8/31/13
Several Giveaways Ending Tonight
- Chevy Silverado Strong Swag Giveaway - Ends Aug 31
- AllClear Natural Mosquito Repellents Table Top and Sidekick - Ends Aug 31
- Two Winners each win Two Bags of Pork Chomps Dog Treats - Ends Aug 31
- Key Ingredient Recipe Reader - Ends Aug 31
- Harvest Snaps Giveaway Event - Multiple Winners - Ends Sept 2
- Master Lock SafeSpace 5900D Personal Safe - Ends Sept 8
- $25 Gift Card to Giggles N Stuff - Ends Sept 8
- Coupon for Free PurinaONE Dog Food - Five Winners - Ends Sept 8
- YumEarth Organics Fruit Snacks - Ends Sept 8
- Green Smoke Ecigs Ultimate Kit - Ends Sept 15
- Mother's Guide to Self-Renewal - Ends Sept 15
- Ruby's Rockets Frozen Fruit and Veggie Pops - Ends Sept 15
8/30/13
Coping with Back to School Resistance
First, you should find out the cause of the resistance to attend school. Could it be that your child is being bullied by peers? Could it be that a teacher embarrassed them in front of the entire class? Could it be that your child's lunchbox isn't cool enough or that someone found out your child is on the free lunch program? Maybe your child is behind the rest of the class in reading or math? Maybe your child's hidden disability showed its face during class and now insecurity has set in? It's time to sit down, parents and child together, and get to the root of whatever is causing the distress. Ashley Tutors has a great resource quiz called "How ready are you for the new school year?" and it takes just minutes to complete the nine questions. Helping your child to pinpoint the problem is the first step in helping them find a solution. Then together, you can find a solution, which may include a conference with the teacher or principal, speaking with your child's doctor, finding a tutor, or maybe even as simple as showing empathy and understanding to your child.
Free Honeybaked Ham Classic Sandwich
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As a welcome enjoy a FREE Ham Classic Sandwich.
Puff's Fresh Faces - Review
Disclosure: I received products at no charge in exchange for my honest review.
Visit www.puffsfreshfaces.com
and sign up for their coupon club to save big!
Find Puff's Fresh Faces at Target stores nationwide!
Escape to Aruba, One Happy Island
This post brought to you by Aruba Tourism Authority. All opinions are 100% mine.
Now that the children are grown, we've set our sights on fabulous ways to experience this new life. One of the places we're dreaming of visiting is the island of Aruba. It's one happy island that contains everything you need and more for a fabulous vacation escape.
The beaches of Aruba offer visitors opportunities to relax and lounge, read a good book, soak up some rays, or swim in the turquoise Caribbean waters. After fully relaxing, it will be time to experience the excitement of snorkeling to see coral formations and maybe even do some windsurfing in the beautiful sunshine.
Horseback riding along Aruba's many beaches is definitely on my list of things to do. Perhaps we'll spend challenging day hiking through twenty miles of rugged trails in Airkok National Park to see the rock formations and Indian caves. Or maybe we'll take a comfortable air-conditioned motor coach tour across the entire island of Aruba.
The culinary scene of Aruba travel shows visitors the cultural melting pot of the island. The combination of exquisite, diverse foods prepared by world-class chefs and fine international wines is just what we need to start an evening of fun night-life. We can dance to live music, see carnival shows, visit the many stores and hit the casinos to test our luck. There is even a barhopping bus! With so much to do, we'll need to stay about a week to see everything.
Visit www.aruba.com to see all the fabulous activities, events, resorts and restaurants, and start planning your getaway too! What would you do first on Aruba? Be sure to like them on Facebook and check out their awesome Aruba Travel Guide app and special deals.
Now that the children are grown, we've set our sights on fabulous ways to experience this new life. One of the places we're dreaming of visiting is the island of Aruba. It's one happy island that contains everything you need and more for a fabulous vacation escape.
T-fal Ultraglide Easycord Iron - Review
Disclosure: I received this product at no charge in exchange for my honest review.
- Ironing will be easier and faster if the items are not too dry. If they are, lightly spray with water ten minutes before ironing.
- Make sure to sort out the laundry accordingly - read the labels carefully so that you can easily work up from the coolest to the hottest temperature and avoid ruining a garment.
- Test whether your water is hard by putting a spoonful of soap flakes into a bowl with two cups of water and mix vigorously. If bubbles appear that means your water is soft. (Fun fact: T-fal steam irons and stations are specially designed to use tap water- their construction resists scale, whatever the water hardness.)
- If you are unsure about ironing a particular item, test a hidden part of the fabric with the tip of your iron.
- When ironing delicate or dark items, place a clean towel or press cloth between fabric and iron. For black dresses or trousers, use the steam setting with the iron touching the fabric.
Ruby's Rockets Frozen Fruit and Veggie Pops - Review and Giveaway
Disclosure: I received products at no charge in exchange for my honest review.
To enter, just fill in the easy Rafflecopter form below. You must be at least 18 years old and reside in the USA. Giveaway ends at midnight on 9/15/2013. Good luck!
Guest Room Makeover featuring Lakeside Collection #DIY
Disclosure: I received products at no charge in exchange for my honest review.
Caught Stealing! Throwback Thursday #tbt
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Caught Stealing!
My family often camped at a Missouri campground. It was the place of many wonderful childhood memories. And a few bad memories. One of the times that is clearly imprinted in my mind is when I was probably about seven years old. The campground had lots of things for campers to do. There were several pools for swimming that surrounded a lodge and a rec center. The lodge had a big tv, lots of couches, several pool tables (where dad taught me to play), and a little gift shop. The rec center was filled with fabulous pinball machines (I had high score on the soccer one), and a couple of video game machines (Pac Man and Asteroids). There was also a snack bar there that hosted the opportunity to play mini golf. There was also a big lake for swimming, fishing and paddleboating. Best of all, was the stable full of horses. I loved to ride the horses, especially on the trail rides throughout the campground. So anyway, when I was about 7 years old, I was in the gift shop, drooling over their magnet collection. Each one probably cost about a dollar, but I had no money on me at the time. About 30 of those little magnets found their way into my pockets and I got away without being discovered. I was so excited, so ashamed, and so scared. When my mother found out, because mothers always do, she made me march right back up to the gift shop to return the magnets and apologize. I learned a very important lesson that day and I had to repeat it with my own daughter many years later when she stole a package of Pokemon cards from a 7-Eleven store!
My family often camped at a Missouri campground. It was the place of many wonderful childhood memories. And a few bad memories. One of the times that is clearly imprinted in my mind is when I was probably about seven years old. The campground had lots of things for campers to do. There were several pools for swimming that surrounded a lodge and a rec center. The lodge had a big tv, lots of couches, several pool tables (where dad taught me to play), and a little gift shop. The rec center was filled with fabulous pinball machines (I had high score on the soccer one), and a couple of video game machines (Pac Man and Asteroids). There was also a snack bar there that hosted the opportunity to play mini golf. There was also a big lake for swimming, fishing and paddleboating. Best of all, was the stable full of horses. I loved to ride the horses, especially on the trail rides throughout the campground. So anyway, when I was about 7 years old, I was in the gift shop, drooling over their magnet collection. Each one probably cost about a dollar, but I had no money on me at the time. About 30 of those little magnets found their way into my pockets and I got away without being discovered. I was so excited, so ashamed, and so scared. When my mother found out, because mothers always do, she made me march right back up to the gift shop to return the magnets and apologize. I learned a very important lesson that day and I had to repeat it with my own daughter many years later when she stole a package of Pokemon cards from a 7-Eleven store!
Free Mickey Backpack with Disney Movie Club
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8/28/13
Woolzies Eco-Friendly Wool Dryer Balls - Review
Disclosure: I received product at no charge in exchange for my honest review.
Order yours at www.woolzies.com
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
How to Keep Your Car Healthy
This post brought to you by Pep Boys and Techron. All opinions are 100% mine.
Your car is probably one of the most important and expensive purchases you will make. It needs to be safe and reliable every time you get in it. Imagine breaking down with three wound-up kids in the back, miles from home, and your phone battery is dead, all because you assumed your car was doing okay when it really just needed a bit of attention. You can keep your car healthy with Techron Fuel System Cleaner and Pep Boys!
Techron Fuel System Cleaner is designed to give you a cleaner engine and when your engine is clean, it gives you better fuel mileage, lower emissions, and maximum power. When parts of your engine get dirty or gunked up with deposits, it actually costs you more to drive. Techron Fuel System Cleaner has a unique chemical formulation that reduces deposits and even allows for better air flow, so you can use every last drop of gasoline in your engine. Best of all, it's so easy to use!
Cauliflower Power Lunch #Recipe
CAULIFLOWER POWER LUNCH
*easy, quick, nutritious*
In a saucepan, combine cauliflower, diced green peppers, and diced ham.
(I used frozen cauliflower and frozen peppers)
Boil for five minutes, drain, place in bowl and top with shredded cheese.
Delicious!
Benefits of Cauliflower:
Vitamins C and K, Antioxidants, Cancer Prevention, Anti-Inflammatory
Benefits of Green Peppers:
Fiber, Vitamins C and E, Antioxidants, Eye Health
Benefits of Ham:
High Protein, Vitamins B6 and B12, Source of Iron
Benefits of Cheese:
High Calcium, High Protein, Cavity Prevention, Bone Strength
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Easing Back to School Stress, Plus a Giveaway
Are your kids back in school yet? Have you had the fun experience of sitting in the school pickup lines that go around the block? Do you wish there was a way to make that morning rush to eat, dress, and get out the door on time just a bit less stressful? Well, then read on! Here are some great tips to that might just help you.
Whether your kids are toddlers or teens, the start of a new school year signified opportunity, a fresh start, and a chance to do things differently. If you’re feeling some anxiety around the all the transitions, adjustments, juggling and driving that usually accompany a new school year, take a deep breath, pause and consider the following ideas for a simpler, less stressful school year. Adopting even one of these ideas could make a huge difference in how you experience this potentially hectic time. Begin with compassion and baby steps as you consider the following:
More ideas, exercises, monthly meditations and inspiration on how to reconnect, stress less and experience more balance and harmony in everyday life in Nurturing the Soul of Your Family: 10 Ways to Reconnect and Find Peace in Everyday Life (New World Library 2013) by Renee Trudeau.
SIGNED BOOK GIVEAWAY!
Would you like to win a signed copy of "The Mother's Guide to Self-Renewal: How to Reclaim, Rejuvenate and Re-Balance Your Life" by Renée Peterson Trudeau? Just fill in the easy Rafflecopter form below! You must be at least 18 years old and reside in the USA. Giveaway ends at midnight on 9/15/2013. Good luck!
7 Back-to-School Strategies to Help You Stress Less and Simplify Your Life
Whether your kids are toddlers or teens, the start of a new school year signified opportunity, a fresh start, and a chance to do things differently. If you’re feeling some anxiety around the all the transitions, adjustments, juggling and driving that usually accompany a new school year, take a deep breath, pause and consider the following ideas for a simpler, less stressful school year. Adopting even one of these ideas could make a huge difference in how you experience this potentially hectic time. Begin with compassion and baby steps as you consider the following:
- Identify what’s #1 for your family this fall. What values or new ways of being are most important to you in the upcoming months? Perhaps creating a calm morning routine, eating dinner together, having dedicated family time, developing a good homework routine or mapping out a game plan for regular communication? Consider creating a vision board together around your shared values.
- Set yourself up for success by enlisting a support team. What type of support do you and your family need to feel nourished and nurtured as you transition into the new season? Perhaps a tutor or parenting coach, a new carpool team, a source for ready-made healthy meals or a couple of back-up baby sitters for monthly dates with your partner? Line up help now and post your “support team” list in your kitchen where the whole family can see it.
- Schedule replenishing nature respites. Being in nature elicits a relaxation response; it helps us shed worries and restore and replenish our bodies and minds like nothing else. Pull out your calendar and schedule some family hikes, a father/son camping trip, a visit to a country cabin or lake house over a holiday break, or a potluck at a nearby park with your neighbors or friends.
- Do less to experience more. In our office, we love the mantra, “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.” A key cause of stress is ambition and trying to do too much. Researchers in the field of positive psychology say we’re happiest when we have fewer options and decisions to make. What can you say “no” to so you can simplify your family’s life? Our quality of life is enhanced not by adding things, but by letting go of that which we don’t need.
- Be mindful of technology. In a recent survey I did, families across the U.S. said overuse of media was the top culprit for derailing their family’s emotional well-being and sense of connection. Consider doing an informal family media use survey (include phones, computers, tablets, TV) and create some clear media guidelines for how and when your kids can be online, play video games or use other devices. Many families also are finding keeping (or getting) a land-line helps with screening calls and preserving precious family time in the evenings and on the weekends.
- Decide how you’ll communicate as a family. Regular, open, heartfelt communication is key to people feeling heard, seen, safe and secure and knowing their ideas matter. Especially when schedules are full. Some families have weekly communication meetings (post an agenda on the fridge and have your children add items to the list that they want to cover), some parents have Sunday evening planning meetings after the kids go to bed and others adopt practices as simple as everyone sharing a “thumbs up and thumbs down” at dinner each night. Do what works for you.
- Designate weekends for rest and relaxation (as best you can!). While it’s easy to stack our weekends with errands, household cleaning, social activities, sports and more, weekend time is sacred. The primary purpose of this 48 hour break is to rejuvenate and restore your energy reserves so you can return to work and school Monday with a fresh, excited outlook—ready to learn and take on new projects. While spending the weekend in a hammock may be unrealistic, realize rest and relaxation are essential to problem solving, idea generation and creativity. At least a portion of your weekend—and maybe all day Sunday-- should be devoted to physical and emotional renewal.
More ideas, exercises, monthly meditations and inspiration on how to reconnect, stress less and experience more balance and harmony in everyday life in Nurturing the Soul of Your Family: 10 Ways to Reconnect and Find Peace in Everyday Life (New World Library 2013) by Renee Trudeau.
Would you like to win a signed copy of "The Mother's Guide to Self-Renewal: How to Reclaim, Rejuvenate and Re-Balance Your Life" by Renée Peterson Trudeau? Just fill in the easy Rafflecopter form below! You must be at least 18 years old and reside in the USA. Giveaway ends at midnight on 9/15/2013. Good luck!
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