Not only did October pass in a blink, but Daylight Saving Time is just around the corner! Can you believe it?! This year the time change is on November 4th, which also marks the 25th anniversary of the annual Change Your Clock Change Your Battery program.

Energizer and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) are once again working with local fire departments nationwide to help raise awareness on the importance of having working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors to help keep families safe in their homes. 38% of fatal fire injuries occur in homes with no smoke alarms, while 24% occur in homes which at least have one, but fails to operate (typically due to dead or missing batteries).

You all can Get involved now through November 4, by visiting the Energizer Bunny® Facebook page and clicking on the Fire Safety Info Tab. Here you will have the chance to enter a sweepstakes to win a Family Safety Kit. Energizer will be giving away one Family Safety Kit per day for 25 days. Contained in the kit, valued at more than $150, is: a reusable grocery tote, two Kidde Battery-Operated Combination Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Alarms, one package of Energizer Advanced Lithium batteries, One package of Energizer® MAX® Batteries (AA) with Power Seal Technology, two Energizer flashlights, two Energizer Flameless Wax Candles, and one Energizer Bunny Plush Bunny!

In addition you can also find fire safety tips, a home escape plan that you can download and draw your family’s home escape plan down on, as well as a coloring and activity sheet!

The Change Your Clock Change Your Battery® program is just one of the ways Energizer brings to life the company’s commitment to making a positive impact in communities across the country. That’s positivenergy™ For more information, be sure to visit energizer.com and facebook.com/energizerbunny.

When I first read about this year's campaign, I thought it was great! The timing couldn't have been more perfect either. Kaelyn had just talked about fire safety in school that week and she was eager to make sure we had all of our smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors working. Such a great reminder! I wanted to take this opportunity to help remind all of my readers about this important life-saving reminder as well - be sure and remember to change the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors when you set your clocks back. It's a great way to remember to do it, and best of all...it could help save a life!

Energizer sent us a Family Safety Kit which included a reusable grocery tote contatining:

1. One 2-pack of Energizer MAX Batteries (9v) with Power Seal Technology offering dependable and powerful performance for devices that help keep your family safe

2. One Energizer Flameless Wax Candle to help us enjoy the realistic flicker of a scented wax candle without the worry and danger of an open flame

3. One Energizer Weateready Safety Light which is waterproof and powered by AA, AAA or C cell batteries (I love that it can take different types of batteries! Makes it easy to keep working as we usually have at least one of those types of batteries on hand!). It also includes a safety whistle and imprinted preparedness checklist.

4. One Kidde Battery-Operated Combination Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Alarm!! A must for every household in my opinion!

We are so thankful for this Family Safety Kit and are happy to have these things on hand to help keep our family safe. The total value of the Family Safety Kit is approximately $78! And the good news is...

Win It: Energizer is offering one lucky reader a Family Safety Kit valued at $78 as well!! To enter simply enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below. If you don't see the form, click here.

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This giveaway is open to the US Only and ends 11/16

**The products for this review/giveaway were provided by Energizer. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.

Ever since Kaelyn started preschool she's been even more into doing all sorts of learning activities when we're at home. I love it and want to encourage her love for learning in any way I can. That's why I appreciate Educational Insights and their great variety of learning toys, games, etc.

If you've been reading here for a while you know we're huge fans of Educational Insights! Their playful products offer both educational value and fun! No matter if you're a teacher or parent looking for educational toys, Educational Insights is your one stop shop for everything you could need.


There are many different products available on the Educational Insights website that I know my kids would absolutely love, particularly Kaelyn. That's why I was thrilled to learn we were going to have the opportunity to review one.

We were sent the Hot Dots Jr. Getting Ready For School

Features/Benefits:

• Targets colors, letters, numbers, shapes, patterns and more 
• Features Ace the Talking, Teaching Dog - an interactive stylus that uses fun sound effects encouraging phrases, and blinking lights to guide children through 160 different activities
• Provides immediate feedback that rewards progress and corrects mistakes
• Includes 80 richly illustrated double sided Activity Cards (pressure-sensitive and work with Talking Hot Dots Pen)
• Design for grades PreK+

When the Hot Dots Jr. set arrived, I knew both Kaelyn and Kaden would be thrilled to check it out.

Kaelyn was at school when it arrived, so Kaden got to try it out first. He's almost three and has been working on his shapes and colors a lot lately. We found the shapes and colors activity cards, got batteries in Ace the Talking, Teaching Dog and were ready to go. As Kaden went through pressing his pen to the activity card, Ace would let him know if his answer was correct or if he needed to try again. He gets VERY excited when he gets it right, and loves when the pen vibrates after a number of correct answers! It's great encouragement for him to keep trying to answer the questions.

Of course, when Kaelyn was home from school she wanted to try it out too. She's very much into numbers and letters, so the variety of activity cards focused on these skills were perfect for her! She enjoyed the challenge of answering the questions and they proved to be very educational for her. I definitely think the age level of 3-6 is right on for this activity.

I absolutely love that it's something both almost 3 year old and 5 year old can use and learn from. Not to mention the fact that it's a lot of fun too! They don't even realize they're learning because they're having so much fun. Ace the talking, teaching dog definitely helps with that. I may have to get another so both kids have their own!

Overall we've been really happy with Hot Dots Jr Getting Ready for School from Educational Insights! It's a lot of fun, and the educational value is great for my kids! With 160 interactive early learning lessons, this is something we'll be able to use and enjoy for a very long time. I would definitely recommend it to families with young children PreK-1.

Buy It: You can purchase the Hot Dots Jr. Getting Ready for School from Educational Insights for $39.99.

 

Win It: One very lucky reader is going to win a Hot Dots Jr. Getting Ready for School kit of their own! To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter giveaway below. If you don't see the form, click here.

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**The product for this review and giveaway were provided by Educational Insights. All opinions are my own.



 

Thanksgiving is a time of tradition when the family comes together for a feast, typically consisting of the same dishes year after year. Even if your grandma makes the best stuffing and your Great Aunt Wilma makes the most fabulous thanksgiving side dish recipes in the country, it might be nice to spice up the menu this year. Little changes are all that's necessary – and so easy to implement – when you have some delicious and distinctive cupcake recipes to work from.

Serve up any or all of these sweet specialties and make the holiday extraordinary; plus, they're the perfect size when you want just a little something after a huge Thanksgiving dinner. There's no need to forego the pies altogether, but you may find they take a back seat to these sweet, petite treats.

Pumpkin Delights

These little cakes bring a big burst of autumn flavor with the pleasing tastes of pumpkin and spice. Like a cross between a pumpkin pie and a pumpkin cheesecake, they're a great alternative when you want dessert that's a little different. Reduce the guilt when you reduce the fat by using Neufchatel cheese instead of traditional cream cheese.
Ingredients

·       1 pkg. (2-layer size) spice cake mix

·       1 cup sour cream

·       1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin

·       1/4 cup oil

·       3 eggs

·       1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened

·       1/4 cup butter, softened

·       1 tsp. vanilla

·       1 pkg. (16 oz.) powdered sugar

·       1-1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

Directions

·       Heat oven to 350ºF.

·       Beat first 5 ingredients with mixer until blended; spoon into 24 paper-lined muffin cups.

·       Bake 20 to 22 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 min.; remove from pans. Cool completely.

·       Beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla in large bowl with mixer until blended. Gradually beat in sugar. Blend in cinnamon. Spread over cupcakes.

Red Velvet Petites
Maybe it's the deep red hue or the decadent combination of chocolate cake and cream cheese frosting. Either way, nothing says "holidays" like red velvet cupcakes. Use the handle of a wooden spoon to place a hole in the top of each cupcake to make filling them easy.
Ingredients

·       1 pkg. (2-layer size) red velvet cake mix

·       1 pkg. (3.9 oz.) chocolate instant pudding

·       1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened

·       1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened

·       1 pkg. (16 oz.) powdered sugar (about 4 cups)

·       1 cup thawed nondairy whipped topping

·       1 square white chocolate, shaved into curls

Directions

·       Prepare cake batter and bake as directed on package for 24 cupcakes, blending dry pudding mix into batter before spooning into prepared muffin cups. Cool.

·       Beat cream cheese and butter in large bowl with mixer until well blended. Gradually beat in sugar. Whisk in whipped topping. Spoon 1-1/2 cups into small freezer-weight resealable plastic bag; seal bag. Cut small corner off bottom of bag. Insert tip of bag into top of each cupcake to pipe about 1 Tbsp. frosting into center of cupcake.

·       Frost cupcakes with remaining frosting. Top with chocolate curls. Keep refrigerated.

Mini Boston Cream Pies
Thanksgiving dinner guests will feel extra special when you serve everyone their own individual Boston Cream Pies. They'll be impressed with the elegant dessert and you'll be the only one who knows how easy they are to make. Sift a light dusting of powdered sugar and cocoa powder over a paper doily placed on each dessert plate before setting the cupcakes on them to serve.
Ingredients

·       1 pkg. (2-layer size) yellow cake mix

·       1 pkg. (3.4 oz.) vanilla flavored instant pudding

·       1 cup cold milk

·       1-1/2 cups thawed nondairy whipped topping, divided

·       4 oz. semi-sweet chocolate

Directions

·       Heat oven to 350ºF.

·       Prepare cake batter and bake as directed on package for 24 cupcakes. Cool completely.

·       Beat pudding mix and milk with whisk 2 min. Let stand 5 min. Meanwhile, use serrated knife to cut cupcakes horizontally in half. Whisk 1/2 cup whipped topping into pudding; spoon onto bottom halves of cupcakes, using about 1 Tbsp. for each. Cover with cupcake tops.

·       Microwave remaining whipped topping and chocolate in small microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1-1/2 min. or until chocolate is almost melted, stirring after 1 min. Stir until blended. Let stand 15 min.; spread onto cupcakes. Refrigerate 15 min.

Chocolatey-Peanut Butter Cupcake Gems
A childhood favorite flavor combination meets sophisticated presentation when you pipe a silky peanut butter and pudding center into each moist, chocolate cupcake. A sure-fire favorite, these petite cupfuls of peanuty, chocolaty goodness are certain to become a new holiday tradition. Let these cupcakes cool completely before finishing them to prevent the filling and the glaze from melting.
Ingredients

·       1 pkg. (2-layer size) devil's food cake mix

·       1 pkg. (3.4 oz.) vanilla flavor instant pudding

·       1 cup cold milk

·       1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

·       1-1/2 cups thawed non-dairy whipped topping

·       4 oz. semi-sweet chocolate

·       1/4 cup dry roasted peanuts, chopped

Directions

·       Heat oven to 350°F.

·       Prepare cake batter and bake in 24 paper-lined muffin cups as directed on package. Cool 30 min. (Cupcakes still need to be warm to fill.)

·       Beat pudding mix and milk with whisk 2 min. Add peanut butter; mix well. Spoon into small freezer-weight resealable plastic bag; seal bag. Snip off one corner from bottom of bag. Insert tip of bag into center of each cupcake; pipe in about 1 Tbsp. filling.

·       Microwave whipped topping and chocolate in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1-1/2 min. or until chocolate is melted and mixture is well blended, stirring after 1 min. Dip tops of cupcakes in glaze; sprinkle with nuts.

I like to consider myself a fairly organized person, however...the kitchen is always a struggle for me. I have quite a few cupboards, but unfortunately they fill up very quickly and become unorganized and often messy. I can't tell you how many times I've organized the bowls, lids, etc...only to come back a week later and find them messed up again. Or...a situation I'm sure many can relate to...having leftovers to put in the fridge, but for the life of me am unable to find the right lid that goes with the right bowl! It's a never-ending problem...that is, until I was introduced to Mr. Lid.

Say goodbye to endless, thankless lid hunting and yellow to quick and easy organization!

Mr. Lid is the first container of its kind with an attached lid. These commercial kitchen-quality containers help to organize the kitchen and keep food fresh. Their list of impressive features are sure to make them a must-have product in every home, just take a look:

Features:

• Patented attached lid design for quick and easy seal
• Stackable 
• Variety of sizes
• BPA free, leak proof, microwave and dishwasher safe
• Perfect for organizing food items, toys, crafts, etc
• 100% made in the USA

When I learned we were going to have the opportunity to check out Mr. Lid...I couldn't have been happier and hoped this was the answer I've been looking for. 

Out of the box, I was impressed with the commercial kitchen-quality. These containers seem durable and like something that will last us a long time. That is very much appreciated, as we use dishes like this all the time for leftover!! 

Of course, as someone who needs more organization in my kitchen cupboards, my favorite feature is definitely that these are containers with an attached lid. It makes it so I never have to lose another lid again! I don't have to spend day after day searching for the lid that matches my bow now that I have both attached and in one place! I have also found that the lid easily seals which gives me peace of mind that my food is being kept fresh. 

The fact that these containers come in a variety of sizes is wonderful! The box I received contained 11 different containers in 4 different sizes. The larger ones are perfect for leftovers, while the little bit smaller ones are great for keeping fruit, snacks, etc. 

We usually have leftovers, which is what the kids and I eat a lot for lunches. That's why I am thankful that these are not only BPA-free for safety, but also microwave safe! I can easily heat up our food and dish it out for the kids and myself for lunch. It's so easy! 

And...when we're done, they are also dishwasher safe! Easy clean up is also great and always appreciated! 

Overall I've been really impressed with Mr. Lid containers! I absolutely love how they easily help to organize my kitchen cupboards and keep my food fresh. As people begin to make their Christmas lists, this is definitely an item I'd recommend for every household. 

Buy It: Available online at MrLid.com, and at retailers nationwide. MSRP: $19.95 

You can also connect with Mr. Lid on Facebook and Twitter.

**The products for this review were provided for free by Mr. Lid. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.