Review: Disney On Ice - Let's Celebrate

This review was written by my friend Melissa, whom I gave the opportunity to review Disney on Ice: Let's Celebrate for Save Green Being Green.

My two boys (ages 9 & 7), my husband and I went to Disney on Ice: Let's Celebrate at the Target Center in Minneapolis. First of all, our seats were great!! Center ice and not a bad distance away. My boys were a little worried walking in seeing a lot of young kids going to the show. Once we found our seats and the show started they changed their minds rather quickly.

 First up was of course Mickey and Minnie with the "brooms". The brooms were great skaters and the fact that they looked like they were glowing really caught my boys and my attention. I personally LOVE watching skating and also love Disney so I needed no convincing that this show was going to be fantastic! Then, out came the princesses. Of course for boys they are not a usual highlight, but because of the music, special effects and the great 'couple' skating we were all mesmerized!!

Next were the villains. Of course that got my boys attention, they loved the villains, mostly Captain Hook! Great acting from all. Next was Lilo, Stitch and family. My boys really liked watching them when they were younger so it was fun to see them in "real life"!!

Then came Toy Story!! Once again another favorite for my boys! We couldn't believe how the dinosaur, pig and a few others could even skate in their costumes!!


The professional skaters, special effects like 'fireworks', the color changing ice with each group or couple depending on what color they were wearing and lighting the ice on fire made this show one we all enjoyed to the fullest! Disney definitely knows how to grab the attention of all ages, young, old and in between!! We would definitely go again when they come back to Minnesota! Thank you Disney for a wonderful family night!! Thank you Feld Entertainment and Jessica (Save Green Being Green) for the wonderful seats!!

This show will be performed all weekend at the Target Center, so why not go check it out for yourself!

Free passes from Feld Entertainment were provided for the purpose of reviewing Disney on Ice on this blog. No monetary compensation was received. All thoughts, opinions, and pictures belong to SGBG. 

Fitness Friday: DIY Medals from Juice Lids

This was a fun project that hardly cost anything. If you have all the supplies, this could be a no-cost project. I had most of the supplies, but I did buy the thick red ribbon, but it was in the big bin of $1 ribbon at Michael's but I could have used other ribbon I had leftover or yarn if I wanted, but this was the look I was going for. The red and white ribbon was leftover from when I made these Rolled Fabric Rosettes and matching dresses for my daughter and her American Girl Doll.

The large medals are made from juice lids and the smaller medals are made from the ends of tubes of croissants. I painted them with paint I had in gold, silver and bronze. Then just cut the ribbon and hot glued it to the back.

These would be a lot of fun to give to kids if you have some kind of race or obstacle course at a playgroup or for a neighborhood picnic. Or try our Hopscotch With Our Rules (much more fun and interesting!). Get kids exercising by providing external motivation and don't forget to join them because kids love modeling behavior!

Want some other ideas of things to make with Juice Lids? Check out this list:

• Memory Game
• Snowman Activity
• Chalkboard Gift Tags
• Plant Markers #1
• Plant Markers #2
• Coasters
• Vertical Name Plaque
• Dishwasher Sign
• Magic Princess Wand

Thrifty Thursday: Currentcodes.com

I just wanted to share with you my go to place to find online coupons. Just this week I was placing at order at World Market (they have an awesome sale on 750mL Torani syrups for $3.99 each - THAT's HALF OFF!!!, check it out! It might still be there, I placed my order on Monday) and before I clicked the submit button I went over to CurrentCodes.com to see if there was any coupons to use and sure enough there was a 10% off coupon. Score! That pretty much paid for my shipping & handling. So, I was happy since I was going to order regardless of a coupon or not, so it pays to check.

If you do buy the Torani syrups, I have a few recipes on Save Green Being Green using

• Gingerbread Latte
• Gingerbread Martini
• Santa's Helper Hot Cocoa

I will probably be posting some new recipes using these syrups in future since I bought 4 new flavors, but mostly I just use them to make fancy coffee drinks at home. Plus I bought a couple bags of World Market Costa Rican coffee too. Coffee Date Anyone??

There are NO affiliate links in this post and I was not compensated or given anything. I just want to share this information with my readers and hope to save you some money.

Wordless Wednesday: Orlando Science Museum

Orlando Science Museum

Review: Slugterra - Heroes of the Underground DVD

My review will give you a sneak peak at the new DVD to hit store shelves on March 4th called Slugterra: Heroes of the Underground. My son was instantly drawn to this DVD when I took it out of the envelope without even having any experience with it. He is such a boy-boy! Anything that is typically a male gender-typed toy, interest, whatever.....he is just drawn too and this was no exception.

He watched the entire thing within a few viewings, as it is 110 minutes of run time with 5 episodes and 2 bonus features. So, there is plenty to see and keep kids entertained. When I asked him what he liked best he said it was that the slugs were funny to watch and with slug names like Burpy, you can certainly see why he would think it is funny.

From Shout Factory!

Get ready to slug it out! On March 4, 2014, Shout! Factory Kids, in collaboration with Nerd Corps Entertainment, will release SLUGTERRA: HEROES OF THE UNDERGROUND, an all-new DVD collection of Nerd Corp’s highly popular animated action series! Delivering five action-filled episodes and captivating entertainment that kids are sure to enjoy, the DVD will also feature bonus content including a look behind the scenes of Slugterra, plus bonus animated Slugisodes. The DVD has a suggested retail price of $14.97 and can be pre-ordered by visiting ShoutFactory.com

Slugterra is an epic sci-fi comedy adventure set deep underground, where the ammo’s alive and only the quick survive! In this luminous, high-tech, underground world, every cavern holds a new adventure, a new battle and weird little slugs to be discovered.

I was sent the video for review. All thought, opinions and pictures are my own. No monetary compensation was received.

Try It Tuesday: Paper Plate Olympic Rings

Maybe your not done with the Winter Olympics even though they are officially over, or perhaps you are thinking ahead for the next Summer Olympics, or maybe you just want some kind of fun and easy craft project involving paper plates and this fits the bill.

Whatever the reason, it's a fun project with just some paint, paper plates, scissors and tape.

Start by having your kids paint the exterior ring of a paper plate. Mine had an embossed interior ring so it made it easy for them to see exactly where they were supposed to paint to.

Let them dry, this may take 10 minutes or as long as a couple of hours, depending upon how thick the paint is.

Cut a slit through the yellow and green rings only. That's it. Those are the only 2 that you need to weave through the other colors.

Weave through the yellow and green rings so they looks like the Olympic Rings. Hide the slit behind one of the other rings and tape in to place. That's it!

GIVEAWAY and Review: Pancake Pile Up Board Game

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Recently we received the game Pancake Pile-Up Relay Game to review. This has been such a fun snow day game and any one who lives in Minnesota knows we have had plenty of snow or cold days that school has been cancelled. What I love is that it is a movement game and we have really needed that with being cooped up inside so much this winter. But it's just not movement, it is also identification and pattern recognition as well as fine and gross motor skills work. And if you do it as a relay it works on teamwork and any way you play it there is the opportunity to work on good sportsmanship skills.

I have played this game with my daughter the most. She couldn't wait to open it up and was begging and begging the couple days we had it sitting on the table unopened. Then 8" of snow happened with blizzard conditions. We don't have many movement board games, so this was a welcome change. I have played this with my son too, but he hasn't liked playing against his older, competitive sister. I do hope to play it as a family relay soon.

And if you look at the picture from the company of them playing outdoors, well, let;s just say I have fond ideas of making an obstacle course relay using this game involving hula hoops, a kiddie pool, plastic cones and sidewalk chalk. Wanna come over to play this summer?

Product Description from Educational Insights

Order up! It’s a busy day at the diner, so don’t dilly-dally. Help your customers get just what they ordered
by racing the other servers to the grill, relay style, and piling up pancakes in precisely the right order in this stack ‘em high, serve ‘em up, relay race game!

Shh… They’re learning! Develops gross motor skills, balance, and coordination Teaches following a sequence, a beginning math skill Encourages social skills from teamwork to being a good sport Cut to the Chase Players race, relay-style, to stack and serve the pile of pancakes that matches their menu cards Fun and physical – a great energy outlet! Active-play game builds skills for school success For ages 4 and up. SRP: $17.99. Available at www.educationalinsights.com and specialty stores.

Find out more information about Educational Insights online:

Website

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Pinterest

Be sure to sign up for their newsletter on the Educational Insights website to get a 

10% off coupon!

ONE LUCKY READER WILL ALSO RECEIVE THE PANCAKE PILE-UP GAME!!!

ENTER RAFFLECOPTER FORM BELOW

a Rafflecopter giveaway


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Make It Monday: Chocolate Almond Date Protein Balls

I was experimenting again because I couldn't find the protein balls recipe I made before with chia seeds and wheat germ and then I bought some dates because I had seen a different one that used dates and well, I couldn't find that one I liked either. I guess I should have pinned it. So, if you like this one, be sure to pin it so you don't forget where you found the recipe. This is a delightful clean eating recipe and it makes up a whole bunch, so you can easily go in the fridge and grab 3 of them for a quick snack.

Chocolate Almond Date Protein Energy Balls

1 C dried dates (soak for an hour before making the recipe if they are not very soft)
1 C unsalted almonds
2 T baking cocoa
2 T chia seeds
1 T honey
2 T natural peanut butter
2 T coconut oil
2 scoops chocolate protein powder


Directions:

• In a food processor, combine ALL ingredients on high. You may pulverize almonds first, but I didn't need to.
• Shape/Press in to 1" balls
• Makes 30 balls
• Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks

Pinterest Looming

Just a few projects I have made on my looms that I found the patterns on Pinterest. All the pictures below are projects that I have made, but I did include a link to the inspiration page I found on pinterest.

Barbie Dress from Loom A Hat

Valentine Heart (made in to an ornament) on Squidoo

Snowflake Ornement from Loom Lore

Yarn and Twig Dandelions from luvinthemommyhood

Slow Cooker Saturday: Ham and Bean Soup

I find that this is a great soup to make with leftover ham. This past Christmas I cubed all the leftover ham we didn't eat sandwiches with so that it would be ready to use in Ham and Bean Soup and Split Pea Soup (coming later!) You won't actually be reading this post until much later because of my post scheduling. Think ahead for your Easter Ham or maybe just a Sunday Ham that you might have leftovers from. Great recipe for clean eating too!

Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup Recipe

 1 1/2 C ham, cubed (add ham bone too if you have one and have room)
2 - 15.5 oz cans of Great Northern Beans
1/2 med. onion, chopped
2 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped *use only 1 tsp if using dried
1 tsp dried basil
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 C carrots, sliced or chopped
1 med potato, peeled and chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
4 C broth
Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Enjoy!

Fitness Friday: My First Virtual Race

Image Credit: Jane Theriault

Here we go! Some thing to check off my
2014 Fitness Goals list (this wasn't on their specifically, but I planned to add more races to my goals.) I have completed a Virtual 5K! I did it on the treadmill because it was below zero all morning on the day I decided to complete it.

I remember when I said I wouldn't run outside if it was below freezing, but then last year I was training for my first half marathon and needed to go outside and amended my training minimum temperature to above zero, so being that it was -17 when I brought my daughter to school and -4 when I was ready to run, the treadmill was the desired place.

I don't always like running on my treadmill because my body feels like it is
making me run significantly faster than what it says. And then when I get outside and run with the same feeling in my body I end up with a much faster time, which makes me smile. So, my time here isn't my best, but just happy to be under 30min for a 5K. Guess I need to work back up to a sub-9min/mi.

Anyways, a little bit about the race. It was put on by a fellow Sweat Pink Ambassador, Jane Theriault . She is running to raise money for the Annual Fund at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston as a benefactor for her 2014 Boston Marathon fundraising. This virtual 5K is one of the ways she is raising money.

Image Credit: Jane Theriault

Next up on the goals list is to find a fun race that my daughter and I can do together. We have done shorter ones, like 1 mile, but now she has agreed to do a 5K with me. She really wants to do the Color Run like I did before, but I think I might find something a little different. I didn't care for trying to get all that color out of my blond hair and white skin last time, as it kinda stains.

DVD Review: The Adventures of Chuck & Friends: Trucks Versus Wild

I had the opportunity to review The Adventures of Chuck and Friends: Trucks Versus Wild by Shout Factory with my family. When the review opportunity presented itself I knew that my 4 year old son was going to be super excited to help me out with this review. My kids are always excited to help me review, especially when it is something with them in mind. He has never seen any Chuck and Friends cartoons, but he does have a handful of the toys that he plays with, so he was very familiar with the characters. He really enjoyed watching it and I am sure he is going to start educating me more about cars and trucks after watching it over and over.

This DVD consists of 10 different episodes, as well as a bonus feature of a brand new sing-a-long. The DVD provides approx. 110 minutes of entertainment for children that is sprinkled with lessons of social skills, interpersonal relationships and a tidbit of automotive maintenance knowledge as well. The DVD was released last month (actually, exactly a month ago) so you can already buy this DVD on Amazon.

From Shout Factory:

The unbelievably fun adventures of Chuck, the little dump truck with big dreams, and his friends—Digger, Handy, Rowdy, Biggs, Boomer and Flip — continue on January 21, 2014 with the release of The Adventures of Chuck & Friends: Trucks Versus Wild on DVD from Shout! Factory Kids. Featuring 10 more exciting episodes from The Adventures Of Chuck & Friends, watch as Chuck and the gang have adventures with a helpful mechanic, a camping trip, a star-studded trip to the beach and more in these awesome cartoons guaranteed to put fun into high gear!

GIVEAWAY and Review: Del-Monte Fruit Cup Snack and Fruit Burst Squeezers

I had the opportunity to review Del Monte Fruit Burst Squeezers and Del Monte Fruit Snack Cups in new Mango varieties with my family. 

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. 
• 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.

MY THOUGHTS:

We tried out one variety of each the fruit and fruit and veggie squeezers. I really like the concept of these squeezer products. They are awesome of bringing along in your purse and giving to your child as a snack. They are shelf stable and do not need refrigeration, so they are an easy healthy snack to bring along. I often carry along fresh fruit, but then I am met with complaints from my children that they don't want to eat one of them because it has a bruise on it from being knocked around. They squeezers provide me with the opportunity of offing them a snack made of fruit and not have complaints. I also like that they are mess free and can be re-sealed. Usually my kids eat the whole thing right away, but if they don't we can easily save it for later and they can finish it, so there is no food waste. I don't like to waste food.

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.

MY THOUGHTS:

I do buy fruit snack cups for my kids. They are a quick and easy thing to throw in to the lunch bag if I don't have any fresh fruit available. What I really like is these new varieties that contain mango which I have not seen before. My daughter really loves mango and we buy a fresh mango often, so often in fact that I even have a mango slicer, which make cutting a mango easier but it is still a bit tedious. She really enjoyed these cups. I thought the syrup it sat in was a bit on the sweet side but you can drain that out if you wanted. My daughter likes it and drinks it.

My daughter is a HUGE mango fan and was so excited when she saw what had arrived for us to try out and review! Of course, she thought they were all for her and then there is my son who is a BIG squeezer fan and he thought these must all be for him. Reluctantly they have both been sharing the items they were hoping for each one of them. I am super excited I was given some more coupons and a Wal-Mart gift card to be able to try out more varieties of Del Monte fruit.

Del Monte Fruit Cups and Fruit Squeezers are available at your local Wal-Mart. You can even order them from the Wal-Mart website or check their availability at your local one. That will come in quite handy for the winner who will receive to free product coupons!

ONE LUCKY READER WILL WIN 2 FREE DEL-MONTE PRODUCT COUPONS AND

A $25 WAL-MART GIFT CARD!!!!!

ENTER RAFFLECOPTER FORM BELOW

a Rafflecopter giveaway
I was given the above products from Del Monte and coupons and gift card to purchase more Del Monte products for the purpose of review on this blog. No other monetary compensation was received. All thoughts, opinions and pictures are my own. The Del Monte products, information, gift pack, and gift card have been provided by Del Monte. 

Thrifty Thursday: Lowes Build and Grow - Claw Game

The next project to build at a Lowe's Build and Grow is this Claw Game! How fun is that! I have signed up both of my kids and I am sure they are going to have as much fun playing with it as they do building it. Don't wait too long to sign up! Some of these fill up really fast.

SIGN UP HERE!!!

Wordless Wednesday: Sledding at Straight River Park