Del Monte Fruit Burst Squeezers and Fruit Cups {a review and a giveaway}

Every day my four school-aged children burst through the front door and run straight for the pantry or the refrigerator for an after school snack. It's my job, as their mom, to make sure there are healthy, filling snacks behind those doors.

When a box filled Fruit Burst Squeezers and Fruit Cups from Del Monte showed up on my doorstep I was super excited to give these new products a try. Most of all, I was excited to share them with my kids.


{I grabbed one of the Fruit Burst Squeezers on my way out the door to sit in the carpool line. Yum!}

For years my family has enjoyed Del Monte fruit cups, in all varieties. I'm really pleased with the new flavor combinations that have been added to the line-up!

Here's a little more info on what you can expect from the new Del Monte products. Notice the first highlighted bit...MADE IN THE USA! I love that!

About Fruit Burst™ Squeezers

Made in the U.S.A., Del Monte® Fruit Burst®Squeezers contain 1 ½ servings of fruit or fruit and veggies and are an excellent source of vitamins A and C. In addition, Del Monte® Fruit Burst®Squeezers contain no artificial flavors or high fructose corn syrup.

                Fruit Burst® Fruit + Veggie Squeezers:

-          Peach-Mango: Pear puree concentrate, water, pumpkin juice concentrate, peach puree concentrate, pear juice concentrate, carrot juice concentrate, carrot puree, mango puree concentrate, natural flavors, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), citric acid.

-          Blueberry: Pear puree concentrate, water, pumpkin juice concentrate, pear juice concentrate, natural flavors, carrot puree, blueberry puree concentrate, fruit and vegetable extracts for color, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), citric acid.

Fruit Burst® Simply Fruit Squeezers:

-          Apple Cinnamon: Pear puree concentrate, water, apple puree concentrate, pear juice concentrate, natural flavors, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), cinnamon, malic acid.

-          Mixed Berry: Pear puree concentrate, water, pear juice concentrate, natural flavors, strawberry puree, red raspberry puree concentrate, blueberry puree concentrate, fruit and vegetable extracts for color, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), malic acid.

-          Strawberry: Pear puree concentrate, water, pear juice concentrate, strawberry puree concentrate, natural flavors, carmine, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), malic acid.

Mango Fruit Cup® Snacks

-          These rich and luscious mangos are a healthy way to add a little sweetness to your day - fat-free, cholesterol free, and high in Vitamin C - that you can enjoy anywhere.

Mango Pineapple Fruit Cup® Snacks:

-          Del Monte® Mango Pineapple Fruit Cup® Snacks combine two of the world’s most popular fruits: mango and pineapple. Made with rich and luscious mangos and pineapple, they contain no high fructose corn syrup and are a rich source of vitamin C.

Available at your local Walmart, be sure to add these squeezable snacks and fun fruit cups to your cart while picking up essentials for your family!

Now is your chance to WIN A $25 Walmart Gift Card and @ VIP Del Monte coupons! Leave a comment below telling me which Del Monte Fruit Burst Squeezer or Fruit Cup Snack will be your new favorite. You can tweet about the giveaway for an additional entry.

Giveaway ends on February 27 at midnight EST. Good luck!

Disclosure: The Del Monte products, information, gift pack, and gift card have been provided by Del Monte.

NECCO Sweethearts Candies Contest {and a giveaway!}

Disclaimer: NECCO sent me a case of Sweethearts candies in exchange for this post. The opinions are my own. Also, there is an affiliate link within this post. Should you make a purchase, I get a small commission. Thank you for supporting jonahbonah.com.

Valentine's Day is one of my very favorite holidays of the year! There's something about all things HEARTS that I love.

Sweethearts heart candies from NECCO are one of the staples of Valentine's Day in my book. I grew up looking forward to them every year. I was excited when I got a box in my treat bag at school. I just loved them! I still do!

Did you know they've been around for one HUNDRED years? For real. No wonder they're yummy! They've had years and years to perfect those little heart-shaped yummies. {I wonder what the messages on the first Sweethearts were. Now we have sayings like, text me and UR GR8--is UR GR8 one of them? It should be. LOL}

This year NECCO Sweethearts came up with a fabulous idea! Each box is black and white so your children can use their imaginations and color their own box of candies. What a great way to let the kids get creative. {There's also a contest! Keep reading.}

NECCO sent me a case of Sweethearts for my kiddos to "color their own". What better way to get them to ALL sit at the table together and do the same project than to bribe them let them eat the candy when they've finished!

Here's each of their finished boxes. Jake's says #WCW and #MCM. {Do you do social media?? They mean Woman Crush Wednesday and Man Crush Monday. His logic to add #MCM is that these candies are for boys AND girls.} Jonah's says Read Your Bible. {Way to be straight forward!} Jett's says Love God. {Sweet boy!} McKinley's is colored oh, so pretty!

Sweethearts Conversation Hearts, the little sugar hearts with sweet, quirky sayings, have been a Valentine's Day staple for the last century. NECCO, the manufacturer of Sweethearts, makes 8 billion candy hearts each year to meet demand! This Valentine’s Day, Sweethearts, has a brand new package so kids can personalize their Valentines to friends and classmates. The new Sweethearts “Color Your Own” box is black and white, with stenciled hearts and a matte finish so children can color/design their own boxes with crayons and markers.

Want to win a case of NECCO Sweethearts for your kiddos to give to their classmates on Valentine's Day? Enter in the Rafflecopter below. {see below raaflecopter for a pin{able} image for pinterest.}

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Pin this picture for an additional entry in the drawing.

#GetItDone with Microsoft Office 365 {a review and giveaway}

Before today, I was using Microsoft Word 2010 with little issues and was very excited to try Microsoft 365 Home Premium. Let me begin with the initial setup…one word, EASY… okay, two words, TOO EASY!

I absolutely fell in love with this software from the start. One of the most significant aspects I love comes from Microsoft Office 365 brilliantly utilizing the “Cloud.” If you haven’t heard of the Cloud then I urge you to google "the cloud" and discover the new age of database.

I will start with the greatest advantage, SkyDrive. So, let’s say you began working on a blog post, college paper, work assignment etc. The SkyDrive is simple and makes your life simple as well. Instead of saving the document on your computer, you can also save it in SkyDrive. SkyDrive utilizes the Cloud to which you can access and allow others access to view your document from any device that has internet access. So, what does that mean for you? For instance, what happens if you began working on a document from home/work? All of the sudden an urgent matter requires your attention and you have to leave town. You can access your documents from SkyDrive on even someone else’s computer; meaning you can complete your work without the worry of bringing your computer or saving your documents on a flash drive.

Microsoft 365 also makes group projects simple. Everyone can add notes, edit, and highlight, etc. any document in SkyDrive. You have access to your files in the SkyDrive folder on your PC, even if you’re offline. Once you’re back online the SkyDrive will connect to the Cloud and sync automatically any changes you made to the document.

I have always dreamed of adding photos and videos to my Word documents. Guess what? Now you can! You can also open PDF’s and edit them in Word!

As a mom of five, now full-time sewist and wife to {for right now} stay-at-home-dad, we need to stay "on the same page" in our daily tasks and events. There's school events, field trips, PTA meetings, Band Booster meetings, monies due, middle school lock-ins...we have a hard time remembering who goes where when and at what time. We are constantly checking each other's calendar to see what is on the schedule for the day. Now we can be in sync! With Microsoft Outlook we can manage our calendars and see each other's schedules on our personal phones. When Hubs puts something into his calendar it'll automatically be added to mine. Being on the go has never been so easy!!

Today Hubs is headed to the grocery store for the ingredients to make Pineapple Upside Down Cake for his dad's birthday. With OneNote I can add to his grocery list WHILE HE'S AT THE STORE! No more forgetting items and having to run back to the store. {unless, of course, your husband doesn't look at his phone again...you can't win them all.}

This is life-changing, y'all! OneNote is a digital note-taking app designed to keep you organized. Use it at home, school or work for recipe collecting, class notes, projects and more. Not only is OneNote part of Office 365, but it also comes as a free app for Windows Phone, iPhone, iPad and Android. Capture thoughts, ideas and to-dos in one place with OneNote, then access them across your devices via SkyDrive.

You and your family work on more than one device and so does Office 365 Home Premium. With one subscription you can put Office on up to five PCs or Macs and five phones (iPhone or Android). 

So many great features I could write page upon page. In all, I must say that I’m impressed with Microsoft’s newest software. It’s user friendly, convenient, and makes my hectic life a bit simpler. Way to go, Microsoft!

*****

These are a few ideas on how Microsoft Office 365 can help YOU!

1. Keep on top of your fitness goals, nutrition plans, workout routines and more by tracking them in Excel and uploading to the cloud with SkyDrive to share with your trainer, or just to have on-hand when you’re at the gym or on the go with your phone
2. Collaborate with friends and family on your next dinner party using SkyDrive to share your latest documents (Word dinner menus, Excel RSVP lists, décor inspirations in OneNote, etc.)
3. Stay connected with friends and family using Office Web Apps from anywhere (Office in the browser – so you can collaborate in real-time on documents)
4. Keep track of all your priorities like grocery list and carpool schedule with digital notes in OneNote and accessing them from the OneNote mobile app
5. Keep a family calendar in Microsoft Outlook to manage an ever-changing busy schedule
6. Track all of your family’s travel in a OneNote notebook during the upcoming holiday season
7. Keep track of entertaining planning, creating shopping and to-do lists in OneNote and Excel around the holidays
8. Plan all of your Thanksgiving or holiday recipes in a OneNote notebook and sharing them with your family via the cloud in SkyDrive for input
9. Write a blog post from a coffee shop, then saving it to the cloud so that you can make edits from your phone or tablet when you’re on the go
10. Have the kid share their homework assignments with you for review in the cloud with SkyDrive, and editing them while you’re watching their soccer game
11. Coordinate the next playgroup activities with the other moms by sharing documents in the cloud with SkyDrive, and using Outlook calendar invites to stay on track with friendly reminders

*****

This software is truly amazing!  I don't want to leave anything out. So, here's a fact sheet.

Office 365 Home Premium includes the following benefits:

• The latest and most complete set of Office applications: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Publisher and Access.
• One license for the entire household to use Office on up to five devices, including Windows tablets, PCs or Macs, and get Office on Demand from any Internet-connected PC.
• An additional 20 GB of SkyDrive cloud storage, nearly three times the amount available with a free SkyDrive account.
• 60 free Skype world calling minutes per month to call mobile phones, landlines or PCs around the world.
• Future upgrades, so you always use the latest time-saving technology.
• Automatic save to SkyDrive, so your documents — and even your personal settings — are always available from virtually anywhere and on your favorite devices.

*****

The 9 to 5 has blurred and today people need modern technology to find balance. From the home to the office, and especially on the go, people all around the world are working differently than the past.

According to a recent study conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of Microsoft, more than half of office workers (53%) would be willing to work more hours—and one in five would be willing to take a pay cut—to have more flexibility in where and when they got work done.

How about we give one lucky reader a one-year subscription to Microsoft Office 365 Home Premium? That lucky gal {or guy} is going to see first-hand how amazing this software is for FREE! {a $99.99 value}

Follow the prompts in the Rafflecopter to be entered. I'll draw a winner next Thursday evening. Ready? Go!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure: I participated in the Microsoft Office 365 campaign on behalf of One2One Network. All opinions stated are my own. 
 

Minted.com {a giveaway}

Every year in November I sit down with my stack of Christmas cards, my address book, a pen, and a couple of sheets of stamps. I write out a family letter that lists the highlights of all of our family's happenings throughout the previous twelve months and I include it in each of my cards. It's a task. It takes a little bit of time. But, I love it. And I love hearing my friends tell me how much they enjoy receiving our card each year.

This year I'll be using Minted.com to create the perfect card. Minted has over 500 Christmas/Holiday designs to choose from. You can add one, two, three or even more photos to your card, or choose to not use a photo. Want a flat card? They can do it. Want a folded card? You got it. You can even make a Minibook card!


{These three card designs jumped out at me right away. It's going to be hard to choose just one design for my family's card.}


Minted.com doesn't only do cards. I found these Wall Art Prints, too. McKinley and Mabry need that "Dream Big" print in their room. The Tree Initials would be perfect for our bedroom. I'm thinking the "Rain Rain Go Away" print would be super cute in my living room! I need them ALL!



Don't need cards OR prints? How about a journal? There are many journals on Minted.com that you can personalize or even add photos to. Bring the lost art of letter writing back with personalized stationary. Have a new baby you want to show off to all of your friends and family, like me? Send birth announcements to all of them!



Who is Minted? Minted is a community of 1000s of independent designers. We sell their best designs as luxe holiday cards, wedding invitations, party decor, art prints & more.

Now that I've shown you some of what you can find on Minted.com {there's still SO much more to be seen!} let me give you the opportunity to give their services a try! You're gonna love them.

Enter below to win a $75 credit! That's right, Minted is giving one of you $75 to spend in their site!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Good Luck!

Minted.com compensated me for this post and is providing the credit for one reader. All opinions are my own.

tophatter.com {a review and BONUS!}

ever seen this guy?



he is Sir Wendell Wattington, auctioneer at Tophatter.

i experienced Tophatter for the first time last week.

it's a auction site, that runs in real time, where you can buy jewelry, supplies, handmade goods, bath & beauty, electronics and so much more.


{an example of the goods at Tophatter}

when i first entered the site i saw a huge crowd gathered around what i was checking out.



if you know me, you know i went into the supplies auction room first.
i was hoping to find fabric or findings for my sewing addiction.
instead i found lots of beads and flowers.
but, and that's a huge but, there are different auctions all day, every day.
what isn't there today may be there tomorrow.

something else i saw that i really liked was a chat section during each auction.
if you have a question about the item on the block you can ask in real time. similar to texting or instant messaging.

are you wondering what sorts of stuff i bid on?

well, there was an e-reader that started at only $15.
and then there was a bracelet that started at only $5.
oooh, i was really hoping to win a solar powered cell phone battery charger. the bidding started low and went to nearly $75. {i didn't need it that bad, right before christmas.}

the site works like a real live auction.
the auction opens, bids are placed, and items are won.
easy peasy.

tophatter.com is a really fun site and there are tons of different items to choose from all day long.


GUESS WHAT?

Tophatter wants you to see what all the fuss is about.
EACH of you will receive a $10 credit when you sign up for Tophatter and spend $11 on an auction.
{just click on any of the TOPHATTER links within ths post.}



Have you discovered the addictive new auction site called Tophatter, where buyers bid for sellers’ unique goods in fast-paced virtual auction rooms? From crafts and DIY projects, to antiques, jewelry, home décor and much more, there’s no limit to what you can discover on Tophatter.

With live auctions every day, sellers get to showcase their wares from around the world to a community of thousands of buyers, and answer questions via chat as the clock ticks down. Each lot sells in an average of two minutes, so buyers must bid quickly!

Tophatter’s auctions become interactive live events where buyers and sellers can hang out, chat, and win. Led by the esteemed Sir Wendell Wattington and his animated family, Tophatter auctions keep the fun rolling in.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Tophatter. The opinions and text are all mine.

does this church make me look fat? {a review and a giveaway}

yep, you read that right.

does this church make me look fat? by rhoda janzen

when asked to do this book review i initially said yes because i was intrigued by the book's title.
and then i read the word mennonite on the cover and i knew i had to read it.
because mennonites and amish folks make me smile.
i love everything about their simple lifestyle.


a few words from rhoda's site...

What does it mean to give church a try when you haven’t really tried since you were twelve? At the end of her bestselling memoir Mennonite in a Little Black Dress, Rhoda Janzen had reconnected with her family and her roots, though her future felt uncertain. But when she starts dating a churchgoer, this skeptic begins a surprising journey to faith and love.

Rhoda doesn’t slide back into the dignified simplicity of the Mennonite church. Instead she finds herself hanging with the Pentecostals, who really know how to get down with sparkler pom-poms. Amid the hand waving and hallelujahs Rhoda finds a faith richly practical for life–just in time for some impressive lady problems, an unexpected romance, and a quirky new family.

Does This Church Make Me Look Fat? is for people who have a problem with organized religion, but can’t quite dismiss the notion of God, and for those who secretly sing hymns in their cars, but prefer a nice mimosa brunch to church. This is the story of what it means to find joy in love, comfort in prayer, and–incredibly, surprisingly–faith in a big-hearted God.


so far, i'm four chapters in and there isn't a whole lot of talk about mennonites.
but, i'm not disappointed {i mean, really, a glance at the cover and you know it might not be entirely about a mennonite lifestyle} it's a fun read.
rhoda has a way of writing to keep you engaged. wanting to read more.

as a matter of fact, i'm gonna get off of here and get back to it.

rhoda's book is available on amazon, indie bound and in barnes and noble.

if you're like me and you like to read books in order as to how they are written you can find rhoda's first memoir, mennonite in a little black dress, here.

here's a chance for you to own a copy of does this church make me look fat?.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


this is a review post from global influence. i was provided with a copy of the book. all opinions stated are my own.
amazon afilliate links are used in this post, also.

back-to-school with tiny prints.

{i apologize, the picture above is not a clickable link}

yep.
it's that time of year.
back-to-school!!!
{our school year actually already started...last week.}

have you visited tiny prints lately???
i'm gonna be honest, i hadn't either until they asked me to share their fabulously cute products with you.

i found these cuties that i just may need to own shortly.


{these would make fun teacher's gifts.}


{these are SUPER cute mommy cards. i'd love to whip one of these babies out when my kiddos make new friends.}


{have a kiddo with allergies? give one of these to his/her next caregiver.}


{this would be great as my new church sermon note journal.}


giveaway closed.


what if i told you that YOU could win a $50 credit to tinyprints.com??
oh, yeah!!!!

here's what you need to do to enter:

*go to tiny prints, visit the back-to-school page, click through to your favorite product page, and pin your favorite item on pinterest with the hashtag #TinyPrintsBTS.

*visit the back-to-school page, click through to your favorite product page, and use the tweet button to send a tweet.

*follow tiny prints on twitter.

*follow my blog via google friend connect.

*follow me on twitter. {@jonahbonah}


leave a comment for each task that you complete.



ALSO, tiny prints is sponsoring a twitter party along with their host @ResourcefulMom on tuesday the 21st from 1-2pm pt/4-5pm et based around the back-to-school theme with awesome prizes to giveaway, so please make sure to mark your calendars! the RSVP list can be found here: resourcefulmommy.com




disclaimer...tiny prints provided me with a $50 credit. the opinions in this post are my own. thank you, tiny prints!

hooray for water. {and a winner}

we did it!
you did it!
another well will be built because of your gifts!

in three years, together we've built FOUR wells.
amazing stuff, y'all.

and while the giveaway may over, the giving doesn't have to end.
the donation page will be open through february.
let's build another well!
{we're already $1,000+ closer to a second well!}

you're dyin' to know who won my giveaway, yes?
the winner is jonnique!!!
congrats, girlie!
and thank you!

thank you ALL who donated!!!

green giant and myblogspark. {giveaway}

Making meal time easier than ever, Green Giant has introduced vegetables with pasta and savory sauces to their already convenient and tasty line-up of Valley Fresh Steamers frozen mixes.

New Valley Fresh Steamers Vegetables with Pasta varieties include:

*Macaroni and Cheese Sauce with Broccoli - classic elbow pasta and broccoli in a mouth watering cheese sauce

*Pasta and Vegetables with Alfredo Sauce – delicious corkscrew pasta with carrots and broccoli in a savory Alfredo sauce


wanna win this super fun prize pack???

leave a comment telling me, Do you ever have to be creative to get your child(ren) to eat vegetables?

for additional entries...

*follow this blog via google friend connect.
*follow me on twitter, @jonahbonah.
*tweet something like "i wanna win a fun prize pack from @jonahbonah, #greengiant, and @myblogspark! http://theperfecttrio.blogspot.com/2011/12/making-meal-time-easier-than-ever-green.html #myblogspark".
*"like" green giant on facebook.

leave a seperate comment for each of these you complete.

giveaway ends december 18th.
winner announced on the 19th.

good luck!

disclosure: thank you green giant and myblogspark for sending me these goodies, information about the products, and an additional prize pack to giveaway!

winner, winner, chicken dinner!!!

come on down, jenny's heart!!!
you've won the $25 burger king gift card!!!

email me within the next 48 hours with the address myblogspark can mail your prize pack to.
jakemelissajakea@aol.com

a little something to brighten your day. {giveaway}

pencils down!
this giveaway is now closed.
you won!!!!!
contact me within 48 hours with your mailing address so i can forward it on to myblogspark.
maybe we can get it there in time for christmas giving!

how about another giveaway??
this one is tons of fun!
and brought to you by a company that we {and our children} all love.



From fun coloring and drawing products to activity toys --
With the new Crayola Jewelry Boutique, kids can become their own jewelry designers! Crayola put a unique “spin” on jewelry making with a special “jewelry spinner” that creates multi-colored beads using Crayola Model Magic. As kids spin their beads into shapes, they can string them together to create original bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and pendants that reflect their own personal style. Let the designing begin!
By combining eye-popping colors to create unique beads with the Jewelry Boutique “spinner,” the amount of fun and creativity is endless because no two beads turn out exactly the same!

For a dazzling finish, coat designs with bead glaze. For even more sparkle and pizzazz, add gems, and interchangeable pendant and bracelet charms!
Recommended for children ages 6+, each Jewelry Boutique kit includes 8 packs of Crayola Model Magic to mold 160 beads, 5 bracelet charms, 3 pendant charms, 2 shape cutters, a bead dryer rack, 5 toggle sets, 4 earring posts and ear wires, a bead punch, 18 gems, 2 necklace cords, 1 elastic cord, bead glaze, and the Jewelry Boutique Spinner with storage areas and retails for $24.99.

Crayola Glow Book

Let your kids’ imaginations run free this holiday season while creating glowing, moving art with the Crayola Glow Book. Turn the lights out and watch their artwork come alive on each page and appear as if it is actually moving!

Using special glowing-ink markers to draw on each of the four clear pages, kids can choose one of the four tracing guides to create original scenes, signs and messages, and arrange them in their desired order. Then, just hit the lights and allow your kids to wow you with wildly colorful, glowing animated scenes. Variable light settings create colorful, multi-layered effects. The Crayola Glow Book wipes off easily so kids can use their imaginations to create endless glowing artwork! A simple wet cloth will do.

Recommended for children ages 6+, the kit includes one Glow Book with 4 clear pages, 4 animation tracing guides and 6 glow markers and retails for $24.99.

Crayola’s Telescoping Crayon Tower and Ultimate Art Supply Case


For everyday inspiration and creativity, be sure to keep Crayola’s Telescoping Crayon Tower and all-inclusive Ultimate Art Supplies case handy, so they’re can always be prepared to create! Filled with crayons and all of the classic art tools for drawing and painting, kids can share their creativity through colorful works of art! The Telescoping Crayon Tower and Ultimate Art Supplies case make great gifts every child can use to jumpstart their creativity.
The Telescoping Crayon Tower puts limitless color at kids' fingertips and compacts neatly for storage with 150 Crayola Crayons and a built-in sharpener for extra convenience.

There are no limits to a child's imagination with the all-in-one, portable Ultimate Art Supply Kit.
Recommended for children 4+, the Ultimate Art Supply Kit contains 24 crayons, 8 washable broad line markers, 12 colored pencils, 8 washable watercolors, 1 paint brush, school glue, scissors, and colored paper and retails for $16.99. The Crayon Tower retails for $17.99.

wanna win ALL of these goodies for the kiddos in your life??
easy-peesy!
tell me which of these products from crayola would you most like to give as a gift to a special child in your life to inspire creativity, and why?

want additional entries?
{leave a comment for each of these that applies to you.}

*follow this blog via google friend connect {on the right sidebar}
*follow me on twitter @jonahbonah
*tweet something like... i wanna win a HUGE #crayola prize pack from @jonahbonah, @crayola, & #myblogspark! http://theperfecttrio.blogspot.com/2011/11/little-something-to-brighten-your-day.html
*follow crayola on twitter
*"like" crayola on facebook

winner will be chosen on december 12 and announced on december 13.
good luck!

disclosure: thank you crayola and myblogspark for sending me these goodies, information about the products, and an additional prize pack to giveaway!

burger king love. {giveaway}

***giveaway closed***

have you been by burger king lately?
noticed anything different?

the good folks at burger king and myblogspark shared with me a prize pack that i'm so excited to share with you!

but first, before i could share with you, i had to make sure it was worth it.
the $25 BK gift card burned a hole right through hubs' wallet.
we went the very next day and enjoyed dinner, as a family, at a restaraunt.
mark it down, folks.
with four kiddos, we don't go out to eat often.
it's pricey and our kids are loud.
we are just a crazy bunch!


luckily, the night we went to burger king we were, literally, the only family dining.
there was the occassional single person or to-go orders.
but, on tuesday night, there were no families out.

here's a bit of inside info for you to chew on...


*The BK CROWNTM/MC Program comes in a fully interactive Kids Meal box. Sitting atop each box is a newly redesigned BURGER KING® crown, because every kid deserves to be treated like royalty at BURGER KING®! With crowns on their heads, kids can dive into the box, taking it apart, playing fun games and activities that challenge their minds, inspire their imagination and engage with the whole family.

*With the BK CROWNTM/MC Program, Burger King Corporation invites kids to tell BURGER KING® what matters to them most. BKC has established a fund to help support the Wildlife Conservation Society, National Parks Conservation Association, DonorsChoose.org and Have It Your Way™ Foundation. By visiting BKCrown.com, kids learn how BKC’s charitable partners make a difference. Upon entering BK CROWNTM/MC Codes and clicking on their favorite cause, each kid’s vote helps BK® choose which charity to give back to.

*The fun doesn’t end at the restaurant; the BK CROWNTM/MC Program experience lives on at www.BKCrown.com where kids can place their vote for how BKC should give back, as well as find more games, win prizes and enjoy interactive play.

*Also at BURGER KING®, for just $9.99 your family can enjoy the “BK™ Family Bundle” which includes a WHOPPER® sandwich, WHOPPER JR.® sandwich., two small fries, two small soft drinks and a Kids Meal. Now that’s a deal worth getting together for! Limited time only. Price and participation vary. Prices higher in HI.

that "BK Family Bundle" had my family's name written ALL OVER IT!
times two.
for $19.98 we ate 2 whoppers, 2 whopper jrs, four small fries, four small soft drinks, and two NEW kids meals.
and we were stuffed!
my whopper jr {w/ cheese, no mayo, no tomato, extra onion} was fabulous!
i enjoyed it MY WAY to very last bite.
YUM!


jett and mckinley were the proud recipients of the kids meals.
the crowns attached to the box were a definite winner.
instead of first grabbing for their toy, they went for the crown!





i am happy to announce that just about every morsel of food was consumed.
my goodness it was good.

we {the kiddos} saved room for dessert.
the $0.89 soft serve cone was the perfect end to their meals.


we still have $2.77 on our gift card.
so, grand total for a family of six to eat dinner out {with dessert} was $22.23.
amazing.

thank you, burger king and myblogspark.
you rak!


*****************************************
wanna win a burger king prize pack of your very own???

tell me...why is it important for your family to have a fun mealtime experience?

for additional entries
*become a follower of this blog via google friend connect
*follow me on twitter @jonahbonah
*follow me on instagram @jonahbonah {iphone app}
*tweet {i wanna win a #burgerking prize pack from @jonahbonah and #myblogspark http://www.theperfecttrio.blogspot.com @myblogspark @burgerking}
*follow burger king on twitter @burgerking
leave a comment for each entry option you complete.

giveaway ends on november 28.
winner to be announced on november 29.
good luck!

pink together. {a giveaway}

Find hope.
Be inspired.
Know you are not alone.
Join the 2011 Pink Together™ campaign – now in its fifth year of celebrating hope – by visiting PinkTogether.com to connect with a unique online community of people who have been touched by breast cancer and share a passion for the cause.
Individually we are strong, but together we are stronger.

*Visit Pink Together YouTube Channel.

*General Mills will also be turning the packaging of participating products pink in recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October.

we all are affected by cancer.
either a loved one has been diagnosed or a dear friend or us individually.
join general mills and pink together in making a difference.

*********************************
myblogspark sent me an amazing package of goodies.


wanna win a prize package of your very own??
you can!
from me and myblogspark.

ways to enter...
*tell me how YOU have been touched by cancer.
*"like" pink together on facebook.
*follow my blog via google friend connect --->
*follow me on twitter {@jonahbonah}

you have a total of FOUR ways to enter.
now, go enter to win!

you only have until Oct 25 to enter.
a winner will be drawn on the 26th.

Disclosure: The Pink Together prize pack, information and coupons have been provided free of charge by General Mills through MyBlogSpark

betty crocker **GIVEAWAY**

looking for something yummy to make to take to the next tailgate party?
do you want to surprise your neighbor with a special treat?
need a dessert for tonight's dinner?

look no further.

This fall, warm your family’s hearts and home with a fresh-from-the-oven treat that won’t have you spending hours in the kitchen.
New Milk Chocolate Traditional Brownie mix from Betty Crocker® can help you simplify your brownie baking regimen and get a head start on homemade.


the kind folks at betty crocker and myblogspark.com sent me this fabulous gift pack to try these brownies for myself.

i made them for a friend's going away party a couple of weekends ago.
i tasted one straight from the oven...oh my! i almost kept them all for myself!
these milk chocolate brownies are A-MAZ-ING!
the guests at the party thought so too.
i didn't even have crumbs to bring home.
the plate was empty!

Look for Betty Crocker Milk Chocolate Traditional Brownie mix in the baking aisle of grocery stores this fall.

now, here's the fun part!
wanna win a fabulous gift pack of your own???
you'll receive a milk chocolate traditional brownie mix, a betty crocker apron, a cookie sheet, and a mixing spoon.
fun, right??

here's how to win...

1st- you must tell me your favorite fall dish. leave the recipe if you feel so inclined. if you don't i'll probably have to ask you. ;o) {i NEED new fall recipes!!!}

want extra entries?

* follow my blog -->
* "like" betty crocker on facebook.
* follow betty crocker on twitter.
* tweet about this giveaway. you can say something like, come win an awesome @bettycrocker gift pack from @jonahbonah and #myblogspark! http://tinyurl.com/3vkmrq6
* blog about this giveaway.

leave an extra comment for each entry option you complete.
six total opportunities for entries!

**giveaway ends october 7th. winner will be chosen on october 8th.**

Disclosure: The product, information and prize pack have been provided by Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark. All opinions are my own.

Simply Go-Gurt 24 Hour Giveaway

Have you heard of NEW Simply...Go-Gurt??

New Simply... Go-Gurt is made from simple ingredients moms look for and contains no high fructose corn syrup or artificial colors or flavors. Each convenient portable yogurt tube contains a good source of calcium and vitamin D. Simply stated, Simply... Go-Gurt is a good-for-you, low fat yogurt snack that you can feel good about giving to your kids.

New Simply... Go-Gurt is available in two kid-friendly flavors, Strawberry and Mixed Berry.

My kids LOVE Go-Gurt!
I buy three or four boxes at a time.
I keep some in the fridge and some in the freezer, for a frozen yogurt treat!!
I even pour them into McKinley's bottle and mix with her milk for a smoothie type treat for her!!

Wanna win a Simply...Go-Gurt Prize Pack??

You will win a Go-Gurt "Simplify Your Life" prize pack that includes a pocket Etch a Sketch, weekly planner and a seat back organizer.
You'll also receive a coupon for a FREE box of Simply...Go-Gurt!

Here's how you can win...(leave a comment for each)

*Share a wholesome snack idea that you give your kiddos.

Earn extra entries by

*following my blog
*following me on twitter (@jonahbonah)
*telling me what your summer plans are

easy peesy, right??
now, go enter!
tell your friends!!

I will draw a winner on Monday, May 17 at 1pm PST.

I received this prize pack as a gift from MyBlogSpark. The thoughts and opinions of Go-Gurt are my own.

did ya know? and a $20 GC Giveaway

**Giveaway CLOSED**
Congrats He&Me+3!!!

today is Kroger's National Kids and Pets Day.
fun, huh?
sometimes i feel like having four kiddos is about as hard as having lots of pets....
but, then i think that pets just might be the cleanest of the two species.
hmmm...
did ya know that Hubs told Jonah he could have a dog when he gets home????
another hmmm...
anyway, moving on.

i have a bit of interesting info to share.
if you are looking for a new family pet you'll for sure want to read on.
if you like free groceries then you DEFINITELY want to read on!



Pets are such an important part of America's families, and making sure that they are happy and well cared for is a huge responsibility. Everything from finding the right pet to making decisions their health and well-being is a major undertaking that can impact the whole family.

Family Friendly doggie breeds:
*Cocker Spaniel – These lap dogs are sensitive and sweet and enjoy the attention of children. Cocker Spaniels are obedient with training and friendly around people.
*Pug – This affectionate breed loves being part of a family. Outgoing and mischievous, they make playful companions for children.
*Golden Retriever – Similar to Labs in personality, Goldens are mild mannered and enjoy being around families and other people. These dogs are easy to train are gentle with children.
*Basset Hound – This breed is good with children of all ages. They are known for their docile nature and gentleness. Their long backs need to be supported when they are picked up, and an eager child can accidentally injure them.

Tips parents can teach their children regarding safe pet play:
*Teach your children to pet softly, stay away from food dishes, toys and bones, and not to startle your dog or cat when it is sleeping.
*Keep babies and toddlers at a level higher than your dog. Dogs perceive height as representative of their hierarchy. Keep your children off the floor when the dog is in the room.
*Don’t give your dog toys that resemble your children’s toys or clothing. Stay away from fabric stuffed dog toys that resemble your child’s stuffed animals.
*Involve your child in your dog’s care. Even just the presence of your child in the same room while your dog is receiving his favorite things or activities can help build a positive association to children.

For more information on family friendly breeds or additional tips on teaching your children about pet safety, visit Kroger’s Pet Health blog.

Want to have a back-up plan if your pooch gets sick??
Kroger has pet insurance!
Overview of Kroger’s pet insurance offerings:
Offered through PetFirst, Kroger pet insurance policies cover routine care and medical procedures for dogs and cats, and is available at more than 2,400 stores in the Kroger family including City Market, Dillon’s, Fred Meyer, Frye’s, King Sooper, Owen’s, Pay Less, QFC, Ralph’s and Smith’s. In addition to being available in-store, Kroger’s pet insurance can be purchased online. Kroger’s pet insurance works at any veterinarian nationwide, with reimbursement typically occurring within two weeks. Coverage starts as low as $9.95 per month and right now, individuals who purchase online can save $10.

Want to win???
One (1) lucky reader will win a $20 Kroger Gift card good at any Kroger family store!

First, leave me a comment telling what kind of pet your family has. What makes them the best pet ever??? Maybe I can then convince Hubs that we need a Gerbil instead...

You can also leave additional comments for EXTRA entries for

following my blog,
following me, @jonahbonah, on Twitter,
following @PetsOfHealth on Twitter,
tweet about this giveaway...you can say "Enter to win a $20 Kroger Gift Card from @PetsOfHealth and @jonahbonah http://tinyurl.com/2cdmbv5 #pethealth #giveaway",
and thanking a soldier that passes by.

(Don't forget to leave a comment for each!)

the fine print: Giveaway ends on May 4th at 10pm Central time. Winner will be chosen by random.org. Open to US entrants only. Winner must contact me within 40 hours to claim prize or alternate winner will be chosen. Please remember to leave your email address so I may contact you once you've won.

For helping raise awareness of National Kids & Pet Day I was provided with a $20 gift card to spoil {the pet in my life} and a $20 gift card to giveaway to a reader so that they could do the same by the Global Influence Network and the Kroger Co. The thoughts and opinions here are my own.

mirra Product Review and Giveaway

***WINNER is Stephanie O'Donnell!!! Please email me your mailing address so I may forward it on to the important people over at mirra!!!***

Let me first say, I am so behind on life...my blog(s), a review or two, sewing, life...oh, I already said that. I'm sorry. Truly. Forgive me? Thanks.

Now, on to business. I was recently sent some newly released beauty products by mirra...everyone wants something that can make them look and feel more beautiful, right? These products were fabulous!

In my goodie box was the new mirra shampoo and conditioner, body wash, lotion, day and night facial moisturizers and a wrinkle cream. (cause being almost 30, er, I mean, 29 for a second year, I need all the help I can get....really!!!)

I have used the shampoo and conditioner everyday for the last two weeks and I love it! It has a very "salon product" smell to it. The conditioner leaves my hair feeling like silk.
The body wash reads moisturizing on the bottle...and that it is. It is very dry here in the winter and while using this body wash I did not feel the need to use lotion throughout the day like I normally would.
mirra's lotion is very light after application. It doesn't leave a greasy, slimy, must-wait-20-minutes-before-putting-clothes-on feeling on your bod.
The facial moisturizers were a tad heavy for my already oily skin. I will say, though, that they felt great going on, I just couldn't keep them on due to my skin type.
My overall review of these products is.....drum roll, please....FABULOUS!!!
I will definitely take my $5.00/2 coupon and get some more shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. I'm almost out of my freebies.

Want see why I think mirra is so great???
You can win your very own gift set much like the one I received!!!
Just leave a comment on this post telling me you'd LOVE to win.
I'm gonna make this a 24 hour giveaway....
You can comment as often as you'd like until 4:30pm (central) tomorrow, March 18.
Tell your friends.
Tell your tweeps. (make sure to include @jonahbonah so I can thank you for tweeting!)
Blog about it.
Let's show mirra some love!!!
(open to US entrants, only)

Here's a copy of a press release from mirra products. In it you will find a $5.00/2 coupon for yourself to use at Kroger grocery stores.

Here are a few of the highlights within the press release....some of the reasons I love mirra products.
Launching now, mirra products include shampoos and conditioners; hair styling products; body washes and mists; facial and skin care lotions, cleansers and cleansing cloths; eye firming and age defying creams; and cosmetic brushes.

mirra products are made with natural ingredients, such as olive oil, aloe leaf juice, and cranberry, bamboo, honey and chicory root extracts. Proven technologies are used for many of the products too. For example, the revolutionary oleosome emulsion technology is used in skin care products to deliver long lasting moisture that keeps protecting and nourishing skin long after application.

mirra products can be found in the beauty care aisles exclusively at all stores that are part of the Kroger Co. family. For a limited time, mirra is offering $5 off when you purchase any two mirra products. To download the coupon visit www.kroger.com\coupons.


the fine print...mirra products courtesy of The
Kroger Company for review and giveaway as a part of the Global Influence Network

Have you heard of Trendy Tykes??

Well, you need to get over to her review blog! She's a super fun gal with lots to share with ya! Here's her latest...Ice Age 3 Dawn of the Dinosaurs DVD!

I haven't forgotten about you guys...I went to Nashville for the weekend with the Hubs. I have lots of neat-o pictures to share too. Come back tomorrow now, ya hear?!

Little Debbie Giveaway!

Every girl loves cupcakes, right??? Right!

How would you like to drive a Smart Car that looks like a cupcake?? Even better!! No calories!! You can win it!



Other prizes include:

a GPS device,
a toy cupcake car,
FREE cupcakes for a year!!!! YUM!!

Head on over to Little Debbie and sign up! It's super easy!!! And, while you're at it, check and see if the Share-A-Thon Tour is coming to a town near you.

Oh, how I would love to go to a cupcake share-a-thon...it just sounds like tons of fun!

a giveaway...CLOSED!

A winner...Chosen by random.org issssss....#4 Jolly Mom! YAY! Piera, head on over to my shop and tell me which initial/number tee you'd like and in what size.

first, i must tell you what i see right now...
jett is rolling his grapes across the floor.
then he looks up at me to see if i'm watching.
he SO knows better.

ok, so, here we go!
do you love jonahbonah?
do you own one?
want to?

these are a few of my faves...
you choose yours.







here's how you can win one of my initial OR number tees...your size, your initial OR your number!
leave a comment for each (you've done this before, i know)...SO MANY ways to win!

FIRST...go to my etsy shop and tell me which tee is your fave OR something that you'd like to see.
2. do you own a jonahbonah tee? have a picture of your little one wearing it? show me! jakemelissajakea@aol.com
3. follow me on twitter AND tweet about this giveaway. you can earn an extra entry per day when you tweet...daily!
4. follow me on blogger.
5. blog about my giveaway...don't forget to leave the URL in your comment.

this giveaway will end on October 1...that gives you plenty of time to tell EVERYONE you know!