Company: J.M. Smucker Company
Item Reviewed: Smucker’s Gift Basket
Item Given Away: Smucker’s Gift Basket
Start Date: February 9
End Date: February 24

Cherished family traditions often begin in the kitchen, and the makers of Smucker’s jams, jellies, preserves, fruit spreads and fruit butters know a thing or two about bringing families together through wonderful meals.

The finalists in the fourth annual Spreading Smucker’s Traditions Recipe and Essay Contest have been announced and once again the contest features original recipes that are part of family traditions, make celebrations special and are made with a Smucker’s product. One lucky winner’s family dish will help bring loved ones together for the ultimate family reunion. Check out the Five Finalists and their recipes, and stay tuned as Smucker’s will be announcing the Grand Prize Winner on or about March 15th.

I know for me and my family that Smucker’s products have always been on the table, all the way back to when I was a kid and my grandmother made cookies using Smucker’s jams and jellies. We have used their jams in my crock pot recipes as well as to make sweet breads and it doesn’t get much better than that. Smucker’s is an important part of my life and I hope to instill that importance in my children so they pass it along to their children, just as my grandparents passed it down to me.

I am happy to share that importance of great Smucker’s products with my readers with a sweet giveaway that one lucky Dirty t Shirt reader can win. Please see rules below to enter to a gift basket containing the following:

• A variety of Smucker’s fruit spreads
• Cloth-bound Recipe book
• Gingham-patterned set of spreaders

Rules

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Company: Zinio LLC
Item Reviewed: Digital Magazines
Item Given Away: Digital Magazine Subscription – 10 Winners
Start Date: February 9
End Date: February 23

Zinio is the world’s largest newsstand and bookstore. With its many digital products and services, Zinio creates better ways for people to discover published content, get more of it and do more with it. Now, readers can purchase content once to be read on any screen. Zinio provides the ability to shop for, search inside, read, share and save digital content in 23 local newsstands in any country in the world.

I have been enjoying Zinio for awhile now and it is the perfect way to read magazines on my iPad. I enjoy Redbook, Good Housekeeping and a few other magazines in their digital form. This Valentine’s Day I am happy to say that I can Share the Love and offer 10 of my readers a magazine subscription of their choice (note that the offer is not available for subscriptions to the weekly magazines like US Weekly, Newsweek etc.) With over 5,000 titles to choose from that include Dwell, Shape, Parenting, Working Mother and more.  Issues can be enjoyed across multiple devices including tablets, PC’s and smartphones.

If you can’t wait, head on over to Zinio’s Daily Deals page for lots of great deals!

Please see rules below to enter to win today!!!

Rules

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Company: Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc.
Item Reviewed: Barista Prima Coffeehouse K-Cups

Coffee connoisseurs rejoice! New Barista Prima Coffeehouse K-Cup packs are an exclusive collection of the world’s finest Arabica coffees roasted in the tradition of Europe’s most celebrated coffee houses, for the Keurig brewing system.  Barista Prima Coffeehouse’s darker, richer blends are designed for the passionate coffee lover.  Barista Prima Coffeehouse K-Cup  packs feature: Bold and complex flavors, Deepest, darkest to come from the Keurig coffee brewer.

Available in four delicious varieties:

• Barista Prima Italian Roast K-Cup Coffee – A deep, dark-roasted delight, done right. This rich, heavy-bodied cup with its ripe fruit and berry notes epitomizes the time-honored Italian tradition of dark-roasted coffeehouse brews. Bold yet ideally balanced, with a subtle hint of smokiness and a sweet, clean finish, our Italian Roast is a hearty and flavorful testament to the art of dark roasting.
• Barista Prima Colombia K-Cup Coffee – High altitude treasure from a land of legendary coffee. A prized coffee, born of the mountains in a land steeped in the coffee-growing tradition. Accented by bright, bold fruit notes and a distinctive hint of walnut, this deep-roasted cup possesses a sweet, full-bodied finish that elevates satisfaction into a realm all its own.
• Barista Prima House Blend K-Cup Coffee – The timeless perfection of your best-loved coffeehouse cup. Classically balanced, with a lively splash of citrus, subtle hints of bittersweet chocolate and a well rounded, toasted-nut finish. Its roasty sweet, supremely satisfying taste evokes all the familiar comforts of your favorite coffeehouse.
• Barista Prima French Roast K-Cup Coffee – A sweet, smoky love song to the cafés of Paris. This intensely bold yet gracefully-bodied cup provides indisputable proof of our roast masters’ artistry. The absolute finest Arabica beans are heated to the very edge of noir – then meticulously eased back to reveal their rich, full-flavored complexity. The result? A daringly dark, smoky-sweet brew with a surprisingly light mouthfeel

My Thoughts

Living where I live, in the middle of mountains, I do not have the luxury of getting a high-quality cup of coffee from a local coffee shop, because there is not one here. Luckily I have a Keurig and even luckier still there are Barista Prima Coffeehouse K-Cups, so I too can brew the perfect cup of coffee in the morning and savor the deep, delicious tastes. Out of the four flavors I was able to test out I can’t really choose just one favorite, they all are superb quality and taste, and really help get my morning off to a great start! My husband loves the deeper, darker flavors and agrees that the Barista Prima Coffeehouse line is perfect for him! So next time, instead of standing in long lines to get your perfect cup of coffee you should consider brewing your own at home with the Barista Prima Coffeehouse K-Cup line. Perfect cup of coffee every time!

Company: Peaceable Kingdom
Item Reviewed: Race To The Treasure Board Game
Item Given Away: Choice of Peaceable Kingdom Game (shown below)
Start Date: February 8
End Date: February 23

Peaceable Kingdom was founded in 1983 with a single product – a poster featuring the beloved art from the classic children’s book Goodnight Moon. Twenty-eight years and more than 5,000 items later, the company has grown to be a leader in juvenile stickers, greeting cards, and games.

Race To The Treasure – By creating a path from Start to Finish, 2 to 4 players try to beat the Ogre to the treasure. Along the way they need to collect 3 keys to open the treasure’s lock before the Ogre gets there. Players strategize, cooperate and build the path as a team. If they make it down the path before you-know-who, they all win! By playing this game, children master math grid concepts, emotional development, shared decision making, strategy techniques and of course, have fun! Board game includes a pair of wooden dice, 37 game cards, 4 key tokens and an Ogre snack. Ages 5+ – ($16)

My Thoughts

My daughter was excited to see that she got a brand new game to play, and she couldn’t wait until the end of the day so we could play it with her. My husband read us the rules and away we went. She loved playing the game with us and we enjoyed the quality time with her. We beat the Ogre the first few rounds and she didn’t want to stop playing when it was time for bed. The only thing that got her to stop was the promise that we would all play again the next morning. For me, I love that my daughter enjoys playing games not only for the fun but for the fact that she is learning so much in the process. I highly recommend Peaceable Kingdom board games to everyone. Great way to spend quality family time together.

I have been given the chance to host a giveaway where one Dirty t Shirt reader can win their choice of the following games. Please see rules below to enter to win today!

• Feed The Woozle (preschool skills builder) – Woozle is hungry and his mouth is wide open and ready to catch some silly snacks like chocolate covered flies or hairy pickles. Can you feed him 12 silly snacks without dropping them from the spoon?
• Snug As A Bug In A Rug (preschool skills builder) – Spin the spinner and find a matching bug. Then slip it under the rug. It’s okay, Moms, because it’s just a game! Everyone works together to get all the colorful bugs under the rug before the three stinkbugs release their smelliness around the room. Watch closely and make those matches. Each of the three levels of play adds a new challenge.
• Willy’s Wiggly Web (preschool skills builder) – Child-safe scissors allow 2 to 4 players to cut all the little bugs free before Willy the Spider falls from the top of the web. But watch out because the web is well, wiggly. To get started, kids pick a card, follow the instructions to cut the web and pass the scissors either left or right. Work cooperatively to free all the bugs and everyone wins.
• Seeds for the Birds (cooperative game, made of eco-friendly materials) – Chirp, chirp! The baby birds are hungry. Players help Mama Bird by turning over cards one at a time and gathering seeds. But watch out. The squirrel with the bushy tail might take the seeds for his own supper. Gather more seeds for the birds than the squirrel and everyone wins!
• Race To The Treasure (cooperative game, made of eco-friendly materials) – Shown here

Rules

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Company: Coty LLC
Item Reviewed: Play It Rock Perfume

Playboy’s fragrance line has expanded with Play It Rock – just in time for Valentines’ Day. Within every girl there’s a sassy Playboy persona waiting to emerge, and this alluring new scent will help reveal the edgy, rock ‘n’ roll you.

At the opening, the juicy energy of blood orange encounters the sugary addiction of apple candy.  This is touched by the alluring temperament of saffron, which gives a crimson twist on top before melting into the floral heart.  Here, a sexy femininity blooms thanks to sun-kissed orange flower and luscious passion flower, which are wrapped in sultry frangipani, provoking a bewitching allure.  Eventually, the mysterious and contrasting signature is revealed.  Voluptuous patchouli and black ebony are hypnotized by succulent vanilla and distinctive fleur de cuir, for a rockin’ personality.

Playboy Play it Rock is available at most mass retailers for $17 (1.7 fl oz).

My Thoughts

Playboy’s addition to their fragrance line, Play It Rock, is a great addition. I have enjoyed their perfume line and with this scent I can add an edgy one to my collection. I have received many compliments on how good I smell and two of my daughter’s friends have asked if they could put some on because they loved the scent. Play It Rock would make the perfect Valentine’s gift for the woman in your life that loves to smell good! And be forewarned, if you have teenage girls, they will steal it off your shelf and take it into their room where it is quite possible you will never see it again. Seems that my bottle has met that fate!

P.F. Chang’s is serving up a four-course, prix-fixe menu for couples looking for an affordable yet satisfying Valentine’s Day dinner.  Available now, bring your special someone to any P.F. Chang’s location in the U.S. and enjoy a customizable meal for two, including dessert!  Enjoy a four-course meal for two for $39.95*

Cup of Soup (Choose Two)
• Hot & Sour Soup   • Egg Drop Soup

Starters (Choose One)
• Chang’s Lettuce Wraps (Chicken or Vegetarian) • Crispy Green Beans • Salt & Pepper Calamari • Spring Rolls (4) • Crab Wontons • Dumplings (Shrimp, Pork or Vegetable) • Seared Ahi Tuna (add $2.45) • Dynamite Shrimp (add $1.45) • Chang’s Spare Ribs (add $1.95)

Entrees (Choose Two)
• Chang’s Spicy Chicken   • Mongolian Beef   • Crispy Honey Shrimp   • Ginger Chicken with Broccoli   • Beef with Broccoli   • Kung Pao Shrimp or Chicken   • Kung Pao Scallops (add $1.95) • Crispy Honey Chicken   • Pepper Steak   • Orange Peel Shrimp, Beef or Chicken • Sesame Chicken • Beef a la Sichuan • Almond & Cashew Chicken • Salt & Pepper Prawns (add $1.95) • Sweet & Sour Pork or Chicken • Asian Grilled Norwegian Salmon (add $2.95) • Norwegian Salmon Steamed with Ginger (add $2.95) • Mahi-Mahi (add $3.95) • Oolong Marinated Chilean Sea Bass (add $8.95)

Desserts (Choose Two)
Choose two of P.F. Chang’s eight delicious mini desserts
Or
Enjoy one of our larger desserts
Banana Spring Rolls (add $1.95) * Flourless Chocolate Dome (add $1.95)
The Great Wall of Chocolate® (add $3.95) * New York-Style Cheesecake (add $1.95)

Please call your local P.F. Chang’s or make your reservation online at pfchangs.com.

*Please check your local P.F. Chang’s for pricing and offerings. Dine in only. Available for a limited time. Not valid with any other offers.  Drinks are not included. Tax and Gratuity are not included. Price may vary by location. Warrior® Rewards are not valid on P.F. Chang’s for Two menu.

Company: Walt Disney Studios
Item Reviewed: I Heart Minnie DVD

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: I   Minnie has been packaged to include five, fun-filled episodes – each underlining the themes of friendship, teamwork, sharing and problem solving – and an all new bonus feature “You’re Invited to Minnie’s Birthday Party,” as well as two complimentary Best Friend necklaces to keep as mementos and/or to share with a very special someone this Valentine’s Day.

The five classic episodes include:

• Minnie & Daisy’s Flower Shower (All-New, Never-Before-Seen) – The botanical highlight of the year is in trouble, unless Minnie and Daisy can get their flowers to bloom! Together, they board the glove balloon to help coax the clouds to sprinkle much needed rain.
• Daisy’s Dance -Clap your hands and tap your feet! Join Daisy, as she gets ready for one of the most important events of her life––performing in the big talent show!
• Daisy’s Pet Project – The Pet Parade is almost here and Daisy needs to find the perfect animal for which she can love and care. But it’s not as easy as she thinks and soon she has three new friends: an elephant named Bubbles, a giraffe called Longfellow and a bunny called Captain Jumps-a-lot!
• Minnie’s Rainbow – After a brightly colored rainbow appears over the clubhouse, Minnie searches for the pot of gold that’s supposed to be at its end. Along the way, she meets a leprechaun and discovers that not all treasure turns out to be as she expected!
• Minnie’s Birthday – Today is Minnie’s birthday, but the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse friends need to set up her birthday party.

Party Details

I was sent a fun gift pack to host a screening of the new I Heart Minnie DVD and my daughter was so excited. Sadly, more than half of the ten kids invited fell ill over the weekend so we had five children come over yesterday so they could make cookies and see the DVD before it came out (something that my kids love to tell there friends). The kids viewed the DVD and loved it and as one mom told me, “You can’t go wrong with anything Disney”. We all loved the smiles on our daughters faces and loved their energy and excitement over the never before seen “Flower Shower” episode. After a half hour break to let them run around and have some fun we made heart shaped cookies and handed out Valentine sheets along with a goody bag full of fun Minnie stuff. I would have to say that I love having the DVD, and many moms said they would make sure to add it to their DVD collection, and I love that my daughter loves the wholesome fun of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and all the characters.

Fun Stuff For You

With the Super Bowl over, and what a game it was, I am going to share some quirky, pre-game (sometimes a full week ahead of the game) things the men in my life have done and continue to do. Some make me laugh while others leave me scratching my head.

Hubby (on right) and friend in their game stance before a past Super Bowl (pre-jersey)

• My husband has, in the past for most sporting events, donned his favorite players jersey, and get his friends riled up so they start posing and flexing their muscles.
• They have wing and hot dog eating contests, which to me looks like a bunch of cavemen ripping into a big dinosaur thigh.
• They stack their beer and soda cans up and make a wall, and if their team wins they run through it, if they lose it gets kicked down.

Now while all these things make the men feel better while watching a game, they boggle my mind. But I say to each his own and if they all have fun while watching their favorite sports then it is totally worth it, weird, but worth it! The last item in my list actually doesn’t happen as much anymore, thankfully because clean up was horrible

What do the men in your life do before games that leaves you scratching your head? Please leave a comment below and tell me. And don’t forget to get your $1.00 off coupon for Ball Park Franks over on their Facebook Page.

This is a sponsored post. Ball Park product and additional incentives were provided to me. All opinions stated are 100% my own.

Company: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Item Reviewed: Geek Charming DVD

When Dylan Schoenfield (Sarah Hyland), Woodlands Academy’s top girl, accidentally drops her expensive “it” handbag into the mall fountain, she is surprised that film geek, Josh Rosen (Matt Prokop), retrieves it for her.  In exchange for rescuing her bag, Dylan must agree to be the subject of Josh’s documentary film.  Dylan hopes the film will help her campaign for Blossom Queen – she claims that winning is her only life goal.  Josh plans to make a hard-hitting expose about popularity, but, as he gets to know Dylan, he learns that the real Dylan is much more interesting than the persona she’s created.  At the last minute, Josh decides that his film should introduce this awesome girl to the world, but how will Dylan react when she sees it?

The 2-Disc DVD (DVD + Digital Copy) is the ideal Valentine’s Day gift and includes 10 episodes of the Disney Channel smash hit television show “Shake It Up,” plus a special collectible charm set.

My Thoughts

It was funny as my kids and I sat watching this DVD that my youngest daughter asked me, “Why is the girl was being so mean?” which prompted talk about people sometimes being like that. Since she really didn’t understand I looked to my oldest daughter to give me some insight on the movie. She knew that the lead girl was being fake from the get go, as sadly she has seen that in some of her friends, that they act one way in school and another calmer way when they are away from crowds of people they feel like they have to impress. I like the lesson in the movie and loved how the lead guy saw something different and decides to get to know the “real” girl more. Cute movie and loved both Sarah Hyland  and Matt Prokop. My youngest loved the bonus episodes of Shake It Up too.

Company: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
Item Reviewed: Lady and the Tramp Diamond Edition Blu-ray

A classic love story unfolds in the best Disney tradition as a lovely young pedigreed cocker spaniel named Lady, who lives a pampered life, finds herself falling romantically for Tramp, an amorous street-smart pooch without prospects. Although they have fun together on several dates, including a sentimental spaghetti dinner by moonlight at Tony’s restaurant, their relationship is strained not only by Lady’s loyalty to her human family and their newborn baby, but by Tramp’s devil-may-care attitude that eventually gets Lady in trouble and tossed into the dog pound. However, good-hearted Tramp redeems himself by saving the baby from potential harm and thus wins Lady’s love and the affection of her human family.

Share this timeless Disney Classic with your family as Walt Disney’s beloved classic, Lady and the Tramp, finally releases from the Disney Vault for the first time ever on Blu-ray. This heartwarming tale now charms a new generation of families and fans with its exquisite animation and unforgettable songs in one of the greatest love stories of all time.  Featuring high definition sound and immersive bonus features your family can enjoy together, Lady and the Tramp Diamond Edition is a must own addition to your Disney collection.

Blu-ray Bonus Features: 

• Disney Second Screen: Inside Walt’s Story Meetings
• Audio Commentary: Inside Walt’s Story Meetings
• Diane Disney Miller: Remembering Dad
• Three Never-Before-Seen Deleted Scenes
• Never Recorded Song: “I’m Free as the Breeze”

Classic DVD Bonus:

• Lady’s Pedigree: The Making of Lady and the Tramp
• Finding Lady: The Art of the Storyboard
• Original 1943 Storyboard Version of the Film
• PuppyPedia: Going to the Dogs
• “The Siamese Cat Song,” Finding a Voice for the Cats
• “Bella Notte” Music Video
• Trailers
• Excerpts from “Disneyland” TV Shows

DVD Bonus: 

• Diane Disney Miller: Remembering Dad
• PuppyPedia: Going to the Dogs

Fun Stuff

My Thoughts

My favorite movie of all time is finally out on Blu-ray and DVD and I am so happy. For some reason this movie has instilled two things in me that I will always remember. One, it was and still is my favorite early Disney movie and two, I fell in love with cocker spaniels and still want one to this day! This timeless movie is very endearing and I love the fresh new look it has. The soundtrack is one of the best in a Disney movie and I know the words to all the songs. And for me the interactivity of Second Screen makes Lady and the Tramp a new movie for me and a new one entirely for my daughters who had not yet seen the movie. I also loved seeing Walt Disney in the “Remembering Dad” bonus feature. This classic is definitely one that you should have in your Blu-ray/DVD library.

Available February 7, 2012.