Fun and Easy DIY Grilled Pizza!

I'm a pizza fan. I also love BBQ.  Today, we combined our love of both to create a simple and delicious homemade grilled pizza recipe!  It's truly easy.. anyone can do it!

Here are our ingredients:

Mama Mary's Thin and Crispy Pizza Crusts
Mama Mary's Pepperoni Slices
Ragu Pizza Sauce
Great Value Mozzerella Cheese
Great Value Olive Oil Cooking Spray
Fresh Green Onions
Fresh Roma Tomatoes
Salt and Pepper to Taste

Here is how we did it:

1.  We sprayed both sides of the pizza crusts with the Great Value Olive Oil Cooking Spray (away from the grill for safety), then placed the crusts on the grill over low heat.  We allowed them to get nice and grilled on each side.

2.  Then we added our toppings.  I wanted a meatless pizza, so I put shredded cheese, sliced Roma tomatoes, green onions, and a little pizza sauce (in that order) on my crust.  (If you have a top rack, you may want to "top" your pizzas on them to keep them from overcooking while you add your goodies -- then move them back to the grilling surface when they are good and topped.)

 
My husband did his with all the same toppings, but added even more onions, as well as pepperoni.

3.  We closed the grill lid and allowed them to cook on the lowest heat until the cheese was melted and bubbly!

The whole process from start to finish took no more than a half hour, and these pizzas won rave reviews from our kids.  They taste really fresh!  The total cost per pizza was less than $5, too!

Have you ever made grilled pizza?  What are your favorite toppings?

*I am a participant in the Walmart Moms program. Walmart has provided me with compensation for my time on this post. Participation in this program is voluntary. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

Super Cool Shutterfly Giveaway!

We used Shutterfly for our holiday cards last year -- and we LOVED them!  I especially like that their photo products are designed for people like me (with no design experience whatsoever.)  If you feel a little uninspired and aren't so much into scrapbooks or craft projects, you can still get that "look, I did it myself!" feeling from putting together a collection of beautiful photos into a gifts.

While you may not be thinking of your Christmas cards just yet, you can try them out to see what you think.  In fact, we have a super-duper giveaway to share with you, and the winners can give them a test-drive -- for FREE!  All of the juicy details are below.

But before you skip ahead to see what we're giving away, you really should do a personal inventory of all the special moments you have coming up in your life (new baby, maybe?) and see how you can use Shutterfly's services to simplify and impress those who are near and dear to you.  Their announcements, for example, can tell the world about your new arrival, without you having to do much more than a few quick uploads and some decisions on the color of your design. (Did you know that they almost always have fun promotions going on to help you save money on bulk orders or to try out their new products for free?)

You can get the full scoop on Shutterfly's full suite of amazing products at their website.

Wanna Win?  We are giving away TEN (count them) codes good for one of several photo books from Shutterfly.  To be entered to win, just tell us what kind of book you would make, or who you would give it to!  (For example, would you create a baby book for Grandma?)  You have until September 8th at 11:59 pm CST to get your entries in. One entry per person, please! U.S. 18+ only. (Don't forget to enter our other blog giveaways while you're here!)

Have a blog? Want to review a Shutterfly photo book? Sign up: http://goo.gl/K5hUC

*Photo book was received to help share this great giveaway! 

At Heavenly Couture, Everything is $15!

It is hard finding cute junior discount clothing these days.  In fact, while I always find neat things for my daughter and I to wear, the price tag is almost more than our budget can handle.  Luckily, there are companies trying hard to offer quality items for much less than major department or boutique stores, and one of them is Heavenly Couture!

We tried out a Romeo and Juliet Couture top from their store last week, and it fit well while being of a nice construction.  I really appreciated the the items arrived looking just like they do in the photos!

In addition to your typical offerings of hats, belts, accessories, and cheap dresses, you will also find a few pairs of shoes and some vests and jackets!  I was impressed with their entire assortment of cheap junior clothing, actually.  In fact, you will find everything $15 or less!

If your budget is ready for hot looks without the high cost, you will definitely want to check out the site for cheap junior clothing before you settle for your boring back-to-school shopping list.  My daughter and I were really impressed with the selection, style, and how quickly the items were shipped from Heavenly Couture!

Wanna Win?  "Like" Heavenly Couture on Facebook to get access to their daily giveaways!

*Heavenly Couture is a partner site.  All opinions expressed are 100% our own, and we wouldn't endorse them if we didn't love them! 

Mom's The Word: Ragu Giveaway!

Have you heard of the Ragu Mom's the Word on Dinner community over at Facebook?  Now that you know about it, what's your excuse?  (C'mon.. you know you're on Facebook, anyway).  If you have a moment, you should get to the site and check it out.  It's super-informative, fun, and a great way to connect with other moms.

Some of the topics of conversation get a bit hot, but that's what we like about it!  For example, how do you spice up the plain ol' pasta meal?  How do you get your kids to eat things like veggies in their meals?  How do you keep from getting tired of cooking the same thing week after week?  You can get tips and inspiration from other moms, AND the recipes aren't bad, either.  I think my favorite part of the feature are the videos: they are real moms telling real stories, and some have really made me laugh (because they remind me of my OWN kids.)

You can find out more about this brilliant way to connect on the official Ragu Mom's the Word on Dinner Facebook page.  (Just "Like" them to start hearing the conversation!)

Wanna Win?  We are encouraging one lucky Mom (or Dad) to start conversations over dinner with their own family, by giving them a $20 Visa gift card for groceries! To be entered to win, just tell us what you would cook (or if you would outsource it to someone else!)  You have until  September 8th at 11:59 pm CST to get your entries in. One entry per person, please! U.S. 18+ only. (Don't forget to enter our other blog giveaways while you're here!)

*Gift card and sauce were received as a thank you for sharing this information.  Opinions are my own.

Review of dENIZEN Jeans for Women

I like buying jeans at the thrift store because they tend to be more comfy and lived-in.  I also like a dark wash, however, so finding used jeans that still have that dark color is difficult.  We recently tried a pair of dENIZEN jeans from LEVI'S, and available exclusively at Target.  I rarely buy clothes from Target, because they seem to be geared towards a younger crowd and the fit is rarely right.  These jeans, however were right on target!

First, I ordered a size true to my other jeans, a size 6.  The style was mid-waist and stretchy, just how I like it.  Even though I usually wear a petite, I got these in a regular length, and they weren't that long, at all.  I could wear them with a high heel without having to roll them up.  They really keep their shape during the day, too.  If they start out comfy, they don't get too loose as the day goes on (unlike some other jeans with stretch in them.)  I also LOVED the wash.  They were nice and dark and flattering.  I could wash these with my other jeans and they didn't bleed or fade.

Here are the jeans that I tried.  (You can order them online only.)

While there aren't too many reasons why I would buy clothes at Target, these jeans would be worth the trip.  I could see getting two or three pairs to have on hand in different washes.  They also comes in men's and kids sizes, so your whole family could look stylish for under $30!

Wanna Win?  Just "Like" dENIZEN on Facebook from now until December 31, 2001, and you could instantly win one of the following prizes: (875) $15 Target Gift Card, (2,500) a pair of dENIZEN Jeans, or (6,000) $5 Target Gift Card. (Note: Giveaway held by dENIZEN on their Facebook page -- not on this blog.)

Did you win?  Let us know in the comments! 

*A pair of jeans were given to me to try as part of the Team Mom program.  Opinions are 100% my own.  

Family-Friendly iPad Apps!

I won an iPad 2 in a Facebook giveaway over a month ago.  I LOVE this gadget!  The problem is that my kids love it more, and they ask me constantly if they can use it.  Not wanting them to waste all their time on the thing, I wanted their iPad time to be worthwhile.  Here are the games I let my kids use as a reward for good behavior, getting their chores done, or sitting quietly through school:

Baby Monkey (Going Backwards on a Pig)

If you are familiar with the famous YouTube video (with song), this game will quickly become a fave.  The game play is simple, and young kids can master it easily.  The game itself is addicting, but when you lose, you're done -- meaning kids can't hang on for 20 more minutes after you've told them to finish up.  A top seller in the family games category, this treat is available for just $.99!

Angry Birds (Rio)

Who doesn't play Angry Birds?  When we ran out of levels on our free version, we quickly went and downloaded the movie-inspired game, complete with chained blue parrots and mean little monkeys.  This game is a riot, and I admit to spending more time on it than I should.  With a fun Mardi-Gras theme, Angry Birds Rio is full-color fun for everyone in the family!  Snag it for under a buck!

JumpStart Jet Pack

We have lots of JumpStart games for the computer but didn't have any for the iPad.  We tested out one educational game that had quite a bit of learning involved, and a good bit of fun, too.  Jet Pack has kids fly around the game with a jet pack (of course), blasting through the right answers and moving between levels.  My son can play for about 15 minutes before he gets a bit worn out, but that shows that's it's much more learning-based than game-based.  An exciting alternative to tedious worksheets, this game is a good buy for parents who want the ability to choose different skills for each game.  You can get it for $1.99 at the Apple Store.

MathBlaster HyperBlast 

This is another very educational game.  The fun twist to this app, however, is that it uses the iPad's directional function to let kids "steer" through obstacles by turning the iPad side to side.  My son LOVES this game.  It has almost made him forget that he's practicing math.  (There is also a robot monster at the end of the level that kids have to defeat by answering questions correctly -- not by fighting.)  You can grab this app for $1.99, as well.

Do you have a favorite iPad app?  What do you let your kids play on it (or do you)?

*Downloads of some games have been received to review.  Opinions are my own, and a free review code does not guarantee publication of a review.

BIG NCircle DVD Giveaway!

What do Sid the Science Kid, the Cat in the Hat, Pocoyo, and World World all have in common?  Their best episodes can be found exclusively on DVD's by NCircle!

We often use many of these titles for our homeschool program.  The youngest kids love Pocoyo and the older ones get a lot out of World World and Sid.  We all enjoy the Cat in the Hat!  I love that we can watch them anytime and anywhere (even in the car), so that my kids get healthy, educational programming into their very busy days.  What a fun way to learn!

We have an exciting opportunity for one lucky reader to win 6 of these great DVDs.  Read more about each title below:

Sid the Science Kid: Going, Going Green

Sid has such a funny way of learning.  He asks LOTs of questions and doesn't stop until he's gotten an answer.  This DVD celebrates kids' natural quest for learning and gives them tips for being responsible for all the resources and creatures that surround us here on our planet.  It's not so preachy, but super easy!  Kids should love the references to animals and plants in this DVD.

The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That: Tales about Tails

Dr. Seuss's quizzical creature is back with another episode designed to get your kids chuckling and remembering important facts about science and nature.  This study on tails will give children all kinds of new adventures to enjoy, and they will hear about how different tails work for different animals!

World World: The Train Escapade

Trains are a hot topic at our house.  We have one kid obsessed with these machines, so he stood at attention when we were able to watch this popular series with a focus on his passion.  Since we really emphasize phonics in our reading program, this DVD is a natural fit.  You'll find yourself sounding out words along with your kids, and the songs are charming, too.

Pocoyo: Dance, Pocoyo, Dance!

Nick Jr.'s little guy is here on DVD for your kids to learn all about dancing!  Watch them express themselves with all kinds of different dance and music styles, and help them to embrace their own techniques while just having fun!  There are many short stories within this DVD, which makes it perfect for tiny tots with short attention spans.

Animal Atlas: Animal ABC's and Animal 123's

These two DVD's make the perfect couple, giving kids an animal-eye's view of the world around them.  Children will get the hang of their numbers and alphabet skills while seeing lots of full-color footage from every kind of animal imaginable, including kittens and penguins!

You can learn more about all of these titles (as well as upcoming and new releases) at the official NCircle website, or "Like" them on Facebook!

Wanna Win? To enter to win all six of these titles, please comment on this post with which title you are most excited about and why!  You have until August 29th at 11:59 pm CST to get your entries in. You may enter one time per day.  Each entry comment after the first required comment entry can simply say "Daily entry." U.S. 18+ only. (Don't forget to enter our other blog giveaways while you're here!)

We Try the Graco SmartSeat All-in-One Convertible Car Seat

We have "stair-step" children.  You know, the ones that are less than two years apart in age and come right after the other in size.  Car seats have been a challenge for us, because it seems like we buy the infant rear facing, then the front-facing, then the booster, and they never stay in them very long!  Unlike other items you can easily hand down, car seats are only good for so many years, and they take a lot of abuse in the process.  I was excited to try out our first All-in-one seat ; we had never had one before!

First of all, the Graco SmartSeat All-in-One car seat (in Ryker design) is HEAVY!  Taking it out of the box, it is the size and weight of a child, and it is not recommended that you lug the thing around in one piece.

There are too many instructions with this seat, as well, but I suppose that if you needed to be absolutely positive you were doing EVERYTHING right (i.e., you had never buckled a kid into anything at all before), you could feel good about following every direction.  For the most part, the car seat practically tells you how to put it together.  It comes with several indicators on the seat to let you know everything is facing the right directions, and there is even a level on the side to let you know that it's at the right angle!  (How snazzy is that?!?)

It is super cool-looking.  A boy or girl could enjoy this ride, and it is everything you need for comfort.  There is a seat cushion for little babies that is cozy and helps support them.  There are harness covers to keep the straps from digging into little ones' shoulders, and the head rest is very plush, as well.  This seat is the first-class of baby seats -- it's much nice than anything I've ever sat in!

I was very worried that I wouldn't be able to easily change the seat from a rear-facing to a forward-facing.  It turned out to be a seamless process, however, and you don't need to remove your child from the seat to do most of the adjustment.  (You can change the height of the straps, tightness, etc, while the kid is in the seat.)  This helps quite a bit when you are in the car and realize Junior has grown overnight.

I think that this car seat will be a good addition to our family.  We currently have the choice of letting my youngest use it as a rear-facing, or my second-youngest use it in a front-facing.  Either way, I know they will have a comfy and safe ride.

You can find this deluxe solution for your travel needs at the Walmart site only for around $299.

*I am a participant in the Walmart Moms program. Walmart has provided me the product and compensation for my time on this post. Participation in this program is voluntary. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

Free St. Ives Mineral Therapy Body Wash from Walgreens after Rebate

Via the ShopAtHome.com Rebate program, you can get any St. Ives Body Wash priced $1.99 fro FREE at Walgreen's website.  Enjoy everyday FREE SHIPPING on all orders of $25+ and you can also take take $10 off all Walgreens purchases of $40+ with code SALE10! Walgreens List Price: $2.99 Walgreens Website Price: $1.99 Coupon Code: N/A -$0.00 WILD Cash Back Reward  -$1.99

Final Price: FREE!

Fine print: The WILD Cash Back Reward will be posted to your ShopAtHome.com account within 30 days of purchase. WILD Cash Back Rewards apply only to the products listed. Limit one per ShopAtHome.com customer.  ShopAtHome.com rebate checks are mailed monthly, within 90 days of item purchase, as long as you haven't returned the product to the merchant, and you have a minimum balance of $20 in your ShopAtHome.com account.

Team Up with Elmer's to Help Kids In Need!

If a tight budget or tough economic times are keeping you from being able to help charities much this back-to-school season, we have GREAT news for you!  Elmer's is working to provide donations to Kids in Need, and you can also assist -- no cash required.  Here are the details from an Elmer's rep:

From July 25 through Sept. 1, for each “like” on the Elmer’s Facebook page, the company will donate a product to the Foundation’s national network of free stores, where teachers from disadvantaged schools can “shop” for free for school supplies (up to 200,000 products for this campaign). Products to be donated include a variety of glues, foam board, project supplies and pencil sharpeners. If you already like the page, we’ll make a contribution on your behalf, but you can donate again by watching a video on the Elmer’s Kids In Need Facebook tab and sharing it with your friends and family.

You're already on Facebook, right?  Why not take a moment to click or view, and you will be giving needy school districts the supplies they need to ensure kids are learning what they need to this year!

Wanna Win?  What amazing Elmer's promotion would be complete without a giveaway?  We are offering three (3) lucky readers the following prize pack, including:

·         The all-new Elmer’s X-TREME School Glue Stick

·         Small foam tri-fold

·         Project Popperz

·         Mini bi-fold foam

·         Disappearing purple glue sticks

·         Gel school glue sticks

·         School glue

·         School glue dual tip pen

To be entered to win, just comment with whether you will participate in the Kids in Need Facebook promotion.  You have until August 26th at 11:59 pm CST to get your entries in.  One per person, please!  U.S. 18+ only.  (Don't forget to enter our other blog giveaways while you're here!)

Celebrate the New ICE with a $100 Giveaway!

Ooh-la-la.  We love jewelry, and if you've been a fan of Ice for awhile, you may already know about their recent and glamorous site update!  If not, now is a great time to get familiar!

As you can see, the site is easy-to-navigate, clean, and fun to window shop.

If you are in the market for a fine piece of jewelry, you'll definitely want to check them out.  (They also have a nice selection of items under $100 for a budget-friendly gift occasion.)  And we are also excited about their policy to offer US customers FREE Shipping and FREE Returns on all orders.

They are also teaming up with some fabulous designers to give you more personality to choose from.  If you've shied away from buying jewelry online before, it might be the best time to dabble in something fun and festive for the fall!

You can see the new site yourself at Ice.com, follow them on Twitter, or check them out on Facebook.

Wanna Win?  We are giving one lucky reader a $100 credit to use at the new Ice site!  To be entered to win, just comment below with the correct answer to this question:

What is the name of the Celebrity Blogger that has created a personal collection of Ice jewelry?

You have until August 25th at 11:59 pm CST to get your entries in.  One per person, please!  U.S. 18+ only.  (Don't forget to enter our other blog giveaways while you're here!)

*Prize Exclusions:  Not applicable on sale or clearance items, watches, engagement rings or The Persona Charms Collection. Not applicable on taxes or shipping costs, and cannot be combined with any other offer

$2.99 Toddler Boys Polos at JCPenney (After Cash Back Rebate)

There is another back-to-school deal over at ShopAtHome.com that we couldn't pass up!  

jcpenney List Price:	$20.00
jcpenney Website Price:	$5.99
Coupon Code: SHOPHM10	-$0.60
WILD Cash Back Reward	-$2.40

Final Price: $2.99

Fine Print:  Choose from 3 colors. The WILD Cash Back Reward will be posted to your ShopAtHome.com account within 30 days of purchase. WILD Cash Back Rewards apply only to the products listed. Limit one per ShopAtHome.com customer.

Cute Back-to-School Gear from Dinosaur Train

Dinosaurs.  Trains. 

Ask my 4-year-old what he loves, and these two words will always follow.  That's why, even though I don't let my kids watch too much of the same program at our house, we do allow unlimited access to Dinosaur Train.  The show is adorable, and my kids love learning all the different names for the dinosaurs

Because we often do roundups surrounding special times of year, we thought it would be fun to share some exciting Dinosaur Train branded items that you can use to help get your kiddo back to school.  Here are our faves:

2-Pc Clothing Sets

Just look how proud my little guy is in his new Dinosaur Train polo shirt and shorts!  He is a tiny kid, so this size 3 was still a bit big for his little waist.  He uses a belt, however, and is beaming at how sharp he looks.    There are other pieces in the line, too!  

You can find this clothing for an affordable price at Kohl's and KMart.

Crayola Mess Free Color Wonder Coloring Pad and Marker Set

We have an entire china hutch dedicated to art supplies.  It might be because we homeschool, but it's mostly because my kids love creating more than anything else!  We already own several of the Crayola Color Wonder products, so adding in a Dinosaur Train themed product was a natural fit!  My kids share this one very well, taking turns coloring one page, and then passing it on to the next kid.  (The markers work with all Crayola Color Wonder products.)  These are priced at just $7.99 at Walmart, Target, Toys “R” Us, Kmart, Kohl’s, Meijer and other stores that carry Crayola!

Mega Bloks

As a Mega Bloks Mom, I already LOVE anything in the product line.  We own so many of the Bloks, and I figured a Dinosaur Train themed set would fit in nicely.  I was right!  My son plays with the Buddy figurine and bloks along with his Thomas the Train set.  (I laugh when I see him having Thomas talk to Buddy.) These are super high-quality bloks, and there are a few sets you can mix and match for even more Dinosaur Train fun!  Sets start at less than $9 via Amazon, KMart and ToysRUs.

Dinosaurs A to Z Book

We devour books at our house, mostly because I require it for our homeschool program.  The younger ones that can't read yet will spend hours staring at the pictures in many books and making up words to go with the pictures.  This latest Dinosaur Train themed book is actually a board book, sturdy enough for my infant son, and the kids love finding the letters they know and then matching them up with dinosaurs they think look cool.  You'll enjoy how durable this is, and the colors are fantastic!  Give your kids an edge to their phonics learning with this padded board book for just $8.99 via Amazon!

What about your kids?  Are they Dinosaur Train fans?  Do you buy special products to help ease the transition from summer to school or to just reward your kids for taking the next step in their educational career?