Give the Gift of Hope

by Christine - From Dates to Diapers on May 16, 2011

Even though Mother’s Day is over, we can still celebrate the sisterhood of motherhood. In fact, Nestlé Family is hosting a special Facebook program that helps us honor the special moms in our lives while simultaneously raising donations and awareness for Mercy Housing.

In case you are not familiar with Mercy Housing, let me tell you a bit about it :: Mercy Housing is a national organization that is working to create a more humane world where poverty is alleviated, communities are healthy and all people can develop their full potential through affordable housing and supportive programs.

Nestlé Family has provided me with three $50 charitable gift cards. The cards allow the recipient to donate to one of thousands of charities, including Mercy Housing. Nestlé Family sent me three cards, so I could keep one, honor a mom who’s special to me by giving the second gift card to her and finally, I get to give the final $50 to one of you!

Win it!

To enter to win the third $50 charitable gift card, please leave up to one comment for each of the following, before 9pm (PT) on May 20th:

  • Tell me about a charity that is near and dear to your heart.
  • Tell me about a special mom who you look up to and admire. It doesn’t have to be your own mom, but it certainly can be!
  • “Like” the Nestlé Family Facebook page and honor a mom.

Please leave your email address in the space provided when you leave a comment, so the charitable gift card can be sent to you should you win.

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Literacy is Fun – Our Happy New School Year Party

by Christine - From Dates to Diapers on October 8, 2010

Experts say that nearly 40% of 4th graders in the United States don’t achieve even the basic levels of reading proficiency. This number, of course, is higher among low-income families, certain minority groups, and English language learners.

But, something is being done.

Reading is Fundamental is an organization whose primary mission is to motivate young children to read, especially those in disadvantaged households. RIF achieves this goal by putting new books and fun literacy activities into the hands of children. Children feel empowered and renewed, by selecting the books that interest them, and they begin to see new possibilities.

Happy New School New Year Banner

Last month I had the privilege of hosting a New School Year Party to promote literacy and Nestlé Family’s partnership with RIF.

Each of our guests brought a book, or two, to donate to our local elementary school. We had a fabulous lunch, browsed through the books, and even created some fun works of art. We had quite the houseful and a good time was had by all!

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The books provided by RIF were on display for all to see.
Each family added their favorites to the loot.
These books will soon be added to the library at Lincoln Elementary.

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Nestlé provided their fabulous Stouffer’s lasagne (and other goodies). Mmmm!

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To keep the kiddos busy, we made some fabulously creative cards. Fun!

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Gina and her son, Micah, won the grand prize of the day – Lots of great goodies.
And, everyone went home with a little goody bag from Nestlé.

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Nestle Holiday Gift Basket {Giveaway}

by Christine - From Dates to Diapers on December 22, 2009

My mom always set us up with fun things to do and create, especially around Christmas, but there is one incredibly easy craft that I particularly remember – We pressed cloves into the skin of an orange, rolled them in spices, and hung them as decorations. The sweet aroma filled our home, and to this day I remember that spicy scent with fondness.

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As I was browsing through NestléFamily.com, I came across a similar holiday craft and look forward to making these with my kiddos this week ::

Create a citrus candleholder

All it takes is a few minutes to transform an ordinary orange into a lovely candleholder. You’ll need an orange, a metal tea light, some cloves and a paring knife. Cut a hole in the top of the orange that’s a little bit larger than the diameter of the tea light. Create a space for the candle to sit, and place it in. Next press cloves into the orange skin. Light the candle, then sit back and enjoy the delicious spicy-citrus scent.

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Nestlé has offered a Holiday Gift Basket for one of you, for one of today’s giveaways! (Yes, there are TWO giveaways today, so be sure you enter to win an adorable item from Simply Chickie Clothing, too!)

This gift basket is worth over $40 and contains all of the following (most in the form of gift coupons) ::

· Toll House chocolate chips and cookie dough
· Carnation Evaporated Milk
· Breakfast Essentials
· Stouffer’s
· Juicy Juice
· Boost Kid Essentials
· Wonka candies
· Rasinets
· A 4×6 silver photo frame
· The Carnation holiday recipe guide

Here’s what you must do to enter:

  • Visit NestléFamily.com and browse around a bit. Then leave me a comment, by 3:00 pm (pst) on December 23rd, telling me which craft, recipe, or new tradition you may want to try with your family this year.

For additional entries, you may:

  • Link to this giveaway on your blog and/or Facebook wall. Be sure you leave me a separate comment for each link.
  • Tweet about this giveaway and include a link, using the hashtag #D2Dgvwy, as many times as you’d like before Wednesday at 3:00pm, and leave me a separate comment for each tweet.

One winner will be selected at random, and will be emailed. Winner will then have 24 hours to respond before forfeiting their prize.

Nestléfamily.com is also hosting a Holiday Memories Photo Contest where you can enter to win a $500 gift card, as well as other prizes. There will be five grand prize winners who will receive a $500 gift card and then 45 $50 gift cards for all 45 finalists. So, grab your holiday memories and enter now!

Benefited giveaway

Nestle’s Happy, Healthy Gathering – Yes, I was there.

by Christine - From Dates to Diapers on October 2, 2009

Nestle Family


Some of you may know that I just spent two days at the headquarters of the world’s #1 food corporation – Nestle. Nestle had the fabulous idea of bringing together a group of mom and dad bloggers, all-expenses paid, as somewhat of a first step in engaging in the social media space. Due to some of the “bashing” by some die-hard activists, who made it their personal mission to judge me for being there, I couldn’t quite make up my mind – should I blog about my experience with Nestle? And if so, when and how, exactly?

As I sit here on my plane trip home I decided that I will, in true YoungMommy fashion, write about my last two days, just like I would after any other event which I’ve been privileged to attend. Not because it’s expected of me, but because I want to – plain and simple. I plan to talk about my reasons for accepting Nestle’s invitation, what I discovered, and what I gained by this amazing experience. On a different day.

First, let me make myself very clear :: I’m not interested in debating Nestle’s practices or ethics. If you came to MY space with the goal of engaging me in any further discussion about why I am a “horrible person for accepting such an invitation,” accuse me of having “no ethics” or of being a “corporate shill,” please leave. If you are here to try to convince me that “Nestle kills babies” or “Nestle’s chocolate is blood-laden,” I am not interested in your comment – I’ve heard you loud and clear, but I will do my own research. If you would like to be polite and feel I may not have heard you before, feel free to email me.

To my dear readers who may be shocked by my uncharacteristic disclaimer, let me assure you that I will point you in the direction of the posts, tweets, and comments that led to this need. I encourage you to do some research yourself and seek to discover both sides, but I will not link to posts, sensationalized propaganda, or slanted media that only seek to point out Nestle’s “evil.”

Now, please take a look at my Whrrl stories from this week, found on my right sidebar, while I try to find my Butterfinger…

Comments will be moderated and deleted if you do not consider my wishes. My blog. My rules.

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Let’s Fix Dinner Blogger Round Table Recap (and giveaway!)

July 7, 2009

Tweet Not sure if you remember, but back in April I was one of 15 bloggers invited to the Nestlé Culinary Institute in Solon, OH. We had the opportunity to hear from top experts in parenting and psychology and even got to meet Celebrity Chef, Antonia Lofaso! I had an amazing time with the folks [...]

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Urgent Recall Notice: Nestlé Toll House Cookie Dough

June 19, 2009

Tweet I like cookies, but I simply love cookie dough! I know I’m not supposed to eat the raw dough, but I just can’t help sneaking a spoonful, or two, here and there. Some of my kiddos have developed a love for this gooey goodness, too, but an email that I received from my friends [...]

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Let’s Fix Dinner – The Challenge

April 29, 2009

Tweet Stouffer’s would like to invite you to join them on the mission to bring families together through dinner. Follow our conversation and then take the challenge! My family and I are up for it. Are you?

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Let’s Fix Dinner!

April 14, 2009

Tweet What keeps families from eating together? How can we break down these barriers? I’m hoping these questions, and more, will be answered for me in just a few short weeks. I will be spending a day at the Nestle Culinary Center in Solon, OH with 14 other bloggers, the fine folks from Nestle, and [...]

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