Frugal Family Fun: October 2011

Friday, October 28, 2011

Check out Real Moms Love To Eat by Beth Aldrich!

I am not shy to say that I am a mama who LOVES food.  I used to be the person who hated cooking. My idea of making a meal was cooking some hamburger helper.  Thank goodness I grew out of that! I am proud to say that my love for food has developed into a love for cooking over the years! I love trying out different recipes and learning how to cook! It has become a fun hobby for me and a great way to relax!!

I love new books by other mom bloggers and of course, free prizes! Please help to celebrate the launch of “Real Moms Love to Eat: How to Conduct a Love Affair with Food, Lose Weight and Feel Fabulous” (New American Library, a Penguin Books Imprint, January, 2012) by author, Beth Aldrich, Certified Health Counselor.

The book is broken down in three sections, which include a fun and easy-to-follow 10-part plan for moms to implement to make gradual, life-long changes in their approach to food and 21 days of meal suggestions,tips, recipes and lifestyle changes—all to help you continue your love affair with food to look fabulous. Beth’s approach to healthy eating is simple and realistic for busy moms. You’ll learn a lot about the food you eat and how it impacts your body and still have loads of fun experiencing new foods and enjoying your life.

 This book will help you get on the track to eating great and loving it!  It's packed full  of great meals and ways to change your lifestyle to live healthier! And of course it has tips straight from a REAL mom who REALLY loves food! ☺ Sounds like my kind of mom!!
So check it out for yourself at realmomslovetoeat.com! You can also join the convo on Twitter, @realmomsluv2eat and learn more great tips from Beth!!

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Beth Aldrich - Real Moms Love to Eat blogging program, for a chance to get 3,000 My SocialMoms Rewards points. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Money saving bargains!!

Check out some great ways to save money!!:
Check out Shoe Carnival!!! Plus Print a Coupon and save up to $5, $10 and $15 off of great deals.


Receive any product from Ink Garden for free.  Click here for details!!

Turn your favorite photo into a free 8 x 10 canvas or get 40% off toward any size canvas and free shipping.  Visit Canvas People today!!

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Join Valued Opinions and enter to win $500 to Amazon!!

Earn rewards through completing surveys, and then exchange them for some brilliant rewards and be entered to win a $500 Amazon gift code simply for registering with Valued Opinions!
The online surveys Valued Opinions conduct really help businesses design, package and deliver the successful products and services of the future. Win a $500 Amazon gift code simply for registering with us. You'll be entered into the sweepstakes as soon as you activate your account (view the sweepstakes rules).

Monday, October 24, 2011

Catalina's CouponNetwork Coupons

Sign up for
Catalina's CouponNetwork Coupons and get these awesome savings!:
$1.00 off when you buy any THREE Bertolli® Pasta Sauces
$1.50 off when you buy any FOUR Bertolli® Pasta Sauces
75¢ off when you buy any TWO Bertolli® Pasta Sauces
$2.00 off when you buy any PEOPLE® Magazine
$1.00 off when you buy any Pillsbury® Sweet Moments® Refrigerated Desserts
50¢ off when you buy ONE BOX any flavor/variety Nature Valley® Granola Thins
$1.10 off when you buy any FOUR BEECH-NUT® STAGE 2 1/2™ BABY FOOD PRODUCTS
$1.85 off when you buy any FIFTEEN BEECH-NUT® STAGE 2 1/2™ BABY FOOD PRODUCTS
60¢ off when you buy any ONE BEECH-NUT® BABY CEREAL
$2.00 off when you buy any THREE Slim-Fast® Ready To Drink Shake Multipack
$1.60 off when you buy any TWO Slim-Fast® Ready To Drink Shake Multipack
95¢ off when you buy any ONE Slim-Fast® Ready To Drink Shake Multipack
$20.00 off when you buy any ONE Philips Norelco SensoTouch or SensoTouch 3D Electric Razor
$5.00 off when you buy any ONE multi-pack of Philips Sonicare brush heads
50¢ off when you buy ONE BOX Fun da-middles™ Cupcake Mix
$1.75 off when you buy any TWO Ester-C® Items
50¢ off when you buy ONE LouAna® Product
$1.00 off when you buy ONE box of POST GREAT GRAINS Cereal
$3.00 off when you buy any ONE REFRESH® Brand Product
40¢ off when you buy any ONE package of Stevia In the Raw 100% Natural, Zero-Calorie Sweetener Products
40¢ off when you buy any TWO Pillsbury® Sweet Rolls OR Grands!® Sweet Rolls
40¢ off when you buy TWO PACKAGES any flavor/variety Totino's® Rolls Snacks
30¢ off when you buy TWO CANS any size/variety Pillsbury® Refrigerated Grands!® or Grands! Jr.® Biscuits
40¢ off when you buy ONE BOX any flavor Fiber One® Chewy Bars, Fiber One® 90 Calorie Chewy Bars or Fiber One® 90 Calorie Brownies
40¢ off when you buy any TWO Pillsbury® Refrigerated Pizza Crust, Breadsticks, Loaves or Dinner Rolls
50¢ off when you buy TWO any flavor Betty Crocker® boxed Potatoes
$1.00 off when you buy FOUR any flavor/variety Totino's® Crisp Crust Party Pizza® Products
50¢ off when you buy TWO packages of Pillsbury® Rolled Refrigerated Pie Crusts
50¢ off when you buy EIGHT CUPS any variety Yoplait® Yogurt
$2.00 off when you buy any TWO GoodBelly® Quarts
$10.00 off when you buy any ONE Philips Norelco Speed XL Series Electric Razor OR any ONE Nivea for Men Electric Razor
$5.00 off when you buy any ONE Philips Norelco 7000 Series Electric Razor
$3.00 off when you buy ONE Multi-pack AVENT BPA-Free Baby Bottles
$1.00 off when you buy any SIX Mighty Dog® 5.5 oz single cans
$1.50 off when you buy any TWO Sundown Naturals® Product
$1.60 off when you buy any TWO Nature's Bounty® Vitamins or Supplements
$5.00 off when you buy any Philips Norelco Shaving Replacement Head
$1.00 off when you buy any two bags of SENSEO® COFFEE PODS
$2.00 off when you buy any Osteo Bi-Flex® Supplement or Powder

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Hasbro's Fun On The Run Games {Holiday Gift Guide 2011}

Holidays mean travel for many families.  Keeping the kids entertained during travel time is no fun!   So why not make it fun by giving them one of Hasbro's Fun on the Run Games??  There are many of the games that are already your favorites, made into a fun and easy to play travel version! Play anywhere, anytime!

My little ones got to review Connect 4-one of my favorites as a kid! Its great because any of the kids can play, its pretty simple and fun!   Just get 4 in a row, and keep the other person from doing it first!


Product Description:

Play a round of your CONNECT 4 game anytime, anywhere with this awesome set! The convenient, self-contained storage case doubles as the game grid, so you can set it up and start playing wherever you are. Drop your checkers into the grid to try to connect four vertically, diagonally or horizontally!

This game had small pieces, so I recommend getting a ziploc bag to keep the checkers in, one for each color if you want.  Other than that the game is great to travel with and fun to play! It provided entertainment for a good 15 minutes which is a record with my little girls!

These affordable games are portable versions of favorites such as CONNECT 4, HUNGRY HUNGRY HIPPOS, GUESS WHO? and BATTLESHIP. When the vacation is over, kids can pack these games in a backpack for fun on the school bus or during an after-school play date.  The games are packed full of fun and great to take anywhere! Make sure to grab some before traveling this holiday season! Check out hasbro.com for more info!

Also Like Hasbro's Family Game Night on Facebook and follow on Twitter, @FamilyGameNight

I was not compensated for this post. I was given the above mentioned product to review on my blog. All opinions are 100% my own. Photos from Hasbro.

Redweek.com Review & Giveaway!


Family vacations are NOT cheap these days. Just getting to your destination alone can be ridiculously expensive. Then add in a place to stay, food and entertainment money and you are looking at a pretty expensive venture!  Timeshares are a great way to save money when you stay somewhere!  Redweek.com is a great place to find timeshares and plan your next vacation!

What is RedWeek.com?

At RedWeek.com, timeshare owners post their units for rent or sale to an audience of over 1.5 million registered users, or exchange it using Dial An Exchange (DAE).
Travelers come to RedWeek.com to rent or buy timeshares units directly from the owner, often at tremendous savings compared with hotels or dealing with the resort itself.

What Does it Cost?

It's FREE to view the resorts, availability, and our timeshare discussion forums.
A RedWeek Membership, just $14.99, allows you to contact owners about available units, access thousands of resort reviews, and want ads. Posting your own timeshare for rent, sale, or exchange requires a nominal additional fee

I checked out the website.  Since I am not in the market for a vacation any time soon, it was merely to see how it works and find out more.  It seems to be a good place to find a great deal on a time share.  I like staying in a time share because you can cook your own meals and save a lot of money not having to eat out for every meal.  This is a great way to go when you are on a budget.

I also really like being able to find something close to home.  I like mini-vacays where I can visit something within a few hours driving distance and just get away for a few days.  Sometimes these plans are put together in just a few weeks.  Redweek.com can help you find great deals on time shares even right before you are needing it!  I found a timeshare less than an hour away!  The rate was about $40 cheaper per night on Redweek than it was on the site for the actual timeshare.  So if we stayed for a week we would save $280! It is also a lot better than a hotel room-we would get a 2 bed 2 bath for $136 a night vs. a 1 bed 1 bath hotel for the same price! This is a great way to go!

So if you are planning a family vacation, check out Redweek.com and see what they have in store! You might be surprised with what you find-and how much you save!!

Enter to win a 2 year subscription to Redweek.com via the Rafflecopter form below:



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.

Magnets For Fun Review {Holiday Gift Guide 2011}

 
Holiday decorations are hitting the stores! Time to get all decked out for Christmas! Most people decorate the house for the holidays, while others go all out and even decorate the car! Magnets for Fun is for those people! They have fun decorative magnets to make your car fancy for the holidays!

Product Description:
Christmas car magnets measure 2" wide x 5" tall and are clearly visible from several feet away. Magnets are sold in packs of 10, 15, 20, or 30 (discounts on bulk orders available). Each pack will contain 5 unique colors:
- Red
- Green
- Yellow
- Orange
- Blue These car magnets must adhere to a flat metal surface in order to stay on, and will last you all season long!

These magnets are super cute and a fun way to get in the holiday spirit! The bright, festive magnets can be used to not only show the Christmas spirit of consumers, but to decorate cars for sale, draw attention to logos on work vehicles, and to even garner a grin as they brighten up a school bus. 

Car magnets are a fun way to show your festive side all around town! They don't harm your car and come right off!   Check out magnetsforfun.com for fun decorating ideas and to purchase your own!!

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.

Pediacare Allergy


Allergy season is well upon us! According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, approximately 40 percent of children in the United States are affected by seasonal allergies. As common as allergies are, many parents are still confused about which over-the-counter allergy products are safe for their young children. Specially formulated for children, just one dose of new Children’s PediaCare® 24 Hour Allergy with cetirizine hydrochloride, provides all day relief from indoor and outdoor allergy symptoms. No more worrying about redosing during the day, its dye free and it’s a flavor that kids love – grape!



In addition to the extensive product line offerings, PediaCare® has also developed a new comprehensive website, www.pediacare.com, where parents can find the following:

* Symptom checker/product selector that helps guide parents to select the PediaCare® product that best addresses the symptoms their child is experiencing; also available in a free downloadable iPhone application
* Sick day printable games, puzzles and coloring pages
* Tips for parents on all things pertaining to their child’s health
* PediaCare® product information

This product has helped my daughter TREMENDOUSLY! She no longer has the watery eyes and runny nose which means no irritated nose at the end of the day.  Just a dose of this and her symptoms disappear! Any child who suffers from allergies needs to try this product to find some relief!

Children’s PediaCare® 24 Hour Allergy is available in a four ounce bottle for $11.99. The entire line of PediaCare products is available at drugstores, supermarkets and other retailers nationwide.

I was not compensated for this post. I was given a sample of this product to try and review on my blog.

Xia-Xia Pets Review and Giveaway!! {Holiday Gift Guide 2011}

Have you met the cute little Xia-Xia pets yet??  These adorable little hermit crabs are a hot toy this year, and will be in stores in just a few weeks! There are 4 different crabs, 12 interchangeable shells,  and 3 fun playsets (not to mention all their little friends!)  These undersea critters will bring out your child's imagination and creativity for all sorts of  great playtime!
Trinidad, with a few of the shells

My 3 little girls were just beside themselves when they first laid eyes on these cute critters!  They immediately tried to deal out who got which crab, with which shells, little friends, and which "house" (My 6 year old decided she got the biggest since she is the oldest).
Copacabana Playset
The playsets were quick and easy to put together, I didn't even need the directions.  I just looked at the box to see where things went together. Most of the pieces snap in, so if the set gets moved you may have to snap a few parts back in. But they are sturdy and fun to play with!  The Copacabana playset is my favorite, and nice and open for all the kids to share.

Trinidad in the Confetti Cottage
The crabs are Trinidad (orange), Bimini (pink), Turks (Purple) and Tobago (blue).  They all fit all the different shells, and you can intermix the shell and the base. Everything just snaps on and pops right off, so even my youngest (she is almost 3) was able to play with the toys easily.  The small "little friends" are pretty tiny, so discretion should be used with small children.  The "little friends" go inside the shell or can be played with!
Serenity with the Rio de Trio Village
 We got 2 of the Trinidad and 2 of the Tobago crabs, along with 4 extra shell sets and the 3 playsets! They are so much fun to interchange and there are endless possibilities! My daughters were playing and when one wanted their crab to "go somewhere" the other said "wait I have to change my shell" like she was changing a doll's clothes! The best part of these little crabs is being able to change them over and over!
Playing with the Xia-Xia pets
These toys are colorful, fun and super cute!  The Xia-Xia pets also have wheels, so when you scoot them on a hard surface their little legs and claws move! My girls come home every day from school ready to play with the "little crabs"!   This toy is sure to be a hit this year!
Shae with Tobago
Check out Xia-Xiapets.com for more info! Also find them on Facebook!
Summer with Tobago!

Enter to win your own Xia-Xia hermit crab and shell set! Use the Rafflecopter form below:




I received the above mentioned free products as part of a promotional program with Xia-Xia and MomSelect. I was not compensated in any other way.

Announcing the 2011 Holiday Gift Guide!

2011 Holiday Gift Guide
The 2011 Holiday Gift Guide is coming!! I am gathering sponsors now for a fabulous season of wonderful gifts! Keep an eye out for posts with the 2011 Holiday Gift Guide tag and logo! There will be lots of great reviews, giveaways, discounts and more! We have stuff coming from Omaha Steaks, Magic Cabin, Minted.com, Crazy Dog Tshirts, Nacho Mama Tees, Powercapes, Udderly Smooth, and the hot toy of the season, Xia Xia pets! Those are just a few of the sponsors!!  Check it all out in the next 2 months! Its going to be a great holiday season!

If you are wanting to participate as a sponsor in the 2011 Holiday Gift Guide, send an email to get something going!!  Be a part of a great gift guide!!

Tuesday, October 18, 2011



View the video below on October 19th to help Mary Kay take a stand against Domestic Violence!

In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness month (October), Mary Kay® premiered documentaries to put a national spotlight on the cause. Women nationwide, alongside female celebrities Maria Menounos ("Extra"), JoAnna Garcia Swisher ("Better with You") and Alexa Vega ("Spy Kids"), joined forces through the Mary Kay Inspiring Stories program to unite their voices to make a difference.
We are banding together on October 19th and hope that on that day you will help us support the cause and bring attention to the issue of domestic violence by watching the below Give Joy documentary short narrated by Alexa Vega. With each view we can change the future of domestic violence today.
Through Mary Kay Inspiring Stories, the company will support donations to domestic violence shelters nationwide. You can join the cause in three ways:
  • View and share the films at www.marykayinspiringstories.com
  • Purchase a Limited-Edition Beauty that CountsTM Mary Kay® Creme Lipstick through December 15th:
    • From every purchase of each aptly named "Give Joy," "Give Hope" and "Give Dreams" lipstick, $1 will be donated to the Mary Kay Foundation to assist efforts to end domestic violence. Shop now.
  • Become a fan of Mary Kay at www.facebook.com/marykay:
    • Mary Kay Inc. will donate $1 to the Mary Kay Foundation for every new Facebook fan during the month of October - up to $1 million. 

    I am sharing this info with my readers to spread the word about this cause.
    Check out Psst!- SIGN UP NOW


Monday, October 17, 2011

Win A Red Vintage Kitchen From Pretend Play Kitchen!!

Help spread the word about this Giveaways
Pretend Play Kitchenshop is giving away a KidKraft Red Vintage Kitchen!!  (MSRP $229.95)
How to win It’s easy – STEP BY STEP Directions Below!
Once You’ve signed up you’ll get a chance to automatically join on Facebook & Twitter. Just authorize the contest app & begin spreading the word online with your very own contest link. You’ll earn entries when you put your contest link ANYWHERE online & get people to click & visit our contest! 


Homemade Chicken Enchiladas!

Chicken enchiladas are a family favorite, and it all started when I perfected my own home made recipe! One day when I was wanting to eat something but nothing seemed too appealing. I had some chicken, some onion, some green chiles and remembered that was some of the stuff we used in the chicken tacos at a restaurant I used to work at. I decided to try it but with a twist-I would boil the chicken with the veggies and chicken broth instead of just cooking the meat in a frying pan and adding the veggies. Well the chicken turned out to be amazing! So I decided to try it in enchiladas. Since then I have added to the recipe and really made it great! My friends and family have been asking for the recipe! So I am sharing it on my blog!!

What you will need:
1 can diced green chiles
1 small jar of roasted red bell peppers
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1/2 cup jarred sliced jalapeños (optional)
2-3 lbs. chicken breast
chicken broth, 2-3 cans
2 packets enchilada sauce (cook as directed)
small tortillas
cheddar jack cheese

Begin to heat 1 can of the chicken broth in a pot.  Add the can of diced green chiles, the jar of red peppers, onion and jalapeños to the broth.  (The jalapeños will make it spicy, so if you don't want the heat omit from the recipe).  Heat until steaming and add chicken breasts. Add enough chicken broth to just cover the chicken.  Put on a lid and cook on medium about 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally.  After about 30 minutes, remove lid and check the liquid and see if the chicken can start to be broken down using a wooden spoon.  Continue to cook (without the lid), stir and break up the chicken until most of the liquid is gone. Remove from heat as it will burn quick once the liquid is gone.

Start the enchilada sauce and cook as directed. I choose to use the McCormick brand enchilada sauce but you can use any type you like. The green chile enchilada sauce is also VERY good! As the sauce cooks, you can get the enchiladas ready. Begin using a large scoop of the chicken and rolling it up in the tortilla. Using a greased glass pan, line the enchiladas up end to end, packing tight.  Once all chicken is gone the sauce will be ready. Pour the sauce over the top, getting in the sides and covering all enchiladas.  If you are making more than one pan you may want to make more sauce. My family likes a lot of sauce so we make a lot.

Last but not least, sprinkle (or pile) on the cheese!! Put in a 375 oven for about 5-7 minutes and you are ready to go! Super yummy and pretty easy!

Vistaprint Free Fall Products

Vistaprint is offering 6 Free Products for Fall! The products are FREE, just pay Shipping and Processing.
1 Free Photo Wall Calendar
Impress family, friends or customers with customized wall calendars. Choose icons, add captions and highlight individual dates. Upload your own photos from your computer, Facebook, Picasa, or Flicker or select from hundreds of designs. (Shipping starts at $5.67).

1 Free Photo Flip Book
Create a special keepsake with our handy 4" x 6" flip books. Upload your photos and customize with captions. Includes 10 pages with 1 photo per page. (Shipping starts at $6.01)

1 Free Tote Bag
Perfect for everyday use, our 100% canvas tote bags can be customized with your name and message. Choose from 24 designs. (Shipping starts at $5.67)

250 Free Business Cards

250 FREE Business cards. Perfect for networking, interviews, mommy cards and more! Choose from 45 professional designs and customize with your text. (Shipping starts at $5.67)

10 Free Invitations

Have an upcoming event? Take it up a notch by sending your guests premium invitations. With over 1,000 designs to choose from, you are sure to find the perfect cards to suite your event. You can even send them in matching envelopes. (Shipping starts at $4.52)

1 Free T-Shirt
Choose from a variety of designs and personalize with your own text or photos! Great for cheering for sports teams, team events, family photos and more! (Shipping starts at $4.41)

Friday, October 14, 2011

Camping Mama:Outdoor Adventures for Nintendo DS Review!

Video Games are sure to be a big item on your list this holiday season! I have been checking out all sorts of great games for the Nintendo DS and recently got to review the new game Camping Mama!
Based on the best-selling Cooking Mama franchise that has sold more than 8 and a half million units in North America alone, Camping Mama sets players off on an island camping adventure with Mama, Papa and their two children!  You navigate the wilderness, live off the land and master your survival skills to thrive in the great outdoors!


Reverb Inc. hooked me up with a great swag bag to help me with my own Camping Mama adventures as well as a copy of the game to try out!  Inside the cute green back pack I found binoculars, a first aid kit, a water canteen, a really cute travel spork, a flashlight, the goodies to make s'mores and of course my Camping Mama video game! I was super excited to play the game....but first-we had to have s'mores!

They went pretty quick!

Game features:
Explore the camp site and island as you play a mix of stylus-based cooking, crafting, treasure hunting, and action mini-games in the signature Mama format.
• Play through 38 levels with 100 brand new mini games as Mama’s son or daughter with either Mama or Papa on hand to provide guidance.
• Participate in activities including rock climbing, swinging on jungle vines, spelunking, rowing a boat, tree climbing, and more.
• Use items in mini-games to survive in the woods - craft a fishing pole to fish, sharpen knives and axes with stones you’ve collected, make a fire to cook shellfish you’ve caught, cook the eggs collected from captured chickens to eat, set up your camping tent to sleep in, construct a net to catch butterflies, and much more!
• Find treasure that you can use in further adventures, or even to decorate your camp.
• Earn the highest achievement level by creating the rarest and strongest tools.
• Collect insects, fish, treasure, and more, and then survey your collection in your scrap book. Aim to find everything!
• Shake trees and move rocks for access to hard to reach areas that could be filled with treasure or more activities.

I tried the game to see what its all about! The game was super fun, and the mini games are great! I loved the apple catching game-I kept playing it to try to beat my score! It can be really addicting if you let yourself get into it!! The kids have been having a blast playing the game-and I even got them to share!  They just can't seem to put it down! This is a must have game!
You can also enter to win great prizes in the Camping Mama “Write Your Own Camping Mama Trailer Verse” Contest! Click here for details, ends October 18!

Check out Camping Mama on Facebook , follow them on Twitter, and check out their YouTube page!! Or join Mama's Troop and be in the know for all the lastest and greatest from Cooking and Camping Mama!!

Click here to buy your copy of Camping Mama now!!

I was not compensated for this post. I was given the above mentioned product(s) to review on my blog. All opinions are 100% honest and my own. I was not obligated to give a positive review.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Check out Findabeautysalon.com!

Ever had a salon or stylist that you weren't happy with?? It has definitely happened to me! Sometimes it can be hard to find the right person to take care of your beauty needs! Maybe your usual stylist has moved or taken time off, maybe you have moved yourself! What ever the reason, if you are searching for a new salon, take the time to visit findabeautysalon.com! They are a great resource to find professional salons!

And findabeautysalon.com also offers great giveaways! Check out their giveaway page for the latest and greatest contests!! You can enter to win great prizes and search for a great salon all in one stop!  There are weekly winners so keep coming back for your chance to win!!  You could even win free spa and salon treatments for a year!! Sounds good to me! ☺

Using findabeautysalon.com is really easy to use! You can search by name or by location to find the salon that best fits your needs! It is a great tool and very easy to use!  And you can submit your zip code at the bottom to find great deals in your area! If you are a salon looking to get more business you can submit your salon to be listed! This is such a great site!

Check out findabeautysalon.com and click here to find a salon near you today!!

I was entered in a giveaway for this post. I was not compensated in any way.

BKW Seasonings Steak Rub Review & Giveaway!


If there was ever a girl who loved red meat-it was me! I am seriously addicted to the stuff! Especially a good steak-there is nothing more delicious than a perfectly cooked steak with a side of mushrooms! Absolutely yummy!! Of course every good steak needs a good seasoning to flavor it up!  I have tried some of the BKW Seasonings and they are great! I love their steak rub!!

Product Description:
A good Steak Rub should harmonize the meat…give it that extra sizzle. BKW’s Original Steak Rub is the perfect compliment! It enhances the flavor of your steak, while adding a rustic appearance and that “Big Kahuna” texture. But don’t just limit it to Steaks! It’s great on fish, veal, and vegetables too.

This steak rub is quick and easy to use and gives the meat an amazing flavor! I love using different spices and trying new things with my food so this was great! It didn't last too long as we eat steak weekly and have a lot of family around for dinner most of the time! This seasoning was a hit with everyone!

You can get this great steak rub and other yummy spices at bkwseasonings.com!  Or enter to win one right here on my blog-Sponsored by Tomoson.com




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.

Save with Alice.com!

Save yourself a trip to the store, buy your home essentials from Alice.com. Get toilet paper, toothpaste, paper towels, coffee and more all with free shipping, automatic coupons and 20% off your first order. You order from Alice just like you would a retailer, but behind the scenes Alice works as a marketplace where you can often buy direct from the manufacturers that make your goods.  Shop Alice.com to buy all your home essentials and receive great discounts and 20% off your first purchase.

My Baby Girl's First Limo Ride!


A couple weeks ago my 6 year old daughter came out of class totally stoked for her first ever limo ride! Of course there was a catch-she had to sell 25 items in her school fundraiser! Its one of those ones with super expensive cookie doughs and other goodies. But none the less daddy and I were determined to help her get on that limo ride!

After 2 weeks of hitting the neighborhood and hitting up friends and family, we got all 25 items and she earned the chance to ride around town in a limo-plus lunch at McDonalds! 24 kids in the school earned enough to go, including a few of her friends!

Shae got all dressed up for the occasion and had soooo much fun on her first limo ride! She loved watching a big TV in the car, not having to wear a seat belt, and getting to change seats while moving! Pretty much the high light of her life! I'm so glad Shae got to enjoy this and make great memories with friends! ♥

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Michael's Halloween Savings

Michael's
Get Halloween coupons from Michaels!!

Check out Dealfun.com!

I love shopping online for all sorts of great stuff! Bidding on the things I want allows me to get what I am looking for without the high price tag!  I was recently introduced to a great site called Dealfun.com!   They offer a variety of products!!: iPad, iPhone, Kindle, Laptops, LED TVs, PS3, Watches, Jewelry, Toys and more!  All auctions start at $0.01 and are all brand new products.

dealfun.com complaints are low due to their prompt and courteous customer service!  And with Dealfun.com, you can buy it now-If you bid on items and do not win it, you can use the bids towards buying the product.  This makes sure that even if you don't win the bid you can still get the product!  They offer beginners auctions to help you get the hang of it all and even boast a "win guarantee"- they don't win in the first 24 hours, all their bids are reset!

There is no weekly or monthly win cap, so you can bid and win as much as you want! Get a head start on Christmas and take care of everyone in one place! There are tons of great products, so you can do a one stop shop! Visit Dealfun.com today and check it out for yourself!!

I was compensated for this post. Please see my disclosure

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Fun Play-Date Ideas for Your Kids-Guest Post by Megan Gates!

Play dates are supposed to be good for children, but especially with the younger ones they often result in two kids off doing their own thing while the parents look on. Here are a few ideas to encourage young children to interact:

Costume Party
Children are imaginative creatures and – like most adults – they enjoy inhabiting other personas, if only for a little while. Why let all those old Halloween costumes go to waste? Meet at the park for a costume party play date and let the little ones dress in their holiday attire. Besides gathering appreciative remarks from passers-by, they will also play longer and more creatively in their assumed identities than they would as themselves. The super hero and the fairy princess may have more in common than Ian and Mia. Bring out a dress-up box or a collection of old clothes at home and let their imaginations run wild.

Make a Craft
Younger children enjoy working side-by-side without much interaction. Encourage them to work together by making a “my-hand-your-hand” craft. Trace each child’s hand several times onto sheets of construction paper. Let the children choose the colors – each gets two or three. After an adult cuts out the hand shapes, divide them equally between the children. Let them use a glue stick to attach the hand shapes to a white paper plate to make a wreath. Ask them, “Whose hand is that?” and see if they remember which colors each of them chose. Watch them as they match their hands to the cutouts.

Opposites Hour
Children are delighted by the incongruous; they are creatures of habit. Surprise them by announcing that starting right now it is “Opposites Hour.” For now, socks go on hands, t-shirts go on backwards, “yes” means “no” and “thank you” means “please.” Although young children are sure to goof up, indulge them by wearing a hat on your foot, putting sunglasses on the back of your head and singing when you talk. Set a kitchen timer to make sure “Opposites Hour” ends on time. You don’t have to be one hundred percent accurate in calculating what the opposite of a certain action is. The important thing is breaking the ice and eliciting giggles.

Water Fun Day
Children love water and miss playing with it in the off-season. This activity can be done indoors or out. If it’s wintertime, make sure guests know what’s in store so they can bring along a change of clothes. Have the house heated and something in the oven to make the kitchen nice and cozy. Warning: It will make a mess. Layer the kitchen floor with old towels or blankets and give the children a variety of plastic or wooden bowls, cups and spoons. Place a large bowl full of lukewarm water between them and let them transfer the contents from one container to another. If done outside in summer, you can add a few drops of food coloring to different bowls of water and let the children experiment with mixing and matching.

Megan Gates is an active blogger who provides written work to the blogosphere pertaining to NY Rental Properties, Nassau Real Estate, home improvement and the latest architecture, design and fashion.  Follow her on twitter @MEGatesDesign.

I was compensated for this publishing this post. Please see my disclosure.

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I was compensated for this post. Please see my disclosure.

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