Sometimes I feel like grocery stores are setting us up to eat unhealthy breakfasts. You know what they say – there is a reason why all of the super sugary cereals are about hip height (aka the height of your kids.) Walking down the cereal aisle could be like walking down a beach filled with sugar-exploding mines, all just ready to explode and impale us with sugar. The best way to walk down the aisle is to stay focused on a cereal option that will taste good to everyone yet is still healthy enough to eat without a guilty conscience. Barbara’s Bakery’s high fiber puffin cereals provide both the taste and the nutrients.

The Product

The Review

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Barbara’s Bakery’s Puffin Cereal. The sent me a collection of their Original, Blueberry, Multi-Grain and Fruit Medley Puffins as well as their Shredded Oats.

I thought that the Blueberry Puffins tasted like crunchy blueberry muffins. There are original and blueberry flavored Puffins mixed together and the blueberry Puffins will turn your milk blue – which could make it appealing to kids.

If you have kids who love sugary cereals, or are an adult who can’t picture yourself eating anything other than cocoa or krispie cereals, I would STRONGLY recommend you give the Puffin Fruit Medley a try. One bite and I couldn’t believe that these were healthy (but they are!) They taste just like a certain fruit-flavored loopy cereal. I think the sweetness comes from a coating on the cereal, not the other fruit shaped pieces.

What makes all of the varieties great is that they are healthy. They give you a boatload of fiber and nutrients without sacrificing taste.  My favorite was definitely the Fruit Medley (I’ll admit that I like the extra sweetness) but could also picture myself snacking on the Original Puffins while watching TV.

One other thing I really like about Barbara’s Bakery is their work with Project Puffin – supporting “the Audubon Society’s efforts to restore puffins to their former habitat of Eastern Egg Rock off the rugged coast of Maine.” The Puffins cereal was actually named after the Puffin bird, which I thought was cute, and I really like companies that help support the environment and the planet.

About Barbara’s Bakery’s Natural Makeover

Barbara’s Bakery Online

• Visit the Barbara’s Bakery Website
• Like Barbara’s Bakery on Facebook
• Shop Barbara’s Bakery Online store
• Sign up for the Barbara’s Bakery Newsletter

The WiC Project Barbara’s Bakery Giveaway!

The Prize:

One lucky winner will receive this cute 6″ beanie puffin.

To Enter:

1. Visit www.BarbarasBakery.com and in the comments below, let me know which variety of Barbara’s Bakery Puffin Cereal you think you’d like the most.
2. For a bonus entry, subscribe to The WiC Project via reader or via email and leave a comment letting me know that you have.

The Rules:

One winner will be selected at random for this prize.

Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM EST, September 21, 2010.

Visit our Giveaway Rules page for general giveaway rules that also apply to this giveaway.

Disclaimer: This post consists of my (and/or fellow tester) opinions only. No compensation was given for this review/giveaway. I did receive free Barbara’s Bakery products from the manufacturer or representing PR agency to use and test for the purposes of this review. This did not affect the outcome of this review.

When I was working in meal assembly, we went through a lot of Ziploc bags. The owner would go to Costco and stock up on boxes and boxes of bulk Ziploc bags. As we opened new boxes, the employees would be sure to tear off the little Box Top for Education coupon and save it in (of course) a Ziploc bag. Over the course of the year or so that I worked there, we accumulated hundreds, if not over a thousand, Box Tops which she would then take to her son’s school. With each coupon worth 10 cents, that meant that every year the school got an extra $100 plus dollars.

This year, Box Tops for Education and Safeway have teamed up to bring 2 Ways 2 Earn - a new program that makes it easier than ever to earn money for your school by combining Box Tops for Education and the “10% Goes Back to Schools” program. Between August 11 and September 14th, Safeway has labeled over 2,000 of their store items with special School Bus tags. When you buy one of those items, then 10% of the purchase price can be donated to a local school of your choice.

I decided to shop with an eye out for the yellow bus at a recent Safeway shopping trip. It seemed like most of the products that qualified were in the snacks, baked and dry goods aisles. Although I was pleasantly surprised that the new Bic pen I bought also gave me 10% back. I thought it was a coup when I found a Betty Crocker Warm Delights that had a bonus Box Top on it (can you say SCORE?)  Remember, that when you shop for the Box Top products, you are earning the 10 cent coupons in ADDITION to the 10% back that Safeway, so that $2.19 cake box is funding $0.40 to a school of my choice. The Box Top coupons are found on the corners or at the tops of the boxes of participating products and finding the coupoons could be a fun scavenger hunt for the kids!

After checking out, I took a gander at my shopping receipt. The receipt shows a running tally of the amount of qualifying 2 Ways 2 Earn products that I have purchased. Starting September 18th, the receipts will give me a redemption code that I can use to donated the amount earned to a local school by visiting backtoschools.escrip.com. I think the cool thing is that this is my second shopping trip this month, and even though I didn’t know I was earning rewards, Safeway was keeping track of the sales. As of my last trip, I’ve purchased $36.83 worth of qualifying products which equales $3.68 for a school. So make sure you check your receipts in case you’ve been earning cash without knowing it.

With school budgets being cut across the country, the 2 Ways 2 Earn program is a great way that we can help fund our schools by doing our usual shopping. You don’t have to buy things you don’t normally buy and you don’t have to spend any extra money out of pocket. As an added bonus, as part of Safeway’s “10% Goes Back to Schools” program, they are hosting the Safeway Bonus Box Tops Sweepstakes which gives the chance to win 1,000 bonus Box Tops (which is an extra $100!) To stay up-to-date on the lates Box Tops news, then you can “Like” Box Tops for Education on Facebook.

The WiC Project 2 Ways 2 Earn Box Giveaway!

The Prize:

One winner will receive a $25 Safeway gift card (also valid at Dominick’s, Tom Thumb, Randalls, Vons, and Genuardi’s) plus a 50 Bonus Box Tops certificate.

To Enter:

1. Take a look at the products that have the Safeway “10% Back-to-School” yellow bus tags and share in the comments below which products you might buy.
2. For a bonus entry, subscribe to The WiC Project via reader or via email and leave a comment letting me know that you have.

The Rules:

One winner will be selected at random for this prize.

Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM EST, September 14, 2010.

Visit our Giveaway Rules page for general giveaway rules that also apply to this giveaway.

Disclaimer: This post consists of my (and/or fellow tester) opinions only. No compensation was given for this review/giveaway. I did receive a free “Safeway Back-to-School” prize pack and information from Safeway and General Mills through MyBlogSpark to use and test for the purposes of this review. This did not affect the outcome of this review.

I love to read. Ever since I was a little girl – and despite the fact that my dad made me write book reports during the summer – I’ve been able to escape to the fictional worlds that authors create. Page turners are both the  best and the worst. The best because they suck you right in and keep you reading page after page. The worst because I would inevitably be up until 3 or 4AM reading when I’d have work the next day.

One series of books that has consistently captured me is Harry Potter. The stories are so exciting, the plots so intriguing, and the characters – each with their own personality, are all very relatable. I’ll be honest that I only started reading Harry Potter as a last resort. My family was on a bus trip and I had just finished my last book and was bored. My brother had his copy of Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone. I picked it up and was hooked. Since then, I’ve read every single book multiple times. I pre-ordered the new releases ahead of time and have seen every movie (also multiple times.)

With all of that in mind, it shouldn’t be a surprise that I am UBER excited for the upcoming movie – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1. I’m both thrilled to see the movie come to life, yet sad that it’s also coming to an end. Either way, here is my list of 10 things I’m looking forward to in the upcoming Harry Potter and the Deathy Hallows movie!

Since the Harry Potter series first came out in movie theaters, beginning with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in November, 2001, audiences around the world have embraced Harry Potter and his adventures. Now, Harry’s story draws to a close with the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I on November 19, 2010. In the last of the seven book series, we will watch Harry continue his search for Lord Voldemort’s horcruxes so that Harry can defeat Voldemort once and for all.

As an avid Harry Potter fan, here is a list of ten things I am looking forward to while watching Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. *CAUTION* Spoiler Alert! I will be discussing things that will happen in the movie if they are shown as written.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE

I’d also like to give a shout out to all my fellow Harry Potter fans (shout out!) And if you haven’t read any of the Harry Potter books, I definitely recommend you give them a shot. They are total page turners and are a lot of fun. I guarantee that once you start, you’ll want to finish the whole series, so you might as well go ahead and pick-up the whole box set which is currently on sale for ~$50.

There’s a hole in the wall Indian restaurant down the street from my work. They happily sell me Chicken Tikka wraps for $8.00 a pop. I go there occasionally (it’s a little pricey) and more often than not, I find myself putting the chicken to the side and tearing off bits of the naan wrap to eat separately. I’ve considered ordering only the naan one time but thought that might make me weird. While I’m not always the hugest curry fan, I’ve always been a fan of naan – whether it’s dipping into a sauce or eating it plain. If you are a fellow naan lover – or even if you aren’t but are game to try something other than french bread as a side dish – the Tandoor Chef has a great selection of naan products for you to check out.

Founded in the early 1970s by Mrs. Bhagwati Amin, Tandoor Chef is a family-owned business that bring the taste of authentic Indian cuisine to the states. How authentic? The package of naan bread I had said it was actually a “Product of India.”Available in the frozen food aisle, Tandoor Chef offers tandoori and garlic flavored naan, in addition to their new line of naan pizzas which come in Roasted Eggplant, Cilantro Pesto, Margherita, and Spinach & Paneer Cheese varieties. Eager to try their pizzas, I went to Whole Foods only to find that they were sold out of the Tandoor Chef Naan Pizzas. I consoled myself with a box of their Tandoori Naan.

Let’s be honest – the box makes the naan look delicious. Especially with that little slab of butter slowly melting across the top. O.M.G. It’s described as “Authentic Indian bread hand-stretched and baked in a traditional Tandoor oven.” It is also touted as being all natural, with no preservatives or additives. Taking a look at the ingredients, I was happy to see that I knew what all of them were: wheat flower, water, milk, sunflower oil salt, levure. (I did have to look up levure – it’s essentially yeast.) When you open the box, you’ll find a sealed plastic bag that contains 3 pieces of what I assume are pre-cooked pieces of naan bread. It might not look like it, but this is a picture of my frozen Tandoor Chef naan.

Looking at the cooking instructions, I was surprised that preheating the oven took longer than the actual heating of the naan. They recommend that you preheat the oven to 400? for 10 minutes, then heat for 60 to 90 seconds. Finally, glaze the naan with butter and serve it hot. I’ll admit that I was feeling lazy and instead I let the toaster oven heat up for about three minutes, then I put the frozen naan in for the full 90 seconds (sometimes a little longer if I was too slow to get to it after the time went off.) But I did diligent rub a stick of butter all over the top of the breads to give them a nice buttery glaze. Do you see the glistening of the butter in the light?

Fresh out of the oven, the naan bread brought an aroma of freshly heated bread. I was quick to rub on the butter and watched with satisfaction as it slowly melted across the piping hot surface of the naan. I’m all about eating with my hands and tore off chunks of the naan to enjoy with my salad. The bread was easy to tear off into pieces, with a slightly crusty exterior and a soft interior. The butter was clearly on the naan, yet the bread had its own distinct flavor. I’m not sure if it is 100% authentic, but I do know that it tastes just like the bread I get from the Indian restaurant down the street (although slightly smaller) and I would not be surprised if some restaurants served Tandoor Chef Tandoor Naan on their own tables.

If you’ve been curious to try Indian cuisine, or are currently a fan, then you should take a look Tandoor Chef. Tandoor Chef is available in stores nation-wide. Some of their products are also available for purchase on Amazon. For more information, as well as recipes, you can visit their website at www.tandoorchef.com. You can also stay up-to-date on their latest happenings by Liking Tandoor Chef on Facebook or Following Tandoor Chef on Twitter.

The WiC Project Tandoor Chef Giveaway!

The Prize:

Two winners will receive TWO coupons for FREE Tandoor Chef frozen food products.

To Enter:

1. Visit www.tandoorchef.com and in the comments below, let me know which Tandoor Chef frozen food you’d like to try.
2. For a bonus entry, subscribe to The WiC Project via reader or via email and leave a comment letting me know that you have.

The Rules:

Two winners will be selected at random for this prize.

Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM EST, September 8, 2010.

Visit our Giveaway Rules page for general giveaway rules that also apply to this giveaway.

Disclaimer: This post consists of my (and/or fellow tester) opinions only. No compensation was given for this review/giveaway. I did receive free coupons for Tandoor Chef from the manufacturer or representing PR agency to use and test for the purposes of this review. This did not affect the outcome of this review.

I graduated from college in 2001. The day of my graduation was sunny (but not too hot) and my parents, brother, aunts, uncles, and cousins all came to watch the momentous event that was to launch me into official adulthood. After walking across the stage and taking the obligatory photos in front of all the “memorable” campus buildings, we drove down to my new home. On the way, we stopped for dinner at the Macaroni Grill.

I’ve always been a fan of Macaroni Grill. It isn’t unheard of for me to stop by the restaurant to buy just their bread. When I was on the West coast, I ate more of their steak salads than I can count. The pasta was fresh and the sauces delicious. Unfortunately now, it’s not always convenient to make it to the local Macaroni Grill – it’s almost always packed and parking can be a pain. Fortunately, Macaroni Grill has just launched a new line of Macaroni Grill inspired frozen entrées that allows me to have the taste of Macaroni Grill without having to wrestle for a parking space.

There are four varieties of Macaroni Grill frozen entrees that have just arrived in stores: Basil Parmesan Chicken, Grilled Chicken Florentine, Roasted Garlic Shrimp Scampi, and Spicy Italian Sausage Pomodoro. Each meal promises to quickly give you authentic tasting Italian meals without having to leave the house. For me, having the Macaroni Grill name on these frozen meals sets a high standard for taste and flavor. If it doesn’t taste at least as good as what I would get in the restaurant, I would be disappointed.

I tested out the Romano’s Macaroni Grill Basil Parmesan Chicken which is described as “Grilled White Meat Chicken, Broccoli Florets and Tomatoes with Cavatappi Pasta Tossed in a Creamy Basil Parmesan Sauce.” The first test comes when you pour the contents out into the skillet. Do I see all of the ingredients listed in my skillet? Check, check, check, and check. I was happy to see that there were nice sized pieces of chicken as well as a fair amount of broccoli. I think my packaged thawed and refroze slightly, which is why you see a large clump of ingredients on the top right of the skillet. That block was easy enough to break apart during the cooking process.

Just as a frozen entree should be, the Macaroni Grill meals are easy to prepare – as in throw it into a pot, add some liquid, and cook. In this case, to cook the Macaroni Grill Basil Parmesan Chicken on the stove-top, I added 1/4 cup pf milk into my skillet after I dumped out the contents. Then I simply covered the meal with a lid and let it cook for about 15 minutes (directions say it can be from 13 to 16 minutes.) If you don’t feel like getting a skillet dirty, it is also microwaveable and cooks in 12 to 18 minutes.

So after the appropriate cooking time, my meal was ready, my kitchen was smelling delicious, and my tummy was growling. Here’s what the final product looked like:

The Macaroni Grill Basil Parmesan Chicken tasted as good as it looks. The sauce was incredibly flavorful, yet wasn’t overwhelming. I loved that each ingredient in the dish cooked up perfectly. The pasta was soft (but not mushy.) The broccoli wasn’t super crisp as a I prefer, but there was a nice firmness to them. And the chicken was tender and moist. If It hadn’t come out of my own skillet, I wouldn’t have known that it didn’t come out of a restaurant.

Each of the Macaroni Grill frozen entrées is supposed to have 2 servings per package, but I kept the entire dish for myself. Greedy? Maybe a little, but I was hungry and it tasted good. There are 480 calories per serving which isn’t too bad. However it seems a little high on fat (33% DRV, ) sodium (44%,) and cholesterol (34%.) Basically that tells me that this isn’t a meal I want to eat every day, but it can be a great treat to serve maybe once a week. Perhaps a quick delicious Friday dinner – all the flavor of going out to eat without having to spend the big bucks or get in the car.

For more information about Romano’s Macaroni Grill Frozen Entrées, you can visit their website. Their website also has a coupon for $1.50 off any frozen entree. To stay up-to-date on the latest news and promotions from Macaroni Grill, you can also Like Macaroni Grill on Facebook and Follow Macaroni Grill on Twitter.

The WiC Project Macaroni Grill Giveaway

The Prize:

One winner will receive a Macaroni Grill Prize Pack, which includes a Macaroni Grill sample, serving bowl, and pasta tongs.

To Enter:

1. In the comments below, let me know which flavor of Romano’s Macaroni Grill Frozen Entrées you’d like to try the most. If you don’t see one you like, then let me know what Italian meal you would like to see added to their product line.
2. For a bonus entry, subscribe to The WiC Project via reader or via email and leave a comment letting me know that you have.

The Rules:

One winner will be selected at random for this prize.

Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM EST, September 6, 2010.

Visit our Giveaway Rules page for general giveaway rules that also apply to this giveaway.

Disclaimer: This post consists of my (and/or fellow tester) opinions only. No compensation was given for this review/giveaway. I did receive a free Romano’s Macaroni Grill gift pack and information from Romano’s Macaroni Grill through MyBlogSpark to use and test for the purposes of this review. This did not affect the outcome of this review.

Many of us are familiar with the Johnson’s baby care products. Whether it’s their no-tear shampoo or their moisturizing baby oil – people have used Johnson’s products to powder butts and soothe skin for over 100 years. Some people might think that their time with Johnson’s products would decline once they graduate from diapers. However with a fresh look at their product line, you’ll soon discover that they have several new products to help keep both yours and your baby’s skin healthy and nourished.

Johnson’s Baby Oil
This was the product I was most familiar with from baby days. I might not remember it when I was a baby, but I’ve always known that Johnson’s Baby Oil was a gentle way to moisturize and help protect the skin from dryness. What I didn’t know was that Johnson’s has since introduced a Lavender and an Aloe Vera & Vitamin E varieties of Baby Oil. This mineral oil can also be used to help calm and soothe babies (or adults) during massages.

Johnson’s Baby Creamy Oils
Johnson’s new Baby Creamy Oils come in two varieties – Aloe Vera & Vitamin E and Cocoa & Shea Butter. They are advertised as having a “non-greasy rich, creamy texture” which I found to be absolutely true. The baby creamy oil doesn’t leave an oily or greasy feeling at all. Generally, lotion that moisturizes as well as this lotion does leaves a residue of oiliness or greasiness, but this one leaves your skin feeling clean while still providing incredible moisture. When you put it on, you’ll find that your skin doesn’t look oily or shiny- it looks dry (as in not wet,_ yet is still moisturized. When you rub your hands after applying the lotion, it almost feels as if you have a small amount of the baby powder on your hands, keeping them dry and smooth. Both testers thought that this was hands down the best lotion ever used.

Johnson’s Baby Oil Gel
If you like the moisturizing properties of mineral oil, but want something that is a little thicker, then Johnson’s Baby Oil Gel is the product to try. It comes in Shea & Cocoa Butter, Aloe Vera & Vitamin E, and Chamomiles & Multi-Vitamin Complex varieties. The gel is thick, yet still oily enough to glide onto your skin easily. This will give your legs a slight glint in the light, but they won’t look covered in oil. According to the packaging, it “locks in up to 10 times more moisture on wet skin than an ordinary lotion can on dry skin.” The Shea & Cocoa Butter smells exactly as it sounds, so don’t be surprised if you want to head to the beach after putting the gel on. It’s recommended to apply onto wet skin for adults, then pat dry. For babies, you can use it daily to help keep the skin feeling soft while locking in moisture.

Johnson’s Baby Powder
In addition to the original scent, Johnson’s has also introduced Cool Cucumber Melon and Calming Lavender & Chamomile. I love the silky feeling that the baby powder leaves on my skin. It makes it feel dry and incredibly smooth. If you’re feeling a little funky after a long day and need a quick refresh, you can smooth some Baby Powder onto your body to help absorb moisture and keep you dry. I did a quick refresh with the Cooling Cucumber Melon Powder and liked that it made me feel (and smell) clean without having an overpowering smell. I think it goes without saying that since the powder is white, it’s best to use when you’re wearing light colored clothing.  If using this for babies, then it can help absorb moisture after baths and between diaper changes.

All of these Johnson’s Baby Care products are available in stores nationwide, with prices ranging from $3.29-$3.99. With dermatologist and allergy-tested products that are gentle, yet effective, Johnson’s is (in my mind) a leader in keeping skin healthy and moisturized from infancy to adulthood. For more information about Johnson’s products, please visit their website at www.johnsonsbaby.com.

The WiC Project Johnson & Johnson Baby Products Giveaway!

The Prize:

One winner will receive a Johnson & Johnson tote bag containing a collection of Johnson’s Baby products including PINK lotion, Baby Powder, No More Tears Shampoo and a variety of Baby Oils.

To Enter:

1. Visit www.johnsonsbaby.com and tell me in the comments below which Johnson’s Baby Care product interests you.
2. For a bonus entry, subscribe to The WiC Project via reader or via email and leave a comment letting me know that you have.

The Rules:

Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM EST, September 2, 2010.

Visit our Giveaway Rules page for general giveaway rules that also apply to this giveaway.

Disclaimer: This post consists of my (and/or fellow tester) opinions only. No compensation was given for this review/giveaway. I did receive free samples of Johnson’s products from the manufacturer or representing PR agency to use and test for the purposes of this review. This did not affect the outcome of this review.