IHOP Summer Signature Pancakes Review

I headed over to IHOP this week to check out the Summer Signature Pancakes. I had the hardest time trying to decide which variety of pancakes I wanted. 

The choices were:
Strawberry Banana Cream Pie Pancakes: Buttermilk pancakes layered with banana cream, topped with glazed strawberries & sliced fresh bananas bring the delicious flavor of everyone’s favorite summertime pie to the breakfast table.

Raspberry Peach Pancakes: Buttermilk pancakes topped with juicy peaches & drizzled with raspberry sauce that pairs two of summer’s most popular fruit flavors.

Blueberry Cannoli Cream Pancakes: Buttermilk pancakes topped with blueberry compote & perfectly sweetened Ricotta captures the essence of this classic Italian dessert.

I finally decided on the Raspberry Peach Pancakes and made it regular combo with 2 eggs, 2 slices of bacon and hash browns. I also had the option of choosing just the pancakes, which comes with 4.

I love the pancakes at IHOP even without toppings so I was so excited to try these. It was love at first bite. The raspberry sauce was perfectly sweet and tart and the peaches were crisp and delicious. These pancakes certainly tasted like summer!  I ate every last bite and almost wished I had ordered the 4 pancakes instead! Of course, the combo items were delicious and both plates were empty. Aside from how satisfied I was with the taste, this entree only cost $5.99! Of course, prices may vary by location.  Impressive for such good quality as well as quantity. I will have to take my husband to try these pancakes next week for his birthday.

If you plan to visit IHOP soon, be sure to check out the Summer pancakes. You won't be disappointed! Stay connected to IHOP on the web, Facebook and Twitter for promotions and updates.

I received a gift card from IHOP to try out the newest menu items in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own as usual. 

Operation #PileOnTheVeggies with SUBWAY and Fandango (Giveaway)

This post is sponsored by SUBWAY, but opinions are my your own as always. 

Getting your kids to eat their veggies can be quite a challenge for many. My son loves vegetables, but usually prefers them cooked. I have to get super creative when it comes to serving them raw. SUBWAY wants us to help reach the goal with Operation #PileOnTheVeggies. Children (and parents) are encouraged to pile as many different veggies on their sub as they can for special powers like Maleficent. My little one watched a fun video starring SUBWAY Ambassador Jared Fogle. 

After viewing the video, William decided that he was up for the challenge to #PileOnTheVeggies at lunch. We headed up to SUBWAY and he kept saying he wanted salad on his sub. This child NEVER asks for salad. He enjoyed watching the sandwich makers do their magic on his sub. I have never seen him so excited or interested in veggies like lettuce, spinach or tomatoes. 

We brought our lunch from SUBWAY home to enjoy. 

William was so excited to take a big bite out of his sandwich. He pretended to be a dinosaur and very surprisingly ate almost over bite. This is big for my finicky eater! 

SUBWAY offers an easy way to #PileOnTheVeggies with the Fresh Fit menu; featuring tasty, heart-healthy choices for all ages.  Kids get a special meal of their own, complete with a Fit Mini Sub (piled high with fresh veggies such as cucumbers and spinach), apple slices, and low-fat milk. For a limited time, your child can get a Maleficent backpack with their Fresh Fit meal. Be sure to connect with SUBWAY on Twitter and like them on Facebook for product promotions and updates.

SUBWAY wants you to have a magical experience, inspired by what is sure to be one of summer’s biggest blockbusters – Disney's Maleficent. One very lucky Mom Files' reader will win a $25 SUBWAY gift card to #PileOnTheVeggies and also a $50 Fandango gift card to see Disney's Maleficent. Enter below: a Rafflecopter giveaway  

This giveaway is open to US Residents only and will end on July 2, 2014. Please follow giveaway rules in Rafflecopter widget. One winner will be chosen at random and will be contacted via email. Mom Files is not responsible for any lost or stolen prizes. Good luck!

Beat the heat this Summer with Bomb Pops from Publix (Giveaway)

School's out, the temperatures have been in the 90's and the days are long... It's Summertime! One of my favorite Summer treats since childhood is the Original Bomb Pop. Do you remember them? I have memories of running after the ice cream truck every day to get my hands on one!

There is something about the flavor combination that can't be beat. Cherry, Lime and Blue Raspberry are so refreshing. I'm so amazed that they still taste the same after all these years. The thing that makes a Bomb Pop so special is the texture. It's smooth and not crunchy and icy like most frozen treats. They are so good! I was so surprised to see how many different Bomb Pop flavors are available. I saw the Hawaiian Punch, Watermelon and Original varieties in my local Publix store the other day. I want to check a couple more locations for the Banana Fudge flavor. Doesn't that sound delicious?

I have to make sure to stock up on some Bomb Pops for when the kids have friends over throughout the summer. Our whole family loves them so you can never have enough! The signature red white and blue treats make me think about celebrating the summer season. Check out these cute blueberry muffins decked out in all-American stars and stripes.

Do you want a little something to help make summer more festive? One Mom Files reader will win a Patriotic Prize Pack like this one below...

The prize pack will include:
·         2 coupons for FREE Bomb Pops
·         $25 Publix gift card
·         Patriotic Star Cupcake Combo Pack
·         Patriotic Tableware Caddy
·         Red, White & Blue Fan Decorations
·         Patriotic 3-D Star Centerpieces
·         Chevron Treat Bags

This would be perfect for your next summer cookout or celebration. Enter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This giveaway is open to US Residents only and will end on June 30, 2014. Please follow giveaway rules in Rafflecopter widget. One winner will be chosen at random and will be contacted via email. Mom Files is not responsible for any lost or stolen prizes. Good luck!
The prize pack was provided to me in exchange for an honest review and hosting a giveaway. All opinions are my own as always. 

Influenster #SpringVoxBox 2014

I'm so happy that I qualified to receive the Influenster Spring Vox Box for review. I don't think I have ever gotten a bad box from them. This box was pretty impressive. 

This Vox Box contained:
Rimmel London Scandaleyes Retro Glam Mascara ($5.99)-  This mascara is supposed to make your lashes look thicker, fuller with fanned out volume without clumps. I was very impressed that a low cost mascara really came through. I love the very wide applicator brush. I won't say that it is 100% clump-free, but if you apply it carefully, it will give you an almost perfect look. It comes off easily with my make-up remover wipes and leaves no residue behind. I will be purchasing this in the future.

Kiss Everlasting French Nails ($6.49)- My 17 year old daughter will be putting these to good use. I have a feeling they will be perfect for her. They have a shorter length which will give a more natural look.

Peach Pie car freshener from the movie Labor Day. It was so cute, but not really scented at all.

Playtex Sport Fresh Balance tampons ($3.99- $4.99) This is a great product. I have tried them and they do what they are supposed to do. I don't normally use scented feminine hygiene products, but these are the exception. I didn't experience any issue with it at all. Great product by Playtex.

NIVEA Skin Firming Hydrating Lotion ($2.40 for 2.5 oz/$10.99 for 13.5 oz) I love the way this lotion felt when I applied it. I just couldn't get past the very strong fragrance. It was too powdery scented and really turned me off. I wish this lotion was unscented. I would love to try that!

Overall, my favorite item is the Scandaleyes mascara. I just love how my eyelashes look and can't believe what a good value it is. I highly recommend it!

Big thanks to Influenster for another great beauty box. I look forward to receiving the next one.

Tips on Integrating Cats and Dogs into the Same Home

June marks National Adopt a Cat Month, created by the American Humane Association to bring awareness to the growing cat population in shelters - approximately 3.4 million per year. Many individuals considering cat adoption may already have a dog. Regardless, before making the decision to bring a cat into your household, it is crucial that potential pet owners take a variety of factors into consideration.

To better help integrate cats into any family, Heidi Ganahl, CEO and Founder of Camp Bow Wow featuring Home Buddies, a premier in-home pet care service, has created a series of useful tips.

Tips on Integrating Cats and Dogs into the Same Home:

-Choose the Right Personality: Always consider the personalities of the animals you are bringing into the home. For example, if you have a dog who likes to chase, you will want a cat that won't be in fear.

-Separate Rooms: For the first week or so, keep the dog and cat separated. You can switch between confining one to a certain room or area for a couple of days and then switch which one is confined. This will give them each time to get to know each other's smells and become familiar with them.

-Supervise At All Times: Don't leave the animals together by themselves until everyone has settled into having new friends in the house. You want to be able to keep an eye on them, so lock them in separate areas when you are out of the house.

-Keep the Dog on a Leash: While the dog and cat are in the same room, allow the dog to see the cat moving around. Watch the dog to make sure it doesn't try to chase the cat and that it isn't too fixated on what the cat is doing. You can also feed the dog some treats when the cat is around to have them build up a positive association with the kitty.

-Practice Obedience: You can then use obedience commands to help keep your dog calm and focused when the cat is around.

-Create a Safe Zone: Make sure the cat has a place to jump up to if they need to. You always want to make sure that your kitty has a safe place to get away from the dog in case they dog does start to chase them.