Planet Weidknecht

3/30/13

Ruth's Brownie Zingers - Review

Brownies are one of the earth's greatest desserts, don't you agree? It's a cross between a cake, a cookie, and a chocolate infusion! Ruth's Brownie Kitchen makes a huge assortment of delicious dessert goodies and their Toffee Crunch Zingers have to be one of the most delightful treats I've ever eaten.

Ruth's Brownie Zingers are the crunchy, cookie-like tops from Ruth's legendary brownies. Zingers are handcrafted-to-order using Ruth's secret blend of three different chocolates just like all their ultra-premium baked goods. Ruth's Zingers are available in three flavors: Chocolate Chunk, Walnut and Toffee Crunch.

My family loved the Toffee Crunch Zingers and after we polished off all the biggest pieces, I crushed the smallest pieces into crumbs and we sprinkled them on top of ice cream. Ruth's Zingers and Brownies are made in a small artisan bakery located in New York's Hudson Valley, right here in the USA.

We all decided Ruth's Gourmet Brownies are so delicious that it's almost impossible to eat an entire brownie in one sitting. They are so rich and most that we cut each of the six big brownies into four little squares and filled our trifle bowl with brownie bites, in hopes they'd last longer.

Apparently that didn't help me keep the brownies around any longer. My teenage boys discovered the goods and it wasn't long before there were only crumbs remaining. Thankfully I can order more at www.ruths-brownies.com. Go see all their wonderful desserts in their webstore and be sure to follow them on Facebook and Twitter!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Talking to Teenagers about their Future

Talking to teenagers about their future can sometimes be frustrating and discouraging. As a parent, I'm sure there have been times my teens have approached me where I rolled my eyes (hopefully where they wouldn't see me) because teenagers come up with some crazy ideas. They also tend to change their mind a thousand times about what they want to do and who they want to be. I guess in reality, we all do that...come up with crazy ideas and change our minds a lot. My best advice to parents of teens, if your kids want to talk, just listen to them. You can ask questions, but don't dominate the conversation with a bunch of talk about what they "should do." There are so many options to young people and it's important they feel free to explore all the opportunities available to them.

Most importantly, be supportive. If your child wants to go to college, you can offer to visit schools with them. If your child is considering military service, you can search websites of the different branches together. Maybe a full time job is where your teenager sees themselves, so you could help them write their first resume. Online education is also a great option for college degrees, trade school certifications and continuing education. If you or your child is interested in a career as a certified nursing assistant or CNA, check out FindCNAClasses. Full of resources and valuable links, FindCNAClasses provides a wealth of information on CNA certification. As your teenager considers their future, remember to be a gentle guide to them and withhold your advice until they ask for it. Living with a teen is both a challenge and a joy!

#spon

A Very Veggie Easter Collection - Review

Easter is all about Jesus. If it weren't for Jesus, the holiday would not exist. I'm not a bunny-hater and I certainly love to eat way too much chocolate, but I'd like to encourage you to also put something very, very meaningful into your children's Easter baskets this year.

Kids love movies and cartoons. Kids love music and stories. A Very Veggie Easter is a wonderful, inspiring, hilarious collection of movies and music, and I highly recommend adding these to your family's movie library. It's a fabulous way to expose Christian values and education into your children's hearts.

A Very Veggie Easter Collection contains two DVDs - "Twas the Night Before Easter" and "An Easter Carol." Plus the set includes two CDs - "A Very Veggie Easter" and "Hosanna!" featuring special guests Amy Grant and Mark Hall. We all loved this collection of Easter favorites!

Share the real joy of Easter with your family. Visit veggietales.com for more information and fun online activities, plus games and videos!

veggietales.com

VeggieTales on Facebook ~ VeggieTales on Twitter

VeggieTales on Pinterest ~ VeggieTales on YouTube

Disclosure: I received this product at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

Mulling Over Losing The Man Cave

As we've cleaned and packed and staged the rooms of our home to sell, I've suddenly gained an office/living room and a dining room. I'm really enjoying the beauty of the dining room. Having an office in the front of the house is wonderful. I have also just realized that we'll be losing the man cave when we move. No more pool table, no more foosball table, no more dedicated game system television. We've worked really hard to make a welcoming, fun True Man Cave so the kids would enjoy being in their own home. All of our family has used the room for parties, get-togethers, and just for hanging out. It's just as much fun (or more) to gather around the pool table for family times, as it is to gather around the kitchen table for dinner as a family. The futon has also served as a guest bed many times when family and friends slept overnight at our home.

Now that our house is on the market and we plan to be moving soon, we will be losing our True Man Cave family gathering place. Since the boys are going off to college in the fall anyways, I'm sure it would have stood empty many an evening if we'd stayed. But we are so ready to downsize and simplify, so it's a bittersweet goodbye to our game room. It's a good thing I took hundreds of photos over the past 22 years. I'll soon have time to go through all the scrapbooks and make an online chronicle for the kids. We are definitely taking some of our collectible memorabilia when we move to add to our new place, wherever we may land.

#spon

Give a Book, Get a Free Steakhouse Kid’s Meal

I encourage you to come into your local LongHorn Steakhouse restaurant on April 2, 2013, to experience LongHorn’s celebration of International Children’s Book Day with our “Give a Book, Get a Free Steakhouse Kid’s Meal” offer, supporting local Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Since my own daughter is the program director of Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club, I can't even begin to tell you how much of a positive influence these programs are in the lives of so many children. All you have to do is donate one children’s book (new or used) suitable for ages 5-12 at your local LongHorn restaurant on International Children’s Book Day, April 2. As a special thanks, you will receive one free kid’s meal from LongHorn’s kid’s menu with the purchase of one adult entrée. Please consider donating books, thank you!

www.longhornsteakhouse.com/

Follow LongHorn Steakhouse on Facebook

Disclosure: I am receiving a complimentary gift card in exchange for sharing this information.

Karina Dresses for Spring Weddings

I am always amazed at the versatility of my Karina Dresses. No matter where I am going, my Karina Dresses are perfect for the occasion. We recently attended a friend's outdoor wedding in Round Rock Texas and I chose to wear my new Audrey dress in Spring Green. It fit me perfectly, but I knew it would, because Karina Dresses fit every body.

This spring dress is sleeveless with a v-neck front and back and a full circle skirt. The gorgeous material is a blue-green print highlighted with abstract plants and birds of varying colors. It's the perfect breath of fresh spring air. Since it was a bit chilly out, I paired it up with a sweater jacket and of course my Texas cowgirl boots. You'd be surprised how many dress/boots combinations I saw at the wedding!

Karina Dresses are always a wonderful combination of dressy and casual, modest and flirty. I love the easy care and easy wear philosophy too! It's machine washable and never needs ironing, so I can grab a beautiful dress and go every time.

Go check out the brand new dress designs for spring at karinadresses.com. Make sure you follow Karina Dresses on Pinterest and sign up for their newsletter to get exclusive invitations and sales! Plus, save $30 on any full price dress in the Karina Dresses online store with this discount code: PLANETW30.

Karina Dresses Online

Karina Dresses on Facebook

Karina Dresses on Twitter

Karina Dresses on Pinterest

Karina Dresses Newsletter

Disclosure: I received this product at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

Marble Slab Creamery 30th Anniversary Special

Marble Slab Creamery and MaggieMoo's Ice Cream and Treatery aren’t fooling customers this spring by kicking off the season with a $0.30 scoop of their favorite flavor ice cream with a FREE mix-in of their choice on April 1, 2013 at participating U.S. locations nationwide. The promotion kicks-off Marble Slab Creamery’s 30th birthday celebration and their 30 Reasons to Smile campaign. Sister-brand MaggieMoo's Ice Cream and Treatery will also be part of the celebration.

To find out more about the Marble Slab Creamery and MaggieMoo’s Ice Cream and Treatery 30 Reasons to Smile campaign visit the web sites www.marbleslab.com or www.maggiemoos.com and check the Facebook pages www.facebook.com/marbleslabcreamery or www.facebookcom/maggiemoos. Join the conversation on Twitter @Marbleslab or @MaggieMoos.

Current Giveaways

$31 Baskin-Robbins Gift Card - Ends Mar 31
KOOL-AID Prize Pack - Ends Mar 31
Blue and Ivory Pillow from Overstock - Ends Apr 14

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3/29/13

Proverbs 5:21

DayQuil and NyQuil - Because Moms Aren't Allowed to Get Sick #spon

There is no better friend to me when I am sick than the DayQuil/NyQuil team. For years, the combination of DayQuil and NyQuil have helped me push through days when I just didn't have time to get sick. As a home daycare provider, it was almost impossible for me to take a sick day because I had anywhere up to twelve families depending on me to be there to care for their children while they went to work. My own family also depends on me to make sure the household keeps running smoothly, even if I don't feel well.

It works quickly for me so I know I don't have to wait long before I start feeling better. By controlling my symptoms, I can power through my day and sleep soundly through the night, whether I'm caring for my teenagers or a group of preschoolers. I've used DayQuil and NyQuil for years and always recommend the duo of products when I see someone pushing through their own day while suffering from cold and flu.

DayQuil and NyQuil are also the #1 pharmacist brand for adults and kids over age 12. Don't forget though, always consult your physician before giving medications to children. I always keep both medications in my medicine cabinet at home because I know it's the first thing my family reaches for when we're feeling under the weather. There are few things worse than having to drag yourself to the store to buy medicine when you don't feel well, so it's best to be prepared and make sure you always have some on hand.

Follow these tips to keep yourself healthy:

Wash your hands often.
Use soap when washing your hands.
Eat foods that are good for you.
Get at least seven hours of sleep every night.
Keep some cleaning wipes handy to use on shopping carts.
Sneeze and cough into your elbow, not your hands.
Avoid overly-crowded places during flu season.

There are many ways you can try to escape the cold and flu, but if it does catch up to you, reach for the DayQuil and NyQuil to get relief from your aches, fevers, sore throats, sneezes, runny nose, congested nose, and coughs. You can buy both products at just about any grocery store, discount store, and drug store. When using DayQuil and NyQuil, be sure to follow the usage guidelines for warnings and dosage directions or visit www.vicks.com for more information. Like Dayquil and Nyquil on Facebook so your friends know to reach for them too!

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Vicks DayQuil and NyQuil. I received product samples and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

When Families Get Into Sticky Situations - Who to Contact

Life is never perfect even though you do your best to raise wonderful children in a community that stands out. Despite your best efforts to keep everything running smoothly, unfortunately sometimes things run amuck. Cyberbullying can take place, or other incidents can happen such as medical negligence. Many times these situations are not your fault and you need to know who you can turn to. Instead of going into a panic that everything is going wrong, do something about it. Make a stand and be standout parents in an ever - changing family environment that sometimes cannot be controlled. However, with help, you can do your best to rectify any situation and make the world a better place.

Medical Negligence -

Unfortunately medical negligence is rather complicated, so it’s important to communicate with a company who knows what they are doing, such as www.pryers-solicitors.co.uk. The first step to solving a medical negligence situation is to gather all of your materials together, such as records, x-rays, medical notes, and more. A professional can help you gather these important documents if some of them are missing or you have additional questions. What’s more, a professional will also be able to tell you whether a treatment was negligent and what steps to take next if it was. Depend on a company that you can trust and they will take care of your situation in a professional way. This is a better alternative instead of guessing your way through it.

Cyberbullying -

If you hear that any family member is going through a situation like cyberbullying, this is very frustrating and hurtful. This type of situation must be rectified as soon as possible. The first steps to take, according to www.stopbullying.gov, are not to respond or forward any of the threatening messages to other friends or family members. Second, keep the evidence and record everything. Third, block the person and report them to online service providers. Most often cyberbullying is already violating the terms of the social media website, so read carefully and report the individual. The site should be able to remove them or handle the situation in a professional manner. If not, you may have to get law enforcement involved if the individual is threatening you.

Personal Injury -

Similar to medical negligence, personal injuries need a lot of thought and organization so that you can move forward with wise decisions. Contact a company who you can explain what type of accident you were involved in because it will be easier since they are trained how to handle the situation. They will also do their best to help you secure the maximum amount of compensation that you deserve after going through a difficult accident.

Contributor: Sierra is a freelance writer who writes about a variety of topics. Catch up with her on her blog Ocean Dreams.

Disney's PLANES Voice Cast

“Disney’s Planes” is an action-packed 3D animated comedy adventure about Dusty’s dream of competing as a high-flying air racer—and his decidedly unfortunate fear of heights. The film takes off in theaters in 3D on Aug. 9, 2013. Check out the voice cast below!

· Stacy Keach (“The Bourne Legacy,” Alexander Payne’s upcoming “Nebraska,” Robert Rodriguez’s and Frank Miller’s “Sin City: A Dame To Kill For”) provides the voice of Skipper, a reclusive old Navy Corsair who takes Dusty’s training to new heights.
· Brad Garrett (“Everybody Loves Raymond,” “How to Live with Your Parents for the Rest of Your Life”) lends his voice to fuel truck Chug, Dusty’s buddy, coach and biggest fan.
· Teri Hatcher (“Coraline,” ABC’s “Desperate Housewives”) brings life and charm to the say-it-like-it-is mechanic Dottie.
· Cedric the Entertainer (“Barbershop,” “Larry Crowne, “Madagascar”) as Leadbottom, a puttering old biplane who has no time for Dusty’s far-fetched flights of fancy.
· Julia Louis-Dreyfus (“Veep,” “The New Adventures of Old Christine,” “Seinfeld”) lends her voice to Rochelle, a tough and confident racer who is the pride of the Great White North.
· John Cleese (TV’s “Whitney,” “A Fish Called Wanda”) is the voice of Bulldog, the oldest and arguably wisest racer on the circuit.
· Carlos Alazraqui (James Garcia on Comedy Central’s “Reno 911”) brings to life the intensely charming El Chupacabra, a racer with more dramatic flair than is recommended at high altitudes.
· Priyanka Chopra (“Barfi!”) voices the exotic, mysterious and ruthless Ishani, the reigning Pan-Asian champion from India.
· Roger Craig Smith (Captain America in Disney XD’s “Marvel’s Avengers Assemble,” voice of Sonic The Hedgehog in “Wreck-It Ralph”) voices world champion racer Ripslinger—wings down, the biggest name in air racing—and he knows it.
· Gabriel Iglesias (Comedy Central’s “Gabriel Iglesias Presents Stand-up Revolution”) provides the voices of both Ned and Zed, two not-so-sharp saboteurs who work for Ripslinger.
· Val Kilmer (“Batman Forever,” “Top Gun”) provides the voice of Bravo, a member of the Jolly Wrenches and a fan of air racing.
· Anthony Edwards (TV’s “Zero Hour,” “Top Gun”) is the voice of Echo, a member of the Jolly Wrenches and a fan of air racing.
· Colin Cowherd (ESPN) gives play-by-play coverage as Colin Cowling, an affable blimp and an eye-in-the-sky reporter for the Racing Sports Network.
· Sinbad (Comedy Central’s “Where U Been?”) brings to life Roper, an irascible race official pitty full of sly remarks and colorful commentary.
· Oliver Kalkofe (“Neues vom Wixxer”) provides the voice of meek German minicar Franz and his brazen airborne alter ego Fliegenhosen.
· Brent Musburger (ESPN, ABC Sports) brings Brent Mustangburger, the excitable 1964½ Ford Mustang sports broadcasting icon, back to the big screen.

“Like” Disney’s PLANES on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DisneyPlanes

"Follow" Disney’s PLANES on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DisneyPictures

Visit the website: www.disney.com/Planes

3/25/13

Magnolia Award-Winning Avocado Ice Cream - Review

Magnolia makes delicious, creamy ice cream in flavors that might surprise you...Avocado, Mango, Thai Tea, Coconut and more. I received both milkbars and 2-cup containers in several different flavors and we loved all of them!

The Mango and Avocado flavors were my absolute favorites. Magnolia takes the best tropical fruits from all around the world and combines them with wholesome pasture-raised cream. This premium ice cream is all natural, so you can feel good about giving it to your family.

Magnolia ice cream comes from a third generation of family owners based California. With Filipino and Irish roots, the family represents a melting pot of culture and traditions. The beautiful spring colors of their ice cream would be an awesome addition to any party or gathering. I know you'll love these flavors as much as I do!

Find out more at www.magnoliaplease.com and keep an eye out for their brand-new website coming soon. Be sure to like them on Facebook and Twitter too!

Disclosure: I received these products at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

IRON MAN 3 Facebook Sweepstakes

Tony Stark needs your help to stop the Mandarin! Answer trivia questions to unlock Tony's armor and send in the reinforcements for a chance to win a trip for two to the IRON MAN 3 world premiere in Los Angeles on April 24th! The sweepstakes started today and runs until this Wednesday! Each day fans can enter for a chance to win tickets and unlock two suits in Tony's armor.

Visit Facebook.com/ironman or http://awe.sm/q0PyB for details!