"4 The Pets" Day 4

Next Gen Pet Products

It's now Day 4 of "4 The Pets" and I have another wonderful company to share with you: Next Gen Pet Products.  If you have a cat at home, this product is definitely one you will want to hear about!

Next Gen Pet Products is the maker of Green Tea Leaves cat litter.  Green Tea Leaves is a natural clumping litter made from carefully hand picked recycled wood scraps salvaged from factories that make furniture and/or musical instruments.  Not only is this a great way to recycle, wood has a natural ability to suppress bacteria and control odors in the litter box.  This litter contains no chemicals or artificial fragrances.

Another feature of Next Gen Pet Product's Green Tea Leaves cat litter is that is extremely absorbent and clumping.  In fact, Green Tea Leaves cat litter clumps are 1/3 smaller and lighter than clay litter clumps.  This litter can either be flushed, tossed, or used as a natural mulch!  

From an economical standpoint, Green Tea Leaves cat litter lasts much longer than your store brand litter.    One 10 liter bag will typically last 4-6 weeks with routine litter box maintenance.  This compares to the same size bag of clay litter typically lasting 1-2 weeks.

Next Gen Pet Products cat litter comes in two different kinds: Flush Clean and Green Tea Leaves. 

Next Gen Pet Products also sells other pet products such as breath freshener, ear cleaner, and pet treats!

I had the wonderful opportunity of getting to try out and review Green Tea Leaves cat litter with our kitty.  Our regular brand is Johnny Cat and it has seemed to work good, but it doesn't control odor that well so I was excited to try this new product and compare!  I noticed within the first day there was a reduction in the overall smell coming by the cat box area.  I had worried that she may reject this new litter because of it's pellet formed appearance when she had been used to the sandy feel of Johnny Cat.  She didn't mind the switch at all though!  I normally don't flush my cat litter but I was so intrigued that this was possible so I tried it while doing my daily scoop out of her box.  It really is flushable!  I'm just loving how eco-friendly and practical this company is!  I have to say I really enjoyed reviewing this product and I will definitely be ordering more of this litter in the future.  This is one product you just have to try!

Want A Chance To Win Some Green Leaves Cat Litter?

Next Gen Pet Products is proud to offer 2 readers of Textbook Mommy their own 10 liter sized bag of Green Tea Leaves cat litter!

To Enter: Simply state you would like to win!
*Please remember to leave your email address in your comment if it is not attached publicly to your profile.

(U.S. Residents Only, 18+)

For Extra Entries:

1. Follow me by RSS reader or Follow my blog through Google Friend Connect. For each of these put a separate comment for 1 extra entry!

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3. Blog about this giveaway! Please add 5 separate comments for 5 extra entries!

4. Become a fan on the Textbook Mommy Facebook Page! Please add a separate comment for 1 extra entry!

5. Follow me @TextbookMommy on Twitter and/or retweet this review/giveaway. (You can find my handy retweet button at the top of this post) You can retweet no more than once every four hours each day for extra entries. Please add a separate comment for each of these and for each retweet for 1 extra entry each!

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GIVEAWAY ENDS SEPTEMBER 14, 2010 AT @11:59 PM EST

WINNERS WILL BE DRAWN BY RANDOM.ORG AND POSTED ON MY BLOG WITHIN 24 HOURS OF CONTEST END. WINNER HAS 48 HOURS TO RESPOND TO MY EMAIL OR ANOTHER WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN.

Disclosure: The above review is my honest opinion. I received products to review in exchange for writing this review. You can read my full disclosure policy HERE.

"4 The Pets" Day 3

DOGSWELL

It's Day 3 of "4 The Pets" and today's company is DOGSWELL! 

DOGSWELL is a premium, natural food and treat company created with your dog's health in mind. All of DOGSWELL's products are made from premium, natural ingredients that come in a variety of formulas that are focused on your pet.  These products contain natural meat and poultry with no added hormones, processed gluten, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.  DOGSWELL products are also free of what, corn, soy, and flour.  These products also do not contain BHA, BHT or Ethoxyquin, or artificial preservatives that extend the shelf life of a product.  This creates products that are nutritional and beneficial.

DOGWELL Products:

*Happy Hips - Helps maintain healthy hips and joints with chondrotin and glucosamine. 

*Vitality - Helps maintain healthy eyes, skin and coat with flaxseed and vitamins.

*Shape Up - Low in fat and calories with L-Carnitine to help maintain a healthy weight.

*Breathies - Contains mint and parsley for fresh breath and healthy teeth.

*Mellow Mut - For a healthy and happy lifestyle.

*Happy Heart - Contains flaxseed and taurine for a healthy and happy heart.

*Tummies - Helps maintain digestive health with fresh yogurt. 

There is also CATSWELL for all your natural kitty treat needs for a healthy happy cat!

I had the opportunity to review the following dog biscuits from DOGSWELL with my own pup:

TUMMIES® Cranberry & Apple Biscuits with Benefits™: These adorable bone-shaped biscuits are made with real cranberries and apples that you can actually see, along with sweet potato, whole grains, and fresh, low-fat yogurt.  These adorable biscuits contain NO soy, corn, wheat, byproducts, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives, and are fortified with both prebiotics and probiotics, which help support a healthy digestive system. We believe this is the best tummy-taming treat on the market today for dogs!

HAPPY HIPS® Bacon & White Cheddar Biscuits with Benefits™: These adorable bone-shaped biscuits are made with real bacon and white cheddar cheese, (other brands use synthetic bacon and cheese flavors), whole grains, and the perfect amount of Glucosamine and Chondroitin to aid in both the prevention and treatment of hip and joint problems. The added supplements, along with the fact that these biscuits contain NO wheat, corn, by-products, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives, make them the perfect purposeful snack for your dog!

I was so excited to review these biscuits with my dog from the beginning, simply because I love how these products use natural, healthy ingredients that are made to promote your pet's health.  My dog is getting older and his health is a big concern to me.  I want my dog to have the best and DOGSWELL does not disappoint!  His favorite was the TUMMIES biscuits which surprised me.  I took him as a bacon and white cheddar kind of boy, so I figured he would gravitate towards the HAPPY HIPS.  Don't get me wrong though, he likes them both!  I like that I can give him a couple of these treats throughout the day without having to worry that it will cause him weight gain problems.  My kitty has even stolen a couple of the TUMMIES from the dog so I guess she's hinting around for me to buy her some CATSWELL treats!  I honestly have nothing but great things to say about this company.  I'm so happy to be able to share these products with my readers!

Join DOGSWELL on Facebook!

Follow DOGSWELL on Twitter!

Want A Chance To Win Some DOGSWELL Biscuits For Your Dog?

DOGSWELL Is Proud To Offer 3 Readers Of Textbook Mommy A Prize Pack That Will Include:

* A DOGSWELL Adult Sized T-Shirt

* A Bag Of TUMMIES Cranberry And Apple Biscuits

* A Bag Of HAPPY HIPS Bacon And Cheddar Biscuits

To Enter: Comment On What DOGSWELL Biscuits Listed Above You Think Would Benefit Your Dog Most.
*Please remember to leave your email address in your comment if it is not attached publicly to your profile.

(U.S. Residents Only, 18+)

For Extra Entries:

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3. Blog about this giveaway! Please add 5 separate comments for 5 extra entries!

4. Become a fan on the Textbook Mommy Facebook Page! Please add a separate comment for 1 extra entry!

5. Follow @DOGSWELL on Twitter for 1 extra entry! 

6. Become a fan of DOGSWELL on Facebook for 1 extra entry!

7. Follow me @TextbookMommy on Twitter and/or retweet this review/giveaway. (You can find my handy retweet button at the top of this post) You can retweet no more than once every four hours each day for extra entries. Please add a separate comment for each of these and for each retweet for 1 extra entry each!

8. Stumble this post, not my blog and leave your Stumble Upon name in a separate comment. (You can find my handy Stumble Upon button at the bottom of this post) Please add 2 separate comments for 2 extra entries!

GIVEAWAY ENDS SEPTEMBER 13, 2010 AT @11:59 PM EST

WINNERS WILL BE DRAWN BY RANDOM.ORG AND POSTED ON MY BLOG WITHIN 24 HOURS OF CONTEST END. WINNER HAS 48 HOURS TO RESPOND TO MY EMAIL OR ANOTHER WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN.

Disclosure: The above review is my honest opinion. I received products to review in exchange for writing this review. You can read my full disclosure policy HERE.

"4 The Pets" Day 2

It's Day 2 of "4 The Pets" and I have another great company to introduce you to. Today is all about Furry Travelers, Inc. and their wonderful product, the To Go Bowl! 

Furry Travelers, Inc. is making car rides for dogs everywhere more enjoyable with their product, the To Go Bowl. Instead of your dog having to wait for you to get to a rest stop to have a drink, the To Go Bowl provides an "in car" water dish for your special furry friend. This bowl also easily transfers from the car to wherever you may be headed.  What's even better is that this bowl can hold treats in the base so your pup can have a snack handy!

To Go Bowl has been featured as a 2010 winner of Fido Friendly Magazine's Best Pet Products, as well as a 2009 DogFancy Magazine's Editors Choice Winner. The To Go Bowl has even been featured on Good Morning America!

The To Go Bowl comes in 8 different colors: Pearl, Pearl Blue, Pearl Lavender, Pearl Pink, Red, Cream, Metallic Silver, and Yellow.  These bowls are also made up of six components:

1. Bowl lid (fits over splash guard)
2. Splash guard
3. Bowl 
4. Base (easily fits in cup holder, can store food or treats)
5. Flexible sleeve (so bowl and base fit snugly in cup holders.  NEW - Fits standard AND x-large cup holders 3 to 4 inches wide)
6. Base lid (to keep food fresh when not attached to the bowl) 

* Dishwasher Safe *

Furry Travelers, Inc. also carries a variety of other pooch friendly products such as safety harnesses, travel crates, bike carriers, life vests, and more!

I had the wonderful opportunity to review the To Go Bowl with my own dog.  We take our dog with us quite a bit in the car. I was used to carrying fresh water and a bowl in the car for him, which I would pull over to pour and let him drink.  I can't drive with a bowl of water on the floor of the car so we would have to wait until he was done drinking to head back towards our destination.  This To Go Bowl is so handy!  It stays perfectly secure in my car's cup holder, making a no spill zone which I appreciate.  I am also loving that the base has a space to hold dog treats.  Now when I get ready to go somewhere with my dog, I pack his to go bowl up with water and treats and he is set to go!  I would recommend this product to anyone with a car ride loving pooch!

Join Furry Travelers, Inc. On Facebook!

Follow Furry Travelers, Inc. On Twitter!

Want A Chance To Win A To Go Bowl For Your Pooch?

 Furry Travelers, Inc. is offering a reader of Textbook Mommy their very own To Go Bowl!

To Enter: Simply state you would like to win!
*Please remember to leave your email address in your comment if it is not attached publicly to your profile.

(U.S. Residents Only, 18+)

For Extra Entries:

1. Follow me by RSS reader or Follow my blog through Google Friend Connect. For each of these put a separate comment for 1 extra entry!

2. Add the Textbook Mommy button to your blogroll or post my button in your blog sidebar. Please add 3 separate comments for 3 extra entries!

3. Blog about this giveaway! Please add 5 separate comments for 5 extra entries!

4. Become a fan on the Textbook Mommy Facebook Page! Please add a separate comment for 1 extra entry!

5. Follow @FurryTravelers for 1 extra entry! 

6. Become a fan of Furry Travelers,Inc. on Facebook for 1 extra entry!

7. Follow me @TextbookMommy on Twitter and/or retweet this review/giveaway. (You can find my handy retweet button at the top of this post) You can retweet no more than once every four hours each day for extra entries. Please add a separate comment for each of these and for each retweet for 1 extra entry each!

8. Stumble this post, not my blog and leave your Stumble Upon name in a separate comment. (You can find my handy Stumble Upon button at the bottom of this post) Please add 2 separate comments for 2 extra entries!

GIVEAWAY ENDS SEPTEMBER 12, 2010 AT @11:59 PM EST

WINNERS WILL BE DRAWN BY RANDOM.ORG AND POSTED ON MY BLOG WITHIN 24 HOURS OF CONTEST END. WINNER HAS 48 HOURS TO RESPOND TO MY EMAIL OR ANOTHER WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN.

Disclosure: The above review is my honest opinion. I received a product to review in exchange for writing this review. You can read my full disclosure policy HERE.

"4 The Pets" Day 1

It's time to kick off "4 The Pets". A week long event filled with pet product reviews and giveaways! Starting off pet week is the wonderful company: Moe's Place

Moe's Place sells a wonderful variety of premium pet bandana sleeves to give your dog a personal sense of style! These bandana sleeves simply slide over your dog's existing collar for not only a great look, but also one that is secure and will stay in place. With all the wonderful designs to choose from, you are sure to find the one that fits your dog's personality!

Moe's Place offers looks such as holiday designs, premium collections, limited edition designs, and more! Have a friend or family member that might want to style their dog with these ultra cute bandanas? Moe's Place, LLC has the answer with gift certificates available for purchase!

What I am loving the most about this company is the fact that they donate regularly to animal shelters! Sales through Moe's Place are tracked by zip code and donations are made to shelters in these areas. How cool is that? Your purchase will help animals near you! Also, all of these bandanas are made in the U.S.A. Keeping jobs here in America is important to Moe's Place, LLC. They are also dedicated to making changes to become more "green". This company is not only animal friendly, but environment friendly too!

Watch Moe's Place in action in their new 

"As Seen On T.V. Ad"

Follow Moe's Place on Twitter!

Join Moe's Place on Facebook!

Want A Chance To Score A Gift Certificate To Pick Out Your Own Bandanas From Moe's Place?

Moe's Place is proud to offer four readers of Textbook Mommy their own gift certificate worth $25.00!

To Enter: Head on over to Moe's Place and come back commenting on what design you would choose for your doggy! 
*Please remember to leave your email address in your comment if it is not attached publicly to your profile.

(U.S. Residents Only, 18+)

For Extra Entries:

1. Follow me by RSS reader or Follow my blog through Google Friend Connect. For each of these put a separate comment for 1 extra entry!

2. Add the Textbook Mommy button to your blogroll or post my button in your blog sidebar. Please add 3 separate comments for 3 extra entries!

3. Blog about this giveaway! Please add 5 separate comments for 5 extra entries!

4. Become a fan on the Textbook Mommy Facebook Page! Please add a separate comment for 1 extra entry!

5. Follow @moesplacefordogs for 1 extra entry! 

6. Become a fan of Moe's Place on Facebook for 1 extra entry!

7. Follow me @TextbookMommy on Twitter and/or retweet this review/giveaway. (You can find my handy retweet button at the top of this post) You can retweet no more than once every four hours each day for extra entries. Please add a separate comment for each of these and for each retweet for 1 extra entry each!

8. Stumble this post, not my blog and leave your Stumble Upon name in a separate comment. (You can find my handy Stumble Upon button at the bottom of this post) Please add a 2 separate comments for 2 extra entries!

GIVEAWAY ENDS SEPTEMBER 11, 2010 AT @11:59 PM EST

WINNERS WILL BE DRAWN BY RANDOM.ORG AND POSTED ON MY BLOG WITHIN 24 HOURS OF CONTEST END. WINNER HAS 48 HOURS TO RESPOND TO MY EMAIL OR ANOTHER WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN.

Disclosure: The above review is my honest opinion. I received a donation of gift certificates for the above giveaway in exchange for this review. You can read my full disclosure policy HERE.

Aeropostale Kids Deals!

Right now Aeropostale is having some crazy clearance deals on their kids clothing, as well as an additional 30% off clearance prices! (Additional 30% shows up once item is added to your cart)

Here are some of the deals I found:

Girls Printed Henley Tee: $5.59 after additional 30% off!

Girls Printed Tiered Tank: $ 6.99 after additional 30% off!

Girls Graphic Henley: $9.09 after additional 30% off!

Girls PS Logo Aero Tee: $6.29 after additional 30% off!

Lots of Boys Clearance Items As Well ~ Check Here!

*** The 30% off clearance discount will end September 1, 2010 ***

"4 The Pets"

Tomorrow starts my week long blog event of pet reviews and giveaways titled "4 The Pets". It should be a fun week!  Kicking off the event tomorrow will be a wonderful doggy company that is giving away $100 in gift certificates!  Stay tuned tomorrow for the fun!  

Low Sodium Meals With Mrs.Dash!

Trying to keep your family fueled with healthy foods can be easier than you think!  Even down to what seasonings you use in your meals can greatly impact your family's health.  Take Mrs.Dash for instance!  Mrs.Dash is already known for their wonderful blend of seasonings to make any meal fabulous.  What you may not know is that Mrs.Dash is also a great alternative for cutting back on your own, and your family's sodium intake!  

Facts About Sodium:

The American Heart Association recommends that for every 1,000 calories of food consumed, the sodium intake should be 1,000 milligrams and should not exceed the 3,000 milligram limit. The average intake in the United States is between 4,000 and 5,000 milligrams of sodium per day! That's a lot of sodium! 

High sodium intake has also been linked to high blood pressure.  No better excuse for Mrs.Dash than to keep your heart healthy and happy!

Meals don't have to be bland just because you are making the healthy choice to cut back on sodium.  Below are some recipes of my own that incorporate Mrs.Dash, instead of salt, for a wonderfully tasty and healthy meal! Your family won't even ask you to pass the salt with these ones! Mrs. Dash gives it just the right amount of seasoning kick to every bite.

Slow Cooker Fajita Steak

Ingredients:

15 oz. can of tomatoes with green chillis

1/4 cup of salsa (your choice)

8 oz. can of tomato sauce

2 lbs round steak, cut in strips

1 envelope of dry Fajita mix

1 cup of water

1 teaspoon of Fiesta Lime Mrs. Dash seasoning

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients except for water in your slow cooker.  

2. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or until meat is tender

3. Check meat occasionally to make sure it isn't dry. Use water to stir in occasionally to prevent this from happening.

4. Serve up in tortilla wraps with red and green peppers, onions, shredded cheese, avocado slices, and sour cream. Enjoy!

* Makes 6 servings

Slow Cooker Hot Chicken Sandwiches

Ingredients:

8 cups of cubed chicken

1 medium onion, chopped

1 cup chopped celery

2 cups of mayonnaise

1 cup of cubed American cheese

1/2 teaspoon of Extra Spicy Mrs.Dash seasoning

Directions:

1. Combine all above ingredients in slow cooker

2. Cover and cook on high for 2 hours

3.Serve on buns and enjoy!

* Makes 12 servings

Disclosure:

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the Mrs. Dash and TwitterMoms blogging program for a chance to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here

Awesome Back To School Deals

I'm always one for getting in on a bargain so when I came across these deals while browsing Kohl's online, I just had to share! These are all clearance deals and what makes it even sweeter is you can use the code LOWPRICE15 through August 28th to get an additional 15% off of already marked down clearance items!

Boys Sizes 4-7

* Plaid Shorts - $3.00!
* Mesh Shorts - $2.40!
* My Dad's A Rock Star Tee - $3.60!
* Sonoma Khaki Shorts - $4.80!

Boys Sizes 8-20

* Race Car Pajama Set - $4.80!
* Hybrid Tee - $4.20!
* USA All Star Tee - $4.00!
* Reversible Basketball Shorts - $6.00!

Girls Sizes 4-6

* Sonoma Plaid Shorts - $4.80!
* Denim Bermuda Shorts - $4.80!
* Sonoma Denim Capris - $9.00!
* Carter's Cargo Shorts - $5.40!

Girls Sizes 7-16

* Terry Shorts - $3.20!
* Plaid Shorts - $4.80!
* Soccer Super Star Hooded Tee - $6.40!
* Plaid Smocked Dress - $5.20!

Alternate Junior Varsity Naturals Winner!

Due To A Winner Not Responding Via Email Within The 48 Hour Time Frame, An Alternate Winner For The Junior Varsity Naturals Kids Deodorant Giveaway Has Been Chosen. Congrats Amanda S.

Off In Search Of School Supplies

So I am getting ready to leave and take my girls to go finish up on some last minute school items we need before school starts next week. To be specific, I'm talking school supplies! Now every year I tell myself I'm not going to wait until the last minute because every time I do this, I end up driving all around town in search of the one item everyone managed to buy completely off the store shelves...Crayola Watercolor Paints! So what did I do this year? That's right, I waited until the very last possible time to get this stuff done and now I am dreading going out to get these lists accomplished. I'm wondering if today will be my lucky day and maybe, just maybe, the school supply gods will shine down on me and leave me some paints on the shelf of the first store I stop at. Hey, a mom can wish!

Blog Blast And Twitter Party!

Blogmania bloggers are all about building relationships - between our blogs, our cherished readers, the online community and business owners. We value each other's opinion as we all are endeavoring to make the best choices for our home life. So it seemed natural to partner up with The Lane Real Estate Team and Breebee's blog to bring you our first ever twitter and blog blast party.

The Lane Real Estate Team is all about building relationships through communities - specializing in Kennewick Homes for Sale. And Bree is a blogger - and a mom - trying to think outside of the box and help build community ties in NW Columbus OH via her Kid event website! Our other twitter party sponsors also offer items to help strengthen and maintain relationships - from stationary to hand stamped sentiments.

Our Party Theme: "Building toward Blogmania with The Lane Real Estate Team" [http://www.joelane.com/]

Info on the Blog Blast:

If you post on your blog(s) our announcement between now and the twitter party you will be entered to win $100 cash. If we reach 500 blogs there will be two additional $50 drawings, totaling 3 winners! You can email me @ jeford2012@gmail.com for the HTML code for blog(s) links.

Please return with your specific blog post links on Bree's Blog, under her Twitter Party PAGE tab.

Info on the Twitter Party:

August 22, 2010 @ 9:30-10:30pm, Sunday, EST we will party!

There is a custom tweet grid and a linky for early RSVP. RSVP'ing early also enters you into special drawings. You do not have to RSVP to tweet and win but the 'extra' will not be available.

You can win both the blog blast and at the twitter party!

RSVP at BreeBee's:

Copy and Paste:
Blogmania bloggers are all about building relationships - between our blogs, our cherished readers, the online community and business owners. We value each other's opinion as we all are endeavoring to make the best choices for our home life. So it seemed natural to partner up with The Lane Real Estate Team and Breebee's blog to bring you our first ever twitter and blog blast party.

The Lane Real Estate Team is all about building relationships through communities - specializing in Kennewick Homes for Sale. And Bree is a blogger - and a mom - trying to think outside of the box and help build community ties in NW Columbus OH via her Kid event website! Our other twitter party sponsors also offer items to help strengthen and maintain relationships - from stationary to hand stamped sentiments.

Our Party Theme: "Building toward Blogmania with The Lane Real Estate Team" [http://www.joelane.com/]
Info on the Blog Blast:
If you post on your blog(s) our announcement between now and the twitter party you will be entered to win $100 cash. If we reach 500 blogs there will be two additional $50 drawings, totaling 3 winners! You can email me @ jeford2012@gmail.com for the HTML code for blog(s) links.

Junior Varsity Naturals Winners!

Here Are The 10 Winners Of The Junior Varsity Naturals Kids Deodorants!

Congrats To Nicole C, vhubler, Sue, carolpie, kelley c, wildcat32, JACLYN, Amanda31Gifts, Brenda, and Brenda!

Slow Cooker Saturday!

It's that time again!  Slow Cooker Saturday!  This is a great recipe I like to make for a party appetizer.  So yummy!

Sweet 'N Tangy Meatballs

Ingredients: 

1 1/2 lbs. ground beef

1/4 Cup plain dry bread crumbs

3 Tbsp prepared mustard

1 tsp Italian dry seasoning

3/4 Cup water

1/4 Cup ketchup

2 Tbsp honey

1 Tbsp hot sauce (your choice)

3/4 oz. pkg. brown gravy mix

Directions:

1) Combine ground beef, bread crumbs, mustard, and Italian seasoning.  Shape into 1-inch balls.  Bake or microwave until cooked. Drain. Place meatballs in slow cooker.

2) Cover. Cook on low 3 hours.

3) Combine remaining ingredients in saucepan.  Cook for 5 minutes. Pour over meatballs. 

4) Cover. Cook on low 2 hours.

5) Enjoy!

* Makes 8 main dish sized servings

I Scream For Ice Cream!

It's official...I need an ice cream intervention!  Yesterday I received via UPS a package of different Weight Watcher ice cream I won in a blog giveaway at WorkoutMommyReviews.com and it is to die for!  I'm trying to lose about 15 pounds so I have been carefully watching what I eat, along with some exercise.  I figured this stuff would have a diet taste, and I was willing to live with that as long as I could have the words diet and ice cream go together hand in hand.  Amazingly I cannot tell this is diet ice cream. This may or may not be a bad thing...I haven't figured that out yet! :)  All I know is I am finding a couple times a day where I give myself an excuse to grab some from the freezer.  If my diet continues to be this exciting I may actually lose the weight this time around. Hooray!

Check Out BedBathStore.com!

* Brought to you by your friends at [www.bedbathstore.com]

If you haven't had the pleasure of visiting their site before, I encourage you to check out the deals you are missing at BedBathStore.com!  This online store has you covered with everything you need to decorate and love any bedroom or bathroom.  If you are looking for even bigger discounts, this store has a clearance section with crazy low discounts!  

One of their great deals going on right now is for Crib Bedding!  I remember how expensive it was when my children were babies and I had to shop for this.  BedBathStore.com is offering crib bedding at discounts as low as $9.99 per piece and up!  That's a pretty darn good discount if you ask me!

Another great deal this store has going on right now is their Teen Bedding!  We all know how expensive teens are. Thankfully, BedBathStore.com makes it easy to save!  After looking around at their selection, I'm jealous!  I didn't have such cute and stylish bedding when I was a teen.  These pieces are a great buy starting at $19.99 a piece and up!

Last but not least I want to tell you about their Kids Rugs!  A great finishing touch to any child's room, kids rugs make a room just look complete in my opinion.  I remember buying my kid's rugs and they were pretty pricey.  No matter where I looked for them, it seemed for a small rug I was being asked to pay an outrageous price!  At BedBathStore.com you don't have to pay those prices!  They have an awesome collection of kids rugs starting at just $16.99.  Now that's a deal!  

After finding out about BedBathStore.com I will definitely return for some of my household decor purchases. I am always looking for a deal with a six person household, so this site was like hitting the jackpot!  Like I mentioned earlier, their clearance section is also a must see!  I even noticed some great gift ideas there to come back and check out!  I hope you all get a chance to check out what I think is a site worth looking at.

"4 The Pets" Is Almost Here!

Just wanted to remind my readers that my week long event "4 The Pets" is almost here!  From August 28th - September 3rd I will be posting reviews and giveaways for our furry friends!  I have some great sponsors to bring you and I hope you will join me for this fun filled week! 

Necklace Necessities Winner!

Congrats To Penny Who Won The Necklace Necessities Giveaway!

Win A Weekend Stay At Any Hampton Hotel!

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hampton Hotels. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hampton Chain of Friends Sweepstakes

 

Want to win a weekend stay at any Hampton Hotel?  Right now Hampton is having a daily giveaway of a free weekend stay at your choice of any Hampton Hotel!  That's correct folks! You can choose any Hampton Hotel if you win! Enter by clicking HERE! Let's face it, who couldn't use a weekend getaway?

 

I'm entering this one myself and if I win I am taking the whole family on a road trip to California! There are so many Hampton Hotels to choose from, the question is which one would we stay at?  I have narrowed my choice down to the San Diego/Del Mar Hampton Hotel which can be seen HERE! This hotel is not only posh looking, it also offers free wireless high speed internet, free shuttle service, and a nice sized outdoor swimming pool! Where would you choose to go if you won the weekend getaway?  What Hampton hotel in that area catches your eye?

 

Whether you want to take friends, family, or choose to have a solo getaway if you win, you can't pass up a chance to win this one!  With a total of 100 rooms being given away, you have a great shot at a great weekend vacation! What are you waiting for?  Head on over and enter to win!

 

 

 

 

List Of Teacher Freebies!

Here is a great list of freebies for teachers!  These can also be great resources for those who homeschool as well!

Scholastic Free Scholastic WiggleWorks Game Demo CD for Schools.

C-Span Classroom Free American Presidents Timeline Poster for teachers.

A&E Television Networks Free Idea Book for Educators is the biannual teacher's magazine created by the Education Department at A&E Television Networks.

How LEGO Smart are your students? The 2010 LEGO Smart Creativity Contest requires the use of a LEGO Smart kit. Kits are available, free of charge, to the first 10,000 new, registered, and qualified contestants.

Yoga Health FREE Yoga-Recess DVD (only for school teachers for use in classrooms).

Free Poster Hang one of our beautiful destination posters in your classroom and inspire your students to explore the global classroom.

Student Group Tour Magazine Is a publication for individuals, educators and organizations actively planning trips for student groups.

AppleEngine.com Is a search engine of the best free usable resources for teachers. Teachers search by keyword, grade, or subject to find the best free lesson plans, worksheets, videos, and games on the web. All search results are guaranteed to be free and teacher approved.

Subway Kids Free Get Fit Kit for kids from subway-Teachers and homeschoolers.

Teachers Count Get a free “Behind Every Famous Person is a Fabulous Teacher” poster.

Clorox Get a free canister of disinfecting wipes for your classroom.

Pryor Mustangs The Pryor Mountain Wild Mustang Center has produced an interactive DVD with an educators' supplement. This unique educational packet is available – free of charge – to any school district or home school upon request. The program is designed to meet National Science Standards and can be adapted to any grade level.

Free Worksheets for Teachers Free printable elementary school worksheets. Includes math worksheets, grammar worksheets, handwriting practice, spelling lists, math games, multiplication drills, and so much more.

Think Green Thinking green in your classroom? Share your feedback and we'll send you a FREE reusable tote bag.

Get Two Free $25.00 Staples Gift Card One for you and one for your school when your school signs up to participate and is new to the program

Space thrills poster from NASA This poster for K-4 students uses reading and writing activities to teach students about the solar system.

Environment DVD Free Once Upon a Tide DVD for Teachers.

FREE Feed the Pig for Tweens kit(s) Feed the Pig for Tweens is a financial literacy program for grades 4-6.

National Dairy Council Free School Wellness Activation Kit for Teachers.

Environmental Education Free Environmental Education Activity Kit, Mousepad. more.

FREE PRINTABLES Free and ready to print! No catch. Freeology.com provides lots of free graphic 

organizers, worksheets, certificates, forms for teachers, journal topics, and links to free teaching resources.

History Channel Free History Manuals for Teachers.

HSE Free Issue of Home School Enrichment Magazine.

Colgate Free Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures Kit For Kindergarten Teachers.

Seagrant Happy to send you a bookmark for each student in your class.

TradePub FREE Trade Magazine Subscriptions. No hidden or trial offers, and no purchase necessary. Publications are absolutely free to professionals who qualify.

TIMESAVERS for TEACHERS.com WORLD’S LARGEST and most COMPLETE collection of READY-TO-USE, printable, attractive OFTEN-USED teacher FORMS, worksheets, checklists, masters and downloadable timesaving ideas. FREE forms... DOWNLOAD IMMEDIATELY!"

Microsoft Educate your students, faculty, and staff on the simple steps they can take to protect their PCs. Download the posters from the links below, or place an order and we’ll send you a 3-poster kit (75 posters total) entirely free of charge.

Today's School FREE SUBSCRIPTION to Today's School magazine for qualified educators.

Starfall Free Books for Kindergarten to grade 2.

Computers for Learning The CFL website connects the registered needs of schools and educational nonprofit organizations with available Government computer equipment.

Koko's Kid Club TGF/Koko.org has a Teacher's Info Package, full of gorilla facts and information about Koko, Michael and Ndume.

Monkey Monkey Music "What Are The Odds" Winner!

Congrats To Benita who won the Monkey Monkey Music "What Are The Odds" Giveaway!

Glidden Paint

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Glidden. All opinions are 100% mine.

Glidden

 If you're getting ready to do some painting around the house like I am, you should know about Glidden paint! Found at your local Home Depot, Glidden paint is the way to go for perfect coverage and overall appearance.  I'm getting ready to repaint my daughter's room and I know this paint is my ticket to a perfect look!  What's fun is you can even go to the Glidden website at www.Glidden.com and check out all their wonderful array of colors right from your computer before you head out to buy some!  My daughter and I decided on the color Lilac Shimmer. I think it's going to be perfect for her Tinkerbell themed room!

Glidden Paint wants you to take a colorful test drive of their Glidden Ready-To-Go Paint Testers!  What's so great about these paint testers you might ask?  For starters, these paint testers come with a handy mini brush built right into the lid, making trying before you commit to buying simple, easy, and fun!  You can also purchase these testers to match your Glidden paint for easy touch ups. If you have kids like me you know how handy these would be for lets say crayon or permanent marker art.

Glidden makes it easy to find an array of great projects using their Top 10 Color Palettes and XL Paint Chips!  These larger paint chips help you experience your color in your room's unique lighting.  I would recommend checking out the Glidden Room Painter to see how Glidden makes color easy at: 

http://bit.ly/bjLb2u

Make sure you also check out Glidden's high quality  paint photos here:

http://izea.com/contest-rules-regulations/glidden-paint-assets/

Also make sure to watch @Glidden_Paint on Twitter for fun tweets!

Trying To Stretch The Summer!

I finally admitted to myself today that I am indeed sad to see this summer go.  I've been trying to enjoy it as much as possible. We've been packing fun into almost every moment with activities like swimming, hiking, road trips, etc.  I have found myself on more than a couple occassions amongst the sibling spats, tattling, and at times what I would call "utter chaos" that all I needed was for back to school to come a little faster.  Now that it's just around the corner I am wishing I could live this summer all over again. 

This year is especially emotional for me as a mom because my oldest is going into middle school and my youngest two (the twins) are going into 1st grade so they will be in full day school this year.  I remember the sleepless nights with each of them as babies and how people would always say to enjoy it because they grow up too quick.  Well...They really do!  Now I find myself telling that to other moms.  I just can't believe how fast it all flies by!  I'm feeling the sharing of nervousness of my oldest with going to middle school, surrounded by older kids in a whole new setting that to her age feels like a small town!  I'm feeling as a mom the anticipation but uneasiness of what is around the corner for them in the coming years of their life.  So for now at least, I'm just going to sit back and relax while I try to stretch the summer!