Shot@Life With Back To School Immunazations At Walgreens

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.



When my five children were growing up, going back to school was always an exciting time. It meant new clothes and backpacks, seeing friends again, and me making sure they were up-to-date on all their required vaccines.

That meant an individual doctor's appointment for any child that needed a shot. It could be very time consuming and expensive for me and my family.

That's one of the reasons I was excited to learn about Walgreens offering school immunizations to children seven years and older right in many Walgreens stores. How easy is that? And you don't even need an appointment.

When you get a shot at Walgreens, you are also helping to provide a life saving vaccine to a needy child in a developing country through the United Nation Foundation's Shot@Life Program.

My seven year old grandson Jayden isn't thrilled about getting a shot, just like most other kids. But it makes me extremely grateful that the immunizations he needs to stay healthy are so readily available.

Through the Get a Shot, Give a Shot program at Walgreens, we can provide another child a chance at a healthy life, just by getting our school immunizations there.

I love that Jayden is very aware that there are other children in need. He was glad to know that when he gets the shot he needs, he is helping out a child who is not as fortunate as himself.

I've always explained to my kids that, though a shot is no fun, it keeps them from getting very, very sick. Telling them that they are also helping another child to not get sick makes it a little easier, too.

Of course, a reward or treats after getting a shot helps too!!

Just like other Walgreens, our Walgreens in the Seattle area makes getting children an immunization quick and easy.

Besides not needing an appointment, most insurance plans are accepted, too. Walgreens pharmacists will also report back any immunizations to your primary care physician.

It was amazing how much Walgreens is in the spirit of getting our kids back to school, happy and healthy, just like this sign says.

I picked up a few little extras for Jayden to go back to school with, because that's part of the fun of being a grandmother.

How convenient to get your back to school immunizations and school supplies all in one place, right?

Spiderman and super heros are a big deal around our house. So is taking a daily vitamin to keep us healthy.

I picked up a bottle of these Spiderman Multivitamin Gummies because I knew Jayden would love them. Gone are the days when I had a hard time making my kids chew the nasty tasting kind.

So if you have school aged children seven and older who need immunizations,  bring them into Walgreens where they can Get a Shot, Give a Shot.

Every child deserves a healthy life, and you can help make that happen by participating in Walgreens Shot@Life Campaign.

It is so easy to help a child in need when you #GiveaShot. Won't you help?

#CollectiveBias

How To Make Budget Friendly Meals Taste Great With Kraft

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.

When you have a large family, simple dinners and budget friendly meals become even more important. And when some of the kids are picky eaters, it can really be a challenge to make a meal that appeals to everyone, and lets you stick to your grocery budget.

Since I'm a regular shopper at Walmart, I am always happy to hear about their fabulous Rollback prices. This means that already low prices are even lower, and that lets my dollars stretch further, which makes me very happy.

I've been challenging myself to make dinners for $20 or less lately, and that is not easy. But with careful meal planning and Walmart's Rollback Prices on Kraft products, I'm doing it!!

The other night, I made a yummy dinner for my family that everyone loved. We eat sandwiches at least once a week, and these turkey meatballs that I made for these sandwiches are one of my favorite budget recipes.

Many of my favorite Kraft products are on Rollback pricing right now, so I can take advantage of that to help me stick to my budget.

These are items that I have been buying for years, especially the Kraft Mayo and Kraft Singles. And with barbeque season in full swing, we can never have enough Kraft Barbeque Sauce.

My grandchildren adore the Velveeta Shells & Cheese, and it's so easy to make. They enjoy it for lunch or dinner, and sometimes I add a veggie to it, and they still love it.

I know that money is tight for lots of families around the 1st and 15th of the month. We try to take advantage of low prices, use coupons, and love it when we find a buy one, get one offer.

These turkey meatballs are easy to make, and taste delicious. I've tried various recipes over the years, and come to the conclusion that simple is best.

It's just turkey, chopped onions, an egg, breadcrumbs, seasonings, and Kraft Mayo. I always used milk as the wet ingredient, but a friend told me about using the mayo, and it really does make all the difference. The meatballs are more tender and flavorful.

Whenever I find a great deal on ground turkey, I'll buy it and make lots of meatballs to freeze for later use. We do use a lot, especially for one of our favorite dinners, spaghetti and meatballs.

It doesn't take long to cook the meatballs, and then I pour on the Kraft Barbecue Sauce. I cook them a few more minutes in the sauce because I just love how the sauce clings to them for added flavor.

I just love meatballs, and always sneak one or two out of the pan before we eat!!

Velveeta Shells & Cheese tastes great on its own, but sometimes I add a little something to it.

This time I added 1/2 cup of petite diced tomatoes from a can. Just stir them in after it's done, and make sure you drain them so there is no extra liquid going into the Shells & Cheese.

 It's a little boost of flavor, and I love adding healthy tomatoes to dishes whenever I can.

We buy a lot of this product, so I took advantage of the Rollback Prices to stock up. I like having lots in the pantry, and feel great saving money.

Kraft Singles, Kraft Mayo, Kraft Barbeque Sauce and Velveeta Shells & Cheese are all available at Rollback prices at your local Walmart.

Look for lots of other Kraft products that are also on Rollback, and let them help you save money on your grocery bill.

Keeping an eye out for these great prices will let you #RollIntoSavings and let you get more for less.

#CollectiveBias

Here's my simple but tasty recipe for my meatballs. You can substitute ground beef for the turkey, but turkey is healthier, and I think just as flavorful.

I also sometimes find packages of ground turkey on a buy one, get one free sale. I never find them on ground beef, so this is another good reason for me to buy turkey.

Recipe for Turkey Meatball Sandwiches

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound ground turkey
3/4 cup dried breadcrumbs
1/2 cup Kraft Mayo
1/2 cup diced onions
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon Italian Seasoning

For making sandwiches:
3/4 cup Kraft Barbeque Sauce
6 sandwich buns
1 large green bell pepper, seeded and cup into strips and sautéed
12 slices of Kraft Singles

Directions:

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients for meatballs (except olive oil) until well mixed. Shape meat mixture into 1-inch balls.
In a large frying pan, add the olive oil. Over medium heat, fry meatballs until browned. Carefully turn every few minutes so they don't burn.
When done, add the barbeque sauce and stir to coat the meatballs, and cook 3 more minutes.
In a sandwich bun, lay 2 pieces of cheese, cooked bell pepper, and top with meatballs.

Makes 6 sandwiches.

Enjoy!!

Coupon Deals: Kraft Printable Coupons

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.

As a frugal family we like to save money where we can. Using coupon deals is a great place to start saving.

I am always looking for new and fun activities to enjoy during the summer, but costs can start to add up quickly! Saving money whenever and wherever I can is important, especially during the summer months. Kraft Foods wants to help you save money without sacrificing on great taste and quality by offering multiple HIGH value coupons worth $16.25. If you can cut back your grocery bill, that opens up the possibility for fun activities with your family and friends all summer long!

Be sure to download these coupons now to begin saving! You can find all of these great deals on http://cbi.as/copy 

What are some of your favorite Kraft products? #CollectiveBias #PackedwithSavings

Dermagist Complete Rejuvenation System Review and Giveaway

I was provided with Dermagist Products for this review. All opinions are my own. 

My daughters and I have been using Dermagist skin products for a few years now. We have always been very pleased with the results.

The Dermagist Complete Rejuvenation System is one of the best ways I have found to help my skin keep looking it's best. The system consists of 3 individual treatments combined together to provide users the ultimate anti aging experience.

 The Complete Rejuvenation System treats each aspect of aging skin, giving users vibrant, wrinkle free, healthy looking skin.

The Dermagist Complete Rejuvenation System consists of 3 separate treatments. The Original Wrinkle Smoothing Cream is a thick, rich cream which removes wrinkles and fine lines while deeply moisturizing the skin.

 The Dynamic Age Defying Serum is a light serum which improves the surface layer of your skin’s functionality. It removes age spots, redness and reduces large pores, leaving your skin vibrant and restoring your skin’s natural luster.

 Lastly, the Instant Effect Lifting Serum is a spot treatment for difficult or stubborn wrinkles, giving you the extra help in the areas you need most.

I love using this system to keep my skin feeling refreshed and looking it's best. Other loyal Dermagist users rate this the #1 anti-aging skin care systems on the market today.

I am very excited to tell you that Dermagist giving away to one of our readers a complete Dermagist Rejuvenation System.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Limited to US residents 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts July 30, 2014 and ends on August 12, 2014 at 12:01 am EST. Winner will be emailed and has 72 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. I was sent a product to review for this post.

Chocolate Cupcakes With Whipped Peanut Butter Frosting

One of my very favorite food combinations is chocolate and peanut butter. I love it so much but wanted something more that just my favorite candy to enjoy.

Cupcakes are always welcomed by friends and family, so these were the perfect answer to a quick dessert, and also satisfied my chocolate and peanut butter craving.

The peanut butter frosting on these cupcakes is made with cream cheese, a frosting that I enjoy making and my family really loves.

The chocolate cupcakes is an easy recipe, and I always think homemade tastes so much better than boxed mix.

And if you keep the baking essentials well stocked in your pantry, you can be ready to bake so many yummy treats as a moments notice.

I made these cupcakes just for fun to have for dessert. My family loved them, and this recipe is definitely a keeper.


Recipe for Chocolate Cupcakes with Whipped Peanut Butter Frosting

Ingredients for cupcakes:

1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup milk

Directions for cupcakes:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake tin with paper liners.
Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa, and salt. Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition, then stir in the vanilla.
Add the flour mixture alternately with the milk. Beat well. Fill the cupcake liners 3/4 full.
Bake in preheated oven 16-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.

Ingredients for frosting:

1/2 cream cheese, softened to room temperature
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup unsalted roasted peanuts, chopped

Directions for frosting:

With an electric mixer on low speed, beat cream cheese, peanut butter, and confectioners' sugar in a bowl until smooth, about 2 minutes.
With a small spatula, frost cupcakes and sprinkle with peanuts.

Makes 18 cupcakes.

Starting My Day Right With A Walk With A Friend and Breakfast From Nestle

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.

 I think that friendships become more important the older we get. When we are young, it seems so much easier to make and be open to new friends.

When I moved into my new neighborhood, I was so happy to meet some really lovely ladies that I have become friendly with. We have a lot in common, and I love chatting and spending time with them.

One friend in particular, Holly, has become my walking buddy, and we like to stroll around the neighborhood a few mornings a week. Holly loves breakfast but always says she doesn't want to cook just for herself.

So the other morning I invited her in for a super easy and delicious breakfast that was no trouble at all, and only took a few minutes to make.

I was excited to try out a new product called Stouffer's Morning Classics. I had bought the Sausage and Egg Scramble, which sounded so good.

With Stouffer's Morning Classics, I have more time to enjoy my mornings, and still have a great tasting breakfast.

Nestle makes some of my very favorite breakfast products. I literally couldn't start my mornings without my Nestle Coffee-mate creamer.

I've been a little addicted to several different flavors lately, but the Caramel Macchiato is my favorite right at the moment. It is just so good!!

I always have Classic Vanilla in the refrigerator too, for family and friends to enjoy.

When I do my grocery shopping at Walmart I like finding new food products to try. It makes me happy to share a new dish or tasty meal with family and friends.

I love that Taster's Choice Coffee is ready in a minute, and it's flavor is so rich and satisfying.

I've been drinking this for many years, and I'll often have a cup mid-morning or late afternoon.

 It was perfect for my breakfast with my friend, we had delicious hot coffee in just a couple of minutes to enjoy.

I can honestly say that I love potatoes and sausage so much I could eat them everyday.

But who has time to make a breakfast like this during the busyness of weekday mornings? I love the easy convenience of these Morning Classics breakfasts.

And you can turn it into a filling for an easy breakfast burrito by wrapping it in a tortilla and adding your favorite hot sauces.

You can find Nestle Taster's Choice Coffee, Coffee-mate creamer, and Stouffer's Morning Classics all at your local Walmart.

While you would think you would find the Stouffer's breakfasts in the frozen breakfast food aisle, I found them with all the other Stouffer's items in the lunch and dinner section. Keep your eyes open for them because you don't want miss these great tasting meals.

I know that a big part of #MyGoodLife is sharing meals with the family and friends I love.

Whether it's breakfast, lunch, dinner, or coffee with a friend, good food and beverages add to the enjoyment of life.

It's so easy to let Nestle and Stouffer's help you enjoy a great tasting breakfast without all the work.

How do you enjoy your morning breakfast routine? Do you eat a big breakfast, or do you just drink coffee?

I would love to know!!

#CollectiveBias

Barbeque Beef & Bow-Tie Dinner

I'm always looking for great tasting meals that will appeal to grown-ups, and the kids, too. That's not always easy, and who wants to give the kids chicken nuggets all the time because they don't like the dinner you made?

This dish is easy to make, tastes delicious, and my grandchildren loved it. I paired it with big, hot buttery biscuits to complete the meal.

I'm a big fan of making a double batch of a recipe, and freezing half of it for later. This dish would be a perfect fit for doing this.

Recipe for Barbeque Beef & Bow-Tie Dinner

Ingredients:

1 pound lean ground beef
1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 cup yellow onion, diced
1 1/2 cups uncooked mini bow-tie pasta (mini farfalle)
2 1/2 cups beef-flavored broth
1/4 cup barbeque sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup frozen corn, thawed
1 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

In 12-inch nonstick skillet, cook beef over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly cooked; drain.

 Add bell pepper and onion, cook and stir 3 minute. Stir in pasta, broth, barbecue sauce, salt and pepper. Heat to boiling; reduce heat to medium-low. Cover; cook 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender.

 Stir in corn and 1 cup of the cheese. Top with remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Cover; cook 3 to 4 minutes longer, until corn is hot and cheese is melted.

 

Makes 6 servings.                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Easy 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Bites







Peanut Butter cookies are one of my very favorite kinds of cookies. I've been making them for years, first for my own children, and now for my grandchildren.

I do have my regular recipe that is very yummy, with flour and all the usual ingredients. But when I came across this very simple, 3-ingredient one, I just had to give it a try.

These little cookies are really good, with a very intense peanut butter taste. I also like the small size,
perfect for little fingers to hold.

In fact, these cookies would be great to make with your kids. The batter is rolled into1-inch balls, just like playing with play dough.

Recipe for 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Bites

Ingredients:

1 cup chunky peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly wipe a baking sheet with vegetable oil.

Place all the ingredients in a medium bowl, and stir until well blended. Shape the dough into 1-inch balls, and place them on the baking sheet.

Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the bottoms are golden brown.

Makes 24 cookies.



Enjoy!!

Birthday Party Shopping at Smart and Final Grand Opening in Carmichael CA

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.

My family often shops at Smart and Final to buy warehouse size items like paper towels, snacks, household cleaning items and meat. We can get many club size items there without the membership fees of other places. The reason we like Smart and Final is we can shop for the bulk stuff but also smaller items like fresh produce and bakery goods. We are a family of 3, we do not need everything we buy to be in club store sizes so it is a nice mix of items. I am celebrating my birthday next week and needed to do some birthday party shopping. A new Smart and Final store opened near my mother in laws house so we decided to stop by the celebration and shop before heading to her home.

The first thing we see when we enter the store is the produce department filled with lively colors. The prices I saw next and gasped! Only $1 each for my 3 favorite berries, in that moment we changed dessert plans from ice cream to mixed berries with cream. I always find good deals at Smart and Final but for the Grand Opening celebration in Carmichael CA we found super savings to celebrate.

Each birthday party in my family I am always the one who buys and puts up the party decorations so naturally I pick out my own. I think I would be shocked if I ever woke up and the house was already decorated for my birthday (hint hint to my husband). I like that I can find all the many types of products I need in one store, bulk or single items. My son spotted a giant bag of balloons for making balloon animals, being the fun Mom I am I got them and we plan to google how to make the animals for my birthday party.

Among all the great deals we found there were little sample stations, coupon booklets being handed out and friendly staff restocking the shelves. It was crowded in the store but the lines were short and the deals were great. The location of the new Smart and Final we visited  is 7223 Fair Oaks Blvd., Carmichael, CA 95608. There will be Grand Opening celebrations all weekend at this location until Sunday July 20th.

I enjoy shopping the bakery section at Smart and Final when we need a quick treat for a party or family gathering. The store carries a delicious lemon pound cake that has been the base for many desserts that my family has enjoyed. This trip we decided to get mini cupcakes for my birthday. This year I am wanting to keep my birthday simple and inexpensive. I think I have a smart start by the money I saved at the Carmichael Smart and Final Grand Opening celebration. #ChooseSmart #CollectiveBias

My son and I had to "test" some of the cupcakes before we put away all the party decorations and food for later in the week. I liked that we were able to find the party decor, the meat for BBQ, the produce and drinks for the birthday party all in one place without the overwhelming size of a warehouse store.

If you would like some recipe ideas for making some great desserts for your next birthday party you can find them at the Smart and Final community. To connect with Smart and Final you can follow them on twitter and facebook.

Join Twitter Chats With Kristina Vanni and Pompeian Olive Oils

I received Pompeian products in exchange for writing this post. All opinions are my own.

I'm always a little surprised by how much olive oil my family and I use in our cooking. It's a lot, and I always enjoy it's flavor and how healthy it is for us.

Pompeian Olive Oil is one I have used in the kitchen for a long time, and use it frequently to cook with, and sauté foods. It's also perfect for salads and my favorite vinaigrette.

I wanted to share with you that award-winning cook Kristina Vanni will be hosting Twitter Chats to answer your questions about recipes, cooking tips, salad dressings, and more.

Just use the hashtag #AskPompeian and the @PompeianOils Twitter handle to ask Kristina any questions about Pompeian Olive Oil and it's other products. She will be hosting 3pm - 5pm on July 12, 19, and 26.

You can also check out Kristina's fabulous food blog, Better Recipes here. It's filled with delicious recipes and cooking tips, and she has wonderful summer cooking and entertaining ideas.

2-Bite Coconut Cupcakes

These coconut cupcakes are so moist and delicious. They are actually super easy to make too, because they start with a boxed mix.

With the addition of sweetened condensed milk and coconut in the batter, these little gems will go quickly.

My grandchildren loved the fact that they were the perfect size for them, and of course I was so pleased that they liked them so much.

And they make a great presentation if you want to take them to a potluck or barbeque this summer.

Recipe for 2-Bite Coconut Cupcakes

Makes 48 mini cupcakes

Ingredients:

For cupcakes:

2 cups flaked coconut, divided
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
1 box white cake mix
water, eggs, vegetable oil called for on cake box mix

For coconut cream frosting:

3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup butter, softened
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon coconut extract
1-3 tablespoons milk
1 cup coconut, toasted

Directions:
 

• 1 Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place mini paper baking cups in mini cupcake pan.                        
• 2 In medium bowl, stir 2 cups coconut and the condensed milk; set aside.
• 3 Make cake batter as directed on box. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups (two-thirds full). Top each with about 1/2 heaping teaspoonful coconut mixture.
• 4 Bake as directed on box of mix. Cool in pans 5 minutes; remove from pans to cooling rack.                           
• 5 In medium bowl, beat powdered sugar, butter and salt with spoon or with electric mixer on low speed until well blended. Beat in coconut extract and 1 tablespoon of the milk. Gradually beat in just enough remaining milk to make frosting smooth and spreadable. Immediately frost cupcakes. Sprinkle tops of cupcakes into toasted coconut. Store loosely covered.   

 

         

                                                                        

                                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                                             

                                                                                                                                          

                                                                        

                                                                        

                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Apple Fruit Galette

I can see that making fruit galettes could easily become my passion. What I love about them is that they are rustic looking, taste so delicious, and look like they are much more difficult to make than they really are.

I discovered this recipe for the delicious crust from one of my favorite magazines, Cottage Living. Unfortunately, the magazine folded a few years ago, but I have held onto every old issue, and recently ran across the recipe.

I guarantee you will adore this apple galette, and it could become your go-to dessert for a delicious dessert at home, or to bring to a picnic, or to someone you really like.

There is no worrying about making a perfect pie crust with a galette, and you can use differ kinds of fruit, or a combination.

It totally impressed my family, and there wasn't a crumb left over.


Recipe for Apple Fruit Galette

Ingredients:

For pastry crust:

 2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 large egg yolk
3 tablespoons ice-cold milk

1 egg
2 tablespoons water


Combine first 3 ingredients in a large bowl. Mix in butter with a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal. Whisk together egg yolk and milk, pour into flour mixture, stirring just until dough starts to form a ball.
Press together with lightly floured hands, and form into a flat round. Cover with plastic wrap, and place in refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

For fruit filling:

2 pounds apples (4-5) Golden Delicious, Pink Lady, Granny Smith
3 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Peel and core apples; cut each in to 8 wedges. In a large nonstick frying pan over medium heat, melt 3 tablespoons butter. When butter is foamy, add apples and stir frequently until they are slightly softened, about 10 minutes.
Sprinkle brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg over apples. Stir into fruit, and continue cooking about 5 minutes, until liquid is syrupy and bubbling.

Remove dough from refrigerator. Roll dough out on a lightly floured surface into an approximate
10-inch round. Place on a large, lightly greased baking sheet. Scoop fruit mixture into center of round.
Fold about 1 inch of dough all the way around to form a rim. Combine egg and water, brush outside of tart with the egg wash.
Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool on pan 10 minutes, then move to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Can be served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.

Makes about 6 servings.

Enjoy!!