Are You Visiting PA?

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of PA Tourism for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hello Neighbors,

How is everyone today?  We have gotten alot of work done today.  We have been trying to really clean and organize the house.  Especially since we have several roadtrips coming up. Three of them next month. 

Speaking of roadtrips... have you ever taken a road trip to PA?  We have!  We have some friends there and we used to visit them alot!  We would go to yard-sales, swimming, bowling, Root's (a local Farmer's Market, and an Amusment Park, etc.  It was alot of fun!  

I recently found a really neat roadtrip planner.  It is called the Roadtrip-a-Matic.  Great for pa-roadtrips.  When you use the Roadtrip-a-Matic they do the planning and you do the packing!  So pick yours and go!

When you are planning a roadtrip/vacation what is the hardest part for you?  My Dad always plans where we are staying each night, where we are going to eat for each meal, where we are going to take bathroom/rest stops, which attractions we are visiting and when, etc.  Do you have any of these problems?  The Roadtrip-a-Matic helps with all that!  All you have to do is Pack - they do all the planning!

I was looking at the different ones they offer and I think one of them would be the Shutterbugs!  I think that would be really neat and I know my family would enjoy it but especially my Mom (lately she has been really getting into photography).  It would be so neat.

Another one that would be interesting is the Civil War Trails and Beyond.  My whole family really enjoys visiting Civl War Museums, battlefields, etc. but my little sister would really like it (she is a real history buff!).

Make sure you go visit the site and then leave a comment here with which one you/your family would enjoy the most.  

Produce For Kids Campaign

Hi neighbors!

I hope you all are having a great day!  I had some information I wanted to share with you here At the fence about Produce For Kids.  Produce For Kids is launching it's annual, Get Healthy, Give Hope campaign.  They use this campaign to help raise funds for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.  They are working with several major Supermarkets across the country.  By purchasing more produce, not only are you helping your family to eat healthy, but you are also giving help to local children.

Meijers will be offering shoppers collectible Produce For Kids' Ideal Meals from now until June 23rd.  These are quick and easy healthy meal ideas. 

Ideal Meals offer shoppers chef-created/nutritionist-approved easy solutions for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert. Featuring fresh fruits and vegetables as the main ingredients, Ideal Meals are great for busy families who crave fast meal options that don’t require stopping at the local drive-thru.

Be sure to stop by your local Meijers store Saturday June 9th as they will be holding in-store food demos of Ideal Meals.  Make it a fun time with your family and stop in to try some new healthy meal options.

Turkey Burgers & Rainbow Salad

Serves 4

Preparation Time: 30 Minutes

Ingredients:

·   1 lb. ground turkey

·   1 cup panko breadcrumbs

·   1 egg

·   1 Tbsp. fresh basil, (or ⅓ Tbsp. dried) chopped fine

·   1 cup mushrooms, washed/dried, sliced

·   ½ medium sweet onion, sliced

·   2 Tbsp. butter

·   4 slices, deli style mozzarella cheese (¾ oz. each)

·   1 large tomato, sliced

·   4 whole grain burger buns

 

Directions:

1. In large bowl, mix breadcrumbs, egg, basil, and salt. Once mixed, add ground turkey and mix well. Make patties about the size of the bun.
2. In frying pan, on medium/high heat add butter, mushrooms and onions and cook about 10 minutes until tender and brown. Turn heat to low and keep warm.
3. Pan-fry or grill, on medium heat, burgers until firm (about 4-5 minutes a side).
4. Assemble bun with burger, cheese, tomato and onion/mushroom mixture.

Serves 4

Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

·   1 apple, cored, sliced

·   4 rainbow peppers, seeded, sliced

·   ½ mango, skinned, diced

·   ½ fresh lemon, juiced

·   2 Tbsp. olive oil

Directions:

1. Thoroughly toss apples, peppers, mango, lemon juice and olive oil in a bowl.
2. Season with salt and pepper, as desired.

Nutrition Information:

Turkey Burgers & Rainbow Salad Calories 689; Fat ; Protein ; Carbohydrate ; Fiber 14g; Cholesterol 154mg; Sodium 606mg; Calcium 34%DV; Vitamin A 41%DV; Vitamin C 160%DV; Iron 25%DV
Here is a list of other upcoming campaigns across the country:
   Homeland: May 30^th – June 27^th

·         Publix: May 31^st – June 28^th

·         Kroger Southwest: June 13^th – July 24^th

·         Fred Meyer: June 14^th – July 26^th

·         Price Chopper: June 17^th – July 28^th

·         King Soopers: June 20^th – July 31^st

·         Kroger Central: June 21^st – July 18^th

For some more great recipes my neighbors can stop by http://www.produceforkids.com/ or follow PFK on Pinterest.  I will!  Below I have included one more tasty sounding recipe:

Pineapple Pork Kebobs

Serves 4

Preparation Time: 25 Minutes

Ingredients:

Rosemary Garlic Marinade

·   ½ cup olive oil

·   2 Tbsp. fresh rosemary, minced 

·   4 cloves garlic, minced 

Pineapple Pork Kebobs

·   1 lb. pork tenderloin, cut 1-inch chunks

·   1 cup pineapple, cut 1-inch chunks

·   1 cup sweet onion, cut 1-inch chunks

·   1 cup rainbow peppers, cut 1-inch chunks

·   10-inch skewers, soaked

Rosemary Veggies

·   2 cups broccoli, chunked

·   1 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half

·   4 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese

Directions:

Rosemary Garlic Marinade

1. Mix olive oil, rosemary and garlic in small mixing bowl. Divide in half.

Pineapple Pork Kebobs

1. Thread pork, pineapple, onions and peppers onto skewers. 
2. Brush skewers with half of Rosemary Garlic Marinade, season with salt. Let stand 5 minutes.
3. Place skewers under preheated broiler 5 inches from heat; broil 10-15 minutes or until meat is firm and lightly browned.

Rosemary Veggies

1. Heat remaining marinade in large skillet on medium-high heat.  Add broccoli and cherry tomatoes, cook for 5 minutes, or until broccoli is bright green and tender. 
2. Remove from heat and add cheese.

Nutrition Information:

Pineapple Pork Kebobs: Calories 580, Fat 33.7g, Protein 33.3g, Carbohydrate 34.8g, Fiber 5.5g, Cholesterol 83mg, Sodium 335mg, Calcium 257mg, Vitamin A 1171 IU, Vitamin C 103.2mg, Iron 3.3mg

Be sure to leave a comment letting me know what you think.  especially if you plan on trying one of their recipes or stopping by one of the stores for their campaign.

Make Sure You Are Road Trip Ready With Pringles!

Hello Neighbors!

We just came in from playing a couple of games of volleyball with some friends... in the rain!  Yes, it started pouring but no one wanted to go in so we played in the rain.  We ended up a little muddy, really wet, but we had alot of fun.

All of my Neighbors know that on a road trip people start to get hungry.  And when people get hungry they start to get cranky!  Not anyone in our family of course! ;)  We always try to have some snacks with us when we are taking a trip and one of our favorites is Pringles!  They are perfect for traveling!  With the cans that fit inside most cup holders they work great.  You can "put the brakes on car cravings" by bringing along some of your favorite flavors.  Our problem is with 8 people in the family, Pringles disappear fast.  Some people, I won't name them here, try to hide a can all for themselves!  It usually doesn't work though!

BBQ!

My favorite is the Original Pringles...

My Favorite ~ Original!

They also have Sour Cream and Onion, BBQ, Cheddar Cheese, etc.If you are looking for smaller sizes try the Pringles Snack Stack or the Grab Go Cans. 

My little sister's favorite is the Cheddar Cheese.  She loves them!

 Enjoying her Cheddar Cheese Pringles... And as you can see, they don't last long!

Cheddar Cheese!

So as you prepare your next shopping list, whether for a trip or not, be sure to add Pringles.  There is a flavor for everyone!

Man Crates Father's Day Giveaway!

Hey Neighbors!

Man Crates is having a super duper giveaway right now for Father's Day!  You can choose any Man Crate from their site (excluding those with alcohol) that you like if you win!  Well worth your time and effort to enter. The Rafflecopter is below. 

I have included a couple of pictures of some of their Man Crates that I think my husband would like. Man Crates has all kinds of crates filled with snacks and great gift ideas for Dad. 

My husband would love the Ammo Box!

Snack time!

Hot and Spicy!

Wouldn't these make great Father's Day Gifts?  I know my husband would love to receive one of these for Father's Day.  Man Crates seal them up and then ship them off and they include a small crowbar to open them!  Totally neat!  So if you are looking for a really unique gift for Father's Day, stop by their website and see what they have!  Their crates range from $54.99-$109.99.  Be sure to enter below!

Puzzle Books Perfect Summer Fun!

Hi Neighbors!

All of you know we recently took a trip to Chicago.  While there the younger girls and I spent time in the evenings working puzzles together.  Great family time!  We received The Complete Idiots Guide to Picture Puzzles Vol. 2, Puzzle Barron's Sudoku, Puzzle Barron's Logic Puzzles Vol. 2.  We had so much fun.  Also when one of their friends came over they spent several hours working on the puzzle books.

So, let's begin with The Complete Idiot's Guide to Picture Puzzles ($10.95).  This one has several skill levels.  You start off with easy and then work your way to advanced.  We love the ones where you have to decide what has been changed in the picture.  Believe me it is not as easy as you would think in the advanced.  We would get all but one or two and then have to sit there staring at the pictures trying to find the last ones.  Yes, there are answers in the back!  Did we have to use them?  I'll admit it, we did resort to the answers a couple of times.

Next is the Puzzle Baron's Sudoku ($9.95).  I will tell you up front, I personally do not enjoy number puzzles, but...my daughters do!  This was perfect for them while traveling.  They even do them together!  These also start out easy and work their way up to Fiendish.  They haven't quite made it that far yet!

The last of the books is Puzzle Baron's Logic Puzzles Vol. 2 (14.95).  Now, if you hated those math problems where you had to figure out how old Suzy, Johnny, Sally, and Eric were, that started something like this; Suzy is three years older than the boy whose sibling is 2 years younger than Eric.... you will not like this book. But, if you enjoy solving puzzles like this, grab this book and get solving.  There is a chart at the bottom of each puzzle to help you figure out your answer.

I do want you to realize that these are not just for children.  I enjoyed them too!  Perfect for travel, sitting out by the pool, plane trips, doctor visits, perfect for children to work on during long adult dinners, etc.  Just toss a couple in your bag with a pen or pencil and you have entertainment on the go!  You can even compete with these and see who can finish a puzzle fastest.

Now, the best news is that one neighbor will receive all three books!

Disclosure: I received no monetary compensation for this post.  I did receive 3 Puzzle Books for review purposes.  All thoughts and opinions are mine.

Geigerrig Rig 500 Hydration Pack Father's Day Gift!

Hey Neighbors!

Look at this one!  Geigerrig sent us a Rig 500 Hydration Pack.  Does your husband/father spend time outside gardening, participating in sports, jogging, etc.  What he needs for Father's Day is a Hydration Pack.  Check out these great packs from Geigerrig.  My husband really likes this.  Unfortunately for this review the weather took awhile to work with us on this one.  I wanted to show the pack actually being used and we had to wait for the weather to cooperate.  Anyway here we go!

Here and below are a couple of awards Geigerrig has been awarded.

Let me start with some information from Geigerrig itself:

In building the GEIGERRIG product, we did a lot of work to analyze the various views and attitudes that the general consumer had about hydration packs.  My experience in the Marine Corps was always in the back of my mind, but I didn’t know how those experiences would translate when it came to civilian, recreation use of a hydration pack.  What we found though, was that the general consumer of a hydration pack shared many of the very same feelings and attitudes about their hands free hydration system as Marines did. 

                With almost universal expression, the general consumer said that their hydration pack was difficult to clean or that they

didn’t clean it at all.  

When asked if they forwent the use of their hydration pack due to lack of maintenance and cleanliness from a previous use, almost all consumers said that this was a common occurrence for them.   

With almost universal expression, the general consumer said that in many cases they liked squeeze water bottles over traditional hydration packs because the squeeze water bottles were easier to clean and maintain, and because they could spray the water onto their body and gear whenever they wanted to. 

When asked if they would consider sharing the water from their hydration pack, the vast majority of consumers said that they would not share due to the requirement to suck on a bite valve.  When asked if they would like to share water from their hydration pack, most people said that they would like to share and that they most often enjoy their outdoor recreation with friends and family. 

When asked if they felt comfortable filling their hydration system with liquids other than tap water or bottled water, the majority of the consumers said that they did not.  

In the event that they needed their water to clean out a wound, spray off their body or clean off other gear, the vast majority of consumers said that their traditional hydration pack would not provide convenient water access.   When asked if they would like to conveniently access the water in their hydration pack for spraying off their body, wounds and gear, almost all consumers said that they would.   

In about 45% of the cases, people expressed that it was difficult to suck water out of a hydration pack while engaged in highly aerobic activity such as running or mountain biking.  They often said that they needed to stop, catch their breath, drink, and then proceed. 

When asked if they considered a hydration pack as a product for a soloist athlete or for family/group activity, almost 100% of the time the answer was that the hydration pack was a soloist product.

Finally, it was virtually universal that consumers wished that they could dunk their hydration pack in a stream and immediately begin drinking the water during activity.

From the front.

First off my husband has been begging for this ever since he saw it!  He does alot of outside ministry and thinks it would be perfect, which it is!).  I get tired of carrying water bottles and making sure they get picked up afterwards.  This Geigerrig Hydration Pack is set up to hold 70 oz. of fluid.  It is equipped with quick release valves for the tubes.  So easy to use. The actually bladder has a slide top so it is easy to remove and fill.  Also makes cleaning easier.

Side view.

View from back.

The pack itself is very well made.  The zippers are Heavy Duty size 8 Coil Zippers.  There are several small pockets, including one where you can place an iPod or MP3 player.  The pack straps across the chest and also has a belt around the waist.  The waist strap is removable if you prefer to not use it.  My husband said the shoulder straps are quite comfortable.

Taking a sip.

You can see the water spraying in this one.

Shoulder Straps:

Ergonomic Fit, Terraced Overlay for Adjustable Tube Configuration and Power Bulb Configuration, Industrial Load Dispursement cut and padding

Additional Features:
Plug & Play Reservoir Tube Connector, PVC Reinforced Compression Straps, Reflective Tabs & Zipper Pulls, Internal Storage Compartments and Organizer, Eco Rig Back Pads, Air Drive Ventilation, Heavy Duty Nylon Pack Handle and Vertical attachment hoops.

Clip to hold tube in place.

Bulb for pressurizing.

We also received the Geigerrig Fliter.  This filter will filter up to 50 gallons and removes greater than 99% of Cryptospordium and Giardia.  This is perfect for the hiker or backpack tenter who doesn't want to carry extra water and bladders with them.. Just use the filter to refill your bladder on the trip.  Be sure to rinse out the bladder and filter when done.  And this little filter only weighs 1.5 oz.

Hose connected to quick release valve.

Bladder.

Now I just have to impress my neighbors here, this is a perfect Father's Day gift!  My husband of course received his early, but he seriously is making plans to take this with him all over the place.  It will also help him consume more water, as he has a tendency to grab soda while out on the street.

Quick release valve.

Pocket for iPod or MP3 player.

You use the OGWA power bulb to pressurize your Geigerrig.  There is an adjustment dial so you can set it to the desired pressure.  You also use it to relieve pressure before dismantling.  Because of the power bulb, you do not need to suck on the bite valve.  Just apply pressure with your teeth and it will spray water into your mouth.   The really nice benefit of this is, you can use it to cool off, if you spill and get sticky you can hose down, you can even spray water on your dog!  I am sure there are many uses my neighbors can come up with for this feature. Because of the pressurization you can drink while going downhill, prone on the ground, in any position you have fresh water.  Another great benefit is no backwash! 

Small side pocket.

Inside pockets.

And of course the Geigerrig Rig 500 Hydration Pack is very easy to clean.  Slide out the bladder, unhook the quick release valves and if needed, you can actually turn it inside out for easy cleaning.  Turn inside out and you can place it in the top rack of a dishwasher.

Inline Filter

Well before I go to long on this post I just want to say we are completely satisfied with the Geigerrig Rig 500 Hydration Pack.  Make sure you visit their website and take a look at all the different styles they have available.  Also be sure to "Like" their Facebook page along with following them on Twitter.


Disclosure:I received no monetary compensation for this review.  I did receive a Geigerrig Rig 500 Hydration Pack for review purposes.  All thoughts and opinions are mine.  Words in red are quotes from Geigerrig.

Fiber One Chewy Bars Prize Pack

Hey neighbors!

Here is a fun one for the whole family.  We received a Fiber One Chewy Bars Gift Pack.  The pack includes 2 boxes of the Fiber One Chewy Bars, one Strawberry PB&J and one Chewy Chocolate.  Also included was a Drawstring Sack Pack, a Fiber One Soccer ball, a Flexi Flyer, one water bottle and sidewalk chalk.  Perfect for summer time fun.

With summer upon us and school being out most parents are stocking their cupboards with summertime snacks.  Fiber One Chewy Bars a re great because not only do my children LOVE the taste, they are also nutritious.

Here is some information:

• Fiber One Chewy bars contain 20% of the Daily Value of fiber and 10% of the Daily Value of calcium
• These 100 or 110 calorie bars contain no high fructose corn syrup, and only 7 or 8 grams of sugar
• According to the results of a recent taste test*, kids prefer Fiber One Chewy Chocolate bars over Quaker Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

These Fiber One Chewy Bars are so new, they came in a white plain box!  Can't wait to see them in stores!  They are soooo good!  A quick and easy snack for children on the go.  Mine are constantly in and out throughout the day as they play sports, play with the animals, or just have a good time together.  Someone is almost always searching for a snack in our house.  Especially right now when we have friends visiting!

And of course what children wouldn't enjoy the extra items included!  Sidewalk chalk drawings on a warm summer day, kicking the soccer ball in the back yard for the dogs, teaming up with friends to throw the Flexible Flyer, and be sure to stay hydrated with the water bottle.  You can carry it all with you in the Drawstring Sack Pack.

One neighbor will receive a Fiber One Prize Pack just like mine.

Disclosure:  The product, gift pack, information, and additional sample have all been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark

Newport Beach Sounds Fun!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Newport Beach for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hello Neighbors!

 

How is everyone today?  We have some friends visiting and each night after dinner we have been going out to play volleyball!  It has been alot of fun and everyone has really enjoyed it.  Speaking of volleyball and fun...

Have you ever visited Newport Beach?  It looks like alot fun!  I have been looking at the VisitNewportBeach Site and looking at the different accomadations and information about the city.  You should really visit the website if you have ever considered a vacation there!  It has alot of information and is very helpful.   Make sure you watch the Newport Beach Video I have included below.

 

It sure looks like fun!  My family would enjoy the beach alot.  We like going out and walking on the beach early in the morning before anyone else is up!  We love to find all sorts of things.  We have actually found many interesting sea shells, sand dollars, and we even managed to find a couple of star fish.   I personally used a shadow box and put some shells, sand dollars, and starfish with a Bible Verse printed in the middle to create a beutiful display to hang on my wall.  I think it looks great!

Another thing my family would really enjoy is the parks.  My family tries to go have some family time at a park each Sat.  We play two hand touch football, kickball, baseball, volleyball, and some other outside games. It is nice to have a family large enough to divide into teams!

My family would enjoy window shopping at the Boardwalk Shops on the Newport Pier!  We really enjoy walking along, talking while seeing the sites.  Occasionally we get a little silly and goof around with each other.

I also wanted to let you all know about a special going on right now with Hyatt Regency Newport Beach Hotel.  They have a promotion going on right now for families.  When you buy one regular priced room you can receive a connecting room for your children 18 and under for 50% off!  Wow!  What a great buy!  It is a resort-style hotel and it has 3 pools/whirlpools, ping pong, a golf course and more.  If you want to book one today call 800-233-1234 and mention the Family Plan.

What feature do you think you would most enjoy about Newport Beach?  Is there a certain activity you love?  Something you have never done before but want to try?  

Make sure you also check out the information on their website about their kids summer camps.  They have alot of great options!  Some of them include a Day Camp, Pint-Sized Campers (This is a half day program for Preschoolers.), Beach/Water Camps, Sports Camps, Court Sports (that is one my family would enjoy!).  Another one my family would enjoy is the Cooking Camps.  We have alot of fun in the Kitchen!  

Do you feel like taking a vacation yet?  I do!

A Father's Day Banner!

Hey Neighbors!  Here is a neat idea for Father's Day!  Get Dad his very own Banner!  Check out Banners On The Cheap! Details: The offer of a free 2'x5' banner, just pay shipping will be automatically applied to your cart at checkout if you order through the following promo link:   http://www.bannersonthecheap.com/fathers-day-banners?extcid=1058&pcode=5974706934334E6235322F4B636B74546C77557158773D3D   **If you do not use the above promo link, you will not be able to find the promo on the website.** To receive your banner by Father's Day with standard shipping, order by May 30, 2012 at 4pm CDT. Offer ends June 7, 2012 at 11:59pm CDT and cannot be used retroactively. Orders placed after 4pm on May 30, 2012 will require an upgraded shipping option for Father's Day delivery.

At the Fence Update!

Hi neighbors!

Really busy weekend here, so I am not going to post anything today other than this update.  Please stop by Monday for a really neat Father's Day Gift idea and a super great giveaway!  Looking forward to seeing you all At the Fence!

Kinivo Wireless Mini Speaker Father's Day Event #9

Hi Neighbors!

I am really excited about this product as a Father's Day gift!  Since we travel quite a bit, we always take our laptops, iPods, etc. with us. My husband likes to share Facebook videos, sermons and such with the family.  The only problem is, with eight of us sometimes the volume is not loud enough.  I hate carrying large speakers on a trip, so the Kinivo Wireless Mini Speaker with Bluetooth is perfect! 

The Kinivo BTX 110 is small.  It fits in the palm of your hand.  You just twist the top to expand and collapse the resonator.  A small drawstring bag is included to carry your speaker.  Perfect to just drop in your purse or even your pocket and head out.  Your controls are on the sides of the speaker.  On/Off,  Volume Control, and even for answering calls.  My husband could use this feature.  The volume on his phone is not the best.

I just used the USB cord to hook the speaker up to my computer to charge it.  There is a small light that is red when charging and turns blue when the battery is fully charged.  Next you need to pair it up to your Bluetooth device.  Turn on your device and turn on the speaker, make sure your iPod, iPhone or other device is switched on.  Once it is paired with your device you can use your speaker as long as you are within 10 meters (33 ft.).  This speaker can also be used with a line in device.  Just press the mode button twice and use the supplied connector.  Perfect!

Kinivo:
Kinivo offers innovative consumer electronics products that help customers in their home, at work or when they are on the move. Our products are conceived & designed in USA and manufactured in state of the art factories overseas with strong emphasis on best manufacturing and quality assurance processes.

All Kinivo products are built around actual customer scenarios and offer exceptional quality at affordable prices. We support our products with a 1 year limited hardware warranty.

Kinivo has several products that I personally would LOVE to try out, like the Kinivo BTC8 Bluetooth FM Transmitter.  So while searching for that perfect Father's Day gift be sure to check out their website.

One neighbor will receive a Kinivo Wireless Mini Speaker (BTX 110).  Hurry up and enter, Father's Day is coming soon!

Disclaimer:I received no monetary compensation for this post.  I did receive a Kinivo Speaker for review purposes.  All thoughts and opinions are entirely mine.