Friday, October 11, 2013

Mike and Ike-Perfect for Trick-or-Treating!

ABCD Diaries was given samples for review purposes only. We were in no other way compensated. The opinions expressed in this post are ours and ours alone.


MIKE AND IKE® Halloween Varieties
Just In Time For Trick-Or-Treating!

MI-MummyMix-5oz-Horizontal"Continuing to celebrate the reunion of the dynamic candy duo Mike and Ike, Just Born Quality Confections is releasing two Halloween themed editions of the iconic MIKE AND IKE® fruity, chewy candy.  MIKE AND IKE® Mummy’s Mix and the new MIKE AND IKE® Vampire Variety are perfect for all trick-or-treaters this Halloween! 
All MIKE AND IKE® Halloween mixes and others including Original Fruits, Tropical Typhoon®, Berry Blast®, Red Rageous!™ and more, are now made with real fruit juice that enhances the great flavors!  Mummy’s Mix contains the great tastes of Lemon, Orange, Grape, Lime and Raspberry whileVampire Variety includes Cherry, Raspberry, Grape, Watermelon and Fruit Punch. 

MI_Vampire_5oz-TheaterBox-VertThe Halloween flavors are available in several packages including 5 ounce theater boxes of Mummy’s Mix and Vampire Variety.  There are also 45 or 72 count variety bags that contain individually wrapped snack size bags of Mummy’s Mix and Vampire Variety. The SRP for the Halloween theater box varieties is from $1.00-$1.39, depending on the retailer and location.  The Halloween mixes and all other varieties can be found in supermarkets, mass market retailers and drug stores. 
 “Don’t be afraid to try the new MIKE AND IKE® Halloween varieties!” says an enthusiastic Koren Ivie, Marketing Manager for MIKE AND IKE® candy.  “The Halloween candy is perfect for ghosts and ghouls of all ages.”


For more information on The Return of Mike and Ike™, new flavors and upcoming programs, log onto www.facebook.com/mikeandike."

What we thought:  The kiddos really enjoy Mike and Ike candy and they were super excited about the new addition of Vampire Variety:)  Just in time for Halloween, Mike and Ike is offering the little snack size bags for convenient and tasty passing out to trick-or-treaters.  These candies are full of fruity, chewy goodness sure to make the little ghosts and goblins happy:)  ABCD Diaries gives Mike and Ike Mummy Mix and Vampire Variety an A+!  

Somersault Snacks- A Family Favorite!

ABCD Diaries was given samples for review purposes only. We were in no other way compensated. The opinions expressed in this post are ours and ours alone.




"Somersault Snacks: they’re a scrumptious, nut-free, sunflower seed snack with all the protein and half the fat of almonds. We’ve introduced a new flavor with a following of health foodies with a sweet tooth (great for kids too with just 7g of sugar!) Cinnamon Crunch. We’ve also had our top two flavors – Pacific Sea Salt and Cinnamon Crunch- certified as GMO free by the NonGMO Project. In other news, we’ve also expanded our retailer list nationally to include Target and Costco this year!"

What we thought:  Somersault Snacks have been a family favorite since we review them in the early days of ABCD Diaries!  We are so excited that they are now available at Target:)  Personally, I love the simplicity of the Pacific Sea Salt, but all of the flavors are really yummy and our whole crew absolutely devours them!  The Cinnamon Crunch are a pretty tasty treat if you are craving something sweet and crunchy and definitely a healthy alternative to empty-calorie, sugar-loaded snacks.  ABCD Diaries gives Somersault Snacks an A+!

Monday, October 7, 2013

Purex UltraPacks Review!

ABCD Diaries was given samples for review purposes only. We were in no other way compensated. The opinions expressed in this post are ours and ours alone.


We recently reviewed Purex UltraPacks with OXI and they are fantastic!  They're easy to use and leave our clothes looking and smelling great.  Until Oct 18th Purex is running a sweepstakes in which you find the RED jersey and win $50...check it out!  ABCD Diaries gives Purex UltraPacks an A+!

Keep up with Purex via Facebook!


Try to find the RED Football Jersey here and WIN $50! 

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Calorease Diet Supplement #momsmeet

I received this product for free from the sponsor of
the Moms Meetsm program, May Media Group LLC,
who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a
Moms Meetsm blogger, I agreed to use this product
and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not
necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group

LLC. or the manufacturer of the product.

"Calorease is one of the easiest ways to make your weight management
program more effective. Unlike many other diet aids, it is completely
stimulant-free and therefore heart-healthy. It has been shown to bind
and eliminate up to 9 times its weight in dietary fat, reducing up to
500 calories a day from the fat in foods. It is naturally sourced, and
has been researched in studies and clinical trials. As part of a reduced calorie
diet—and with a regular exercise program—Calorease is the

edge you need to help you meet your goals.

Just the facts
• It’s easy to use Calorease. Simply take two tablets with a fat-containing
meal three times a day. But stay consistent for the best results.
• If taken as recommended, results can be seen in about 2-3 weeks.
Keep in mind that Calorease is not a license to overeat, nor is it a magic
bullet for quick weight loss.
• There is no program or special diet involved with taking Calorease. A
reasonable, balanced and nutritious fat-containing diet is recommended.
Click here for sample meal plans.
• Calorease does not contain gluten, lactose, yeast, wheat, sugar, salt,
egg, soy, dairy, artificial colors, sweeteners or preservatives. It is
naturally sourced from grain and is suitable for vegans.
• A convenient blister pouch provides 1 serving (2 tablets) so it’s easy to
take on the go. A 90-tablet pack of Calorease retails for $29.99.

Did you know?
It’s understood that fiber can bind with dietary fat and prevent fat from
being digested. But since most fibers bind fat at a 1:1 ratio, you would
have to consume unrealistic amounts of ordinary fiber to gain any
benefit—until now. The unique, patented fiber in Calorease (FBCx) binds
up to 9 times its weight in dietary fat, reducing up to 15,000 calories per

month from a normal diet."

What we thought:  The biggest change I noticed while reviewing Calorease was that I seemed to feel fuller longer which in turn lead to less snacking and better portion control during meals.  I like that Calorease is a stimulant-free, convenient way to help me lose weight.  Used along with healthy eating choices and exercise, I believe Calorease can definitely help the pounds stay off.  ABCD Diaries gives Calorease an A!

For a limited time, enjoy a 50% discount—you’ll
pay only $14.99 for a 90-tablet pack! Visit
calorease.com/buy and enter code 4MOMS.

“Like” Calorease on Facebook.com/calorease to stay updated on the
latest offers and promotions.


Dino Dan on DVD Review and Giveaway

ABCD Diaries was given samples for review purposes only. We were in no other way compensated. The opinions expressed in this post are ours and ours alone.




Have you ever wondered why kids are so enthralled with dinosaurs?  R O A R ! ! !
"As any proud parent will attest to, kids as young as TWO years of age have been able to correctly identify a tyrannosaurus!   
And older kids will organize backyard digs for dinosaur bones and beg to visit dinosaur exhibits at local natural history museums. 
So what is behind kids’ fascination with dinosaurs? 
Freelance writer and book author Bob Strauss pondered this question for About.com and came up with some pretty solid explanations!! 
·      For starters, he believes kids like dinosaurs because the huge, dangerous creatures are extinct, so kids know that dinosaurs are not a threat.
·      He also believe that dinosaurs are also role models for kids because dinosaurs are big and nobody tells them what to do – the exact opposite of a kid, who is small and is always being told how to behave. 
·      Kids also like the size and scope of dinosaur skeletons, definitely a cool factor!
·      And they also like the possibility that, like Matt Larson, a paleontologist for the Black Hills Institute of Geologic Research, they too might be able to someday discover dinosaur fossils – as he did just this summer in the plains of northeast Wyoming!
It’s time for you and your kids to join in the prehistoric fun with Dino Dan, the award-winning live-action, CGI adventure series airing nightly on Nick Junior at 5p.m. (ET), which stars 18 true-to-life, photo-real dinosaurs alongside Jason Spevack (Fever Pitch; Sunshine Cleaning) as Dan “Dino Dan” Henderson.  Available on DVD from NCircle Entertainment,Dino Dan, was created by Sinking Ship Entertainment.
  
Dino Dan is an ordinary 10-year old boy with an extraordinary obsession: he eats, sleeps and breathes dinosaurs. A typical day for Dan isn’t complete unless he’s racing a T-Rex on his school track, finding a Pterodactylus in his attic or getting a baby Brachiosaurus back to its mom. But kids don’t need to imagine dinosaurs because in Dino Dan, dinosaurs lurk around every corner, they're behind every mystery, they fuel every adventure, and they help answer questions, too!
Dino Dan also specializes in getting his contrasting crew of classmates and teachers engaged in his larger-than-life adventures. Not only are Dino Dan's adventures incredibly fun, they're also incredibly educational, as each episode centers around a common kid issue like having to play with your little brother, going to the dentist, or trying to win at hide 'n' seek. These, naturally, lead Dan to wonder how the dinosaurs would act in a similar situation.
As Dino Dan comes up with a dino question or experiment to test his theories, he’s also teaching kids about science. If his first theory proves false, Dan comes up with a partial answer or discovers new information to help him resolve the question. Then Dan discovers a new way of tackling the experiment and the problem is resolved.  And since the dinos inDino Dan don't speak, high-five, or use deductive reasoning, Dan and his pals work with the dinos' instincts as part of their scientific method for proving theories.
Dino Dan DVDs are now available in a special 4-pack through NCircle Entertainment beginning September 24, 2013.  With a suggested retail price of $24.99 for four DVDs – Ready, Set, DINO!; Dino Trackers; To Catch a Dino! and Cretaceous Creatures! – the Dino Dan 4-pack also includes a bonus augmented reality feature on the DVD package that, when the code is scanned, brings dinosaurs to life!  The four-pack is available at Target stores nationwide from September 24.
To celebrate, NCircle Entertainment has provided a Dino Dan DVD 4-pack for one lucky ABCD Diaries reader!
And the fun doesn’t stop there!  Fans of Dino Dan can visit the dedicated Dino Dan website at http://dinodan.com/ to enjoy a number of fun and engaging online games including an interactive Dig Site, fun Dino Facts, information aboutDino Dan’s friends and even download Dino Dan apps. Dino Dan fans can also visit the Dino Dan Facebook page athttps://www.facebook.com/dinodantv.
Nick Jr. also has a Dino Dan website, http://www.nickjr.com/dino-dan/, offering everything to entertain your budding paleontologists, including downloadable prehistoric printables for coloring to engaging dinosaur games and crafty Cretaceous creations including instructions for creating your own dino 3D mobile, a Dino Dan's dinosaur nest and even Dino Dan binoculars.  The Nick Jr. site also has recipes for fun Mesozoic Meals like giant dinosaur track cookies and there’s even a dinosaur Fun Facts for Parents which includes a pronunciation guide for dinosaur names like Euoplocephalus!"

What we thought:  As huge fans of the show, the kiddos LOVED the Dino Dan DVDs!!  It's so awesome to have all the best Dino Dan episodes readily available on DVD.  These shows are fun and educational and really get the kiddos engaged and learning!  These DVDs would make great gifts for the dino lover in your family:)  ABCD Diaries gives Dino Dan DVDs an A+!

Sunday, September 29, 2013

LivingSocial Deal for Chicken Soup for the Soul Gift Pack!


LivingSocial has partnered with Chicken Soup for the Soul to bring customers a special edition comfort gift set. The gift set, valued at $130, will be available for only $29. This is the first time that LivingSocial has ever participated in the launch of a food brand. From curling up with a Chicken Soup for the Soul e-Book to cooking up a Chicken Soup for the Soul-inspired meal, this gift set is sure to warm hearts and bellies everywhere.

Check it out at LivingSocial!

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Betty Crocker Hershey's Mixes #MyBlogSpark + Giveaway!

Disclosure: The information and prize pack have been provided by Betty Crocker® through MyBlogSpark.


"Just when you thought she couldn’t, Betty has made life even more delicious with the launch of 12 new Betty Crocker® Hershey’s® frostings, cookie and cupcake mixes! With iconic flavors such as Reese’s®, Cookies’n’crème and Almond Joy®, these desserts will be a big hit with the candy lover in your life. Whether baking up a batch of cookies for your kids on a rainy day or celebrating a special event these desserts will have everyone asking for more. Mix and match flavors to make your own creations such as Cookies and Creme Cheesecake Bars or Chocolate Chunk Almond Brownies. The new line of Betty Crocker mixes and frostings truly offers a sweet for every style!"
BCHersheyBanner

We really enjoyed our Reese's cupcakes and our Cookies 'n Cream cookie mixes!  The Hershey's chocolate frosting was AMAZINGLY delicious!  We are so excited that Betty Crocker and Hershey's have teamed up to give us more delicious choices when it comes to baking mixes we can count on to be a hit!  ABCD Diaries gives Betty Crocker's Hershey's products an A+!
One lucky ABCD Diaries winner will receive a super cool gift pack that includes the following:
* 3 Betty Crocker Hershey’s® products to sample
* $10 Wal-Mart gift card
* Decorating kit
* Cupcake plunger
* Retail Value: $55