giveaway – Makin' it Mo'Betta

Pfizer Pediatric Products Review & Giveaway

April 15, 2016January 28, 2017 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).

Copycat Sausage McGriddle Casserole & Krusteaz GIVEAWAY {#ad}

September 23, 2015November 6, 2015 Kim

I received a gift pack from Krusteaz to facilitate this post. No other compensation was received. All opinions expressed are my own.

This post is full of good things: breakfast food; an easy, kid-approved recipe; and a giveaway! My love for breakfast food is pretty well documented here on the blog. As is my love for casseroles, and breakfast for dinner…which makes an appearance pretty regularly around here. That’s why I am happy to partner with to celebrate National Breakfast Month, and give you some ideas to incorporate Breakfast Night at your house. How about tonight?!

My kids love pancakes. I love sausage and eggs. Since my oldest daughter’s favorite fast food breakfast item is the Sausage McGriddle (from Mickey D’s), this recipe was born. It could be called Breakfast Lasagna because of the layers, or Pancake Casserole, but whatever you call it, give it a try. It’s easy, it’s yummy, it’s filling and it’s just…fun. A little twist on dinner that brings everyone together at the table. Or, you know, you could serve it for breakfast too!

I made my pancakes with Krusteaz pancake mix ahead of time and stuck them in the fridge to make the prep for this even easier.

I was surprised how tasty it was when all layered and baked together.

Sausage, Egg and Cheese Pancake Casserole

12-15 pancakes (depends on size)

8 eggs

1 lb sausage (maple sausage, turkey sausage, or favorite)

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

maple syrup (optional)

salt and pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Spray an 8 x 8 baking dish with cooking spray, set aside.
In a large skillet, cook sausage on medium high heat until done, crumbling/breaking into pieces as it cooks. Reduce heat to medium.
In a bowl, scramble eggs, season with salt and pepper. Add to skillet with sausage. Stir eggs in with sausage and cook until eggs are set.
Add pancakes in a single layer to bottom of baking dish. Make sure pancakes are touching or slightly overlapping. I used 5 pancakes for this.
Sprinkle 1/4 cup cheese over pancakes.
Add 1/2 the sausage/egg mixture to the pan.
Top with additional 1/4 cup cheese.
Drizzle with syrup, if desired. (Using the maple sausage and/or using maple syrup gives this a more authentic McGriddle flavor. Could also add syrup to pancake mix when preparing.)
Repeat layers, starting with pancakes.
Top with final layer of pancakes.
Sprinkle with remaining cup of cheese.
Bake for 15 minutes until cheese is melted.

Slice and serve!

So many Krusteaz products to help make breakfast easy!

Giveaway details:

One prize pack (not pictured) will be awarded to a Makin’ it Mo’Betta reader. It will include:

One box of Buttermilk Pancake Mix
One box of Belgian Waffle Mix
One box of Blueberry Pancake Mix
One Wild Blueberry Muffin Mix
A pancake pen (for pancake art!)
A spatula and
A coupon for FREE product

Enter via the Rafflecopter form!

ASUS MeMO Pad 7 LTE Review & GIVEAWAY {$168 value} #ad

September 13, 2015October 25, 2015 Kim

This post was sponsored by ASUS and Walmart. All opinions are mine.

For anyone following my little corner of the blog world, you have probably noticed that I have gotten nowhere fast on my ‘dot.com’ endeavor. Let’s just say moving a blog that has been around over 5 years is no easy task! In the meantime, I’ve got bidness to attend to! I have a fantastic giveaway for y’all, and I just couldn’t wait any longer to tell you about it.

If you have kids (or grandkids, or friends and neighbors with kids), I’m sure you know that school is BACK IN SESSION! I think all parents have mixed feelings about this. We are elated to get the kids back-to-school and in their routines again, but it’s also back to hectic mornings, constant chauffeuring, school lunches and the ever dreaded…HOMEWORK. Well, I have something that will definitely help with the homework, and can help us moms (or anyone!) too. There is an app for just about everything these days, and definitely some that help with scheduling, time management, grocery shopping, (or catching up on our favorite TV shows while sitting and waiting for kids to finish practice). That’s where my review of the ® comes in!

It has lots of cool built in features, and tons of available apps through the Google Play Store. Since Chrome is my browser of choice, I love that it’s already pre-loaded and ready to go on the tablet. You can use it to conveniently check email, watch videos, take videos and pictures, read books, play music, browse Pinterest and more! One of my favorite things…SuperNote! You can use it to take quick notes on the go, and you don’t have to worry with typing it in like I do on my phone or my other other tablet…you can write notes with your finger! It’s easy, and much faster for me. Yep, my other tablet (possibly named after a fruit) is not as cool as I once thought. Here are some specifics for the ®:

7” HD tablet with dual front facing speakers and 178-degree wide viewing angle, perfect for watching movies, playing games etc.
Dual cameras: 5MP rear / 2MP front
Quad-Core Intel® Atom™ processor 1.3 GHz, gives it the performance to stand out in the 7-inch tablet market. AT&T; 4G LTE network provides speed and reliability at your fingertips
Scratch-resistant glass with anti-fingerprint coating
16GB internal storage w/ up 64GB MicroSD Card Support
Usage time: up to 10.5 hours Perfect for kids and teenagers

I like the size of the tablet, not too bulky, but big enough that I can easily see it!

As you can see, it’s smaller than a standard composition notebook (approx 7″ x 4″). Another great thing about the ® is that it is much more affordable than other tablets with similar features, and, once your pre-paid time runs out, you have the option of adding it to your existing AT&T; plan (if you have one) or what I like, you can purchase additional pre-paid calling plans at Walmart, so you are always in control of how much you are spending. (The tablet also has WiFi capability.) Learn more by watching this video:

So what do you think? If you are interested in trying the ASUS MeMO Pad 7 LTE® or considering giving it as a gift (Christmas is right around the corner!), you can purchase it at for $168 AND you can enter my GIVEAWAY!

That’s right, I am giving away one ASUS MeMO Pad 7 LTE® to a Makin’ it Mo’Betta reader! All you need to do is complete one or more entries via the rafflecopter form below.

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND NECESSARY, A PURCHASE OR PAYMENT WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. The Giveaway starts on 9.13.15 and ends on 9.20.15. Open only to legal residents of the 50 U.S./D.C. and 18 years or older as of time of entry. Residents of P.R. are ineligible. Void in P.R. and where prohibited.

Breakfast Casserole ‘Muffins’ & VISA Giftcard Giveaway! {#sponsored}

August 5, 2015October 25, 2015 Kim

I was provided coupons and a gift card to purchase ingredients for this post by Nature’s Harvest® to facilitate my review of Nature’s Harvest® Bread. All opinions expressed are my own.

Where has the summer gone?! I’ve already heard of some kids going back to school, and my own go back in a couple of weeks. I really don’t feel like we’ve had much of a break! However, with school being out, I have really been off my normal routine, and with that, meal planning has gone out the window. I’m very ready to get back to planning healthier, balanced meals. This will mean planning for super busy mornings, lunch boxes, and meals in hurry due to various sports practices.

With so many meals eaten on the go, or prepared in a hurry, it’s easy to opt for convenience foods. However, I still want our nutritional needs met. For example, did you know it is recommended that adults eat 48 grams or more of whole grains daily and children ages 4-13 eat a minimum of 40-48 grams per day? (You can read more about whole grains and guidelines and .) Many of us are not getting enough, which is why Nature’s Harvest® bread has launched the “Whole Grain Challenge”. The challenge is to encourage moms and families to incorporate 48 grams of whole grains into their diets every day. You can find educational content on the and to help stay on track and participants can take the whole grain pledge on the Nature’s Harvest® Facebook page and automatically be entered into a weekly sweepstakes, but hurry, it ends August 10th.

Nature’s Harvest® bread has at least 8 grams of whole grains per serving, no artificial flavors or colors, and no high fructose corn syrup. That gives them an A+ in my book!

These portable Breakfast Casserole ‘Muffins’ incorporate whole grains, protein rich eggs and cheese and best of all, they are portion controlled, easy to eat on the go, re-heat beautifully (I actually prefer them re-heated the next day!) and I imagine they could even be frozen…but mine have not lasted long enough to find out! They are also a great way to use up leftovers or fresh veggies from the garden, the recipe can be modified to whatever your family likes – add pepper and onions, use ham, sausage, mushrooms, vary the cheeses and spices, get creative!

Breakfast Casserole – To Go!

3-5 slices whole grain bread (enough to fill your muffin tins almost to the top) I used Nature’s Harvest® Butter Top Made with Whole Grain White Bread

1/4-1/2 cup bacon pieces (or meat of choice; I used )

1 cup shredded cheese

8 eggs

1/2 cup milk

1 teaspoon dry mustard (optional)

1/2 teaspoon sage (optional)

1/2 teaspoon basil (optional)

salt and pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 12 cup muffin tin with cooking spray.
Tear or cut bread into 1/2 inch pieces. Place in prepared muffin tin, filling 3/4ths full.
Sprinkle bacon pieces over bread, top with cheese.
In a medium bowl or large measuring cup, whisk together eggs, milk and spices. Carefully pour into muffin tins, dividing equally. (I just eyeballed this!)
Bake for 15-20 mins, or until eggs are set and cooked through.

Recipe adapted from and Makin’ it Mo’Betta

These make a handy breakfast, lunch or dinner. I served mine for ‘brinner’ with grits, then reheated the leftovers in the microwave for breakfast with a side of fruit. As I stated earlier, I actually preferred them reheated, which is a rarity, but definitely puts these in my keeper file!

GIVEAWAY:

Now, how many of you would like to win a $25 VISA Gift Card and a coupon for free Nature’s Harvest® bread? To enter, please use the Rafflecopter form below. This giveaway has a quick turnaround so go ahead and enter!

Gourmet Gift Baskets Review & GIVEAWAY! #sponsored

June 26, 2015November 6, 2015 Kim

I received a complimentary gift basket to facilitate my review. An additional basket will be provided by the company to the winner of the giveaway. No other compensation was received. All opinions are that of Makin’ it Mo’Betta.

I just LOVE a gift basket. I like to give them, and I like to receive them. It’s just something about having several themed items in a basket that is fun. The only hard part, other than buying everything to go in it, is getting it all arranged in the basket so it looks nice and is secure. If you don’t have that kind of time, but are still looking for a thoughtful, good quality gift basket for a friend or loved one…I have the answer! ! Did I mention FOOD baskets are my most favorite? No surprise there I’m sure.

I had the opportunity to review this little , just in time for grilling season! The box itself came with a message from the president of the company, and the basket was packed very securely so it would not get damaged during shipping. Each gift basket comes with a card inside that you can add your personal message to the recipient. The basket, shown above left, is securely wrapped in plastic, so contents can not spill out or shift during shipping, and topped with a bow. It is a gift afterall!

The BBQ Basket comes with the above items. Here is a description of each per the website:

If they can’t get enough of the sweet, savory, tangy, smoky goodness that is all things barbeque, you’ve just found the perfect gift. This impressive gift basket is comprised of the best grilling products, like authentic fiery sauces and deliciously zesty rubs, supplying them with everything they need to make their favorite food better than ever.

Ingredients:
• Sriracha Teriyaki Sauce by Stonewall Kitchen – 11 oz. – A spicy dipping sauce made from sun-ripened chilis and garlic.
• Roasted & Salted Peanuts by J&R; Gourmet – 2 oz. – Better than any ballpark peanuts you’ve ever tasted, roasted and salted to perfection.
• Chichester Snack Mix by Merrimack Valley Snack Company – 2 oz. – A delightful snack mix comprised of crunchy pretzel nuggets, cheddar cheese crackers, and premium nuts.
• Spicy Peri Peri & Lemon Veggie Roaster by Urban Accents – 1 oz. – A spicy blend of chili pepper, lemon peel and garlic flavor.
• Touch O’Heat BBQ Sauce by Rufus Teague – 16 oz. – All natural and gluten free, this BBQ sauce is what barbeque is supposed to taste like.
• Beef & Burger Rub by Urban Accents – 1.5 oz. – Use for grilling or roasting to bring out all the juicy flavors in whatever meat you choose.

I can go ahead and tell you, the Sriracha Teriyaki Sauce by Stonewall Kitchen….I’m in love!! It’s so good! I’ve used it as a marinade for pork, as well as a dipping sauce for my Baked Egg Rolls. My family also enjoyed the Touch O’Heat BBQ Sauce on grilled boneless pork ribs the other night. I can’t wait to try out the rubs as well.

Would you like to try the BBQ Gift Basket? Or give it to the BBQ’er in your life? It would make a great summer birthday gift, a couple’s wedding gift, a housewarming gift…the list goes on! Just complete the rafflecopter form below to enter.

Life made easier w/Walmart.com and P&G – Gift card GIVEAWAY {#sponsored}

August 11, 2014November 14, 2015 Kim

There are five people living in my house. That’s a lot of toilet paper. As well as paper towels, soap, laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent…the list goes on and on. Needless to say, I like to buy in bulk. However, as many of you know, shopping with kids isn’t the most convenient thing. When I take all three to the store, it’s “mom, mama, mama, mom, MOMMY!” As if that isn’t distracting enough, when I go to stock up on items, like – because a 4 pack will last about a day in my house, or the , because I have a lot of messes to clean up, well…then the cart is full and Mr. Three actually has.to.walk. So then I have three kids, pulling me in three different directions, and only succeeding at making me want to pull my hair out. SO…. how does make my life easier?

Yes m’am. Household items, in bulk, delivered to my doorstep!! No hauling kids around the store, no buying popcorn chicken to keep Mr. Three quiet, no extra items getting thrown into my cart…just order online (they even have a ) and have it delivered! If you spend over $50, shipping is FREE. You can also have items shipped free to your nearest Walmart store for pick-up with the Site to Store option. (Which is great to keep in mind for Christmas, which is barely more than 4 months away. You’re welcome for that reminder!) Shopping and ordering is easy and convenient. I had all my items delivered to my house, and they all came within the estimated time frame. All of the items did not ship together, so items came on different days, but that wasn’t a problem for me. I was just thankful for the convenience, and will definitely be doing this again!

Not only does it make life easier to have items delivered, but check out these products – These are so easy to use! No measuring, just throw one in the washing machine. The is also great to have because not only do I have 3 children, I also have 2 dogs. My floors stay a mess from one or the other! And for all of you new moms or soon-to-be new moms (yes, I’m lookin’ at you little sister!), they have , , plus many more that can be delivered directly to you!

Thank you Walmart.com for making this busy mom’s life a little easier!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!

P&G; is providing one Makin’ it Mo’Betta reader with a $25 Walmart gift card! Gift cards can be used in-store and online at Walmart.com. Complete the rafflecopter form to enter, US residents only.

I received a Walmart Giftcard to facilitate this review. The Walmart gift cards and information have been provided by P&G.;

National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day – Celebrating with a GIVEAWAY! {#sponsored}

May 12, 2014November 15, 2015 Kim

I love cookies. You may have noticed by the 13,000 cookie posts on the blog. (Mild exaggeration) I have decided cookies are my dessert of choice…more than cakes, cupcakes, pies….cookies are where it’s at. So, when I found out that May 15th was National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day, I had to think of a good way to celebrate. Obviously, I have to make cookies.

My friends at agree that National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day is a day to celebrate with wild abandon. They even have a Triple Chocolate Chunk Cookie Mix to help honor the occasion!

Soft, chewy cookies with slightly crisp edges and filled with chocolate. Yes please!

Are you ready to celebrate with me?!

This cookie photo session had to be cut short due to one of the *models* disappearing.

Don’t look at me. Those aren’t cookie crumbs around my mouth. Nope. No sir. {wink}

GIVEAWAY–

In honor of National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day, Krusteaz has been gracious enough to offer a complimentary box of Triple Chocolate Chunk Cookie Mix, along with 3 free product coupons, to one Makin’ it Mo’Betta reader. Just complete the rafflecopter form and you will be contacted via email if you are the winner! US residents only.

I received a complimentary box of Krusteaz Triple Chocolate Chunk Cookie Mix and 3 free product coupons to help facilitate this post. The winner will receive the same package via Krusteaz. No other compensation was received and as always, all opinions are my own. {And chocolate chip cookies are awesome. That’s just a fact.}

Eating Fresh with Old El Paso and a GIVEAWAY (#sponsored)

August 13, 2013November 21, 2015 Kim

This post is sponsored by Old El Paso and MyBlogSpark. I received a prize pack like the one in the giveaway, no other compensation was received. All opinions are my own.

Have you been enjoying fresh fruits and veggies this summer? I miss having a garden, but have been lucky enough to get fresh vegetables from my mom and neighbor, and lots of fruits and vegetables at a nearby Farmer’s Market. I also just braved the crazy heat, and even crazier killer bees this weekend, to pick fresh blueberries from my Aunt’s blueberry bushes. I have been trying my best to incorporate fruits and/or veggies into every meal.

After a recent visit to the Farmer’s Market, I had a beautiful bounty of veggies that I wanted to use for dinner. I also couldn’t decide if I wanted enchiladas, tacos or fajitas. I wanted to use my fresh onions, peppers and tomatoes, but I also wanted enchilada sauce and cheese….SO, I taco-enchi-jitas. Yep, it’s now a thing. I created an entirely new dish to incorporate everything I wanted at the time. I’m sure they’ll be served in Mexican restaurants very soon. *ahem* Or not. But still…they were good!

Fresh ingredients are so pretty!

and you can’t go wrong with spice, sauce, and cheese either!

I used ® Taco and Fajita Tortillas and stuffed them with ground beef cooked with onions, peppers, and taco seasoning; covered it all in enchilada sauce and cheese, then topped it off with lettuce, tomatoes, plain yogurt and cilantro. Muy delicioso! Fresh veggies used and craving satisfied! You can get lots of recipes and ideas by visiting Old El Paso’s too.

And because Old El Paso wants to share the joy, I have a giveaway! You can get this awesome prize pack…

Market basket (which is great for the farmer’s market, but also great for the beach!)

Avocado keeper
Chopper with storage bowls
Old El Paso® Taco & Fajita Tortillas
Old El Paso® Traditional Refried Beans (this did not come with my pack, so I can’t swear it will come in yours)
Old El Paso® Taco Seasoning
Retail Value: $55

To enter, follow the directions in the Rafflecopter form. If you are viewing this in an email, you will need to go directly to the post to comment. Thanks!