As a mom I have to pick my battles carefully especially with two girls. They act so much like me it’s ridiculous! Because of that…they do what I do, eat what I eat and drink what I drink. Which is not always a good thing.

When I discovered Wat-Aah I was excited to have the twins try it…while it looks and taste like water…it’s a lot more fun! With wonderful added extras like Pure Spring Water, absolutely no sugar, no sodium, no chemicals, Kid friendly electrolytes and bone building Magnesium…you know you are giving your children the best.  Plus the uber cool packaging makes doing something good for your body a lot of fun!

My girls love Wat-Aah. Don’t believe me…swing on over to Twin Kitchen and see how excited they are about Wat-Aah!

It is so easy just grab a juice box or a soda can when your child ask for a drink. But easy doesn’t make it the right choice. If you offered my girls a glass of water they’d probably wrinkle their noses and say “Never mind” but with Wat-Aah they actually argue over who gets which bottle!!

I can not thank Wat-Aah enough for creating a fun way for my girls to enjoy something good for them. You Rock Wat-Aah!

• WAT-AAH! was launched in June 2008 in New York by Rose Cameron with the help of her own kids and other moms, utilizing her background in marketing and branding.
  
• WAT-AAH! is currently distributed in many stores and groceries throughout the east coast, from Maine to Florida, specifically Whole Foods Market.
• WAT-AAH! contains no sugar, artificial flavors, colors or unnatural additives.
• WAT-AAH! is ultra pure water containing the right amount of essential ingredients such as magnesium, electrolytes and oxygen to help maintain children’s health.
  
• Wat-ahh comes in four “flavors”:
  • ENERGY –
    
  • BODY –
  • BRAIN –
  • BONES –
    

Win A Mixed Case filled with WAT-AAH and GOODIES!

To Enter:

Swing on over to TWIN KITCHEN to enter!

Do NOT Leave Entries here.

Review Opportunity Provided by Wat-Aah
Opinions are strictly those of the Blog Owner.
*Information obtained from Press Release and/or website

We love Chinese food. It is the only type of food where I can be confident the twins will eat everything on their plate. Rice, noodles, orange chicken, spicy chicken…you name and they love it. In fact…the IE Daddy gets a little bored that every time he wants to take us out to eat we request Chinese Food!

I was really excited at the opportunity to review the Wanchai Ferry Frozen which are available at your local Target. Yes, Super Target carries the Wanchai Ferry Frozen Meals and they are delicious!!  In a matter of minutes (literally) you will have a delicious meal for your family. The twins and I had a fun time creating our very own Asian restaurant compliments of Wanchai Ferry. The adorable Asian inspired rice bowls and place mats provided the perfect accent to our meal.

We tried the Orange Chicken (which is our favorite). Lightly battered chicken pieces with fluffy rices and delicious vegetables. Getting my girls to eat vegetables is always a challenge but the broccoli, carrots and baby corn were definitely well received.

There are so many nights where I wonder “What am I going to make for dinner” but now with Wanchai Ferry it is a much easier decision. Any of the wonderful five flavors (spicy garlic chicken, orange chicken, sweet & spicy shrimp, sweet & sour chicken and shrimp lo mein) would create a wonderful dinner for my family.

You can take my word for it or you can pick up your own coupon and give one of the five delicious flavors a personal taste test. Click “here” for your coupon. While you are at the site…take a moment to read the Meal Tips for each flavor. Great little tips to give your meal an personal touch and added flair.

The Wanchai (Wahn-chaye ) district is one of Hong Kong’s busiest commercial areas. People from every part of Hong Kong society pass through—business people and laborers, shoppers and even commuters trying to get to the pier so they can take the Wanchai Ferry across Victoria Harbor to Kowloon.

In 1972, Madame Chong left her home in Central East China for a new life in the bustling city of Hong Kong. To support her two young daughters, Madame Chong began making dumplings from an old family recipe and selling them from a cart in Wanchai.

Although her dumplings attracted many fans, Madame Chong was not satisfied. She listened to her customers carefully and revised her recipes until they were perfect in every detail. Word soon spread across the city and her dumplings became the talk of the town. The Hong Kong press even named Madame Chong the city’s “Dumpling Queen.”

In 1985, Madame Chong established the Wanchai Ferry^® Peking Dumpling Company to make her creations more widely available.

Since that time, Wanchai Ferry has become a leading brand not only in Hong Kong but the world over. Now people across Asia, Europe and even the United States can enjoy restaurant quality Chinese food in the comfort of their own homes.

Wanchai Ferry Orange Chicken has all of the ingredients needed to prepare a great-tasting, complete Chinese meal for 2 in only 14 minutes! With lightly battered chicken breast pieces that stay crispy when prepared and wholesome Asian-style vegetables, like tender broccoli florets, snappy julienne carrots and delicate baby corn, Wanchai Ferry Orange Chicken will make you feel as though you´re enjoying a meal at your favorite Asian restaurant! It even comes with fluffy, tender Jasmine rice and a tangy orange glaze that adds the perfect touch of spicy heat.

Wanchai Ferry frozen entrées are also available in four other delicious varieties including Shrimp Lo Mein, Spicy Garlic Chicken and Sweet & Sour Chicken. Additionally, all of the entrées have no added MSG!

One Lucky IE Mommy Friend will *WIN* a Perfect Night In Prize Pack

(Includes one VIP coupon valid for a free package of any of the Wanchai Ferry frozen entrees,
a set of great Asian-inspired rice bowls, chopsticks, bamboo place mats, flavored fortune cookies, and a $25 Target gift card.)

To Enter:

1. Mandatory Entry: Friend the IE Mommy on Facebook
2. Follow IE Mommy on Twitter and tweet RT – Enter to win the Wanchai Ferry Giveaway @iemommy http://www.theiemommy.com/2010/02/21/wanchai-ferry
3. Join the IE Mommy Mailing List
4. Tell me which Wanchai Ferry Flavor You’d Like to Try!

Contest Ends – March 4th!

Open to the U.S. Only

Review Opportunity Provided by My Blog Spark, Target and Wanchai Ferry
Opinions are strictly those of the Blog Owner.

*Information obtained from Press Release and/or website

I have always loved Cheerios. They are one of my all time favorite cereals. That is a really big statement from me because I am generally not a cereal lover. My husband, my children…most definitely! They’d eat cereal three times a day if I’d let them but me? Uh, not so much!

So if I am telling you that Cheerios are awesome and that Chocolate Cheerios are even more delicious well then you’d better hurry up to the store and get box (or two).

We received a box of Chocolate Cheerios to try and it was an instant success in our home…in fact the box is empty and long gone. I really didnt’ think I’d even get a chance to try it…with my little “cereal vulture” family!

But I was brave and stuck my bowl in there and got a delicious, yummy taste. The wonderful flavor to Cheerios with a subtle hint of chocolate. Yummy!

I look forward to trying out some of the great recipes from the Cheerios website using the Chocolate Cheerios. You can see one of the great tasting recipes below and use the link to find the rest. Let me know what you make. Also, while at the website don’t forget to download your Chocolate Cheerios Coupon!

Sometimes I can understand my family’s "love" of cereal…especially when I was eating the Chocolate Cheerios!

Enjoy new Chocolate Cheerios® cereal, a perfect balance of whole grain goodness and a delicious touch of chocolate taste in every bite.

One delightful serving of Chocolate Cheerios® has 9 grams of sugar and is a heart-healthy choice for your whole family.*A great combination that will make you and your family smile.

Strawberry-Chocolate Cheerios® Parfaits

Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Start to Finish: 15 Minutes

2 cups sliced fresh strawberries
4 containers (6 oz each) Yoplait® Light Fat Free strawberry yogurt
2 cups Chocolate Cheerios® cereal

1. In 4 parfait glasses or clear drinking glasses, layer half of the strawberries, half of the yogurt and half of the cereal. Repeat layers.
2. Serve immediately

If you´d like to participate in this Spark, we will provide you with Chocolate Cheerios gift pack that includes a box of Chocolate Cheerios for you to try as well as a chocolate scented spa kit and a ceramic cereal bowl. We will also provide you with an additional gift pack to give away to one of your readers.

To learn more delicious desserts using Chocolate Cheerios…click “Here”

*Diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease.

One Lucky IE Mommy Friend will *WIN* a Chocolate Cheerios Giftpack!

To Enter:

1. Mandatory Entry: Tell me which recipe using Chocolate Cheerios You’d  Like to Try!
2. Follow IE Mommy on Twitter and tweet RT – Enter to win the Chocolate Cheerios Giveawy @iemommy  http://www.theiemommy.com/2010/02/16/chocolate-cheerios
3. Join the IE Mommy Mailing List
4. Friend the IE Mommy on Facebook

Contest Ends – February 23rd!

Open to the U.S. Only

Review Opportunity Provided by My Blog Spark and Cheerios
Opinions are strictly those of the Blog Owner.

*Information obtained from Press Release and/or website

As part of the Twin Kitchen debut we received a fun box of Yummy Dough to enjoy!  Enjoy the twins did! You can swing on over to Twin Kitchen to see how much fun they had creating their own masterpieces and then actually getting to EAT THEM!

As a mom…it seems you are constantly saying “no” as in “No, don’t eat that!” and “No, don’t put that in your mouth!”. I realize that I don’t say it as much now as when they were toddlers but believe me I still say it a lot more then I want.

The twins are very creative and found the  Yummy Dough to be exciting! Play-Doh you can actually eat (without mom saying “No”).  One Yummy Dough box contains four different color pouches. They provide you with the basic colors of red, yellow, blue and green.  Yummy Dough provides a great teaching tool on the side of the box which carefully demonstrates how you can get different colors by mixing the four basic colors together. As a home school mom I thought that was  a great feature and so simple to include.  Good thinking Yummy Dough.

The Yummy Dough mixture was simple to create. Getting the right dough was totally dependent on the amount of water you put into the mixture. Thankfully the packaging came complete with a little syringe that held the exact amount of water needed.

The only thing that surprised us with the Yummy Dough was that it required “baking paper” which we didn’t have and didnt’ realize we needed until we were ready to try it out.  We found it easily in our grocery store as Parchment paper.

Yummy Dough website is a great resource for tutorials and tips for parents and kids. It will provide you with fun inspiration for great designs.  Yummy Dough taste a lot like Sugar Cookies so they are not only FUN to play with and create but yummy to eat! Hmmm…? Probably why they call it Yummy Dough! Go get some!

Yummy Dough is actually a multi-purpose toy! Mixed with water the Yummy Dough powder turns into smooth, kneadable, well shapeable dough which can be baked afterwards. You can eat it raw and after it is baked.

Yummy Dough cleverly combines two favorite childhood activities: creating designs with play dough and baking with mom, dad or a grandparent — a wonderful bonding experience for all generations

These are the main important points:

1. Add the EXACT amount of water to the Yummy Dough powder.
2. Stir the mixture with a spoon until you have a crumbly dough.
3. Knead the dough with your hands until you have an even lump.

To Get Started:

• Wash your hands and off you go!
• Add the EXACT amount of water to the Yummy Dough powder.
• Stir the mixture with a spoon until you have a crumbly dough.
• Knead the dough with your hands until you have an even lump.
• Now you can start to mould the Yummy Dough!
• When not using Yummy Dough, wrap it in Saran Wrap so that it does not dry out.
• Put the Yummy Dough figures on a baking sheet with baking paper. Bake them for 10 to 20 minutes depending on the size and thickness.

One Lucky Friend will *WIN* Yummy Dough!

Swing on over to TWIN KITCHEN to Enter!

Review Opportunity Provided by Yummy Dough and Plasmart
Opinions are strictly those of the Blog Owner.
*Information obtained from Press Release and/or website

When I was notified by Tassimo that we would be receiving the T45 coffee machine along with  sample packages of the Starbucks Verona, Gevalia Signature Blend, Milka Hot Chocolate, Chai Tea Latte and a few other Starbucks products I was elated!

I knew this would be one review that my darling husband, the IE Daddy, would be totally and completely in love with it. I was right.  It was quickly claimed as his! He even went as far as writing the review! So ladies and gents…may I  present to you… the IE Daddy.

“Got my very own “personal coffee maker” a few weeks ago. (Perfect timing for the Holiday Season.) I have to admit, I didn’t know what to expect from this little machine but I quickly warmed up to my new little friend.  I was amazed to discover how the Tassimo T45 coffee maker actually knows exactly how much water to add to each cup, as well as the appropriate temperature, based on the type of coffee that is desired. How does it work, you ask? Well…each packet of coffee (called a T-disc) has a unique bar-code on the under side of the disc. The Tassimo reads each bar code on the T-disc and knows exactly how much water to dispense and at what temperature to brew that specific cup. In other words, it makes a personal, optimal cup, every time.

How cool is that?

The Tassimo is so easy to use, my six year old daughters had it mastered after just one attempt. As one of them explained, “Just put some water in the tank, put the coffee thing (T-disc) in the top, snap the lid closed, and hit the button make the coffee. In about one minute, your coffee is done!”

The girls have enjoyed using the Tassimo T45 so much, we crowned them the “Mini-Baristas of the  Year” due to their new coffee-making skills. (I must point out…the girls don’t actually drink any coffee…they just love using the Tassimo T45 to make coffee for everyone else.)

The Tassimo is great for kids and non-coffee drinkers as well because it makes killer hot chocolate! Yummy! You can see my Mini-Baristas in action at the Twin Kitchen…just click “here”

During the Holidays, friends and family raved at the Tassimo. They were surprised at the variety of coffee brands and T-disc flavors available. Current brands include Gevalia, Starbucks, Seattle’s Best, Maxwell house, etc. (Will anyone come out with a cinnamon flavor soon?)

Did I mention the size of the Tassimo? It’s approximately 8″ wide by 10″ high. It’s a perfect fit in your kitchen, your nook, your RV, a dorm room or at the office.

Well…I could go on and on about my little Tassimo but it’s time to wrap up this review. I think I’ll walk over to the kitchen and make myself a fresh latte.

Life is good!”

• Choose from the Tassimo T65 or the Tassimo T45 (review)
• $129.99 – $169.99
  
• Adjustable cup stand accommodates most cup sizes
• Easy to clean: most of the movable parts are dishwasher safe
• Capable of customizing the strength of each beverage to your taste by using the manual function
• Extra Large removable water tank
• MAVEA MAXTRA Water Filter
• Available Coffee Brands: Starbucks, Gevalia Kaffe, Seattle’s Best Coffee®, Maxwell House Café Collection, Mastro Lorenzo, Kenco, Carte Noire, Nabob, Jacobs,TASSIMO, Twinings, Suchard and Tazo®
  TASSIMO
  Premium
  Coffee Real Milk Cappuccino and Latte Hot Chocolate Crema Coffee Espresso Tea

Review Opportunity Provided by Tassimo
Opinions are strictly those of the Blog Owner.

*Information obtained from Tassimo’s Press Release and/or website

I enjoy cereal as well as the next person but I am not a cereal lover.  BUT! I did marry a cereal lover and gave birth to two cereal lovers!! If allowed my family would eat cereal for every meal.  When my girls wake up in the morning they first ask for cereal. I do not kid or joke with you..as much as they love to cook….they love cereal more!

When we were offered a couple of free cereal coupons from General Mills and My Blog Spark you would have thought that they offered me a million dollars! The twins proudly and excitedly chose their favorite cereal and paid (with their coupons) all on their own.

Because I have three family members that love cereal so much…it is wonderful to learn that General Mills announced a commitment to further reduce sugar in cereals advertised to kids under 12 to single digit grams of sugar per serving.

Now my little ones can enjoy their Lucky Charms and Trix with out the worry of too much sugar. My favorite General Mills cereals is the classic Cheerios. Did you know they now have a banana flavor?

You can try your favorite as well by using the $1.00 off coupon available right “here”.

General Mills is a family favorite and a staple in my pantry…it’s nice to know they care about what our little ones are eating and even better to know my family will enjoy it!

Did you know that ready-to-eat cereal eaters consume less fat, less cholesterol and more fiber than non-cereal eaters? Cereals also deliver important vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients, making cereal a top source of key nutrients in children´s diets.

Other cereal benefits:

• Ready-to-eat cereals, including presweetened cereals, account for only 5% of sugar in children´s diets.
• Ready-to-eat cereal is the No. 1 source of whole grains in a child´s diet today.
• More frequent cereal eaters tend to have healthier body weights and lower Body Mass Index measures.

Studies also demonstrate the benefits of eating breakfast. A 1998 study showed that children who eat breakfast tend to perform better at school. Compared to children who skip breakfast, children who eat breakfast score higher on tests, are less likely to miss class or be tardy, have fewer reported discipline problems, and make fewer trips to the office.

Review Opportunity Provided by General Mills & My Blog Spark
Opinions are strictly those of the Blog Owner.

*Information obtained from General Mills’ Press Release and/or website

CHEAP COOKIE CUTTERS

What is more fun then making cookies during the Christmas Season? Hmm?

I can’t think of anything better except when you get to eat them!

This year the Christmas Spirit has been ringing loudly in my home..thanks to the most adorable 6 year olds in the planet.

We have made homemade Christmas cookies, wrapped presents and even gave Secret Santa gifts out to our neighbors…but shh…they don’t know it us.   I’m pretty safe on that end…they don’t even know I’m the IE MOMMY so I can share my secrets with you.

One secret I just have to share with you is the fun, new site that offers fantastic everyday and unique cookie cutters…Cheap Cookie Cutters. The site has only been around about 4 months but they have done a great job in stocking fun, whimsical and unique cookie cutters.

Because of Cheap Cookie Cutters our Christmas cookie theme took a bit of a twist this year as we added a Mermaid Cookie and a Castle cookie to our repertoire of Christmas cookies.   Yes, I know mermaids and castles really don’t have anything to do with Christmas. But they are so cool and cute that we just had to add them!

Cheap Cookie Cutters has a wide assortment of cookie cutters. Including hard to find cutters from your childhood! Looking  for Disney Cookie Cutters or Dog Cookie Cutters? You will find them at Cheap Cookie Cutters. Here are a couple of my favorites:

Everyone loves cookies. It’s just that simple and if you are a mom, teacher or grandmother…you know that you are going to be making a lot of cookies this year.  So, take a moment and picke up a few of your favorites…with prices starting at under $3.00…you can’t go wrong.

• Owned by Chris Mueller and Karrie Pettit
• We ship worldwide
• They became part of the cookie cutter business because “everyone loves cookie cutters” (this is a fun business), and they are fairly small (storage) and light (shipping).
• Our less expensive cutters are under $3
• Our more expensive cutters are next to impossible to find anywhere else on the planet.
• Our goal is to have the LARGEST selection of cookie cutters available online by the end of 2010.
  
• We take all forms of payment
  

Although you can probably find a “star” or “heart” cookie cutter on other sites, you will not find a “vintage Mickey Mouse”, “batman”, and “golden retriever” cookie cutter on the same site anywhere else online.

Bottom line is that in the past, if you wanted all 3, you had to search for 3 different sites, pay for shipping 3 different times, and enter your credit card information 3 different times, and triple your chances of having at least one of the cutters lost.

With our site, you save on shipping, you save on time (searching and entering info) when you order several cutters at once, and you save on risk that one or more would get lost or not arrive in time.

One Lucky IE Mommy Friend will *WIN* a Mini Mouse Ears Cookie Cutter.

To Enter:

1. Mandatory Entry: Tell me Your Favorite item at the Cheap Cookie Cutter Website
   
2. Follow IE Mommy on Twitter and tweet RT – Enter to Win the Cheap Cookie Cutter Giveaway @iemommy – http://www.theiemommy.com/2009/12/20/cookiecutter
3. Join the IE Mommy Mailing List
4. Fan the IE Mommy on Facebook
   
   

   Contest Ends – December 30th!

Open to the U.S. Only

Review Opportunity Provided by Cheap Cookie Cutter
Opinions are strictly those of the Blog Owner.

*Information obtained from Cheap Cookie Cutter’s Press Release and/or website