Handcrafted Meals for Two from Old El Paso {Visa Gift Card Prize Pack Giveaway}

While there are an awful lot of things that I would wish for if a magic genie appeared and asked what he could do for me (hey, it could happen, right?) the first two that come to mind would be fairly practical.

1. A self-cleaning house.
2. A self-cooking kitchen. (Yes, I just made up the term self-cooking.)

If my house could somehow be forever clean and meals continuously made for my family on their own, just think of all of the time-saving, hassle-reducing convenience!

Alas, they are both a dream.

Fortunately, there are cleaning products designed to make that chore easier and faster and there are brands that provide ways to have delicious, handcrafted meals on my table without requiring hours of prep and cooking. Most recently, the quick and tasty Old El Paso Frozen entrees!

These couldn't be much easier!

Available now in the freezer aisle of your local grocery store, Old El Paso Frozen entrees for two provide the savory Mexican taste you love, without the hassle, as they are ready in minutes.

Offered in eight different flavors of fajitas, enchiladas, quesadillas and burritos — Shredded Beef Burritos, Chicken Burritos, Steak Quesadillas, Chicken Quesadillas, Shredded Beef Enchiladas, Chicken Enchiladas, Steak Fajitas and Chicken Fajitas — these frozen entrees allow you to dig into your favorite Mexican dish in a delicious way.

Considering that Mexican dishes are a staple in our house, I was looking forward to putting our Old El Paso Prize Pack to use for a quick and tasty dinner.

Unfortunately there isn't a vegetarian option just yet (I'd love some Cheese Enchiladas, Old El Paso!) but that didn't stop my husband from swinging by the store and bringing home a filling dinner for himself and his substitute dinner date.

The result was two thumbs up... although both commented that they would have liked to have toned down the amount of spice.

However, these two were both happy to be able to see chunks of their favorite ingredients right in their quesadillas and the ability to have their entire meal on the table in around three minutes definitely made me happy as well.

With eight different flavors of delicious, handcrafted meals for two to choose from, these entrees are sure to fulfill your dinner needs. The next time you're craving Mexican food or just don't want to spend all day cooking, swing by the store and head for the freezer aisle!

Find out more about these and all of Old El Paso's tasty meals by visiting OldElPaso.com and connecting with them on Facebook.

Plus, thanks to their generosity, one person will be prepared for a quick, convenient, filling meal for two at their house as well, because...

One lucky person will win an Old El Paso Prize Pack*!

*Prize Pack includes (1) $10 Visa gift card, (1) Mexican Tile Chip & Dip Bowl and (1) coupon valid for one Old El Paso Frozen Entrée - value up to $7.99.

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Disclosure: The information and prize pack have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

Have a Tasty Halloween with General Mills Retro Monster Cereals {Target Gift Card Prize Pack Giveaway}

For me, the process of decorating, cooking and preparing for Halloween tends to fall into my Aspirations category.

Meaning that, unlike Christmas, where I actually get out the decorations and bake the cookies, my Halloween bin usually stays in the basement unopened (next to my Easter bin) until it seems like far too late to make taking anything out worth it.

Someday, right?

This year, however, General Mills and Target have made it easy to get ready for Halloween even before all the ghosts, goblins, and monsters come to the door thanks to their exclusive Retro Monster Cereals!

How cute are these boxes of tasty cereals? Available exclusively at Target, these colorful boxes not only include the fun retro packaging, but also re-introduce two throwback flavors: Fruity Yummy Mummy and Frute Brute!

My kids definitely couldn't wait to get into the Halloween spirit with these bright, tasty varieties!

Having never tried these before, the entire family was not at all disappointed in the sweet flavor and the yummy crunch!

But wait, there's more!

As an extra incentive to head over to Target and pick up these Monster Cereals, when you purchase any three boxes in a single shopping trip (until October 31, 2013), you'll receive a FREE copy of Monster Bash magazine.

For someone like me who could use the added push to get on the ball with Halloween, Monster Bash includes recipes, tips and tricks for planning the creepiest, scariest, spookiest, most fun Halloween ever!

Find out more about how to get your Halloween howling with this great deal by visiting GrocerySavvy.com, where you will also be able to take advantage of promotions, coupons, recipes and more. Then be sure to head to your nearest Target to pick up these spooky (and yummy!) retro cereals this month!

And, thanks to the generosity of General Mills, one person will be even more prepared to go shopping for Halloween supplies, because...

One lucky person will win a $25 Target Gift Card and
(3) boxes of General Mills Monster Cereals in retro packaging!

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Disclosure: The information and prize pack have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

Quick and Easy Dinner Ideas with Betty Crocker Ultimate Hamburger Helper Mixes and Ultimate Potatoes {Prize Pack Giveaway}

With the arrival of fall and the back-to-school transition occurring in households across the country, it seems even more important to carve out moments to relax and enjoy time together as a family. Between work, school, sports, homework and more, the days might just fly by before our eyes if we don't designate dinnertime as family time, right?

Therefore, it is even more important to look for ways to get a good meal on the table that doesn't require a great deal of time in the kitchen. After a busy day, no one wants to spend any of their precious spare minutes cooking instead of bonding!

Which is why now is the perfect time to try out the all-new Betty Crocker Ultimate Potatoes and Ultimate Hamburger Helper mixes to result in a quick and tasty meal on the table without wasting a single second.

Containing just about everything you need to whip up a delicious main course or side dish, each box of Betty Crocker Ultimates comes with both delicious seasoning and a rich, creamy sauce. Each of these products comes in a variety of flavors including Ultimate Chicken Helper Cheddar Broccoli, Ultimate Au Gratin Potatoes, Ultimate Hamburger Helper Three Cheese Marinara and Ultimate Cheddar Mashed Potatoes.

Although we don't do a great deal with hamburger around our house (half of us are vegetarians), when the Ultimate Betty Crocker Loaded Mashed Potatoes and Ultimate Hamburger Helper Three Cheese Marinara arrived with a selection of serving accessories, I knew that we were still going to be able to see just how fast and convenient these meals would be.

Sure enough, preparing the Ultimate Loaded Potatoes barely took more than a few minutes and required just about zero effort on my part.

After boiling water and butter and stirring in milk and the potato mix...

...I stirred in the cheese sauce and whipped the whole thing with a fork.

Voilà! Instant loaded mashed potatoes!

When it comes to gathering your family around the table for breakfast, lunch or dinner, Betty Crocker is one name that knows how to bring big flavor with a small amount of work. Their collection of Ultimate Potatoes and Hamburger Helper meals are sure to please!

Find out more about all of the delicious Betty Crocker options by visiting BettyCrocker.com and connecting with them on Facebook and Twitter.

Plus, thanks to their generosity, one person will be serving up dinner quicker and easier than before as well, because...

One lucky person will win a
Betty Crocker Ultimates Prize Pack* (total ARV $55)!

*Prize Package includes (1) box of Ultimate Hamburger Helper, (1) box of Betty Crocker Ultimate Potatoes, (1) 3-piece bamboo serving bowls, (1) serving spoon, (4) plates 

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Disclosure: The product, gift pack, information, and additional sample have been provided by Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark.

Enjoy Pillsbury Pizza on the Grill {Prize Pack Giveaway}

The information and prize pack have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

When it comes to homemade pizza, it's no secret that Pillsbury Pizza Crusts are an easy and delicious way to save time and energy while still ending up with a fantastic result.

But did you know that you can get creative with them in more ways that simply various tasty recipes? In fact, with summer here, Pillsbury knows that families are spending as much time outdoors as possible... so, at your next barbeque, go ahead and enjoy your favorite pizza right on the grill!

Concerned that grilling pizza might be a bit difficult? I was.

Fortunately, Pillsbury has clear, easy to follow instructions for how to grill pizza, so I simply gathered our ingredients, pulled up the photo directions and was ready to go.

While my husband warmed up the small grill, I sprayed a large piece of heavy duty foil with cooking spray and unrolled the dough.

Next, when the grill was hot and ready, I simply flipped the whole sheet of foil over so that the dough was directly on the rack and peeled away the foil.

For more savvy grill-users, the rest of the process should be pretty straightforward. Simply let the dough cook until the bottom is golden brown; flip the whole thing over and let it cook for a few minutes; remove from the grill to add sauce, cheese and toppings; and return to the grill to finish cooking.

Unfortunately for us, we unknowingly let our grill get far too hot, therefore ensuring that the dough would char on the outside while still staying uncooked on the inside...

...and, ultimately, ended up pretty much a failure.

That being said, I'm actually still pretty eager to try this method again! Pillsbury has so many delicious grilled pizza recipes that I'm sure with a little more practice we could be enjoying any number of their tasty ideas:

• Grilled Italian Pesto Pizza
• Grilled Garlic Butter Crusted Margherita Pizza
• Pillsbury Grilled BBQ Chicken Pizza
• Pillsbury Grilled Sausage and Pepper Pizza
• And many more!

In addition, Pillsbury doesn't only want to give you ideas and recipes for tasty meals, they want you to win one of five brand new grills in their Pillsbury Pizza Pinspiration Sweepstakes!

That's right! Simply create a Pillsbury Pizza Pinspiration Pinterest Board, pin at least three pizza recipes from Pillsbury.com, and head to Pillsbury.com to register your board. But hurry! This sweepstakes ends July 31st at 11:59pm, so get pinning!

For more information, examples and ways that Pillsbury can turn your next summer meal into a party of its own, visit Pillsbury.com and connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and YouTube.

Plus, thanks to their generosity, one person will soon be grilling with the best of them, because...

One lucky person will win a Pillsbury Grilling Prize Pack*!

*Prize Pack includes (1) 19-piece grill set and (1) $10 Visa gift card for ingredients. Total ARV $50.

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A big thank you to General Mills for providing a prize pack for me as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Old El Paso Stand ‘N Stuff Soft Flour Tortillas and Mexican Cooking Sauces {Review & Prize Pack Giveaway}

Although I'm often trying to come up with new recipes and meal ideas for my family, there are a few options in our regular rotation that just never get old. There's never too much pasta and pizza, right?

Another popular menu choice: tacos.

Whether we're doing quesadillas, burritos, enchiladas, soft shell, hard shell... taco night has pretty much become a necessity in our week. So how can we make a good thing even better?

Thanks to the innovative and tasty Stand 'N Stuff Soft Flour Tortillas and Mexican Cooking Sauces – two new products from Old El Paso that add fun, versatility and convenience to our dinner routine!

For nearly a century, Old El Paso has inspired consumers to bring fun and flavorful Mexican food to their dinner tables. A market leader worldwide, Old El Paso spices up meal planning with popular products that include dinner kits, taco shells, seasonings and a complete line of Mexican meal components.

But now they've taken things even further with the introduction of their Old El Paso Stand N Stuff Soft Flour Tortillas, a first-of-its-kind, innovative soft taco that stands up. Revolutionizing taco night, Stand 'N Stuff Soft Flour Tortillas are uniquely shaped like a bowl, but have a flat bottom so they are easy to fill, hold and eat without falling apart.

In addition, new Old El Paso Mexican Cooking Sauces add delicious bold flavor to any Mexican dish, bringing the excitement from an authentic Mexican restaurant right into the home kitchen. As each one is the  perfect blend of carefully selected roasted vegetables, peppers and Mexican spices, the result is a complex taste that would typically take hours to make at home.

Let's get eating, Old El Paso!

While we ended up not being able to try the new Mexican Cooking Sauces due to the meat in the ingredients (darn us vegetarians!), I passed them along to a friend who confirmed that they tasted great on meats as well as veggies and would easily give a Mexican flare to tacos, burritos, fajitas, slow cookers, and more.

As for the Stand ‘N Stuff Soft Flour Tortillas, my kids were thrilled to be able to spoon in their favorite fillings and create something that ended up a hybrid between a burrito and a taco salad.

There's always something especially exciting about getting to customize your dinner exactly the way that you want it!

The Stand ‘N Stuff Tortillas proved to be so easy to fill, hold, and eat that my kids barely said a word as they enjoyed bite after bite.

As an added bonus, instead of finding taco remnants all over the floor after dinner like I usually do, the unique shape of these held just about every piece right inside.

Yum! The Stand 'N Stuff Tortillas were definitely a hit all around!

If you want to add a new and delicious twist to your taco night, keep an eye out for Old El Paso Stand ‘N Stuff Soft Flour Tortillas (8 count) and Dinner Kits (with Old El Paso Taco Sauce and Old El Paso Taco Seasoning) that are currently available at stores nationwide at a suggested retail price of $2.79 (Dinner Kit - $3.59).

You can also find the new Old El Paso Mexican Cooking Sauces available in three delicious varieties — Roasted Tomato, Chipotle and Chile and Roasted Garlic — available at stores nationwide for a suggested retail price of $2.49.

But, wait! Why shop without a discount? Before you head to the store, be sure to print off your coupon to receive $1.10 off any two Old El Paso Stand 'N Stuff Soft Tortillas OR Mexican Cooking Sauces!

And, thanks to their generosity, one person will soon be ready to have a tasty dinner right at home as well, because...

One lucky person will win an Old El Paso Prize Pack*!

*Prize Pack contains (1) container of Old El Paso Stand ‘N Stuff Soft Tortillas, (3) Old El Paso Mexican Cooking Sauces (one of each flavor), Collapsible Colander, Veggie chopper, Chop turner utensil, and (1) $10 Walmart gift card to buy additional taco ingredients. Total ARV $60!

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The information and prize pack have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

General Mills Shows That Breakfast at Home Makes Cents {$25 Visa Gift Card Prize Pack Giveaway!}

The information and prize pack have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

Although I sometimes (often) struggle with ideas as to what to serve my family for dinner, I can typically rest assured that breakfast won't be a problem.

Who doesn't love breakfast? Your body is hungry after waking from your slumber, the day is fresh and new, and you could just sit there forever marveling at the lovely aroma from your delicious cup of coffee (no coffee for you first thing in the morning? Does taking a deep breath of your toast while in the toaster have the same effect?).

When it comes to that first meal of the day, however, do you also enjoy heading to your local restaurant and ordering your eggs and pancakes that way? You might want to rethink that option a bit when you compare just how much money you could save by having breakfast at home!

Thanks to the Breakfast at Home Savings Challenge going on now from General Mills, it's easy to see the difference it can make in your budget if you shop and eat breakfast at home compared to heading out to eat.

Why spend the extra money on having someone scramble your eggs when you can just reach for your favorite General Mills breakfast items like Honey Nut Cheerios, Lucky Charms and Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereals? We sure do!

It is even easier to take advantage of great savings in-store and online on some of your family's favorite Big G items now, as they are offering printable coupons and digital coupons that load directly to a participating grocer's loyalty card.

Simply head to EveryDaySaver.com/BreakfastAtHome, select the coupons you want and print them directly from your printer or load them onto your card! Even better, new coupons are added each month, so it pays to visit more than once to keep even more cash in your pocket.

Even though we haven't quite made it through all of the deliciousness that came in our Big G Prize Pack...

...we've already been over to the Breakfast at Home site to stock up on coupons for even more of our favorite cereals!

This summer, start your family off on the right foot with a filling breakfast every day of the week without breaking the bank. Visit the Big G website for more information about all of their tasty products and take advantage of all of their savings at Breakfast at Home. You can also connect with General Mills on Facebook and Twitter so as to never miss all of the latest and greatest from this household name.

And, thanks to their generosity, one person will soon be putting a fun and tasty breakfast on their table as well, because...

One lucky person will win a Big G Breakfast at Home Prize Pack*!

(1) $25 Visa gift card, (1) box of Lucky Charms, (1) box of Honey Nut Cheerios, (1) Big G Bowl and (1) Big G lip balm. Total ARV $39.

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A big thank you to General Mills for providing a prize pack for me as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Betty Crocker Cereal Muffin Mixes {Gift Pack Review & Giveaway}

While my family's meals vary depending on our moods, what we've eaten recently, what happens to be in our refrigerator (that is still fresh), and just how lazy I'm feeling when it comes to cooking, one meal that we can always count on is breakfast.

I wouldn't go as far as to say that my kids are "cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs" or gaga over "the taste you can see" found in Cinnamon Toast Crunch, but that might just be because we like to vary what is found in our cereal cupboard. But would my girls turn down a bowl of either of those? Absolutely not. Add in Reese's Puffs cereal and they just might never leave the table!

Which is why we were all a bit excited to find out that fans everywhere can now enjoy these flavors in a completely new way — out of the bowl and straight from the oven thanks to the new Betty Crocker Cereal Muffin Mixes.

Whether your family is gathering around the table for breakfast or simply grabbing a bite on-the-go, new Betty Crocker Cereal Muffin Mixes provide a tasty and convenient way to jump start your day.  As they are inspired by Big G cereal favorites Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Cocoa Puffs, and Reese's Puffs, each one is sure to be a fun way to re-mix your morning meal routine.

As I suspected, both Big Sister E and Little Sister B were thrilled at the idea of turning these tasty cereals into muffins and they couldn't wait to dig into our Betty Crocker goodies to get them in the oven.

It didn't take long before we were decked out in the proper cooking attire...

...and were hard at work mixing up the tasty batter.

After a short baking time (although it was a bit torturous smelling the delicious aromas) our Cinnamon Toast Crunch muffins came out of the oven and were ready to eat.

YUM!

I knew that my kids would love the sweet, cinnamon crunchiness that these muffins provided (which they did), but I was surprised when my husband (somewhat of a muffin connoisseur) commented multiple times on how much he liked them. Clearly these were a hit for all ages!

Find out much more about these mouthwatering muffins on the Betty Crocker website and, wait! Before you head to the store to pick some up for yourself, download a printable coupon for 80¢ off one package of any variety of Cereal Muffin Mix. The hardest decision is going to be figuring out which tasty option to start with first!

Thanks to the generosity of Betty Crocker, one person will be prepared to bake up all three yummy muffin mixes, because...

One lucky person will win a Betty Crocker Cereal Muffin Mixes Gift Pack*!

*Gift pack contains (1) Box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal muffins, (1) Box of Cocoa Puffs cereal muffins, (1) Box of Reese’s Puffs cereal muffins, (1) Apron, (1) Tumbler, (1) Spoon, (1) Therm O Snack

(Enter with the Rafflecopter form below. If you have any questions or problems entering, there is a video tutorial found here that can help.)

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Disclosure: The product, gift pack, information, and additional sample have been provided by Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark.

Playmobil Take Along Soccer Match {Review & Giveaway}

While my girls typically have varying interests, one thing that they can both agree on is soccer. They each have participated in indoor as well as outdoor classes and, while neither of them has shown a great deal of drive or determination in the sport to make me think it will be a part of their future endeavors, at least they both had fun.

Which is why I knew that taking the world of soccer and putting it into a miniature, durable, portable package would be something that they would enjoy. Add in the ability to improve hand-eye coordination, develop spatial relation skills, make it all a form of entertainment... and it all comes together thanks to Playmobil and their Take Along Soccer Match.

Dribbling across the field and scoring a goal has never been easier thanks to the Playmobil Take Along Soccer Match. By allowing your kids to challenge one another to a soccer game no matter where you are, this set comes fully equipped with everything needed pass, shoot and score your way to a complete soccer game experience.

While I wasn't sure if my girls possessed quite enough dexterity and hand-eye coordination to control the miniature athletes in this game (it is designed for ages 5-10), I knew that they would still love playing with their realistic teammates and attempting to kick the ball.

Sure enough, when this game arrived, they were full of curious questions and eager anticipation to start playing.

Inside the box, we found a portable, travel-ready 22" x 33" field, two small soccer balls, six soccer players, and various accessories.

It didn't take long before we had the entire Playmobil Take Along Soccer Match constructed and the 3-on-3 teams ready for action.

Right away the kids and I marveled at the way that players are able to control one of the figures' legs with a small lever on the back. Just by giving it a tap, that leg kicks up to propel the ball forward, which helped make playtime more realistic... not to mention bringing a smile to my girls' faces every time.

Combine that with the goalies that were connected to joysticks (thus allowing players to control the movements from behind the goal net), the ability of the figures' arms, legs, necks and more to move or rotate, and the unique way that you can customize small details in the game (e.g. changing the hair from one figure to another and selecting the numbers for each miniature jersey), and it was no wonder that it added up to a hit overall.

While this game hasn't been used extremely competitively around our house, it has provided hours of fun and entertainment for all of us. The girls enjoy reaching for their favorite little soccer player to practice kicking the ball around the field and can often be found playing by themselves or together and giggling as calls of Pass it me! and I'm open! Kick it here! and I got it! fill the air.

This game has proven to be a big enough draw that the girls sometimes head over to play with it for a few minutes even before they've had breakfast. Who says that pajamas aren't an appropriate soccer uniform?

All in all, Playmobil Take Along Soccer Match has been a fun and unique addition to our game collection that I'm happy to have around. Not only does it keep my kids entertained, but it helps them practice motor skills, socialization, and learn basic science concepts at the same time.

As a major bonus, when you're done playing, simply fold the entire game back up on itself to form a briefcase-type package that is not only portable and stores in tight spaces, but all of the small pieces stay inside for less chance of getting lost.

With so many electronic games and toys out there, it can often feel as though kids only play with things that include lights and sounds (and require batteries). Instead, Playmobil offers a wide selection of modern-yet-classic games such as the Take Along Soccer Match that can combine fun, activity and imagination all in one.

Retailing for $59.99, this innovative game can be purchased directly from the Playmobil USA website, on Amazon.com or at specialty stores near you. But, wait! Head over right now to PlaymobilUSA.com and redeem the coupon code US72A12C to receive 20% off of all Playmobil Take Along items!

Thanks to the generosity of Playmobil, one person will soon be ready for some kicking on a very small scale, because...

One lucky person will win a Playmobil Take Along Soccer Match!

(Enter with the Rafflecopter form below. If you have any questions or problems entering, there is a video tutorial found here that can help.)

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Disclosure: The information and gift packs have been provided by Playmobil USA through MyBlogSpark.