Winter Friends Blog Hop

Welcome to the Wednesday Winter Friends Blog Hop...there are rules, of course

RULES:

•To be in this hop just follow all three hosts.(We always follow back, leave a comment)
•Follow the person before you.
•Have fun. Add the linky and or button to your page to get more followers!

I'm a WINNER!

I just recently won from the Freebies and Much More Blog. I won a holiday stocking filled with an assortment of 5 different festive Hershey candy products. Hubby will be truly surprised on Christmas morning since he's got the ultimate sweet tooth. Thank you so much Freebies and Much More for hosting the giveaway!!

Centrum® and “America’s Most Amazingly Energized Woman”

Centrum® multivitamins and Molly Shannon are in search of “America’s Most Amazingly Energized Woman”. Centrum® invites you to nominate someone who lives life and loves to the fullest during the holiday season while staying healthy (you can even nominate yourself!) Go to LoveFeelingHealthy.com to nominate someone by sharing her secrets to enjoying life and love to the fullest during the holidays. Nomination submissions must be 300 words or less about how she does it all with a smile and must be submitted by no later than January 3, 2011. A panel of judges will select five (5) finalists and the public will then cast their vote for “America’s Most Amazingly Energized Woman!”

While visiting LoveFeelingHealthy.com, learn tips from Molly Shannon on how to stay healthy and energized during the holidays. Also download your own $3.00 coupon for Centrum® Women’s or Centrum® Men’s for better health during the holidays and everyday!

America's Most Amazingly Energized Woman CONTEST PRIZING

◦Grand Prize: $3,000 XPERIENCE DAYS Gift Certificate.

◦Four (4) Runner-Up Prizes: $400 XPERIENCE DAYS Gift Certificate
Sweepstakes Rules & Regulations Here.

**Disclosure: I am a member of One2One Network and this post is part of a member project where I am eligible to win prizing. I make no claims about Centrum as a product or it's effectiveness.

Tom's of Maine Wicked Fresh Review

I was recently given the opportunity to review Tom's of Maine Wicked Fresh Toothpaste. It's a natural anticavity toothpaste proven to eliminate bad breath for hours withouth the use of alcohol or artificial ingredients.

• Provides long lasting fresh breath, naturally
• Comes in two minty fresh flavors, Cool Peppermint and Spearmint Ice
• Contains fluoride to help fight cavities
• Suggested to retail around $4.19 for a 5.2oz tube
• Available at grocery and natural food stores, pharmacies, WalMart, Target ect
• No animal testing or animal ingredients
• No artificial colors, flavors, fragrance or perservatives

I was given a full size sample of the Cool Peppermint. I do like the idea of it being all natural, combining botanical extracts with natural mint oils, because you aren't guessing what you are putting in your mouth. Although, Tom's of Maine Wicked Fresh did leave my breath feeling fresher, my teeth didn't feel as "clean" to me as it would with my regular toothpaste. I don't know if it was the flavor, or just not being use to the natural ingredients.

For more information visit tomsofmaine.com to learn more

**Disclosure: I am a member of BzzAgent.com and I was given a full size sample of Tom's of Maine Cool Peppermint as part of a campaign for my review. The above opinion is my own and yours may differ

Hallmark Keepsakes Ornament Review

I was recently given the opportunity to receive and review a Hallmark Keepsake Ornament after commenting on this article (Product Reviewers Needed for Hallmark Holiday Recordable Ornaments & Storybooks!). Thank you Gather for choosing me.

I've been buying Keepsake ornaments since my first child was born with the Baby's First Christmas and it has grown since. Every year I get an ornament for each child for something that depicts there interest for that year. This year my 15 yr old got Jack "Pumpkin King" Skellington, my 12 yr old got a recordable cell phone since this year she got her first phone which recorded her Christmas list for this year, and my 9yr received Ryan Howard from the Phillies. So every year when we put up the tree, we have wonderful memories of years prior and say "remember when?". Hallmark is wonderful about creating memories.

This Recordable Keepsake Ornament is a must have on your Christmas tree. It has background music for you to sing along to "We Wish You a Merry Christmas". When recording you can't be too far away from the recordable area, or too close. When you are too close the words sound muffled and run together, if you are too far away you can't hear it. Plus I noticed even if you are a perfect distance (about 3"-4") you have to speak a little louder to actually be heard. It is easy to re-record if you don't like the recording. After recording and you are happy, switch the button to the "lock" position so your memories are saved forever!

My two youngest children sang, then my oldest said the "Merry Christmas" line. I would highly recommend this as a gift for anyone, or just for yourself. Retail price for this particular product was $18.95.

Thank you Gather and Hallmark for helping me create beautiful memories!!



**Disclosure: I was given the product mentioned as part of a review, no other form of compensation was received. The opinion above is my own, and yours may differ.

The "Community" Christmas On NBC 12/9

The "Community" is a smart comedy series about a band of misfits who attend Greendale Community College. I had the opportunity to view a preview of the "Community" Christmas episode before it officially airs on NBC this Thursday 12/9, at 8 pm EST/ 7pm CST. The episode is titled "Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas".

ABOUT THE EPISODE:

When Abed (Danny Pudi) wakes up in stop-motion animation, he takes it as a sign that he and the group must re-discover the meaning of Christmas. Meanwhile, Jeff (Joel McHale) and Britta (Gillian Jacobs) become growingly concerned about Abed's mental health and enlist the help of Professor Duncan (John Oliver). The group undergoes hypnosis to explore Abed's winter wonderland and soon unravel the truth behind Abed’s madness. Chevy Chase, Yvette Nicole Brown, Donald Glover, and Ken Jeong also star.

My thoughts on this show were very positive. It has originality along with humor and wonderful characters. The stop motion animation was amazingly done with great details. My favorite character was Baby Shirley. The message the episode is trying to get across is one to definitely make you think, what is your true meaning of Christmas? What is really important to you?

**Photos courtesy of One2One Network

Be sure to watch this Thursday, tomorrow, 12/9 at 8pm EST/7pm CST on NBC!!

Find out more about the "Community" , Facebook , or Twitter

**Disclosure: One2One network gave me the opportunity to preview this episode prior to airing, by making this blog post I am now eligible to be entered into a drawing for the Grand Prize of Season 1 DVD of Community plus the New Sony Bloggie Touch HD Camera ($179.99 ARV) OR 10 Runner-Up Prizes: Win one of ten $50 gift cards just in time for the holidays

iCaughtSanta.com Review and Giveaway

I had the wonderful opportunity to try out iCaughtSanta.com thanks to twittermoms, and to the CatchACharacter founder. See the photo above, its a picture of our Christmas tree from last year Santa certainly wasn't there when I took it, at least I don't remember. This website enables you to create and experience Santa Claus, in your own home photos. Creating great conversational starters to those wonderful memories for years to come, and keeps the magic alive for the little ones.

The site is so simple to use, and afforable. For just $9.99, upload your favorite photo, choose from 20 Santa poses, and then checkout. The picture can either be downloaded, emailed or printed for pick up at a store near you. Your photo can also be shared on facebook, twitter, blogger and many more sites. Not only is there Santa, but there is the Easter Bunny, Cupid, and the Tooth Fairy for many more extraordinary memory makers.

iCaughtSanta.com has been generous enough to give my reader a 25% discount off of the current price of $9.99 using the code THE-MOMMY

Giveaway

iCaughtSanta.com has graciously given me 10 codes to give to my readers to purchase there own photo with Santa caught in the act for FREE

Mandatory Entry

1. Leave me a comment below, and follow my blog using Google Friend Connect.

Extra Entries

2. Like icaughtsanta on facebook , leave username

3. Follow catchacharacter on twitter, leave twitter name

4. Tweet about this giveaway and leave the link to your status in the comment box

Please leave your email address in the comment box so I can notify you when you win.

Giveaway ends Friday, December 10th at 11:59 EST

**Disclosure: I have been given a free coupon code to try the site out myself to help spread the word plus with my blog post I'm entered into a contest to win an Apple iPad just for writing about iCaughtSanta.com

Sears Friends and Family Event

**photo courtesy of google images

Extra 10% - 20% almost all regular, sale and clearance items

IN STORE: Sunday December 5th 6-9pm CT

ONLINE: Saturday December 4th 8pm CT thru Monday December 6th at 6AM CT

FREE SHIPPING CODE: SANTA

SAVE an EXTRA 20% early with your ALL DAY Fashion savings pass CLICK HERE

$5 off $25 at Family Dollar

"Like" them on Facebook and print your coupon. Hurry coupons are limited, and are good until December 7th

$5 off $5 or more at Hallmark Gold Crown Stores!

$5 off $5 or more at your Hallmark Gold Crown store 12/3/10 thru 12/5/10 click here for coupon

**picture courtesy of Google images

Norah Jones - "...Featuring" - Available Now

Norah Jones' Album "Featuring" is a combination of the Grammy Award winning singers songs from the past decade, including duets with Ray Charles, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton and some 21st Century icons. Available for purchase on Amazon.com


Go behind the scenes with exclusive video content to see Norah talk about the making of each song on the album. Norah Jones - "...Featuring" - Available Now


Follow Norah Jones on :
Facebook
or
Twitter



*Disclosure: I wrote this for the One2One Network and have been entered into drawing of 20 winners who will each get an entire Norah Jones catalog prize package (5 albums)!

Get 5 Disney Movie Rewards Points Per Day Until Christmas

Get 5 Disney Movie Rewards Points Per Day Until Christmas

Walgreens Friends and Family Event

**picture courtesy of Walgreens site

ONE DAY ONLY December 1st , 15 % OFF your in-store purchase, 20% savinggs on all Walgreens and W brand products. Click the above picture to print coupon.

Kraft Cheesy Spinach and Artichoke Dip Review

I was chosen to receive a Eating Good Living Gift Baskets from KRAFT FOODS! It included a $25 Visa gift card in order to buy ingredients to facilitate my review along with a tumbler, lunch tote, a coupon for free Kraft cheese, a coupon for free Jell-O Mousse Tempations, recipe cards, and a newsletter. My thank you goes out to Gather and Kraft for this opportunity to review.

Cheesy Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Makes 2 3/4 cups or 22 servings , 2 Tbsp each

1 can (14oz) artichoke hearts, drained and finely chopped

1 pkg (10oz) frozen chossped spinach, thawed, drained

3/4 cup KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese

3/4 cup KRAFT Light Mayo Reduced Fat Mayonnaise

1/2 cup KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

1/2 tsp garlic powder

Heat oven to 350 degrees

Mix all ingredients, spoon into 9" quiche dish or pie plate

Bake 20 minutes or until heated through

Serve with Triscuit Reduced Fat Crackers and assorted cut up fresh vegetables

Nutrition (Per Serving) 60 calories, 4.5g total fat, 1.5 g satruated fat, 5mg cholesterol, 200mg sodium, 3g carbohydrate, 1g dietary fiber, 1g sugar, 3g protein

Carb choices: 0 Diet Exchanges: 1 Fat

I did take a picture of the ingredients but somehow my camera didn't accept it but the only thing I did differently was my store didn't have the 2% Milk Shredded Mozzerella, so I purchased the Part-Skim Mozzerella. It was just as tasty and didn't noticed any difference. My family enjoyed it as a snack pairing it with tortilla chips, it really is yummy and satisfying. This is a perfect snack for those on strict diets as there is only 3g of carbs, and 1g sugars. If you pair this with veggies rather than crackers or chips you did yourself well.

Visit Good Eating/Good Living and join the program for free diabetes resources. Features recipes, articles, tools & calculators, tips on eating well and being active, and money saving coupons.

**Disclosure: I received the gift pack with the $25 gift card from Gather.com to purchase the ingredients for the review, no other compensation was received. The above opinion is my own, and yours may differ.

Jell-O Mousse Temptations Review

I had the opportunity to review Jell-O Mousse Temptations. My thank you goes out to Gather and Kraft for the Eating Good Living Gift Baskets from KRAFT FOODS! It included a free coupon in order to facilitate my review along with a tumbler, lunch tote, a coupon for free Kraft cheese, recipe cards, a newsletter plus a $25 Visa gift card. These sugar-free, 60 calorie mousse snacks come in 4 flavors...

• Chocolate Mint Sensation


• Chocolate Indulgance


• Dark Chocolate Decadance


• Caramel Creme

I chose the Chocolate Mint Sensation and it is a wonderful satisfying snack for anyone watching their weight, their sugars, or just want something light and tasty. With only a hint of mint, this chocolately treat will delight your sweet cravings and definitely not disappoint! I enjoyed it as well as my daughter since she only saved me ONE! These pictures below show what the mousse looks like once opening and digging in...enjoy!!!

*Disclosure: I received a coupon to purchase a free product for my opinion. This opinion is my own and yours may differ.

My Attempt At Homemade Biscuits

Tonight I made a yummy homemade vegetable beef soup. I used a combination of different recipes from my "Fix It and Forget It" Cookbook to make it my own. With the soup, I wanted some bread but just didn't feel like making a trip out to the store for rolls or french bread. I searched the internet and found a recipe for homemade biscuits and found this one at "Granny's Kitchen". It seemed easy enough, and the only difference I made to the recipe was adding rice milk instead of the milk due to my son with the dairy allergy. My problem is was it suppose to brown on the top? Or should I say, why didn't they brown? This is what they looked like coming out of the oven....

The recipe called for them to be cooked in a 425-450 degree oven for 12-15minutes. I thought this to be a bit high only because my oven is funny. I didn't want them to burn so I cooked them at 350 degrees and took them out when I saw them browning on the bottom. My daughter suggested I turn them over so that is why they are brown on top, otherwise they would of never....I wanted even browning. They were very good, and the kids enjoyed them....that is all that matters but mama wanted them "pretty"!

So any suggestions??

Smile.ly-Be heard. Be Happy

Join, and be the first to try new products. Share your thoughts to earn smiles, and rewards!!

http://smile.ly/referAFriend.cfm

JCPenney 2 Day Online Sale or 1 Day In Store

Two Days Online ONLY!!

Save 20-30% Plus Free Shipping Nov 14th-15th

Promo Code: 4NICEVIP

At JCP.COM

One day in stores Sunday Nov 14th 3pm-10pm click to print in store coupon here

To save at jcp.com, enter code 4NICEVIP when prompted at checkout or call 1-800-222-6161 and mention the code.

*Discount does not apply to: "2 or more" or Combo prices, Cosmetics & Fragrances, Cookware, Electronics, Floor Care, Kitchen Electrics, Made-to-Measure Window Coverings, Personal Care, Toys, Sephora, Levi's, Outlet Stores, Services, Salon Service & Service Contracts, Gift Cards/e-Gift Cards, current orders, prior purchases or in combination with any other discount coupon. Offer valid through November 15, 2010.

†Shipping anywhere on orders of $69 or more applies to standard delivery to a home, dorm, office... anywhere within the 48 contiguous United States. Excludes taxes; truck-designated items; express deliveries; or in combination with any other discount. Offer good through November 23, 2010.

Shipping to any jcp store applies to standard delivery to a jcp.com desk in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Excludes supplier-shipped and some over-sized items. No minimum purchase or code required. Select store delivery at checkout.

Stylish Blogger Award!

I am so honored to be awarded the "Stylish Blogger Award" by Julie and Adele over at Coupon Cents Sisters ....how awesome that makes me feel!!

In order to accept this award you must....

1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded this to you.

2. Share 7 things about yourself.

3. Pay it forward to 15 recently discovered great blogs.

4. Contact those bloggers and let them know about their award.

7 Things About ME....

1. I've been married for 15 years, we've been together since I was 18 so 21 years together (you do the math just gave you my age, LOL)

2. Love the color Blue

3. I have a Beagle, Max and a parakeet, Taffie

4. I'm very, very shy until you get to know me and me you

5. My whole life revolves around my kids and husband...this is all I know right now

6. Favorite dessert is......Strawberry Shortcake!

7. I'm not a fan of the cold....favorite season is summer, favorite article of clothing is shorts and flip flops!!

Now I pass my award along

So here are the blogs I like to pass the award to.....

The Shopping Duck

Marg's World

Norwegian Phoenix

Mama Bubbles

A Place For Every-Thing

Being Frugal and Making it Work

Bloomi

Coupons 2 Savings

Freebies and Much More

I'm Not Your Everyday Average Mom

Bizee Mama's Beauty Secrets

My Secret Home

bouffe e bambini

Giveaways on Blogs

I Am Wicked Cheap

So Enjoy and pass it along!!!

Tuesday Blog Hop

Welcome new followers to my little blog. I'm still learning the ropes! Thanks for stopping by and leave a link, I will follow back!!

CVS Shopping Trip Today

I went to CVS today with $12.99 in ECB that were ready to expire and a $5/$30 from email. I'm so happy with my trip today. I spent OOP $2.78, earned $6.00 ECB and saved $50.66...never have I spent that little at CVS, so each time I'm getting better!!

4 cases of coca cola 12 pks (missing from picture) @ 4/$13 earning $3 ECB = 4/$10

4 bottles of Gain Dishwashing Liquid @ $.99 each - 4 $1 off MFG from P&G = FREE

2 Glade Candles @ 2/$5 - 1 $2 off 2

2 Glade Sense and Spray @2/$5 - 1 $1 off 2

Buy $10 worth of Glade products advertised get $3 ECB

2 Renuzit fragrance cones @ $.99 each - 2 $1.00 coupons from fb = FREE

1 bottle of 24 ct Advil $3.99 - $3.99 coupon = FREE

Lookie, Lookie I Won Some Cookies!

Cookies make me happy and wasn't it to my surprise to open up my email and get a message from the One2OneNetwork stating I won some Pepperidge Farm Milano Cookies.

Congratulations! Because you submitted a blog post promoting a Milano Moment For The Cure, you were entered into a drawing for a package of Pepperidge Farm Milano cookies and won!

We'll be sending your prize in the mail next week so keep an eye out! Thank you for participating in the Milano Moment For The Cure campaign with us. We hope you’ll join us again on future projects!

Sincerely,
One2One Network
www.One2OneNetwork.com

Here is my blog post about the Milano Moment for the Cure. Winning is very nice, especially when cookies are involved. Thank you One2OneNetwork!!!

Friday Follow

Welcome! This is my first time doing this since my blog is in the "new" stage. "Fun Follow Friday" is hosted by Simply Stacie and My Wee View

Thanks for visiting and if you follow, please leave a link and I'll most definitely follow back!!

$1 Tarts and Votives at Yankee Candle

I absolutely love Yankee Candle with all the scents they have for every season especially the fall. I love the smell of pumpkins and apples. Makes the house so much more cozier when wonderful scents are filling the air. Yankee Candle is having a deal, tarts and votives are only $1 so stock up now the coupon is good until November 9th.

Halloween Candy Deal

I went to Rite Aid today expecting to spend $25 in candy, and receiving $10 back in up rewards. Well it didn't happen that way, but I'm still happy with the price I paid....


The 2 big bags were orginally 12.99 on sale for $9.99 each. I had one $2.00 off one coupon, and $1.50 off the other (coupons found at coupons.com). The crunch and butterfinger were 2/$5.00 minus $1.00/2 MFG coupon. I had a $5.00 up reward coupon from a previous purchase, $4.00/$20 and $1.00 coupon from watching videos at http://my.adperk.com/offer/d30b50da

total came to $26.?? - 14.50 = $11.?? (I lost the receipt so this is all from memory)

I didn't receive the $10 up reward because I didn't buy the "advertised" candy...oh well, I think I still did pretty good!

FREE Rouge Magazine Fall 2010 Issue

Rouge is a magazine delivered 4 times a year by Procter & Gamble, this magazine is completely FREE to request! It’s packed with the latest must-have beauty products, style advice, tips and trends, plus amazing contests and offers! Plus, each issue includes P&G coupons


The coupons included in the latest Fall 2010 issue are:
* $7/1 Crest 3D Whitestrips
* $2/1 Venus Embrace or cartridge
* $1/1 Cover Girl Cosmetic Product
* $1/1 Olay Body Wash or Hand & Lotion
* $1/1 Natural Instincts Product
* $1/1 Crest 3D white toothpaste, toothbrush or rinse
* $1/1 Olay Facial Moisturizer or Facial Cleanser, Any
* $1/1 Perfect 10, Root Touch Up or Nice ‘n Easy Product
* Buy any (2) Secret Scent Expressions 2.6oz, Antiperspirant & get a FREE Secret Body spray
(valid up to $4.29)
* Buy any (1) Olay Body Wash and get a Zest, Ivory or Safeguard Bar, Body Wash or Liquid hand soap FREE (valid up to $1.99)

Rouge Magazine

Welch's® Healthy Start

I was invited to the BzzAgent.com campaign for the new Welch's® Healthy™ Start™ 100%

Juice. I'm so looking forward to this not only because it's by Welch's, a trusted name brand but it

also states that it "contains 260% daily value of the antioxidant vitamin C - 2x the vitamin C of

the leading OJ". Wow, this should be awesome with the winter season coming up when I

normally double up on the vitamin C. I've already seen this in WalMart so far, and the price

there was approximately $3.39.

100% juice with no added sugar

Natural antioxidant power straight from the grapes

Packs two servings of fruit (1 cup) into every 8oz glass

Find Welch's on facebook or visit welchs.com to learn more

**disclosure I'm a member of BzzAgent.com and will recieve a sample for a review, all opinions are my own

Are You Wicked Fresh?

I just got invited to the Tom's of Maine Wicked Fresh Toothpaste campaign from BzzAgent! According to them "Tom's of Maine Wicked Fresh! toothpaste combines a patent-pending boost of flavorless licorice extract and great-tasting natural mint oils to fight bad breath germs for hours. The result? Long-lasting fresh breath, naturally."

Comes in 2 flavors, Cool Peppermint and Spearmint Ice.

Check out their video, it shows how Tom's of Maine is able to make Wicked Fresh! using only natural ingredients while still being effective and great tasting. No animal testing either!

Visit Tom's of Maine to learn more.

Looking forward to becoming Wicked Fresh!

**disclosure I'm a member of BzzAgent.com and will recieve a sample for a review, all opinions are my own

Pumpkin Pound Cake Recipe

found this and saving it for my own reference, more than welcome to enjoy as well

Pumpkin Pound Cake Recipe

*photo courtesy of BHG

Milano Moment for Susan G. Komen

Did you ever have a Milano moment? Did you ever have a time in your life that you realized "life is sweet?" I do have those moments, everyday! It's the little things in life that make me appreciate life even more. The love of my children, their smiles, their giggles, that special look in my husband's eyes, everyday that I have with my father who is battling lung cancer and many more.

Pepperidge Farm is hosting a Milano Moment Campaign on their facebook page (http://bit.ly/MilanoFacebook) supporting Susan G. Komen for the Cure. For every Milano Moment posted on their facebook page in October, Pepperidge Farms will donate $.50 per Moment up to $50,000. When you share a Milano Moment you help continue the fight against breast cancer, so working together we can find a cure. Go share your Milano Moment and support a great cause.

Also enjoy some Milano's with this $.55 off coupon here

*Disclosure: I wrote this for the One2One Network and have been entered to win one of fifteen $25 gift cards or one of 25 packages of Milano cookies. Opinions are solely my own.

Flu Prevention: Protect Your Family

The season is almost upon us, and I'm not talking about the holiday season. I'm talking about the inevitable Flu Season! How do you protect your family from the flu? The Flu or Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness caused by the flu virus. It can affect even the healthiest of people. Some of the symptoms are:

• Fever


• Cough


• Sore throat


• Runny/Stuffy nose


• Muscle/Body aches


• Headaches


• Fatigue

There are many steps to safeguard ourselves from contracting the flu, for example:

• washing of the hands


• drink plenty of fluids


• get plenty of exercise to build the immunity


• get plenty of sleep at night, no burning the candle at both ends


• eat properly and healthy

And the most important step you can take is to VACCINATE! The CDC recommends:

• Everyone 6 months of age and older is recommended to be vaccinated against the flu.


• The flu vaccine provides protection that lasts through the flu season.


• The flu vaccine is updated each season to protect against the three flu viruses that research indicates will cause the most illness.


• You need to get the 2010-11 seasonal flu vaccine even if you got the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine last season.


• If you or your kids do not like shots, the flu vaccine is also available in mist form. For more information on this, ask your doctor or visit www.cdc.gov/flu.

Protect your family and yourself by getting the 2010 flu vaccination. We have taken the precaution because having little ones who are sick, or even bigger ones is no fun!! For more information on prevention and flu basics by visiting the CDC.

Disclaimer: “I wrote this blog post while participating in a TwitterMoms blogging program for which I may receive a small thank you (valued at less than $20).” For more information on how you can participate, click here.”

My Awesome Acme Shopping Trip

I went shopping at Acme today with coupons in hand. Spent about a 1/2 hour or so last night studying the flyer and trying to figure out the best possible deals. Anyhow, I went there this morning with list in hand ready to conquer. I came out with a 62% savings on my first transaction, a 71% savings on the second, and a 74% savings on the last transaction.





1st transaction $37.00 savings $59.78

2 (6) packs of mello yello @.88

3 (6) packs of Barqs Root Beer @.88

1 Campbell's Beef Gravy @1.49

1 Acme Sugar @3.99

5 cans of Progresso Soup @$1.00 a can - $1.00/4 MFR coupon = 5/$4.00

3 boxes of GM Honey Nut Cheerios @ $2.50 per box

1 bag of Nature Valley Granola Clusters @$2.50
**deal was if you buy 4 of GM cereal, and/or Nature Valley granola bars you get instant $3.00 savings so each turned out to be $1.75 each, had $1.00 off MFR for the granola and $1.00/3 for the HN Cheerios = 4/$5.00

3 bags of Grande Tortilla Chips @ $2.00 per bag - 3 $1.00 MFR = 3/$3.00

2 7-up 2 (L) soda @$.79 each

2 A+W Rootbeer 2 (L) soda @$.79 each
**had 2 coupons BOGO = 4/$1.58

3 cans of Redpack Tomatoes 3/$3.00 - $1.00 MFR= 3/$2.00

8 yoplait yogurts @ $.50 each - $.50 MFR(my stores double coupons so technically it's $1.00)= 8/$3.00

1 store brand pain relief @$4.99

1 6 pack of store made bagels @$1.99

2 kaiser rolls @$.65 each


2nd transaction $4.50 savings $11.06

2 boxes GM Honey Nut Cheerios @$2.50 each
2 boxes of Nature Valley Granola Bars @ $2.50 each
-$3.00 instant savings -$.75/2 on the granola (which was doubled) - $1.00/2 HN Cheerios

3rd transaction $5.00 savings $11.36

3 boxes GM Honey Nut Cheerios @$2.50
1 box Nature Valley Granola @ $2.50
-$3.00 instant savings-$.50 MFR on the granola bar (doubled)-$1.00/3 GM HN Cheerios

L'Oreal Collagen Micro Pulse Eye Review

I received the L'Oreal Micro-Pulse Eye as a sample from BzzAgent and have been using it for about 4 weeks.

The L'Oreal Micro-Pulse is a combination of a unique and potent cream with Erasyl to help diminish dark circles and Collagen to help smooth away wrinkles with a micro-pulse massager to minimize eye puffiness. Collagen Micro-Pulse delivers visible results:

Immediately: Crow's feet and eye bags appear reduced

In 4 Weeks: Crows feet appear reduced
Dark circles appear minimized
Eye Bags appear visibly diminished

The product is easy to use in just 2 steps:

Step 1: Apply cream
Step 2: micro-pulse, stimulates circulation to reduce puffiness and bags for rejuvenated
eyes.

My opinion of the product was after about 2 weeks of using it, I noticed that my eyes looked brighter and smoother. I absolutely loved the micro-pulse massager, felt very nice having that pulsation under my tired eyes. I would definitely buy this product in the future.

The L'Oreal Micro-Pulse Eye is:

• Ophthalmologist and dermatologist tested for safety
• non-greasy, fragrance free formula
• found in all major drug stores, supermarkets, and big box stores
• retail price of $19.99

*Disclaimer: I've received this product from BzzAgent.com as part of a campaign for review, this is my honest opinion.

Fresh Express Salad Spinner Game

Play the Fresh Express Salad Spinner Game everyday for entries into the weekly giveaway.

You could win an Apple iPad, Garmin GPS, or free kits for a year (52 bags)


Save $1 on any one Fresh Express Kits now click here

Apple Cobbler

MyRecipes

Weight Watchers Lose-A-Palooza

Lose-A-Palooza is a one day social media event happening on September 14th to help fight world hunger. Lose-A-Palooza is the cause behind the 7 week campaign Lose For Good® in which Weight Watchers will donate $1, up to $60,000 to Share Our Strength and Action Against Hunger.

Lose-A-Palooza runs for only ONE day and the objective is to drive as much social media awareness as possible for Lose For Good by means of twitter, facebook, blogs and foursquare. Every time Lose For Good is mentioned using an approved method on 9/14, Weight Watchers will track the mention and donate a dollar – up to $60,000. To get involved and learn more please visit WeightWatchers.com/LoseForGood .

So save the date SEPTEMBER 14th, and use your favorite social media to get the word out there to support a great cause to help the millions of people who go hungry everyday. Looking forward to seeing those tweets or retweets (hashtag #LoseForGood), facebook status' and blogs

Fracture Printing and Framing the Easy Way Review

Printing and framing pictures is often a huge hassle and can become really expensive really fast. Between getting your photos printed, finding a suitable frame, and figuring out how to mount them, the frustrations (and dollars) have mounted, and the magic has gone away. However, you now have a contemporary, affordable, and practical way to show off all your favorite family pictures -- Fracture. Fracture is the fastest, easiest, best way to get your pictures from your camera to your wall.

I visited the Fracture website and uploaded a picture. The site is super easy to navigate, and gives you many options on ways to customize your frame, from the size frame you need to the color and patterns of borders if choosen. You can also edit your picture by cropping, resizing, grayscale or shadowing. I chose a border and shadowing. You get the option of having it come with hardware to hang on the wall or a stand. I chose the stand option since I'm running out of wall space.

Fracture's introductory product lets you print your digital pictures right onto glass! There's no paper, film or anything involved. Simply ink and glass. We have effectively combined printing, framing, and mounting into one simple process.

It came in the mail very well packaged to prevent breakage, with it being"cushioned" on all sides


Fractures are very safe: all sharp edges are removed, and they are completely okay to touch and handle.
Fractures are durable: the prints are shatter proof (unlike traditional glass frames), and the images will not fade for years beyond average prints



I absolutely love this idea, and will do this again between printing and running out to the store to find that "special" frame my memories will make it to the wall rather than ending up in the "to do" pile.



Fractures are very practical and elegant: you can use them for any occasion, from Christmas and graduation gifts, to simple "Thank You's".
Fractures are for everyone: from avid photographers to snap happy point-and-shoot lovers, anyone can get Fractured!



Prices run from $8-$25. To learn more visit http://www.fractureme.com/



**I received a free Fracture frame for review. The thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are my own.

First Day of School

I've decided I'm going to chronical my children's school days in a journal so I can look back and reminisce. My kiddos are growing up so fast and it just makes me sad.
This morning I woke up very early, earlier than what I have been use to lately. This is what I woke up to. It was an absolutely gorgeous morning, which in turn became a beautiful sunny 90 degree day!

All three kiddos woke up with no problem today. Even though they all had trouble sleeping last night and didn't go to bed till late they woke up ready...well ready as they could be. My oldest is in 10th grade and my middle daughter is in 7th so they were both going to a school that they were familiar with. My son on the other hand got moved to another school, so it was all new to him. I think I was more nervous then he was. He was way to cool to hold mommy's hand when walking into the school...the little bugger didn't even give me a kiss goodbye!!

After dropping off the last kiddo to school it was time for me to unwind so I decided to get back into my workout that I have been so lax with over the summer. I did my walk/run routine for an hour. It feels wonderful to be back to "normal".

The kids had an awesome day today and I think it's going to be a wonderful year for all three, 1 day done 179 more to go!!

Now time for me to finish the mommy homework given to me from all THREE...that is ALOT of paperwork!!!

Barely There Custom Fit Bras

Barely There CustomFlex Fit Bras takes the guess work out of finding your bra size. The sizing system has been simplified from many confusing cup and band sizes to five simple sizes, XS to XL. From lightly lined, wirefree, underwire, full coverage, stretch cotton, and active CustomFlex Fit Bras offer solutions for everyone. The result is bras with the perfect fit every time.

I was sent a sample of the Flex Shaper Underwire in the black along with a pair of black panties. My opinion of the two is the panties are super comfortable and definitely would buy. Honestly feels like you are wearing nothing. The bra I did truly like, looked great under tshirts. Gave the look of a flawless finish. The only thing I didn't like was the underwire. I'm use to thicker, more supportive underwire where this didn't seem to give me as much support. Other than that, the bra was super comfortable . I do love the idea of the easy sizing, makes shopping alot easier!

These bras can be found at Kohls, Macy's, JcPenney and other retailers found here. Pricing runs from $24-$30.

To learn more visit Barley There, or on Facebook


*Disclosure: I have received the bra and pantie from Bzzagent.com as part of a campaign to help facilitate my review. The opinions above are my own.

Fracture Printing and Framing the Easy Way

Do you have tons of your favorite pictures laying around the house, or in a box hoping one day to finally get them in the perfect frame and hung on the wall? I have tons, even still in my camera that haven't made it on print. Fracture has taken the hassles from getting your pictures from your camera to your wall for you to enjoy those precious memories. I'm really excited about trying this out because maybe each milestone my children encounter will make it to my wall before the next one happens.

Fracture's introductory product lets you print your digital pictures right onto glass! There's no paper, film or anything involved. Simply ink and glass. We have effectively combined printing, framing, and mounting into one simple process. You upload your photo to FractureMe.com, we print it on glass, and send it on it's way with everything you need to mount and display. It's a one-stop, complete photo decor solution. Fractures are very safe: all sharp edges are removed, and they are completely okay to touch and handle.
Fractures are durable: the prints are shatter proof (unlike traditional glass frames), and the images will not fade for years beyond average prints.
Fractures are very practical and elegant: you can use them for any occasion, from Christmas and graduation gifts, to simple "Thank You's".
Fractures are for everyone: from avid photographers to snap happy point-and-shoot lovers, anyone can get Fractured!


If I'm among the first 100 participants, I will be writing a follow-up post about Fracture with my review after testing it out.

**I wrote this blog post in response to a TwitterMoms RAMBO alert, making me eligible to get a Fracture picture frame for review. You can learn more about Fracture at http://www.fractureme.com.

Supergirl by Nastia | JCPenney Gift Card Giveaway

Great Back to school Giveaway Hosted by The Dirty Shirt and JCPenny
Giveaway includes a $50 JCPenney Gift Card
Starting Aug 13th and ending Aug 27th
Open to US residents only!


Supergirl by Nastia JCPenney Gift Card Giveaway

Tiny Cinnamon Rolls

Photo Courtesy of My Recipes

MyRecipes

What's In Your Child's Lunchbox?

I just received the back to school issue of Parents Magazine, September 2010. On page 224 it had an interesting article about struggles of packing school lunches. My son has to pack everyday due to food allergies, plus I feel better knowing what he's eating rather then relying on the supposed "healthy" school based lunches. The articled contained some great recipes to help me keep his lunches from being "boring" since this is a constant battle. I feel like I'm feeding him the same old thing day after day.

Trail Mix Popcorn makes approx. 4 cups
1 2.9oz bag of microwave popcorn, cooked according to package directions
1 cup of raisins
1/2 cup dried apricots, chopped
1/2 cup dried cranberries and/or cherries
1/2 cup honey or agave nectar
2 Tbs butter
1/4 cup finely chopped pecans, walnuts, and/or peanuts
1/4 cup raw sunflower seeds
1 tsp ground cinnamon

1. Oil hands to keep popcorn from sticking
2. In a large bowl combine popcorn with dried fruits and set aside
3. In a medium saucepan over low heat, stir honey with butter, nuts, sunflower seeds and cinnamon and mix until well combined
4. Carefully drizzle mixture over popcorn and fruit, stirring constantly until everything is well coated. Let sit overnight.

Now due to his allergies I'm going to substitute some things. I stay away from nuts so in place of the nuts I may add another dried fruit or just leave it out. I don't know if it makes a difference but I'll probably cook my own popcorn rather than use microwave. This seems like a perfect snack in place of chips.

Here's a recipe for a different sandwich:

Ham and Cucumber Sarnie

2 slices 100% whole wheat bread
2 thin slices low-sodium ham
6 slices cucumber
1 whole carrot (served on side)

Salt and peper to taste

My question is what "dressing" or condiment would go good with this sandwich? These are the only 2 recipes that caught my eye, there are several other yummy recipes but I know he wouldn't eat them. I'm constantly searching for ways to improve and excite his lunchbox. If you have any ideas or recipes feel free to share!

Lemon Raspberry Angel Food Cupcakes

MyRecipes

Healthified Peachy Cream Cheese Dessert - Desserts - Eat Better America

I save these for my own reference but you are more than welcome to enjoy as well

Healthified Peachy Cream Cheese Dessert - Desserts - Eat Better America

Why Do Pre-Teens and Adolescents Need Immunizations?

When my daughter was "graduating" from 5th grade a year ago and entering 6th grade a note came home with her explaining what vaccines she needed since she would be turning 11. Honestly, I thought she had all her vaccines since she received them as an infant and a small child. If these vaccines weren't done she wouldn't of been allowed back into school according to the letter. There are serious diseases that kids are at increased risk for as they approach the teen years such as meningitis, whooping cough, and human papillomavirus (also known as HPV, the virus that can lead to cervical cancer in women). Here are the facts:

• Meningococcal infections are very serious and can result in long-term disability or even death
• Pertussis, also called whooping cough, is not just a childhood disease—many teens are diagnosed with it each year
• Certain strains of HPV, the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States, can cause cervical pre-cancer and cancer—every year in the U.S., about 12,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and nearly 4,000 women die from this disease

She annually goes for a well check-up at every birthday so I know her doctor would of had this information, but it was a nice handy reminder from the school as well. When I called to make the appointment, I remember trying to make it a couple days before her birthday and the receptionist said "unfortunately she needs to be exactly 11"...wow, I didn't know a couple days before hand would make a difference but I guess it does. I find vaccines important for my child's well being, and care. We annually get the flu vaccine, the whole family, just because the benefits out weigh the risks.

Vaccines are an important part of preventive care throughout life. Help protect your child’s health by being sure to get the pre-teen vaccines on time. If your child did not get these vaccines at age 11 or 12, schedule an appointment to get them now.
Tdap, which is a booster against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis
Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4), which protects against meningococcal disease
Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which protects girls against the types of HPV that cause 70% of cervical cancer
Influenza (flu) vaccine (annually for all children 6 months of age and older), which protects against three strains of seasonal influenza

CDC’s vaccine recommendations are supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and the Society for Adolescent Medicine (SAM).


For families with health insurance, all or most of the cost of vaccines is usually covered. For families without insurance, children age 18 and younger may be eligible to get the vaccines for free through the Vaccines for Children program (VFC).

Need more information on Why Do Pre-teens and Adolescents Need Immunizations? Click Here

Send a “Health-e-Card” to spread the word about pre-teen vaccines


If you have any questions about the CDC’s recommendations for pre-teen immunization, they want to hear from you. Please feel free to email Jill Roark at JRoark@cdc.gov with any questions. Call 800-CDC-INFO or visit www.CDC.gov/vaccines for more information.


*I am writing this post as part of a CDC blogger outreach program. I may receive a small thank you gift from the CDC for my participation in raising awareness about pre-teen immunizations

99.99% More Back-to-School Supplies Sweepstakes

You could win $2,500 cash for Back to School

99.99% More Back-to-School Supplies Sweepstakes

Homemade Pasta Sauce Recipe | Taste of Home Recipes

*Photo courtesy of Taste of Home



Homemade Pasta Sauce Recipe Taste of Home Recipes

Italian Vegetable Soup Recipe | Taste of Home Recipes

*Photo courtesy of Taste of Home



Italian Vegetable Soup Recipe Taste of Home Recipes