t fal optigrill

T-fal OptiGrill Review

Posted on by Mandy

If anyone knows me well, they know that cooking is not my strong point.  I can bake all day long, but when it comes to cooking meals, I’m all about quick and easy.  I’m getting better, but I always welcome any help in this area I can get.  That’s why when I was offered the T-fal OptiGrill to review, which promised to be convenient and easy to use, I knew I had to check it out.

t-fal optigrill
The T-fal OptiGrill is an indoor grill with Precision Grilling Technology.  This means it actually senses the quantity, thickness, and temperature of your items and grills them to your preference every time.  It also cooks items that are frozen.  This was a huge selling point for me, because just as sure as I figure out what to make for dinner, more often than not, I’ve forgotten to defrost first.

Just select one of the preset cooking programs and start grilling:
–Burgers
–Poultry
–Sandwiches/Paninis
–Sausage/Pork
–Red Meat
–Fish/Seafood
–Manual – perfect for vegetables

MY EXPERIENCE

Right out of the box, I had to admire how fancy the T-fal OptiGrill grill looked.  What can I say?  All of those cool-looking buttons really impressed me!

t fal optigrill

My husband grills the best steaks and chicken ever, so I twisted his arm into marinating some so we could give this a try.  I’m kidding.  I didn’t really have to twist his arm.  He loves to cook.  Grilling meat on the T-fal OptiGrill is as simple as selecting what you are cooking, pushing a button, and waiting until it’s cooked to your desired preference.  The grill actually gives three beeps as it reaches each cooking stage (rare, medium, well done).

optigrill

The grill has an illuminated display which also lets you know how your cooking is progressing.  Here is a picture of when we first started the grill in the pre-heat stage.  I thought this was a smart idea, especially if you step away for a moment and miss the beeping sound.

So how did our chicken and steaks turn out?

grilled chicken

grilled steak

They tasted amazing!  I was really impressed that they were both so juicy.  The excess grease just slid right off into a basin that comes with the grill and the plates on the grill even remove for super easy cleanup!  Amazing!  If you’re a klutz in the kitchen like me, you really can’t go wrong with the T-fal OptiGrill.   This would also make the perfect wedding or Christmas gift, for sure.

CONNECT SOCIALLY

Stay in touch and get more information on the T-fal OptiGrill here:

https://www.facebook.com/Optigrill
www.twitter.com/tfaloptigrill
www.youtube.com/optigrill
https://plus.google.com/u/0/100373006917375787518/about
www.pinterest.com/optigrill

I was sent the T-fal OptiGrill in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions are my own and no other compensation was received.

Tips For Surviving the Cold & Flu Season

Posted on by Mandy

sick

Now that the holidays are upon us, you’ll probably be out and about more and that means you will probably be around more people.  This also means you may be around more sick people, exposing yourself to colds and flu.  I work around children everyday, so I make sure I wash my hands often during the day and have Kleenex and hand sanitizer readily available on my desk.  The last thing I want is for any of my students or myself to miss school and work due to illness.

Facts & Tips For Colds & Flu

1. 96% of school nurses agree that when a child comes to school sick, other children tend to catch his or her virus.

2. The Center for Disease Control recommends facial tissues as one of the key strategies to minimize cold and flu viruses.

3. Every year, the U.S. alone reports more than one billion colds and 35 – 50 million flu cases.

4. Boost your immune system with Vitamin D – enjoying a little sunshine can help.

5. To help reduce your fever, put wet towels around your shoulders instead of your forehead.

6. Avoid using humidifiers when you’re sick – they can actually spread the flu germs.

7. Not all liquids hydrate equally – stick to water, herbal tea and fruit juice when you’re sick.

8. All colds are contagious, regardless of mucus color.

Don’t wait until you or a family member are down for the count due to sickness.  Go ahead and stock up now on cold and flu essentials, like Kleenex tissues so you won’t be left scrambling for what you need when you really need it the most.

Visit Kleenex online where you can find additional tips and advice to prepare your homes for what’s ahead, and useful information to help you avoid the last minute trips to the store so that you can care for their family when someone gets sick.

I am participating in a sponsored campaign for Kleenex.  All opinions are my own.

How To Plan The Perfect Children’s Party

Posted on by Mandy

There’s no doubt about it – planning a children’s party is stressful. If you find yourself more likely to reach for the paracetamol instead of a party popper at a gathering frequented by kids – this guide is for you. Here are three easy ways to ensure your children’s party goes off with a bang instead of banging headache!

Send the invites yourself

Talk to your child and try to get an idea of how many people they’d like to come. If that number is so large you fear for the well-being of your home, talk them down to a more reasonable number or move the venue to a public attraction like a cinema or soft play area.

Only take on what you know you can handle. After you’ve decided on the number, create some snazzy invites and get them sent out. Greetings Island has a great selection of free templates you can edit and print off.

Send out the invitations yourself. If you rely on your child, they may forget to invite certain friends or get the time and dates wrong. Put it all on the invite so you don’t have to worry.

Decorations and party bags

Make your house look the part! You don’t want the children to be bored before they’ve even got through the door. Cover your house with balloons, banners and any other vibrant colors you can get your hands on. Party bags are a great way to put smiles on your guests’ faces. Websites like Hawkins Bazaar will do most of the hard work for you by filling each party bag with sweets and toys to keep them entertained. This will alleviate some of the stress and give you more time to prepare the food, presents and activities.

Plan activities and games

You may be noticing a trend here. Plan, plan and plan some more. Before the day comes, sit down with your child and figure out what they’d like to do – It’s their party after all! Try to incorporate their needs without jumping through too many hoops.

Think of games that are appropriate for the age range of children attending. Pass the parcel and hide and seek always go down well with younger children. If the group is a litter older, they might be more interested in playing sports.

Make a list of activities for the day but don’t freak out if you get behind schedule. You may have to cut some games due to time or lack of interest. Go with the flow!

 

This is a sponsored post.  All opinions are my own.

Thanksgiving Bulletin Board

Posted on by Mandy

thanksgiving bulletin board

It’s Turkey Time in the library!  I managed to get up this Thanksgiving bulletin board this week.  I had a few Thanksgiving paperback books, so I thought this would make a fun display.  I used the die cut machine to cut out the maple leaf border and letters and I give credit for the turkey to a former co-worker who let me trace out a pattern of it a couple of years ago.  I just wish it could stay up longer than three weeks.  Now to come up with a new one in a couple of weeks for the Christmas holidays.

Change Your Clock-Change Your Battery-Energizer Giveaway

Posted on by Mandy

Did you remember to set your clocks back an hour last night?  We did, and our family enjoyed that extra hour of sleep!  I look forward to Daylight Savings Time being over because having more sunlight on those cold, winter work mornings seems to help me get moving better.  It’s also that time of year when Energizer, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, and fire departments nationwide join forces for the Change Your Clock Change Your Battery® program to raise awareness of the importance of working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in helping to keep families safe in their homes.  This is the 26th year for the annual program and the message is still an important one.

Did you know, thirty-eight percent of fatal fire injuries occur in homes with no smoke alarms, while 24 percent occur in homes in which at least one smoke alarm is present but fails to operate, frequently due to dead or missing batteries?   That’s too many needless deaths, in my opinion, which is why I’m urging you today to please change out your batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors to make absolutely sure they are performing at their best.

To help give more families those critical seconds, Energizer is donating 250,000 batteries this fall to fire departments across the country to distribute to families in their communities. Together, they will host Home Safety Days and neighborhood canvasses spanning throughout National Fire Prevention Month in October until the end of daylight saving time on Sunday, Nov. 3.

The Change Your Clock Change Your Battery® program is just one of the ways Energizer brings to life the company’s commitment to making a positive impact in communities across the country. That’s positivenergyTM.

GIVEAWAY

I’m so excited to be partnering with Energizer, who has provided an amazing prize pack to give away to one lucky blog reader!  Check out what’s inside:

daylight savings time

· One 16-pack Energizer® MAX® AA Batteries

· One 1-pack of Energizer® MAX® 9 volt batteries

· One Energizer® Weatheready® LED Safety Light flashlight – Waterproof flashlight powered by AA, AAA or C cell batteries

· One Kidde Battery-Operated Combination Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Alarm

.  Reusable tote bag

The total value of the Family Safety Kit is approximately $60.  This is a great way to be ready and prepared for several home emergencies.

TO ENTER:

Enter using the Rafflecopter form below.  All entries are completely optional, but each one you complete counts as a chance to win.  US ONLY.  18+.  Void where prohibited.  Giveaway ends Monday, November 11, 2013 at 12 AM CST.  Winner MUST claim prize within 48 hours of the winning email being sent or a new winner will be chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck and be safe!  Go change out the batteries in those smoke and carbon monoxide detectors today!

I was provided with the prize pack listed above as a thank you for facilitating this post and one to give away to a reader.  All opinions are my own.

Fall Library Bulletin Board

Posted on by Mandy

reading bulletin board

 

I decided to go with an owl theme for my fall library bulletin board.  I had intentions of making this more of a night scenery behind the tree, but we were out of black paper at the school, so I went with purple.  I loved these cute little owls and think the purple did just as well.  I’ve had this one up for a few weeks, so I will be taking it down soon to put up a Thanksgiving themed bulletin board. 

WAT-AAH! Boo! Halloween Giveaway

Posted on by Mandy

Contest_Featured_Post_Final

If you’re getting excited about Halloween, you’ll definitely want to stay hydrated the healthy way while you’re out enjoying those Halloween parties and trick-or-treating.  In celebration of Halloween, WAT-AAH!, a functional brand of water for kids and teens, has unveiled a special design for its product using  the brand’s familiar character, the WAT-AAH! Boy, portrayed mysteriously in silhouette and screaming, “BOO!” to surprise its audience. He is surrounded by familiar Halloween imagery such as a witch, ghost, haunted house, pumpkin and full moon, each drawn using simple graphic lines. In the spirit of the holiday, a fun and unexpected treatment of PHA’s “Drink Up” logo is also featured; it defines the body of a black spider crawling up the web, which serves as a background for the entire scene. This special edition bottle is in support of Halloween and to promote healthy hydration in support of the Partnership For A Healthier America’s (PHA) initiative.

In the spirit of Halloween fun, check out this WAT-AAH! Halloween video:

WIN IT

Want to win the great Halloween prize pack featured in the picture above?  Use the Rafflecopter below to enter for your chance to win!  Giveaway ends Sunday, October 27, 2013 at 12:00 AM.  US ONLY.  VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.   Due to the time sensitivity of this giveaway, the winner MUST respond within 24 hours of winning email being sent or a new winner will be chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more information on WAT-AAH! products and health news, visit CEO Rose Cameron’s new site at www.HealthisCool.org .  More information on the blog can be found here.

 

I received an item to thank me for facilitating this post.  A prize pack will be provided for the winner.  All opinions are my own.

5 Cool Bike Helmets for Boys

Posted on by Mandy

Kids have a different set of priorities than we do. When it comes to buying a helmet – they don’t really care about how safe it is – they just want something that looks cool. They’d probably prefer to not wear one at all, but we all know that’s not going to happen! As a compromise, here are five of the coolest looking helmets that your child will be eager to strap on.

Giro Phantom Cycle Helmet

This funky colored helmet is perfect for kids who are digging their heels in when it comes to being safe. You won’t have to worry about replacing this helmet in a hurry. It has been designed to fit smaller heads while leaving plenty of room for growth and adjustment. Empower your boy by letting him make the choice between the four different designs available.

Specialised Flash Youth Helmet

The ‘Red Lava’ colored graphics on this helmet are sure to impresses any adrenaline junkie. Its one-size system has been specifically designed for a comfortable and accurate fit with certified safety. The in-molded shell of this helmet reduces the weight and improves the strength, making it incredibly convenient for those family bike rides. It is also a great starter helmet for those learning to ride for the first time. If you’re going to be undertaking the challenge of teaching your son how to ride, Bike Radar have a terrific set of guidelines on their website to help you.

Cube Kids Helmet

Something a little different with this one. This is for the boy that just has to stand out from his friends. The helmet has an easy-to-use ring-fit system that allows for a secure and snug fit. The adjustable nature of this helmet makes it ideal for any boy that wants to wear a sweatband or cap underneath the lid.

If you’re out on a family bike ride together then you’ll need to set a good example and wear a helmet of your own. Leisure Lake Bikes provide an extensive selection of stylish Fox Helmets that will keep you safe on those country trails. Just try not to make your son too jealous!

Specialized Small Fry Childs Helmet

Here’s a helmet that’s guaranteed to catch the eye. Its stylish and modern design sets it apart from other helmets, making it the perfect solution to silencing those pickier kids. Suitable for ages three – seven, it has a convenient headset fit system that can be adjusted quickly and securely. You won’t have to fiddle with a million different toggles and buckles to get a fit you’re satisfied with.

MET Cosmo Youth Helmet

If your child and his bike are inseparable then this helmet will be his perfect partner. It has a 360 ° ventilation system that will keep him cool all day, as well as washable pads for when he comes home sweating and covered in mud. With its fantastic entry level price and slick design, this helmet strikes the best balance between features and affordability.

This is a sponsored post.  All opinions are my own.