Help End Childhood Cancer w/ Sweet Lemonade PEEPS Giveaway

*** I received samples of the new PEEPS Sweet Lemonade and Bubblegum, Summer varieties, for the purpose of this feature. No other compensation was provided. All images are copyright Momma Told Me Blog 2013.
Momma Told Me: There's nothing like a tall glass of lemonade in the middle of Summer!

Traditionally Wednesday posts are often light and fluffy, especially during the Summer when we bowl league on Wednesdays and are often scrambling between school and meals. Today I decided to take a little foray from the 'usual' structure to share a little post I've been holding onto for a few weeks. Consider it a sort of 'Summertime is here' declaration. Though the topic of today's post is certainly sweet and fluffy, one of the most important aspects of today's product feature is the philanthropic cause it supports; Alex's Lemonade Stand. Before I go into what this charity is all about, I have a few sentiments of my own to share.

When I was barely 4, many of my readers know, Momma was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkins Lymphoma (cancer). While I'm certain the adults in my life did their bet to keep me blissfully ignorant as to the purpose of Momma's long-term absence, I do recall visiting her in her hospital bed that Easter. You seem for me, PEEPS have never been an 'Easter' treat, and they're more of a plaything than edible wonder. Everyone has their favorite, bunnys vs chicks, pink vs blue; but to me, PEEPS made memories. As we pranced those colorful little marshmallow critters across Momma's bedside desk I became entirely unaware of the confusion and fear I had felt when first entering. I cared not that we all had been forced to scrub and wear gowns, or that Momma's long, beautiful blonde hair was now gone. I was simply a little girl playing with her marshmallow friends and Momma.

I share this memory in hopes of connecting with you on a more personal level. It is my firm belief that, as great as 'cancer' foundations are, we need to stop labeling cancer by it's cause. Whether it affects the breasts, colon, skin, ore what-have-you, cancer is a an unwanted guest in our bodies and lives. No matter where it resides, a cure is called for each and every kind. So, while I generally 'poo poo' specific cancer organizations, in an attempt to support cancer research of ALL kinds, there is one charity and cause that is particularly close to my heart. As a child I had a parent with cancer, and it was terrifying; I can only imagine the fear that must grip the parents of children fighting this disease- or the bravery called for when facing this foe in your youth. Believe it or not, Alex's Lemonade Stand is founded precisely as it sounds. A brave 4 year old girl, fighting childhood cancer, asked her parent's to set up a front yard lemonade stand to help raise money for the doctors who fought so hard to cure her.

4 year-old Alexandra Scott, while fighting cancer, raised over $2000 in one day, with a little help from her older brother, and a considerable amount more in the years that followed. Sadly, Alex passed away at the age of eight, but her legacy did not end. In 2005 Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer was founded by her parents, who have helps to raise awareness and funds (over $60 million) in the years since. Now you can spread a little extra sweetness by picking up the limited edition Summertime Sweet Lemonade PEEPS at a local store near you. A portion of all profits for these special little chicks will go directly to the Alex's Lemonade Stand non-profit organization! Whether you're a PEEPS fan or not, this is a wonderful cause; pick up a surprise package for the PEEPS lover in your life, or one for every kid you know. Be sure to tell them it's much more than a sweet little marshmallow, it's hope for millions of children fighting childhood cancer.

Now, I know PEEPS can be a love or hate type of specialty treat- personally, I always loved playing with them much more than eating them. The plain PEEPS, with their sugar coating, were always a bit too sweet for me. When the Sweet Lemonade PEEPS landed on our doorstep for review I was immediately won over by the adorable little yellow sugar 'sparkles' that reminded me of the rainbow sparkle Anniversary PEEPS. It's now my opinion that anyone who is a fan of lemonade should hunt these down, the result is quite unexpected, with a slightly sour lemon based mallow coated in delightfully textured sugar crystals. This is a SWEET Lemonade flavor with light zings of lemon, and impressively delicate in sugar flavoring. Just in case you are still thinking PEEPS are a Spring treat- I cut some lemons in half, cored them out and poured Lemon JELLO in them. Once they had set and chilled I sliced them up into wedges and arranged them into little pinwheel daisies with Sweet Lemonade PEEPS centers. All of your backyard guests will be clamoring to know how you made these little treats, and excited to find this exclusive PEEPS Summer flavor! And, while you're at it, why not encourage your child/ren to set up their own Alex's Lemonade Stand this Summer?

****Stay tuned for the second half of our Summer PEEPS special posts, next up: Bubblegum PEEPS Cupcakes!

What Daughter Says: Spread the Alex's Lemonade Stand Cause and a little extra sweetness with Sweet Lemonade PEEPS this Summer!

A Feline Summer? Put Up All 4 With The @CatCrib Giveaway 6/2

***I received a sample product from Cat Crib to facilitate my review. Regardless, all opinions are original and all images contained there in are property of Momma Told Me Blog 2013.
Momma Told Me: Who's home is this, yours or the cat's?

It has been a while since my last pet post, and for that, I am sorry. The intent has been to keep pet content to the Pet Blog, Time Out For Truffles, but the first half of this year has sufficiently kicked my blogger bum. In any case, I am happy to report I have resumed regular blogging on the Pet Blog, and all interested in such content should subscribe now for 3-4 pet related posts a week. Now, on to today's foray into animal merchandising. Any feline owner knows that one does not simply own a cat; the cat owns you. Try to argue otherwise, but when we really take a look at this human to feline relationship it's astounding there aren't more 'Crazy Cat Ladies.' At this very moment in time there is a fine layer of fur floating whimsically across my laptop keypad, and a catnip mouse beneath my feet. Don't get me wrong, we love our pup just as much as the cat; but poor 5lb Nora is no match for our 4.8lb Tuxedo cat. No, I'm not talking turf wars, I'm referring to freedom and mobility. Felines have the prowess to scale the tallest furniture, and wriggle between the most unlikely of cracks.

Some of you may recall a little post I did a month or so back about the strange pet sightings we've had in our home. The very first day we moved in I found Ms. Truffles sitting atop the kitchen counter alongside a pot. Some things are simply inevitable in our home. If there is an open box on the floor, there will be a cat in it. If you leave your laptop open long enough, without your hands at work, there will be a cat on the keyboard (and sometimes while you're typing too). And if Momma, me in this case, has a favorite spot to sit or relax, Truffles will curl up to replace her in her absence. For a while, and still from time to time, Truffles treated our printer as a daybed, lounging with all fours flailing off the sides, lazily staring out the window. The obvious solution would be to provide the cat her own designated space to look out the window; unfortunately for us, the printer is located directly next to a quite expensive cat tree. Much like toddlers, however, cats don't want what they are given; they are much too independent to be told where they should lounge!

Seating is fairly limited in our 2 bedroom condo, which makes me glad to know that Truffles will sufficiently lounge wherever. Unfortunately, when anyone takes interest in the dining room table, she immediately has to be amidst the action, and sitting on one of our four dining chairs. When I am home Truffles is usually not far away, and this can become a problem when guests arrive. I'm embarrassed to admit our furry kids have almost as much furniture as the humans, and I simply cannot invest more space for them. So, when I discovered the space saving Cat Crib I instantly wanted one for our home. This unique hammock of sorts is affordable and discreet, fitting under nearly any chair or side table (anything with 4 legs). It attaches with 4 grip lined straps that feed through buckles and Velcro to secure around each leg of your table/chair. Cats, finicky creatures by nature, tend to need small 'safe' spaces they can lounge in, while feeling safe. The hammock space can be adjusted to provide optimal privacy and support for any feline, and is entirely fuss free- it's machine washable!

The exterior of the Cat Crib is a tough and easy to clean Nylon material that comes in an assortment of design friendly colors, with a black fleece lining for comfort. Upon unpacking I immediately knew I wanted to place the Cat Crib under one of our dining chairs, though the chair base is more of a trapezoid than uniform square, and the chair's rungs are at varied heights. At first the straps kept slipping, until I realized I was not placing the buckle on the outer rim of the chair leg, and one of the straps was inside out (the rubber grip should be hugging your chair's leg). Truffles is just under 5lbs, as an adult, and on the small side of felines, so I knew instantly I needed to reread the directions when the Cat Crib was slipping with a 5lb cat! Once all of that was sorted (installation is a breeze if you read the directions properly), I knew my next chore would be gaining Truffle's interest. It's not easy guiding a cat to a new lounging location when they already have so many awesome favorites!

To introduce Truffles to the Cat Crib I placed the dining room chair by her favorite bird watching window (the porch), and slinked back into the shadows to watch. It didn't take long for her to begin sniffing and marking (rubbing her whiskers) the chair and Cat Crib, though she was hesitant at first. After a good 10 minutes of 'will she or won't she' Truffles hopped into the suspended cat hammock. She didn't waste time sprawling out in approval, her tail swaying in content over the edge. A few times I saw her eyes grow heavy, and her head dangle sleepily over the side, a cheesy "I'm chasing mice in my head" grin on her face. In all, we're very pleased with the construction and durability of this pet furniture. It's virtually undetectable with the chair pushed into our dining area, and provides Truffles a safe and quiet place to retreat when guests come over and the house get's hectic. Now, if only we could keep the dog from climbing in it!

What Daughter Says: Reclaim your space and keep your feline happy with the Cat Crib.

One Momma Told Me follower will win a Cat Crib in their color of choice!

I Can See Clearly Now The Frames Are Gone- ACUVUE Moist

***I received a 1 month trial of new ACUVUE Moist Astigmatism 1-Day lenses for an editorial here on the blog. Regardless all opinions are authentic, and all images original content, copyright Momma Told Me Blog 2013.
Momma Told Me: I'll wear Coke bottles, so long as I can see!

I'm not going to lie, I love my glasses; but that just may be because I've been wearing them nearly every day for 20 years. Believe me, the first time Momma drug me through Lenscrafters, at 6, I was absolutely mortified. Peering up at Momma's circa 80s frames, with lenses as big as an orange in width, I wanted no part in the fashion statement that would only further extend my awkward social status. I'd already had my gorgeous long hair chopped into a bowl cut, thanks to the great hair cleaning incident of '91, and was about to inherit a pair of round metal frames with a nylon neck catcher on them. It was a very low day in my childhood; one I'd avoided for months with lively declarations that I was not squinting in class. As it turns out, my decline in vision was just beginning, and would prove to be a lifelong 'circumstance,' as these things tend to be. So I learned to live with my frames, even hide behind them, and invested in as many pairs as possible to help ease the impact on my fashion life.

Sometime shortly before graduating high school I finally convinced my father to allow me to be fitted for a contact prescription. Back then the lenses that were available were quite hard and rigid, intended for multiple wears throughout the week. I didn't care much for the handling involved with my eyes, but was more concerned with decreasing my nerd status (graduating at 16), and toughed it out. That was until, I moved out on my own and, sans insurance, was faced with swallowing $300 for a pair of new frames of $580 for a year of contacts. So back to glasses I went, until several years later I found the finances to foray into the frame-less world once more. I tell you this because that last lens fitting experience was a nightmare for me. All my life I have had astigmatism, the football shape the cornea assumes from excessive squinting, with the condition being more pronounced in my left eye. At the time, some 3 years ago, I returned to my optometrist for 4 fittings, all without finding a lens that would sit stationery on my left eye.

I was heartbroken; I had learned to love my frames, but living as an adult with my eyes hung off my nose 365/7 was not all flowers and giggles. There are many things us glasses wearers have to contend with and even forgo due to our extended eyes. One of the things I seem to encounter most commonly today is the need to don 3-D spectacles when out to view a feature film in a theater. Every other blockbuster hit is cranked out in the latest technology, HD 3D, and that means putting smeared plastic glasses over my own frames; the experience is NOT the same. And don't even get me started on visiting a theme park with the family, where I have to tote around a glasses case the entire afternoon to secure my frames on rides. And, since I can't see more than 1 foot in front of my face, without my 'eyes,' it's simply not the same thrill everyone else gets. And don't even get me started on how embarrassing it is to have to fumble with smeared and sliding frames during smooch time on date nights! Yes, I love the fashion and expression my everyday frames offer, but having contact lenses on hand simply open my world to more everyday opportunities.

After cutting nearly all sugar from my diet late last year I noticed an immediate and (to me) dramatic change in my vision. Some things that had once been crisp now seemed blurred, almost doubled, through my prescription frames. Alarmed I visited my optometrist, a year before my old prescription was due for renewal, and had my eyes examined. While it turns out I was simply being one of "the most visually discerning patients" my optometrist had ever encountered (my vision had changed, but only by the slightest margins), it was also the perfect time to investigate the health of my eyes. I agreed to a full retina mapping (it's as simple as looking in a computer window for 20 seconds), and prepared myself to hear the "have you ever tried contacts" shpeel again. I immediately opened my mouth to protest, telling the optometrist that contacts simply didn't work for me, when he handed me a flyer for new 1-Day ACUVUE Moist Astigmatism. He informed me that, even in the past 3 years, advances had been made in contact lens technology, and this particular lens was his personal top pick.

I was entirely skeptical, but agreed to the added measurement costs, and waited anxiously for my special ordered prescription sample lenses to come in. It took me near a half hour to get both of those lenses in the first time (a little rusty!) I was surprised how thin and light the lenses were, yet wider in diameter than I had expected. The 1-Day ACUVUE Moist Astigmatism lenses also feature one of the highest levels of UV protection available in 1-Day lenses and patented LACREON technology that extended oxygenation to the eye and maintains that 'fresh lens' feeling all day long. As it turns out, my astigmatism is a special 'diagonal' kind that often keeps lenses from staying put on the cornea. However, with a few special measurements, my optometrist found the perfect prescription and lens for me. Not only do the 1-Day ACUVUE Moist Astigmatism lenses stay put all day, but the improved crispness and clarity, over frame lenses is remarkable. It's the difference between standard and high def vision, for me!

I am in love with the comfort level and clarity of my new ACUVUE Moist Astigmatism lenses; especially the fact that they are 1-Day and can simply be tossed at the end of the night. This cuts down my fuss time spend cleaning and money spent on solution and cases. Even better, I can use them once or twice a week, on days when glasses are less practical, and always have options on hand! I'm not going to lie, these are top of the line lenses, and not the cheapest; but there are many wonderful contact lens rebates available now through your optometrist and the ACUVUE website. Even if Astigmatism lenses aren't for you, I highly recommend requesting a trial of ACUVUE lenses during your next appointment!

What Daughter Says: Don't let your vision get in the way of life, ask your optometrist about new ACUVUE Moist 1-Day lenses!

Baked Cherry Apple French Toast + @SahaleSnacks Giveaway 6/1

****I was sent product samples from Sahale for the purpose of this post. Regardless, all images and opinions contained there in are property of Momma Told Me Blog 2013.

Momma Told Me: What we eat today is inspired by where we are, and where we came from.

I still recall taking that fateful pre-college tour of the Art Institutes Los Angeles and walking down brightly colored cavernous halls filled with accolades from Le Cordon Blue. At the front of the 'campus' (which, as Art Institutes go is actually a series of office buildings), was a fully equipped kitchen and operating fine dining cafe. I could understand possibly pastries and fondant folding being considered art, but how was making a sandwich inspired? I had skepticism about an art school which aligned itself so loosely with cooking. That was, of course, until I learned the difference between McDonalds, and gourmet, cheese and Asiago, pasta and Mediterranean. It turned out, there was a whole world of inspired cooking; meals crafted both visually and for taste for a truly encompassing dish intended to tell stories, and ignite passion.

No, I'm not referring to aphrodisiacs, though an excellent example of the emotional properties of food, I mean the collection of ingredients meant to symbolize an era, heritage, or nation. Much like a composer constructs a concerto to move an audience to tears, the truly gourmet chef paints with a palette of ingredients and precision so vivid each and every dish tells a story. And while I may never understand which wine to pair with an Alfredo, or how curry works so magnificently with coconut and cashews, it's an art I've grown to appreciate. I attempt to push my culinary boundaries, and expand my horizons beyond the typical each and every day, constantly searching for hidden gems. And, as an individual many things set me apart, and define who I am, so why shouldn't my snacks?

Sahale began in 2003 when the brand's founders found themselves atop Washington State's Mt. Rainer with an inspiring view. They had great company, plenty of supplies, and a clear day. What they did not have was a snack fitting the occasion, or lively enough for their taste buds. The processed nuts and granola in their backpacks kept them fueled, yes, but they certainly didn't fuel the soul. And so, creators, Edmond and Josh conceived a brand that would offer vibrant nut and fruit blends with bold flavors as exciting as the places and people behind them. This meant all natural, conveniently packaged, whole nut blends with compositions inspired directly by global flavor and beauty. Not only would Sahale boast a wide range of premium nuts and fruits, but a comprehensive collection of spices, preservative free ingredients and exotic flavors.

I must admit, though rare to find a product as beautiful in photo as in person, the Sahale line attracted me for that impressive fusion of design and recipe. Not only did the brand's website offer exploratory menus, colorful images of ingredients, and tantalizing product profiles, but a personable mission I was curious to see translated to the product itself. The name itself, 'Sahale' is of Native American origin with a variety of meanings, though the founders chose it for a favored icy peak. The nut blends themselves sport unique and intriguing titles meant to pay homage to a specific region of the world. Products cover Nut Blends, Glazed Nuts, Biscotti Crisps, Seasoned Nuts, and the newer Sahale Crunchers range with dry roasted and preservative free ingredients of the highest quality. Many of the blends feature an extremely addictive, and top secret, glaze which fuses the ingredients together for a wonderful crunch and sweet chewy surprise in each bite!

 I was sent a selection of the newest product range, Sahale Crunchers, for review here on Momma Told Me and was immediately attracted to the sleek and colorful packaging. The entire brand presents itself as premium, though the target price point is rather reasonable (sold nationwide at Starbucks, Whole Foods, and WalMart). I began with their Cranberries, Sesame Seeds, and Honey Crunchers; featuring juicy naturally dried cranberries and slivered almonds bound with an Orange Blossom Honey Glaze and sprinkled with pure ground Madagascar Vanilla Bean. I love that Sahale offers individual, easy tear, pouches as well as the larger zipper portions, though it is nearly impossible not to munch your way through any size bag in a sitting. Yes, they are THAT addictive, especially for nut lovers. Speckled with toasted sesame seeds, and inviting a world of culinary experimentation, this Crunchers blend was  indulgent and satisfying. Crunchers are much more than a snack, as the Sahale website aims to inspire; sprinkle them over your favorite Summertime salad, or atop a grilled chicken breast for texture and flavor.

Sahale sent along some of their signature Crunchers recipe cards for me to experiment with, and I quickly set my heart on their Baked French Toast with Cherry Apple Crunch. This unique Sahale Crunchers blend featured in this recipe is more fruit dominant, with natural dried cherries and apples alongside a maple-cinnamon glazed sliced almond medley. The sweetest of the Crunchers trio, this reminded me of a fresh peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and made a wonderful Greek Yogurt topper. I loved the texture of the almond slivers in contrast with the slightly sticky fruit bits. Rarely do you find a comprehensive palette in an easy to grab pouch! In all, I could rave for paragraphs about the convenience, quality, and complexity of this brand. There is something for everyone and I highly encourage hunting it down!

Pan Asian Orange Chicken Wraps + @CitizenChef Giveaway~ 5/31

**** Citizen Chef provided me with complimentary product to experiment with here on Momma Told Me. No further compensation was provided. Regardless, all images are original content, copyright Momma Told Me Blog 2013.

Momma Told Me: Eating 'light' doesn't mean eating dull.

 Ah, how I long for the days when my biggest nutritional dilemma was whether to get the Double Chocolate Crunch Drumstick or Vanilla Caramel Crunch Drumstick for dessert. Just today Jay took Sabrina (10) and I out for lunch, a special treat for us. And, as I was watching Sabrina slurp the last few bubbles of her 3rd glass of Cola, in between amorous bites of her grilled cheese, I was reminded of the time in my own life when these ceased to become meal options. You see, I never had a 'quick' metabolism to begin with, and by the time I was a tween I was well on my way to grasping the food pyramid and basic nutrition. Somewhere around the time my father began taking prescriptions for high cholesterol all the 'fun' foods slowly began disappearing from our household cupboards. The word 'diet' was said in hushed tones, my ears ringing with fear the entire way. Whether the goal is weight loss, or general health maintenance, there becomes a time in all our lives when we must began juggling indulgence with practicality.

Cooking delicious, well rounded, meals can be a challenge. Not only do most 'healthy' ingredients tend to be costly and highly perishable, but finding natural and low sugar options for sauces and flavoring can seem near impossible. I've made enough sauces 'from scratch' simply because the shelf stable versions contained ingredients with more syllables than I can pronounce. So, when I got to the third Citizen Chef Simmer Sauce in this series I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it's citrus notes- cook a light, and cool, Summer entree. Living in Southern California the temperatures are already creeping past the high 80s, and having an easy serve lunch on hand in the fridge is a lifesaver. We pack lunches for family outings year-round, and food that requires no extra heating really cuts down on my stress. In the Summer I'll often slow cook several chicken breasts then fine mince them for various wraps.This time I tossed some minced mushrooms, sweet onions, and food processed candied walnuts into the pan with the diced (cooked) chicken.

For any good 'wrap' base, I'm sure to pre-cook the additional ingredients for 3-5 minutes in the pan prior to adding my minced chicken and desired seasonings. Because the chicken is pre-cooked the goal is to effectively combine the flavors through low heat, not cook the mixture again. About 2lbs of cooked, minced, chicken breast, 3/4 cup minced mushrooms, 1 minced sweet onion, and 1 container of Citizen Chef Pan Asian Orange simmer sauce will make several days worth of wrap filling for us. For added texture, and a little extra sweet, I decided to add the candied walnuts in this round, though it is not necessary for taste. Once combined, the wrap filling can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days, or frozen and thawed for later use. While Jay prefers his wraps warm, I like to scoop my Pan Asian Orange Chicken Filling into a fresh flat-bread tortilla with some fresh greens, and eat it ice cold. It's quite the refreshing lunch during the warmer months and can easily be packed for away meals and to-go-sacks.

While it's not the prettiest meal, these Pan Asian Orange Chicken Wraps are full of flavor and texture (especially with the crisp of your favorite greens), and saves a heap of time when the filling is prepared in advance. I have the terrible habit of eating the chicken filling out of the bowl with a spoon- but I also love that I can choose to wrap it in greens alone, or with my favorite whole grain bread. Getting Sabrina (10) to eat protein by choice can often be a battle, so having flavorful dishes like this, where she can 'create' her own wrap also help get younger family members excited about mealtime. And, with the flavor ready to pour in a Citizen Chef tub, you can't beat the fresh food and easy preparation! Citizen Chef sauces are amazingly versatile and full of culinary inspiration; look for them in the refrigerated sauce aisle of your local grocer today. Then, head online and check out all of the meal ideas and recipes, for a simple meal your family won't soon forget!

What Daughter Says: Encourage healthy eating with simple to prepare, flavorful meals inspired by Citizen Chef sauces.

One Momma Told Me reader will win a case(6) of Citizen Chef Simmer Sauces, Bamboo Cooking Spoons, and Recipe Cards!

Paper Towel Flowers + A FREE Movie With #ScottValues

***I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias®  and KimberlyClark® #cbias #SocialFabric All images and altered screenschots are original content copyrighted to Momma Told Me Blog, 2013.
Momma Told Me: Frugal can be fun!

As a child, few things (barring a teenager in a sweaty mouse costume at an arcade) were more exciting than a chance to go to the movies. I recall the mini strip mall in our little Southern California home town had one of the largest arcades I've, still, ever seen; complete with a little snow cone booth outside. This particular strip mall was the mecha of all things childlike and whimsical, for it didn't stop there. All the way on the far East end was a KB Toy Store, and smack daub on the middle was the Edwards 8 Cineplex. Naturally, even though I knew I was already being treated to the special occasion of a movie, I never let Momma leave without visiting the entire array of entertainment attractions. As a child money meant little to me. I always assumed Momma received an allowance magically deposited into her piggy bank each month, much like mine. I never stopped to consider how all the small frugal things she did (like pop our popcorn at home and smuggle it into the theater in Ziploc baggies), made all the awesome treats possible.

Today I'm very much like Momma, when it comes to the household budget and stocking up on essentials at great prices. In addition to frequenting the wholesale club once a month, I am constantly clipping coupons and taking notes for upcoming sales. We shop at Walmart often for their everyday low prices that promise to match or beat local competitors; and of course, for their accommodating coupon policy. Not only can I buy value packages of my family's favorite brands and products, but I can extend the savings with exclusive promotions and paper coupons. Just the other weekend I opened one of our households 3 copies of the Sunday paper to discover the above beauty in a Smartsource insert. Two specially marked Scott paper product value packs now feature an exclusive $4 Vudu movie credit for a limited time. We already stock up on our favorite Scott Shared Values products regularly, so I knew I wasn't going to miss my chance to snag these limited quantity packages.

Our family goes through an astounding amount of Paper Towels and Toilet Tissue. So much so, I constantly find myself turning into the P.T. (paper towel) Grinch, and marching around the house enforcing strict tearing regulations. It physically pains me to see a half torn paper towel laying crumpled on the kitchen counter, or a forgotten roll of toilet paper with several sheets left, in the bathroom waste basket. So, when I saw that I could buy 6 mega rolls of Scott Choose-A-Sheet Towels for just under $6 and score a $4 Vudu movie streaming credit I was in frugal heaven. Not only do these paper towels offer the added value of being tough and extra absorbent, but the simple tear-a-sheet lets us select a size to clean up any mess without waste. I was so moved by this amazing deal I actually told Sabrina (10) we could use paper towels for something other than cleaning!

Nearly everyone recalls paper tube crafts from their Elementary days, but have you ever made crafts out of the paper towels themselves? Naturally this wouldn't work with toilet tissue, but the thick and durable textured Scott Choose-A-Sheet towels offer variety in size and absorbancy perfect for some home dyed paper flowers and butterflies. All you need is a well covered workspace, some food safe dye, plenty of paper towels, pipe cleaners, and a designated 'drying zone.' This craft is a hit with all ages; who doesn't love playing with colors- and food dye isn't just for Easter Eggs! We had a blast folding the paper towels into various shapes then carefully, and quickly, dipping corners and edges into the various colors. When we were done I placed the sheets into our dehydrator (though they will air dry overnight just as well). Making 'flowers' is as simple as crumpling, rolling, or folding the dried sheets and wrapping a pipe cleaner around the base. These were a big hit at Sabrina's school the next day when she handed them out to teachers and staff!

Following our afternoon of crafts I decided it was time for a little break. We carefully peeled the $4 Vudu code sticker off the bundle of 24 Double Roll Extra Soft Scott bath tissue, and put the remaining groceries away. In our home there is a designated spot for overflow paper products; I have a fear of running out of toilet paper or paper towels and am sure to stay fully stocked. Sometimes, however, a deal is too good to pass up, and you'll open a hallway cupboard to find toilet paper tumbling down at you! In any case, with our Scott haul put away we whipped up some quick and healthy homemade frozen yogurt pops, and hit the couch for a double feature on Scott. We don't subscribe to paid cable television in our home, only high speed internet, so digital streaming is a way of life for us. We were no stranger to the Vudu digital media application on our Roku streamer. We simply logged onto the #ScottValues Walmart portal and entered our code to apply the $4 credit to our Vudu account. In no time we were enjoying the newly released Wreck It Ralph with dripping popsicles, and plenty of paper towels near-by.

As amazing as the limited time $4 Vudu Scott promotion is, there are plenty of more values to be found at the Scott Shared Values website. This entirely purchase free program is open to all US residents and provides immediate value from a collection of close brand partners. I've been with Scott Shared Values since it's kick off late last year and am constantly impressed by the quality of savings and deals that can be found. Currently members can enjoy a free roll of new Scott Extra Soft bath tissue, a one month trial of HuluPlus streaming, a special Weber Grill Set deal (just in time for Father's Day), and a free photo print from ClickPhotos.com. Not to long ago we enjoyed a family pass to a local entertainment venue, and a friend of mine took advantage of their NASCAR ticket savings. I'm always sure to log into my Scott Shared Values account each month to see what's new!

To sum it all up, Momma taught me to be frugal; but still have fun. I may stomp through the halls writing imaginary tickets for paper product abuse, but I still know a great opportunity for family fun when I see one. Just in time for lazy Summer afternoons the $4 Vudu credit on select #ScottValues products will keep the kiddos happy and Momma's checkbook in tact. Stock up now to take advantage of these great prices at Walmart, and be sure to join the Scott Shared Values program to continue the savings all year round. Follow us along on our Walmart visit and get a sneak peek behind the scenes in our Google+ album.

What Daughter Says: Don't be a Summertime Grinch, enjoy the hottest movies for FREE while stocking up on your favorite #ScottValues products.