Kroger Carbmasters Yogurt Product Review

 

 

 

Kroger has a new healthy yogurt line to offer. Recently, as a BzzAgent, I was able to try this product for free! The line offer has regular, Greek, and Greek lite yogurt types in various flavors. The yogurts are lower in carbohydrates, calories, and sugar than the other brands without sacrificing on the serving size.

 

So far I have tried cherry, peach, strawberry, and carrot cake flavors. I have liked them all as well as the regular brand I usually buy. My 22 month old son loves them as well. I passed some coupons to my parents, and they have tried it too. They agreed that the yogurt was very good. My mom likes that is it low in calories and carbs. because my dad has a specific diet to follow, and this is a product he will actually eat without complaint.

 

I urge anyone who likes yogurt to try this new product from Kroger. It is tasty, affordable, and healthy; you can't beat that!

 

 

Disclosure: As a BzzAgent I tried this product for free. I attest that these comments are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.

No Sew Roman Shade Tutorial

We bought our house almost a year ago. In that time, I have been patiently waiting and thinking about how I can get rid of the vertical blinds that are on every window. I have nothing against vertical blinds for an office building or doctor's office. I do not like them in my home for the following reasons: they look plain, they clink when the window is open, they only open to the side.


                                                                            Before

As this past year has gone on, I have looked at mini blinds, curtains, and roman shades. I love, love, love roman shades because of the cute look and functionality. I hate the price. So I did what I always do; I took to the trusty Internet and found a tutorial on how to make a roman shade without sewing. Then I looked for the fabric I wanted and waited for coupons, so I could make this craft more affordable.

Okay, that's enough rambling, I'll get to the point.

What you need:
1. Tape measure
2. Fabric glue
3. Glue gun
4. Plastic mini blind
5. Fabric

What to do first:
1. Measure your window
2. Buy a mini blind
3. Buy the amount of fabric you need.
**If you are putting this shade on a bright window and want the sunlight blocked, don't forget to buy a sun blocking fabric, too.

Making the blind:

Lay out fabric and measure for the length and width you need.

My window is 60 in. x 39 3/4 in.

I cut the fabric to 62 in. x 41 in.

** Note** I should have cut the length to 64 in. just to have a little more wiggle room.

I used a sun blocking liner for my shade.

If you are using one, lay your already cut fabric on top of

it and cut the liner to the same size.

 

Now take your fabric glue and glue the two fabrics together

and let dry for at least 10 minutes.

 

To make the gluing easier, I folded the fabric back half way,

applied the glue, smoothed it out, and did the same to the other half.

 

Now lay the mini blind all the way out.

 

Remove the bottom.

 

Cut the ladder string. (The skinny one.)

Cut it in several places. You need to remove it completely.

Then take off all the blind slats you don't need.

You must determine how many folds you are going to want, and

leave that number of slats on the blind.

 

Once the extra slats are removed, evenly space the remaining slats.

Then put the bottom back on the strings.

 

Now take your hot glue gun and fold the fabric over the ends

and secure it. Do the top first and then the sides. Make sure

when you do the sides that the slats stay straight. (I didn't do that

and mine are slightly crooked.)

 

Let the blind dry for at least 12 hours. The fabric glues takes some time to set.

 

Hang it up.

 

The first few times you pull up the blind, you will need to assist the folds.

After a few times, the fabric should relax and fold easier.

 

 

 

Cost Break Down

 

2yds printed fabric with 50% off coupon = $9.99

2yds sun blocking fabric with 40% off coupon = $9.59

Fabric glue = $4.99

Mini Blind = $4.26

 

Total Cost = $28.83   That's not too shabby!        

 

 

Progress Report . . . New Year, New or Old Resolutions

At new years, like so many other people, I made these resolutions:

1. Continue loosing the baby weight; I have about 15lbs to go.
2. Have a game night with Misses at least once a week
3. Sign Bubba up for swimming lessons
4. Go on a weekend vacation as a family
5. Organize, organize, organize

Today, I would like to share my progress with you.

1. Weight loss : I have lost 5 of the 15 lbs. My progress is slow with this one but I am working out, and I feel strength improving.
2. Game night has turned into game afternoon. At least once a week, Misses and I play games, do crafts, read books, or bake goodies. The afternoon just seemed to work out better for us.
3. Sadly, I haven't signed Bubba up for swimming lessons yet. I still plan to, but the schedule has to allow for it.
4. My husband and I are planning a little trip for July.
5. I have organized my closet. That is it. I have the next week off, so I hope to achieve this goal then. I am thinking about becoming a Clever Container Consultant as well. I love to organize . . . it is keeping things organized that has proven to be difficult.

As I type this, I think shoot . . . that's not too shabby. I'm still a work in progress; but if I didn't have progress to make, I'm not sure what I'd do with myself.

How are your personal goals/resolutions going?

Shamrock Rice Crispy Treats

It is March! There's a ton of snow on the ground! 

St. Patrick's Day is around the corner, and I'm trying to get on top of this blog. Many times we do things, but I fail to write about it. So here I am being all productive.

I hope you find these treats as cute and yummy as we do.

What you need:

• 5c. Rice Crispy Cereal
• 7 oz Marshmallow Cream 
• 4 TBS. Butter
• Wilton Colored Chocolate Disks
• Shamrock Cookie Cutter

What to do:

• Make rice crispy treats (I use this recipe: http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1613,152172-234205,00.html)
• Put the treats in a pan and let cool
• Cut the treats with cookie cutter and place on plate
• Melt the Wilton Disks in the microwave
• Use a small spatula to spread on top of the treats.
• Let set
• Enjoy!

Picture instructions below.

Candy Melts

 

Spread in Pan

 

Cut out Treats

 

All done! Don't they look cute and yummy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cabin Fever is Setting In

My kids are the kind that want to be outside from sun up to sun down. They don't care if the weather is good or bad. However, I am not as adventurous or tolerant of our Midwestern climate. It has been pretty cold this winter and we just got roughly eight inches of snow last week. We did get out and play in it more than once, but eight inches is difficult to navigate when you are dressed like Ralphy's little brother in The Christmas Story.

Since we are projected to get about eight more inches on top of the eight we already have, I thought it would be a good idea to get these kids out of the house to run and play.

Yesterday, we went over to Clinton, IA to check out the Discovery Center. It was pretty cool for the size of town it is located in. Not to mention, I really liked that all the exhibits were on one level that was all open. So I could stay close to Bubba while letting Misses explore and make friends. Below, you will find pictures of the fun we had yesterday.

Train Engine

Train Engine

Train Table

School House

Ambulance

Mini Golf

 





There were many more exhibits, but I wanted to play too, so I put the camera away.

If you are ever up around Clinton, IA check out the Discovery Center. It is worth the $4.00 per person entry fee. The staff is very friendly.



Thankful Wreath Activity/Craft



Not to long ago, I saw a wreath crafted on Pinterest (at least I think it was Pinterest). Anyway, it was a Thankful Wreath. When I saw it, I thought, that would be a good activity for Misses and I for Thanksgiving and to reiterate gratefulness.

So I took myself over the the craft section of the store. I do not frequent this area, but I found the materials needed to complete the wreath.

Materials:
1. Wreath foam form
2. Ribbon in the color of your choice
3. Straight pins
4. Construction paper

After I got all the things we needed, I set forth to wrap the ribbon around the form. One spool was not enough, but I had some fabric scraps and that covered the rest. Then I drew little leaves on the construction paper. After I drew the leaves, Misses and I started saying all the things we were thankful for. I wrote all the responses on the leaves; we both cut the leaves out. Next, I used the straight pins to hold the leaves on the wreath. They are easily pushed into the form and add alittle silver pop. Finally, we hung the wreath in our dining room.

I wish I would have thought to take a pic of the finished product, but I didn't. Using the pins also allows for use year after year.

Rainbow Cupcakes

Misses recently turned 5! This year for her birthday, she wanted rainbow cupcakes. I groaned just a little at this. I do not care for making cupcakes. Since that is what she wanted, we looked on the Internet for some inspiration. In no time, we found a picture of cupcakes with sky blue frosting and candy rainbows on top.

After finding what we were going to do. I gathered the supplies.

What you need:
1. Box of cake mix (I use whatever I have on hand.)
2. Ingredients for frosting     (see: Thomas Cake for recipe)
3. Cup cake papers
4. Sour rainbow Airheads (I found them at Walmart.)

What to do:
1. Make the cup cakes according to the box instructions.
2. Make the frosting.
3. Frost the cupcakes with the blue frosting.
4. Cut the Airheads to the length you want for the rainbows.
5. Pipe 2 white frosting lines on top the blue and push the Airheads into them.
6. Pipe the white frosting around the Airheads to hold them in place and look pretty.

 

Here they are all finished. They are easy to make and very cute.