I've been contemplating for some time giving up my blog. I lost the wind in my sails to speak and am not sure if I'm just going through a temporary burned out period or if I'm ready to move forward on other projects. I haven't been devoting the time to it as I should and I definitely have not been active in seeking out new giveaways. I can honestly say that the best part of having a review and giveaway blog is sending the e-mails alerting someone they won. What is particularly moving is the every now and then, genuine appreciative e-mail of gratitude you get in return.
A year or so ago, one such reader thanked me for winning and explained how timely the win was given their personal situation. Her story moved me so much that I sent her a gift card to Walmart just because. This is the one thing that makes it so rewarding in having a blog coupled with the wonderful folks I have met through my blogging experiences.
Join the Freschetta® Rally for Real Pizza
Rally for real pizza is on! Who wants some boring, lack of taste pizza? I don't! I know my girls don't so we are taking our part in boycotting blah and will fight for Fresch® by joining the Rally for Real Pizza! Freschetta® is not just any frozen pizza but it's a delicious delightfully tasting cheesy pizza with a great choice of toppings and a wonderful crust. They are made with top quality ingredients and deliver that yummy Fresch® flavor.
Feeding my children only the freshest ingredients is important to me. I don't want it chalked full of preservatives or some pseudo type ingredient. I want the best and Freschetta® delivers what I want. I just ate one this past weekend as a matter of fact! I also want a pizza they will like without breaking the bank. It's convenient and with all the choices available, I can please everyone in my family.
You can join the Freschetta® Rally for Real Pizza too! It's easy and here is all you have to do: LIKE Freschetta® on Facebook and add your photo to the Rally Mosaic: www.facebook.com/freschettapizza
Each week, Freschetta® will select 100 winners to receive FIVE Freschetta® pizzas! On March 30th, they will also select 10 winners to receive Freschetta® Pizza for a year!
*Disclosure: I occasionally receive compensation in the form of products for posts. However, the opinions I share are solely my own.
First Pics of Johnny Depp from Lone Ranger!
From producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Gore Verbinski comes Disney/Bruckheimer Films' THE LONE RANGER. Tonto (Johnny Depp), a spirit warrior on a personal quest, joins forces in a fight for justice with John Reid (Armie Hammer), a lawman who has become a masked avenger.
That is one film I can't wait to see!
Easter Photography Ideas
If you are planning on having Easter pictures taken this year and need some inspiration, we have some ideas for you. Of course, it starts with picking the prettiest outfits and featured above are three beautiful fuchsia embroidered tulle dresses from Adorable Baby Clothing. The sizes range from 6-12 months all the way to 12 in girls. They are heirloom quality dresses that can be passed down to future generations given the quality.
For the shot above, I simply went to a local covered bridge and used my own yard for the actual Easter shots. The covered bridge and creek made for a beautiful backdrop.
Some other ideas include:
Flower Garden: If you are in a warm climate, you might be able to take advantage of all the flowers blooming and the natural scenic beauty of a local park or garden.
Flower Petals or Fake Flowers: I have used this before as a way to enhance the scenery fairly inexpensive by adding some pretty flower petals on the ground to add that hint of color. You can purchase them at your local craft store along with fake flowers if you want to further enhance the background.
Landscaped Feature: Even if you don't have a garden, there are other creative features such as brick wall or a fence that can make a beautiful backdrop. Whether you add some string lighting or greenery, it can prove to be a great background for some memorable pictures.
Easter Baskets, Eggs and Other Props: Just adding some Easter baskets, colored eggs, stuffed animals can be a great way to enhance the photo but you don't want to add too many or make it look too fabricated. A little goes a long way sometimes!
Hats, Gloves, and Dresses: Remember those old time photographs of the little ones wearing hats and gloves? They make delightful props even today! Add some to change up your photos and you might be surprised at how much of a difference it will make in your picture.
Taking the picture perfect photograph doesn't really take a lot of expense but when you let your creativity in, the subject and the garment can make a photograph go from pretty to beautiful in just a few small steps.
The Barefoot Executive by Carrie Wilkerson Review
If you have ever wanted to branch out and be your own boss or already are and want some good sound advice and tips, you want to read Carrie Wilkerson's The Barefoot Executive. You might have tried to wrap your arms around other self guide books on how to start a business or come up with a creative idea to start one but it was just too business-like and hard to understand. Not this book! With Carrie's practical experience not only from her own successful experiences but coupled with many others, she drives you down a path of self-enlightenment, knowledge and how to get there with easy to follow advice, tips and suggestions.One particular part that I enjoyed the most were the inclusion of case studies from other small business owners that included their own struggles and steps to achieve their goals. Hearing from a collection of others helps to reinforce the message that you can do this if this is what you want. The book is broken into logical sequential steps starting with Myth Breakers, Big Mistakes, Methods, Models and Marketplace. The exercises provided also are key to getting started and moving forward and are easy to follow. It's really a great practical book told by someone who has been there and continues to find her way in the world of owning a business.
I've contemplated many times starting a business and didn't feel I had it in me but after reading Carrie's book, I know it's up to me do to it. There is no magic formula or anything like that, rather as Carrie promotes, it's in you and it's up to you to get it. I definitely recommend The Barefoot Executive.
*Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from Living Your Moment. All opinions are my own.
Leap Into Spring LeapPad Giveaway 3/20
Organized by Karma Media, we've teamed up with an awesome group of bloggers to offer you one of the hottest children’s products on the market today... the Leap Frog Explorer Tablet!
Simply fill out the easy Rafflecopter form below.This giveaway ends on March 20, 2012, at 11:59 pm EST. The prize giveaway is open to residents of the US only, age 18+. Worldwide winner would receive the cash equivalent. Once a winner is drawn via Rafflecoper, we will contact the winner through email. They will then have 48 hours to respond. If there is no response, we will draw a new winner. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Beck Valley Books, Unorganized Mommy of 3, Random Deals, Literary Sweet, Uncreative Mommy, Beauty Brite, Generations of Savings, Health, Beauty, Children and Family, Maryland Momma's Rambles and Reviews, My Photopage, One Frugal Chick, Rewards Station, Giveaway Promote, The Jolly Blogger, Life Happens with Kids, Taking Time For Mommy, And the Little Ones Too, Mommyhood's Diary, Adventures in Coupons, Shopaholic Mommy, Heavenly Savings, I Don't Get Sundays, Diary of a Working Mom, Mommy's Memorandum, Mom 'N Daughter Savings, Nifty Mom, Social Media and WAH Tips, Sunshine and Sippy Cups, A Helicopter Mom, Mom Spark
Crayola Creativity Matters with Lisa Loeb and a Live Chat 3/7
The first "Inside the Crayon Box" live chat is Wednesday, March 7 at 9 p.m. EST. Join Crayola and musician, children´s author and mom, Lisa Loeb for a 45-minute live streaming video chat on the Crayola Facebook Page. Lisa, best-known for her number one hit "Stay (I Missed You)," will share as personal stories, practical advice and ways she brings a little creative play into every day for her daughter. You can ask Lisa questions during the event, too!
Interested in the topics to be covered during the chat?
- Why Does Creativity Matter? Creativity is not about who´s the best artists or becoming an architect. It´s a way of thinking that encourages kids´ original ideas and develops their confidence.
- Growing Up Creative. Lisa will share stories about growing up in a home where creativity was encouraged.
- Simple Tips. Easy Ideas. Like most moms, Lisa juggles a lot. She´ll share simple, easy ways she sparks her daughter´s creativity as part of their daily routine.
If you can't make the Crayola "Inside the Crayon Box" event, check out the Crayola YouTube Channel where the session will be posted. To learn more about the tools from Crayola that make it easy for parents to help children develop their creativity www.Crayola.com and like Crayola on Facebook!
Also, be sure to check out Lisa´s book Lisa Loeb´s Silly Sing-Along: The Disappointing Pancake and Other Zany Songs (Sterling Children´s Books, 2011) available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com. Sing, laugh, and play with pop Lisa in this fabulous collection of ten of the silliest songs ever. Fun activities, games, and recipes accompany whimsical songs. Take Lisa's Silly Sing-Along with you wherever you go and get the high-spirited good times started. Includes a 10-song CD recorded by Lisa!
Find Crayola on: Facebook | Twitter
*Disclosure: The information posted was provided by Crayola through MyBlogSpark.
Saving for College with Free Educational Savings Program
It took me about 20 years to pay off the debt I accumulated from college. I did it on my own and had no help other than some Pell Grants here and there which explains why it took 20 years to pay off my student loans. Although savings programs weren't around when I was growing up, I'm still not taking advantage of them like I should be. My oldest is in college now and I still have to prepare for when my four and eight year olds are of age. There are many programs out there but I can honestly say I haven't checked into them until today. I went to the Mission Tuition site today to see what their free educational savings program for parents, students and their relatives were about and I can say it looks like an easy way to contribute while having fun (i.e. shopping)!
While you shop, you can earn your favorite little student or students money through cash rebates. There are also special discounts that are available so it's worth checking them out before you shop. Mission Tuition is also free to use so it doesn't get much better than that. Not only can you save money online but you can also with in store trips with participating stores. There are also money saving coupons available.
I was curious to see which stores were participating and was happy to see a nice drop down feature that allowed me to search for the store I want. I was amazed at the number of merchants participating and am assured with the great quality of those who are in the program. There are even sections to help give you tips on saving for college and preparing for the big day. It really is a great one stop shop to help offset the cost of college.
*Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. However, I was free to write how I wanted to on Mission Tuition and although I did not use the service yet, the opinions on what I reviewed are of my own.
While you shop, you can earn your favorite little student or students money through cash rebates. There are also special discounts that are available so it's worth checking them out before you shop. Mission Tuition is also free to use so it doesn't get much better than that. Not only can you save money online but you can also with in store trips with participating stores. There are also money saving coupons available.
I was curious to see which stores were participating and was happy to see a nice drop down feature that allowed me to search for the store I want. I was amazed at the number of merchants participating and am assured with the great quality of those who are in the program. There are even sections to help give you tips on saving for college and preparing for the big day. It really is a great one stop shop to help offset the cost of college.
*Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. However, I was free to write how I wanted to on Mission Tuition and although I did not use the service yet, the opinions on what I reviewed are of my own.
UPrinting 25 Catalog/Booklets Giveaway - Great for Businesses, Hobbies, Homeschoolers & More 3/26
Whether you own a business or have a hobby, there is always a need for some extra printing wants. I love having things printed especially since we have a non-profit but even if we didn't, there are so many different project I could use things like these wonderful booklets/catalogs from UPrinting. If you can't think of anything, just check out Pinterest for some other great ideas. If you homeschool, I can think of a hundred different things you could use these for as well. As a non-profit, these would be perfect for a little booklet we want to create and distribute for Purple Day on March 26th.
Now you have a chance to win some and being a past and current customer of UPrinting, I can say that I've been truly happy with the quality of product I have received to date. I have been a paying customer as well as one who received free product (see disclaimer below).
The Giveaway:
- 25 pieces Booklets/Catalog Printing for One (1) Winner
- 8.5" x 11"
- 100lb Paper Gloss (Paper and Cover Paper Type)
- 8pp (Cover=4, Inside=4)
- Saddle Stitched, Left/Top Side Binding
- 3 Business Days Turnaround, *Free shipping
- Giveaway ends 3/26 at midnight (EST)
Kinoko-Gold AHCC Review
AHCC is Japan's #1 top-selling immune support dietary supplement and is available to us in the US. AHCC stands for Active Hexose Correlated Compound and is an extract obtained from a hybridization of several species of mushroom mycelia. AHCC is reported to support normal immune function and may improve number and functions of immune system cells.* It has been shown to significantly increase immune response* by promoting enhanced macrophage and T-cell activity* and maintaining peak Natural Killer (NK) cell function.
I received a complimentary bottle of AHCC for this review and have taken it as prescribed. I don't know if I can contribute my health to the AHCC or not but I have not been sick with a cold or anything else since May 2011. Unlike some other supplements, AHCC does not leave a lingering bad taste in your mouth in spite of ingesting. They are also reasonable in size making swallowing easy. I will continue using AHCC just to see how my health stays as I do not see or notice anything bad or unexpected to date.
and stay up to date on the latest:- Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/AHCCResearch
- Twitter: @AHCCResearch: https://twitter.com/#!/ahccresearch
- Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/ahccresearch
March 2: Read Across America Day 70 eBooks by Sylvan Dell Publishing
On March 2nd, Sylvan Dell Publishing will be participating in Read Across America Day by offering all of its award-winning eBooks FREE to read at www.sylvandellpublishing.com. Readers will have access to Sylvan Dell’s full eBook Site License including eBooks with auto-flip, auto-read, and selectable English and Spanish text and audio. This is in addition to the free activities available every day including a “For Creative Minds” educational section, 40-70 pages of free teaching activities, three quizzes, and a related websites page for each title.
Sylvan Dell co-owner and editor Donna German states, “We are proud to offer children a simple way to participate in Read Across America Day. By offering our full eBook Site License we also make it easy not only for children to read and explore our great books, but we make it easy for parents and teachers to use each book as stepping stone to learning with our “For Creative Minds” section and our free teaching activities.”
Sylvan Dell Publishing’s mission is to excite children’s imaginations with artistically spectacular science, math, and nature-themed stories. Founded in November of 2004, Sylvan Dell has grown to include more than 75 authors and illustrators in the United States and Canada, and 70 titles—honored as finalists or winners of over 70 book awards. Sylvan Dell’s Science and Math Through Literature Program integrates science, math, geography, character skills, and language learning through fun, cross-curricular activities.
On March 2, just click on the Read Across America icon in the upper right-hand corner of the website.
Epilepsy Purple Day $25 Macy's GC Giveaway 3/26
There's just something about giving and that is special to my heart given how I have two young children with chronic conditions. When I hear of corporations giving, it makes me want to spend my money there and Macy's is no exception. Macy's support many, many charities and has campaigns through the year to support other causes. One of the charities they support is the Epilepsy Foundation of Florida through their Shop for a Cause program.My eight year old has epilepsy but she is one of the lucky ones in that her epilepsy might be on the way out of the door. Her type of epilepsy typically goes away at puberty and her neurologist is optimistic about her prognosis given her seizure control and low dose of medication. This is wonderful news to me and although some might cringe when I say she's "lucky" but I feel she could have had a much worse type of epilepsy and/or uncontrolled seizures. Nonetheless, I just received great news about both my daughter's conditions and couldn't be happier.
In light of Purple Day approaching March 26, this giveaway highlights the plight of those with epilepsy along with their friends and family. Epilepsy has no cure and in spite of it being very prevalent, requires much more awareness. I hope you are able to take a moment and learn a little bit about epilepsy and help raise awareness to this condition.
The Giveaway:
One reader will win a $25 Macy's Gift Card.
To Enter:
Please use the Rafflecopter form below.
Giveaway ends March 26th at midnight (EST) - US only please
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Kroger Cart Busters, Daily Deals & $25 GC Giveaway 3/17
If you are a Kroger shopper, you know all about the Cart Buster Savings Events and if you are not, you should check them out. Beginning the week of February 26th, 2012, you can shop the Kroger Co. Family of Stores biggest-ever promotion and find the hottest prices around on more than 35 brands, across more than 60 categories from General Mills, P & G, Pepsi, Nestle, Kraft and Kroger Banner Brands. It's a great way to save and during the Cart Buster Savings Event, you’ll find great savings in almost every department at the Kroger Family of Stores, which includes:
|
With that many stores to choose from, there is sure to be one near you and if you are looking for even more ways to save time and money, visit CartBuster.com beginning 2/26/12 to find money-savings digital coupons, shopping lists and more.
Also, starting 2/29/12 you can participate in the “Deal of the Day”! If you don't know how that works, here you go:
- During seven days of the Cart Buster Savings Event, 2/29/12 - 3/6/12, there will be a super hot, exclusive offer good on one participating Cart Buster item. Each offer will be exclusive and available for one-day only – but the offer will be good for the duration of the entire event.
- You’ll see savings of up to and over 50% with the Deal of the Day offers – maybe even some freebies - and that’s on top of the already-low, low prices that Cart Buster has to offer!
- Look for seven days of “Deal of the Day offers” beginning 2/29/12. The Last Deal of the Day offer will be up on 3/6/12. But don’t fret - the Cart Buster event will continue even after the Deal of the Day ends. Check your local store for the exact end date for the Cart Buster Savings Event.
The Cart Buster Savings Event is a great way to put some extra money in your pocket while also getting ready for St. Patrick's Day and Easter.
The Giveaway:
One reader will win a $25 Kroger Gift Card too!
To Enter:
Please use the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway ends 3/17
*Disclosure: The Kroger Family of Stores gift card, information, and giveaway were all provided by the Kroger Family of Stores and General Mills/Nestle/Proctor & Gamble/Pepsi/Kraft through MyBlogSpark.
