Safeway & Betty Crocker Holiday Cookies {{Review & Giveaway}}

I love to bake, especially when it is something that my girls can help with!

We have a ton of cookie cutters and have wanted to be able to use them. Unfortunately, I have not had much success with sugar cookie recipes.

I was sent a holiday cookie exchange package from My Blog Spark which included Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie mix, a set of Glad deep dish containers, and a $25 Safeway gift card. I was pretty excited to try the sugar cookie mix! After some discussion, my daughters decided that we should make thumbprint cookies with the mix -- the recipe/directions are on the package.

It was so easy and so much fun. This was definitely something that we could all do together (myself, a 4 year old and a 2 year old) each step of the way. The cookies turned out great and it was so simple!
I haven't used a mix in a long time to make cookies, but using the Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix eliminated all of the measuring and a lot of the mess that comes with baking without taking the fun away. Now that we have made the thumbprint cookies, and had a good time (and built up a little trust with Betty Crocker mixes, lol) we will be going back to Safeway with our gift card to purchase another pack and try our luck with the cookie cutters!! The gladware is perfect for storing the cookies, as it holds a lot and is air tight.

Everything that you need to have a fun baking day can be found at Safeway!! And My Blog Spark, Betty Crocker, Gladware, and Safeway have graciously offered to give one lucky reader the same package that I received!!

This giveaway will close on Jan 28, 2011 - just in time for some Valentine's Day baking! Open to legal residents of the USA who are 18+ years old!

To be entered to win you must follow this blog publicly through GFC - you can do that on the right sidebar!

Mandatory Entry: leave one comment with this entry

Tell me for what occasion do you enjoy baking.

Extra Entries: leave one comment per entry

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**Follow me on twitter AND tweet about this giveaway including a link. Here is a sample tweet you may use: #Win a @BettyCrocker cookie mix #giveaway w/ $25 @Safeway GC from @tinymansmom & #MyBlogSpark ends 1/28 http://tiny.cc/bettycrocker

**Share this giveaway anywhere else, and leave a link to it. If you are sharing by email cc tinymansmom@sbcglobal.net when you send the email.

GOOD LUCK!!

Disclosure: The information, prize pack and giveaway have all been provided by Safeway, Betty Crocker and Gladware through MyBlogSpark. The opinions expressed are my own and are honest.

Wordless Wednesday -- Our Only Boy, hehe!

This is Tiny Man. He's our only boy, lol. We have had him since June 2006, when we were under the impression we were getting a miniature pincher ... not quite, but he's perfect for us.

If you have a Wordless Wednesday, or a Wordfull Wednesday, that you would like to share, please link up below.

Have a Blessed Day!

Top 10 Predictions for 2011

Top 10 Predictions for 2011




1.The Bible will still have all the answers.

2.Prayer will still be the most powerful thing on Earth.

3.The Holy Spirit will still move.

4.God will still honor the praises of His people.

5.There will still be God-anointed preaching.

6.There will still be singing of praise to God.

7.God will still pour out blessings upon His people.

8.There will still be room at the Cross.

9.God will still love you.

10.God will still save the lost when they come to Him.



I am not sure who wrote this originally, I received it in a Martha Pullen newsletter. Every one of those is true!!
I hope that you and your family has a very blessed New Year and that you would make God the focus of it everyday!

Wordless Wednesday -- A Little Help From A Big Sister

Olivia is almost five months old. We have just, in the last few days, started her on baby cereal. This child eats! With the other two it took a few exposures before they were really willing to eat a decent amount of baby cereal, not Olivia.

Well Natalie was very intrigued to see "her baby" sitting in the high chair and eating cereal. She wanted to help - so, I got her a baby doll, a bowl and a spoon. She seemed content feeding her baby as I was feeding Olivia. Content until I had to get up and turn my back for a second that is....

Don't worry -- Olivia didn't REALLY mind! =)

Do you have a Wordless/Wordfull Wednesday that you would like to share? Please feel free to comment and/or link up below!

The Federal Government has mandates regarding what...with our savings accounts??

Seriously?? I am not sure if I am more angry, surprised, or a combination of the two right now.
This morning I went to make an online transfer of funds out of MY savings account, when to my surprise I was greeted with this message from Wells Fargo:

Excess Activity Fees may apply to your savings account if you exceed the federally-mandated, combined total limit of six (6) per month of the following types of transfers and/or withdrawals:

•Transfers via Online Banking (including Bill Pay)
•Transfers made by telephone
•Automatic transfers for Overdraft coverage to your checking account
•Pre-authorized transfers and withdrawals (including automatic and wire transfers)
•Checks, drafts, or other similar withdrawals payable to third parties
•Check Card or ATM Card purchases that post to your savings account
There are no limits on the number of ATM or in-branch withdrawals or transfers. For more information, please refer to your Account Agreement

Okay, the highlight is mine, it is what is really bothering me. Savings accounts are not free, when they are free they come with stipulations - a minimum transfer amount from a checking account each month, a minimum balance, etc. As if that was not enough, now there are federal mandates saying what we can and cannot do with our own money, unless of course we want to incur a fee -- nice way for Obama to get back a little of the billions he wasted?!?
In most months, I do not transfer or withdraw from my savings six times. This month I guess I did, or I would have never known about this. I am seriously upset that the government feels like it is their responsibility to mandate how many times I want to transfer money out of a savings account...
What do you think??

Wordless Wednesday -- Yummy!!

This November when we went to Montana, the girls and I went to church with Oma and Sierra. Papa was going to go hunting while we were at church. When we got home from church this is what we saw. I was kind of surprised because my girls had never really seen a dead animal, but the reacted well!

I am thankful that we were there when Papa got his buck, and that the girls were able to experience this. Not to mention, we are also thankful for the back strap, the roast, and the burger!!!

If you have a WW, link up!

Tassimo Hot Beverage System

There is a new Tassimo machine out -- the T20!
If you don't know what the Tassimo is, check out the review I did of a previous model last year. It is single cup beverage maker - cappuccino, latte, espresso, cocoa, it does it all!
The new one is awesome, it has all the power and capabilities as the tassimo I reviewed last year, but is a sleeker, smaller, more "counter space friendly" model!! I received one on Friday to review and will have that up in the next few days. And guess what --- I will be giving one away on here too!! So keep your eye out for that in the next week or so.

Wordless Wednesday - Happy Birthday, FOUR Year Old!!

Happy Birthday Emily!!

We had a little family dinner Monday for Emily's birthday and she is having a small birthday party Saturday.I can't believe that she is 4 already, it all goes by so fast!

If you have a Wordless Wednesday post that you would like to share, leave a link below! I'll check yours out and leave a comment telling you what I think! :)

A New Winner

The winner of the Nacho Mama T-Shirt contest is not eligible to win, so I drew another winner, the new winning comment is:

Michelle said...

Oh these are so cool! I love the shirts - and with the Star Wars fascination in our house, I think I need my own shirt: http://www.nachomamatees.com/servlet/the-1255/star-wars-vintage-shirt%2C/Detail
November 6, 2010 9:35 PM

Congratulations Michelle! I am emailing you now for shipping information!

We've got winners!

The winner of the NachoMama T-shirt is comment #7:

throuthehaze said...
#1 Follow in Networked blogs-Rae Pavey
throuthehaze at gmail dot com
November 6, 2010 3:43 PM

And the winner of the Mend Mark Bracelet is comment #3:

Marie said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog! I am happily following you now!
I *think* and I could be wrong but, I believe that at first the nails were hammered into his hands. But for some reason, (possibly he wasn't staying very well?) and so they also did His wrists. It is such a gruesome thing to talk about :( but I know it is something like that. OK that probably wasn't very helpful!(:
November 8, 2010 2:38 PM

I will be emailing you shortly for your addresses, please be sure to respond within 48 hours!!