Banquet says Thanks A Million - Instant-Win Game

My mom was a single parent and was determined to do the best she could for me. She knew that in order to make enough money to take care of me properly and to set the best example, she needed to get her college degree. This meant that I often needed to make my own dinner as she had to take classes at night. I grew up with frozen dinners and Banquet meals were usually the brand she would buy because they were economical and I would actually eat them. Apparently I was a picky-eater? Sounds so like unlike me!

I didn't realize that Banquet has been creating home-style frozen dinners for over 50 years! You don't stick around that long without doing what you do well and by keeping your customers happy. They offer individual meals like the classic Salisbury Steak, Fettucini Alfredo and Pot Pies for those nights where no one can agree on one meal to eat. Or if you are like me and "what mommy wants, is what we eat," there is their Famiy Entrées like their traditional Fried Chicken, Crock Pot Classics and Turkey and Gravy.

I will admit that I do not like to feed my family pre-made frozen meals if I can avoid it. It is incredibly nice however, to have some on hand for those inevitable days/nights when there is no time or energy to cook. It had been a while since I had purchased a Banquet meal and was surprised that the portion sizes for the individual meals were (get this) actually individually sized. The price couldn't be beat, a little over a dollar, and nutritionally speaking, wasn't as unhealthy as I had feared. Like I mentioned earlier, you can not be in business for over 50 years without keeping your customers needs and wants in mind.

As a way of saying "Thanks a Million" to their customers, Banquet is giving away more than $1 million worth of redeemable cash prizes through April. All you need to do is look for Banquet frozen dinner meals with the "Thanks a Million" logo on the box. Each of these specially-marked packages will contain a special game piece, either one of over 16,000 redeemable cash prizes worth anywhere from $10 to $100,000, or a Banquet coupon. For more information, you can go to www.BanquetThanksaMillion.com.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Banquet and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

High School Reunions - To Go or Not To Go

This year marks the 20th year since I graduated high school. Thanks to Facebook, I have reconnected with a lot of people from both high schools I attended. I have very different attachments to each. But I honestly don't feel the need to meet up with all of them at a formal reunion & haven't attended any thus far. My husband has been hassling me about going to my reunion this year and I had to inform him that there is no such thing as a "20 Year Reunion."

Then I got an event announcement from one of the high school's Facebook page. Yup, announcing the details for our reunion. I began to think maybe I might go. This school is not near where I currently live and I haven't seen anyone in years. But when I got to the cost of the ticket, I decided that I didn't need to see any of them. $125!? And by the way, there is no such thing as a "20 Year Reunion" people! But take note, I will not spend $250 for both my husband and I to attend a 25 year reunion either.

Today I got another event announcement. Yup, from the other high school announcing our 20 year reunion. Now this school is closer to me & I already see the people that I want to see from that time in my life. I will surely not spend the $100 a ticket to see anyone else. This one is being held at a bowling alley/nightclub. Sounded kinda fun. But I am pretty sure I can come up with something more enjoyable for the $200 it would cost for both my husband and I to attend. Not to mention, I would surely break a nail bowling and that just isn't acceptable.

I always thought that there was 5 year, a 10 year, a 25 year and a 50 year, reunion schedule. Am I wrong?

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Wordless Wednesday - Allergy Test

My little Luke has had allergy problems since birth. We have to try a new food out for about 3 weeks to see if he is really able to handle it. Luke decided that he was going to do his own allergy test for yogurt. Basically, this is what happens when you leave food too close to him.

 

Yogurt cup - Destroyed

 

Maybe most of it is on his clothing?

 

Changed his clothes, put a bib on (too little, too late I know)

Guessin' he isn't tolerating the yogurt since his face is all broken out.

Geesh, who needs allergists, right?

For more Wordless Wednesdays: 5 Minutes for Mom

Take Me Back Tuesday - Dress Up

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How do you play along?We all have tons of photos from the days before the digital camera. I figure if I just scan a few each week, eventually I will get them all safely into my computer. But you don't need a scanner to participate - Just find a photo that takes you back to another time. Every week you can come back here and share photos that "take you back." Maybe it is the bad hair we all had in the 80's or the bell-bottoms you swore were so hip in the 70's.
If you decide to participate, sign the Linky below and I promise to head on over and spread some comment love your way!

 My cousin S and Nathan - Age 6?

My cousin S and Nathan are only 2 months apart & since both of them were only children (Nathan was 15 years old when Jake was born), they acted more like siblings. 

Here they are dressed in her grandmother's dress (Nathan's great-grandmother) and Nathan is in my uncle's clothes. Apparently my uncle was in a cowboy phase? That reminds me of a funny story:

Nathan spent a lot of time over my uncle's house growing up. Sometimes Nathan would need clothes to wear if he went swimming or stayed the night. Then one day my uncle suggested that Nathan could wear something out of his closet and Nathan said, "No offense Uncle. But your clothes are embarrassing." He said it so sincerely and really didn't want to hurt my uncle's feelings. I don't think my uncle knew whether to laugh or to console Nathan for having to tell him that.