28 December 2011

Chore Charts for Kids


There's no better way to motivate and keep your kids on track then with a handy and organizational chore chart!  After the hustle and bustle of the holidays, things can seem a little out of tune around the home, and that's where getting everyone back on track with an organized agenda is key.  Kids have proven to have better behavior and personal organization when there is an expected schedule for the home.  Chore charts are a great way to help everyone get back on track!

Goalforit.com has a wonderful chart system that can be used by the whole family.  Not just specializing in chore charts, they also offer behavior and goal setting charts, as well as to do lists.  Goalforit.com recommends the one key thing to remember when using a chore chart, is to keep your expectations.  We all know how it can be when our children just don't feel like doing their chores.  The one thing that is key in this situation is consistency from you, their parent.  It helps both sides know what to expect.


A great way to get children involved in the chore chart process is to ask them what chores they would prefer.  If you have more than one child, the children can pick and choose who gets what.  Maybe one child prefers doing dishes, while the other prefers folding laundry.  Getting them involved with an opinion in the process helps it start off on good footing.

So what about rewards?  Depending on the age of your children and how you personally want to go about it, rewards can help make chores less of a hassle and give your children something to look forward to after the work is finished.  Younger children especially seem to benefit from a rewards system for things like stickers, candies, small toys, etc.  If your children are older, their reward can be in the form of allowance.

I have to say that Goalforit.com is a great tool for getting your family on track and organized. They not only offer the tools to implement in your own home, they offer tips and advice to keep things running smoothly.  I know around my home, my four girls work better when expectations are laid out and followed through.  Though they are still younger and don't have too many responsibilities as far as chores go, they know what needs to be done and that they will get rewarded for their hard work.  I think chore charts are great for any family!


*Disclosure:  I wrote this post on behalf of Goalforit.com, in partnership with BSM Media.  I was compensated for my time regarding this post.  All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine and are not a result of any outside influence.

26 December 2011

Aerobie Megatop Review and Giveaway



Aerobie has a brand new product called the Megatop and it is fun for the whole family!  Be warned, this isn't your average run of the mill top!  It's better!  Crafted to enable the longest spins, you and your family will be sure to have hours of fun with the Megatop.  The Megatop comes with a quick launch accelorater that easily acheives 3000+ RPM spin rates!  Enjoy various tricks and games with your Aerobie Megatop to increase the fun.  The Megatop also comes with a catching plate for catching, throwing, and balancing tricks.  Aerobie products are proudly made in the U.S.A.


 * You can purchase the Aerobie Megatop on Amazon here!
I had the fun opportunity to review the Aerobie Megatop with my kiddos and we had a blast!  I had previously reviewed the Aerobie Skylighter Disc, so I knew this new product was going to be good, coming from Aerobie.  This product does not disappoint.  The Megatop honestly makes your average spinning top look weak, no lies!  The kids and I just loved all the tricks you could do with it, as well as seeing who could get it to spin the longest!  We've had a lot of rainy days around here lately, and this has been a fun toy to play with indoors.  I encourage you to watch the above video so you can see this top in action.  This would make a great addition to any household and also makes a great gift idea for the kids.  This product is going to continue to provide hours of fun at my house.

{ My daughter keeping the spins going! }


{ Everything the Aerobie Megatop comes with! }



*Disclosure:  I was provided a sample product from the above named company in exchange for my personal review.  All opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and are not a result of any outside influence.


Want to win an Aerobie Megatop?

 * 1 Lucky Winner Is Going To Receive One! *
Mandatory Entry:  Leave a blog post comment with your favorite childhood game or toy!

Extra Entries:  Please see Rafflecopter below for ways you can gain extra entries.

Details:  Giveaway Ends: January 6, 2011 at Midnight EST.  Giveaway open to US residents only, 18 years of age and up.  Only one entry per household please!  Winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning email or an alternate winner will be chosen.


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21 December 2011

Piczzle Review And Giveaway




Piczzle

Piczzle is a wonderful company that specializes in custom jigsaw puzzles made from your own photos.  Made from only the finest materials and with the up most quality, Piczzle makes a wonderful keepsake for yourself, or as a special gift for a loved one.  All of Piczzle's puzzles are made with premium grade cardboard and laminated with a glossy finish.  You can choose from different puzzle shapes, my favorite being the heart!

I had the unique opportunity to review a custom Piczzle puzzle and share my thoughts with all of you, my readers!  I chose to create a puzzle out of a great group shot of the girls, to use as a special holiday gift for their Grandma.  I was even able to add my own text to the puzzle, which I thought was a great idea.  I chose to add "We Love You Grandma!" to the puzzle I created.  Piczzle sent my custom puzzle creation with great care and I like that I was able to preview the completed puzzle with the finished image and text shown right on the outside of the box!  I think this is just the neatest idea and is a wonderful choice for a personalized and unique gift option.  This mom gives it two thumbs up!

Connect With Piczzle:

 Want a chance to win your own custom Piczzle puzzle?


Mandatory Entry:  Please visit Piczzle and leave a blog comment with your favorite puzzle shape and/or design.

Extra Entries:  Please see Rafflecopter below for additional ways to gain entries!

Details:  Puzzle shape and/or design to be determined by sponsor. Giveaway ends:  December 26, 2012 at 12:00 AM EST.  Giveaway open to U.S. residents only, 18 years of age and over.  Winner has 48 hours to respond to winning email or an alternate winner will be selected.  Good luck!

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.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sponsored by Tomoson.com

19 December 2011

Deck The Halls With Teleflora!



Teleflora helps make your holidays full of cheer and delight with their wonderful winter holiday themed floral bouquets, gifts, decorations, and more!  Whether you want to send a loved one something special, or just treat yourself to some lovely decor, Teleflora has you covered this season.

With Teleflora, you can enjoy same day delivery on all holiday bouquets.  I personally love this feature for last minute gifts!  For more than 75 years, Teleflora has been a reliable source for the freshest flowers and top notch customer service.  Teleflora guarantees satisfaction with every order, so you know they are going to deliver only the best for you and yours.

Faith Hill - Colors of Christmas Centerpiece


Teleflora has the most beautiful selection of  floral bouquets and centerpieces.  You will be sure to get rave reviews this holiday season with one of their signature holiday arrangements.  A perfect gift that you can't go wrong on is sending flowers by mail for that special occasion.  This holiday season is no exception!  


Classic Holiday Wreath


If you want to send an alternative to floral bouquets, Teleflora has a beautiful selection of Christmas decorations to spruce up any home.  Their Classic Holiday Wreath is gorgeous!  They also carry beautiful hand picked floral baskets, festive mini holiday trees, and more.  


Tannenbaum Basket


 I have personally been the recipient of a Teleflora arrangement before and I can say that the flowers I received were fresh and hand arranged perfectly.  I think floral arrangements are a perfect gift, especially for the holidays.  I would personally recommend Teleflora for the best flowers and gifts.  It's such a delight to receive or give one of their beautiful items.




Connect With Teleflora:




Disclosure: This promotional sponsored post was made possible by Mom Spark Media. I was compensated for my time investment and work on this campaign. Thoughts are my own.
 

17 December 2011

LG Doubleplay

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of LG DoublePlay™ for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

If you're looking for a great new phone with lots of cool features, the LG DoublePlay™ may be the choice for you!  With a dual customizable touch screen and full slide out QWERTY keyboard, this phone is sleek, stylish, and fully loaded.  If you're a huge multi tasker like I am, you will also appreciate the ease of being able to do such tasks as updating your Facebook page while you surf the web.  How cool is that?
 
The features of the LG Doubleplay doesn't stop there.  This phone also boasts a 5 megapixel camera with LED flash and a HD video recorder so you can capture and share your favorite moments.  You also get the option of multiple messaging functions to choose from like Cloud Text and Group Text.  Group chats on the go have never been easier!

The LG Doubleplay runs on the Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) platform with full access to the Android market.  This phone is exclusively available through T-MobileSo how do you think the Doubleplay could make your life easier?  What's your favorite listed features?  I have to go with the dual touch screens as my favorite feature!  Of course I also like the ease of multi tasking with this phone.  T-Mobile invites you to check out this phone for yourself and see what it can do for you.
Visit Sponsor's Site

A Cupcake Recipe Just For The Grown Ups!

Boozy Bourbon Chocolate Cupcakes

Looking for a new holiday dessert recipe to wow your guests?  Betty Crocker has you covered with their Boozy Bourbon Chocolate Cupcakes! This is a recipe just for the grown ups that will leave your guests asking for the recipe.  Enjoy!


Ingredients For The Cupcakes:
1 Box of Betty Crocker Super Moist Devils Food Cake Mix
1 Cup water
1/3 Cup vegetable oil
1/4 Cup bourbon whiskey
3 Eggs
1 Teaspoon vanilla


Ingredients For The Filling:
3/4 Cup whipping cream
3 oz. Semi sweet baking chocolate finely chopped
1/3 Cup butter, softened
3 Tablespoons coffee liquor


Ingredients For The Frosting:
1 Jar (7 oz.) marshmallow cream (1 3/4 cups)
1 Cup butter, softened
2 Tablespoons of vanilla flavored vodka
3 Cups powdered sugar


Garnish:
1/4 Cup coffee liquor



Directions:
1)  Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Generously spray 24 regular-size muffin cups with cooking spray. Make cake batter as directed on box, using cake mix, water, oil, bourbon, eggs and vanilla. 

2)  Divide batter evenly among muffin cups (about two-thirds full).  


3)  Bake 20 to 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.


4)  Meanwhile, for filling, in medium microwavable bowl, microwave whipping cream uncovered on High 1 minute 30 seconds or until boiling. Stir in remaining filling ingredients until chocolate is melted and smooth. If necessary, microwave on High an additional 15 to 30 seconds until mixture can be stirred smooth. Cover; refrigerate about 60 minutes or until spreading consistency.


5)  For frosting, in large bowl, beat marshmallow creme, 1 cup butter and the vodka with electric mixer on medium speed until blended. Beat in powdered sugar until fluffy. If necessary, beat additional powdered sugar until pipping consistency.


6)  To assemble, cut tops off each cupcake horizontally. Spread about 1 tablespoon filling onto bottom of each cupcake; add cupcake top. Pipe frosting on cupcake tops. Just before serving, drizzle each cupcake with 1/2 teaspoon coffee liqueur.




* Disclosure:  This post is brought to you by Betty Crocker, in partnership with My Blog Spark.  I received no compensation for this post.

Loaded Baked Potato Soup


Photo Credit: AllRecipes.com


One of my favorite things about this time of year is enjoying some warm stews and soups for dinner on chilly nights.  We usually pair it with a side salad and french bread. Yum!  I especially love a good hearty soup and I found the perfect recipe for tonight's dinner.  It's a baked potato soup.  I will be making the bacon on the side for the meat eaters in my house, while vegetarian mom here will opt for a meat free version.  I thought I would share this recipe with all of you since it looks so tasty!


Ingredients:
12 slices bacon
2/3 cup butter
2/3 cup all purpose flour
7 cups milk
4 large potatoes, peeled and cubed
4 green onions, chopped
1 1/4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper


Directions:
1) Cook up bacon in a skillet until done.  Drain, crumble, and set aside.
2) In a stock pot or Dutch oven, melt butter over medium heat.  Whisk in flour until smooth.  Gradually stir in milk, whisking until thickened.  Stir in potatoes and onions.  Bring to a boil, stirring frequently.
3) Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.  Mix in cheese, sour cream, salt, and pepper.  Continue cooking and stirring frequently until cheese is melted.  Top with bacon crumbles.


* Makes 6 Servings

15 December 2011

Tylers Coffee Review


Tyler's Coffee is a wonderful alternative to traditional coffee that can cause problems for your stomach and tooth enamel due to the high acidity.  With Tyler's Coffee, you get an acid free, great tasting cup of coffee that is gentle on those with sensitive stomachs. 

Their secret lies in the Z-Roasting process, a process that optimizes the time the coffee beans are cooked.  This process results in high levels of caffeine with a great acid free cup of joe!  Tyler's Coffee comes in the following options:

Regular Acid Free
--Rockets you forward with level of caffeine that exceeds most other coffee brands.

Decaf Acid Free
--Tyler’s coffee uses a Swiss Water Based Process to decaffeinate our Arabica coffee beans. Our Arabica beans are shipped from South America to our roasting factory in Arizona.

Tyler's Coffee invites you to just try one cup and taste the difference for yourself!




I had the opportunity to try a pack of Tyler's Regular Acid Free Coffee for myself.  Now some of you know that I am a coffee lover.  I will drink 2-3 large coffee's a day.  I always knew that coffee had the downside to creating enamel staining, but I never really thought about how it affected the tooth's enamel and the formation of cavities.  I know a lot of people out there don't drink coffee because of these reasons, or because it affects their stomach in a negative way.  What I like is that this a great alternative for these people who still want to enjoy a good cup of coffee!

I learned that since Tyler's is acid free, it is recommended to brew this particular coffee with purified water instead of tap water, for taste purposes.  This coffee wasn't bad at all!  The only difference I noticed was it didn't taste as full bodied as my regular stand bought coffee.  I wouldn't mind drinking this at home, but I will be honest and say I think I prefer my regular line of coffee.  However, I do believe like I mentioned that this is a great alternative for those who have issues with the acidity in regular store and stand bought coffees.  I actually have a friend in mind that might love this acid free alternative!  All in all, I thought the product tasted good, just not my top coffee choice.


Connect With Tyler's Coffee:



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.

Swifto Dog Walking Service In NYC Area

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Swifto for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Are you a dog owner in the New York City area looking for a quality and dependable dog walking service?  What about a dog walking service that can be there the same day you need them?  These options are possible with the great folks at Swifto Dog Walking!  With Swifto, you can get a dog walker last minute and have them ready to go at your door within the hour anywhere in New York City.  

 

Swifto understands your need and concern for competent, safe, and trustworthy dog walking.  That's why Swifto staff are prescreened and interviewed prior to hiring!  Swifto is also a licensed and bonded company that enables you to feel comfort in knowing you are completely covered. With Swifto, you can rest assured that your precious pooch will have the best dog walking experience possible.  Their speedy at your door service is great for last minute needs in your busy schedule.  Swifto also guarantees you will love their service, or they'll refund your money.  You can also enjoy their easy internet payment system that allows you to pay online and not worry about having cash on hand.  Pricing includes a tip so it's all taken care of!  For the best experience, try Swifto!

Visit Sponsor's Site

12 December 2011

An OralB Crest FOR ME Mommy Party!




I had the wonderful experience yesterday of hosting a fun filled Oral B/Crest For Me Mommy Party!  My daughters had invited some of their friends, and moms too, to come join us for a party at our house to view the movie Cars 2 and learn/sample Oral B and Crest products.  We had a pretty good turn out for the party!  One mom came with her son, and another with her two daughters!  Of course they were curious about how I got this party put together with all the wonderful goodies supplied.  This is of course where I tell people about my mom blogging alter ego and how fun it is working with companies to help promote and share their products!

Oral B/Crest and BSM Media provided me with everything a party host could need for the perfect party.  I received party balloons, microwave popcorn, popcorn boxes for serving, the Cars 2 DVD, and lots of goodies to pass out in goodie bags, as well as have my guests sample such as: Cars 2 Gummy Vitamins, Pro-Health FOR ME Rinse, Oral B Stage III Toothbrushes, Pro-Health FOR ME Toothpaste, Money Saving Coupons, Product Information, and plenty of Pro-Health Flossers!  I had so much fun putting the goodie bags together!

{ My table of goodie bags! }


{ Each guest's goodie bag contained the following pictured above }


Since I planned to have the children sample the wonderful items provided, I opted to show the Cars 2 movie with popcorn first. It would be kind of pointless to brush teeth before popcorn!  I figured this would be better because then afterwards we could talk about brushing, oral health, and pass around some of the products to try.  Plus, the kids would go home with clean teeth!  Bonus!

{ Popcorn and a movie...Fun! }


After the movie I went over all the facts provided to me for the party about proper oral health, including 26 Tips and Trivia For Healthier Teeth.  We talked about the proper brushing technique and how flossing is so very important!  All the kids, and moms too, thought this party was a fun way to promote healthy smiles.

Some Facts From Oral B/Crest For Me:
* Healthy Oral Care includes brushing twice a day, flossing once a day, and rinsing twice a day.
* According to the American Dental Association you should change your toothbrush every three months.
* Children should start flossing as soon as two teeth touch each other.
* Brushing alone can miss up to 30% of the tooth surface.

I had all the kids take their toothpaste and toothbrush given to them in their goodie bag and then had them show me how they brush their teeth properly since we had just enjoyed popcorn.  All the kids did great and I could tell they picked up some tips about good brushing technique.  I also let each of the kids rinse with the Berry flavored Crest Pro-Health FOR ME Rinse, which I love because it has added fluoride!

{ Way to brush those pearly whites! }


{ Kids just love the Crest Pro-Health FOR ME Berry flavored Rinse! }


At our party we also had some fun letting the kids play musical chairs, where the winner received their very own full size Crest Pro-Health FOR ME Berry Rinse!  Everyone had such a fun time and I loved hosting this mommy party.  It's a great way to network with parents and get the kids together for some good and educational fun!  Both moms complimented me on the party and even asked to be included in the next one!  The Oral B/Crest For Me line is wonderful for kids and I would recommend these products to any family.  My favorite product is the handheld disposable Pro-Health FOR ME Floss Picks.  They are so easy to grip for kids and I love that they are a lot easier to use than dealing with the traditional box floss.  All of the Oral B Stage and Pro-Health products are wonderful and I will personally continue to use these in the future.

Connect With Oral B and Crest:
@OralB on Twitter
@Crest on Twitter
Oral-B on Facebook
Crest on Facebook 




* Disclosure:  I was provided samples of products from Oral B/Crest, in partnership with BSM Media in exchange for hosting a mommy party and an honest blog review.  All of the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and are not a result of any outside influence.

07 December 2011

Decorative Ceiling Tiles Review








Decorative ceiling tiles make a great addition to any room in your home, and with DecorativeCeilingTiles.net, you can achieve the perfect look at a great price!  Not only do these tiles make for a great ceiling decoration, they are also fun and look great as photography backdrops.  

The husband and wife team that started DecorativeCeilingTiles.net swear by the ease of do it yourself home installation of their products.  They boast on their website that anyone can do it!  That sounds perfect for me, as I am not crafty or home installation inclined whatsoever.  




There are a wide variety of ceiling tiles to choose from including:

I had the opportunity to see the wonderful quality of these tiles for myself with a product sample from DecorativeCeilingTiles.net.  I received their Faux Tin Ceiling Tile Glue Up 24x24 #DCT04 pictured below.
What I find so interesting is that you wouldn't think these would look as lavish and wonderful as they do just holding one in your hand, but the pictures on their website have proved me wrong!  These really do look exquisite and unless someone asked to climb up and touch your ceiling (how weird would that be?), I don't think they could tell that they are faux tin.  So cool!



All in all I was very pleased with this product and how you can transform a look with these wonderful tiles!  I would definitely recommend these to anyone wanting to spruce up or redecorate a room.  They come packaged very carefully and are a quality product I would use in my own home.  Two thumbs up!



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.

01 December 2011

Dots Planner Set Review

 
 
Staying organized with style is super easy with the Dots Planner Set!  This 52 page printable PDF set comes with everything you can think of to keep yourself on track.  You can also pick and choose if you would rather not get the whole 52 page set at once.  What I love most is that this planner set is so affordable!  You can buy single printable pages for as low as $1/each.  If you choose to buy the entire set, you save 25%.

What You Get In The Set:
Monthly Calendars
Honey Do List
Emergency Info Sheet
Contacts List
Grocery List
Food Inventory Pages
Recipe Pages
Yearly, Monthly, and Weekly Cleaning Lists
To Do List
Weekly Planner
Babysitter Info Page
Meal Planner Page
and more!

The Dot Planner Set and individual pages are for sale on Etsy by Uncreative Mommy.  She carries a wonderful array of other fun items as well so be sure to check it out!

My favorite pages in this set are the Emergency Contact List and Meal Planner Page.  These are so handy to have around, and they are cute to boot!  This set contains everything a mom needs to manage juggling everything that's going on.  This set is helping me become more organized around my chaotic schedule and I would recommend it to any other mom out there!



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.


Inspiring Interior Design Ideas


If you're looking for some wonderful and inspiring interior design and decorationg ideas, Houzz.com is a must see!  Houzz has a variety of design ideas including Mediterranean, Contemperary, Asian, Modern, and more.  What I enjoy about Houzz is all the beautiful pictures this site has to get ideas to incorporate in your own home.  There are over 200,00 high quality photos to browse!



What makes Houzz unique is the ideabook feature.  You can save your favorite photos and design ideas in your own personalized ideabook for future viewing and use.  Another great feature of Houzz is that you can not only save your favorite ideas in your ideabook, you can also upload your own photos, swap ideas with other members, and find design professionals in your area.



Connect With Houzz:




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