Healthier Happier You Reviews: 02.11

Feb 28, 2011

Kroger's "Cart Buster" savings and YOU!

Shopping can be a relaxing and thought provoking experience if you season your thinking to reflect it as such.

Caring for our families can be rewarding and enhancing when you think of your family's basic needs and how the small desires we satisfy, like meals and comfort foods, are vital to mood enhancement!

We must also consider that many times, when you are the main caretaker of the household, groceries are your responsibility. This also infers that you have some holding over family finances. So, of course with accountability comes a manifestation of desire to find every deal, cut every corner, and peel every possibility that insures our families received the best offers out there... you see, it is just natural.

Many of the grocers I frequent have some sort of "rewards", coupon, labeling or info-grabbing program that categorizes and fits family's favorites into a cohesive database with easy recall and savings.

For this reason, I am encouraging Illinois shoppers, and those across the nation as well, to visit the Kroger site, find a locale you can frequent and register for great values!

Joining Kroger's "Cart Buster" Savings Event will not only help you build savings with your favorite brands but also make you eligible for the 1000 Item A Day Give Away that is running February 27 through March 12!

Signing up to take advantage of services such as special promotions or "Specialty Grocery" is so convenient.

If you're looking for a national brand food product, and you can't find it in the local store, Kroger's helps you.

You can search the online store of the hundreds of brands and specialty grocery products that includes:

International/Regional

Health & Wellness

Organic

Kosher

Special Collections

Once you find what you're looking for, just place your order, and they'll deliver it right to your home or office. WOW that's that easy!

Kroger also offers their own exclusive brands along with many of our family favorites such as Amy's, Annie Chun, Jason Natural, Newman's, Prairie Mills and more! They also promote Fair Trade and kosher products. How's that for encouraging wellness and sustainability?!

Equally as awesome is their interactive website! I was so pleased to be able to locate the products I know and love prior to visiting the store in my area. CLICK HERE to locate your favorite buys.

ALSO take advantage of the DEALS OF THE DAY that release FREE items/coupons randomly each day!

SIGN IN right here and start saving today! You may also "LIKE" Kroger on Facebook.

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms Kroger CartBuster blogging program, for a gift card worth $50. For more information on how you can participate, click here."

Top Ten Things My Kiddo Would Miss ...

...if I were abducted by aliens and taken to MARS!

I often feel as if I am living on MARS but that is not what this meme for Social Moms asks!

Being the single mom of a 15 year old, darling, teen-aged boy, who has been the light of my world, has been a beautiful and endearing challenge. I have been very careful to raise a thoughtful, conscientious, being who values others and his environment. What I have succeeded in is often reminiscent of the stuff classic horror films are made of ...The Blob comes to mind...

I can not even begin to tell you the smells that emanate from that oh-so-special being, and it is definitely something you would expect to find on Mars! So, if I was to be abducted by aliens, I suspect my life would not be THAT much different, though The King of Odor might suffer from the following:

MISS FOOD: My youngster was 5 years old when the Twin Towers fell. I panicked that he may need survival techniques and was VERY careful to teach him how to open canned goods without cutting his fingers off. I also addressed, when and if possible, warming the food. Additionally, he was instructed each year thereafter, on making simple sandwiches, scrambled eggs, pasta and toast. To date he can accomplish NOTHING. My 15 year old will go the entire day without food - and go for days - if I fail to provide pre-cooked items. I tested this over this past summer, so I am VERY sure he would lose 20 pounds before seeking edible fare.

MISS ODORLESS LIVING: If I do not physically turn on the water and threaten life he will not bathe. EVER. PERIOD.

MISS TEETH: At some point, seeing as though we have problems with teeth brushing as well ... should I be residing on Mars indefinitely, junior would most definitely loose teeth.

MISS FINANCIAL FREEDOM: "Mom, I'm going to the mall can I have $____ would become, "OH NO! Guess I will not be going anywhere."

MISS LOVE AND AFFECTION: tee hee, like why is this so far down on the list? As they grow older, we moms are lucky if we get the kisses we used to get hourly on a monthly schedule. I suppose he would miss these hugs and kisses??? ... awww!!!

MISS CLEAN LAUNDRY: I know, I've failed.

MISS THE PERSONAL CHAUFFEUR: The 24/7 driver would be vacationing on MARS for real - YES, I have used this as a threat before!

MISS #1 FAN: Who will cheer at all of his sports games???

MISS CONFIDANT: Who will listen, to not only the woes, but the master plans!

MISS THE BEATS: If I was to ask junior what he would miss, he would probably say, he'd miss me listening to him sing, rap and or dance... he is cute.

Yes, so after evaluating the importance I have in my kiddos world to write this piece, I can also state, with assuredness, and gracefulness, that these things are all part of my job... the MOST important job I have, and I would certainly miss them, if not more than he, if I was abducted from my sweet guy and held away from him on planet MARS.

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms blogging program, for a gift card worth $25. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”

Feb 26, 2011

Donate Your Resources and Time!

Feb 24, 2011

General Motors made more dreams come true!

General Motors Communications Manager, Connie Burke

The Chicago Auto Show was spectacular. I was a Media Guest of General Motors. We participated in a Driving The Midwest "Chicago Photo Challenge" that I was pitiful at, but had fun at nonetheless.

My thought for the challenge was to place my GM vehicle at a favorite "CHICAGO" place that had character and presence. I parked the 2011 CHEVY AVALANCHE in front of The Billy Goat Tavern. The Billy Goat is famous in Chicago for its historical and legendary account in Chicago Cub baseball tales.

As legend has it, William "Billy Goat" Sianis and his goat, Murphy, are the culprits of the Cub's famous curse, that White Sox fans like me live for! You can read about it here. How apropos that the incident involved a playoff game against the Detroit Tigers!!

So, alas, the Avalanche made history look good! The rugged wheels, the incredibly classy decor, plush leather seating, comfortable display ... OnStar and the ability to run over any Chicago Snow Bank, made my week with the Avalanche so AWESOME.

Imagine. Something so fun and exciting as cars and being given the opportunity to experience them intimately!

For our involvement with the challenge we were given a close-up and personal with the 2011 CHEVY VOLT. Yes, the 2011 Motor Trend Car Of The Year!

Is that sexy or what!

Six feet of person (yes, I am that tall) fits comfortably in this Volt. Appropriately names for its FAST speed, race-like qualities and electric sustaining features.

Imagine $1.50 ( LESS than a good cup of JAVA in most cases) as your cost for running your vehicle!

There are different classes of charging vehicles - DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE. The Volt can run amazingly well fitting our busy lifestyles:

The Volt operates two ways:

*EV mode (battery powered) and extended-range (gasoline powered).

*Volt offers an initial electric range of 35 miles(1) - totally gas and tailpipe emissions free. After that, you can drive for a total range of up to 375 miles(2) with the extended range mode until you can plug it in or fill it up again.

*EPA estimated 93 MPGe (electric); 35 city, 40 hwy MPG (gas). Actual range varies with conditions.

That works for me! In the market for a new and savvy car? Check out what General Motors can offer you!!!

Let's put America back to work, at the top of our game and riding high, in style!