iPad-a-day Giveaway Aug 3-9

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Look Before You Lock

Did you know that even on a mild day, a child trapped in a hot vehicle can die of a heat stroke or hyperthermia in just minutes? On average, 38 children die in the U.S. each year from heat-related deaths after being trapped inside motor vehicles. So far this year, news stories show 15 children, including three in Texas, have died after being left unattended in a vehicle. What is most tragic is that all of these deaths are completely preventable.

There are three simple things you can do to ensure that all children safely exit the vehicle after every car trip:

• Never leave a child alone in a vehicle
• Make it a habit to look in every seat every time before you exit the vehicle
• Always lock the vehicle and put the keys out of reach of children

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has teamed up with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Safe Kids USA to promote the “Look Before You Lock Campaign”. In a YouTube video, Linda Smith, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Early Childhood Development at ACF, speaks about the importance of double checking for children before closing any type of vehicle.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBI8EgNxzpI

Check out these free and informative resources available on the internet:
Texas Child Care Quarterly, summer 2012: http://www.childcarequarterly.com/
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: www.safercar.gov/heatstroke
Safe Riders (English and Spanish): www.dshs.state.tx.us/saferiders/hyperthermia.shtm
Kids and Cars: http://www.kidsandcars.org/heatstroke.html
Safe Kids USA: http://www.safekids.org/safety-basics/safety-guide/

The beginning of the school year is a perfect time to make it a habit to look in every seat every time before you exit the vehicle. Making safety a part of your daily routine can be the difference between life and death for a child.
Source: Michele Adams, Assistant Commissioner Child Care Licensing, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services

"What's in Your Truck?" Contest

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City of Angels Ballet Teaches Untapped Talent

For the tenderfoot, Los Angeles is 500 square miles of concrete, suburban sprawl, rough edges, and an ocean somewhere out beyond the haze. In the city of circumstance, young players need discipline, stability, and grace to succeed. To get their footing, they seek out Mario Nugara.

With support from non-profit City of Angeles Ballet, young dancers escape some of the city's most challenging strips for an evening of art and form in Nugara's small studio oasis. There they find a seasoned mentor, poised by years of perfecting balance, dedicated to paying his craft forward.

Friction gives way to rare beauty, whether it be in the form of a diamond, a roaring cliffside, or a dancer defying the streets of Los Angeles. For 17 years, and for more than 30,000 young lives, City of Angels Ballet and Mario Nugura have set the stage for transformation.

Full video at: http://www.takepart.com/video/city-angels-ballet

Free MacBook Air Giveaway

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Wedne$day Wealth Giveaway Link Up

I hope you win something wonderful today!

I hope I do too!

Link up your giveaways here and enter to win!

Guidecraft Wood Balance Beam - Review

As a preschool teacher, I truly believe that large motor skills are one of the most important things we can provide for young children. With the world as dangerous as it is today, we need to be thinking more creatively about ways we can provide children learning opportunities to expand these skills in more indoor ways.

The Guidecraft Wood Balance Beam is the perfect indoor activity for large motor skills because it requires concentration and slow movements. Did you know that learning to balance is one of the activities proven to help children with ADHD focus better? You may often see children with ADHD rocking back and forth in their chair, and what they are trying to do is find a balance in their brain. Learning to walk on a balance beam provides that activity!

  

This beautiful six foot beam is made of birch and comes with two pegged feet. The beam is 2.8" wide, but for those children who really want a challenge, the beam will flip to its narrow side of 1.5" and fit right onto the pegged feet. My group is ages 2-5 years and although they are not yet ready for the narrower side, all of them have enjoyed many hours of play on the balance beam. 

My oldest girl is age 5 years and she challenged herself to leaning forward while balancing on one foot. Again and again, the children want to play on the wood balance beam. When they are finished, they just push the beam against the wall until the next time they play. Easy to store and lots of benefits for large motor skills, plus they are fine-tuning their social skills because they each have to wait their turn. I'm absolutely thrilled with this product and the children have approved it as well! You can purchase this beautiful wood balance beam at http://guidecraft.com. Be sure to follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Plus, one lucky Planet Weidknecht reader will win a Guidecraft Wood Balance Beam below!

Disclosure: I received this product at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

Enter to win Guidecraft's Wood Balance Beam!

To enter, just fill in the Rafflecopter form below. You must be at least 18 years old and reside in the US. Only the first entry is mandatory; bonus entries increase your chances to win. This giveaway ends at midnight on 8/12/12. Good luck!

Book Review: The Power of Giving and How it Leads to Success and Happiness by Daniel Goldhar

I just finished reading Daniel Goldhar's book The Power of Giving and How it Leads to Success and Happiness and although much of the information in the book seems to be obvious to me, I'm willing to bet much of that is because I was raised in a giving family. My parents always gave of their time and money to our church, our neighborhood, our local organizations, and our schools. I like how the author approaches success and happiness as a general goal, rather than a destination determined by income. No matter how much or how little we make in our jobs, giving to others gives us great satisfaction in our own lives. Goldhar discusses the history, science and religion of giving for both families and for businesses. I especially appreciated his cautions about who NOT to give to, because often people feel obligated in situations where it's better not to give. The book talks about giving in more terms than just money, too. Giving words, giving compliments, giving advice, and giving knowledge are all part of the path to success and happiness. I really enjoyed the book from front to back and even though I've always considered myself a giving person, I learned much from Daniel Goldhar. You can purchase his book at the link below.
Disclosure: I received this book at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

Perfective Ceuticals Skin Care - Review

Perfective Ceuticals has just released their newest skin care products, a line of brightening products including the Divine Brightening Serum with Gigawhite and the Divine Brightening Cream with Gigawhite and Ultra-light Sunscreen with SPF 40. The brightening formula contains patent-pending Gigawhite, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid and Tranexamic Acid, which are scientifically proven brightening ingredients to help fight age spots and uneven skin tone.

I absolutely LOVE how this illuminates my skin. I've been using it every single day for five weeks now and I've really noticed a big difference in my skin's appearance and texture. It truly is "divine!" Since it's made for all skin types, I didn't have to worry about my combination skin and it gently nourishes my skin with no worries about greasiness.

You can see from my BEFORE and AFTER photos below that my skin looks much brighter, much more even, and the products even make me look younger! I'm thrilled with the results and totally recommend Perfective Ceuticals. You can purchase these and other skin care products at www.perfectiveceuticals.com. You can even enter to win BOTH these products below!
Disclosure: I received these products at no charge through Family Review Network in exchange for my honest review.

Win two Perfective Ceuticals Brightening Products!
One lucky reader will win the Divine Brightening Serum (ARV $112) and the Divine Brightening Cream (ARV $87). To enter just fill in the Rafflecopter form below. You must be at least 18 years old and live in the US. This giveaway ends at midnight ET on August 12, 2012. Good luck!

Free Museum Day Live! Tickets Now Available

The best free ticket in town is now just a click away - starting today, museum-goers can head to smithsonian.com/museumdaylive to download tickets for Smithsonian’s Museum Day Live! Tickets grant free admission for two people per household to participating museums on Saturday, September 29, 2012.

Museum Day Live! will be the eighth annual event celebrating education through the nation’s wide array of museums and cultural institutions. For one day only, participating locations across the country will emulate the free admission policy of the Smithsonian Institution’s Washington, D.C.-based facilities. The program encourages learning and the dissemination of knowledge nationwide. Last year’s event drew over 350,000 museum-goers to over 1,400 museums.

“With September right around the corner, people can start to plan their Museum Day Live! experience now,” said Jennifer Hicks, Group Publisher, Smithsonian Media. “Our free online ticketing makes accessing museums and cultural institutions easy for anyone that is interested. Over 1,400 museums are expected to participate, making this year’s event even larger than last year.”

Museums across Texas including Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Neill-Cochran House Museum, and The Children’s Museum of the Brazos Valley will be participating in this eighth annual event celebrating cultural education through the nation’s wide array of museums and institutions. For the full list of participating museums, please visit: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/venues/.

New York Style Bagel Crisps - Review

If you are looking for a healthy, delicious snack to serve to your summer guests, you must try New York Style Bagel Crisps and Mini Bagel Crisps! Light and crispy, these bagel snacks are perfect right out of the bag or be creative and turn them into appetizers.

The Mini Bagel Crisps come in four flavors - BBQ, Sea Salt, Garlic and Cheddar. This bag disappeared quickly at my house. I grabbed some to make a quick appetizer plate and spread them out flat. A few pieces of sliced cheese covered a whole plate of BBQ Mini Bagel Crisps, then I popped them in the microwave for 30 seconds.

The cheese melted just enough in that time and made for scrumptious spicy, cheesy bites. My guys ate them up quickly and then polished off the rest of the bag. I feel fortunate that I got to at least taste them!

The Bagel Crisps are bigger and pack a huge taste. The Roasted Garlic is just one of seven flavors and is one of the tastiest snacks I've ever had. New York Style also offers the flavors of Sea Salt, Cinnamon Raisin, Plain, Sesame, Sea Salt and Cracked Pepper, and Everything.

With no trans fat and no cholesterol, I decided to make some spicy tomato dip to go with our bag. I used low fat sour cream, olive oil mayo, and a spicy tomato dip mix to create the perfect summer evening appetizer for our friends who dropped by the house. The New York Style Bagel Crisps got rave reviews from everyone.

You can find New York Style Bagel Crisps and Mini Bagel Crisps, as well as Pita Chips and Panetini, in the deli section of your grocery store. You can get nutritional information at http://www.newyorkstyle.com. Be sure to like them on Facebook and enter the Bagel Snack Star Sweepstakes through September 2, where you could win a private, catered event at your local theater, plus a year's supply of movie tickets! You can even follow them on Twitter.

Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of New York Style and received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

VeggieTales Penniless Princess DVD - Review

The Penniless Princess is the newest release from VeggieTales and this is one you won't want to miss! At first I wasn't so sure the boys would enjoy a story about a princess but I was quickly convinced otherwise. Full of fun and music, VeggieTales teaches children about feeling worthy from the inside. Sweet Sara Crewe goes from a princess who has everything to one who has nothing. Based on the classic novel A Little Princess, this DVD reminds children that in God's eyes everyone is a princess.

The newest Silly Song is also on this DVD and the boys absolutely loved Best Friends Forever. Giggling and wiggling their way through the new song, the older one turned to the younger one to say they were best friends forever. A wonderful story and another quality product from Big Idea, I totally recommend The Penniless Princess for your home DVD library! It's available at Christian retailers on August 11 and everywhere else on August 14. You can get your copy and even watch the movie trailer at VeggieTales.
Disclosure: I received this product at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

Win The Penniless Princess DVD!
One lucky reader will add this title to their library for free! To enter just fill out the Rafflecopter form below. You must be at least 18 years old and live in the US. This giveaway ends at midnight ET on 8/12/12. Good luck!

Mini Pops Charity Giveaway‏

Mini Pops is currently hosting a charity giveaway on their Facebook page that benefits the Fisher House Foundation. The Fisher House Foundation builds homes on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers so the families of U.S. servicemen and women can be close to their loved ones in their time of need. For every entry in the giveaway, Mini Pops will donate 10 cents to the Fisher House Foundation at no cost to the entrant. The winner of the contest will receive 16 bags (a double sampler pack) of Mini Pops.

Find out more about the Fisher House Foundation at http://www.fisherhouse.org/.

Enter the giveaway at http://www.facebook.com/MiniPopsInc/app_201143516562748.

Top Facebook Fan Winner

At the end of each month, the top ten Facebook fans get to participate in a random drawing for a $10 Amazon gift code. This month's winner is Dawn Cherry! How do YOU get to the top ten? Visit the Planet Weidknecht Facebook page and "like" posts, comment on posts, and the ten most active fans are automatically entered each month! Who will win for August?

Winner List Updated

The winner of the Pacific Pillow in the 

12 Days of Christmas Giveaway is

Andrea Williams!

The winner of the Tour De France

Prize Pack is

Marti Parks!

Printable Coupons Just Released

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Win a $25 Walmart Gift Card in the Back to School Scramble Giveaway

It's back to school time and we all know what a scramble it is to get everything your kids need for going back to school. Well, a few bloggers have decided to get together to make your life a little easier, We bring you the Back to School Scramble Blog hop! Created by Holly at Savey Spender. Get what you need to go back to school in style!

I am giving away a $25 Walmart Gift Card to help you purchase all those school supplies!

To enter, just fill in the Rafflecopter form below. 

You must be at least 18 years old and reside in the US.

After you enter mine, be sure to hop to the other blogs and enter to win their giveaways too!

Win $100 in the Amazon Twitter Blast

Makobi Scribe and Real Moms Real Views are bringing you this Amazon Twitter blast. The winner will receive an Amazon gift card for $100. The giveaway is open WW. Planet Weidknecht is not sponsoring this giveaway. In exchange for promoting, I have received a spot on the contest form.

Javascript must be enabled to enter this giveaway. Learn how to activate Javascript by clicking here.

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10K Celebration Giveaway for The Kids Are Grown, Now What?

Planet Weidknecht is not sponsoring this giveaway. I am promoting it in exchange for a spot on the Rafflecopter form.

Thank you! Thank you for being wonderful readers! Thank you for helping me get to 10,000 Facebook Fans. You guys ROCK! 

Lose Weight with a Dog

Trying to start a work-out routine but lacking the motivation? How about a free site called DogVacay that will literally pay you to take in a dog for the weekend? Research shows that dog owners are significantly more active than those who don’t have dogs: they spend at least 30 more minutes exercising per week and scientists have found dogs to be superior walking partners to humans as they can’t complain or talk you out of exercising.

But what if you can't afford a full-time pet or don’t have the time for one? Better than going to the gym, you can take your weekend puppy on walks, hikes, jogs, and maybe even mingle at the dog park. If you already have a dog, it's a fun way to socialize him and make a few extra dollars on the side.

The site is simple: you post a photo of yourself, your place, your nightly rate, and a few sentences about why you're a great candidate to watch dogs in your neighborhood. Then, dog owners nearby who need a home for their pup while they're out of town can search for free through all the nearby hosts and find the perfect match for their dog. It's cheaper than the kennel, and dog owners feel good knowing their pet is in a real, loving home. The focus of DogVacay is on dog boarding, but people can also sign up to be dog walkers exclusively.

DogVacay was started less than a year ago by an adorable young couple who took a big hit during the recession, and then boarded over 100 dogs in their home as a way to help pay for their wedding. Aaron and Karine are expecting their first child in August and Karine plans to get the most out of her dogs Rocky and Rambo to take off the baby weight!

SPECIAL DISCOUNT CODE - $10 off your first boarding: SUMMERVACAY

New Snapfish 11x14 Lay-Flat Photo Book‏ - Review

Snapfish has just released its newest product - the 11x14 Lay-Flat Photo Book! I was really excited to try out their services because I've never used them before this review. I found their website very user-friendly and it took just seconds for me to set up my free account. I uploaded a bunch of photos from my hard drive on my computer and used their online photo creator application to create a custom photo album of my daughter's college graduation.

I got to choose from tons of different colors, pages, and backgrounds. I finally settled on the default graduation template, but then rather than using their photo auto-load I decided to create each page on my own. I loved being able to resize my photos and move them around where I wanted them. It's also very simple to add text to any page.

My photo book arrived quickly and was packaged very carefully. I am really impressed at the clarity of the photos, especially the full-page photos. I definitely appreciate the "lay flat" characteristic because it looks very professional. The pages are made from a very high quality paper and I'm just thrilled with it.

You can create your own 11x14 Lay-Flat Photo Book and many other wonderful gifts and keepsakes at www.snapfish.com.
Disclosure: I received this product at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

RetailMeNot Announces "Apple A Day" Back-to-School Giveaway

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Connect Your Home

Connect Your Home is a company that compiles all the best deals on cable, internet, and home phone services to help families save time researching different bundles and packages. Too many people are overpaying for their home phone, internet, and cable packages, simply because they don’t know about all of the available savings, so Connect Your Home has broken them down by zip code and laid them side-by-side so you can compare service providers to find the best fit for you and your family.

For example, you can search for a Home Phone Service and see the different phone service packages available include ATT Uverse Phone, Charter Phone, Cox Home Phone, and Time Warner Cable Digital Phone. It shows you the different packages available for each and even lists prices so you can compare all of them right on one page. What a wonderful time-saver!

If you are looking for television services, Connect Your Home helps you compare and contrast the different programs available from Dish Hopper, DIRECTV, ATT Uverse TV, Charter TV, Cox TV, and Time Warner Cable. Each provides prices and a button to find out even more information about each one. Need home security? Wireless? Internet? Identity Protection? Tech Support? Connect Your Home covers it all!

LaVida Massage of Cedar Park Grand Opening

LaVida Massage of Cedar Park, a new health and wellness center, will host its grand opening celebration on August 4 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The newest concept in therapeutic massage for the family, LaVida is celebrating its new center with an open house complete with free massages, give-a-ways, raffles and more. During LaVida’s grand opening week, August 1-4, a portion of all business profits will be donated to the American Diabetes Association.

“What better way to celebrate our new health and wellness center than by benefitting an organization that provides the same to those affected by diabetes,” says LaVida Cedar Park owner Abhay Salunke. The center is centrally located on the growing North Side in the Whitestone Market Complex (2800 East Whitestone Blvd, Suite 110 - Cedar Park, TX 78613) at the intersection of Palmer Lane & FM 1431. Take the stress off, and give us a try!

Brand New Printable Coupons

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New Winner Announcements

Ali Goff is the winner of the Tangerine Sky Book and Art!

Monique Bon is the new winner chosen for the Scandle Eco Shave and Shower Foam!
(The first winner did not respond to repeated emails.)
Enter more giveaways HERE!

Seizure? Here's how to help!

My daughter suffers from Epilepsy. 

I hope you'll share this valuable information

with your friends!

Win the VISA Back to School Giveaway

VISA knows that going back to school means buying lots of new school supplies. There are backpacks, lunchboxes, paper, pencils, markers, glue, pens, calculators, notebooks, folders, crayons, and so many more  items that fill our shopping lists. Here are some great ideas from VISA to help you stretch your dollar:

• Stick to your means. The current economy has driven consumers to spend with the money they have, rather than accumulate debt. Using a gift card can help you stick to your budget and spend wisely.
• Use money-saving perks and benefits. Visa.com has many different benefits at online retailers such as OldNavy.com and Target.com. For a list of all our perks and benefits, visit our website.
• Track your spending. By keeping track of purchases, monitoring card balances, and checking account histories online, at their bank’s website, you can learn just where the money goes, set and monitor financial goals and better prepare to spend smarter in the future.

VISA wants to hear YOUR tips and tricks for saving money during this busy time of year and to reward you for sharing them here, one reader will win a $25 VISA gift card to help with back to school expenses! To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter form below. You must be at least 18 years old and live in the US. This giveaway ends at midnight ET on August 12, 2012. Good luck! Sponsored by Visa.com.