Solar Shield Sunglasses - Review and Giveaway

Disclosure: I received Solar Shields at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

Check out these amazing new sunglasses from Solar Shield. Protecting your eyes is just as important as protecting your skin from the sun's rays. Solar Shield sunglasses have polarized lenses and they do an excellent job of reducing strain on my eyes in the hot Texas sun.

In several styles available for men and women, Solar Shield sunglasses are lightweight, affordable and comfortable to wear. They also have an added feature that most sunglasses don't offer...they fit over prescription lenses! You can wear them with or without prescription glasses!

Their website even offers a guide to help you find the right size and style to fit over your prescription glasses. It's so much more affordable than buying an expensive pair of prescription sunglasses! You can choose from styles for sport, fashion, panoramic, designer and more. Mine are the fashion style with amber/tortoise colors.

The lenses block 100% of UV rays and I was really surprised at how much they reduced glare. My eyes tend to be really sensitive, especially when I have my contact lenses in, so I can definitely appreciate the benefits of Solar Shields. Check out www.solarshield.com and enter to win one of three pair of Solar Shield sunglasses that look just like mine!

Three Winners - Win Solar Shields Fashion Sunglasses - Will Fit Over Rx Glasses!
To enter, just fill in the easy Rafflecopter form below. You must be at least 18 years old and reside in the USA to be eligible to win. Only the first entry is mandatory; bonus entries increase your chances to win. Giveaway ends at midnight ET on 8/10/2013. Good luck!

Solar Shield Online

on Facebook ~~~ on Twitter

#Bloggers Wanted - School's Cool Giveaway Hop

Join us for the 
School's Cool Giveaway Hop

hosted by Planet Weidknecht

and Passport to Frugal

from September 7-21, 2013

By adding your blog link below, you agree to:
Post a dedicated giveaway for this event, from September 7, 2013 at 12:01a.m. until September 21, 2013 at 11:59p.m. Giveaway may be company-sponsored or self-sponsored. Giveaway prize must be worth at least $25.00. Please keep your prize to a school theme. Blogs without giveaways posted by noon on September 7 will be removed from the linky list. Signups close on September 5.

You do not need to post in advance of the giveaway hop, but if you'd like to add the button to your sidebar please link it to this post so that others may join in too.

Please also join the Weidknecht Events Facebook Group at:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/WeidknechtEvents/

Your giveaway post (on September 7) must include:
School's Cool Giveaway Hop button
Link to the hosts http://www.weidknecht.com and http://passporttofrugal.com
Provided linky list of all participating bloggers
Your giveaway and contest form

Sign Up Here:

Enter the Connecticut Summer Sweepstakes! 8 great getaway prizes!

Connecticut Summer Sweeps 2013

8 great getaway prizes awarded

for couples and families

through August 29, 2013

OPEN TO: NY, NJ, CT, RI, PA, MA

Reese Witherspoon to star in Nick Hornby's WILD

Reese Witherspoon

Great news! Fox Searchlight Pictures, a unit of Twentieth Century Fox, announced that the company has acquired worldwide rights to Oscar nominated writer Nick Hornby’s adaptation of Cheryl Strayed’s NY Times #1 best-seller WILD, the book that re-launched Oprah’s Book Club 2.0. The film will star Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon, and will be produced by Pacific Standard’s Witherspoon and Bruna Papandrea with River Road Entertainment’s Oscar nominated Bill Pohlad. Production will begin in the fall.

Movie Synopsis: With the dissolution of her marriage and the death of her mother, Cheryl Strayed has lost all hope. After years of reckless, destructive behavior, she makes a rash decision. With absolutely no experience, driven only by sheer determination, Cheryl hikes more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, alone. WILD powerfully captures the terrors and pleasures of one young woman forging ahead against all odds on a journey that maddens, strengthens, and ultimately heals her.

Win a SANUS Flat Panel TV Mount

Disclosure: I will receive a tv mount in exchange for this post.

Is your family in danger? For many Americans, a flat panel TV is a great way to enjoy family time and entertainment. However, most parents are unaware of the safety risks that flat panel TVs pose for kids. Due to increasing size and new ultra thin designs, today’s flat panel TVs can easily tip over when bumped or pulled, toppling off of furniture and causing injury or even death.

Bringing this risk to the forefront, SANUS, the leading designer and manufacturer of flat panel TV wall mounts, has partnered with Safe Kids Worldwide. By educating consumers on the risk of unsecured flat panel TV’s, SANUS and Safe Kids Worldwide offer safe solutions for families across the nation by reducing TV tip-over related injuries and fatalities.

A 2011 US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) report on flat panel TV safety revealed:

• A child is killed every three weeks from an unsecured TV
• Every 45 minutes a child visits an emergency room due to a TV tip-over related injury
• Between 2000 and 2011, 215 fatalities have resulted from TV tip-over
• An estimated 17,000 people each year, the majority of which are children, are treated for injuries from TV tip-overs
• Reported cases have increased almost 25% from 2006 to 2010, and over the last 10 years, injuries have increased by 31%

10 Things to Consider to Find a Reputable Dog Breeder

Mollie Jones has over six years’ experience blogging for the automotive, insurance, hospitality and music industries. In her spare time, she enjoys yoga and volunteering at her local pet shelter.
Note: Sponsored content was created and provided by Nationwide Insurance.

PUPPY LOVE: HOW TO FIND A REPUTABLE DOG BREEDER

Before I chose my dog Max, a beautiful black and white Australian shepherd, I really did my homework. I took online dog breed quizzes to find ones that matched my lifestyle. I visited shelters and local rescue groups and looked at multiple breeds of all ages, but still couldn’t find the perfect pooch for my needs (and my cat’s). Ultimately I decided to go the purebred puppy route, which meant finding a dog breeder I could trust. After much research, here’s what I learned about finding a reputable dog breeder that can match you up with your new best friend.

Where to find a good dog breeder
As you begin your search for a reputable breeder, there are a few fantastic resources you should consider before perusing directories online, which can be full of “backyard breeders,” who unfortunately may be more interested in earning money than bettering a breed (more on that below). One of the best things you can do is to check with national or local organizations, such as the American Kennel Club, which has local chapters. Family, friends, coworkers and neighbors are also great sources for referrals, as is your local veterinarian.

10 signs of a reputable dog breeder
Once you have a list of breeders to contact, here are 10 ways to tell when you’ve found a responsible one.

1. He/she is very knowledgeable about the breed, and focuses on raising only one or two different types of breeds. The breeder also should not constantly have one or more litters available; this may be a sign of the “backyard breeder” mentioned above, which means you may end up with a sick or unsocialized puppy.
2. A responsible breeder is willing to provide references of previous customers.
3. The breeder should want to meet you in person before you buy vs. simply selling over the Internet and shipping your pooch. They should ask you questions and want to get to know you, such as your reason for wanting a dog, what your lifestyle is like, where the dog will live, etc.
4. You should be introduced to the litter’s mother, who lives on-site with the puppies (also known as a dam); the father may also be on-site if a stud wasn’t used.
5. Ask to see where the puppy has been raised, which should be a clean, safe area.
6. The breeder should be able to tell you a specific puppy’s temperament and help you choose the one that best matches your needs. The puppies in the litter should not appear skittish or unsocial.
7. A responsible breeder won’t let the dog go home with you until 8-12 weeks of age; these first weeks of a puppy’s life are critical and should be spent with the mother, otherwise you run the risk of an overly anxious or unhealthy pup.
8. You should be provided with breed information and the necessary papers to register your puppy, as well as a health guarantee. A responsible breeder will also make you sign a contract promising to return the dog to them if you can no longer care for the animal vs. surrendering it to a shelter.
9. The breeder should offer guidance to help you acclimate your dog to its new home and be available to answer any questions you may have.
10. One of the best ways to tell you’ve found a great breeder is that they request updates or pictures of your new pal over its lifetime. This shows how truly invested they are in each of their dogs.

Before you bring your new puppy home, make sure you’ve already bought the essentials, such as a dog bed, food, chew toys and a crate. You’ll also want to set up a safe room or small area of your home for the puppy to spend his first couple weeks as he adjusts to his new life.

When it’s time to pick up your puppy from the breeder, definitely make sure you have enough car insurance coverage. Driving home with a new puppy can be distracting, so be sure to review your coverage before you travel, and get a car insurance quote if you need to make adjustments. Just like you compared breeders to find the best one, it’s important to read auto insurance reviews and compare rates from a few different companies.

School Supplies - Throwback Thursday Link Up

Includes affiliate link.

Welcome to Throwback Thursday Link Up!

Sponsored By:

Passport To Frugal and Planet Weidknecht

Join Us Each Weekly as We Add a New Stroll Down Memory Lane to
Our Weekly Throwback Thursday Link Up.

Each week we will have a quick post about a "walk down memory lane" or "what if" type of post for Throwback Thursday.

Lisa and Bonnie would love it if you would:

Please link back to our blogs or posts. You will find the buttons below.

The "Throwback Thursday Link Up" will benefit those who participate!

Each post should be along the lines of a fond memory our what ever happened...? or even do you remember...? Please do not link to a site other than your own.

Please make sure you use your own photos in your posts, OR make sure to give credit to your photo source.

Also please take the time to visit at least three of the blogs when you add your link, and share upon your visit.

Please do not link to the same post more than once.

All posts must be family friendly!

As an added feature you may add ONE text link (word; not some obvious shout out) to an affiliate link for a product discussed/mentioned in your post. Example: I remember having a favorite pillow that made the rounds to each and every sleepover throughout my youth. Make sure you make you note in your post about the affiliate link for the FCC!

Let's enjoy a stroll down memory lane; maybe a family vacation or a wonderful food from your childhood. Truly the options are endless!

School Supplies - 

Those very words make children shudder that summer will be over soon. 

Those very words make mothers dance that summer will be over soon.

The words strike fear into new cashiers at discount stores.

The words strike joy into the hearts of retailers everywhere.

There are few things in the world as important to a child as the annual back to school shopping trip for school supplies. I remember the joy of choosing my first-ever Trapper Keeper. I longed all summer for the smell of a brand new box of crayons to open. I remember nearly crying with ecstasy the year my mom finally gave in and bought me the box of 64 crayons with the sharpener in the back. I remember the paper cuts I got when I assembled all that wide-ruled loose-leaf paper into the binder that had to be exactly one-inch in width and no more. The biggest decision of all was always the backpack. It couldn't be too trendy or I'd be out of style by the end of the school year. It couldn't be too girly or too plain. It had to be sturdy enough to carry everything I would throw at it and in it, but it also had to be cool enough so I could fit in. Regardless of the brand, the color, or the size of the school supplies I got each year, the annual trip with my mom was so much fun. I'm sure the expense of four children entering school wasn't much fun for her, but knowing she'd soon have her quiet days back was enough to justify the cost. Each year, on the first day of school, mom would hang out the American flag...it was HER independence day!

InSinkErator Hot Water Dispenser - Review and Giveaway

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

Have you ever stood by your sink running the hot water, wishing it would hurry up and get hot? Ever wish you could instantly prepare a warm baby bottle? Tired of waiting ten minutes for the teapot to boil? Even instant soups take at least five minutes on the stove. Sterilizing pacifiers and toys can take a long time too, especially if a toddler is hanging on your leg screaming. Thanks to InSinkErator, the Contour dispenses filtered, near-boiling, 200 degree water, right from your sink, at up to 60 cups per hour!

The Contour includes a sleek, stylish faucet dispenser with a narrow spigot, the under-the-sink hot water heater unit, and just a few extra attachment pieces. Their six-step instructions make this a simple and quick project that will come in handy time after time. It will also improve the value of your home.

Their fabulous customer service is an 800 number away in case you have questions before, during or after you install your Contour. The automatic shut-off feature activates when you release the handle. The simple dial on the front of the water heater even lets you choose the temperature of your water.

Imagine how much easier it would be to get labels off cans and bottles. Washing fresh fruit and veggies would be so much faster. Fill the sink and use it to melt your hot wax treatments or fill a bowl to soak your tired feet. Your older kids could make instant macaroni and soup by themselves after school.

Cooking and cleaning in a fraction of the time, doesn't that sound fabulous? A hot water dispenser is no longer just a dream, and the Contour is both affordable and luxurious. Plus you'll save water because you won't have to "run" it to heat it up, and that will help you conserve energy and water. Find out more great reasons to own one at insinkerator.com.

While I go make myself another hot cup of coffee, enter below to win the InSinkErator Contour Hot Water Dispenser for your own kitchen! 

InSinkErator Online

InSinkErator on Facebook ~~~ InSinkErator on Twitter 

To enter, just fill in the easy Rafflecopter form below. You must be at least 18 years old and reside in the USA to be eligible to win. Only the first entry is mandatory; bonus entries increase your chances to win. Giveaway will end at midnight ET on 8/10/13. Good luck!

Zing Anything Citrus Zinger and Salad Zinger - Review

Disclosure: I received Zing Anything products at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

Kitchen products are always so much fun to try. In my quest to eat healthier, our fridge and pantry are loaded up with lots of natural foods. These products from Zing Anything are the perfect complement to a healthier lifestyle and I was excited to put them to the test.

I don't like drinking water because it's boring. Living in Texas, water is essential to surviving the summer time, so I usually just add a bit of lemon to my water. The Citrus Zinger has become my new warm-weather best friend. It's very easy to use and comes with just a few pieces...the water bottle, the lid, the citrus press, and the bottom cup.

With the lid on the bottle, I flipped the Citrus Zinger upside down, set the citrus press in, and rotated a half lemon to squeeze the juice into the bottle. It was much less messy than when I just squeeze a lemon into my water. The citrus press has holes in it that allow the juice through.

Then I added the bottom cup, opened the lid and added cold water. I shook it a few times, then checked to make sure it wasn't leaking out anywhere, which it wasn't. I can drink right out of the Citrus Zinger, leaving the lemon half in the bottom for extra flavor.

It is absolutely delicious and the Citrus Zinger worked perfectly for me. I can use lemons, limes, oranges, strawberries, or watermelon. I can also use vegetables like cucumbers and flavorings like vanilla or honey. The options are really endless.

I love seeing all the goodness that floats around in the water, but even more exciting to me was the fact that all the lemon seeds stayed in the bottom cup. I can't tell you how many lemon seeds I've swallowed in the past. The Citrus Zinger is totally portable and fits in my car cupholder. I love it!

The Salad Zinger was a bit more challenging for me because I've never made my own salad dressings. Sad, I know. But thankfully there are tons of recipes on the Zing Anything website and more are included with the products when you open the product packaging.

I didn't have all the ingredients for any of the suggested salad dressing recipes, so I decided to create my own delicious salad dressing. Don't ever say I'm not optimistic! I peeled a few lemon wedges and dropped them into the grinder cup, then added about 1/2 tsp of celery salt. Using the grinder blades, I twisted until they were chopped a bit. The cup can be filled with anything like fruits, spices, and herbs.

Then I replaced the cruet (the bottle) onto the grinder cup and removed the white top lid. I poured in 1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil and 1/2 cup blood orange balsamic vinegar. I replaced the top lid and shook it up until everything was mixed really well. It's suggested that you steep the ingredients awhile, but I'm impatient.

I made myself a little salad plate of iceberg lettuce and sliced grape tomatoes and poured my new Citrus Celery Dressing on top. The white lid comes complete with an angled pour spout so it can be served right from the Salad Zinger and stored in the fridge until the next use.

The Salad Zinger also worked perfectly and my dressing came out amazingly delicious. I'm looking forward to trying out more recipes with my new Zing Anything kitchen toys (um, tools). They cleaned up quickly and easily in warm soapy water, but can also be washed top rack in the dishwasher.

Visit zinganything.com and check out all their recipes and even more neat kitchen stuff that will help you to spice up your food in a healthy, delicious way. You can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter to be first to hear about new stuff!

Somersets Grooming for Men - Review

Disclosure: I received Somersets products at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

The beauty market is flooded with great products for women and it is so nice to see a company offer a huge line of great products for men. Although men probably don't worry as much about their looks and their skin as we do, women sure notice when men put some time and effort into looking and smelling great.

Somersets has a huge line of great products from shaving oils to shaving gels, from face washes to moisturizers. The packaging is sleek and handsome, perfect for adding a dash of flair to a man's bathroom counter. Before I let my husband try new shaving products, they have to pass my "smell" test. If a product's smell doesn't make me swoon, there is no reason my man should wear it!

Somersets passed my test! These products not only smell amazingly manly and clean, they are made with organic essential oils like lavender, tea tree and rosemary. They do not contain any chemicals that can harm the skin or the environment. These oils create a lubricating barrier between the skin and the razor, which means my husband can get a closer, more comfortable shave. And I love that!

My always-willing-to-help husband tried out Somersets grooming products over the course of about a week for this review and he really likes the products. He isn't one to care much for fussing over his skin, but he definitely appreciated the benefits of all these products. His favorite one is the Somersets Maximum Glide Shaving Gel.

You can purchase Somersets products at www.somersetsusa.com and www.drugstore.com, as well as select food and drug stores nationwide. Be sure to follow them on Facebook and Twitter too. What a great gift for the man in your life!

Wanderlust Festival #Austin #Texas November 8-10

Love yoga? Love music? Live in Texas? The best yoga event is set to invade Austin! Wanderlust Festival, the world's fastest growing yoga and music festival, announced today they will be throwing on the first ever Wanderlust Austin taking place in the heart of downtown Austin, Texas. Be sure you sign up to go this November 8-10. Celebrating the first ever Wanderlust yoga studio, Wanderlust Austin will feature activities paddle boarding, hooping, organic food offerings, yoga from today’s leading teachers that include Shiva Rea, Seane Corn, Janet Stone and music from health-conscious artists such as MC Yogi and DJ Drez among many others!

http://wanderlustfestival.com/

Chuck E Cheese's Coupon

My kids always loved going to Chuck E. Cheese's!

Oh who am I kidding? Me too!

Take the family out for some fun and save some dough!

THE FIFTH ESTATE - Trailer Now Available #FifthEstate

THE FIFTH ESTATE 

opens everywhere on October 18th!
Facebook ~ Twitter

Watch the trailer here:

Win a Google Nexus 4 and 3 Months of Free Service from GIV Mobile

Disclosure: I received a phone and free service in exchange for my honest review.

GIV Mobile has created a way that customers can contribute to charity just by using their phones. They offer a no-contract mobile service that is dedicated to giving up to 8% back of monthly "unlimited plans" to the non-profit charity of the customer's choice. Isn't that crazy awesome?!?!

GIV Mobile utilizes the 4G network of T-Mobile USA, allowing users to have fast and reliable connections from nearly anywhere in the U.S. With GIV Mobile, customers may choose from two affordable no-contract plans to use with a GIV Mobile phone or their own unlocked, GSM phone:

• $40/month Unlimited Everything - talk, text, MMS, International text and web (first 250MB up to 4G/3G speeds) on all 4G enabled phones and smartphones.
• $50/month Unlimited Everything - talk, text, MMS, International text and web (first 2GB up to 4G/3G speeds) on all 4G enabled phones and smartphones.

After choosing a plan, customers are able to select up to three charities from eight different categories that will receive a monthly donation. Charities include:

• Animal Welfare: American Veterinary Medical Foundation, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, PetSmart Charities, WCS Wildlife Conservation Society
• Arts, Culture and Humanity: The Academy of Natural Sciences, Archaeological Conservancy, Fractured Atlas, Little Kids Rock, StoryCorps
• Education: Children's Scholarship Fund, Donors Choose, Kids in Need Foundation, Scholarship America
• Environment: American Rivers, The Conservation Fund, The Nature Conservancy, The Wilderness Society
• Health: Alzheimer's Association, American Cancer Society, Commonweal, Patient Services Incorporated
• International: Camfed USA, Doctors Without Borders, Direct Relief International, United States Fund for UNICEF
• Human Services: American Red Cross, The Children's Aid Society, Dress for Success, Feeding America, Ronald McDonald House Charities
• Public Benefit: American Endowment Foundation, Carnegie Institution for Science, Mercy Housing, Taproot Foundation, United Way Worldwide

I've been rocking my GIV Mobile service on my new Google Nexus 4 phone and it's a great service on a amazing phone. I love the wide, clear screen and it was so easy to get started. I just signed into my Google account and I was ready to go. The mobile service has worked perfectly for me and I get a fabulous signal everywhere I go.

I can download tons of apps from the Google Play store, text my friends and family, surf the web, blog on Planet Weidknecht, take photos and share them, listen to music, and so much more. I think the GIV Mobile service, created by PTel, is a fantastic idea to allow people to give to charities that are important to them just by using their mobile phone. Customers can even suggest new charities!

ENTER TO WIN!

I'm so thrilled to offer my readers this giveaway of a brand new Google Nexus 4 plus THREE months of free mobile service from GIV Mobile! To enter, just fill in the easy Rafflecopter form below. You must be at least 18 years old and reside in the USA to be eligible to win. This giveaway ends at midnight ET on August 10, 2013. Good luck!

www.givmobile.com

https://www.facebook.com/GivMobile

https://twitter.com/GIVMobile

Moms - Win a Nursery

Win a new nursery valued at up to $1,000 from Womensforum.com! Enter for your chance to win.