Saturday, December 26, 2009

General Mills Cereals



General Mills announced a commitment to further reduce sugar in cereals advertised to kids under 12 to single digit grams of sugar per serving. The company has already been reducing sugar in cereals while increasing key nutrients, such as calcium and vitamin D, and providing whole grain.

Did you know that ready-to-eat cereal eaters consume less fat, less cholesterol and more fiber than non-cereal eaters? Cereals also deliver important vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients, making cereal a top source of key nutrients in children´s diets.

Other cereal benefits:

*Ready-to-eat cereals, including presweetened cereals, account for only 5% of sugar in children´s diets.

*Ready-to-eat cereal is the No. 1 source of whole grains in a child´s diet today.

*More frequent cereal eaters tend to have healthier body weights and lower Body Mass Index measures.

Studies also demonstrate the benefits of eating breakfast. A 1998 study showed that children who eat breakfast tend to perform better at school. Compared to children who skip breakfast, children who eat breakfast score higher on tests, are less likely to miss class or be tardy, have fewer reported discipline problems, and make fewer trips to the office.

For more information about kids and cereals, please visit Cereal Health and Wellness.


~General Mills, through MyBlogSpark, provided me with information used in this post as well as VIP coupons for 4 boxes of General Mills cereal.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Movie Trailer Tuesday - Miracle on 34th Street



This 1994 version of the classic 'Miracle on 34th Street' is one that we love to watch around the holidays.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

The Harlem Globetrotters Giftbag Winner










The randomly selected winner of the Harlem Globetrotters Gift Bag is: A Bookish Mom

I will email you regarding your prize. Thank you for entering!

Movie Trailer Tuesday - Serendipity



Here's another favorite movie that I especially enjoy watching at Christmas-time...

I love both John Cusack and Jeremy Piven. They are great together as best friends in this film. Such a sweet, romantic, fun movie! Have you seen it?

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Kmart Bluelight Specials for December 12th and 13th

Kmart's red classic logo (1990-2004).Image via Wikipedia

Are you heading out this weekend to do some Christmas shopping? If so, be sure and visit Kmart and check out their Bluelight Specials.

Below are the teasers for this weekend December 12th and 13th:

-Essential Home Snug Sack 50% off (reg. $19.99)

-Jaclyn Smith Today Cashmere Blend Throw $12.99 (reg. $29.99)

-Kodak 7” digital frame $49.99 (reg. $79.99)


All day offers:

Saturday:

-Mens Boxed Gifts $5 (reg. 16.99-19.99)

-Die Hard Battery Bank BOGO Free (reg. $9.99)

Sunday:

-Fisher Price Fashion Separates $4.99 (Infant/Toddler) reg. $10.99-$18.99

-Hershey Snack size jumbo bags $3.50 (reg. $5.99)



Don’t forget to follow @KmartDealsnNews and use the #KmartBLS hashtag for a chance to win every day! For more info & rules: http://www.pitchengine.com/free-release.php?id=32110. Good luck!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Movie Trailer Tuesday - Noelle



Over the next several weeks, I will be sharing some movies that I love to watch around the holidays.

Merry SITSmas!




Today is the 2nd annual Merry SITSmas celebration going on over at SITS. So, grab a cup of coffee, turn on some Christmas music and check it out. There will be lots of comment love, prizes and fun.



Last night, we did the dreaded photo-taking for our Christmas cards. My kids detest having their pictures made. Let me just say, it was 20 minutes of torture. They fussed and fought and complained the entire time. I managed to take about 10 photos - these were my two favorites.









Merry SITSmas!

~Enter my Harlem Globetrotters gift bag giveaway~

Monday, December 7, 2009

Relish!

Need a quick and easy gift idea? Give a subscription to Relish! - the cool website that offers weekly meal-planning services. Subscriptions cost just $7 per month, with discounts if you buy 6 or 12-month plans.

Relish! allows you to log on and choose weekly dinner menus that are customized to your needs. Streamline things by choosing from the Express Menu (picks of the week are already listed) or use the Custom Menu to make your own choices. Once the 5 meals are chosen, a grocery shopping list will be generated. Head to the store and pick up everything you need in one stop for the entire week's meals. Relish! offers kid-friendly, vegetarian, and low-calorie choices, just to name a few.

This would make a great gift for so many people on your list - even for yourself! Visit Relish! for more details.

Disclaimer
Relish! provided me with a free 2-month trial subscription. No other compensation was given.

The Harlem Globetrotters and their U.S. Magical Memories Tour (Coupon and Giveaway)



The Harlem Globetrotters have been entertaining audiences with their world famous, family-friendly basketball antics for years. On December 26, they will begin their 84th season with the start of their "Magical Memories" tour. On this tour, they will visit 216 U.S. cities. At each show, they will take on their arch-rivals, the Washington Generals. I can't think of a more fun way to spend an evening with your family. And, if you are like me and have children of different ages, this will appeal to everyone. Check out the Harlem Globetrotters tour schedule and find out if they will be coming to a city near you. While visiting their website, you can also see Globetrotter history, photos, and news. Kids can even send email fan letters (which Globetrotters players personally respond to).





Coupon Offer
The Harlem Globetrotters, through Coyne Public Relations, is generously offering a coupon to readers of Alas 3 Lads. Readers can get a $7 discount for each ticket purchased*. Ticket prices do vary slightly at the various arenas, but they typically average $25 each, thus allowing a family of four to save $28 in total. Readers can simply visit www.harlemglobetrotters.com to locate a game in their area and purchase tickets using the promotional code: HGMOM to redeem the coupon.

*Please Note:

-Not valid on VIP or courtside seats
-Available online only
-Valid until the day before the show


Giveaway
Would you like to win a fun gift bag from The Harlem Globetrotters? The gift bag includes a Harlem Globetrotter mini-basketball, authentic Globetrotter wristbands, an autographed Harlem Globetrotter team photo and a 2010 game program.

To enter the giveaway:

Follow @alas3lads and @Globies on twitter and tweet the following -

Harlem Globetrotters US Magical Memories tour kicks off 12-26. Check out ticket coupon & giveaway offer at Alas 3 Lads http://bit.ly/6BDKsl

To be entered in the giveaway, you must leave a comment here with a link to your tweet.


I will choose a random winner on Monday December 14, 2009.



Disclaimer
The Harlem Globetrotters, through Coyne Public Relations, provided information used in this post as well as the coupon code and gift bag giveaway prize. They also provided me with a free gift bag and tickets for my family to a Harlem Globetrotters game.

Friday, December 4, 2009

Aloha Friday - National Cookie Day





It's Friday - time to take it easy and get ready for the weekend. I'll post something quick and simple for you to respond to...

Did you know that today is National Cookie Day?

Here's a little information about the history of cookies. According to http://www.ezinearticles.com/, "the English word "cookie" is derived from the Dutch word "koekje," which means little cake. Bakers used to place a small amount of cake batter in the oven to test the temperature. They soon discovered that these little bits of cooked batter were quite tasty on their own, and the cookie was born!"

We've come a long way since then. Today, cookies are a multi-billion dollar industry in the United States. With every kind of flavor, variety, shape and color to imagine - the choices are endless. So, take a moment today and enjoy a cookie to celebrate!

What is your favorite cookie? - My favorites are oatmeal cookies.



For more Aloha Friday visit An Island Life

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Christmas Meme

I came across this fun little Christmas meme over at Theta Mom and I thought I would play along...


1. Have you started your Christmas shopping? Yes, I usually try to start in late October

2. Tell me about one of your special traditions. We celebrate Christmas with my side of the family on Christmas Eve. Every year, right before opening gifts, we all gather around as someone reads the story of Jesus' birth from the bible.

3. When do you put up your Tree? Usually a day or so after Thanksgiving

4. Are you a Black Friday shopper? Yes, although I usually just hit one or two stores. I like to get home while it's still early enough to go back to bed.

5. Do you travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home

6. What is your funniest Christmas memory? I have had the same best friend since I was five years old. When we were little, we would always end up telling each other what gifts we bought for one another - then act surprised when we opened them.

7. What is your favorite Christmas movie of all time? Joyeux Noel

8. Do you do your own Christmas baking, what’s your favorite treat? I do a little baking, but I tend to stick to the quick and easy recipes. My favorite is peanut butter fudge.

9. Fake or Real Tree? Fake tree for us. I love real trees, they are beautiful. But, they really irritate our allergies and I don't think I could deal with the mess of the needles falling everywhere.

10. What day (as a mom) does the actual panic set in to get it all done? I don't think I ever panic. But, this year may be different - we are hosting my family on Christmas Eve at our house (normally it's at my parents' but they downsized to a much smaller home a few months ago). I will be having about 25 here for Christmas Eve, yikes!

11. Are you still wrapping presents on Christmas Eve? No

12. What is your favorite family fun time at Christmas? Just spending time together, watching Christmas movies, driving around looking at Christmas lights

13. What Christmas craft do you like the best? Hmmm...I guess we don't really do any Christmas crafts.

14. Christmas music? (Yes or No) If yes, what is your favorite song? Yes, for sure! One of my very favorite Christmas songs is by Harry Connick Jr - I Pray On Christmas

15. When do you plan to finish all of your shopping? Hopefully by mid December

The meme rules say to tag 5 bloggers, but, I will follow Theta Mom's lead and invite anyone to participate. If you do, be sure and comment here so I can come over and check out your answers. Ho Ho Ho!

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Check Out April Showers Blog Designs and Giveaway




April Showers Blog Design is having a HUGE giveaway and celebrating her OPEN waiting list that starts January 1st! April not only does blogs - but also invitations, announcements, calendars, cards, business cards, custom illustrations, and so much more! Just by pasting this paragraph on my blog I'm a winner! www.aprilshowersblogdesign.com

Head over and check out her site. You will love her tutorials, freebies, and blog design services.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Movie Trailer Tuesday - Joyeux Noel



Over the next several weeks, I will be sharing some movies that I love to watch around the holidays.

This movie ranks high on my list of all-time favorite movies ever! I love movies based on true stories, I love period pieces, and I love films with subtitles - this is all that and more. It's an extraordinary story that is deeply moving.

Set in 1914 during World War I, we find opposing groups of soldiers hunkered down in trenches that are just yards apart. As Christmas Eve arrives, the troops from each side agree to a temporary cease-fire. They gather together to celebrate Christmas as well as bury their dead comrades who have died earlier during their battle. Despite their language differences, the men interact with one another and discover that they are alike in many ways. All of this is done without the permission of their superiors. And, once Christmas is over, they know that the war must go on.