Busy Mom Reviews

This is it! I'M GIVING AWAY AN ACTUAL PALM PRE PLUS!

I've been using the Verizon Palm Pre Plus for the past few weeks. First, I had to figure out how to use the Palm Pre Plus, then I explored some of the commonly used features, and then we talked about the fun stuff, the Apps for the Palm Pre Plus.

If you're still trying to make up your mind, be sure to check out:

An online tutorial for the Palm Pre Plus: http://phones.verizonwireless.com/palm/

Click here for a product demo online: http://support.vzw.com/swf/palm_pre_plus/swf/simulator.html

Now it's your turn for a chance at one of your very own!

The Giveaway:

Thanks to Verizon and the fine folks at The Motherhood, I'm giving away one (1) Verizon Palm Pre Plus (service not included) phone (Retail: $149)

1. (Required) Leave a comment (and a valid e-mail address) telling me why the Verizon Palm Pre Plus would be the phone for you.

2. For an extra entry, tweet (Be sure to leave a separate comment linking to your Tweet below) about this giveaway. I'm @busymom.

3. For yet a third chance to win, leave a separate comment and let me know how you found out about this contest. If it was a website or blog, be sure to tell me which one.

4. 1 (one) winner will be picked randomly via Random.org from the comments.

5, Contest is open to all U.S. residents 18 years or older

6. Winner has 24 hours to get back to me, otherwise another winner will be drawn.

7. Hurry! Contest ends Monday, March 22, 2010 at 10pm CST.

8. Now that you've entered, why don't you come say hi to me over on my blog, Busymom.net? C'mon, I'll even break out the Cheez-Whiz for you.

Be sure to check out these fine folks to hear more about the Verizon Palm Pre Plus (hint: they have opportunities to win, too):

This Full House
Mom Trends
Tech for Mommies
Mom Generations
The Full Mommy
Rockin Mama
Musings of a Housewife
Manic Mommies
Quirky Fusion

Be sure to enter my Tyson Grilled and Ready Chicken giveaway, too!

I wrote this review while working on a Verizon Palm Pre Plus campaign by TheMotherhood.com on behalf of Verizon Wireless and have been given a Palm Pre Plus (and prizes for giveaways) to facilitate my review.

As you already know, I was selected as a Frigidaire Test Drive Mom from Mom Central.

A few weeks ago, my faithful (but, loud and leaking), nearly 20 year old dishwasher:

was replaced by a shiny new Frigidaire Dishwasher:

Right away, I could see (and hear) a big difference:

Yep, it's on.

This dishwasher is so quiet (compared to the old one) that a couple of times, I've had to bend over and listen to make sure it's turned on. As a matter of fact, while I was writing this, I learned that it is the quietest dishwasher in it's class.

While I get to know it a little better, here are some of it's features (from the Frigidaire website):

- SpaceWise™ Organization System with adjustable racks and the Largest Silverware Basket with room for over 180 items

- Real Stainless Steel with a protective coating that reduces fingerprints and smudges so it's easy to clean.

- PowerPlus™ Cycle for an extra-heavy wash performance.

- Energy Saver Plus Cycle

- DishSense™ Technology sensors select the cycle for your based on your cleaning needs.

- Pro-Select™ Controls - Easily select options with the touch of a button.

- Adjustable Upper Dish Rack - flexible racking system lets you adjust the top rack to fit taller items.

- Low-Rinse Aid Indicator

People? Why did you never tell me about the wonders of rinse aid? Seriously, the old dishwasher had a place for it (I think), but it's one of those things I only had a vague notion about and I never paid much attention to it.

This dishwasher highly suggests (OK, the dishwasher didn't actually say anything, I read the directions) that you use it, and stuff actually gets dry and it looks better.

That in no way implies that I think rinse aid is right for you or your current dishwasher, but for me, this was like magic!

Uh, where was I?

Oh, yeah. This fancy new dishwasher.

One of the first few things I noticed was how much shorter the wash cycle is than my old one, and the other thing is that this dishwasher has a ton of space, too. I can get the crockpot in either the top or the bottom rack with ease, and I have a full sized crockpot.

Recent news: The Frigidaire line just received the EPA’s prestigious 2010 Energy Star award for their “Swap and Save” Energy Star Promotion and you can find out more about the Frigidaire Energy Savings features.

Stay tuned for more adventures with my new dishwasher where I will find out if it actually cleans dishes!

I wrote this review while participating in a Test Drive Campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Frigidaire and received a Frigidaire Dishwasher to facilitate my review.

Tyson Grilled and Ready Chicken Fillets and Strips are fully cooked and ready to go for your favorite recipes.

There are several different varieties and they are:

* Fully cooked
* Available as breasts or strips
* 98% fat-free
* No preservatives
* 100-110 calories and 1.5g of fat per serving (depending on variety)
* 19g of protein

We tried the Tyson Frozen Fully Cooked Chicken Breast Strips, and I really liked them. Though they don't have grill marks on them (?) they have a really good flavor and texture.

I even made a Buffalo Chicken Salad out of them:

Want to try them for yourself?

The Giveaway

I have ten (10) coupons for a free package of Tyson Grilled and Ready Chicken.

1. (Required) Leave a comment (and a valid e-mail address) telling me how you'd use Tyson Grilled and Ready Chicken.

2. For an extra entry, tweet (Be sure to leave a separate comment linking to your Tweet below) about this giveaway.

3. For yet a third chance to win, leave a separate comment and let me know how you found out about this contest. If it was a website or blog, be sure to tell me which one.

4. 10 winners (1 coupon each) will be picked randomly via Random.org from the comments.

5, Contest is open to all U.S. residents 18 years or older

6. Winner has 24 hours to get back to me, otherwise another winner will be drawn.

7. Hurry! Contest ends Monday, March 22, 2010 at 10pm CST.

8. Now that you've entered, why don't you come say hi to me over on my blog, Busymom.net? C'mon, I'll even break out the Cheez-Whiz for you.

Tyson and Collective Bias provided me with a gift card for the recipe supplies and my time and effort. Additionally, they provided the 10 coupons for the giveaway. My thoughts on the product are my own, and I'm glad to have the chance to share something with nice people like you.

Winners:

Week 2 Palm Pre Plus $25 Verizon Wireless Gift card: Katherine

Subway Fresh Fit Gift cards: Bonggamom and Heather Salazar

Quaker Create Your Day gift packs: Sand and Deb K.

Look for more contests soon, and be sure to enter the Week 3 Verizon Palm Pre Plus $25 Gift card drawing.

Like many people, we have wild days around here with everyone's different schedules, and we're always on the lookout for something quick and easy to fix for dinner or even lunch at work. One of our favorites around here is the Healthy Choice line.

As a matter of fact, the fine folks at Healthy Choice have recently released 11 new entrees:

Healthy Choice All Natural Entrées:
• Tortellini Primavera Parmesan (new recipe)
• Lobster Cheese Ravioli (new recipe)
• Roasted Red Pepper Marinara (new recipe)
• Creamy Basil Pesto (new recipe)

Healthy Mediterranean Inspired Choice Café Steamers:
• Balsamic Garlic Chicken (new recipe)
• Grilled Vegetables Mediterranean (new recipe)
• Lemon Garlic Chicken and Shrimp (new recipe)
• Grilled Basil Chicken

Healthy Choice Asian Inspired Café Steamers
• Chicken Pad Thai (new recipe)

Healthy Choice Select Entrées:
• Pineapple Chicken (new recipe)
• Ravioli Florentine Marinara (new recipe)
• Spicy Caribbean Chicken (new recipe)

I got a chance to try the Grilled Vegetables Mediterranean and the Creamy Basil Pesto.

I'm not really big on eggplant, but the Grilled Vegetables Mediterranean was good! It's generous amount of food with real vegetables and grains. The tomato sauce tasted good, like actual tomatoes! Though Healthy Choice isn't "diet" food, this one is only 4 Weight Watchers POINTS.

The Creamy Basil Pesto is Cavatappi pasta tossed with broccoli and tomatoes in pesto with mozzarella, and it's going to be a regular in my fridge at work. Loved this.

While no frozen food is going to taste like it was made from scratch right from your garden outside the door, and sure I know how to cook my own food, but if you need to have something on hand for a quick, convenient meal on hectic nights or at work, I've found Healthy Choice a great option.

Give Healthy Choice a try for yourself, here's a Healthy Choice coupon to get you started.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Healthy Choice and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

NOTE: This is an older entry that I reposted here because I just can't get the comments to work, so I'm trying again.

We like to keep Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls on hand for an occasional weekend treat or for brunch when we have overnight guests. They're quick and easy to make, and they are quite good.

Now, Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls come in orange flavor. We tried them out, and liked them. The orange flavored frosting was strong enough to be orange-y (that is too a word), but not overpowering or chemical-y (yeah, I know), and the rolls were good as always.

Here's a coupon to save $.95 off Pillsbury Orange Sweet Rolls, so you can try them out, too. That's a great deal, especially if your grocery doubles coupons.

The giveaway

Enter for a chance to win a prize pack with coupon for a free can of Pillsbury Orange Sweet Rolls and a photo album/picture frame:

1. Leave a comment (and a valid e-mail address) telling me about a family breakfast (or any meal, actually) tradition.

2. (Optional) For an extra entry, Tweet about this giveaway and leave a separate comment.

3. 1 winner will be picked randomly via Random.org from the comments.

4. Winner has 24 hours to get back to me, otherwise another winner will be drawn.

REVISED: the comments had a technical problem preventing people from leaving a comment, and I didn't realize it, so I'll extend the giveaway another week. Sorry!

5. Hurry! Contest ends Monday, March 8, 2010 at 10pm CST

Pillsbury, through My Blog Spark sent me a coupon to try Pillsbury Orange Sweet Rolls and they also sent a picture frame as a thank you for my time as well as the items for giveaway. No other payment or compensation was received for this post. They had me at "sweet roll".

A smart phone really helps me keep myself together (You in the back? Shut up.) I have been a user for a couple of years now after resisting since I thought I "didn't really need" one.

Through Verizon and The Motherhood.com, I've introduced you to the Palm Pre Plus from Verizon phone in the past couple of weeks. First, I learned how to use the Palm Pre Plus, and then I explored some of the basics of the Palm Pre Plus.

Now's the fun stuff.

Much of the coolness is found in the world of the available Palm Pre Plus Applications or "apps". In fact, this phone lets you multi-task by running several apps (up to 50!) at once, not something you usually see in a smart phone.

Apps are fun or useful software that expand the function of your phone and they are more than just games or silly, entertainment stuff (though there's that, too). They are accessed and downloaded over the Internet. (The Palm Pre Plus from Verizon requires a data plan that is separate from your Verizon calling plan).

Apps can range from news, travel and books to games, social networking and grocery lists. They are downloaded through the App Catalog on the Palm Pre Plus and there are some cool ones that let you do the things you need to do on the go. Many apps are free, and others are very low cost. I find the App Catalog a little difficult to search, but there are some great things in there!

I can't capture all the apps, and your needs may vary from mine. I am a bit of an app junkie, but here are some useful Palm Pre Plus Apps that I like:

1. Mobile Hotspot - Your phone becomes a wireless hotspot for up to 5 devices (this function costs extra money). Think about that. How many times have you wished you had Internet access for your computer and it wasn't available or the wireless access cost a fortune?

I am loving this feature, as it has allowed me to get some online stuff done while I would otherwise just be sitting in the car when I have some spare time waiting for the kids to get out of sports practice. It's an app that's easy to install and set up and works reasonably fast, though it is a big battery drain, but it sure has been handy.

2. The Weather Channel (free) - Get instant access to forecasts and weather details from The Weather Channel. You can easily see the local radar to know if you should head inside, or if the game should be called off before the downpour. It's also handy to have when you're traveling to find out what's going on in an unfamiliar city.

3. Flashlight (free) - Do not laugh. It's simply a bright, blank screen, but you'd be surprised how often I've used this. It's been used during a power outage, to find lost stuff in the car and to look at a bill in a dark restaurant.

4. Facebook (free) - Need I say more? If it's your thing, keep up with what's going on with mobile Facebook. Great for a quick check if you're waiting for a message or other response.

5. Good Food (free) - This app uses the Palm Pre Plus' GPS function to find great places to eat near you (wherever you're standing) and see what other people recommend. Handy for those, "Whaddya want to eat?" "I dunno, what's around?" moments.

6. TweeFree (free) - I admit it, I'm on Twitter a lot, and I've been giving this free Twitter app a workout. Access all the fun of Twitter, right in your hand.

7. AP Mobile News (free) - I think I get most of my news information from my phone, The AP News app gives you continuously updated news while you're on the go, so you won't be the only one going, "Huh?!" when something happens.

8. Google Maps (free) - The goodness that is Google Maps right on your phone. No, really, imagine being able to find out from your phone where you are, and how to get there.

On a related note, Verizon also has VZ Navigator that uses the GPS function of your phone and provides hands free turn by turn directions, traffic information and more to nearly four million points of interest. It is $9.99/mo. or $2.99 per day (24 hours). Very cool.

9. Rockus Sound Machine ($1.99) - Not sure how it happened, but our whole family is addicted to sleeping with white noise. A sound machine was vital when the kids were babies, and the machine was hard to pack, or we'd be someplace for the day without it, and it was hard to get a baby to nap. This app is a great idea and is wonderful for travel There are 18 sounds that can play indefinitely or be set on a timer.

10. What's for Dinner? - I am notorious for standing in the grocery and not knowing what I'm going to make for dinner, or I have an idea of what I want to make, but I'm not sure of the ingredients. This app lets you search multiple recipe sites and even make a shopping list. While it's $4.99, it provides valuable information for someone like me.

11. Absolute Fitness - I'm trying to get fit through the Your Shape Challenge, and this is a great way to keep track of what I've eaten and my exercise (or lack thereof). I do much better in this area when I can see in writing what I've done for the day.

12. Evernote (free) - This app is the ultimate in keeping information together. You can save your thoughts, pictures, links, lists and more, all in one place.

I'm bad about using a mixture of Post-It notes, computer bookmarks and memory to keep track of stuff. If you're not familiar with Evernote, you should really check it out.

I could go on, but you can see that the Palm Pre Plus from Verizon isn't just for business types, it's great for life management since we're all on the go.

The giveaway:

Want a chance to win a $25 gift card to Verizon Wireless? You could put it toward a new phone, or even pay a bill.

Here's how to win:

1. Look at the Palm Pre App Catalog and leave a comment (and a valid e-mail address) telling me which app would really help your busy life.

2. (Optional) For an extra entry, Tweet about this giveaway and leave a separate comment.

3. 1 winner will be picked randomly via Random.org from the comments.

4. Winner has 24 hours to get back to me, otherwise another winner will be drawn.

5. Hurry! Contest ends Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 10pm CST.

6. Since you are already here, why don't you come see me at my blog Busymom.net? Pull up a chair, and I'll break out the CheezWhiz for you.

Be sure to check out these fine folks to hear more about the Verizon Palm Pre Plus (hint: they have opportunities to win, too):

This Full House
Mom Trends
Tech for Mommies
Mom Generations
The Full Mommy
Rockin Mama
Musings of a Housewife
Manic Mommies
Quirky Fusion

Stay tuned next week, too. I'm giving away a Palm Pre Plus from Verizon!

I wrote this review while working on a Verizon Palm Pre Plus campaign by TheMotherhood.com on behalf of Verizon Wireless and have been given a Palm Pre Plus (and prizes for giveaways) to facilitate my review. My opinions are my own, and I really do think you should check it out to see if it's for you.

I work outside the home full-time am constantly out of the house, especially this time of year with my kids' sports. Needless to say, even with the best laid plans, dinnertime can be hectic when it's one of those days when none of us eat at the same time. So, I try to keep some great frozen meals on hand for those nights.

Banquet frozen meals have been around since the 1950's. Frozen dinners have come a long way since then, and I've been using the fried chicken forever since that's something I've never mastered.

But, did you know Banquet is more than Salisbury Steak and Pot Pies? They have a line of single serve dinners, so everyone can have what they want, or you can make something quick without a lot of leftovers.

Be sure to check out Banquet's Thanks a Million Game and look for specially marked packages of Banquet Single Serve Dinners during February, March and April, 2010 for a winning game message for a chance to win $100,000 or other prizes.

There are 17 single-serve meals with the "Thanks a Million" announcement on the front package:

1. Banquet Chicken Fingers

2. Banquet Turkey

3. Banquet Value Meal Salisbury Steak

4. Banquet Value Meal Meatloaf

5. Banquet Small Meal BBQ Pork Ribblet

6. Banquet Small Chicken Nuggets Meal

7. Banquet Small Meal Chicken Fried Steak

8. Banquet Chicken Fried Chicken Meal

9. Banquet Small Pepperoni Pizza

10. Banquet Macaroni & Cheese

11. Banquet Homestyle Grilled Patty

12. Banquet Cheesy Smothered Patty

13. Banquet Chicken Pasta Marinara

14. Banquet Chicken Sesame

15. Banquet Sweet and Sour Chicken

16. Banquet Creamy Pasta Carbonara

17. Banquet Chicken Nuggets-n-Fries

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Banquet and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Part of any mission to get healthier is eating right. As part of the Your Shape Challenge, we were provided a gift card and charged with finding and creating healthy snacks.

One thing I really need to work on (besides upping my water intake) is getting enough fruits, vegetables and protein in my diet. Like many folks, I just don't have a lot of time, and I'm bad about just grabbing whatever's around when I need a snack.

I've been reading a lot lately about smoothies, and I've been craving sweets lately, so I thought I'd see if that could take care of all of that in one fell smoothie. I also need something filling that I can fix quickly and take with me since I am gone a lot this time of year.

There are so many ways to make smoothies out there, I tend not to use any of them because the ones I like usually involved ice cream or something and the others seemed odd or complicated.

I also shy away from them because of the blender clean up, but this little Hamilton Beach single serve blender has made a big difference. The container part can be used as a cup and it fits into the car cup holder.

My smoothie recipe isn't revolutionary or especially creative, but I finally landed on one I like, that I actually fix, and that has some good stuff for you that's easy to find:

- Frozen strawberries

- A few frozen blueberries (I'm not really a fan of them, but they are so good for you and a few seem to go a long way

- Plain, non-fat yogurt

- A little skim milk (I just use enough to help it all get mixed together)

- Scoop of protein powder (I use vanilla)

Another way to fix it is to substitute V8 V-Fusion for the milk (for a more fruit-based smoothie, and it isn't weird, I promise) since it has a full serving of fruits and vegetables in a serving.

Obviously, the nutritional information will vary based on what and how much you use, but I have been really enjoying these. It also takes a little practice to yield the volume you want, I tend to make a little extra because the kids always ask for some.

I sometimes have one for breakfast, but they have been really helpful in holding me over when I get home from work (a danger time for my eating) until I can get dinner fixed.

I plan to experiment a little with them. I keep reading about putting spinach in them since people swear you can't taste it (we'll see about that), and I plan to try it with flax seed if I can remember to get it.

Help me out, do you have a favorite smoothie recipe?

The challenge is sponsored by Collective Bias, Ubisoft, and Walmart. I received the game and will also receive additional incentives throughout the challenge, but my opinions are my own and will not be influenced and I really have been making a lot of smoothies and want some new ideas.

Like many people and their New Year's resolutions, I'm trying to lose some weight and eat healthier. This is an especially busy time of year for me, so I'm always looking for something in a hurry, and often it's SUBWAY to the rescue.

If you haven't been in in a while, SUBWAY’s Fresh Fit menu, including several $5 footlongs (A lifesaver for my daughter's volleyball team during long tournaments) has options for most everyone whether you're trying to get fit, or if you're just in a hurry and want something good to eat.

While you're busy getting fit, don't forget to download your FREE The Biggest Loser and SUBWAY Workout Mix!

**********************

The giveaway:

I have two (2) $25 SUBWAY gift cards to give away, and you have 3 ways to enter.

Here's how to win:

1. (Required) Leave a comment (and a valid e-mail address) telling me how you eat well on the go.

2. For an extra entry, follow @SUBWAYFreshBuzz on Twitter. and tweet (Be sure to leave a separate comment linking to your Tweet below) about this giveaway.

3. For even another entry, become a fan on Subway on Facebook and leave a separate comment telling me you did it.

3. 2 winners (1 $25 card each) will be picked randomly via Random.org from the comments.

4. Winner has 24 hours to get back to me, otherwise another winner will be drawn.

5. Hurry! Contest ends Friday, March 5, 2010 at 10pm CST.

6. Now that you've entered, why don't you come say hi to me over on my blog, Busymom.net? C'mon, I'll even break out the Cheez-Whiz for you.

I received a SUBWAY gift card plus the ones for giveaway. No other compensation or payment was received for this post, I just wanted to give nice folks like you a chance to win.

Like countless other people in the world, one of my New Year's Resolutions was to get some more exercise and lose some weight, not just for appearance's sake, but for my overall health. Last year, I had a lot of problems with my knees and I was hardly able to do any real exercise at all.

I'm better now, but I have a lot of catching up to do in the way of getting exercise. I hope to keep my problems from getting worse or returning, so, a few weeks ago when the good folks at Collective Bias asked me if I wanted to participate in the Your Shape Challenge along with 9 other bloggers, I was thrilled.

Your Shape featuring Jenny McCarthy. It is a new fitness game for Wii from Ubisoft. It's different from other fitness games since it uses a camera to monitor your moves and you don't have to hold a controller while you exercise. It also features a virtual Jenny McCarthy who gives you feedback and encouragement as your proceed through the exercises. I'll let her tell you more about it:

My fellow Your Shape Challengers:

• Toni from A Daily Dose of Toni. (@totally_toni)
• Kim from Crafty Mama of 4. (@craftymamaof4)
• Amy From Selfish Mom @SelfishMom)
• Beth from Plus Size Mommy (@plussizemommy)
• Claire from The Mom Claire

• Kelly from The Centsible Life (@CentsibleLife)
• Lori from Operation Fatty (@acowboyswife)
• Stephanie from Mommy Musings (@MommyMusings)
• Jodi from Multitasking Mommy @JodiGrundig

Your Shape was very easy to set up, but I had to play around a little bit to get the camera to pick up my moves properly. I had it on top of the TV at first, and through the suggestions of others, I found that it works better when it's to the side. My den is poorly lit, but once I got some adjustments made there, too, I was ready to go. The game and Virtual Jenny has no problem telling you when you need to correct your form, but it is very encouraging, and the music is great.

When you use Your Shape, you can see yourself alongside the virtual Jenny McCarthy, and not only does it help you with form, I've found it to be a real motivator to see myself right there on TV in all my glory. Yikes.

You can choose what part of your body you want to work on each day, and you can enter your goals and the workout can be tailored to your needs. The workouts are good, and boy have I ended up sore, but it is gradually getting better as I get better at it!

Along with exercise, I've been refocusing on eating right, and have really made some improvements. I've really worked on increasing my water and protein intake as well as just simply eating less. I'm proud to say that even though I've had my ups and downs during the challenge, I am now in the habit of eating much more healthily at lunch at work which was a problem for me! More on that later, though,.

I've lost just over 5 pounds, and that doesn't sound like much, but you gotta remember I'm older than some of my fellow challengers ;) but I still need to work hard. I also feel like I've lost some inches, and I look forward to my next set of measurements!

But, more importantly, Your Shape has inspired me to just do something and get back on the right track for healthful eating, which is something I've lacked for a while, and I'm glad to have fun while I'm doing it.

Stay tuned for more adventures from the Your Shape Challenge!

The challenge is sponsored by Collective Bias, Ubisoft, and Walmart. I received the game and will also receive additional incentives throughout the challenge, but my opinions are my own and will not be influenced.