2/8/13

What To Buy My Husband This Year?


Men are among the hardest to shop for, and that rule applies even when the man you're looking to buy a gift for is your husband. It doesn't matter how long you've been together, a man that already has all the basic things in life is nearly impossible to buy for! This year, when shopping for an anniversary or birthday present for your husband, try and put some added thought into the gift to give him something personal he will remember. For example:
  • Tickets to a sporting event - if your husband loves sports, take him out to see his favorite team. Even if you don't personally love the sport, make it an outing for both of you, since spending time together is an even greater gift. If his favorite sports team isn't playing locally, but you have a larger gift budget for a special anniversary or another occasion, make it a weekend getaway. You can splurge and stay at a nice hotel, perhaps grab a couple's massage, have a great meal, and go cheer on the team together. He won't forget a gift like that, and you will have set the bar high for him to surprise you in the future!
  • Something for his office - if your husband works behind a desk, a gift that will make the environment more comfortable and motivating is one that will always be appreciated. An office decoration like those at Personal Creations can be personalized so he always remembers where it came from. You can look at getting him a functional item, like a business card holder. Or a picture frame where he can proudly display a photo of his family.
  • Power tools - it may seem stereotypical, but if your husband is into DIY projects, getting him a new power tool will always be well-appreciated. If you don't know what he's looking for, consider going on a shopping trip together. If you don't normally pay the hardware store a visit with him, he will appreciate having you along, especially if you are able to act enthusiastic and supportive while he shops. If he is just building his tool collection, there are some key pieces that every do-it-yourselfer should have in their toolbox, and you can consider these items as a guide.
Remember, whenever you choose a gift it is always the the thought that counts. Ensure that you also get some quality time together, as that is most important with any anniversary.

PetSmart Loves Valentine's Day

Don't forget your furry friends this Valentine's Day! PetSmart’s Luv-A-Pet collection has created a line of Valentine’s Day dog and cat toys and clothes. PetSmart donates 10% of the sales of these items to PetSmart Charities in the US and Canada to help save homeless pets.
Dress up your four-legged friend in this PetSmart exclusive Dot Bow Tie. Made of comfortable elastic, it slips right over your pet's head. My Buddy looks absolutely handsome in his Dot Bow Tie. He doesn't usually like costumes but he wore this proudly.

 

Even though Buddy is nearing ten years old, a chew toy turns him into a puppy again. PetSmart has darling Valentine themed chew toys in their Luv-A-Pet collection and Buddy had a wonderful time playing with his new Hippo with a Heart. The squeaky belly was a bonus that he was so excited to discover!

Even though Buddy's toys never last any longer than a chew stick, he thoroughly enjoys them. Luckily, PetSmart's dog toys are so affordably priced that it is worth every penny to see my dog so happy to play!

This fat little Froggy Ball for Buddy was definitely the highlight of his evening! Covered with hearts and featuring a belly that squeaks, this would be a great toy for cuddling or tossing around, if Buddy would let me play with it. He owned it immediately and wouldn't let me anywhere near it.

Visit your local PetSmart or their website to get Valentine's Day gifts for your pets to keep them busy while you make a special dinner for your sweetie-pie! Be sure to follow them on Facebook and Twitter so you're first to hear about their sales and special promotions.
Disclosure: I received these products at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

Proverbs 3:3


2/6/13

Win a $25 Olive Garden Gift Card - Forget Me Nots Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Valentine’s Day 
Forget Me Nots Giveaway Hop 
hosted by MamaNYC / Blogger PR

In order to kickoff and celebrate Valentine’s Day, I have teamed up with a great group of bloggers to bring you some amazing giveaways, which includes lots of great Valentine’s Day gift ideas! This is a HUGE event with lots of prizes to be won that are worth $25.00 or more. This event will run until February 14th, which means you will have plenty of time to enter all of our giveaways. Good Luck and Happy Valentine’s Day!
Win a $25 Gift Card to Olive Garden!
Open to USA and CANADA.
You must be at least 18 years old.
Enter via the Rafflecopter form below!

Things Not in a Pregnancy Guide

So you're pregnant? Congratulations! Your life is about to change. Drastically. Your life, your body, your sleep patterns, your entire purpose for living, are all about to change. This is a great time for you to find a Pregnancy Guide so you have some idea of what is about to happen to you. Here are a few things I discovered while pregnant. Things not in a pregnancy guide. Enjoy!
  1. You will most likely discover, early on in your pregnancy, that smells are different. Really, really different. Something that used to bring you pleasure may soon become the one thing that triggers three hours of vomiting. Then again, perhaps it is something you didn't like much before anyway. For me, the smell of gasoline made me so sick that I couldn't pump gas or even sit in a car in the service station with the windows rolled up.
  2. Those first few fluttery kicks will soon become an internal beating of your ribs and your bladder. I can remember sitting in a college classroom when my little "bun in the oven" decided it was time to stretch out and dig pointy little heels into every nerve ending in my rib-cage. I would sit straight up, suck in my breath loudly, and freak out everyone sitting anywhere near me.
  3. Morning sickness doesn't happen in the morning. Well, it does. But it also happens at noon, 3:30p.m., dinner, bedtime, bathtime, at the grocery store, at the doctor's office, in the car, and everywhere totally inconvenient. The urge to pee constantly happens too, especially when dealing with the internal beating you get in point 2 above.
  4. When you are actually birthing that beautiful baby, screaming and straining and pushing, you might (read as "probably will") also poop. This is also the birth of your future hemorrhoids. 
  5. If you've never had a mustache before, prepare yourself. It's coming soon too. 
  6. It's worth it. (And yeah, that part is probably in every pregnancy guide, because it's really the truth).
#spon

Wedne$day Wealth Giveaway Linkup

Link up your giveaways and enter to win some great prizes!

Win $50 Amazon or Paypal - Three Sisters and Showstoppers Book Blast


Three Sisters and Showstoppers by Helen Smith

Three Sisters and Showstoppers are two novella-length stories in the Emily Castles mystery series. The first full-length novel, Invitation to Die, will be published by Thomas & Mercer in October 2013.

The Emily Castles mystery series is set in present-day London. It features twenty-six-year-old Londoner Emily Castles and her neighbor, eccentric philosophy professor Dr. Muriel Crowther. In Three Sisters, Emily goes to a party in a big house at the end of her street. She's sure she witnesses a murder, but no one will believe her. She teams up with Dr. Muriel to investigate.

In Showstoppers, Emily helps out at a local stage school run by her neighbor, Victoria. Soon she's mixed up in a blackmail plot and two deaths. Emily and Dr. Muriel team up to prevent further a massacre live on stage during the end of term show.

2/5/13

Three Easy Ways to Find Childcare, Senior Care, or Pet Care

Care.com provides a trusted place for families and care providers to easily connect, share caregiving experiences, and get advice. The company addresses the unique life cycle of care needs that each family may go through — including child care, special needs care, tutoring, senior care, pet care, housekeeping and more. The service enables families to find and select the best care possible based on detailed profiles, background checks, and references for hundreds of thousands of mom-reviewed providers who are seeking to share their services.

Win Free Laser Hair Removal

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Master Lock Sweepstakes plus a Giveaway

To raise awareness for American Heart Month, Master Lock is offering YOU the chance to win a trip to Paris, France through their MasterLoveLock.com website. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the Lock Up Love and Getaway Sweepstakes encourages visitors to the site to create, send and have their recipient accept a virtual love lock, and thus, become eligible to enter the sweepstakes while simultaneously benefitting a worthy cause.
In 2012, Master Lock donated more than $10,000 to the American Heart Association and is stepping up to the plate once again this year. In addition to another $10,000 base donation, Master Lock will donate a dollar for each completed and shared love lock on the site through the month of February, up to an additional $5,000. Besides being the month of love, February is also American Heart Month, a time dedicated to bringing awareness to heart health and building healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease.

Visit www.MasterLoveLock.com or
  www.Facebook.com/MasterLock to enter. 

Plus enter BELOW to win a Master Lock’s heart-studded 1509DLOV lock!

Dr. Seuss and Kohl’s Cares

Since 2000, the Kohl’s Cares philanthropic program has raised more than $208 million for children’s health and education programs in local communities across the country. This spring, Kohl’s offers exclusive hardcover editions of classic Dr. Seuss books including The Cat in The Hat, Horton Hears a Who!, Sleep Book, ABC’s and Happy Birthday to You! along with coordinating plush toys through the Kohl's Cares merchandise program.
Kohl's Cares also features a scholarship program, which recognizes more than 2,200 young volunteers each year with scholarships and prizes; the Associates in Action program, which encourages associate volunteerism and has donated more than $61 to youth-focused nonprofit organizations to date; and fundraising gift cards for schools and youth-serving nonprofit organizations.
Best of all, these high quality hardback books and adorable plush are just $5 each. My preschoolers absolutely love Dr. Seuss books and we read them over and over again. I love reading them just as much now as I did when I was a child. The darling plush Cat in the Hat and Aunt Annie's Alligator have become our classroom reading buddies.
Visit your local Kohl's store to purchase these great Dr. Seuss books and plush or shop online at www.kohls.com. You'll be helping your child to read and helping fund important charities! You can also follow Kohl's on Facebook and Twitter; and follow Dr. Seuss on Facebook too.
Disclosure: I received these products at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

All About Me Family Counters Photo Contest

Introducing the All About Me Family Counters Photo Contest!

Buy a set of Learning Resources' new All About Me Family Counters (LER 3372) or download the paper version from their website (http://bit.ly/VI7W4m), create your family using the Family Counters and take photos of them during your next family adventure! Then, upload the photo to their website (link is below) for a chance to win prizes! Need ideas? You can see MY photos on this post.

Contest will run from February 4-July 31, 2013. There’s no limit on how many photos you submit, so start uploading your family adventure photos now!

Click here for more info: www.learningresources.com/familycounters.

SmoothMove Moving Boxes and Supplies - Review

At the end of each year, I buy Bankers Box boxes for all my tax records. I know their boxes won't fall apart or collapse on me, even when I stuff them full of receipts. I'm so excited that Bankers Box has created a line of moving boxes and moving supplies. SmoothMove has a fabulous selection of affordable economy boxes and signature FastFold boxes that don't even need tape.
The first thing I noticed about the FastFold boxes is that it takes literally two seconds to completely open it up to fill it. It's so simple and fast. I have used these repeatedly around my house the past couple of weeks while packing up all the daycare toys for my retirement sale.
They are just as simple to unfold and return to a flat state, so I can save them for our big move in the spring. I'll use them again when we send the boys to college. They are excellent quality and even though I filled them up with lots of heavy wood blocks and puzzles, they were sturdy and solid.
I also received some awesome dishes boxes and large picture/mirror boxes, and although I'll have to tape those boxes closed, SmoothMove moving supplies include an easy-to-use packing tape gun with tape. Moving is one of those things that most people just despise, especially the hunt for decent boxes. Now you can have exactly what you need delivered right to your house!
Visit www.smsmovingboxes.com to order all your SmoothMove boxes and supplies and make your next move an easier one. Use code WEIDKNECHT to receive 10% off and free shipping. You can also follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
Disclosure: I received these products at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

Top 5 Meaningful Valentine’s Day Gifts That Will Change Your Partner’s Life

If you are one to strongly disregard the stereotyped candies and flowers, and are hunting around for Valentine’s Day gift ideas that tug the right chords, here’s the perfect guide for you.

What to Keep in Mind
There are four things to consider while looking for a gift:
- Is there anything they have been thinking of buying or have been coveting for some time now?
- What would touch them on an emotional level?
- Something that has a personal significance to them?
- Something that will create a marked difference in their lives?

1. Handmade Token of Love
Anything that has been personally made will definitely be a special present. Handmade cards, photo collages, charm bracelets, or anything that has a customized feel to it. Another popular idea is to cook a meal, but if you are a walking culinary disaster, then stick to baking a cake. Men especially should try this out. As the ubiquitous belief goes that men are generally less inclined towards craft or anything remotely creative, this would really be a sweet gesture for your partner.

2. A Mix Tape
No, not asking you to put the latest Taylor Swift numbers on a CD, definitely not. Write down a little romantic piece saying how much your partner means to you, past memories, special occasions, something you have always wanted to tell them, and then record this. If you are a novice, and not very technologically inclined, get help from a friend who is. Put some background music (the Love Story theme is definitely the popular choice, but it is better to pick up a song that has a memory attached for the both of you), and add a few conversation recordings (not of abusive fights please) if you have any. You can make a video clip as well, if you have hordes of pictures. Switch the background music with your own recording in this case to create a visual and audio impact.

3. Wellness coupons/membership
Have your partner been thinking of shredding some weight lately? Get them a gym membership. But men, be careful this is tricky territory, your girlfriend might take offense. Unless you're completely sure she isn’t the one to give you living hell for gifting a gym membership, go ahead.
Another option is to stick with spa or beauty coupons, girls adore such gifts.

4. Personalized Gifts
Is your boyfriend a soccer fanatic or maybe he is into football? How about getting him a jersey with his name and his favorite player’s jersey number on it? How about getting a little book put together. Write down your love story, and get it printed and bound with a picture of the two of you on the cover page.

5. Electronic Cigarettes
If your partner is an avid smoker, and you are concerned about their health: give them the option to switch over to a healthier option. Most people find it extremely difficult to completely quit smoking, and no it doesn’t entirely have to do with will power, nicotine addiction is as real as hunger pangs. Not completely forgoing the habit of smoking and the dependence on nicotine would make it easier for them to curtail smoking. Electronic cigarettes do not contain tobacco, and have nicotine laced filter that produces vapor instead of the harmful smoke when exhaled, hence a better choice. Here are the top 10 electronic cigarettes of 2013 to choose from. By gifting an electronic cigarette you are giving them the ‘gift’ of life on Valentine’s Day.
--guest post

Chrome Experiment: OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL

You won’t need magical powers to take a journey down the Yellow Brick Road; just point your favorite browser to the latest Chrome Experiment, “Find Your Way to Oz.” Developed in collaboration with Disney and UNIT9 in anticipation of the upcoming film, Oz The Great and Powerful, this experiment takes you through a dusty Kansas circus and leads to a vibrant land, following in the footsteps of the Wizard himself.


Like any good circus, there’s plenty to keep you entertained: compose your own music, play with a fun photo booth and create your own movie with a zoetrope. The path to Oz also involves confronting an ominous tornado; surviving it completes the journey, enabling fans of the movie to watch an exclusive unreleased clip from the film. Start your journey towards the yellow brick road at www.findyourwaytooz.com.

Monkey Mat - Review

If you have kids, you need a Monkey Mat. This portable picnic and play mat folds up into itself, zips shut, and clips onto your handbag, diaper bag, or tote bag. It folds up small enough to fit in your purse or tuck under the backseat of the car. Protect your kids from crawly things while on a picnic, keep sand off your food at the beach, or spread it on the lawn for outdoor concerts or fireworks!
This lightweight portable mat opens up to a full 5'x5' square, has weighted corners, and even corner loops if you want to stake it down for camping. It's also water repellent so you can sit off the dewy morning grass or plop the kids on it in the mornings to keep spilled milk cups off your carpet. It would also be a great cover for those mall diaper changing wall contraptions that are always filthy. There are thousands of uses for a Monkey Mat!
My preschoolers have been using our Monkey Mat for circle time and for general monkeying around! It's been a parachute, a superhero cape, and an outdoor sun shield for them. Even if you don't have kids, a Monkey Mat makes a great yoga mat, exercise mat, or romantic picnic for two mat.
Visit www.monkeymat.com to order your Monkey Mat in orange, blue, pink or camo green. You can also follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest! My monkeys LOVE Monkey Mat!
Disclosure: I received this product at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

Sweetheart Cottage Tent for Valentine's Day - Review

This Sweetheart Cottage Tent is the perfect pink place for little pastry chefs to make their valentine treats! There's a heart-shaped mesh window plus front and back fabric doors. Included is a darling pink oven with foam cookies, a baking tray and spatula, plus a cute apron.
After a few minutes of adult assembly (and silliness by my house builder) our Sweetheart Cottage Tent was ready for fun. The plastic supporting rods snap together easily and the oven also becomes a storage box for all the pieces when it comes time to take it over to Grandma's house.
Over the years, I've had many tents in my preschool classroom and this one is definitely great quality. The little oven door even has a velcro closure. All the kids (yes, even the boys) have had a wonderful time playing in the Sweetheart Cottage!
The children have made lots of pretend cookies, hosted a princess tea party, and even played peekaboo through the window. They've discovered lots of ways to extend their imaginations and have even "watered" the flowers around the cottage.
You can purchase the Sweetheart Cottage at www.hearthsong.com plus lots of other wonderful Valentine's Day gifts and toys. Be sure to follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest, then enter below to win your own Sweetheart Cottage Tent!
Win the Sweetheart Cottage Tent from HearthSong!
To enter, just fill in the Rafflecopter form below. You must be a US resident, at least 18 years old. Giveaway ends at midnight ET on 2/14/2013. Good luck!
Disclosure: I received this product at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

I Love You Angel for Valentine's Day - Review and Giveaway

Your little angel will dance with joy when she receives the I Love You Angel this Valentine's Day. Handmade by Kathe Kruse, this Waldorf style doll has a sweet face and soft body. Her sparkly wings and beautifully detailed dress encourage fanciful pretend play and gentle cuddling.
At six inches tall, the I Love You Angel is perfectly sized for a child's hands and makes for a wonderful on-the-go companion. Tuck this cute angel into a daycare backpack or school lunchbox to remind your little valentine how much you love her.
Order yours at www.magiccabin.com and check out all their fabulous Valentine's Day gift ideas. Be sure to follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest too. Plus, you can enter below to win the I Love You Angel.
Win the Kathe Kruse I Love You Angel 
from Magic Cabin!
To enter just fill in the Rafflecopter form below. You must be at least 18 years old and reside in the USA. This giveaway ends at midnight ET on 2/14/2013. Good luck!
Disclosure: I received this product at no charge in exchange for my honest review.