Blogorama Bonanza Back 2 School Sponsor Spotlight: My Blog Spark/Box Tops for Education/Walmart

You may already be back in school, but my daughter still has another couple weeks.  I am always looking for ways to save money and to help my daughter's school in any way I can.  I am that mother who hears about a classroom need, and I am ready to fulfill it. 

My daughter is really good about watching for products with Box Tops.  We always make a point to collect them, and when we get the required amount (the school has a minimum number they will allow the students to bring in), they go to school.  My daughter always gets excited when she sees Box Tops!

Walmart is the place to look for Box Tops as you prepare to go back to school.  Here are some ways to optimize your Box Tops experience at Walmart.

• Look for the Box Tops display at your local Walmart to earn 4 Box Tops on more than 100 of your family’s favorite items including Cheerios, Hamburger Helper, Nature Valley and Totinos
• By liking Walmart on Facebook you can earn more Box Tops from General Mills
• Check out the Box Tops For Education website to learn more about the Box Tops Program and how you can help your school reach its goal for the 2012-2013 school year
• Visit EarnMoreForMySchool.com to find out how you can earn even more for your school with eBox Tops.

My Blog Spark provided me with a $25 Walmart gift card, and I am looking forward to using it when we finish out back to school shopping this week.  Since my daughter is going with us, she will be certain to find those Box Tops products!  

Be sure to check out more information at all these sites:

• Box Tops for Education website http://goo.gl/aoc3e
• Box Tops for Education on Facebook http://goo.gl/PIOdP
• Box Tops for Education on Twitter http://goo.gl/UD755
• Walmart website http://goo.gl/DpWz1
• Walmart on Facebook http://goo.gl/gWcJl
• Walmart on Twitter http://goo.gl/f4Fc2
• Earn More For My School website http://goo.gl/0TNqu

Be sure to watch out for the giveaway coming up very soon!

“Disclosure:  The Walmart gift card, information, and additional gift pack have been provided by General Mills and Walmart through MyBlogSpark.”

Cinnabon Random Packs of Kindness Contest (My Blog Spark) and a coupon

Cinnabon was able to warm the hearts of others this holiday season through its Random `Packs´ of Kindness contest and it´s your turn to do the same!

Throughout the holiday season, Cinnabon asked consumers to share stories of random acts of kindness stories online and now it´s time to vote for your favorite good deed! Between now and January 28th, vote for the most heartwarming act of kindness on the Cinnabon Facebook page and help those who did a good service win a cash prize of $2,500 as well as a $2,500 donation to the charity of their choice.

Be sure to vote and encourage friends and family to do the same on the Cinnabon Facebook page and continue to spread the warmth throughout the New Year.

Information provided by Cinnabon and General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

And, one more thing (somewhat unrelated).

Want to get a coupon for $100 off one package of Yoplait Frozen Smoothies?  Click here.

*This coupon offer is not valid in the following states: including California, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota and Tennessee.

Thank you, My Blog Spark!

Choose More Whole Grains (My Blog Spark)

The Dietary Guidelines recommend choosing products with a whole grain listed as the first ingredient. Now every cereal with the white check has more whole grain than any other single ingredient, with the same great taste. You will see whole grain as the first ingredient on the ingredient list, indicating that whole grain is the first and most prevalent ingredient. According to Dr. Travis Stork, emergency room physician and host of "The Doctors," identifying whole grain products can be challenging. Shoppers can look for cues on the front of the box, but they need to read the ingredient list to know if they are getting products with whole grain as the first ingredient. Ingredient lists detail ingredients in order of prevalence, and if the words "whole" or "whole grain" are followed by a grain like wheat or oats, it means the food contains more whole grain than any other single ingredient. Here´s how to determine if your cereals have whole grain as a first ingredient: People really want to make healthy eating decisions, but there are a lot of messages vying for their attention in the supermarket. This can be especially true when it comes to determining which foods have a meaningful amount of whole grain. Dr. Stork has some additional recommendations to help you include whole grain easily into your diet. They include: Start Early! The Dietary Guidelines recommend people get at least 48 grams of whole grain in their daily diets. Get a jump-start on the day´s nutrition by incorporating whole grain into your morning routine. For instance, when choosing cereal make sure whole grain is listed as the first ingredient. One easy choice is cereal with the white check, which have more whole grain than any other single ingredient. Make Simple Swaps. Choose whole grain versions of the foods you love. Great options include whole wheat pasta and whole wheat bread or even whole grain crackers. Also, try different types of whole grain. Use brown rice instead of white rice as a side dish at dinner or popcorn, which is a whole grain, for a snack. Don´t Judge a Food by Its Cover. The front of food packages provide good nutritional cues, but don´t forget to read the ingredients and check the nutrition label and side labels for additional health information. Cereals with the white check even include the amount of whole grain per serving on packaging. Tune into "The Doctors" on January 13th when the experts will discuss the importance of whole grain. Plus, check out Dr. Travis Stork in this brief video on how to find whole grain. To help make it easier to find whole grain products, General Mills developed "Fast Lane for Whole Grain," an online educational game. Consumers can navigate virtual grocery store aisles and identify products that have whole grain as the first ingredient, with the option to enter a sweepstakes to win one of each of the 50 cereals with the white check. In connection with healthier lifestyles, a diet rich in whole grain has been linked to healthier body weights, and it may help reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers. Make a commitment to incorporate more whole grain into your family´s diets by starting their day with a bowl of cereal with the white check, including Cheerios®, Lucky Charms®, Cinnamon Toast Crunch®, Honey Nut Cheerios® and Total®. For more information on the importance of whole grain and a chance to enter the "Fast Lane for Whole Grain" sweepstakes visitwww.WholeGrainNation.com. In addition, you and your readers can visithttp://www.myblogspark.com/uc/main/d537/ to download a printable coupon for $1.75 off the purchase of any (2) cereals with the white check today!