Monday, February 22, 2010

Mac and Cool Giveaway

So Remember the Mac and Cool Review I posted not to long ago? If not head over here and read up then come back...... I'll wait.....

Okay so I contacted the company because I seriously fell in love with this product and wanted to know more. Of course I thought about all of my readers and asked if there would be a chance of a giveaway. Okay well more on the giveaway in a minute. I want to tell you all the neat things I found about about in an interview I had with the creator Denise; who happens to be a mommy creator!



1)      The idea for the Mac & Cool came to me when my oldest child was very young.  He was an impatient toddler and as soon as he could smell dinner cooking, he was ready to eat.  Waiting for his food to cool was a long, whiney process!  I assumed there had to be a product that cooled food quickly on the market.  I searched to purchase one but when I found there was nothing like it out there, I decided maybe it was something I needed to develop.  My son is now 14 years old, and still a bit impatient , by the way!

2)      The Mac & Cool has been featured in some awesome places!  HGTV’s “I Want That” did a segment that explains the bowl really well.  The show is often re-run on Fine Living Channel (episode 117 – I Want That).  We were also featured on the cover of Costco Connection Magazine May 2007 , Good Morning America, The View, Inside Edition, CNN Headline News, Dr. Phil, among others.  In 2005, the Mac & Cool was featured in an article in TIME magazine, too.

3)      We cool EVERYTHING with the Mac & Cool.  My kids figured out if they put pizza in the frozen dish cheese-side down, the pizza no longer burned the roof of the mouths!  I sometimes us the Mac & Cool when I’m cooking…if I have to cool the custard before adding it to a dessert, I do it in the Mac & Cool.  Or, if I try to soften butter in the microwave oven and go a bit too far, just pour the butter into a frozen Mac & Cool and it solidifies just right!  The Mac & Cool is great for some cold foods, too.  If you ever make home-made ice cream and it is still pretty soft when you serve it, just serve it right out of the frozen Mac & Cool and it is just the right consistency.  We live in a warm place (Arizona) and I’ll often use our Mac & Cool to serve cheese by the pool or for serving fresh fruit.  It keeps it just cool enough to really enjoy it!  I had neighbors phone once who don’t have children and they had used their Mac & Cool to cool their gourmet Chicken Cordon Bleu!

4)      I had some background in plastic manufacturing from my pre-Mom career days so getting through the manufacturing process wasn’t too difficult.  Probably the hardest part about that process was finding a manufacturer that was willing to take on the project knowing that I would only be making small quantities at first.  I had to go to several plastic parts manufacturers until I finally found one that was small enough to want to take it on.  The most difficult thing for me was selling the product in to the marketplace.  I’m not strong as a salesman so I had some learning to do.  Tradeshows specializing in children’s products was a great way to meet my customers face-to-face.

5)      The best tip I can give is to be prepared if you want to start your own business.  There are many hidden costs that will come up throughout the process.  Be as prepared as you can with a strong budget.  You don’t want to get part way through and then run out of money before you  get the product to market.  Do your research and find out how good your idea really is.  Don’t be afraid to ask friends and others what they truly think of your idea.  It’s better to get your feelings hurt in the beginning rather than spending $20,000 and then finding out your idea isn’t all that great.   Also, stay focused and don’t get discouraged.

WIN IT: Three, yes you read right... THREE  reader's will win a Mac and Cool bowl and a pack of potty mitts. (ERV $10.98)
MANDATORY ENTRY:You must first tell me what you would use to cool with the Mac and cool, a story about a child and dinner that this would have helped, or something related to this giveaway. Comments like pick me, great giveaway, etc will be deleted and not counted.

EXTRA ENTRIES: (24 possible entries)

  • Become a Follower  (1 entry)
  • Subscribe to my blog and verify  (2 entry)
  • Use the button below to post on Facebook, Myspace, etc. Let me know what you did. (1 entry)
  • Follow me, Twitter    (1 entry)
  • Blog about this giveaway, leaving a link to this giveaway (5 entries)  
  • Grab my NEW button and post a link! (2 entries)  
  • Tweet about this giveaway, up to 1x daily          WIN a Mac and Cool Dinner time's best friend! Hosted by It's all about the Savings http://bit.ly/9ThURI @all_about_savin        
This giveaway will run from 2.22.10 until 3.8.10, please leave separate comments for each entry, winners will be selected via Random.Org  & emailed. They will then 48 hours to respond, or another winner will be drawn. Please see my disclosure policy for details about reviews and giveaways!

89 comments:

  1. I have a three and a half year old daughter with both Asperger's Disorder (a from of autism) and Riley-Day Syndrome. Due to both of these problems she not only has problems telling if something is to hot or cold due to non developed nerves and pain receptors, she also struggles with the vocal expression of hot or cold. I would use this on many of her foods especially her chef boyrdee foods just to make sure it is not so hot as to cause sores. Because what might feel cold enough to you or me may actually be way to hot due to her health problems.

    amandagreen85653@gmail.com

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  2. I am a follower.

    amandagreen85653@gmail.com

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  3. I subscribe

    amandagreen85653@gmail.com

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  4. I subscribe

    amandagreen85653@gmail.com

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  5. Posted on facebook

    amandagreen85653@gmail.com

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  6. I follow on twitter

    alg85653
    amandagreen85653@gmail.com

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  7. http://twitter.com/alg85653/status/9495485804

    tweeted

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  8. Ok so lets see. I know you from BBC. I have a 3yo DS and we have to cool alot of his food still cause it gets to hot for him. We dont really have any funny storys just almost scary one cause I made him a kid cusine and he spilled it on his lap and the corn had a little juice in it and burnt him

    Lets see I added you to twitter. i am momofbugnhulk.
    i tweeted your tweet.
    I think thats it.

    Staci

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  9. I have a 14 month old boy who loves to eat! As soon as he is hungry, he lets me know by pointing towards the kitchen which means that he wants food now! Unfortunatly, I can't get his food to cool fast enough so he cries and cries until he gets his food. Having the Mac and Cool would definetly help not only with getting him his food faster, but decrease his cries which can drive me a bit crazy at times. :)

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  10. I shared on FB, subscribed and follow your blog.

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  11. My 3 and a half year old always want to be like mommy and daddy. He loves holding his own bowl of food especially when we have soup for meal which we have them quite often. This would really be cool and come in handy.

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  12. I have a 2 year old and a 5 year old. I usually put their food in the fridge (or freezer) to cool off before serving, but many times, I have taken it out before it is actually cooled off and so the kids have trekked back to the fridge and sadly, more than a few times, my little guy has ended up dumping his food on the floor in the process. This would definitely help cut down on those spills!

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  13. Megan- litlearnhardt8@aol.comFebruary 23, 2010 at 7:28 AM

    My son hates eating food that is the slightest bit hot so I always have to put his food in the freezer before giving it to him. With this very neat bowl I would just have to put the food in the bowl instead of in the freezer.

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  14. Megan- litlearnhardt8@aol.comFebruary 23, 2010 at 7:29 AM

    I am a follower and I love your blog!

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  15. Megan- litlearnhardt8@aol.comFebruary 23, 2010 at 7:29 AM

    I subscribe to your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Megan- litlearnhardt8@aol.comFebruary 23, 2010 at 7:30 AM

    I subscribe to your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Megan- litlearnhardt8@aol.comFebruary 23, 2010 at 7:31 AM

    I posted on Facebook

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  18. Megan- litlearnhardt8@aol.comFebruary 23, 2010 at 7:32 AM

    I follow you on Twitter

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  19. I’m a new dad, and my son has just started eating real food. Every time we sit down at the table for dinner he HAS to have something that we are eating, to top this off he has started to become very independent and he HAS to do it himself most of the time. This usually gets me in trouble with my wife when I put things on his plate from my plate and they are a little to hot for him (I still haven’t quite found the right temp that’s warm but not hot for him). I don’t usually share much but he just wants to taste what we are eating, I would prob use this bowl as intended to quickly cool foods for his safe consumption and as a bonus he might not try to pick up his plate so much if the plate is actually cold. 8)

    -Keith

    Fellinbrezze@aim.com

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  20. Well, my son is only 6 weeks old so he is not quite to that stage yet, but my husband is who would benefit from me having this bowl. I rarely have time to cook anymore so the microwave is our friend, but I have to constantly battle my husband over the temperature of his food. It can't be luke-warm or even mildly warm. He wants his burning hot, then he complains when he burns his tongue or he waits 10 minutes to let the food cool off. I think this would be a nice way to just skip that whole part. I could just heat to scalding and then quickly cool to a reasonable temp.


    masterlock38@hotmail.com

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  21. Following.

    masterlock38@hotmail.com

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  22. Subscribed.

    masterlock38@hotmail.com

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  23. Subscribed.

    masterlock38@hotmaail.com

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  24. Posted on facebook.

    masterlock38@hotmail.com

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  25. Following on twitter!

    masterlock38@hotmail.com

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  26. I would use the mac&cool to cool all of my 19 months old dinners. He gets very impatient and we have frequent meltdown while waiting for his food to cool down!!

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  27. Tweeted.

    http://twitter.com/Rochellena

    masterlock38@hotmail.com

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  28. I would use this for everything that my 2 year old eats that is hot! He is pretty good about blowing on his food, but he is so impatient! This is a fantastic idea!!
    smurfe101@hotmail.com
    p.s. love your new layout!!

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  29. I am following your blog
    smurfe101@hotmail.com

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  30. I am following on twitter
    @smurfe101
    smurfe101@hotmail.com

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  31. tweet
    http://twitter.com/smurfe101/status/9529331750
    smurfe101@hotmail.com

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  32. I posted your button on my blog
    jackfamily6.blogspot.com
    smurfe101@hotmail.com
    #1

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  33. I posted your button on my blog
    jackfamily6.blogspot.com
    smurfe101@hotmail.com
    #2

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  34. I am a follower. My 3 year old and 1 year old LOVE mac and cheese. We would use this all the time. I would have to buy a second though! Righ now we put our mac and cheese in the freezer and count to 20 before eating!
    Erin
    www.mammalovestosave.blogspot.com

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  35. This is awesome!! I have a newborn and am going to have to get one of these for when she starts on solids. This would difinitly come in handy for my sister! She has two year old twins and her freezer went out after she kept putting hot plates of food in it! This is much cheaper than a new fridge!!!
    bbecky123456789 @ yahoo.com

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  36. Why didnt I think of this? My son always wants his food right away and I have to put it in the freezer first. I am thinking of all the speghetti dinners, mac & cheese and veggies I can cool with this plate!

    kassarom@yahoo.com

    Hope you are feling better sweetie happy to support a fellow mama =)

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  37. I would cool pretty much everything! My poor 16 month old stuck his finger right in the melted cheese of his grilled cheese before it had cooled enough and got burned.

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  38. WIN a Mac and Cool Dinner time's best friend! Hosted by It's all about the Savings http://bit.ly/9ThURI @all_about_savin less than 5 seconds ago via web

    * Delete

    alg85653
    Amanda Feldt Green
    tweeted

    ReplyDelete
  39. Mac and Cool Giveaway: http://bit.ly/ajpjBj via @addthis less than 5 seconds ago via web

    * Delete

    alg85653
    Amanda Feldt Green


    Tweeted

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  40. I'm a follower :)

    melissasbargains at gmail dot com

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  41. MY toddler is picky when it comes to food temperture. If he eats something too hot he will take it out and throw it. He will also throw the rest of his food and refuse to eat any more. I would love to get this.
    bwneyes100 AT hotmail DOT com

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  42. subscribe #1
    bwneyes100 AT hotmail DOT com

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  43. subscribe #2
    bwneyes100 AT hotmail DOT com

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  44. follow on twitter (@fancygrlnancy)
    bwneyes100 AT hotmail DOT com

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  45. tweet
    http://twitter.com/fancygrlnancy/status/9763466806
    bwneyes100 AT hotmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  46. I follow your blog :)

    melissasbargains at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  47. tweet
    http://twitter.com/fancygrlnancy/status/9792397742
    bwneyes100 AT hotmail DOT com

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  48. I blogged about your giveaway here:
    http://melziemomsbargains.blogspot.com/2010/02/giveaway-round-up.html

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  49. I'm following you on Twitter now :)

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  50. This would be perfect for my 3 year old, who is very impatient when it comes to cooling down food. I'd use it on just about everything he eats, because he throws a fit if food is "hot".

    jlsmith1979 at gmail dot com

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  51. I am an email subscriber #1.

    jlsmith1979 at gmail dot com

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  52. I am an email subscriber #2

    jlsmith1979 at gmail dot com

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  53. I posted to Facebook using the button.

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  54. I am a twitter follower already. Upst8NYmom

    jlsmith1979 at gmail dot com

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  55. I used the button to share this giveaway on my blog: http://raising3boysinny.blogspot.com/
    as well as blogged a little bit about it. :)

    jlsmith1979 at gmail dot com

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  56. Blogged #3: http://raising3boysinny.blogspot.com/

    jlsmith1979 at gmail dot com

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  57. Blogged #3: http://raising3boysinny.blogspot.com/

    jlsmith1979 at gmail dot com

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  58. Blogged #2: http://raising3boysinny.blogspot.com/

    jlsmith1979 at gmail dot com

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  59. Blogged #4: http://raising3boysinny.blogspot.com/

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  60. Blogged #5: http://raising3boysinny.blogspot.com/

    jlsmith1979 at gmail dot com

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  61. Button on right side of blog #2: http://raising3boysinny.blogspot.com/

    jlsmith1979 at gmail dot com

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  62. I have your button on my blogroll on the right side of the blog: http://raising3boysinny.blogspot.com/

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  63. Tweeted 3/1: http://twitter.com/upst8NYmom

    jlsmith1979 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  64. tweet
    http://twitter.com/fancygrlnancy/status/9856233944
    bwneyes100 AT hotmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  65. Mac and Cool Giveaway: http://bit.ly/ajpjBj via @addthis less than 5 seconds ago via web

    * Delete

    alg85653
    Amanda Feldt Green

    Tweeted

    ReplyDelete
  66. Daily tweet 3/2: http://twitter.com/upst8NYmom/statuses/9885671442

    ReplyDelete
  67. Mac and Cool Giveaway: http://bit.ly/ajpjBj via @addthis less than 10 seconds ago via web

    * Delete

    alg85653
    Amanda Feldt Green


    Tweeted

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  68. tweet
    http://twitter.com/fancygrlnancy/status/9907147023
    bwneyes100 AT hotmail DOT com

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  69. My baby is 10 months and loves spoon food, especially potatoes, but he cries if you are slow to give him a bite because you have to blow on it. This bowl would be a great help at the dinner table!!

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  70. tweet
    http://twitter.com/fancygrlnancy/status/9957018322
    bwneyes100 AT hotmail DOT com

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  71. tweet
    http://twitter.com/fancygrlnancy/status/10005974741
    bwneyes100 AT hotmail DOT com

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  72. http://twitter.com/upst8NYmom/statuses/10026979001

    jlsmith1979@gmail.com

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  73. tweet
    http://twitter.com/fancygrlnancy/status/10060086588
    bwneyes100 AT hotmail DOT com

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  74. 3/6 Daily tweet: http://twitter.com/upst8NYmom/statuses/10071947917

    ReplyDelete
  75. tweet
    http://twitter.com/fancygrlnancy/status/10078672676
    bwneyes100 AT hotmail DOT com

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  76. tweet
    http://twitter.com/fancygrlnancy/status/10134005899
    bwneyes100 AT hotmail DOT com

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  77. Daily tweet 3/8: http://twitter.com/upst8NYmom/statuses/10183016296

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  78. tweet
    http://twitter.com/fancygrlnancy/status/10195988889
    bwneyes100 AT hotmail DOT com

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  79. I would use it for so much both my two year old and three year old. My son is afraid of things being two hot. My daughter worries me see will bite in to anything. I would use it for soup, spaggetti and meatballs, hamburger helper thanks eaglesforjack@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  80. Mac and Cool Giveaway: http://bit.ly/ajpjBj via @addthis less than 5 seconds ago via web

    * Delete

    alg85653
    Amanda Feldt Green


    Tweeted

    ReplyDelete
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