3 days left to get your Chicken Soup pack on Living Social!

Only 3 days left to get your $130 Chicken Soup pack for $29 on Living Social!

details:

Warm hearts and bellies with a sneak preview of Chicken Soup for the Soul's new line of delicious comfort food and exclusive collection of gifts:
• $29 ($130 value) for a limited edition comfort food and gift set
• 15-piece set includes pantry essentials, kitchen gear, and best-selling books
• Perfect for hostess and holiday gifts
Get Cooking
Turn up the flavor and fun in the kitchen with one ready-to-serve Chicken Soup for the Soul chicken noodle soup with tender chunks of chicken; one Signature classic chicken broth to enhance all your dishes; one BBQ-style beef-flavored broth for hearty winter meals; one turkey gravy for savory holiday fare; and one zesty pasta sauce made with imported Italian tomatoes and herbs.
Celebrate moments with a happiness-themed photo frame; and create inspired meals with an apron, oven mitt, potholder set, and two ceramic mugs with matching spoons. Then, treat your friends and family to wonderful recipes from two gift-able eBooks: Chicken Soup for the Soul 20th Anniversary Edition and Chicken Soup for the Soul Cookbook. You'll also get a fun word puzzle book filled with inspirational quotes and an audio book of the best-selling, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Think Positive.

Chicken Soup for the Soul's Website

PAID VALUE EXPIRES ON September 29, 2018
PROMOTIONAL VALUE EXPIRES ON December 12, 2013

*Just think of all the great gift ideas-I am thinking teacher gifts in addition to the inlaws!* 

Learning fun for home and the classroom!

Have you seen the new LeapReader? It is now available for purchase in most of your favorite stores including our favorites Meijer & Target! The reading and writing system is perfect for ages 4-8 and really keeps kids busy!

This year I will once again be room mom for my junior kindergartner and had the privilege of taking two LeapReaders to school (a big thanks to MomSelect and LeapFrog!) It was a combined class party with twenty four 4-5 year old's that were eager to play and engage while focusing on a frog unit. I thought it would be a great blend into the unit and a perfect station to really see how well the LeapReader worked and held the attention of so many children. So what was the fan favorite? The Monsters University 3D Book! The kids loved the 3D glasses and most took a pair home because the glasses were "magical".

What did the mom's like? The top must have was the Learn to Write with Mr. Pencil and the Talking Words Factory Flash Cards. Everything was such a great mix of play and learning that each of the classrooms is keeping a LeapReader in the classroom for free choice.

I enjoyed watching the children play with each of the activities and "teach" each other how to work the LeapReader. I found it easy to transfer from activity to activity and very easy to use without having to read a huge how to book. We plan to buy little miss one for the holiday and include all the princess books and flashcards. What is your favorite LeapFrog product?

*I have received the LeapFrog products to host a sponsored classroom party. All opinions are my own*

Living Social Deal-think holiday present!

Have you seen this deal on Living Social? 

It is a fantastic Chicken Soup for the Soul $130 prize pack for $29! I know I will be buying a few for the the inlaws and hard to buy Christmas presents!

Fall Fashion for Less!

If you have been following for some time you would know that I an obsessed with Meijer! When we first moved to our current home I never heard of the store and not open to trying something new...flash forward three years and I would not shop anywhere else! You have already me rave about the free cookies for the kids at the bakery which is a great way to start a drama free shopping trip and Sandy the horse the end (only a penny to ride!) for those who behaved while shopping. EVERYONE in my family loves Meijer so with fall approaching I decided to dive in a little deeper and explore the women's clothes. 

Now I have not really added much to my wardrobe in two years because I really did not want my "nice" clothes being ruined by a messy toddler. All this did was get me used to dressing in comfy clothes that really were not flattering or helped me feel good about myself. In that time because everything stretched I gained some weight and am happy to be back on track to a healthy life.

 Meijer has created a Fall Lookbook which showcases some of the exciting Fall fashion offerings available at Meijer to show how you can get on-trend items for less. I am in love with the back of this shirt- absolutely love simple colors with detail!

 I went to Meijer armed with a $50 gift card and $5 off $50 purchase thanks to MPerks. Here is what I came up with:

 Outfit #1: Jeans from Meijer ($12 on sale!), Shirt was on sale for $10 and boots I found in my closet. I absolutely love the detail on the shirt and how it really adds to the look without being crazy in your face. I also like that I can pair this with black pants and wear to work with a simple black bead necklace! 

Outfit #2: My one goal was to add some color to my wardrobe. I wear a TON of black and white and really wanted to get some color that would blend with things I already own. Jeans are from Mejer ($12 and super comfy), White tank from my closet, green long flowing cardigan from Meijer (love that it is the perfect length and make my legs look longer), shoes and necklace from my closet. 

Outfit #3: Jeans ($12 Meijer), Cardigan & shoes from my closet, Ruffle tank from Meijer. I had a hard time passing this one up even though it is black & white! I love how the ruffles move with you and hide any extra you might have around the middle. This is one of the most flattering shirts I have owned in a long time and I like that it is sleeveless so will transition well from season to season. 

Do you love Meijer as much as me? Right now Meijer is hosting a Pinterest contest where pinners have a chance to win one of five $100 gift cards. Pinners simply enter here and pin five items or outfits from the Meijer Fall Fashion board onto any one of their boards. Winners will be chosen the first week of October. You can find more info about the contest on the Meijer Style page. 

Looking forward to seeing your fall styles! 

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

Is your little one back in school?

Our school year is in full swing and little miss is in junior kindergarten this year! She goes five days a week and even stays for lunch each day which is a bit of an adjustment and although I was a bit sad that summer was over I was also doing a bit of a happy dance thinking of a few hours of freedom each day.....can you relate?

Now this is our third year of school and I had the entire summer off work so it was a bit of a different feeling. I mean my baby was no longer a baby and next year she would be in school full time-that is so hard to imagine! She is such a big girl she even dressed herself for the first day of school....I mean who doesn't want to wear pearls and giant hairbands everyday of their lives:

So I made it the entire first week and then today while working on snack for the class for the week I break down and absolutely loose it! How in the world can this little miracle baby be going to school full time and not need me anymore! Of course I know she needs me and we still will have fun but its not the same as when she was little and I was her number one playmate. Every time I look at her I see this little baby stuck on her belly because she couldn't figure out how to roll over to her stomach. It is hard to believe that she is four and tomorrow I will blink and she will leave us for college....I am by no sense saying life is roses each day but it is the tiny moments you want to reach out and hold on forever.
So back to our snack situation. Does your child's school have a "waste policy"? It is a big thing in Canada and we are starting to receive more pressure to adopt this style of life (no problem for our family since we have been living this way for years). Basically they encourage you to pack your child snacks/lunches that do not have to be thrown away such as sandwich bags and juice boxes. I will reveal a ton of great ways we have been saving money over the years with these products but I want to tell you a little about the new and improved Squeez'Ems Reusable Food Pouch:

 

This is one of my favorites for lunch time because little miss loves fruit purees but not so much whole fruits. For example if an apple is brown of a banana is mushy she will not eat it or even think about touching it. To make sure we are using all of the fruit in our house and that she is getting the best of the best we started "fruit salad Sunday". On Sunday we go and get her favorite fruits and get out the Magic Bullet. She then picks out five combinations and we blend each with a bit of vanilla yogurt. This is such an amazing "trick" because she will ALWAYS eat what she thinks she "cooked" herself. Here is one of our new favorite recipes:

Raspberry Applesauce Pouches:

(Makes about 3 pouches) 

2 Cups Applesauce (I use the no sugar added if I am already using a sweet fruit)

2 ounces raspberries pureed (I use my Magic Bullet but sometimes I will have her smash them in a plastic bag to make her feel more involved)

*Note the best part of mashing the fruit in a plastic bag is you can easily cut off the corner and transfer to the pouches with little mess*

So far lunch has been a complete success-not only are we saving a ton of money by NOT having to buy a bunch of those fruit pouches that are so pricey but I know exactly what is going into her lunch. She loves that the pouch is just like the throw away pouches-it has an easy twist on cap and the other side has a clear window so you can tell when you are getting to the end of the pouch. All in all this first week of packing lunches has been a success-stay tuned for my tutorial on making your own peanut butter and jelly uncrustables!

A new blog and a new me!

So I want to start off by apologizing to all you for my extended absence. During the past few weeks I was sick then got into a bit of a funk and really started to think. Many of you who have been with me from the beginning remember why I started this blog-a place to vent and really express who I was and coping with being a mom with a long distance family. Over the years I have tried to find you the best contests and prizes which comes with a lot of wheeling and dealing and led to a review/giveaway blog. Although I love all the prizes and the feedback on how great your children/partner/family loved the prize I realize I have lost the personal connection. During the next few months be prepared for a slow change-more personal content and a ton of pictures! Here is a to finding myself again and to getting to know more of you personally!

Excited to be back!

Ready to ROAR back to school?

It is so incredible that it is back to school week for most here in our town...we go back Monday which is so bittersweet. I cannot believe how fast our summer has gone and how much all the little ones have grown! You know what comes like a tidal wave after school-the holidays! I know, I know it seems like it will be a long way from now until the holidays but it is only 4 short months away! Have your kids started looking at all the new must have toys on the shelf? I know ours have and this year one of the most sought after is dinosaurs. ANYTHING dinosaurs-small toys, big toys, toys that make noise....I have even decided I am going to try to "build" a dinosaur nest in the toy room....will keep you updated on how that goes. So of all the dinosaurs on the market here is our number one new favorite-the VTech Switch & Go Dinos® Jagger the T-Rex! 

This toy is so much fun! He recognizes your voice and is our new must have "rescue dino". He has saved dolls from the castle, roared at the out of control train, and even joined forces with the other rescue dinos to "help" our cat. Here is more on what VTech has to say:

The ultimate kid’s toy, Switch & Go Dinos easily transform between a dinosaur and a vehicle in a few simple steps.

·         Each of the collectible Switch & Go Dinos features high-quality electronics and a unique transformation feature to provide a 2-in-1 imaginative play experience.

·         In dinosaur mode, sound effect buttons emit realistic dinosaur sounds and phrases that teach facts about each dino, providing kids with fun and enriching playtime.

Highlights

Transform from a motorized construction truck to a powerful dinosaur with VTech's Jagger The T-Rex™! With voice recognition technology, this mighty toy dinosaur is yours to command! This electronic toy fuses two of boys’ favorite things—dinosaurs and vehicles—into one awesome play experience your child will love!

Description

I'm Jagger the T-Rex, and my power is yours to command! Tell me to "go", and I'll make the earth shake with my powerful legs! Or tell me to "eat" and my spike-like teeth and super-strong jaws will leave nothing behind! With your brains and my brawn, we can do anything! Just say the word! VTech's Jagger the T-Rex™ transforms from a super-cool construction crane to a fierce Tyrannosaurus Rex in just a few simple steps. Combined with voice recognition technology, this toy dinosaur is one of the coolest Switch & Go Dinos® yet! Play in truck mode with an awesome rotatable toy crane, a mini-transforming bulldozer, a voice-activated launcher-fired drill bit and realistic crane sound effects. Switch to dinosaur mode to see Jagger's animated dinosaur eyes and his powerful stomping feet. Jagger even recognizes and responds to 24 specific voice commands. Say “Roar with me,” and hear him roar with his voice-activated motorized jaw. Sound effect buttons emit realistic dinosaur sounds and phrases that teach pre-historically awesome dinosaur facts! He’s one of the biggest dinosaurs to roam the earth…and with his crane, now he can move the earth, too!

We found Jagger at many of our local stores and I know he will be a huge hit this holiday season. Not sure if you want a giant dinosaur running around your house? There are 15 other choices including Blister the Velociraptor who happens to be our favorite! 

With so many choices in such a wide price range you are sure to find an amazing dinosaur for your little one. Be sure to enter using the rafflecopter form below to win three assorted smaller dinosaurs from VTech! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Anything Goes Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Anything Goes Giveaway Hop

This event is hosted by The Review Wire and Review Wire Media. All participating blogs will be offering a giveaway of at least $20. So after you enter my giveaway make sure to check out what mystery giveaways the other blogs have to offer. Also, head over to The Review Wire for the Grand Prize...a Gift Set from Keeki Pure & Simple that includes: Pink Lemonade Lotion ($14), a Cheecky Oragnic Lip Shimmer ($8) and a Rasberry Sorbet polish($10). A total Retail Value of $32! Anything Goes event bloggers are not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. Companies and bloggers, if you would like to participate in group giveaway events like this one, sign up to be emailed about future events hosted by The Review Wire.

Enter below to win Nursing Pillow, Breast Bands, and Milk Bands! Can't wait to win?  Get a free $40.00 nursing pillow for just the $12.95 shipping cost with code FRUGALMOMMY. These oval shaped pillows wrap around mom to make a soft platform for nursing. Remember, “minky” type plush fabrics add $4.95 to the $12.95 shipping cost. Visit NursingPillow.com to get started.

Enter using the rafflecopter form below

Back to School Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Back To School Giveaway Hop hosted by Sarah's Blog Of Fun!!  We have some terrific prizes to make going back as easy as possible!

Enter using the rafflecopter form below to win a great prize pack curtosity of MyBlogSpark including:

1 box of new Chicken Helper

10" Non-Stick Pan

Oven Mitt

Scoop & Drain Utensil

30-piece Storage Set

 
What a great prize to get you ready for lunches and easy dinners for those busy evenings! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tea Time

It is hard to believe that summer will be over for our house in three short weeks...even worse I only have so many summers left before the girls are ready to be with their friends and I am only the taxi. This summer we decided to continue the tradition of "tea time" with lemonade and Cadbury ice cream.
Step one was to make some delicious lemonade:

Little miss was in charge of squeezing all the lemons while we boiled the sugar...it was so easy and such a joy to see her face that she was making all the drinks for the party. MomSelect went above and beyond this year with supplying hats and the most delightful tea set-just look at the detail on the cup:

Of course this was also one of the hats provided which had all the little girls running around and pretending to be "Princess Kate" (I love that she is such a positive role model).  Of course it would not be a Cadbury High Tea Party without Cadbury ice cream! The biggest hit for the girls was ice cream base with the Carmel swirl...moms on the other hand preferred the dark chocolate coated bars. The ice cream was a perfect treat and just the right size for the girls. All of the mom's had a great time getting a chance to play dress up and wear large hats while pretending the afternoon away with out little princesses. The party was such a success and I could not have asked for a better afternoon with the creamy ice cream bars and refreshing tea cups of lemonade....even the dog had a fantastic time!

A big thanks go MomSelect and Cadbury #CadburyHighTea for the party kit! 

Meijer Back-to-School Photo Sweepstakes!

Meijer is inviting shoppers to post a photo that shows their kids’ unique talents and interests in becoming the next great valedictorian, athlete, humanitarian chef, etc., for the chance to win a $100 Meijer gift card (25 grand prizes). The ‘Most Likely To…’ photo sweepstakes runs from July 28 – Sept. 8, 2013.

Simply visit Meijer and submit a photo showing what your child is most likely to be when he/she grows up.

My daughter is going to be a painter....what is your little one's dream?

 “This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.”

2Kool2Skool Hop

Welcome to the 2Kool4Skool Giveaway Hop

This event is hosted by The Review Wire and Review Wire Media. The 2Kool4Skool Event has everything you need for back to school school! All participating blogs have a giveaway of at least $25 so hop down the list to see what they have in store for you. Make sure to also check out the Grand Prize over at The Review Wire and enter to win a Back To School Prize Pack worth over $200 in back to school gear including a backpack from eBags, Clothes from French Toast, Elmer's Glue, I See Me Personalized Lunch Box, Gripcase iPad Cover and Swingline.

Enter using rafflecopter below to win the following prize pack:

1. Write to Read App & My Little Pony A Canterlot Wedding App
2.Old El Paso Taco Meal for those quick back to school meals

Summer Sweeping to Win Giveaway Hop

Summer is coming to a close, but it's still HOT, HOT, HOT outside.  Stay cool and keep Summer Sweeping with this Giveaway Hop, hosted by the Blogging Mamas Network!

Each blogger linking up has a Giveaway for you worth at least $25, so be sure to hop around to them all!

Enter using the rafflecopter form below to win HBL Hair Care including a HBL Hydrating Shampoo, HBL Hydrating Conditoiner, and a HBL Hair Masque. 

Ready to win a $30 Target gift card brought to you by Gift Car Rescue!

Are you ready for back to school? I know we have to get tons of school clothes and supplies...little miss will finally go to school five days a week! Of course I am always looking for a way to find great deals and stumbled upon Gift Card Rescue. The cite has been featured on CBS, in SmartMoney, and the New York Times to name a few. It's a great program were you can buy discounted gift cards or exchange gift cards.

I love that you can exchange the gift cards you will not use to find something that you can enjoy. Ever get that random gift card and you wonder around the store for hours only to come out empty handed? My family for some reason always buys either bath store or home improvement store gift cards for my family as presents and now I can exchange for something I will use like Target! Don't need to exchange? They have a ton of great stores for a discounted rate. Love that I can shop at all of my favorite stores for a fraction of the price. What a great gift for those going back to college or even for the holidays! 

Be sure to enter using the rafflecopter form below to win your very own target giftcard! 

Trade in your phone at best buy-so easy!

Need to get a new mobile phone but dreading the experience of shopping for one?

Explore Best Buy Mobile specialty stores – these shops are found locally in malls or in your neighborhood shopping centers, and are focused on mobile devices and accessories. Shop for the latest smartphones and tablets from Verizon, AT&T and Sprint, from all the top brands, along with stylish accessories to suit your lifestyle. The staff is highly trained, yet non-commissioned, so they can help determine the right phone for you, as well as compare plans across the carriers. They can set up and activate your new phone, transfer your contacts and data and set you up with the complimentary Walk Out Working™ program. To find a Best Buy Mobile specialty store, go to www.BestBuyMobile.com

I had no idea that Best Buy did this everyday! Just in time for little miss to ruin our tablet with chocolate milk and cookie crumbs we stumbled upon the best kept secret. Just trade in your phone and get a Best Buy gift card which means a new updated phone for me and a new tablet for the family. Get a Best Buy Gift card when you trade it in at a participating Best Buy Mobile specialty store location – and if you have a newer working phone, you could get up to a $200 Best Buy gift card. Learn more and find a participating Best Buy Mobile specialty store:  http://bestbuymobile.com/promotion/tradein/ Not sure what your device is worth? Use the great trade in value tool found here!

What will you get when you trade in and update your plan? 

The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free