$50 Amex #giveaway from @RaguSauce

Two kids with opposing food preferences

+

two parents always on the go for work

 X

It doesn't take a genius in New Math to figure this one out. 

X = infinite dinnertime struggles

So, it's no surprise this new video campaign from Ragu hits home and cracks me up.  Check it out:

Thankful I've never had to do anything THAT over the top to get the kids to eat.  But some nights I feel like it.  Maybe I should try it.  Think it would work?

Ragu asked last year's Mom's the Word Ambassadors to help spread the word about their new Ragu Asks video campaign.  So far, they are all interesting and funny and I plan to watch them all.  In return they gave me... wait for it... a $50 Amex giftcard to giveaway.

Want to win?

Giveaway: 

One lucky Mommycosm reader will win $50 Amex card from Ragu.

Mandatory Entry: Simply leave a comment on this post with your first name and state initials and tell me: what is the most embarrassing thing you have done to get your kids to eat.

One comment per person, please.  If you have previously won a Ragu giveaway at Mommycosm.com, you will not be eligible to win.  You must supply an email address in order for me to contact the winner.  (Note: I do NOT recommend putting email within the content of the comment itself.  Unless you enjoy Spam with your Ragu, that is.)

Submitting a comment constitutes agreeing to the terms of the Official Rules.

Deadline:

All comments must be received by Tuesday, March 27, 2011 at 7am.  Mommycosm will use Random.org to choose the winner.  Any comments received after the deadline will not be considered for the giveaway.

Disclosure:

Information and giveaway provided by Ragu.  Visit www.facebook.com/ragusauce to join the conversation.    Thoughts are my own.

Update on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 08:20AM by Mommycosm

And the winner is...

which is this comment...

Congratulations, Robyn!  I will be in touch shortly via email with instructions on how to claim your prize!

Thank you, everyone for participating and for sharing your most embarrassing moment.  I think we all might be envious of Robyn... and not just because she won the prize.  I'll swap kids with her for a day to not have to deal with eating challenges;-)

Ragu wrap up & $100 giveaway

I'd like to say that I planned to save this last Ragu post for a post-Christmas winner.  I mean, who couldn't use an extra $100 after the holidays, right?

But, no.  I'll be honest.  Life got away from me for a bit.  If you follow me on Facebook, you have seen my posts about my father-in-law undergoing open heart surgery.  It was in the midst of The Plague hitting our house and my uterus being poked and prodded while looking for what appears to be polyps.   So, on top of normal holiday stress... well, something had to give and it was this blog.  My father-in-law is doing OK now- still in the hospital.  Appreciate your thoughts and prayers.  We're hoping for a Christmas release, but it's iffy as of right now.  My uterus and I aren't exactly friends right now, but I'm sure we'll make up soon.

OK, so, Ragu.  I must say that this ambassadorship was both educational and fun for me.  I hosted 2 in-house parties and was able to host giveaways here at Mommycosm throughout.  I developed an authentic love and appreciation for the brand and it truly has become a staple in our lives.  Kinda sad the year is coming to a close.

About one of those parties.  It took place a few weeks back.  In case you hadn't noticed, our house is set up well to host parties.  We planned it that way.  The kitchen is the center of the main floor.  We have a bar in our basement and a huge covered porch off the back of the house.  We like to entertain and do so often.

In the past, one of us would make our own sauce and meatballs.  It would involve slaving over the stove while attempting to get the house clean.  I switched over to using Ragu instead and in the amount of time just the sauce would take me in the past, I was able to additionally offer a pasta bar with multiple sauce choices.  It was such a huge hit, a double rainbow appeared.

No, really.  Check out the video:

OK, so I'm not sure if the double rainbow had anything at all to do with the sauce, but it was pretty amazing to see one and be able to capture it on film, right?

I want to thank both Ragu and their PR company Weber Shandwick for the opportunity to be a Mom's the Word Ambassador.  Without further ado... my last task...

Giveaway:

One lucky Mommycosm reader will win $100 bank card from Ragu.

Mandatory Entry: Simply leave a comment on this post with your first name and state initials.  Tell me your favorite Ragu Sauce.

One comment per person, please.  If you have previously won a Ragu giveaway at Mommycosm.com, you will not be eligible to win.  You must supply an email address in order for me to contact the winner.  (Note: I do NOT recommend putting email within the content of the comment itself.)

Submitting a comment constitutes agreeing to the terms of the Official Rules.

Deadline:

All comments must be received by Thursday, December 29, 2011 at 7am.  Mommycosm will use Random.org to choose the winner.  Any comments received after the deadline will not be considered for the giveaway.

Disclosure:

This post was created in connection with my appointment as an Ambassador in the Ragú^® Mom’s the Word on Dinner Program.  Visit www.facebook.com/ragusauce to join the conversation.  Information and giveaway provided by Ragu.  Thoughts are my own.  Double rainbows not guaranteed, results may vary at your own parties;-)

Update on Thursday, December 29, 2011 at 09:02AM by Mommycosm

And the winner is...

Which is this comment...

Congratulations, Marilyn!  Check your email for info on how to claim your prize.

Thank you to everyone for participating!

Wishing you all a Happy New Year :)

Ragu Mom's the Word on Dinner: Technology & $100 #giveaway #momstheword

While poking around the Ragu Facebook page, I found this video from back in March before I was a Mom's the Word Ambassador.  It's about technology at the dinner table.  Should you allow phones, iPads, phones, etc. while you are eating?

Check out what these Ragu moms have to say:

I'll admit it.  While I am a stickler about the TV being off during meals.  BUT I do often have my iPhone with me.  If the four of us are all eating together, I make more of an effort.  It's hard to disconnect fully as a work-at-home mom.  It's something I think I need to work on because I think my family deserves more of my undivided attention during meals.

So... I promised another giveaway.  Right?

Wanna win?

Giveaway: 

One lucky Mommycosm reader will win $100 bank card from Ragu.

Mandatory Entry: Simply leave a comment on this post with your first name and state initials and share your thoughts about technology at the table.

One comment per person, please.  If you have previously won a Ragu giveaway at Mommycosm.com, you will not be eligible to win.  You must supply an email address in order for me to contact the winner.  (Note: I do NOT recommend putting email within the content of the comment itself.)

Submitting a comment constitutes agreeing to the terms of the Official Rules.

Deadline:

All comments must be received by Monday, December 12, 2011 at 7am.  Mommycosm will use Random.org to choose the winner.  Any comments received after the deadline will not be considered for the giveaway.

Disclosure:

This post was created in connection with my appointment as an Ambassador in the Ragú^® Mom’s the Word on Dinner Program.  Visit www.facebook.com/ragusauce to join the conversation.  Information and giveaway provided by Ragu.  Thoughts are my own.

Update on Monday, December 12, 2011 at 12:12PM by Mommycosm

And the winner is...

Which is this comment...

Congratulations, Joanne!  Check your email for info on how to claim your prize.

Didn't win this time?  Stay tuned.  I will be posting one more $100 bank card giveaway courtesy of Ragu real soon!

Ragu Mom's the Word on Dinner: Leftovers & $100 #giveaway #momstheword

Updated on Monday, December 5, 2011 at 07:22PM by Mommycosm

The latest Ragu Mom's the Word on Dinner video is all about leftovers.  Check it out:

Anyone who has lived with me will attest to this.  I am a leftover snob.  If it doesn't get eaten the next day, it gets tossed.  Food poisoning has stricken me one too many times to gamble on leftovers.

Ok, OK.  In this economy especially, I agree that my snobbiness results in wastefulness.  I'm trying to get better.  I even put milk in my cereal last week ON the expiration date.

*gasp*

Would love to hear more creative ideas on using leftovers from my lovely readers.

Ex-roommates and my husband, stop laughing.  Really.  I mean it.

Totally inspired by people on Ragu's Facebook page talking about making two lasagne and freezing one.  I could do that.   It's not that much more work to create two instead of one - and if it goes right into the freezer, I can convince myself that it's not a normal leftover. 

Right?

Ragu rocks for getting us all talking about dinnertime.  Dinner is the bane of my existence.  Well, second to laundry.  So, these videos and comments from others have been very helpful and educational for me.

Want another reason why Ragu rocks?  Starting today, I will be posting giveaways from Ragu for YOU.  Yep, each week for the next three I will be giving one lucky reader a $100 bank gift card courtesy of Ragu.

Wanna win?

Click to read more ...

Mommycosm Reviews Recap: The one about @RaguSauce & a #giveaway

In case you missed last week's episode of Mommycosm Reviews, here is an edited video recap:

In this episode, we discussed family dinner challenges and I gave away (5) $50 Amex gift cards LIVE to viewers courtesy of Ragu.

If you missed the LIVE show.  No worries.  I saved a gift card for my fabulous Mommycosm.com readers.

Who loves you?

Although - that leaves me to wonder... if you're that fablulous, why aren't you watching the LIVE show?

ehem

Bygones...

Giveaway!

One lucky Mommycosm reader will win (1) $50 Amex Gift Card, courtesy of Ragu.

Want to win?

Mandatory Entry: Simply leave a comment on this post with your first name and state initials.  Tell me: what is your biggest dinnertime challenge?

Easy peasy.  One comment per person, please.  You must supply an email address in order for me to contact the winner.  (Note: I do NOT recommend putting email within the content of the comment itself.)

Also, if you already won a gift card on the LIVE show, you are not eligible to win this giveaway.

Deadline:

All comments must be received by Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at 7am.  Mommycosm will use Random.org to choose the winners.  Any comments received after the deadline will not be considered for the giveaway.

Disclosure:

This post was created in connection with my appointment as an Ambassador in the Ragu Mom's the Word on Dinner Program. Visit www.facebook.com/ragusauce to join the conversation.  Thoughts are my own.

Update on Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at 08:28AM by Mommycosm

And the winner is...

Which is this comment...

Congratulations, Rosey!  I will be in touch via email shortly :)

Thank you to everyone who participated.  Stay tuned for more great giveaways sponsored by Ragu in November and December!