raging grannies

I love seafood

2012-02-12T20:42:00.000-08:00

tothemotherhood is giving away $300 worth of seafood. ends 2/12

I didn't win that one, but I did win $50 GC to Red Lobster from their Valentine's day sweepstakes. Got the card 2 days after the email saying I'd won and had lunch there today. Love their shrimp scampi.

What to do with all my great pictures?

2012-02-05T13:54:00.000-08:00

I've been looking at options for some of the best of my Chile Pictures.
A canvas photo would be great!

The Freebie Junkie is offering a 16x20 Gallery Wrapped Canvas to be redeemed at Oiiiio. ends 2/14

Susan’s Disney Family says: Win a Hello Canvas 24x36 canvas, that is a 200.00 value! ends 2/23

Or maybe a photo book from Snapfish.

Blessings Abound is giving away a $25 Snapfish GC. ends 2/13

Money is always good

2012-02-04T21:46:00.000-08:00

I like getting cash and gift certificates. It helps with expenses for someone living on a fixed income. Sometimes I might even buy myself a present. I'm glad there are blogs out there that have great giveaways.

A REALLY great giveaway is The Grand Event:
A great group of 100 bloggers have come together to give it to you!

Welcome to the Grand Event Cash Giveaway!

Moms with Voices Media is hosting the GRAND Event Cash Giveaway. With a few clicks of your mouse, you can be entered to win a Grand Prize amount of $1000! This giveaway runs from 12:01 AM 2/15/2012 – 11:59 PM 2/29/2012. With so many different ways to enter, why not come back and do a few each day along with your daily entries!

Say that The Joy of $aving Money sent you!

Munaty cookingsays: We are hosting a giveaway where three winners will walk away each with a $50 Amazon Gift Card ends 2/5

Massage is good for you

2012-01-19T12:58:00.000-08:00

I really enjoy getting a massage - had one yesterday - but it can be an expensive proposition.

So I will be entering and winning a Spa Certificate for my next massage.

theeclecticelement is offering a $50 SpaFinder Gift Card. ends 2/14

inRandom is offering a $50 SpaFinder Gift Card. ends 2/13

A lucky Laughing Lindsay reader will win a $50 Spa & Wellness Gift Card by Spa Week from Tropicana Trop50! ends 2/8

Mama to 4 Blessings is giving away a $50.00 Gift Certificate to Spa Week. ends 2/8

My Joy My World is giving away a $25 Visa Gift Card toward a massage. ends 1/30

Dad of Divas is giving away a $50 Gift Card to Spa Week. ends 1/29

Mommy Mandy says: ONE winner will receive a coupon for a free bottle of Trop50 and a $25 Visa gift card. ends 2/1

Confessions of a Psychotic Housewife has a $50 Spa & Wellness Gift Card by SpaWeek ends 1/28

Ascending Butterfly has a $50 Spa Week Gift Card. ending 1/30

The Giveaway Gal is offering a $150 Groupon Certificate and they often have massage specials. ends 1/30

New Age Mama says: $75 Spa Finder Giveaway ends 1/19

Contest Corner has a $50 Spa and Wellness e-Gift Card from SpaWeek and Trop50 True Resolutions. ends 1/25

The Freebie Junkie says: C3 For Stress has kindly offered a $50 Gift Card to Spa Finder to (1) lucky reader. PLUS you'll also recieve a one month supply of C3 for Stress (2 15-packs).

Just Married with Coupons has a $50 Spa and Wellness Gift Card by Spa Week ends 02/02

My cat likes to eat

2012-01-16T20:01:00.000-08:00

So I buy her cat food. It will be good to win a GC to MrChewy.

OutnumberedMama: #Giveaway: @MrChewy $25 Giftcard! ends 2/5

Lisa Blogs is giving away a $25 GC to MrChewy. ends 1/28

The Freebie Junkie Mama is giving away a $50 GC to MrChewy. But she wants me to link here? ends 1/16

New Year, New Reads Giveaway Hop!

2012-01-14T19:50:00.000-08:00

New Year, New Reads Giveaway Hop! Ends 1/23
There are 3 chances to win in the Grand Prize Giveaway:

1 lucky winner will win a Kindle Fire from HowardComputers.com & a $50 Amazon Gift Card
2 other winners will each receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card

Some others with great prizes:

Newlywed Survival is offering $25 Paypal Cash.

Win Amazon Kindle Fire

2012-01-09T11:22:00.001-08:00

This was on my Santa list and he forgot it so I need to win one.

Kindle Fire and $50 Gift Card Giveaway from Sparkling Reviews. ends 1/21

More Money for the New Year

2012-01-08T15:59:00.000-08:00

Haven't managed to win any cash lately and now I'm saving up for a new TV to use with the SonyPS3 I won and should be getting soon. (I'm also trying to win a new TV, but don't want a big one and that's what most of the contests are for.)

Twin-Sisters-In-The-City Welcome to Twin Sisters in the City! We are a new lifestyle blog featuring our life and loves in New York City. We are primarily focusing on beauty, pet care and our lives in NYC. We hope to bring you honest and thoughtful posts of product reviews, deals and events in New York City. In honor of our Grand Opening we are offering a $50 Amazon Gift Card or $50 PayPal Cash (winner's choice) to one lucky new reader! This giveaway ends February 4, 2012.

Personal finance journey is giving away a $100 Target card. ends 2/1

Frugal Follies is giving away $22.22 Paypal. ends 1/26

Thanks Mail Carrier says: One lucky person will win a $25 Visa gift card and 3 coupons for Tropicana Trop50! ends 1/20

Win $50 Visa GC from BlogHer & Olay

2012-01-07T23:14:00.000-08:00

Win $50 Visa GC from BlogHer & Olay

UPDATE: I won a $50 Visa from here.

Each blogger is also giving away a $50 Visa gift card so be sure to read them all for your chances to win! Ends February 3, 2012.

Olay Smooth Finish Hair Removal Duo will become a staple in my beauty routine!

12/22/11 3:14pm by We're Finally Three

Facial Hair Removal. I know I can't possibly be the only new mom (can I still call myself a "new" mom 16 months in?) that struggles with finding time for maintenance. Things like trips to the salon, pedicures, brow and lip waxing, etc. In all honesty, I could find the time, but sometimes when I have 30 minutes free, I just want to sit on my couch in leggings and a t-shirt in the comfort of my home.

I am a New Olay Smooth Finish Hair Removal Duo convert.

12/22/11 3:11pm by Wardrobe Oxygen

I'm not afraid to admit the behind-the-scenes actions I take to feel feminine and beautiful on a daily basis. The steps I take to prevent sweat, smell, and yes, unwanted facial hair. Every two weeks I pull out my tube of smelly white cream and slather it over my upper lip. I hate it; it stinks, it often causes redness and breakouts, and usually leaves that part of my face numb for the rest of the day. Not an enjoyable act, but it gets the job done.

Feeling way more feminine, thanks to Olay!

12/22/11 2:58pm by United States of Motherhood

Approaching 40 is a bitch. It simply is. Body parts are simply not as bouncy as they once were. Roots turn a suspicious glittery silver. And no, not the vampire silver kind. More gun metal gray. No, not Anderson Cooper and George Clooney, rawr. Think Frau Hilda Frumapus. Think Coach Beast.

I feel better about how I look thanks to Olay

12/22/11 2:55pm by The Branches

Do you keep a pair of tweezers in your purse? Are you constantly checking your face for the occasional hairy straggler? When someone says “peach fuzz” do you think of your chin, cheeks, and upper lip instead of a fruit? Ahem…guilty.

No one wants to look like Cousin IT. Am I right?

12/22/11 2:53pm by The Beauty Mark

Let’s talk about hair for a minute. Unwanted hair. With so many ways to manage it (and we really hope that you do!) it can get quite confusing. Bleach? Wax? Laser? Thread? Tweeze? What’s a girl to do? I was able to review the New Olay Smooth Finish Facial Hair Removal Duo and found it to be an easy and quick at-home solution!

A story of hair loss.

12/22/11 2:48pm by shauna glenn

When I was a teenager I couldn’t wait to be a grown up. No one would be there to boss me around or tell me what time to be home on a Friday night. I could even stay up all night watching TV if I wanted. And no more waiting thirty minutes after lunch to swim. Heck, I could swim WHILE eating because you know why? I'd be a grown up, that’s why. I'd be in charge of me.

I've been a fan of Olay forever.

12/22/11 2:46pm by Secret Agent Josephine

"Secret Agent Josephine, you seem to have some hair growing on your upper lip." What?!! Gasp! How did you know! How could you say such a thing?!! Shocking! The truth is I do have mustache hair on my upper lip. Not a lot, just a little. But I am a brunette after all, and such things cannot be ignored.

My name is Tresa, and I have a mustache.

12/22/11 2:44pm by Reese Dixon

Oh you guys. This is how committed I am to Project Put Together. I am actually posting photos of my hairy mustache on the internet. Shame? What's that? I seem to be out of it. It's a sad little secret I don't talk about to my friends, but it's true. My name is Tresa, and I have a mustache. I am very fair skinned, with very dark hair, so any trace amount of peach fuzz would show up, but since I am also rather, um, hirsute?

New Olay Smooth Finish Facial Hair Removal Duo

12/22/11 2:40pm by Raising Colorado

I have been dealing with unwanted facial hair for 15 years. I have tried just about everything to make it go away: waxing, plucking, cremes, gels, and recently laser hair removal treatments. I went to six laser treatments with the understanding that if might not be successful due to the majority of my facial hair being of the light variety. It hurt like the dickens. I'm not sure the exact meaning of "the dickens", but I'm pretty sure it might mean MORE THAN CHILD BIRTH. And it didn't even work. Hair removal FAIL.

Olay! This stuff is super gentle but effective.

12/22/11 2:36pm by pyjammy

There are some women who don’t have to shave their legs every day, whose arms don’t resemble those of a gorilla, and who don’t have visible facial hair above their lip. I am not one of those women. I am not sure who the boys inherited their moustaches from...George or me.

Quick and easy hair removal

12/22/11 2:34pm by Putting the FUN in DysFUNctional

Now that I am back to working full-time, and living the semi-single mom life, things can be a little crazy here. OK, a whole lot of crazy! So time for taking care of me is a rare commodity. At the same time, I really need to take care of myself and feel good about myself. As I get older, I am becoming more aware of the importance in taking care of my skin, and I've always admitted to being a little vain about looking younger.

It works like a charm

12/22/11 2:09pm by Project Gadabout

My magnifying mirror is sort of my best friend and my worst enemy all rolled into one. When the mirror on my vanity is being a good best friend, it helps me put on eye liner with amazing expertise. When the mirror decides to turn against me it points out the tiniest bump, pore, pimple, wrinkle, or god forbid, hair. I can deal with a pimple or even the slightest of wrinkle. But hair, and I'm armed and ready with tweezers, creams, and a bevy of other contraptions.

What's up with the mustache?

12/22/11 1:43pm by Parenting Miracles

(This post was very hard for me to write; it required that I reach way back into my past to a very painful time. These are the sort of memories that aren't fun to dredge up, but they're real. And they're part of who I am. I ask for your kindness as you read it; I humbly admit the raw, scarred adolescent still lives inside me.)

Two thumbs up for Olay!

12/22/11 1:38pm by My Favorite Things

As a woman I have struggled with feeling beautiful off and on through my twenty-eight years of life, and I don't believe that to be an uncommon battle. Part of being beautiful is radiating the confidence that you actually believe you are. Fake beauty can be spotted. A small portion of that confidence, I have found, comes from taking care of myself. A little bit of pampering can do a lady good!

Soft and completely hair-free!

12/22/11 1:32pm by Momo Fali's

One of my earliest memories of traveling with my mother was a trip we took to California to visit my aunt. We went to Disneyland, Grauman’s Chinese Theater, and on a tour of stars’ homes. We ate authentic tacos and sat in the audience for a game show. I had so much fun as I listened to my mom and aunt talk, sing, and laugh.

Mission: No More Moustache, Please.

12/22/11 1:30pm by jayesel

My Teenage Self would be horrified to know I now have to concern myself with FACIAL HAIR, but it's true. Getting older, hormones, having children-my body has changed, that's a fact. I mean, I don't have a full-on beard or anything, but I do have some unsightly hair on my upper lip from time to time. While it's not particularly noticeable to most people, *I* notice it, and it makes me a bit self-conscious, especially in the sunlight. EEK!

By the Hair of my Chinny Chin Chin

12/22/11 1:26pm by Fiddledeedee

One of my chores when visiting with my elderly grandmother as a young adult was to aid her in the removal of unwanted chin hairs. Her sweet arthritic hands and failing eyesight kept her from adequately doing the job herself. While I was always happy to help her in any way possible, I do remember thinking to myself, "This is NEVER going to happen to me!"

Pretty Skin Means a Happy Mamma!

12/22/11 1:21pm by Easie Peasie

As you all know, I've been SUPER excited about reviewing a new Olay product. I recruited my BFF to help me do the review, and we had a great time with some GREAT laughs. First of all, getting older means you start getting a little heavy on the granny facial hairs. There. I said it. Facial hairs. Ugh. As if the wrinkles aren't bad enough.

My Freakin' Amish Beard

12/22/11 1:15pm by Burgh Baby

It took 20 years and way more money than I'm willing to acknowledge, but I think I have finally done it. I think I have finally found the right combination of treatments to control my acne. *cue angels singing* You guys, I can't even tell you how happy this makes me. I've been battling acne since my teen years. Never severe acne, just constant, unrelenting, scar-leaving acne. It has always been enough to make me just short of insane. But it's mostly gone now! Hooray! Of course, there's always a catch. ALWAYS.

My Shameful Secret Habit

12/22/11 1:13pm by Bebehblog

I share a lot of personal stuff online. My kidney stones. The state of my uterus. Birth stories. One time, I wrote a post here on my blog about how I am really sweaty. That was pretty embarrassing. I thought at the time it was probably the most embarrassing thing I was ever going to write about online. I was wrong. Today, I am going to tell you my deepest, darkest, personal secret, one I don't even think my husband knows because I am so ashamed.

This took 8 minutes, and that's it!

12/22/11 1:03pm by Another Ordinary Miracle

I love Olay products so much. I've always had fine hair on my face and really don't like it. I've even gone to the point of using Jim's electric razor on it a couple of times! I have a friend who has the smoothest skin, and I've always thought to myself that if I could try something that isn't too expensive to have smoother skin like hers, I'd love to.

Ms. Jill, why do you have man hair?

12/22/11 1:01pm by A Mom With a Lesson Plan

Ohhh, do I have a secret for you!!! Okay it's not so much a secret as a totally embarrassing story I would only really tell my very best girlfriends. (We're friends right?) I've been telling you a little bit about myself, so you probably won't be that surprised that I have no problem laughing at myself. Stick with me and you'll have a good laugh!

The science (and beauty) of hair removal

12/22/11 12:03pm by 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic

So...facial hair removal. This isn't something I address very often. Really, who wants to announce to the whole internet beauty blogging world that they have facial hair issues? Not me. Though I do have some issues. I've mostly had problems since I had my daughter last year. Things just seem a bit thicker and darker than usual. I think this is mostly something that bugs me, and no one else notices.

OMG! No more tweezing and plucking and pain!

12/22/11 11:57am by ...loveMaegan

As the years pass, or rather the older I get, the more facial hair I seem to have, and I don't like it. I don't like it one bit. At least my hair is blonde though and only really is visible in the sunlight {though my husband loves to point it out to me when he notices it} but I really feel for brunettes who have to deal with dark facial hair from an early age.

Money for the New Year

2011-12-29T15:58:00.000-08:00

Who can't use some extra money in the New Year!

Ragu Tailgate Party {$300 AMEX GC Giveaway}

Baby Loving Mama says: Win a $300 AMEX Gift Card. And don’t forget, we’d love you to join the conversation at Ragu’s Mom’s the Word on Dinner on Facebook or on twitter with the hashtag #MomstheWord. Check out more information and find other easy recipes at Ragu.com . ends 1/17

The Giveaway Gal is offering 2 $10 Amazon GCs. ends 1/10

Living Life one day at a time is giving away $50 from Array. ends 1/7

My Thoughts Ideas and Ramblings - Trop50 Giftcard and Coupon Giveaway : $25 Visa or one of 5 Trop50 free coupons. ends 1/07

Mom Spotted says: I do a lot of baking and cooking as you know. I’ve posted a new recipe everyday this week alone. So it’s very important to me to use quality ingredients. Lately all the eggs I’ve been using in my recipes are from Land O’Lakes. These eggs have been great and have helped make my recipes taste as great as they need too!

She is giving away a $50 Visa. ends 1/2

Now one lucky Go Graham Go reader will win a $50 Visa Cash Card as well as a copy of Can You See What I See? Toyland Express! ends 1/2

Fab Grandma Reviews also says: Win a $50 Visa Cash Card as well as a copy of Can You See What I See? Toyland Express! ends 1/2

About a Mom is giving away $25 Amazon GC. ends 1/2

blessings abound mommy is giving away a $50 Visa. ends 1/1

Frugality is free is giving away $25 Amazon GC. ends 12/31

Heavenly Savings is giving away $10 Paypal. ends 12/30

Now I Need a Router

2011-12-25T01:00:00.000-08:00

Since I won a Sony PS3 last week I've learned that I'll need a Router to connect it up with my internet.

So I'll win one from Born 2 Impress:
This Holidays Stay connected! Cisco has kindly offered one lucky Born 2 Impress reader, the chance to win a free Linksys E4200 Maximum Performance Dual-Band N Router! Ends 12/27

The Toy Guy’s Top Holiday Recommendations for Kids Giveaway « « Rockin MamaRockin Mama

2011-12-24T23:57:00.000-08:00

The Toy Guy’s Top Holiday Recommendations for Kids *Giveaway* « « Rockin MamaRockin Mama

Reading and $50 Visa

2011-12-22T12:30:00.000-08:00

I've been reading for about 60 years now and usually have 3 or 4 books going at a time. Librarians know me by name. I won't be using the $50 Visa for books - probably for a massage.
The Greer Five are giving away books and a $50 Visa. ends 12/23

Win $50 Visa GC from BlogHer & Head & Shoulders

2011-12-21T21:44:00.000-08:00

Read the Blogger’s Reviews and Enter for a Chance to Win a $50 Gift Card from BlogHer!

Enter to win a $50 gift card!

by The Branches

Winter is right around the corner ya’ll! I love this time of year…yummy food, the holidays, scarves, boots, and a dry, itchy scalp. What? Huh? A dry itchy scalp! Yes, you heard me; I am a victim of dry skin and an itchy scalp. Lack of moisture in the winter can lead to super dry tresses. No one likes to admit it, but it happens sometimes.

A total feel good tingly feeling.

by Stilettos and Diapers

Head & Shoulders, along with BlogHer, asked me to review the Eucalyptus Head & Shoulders Itchy Scalp Care. I have dry skin anyway, but in the winter it gets crazy. For some reason, this year I have the pleasure of having a dry scalp. Misery, I tell ya. I was shocked as I turned to friends and twitter for advice, at just how many people deal with the same issue.

My scalp has been itch-free... wahoo!

by Smashed Peas and Carrots

We are in the midst of fall right now, and that means weeks of cool weather in the 60's and 70's followed by random stretches of a day or two here and there where the weather will dip into the very chilly 30's and 40's. I guess that's nature's way of getting us ready for the cold, negative numbers we are about to become very familiar with, when winter arrives for what seems like half the year here in the midwest.

My hair looks healthy and great!!

by Simmons Family Update

It's no secret that I have a head full of naturally curly hair. It appears thick, but it's fine, and there is a lot of it! It requires a lot of daily product use to keep the frizz at bay, and moisturizing is a priority. With the use of multiple products, I am always tackling dry scalp and buildup. It's a daily job to keep my hair healthy and still keep it long. My biggest hair complaint is my dry, itchy scalp.

Head & Shoulders to the rescue!

by Shannon Makes Stuff

I've shared my hair issues with you before. I've also shared with you that I love HEAD & SHOULDERS. I just love it. I live with a scalp that itches like crazy. I mean crazy. I'm constantly thinking about it, constantly wanting to scratch away. I hate it. But it doesn't just stop there. It flakes. It's gross. It's rather embarrassing. Some days I have to slip on a hat when it's extra bothersome.

My Itchy Scalp is Gone

by Roscommon Acres

Winter is coming, and with it dryer air. My dogs are all scratching from the dry air coupled with too many flea baths and reminding me how I normally feel this time of year. I recently had the opportunity to try out Eucalyptus Head & Shoulders Itchy Scalp Care shampoo and conditioner for that very problem. Well, not the too many flea baths part, but every winter my scalp itches like crazy from the dry air.

Good news for my "Dry Scalp" months.

by Parenting Miracles

A long while back, I remember polling my Twitter friends as to how frequently they washed their hair. The results confirmed what I had already suspected; I wash my hair decidedly less often than the majority. My hair is long, color-treated, and on the dry side. As a result, I've found it looks much healthier and feels much softer if I leave it alone as much as possible.

Thing I Currently Like: My Hair…

by OMG....I'm a {single} Mom!

Thing I Currently Like: My Hair... ...but definitely not my hips or my boobs. I have child-bearing hips and tiny bubbies and can some doctor reader please do a pro-bono boob job on me PLEASE? Half-kidding. I do like my hair, though.

Just fresh. And clean. And wonderful.

by My Little Life

Living in MinneSOOOOOOta, I get to experience all sorts of things...hotdish, lutefisk (actually, I've never had it), triple digits below zero, walking on large bodies of water, saying "pop", "youbetcha" and "dontchaknow", and dry, itchy winter skin. I know, I know...don't everyone rush here all at once. You know you want to.

I put Head & Shoulders to the test!

by My Favorite Things

Friends I have a secret. Read more

The best surprise...soft, hydrated, fluffy hair.

by Momma Go Round

During the winter, if you could call it that here in LA, I have a not-so-glamorous secret...itchy scalp. The cold, windy weather wreaks havoc on my scalp. It's not exactly a stylish look to be itching my head as I walk down the street. It makes me miss my soft, hydrated, itch-free hair of the summer months!

Fantastic results!

by Marital Bless

Head & Shoulders had a campaign a few years back highlighting the concept that healthy hair began with a healthy scalp. Since it was a product I already used on occasion to correct scalp issues [cough::dandruff::cough::cough], I decided to use it more regularly. For a good 12 months, I experienced the benefits of my healthy scalp begetting healthy hair. And then, one day, I changed to another product.

“You’re having a really excellent hair period.”

by Joyful Abode: Domesticity by Trial and Error

BlogHer asked me if I would like to try out a new shampoo and conditioner from Head & Shoulders, which was supposed to help correct dryness, itchiness, and sensitivity of the scalp, along with eliminating flakes. It was actually a pretty timely request because our weather is changing, and we’ve had a couple chilly snaps.

A Flaky Treat... and a Giveaway

by Jo's Country Junction

From the title of the post, you are probably thinking I am going to share some new recipe for wonderful flaky biscuits or a flaky pastry, but you'd be wrong. Today I am going to share with you a bit about my flakes...my dandruff flakes.

Never Say Never.

by Home to three Duncan Boys

My favorite color for clothing is black. You will always find me in a black shirt, dress, sweater, etc. Why am I telling you this? When I wear black, I prefer not to have unwanted flakes showing up on my shoulders. You know what flakes I’m talking about. If I must tell you, they are the ones that come from the result of having an itchy scalp!

It Smells Fantastic!

by Home Stories A to Z

I was given the opportunity by BlogHer and Head & Shoulders to review the new Head & Shoulders Advanced Formula Eucalyptus Itchy Scalp Care shampoo and conditioner. Although I do not suffer from dandruff, in the wintertime I consistently experience itchy, dry scalp and often will sneak some of my husband's Head & Shoulders shampoo! Shhhh. Don't tell.

Head and Shoulders Above the Rest

by Angie from Home Grown

We all know about bad hair days. How many of us know about bad scalp days? I do! Especially in the fall. Seasonal scalp changes are more common than many of us may have realized.My hair is very long. The last time my girls measured the length, it was 38 inches.

We've tried everything. Head & Shoulders works!

by Eat Your Flowers

When my son complains his head is itchy, I don't, after years of watching him go through this, automatically assume he has head lice.

Pretty hair = a HAPPY Mamma!

by Easie Peasie

I wanted to let you in on a secret. I just might be addicted to the new line of Head & Shoulders. Yes, this is a paid review, but seriously, I’m in love. Not only do I have an uncontrollable mop head at times, but with all this hair, my scalp can get itchy, especially in the winter months. With the cold months creeping up on me, it’s time to start thinking about these lovely locks.

I have a new winter shampoo!

by Debbiedoos

Not sure about you, ladies and gents, but this time of year takes a toll on my hair and skin. I experience changes I am not personally fond of.DRYNESS, first and foremost. I suppose the cooler temps and the heat being turned on are the major factors.

Smells so great and really works!

by Chocolate Hair / Vanilla Care

I don't know how many of you remember that back in July I took colouring my hair into my own hands and totally fried my scalp. Since then, I've been struggling with dryness, flaking, and a regular feeling like my scalp was fighting off an infection (can scalps get colds?) I even had trouble wearing my hair in my standard ponytail because of the tenderness on certain areas of my head.

Not Your Father's Head & Shoulders

by Coal Creek Farm

My family suffers greatly from dry skin, and it gets really bad during winter. The moment the heater is turned on, we all start to shrivel and flake. Finding the right remedies for our skin and hair is always a challenge, especially since none of us want to smell like a medicine cabinet.

I'm looking forward to a scratch-free winter.

by Bebehblog

The first time I went to get a haircut after Evan was born, I mostly went for the shampoo and blow-dry. My hair hadn't been both clean AND dry in five months and the thought of wasting precious napping time on something as frivolous as a shower was laughable. So I figured hey, three birds one stone! A haircut will TOTALLY make me look less exhausted and overwhelmed!

Soft and silky from scalp to tip!

by Another Ordinary Miracle

After our little Bennett was born last summer, I noticed my scalp itched almost daily. I thought maybe I was eating something that was causing it to be sensitive, or maybe I just wasn't washing it often or well enough now that I had four kids and less time to take a shower every day!

Yep, it did the job.

by A Mommy's Story

No one likes to admit they have dandruff. Avoiding dark colored shirts so no one sees the flakes settling on your shoulders, instinctively leaning away when that special someone wants to run their hands through your hair, trying to look as if you're just lost in thought as you sneak in a quick scratch of your scalp...some of us will try anything to hide the secret in our hair.

Win a HP TouchSmart 320 from BlogHer & HP

2011-12-13T21:32:00.000-08:00

Want to win one for your family? Now you can! HP has partnered with five bloggers to give the HP TouchSmart 320 a try, use it with their kids, and report back. Read on to learn about our bloggers' real life experiences and be sure to enter to win! Ends 12/16

I could give 320 reasons why we are loving this computer!

We have a new friend in our home. She is sleek, skinny, and stylish with a beautiful profile. She has no extra baggage or wires, vibrant coloring, and she unleashes my kids' creativity with the touch of a finger. She helps get homework done and plays beautiful music. She is super efficient and can multi-task like none other. If she folded laundry, she could probably be nominated for sainthood. What did we ever do without her??\

The kids were so excited!

The computer has touch-screen capabilities which I always forget to use because I am old, but which makes it really kid friendly. It has a built-in webcam and really smooth video playback because of AMD's VISION technology. The kids loved discovering they could take weird pictures of themselves; I have found many of those in my Picasa files. It is also pretty, which means more than anything right? A nice big 20" screen-just two pieces, one cord, no clutter. I love that.

All your favorite recipes are at your fingertips.

The screen can tilt 45 degrees for best viewing quality and has a built-in webcam for those Skype chats with grandparents and cousins who are in lands far away. You can also enjoy DVDs or the TV tuner features with the smooth, clear picture thanks to AMD’s VISION technology.There is also a selection of HP TouchSmart apps you can use, such as the recipe app! Ryan and I will most certainly be utilizing that one. All your favorite recipes are at your fingertips. We tend to look up a lot of our favorite recipes on the computer these days anyway.

I wanted to announce to the world that I'd set up a computer ALL BY MYSELF.

What I saw was a gorgeous, slim, flat screen and another very small box containing a wireless keyboard and a mouse.And, GET THIS, one small page of instructions that basically said, "PLUG IT IN."The nice folks at HP had scheduled a call to help me set it up, and I'd already felt sorry for them several times because they had no idea what they were about to deal with. But I was feeling brave and emboldened by the simple directions and set up instructions, so I plugged it in. LO AND BEHOLD, it was just that easy.

The HP TouchSmart 320 is so versatile! Now if only it would wash the dishes!

Wow, was I wrong at how impressed they would be with the touch screen! I wish I would have caught my three year old daughter on video when she exclaimed, "You can click it with your finger? That is so COOL!"They have had free range for the past week to explore all of the fun features. They have used the webcam to talk to their dad, who travels for work, experienced games on their favorite sites in a new way, played a little too much Angry Birds, created slideshows with their pictures, and doodled masterpieces on the magic canvas.

Win Nintendo Wii & a copy of Deepak Chopra's Leela from BlogHer

2011-12-06T12:48:00.001-08:00

Bloggers were asked to write about their experiences playing Deepak Chopra's Leela, a groundbreaking game concept that combines ancient relaxation and meditation techniques with technology to bring focus, energy and balance to your life.

And you can try it too! Each one of them is giving away a Nintendo Wii and a copy of Deepak Chopra's Leela! Click on the posts below to read their reviews and enter to win on each blog.The BlogHer Body Mind Spirit sweepstakes run from 11/11/11 through 12/8/11 and are only open to individuals who, at the time of entry deadline, are legal residents of the United States and are 18 years or older.

A new type of video game experienceWhen I think of Nintendo Wii and video games, I do not immediately think of relaxation and meditation. But that's exactly what I was in for while playing the Leela Wii game. I'm being serious, y'all. Healing expert and renowned author Deepak Chopra, M.D. has team up with gaming giant THQ to create a new type of video game experience... Read more

There's no hiding that life can be stressful.There's no hiding that life can be stressful. Throughout the struggles of the past 10 weeks, my relief has been been yoga, meditation, good food and laughter. I was recently sent the game Deepak Chopra's Leela to play on my Wii and review. I played it this morning and was lost in a solid hour of play and meditation. Read more

Understanding how energy flows through your body and mindI tried a video game for the Wii console this weekend: Deepak Chopra's Leela. Actually, calling this a game is a bit of a stretch. Leela is relaxation and meditation software based on the ancient system of the seven Chakras, or understanding how energy flows through your body and mind. Read more

I don't play games unless they're going to enhance my life in some way.If you've been reading my blog for a while now, you know that I'm a bit of a gamer, and my husband defines the word. I don't play, or even like, most of the games he plays. And since I don't have too much free time on my hands any longer, I don't really play games unless they're going to enhance my life in some way... Read more

Healthy living must encompass body, mind and soul.The older and wiser (haha) that I get, it resonates with me more that healthy living must encompass body, mind and soul. A healthy body with an unhealthy mind will not remain healthy for long; a healthy mind living in a unhealthy body cannot remain so. Read more

When I think video games, my mind goes to sports, racing, kill-the-bad-guy and yes, Pac-Man.I was sent a copy of Deepak Chopra's Leela: body.mind.spirit.play. to review. And yes, it is a video game. (For Xbox 360 Kinect and Wii.) I know this sounds counterintuitive to have a relaxation and meditation video game, but I was highly intrigued. (Wait . . . what?!) When I think video games, my mind goes to sports, racing, kill-the-bad-guy and yes, Pac-Man. Read more

Deepak Chopra is a spiritual guideBossy and her brother and her son and her mother passed their thirty-four collective hours in the car giggling, plotting their next pulled pork sandwich, and, mostly, listening to Deepak Chopra. Deepak Chopra is a doctor, spiritual guide, and motivational speaker spiritual doctor guide. Read more

I’m busy...and you are too.I’m busy, and from what I overhear in conversations at coffee shops, emails swapped with friends, and blogs I read each week, you are too. You’ve got work to do. You’ve got work to do at work, and you’ve got work to do at home. You’ve got emails to respond to, calls to make, offices to contact, dishes to do, people to see, errands to run, and did I mention that the holidays are just around the corner adding 729 more items of “to do” to your already overflowing list? Read more

How could Chopra connect a fast-paced video game with meditation?When I first heard about Deepak Chopra's new video game, Leela, I couldn't imagine how Chopra could connect the polar opposites of fast-paced video games with the mind-chilling elements of meditation. I was intrigued, to say the least. Read more

Our Wii game system sees a lot of action in my house.Our Wii game system sees a lot of action in my house. In terms of frequency of electronics use, it ranks somewhere between our coffee maker and the vacuum attachment we use on our dogs. (I kid. I WISH they let me vacuum them. Because have you ever met a Corgi? You could probably insulate an average-sized home with the fur they shed in a month.) Read more

Holiday Money

2011-12-02T09:12:00.001-08:00

Thrifty Mommy is giving away $25 Amazon GC. Ends 12/23

Blessed Beyond Words is giving away $50 Amazon GC. Ends 12/16

The Busy Woman's Guide to Surviving Motherhood has: #Giveaway: $50 Gift Card of Choice from @BluePay ends 12/11

Mocha Dad is giving away a $100 AmEx card. Ends 12/8

Heavenly Savings is giving away $20 Amazon GC. Ends 12/06

Heavenly Savings is giving away $25 Walmart or Paypal GC. Ends 12/04

Snow in the forecast - Need boots

2011-11-30T20:29:00.000-08:00

Snow & cold in the forecast and I could use some new boots.

momma told me is giving away Manitobah Mukluks. ends 12/1

Money for after my trip to Chile

2011-11-04T21:09:00.000-07:00

Now it's only 1 day. So I'll need money when I get back for presents.

The Suburban Jungle is giving away a $200 Amazon cert. ends 11/17

Horseshoes is giving away a $100 GC to Target. ends 11/13

Giveaway Blogdom has several GCs to give away for Black Friday. ends 11/10
Giveaway Bandit also has several GCs to give away for Black Friday. ends 11/10

With less than 2 weeks til I leave I keep thinking about something I need or want to buy when I get there. So more money is always helpful.

This Mama Cooks is giving away $50 GC. ends 11/4

Win $100 Mary Kay basket from BlogHer

2011-10-31T22:03:00.000-07:00

Mary Kay has also teamed up with BlogHer, to show you how to look your beautiful best. This fall, twelve bloggers are trying some of the fabulous products Mary Kay has to offer. Get their exclusive product reviews below. To make things even more exciting, each blogger is giving you a chance to win a Mary Kay gift pack, filled with *$100 worth of fabulous products! ends 11/18

leigh vs laundry admits that "I felt pretty saucy in my newly made up face. My husband said that he thought I looked cute! The TimeWise Set left me feeling radiant, really, like an inner light came shining through!"
Creating Motherhood shares that "this serum was super light and absorbed into my skin instantly. (my biggest problem is that the scrub made my face so smooth that I kept touching my cheeks to feel the softness)!"

Athena in the Middle loved "the way my skin felt after this easy two-step process.The microdermabrasion beads did not hurt my delicate skin and the replenishing lotion smelled great. My skin feels so soft!"
A Girl and a Boy loves using the exfoliating face wash. "Generally use exfoliators with bigger, softer beads, so I was surprised by the superfine crystals and how much it felt like they were really scrubbing my skin. Honestly, I was a little afraid I'd turn into a raw and peeling mess...which is another way of saying I loved it. I loved it because I knew it was working!"
A Few Of My Favorite Things shares she has never found a mascara "worthy of a pricey purchase. But Mary Kay pulled out the big guns and surprised me with the Lash Love Mascara. Awesome flexible wand. No clumps. Glides on smoothly, and I actually think my lashes looked longer!"

Pistols and Popcorn started incorporating the TimeWise set into her skincare routine. "I tried the Mary Kay Microdermabrasion Set and I must say, hats off, Ms. Mary Kay. Turns out that a good scrub (step one) followed by a rich moisturizing serum (step two) is a nice addition. I will definitely continue to use this set. You should too."
Momma Go Round adores the Mineral Cheek Color in Cherry Blossom. "I found to be great! I’ve always wondered how to get that fresh, dewy, rosy cheek look. This color is it! It blended great with my foundation and gave great color throughout the day. Definitely a new fav for me!"
Clover Lane divulges that "the step one and step two fancy soap and lotion didn't leave my face tight or dry but feeling soft and smooth (all my wrinkles instantly disappeared it was amazing!-not exactly but it fooled me into thinking so which is just as important), the mascara wasn't clumpy and sticky, but smooth and even."

Whatever shares that "the Mary Kay Compact Mini is so cute! These colors will be so great for FALL! It fits in the palm of your hand so it's small enough to take with you anywhere you go. I love that I will be able to have what I need ON THE GO without carrying a bulky makeup bag!'"
Joyful Abode says that she almost never wears mascara either, but "this was really easy to apply and I like the way it made my eyes POP!"

More money for my trip to Patagonia

2011-10-31T19:32:00.000-07:00

We're down to only 17 days so a bit more money would come in handy:
Win $200 from Mommy Had Deals ends 10/31

Trick or Tease Hop & Win | Win $100 HalloweenMart GC (US & Can)

2011-10-14T21:59:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Trick or Tease Blog Hop hosted by Just Married with Coupons, Sweep Tight, This Lil Piglet, Makobi Scribe and Simply Stacie!

About our sponsor:
“The world’s first online Halloween costume store, HalloweenMart offers the Internet’s widest selection of high-quality costume items and accessories ranging from adult costumes to kids costumes, Halloween costumes of all types, Adult Superhero Costumes, Kids Superhero Costumes, and even sexy costumes and lingerie, all at affordable prices. We offer a huge inventory of over 10,000 of the best made, highest quality, trendiest, and most vivid Halloween costumes available, applying a decade and a half of online experience in Halloween costume selection and sales.”

How to join the fun and enter to win between 10/10 – 10/15

Simply Follow all 5 Hosts via GFC (Google Friend Connect)
Link Up Your Blog in the embedded linky list on any of our blogs

More Info:

Giveaway is open to US/CAN residents, 18+
Linky list will close at midnight EST on 10/15
Winner will be chosen using random.org on 10/16
Make sure your contact info is available on your blog so we can contact you!

Win $100 Mary Kay gift pack from BlogHer & Mary Kay

2011-10-10T23:49:00.000-07:00

Mary Kay has also teamed up with BlogHer, to show you how to look your beautiful best. This month, seven Bloggers are trying some of the fabulous products Mary Kay has to offer. Get their exclusive product reviews below. To make things even more exciting, each blogger is giving you a chance to win a Mary Kay gift pack, filled with *$100 worth of fabulous products! ^{*estimated retail value.} ends 10/16

PinQue shares that "This is a great addition for my purse or gym bag to keep me looking fresh all day long!
Newlyweds Next Door loves using the exfoliating face wash and then the replenishing serum to prepare for her high school reunion. "The set really made my skin feel fresh, energized, and glowing!"

The Less Than Domestic Goddess started using the TimeWise set a few days ago. "So far, so good. It does an amazing job of gently exfoliating, and my face feels smoother and looks clearer already!"
Raising Colorado confesses that she "couldn’t stop using this Replenish serum, y’all! It made my face soft and seemingly un-35 years old. This is the highest compliment I can give a beauty product." See what else she loves from Mary Kay!
Then Heather Said admists that her favorite product is the was Mary Kay TimeWise Microdermabrasion Set, hands down! "As a matter of fact, the first day I used the set before work, two people in my office commented on how pretty I looked that day! I can definitely see myself using the Mary Kay Time Wise Microdermabrasion Set from here on out!"
Little Miss Momma shares that "the sure fire way I knew this make up is totally awesome…when I walked down the stairs after putting it on and the hubby says,
'Woah, what’s the occasion, hubba hubba!'"
The Daily Julie shares that she's "really impressed with this new generation of Mary Kay products. Those ladies know what’s up and really got me to step outside my makeup comfort zone and try some new colors and products and I love it!"

Win a $50 GC to Drugstore.com from Olay & BlogHer

2011-10-10T23:22:00.000-07:00

Enter to win a $50 gift card to Drugstore.com from Olay! ends 11/03

Enter to win a $50 gift card from Olay!

10/6/11 10:27am by Courtney

For as long as I can remember I have struggled with my skin. I have what is called “combination” skin. It is sensitive, dry at times, and also extremely oily. On top of that I have gotten acne since I was 11 years old. Now at 32 years old, I still struggle with my skin. As I am getting older taking care of my skin has become my top priority. I want healthy, soft skin, while also keeping it clear and shine free. Finding products that do all of these things has been a challenge.

It's gentle on "more mature" skin.

9/29/11 10:19am by Jessica Smith

I was recently given the opportunity to try out the Olay Professional Pro-X Clear Line. Since Olay is a name I trust when it comes to caring for my skin, I was excited to try it out. This particular line is specifically designed to control acne, help minimize the appearance of pores, and refine texture in as little as four weeks. Truth? I don't actually deal with much in the way of acne. I didn't deal with much in the way of acne as a teenager, either. Nonetheless, my "normal/combination" skin isn't perfect! I deal with tight dryness if I skip a moi

Olay Product Pleases Me… and you get the chance to win!

9/29/11 10:13am by Just me (In this wonderful life)

Olay recently introduced its Olay Professional Pro-X Clear Line and I was given the opportunity to try it! I've tried and reviewed several newer Olay products and have been pleased with them all. Therefore, I had no doubt with this one. I really did notice a smoother texture to my skin! It's a simple three-step process ... I was very happy with it! Read more

This system was dummy-proof!

9/28/11 3:56pm by Alise Leslie

I was looking through some old pictures from high school and college and I saw myself in various fun situations with long forgotten friends. Even though those were some wonderful times, I wouldn’t go back to those times for anything. Wait! I lied. It happens quarterly. I actually did want one detail back: MY SKIN! My complexion was to die for. Okay, you may not have laid down your life, but I love hyperbole AND my retro-skin.

Right off the bat, they had me with their packaging.

9/28/11 3:48pm by Mindee Myers

"Adult" and "acne" are not two words that belong in the same sentence. Yet they do - and that sentence has been written across my face for twenty years. I have tried every over-the-counter product made. I have gone to several dermatologists and spent the big bucks for prescriptions. I have even mail-ordered products that promised to work miracles.There are no miracle products for adults with acne folks. None at all. Plus, what I have found through the years is that the bulk of products are aimed at teens.

Olay and a giveaway!

9/28/11 3:38pm by Busy Mom

I may be getting on in years, but I still have acne. Yes, wrinkles AND acne, SO not fair. I've struggled with acne for many years, I was even on some very powerful medicine at one point. Additionally, over the years the way my acne behaves has changed, and the things that used to help don't always help anymore. My face is very sensitive to medicines and lotions, so I'm wary of trying new things when I've found a routine that works.

Olay benefits sensitive skin like mine

9/28/11 3:30pm by Lulu del Rosario and Kaye Cloutman

Most of the time, red is good. In fact, I love red - it's one of my favorite colors. Red makes you stand out. Red sometimes makes heads turn, it's easily recognizable. Sometimes, though, I have a slightly little problem with red. Especially when it's in my face and there's a medical term associated with it. Like rosacea which I had previously mentioned here. As a photographer, with this kind of 'redness,' I prefer to stay behind the camera.

Avoid flare-ups and enter to win!

9/28/11 3:25pm by Jacquelyn Davoli

A couple of months ago I was approached to do a review of a new acne product, the Olay Professional Pro-X Clear Line. My skin is relatively calm but I do get flare-ups every month or so. The reason my skin stays fairly decent outside of the flare-ups is due to a short course of prescription acne medication and now, follow-on maintenance and care. Still, I am always on a quest to find a product that will prevent even the flare-ups.

Adult skin is different from a teenager's

9/28/11 3:15pm by Calliope

There is just something uncomfortable about having to shop within THAT row of THAT aisle. While most women my age are moisturizing away wrinkles with lotions in grownup jars I'm over in the teen section looking for something that will kill a monster pimple on my chin. The acne fighting products available on most drugstore shelves are clearly being created and sold to a different generation - I know because I have been buying and using zit cream since I was 13 years old and the hot pink and neon blue boxes are exactly the same.

Blackheads are gone. Come enter to win a gift card!

9/28/11 3:10pm by Mama M.

You know, when a girl reaches a certain age, she should be able to say good-bye to certain things. Zits are at the top of that list. As a girl (girl, ha! I can hardly use that term anymore!) who's never had great skin, to continue to suffer from acne into my 30s is like a kick when I'm already down. While my acne has never been terrible (aside from those early teen years. Ugh.), I really thought that by the time my OWN kids had acne, that I'd be done with it

I really like this skin care system

9/28/11 3:04pm by Mandy Chan

If you remember a few weeks ago, I told you all I was in Florida for Mia's second birthday. We had a great time in the sun and with Mickey Mouse, but the Florida weather left its mark on my skin. The humidity is not something I miss from living there, but I will say that it made my hair look absolutely fantastic. I wish I could say the same about my skin, though. A few of you warned me about the effect it would have on my face....and I should have listened. I never do. Listen, that is. Read more

Pimple in a wrinkle? Not fun.

9/28/11 3:01pm by Zakary Watson

As I get older, my skin is beginning to revolt. I have more breakouts now at 35 than I did as a teenager. My new personal favorite: Getting a pimple in a wrinkle. Not awesome. I was recently given the opportunity to try the new Olay Professional Pro-X Clear Line, which is oil-free and specifically designed with the needs of mature skin in mind. It also contains clinically proven fancy face technology to control breakouts PLUS reduce the appearance of pores and refine texture in less than a month. Read more

Face Matters … and Olay helps!

9/28/11 2:51pm by Jennifer DeCurtins

A few months ago I wrote a post about my struggles with acne as an adult. I was blown away by the response that I received so I wanted to give you an update on how things are going. Here is some background for newer readers. In late 2010 I began to experience breakouts on my face. I have always had the occasional spot here and there but this has been constant for nine months. I honestly can’t remember the last time that my skin was 100% clear. Read more

Best Face Forward

9/27/11 4:41pm by DeeDee

The one piece of advice that my mother gave me in my youth, that I actually didn't fight her on, was the need to take care of my skin. From the time I first flirted with baby blue eyeshadow and matching blue mascara for trips to the roller rink, she took the time to instruct me on the importance of always removing my makeup, and washing and moisturizing my skin both morning and night. Read more

40-something Skin Care

9/27/11 4:39pm by Angie

I have noticed more and more as I creep into my forty-somethings that my skin is undergoing changes. I don't have those horrible acne outbreaks all over my face like I did as a teen - and for the most part I can rejoice that I had a very brief teen acne period - but I have always had the dreaded T zone with my chin, nose and forehead being an oil slick. As I hit the four decade mark I started noticing changes. Read more

Growing older just like I deserve to.

9/27/11 4:19pm by Alex Iwashyna

I Ask: What Do You Like About Growing Up? There are a lot things about growing up that aren't cool. Like the gray hairs that showed up in my early 20s. Or the strange stomach pooch that my OB so proudly gave me post-Cesarean. But I comfort myself with my newfound love of my own oddness. Read more

Your skin will thank you!

9/27/11 4:15pm by Becky

I recently had the opportunity to try the new Olay Professional Pro-X Clear Line. Did you know over half of women in the U.S. between the ages of 25 and 58 have some form of acne? The past few weeks I’ve been using these products diligently and have definitely noticed smoother skin and my pores seem smaller!

It's time to embrace my face

9/27/11 4:12pm by Melissa Stover

The one thing I always wanted was a beautiful, clear complexion so that I didn't have to wear makeup, but I have been plagued by constant, persistent acne all of my life. I spent a couple of my high school years rebelling against makeup altogether, and hoping my skin would miraculously clear up and be beautiful on its own. It didn't. After I got my eleventh grade school pictures back I wanted to burn them. Acne made me feel ugly and ashamed. Read more

My skin is not what it was 20 years ago

9/27/11 4:06pm by Missy Dollahon

I've mentioned before that one of the most annoying parts of getting older is something I never expected - acne. I have more breakouts now than I ever did as a teenager. One of the greatest signs of being kicked out of Eden is that I am combating gray hair and zits simultaneously. It's just not right. I've spent a lot of time with recently waxed furrowed brows in the acne aisle at a drugstore trying to figure out how to treat it. Because y'all know, just like everything else the skin is not what it was twenty years ago. Read more

Pimples have followed me from my teens.

9/27/11 4:04pm by Lindsay Ferrier

When I was a teenager, I comforted myself with the knowledge that if I had to get old, at least I wouldn't have to deal with pimples anymore. Yeah. Still laughing about that one. I was lucky not to have a horrible experience with acne during my adolescence, but I can't say the pimples have gotten much better since then, either. In my twenties, a hot humid climate combined with the makeup I wore on television news every day actually prompted me to get a prescription to deal with the pimples. Once I got out of the TV business, the breakouts went away, at least until recently.

I always want to look my best -- read about it and enter to win!

9/27/11 4:01pm by Sharyl Williams

If you have read my blog for any length of time, you know I do a weekly fashion post entitled "Not Your G-Ma's Wardrobe." I am a 51-year-old grandmother of 6, who wants to stay fashionable and looking my best until I draw my last breath. I don't have my life or value wrapped up in the outward appearance, but I do have the desire to be the best I can be. I want to have my outward image reflect my inward excitement and exuberance with life.

A solid 9 out of 10!

9/27/11 2:50pm by Kayla Aimee Terrell

I was offered a chance to try the new Olay Professional Pro-X Clear Line and I was really excited about that. Olay products are a big hit around here; I’m well stocked on their sunless tanner. The Olay Professional Pro-X Clear Line is one of the first acne lines made specifically for women. You know, those of us who are walking down the skin care aisle crying “I’M NOT SIXTEEN! WHERE ARE ACNE PRODUCTS FOR ME?!” Or maybe that’s just me.

Win $100 Nordstrom Rack GC from BlogHer

2011-10-10T23:12:00.000-07:00

Five bloggers were each given $200 to shop the plus-size department at Nordstrom Rack. Read their blogs to see what they bought and leave them a comment to be entered to win a $100 Nordstrom Rack gift card. Five winners in all! ends 10/31

Read the reviews:

Armloads of Dresses at Nordstrom Rack!

9/14/11 3:43pm by Lesley Kinzel

When the opportunity arose to review Nordstrom Rack, I was a little dubious. To be honest, I didn’t actually know that Nordstrom Rack carried plus sizes. See, I’ve gotten accustomed to all my favorite discount stores (who shall remain nameless) limiting or removing their plus size selection, as so many have done in recent years, so rather than get my hopes up, I tend to presume that I won’t find anything to fit me, and sometimes I get to be pleasantly surprised.

The Dreaded Plus-size Department? Not so!

9/14/11 3:26pm by Nina Banks

When Nordstrom Rack offered to send me on a little shopping trip in their plus size department, I was more than a little skeptical. First, I'm barely standard size, barely plus size, just that awesome marshmallow in the middle of the s'more. Cute and fluffy, but can't decide if I want to hang out with the chocolate or the graham cracker.

Score! 3 New Outfits and a Killer Pair of Shoes!

9/14/11 3:19pm by Amy Sharp

I have been known to tell my children that Nordstrom is a holy place. I love it so very much. It has amazing clothing and beauty and the best customer service. I feel good inside of Nordstrom. Enter Nordstrom Rack. I have shopped The Rack once when I was out west for a holiday and I loved it so much. It’s like Nordstrom only half off. Ohio has a store about 2 hours from me. I think it is safer that it is not actually located in Columbus. Read more

Gift Card in Hand, Nordstrom Love in My Heart!

9/14/11 2:51pm by Monique Vandenberg

Armed with a gift card in my hand and Nordstrom love in my heart, I headed to the nearest Nordstrom Rack, in San Leandro, California, to do a little shopping. The first thing I noticed is that Nordstrom Rack does not exactly provide the full Nordstrom Experience. I’ve been to Nordstrom proper many a time, and have had luck finding gorgeous clothes and fancy party dresses. Nordstrom also has impeccable customer service, making it a joy to shop there.

Funky and Just a Little Different

9/14/11 11:55am by Kelly Wickham

Upon arrival at the Nordstrom Rack Plus department at their Brentwood store in St. Louis, I was instantly surprised at the selection. Normally, when you add the words “Plus Size” to any store you can bet that the choices you’ll find will be the same old tired patterns that plus size styles have had for the last 20 years or so. It’s one of the reasons stylish women who wear anything larger than a size 12 are loath to shop in those sections of a store.

Win $50 GC to Drugstore.com from Covergirl & Blogher

2011-10-10T22:48:00.000-07:00

COVERGIRL sent 23 bloggers the NEW COVERGIRL LashPerfection™ Mascara to see how they liked it. This incredible mascara was specially designed to lengthen and lift your lashes for a lightweight, voluminous look - the lash wrap brush perfectly wraps each lash with volume.

Read on to see how the bloggers liked their new mascara. Be sure to click on the links to read their reviews and enter on each blog for the chance to win a $50 gift card to drugstore.com! We've got 23 to giveaway! ends 11/04

Piece N Quilt recently had a really big moment in her life when fantastic makeup helped her look and feel her best -- presenting for the new Moda Bake Shop Book at spring Quilt Market!

Athena in the Middle says, "Two things that help me feel confident: A good hair day and mascara...I never ever leave home without mascara. If I had to choose one makeup product for the rest of my life, it would be mascara. And trust me when I say that I have tried them all.

Surrender Dorothy has been blessed with plenty of thick long lashes but they have blonde tips and disappear without a good mascara. How did she do with the Covergirl LashPerfection Mascara?

According to The Bobby Pin, "Makeup is a funny thing. I feel as though you should be confident enough to not use it, but then there’s a confidence factor that comes with wearing it. And that confidence? It is the prettiest factor a girl can rock."

Creating Motherhood writes, "On the morning of the program, I had my laptop bag packed, my notes outlined, I was prepped and ready to go. My mother looked up from playing with my son and said, “Honey. Aren’t you going to put on makeup?”

Notes from a Cottage Industry wanted to look her best hen she recently got an e-vite to attend her thirty-fifth high school reunion. Gulp.

"This year has been full of events that have required I shed my macaroni-and-cheese-stained mom gear, discard the fluffy hair scrunchy, slip into a pair of heels and take my face to the level of “Girl, You So Fine,” that only makeup can achieve." Read how Kirida felt about Covergirl LashPerfection Mascara.

Peanut Butter Runner says, "I have always loved playing with makeup. This started back in high school, but I will refrain from sharing those pictures with you. Let's just say that it's a good thing that white eyeliner and glitter powder are trends of the past."

After 10 years of workign form her home, Roots and Wings is now venturing out into the outside world and finding it exciting, intimidating, and overwhelming all at the same time.

Sunday Baker writes, "Confidence is a HUGE part of looking good! Sometimes the most plain looking person can come off as gorgeous if they have a confident attitude. When someone has that natural inner glow, suddenly we all want to get to know them better and be around them."

Between her dad’s wedding and gallivanting across the southwest with various long lost friends – Single Infertile Female had plenty of times over 10 days of travel where she wanted to look her best.

Rhoda from Southern Hospitality shares, "Makeup has been a huge part of my life since I was around 13 years old and began experimenting with those lip glosses and blushers from Woolworth's. Oh, how exciting it was to pick up those shiny containers of makeup and start using them on my youthful face."

Lovin' From the Oven writes, "Makeup, with the help of my sister, has the ability to transform me and give me the confidence that I need for that big day."

My Little Life puts it this way, "I step out of the car, smooth my pants, straighten my shirt, take a cursory swipe at my hair for any fly-aways and do one last check in the mirror... yup, makeup's perfect. This gives me the boost of confidence I need to walk into that building and nail the interview."

Ten June may be a DIYer, but she still has to dress professionally and head out into the world looking professional. She sues make-up to ensure that she is looking her best each day.

"As women, we all want to feel good about ourselves, but sometimes we are also our own worst critics. When I have a new outfit to wear, get my hair done, wear new makeup, or a pretty piece of jewelry, I automatically have this sense of “wow I think I look pretty darn good today!” I don’t know why these things make me feel better, but they do." The Branches...

The Daily Julie relies on her morning routine to keep her day on track."Take one piece out of that routine and I feel out of sorts all day long. And honestly, take the hair and makeup part out, and I'd rather stay home. Makeup makes me feel pretty."

Sharyl has been married a long time "and, even after 33 years, I still want to look my very best for him. I love to see his eyes light up when he looks at me… And honestly - I feel better about myself when I know I look my best." The Little Brown House...

Tiffany from The Pifer Family has never been big on caking on layers and layers of makeup. "However, I am defiantly one who wants to wear the basics before I step outside of the house and scare our neighbors with my zombie-ish looks!"

When Then Heather Said is in search of a little extra confidence, she turns to something "that DOES make me feel beautiful; something physical that I can add to my appearance when I think my beauty is hiding."

Wardrobe Oxygen writes, "For me, makeup choices are just as important as my shoe choices or what necklace I paired with an outfit -- makeup is the ultimate accessory. With makeup I feel more polished, I feel my look is complete."

After the birth of her child, The Heir to Blair "realized quickly that the weight would take awhile to melt off. But I could brighten my face up in just a few minutes with my old, trusty friends, the blush stick & mascara wand."

Run To the Finish writes, "I have never been one to wear a lot of makeup. Mama always said “the best makeup is makeup no one knows you are wearing.” Of course she said this when I was in middle school and probably trying to discourage me from putting much on… but the fact of the matter is my style has remained very natural over the years."

Win $100 Visa from Blogher & Jenny Craig

2011-10-10T22:39:00.000-07:00

Recently, Jenny Craig offered six bloggers a chance to try out the program and change their lives. The women followed the program for a month and wrote about their experiences throughout. How did they do? Click the links below to find out. Each blogger is also giving away a $100 Visa gift card so be sure to to enter for a chance to win! ends 11/06

Updated 10/24 - Post 3: Bloggers Discuss Their Results and Learnings from Jenny Craig

Meg from whatever learned a lot about herself and weight loss while on the Jenny Craig program. "I think the top five things I have learned with the Jenny Craig program about myself are:
1. Eating every few hours is healthy for your metabolism.
2. Portion size is IMPORTANT.
3. Vegetables are yummy.
4. Drink LOTS and LOTS of water.
5. If you mess up....get back up....don't give up because you had one bad day."

Lorie from Be Different, Act Normal realized that treating weight loss like a long-term investment was the best method for steady progress and lasting success. "Before I started this plan, dieting was always about something coming up. I want to lose 20 lbs before a wedding in 3 months. For the first time I am focusing on the end result, not an event. And because of that I don't feel the need to force myself to the gym every day for 90 minutes, which only makes me feel like I deserve to reward myself with a snack anyways. Instead I am planning on this taking a while, sort of like paying of a loan or saving money to buy a new house. Big goals deserve plans and plans take time."

Allison from Confessions of a 20 Something writes that while there's no magic weight loss solution, consistency is the key. "I have learned a lot over this past month. First, I have learned that it really is not that hard to lose and/or maintain weight. It is a simple formula. Calories in, calories out, exercise yadda yadda. We all know this deep down, it is just the putting your mind to it and DOING it that is half the battle. I know how to eat right, I just have to DO it! Ha ha. Easier said than done right? Well I feel like Jenny Craig is a great program that teaches you about healthy lifestyle eating. It is a change you have to make on a daily basis. There is no magic fix, it is a slow, natural process that in time will become a way of eating and living."

Pamela from pyjammy enjoyed adding more fruits and veggies to her diet, even rediscovering a childhood favorite. "But even without a dramatic metamorphosis into rail-thin supermodel, I do feel somewhat transformed. Let me share some of what I’ve learned in the past month.
Portion Control: I’m watching my portions and am much more aware of them. (Turns out, filling the cereal bowl halfway is the right portion. Who knew?)
Healthy Variety: I’m eating a lot more fruits and vegetables than before. I’ve rediscovered my childhood love of apples and am having fun finding new varieties. (Jazz apples are my current obsession.) I’m eating salads almost every day. This is pretty huge..."

Fiddledeedee found out that her eating sometimes falls victim to unconscious eating habits, but is working to overcome these with her learnings from Jenny Craig. "I’ve been learning a lot about myself and the reasons I may overeat. I’m a cross between an Emotional Eater and an Unconscious Eater. I typically crave carbs and sweets when I’m tired or depressed. And before if I sat down to watch T.V., I would grab something to munch on, even when I wasn’t hungry. Now if I’m craving something, I’ll make a healthier choice that satisfies me without throwing my weight loss success under the bus."

Lakeitha from Home To Three Duncan Boys discovered that while exercise is great for weight loss, it can also double as a great time for some much needed relaxation and reflection. "One thing that I am proud of about this experience is the fact that I got out and walked! I actually have added walking to my weekly routine. I know that walking is not a big deal to many of you, but I used to do it so much prior to being a mom. And now that I’m doing it again, I realized that I missed that. I missed having time to myself to just clear my mind and breathe!"

Updated 10/17 - Post 2: Bloggers Share Their Weight Loss Challenges & Triumphs

Meg from whatever writes that she was happy with the support she's received through the Jenny Craig program "I have had two calls with my phone consultant, Alexis, and she is super sweet. She helps me talk through problem areas, dealing with eating out, why I eat the way I do, etc. Although it is a little hard to share so openly with her what I did eat or am tempted by...It is so helpful to be held accountable by someone. She has answers to my issues. It reminds me that I am not alone.... I am not the first person that has struggled with the desire to eat chocolate chip cookies."

Lorie from Be Different, Act Normal found an unexpected perk in having to eat lots of veggies as part of the Jenny Craig diet. "You are allowed to have as many non starchy vegetables as you like, so it is easy to dress them up. Add some broccoli to the pasta and zucchini to the soup. I really like veggies, but I was shocked at how many they actually have you eat. I think I averaged 4 to 5 cups of required veggies a day, not counting the free snacks. I had a complete light bulb moment. I didn't want to eat two cups of the same veggie at dinner, so I started making a few different veggies, which gave my kids more veggie options. I used to make only one because fighting over one type of vegetable seemed like enough, but I can actually get them to eat more vegetables overall if they have a choice.."

Allison from Confessions of a 20 Something discovered that while wine presented a big temptation in her very social life she was able to offset these calories with a few tricks she learned. "I do super at following my Jenny Craig menu, that is not the issue. It’s those darn glasses of wine, ha. I know that in life, it is all about moderation, so Kerstin and I talked about how I could offset these indulgences with increased activity. She is so smart ;) . Also, I realized that for me, sometimes it is just about having something in your hand, so I started alternating a glass of wine with a glass of water, or just club soda. You would be surprised how much this helped me to keep it under control! (I also feel a lot better the next day) funny how that works right? ;)"

Pamela from pyjammy found that eating six small meals a day was a great way to keep away hunger. "So here I am, a little more than halfway through my Jenny Craig experience. So far, so good. I’m down a few pounds, and I really do feel like I’m learning something. When I’m not eating the Jenny Craig meals, I find that I am eating smaller portions. And the six small meals means I’m never really starving. It’s kind of amazing. It’s just so hard to move out of the mindset of MEAL-snack-MEAL-snack-MEAL-snack-snack-um-snack. But this works better: meal-meal-meal-meal-meal-meal."

Fiddledeedee was able to conquer her afternoon cravings with the help of her counselor "The most difficult time of day has been about 3 or 4:00 each afternoon. After a discussion with my weekly consultant, Barbara, we determined that I could save my cup of milk from breakfast, and substitute a 6 ounce plain yogurt to eat later in the afternoon when my blood sugar was low. It worked like a charm. I even added in a cup of green tea at that time of day to help curb my appetite."

Lakeitha from Home To Three Duncan Boys considered giving up when she realized that she needed to commit fully in order to see results. "You know, what I know for sure is that it really don’t matter what program you’re on (if on one) because if you don’t at least TRY to give it your all, you will fail. I almost gave up my second week in because I felt like I shouldn’t have needed all of this to jump start my weight loss journey. But then I realized, sometimes it doesn’t matter what got you to the point, but more so what you’re willing to do once you get there. After accepting that I didn’t necessarily bring myself to this point, I wanted to make sure that I gave it my all."

Updated 10/10 - Post 1: First Impressions of Jenny Craig

Meg from whatever loved the convenience and flexibility that Jenny Craig offered. "The people at Jenny Craig call you for your appointments. There is no office or class or group you attend which works SO WELL for me and my schedule! I couldn't imagine adding in one more place to be in my week. They call you and you pick out the foods you would want off their menu, or you can pick a completely automated package of food choices and a meal plan."

Lorie from Be Different, Act Normal admitted that she was skeptical at first but decided to give Jenny Craig a shot since dieting on her own was not working. "I have never ever EVER tried a structured diet plan before. Never taken diet pills or gotten shots or gone to meetings or counted points. I believe that eating right and exercising is the only way to lose weight and keep it off and I figured if I could do it at all then I would be able to do it by myself. Control freak much? When it comes to dieting I am all or nothing. I get all gung-ho about exercising and watching what I eat, and when it starts to fall apart in a couple of weeks I just sort of give up and figure I have to start over."

Allison from Confessions of a 20 Something was impressed by how delicious Jenny Craig's food offerings were. "The first week I was SO surprised. I am use to diet food, Lean Cuisines and I go way back. Ohmaword y’all… I am not kidding when I tell you these Jenny meals are phenom. I had no idea they were so good! My favorites were the breakfasts. I am eating French toast and omelets and breakfast scrambles for breakfast every day. Amazing! Totally beat my yogurt I used to eat."

Pamela from pyjammy was glad that the Jenny Craig program focused on a change to lifestyle and not just diet. "So when I was offered the chance to try Jenny Craig for a month, I jumped at it. I did a little reading up on the Jenny Craig program before we got started, and I was pleased to see that even though they were going to be sending me a ton of food, the program focused on Food, Body, and Mind. So it wasn’t going to be “eat this food and you will lose weight.” That wouldn’t be very sustainable anyway. Like any successful weight loss program, it’s a lifestyle change, not a diet."

Fiddledeedee was inspired to try the program by the success story of a favorite actress she could identify with. "When I was approached to review the Jenny Craig program, I was thrilled. Mostly because I remember well seeing Valerie Bertinelli's weight loss journey, and how incredibly wonderful and healthy she now looks. We're the same age, and I figured that if she could do it, I could as well."

Lakeitha from Home To Three Duncan Boys was happy that her Jenny Craig consultant knew where she was coming from because she's been there herself. "Sheri was my personal consultant who was there to weigh me and discuss my week. What I love about her is that she too had a battle with weight. She shared her pictures with me of what she looked like before she started Jenny Craig and how she is keeping the weight off. And since she is already on the program herself, she was able to suggest some of her favorite meals like the three cheese ziti!"

Win $100 Visa from Blogher & Unilever

2011-10-10T22:35:00.000-07:00

Each blogger is also giving away a $100 Visa gift card and Don’t Fret The Sweat Gift Pack so make sure to share your thoughts to enter. And for even more tips and resources check out Don’t Fret The Sweat on Facebook.
ends 11/04

Lorie from Be Different, Act Normal shared her tip for introducing new routines to her kids. "I had my daughter start wearing deodorant in first grade, when the weather was warmer, and I am sure I will do the same with my youngest. It is easy to introduce new routines when they are young and it makes them feel like they are getting to do something grown-up. This option is much more appealing then waiting until middle school when it might just come out sounding like I was telling them they stink."
Amy from Super Healthy Kids was glad that the opposite sex was so influential when it came to her son's deodorant use. "We ask him often if he remembered to put deodorant on. He had been forgetting a lot, until the last few weeks, as he started Jr. High and apparently likes girls now. Lucky for the world, girls in Jr. High don’t like boys who smell. They have been more influential than I can ever hope to be."
Charlotte from The Great Fitness Experiment was unsure of how to best address personal hygiene with her tween. "Anyhow, I've long appreciated the ability of my kids to make me sweat but until now I'd underestimated their ability to produce it. My oldest son is 9. He is officially a tween, complete with eye-rolling, sarcasm and, oh yes, body odor. But how does one talk to a tween about personal hygiene? Am I allowed to use eye-rolling and sarcasm too? Because if so, I've totally got this one covered."
April from Coal Creek Farms loved it when her son expressed interest in a nice smelling product. “The greatest moment was when he gave me a hug goodbye on his way out the door and said, "Mmm, Mom you smell good. What shampoo did you use?" He actually cared about what product smelled good! Hope springs eternal! They eventually do learn that good hygiene is a way of making life more sweet."
Kristen from Swistle revealed that she favors an unlikely place to talk to her kids about personal hygiene. “Perhaps it's puberty that flips the cleanliness switch, or perhaps it's the feedback their peers will soon start casually flipping their way. I'd like to protect them against that sort of feedback, so for right NOW, what I do is wait until they're buckled into the car and I'm going about 60 down the highway, and then I make them listen to me discuss whether they DID or DID NOT manage to address the SCENT issue that morning...”
Susan from Eat Your Flowers wrote that the beginning of puberty can be quite an adjustment for everyone in the family. “While we can read books, and visit websites to find the proper words, the timing, and tact to use when telling our kids, that they basically “stink” – the truth is, we, as parents, need to get ourselves ready, emotionally, for the fact that our baby is just not a baby anymore.”
Angie from The Homeschool Classroom approached personal hygiene as yet another lesson on the way to adulthood. “When thinking of teaching life skills, it can be easy to let your mind wander to activities like cooking, cleaning, or even changing tires. One vital life skill to teach, however, can be about self-care. While it can be easy to remember to teach about washing their hands after the bathroom and covering their noses when they sneeze when children are young, self-care issues definitely don't end when those early elementary years are over.”
Andrea from Simmons Family Update found the Don’t Fret The Sweat Facebook page to have useful information for her tween. “The Don't Fret The Sweat campaign provides parents with necessary tools to help build confidence in our kids. Kamryn loved the "product matchmaker" that allowed her to answer a few questions to recommend the right deodorant for her. She is an active tween and is constantly on the go, so she wants something that is going to last throughout the day.”
Shauna from ShaunaGlenn.com was amused by how mature her daughter felt after getting to pick out her first deodorant. “We stood in front of what seemed like hundreds of options for antiperspirant/deodorant. She picked out a pink bottle marketed towards teens. It was the first time in her young life she felt like a grownup. I know this because the whole ride home she explained in great detail about how it wouldn’t be long before she had her own apartment. She was nine.”
Sharyn from Live From Tormville explored the Don’t Fret The Sweat Facebook page to find information and tips on talking about hygiene with her tween. “Unilever is the leading manufacturer of deodorant and antiperspirants and the makers of Degree® Men, Degree® Women, Degree® Girl, Dove® AND Suave®. Their goal is to ensure that parents and their kids remain cool and confident throughout the day... AND - Unilever also has a Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/Don'tFretTheSweat where you can find expert tips, tools and real-life stories about how parents are communicating and transitioning their tweens into confident and self-reliant teens.”
Elizabeth from A moon, worn as if it had been a shell shared that her son was not too sensitive when his body odor became a topic of discussion. “The onset of puberty appeared to happen just like that, in a car, running errands, one of those errands becoming a stop at a drugstore to purchase some deodorant for the boy. Surprisingly, telling my son that he smelled bad, which meant that he was growing up, becoming a man, was not a sickening blow to his self-esteem. He was still a little boy in many ways, and there was a certain cachet to smelling bad.”
Carmen from Mom To The Screaming Masses discovered how tween boys preferred to solve the odor problem while employed at her kids' school “In particular, I noticed that the boys were especially, um, fragrant – but it wasn’t just typical (and natural) body odor. No, it was more of a perfume-y odor. Upon investigation, I discovered that the boys knew that they smelled odiferous and so they had begun to pass around several cans of strong smelling body spray in an attempt to both cover the smell and attract the girls. Neither effort was successful.”
Elizabeth from Busy Mom did not need to convince her daughter to start using deodorant. “Awareness of the body odor issue appears to come a little earlier with girls than boys, and we bought her some deodorant as soon as she asked for it. I'm not aware of her having had an issue that prompted it, but it was all the rage with her friends, and I think she felt more independent and grown-up as she incorporated it into her routine.”
Fiddledeedee also found the Don’t Fret The Sweat page a useful resource for herself and her tween daughter. “Also thank goodness for the Don't Fret The Sweat Facebook page, and for the panel of experts who have put together a wonderful resource for moms in my position, looking for guidance and information as we help our kids transition to those all important teenage years.”
Liz from This Full House recalled that her introduction to issues of puberty and hygiene would have been easier if resources like Don’t Fret The Sweat were available. “I, on the other hand, remember being herded out in the middle of health class, with the rest of the girls and learning about (ahem) a woman's menstrual cycle in a very clinical-type film, locked away in a smelly locker room, sometime around 4th grade, I think. My mom and I never spoke about our bodies on such [clears throat] intimate levels -- frankly, not sure if I really would have wanted to...”

Kindle Fire

2011-10-09T22:05:00.000-07:00

Mango Languages, Kindle Fire, Buck Inspire, Retire By 40, Blogoversary Giveaway!

Ever since I first saw this on Amazon, I've been dreaming about owning one. I've read reviews about what it can and can't do. Since I've never owned a tablet I wouldn't miss what it doesn't have and just be glad about what it can do. So I'd like to win one.

Retire by 40 is offering one as a giveaway. ends 11/07

Buck Inspire is offering: Win a Mango Languages Passport Bundle – All the fun of Mango Passport PLUS the convenient audio versions of Mango Passport On The Go! Use Mango Passport at home or on your laptop, and Mango On The Go! MP3 audio files to help you keep learning when you’re out and about. ends 11/7

I'll need a good massage when I get back

2011-10-06T19:48:00.000-07:00

I'll need a good massage when I get back from Patagonia.

Measuring Flower is giving away a $50 Spa Week Gift Card. ends 10/7

You could win a $100 Gift card from Spa Week (giving 5 away), or you could win the grand prize of a $1000 GC.

!Hola! Stuff for My Trip to Patagonia - Gracias - continuing saga 3

2011-10-03T16:28:00.000-07:00

I can now say: I'm going to Chile and Patagonia NEXT MONTH! (in 30 days to be specific)

twoboysonegirlandacrazymom.com is giving away a $50 AMEX card ends 10/20

Pretty Pink Mama is giving away $20 Paypal or Gift card ends 10/18

A Trucker's Wife in GA is giving away a $10 Visa card (every little bit helps). ends 10/15

Trying to Stay Calm is giving away a $50 Visa card. ends 10/4

Found a great restaurant near the hotel we'll be staying in Santiago so this will be good to pay for dinner there.

Need $100 Visa for my trip to Patagonia

2011-10-03T14:58:00.000-07:00

Still can use some extra money for my trip NEXT MONTH!!!! 45 days to be specific.

MamaNYC is giving away a $100 Visa Card. ends 10/4

Maybe dinner at a fancy Santiago restaurant with fresh crab and Chilean wine ....

Penguin Costume for Halloween

2011-09-30T23:30:00.000-07:00

Since I'll be seeing penguins in 43 days in Patagonia, I decided I want to be a penguin for Halloween so I'm entering to win one.

Two Of A Kind, Working On A Full House says: Halloween Costumes is giving one of my readers a costume/dress up outfit of choice. ends 10/17

Sunshine Rewards says: Halloween Express has given us a $100 and a $50 gift card to give away to two lucky readers. ends 10/11

Have Sippy Will Travel is giving away a $75 Halloween Express Gift Card. ends 10/11

Piece of Me says: One lucky reader will win a costume of their choice (under $50) from AnytimeCostumes.com! ends 10/10

The Gerber Babies is giving away a $75 Halloween Express Gift Card. ends 10/10

Our Ordinary Life is giving away a free costume from Anytime Costumes, up to a $50 value. ends 10/10

Two Of A Kind, Working On A Full House is giving away a $75 Halloween Express Gift Card. ends 10/10

The Mom Buzz is giving away a free costume from Anytime Costumes, up to a $50 value. ends 10/9

The Nurse Mommy is giving away a free costume from Anytime Costumes, up to a $50 value. ends 10/9

Akron Ohio Moms is giving away a Costumes4Less.com $35 Gift Card. ends 10/9

Thanks Mail Carrier says: One lucky person will win a $75 gift certificate to Halloween Express! ends 10/5

Minnisota Mama's Must Haves is giving away a free costume from Anytime Costumes, up to a $50 value. ends 10/5

The Gerber Babies Blog is giving away a free costume from Anytime Costumes, up to a $50 value. ends 10/5

Maryland Momma's Ramblings is giving away a free costume from Anytime Costumes, up to a $50 value. ends 10/3

Sometimes lately it seems that if I want something badly, I win it:
Prefense hand sanitizer; Herbal bug repellent; Tilley Endurables LTM6IS AIRFLO Hat with Insect Shield; $100 REI GC to buy those odd & ends for my trip (that I didn't already win); and a Himalayan Salt Lamp. Today I won a $50 Amazon GC. I am very thankful.

Win $100 Cooking.com GC from BlogHer & Country Crock

2011-09-27T15:13:00.000-07:00

BlogHer and Country Crock invited ten bloggers to remake one of their favorite family-friendly recipes with loads of veggies and share with their kids. Click on the links below to check out their posts and recipes. Each blogger is also giving away a $100 Cooking.com gift card so be sure to visit them all! Ends 9/30

Michelle from Burgh Baby enjoys making macaroni-n-cheese from scratch, but “As much as I love making it and as much as everyone loves eating it, the whole pasta-with-cheese thing wasn't really cutting it as a balanced meal.” Find out how she transformed this dish in to a healthy, veggie packed version.

Maggie from Smashed Peas and Carrots, "I wanted to share a fun recipe makeover that my family has been enjoying this summer thanks to our amazing garden...man, I'm loving our garden this summer it's been producing like crazy." See how she substituted veggies for meatballs in this healthy lunch option.

Elizabeth from The Heir to Blair revived an alfredo casserole dish in to a healthy weeknight meal. "What I loved most was that I was not "hiding" or "sneaking" vegetables in." Learn how she incorporated more vegetables into her meal.

Susan from Eat Your Flowers took a favorite family recipe and revamped it into a healthier version. "It’s summer, and we are loaded with generous relatives who give us vegetables." Check out her shrimp, corn and tomato dishes with "healthy oil" alternatives to butter.

Angie from The Homeschool Classroom turned an old grade school lunch favorite into a healthy family dinner option. "We tried to make some healthier choices." See how to make a healthy baked tortilla chip to add a little crunch to your taco salad.

Jenna from Jenna's Journey is trying to help her family eat healthier. "We used to make this (recipe) with white pasta, Italian sausage, 3 cheeses and no veggies!" Find out how she revitalized this recipe with lots of health vegetables.

Mary from Owlhaven updated a family favorite chicken recipe. "Several times when my children have spent time with my sweet mother-in-law, she has served them this easy chicken dish." Find out how she adapted this recipe to be healthier.

Amanda from i am mommy grilled zucchini and asks, "Now wouldn't you enjoy seeing that delighted expression on your families faces right after they eat something that you know is better for them??? " Find out how she delighted her family with healthy vegetables.

Tara from Feels Like Home described the new USDA food suggestions for a well balance meal. "The USDA now suggests that half of every meal be made up of fruits and vegetables. Isn’t that simple?"

Katie from Marriage Confessions loves butter and does not eat enough vegetables. "I have a final confession. I don’t let Bean eat butter and I make him eat all his veggies." See how she remade a recipe to include more vegetables in her family's diet.

The BlogHer Country Crock sweepstakes runs from August 23, 2011 to September 30, 2011 and is only open to individuals who, at the time of entry deadline, are legal residents of the United States and are 18 years or older. Winners will be randomly selected from all eligible entries. Click here for official rules.

!Hola! Stuff for My Trip to Patagonia - Gracias - continuing saga 2

2011-09-26T20:40:00.000-07:00

Down to only 47 days til my trip.

Still trying to win money and fun things for my trip.

Thoughts of a Mommy is giving away a $50 Visa Card. ends 9/26

===================================================

Wait til you hear what I won last week!

Won $100 GC for REI from BlogHer & Burgh Baby.

Also won some Prefense hand sanitizer from Lynchburg Coupon Mama.

And the REALLY BIGGIE:

You have been randomly selected as one of the winners of the Gigantic Gargantuan Gear Giveaway (from CampingGearTV.com and OutdoorInformer.com) you entered in August. You have won one of the prize packs containing outdoor products with a total value over $500.

I won Prize Pack #12:
Gargoyles Striker $100

Gargoyles Striker Details

Color: Black
Material: Nylon
Ballistic defense lenses offer 5-6 times the strength of polycarbonate lenses
G-Chassis frame offers lightweight comfort
Will accommodate prescriptions
UV Tri-Tech blocks UVA, UVB, and UVC radiation
Mission series lenses improve overall visual experience
Unity polarization gives you distortion-free vision

GoLite Footwear Lime Lite $110
From Altrec Outdoors:
"Weekend hiking tough and around town stylish, the versatile Women's Lime Lite Approach Shoes from Go-Lite is a worthy investment. The footwear is designed with an uber-soft leather upper that features a full lace-up panel, rubber toe and heel guards, and generously padded tongue, collar and footbed. Its removable and washable insoles can be adjusted up to three different thicknesses, while the low profile "Paw Pad" on the outsole provides stability and traction for you on- and off-road adventures."

JanSport Tehipite $160

Arch Rival™ suspension system with a tubular aluminum premiter stay for lightweight, flexible load distribution
Versa-Wing™ system converts a large mesh compartment into two small gear pockets with a quick clip
Biovent™ shoulder straps with hydration tube management
Fully padded EVA back panel, with a quick access hydration compartment
Molded EVA padded hipbelt with gear loops
Large panel-loading compartment provides for quick packing and access to gear
Dual hypalon lashing ovals
Front quick access pockets
Side v-compression straps
Finger loop zipper pulls
Bottom lashing webbing
Dual gear loops
Web haul handle

Polarmax Quattro Fleece Zip Top $60
From Ramsey Outdoor:
"The Quattro Fleece collection consists of the highest quality fabric in Acclimate Dry performance fleece using a brushed micro-fleece constructed to be soft and cozy while keeping the body warm and dry through the most extreme winter climates."

Tilley Endurables LTM6IS AIRFLO Hat with Insect Shield $89
Say good-bye to annoying bugs with an outdoor adventure hat that covers all the angles.
A fusion of our popular Airflo broad brim styling, Insect Shield technology and lightweight cape design results in the functional and attractive LTM6IS Airflo Hat.
The odorless and invisible Insect Shield technology helps to protect you from mosquitoes, ticks, no-see-ums and other biting insects during all your outdoor adventures. The cape fits discreetly into the rear portion of the brim; held in place by dual Velcro closures. To battle sun, wind and rain, the cape unrolls to protect all angles of the neck and can be fastened under the chin by another Velcro closure. The Airflo mesh in the crown enhances coolness and comfort during hot days or strenuous activities. The LTM6IS is engineered from Tilley Nylamtium, a strong water-and-mildew resistant form of nylon and Insect Shield technology will keep performing through 70 washings. Enjoy the great outdoors, Tilley style.

What is Insect Shield?
Insect Shield® Repellent Apparel and Insect Shield® Repellent Gear are revolutionary products designed to provide long-lasting, effective and convenient personal insect protection. The durable protection provided by Insect Shield apparel and gear is the result of years of research and testing. In July 2003, Insect Shield Repellent Apparel was registered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. In 2006, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) accepted an amendment extending the durability claims from 25 washes to 70 washes. The duration of the repellency is supported by experimental data. Insect Shield apparel and gear products combine the patent-pending Insect Shield process with a proprietary formulation of the insect repellent permethrin—resulting in effective, odorless insect protection that lasts the expected lifetime of a garment.

Win $100 REI gift card from Blogher & REI

2011-09-19T23:47:00.000-07:00

WINNER! I won from Burgh Baby! Thanks!

Take The Outdoor Pledge, and leave a comment on each blog for the chance to win a $100 REI gift card to help your family get outside this summer! You have 9 chances to win! ends 9/20

Stirrup Queens:We bought a Geomate Jr, a GPS meant solely for geocaching and kids.

I Am Mommy:Our family has changed since we visited our local REI store. Dramatically.

Kayla Aimee:We’ve been putting our gear from REI to good use in the form of some outdoor activities.

Burgh Baby:You guys, I fell in love with a bike.

Joyful Abode:When we were shopping at REI for “summer fun” we had two categories of “family fun” we shopped for.

Reluctant Entertainer:Camping creates unity and I’m thankful for the years our family has made outdoor memories this way.

Secret Agent Josephine:Little did I know my tent would come in so handy! In the rain even!

Raising Colorado:Just in case we can ever convince the children to sleep outside in the dark, we purchased a Primus stove.

The Frugal Girl:The family FG went camping. For the first time. Ever.

Win $300 from Plus Size Mommy and Ragu

2011-09-13T16:07:00.000-07:00

Win $300 from Plus Size Mommy and Ragu's Mom’s The Word On Dinner. ends 9/13

Mom’s The Word On Dinner is a social media program that gives mom’s a forum to tackle and share their dinnertime dilemmas with other moms.

I keep working on getting money for my trip to Chile (65 days)!

Nextbook Premium 7 Tablet

2011-09-10T21:22:00.000-07:00

Fun Saving Money is giving away a Nextbook Premium 7 Tablet which will be great to take on my trip (in 69 days). ends 9/10

!Hola! Stuff for My Trip to Patagonia - Gracias - continuing saga

2011-09-01T18:01:00.001-07:00

Down to only 61 days til my trip. I'm still working on winning money for the trip and fun things to have for it.

Some sunglasses to protect my eyes from the glare off glaciers: from Pink Dandy Chatter. ends 9/17

The life of rylie & bryce is giving away a stick of Mitchum Advanced Control and a $75 SpaFinder Gift Card! I'll need SpaFinder when I get back. ends 9/16

Mom Blog is giving away a $200 Staples card which I can use to get a new printer to print the pictures I'll be taking in Chile. ends 9/16

I can use the $50 Paypal that A Little of Everything is giving away. ends 9/15

My Amazon wish list is long for travel books so $25 GC from Frugal Follies would be good. ends 9/12

Keeping on top of aches & pains with Stopain from Fun Saving Money. ends 9/10

One lucky Lady And the Blog reader will receive the following: $50 Amex gift card, Digital picture frame, VCA pet gifts and more! ends 9/5

Sage & Savy and Ragu are giving away $20 Visa GC. ends 9/5

kiddiescornerdeals says: Win It: One of my US readers will win a Windows Phone Samsung Focus with one month AT&T service and a $50 Visa gift card to use with your favorite grocery shopping app (Cellfire Mobile, ShopSavvy, Walgreens). There will also be one winner who will win a $50 gift card to Home Depot, one winner who will win a $50 gift card to eBay and one winner who will win a $50 gift card to Best Buy. ends 9/3

Sweeps4Bloggers is giving away a $50 Amex Gift Card, Digital Photo Frame & More. ends 9/2

Some sunglasses to protect my eyes from the glare off glaciers:
Saga of a Fatshionista is giving away a $20 GC to Sunglass Warehouse. ends 9/1

Smart Cents Mom is giving away a $50 Visa GC and a bottle of Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy motor oil to 4 winners! ends 9/1

Win $100 Visa from Blogher & Dreyers

2011-08-24T17:03:00.000-07:00

11 lucky BlogHer reviewers had the opportunity to try Slow Churned™ Shakes and Smoothies. Ready in under 30 seconds, they simply had to add milk and stir. Read each of their posts below to find out what their families thought of these tasty shakes and smoothies! ends 8/31

Leave a comment on each blog for the chance to win a $100 gift card from BlogHer to stock up on your own Slow Churned™ Shakes and Smoothies and give your straw something fun to do! You have 11 chances to win!

Being Lease says hot summer days bring out the begging for a cool treat. "My kids usually beg for a strawberry banana smoothie from a local franchise." Find out how she is satisfying their hunger.

Georgia of I Am Bossy used the recent heat wave as a chance to test out some new shakes and smoothies. "The chocolate shake tasted like a chocolate shake and the fruit smoothie tasted like a fruit smoothie!"

Jen of Not-Calm had her daughters act as taste testers. "They were both very happy, loved the flavors, and asked if we could get these for 'all the time?'" Check out what she likes about this new summer treat.

Lorie of Be Different Act Normal made shake tasting a family affair. "The kids loved making them as much as eating them." Find out what flavors is the family favorite.

Meg of Whatever… loves a great way to cool off on a hot summer night. "The shakes and smoothies were a success." The family loves the sweet treats, see which ones they like the best.

Leah of A Girl and a Boy treats herself to a sweet snack in the evening. "They come in a size that lets you feel indulgent without going overboard." Check out how she added flair to her nightly treat.

The Saved Quarter looks for convenient ways to make cold treats. "Hot summer days and ice cream - is there a better combination?" Read which flavors made the top of her list.

Secret Agent Josephine is always looking for something cold and sweet in the hot summer months. "As you can see we scream for ice cream around here." Find out which flavors made them scream.

Lindsay of Suburban Turmoil could not keep the shakes out of her children's hands. "The kids were thrilled that they got to "make" their shake themselves." Check out her kids' creations.

Real Mom Kitchen picked up two flavors of the shakes and smoothies and "then this ice cream lovin' family was ready to dig in!" See how the ice cream rated in her house.

Gen of Quadville loves her sweets. "My favorite guilty pleasure is a big bowl of slow churned goodness." See why this ice cream does not make her feel as guilty.

!Hola! Stuff for My Trip to Patagonia - Gracias

2011-08-17T23:59:00.001-07:00

Down to only 90 days til my trip. I'm still working on winning money for the trip and fun things to have for it.

I'll need some sunglasses to keep sunlight off the glaciers from hurting my eyes and Thanks Mail Carrier is giving away a pair from Sunglass Warehouse. ends 9/16

Sweeptight and Ebates are giving away $100 cash from Pay Pal. ends 9/3

Some big portable towels from Laughing Lindsey: The new Safari Towels are pre-moistened, heavy duty disposable towels that you can take with you anywhere. At 14”X24” they’re big enough to clean yourself head to toe, and tough enough so they won’t tear or shred. ends 9/6

Mom Spark & Nestle Family are giving away $100 Visa card. ends 8/31

I'll need a good water bottle to take along. Sweeps4Bloggers is giving away a Nalgene MultiDrink Bottle. ends 8/30

Going to be doing a lot of walking & hiking so these will be good to have: The Life of Rylie...and Bryce too! says: One of my readers is going to win a pair of Happy Feet Insoles! ends 8/30

And a White FLIP ULTRA HD 4GB Camera to capture all the action on my trip: From One Bored Mommy. ends 8/24

From Mommy Mandy: ONE winner will receive a $25.00 Visa Gift Card. ends 8/30

I'll need some bug protection: Sweeptight is giving away All Terrain Natural Herbal Armor Insect Repellent ends 8/27

Mommy of 1 and Counting is giving away Loving Naturals Insect Repellent and the Sanitizer. ends 8/20

Mission Montana is giving away a Pocket Purifier which should come in handy. ends 8/20

======================================================
WON THESE!!

Quicktails (here) is offering: All Terrain Herbal Armor is a highly-effective, safe, natural, DEET-Free insect repellent that uses six natural-repelling oils at 25% total concentration. A patented time-released encapsulation has been clinically proven to be 100% effective for two hours and 95.8% for three hours. Herbal Armor is non-irritating, allergy tested, and safe for sensitive skin. Made for active outdoor enthusiasts, Herbal Armor is sweat and water-resistant for active lifestyles. Won't damage clothing or equipment. Meets strict standards for natural ingredients. ends 8/20

Obviously MARvelous is offering Nice Seats. Nice Seats are cute, comfy seat covers that are easy to use and easy to keep clean. Made from either jersey cotton or cotton poplin material, Nice Seats are similar to a fitted sheet, allowing you to easily slide elastic corners over seats of any shape or size. Doing so reduces the risk of exposure to germs and potential bed bugs, and makes seats that much cleaner. Nice Seats are wonderful for planes, trains, buses and even movie theater chairs! ends 8/18

Ila Personal Security Device Giveaway on my blog. You won the Pedometer! I reviewed the Ila Sport which is an alarm pedometer. It has a high decibel siren along with a pedometer and calorie counter. And it also includes a clock! (MSRP 29.99)

You are the winner of the Eucerin Prize Pack from Simply Being Mommy. Eucerin Prize Pack includes Eucerin Everyday Protection Face SPF 30 and Body SPF 15 Lotions, Car Sun Shade, Travel Neck Pillow, and Luggage Tags!

Win $100 from Blogher & MouseMail

2011-08-15T15:15:00.000-07:00

MouseMail invited five parenting bloggers to check out this terrific new online space and tell you all what they thought about it. Click on the links below to read their unbiased reviews of MouseMail. Each blogger is also giving away a $100 Visa gift card so be sure to visit them all! ends 8/15

SusieJ from susiej.com knows that despite her concerns, her sons need access to email. “I’ve always been hesitant to sign my boys up for email addresses for fear of having one more thing to monitor in their lives.” See what she likes about a kid-safe email option.

Lindsay from Suburban Turmoil cannot believe how fast her 7-year-old has become wired. “I know it's only a matter of time before my child wants to start communicating with her many friends via e-mail.” Learn how she has prepared for the e-mail question.

Courtney from Storing Up Treasures is excited to introduce her kids to a safe email site. “I absolutely LOVE knowing that they are safe and protected while still having the freedom to send and receive e-mails like their older siblings and friends.” Find out what she loves the most about this program.

Amy from Super Healthy Kids wants her daughter to stay in touch with family and friends, but was daunted by the task of selecting an email site. “When I began the process with several different free email providers, I was running into roadblocks because of her age.” Read how easy it was for her to set-up an account.

Sophie from BooMama realizes that what she was taught about technology growing up is very different than what she will teach to her son. “Between the web, texting, Facebook, emailing and IM'ing, there's just a lot to consider.”

Win $100 Visa from Blogher & Degree

2011-08-15T11:23:00.000-07:00

Each blogger is also giving you the chance to win a $100 Visa gift card! Read each post and enter for your chances to win!* ends 8/15

SusieJ feels stairs are a great way to keep the legs in shape…"so, essentially, I have this entire gym at my disposal in my house, and I’m not even using it." Read what other activites keep her active.

Secret Agent Josephine admits that she didn't put forth her best. "I’m not off the wagon completely. Thankfully, I’ve lost no weight nor gained. I’m still strugging with eating too much (why do I have to be such a good cook?!!)" Find out what gym class was able to keep her motivated.

Joy Unexpected shares how motivating the Get Into The Move facebook application is. " I plan on continuing to track my movements using this app as I continue to strive to reach my personal fitness goals. I love the idea of chances to win really great prizes by simply entering my movements here!"

Busy Mom finds herself found doing more things just to log her activity in her Get Into The Move account. "I've counted simple things such as walking from the parking garage at work to my office rather than taking the shuttle and cleaning up the yard."

Mom To The Screaming Masses feels the application has been a great motivator to help her stay active. "No more slacking off for me! From boxing class and running, my ultimate sanity checkers, the app has helped me keep on task. Each activity has given me points to use towards great prizes!"

Pistols and Popcorn shares it has been interesting to see how many things we can all do to just get into motion a little more. "Taking the kids to the park to play rather than just the back yard or going on a walk in the morning to get some produce for my new juicer: I get points for that!"

Whatever loves being able to track her workouts and get rewarded for it!
"I love logging my points to redeem for instant prizes and the weekly prizes are awesome and the grand prizes are FABULOUS!"

Jenny On The Spot agrees the Get Into the Move Challenge app has "proven to be a good friend…gently nudging me in those moments I could easily talk myself out of getting moving."

Burgh Baby happily reports that she's "logged over 120 miles on the bike trails and walked more than 40 miles during my lunch breaks!" See what other activities she's been logging!

The SHU Box had goals of "sticking to a consistent + moderate routine, incorporating running, strength training, and yoga. I would say pretty well: 3 runs, 3 yoga practices, and 2 cross-training/weights sessions got the ol' CHECK!-mark last week, earning me 5 entries into the weekly prize drawing!"

Suburban Turmoil admits that it is hard to stay motivated to work out everyday. Though, she loves earning motionMiles every time she gets moving. Besides taking a walk or swimming with the kids, see what other activities are earning her points.

Geek Turned Athlete agrees that it is really easy to record your movement. Learn what activity has she been logging the most points for.

Robby Wash Fuchsia Laundry Ball

2011-08-06T12:33:00.000-07:00

I ran across a couple of blogs with contests to win a Robby Wash Laundry Ball. What the heck is that?? Now I want one.

Giveaway Blogdom is giving one away. ends 10/10

Leslie Loves Veggies says:
BENEFITS:
Effective – Includes a stain stick for tough hard to remove stains.
Easy to use – Refillable too! Just toss into washer and leave it there. (Can be used in top or front loaders.) Simply open the tab on the ball to refill with the macro molecule pellets when they are less than 75% full. This keeps you from having to throw away the ball. Each actual ball should last for 2-3 years
Targeted cleaning – Use the Fuschia or Blue ball depending on the water temperature. The Blue Ball is for both cold and hot water temperatures. This is the product I chose. The Fuschia ball is formulated for color loads. You can expect about 12 months of washes in cooler water temperatures. Click HERE for more information on the science behind how the Robby Wash Laundry Ball works!
Hypoallergenic – Safe to use on baby’s clothing! Let me tell you how fabulous this works! My Little Guy is a bit very messy. I’ve used the Robby Wash Laundry Ball on his clothes, and they came out spotless. His bibs in particular are usually filthy. He has primary colored bibs and these came out bright, clean and smelling really nice!!!
Safe – Contains no phosphates or chlorine. The Robby Wash ball has received safety certifications from REACH, RoHS. Each ball is made of durable ABS materials.
Economical & Eco-Friendly – (10 ounce ball = 75+ pounds of laundry detergent). That’s good for the environment and my wallet!
The generous folks at Oransi are going to Bless ONE Leslie Loves Veggies Reader with a Robby Wash Laundry Ball Pack from Oransi in Winner’s choice of Blue or Fuschia. {$32.95 Value} Thank you so much!(ends 8/26)

Shop With Me Mama says:
I like the idea of not having to purchase separate laundry detergent, when I use this ball. I like that it is simple to use and even easier to do my laundry. It lasts a long time and that is really nice and cuts down on laundry costs for us.
Cons?: I did not notice it making my laundry smell nice, it was just scentless, if that makes sense. I also still have to use a fabric softener in my dryer, to make my clothes soft and smell nice.
Would I recommend This? Yes. I would recommend it for the person who does a lot of laundry like I do. It really does save you money in the long run.
One person is going to win the Robby Wash Ball! Retail Value: $32.95 (ends 8/6)

The Suburban Jungle says:
The Robby Wash ball contains little orbs that activate your water to wash your clothing. After about 3 months, you add new orbs (all included in the little box - a whole year's worth total.) It's super easy to use - toss it in the washing machine and forget about it. The first few times I used it, I walked out of the laundry room feeling like I forgot something. It's so weird to turn on the machine and just walk away, but that's how it works!
Want to give the Robby Wash a try? Oransi is graciously giving one Suburban Jungle reader the chance to win a Robby Wash Laundry Ball of your own. Imagine not worrying about detergent for a whole year! (ends 8/19)

Congrats!
You won the Robby Wash on Jumpin Beans!

Promise Yourself Happiness! The Optimist Creed

2011-07-31T12:56:00.000-07:00

Great words to live by.

Promise Yourself Happiness!
The Optimist Creed

~Christian D. Larson~ authored by Christian D. Larson in 1912

To be so strong that nothing can
disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness and prosperity to
every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel like there is
something in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your
optimism come true.

To think only of the best, work only for the best,
and expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others
as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the
greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give
give a smile to ever living creature you meet.

To give so much time to improving yourself
that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, and too
strong for fear, and too happy to permit the
presence of trouble.

To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world,
not in loud word, but in great deeds.

To live in the faith that the whole world is on your side,
so long as you are true to the best that is in you.

!Hola! Still Need Money for My Trip to Patagonia - Gracias

2011-07-19T14:10:00.000-07:00

Only 91 days til I leave for Chile and I can still use more $$ for eating and side trips.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

mommies with cents is giving away $600 AmEx card. ends 8/17

kiddies corner deals says: Thanks to the generosity of Frito Lay, one of my US readers will win a $100 Visa Gift Card. ends 8/8

Outnumbered 3 to 1 says: How would you like to win your a $100 Gift Card? I have one to give away to one lucky contestant! ends 8/3

The Life of Rylie says:
~*~One of my readers is going to win a $50 AMEX Gift Card!~*~
Ask the experts! Join Lysol's chat about food safety and enter to #win a $50 AMEX GC from @thelifeofrylie! http://bit.ly/qwWnIT #giveaway - ends 7/21

Win $100 Visa from Degree & Blogher

2011-06-30T16:21:00.000-07:00

We asked 12 bloggers to get moving and join the Degree Women “Get into the Move” program. Follow along with them as they track their progress in staying active this summer! ends 7/18 and 8/23

Each blogger is also giving you the chance to win a $100 Visa gift card! Read each post and enter for your chances to win!*

PLUS we’re giving BlogHer readers a jump start— visit facebook.com/degreewomen to join “Get Into the Move,” then enter this exclusive code (GetMoving1) to earn 5 motionMILES that can be used for chances to win thousands of exciting prizes!

Whatever admits that now it's summer, she's has to try even harder to be active. "It's easy to go go go for the kids, but with everyone home all day there isn't much time for me." Read what her goals are for staying in motion this summer!

SusieJ does yoga every chance she can get – "at least once a day, relying on my phone, with its MP3 apps of yoga routines." Read what other activites keep her active.

Secret Agent Josephine shares that her dream plan is to sweat every day. "It doesn’t matter how. I can spend an hour hacking at the clay-like soil in my garden, I can jump rope, I can run with the dog, I can take aqua aerobics or belly dancing at the gym…I can even run around my backyard like a crazy maniac, so long as I’m doing something and breaking a sweat!"

Jenny On The Spot explains that result of cutting back her physical activity, "I have realized I really, really need to make an active lifestyle a priority on my to-do list. But it means I have to be creative with how I stay active. I don’t have the time to do what I used to, but I NEED to keep moving!"

Joy Unexpected is so proud that she's recently lost 59 pounds! "For health reasons, I have to lose another 35 pounds. I know that the only way this will be possible is by moving my body and staying active. Exercise has been the key to losing weight and it will be the key to getting to my goal weight." Read how she's staying on track to maintain her goal!

Burgh Baby confesses that she's never been one to enjoy exercise. "Which is to say, PLEASE DON'T MAKE ME GO TO THE GYM. Sitting on a stationary bike makes me fantasize about throwing stationary bikes off of a cliff. Aerobics classes are for mocking, not for doing. Exercising at the gym is just not my thing. AT ALL!" See what other activities she's loving to keep her active!

Mom To The Screaming Masses tries to work out every day. "Try to being the operative word, but I try to get the sweat pouring every day in some way. Most often, it involves noon time boxing class. And, man, does the sweat pour there!" Read more to see what else is in her gym routine.

Busy Mom feel now that summer's here, "there are lots of opportunities to get out and do active things, and I've made up my mind to take advantage of them. I've already been swimming with the kids and am trying to incorporate more things like walking from the parking garage at work rather than taking the shuttle." Learn what other ways she's accruing "Get Into The Move" motionMILES!

The SHU Box believes that exercise is an essential part of a balanced and happy lifestyle. "I know that I will feel better having gotten in some activity, but on days when I need an extra push, some kind of tracking routine sometimes helps to push me out the door."

Suburban Turmoil confesses that "summer is a time when I can't hide any extra pounds on my frame! My family and I have gone on walks, hikes, ridden bikes and swam together." Read how else she's staying active this summer.

Pistols and Popcorn shares that after having her twins seven months ago, she needs to "step up my fitness game. My desire to lose the rest of this baby weight and be healthy is rooted not in vanity, but mostly it’s rooted in my desire to have energy." See how her sons are keeping her active and what else is on her fitness plan!

Geek Turned Athlete is so excited about joining the Degree "Get Into The Motion" challenge! See what daily activities she's doing that have her already racking up motionMILES!

Join the Degree "Get Into the Move" challenge!

Win $100 Best Buy card from Blogher

2011-06-30T15:28:00.000-07:00

Samsung’s PowerFoam™ Technology creates a powerful yet gentle foam that thoroughly cleans even your biggest loads. We asked our bloggers how this machine would help simplify their lives. See what they had to say and enter for a chance to win a $100 Best Buy gift card on each blog! ends 6/30

Raising Colorado: I know what you are thinking. You are probably all, "Um, it's another washer and dryer, big whoop." I thought that too. Here's the deal: that inconspicuous cleaning duo holds a king-sized comforter. Or 28 bath towels. Like at once.

In This Wonderful Life: So, as some of you may know, I am expecting twins :) Not only am I six months pregnant with two babies, I found out on Friday that I must be tucked in bed until they arrive.This has me thinking, is someone going to take over my oh-so-dreadful chore of doing the laundry?

Burgh Baby: I covet the Samsung PowerFoam™ Laundry Machine. Like, BAD. People, it can wash up to 28 towels at one time. We don't even own 28 towels. Do you understand how much time it would free up if we could get down to just doing laundry every other day instead of every day?

Momo Fali: My current washer and dryer are the first washer and dryer I ever bought...and I'm almost 40.

My Little Life: Are you ready? Okay...there's this new laundry technology from Samsung, that (excuse me please, while I try to contain my excitement...squeeeeeeee!!!!) sounds like my dream come true. Friends...this new " PowerFoam™ " technology may be the best invention since sliced bread.

Whatever: If I had to create a machine that was better... it would be a washing machine that had a conveyor belt that pulled the clothes into itself.

Mel and Boys: Does anyone feel like they spend at least 1/2 their life doing loads and loads of laundry? Well, I do!

Boo Mama: When I was growing up, I loved to watch "The Jetsons." Everything about it fascinated me... But more than anything else, I loved the stuff that made Jane's life easier. Rosie the Robot was always around to pitch in with household chores.

Welcome to Quadville: Call me a dreamer, but it's equipment like this (link to Samsung) that makes my heart sing. The future we live in, isn't half bad. Now, if they could create a machine that folds, and puts it all away, I'd be in heaven!! He he he!

Busy Mom: We could do laundry every day and never be caught up...If there were something sturdy (we are hard on washers and dryers, y'all) that could enable me to spend less time on laundry and still get things clean, I'd certainly be all over that.

Win $100 from Walgreens & BlogHer

2011-06-30T00:22:00.000-07:00

Walgreens put their trusted brand to the test and asked 7 bloggers to shop and try the products themselves. Check out each of the blog posts below and see how Walgreens helped them save money and stay well. Each blogger is also giving away a $100 Walgreens gift card! Imagine all the great products you could purchase if you win. Follow each link below for your chances to enter. Ends 6/30

Calliope of Creating Motherhood said ~ “When it comes time to stock up on summer products the number one thing on my list is, you guessed, a LOT of sunscreen. Walgreens did not let me down here.” Read more...

HoboMama said ~ “The girls use band-aids all the time even when they don’t need them so to be able to buy the store brand instead of a national brand is a great way to stretch our budget. Read more...

Laura of My Life is a Piece Cake said ~ “But skimp on Health and Wellness products? Take a chance on medicine I need for my children? Dare I even suggest generic feminine hygiene? Not a chance. And then I found Walgreens.” Read more...

Leighann of Marquiss Clan said ~ “What I love even more is that Walgreens donates a percentage of profits made by the purchase of Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness products to the Walgreens Way to Well Fund, a fund that brings preventive wellness services and education to local communities.” Read more...

Christina of A Mommy Story said ~ “Walgreens is one store where I never hesitate to reach for their brand of health and wellness products, whether it is pain relief, cold medicine, first aid, or even vitamins. I've always been impressed with the quality and thrilled at the money I save over name brand products." Read more...

Amy of My Happy Crazy Life said ~ “I recently learned that the purchase of every Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness Product supports bringing preventive wellness services to local communities through the Walgreens Way to Well Fund™.” Read more...

Carmen of Mom to the Screaming Masses said ~ “I was recently asked to try out the Walgreens brand products and my checkbook is happy to report that it was an experiment done right." Read more...

Win $100 Shutterfly GC from Blogher

2011-05-30T18:28:00.000-07:00

Sprite has asked bloggers to share how important outdoor activity is for their kids and to showcase their own collection of Sprite green tabs. Find out what keeps bloggers' families in motion and how they'd like to see their communities refreshed.

Each blogger is also giving you a chance to win a $100 gift card to Shutterfly.com! Read each and enter for your chances to win! ends 5/31

BooMama feels the abundance of kids in her neighborhood has honestly been one of the best things that’s ever happened to our her boy. "Being outside with his buddies – whether it’s at our house or a neighbor’s house or the park – has taught him so much about building relationships and solving problems."

Suburban Turmoil acknowledges that she's lucky to live in Nashville, which is beautiful and has lots of spaces and places for families to play outdoors. "My seven-year-old daughter heads outside the moment she gets home from school each day and often doesn't come in until dusk!"

Finding Bonggamom shares that with her boys, she's discovered "they are actually more prepared to settle down and concentrate if they've just had a long, satisfying bout of outdoor play, so it's good for more than just getting them to sleep at night -- it's good for their mind, body and soul!"

Cheaper Than Therapy and her family make great use of their trampoline. "Not only are they outside in the fresh air getting exercise, but more importantly, they are playing together. I couldn't pay them to play together inside."

Busy Mom is a strong advocate of keeping her kids active outdoors. "Busy Boy (age 14) is seriously considering a career in Wildlife and Fisheries science that was sparked from his experiences at camp and being outdoors!"

Mom to the Screaming Masses admits that, "when you have kids, something miraculous happens. Even the most devoted couch potato around becomes a fierce devotee of the outdoors. Or, at the very least, you become a lover of sending the KIDS out to play outside!"

Home to Three Duncan Boys shares that her boys love being outside as much as can! "They are able to use their imagination more freely. They are also able to let out as much energy as possible!"

Jenny On The Spot agrees that outdoor activity is important for her kids. "Playing outside gives a child freedom to move. It clears their lungs… and getting outside provides an escape from the potentially mind-numbing options available indoors (the television, the computer, the couch, the potato chips…)."

Find out where to donate your tabs and learn other ways you can support the Sprite Spark Parks Project.

Win $100 from Blogher and MY WAY

2011-05-30T18:25:00.000-07:00

Church & Dwight Co., Inc., the maker of ARM & HAMMER® branded products is celebrating the unique personality within every child, with the MY WAY!® line of oral care products: Spinbrush® MY WAY!® battery powered toothbrush for girls and boys with new Orajel® Kids MY WAY!™ Toothpaste. The MY WAY!® line offers kids the opportunity to creatively express themselves at the bathroom sink while encouraging better oral care habits. ends 6/9

Eleven bloggers and their kids are getting the opportunity to show off their creativity with their very own MY WAY!® products. Read each link below to see how much fun the kids had and check out their fabulously decorated toothbrush and toothpaste. Each blogger is also giving you the chance to win $100!

little bit funky said ~ "it made a chore into more of a joy."

"Enthusiastic thumbs-up from both girls, and they prefer it over the brand we were using" ~Said the kids at Salsa In China.

"The ARM & HAMMER® Spinbrush® MY WAY!® for Girls was a huge hit at our house." ~Said Fluid Pudding.

No Big Dill said ~ "Needless to say, both Spinbrush and the toothpaste were a hit with baby dills and this mama dill."

Rage Against The Minivan said~ 'Well, I am sure this comes as no surprise, but my kids have never been more excited about brushing their teeth."

"What better way to motivate a creative kid to brush her teeth than to let her get creative with the tools?! With stickers! It’s brilliant!" ~ Said Secret Agent Josephine.

"Oh, you're using my FAVORITE toothbrush and my FAVORITE toothpaste!!" ~ Said the kids over at Swistle.

Gen of Quadville said ~"Not only were they excited to have their own sets, but also they were SO PROUD of thttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifhe decorations."

Over at Jenny On The Spot, kids have been asking "Can I brush my teeth now?”

"The boys loved having their own toothpaste that was personalized and fun." ~ Said doobleh-vay.

"When they were finished decorating their Spinbrush and toothpaste, almost an hour later, they wanted to use them immediately. I pretended to think about it and was all, 'Well, I guess'...and they cheered!" ~ Said Raising Colorado.

I think every parent of a preschooler is shocked to discover how much drama can be involved in the simple act of brushing a child's teeth. Said mama manifesto reviews

Win $100 Visa from Blogher & Libman

2011-05-29T15:06:00.000-07:00

Libman recently asked ten bloggers to review the new Freedom! Spray Mop in their own homes. Find out why they all think the Freedom! Spray Mop makes good, clean sense!

Each blogger is also giving you a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card and a free Libman Freedom! Spray Mop! Read each post and enter for your chances to win!

The Frugal Girl adores that the handle “swivels in all directions, which means that it's great for reaching into corners and under cabinets. Super easy, super fast, and I'm sold…it's also simple enough for my kids to use, which opens up all sorts of possibilities!”

Secret Agent Josephine is able to kiss those days of sudsy buckets goodbye! “I like it. It's sturdy, it squirts my magical vinegar solution and when I'm done mopping, I can pop the handy-dandy wash-cloth pad thingy into the washing machine.”

Sew A Straight A Line loves that she can mix her own cleaning solutions up right inside the bottle. “The opening is fairly wide and there are measurement markings down each side for ratio control!”

Home To Three Duncan Boys: despises cleaning her kitchen floors, however, she loves the Libman Freedom Spray Mop! “I can go on and on about the greatness of this product like how much time it saves, how it’s eco-friendly, how eventually it will start to save you money!”

Roots and Wings is oh so happy with how this mop works! “My tiles are very uneven and most mops do not get into the huge bumps and grooves of my large tiles. However, the Libman mop’s pad is doing a great job for me!”

Jennifer Rizo's kids have been fighting over using the Libman Freedom Spray Mop! “They actually think it’s fun. If that would only work for cleaning the bathrooms.”

The Cottage Home really enjoys that there are no batteries needed, “you simply squeeze the handle and the solution sprays out of the mop onto the floor - easy peasy! I am honestly very happy with this spray mop!”

Joyful Abode likes that you can spray as much of http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifthe solution as you want in one area, and none in other areas. “I got up some spots that had been bugging me for a while…don’t ask me how long a while is!”

Rage Against The Minivan's kids like using the mop too! “They were actually fighting over who got to use it first. Two kids fighting over who will clean the floors? SWOON!” Find out her top three fav reasons you, too, should purchase the Libman Freedom Spray Mop!

It's Twinsanity doesn't like to use harsh chemical cleaners nor the idea of using disposable products in her home. “I’ve been mopping more often and spending far less time doing it. I am not ashamed to admit that I have fallen in love with this mop!”

Need a new bed

2011-05-19T19:34:00.000-07:00

Since I didn't win a new bed from a previous contest and I still need one, I'm entering the one at Go Graham Go.

Now one VERY lucky Go Graham Go reader will win a Sealy Next Generation Posturepedic Mattress Set (valued at $999)! ends 5/19

!Hola! Still Need Money for My Trip to Patagonia

2011-05-13T15:32:00.000-07:00

So I keep entering contests to get me some cash money for my trip.

Thanks, Mail Carrier says: Is it time to Spread the Love of Vegetables to your family? Thanks to the generosity of Country Crock, three people will be able to do just that, because... One lucky person will win a $200 American Express Gift Card and two lucky people will win Veggie Party Kits (ARV $100)! ends 6/8

An Island Life says: Hilton HHonors is generously giving away $500 VISA Gift Card to one lucky winner! ends 6/2

Nicoles Nickels says: The folks over at Country Crock have graciously decided to give one (1) lucky Nicole’s Nickels reader a $200 giftcard to buy healthy groceries! Another reader will win their own Country Crock “Spread the Love of Vegetables” prize package just like the one I received! ends 5/30

Mommy Enterprises says: There will be THREE Lucky Winners to this giveaway….. 1st prize: (1) $200 American Express gift card to buy yummy and healthy vegetables! 2nd prize: (2) Veggie Party Kit! ends 5/27

Our Ordinary Life says: I have two prizes: TWO winners will receive a veggie party kit. The kit includes various interactive items like a “Today I Ate a Rainbow” kids’ calendar, vegetable chopper, kids’ aprons, gardening how-to kit, vegetable cookbook, and of course, Country Crock samples! Another winner will receive a $200 AMEX gift card. ends 5/26

Two Of A Kind, Working On A Full House says: Country Crock wants to spread the love to THREE of my readers. They will get a Veggie Party Kit of their own OR a Grand Prize $200 American Express Gift Card to buy healthy groceries. (3 prizes in total: 2 Veggie Party Kits (estimated value $100 per kit) and Grand Prize AMEX Gift Card valued at $200). ends 5/23

Being Alison is giving away $200 AmEx card. She says: WIN IT! There will be 3 winners! 1 winner will be getting a $200 AMEX GC. The other 2 will be getting a Veggie Party Kit just like I got! ends 5/25

She Scribes says: One lucky reader will win a $200.00 American Express (AMEX) gift card to stock up on healthy veggies from Country Crock. Two lucky runner-ups will win a special Veggie Party Kit valued at $115.00. ends 5/25

Head over to Eighty MPH Mom where you can win a $200 American Express gift card or 1 of 2 Country Crock Prize Packs! ends 5/25

She Scribes says: Lysol would also like to give a lucky reader a $50 American Express (AMEX) gift card just for participating. ends 5/18

Celebrate Love in Any Language with $100.00 Western Union Visa Gift Card #Giveaway from Momstart. ends 5/16

Win a $100 American Express Gift Card compliments of Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express and Life with Lisa. ends 5/15

Kindle or some cash

2011-05-10T22:52:00.000-07:00

I'd like to have a Kindle; been wanting one for quite a while. I think it would be fun to take on that long plane ride to and from Santiago. Or the cash can go in my trip savings account. Or the Amazon cert for my long wish list.

Wealth Information is giving away an Amazon Kindle, some PayPal cash, and some Amazon certificates. ends 5/10

!Hola! Need Money for My Trip to Patagonia

2011-04-27T22:22:00.000-07:00

It's time to get serious about saving money for my trip to Chile. (204 days from today)

First up is a $50 AMEX card from Robyns Online World. It's her Cinco de Mayo festival: One lucky reader will win a Pepto Party Pack with everything you need for the perfect at-home (or at-work) gathering including music, decorations, piñata and filler, serveware, a $50 AMEX gift card for food, and of course, Pepto! ends 5/9

The Funky Monkey is giving away six $150 Master Cards. ends 5/16

A Nut in a Nutshell says: Win a Western Union $50 Visa Gift Card! – 2 winners! ends 5/12

6 Daily Blessings is giving away the choice of $50 Amazon Cert or $50 PayPal. Decisions, decisions....ends 5/15

rockinmama is giving away a McCormick spice pack with a $25 Visa card. ends 5/5

Our Kid's Mom has a Cinco de Mayo festival: One lucky reader will win a Pepto Party Pack with everything you need for the perfect at-home (or at-work) gathering including music, decorations, piñata and filler, serveware, a $50 AMEX gift card for food, and of course, Pepto! ends 5/2

Familylicious Reviews and Giveaways has a Cinco de Mayo festival: One lucky reader will win a Pepto Party Pack with everything you need for the perfect at-home (or at-work) gathering including music, decorations, piñata and filler, serveware, a $50 AMEX gift card for food, and of course, Pepto! ends 5/1

One Mommy's Memorandum Reader will WIN a Pepto Bismol Cinco de Mayo Party Pack It's everything you need for a perfect Cinco de Mayo! ends 4/30

Sugar Pop Ribbons is also offering the Pepto Pack. ends 4/29

Next up is a $50 AMEX card from Mommy PR. It's her Cinco de Mayo festival: One lucky reader will win a Pepto Party Pack with everything you need for the perfect at-home (or at-work) gathering including music, decorations, piñata and filler, serveware, a $50 AMEX gift card for food, and of course, Pepto! ends 4/29

Next up is a $50 AMEX card from My Organized Chaos. It's her Cinco de Mayo festival: One lucky reader will win a Pepto Party Pack with everything you need for the perfect at-home (or at-work) gathering including music, decorations, piñata and filler, serveware, a $50 AMEX gift card for food, and of course, Pepto! ends 4/28

Next up is a $50 AMEX card from Fun Saving Money. It's her Cinco de Mayo festival: One lucky reader will win a Pepto Party Pack with everything you need for the perfect at-home (or at-work) gathering including music, decorations, piñata and filler, serveware, a $50 AMEX gift card for food, and of course, Pepto! ends 4/28

Laughing Lindsey is giving away the same package. ends 4/29

I'll party with the stuff and put the $50 in my trip account.

Win Apothica Gift certificate

2011-04-27T17:53:00.000-07:00

Several blogs are giving away $50 Gift Certificates to Apothica.

One item that caught my eye is the Dr.Hauschka Birch-Arnica Body Oil. I think it will help with my aches & pains.

Tammy's Two Cents says: I was in need of some makeup so did some shopping. I looked at several lines before deciding on Laura Geller. ends 5/4

Glamour Girl Reviews says: Voluspa Ceramica Alta Maison Candle comes in a very pretty ceramic candle holder and it is supposed to smell like Macaron cookies, yum! ends 4/30

Me and Bella say: One company Apothica sells is Too Faced, which has always been a favorite of mine.

Cherry Blossom Design says: Mama Mio saw me through my second pregnancy and helped me keep stretch marks at bay and my skin feeling supple and looking refreshed! ends 4/28

Win $100 Amazon GC: Seatles Best & BlogHer Part 2

2011-04-19T22:42:00.000-07:00

12 Bloggers were asked "What Level are you?" and tried each of the 5 varieties. They are also giving away $100 Amazon gift cards! Read the posts below and find out what each blogger learned about the Seattle’s Best Level system and enter for your chances to win. ends 4/30

Update 4/18 ~ Our bloggers have tasted all the Levels. Read the reviews and enter for more chances to win!

Angelia of Eclectic Recipes said ~ "I was also very impressed that Seattle’s Best was able to match my real personality to my coffee personality. It was so much fun."

"I am a Level One all the way, baby!"~ Said Michelle of Burgh Baby.

"Level 5 was the definite favorite." ~ Said Alison of Gimmie Some Oven.

Kristen of Newlyweds Next Door said ~ "I am a little surprised I liked the more medium blends better, because I think of myself as a “strong coffee drinker” but I guess I like my coffee somewhere in the middle so I can drink it black and drink a lot of it!"

Busy Mom said ~ "I'm a Level 4. I thought I was going to be a Level 5 for sure, but I preferred this one, it tasted a little smoother to me."

Janet of Slice of Pink is a level 3. Read what it means about her personality!

"Here’s the big reveal: I AM A LEVEL TWO!" ~ Said Jodi of Pistols and Popcorn.

"Level Five is the level that best suits Bossy’s overall coffee need, which Bossy can describe as emphatic." Said I am Bossy.

See what coffee lover BooMama thought of all 5 Levels.

Suburban Turmoil said ~ Level Four is for those of us who like our coffee strong, but not scathing. According to Seattle's Best Coffee, Level Four also has a "lingering body" and a "chocolatey, nutty aroma." Mmmmmm."

"After trying them all, I have to stick to my original idea that I am Level 1 or Level 2" ~ Said Rhoda of Southern Hospitality.

Our Life In The Kitchen said ~ "Each of the levels was a big hit with someone."

Win $100 from Dicks Sporting Goods & BlogHer

2011-04-19T22:25:00.001-07:00

Win a $100 gift card to Dick's Sporting Goods. ends 4/30

Cheaper Than Therapy Reviews/BlogHer - Bleachers Phase 1 Sweepstakes

whatever.../BlogHer - Bleachers Phase 1 Sweepstakes

My Little Life: Reviews and Giveaways/BlogHer - Bleachers Phase 1 Sweepstakes

Sunday Baker Reviews and Giveaways/BlogHer - Bleachers Phase 1 Sweepstakes

Melandboys/BlogHer - Bleachers Phase 1 Sweepstakes

Our Front Door/BlogHer - Bleachers Phase 1 Sweepstakes

Busy Mom/BlogHer - Bleachers Phase 1 Sweepstakes

Points of Review/BlogHer - Bleachers Phase 1 Sweepstakes

Piece of Cake Reviews/BlogHer - Bleachers Phase 1 Sweepstakes

Product Reviews by Leah/BlogHer - Bleachers Phase 1 Sweepstakes

Win a $100 Visa from Pro Plan & BlogHer

2011-04-19T22:18:00.000-07:00

Along with BlogPaws, an online community for pet bloggers, BlogHer asked reviewers and their dogs to try Pro Plan®Selects®. See what they had to say and enter for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card on each blog! ends 5/4

Fresalina Our pets are everything to us. They are the ones waiting at home for me late at night after a long day in the kitchen. They usually wait for me in the kitchen and as soon as they hear me they start wiggling their tails left and right. This is the part when I give them a treat or two or three because I just love them.

What is Angela Doing? If you didn’t already know, I love my dogs. Most of the people who know me in real life think this is funny because I never liked dogs. I never understand the relationship that people had with their dogs, until I got a dog…and I got another one. Master and Tinkerbelle are very important in my life and I want to make sure they are taken care of properly. Click to read more.

Total Momsense Back in the fall Coach and I noticed that Mack was getting a little thick in the middle. Both dogs put on a little weight when the weather cools off a bit, but Mack was pushing maximum density.

Honeysuckle Chic Meet Coco, my family dog. She has been a member of my family for almost five years and I must say she has made herself quite welcome. I adore this little Pomeranian who has the personality of a true girlie-girl: something which is quite evident as she literally prances down the sidewalks of Manhattan during her multiple “bathroom break” walks each day.

Stuff I Think About When Daisy and Rudy came into my life, I knew I would always feed them the highest quality dog food that I could. I’d like to think it’s made a big difference in their health and well-being. I know a woman who adopted one of Daisy’s sisters, and sheoften tells me she can’t believe how soft Daisy is and how shiny her coat is. I firmly believe this is because of the high quality food Daisy eats.

Twice Blessed Many people don't understand how an animal can be loved so much, or how an animal can be treated as an equal part of the household. My husband used to be one of those people... until he fell in love with Connor. Connor became his best buddy, the one who ran to him as soon as he walked in the door, jumping and squealing with the kind of excitement only a dog can exude.

BorderSmith I am passionate about the performance that I get from my dogs. As a result, what goes into them has become more important than what I get out of them. These things are tightly bound, and out of necessity I have learned much about nutrition over the years.

FooleryLand Bringing two beagles into our family in February has been a constant learning experience. Where do they sleep? With us. How many walks do they get? Two long walks a day plus as much yard time as they will put up with. What do we need to lock up?Laundry, unless I don't mind finding my underwear in the living room or on the patio, and I do mind.

Sushi and Pizza Well, somewhere along the line, I became totally enamored of this sweet puppy. I’m so glad we have her. I often look at her and exclaim, “You are so cute! I’m so glad we brought you home!” Yes, I talk to her. Did I ask you? I’m Portuguese. I say things with passion and I’ve been known to show love with food.

Shoot Me Now Now I am the proud owner of a two-year-old deaf Dalmatian who is a joy, a challenge and a constant lesson in love, acceptance and patience. No longer do I say, “No” to a dog just short of jumping on the counter. Instead, I shake my finger in the “no” sign and hope she is catching my eye. No longer do I say, “Sit” for a treat, but rather make a hand signal for sit while I stand directly in front of her. And most importantly, “I love you” has changed from snuggles and words to snuggles and the sign, “I love you.”

Long Hollow Every morning, some days even before the sun has fully risen, I take a walk down our dirt road with Max and Belle, my "puppies". We have few neighbors, and virtually no traffic, situated as we are on 5 1/2 acres a mile from a highway, so no leashes are involved. Max and Belle are free to follow their noses into the woods, chasing rabbits or deer or their imaginations at times, but they never venture far, always returning within a few minutes.

The Pifer Family Our dogs mean the world to us—they are like four legged children who think we do no wrong!! They can’t see our flaws, their always happy, they know when we are sad, and a lick on the cheek can make any day better. They are spoiled—they know it—and we are ok with that J Our dogs are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms!

Win a $100 Spafinder GC from Olay & Blogher

2011-04-19T22:00:00.000-07:00

How do bloggers simplify their beauty routines when they are busy and tired? They kick the dark circles to the curb with new OLAY Total Effects Dark Circle Minimizing Eye Brush. See what they had to say when they tried it and enter for a chance to win a $100 Spafinder gift card on each blog! ends 5/14

The Sassy Curmudgeon "I don’t have a lot of time to--as Jeff so lovingly puts it--“paint my face” in the mornings, seeing as I generally hit the snooze button at least twenty times in order to let the pillow lines really settle into my cheeks."

GirlHeroes "Every since I was a young girl, I have enjoyed playing with makeup. Years later, I still love to “play” with makeup but I rarely have the time to lock myself away in my bedroom painting, contouring, lining, and blending."

The Bobby Pin "I’m destined to have circles under my eyes. My mom is gorgeous and she does. My grandma and great grandma too. That’s where we age, and while I’m not into botox, I am into preventing them for as long as possible."

Be Different, Act Normal "Once upon a time I was young and well rested and didn't worry much about makeup. But three kids, 12 years, and countless sleepless night later I pay a little more attention to what I am putting on my face to hide those sleepless nights."

The Beauty Mark "Let's talk about aging. I don't like what the sun and time have done to my once-porcelain skin. In face, I am singing a sad song just thinking about it. I am always on the lookout for some new skin care products that promote anti-aging but are still gentle enough for everyday."

The ShuBox "Ever since i've turned 30 years young, I have been THRILLED every time i get carded. I get a little giddy whipping out my ID, hoping that the card-er will make some comment about how they never would have guessed I was 30. Usually they don't, but the other day the clerk at the liquor store [I was buying cognac for shrimp en flambé!] looked me in the eyes and said, "Sarah - you're going to get carded until you are 40."

Jenna's Journey "It instantly makes me skin feel fresh and renewed. The brush is in a pen type applicator and you just push the end to disperse the product, which is flesh tone in color. It sweeps on gently and then I just massage it under my eyes with my fingertips."

The Great Fitness Experiment "In the past I've prided myself on this low-maintenance-ness but then 30 hit and I realized that that is something only 20-year-olds can feel proud about. Once you're expected to show up to pack meetings and the preschool recital and, heaven help me, business meetings low-maintenance can just look lazy."

Slynnro "As a certified cosmetic snob, with very strong opinions and very well set favorites, I always worry I will have nothing positive to say about the product I am asked to review. Even though I've had nothing but positive experiences thus far, each box brings a bit of nervousness. I needed not worry about the Olay Total Effects Line and Dark Circle Minimizing Brush because I really love this product!"

The Frugal Girl "I’m not one of those people who loves putting on makeup and doing my hair, and I’m not a super-duper polished mom (I wish!), but I do feel better if I put at least a little effort into my appearance. And the fact that Mr. FG notices and appreciates that sort of thing makes it extra motivating."

In This Wonderful Life "I've always been pretty good about wearing some make-up because I have freckles and I was tired of them by the time I was old enough to consider make-up. Along with wearing make-up, I've always been very good and taking it off every night."

Domestic Fashionista "On most days I am rushing out of the house…throwing clothes on…splashing on some makeup…hoping to not be late to wherever I am going. If you are like me, the perfect beauty routine is quick but still pulled together. In order to achieve this you need less product…but the few you do use to be quality and purposeful."

Could I Have That? "Since I'm not much of a morning person, I'm constantly looking for ways to make my beauty routine fast, simple and affective in the a.m. hours. From pillow marks on my face to a serious case of bed-head, it can take an army of products, time and coffee to get myself out the door. But for days that require a speedy turnaround I reach for my basic make-up needs for a natural, bright-eyed look."

A Girl and A Boy "Considering that I'm such a stick-in-the-mud about practically everything else, I'm surprisingly adventurous when it comes to makeup."

The 818 "Okay, so I’m pretty sure this is one of those things you DON’T tell people, but I have trouble pinpointing that line sometimes, you know? Plus, I think I may have already mentioned this nasty little trick in passing when talking about my newfound love of styling my hair. But here it is: Sometimes I don’t wash my face in the morning."

Win $100 from Blogher and Tropicana - Part 2

2011-04-14T22:58:00.000-07:00

Increase your nutrition IQ and enter for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card on each blog! ends 5/9
Then, tell us in a comment how you put the "good" in your mornings for a chance to win a year's supply of Tropicana Pure Premium!

Eclectic Recipes "Having a healthy family is very important to me, and I know the first step to our best health is with a good diet filled with lots of fruits and vegetables. However, I struggle just like everyone else, trying to eat enough fruits and vegetables, and most importantly, trying to get my family to eat enough." Click to read more.

Be Different, Act Normal "There are lots of tricks out there to get your kids to eat more fruits and veggies. I am not opposed to any of them, but they just don't work well with my kids. They are too smart for their own good." Click to read more.

My Columbian Recipes "Feeding your children healthy food can be a challenge, but really rewarding! I’m sure we can all agree that getting proper nutrients in every meal is ideal, but what do you do when your kids aren’t exactly eating their fruits and vegetables?" Click to read more.

Fluid Pudding "As you may (or may not) know, things tend to get a little quirky at The Pudding House at dinnertime. I’m the only vegetarian in the house, meaning more often than not I make a main dish that features some sort of meat for the rest of the family, and then I focus on the side dishes." Click to read more.

Jaime Cooks it Up "Fresh fruits and vegetables. That's what I'm talking about! We like treats around here, it's no secret. But having fresh fruits and veggies around the house at all times makes me feel a lot better about the nutrition of my kidlets. I offer fruit and veggies a lot...a real lot....and am finding my kids are developing a love for them. Few. What a relief." Click to read more.

Busy Mom "It's a big job keeping kids and families healthy. There's so many more temptations out there compared to when I was growing up, and kids have to learn to make healthy choices." Click to read more.

A Girl and a Boy "The best tip I have for keeping your family healthy is to feed them according to the guidelines you use for healthiest eater in the house. For us, that's our toddler. We all want the best for our kids, and if you're like me that means giving them food that's as healthy-good as it is yummy-good." Click to read more.

Joy Unexpected "Keeping my family healthy is important to me, especially considering my family's history with heart disease and diabetes. I always have explained to my children why it's important that they eat fruits and vegetables." Click to read more.

Win $100 Amazon GC: Blogher & Seattle's Best

2011-04-08T00:13:00.000-07:00

Seattle's Best believes choosing the perfect blend of coffee should be as enjoyable as drinking it. What Level are you? Click here to find out and learn more about the Level System. ends 4/17 and 4/30

12 Bloggers were asked "What Level are you?" and tried each of the 5 varieties. They are also giving away $100 Amazon gift cards! Read the posts below and find out what each blogger learned about the Level System and enter for your chances to win. Then, check back on 4/18 for more chances to enter and see what Level they prefer to drink. Good luck!

Slice of Pink said ~ "I think I'd like a morning cup of Level 3, with a dash of milk and a sprinkling of fresh nutmeg."

"The Level System allows you to easily find and choose a Seattle’s Best Coffee blend that fits your tastes and personality best." ~ Said Kirsten of Newlyweds Next Door

Karen of Our Life In The Kitchen said ~ "Seattle’s Best is one of my favorite coffee brands. But how to decide which one to enjoy?"

Check out Jodi of Pistols and Popcorn's morning coffee routine...

Michelle of Burgh Baby said~ "I'm willing to bet my favorite coffee mug that I'm going to like either Level 1 or 2 best."

Angelia of Eclectic Recipes said ~"I instantly fell in love with the coffee. It is rich, complex, and beats every other popular brand in my opinion."

Rhoda of Southern Hospitality said ~ "Each morning, my coffee routine consists of one luxury cup of coffee, created by me at home using a good brew, lots of flavored creamer and topped off by my own frothed skim milk, sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon."

I Am Bossy "thinks she’ll probably favor the stronger coffees found in Seattle’s Best Levels Four and Five."

Alison of Gimme Some Oven said ~ "I have to admit, this “levels” system appealed to me for a few reasons"

Sophie of BooMama said "there’s no question. I’m a Level 5 girl"

"Seattle's Best makes finding and enjoying premium packaged coffee easy with a unique level system that helps you find your taste profile." ~ Said Busy Mom

Lindsay of Suburban Turmoil said ~ "I have been a fan of Seattle's Best Coffee ever since my husband and I took an anniversary trip to Seattle seven years ago and tasted it there for the first time."

Phase 1Promotion begins 9:00 a.m. (PST) 4/1/2011 and ends 5:00 p.m. (PST) 4/17/2011.
Phase 2 Promotion begins 9:00 a.m. (PST) 4/18/2011 and ends 5:00 p.m. (PST) 4/30/2011

!Hola! Need Stuff for My Trip to Patagonia

2011-04-02T21:27:00.000-07:00

Top of my list is $$$$.

But I would also like to win a Flip Ultra camera from My Wee View to take on my trip. ends 4/15

Bonggamom Finds is giving away $100 AmEx card. ends 4/14

Aly & Ash is giving away $100 Visa card. ends 4/10

Around My Family Table is giving away $100 Visa card. ends 4/10

Cute as a Fox is giving away $100 Visa card. ends 4/10

Lil Luna is giving away $100 Visa card. ends 4/10

Rockin Mamma and State Farm are giving away Garmin nüvi® 1200 GPS, $50 gas card and a $100 Best Buy gift card. ends 4/10

Cocktails With Mom is giving away $50 AmEx card. ends 4/2

Warm place for an old cat - WINNER!

2011-04-02T11:15:00.000-07:00

WINNER!!!! Gigi will be so pleased.

My cat, Gigi, is getting on in years and sometimes has a bit of trouble walking around. The vet says she has some arthritis in her hips. So I like to give her a warm place to sleep.

Head over to Eighty MPH Mom where you can win a Pet-ZZZ-pad Electric Pet Warmer Pad!

Win $100 from Blogher and Tropicana

2011-03-19T00:20:00.000-07:00

Increase your nutrition IQ and enter for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card on each blog! Ends 5/9/11

Go to Tropicana/Blogher page and tell them in a comment how you put the "good" in your mornings for a chance to win a year's supply of Tropicana Pure Premium!

Yvonne from Joy Unexpected doesn't always have time to make a healthy breakfast for her kids. That's why she never lets them leave the house without at least drinking a glass of orange juice, since it "is full of so much good!"

Erica from My Colombian Recipes starts and ends most of her days with juice. "My mom would have a pitcher of some sort of fruit juice made for us every day when I was growing up. If you visit a Colombian home, they will offer you juice instead of soda."

Angie from Eclectic Recipes always looks for ways to ensure her family to stay in optimum health, starting with breakfast. "I like for us both to get protein, a small amount of carbs and at least 1 serving of fruit in the morning, but I always also make sure we have orange juice."

Melissa from Polka Dot Chair admits that she's not a morning person...however she does make the effort to cook breakfast on Sundays and holidays! Click here to find out what her husband loves to serve up too!

Jamie from Jamie Cooks It Up and her family love noshing on an orange...especially in the winter time! "There's not a kid walking these halls of mine that doesn't love a good orange and orange juice...? They love it just as much!"

Emily from Joyful Abode knows that for her to have good morning, she has to spend a little time taking care of herself. That means washing her hair and getting dressed in "real clothes"...and that also includes starting with a great breakfast! Check out her other good-day must haves!

Leah from A Girl and a Boy says that, "even on the best of days, waking up in the morning is not my favorite thing—so I generally need a little help putting the “good” in “good morning! One way I do that is by eating breakfast, which is by far my favorite meal!"

Angie from Fluid Pudding is reveling in the fact that her body now is able to process citric fruit—she can't put the orange juice down! "Drinking orange juice has become like discovering a new color in the crayon box for me!”

Lori from Be Different, Act Normal knows that when her daughter, Ruby is happy, she's happy. "Sitting at the table in the morning drinking juice with her, I know that she is getting something good that she needs. Not having to fight with her about drinking it is the good start to the day that I need!"

Jenny from Picky Palate feels that her mornings are always off to a good start when her family is able to sit down and enjoy their first meal of the day together. See what's her fav dish to serve up!

Lindsay from Suburban Turmoil has a hard time planning out her family's meals: they're all picky eaters! "One way I've managed to get an extra serving of fruit into the diets of my entire family each day is with Tropicana Pure Premium Orange Juice."

Kelsey from Vanilla Joy has always made orange juice her go-to ingredient for a good morning. By pairing a glass with whole wheat toast or steel cut oatmeal, she's able to drink her 2 servings of fruit. Find out what other breakfast recipes she's whipping up that contain orange juice!

Elizabeth from Busy Mom shares that for her family to have a good morning, they must start planning for it the night before with finished homework and prepacked lunches. See what other suggestions she gives for a good morning!

Melanie from The Big Mama Blog is so happy the weird pregnancy cravings are gone so that she can enjoy her two glasses of orange juice everyday! "I have rekindled my love of orange juice. We are reunited and it feels so good!"

Win $100 Walgreens Card

2011-03-19T00:06:00.000-07:00

Walgreens put their trusted brand to the test and asked 7 bloggers to shop and try the products themselves. Check out each of the blog posts below and see how Walgreens helped them save money and stay well. Each blogger is also giving away a $100 Walgreens gift card! Imagine all the great products you could purchase if you win. Follow each link below for your chances to enter. Ends 4/13/11

Janet of Slice of Pink Said ~ "My Walgreens experience was superb. They had all of the items on my list in stock and the associates were helpful and friendly."

Fluid Pudding said ~ "When my family is in need of an over-the-counter medication, it simply makes sense to go with the Walgreens brand products."

Joy Unexpected said ~ "Based on my experience with these items, would I recommend you try Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness Products? Absolutely, yes."

Jessica of The Saved Quarter said ~ By choosing the Walgreens brand to restock my medicine cabinet, I saved a whopping $22.98 – 38%."

April of Coal Creek Farm said ~ "I think the price and quality of the products are great for a family needing the best product at a good value."

Ana of Finding Bonggamom said ~ "I love Walgreen's Oil-Free Sunscreen Sticks -- they're so easy to apply. You don't even have to get your hands all sticky because you hold the plastic tube and apply it, like lipstick all over your face."

Katie of Marriage Confessions said ~ "What I love about Walgreens is that as important as keeping my family healthy is to me, Walgreens is equally concerned with keeping my community clean."

Win $100 Visa gift card: La Creme and BlogHer

2011-03-19T00:02:00.000-07:00

Check out each of the reviews below to learn how La Crème 100% real dairy creamers were able to please each bloggers palate. Every blogger is also giving away $100! Ends 3/31/11

You have 10 chances to win $100 from La Crème Coffee Creamer! Share a comment on each of the 10 blogs listed below, 10 people will win!

Ali of Cheaper Than Therapy finds a huge plus in the fact that La Crème is 100% dairy. “I once tried a non-dairy creamer that was labeled as “an edible-oil product.” True story. Now, granted, I have no idea what the heck that even means… I prefer words like real and 100% and dairy.”

Jaime of Good Eats ‘n Sweet Treats shares, “Both my husband and I tried the La Crème cinnamon vanilla flavor creamer and agreed that it is rich and creamy, exactly how coffee creamer should be.”

Swistle notes that, “La Crème is lactose-free, this would be the perfect one for someone who wants real cream in their coffee but needs to avoid lactose.”

Mary of Owlhaven likes the different flavors available. “Cinnamon and hazelnut are my favorites.”

Secret Agent Josephine hates unnatural flavored non-dairy creamers with a passion. “I say, stick to the real stuff. La Créme is real and it comes in four all-natural flavors: French Vanilla, Original, Hazelnut and Cinnamon Vanilla. I like French Vanilla and Original the best.”

Meg of Whatever… takes her coffee with no sugar but lots of cream, so she preferred The Original flavor of La Créme. “Some nights I think to myself as I lay down "I can't wait for morning....so I can have a cup of coffee".

Pamela of My Man’s Belly, after being pleasantly surprised with the flavor, decided to put it to the test by using it her recipes. “Since I was craving Italian gelato, I decided to use it in the making of this mango gelato recipe.”

Karly of Buns In My Oven loves that it is made from real dairy, “With no artificial flavors, trans-fat, or the dreaded high fructose corn syrup that I’m always grumbling about!”

Karen of Our Life In The Kitchen headed out for a camping and the La Crème went with her. “…they were easy to drop into the cooler. The French Vanilla was a big hit with the kids. My favorite though is the Cinnamon Vanilla. It’s sweet but not too sweet and adds just the right touch of both flavors for a great iced treat or a tasty cup of hot coffee.”

Naomi of Bakers Royale not only enjoyed the taste, texture and color that La Crème added to her coffee, it is also the new found secret weapon for her cinnamon French toast recipe!

Win $100 Visa gift card: Stouffers and BlogHer

2011-03-18T23:59:00.000-07:00

STOUFFER'S helped to make an amazing night for 14 bloggers and their special someone. Check out how each blogger created a romantic and delicious evening with STOUFFER'S Sautés. Each blogger is also giving you a chance to win a $100 visa gift card. Read each review and enter for your chances to win! Ends 4/11/11

"I couldn't wait to make the meal for Jay and see if it tasted as good as it looked. (Spoiler alert: It did.)" ~Said Kerri of Your Wishcake.

"Stouffer's Saute's for Two seem to be a good fit for us!" ~ Said Megan of In This Wonderful Life.

Slynnro said ~"And how did it turn out? Darn good, I must say. To address the concerns..."

"When we finished the dinner we actually lingered at the table, talking about how enjoyable the night was." ~ Said Jennifer of Vermont Cabin Fever.

"So a couple of weeks ago we decided to make Friday night special (and a whole lot less stressful) by treating ourselves to Stouffer's Grilled Chicken & Asiago Tortelloni Sautes for Two." ~ Said Felicity of Our Little Beehive.

"It’s a great gourmet meal for a couple – perfect for after a long week where you don’t have the energy to cook but still want a delicious meal." ~ Said Kirsten of Newlyweds Next Door.

"The bottom line for us is that Stouffer’s created a product that we both really enjoyed, that didn’t take all night or all my energy to cook and that gave us time to focus on just us, our little family, in the midst of the chaos of our lives." ~ Said Kathryn of Overflowing Brain.

"The sauce was very tasty, had a definite gorgonzola flavor and there was plenty of sauce." ~ Said Judy of Patchwork Times.

"I'm not exaggerating when I say, I'm 100% sure we're going to stock our freezer up with Stouffer's Sautes for Two asap!" ~ Said ...love Maegan.

"The meal came together in less than 15 minutes, which is awesome because when I come home from a long day of work, the last thing I want to do is cook!" ~ Said Jaime of Good Eats 'n Sweet Treats.

"An incredible meal on the couch with a serving dish and two forks can be a special night too!" ~ Said Leslie of Lamberts Lately.

"The steak was yummy and I liked the peppers with it too. The chicken asiago was nice and restaurant worthy." ~ Said Natalie of The Bobby Pin.

"We both agreed that they were restaurant quality – and that we’d rather spend the evening at home together over good food than to fight the crowds going out!!" ~ Said Deborah of Taste and Tell.

"They were excellent, and better yet, took almost no time to prepare. Which means you don’t have to wait until after dinner to start de-stressing from your day." ~ Said Erika of The Ivory Hut.

Need a new computer

2011-03-13T16:16:00.000-07:00

Dear Crissy is giving away an HP TouchSmart 310

This will be great to have. Fast & sleek.

Win $100 Visa gift card: So Delicious and BlogHer

2011-03-08T23:10:00.000-08:00

Slide over Soymilk and move over milk, So Delicious® Original Coconut Milk Beverage is here! This delicious beverage goes great on cereal, in coffee, mix into recipes and poured into a tall glass. See how these 10 bloggers below used So Delicious® coconut milk 7 ways in 7 days and enter for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card on each blog! ends 3/20

"With my daughter, who is a diabetic, I focus on low fat and smart carb options and with my son, I just want him to willingly ingest something so I don’t lie awake at night obsessing over the fact that I’m pretty sure he only ate nine goldfish crackers that day. One thing they both agree on? So Delicious Coconut Milk is tasty." Click to read more at Raising Colorado.

"Combined 1 Vanilla Coconut Milk Single and 1 cup of regular coconut milk with 2 cups of mixed frozen berries and 1 scoop of protein powder in the blender for my post “butt kicking” track workout recovery drink / dinner. It was late. I was tired. A shake was easy, and the good fats from the Coconut Milk and the protein I added filled me up. And it actually tasted good. That’s always a plus." Click to read more at Geek Turned Athlete.

"I am so excited to have found So Delicious Coconut Milk! Coconut milk is naturally gluten-free and cholesterol-free. It's also a good source of calcium and Vitamin B12. It can be used in place of milk, but it is completely dairy-free." Click to read more at It's Twinsanity!

"The first test was regular flavored So Delicious, instead of cow's milk, to cook morning oatmeal. The So Delicious was wonderful - creamy and smooth." Click to read more at A Lovely Thing.

"But really there are two reasons why I love this stuff and would buy it again..." Click to read more at Novel Eats.

"So what did we think of it? Well. One of the things So Delicous says to describe their Coconut Milk is, “Tastes Just Like Milk – Only Better!” I didn’t think it tasted like milk. Milk is nasty. This stuff is GOOD." Click to read more at Twinfinite Chaos.

"In that vein, here's some ways I've been using So Delicious Coconut Milk Beverage: I've been handing Alexis a box of Vanilla So Delicious Coconut Milk to drink with her dinner; You know the glow-in-the-dark macaroni-n-cheese? Yeah, we like that stuff. A lot. I've been giving it a bit of a reduced hormone twist by using Unsweetened Coconut Milk when I make it..." Click to read more at Burgh Baby.

"Coconut Milk. Have you tried it? How about in 7 ways??? I am pretty close! [?] In my coffee. We are NOT surprised. [?] In my rice. Yes. Instead of water… use coconut milk. It’s so nice!" Click to read more at Jenny on the Spot.

"The new coconut milk from So Delicious presents coconut milk as a wonderful and sweet alternative to dairy, which as a Pacific Islander who grew up with coconuts outside my own house, I had forgotten was even possible." Click to read more at Kirida.

"Now that I’ve had So Delicious Coconut Milk in my home for a few days, I can tell you that I’ve tried it in place of real milk in very common things and believe it or not- I don’t miss the real milk at all!" Click to read more at Lauren's Latest.

$25 Kroger cart buster giveaway

2011-03-03T17:42:00.000-08:00

I love King Soopers and can always use a Kroger card.

Moms Wear Your Tees is giving away a $25 Kroger card. ends 3/25

Leslie Loves Veggies is also giving away a $25 Kroger Card. ends 3/16

3 P’s in a Pod - Has a $25 Kroger Card Giveaway. ends 3/12

Win $25 Kroger card from Rockin' Mama. ends 3/15

Mommy's Memorandum is giving away a $25 Kroger card. ends 3/12

Our Ordinary Life is giving away a $25 Kroger card. ends 3/12

The Mom Trap is giving away a $25 Kroger card. ends 3/10

Win a $25 Kroger Gift Card on ThriftyMaven.com ends 3/6

Chatter, Clatter & Things That Matter is giving away a $25 Kroger card. ends 3/11

icefairy's Treasure Chest is giving away a $25 Kroger card. ends 3/10

From The Diaper Diaries: To promote this big event, MyBlogSpark has teamed up with the Kroger Family of Stores and General Mills/Nestle/Proctor & Gamble to give one of my readers a $25 gift card to the Kroger family of stores, which includes Kroger, Ralph’s, King Soopers, City Market, Dillons, Smith’s, Fry’s, QFC, Baker’s, Owen’s, Jay C Food Stores, Hilander, Gerbes, Food4Less, Pay Less Super Markets and Scott’s Food & Pharmacy. ends 3/5

the ethertons is also giving away a $25 Kroger card. ends 3/4

Momma Bee Does is also giving away a $25 Kroger card. ends 3/4

Hola! Need to Habla Espanol

2011-02-27T22:06:00.000-08:00

Need to learn Spanish and win some things for my trip to Chile:

Some really comfy shoes to walk around in: Joya-The Softest Shoes in The World! From Shop With Me Mama. ends 4/25

A great new camera ~#WIN a Cannon Powershot SD1300 12.1MP Digital ELPH Camera (ARV $129) from Granny Loves Gift Baskets. ends 4/5

A $55 Certificate to CSN stores offered by women on writing will buy me a new suitcase for my trip. ends 3/13

A travel pillow will be very good to have and Smart Girl Reviews is giving away a SHEEX performance travel pillow. ends 3/11

Mommys Hangout is also giving Mango Passport program. ends 3/2

Trekaroo is giving away a Mango Passport language learning program and I can get it in Spanish. ends 2/27

Baby Bullet for new baby

2011-02-23T14:56:00.000-08:00

My best friend is expecting her newest grandchild and I think a Baby Bullet would be a great present for the mother. So I'm working on winning one.

Mommies with Cents is giving one away. ends 4/1

Six in the Nest is giving one away. ends 2/28

And twins make 5! is giving one away. ends 3/15

Win $100 Walgreens card from Blogher

2011-02-21T22:30:00.000-08:00

Check out each of the blog posts below and see how Walgreens helped them save money and stay well. Each blogger is also giving away a $100 Walgreens gift card! Ends 3/13

Lindsay of Suburban Turmoil shares her Favorite Walgreens Brand Health and Wellness Products with you.

Kristen of The Frugal Girl said ~ "I was surprised and delighted to see that Walgreens actually does sell their own brand of toothpaste.

Anne of Happy Fun Pants said ~ "I tried the Walgreens Brand, reluctantly at first, and was pleasantly surprised to find that they worked just as well as the brand name products I had grown up with. Since then, we only buy the Walgreens Brand."

"I don’t think it’s overstating it to say that we are a family that loves Walgreens." ~ Said Sophie of BooMama.

Sabrina of Slice of Lemon said ~ "A store employee literally walked me through the store until I found everything I was looking for, and she wasn’t singling me out with kindness, she was like that with the other customers in the store, too. It was a lot unexpected, and also a lot awesome."

The Meanest Mom spends her days in the Florida sun. See how Walgreens Brand sunscreen helped protect her family.

Steece's Pieces geared up for their cruise with Walgreens Brand Health and Wellness products. Check out their favorites.

Amazon Gift Cards - Good for my Wish List

2011-02-20T23:23:00.000-08:00

Now that I have my trip to Patagonia to look forward to, there are some new items on my Amazon Wish List. So I'll be working on winning some Amazon Gift Cards.

My Italiano Connection is giving away a $50 Amazon GC. ends 2/24

Kindle for ME!

2011-02-13T22:21:00.000-08:00

DixieRocks.com is giving away the choice of an Amazon Kindle, Ipod Nano, or a $150 Gift Certificate from GameRoomsUSA.com! Entering is Easy! Contest details can be found on their facebook fanpage at http://on.fb.me/contestdr or on their website at http://DixieRocks.com/contest. Ends 12/13

Flip MinoHD video camera

2011-02-03T19:59:00.000-08:00

I think this will be great fun to have on my trip to Patagonia!

Meet the NEW Valentine's Day Flip MinoHD video cameras!

My Silly Monkeys is giving one away. ends 2/3

Happy New Year - Let's Win Some Cash

2011-01-21T17:52:00.000-08:00

Did you charge things for the holidays? Bad puppy! That means the bills are coming due so let's win some cash:

$50 AmEx card from The Art of Random Willynillyness. ends 3/23

$150 CASH from Sarahs Blog Of Fun. ends 2/22

$50 AmEx card and a BruiseMD Giftpack from Being Alison. ends 2/15

$100 AmEx card is being offered at the following sites:

Mommy Mandy. ends 2/11

Mommy Katie. ends 2/14

Simply Being Mommy. ends 2/11

Energizer Bunny's Mommy Reports. ends 2/12

ice fairys treasure chest. ends 2/10

A Mom's Balancing Act and Prilosec OTC. ends 2/4

Fun Saving Money and Prilosec. ends 2/2

Baby Lovin Mama and Prilosec. ends 2/1

Sage and Savvy and Prilosec. ends 1/31

MomStart. ends 1/31

An Island Life and Prilosec. ends 1/30

Guessing All The Way. ends 1/30

A Mom’s Impression. ends 1/30

The Divine Miss Mommy. ends 1/29

Cocktails with Mom. ends 1/29

The Post-It Place. ends 1/21

One Moms World - ends 1/24

Review Avenues - ends 1/26

Blessings Abound Mommy - ends 1/26

Laughing Lindsay - ends 1/26

Tatum's Family Reviews - ends 1/26

Moody Mama Says - ends 1/26

My Thoughts, Ideas, and Ramblings - ends 1/26

Being Alison - ends 1/26

Empowering Mommy - ends 1/26

A Mom's Take - ends 1/27

Kiddies Corner Deals - ends 1/27

Southern Bella's Ways To Save - ends 1/27

Experimental Mommy - ends 1/27

Momma Findings - ends 1/27

Ladybug Soup - ends 1/27

I Could Use A Deal - ends 1/27

NOOKColor e-reader for me!

2011-01-09T15:54:00.000-08:00

Since Santa didn't bring me an e-reader:

Susan Heim on Parenting is giving away a brand-new Barnes and Noble NOOKColor Reader's Tablet. ends 1/9

www.barnesandnoble.com and www.jollymom.com are also offering a NOOKColor. ends 1/9

Literati e-reader for this bibliophile

2011-01-08T21:25:00.000-08:00

Books, books, books. Read, read, read. Me, me, me.

I will enjoy having a Literati e-reader from Two of a Kind Working on a Full House.
This is my kind of gadget. ends 1/31

Strange and Wonderous MoBeam numi key

2011-01-07T19:45:00.000-08:00

WINNER!!!!!!!! WON IT FROM http://homeschoolblogger.com/brindamorr/

I'd never heard of the MoBeam numi key until Mommy Kat and Kids wrote about it and are giving away two of them. ends 1/7

Keenly Kristin is also offering one. ends 1/9

Basically you load your loyalty cards (King Soopers & PetSmart to name 2 I use a lot) into this little gizmo and it beams the numbers to the scanner at the store (beam me up Scotty).

I want one. NOW!

Happy New Year - How about some cash?

2011-01-04T14:46:00.000-08:00

Ladybug Soup: Get Heartburn Relief with Prilosec OTC & $100 american express Gift Card!! (Giveaway from @Kelliebug ) http://t.co/8S7Sa3a #POTCBOGO. ends 1/27

How about $100 AmEx card from The Post It Place. ends 1/21

Or $100 Amazon cert from JoeShopping and Shop with Me Mama. ends 1/16

egetitfree is offering $50 to 3 random entries. ends 1/11

From One 2 Try:
Plastic Jungle is providing to TWO lucky readers -
A $50 Gift Card from select merchants. (depends on the availability) ends 1/9

Win $100 from Blogher and Jimmy Dean

2010-12-30T23:39:00.000-08:00

The bloggers below are also on a journey to improve their health and wellness by making Better Choices in the New Year. They're also giving away $100 each -- so stop by their blogs, see what they have to say and share your own tips for your chance to win! ends Jan 30th.

Creating Motherhood said ~ "It’s walking! I can do it! It would mean fresh air, getting to know my neighborhood, showing my toddler son a healthy routine."

The Sassy Crumudgeon said ~ "Eating a healthy breakfast made my day better, instantly."

Reproductive Jeans said~ "And my biggest betterment goal? Better eating habits: I've got an ace in my back pocket for this."

Lamb Around plans to help get her husband on a healthy eating track.

You, Me & The Kid said~ "I, like so many others will make a resolution to better my health and even more importantly my eating habits."

Barking Mad said~ "As we move towards the new year, I want to seriously kick up and intensify all of the changes I'm making."

Black Belt Mama said~ "I know that it's difficult for me to get motivated to work out on my own, so I set up a bunch of personal training sessions with an affordable trainer."

Gen of Quadville said~ "This year, my goal, take it down a notch. I'm not gonna change the good habits and discipline, just ease up a little. Maybe indulge more often in my favorite glass of wine or yummy dessert."

Cheat Day Cafe shares healthy changes she wants to make this year.

Faith, Fitness, Fun said ~ "A new baby will fill my year, as well as working towards getting back into my “best-shape” self."

Taste and Tell said ~ "I know that if I start my morning off with a healthy, protein-rich breakfast, I feel a lot better all day long."

Eclectic Recipes said~ "there’s no time like the new year to try to incorporate better choices."

Jamie Cooks It Up! said~ "The new Jimmy Dean products will be a great addition to my routine."

Smashed Peas and Carrots said~ "Man, let me just say they really are deee-lightful! They are the perfect breakfast for any momma-on-the-go."

Inis of A Lovely Thing will be making better breakfast choices for her and her family this year.

Our Life in the Kitchen said~ "it’s packed with lean protein and it’ll help me start my day (and my year) off on the right foot."

Jennifer of The Maynard Moment said~ "I am usually not a big on the breakfast sausage, but when I saw that they had Turkey Bacon, now that I can do!!!"

The Branches said~ "Our family has been trying to make healthier choices lately by exercising and eating right."

The Polka Dot Chair said~ "I am going to KICK that cereal habit."

Raising Colorado said~ "I’m making one of my top resolutions completely simple, so simple that I think I can possibly stick with it the entire year"

Busy Mom said~ "I need to eat healthier overall, and I'm trying to get geared up to make that commitment for the New Year."

Retro-Food said~ "My better choice for the new year is going to be to really think about what I am consuming and why–making more mindful choices."

The Skinny Gourmet said~ "Breakfast is one of the issues I'm particularly struggling with as the mother to a very active toddler."

Rebecca of Roots and Wings Co said~ "With the New Year coming up I want to add a resolution to make hot breakfasts more often."

Kristen of From My Tiny Kitchen said~ "I’m working on my New Years goals – trying to think of sensible, practical and beneficial goals. Here’s my list so far..."

Win $100 from Blogher and MasterCard MarketPlace

2010-12-30T18:33:00.000-08:00

BlogHer invited 20 bloggers to check out the Marketplace and share their favorite deals. Check out their posts and see how you can enter for a chance to win one of 20 $100 MasterCard gift cards from BlogHer! ends 12/31

A Boy and A Girl. "I signed up for MasterCard MarketPlace a few weeks ago--it takes about twenty seconds depending on how fast you can type your name, email address, and zipcode."

No Big Dill. "If you are an orange haggler, or the type of person who goes to the grocery store not only with manufacturer coupons, but with your store coupons alphabetized, plus goes during sales and actually gets paid to buy groceries [you know who you are ;)] this is your site."

Swistle. "Overall, it looks like a good "deal center" for keeping track of all the places you like to shop and all the deals they have---and a good way to get EXTRA deals while you're at it."

Loralee's Looney Tunes. "I have fallen IN LOVE with online shopping. There is no better place PERIOD
to find the best bang for your buck. So, I was very excited when BlogHer offered me the opportunity to check out MasterCard MarketPlace."

FiddleDeeDee. "I’m more of a cyber-Monday type of gal. The thrill of the hunt for me can occur behind the comfort of my keyboard, at a reasonable hour, while wearing my bunny slippers."

Lil Bit Funky. "SO many great deals all around...on toys and housewares and clothes...I got lost in all the bargains for almost an hour. Some of the deals are so great that I am seriously tempted to keep on adding to my Christmas shopping list..."

Storing up Treasures. "It's that time of year again. The time when we are all rushing around trying to get our Christmas shopping done. I wanted to tell you about an awesome site that will make shopping easier and save you loads of money too."

Super Healthy Kids. "With so many choices for shopping online, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. However, you can get many of these great deals, without browsing the entire web."

Vanilla Joy. "I did a little better this year at doing some of my Christmas shopping throughout the year, but I still have some last minute gifts to buy. Instead of paying through the nose out of necessity, I checked out MasterCard MarketPlace where I found lots of deals in one quick place."

I am Lotus aka Sarcastic Mom. "Looking for amazing deals this holiday season that are easy to take advantage of online? Me too!"

Three Kid Circus. "I'm not always the savviest shopper, when it comes to finding great deals. I'm also easily irritated by bargain-hunting crowds and the Extreme Holiday Shopping mentality."

Suburban Turmoil. "Who doesn't love a bargain? Well, I've got a way you can get Black Friday-like deals at deep discounts. The secret is MasterCard MarketPlace, a site that will give you great discounts on some of your favorite retailers!"

Mommy Bytes. "It is a one-stop place to get up to 50% off on top brands and stores. Brands you and I trust like Barnes & Noble, Children's Place, Home Depot, Scholastic Store or even upscale stores such as Brookstone, Saks and Sephora."

BooMama. "I still very much like to get the best possible deal when I’m buying gifts. I scour the internet, look at newspaper circulars, clip store coupons – it just makes good sense to do due diligence when it comes to getting the very best price."

I am Bossy. "Here’s the deal: their website divides the world of goods into categories like Apparel, Travel, Kids & Babies – and listed in these categories are a wide range of stores which have partnered with MasterCard MarketPlace to offer unique deals to those who sign up."

Southern Hospitality. "There’s a new online shopping opportunity that I’d love to share with you."

Welcome to Quadville. "I LOVE a good deal. But, now, I love a good deal online even more! This year my husband laughed at me because, I kinda turned holiday shopping into a game! "Where can I find the best codes?" "I'm not paying full prices for THAT, I know I can find it on sale." Seriously, if online shopping were a competitive sport, I just MAY have won the gold this year."

Big Mama. "I believe I have mentioned several times that I have never been the kind of person that gets up at the crack of dawn to hit the Black Friday sales. Not that there is anything wrong with that type of person, I’m sure they are all lovely people. It’s just not for me for several reasons."

It's Almost Naptime. "I have to say, I was a little late to the shop-online party. This Christmas is the first Christmas that I have bought about 80% of the kids' Christmas gifts online. Choose. Click. Shipped straight to my DOOR. No crowds, no traffic, and it can all be done at two in the morning."

Whatever. "do you like getting a great deal? i love discounts! i light up when i see 50% off."

Amazon Gift Cards

2010-12-30T15:59:00.001-08:00

I used up all my Amazon credits to get a Magellan GPS (since I hadn't won one).
So I need to fill up again.

raising my 5 sons and JoeShopping. ends 1/30

Young, Free and Frugal is giving away a $10 Amazon GC. ends 1/30

Thanks, Mail Carrier and JoeShopping are offering a $100 Amazon GC. ends 1/7

The Ice Fairy and JoeShopping are giving away $50 Amazon gift card. ends 1/4

Win $150 from Blogher & Laughing Cow

2010-12-28T17:21:00.000-08:00

Win $150 from each of these blogs. ends 12/28

Being the only vegetarian in her family helps Fluid Pudding

Amanda of Run to the Finish shares tips on how to be a 10!

Busy Mom keeps her portions light

For Love Or Funny Shares her sex symbol diet plan with you.

Workout Mommy says no to holiday treats with 3 easy steps.

Anne of Happy Fun Pants tells you how to be selective on the things you indulge in

Read "Keep Your Waistline During the Holidays" by Erica of My Colombian Recipes

Mom to the Screaming Masses shares her treats with the mail man.

"How to avoid holiday food traps" Read Melody of Cheat Day Cafés

Jenny On The Spot says "So what do I do so I don’t burst the seams of my holiday dress?"

Read Ramona of Kirida's "Anti-gorging holiday plan"

Life in Chicago Makes it through the holidays without having to buy new pants
Nicole of Pinch My Salt shares 7 great tips with you and some delicious healthy recipes.

Gail of Shrinking Sisters says "Holiday parties are a minefield of diet dangers" check out her helpful tips to avoid

Read how Amy of Super Healthy Kids avoids her temptation to eat everything on her plate

BooMama has some tricks that are SUPER simple.

Janet of Slice of Pink shares her "tiny tricks and treats" with you

Mountain Rose Herbs giveaway

2010-12-27T00:27:00.000-08:00

Mountain Rose Herbs giveaway

Two winners will receive a collection of our favorite herbal skincare products including our classic and divine Rose Skin Cream which is made by hand in small batches, the fragrant and gentle Rose Facial Wash, natural Cleansing Grains made with pure ingredients like rose petal powder, clay, and almond meal, our amazing Wild Rose Facial Toner to invigorate your skin, and a bottle of Relaxing Herbal Bath Salts to soothe you into complete bliss.

Win $100 from Blogher and Total Effects

2010-12-27T00:08:00.000-08:00

Enter to win $100 from each blogger: - ends 12/27

Emily from Joyful Abode "As you know, my husband is in the Navy and we have moved a lot. A LOT. And we’re moving again in January (not far, just to base, but still…), this move will be our 5th move in 4 years."

Rebecca from Roots & Wings "I want to discuss why I feel it is important for me to be putting my best foot forward, or in this case it is my best face forward! ;) One reason I have already mentioned and that is that I still am young. So I need to start taking care of my skin while I can still do things to keep it as healthy as I can. "

Gen from Welcome to Quadville! "Well, at least I'm not going through the change of life with my girls are going through puberty! However, I am going through a mid life crisis and decided to chop off 12 inches of my hair! Yep, for reals! Not only am I trying to heal my skin (see last 3 posts)... I'm also changing it all up. Holy hormones batman!"

Tara from Feels Like Home "I left something out of that story. See the lines across my and Joe’s foreheads? You may notice that Grace and the new baby (tiny though she is) do not have those same lines. They’re wrinkles. Grace told me so."

Morgan from The 818 "It’s surreal, isn’t it? You’re a teenager, just starting to wear makeup, and people are trying to sell you zit zapper, and then you turn around and your parents cleaning lady is convincing you to buy anti-aging cream out of a catalogue because you look “consado“."

Angie from Eclectic Recipes "In my last post for Olay, I shared with you that I have had a lifelong battle with Acne."

Jenna from Jenna's Journey "So, there are days when I really can’t do it. I just don’t have the energy with a newborn to put my full face of makeup on and do my hair. There are, however some staples that I do no matter what. I’m pretty confident that I could be on my deathbed and there would be things that I do makeup wise that just make me feel better about myself."

Lindsay from The Cottage Home "For the last 3-4 weeks, I have been focusing on spending a little more time on me. Being the mom of two little ones (16 months) and (2.5 years), staying at home and maintaining our home, running my own children’s clothing business and blogging doesn’t leave me a whole lot of time for me. But I think it’s important. Isn’t it true that when we look good, we feel good? I think so."

Janet from Slice of Pink "For three years, I lived the leisurely life of a law student. Wait, let me clarify that. The life of a law student is not exactly what you would describe as leisurely, at least in the way sunning on a beach is leisurely or drinking cocoa is a mountain cabin is leisurely."

Leah from A Girl and a Boy "When I finally came to terms with the fact that I wasn't going to get married (or at least have the wedding I'd hoped to have) before adding a baby to the mix, my make-the-best-of-it brain got right to work thinking of all the ways in which putting the baby carriage before the marriage was, like, wicked awesome and super way better, totally, for sure!"

Blogger Slynnro "While there are plenty of things I am trying to stave off about getting older, there are certain things I'm trying to embrace. I am starting to get to the stage where I find things are in fact inappropriate for me to wear (although perhaps I should stop shopping at Forever 21 and I wouldn't have this problem)."

Stephanie from Totally Together Journal "Today is the first day of Winter Break, and I'm so happy to have the kids home with me. I hate how much time they're away during a typical school day. Today we're staying in pajamas, watching a Santa Claus(e) movie marathon, and doing puzzles. It'll be lovely."

Kelly from Kelly's Korner "Pretty much everything in my body is affected when I’m pregnant. My hair gets thicker and grows so much faster. My face fills out. My feet even get bigger. And I won’t even start on the internal things like morning sickness and heartburn. ."

Megan from In This Wonderful Life "So, as I've been on this journey to adjusting to my post pregnancy skin, I've determined what's most important. Moisturizer is what my face needs."

Lisa from Milehimama "I am following the Brewer diet for this pregnancy, which means eating a ton of protein. That’s hard enough, but the vitamins and supplements are even worse. I have a history of pregnancy induced hypertension and gestational diabetes, which I’ve always been able to control through diet, exercise, and supplements."

Win $200 Visa gift card: Club Mum and BlogHer

2010-12-22T22:23:00.000-08:00

Club Mum and BlogHer are pleased to present the Veggie Smugglers sweepstakes! We’re partnering to help moms with a problem we’re all too familiar with – getting kids to eat their veggies. But www.ClubMum.net is about more than just veggies, it’s about getting the good stuff into kids – food, community service, education… you know the drill! Check out the blogs below and enter for your chance to win 1 of 8 Visa gift cards!

Susie J. "Help! We need moms with advice to share on picky eaters! With four boys in the house, there’s always one who is going through a picky eater phase."

What's for Lunch at our House. "I often get comments on this blog regarding F&B and the choices they make regarding food. Thankfully, it’s usually good ones, either complimenting them when they are making the choices or asking how exactly we got them to that point."

Meanest Momma. "So… while I am far from perfect — especially in the realm of eating healthy – here are a few of my tips for getting kids to eat healthier"

Owlhaven. "As a kid I remember feeling disdainful of the kids whose mothers cut the crusts off their sandwiches. My mom would never let me waste 20% of my bread, and I didn’t really understand what was so bad about a bread crust anyway."

Boomama. "Once our little guy started eating table foods, one of the things that concerned me the most was whether or not he was going to be a picky eater. Since I was raised in a you-eat-what-you’re-served household, I was bound and determined to do the same."

Joy Unexpected. "Getting kids to do things that are good for them always seem to be a struggle-- brushing their teeth, going to be at a decent time, doing their homework, eating their vegetables."

Big Mama. "One of the things I’ve discovered as a mom is that we all worry about what our kids eat. We all want them to be healthy and strong and to love their veggies, but that isn’t always a real world scenario."

The Simmons Family. "My kids love food! Kamryn has always been a picky eater and if allowed, would live on chips and refried beans. When she was a toddler, she only ate beans, peanut butter and chicken nuggets. "

This sweepstakes runs from December 10, 2010 to December 23, 2010

BlogHer and HomeGoods Gift cards

2010-12-21T12:19:00.000-08:00

BlogHer and HomeGoods are giving away one $100 and twenty $25 HomeGoods gift cards. ends 12/29

Ten bloggers are each giving away a $50 HomeGoods card:

Cindy of My Romantic Home:
The fun we had walking around the store was priceless!
Kristen of Rage Against the Minivan:
Okay. Here we go. Toys. TONS of them.
Katy of No Big Dill:
Unexpected and unusual goods found around each corner.
M3 of Salsa in China:
Oh! We found the best frames and mirrors. I was so tempted...
Emily of Joyful Abode:
I doubt there’s anyone who wouldn’t find something they love in HomeGoods.
Reagan of Regan’s Blob:
I found this adorable wooden penguin push toy...
Ali of Gimme Some Oven:
I had a blast shopping for some fun (and very affordable!) gifts.
Melissa of The Polkadot Chair:
I decided to shop for my twins teachers.
Heather of Dollar Store Crafts:
I know you guys will have great ideas for DIYing!
Susan of Wild Yeast:
I got the best-cooking, best-cleaning nonstick surface I've ever had.

All I want for Xmas is a Kindle

2010-12-20T21:45:00.000-08:00

So I'm planning to win one from Love Hope Faith. ends 12/20