George Foreman Evolve Grill

I am the proud new owner of a George Foreman Evolve Grill! I have always wanted a George Foreman Grill, but never did get one and I am over the moon happy with the one I now have! Thanks to The Family Review Network and George Foreman Healthy Cooking, I received an Evolve Grill to review.

My new baby  toy  healthy cooking grill arrived  with 2 grill plates, a deep dish bake pan, and a mini-burger/sliders pan. This is the basic starter set, but you an add so much more to the collection because there are 7 more pans/plates available such as the waffle plate (which is next on my list!)

Since I have not had any other George Foreman Grill before, I cannot compare it to previous models, but from what I have heard, other grills did not have removable plates and did not have so many different cooking options. I must say the Evolve Grill is a cinch to clean since the grills and plates are removeable.

My poor microwave is feeling forlorn and neglected since George entered my life, but seriously I am too enamored right now to worry about hurt feelings.

I have used my grill thus far to make veggie burgers and veggie sausages, hashbrowns, grilled cheese sandwiches and quesadillas. Everything cooks with such ease. I took me a few times to get the hang of timing and such, but using the manual helped some and practice is now leading to perfection , if I say so myself.

This is a simple pasta dish I made using the deep dish pan-

 (I had to use my phone camera so please excuse the not-so -great pics!)

The George Foreman Evolve Grill features include:

• George Tough™ nonstick coating for oil-free cooking
• Patented slope for fat to drip away
• Drip tray that is dishwasher safe for collecting grease drippings
• 84 square-inch cooking surface
• Precise Digital Time and Temperature Control
• Removable dishwasher-safe plates

It is a healthy way to cook for my family, and since I am not known to be an avid cooker at all, I am honestly thrilled that my new grill is such an easy quick way to make meals. Popping the cooking plates off the grill is a snap, and they wash off so easily because of the non-stick finish.

I see a long happy relationship between me and my George Foreman Evolve Grill!!

"This post was written for Family Review Network & George Foreman Healthy Cooking who provided the complimentary product in exchange for my honest review"

Review and A Giveaway: Yoplait Splitz Gift Pack

The kids and I all love yogurt (rare for all of us to agree on something we like these days, LOL.) Thanks to MyBlogSpark, we got to try a very yummy yogurt treat: Yoplait Splitz!

Yoplait Splitz is the new yogurt that tastes like a sundae (it really does!). Providing all of the goodness of 100% real yogurt, Yoplait Splitz is a good source of calcium and vitamin D, and as a mom, I always feel good when I can give my children something healthy that tastes so yummy! There are no artificial flavors or sweeteners and no high fructose corn syrup. And maybe the best part of all- only 90 calories! Yoplait Splitz is available in three delicious flavor combinations including Strawberry Sundae, Strawberry Banana Split, and Rainbow Sherbet. To make a really fun snack for the kids to take to school, simply put a frozen Yoplait Splitz in their lunch box. By the time lunch rolls around, the yogurt will have softened but will still make a cold creamy treat!

 When we received our samples to review, we also received a very nice prize pack that includes a A Picnic Time Activo insulated carry tote and a roll up fleece picnic blanket with waterproof backing. The tote features padded handles, adjustable detachable shoulder straps, padded shoulder cushion and lots of fun pockets to stash keys, sunscreen, toys, etc.

I love this prize package, and am so excited that I get to give one away as well!!

To Enter:

Leave me a comment telling me which flavor of Yoplait Splitz you would like to try. That's it! Please leave a valid email with your entry.

Extra Entries:

1. Like Yoplait on Facebook.  (5 entries)
2. Tweet this giveaway using the Twitter hash tag #myblogspark. (5 entries)
3. Follow Happy Healthy Families via Google Friend Connect (widget on right sidebar) (5 entries)
4. Follow Happy Healthy Families on Twitter.  (3 entries)
5. Like Happy Healthy Families on Facebook.  (3 entries)
6. Blog about this giveaway and link to this post.(3 entries)
7. Subscribe to Happy Healthy Families.(3 entries)
8. Share this giveaway on Facebook or another social network.(5 entries)
9. Leave a comment on another post or enter another giveaway on HHF. (5 entries)
10. Follow Yoplait Yogurt on Twitter (5 entries)

This giveaway will end Sept. 25 at 11:59 EST.

Winner will be chosen by random.org and notified by email. Winner will have 3 days to confirm or new winner will be drawn.

Open to U.S. addresses only.

Yoplait provided me with the free sample product, information and prize package through MyBlogSpark.com. All opinions provided are my own and no monetary compensation was received.

New Giveaway: Glade Fragrance Collection

I love candles. I think they add a warmth to any room even when not they are not lit. I especially love candles that have a light pretty scent and not a heavy perfume scent to them. So when Family Review Network and Glade asked me to review a candle from the Glade Fragrance Collection, I happily accepted!

I received the 10 oz. soy based candle in the delicious Lemongrass and Citrus Scent. Soy-based candles are my number one choice in candles these days, as I think with kids and pets around, they really are the healthiest candles to have when lit. The candle itself looks so pretty in the jar, I enjoyed just looking at it and having it decorate one of my living room shelves.

But of course when I get a new candle, I must try it out. The fragrance was wonderful. Light and breezy feel with a touch of summer is about the best way I can describe the scent. Curling up with a cup of tea and the flickering candle was a perfect calming to a hectic day with my kiddos.

And Glade is going to send one reader a beautifully candle from their Fragrance Collection!

To Enter The Giveaway

Visit the Glade Fragrance Collection and let me know in a comment which scent and product you would like to try. Please leave a valid email with your entry comment. (mandatory first entry.)

Extra Entries:

1. Like Glade on Facebook

2. Like Happy Healthy Families on Facebook 

3. Tweet this giveaway  (each daily tweet gets you a separate entry)
 

4. Subscribe to Happy Healthy Families  (2 entries)

5. Follow HHF on Google Friend Connect  (widget is on right sidebar at top) (5 entries)

6. Blog about this giveaway on your blog.  (5 entries)

7. Share this giveaway on a social network of your choice (Leave me the url in a separate comment.) (5 entries)

8. Follow Happy Healthy Families on Twitter 

Giveaway ends September 16th @11:59 EST.

Open to U.S. addresses only.

Winner will be drawn by random.org and will be notified via email. Winner must respond w/in 24 hours of notice or new winner will be drawn.

"This post was written for Family Review Network & SC Johnson who provided the complimentary product for review and giveaway in exchange for my honest review"

 

Giveaway Winners!! Wendy's and Little Ones Books

1. Winner for the $10 Wendy's Gift Card: # 251!!
2. Winner of the $25 Gift Certificate to Little Ones Books #28!!

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

251
87
178
101
248

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:

28
71
37
32
63
53
61

Congratulations to the winners! Please watch for confirmation emails!!

Gatorade "Beat The Heat"

The heat is still on here in our neck of the woods. The kids have gone back to school, and the summer months are turning into fall, but still I have the air conditioning on pretty much most of the day still.

My kids still run, play and have a great time outside, heat or not. But as a mom, I do worry about them out in the heat so much. Little ones as well as us older ones can very easily become victims of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Of course we always try to make sure everyone drinks water when outside in hot temperatures, but water may not always be enough to help prevent dehydration and heat stroke. And I really was surprised to learn why-

In drinking water, the brain may turn off the perception of thirst before the body’s overall fluid needs are met and stops the athlete from fully rehydrating. The electrolytes in Gatorade help maintain the stimulus to drink so athletes drink enough to replenish and refuel. Plus Gatorade supplies the proper amount of fluid, electrolytes and carbohydrates to rapidly put back what your young athlete loses in sweat and provides energy to keep them going.

Gatorade has a “Beat the Heat” campaign which educates athletes, parents and coaches about heat-related illness and the importance of proper hydration. Their goal is to reduce the number of heat-related injuries and deaths and help raise funds for organizations dedicated to preventing heat-related illness.


As part of this campaign, we received several bottles of Gatorade G2 to try out. I already knew all of my kids loved Gatorade, we have had it many times before. However, I have to admit the sugars in the Gatorade drinks always made me a little worried. My kiddos really do not need any extra sugar! So I was happy to learn that Gatorade G2 has about half the sugar as the original version. And needless to say, everyone enjoyed the flavors.

And For every unique download of a free Gatorade Heat Safety Kit at www.nfl.com/trainingcamp, Gatorader will donate $1 to “Beat the Heat” charities up to $20,000.

Here are a few tips and facts for parents from Gatorade regarding heat illnesses and dehydration:


Without taking precautionary measures, young athletes might experience a heat-related illness. In some cases, they might be unaware they are experiencing this condition and continue practicing. Make sure your child knows the signs of heat-related illness and encourage his/her coach to periodically check players during practice or workouts for the acute warning signs of heat illness, which can include:

• · Nausea
• · Headache
• · Weakness
• · Fainting
• · Poor concentration
• · Flushed skin
• · Light headedness
• · Loss of muscle coordination
• · Fatigue
• Vomiting

Equipment Makes a Difference

• · Encourage young athletes to wear net-type jerseys
• · As they acclimate to the heat, athletes should wear T-shirts and shorts, not pads
• · Remind athletes to remove helmets when not playing or scrimmaging and avoid wearing sweatshirts and excess clothing
• · Young athletes should change sweat-soaked clothing as soon as possible after activity 

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Gatorade’s “Beat the Heat” campaign and received Gatorade samples to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”