Baked Apple Turnovers {made with Splenda} | #Moms4JNJConsumer #AD

Disclaimer: This post is part of the HEALTHY ESSENTIALS® 2014 program by Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc. and The Motherhood, who sent me a box of products and compensated me for my time. Opinions, experiences and photos shared here are all my own, and I hope you enjoy them.

***

Last month I was excited to kick off 2014 with a little box of goodies from The Motherhood and information on how you can save on Johnson & Johnson Healthy Essentials. And I'm happy to say that the savings on Healthy Essentials are continuing through February. Right in time for Valentine's Day!

This year Valentine's falls on a Friday. Being special needs parents, child care is limited and date nights are rare. We don't really go crazy celebrating. But I try to do a little something to sweeten the day. 

Since we both work on Friday and I don't typically make breakfast, I thought I'd treat The Husband with a heartwarming breakfast treat to enjoy with his coffee. When I found this recipe for Baked Apple Turnovers made with Splenda, I knew it would be perfect.

Splenda is a No Calorie Sweetener and can be used almost anywhere sugar is used, including cooking and baking. It measures cup-for-cup like sugar, but contains 678 calories less than sugar on a cup-for-cup basis. One teaspoon of Splenda contains the sweetness equivalency of one teaspoon of sugar with no calories or carbohydrates. 

Now I'm not much of a baker and my cooking skills are just okay. But I found this recipe easy and quick. And I had all the ingredients in my kitchen (with the exception of the refrigerated pie crust). Since it's Valentine's, I thought it would be fun to use heart shaped cookie cutters. 

Don't they look great? I'm feeling pretty proud of myself considering this was my first time making these.  

Baked Apple Turnovers not your thing, how about  delicious Raspberry Heart Cookies (made with Splenda) that taste as good as they look? You can check out the recipe HERE.

***

How You Can Save: 

You can get significant savings by visiting the HEALTHY ESSENTIALS website in February and signing up for extra-sweet HEALTHY ESSENTIALS® coupons and offers. As you prepare for a special Valentine’s Day, these HEALTHY ESSENTIALS® products and tips can help you be healthy and happy for the ones you love.  

Get a printable coupon for $1 off any SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener product at at HealthyEssentials.com. To sweeten the savings, you could get a free 30 minute nutrition consultation with a Registered Dietitian when you buy $10 of SPLENDA® Sweetener Products between now and February 17, 2014 – up to $75 value! More details on this special offer at HealthyEssentials.com.

***

Disclaimer: This post is part of the HEALTHY ESSENTIALS® 2014 program by Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc. and The Motherhood, who sent me a box of products and compensated me for my time. Opinions, experiences and photos shared here are all my own, and I hope you enjoy them.

Stock Up On Healthy Essentials | #Moms4JNJConsumer #ad

Disclaimer: This post is part of the HEALTHY ESSENTIALS® 2014 program by Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc. and The Motherhood, who sent me a box of products and compensated me for my time. Opinions, experiences and photos shared here are all my own, and I hope you enjoy them.

I have this little ritual around New Year's. I go into major clean mode. I start organizing, sorting and throwing things away. I like going into the New Year feeling like I have a completely fresh start. One of the areas I spent a lot of time was my linen closet. 

My linen closet - by the way - has no linen. It's pretty much a storage space for towels,  toiletries, first aid necessities and other healthy essentials. I toss anything that's expired and if it doesn't have an expiration date - if I can't remember when I bought it, then it goes too. Then I take stock of what I have and what I need. 


Turned out, I needed quite a few things. Luckily I received this beautiful box of Healthy Essentials…

         

And it's great to know that there's a way to save on other healthy essentials not found in my box of goodies. Guess what? You can too. 

Get Significant Savings from Healthy Essentials this Month

To help families usher in a healthy New Year, HEALTHY ESSENTIALS® is offering amazing printable coupons, tips & tools and so much more. Here’s the deal: you can save over $45 by visiting www.HealthyEssentials.com in January and signing up for extra-special HEALTHY ESSENTIALS® coupons and offers.

Now is the perfect time for a fresh start to your healthcare routine and to create healthy resolutions. From pain & allergy relief to dietary & digestive health to products for kids & babies, there are significant savings on items for every member of the family! Visit www.HealthyEssentials.com to sign up!

I am excited to join Johnson & Johnson Family of Consumer Companies for a Twitter party to talk about HEALTHY ESSENTIALS® for the New Year, resolutions, family wellness and how to score great deals on health and hygiene products! Learn how HEALTHY ESSENTIALS® can help you reach health-related goals for 2014.

When: Tuesday, January 14, 1 p.m. ET

Hashtag: #Moms4JNJConsumer 

Hosts: @theMotherhood, @CooperMunroe, @EmilyMcKhann, @TheMotherhood25 

Prizes: We will randomly award 15 prizes throughout the party, from all eligible correct responses to trivia questions. Each prize includes an assortment of Johnson & Johnson Family of Consumer Companies HEALTHY ESSENTIALS® products with an estimated retail value of $50.

Prize Eligibility: No purchase necessary. Entrants must be legal residents of the 50 United States + D.C. 18 years of age or older. Void where prohibited.

Want to go to 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™? Visit HealthyEssentials.com and see if your wish could come true. Plus, get tips and coupons to save on your favorite products for the New Year.

All you have to do is share a picture or story of a moment of caring in your life and you could scream “GOAL!” from Brazil.

Visit www.healthyessentials.com for more information on this amazing opportunity!

Disclaimer: This post is part of the HEALTHY ESSENTIALS® 2014 program by Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc. and The Motherhood, who sent me a box of products and compensated me for my time. Opinions, experiences and photos shared here are all my own, and I hope you enjoy them.

Gifts for Everyone at Best Buy | #bbyHoliday13

Disclaimer: The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free. 

Last week The Husband and I started our holiday shopping. And the first place we hit was Best Buy - always our go to store when we have to buy gifts for The Boy. The Boy is really into movies and video games (especially Disney Infinity). Since The Boy's birthday is in January we do all of his shopping at once and set a few gifts aside for his birthday.

    

We picked up Disney Planes. We took The Boy to see it when it came out and he really enjoyed it and has some of the planes. We know it will make a great stocking stuffer! And I don't know how you do your holiday shopping but we always manage to pick up a little something for us too. The Husband picked up The World's End. Before walking away from the DVD section, I pointed out the Downton Abby (seasons 1 - 3) box set - in case The Husband wanted any ideas on what to get me. 

The Boy has really loved playing Disney Infinity and he's also a huge Toy Story fan. So we picked up the Toy Story Play Set and Woody figure. There are still a few more things we'll pick up before Christmas, but these were the items we really wanted him to have. The Husband also enjoys playing Disney Infinity and has his eye on a few figures for himself. (Think I'll surprise him…sssshhhhh!)

Need more ideas for Gifts for the Kids?

• Digital Barbie Makeover Kit
• Let your child transform an Apple iPad into a makeup mirror with this Barbie digital makeover kit, which includes a vanity frame and utilizes a downloadable app to let your little beautician apply virtual eye shadow, lipstick and more.
• Fisher Price Little People Apptivity Barnyard
• Compatible with select Apple® iPad® models, this Fisher-Price Little People Apptivity barnyard features 6 play pieces that interact with your device in a variety of ways to capture your child's imagination and attention.  

How about ideas for Gifts for Everyone else on your list?

• Fitbit
• Misfit Shine
• Jawbone Up
• Logitech Headphones & Speakers

Our go to gifts for friends, family and the kids in our lives:  

• Games/Gaming: Best Buy has the latest Xbox and PlayStation consoles, the hottest game releases and everything else you need for a great gaming experience.
• Music/Movies/Musical Instruments: Best Buy offers terrific deals on the best entertainment stocking stuffers. We always check out Best Buy on new movie Tuesday - it's a great way to save on new releases!

No matter what your budget, you can find the perfect gift at Best Buy. For more gift ideas check out the Best Buy Gift Center.

And now for an exclusive savings offer starting Dec. 1, 2013 through  Jan. 15, 2014

• Exclusive Savings Offer 1: 15% off Health & Fitness and Fisher Price & Mattel Toys. To redeem online enter bloggers15off at checkout click HERE.
• Exclusive Savings Offer 2: 10% off Headphones and Portable speakers (some exclusions apply). To redeem online enter bloggers10off at checkout click HERE.

Disclaimer: The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month | Pass the #PurplePurse

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Latina Bloggers Connect and The Allstate Foundation.  All opinions expressed are my own.   

As part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, Purple Purse, The Allstate Foundation’s symbol for domestic violence, proudly represents a woman’s way to escape the cycle of abuse by gaining financial independence. Now in its third year, The Allstate Foundation’s Purple Purse campaign has pledged to donate up to $350,000 to the YWCA for programs designed at assisting survivors of domestic violence and other women in need.

Growing up one of the lessons my mother and madrina (godmother) worked hard to instill, was financial independence. "Every woman needs her own little savings...because you just never know," they always said. They taught me to take care of myself. They raised me to be in a relationship I wanted, not one that I needed.

I feel lucky to have married a man like The Husband. Not only do I have financial independence, but I also have a sense of security. I am loved. And I am safe.

Unfortunately, not every woman can say the same. Domestic violence affects one in four women in their lifetime – that’s more women than breast cancer, ovarian cancer and lung cancer combined. 

Domestic violence impacts millions of women, children and families but very few people discuss it openly. Many may suspect and turn a blind eye, "it's none of my business," they may think.

Victims of abuse often feel a sense of shame or feelings of fault. It's a subject most people don't feel comfortable talking about. More than one-third of Americans have never discussed the issue with family or friends and Purple Purse provides a conversation starter.

Lacking financial knowledge and resources is the number one indicator of whether a domestic violence victim will stay, leave or return to an abusive relationship.

By passing the Purple Purse, you are not only sharing information about domestic violence and financial abuse but you are placing the power directly into people’s hands with a purple purse.

If you suspect a loved one is a victim of domestic violence, offer support without judgement or criticism.

Don't be scared to share your concerns but use your words carefully to avoid confrontation. 

Encourage her to seek help and reassure her you'll hold her hand every step of the way.

For every purple purse passed through the end of October, The Allstate Foundation will donate $5 to YWCA. We’ll give up to $350,000 for programs aimed to help domestic violence survivors and stop the cycle of abuse.

Visit PurplePurse.com to follow the purple purses on their journey around the country, track the YWCA’s progress toward their goal to earn $350,000 from The Allstate Foundation and get tips to help you start talking about domestic violence.

If you need immediate help, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or TTY 1-800-787-3224.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Latina Bloggers Connect and The Allstate Foundation. All opinions expressed are my own.   

Show Someone You Care When They're Sick #KleenexSWS

It wasn't often that I was sick enough that my mother kept me home from school. But when she did, I enjoyed every moment of it. I got her full attention. I got to lay in her bed and watch TV. She brushed my hair back, pressing a cool washcloth over my face. She made her special chicken soup and served me tall glasses of ginger ale with crushed ice. 

The Boy is a pretty healthy kid and it's rare that I keep him home from school. But when I do - it's really tough. Because he can't tell me what's wrong. I have to guess. 

But as hard as it is seeing him sick, I sort of like it. Not like that he's sick. But there's a small part of me that likes that he needs me. I like that, for a few hours, he slows down. He'll lay in my lap and let me read a story without getting up once. And the first time The Boy spontaneously said I love you - was when he was sick.

And those times when he's so sick, he won't get up out of bed and I have to sit him up and hold a cup of juice with crushed ice to his mouth, helping him drink. As I press a cool washcloth over his head, I hope he gets better. Because while I like that he slows down long enough to need me, it hurts to see him helpless. 

As mom's we want to provide comfort to our loved ones they're sick. And part of that comfort is using a soft tissue. 

That's why I love Kleenex tissues. Because when someone sick and sneezing - who wants to blow their nose with sand paper? I was really excited to receive my share pack in the mail. Since I already have my supply of tissues at home for The Boy, I'm taking my share pack to the office and sharing with my coworkers. Because you never you know when someone will need a soft tissue to ease their comfort and make them feel better.   

Would love to send you a share pack! Leave a comment below telling me how you show someone you care when they're sick.

 *Giveaway is open to U.S. residents
* Must be 18 years & older to enter
* Giveaway ends Friday, December 14, 2012 11:59pm EST
* Winner will be chosen randomly via random.org & I will email the winner by Sat 12/16 

Learn more about, visit Kleenex on Facebook

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Latina Bloggers Connect and Kleenex. All statements and opinions are my own.

Captain America Mask & Shield is Great for Pretend Play #HasbroHoliday

I remember when The Boy was initially going through the evaluation process. The doctor handed The Boy a toy car. Instead of "driving" the car and/or making "vroom vroom" sounds, The Boy, held the toy car close to his eyes and started spinning its wheels. And the doctor said, "I see he has no pretend play skills."

It's pretty hard to imagine a kid with no pretend play skills. It's the kind of thing many parents take for granted. Pretend play needed to be taught to him. And four years later, it is still something we work on.  (Though I am happy to report that The Boy has a collection of cars that he "drives" all over the apartment.)

But lately, The Boy has taken an interest in Super Heroes. And since The Husband is a huge comic book/super hero fan - I love that they have that shared interest. 

We were really excited to receive a this cool Captain America Hero Mask ($8.99 - 5 years & up) & Captain America Triple Blast Shield ($19.99 - 5 years & up) from Hasbro.

The Boy really loved putting on the mask and looking at himself in the mirror. The cool part about the mask is that it adjusts to fit adults - so Mom & Dad can get in on the fun too. He ran around the apartment with his mask and shield pretending to be Captain America. The Husband set up some action figures on a book case and The Boy was able to use the Triple Blast Shield to knock them down. He really got a kick out of that. And it was great to see how far he's come with his pretend play skills. 

For more information be sure to visit www.hasbro.com. They have super cool holiday gifts for kids of all ages. 

I am also really excited to host a great giveaway*. 

One of you could win this Captain America Mask & Triple Blast Shield too. And I'm making this super easy. All you need to is leave a comment below telling me: 

Which Marvel hero toys and action figures are 

YOUR kids requesting this holiday season?

* Giveaway is open to U.S. residents
* Must be 18 years & older to enter
* Giveaway ends Friday, December 14, 2012 11:59pm EST
* Winner will be chosen randomly via random.org & I will email the winner by Sat 12/16 

This is part of a product review campaign with Latina Mom Bloggers and Hasbro; complimentary products were provided.  However, all opinions expressed are my own.

Just Because I'm Stressed Out, Doesn't Mean I Can't Have #FreshSkin

I can't believe next week is Thanksgiving. And in a few more weeks, I'll have finished another semester of graduate school. I have to register for the Spring semester and prepare my thesis. I still have a bunch of papers to write - I've kind of fallen behind on my school stuff. And then Christmas will be here soon too which means shopping and decorating...

I'm not going to lie. Writing all this down, thinking about all that needs to get done in the next few weeks sort of has me stressed out. 

And when I'm stressed out, I break out. (Because I forget about the little things like washing my face twice a day.) And when I break out - I don't feel my feel my best. Which is especially stressful because this is also the time of year when there are parties and gatherings and people want to take pictures and instantly upload them on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.     And who wants to be photographed not looking or feeling their best? Certainly not me.

So I'm really excited about Neutrogena's Oil-Free Pink Grapefruit line of products.  

The Pink Grapefruit cream, gel and cleansers contain the patented MicroClear Technology that cuts through oil to speed the delivery of maximum-strength acne medicine, salicylic acid (2%) to the source of breakouts. And all the products are gentle enough for everyday use.
Neutrogena's Oil-Free Pink Grapefruit products leaves my face feeling fresh and clean and the citrus scent gives me that burst of energy I need - especially in the morning.

I condition myself to wash my face twice a day - right after brushing my teeth (in the morning and night). I'm already at the sink and it takes a few extra minutes. I think I'm worth the time. And I know I'll be Instagram ready.    

I cannot wait for the NEW! Neutrogena Oil-Free Cleansing Wipes Pink Grapefruit for Acne Prone-Skin (available January 2012). The wipes are great to keep in my desk drawer at work or in my bag. Because I am the kind of busy multi-tasking mom who will walk and wipe. 



This post is compensated and in collaboration with Neutrogena and Latina Bloggers Connect, all opinions are my own. 

Celebrate National Coffee Day with NesCafe & Coffee Mate

It's Saturday morning and of course The Boy is up at 6 am. There is no such thing as 'sleeping in' at Casa de Fontanez. And so when he gets up, I get up. Because if I don't...it usually results in spilled milk, melted ice cream or crushed cheerios.

And the first thing I do when I get up is make a cup of coffee.

I'm a mom who takes my coffee seriously. Because if my coffee isn't made right, my day doesn't feel right. And my coffee needs creamer. I love Coffee Mate's Natural Bliss creamer. It's rich and creamy and I can enjoy my coffee without a lot of guilt.

And mid week, if you're at work and in need of an afternoon pick me up - the NesCafe Memento is the perfect choice. The slim packs fit in a purse or a pocket, making it convenient for the office or school. All you need is a cup and hot water. NesCafe Momento will warm you up on those cool autumn afternoons.

What makes coffee even better? Having coffee with friends so I'm excited that I get to share. I'm giving away a 5 coupons for a FREE bottle of Coffee Mate Natural Bliss cream (16 oz bottle, up to $2.79 coupon void in Colorado, Missouri, Louisiana, Tennesse)  and a box of NesCafe Memento. 

So let's celebrate National Coffee Day and have a cup together.  

How to enter? So easy...Just leave a comment.  

This giveaway will end Saturday October 6th at 11:59pm EST. Winner will be announced on Facebook & Twitter by Monday, October 8th.  Be sure to follow me on twitter @LaliQuin  and/or “Like” the AutismWonderland Facebook page. Winner will have 24 hours to reply.

Disclaimer: I was provided with a complimentary coupons for Coffee Mate Natural Bliss coffee creamer and Nescafe Mememto . All opinions are my own.