Holiday Inn Express Pre Trip Review

When we started planning our Summer Vacation Road Trip we knew that our hotel costs were going to be the bulk of our expenses. We wanted a great price with great amenities, it's nice to get a good price but quality is just as important. We seem to have found both with the Holiday Inn Express in Roseville, California!

Just looking over their web site we see that our stay will be comfortable with lots of extras. They have an outdoor pool, we can surf the net with free high-speed wireless Internet or we can work out in the fitness center. With 2 adults and 3 children and so many meals out, the free hot breakfast bar featuring their famous cinnamon rolls is definitely a bonus for this family! 

They also offer a Best Price Guarantee here is more about it from their site-
We're so sure the best prices for our hotels are found on our websites that we were the first to offer the most powerful price guarantee ever by a global travel company. Find a lower price elsewhere and your first night is free.  That's our Best Price Guarantee and just one of many benefits you get with the Book With Us Advantage.

Think the Best Price Guarantee is cool? How about one more added bonus from Holiday Inn Express? They are offering a $75 prepaid Mastercard just for staying 2 consecutive weekend nights! Here's more info-
Getting your $75 Vacation Pay Prepaid MasterCard® is easy. Here’s how:
Stay for two consecutive weekend nights (Friday, Saturday or Sunday) between May 14, 2012 and September 3, 2012 at any one of the over 4,500 hotels in the IHG® Family of Brands and we’ll give you a $75 Vacation Pay Prepaid MasterCard (up to $300) to explore.

There are so many local attractions that we will be close to staying at the Holiday Inn Express in Roseville. For instance we are right by the Golfland Family Fun Center and Amusement Park, Magic Circle Theatre, the Maidu Indian Museum, Folsom Lake and the Westfield Galleria Mall.  We can't wait for our vacation to start and can't wait to stay at the Holiday Inn Express! Go here to make your reservation today!

To learn more about Holiday Inn Express Roseville CA you can follow them on Twitter and be a fan on Facebook. 

*We will be staying at the Holiday Inn Express for our Frugal Family Tree Summer Vacation Road Trip. We will be provided accommodations and were not paid for this post.

Hallmark "Tell Them" Blogger Event San Francisco CA

Earlier this month Hallmark invited a group of select bloggers to San Francisco CA to learn more about the Tell Them campaign. I was unable to attend the event but ended up being glad to be home since that day I learned that my Dad was in the hospital. Odd how that works. I would have not been home to hear the news. My siblings and I went to go see our Dad and we are all happy to have done so. Its times of sickness we realize how we need to express that we love each other no matter what. I need to make it my priority to tell the people I love that I love them and cherish them not just at times of health crisis but all the time.

Hallmark's "Moments & Milestones" tour, visiting new cities and connecting even more people around the country with the people behind the Hallmark brand and fostering personal connections through engaging activities and discussions.

The third stop in 2012 was San Francisco and here are some of the memorable, compelling and/or humorous stories those in attendance shared with us about important Fathers in their lives. Everyone has something they need to hear. Vow to Tell Them today. Facebook.com/TellThem

Here is the San Francisco Bloggers Father's Day Video:
(My story starts at 1:13 and I see someone I know at about 1:33 lol )




Here is the Hallmark Commercial for the Tell Them campaign:

 

At the event bloggers were given T-shirts to wear about the Tell Them idea. I wore mine to go see my family as a reminder to "Tell Them" things they need to know.

Hallmark has super cute Recordable stories and Recordable Artwork. These would make a great gift anytime to share how much you care for someone.

I love sending cards. Hallmark sent me many cute cards for the just because kind of occasion. This one made me laugh about Girls Night Out. In the age of text messaging and emails we often forget how comforting a card can be. Its something to hold and read knowing your loved one picked it out and signed it. 

Remember to take the time to tell someone how you feel. Let someone know that you love them, that your thinking of them, a thank you and just that your glad to be in their life. A small comment and a card can really cheer someone up. You never know when you card might be just what they needed.

Thank you Hallmark for including me in the Hallmark Tell Them Tour. 

*I was not compensated for this post. Hallmark sent me the items pictured in this post. The opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine and your experience may vary.

Date Night Friday Movies at Home

I love watching movies at home. I enjoy the hour and a half or so of story telling. I like to get lost in the movie and try to just be in the moment. Its a time for my husband and I to have a mini date night. We generally agree on movies making it fun to go back and forth between ones I pick and ones he picks.

A few we have watched that were interesting have been:

Jeff Who Lives at Home - Jason Segel, Ed Helms, Susan Sarandon- This was funny about siblings and accepting each other as we are

A Thousand Words - Eddie Murphy - This is a sweet movie about forgiveness and love

21 Jump Street - Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill - This was super funny! I had no clue what to expect since I had not seen any previews. It was silly but good silly. Even a moment with Johnny Depp in it.

 Journey 2 - Dwayne Johnson "the rock" - Loved this movie. Very colorful and fun.

A few movies I was disappointed in:

Sherlock Holmes 2
John Carter

What movies have you rented lately?

Fishing in the Desert?

Living in Cali I am surrounded by places to go fishing. We have the ocean, rivers, lakes and ponds to select from. I love fishing. Its a great way to unplug and get lost in nature for a while. We never really catch anything worth keeping, we catch and release. But the fun part is hanging out near the water and the fun fishing stuff you can buy. Yes as a woman I turn fishing into shopping lol.

I have always wanted to visit one of the big Bass Pro Shops in person. The ones here is CA are too far to just go there to see. I was so surprised when I saw a Bass Pro Shop in Las Vegas. We were driving down the freeway from the airport and there it was. I declared we have to go there! Thankfully other family members wanted to go and we were able to go the next day.

It was such a cool store full of boats, fishing stuff, awesome displays, clothing and so much more. Even a waterfall and a stuffed giraffe!

This made me think of my son, who LOVES giraffes

Oddly though I thought to myself I cant find a Bass Pro Shop in Nor Cali but I can find one in the desert?!?! Where is the closest place to go Bass Fishing in Vegas? lol

Huggies MomInspired Grant Program

My whole family has the inventor type of mind set. Just this weekend we had a little think tank time and shared ideas and laughed that some of us have a "great ideas book". We have all been that way since we were little, mini entrepreneurs. I know for me I have a few Mom Inspired ideas that I think would make great products. From things to aid bottle feeding to picture frame ideas I have a few I want to submit. You never know if your idea might be the next big thing. The Huggies MomInspired grant program can make your ideas into a product.

Huggies recognizes that there is a dynamic and talented community of moms who strive to make life as a parent easier and more enjoyable every day.  Now in its third year, the Huggies® MomInspired™ grant program celebrates the natural creativity of moms, who solve real parenting challenges every day in innovative ways.  

• Grant recipients will receive $15,000 in seed capital as well as business resources to help turn innovative ideas into real-life inventions.
• Applications for the 2012 Huggies MomInspired grant program are currently being accepted through July 31, 2012.
• Moms can learn more and submit original, innovative and viable new business and product ideas now at HuggiesMomInspired.com.
• Grants will be announced and awarded in fall 2012.   

You have until July 31, 2012 to submit your idea. I will be calling my Mom and Sisters to see what idea we should submit. By visiting the website www.HuggiesMomInspired.com you can also read about the stories of past grant recipients and their product ideas.

Previous grant recipients have developed products such as:

• Nausea relief band to ease pregnancy symptoms
• Magnetic baby clothing for easy diaper changes
• Sleep coaching  

* I am sharing this info from Mom Select for a chance to win a prize. I will be submitting my ideas for the grant as well.

The Power Of Color

The other day I was out shopping and I pasted by this gorgeous scene. The orange of the table and chairs combined with the orange flowers were just so pretty.
It may sound silly to say this made me happy, but the color orange really does have that effect on people.
Did you know that you can actually change your mood just by looking at a color? Orange is the color of creative energy, it can lift your spirits and energize you.
Red signifies passion, strength, and courage. Blue is the color of calmness and serenity, and a wise choice for bedroom color for a peaceful night's sleep. Yellow suggests happiness, joy and merriment. Green signifies nature and healing, and gives a feeling of renewal and rejuvenation.
So being aware of the power of color can help us in choosing the right colors for decorating and the clothes we wear. Do you have a favorite color and how does it make you feel?
We would love to know!



Posted by Patricia

Nissan 2013 Test Drive and Marriage Proposal Video

We own a Nissan Altima and its the best car decision we have ever made. Its great on gas, super safe and looks really cool! I even got to pick the color I wanted, thanks hubby! We did months of research and test drives before selecting the Altima and I do recommend test driving one. They are fun to drive.

On May 12, Nissan picked 5 Facebook fans to be the first ones to test drive the new 2013 Altima, and created video of each unique experience to share with fans.

One of the chosen Facebook fans, Paul, told Nissan if he was picked to test-drive the All-New 2013 Altima before anyone else he would propose to his girlfriend Jane at the test track. The video shows just how he did that. Nissan not only thought it was a great idea, they thought they would help him out.

 Join the conversation at http://www.facebook.com/nissanaltima

Champions for Kids Post Bowls of Hope Simple Service Project.

~by Patricia

I am proud to be participating in the June Post Bowls of Hope Simple Service Project with Champions for Kids. During the summer months, millions of low-income children go without school breakfasts and lunches, and their families may have difficulty providing these meals.

The goal of this project is to supplement local food banks with breakfast and lunch items that families with children can use and receive. Post Cereal has partnered with Champions for Kids for this very important need.

I went shopping at my local Walmart to buy Post Cereals to donate to my local food bank. I will be having a family food drive and asking them to bring food donations when they come over for dinner. Giving to others in our community is very important, and teaches the younger children in our family to help others.

Post makes many different kinds of cereals that are part of a healthy breakfast. I thought this service project was a great idea, and the thought of providing children with a good breakfast to start their day really motivated me to participate.

I am hoping to collect donations like peanut butter and other things that kids like and are easy to make. Parents must often stretch already limited food budgets during the summer months when school is closed and their children cannot eat breakfast or lunch at school.

Fresh fruits are always welcomed at the food bank, and are great for a healthy snack. Bananas are also good to put on a child's cereal to increase it's nutritional value. Post makes lots of cereals that are both delicious and good for you.

Milk and other dairy products are very important items at the food bank. I love donating yogurt because it's something most kids like eating.

I will be donating to the Kingston Food Bank. They are in my community and it's director and volunteers tirelessly work to help out local families. I can't wait to make my donation here and help other families with children who need it.

I am very happy to be working again with Champions for Kids, and love being a part of helping others.
Thanks to Post Cereals for this project.


You can read my Google+ Story about my shopping trip to Walmart to shop for items to donate to the Kingston Food Bank for my Simple Service Project for Post Bowls of Hope and Champions for Kids.

*I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Champions for Kids #CBias #SocialFabric”  All thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are my own. #CBias #SocialFabric #PostCFK

Grapes and the Garden Veggie Pizza Recipe #GrapesfromCA

Living in California I have access to some great produce grown right here in the state. We have delicious fruits and veggies to eat all the time. One of my favorite fruits to eat is grapes. Ever since I was a kid grapes have always cheered me up. They are so delicious. Green, red or black grapes I love them all.

I have many snacks and breakfast items that have California Grapes as an ingredient. I like to eat them just by themselves too. This summer I thought I would like to find a new way to include grapes into something I enjoy as well as my family. My first thought was everyone love pizza! I created a pizza recipe that I call Grapes and the Garden Pizza.

 My Grapes and the Garden Pizza is easy to make. I purchased a pre-made pizza crust, canned tomato sauce, shredded cheese and added California Black Grapes, green bell pepper, red onion, spinach leaves, minced garlic, marinated artichoke hearts and no salt added canned mushrooms.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and lightly brush the pizza crust with olive oil. I used a pizza stone and you can also use a cookie sheet. After slicing the ingredients I placed the pizza sauce and a pinch of garlic to the pizza crust. Next cover the pizza sauce with cheese. I selected a mix of mozzarella and cheddar cheese for extra flavor and color. Add the toppings of California Black Grapes, green bell pepper, red onion, spinach leaves, marinated artichoke hearts, no salt added canned mushrooms and a pinch of garlic on top of the pizza. Place in the oven for 20-30 minutes until the cheese has melted and the toppings and crust are lightly golden.

We really enjoyed the Grapes and the Garden Veggie Pizza. The savory flavors of the veggies are perfectly balanced by the sweet grapes. California Grapes can be used in many recipes. There is a great cookbook titled Green, Black, Red that has many grape recipes.

Grapes and the Garden Veggie Pizza

This is a great pizza to have as a snack since there is no meat. A light veggie and cheese pizza to enjoy for lunch or a snack any day of the week. To learn more about California Table Grapes and create your own recipe to enter in the Grapes Snack Makeover contest you can be a fan on Facebook.






* I was sent a cookbook and compensation to buy California Grapes from Family Review Network for this post. I will be entering my recipe in a contest as well. #GrapesfromCA





 

Superior Nut Company Review and $25 Gift Certificate Giveaway - Birthday Bash

My whole family just loves eating nuts. They are a favorite choice for a snack, and we often give them as gifts around the holidays and other occasions. Peanuts, cashews, almonds, and pistachios, we love them all.
So of course I was very excited to receive nuts from the Superior Nut Company to try.

This company has been in business since 1929, and they still roast their specialty nuts the old fashioned way, in small batches at their plant in Cambridge, Massachusetts. You can even select your own items you want in a gift box or basket to give the perfect gift for a loved one.

I was sent the Roasted Jumbo Cashews Gourmet Tray and the Colossal Pistachio Gourmet Tray. Both trays of nuts were delicious and didn't last long! The quality and freshness were excellent, and the cashews were the largest I've ever seen.

Superior Nut Company offers a very large selection of nuts, candy, dried fruit, baked goods and much more. Their vast selection of gift baskets are perfect for any occasion. Many products come with free shipping, and all are attractively packaged. If you are a nut lover, this is a wonderful place to buy them at, and you can go to their website at superiornutstore.com to see the complete line of products.

For Nana's 55th Birthday Celebration we are hosting a giveaway of a $25 gift certificate from Superior Nut Company for one of our readers.

 GIVEAWAY

Win a $25 Gift Certificate to Superior Nut Company

 

To Enter This Giveaway: (mandatory entry before extra entries)


Visit the Superior Nut Company Store website and tell me one item you would love to try.

 

(I think the Chocolate Hazelnut Butter looks great too!)

 

*Leave a comment answering the question and be sure to leave your email address if its not public in your Google account*

Extra Entries: Can be done after leaving a comment for mandatory entry. If the extra entry says 1 extra entry leave 1 comment and 2 extra entries leave me 2 comments and so on.

-Like on Superior Nut Company on Facebook +1

-Follow  Superior Nut Company  on Twitter +1

-Follow Superior Nut Company on Pinterest +1

-Follow/Add to your circle  Frugal Family Tree on Google+ ( right hand side) +1
-Like our new fan page on Facebook Frugal Family Tree +1
-Follow FrugalFamTree on Twitter +1

-Follow Frugal Family Tree on Pinterest +1

-Share this giveaway on Facebook ONLY, using the Share Button at the bottom on this post. +1 for each share you do. (can be done once a day)

-Copy and Paste This Tweet on Twitter and leave me the link (to find the link click on the time stamp under your tweet. Can be done once a day for the duration of the giveaway)

#Win a $25 Gift Certificate to @superiornut at @FrugalFamTree #Giveaway ends 7/13

 

 

 *Limited to US residents 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts June 27, 2012 and ends on July 13, 2012 at midnight PST. Winner will be emailed and has 48 hours to respond before another winner is selected. I was not paid for this giveaway or post. The opinions on this item are 100% mine and may vary from others. The sponsor is responsible for providing the prize.