ZeroWater 10 Cup Pitcher & TDS Water Meter Giveaway

Our town water supply is from the local lake. My family prefers the tap water in the winter vs. the spring and summer months. The water in the spring and summer always seems cloudy and taste "fishy." Most of the time we do have bottled water on hand for drinking. It is expensive but at least they are drinking water. We use to filter the water with a pitcher but it never seemed to take away the "fishy" taste. How about your water supply? Do you drink it? Do you filter it?

Our family got the chance to review a ZeroWater pitcher. I had never heard of this brand. Have you? The ZeroWater pitcher is an advanced home water filtration system that you use with your tap water. The filtration system is supposed to remove all of the dissolved solids from drinking water. ZeroWater pitcher comes with a TDS Meter which measures the total dissolved solids from drinking water. So not only does it claim to remove the dissolved solids but they also provide a meter for you to check.

My husband and youngest daughter read the filtration information and set up several different glasses to test our water. They tested our tap water and bottled water. The tap water had 133 and bottled water had 15 total dissolved solids. According to the ZeroWater literature, most water in the USA has this level and higher of dissolved solids. Once they filtered the water in the ZeroWater pitcher, they retested the water. It then measured 000 total dissolved solids! How amazing is that? 


We are really impressed with ZeroWater for providing a meter to allow us to check our water. The meter conveniently fits on top of the pitcher so it doesn't get lost (which it would around here with 3 teens.) The water was crystal clear and did not taste "fishy" once we filtered it with the ZeroWater pitcher. The pitcher is stylish, fits in the fridge and has a push button spout which allows water to easily come out without lifting the pitcher. I love that feature the most!


The water was so good, the cat even liked it! We had the water on the table, he was curious as to what we were doing and once we stepped away he cat tested the water and approved!

Want to learn more about the ZeroWater pitcher? Check out their Facebook page and website. All my readers can get 30% off a 10 cup ZeroWater pitcher. Go to this link, http://shopping2.zerowater.com/10cuppitcher.aspx and use the coupon code MC30, which will give you the 30% off your own 10 Cup ZeroWater pitcher.


You can also enter to win your own pitcher here on my blog. TWO readers will be selected to get their own pitchers. This is open to continental USA, only. 

Pinterest Saturday Blog Hop Link Party

Pinterest Queen on the Pinterest Addiction Board

Welcome back to a new Saturday Pinterest Party! The week sure does fly by! If you are new here today this is an easy party to join! 

1) Pin this Party Post to Pinterest- Why? To let others know about the party. It advertises the party so more people see it which in turn more people will see what you pin and give you traffic.

2) Add your Pinterest name to the linky. If you aren't on Pinterest and want an invite, leave a comment and email addy.

3) Link up anything you want to be pinned! No limit. We just ask that your post has a decent picture.

4) In turn pin a few things on the linky.

5) If you want to host the party on your blog, scroll down and take the code. Make your own Pinterest Saturday page. That way you will get more attention to your blog.

This week I"m doing something different for my favorite pins. I've listed 3 of my Pinterest Boards. Be a sweetie and click on them. They will take you to those Pinterest Boards and if you aren't following them, please do! That simple!

Ding-Dong Dinner Time

Caring for the Home

Blog Linky Party & Blog Hops

Now link up so that I can follow you and pin your post!

Please follow my boards on Pinterest- SusieQTpies Scraps of Life and cohost  Crystal and Company and  3 Boys and a Dog. We do follow back.

Saturday Morning Cartoon Big G Cereal Giveaway #MyBlogSpark

Raise your hand if you use to be a Saturday morning cartoon watcher? I was a kid of the 70s-80s and I was one of them. It was tradition to get up, grab a big bowl of Wheaties or another sugary cereal, turn on the tube and watch Bugs Bunny, Popeye, Scooby Doo, Smurfs, etc. As a mom, I don't have time to turn on Saturday morning cartoons but I do have time to grab a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios and eat it while I pin on Pinterest, updated my Facebook status or Tweet out my favorite giveaway. Ever heard the phrase, "Somethings never change?"


Over time, some things do change but there are constants that we can count on. There will always be cereal in my pantry and kids will always pick cereal with toys in side of the box. As a mom, I love that you can get your favorite cereals made with whole grain. Not sure if your cereal has whole grain? Not sure why it is important to eat whole grain? Then stop over at Whole Grain Nation Website to get the full, tasty scoop!


As for toys in the cereal box, right now you can find Curvy Straws in marked boxes of Big G cereal. If you look up at the picture you will see the crazy, silly, curvy straw. You can collect the different tabs from different boxes. I never used a straw back when I was a kid in my cereal (it wasn't invented, yet :) but my daughters all did. What a great way to act like a lady and get all the milk out of the bowl instead of picking it up to have your entire face in the bowl. That bowl tipping isn't lady like AND it blocks the TV. 


Would you like to WIN the entire package up above?? I would LOVE for you to win. I normally do a Rafflecopter giveaway- it is super easy but for this giveaway I just need you to:


1) Mandatory Entry- Tell me which Big G cereal you enjoy the most. Too many to choices? Head over to the Whole Grain Nation Website and just find one favorite! Leave a comment with your favorite.


2) Bonus entries-All the ways you can follow, like or tickle me are on my right side bar. Feel free to do as many as you want. Leave the ways you are following me in the comments and those will be your extra-special-bonus-teacher-pet type entries! 


3) Giveaway ends Saturday, April 28th 2012 at 11:59 pm. One random winner will get the above prize pack. What is in the pack? 

• 1 box of a participating Big G cereal
• 1 Curvy Straw
• 1 `spilt´ milk bowl
• 2 glow cups
• 2 tangle toys

3) As my favorite Porky the Pig use to say, "Th-Th-Th-Th-Th-That's all, folks!"

(Photo from Wikipedia)

Disclosure:  The prize pack, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

Go Away Big Green Monster-give me peace!

My bookworm, Emily, use to love this book as a little kid. We all read it to her and it is now a family favorite. If you have never read it, the book is about a monster that creeps up on you page by page and tries to get you. It doesn't get you because you get to TAKE CONTROL and tell the monster "You don't scare me!" Once you yell that at the monster, page by page the monster does go away! Peace! He is gone and you can have peace. That is what we all want, right? We want to take control, tell our monsters to go away and to have freedom and peace!

About the book from Publishers Weekly:

The Caldecott Medalist makes wonderful use of innovative production techniques in this ingenious offering. Differently diecut and boldly colored pages reveal increasingly scary features of a big green monster--on the first spread, we see two big yellow eyes; on the second, the eyes plus a long blue nose; and so on, until the monster is fully unmasked. But that's only half the story. "You don't scare me!" reads the caption after the monster is shown in all its horror. Turn more pages and, one by one, the scary features disappear, as does, of course, the monster. "And don't come back! Until I say so," the text concludes. A joy to read aloud, the simple story entertains even as it helps its audience master common fears. Emberley's striking approach should win him new fans aplenty. Ages 3-8.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

How I Fought and Beat a Monster of a Stain Contest

Have you ever had a monster of a stain that you beat? With kids and cats, stains are a part of our every day life. I say this with experience because just recently I did fight the monster of a stain and win. To find more story, go here at HOW I FOUGHT & BEAT A MONSTER OF A STAIN that involved tomato (RED) soup, WHITE carpet, steps and a cat! It wasn't pretty!!! 


I entered my story in the "How I Fought & Beat A Monster Of A Stain" contest going on right now over at Scholastic (click to enter) on this very subject. They want to know about how you fought and beat a monster of a stain! Your story could make you one of three lucky winners to win play equipment for your own backyard, athletic equipment for your child's school, plus a year's supply of Clorox2. The contest ends April 20th 2012. (SO ENTER ASAP!!!)

Do you have a story? Enter the "How I Fought And Beat a Monster of a Stain" contest! Once you enter you are welcome to share with me your story!


EVERYONE who enters will get a FREE SCHOLASTIC BOOK! Super sweet bonus for sharing your story!
Thanks to the sponsor of this post, I received $100 for blogging on this topic. My own words & opinions are expressed here.

Menu Plan Monday with Recipes and Blog Hop

Welcome back to another Monday! Just a reminder that you can link up recipes in my linky. I don't require just menus like other link ups! So share your food!

Do you cook differently depending on the season? I know that from Fall to the end of Winter I use my crock pot a lot to cook soup. I do not use it much in the Spring or Summer months. How about you? How do you cook differently?

Last week I picked the 2 most clicked links to add to our menu and try out. Next week I will do the same. Link up and give me some new recipes for my family!

FYI- April 16th is National Eggs Benedict Day- I have two recipes for you-Guilt-Free Eggs Benny and Seafood Frenzy Eggs Benedict

Monday-We are trying out Kaylee from Couponing & Cooking's Fresh Takes Pasta Bake. 

Tuesday-Apple Stuffed French Toast, bacon and The Southern Mom Cooks Tropicana Orange Banana Yogurt Smoothie

Wednesday-Daughter requested Stir Fry before she gets on her bottom braces. She wanted a meal full of veggies and protein (such a smart girl) because she knows her mouth is going to be sore for several days. Beef and Snow Pea Stir Fry, "Veggie Fried Rice" (not fried but so tasty) and Crab Rangoons

Thursday-Ham & Bean Soup in the Crock Pot (picture and very easy recipe will be posted later in the week)

Friday- Eat out. The kids are in a play and this weekend is the performance. Check out my Recipe Box for menu choices.

Have a super weekend! Remember link up menus & recipes. I will pick to to try next week and feature you on my menu plan!

Check out menu plans & recipes from  3 Boys and A Dog, Crystal and Company and OrgJunkie.

On a Healthier lifestyle journey Day 1

Did you ever see that movie, Seven Days in Utopia? The first time that I watched it, I left the movie thinking the mental game was all about golfing. Well I just watched it again with my teen and I was left wondering if the mental game can be applied to my game of life. I'm on a healthier lifestyle journey! How about you?

So that is my journey...it is starting out as a mental game that I am having with myself.  I know that I weigh more than I have ever weighed and I don't like it. I don't like feeling yucky and I am thinking it has to do with what I'm eating, what I'm not eating and that I just don't get any exercise.

So I have a mental game plan. Go to the gym and walk. I'm going to walk and walk and play a game. The walk will give me time to figure out my next move. I can alter my eating and loose a few pounds. I've done it many times. The weigh comes back and brings some of its friends. So I heard that many people have literally walked off their weight. I'm going to try it.

I don't like walking outside. The weather is temperamental. I want to walk in a controlled environment so I'm paying for a gym membership. We only have to pay one month at a time. So the first month I'm going to commitment to going at least 3 days a week and walk the track. It is the cheap $15 rate. If I do it for the first month then I will splurge on the full membership which will allow me to use the treadmill which I really want to get on.

I'll let you know how it goes. This is my journey. My mental game that only I can take. I have to do it the way I want it or it won't work.

How about you? What kind of journey are you on?