Right now Chef Boyardee is hosting the Make it Boyardeelicious Recipe Contest , where winners are chosen weekly.  What do you have to do?

• Now through March 11, 2012, you can submit an original recipe that uses Chef Boyardee as an ingredient. Then simply upload a photo of the recipe, and share why your family loves it.
• Each week, a winner will be chosen based on creativity, all-family appeal, ease of preparation, and palatable appeal by an expert panel of judges.
• The weekly winner receives a $500 prize as well as $75 in Chef coupons. If you don’t win in one week, you can re-enter again the next week!
• Each of the top ten finalists from all the accumulated weeks will have the chance to win the grand prize of free groceries for a year. The winner will be chosen based on a combined score of taste points and voting.
• The voting period lasts March 26-April 8, 2012. Voters get entered into a daily sweepstakes for the chance to win $100. Share it on Facebook and get an extra sweepstakes entry.

~Enter the Make it Boyardeelicious Recipe Contest on the Chef Boyardee Facebook page for a chance to win a grand prize of free groceries for a year. Enter on Chef Boyardee’s Facebook Contest page http://on.fb.me/z1syMJ.

To celebrate and this excitement I was able to host a Chef Boyardeelicious In-House Party where I was able to share a new Chef Boyardee recipe with my friends and their kids. We had 5 adults, 2 teenagers, and 6 younger kids (age 3-7) who came to try a yummy recipe.

In preparation for my big Chef Boyardee party I was given all the tools I would need to prepare for a delicious night. In my party pack was a set of colorful mixing bowls with a ledge for easy gripping, a set of Le Creuset bakeware, a Kid’s Curious Chef cooking Set, Chef Boyardee chef hat, Chef Boyardee aprons for my daughter and one for myself, a Chef Boyardee zip shut lunch bag, recipe cards, discount coupons, free product coupons, and several pad of Chef Boyardee Grocery list lined pads of paper.My kids really like Chef Boyardee (so do I). So you can only imagine how fast I jumped at the chance to try a new Chef Boyardee recipe using some of our favorite Chef Boyardee products. The hard part was choosing which recipe to try first, so I let my daughter’s friends decide which one they thought would taste the best and Chili-roni it was.

Talk about your FAST and easy recipes. Prep time was 10 minutes and cook time was 15 minutes. So in less than 30 minutes we had a hot yummy meal.

Ingredients:
2 Cans of Chef Boyardee Beefaroni
1 Can (14.5 oz) Hunt’s Fire Diced Tomatoes, drained
1 Can (8oz) Hunt’s Tomato Sauce- No sale added
1 Can (16 oz) reduced sodium dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 Can (15 oz) Rosarita Premium Whole Pinto Beans, drained, rinsed
1 Tablespoon Chili Powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

All we did was pour all the ingredients into a large sauce pan and stirred. Then we brought to a boil over medium heat and then covered and let simmer for 15 minutes.
Pretty easy.

The fun part was letting Alyssa help me cook using her cooking tools. She absolutely loved this and the cooking tools were just her size. After we were done cooking, I placed some Chili-roni in bowls for all the kids and the parents to try. Many of the kids were asking for seconds. I also added dinner rolls with butter for some of the kids.

To my surprise the WHOLE sauce pan was EMPTY, which made for easy clean up and it was great to know everyone enjoyed the recipe we tried. When I asked the kids what they thought they said “I like it. Can I have some more please”. “Me too, can I have some more?”.

All the parents and I thought it was a great chili dish. It was a delicious chili with the perfect amount of beans, seasonings, sauces, and the added bonus was the Beefaroni. We all give it a thumbs up and I can say it was a hit. I can’t wait to try more Chef Boyardee recipes.

For more Chef Boyardee recipe ideas please visit http://bit.ly/xWadny.

Are you creative or love to cook? Be sure to share a Chef Boyardee recipe and WIN!

*Enter http://on.fb.me/z1syMJ

 Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a In Home Party campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Chef Boyardee and received product samples to facilitate my party and review, and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

Has anybody out there ever got that cramp in their arms or strained their neck muscles because they are slumped over while they nursed their babies? Well all the nurses in the hospital had warned me about using a pillow to prop the baby up on but I hadn’t really noticed it until last night when I didn’t use my boppy while I fed my baby. When I went to hospital last week to have our little baby girl I was able to take with me this amazing new product from Boppy called the Travel Boppy.

Now for anybody out there who wasn’t heard of the nursing pillows this is a must have for new parents. At Boppy they have many different pillows to help you through pregnancy and once the baby is born. Now you don’t have to be a nursing mother to benefit from the Boppy. Even bottle fed babies need to be propped up while they are eating and it is nice to have something to rest your arms on. Boppy has been featured on TV in the Parenthood and Up All Night sitcoms both on NBC. They have also been praised by American Baby and Parenting Magazine.

Boppy has won numerous awards from the Parent Tested Parent Approved and Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine Reader’s Choice Winner just to name a few. They have also been named the #1 product for the Ninth time! This is just amazing! I love companies that have great products that you can trust.

So when I heard about the Travel Boppy I wasn’t quite sure what the hype was all about. It was just another nursing. But I was wrong! It is great! I think if you were to get a Boppy you should just get the Travel Boppy to begin with! Now you can feed your baby anytime, anywhere! It is designed to fold in half and zip closed so you can carry it as a bag over your shoulder and it has stroller straps for on the go. Then when you need it you open it up and your ready to go! This is so much more convenient than carrying around a pillow everywhere you go. When it is zipped up it is all discreet and it just looks like a bag or something that your carrying. Plus it is machine washable for easy cleaning and it has pockets so you can carry things in it. This is amazing!

You can view the demo here. You can purchase Boppy products from Amazon, Babies R Us, Target or check for a store near you.  Also check them out on Twitter.  They have all different kids of pillows and loungers for mom (or dad) and baby.  They come “Naked” and then you can customize with any slipcover that you like.  Then that way you can wash the slipcovers with out having to worry about damaging the pillow.  Boppy is also offering to giveaway the same Travel Pillow I was lucky enough to try out!  A retail value of $44.99!

All you new mommies will definitely want one of these, or it would make a great baby shower gift!  Just enter below and good luck!

 Boppy Travel Pillow Giveaway

Open US

Ends 3.10

(winner will be announced week of 3.19)

How to enter

Please fill out the Rafflecopter form below

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Disclosure: I received a product to review. I was not compensated nor was I obligated to publish a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

About the Author:

Kate is a wife, mother, chef, maid, and chauffeur to her family.  She is a wife to a Civil Engineer husband and mom to 2, almost 3, adorable children. She has a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice but spends all her time cleaning, cooking, crafting, being outdoors, exercising, playing with my kids and just trying to stay sane.

New Release March 6th

Jeremy Fin and the Meaning of Life

Based on the Loveable book by Wendy Mass

Starring Mira Sorvino (Academy Award Winner) and Joe Pantoliano (Emmy Award Winner)

Rated: PG

Duration: 88 Minutes

Retail: $29.99

Synopsis:

Jeremy Fink intercepts a package that he opens to find a large mysterious wooden box that says “The Meaning of Life- For Jeremy Fin to open on his 13 birthday”. There was a note left from a friend at a law office stating he took care of the box and hid the only 4 keys to open the box around town. His friend hid them so well, even he forgot where they were.

Jeremy and his best friend Lizzy try their hardest to get the box open using all the ideas and places they could think of where the keys might be (places Jeremy had been with his father and places where there might be keys). The excitement/curiosity to find what is in the box (and the Meaning of Life) sends Lizzy and Jeremy on a fun journey using public transportation for the first time (for Jeremy without parent), to the flea market, down town, meet new people, getting into trouble, doing community service for a wealthy man, they learn new things, and learn life lessons along the way. Along their journey they will become closer friends and strengthen their outlook on life.

If you are looking for a cute family movie about friendship, adventure, working together, growing up, the determination and excitement of curiosity, believing in your dreams, life choices, inspiration, overcoming fear, growing after the loss of a parent, or suspense, then you will really enjoy Jeremy Fin and The Meaning of Life.

I really liked this movie and think it is a great movie to watch with the family. At the end, I found myself thinking what a great way to think about life and great message. Jeremy got the greatest gift for his 13th birthday, one more powerful and meaningful than any material item. His gift gave him strength, excitement, power to overcome his fears, hope, friendships, and more.

 Definitely two thumbs up from me.

Disclaimer: I received a product to review through my affiliation with Team Mom. All thoughts are my own. I was not compensated.

 Children’s fund Bright Future International (BFI) has launched a worldwide charitable initiative entitled “Bright Future for Children” to raise funds and awareness about the needs of children in Burundi, Kenya and Russia.

By visiting BFI”s facebook page you can read stories of children in need. I have to admit after reading the stories it is hard not to be VERY fortunate to live where we do AND hard not to want to help these poor children. The part I like best is, you can help just by “liking” the BFI page (click of a button) and if you want to help more and make a bigger difference you can do that as well.

Although all three stories are simply tough to imagine, the story that grabbed my heart strings the most has to be the story of Immaculate who lives in Burundi. She lost all of her siblings to AIDS and her father to tuberculosis by the age of 17. As the only survivor in her family, she is the sole provider for her 10 nieces and nephews. They live in a small house with no windows and a dirt floor (rain collapsed the roof), which contributes to the spread of Tuberculosis among four children in the household.

This is one of the countless stories illustrating the struggles that the people of Burundi face on a day-to-day basis. When visiting Burundi, it is clear there is not only an excess of untreated HIV and AIDS, but severe malnutrition as well, resulting in more children being orphaned or dying.

So what are you waiting for? Check out and “Like” the BFI Facebook page, read the stories, and donate to the charity of your choice. For every new “Like” a $1 donation will be made to BFI!

Don’t have extra money to donate, but want to help? Spread the word by tweeting or sharing on your facebook page so that others may help too.

Disclosure:I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central for Bright Future International. A small donation to Bright Future International was made in my name from Mom Central as a thank-you for participating.

Have you ever been to the vitamin supplement isle of the grocery store or pharmacy before? Then you know how confusing and over whelming it can be trying to find the appropriate vitamins you want and the ones you need.

Who has the time to search through them all especially when you have small kids with you (believe me it isn’t fun nor easy).

The makers of Centrum® multivitamins is introducing a new website called NutritionPossible.com that offers trusted information from health sources, nutrition experts AND guided information through a unique self-assessment tool – for free! The makers of Centrum understand how frustrating and confusing choosing the right vitamin supplements while at the grocery store or local drug store can be. NutritionPossible.com was created to make nutrition information easy to access and understand.  Everyone’s body needs are different and our lives are constantly evolving, so NutritionPossible.com provides tools and information to help you sort through the abundance of information and figure out what’s right for you.

It’s a simple tool in a confusing landscape and focuses on three key areas –
 

• Supplements The key to nutrition is making sure you are getting the right nutrients. NutritionPossible.com has the information you need to make more informed choices about how to enhance your diet with supplements.
  

• Food & Diet Sorting through all the different information about what to eat and how much can be overwhelming. The goal is to help you identify the right nutrient–packed foods to include in your diet.
  

• Exercise & Lifestyle Taking the right supplements and eating right, while a great start, is never enough. That’s why the site provides a mix of practical and creative suggestions for things everyone can do to improve their health and well-being.
  

I just tried taking the NutritionPossible.com assessment. It is easy and quick. It not only allowed me to think about what I am eating each day, BUT allowed me to evaluate what I am NOT getting enough of. This is exactly what I wanted to know and have just been guessing at for as long as I can remember.I was VERY impressed at the detailed results it gave me.

For the NutritionPossible.com assessment, I know that I would first love to have more energy and secondary to have better digestive health. More energy would help me do all the things I need to do each busy day with my kids and having good digestive health would ensure that I feel good on the inside and help keep my immune system strong.
SO let me share with you so of the great information I found out regarding what I am lacking and what I can do to help in all the areas I need. The NutritionPossible.com assessment helped me find that I need Centrum multi-vitamin that is specifically for energy, Omegas, and Probiotics. Not only did it help me find the supplements I could use to help, BUT it also let me know the types of food supplements, oils to use, seafood products, the type of activities and life style choices that would help optimize my health and energy levels.

This is FABULOUS and you better believe the first thing I did after picking my jaw up was look for the print button.

You can download a high value Centrum product coupon as soon as you complete the NutritionPossible.com assessment. So not only are you getting valuable information on what your body needs to help in the areas you need the most, but you are able to SAVE when purchasing.

Now it is your turn to try and see how you can find the right foods and supplements for your body. Not only do you get to try it, BUT you have the chance to WIN $25 AMEX gift card for trying. FUN, EASY, and REALLY rewarding.

NutritionPossible.com  http://bit.ly/O2ONutriPossAssess

NutritionPossible.com GIVEAWAY

One lucky US reader will win $25 AMEX gift card

Ends 2.24

How to enter

Please fill out the Rafflecopter form below.

Contest Rules

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Disclosure: I am participating in a sponsored campaign hosted by One2One Network. While all opinions stated are my own, I make no claims about NutritionPossible.com as a product or its effectiveness.

It seems like we have come to a time where there are more reasons for us to worry about our babies as they sleep and play. This has ALWAYS been a BIG issue for me (hence it has taken a long time to get them in their own beds without me and I barely get work done at home). Now moms like me who worry and struggle with putting their babies in their own crib, bed, or room can rest at night (or day) with the help of the AMAZING iHealth iBaby Monitor.

This monitor SCREAMS my name all over it. My first thought when I heard that there was a monitor that can keep an eye on my lil’ guy at night, I could use it to watch my kids in the playroom, AND I could use one of my Apple devices was “THIS IS PERFECT and what I ALWAYS needed”.

I like the fact that we can use any of our three Apple devices.

iHealth iBaby Monitor Features:

• Compatible with Apple iPad, iPhone and iPod touch
  Keep an eye on your sleeping child. Supports up to 4 devices and 4 users simultaneously. Also compatible with PC. Connects via Wi-fi.
• IR night vision
  Ensures clear, detailed images in low light.
• Motion or sound alerts
  Activate the monitor when your baby’s cry or movement is detected. *This is great and offers added ease.
• Snapshot function
  Snaps pictures for sending to family and friends.
• 2-way audio
  Allows you to calm your fussy child.
• Remotely rotate the monitor
  Via touch screen or mouse (not included).
• System Requirements: Windows 98, 2000, XP, Vista or 7; Internet Explorer 6.0 (or later) or compatible browser, Firefox or Chrome
• FREE APP for your iPhone, iPad, OR iTouch.
• Retail: $199.99

Comes with:

• iHealth iBaby Monitor for Apple® iPhone®, iPod® touch and iPad®
• AC adapter, Ethernet cable
• Wi-Fi antenna, camera mounting kit, PC installation CD
• Owner’s manual

Product Info:

• Product Height 5 ½”
• Product Width 6 ½”
• Product Weight 2.2 lbs
• Product Depth 8 ¾”

Here is why I like it:

The monitor is small and modern, it is easy to set up, it can be moved to target the area you need most, and great for baby room, toddler room or playroom. I also love the security it provides and the ability for me to not have to hover all the time. I like being able to use on my iPad and put my iPad stand on my nightstand OR on my iPhone and take it around the house with me.

The snapshot function is great. I am able snap pictures and show my hubby during the day what is happening at home, send to relatives what our kids are up to, and more.

The ability to REMOTE rotate the monitor is amazing!!! The two way audio allows you to communicate with your baby/toddler should they awake and be startled OR let your kids know you are watching them should they misbehave while in play area.

The only thing I would add or change is make the program available to put on MAC computers. This would make it easier for me because we only have 1 laptop pc and it is slow at times.

Want to be the hit of the baby shower OR give yourself the gift of security and extra eyes so you can sleep or work at home? Then iHealth iBaby Monitor is JUST FOR YOU.

 Available at Best Buy and BestBuy.com

Disclaimer: I received a product to review for free from Best Buy. All thoughts are my own. I was not compensated.

Gevalia Kaffe is much more than your average cup of coffee.  Gevalia Kaffe is a Swedish-style quality coffee. For more than 150 years, Gevalia has been known for it’s exquisitely rich smooth coffee experience that is never bitter.

The Swedes know quality coffee should be savored and enjoyed and that you deserve a more unique/special coffee experience than generic coffee.

Gevalia is a luxurious coffee that puts everyday coffee to shame.
Luxurious Gevalia is now available at Safeway in the grocery aisle.
Gevalia has been refining the art of luxurious coffee since 1853 and has a deep history of finding and blending the finest Arabica coffee beans from locations around the world.
Gevalia is expertly made with carefully selected beans, ground extra fine, to produce a rich coffee experience.
*Previously available online only, Gevalia is now offering its top-ten varieties in U.S. coffee supermarket aisles nationwide in 10 varieties, including roast and ground, whole bean, flavored and decaffeinated varieties:

• Gevalia Traditional Roast (ground and whole bean): Gevalia Traditional Roast provides a perfectly balanced taste every time. Our most beloved blend – made of choice, mountain-grown Arabica beans – this coffee has a distinctive body and flavor with a lighter intensity. (Medium Roast).
• Gevalia House Blend: A Gevalia favorite, House Blend is a robust yet never bitter coffee. This roast has a captivating aroma that is only matched by its exceptional flavor. (Medium/Dark Roast).
• Gevalia House Blend Decaf elivering the same rich, never bitter flavor, House Blend Decaf has the same robust taste without all the caffeine. (Medium/Dark Roast).
• Gevalia French Roast (ground and whole bean):Gevalia French Roast is a coffee of impressive richness and dimension, expertly crafted from prized Arabica beans grown in Colombia and Brazil. Hints of aromatic smoke give this dark-roasted French Roast blend an intense, yet uniquely satisfying flavor. (Dark Roast).
• Gevalia Colombia:Grown high in the Colombian Andes, these beans produce a rich, bright and well-bodied Colombian coffee. This single origin classic is world-renowned, which is why we have sourced these beans for decades. (Medium Roast).
• Gevalia Espresso Roast: Gevalia Espresso Roast is made of premium, mountain-grown Arabica beans from East Africa and Central and South America. This roast is bold and full-bodied with a hint of caramel undertones. (Dark Roast).
• Gevalia Vanilla: This rich blend with vanilla flavor notes is crafted from choice mountain-grown Arabica beans, then roasted for exceptional body and flavor. Gevalia Vanilla is a flavorful and balanced experience with a heavenly aroma.
• Gevalia Chocolate Mocha:Gevalia Chocolate Mocha allows you to indulge your passion for decadent flavor. Rich, velvety chocolate flavor is blended with mountain-grown Arabica beans for a sweetly satisfying experience.

Gevalia offers a variety of authentic rich flavors that are perfect for everything from a relaxing morning cup of coffee to an indulgent after dinner compliment.

The Premium House Blend and French Roast smell and taste delicious. Each flavor is smooth and rich. There is no bitter taste or after taste. The aroma beacons you to want more and the flavors indulge your taste buds and is the perfect touch to start your mornings. I really like how accessible and affordable Gevalia Coffees are.
Add luxury into your coffee mornings with Gevalia’s grand cofffee.

For more information visit, Gevalia Website http://bit.ly/GevaliaSite

Stay connected with Gevalia on Facebook http://on.fb.me/Gevaliafbook

Gevalia Giveaway

One lucky US reader will win

• 1) sample of the House Blend from Gevalia Kaffe
• (1) sample of the French Roast Blend from Gevalia Kaffe
• A Gevalia Kaffe branded coffee mug

Ends 3.3

How to enter

Please fill out the Rafflecopter form below

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Disclaimer: Kraft Foods has provided sample product to me and is providing the prizes for this program at no cost to me.  This program is not administered or sponsored by Kraft Foods or its affiliates, but solely by Little Yayas.

Aerobie is constantly adding to their exciting family fun performance product line since 1984. Aerobie sports toys  encourage physical activity, exercise, skill, are created with quality products.

A fun new toy from Aerobie comes the exciting Aerobie Megatop Spinning Top.

Features:

• Perimeter weighted and precision crafted for amazingly long spins
• Quick launch accelerator easily achieves 3000+ RPM spin rates
• Tricks and Games for hours of fun and competition
• Catching plate for catching, throwing, and balancing tricks
• Spin booster for almost unlimited spin times
• Made in the U.S.A

I don’t know any parents who are not looking for entertaining toys that get their kids off the couch and out having fun. That is the reason I like Aerobie products so much.

The Megatop Spinning Top is a small and easy to use toy. It comes with a bright colorful and clear spinning top, catching plate, spin string, and spin booster.

How it works:

Place the loop on your finger and place the knot at the end of the string in the groove on the top. By using a backhand throw near the surface you are able to quickly make a snapping motion which releases the top spinning.

Use the Spin Booster to brush the Megatop and keep it spinning. You can also perform balancing tricks, make up games, or create obstacle courses using a variety of objects.

My kids thought it was so neat to watch how fast the top top would spin and they liked to use the spin booster to keep it spinning. It was hard for my two small kids to snap the string fast enough to make the Megatop spin, BUT they were able to spin it on their own without the string AND enjoyed watching it spin all around after we spun it for them.

The Aerobie Megatop is a fun and entertaining toy that makes a great gift and family fun night.

Retail: $12.52

For more information or to purchase visit http://aerobie.com. Can also be purchased on Amazon.com.

Aerobie Megatop Giveaway

One lucky winner will win an Aerobie Megatop

Open US

Ends 3.3

How to enter

Please fill out the Rafflecopter form below

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Disclaimer: I received a product to review. All thoughts are my own. I was not compensated.

Congrats to all the lucky winners and thank you everyone who entered.

Looking for a great stroller, high chair, toys, or play yards? Then let me introduce you to Joovy.

Joovy is the well known and loved company. Joovy’s goal is to design and manufacture premium family friendly products that are useful, helpful, up to date, practical, visually pleasing, and fun. Joovy’s signature features (my favorite features) include extra-large canopies on all strollers; sealed, ball bearing wheels; bold fabrics; and swing away trays.

I love, own, and have been recommending Joovy strollers for a long time now. I can honestly say that every Joovy product I have tried and owned have all lived up to Joovy’s goals, high quality, and been extremely useful. The only thing that I have notice that changes, is they continue to update and add to their already fabulous line of modern high quality products.

New to the Joovy Stroller Family comes the Joovy Groove.

Features:

• Fully adjustable 5-point harness with removable shoulder pad
• Removable oversized canopy – covered viewing window. Offers great covering, especially when it is sunny and hot outside.
• Mesh pockets in seat for kid’s stuff (like pacifier, toys, snacks, sippy cup, etc).
• 2 cup holders. This is perfect for my water bottle and holding my son’s water cup.
• Zippered storage pocket (great for keys or cell phone)
• Automatic fold lock and carry handle (LOVE THIS)
• Unlimited recline positions to 146 degrees (GREAT for when kiddos fall asleep)
• Large storage basket (store your diaper bag or toys)
• Recommended for ages 6 months and up.
• Maximum weight 55lbs.
• Sealed bearings in all wheels
• Adjustable leg support (fold down when riding or flip up for comfort when sleeping or younger and can’t reach foot rest)
• Reflective light technology for safety.
• Available in 4 popular colors that include Blueberry, Greenie, Orangie and Black.
• Stroller weighs 17 lbs.

I like to call the Joovy Groove a luxurious umbrella stroller. Joovy found a way to put modern style, functionality, comfort, and safety into a stroller.

I love the Joovy Groove Stroller. Here is why.

It is easy to put together, light weight, it’s sturdy, the ability to recline is fabulous (especially when my son falls asleep), great spacious storage (fits all the extras I need to take with me on the go), easy to collapse, fits perfectly in the trunk of my car, my son fits in it comfortably (and it is quick to get him in and out of), spacious and open, the 5 point harness (the shoulder pads are a plus), the over-sized canopy provides added protection from the sun and cover from rain or bright light, and the best part is how easy and light it is to steer and maneuver when in busy populated place (such as the mall or amusement park).

The Joovy Groove definitely gets a two thumbs up from me and my family. You can’t go wrong with Joovy.

Retail: $199.99

Available at BuyBuyBaby Stores

For more information visit http://www.joovy.com

Stay connected with Joovy on twitter and facebook

Joovy Groove Stroller Giveaway

Giveaway is hosted by Joovy. All rules are listed at bottom of Rafflecopter form.

How to enter

Please fill out the Rafflecopter form below

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Disclaimer: I received a product for review. I was not compensated. All thoughts are my own.