Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers Review & Giveaway!

I am not a big fan of vegetables and I've passed that trait onto my children.  I do know that vegetables are healthy and good for you, that's why I try to include a variety of veggies with our meals.  I love any recipes that allow me to cover up and hide the taste of veggies itself.  When I had a chance to try the new Valley Fresh Steamers with Pasta, I was thrilled.  I chose the new Pasta and Vegetables with Alfredo Sauce.  I love Alfredo sauce and would spend every night at Olive Garden if I could! :)  

The pasta was nice and cooked with just the right amount of sauce.  The carrots and broccoli was just right, not mushy like a lot of other steam vegetables turn out.  I was able to eat this with no problems at all.  Best of all, my kids loved it!!

I love how easy it is to just stick it in the microwave and 5-6 minutes later, I had a delicious side!  

Quick and Easy, Just how I like it!

The only downside, this package is only good for 2 people.  With a family of 5, I would need to make 2 packages at least.

Making mealtime easier than ever, Green Giant has introduced vegetables with pasta in savory sauces to their already convenient and tasty line-up of Valley Fresh Steamers frozen mixes.

New Valley Fresh Steamers Vegetables with Pasta varieties include:

Macaroni and Cheese Sauce with Broccoli - classic elbow macaroni and broccoli in a mouth watering cheese sauce

Pasta and Vegetables with Alfredo Sauce - delicious corkscrew pasta with carrots and broccoli in a savory Alfredo Sauce.

I was sent a prize package from MyBlogSpark and Green Giant that had the following items:

2 Green Giant Placemats

Broccoli Stress Reliever

32oz Serving Bowl

Surprise Face Serving Spoon

A VIP coupon for the new Valley Fresh Steamers with Pasta.

One of my lucky readers will win the exact same prize as shown above!

Stationery card

Snowflakes Ribbon Christmas Card

Don't send boring Christmas cards , personalize them at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

Pumpkin Apple Streusel Muffins

I was in the mood for something Fall/Pumpkinish.  So I decided to google and came across this recipe.  It was SOOO good!!  The older kids each had 3 muffins each.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups white sugar
• 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 cups peeled, cored and chopped apple

Streusel

• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 4 teaspoons butter
• 
  

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease 18 muffin cups or use paper liners.
2. In a large bowl, sift together 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 cups sugar, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, mix together eggs, pumpkin and oil. Add pumpkin mixture to flour mixture; stirring just to moisten. Fold in apples. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups.
3. In a small bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons flour, 1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle topping evenly over muffin batter.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into a muffin comes out clean.

The Publix Ad is up!

Michelle over at Iheartpublix has the preview of the upcoming Publix ad.  I have to say its going to be a GREAT week!

http://www.iheartpublix.com/index.php/2011/11/publix-ad-coupons-1117-to-1124-1116-to-1123/

I'm going to have to go shop tomorrow to get stuff before everybody else does so I can make sure I get all of my stuff!  So far with what coupons I have before she puts up the super deals.  It looks like I will spend $13.76 at publix!

I will also take the ad to Foodlion for them to price match since they double up to .60 cents and I have several .55 cents off coupons.  And after they price match and take coupons, I should pay .26 cents!!
Gotta Love it!

Rockboard Scooter @ MomStart

The Hottest New toy is here!!  GREAT for tweens and teens.  Its just a scooter that goes by rocking the pedle back and forth.  This would be an AWESOME Christmas present for my 6 year old!  He's always wanting to keep up with his big sister on her electric scooter.  This would be a great way for him to keep up with her.

Momstart is doing a giveaway, go here  to check it out!!

ends 11/21

Rockboard Scooter @ 3 Different Directions

The Hottest New toy is here!!  GREAT for tweens and teens.  Its just a scooter that goes by rocking the pedle back and forth.  This would be an AWESOME Christmas present for my 6 year old!  He's always wanting to keep up with his big sister on her electric scooter.  This would be a great way for him to keep up with her.

3 different directions is doing a giveaway, go here to check it out!!

ends 11/19

Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon When You Take the North "Poll"

Melissa & Doug want you to tell them which of their educational toys you think is the best! Just click on the image below to place your vote in the North "Poll!" You'll Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon** to use at MelissaAndDoug.com just for voting!

Plasma Car @ FunSavingMoney

I really really really want one of these cars for my youngest who will be 2 in Dec.  This would be a perfect birthday or Christmas present for him.  Since I'm on an tight budget being an 1 income family, I would love to win this!  Who wouldn't love this toy! Kids of all ages can ride this since it goes up to 200 lbs.
Go check it out and enter at fun saving money 

Ends 11/18

Big G Cereal and DC Comics @ twoboysonegirlandacrazymom

Big G cereal has a new thing!!  They have DC comics on their cereals!

This would be a HUGE hit with my 6 year old son.  He loves anything with DC comics on them and can name all the characters. 

twoboys1girlandacrazymom is doing a giveaway where one person can win a box of cereal, a comic book and a figure!

Go here to check it out and enter!

ends 11/17

Papapod Diaper Bag @ Formality Of Frugality

I love diaper bags that give me as much storage and space I need.  Especially when my kids are 1st born.  The diaper bag is a lifesaver when it comes to having everything you need for your baby when you are out and about.  I really want to win this diaper bag!!  look at all the organization compartments!!

Formality Of Frugality is hosting a giveaway for a diaper bag! 

Go here to check it out

Ends 11/17

Plasma Car @ Formality of Frugality

I really really really want one of these cars for my youngest who will be 2 in Dec.  This would be a perfect birthday or Christmas present for him.  Since I'm on an tight budget being an 1 income family, I would love to win this!  Who wouldn't love this toy! Kids of all ages can ride this since it goes up to 200 lbs.
Go check it out and enter at Formality Of Frugality 

Ends 11/10

Eden Fantasys

*Warning*  The following post contains adult links and products.  You must be 18+

I have been with my husband for 12 years, been married 10 years of that.  Can't believe I've been married that long!  Just because you are married, doesn't mean that you can't have fun in the bedroom.  Who says married sex has to be boring! :)

We turned to Eden Fantasys because they have a wide broad selection of items for anything you would need. From Vibrators to Candles to Sexy Lingerie.  The items come in an discreet box so you don't have to worry about the neighbors seeing your package and being embarrassed over it.

I had a chance to review the Chocolates Egg and Controller.  Its a cute little egg shape that comes with an remote that you can control your settings.  It has a 30" cord so plenty of room for movement.  This can be great for before hand as a massager, it felt GREAT on my back and neck.  Easy to roll around and get deep in the muscles.  Its also great for foreplay ;)

The best part, its waterproof!  So you can use it in the shower or hot tub.

Possibilities are endless!

Edens Fantasys has sex toys for every type of couples! 

*Disclaimer*
Opinions are 100% mine.  I was not paid to do a review, only provided a product to review.

Pig of the Month BBQ

I had recently won an blog giveaway and this is what I had won.

Win it:

One winner will win 4 sauce sampler:

1 bottle Love Me Tender The King of Memphis BBQ Sauce

1 bottle Get Lei’d Hawaiian BBQ Sauce

1 bottle Cattle King Texas Brisket & BBQ Sauce

1 bottle Key West in a Bottle Citrus Grilling Sauce

So I submitted my info to the blogger and was awaiting my prize.  I got it in the mail and opened up the box.  There was only 2 bottles in there.  The Love Me Tender and Key West in a bottle.   So I shot off an email to the blogger and explained that I only got 2 of the 4 bottles I was supposed to get.  She had contracted her sponser person in charge of doing this.  About a week later, I get an gift card in the mail for $15.00 which is the cost of 2 bottles.  So I head over to the website and put 2 bottles in my shopping cart and go to check out.   It was then I found out that shipping was going to be $10.10.  I did not want to pay for shipping on something that I had won.  So I shot off an email asking for free shipping considering it was an screw up on their half for not sending me all 4 bottles as stated in the giveaway.  

Then I get this email... this email really really pissed me off!  I was ranting to my husband and a friend of mine.  They both agreed that I should not have to pay for shipping.

Hi Nicole, 

I'm sorry to hear that you're not happy.  We provided you with a FREE sampler of BBQ sauces for entering a contest on a partnering blog site.  When you wrote into her and complained we felt bad that maybe some sort of mix up had occurred, so we set you a $15 gift card to make up the difference and keep everyone on good terms. 

Considering these were all done for FREE for you at no expense, time or otherwise, I feel its quite audacious of you to come to us and request free shipping.  

We've done everything we can to make things right with you.  That being said, we won't be offering free shipping.  If you would like to use the gift card for the 2 sauces, you can pay shipping or you can use it for one and have the gift card cover most of the shipping charge. 

So of course I sent her another email...

I don't think what i'm requesting is anything outrageous. It was stated in the blog that I would receive FOUR (4) sauce sampler listed 

1 bottle Love Me Tender The King of Memphis BBQ Sauce

1 bottle Get Lei’d Hawaiian BBQ Sauce

1 bottle Cattle King Texas Brisket & BBQ Sauce

1 bottle Key West in a Bottle Citrus Grilling Sauce

(I inserted blog link here for them to click and see for themselves)

So, when I received 2 out of the 4.  Yes I'm going to be a little disappointed.  All I was asking is the other 2 sauces that I was supposed to get.  Instead which I got a gift card which Is perfectly fine since I can order the other 2 bottles myself.  But when I have to pay for shipping on something I'm supposed to get completely free, yes I'm going to ask for free shipping as well.  Because If you had sent what I originally was supposed to get, I wouldn't had to pay a dime out of my own pocket.

So, This company sure has left an sour taste in my mouth.  I would never buy their products and/or recommend it to anybody!!  If they aren't going to follow through on their agreement with the blogger, they shouldn't do it in the 1st place!!  And the bottles I got weren't sealed in any way. I just thought it was strange that it didn't have an seal film on the inside of the cap, or a wrapper on the cap itself.  How do I know if it hasn't been tampered with or how fresh it is?