9th Annual Alex's Lemonade Stand at the Mall of America®

WHAT:  An estimated 263,000 new cases of childhood cancer are found every year. Alex’s Lemonade Stand aims to raise $25,000 for childhood cancer research at Mall of America® on Sunday, June 2 hosted once again by the Hollway family. 

Sunday’s event will feature ice-cold lemonade for purchase, a silent auction with items donated by the Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Twins and performances by Cache and Victoria Dance Productions. 

Alex’s Lemonade Stand was originally created by Alexandra Scott of Pennsylvania in 2000. She held her first lemonade stand at the age of four to help find a cure for childhood cancer, raising $1 million for the cause. On Aug. 1, 2004, Scott lost her battle with cancer, but her legacy is carried on nationwide by families like the Hollway family. 

Molly Hollway was diagnosed with cancer at 13 months old. Ten years later her family planned their first Alex’s Lemonade Stand event at Mall of America. Molly just finished her sophomore year at the University of Minnesota and is a driving force behind raising money and awareness of childhood cancer.

For more information visit www.mallofamerica.com/events.  

WHEN:  Sunday, June 2  11 a.m. – 4 p.m.                        

WHERE:  Mall of America – Rotunda

Kemps® Hometown Favorites Ice Cream Contest

Did you know that Kemps® is a local brand?  I didn't.  I totally thought it was a national brand. Kemps® products are made right here in Minnesota and are sold in Minnesota and parts of Wisconsin, Iowa and the Dakotas.  Their frozen yogurt, however, is also sold throughout the Southeast.  In 2011, Kemps® started the Hometown Favorites Ice Cream Contest as a way to remind people that they are hometown produced.

This contest allows you to dream up your own ice cream flavor with the chance to see it on store shelves in the future!  It doesn't hurt that you could also win $2500!  Last year the contest generated more than 250 submissions with even more expected this year.  Here's how it works:

Now through June 7:  Submit your dream flavor  (You only have a week left!)--Submit your dream flavor, inspired by your family traditions.  What flavors remind you of your family traditions?  Think outside the box people...make it unique!

**Hundreds of submissions will be narrowed down by Kemps® and their marketing agency over the next 7 days.  They will choose 10 semi-finalists based on uniqueness, flavor combinations, how closely the flavor fits the family traditions theme, back story of the flavor, how feasible it is to actually make the flavor (hint: real pickle pieces won't work with ice cream because of the acidity), and other factors. 

June 14-June 30:  Vote for the finalists--The top 10 flavors will be posted online on June 14 where you can vote to help determine the top two flavors.  The third finalist will be chosen by Joe and Teresa Mauer.

August 1:  Vote for the winner--Vote online for the flavor you think is most interesting.  

**From August 1-August 21, Logan Julstrom (Kemps® Senior Food Technologist) will be working closely with the three finalists to perfect their recipes then Kemps® will actually make the ice creams so that...

August 22-September 2:  Sample the flavors at the Minnesota State Fair--Yup, you can actually try these flavors and vote on them at the 2013 MN State Fair!

**The winner will be selected by a combination of online votes, State Fair votes, and scores from a celebrity judging panel including Teresa Mauer.

August 28--2013 Hometown Favorites winner announced.  The winning flavor hits the market the following summer.

The 2011 winner was Land of 10,000 Licks.  This ice cream combines sweet cream ice cream with caramel, sea salt, and toffee pieces for the perfect sweet and salty treat.  I kid you not, I could not stop eating this flavor once I started.  The first bite is a bit salty but then the sweetness takes over and you are hooked

Last year's 2012 winner was Mini-sota Donut.  I was able to pre-sample this flavor when I got a tour of the Kemps® factory (another post to come).  Yum is all I can say!  Cinnamon and nutmeg combined with real donut pieces!  

What are you waiting for?  Submit your dream flavor today!  You might just find it on the store shelves next year!!  

I was given a tour of the Kemps® factory and swag as compensation for helping to promote the Hometown Favorites Contest.  All opinions are 100% my own.

The Microsoft Store at the Mall of America

Last week I had the privilege of attending a mini class at the Microsoft Store at the Mall of America.  A few bloggers (including myself) got a look at Windows 8 and the new Microsoft Surface tablet.  It was very informative and a ton of fun.

I'll start off by saying that the commercials for the Surface do NOT do it justice!  To be honest, I was a bit confused by the Surface at first and Windows 8 didn't make it any better.  After a bit of hands-on playing with the tablet and a tutorial on how Windows 8 works, I am in love!

In my opinion, the Surface blows the competition out of the water as far as functionality goes.  It's got a mini HDMI port for HD output, a USB port, and a microSD­™ card slot to expand memory.  It's biggest competitor doesn't have all three of those and neither does my current tablet.  The Surface tablet itself is super durable and the keyboard accessory (once clicked onto it) completes a perfect "case" for it.  Being completely set up for windows makes this a computer in a tablet size.  Pay a little more for the Pro and you can upload 3rd party software such as Quicken!  The only disadvantage I see to the Surface is that there are not currently as many apps for Microsoft as their are for Andriod or Apple.

As far as the Microsoft store at the Mall of America goes, this place is awesome!  In fact, we're hoping to have a gathering their for our readers and their kids in the near future!  In the first photo is their theater area in the back of the store.  They host all kinds of gatherings back there.

Did you know they will host birthday parties for FREE!?  Gather all you child's friends and play Xbox or Kinect on their HUGE 103 in touch screen!  They also hold FREE camps for kids!  Check out MicrosoftStore.com/Bloomington for more details.  Hurry!  Programs start in June!!

The other really cool thing about the Microsoft Store in the MOA is that they can print Skinit right in the store!  Yes, they have their own Skinit printer.  No waiting for shipping, just wait 15 minutes for printing!  See how cute mine turned out?!  I think I'll make another one to advertise Toys In The Dryer when I'm at the coffee shop or at a conference.

What are you waiting for?  Go head on over to the Microsoft Store at the MOA, check it out, and check out the Surface while you're at it!  What about trying out a FREE camp or birthday party??

I was NOT asked to blog about the Surface or the Microsoft Store.  I am simply doing it because I was impressed.  I received my Skinit for free as well as a swag bag at the event however these did not affect my opinion.  The opinions expressed are 100% my own.