Simply... Go-Gurt Review and Giveaway

THE REVIEW:
As a member of MyBlogSpark, I was recently given the opportunity to try new Simply... Go-Gurt from Yoplait. It comes in a convenient tube, like their regular Go-Gurt, however, it does not contain any high-fructose corn syrup or artificial colors or flavors. It comes in strawberry or mixed berry. Wonder Boy and Super Girl devoured them without a second thought, just like I knew they would.

I have to be honest and say that I had already bought Simply... Go-Gurt while at my parents' house. The kids love to have yogurt tubes as a frozen treat, especially when the weather is warm. I just pop the whole box in the freezer. I like that the kids like them, because they are at least getting a little calcium from them. However, I don't like the sugar and all the artificial stuff that's also in them. In the future, I would pay a little extra for the Simply... Go-Gurt tubes, rather than the ones I buy at Aldi. Hopefully I'd be able to find coupons to make up the difference! I also hope they come out with a couple more flavors (hint, hint!).

THE GIVEAWAY:
The first 30 readers who click on the Simply... Go-Gurt widget to the right will be able to print a coupon for their own FREE box! If you're not one of the first 30, you can still print a coupon for $1.10 off. Also...

How would you like to win a "Simplify Your Life" prize pack from MyBlogSpark and Yoplait? It contains a coupon for a free box of Simply... Go-Gurt, a cute mini Etch-a-Sketch, a pretty weekly planner portfolio filled with different note pads, and a seat-back organizer for your vehicle. I have one prize pack to give to a reader of this blog!

In order to enter this giveaway, you need to be a follower through Google Friend or subscribe through a blog reader. Make sure you post a comment letting me know! This is required before earning extra entries.

You may have up to 4 extra entries for doing any of these things (one entry per item):
* Post your child's (or your) favorite healthy snack.
* Post about this giveaway on your blog.
* Tweet about this giveaway.
* Comment about this giveaway on Facebook.

Please make sure to post a separate comment for each entry. The winner will be chosen at random, and the entry period ends at 6 pm CST on Friday, May 7th, 2010. Winner to be announced Saturday, May 8th. Open to US addresses only.

Disclaimer: I received my own "Simplify Your Life" prize pack from Yoplait and MyBlogSpark in return for trying new Simply... Go-Gurt. The giveaway prize pack is also being furnished by Yoplait and MyBlogSpark. Nutritional information is from Yoplait. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Whew!

Tasty Tuesday

Welcome to my second new theme day: Tasty Tuesday. That's right - recipe sharing! Last night I made a really yummy pasta dish from a little book my mom gave me on our recent visit, Rachael Ray Top 30 30-Minute Meals: Kid Food.


This book has several tasty-looking recipes that I am planning to try. Last night's recipe was "Peasant Pasta". She has a "grown-up" version on her website, but I couldn't find the exact recipe I used last night. Any how, it calls for 1 lb. sweet Italian sausage, 28 oz. canned tomatoes, 1/2 c frozen peas, 1/2 c cream, 1/2 lb. penne pasta, and grated parmesan. I chose to substitute a package of fresh mushrooms for the peas, as I don't care for peas and tomatoes together. This was such an easy dish - just brown the sausage and mushrooms while the pasta is cooking, then after draining the pasta, dump everything else into the pot with the noodles. Cook it for a little bit longer, and - ta da! I took the book's suggestion to serve it with a loaf of crusty bread. This is one recipe that I will definitely be making again! Even my picky Wonder Boy seemed to like it!

Made-By-Me Monday

Welcome to the first installment of "Made-By-Me" Monday, wherein I post pictures of things I have made in the previous week. This will serve two purposes: to allow me to brag about my crafting accomplishments, and to encourage you to post photos of your own! Because, if you are anything like me, while my dear daughter oohs and aahs over my endeavors, my husband and son are less enthusiastic in their appreciation, and I don't want to bore them with the details. So, let's begin, shall we?

First up, we have a pair of baby slippers. I used the FREE pattern at Stardust Shoes, along with a second-hand flannel receiving blanket and a remnant of fleece. I didn't get them made until Little Miss was already 6 months old, which meant that they were exactly the right length and they no longer fit her now. I have enlarged the pattern and am going to attempt a larger pair. And, you caught me - I didn't make these this week. But, I wanted to share them, anyhow!


Next is a tote bag. I tend to carry an all-in-one purse/diaper bag combo, but that leaves me in a bind on Sunday mornings when I leave Little Miss in the church nursery. I made this bag, and have a smaller matching zip-up bag cut out to use as a clutch which I can then pull out and carry with me while leaving the larger bag with the baby. I used two fabrics I bought on clearance at JoAnn (while they were on an additional 50% off sale), a bit of brown microsuede, and Simplicity pattern #2551, which I purchased for 99 cents on sale. I made view "A".


Here is a look at the inside. There are 4 pockets inside, 2 outside.


I'm fairly pleased with how the bag turned out, though I could have sewn the curves on the front and back panels better - I made the mistake of stretching them straight as I was sewing, so they don't lay quite right. But, it is functional, and it looks decent, by my own standards.

What have you made lately? If you have pictures of a recent crafting project, post a link in the comments (next week, I hope to have a Mr. Linky set up). Share your creative side!

Building on Family Walks

I wanted to share some of the ways we have built on our family walks to turn them into learning experiences as well as fun family outings. I mentioned in my last post that we had been out of town, visiting family. Our visits tend to last a week or more, and I have found that schoolwork is hit-and-miss when I bring it. This time I tried to take advantage of the weather and some near-by attractions.

On this visit, we found Black Hawk State Historic Site in Rock Island, Illinois. They have a very small (free!) museum on the grounds, which depicts summer and winter homes of the Sauk and Meskwaki (Sac & Fox) Nations. There was also a photo display and video about the park's use as a Civilian Conservation Corps camp during the Depression. On the ride to the park, I read the children some history of the park from the time in between these two periods (which I found through the park's website), when the land was an amusement park. They found the pictures of the rides interesting, especially that of the first log ride.


After browsing the museum and watching the video on the CCC, we headed back outside and enjoyed a walk along a trail to an observation point on the Rock River. We took a lot of pictures of the flowers along the way, and the kids really got a kick out of the rock formations. Thanks to a flier provided by the museum clerk, we were able to identify all but one of the flowers we photographed. I later went over some biographical information on Black Hawk (also from the park's website). Even though the museum features a bust of him, and the park is on the site of his ancestral home, I found there was really little information there about him, specifically.


A couple of days later, inspired in part by a bear claw collar at the museum, my dad helped the kids make necklaces featuring faux bear claws and glass and wooden beads. He also had a few beaver teeth, which were a reminder of a previous excursion to check out a local beaver dam. We discussed materials the Native Americans might have used to make amulets and medicine bags, and the symbolism behind the different items. Later that afternoon, we went on a walk on a local trail and were able to spot flowers we'd identified from our walk at the state park.

Next up in this train of thought: Journals of our walks! I just haven't decided if I want them to be solely of our nature walks, or if I want to include other educational trips we make. Hmmm...

Get Some Air

If you are here from the Ultimate Blog Party, please check out my party post.


One thing I really missed over the winter was the habit of taking a family walk together. There are a lot of trails in our area, covering many different ecosystems. Before Little Miss was born, the four of us really enjoyed getting out and getting some exercise, as well as spending time together and observing nature. It's also a great homeschool activity, as along with science, some of the trails also have historical features. This spring, especially with the unseasonably warm weather we've been experiencing, we have been gathering the water bottles, strapping the baby into the hiking back-pack, and taking the opportunity to check out trails we've never walked before. We have even found trails to explore while visiting family. My dad has gotten a thrill out of discovering that he has this interest in common with his grandchildren, and it's reminded me of family walks we used to take when I was a child.

Something new I'm doing this year is taking pictures of as much of the plants and wildlife as I can. My plan is to help Wonder Boy and Super Girl make nature journals. We'll make a section for each trail, and use prints of the pictures I take. I will help them identify the species, and let them write short descriptions of them. If there is anything historical on the trail, I will have them include that, also.

I encourage all of you to get out with your family, and get some fresh air and exercise. Many areas have trails of some sort within driving distance, and most of them are free to access. You can often find information on local history and wildlife (along with trail maps) online or at the site, if it is a state or national park. Take along a camera, water, and snacks, and spend some time enjoying God's creations - nature and each other!

Here For The Party!

Have you heard of the Ultimate Blog Party? I've checked it out in the past, but quickly got sidetracked, overwhelmed, what-have-you. Since I am trying to grow my readership and be more productive on my blog, I thought I would really give it a go this year! Woo hoo - a party without the mess!

For those of you checking in via the UBP, welcome! I am Jen. I am a 32 year old wife and mother of 3. There may or may not be more children in the future. I have been homeschooling my children for almost 4 years now. I am interested in all things to do with the home, the more natural the better. I am learning to sew, I like to garden and can, baking and cooking are fun, and I really don't mind cleaning, especially if I can use natural products. My baby usually wears home-made cloth diapers, and I am nursing for the first time. I try to be a good steward of what I have been blessed with by re-using things, and I love buying second-hand. I enjoy the thrill of couponing and walking out of the store having spent very little while getting a lot!

Most importantly, I believe God. I don't just believe IN Him. I believe the promises He's given us in His word, and I am striving to trust in Him more every day. Some days are easy. I love being home with my family. Others are harder. My husband has been unemployed since February 1st. However, I know that in all situations, my Savior loves me, has the best plan for me, and will provide all I need and more. I think patience is the hardest part of the equation!

So, thanks for stopping by, and please let me know you were here! I hope you'll come back soon!

Hide The Silver!

I only have a minute, but wanted to share a quick, easy, FREE way to hide grey hairs: try parting your hair differently. I have been, um, "blessed" with a growing amount of silver hair since I was a teen. I am 32 now, and it is beginning to bother me. Especially since I quit coloring my hair a couple of years ago. To add to my frustration, I also have a fair amount of baby hair growing back under my bangs, thanks to post-partum hair loss. Which means I not only have silver hair, mostly congregating near my part, but it is short, spiky, and attention-seeking. Yes, while I do not put on make-up every day, nor do I do anything fancy with my hair, I am vain enough that these little hairs bother me. Out of frustration, I tried parting my hair on the opposite side. TA DA!!! It's like magic! There are hardly any bright, silvery strands on that side, let alone spiky little rebellious baby hairs. And, while I am waiting for those annoying baby hairs to settle down some, I believe I will try one of the home hair color remedies I found on Mother Earth News.