New snack ideas and a giveaway

So, I had every intention of posting this last Monday to coincide with the first day of school here in Houston. I obviously didn't manage that. Somehow the first week of school totally kicked my butt. 4 kids in 3 schools with one left at home will do that to you.

First, I have to share a new idea I have had with snacking. Throughout the last school year I have tried to get snacks somehow organized. I started posting a piece of paper listing what the kids could have on the fridge about mid way through last school year. That was nice, but never intended to be permanent, just a trial. I liked it and ended up keeping it through the school year. The only problem with it was that it was just paper and not easily changeable. With this give away I got a wipe board which just took the place of the paper. Why didn't I think of that before???? I'm actually thinking of eventually getting a new one for lunches, but that is another time and post - it is my next goal.  (Sorry for the super sad picture of the wipe board - I had 2 pictures that were better but tried to turn them clockwise and they disappeared.  Not sure where they went.  I will tell you that I have 3 columns - make is small under the logo, green bucket in the center and fridge.  I just change what is under each topic by what I have available.)
My other big idea (for me at least) was my new dry snack bucket. In the bucket there are all sorts of dry snacks - chips, pretzels, home made trail mix, fruit bars, or whatever I've made or bought. I did that last week and loved it. It works for a snack inside a lunch, an afternoon snack, or dry snack for the kindergartener to take. This has solved lots of problems. Although I have a list posted, kids always come in and ask what they can have. I refer them to the list  (which includes bucket items, fridge items like yogurt or string cheese or items they can make like popcorn or smoothies.) That saves time in the afternoon and also when packing up for school. I also like that it portions food items. Last week I went through a large costco sized bag of potato chips in 2 days because no one has portion control when eating chips. (No one else has that problem right?) Anyway, I'm loving the organization it is giving me. Next goal - somehow streamline the home lunch making.


Now for my giveaway.

This is a perfect giveaway for the beginning of school/snack post!
I have the following to give away

The prize pack is for the treats -one package of Lucky Charms, and one package of Golden Grahams.  I tried to save these treats for the first day of school, but they didn't make it.  (Actually I was fine with that since I had hoped to post this on the first day of school and wanted the kids to try them.)  Of course the kids loved them because they are what they say - treats.  The Lucky Charms one is marshmallow, and the Golden Grahams one is chocolate.  These did go in the snack bucket and of course are gone already.  They were fun and tasty.  Plus if you collect boxtops for your school, each box has 2.  Extra added bonus. 

I actually liked the rest of the prize pack as well.  In addition to the snacks, you get

• colored pencils (these look pretty interesting - I think they are made out of paper or something - they have a swirly design.  Lots of fun.)
• wipe board - I already mentioned above that I'm using this for my snack list as we speak.  Very handy.  
• an insulated bag.  This bag looks very nice, but would be for something like a picnic or snacks for the soccer game or something because it is a medium large size.   It will come in very handy - I just haven't used it this first week of school.

"Disclosure: Cereal Treats Bars, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark."  I received the same prize pack I am giving away but my opinions are my own.

My giveaway question is totally selfish today.  I'm always on the lookout for new snack ideas for myself and my kiddos.  Sooo....

To enter the giveaway,

• leave a comment telling me your favorite snack (for yourself or your kids.)  

Contest will run through Friday at noon.  Winner will be chosen by random.org.  Good luck!

I'll start off with what is listed on our wipe board right now - not that any of these are my "favorite"
Make - smoothies (I usually make green smoothies with lots of fruit.) or popcorn (I air pop it, top it with spray butter then salt, cheese mix or 'pizza' mix)
Snack bucket - chips, trail mix, popcorn balls, veggie straws, craisins, raisins, peanut butter pretzels
Fridge - string cheese, apple, orange, plum, yogurt, celery, carrots

If I had to pick a favorite of the kids for my oldest ???  My second - definitely smoothies, my 3rd - pizza popcorn, and the youngest ?? depends on the day.  He likes yogurt a lot and freeze dried fruit.  I myself am partial to yogurt or trail mix, but that too depends on the day.

Land o lakes cinnamon sugar butter giveaway

Guess what??  I am doing my first giveaway!!

So a while back I signed up at my blog spark to do surveys and giveaways.  I couple of weeks ago they sent me the opportunity to do a giveaway.  I have to say this was so much fun!
First of all, the product I was sent was Land o Lakes cinnamon sugar butter.  This stuff is so tasty!  If you like cinnamon toast, you'll love this.  Basically they took the toppings of cinnamon toast and mixed them up in one easy to use spread with all natural ingredients.  My husband says I'm addicted to it.

This prize pack also included all of this stuff.

The little waffle iron makes waffles, but like pancakes - I tried the recipe on the back for super simple buttermilk waffle pancakes.  They were pretty good.  The red spatula worked perfectly to flip the waffles. (As a tip if you are the winner, do NOT overfill the squares.  Leave space in between the waffles.  It isn't too bad to turn them one at a time, but trying to turn 4 at a time was a chore.  The waffles turn out pretty cute because the squares are so tiny.  (Oh, and the waffles were good with cinnamon sugar butter.)

I have a very similar heart shape cookie cutter that I used last week to make English muffins.  I'm actually glad to have a second because everyone (at least the kids) wanted the heart shaped English muffin the other day. Yum!

Back to the butter, We've had this entirely on bread products.  (fresh bread from the oven, toast the next day, waffles, and crescents - I wish I had a picture of the crescent rolls, but that was totally spur of the moment snacking.  We opened them up, spread the cinnamon butter on them and rolled them back together.  Think of an easy cinnamon roll.  YUM!)

The package suggests some other uses -try it on hot cereal, baked apples, vegetables and more.

To enter the giveaway, leave me a comment telling me how you would use the cinnamon butter and/or another flavor of butter you'd like to see.  You have until Friday night (7/29) to enter.  Winner will be chosen by random.org and posted on Saturday morning.

For an additional entry, post about this giveaway on your blog or facebook and leave a comment letting me know that you did.

Good luck.

Now I'm off to find the waffle recipe that came on the little waffle iron.  (Yes, I've lost it already - surely it was thrown in the trash.  I hope Norpro posted it online.  It was so simple.  Should have blogged it.  :)


Disclaimer:  Although I was provided with the same prize pack I am giving away, the opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own.