Everyday Breakfast with the help of Safeway!

Do you make breakfast a priority at your house? I try to but sometimes we wake up late or one of my boys will have a meltdown. For those reasons, sometimes we skip breakfast. I know that is so bad. But, I try and have a variety of everyday breakfast items on hand so that it doesn't happen very often! I'm okay with sugary cereals as long as some healthy items are included every morning, as well. For instance, a piece of fruit and 100% juice.

Safeway has a great promotion that is going right now that includes a wide assortment of breakfast items. I picked up some Lucky Charms, Pop Tarts, Coffee and Fruit Snacks. These items were all marked at my store to be included in the buy 4 save $4 promotion! I even had coupons for 2 of these items, so, I saved even more! Be sure to check for additional savings with the Safeway just4u ap. It can be loaded to your smart phone and makes saving a breeze. You can even create a shopping list with the ap and check off the items as they are put into your cart.

Lucky Charms are not the healthiest thing for breakfast but I did purchase some Silk Soy milk. The boys can have this with their cereal and I can put it in my coffee. I like that it has fewer calories and more calcium than milk. Quite a few coffee brands were part of the promotion but I went with the Seattle's Best, of course decaf. That is one of my favorites! I was really excited to find the new Tropicana Farmstand 100% fruit and vegetable juice. The boys will drink a cup of this in the morning and have no clue that it contains veggies!

Disclosure: I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias®  and Safeway #cbias #SocialFabric All opinions are my own.

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Cypher Kids Club Interactive Cards!

I'm always trying to find fun ways for my boys to learn. Whether it be through board games or apps that I can utilize on my iPad and iPhone. It's a hard balance with technology. I don't want them to rely completely on these devices for learning and entertainment, so I definitely have to set time limits. I had the chance to try out the new Cypher Kids Club Augmented Reality Cards and I knew my five year old would love them!



Cypher Kids Interactive Cards - Numbers


Each flashcard has the number on the front and then a QR code on the back. To read the QR code, you need to download the Cypher Kids app from iTunes and have an Apple device that has a camera. The great thing is that the app is FREE! We have quite a few different Apple devices that we could have used like an iPad or iPhone. But, to make the images larger, we decided on the iPad.




QR Code to Scan on Card


My son is in his second year of preschool but still has some difficulty recognizing numbers. He's doing great at counting so I was hoping that the number cards will help him with identification. We started out with number one. He wanted to randomly choose cards but I wanted him to "earn" each card! He did really well with the mubers one through ten. The cards go up to twenty and he started having a little more difficulty with the higher numbers. The images and sounds really kept his attention.



Cypher Kids Home Screen

The correct number must be chosen on the home screen to correspond with each card. If the card does not match what you have chosen, then the QR code will not scan. Each card has cute little characters and songs to help with learning the numbers.



The Number One!

The best way to scan the card and view the 3D image is to give some distance between the camera and the card. When you do this the effects are much clearer. You can even take the card and turn it sideways. This will show you different angles of the number and the graphics.




Fun Angles by Moving Card

 The #CypherKidsClub  learning cards are also available for Letters. You can purchase the Letters and Numbers cards online through the Apple Store. Shipping is FREE and you will receive them in just a few days. These cards would make great last minute Christmas presents for pre-schoolers. Even my eight year old was having a blast with them! You can also visit Cypher Kids on their Twitter and Facebook pages to learn more about the different learning cards available!




My 8 and 5 Year Old Both Having Fun!

 Disclosure: I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Cypher Kids Club #CBias #SocialFabric all opinions are my own.




Recipe: Coconut Scotchie Bars & Ambiance Coffee! #MyBaristaMoment

I love coffee! The only problem is that I have to drink decaf. I suffer from terrible migraines and they can be triggered by caffeine. If I order a drink from a coffee shop, I can tell after one sip if it is really decaf or not. Sometimes the barista will make a mistake. But, that mistake can mean that I might be bed ridden, for a day.

So, when I had the chance to shop at Smart & Final for some Ambience coffee, I was so excited. If I have my own decaf on hand, I don't need to worry about any caffeine mistakes.

One of my other loves...sweets! There is nothing better to enjoy with coffee, than a nice homemade treat. One of my favorite cookies is oatmeal scotchies. So, I decided to put a new twist on my favorite and create Coconut Scotchie bars! And of course, I want to share the recipe!

Ingredients:

2/3 Cup Butter, Softened
2 Cups Brown Sugar, Packed
3 Eggs
1 tsp. Vanilla
2 Cups All Purpose Flour
1 tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 tsp. Salt
1 1/2 Cups Butterscotch Chips
1 Cup Shredded or Flaked Coconut

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease 9x13 baking pan.
2. In large bowl, cream the butter, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla.
3. Slowly add flour, baking powder and salt to the creamed mixture.
4. Fold in butterscotch chips and coconut.
5. Bake 20 to 25 minute. Let cool completely before cutting.

These bars were really easy and quick to make. The longest part of the recipe is waiting for them to cool. I always cheat and throw them in the freezer so I can cut them sooner. I am not patient, at all!

These bars were perfect with my Ambiance decaf coffee. I dug out my coffee mug from Hawaii and used some coconut milk in my coffee. I wanted to keep with the tropical theme!

Smart & Final has some great motivators for you to switch to Ambiance coffee! Not only is the coffee awesome, but you can go HERE and enter the code from your Ambience coffee purchase on the bottom of your receipt. You will then be entered to win some great prizes!

• First prize (one grand prize per week, 3 total): DeLonghi BC02648 Cafe Nero Combo Coffee/Espresso Maker, a $200 value!
• One of six $50 SmartCash cards to be used at Smart & Final (two winners per week, 6 winners total)

Plus, you can go HERE and vote for your favorite Ambiance Coffee recipe! Everyone who votes will be entered for a chance to win $50 worth of Ambience Coffee products (6 winners - Two winners per week)!


Disclosure: This project has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for #collectivebias #cBias all opinions are my own.

Cyber Monday Clothes Shopping On CookiesKids.com! #LuvCookies #cBias

On Cyber Monday, I scored some great cothing deals for my boys, on CookiesKids.com! They had a great sale on their already low prices. I was amazed at the selection of toys, clothes, games and accessories. They even carry name brands like, Sean John, Nautica, Levi's and Hello Kitty.

I new the boys needed some winter clothes. So, my mission was to get a pair of jeans and a long sleeved shirt, for each of them.

My oldest is very hard to buy clothes for. He likes his clothes baggy and cannot stand clingy clothing. When we were looking for pants in his size, I chose the skinny fit. He was not happy, at all. I assured him that they were not "skinny" jeans. They were just a slimmer fit. That is exactly what he needs. They boy cannot gain a pound to save his life! Oh to be young again. After he calmed down about the jeans, he really liked a dressy shirt from Sean John. He doesn't really have any dressy shirts. So, I thought it was a perfect choice!

Now, my 4 year old would wear a garbage bag. He is not picky, at all! Actually, he would rather go around town in just his underwear. Well, that obviously is not an option. So, I got to pick exactly what I wanted to see him in. I love the preppy look of the blue sweater, below.

So, each of my boys got a new shirt and pair of jeans. I was so happy with my final bill. A complete new outfit for each of them and it was under $50. I even got FREE shipping.

You can check out my pins from my shopping experience HERE on Pinterest! There is even a pair of shoes that I pinned for the boys. I didn't buy them during this shopping "trip." But, they will definitely be in my cart, next time!

Here is a picture of my boys in their new outfits. They hate posing for pictures and couldn't stand still. If you would like to check out more pictures of the boys' new clothes and their "modeling" session, check out my Google+ story HERE!


Disclosure: This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias all opinions are mine.

Recipe: Lemon & Sour Cream Pound Cake! #SmartFinalSupportsSoCalSchools

 Every year around the holidays, I try and figure out what desserts to make. I am constantly looking all over the internet and through my cookbooks.

Well, I found an amazing recipe in my grandmothers old cookbook. When she passed away, I was lucky enough to snag it! It is compiled of a mish mash of recipes that were scribbled down on napkins, clipped from newspapers and torn out of magazines.

The recipe I decided on was Sour Cream Lemon Pound Cake. It sounded amazing. So, I decided to give it a try. I even found my grandmother's old bundt pan, to bake it in!

INGREDIENTS:

2 sticks of First Street California Dairy butter

3 cups sugar

6 eggs at room temperature

1/4 tsp. Baking Soda

8oz First Street California Dairy sour cream (room temperature)

3 cups flour

1 1/2 tsp. Vanilla

1 Tbsp. Lemon Extract

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350. Grease and flour your bundt pan.

In a mixer, cream the butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time. Making sure each one is incorporated. In a separate bowl, fold the baking soda into the sour cream. Add half of the flour and sour cream mixture to your mixer. Mix well. Then, add the remaining flour and sour cream mixture along with the vanilla and lemon extract. Mix until smooth. Pour into your bundt pan and bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pan about 10 minutes and invert onto cake plate.

I added a lemon glaze that can be optional. Be sure to let the cake cool completely before adding the glaze.

LEMON GLAZE:

1/4 cup sour cream

2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

3 Tbsp milk

1 Tbsp Lemon extract

This cake was really moist with the sour cream! If lemon is not your thing, you can always use almond extract!

Smart & Final has some great products that are made with Real California Dairy, just look for the seal. When these products are purchased they help raise money for Southern California schools. You can go to FirstStreetSupportsSoCalSchools.com to learn more about the program!

Disclosure: This project has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for #collectivebias #CBias

Smart & Final: Dinner With #LaRomanella

Smart & Final has a great selection of Italian fare with their LaRomanella line! I was given the challenge to create a meal using LaRomanella products, from Smart & Final. I decided on bruschetta and pasta with pesto & mozzarella!

For my pasta dish I used a 16oz package of Penne Lisce from LaRomanella, an 8oz container of Pesto from LaRomanella and 8oz package of mozzarella cheese. When the penne was done cooking I added the pesto and the diced mozzarella. The warm pasta made the cheese melt nicely.

My completed pasta dish was a big hit. It was a nice change from regular spaghetti and tomato sauce!

For the bruschetta I picked up a box of LaRomanella

garlic toast, 3 tomatoes, 1 red onion, fresh basil, LaRomanella balsamic vinegar, LaRomanella olive oil and LaRomanella Parmesan cheese.

Bake the garlic toast according to directions and mix your topping together.

3 diced tomatoes

1/4 cup diced red onion

4 basil leaves chopped

3 Tbsp Olive Oil

2 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar

1 Tbsp Parmesan cheese

In celebration of the LaRomanella products, Smart & Final is giving one winner a trip to Sonoma's wine country! Head over to their Facebook page HERE and enter to win. (The winner must live within a 20 mile radius of a Smart & Final)

Also, during this 2 week promotion, if you purchase a Redwood Creek Wine you will receive a FREE 16oz package of LaRomanella pasta!

***Disclosure: This project has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for #collectivebias #CBias all opinions are 100% mine.

Swapping My Fries With #OreIdaFries

My family loves french fries!`I don't mind giving them the ones that I can bake in the oven. At least they are a little healthier than the greasy oil ridden ones.

I went to my local Sams Club and was amazed that 8lbs of fries were only $6.25. Now, I'm not going to feed these to family every day. Once a week, maybe. An 8lb bag will last us a long time.

Then, things got interesting. I spotted Ore-Ida Sweet Potato Fries by Heinz. I absolutely love sweet potato fries, so, I bought both!

It was interesting to read on the bags that both items are products of the U.S.A and they are both gluten-free. But, the one thing that really won me over was the fact that the Ore-Ida Sweet Potato Fries by Heinz are a good source of Beta Carotene.

The finished meal was steak, carrots and 2 kinds of fries. (Don't worry. I did not eat that whole steak myself) The sweet potato fries were my favorite part of the meal. My oldest son wasn't too sure about eating orange fries but my youngest loved them! I am definitely going to try and incorporate them into our meals, more often.

I think next time I will either try sprinking them with a little brown sugar for added sweetness or some taco seasoning to make them sweet and spicy!

If you would like to check out my full adventure with more pictures, click below and let me know what you think.

Disclosure: This project has been compensated as part of an #OreIdaFries shopping mission for Heinz with #CollectiveBias. As always, all opinions are completely mine!