Congrats! - ProgressOH! Winner

I can't believe I forgot to mention the winner of the ProgressOH! Giveaway. The winner was selected through Rafflecopter. Congratulations Deb!

Deb won 2 cans of yummy Progresso Soup, a makeup bag, and compact mirror/brush.

More giveaways coming soon!

Chores for a Two Year Old?

When is it too early to teach your child about chores and helping others? I say, never.

As you may or may not know, I am a high school teacher, and I enjoy having conversations with my students during recess and lunch. We'll talk about a variety of things, from family life to school life, or even about their relationship issues.  It's nice to be able to connect with them outside of the class lessons.

One common thing I notice in some of my students is that they do not take the time to learn household chores from their parents. (I won't say all students are like this, because there are many who help at home.)  I always lecture suggest that they should take the time to learn some home-cooked meals and recipes from their parents before it's too late. I know I wish I learned more recipes from my parents before I moved out.  Of course, all I have to do is call them to ask how to make something, but it's definitely not the same.

Jacob's always been good about helping Hubby and I around the house. We haven't decided on a chore system yet, because I think he's still too young for that, but he does have certain things he's "in charge" of.

Jacob's responsible for putting the soap into the dishwasher:

And he helps with other things too:

I think a part of it, too, is that Jacob feels important when he's helping. He's proud of himself when he feels as though he has accomplished a task or is helping his parents. 

Okay I can't figure out a way to end this post, because my goal isn't to lecture on proper parenting, so I'll just post another picture of Jacob, haha.

Chinese Lion Dance / Keopuolani Park

Kung Hee Fat Choy!

Between my two jobs, I normally work 6 days a week, so Saturdays are our "Family Days" when we are free from all obligations.  [Yep... today's post is about a Saturday, and today's Monday. Sue me. Ha] This Saturday was an action packed day, and by the end of the night, I was exhausted.

First, we went to the Maui Mall for their Annual Chinese New Year Celebration.  I'm going to be honest and say that the food could have been a little better. The hallway was lined with 6 or 7 different food booths that served Chinese and Vietnamese food, and most were oily and/or deep fried.  I wasn't impressed.  In fact, Hubby, Jacob, and I had to do a mini-detour to Whole Foods to get some breakfast.  I'm normally not picky when it comes to food, and I hate to be negative, but the food wasn't the best. In any case, we didn't let it spoil our day!  

After we finished eating, the Chinese Lion came dancing by. 

 I'm not sure if it's Hawaii tradition or Chinese tradition, and maybe some of you can help me on being accurate here, but it's believed the lion will bring you good luck if you give him a red envelope filled with money.  As soon as we spotted the lion, I grabbed Jacob, tossed the camera to Hubby, and ran towards the lion so Jacob could give him some money. Literally. Ran. LOL. Good thing I ran because I beat the crowd. Muahaha.

 I was pretty surprised that Jacob wasn't scared at all. In fact, he gave the lion money twice. I'm wondering who had more fun:  Jacob or his mommy. lol... Oh yah, and I should probably note that I made it sound like we gave the lion a bunch of money, but the red envelopes had a dollar in each. He can't tell who gave what, right?

So, anyway, after we celebrated the Chinese New Year, Jacob said he wanted to go to the park, so we made a short trip to Keopuolani Park in Kahului, Maui.  If you are living on Maui and haven't taken your kiddies to Keopuolani Park, I highly recommend it!

There are two different playground sets, one for toddlers and one for older kiddies, and they are both quite large. Jacob plays on both of them, but he prefers the one for older kids. I like it better when he plays on the toddler jungle gym because you don't have to stand close by and watch him on that one, but Jacob doesn't care what mommy wants, right? Haha. He wants to be with the big kids. :-)

                        

Phew. Long day. There's more.  So after we went to Keopuolani Park, Hubby and Jacob went home while I  went to a two-hour Zumba class with my mom, MIL, and SIL.  I've never been to TWO HOURS of Zumba before, and all I'll say is I SURVIVED!  I was sore, but I survived.

What a fun-filled day.  I love my family!

WW: Just Jacob and Me

~Wordless Wednesdays 2/6/13~

ProgressOh! Review, Contest, and GIVEAWAY [Ends 2/20]

Sigh. It's 9:30pm on a Monday night and I just came home from working at my part-time job as a deli attendant, after working at my teaching job of course. If you've been keeping up with my blog here, you know that one of my New Year's Resolutions is to eat one serving per meal... which essentially means I'm trying to watch what I eat. There. I bravely said it. Ha. Anyway, lol, it's not easy to watch my calories since I eat at such odd times, like after my 4:30pm to 8:30pm shift, so I found the perfect go-to meal.

 Progresso Soup! 

With only 100 calories per serving (and roughly 2 servings per can), it is the perfect meal for me to eat late at night while I try to watch what I eat,or really at any time,lol. I mean, seriously, creamy soup that's only 100 calories per serving? I didn't even know that was possible. YES, PLEASE!

Earlier this month, I was so excited to receive my cosmetic bag in the mail, which came with:

• 2 cans of Progresso Soup
• Light Creamy Potato with Bacon & Cheese
• Light Chicken Pot Pie Style
• A cute Cosmetic Bag
• A Compact Mirror and Brush

We are very excited. Hehe.

Woohoo for Soup!

And here's the silly Jacob trying to open the can...

Okay, last pictures, I promise. I wish I used a better bowl, but here's Jacob enjoying the Light Creamy Potato with Bacon and Cheese.  

I know that I said I was going to eat it for dinner tonight, but he said he wanted to try some.

Jacob approves! (So do I, by the way.) Oye, I really wish I used a cuter bowl. Haha.

Anyway, did you know that right now, Progresso is holding a contest that you can enter on Facebook?* According to their website, "three grand prize winners will get to take the ultimate trip full of ProgressOh! experiences - from a head-to-toe makeover to sightseeing in LA!"  All you have to do is go to http://www.facebook.com/progresso and enter the following information.

• Complete an official entry form
• Share a photo
• Tell them why you love Progresso soup
• Tell them why you deserve a ProgressOh! makeover

I have never been to LA before, so I am entering as soon as I finish this post. :-)  I'm excited and I hope I get picked... Even though I know I'm probably not going to win, I figure it's worth a shot. (In fact, a small greedy part of me is saying not to tell all you blogger peeps so I have a better chance of winning. Hahaha. I'm evil.)

Anyway, good luck if you're going to enter the contest! You have until February 11.

For my Giveaway, if you would like to win your own Progresso Gift Pack, which includes 2 cans of soup, a cosmetic bag, and a compact brush/mirror, please enter through the rafflecopter below. My giveaway ends on February 20, 2013, when one winner will be randomly selected to win the gift pack. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure: The information, products and ProgressOh! gift packs were provided by Progresso through MyBlogSpark.

*Contest Rules Copy Pasted:  *NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Many will enter, few will win. Subject to official rules. Void where prohibited. Open only to legal residents of the 50 US (and D.C.) who are at least 21 years of age at the time of entry. Contest begins 12/17/2012 at 12:00 a.m. CT and ends on 2/11/2013 at 11:59 p.m. CT. For Official Rules, prize descriptions and odds disclosure, visit www.facebook.com/Progresso. Sole Sponsor: General Mills Sales, Inc., One General Mills Blvd., Minneapolis, MN 55440. This Contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. Any questions, comments or complaints regarding the Contest must be directed to the Sponsor, and not to Facebook.

February 1?

Whaaat? It's February already? I have a couple of giveaways to post and I'm falling behind on grading my students' homework. I better work hard to catch up this weekend. Stay tuned...