Travel the World Without Ever Leaving Home with Oregon Scientific's SmartGlobe Discovery {Review}

 

For as long as I can remember, Big Sister E has been especially amazed with the earth and in awe of the fact that there are people who live on the other side of the world. Given the chance, I have no doubt that she would pack her bags and embark on travels near and far to explore the sights, cultures, people and more.

Unfortunately, real life is currently in the way of that plan and, for now, she has to be satisfied with seeing pictures in books or on the internet. No, Kiddo, we can't just hop over to Paris so that you can see the Eiffel Tower in person today. Sorry.

Instead, we have recently found that the next best thing for her (and other children who want to explore the world) is a new educational globe that lets kids travel millions of miles without packing a bag: SmartGlobe Discovery from Oregon Scientific.

Embracing inventions that help you live smarter, so you can be happier, healthier and more productive, Oregon Scientific was founded in 1989 with a passion for innovation. Offering categories such as weather, time, wellness and sports, there is a technological and aesthetically-pleasing product for every member of the family.

When it comes to the kids, however, Oregon Scientific's line of SmartGlobes and accessories are perfect for discovering new horizons and being entertained while learning. How could my young traveler not have a great time with a globe that includes three activity panels, 19 activities and hours of informative audio content?

Right out of the box I appreciated that Oregon Scientific had made it pretty much foolproof for children of all ages to begin using the SmartGlobe Discovery (it even comes with the necessary three AA batteries included and already installed).

With the power button conveniently located right on the SmartPen, users simply turn on their SmartGlobe Discovery and are able to pick and choose what information, amazing facts and educational entertainment they want to focus on.

The three activity panels offer everything from data to fun to testing your knowledge on more than 250 countries with a simple tap of the SmartPen.

First, the Touch panel allows users to pick from history to geography to population to weather (and many more!) to find out all about the continents and countries.

Simply tap on one of the activities with the SmartPen and then move to whichever worldly location you select. Another tap there (we found that tapping on the marked capital seemed to get the quickest response) and the SmartGlobe Discovery proceeds to tell you all about the currency, language, highest point and more.

Or, for information a little closer to home, the "Local Map" on the second panel allows for more in-depth findings on each of the states. Now instead of asking me how many people live in California, Big Sister E just turns to the SmartGlobe Discovery instead!

Finally, for even more fun and learning, the Find — Compare panel adds six additional activities and games. To use the Compare feature, simply tap the tip of the SmartPen on either Area or Population and then touch two countries on the globe one after the other to hear the comparison.

To play the Find game and test your world knowledge, users tap one of the four categories (Ultimate Challenge, Capitals, Continents or Countries) and then find the places that the SmartGlobe lists as quickly as possible. Each activity has three levels that are progressively more difficult and players need to answer the questions within a specific time limit to continue.

Whether you have a budding young traveler in your family or are just looking for a unique, educational gift, the Smart Globe Discovery provides a wide variety of activities, games and informative audio content to keep kids interested. Big Sister E has returned time and again to this globe and loves sharing facts that she has learned about the Earth!

Find out more about how the SmartGlobe Discovery (MSRP $59.99) can provide the child in your life the ability to travel millions of miles without ever leaving home by visiting the Oregon Scientific website and connecting with them on Facebook and Twitter.

Other than the SmartGlobe Discovery that I was provided by Oregon Scientific in order to facilitate my review, I was not compensated or enticed to do this post in any way. This post is solely my honest opinion about this product.

Healthy Snacking with Musselman’s Apple Sauce {Review & Giveaway}

Even though it still seems as though summer just arrived, here we are embarking on October and another fall season, with the end of 2014 just around the corner.

If you're anything like the majority of people, myself included, any New Year's resolutions to live a healthier lifestyle have long been abandoned. Why is it so difficult to stay on track?

However, with our daily routine firmly in place and my kids both loving anything and everything school, this month has been a great time to get back in the swing of things by practicing healthy snacking as often as possible thanks to Musselman's Apple Sauce.

Musselman's fully believes that making healthy, delicious apple sauce is more than just a job, it's a way of life for this 100-year-old grower-owned cooperative. Along with their traditional apple sauce, they offer apple sauce blended with other fruit flavors, lite apple sauce for those who are counting calories, apple juice, apple butter, and more.

But as well as their variety of great products and the way that they can be delicious and healthy all on their own, Musselman's Apple Sauce makes a perfect ingredient for baking tasty treats instead of cooking oil or butter. Why not reach for unsweetened apple sauce and cut out some extra unwanted fat? It's so easy!

Head over to the Musselman's website to see and print this Apple Sauce Swap chart for yourself!

I'm all for ways to be able to snack healthier, so I was ready to make the swap and substitute apple sauce into some homemade treats!

I can make Apple Pie Sundaes and Rocky Road Brownies with less fat and less guilt? Sign me up!

However, I'm a sucker for any sort of breakfast item that includes oatmeal, so I was ready to give Musselman's Oatmeal Breakfast Bars a try first.

Ingredients

⅔ cup sugar
1 cup Musselman's Chunky Apple Sauce
2 Tbsp milk
1 Tbsp honey
1½ cups quick-cooking oats
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
½ cup dried cranberries

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray an 8 x 8-inch cake pan with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, mix sugar, apple sauce, milk and honey until well blended.

In a small bowl, combine the oats, flour, baking soda and salt. Gradually add the dry oat mix to the apple sauce and blend well. Stir in the cranberries.

Spread batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack.

Being the big cinnamon fans that we are, I used Musselman's Cinnamon Apple Sauce instead of Chunky and boy, oh boy, these are delicious! These bars are perfect to accompany my coffee in the morning and are just right for a quick, nutritious snack for the kids after school.

Considering how much of a hit they have been for all of us, I have no doubt that I'll be making them again soon (and next time I'll bake them just a bit longer)!

In the meantime, Our Musselman's Big Cup have been a great addition to both of my daughters' lunch boxes to keep them going throughout the day. Even better, I found out that by placing them in the freezer the night before, a Big Cup then acts as an ice pack to keep the rest of the food cold and ends up as a slushie-type treat for the girls to eat at lunchtime. They love it!

Are you ready to join the Musselman's Apple Sauce Swap and start eating a little healthier? It's a win-win when the results are delicious but with less calories and fat!

Be sure to visit Musselman's website and connect with them on Facebook and Twitter to find out more about their whole line of products, find coupons and check out their recipes.

And, thanks to their generosity, one person will be able to bring home the wholesome, healthy goodness of the best apple sauce around as well, because...

One lucky person will win a pack of Musselman's Big Cup Apple Sauce and recipe cards!

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A big thank you to Musselman's for providing a prize pack for me as well as a pack of Big Cup Apple Sauce and recipe cards for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Make a Difference this Holiday Season with the 2014 World Vision Gift Catalog {Hand-Carved Serving Spoons Review & Giveaway}

If I told you that there are only 13 weeks until Christmas, would you nod knowingly or would your heart skip a few beats? I've been so focused on the start of fall that I didn't even think about how soon the holidays will be here!

As this year's shopping season gets underway, it's easy to think of the most traditional categories: the hottest toys, the most sought-out electronics, the ultimate in stylish home decor.

Of those, there are some holiday gifts that are practical and there are some that purely for entertainment, either of which is completely fine. After all, everything from a new Barbie doll to an upgraded phone has a place or serves a purpose in our lives (even if that's just providing joy from seeing the snazzy operating system).

But what if there was something more? What if there was a way to provide a gift that could be enjoyed, while, at the same time, it helped to instill a sense of compassion? One that gives knowledge and a feeling of global responsibility? Inspiration and encouragement to take action in our lives to make a difference in the world?

That's exactly what is found with World Vision.

Whether it's for the tax deduction or the warm fuzzy feeling giving to others generates, most Americans plan to make a charitable donation over the holiday season and a gift from the World Vision Gift Catalog provides the best of all worlds. Where else can you give knowing it is going where it is needed most while also receiving an amazing handcrafted gift in return?

Since it began in 1996, the World Vision Gift Catalog has grown in popularity as a gift-giving alternative; in the last fiscal year alone more than 186,000 donors purchased more than 475,000 items that raised over $33.7 million. I love seeing numbers like those!

If you've never browsed this wonderful catalog, then just know that you'll find more than 250 items, ranging in price from $10 to $39,000, that are available to help improve quality of life for women, children and families in the U.S. and around the world. If money is tight, there are more than 30 gifts in the catalog that sell for $35 or less, including items like chickens, job training or school supplies.

What an amazing opportunity to make an important charitable donation while still giving a meaningful, amazing gift!

And, let me tell you, when one of these gifts arrives and it is absolutely beautiful while demonstrating the generosity of your gift-giver, it's hard to not feel immensely proud and special.

As I pulled the Hand-Carved Serving Spoons out of their beautiful packaging, I was immediately smitten with the smooth design, the natural colors of the wood and the simplistic beauty of them as a whole.

I love that these would make a perfect gift for holiday entertaining, as each set of olivewood serving spoons comes complete with a hand-sewn fabric bag and is ready right out of the box. At the same time, wouldn't your recipient love knowing that these serving spoons are not only practical and useful but are also benefiting the orphans of the Kamba tribe in Kenya?

I'm thrilled knowing that I can pull these out at every entertaining opportunity and not only bask in the compliments from my guests, but the knowledge that I can then tell them more about World Vision and the large selection of gift options that they have available!

The 2014 holiday season marks the 19th annual edition of the World Vision Gift Catalog and I couldn't be more proud to help support it. Around 400 million children in the world under the age of 13 live in extreme poverty (more than the entire population of the U.S.) and this catalog provides a way to bring about tremendous social change without spending a fortune.

Last year, more than 350,000 animals were purchased by donors, and while a goat ($75) may be World Vision's number one seller, other popular gifts include sheep, chickens, soccer balls, ducks and education for a child.

This holiday season, don't just give a gift. Consider a gift from the World Vision Gift Catalog, knowing that it can significantly improve the life of a child or family in need by providing tools and opportunities to overcome extreme poverty. At the same time, your friends and loved ones will be honored as they read their special card describing the gift and the impact it is making.

Now that's the true spirit of Christmas.

To find out more about the World Vision Gift Catalog and to place an order, visit WorldVisionGifts.com or call 855-WV-GIFTS. You can also connect with this incredible company on Facebook and Twitter.

Plus, thanks to their never-ending generosity, one person will be able to proudly share in the inspirational, life-changing ways of this organization as well, because...

One lucky person will win a set of Hand-Carved Serving Spoons (ARV $65) from World Vision!

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A big thank you to World Vision for providing a set of Hard-Carved Serving Spoons for me as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Green Mountain Coffee Pumpkin Spice and Autumn Harvest Blends {Review}

Although I feel as though I'm risking getting my Suburban Mom card revoked by revealing this, I typically am not head-over-heels about anything and everything pumpkin-flavored in the fall.

I do like pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread/muffins are always tasty, but for the longest time I couldn't put my finger on why I wasn't nearly as overly-excited about pumpkin lattes returning to coffeehouse menus as everyone else seemed to be.

And then it hit me, it's the cost.

The idea of spending $5+ on a coffee contaminates the experience for me, no matter how good the flavor or the brew. I apologize to those of you who frequent your local coffeehouses, but I just can't get on board when I can enjoy the amazing flavors of fall in a ridiculously more affordable (and convenient) way thanks to Green Mountain Coffee Autumn Harvest and Pumpkin Spice K-cups.

A perfect way to indulge in the fragrance and flavors of the season, these fall flavors of Green Mountain Coffee are fair trade certified and available for a limited time only (so you might want to stock up if you try them and fall in love). What better way to bask in fall's crisper days, cooler nights and beautiful colors than by having a custom mug of coffee to accompany it?

Beginning with the unique medium roast of the Autumn Harvest, I was intrigued to find that Green Mountain Coffee had blended both light and dark beans to create this flavor. For me, the result is a cup of coffee that is both rich and bright while not being too strong or overly dark.

In short, it is an aromatic blend that gives just enough of a hint of fall to be comforting and one that I have definitely been enjoying morning after morning!

For a sweeter, more easily-recognizable taste, I have found that Green Mountain Pumpkin Spice K-cups provide a light roast coffee that portrays just a hint of the pumpkin flavor. I have tried pumpkin coffees in the past that have been so sweet that they end up overpowering and fake tasting, but this isn't the case here.

Instead, Green Mountain has included a dash of a variety of autumn spices (nutmeg and cinnamon in particular) in with a teensy bit of pumpkin flavoring, resulting in a very light coffee that doesn't knock you over by screaming PUMPKIN as soon as you have a taste. I find this more like a spiced chai tea in a smooth, refreshing way!

If you're a fan of celebrating fall by enjoying the flavors of the season, I recommend giving these delicious blends a try. But don't spend more than you have to — head over to Cross Country Cafe, where you know you'll always get a great deal.

Even better, before you head over to stock up on K-cups, check out Cross Country Cafe's Fall Recipe e-book listing all sorts of great tips as well as recipes that will knock your socks off (including a delicious Pumpkin Spice Latte you can make right at home). Not only is it FREE, but it includes an exclusive coupon and who doesn't want to save a little extra money?

What is your go-to beverage for fall?

As a Cross Country Cafe Ambassador, I have been provided with products in exchange for my continued work with their company and affiliate links are included in the above post. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

As Seen on TV: Turn a Cluttered Mess into an Organized Masterpiece with Spicy Shelf! {Review, Giveaway & Coupon Code}

 

While just about everyone is familiar with the mysterious black hole in dryers that continually causes socks to end up without their mates, I'm not convinced that the one in our house hasn't spread to just about every other room as well.

How else is it possible that I'll have placed papers on the table one day and they're gone the next? Or that I'm positive that the item I'm looking for was in this spot the last time I saw it...?

Therefore, in an effort to lower my stress levels every time I'm on the hunt for things that are misplaced around our house, I'm always on the lookout for organizational products like bins, label makers and sorting systems. Most recently, I've been happy to add a new item to that list, the versatile, convenient Spicy Shelf.

A stackable organizer that nearly doubles useable storage space, the Spicy Shelf can be used in the kitchen, for beauty supplies, cosmetics, paints, craft supplies and much more. This unique curved shelf expands to fit wider cabinets or contracts to fit narrower ones and is therefore guaranteed to fit any size cupboard or pantry to make every spice (or other item) easily visible.

Even better, there is no complicated installation involved with the Spicy Shelf, as it utilizes the included freestanding legs or can be set on existing shelf pins in your cupboard. The overall design is a very simple U-shape, yet the brilliance of it nearly doubles your usable storage space — genius!

Considering just about every single cupboard in my home could use a little help with organization, I couldn't wait to see the Spicy Shelf in person and put it to use!

Right out of the packing box, I looked over the variety of pieces (shelves, legs of varying heights, extenders for adding width, etc)...

...and knew that my main decision would be figuring out where to place my set of two Spicy Shelves and how to configure them. One on top of the other? Tall legs? Short legs? Side by side in an extra wide space? The clutter-busting opportunities are endless!

While my spices could very well have used a little (a lot) of organizing, I instead opted to put the Spicy Shelf to work tackling the piles upon piles of clutter in my master bathroom. Where did all of these hair products, cosmetics, lotions, creams and more even come from?

Yes, we have a bit of a nail polish collection going on around here. And we can pretend that I didn't have to pull out and throw away a ton of expired cosmetics, dried up face creams and nearly-gone hair products so that I wasn't too embarrassed by the photo, right? Good.

Fortunately, it only took a few minutes to remove all of the bottles, grab my Spicy Shelves and do some connecting and adjusting, and they were set and ready to go. These really are extremely easy to snap together and slide back and forth to get them exactly right for your space!

Then, once I had decided which shelf in the cabinet was going to now hold the nail polish products, I set up my Spicy Shelves and hello, ideal solution! I love how easy it is to see all of the different colors of nail polish now and there is no need to dig around looking for any of them (and worry that my kids might accidentally break any of the glass bottles in the process). How did I not have these shelves before?

Whether you're an at-home chef that wants easier access to all of your spices (this holds up to 64 spice bottles!), an avid sewer that doesn't want to hunt down every spool of thread, or are trying to make it easier for a family member to have better visibility to all of their medications, the Spicy Shelf stackable organizer is a versatile solution for just about anyone.

I love that this requires NO tools to install, is adjustable to nearly any size, is made of high quality, durable, easy-to-clean material, and can hold containers in a variety of shapes and sizes. Spicy Shelf can really fit practically anywhere to make anyone's life more organized and easy to manage!

To find out more about Spicy Shelf, visit SpicyShelf.com where these stackable organizers are sold in a set of two for $19.95 plus $7.95 processing and handling... but how about a discount? Enter the promo code SPICE5 at checkout and save $5 (these are also available on Amazon).

Plus, thanks to their generosity, one person will soon be able to see how easy organization can be, because...

One lucky person will win a Spicy Shelf (set of TWO shelves)!

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A big thank you to Spicy Shelf for providing a set of two shelves for me to review as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

It's Time to #GetGoing with the Jif To Go Photo Contest!

I participated in an Influencer Activation Program on behalf of Influence-Central for Jif To Go Dippers. I received a sample to facilitate my review and a thank you item for participating.

Even though there are times in our lives where it feels as though each minute couldn't tick by any slower, the truth is that the days, weeks, months and years end up passing by more quickly than we ever would have thought possible.

So, although we'll never have any control over the how fast life can feel, we are in charge of what we're doing with each of our days and weeks. Do you want to look back in 10 years and regret too many missed opportunities? Of course not! Instead, let's grab every experience and adventure that comes our way and make the most of them! Let's celebrate all of the crazy ups and downs of our busy lives on-the-go and stay focused on being in the moment!

Right now there is the perfect way to do just that (while entering to win some cold hard cash!) thanks to Jif and their Jif To Go #GetGoing Photo Contest.

On now through October 1, 2014, Jif To Go is celebrating life on-the-go by asking fans
to share a picture of how they get going.

Entrants can enter through Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or by uploading a photo directly at Jif.com and each week Jif will choose a new winner of $1,000 cash to use for their next adventure (see complete details here)! 

What kind of adventure would you take or dream would you follow with an extra $1,000?

My family is extremely fortunate to have been able to travel near and far for all sorts of fun, so I have no doubt that we would have a blast planning anything from a trip to a staycation that would involve us gearing up to #GetGoing and go out and enjoy life!

Jif knows how busy our lives are and how much easier it is if things are accessible and convenient, so be sure to keep an eye out for their new Jif to Go Dippers. These grab-and-go packages are the perfect snack to enjoy anytime, anywhere and are available in two delicious varieties: chocolate silk with pretzels and creamy peanut butter with pretzels. Stay tuned for a future post sharing our thoughts on them!

How do you #GetGoing? Be sure to head over to the Jif To Go #GetGoing Photo Contest to share for your chance to win $1,000!

Easy, Versatile and Delicious: Krusteaz Flatbread Mixes {Review & Giveaway}

While I've never considered myself the most domestic person around, lately I've had an urge to try out a variety of new recipes and provide different dinnertime meals for my family. Maybe it's the cooler fall weather or maybe it's the fact that I actually have a small amount of time to myself now that my kids are back in school... or maybe it's just that I'm bored with our regular weekly rotation.

Whatever the reason, if I come across a dish that looks tasty, doesn't involve complicated steps or ingredients that we don't have, and can be prepared without devoting an entire day to it, I'm trying it out. As for the results, we've had some hits and some misses — and as long as the former outnumbers the latter, I'll keep on cooking.

Fortunately for me, a recent dinnertime had the added bonus of being delicious as well as extremely simple thanks to the ease, convenience and taste of the nearly limitless number of delicious options available from Krusteaz!

Delighting families for generations, Krusteaz began back in 1932 with an easy-to-make pie crust and has since expanded to include pancakes, biscuits, muffins, brownies, breads, desserts and much more.

Whether you reach for one of their classic favorites or one of the new additions to their product line, you can be confident that they have included only the finest and freshest ingredients and that the result will be a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

So of course I was excited to hear that Krusteaz's new flatbread mix line was perfect for busy home cooks looking to mix things up but still save time!

A quick and easy way to create homemade meals, snacks and appetizers without all the work of homemade dough, Krusteaz Flatbread Mixes make it a snap to bring this popular restaurant menu item to your own table.

So much better than using frozen or refrigerated pizza crust, these flavorful mixes are the perfect base for creative homemade pizzas, can pair nicely with savory dips and spreads or be used for sandwiches. Simply add water, oil and yeast (included) and let rise for an artisanal flatbread that's deliciously tasty, moist and slightly crispy around the edges.

My mouth was watering before I even had the three Krusteaz flatbread varieties — Italian Herb, Whole Wheat and Garlic & Onion — out of the box. Even better, any hesitation that I had about the process or difficulty of making these flatbreads was eliminated as soon as I looked them over. They really did just take a little mixing and prepping of the dough and then popping them in the oven (or on the grill) and they were done!

Plus, can we talk about the versatility? These flatbreads can be served as-is or with a little olive oil or else they can be used in any number of delicious recipes. Krusteaz has their own collection of flatbread recipes and has also teamed up with Jennifer Sbranti, (AKA Hostess with the Mostess) who has even more ideas as to how to turn a Krusteaz Flatbread Mix into something even more amazing.

Wouldn't your family or guests be excited to find Family Friendly Flatbread Tacos, Game Day Turnovers, Thai Chicken Flatbread, Pear & Gorgonzola Flatbread or Grilled BBQ Chicken Flatbread on your table?

As for us, I couldn't wait to put our Flatbread Mixes to the test and, as soon as I saw the Classic Margarita Pizza recipe on the side of the Krusteaz Italian Herb Flatbread Mix, knew that it would be a winner.

It wasn't long before I had my dough mixed, let it sit to rise, and had it rolled out and topped with sauce, tomatoes and cheese.

After baking for around 12 minutes, I pulled my flatbreads out of the oven, sprinkled on basil and couldn't have been more excited to dig in!

And, yes! It definitely tasted as amazing as it looked!

I have no doubt that I will be reaching for these boxes of Krusteaz Flatbread Mixes many more times in the future, as the variety of flavors, size and shape options, and endless possibilities in toppings make them the perfect addition to any meal!

Not to mention that at only 180 calories per serving (flatbread only, of course, not my pizza), these mixes have the added bonus of not leaving me filled with guilt. The Whole Wheat mix even includes a full serving of whole grains!

Be sure to head over to Krusteaz.com to find out more about all of their incredible products, while also connecting with them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram. These tasty Flatbread Mixes have debuted at most national grocery chains this month with an approximate retail price of $2.59. Give them a try!

And, thanks to the generosity of Krusteaz, one person will be even more prepared for some delicious flatbread baking this fall, because...

One lucky person will win a Krusteaz Flatbread Prize Pack*!

*Prize Pack includes (2) Italian Herb Flatbread mixes (2) Whole Wheat Flatbread mixes, (2) Garlic & Onion Flatbread mixes, recipe cards and Krusteaz Kitchen Accessories: a branded apron, kitchen timer and a pizza cutter.

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A big thank you to Krusteaz for providing a prize pack for me as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.