For more than 60 years Hickory Farms gifts have been a classic holiday tradition that brings family and friends together. I know in our house, there is almost always a Hickory Farms item or two as part of the celebration. Hickory Farm sis so well known for products that not only present beautifully, but also taste delicious. In fact, when my cousin was deployed with the Marines, he specifically requested that we send him Hickory Farms products for Christmas!

Hickory Farms’ gifts provide a wide selection of signature sausages and savory cheeses in beautifully packaged boxes and baskets. Most of us can remember receiving Hickory Farms at some point in our lives, and the fun of carefully opening and incorporating the delicious items into our holiday traditions. Whether that means serving the high quality foods to guests or enjoying them with your family, Hickory Farms believes that traditions matter, making these products a long-standing classic gift. These are my go-to gift for those difficult people in my life to buy for, since I know yummy food is always appreciated!

I recently received this adorable Pack & Go Picnic Tote ($60) to review and it was a HUGE hit with the family! We brought it with us to a hotel (along with a nice bottle of wine) and had a wonderful appetizer before heading out on the town!

This set includes: Hickory Farms’ savory beef and turkey sausages pair perfectly with their Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese and crackers. Top it all off with the sweet indulgences of peppermint cookies and peanut brittle and you’ll have a picnic they won’t soon forget.

It was so yummy! The adults loved the crackers with cheese and sausages (actually, the kids did too!) and, sadly, I can’t say that I got to try one of those yummy looking peppermint cookies. Certain children, who shall remain nameless, devoured them before I had the chance! Word is they were excellent! This would make such as lovely gift, as the extra-large insulated tote is something I can use for years to come, long after the food is eaten.

Do you want to  give this gift basket a try?

WIN IT!

I’m giving away a Hickory Farms Pack and Go Picnic Tote to one lucky winner. To enter, simply tell me who you would gift this to for the holidays! (Yes, gifting it to yourself is a totally valid answer!)

Additional entries:
(please leave an additional comment for each entry completed)

2. Follow Melissa on Twitter and tweet:

I entered to win a @HickoryFarms Pack and Go Picnic Tote from @MelissaAngert #giveaway http://girlymama.com/?p=5554

One winner will be selected at random using the WordPress plug-in And The Winner Is… and will be notified by email. Please have a U.S. Mailing address. For other contest rules, see my giveaway policies page.

Disclosure: Compensation and products for review were provided by Hickory Farms via MomTrends. I received a free sample of the product for the purpose of this review and to facilitate a giveaway.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions of Hickory Farms.

I don’t know about your house, but my kids are already making extensive lists for Christmas! But the lists they make are not quite the list I send out. (Shhhh. Don’t tell!)  They often pick things that are, well… annoying. Or not the right age for them. (Like Colin’s request for a Logo Death Star with a million zillion pieces that my engineer husband probably wouldn’t be able to put together!)

Luckily, Kohl’s recently launched a tool in their toys department which allows shoppers to browse toys based on age. It makes shopping for age appropriate gifts for your kids, cousins, nieces, nephews and grandchildren a whole lot easier! Its so helpful! Especially when I’m looking for new toys that are perfect for a certain age. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve gotten toys for our kids that are WAY off age-wise. Most of them ended up in the attic or the donate box because they just ended up frustrating our kids. Its so important to get toys in the proper age range developmentally for kids. Its not about what is most popular or whatever. If its not the right age, its not the right toy.

Be sure to check out Kohl’s 25 top toys of the season! Its a terrific list! My kids want you to know that they want two of everything 🙂

WIN IT!

I’m giving away a $50 gift card to Kohl’s to one lucky winner. To enter, simply tell me what kids you’re shopping for this year!

Additional entries:
(please leave an additional comment for each entry completed)

2. Follow Melissa on Twitter and tweet:

I entered to win a $50 @Kohls giftcard from @MelissaAngert #giveaway http://girlymama.com/?p=5518

One winner will be selected at random using the WordPress plug-in And The Winner Is… and will be notified by email. Please have a U.S. Mailing address. For other contest rules, see my giveaway policies page.

Disclosure: Kohl’s provided a gift card for my readers. Opinions remain my own.

Back-to-School means reading, ‘riting, recess and running around like a crazy person. I was looking at our schedule and realized that we have something almost every night. Dance classes, Girl Scouts, music lessons, soccer practice… not to mention how my husband and I both work and have busy schedules as well!

One of the biggest challenges for me when school ramps up is finding time to get healthy food into my kids. Lunches are easy – I pack them the night before and fill them with fruits, veggies and their favorite sandwiches and wraps. When we only have 20 minutes for dinner or – better – when we’re eating in the car between Girl Scouts and Ballet lessons, I need food that is both healthy and easy.

I was so thrilled when Libby’s Fruits & Vegetables sent me their Single-Serve Fruit Cups – perfect for lunchboxes and after-to-school snacking. The 6 oz. single-serve cups some in four varieties: come in diced peaches, diced pears, mixed fruit and cherry mixed fruit. I checked them out and was so glad to see that these snacks have no additives. There are no gels, creams or other unhealthy additives, and each cup is just 120 calories! I read all the labels and saw only fruit, sugar (not HFSC), Vitamin C and natural flavor. Nice!!

WIN IT

Libby’s wants to help YOU get ready for Back-to-School!! You can win a prize pack that includes a SkipHop Zoo Lunchies insulated lunch bag, a Snack Taxi Red reusable sandwich bag, a Lunchbots Duo Stainless Steel Food Container and Libby’s Single Serve Fruit Cups! You’ll be all set for back-to-school!!

To enter to win, tell us your favorite after school snack!

Additional entries:
(please leave an additional comment for each entry completed)

2. Follow Libby’s Table on Twitter.

3. Follow Melissa on Twitter.

4. Subscribe to Girlymama daily updates either through your favorite RSS Reader or via email.

One winner will be selected at random using the WordPress plug-in And The Winner Is… and will be notified by email. Please have a U.S. Mailing address. For other contest rules, see my giveaway policies page.

disclosure: i received the giveaway items as a thank you for running this giveaway. as always, all opinions are my own.

**GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED**

When I found out I was pregnant with my first baby, the first thing I did – that very same day – was run out and buy What to Expect When You’re Expecting. Isn’t that just what you’re supposed to do? I poured over it, marking off the milestones of pregnancy and it was even in my overnight bag I took to the hospital with me (packed with the packing for the hospital list they have in the book.)

My first pregnancy was what my doctor called “A Textbook Pregnancy.” Everything was just as it was supposed to be, right on schedule, just like the book said it would be. Then I got pregnant again.

My second pregnancy was nothing like the first. Actually, it was the exact opposite. Everything that wasn’t supposed to happen did. Nothing was on schedule. I had no morning sickness with my first, sick as a dog with my second. I gained weight differently, I had different cravings, I was soooooo exhausted – I was a mess. The baby was even born an entire month early – talk about not according to plan! The only thing that was the same was the fact that it resulted in a baby!

On May 14, Centrum Specialist® PreNatal will host expecting and new mothers in at a special advance screening of the highly anticipated movie, What to Expect When You’re Expecting, by Lionsgate. Personally, I can’t wait to see it!! The stars… The story… It just looks totally hysterical! Want to come see it with me? I’ll be seeing it at an advanced screening on Monday at 7:30 with one of my best mommy buddies thanks to Centrum Specialist Prenatal and I get to bring 5 winners (and a friend) with me!

WIN IT!

Centrum Specialist Prenatal is on the look-out for soon-to-be or new moms! And want YOU to win two tickets to an advanced screening of the feature film What to Expect When You’re Expecting Monday, May 14th, at 7:30 in King of Prussia, PA!

To Enter: Leave a comment sharing how your pregnancies were “What you were expecting?” (or how they weren’t!) Centrum Specialist Prenatal wants to know.

Additional entries:
(please leave an additional comment for each entry completed)

2. Like Centrum Specialist Prenatal on Facebook.

3. Like Girlymama on Facebook.

4. Follow me on Twitter.

5. Subscribe to Girlymama daily updates either through your favorite RSS Reader or via email.

One winner will be selected at random using Random.org and will be notified by email. If I do not hear from you in 12 hours, I will be choosing a new winner. For other contest rules, see my giveaway policies page.

disclosure: I am participating in a sponsored campaign hosted by Centrum Specialist® Prenatal multivitamins. I received compensation for this post. While all opinions stated are my own, I make no claims about Centrum Specialist® Prenatal as a product or its effectiveness.

Rules for Prenatal “What to Expect” Screening Tickets Blog Posts:

• NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY. PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
• Must be 18 or older and a legal resident of the 50 United States and DC to enter. Not eligible: employees of selected bloggers posting the giveaways, Ketchum, Wyeth LLC (“sponsor”), and each of their parent, affiliate or related companies (“Sweepstakes Entities”), or their immediate family or persons living in the same household.
• Enter by submitting the required information, specified by the host blogger. Use of automated or scripted programs to submit entries are prohibited.
• Five winners will be randomly selected by the blogger to win two advance screening tickets of the feature film What to Expect When You’re Expecting!; each winner gets two tickets (one for themselves and one for a friend.)
• Host Blogger will choose winners from all eligible entries at random. The winner will be contacted via email by blogger. If a winner does not respond within 24 hours, the blogger will select another prize winner. All decisions are final.
• Winner must respond with a preferred t-shirt size for themselves and their guest (ranging from S-XL maternity size.)
• All winners are requested to wear their t-shirts on the day of the advance screening.
• Odds of winning depend on the number and timing of the entries provided. Failure trespond to prize notification or provide required information may result in forfeiture of the prize and award.
• Except where prohibited, winners agree that the Sweepstakes Entities have the right to use their name, city and town and likeness in any advertising and marketing material, without compensation or any right to review and approve.
• Sponsor: Wyeth LLC, 5 Giralda Farms, Madison, New Jersey, 07940

One of the most beloved stories of all time is coming to life in the motion picture event, Mirror Mirror.  A fresh and funny retelling of the Snow White legend, Mirror Mirror features breakout star Lily Collins (The Blind Side) as Snow White, a princess in exile, and Oscar®-winner Julia Roberts as the evil Queen who ruthlessly rules her captured kingdom. Seven courageous rebel dwarfs join forces with Snow White as she fights to reclaim her birthright and win her Prince in this magical adventure comedy filled with jealousy, romance and betrayal that will capture the hearts and imaginations of audiences the world over.  The film also stars Armie Hammer (The Social Network) as the Prince and Nathan Lane (The Birdcage) as the hapless and bungling servant to the Queen.

I ADORE Julia Roberts!! I’m so excited to see this – the previews look amazing!

How would you like to go with me to see Mirror Mirror before anyone else? Well, here’s your chance!

WIN IT!

I have FIVE family 4-packs to an special advance screening of the film next Thursday, March 22 at 7:00PM at the UA King of Prussia!!*

To enter, tell me your favorite Julia Roberts movie!!

Additional entries:
(please leave an additional comment for each entry completed)

2. Follow Mirror Mirror on Twitter.

3. Follow Girlymama on Twitter.

4. Subscribe to Girlymama daily updates either through your favorite RSS Reader or via email.

One winner will be selected at random using Random.org and will be notified by email. These are reserved seats and you will be on the guest list. But you MUST arrive before 6:45 or your seats may be forfeited. For other contest rules, see my giveaway policies page.

Its no secret that I love my coffee!! Pretty much any and all coffees are welcome in my house! So trying Gevalia Kaffe sounded fun! Gevalia Kaffe is from Sweden – it is an exquisitely rich smooth coffee experience that is never bitter.

In Sweden, where the citizens drink more coffee than almost anywhere else in the world, Gevalia is their preferred brand. In fact, Gevalia enjoys the honor of being an official coffee of the Swedish Royal Court. It used to be only available online, but its now available in their 10 most popular varieties at Safeway and other grocery stores!

The House Blend was my favorite – its a medium/dark roast that has a great rich flavor that is not bitter at all. (And it smelled amazing.) Perfect for breakfast! The French Roast is fabulous as well – a more intense, dark roast. This would be perfect compliment to a rich chocolate dessert!! I highly recommend both – especially if you don’t like bitter coffees. I was amazed how smooth these both were!

WIN IT!

Girlymama is giving away a Gevalia Kaffe prize pack, that includes

• (1) sample of the House Blend from Gevalia Kaffe
• (1) sample of the French Roast Blend from Gevalia Kaffe
• A Gevalia Kaffe branded coffee mug

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To enter, tell me how you drink your coffee – black? With cream and sugar? With flavored creamer?

Additional entries:
(please leave an additional comment for each entry completed)

2. Follow Gevalia Kaffe on Twitter.

3. Follow Girlymama on Twitter.

4. Subscribe to Girlymama daily updates either through your favorite RSS Reader or via email.

One winner will be selected at random using Random.org and will be notified by email. Please have a U.S. Mailing address. For other contest rules, see my giveaway policies page.

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disclosure: Kraft Foods has provided sample product to me and is providing the prizes for this program at no cost to me. This program is not administered or sponsored by Kraft Foods or its affiliates, but solely by Girlymama.<\em>