27 September 2013

Earning Your Masters Degree in Healthcare Administration


There are some graduate degree programs that will enable students to climb up the ranks in work situations, and become a liaison between healthcare workers and policy makers. The expertise commanded by those holding masters degrees in fields such as public administration, and particularly healthcare administration, is a coveted asset that will unearth some exciting job prospects and compensatory packages as well. Business, social work, and healthcare students with Bachelor degrees in their respective fields, may want to consider pursuing a route that will put them in the running for upper management and supervisory positions- as well as opportunities in private organizations that provide or advocate for healthcare services and funding.

A healthcare administration masters degree is a degree that brings some communications and public policy aspects to the field for nursing students, social workers, and public administration students- and the career field is looking very prosperous! With all of the recent attention being paid to healthcare reform and governmental budgets, there is a need for qualified and savvy healthcare administrators to assist with service provision and funding moving forward. Students may appreciate the real-life applications that this particular field affords, while others may bring their distinctive backgrounds to the field with vigor and a fresh perspective on disputed matters or areas of contention within groups.

The beauty of a healthcare graduate program is that it is now feasible to buy textbooks and take courses from home, via online web resources and institutions, to work toward a graduate level degree at one's own pace and convenience. This makes it possible for some to hold down jobs and family obligations while working toward a more optimistic and prosperous career future. The costs are manageable and many may find it not necessary to borrow or incur debt- particularly when taking a slower track to their graduation from such programs. While some may prefer the rigors of full-time course study and an expedited track to completion, this may not suit every prospective student's agenda and the flexibility and convenience offered by online institutions allow for such diverse situations among their non-traditional student body. Being able to work and not endure financial set-back while in school is a huge advantage, and may make healthcare graduate degrees a more likely prospect than ever before.

24 September 2013

Head Back to School with These Allergy Tips


Heading back to school can be chaotic enough as it is, but if you're a child with allergies Fall can be an even more stressful time.  The good news is that Children's Claritin has some great tips to help get your home prepared to combat Fall allergens so that your little one can focus on what's important - making those grades!  The following will help you and your family head back to school happy and healthy.

1) Make sure to stock up on Children's Claritin, the #1 pediatrician recommended non-drowsy allergy brand!

2) Be sure to also stock up on Multi-vitamins to create a strong immune system for your child.

3) Let in plenty of sunlight during the day! Mold doesn't like sunlight, so be sure to let in as much sunlight as you can everyday by opening up your curtains and blinds.

4) Check your child's pillow(s).  Monitor your child's pillow for cleanliness and if needed, replace your child's pillow.  Pillows can easily trap bacteria, dust mites, and allergens!

5) Stay on top of the laundry! When back to school season rolls around, the laundry usually starts piling up faster as well! Mold can quickly grow on wet clothes left sitting in the washer so be sure to transition clothes as quickly as possibly to the dryer.

6) Monitor the pollen counts.  By doing this you can adjust your child's outdoor activity before and after school accordingly.  Be aware that during dry and windy days that pollen counts can be particularly high during these times.

7) For children who suffer from allergies it can be helpful to shower or bathe at the end of the day as opposed to morning to help remove allergens from body surfaces.

8) Keep hydrated!  Have your child drink plenty of clear fluids to help flush their body of toxins and be sure to send them to school with a bottle of water.

9) Be aware that peak pollen levels usually occur early in the early morning so try to plan any outdoor activities during other times of the day.




*Disclosure: As a member of the Children's Claritin Mom Crew, I receive product samples and promotional items to share and use as I see fit. No monetary compensation has taken place and any opinions expressed by me are honest and reflect my actual experience.

21 September 2013

A Promise Renewed-A Look At Global Child Survival Rates #GlobalTeamof200

Photo Credit: Unicef.org

In UNICEF's newest released report Committing to Child Survival: A Promise Renewed, the past two decades of under five mortality rates are outlined.  While there have been great improvements in the areas of healthcare, immunizations, and nutrition for example, the report outlines that we still need to reduce the under five mortality rate by two thirds in the next two years to meet the global community goal, which is the Millennium Development Goal 4.  To stay on track to meet this goal it takes a renewed promise on a global level from all of us.  While "the world is currently reducing under-five deaths faster than at any other time during the past two decades" (Unicef.org), the rates of child survival still remain a concern.

Recently Melinda Gates wrote about UNICEF's recent report titled The Most Important Statistic in the World.  Melinda details how statistics have continued to improve for child mortality on a global level and our need to work together to continue to meet future goals.  I love her optimistic and positive outlook and tone.  It is truly inspiring and encouraging!  I encourage you to visit the UNICEF website to see how you can get involved or to donate to help save children worldwide.  


20 September 2013

PlasmaCar Giveaway

PlasmaCar logo
Sponsored By: PlaSmart

The Original PlasmaCar is an innovative ride-on toy that harnesses the natural forces of inertia, centrifugal force, friction, and kid power. Requires no batteries or pedals, just turn the steering wheel and go. Can be used indoors or outdoors but not recommended on hardwood floors. Perfect for ages 3 and up with a weight limit of 220lbs, creating endless hours of fun for both children and adults. 

To see more about PlasmaCar read Simply Southern Couponers full review

plasmacar pic
Textbook Mommy is excited to be a part of this fun giveaway!  Best of luck to all the entrants!

Giveaway Details:
September 20th, 2013- October 4th, 2013
Open to US residents only, must be 18+ to participate! 

Prize: One lucky reader will win their very own PlasmaCar Ride-On! (RV $69.95)
To enter complete the Entry form below. All entries will be verified. 

Thanks to our sponsor and a great group of bloggers for helping us with this event.
Giveaway Disclosure

Unusual Recipes with a Surprising Use of Ice Cream




There are some things in life which are reassuringly consistent. The sun keeps on shining, the Earth carries on spinning and ice cream is always served cold and delicious. Hang on though, it seems as though people sometimes do really weird stuff with their ice cream. If you love ice cream here are some really decadent ice cream flavors. 

There are of course many of your typical flavors such as cotton candy, all varieties of fruit, chocolate and vanilla - the list goes on. In Australia there is a flavor called Maui brownie madness which is chocolate, brownie chunks nuts and fudge, this sounds like a massively tasty treat! As well as the typical tasty flavors however there are some absolutely crazy ways that ice cream is used in recipes...

Baked Alaska

This is apparently a pretty common dessert in some parts of the world – Alaska perhaps? – but that doesn’t stop it from being rather unusual, does it? I mean, putting ice cream in the oven? Come on, that is plain weird. This dish is apparently also known as a Norwegian Omelette by some people, so maybe it is more popular in Scandinavia than Alaska. If the idea of baking your ice cream doesn’t sound wild and daring enough for you then how about setting it on fire as well? That’s right, the variation known as Bombe Alaska involves chucking some rum on it and then recklessly setting it alight. This sounds like utter madness but it probably helps liven up the odd long winter night in Alaska or Norway or wherever they eat it.

Mocha Punch with Ice Cream Float

What if you want something with a rather more stylish touch to it than burning mounds of ice cream and rum or ice cream trickling over your soggy lettuce? In this case you could turn it into a delicious chocolate drink for parties and moments of complete self-indulgence. When you look at the ingredients in it then it is easy to see why this is the case. Coffee granules and a chocolate mix are stirred into boiling water and then cooled. After that, you can put it into a punch bowl and add in some scoops of decadent ice cream. Heck, why not throw caution to the wind and squirt some whipped cream on top of this as well?

Champagne Float

Let’s stick with the world of drinks just now and add some frozen pleasure to a fine sparkling glass of champagne. Some people would probably faint in shock at a glass of champagne having ice cream added to it but they shouldn’t worry; there’s cucumber, ginger beer and lemon juice in there as well. It sounds like a pretty fun way to cool down on a hot summer’s day, although you could just forget about the champagne and cucumber and stuff and eat some decadent ice cream on its own.  

Ice Cream Spaghetti and Coconut

In Venezuela there is a type of ice cream made out of spaghetti but in Germany they do things the opposite way and make spaghetti out of ice cream. Yes, the world has officially gone bonkers. The German creation is called spaghettieis and is apparently really popular. It involves passing vanilla ice cream through a machine so that it comes out looking just like a plate of spaghetti. Why? Who knows?  The bizarre dish is then put on top of whipped cream and topped with strawberry sauce and coconut, so that it looks like tomato sauce and grated cheese on top. At least they say that it is coconut. The whole thing is so confusing that I can’t rule out the possibility of it being potatoes or sausages which have been made to look like coconut which looks like grated cheese.

People all over the world have tried really hard to come up with weird recipes involving ice cream. However, the best way to enjoy this frozen treat remains the simplest way; savouring it on its own on a hot day. With no lettuce or burning rum in sight.





Brittany Mcfee is a food enthusiast and child at heart. She likes writing about the latest trends in food and going around town in search of the best ice cream flavors.

16 September 2013

Madison Wood Gym Set Giveaway

Hosted by:

Co-Hosted by:

Textbook Mommy is excited to be a part of this fun giveaway event!  Best of luck to all the entrants!

One lucky winner will win
a

MADISON WOOD GYM SET

Value $329.98 + Insurance for 2 years $52.99
(if is not available, winner can pick any Gym set up to $390.00 with insurance include)

Dates:

September 16 to October 7

US residents only

All entries are optional


Disclosure:  NYSavingSpecials is responsible for prize.  If you have any question about this giveaway please send an email to nysavingspecials@gmail.com.  All entries are optional, if you do any of the tasks with multiples entries, even if you do one entry you can get the extra entries,. but if the winner tasks is a tasks you did not complete, a second winner will be chosen. If the winner tasks is the one you did you will be the winner.

Getting Your Real Estate License Online


Working in the real estate business can be challenging, exciting, and rewarding!  First you have to become licensed to sell real estate property and this can be done either in a classroom setting, or online, depending on your schedule and how well you learn independently will help you make a decision on what type of classes you should take.


Benefits of courses in the classroom setting

While some classes may be monotonous to sit through, you have the constant chatter of classmates, the disruptions of people talking off subject and many other things that are aggravating about class onsite, however, some people are more comfortable coming to a classroom than online classes.

Classrooms  make people feel more secure, they know that there is hands on assistance at all times, some people like to hear others comment on the subject of the class, which may give them a better understanding of the topic, and some people simply don’t feel computer savvy enough to spend money for the class online.
Many times real estate courses are offered during the day, even 40 hours per week.  This is perfect for someone who does not have another job during the day, however, if you do already work 40 hours per week, you will have to look for classes in the evening.

People who struggle with learning on their own, or those who have a hard time with self-discipline might want to opt for taking the real estate classes in a classroom setting.


Benefits of online real estate courses

There are many benefits to taking online classes!  Because online courses allow you to study at your own pace, you can literally finish the coursework in half the time of those in the classroom setting!  Do you work full time during the day?  With online courses you don’t have to worry about getting from your job to the classroom on time, you simply get online to study at your convenience.

In today’s real estate market, most realtors work from the internet.  If you are not a computer savvy person, perhaps you should take online courses to help you become more comfortable via the internet.  You don’t want to depend on classroom settings only  because you are afraid of the computer, you will need these skills in the real estate selling market! If you have very little computer skills, how will you succeed in selling real estate?

Statistics show that people who take online courses also have better test scores!  This is very important because each time you have to retake a failed exam costs you another test fee!  You can discover the low prices of online courses at Purvis Real Estate.

Online classes can be beneficial in so many ways!  If you have small children at home, you don’t have to leave them, if you have a full time job during the day, you don’t have to worry about getting to a classroom on time, you can study at your own pace, you don’t have to deal with constant interruptions from classmates,  and if computer skills are the only thing holding you back, remember that help from an instructor is only a click away!


As the asst. supervisor for an search engine marketing agency, D. Holdeman engages as a posting visitor as a means to assist the business industry in the U.S.. He is based out of SoCal, and loves these times with his special better half plus their 3 squirts. D. man welcomes sightseers to peek at his Google Plus residence anytime.

13 September 2013

Build a Nutritious Packed Lunch Box with Horizon Organic - Plus a Giveaway!


As the kids head back to school with their lunch boxes in hand, it's important to remember that nutrition is key to not only keep kids focused in class and to promote strong growing bodies, but good nutrition also teaches children the importance of good food choices and what it means to live a healthy lifestyle.  Horizon Organic, a leader in organic dairy knows the importance of nutrition and wants to help parents pack better lunches for their kids this back to school season!  Horizon offers a great variety of delicious certified organic dairy products to choose from.  One item Horizon recommends for creating a nutritious packed lunch is their Horizon Milk with 32mg DHA Omega-3 Single Serve Milk Boxes.  These single serve milk boxes are available in both Vanilla and Chocolate flavors.  You get both the nutritious benefits of milk with the added benefits of 8mg of protein, Vitamins A and D, Calcium, and DHA Omega-3 to support healthy brain development. 


 Interesting Fact: Horizon Organic milk boxes can be safely stored in the pantry until you're ready to chill and enjoy!

Horizon Organic has partnered with nationally registered dietician Elizabeth Somer, author of "Eat Your Way to Happiness", "Age-Proof Your Body", and "Food & Mood" to create 5 Lunch Needs and 50 Ways to Please, a resource parents can utilize to help put together nutritious and tasty lunches for their child!  What I love most about this resource is that parents and children can actually go through the list together which features mix and match food options, which you can then use to mark selections you both agree on to then use as a shopping list.  How handy is that?  The Horizon website also features some fantastic recipes the whole family can enjoy!



5 Lunch Needs:  So what are the 5 lunch needs required to make sure your child has a well balanced, nutritious lunch?  It's recommended that you follow the simple guideline below concerning the following five food groups.  I have listed some great examples from the Horizon website for lunch tips for these groups, but feel free to click here for many more healthy suggestions offered! 

Meats, Eggs, & Legumes - Recommended 3-6 ounces/day
Options: Hard boiled eggs, baked chicken, hummus, and veggie burgers

Vegetables - Recommended 1-3 cups/day
Options: Baby carrots, sweet potato sticks, baked zucchini, and green peas

Fruit - Recommended 1.5-2 cups/day
Options: Apple slices, unsweetened applesauce, berries with plain yogurt, and fruit shish-kabob

Whole Grains - Recommended 4-7 ounces/day
Options: 100% whole wheat bread, whole-grain pita chips, whole wheat crackers, and air-popped popcorn

Low-fat Milk & Calcium Rich Foods - Recommended 2-3 cups/day
Options: Horizon Organic Milk with 32mg DHA Omega-3 Singe Serve Boxes, string cheese, fruit parfait made with low-fat or nonfat Greek yogurt, and smoothie made with low or nonfat milk.


I recently had the opportunity to sample the Horizon Milk with 32mg DHA Omega-3 Single Serve Milk Boxes in my own home with my four girls.  I'm always trying to find new ways to pack them healthy, yet tasty school lunches they will enjoy and Horizon has certainly won them over!  I have to admit they immediately wanted to try the Chocolate milk (typical I suppose!), and they said it was delicious!  It wasn't long before they were asking me if we could start buying them for their lunch boxes from now on.  Given that I'm big on getting more organic foods into my family's diet, as well as the added protein, vitamins and DHA Omega-3 that these milk boxes provide, how could I say no?  I tried each of the flavors myself (both Chocolate and Vanilla) and they really were tasty!  I can see why the kids enjoyed them so much.  The girls also tried the Vanilla and they gave it a thumbs up as well and said they would love to have both flavors as lunch options.  I think we found a new addition to our lunch boxes around here and I admit I will probably be sneaking a few every now and then!

Attention Parents:  You can find 6 Box Tops on the 18-count packages of Horizon Organic Milk with 32mg of DHA Omega-3 Single Serve Milk Boxes at Sam's Club Locations!



Giveaway Time!

How would you like to win some Horizon Organic Single Serve Milk Boxes so you can pack some nutritious lunches for your child or even yourself?  One lucky reader of Textbook Mommy is going to win the same review pack I received (20 single serve boxes of mixed flavors, both Vanilla & Chocolate).

Details: Open to U.S. residents, ages 18 years of age and older.  Winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning email or an alternate winner will be selected.  Entry is via Rafflecopter form below.

Giveaway Ends: September 30, 2013 at Midnight EST

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

* Disclosure:  I was provided products from the above mentioned company in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions stated in this review are 100% mine and are not a result of any outside influence.  Textbook Mommy is not responsible for prize fulfillment.  

12 September 2013

Fun Date Ideas


Are you looking for fun ideas for dates? As one of the many benefits of online dating is the chance to meet a large number of people until you find a date that 'clicks' you may find that you the typical date gets a little boring. So here we have some of the more fun date ideas which will help you make a great impression on your date!


Cocktail Making Classes

For cocktail fans, instead of going to the nearest cocktail bar and straight to the drinking it can be more fun to actually get involved and make the cocktails yourself. Cocktail making sessions are typically run at your local cocktail bar where you will have the opportunity to make one or two cocktails and pick up skills you will need if you ever decide to make cocktails at home! Both of you are guaranteed to have great fun and it is a perfect way of breaking away from the typical dates!


Chocolate Making Classes

Somewhat romantic, why not learn the art of chocolate making? Local chocolatiers tend to offer these classes on of one off basis so keep  a look out online and social media platforms for information about your next event. Making chocolate gives you the chance to exercise your creativity and get to know your date more whilst having fun!


Trip to the Zoo

If you're dating an animal lover and have more than a few hours spare a trip to the zoo can be a great opportunity to explore whilst spending time in each others company, chatting as you visit the different animal enclosures. If you really want to go all out you can always look into the Zookeeper for a day experiences!


Ice Skating

Perfect during the winter, especially in the lead up to Christmas when most outdoor ice rinks are decorated, the perfect atmosphere and the opportunity to completely relax around each other and completely "break the ice" so to speak, as you will be also trying to make sure you don't fall over!


Zombie Battle

If you're dating someone who loves the Walking Dead and other Zombie related shows then a Zombie experience, as found on the likes of Wish and other experience day retailers is probably the perfect date idea and bound to score you an array of brownie points! There is a huge choice of experiences to choose from such as training and battles against zombies and although on the offset they may appear slightly expensive you will probably find they're cheaper and a lot more fun than a night on the town!


Paintballing

Not as glamorous as cocktails and skating but if you're date enjoys the outdoors and other sports this could go down a storm, as an afternoon activity it leads perfectly into an evening of drinks to help soothe the pain of those shots!

When planning a fun date remember to check out for coupons, groupons and what not so you can pick up a bargain. Do you have any fun date ideas you would like to share?


Bella is a lifestyle and fashion blogger from the UK.

Pink or Blue? 5 Ways to Throw a Gender Reveal Party



For thousands of years, men and women had to wait until the moment of delivery to find out if their baby was a sweet little boy or a tiny precious girl. However, those days are long gone and nearly every couple opts to find out the gender of their baby during the pregnancy itself. The fact that most couples know whether they are expecting a girl or a boy about 5 months into their pregnancy has led to a whole new trend: the gender reveal party.

While many women still have baby showers to help them prepare for their new arrival, lots of parents-to-be are adding another celebration to the list. The gender reveal party is an event where a couple invites their closest family and friends in order to announce the big news. Some couples know what they are having ahead of time, while others are surprised at the time of the party. Whereas 50 years ago the best way to announce your child's gender was to say "It's a boy!" or "It's a girl!" to waiting family members and friends after the delivery, today's gender reveal is a much bigger event.

Parents today are always looking for a way to celebrate their children, and now that celebration begins with a gender reveal party. It's not enough to simply gather everyone in the living room and break the news. You have to think of a witty and creative way that gets people involved, allowing them to become a part of your pregnancy and experience the excitement and anticipation for themselves. These ideas will help any mom-to-be plan the perfect gender reveal party.


Release the Balloons

 

Prior to the party, go out and buy either pink and purple balloons or blue and green balloons. Have them blown up, and stuffed in a giant cardboard box. Wrap the box up as if it were a gift, and have the parents open up the box in front of all the guests. Everyone will be surprised when either blue or pink balloons float out up into the air. You can expect lots of shouting and cheering when the big reveal is complete.

Get a Little Bit Silly

 

If you have a family that likes to have fun and get a little messy, then this might be the perfect gender reveal party for you. Purchase numerous cans of either blue or pink silly string. Remove the labels or create new ones that cover the color of the string. Make sure there are enough cans for everyone to grab one when they come to the party. Have someone start a countdown, and, at the end, have everyone spray their silly string at once. This reveal truly gets your guests involved in the big moment.

Let Them Eat Cake

 

Take the results of your ultrasound to a baker and have them create a blue or pink cake. Ask the cake decorator to keep the outside layer of the cake gender neutral. Popular phrases to add on top of the cake include "Blue or Pink? What Could It Be?" or "He or She? Cut Open to See!" At the party, have the parents-to-be cut open the cake in order to find out whether they are having a boy or a girl. The best part is, everyone gets to enjoy a delicious slice of cake while they celebrate the news.

Make It a Competition

 

What fun is a party without a little bit of friendly competition? For this gender reveal party, have guests pick sides when they arrive. They must choose to be on Team Blue or Team Pink. When the timing is right, make the big announcement to everyone who is there. The winning team earns a small prize or first dibs on the dessert.

Unveil a Photograph

 

This is a new twist on a classic tradition. Decorate the party with photographs of the parents-to-be as children, and create a slideshow of their lives up until this point. End the slideshow with a maternity photograph that announces whether they are having a boy or a girl. Cute photo ideas include taking a picture of the couple holding a tiny pair of pink or blue shoes, or having the mom wear a pink or blue ribbon around her belly for the picture.

Just because you are sharing the secret about your baby's gender doesn't mean you have to give away all the surprises. Parents can choose at this time whether or not to share the name they have picked out for their little one. Some parents want everyone to know the name so they can refer to the baby by it for the rest of the pregnancy, while others like to keep people waiting in anticipation. The choice is up to you -- but be sure to make the decision ahead of time. You and your partner should be on the same page about revealing the name before the party begins.

In today's world of social media and instant updates, people love to know every little detail about pregnancy as quickly as possible. No one wants to wait until you are three days overdue and miserable to find out whether your little bundle of joy is going to be clad in blue or pretty in pink. Family and friends will love the excuse to get together and celebrate the big news, and you will love sharing in their excitement as you make the announcement. There's no better way to get everyone involved than to throw a gender reveal party. The more creative you make your announcement, the more memorable it will be for you and all of your guests.





 
Samantha Hunt works at eInvite, an online retailer of wedding invitations, stationery, bar and bat mitzvah invitations, save-the-dates, birthday party invitations, and other custom paper goods.

11 September 2013

#GrowingUpOnline - Safety Tips and Enter to Win The Lorax DVD



In a technology driven world, how do you keep your kids safe online?  Teaching safety and responsibility when surfing the world wide web is crucial!  The More You Know Learning Series in collaboration with NBC News recognizes the need to teach kids this kind of safety, and so together they have launched Growing Up Online, a free eBook for parents to help keep their kids safe on the Internet!  You can download a free copy of this eBook by accessing the blog app above.  It's packed with plenty of valuable tips to help jump start a healthy conversation between you and your child.


Here are 6 great tips you can start implementing right now in your own home to help keep your child safe:


You can also use the blog app above to take the Is Your Child Internet Ready? quiz.  Do your kids know how to stay safe online and can they be trusted on the web?  Take the quiz and find out!  You can also use the blog app to watch the featured Comic Book Videos which features four different stories meant to mimic real life situations that could happen to any family when your child goes online.  Topics covered include online privacy and cyber bullying.  These are great to watch together to then use as conversation starters!


Giveaway Time!


Prize: (1) Lucky reader of Textbook Mommy is going to win a copy of Dr. Seuss' The Lorax DVD and Blu-ray Combo Pack!

Details: Open to residents of the U.S. and Canada, 18 years of age and older. No PO Boxes. Entry is via Rafflecopter form below. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning email or an alternate winner will be selected.

Giveaway Ends:  September 21, 2013 at Midnight EST

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Disclosure:  This post was done on behalf of Growing Up Online.  I did not receive any form of compensation for this post.  All personal opinions stated in this post are 100% my own and are not a result of any outside influence.  Textbook Mommy is not responsible for prize fulfillment.   


Help Create School Playgrounds - Vote For Play!

Creative play is important for kids.  Play time keeps kids happy and healthy.  That's why KaBOOM! and Children's Claritin have teamed up to help bring innovative play spaces to schools in need.  They have offered 12 national schools the chance to win Imagination Playground™ equipment.  Imagination Playground™ equipment is made up of oversized foam blocks for indoor or outdoor creative play assembly.  This fosters both a child's creative and critical thinking skills, essential for young developing minds. 


This is where your vote can help!  Right now the 12 national schools are competing to win this wonderful playground equipment, but only 4 schools will be selected to win based on who receives the most votes.  Right now you can visit the Claritin Facebook page here to cast your vote for one of the 12 finalist schools to win until voting closes on October 31, 2013.  You can vote once per day. Your vote will help bring a school in need a gift of new playground equipment!





10 September 2013

Like Mother, Like Daughter Necklace Giveaway


Like Mother Like Daughter is a mother and daughter team from Tennessee that creates hand stamped jewelry. Each piece is unique so when you receive your jewelry it is one of a kind. Like Mother Like Daughter only uses sterling silver, copper, brass and aluminum discs in their jewelry making.

We love to say jewelry is a girls best friend! How would you like to win this amazing giveaway for yourself or that special lady in your life? To enter for your chance to win continue reading below for giveaway details.

To see more about Like Mother Like Daughter read Simply Southern Couponers full review here.

Necklace

Textbook Mommy is excited to be a part of the fun giveaway!  Best of luck to all the entrants!

Giveaway Details
September 11, 2013 - September 25th, 2013
Open to US residents, must be 18+ to participate. 

Prize: One lucky viewer will receive a Hand Stamped Stacked Mixed Metal Necklace w/Sterling Silver Heart. (RV $35)

How to Enter: Use the Entry form below to enter. By entering this giveaway you agree to abide by the Terms and Conditions listed on Entry Form.
All winning entries will be verified.

A special thanks to our sponsor and blogger friends for helping us with this event. Stop by and visit each of them.
Good Luck and thanks for entering.
 
Giveaway Disclosure

06 September 2013

Orkin Home Education Kit Giveaway



How much do you know about household pests?  While it is safe to say that these creepy crawly critters don't have a place in our homes, they do however have a place in our world.  Learning what roles each of them play is a mix of science, forensics, art, and culture.  Orkin believes once you are armed with this knowledge you can then better protect your home against these unwanted invaders.  You can use the blog app above to download the "Bizarre Bug Facts" PDF to learn a little more about the individual roles that bugs play in our ecosystem.  You might just be surprised at what you discover!  You can also use the blog app above to take The Pest Test quiz!  See how your knowledge of bug science stacks up in this fun test of smarts!  Last but not least you can also view the Orkin man in action by using the blog app to scroll through some exciting GIFs!

When it comes to pest control, Orkin are experts in bug science and have the perfect solutions for helping you maintain a home that is pest-free!


Giveaway Time!


Prize:  (1) Reader of Textbook Mommy is going to win an Orkin Home Education Kit that includes:
• 2 Orkin Factoids 11x17 Posters
     - Poster #1 - The Pollinators
     - Poster #2 - The Recyclers
• 1 Orkin bug-finding flashlight
• 20 Rubber Toy Creepy Crawly Bugs

Details:  Open to U.S. residents, 18 years of age and older.  No PO Boxes.  Winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning email or an alternate winner will be selected.  Entry is via Rafflecopter form below.

 Giveaway Ends:  September 12, 2013 at Midnight EST

* Disclosure:  This post was done on behalf of Orkin and I did not receive any form of compensation for this post.  Any personal opinions stated in this post are 100% mine and are not a result of any outside influence.  Textbook Mommy is not responsible for prize fulfillment. 


04 September 2013

Shopping for Life Insurance Online


Shopping for life insurance online potentially comes with big benefits, but the idea of handling this type of financial management on the Internet still seems taboo for some; it doesn’t have to be. There are a number of good resources available via virtual platforms to find the right policy at the right cost.


The Basics

 

When buying life insurance via Internet brokers, it’s important to shop safe. That means knowing and understanding what a life insurance company actually needs to provide you a quote. Online services are predominantly comparison sites or consolidators. This means they provide access to multiple insurance providers, and a client potentially chooses the one that best suits their needs based on which providers like their profile provided. The profile only really needs to include the age of the person, general health, location, and occupation to get a rough idea of risk, at least for an initial cost quote. Consolidators definitely do not need a person’s social security number, and providing it only means a third party now has access to sensitive personal information. In fact, many sites allow a person to submit a request for an insurance quote with hardly any identifying information whatsoever.


Get the Best Price

 

To make sure one gets the best pricing, regardless of whether looking online or by phone, the best approach is to always perform a good amount of window-shopping. There is in fact a lot of variation between companies, and just going with the first one found is a fast way to spend more than necessary.

Quick quotes online often occur with very minimal data. This leaves room for big differences between a quote and an actual final price offered. The way to make sure the difference is minimal is to confirm the data used is as reflective as possible of your real situation in terms of age, health and related. If not, you may end up rudely surprised by a final policy that is far more expensive than the initial quote provided online. That will definitely feel a like a switch and bait, but in reality it’s based on running the wrong data.

Along the same lines, all the data you do provide needs to be accurate and real. The same principle applies in terms of generating accurate quotes. If you purposefully provide false data, the quote provided will be a false result. Further, especially with health data, the insurance company will eventually find the difference and ask questions during the final policy preparation phase. Almost all life insurance companies require a blood test as well as access to medical records for review.


Final Thoughts

 

Finally, irrespective of working with an insurance provider online, every company has a financial background that should be checked out. Because a life insurance company is in the business of paying out claims when people die, the buyer needs to know that the company will have sufficient funds to cover his policy if he dies prematurely. This means check in the solvency of the company before agreeing to a policy. Otherwise it’s simply throwing money away. When a claim really matters, the company won’t pay and a buyer’s family will be left out in the cold.

Online shopping can provide big savings. However, Internet buyers still need to practice common sense and protect themselves.



Tom writes about all matters personal finance.

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