29 October 2015

Speekee - Spanish For Kids Giveaway

Welcome to the Speekee - Spanish For Kids Giveaway with 101 winners! 


speekee giveaway

SPEEKEE IS THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE ONLINE SPANISH PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN EVER MADE. IT SUITS CHILDREN AGED 2+.

Video based Spanish for Kids

Serving parents, teachers and their children since 2006

Give your child the language advantage today! 

 

1 Winner will receive a full year subscription
100 Winners will receive a 1 month subscription.
BONUS: On the entry form you have a second chance to win!

Sponsor: Speekee
Giveaway is 10/30 – 11/13
Open Worldwide
Co-hosted by:

ALSO WE WANT TO GIVE A HUGE THANKS TO ALL THE WONDERFUL GROUP OF PROMOTING BLOGGERS! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVITING YOUR FOLLOWERS TO ENTER!

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THE GIVEAWAY

This giveaway is in no way endorsed, affiliated, or associated with Facebook, Twitter or any other Social Media Networking Site. You are not eligible if you have won a prize from any of the sponsors in the last 12 month. This Giveaway is valid Worldwide must be 18+ years of age to enter. This giveaway event will end at 11:59 PM (EST) 11/13/15. The winners email address will be turned into sponsor for code to be emailed. The sponsor is responsible for shipping of the above prizes. No blog associated with this contests are responsible for prize fulfillment. If you would like to be a sponsor in a giveaway like this please email Laura Smith at las930 (at)gmail (dot) com.  

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

Also we all “love it if you like us” on Facebook! If you like our blogs on social media it helps us bring you only the best giveaways and more of them!
 
No blog promoting this giveaway have been compensated for this giveaway.

Your Guide to Having a Clear Out of the Family Home

The family home can become pretty cluttered over the years, so there comes a time when you have to have a clear out. It can be a big task, but it can be done. So, here’s a guide to help you out.

Plan Out the Tasks

Having a clear out of the home can be a huge task, so you need to plan it out in advance to make things easier for you. So, start out by surveying the area and seeing which tasks are most important. You can then write up a plan decide which rooms you’ll clear out first and which ones are less important.

If you have a room where you pile up all your junk, you should approach this room first of all. Don’t leave the big tasks until last, you should do these jobs first. Putting things off never helps when you’re trying to have a clear out of the home. Having a plan in place will make things much easier, so make sure you make one.

Don’t Cling to Items

When you’re having a clear out, you need to be pretty brutal. That means you shouldn’t try to cling on to items that you don’t really want or need anymore. If you’re a bit of a hoarder, you should ask a friend or family member to help you. They will offer an outside view and make you question whether you need the items or not.

You should make three piles of items when you’re deciding what to get rid of. One pile for the things that you definitely want to keep. Another pile for the things that you definitely want to get rid of. And a final pile for things that you’re not sure about; you can then come back to this pile later on.


Find New Storage Solutions

You should look for storage solutions in places that were previously unused. You could use cupboards more effectively, install new shelves or use the space under the bed. Most homes have more storage space than people initially realize. There are always ways to make more storage space if you think creatively.

You should make good use of baskets as well. You can never have too many baskets to store the items that are cluttering up the place. You could also hang hooks on the walls and the backs of doors. You can then hand nets on these hooks and use the nets as makeshift storage units.

Get it All Done in a Day

It’s best to take a day out of your schedule and then use it to do the clear out. This will allow you to get all the work done in the space of one day. This is a much better option than letting the work drag out for days or weeks. Getting it out of the way quickly is much more sensible, so don’t shirk the work.

To get the job done as quickly as you possibly can, you should make it a family affair. Get everyone involved and make sure they’re all pulling their weight. It’ll be much easier to get it done quickly if you’re not doing all the work by yourself. So, why not assign everyone with a task to do?

Have a Post-Clear Out Clean

Once the clear out is done, there’s still work to do. You should start by cleaning the home. This makes sense when you’re having a clear out. You might as well have a big, thorough clean up while you’re at it. All those spaces that have been filled with junk for years will probably be covered in dust and cobwebs.

You should dust the rooms down and clean up any of the items that you have decided to keep. Then get out the vacuum cleaner and lift any of the excess dust and grime from the floor. This will instantly make the home feel fresher, cleaner and more spacious, so don’t skip this move.


Sell Unwanted Items

You now need to decide what to do with the items that you no longer want to keep. The things that have some value should be sold to make some money for you and your family. You can do this by using online auction websites such as Ebay. Do some research to find out how much your items are worth before you list them though.

Once the items have sold, the website will usually take away a percentage of the sale price in commission. Then you will need to wrap the item carefully and post it to the winner of the auction. Visit onlinestamp.net to find stamps for your items before you post them.

File Any Old Documents in One Place

Documents and files can take up a lot of space in the home, so you should use your clear out as a chance to organize all of your essential documents. This is vital because you don’t want to accidentally throw away important receipts or tax documents. So, get them all together and go through them all.

There might be some that can be thrown away. But others should be kept, so take your time when organizing them. You can buy some binders to keep the documents in. This will help you keep them all together rather than stuffing them in drawers that are overflowing with papers.

Donate Old Clothes to Charity

Some of the things you have won’t be worth very much though. So, it might not be worth trying to sell those items if they won’t make very much money. For these items, it might make more sense to simply donate them to charities. This is what you should do with things like old clothes and books.

Donating items is an easy and quick way of getting rid of some of the things that you don’t want anymore. But it will also help to do something good for a charity, and that can only be a good thing. Everybody wins, so take the rest of the stuff you don’t want to your local charity shop.
 
 
Disclosure:  This is a contributed post.



27 October 2015

Home For The Holidays Giveaway #HFH1015

This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on 
my links.
 
  home for the holidays giveaway

WELCOME TO THE 2nd ANNUAL HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS GIVEAWAY!

These prizes will help you enjoy a holiday at home!
3 Winners will receive great prize packages!
Hosted by:
Co Hosted by:

ALSO WE WANT TO GIVE A HUGE THANKS TO ALL THE WONDERFUL GROUP OF PROMOTING BLOGGERS! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVITING YOUR FOLLOWERS TO ENTER!

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I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THESE WONDERFUL SPONSORS!

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THE GIVEAWAY

1st prize final 2nd prize final 3rd prize final  

This giveaway is in no way endorsed, affiliated, or associated with Facebook, Twitter or any other Social Media Networking Site. You are not eligible if you have won a prize from any of the sponsors in the last 12 month. This Giveaway is valid in the Continental United States Only and Entrants must be 18+ years of age to enter. This giveaway event will end at 11:59 PM (EST) 11/26/15. The winners will have 48 hours to email their information back to las93063 at gmail dot com or a new winner will be drawn, you may want to put this email address as safe as it could go to spam. The sponsors are each responsible for shipping of the above prizes. No blog associated with this contests are responsible for prize fulfillment. If you would like to be a sponsor in a giveaway like this please email Laura Smith at las930 (at)gmail (dot) com.  

Also we all “love it if you like us” on Facebook! If you like our blogs on social media it helps us bring you only the best giveaways and more of them!

Textbook Mommy is excited to be a part of this fun giveaway!  Best of luck to all the entrants!
 
No blog promoting this giveaway have been compensated for this giveaway

26 October 2015

Ideas to Give Your Kids the Best Party

Photo Credit: Wikimedia

As a mom of four girls, I have had plenty of birthday planning experience. I know first hand how stressful it can be, however. But at the end of the day, it is always the best feeling in the world to see how much your children appreciate and enjoy the event. To help you create a great day for your kids, try some of these tips.

Think about a theme

So many kids parties that my girls have been to lately have been themed. It is a great way to inject a bit of your child’s personality into the party. If they love Disney princesses, you could think about hosting a princess party. You can let the kids get dressed up and get coordinated decorations too.

Decide on a budget

While you want your kids to have an amazing day, you don’t want to go overboard. Set yourself a budget and try to stick within this limit. It can also help you to make some planning decisions. If you aren’t sure on things, if they fall out of your budget you know you can cut them out.

Send out the invites early

Spreading the word about your child’s party is important for marking it in their friends’ parents’ calendars. As soon as you have a date in mind, send out your invitations. Include all details that they need to find you including your address, a start time and any extra details you think necessary. Ask for parents to RSVP, so you have a rough idea of numbers to help with your planning.

Don’t forget the party bags

Parents are really upping their games when it comes to the party bags. You can end up spending a fortune on lots of things to fill your bags with. However, I like to keep it traditional. Kids appreciate everything, so a small gesture is all that is really needed. Bags of candy, coloring pencils, small toys and some birthday cake are all great additions to party bags.

Plan some fun games

It is a really good idea to have some games planned for the kids to play. Hide and seek, musical chairs and pass the parcel are just a few fun ideas. You could even think about creating some educational games. This will keep the kids entertained while the adults can have a gossip together.

Don’t just cater for the kids

The chances are that your child’s friends will bring their parents along with them. It is easy to get so caught up in the planning side of things for the kids that you forget about the adults. Think about food and drinks that parents can also enjoy too.

Think about food

The kids are going to get hungry during the day. If you aren’t going to serve a full meal, think about getting some finger foods. You want something easy to make and that you can make lots of. Things that the kids can eat without too much mess are the best. And don’t forget the birthday cake, whatever you do.


Disclosure: This is a contributed post.

22 October 2015

Dropprice $150 Amazon Giveaway

SPONSORED POST Dropprice Logo (2)
 Dropprice is an innovative startup that rewards moms for being social. Essentially, they empower moms to drop prices of kids & baby products with a click. The price continues dropping as more moms click “Drop the price”. Every week new promotions are launched and moms drop prices by sharing them on social media. See the chart below to understand the power moms have and how important it is to share with other moms.

 Price Chart (2)

In today’s promotion for the Melissa & Doug Wooden Barn, it started out at $49.99 and for each mom that clicks, the price drops a bit. The price will continue to drop for each mom that participates until it reaches $29.00 (42% off).


Featured Product (2)


You can choose to share on social media to get more moms to click “Drop the price”, or you can “Buy Now” at the current price. Keep in mind that when the price gets low, they usually sell out and you will no longer have the chance to buy that item. As an added bonus every item on Dropprice ships for free! Do you want to give it a try? This is such a fun and exciting way for moms to save lots of money by collaborating with each other. If you would like to have a chance to win a $150 Amazon gift card, you can experience dropping the price by following the instructions below.

Giveaway: Win one of four $150 Amazon Gift Cards

 

Textbook Mommy is excited to be a part of this fun giveaway!  Best of luck to all the entrants!
 
All you have to do is help moms drop the price of this Wooden Barn and you will be entered to win one of four $150 Amazon gift cards. Just click “Drop the price” on the entry form below for a chance to win. For even more entries, share it on your social media networks via the entry form — every time one of your friends also clicks to drop the price, you’ll automatically receive additional giveaway entries! Winners will be randomly selected. This Giveaway is valid in the United States Only and Entrants must be 18+ years of age to enter. This giveaway event will end at 11:59 PM (EST) 11/4/15. The sponsors are each responsible for shipping of the above prizes and will contact the winners. No blog associated with this contests are responsible for prize fulfillment. This giveaway is in no way endorsed, affiliated, or associated with Facebook, Twitter or any other Social Media Networking Site.
  

21 October 2015

The Most Effective Home Security

There are several ways to protect your family and possessions in your home. However, the most effective way is to have security system monitoring. A monitored system is watched 24/7 all year by trained professionals. If your alarm is triggered, you’ll get help in just a few minutes.




Benefits of a Monitored System


• It is a false belief that a burglar alarm will deter intruders. Homeowners also think that if a neighbor hears a burglar alarm, they will call the police. If the neighbors aren’t home, there’s no one to hear the alarm. Burglars know they have only a few minutes inside a house, so they are fast even if an alarm sounds. If the alarm is monitored in a service center, you can be sure someone will hear it.

• If your alarm has a smoke detector, it will ask the monitoring center for help within seconds and the fire department will be on its way to your home whether you are home or not even if the alarm is turned off. This is about as safe as you can get from the danger of fire.

• If your home is invaded when you’re not there, you’ll get an email or text warning you, so you don’t inadvertently walk into a dangerous situation. Meanwhile, the police will have been called to your home.

• Having a monitored security system in your home may reduce your homeowner’s insurance. Many insurance companies offer substantial discounts to homeowners whose property is monitored.

• If your home is monitored, you’ll have signs around your yard that indicate the home is protected by a monitored system. Research has shown that this deters burglars.

• Your system may also have a panic button. When you push it, a signal immediately goes to the monitoring station where emergency help will be sent to your home.

Common Mistakes


Many people make the same home security mistakes. Some things to avoid are:

• Hiding your key in an obvious place – most burglars know about doormats, lawn ornaments and flower pots.

• A ladder nearby - burglars will immediately see a ladder leaning against the side of your house. They will also look in unlocked garden sheds.

• Your garage may be locked but the door from your garage into your house may not be. Always keep both locked at all times, even if you are at home.

Simple solutions to home security are rarely effective. For genuine peace of mind, a monitored system is the best choice.



How To Throw An Awesome Birthday Party For A Pre-Teen

The ages between eight and twelve are really difficult for kids. I think girls may have it tougher though because they’re starting to feel peer pressure more. Fashion, pop music, and even toys need to fit in with what the rest of the group likes. This is hard for a pre-teen girl to conform to sometimes. This is why planning a birthday party at this age needs to be approached with some care.

Most kids this age are more than happy to speak their mind! They will gladly tell you that you’re old-fashioned and not with the times. Maybe that observation is true! But you want to do what’s best for your daughter, and you want her to be happy. Planning a special event like a birthday party has to be done in collaboration with her.


Many girls want to head out to the mall or go to the movies at this age. For chaperon parents, handling a group of girls in these kinds of environments can be tough to manage. Instead, you might want to consider having an event at home. This way the other parents will know where their daughters are and what they are up to!

Your daughter may feel that a party at home is a little childish. You can help her feel all grown up by having a dinner party rather than paper plates and cups. Decorations can be more muted than kids party balloons. Think color schemes and chic. You could rent a blockbuster movie for everyone to enjoy, or set up a games console for the afternoon.

Gifts are also hard to gauge right at this age. It can be tough to choose the best presents for 7 to 12 year old girls. Fortunately, children are quite vocal at telling you what they would like around the time of their birthdays. Of course, there may be some requests that you’re not willing to entertain yet. That doesn’t mean that one of their friends won’t buy it for her, though.

When you’re thinking of hosting a party for a pre-teen, it’s important to consider the number of kids that will be attending. You will need to choose some party favors as well as an age-appropriate cake. As children get older, they have a need to impress their friends to feel like they fit in. Your daughter may be disappointed if you make the wrong choices, so try to collaborate with her. Shop together for these things. If you set a budget, she will also be learning valuable life skills.

Don’t be afraid to ask the other parents to help out or get involved. Sometimes a fresh perspective from another mommy can be really helpful. Pre-teens are often very technology oriented. While they are too young for social media like Facebook, you might want to encourage them to use the computer to create their invitations. At this age, children like to have more control over their lives, and more input into how things are run.

There is every chance you are dreading your daughter’s birthday party. There’s no need to worry, though. Your daughter is likely to be very keen to help you organize everything. She’ll have her own style ideas and tastes too. Enjoy her big day.


Disclosure:  This is a contributed post.

19 October 2015

Furniture Ideas For Your Home


Are you unsatisfied with the furniture that is currently in your home. Are you moving into a house or apartment that is only partially furnished or has no furniture at all? If either of these scenarios describes your current situation, you need to start thinking about what type of furniture you want to buy. This is not an easy decision when you stop to consider all of the choices you have. There are many different styles and materials that you should give some serious thought to. Here are some furniture ideas for your home.

1. Leather

Leather is a beautiful material for couches and chairs. It has an elegant appearance that is unlike anything else. While leather furniture is unquestionably lovely, it does have a few serious drawbacks. First of all, it is hard to maintain. Leather is not a material that you can afford to neglect. You constantly need to clean it and oil it to prevent it from drying out and cracking. This type of regular maintenance is annoying to many people. If you buy leather furniture, you need to be prepared for the work that is involved in owning it. Also, it is no secret that leather is quite expensive. Unless you have a rather large savings, buying several pieces of leather furniture may be too costly for you.

2. Wicker

A much cheaper alternative to leather furniture is wicker. Not only does it cost less, it still has a very attractive appearance that can blend in with a wide variety of design schemes. This means you can put wicker furniture almost anywhere without it looking out of place. Wicker furniture does not require any maintenance unless you plan on keeping it outside. In this case, it would be wise to put a coating on it so it can resist the rain more easily. Indoor wicker furniture sets can be purchased from Wicker Paradise by visiting http://www.wickerparadise.com/wicker-dining-sets.html.

3. Wood

Wood is the most common material when it comes to furniture manufacturing. Obviously, there are many different types of wood. Some are much more expensive than others. The amount you pay for wood furniture will depend directly on what type of wood it is made from. As you are shopping, keep in mind that certain types of would require less maintenance than others. Find out exactly what is involved in maintaining a certain type of wood before you buy furniture that is made from it.

Breast Health: Dense Breasts and the Importance of Exams



I remember being a teenager and watching my grandmother bravely fight through breast cancer.  She had to have a single mastectomy and before this I had never heard much or or even learned much about cancer.  It scared me a great deal but it also made me conscious of my own breast health moving forward. Then came this past year.  I was experiencing breast pain that would not go away.  After two trips to the doctor and no resolve I asked to be referred to a specialist.  At my specialist appointment I was told there was a suspected cyst and that I needed to go for a mammogram to be sure.  Now of course I was nervous!  You hear the stories of pain and flattening that make you squirm.  Let me tell you ladies though it was so easy!  For anyone that is putting off their mammogram because they are worried it will be painful it was not.  Each scan lasted only seconds and I maybe experienced mild discomfort at the most, if any.  I was nervous for nothing!  It turns out there was no cyst but I was told I have very dense breasts and this was the cause of my pain.

What are dense breasts?  Dense breasts contain less fatty tissue and more dense tissue.  When a mammogram is done on dense breasts this can make it harder for breast cancer to be detected due to the dense tissue appearing white on the mammogram, making it harder to see through.  The Mayo Clinic reports that about half of all women have dense breasts (Mayo Clinic).  Many states have laws now that require them to inform patients after a mammogram if they have dense breast tissue so that they can discuss further with their doctor the results and how to proceed with scans in the future.  If you learn you have dense breasts you can use that knowledge to be more aware with your self checks and with your mammograms.  More advanced scanning may be necessary for those with dense breasts such as by MRI or 3D imaging.  


The American Cancer Society recommends that women without breast symptoms start getting yearly mammograms starting at age 40 and women in their 20s and 30s should get clinical breast exams yearly (American Cancer Society).  Remember to do your monthly self exams and to remind your friends and family to stay on top of theirs as well!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Aflac has partnered with the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) once again for their second annual "This Duck Wears Pink" campaign.  Aflac is helping to support funding of research aimed at finding a cure for cancer by selling fun pink themed merchandise such as hats, plush ducks, and breast cancer ribbon pins.  You can shop to support the cause here.


For those going through treatment for breast cancer getting well should be the main priority.  Even those who have employee sponsored health insurance can still end up paying thousands out of pocket when it comes to cancer treatment.  A cancer insurance policy can help when it comes to costly treatment programs.  Aflac has recently introduced their One Day PaySM initiative which allows Aflac the ability to process, approve, and pay eligible claims within one day! This means that you can get the cash you need faster than you could before.  This cash can be used for medical bills, help with your mortgage payments, daycare expenses, groceries, and other daily expenses.  To learn more about Aflac's insurance policies, please visit their website here.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

16 October 2015

Can You Take Protecting Your Kids to the Next Level?


As a parent, your children’s safety is your main concern. Whether they are sat in the front room watching TV or at a friend’s house, you can’t stop worrying. Unfortunately, it is an occupational hazard of being a parent and it doesn’t stop. Fortunately, however, you can take it to the next level to make sure you are ready for every scenario. For parents with young children, the tips below are a Godsend. Let’s just hope you never have to use some of them.

Monitor Their Internet Usage

When most children hear that their parents want to monitor what they do on the Internet, they hit the roof. In a lot of ways, I can see why they are so angry. It is almost as if I am saying that I don’t trust them when they surf the web. However, the reality is that I don’t trust other people who surf the web. Because my kids are only young, they are also naïve. People online look to take advantage of their good nature, which is why, as parents, we have the right to keep tabs. Even if we don’t necessarily like doing it.

Set Parental Safeguards

For a lot of parents, monitoring their children’s Internet activity will seem extreme. Plus, they do deserve some privacy and the ability to talk to their friends without us snooping around. Luckily, there is another option. You can set parental controls on your Internet connection and limit what they can and cannot do online. And, it is very easy to do because you just need to click a button. Most parents and children see this as a good compromise.

Take Classes

Considering that our children rely on us, sometimes we can find ourselves way out our depth. Now, some parents like to learn on the job, which is fine. But, others like to cover every base, so they apply for their first aid certificate. Think about it rationally and it will make sense, even if it seems a little overboard. Children, especially toddlers, need to learn specific functions like chewing and swallowing. Until they do, feeding time is incredibly stressful. If the worst does happen, you want to be able to react. Basic first aid can be the difference between life and death. At the very least it will give your kids time until the emergency services arrive.

Communicate With Your Kids

Having ‘the talk’ is not a comfortable experience for kids or parents. Still, it is part of our jobs as their guardians to make them aware of the possible dangers in the world. Plus, isn’t their safety more important than an awkward conversation? You don’t have to go into great detail about safety issues as long as they get the message. For example, never get into a car with strangers or talk to people that come across as dodgy. All they need to know is that certain scenarios are dangerous and that they should avoid them whenever possible.

The above might make you feel uncomfortable, that is a small price to pay to ensure your kid’s safety. 


Disclosure:  This is a contributed post.

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