This Mama Cooks! Reviews

Try Yoplait Greek yogurt for free!

The first 50 readers who click on the “Try It Free” button in the widget below, and sign up will receive a coupon for a free cup of Yoplait Greek yogurt, the newest Greek yogurt on the market. If you’re new to Greek yogurt, it has a thick and creamy texture unlike regular yogurt. Each six ounce cup contains 12 grams of protein – two times that of most yogurts. Yoplait Greek is the only leading brand of Greek yogurt with vitamins A and D, plus it has zero grams of fat.

It sells for around $1.19 at most supermarkets - one of the cheapest Greek yogurts currently on the market. Yoplait Greek comes in strawberry, blueberry, honey vanilla and plain. I tried the blueberry and vanilla Yoplait Greek yogurts and they’re pretty tasty.

Yoplait Greek yogurt giveaway

After signing up for your free Yoplait Greek yogurt coupon, click on the “Watch Videos” button to see behind the scenes footage from “Clash of the Titans,” which hits theatres in 3D on April 2. (I saw the previews yesterday and it looks pretty cool. Then again, I’m a geek for Greek mythology and monster movies.)

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Disclosure: Yoplait provided me with this opportunity, information and product samples.

My shopping trips to Marshalls and TJ Maxx

Marshalls and TJ Maxx aren’t just for bedding, towels, kids clothes and shoes. Both are great places to go for fitness gear from kettle balls and fit balls to yoga pants and running shorts.

If you like to cook, Marshalls feature a wide variety of pots and pans and kitchen gadgets. I was disappointed not to see any Le Creuset cookware, but maybe that was a good thing. Even at Marshall’s, it’s pretty expensive stuff.

But what you might not know is that you can also purchase a wide variety of sea salt, spices, sauces and oils at Marshall's. It’s a great place to stock up or shop for the foodies in your life.

More check-ins at Marshalls Store Zero Three Two Three

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TJ Maxx stands out to me because of their fabulous sterling silver jewelry at very reasonable prices. Like Marshalls, TJ Maxx has a big selection of sauces, salts and spices, kitchen gadgets and pots and pans. While they have exercise gear, Marshalls had more workout clothes. (The selection at both Marshalls and TJ Maxx will vary from store to store.)

I loved the fabulous frocks they had for sale, and ended up with a fantastic dress that will be perfect for several conferences I’ll be attending this spring and summer.

More check-ins at TJ Maxx

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Disclosure: Marshalls and TJ Maxx’s PR firm sent me gift cards to facilitate this review. A portion of both shopping trips was paid out of my own pocket.

It’s Betty Crocker stock up time at Safeway

In spring time does a mom’s fancy turn to baking? More likely it’s her family that wants more baked goodies, especially around holidays like Easter. That must be why from March 24 through April 6 Safeway stores are selling Betty Crocker SuperMoist Cake and Traditional Brownie Mixes at the special price of 69 cents a box.

To get the special sales prices, you have to buy four boxes of Betty Crocker cake or brownie mix and have a Safeway Club card. Even so, it’s a great time to stock up for those last minute bake sale treats and potluck parties. I always have a few boxes of brownie mix just in case I get one of those “just bring dessert” invites to a friend’s home.

For great spring recipe ideas, check out BakeSweetMemories.com for delicious, fun desserts using your favorite Betty Crocker mixes. Recipes include Easter Bunny Cakes and morning brunch ideas that are perfect for teacher appreciation breakfasts and morning play date get together with friends.

If you miss the sale, check BakeSweetMemories.com for great coupon offers that you can download right to your Safeway Club card. Still, you should make it a point to stop by Safeway and stock up. Last time I was there I found great deals on Suave shampoo, frozen diet entrees, Peet’s Coffee and Coke Zero. You had to buy two or four of each, but the price savings was worth it. Between the coupons I brought with me and the Club card savings, I reduced my grocery purchase by nearly 40 percent!

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Disclosure: Safeway and Betty Crocker provided me with a “Spring Sweet Treats” pack that included a VIP coupon for a free Betty Crocker product, a silicon baking pan, a stainless steel mixing bowl, a Betty Crocker oven mitt and mixing spoon, and a Safeway gift card along with information to facilitate this review.

Redeeming my Tropicana Juicy Rewards Program points

Last weekend I redeemed by first set of Tropicana Juice Rewards points from their partner, EA Sports. I think it’s a real plus that I can use points to purchase things that support my fitness and health goals. For three points I got $10 off a EA Sports Active Wii game purchase and free shipping. The discount works for both EA Sports Active and EA Sports Active: More Workouts. I purchased the More Workouts game since I already had EA Sports Active and LOVED it. (See my review here.)

It was very easy to redeem my points. I just clicked on the EA Sports logo at the bottom of the page, found the offer from EA Sports that I wanted (for 2 POINTS you can get $5 off and free shipping), and clicked on the View Details button. From there, I clicked on the Get Reward button, was asked if I wanted to redeem my points, and immediately was taken to the EA Sports Active website. (My offer coupon code was also emailed to me.)

I ordered the game, paid for it with my credit card (it didn’t like the VISA gift card Mom Central sent me) and almost immediately got an email confirming my order. A couple days later I got an email confirming shipping and received it from UPS a few days after that.

EA Sports Active: More Workouts

I’m really looking forward to working out with EA Sports Active: More Workouts once I get my EA Sports Active game, cords and leg band back from a friend who borrowed it. No rush since we’re also, remodeling, painting and putting carpet in the living room. It’s a bit hard to workout in a construction zone.

At the Fitbloggin conference I learned that EA is adding a heart rate monitor and new wireless control system to EA Sports Active this fall. You’ll still be able to use the Wii gaming software with it, so don’t let that stop you from redeeming your Tropicana Juicy Rewards Program points now for these wonderful Wii games.

My only problem? What to get with my Juicy Rewards Program points next!

Sign up for the Juicy Rewards Program and get a FREE point

When you sign up at the Tropicana Juicy Rewards website, you can get one free point compliments of Mom Central. Just make sure to use the following code immediately after registering - MOMCE-NTRAL

More about being a Juicy Insider:

• I'm a Tropicana Juicy Rewards Insider

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Disclosure: I wrote this post while participating in the Tropicana Juicy Insiders Ambassador program by Mom Central on behalf of Tropicana. I received 12 free Juicy Rewards points and a Visa gift card to use in redemption of the points and to facilitate my review.

Thanks to Hersey's my kids still believe in the Easter Bunny

As a healthy lifestyle blogger, you’d think I’d be totally against candy - but I’m not. I believe a little indulgence is healthy for your soul, if not your waistline. I try to avoid sugar when I can, and keep my sweet treats to a minimum. Still, a little chocolate in my life makes me oh so happy.

Alsok I find that it’s impossible to ban candy from my kids’ lives. Instead, I try to show them that an occasional ice cream cone or piece of candy is fine when they’re eating healthfully the majority of the time, making good choices, and keeping portions under control.

So when the folks at Collective Bias sent me a gift card to shop at Walmart for Hersey’s Easter chocolate, I literally felt like a kid in a candy store. I have a nostalgic fondness for Hersey’s and insist on using their bars for s’mores when we go camping. “Better” chocolate just doesn’t quite work in a s’more, you know?

Here’s my chocolate shopping adventure on Whrrl. It was my first time Whrrling a shopping trip and proved to be a lot of fun. I was a little disappointed that Walmart wasn’t carrying the big chocolate Hersey’s Easter bunnies like I saw at my grocery store. Still, they had a fabulous variety of chocolaty goodness.

More check-ins at Wal-Mart

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