Lots of Love Giveaway Event

Welcome to the Lots of Love Giveaway Event. This event is hosted by And The Little Ones Too, Put A Little Umbrella In Your Drink, Seeds of Life, and Taking Time For Mommy. This event features giveaways with a value of $25 or more at each of the participating blogs! Be sure to visit each blog from the linky below and enter for your chance to win! This event will close on February 14th at 11:59 pm EST.

Enter using the rafflecopter form below to win an Established Board from 3boardchicks.com

 

From Our Hearts to Yours giveaway hop

Welcome to From Our Hearts To Yours hosted by Life With Two Boys, With Our Best, and Mama-Nibbles. There are over 100 bloggers participating in this hop, and each blogger has their own prize package of at least $25 worth of Valentine-related items! So after you have entered my giveaway, I encourage you to hop along and see what the other bloggers are giving away too!

Use the rafflecopter form below to win the following prize pack:
One headband from Pixidust Pretties and one prize pack including

One – 22 piece box of Guylian Artisanal Belgian Original Chocolate Truffles 

Two - 6 piece Original Chocolate Truffle Box

Four - 2 piece Original Chocolate Truffle Box

 

Win a fantastic jewelry prize pack from Simply Sweet Creations

Valentine's Day is right around the corner and what could be better than jewelry! As you know I love to support local artists and have something unique....after all who wants to receive the same piece as everyone else from a chain store! Simply Sweet Creations is an amazing etsy store that offers a variety of hand crafted pieces perfect for Valentine's Day.  Right now you can receive 15% off any order using code FREEFRUGALMOMMY until the end of February. What a perfect time to buy a gift for that someone special-I know that I personally have my eye on a great pair of earring for my friend for her wedding...not only will it be special but she will know that time & effort was put into finding something as unique and personal as our friendship. Here is the great necklace & earring combo that you have a chance to win:

Girl Land Book Review & Giveaway

Girl Land is one of the best books I have read in a long time. At first I was intrigued to read about what women and young girls have lost and gained as we have changed throughout the generations but soon found the book a great guide to life. As I read about all of the things that are not longer personal in a young girls life and how much technology has changed in our time I began to think what it will be like in five to ten years when my daughter reaches her teen years. I never gave a second thought to the Internet and how something as simple as a sleepover has changed because of all the technology available. The book is written in such an easy to read format and the chapters really stick to the topic and want to you to keep reading...I sat down to read one chapter and found myself halfway through the book. If you have a daughter or any small child in your life this is a must read. How far we have come and yet all the new dangers and pressure now on our youth is incredible. Girl Land (ISBN 978-9-316-06598-6) is a must buy and a great read-enter to win your below!

Valentine's Day is right around the corner!

Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays so I thought I would spend some time putting together a small list of gift ideas. Of course little miss wants anything to do with Disney costumes. Even though it is not Halloween time we are constantly shopping for dress up costumes and presents for our little princess. Of course all the stores charge an arm and a leg so I like to order online at Wholesale Halloween Costumes. They have every Disney princess you could possibly need including tangled and the princess and the frog. I literally can pay half price for the costumes and all the accessories-every little girl needs a crown after all! The quality is amazing and each of our previous dresses has withstood years of dress up play. For Valentine's Day we went with a classic purple Jasmine costume and do you want to hear the best part-I found a costume that does not have the stomach area exposed! Absolutely love all the variations available on the site so there is a princess costume available for any age including the itty bitty toddlers. Don't have a little girl? The site also features many costumes from animated movies including the ever popular Toy Story. The site also offers flat rate shipping so no worries if you find yourself wanting the entire store-we have our eye on new Ariel shoes & a crown! Here is one of my favorite costumes the site has to offer....now I just have to convince little miss to want to be Pinocchio!

Great Winter Getaway

Looking for something to do with the kids during the winter? I know my little one gets very antsy and all of the family events/quick getaways seem to be outside. Well we had the pleasure of visiting Castaway Bay in Sandusky, Ohio and had a fantastic time! Castaway Bay is an indoor water park with tons of activities for every age. My daughter was a little unsure of all the splashing water at first but there was a great toddler splash area with a slide just her size and no splashing water or big kids. I personally loved having the option to enjoy some me time in the hot tub while my husband could play with my daughter just a stone's throw away. If you have bigger kids there are so many activities including a tidal pool and water slides. The staff was very friendly and the lifeguard made sure to check on little miss when she seemed upset-it was definitely a pleasant surprise to see such great customer service. Here is a photo of the water park:

We also had the chance to stay the night and enjoy everything Sandusky had to offer. Little miss had a chance to color her very own Castaway Bay shirt....what a great personalized souvenir from our short family getaway! The rooms were very well decorated-we even had a fish comforter which of course made my day! My daughter would say her favorite part was wearing her pajamas with Snoopy. In the evening Castaway Bay invites the children down to an activity room to watch a short Snoopy cartoon and then Snoopy himself comes down and reads a bedtime story to the children-he was even dressed in a nightgown and hat! Castaway Bay also offers a spa, shopping, an arcade, and on site restaurants. Overall the trip was a great getaway and perfect for the cold winter months. Use the rafflecopter form below to win your very own four pack of tickets!

Nutrisystem Week #15

So I have a big announcement....I am officially returning back to work! I started yesterday and even though it is only once a week I completely feel liberated. No longer am a defined by what I do and I am not taking to a toddler all day long. My first day back I thought for sure I would not be able to stick to the Nutrisystem  plan but guess what it was so much easier to travel than I expected. I took by snack with me in the morning and my protein shake in the blender bottle to eat before class then had by snack bar for lunch. I actually found myself drinking more water during the day and had the chance to talk to the ladies about Nutrisystem. So many of the other faculty thought they could not stick with a "diet" because they either sat at a desk all day or ate so much lunch on the go....if nothing else I know that several of the ladies have a new drive to reach their ultimate weight loss! Another big surprise my husband is thinking of starting the plan as well (I know he has taken some of my food in the past!) because he is now a true believer and has seen how easy the plan actually can be and the results. I am very excited at the possibility of having my best friend on my life changing journey and he is excited to loose weight and eat muffins & candy bars! I have had such a great week and have lost another pound-here's to 21lbs. lost and life just beginning!

*A big thanks to Nutrisystem for providing my food in exchange for my honest opinion*

Forget the Resolutions Giveaway Hop!

Forget The Resolutions Giveaway Hop

January 21 - 26, 2012

Hosted by Planet Weidknecht and
Going Crazy!!Wanna Go??

It's been three weeks since you've made all those resolutions.It's said that it takes 21 days to make a new habit, so you've probably already broken your New Year's Resolutions. I say - FORGET THE RESOLUTIONS! Let's have a giveaway hop instead!

The Forget The Resolutions Giveaway Hop runs from January 21 @ 12:01 a.m. EST to January 26 @ 11:59 p.m. EST. Each blogger is hosting their own giveaway of at least $20.00. After you enter my giveaway, be sure to visit the other blogs and enter theirs too!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fabulous bloggers hosting amazing giveaways:

Nutrisystem Week #14

Week 14 on Nutrisystem and I am holding steady. I have not lost any weight this week but have not gained anything so in my book it is another winning week! This week was full of traveling so I did not get in my usual exercise and was a little bit lazy about not snacking more than normal. Although every month around this time I try not to weigh myself for the week because of all the water weight. I also have had a huge accomplishment this week because I did NOT drink any soda or stop for any coffee....throughout my adventure I have slipped up and allowed myself to go on caffeine binges. I don't feel that is necessary anymore with the coffee protein shakes....with or without the Nutrisystem package these are by far by ultimate breakfast treat and it is healthy! We will be heading off to the water park this weekend...more time trapped in a car with my husband & daughter who eat more snacks than anyone on the face of the Earth but I will be strong. After all if I can loose twenty pounds and reinvent myself in a short fourteen weeks I can pass on the cookies and goldfish as they are passed around the car. Until next week stay strong and continue to reach out for support!

*Thank you Nutrisystem for providing my food in exchange for my honest opinion*

Nutrisystem Week #13

Here are are another week into Nutrisystem SUCCESS and I could not be happier! I am surprised at how full I feel ever day and don't even feel like I am "missing" anything in my diet. This morning I had a donut for breakfast-that's right a donut! It was a delicious little treat complete with chocolate frosting and I also had my coffee protein shake-I must say breakfast has quickly become one of my favorite meals of the day and I never ever ate breakfast before Nutrisystem. I think that is one of my biggest lessons learned on the plan-you have to eat breakfast and get up and move if you want to see results. We have incorporated so much more actual activity into our family life it is incredible. We play games outside, go for family walks after dinner, and are now dancing ourselves skinny with the kinnect. My husband has also lost weight on the plan and loves that we are both changing and gaining more energy every day-no more mid afternoon naps required! Now for the big reveal-I have officially lost 20 pounds!!! That's right 20 pounds in a mere 13 weeks how incredible! I only have 9 more pounds until I reach my goal and know that with 11 weeks remaining on my adventure my goal will be achieved before spring! I cannot wait to go shopping for new clothes before the big anniversary trip-I cannot thank Nutrisystem and their support system enough for changing my life!


*Thank you Nutrisystem for providing my meals in exchange for my honest opinion of the program*

Sky Ball...to the moon & back!

Have you ever heard of Sky Ball? I personally was not aware of the amazingly fun toy until my daughter came home from a friends insisting she needed the ball that went to the moon and back.  Now of course I thought that this was just another bouncy ball but I am amazed at the durability and how far the ball can bounce. Sky Ball by Maui Toys can bounce up to 75 feet in the air if bounce it straight up....my husband has now taking on a new hobby of trying to get it to bounce 75 feet but until the snow melts we have to stick to inside play. The ball bounces four times higher than a basketball and three times higher than a tennis ball. My two year old loves the ball because it is so easy to bounce and she can catch it much easier than a small bouncy ball. Our cats also like to chase the ball around-I think it is the smooth material and see through green color...whatever it may be the Sky Ball has become a family favorite. My daughter also loves to take the ball into the tub and watch it "jump" when she let's go of it underwater. If you need a great toy to keep the kids busy while the weather is awful Sky Ball is a fantastic choice. I cannot wait until summer when we can test out who can bounce the Sky Ball to the moon and back! Here is a great highlight of the Sky Ball in action:

Ohh Baby, Baby Giveaway Hop now accepting sponsors!

 

Ohh, Baby, Baby Giveaway Hop sponsored by The Shopping Duck is taking signups now. This blog hop event will take place from April 1, 2012 to April 15, 2012. Come join the fun!

Chinese New Year Hop: Jan. 13-23

Welcome to the Chinese New Year Hop, brought to you by How Was Your Day?  2012 is the Year of the Dragon! 

The Dragon is a sacred symbol in Chinese astrology.  A dragon is symbolic of power and superiority, rather than a threatening symbol.  People born under the sign of the dragon are special, considered widely to be strong and wise.  

There are more than 60 blogs participating, each with a minimum $25 prize package!    We also have a Grand Prize.  You can earn entries for the Grand Prize by entering the giveaways hosted on each blog.  

You'll definitely want to see what everyone has to offer!

Free & Frugal Mommy of One is offering the following:
1. Perplexus Toy
2. Jocky Tech Terry Performace Bra & Purex Crystal Prize Pack


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Are You Feeling Lucky Event

Sason and Pobi would like to invite you to A Lucky Day Sweepstakes Event. Sign Up here.

Guest Post from Natalie Walter: My Wife & I

Guest post from: Natalie Walter
My wife and I finally decided to make the move we’d been waiting for – I love Texas so much! I can’t wait to be here for over a year but it was already really nice to spend Christmas here which we just got through for the first time. I am so happy being in this great home with my little family and my wife and I have even been talking about getting a new dog once we’re here for a while and the yard is set up the way we want it to be. I went to the web to look into TXU energy information because we needed to cut back on the air conditioning rates (it’s really hot here!) and we’ve been able to get our bills down already. I also thought about whether or not we’re going to want to put a pool in eventually and I’m thinking about surprising my wife with one next spring. I am just really happy here and I know it won’t be long before we’ve got something else to tell everyone. We’re pregnantbut none of our family knows yet so it’s going to be a big surprise!

Nutrisystem week #12

So it is officially my first full week on the Nutrisystem SUCCESS program and I could not be happier! My ultimate new favorite part of the program is the protein shakes-and guess what they came with a Blender Bottle (remember that great little invention I highlighted a few months back!). The shakes are so easy to make and taste amazing-just add water, ice, and the pre packaged powder and it really is like drinking a tiny slice of heaven. I personally love iced coffee and it was one of my weak points (I have slipped a few morning in the past) but now have a coffee flavored protein shake that not only taste just like my store bought iced coffee but I can actually feel good about my choice. The shakes are also available in vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry-I have tried all three and each is good. Since I am a chocoholic this is a perfect addition to my breakfast. I also must highlight that the program comes with a great travel card to keep you on track during your day-it is credit card sized and it is a quick remember of what fits into the plan. I will be trying all of the chef meals next week and can't wait to give you an update-here's to another pound lost and having "coffee" back in my life!

* A big thank you to Nutrisystem for providing my food in exchange for my honest opinions* 

Join the New Years Resolutin Blog Carnival: Win a great prize pack!

Hauling & Trucking, Medical Transcription Source and Makobi Scribe Present New Year’s Resolution Blog Carnival. My New Year's Resolution is to pay off two credit cards! 

Whatever your resolution may be I have a great prize pack! Please enter below using the rafflecopter form to win the following: 1 Frosted Toast Crunch Prize Pack & your choice of Real Kids Shades

Frosted Toast Crunch has released a new delicious tasting cereal and now is you chance to try your very own box! Frosted Toast Crunch has a great artificial vanilla flavor and will hit grocery stores in January...you will win a spoon, bowl, milk pitcher, and box of frosted toast crunch-enter now!

“Frosted Toast Crunch, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.”

Birthday Bash-Enter to win amazing prizes!

 

Enter using the rafflecopter form below to win a feather bed from MaggiesDirect!