Meet Me at Jenkinson's Boardwalk! I'm a #JenksAmbassador!

Ever since I first moved to the Jersey shore back in 2001, every summer has included several trips to Jenkinson's Boardwalk in Point Pleasant Beach.

It started out with my husband and I cramming ourselves into a roller coaster car and laughing hysterically. Now, we delight in watching our own daughters ride that very same roller coaster with the same bouts of laughter.

It doesn't get much better than Jenkinson's Boardwalk when you think of the Jersey shore. From the beach to the aquarium to boardwalk games, rides, and fun house, it's a jam-packed day of fun for the entire family. And don't even get me started on the sweet shop.

This summer I am teaming up with Jersey Moms Blog and Jenkinson's Boardwalk to show you just how much you need to include Jenkinson's in your summer plans. This summer I have been invited to be part of the Jenkinson's Ambassador program. I am one of several local bloggers who are committed to showing you how Jenkinson's can create a true Jersey shore experience for you and your family.

I couldn't be more excited about this partnership. I am a longtime fan of Jersey Moms Blog and Jenkinson's. I'm thrilled to be working with them and to share my summer experiences with you.

Are you in need of a beach day? You can sink your toes in the sand at Jenkinson's Beach. Or maybe you need to connect with nature. Jenkinson's Aquarium will get you in touch with your inner naturalist. Are you a foodie? Head to Jenkinson's for the delectable delights of the boardwalk. Personally, I'll be in the sweet shop if you are looking for me.

My girls love the roller coaster. In fact, last summer, they went on it 12 times in a row.

Every trip to Jenkinson's must include the arcade.

Jenkinson's boasts a brand new ride in 2014, the Kite Flyer.

Whether beaching it is your thing or you are looking for a day of adventure, Jenkinson's has you covered. With miniature golf, amusement rides and fun house, an aquarium, a sprawling beach and bath house, souvenir shops, food, food, and more food, you'll want for nothing when you visit Jenkinson's.

Can't wait to go?

WIN A GUEST VOUCHER FOR UP TO 5 PEOPLE

Jenkinson's is generously offering one Pieces of a Mom reader a 2014 Guest Voucher for up to five (5) people (guest wristbands will be issued). The wristbands include complimentary access to:

• amusement park
• beach
• bath house
• miniature golf
• aquarium
• fun house

Voucher is valid Monday through Friday, only. No holidays. It expires on 12/31/2014. The guest voucher does not include parking. Winner will redeem voucher at the Pavilion Office after 9 am or Amusement Park office after 12 pm for wristbands. The voucher is non-transferable and ID is required to redeem.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

5

Rock the Lunchbox ~ Back to School 2013

I have to admit. I enjoy the summertime break from packing daily lunches. My daughters never buy the school cafeteria food. And on top of that, they are extremely fussy lunch eaters. They don't eat sandwiches. They love fruit and veggies, but they need more than just that.

Packing lunches for two is a daily challenge for me. And to keep them healthy and balanced is an additional weight on my shoulders.

But I've become fairly adept at working with their preferences. But my biggest challenge is changing up what I give them. For example, if I give whole grain pretzels and cheese sticks more than 2 days in a row, they refuse to eat those food items anymore.

Constantly trying to change up what I include in the lunches can be exhausting, but I know that I have to do it to keep the girls interested in what they are eating.

So, over the years I've developed a list of items that I am constantly rotating in and out of the lunch boxes.

As a parent, I know first hand how tedious and monotonous packing lunches can become. As a Stonyfield Yo-Getter, I was invited to participate in the "Rock the Lunchbox" campaign. I received some product samples and/or coupons as part of my participation.

Annie's, Organic Valley, Honest Tea (makers of Honest Kids), and Stonyfield have partnered on a collaborative promotion to inspire parents to pack healthy, wholesome lunches that kids will look forward to eating day after day.

Here's what I typically pack for my 11 year old daughter. She doesn't eat sandwiches, and isn't a big meat eater. So, I have to be creative with her sources of protein.

What's in her lunchbox:

• Pita bread
• Cucumbers
• Hummus (source of protein).
• Annie's cheddar bunnies (salty snack)
• Granola bar (sweet treat)
• Stonyfield YoKids smoothie (her source of calcium)
• Honest Kids pink lemonade

Sometimes she dips the pita and cukes into the hummus. Other times, she'll make a pita pocket and put the cukes and hummus inside. On occasion, I add a few jarred roasted red peppers.

My 7 year old daughter is a little less picky than her older sister. She likes more fruits than veggies in her lunches. She loves yogurt. It's easy to pop a YoKids Squeezer or a container of YoKids low fat yogurt into her lunch.

What's in her lunchbox:

• YoKids blueberry yogurt with granola (main item)
• Banana and apples which she dips into
• Peanut butter (fruit and protein)
• Annie's honey graham bunnies (sweet treat)
• Annie's organic fruit snacks
• Honest kids apple juice

I add a sweet twist on the apple slices by cutting out the core with a small heart-shaped cookie cutter. This isn't something I do everyday, but occasionally I like to do it. It's a fun surprise when she opens up her lunch box.

I also use these Bento-style boxes for their lunches. Obviously, not all items fit into the box, but those that do are kept neatly organized and separated. For items that require more room or an ice pack, I place those into compartments in the kids' lunchboxes.

And there you have it! Two balanced and healthy lunches for two hungry girls.

I would love to hear what you pack for your children and the challenges that you encounter on a daily basis when packing lunches.

0

Exciting Announcement: I'm a Brand Ambassador!!!

When I first launched Pieces of a Mom three years ago, I never imagined the people I would meet, the opportunities that I'd be given, and the path my little ole blog would take. What began as an experimental and creative outlet for me has turned into a business. Go figure.

Three years and over 700 posts later, I am proud to announce my very first brand ambassadorship!! While this may not be big news for big bloggers, it's pretty exciting stuff for me. It opens up doors that wouldn't otherwise be open for me, and I'm elated to be representing a company that I wholeheartedly endorse, Stonyfield Farm.

I had the wonderful opportunity to meet representatives from Stonyfield back in April when I attended a luncheon hosted by Stonyfield featuring Robyn O'Brien. To read more, click here. I was so impressed by Stonyfield's mission and history. I left the luncheon knowing that I wanted to work with this company in some capacity as a blogger. And now I am thrilled to have been given that opportunity.

Stonyfield Farm, the award-winning organic dairy company, was founded in 1983 on a small farm in New Hampshire. With humble beginnings and lofty goals, Stonyfield has blossomed into a thriving business which focuses on sustainable farming practices. Over the last couple of decades, Stonyfield has experienced explosive growth, while introducing many new products: yogurt drinks, frozen yogurt, ice cream, YoBaby, a Greek yogurt we call Oikos, soy yogurts, and fluid milk—all organic.

In addition to producing the finest (and yummiest) yogurt on the market, Stonyfield also prides itself on being a model for socially and environmentally responsible business practices.  Stonyfield established a “Profits for the Planet” program, which commits 10% of annual profits to individuals and organizations working to restore and protect the environment. Stonyfield also uses the yogurt lids—millions each week—to promote causes, organizations, and environmental initiatives. Our plant engineers have worked hard to reduce the energy used to make yogurt, and to recycle as much waste as possible, which has kept tens of millions of pounds of waste from being dumped into landfills.

I am proud to be a Stonyfield "Yo-Getter". I can't think of a better company with which to align myself and my blog. But how do you benefit as a reader? Well, you'll get lots of great information here regarding organic dairy products and manufacturing practices. There will also be fun giveaways and heaps of great recipes that you can share with your family.

In the meantime, head on over to Stonyfield's Web site where you can register to earn rewards on purchases, print coupons for your favorite products, and read about all things Stonyfield.

0