tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39719832273201278452024-03-05T00:37:44.292-08:00Three Ladies and a Dad ReviewsAlaina @ Three Ladies and a Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01357112943937376701noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3971983227320127845.post-25110531250128712852010-12-07T20:22:00.000-08:002010-12-19T21:39:43.466-08:00Holidays with Build-A-Bear: A Review and a Giveaway<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySRCT5x9plcyN_EUsdjC_pbXWQgQSKFTnYASuG8II8_niOSvrm-vTI7hNRuUY3hyrXIXMWldqzs6CA5unyDmLg7qzp0WkHawufDShrjhJ0n4kmp_PDOaMv7ue5dAF3K_APUST7WfKsnLp/s1600/BABLogo240y_reasonably_small.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 128px; height: 128px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySRCT5x9plcyN_EUsdjC_pbXWQgQSKFTnYASuG8II8_niOSvrm-vTI7hNRuUY3hyrXIXMWldqzs6CA5unyDmLg7qzp0WkHawufDShrjhJ0n4kmp_PDOaMv7ue5dAF3K_APUST7WfKsnLp/s400/BABLogo240y_reasonably_small.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548168139469837810" border="0" /></a>I have worked with Build-A-Bear quite a few times in the past and they have yet to disappoint. We recently recieved a $25 gift card to spend as we choose and after much debate, we settled on Santa Bearemy. He is a perfect fit for our Advent tree and the girls love him!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmEtuNuKbynBJqPqf13rGV9kUa-USyC-ym5SSsKfCgvyWCLmow7EHKbmEPZllxJ9lHUHGhQip9mOuSIJpG9SWuIqfh-Hdnj3UtGXSQ0VJJszOF7ypmoH2ofQMWCOrqR5au-VzFgdDRGyZi/s1600/154.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmEtuNuKbynBJqPqf13rGV9kUa-USyC-ym5SSsKfCgvyWCLmow7EHKbmEPZllxJ9lHUHGhQip9mOuSIJpG9SWuIqfh-Hdnj3UtGXSQ0VJJszOF7ypmoH2ofQMWCOrqR5au-VzFgdDRGyZi/s320/154.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548164169298824946" border="0" /></a>We had such a hard time choosing...this year there are so many fun things! As always, there is the <a href="http://www.buildabear.com/shopping/productBrowse.jsp?categoryId=cat10070013&selectedParentCategoryId=cat110197&selectedSubCategoryId=&_requestid=343342">Roudolph Collection</a> which is so cute! The girls are also loving the <a href="http://www.buildabear.com/shopping/productDetail.jsp?productId=prod10090037&selectedParentCategoryId=cat110197&categoryId=cat110117&dressMeMode=false">Frosty the Snowman</a>, <a href="http://www.buildabear.com/shopping/productDetail.jsp?productId=prod10090025&selectedParentCategoryId=cat110197&categoryId=cat110117&dressMeMode=false">the Misfit Doll</a>, and the <a href="http://www.buildabear.com/shopping/productDetail.jsp?productId=prod10030338&selectedParentCategoryId=cat110197&categoryId=cat110117&dressMeMode=false">Adorable Elf Brown Sugar Puppy</a>.<br /><br />I cannot tell you enough good things about Build-A-Bear and I love to support companies like them. They provide a great, family experience and allows you to make something together that will be kept for years to come.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Would you like to </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >win a $25 gift card to Build-A-Bear</span>? To enter, just leave me a comment here. For up to five additional ways to enter, click <a href="http://www.threeladiesandadad.com/2009/01/fine-print-for-giveaways.html">here</a>. A winner will be chosen on December 15. <span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >Please leave your email address</span> so I can contact you should you be chosen as the winner.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Three Ladies and a Dad Reviews</span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Disclosure: </span></span>This review is possible through <a href="http://www.buildabear.com/">Build-A-Bear Workshop</a>. </span><a href="http://www.myblogspark.com/"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ></span></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><a href="http://www.buildabear.com/">Build-A-Bear Workshop</a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" > sponsored this post by providing me with one (1) $25 gift card so that I may write a product review and offer a giveaway of the same products. My product review is an expression of my own honest opinion based on my experience trying the product, and is not reviewed or edited by </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><a href="http://www.buildabear.com/">Build-A-Bear Workshop</a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><a href="http://www.bettycrocker.com/products/old-el-paso"></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >. </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><a href="http://www.buildabear.com/">Build-A-Bear Workshop</a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" > </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >does not compensate me in any other way for this product review.</span>Alaina @ Three Ladies and a Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01357112943937376701noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3971983227320127845.post-32504636836741544162010-12-07T08:01:00.000-08:002010-12-08T10:58:44.920-08:00The Goobyn: A Review and a GiveawayIt's an easy habit to get out of, but I am trying to pack the girls' lunch for school daily. I have seen several Bento box style lunch boxes and in fact, initially started with the Bento 2.0. We have had quite a few things for lunch, from leftovers to sandwiches and flower shaped bits of fruit and cheese.<br /><br />A few months ago, I signed up for <a href="http://www.gilt.com/invite/threeladiesandadad">Gilt</a>, an invitation only sight that offers merchandise for up to 70% off. I was so excited when I found <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1p2reuueu2bErAjdcEfYMmcQYhUtPopY43OhyphenhyphenEQ-4RgTwBxNTIKYsHZNcc7UOdJdZJRib-z1km-UO36mLQn15cCijcr-Zm_Ud_7mIteWlRPjDPmXii3T-tUJOnBNSuiEfUIK2wlcdB-Wa/s1600/green.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 155px; height: 165px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1p2reuueu2bErAjdcEfYMmcQYhUtPopY43OhyphenhyphenEQ-4RgTwBxNTIKYsHZNcc7UOdJdZJRib-z1km-UO36mLQn15cCijcr-Zm_Ud_7mIteWlRPjDPmXii3T-tUJOnBNSuiEfUIK2wlcdB-Wa/s320/green.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548156917793433810" border="0" /></a>they were offering <a href="http://goodbyn.com/goodbyn/Default.aspx">Goodbyn</a><br />lunchboxes! I placed my order and received these today...The Plum and Green Goodbyns. I love that they are planet friendly, reducing the need for all the plastic baggies. Plus, they come with a water bottle! The girls love all the little compartments too, all of which are separated by the lid. And the handle makes it easy for little hands to carry.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5UwVGhgdOAWfjMfdpXVLGDx9s8_vYMOTzHGF0-vC2h4U2ZhhtMQ6wRwfSwEm-8W94izDy5uE24XM-gwoTS6iCfcCwnp8fPXQ9fgwvDLarpDP4kUMkC6fVHj4PyeTOIrWxCpHL841KuLF/s1600/plum.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 165px; height: 155px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5UwVGhgdOAWfjMfdpXVLGDx9s8_vYMOTzHGF0-vC2h4U2ZhhtMQ6wRwfSwEm-8W94izDy5uE24XM-gwoTS6iCfcCwnp8fPXQ9fgwvDLarpDP4kUMkC6fVHj4PyeTOIrWxCpHL841KuLF/s320/plum.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548157084824919426" border="0" /></a><br />We immediately started decorating them with the stickers they came with and I am loving that we have an extra Bento style lunchbox for those days the girls leave one box at school. Jeremy immediately said, "Great...another lunchbox." (Insert sarcasm)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Good news for you!</span> I have a Plum colored Goodbyn to give away to you! Just leave me a comment here. For up to 5 additional entries, click <a href="http://www.threeladiesandadad.com/2009/01/fine-print-for-giveaways.html">here</a>. This giveaway will end on December 27.<br /><br />Good luck!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">This is not a sponsored post/review. I just love the product and wanted to share with you!<br /></span></div>Alaina @ Three Ladies and a Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01357112943937376701noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3971983227320127845.post-128386155742114972010-11-29T20:00:00.001-08:002010-11-29T20:01:52.245-08:00Big G Cereal and Movie Cash: A Winner!The winner of the four pack of movie tickets is <a href="http://myhusbandswatchingtv.blogspot.com/">My Husband's Watching TV</a>!<br /><br />Congrats!Alaina @ Three Ladies and a Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01357112943937376701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3971983227320127845.post-64693123955180419762010-11-29T18:38:00.000-08:002010-12-19T21:42:10.776-08:00Family Taco Night with Old El Paso: A Review and a Giveaway<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaLAAoXkQtAhX8g4Qp9KksotjEW4bCH9w8KcbNAIfl3Swr-RtZr_l4XLeBYjbZIq2JFGG6t0bSW0w9w6VZh9uARft9p6Z4TzMAnDG4omONP8WylRIOLzOZsGRylrVJR_rWv3-aOOereAVU/s1600/old_el_paso.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaLAAoXkQtAhX8g4Qp9KksotjEW4bCH9w8KcbNAIfl3Swr-RtZr_l4XLeBYjbZIq2JFGG6t0bSW0w9w6VZh9uARft9p6Z4TzMAnDG4omONP8WylRIOLzOZsGRylrVJR_rWv3-aOOereAVU/s320/old_el_paso.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536251142382918914" border="0" /></a>Taco nights are a common theme in our house. Chicken or beef, the girls love building their own taco or taco salads. I usually like setting up a "Taco Bar" with all the additions - tomatoes, lettuce, black beans or re-fried beans and salsa.<br /><br />I try to make my own taco seasoning mix but when I don't have all the spices or need a quick fix, we like the Old El Paso seasoning. (Did you know they offer one with 40% less sodium?) I received a $10 gift card for the taco toppings, Old El Paso seasoning and a some fun serving trays to spice up our taco night. How cute are these?!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOzPYUOMPmyuAywgs_FHkAuHD8Ofmp71veYRTZl6Y2RWI7oLi40KkWABJzPqtUbRPTjMo86q808-QYHRxXcsosA5WVRQmOI8FzgNuxQN1F3hYa2imkjfKC50qXP_6bQuYASh_qnOXEBg_f/s1600/taconight.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOzPYUOMPmyuAywgs_FHkAuHD8Ofmp71veYRTZl6Y2RWI7oLi40KkWABJzPqtUbRPTjMo86q808-QYHRxXcsosA5WVRQmOI8FzgNuxQN1F3hYa2imkjfKC50qXP_6bQuYASh_qnOXEBg_f/s320/taconight.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545193391734946690" border="0" /></a>Trying to change it up a bit, we made these <a href="http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/double-layer-tacos/b3afd54d-eecd-4f10-a74d-5144e887b1a9">Double-Layer Tacos</a>. My family loved them and they are now a new addition to how we make tacos. We also downloaded and played a game that I never knew about and is a fun way to add some fun to the dinner table. <a href="http://www.eltacodor.com/">El Tacodor</a> was a blast for everyone and I have to try to remember to print it out next time we have a taco night!<br /><br />Family Taco Night, along with the game, is a great way to make a small and fun difference at the dinner table! Click <a href="http://www.myblogspark.com/uc/main/b069/">here</a> to get a $0.60 off 2 Old El Paso Seasoning Mixes to get you started.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Would you like to win a prize pack like the one I received?</span></span><br /></div>To enter, just leave me a comment here telling what your favorite dinner is. For up to five additional ways to enter, click <a href="http://www.threeladiesandadad.com/2009/01/fine-print-for-giveaways.html">here</a>. A winner will be chosen on December 17. <span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >Please leave your email address</span> so I can contact you should you be chosen as the winner.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Three Ladies and a Dad Reviews</span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Disclosure: </span></span>This review is possible through <a href="http://www.myblogspark.com/">My Blog Spark</a> and <a href="http://www.bettycrocker.com/products/old-el-paso">Old El Paso</a>. </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><a href="http://www.myblogspark.com/">My Blog Spark</a> and/or <a href="http://www.bettycrocker.com/products/old-el-paso">Old El Paso</a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" > sponsored this post by providing me with one (1) Old El Paso "Family Taco Night" pack so that I may write a product review and offer a giveaway of the same products. My product review is an expression of my own honest opinion based on my experience trying the product, and is not reviewed or edited by </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><a href="http://www.myblogspark.com/">My Blog Spark</a> and/or <a href="http://www.bettycrocker.com/products/old-el-paso">Old El Paso</a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >. </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><a href="http://www.myblogspark.com/">My Blog Spark</a> and/or <a href="http://www.bettycrocker.com/products/old-el-paso">Old El Paso</a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" > does not compensate me in any other way for this product review.</span>Alaina @ Three Ladies and a Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01357112943937376701noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3971983227320127845.post-88610314807091721802010-11-13T06:14:00.000-08:002010-11-13T07:55:03.237-08:00Big G Cereal and Movie Cash: A Review and a Giveaway!<span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >Movies are the one thing that is loved by everyone in our house. Before I started school, you would find us at the latest kid movie. Around here, there is not much for an entire family to enjoy together and this is our favorite!<br /><br />So imagine my excitement when I was provided four movie tickets and two boxes of Big G cereals. Why Big G cereal? Because starting now, if you buy two participating cereals, you<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6SLEyPpEVpuHrQ8FBG9luVfAhxC2e5bFCULLsGd9kMgKy59o2iWk_miUG_Ym4LpHlI5fBDV8S8wGLV_N1Lr_XyHn1QtlcEEZc1PDFD4AClc6xExnDazppXmbDE8jPOylF3bvng1ArADJm/s1600/Big_G_freemovie.gif"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6SLEyPpEVpuHrQ8FBG9luVfAhxC2e5bFCULLsGd9kMgKy59o2iWk_miUG_Ym4LpHlI5fBDV8S8wGLV_N1Lr_XyHn1QtlcEEZc1PDFD4AClc6xExnDazppXmbDE8jPOylF3bvng1ArADJm/s320/Big_G_freemovie.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536241467218677570" border="0" /></a> enter the codes online <a href="http://new.emoviecash.com/gmills/">here</a> which you can then redeem for movie cash! Two boxes will get you one movie ticket, up to $12.<br /><br />The cereals that are options are a few of the girls' favorite:</span><ul style="font-family:georgia;"><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Honey Nut Cheerios (17 oz.)</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Cinnamon Toast Crunch (17 oz.)</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Lucky Charms (16 oz.)</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Trix (14.8 oz.)</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Reese's Puffs (18 oz.)</span></li></ul><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >I know that more times then not, our local theaters are not participating in these types of promotions. But this time, both of ours are options!<br /><br /><a href="http://emoviecash.com/dis_locator/">Check to see if your theater</a> is participating, buy two boxes of Big G cereal, enter them online and get some </span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >cash to see a movie!<br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Would you like to win a prize pack</span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" > just like the one I received? If you are chosen as the winner, you will get four movie tickets and two boxes of Big G cereals! </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >To enter to just me a comment here telling how you like to make movie night fun for you</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >! </span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">For up to five additional ways to enter, click <a href="http://www.threeladiesandadad.com/2009/01/fine-print-for-giveaways.html">here</a>. A winner will be chosen on Friday, November 26. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Please leave your email</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">address</span> so I can contact you should you be chosen as the winner.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">(I am not sure what is going on with the fonts/sizes but I can't fix it!)</span></span><br /></div><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Three Ladies and a Dad Review Disclosure: </span>This review is possible through <a href="http://www.myblogspark.com/">My Blog Spark</a> and/or Big G Cereal. </span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.myblogspark.com/">My Blog Spark</a></span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"> and/or </span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">Big G Cereal </span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">sponsored this post by providing me with a product pack and one prize pack to give away so that I may share this information with you. My post is an expression of my own honest opinion based on my experience and is not reviewed or edited by </span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.myblogspark.com/">My Blog Spark</a></span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"> and/or </span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">Big G Cereal</span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">. </span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.myblogspark.com/">My Blog Spark</a></span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"> and/or </span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">Big G Cereal </span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">does not compensate me in any other way for this post.</span></span>Alaina @ Three Ladies and a Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01357112943937376701noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3971983227320127845.post-88824217101912180302010-11-11T18:59:00.000-08:002010-11-11T19:40:01.088-08:00Stacy's Pits Snacks and a Sweepstakes!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNgGGfhXsHHEu2YBVVj8xWwTUxelrm0GOV5cVZcqt1lIMVGzUJZptqlrMnJkXl1ZL4K0JI2SBgoEs0TgcvAYdEkij2T6IiYNwf_HCpi_bBwbG8WoNw3tdby-dZGJjS-573OkPDJEUTD6f/s1600/logo-small.png"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 82px; height: 49px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNgGGfhXsHHEu2YBVVj8xWwTUxelrm0GOV5cVZcqt1lIMVGzUJZptqlrMnJkXl1ZL4K0JI2SBgoEs0TgcvAYdEkij2T6IiYNwf_HCpi_bBwbG8WoNw3tdby-dZGJjS-573OkPDJEUTD6f/s400/logo-small.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538499959732198066" border="0" /></a>I was recently sent two bags of Stacy's Pita chips. Originally, I planned on sharing this post with you and including a great dip recipe to have on hand to go with the chips.<br /><br />Instead, when I went to grab the bag of the Simply Naked Pita chips, they were gone. I already munched on the Parmesan Garlic and Herb chips for a few days (which are delicious!) so those were gone as well.<br /><br />Obviously the chips were great alone, even though I had high hopes for sharing a recipe that our family loves with them.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Uq20swUGqFW9s16IM6Tfq_-JXO1TX60GL5FEHdWclMP39MfwcV63xKrpOcDdFvf1uE3RH90gJAfcu4_5t3dHSjr2cFTQSX-DZyebpLwKHaA5gZcXPhyphenhyphenQZkKiv12CHXB6kUmtXJTaWelv/s1600/52_small.png"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 237px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Uq20swUGqFW9s16IM6Tfq_-JXO1TX60GL5FEHdWclMP39MfwcV63xKrpOcDdFvf1uE3RH90gJAfcu4_5t3dHSjr2cFTQSX-DZyebpLwKHaA5gZcXPhyphenhyphenQZkKiv12CHXB6kUmtXJTaWelv/s400/52_small.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538500385160211042" border="0" /></a><br />Many of these <a href="http://www.stacyssnacks.com/#/?page=recipes">recipes</a> look yummy, especially the Roasted Red Pepper Dip. Unfortunately, I can't find a way to link to each individual recipe, so you will have to go browse around. But I am looking at all of them thinking about how great these would be for holiday appetizers!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you have a favorite recipe that involves Stacy's Pita Chips? Share your favorite Stacy's holiday snack idea </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.stacyssnacks.com/promotions/">here</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> and you could win a year's supply of Stacy's Pita Chips and some holiday decor to decorate your house! The prize package is valued at over $750.00!</span><br /><br />Stacy's Holiday Sweepstakes ends on November 17 so hurry!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >Three Ladies and a Dad Reviews Disclosure:</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> </span>This review is possible through <a href="http://momselect.com/">Mom Select</a> and <a href="http://www.stacyssnacks.com/">Stacy's Pita Chips</a>. </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Mom Select and/or Stacy's Pita Chips </span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">sponsored this post by providing me with two bags of Stacy's Pita Chips so that I may share this information with you. My post is an expression of my own honest opinion based on my experience and is not reviewed or edited by </span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">Mom Select and/or Staples</span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">. </span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">Mom Select and/or Stacy's Pita Chips </span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">does not compensate me in any other way for this post.</span></span>Alaina @ Three Ladies and a Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01357112943937376701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3971983227320127845.post-28674895184827375902010-11-11T16:38:00.000-08:002010-11-11T17:11:27.556-08:0010 Holiday Survival Tips! #HolidayCardsWith the holidays coming faster than ever, I am trying to think of a few ways to make them a bit simpler. I have come up with these so far, but would love input from you!<br /><br />1. Cook ahead! Our family is huge and we have several stops to make in order to see everyone. Most of the time, when I ask what I can bring to eat, there is never a direct reply. So when I offer to bring something, I like to suggest things that can be cooked ahead. Most of the time dips can be made the night before and be put in the refrigerator. Meats can be cooked ahead as well.<br /><br />2. For presents, buy throughout the year! I have been Christmas shopping for quite a while now. I have ordered several clothing pieces for the girls when there are sales I can't pass up or super cute items that I can't resist. I like to buy them for Christmas while I can get them! As of now, all of the girls' clothes are bought for their presents!<br /><br />3. Don't forget to wrap ahead of time too! I have been guilty of waiting until the last minute to start wrapping which ends up in me up until 2:30 Christmas morning. The end result is me being tired Christmas morning. Start wrapping as you get the presents!<br /><br />4. One thing we have started in the last few years is a Christmas account at our bank. We put back a set amount each month and love that we get the check without feeling immediate pain. If I do buy anything a head of time, I just won't put the amount I spent in the account. Win. Win.<br /><br />5. Holiday mornings for us are always chaotic. I plan on packing anything I can ahead of time, have clothes laid out for myself and the family, and taking showers the night before. Hopefully, this will prove to be a more efficient morning when we are always running around like a crazy family!<br /><br />6. Something that will help with the morning routines of holiday mornings are great breakfasts. And by breakfasts, I mean a dish that can be made the night before a stuck in the fridge. I love to have an easy breakfasts with my family before we start the hustle and bustle of holidays!<br /><br />7. This year, in hopes of avoiding toy overload for the girls, Jeremy and I are thinking of one huge present, clothes and very few toys. Our girls will not be deprived by no means! Our parents are gracious when it comes to the holiday department, and we always return home with a car load of toys!<br /><br />8. Invest in some holiday movies...they will help you entertain the kids while you tackle that to do list! Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade is something I always want to enjoy as a family cuddles up on the couch. In reality, I am wishing this will be our first year we actually get to do it! Nonetheless, the kids will be entertained while I prepare what I must before we head out. I often pop in a Christmas movie after Thanksgiving if I need to get a few things done, without interruptions.<br /><br />9. Take a break with your family! Holidays are great and fun, but stress levels can rise which can be taken out on everyone. Enjoy the family time while you can, and slow down to sip on some coffee or hot chocolate with the kids. Everyone can mellow out for a while and I promise, everything will still get finished in time.<br /><br />10. When all else fails, turn on some great music. Holiday tunes always cheer up my family!<br /><br /><br />For any holiday cards, Tiny Prints may be a great option for you. Here is some information I received:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Tiny Prints provides stylish, modern and unique stationery from </span><a style="font-style: italic;" target="blank" href="http://www.tinyprints.com/photo-cards.htm">photo cards</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> to </span><a style="font-style: italic;" target="blank" href="http://www.tinyprints.com/greeting">personalized greeting cards</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> to </span><a style="font-style: italic;" target="blank" href="http://www.tinyprints.com/thank-you-cards-notes.htm">thank you cards</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> and </span><a style="font-style: italic;" target="blank" href="http://www.tinyprints.com/business/business-cards.htm">business cards</a><span style="font-style: italic;">. Offering exclusive designs from the nation’s top designers, easy card personalization, a powerful preview engine and top-notch customer service and paper quality, their designs have been lauded by numerous television networks, publications and celebrities. With Tiny Prints by your side the Holidays will be a cinch! They offer adorable </span><a style="font-style: italic;" target="blank" href="http://www.tinyprints.com/shop/thanksgiving-photo-cards-invitations.htm">Thanksgiving Cards</a><span style="font-style: italic;">, </span><a style="font-style: italic;" target="blank" href="http://www.tinyprints.com/photo-cards.htm">Christmas Cards</a><span style="font-style: italic;">, </span><a style="font-style: italic;" target="blank" href="http://www.tinyprints.com/shop/hanukkah_cards.htm">Hanukkah Cards</a><span style="font-style: italic;">, and even </span><a style="font-style: italic;" target="blank" href="http://www.tinyprints.com/shop/happy_new_year_cards.htm">New Years Cards</a><span style="font-style: italic;">. All fully customizable and personalizable.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I am loving the <a href="http://www.tinyprints.com/photo-cards.htm">Tiny Prints Christmas cards</a>!<br /></div></div><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Three Ladies and a Dad Reviews Disclosure:</span> I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Tiny Prints blogging program, making me eligible to get a $75 Tiny Prints gift certificate! For more information on how you can participate, <a target="blank" href="http://tinyprints.twittermoms.com/about2">click here</a>.</span>Alaina @ Three Ladies and a Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01357112943937376701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3971983227320127845.post-65908428925834360042010-10-26T16:34:00.000-07:002010-10-26T16:59:21.217-07:00Five tips to help maximize your health benefits!Just last week, I got a phone call from Jeremy telling me it was time to make the decisions about insurance for next year. That's right, Open Enrollment. We are lucky, we have deeply discounted rates through his employer but I still love to maximize the effectiveness of our plan. I try to stay informed and do as much as I can to make sure we get the biggest bang for our buck.<br /><br />Below are five ways I found <a href="http://www.besmartaboutyourhealth.com/choose-the-right-benefits-for-you/article/show/the-power-of-an-hour-planning-next-years-health-benefits-in-60-minutes-or-less/">here</a> to help you do the same.<br /><br />1. Stay on top of your health! Yes, your doctor is the go-to person for any health related issues. By saying to stay on top of it, I mean to schedule those preventative appointments. That is up to you! Yes, your doctor might remind you, but you have the schedule it! The best part of this is most insurance companies will pay for it!<br /><br />2. Pay the lowest out of pocket. This simply means making sure your provider is "in network". So easy to do and you will reap the benefits. Our insurance's website easily tells me who is in network and out of network. Another thing to make sure you get the coverage is to make any required phone calls before any procedure. Anything that is not standard, I like to call just to be on the safe side.<br /><br />3. Stay on top of your claims. If there is one thing I have learned, it is to keep a copy of everything when it comes to filing a claim. You always want to have proof of anything you may need, and with big companies, you never know what you just might need. Receipts, bills, claim numbers are just a few things you might need.<br /><br />4. Something we are doing new next year is opening a Flexible Spending Account. We figured up how much we typically pay in medical bills and divided that number by 12. This will help us not go into the debt we normally do with doctor bills and when it comes time to go the doctor, the money for the bill will already be there. {Hopefully!}<br /><br />5. Being aware of all of these things will only benefit you. What is your deductible? Is that doctor is network? How much do you cover of dental? How much on orthodontic? Ignorance is not bliss on when it comes to insurance. By gaining awareness and staying informed, your health care will benefit and your pocketbook will thank you!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">What do you do to help maximize your health insurance policy? I would love to hear!</span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Three Ladies and a Dad Review Disclosure: I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Aetna blogging program, making me eligible to get a $30 Target gift card. For more information on how you can participate, </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" target="blank" href="http://besmartaboutyourhealth.twittermoms.com/about">click here</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span></span>Alaina @ Three Ladies and a Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01357112943937376701noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3971983227320127845.post-53859573008328483592010-10-16T13:01:00.000-07:002010-10-19T13:27:17.632-07:00Bing gives you the chance to win $100,000 for your school!Budget cuts are tough on any school. Families are trying to find ways to help their school, keep up with tuition and/or fees and doing anything they can to help.<br /><br />I don't know about you, but I want to make sure that my kids get the most they need at school.<br /><br />Unfortunately, we can't donate any money right now to our school. However, on Friday afternoons you can find me in the kindergarten class donating my time. It helps cut costs of the school since they won't have to pay a teacher's aide to be there and I think I get more out of than the kids!<br /><br />How can you help your school?<br /><br />Did you know that if a teacher or student for gardes K-12 just submits a video, writes a short essay and maybe include a picture or two explaining <span style="font-style: italic;">what your school needs</span>, you have that chance to win <span style="font-weight: bold;">$100,000 </span>for your school?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">$100,000!!</span> Imagine what that can do for your school!<br /><br />You can view all the details <a href="http://discoverbing.com/education/ourschoolneeds?form=MFEHPG&publ=COMMS&crea=EML_MFEHPG_OSN_EnterToWin_MomCentralPR_1x1">here</a> on Bing's website, along with a <a href="http://bit.ly/d3gR9X">short video</a> explaining step by step how to enter!<br /><br />But hurry, the contest ends on Tuesday, October 19 and the voting portion of the contest ends on Friday, October 22!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" ><i>Three Ladies and a Dad Review Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Bing and received a DonorsChoose.org giving code and gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.</i></span>Alaina @ Three Ladies and a Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01357112943937376701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3971983227320127845.post-61649099935551235132010-09-21T15:35:00.000-07:002010-09-21T15:39:29.629-07:00Saples $25 Gift Card WinnerThe winner of the Staples gift card is <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/12935116279623927577">Heather</a>.<br /><br />Congratulations and thank you to everyone who entered!Alaina @ Three Ladies and a Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01357112943937376701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3971983227320127845.post-35518578675109254842010-09-05T12:47:00.000-07:002010-09-05T12:48:23.590-07:00Seventh Generation Winner!The winner of the Seventh Generation Kit is <a href="http://aintshecrazy.blogspot.com/">Jami</a>!<br /><br />I have emailed you Jami.<br /><br />Congratulations!Alaina @ Three Ladies and a Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01357112943937376701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3971983227320127845.post-58924824203980786212010-09-03T06:56:00.000-07:002010-09-03T06:56:00.093-07:00Review and a giveaway: Back-to-School with Staples<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeaoy09rSoSior2gYRkiFfBjNgYoU4By1o694wqQqhYguWAQKPPvAXPc7k0vqsdRO7i7FiFlI9IS5wi761ghjy5xDFjHLnzqgqFW2KaRrnfYS-xJx7g1PLSupwd2exocBHZYRjO37rRb4d/s1600/logo.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 149px; height: 77px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeaoy09rSoSior2gYRkiFfBjNgYoU4By1o694wqQqhYguWAQKPPvAXPc7k0vqsdRO7i7FiFlI9IS5wi761ghjy5xDFjHLnzqgqFW2KaRrnfYS-xJx7g1PLSupwd2exocBHZYRjO37rRb4d/s320/logo.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510958708375944290" border="0" /></a><br />School has started. I am in school and the girls are back. Routines are in place (for the most part). But the best part of back to school time is school shopping!<br /><br />I remember being little and getting so excited about shopping. New folders, pencils, pens...all of it! I loved it and honestly, I still do. Seeing my girls pick out school supplies is surreal...are they really doing this?!<br /><br />We received a back to school kit from Staples and Mom Central. Let me tell you...they did not have all this cool stuff when I was little! Pens and accessories full of bling, calculators with sparkles and cool looking folders and notebooks. Plus a eco-friendly planner to keep track of everything!<br /><br />I think this stuff is all super cute! The girls loved it and the things they could not take to school, they are fighting over who gets to play with it! It is definitely not the school supplies we grew up on and I am so happy my girls get excited over school supplies as much as I did!<br /><br />Staples knows what kids like and carries it all! My only regret is not taking a picture of everything we got before it went into backpacks. But I was rushing out the door to go to my class when the package arrived. But trust me, this stuff is up anybody's alley that wants more than just the normal supplies!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Would you like to win a $25 Staples Gift Card </span>to help with your shopping? Just leave me a comment here. Have you already done your shopping? Still enter because I am sure you will have to re-stock your child's things at some point in the year. For up to five additional ways to enter, click <a href="http://www.threeladiesandadad.com/2009/01/fine-print-for-giveaways.html">here</a>. A winner will be chosen on Friday, September 17. Please leave your email address so I can contact you should you be chosen as the winner.<br /><br />Good luck!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >Three Ladies and a Dad Reviews Disclosure:</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> </span>This review is possible through <a href="http://www.momcentral.com/">Mom Central</a> and <a href="http://www.staples.com/">Staples</a>. </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Mom Central and/or Staples</span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"> sponsored this post by providing me with a product pack and one $25 Staples gift card to give away so that I may share this information with you. My post is an expression of my own honest opinion based on my experience and is not reviewed or edited by </span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">Mom Central and/or Staples</span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">. </span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">Mom Central and/or Staples</span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;">does not compensate me in any other way for this post.</span></span>Alaina @ Three Ladies and a Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01357112943937376701noreply@blogger.com51tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3971983227320127845.post-45156404420771945572010-09-02T12:34:00.000-07:002010-09-02T13:07:48.727-07:00Ten Ways to Make Your Favorite Foods Healthier #SmartOnes<div style="text-align: left;">I am always looking for ways to make our foods better for myself and my family. You can see my menus <a href="http://www.threeladiesandadad.com/search/label/Menu%20Planning">here</a> and aside from a weekly 'splurge' meal, I am pretty satisfied with our menu for now.<br /></div><br />As I get busier and busier with school, fast and easy food is becoming more a a norm for us now. I like quick meals, but at the same time, I want them to be somewhat good for us! Here are some things that I have been trying to do to help make that happen:<br /><br />1. <span>Subsitute, substitute, substitute.</span> You can see on my menu that I made a Cajun Chicken Pasta from The Pioneer Woman. The first time I made it, it was delicious! I made it with what was called for. The last time I made it, I did not have a few things. Instead of the whole milk that it called for, I substituted some skim milk with a little flour. And even though you could taste a small difference, it was worth the calories that was saved!<br /><br />2. Think outside of the box. Just today for much, I wanted pasta. I love macaroni and cheese and can eat it all the time! But today, I wanted to make it healthier and while it is still pasta, this worked: Instead of the normal butter, milk and cheese, I used pasta with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil topped with some freshly shredded mozzarella cheese. It was yummy and had a lot less cheese!<br /><br />3. For that sweet tooth, instead of adding all the oil and eggs to the boxed cake mix, just add 12 oz. of diet soda instead. It will bake just the same (I promise!) and you will not miss out!<br /><br />4. A go to meal in our house is the classic hamburger. But I can I can count how many times I have fried them on the stove on two fingers. Besides not having the greasy mess to clean up, the burger is better with the grill marks!<br /><br />5. Tacos is another one our family loves. (Remember quick and easy?!) Call me crazy but I do not salt and pepper or add any seasoning to my ground beef before it is done. Why? I drain and rinse the cooked ground beef under hot water. This helps drain extra grease from the beef. Then I return to the pan and season like normal.<br /><br />6. When our family is craving carbs, I try to eat lighter throughout the day. I love carbs but they leaving me feeling full. Eating something smaller earlier in the day helps reduce that feeling.<br /><br />7. You know how love spinach! I try to add his to just about everything in our house. It decreases the guilt by some of the spurge meals since I am getting some extra nurtrietns I would not otherwise get! All you do is throw freshly chopped baby spinach in whatever you are cooking, whether it be a filling or a hamburger. You cannot taste it!<br /><br />8. There are certain meals I know Jeremy and I love. The girls can eat however much they want but I try to limit how many leftovers will be in the house for Jeremy and I. These splurge meals are usually something like pizza and we both can eat that all day long! Just portioning out how much you are going to cook helps prevent it being more than just a night's dinner.<br /><br />9. Do you love burritos! When we do burritos, we try to use shredded chicken instead of the beef. Just get creative with the fillings!<br /><br />10. Another thing I try to remember to do is drink a tall glass of ice water before my meal. This helps your stomach to feel fuller quicker and limit how much of the food you will eat. It really does work, I just have to remember to do it!<br /><br />I truly think people should eat what they want, in moderation. I try to incorporate this lists into my routine to help be feel a little less guilty about those splurge meals!<br /><br />Do you have any tips you would like to share? I would love to hear them!<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;font-size:small;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Three Ladies and a Dad Reviews Disclosure:</span> I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and WeightWatchers SmartOnes blogging program, making me eligible to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, <a href="http://www.twittermoms.com/profiles/blogs/share-10-ways-of-making-your">click here</a></span><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span>Alaina @ Three Ladies and a Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01357112943937376701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3971983227320127845.post-37903964798459717592010-08-29T15:14:00.000-07:002010-08-29T15:51:45.715-07:00Moon Dough Barnyard: A ReviewI have to be honest. When I saw the latest box arrive, I knew what was in it. It was <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Moon-Dough-6009239-Magic-Barnyard/dp/B003AJ7PGA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1283120388&sr=8-3-spell">Moon Dough</a> and I was not looking forward to the typical dried up little pieces like you get with the that "dough" you mold that we all know.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLSamCyAhlt4YbTlqIrTgKVYKsFysjJsKFoAyogwsB0dIOsE09YwqFuQtbevaewpJJkVVtIqQ6TYL46dbDUG52KiyXRW2P4G5lv-PRAHlGJiaK1cRaCDGMDD9WRRbQD9X9INBid2ngGt9/s1600/moondough.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 247px; height: 247px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLSamCyAhlt4YbTlqIrTgKVYKsFysjJsKFoAyogwsB0dIOsE09YwqFuQtbevaewpJJkVVtIqQ6TYL46dbDUG52KiyXRW2P4G5lv-PRAHlGJiaK1cRaCDGMDD9WRRbQD9X9INBid2ngGt9/s320/moondough.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510960390822014290" border="0" /></a>Macie stayed home sick last week (on the first day of school I might add) and as much as I wanted to wait to open it until Zoa got home, I could not tell the poor girl no.<br /><br />So the box came open.<br /><br />And she played. She created. For at least 30 minutes! Even though the ages on this states it is for ages 2-4, she loved playing with it and still does! And the best part? This Moon Dough is <span style="font-weight: bold;">hypo-allergenic, wheat free and never dries out! </span>This is not your typical "dough"!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKlaZJQ1_CgKM_OUqOvdJW4BqUdg-2SWGKBljll0hzxBQjPA91al_Bud5VTjR9fTa75V3CoTz3js5F-uyM96-16fu3bTynEaz5ruuSU___CbzjkFWgpBnxD9CrcvvEKA3_IP3a_0WKdlU/s1600/Moon-DOUGH-final__1_.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 243px; height: 173px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKlaZJQ1_CgKM_OUqOvdJW4BqUdg-2SWGKBljll0hzxBQjPA91al_Bud5VTjR9fTa75V3CoTz3js5F-uyM96-16fu3bTynEaz5ruuSU___CbzjkFWgpBnxD9CrcvvEKA3_IP3a_0WKdlU/s320/Moon-DOUGH-final__1_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510964478819787986" border="0" /></a>This is one toy that we will by the refill packs for. The dough comes in several colors and you get to create shapes within the barn. You make the hay-bales, chickens, goats...you create all of it all withing the barn!<br /><br />I cannot count the times the girls has sat at our kitchen table playing with this. They both love it!<br /><a href="http://www.moondough.com/"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Moon Dough</span></a> is available at Toys "R" Us, Target, Wal-Mart, K-Mart and several other retailers. The Moon Dough Barnyard retails for $19.99. There are a number of play sets available and they are Moon Dough Pizza Shop, Magic Molding Doghouse, and Moon Dough Burger Shop.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >Three Ladies and a Dad Reviews Disclosure:</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> </span>This review is possible through <a href="http://www.moondough.com/">Moon Dough</a> and Team Mom. </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Moon Dough and/or Team Mom</span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"> sponsored this post by providing me with a Moon Dough Barnyard set so that I may share this information with you. My post is an expression of my own honest opinion based on my experience and is not reviewed or edited by </span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">Moon Dough and/or Team Mom</span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">. </span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">Moon Dough and/or Team Mom</span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;">does not compensate me in any other way for this post.</span></span></span>Alaina @ Three Ladies and a Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01357112943937376701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3971983227320127845.post-23401099382392285752010-08-29T14:10:00.000-07:002010-08-29T14:14:59.830-07:00CSN Stores: A WinnerThe winner of the $25 CSN Stores gift card is:<br /><br />#2 - <a href="http://ftw4u.blogspot.com/">Suburban Prep</a><br /><br />Congratulations! You should have received an email from me.Alaina @ Three Ladies and a Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01357112943937376701noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3971983227320127845.post-4977097609831044652010-08-26T19:52:00.000-07:002010-09-05T12:47:32.499-07:00Review and a giveaway: Back to school with Seventh Generation<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkq2_lQ_vVBBIuYlmPJicOeHggoK4MTjhkF4pFJFSMt5fD5w10TvTGuxhOAvxs-Sjobmb5bjQA4jeiDRQzxbqK8ARusNwKuNNHVhlw_Jpj2TnUd83N4whaNTYwMj-fVOjJgVOF_rXCFrZ/s1600/image_shadow.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkq2_lQ_vVBBIuYlmPJicOeHggoK4MTjhkF4pFJFSMt5fD5w10TvTGuxhOAvxs-Sjobmb5bjQA4jeiDRQzxbqK8ARusNwKuNNHVhlw_Jpj2TnUd83N4whaNTYwMj-fVOjJgVOF_rXCFrZ/s320/image_shadow.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509921864948821138" border="0" /></a>About a month ago, I received a kit in the mail with quite a few Seventh Generation products as a back to school kit. If you were to look on my cleaner shelf, you would find nothing but green cleaners, including Seventh Generation.<br /><br />Keeping classrooms clean helps keep my girls out of the doctor offices. I aim to have my girls get the "Perfect Attendance" award at school but have yet to do it. It is no wonder though, so many kids end up sick from germs they get at school.<br /><br />The products Seventh Generation sent are great to prevent the spread of germs in the school and home setting. Disinfecting wipes & disinfecting multi-surface spray (that smells incredibly 'clean') keeps the surfaces germ free while the facial tissue and paper towels help keep germs contained and where they belong.<br /><br />While I have always loved Seventh Generation, I am even a bigger supporter now that I know they raise awareness about the germs found in school!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Would you like to win a Seventh Generation back to school set?</span><br />To enter, just leave me a comment here on this post. Anything goes! For up to five additional entries, click <a href="http://www.threeladiesandadad.com/2009/01/fine-print-for-giveaways.html">here</a>. The winner will be chosen on Friday, September 3 and will receive a Seventh Generation backpack, two canisters of disinfecting wipes, a multi surface spray, a box of facial tissue and a roll of paper towels. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Please leave your email address</span> so I have a way of contacting you should you be chosen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >Three Ladies and a Dad Reviews Disclosure:</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> </span>This review is possible through <a href="http://www.myblogspark.com/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">My Blog Spark</span></a> and Seventh Generation. </span><span style="font-style: italic;">My Blog Spark and/or </span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">Seventh Generation</span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"> sponsored this post by providing me with a product pack and one to give away so that I may share this information with you. My post is an expression of my own honest opinion based on my experience and is not reviewed or edited by </span><span style="font-style: italic;">My Blog Spark and/or </span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">Seventh Generation</span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">. </span><span style="font-style: italic;">My Blog Spark and/or </span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">Seventh Generation</span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;">does not compensate me in any other way for this post.</span></span>Alaina @ Three Ladies and a Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01357112943937376701noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3971983227320127845.post-3325702940511801252010-08-26T14:38:00.000-07:002010-08-29T14:05:55.751-07:00Five tips to keep healthy smiles!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirhBpG98oVdhLmgc7QfG6AviS2E8TCpFoTuk3vtLgPGnZocaFMF1smd755abNaM_ZgCGHSoeC3mgs9M2ifYbZXChZhpU4l3yWFfFApo95OTFQpVyyjH7HUS2jY1UmdMcuoZ2XXwshLtkFG/s1600/teeth.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 128px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirhBpG98oVdhLmgc7QfG6AviS2E8TCpFoTuk3vtLgPGnZocaFMF1smd755abNaM_ZgCGHSoeC3mgs9M2ifYbZXChZhpU4l3yWFfFApo95OTFQpVyyjH7HUS2jY1UmdMcuoZ2XXwshLtkFG/s320/teeth.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509838425629220578" border="0" /></a><br />Dentists can be darn expensive. Luckily, my kids have yet to have a cavity. I <span style="font-style: italic;">like </span>to think it has something to do with our habits and what we eat. Here are five tips that we try to practice on a regular basis. Have they been the reason why our girls have had zero cavities? I do not know...but they are working for us so far!<br /><br />1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Brush two times a day</span> and make sure the kids brush right! This is an obvious one. We may have to remind the girls to brush, but we make sure they do, and when they do it, we make sure it's right.<br /><br />2. Use a <span style="font-weight: bold;">mouthwash</span>. Another one we are pretty good with, but a lot of the reason we use it because the girls love it! We try to remember that all mouthwashes vary the time you should use it. Some suggest you swish before you brush and some suggest after you brush. Regardless, we try to use one.<br /><br />3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Get those teeth cleaned professionally twice a year</span>! Jeremy's insurance covers this. Come January, I am making the appointments for our yearly appointments - dentists, eye doctors...etc. I think if you schedule them every January you are more likely to remember to do it. At least, that is how my mind works. <br /><br />4. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Watch sugar intake</span> at home. We all have a sweet tooth. But if you count the times we cave in to those cravings, you will realize they are few. Something we have found that helps is animal crackers...they satisfy the sweet tooth!<br /><br />5. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Teach kids</span> why you do all of these things. Tell them what is going on when they brush, why you should watch sugars and the importance of getting teeth cleaned at the dentist, along with anything you do at your home for preventive measures. This helps them understand the importance of what we tell them to do instead of them just thinking we do it to 'nag'. Make sense, no?<br /><br />I am sure many of you have many of your own tips for how you keep you and your families smiles pretty. I hope these tips may help you and if you have any suggestions you would like to share, feel free to do so! I would love to hear them...just leave me a comment below. I don't know about you, but I could use all the help I can get!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(Image <a href="http://content.mainemoms.com/moms/blogs/2008/03/teeth-teeth-teeth.html">via</a>.)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Three Ladies and a Dad Review Disclosure:</span> I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Trident blogging program, making me eligible to get a $25 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, <a href="http://trident.twittermoms.com/about">click here</a>.</span>Alaina @ Three Ladies and a Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01357112943937376701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3971983227320127845.post-67972134306526122162010-08-19T11:23:00.000-07:002010-08-19T11:24:30.627-07:00The Gap: $50 gift card for $25I love the Gap. I am actually waiting for a package from them with school clothes in it for the girls. I thought this might help someone else out so wanted to share this with you.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.groupon.com/r/uu6347818">Groupon</a> is offering a $50 Gap gift card for $25. Today is the only day that you will be able to get it at this price.<br /><br />Here is what you need to do:<br /><br />1. <a href="http://www.groupon.com/r/uu6347818">Register or log in to Groupon</a>.<br />2. Look for your city. Since my closest city is St. Louis, I chose that.<br />3. Purchase the gift $50 gift card for $25.<br /><br />This is limited to one per person and the gift card can only be used in store. The expiration is November 19,2010.<br /><br />Gap clothes are great quality and one of the few brands that fit Macie really good so I am stoked about this one!Alaina @ Three Ladies and a Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01357112943937376701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3971983227320127845.post-42521153318865171002010-08-08T11:11:00.000-07:002010-08-29T14:09:21.196-07:00CSN Stores: A Review and a Giveaway<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-bUV3H0yQvxgSYtZ6rViJh9hge6QAK6laH-cXh-XGh3AUIL3pXAYkspeboqFGp2yT1Z5umBkMD0UctjK8VNns1eCVnSoLlt2j2s-3JdtKwfFbllm7Kbh0Nb3x_2FY6itAhdrryG_M4cu/s1600/MUmodern+12'+Dishcloth+in+Red+(Set+of+2).jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-bUV3H0yQvxgSYtZ6rViJh9hge6QAK6laH-cXh-XGh3AUIL3pXAYkspeboqFGp2yT1Z5umBkMD0UctjK8VNns1eCVnSoLlt2j2s-3JdtKwfFbllm7Kbh0Nb3x_2FY6itAhdrryG_M4cu/s200/MUmodern+12'+Dishcloth+in+Red+(Set+of+2).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503104419755816786" border="0" /></a>A while back, I had the chance to do a review of <a href="http://www.csnstores.com/">CSN Stores</a>. With school back in and crazier than ever, I finally ordered the product of my choice. After looking and looking, I finally decided on a set of kitchen towels - more specifically the <a href="http://www.csnstores.com/MU-Kitchen-1028-MKI1023.html">MUModern microfiber dishtowel in Crimson</a>. I have been wanting microfiber towels for the kitchen but could not find them in my kitchen's accent color, red. CSN Stores carried these and I was excited to get them in!<br /><br />One of CSN Stores lines on their opening page is they have "free shipping on just about everything". Everything I searched for myself did not have free shipping. I could not find a link that narrowed down results to just free shipping products. I was a bit disappointed that my towels were not shipped free but I went ahead and got them anyway.<br /><br />While I love the towels, I have found that they bleed quite a bit. Hopefully once they are ran through the washing machine a few times, that will stop. One towel in particular started to pull away from the scrubber that is sewn into the towel but I think it may just be a bad towel since the other ones are holding up fine.<br /><br />All in all, CSN Stores has fast shipping and hundreds of products, which would be great for one stop shopping.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Would you like to win a $25 gift card to CSN Stores?</span></span><br />Just leave a comment here telling me what you would use it on if you are chosen. For the fine print and details on more ways to enter, click <a href="http://www.threeladiesandadad.com/2009/01/fine-print-for-giveaways.html">here</a>. The winner will be chosen on Friday, August 27. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Please leave your email address</span> so we can email you the gift card number if you are chosen.<br /><br />Good luck!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >Three Ladies and a Dad Reviews Disclosure:</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> </span>This review is possible through <a href="http://www.csnstores.com/">CSN Stores</a><a href="http://www.bettycrocker.com/"></a>. </span><span style="font-style: italic;">CSN Stores</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> sponsored this post by providing me with one $25 Gift Card to use as I choose and one to give away so that I may share this information with you. My post is an expression of my own honest opinion based on my experience and is not reviewed or edited by </span><span style="font-style: italic;">CSN Stores</span><span style="font-style: italic;">. </span><span style="font-style: italic;">CSN Stores</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;">does not compensate me in any other way for this post.</span></span>Alaina @ Three Ladies and a Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01357112943937376701noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3971983227320127845.post-56210151143728725952010-06-30T09:35:00.000-07:002010-06-30T20:14:35.828-07:00Review and a Giveaway: CSN StoresA few days ago, I received an email from CSN Stores offering to provide me with a $25 Gift Card for me and one to give away. After browsing their 200+ stores, I just could not make up my mind.<br /><br />This nightlight from their selection of <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.csnlighting.com/">lights</a></span> is adorable and could be used for the girls...or...<br /><br />I need <a href="http://www.csnstores.com/Barstools-and-Counter-Stools-C215023.html">bar stools</a> for my kitchen....or...<br /><br />Jeremy and I could also use a few things from their <a href="http://www.csnstores.com/-l1364.html">health and fitness selection</a> to improve our P90X routine....<br /><br />What did I choose? Stay tuned for the answer and your chance to win a $25 gift card!Alaina @ Three Ladies and a Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01357112943937376701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3971983227320127845.post-62178968846077086672010-06-28T22:04:00.000-07:002010-06-28T21:07:23.822-07:00Build-A-Bear Part 2<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">To read the first post on our Build-A-Bear trip, click <a href="http://threeladiesandadadreviews.blogspot.com/2010/06/build-bear-part-1.html">here</a>. </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">After breakfast, the fun really started. Over the course of the two days at the Bearquarters, I learned so many things about the company. I honestly can not say one bad thing about my experience. We were all treated like royalty, our families included!<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Maxine Clark has a wonderful team. I would imagine that the founder of BAB would be friendly, but she is so much more than that. Kind, generous, down-to-earth, welcoming and warm are just a few words and only the beginning of what describes her.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3hZ5R3espB25lme4pb3BlPLoobCwb9gwCEW_Omb9ZLHj6KWaph_DhFoxGRzegXJsjVXYz6yaZQDAw5SWj1q1RupcQcCbdybLbHtkq-3C6o5_iGjkxiEu2IIm4Vx2CpDFR1ZSr_tUnJgvp/s1600/maxineatbab.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3hZ5R3espB25lme4pb3BlPLoobCwb9gwCEW_Omb9ZLHj6KWaph_DhFoxGRzegXJsjVXYz6yaZQDAw5SWj1q1RupcQcCbdybLbHtkq-3C6o5_iGjkxiEu2IIm4Vx2CpDFR1ZSr_tUnJgvp/s400/maxineatbab.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488022266886115762" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Maxine Clark, CEB of Build-A-Bear Worshop</span><br /></span></div><br />The company is very involved in volunteering and honoring those who go above and beyond to make an impact in our world. The have created a program to do just that - <a href="http://www.pwrnewmedia.com/2010/babw00120huggableheroes/index.html">Huggable Heroes</a>. We had the pleasure of meeting Zach Bonner and his mom, Laurie. Zach is currently walking across the United States to raise awareness about his platform, youth homelessness. He is also the founder of the <a href="http://littleredwagonfoundation.com/">Little Red Wagon Foundation.</a> In 2011, there will also be a feature film based on him and his works, <a href="http://www.aolnews.com/philanthropy/article/production-begins-on-little-red-wagon/1083377"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">March Across America</span></a>. Did I mention he is only 12? <a href="http://twitter.com/ZACH_BONNER">Zach is on Twitter</a> and I am positive that he would love your support as he walks!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrF6F_YJkvIuahpZWWX-nlCOihFXdZPYcxTPyiMq7VPmqnFfWSkfKZR3rDeLeEdCQwMs_vv8Tx9sDx1AOE7L5CeR6dreSZmOW-jwlNM2HJkFc30p8yFahqhn2lUTT767tALFW57QJGqUru/s1600/zach.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrF6F_YJkvIuahpZWWX-nlCOihFXdZPYcxTPyiMq7VPmqnFfWSkfKZR3rDeLeEdCQwMs_vv8Tx9sDx1AOE7L5CeR6dreSZmOW-jwlNM2HJkFc30p8yFahqhn2lUTT767tALFW57QJGqUru/s400/zach.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488023795128348642" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:85%;">Laurie and Zach Bonner</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We had the pleasure of listening to many speakers - Andrienne Weiss, <a href="http://twitter.com/maryheston">Mary Heston</a>, Jill Saunders and many, many others. After we had a few speakers, we were able to take of tour of the Bearquarters. This place is amazing! Obviously, it has Build-A-Bears everywhere. It is painted the classic yellow that is found in their stores and the walls are covered with 'Bearisms'.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGhZTQv08nQT5byzt6rr_as482PzJACVm2-9-PGrc8Ziae-P_zCcHO6fcGqLhSY4mcz15sC-mjKXHfFyNEVs_6EOALfb4dAfXI8BSCQmEFFHrrqe-MCCmlHXqtCaQ9HVagRjCkWxRqn0mN/s1600/tour.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGhZTQv08nQT5byzt6rr_as482PzJACVm2-9-PGrc8Ziae-P_zCcHO6fcGqLhSY4mcz15sC-mjKXHfFyNEVs_6EOALfb4dAfXI8BSCQmEFFHrrqe-MCCmlHXqtCaQ9HVagRjCkWxRqn0mN/s400/tour.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488023499063976210" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Our fun tour guide, Sarah Terrill</span></span><br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQsxYhHnSZKGTxM3vDr5C26qEhBRJCuZKrfUJOrRk1CrvtEytF1ZuYzpx7Wg10cwbCUgO-IJ-Lq3thGXlxZ5lSsLnNA0BJG9651MbT99UQ5QQOGu05X5yhKz-96Ah_BfbiTozS872zD2t4/s1600/bearism.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQsxYhHnSZKGTxM3vDr5C26qEhBRJCuZKrfUJOrRk1CrvtEytF1ZuYzpx7Wg10cwbCUgO-IJ-Lq3thGXlxZ5lSsLnNA0BJG9651MbT99UQ5QQOGu05X5yhKz-96Ah_BfbiTozS872zD2t4/s400/bearism.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488021389414896658" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Just one of many Bearisms.</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRRkN27t5_5yCJ2GSNVzmwFSNNbPskeWzNSCRArvLh9CprN9WOKJJIT2bm1QYx0JdaKjBhATabpTkLiueIfqNUt2dNMQalFhCCONGQGbuGFYrVMbarppcJpqzJFUZkcBZTipxyme-rIL0D/s1600/office.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRRkN27t5_5yCJ2GSNVzmwFSNNbPskeWzNSCRArvLh9CprN9WOKJJIT2bm1QYx0JdaKjBhATabpTkLiueIfqNUt2dNMQalFhCCONGQGbuGFYrVMbarppcJpqzJFUZkcBZTipxyme-rIL0D/s400/office.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488023237990317170" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Some of the offices</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsg6buk3B9myWucqPyGs_iBzd1eNoWiVduNUHt4lrcUeoI-9O8re26tBRsXlfsng13CR2foHAZvMTWc1GHf9mW3dmr12-IoiRo_hxk3PtGc0WV2VvFhZdke2RL3Qfmm8sPuk1iInqWKuh5/s1600/lineupofbears.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsg6buk3B9myWucqPyGs_iBzd1eNoWiVduNUHt4lrcUeoI-9O8re26tBRsXlfsng13CR2foHAZvMTWc1GHf9mW3dmr12-IoiRo_hxk3PtGc0WV2VvFhZdke2RL3Qfmm8sPuk1iInqWKuh5/s400/lineupofbears.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488022057617045410" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Just of few of the Build-A-Bears</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpMiaHKII7CEL0m3XEDU88xlBGXBxGdHELLJjruXaQBiu53Vu7XFxHrGitLLIzq1lxKEQEEdK895kDuD-XdOjinQrUkeUbb8FkqLGlldHRVqUUtlvYN-1NHjNorNIV6h1_uLCVJ-1TlTy/s1600/tourroom.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpMiaHKII7CEL0m3XEDU88xlBGXBxGdHELLJjruXaQBiu53Vu7XFxHrGitLLIzq1lxKEQEEdK895kDuD-XdOjinQrUkeUbb8FkqLGlldHRVqUUtlvYN-1NHjNorNIV6h1_uLCVJ-1TlTy/s400/tourroom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488023663510554658" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">A 'holding room' for many Build-A-Bear items</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkx6rZYYLyreSz4tNFtuV8IpUliWfDF6wEReAT9sP5JPPueI2v7JaboplMXMEeKecFuooxsWHQYtvrEmaGy7uP_0fRNA9fYYZH0Ld8x1GXJL6rYaYD66qONqUmiLHhjPU-Uc9fj25C61Wb/s1600/bearhospital.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkx6rZYYLyreSz4tNFtuV8IpUliWfDF6wEReAT9sP5JPPueI2v7JaboplMXMEeKecFuooxsWHQYtvrEmaGy7uP_0fRNA9fYYZH0Ld8x1GXJL6rYaYD66qONqUmiLHhjPU-Uc9fj25C61Wb/s400/bearhospital.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488021256455606898" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">The bear hospital where bears are healed and lost<br />bears are returned to their owners.<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMiLQql4iaAozSilDb834mdNLHvi370hBY69KdeOR7PNjmgO6Pof68Xyl7I0kO2dr8x5NBItRIlrrgRoYfDtxeZiQqApOTdrQHylpgJ-4v0FNSB24l6cmRYrcw2YR6UnzMlUPfnvnxnsO/s1600/photo.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMiLQql4iaAozSilDb834mdNLHvi370hBY69KdeOR7PNjmgO6Pof68Xyl7I0kO2dr8x5NBItRIlrrgRoYfDtxeZiQqApOTdrQHylpgJ-4v0FNSB24l6cmRYrcw2YR6UnzMlUPfnvnxnsO/s400/photo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488030904613517058" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">The set where they photograph everything.<br /></span></span></div><br />Maxine Clark really knows how to treat her employees like family - you need to bring your child to work? No, problem. You want off on Friday? They schedule that in bi-weekly. You want to bring your dog to work? We have gates and will play with your dog while they all work.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"> <span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcvZZgs7P0tUj0xP7LI6OqZeCiGNQeZBjRDjytjMtvtGMnmcFgpzcuc3HtbFX292ncoQz92HDzonp8-EJOTyORZTMgqhSAtNsePWjbYPviqGq90ogWUK0ix_EpypLkWGg-Cmry0ryHdq1f/s1600/dog.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcvZZgs7P0tUj0xP7LI6OqZeCiGNQeZBjRDjytjMtvtGMnmcFgpzcuc3HtbFX292ncoQz92HDzonp8-EJOTyORZTMgqhSAtNsePWjbYPviqGq90ogWUK0ix_EpypLkWGg-Cmry0ryHdq1f/s400/dog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488021614031270850" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:85%;">A dog that was at the office<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQDm2Y_24J1o0iDf5mmk7HU3AdPJxPhbKmBH2dFRfFvYmf21QNVurosABMWriGP2VuCufqMP8eeK9njEx7UuTovdf5gQWIuiW7xU_2BXSV7vkKxkkm7HsGWNGA8-m7FgdAlsQBFjr2ZyVE/s1600/mildred.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQDm2Y_24J1o0iDf5mmk7HU3AdPJxPhbKmBH2dFRfFvYmf21QNVurosABMWriGP2VuCufqMP8eeK9njEx7UuTovdf5gQWIuiW7xU_2BXSV7vkKxkkm7HsGWNGA8-m7FgdAlsQBFjr2ZyVE/s400/mildred.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488022599064522514" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">This bed belongs to Mildred, who is the office dog. She also has<br />her own email address and business card!<br /><br /></span></span></div>Maxine Clark and her husband also invited all 25 or so moms and their families to her home for a BBQ. Her home is beautiful and she is such a gracious host. The kids had a magician and a balloon animal maker. Adults had the chance to socialize and relax. The food was consisted of hot dogs and mini hamburgers with all the sides but they were exceptionally yummy!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FNd03tiyGWfI_8Ujfm-D4aMzNEcqtXtQZA7S6vdaWSKrxVtxPhom3rQ6knFvVmznY9aRXcbZ4RB37aQhZiArqsbnY7fE8gLosXG0uTvDGsUT4ZCf6rs6NFucy2U8HCwLx39FZKLRJxya/s1600/house.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FNd03tiyGWfI_8Ujfm-D4aMzNEcqtXtQZA7S6vdaWSKrxVtxPhom3rQ6knFvVmznY9aRXcbZ4RB37aQhZiArqsbnY7fE8gLosXG0uTvDGsUT4ZCf6rs6NFucy2U8HCwLx39FZKLRJxya/s400/house.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488021918009290338" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:85%;">Bob and Maxine's lovely home<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_mywtZb5TF_8oEhAJGP1iVwZMjJq5ejRx_7_CxiJ3XTJ27G_IuyJ9w5If03fU5Ai2spJNSVCRXUx3rcTIhgaCbcIOUh_apSS06tYyoV0Qc1x0aPqk5HjYkT3jimqE_TpPN-mmjyM3-3C/s1600/mjatbbq1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_mywtZb5TF_8oEhAJGP1iVwZMjJq5ejRx_7_CxiJ3XTJ27G_IuyJ9w5If03fU5Ai2spJNSVCRXUx3rcTIhgaCbcIOUh_apSS06tYyoV0Qc1x0aPqk5HjYkT3jimqE_TpPN-mmjyM3-3C/s400/mjatbbq1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488023064383131634" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Macie waiting for her balloon</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSFAj8-3g2r60g5sAqiWmv3lLS-Edmt6hA1MCQRG52YMi7gN_uX64C9SuKCaToEGJ1SIQGH_ILuSmPn7p7LEL9MxBbeszvNJPF276D2OcZK5k3uWPX9mM6p84RAxc4MMlGg44dYh8lwJW/s1600/zoaatmaxine.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSFAj8-3g2r60g5sAqiWmv3lLS-Edmt6hA1MCQRG52YMi7gN_uX64C9SuKCaToEGJ1SIQGH_ILuSmPn7p7LEL9MxBbeszvNJPF276D2OcZK5k3uWPX9mM6p84RAxc4MMlGg44dYh8lwJW/s400/zoaatmaxine.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488024276787841106" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Zoa checking out the grounds<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGnSjX2-aYtjbXu4b-uHYXIIIMZdbRc-j_23yFceMSb1G0lTHGcvl2933F1ADzdJZf_T0-u9HIPtwYLC_PpYZEnOeblolpEPBBzIbNni6qxWHMwquSRw9B88OdKGvTCwLnb3uW8nCIuAJ/s1600/mjatbbq.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGnSjX2-aYtjbXu4b-uHYXIIIMZdbRc-j_23yFceMSb1G0lTHGcvl2933F1ADzdJZf_T0-u9HIPtwYLC_PpYZEnOeblolpEPBBzIbNni6qxWHMwquSRw9B88OdKGvTCwLnb3uW8nCIuAJ/s400/mjatbbq.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488022847362095538" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">I just love this picture!<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIbzTbxITY73Tsp9cpHk3y1-PWMkgeS7Euc8awYGVrCYG9W_eptgykVMZCk3CBa77AmWE9tCgzN4zw6UsWlH5kWVwPUJRp2hmFkiHQB4N3q12h-18jCvANt_F_fCaOhENmUylaBfO_3ZR1/s1600/zoa.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIbzTbxITY73Tsp9cpHk3y1-PWMkgeS7Euc8awYGVrCYG9W_eptgykVMZCk3CBa77AmWE9tCgzN4zw6UsWlH5kWVwPUJRp2hmFkiHQB4N3q12h-18jCvANt_F_fCaOhENmUylaBfO_3ZR1/s400/zoa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488024032620225138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Zoa with her balloon, Ariel<br /></span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgUSlCAlY29SKn8GlRrHqeNzrKQ74VghFvsSJb6Rl4BTat_-ULMlaBMvYCpX1SbUh3FLrXnQ_pXxHDPbazH3EnCD09D-ZB6WEW_d7zHwX6Qul-wxkpff1aVqWONcjTgLhD72CnVj8UWe_/s1600/maxineatbbqwithkids.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgUSlCAlY29SKn8GlRrHqeNzrKQ74VghFvsSJb6Rl4BTat_-ULMlaBMvYCpX1SbUh3FLrXnQ_pXxHDPbazH3EnCD09D-ZB6WEW_d7zHwX6Qul-wxkpff1aVqWONcjTgLhD72CnVj8UWe_/s400/maxineatbbqwithkids.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488022489229526226" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Maxine would naturally be with the kids!<br /><br /></span></span></div>All of us moms also had the chance to chime in on several different ideas that BAB is coming out with. <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTN1iHtzLjoFzO-OFUW7A8e8e6G6MSEWfYy49km5Rq7MGUSjeD1ke1ohhclWHIJDteOWSA92wMCB6fJ4hnR0cEpFJmp_cGOQS45RIII4CN8ldxL8rIDM5NvVNJxeil4hfbXpOySvVBLum/s1600/smallfry.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTN1iHtzLjoFzO-OFUW7A8e8e6G6MSEWfYy49km5Rq7MGUSjeD1ke1ohhclWHIJDteOWSA92wMCB6fJ4hnR0cEpFJmp_cGOQS45RIII4CN8ldxL8rIDM5NvVNJxeil4hfbXpOySvVBLum/s400/smallfry.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488023383573823042" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">My favorite, the "Smallfrys", hitting stores soon!</span></span></div><br />We also learned a lot of BAB Birthday Parties. After learning about what the parties consists of, we had the chance to have our own party at the Build-A-Workshop. It was such a fun time!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYXYmppY84budhRvnQNRYFxqTv7QVkMtGKvvi4J-VeNTO6YiSRgPH1Q3fvRviJOQ5mnhLOBFhzZ5PPiJZN6CNbs6Pmd6Iq3hCJx0VC9jDRUw68ELQNMiTpGPutdvQcISpoA2UZz1xanmTK/s1600/zachandlaurieatparty.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 384px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYXYmppY84budhRvnQNRYFxqTv7QVkMtGKvvi4J-VeNTO6YiSRgPH1Q3fvRviJOQ5mnhLOBFhzZ5PPiJZN6CNbs6Pmd6Iq3hCJx0VC9jDRUw68ELQNMiTpGPutdvQcISpoA2UZz1xanmTK/s400/zachandlaurieatparty.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488023918070298466" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:85%;">Laurie and Zach Bonner waiting for our party to start!<br /></span></div><br />After the party was over and we all said our goodbyes, Jeremy and the girls joined me as the girls got to make there bears. This is something that never gets old in our family.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4_BaJovDyNdPLlDV_Bt1o7XW44Y0MyRj2giLtLDe2oxJuftmWOa8pgnscHf81p20_k9-pjtDDulH-PU9cT8kb-o6M7dN4Ef6KZGlVJLtV7WV6yirtFN5LnRZ9TdbGK10jDV9Y3I652Vz/s1600/mjatbab.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4_BaJovDyNdPLlDV_Bt1o7XW44Y0MyRj2giLtLDe2oxJuftmWOa8pgnscHf81p20_k9-pjtDDulH-PU9cT8kb-o6M7dN4Ef6KZGlVJLtV7WV6yirtFN5LnRZ9TdbGK10jDV9Y3I652Vz/s400/mjatbab.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488022719298096210" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Macie waiting for her leopard, Spots<br /></span></span></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8N8Hvr29os_QGeYbGtCuoAT5CMEH4N-5xqIbLWngvZ8ZWd43tGP6iF8vIQqlNqVtZbQOFby5C_EUmfby1gK0m2whm8LwWmcRQJEZJSWz1keczBLlJST3IP9GXM67lL0CzLGaVLpUavqtN/s1600/zoaatbab.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8N8Hvr29os_QGeYbGtCuoAT5CMEH4N-5xqIbLWngvZ8ZWd43tGP6iF8vIQqlNqVtZbQOFby5C_EUmfby1gK0m2whm8LwWmcRQJEZJSWz1keczBLlJST3IP9GXM67lL0CzLGaVLpUavqtN/s400/zoaatbab.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488024144975734802" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:85%;">Zoa getting ready to put the heart in her puppy, Paws.<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">This will be a lifetime memory for my family and I. Jeremy loves the company as much as I do now and I learned so many things while I was there. It gave me a spark to dive back into blogging after losing it for a while. I am eternally grateful to Maxine, Bob and her family at Build-A-Bear.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >Three Ladies and a Dad Disclosure:</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> </span>This post is possible through <a href="http://www.buildabear.com/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Build-A-Bear</span></a>. </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Build-A-Bear provided me with a hotel room for two nights for my family and I, as well as gift cards and products as a thank you for attending their event. </span><span style="font-style: italic;"> My post is an expression of my own honest opinion based on my experience and is not reviewed or edited by </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Build-A-Bear</span><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span></span><br /></div></div>Alaina @ Three Ladies and a Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01357112943937376701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3971983227320127845.post-1668954984814213792010-06-28T07:25:00.000-07:002010-06-28T07:26:01.480-07:00Build-A-Bear Part 1<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg888m3SDnCpxa2NZwq75rZJmIP45jj3L8mVTF9_zanivGsClLweM26t85cYBIfwbYOzf3pnXi6w1lVzfAKDhItfNd5qZYOdfAvG3iomVvDMLanRlS4sNl5RpFFsRXTRC22Hd7QAlaR2jE/s1600/buildabearevent.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 188px; height: 188px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg888m3SDnCpxa2NZwq75rZJmIP45jj3L8mVTF9_zanivGsClLweM26t85cYBIfwbYOzf3pnXi6w1lVzfAKDhItfNd5qZYOdfAvG3iomVvDMLanRlS4sNl5RpFFsRXTRC22Hd7QAlaR2jE/s320/buildabearevent.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487581422640159138" border="0" /></a>A few weeks ago, I received an email inviting me to a Brand Building Conference at <a href="http://www.buildabear.com/shop/browsecategory.aspx?Category=saysound&sc_hpan=tabs&sc_hpdr=tabs_shop&sc_ppd=PS_2009Q3_build%20bear_5031795384_Create_google&gclid=CNaUyKSlwaICFQ_yDAod2Sso6A">Build-A-Bear </a>in St. Louis. After switching Jeremy's vacation around, I responded with an "yes!".<br /><br />We headed to St. Louis last Tuesday and hit up a local water park. It was so hot! After soaking up the rays all day, we went to our hotel and went to Target. Exciting, I know.<br /><br />Wednesday, we went to Hurricane Harbor at Six Flags and was soaked all day. One thing I have found is the older I get, the more I love summer. Bring me heat, humidity, sweat...I don't care! But just give me some water to dip my feet in! That evening, we checked into our <a href="http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1233">new hotel</a>, which was amazing by the way, and went to Target number 2. We seriously live on the edge, people.<br /><br />Thursday I was up bright and early. Myself and several other bloggers arrived at Build-A-Bear<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy2a18cs-O9IY6bBEf4bXEz3Di8bY7cl0ztn1T9HwVycHdK3wIWxMZKgXx1Pd_0wiadEtGXCfjewI2nfJMAQ_mhpYqTiQ5EaTEM332DxdY93WH1C8YmM7Qe0slRtnYZOZP3hT4UHNfFPk/s1600/bab.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy2a18cs-O9IY6bBEf4bXEz3Di8bY7cl0ztn1T9HwVycHdK3wIWxMZKgXx1Pd_0wiadEtGXCfjewI2nfJMAQ_mhpYqTiQ5EaTEM332DxdY93WH1C8YmM7Qe0slRtnYZOZP3hT4UHNfFPk/s320/bab.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487584259883406146" border="0" /></a>Bearquarters at 8:00 a.m. and sat down to a wonderful breakfast of fresh fruit, bagels and orange juice.<br /><br />But that was just the beginning. The things I learned about branding in general and the Build-A-Bear company, including the generous founder of BAB, <a href="http://twitter.com/ChiefExecBear">Maxine Clark</a>, will stay with me forever.<br /><br />Stay tuned for more posts about this event!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >Three Ladies and a Dad Disclosure:</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> </span>This post is possible through <a href="http://www.buildabear.com/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Build-A-Bear</span></a>. </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Build-A-Bear provided me with a hotel room for two nights for my family and I, as well as gift cards and products as a thank you for attending their event. </span><span style="font-style: italic;"> My post is an expression of my own honest opinion based on my experience and is not reviewed or edited by </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Build-A-Bear</span><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span></span>Alaina @ Three Ladies and a Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01357112943937376701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3971983227320127845.post-11423333759467638182010-03-06T19:25:00.000-08:002010-03-29T06:04:00.763-07:00Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks - Give and Win: A Review and a #Giveaway<span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >If you know anything about me, I try to avoid processed foods. So when I was given the opportunity</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmBqXCMqwCFVSyZPnVFGbEQoYmIG7ySabPzrFd2fw4CdNG9d5rKNJnR3Q12S-42QD8thw0JX3T8scbzztlbG9A30o0ElyudwYQ7RXOy9i7mOrvBqExAcgLzYa_bJs5eOBTFyzxC7rp-TOm/s1600-h/Win_and_Give_logo2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 208px; height: 248px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmBqXCMqwCFVSyZPnVFGbEQoYmIG7ySabPzrFd2fw4CdNG9d5rKNJnR3Q12S-42QD8thw0JX3T8scbzztlbG9A30o0ElyudwYQ7RXOy9i7mOrvBqExAcgLzYa_bJs5eOBTFyzxC7rp-TOm/s400/Win_and_Give_logo2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445730840332290914" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" > to review Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks, I was not quite sure what to do. Then a read a little more and knew I wanted to. (And the girls are loving the 'treats'!)<br /><br />Do you know what little Miss Betty Crocker has been up to lately? Betty Crocker has teamed </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >up with</span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" > <a href="http://www.laptop.org/en/">One Laptop per Child</a> (OLPC), </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >"an organization that creates educational opportunities for the world’s poorest children by providing each child with a rugged, low-cost, low-power connected laptop with content and software designed for collaborative, joyful, self-empowered learning."</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >If you have bought any specially marked packages, you may have seen a logo that says Win & Give. This is what that logo is for.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_2LockbxXeQ&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_2LockbxXeQ&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Great stuff, huh? Best of all, for each package of these specially marked packages of </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >Fruit Roll-Ups, Gushers, Fruit by the Foot, and Stickerz & Shapes, <span style="font-style: italic;">you </span>have the chance to win a very own laptop of your own for your child!<br /></span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" ><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_2LockbxXeQ&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></object></span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" ><br />Just for posting this information to you, Betty Crocker will donate $25 to One Laptop per Child in my name. Pretty great!<br /><br />And now <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">you </span>have the chance to win two boxes of Betty Crocker snacks, which have the code to enter which means you could potentially win a laptop! Betty Crocker will also donate another $25 to One Laptop per Child in your name.</span> </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >To enter, just leave me a comment. For fun, let me know what child in your life could use a laptop. </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >For the fine print and up to </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >five additional ways</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" > to enter, click </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.threeladiesandadad.com/2009/01/fine-print-for-giveaways.html">here</a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >. </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><br />I will draw a winner on Friday, March 26. Please make sure I have a way of contacting you should your name be drawn.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Good luck!</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >Three Ladies and a Dad Reviews Disclosure:</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> </span>This review is possible through <a href="http://www.myblogspark.com/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">My Blog Spark</span></a> and <a href="http://www.bettycrocker.com/">Betty Crocker</a>. </span><span style="font-style: italic;">My Blog Spark and/or Betty Crocker</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> sponsored this post by providing me with two boxes of Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks and two to give away so that I may share this information with you. My post is an expression of my own honest opinion based on my experience and is not reviewed or edited by </span><span style="font-style: italic;">My Blog Spark and/or Betty Crocker</span><span style="font-style: italic;">. </span><span style="font-style: italic;">My Blog Spark and/or Betty Crocker</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;">does not compensate me in any other way for this post.</span></span>Alaina @ Three Ladies and a Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01357112943937376701noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3971983227320127845.post-20581134167334459412010-03-06T19:03:00.000-08:002010-03-06T19:07:27.768-08:00Winner!Congratulations to lucky number 21 - <a href="http://twitter.com/WildOrchids09">@WildOrchids09</a> - for winning my <a href="http://threeladiesandadadreviews.blogspot.com/2010/02/kroger-box-tops-for-education-giveaway.html">$25 Kroger Gift Card giveaway</a>!<br /><br />Check back this week for another giveaway!Alaina @ Three Ladies and a Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01357112943937376701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3971983227320127845.post-89973091120752998492010-02-22T07:56:00.000-08:002010-03-06T19:03:54.117-08:00Kroger & Box Tops for Education: A #Giveaway!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-XVyxxLRcUoyp2zc9SIdjy-wzSpIglA5QhcAYf7S58AnTfmdQVDi6yfixDywx4xPO_FSXsLxw9uga_IFk60fkxlFavaCPtkdUMUut-VfhwK-vurDc3xfG46j6ALMltf-v07dWMgeGYaY/s1600-h/landing_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 83px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-XVyxxLRcUoyp2zc9SIdjy-wzSpIglA5QhcAYf7S58AnTfmdQVDi6yfixDywx4xPO_FSXsLxw9uga_IFk60fkxlFavaCPtkdUMUut-VfhwK-vurDc3xfG46j6ALMltf-v07dWMgeGYaY/s400/landing_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441102694681207282" border="0" /></a><br />If you have a child in school, you have probably heard of Box Tops for Education. I admit, I have not always collected these. I started about a year and a half ago and when I see one of something I buy, I throw it into a little container under my sink. Every now and then, I collect all of them and send them with Macie to school. It is an easy way to help keep tuition down at school!<br /><br />There is a program going on now called <a href="http://www.rewardyourschool.com/Sites/General_Mills_Box_Tops/Page/HomePage">Reward Your School</a>. When you register your school, they can get five Box Tops automatically in their account! Another promotion going on now is <a href="http://www.rewardyourschool.com/Sites/General_Mills_Box_Tops/Page/OffersLoggedOutPage">Bonus Box Tops</a>. You simply load your shopper card and when you buy participating products, you get Bonus Box Tops!<br /><br />What an easy way to get Box Tops for your school!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How about a $25 Kroger gift card to help get you started collecting more Box Tops? </span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">To enter, leave a comment! That's it! </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> For the fine print and up to </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">five additional ways</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> to enter, click </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.threeladiesandadad.com/2009/01/fine-print-for-giveaways.html">here</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">. </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />I will draw a winner on Friday, March 5. Please make sure I have a way of contacting you should your name be drawn.</span><br /><br />Good luck!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:85%;">Three Ladies and a Dad Reviews Disclosure<span style="font-size:85%;">:</span></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" > </span>This review is possible through <a href="http://www.myblogspark.com/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">My Blog Spark</span></a> and <a href="http://www.knex.com/products/">General Mills</a>. </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >My Blog Spark and/or General Mills</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" > sponsored this post by providing me <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">$25 Kroger gift card for myself</span> and one to give away so that I may share this information with you. My post is an expression of my own honest opinion based on my experience and is not reviewed or edited by </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >My Blog Spark and/or General Mills</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >. </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >My Blog Spark and/or General Mills</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" > </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >does not compensate me in any other way for this post.</span></span>Alaina @ Three Ladies and a Dadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01357112943937376701noreply@blogger.com39