Product review: Annie's Homegrown

From time to time I get a chance to test a product for free, in exchange for filling out surveys or posting on social media. This past month I had such an opportunity, thanks to the Influenster site. If you enjoy surveys and free stuff, this is a great site to sign up with! They don't send a ton of emails, and I was easily accepted for the free sample program.

The product they gave me to try was an Annie's Homegrown Frozen Entree. I've heard of the Annie's brand for a while now, but hadn't tried it yet myself. We easily found the entrees in Target's frozen section, and the hard part was choosing which variety to go with - they all looked delicious! We ended up with the Lasagna with Meat Sauce, as pictured above.

A few days after our shopping trip we had an extra busy day with work and appointments. It was great to come home and just pop the lasagna in the oven. By the time I'd put together a salad and a vegetable to eat with it, the lasagna was baked and ready to eat.

At first I thought the dish looked quite small and I doubted it would be enough to fill up my husband and I, as well as our remarkably ravenous toddler. However, it was very filling and my serving actually ended up being a little more than I needed.

We were impressed with the delicious flavor and texture of the lasagna. It tasted very fresh and homemade, not at all cheap or kinda icky like other freezer meals I've had (not that I've had many, as we usually cook from scratch). There is absolutely nothing we could think of to complain about the dish, and we thoroughly enjoyed the meal. It was great to not feel guilty about eating it, and to know that it was made with organic pasta and tomatoes.

Though I don't think we will be buying Annie's Frozen Entrees any time soon - largely because the price is more than our budget can handle - it is good to know that there are healthy-ish options like this out there. If and when we are in a pinch and really need a hearty, home-style meal quick, Annie's is a great option. You can get a $2/1 coupon here, and I also saw some Annie's products on the Ibotta app recently - deals like that help make it more affordable!

We recommend the brand, and are grateful to Influenster for the chance to give it a try.

A Treat for our readers!

One of my favorite card companies, Treat, is giving away a million cards this summer! All new customers are invited to check out the site and choose any card from the vast selection available, customize it as they choose, and receive it in their mailbox absolutely FREE! All you have to do is click here or on the image above, and use the code TRTB9X8563 when placing your order. This promo expires on June 17, so make sure you grab your card in time!

If you've never ordered from Treat before, this is a fabulous opportunity to check out their great selection of gorgeous designs and to discover how easy the customization process is. The printing quality is great, and prices are very reasonable. Why buy a generic card at the store when you can so quickly put together something far more special and personal? :D

The fine print: Offer expires 6/17/2013 (11:59 P.M. PT).  Offer is good for one (1) free greeting card using the code TRTB9X8563  at checkout.  Postage may apply.  Customer must be a first-time Treat customer.   Offer is valid for one-time redemption per billing address.  Cannot be redeemed for cash or combined with other offers, discounts, promotions or credits.  Offer is not applicable to previously placed orders.  Offer is only valid on www.treat.com and does not apply to purchases made from the Treat Cards for iPhone app.  Offer is not applicable to Treat Card Club, gifts, or third party or partner websites.

Giveaway: Shutterfly photobook

Ooooh - anyone up for another fun giveaway post? I'm so thankful to the generous folks at Shutterfly for giving me a chance to participate in another giveaway. One of you folks is going to win a photobook!

 

Shutterfly Yearbooks seem to be pretty popular these days, and I can see why. A super-easy way to preserve school memories (or any other memories), they are also quite affordable when one considers how much it would cost to buy individual prints of all your photos, not to mention a photo album as well as any scrapbooking supplies. Get it all in one simple-to-design package with Shutterfly's high-quality printing!

Whether you homeschool or your kids go away to school, these books are a great way to "make it a school year to remember." Shutterfly also offers free tips and tricks for putting a yearbook together, as well as shortcuts and ideas. Also, be sure to check out their list of photo ideas for documenting a school year.

I haven't yet printed one of these books myself, but I'm guessing the templates offer a lot of versatility and could probably be used for documenting pretty much anything - not just a school year. I've been very pleased with everything else I've ordered from Shutterfly so far, and am looking forward to giving these books a try. They're giving me a free book as a thank you for hosting this giveaway: yay!

If you'd also like to check out the yearbooks, and to do so for FREE, just leave a comment here and tell me your current methods for preserving family memories: scrapbooking, digital albums, facebook, instagram...what works for you? Please be sure to include your email address if you're posting anonymously so I can get in touch with you if you win! :)

For a second entry, please share this post on Facebook, Google Plus, Twitter, or your blog - then come back here and leave another comment letting me know.

Get your entries in by midnight March 23. I will randomly select one entry on March 24, and that person will win a FREE 8x8 20-page photobook (including FREE shipping)!

Thanks for participating, and I can't wait to see who will win! :D

Anyone up for a Treat?

Sooo...hopefully none of you are getting tired of my review type posts here, since this one has a special goodie for you all. :D

Treat.com is a relatively new card-printing site that offers a huge variety of top-quality, designs for all occasions. Each can be personalized in a number of ways, creating a one-of-a-kind card sure to make your recipient smile. I've been really impressed with the quality of the designs (a rare compliment from me, as a picky designer myself!), and the printing is top-notch, too. Even the prices are very reasonable, especially when compared to retail prices on ordinary cards at Walmart or elsewhere.

Okay, enough preamble. ;) The best part is that Treat has given me permission to share a special code for a FREE card. Yay! There's no better way to actually get a feel for just how nice their cards are. This code is valid only on Monday and Tuesday (Nov. 19 and 20), so go check out their site right away and select a design from any of their many categories (choosing will be the hardest part!). Shipping is also free, unless you choose to have the card sent directly to your recipient - then you just pay the cost of a first-class stamp ($0.45). Can't beat that!

Here's the code to use to claim your free card: TREATBLOGR

Remember, this code is good only on Nov. 19 and 20, so hurry!

As the folks at Treat say, "Real friends send real cards." Who do you know who could use a cheery note in the mail today?

Giveaway winner!

Thanks to all who entered the Tiny Prints giveaway in my last post! I used a random number generator to select the winner, and it ended up being...

:drumroll:

Sara (sara2@......)!

You should be receiving an email from Tiny Prints soon, Sara, with the $50 code to Tiny Prints. Hope you have a grand time deciding which cards to order! :D

Hosting this giveaway was a lot of fun, and I hope to be able to do more of them in the future. Probably would help if I posted more on the blog to start with though, eh? Hmmmm...now to find time for that...

Christmas Photo Cards Giveaway: $50 credit to Tiny Prints!

Wow, can you believe we're already nearly to the end of October? This year has just been flying by for us, and here we are a mere 7 weeks from Baby Westbrook's due date. Eeeek! That's exciting and overwhelming all at once. :)

Today is an absolutely gorgeous autumn day here in Iowa, with crisp blue skies, a light breeze, and sunshine spilling everywhere. It's a shame Joe had to work this evening, as it would have been a perfect day for us to go out and take a few maternity pictures. I'm thinking ahead to our end-of-the-year newsletter and cards, and would like to have a nice pregnancy picture to include as well as (Lord willing!) pictures of our little family once Baby is born.

I'm definitely planning on having our cards printed through Tiny Prints again this year, and am super excited about the HUGE selection of designs they're offering. As a graphic designer, I tend to view designs with a fairly critical eye - and on most pre-designed card sites like this there is always something I wish I could tweak about the way a card is laid out or the fonts/color that were chosen. Not so with Tiny Prints! Seriously, they have some of the best card designs I've ever seen. Most come in several different color combinations, and there are usually a number of design options including text, font, photos, and more. I've been known to browse through their site just for creative inspiration...the designs are truly that good. :D

This is the design Joe and I used last year (with a different photo, of course!).

Intrigued yet? Check out this year's huge selection here: Christmas Photo Cards 

While you're over there, be sure to check out Tiny Prints' special offers and promotions page: it's a great place to catch a good deal!

Okay, and the best part? Tiny Prints offered to let me share a $50 giveaway with one of my blog readers. This is for a coupon code that gives you $50 off your total order (not including shipping). Tiny Prints' prices are very reasonable, especially considering the top-quality printing, and you'll be able to get a good-sized stack of cards for FREE if you win! Even for those of you who do not celebrate Christmas, there are plenty of designs that would work perfectly for an end-of-the-year greeting card, or just as a way to share photos with your loved ones.

Sound fun? All you have to do to enter is go to Tiny Prints' site (link above) and look through their designs. Then come back here and leave a comment, letting us know which card you would choose (good luck choosing only one, lol - that's the hardest part!). Be sure to include a valid email address so I can contact you if you win. To earn a second entry, please link to this post on your FB page or Twitter, then come back and comment saying that you've done so. All entries must be received by October 29! I'll randomly select one winner and will be in touch with your coupon code. Can't wait to see which of you will win! :D

For anyone who would like to check out Tiny Prints elsewhere in cyberspace, see these links:

• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tinyprints
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/tinyprints
• Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/tiny_prints/
• Instagram: Tiny Prints
• Google +: https://plus.google.com/+tinyprints/
• Blog: http://blog.tinyprints.com/

Disclaimer: Tiny Prints is giving me site credit in trade for spreading the word about their holiday card designs. When I saw the chance to share $50 with one of you I immediately knew I wanted to participate, even though I've been so busy of late that this blog has been sadly neglected otherwise. :) But rest assured that this is an honest review: I do I whole-heartedly recommend Tiny Prints' services and think they're doing a great job!

It's yearbook time again!

Anyone remember my post from last March about Shutterfly's new yearbooks? Well, now that school is back in session again, at least for most folks (hard to tell about all you homeschoolers, hehe), this is the perfect time of year to start thinking about putting together a yearbook for your children - or even for younger siblings or friends.

Too busy to do any "real" scrapbooking? These photo yearbooks would be an absolutely perfect way to commemorate a year of homeschooling - when you don't have the option of getting a yearbook through your school. It's so worth it to preserve all those special memories - your children will treasure them for the rest of their lives!

Prices start as low as $6 (yes, really!) and just peeking at the creative, colorful sample layouts here gets me all excited to put one together myself -- even though my own baby isn't even born yet, hehe. Someday I'll have a chance to join in. :D I haven't actually seen one of these yearbooks in print yet, but everything else I've ordered from Shutterfly over the years has been excellent quality and I'm sure these books are no exception.

If you'd like to keep track of Shutterfly's newest promotions and products, visit the links I've listed below. They frequently have great sales and coupon codes, and I've been able to catch some amazing deals! New customers also get 50 FREE prints with your first order, which is unbeatable. Check it out!

• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/shutterfly 
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/Shutterfly 
• Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/shutterfly 
• Instagram: Shutterfly 
• Google +: http://plus.google.com/u/0/109424185572289814510/posts
• Blog: http://blog.shutterfly.com

Full disclosure: Shutterfly offered to give me a free photo book in exchange for posting about their new yearbooks. But I assure you that my opinions are honest and I really am excited about trying it out. :D

"Long Live Summer" - photo contest opportunity

Any photographers out there interested in a fun summer contest? I just found out today that Shutterfly is hosting a summer-themed photo contest, running July 9 through August 12. Each week has a theme for the photos, and you can enter once each week. Here are the themes:

•       Week 1(7/9): Americana

•       Week 2 (7/16): Great Outdoors

•       Week 3 (7/23): Water Fun

•       Week 4 (7/30): Sports & Activities

•       Week 5 (8/6): Parties & Celebrations

The prizes look pretty good, too! Everyone who enters gets an instant prize (not sure what it'll be - maybe a coupon for ordering photos?), there are weekly prizes and featured photos, and the grand prize is a trip for 4 to the Bahamas along with a professional photo shoot. :)

Sound like something you're interested in participating in? Check it out here! And here are the official contest rules.

Disclaimer: Shutterfly is giving me a free product in trade for spreading the word about their contest. It does genuinely sound like a fun opportunity for any of you photographers out there, though, and I whole-heartedly recommend Shutterfly's services and site - they do a great job!

My apologies for neglecting this blog, only to come back with a commercial-type post! Hoping to get together a real post soon. :)

Capturing memories in a digital age

One of the drawbacks of homeschooling is that I don't have any highschool "yearbook" to commemorate those years. Yes, we do have some pictures, and I have my journals...but I wasn't into scrapbooking then and I know many memories and events from that time have been lost. My mom did a good job keeping her photo prints in sequential albums, but she didn't do any scrapbooking or journalling.

This is one reason I'm really excited about the yearbook photo books that Shutterfly is offering now. They look like a perfect alternative to scrapbooking, especially for busy families with lots of children, plenty of pictures, and no time to actually put photo pages together the old-fashioned way. These yearbooks would also be perfect for commemorating any other close-knit group - like a homeschool club, a church class, or an extended family reunion. Apparently they offer books for as little as $5 each, though I'm not sure how many you have to order to get this pricing.

From simple to elaborate, colorful to simple, there's a huge variety of design templates to choose from. With so much already done for you, no one is able to use the excuse that "I'm just not creative". ;) Just look at all these options: http://www.shutterfly.com/yearbook . Another advantage is that your book design is stored permanently on Shutterfly's site - so if your printed copy ever gets damaged it'll be easy to order a replacement.

Prices are reasonable, too, especially when you consider the time and expense that would be involved in a regular scrapbook or even in just an ordinary, plain photo album. Even though I thoroughly enjoy scrapbooking, I'm planning on out trying a photo book this year. I don't have time for scrapbooking these days, yet I want to get the memories recorded before they are all lost.

Check out the options here, and also follow Shutterfly on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. They have some really great deals from time to time, and new customers also get 50 FREE prints with your first order. Quality is great IMO - better than most cheap/free prints I've received elsewhere. We actually got most of our wedding pictures printed through Shutterfly and have been very happy with the quality.

Full disclosure: Shutterfly offered to give me a free photo book in exchange for posting about their new yearbooks. But I assure you that my opinions are honest and I really am excited about trying it out. :D

'Tis the season...for Christmas cards

Joe and I are back home from a fun and full Thanksgiving weekend with my side of the family. The time went all too quickly, as it always does, but we're again reminded just how blessed we are with the family God has given us. Each one of them is so special! Hopefully I'll have a chance to share more details and photos from our time later on.

On our drive home last night we had fun talking about how we'll be decorating for Christmas this year - extra fun, with an all-new home to make pretty and festive. :) We'll also need to be getting our year-end letter written up and cards mailed out. It's been quite a year for us and trying to decide how to summarize all that has happened will be an interesting challenge.

Speaking of cards (awkward transition alert :cough: )...TinyPrints is quickly becoming one of my favorite card-printing websites. Over the past year they've had several promos for free cards as well as some incredible sales, and I've been thrilled with the printing quality each time I've placed an order. Their designs are beautiful and very high-quality - and as a perfectionistic designer myself, this is a compliment Idon't give lightly. The designs are actually so good that just browsing through the gallery is great inspiration for me as a designer. Check out their great Christmas card selection here if you don't believe me! ;)

Each TinyPrints card I've ordered has been very easy to customize with photos and text. I've had a grand time making some really fun cards for Joe, incorporating inside jokes and silly photos. And with prices this cheap, I can't understand why anyone ever buys ordinary, boring, non-personalized cards that are available in stores. Seriously! I sure don't. Short of having time to create custom-made cards by hand - something I and precious few others seem to have time for these days - TinyPrints cards are the perfect solution for any occasion.

And yes, another reason I like TinyPrints is the deals they have for bloggers, like the one I'm participating in now. Free cards for writing up an honest review about a site I'm already a big fan of? Count me in! :) The hardest part will be choosing which card(s) to order.

So tell me: which one(s) would you choose?