The Kroger Co. Family of Stores, General Mills, NBC’s hit TV Show “The Biggest Loser” and other key sponsors are partnering to donate up to $1,080,000 to Feeding America this year through the Pound for Pound Challenge.

Here´s how you can help:

• Visit www.pfpchallenge.com/Kroger to make your pledge to lose weight and to get more information and to find tools to change your life for the better. It is free, easy and only takes a minute to make a change that can help you and help the hungry in your local community.
• Through June 30, 2010, for every pound you pledge to lose, the Pound For Pound Challenge will donate 14¢ to Feeding America® – enough to deliver one pound of groceries to a local food bank.
• Spread the word about the Pound for Pound challenge by “Like”-ing the Facebook page and publishing it to your Facebook community.

For my part, I have pledged to lose 5 pounds.  That doesn’t sound like much, but I have had such a hard time getting motivated to get healthy – I know if I can just lose the first 5 pounds, the results will encourage me to keep going.  I’ll be using a combination of exercise on the Wii Fit, our new Gazelle Edge, and implementing better eating habits (including LOTS of water!) to meet my goal.

To encourage you to pledge in the Pound for Pound challenge, Kroger is giving away a $30 gift card*, which you can use to purchase items like the General Mills products featured in The Biggest Loser diet (like Yoplait Greek yogurt, Total, and Multigrain Cheerios).  To enter, please answer in a comment to this post:  what’s the first step you will take (or have taken) to becoming more healthy?  US entries only, please.

For extra entries, chose any of the following and leave an individual comment telling me which method you used:

• Tweet about this giveaway (put username or link in comment)
• subscribe via RSS or email
• “friend” me via Google Friend Connect (see bottom of page)
• “Like” my blog’s new Facebook Page!

All entries due by 11:59pm (CST) Monday, June 21st.  Good luck!

*The Kroger gift card is valid at all Kroger Family of Stores, including:  Kroger, Fred Meyer, Ralph´s, King Soopers, City Market, Dillon’s, Smith´s, Fry´s, QFC, Baker´s, Owen´s, Jay C Food Stores, Hilander, Gerbes, Food4Less, Pay Less Super Markets and Scott´s Food & Pharmacy.

**Disclosure:  the Kroger Family of Stores gift card, information, and giveaway were all provided by the Kroger Family of Stores and General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

CLOSED: Kroger’s Pound for Pound Challenge & a $30 Gift Card Giveaway is original, copywritten content (unless otherwise indicated) by Stacey Nerdin for her blog Tree, Root, and Twig. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

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Until recently, I hadn’t even thought about Mother’s Cookies not being available everywhere in the US.  The yummy treats seemed like such a “normal” part of childhood, I figured everyone shared the memory of the cute Mother’s logo and delightful taste of  my all-time favorite pink & white frosted Circus Animal cookies.  You know what made those my favorite?  The crack of the frosting, plus the crunch of the cookie, then the snap of the colored sprinkles = YUM!

Well, it turns out that not everyone *has* had the pleasure of buying Mother’s Cookies, as they are only now branching into markets in Kansas City and the midwest.  Lucky you!  Whether it’s a bag of chocolate chip cookies, a tray of iced oatmeal cookies, or another of Mother’s delicious cookies, I’m sure you’ll enjoy these as a special family treat.  Folks in Kansas City and the midwest – as well as all around the country! – can use the Store Locator to see where Mother’s Cookies are sold, or buy online from Amazon’s Mother’s Cookies storefront.

For more information on Mother’s Cookies market expansion, here’s a remarkably interesting press release on the topic. (and trust me, I don’t usually offer press releases as recommended reading!)

And finally, because I adore the spirit and nostaliga of these commercials, here’s a collection of old Mother’s Cookies commercials, filmed with actual employees (years of service are listed for each).  Enjoy!

*Disclosure [and a note]:  “I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Mother’s Cookies and received two bags of cookies and a $20 Amazon gift certificate to facilitate my review.” [By the way, we received the Circus Animal Mother's Cookies while the kids were home and I was at the grocery store.  My 5 kids ate an entire bag of the cookies before I even got home, but they were gracious enough to save me the second bag.  Clearly I am raising Mother's Cookies fans of my own.]

Mother’s Cookies Expands Market to Kansas City and the Midwest is original, copywritten content (unless otherwise indicated) by Stacey Nerdin for her blog Tree, Root, and Twig. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

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In April, our family was able to review the amazing chocolates and fruit confections from the new WONKA EXCEPTIONALS line of candies.  We fell in love with the rich, creamy chocolate and the flavorful, fruity confections, and now keep an eye out for them whenever we’re at the store.  (I like to keep a stash of the single-wrapped chocolates hidden behind the flour bin in the pantry….shhhhhh.)

With the introduction of the WONKA EXCEPTIONALS line, WONKA has brought back the nostalgia of finding a Golden Ticket, complete with amazing prizes.  Golden Tickets are available on specially-marked WONKA chocolate bars and bags, and prizes include:

• 10 Grand Prizes:  A trip around the world with four destinations, three travel companions, and $12,500 in spending money
• 98 First prizes:  $500 airline voucher to the destination of your choice
• 392 Second prizes:  $50 gift card to Ticketmaster
• 588 Third prizes:  Movie certificates good at participating movie theatres
• 2,841 Fourth prizes:  Chocolate, chocolate, and more chocolate!

The wonderful folks at WONKA want to help you find a Golden Ticket by offering an incredibly generous giveaway of WONKA EXCEPTIONALS here at Tree, Root, and Twig!

Up for grabs are TWO PRIZE PACKS that will include FIVE EACH of the new WONKA EXCEPTIONALS chocolate bars, and ONE EACH of the new WONKA EXCEPTIONALS fruit confections.  That’s 21 delicious WONKA EXCEPTIONALS candies for TWO of you to enjoy!

FIVE (5) of each!

One (1) of each

To enter, please answer in a comment to this post:  which Golden Ticket prize would you like to win, and how would you use it?  (where would you go, or what band/show would you see, or what movie would you go to?).  US entries only, please.

For extra entries, chose any of the following and leave an individual comment telling me which method you used:

• Tweet about this giveaway (put username or link in comment)
• subscribe via RSS or email
• “friend” me via Google Friend Connect (see bottom of page)
• “Like” my blog’s new Facebook Page!

All entries due by 11:59pm (CST) Monday, June 7th.  Good luck!

*Disclosure:  I received nothing in the way of product or compensation for posting this giveaway.  Just the pure joy from knowing that two of you will receive some of the tastiest candies around.  Thank you, WONKA!

CLOSED – WONKA EXCEPTIONALS: A Golden Ticket Giveaway! is original, copywritten content (unless otherwise indicated) by Stacey Nerdin for her blog Tree, Root, and Twig. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

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Mrs. Prindable’s has been creating gourmet chocolate and caramel covered apples longer than anyone – 25 years, in fact.  They use only the highest quality, freshest ingredients for their apples and other handmade confection gifts.  With a reputation for excellence and an overall amazing gift-giving/receiving experience, Mrs. Prindable’s apples are offered online and through catalog, and during the holidays at high-end department stores like Saks 5th Avenue, Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus, and Lord & Taylor.

I’m guessing the person behind the “apple a day” saying never saw a Mrs. Prindable’s Gourmet Caramel Apple – one of these amazing handmade confections is big enough and delicious enough to enjoy for much longer!

Seriously, the Jumbo Caramel Apple from Mrs. Prindable’s weighs in at 1.5 pounds and serves 8-10 people.  The smaller Petite Caramel Apple tips the scales at a respectable 8oz and serves 1-2 people.

Mrs. Prindables Petite and Jumbo Caramel Apples

I received the Triple Chocolate Jumbo Caramel Apple for review from Mrs. Prindable’s through my association with MomImpact.  The Granny Smith apple came beautifully packaged in a royal purple box with bow, and the apple itself (with signature purple Mrs. Prindable’s bow) was breathtaking – almost a piece of art!  At first I didn’t know where to start, but once I lined up a large, sharp knife with the centered stick, I was able to easily slice small, delectable pieces of apple.  I think I stood at the kitchen counter for fifteen solid minutes, just slicing and nibbling, slicing and nibbling.  The apple was SO fresh, and the white, dark, and milk chocolates and caramel were amazing!

The classic gourmet jumbo apple also comes in 7 other flavors: 

• dark chocolate delight
• double chocolate peanut butter almond
• milk chocolate walnut pecan
• milk chocolate toffee walnut
• dark chocolate cashew
• dark chocolate splendor
• milk chocolate pecan 

{I think I just gained five pounds typing that out…oh my wow!}  There are also jumbo apples for special occasions - INCLUDING MOTHER’S DAY – and petite apple gift assortments.

Mrs Prindables Mothers Day 4-Pack Petite Apple Gift

Order by noon CST on May 5th, and any Mother’s Day selections will be delivered on May 7th.  But you don’t even have to wait that long – order early and choose your delivery date from their interactive calendar!

Also, follow Mrs. Prindables on Facebook, and enter every two weeks for a chance to win one of their apple giveaways.

*Disclosure:  I received a Mrs. Prindable’s apple to facilitate this review.  No other compensation was given.

Mrs. Prindable’s Gourmet Caramel Apple {Review} is original, copywritten content (unless otherwise indicated) by Stacey Nerdin for her blog Tree, Root, and Twig. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

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Last Monday at about 12:15 in the afternoon, I received a package of new WONKA Exceptionals chocolate bars and fruit confections for review on my blog. My 16yo daughter happened to be home sick from school, and I let her try a few of the candies. Her reaction?

 She literally ran to her Facebook page and posted that update within 15 minutes of trying the candy – it cracked me up so much I just had to share!

What’s great is that my entire family has felt similar enthusiasm for this new WONKA Exceptionals line.  We received samples of every new product, including:

• WONKA Chocolate Waterfall Bar – white chocolate swirled in dark chocolate
• WONKA Domed Dark Chocolate Bar – dark chocolate topped with milk chocolate drops
• WONKA Scrumdiddlyumptious Chocolate Bar – milk chocolate with bits of toffee, crispy cookie, and peanuts

• WONKA Fruit Jellies – in Grapefruit, Red Apple, and Goji Berry
• WONKA Fruit Marvels – hard candies with soft centers, in Clementine Orange, White Grape, and Pomegranite
• Worth noting:  All of these fruit confections are made with natural ingredients, no artificial colors, and 25% real fruit juice.

The chocolates were creamy, the fruit candies incredibly flavorful.  Everything was so bold of such high quality, it was hard to pick a favorite!  BUT…I would have to say that I particularly enjoyed the Chocolate Waterfall bar and the Red Apple fruit jellies.  I also love how all the products are packaged – they are fanciful, yet sophisticated, and are appropriate for casual gift giving.  I went out of town for a week shortly after receiving our package of WONKA Exceptionals products, and I’m happy to say my family showed great restraint and saved a few candies for when I got home (which was last night…and I happily polished off what they left for me!).

FOR YOUR INFORMATION:  WONKA Exceptionals chocolates are now in stores nationwide for a suggested retail price of $2.39 for each 3.5oz tablet bar and $4.29 for each 8.5oz-9.5oz bag of minis.  WONKA Exceptionals fruit confections can be found exclusively at Walmart stores for a suggested retail price of $2.99 for each 5oz box and $1.99 for each 1.9oz tin of Fruit Marvels.  Target stores nationwide will begin carrying the WONKA Exceptionals fruit candies beginning in June.

*Disclosure:  I was provided with the entire line of WONKA Exceptionals candies in order to facilitate this review.  No other compensation was given.

WONKA Exceptionals: A New Line of Decadent Chocolate Bars and Fruit Confections is original, copywritten content (unless otherwise indicated) by Stacey Nerdin for her blog Tree, Root, and Twig. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

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