Hippo and Turtle Cake :)

Little Bit turned TWO!

I was going to make a giant hot dog with a turtle sitting on top but sometime this summer she stopped loving hot dogs. Instead, she fell in love with a stuffed Hippo named Tallulah.

More cake pictures at Sarah Bakes.

Yoplait Splitz Prize Pack Giveaway

Congratulations to sohamolina who won this giveaway! Are you in need of some cool summer refreshments? Or a special treat in the lunch box of someone heading off to school? With no artificial flavors or sweeteners and no high fructose corn syrup, Yoplait Splitz is sure to fit the bill.


Yoplait Splitz is the new yogurt that tastes like a sundae. Providing all of the goodness of 100% real yogurt, Yoplait Splitz is a good source of calcium and vitamin D. For an even “cooler” experience, just pop a Yoplait Splitz in the freezer and in a few hours you can enjoy a cool, creamy cup of authentic frozen yogurt. Put a frozen Yoplait Splitz in a lunch box and by lunch time your child can enjoy a treat!

We took our frozen Splitz to the beach, and while they didn't remain frozen, they were still very cold and delicious 4 hours later! (I did save one frozen cup for me to enjoy and it was good!)

Available in three delicious flavor combinations including Strawberry Sundae, Strawberry Banana Split, and Rainbow Sherbet, Yoplait Splitz is sure to have your family screaming for more.

Don’t forget to visit Yoplait on Facebook or Yoplait on Twitter and “Like” or “Follow” the brand to keep up with the latest news on your favorite Yoplait products.

In addition, you can visit HERE to download a printable coupon for $0.75 off any flavor Yoplait Splitz today!

The prize pack consists of a refrigerated sample of new Yoplait Splitz as well as an insulated carry tote and a roll up fleece picnic blanket. What a fun beach prize pack!

To enter, share which flavor of Yoplait Splitz you would most like to try (required first entry).
***Make sure you leave your email address or have it available in your profile.

Additional Entries:
2. Follow my blog.
3. Subscribe via email to my blog.
4. Add my button to your blog - the HTML is on my side bar - 2 entries

Winner will be chosen by random.org on Friday, August 6. I will notify you by email and you will have 48 hours to claim the prize. Giveaway can only be mailed to the U.S. and NO PO boxes.

Disclosure: I received information, Yoplait Splitz, prize pack, and the giveaway from Yoplait through MyBlogSpark. My opinions are all my own. Giveaway will be mailed out through Myblogspark and I will need your address and phone number if you win.

AWESOME Crayola Color Wonder Giveaway!!!

Congratulations to Amber who won this giveaway!

Look at all of these Crayola Color Wonder products I received from Crayola through MyBlogSpark!

You can enter to win the same prize pack!

We have been fans of Color Wonder products since they came out so to review these products was a dream for me. I hate mess, especially in the car. I am getting better about allowing creative mess but mess in general still makes me crazy. There are so many different activities with these and the mess is almost none. The Story Stampers activity set is so fun. It comes with stampers and a Color Wonder stamp pad to stamp on paper that already has a little scene on it. It also comes with markers to color in the scene you create. What a great idea!

Little Bit loved doing the finger paints, which are about as messy as it gets. She is a little liberal with the amount of goo she gets out. Here she is with her masterpiece.

We just got back from a long driving vacation. We were sure to pack plenty of Color Wonder products, as Little Bit is sure to leave her mark on the van with regular markers. All three girls like to use them. I didn't receive this package until we returned home but I would have loved to have it on the road. Here is is what you will receive:

Crayola Color Wonder Lap Desk
Crayola Color Wonder Fingerpaints & Paper
Crayola Color Wonder Paints & Coloring Pad
Crayola Color Wonder Stow & Go Studio
Crayola Color Wonder Story Stampers

Do you want to win this fabulous set from Crayola Color Wonder? Here is how to enter: Each entry must be a separate comment.

1. Mandatory: Tell me what you like best about Color Wonder Products or Crayola in general. (1 entry)

Additional Entries:
2. Like Crayola on facebook

3. Follow my blog.

4. Subscribe via email to my blog.

5. Add my button to your blog - the HTML is on my side bar - 2 entries

Winner will be chosen by random.org on Friday, August 6. I will notify you by email and you will have 48 hours to claim the prize. Giveaway can only be mailed to the U.S. and NO PO boxes.

Don't forget to visit Crayola on Facebook or Crayola on Twitter and "Like" or "Follow" the brand to keep up with their latest and greatest fun-filled products. Click HERE to print a $1.00/1 Crayola Color Wonder product.

Disclosure: I received information, Color Wonder products, and the giveaway from Crayola through MyBlogSpark! My opinions are all my own. Giveaway will be mailed out through Myblogspark and I will need your address and phone number if you win.

Lowry's Get Grilling Kit Giveaway!

CONGRATULATIONS to Cori from A SAHM Looking For A Deal for winning this Get Grilling Kit giveaway!
Lawry's newest marinades allow you to infuse your meals with exotic flavors without ever leaving your home. Inspired by the sun-drenched villages of Italy, the Tuscan Sun-Dried Tomato Marinade features extra virgin olive oil, sun-dried tomatoes, sweet red bell peppers and the perfect blend of herbs. The Szechuan Sweet & Sour BBQ Marinade gives meat a delicious sweet and sour flavor with a touch of Szechuan heat.


For more ways to put a fresh spin on your go-to grilling menu, check out these new pairings from the recently released McCormick® Flavor Forecast™ 2010: Grilling Edition:

• Applewood & Plum – Juicy plums accent smoky applewood and add flair to all-American barbecue.


• Cilantro & Lime – Cutting across the diverse cuisines, this bright and zingy pair is a refreshing taste of summertime.


• Rosemary & Fig – Figs are an unexpected and regionally inspired match for aromatic rosemary.


• Chipotle & Maple – This culinary comingling deliver a fresh take on smoky, spicy and sweet.


• Brown Sugar & Bourbon – This duo brings a delicious dose of Southern charm to the patio.


• Cinnamon & Coffee – Bold and confident – with just the right edge of bitterness.


• Red Chili Sauce & Mango – The flavor of mango takes hot or sweet red chili sauce far beyond mere “condiment status.”


• YUM!

Want to try Lawry's new flavors?

Thanks to Lawry's and My Blog Spark, I am able to give away a great prize pack to one lucky reader! The winner will receive a Lawry’s “Get Grilling Kit” that includes Both of the new Lawry’s marinades – Tuscan Sun-Dried Tomato and Szechuan Sweet & Sour BBQ – a set of skewers and a marinating dish.


My kit came in the mail when I was in Ukraine but we had to leave for Minnesota before I could try them out. I'm excited to get back home and start grilling!

Mandatory Entry: Visit Lawrys.com and leave a comment here telling me which marinade or recipe you would most like to try. I'm thinking the Mexican Cilantro and Lime!

Make sure you include an email address if you do not have one visible in your profile.
Additional entries (leave each entry as a separate comment):
2. Follow my blog.
3. Subscribe via email to my blog.
4. Add my button to your blog - the HTML is on my side bar - 2 entries

You have until July 18 at 11:00 PM EST to enter. I will use random.com to pick a winner. The winner will be emailed and will have 2 days to respond. I will give your information to BlogSpark and they will send your Get Grilling Kit. Simple! Good Luck!

CSN Stores

I am thinking ahead to the start of the school year (I know, concentrate on summer) and am trying to get things here and there. It seems that our school has everything on the classroom supply list except the bathroom sink. I am at a loss at where to begin. Luckily, I am working with CSN stores again and have decided backpacks and lunch boxes are first on my list to review. I just love CSN stores because if I need it, they have it. I reviewed an ice cream maker from them before (HERE) and had another giveaway a few months back (HERE). I found myself pleasantly surprised at the huge selection of backpacks available on their website. I will let you know soon what I decide on and how the girls like them!

Until later...

You might have noticed I have not been around much lately. As you all know, wrapping up the school year makes for an extremely hectic time of the year.

I am also headed to Ukraine for a mission trip for two weeks. We will be working in an orphan camp a few hours outside of Kiev. The organization we will be working with is Hope for Orphans. My church has been working with this partner for five years and HFO has been in existence for more than 10 years. It was founded by Jenya Ivashko when he promised the Lord he would dedicate his life to helping orphans in his country. Jenya started with his friends, all in their early 20’s, to start a camp ministry at local orphanages. HFO now has reached thousands of children ages 6-16 across Ukraine sharing the love of Jesus. We'll be working with 150 of them!

We initially were going to be working in Skadovsk, which is right on the Black Sea. In high school I was part of an exchange program where we lived in Odessa, Ukraine which is also right on the Black Sea. Last week we learned that the director of the orphanage changed his mind so instead we are going to a different location (I don't even know the name of the village, although I know it starts with a V and it's not on any body of water).

Once I return I have two days to do laundry and clean the house (from the damage of having Dad and three kids at home for two weeks without mom) then we are on our way to spend a month with my parent's in Minnesota. We'll stop in Indianapolis and Milwaukee to see my siblings (and lots of nieces and nephews) on the way up. I just love this part of the summer.

I'll be posting occasionally but not much.

Remember to spread joy to all those around you. Enjoy your summer!