Mornings made easy with Garden Lites Frittatas and Muffins

Looking for something quick and easy for those busy mornings on the go, but don't want something packed full of sugar? I know that's pretty much every morning in my house! We are always on the look out for healthy alternatives to sugar filled Mini Muffins and Poptarts so getting to try out some products in the Garden Lites line was a welcomed change. Of the products we received to try we decided that we each liked something different based on our personal food choices. Just because I didn't like something didn't mean it wasn't good, it just meant it wasn't my flavor combination. And vise versa for my husband and daughter. It actually worked out that we all had a different favorite!

Check out these offerings from one of my favorite brands, Garden Lites. In addition to their tasty muffins and veggie cakes they have recently added frittatas to their line-up.

Garden Lites®, the leader in delicious veggie-rich foods, recently unveiled an exciting new breakfast category item, Garden Lites Frittatas. Debuting in Costco Indiana stores, the new Frittatas tastily add veggies and protein into your breakfast routine with flavors like the Spinach Egg White Frittata. These frittatas are vegetarian, offer 5 grams of Protein and only 80 calories or less. With veggies as the first ingredient, Garden Lites Frittatas are gluten free, made with only clean and simple ingredients, non-GMO, and nut free and kosher. The Garden Lites Frittata line is available in a package of 20 at all Costco Midwest Stores for an SRP of $12.59.

Always gluten free, made with clean ingredients, and veggies as first ingredients, Garden Lites muffins are the most luscious muffins you will ever eat. Garden Lites Blueberry Oat muffins are bursting with plump blueberries and wholesome oats, and made with fresh zucchini and carrots. Heat in the microwave to enjoy a decadent experience for only 120 calories. Garden Lites Blueberry and Oat muffins are available in a package of 20 at Costco Stores located in the Midwest for an SRP of $12.59.

Experts agree that superfoods are incredibly good for you. Garden Lites® Superfood Veggie Cakes Superfood Blend are packed with nutrient-rich superfood veggies like kale and cauliflower.  Garden Lites® Superfood Veggie Cakes with Kale & Quinoa are also packed with nutrient-rich superfoods like kale and quinoa.  The line packs only 100 calories!  Garden Lites® Superfood Veggie Cakes come in a package of 20 veggie cakes and are available in the refrigerated section of Costco Midwest.

Honestly you could use any of these products for any meal, or snack through out the day and it would be a great fit!

This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. I received product to share my honest and unbiased thoughts. However, all thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brand.

Jack Links for breakfast? Say what?!

Our family has been a big fan of Jack Link's products for as long as I can remember. It's even a snack that I don't feel guilty indulging in every once in a while while I'm watching TV or on a long road trip. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about, we've all made that gas station stop for beef jerky. :-) But never did I think I would be eating their products for breakfast. Yes, you heard me right breakfast! They recently launched an awesome line of breakfast bacon and breakfast sausage products that we recently got to give a try.

Me being a bacon lover I had to try out the Breakfast Bacon first. Honestly I couldn't snap those photos and get that bag ripped open fast enough. (Nor could my daughter who was anxiously standing beside me waiting.) As much as I wanted to make her wait a little extra there was no way this mamma was going to make herself wait any longer than possible. So just moments after the photos were snapped we were tearing into the packages of bacon. My first impression was that it looked liked your average leftover (saying it I know it doesn't even sound right...leftover bacon) pieces of bacon after they've been refrigerated. Not a common occasion in this house let me tell you. But anyhow back to that tasty breakfast treat we just indulged ourselves on. This stuff is REAL 100% bacon, and it tastes just like you would think. Like flavored bacon. Let me tell you we were both in heaven. And both eyeballing the bag wondering who was going to be lucky enough to get those last few pieces. On the back it says to refrigerate after opening or consume within three days...really three days? I want to know what family can make a bag last that long because it didn't happen in my house. Needless to say Breakfast Bacon was a hit.

Next up was their new Breakfast Sausage. Now this one I could see lasting three days (at least if they boys didn't see the bag). I'm not as big on sausage as I am on bacon so I didn't indulge on these as much. Again they were surprisingly good for being out of a shelf stable package and not just freshly cooked. The look wasn't nearly as appealing as the bacon, but the taste was pretty darn close to that of fully cooked breakfast sausages. These are already on my boys list for their backpacks for hunting season because they both loved them. And getting up before the sun they often times forget to grab something to eat before leaving the house. These Breakfast Sausages will be a great back-up plan to get them going in the morning. Or for a snack later in the day even. My husband was the only one that ate the hot & spicy ones and I said I would take his word for it when he said they were pretty tasty too.

Of course if you wanted you could even eat Jack Link's Beef Steak Strips for breakfast. They probably aren't the first thing that would come to mind for breakfast, but we all need a little protein in the mornings. My daughter and I both ate one of them as we were walking down to the bus because we got up late and with all the running around had forgotten to eat breakfast in the chaos. Honestly I think it was a better choice than a sugared up Pop-Tart. Of course you could enjoy these any time of day and be happy. I even managed to stash one away in my purse for an emergency snack when I'm out running errands.

No matter which you choose you won't be disappointed with Jack Link's for breakfast.

This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. I received product to share my honest and unbiased thoughts. However, all thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brand.

September marks Better Breakfast Month

September isn't quite over yet, so there's till time to take control of your breakfast eating habits! By incorporating the tips and products below in your morning routine it will help you skip the typical fast food breakfast and start the day off with a nutritious meal.

If you're gonna splurge do it with Tastykakes!

I always say if you're going to splurge and eat something you don't normally eat then you should go all out. Probably not always the best motto, but I'm one to say enjoy life while you can. And for me that means enjoying winter edition favorites from the Tastykake line. I actually look forward to the seasons changing just so I can see what fun flavors they will come up with next. This time around it seemed like everyone in my house had a different favorite - which to me was a good thing. That meant more of their Salted Caramel Mini Donuts for me to enjoy! My daughter actually really liked the gingerbread donuts which surpirsed me based on her usual preferences. But hey it worked out for all of us. The only thing that ended up being fought over was the Coconut Frosty Kakes. My son and husband both fell in love with them and kept fighting over who ate how many. Boy was I thankful when the box was gone.

Gingerbread Mini Donuts feature a bite-sized gingerbread flavored cake donut with cinnamon sugar coating.

Gingerbread Kandy Kakes consist of white confectionery coated gingerbread cakes with a creme filling.

Red Velvet Mini Donuts consist of a festive red cake donut lightly dusted with cream cheese flavored powdered sugar and are made with real cocoa!

Red Velvet Kandy Kakes feature a white confectionery coated red velvet cake with creme filling and are made with real cocoa!

Salted Caramel Mini Donuts feature a sweet cake donut coated in a caramel and salt flavored crumble.

Coconut Frosty Kandy Kakes feature sweet coconut flakes covered in a rich chocolate coating.

Maple Sweet Rolls feature a sweet roll with delicious maple filling and creamy icing.

Connect with Tastykake: 
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Disclosure: I received compensation in the form of product in exchange for my honest and unbiased thoughts. All thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brands.

Bakery On Main’s Bunches of Crunches - Cereal or Snack?

Some mornings as a mom can be quite hectic. I just don't always have time for a sit down breakfast some days either. Thankfully there are so many different options out there in place of a sit down meal. One of those options is Bakery On Main’s Bunches of Crunches. Yes it can be eaten as a cereal, but it can also be eaten dry too. I love it! If I'm not able to sit down I can pour some into a portable container or even take the resealable bag with me for easy eating on the go! Besides being portable I also like that it's a good for me option. It's not a super sugar coated cereal that leaves me feeling hungry after just a few hours. And because it looks like a chocolate coated food my kids were both quick to check it out too. I was actually quite surprised (and pleased) to find out how much they both liked them. Finally a breakfast food and snack that both of my kids enjoy that's good for them! Score one for this mommy.

Having a little taste of paradise with Paradise Pancakes at IHOP®

School is out, tropical vacations beckon, board shorts and bikinis are packed and ready to go – kick off the start of summer by digging into Paradise Pancakes at IHOP® Restaurants. Available for a limited time only, Paradise Pancakes are made fresh to order in delectable flavors you'll leave wanting more of. I had the chance to try the Strawberry Passion Fruit pancakes and oh my were they delectable. I loved the cheesecake layer between the pancakes and the flavor it gave them. I have to say this is one special I hope comes back around again because I'm loving it. We are hoping to get back to town to try the Pineapple Upside Down Pancakes before they are gone. If you like pancakes and you like fruit you'll definitely want to check these out!

IHOP Paradise Pancakes embrace the founders’ passion and include:

• Strawberry Passion Fruit – Decadent cheesecake layered between two of IHOP restaurants’ signature, made-to-order Buttermilk pancakes and topped with cool strawberries and Passion Fruit drizzle, crowned with whipped topping.

• Banana Macadamia Nut – IHOP restaurants’ famous Buttermilk pancakes filled with fresh sliced bananas, drizzled with Butter Rum sauce and topped with toasted Macadamia nuts. Adorned on top with whipped topping.

• Pineapple Upside Down – Sweet pineapple grilled inside our trademark Buttermilk pancakes and finished with Butter Rum sauce, a maraschino cherry and creamy whipped topping.

Paradise Pancakes will be available all day, every day at participating IHOP restaurants now through July 31, 2016.

It's snack time with Barbara’s

I'm one of those that will actually sit down with a box of cereal and eat it like I'm holding a bag of chips. Many times cereals taste just as good dry, if not better. And they are much better for you than a bag of chips for sure. I've found that I really like the Barbara's Vanilla Blast Snackimals this way ALOT. I mean I ate an entire box all by myself just from snacking on it. It has a light vanilla flavor that makes you think you're snacking on something indulgent, but really they are good for you. Packed with calcium, fiber and whole grains you can't go wrong.

Sometimes though you have to think "outside the box" when it comes to ways to use cereal beyond in a bowl at breakfast (or straight out of the box like I eat it). Barabar's even does that for you with the awesome section right on their website of ways to use their cereals in recipes. Of course of them all my favorite is the snacks section. I really like that many of the recipes incorporate fruits in them so it gives me the option to make a really healthy snack for my kids (or myself).

About:
Barbara’s is known for making delicious snacks and cereals from simple, wholesome ingredients. Committed to providing food options with excellent nutrition and great taste, Barbara’s cereals and snacks are made with high-quality ingredients and never include hydrogenated oil, high fructose corn syrup or refined white sugar. Additionally, the majority of the Barbara’s product portfolio is now Non-GMO Project Verified and 97% are made with Non-GMO ingredients.
 
Organic Snackimals Cereal – The first cereal in the natural and organic aisle with fun animal shapes, including lions, elephants and panda bears! This lightly sweetened, crunchy cereal is made with simple, good-for-you ingredients, such as organic corn and oat flour, has only 7g of sugar per serving, and contains prebiotics for digestive health. This nutritious and highly snackable breakfast cereal has 8g of whole grains per serving, is Non-GMO Project Verified, USDA Organic, fat free, and a good source of fiber and calcium.

Flavors: Cinnamon Crunch, Vanilla Blast, Chocolate Crisp

Barbara’s products are available at major retail grocery stores and natural food stores nationwide.

Connect with Barbara’s:
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Garden Lites® - sneaking in those veggies muffin style

We are one of those houses where someone tends to always be running behind. My son is especially guilty of this in the mornings before school. Many times he's running so far behind he gets up, dressed, and out the door. And that means he usually forgets breakfast. So I try to keep things on hand that he can grab quick and eat on the way to the bus. Most recently I added Garden Lites® to my inventory of breakfast on the go foods. One thing I really like about Garden Lites® is that they are 100% Non-GMO, only 100 calories, Gluten- Free, and completely vegetarian. So I know that my son is starting his day off right, and not with a Pop-Tart that is basically full of well...nothing good for him. Plus he has honestly not even began to suspect that they are good for him. He just saw the chocolate muffins and thought he was scoring big. Of course I'm not going to let him in on my little secret that they are actually filled with lots of veggies and good for him. I like them for an afternoon snack. I can pull one out of the freezer in the morning to thaw on the counter and by mid-day it's ready to be eaten. Any way you look at it they are great for breakfast or for a healthy snack any time of the day.

About:
Garden Lites® are made with fresh zucchini and carrots, both the Garden Lites Chocolate and Blueberry-Oat Muffins are delicious and filling treats whose first and main ingredients are vegetables! With just the right amount of sweetness and flavor, Garden Lites muffins are perfect for breakfast, lunch or as an anytime snack.

All of the Garden Lites varieties are gluten-free, vegetarian, low in calories, a good source of fiber, and Kosher Parve.  Each box contains individually wrapped 2-ounce muffins offering convenient portability on-the-go; they’re also very quick prep—Garden Lites muffins heat up in the microwave in only 35 seconds.  They can even be enjoyed with no prep at all at room temperature for an unbeatably quick snack.

Connect with Garden Lites:
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Double-Dipped French Toast Returns to the IHOP

I remember the first time I had the Double-Dipped French Toast at IHOP. (You can see my previous post here.) I immediately fell in love with the crispy outside and the yummy fruit topping. So naturally when I heard it was making a come back I was really excited about trying it again. I have to say I was a bit on the disappointed side this time though. Last time I went there was a bunch of fruit that was spread all over the top of my french toast. And as you can see this time it was just a small little bit. Heck I think there was more whipped cream than fruit. A little bit of a let down, but I still enjoyed it. I've worked in a restaurant before so I know that depending on who is working the kitchen food can come out different every day of the week. So I enjoyed what little fruit I did get and then used flavored syrup for the rest of my french toast.


IHOP restaurants are bringing back their newest innovation, Double Dipped French Toast-- soft brioche bread first dipped in vanilla batter, then dipped a second time in a coating of corn flakes and oatmeal and griddled perfectly to a crispy golden-brown, raising the bar for French toast at an affordable price.

Double Dipped French Toast is yet another example of why America turns to IHOP for breakfast any time of day—and has for over 57 years.  When it was introduced last summer, it became one of our most popular dishes, and guests have been eagerly awaiting its return. And it’s back in two new sweetly indulgent varieties:

Blackberry & Vanilla – Thick slices of Brioche bread dipped in our vanilla batter, then in cornflakes and oatmeal, griddled, and topped with plump blackberries and drizzled with vanilla sauce.

Banana, Peanut Butter & Chocolate – Thick slices of Brioche bread dipped in vanilla batter, then in cornflakes and oatmeal, griddled, and topped with sliced fresh bananas, chocolate chips and a drizzle of peanut butter sauce.

Guests can enjoy two slices of hand-crafted Double-Dipped French Toast any time of day as part of a combo with eggs, done the way they like them, their choice of crispy bacon, pork sausage links or a slice of grilled ham, and IHOP restaurants' signature golden hash browns;  or as an entrée stacked three slices high.

Double Dipped French toast will be available at participating IHOP restaurants between now and April 10, 2016.

New Little Bites Cinnamon French Toast Muffins are AWESOME! #GoodtoGo

I've always been a fan of Little Bites Muffins because they are a great at home or on the go breakfast. Sometimes busy mornings don't allow for a sit down breakfast and these are the perfect size for taking on the go. Plus they are bite size so you don't have to worry about making a mess either. The new Little Bites Cinnamon French Toast Muffins are an awesome seasonal addition the the Little Bites line. I love their sweet cinnamon flavor. It's like having french toast for breakfast without the messy syrup! Of course they are great for an after school snack too, just ask my daughter that's already gone through almost an entire box since they arrived this past weekend. :-)

Like your muffins warm? You can even put Little Bites Cinnamon French Toast Muffins in the microwave to add a little warmth to them. Just be sure to remove them from the package first and place them on a microwave safe plate. Microwave for 5-7 seconds (it doesn't take long) and then enjoy the delicious taste of warm cinnamon french toast muffins !

About:
Rise and shine! Soft and scrumptious muffins always make for a great breakfast treat! Joining the best-selling Entenmann’s® Little Bites® Muffins are the NEW! Little Bites Cinnamon French Toast Muffins. The Little Bites Cinnamon French Toast Muffins are the newest addition to the Little Bites seasonal line, and will be available starting February – May 2016.  These delicious golden baked snacks are made with just a hint of cinnamon and infused with maple syrup, making the perfect breakfast delight.

Connect with Entenmann’s:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Giveaway CLOSED - The winner has been notified via email and confirmed.

Win it:  One lucky reader will win (2) Boxes of Little Bites Cinnamon French Toast Muffins, (4) Little Bites Coupons (ARV $5 each) and an I Love Little bites Draw String Bag. This giveaway will end February 21st at 11:59 PM EST. The winner will have 24 hours to respond to my email. If no response, a new winner will be chosen.  Prize fulfillment will be made by the sponsor, I am not responsible for prize delivery or lost or stolen deliveries. Open to residents of the US.

Entry Method:  Please use Rafflecopter form to enter.

Enter the Entenmann’s Start the Rich Life with $5,000 Sweepstakes

If you've ever had Entenmann’s donuts you know just how good they are. I personally am quite impressed with how moist they are for boxed donuts. I'm not usually a fan of donuts unless they are fresh from the bakery, but Entenmann’s has found a way to preserve the fresh taste even in a box. And right now to help celebrate their bestselling donut they are hosting the Entenmann’s Start the Rich Life with $5,000 Sweepstakes. You can find all the details about it below as well as details about an awesome giveaway I'm sponsoring on behalf of Entenmann's.

Entenmann’s has been thinking rich for a long time, that’s why this January Entenmann’s will be hosting the “Entenmann’s Start the Rich Life with $5,000 Sweepstakes,” offering up to $15,000 in cash prizes and fun plush toys! If you’re one the lucky winners, here’s what you can win: one (1) Grand Prize winner will be awarded $5,000 in the form of a check, and you can head right to the bank! Ten (10) First Place Prize winners will be awarded $1,000 in the form of an American Express gift card, starting off the new year just right. And that’s not all; twenty five (25) Second Place Prize winners will receive a Rich Frosted Plush Toy. What better way to celebrate the Entenmann’s bestselling donut?

Are you ready to Start The Rich Life? 
Here’s the scoop: the Sweepstakes Period starts on January 11, 2016 at 12:00 a.m. ET and ends on March 15th, 2016 at 11:59 p.m. ET. During the Sweepstakes Period, visit the Entenmann’s page on Facebook and follow the directions provided to complete and submit the registration form to receive one (1) entry. Entries must be received by February 17, 2016 at 11:59 p.m. ET in order to be eligible. There is a limit of one (1) entry per person per day for the duration of the Sweepstakes Period. You may only use one (1) Facebook account/email address to enter the Sweepstakes. Potential winners will be selected in a random drawing on March 16th, 2016 from all eligible entries received throughout the Sweepstakes Period. Odds of wining a prize depend on the number of eligible entries received during that period. The Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia, 18 years of age or older as of the date of entry. Good luck!

Connect with Entenmann’s:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Giveaway CLOSED - The winner has been notified via email and confirmed.

Win it:  One lucky reader will win (4) Entenmann’s Coupons (ARV $7 each) and (1) custom Entenmann’s Start the Rich Life mug bank. This giveaway will end February 8th at 11:59 PM EST. The winner will have 24 hours to respond to my email. If no response, a new winner will be chosen.  Prize fulfillment will be made by the sponsor, I am not responsible for prize delivery or lost or stolen deliveries. Open to residents of the US.

Entry Method:  Please use Rafflecopter form to enter.

Make it breakfast time anytime at Denny's!

One thing I've always liked about eating at Denny's restaurant is that you can get breakfast anytime of the day. Not just during "breakfast hours" like some restaurants. I'm not one to eat a big breakfast in the morning so I like that I can visit Denny's and have my big breakfast for lunch or even dinner. Plus they have an awesome menu with lots of variety so I can choose whatever size meal I want based on how hungry I am.

Denny's even has an awesome array of value items starting from $2 for those on a tight budget, or that may just want a small meal (like a stack of pancakes) and not have to take home leftovers. Of course who doesn't like leftovers? That's one of my favorite parts about their Grand Slam meal. I get a full meal while dining in, and I have enough leftover for my usual sized breakfast the next day. Plus you can even make your Grand Slam just the way you want it by choosing four items from a wide selection on their menu under the Build Your Own Grand Slam. I'll be the first to admit I tend to be a little picky when dining out. I figure if I'm paying someone else to cook me a meal I want what I want and how I want. So I usually build my Grand Slam, that way I get my eggs just the way I like them (depending on my mood for the day that is).

Make sure if you're going to take the whole family to head on over on a Tuesday (participation may vary by location) because it's kid's night and that means extra savings for mom and dad! Plus they have an awesome kids menu that makes picking their meal extra easy. My daughter loves this because she can figure out all on her own what she wants to eat without us having to read through the entire menu for her.

Be sure to join Denny's Loyalty Rewards Program and receive money-saving coupons and news about their latest promotions!

Connect with Denny's:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Fall means it's time for everything pumpkin! And that means Pumpkin Pancakes at IHOP®

Pumpkin Pancakes, IHOP restaurants’ most popular seasonal item, is now available at participating restaurants throughout the country. Everyone can enjoy this fall-time treat, made with real pumpkin from now until January 3. If you are like me time can get away from you if you don't do something when you first learn about it and then you miss out all together. So we made a trip to IHOP to check them out over the weekend because I didn't want to miss out on them.

Each order of IHOP restaurants’ signature pumpkin pancakes, is made with real pumpkin and spices, and comes crowned with creamy whipped topping. You can order pumpkin pancakes alone, or as a combo served with two eggs, hash browns, and meat. As you can see I opted to do it up right and got the big combo with all of the meat options. I like to have a little leftovers so I always order bigger than I will eat.

And, for the first time ever, guests at participating IHOP restaurants can order a cup of piping hot pumpkin coffee that combines IHOP restaurants’ 100% Arabica International House Roast Original™ coffee with a touch of pumpkin syrup, made with real pumpkin, and then crowns the cup with whipped topping and a sprinkle of pumpkin spice sugar.

Both pumpkin pancakes and pumpkin coffee are available at participating restaurants until January 3.

And don't forget to stop in for Scary Face Pancakes available until the end of the month. Plus on Friday, October 30 IHOP is giving kids a special treat by offering its Scary Face pancakes for FREE to children 12 and under from 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Devour some Double-Dipped French Toast from IHOP®

The end of summer just got a little sweeter with new Double-Dipped French Toast from IHOP® Restaurants. This twist on the breakfast classic features soft brioche bread first dipped in vanilla batter, then dipped a second time in a coating of corn flakes and oatmeal and griddled perfectly to a crispy golden-brown. 

We recently made a trip to our local IHOP® and I tried out the Double-Dipped French Toast for myself. Strawberries are my favorite fruit so I tried the lemon strawberry. I have to say it was pretty darn good! I loved the coating on the french toast. The corn flakes and oatmeal gave it a nice crispy texture to the outside and it was a nice switch up from your average french toast. I wasn't real big on the lemon cream on the top so I passed that onto my husband to put on his pancakes. I'm not a big fan of some lemon flavored things so I was prepared before ordering I might not like that part. We are actually planning to go again this coming week while they still have the Double-Dipped French Toast and this time I'm going to substitute whipped topping for the lemon cream!

Guests can choose one of two flavor combinations:

• Cinnamon Sugar Double-Dipped French Toast – Soft brioche bread is first dipped in vanilla batter, then dipped a second time in crispy corn flakes and oatmeal, griddled, and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and whipped topping.

 

• Lemon Strawberry Double-Dipped French Toast – Soft brioche bread is first dipped in vanilla batter, then dipped a second time in crispy corn flakes and oatmeal, griddled, then topped with cool lemonade cream and glazed strawberries.

The Double-Dipped French Toast will be available at participating restaurants for a limited time until September 20.

The Retro Monsters Cereals are back - And this time with snacks! #retromonstercereal

Disclosure:The information and prize pack have been provided by General Mills through Platefull Co-Op.

I can remember eating the monster cereals as a child growing up. I always thought they were so cool and wondered why they didn't make a cartoon out of them. When things like this make a reappearance I'm always excited because then I can share them with my kids. Of course they don't always think everything from my childhood is cool. However, they did think these cereals were awesome. I think it was the marshmallow pieces, but my son said it was the taste of the cereal itself. He even went as far as asking to open all three boxes at once so he could mix them to see how they would taste all together. I thought it was a little strange, but both kids seemed to enjoy it. Who knows? Maybe it will hit the shelves someday as Monster Mix-ups or something crazy like that.

This time when the cereals came out they were accompanied by some awesome snack items too. My daughter and I had fun putting the "tattoos" on our tongues from the Fruit Roll-Ups. As for the Count Chocula Treats..well, my son ate the entire box minus the one my daughter was able to get her hands on when the box was first opened. Let me tell you she was NOT happy. Looks like this mommy will be heading to Target this weekend to stock up on some monster snacks before they are gone too!

About:
The Retro Monsters are back! Count Chocula, Boo Berry and Franken Berry cereals are once again hitting the shelves at Target in their retro packaging and they’ve brought Monsters snack items for you to enjoy as well. Try Count Chocula Treats, Boo Berry Fruit Roll-Ups and Franken Berry Fruit Roll-Ups in special retro packaging, found exclusively at Target. Perfect for nostalgic cereal fans and Halloween lovers, Monsters cereals and snacks are fun for the whole family. You can see more about The Retro Monsters on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/HelloCerealLovers.

The Prepared Pantry - An easy way to a healthy breakfast!

Are you like me and have vowed to stop buying so much pre-made breakfast foods like waffles and pancakes? I just can't see spending the extra money on a product that's not nearly as good for my kids as making them myself. Plus homemade waffles and pancakes are always taste so much better, at least that's the opinion in my house. With the Prepared Pantry you can make them both with mixes like their Multigrain Pancake and Waffle Mix with Ancient Grains. And you're even sneaking in something a little extra with this mix and it's Ancient grains. I was afraid having the added texture in the pancakes might turn my kids away, but both of them actually said they loved them and asked if I could make extra to keep in the freezer for them for school days. Now this is something a mother loves to hear, kids wanting to eat something that's good for them.

The kids had simple pancakes with peanut butter and syrup while my husband had what he called a pancake bomb. He likes to make his breakfast into a full blown meal while we like to keep it simple. Either way everyone loved the mix and now we are searching for the next product to try from The Prepared Pantry. I really like the idea of cooking from scratch, but sometimes I just don't have enough time in my day to do that. With The Prepared Pantry I can fix foods that are both easy to use and are good for my family too.

About The Prepared Pantry:
The Prepared Pantry is a family-owned business located in Rigby, Idaho.  The company sells baking mixes, kitchen tools, baking ingredients, and gourmet foods.

Make sure you check out their weekly specials too for some really awesome deals as well as their weekly FREEBIE!

Target now has NEW Big G Cereal Flavors #HelloCerealLovers

Have you seen the new General Mills cereals that are now on the market? They are Chocolate Toast Crunch, Fiber One Protein, and Multigrain Cheerios Dark Chocolate Crunch. Yes that's right even more great chocolaty flavor to enjoy and love! I always get secretly excited when I see new cereals out that are made with chocolate. I try to steer clear of eating a lot of candy with chocolate so to me this is a special treat. I like to eat cereal not just in the mornings, but also as a healthy snack through out the day.  Sometimes I even sprinkle some cereals over my vanilla yogurt to give it some extra flavor and pizazz.

Save now!
You can print coupons online through any of the General Mills brand websites. You can find out more information at GeneralMills.com. And if you can pair them up with the awesome sales at Target you can save even more!

A bit little about each new cereal:
Multigrain Cheerios Dark Chocolate Crunch: Dark chocolate flavored O’s and clusters coming together to make wholesome Multi Grain Cheerios even more delicious!

Fiber One Protein: The powerful combination of Protein and Fiber in a delicious granola cereal that helps you feel full!
 
Chocolate Toast Crunch: The irresistible squares you love now with the delicious taste of Chocolate!

Disclosure: General Mills sent me this information and these new Big Cereals through their Platefull Co-op program.

Dark Chocolate Multigrain Cheerios Review #Cheerios #PlatefullCoOp #spon

With a touch of rich dark chocolate taste in every bite, new Dark Chocolate Multigrain Cheerios® cereal offers a perfect balance of multigrain goodness and a delicious touch of chocolate taste in every bite.

When this box arrived on my door step I was kind of excited. I mean really who doesn't get excited over anything covered in chocolate? To me it screamed out snack time delight. Of course my kids had a whole other idea. I was lucky to even get the one handful of the cereal I did. My kids literally went through this box of cereal in two days. I always buy cereal that I think my kids will like, but is also healthy for them too. I try to steer clear of the sugar coated cereals. I want to send them off to school feeling good and I want it to last longer than the time it takes a sugar rush to wear off. Needless to say I was only a little surprised at how well they liked the new Cheerios cereal. I knew they would be excited to try it since they saw the word chocolate on the box. But I also knew they weren't really big fans of plain Cheerios so I wasn't sure if they'd even try it since it contained those also. I am glad they did though because this is going to be a new staple in our house. It not only tasted great, but it's also good for them (and me) both for breakfast and a snack.

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Disclosure: The information and prize pack have been provided by General Mills through Platefull Co-Op.

Cheerios Family Breakfast Project - Take the 7/7 Challange #FamilyBreakfast

Cheerios believes that when families connect over breakfast, amazing things can happen. That’s why they’re partnering with the Family Dinner Project, a grass roots movement whose mission is to help families everywhere access the benefits that come from connecting over a meaningful family meal, to launch the Family Breakfast Project.

As part of the Family Breakfast Project, Cheerios they are encouraging families to take 7 minutes for 7 days to have family breakfast and explore the possibilities that brings. After all, breakfast is the meal of shared possibilities.

My take: 
I received a package that contained the above items pictured as well as simple meal prep ideas, fun activities, and breakfast recipes. I was really excited about this project because breakfast has always been one of those hurry up lets get it done things in my household. I took a few minutes and browsed through the packet I received and here are a few things I read and was excited to try:

1. Encourage children to get their clothes out the night before to save time in the morning. It also included a Clothing Checklist you can hang up for younger children so they know what all they need to get ready.

2. A recipe for Jumbo Breakfast Cookies. I enjoyed this because my kids were able to help me prepare the cookies one evening after school, and they could customize them with things like raisins or other add-ins.

3. Various questions and activities I could do with my children either while they were eating breakfast or later in the day to keep the momentum going.

You can find these things and more on the Family Breakfast Project website. You can even find a link to sign up for a daily email to receive each of the seven days of Family Breakfast sent right to your inbox. And of course there are coupons and loads of recipes you can check out. I really liked that there are so many recipe ideas for the plain Cheerios. My kids have this mindset that because they are plain they don't "like them". But now that I'm equipped with lots of recipe ideas using them I can show them that they are not only good for them, but taste good too!

Celebrate the Holidays with Pillsbury® Cinnamon Rolls!

Throughout the school year I like to always have simple and quick breakfast options available for my kids. One of those is using Pillsbury® Cinnamon Rolls and making them into ready to warm and eat portions. They are great for busy mornings when you wake up late, or are just running behind.  Or maybe with a little ice cream for desert too!

Here's a really cute recipe I'm planning to try next week for my kids for Christmas morning. Cinnamon Roll Christmas Tree It's from the Pillsbury® Holiday Recipe Collection. We always have warm cinnamon rolls for Christmas breakfast and this cute idea will be lots of fun and a nice surprise for the kids.

Disclosure: I was provided with a coupon to facilitate my review. No other form of compensation was received and all thoughts and opinions are my own.