.

The majority of the participants genuinely are concerned about their health and want to change it. They seem to be very appreciative and ask great questions and for the most part are great to have in class. Occasionally you get those who are only there for the free meal.

Within the class, "I always just try to stress awareness of new food and that everything is ok in moderation (learning the meaning of moderation helps, too). Also I spend a lot of time explaining that diets don't usually work; it comes down calories in and calories out. The biggest lessons learned for participants are label reading, the importance of whole grains, and how to include more vegetables into items most of them are already making or a healthier spin on a standard recipe," according to Kristen.

In her mind the most beneficial part of the program is that, it is a unique program that incorporates nutrition with cooking. "I believe that cooking for yourself and family has a huge impact on health and nourishment. There are many nutrition programs out there that can teach you everything about eating healthy, but it's the how that matters. Learning how to include new health behaviors or modify old ones is key," she explains.

At the end of the class, participants take a survey, and they report eating more fruits and vegetables, more whole grains and low fat meat and dairy. Many of them also report trying the recipes at home and with family - which of course is the goal of the program.

Kristen talked about a woman in one of the family classes that was very skeptical, but at the last class she shared that her family had tried almost half of the recipes in the book and had made cooking as a family a regular activity. She also enjoyed her food, paying attention to every bite and eating with family members at least 2 times a week. "I'm not sure if there was any weight loss, but the fact that she had started cooking instead of eating out makes a huge difference, and I'm sure the weight will follow. Also another common success story is participants giving up soda and fast food and also making a habit of sitting down at the table with the family," Kristen shared. I would have to think that hearing these kinds of success stories really keeps everyone going and excited about the program.

I wish that there were classes in the suburbs (did I mention that yet, Northern Illinois Food Bank?) Unfortunately due to their resource constraints, Cooking Matters is only in the city of Chicago. They do frequently get asked to offer classes in the suburbs, so there is an interest and need there!

A big issue not just for us on a daily basis but also for the Cooking Matters program is the rapidly rising cost of food. To combat this, "we practice what we preach: buying items on sale or in season and cooking with beans (they're cheap). Also, we recently received a food donation from ConAgra and Jimmy Dean, which help of course," stated Kristen.

On a side note, summer is approaching, which ironically has a huge impact on hunger - especially childhood hunger - even though food would seem to be more plentiful because it's warm and food is growing. Around 85% of CPS students receive free or reduced lunch at school, so during the summer a large percentage of these students are not getting their meals. Because the Chicago Cooking Matters program is partnered with a health center rather than the majority that are partnered with a food bank, the programs offered at their locations aren't able to do anything to assist with this (again - Northern Illinois Food Bank? I'd love to see you partner with Cooking Matters!).

That said, Cooking Matters in Chicago is planning to do several summer session for kids with the park district. "I think a big part is letting the parents/kids know where they can go to pick up the meals in the summer, especially if their schools are not offering summer school," Kristen explained.

So what can you do? I asked Kristen where they need help. "Ahh, everywhere! No we really need volunteers during the day (chefs, nutritionist, class assistants). We also just need help with volunteer management and of course fund raising!" As with every charitable organization these days, the biggest issue facing the Cooking Matters program in Chicago is short staffing and a lack of funds. They run all the programs and the office with two and a half people - yikes! They are always always looking for people to get involved. You can email Kristen at nnhscofl (at) nmh (dot) org, and she will inform you about the next volunteer orientation.

And after all this, I have something to share with you, too. I have one Cooking Matters gift bag to share with a reader. The gift bag includes a $50 Wal-Mart gift card, a Cooking Matters Family Course Book, a ConAgra Foods tote bag, a Cooking Matters tote bag, a Cooking Matters water bottle,
Cooking Matters measuring cups, a Cooking Matters cutting board, a Cooking Matters pot holder, a Cooking Matters calculator, a Cooking Matters magnet and button, a Cooking Matters balloon, and a ConAgra Foods coupon booklet. Lots of fun stuff, and can I suggest using the the gift card to purchase some food items to try out some of the recipes included in the Cooking Matters Family Course Book?

So what do you have to do to win? First of all, let me stress that you must follow all the rules. If you do not follow the rules, your entry will not count!

This contest is open until Wednesday June 15 at 7pm CST. I must have a valid way to reach you, so leave me your email address in your comment or be sure your profile has your email address visible. No duplicate comments will count. This giveaway is open to US residents age 18 and older. Winners will be selected via random.org and must respond within 48 hours of being notified by me or I will select a new winner.

Mandatory Entry: Tell me - why does cooking matter to you?

Bonus Entries (leave a comment for each entry - if you put it all in one comment, I'll count it as one entry):

1) Earn one additional entry for following me on Twitter and tweeting this contest with the following tweet: "Win a $50 Wal-Mart GC and a Cooking Matters gift bag from @honestandtruly http://bit.ly/mQGl0c #CookingMatters" (leave a link to your tweet as your comment and make sure you do all the steps!)
2) Earn one additional entry by following this review blog publicly via Google Friend Connect.
3) Earn one additional entry by following my “regular” blog Honest & Truly! publicly via Google Friend Connect.
4) Like my blog on Facebook and let me know what name you used to like it.

Good luck!

In the interest of full disclosure, I was provided with some of the items in the gift bag (the tote bags, calculator, measuring cups, cutting board, etc but not the gift card) as a thank you from ConAgra Foods Foundation. I was also compensated by the ConAgra Foods Foundation for my participation in the Bloggy Boot Camp and the posts I've written. That said, all opinions expressed remain my own.