$150 CASH (Paypal) Giveaway! Ends 9/5

Has anyone else noticed that each year the "school supplies" list seems to get longer and longer. While you might be able to get some good deals if you watch the ads starting in June and work on it all summer - wouldn't it be nice to just get a chunk of change to help you pay for it all?

The Back-to-School Bonanza - hosted by OutnumberedMama and Baby Feva - is your chance to get just that - plus a little extra for you too!  



One lucky Winner will receive $150 - via PayPal - CASH! And three other winners will each receive a Gutzy Gear Prize Pack (one set of strap covers and some patches) to help your kid rock their backpacks. 



This giveaway is a result of the collaboration of these blogs. Please visit them all for exciting info, great tips and tons of fun!

 Baby Feva   

My Little House of Treasures   

Disney Contests and Sweepstakes  

4BabyAndMom   

Featured Product Reviews  

Smart Spending Spot   

A Day in Our Shoes  

bassgiraffe's Thoughts   



Please use the RAFFLECOPTER below to enter this giveaway. Grand Prize of $150 is open internationally - as long as you have a VALID PayPal address, you are eligible to win. Secondary Prizes (Gutzy Gear Prize Packs) are open to US Residents ONLY.

Giveaway ends at 11:59PM on SEPTEMBER 5, 2012

a Rafflecopter giveaway




Disclaimer: The prize money was provided by the blogs listed above.

Read more...

Kranich's Website Review+Jewelry Giveaway! Ends 8/29

My Actual Engagement Ring

My engagement ring was stolen back in 2004. It's a long story and a whole other post that I will write one day.. but not today. Anyway- I loved my rock.. er.. ring. It was a 1.17 carat solitaire on a platinum band, with a medium/high setting. It wasn't ginormous, but the way it sparkled made it look bigger than it was. It was perfect for me. I miss it terribly, and every now and then, I browse the internet in search of my future replacement ring.

I've found a few that have caught my eye, but none like the gorgeous Verragio rings at Kranich's. I tend to like simple and stunning pieces, and that these rings are. Stunning. The detail is just equisite. Hidden scrolls, diamonds and details on the gallery and down the sides of the ring, offers just a perfect touch to make Verragio jewelry the treasure that it is. There are two styles that I completely fell in love with. My only problem now is how to convince the hubby that next year (for our tenth anniversary) he should get me one.

Kranich's offers jewelry for anyone in the family. From pearls to precious stones, gold to silver, men's or ladies designs, Kranich's has it all. While I was there looking at rings for me, I found a really handsome watch for my husband that actually made me drool a little.

They even have bracelets- perfect for accessorizing all year long. Whether you have a daughter who is turning Sweet 16 this year, heading to college, getting married, or watching her own kids go back to school, think about getting her a bracelet just to say 'I love you'.

September's birthstone is Sapphire. You could always pick up one of these beautiful 7.5 inch sterling silver sapphire and diamond bracelets for that special someone. Or, you could just enter to win one.

One lucky reader will win a beautiful Kranich's silver bracelet in their choice of stones: Sapphire, Blue Topaz, Citrine, Peridot, Ruby, or  Amethyst. Click the sapphire link above for a more detailed description of the bracelet. This bracelet retails for $149.

Here's How to Enter:
Go take a peek at the Verragio line, and come back and tell me which ring is YOUR dream ring.

After you've left a comment, click on our RaffleCopter widget below. This giveaway is open to US only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read more...

Back to school blues-

This time of the year is always bittersweet. Our babies are growing up..

A little old lady in an elevator told me when I was pregnant with Alex to enjoy every moment, because in a blink they start to walk, in a blink they graduate high school, and in a blink they have families of their own. As we left the elevator, I thanked her, and thought to myself how easy that would be, he was my baby.

Having a child with special needs- especially one who wasn't diagnosed for so long- is hard, I'm not going to lie. Having a child who's smart is hard, too. One way or another you're looked at weird. Your child is different. As a mom, we encourage our children to be different, but when they're born different, most try to shelter or hide that. Why is it?

I love my kids. All three of them are so unique and so special.. They all have different strengths and weaknesses, they all have different features and different voices. Different attitudes, and different skills. I can't wait to see how the baby grows up and the little person he becomes.

But I can.

It seems that it was just a few months ago, when I held Abbie to me as an infant. She's now going into first grade. She's got a brand-new-to-teaching new teacher. She seems very sweet. I'm not bothered by the fact that she was only hired a week ago. She's still young enough, and new enough to have that passion for teaching, to not be burnt out like so many teachers we've crossed paths with, and is still excited about teaching. That excites me.

Alex has the same teacher he had during the last semester last year. This is our first full year in a self-contained ASD class. I'm excited for him, but nervous. He adores his teacher, and actually seems excited that he's going back there. I think he's more excited that his buddy Jonathan is back in his class.

This is the first year that I'm not up, literally making myself sick over worry because of his placement, since he started school.

None of my family and friends understand it. Heck, I don't even think my husband understands it. For the first time since the first day of Kindergarten, I'm excited for back to school.

But then I step back, and watch the both of them get ready. They get their shoes on, make their hair perfect, eat some breakfast, and kiss me good bye as they climb on the bus. And I stop. I remember them little, holding my hand while they drank their bottles, promising them I'd love them forever, and treasure every moment always.

Sometimes it's hard, but I think that's truly being a mom.

Read more...

A New Adventure-Little Tikes TikeStix Review + Giveaway

Keeping the kids busy over the summer-without killing each other- was quite the challenge for us this year. Finding something that kept the both of them engaged and entertained was.. difficult, to say the least.

The kids love to play pretend, and usually play together nicely, but since the baby came around, I feel like they are constantly arguing. When I found the Little Tikes TIKESTIX Clubhouse, I knew I had to give this new product a whirl. Not only did it appeal to my son's desire to build, but it also looked easy enough for my daughter to use without her big brother's help.

From Little Tikes:

Grab your hard hats and work boots and prepare to use your imagination in a BIG! way as Little Tikes proudly introduces TikeStix™, an all-new dynamic line of indoor and outdoor construction toys built for kids that promotes innovative ways of toy building play. From forts and racecars, to aliens and petting zoos, Little Tikes TikeStix™ is designed to encourage a child’s imagination and creativity, while teaching motor and project-building skills. (Age grade: 4+) 

The Playhouse and Clubhouse each come with 50 interlocking pieces, 1 piece of fabric and eight clips so kids can create and build a fort, playhouse, and more that they can actually fit in!

Upon receiving the box, the kids delighted in the fact that it had a handle, and they could "bring it to grandma's to make a fort!" So that we did.

Within minutes, they had the box open, and decided that they were going to create the fort in the picture. My son- the logistic one- opened up the directions to read about how to put it all together. My daughter decided sorting the pieces would be much more efficient, plus every different color and every different shape made her more and more excited to play with them.

They finally agreed that pulling out the pieces would be the easiest, so when they needed a piece they could just grab it from that pile. (Although, that step is not necessary, that's what worked for my kids.)

They quickly went into action, snapping pieces onto each other, making corners, and walls- until the creation actually started to look like something distinguishable. They worked together, with minimal disagreements, and even had to do some problem solving when it came to the peak of the roof of the fort. They kept trying to get the grey connecter to fit, but they just couldn't do it... and then they turned it, and it went together in a snap!

The two of them continued to build the fort, and when they got to the next peak, they knew exactly what to do. I did have a video of this, but it keeps distorting when I upload it to YouTube. Basically, Abbie was pretending she was a princess, and her castle was in need of repair. She was hysterical- thanking her brother for being her knight in shining armor. Where does she even get these things?!
They finally got the clubhouse assembled, and carefully attached the green fabric roof. That's when the fun began! They raced cars in and out of it, had a pretend picnic with plastic food and imaginary tea. Abbie told Grandma she wanted to read her stories under there that evening.

Then they flipped the box closed, and saw that they could make other things besides a clubhouse and the creativity exploded!

They took apart their "fort" in no time, and began to create other projects, and even made a "boat", singing as they rowed. They packed their extra pieces in the hull of their ship, and rowed it to safety from the alligator (the green fabric), an angry square fish- the instructions, and random creatures on the soft sea.. aka, the carpet. I cannot remember the last time they sang and played together that nicely.

Not only did they play, laugh, and giggle, they remembered how much fun they had with it, and have played with it many times since then, recalling what they made, and brainstorming to see if they can come up with something better this time.

Every time they play with their TikeStix, it's a new adventure! Tike Stix are geared for kids 4 and up. Our family loves this product so much, we named it one of our 4BabyAndMom Must Haves! Since kids learn often through play, our friends at Little Tikes have offered a Clubhouse playset to one lucky 4BabyAndMom reader.

Here's how:
Tell me one thing your child likes to pretend they are- ..A dinosaur? A princess?- in the comments below. Then, click on the RaffleCopter widget below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read more...

Colorforms Revolution Review + iPad App Giveaway!

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly kids pick up on using new technology. When I bought my iPhone, I swear it took me a month to figure it out and I still haven't used half of it's capabilities a year in. My kids were very excited and pestered me relentlessly to use it. They wanted to play and I refused on the grounds of it being A) too expensive and B) too difficult.

My son, however, exceedingly enjoys the fact that he has since gone above and beyond proving me wrong, as has my daughter. First came the tablet; I still don't understand that thing at all (it is an android and I am not at all used to it's OS at all!) About a month ago he got an iPod touch (a gift from an amazing friend who no longer used it!) and has been a pro since day two. He has already shown me a few tricks on my phone. He gave his tablet to my daughter when he got his iPod--and she uses it like it is the simplest thing in the world. It pains me to no extent to tell her to ask her brother when she needs help, but I know from experience that I can't do much other than turn it off and on (aside from parental settings--those seem to be the same in most devices. Thank goodness!)

So with kids getting more and more tech savvy, it makes since that there are more and more apps being marketed towards children and families of all ages. With so many in the market--it is hard to choose which ones are appropriate and worth the effort and money to download. Is it simple to use? Glitch free? Age appropriate (which is one of  my biggest questions!)? Is it fun? Lucky for you, we have one that comes with our stamp of approval.

The app is called Colorforms Revolution and it is beyond cool! It is very simple so everyone will be able to use it--very young children as well as grandma! It allows you to use basic shapes and colors as well as backgrounds to create pictures. It's like a coloring book but you get to design it yourself and personalize the pages. You can even add your own pictures as backgrounds! Kids will have a ball creating pictures with their family members or pets in them.

In addition to shapes, there are also pre-loaded themes with stickers and backgrounds to choose from. These are super cute and fun for the kiddos as well as for anyone else using the app. There are other features as well such as puzzle animators and animated shapes that are sure to please and keep the kids occupied. Here is a look at the app in action:


From the press release:

It’s a bright new day for Colorforms…! The iconic 60-year-old brand from University Games that has changed the way generations of children have played is making its digital debut with the very first Colorforms app, Colorforms® Revolution™. The new app extends the traditional Colorforms experience, giving players fresh and fun ways to play with sound, motion and animation. Colorforms Revolution is now making a colorful splash on the App Store for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.

The revolution is finally here with COLORFORMS® REVOLUTION™ HD, the new iPad (and iPhone) app celebrates the nostalgia of the stand-out original and allows the family to experience Colorforms® like never before! Combine shapes, colors, patterns and backgrounds in endless combinations to create an infinite number of exciting designs. Or choose a Play Set with themed stickers and backgrounds, put them in a scene and a story is born. Play a Puzzle Board to build a picture and see it animate. Or go wild with the crazy circle, surprise square, kaleido-triangle and radical rectangle. With simple controls you’ll figure out as you go, Colorforms® is good wholesome fun for everyone. Just pick it up, start playing and join the revolution!

A pop culture favorite, Colorforms was invented in 1951 and more than 1 billion of the vibrant vinyl playsets have been sold to date, with imaginative new styles continuing to captivate families worldwide. Recently, the Toy Industry Association recognized Colorforms as one of the Top 100 Toys of the Century and TIME magazine named it among its “All-TIME 100 Greatest Toys.”

There is a free version of this app for download at the Apple app market, but we want to offer one reader their chance to get the Colorforms Revolution HD iPad App for free!

Here's how to enter:
Do you remember Colorforms? Did you play with them when you were young? Do you like it when your kids can enjoy the toys you grew up with? Why do you want to win? Leave your comments on this blog post, then enter on the RaffleCopter Widget below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read more...

Back to School Savings with Kmart

Save big on back to school this year with Kmart. Use coupon code KMARTBTS2 to save 10% on orders of $59 or more, and 20% off of orders of $79 or more- AND take advantage of free shipping. Back to school shopping from the comfort of your own home! If you prefer to shop in store, you can get 5% off of layaway purchases.. it might be a good idea to think about setting up your holiday layaway now. Visit Kmart.com to see their sales and local flyer for special deals.

Read more...

SUSPEND! Review and Giveaway Ends 8/22

We love having family together time. Whether it's watching a movie, playing a game, or doing something outside, our family enjoys being together. Every night we eat dinner together- it's the one constant in our home. We make memories. So does Marissa's family.. (did you read this post about her hysterical dinner conversation?)

Back to school often means back to the hustle and bustle of a jam-packed schedule. Making family time is just as important during the school year, and summer- at least for our family.

When we received an opportunity from GummyLump to review the Melissa & Doug game, Suspend, we jumped at the chance.

Of all the games we love to play, puzzle and strategy games are our favorites. We have a popular wooden block game, and this game I would say, is like a modern day, more exciting version. It's also a little bit harder...at first.

They claim that if you try this hanging balance game,you'll be hooked- and it's true! SUSPEND is a family game of tricky hangs and steady hands. It comes with 24 notched, rubber-tipped wire pieces to hang from a tabletop stand.

Sound easy? Try adding another piece! Each time a bar is added, the balance shifts, the difficulty changes and the incredible midair sculpture transforms. This tricky game for 1-4 players is a test of steady nerves and steady hands. It's geared for ages 8 and up.

That being said, the first time we took it out my 9 year old, 6 year old and I set up the game, couldn't get any of the bars to balance, and put it away frustrated. We did not read the instructions, we figured we'd wing it- it couldn't be that difficult... oh, but it was!

Later, my friends came over for ladies night, and I brought out the game. The four of us sat around the table, reading the directions, and started playing. It was HYSTERICAL! We've played it multiple times now, and it's always a great time.

I took what I learned and taught the kids the next day. Since then, they've played it almost every other day! Now that we know how to play it, and have done so successfully, we think it's easy.. but we love laughing everytime we make the bars fall.

It's so interesting seeing the way their minds work; Alex is logistical, and structurally sound in his placement, Abbie is more artistic and whimsical. They both prefer to play the "Intermediate" version, by rolling the dice to see which color to hang next.

Every game is "new", and it doesn't lose its appeal very easily, at all. If you like brain games, puzzles, strategy games, or just challenging games, definitely give this one a chance.

This game, as well as other Melissa & Doug toys can be found online at GummyLump.com, and is currently priced at $13.59. There are several sales and special promotions there, as well, including a "Buy Three, Get the Fourth Free" on Melissa & Doug wooden play food, Free UPS shipping on orders over $60, and the Biggest Sale Ever- with savings up to 50%!

Our friends at GummyLump have offered one of our readers their chance to win a SUSPEND game for their family!

Enter to Win using the RaffleCopter Widget below: Please allow it a few moments to load properly. If you are still having issues, please click on the title of this post to refresh it correctly.

Please note that this giveaway is open to all residents of the Continental US only.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read more...

Crayola Chuck Taylors=A Dream Come True + $150 Giveaway! Ends 8/25

Back to school shoe shopping has been the bane of my existence recently. My daughter, who is nine, has some fashion ideas of her own this year and has been whining all summer. You see, she wanted Converse High Tops—but not just any high top. She wanted the ones that go all the way up to your knee. I told her that her father would never allow her to wear knee high sneakers, and certainly not for school. She insisted that they were all she wanted. She asked her father for high tops and he said, ”Sure, every kid should have a pair of All-Stars.” She then got very excited yelling to me that “Daddy said yes!” Well played, daughter of mine!

He got “ the look” as I sent him a picture of the shoes she wanted. After a look at them,he said absolutely not! “I thought she wanted a standard pair of high tops!” She was once again devastated. She even drew me a picture with a note the begged for them. I was not budging though, as those high tops were just a bit too high for my 9 year old.

Then, the greatest thing happened! We received a pair of Crayola Converse All Star’s (Chuck Taylors!) to review from Kid’s Foot Locker! I cannot begin to thank them enough! Not only did they save me from another argument with my daughter, but they also supplied me with a fantastic pair of kicks to kick off the school year.

The Crayola line of shoes by Converse is super cute! The Crayola crayon trademark is all over the shoes, but is also very subtle! Her pair are yellow, and just like a crayon—it says so on the bottom. The shoes come with a fold-able layer that changes to grey for a new look. I have always been a fan of Converse sneakers; I grew up wearing All-Stars in every color and am glad to be passing the tradition to my children. My daughter fell completely in love with her YELLOW (her favorite color) high tops and proclaimed they were, “Just what she always wanted!” She loves that they have Crayola details and thinks they are, “So AWESOME!” The shoes are made extremely well and are very comfortable. Mia is very excited to start the new year with them.

Thank you again Kids Foot Locker for the opportunity to review these fabulous sneakers, but also for saving me from the tantrums of a nine year old.

In celebration of Back to School our friends at Kids Foot Locker are giving us $150 in gift cards to giveaway to ONE lucky reader! Kids Foot Locker Gift Cards can be redeemed online, or in any Foot Locker brand store. This is a great opportunity to get sneakers for the whole family, or at least put a dent in it!

Enter with the RaffleCopter Widget below. Need help? View our Tutorial. Not loading properly, click on the title of this giveaway, to reload the page correctly. Please allow a few moments for the widget to load.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read more...

Comotomo Baby Bottle Review and Giveaway! Ends 8/19

Back to School (and work) often means back to pumping, storing, thawing and feeding by bottle instead of by breast, for many moms. It's hard to believe that school is about to start, and that my little one is 13 weeks old I decided to try breastfeeding again, and in this instance, the third time was the charm.
Zachary has been successfully nursing, almost full time, since day one. He does drink from a bottle, and we do supplement him at night with soy formula.

After I had Zachary, I got a spinal headache. It was horrible, and that's a whole other post. Basically, I couldn't sit up, without feeling like my brain was going to explode. Think of your worst headache ever and multiply it by a gazillion.

Before they gave me the blood patch (to fix the spinal headache) they made me take a shower. They gave the baby a pacifier while I was in the shower, and then we spent the entire day trying to get him to latch correctly again. It was hard. We had to use an SNS for four days to help him along, and eventually got him back.

I tried six different bottles before I received a pitch for Comotomo- a new, innovative bottle, geared towards babies who breastfeed. As soon as I saw this bottle, I knew I had to try it. The base of the nipple is wider, allowing baby to latch the way he or she would to a breast. The body of the bottle is very soft, and squeezable. Squeezable? Yes.. squeezable.

Zachary is not a lazy eater. Abbie was, though, and this would have been incredibly helpful for her. She was a formula baby, but she would lose interest completely, and doze before her feeding was up, wake up, suckle again, and repeat.

Because the bottom is squeezable, you can simulate a 'let-down' and get the baby interested in feeding again. It's also particularly helpful during those last few pulls when there's *just-a-little* left in the bottom of the bottle, assuring there's no wasted milk.

150ml/5 oz bottle

Comotomo advertises that the soft exterior is supposed to feel like a breast to the baby. I cannot give you an opinion on that, because I'm not a baby. I do find that it's soft, a little textured, and much closer to skin than traditional bottles, but definitely not the same texture as my breast. Zachary will rub his little hand on me while he nurses, but he hasn't done that to his bottle at all. Now that he's a little older, (13 weeks) he tries to hold it, but hasn't been successful, yet. I think that it might be easier to hold, because of its wider base.

These bottles come in two sizes- 5 ounces (150 ml/slow flow) and 8 ounces (250ml/medium flow). We received both sizes to review. The wide-neck design is very easy for cleaning, you don't need any special brushes. This bottle is safe in the microwave, boiling water, dishwashers and sterilizers; made with 100% safe materials: BPA, PVC, and phthalate free.

Zachary is a colicky baby, and this bottle contains innovative and non-leaking anti-colic vents. Do they work? I know when he tries other bottles he's gassier and fussier, and gets more air. I prefer this bottle over all of the others we've tried.

Who's more tired? Daddy or baby?

The price is a little steep, (about $15-16 for one), and it's available online at Amazon, or in stores at Target. They just launched in Target stores, so it may be hard to find. In my opinion, the price is worth it if you want a bottle that allows your baby to transition easily from breast to bottle, and have a more natural experience- even when you're not there.

For moms who are going back to work, or school, despite the wide base, orbit labels or other identifying bands *do* fit, making it easy to distinguish your baby's bottle from others at daycare, or your care-givers home.

The bottom line: I love this bottle. For us, it was a life saver. I think every nursing mama (and formula mama, too!) should get one for their shower so that Dad can have the same bonding experience we share with our baby. I think it's worth the money, and with Amazon, it ships free with super saver shipping on all orders over $25. The only con I've experienced, is that because of the flexible bottom, you need to make sure when you fill it, it's properly on the counter- I've almost tipped it over several times, and with the wide neck opening, the milk will slosh out easily. It's super easy to make powdered formula in (on the go), and really easy to sterilize.

Our friends at Comotomo have offered our readers a chance to win a pair of Comotomo bottles for their baby! Enter on the RaffleCopter widget below.
Please allow a few moments for it to load completely. If it doesn't appear right away, click on the title of this giveaway to load the page correctly.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read more...

Little Tikes August Bedroom Giveaway Sweepstakes! Enter now!

This one's not through our blog, but it's through Little Tikes. Three winners will be chosen to receive their choice of a bed, table and chairs, and toybox from LittleTikes.com. What a great sweepstakes for your little-almost-schooler, or preschooler. Enter now!

Read more...

Back To School Pencil Box Giveaway! Ends 8/18

I was really surprised this year- the one thing on both of the kids back to school list that was missing was pencil boxes. Last year, we had to have specific color ones. That was a pain. This year, we decided to try to eliminate the stress of finding all of the right materials for you, by giving away a School Supply Prize Pack. Perfect for both boys and girls, these Prize Packs are full of many goodies.


Inside you'll find two notepads, two pink erasers, one pencil sharpener, one package of pencils, and one bottle of school glue inside your choice of a blue and clear or purple and clear pencil box. Everyone needs these types of supplies, even if you keep them at home for homework.

Two winners will be drawn- you could win one, you could win both. Please be sure to leave a comment telling us which color prize pack you'd like to win most. If you'd like to win both, please leave a comment like, "Both- but I would prefer the blue one", that would be great.

If no comment is left by the winner(s), they will just receive a random prize pack. Good Luck!

Please allow the RaffleCopter widget a moment to load.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read more...

Walgreens Mouse Pad + Mouse only $2.99!!

Visit Walgreens for more exciting Back to School offers, and be sure to take advantage of this great deal. Even if you don't want to use it for Back to School, think ahead for the holidays!! Stock up now!

Read more...

You have to Enter to Win!

We currently have three giveaways running, and a fourth one will be posted this evening. Have you entered them all? Don't worry, as this blog party continues, our list of giveaways will continue to grow. Check back on our side bar to make sure you haven't missed any!

Current Giveaways

• $25 Winn Dixie GC! Ends 8/10
• 8x8 Photo book from Shutterfly! Ends 8/12
• $50 Kids Foot Locker GC Giveaway (x2!)! Ends 8/16

Be sure to tell your friends, family, co-workers.. we have many giveaways scheduled for this year's Back to School Bash, including a $150 Kids Foot Locker Giveaway, a "Back to School" prize pack- filled with most of the essentials, Little Tikes Tike Stix, and a silver and precious stone bracelet.. perfect for spoiling mom after the kids go back to school! Don't forget- when you share our button, and tell your social networks about our Back to School Bash, you earn 25 Extra Entries, per method of sharing.. up to 75 EACH giveaway!

 

 

 

 

Read more...

17.3 inch Toshiba Laptop only $299!

Whether your child is in Elementary, Middle School, High School or College, back to school means homework, papers, and projects. Take advantage of this super deal on a Toshiba Satellite 17.3-Inch Laptop HERE for only $299! Limited quantites are available, so be sure to check it out.

During back to school, (and all year long), I stalk out Groupon for great local deals, and amazing online deals. From dates with the husband, to stuff for the house, I find deals on there all of the time. Right now, many deals are geared for kids, or for the dorm. Find organizational items, PJ's, some trendy accessories, and lots more. Right now you can even pick up a Schticky for only $15. Tell me you have no desire to try it.. I know I do!! Especially since one of our resident reviewers told us she LOVES hers for her stairs. I don't have stairs, but I'm sure I could find something to use it on!

Anyway- join Groupon, if you haven't already, and personalized deals and special offers will be emailed directly to you. Once you find an offer you can't live without, you simply purchase it, and then follow the prompts online to redeem it. For local items, we print out our Groupon, take it with us, and redeem it much like we would a coupon. I'm telling you- once you start, you'll become hooked. Have fun browsing!

Read more...

Last Day to Enter iPad a Day Giveaway!

Have you entered? We have! While you're there, print out the latest and greatest printable coupons for all of your back to school needs. Back to school is so much more than pencils and books- at least for our family. It means stocking up on Ziploc bags, granola bars, fruit snacks, and staples for our "on the go" or 1-2-3 meals (like crescent rolls). Wouldn't a free iPad just be the best surprise ever? Hurry and enter now, this sweepstakes ends TONIGHT, 8/9!

Read more...

FREE Haircuts at JCPenney All August (Grades K-6)

I love back to school season. Over the summer, I let my kids hair grow wild and unruly. Abbie wanted to try to grow out her bangs, and Alex, well, he's starting to look a little like John Lennon. While I don't mind a little extra hair, it just doesn't suit him.

I just made my appointment for next Tuesday for both of my kids, in only a matter of minutes. Call the number below to set the appoinment, or find a salon near you. Then the salon calls you to confirm a real time, and your appointment is set.

My kids love getting their hair cut, too. They always leave the salon with a big smile on their face. Having a child with Autism, I'm very lucky. While Alex is sensitive to the buzzing of the clippers, he has learned how to sit through it and endure. It's been one of his biggest areas of growth, and I'm very proud of him.

I think it might be because he's older now, and knows what to expect. He know's it's only going to last a few minutes, and that they will be moving to scissors quickly. We do have to bring baby powder and a different shirt to change into, but of all the things we have to "deal with" or accomodate, I welcome that one with open arms.

So what are you waiting for? Book your appointment with a JCP Salon near you, now!

Read more...

Kids Foot Locker Makes Little Kids Big Stars +$50 GC Giveaway!

This year your pre-schooler will look adorable in some Chuck Taylor All-Star sneakers (available in low or high-top styles) and other brightly colored sneakers from your favorite brands. Kids Foot Locker carries Nike, Reebok, Adidas, and Timberland- to name a few.

Whether your child is in Infant sizes (1-3), Toddler (2-10), Little Kids (10.5-3), or Big Kids (3.5-7), Kids Foot Locker has something for every child.

Our nearest Kids Foot Locker is almost 30 miles away, but I recently popped in there to see what was on shelves. The associate was very nice, offering to appropriately size both of the kids, and find the perfect back to school shoes.

I was surprised to learn that Abbie is in a 13 now, and Alex is in a Big Kids 7. When the heck did that happen!? They grow so quick, and having the right shoes to grow in are even better.

What did we pick out for our kids? Abbie fell in love with a cute pair of pink and white Nikes with an iridescent swoosh, but unfortunately, they didn't have them and couldn't order them, in her size. We decided to hold off on her sneakers and work on Alex. He picked these super cool Reebok ZigActivate Big Kids sneakers.

Right now, Kids Foot Locker is running a great Back to School Sale, and offering free shipping on purchases over $50! While at check-out, enter coupon code IP222835 to take advantage of this great offer.

Our friends at Kids Foot Locker have supplied us with multiple Gift Cards to giveaway in celebration of our Back to School Bash, and for that we are VERY thankful. All opinions in this post, are strictly my own, and my choice to purchase shoes was not influenced by the company in any way.

To kick off our Back to School Bash, we are offering TWO lucky readers their chance to win a $50 Gift Card to Kids Foot Locker! 

Here's How:

• Fill out the Raffle Copter Widget below. Give it a moment to load. Earn 25 Extra Entries by sharing our button on Facebook, Pinterest, or on your blog. Click HERE for more details!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read more...

FREE CALENDAR! VistaPrint #BackToSchoolBash

What a better way to kick off our Back to School Bash than with a FREE offer, for everyone- no entries necessary!

VistaPrint, known for it's high quality business cards, marketing and stationary items, is currently running an offer for a FREE Photo Calendar!

Summer is coming to a close with a new and exciting school year just around the corner. But don’t worry! You can prepare for the busy months ahead while keeping those summer memories alive with Vistaprint’s photo calendars. Upload your favorite summer photos and reminisce all year long. You can also add text and icons to highlight your family gatherings, birthdays, anniversaries, school schedules and sporting events.

In addition to a variety of great designs, these calendars come with some great features and upgrade options:

Choose from a variety of themed designs for the perfect look
Customize individual dates with personal events: birthdays, anniversaries & other occasions
Add fun icons and text
Upload up to 13 of your favorite photos for FREE
Select your starting month and year

Perfect for back to school, this offer won't last long. Take advantage of this free calendar offer (just pay shipping and processing).

Keep on the look-out for great giveaways during our Back to School Bash. If you haven't shared our button, be sure to click HERE and share it to earn extra entries to our giveaways.

Read more...