Sorry I have been away.......

I have been recovering from an emergency appendectomy and this past week my mom suffered a stroke.  I will be back soon.

Chilly Thursday Chili

Our local Sentry has a great deal this week. Buy 3 pounds of ground chuck and get the following free: can of diced tomatoes, can of kidney or chili beans, box of elbow noodles, package of chili seasoning and a bag of oyster crackers.  Guess what's cooking on the stove?

Six Flags Great America Ticket Giveaway-OVER

School Fundraiser - Magazine Sales

My son's middle school is having a magazine sale fundraiser.  The school receives 40% of each order and funds are used to support school programs.  Go to www.qsp.com click on shopping and enter school code 1093925.  In the checkout screen, under participant, please use QSP ID SCH3 and my son will receive credit for the sale.  Thank you in advance.

Disclosure:  I receive no compensation for this post other than a big thank you from my son and his school.

Travel Wisconsin Fall Color Report

It's getting cooler out.  This is my favorite time of year.  I love to see the leaves changing their beautiful colors.  There's a really neat link below to check out when and where the colors are peaking in Wisconsin.

http://www.travelwisconsin.com/fallcolor_report.aspx#/Report

Coats for Kids Collection - SE WI

Time to clean out the closets and donate coats your kids have grown out of.   Vince Condella, chief meteorologist from FOX6 Milwaukee has promoted our local coat drive now in it's 26th year.  Coats will be collected thought Oct. 15th.  Check out the link below for drop off locations.

They primarily accept slightly used children's coats. There's a special need for coats that would fit teens and tweens.  Adult coats will be accepted and distributed to social service agencies that serve adults.  They also accept only NEW hats, mittens and scarves for donation. They can be donated along with any coat donations.

http://www.fox6now.com/community/coatsforkids/

for drop off locations and more information.

Fall and Weather thoughts

What's your favorite thing about fall?  I love the changing colors of the leaves.  It was so humid the first few days of September, and now its 59 deg today.  The breeze feels nice today and airs out the house.

Tastes from Home with Frito-Lay Giveaway

Lay's chips have always been delicious and a family favorite.  Now they have added several new varieties to wow us.  http://www.fritolay.com/lays/regionally-inspired-flavors.html

Try some Smashed Ranch Potatoes.  I remember all the potato dishes my mom made for us as kids growing up in the midwest and today I make this for my own daughter, it's quick and easy to prepare when you had a busy day.

Pick your favorite potato.  Yukon Gold, Butter, Red.  Wash well and poke with fork.  Place in bowl in microwave for 6-10 minutes depending on number of potatoes used.  Let cool a minute before handling bowl.  Take fork and smash them up.  Add your favorite ranch dressing and a little shredded co-jack cheese.  Stir and enjoy. 

Try some twice baked ranch potatoes. Microwave 2 large baking potatoes according to your microwave directions. Let cool. Cut in half and scoop out the potato. Place in bowl with one half cup ranch dressing and a half cup of shredded cheese. Mix and put back in potato shell. Bake in 375 degree oven until heated through. Put a little more shredded cheese on top and enjoy.

Lay’s Regional Flavored chips! 
http://www.fritolay.com/lays/regionally-inspired-flavors.html
These chips were inspired by popular American regional cuisine and include:

1. Northeastern U.S. – Lay’s Honey Mustard
2. Midwestern U.S. – Lay’s Creamy Garden Ranch
3. Northwestern U.S. – Lay’s Balsamic Sweet Onion
4. Southwestern U.S. – Lay’s Chipotle Ranch
5. Southeastern U.S. – Lay’s Cajun Herb & Spice

· All of the Lay's Regional Flavored potato chips are made with all natural ingredients and cooked in healthier oils, like corn and sunflower oils, which contain 80% or more of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fat - the "good fats." They also contain 0 grams of trans fats per serving!

· There’s also less sodium in them than you might think – a 1-oz serving of our Lay’s Regional Flavored potato chips contains less salt than a plain bagel!

I can't wait to also try the Balsamic Sweet Onion and Honey Mustard.  Another flavor I have tried also pictured is Carolina BBQ which I found in my store by the Creamy Garden Ranch.

http://www.fritolay.com/

Here's how to win a delicious variety pack of Regional Flavors of Frito Lay Chips.

Mandatory entry.  List which flavor you would like to try in the comment section below.  Make sure to list an email if not in your google profile.

Additional entries:

1. Follow me on this blog.
2. Tweet the following:  #Fritoflavors www.shouldhavethought.com/  and win a Regional Flavor Frito Lay Chip pack.
Be sure to come back and list in the comments section if you have done the additional entries.

GIVEAWAY IS NOW OVER.
Deadline to enter is Monday, August 29th, noon CDT. Winner will be picked using random number generator. Winner will be notified via email and have 48 hours to respond with mailing address.

Disclosure:  Frito-Lay provided me with the chips and my blog post is a form of entry for the contest.

Let's go to the Wisconsin State Fair

http://www.wistatefair.com/11_web/

All you need to have fun at this years' Wisconsin State Fair is here.  Discounts on admissions, daily doings and more.  What is your favorite thing to do at State Fair?

Alsum Fast & Fresh Gold Potatoes Review

I bought a 12 oz. microwave package of potatoes at our local Pick n Save for $1.  Beautiful Wisconsin farm fresh gold potatoes all washed and ready to go.  Read directions on back before using.  Pop in the microwave for 5 minutes, leave in for 1 minute before handling.  Open carefully due to steam.  Absolutely delicious, melts in your mouth.  My daughter loves potatoes and I couldn't resist trying one of these myself before she did (okay two).  I am a big fan and look forward to checking out more of their products at my local store.

www.alsum.com


Disclosure:  I bought these potatoes on my own, received no compensation for my review and opinions expressed are my own.

Kid Cuisine Review and Child Hunger Ends Here/ Feeding America

KID REVIEW CORNER

Kid Cuisine Bug Safari Chicken Breast Nuggets Meal
It is a very good combination. Perfect for a microwavable lunch. Chicken nuggets are made of white meat and a good size nugget. I also like the mac and cheese and corn. The Fun Bugs gummy snacks are fun to eat.


http://www.childhungerendshere.com/Html/EnterCode.html

Just like Hamburger Helper below, I found this on my child's Kid Cuisine box by ConAgra Foods today.  Enter the code and Feeding America will help fund more meals for local food banks.

Cape Cod Kettle Cooked Potato Chips

KID REVIEW CORNER

These are great. They're crunchy, crispy, and addicting. 13 different flavors of chips.  I am currently eating a bag of Harvest Gold (mom says they are all natural with Yukon Gold potatoes and canola oil).    We've tried the Sour Cream and Green Onion, as well as Five Cheese and dad likes Sweet and Spicy Jalepeno.  I hope we can try more flavors.  My sister would probably like the White Cheddar popcorn I saw on Cape Cod's website.

www.capecodchips.com

Hamburger Helper and Fighting Hunger in America

What to make for lunch on a rainy day?  Why not Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni?
Kids and mom love it, and it is so easy to make and delicious.

Plus Hamburger Helper is helping fight Hunger in America!  For every code you enter at: www.showyourhelpinghand.com
they are donating $.17, for Feeding America to deliver one meal to a food bank. 

Don't forget to save the boxtop for school next fall too.

And personally, my favorite NASCAR driver is #33 Clint Bowyer, driver of the Cheerios/Hamburger Helper car :)

Tosa Farmers Market

http://www.tosafarmersmarket.com/

It's time to start checking out your local farmers market.  I was at the Tosa Farmers Market (Wauwatosa, WI) last summer.  I hope to stop by again in the next few weeks.  What's your favorite thing to find at your local farmers market?

Nite Brite Official Junior Size Football by Baden

KID REVIEW CORNER

Nite Brite TM Football

Very fun to play with! Really glows! Has a very good grip for throwing. No batteries required! Can be pumped up again and again! Easy to catch in the dark.

For best results expose ball to light source for approximately 5 minutes.

www.badensports.com

Disclosure:  Kid purchased football on own, we received no compensation for this review and opinions are strictly our own.

School's Out for Summer - $10 Walgreens Giftcard Giveaway

To celebrate the end of school and my very first giveaway, I am offering a $10 Walgreens giftcard.  Simply answer: What was your favorite thing to do on the first day of summer vacation?  OR what is your kids favorite thing to do on their first day of summer vacation?  Mandatory first entry, post your answer below along with your email.   After you have posted that, you can earn a second entry by sharing the post to twitter and post that you have retweeted.  For an additional third entry, follow me on twitter @shouldhavetho   Come back here and post your twitter name.  Winner picked via random number generator.  Winner notified via email and has 36 hours to respond with their mailing address.  Thanks for making my first giveaway happen.  DEADLINE to enter is: noon CDT Tuesday, June 21st.

Disclosure:  I purchased this gift card on my own and receive no compensation for my giveaway.

GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED
GIVEAWAY WINNER using random number generator is:
Shannon (you have email)

Thanks to everyone supporting my very first efforts at a blog and giveaway. 
Stay tuned for more to come!

Redbox Tell A Pal

Redbox is the best - you can rent DVDs for $1 a night with no membership fees! You should try it out. If you click on my link and it's your first time renting online, they'll give you a free one-night online rental credit. And I'll get a free rental each time you rent via my link during the program.



http://redbox.tellapal.com/a/clk/8xPtB

Crafty Cooking Kits

Looking for something fun and creative to do on a rainy day?  I found a kit at our local Walgreens.  It's called Crayola Spring Rainbow Cookie Kit.  A sugar cookie kit with powdered food coloring.  Messy fun and the kids liked making the dough.  The bright food coloring washes right off your hands.  Be sure to read the directions before beginning.

I purchased this kit on my own and received no compensation for this review.  All thoughts expressed are my own.

http://www.craftycookingkits.com/

Refunds and Coupons Make Cents

I love RefundCents.  Great tips on sales and coupons, plus a lot of other information for saving money.  Check it out.

http://refundcents.com/index.asp?RefID=7CZ

Earth Day 2011: A Billion Acts of Green® | Earth Day Network

Earth Day 2011: A Billion Acts of Green® Earth Day Network


What will you be doing for Earth Day?

Take a walk outside with a trashbag and beautify your own part of the planet. 

Happy Friday!  Welcome to my brand new blog!