77kids Holiday Sneak Peek & Charity Launch - Giveaway

Today we attended the grand opening and holiday sneak peek & charity launch at the brand new location of 77kids in Ross Park Mall!  77kids is part of the American Eagle family and they have clothing for children from size 0-3 months to children's size 14.  The designs are fresh and fun!  Everything is constructed well, reinforced, and the pants have adjustable waists (score!).

Our main purpose for attending was to be introduced to the store and learn about the launch of their holiday charity efforts.  Watch this video for an overview of how you can donate from in the store:



In addition to donating in the store you can also help to raise money for local children's hospitals by making your very own snowflake once a day between today - December 14th!  77kids is asking for 100,000 snowflakes to be made so that they can donate an additional $25,000 to local children's hospitals, this particular store is donating to the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC.  The BEST part is that for every snowflake you make you are entered to win gift cards (they are giving away one $77 gift card DAILY!!!) and one lucky person will win a winter block party for them and 77 of their closest friends!  Sounds like a blast!  Making a snowflake takes about 2 minutes and the kids can have fun with this too!

77kids has graciously offered a $50 gift card for me to give to one of my lucky readers! Will it be you?  Submit your entries until 11:59 pm December 2nd!  I will contact the winner the following day and you'll have 48 hours to reply, if you do not reply I will have to move on to the next person on the list.

Here's how to enter:

Required for Entry - 
* Make a snowflake here and "like" 77kids on Facebook or Follow @77kids on Twitter.  Leave a comment here telling me you created your snowflake and either "liked" or followed.  INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS OR TWITTER NAME SO THAT I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN!  

Bonus Entries - You'll get ONE EXTRA ENTRY for each of these below, just be sure to leave a separate comment for each of them noting what you did AND INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS OR TWITTER NAME!

*Tweet this: 

"@CaraRolinson is Giving Away a $50 gift card to @77kids! http://goo.gl/twdIs #77kids  "

Leave a comment here letting me know you Tweeted INCLUDE A LINK TO YOUR TWEET and EMAIL ADDRESS OR TWITTER NAME.

* Share your snowflake on Facebook.  Leave a comment here letting me know you shared INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS OR TWITTER NAME.

* Follow Me with Google Friend Connect, leave a comment here letting me know you followed me INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS OR TWITTER NAME. (if you already have connected via GFC then just leave a comment stating this is the case)

* Follow Me on Twitter, leave a comment here letting me know you followed me INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS OR TWITTER NAME. (if you already have connected via Twitter then just leave a comment stating this is the case)

****I was compensated for this post.  However, my thoughts and feelings on 77kids, their stores and their charity launch mentioned above are my own and are 100% honest to how I feel about them.****

Traveling... again... Marie Callender's to the rescue! (review and a giveaway!)

******   CONTEST CLOSED AS OF 12/1/2010 ********






Well, Chris is at it again!  He's out of town for 11 days and I'm home alone with the kids daydreaming of traveling to Prague with my family one day.  The good part, we're on the upswing with only 4 days left!  whoo!  When Chris travels I look for easy meal options. I keep things simple as best as I can and I usually order out once (or twice).  I also use some frozen foods to help us save time too!  That's why when I was asked to do this review of the new Marie Callender's meals I JUMPED at the opportunity because the timing could NOT have been any better!


Marie Callender's just launched a new product called Marie Callender's new Baked Meals!  They are family sized meals that appeal to the whole family.  I had the opportunity to pick a few meals to try and I would like to report back there was NO disappointment what-so-ever!  I picked Creamy Chicken Alfredo with Sun Dried Tomatoes, Scalloped Potatoes & Ham in a Creamy Swiss Cheese Sauce and Southwestern Style Chipotle Chicken Bake.  I liked all three, the Southwestern Chipotle Chicken Bake was my favorite though.  There are three others that I am interested in trying too especially the Chicken, Spinach, and Mushroom Lasagna (doesn't that sound YUM?)


All of them can be baked in a conventional oven or microwave.  I used the microwave heating option for all three and was impressed with the outcome.  You know when you bake something cheesy and creamy and the edges and peeks get a nice golden color?  Well, they achieved this in a microwave dish!  How? I have NO clue!  


I used these meals as the main portion of our meals, I added salad and a fresh vegetable as sides to complete each meal.  They fed the three of us perfectly (with some left over too!) and the boys actually asked for seconds!  THAT never happens!


Other than the really flavorful ingredients, another HUGE selling point is the price!  These retail for a little less than $6.00!  That means you can feed a family of four EASILY for $10 or less using Marie Callender's Baked Meals!  I think that's GREAT!  


In addition to asking me to review their new baked meals they have given me some AWESOME coupons to giveaway to my readers!  The winner will receive the following: (2) coupons, each good for (1) FREE Marie Callender's Bakes AND a few other coupon goodies too!  **** This giveaway runs until November 30th at 11:59 pm.  Winner will be announced December 1st!

How you can enter:
Required for Entry - 
* Leave one comment below sharing what Marie Callender's Baked Meal you would like to try (You can flip through the options here) INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS OR TWITTER NAME SO THAT I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN!  


Bonus Entries - You'll get ONE EXTRA ENTRY for each of these below, just be sure to leave a separate comment for each of them noting what you did AND INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS OR TWITTER NAME!


*Tweet this: 
"@CaraRolinson is Giving Away Marie Callender's Baked Meals Coupons! Come join the fun: http://goo.gl/n9FSI "
Leave a comment here letting me know you Tweeted INCLUDE A LINK TO YOUR TWEET & EMAIL ADDRESS OR TWITTER NAME.


* Follow Me with Google Friend Connect, leave a comment here letting me know you followed me INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS OR TWITTER NAME. (if you already have connected via GFC then just leave a comment stating this is the case)


* Follow Me on Twitter, leave a comment here letting me know you followed me INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS OR TWITTER NAME. (if you already have connected via Twitter then just leave a comment stating this is the case)

****I was compensated to write this review.  However, my thoughts and feelings on the products mentioned above are my own and are 100% honest to how I feel about the product.****

Jour 280 - Audio assignment

As most of you know, I am currently taking classes.  This is for an assignment.  Don't judge, it's the first time I've mixed something together using real audio mixing tools and not multiple tape decks and the record button on a boom box....  to quote a fell "burgh blogger" please just bloop bloop bloop to the next post ;)

Total Mom Makeover - W1D2

11-12-2010
My vision:

1. I am an energetic mom, I feed my family healthy home cooked meals and fresh foods daily.  I'm happy and smile and rarely yell at my kids.  My house is clean and tidy inside and out.  I am relaxed and not controlling of my kids and husband.  My clothing is need and tidy and I look fashionable and put together. If my clothes fit well, I feel good!

2. my visual perspective.

Total Mom Makeover - W1D1

1. My Should's:

I should do 1-2 loads of laundry a day - including folding.
I should take junk mail directly to the trash instead of setting in the table, end of the counter, in the roll-top or with the bills.
I should clean up lunch as soon as we're finished eating.
I should wipe down the table after every meal.
I should sweep the dining room floor at least once a day, preferable after dinner.
I should make the beds.
I should plan meals a few days in advance.
I should get up earlier than the kids.
I should drink more water.
I should workout today.
I should vacuum the stairs and 2nd floor waaay more often than I do.
I should be a little more patient with my kids and cut down on the yelling.

2. Writing it in stone:

I have decided to create a better household by correcting my deficiencies.  I will do so by decreasing my procrastinations, getting up earlier, preparing my families daily needs in advance and not so last minute.  I will create more time for me and my running, knitting/crafting.  I will have a cleaner home and more time for quality relaxing with my family.