product review – Makin' it Mo'Betta

America’s Greatest School Nurse Contest

Kim

This post has been sponsored by Pfizer Consumer Healthcare. All thoughts and reviews are my own.

As some of you may know, I am a school nurse. So when Pfizer contacted me regarding spreading the word about America’s Greatest School Nurse contest, I was immediately on board! Do you have school age kids? Do you know your school nurse? If your child has been sick or injured at school, or you have a medically fragile child, or your child takes medication during the school day, I’m betting you’ve had a conversation or two with the nurse. They are a great liaison between parents, physicians, and school staff.

I have spoken to the school nurse at my son’s school quite often over the past couple of years! He has asthma, allergies, and migraines…so he has had many a visit to the nurse! I also know first hand that it’s not always an easy job. Kids have medical emergencies (anything from playground accidents to seizures, even drug overdoses) that require split second decision making, and require the nurse to be knowledgable of a variety of different diseases and acute illnesses. They must also be prepared for any kind of emergency, not to mention the multitude of staff trainings that go on each year for diabetes, seizures, asthma, etc. They also do a lot of parent and student education and must have the ability to multi-task – as they may have several kids coming to the office at once. The list goes on and on, and very rarely are any two days the same in a busy school!

So how do you go about nominating your awesome school nurse for America’s Greatest School Nurse contest?

* First, nominations will be accepted nationwide from anyone who would like to honor their exemplary school nurse.
* Second, one nurse from each state plus Washington D.C. will win a prize valued at $500 and will be entered to win the grand prize: the title of America’s Greatest School nurse and a trip for a getaway from school sickness.
* To submit a nomination and get more information/full contest rules, visit AmericasGreatestSchoolNurse.com. Nominations will be accepted from January 9 to February 23.
* Voting will be open from April 3 to April 16 and the winners will be announced in early May.

Even though I am a nurse, obviously my kids still get sick. Thankfully, the pediatric brands of Pfizer Consumer Healthcare are there to help – Children’s Advil®, Children’s Robitussin® and Children’s Dimetapp® – to tackle all kinds of symptoms.

Ironically, the Sick Just Got Real™ at my house…I have a sick one at home as I am typing this! My 8 year old woke up at 1am with a stomach virus…which of course included an accident on the carpet as he was trying to make his way to my room (doesn’t it always happen that way?!) The above products can’t help with the stomach virus, but they are great for a multitude of other illnesses.

Children’s Advil® is a go-to in my house for my son’s migraines, and it’s also good for other aches, pains, and fever for kids ages 2 to 11. There’s also Infants’ Advil® White Grape for children 6-23 months. (And if your kids are picky about how medicine tastes, and what kid isn’t, Children’s Advil® comes in several flavors, including: Sugar-free Dye-free Berry, Bubble Gum, Grape, Blue Raspberry, Fruit and Dye-Free White Grape flavors.)

Also pictured is Children’s Dimetapp® Multi-Symptom Cold Relief Dye-Free for stuffy and runny nose, while quieting a bothersome cough. It comes in grape flavor that’s dye-free, for children 6 and up. Next, for your child’s cough, there is Children’s Robitussin® Extended-Release 12 Hour Cough Relief to help relieve symptoms day or night. Available in grape or orange flavor, for children ages 4 and up. Please note, certain Children’s Robitussin® products are only suitable for children ages 6 and up.

Of course, ALWAYS remember to read and keep the cartons for complete warnings and dosing information on Pfizer Pediatric products and use as directed. If any questions regarding what product is right for your child, consult with your child’s pediatrician or pharmacist.

Hopefully, your interactions with the school nurse are limited, but show her (or him!) some love and nominate today! Again, this can be done at .

Pfizer Pediatric Products Review & Giveaway

Kim

The Pfizer Pediatric Platform products, information, and additional gift pack have been provided by Pfizer Consumer Healthcare. All thoughts and reviews are my own.

I’m baaa-ack! I wanted to make sure to share with everyone this review of Pfizer Pediatric products and offer a giveaway to get you and your family through allergy & cold/flu season.

Yes, it’s that lovely time of year when allergy season overlaps with cold & flu season, reeking havoc on homes and school absenteeism everywhere. Yes, I am speaking from experience.

My son has a lot of allergies, along with asthma, so I often check the pollen levels in my area. The above picture comes from my Weather Channel app, and it’s updated daily. As you can see, the other day pollen was very high, and also cold & flu is still widespread. My son’s pediatrician said that due to the crazy weather, mild winter, etc. that we have been experiencing in our area, they are seeing an overlap in allergy symptoms and cold/flu. Fun times, I tell ya. The increasing pollen caused my son to have a flare up of nasal allergies, which resulted in an ear infection, along with an asthma flare-up.

Thankfully, I have a well stocked medicine cabinet to help when symptoms occur. ,(which is ibuprofen) is my go-to for fever & pain. I definitely like to keep it on hand for those middle of the night earaches (and my son also gets migraines, so I use it for that as well. I know…poor kid!) There’s also Infants’ Advil® White Grape, that comes with a syringe for easy dosing for children 6-23 months. My oldest daughter just had to use the this week for her cough & chest congestion. The daytime formula does not cause drowsiness, so she could take it before school, and even though she’s 15, let’s face it, children’s products taste better! (It’s for everyone age 6 and older) The above shown value pack comes with a daytime & nighttime formula. We haven’t had to use the yet, but I am definitely keeping it handy. When you have 3 kids, you never know what is going to pop up…and usually spread through the house!

So if (check out their page too) at your house, go to Target or for your pediatric products.

On to the giveaway! Since I want you to be fully prepared for whatever comes your way this allergy/cold/flu season, Pfizer will send one Makin’ it Mo’Betta reader a prize pack with the above Pfizer Pediatric Products. All you need to do is complete one or more of the following from the Rafflecopter form (delivery to US residents only).

Vanilla Pound Cake with Cinnamon-Vanilla Cream Glaze

Kim

I know it’s taboo to post sugar the first week of the new year, with everyone on the diet train and all, but since it’s the SECOND week in January…I think we all deserve a treat for making it this far. Am I right, or am I right?! First, I have to admit that I’m am so not a vanilla person. I will choose chocolate every time. Or maybe lemon. But never vanilla. However, my daughter had a friend over recently and it was the little girl’s birthday. Me, being the awesome mom that I am (so says I), offered to bake a cake. The girl requested vanilla. I was like “huh?” She said she didn’t like chocolate. So I made her leave. Just kidding…but seriously?

Well, I may just be a vanilla convert. I never knew the quality of the vanilla would make such a difference. I mean, you usually only add a teaspoon or so to baked goods, so what’s the big deal right?

It makes a difference. Trust me! I was sent some Mexican Vanilla to sample and used it in this cake…it was so good! Granted, the predominant flavor of this cake, is in fact, vanilla. So it would make sense that a good quality extract would up the yumminess factor.

The cake itself is lighter than a traditional pound cake, but still nicely dense. It has a good flavor and would be excellent with a chocolate ganache, lemon glaze, or pretty much anything you want to top it with. It’s even good plain!

I decided I would go all-out vanilla, and added vanilla cream glaze, with a little cinnamon.

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Recipe Source:

So what are you…a chocolate or vanilla person? Or lemon, or strawberry….we can still be friends.

I was provided a sample of the Nielsen Massey vanilla mentioned in the post but was not compensated nor obligated to right about them. All thoughts expressed are my own.

This Vanilla Pound Cake was featured at the Party, , and chosen as a host favorite at !

I may be linking up at any of the following – (Monday) , , , (Tuesday) , ,, , (Wednesday) , , , (Thursday) , , (Friday) , , , ,, , , , (Sunday)

Creamy Hoisin Egg Roll Dipping Sauce

Kim

This post was sponsored by MINH® Mini Chicken Egg Rolls and I was compensated to write it. Regardless, what I have written reflects my own opinion and experience. I hope you find it useful.

The holidays are in full swing, and with that brings social gatherings. And obviously you can’t have a get together without lots of good eats…otherwise it’s just a meeting. (Ok, so I’m sort of paraphrasing Julia Child, but she definitely had a point.) I love party food (aka appetizers, appies, finger foods, or hors d’oeuvres <– hardest word ever to spell)

Sometimes we have hors d’oeuvre night where we just have a bunch of party food for dinner. My kids love that (for obvious reasons.) It’s mainly for “special occasions”. Anyway, as much as I love making everything from scratch, like homemade egg rolls, I often just don’t. have. time. So, I was thrilled to find these at Sam’s Club.

They are affordable, you get a bunch in a box, and most important – they are delish!

They are the perfect size to serve at a party too. They bake in the oven in under 15 minutes, and come with a tasty sweet chili sauce.

I’ve sprinkled this platter with dried cilantro and red pepper flakes (green & red!) but it could be easily omitted, or just added to the sauces. You could also use basil I think, but I would not recommend oregano (personal opinion).

Along with the sweet chili sauce, I wanted a white sauce (I almost made it green with the addition of green dragon sauce, but I wasn’t sure if it would look appetizing.) This is a mild, creamy, slightly sweet sauce that pairs well with the egg rolls and perfect for those who have a low heat tolerance (everyone in my house except me!), but you can easily spice it up by increasing the chili paste or adding red pepper flakes.

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In addition to mini egg rolls, my other “go-to” party foods are sausage balls (these are a must at Christmas and New Year’s!), Creamy Sausage Dip, Chips with restaurant style salsa, chips and dip, cheese and crackers, and at Christmas, there will be fudge on the dessert table, along with these…

Pretzel Treats…my kids LOVE these. Obviously, we don’t usually have fancy parties. We have family, kid-friendly parties! What’s your favorite party food?

Grilled Mongolian Chicken

Kim

I love lots of Asian inspired foods, and I have found that it is relatively easy to make many of my favorite dishes at home. I probably make Baked Egg Rolls at least once or twice a month, and I love Bourbon Chicken and Sesame Noodles. I discovered San-J Tamari Sauce a while back and have been using it ever since, so when they contacted me about trying their new line of Asian Cooking Sauces, I was happy to oblige!

These are the three I chose, but there are available. I’m on a mission to try them all! The first one I used was the Mongolian Stir-Fry & Marinade Sauce. I simply added the sauce to boneless, skinless chicken thighs and froze them. When ready to use, I let the chicken thaw in the refrigerator overnight, which also gave it time to marinate well.

I cooked these on the grill, which is my favorite way to eat chicken thighs. The thighs are great for grilling due to the higher fat content, and they really absorb a lot of flavor from whatever marinade you choose.

These were juicy and flavorful! I served them over brown rice, with a little added spicy chili paste. So good! I am planning on adapting this Pineapple Chicken into Orange Chicken using the Orange Sauce next. It’s my oldest daughter’s favorite, so at least I will be guaranteed to make at least one family member happy at the dinner table! Sometimes (most times) it’s a struggle. *sigh*

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San-J provided me with samples to review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I may be linking up at any of the following – (Monday) , , , , (Tuesday) ,, , (Wednesday) , , , , (Thursday) , , (Friday) , , , ,, , , ,

B-Up Bars – Product Review (#lowcarb #highprotein #cleantreat)

Kim

This is a sponsored post from Yup Brands and Blog Meets Brand. All opinions are my own (or that of my hubby).

This is a product that I was excited to review since my husband is diabetic and follows a low carb diet to help control his blood sugars. It is so hard to find tasty snack options that are not full of junk because let’s be honest, snacking on vegetables gets old. It’s nice to have some other low carb snack options that he can enjoy on the go and satisfy that sweet tooth. Not to mention, I like to have high protein/low sugar bars to keep in my gym bag for post-workout snacks. (Protein helps build lean muscle and the more muscle you have, the more your metabolism increases. Since my metabolism slowed down to a slugs pace after age 35, it’s important for me to incorporate weight lifting in with my cardio.) I also need to lay off the chips, but that’s a different post all together!

A huge issue I have with most low carb bars is the amount of sugar alcohols in them. Sugar alcohols are those sweeteners that come with a warning about causing GI distress if you consume to much. Uhmmm, no thank you. I also only like to use sweeteners from natural sources, like stevia and xylitol. I am really trying to limit our intake of aspartame and sucralose.

So, my “dream bar” would be high in protein, low in carbohydrates, low in sugar/sugar alcohols/artificial sweeteners…in other words – no junk! Well, guess what? are a dream come true! They are all those things plus high in fiber, low in sodium and they taste good! (Not that weird “protein-y” funky taste, but actually taste good.) My husband, who is super picky (sorry honey, but it’s true!) really enjoyed the bars and tried to take them all for himself. The bars have a nougat type texture/consistency, and come in several flavors. (Peanut Butter, PB and J, Chocolate Mint, Sugar Cookie, Cinnamon Roll, and Vanilla Peanut)

*As a matter of fact, you can sign up to receive a 6-pack trial of the bars to give each flavor a try. ALSO, readers can save 12% on box orders by entering code yup29 at checkout.*

So, bottom line… have 20 grams protein and 18-20 grams fiber, with only 2-3 grams of sugar and only 4-5 grams of net carbs. AND, they have no artificial flavors, sweeteners, or preservatives, are low in sodium and gluten free. If I had not tried them for myself, I would not even believe it! If you would like to learn more about the products above and this awesome company, check them out on , and . I, for one, am very glad to have some healthier pre-packaged options for my diabetic hubs and for me too! I also love the company’s tag line…Be Healthy. Be Better. B-Up. (UP stands for Unlimited Potential!)

Anyone else lead a low carb lifestyle? What about that mid-life metabolism? Can anyone else relate or is it just me?!

Kids are smelly. Let’s talk #FebrezeCar & GIFTCARD #GIVEAWAY! {#ad}

Kim

This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks/Febreze. As always, all opinions are my own. Especially the one about smelly kids.

Let’s take a second to reflect on the state of my car. I know, I was just talking about my car and it’s tires, but when you spend as much time up and down the road as I do, it’s like my home away from home. The kids must feel this way too, because I find ALL kinds of stuff in my car…food wrappers, cups, multiple water bottles, clothing items, etc.

Now that Spring sports have started, I can add balls, knee pads, shin guards, SOCKS, cleats, etc. to the misc. stuff left in the car. What do you think happens when all that stuff accumulates? Well, let me just say…it lost it’s “new car smell” really fast.

Thankfully, Febreze, that we trust to make our homes smell good, has come to the rescue with . Sold at Wal-Mart, you can pick one up and quickly and easily clip it to any vent in your car. It begins releasing a refreshing scent immediately and last up to 30 days. It makes the time spent in my car much more enjoyable!

GIVEAWAY
Since I want you to enjoy any upcoming road trips you may have, or to eliminate smelly kid odor, I am offering a giveaway for a $25 Walmart gift card to one lucky reader. All you need to do is complete the Rafflecopter form below (if you are viewing this in an email, you will need to open the post up in your browser for the form to load)

“Rules” – Giftcard can only be shipped within the US; must be 18 years of age or older; entries will be verified…if I can not verify the information or the info is fraudulent, all of your entries will be disqualified. Winners will be contacted via email and will need to respond within 24 hours or a new winner will be chosen.

Cold and Flu Epidemic, too close for comfort! {#ReliefIsHere #sponsored}

Kim

This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks/P&G.; All opinions expressed are my own.

By now, you have probably either had the flu, know someone who has had it, or worried that you and/or your loved ones are going to get the flu. Even if you were proactive and received the flu shot, the prevalent strain is one that isn’t covered by the vaccine (even though CDC still recommends getting the flu shot as it may provide some level of protection and make the flu less severe.) As I mentioned in an earlier post, my three kids, and then myself, were all sick the weeks leading up to Christmas.

And guess what? I was not prepared! No extra soft tissues for runny noses, no homemade chicken soup in the freezer, no Gatorade or ginger ale. But one thing I did have for myself and my oldest child, and always try to keep in my medicine cabinet, is NyQuil! I can always count on NyQuil to help me get some rest at night, regardless of how bad I feel. And now, NyQuil has stepped it up a notch and has come out with …(learn more on too)

Yes please. DayQuil Severe for daytime, NyQuil Severe for nights. (It comes in both liquid and caplets and the severe formula now has a decongestant!) My favorite cold medicine, made even better. #winning

I believe I will keep this handy since my state (NC) is in the red!

Scary.

Has your house been invaded by viruses this cold and flu season? What are your best tips on keeping well or feeling better once sick? Not only has the flu been going around in my area, but there is also a virus that has “flu-like symptoms”, it just doesn’t last as long. Strep throat has been going around in a big way too. Oh yeah, and there is also a stomach virus floating around now. How do I know…we’ve had them ALL. So, you better believe while at , I stocked up on tissues, cold meds, vitamin C, throat drops, and whatever else I could think of. I am hoping all this preparedness will somehow prevent us from being hit again…keep your fingers crossed would ya?!

Baked Shrimp Won Ton Cups & other (healthier) Appies! {#Nasoya #Sponsored}

Kim

This post is sponsored by Nasoya. All opinions are 100% my own.

Well, somehow Christmas is OVER. As I say every year, I have no idea how it came and went so fast. It doesn’t matter that I started listening to Christmas music in November and *gasp* had my tree up BEFORE Thanksgiving. Yep, I sure did…doesn’t matter however, because Christmas still came and went too fast.

Oh yeah, and 4 weeks before Christmas…Number One got sick. Three weeks before Christmas, Mr. Three got sick. Two weeks before Christmas, Miss Two got sick. And guess what happened ONE week before Christmas? You guessed it…mama got sick. So, that is why my last blog post was December 16. *insert sad face* I have all this cool Christmas stuff to share too…and who wants to read about that now? It’s New Year’s Eve. Party time! Then it’s ohmigahhh….resolution time. Time to give up everything we indulged in over the past month. *insert crying sad face*.

Luckily, I have something that will make the transition from indulgent eating to healthy eating virtually painless. It’s also party ready, fun, cute, portioned controlled, low fat. low in Weight Watchers points…no, I’m not talking about air. These actually taste great and are portable! Great for New Year’s, football, appetizers, or if you are like me, can make a meal out of them. They are Baked Shrimp WonTon Cups. They are quick and easy to prepare too. You can make the filling with whatever veggies and quantities you like. I’m just going to give what I use, and you can play with the recipe to make them your own.

Baked Shrimp Won Ton Cups

Filling:
1 bag Cole Slaw Mix (or you can shred your own cabbage and carrots)
3-4 green onions, chopped (I usually use whatever onion I have on hand, green/red/yellow)
1/4 – 1/2 cup celery, finely chopped (just depends on how much you like celery!)
1-2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 bag frozen small shrimp, thawed and cut in half or thirds (can also use chicken/beef/pork)
2 Tablespoons soy sauce (I prefer tamari)
1/2-1 tablespoon hoisin sauce (Hoisin is strong and sweet. I use it if I have it, but it’s not mandatory)
salt and pepper, (to taste)
1 tablespoon olive oil

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Place won tons in a mini muffin pan, one won ton per muffin cup. (Just push them down in the cup, there will be some overlapping). Set aside.
In a skillet over medium heat, heat tablespoon of olive oil. Add onions and celery. Heat until onions begin to soften. Add garlic, heat a minute or two until fragrant.
Add bag of cole slaw mix, soy sauce, hoisin sauce and salt and pepper. Carefully stir (my skillet is always very full until cabbage begins to wilt.)
Add thawed shrimp, stir frequently until shrimp is pink. Once shrimp is done and cabbage is softened, remove from heat.
Place a tablespoon of mixture into the won ton cup. Bake won tons approximately 5-7 minutes, until lightly browned and crisp.
Remove cups from oven and place on serving tray. Top with cilantro and drizzle with Ponzu Sauce if desired.

*Feel free to add any veggies and seasonings you like. My only recommendation is watch the amount of liquid produced (some veggies leach a lot of water out). You want as little liquid as possible in your wrappers because it will cause them to fall apart.

This is the same filling I use for egg rolls too. I love baked egg rolls, which is odd, because I do not like fried egg rolls, and we all know everything is usually better fried. To make the baked egg rolls, use the same filling, put a few tablespoons of filling in an (fold them better than I do!), place on a baking sheet, spray both sides with olive oil or cooking spray. Bake about 10 minutes per side. They are healthy and delicious!

My kids love these Baked Mozzarella Sticks. They are so easy, as it is just a mozzarella cheese stick (“string” cheese) wrapped in an egg roll wrapper and baked. Spraying both sides with olive oil or cooking spray just like with the egg rolls. They can be dipped in marinara or pizza sauce too.

Since my kids love Baked Cheese Sticks, I knew they would like Baked Cheese Cups too. I was right! Just add cheese to your won ton cups and bake until the cheese is melted and won tons are brown and crisp. You could serve these along side a sauce as well. So much healthier than frying and I love the little cups for a party or as an appetizer. You could add anything really…any dip can be placed in a won ton cup and suddenly becomes portable! Tonight I am making Buffalo Chicken Dip in won ton cups…it will make it so easy to eat! You can also bake the shells then add things like chicken salad or pimento cheese…the possibilities are endless. It makes me want to put pretty much everything in a won ton cup. What can I say, I love party food.

Happy New Year’s Eve as my little one said first thing this morning! I’d love to hear what’s on your menu for tonight. Or tomorrow…I haven’t fully decided what I’m cooking for New Year’s Day yet…but I’m pretty sure it won’t be black eyed peas!

I may be linking up at any of the following – (Monday) , , , , (Tuesday) , , , ,,, , (Wednesday) , , , ,, , (Thursday) ,, , (Friday) , , , , , ,, , ,, , , (Saturday) ,

VTech Switch & Go Dinos Turbo Review & GIVEAWAY {#sponsored}

Kim

If you have a little boy on your Christmas list (or a dinosaur/race car loving little girl) then today’s post should interest you. It’s all about VTech® Switch & Go Dinos® Turbo Bronco the RC Triceratops™. We are VTech fans in the Mo’Betta house and I can honestly say that my 6 year old absolutely loves this toy.

comes with a remote that allows the child to transform it from race car to dinosaur at the touch of a button. The remote is easy to us and very kid friendly. The car/dino can make various sounds, talk, move in different directions, and of course, transform from race car to dinosaur and back again. Just check it out…

That’s just a little snippet of it’s “transformation”. I was thrilled at how much my son has enjoyed playing with it. It engages his imagination and gets him away from his beloved video games! (Which is priceless!) It also drives our dogs insane, which my little man thought was quite hysterical. He spent quite a while just torturing playing with the dogs and the toy. Which brings up a good point, VTech products are very durable! One of my dogs attempted to bite it, and didn’t leave a mark on it. You have to be tough in this house.

Bronco the RC Triceratops is just one in a line of VTech Switch and Go Dinos Turbo toys. It is recommended for ages 3-8, with MSRP $44.99. It does require 8 AA batteries, so just keep that in mind if Santa will be leaving one under the tree. Re-chargeable batteries are pretty much the best thing ever for kid toys in my opinion! (They are more expensive initially, but in our house, they pay off in the long run.) As stated, this toy is durable, and has lots of fun features (talking, LED headlights, LCD screen, turbo charge lever, transformation button, and more.)

GIVEAWAY! VTech is providing one Makin’ it Mo’Betta reader a VTech® Switch & Go Dinos® Turbo Bronco the RC Triceratops™. Awesome right?! Just enter via the Rafflecopter Form. Entries will be verified. Shipping only available within the US.

*I was provided with a sample product for review purposes. All opinions are my own, or that of my 6 year old! The sample product, giveaway product and information has been provided by VTech.