Showing posts with label Back To School. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Back To School. Show all posts

27 August 2014

Wordless Wednesday - Back to School 2014 - The Year of Milestones


It's a good thing it's "Wordless Wednesday" because I can not express into words my emotions this week.    

Saturday I moved  Nicholas into his new dorm to start his senior year of college.  So proud of this kid!


Then today was Thomas' 1st day of high school.  He had a great day, but can't believe my little man is turning into a young man.   


And as if those weren't big enough milestones for me to handle, my grandson Tyler started kindergarten today as well. Tyler started his little life as a 4lbs 5oz premie and has come a long way.  Although he still has some struggles to overcome, he's a happy little dude!  



25 August 2014

Back To School Breakfast Bar Recipe #PriceChopperB2S #CollectiveBias

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc.and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.




It's the most wonderful time of the year!  No, not Christmas time.... Back To School time!  Most moms, especially ones with younger kids are rejoicing.  It's time to get them back to school and out of the house because they drove you crazy all summer long.  Even though my son's are 21 and 13 I feel the same way! (I love them and all, just being honest here)  Nicholas left for college this weekend so now I'm concentrating on Thomas and his first day as a high school freshman on Wednesday.  *gulp*  
To me it feels a bit like New Years, wouldn't you agree?  I mean, everyone's getting a fresh start with new clothes, new schedules, new routines, maybe even a new school.
I have to tell you I'm craving the routine for myself as well.  I need to get back on track with everything... meal planning, cleaning schedules, diet/exercise, couponing and of course a better blogging schedule.

I figured a good place to start was to head over to Price Chopper Supermarket  and get some supplies for a quick, on-the-go breakfast for those early weekday mornings.  This will also get me get in the routine of sitting down, going through the flyer, making a list and matching up my coupons to get the most savings as possible.
Price Chopper is one of my go-to supermarkets for their products, prices and rewards.  If you don't know they offer Fuel Rewards, there's a Tools For Schools Program, iSave Coupons, Sweepstakes, and of course everyday saving using the Price Chopper AdvantEdge Card.  Right now you could win one of 10 iPad Minis when you share a "First Day of School" photo between Aug.17th - Sept. 20th.   Then beginning Sept.21, Price Chopper will pick 5 photos at random and the 5 photos with the most votes will also win.  Head over to the Facebook page or PriceChopper.com to enter. 

I found a recipe on Pinterest  for a breakfast bar using Honey Nut Cheerios, peanut butter and marshmallows.  That's 3 of Thomas' favorite things!  I figured it was easy, tasty and packed with plenty of sugar and protein to get him ready to catch that 6:30am bus.  He's not necessarily a morning person AT ALL!  Thomas probably wakes up 30 mins before he has to leave the house.  Just enough time to wash his face, brush his teeth and get dressed. So this is perfect for him to grab quickly and even eat on the bus if he runs out of time.

I have to get a few groceries to get us through the weekend, so I figured I'd grab all the ingredients I need and give the recipe a try before Wednesday.  I'll test it out on my grandson Tyler who is starting kindergarten on Wednesday as well.
I've got my list, flyer and coupons all set.  I'm off to Price Chopper and the "Back to School Solutions Center."
 Lots of great deals on other quick and easy breakfast ideas.   Jimmy Dean breakfast sandwiches were Nick's go-to breakfast this summer while he was doing an internship in Massachusetts.
I decided since the Yoplait Greek Yogurts were such a great price that maybe I could incorporate it with the Honey Nut Cheerios cereal bars somehow.  I grabbed strawberry banana, fearing nobody would like the plain vanilla.  Can I tell you I've tried greek yogurt in the past and wasn't really a fan but this Yoplait brand is yummy.   Doesn't taste any different to me then regular yogurt.

This recipe for  Honey Nut Cheerios Back to School Breakfast Bars (that's a mouthful, huh?) is..simple, simple, simple.
You don't have to add the mini chocolate chips.  You can add almonds or any other kind of nut.   I think a dried fruit would go good in these too.

Ingredients
  • 7 cups Honey Nut Cheerios
  • 2 Tablespoons Butter
  • 1 Tablespoon Vanilla extract
  • 40 Full Size Marshmallows (I bought a 10oz bag and I counted out 41 marshmallows in the bag) 
  • 3 (heaping) Tablespoons Peanut Butter 
  • 2 Tablespoons mini chocolate chips

Steps

  1. Butter a 9 x 13 pan
  2. In a large stock pot, melt the butter
  3. Add the marshmallows and stir continuously until melted.
  4. Add the peanut butter.
  5. Add the vanilla and stir until combined.
  6. Remove from the heat and add the cheerios to the marshmallows.
  7. Stir until the cheerios are completely coated.
  8. Transfer the Cheerios to the buttered pan and press down, so that the mixture fills the entire pan.
  9. Sprinkle the mini chocolate chips on top and gently press down.
  10. Let set and then cut into bars size rectangle and serve (or you can do what I did and drizzle some Yoplait Greek yogurt over the top or on the side as a dip)  
There are a couple of things I have to tell you about using the yogurt. 

1- Strawberry Banana doesn't really go good peanut butter and chocolate chips, But it's fine to eat separately. 
2- If you are going to drizzle or dip the cereal bars in yogurt make sure you store them in the fridge if they aren't eaten right away.  

Ok, so my grandson Tyler doesn't look too thrilled in this picture but that's more because it's just plain annoying to a 5 year old to have your grandmother (or "Amma" as he calls me) force you to stop playing your video game, sit at the table, eat and get your photo taken all at the same time.    I swear he ate the whole cereal bar and dipped his banana sticks in the greek yogurt.    Fun times....   




For more on Price Chopper's "Back to School" solutions check them out on
Facebook 
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
YouTube

Do you have a "Back to School" breakfast idea that's quick and easy.  I'd love for you to share with me, I'm always looking for something new and different to try.    

Also, if you try this recipe let me know what, if anything, you added to your cereal bars.

Happy Back to School Everyone!!


27 August 2012

#BagItFoward 2012

I was so excited to be able to be a part of Elmer's #BagItFoward campaign this year.   When I found out I was chosen to donate some quality school supplies to a teacher or student of my choice, I knew exactly the person.  
I have a friend Dora who is a Special Education teacher in our middle school.   She has a classroom of about 15 kids (6th-8th grade) who mostly have behavior issues and can't be main streamed all day.   Her job is a tough one.   The students in her class not only have behavioral issues and learning disabilities, some of them don't have good home environment.  Dora is GREAT with them, she loves them all like a teacher, mom, big sister and an aunt would and should.
I emailed Dora to let her know I was donating supplies to her, she was so overwhelmed and grateful.  I asked her to make a "wish list" and sent her the link to the Elmer's website so she could get some ideas.  She said she really needed things so she and the kids could work on projects together.    She loved the Painter's Paint Pens (and so do I), glue sticks and glitter glue.  The rest was up to me... yay!

I went to Walmart to check out what I could get.

Glue, Glue and more Glue....  Perfect for any and all kinds of projects.   


 On Dora's "wish list" was glitter glue, Painter's paint pens and stencils so her and her students could do projects together.    The swirl glitter glue is so cute, but I think we all know what my favorite Elmer's product is.... the Painter's Paint Pens!  love, love, love, love, love...



  Here's Dora (Mrs. Carr to her students) with her basket of goodies.   We delivered it right to her classroom while she was getting it all ready for the 1st day of school.   If you want to read and see more photos from this shopping trip, you can check out my Google+ story.


Now, I have to tell you a few more things about Elmer's new App called "Elmer's 1st Day of School" 
For every photo uploaded, Elmer’s will donate one product to The Kids in Need Foundation
(KINF) up to 200,000 products.  When I uploaded my photo of my son and grandson on their 1st day of school this was the number of donations to date.    I'm sure it's way more then that by now!  
I urge you to go download the app and upload your photos!  It's an awesome and easy way to give to kids in need.    


Here's a list of links that you just HAVE to go check so you can see for yourself 
 how awesome Elmer's is! 




Happy 1st Day of School Everyone! 

“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 and Elmer’s.  #BagItForward #CBias #SocialFabric”
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