Blast Off!

I recently got to try out the new Batter Blaster, pancake and waffle batter. I have to admit I was a little leery at first (batter? in a can?), but after reading a bit about Batter Blaster, I decided to give it a try. Batter Blaster is a can (similar in size to a can of whipped cream) of pancake batter. You turn the can upside down and depress the tip to dispense the batter onto your griddle or waffle iron.

The reason I agreed to try it was because it looked fun, and because it's organic and contains no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives which tend to make Jackson and Clayton go into orbit. This was fun and easy to use and my kids liked using it too!



You just squirt the batter out onto your griddle. Thank you for demonstrating Savannah. (Note my beautiful old Harvest Gold stove!)



pancakes cooking....



pancakes getting torn apart because I can't read directions and didn't grease the pan. After I threw a little butter on the pan, I was able to flip the pancakes right over without chiseling them off my old, not-so-non-stick griddle.



Then we had a little fun with them. I made initials for each of the kids. You can use Batter Blaster to easily make shapes and designs. I remember, as kids, my sister and I would ask our mom to make us snowmen, and candy canes, and Mickey Mouse, and hearts, and all sorts of goofy shaped pancakes. And she obliged! I don't know how she did it with a spoon, but I'm not that nice and I don't make special shapes for my kids. Of course, I have 6 kiddos and who has time to sculpt specially shaped pancakes for that many? But with Batter Blaster, it's really easy to squirt the batter out in different shapes. Cool, huh?

One can (which is recyclable and doesn't contain any ozone-depleting CFCs) makes about 28 four inch pancakes. I only had one pancake because my kids chowed down the rest of them. My kids loved them and asked me to get Batter Blaster again. I thought the pancake tasted good, but was slightly chewy. Then again, I'm used to my recipe that I use to makes pancakes by scratch.

Still, this is a fun treat and it's perfect for camping! No bowls or measuring cups or whisks needed. I don't have to pack flour, vanilla, eggs, baking powder, etc. to make the gang pancakes. I also think this would be good to have on hand for those nights that you just don't get around to planning dinner and want to cook something fast yet nutritious for your family. My kids love when I make breakfast for dinner! I will definitely get this again in the future.

Batter Blaster is giving away 3 FREE cans of their pancake/waffle batter to my readers! Just leave me a comment here and I'll pick 3 random winners on Friday, September 5. To avoid confusion, please leave at least a first name and last initial with your comment so I can identify the winners. Comments that do not include a name will not be entered in this contest.

Lands' End Backpack Winner

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:235
Timestamp: 2008-08-06 03:34:34 UTC

Congratulations to Shawna who was comment number 235. She has won a new Lands' End multitask backpack!

Shawna Schaffner said...
I have ALWAYS wanted a Land's End backpack. Always, always, always :)Shawna
July 31, 2008 1:03 PM

Thank you to everyone who left a comment. You can still hurry and receive free shipping on your Lands' End online purchases through August 6.

***Edited to add: please email me at mom2my6pack at aol.com with your shipping address and color choice.***

Jawbone Winner

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:45
Timestamp: 2008-08-02 14:29:01 UTC

Congratulations to JLEE who wrote:

JLee said...
Hi Dawn,Just like you I am forever multitasking while on the phone! From doing laundry, making meals, cleaning, wiping butts (theirs, not mine), giving dirty looks to any child that dares to interrupt me while on the phone. Hope to win! Maybe it won't be so obvious that I am on the phone anymore. The kids will think I'm talking to myself like usual and leave me alone.
July 28, 2008 9:16 AM

You are the winner of a new Jawbone bluetooth headset! As far as the kids thinking you're talking to yourself, it works! My kids think I'm off my rocker when I talk on my Jawbone because they can't see any phone. But they don't leave me alone; they repeatedly ask, "What? Are you talking to me? Who are you talking to, Mom? What?" Sooo, good luck with that!

Thank you to everyone who left comments! I sure have some multi-tasking readers!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

The other day, while I was shopping, I noticed a "back-to-school" display! I practically danced down the aisle. Yes! Woo Hoo! Back-to-school time! I grabbed a notebook and inhaled the fresh scent of paper! I flipped through the blank pages, just waiting for inspiration. I fingered a set of crayons, colors vibrant, points intact. Ahhh, a parent's utopia.

My kids, on the other hand, walked quickly by the aisles while calling to each other, "Quick! Close your eyes! Must. Get. Away. From. School. Supplies. Ow, it burns. It burns!"

Although I'm looking forward to accomplishing more during the day and hearing a lot less fighting from the kids, I'm actually not looking forward to school starting quite yet. (Shhh, don't tell anyone I said that.) But really, I hate the early morning routine and the homework battles. Summer's kinda nice in that respect. But whether you're counting down the days to school or dreading that first day back, the fact is that back-to-school time is fast approaching.

One thing that should be on everyone's back-to-school list, is a Lands' End backpack. I've always heard that Lands' End has THE BEST backpacks out there, but I've never coughed up the money for one. I buy my kids the cheap backpacks you can find at Target or Meijer or whatever. The thing is - I have to replace them every year. Sometimes they don't even make it through the school year. This year I'm investing in some good, strong, well-made backpacks. After seeing the quality of Lands' End swimwear, I have no doubts that their backpacks will be stylish and, more importantly, durable.

Here's the cool part - one lucky winner will receive a free Lands' End Multitask Backpack. Features of this backpack include:

Stash panel for a jacket, sports gear or bike helmet
Separate bottom chamber to stow a set of shoes
360° reflective trim to keep kids visible
Mesh side pockets to hold water bottles
MP3/CD player pouch for tunes

In addition to the backpack giveaway, Lands' End is offering FREE SHIPPING to all my readers! How better to shop for backpacks, lunch boxes and back to school clothes, than from the comfort of you own home? Sure, you'll save on gas, but even better - you won't have to drag your kids out shopping with you! That alone is worth its weight in gold (or gasoline)! Just shop online at Lands' End between July 31 and August 6, then simply enter the coupon code BACKTOSCHOOL and the pin 2382 when checking out. Can't beat that! Shop HERE for back-to-school clothes and uniforms, and look HERE for the Lands' End backpack guide to help you find the perfect backpacks for your little scholars.

Just leave a comment on this post for your chance to win a Lands' End Multitask backpack in the color of your choice. (I'll choose a random winner on Tuesday, August 5.) And start enjoying free shipping on Friday, July 31!

Just Jawin' Away

...on my new Jawbone, that is.

Moms are the queens of multi-tasking. Tell me, when was the last time you did nothing but sit and relax while on a phone call? It doesn't happen. While talking on the phone, I change diapers, fold laundry, make lunch, and clean the kitchen floor. I make almost all my calls while doing chores or driving. I have a feeling most of you know what I'm talking about. Do you have any idea how many times I've inadvertently disconnected my friends and family while talking on the phone and doing some other task? I think I disconnect my mom nearly every time I talk to her. And at least half of those times it's by accident. Kidding. Just kidding, Mom! Seriously though, I'll have the phone cradled between my shoulder and ear while I fold laundry and I'll turn my head to yell at the kids tell my kids something and suddenly I hear a dial tone. How often does this happen to you?

And growing evidence indicates that cell phone use is a contributor in car accidents. Several states and jurisdictions have enacted laws prohibiting handheld cell phone use while driving. Many other states have introduced legislature proposing similar bans. Chicago is one of those jurisdictions that has banned hand-held cell phone use while driving.

Hands-free is the way to go both for talking on the phone while scrubbing toilets and making dinner and for driving the kids to soccer practice and running to the grocery store. The new Jawbone lets you talk while going about your day. And without accidentally disconnecting your call too. (Well, as soon as you learn not to push the unit into your ear while talking because you can inadvertently hit the "hang up" button if you do. Sorry again, Mom.)

Believing that products worn on your face should look nice, they've designed the new Jawbone to look like a classy accessory and not a big honkin' piece of technology. But despite the fact that it looks like jewelry, it really is a cool piece of technology featuring the patented Voice Activity Sensor which eliminates noise and let's your voice come through loud and clear. The new Jawbone is 50% smaller than the original Jawbone which means, you don't have a big ole microphone hanging down your face. This is good because you won't feel the need to ask people, "You want fries with that?" while wearing the slim new Jawbone.

The Jawbone comes in 3 colors: black, silver, and rose gold. Each unit comes with 3 sizes of ear buds, and 4 different ear loops for a customized look and fit. And you can charge it by either plugging it into an outlet or your computer.

Now here's the cool part. I have a new Jawbone to give away to one lucky reader. Here's the deal, leave me a comment on THIS post and let me know how you multitask while on the phone. I'll choose a winner this Friday night. Good luck!

GE Caulk Singles

You know those ads that run along the side of my blog? Truth be told, I don't generally pay too much attention to them. I hadn't really checked out the one for GE caulk until a friend brought it to my attention.

We have a leaky shower. It's been that way forever. It's been on my husband's "to do" list for like 40 years. I finally came to the realization that although I wanted the shower taken care of, this was not a high priority on my husband's list. I was so angry that he wasn't fixing it that I decided to just do it myself. I'm not a big DIY (do it yourselfer), but I was determined to show my husband that I could caulk the leaking shower myself. Brilliant plan, no?

So, I went to the store, bought a thing of caulk, got home, and realized I had no way to get the caulk out of the can. Apparently you need a caulk gun. Who knew? Bob the Builder I'm not. I mentioned to my husband that I'd bought some caulk and all he had to do was grab his caulk gun and seal the shower. That darn container of caulk sat there there for 10 years. Or something like that.

So, after my friend brought the GE caulk ad to my attention, I checked it out. Guess what - GE is giving away FREE samplesof their new caulk singles. These things look really cool! You don't need a caulk gun to dispense it. Simply tear open the package and squeeze it out. According to their ads, you should be able to effortlessly apply an even bead of caulk. I filled out the form to receive my free sample.

OK, so here's the shower, complete with mold damage, that was never caulked and is now out of my realm of fixability. It's my husband's job now for sure.


Here's the before picture of the sink that I caulked...


The reason there was a gaping space between the sink and the wall was because the kids have done a little too much of this....


I got my GE caulk single in the mail.....


I tore off the top and just squeezed out a thin, ...


almost even bead of caulk.


Then I simply smoothed it out with my expensive caulk smoothing tools finger.


Pretty cool, no? But that's not all. Oh nooo. Tell us how you used your FREE caulk single to do a DIY job around your home and you'll be entered for a chance to win $1000 VISA GIFT CARD! Think of all the sprucing up you could do with $1000!

So, just click HERE to get your free GE caulk single sample.

And the Winner Is...

The winner of the free HP printing mailbox and 3 free months of Presto service is......


Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:

54
Timestamp: 2008-06-12 15:33:48 UTC

The 54th comment was from ga.farmgirl who said...

My Mother is 84 and I think the HP printing mailbox would be a great idea for her. She lives far away from some of her 7 children and many Grandkids,great grands and even 1 great great grandchild. I can imagine her face lighting up to receive photos through the presto service hp printing mailbox.
June 7, 2008 3:41 PM

Congratulations to ga.farmgirl!!!

Presto!

I was asked to try out the Presto service with the HP printing mailbox. Now, this is not something I would ever use, BUT it is absolutely something my grandma or aunt would use, so I agreed. Let me explain what this is. Presto is a service that works with the HP printing mailbox. It enables the user to receive email (text and images) without a computer. It just uses your phone line to dial out in order to receive emails. Presto explains it better than I can HERE.

I don't know about you, but my aunt and my grandma aren't exactly tech savvy. They don't have a computer, don't have a need for one, and don't have a desire to learn how to use one. But they do like keeping in touch with friends and family. And I have to admit that I'm not so great at the lost art of correspondence. I can't remember the last time I actually wrote a letter. I'm much more likely to keep in touch with relatives and friends via email. This enables people like me to keep in touch with people like them.

When I got my HP printing mailbox, I took it to my aunt's house so she could try it out. It's basically a printer that connects to your phone line. It only took a couple minutes to set it up - plug it in, plop the ink cartridge in, put some paper in, voila!

Next I set up an account for her online (on my computer). Never fear - if a person without a computer buys this to receive email, they can still set up an account over the phone. I just figured it would be easiest for me to do it online. It only took a few minutes and I was able to set up her email address, choose the font size of my aunt's emails, and the time(s) the machine would dial out to retrieve emails. You can have the machine dial out at midnight every night for email messages, for example, or you could set it to dial out a few times a day, or whatever's convenient for you.

As the account manager, I can change the settings any time, I get alerts if the ink is running low, and I can add email addresses to her address book. (That's a cool feature too. She can only receive email from addresses that are on her Friends List to prevent spam and junk mail.)

I really do think this is a cool service for mom and dad or grandma and grandpa, especially if they live out of town. You can send them pictures from Johnny's baseball game, Sarah's ballet recital, or your new bundle of joy. You can send email updates, invitations to parties and get-togethers, or just a note to say you're thinking about them. Everyone loves to get mail, right? Instead of getting grandma a computer and paying for internet service that she wouldn't really use, this is a less expensive alternative that will still enable her to receive email and pictures from you and other friends and relatives. The HP printing mailbox is on sale now for $99.99 and the service is just $9.99 a month. Go HERE and click "view demo" to see a video about this service.

The only drawback that I could find is that the Presto user can't send email out. They can receive letters and beautiful, color photos, but they can't respond via email. Of course, if you've gotten the HP printing mailbox and Presto service for grandma and grandpa who have never used a computer, chances are they wouldn't be interested in replying via email anyway. They're more likely to pick up the phone to thank you for sending them a letter and pictures of their little grandchildren (great grandbabies).

What an awesome idea for Father's Day for dad or grandpa - a way for him to get mail and photos without a computer! And right now, in time for Father's Day, you can get $50 OFF the price of the HP printing mailbox!!! Just go HERE for the discount! And because my readers are so awesome, Presto is offering one lucky winner a FREE unit and 3 FREE months of Presto service! Just leave me a comment here and I'll choose a random winner on June 10th.

* Yes, I know that many senior citizens own computers and are tech savvy. I'm not saying that grandparents aren't capable of working a computer. This is a great product/service for individuals who don't own a computer because they don't want one, can't afford one, or are afraid of them and don't want to learn how to use one.

My New Favorite Toy

When I was invited to try out the HP Photo Center at Meijer, I jumped at the chance. I have about 1000 pictures on my computer that I need to make into prints. I have several times that many that have been made into prints and are just sitting in boxes waiting for that magical day when all my kids are in school and I have time to tackle projects like getting pictures into albums. What? It could happen!


See what I mean?

giant bucket full of prints


another bucket of prints


and yet another big ole tub of even more prints
I take a lot of pictures. It's a sickness. It's fun!

Anyway, thinking that I could organize some of the photos on my computer, I jumped at the chance to try out the HP Photo Center. I love this thing! Here's the deal: you take your digital images to your nearest HP Photo Center. (Click HERE to find the closest one.) You can bring your images on a USB drive, most memory cards, or a CD. All you do is pop it in the computer and follow the directions on the touch screen. You can make posters (think of those large frames that have mats with multiple openings for a collage of pictures), hard cover photo albums, DVDs, calendars, cards, and more! Father's Day gifts!!!!!!!

When I went to try it out, I made an album with over 70 pictures. I got to choose the size of the album, the color of the cover, the theme, color and design of the pages, and how many pictures I wanted on each page. I was able to crop, fix red eyes, and adjust my pictures too. I chose what order I wanted the pictures to appear in and then this magic machine did all the work for me! It arranged all the photos in the order I had selected! I previewed each page to make sure I liked the layout and then clicked ok. Voila! My photo album was printed while I shopped and I picked it up about an hour later.


(Sorry, this is a picture of my album so it didn't turn out that great - the picture, not the album, that is.)

I asked the guys who worked there if more pages could be added to the book in the future because I'm not all that organized and will undoubtedly find more photos that I'll want to add. They said it was no problem to add more pages. How cool! You could print up a month's worth of pictures at a time and each month, add a few more pages to the album. At the end of the year, you'd have a great album with that year's highlights captured in photo memories! Each month could have a theme: Easter, Halloween, vacation, Christmas, etc.

Then, because the album cost less than I thought it would, I made a DVD with those same pictures. Let me tell ya - it took a mere fraction of the time to make that DVD than any slide show or video I've made on my computer at home! This is SO easy! Now, when I was at the store playing with working on my pictures, a woman sat down at the computer next to me and was having a hard time figuring everything out. But the guys in the photo center at Meijer were nice and knowlegeable and quickly helped her out. I'm going back to make a DVD of our Discovery Cove trip so the kids can watch it again and again.

If you don't have an HP Photo Center at a store near you, you may be able to use Snapfish to order your prints or some creations online and then pick them up at a store.

I am SO going back to make albums from the rest of the photos on my computer. It's much easier to throw my pictures on a flash drive, take them to the store, and leave with a completed album in an hour than to have them made into prints so they can take up space and gather dust in my home for weeks months decades.


Check out THIS LINK for answers to your FAQs, THIS LINK for a demonstration video, and THIS LINK for a coupon for a FREE poster when you buy one.

Coming up soon: another review of an HP product that makes an awesome gift for parents and grandparents!

Caulk Singles

Just a quick note to clear up any confusion. To receive a free sample of the caulk singles, just click HERE. To enter the contest, goHERE! Leaving a comment on my blog will not enter you in the contest. Thanks! :)

GE Caulk Singles

You know those ads that run along the side of my blog Because I Said So? Truth be told, I don't generally pay too much attention to them. I hadn't really checked out the one for GE caulk until a friend brought it to my attention.

We have a leaky shower. It's been that way forever. It's been on my husband's "to do" list for like 40 years. I finally came to the realization that although I wanted the shower taken care of, this was not a high priority on my husband's list. I was so angry that he wasn't fixing it that I decided to just do it myself. I'm not a big DIY (do it yourselfer), but I was determined to show my husband that I could caulk the leaking shower myself. Brilliant plan, no?

So, I went to the store, bought a thing of caulk, got home, and realized I had no way to get the caulk out of the can. Apparently you need a caulk gun. Who knew? Bob the Builder I'm not. I mentioned to my husband that I'd bought some caulk and all he had to do was grab his caulk gun and seal the shower. That darn container of caulk sat there there for 10 years. Or something like that.

So, after my friend brought the GE caulk ad to my attention, I checked it out. Guess what - GE is giving away FREE samplesof their new caulk singles. These things look really cool! You don't need a caulk gun to dispense it. Simply tear open the package and squeeze it out. According to their ads, you should be able to effortlessly apply an even bead of caulk. I filled out the form to receive my free sample. I can't wait to get it. That's pretty cool, right? Easy peasy caulk singles that you can use to spruce up your home. But that's not all. Oh nooo. Tell us how you used your FREE caulk single to do a DIY job around your home and you'll be entered for a chance to win $1000 VISA GIFT CARD! Think of all the sprucing up you could do with $1000!


This is my shower, complete with mold damage now. Ugh. This is definitely my husband's job now. This is what happens when it isn't caulked well.


This is MY project. I'll be caulking my sink when I get my free sample.


Even I can caulk this with the new GE single. At least I think I can. I'm pretty sure I can. I'll keep you updated.

So, just click HERE to get your free GE caulk single sample.

And the Winner is...

Here are your random numbers:774
Timestamp: 2008-05-08 03:01:24 UTC

Congratulations to Linda who left the 774th comment...

"As a single mom, and also a pear shaped body, I havent had a new swimsuit in almost 7 years. I have finally reited to just shorts and a tanktop. A gift certificate would be so neat to spend on myself. Thanks Dawn, and I still hope that happen to bring your book tour into Portland Oregon or nearby. Thanks Linda"

You have won a $100 gift card from Lands' End! Enjoy!
Email me at mom2my6pack@aol.com with your information.

Thank you to everyone who left a comment!

Another Note on Lands' End Swimwear

So you know, I'm using this to select a random winner. If I had to choose a winner based just on your comments, there is no way I'd be able to choose just one! If I could, I'd give you all free swimsuits!

Some of your comments brought to my attention a couple points I failed to mention in my earlier post. Lands' End does offer more modest suits for your teenage daughters. I'm always amazed at some of the really skimpy suits that are out there today. Lands' End ones are much more classy, in my opinion.

And although, in the past, I've gotten swimsuits at Walmart or Target, I don't think I ever will again. True, they are less money. But for a reason. They're very thin and not as well made as the Lands' End one I got. It's no wonder I have to replace them so frequently. I'm pretty sure this Lands' End will last several years! (Or until I finally lose 50 pounds.) Hey, I can dream!

$100 From Lands' End!

It's that time of year. Time to go shopping for a new bathing suit. Is there anything quite so depressing as trying on swimsuits in front of those huge dressing room mirrors under that flattering florescent light? When I'm in a dressing room trying on swimsuits, I'm just sure that some kid is going to crawl under the door, see me half naked and be traumatized for life. Or worse, I have an irrational fear of the fire alarm going off in the store and being forced to emerge from the dressing room and out onto the street in an ill fitting bathing suit. I can't think of a more embarrassing situation.

Of course you have to try on swimsuits with your underwear which is just lovely if you wear big granny pants and have to tuck your underwear up into the legs of your suit to see how it will really look on you. And it's nearly impossible for poor pear shaped people like me to find a swimsuit that fits on both the top and bottom.

So, when Lands' End asked me if they could send me a swimsuit to try on in the comfort of my own home, I was interested. I was interested, but I still rather doubted they had any suits that would fit me and look less hideous than a hippo in a tutu nice. I took a look at the Lands' End website. I'd never shopped from Lands' End before and was very pleasantly surprised by their huge selection of swim wear. Not only do they have many items from which to choose, but they have so many attractive styles and a huge size range. Because I can't manage to stick to Weight Watchers for more than a week at a time, I still have to buy plus sizes and let me tell you, finding a flattering suit in a larger size is no easy feat. Lands' End has pages and pages of possibilities, however.

Of course, they also have normal sizes too. They've got everything: Slender Suits designed to flatter a variety of body shapes and make you appear slimmer, Mix and Match Separates (perfect for pear shaped people!), one pieces, tankinis, swim shorts, swim skirts, mastectomy suits, cover-ups, bikinis, custom suits, and more! They seriously have something for everyone.

That's my top up there! It fits because I was able to order a size smaller on the top than on the bottom. It has underwire too, so I won't have to tuck my boobs into my shorts.

OK, now here's the awesome part! You, my wonderful readers, can win a $100 gift card to use on Lands' End swim wear! That's right - A HUNDRED DOLLARS! You can go to your local Lands' End store or use it online. (I recommend using it online and trying your new bathing suit on in the comfort of your own home.) How awesome is that?

Just leave me a comment and I'll choose a winner on Wednesday, May 7th at 10:00 PM central time. In the meantime, check out Lands' End's website and pick out your favorite suit! Happy shopping!