I’m exhausted already! So, when My Blog Spark offered to send me a trial pack of Totino’s Pizza and Pizza rolls, I thought…….

“Yeah, give em to me and cook em too”!

Well, they didn’t cook them but they did send me an awesome prize pack along with a free movie rental from Red Box (which we use all the time) anyway.

When My Blog Spark offers me a trial pack, I always plan to offer my real opinions and do it on time, but this time I’m so far behind that I’m embarassed to even post this, but I will.  Thanks kid for breaking your foot!

We haven’t used the ticket for a movie, but we did get one Totino’s Pizza – supreme, and one Pepperoni pizza rolls.  I wasn’t expecting too much because these are pretty small packages and I’ve had them in the past. Mom and I shared the kit for lunch one day and I actually liked the pizza more than I remembered liking them in the past.

So, do you want to get in on the fun? Grab yourself a box or two for a quick meal and especially for the kids.

Bonus! Some boxes contain 2 Box tops for Education which helps out  your local school.

• With more than 27,800 locations, and available nationally at Walmart, there’s always a redbox kiosk nearby! Find the closest redbox kiosk by checking redbox.com/locations.

• Hey, check out ways to connect with Totinos and REdbox!

• Totino’s Website: http://bit.ly/totinos
• Totino’s Facebook: http://on.fb.me/totinosfbook
• Redbox Website: http://bit.ly/redboxweb
• Redbox Facebook: http://on.fb.me/redboxfbook
• Redbox Twitter: http://bit.ly/redboxtweet

My 9 year old has autism. She can’t fasten buttons and can do zippers only on loose clothing, or something with a good structure like her coat. So, jeans are out of the question most of the time. However, wearing sweats for the rest of her life isn’t going to be the best option either.

So it occurred to me today that wearing scrubs, yeah medical scrubs, might work. They make them in a couple different styles at least, and they come in a rainbow of colors. But as she grows older, she’ll need and likely want, something less childish. She will have to blend in at least a little more in high school. Dressing is just one way that kids are singled out, but it’s true for adults also.

I never thought about buying scrubs for my autistic daughter, but it makes sense.

This particular company http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/categories/Scrubs/ offers good quality and a plain, simple style which is all my kiddo needs. Extras with possible scratchy spots are no good, trust me. I never thought about buying scrubs for her, but it makes sense. No buttons, no hooks or tabs. Just elastic or a tie (which she isn’t good with either).

So, the one drawback I see to buying scrubs for kids, is cost.

However, when she’s grown a little more and has hit her peak, cost won’t be quite so important. It makes sense to pay for something solid and well made, rather than something cheap that she might tear up with normal use. If medical uniform scrubs bring to mind the cartoon characters and flowery prints you’ve seen before, it’s worth a look at the simple and stylish solid colors this company offers.

I’ll be shopping for scrubs, I think. Do you have any suggestions or alternatives to wearing pants with buttons and zippers?

The Winner Is:

Betty Crocker provided me with the product, and information through MyBlogSpark to test out the mixes. In addition they are providing one prize pack to one of my readers. MyBlogSpark.com and GlutenFreely.com: http://bit.ly/glutenfreely are proud sponsors of the GlutenFreely.com/BakersChallenge: http://bit.ly/bcgfcontest

After reading through the information below about the Bakers Challenge, leave ONE comment with any and all entries that you finish and qualify for.

We know baking in a gluten-free world poses its own challenges – as well as sweet rewards – so we want to give you a chance to show off the creative solutions and tasty treats that you’ve created for your family and friends.

Now through June 30th, visit www.glutenfreely.com/bakerschallenge for the chance to win a Grand Prize of $5,000. The grand prize winner will also have the chance to be featured on a Betty Crocker® Gluten Free dessert mix or Bisquick® Gluten Free baking mix package and/or be featured in a Betty Crocker publication! All you have to do is submit an original gluten free holiday-themed appetizer, bread or dessert recipe, using any Betty Crocker Gluten Free dessert mix or Bisquick Gluten Free baking mix.

Recipes will be judged on five key categories: taste, creativity, ease of preparation, consumer appeal and appearance. Plus, we want you to keep baking deliciously, so if you’re one of 10 selected finalists, you will receive a Betty Crocker Gluten Free Baking gift basket filled with baking items and Betty Crocker Gluten Free mixes. Even more exciting, finalists’ recipes will be featured on www.glutenfreely.com/bakerschallenge and voted on by the Gluten Freely community to determine the Grand Prize Winner

For great recipe tips, ideas, and suggestions, visit www.glutenfreely.com to help get you started and learn more about the Baker’s Challenge Gluten Free Recipe Contest.

In addition, through the end of June, you can save 20% on the purchase of any of the five Betty Crocker Gluten Free mixes. Visit http://www.glutenfreely.com/ourstore to buy yours today!

So, we recieved the 5 mixes shown and have used three so far.

1. The brownies – they came out the way I like them. Not cakey! They were ooey gooey, soft and fudgey.
2. Bisquick – we used this for pineapple pancakes and there was no difference in the taste between regular and gluten free that I could taste. They were yummy!
3. Chocolate cake mix – we made mini cakes in our GT Express and they came out super. We even added in bits of chocolate candy bar to it just like we do with other cake mixes.

The consistency of the dry mix is odd when compared to regular types of baking mixes. These gluten free formulas seem almost sandy – but the texture is fine when they are all baked up. The taste is also so far, amazingly good. We tried to do gluten-free several years ago to see if it would help my daughter with her autism, but the cost and flavors and textures were so foreign to us that when we saw no difference in my daughter health and behaviors, we didn’t see why to continue. Last year when we got to do our first Betty Crocker gluten free review, I was curious to see if they could compete with regular baking mixes and win over the main stream customers.

It seems like they are well on the way!

The Prize! One reader will win a gluten free prize pack of 5 different mixes from Betty Crocker

One reader will be picked using the random number generator plug in on June 28th. The winner will be emailed and is expected to respond within 24 hours, or I will pick a new winner.

leave ONE comment with any and all entries that you finish and qualify for doing one or more of the following:

• leave a comment about why you would consider using the Betty Crocker gluten free line of mixes.
• Follow alexshares via email/RSS feed – use the sign up box in the upper right corner of the site.
• Follow alexshares at facebook

This DVD release has long been anticipated by fans but has not been available in stores until now. The hit series follows the Thornberry family as they travel the world in their Communications Vehicle (or CommVee) looking for rare animals to film. After an encounter with an African shaman, their youngest child Eliza was given the power to speak to animals!

I had no idea that Tim Curry or Flea was in this!

Why: The Clay and Charcoal help to detoxify and wash away bacteria from the mouth. Myrrh helps to tone the gums.

Where: AquarianBath.etsy.com

My thoughts: I’ve tried some other natural tooth products from liquid tooth soaps to powders because I have sensitive teeth and just don’t like the thought of putting more chemicals in my mouth. Actually, it’s the taste of commercial tooth paste that I don’t like. Mint isn’t my favorite in any form.

I found the Cinnamon tooth powder to be pleasant enough to use. I turn the lid over, sprinkle some powder in it and then with a wet tooth brush, rub the brush into the powder.

Their isn’t much taste, which is good. It is a little gritty, but what do you expect when putting powder in your mouth? My teeth and mouth felt clean, fresh, and I didn’t notice any residue.

The one drawback? I was grossed out when watching myself in the mirror. It looked like I had a dirty mouth – literally dirty. So, I just don’t watch while I brush now!

Have you tried natural tooth solutions? What do you think?