Dexter's Super Savvy Mommy

I have my Bachelor's Degree, why am I not using it?

2012-01-19T09:25:00.001-05:00

Every month when I pay on my 35k student loan debt I am reminded that I am not only still waiting tables and working from home as a Social Media Director. Don't get me wrong, I love my job, but I can't help but feel as though I wasted my money on a degree that I am not using.

Sometimes I dream that I went to school in Tahiti and developed a rich tan and sexy body as well as my degree in Health Management. These dreams of mine always involve some warm, tropical climate and a GREAT degree such as a medical assistant schools in miami or a Swedish Massage School in Stockholm. Ok, ok, maybe the massage school is more of a dream of a topless therapist named Sven with muscular hands that never-tire but that is and always will be nothing more than a dream!!

As an educated woman I consider myself lucky. I am lucky because no one can take my degree or intelligence away from me. I graduated Cum Laude with a 3.79 GPA and that is a feat. I did this just a few short years ago prior to having children. I applaud mothers who are able to take the time out of their incredibly busy lives to go back to school. I feel blessed to be where I am today but I know that I am far from done with my schooling. What are your educational goals? Have you completed your education to your satisfaction or are you like me and you feel like you are a life-long learner? My grandmother turns 96 today and she once told me (many times actually) that in order to keep your body going, you need to keep your brain strong. She reads a lot and is very educated. I look up to her in regards to her strength and fortitude!

No matter where you are in your educational journey. Whether you have a GED, diploma or some college classes under your belt there is one thing I know for sure.....you sure are smart to be reading Super Savvy Mommy!

STOP SOPA and PIPA!

2012-01-18T07:22:00.000-05:00

Sign the Petition and Tell Congress: Please don't censor the web!

Mean and Green Cleaning Tip #1

2012-01-12T12:26:00.001-05:00

I constantly get asked how I avoid chemicals and toxins in the laundry room. Now that people are becoming aware of the dioxins and carcinogens in most detergents (All Tide and many others) as well as fabric softener, they are wanting to make the switch.

Making the switch from Downy/Bounce to a cheaper, ecofriendly, green alternative is EASY! I am here to show you how!

Here is my laundry room staple: homemade "Dryer Sheets"

1. Start out with a sturdy baby wipe tub and fill it 3/4 with tap water

2. Add 4T of your favorite green fabric softener. I use ecoSTORE USA's fabric softener (which cannot be purchased anywhere! I happen to have an extra one to give away to one lucky winner!)

3. Cut 3 brand new sponges in half and place them in the solution

4. When you fill your dryer, gently squeeze 1-2 sponges depending on the size of your load and toss them in your dryer. (I find that in winter I always need 2 sponges)

5. When you empty your dryer simply toss your dry sponges back into the tub for future use.

You will notice that your laundry is starting to get static-y again after awhile and to remedy this, simply add another tablespoon of fabric softener!

Fill out the Rafflecopter Form below to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2012-01-06T12:00:00.000-05:00

2012! WOW! We are already into the first weekend of the New Year and I cannot believe how much hope I have for 2012. Oliver and Dexter are growing like weeds and I have a few pictures to share from the holidays!

Mr. Oliver at 12 months

December in North Carolina visiting my Mom and Dad

Hayride in October

Christmas Morning

HAPPY NEW YEAR from the Smith Family! May this be your best year yet!

MyBlogSpark-Seventh Generation "Nature Makes Perfect Scents" Sweepstakes

2011-12-16T13:45:00.003-05:00

Seventh Generation dish liquid contains only essential oils and botanical extracts, and delivers real cleaning power. Your tableware will be left fresh and ready to serve your next home cooked meal.
With authentic ingredients like lavender from the fields of Drome in the foothills of the Alps, clementines from sunny Calabria and lemons from the soils of Sicily, Seventh Generation natural dish liquid is free of unnecessary synthetic colors or chemically engineered scents.
Enter the "Nature Makes Perfect Scents" sweepstakes at seventhgeneration.com/scents and you can have the chance to take a trip for two to visit one of the sourcing sites of Seventh Generation natural dish liquid fragrance ingredients. Visit seventhgeneration.com/scents to learn more about each scent´s origin.

What you will win:

(4) bottles of Seventh Generation natural dish liquid varieties in Free & Clear, Lavender Floral & Mint, Fresh Citrus & Ginger, and Lemongrass & Clementine Zest scents
Premium 3 Qt. 12" x 9" Baking Dish from Le Creuset
(2) Twist© loofah sponges and (2) Twist© scour pads made from 100% post-recycled materials
Set of 3 organic cotton dish towels

To enter:
*Like me on Facebook
*Follow me on Twitter
*Follow on GFC
*Share this contest on Facebook and post the URL in comment
*Tweet daily "Enter to #win Le Creuset Baking Dish and @SeventhGen Dish Liquids from @royaldixie Ends 1/2/12
*Add this contest to any contest listing (unlimited entries)

Contest is open to US residents and ends 12/23/11 GOOD LUCK

**Disclosure: The Seventh Generation Natural Dish Liquid prize pack, product and information have been provided by Seventh Generation through MyBlogSpark.**

A Time for Giving and Receiving

2011-12-16T11:26:00.002-05:00

A Time for Giving and Receiving

It is always nice to receive; however, it is even better to give. This semester when you rent your textbooks from CampusBookRentals.com a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Operation Smile. So, this is not only your opportunity to give, but to receive as well. In fact, you will be getting more than just savings when you rent. You will also receive convenience and a stress free experience.

Campus Book Rentals has been assisting student with all their textbook needs since 2007. They have created a system that makes finding and renting textbooks an easy, fast and an overall enjoyable experience, which if you are familiar with buying your books at the store than you know this is a vast improvement. Since their website is so easy to navigate you can find all the books you need with just a few clicks of the mouse. Once you have paid for your rented books they will be shipped to your doorstep for free. You can then use the books as you wish, including highlighting and writing in the margins. When you are finished with your books you simply ship them back for free. This hassle free experience is also accompanied by flexible rental dates and a thirty day trial period on all books.

Campus Book Rentals has taken all the guessing out of textbook buying, or rather renting. It is simple, rent your books for next semester to save yourself money, and give a child across the globe the chance to smile for the first time.

Q-Tips Fun Ideas

2011-12-15T12:12:00.000-05:00

There is never a time in my house that you won't find a package of Q-Tips tucked in the bathroom closet. I love how versatile they are! When Dexter was really little I used them to clean out his little tiny fat rolls as well as his outer ears. I also like to use them to clean out the dog's ears and clean the grout in the shower. I also love giving a few to Dexter to use with his paints because they are perfect for little hands and clean up easily because you can toss them right in the trash when finished. There are so many awesome uses from cleaning to crafts. Look at this cute video to see more ideas:

Q-Tips sent me some Precision Tip Q-Tips and I love them! They are much smaller which I found very useful when cleaning up makeup smudges. There is nothing I hate more than to get a little bit of mascara on my lid after I applied my eyeshadow. The Precision tips took care of the clean up without the need for me to reapply my eyeshadow! AWESOME! I also used the Precision Tips to help me dust my keyboard! It was so efficient and easy.

What do you like to do with your Q-Tips? Enter your tips by the end of the day today on www.facebook.com/Qtips for your chance to win a $100 gift card.

**Q-Tips sent me some Q-Tips and a gift card in exchange for this post**

Baby Bullet makes a week's worth of organic baby food for less than $3.00

2011-12-07T15:08:00.000-05:00

This holiday season 2011 from the creators of the world’s most popular personal blender – The Original Magic Bullet ® – comes The Original Baby Bullet™! This safe, non-toxic and BPA-free countertop magician is the perfect gift for new moms, on-the-go moms and even Dads too! With The Original Baby Bullet™, parents can prepare, blend and store an entire week’s worth of nutrient-rich, preservative-free, organic baby food – in less than five minutes!

If you are introducing new foods to your baby this holiday season try these simple recipes! They are delicious, nutritious and sure to be a hit with even the most finicky eater. Now creating delicious festive holiday inspired dishes for your little one will save you money and take no time at all! Also, check out other great recipes and parenting tips at www.babybulletblog.com.

Apple Walnut Puree- A delicious holiday treat

· 2 Apples, cored & peeled (Pink Lady, Fuji or Gala are all good choices)

· 1/4 Cup Walnuts, shelled & halved

· 1/8 Tsp Cinnamon

Place apples and walnuts in the Turbo Steamer.
Cook until apples are fork tender.
Place apples, walnuts, cinnamon and 3 tbsp of the water to The Baby Bullet and puree until smooth.
Cool and serve.

One Pot Christmas Dinner- Feast for your little king

8 months+

· 1 cup of cubed Turkey - uncooked (using cooked is fine as well)

· 1/2 cup peeled and cubed winter squash

· 1/2 cup peeled and cubed white potato

· 1/2 cup peeled and cubed sweet potato

· 1/2 cup peas or green beans

· 1 small handful of fresh or frozen cranberries

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a medium sized sauce pan
Add 2 cups of water
Bring to a gentle boil and then turn heat to low
Simmer on low for 20 minutes or until turkey is no longer pink and veggies may be easily pierced with a fork.
Transfer the cooked One Pot Christmas Dinner to the Baby Bullet and puree until you achieve the desired consistency.
Viola!

Yummy Sweet Potato Pie- Delicious and nutritious

· 2 ounces of sweet potato cubed.

· 4 tbsp oat meal or rice cereal

· 2 tbsp water

· Yogurt (optional)

Directions:

Steam sweet potato in the Turbo Steamer.
Combine oat meal or rice cereal and water in the Baby Bullet and Puree until you achieve your desired consistency.
Mix in yogurt for babies over 8 months.
Enjoy!

The Perfect Gift! The Original Baby Bullet™, which boasts a warm, cheerful design aesthetic, is much more than a blender – it’s a 22-piece comprehensive baby food making system designed to make mom’s life easier while ensuring baby begins life eating the healthiest, most nutrient-rich all-natural foods. Jarred baby food is much more expensive than homemade food and typically contains unhealthy sugars, preservatives and fillers (even when it’s labeled organic). With The Original Baby Bullet™, moms are in full control of every ingredient that goes into their baby’s food. Fresh is always best!

Purchase The Original Baby Bullet™ 22-piece system for $59.97 at Bed Bath and Beyond, Wal-Mart, Target, Walgreens, Babies R Us and other fine realtors.

Pearl Harbor Day-THANK a Service Man or Woman

2011-12-07T09:58:00.002-05:00

This is a picture of my Grandpa with Dexter back in October 2008; two months before he passed away. This picture always makes me smile because I was so happy that my Grandpa Tony was able to meet his first great grandson. He would have loved to see how funny and thoughtful he has turned out. My grandpa was an amazing man, actually the BEST man. He was really funny, thoughtful, kind and so generous. The world would be so much better if there were more men like him in it.

Grandpa Tony served his country in the US Coast Guard on the USS Kirkpatrick During WWII. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't somehow think about my Grandpa. He did, after all, teach me how to catch a fish, drive a riding lawnmower and drink coffee with my pinkie extended. He could throw down a cribbage match at a moment's notice and sing some awesome old school country on his guitar. Whenever I hear "Oh My Darling" I will forever think of him.

Rest in Peace Grandpa for you are in a better place especially now that Grandma just joined you in heaven. I love and miss you everyday. I know you are watching down on us and shining your greatness down on our family. I wish you could have met Oliver Thomas, who I proudly named after you! All my love, all the time.

Is your Artificial Tree a Green Option?

2011-12-01T16:49:00.000-05:00

*Did you know that 80+% of Artificial Christmas trees contain lead and PVC that are not only poisonous but also carcinogenic? They are especially toxic to small children and pets.

*Did you also know that fake trees cannot be recycled and will not decompose in a landfill?

I don't know about you but I don't think these risks are worth it to me. Go out the woods, find a nice pine tree and chop it down with your family. You are making wonderful memories and helping the planet at the same time.

What kind of tree do you decorate?

Glasses USA for the Holidays

2011-11-29T11:09:00.002-05:00

If you have bad eye sight then I am pretty sure you recognize the importance of glasses. I literally cannot see with out them. When it comes to protecting my glasses I am like a mother hen. Both Dexter and Oliver love to grab them and it aggravates me so much. I must say that the only reason it upsets me is because I have had them smashed, bashed and broken by Dexter so I try to keep them out of reach as much as possible.

I have worn eyeglasses since 5th grade so I was brought up with the respect for them and I know how to treat my glasses so they will last for a few years.

Have you ever bought your glasses online? I was leery about it at first but it wasn't until after I took the plunge that I was not only pleasantly surprised by how easy it was but I love the convenience and ease of ordering.

How could it be easy you ask? You pick the style, find the best price online, then order glasses and Glasses USA does the rest (like verifying your prescription)! They even offer a 110% lowest price guarantee so they will beat the lowest price you found on the exact glasses that they offer! How amazing is that?

Hopefully you see now just how easy it is to save and shop with GlassesUSA.com. If you have any questions about ordering or anything else feel free to find them online through their Facebook page and Twitter feed.

Take advantage of their Early Holiday Sale:
*Take 20% off any frame in our iSee Eyewear collection and get free shipping within the US. Code: iSee20FS
*Take 15% off any order of prescription glasses with Code: SuperSavvyMommy

**This is a sponsored post and I was compensated for my time**

$100 PayPal Cash or $100 Amazon GC WINNERS CHOICE GIVEAWAY!

2011-11-17T14:57:00.000-05:00

Times are tough this year and boy can I feel the crunch of the recession! Hours have been cut and bills are piling up! That is why I thought I would help someone out with their holiday shopping! It is easy to enter. You help me and I will help you.

You see, I want to win this contest (click on the link and I get a point). If you enter the contest then I get two points. All I need is for people to enter through my link and I will win! THEN, I will reward one very lucky reader with $100 in Paypal or an Amazon GC, YOUR CHOICE!

What do you have to do to enter?
Click this link (then comment telling me you did)
Enter the contest (comment that you did)
Refer your friends to this post and have them tell me that you sent them (in their initial comment)
Share this post on your Facebook page (once daily)
Tweet this link (once daily)

Contest ends 12/1 GOOD LUCK to you and me!!!

KRE-O Sets for the Holidays and Tips for Keeping Everyone Happy During the Holidays

2011-11-16T16:09:00.000-05:00

Every time I find myself Christmas shopping or thinking about Thanksgiving I simply cannot believe that we are in the holiday season! How is it already the end of 2011? I am excited about Christmas this year because Dexter is almost 4 and he is really getting into the spirit of giving. He understands Santa Claus and it is really magical to see the sparkle in his eyes! I cannot wait for the snow to fall, the cocoa to start brewing (mine with Peppermint Schnapps) and the tree to glow.

I recently gave Dexter a huge stack of catalogs and I asked him to circle things that he wanted to put on his wish list to Santa. I originally asked him to cut them out but wow, that was a mess! He sat down and circled everything from a couple Barbies to KRE-O Transformers Set. I hadn't seen these toys before but since they Dex loves Transformers I thought I would look them up online. Much to my surprise, Hasbro is giving away one set, every hour, for 6 weeks. That is over 1,000 sets of KRE-O toys! Visit the KRE-O website to enter!

Why do I think that KRE-O Transformers Sets would be a great gift idea for Christmas?

*They are very affordable, starting at only $7.99
*These sets will provide many hours of pure (non electronic) fun for boys of all ages.
*The KRE-O sets are compatible with other brick-type toys so you won't have to pay for extra sets to build upon your new Transformers Sets!
*They are available at many retailers including Walmart, Target, Toys R Us, Kmart and Amazon.
*Who doesn't like shooting toys? I know that it is ingrained in boys' minds at a young age that shooting is just something that is super fun to do!
*These sets look like they could be a little hard to put together so it would encourage a lot of quality family time with older siblings and/or parents alike.

What are my tips for keeping everyone’s spirits bright during holiday gatherings?

*Make a cheese fondue so family and friends will have to mingle around the cheesy-goodness and work together to dip and eat

*Make competitions like snowman building competitions, ice sculpture carving and sledding races. Divide your family into teams and show your competitive spirit. Maybe each person puts a small gift or cash prize into a kitty and the winning team gets the pot!

*Listen to fun Christmas music. That always seems to get me the happiest during the holidays

*Continue on family traditions and start your own with your children so they always have special memories to carry them on in their lives and when they have children of their own.

*Lastly, HAVE FUN!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Hasbro blogging program, for 8,000 My SocialMoms Rewards Points and a KRE-O gift. The opinions expressed in this post are mine and don’t necessarily reflect the opinions of SocialMoms or Hasbro. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Heelys Black Friday Special and Review~

2011-11-15T14:23:00.001-05:00

I am a self-confessed Grey's Anatomy junkie! I love watching and seeing what the doctors will do next. I watch every week and a couple seasons ago we were introduced to Dr. Arizona Robbins. Why do I like her? She wears Heelys! I thought that Heelys were only for kids but boy was I wrong!

I was sent a pair of Jazzy Heelys for review. I use to be an inline skating freak so I am somewhat nimble on my feet. It was hard to get use to the movement and propelling oneself into motion but I thought it was super fun. So much so that Dexter called me Super Mama! He thought I was magic! Awww, the beauty of a 3 year old's imagination! I will post a video of me using them once I get a little better at it. I don't want you to see my break my teeth or anything! You can check out a How-To Video here

What I love about Heelys:
*I made a lot of people jealous with these rockin' kicks
*Comfortable Shoe
*Easy to install the wheel
*Fun, fun, fun!
*Stylish
*Affordable

What I wish:
*They made them in toddler sizes for my 3 year old, well maybe that isn't such a great idea after all!

Heelys is throwing a Black Friday special!! Between Nov 25-Nov 28, Buy any pair of Heelys, get the second pair for $25. Or buy a Nano, and get a pair of shoes for $25, and get free ground shipping on all orders!

Heelys like to be social so why not:

Like the Heelys Facebook page
Follow @HeelysWorldwide on Twitter

**I received a pair of Heelys for review. I was not compensated in any other way. The opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine as I was not expected to write a positive review**

Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon When You Take the North "Poll"

2011-11-09T09:08:00.003-05:00

Melissa & Doug want you to tell them which of their educational toys you think is the best! Just click on the image below to place your vote in the North "Poll!" You'll Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon** to use at MelissaAndDoug.com just for voting!

Butterball Turkey Giveaway

2011-11-03T17:45:00.003-04:00

Lets countdown to the greatest day of the year.....THANKSGIVING!! I adore Turkey Day for myriad of reasons. I love family and food and fun (all the good Fs in Life!). I love Butterball a lot and I have the utmost respect for them. I asked that they send me an extra coupon to donate to a family in need this year and they didn't hesitate to send me an extra one! How great is that?

Coupons.com features a couple of Butterball printable coupons right now (while supplies last!) Get them before they are gone!

Last year I gave away some free Turkeys thanks to Butterball and this year I am at it again! Last year I wanted you to tell me your favorite part of the turkey, this year I am filling more philanthropic. I would like to know who you know that could use a free turkey? Has your neighbor been laid off and you are worried that they don't have a lot to eat this year? Perhaps it is your parents or old friend. I want to know who you think could use a helping Thanksgiving hand and I also want to know why they need it. I will give two turkeys away on November 17th, just in time for Thanksgiving! I also want to know which Butterball recipe you would make to bring to them along with their free turkey!

Want extra entries?
*Sign up for email alerts from me (3 entries!)
*Like me on Facebook
*Follow me on GFC
*Follow @Butterball on Twitter
*Follow me on Twitter @royaldixie
*Tweet (daily):Do u know someone who deserves a FREE @Butterball TURKEY this year? Tell @royaldixie & perhaps they'll WIN http://tinyurl.com/6e8ofhb Ends 11/17
*Share this contest on your Facebook Wall and include the URL to this post (daily)

**I was given a coupon good for one free turkey in exchange for hosting this contest! My love for Butterball comes from my love of GREAT Turkey, not because they paid me to say that!**

ecoSTORE USA 50% off Baby Sale Now Through 11.6.11

2011-11-03T12:09:00.001-04:00

Here is what the Huffington Post had to say about the Johnson and Johnson backlash

New Report Finds Johnson’s Baby Shampoo Not So Pure

2011-11-02T10:46:00.000-04:00

I copied this from a WebMD article written yesterday:

More than two years ago, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics released the groundbreaking report, No More Toxic Tub, which revealed that popular kids’ bath products – including Johnson’s Baby Shampoo – contained chemicals linked to cancer. They promptly asked Johnson & Johnson to reformulate its iconic baby shampoo and specifically to remove the formaldehyde-releasing chemical, quaternium-15.

Johnson & Johnson indeed stopped using this risky ingredient, but only in some countries (sadly, not the U.S.). According to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics:

In July and October 2011, the campaign analyzed the labels of Johnson’s Baby Shampoo sold in 13 countries to see if the products contain quaternium-15, a chemical preservative that kills bacteria by releasing formaldehyde. Formaldehyde was recently listed by the U.S. government as a known human carcinogen. Formaldehyde and quaternium-15 are also potent allergens that can trigger rashes and other skin inflammation problems.

The analysis reveals that Johnson’s Baby Shampoo sold in the United States, Canada, China, Indonesia and Australia contains the formaldehyde preservative quaternium-15, while products sold in the U.K., Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands and Japan contain non-formaldehyde preservatives.

“Clearly there is no need for Johnson & Johnson to continue to expose American, Canadian, and other babies to formaldehyde when it is already using alternatives in other markets. We’re calling on consumers and hospitals to stop buying Johnson’s Baby Shampoo until the company removes quaternium-15 from baby products sold in the U.S., Canada and around the world,” said Lisa Archer, director of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics at the Breast Cancer Fund.

In a surprising turn of events, after Johnson & Johnson received word of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics report, the company released a statement Monday saying it is no longer introducing new products with formaldehyde-releasing preservatives: “We know that some consumers are concerned about formaldehyde, which is why we offer many products without formaldehyde releasing preservatives, and are phasing out these types of preservatives in our baby products worldwide.”

Says Archer: “We’re glad to see that Johnson & Johnson is taking this seriously. This commitment is a big step in the right direction. We look forward to the day when we can tell consumers the company’s entire product line is free of carcinogens and other chemicals of concern.”

Since the original report and after pressure from groups like the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and the American Nurses Association, the company launched a “natural” version of baby shampoo that does not contain chemicals associated with formaldehyde or 1,4 dioxane; however, the company has yet to reformulate its original Johnson’s Baby Shampoo for the U.S. market.

“While it is encouraging to see that Johnson & Johnson has made progress in formulating a safer ‘natural’ version of its iconic baby shampoo, now is the time for the company to rise to the occasion and make the safer products the world market is demanding for all its customers,” says Archer.

Take action!

Read the full report, Baby’s Tub Is Still Toxic.
Tell Johnson & Johnson to commit to going formaldehyde-free in ALL of their products.
Join the Twitter Party on Thursday, Nov. 3 at 6pm PST to learn more about the report and the best baby bath and skin care tips

Happy Halloween and a Fantastic Pumpkin Seed Recipe

2011-10-31T12:47:00.000-04:00

Last night we spend hours scooping and carving pumpkins and roasting seeds! I love this time of year! I have never been a fan of pumpkin seeds before but I made this recipe last night and I am in love! I took 2 cups of cleaned and dried pumpkin seeds and tossed it two 2 teaspoons of Worchestshire Sauce and 2 tablespoons of melted butter. I then spread them out on a baking sheet and sprinkled them with sea salt! I roasted them for 2 hours in a 250 degree oven. Make sure you give them a good stir every 30 minutes while roasting.

Enjoy all the nutrition that these seeds pack in their tiny shells!

Halloween Costumes from Yandy.com GIVEAWAY {closed}

2011-10-18T11:21:00.002-04:00

I cannot tell you the last time I wore a Halloween costume. It isn't because I don't like to its just that I really haven't had a chance to do anything for Halloween in quite some time. Last year was Dexter's first Trick or Treating experience and I sat in the car with my 6 day old baby while my husband walked him around. This year, I was bound and determined to do something AWESOME! Enter Yandy! When Yandy asked me if I was interested in a review I immediately thought it would be cool to do couples costumes! When I went to their site I was also thrilled to see that they had plus size costumes for us bigger Mommies too! I instantly fell in love with the idea of being Alice in Wonderland. She is always so pretty and a little ditzy so I knew I could pull it off seamlessly! Who better to compliment Alice than the Mad Hatter? It was settled, I picked our costumes out!!

The only thing left to do is get the Mad Hatter wig for Jason and some face paint and we are SET!

If you are looking for some last minute unique Halloween Costumes then you have to check out Yandy because their 2011 Halloween Costumes Selection is spooktacular!

How would you like to win a $30 Gift Certificate to Yandy.com? All you have to do is tell me what costume you would like to buy with your gift card. It is that easy!

How would you like additional entries?

*Follow me on Facebook

*Follow ecoSTORE USA on Facebook (3 entries)

*Follow me on Twitter

*Follow me on GFC

*Tell me how you found my blog

*Use the tweet button above to tweet this giveaway (once daily)

*Share this post on Facebook and leave the URL in a comment

This giveaway is open to US residents only and will end on October 24th at NOON EST! Good Luck!

10 Holiday Planning Tips You NEED To Know

2011-10-17T17:12:00.001-04:00

Can you even believe that it is that time of year again? I cannot fathom that in two short weeks Oliver will be ONE and then we have Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years.....boom, boom, boom, boom! Now is the time to start planning for the Holidays and more importantly, how to save yourself the stress of the Holidays. Here are a few things that I think are important in the planning department.

1. Remember all of your stored decorations. Every year, I swear, I buy clearance decorating items for Thanksgiving, Christmas etc and I put it away until next year. Why oh why is it then that I always seem to find these stashed goodies the day after the holiday! I need to make a spot and stick to it. Maybe if I use the same storage place year after year then I simply cannot forget. Genius!

2. Diet. This may seem like a silly reminder but it is crucial for people like me. I love to indulge in food, sweets and drinks during the holidays and no one likes the weight gain. If you start to diet prior to the holidays, perhaps you can knock off 15-20 pounds so you can afford to put a few pounds on during the holidays. Seems kinda counterintuitive doesn't it? Well I call it just plain smart.

3. Start buying your holiday outfits now. I am the kind of mom who just has to have the best looking outfits for my boys for the holidays. I typically buy Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter outfits. They almost always match somehow and they always look smashing! My mom laughs at me when I tell her at the last minute "oh I can't find the right shoes for Dexter". If you start looking now, chances are you will have exactly what you want when the holidays roll around.

4. Use Thanksgiving as the perfect time to make your holiday cards. Thanksgiving is a time where we are all typically dressed very nice and the boys are pretty laid back *think full bellies* What better time to snap your family's picture for Custom Holiday Cards then Thanksgiving? Last year, since it was Oliver's first Christmas, I made an exception and I took special pictures of the boys in their Christmas outfits. I used this picture from Storkie and I could not have been more excited with the final product! Everyone loved it!

5. Be flexible. When it comes to bedtime routines and children's schedules, it is okay to relax and go with the flow. I use to be the most uptight Mommy in the world because I felt as though I could never waiver from our schedule and now that Oliver is here I realize that schedules are sometimes meant to be flexible!

6. Clip Coupons. Thanksgiving and Christmas can often times be costly when it comes to decorations (napkins, food, decorations) so shop wisely and clip coupons now. Anticipate your needs and buy when items are on sale so you can avoid the holiday markups later on!

7. Shop online for some of the best deals. I probably don't need to remind you of this but the internet can be your best friend when it comes to shopping for deals. You can price compare with the click of a button, look for promo codes and usually get free shipping! Whats not to love? Also, a lot of store will do price matching in person so look online and print off the prices of products before you shop! Another tip, you can just hide the UPS/FedEx boxes for Christmas which are way more concealed for those curious wandering eyes that may like to ruin their Christmas surprises!

8. Adopt a Kid for Christmas and bring your family together. Starting in September and up until Christmas my family likes to save our change so we can "adopt" a child through the Salvation Army so they can have a nice Christmas too. Saving money and buying special gifts for our adopted child helps bring my family together and reminds us how fortunate we are for all that we have!

9. Halloween Costume Swaps. The holidays can be very costly and one way I like to be green and save some green is by participating in costume swaps. This can be a great one to always get great new costumes for yourself and your whole family. I love being kind to the planet and my wallet all in one fell swoop!

10. Update your address book now so your holiday card list can be sent out without a hitch. I think that receiving cards for the holidays says a lot. I know it isn't green but it is thoughtful and it shows a lot of love is coming your way. Getting the updates on your list now will save you headaches come December!

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the Storkie holiday blogging program. I received compensation for my participation. All opinions are 100% mine.”

Play-Doh Play Dates

2011-10-04T11:00:00.001-04:00

I love this time of year. The weather gets chilly and the holidays start to come. There is no better time to get together with your kids to create some fun memories. Dexter adores spooky things and he completely understands the concept of Halloween this year. How fun for me!

I was recently introduced to the Play-Doh Play Dates website and my oh my what fun there is to be had there! They have craft and snack ideas along with Play-Doh fun too! Right now they are geared up for Halloween and I learned how to make a jack-o-lantern with an orange. Do you want me to show you?

Step 1

Start with regular everyday oranges and a plastic knife

Step 2

Cut jack-o-lantern faces into your child’s oranges. Be sure to save the rind pieces!

Step 3

Finish your jack-o-lanterns by having your child use the extra rind pieces for details like eyes, tongues, noses and more! Now that you’ve worked up an appetite, you can enjoy your jack-o-lantern oranges.

Now there is no way that you can say that these aren't the cutest little jack-o-lanterns ever. You could probably take it one step further and set it out of a bed of lettuce and make it look like a pumpkin patch. This would also be a great solution for picky eaters as this surely would make me want to eat my fruits and veggies.

As you may or may not know, I am an elementary educator. I am highly-qualified through No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and I know a thing or two about what kids like. I also can wield a pair of scissors like no one's business! The craft section of Play-Dates featured a really fun, not-so-little, project called the Haunted House Playset. I happened to print off the template, cut it out and affix it to some cardboard. I can't wait for Dexter to come home and see it as I know he is going to shriek! He loves bats and ghosts and anything Halloween related. I think I am going to throw a couple of marshmallows in the center of it and have him tear them up and make ghosts out of them! Check out my creation (which took me about a half an hour to assemble).

I completely fenced in the backyard and I am also thinking it could be fun to build a little graveyard back there with cut off tongue depressors that are painted gray. We could write some cute little epitaphs on them and make it really spooky! The possibilities are endless. One thing that I know for sure is that Dexter will love playing with it.

Whatever you choose to do with your kids whether it be the snack category or the craft section one thing is for sure: you are strengthening your relationship with your children. This will not only create memories for a lifetime but also it will build their self-esteem which will enable them to be better individuals!

**This post is part of a SocialMoms product evaluation, for which I’ve been selected. I’ve been compensated for my time with 8,000 My SocialMoms Rewards Points. The opinions expressed in this post are mine and don’t necessarily reflect the opinions of SocialMoms or Play-Doh**

Bombay Fashions Bella Collection Giveaway 2 Winners!

2011-09-29T11:02:00.001-04:00

I feel like accessories make the outfit. I love bracelets, earrings and fun necklaces. They can make any simple dress pop! I was approached to offer TWO WINNERS their choice of any one item from Bombay Fashions Bella Collection. Want to win?

Head over to the Bella Collection section of Bombay Fashions and pick out the item you would like to win! Leave the URL in your first comment (mandatory).

How would you like additional entries?

*Follow me on Facebook
*Follow me on GFC

*Follow ecoSTORE USA on Facebook (3 entries)

*Follow me on Twitter

*Use the tweet button above to tweet this giveaway (once daily)

*Share this post on Facebook and leave the URL in a comment

This giveaway is open to US residents only and will end on October 12th at NOON EST! Good Luck!

About BombayFashions.com

BombayFashions.com is the largest online retailer for fashion jewelry and accessories headquartered in Michigan. It is a one-stop online shopping boutique that caters to the fashion needs of women. Since its inception Indian-inspired jewelry has been the backbone of the company and is the first original jeweler from Bombay. Today, BombayFashions.com offers the largest fashion jewelry collection available online. Recently, the company introduced the Bella Collection featuring a large selection of cuffs, bracelets, bangles, earrings, necklaces, scarves, skirts, tunics, handbags and more. BombayFashions.com offers on-trend fashion forward accessories and boasts one-of-a-kind pieces at prices that everyone can afford.

For more information, check out www.bombayfashions.com

#PerksFriday Sweepstakes on Twitter with @VisaSignature

2011-09-28T15:45:00.000-04:00

I know many of you love entering contests but most of all you love to win! Who doesn't love the satisfaction in winning? Right now, if you head over to Twitter and follow @VisaSignature you will have the option to do just that. What can you win you may ask?

Check @VisaSignature every Friday for the theme of the day and tweet your reply with #PerksFriday or retweet the original tweet for your chance to win a Visa Signature Perks package that includes:

· One night stay at a Hilton hotel

· $150 from Restaurant.com

· $50 Fandango Bucks

5 prize packages will be given away every Friday until September 30th!

Last Friday @VisaSignature tweeted this question to answer "Any fall travel plans? RT/tweet w/ #PerksFriday & you could win a Visa Signature perks pkg w/ a stay @ a Hilton property.http://ow.ly/610zg" I know you have fall travel plans so this entry is easy easy! Its not like you have to solve complex calculus problems in order to win! What are you waiting for, log on to Twitter and follow them right now!

**This is a sponsored post and I was compensated for my time**

Painted Owl Review and Giveaway

2011-09-19T13:49:00.002-04:00

I have a weakness for companies that like to give back. I also have a weakness for companies who use US based Labor and organic materials. Therefore, I have a HUGE weakness for Painted Owl. This wonderful US based company makes children's shirts that celebrate the big exciting things in life! The organic cotton is US grown, as are the vegetable-based dyes that they use. If that wasn't enough to make you want to swoon, they also give 3% of their profits to charity! Amazing!

Here is my little heartbreaker sporting his "It's All About the BEACH" tee. I allowed him to pick out any one that he wanted and this is the one he chose. I should have known though because he is a water freak. He is the absolute epitome of a Pisces! <3

If I hadn't asked him which shirt he wanted, I was going to pick the ADVENTURE tee pictured below:

No matter which shirt you choose one thing is for sure; by doing so you are helping support US Made items and you are helping the environment (and your kid look cute as can be!). Who can argue with that? Use code DEXTER20 to receive 20% off your order!

Who would love to win their very own Painted Owl tee? Just head on over to Painted Owl and tell me which shirt you would pick if you were to win?

How would you like additional entries?

*Follow me on Facebook

*Follow Painted Owl on Facebook

*Follow me on Twitter

*Follow Painted Owl on Twitter

*Use the tweet button above to tweet this giveaway (once daily)

*Share this post on Facebook and leave the URL in a comment

This giveaway is open to US residents only and will end on Sept 30th at NOON EST! Good Luck!

**I was given a shirt to facilitate my review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own as is the irresistible child featured here!**

Fisher Price Little People Zoo Talkers Review

2011-09-19T10:50:00.000-04:00

Fisher-Price is launching a contest of animal proportions today with help from celebrity zoologist and children’s television show host, Jarod Miller. Appropriately named the Little People™ Animal Sounds Contest, the contest calls on parents to submit a video of their child demonstrating his or her best roar, grrrr or squawk (oh my!) for the chance to win a $10,000 cash prize and a trip to Fisher-Price headquarters in East Aurora, N.Y. (for a special photo shoot and an opportunity to have their child featured on a Little People® toy package or website).

It’s easy for parents to help their children ages one to five to get their imaginations soaring and their voices roaring! Parents simply visit the contest website www.animalsounds.fisher-price.com to get started:

1. Grab a video device like a smart phone iPhone® or Android™ mobile device, digital camera or camcorder

2. Record a 20 second or less video (in AVI, MOV, MPEG or WMV format; no larger than 30MB) of a child age 1-5 making his or her best zoo animal sound of one of the following animals: lion, tiger, elephant, bear, penguin, rhinoceros, leopard, whale, polar bear, hippopotamus, monkey, seal, gorilla, alligator, zebra, giraffe, ostrich, dolphin, snake, or bird

3. Submit the video in one of three ways: Via the contest website, iPhone App or Android App (limit five contest entries per person/email address)

4. Share the website link with friends and family so they can visit the public gallery to vote

“The Fisher-Price Animal Sounds Contest encourages children to bring animals they love to life in a way that’s very natural for their age,” said Miller. “I've gravitated towards animals for as long as I can remember. Like me, kids are amazed by the beauty and diversity of living things and love to use their imaginations and senses to emulate their favorite animals. This promotion and the Zoo Talkers line connect them to animals in a very enriching way.”

The Animal Sounds contest runs Aug. 1, 2011 through 11:59 p.m. ET on Nov. 30, 2011

Lucky me we were able to review the Little People Zoo Talkers toy! I could write all about how fun it is but I thought a couple of videos of my 3.5 year old and my 9 month old playing with it would be better!

As you can see the Little People Zoo is a HUGE hit in my house! We love Little People and especially love that the other people and animals also work with this set! They have more animals that are sold separately.

**I was given the above toy to help facilitate my review. No other compensation was received. The joy and enthusiasm are 100% real and all opinions are my own**

Emergen-C now for Kidz GIVEAWAY!

2011-09-13T17:08:00.002-04:00

Ever since I can remember I have taken vitamins. I take a Multi, extra Vit C and a Vit D/Calcium supplement. I also take probiotics because I know how important it is to maintain great intestinal flora! It comes as no surprise then that I also give Dexter a multiple vitamin and a chewable probiotic everyday. He loves taking his vitamins (because they are Marvel superhero and they taste good). Recently I learned that Emergen-C is now making a Kidz formula! I was so excited! I have relied on the benefits of Vitamin C as an immune booster for quite some time now. I also bump up my intake if I feel a cold coming on. I carry around Emergen-C Pomegranate too because it tastes great and gives me an energy boost!

For parents in particular, it can be a challenge to make sure that kids are getting the nutritional health and immune system support they need, let alone in a way they actually enjoy. New Emergen-C Kidz offers all of the fizzy goodness of the original Emergen-C vitamin drink mix, now specially formulated just for kids.

Each pack provides key vitamins and nutrients, which can help support an active kid’s lifestyle
It's available in three naturally delicious kid-tested flavors — Fruit Punch, Orange, and Grape

Let me tell you a funny story. When I first received some Kidz Emergen-C for review Dexter was immediately ALL.OVER.ME He wanted to know what it was and if he would have some. I told him that it was a special vitamin drink for kids and I let him pick a flavor. He chose Orange which is not at all a surprise because it is OBSESSED with the color orange! He loved watching it fizz and he gulped it down in less than a minute. He begged for more which I told him he was not allowed to have (because we are limiting it to one a day). He threw such a gigantic fit that I made him take a nap. Talk about dedication!

For every box sold, Emergen-C will donate 25 cents to Vitamin Angels, helping provide essential nutrients to one child for one year, helping reduce childhood mortality worldwide. And, parents can help by taking the My Emergen-C Kidz Pledge at Facebook.com/EmergenC. For every Pledge, Emergen-C will donate an additional 25 cents to Vitamin Angels to help save a life.

How would you like to win a 3 month's supply of Emergen-C Kidz to help your kids stay well through the school year. Take the Emergen-C pledge on Facebook and come back here and comment that you pledged to help reduce childhood mortality!

How would you like additional entries?

*Follow me on Facebook

*Follow ecoSTORE USA on Facebook (3 entries)

*Follow me on Twitter

*Use the tweet button above to tweet this giveaway (once daily)

*Share this post on Facebook and leave the URL in a comment

This giveaway is open to US residents only and will end on Sept 27th at NOON EST! Good Luck!

**I was given some samples of Emergen-C Kidz to facilitate my review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own!**

Thinking Back to 5th Grade

2011-09-09T14:05:00.000-04:00

I was in 5th grade when I got my first pair of glasses. I remember thinking I was pretty cool. Prior to my need for glasses I went to Claire's and bought a pair of fake glasses because I thought I was so cool *insert the eye roll here*

The older I got the more active I became and the more I started hating my glasses. My glasses made me sweaty and they always got in the way. I often times envisioned myself, in my later years, needing reading glasses in order to read the newspaper. I remember crying a lot about it because it was depressing. It took a long time for my parents to be convinced that I should try contacts but boy oh boy was I happy when they decided it was a good decision for me.

Now, as a mother of two young boys I think about their need for glasses. My husband also got glasses in the 5th grade and I bet Dexter and Oliver will need them eventually. Dexter has already single-handedly broken two pairs of glasses of mine. How would I think that he would ever be responsible enough to care for his own specs? Lucky for me there are several great places that I can order glasses online. Glasses.com has a wide variety of choices for frames and shipping is FREE both ways! They are the sister company of 1800Contacts. I only ever order my contacts through 1800Contacts.com because they have amazing customer service and they always price match! How can you beat that?

So, if you are ever fretting your children's need for glasses, have no fear because you have options. Why pay full price when you can get discount eyeglasses at a much better rate!?

*This is a sponsored post but the story is 100% mine and completely truthful*

Savvy Savings Tips for Vacations

2011-09-07T15:31:00.001-04:00

Savvy Saving Tips for Vacations
*they don't call me Super Savvy for nothing!*

The expenses of a fun filled vacation can add up fast before you know it and end up costing you more money than you planned. But with some creative and practical tips before your vacation, during planning, and while on your trip, you can stretch your vacation dollars while making memories to last a lifetime.

Prior to Your Vacation

Set up a Budget. Create a budget for your normal expenses and determine how much you can spend on a vacation.

Open a Dedicated Savings Account. Opening a savings solely dedicated to your vacation will help your saving efforts and give the ability to always know how much is in your vacation fund.

Start a Change Jar. For extra spending money, use a large jar to toss in spare change an adequate amount of time before your trip.

Save on Every Day Items. Saving on every day items will help you put away more money for your vacation. Cancel your health club plan and work out at home, cut back on eating out, use coupons for groceries, or buy generic items. For example, you can save a great deal of money buying generic printer ink from websites like www.inkpal.com.

When Planning Your Vacation

Establish a Plan. When deciding on a vacation, create a plan on when and where you want to go and the types of fun activities you want to do. Create a vacation budget and the allotted amounts for food, entertainment, transportation, attractions, and souvenirs.

Do Your Research. Conduct thorough research on variety of destinations and be sure to gather as much information about each place.

Be Flexible. Consider traveling during the off-season of particular destinations to pay cheaper prices. Flexibility with travel dates and times will also save you money.

Book Early. Many travel websites and destination packages offer specials for booking in advance.

Compare Prices. When searching for vacation packages, do some comparison shopping for all aspects of your trip including airline tickets, hotel rooms, car rentals, and attractions. Make sure to visit a variety of websites and talk to many different travel agents to gather information and price quotes.

Ask for Perks and Discounts. Always inquire about possible perks or discounts such as military discount, upgraded rooms, family discounts, attractions, etc. It never hurts to ask and you could end up with numerous free amenities.

While on Vacation

Rent a Smaller Car. Car rentals can add rather quickly when considering the price per day, insurance, gas, and mileage. It is important to consider renting a smaller car that is still suitable for your family, plus you will all be so excited about getting to your next attraction that you will not notice the rental car.

Use Pubic Transportation. If possible, when visiting a large city use public transportation instead of renting a car.

Bring Empty Water Bottles. Packing empty water bottles to fill up at water fountains will save you a great deal of money on staying hydrated.

Make Breakfast Your Biggest Meal. Breakfast menus often offer the best value for the money with a variety of choices to let your family start out the day.

Stock Up on Groceries. Instead of eating out for every meal, visit a grocery store in your destination to stock on easy food items for throughout your trip.

Use Your Own Stroller or Wagon. Instead of paying money to rent strollers or wagons for the kids, bring your own.

Inquire About Free Activities. Ask hotel staff or locals about free activities you can enjoy in the city.

Bring Your Own Necessities. Needed items are typically much more expensive at tourist destinations, so be sure to bring your own sunscreen, aspirin, Band-Aids, and other necessities.

pediped® Debuts Fall/Winter 2011 Collection

2011-09-02T07:54:00.000-04:00

pediped® Debuts Fall/Winter 2011 Collection

Henderson, NV (August 8, 2011) - The pediped® Fall/Winter 2011 collection introduces more than 80 new styles and color combinations across pediped® footwear's three signature lines: Originals®, Grip ‘n’ Go™ and Flex®. The collection includes larger size offerings in the Flex® line, new school shoe styles and an expanded Adventure Line, pediped’s innovative outdoor shoe. Inspired by the latest trends in athletics and fashion, new Fall/Winter 2011 offerings feature pediped’s signature comfortable fit along with a broadened mix of textures including metallic glitter, patent leather and suede.

Originals®

· The Originals® line of soft-soled flexible infant shoes is recommended by pediatricians and podiatrists because it closely mimics barefoot walking.

· A new Fall/Winter style, Alyssa, features metallic glitter in silver, red and black. Metallic glitter has also been added to the Abigail for a modern twist on this beloved classic. The Jax and Tristan are two new casual athletic styles for boys. Jordyn is a new athletic style available for both boys and girls.

· The Originals® collection is priced from $32 -$39, and is available for children 0-24 months in age.

Grip ‘n’ Go™

· Grip ‘n’ Go™, the second step in the pediped® footwear system, features special G2 Technology for active toddlers that are transitioning to walking with a more confident stride.

· Lilah, debuts as the first-ever girls boot available in the Grip ‘n’ Go™ collection. This comfortable boot is available in three color options and comes with fun, heart detailing.

· The Grip ‘n’ Go™ collection retails for $45 - $49, and is available for children 9 months to 3 years in age.

Flex®

· pediped Flex® is the ultimate shoe for confident walkers who have developed a solid, natural stride. Due to customer demand, size offerings have been expanded with select styles now available up to size EU 33.

· A highlight of the Flex® line is Bailey, the perfect back-to-school shoe for girls. Available in three colors, navy, brown and black, Bailey is a perfect footwear choice for school uniforms.

· New high-fashion styles include the Kat boot, a military inspired boot for girls, Jaelyn, a new Mary Jane style in glitter and Stella a dress ballet-flat with a three-dimensional flower and rhinestone detail. For boys, there is Benji, a new nautical-inspired boat shoe.

· The Adventure Line of rugged, water-safe, eco-friendly footwear has also expanded with over 10 new styles. The Dakota for girls, the Caleb and Vail for boys, and the Aspen for both boys and girls are available in several color options.

· Flex® styles range in price from $47-$69 and are available in EU sizes 20-33 (size runs vary).

The Fall/Winter 2011 collection is available online at www.pediped.com and in select retail stores beginning early August.

About pediped®
pediped® footwear has been awarded the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance for the promotion of healthy foot development, and the pediped® footwear system has recently been endorsed by researchers associated with Harvard Medical School and Children's Hospital Boston.

pediped® footwear is sold in over 3000 stores in the United States and 40 countries worldwide with an offering of more than 160 designs for boys and girls between their three lines, Originals®, Grip ‘n’ Go™ and Flex®. Originals® (soft-soled shoes for newborns to age 2), Grip ‘n’ Go™ (thin rubber-soled shoes for children ages 9 months to 3 years) and Flex® (rubber-soled shoes for children 1 to 8 years) are available in EU sizes ranging from 20 to 33.

Since the company’s founding in 2005, pediped® footwear has given nearly $1 million in product and monetary support to children in need. In January 2011, pediped® established the pediped foundation™ to expand upon the company’s philosophy of giving. For more information on pediped visit www.pediped.com.

Family Road Trips on a Budget

2011-09-01T11:38:00.000-04:00

When you plan to get out of town with the family, cost is always something to consider. You want to be as frugal as possible when it comes to the accommodations, the Cars and even the attractions. Despite what you may have heard, it is possible to take bargain family road trips. Start out with the accommodations. You can usually find the best deal by booking online. If your dates are flexible you may want to play around with the travel search engine to see what deals are available on different dates. Sometimes, just taking your trip one weekend later can save your family a lot of money.

Once you have a place to stay you need to find a way to get there. For most families, this is where things get tricky. You can choose to fly, drive your own car, or use a rental car. Take a look at each option and find out how much it will cost your family. While you may pay less to use your own car, you have to think about whether or not it will make it to the location and whether or not you want to add those miles.

You have a place to stay and a way to get there, but what are you going to do during the family road trip? When you bring the kids along, you want to stay busy and keep them on the move. If you are planning to drive, look along the way to see if there are things you want to do. You shouldn't wait until you arrive at your vacation destination before deciding what to do. If there are theme parks or other attractions, you should start looking for discounts before you get there. Search online for coupons and promotions so you can save money in advance. This will help out your budget as you plan. As you put together each part of the trip, you will see how much money you will need. It can help you make decisions along the way. If you want to do lots of activities you may want to pay less for the hotel and transportation. If you plan to just relax and spend lots of time in the room, you need to spend a little extra to get more amenities.

Coupons are going to be your friend when it comes to planning a bargain family road trip. You can use coupons or coupon codes on your hotel reservations, your car rental and even the meals that you are going to eat while away. Keep everything, including reservation information and coupons, all together in a file folder. As long as you have the folder you have everything that you need. For most families a road trip is a great way to spend time together and make lasting memories. Start out with a budget and keep an eye out for free things to do along the way. You don't have to spend lots of money to spend time enjoying your family!

Wanna Win an iPad today?!

2011-08-29T11:52:00.000-04:00

PLEASE head over to @WorthAveGroup like em and tell them Maggie Smith sent you! They are giving away 2 iPads today. One to winner and one to the person that sent them! I need one badly!

Amazon Gift Card Winner

2011-08-26T10:42:00.002-04:00

Congratulations to Talina Norris! You won my $50 Amazon Gift Card. Thank you for following @ecostoreusa on Facebook!

Great Wolf Lodge: Great Family Fun!

2011-08-16T11:10:00.000-04:00

Now that the boys are getting a little older I am finding that it is easier to take them out and do things with them. Did you know that there are only three water signs of the zodiac and Dexter, Oliver and I represent all three? Yep, this Cancer girl gave birth to a Pisces and a Scorpio! You can definitely tell they are water boys because they love splish-splashing! They are the epitome of water-loving children.

Recently we stayed at the Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City Michigan and BOY oh BOY did we have a great time! The resort is nestled next to a buffalo farm and Dexter really liked watching the buffalo. It was in the upper 90s during our stay so it was too hot for our family to brave the heat of the outside pool but we certainly enjoyed the indoor waterpark.

We stayed in the KidCabin™Suite. This suite features a queen bed, one full pull-out couch and a "KidCabin™" with a daybed, bunk beds and a separate TV! How neat is that? Our room also featured a fireplace and balcony (which we only sat on at night since it was so hot!)

Let me share with you a few awesome pictures that I captured from my stay:

Dexter was howling like a wolf while wearing his Wolf Ears!

Violet and Wiley making their rounds around the resort!

My fearless Pisces having the time of his life!

The kiddie pool!

My whole beautiful family on the balcony of our room!

The water explosion! The alarm sounds and dumps lots of water on everyone

What I love most about The Great Wolf Lodge:
*Everyone and everything is kid-friendly
*They are eco-friendly
*Everything you need under one roof (waterpark, arcade, restaurants, mini golf, MagiQuest etc)
*It is a serious vacation all in one building!
*Fun for the WHOLE family!

Traverse City isn't the only location either. Why don't you check out a Great Wolf Lodge near you!

I will continue to visit the Great Wolf Lodge as the boys get older because there is more and more to do on each and every visit!

*Thank you to GWLs PR for making this amazing family time possible*

My Life with Boys

2011-08-11T12:18:00.000-04:00

I always wanted two boys. Just two. No more, no less, and certainly NO girls! I wanted a motherhood without tutus and tiaras and without all the drama. I have yet to meet a girl that doesn't thrive off of drama. I have to admit that I feel like I won the parenting lottery since I got exactly what I wanted and in perfect timing too. I may not have been prepared when I got pregnant with Dexter but looking back now I am pretty happy to have had my two perfect boys before I turned 30.

Whenever I am asked how many kids I have and I reply "2, both boys" I usually get people saying "oh, I had two boys and a girl and goodness my boys were a piece of cake" or something along those lines. I also get "oh, you're nuts not to want a girl, they're so delightful" I will confess that I think it would be nice to have a built-in friend once my daughter gets older but I also think that if I play my cards right and raise my boys to be wonderful men, they will bring home some exceptional daughters for me to love!

Oliver is 9 Months Old Already!!

2011-07-25T11:56:00.001-04:00

9 months ago I gave birth to a special little man. He sure was tenacious and still remains that way today. I love his new little teeth that he just got and how he says Mama and Dada with ease. He is crawling ferociously all around the house and he is quite content playing by himself. He loves pasta, crackers and naps but he isn't a huge fan of taking a bottle. He also is a little fish just like his big brother. Each day keeps getting better and better!

Silly Face <3

I know you want to know how Oliver got so cute and I would like to thank ~~my husband~~ fibers.com for sending me these amazingly cute milestone onesies. I designed them myself and I chose all of the colors/fonts. Fibers.com makes it easy to create your own t-shirts and onesies. They even have big brother t-shirts for Dexter :)

Hiking and Camping Tips

2011-07-19T11:03:00.000-04:00

Keep your eyes peeled for my The North Face Backpack Review later this week.....

A few years before we got married, Hubby and I discovered we both enjoyed camping. A lot. I don’t know why it took us something like seven years of dating to realize it, but it did. Anyway, we started camping and never looked back.

It wasn’t long before we started craving more solitude. After all, many campgrounds are anything but serene. There are children chattering, parents calling for them, teenagers being themselves (aka obnoxious), college kids and adults drinking too much and being too loud, family dogs barking, radios blaring and more. That’s when we decided to give backpacking a try.

Well, it was a perfect fit, and over the next few years as a married couple, we enjoyed a number of spectacular hikes around the state from spring through fall (never tried winter camping, though we did experience a snowy Easter weekend hike once), including the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Isle Royale National Park, North and South Manitou Islands, the Jordan River Valley, the Fox River Pathway, the Manistee River Trail and more. It was exactly what we were looking for: Peace. Serenity. Being alone with nature.

Then we had a baby.

We knew we were going to be taking our kids camping. We wanted them to enjoy the outdoors and feel comfortable there, just as we do. We started out right away, when our first son Logan was five weeks old. We took him to Leelanau State Park. We didn’t actually camp, instead choosing to rent one of the small campground cabins, but he got to enjoy the outdoors at the campfire, dipping his tiny baby feet in Lake Michigan, his first Michigan mosquito bites, and eating at a restaurant with the best view—nursing on top of the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes. A few months later, we took him tent camping on the Au Sable River, and he did great. Right at home in the outdoors.

That Christmas, Santa bought the Johns family a Kelty backpack that was made for carrying a child. The following summer, not too long after he turned one, it was time. We scheduled a two-night trip out to South Manitou, and boarded a ferry in Leland’s Fishtown. The boat deposited us on the island and there we were, no turning back. We hiked in a couple miles, set up camp, and explored the island, Hubby and I taking turns carrying the baby. Aside from an extremely windy visit to the perched sand dunes (Poor baby was taking sand to the face at high speed. I would’ve been screaming too!) he did beautifully. Even with a super-long and rough boat ride back to the mainland (The ride took over three hours, when it would’ve normally been about a third of that) the trip was a roaring success.

Since then, we’ve taken Logan hiking a number of times, and now that he has a little brother, we’ve ventured out into the wild with both of the boys.

Hiking with kids—especially if one of them is in diapers—can definitely be a challenge, but with careful planning, a good attitude and an open mind, it can be a very fun, enriching experience for the entire family.

Here are a few tips if you want to take your little ones hiking:

*Don’t worry too much about taking things to occupy your kids. The Great Outdoors has plenty of playthings. Throw rocks into the lake. Find and follow animal tracks. Build mini log cabins out of twigs you find around camp. Make rock art on the beach. Just be. That said, one tiny new toy, like a matchbox car, hidden in Daddy’s pack and brought out when it’s time to set up camp can be very welcome.

*Take maybe one favorite book to signal that it’s bedtime.

*Don’t forget to offer snacks and water to your kids periodically. A thirsty or hungry kid is a cranky kid. Occasional snacks that aren’t allowed at home (a strategic bag of Skittles is popular with our kids) can go a long way to make a hike fun for kids.

*If your child takes naps, try to at least have some quiet camp time in the tent around that time of day. Or, your child might enjoy taking his nap in the backpack as mom and dad explore.

*Take insect and sun protection. Little discomforts seem big to the little guys.

*Be prepared to pack out nasty diapers. Don’t ever bury them in the wilderness. Take out what you take in.

*If your child is old enough, give them little camp chores. “Chipmunk chaser” and “Leave no Trace Enforcer” are some of ours. Give the child a Ziploc bag and have them pick up any tidbits of trash they see on the trip. Tell them why they’re doing it. Reward them with a penny for each piece of litter they find, once you get back to civilization.

*LET THEM GET DIRTY. It’s a great deal of fun. Who goes hiking to stay clean anyway?

*Point out things in the natural world to capture their interest. Bugs, interesting rocks, even animal poop, all can be intriguing to kids.

*Think of their likes and dislikes when you plan the trip’s food. That doesn’t tie you to mac n’ cheese or PB&J at every meal, but don’t take something you know they don’t like. For fun, let your child plan one of the trip’s meals.

*Above all, keep an open mind, plan well, and TAKE PHOTOS!

Oh, and don’t listen to the people that tell you you’re crazy for taking your kids hiking and camping. Feel sorry for them.

**This is a guest post by Krystal Johns from Musings from Mom School, isn't she great?!**

Let me know what you think? Should I invite Krystal back for more fun posts?

flipflop wine review

2011-07-14T11:53:00.000-04:00

I am a wine lover. I live in wine country here in Northern Michigan and taking my friends and family on wine tours is a favorite pastime of mine. I adore this regions rieslings, pinot grigios and we are really starting to come into some fantastic reds.

One thing that I love more than a good wine is a good wine at a great price. flipflop wines combine the flavors that one comes to expect from a brilliant wine with a price tag that will wow even the most frugal wino. I would definitely pay $7.99 a bottle for their pinot grigio and pinot noir.

flipflop's Pinot Grigio is light, fragrant and semi-dry. I would call this the perfect match to a great piece of grilled fish. I actually enjoyed the bottle with some fish tacos and the flavors of the cilantro and onion paired nicely with the subtle citrus notes of this great Pinot Grigio. I could most definitely taste hints of lime and apple in this perfect summertime wine.

I had high expectations of flipflop's Riesling and I was somewhat disappointed. Within seconds of my first sip I was met with a strong alcohol taste. Obviously wine is alcoholic but this is not something that I have tasted in a wine before. I really loved the nose on this light Riesling but something went awry. What is a girl to do with an open bottle of wine, MAKE SANGRIA! And make sangria I did. I soaked some apples, oranges, one lime and some pineapple in brandy for about a day and a half. I then mixed that luscious marriage with this bottle of Riesling and it made some great sangria! I would totally buy this wine for Sangria again in the future!

Pinot Noir is my favorite of all of the reds. It is not too boastful and it isn't too heavy. It usually goes well with both spicy food and red meat and it can also be enjoyed along with dessert! WIN! flipflop's Pinot Noir was anything but simple and affordable. Holding the same $7.99 price tag as their other wines one might expect an epic fail but instead I was met with a great blackberry nose and surprising hints of smoke and vanilla. What did I intend to do with this wine besides drink it? I drank it with some chocolate of course! I ate some Equal Exchange Organic Milk Chocolate and let me tell you that was a treat! It almost made me feel as though I was drinking a Coca Cola, weird eh? As for the 70% Super Dark Chocolate that I ate alongside of the Pinot Noir. That was an experience in and of itself. The dark chocolate made the smokiness of the wine POP and it really made it feel like a wine I could chew (for those of you who know me well you know that is something I say when I LOVE a wine!)

Overall I was extremely satisfied with my experience with flipflop wines. One thing that makes me love this company even more is the fact that they are a company that loves to give back. flipflop wines has partnered with Soles4Souls Inc., the international shoe charity dedicated to providing free footwear to those in need. The program will raise much needed funds to give one pair of flip-flop sandals for each bottle of flipflop wine purchased. *up to 100,000 pairs for the first 100,000 bottles sold, where promotion is legal.

**I was sent these bottles of wine for review not only because I am of legal drinking age here in Michigan but also because I am not afraid to admit that I am a wino. No other compensation was received and all opinions are mine and were written when I was still sober!**

How about a contest?! $50 Amazon Gift Card

2011-07-12T11:44:00.004-04:00

I know you all love giveaways and why would today be any different? How would you like to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card? All you have to do is "like" ecoSTORE USA on Facebook and comment on this post with your Facebook name and you are entered! This contest will end on August 19th-GOOD LUCK!!

Also, you can request two free Laundry Liquid Samples when you like ecoSTORE on Facebook. Email maggie@ecostoreusa.com with your full name and mailing address and you will get to do two loads on them!

Tweet or Share this contest on Facebook and leave a copy of the URL here for an additional entry! (One for each)

*This contest is now being sponsored by ecoSTORE USA. ecoSTORE is also offering the samples*

2011-07-11T10:45:00.001-04:00

Free Sample of ecoSTORE USA Laundry Liquid

2011-06-29T14:07:00.000-04:00

Hurry! The first 500 people who “Like” ecoSTORE USA on their Facebook page, then email maggie@ecostoreusa.com will receive a free sample of their Laundry Liquid.

Get in on this freebie and make the switch to NO NASTY CHEMICALS™

It's almost July!

2011-06-28T12:44:00.000-04:00

Yes, that is right, Oliver is 8 months old now! WHOAZAS! How did that happen? He is now crawling all over the place and he is really fast. Oliver also has his first tooth and he eats like a champ! Ollie seems like he is my introvert. He likes playing by himself (finally!) and he loves to explore. He, like Dexter, is also a tactile learner. He loves to play with myriad of toys of all shapes and sizes. He truly is a doll!

I still cannot believe that it is almost July and in 13 days I will be 30! I remember when I was little I use to think that 30 was old. Now I look at 30 as a new chapter; a new beginning. I am embracing this decade and cannot wait to take it all in. There are a lot of unknowns that I am facing but with perseverance, determination, strength and fortitude I am sure I will make the right decisions that will lead where my fate has been pushing all along.

I know you want to know how Oliver got so cute and I would like to thank fibers.com for sending me these amazingly cute milestone onesies. I designed them myself and I chose all of the colors/fonts. Fibers.com makes it easy to create your own t-shirts and onesies. They even have big brother t-shirts for Dexter!

Science of Nature and Me

2011-06-20T13:14:00.000-04:00

I have spent a great deal of time lately thinking about nature and all that surrounds us. I am fascinated by this Earth and all of it's glory. Every day I am amazed by the gorgeous Lakes here in Michigan as well as the forests that I wander. I love rocks. I really enjoy finding rocks that remind me of one thing or another. If you ever happen to see me at a beach on vacation, chances are I will be looking for a rockin' stone or two.

I have always considered myself a steward of this Earth. I recycle, I reuse, I repurpose, I care. I live in constant awe of the beauty of life. I try so hard to see the best in every situation. I love living and every once in a while I need to step back and remind myself to breathe and breathe deep. This is the first summer that I won't be teaching at the local community college. I usually take on way too many roles and I become easily stressed out about everything. I refused to do that this year. What did I teach you may ask? I taught a Science of Renewable Energy course as well as two sections of CSI. I love both subjects a ton and since I am not bestowing my knowledge to thirsty students this year perhaps I will share with you the reasons that I love science and nature.

This brings me to the topic of biomimicry. I find this concept fascinating. What is biomimicry? It's basically nature-inspired engineering. I love seeing things not only for what they are but what they can become. One of my favorite forms of biomimicry is called Artificial Photosynthesis. We all know that plants use chlorophyll and take in sunlight and carbon dioxide and help convert into carbohydrates and oxygen. Scientists are busy trying to replicate this process in order to split water into hydrogen and oxygen molecules to use as a fuel source. This would help make this hydrogen fuel cells a more efficient and less expensive renewable energy source.

Are there any certain science/green related topics that you would like me to blog about? If so I would love to hear what you think!

I am all for clean water and totally against hydrofracking

2011-06-14T09:47:00.001-04:00

As a lover of the Great Lakes and complete Michigander there is little secret behind my adoration of water. I love to drink it, swim in it and fish from it. Really, you will always find me near the water in the summer months! Hydrofracking is a big concern and New Yorkers are taking action. Mark Ruffalo wants you to become aware and help stop this awful process. Fracking, in case you aren't familiar with it, is the controversial natural gas extraction process that has the potential to cause severe environmental damage (remember the flaming faucets of Montague County?). Watch this YouTube video to learn more. If nothing else, you get to see Mark Ruffalo in all his rugged, manly goodness!

Wanna Start Couponing?

2011-06-14T07:00:00.001-04:00

Are you a coupon shopper? You would be surprised at how many people that I talk to that don’t use coupons. They think it is a waste of time. Well, I think the problem is that people don’t know where to look and they think they are going to have to spend a ton of time searching for coupons. Make it easy on yourself by starting at MyCoupons.com. They save hundreds of coupons for all the top retailers. The great thing is that these are online coupons, so you find the deal or merchant you want and then it directs you to the site with your discount already loaded. There are even links on the site to help direct you to exclusive, most popular and even special holidays like Father’s Day. So let’s focus on that holiday. What do you get dad? They have Kmart Coupons and JCPenney Coupons and those stores have great gifts and helpful ideas for dad. Or check out the 10% off Eastbay Coupons for sporting gear and apparel. Make it easy on yourself and just click through the site, order online and have it delivered.

If you don’t want to buy an actual gift, why not just give a gift card? Through MyCoupons.com, you can buy discounted gift cards. Here is an example. You can buy a $100 Bass Pro card for $88. $12 in savings with free shipping, how great is that? Check and see what other deals and cards you can find. They are such a great resource for savings and very easy to use.

Monique Rowe is a guest writer for MyCoupons.com and loves blogging about traveling, product reviews and being thrifty on her site The One Income Dollar.

Cube Dog Review

2011-06-07T11:59:00.001-04:00

Thank you to Cube Dog for sponsoring this review. For more information about Cube Dog please visit the Facebook page or download it on iTunes.

I love my iPhone for many reasons. I love that Facebook, Twitter and email are just a button click away from me no matter where I am. I also love preschool geared apps that will keep Dexter occupied for minutes or hours on end. He is a huge fan of Talking Tom Cat and Read to Me Stories. I just downloaded and created my first Cube Dog and I have to say, he is a good time.

The ease of use of this app is great. I created this little guy in about a minute thanks to the easy-to-follow tutorial. I colored him lime green because its my favorite color and I named him Cubie *think Cube, not Cub* With the click of a button you can make Cubie do a variety of "tricks" My favorite one, because it reminds me of myself, has Cubie playing on his iPhone! How cute!

When you have Cube Dog play with his iPhone, he actually calls you. No, it doesn't talk to you but you have the choice of accepting or declining the call! It looks like this:

What else do I really like about this FREE app? You can choose your dog's body style, color, eyes, ears and name. The app is free *which, who doesn't like free?* This app is compatible with the iPhone and iPod Touch 4 (with camera).

What does Dexter think of it? Well it definitely did what I wanted it to do. It kept him occupied, quietly, for over 10 minutes! Thats a plus in my book. Think about it....you're sitting in the doctor's office, waiting to see the doctor, and you need your child to behave. Give them your iPhone and let them make their own Cube Dog. Trust me, they will be occupied and you will be happy.

Another reason to love your little Cubie, well they're also on Facebook and you should keep your eyes out for an awesome contest that will be there from June 13-17th.

While Cube Dog provided me with the app to review, the opinions I've expressed here are solely my own and represent my honest viewpoint. Cube Dog, Clever Girls Collective and I promote Blog With Integrity.

Oyster Mushrooms Shown to Help Disposable Diapers Decompose

2011-06-04T10:10:00.001-04:00

No disposable diaper ever made has ever decomposed. Not even close.... It takes roughly 500 years for one sposie to breakdown. Who has that kind of time to wait? Mother Earth sure doesn't. When you figure that each child makes roughly 1 ton of diaper trash annually, you are talking about a lot of waste (pun intended!)

What if I told you that scientists are close to figuring out how to make sposies breakdown in a matter of months rather than centuries?! Would you be impressed? I was astonished! Thanks to a scientist named Alethia Vázquez-Morillas from the Autonomous Metropolitan University in Mexico City this is looking more like a reality. The use of oyster mushrooms is making impossible feat possible. The oyster mushroom feeds off of decaying trees by breaking down cellulose (the main component of sposies). The break down of cellulose, by oyster mushrooms, results in a 90% breakdown of the disposable diaper in just 2 months and the remaining 10% is broken down in the next 2 months.

So lets pretend that you have a compost pile (and you use sposies). Maybe you should trow (like throw without the H) some oyster mushrooms in there with your diapers and see what happens!!

Get to know the ABCs of Me....

2011-05-31T10:23:00.000-04:00

My bestestestest MI Blogging friend, Krystal from Musings From Mom School did this super cute get-to-know-you type of thing on her blog and I, thinking that she has special powers and all, copied her! She eats much better than I do and she is soooo fab (thin too so now you can hate her too!)

Here it is, the food ABCs of me:

A is for Apple: What’s your favorite variety?
I love a Honeycrisp from right here in good ole Michigan. Organic of course. Did you know that apples are one of the "you must buy organic" fruits?

B is for Bread: Regardless of nutrition, what is your favorite type?
I adore a great fresh wheat bread. Being part Swede I also love Limpia and Rye bread too.

C is for Cereal: What is your favorite kind currently? (just one!)
Hmmm.....tough question. I love Honey Bunches of Oats with Almonds, Raisin Bran, Grape Nuts, Cornflakes (with bananas) and if I am REALLY naughty, I love me some Captn Crunch with Crunchberries!! I never buy that though other wise it would be gone in a minute!)

D is for Donuts: You might not currently eat them, but what kind do you fancy?
I am a fan of the raised, glazed donut. I don't eat them often but when I do, Krispy Kremes are the best!

E is for Eggs: How would you like yours prepared?
Anyway you make them for me! I like them poached for eggs benedict the most but also love scrambled with ketchup!

F is for Fat Free: What is your favorite fat free product?
Greek Yogurt!

G is for Groceries: Where do you purchase yours?
Meijer and occasionally Sams because I detest Walmart's produce section!

H: is for Hot Beverages: What is your favorite hot drink?
Coffee, daily, with Splenda and Soy or Almond Milk.

I is for Ice Cream: Pick a favorite flavor and add a fun topping.
I love Breyer's natural vanilla (the kind with the bean specks) topped with salted nuts and.

J is for Jams or Jellies: Do you eat them? If so, what kind and flavor?
I make my own raspberry jam from the berries in my backyard so it is totally my favorite.

K is for Kashi: Name your favorite Kashi product?
I am not really a fan of their things....

L is for Lunch: What was yours today?
Probably leftover german potato salad and/or a ham sammy.

M is for microwave: What is your favorite microwave meal/snack?
Hmmmm......instant oatmeal would rank right up there. I would say popcorn but I make mine on the stovetop to avoid the PFOAs in the microwave popcorn bags....

N is for nutrients: Do you likes carbs, fats, or proteins best?
Thats a damn good question! I really am a carb lover but I do adore a fatty piece of pork or beef too. If I had to pick one though, it would be carbs!

O is for oil: What kind do you like to use?
I use olive oil most, but also use organic coconut, sunflower and sesame oils too!

P is for protein: How do you get yours?
Peanut butter, greek yogurt, meat, eggs and protein shakes to name a few.....

Q is for Quaker: How do you like your oats?
I like mine with a little bit of milk, raisins and brown sugar......

R is for roasting: What is your favorite thing to roast?
BRUSSELS SPROUTS!!! No doubt about it....love love love them!

S is for sandwich: What’s your favorite kind?
HARD Question......I love all sandwiches but the turkey reuben is right up there!

T is for travel: How do you handle eating while traveling?
I love exploring new cities not only for the rich history but also for the cuisine. I adore fun food. NYC has been my FAVORITE culinary destination yet!

U is for unique: What is one of your weirdest food combos?
DON'T JUDGE ME....I love open face peanut butter sandwiches with hot canned ravioli poured over top.

V is for vitamins: What kind do you take?
Prenatals.....they are free. I also take Calcium, Vitamin D, Extra Vit C, Milk Thistle and Acerola Fruit

W is for wasabi: Yay or nay?
Sushi is a weakness of mine so yes, lots on there please!

X is XRAY: If we xrayed your belly right now, what food would we see?
Coffee, poached eggs and whole grain light wheat bread.

Y is for youth: What food reminds you of your childhood?
Perch that I use to catch with my grandpa and Mom's sloppy joes. My mother is an amazing cook and she would slave over incredible meals for our family. My brother and I were asses and like to be crazy so one day we told her that we didn't want to eat her cooking anymore. We told her we wanted sloppy joes forever. She did just that. We ate sloppy joes for weeks and never complained again after that! What a great memory!

Z is for zucchini: How do you prepare it?
I love to sautee it in butter/olive oil with red onions and tons of fresh garlic. I also like it lightly breaded in italian breadcrumbs and pan fried with marinara sauce.

Wanna

I Need a Blogging Spanking.....

2011-05-28T09:10:00.000-04:00

I vowed that I was never going to stop blogging. I know that I love it and I want to continue doing what makes me happy. I have been so busy living lately that I have stopped writing about it. I mean just the other day, Oliver turned 7 months old! HOLY COW where has that time gone?

I have really been trying so hard to shake this baby weight battle. Now that I am closed-for-business I feel like I have to do this once and for all. I do realize (even though I don't like it) that it took me months and months to put this weight on and obviously it won't come off overnight. I have been doing my favorite Kettleworx workouts and I have been so sore! I also just got diagnosed with Postpartum Thyroidism. Just add that to the host of amazing things that have changed on my body since having kids. WOW, if they weren't so damn cute it would be hard for me to like them!

Another crazy thing.....44 days until I am 30! Remember I made that 30 before 30 vow? Well, it seems like its going to be more like a dream than a reality. I have lost 40 pounds since I was pregnant with Oliver. It is great when I quantify it like that but I am still not fitting in my PP jeans thanks to my "perfect childbearing hips" or so my midwife calls them. Start shifting back already will ya?! It is time for me to serve my body an eviction notice. I am ready to start 30 full steam ahead and I'll be damned if I won't enjoy every.single.moment.

Yoplait Kids is wholesome and delicious

2011-05-18T15:34:00.002-04:00

Wanna know why I love feeding Yoplait kids yogurt to Dexter? Because it contains 25% less sugar than the leading brands and no HFCS! He loves it because it tastes good and has fun characters on it. I guess we both win!

Here are some links to the other chats if you are interested:
http://bit.ly/YPKSnackChat1, http://bit.ly/YPKSnackChat2, http://bit.ly/YPKSnackChat3, http://bit.ly/YPKSnackChat4 http://bit.ly/YPKSnackChat5, http://bit.ly/YPKSnackChat6, http://bit.ly/YPKSnackChat7, http://bit.ly/YPKSnackChat8

Also, you can print a coupon good for $.50 off a 4-pack of Yoplait Kids yogurt!
http://bit.ly/YPK50COUP

This information was provided to me by Yoplait through MyBlogSpark.

What's Your Pasta Personality?

2011-05-18T14:50:00.000-04:00

I just took the Carrabba's Facebook Quiz What's Your Pasta Personality? and I got Tag Pic Pac. I thought for sure it would be Alfredo or Marsala but hey, this looks AWESOME too! I am a pasta-holic. If it has noodles, I am all.over.it. I very rarely cook pasta at home any more because I cannot limit the amount I eat. There is no such thing as portion control on pasta night. My husband, being the chef that he is, makes a mean Rufino which I adore. It isn't overly heavy but it is super garlicky which is A OK with me!

Sooo, I bet you are wondering how you too can make Rufino. Well, it isn't very hard. You start by making your linguini or spaghetti (whichever you prefer). While your pasta is cooking to al dente you can start halving some grape tomatoes. The portions I use are never the same so I just say eyeball it for how many people you will be serving. I love a lot of tomatoes and basil in mine but you might not. How scientific eh? Anyway, halve your tomatoes and set them aside. When you are finished you should start by laying your basil leaves on top of one another. When you have a good 7-10 leaves you can roll them up and cut them very fine (this is called chiffonade) After your basil is cut I would suggest you start with 5-7 cloves of garlic and mince it up. Once all of your fixins are cut up you can start to cook!

Heat a generous amount of EVOO in a sauce pan over medium/high heat (this will serve as the base of your sauce). Add your tomatoes to the pan and cook for a couple of minutes until they start to seep. Then add your cooked pasta to this pan and throw in your basil and garlic. Toss it around the pan until the pasta is coated with the olive oil and the tomatoes , garlic and basil are dispersed throughout the pasta. Top with LOTS of fresh grated parmesan cheese and enjoy!! This is a KILLER easy dish. You can also add chicken breast to it but I prefer to keep mine meatless.

Carrabba's New Limited Time Offers Sound Ahhhhmazing, check them out for yourself:

Carrabba’s Signature Pasta Meals and New Limited Time Offers
Signature Pasta Meals, featuring seven distinctive dishes served with choice of soup or fresh salad starting at $10. There’s no better place than Carrabba’s to enjoy a complete Italian meal – any day of the week.
CARRABBA’S PASTA: Carrabba’s makes every pasta dish by hand with the freshest ingredients. Pasta is cooked perfectly every time and signature sauces are made from scratch daily. Creative flavors and combinations of ingredients are part of Carrabba’s authentic family recipes as well as new creations.
LIMITED TIME OFFERS: Now through July 2011.
Featured Signature Pasta Meal:
Pasto Rambo – Named for the chef who created it, it’s made with shrimp tossed with imported Italian linguine, spinach, mushrooms, and tomatoes sautéed in our basil lemon butter sauce. Lobster is available instead of shrimp for an additional cost.
Other Limited Time Offers:
Parmesan-crusted Chicken – Topped with fresh arugula and grape tomatoes tossed in a hand-prepared lemon vinaigrette, served with choice of side. Substitution of wood-grilled chicken also available. Pairs well with Estancia Pinot Grigio.
Prosciutto-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin – Three pork tenderloin medallions wrapped with prosciutto, wood-grilled and topped with an apple and fig infused port wine sauce, served with the vegetable of the day. Pairs well with Coppola Pinot Noir.
Limoncello Bread Pudding – Back by popular demand! Brioche bread pudding made with fresh Madagascar vanilla beans and a rich custard, served hot out of the oven. Topped with Blue Bell vanilla ice cream and drizzled with Carrabba’s homemade Caravella Limoncello liqueur sauce.
Now Introducing:
Peach Sangria – Carrabba’s new light and fruity Peach Sangria blends Copper Ridge White Zinfandel, Absolut Apeach vodka and Patrón Citrónge with a splash of citrus. Topped with a fresh lemon wedge and strawberry, it’s a taste of the Amalfi Coast in spring.
Locations: Visit www.carrabbas.com for the closest Carrabba’s location. There are more than 230 locations nationwide.
About Carrabba’s: Johnny Carrabba and Damian Mandola founded the first Carrabba’s Italian Grill in 1986 in Houston, Texas. Today, there are 232 Carrabba’s Italian Grill locations around the country, run by passionate local proprietors focused on delighting guests with fresh, made-to-order Italian cuisine and the ultimate dining experience. Carrabba’s serves dinner seven nights a week in a casual environment that pairs innovative dishes and a complementary wine list with abundant hospitality. For on-the-go guests, Carrabba’s also offers convenient Carside Carry-Out. To learn more about Carrabba’s, please visit www.carrabbas.com.
Carrabba’s Pasta Personality Quiz on Facebook - Take the quiz to see how your personality compares to some of Carrabba’s signature pasta dishes! http://www.facebook.com/Carrabbas?sk=app_142632109083371
Follow Carrabba’s on Twitter: @Carrabba’s
Carrabba’s on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Carrabbas

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Carrabba’s blogging program, for a gift card worth $50. For more information on how you can participate, click here.