Amazon: Ice Age Trilogy [Blu-ray] Only $21.99

Right now you can score the Ice Age Trilogy [Blu-ray] for only $21.99 ! Previously a $70 purchase!

Includes Ice Age, Ice Age the Meltdown, and Ice Age Dawn of the Dinosaurs. Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital Copy.

Homemade Lemonade Recipe & Truvia Review

Homemade lemonade is special. It helps create family memories that last generations. It’s touching to think of how many hours have been spent on our porch swing, or in our back yard visiting with family, and friends while enjoying my homemade lemonade.
Though the recipe sounds simple, it’s been crafted and handed down in my family like a treasure. It’s one I’m happy share, in hopes of bringing those same special memories to someone else.

4-5 lemons
1 cup of sugar
3 cups of water
Optional garnish, mint leaves or cherries.
Pour over ice.

I squeeze the juice out of four lemons, and slice the fifth.
Dump in one cup of sugar.
Mix it all into three cups of boiling water.
Let cool, pour all of it into a pitcher, and chill in the fridge for 24 hours. If I can keep everyone away from it that long. Then add garnish if you’d like.

I recently received a full size container of Truvia to review. I decided to try it in our homemade lemonade recipe as a replacement for sugar.

4-5 lemons
1 cup of Truvia
3 cups of water
Dropped in three cherries.
Poured it over ice.

I followed the above directions.

I thought it was delicious. Crisp and refreshing. A little sweeter than the original recipe. My husband thought the Truvia added a slight after taste. Being a diet soda drinker, I really didn’t notice or mind it. I plan to mix this again, and enjoy it over the summer. It’s a great way to cut down on my sugar in take.

I also used Truvia in place of sugar over fresh strawberries. This was a big hit with my entire family. To be honest, I don’t think anyone other than myself even knew.

About Truvia:
Truvia sweetener is a natural, zero-calorie sweetener made from the best tasting part of the stevia plant. Packets are available in 40-ct, 80-ct, and 120-ct boxes, and the Truvia spoonable jar makes it easy to spoon and sprinkle just the right amount into coffee, oatmeal, yogurt or more. The new Truvia Baking Blend, a blend of Truvia sweetener and sugar, is specially formulated for at-home baking and offers 75% fewer calories per serving than sugar.

TTTT_Logo1 (2)

Truvia sweepstakes:
Truvia sweetener has launched the “Turning the Town Truvia” campaign in Dallas, Denver and Miami to promote natural, reduced-calorie sweetness.
Consumers can nominate a food service establishment via the Truvia page on Facebook and be entered for a chance to win a $5,000 grand prize. As result, Truvia sweetener may end up on the tabletop of their nominated bars, cafés or restaurants. A $50 Gift Card will also be given to one winner each week. Hurry! The contest is over on May 26th !!

Country Bob’s All Purpose Sauce Review

countrybobslogo

In 1968 Country Bob perfected the sauce of his dreams. After years of giving the sauce to friends and family he began to sell it in 1977. The reaction was overwhelming just as it is today.
It was actually October of 1982 when Country Bob, Inc. became the company, which it remains today. Along with their All Purpose Sauce they have expanded their product line to include BBQ Sauce, Spicy All Purpose Sauce, and seasonings.

Around here, my husband does all of the grilling, and he takes his grilling very seriously. It’ all about the meat, the spices and the sauce. I learned years ago, that when it comes to grilling, it’s best I just step aside, and focus on a couple of side-dishes to complement whatever meat he is mastering on the grill. He has yet to let us down. I recently received a couple of bottles of Country Bob’s All Purpose Sauce to review. In-fact, the bottles were delivered just in time for our first barbeque of the season. So, after my husband lit the coals and came in for the meat, this is what was waiting for him on the counter.

He reached for his usual spices, but I informed him – nope, you won’t need them this time, I hear the sauce is that good! And, it was!

Country Bob’s All Purpose Sauce was all he added to our chicken, and it was delicious! We usually have plenty of leftovers for lunches the next day, but not this time. Even our girls, a.k.a. the pickiest of eaters, finished their chicken. Since then we’ve enjoyed Country Bob’s All Purpose Sauce on ribs, and mixed in burgers. Both have been just as out-standing as the chicken. I guess that’s why it’s called “All Purpose”, it goes great with everything. I have plans to try it in all kinds of recipes. Warning, it can be addictive! Yes, it’s that good.

Country Bob’s Sauces and seasonings are available online and in select stores around the nation. Visit their website to shop, locate a store near you, and even find recipes.

Have a dad that likes to grill? Perfect for Father’s Day, check out Country Bob’s Gift Pack!

giftpackcountrybobs

Gift Pack includes:
1 Bottle of Original All Purpose Sauce
1 Bottle of Apple Chipotle All Purpose Sauce
1 Bottle of Honey Habanero All Purpose Sauce
1 Bottle of Barbecue Sauce
1 Container of Seasoning Salt

Get social with Country Bob’s and following on Twitter and Facebook.

Disclosure: Free product was received for the purpose of this blog post. I was not asked or influenced to write a favorable review. All opinions expressed are my own and honest.

7 Things on Sunday

 

1. Bought two items on eBay.
2. Spent an evening out with my thirteen year old daughter. Shopping, dinner and the hair salon.
3. Made plans with an old friend.
4. Drove my daughter and her friend to their eighth grade farewell dance.
(next year HIGH SCHOOL! How’d that happen?)
5. Had dinner off the grill for the first time this season.Yum!
6. Went to Motor City Comic Con (total geekville, it was awesome).
7. Enjoyed a movie with my sister and step mom.

GUM EasyThread Floss Review & Giveaway

GUM EasyThread Floss is designed to make flossing around braces, bridges, implants and crowns easier. Flossing can be extremely difficult for those with dental appliances and we are pleased to announce that GUM has solved this problem with its new EasyThread Floss.

Ever since our daughter started wearing braces, taking the extra steps to keep her mouth clean has been important to her. Often, that means spending more time on her oral care reunite, like brushing longer after every meal, using mouthwash, and lots of flossing.

I’m proud to say that she does all of the above without any coaching or reminding from her parents. Which I understand is very un-teenage like of her. She also loves to find new products that help make these steps easier and more efficient. Her most recent addition to our medicine cabinet, GUM EasyThread Floss. This was sent to me as a review item, and ended up being a very fast favorite of hers.
To quote her “this is awesome!” “Fits between my braces and let’s me clean everywhere” “feels great on my gums” “I love the wheel dispenser, it’s really easy to use”. It’s also a great size to toss in her backpack, making it easy for her floss when she is away from home.

The proof of her efforts are definitely in her beautiful smile!

GUMallison00444

We are learning more, and more of the importance of good dental health, and how neglect can lead to gum disease, and other major health issues. Regular dental cleanings, flossing daily and brushing twice a day are key factors in preventing gum disease. So when I find a product that helps my family win that fight, I get excited. We all want what is best for our family, and for our health.

GUM EasyThread Floss and other helpful Sunstar GUM products are avaible to purchase online or where ever dental products are sold.

Discount code!
When shopping online be sure to use the discount code “0513ET” to score $0.75 off each Easy Thread Floss! This code expires 7/13/13.

You also have the chance to win a free package of GUM EasyThread Floss here on my blog.

EasyThread_Retail

Enter to win by using the Rafflecopter widget below. If you have any issues with the widget or would like to enter by email, please contact me at shakingit@gmail.com. One winner will chosen and contacted by email on June 7, 2013.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wordless Wednesday Before & After

Before

allisonshairbefore001

After

allisonshairafter001

More Wordless Wednesday

Free Adventure Activities with Mickey and Friends

With some help from Becca, I recently shared a review of the latest Disney Junior adventure to be released onto DVD, “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Quest for the Real Crystal Mickey”.

In anticipation of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: The Quest For The Crystal Mickey coming to Disney DVD on May 21st, you can now print and share some fun activity sheets featuring Mickey and friends!

Get ready for fun! These sheets include Spring Bingo, make your way through the Crystal Maze to find treasure, you can also color in your favorite clubhouse characters then create your very own Crystal Mickey with a special folding craft! Just click on the image below.

Click Communications: BLOGGER BUTTONS &emdash;

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: The Quest For The Crystal Mickey releases on Disney DVD on May 21st!

Sequels We’d Like to See Most

With the upcoming sequels for Despicable Me (Despicable Me 2) and Monster’s Inc. (Monster’s University), along with the spin-off to Cars (Planes), set to hit theaters this summer, it’s clear that returning to familiar characters and worlds that we love often makes an audience happy. Even Nemo will be swimming back into theaters in 2015. Judging by the success of previous franchises, such as Toy Story and Ice Age, once a cast is in our hearts – there is no end to the possibilities.

It’s hard to believe, but there are still a few family movies filled with charm, character and fun that have yet to bring a sequel to the screen. Here are a few of those movies that we feel have real sequel potential.

1. Rio

sequelsrio53F

Filled with stunning colors, electrifying music and a charming cast of characters, Rio was one of our favorite movies of 2011. Fun for all ages, it’s hard to believe we haven’t seen Rio fly back into theaters as of yet – and in fact there is a sequel planned for release in 2014, April 11 to be exact.

 

2. The Incredibles

sequelsincredible53F

This animated action-packed family came at us in 2004 with a bang, and they brought some of the coolest spy gadgets with them. You know the saying “the couple that saves the world together, stays together,” right? Okay, maybe it’s not a saying – but we sure would love an update on this super- powered family, beyond director Brad Bird’s vague answers about it when asked.  [http://www.movies.com/movie-news/brad-bird-says-39incredibles39-sequel-will-come-when-he-discovers-right-story-exclusive/5137]

 

3. Jumanji

sequelsjumanji53F

In 1995, the fantasy-adventure film about a supernatural board game trampled our imagination when a couple of kids brought the jungle into a suburban neighborhood, literally. Certainly this board game – and all that comes with it – must be found again, in the reboot that’s supposedly coming our way in 2015/16.

Even if the above movies never find their way to a sequel, there are plenty of others on the way. This upcoming summer is sure to be an exciting one for any movie fan.

This post was originally published over on Fandango’s Family Room as part of their paid Ambassador campaign. All opinions expressed are my own and honest, there are no affiliate links within this post.