8/24/13

Win a Trip to a Spa Destination

Voting for the 2013 SpaFinder Wellness Readers' Choice Awards is underway! Cast your votes for spa, wellness, and fitness businesses you've visited within the past three years and be automatically entered for a chance to win a spa getaway to the award-winning
Go HERE to vote!

College Move In Day Starring Johnathan







8/22/13

Win a Down Comforter and Down Pillow

Whole Mom Presents the Natural Nights (TM) Sweepstakes.

Enter to win a Natural Nights Year Around Down Comforter and Natural Nights 800 Fill Power Hungarian Goose Down Pillow! $1,000 Value! Exclusively from the Down and Feather Co. 

The entry period for the Whole Mom Natural Nights Sweepstakes is from August 16, 2013 to November 2, 2013 at 11:59 pm PT.

CLICK BELOW TO ENTER NOW!

Wilson Phillips Hold On - Throwback Thursday #tbt


It's Throwback Thursday!
Bloggers Link Up!
Sponsored By:
Take a stroll down memory lane with us and join in!


There was a time in my earlier life where I was in an abusive relationship. The song "Hold On" by Wilson Phillips was one I turned to time and again for comfort and strength. It helped me to realize that I wasn't alone in my pain. Music is definitely a great way to momentarily escape from the troubles of life. What song has helped you through a rough time in your life?




Proverbs 10:3


YumEarth Organics Fruit Snacks - Review and Giveaway

Disclosure: I received product at no charge in exchange for my honest review.
YumEarth Organics is the number one organic candy company in the US. The new YumEarth Organics Fruit Snacks are 100% vegan and made with organic fruit juice. There are no artificial colors or flavors, no high fructose corn syrup and none of the common allergens: dairy, nuts or gluten. Plus they come in individually wrapped packages, so they are perfect additions to a school lunch box. Kids will love finding a bowl of them on the counter for an after-school snack too!
These fun-shaped organic fruit snacks are so delicious. My family loves them! Toss a few in your purse for those times you or your kids get a bit hungry while you're in the car. Keep a couple in your desk drawer for a late afternoon snack without the guilt. Eating healthy is an important part of good overall well-being and YumEarth makes it fun and easy. Order HERE and follow on Facebook and Twitter, plus you can enter below to win!
Win Two Bags of YumEarth Organics Fruit Snacks!
To enter, just fill out the easy Rafflecopter form below. You must be at least 18 years old and reside in the USA. Giveaway ends at midnight on 9/8/2103. Good luck!

FabFitFun VIP Box - Review

Disclosure: I received products at no charge in exchange for my honest review.
Opening my summer FabFitFun VIP Box was like opening a Christmas stocking full of great gifts, hand selected by Giuliana Rancie. Four times each year, subscribers get a box of the hottest, newest, fabulous health and beauty products on the market. Look at all this great stuff!
I got a package of ten travel towelettes from Yes to Cucumbers that are perfect for removing the day's makeup, cleansing my skin, and nourishing my face all in one swipe. I love the soothing cucumber scent and since it's hypoallergenic, I didn't have to worry about irritation. I'll be saving the rest for my next travelling journey. While at home, I'll be using the Purlisse Gentle Soy Milk Cleanser. It leaves my skin so soft and silky! The awesome Orly purple nail polish is appropriately named for my summer....Harmonious Mess. How cute is that?
Since my skin tends to burn easily, I stay out of the sun as much as possible, but I love the Infinity Skin Glow on the Go Sunless Tanning Spray because it makes me look like I spent the day at the beach. My fab new sunglasses from Ivory and Mason Eyewear help protect my eyes from the glaring Texas sun when I'm out running errands around town. When I get home, a quick spray of Evian Natural Mineral Water on my face helps to refresh and cool my skin while it moisturizes.
My absolute favorite FabFitFun products from this box are the beautiful peachy lip gloss from Catalina SU, the IT Surf Spray Beach Waves for my hair and the delicious Kind Bar made with Dark Chocolate, Chili and Almonds. I can hardly wait to see what's in the next box! Sign up HERE before the end of this month for the Fall FabFitFun box and you'll receive a FREE bottle of Purlisse Cleanser worth $36. The entire box of products is only $49.99, so it's a huge value and so much fun to receive!

8/21/13

Whole Foods Market Back to School Immune Boosters

Disclosure: I will receive a gift card in exchange for my post.

Back to school means back to germs. Make sure your children eat right and sleep tight to help stave off illnesses this year. Stock your medicine cabinet with these Immune Boosters for extra protection. And don't let the kids forget their jackets!
When it comes to vitamins, children need the ABCs - vitamin A, B and C. Whole Foods™ Kids Essentials Chewable Multivitamins (Suggested retail price: $12.99) are packed with antioxidant power. These tasty strawberry chewables are formulated without artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners or preservatives. Plus, the Whole Foods™ Kids Essentials Chewable Vitamin C (Suggested Retail Price: $10.99) orange treats are an excellent source of vitamin C. Bonus: a portion of sales from these products help give vitamins to children in need through Vitamin Angels!
Stop colds before they start with Source Naturals Wellness Formula (Suggested retail price: $11.99) which delivers vitamin C, vitamin D-3, zinc, selenium, garlic, elderberry fruit extract, echinacea, astragalus root, ginger root and more—in one convenient dose.
365 Everyday Value® Kids Calcium D Pectin Swirls (Suggested retail price: $5.99) provide a synergistic blend of calcium and vitamin D to support immune strength and strong bones. The yummy gummy goodness (without artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners) makes it easy to incorporate D into kids’ daily routine.
Whole Foods™ 365 Elderberry Liquid (Suggested retail price: $9.99) syrup tastes like berries and supports a healthy immune system. It’s made from black elderberries, known for their immune supportive and antioxidant properties, and has been used traditionally for hundreds of years.

Earn From Home

There are lots of ways to earn money and rewards from home. Most programs require only a sign-up to join, then you do things you already do - read emails, view videos, complete surveys, etc. It's a great way to help contribute to the household without having to leave your home to work. I get tons of free samples, gift cards, and even cash, all of which help me reduce monthly costs in our budget. Here are some of my favorites:

Express yourself!
Take Surveys with E-Poll and Earn Rewards.
Sign-up now to be entered into the $1,000 Monthly Draw.

Inbox Dollars
Pays members to read emails,
take surveys online, play games, and go shopping.
New enrollees also receive $5 just for joining.

MommyPolls
Ask Questions, Answer Questions, and Comment
on Fun Topics...and Earn Rewards.

Quick Rewards
Paypal payments processed daily.
Earn free Gift Cards.
Watch Videos, Visit Websites,
Play Games, Try New Products.

SendEarnings
Earn CASH when you need emails,
take surveys, shop online,
and redeem coupons.

Ready for Back to School with #Tools4BTS

#sponsored - I am a Boys and Girls Club (BGCA) Back-to-School Ambassador. 
I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Boys and Girls Clubs
of America. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.
It's time for back to school shopping for all those supplies that children must have to succeed in school. Did you know that three out of ten students won't graduate on time? Did you know that one million students fail to graduate high school? Having the proper tools for school is an important part of being successful, so Boys and Girls Club has teamed up with Disney to support today's youth by launching an online school supply drive. By simply playing a pop-quiz style game, you can help donate school supplies to local BGCA Clubs. For every five correct answers, a donation of supplies will be made! Isn't that awesome?

Plus, the BGCA website also offers educational content for parents as they prepare to send children back to school. You can find tip sheets and resource sheets like:
  • Helping children set goals
  • Homework hints for parents
  • Reading together
  • Middle and high school success
  • Smarter fun in the summer
  • Time management
  • Getting ready for college
There are also lots of ideas on their site about other ways you can become involved in Boys and Girls Clubs across the nation. My daughter is the program director of one such club and she tells me often about the benefits for the children in her club. By providing children with a place to hang out after school, these clubs offer them places to socialize, study, and play in a supervised, caring environment. My daughter's club even has a summer camp program where students can attend for the entire day. These programs annually serve nearly 4 million young people, through membership and community outreach, in some 4,000 Club facilities throughout the country and BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. So go HERE to play a quick game and help us raise more school supplies to help them be a success!

Save 50% on Back to School with Vistaprint

It’s time for Back to School season, again!

This year, avoid the in-store back to school rush and get your kids ready for their first day of class with personalized supplies from Vistaprint. 

Save 50% off custom t-shirts, note cards, tote bags, stamps, wall calendars, and premium business cards until Friday, plus 25% off sitewide!
Personalize a set of note cards to use as study cards or notes to teachers, t-shirts for their after-school sports team, totes for their new books, and labels to mark all of their new notebooks and supplies. If you’re looking for something for your younger kids who aren’t going to school yet, create magnetic puzzles on car door magnets that you can cut up for them to piece back together.

Hoping to start the new year off on a good foot with their new teacher? Create a thoughtful personalized mug and fill it with goodies like hot chocolate, sweets, and classroom essentials. If you’re looking to supply a classroom, customize stamps and labels with a basic grading rubric to make the process easier. You can also design your own homework passes, bathroom passes, or playtime passes using premium business cards, or your own rulers for each student. This week’s sale is the perfect time to get shopping underway, so get started now!

Purina ONE Smart Blend True Instinct Dog Food #Giveaway

Disclosure: I received products at no charge in exchange for my honest review.
My dog Buddy has eaten Purina Beneful Healthy Weight Dog Food for years. Once or twice we tried to change his dog food and he either got sick or refused to eat anything else. Although he's always happy to eat whatever I'm eating. I was a bit wary about offering him Purina ONE Smart Blend True Instinct, but since it's made by the same company as Beneful, I decided to mix some in with his regular food to see if he'd eat it. He was more than happy to gobble it down and I was so pleased that the change didn't cause tummy problems for him! It's made with real turkey and venison so maybe he thinks he's eating my food.
I received this awesome True Instinct package from Purina and Buddy was so excited to get the big, red, indestructable fetch stick. Since he's nearly 100 pounds, he can destroy just about any toy within minutes, but after two weeks of constantly chewing on it, his fetch stick looks brand new. He wasn't really as excited with the Dog Games Puzzle Toy, which requires him to nose around to find the treat. I guess when you reach 10 years old, or 70 in dog years, you're just happy to eat, sleep and go for a daily walk.
Some of the things I really appreciate about Purina ONE Smart Blend True Instinct are the natural sources of glucosamine to support his joints as he gets older, the Omega-6 fatty acids to improve his constantly itchy skin, and the antioxidant sources that help keep him healthy. Plus it's made in the USA!
My instinct is to keep feeding him this food, since his greatest instinct is to eat. I'm hoping the increase to 30% protein will give him more energy over time. Purina even suggests walking a dog BEFORE dinner to help nurture their instinct to work for their meals. I'm going to try that too!
ENTER TO WIN FREE DOG FOOD!
Click HERE to find out more about Purina ONE Smart Blend True Instinct Dog Food and ways to increase your dog's activity, exercise, and instinct. You can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter, plus enter below to win one of FIVE winners of a coupon for a FREE bag of Purina ONE Dog Food! To enter, just fill out the easy Rafflecopter form below. You must be at least 18 years old and reside in the USA to be eligible to win. Giveaway ends at midnight on 9/8/2013. Good luck!

$25 Gift Card for Back to School with Giggles N Stuff

Your FUN source for FABULOUS
back to school items is

Enter below to win a $25 Gift Card!
Open to US residents, ages 18+.
Giveaway ends at midnight 9/8/2013.
Good luck!

After School Snacks Printable Coupons

$0.50 off 2 Betty Crocker Fruit by the Foot
$0.50 off TWO BAGS Bugles Corn Snacks
$0.50 off Nature Valley Soft-Baked Oatmeal Squares
$0.75 off THREE PACKAGES Totino's Rolls Snacks
$0.75 off TWO any flavor Yoplait products
$0.75 off THREE Pillsbury Toaster Strudel
$1.00 off TWO Pillsbury Refrigerated Cookie Dough
$1.00 off FIVE Totino's Crisp Crust Party Pizza
$1.00 off (1) T.G.I. Friday's Nacho Topper
$0.55 off any TWO (2) Bagel-fuls 4ct

Wednesday Wealth Giveaway Link Up

Welcome to my blog!
Love to win? Me too!
This past week I won a music download,
a small art print, and chips with queso.
What have you won?
What will you win today?

The Fifth Estate - DreamWorks Pictures #FifthEstate

The Fifth Estate is a movie I'm really excited about seeing. Since it hits theaters in October, around my birthday, I think it'll be great for a dinner/movie date. This dramatic thriller is based on real events and I love that bloggers are a part of the story. Are you going to go see it?

From the press release: The Fifth Estate refers to citizen journalism. “Fifth Estate” is used to describe media outlets (including the blogosphere) that see themselves in opposition to mainstream media (the official press) any class or group in society other than the clergy (First Estate), the nobility (Second Estate), the commoners (Third Estate) and the press (Fourth Estate). It has been used to describe civil society, the poor or the proletariat. 

Have You Done These Ten Things Yet? #travel

contains affiliate links
Answer me this:
1. Have you ever been on a hot air balloon ride? yes/no
2. Have you ever ridden a horse? yes/no
3. Have you ever jumped off a high cliff into the water? yes/no
4. Have you ever been swimming with dolphins? yes/no
5. Have you ever flown in a helicopter? yes/no
6. Have you ever hitched a ride from a stranger? yes/no
7. Have you ever petted a baby wild cat? yes/no
8. Have you ever parachuted from a flying plane? yes/no
9. Have you ever had a professional massage on a table on the beach? yes/no
10. Have you ever snowboarded down a mountain? yes/no

My answers:
1. no
2. yes
3. no
4. no
5. yes
6. yes
7. yes
8. no
9. no
10. no

Your answers?

8/20/13

Free Ebooks Every Day

BookBub’s free daily email notifies you about deep discounts on acclaimed and bestselling eBooks. You choose the types you'd like to get notified about -- with categories ranging from romance to mysteries to cookbooks -- and BookBub sends great deals in those genres to your inbox. BookBub alerts you to fantastic limited-time offers that are available for Kindle, Nook, iPad, Google Play, and others. A team of experts makes sure that BookBub only features great deals on quality books that you'll love, from both top-tier publishers and critically acclaimed independent authors. Start finding great deals on eBooks now! Just click below! US only.

Win a $2000 Karina Dresses Wardrobe - US/CAN

I love my Karina Dresses and you can read some of my reviews HERE. I wear them all the time and they are perfect for every day or special occasions, plus they travel perfectly without extra care. How would you like to own your very own Karina dresses wardrobe? 

This year, we're celebrating the YearOfYou™. What have you done to reward yourself lately? Whirlwind of Surprises is celebrating by hosting a massive giveaway that includes $2000 worth of Karina Dresses of your choice. Karina Dresses offer unique limited edition patterns, machine washable, easy-wear, easy-care dresses that fit women of all shapes and sizes. They make fashion easy and comfortable. Each dress is made with love in Brooklyn, New York.

Chicken Cheese Tacos #Recipe - Tasty Tuesday

Welcome to Tasty Tuesday Recipe Link Up
Sponsored By:

Join Us Each Week as We Add New Recipes to Our Weekly Tasty Tuesday Recipe Link Up.
Recipes shared need not be 5 star rated restaurant quality to impress. Link up your family’s favorites and maybe find a new family favorite among the recipes listed below. I’m always on the lookout for something new to prepare for my family.
Lisa and Bonnie would love it if you would:
Please link back to our blogs or posts. You will find the button above.
The “Tasty Tuesday Link Up” will benefit those who participate!
The recipe needs to be a recipe YOU made. Please do not link to a site other than your own.

Master Lock SafeSpace Personal Safe - Review and Giveaway

Disclosure: I received product at no charge in exchange for my honest review.
When 70 percent of college students own a laptop or other electronics - the most commonly stolen items on college campuses - it is no wonder that more than half of American students and parents worry about their belongings while at school. Having the proper security to protect these gadgets from theft is essential, and Master Lock offers students a variety of stylish, new, high-tech gadgets to prepare students for a safe and secure school year.
My college student (aka my son) loves this new SafeSpace 5900D Personal Safe. Now that he lives in a dorm room, he has peace of mind that he can store some of his most private and personal things in a locked place where no one else can get to them. He can carry this to any class, the campus gymnasium, and on road trips, knowing his stuff is safe. The attached cable means he can lock it to something permanent or use it as a carry handle. It will hold keys, wallet, smartphone, music players, cash, credit cards, or any small valuables. It's durable and water-resistant and even has an earbud/charging cable access port. He can even set his own combination on it.
You can enter below to win your own Master Lock SafeSpace 5900D for yourself, your college student, or anyone who needs to protect their valuables. Plus Master Lock is challenging consumers this year to take the “Master Campus Challenge” on the brand’s Facebook Page or www.MasterCampusChallenge.com for a chance to win gift cards, the latest electronics, Master Lock products and other teen must-haves.
Enter to win a Master Lock SafeSpace 5900D
To enter just fill in the Rafflecopter form below. You must be at least 18 years old and reside in the USA to be eligible to win. Giveaway ends at midnight on 9/8/2013. Good luck!