Monday, September 29, 2014

The Bouqs #Beautiful Flowers Shipped! #BOUQLOVE

I received the following item at no charge for this post. Affiliate links may be used. 

Have you heard of The Bouqs? The Bouqs is an online flower shop... and they are eco-friendly and sustainable. The flowers are grown on a volcano to boot! How awesome is that?! 

For $40 you can get a beautiful bouquet delivered to your door (or someone special's)!  I recently received the Dawn bouquet for review- I was pretty excited because these look soooo gorgeous! 

I scheduled delivery for a day I knew someone would be home since these required a signature. 


The flowers arrived safely and had very clear instructions inside. They were wrapped nicely to protect them. 


Here are first day photos of the flowers



 And here are photos from day 7. 


The flowers started to wilt quickly after day 7 and we ended up sending them off to flower heaven on day 9. We sure did enjoy having them around that week, they were gorgeous! To keep them fresh I changed the water daily, trimmed the stems one time, and took off any loose petals and leaves. 


What is the longest a bouquet of flowers has lasted for you? 

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Paper Jack-o-Lanterns! #Halloween #Craft

I received the items in this post at no cost for the purpose of this post.


These adorable paper jack-o-lanterns are from Oriental Trading.

I love the craft kits from Oriental Trading because all the pieces are included and in individual bags. All we needed to complete this project was some glue!

 We chose to use glue sticks... but if we did it again we would definitely choose a different glue. The packaging suggested using hot glue, and I think that it would have been much less frustrating for the kids if we had used it.

The glue sticks had to dry, and that meant a lot of holding pieces while the drying happened.

All of the pieces come pre-cut and ready to assemble, so even when I did this with 5 of the kids it wasn't too much for just me.

First we took the yellow piece of paper and made a tube. Then we took the pre-cut orange piece of paper and glued around the tube to make the round shape of the pumpkin. We then added the green foam pieces and the black foam faces along with the pipe cleaner vine. Overall, it took us about an hour from start to finish, but this time would have been drastically shorter had we used a quick drying glue. The kids really enjoyed seeing the finished product!



This project could easily be done without the kits- but if you are looking for a great project when you are short on prep time, or time to complete the craft, Oriental Trading's craft kits are great!

Saturday, September 27, 2014

#TheBestofMe




Who loves a good love story? Well check this new movie coming out...




Official Websites - #TheBestofMe
Like The Best of Me on Facebook
Follow / Subscribe Instagram | Tumblr | Twitter | Pinterest | YouTube
 
#FirstLoveFriday
Every Friday, join The Best of Me in sharing your first love stories using the hashtag #FirstLoveFriday! Follow @BestofMeMovie on Twitter and let’s get #FirstLoveFriday trending!

About the Film
Based on the bestselling novel by acclaimed author Nicholas Sparks, The Best of Me tells the story of Dawson and Amanda, two former high school sweethearts who find themselves reunited after 20 years apart, when they return to their small town for the funeral of a beloved friend. Their bittersweet reunion reignites the love they've never forgotten, but soon they discover the forces that drove them apart twenty years ago live on, posing even more serious threats today. Spanning decades, this epic love story captures the enduring power of our first true love, and the wrenching choices we face when confronted with elusive second chances.
The Best of Me stars James Marsden, Michelle Monaghan, Luke Bracey and Liana Liberato

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Make it EASY to be SAFE! #EvenfloPlatinum

I participated in this sponsored campaign on behalf of One2One Network. All opinions stated are my own.



This carseat is SO nice! We're using it with Annabelle, who is tall for being 3 years old. I love that the harness adjusts to her shoulders, all we do is lift the harness up, put the harness on and then pull it tight- no rethreading or worrying about her growing. This is one of my favorite features that Evenflo has! We've been big fans of Evenflo seats for quite some time, and this new seat doesn't dissapoint!

We have a 2003 Yukon XL, which doesn't have LATCH, but my 2004 Hyundai does. I love that this seat can easily be switched and installation takes just seconds with LATCH (and not much longer using seat belt installation). 

 Evenflo developed a system consisting of Quick Connector™ LATCH and Guides that increases proper installation by 2X compared to installation with standard LATCH hooks! LATCH guides act like a tunnel, making it a cinch to find your vehicles lower anchors. The Quick Connector™ LATCH easily attaches and detaches the seat from the vehicle with one hand for easy transition between vehicles. The new Evenflo SureSafe System increases proper installation by 2x, compared to standard latch. Since up to 70% of car seats are installed incorrectly, this is a huge benefit- especially if you need to switch the seat often, as many parents do! 

Our daughter really likes the seat and has not complained at all about sitting in the seat, it looks very comfortable and we haven't heard anything otherwise!


The buckle storage are another great features. You may have noticed how hot those buckles get when in a hot car, and how it can be frustrating to have a child sit on the buckes. Well, just pop the buckles on the buckle storage and you don't have to worry about skin being burned, or having to pry the harness out from underneath the child. 


You can find a coupon for $10 or $15 off on Evenflo's website, just look for the coupon widget which is hosted at the upper-right corner and bottom of the landing page.

Overall, I highly recommend this seat, the safety of the e3 Side Impact™ Protection (three layers of engineered foam designed and tested to reduce side impact forces up to 50%), the ease of the SureSafe™ System and the convenience of the Buckle Pockets make this seat a great buy.


Monday, September 22, 2014

Happy Babies Dance! Cute Video #DDDivas #BabyGotMoves #sponsored

This review was made possible by Double Duty Divas and Pampers. I was provided the featured product free of charge to facilitate my review, but all opinions are 100% mine.



 Babies got mooooooves! Just check this adorable video of these happy, dry Pampers babies!



You're baby can share in their joy, too.. come join us for a super fun Twitter party with some AMAZING Pampers prizes!


Twitter Party Information:
The Twitter Party will take place on Thursday October 2nd at 9pm EST.
Please share this link and encourage your readers to join us and RSVP:
To participate, follow your hosts @DoubleDutyDivas, @BridgetteLA, @CeceliaMecca @AngieKcom @WhatMommiesNeed @RamblingChick, and our sponsor @Pampers.
Twitter Party Prizes Include:
1 Pack of Baby Dry Diapers, a $15 iTunes GC and a VTech Learn and Dance Interactive Zoo
     1 Pack of Baby Dry Diapers and a Zoo Tunes Mobile Blue Tooth Speaker (owl)
  1 Pack of Baby Dry Diapers and a $100 Gift Card to Little Gym/ Gymboree/ My Gym
    1 Pack of Baby Dry Diapers a $25 iTunes GC and an iPad Mini ($350 value)

    RSVP: 1 Pack of Baby Dry Diapers

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Jif To Go #GetGoing #MC #sponsored

I participated in an Influencer Activation Program on behalf of Influence-Central for Jif To Go Dippers. I received a sample to facilitate my review and a thank you item for participating.

From August 20 through October 1, 2014, Jif To Go is celebrating life on-the-go by asking fans to share a picture of how they get going in the #GetGoing photo promotion. Fans can enter each week for a chance to win $1,000 to use for their next adventure!

Where would you go if you had an extra $1,000?  I want to know! Please tell me where your most longed for destination is! 

We would love to go on a road trip... and an extra $1,000 would buy us some serious miles! We've always wanted to take the kids to see the Redwood Forest. The tall trees and history of the forest would be something that would leave us in awe. Have you been to the redwood forest?

Image Source
We'd love to take a long road trip and see a lot of national parks, but the Redwood Forest has really piqued all of our interest. It'd be a long drive from Michigan, but with so much to see on the way I know it would be a great memory for all of us. 

Road trips can be kind of tricky, though. I mean, you can't stop all the time for snacks. Jif To Go Dippers are a great road trip snack, though. Tucked away in it's own little package, you find a cup of pretzels and a cup of your favorite peanut butter (or chocolate silk peanut butter)! Great for dipping and enjoying- and less mess!

These are seriously tasty, and the perfect portion size, too. You don't have to worry about eating too much since it is all measured out for you. I may have been guilty of over indulging on the peanut butter in the past... so these are especially great for me!

For more product information and details on how to participate in the Jif To Go #GetGoing promotion, please visit http://www.jif.com and check out Jif on InstagramFacebookand Twitter. The #GetGoing photo promotion is open to legal residents of the 50 United States and D.C., 18 years of age and older. Void where prohibited. No purchase necessary. See Official Rules for complete details.


Boost their confidence with #TRUFITBetterNites! #MC #Giveaway #sponsored

I participated in an Influencer Activation Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for GoodNites* TRU-FIT*. I received samples for this review and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

Bedwetting.... if you have children, you've probably dealt with this issue at least once, but what if it is frequent occurrence? It can be a difficult thing to deal with. 

According to a GoodNites® brand study, it’s estimated that 1 in 6 children between the ages of 4-12 in the United States suffer from nocturnal enuresis, more commonly known as bedwetting. 

We've had a fair amount of trouble with two of our boys and night time dryness. We've been told by their pediatrician that it's something they will just have to grow out of (there's nothing wrong physically, so nothing more that we can do). 
We do try to help them, no drinks after dinner, using the bathroom right before bed, but that still doesn't help them not be embarrassed at sleep overs and camp. Research from the American Academy of Pediatrics shows that psychologically, children who wet the bed do not want to participate in fun activities, such as sleepovers, because of their fear and embarrassment. GoodNites* TRU-FIT* is the answer to their embarrassment. 

GoodNites* TRU-FIT* are just like real underwear. Really, I don't think anyone could tell any different when a child is wearing them. They have a secret waterproof pocket that holds a disposable pad. GoodNites* TRU-FIT* is machine-washable, real underwear with disposable, absorbent inserts that help keep sheets and PJs dry all night.

You can download a GoodNites* TRU-FIT* coupon for $3 off at http://www.goodnites.com/ourproducts/goodnites-trufit/ 

  

The GoodNites* TRU-FIT* Underwear Starter Pack includes two pair of underwear, and 5 disposable pads. 

GoodNites* TRU-FIT* have been great for our kids. We did have one leak, and I'm guessing that it was just because our son was laying on his side with a gap in the underwear. Otherwise, it has saved us a lot of time and laundry. The disposable pad refills are somewhat expensive but by not doing laundry you are saving money- and you can't put a price on a child's confidence. You can also find a coupon here to help with the cost.


GIVEAWAY!

We're offering up a $40 gift card for one lucky reader! Enter below:



Thursday, September 18, 2014

This #movie looks #hilarious! #TIWILY #Giveaway


Okay, I am so excited about this movie! Really! It looks soooo funny! It opens tomorrow, and I'd love to know if you see it!


THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU in theaters September 19
Visit the official website
Like This is Where I Leave You on Facebook
 
About the Film

When their father passes away, four grown siblings, bruised and banged up by their respective adult lives, are forced to return to their childhood home and live under the same roof together for a week, along with their over-sharing mother and an assortment of spouses, exes and might-have-beens. Confronting their history and the frayed states of their relationships among the people who know and love them best, they ultimately reconnect in hysterical and emotionally affecting ways amid the chaos, humor, heartache and redemption that only families can provide—driving us insane even as they remind us of our truest, and often best, selves.
 
This Is Where I Leave You stars Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Adam Driver, Rose Byrne, Corey Stoll, Kathryn Hahn, Connie Britton, Timothy Olyphant, Dax Shepard and Jane Fonda

 
Based on the novel "This Is Where I Leave You" by Jonathan Tropper

Enter below to win a copy of the book, and a $25 gift card to go see the movie!


Thursday, September 11, 2014

This is Where I Leave You.... #TIWILY


THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU
Warner Bros. Pictures
In theaters September 19, 2014


Official Websites - #TIWILY
Visit the official website
Like This is Where I Leave You on Facebook
 

When their father passes away, four grown siblings, bruised and banged up by their respective adult lives, are forced to return to their childhood home and live under the same roof together for a week, along with
their over-sharing mother and an assortment of spouses, exes and might-have-beens. Confronting their history and the frayed states of their relationships among the people who know and love them best, they ultimately reconnect in hysterical and emotionally affecting ways amid the chaos, humor, heartache and redemption that only families can provide—driving us insane even as they remind us of our truest, and often best, selves.
This Is Where I Leave You stars Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Adam Driver, Rose Byrne, Corey Stoll, Kathryn Hahn, Connie Britton, Timothy Olyphant, Dax Shepard and Jane Fonda
Based on the novel "This Is Where I Leave You" by Jonathan Tropper

Zevia Soda!


I received product for the purpose of this post. All opinions are my own.


I have been actively trying to cut out sweets from my life. It's been tough, especially going from a frequent soda drinker to pretty much nothing. I love soda! I've tried some diet sodas, but I am NOT a fan of artificial sweeteners. I've used stevia before, so when I had the opportunity to try Zevia soda, I was pretty stoked!

I think this soda is a great alternative to other artificially sweetened sodas. Some flavors were better than others, I preferred the cream soda flavor out of them all. There were some flavors that just had a really harsh aftertaste, but others hid it better. 

The cola was pretty tasty, too!

My brother has an aspartame allergy, so he can't have many diet options, but if he wanted to, he could try this. That is pretty exciting! I know it is exciting for others in the same situation as well. And, who wouldn't rather give a more natural option to their children?

Speaking of children, there is a very scary trend going on. Obesity. I know you are aware of it, it's in the news often. 




We have some coupons to give away to a couple lucky readers! Enter below for your chance! Zevia is available on Amazon.com, at Target, and other specialty stores.




a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

It's getting a bit spooky! #MLP #MyLittlePony

My Little Pony – Friendship Is Magic:
Spooktacular Pony Tales
Look for it on DVD SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

Los Angeles, CA – Now 20% spookier! Halloween is just around the corner (boo!), and so is MyLittle Pony – Friendship Is Magic: Spooktacular Pony Tales! Coming to DVD on September 9, 2014 in the U.S. and Canada from Shout! Factory Kids in collaboration with Hasbro Studios, Spooktacular Pony Tales features 6 episodes and a sing-along. The DVD also comes packed with spooky fun including My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic pumpkin carving stencils and a color Halloween poster perfect for seasonal decorating.


Everypony loves Halloween… the candy, the pumpkins, the costumes, the friends! Join your favorite residents of Ponyville — Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie and, of course, Spike — as they take on some of the spookiest adventures Equestria’s ever seen! Time to gather around and hold on tight, because these six exciting tales are a chillingly good romp.


The My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic series is currently airing on The HUB TV Network in the U.S. and on Treehouse in Canada.


My Little Pony – Friendship Is Magic: Spooktacular Pony Tales Episodes Include:
Boast Busters
Stare Master
Luna Eclipsed
Sleepless In Ponyville
Castle Mane-ia
Bats!


Bonus Feature:
Sing-Along

Monday, September 8, 2014

Cascade Platinum... you may be washing dishes wrong! #Giveaway

This review was made possible by Double Duty Divas and Cascade. I was provided the featured product free of charge to facilitate my review, but all opinions are 100% mine.

Okay, seriously... I didn't think you *could* wash dishes wrong...but I have learned you can. Thank goodness for this eye opening tidbit of information, for now my dishwashing habits (and results) have changed forever. 

Cascade Platinum dishwashing tablets are amazing. To get them to wash to their fullest, you must skip the prewash. Seriously... no more rinsing! For the last year we've had a dishwasher, and I've always DEMANDED that everyone rinse their plates. It's been tedious (I mean, I often feel like I washing the dishes before washing the dishes...kwim?), so finding this out is amazing. Cascade Platinum actually needs the left over food stuffs to work properly! The enzymes attach themselves to the food and helps the cleaning process!


For this party I made some home made macaroni and cheese. Two pounds of cheese went into my recipe, so it was extra gooey! The dishwasher powered through the cheesy mess with the help of Cascade Platinum!


We're having another fun party in a few weeks, and I can't wait to share more photos with you all! 



Have an opinion to share? Head to the Cascade website to leave a short review of Cascade Platinum (http://www.cascadeclean.com/us/cascade/review) including #CascadeShiningReviews. One reviewer will win a Kitchen Aid Dishwasher!

GIVEAWAY!

#MazeRunner #Giveaway! Come enter to win admission on us!


THE MAZE RUNNER in theaters September 19
Visit the Official Website
Like ‘The Maze Runner’ on Facebook
Follow @MazeRunnerMovie on Twitter
 
About the film
When Thomas (Dylan O'Brien) wakes up trapped in a massive maze with a group of other boys, he has no memory of the outside world other than strange dreams about a mysterious organization known as W.C.K.D. Only by piecing together fragments of his past with clues he discovers in the maze can Thomas hope to uncover his true purpose and a way to escape. Based upon the best-selling novel by James Dashner.
 
Rated: PG-13
Starring: Dylan O’Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Will Poulter, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Aml Ameen, Ki Hong Lee
Directed By: Wes Ball
Produced By: Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Wyck Godfrey, Marty Bowen


GIVEAWAY!



Thursday, September 4, 2014

Our @Pampers #BabyGotMoves! #DDDivas #Sponsored #Giveaway


This review was made possible by Double Duty Divas and Pampers. I was provided the featured product free of charge to facilitate my review, but all opinions are 100% mine.

Waking up dry is something worth dancing about! Let's celebrate!



I love it when Orrin decides to get a little dance on, but it is hard to catch happening! Baby dances are absolutely adorable!

We've been big fans of Pampers Baby Dry for many years (and many children)! I can't say we've never had a leak, but they are few and far between, and Pampers is a brand we trust to keep our kids (and sheets) dry.

How would you like to celebrate a great night's sleep with a little jam party? Check out this super giveaway!

Giveaway (estimated value $100) prize,  which will include:
·      Homedics Jam Plus Wireless Bluetooth Speaker
·      Baby Einstein Octoplush
·      Bright Starts Pretty In Pink Get Movin' Music Player
·      The Baby Hustle: An Interactive Book with Wiggles and Giggles!
·      Pampers Sensitive Wipes
·      Pampers Baby Dry Diapers


Seriously, what a great prize package! Be sure to Follow Pampers on Twitter and Facebook.
 Enter below:


Tuesday, September 2, 2014

#DoMore Knowing Your Child is Safe #Giveaway

This post was brought to you by Levana. 

What would you do more of if you knew your baby was safe and sound?

Would you take a shower, would you organize your closet? Would you weed your flower beds, maybe sleep more soundly? For parents, it's not always easy to feel comfortable doing those tasks that may take your concentration off of the baby. What if something were to happen? The what-ifs can leave you worried and not doing those things you would if you knew that your baby was safe.

The Levana video monitor, the Ayden Video Monitor, is a high tech video monitor that allows you to see and hear your baby, whenever you may feel a little concerned. That reassurance that baby is fast asleep, snug as a bug, is priceless.



The Ayden Video Monitor is priced at $119.99, and has some nice features. I personally am a big fan of the intercom and lullaby features. Being able to let your child know that you see him or her after they wake is wonderful- and sometimes all they need is that familiar voice to say goodnight to drift back to sleep.

This device has been designed with parent-friendly controls and features in mind, including 48 hour battery life in power saving PEEP mode, temperature monitoring, 15ft night vision, and 750ft ClearVu® digital signal. Babies love the Talk to Baby™ two-way intercom, invisible night vision LEDs and 3 relaxing lullabies.

We wanted to keep it out of kids' reach, and we wanted to see both the children sleeping in the room, so we placed it up high near the ceiling.

The placement is nice during the day, but at night it doesn't give us a very clear view if it is on battery mode, as long as it is plugged in, we can see well at night, but it gets very dim if the power is off and the camera needs to run on batteries. We just keep the camera plugged into an outlet, and it does fine.

I personally like the security of ClearVu®. This technology provides outstanding precision and clarity of a digital signal from up to 750ft away. Ayden has a private, secure and interference-free digital signal that no one but you can view. We don't live close to others anymore, but I know when I was in town some of my previous monitors would pick up people's phone calls- and it always concerned me.

Another great thing is the ability to expand the system to include up to 4 cameras. This means you wouldn't have to miss any angles of the room, or you could put one where baby naps and another in the nursery, and one in the playroom, too.

For the pricepoint, I think that this video monitor has some great features that are sure to make you feel a bit more secure, and your child a bit more soothed.



This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Levana. The opinions and text are all mine.

Monday, September 1, 2014

Don't Let Summer Go.... #IceCreamRun

This post was sponsored by Global Influence.

We live in a very rural area, less than 2,000 people live in our little town, but in summer our town comes to life. I love seeing the tourists, and all of the fun events! Starting a couple years ago, we even had an ice cream truck come around a couple times a month and seeing my children get to experience that was great! 

The first time, we heard the music for a while then we realized it was coming down the street! It was about 8pm, and we were in our PJ's getting ready for bed, but we ran outside and we all had some ice cream! 


I love memories like that, and I love summer, and I'm not ready to let it go just yet! There are still a few warm summer days left although school is calling, and I will be headed to Walgreens to get some great ice
cream treats- and I don't even have to wait for that little ice cream truck to come around.


This weekend has been full of great times with my family, and I really hope that I can help those great times linger on throughout early fall. 

What have your favorite memories of this summer been? Do you have a favorite ice cream memory?


 
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