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Giveaways Galore {9/2}! Come link up and browse.

2010-09-02T00:03:00.006-04:00

Make sure to check out the Giveaway Linky List to promote your giveaways on other blogs!

Thanks for stopping by today! Please link directly to your giveaways (not your blog) and mention what it is you are giving away. If you have time, please list the date the giveaway will expire. Head over to Jolly Mom for even more! I hope everyone has a wonderful day.

Check out the current giveaways going on here:
Sid the Science Kid Kit Giveaway {9/15}
Deb on Air Children's Books Giveaway {9/13}
Fresh Baby Freezer Trays and Reminder {9/11}
The Organ Wise Guys Back to School Kit {9/10}
Wubbzy Goes to School DVD and Book {9/9}
Garnet Hill Signature Backpack {9/8}
$25 Gift Card to My Baby Clothes Boutique {9/7}
Innovative Kids Now I'm Reading Program {9/6}
$20 Baskin-Robbins Gift Card {9/2}

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Sharpie NEW Liquid Pencil for Back to School!

2010-09-02T00:03:00.001-04:00

There is no secret among my colleagues at work that I actually hide my Sharpie pens! I love the fine tip pens and they have a tendency to get up and walk off if I do not hide them whenever I am not using them. I don't think anyone has found my hiding location yet!

Just in time for back to school, Sharipe has also come out with a Liquid Pencil that is pretty cool if you ask me! I'm not sure if these would be allowed in elementary or middle schools, but they would be perfect for high schoolers and everyone else. They take a liquid carteridge and last longer than your standard mechanical pencils (no breaking). You can erase the marks made for up to 24 hours (why I think it would not be good for younger students). I can see these coming in handy for math classes as well as any drafting courses. The tip is fine and draws very smooth. It is refillable and is the equivalent of a no.2 pencil.

You can buy the Sharpie Liquid Pencil in a 2 pack for about $3.98!

This product was provided free of charge by Sharpie. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.

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Wordless Wednesday: Such a good swimmer!

2010-09-01T00:04:00.004-04:00

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Chicken Big. A hilarious story the whole family will love!

2010-09-01T00:03:00.000-04:00

I promise that this is not turning into a book blog, but I just have to share with you whenever there is a great new children's read. It is a passion of mine and of course Graham's! It is so much fun to share a brand new story with him and watch him make it come to life in his imagination.

Chicken Big is a humorous story written by Keith Graves. This is the kind of author you would like to sit down to dinner with (or so it seems from his humor). Ever since we received this book Graham can not put it down. Chicken Big is all about a humongous chick who is born to a very small chicken and who seems to have trouble convincing any of the others that he really is a chicken! In the end, the humongous chick does something courageous that proves who he is!

Parents will love the dry humor in this book as well as kids. You are also going to love the illustrations that are almost comic book like, but more organized. You can purchase Chicken Big from Chronicle Books for about $16.99. This hardcover book would be an excellent gift idea for ages 4-8!

This product was provided free of charge by Chronicle Books. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.

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Patch Products: Educational Toys! {Sid the Science Kid Kit Giveaway}

2010-09-01T00:01:00.004-04:00

Ever since we did away with DirectTV, Graham has been watching PBS Kids more than ever (when the TV is on). One of his favorite shows to watch in the morning while he eats his breakfast before preschool is Sid the Science Kid. We often head off to school in the morning with him asking certain science questions or telling me about what he learned.

Patch Products offers several different science toys as well as puzzles for kids, kids coloring books, and many other educational items. We were sent the Sid the Science Kid Learning Kit Why Are Wheels Round to review. At first I was worried that it would be too much for Graham at the age of three, but he quickly proved me wrong!

This is such a fun way for kids to explore how things work which is right up Graham's alley. He is always curious about how things move and operate and this has been a great lesson for him. Included in the kit is a car with 3 different sets of wheels. There are also rubber bands for traction and to pull and release the car you create. Graham has fun changing out the wheels and talking about why it will or will not go. Once he has the round wheels on he races the car off of the dinning room table into the floor (typical boy right?). You can also decorate the car however you see fit.

For only $9.99 this would make an excellent gift idea that is out of the norm as well as a wonderful project if you are homeschooling. There is a 24 page journal included for older kids so that they can track their experiments!

This product was provided free of charge by Patch Products. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.

Now one lucky Go Graham Go reader will win a Sid the Science Kid Kit! Here's How:

1. Head over to Patch Products and leave a comment here telling me an item you like besides the Sid the Science Kid Learning Kits. Make sure to leave your email address in the comment (used only to contact the winner. If your email shows up on your blogger account then do not worry about leaving it).

Extra Entries (leave separate comments for each):

2. Blog about this giveaway and link to www.patchproducts.com and www.gograhamgo.com and leave the link to your post in the comment.

3. Subscribe to Go Graham Go by reader or email or follow on Blogger

4. One Extra Entry Per Day: Follow Patch Products and Go Graham Go on Twitter and Tweet about this daily. Make sure to leave your twitter name in your comment.

5. Add the Go Graham Go button to your sidebar

6. Stumble this post (the post,not the site)

7. "Like" Patch Products and Go Graham Go on Facebook. Leave your Facebook name in the comment.

This giveaway ends 9/15 at 11:59pm (EST). The winner will be chosen using random.org and announced on this post. US entries only please.

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NEW Infantino Balance Carrier Review and $10 Discount

2010-08-31T13:43:00.000-04:00

Baby carriers are a must have item if you are an on the go parent. They are so much easier than lugging around a stroller. If you are onto baby number 2 or 3 they can really give you more mobility if you are already chasing around a couple of other children. The problem is, you need a baby carrier that offers enough support that you aren't killing your back in the process.

In my opinion, a baby carrier is definitely something worth spending a little extra money on to get a good one. I do understand that not everyone has a ton of money to buy one with all of the options though. This is why I am glad Infantino has come out with a great option that is also affordable. The Balance Baby Carrier retails for about $49.99 and offers you a facing in position for smaller babies and a backpack option for bigger babies.

Because my baby is not here yet, I had a friend of mine try out the Infantino Balance Baby Carrier with her new baby boy. He is only 2 months old and is a little guy. He weighs about 8lbs 13oz. The Balance Carrier was designed to hold babies who weigh anywhere from 8lbs-35lbs which makes this a very versatile option as well. My friend's experience so far has been that her baby is not quite as happy in this carrier as her other one because he is still too small. His legs were too short to hang out of the sides even when she adjusted it and he seems to prefer having them out. I think that if we experiment with this carrier in another month her baby will be much happier! I am going to let her hang on to it so we can find out the results. The good news is that she said the carrier definitely felt great on her back. There was plenty of support and no back pain associated with the Balance Carrier.

I must say that the design of this carrier makes so much sense to me. The shoulder straps have a ton of padding and support, the backpack option is something you don't often find on carriers that cost less, and the natural sitting position it creates for baby has to be more comfortable for everyone! Make sure to check out the video on the Infantino Balance Carrier.

$10 Discount
Babies R Us is currently offering $10 off the Balance Carrier as well as the EcoSash until September 21st! You can connect with Infantino on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or their blog to keep up to date with all of the deals they have to offer.

I am a participant in a Mom Central campaign for Infantino and have received various Infantino products as part of my participation.

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Easy Chicken and Broccoli Braid Recipe {Guest Post}

2010-08-31T00:04:00.009-04:00

We all have been there. It’s 5:00pm, the children are getting restless, the phone is ringing, and you are scrambling to put dinner on the table. Add a newborn to the mix, and well, Mommies quickly begin to dread the daily question, “What’s for dinner?” In the midst of welcoming home a new baby, dinner is usually whatever you can eat with one hand, or the nearest take-out restaurant! When a friend has a baby, part of my “gift” to her is I bring over a couple meals for her family to enjoy, without her having to lift a finger! Over the next few weeks, in honor of Felicia and her growing family, I will be sharing these tried-and-true recipes that have quickly become my family’s, and many of my friends’ families, faves!

Chicken and Broccoli Braid

Ingredients:
- 2 cups cooked chicken, chopped
- 1 cup broccoli, chopped
- ½ cup red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 garlic clove, pressed
- 4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (1 cup)
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tsp dried dill
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 packages (8 oz. each) refrigerated crescent rolls
- 1 egg white, lightly beaten
- 2 Tbsp slivered almonds

Preparation:
1. Preheat over to 375°F. Mix chicken, broccoli, pepper and garlic in a medium mixing bowl.
2. Add shredded cheese to vegetable mixture, mix gently.
3. Add mayonnaise, dill and salt to the mixture and set aside.
4. Unroll 1 package of crescent dough; do not separate. Arrange longest sides of dough across width of baking sheet. Repeat with the second package of dough. Roll the dough (or gently knead with your fingers) to seal perforations. On longest sides, cut dough into strips 1 ½ inches apart, 3 inches deep. (It will look like a rectangle blanket with tabs along each side.)
5. Spread filling evenly over middle of the dough. To braid, lift strips of dough across mixture to meet in center, twisting each strip one turn. Continue alternating strips to form a braid. Tuck ends up to seal at end of braid.
6. Brush egg white over dough. Sprinkle with almonds. Bake 25-28 minutes or until deep golden brown.
*Don’t be intimidated by this recipe. If the braid seems too complicated, simply roll the dough out flat, lay the chicken mixture in the middle and bring the sides in to create a big ball of dough filled you’re your chicken mixture in the middle.

This recipe was first discovered in The Pampered Chef cookbook, Main Dishes: Recipes at the Heart of Every Meal.

Kitchen Tip-of-the-Day:
Crescent dough is a versatile food that I always keep on hand. Whether stuffed with scrambled eggs and bacon for breakfast, turkey, craisins and cream cheese for lunch, or chocolate chips for a yummy treat at any of time, you can’t go wrong!

Head over to Balancing Beauty and Bedlam, $5 Dinners, and Blessed with Grace for more recipe ideas!

This article was brought to you by Zoolu!. Megan Glynn, the author, is the mom of two young boys as well as a Childbirth Educator, Doula, and Co-Founder of Zoolu!, an online store filled with thousands of the best name-brand and personalized baby and Mommy items! Fan Zoolu! on Facebook today for your chance to be “zapped” with a $20 Gift Certificate!

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9/11 Day of Service Twitter Party Tonight!

2010-08-31T00:03:00.012-04:00

Tonight at 8:00pm ET, 9/11 Day of Service, in conjunction with MyDFWMommy, are throwing a Twitter “Pay it Forward” party to discuss ways your families have “paid it forward” in your own communities. There will be lots of prizes offered for those who participate and share their stories. You can participate by using the hashtag #911Day.

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Kubit2Me Games! Fun, educational, and ice breakers!

2010-08-31T00:03:00.000-04:00

Working as a school counselor, I can see a huge need for games such as Kubit2Me! Sometimes it is hard to get kids talking and warmed up in group settings. The Kubit2Me games are great for a variety of ages and reasons.

Lil' Scholars ABC's and 123's Edition
What a fun way to reinforce and learn the alphabet as well as numbers! This fuzzy game can be thrown from parent to child for learning fun. The child can retrieve the cards from the multiple pockets to play the game. There is an inner pocket for reward stickers for correct answers. What a great way to celebrate a birthday as well! This game is great for ages 3 and up! Graham likes to play and feels confident each time he gets an answer correct.

Now You're Talkin' Edition
This would be a great idea for the elementary school and middle school setting. As the fuzzy cube is passed around, players take a card out that holds thought provoking questions about beliefs, relationships and more. There is no winner in this game, it is strictly geared towards helping kids open up!

There are also Bonus Boxes that can be added to the games. These will help add on to the questions and games that are included in the original game cubes. You can also head to the Kubit2Me website to find Print and Play options! They are free and can be printed onto standard paper or card stock.

The Kubit2Me games retail for about $19.99. The Bonus Boxes retail for about $5.99. These would be a great gift idea for teachers, students, counselors, or a preschooler! There's something for just about everyone.

This product was provided free of charge by Kubit2Me. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.
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Win a Family Trip to the Hyatt Tamaya New Mexico!

2010-08-30T09:41:00.000-04:00

The Hyatt Regency Tamaya was selected by AAA as one of the top 10 family destinations for Labor Day! To celebrate, they’re giving away a weekend stay to one lucky family to enjoy the picturesque fall season, including a horseback ride on the Rio Grande, delicious Chile Harvest cuisine and countless activities for the kids, like adobe brick- and drum-making (Graham would love the drum making I'm sure).

How to win:
Send them a direct message on Facebook sharing why your family deserves a relaxing fall weekend at Tamaya and you could win. Please keep it to 150 words or less. Winner will be chosen by the resort on September 15, 2010.

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Carnival's New "fun ship": Carnival Magic!

2010-08-30T09:16:00.000-04:00

I have been on one cruise in my lifetime and it was a blast! It is definitely something I would like to do again just because of having everything right at your finger tips for one reasonable price.

Carnival will be unveiling a brand new "fun ship" in May called the Carnival Magic. Check out the virtual tour! The Water Works looks likes something Graham would definitely enjoy. The amenities include a gigantic 500-gallon water dump bucket (the largest at sea!), the two-level mini-golf course in SportsSquare, a dish at Carnival’s first Italian trattoria, Cucina del Capitano and many more.

Keep up with all of the Carnival Cruise happenings by connecting on Twitter or Facebook.

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Johnson's Natural Baby Products Gentle on Sensitive Skin

2010-08-30T00:04:00.000-04:00

I feel like a broken record when I talk about how sensitive Graham's skin is, but it is so true! We have to watch everything with him. I will definitely go out of my way to find organic and natural products for his skin so we have no issues to deal with. The problem is, a lot of these products are pricier than the more commonly known options. I am glad to see that a well known brand is stepping up and offering more options for sensitive skin!

Johnson's now has a new line of Natural products that we are completely impressed with! Every single product offered is 98% natural and meets the guidelines set by the Natural Products Association. The best part is that Johnson's Natural products are super affordable! For under $7 you can have a natural product that is safe for your sensitive baby's skin. When Graham was first born I was paying about double that price on natural products for him.

Of course, my baby is not here yet to try it out on, but Graham's skin has been perfect while using these products. My favorite product for his age (3) is the Johnson's Natural Kids 3-in-1 Shampoo Conditioner and Body Wash! It is only $4.99 at Target and meets all of your needs without purchasing separate shampoo and body wash. If you aren't impressed with a 3-in-1 natural product for under $5 then please show me a better deal!

Here is the line-up of natural products offered:
* Johnson’s Natural Baby Lotion
* Johnson’s Natural HEAD-TO-TOE Foaming Baby Wash
* Johnson’s Natural Baby Shampoo
* Johnson’s Natural Kids 3-in-1 Shampoo Conditioner & Body Wash
* Johnson’s Natural Kids 2-in-1 Hand & Face Foaming Wash

I will definitely be recommending this to family and friends as the best bang for your buck!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Johnson’s and received the products necessary to facilitate my review. In addition, I received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.

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Deb on Air Books: Creative Children's Books {Giveaway}

2010-08-30T00:01:00.001-04:00

It is so exciting to find new books that truly intrigue children. I have a lot of respect for children's authors and the work they put into making a story that will engage minds and hopefully instill a love of reading. Deb on Air Books was created by teacher and children's book author Debbie Ladd. Her books have received testimonials from Locks of Love, Parent and Child Magazines, as well as the Midwest Book Review.

We were sent five of her books to review and we have been pleased with every single one of them! Of course, Graham is a book lover and it is wonderful to see him sit through even one of her longer books, Ethan the Ending Eater.

Ethan the Ending Eater
This book is a wonderful mystery about a strange thing that is happening around town. For some reason, the endings are missing from all of the books! Graham really enjoys this one even though it is rather long (64 pages). The mystery behind the story keeps him interested until the end. This book is recommend for children ages 5-10 and is available in a hardcover option for $17.95.

Nurse Robin's Hats
This books is one of my favorites because of the message behind it. Nurse Robin helps out the children in the hospital who are sick. She always wears fun hats in order to keep them smiling. One day her hat is blown from her head and her long hair is revealed. This is a wonderful story about how one person can make a big difference in many lives by donating to Locks of Love. Nurse Robin's Hats is hardcover and great for kids ages 4-10. It retails for $16.95.

Puddles
This is one of Graham's absolute favorites from Deb on Air Books. What happens when you have two young kids and a puddle? If you are a parent I'm sure you can imagine! Graham loves the illustrations as well as the tadpoles they find! Puddles is a soft cover book for ages 3-8 and retails for $8.95.

What If?
This is another title that Graham frequently asks for. The wonderful "What if?" questions that are asked really make you stop and think! My favorite one is actually true for me! When Graham was born there was a huge rainbow outside our window (you'll have to read the book to find out more)! What If? is hardcover for ages 3-8 and retails for $12.95. Also available at Amazon.

Don't Pick Your Nose
Do you have a nose picker in your family? If so, this is a hilarious way to explain why nose picking isn't the greatest idea! What would you do if your finger was stuck in your nose?! Don't Pick Your Nose is a hardcover book for ages 3-8 and retails for $12.95. Also available on Amazon.

Now one lucky Go Graham Go reader will win two books of their choice from Deb on Air Books! Here's How:

1. Head over to Deb on Air Books and leave a comment here telling me something you learned or like that was not mentioned in this post. Make sure to leave your email address in the comment (used only to contact the winner. If your email shows up on your blogger account then do not worry about leaving it).

Extra Entries (leave separate comments for each):

2. Blog about this giveaway and link to www.debonairbooks.com and www.gograhamgo.com and leave the link to your post in the comment.

3. Subscribe to Go Graham Go by reader or email or follow on Blogger

4. One Extra Entry Per Day: Follow Deb on Air Books and Go Graham Go on Twitter and Tweet about this daily. Make sure to leave your twitter name in your comment.

5. Add the Go Graham Go button to your sidebar

6. Stumble this post (the post,not the site)

7. "Like" Deb on Air Books and Go Graham Go on Facebook. Leave your Facebook name in the comment.

This giveaway ends 9/13 at 11:59pm (EST). The winner will be chosen using random.org and announced on this post. US entries only please.
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Sneak in Omega-3 and Vitamin D with NutraSea Kids

2010-08-28T00:04:00.001-04:00

Graham gave up on milk the minute he turned one! He was a breastfed baby and didn't particularly care for the taste of milk. My doctor suggested flavoring the milk with syrup, fruit, you name it and it never worked. Slowly but surely he is starting to warm up to the idea of milk, but only about once a week.

NutraSea Kids has a great way to add essential fatty acids like omega-3 as well as vitamin D to foods that your children already consume! NutraSea uses the Pure check program to make sure every single bottle is pure and quality. You can even view the quality of the bottle you own by entering the lot number from your bottle into the Pure Check box at the Ascenta website.

You can add the NutraSea Kids products into foods or just give them to your child like medicine. The directions are clearly printed on the back. Both options come in flavors that kids will love like Apple and Very Berry. If you have a child who does not like to eat fish (besides, who can afford to eat that 2-3 times per week) or who refuses milk or other dairy products, this may be a great option for you. NutraSea is recommended for children two to thirteen years old and if any of your children have fish allergies you should consult your doctor before using NutraSea.

The bottles retail for a little over $15 at Amazon.com. You can also locate a store near you on the Ascenta website.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of NutraSea Kids campaign and received NutraSea samples to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

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Fresh Baby Makes Breastfeeding Easier! {Storage Trays and Reminder Giveaway}

2010-08-28T00:01:00.002-04:00

The thing that I was the most nervous about when I had Graham was breastfeeding. Never mind the whole delivery part and pain! Much to my surprise, it was much easier than I thought it was going to be and I had a ton of support from friends, family, and professionals. In honor of breastfeeding awareness month, and the fact that I am about to have baby number 2, I want to share some tips with you all.

One thing that became a challenge was heading back to work. Pumping is not easy when you work in a huge high school and everyone needs something from you like, yesterday! There were many times I was walked in on in my office or just had students, parents, or teachers frantically knocking on the outside of my door. All of these things do not lead to great pumping conditions. I actually found myself having to supplement a little formula at day care when he was about 6 months old. This time around I have a game plan!

Part of my plan involves using the Fresh Baby Food Trays to freeze the breast milk. I am going to try to start pumping a lot sooner this time as well. I waited until Graham was about a month old before I tried it last time. I think I might wait only 2 weeks this time around. The Fresh Baby Food Trays are great because I am not only going to be saving money on the breast milk storage bags, but I will also save money on baby food when the time rolls around. They even have convenient lids to make everything easier. Each cube holds approximately one ounce. Once I am finished freezing I will pop them into quart sized freezer bags and label them with the date.

Fresh Baby also has the Breastfeeding reminder. You just slip the reminder over your bra strap in order to remember which side you need to start with next time. This can help greatly reduce discomfort and allows you to nurse more evenly (hopefully will also help with clogged milk ducts). I also used a hair band on my wrists to help remind me.

The Fresh Baby Food Trays come in sets of two and retail for $13.95. The Mama Jewels Breastfeeding Reminders retail for $9.95 and help support breast cancer research.

Now one lucky Go Graham Go reader will win a set of Fresh Baby Food Trays as well as a Breastfeeding Reminder! Here's How:

1. Head over to Fresh Baby and leave a comment here telling me a product you see that you like. Make sure to leave your email address in the comment (used only to contact the winner. If your email shows up on your blogger account then do not worry about leaving it).

Extra Entries (leave separate comments for each):

2. Blog about this giveaway and link to www.freshbaby.com and www.gograhamgo.com and leave the link to your post in the comment.

3. Subscribe to Go Graham Go by reader or email or follow on Blogger

4. One Extra Entry Per Day: Follow Fresh Baby and Go Graham Go on Twitter and Tweet about this daily. Make sure to leave your twitter name in your comment.

5. Add the Go Graham Go button to your sidebar

6. Stumble this post (the post,not the site)

7. "Like" Fresh Baby and Go Graham Go on Facebook. Leave your Facebook name in the comment.

This giveaway ends 9/11 at 11:59pm (EST). The winner will be chosen using random.org and announced on this post. US entries only please.
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Dream Dinners. Save time, eat healthy!

2010-08-27T00:04:00.000-04:00

Do you ever struggle with planning dinners? Even as a stay-at-home mom I find it hard to plan dinners and make time to cook. If I don't plan in advance, I often grab what's quickest (and usually not healthiest), or I opt for fast food if the budget allows. Thankfully, I have found a great solution for those days! Dream Dinners!

What is Dream Dinners? Here's what the Dream Dinners site says:

Do you ever come near the end of a busy day and wonder, "What's for dinner?" At Dream Dinners we answer that question for you. Our monthly menu includes over 14 different recipes each month, along with additional pre-assembled dinners, sides, breads and desserts ready for purchase while in one of our stores. A wide variety of options means there are plenty of meal preparation choices to satisfy everyone in the family. We provide everything you need to assemble delicious dinners from easy-to-follow instructions to fresh, pre-cut ingredients.

I was recently given the opportunity to go to a Dream Dinners location and discover for myself exactly what it was all about.

I called the Dream Dinners location near me to set up my session. I spoke with Sara, one of the owners of that location. She was very sweet and helpful, and it took no time at all to get me all set up. I was able to choose 6 six-serving meals to review. There were so many great choices, and I am sure we would have been happy with any of them.

The day of our session I showed up eager. I couldn't wait to see what it was all about. I was immediately impressed with how organized and clean the store was.
There were multiple stations set up to assemble dinners. Each station had all of the ingredients needed to assemble the meals. Clearly posted was a card with directions on assembling the dinners, complete with color coded measuring utensils to be sure you add the right ingredients in the proper amount, and even detailed down to when to switch bags to add dry ingredients, wet ingredients, etc.When completed, each smaller bag is placed in a large freezer bag with cooking directions. Just take home your meals, throw them in the freezer and take them out as needed!
We had so much fun creating the meals. My mom came with me and, between the 2 of us newbies, we had 5 meals assembled and were out the door within an hour. There were ladies there who were regulars, assembling far more meals than we were and out far earlier than we were. I'd imagine once you get in the swing of it, the thing that takes the longest is waiting for the station you need to open up. Even then, each session has a limit to how many people are in the store with you, so you never wait long. And there are no worries about a mess from the person assembling before you- the employees at Dream Dinners follow up behind each person, cleaning up and making the station ready for the next person!

The employees at the Dream Dinners location we went to were amazing- SO nice and helpful. Being new we needed a little guidance from time to time, and someone was always there to assist. They really made our experience so much more enjoyable!

You may be thinking, "OK, so the assembly experience was fun, and the concept seems great, but how do the meals taste?". One word: A-mazing. Seriously!

That first night we cooked up the Pulled Pork sandwiches we'd gotten. My husband was a skeptic. I think he just assumed it was shredded pork with a bit of BBQ sauce thrown in. Nuh-uh... There were quite a few ingredients, and let me tell you, it was delicious! After each bite he would repeat, "Wow, this is really good!". My 3 year old tends to be my picky eater, and is almost always the last to finish his meal (if he decides it's good enough to eat it at all). He was the FIRST one done with his sandwich. My kids are frequently complaining about dinner- It doesn't look good, smell good, taste good, whatever. There were NO complaints at dinner this night! They loved it and couldn't stop complimenting it. It was so nice to be able to enjoy the meal without constant complaints!

The next night we cooked up another Dream Dinners meal; Chicken Yakitori with jasmine rice (we added the broccoli).

Again, we were not disappointed. And yet again, the kids ate all of their dinner with no complaints and my 3 year old was, again, the first one done with his food!

OK great, liked the assembly, food tasted great, but price; What about the price? I'll admit at first I was taken aback by the total amount we spent. HOWEVER, when I looked at our order confirmation, they had the price broken down into price per person, per meal. I was AMAZED at how little we spent! Our dinners averaged at $4.57 per person. $4.57!! Going out to dinner is never that cheap. Shopping sales can get me a meal that cheap, but I still have to come up with what to make, get all of the ingredients and assemble and cook.

All of that being said, one of my most favorite things about Dream Dinners is the convenience. Like I mentioned, to assemble 5 meals- this being our first time- we were out within the hour. The more we do it, the less time it will take. There are many session times and days available, from weekday mornings, afternoons and evenings, to weekend mornings and evenings. It is totally worth it to me to spend the hour or less assembling it all and being able to, essentially, let someone else do the majority of the work for me.

My mom and I liked our experience so much we signed up to do it again next month! Which brings me to another awesome thing about Dream Dinners... They offer a rewards program! With each monthly session you sign up for you receive a percent off of the next meal session. After so many visits you can eventually work up to 20% off!

If I haven't made it clear enough, we loved our Dream Dinner experience! I highly recommend them and can't wait until our next session! What are you waiting for?! Find a location near you and sign up now!!

These dinners were provided free of charge to Alesha by Dream Dinners. These are her honest opinions.. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.

Alesha was born and raised in Arizona, where she currently resides. She was married in 2003 to her wonderful husband, and God has blessed them with 3 beautiful children with one on the way. She is blessed to be able to stay at home with them, and has recently begun homeschooling.

Alesha has devoted her life to the Lord, and lives daily for Him. She is very involved with her church, including volunteering as a Jr. Youth Group leader and as a Bible School craft teacher. She also sings in the choir and writes the news for the church newsletter. You can find her at The Jacobsen Family or on twitter @JacobsenFamily.

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The OrganWise Guys Back to School Kit {Giveaway}

2010-08-27T00:01:00.000-04:00

Back to school almost feels like New Year's in a way. It is a time to start things over fresh and new and make new goals. This would be a great time to reintroduce the idea of being healthy and making good choices. The OrganWise Guys has a Back to School Kit that can help you and your family, school, home school, or after school club.

We already reviewed the Summer Fun Kit offered by The OrganWise Guys and were impressed. We also love the Back to School Kit that they are offering. It is amazing to me to see how much Graham really takes in from the videos as well as the book we have from the Summer Fun Kit. He is only three and is starting to recognize healthy and unhealthy foods as well as the importance of exercise.

The Back to School Kit Includes:

Monthly Healthy Behavior Tracking Calendar: With the start of a new school year, take on a new healthy behavior each month! The calendar is designed for use beginning any month of any year.
Sir Rebrum Plush Toy: The brainy but cute professor is also the leading caricature in the Breakfast Skippin' Blues Video
School Days Here We Come! Book: It's the first day of school and time to meet all The OrganWise Guys classmates and see where they live!
Breakfast Skippin' Blues Video: Sir Rebrum is having a hard time remembering his lines in a school play. Can you guess what he forgot to do that morning?

The OrganWise Guys Back to School kit retails for only $34.80 making this an extremely affordable option!

Now one lucky Go Graham Go reader will win the OrganWise Guys Back to School Kit! Here's How:

1. Head over to the OrganWise Guys and leave a comment here telling me something you learned or liked not mentioned in this post. Make sure to leave your email address in the comment (used only to contact the winner. If your email shows up on your blogger account then do not worry about leaving it).

Extra Entries (leave separate comments for each):

2. Blog about this giveaway and link to www.organwiseguys.com and www.gograhamgo.com and leave the link to your post in the comment.

3. Subscribe to Go Graham Go by reader or email or follow on Blogger

4. One Extra Entry Per Day: Follow OrganWise Guys and Go Graham Go on Twitter and Tweet about this daily. Make sure to leave your twitter name in your comment.

5. Add the Go Graham Go button to your sidebar

6. Stumble this post (the post,not the site)

7. "Like" The OrganWise Guys and Go Graham Go on Facebook. Leave your Facebook name in the comment.

This giveaway ends 9/10 at 11:59pm (EST). The winner will be chosen using random.org and announced on this post. US entries only please.
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Highlights My First Hidden Pictures iPhone App!

2010-08-26T00:04:00.008-04:00

With my frequent doctor's visits, Graham has grown very accustomed to the Highlights Magazines Hidden Pictures! We always look at the magazine and do the hidden pictures games if he is with me on my visits.

Now Mobad Games has come out with a fun app for your iPhone that is called Highlights My First Hidden Pictures. Graham and I both have fun with this one. You search for the pictures found at the top inside the magnifying glass. Once you have found it, just click it!

See it in Action:

Features:
• Puzzles – Eight of our favorite illustrations let you find close to a hundred hidden objects. Play them over and over.
• Clues – A scrollable row of objects in each puzzle can be turned off or on to make the game more challenging.
• Hints – Use the hint feature when you need a little help to locate the objects. Each time you ask for a hint the picture narrows more and more to highlight the area around the hidden object.
• Register – Register to receive two free puzzles and we will let you know as we get more packs ready to go.
• Music – Custom tunes play in the background. Music can be turned on and off.
• More Puzzles – When your child is ready for a new challenge, check the “More Puzzles” tab in your game to find the latest Puzzle Pack releases from the thousands of puzzles in our library.

Highlights My First Hidden Pictures app retails for only $1.99 in the iTunes store!

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Giveaways Galore {8/26}! Come link up and browse.

2010-08-26T00:03:00.011-04:00

Make sure to check out the Giveaway Linky List to promote your giveaways on other blogs!

Please link directly to your giveaway and let us know what it is that you are giving away! For your reference, I've started a Giveaway Linky List so that you can find where to list your giveaways based on the day of the week. Let me know if you need to be added. Head over to Jolly Mom for even more!

Current Giveaways Going on Here:
Garnet Hill Signature Backpack {9/8}
$25 Gift Card to My Baby Clothes Boutique {9/7}
Innovative Kids Now I'm Reading Program {9/6}
$20 Baskin-Robbins Gift Card {9/2}
Cracker Barrel Giveaway {9/1}
FamilyFun Magazine Craft Kit {8/31}
Splenda Prize Pack (ERV $50) {8/30}

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Wubbzy Goes to School DVD and Book {Giveaway}

2010-08-26T00:01:00.001-04:00

Wubbzy is back and he is ready for school! There is a brand new DVD featuring 6 episodes that all tie into heading to school. Graham loves to watch Wubbzy (on DVD because we got rid of cable) and this has been a hit because he started back to preschool himself.

If you have a child who is about to start school or preschool for the first time, this might be a nice treat for them. Sometimes I think kids learn better from something they already know and trust as opposed to us grown ups telling them all about it! Don't get me wrong, parents should be the first people encouraging and helping kids work through back to school fears, but sometimes it is good to have a reinforcement they can relate to. It is fun to watch Wubbzy work through common school fears and make new friends.

Wubbzy Goes to School retails for about $16.99 and is available in retail stores and online. You can watch the trailer at the Wow! Wow! Wubbzy website as well as play fun games and activities.

This DVD Screener was provided free of charge. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.

Now one lucky Go Graham Go reader will win the Wubbzy Goes to School DVD as well as the School Surprise Wubbzy book! Here's How:

1. Leave a comment here telling me how you prepare your child for back to school. Make sure to leave your email address in the comment (used only to contact the winner. If your email shows up on your blogger account then do not worry about leaving it).

Extra Entries (leave separate comments for each):

2. Blog about this giveaway and link to www.wubbzy.com and www.gograhamgo.com and leave the link to your post in the comment.

3. Subscribe to Go Graham Go by reader or email or follow on Blogger

4. One Extra Entry Per Day: Follow Go Graham Go on Twitter and Tweet about this daily. Make sure to leave your twitter name in your comment.

5. Add the Go Graham Go button to your sidebar

6. Stumble this post (the post,not the site)

7. "Like" Go Graham Go on Facebook. Leave your Facebook name in the comment.

This giveaway ends 9/9 at 11:59pm (EST). The winner will be chosen using random.org and announced on this post. US entries only please.

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Walmart Back to School Shopping Challenge

2010-08-25T20:15:00.000-04:00

Back to school is inevitable and so is the supply list! I can remember back to school shopping with my mom every year with a list given to us by our teachers. Now days, kids need so many things that cost so much money! If they are entering middle or high school they usually need scientific calculators and even graphing calculators. It really starts to add up!

This morning, Graham and I decided to take the Walmart Back to School Shopping Challenge. I must tell you that I was more than impressed with the prices we found. There was even another couple shopping for their daughter's school supply list making comments like, "$.15 for a notebook! That is unreal. I paid 3 times that amount last week at another store." That was a good sign that we were on the right track.

A lot of the really great deals had already been picked over (rightfully so), but there were still a ton of great deals left to share with you! The most impressive find were the $.15 notebooks! I was also impressed with the price of actual Crayola brand products. The markers and colored pencils were all only $1 and the crayons only $.25. The colored pencils are usually on every single teachers list (especially in high school biology and chemistry). I loved that I was able to find a Casio scientific calculator on Rollback from almost $15 to only $9! I think it is fantastic that families can find that type of calculator for under $10.

There was advertised filler paper for only $2.50 but I couldn't find it. However, I found it for only $.75 which is an even better deal (different brand than advertised). The Elmer's school glue was unbeatable at only $.25 as well as the Sharpie markers that came 2 in a pack for only $1 (I love Sharpies and that price was phenomenal).

The school supplies are so cheap that you could easily head over and pick up some back to school clothes and do it all for under $50. We headed over to another popular retail store just to compare prices and found that we saved just about half on these products. Of course, not every store has the same exact brands and counts, but I have no problem saying if you need to back to school shop and you don't have time to travel from store to store, I would head to Walmart and call it a day. The best news is that if you find ANY item for less at any other store, Walmart will adjust the price for you right at the cash register!

Walmart provided me with a gift card in order to take this back to school shopping challenge. These opinions are strictly mine. I do not post things I cannot stand behind. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.

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Wordless Wednesday: Special Moments This Week...

2010-08-25T00:04:00.001-04:00

Graham with his friend Claire at the park

Graham with his great-grandmother. She celebrated her 87th birthday Tuesday.

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Moon Dough Barn Review

2010-08-25T00:03:00.007-04:00

Graham loves to make things. What he loves even more is to run his cars and trucks through his play dough and create a giant mess in the living room! I have purchased Moon Dough in the past for my counseling office so that fidgety hands and minds have something to focus on. I must say that I have owned the same canister of Moon Dough for 5 years and has not yet dried out! I've thought about buying Moon Dough for Graham but worried about the mess factor.

We were sent the Moon Dough Barn to review through Team Mom. We tried it out almost immediately because as soon as Graham saw the box he was intrigued. I must say that seeing the commercials on TV have even had me interested in this product. You receive the barn, three different Moon Dough colors as well as two forms (hay bails and fence) and a mat to put under the barn. The directions say that it is best to ball all of the Moon Dough up before giving it to your child. I did this, and while it was somewhat easy to ball up, I found it to be super messy. I showed Graham how to place the dough in the top of the barn and pull the lever and he caught on quickly. He had fun watching the barn yard animals slid down the chute!

Graham played with this for a solid hour and showed no signs of wanting to stop, but the clean mom in me started to become completely overwhelmed by the amount of mess it was creating. It is nearly impossible to keep all the tiny little Moon Dough pieces in a ball. There was Moon Dough all over our coffee table (which has cracks in it) and all over the floor (which the dog kept eating). I thought about moving the operation the dinning room table but was worried what might happen if it was ground into my dinning room chairs. Luckily, as the instructions said, it vacuumed up VERY easily.

Overall impression

Tons of fun for kids (Graham still begs to get it out)
Lots of clean up for parents (the reason why it hasn't come back out)
Does not dry out (sanity saver as well as money saver)

My suggestion would be to offer your child smaller amounts of the Moon Dough and possibly play with this on the kitchen floor so that you can just sweep up the mess once they are done. At 38 weeks pregnant I really do not need more mess added to what we already have! The Moon Dough Barn retails for about $19.99 and can be found at retail stores near you. I think this would make a great birthday gift idea (just warn the parents about the mess factor).

This product was provided free of charge by Moon Dough and Team Mom. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.

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Garnet Hill's NEW Signature Backpacks! Great Value {Giveaway}

2010-08-25T00:01:00.000-04:00

Back to school is here! I can't even believe it is time already. If you happen to be looking for a personalized backpack for your little one you can find some great deals at Garnet Hill right now! Their new signature patterned backpacks are absolutely adorable. From now until October 5th you will receive a free matching lunch pack with your purchase of a patterned backpack.

We were sent the Signature backpack in Monster Mix for review. I am the first to buy quality when it comes to backpacks. I was raised this way! Even when we had very little money, my parents would purchase a quality backpack that would be good for my posture as well as last a long time. Now, I can't say that I have put this backpack through the time test yet, but it is definitely high quality. The 2010 Signature Pack Collection is designed for kids ages 7 and up. There is also a Junior backpack for the younger kids. The shoulder straps offer wonderful padding and there is even an adjustable sternum strap for even more safety. It is amazing how many items your kids can be lugging around, so comfort is important! There is a side pocket perfect for a water bottle as well as plenty of room and compartments.

The patterns offered are absolutely adorable and the price makes them even better! These ergonomic backpacks retail for only $39.50 which beats the prices of some of the backpacks my parents picked out for me in school. You can even have it monogrammed in order to keep it out of the lost and found box! I would recommend (and have been recommending) these backpacks to close friends and family. You really just can't beat the deal and the quality!

This product was provided free of charge by Garnet Hill. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.

Now one lucky Go Graham Go reader will win a Signature Backpack from Garnet Hill (based on gender, not pattern preference). Here's How:

1. Head over to Garnet Hill and leave a comment here telling me which backpack you would choose. Make sure to leave your email address in the comment (used only to contact the winner. If your email shows up on your blogger account then do not worry about leaving it).

Extra Entries (leave separate comments for each):

2. Blog about this giveaway and link to www.garnethill.com and www.gograhamgo.com and leave the link to your post in the comment.

3. Subscribe to Go Graham Go by reader or email or follow on Blogger

4. One Extra Entry Per Day: Follow Garnet Hill and Go Graham Go on Twitter and Tweet about this daily. Make sure to leave your twitter name in your comment.

5. Add the Go Graham Go button to your sidebar

6. Stumble this post (the post,not the site)

7. "Like" Garnet Hill and Go Graham Go on Facebook. Leave your Facebook name in the comment.

This giveaway ends 9/8 at 11:59pm (EST). The winner will be chosen using random.org and announced on this post. US entries only please.

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Organic Orchard Salsa Recipe {Guest Post}

2010-08-24T00:04:00.002-04:00

Fall is just around the corner and that means plenty of fresh produce is available to inspire all kinds of delicious dishes that include plenty of fresh fruits and veggies! Look to your local farmer's market and take a field trip with the kids to collect the bounty of the late summer/ fall season's produce which includes lots of squashes of all shapes and colors, tomatoes, apricots, plums and peaches.

Here’s a great recipe I use in our Kids Cook! store and food activity center that get the kids excited about eating fresh produce! And remember, the more involvement that kids have in the process of working with foods and making food choices, the more likely they will be to try new foods and enjoy also eating them.

Organic Orchard Salsa (Green Princess Cookbook, Barbara Beery Gibbs Smith, Publisher)
Serves 4-6

Ingredients
2 organic apples (any type), peeled and cut into chunks
5 organic apricots, pitted and cut into chunks
2 organic plums, peeled, pitted and cut into
3 tablespoons local organic honey
½ teaspoon Fair Trade vanilla

Let’s Start Cooking!
1. Place apples, apricots, plums, and honey in saucepan.
3. Cover and cook over medium heat for 15 minutes. Mixture should simmer, but not boil.
4. Remove from heat, add vanilla and cool 10 minutes. Crush fruits lightly with a potato masher or fork.
5. Serve immediately or store in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Kid-friendly Green Cuisine Tips
Organic food is produced by farmers who use renewable resources to help the quality of our planet. Their products are grown, raised, or manufactured with only natural ingredients. A product can only be labeled "organic," after the farm where the food is grown is inspected to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. The next time you are in the grocery store, look for the certified USDA Organic label.

Head over to Balancing Beauty and Bedlam, $5 Dinners, and Blessed with Grace for even more recipe ideas!

Barbara is the author of 11 children’s cookbooks including three best-selling cookbooks which have sold over 300,000 copies! Her titles include Pink Princess Cookbook, Mermaids Cookbook, Pink Princess Cookbook, The Texas Longhorns Cookbook, Pink Princess Spa Cookbook, Green Princess Cookbook and Pink Ponies Cookbook. You can follow her on her blog or on twitter.

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