Boost Your Buzz $1,000 Giveaway!

Enter the Boost Your Buzz $1,000 Giveaway! One lucky person is going to win $1000 USD paid via Paypal!

Gain entries in this giveaway by following Tidbits From A Mom on Google Friend Connect, Twitter, and Facebook!

The giveaway starts August 1st 12 am EST  and will run until August 15th 11:59 pm EST and is open worldwide.

$1,000 CASH prize will be delivered via Paypal after the winner has confirmed. The winner has 48 hours to confirm their winning notification.  If the winner does not respond within 48 hours of receipt of the winning email a new winner will them be drawn and so on and so forth.

Boost Your Buzz $1,000 Summer Giveaway can be entered on Survey Junkie, Simply Stacie or Little Yaya’s (you only have to enter on one of the sites as the forms will be the same on each).

Straight Talk cell phone service can cut your bill in half!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Straight Talk for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I feel like I’m “Ari Gold” from the show Entourage sometimes.  Let’s just say that my cell phone receives a lot of use.  I need a plan that can manage this use and keep me within my budget.  Also, I would love to upgrade my phone, but I have to wait for my contract to expire.

Straight Talk is phone service plan provided by Walmart that does not require a contract.  Straight Talk states it can cut most individuals’ cell phone plans in half.  Half!  Saving 50% certainly gains my attention!  What could I spend with the money gained each month?  I can think of numerous things I need for when I go back to work next month…

Straight Talk is a straight forward plan – no contract, no bills or extra charges that pop up, and they do not check your credit for previous issues.  They provide nationwide coverage with excellent reception, which is an important factor that basically everyone considers in deciding upon a plan.

The “All You Need Plan” is a plan that supports people who are “heavy users”.  This plan provides 1,000 minutes of use, 1,000 texts (which is quite a lot!), and 30MB of storage (which comes in handy for people who download files and pictures often).  The monthly cost is $45 for unlimited use of calls, texts, web, and more!  This amounts to $499 for the entire year!  There is no extra cost for 411 charges, which definitely peaks my interest because I tend to use 411 often.   In terms of long distance service, Straight Talk offers a long distance plan in the form of a prepaid plan that enables you to call from your cell phone, home, or office phone at low cost - so, call a friend today!

It seems that most companies’ service plans, cell phone or otherwise, require extra fees.  Extra fees are tapped on everywhere.  However, Straight Talk does not require activation, reactivation, or termination fees.  Not every plan can state this!

There are a variety of cell phones available.  Touch screen smart phones that can download apps for you and reconditioned phones (for as low as $10) with built-in mp3, camera, Bluetooth, instant messaging, web access, and more are available.  For example, the Nokia e71 galaxy time is everything you need in a phone!

To hear more about Straight Talk, watch this YouTube video - http://tinyurl.com/3z7bnrc 

Listen to how this customer was caught hook, line and sinker!

For more customer testimonial, listen to this happy customer -  http://tinyurl.com/3c6rgx5 

“Who Loves Me? Personalized Book Review & Giveaway

I have never met a child that did not like to read a book whose character has the same name as them or get excited with the simple mention of their name in a book. Personalized books are such a sweet and wonderful idea for children and they make absolutely perfect gifts. These books are certainly ones to treasure and won’t be ending up in the “to donate” box!

I See Me! is a company that specializes in personalizing books and gifts for children. They have fun storybooks and books that celebrate a variety of holidays and special occasions in your child’s life. I was so impressed and amazed by the sheer number of personalized products that I See Me has to offer. As I browsed through the site, I was imagining what I could create for my children and my niece and nephew for their birthdays and for the holidays.

My daughter has owned storybooks whose main character has her name; however, she has never had a book created for her specifically. I was recently provided the opportunity to work with I See Me! and after learning that my daughter loves to read to my son, they thoughtfully suggested creating the Who Loves Me? for Siblings book.  The sibling book is for two children only.  There is also a Who Loves Me? for one child as well. 

"Written in melodious rhyme, with colorful, whimsical illustrations, Who Loves Me? builds self-esteem while engaging children through age 5 into the storyline.  The book names family members or friends who love the child, and encourages the child to reach to the sky when when asked "how much" each one loves him or her". 

The book is written by Jennifer Dewing and illustrated by Maria Carluccio. In addition to “Mommy” and “Daddy”, I was able to provide the names of family members for four additional pages. We were able to include all the grandparents. The rhymes, illustrations, and personalized names all together create such a sweet book that I felt a little lump in my throat when I read it for the first time.

I gave the book to my daughter and she was beside herself by the fact that so many family members’ names are in it. She read it to my son, who was mesmerized by the pages. Typically, he will attempt to grab the book out of her hands to hold it, but instead, he sat and listened intently.

This is a book that I know my children and I will treasure and read often!

I See Me! has generously offered to sponsor a giveaway for a free copy of Who Loves Me? - the winner may choose either the book for one child or the Siblings book!

Buy It: You may purchase a Who Loves Me? book or any other I See Me! personalized products HERE.

Win It: One reader will win a free copy of the Who loves Me? book - the winner may choose either the book for one child or the Siblings book.

Mandatory Entry: Please visit I See Me and leave a comment here and tell me what other product you would love to have.

Bonus Entries:
1. Follow Tidbits From A Mom publicly on Google Friend Connect. (1 entry)
2. Leave a comment on any of my non-giveaway reviews on my blog and leave a comment and let me know which review you commented on. (2 entries)
3. Follow I See Me! on Facebook. (1 entry)
4. Follow me on Facebook or Twitter. (1 entry each)
4. Grab my button and let me know where you placed it (3 entries)

6. Subscribe to Tidbits From A Mom through RSS feed or email (3 entries)

This giveaway ends on August 8, 2011 at 9:00 pm EST.  *Giveaway is open to residents in the U.S. and Canada.  The winner will be chosen through Random.org. The winner will be notified through email and will have 48 hours to respond.

*Disclaimer: I did not receive monetary compensation for this post. I received a free copy of this book for the purposes of this review.  The opinions expressed here are my own.

Christmas in July at QVC – Twin Sisters Christmas Card/CD Set Rebate Offer!

Twin Sisters is celebrating Christmas in July on QVC!  Twin Sisters’ CEO, Kim Thompson will be on QVC tomorrow morning to promote their box of Christmas cards.  She will be discussing a great rebate offer that will be available for the weekend -

Receive 1 free set of cards per purchase of 2011 Twin Sisters QVC greeting cards (online or on-air) during Christmas In July (July 23-24, 2011),maximum 3 sets.

The Free Cards valued are at $39.99 per set and include:

·        10 Christmas Cards (5 designs, 2 of each)
·        10 Christmas CDs (vocal)
·        10 Sturdy Envelopes for mailing
·        10 Festive Holiday Seals
·        Keepsake Box

Receive two each of 5 card designs!

• Poinsettia - Outside Verse: Merry Christmas, Inside Verse: Wishing You A Wonderful Christmas
• Star – Outside Verse: Peace, Inside verse: Wishing You Peace and Happiness, Now and Throughout the New Year!
• Candy Cane – Outside Verse: Sweet Surprises, Inside Verse: Wishing You A Joy Filled Holiday!
• Snowman – Outside Verse: Let It Snow!, Inside verse: Warmest Wishes for the Merriest Christmas Ever!
• Christmas Tree – Outside Verse: Season’s Greetings, Inside Verse: May Your Hart Be Happy At Christmas and Throughout The New Year!

The songs on the CDs include:

1. Rise Up, Shepherd, And Follow/Go Tell It On the Mountain
2. O Come, All Ye Faithful/Joy To the World
3. What Child Is This?
4. Angels We Have Heard On High
5. The First Noel
6. For Unto Us
7. O Little Town of Bethlehem
8. The Birthday of A King
9. Let’s Celebrate
10. O Come, O Come Emmanuel
11. O Holy Night
12. Away In A Manger

Runtime: 50:00 minutes of vocal music

You can read about the entire offer here – http://www.twinsisters.com/QVCOffer

This is an AWESOME deal and it is never too early to get ready for the holidays.  When you start early, you are more prepared and you receive some great deals like this one!

Looking for Inexpensive Nursing Scrubs - BlueSkyScrubs.com is the place!

I am not a fan of going to the doctor. I only know a couple of people that enjoy it, my daughter included. Why don’t I like it? That’s a post for another day…

If luck is against me and I have to go, whether it be for myself or one of the many visits during the year for my kids, I do enjoy seeing the different nursing scrubs that the nurses are wearing. Not only am I a little bit jealous that they wear uniforms to work because that would take away all the stress for me of deciding what to wear, but they look fun and they are so comfortable. I would love to be able to choose different prints and styles.

Blueskyscrubs.com is a website that sells inexpensive nursing scrubs. Visit http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/categories/Scrubs/Scrubs-for-Women/ to see all the different colors. My favorite is the “Crimson Wine” set! In addition to the scrubs for women and men, they also sell sets for children. Children’s sets would be a great gift for dress-up or simply for pajamas. Scrub hats with beautiful prints are also sold that accent the scrubs nicely.

*Disclaimer: I received compensation for this post.  The opinions expressed here are my own. 

Book Review: A Kid’s Guide to being a Winner

I am always on the hunt for books that I can use at work with my students as well as help my daughter with her social-emotional development. I have used many storybooks to add to our discussions on character education. Sometimes they are effective, other times they are not. I recently reviewed “A Kid’s Guide to being a Winner by C. D. Shelton”. This book is brief and straight to the point. It not only defines what it means to be a “winner”, but also the character traits that make you a winner, including being responsible, thoughtful, and respectful and having gratitude and a positive mental attitude. Each trait is defined in terms of meaning and specific actions associated with it. Many examples are given so children have a clear understanding. For example, “Thoughtful is asking a fellow kid who is alone without friends, to join you and your friends in playing…Thoughtful is helping your teacher put supplies away”. Cute little drawings support the text.

I like the book because it is simple and so easy for a child to understand. Although the book has brief chapters, my daughter (age 7) could read this. I like the fact that I could use this book to begin my discussions with young students and then possibly use a storybook to support what we learned.

More about the Author:

C.D. Shelton is a Professor of Biology for the Los Angeles Community College School District. He has a Masters in Administration and a second Masters in Biology. He has written ten books, with two books scheduled for publication in the fall and winter.

*Disclaimer: I did not receive monetary compensation for this post. I received a free copy of the book for the purposes of this review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

“Tech Attack” iPad 2 (and Smartcover) Giveaway!!

This is the best giveaway I have been affiliated with by far! I have teamed up with 19 other bloggers for this giveaway. I love the original iPad and the iPad 2 is even more incredible!

Below is a Rafflecopter form. In bold are the mandatory entries you have to complete in order to enter this giveaway. There are twenty. You just go down the list and do what each entry asks. You will click on “Directions” or “Click Here” and it will reveal a link. You must do them all to have officially entered the giveaway. You will earn 19 entries. Below the mandatory 19, there are additional actions that you may do to earn extra entries.

There is no need to re-enter on each blog. If you enter on one blog it will register on the other 19 blogs participating in this giveaway. You MUST be 18+ to enter. The contest begins at 12:01 a.m. EST, July 20, 2011, and the contest is over 12:01 a.m. EST, August 6, 2011. So, you got it? Sure? If you have any questions, you can leave us a reply and we will follow up.

Clue: The World of Harry Potter Review

The last Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, has been a massive success with its release.  I haven’t seen it yet, but just the trailer gives me goosebumps.  I can’t wait to see it, it looks amazing. 

My favorite boardgame has always been Clue by Hasbro.  It doesn’t matter what version, any Clue game is fun for me.  I love the mystery and the puzzle of figuring out who the culprit is, what they used, and where it happened.  Imagine my excitement when I heard about Hasbro’s release of the new Clue: World of Harry Potter Edition!  My family and I were extremely lucky to be able to review this game.  It is seriously the coolest version of Clue I have ever played! 

The game comes with quite a lot of pieces, but was easy to assemble.  I read through the directions and taught myself how to play first because it does vary a bit from the original Clue.  The game states that it is for people aged nine years and up; however, my daughter was able to play and she is only seven.  The game’s scenario is that a friend of yours has vanished and you need to figure out who did it, what spell or item was used, and where it happened.  You can play as Harry, Hermione, Ron, Neville, Luna, or Ginny.  This game incorporates Floo Powder so you can travel across the board through the fireplaces.  You need to watch out for the Dark Mark or you will have to choose a Dark Card and possibly lose your Floo Powder (which kept happening to me over and over again and not my daughter!)

The contents of the game include: Game board, 6 Identity cards, 6 movers, 29 Help cards, 32 Dark cards, 21 Mystery cards, 1 notepad, 40 Floo powder tokens, 6 Suspect tokens, 6 Item tokens, 1 envelope, 1 green die, 1 black die, 1 label sheet, instructions.

This game was so fun – my daughter and I had a blast playing it and I know this will be a popular choice for Family Game Night!  This game is wonderful for all Harry Potter fans!

*Disclaimer: I did not receive monetary compensation for this post.  I received a free product for the purposes of this review.  The opinions expressed here are my own.

Saturday Hops!

Book Review: Fabulous Faces - From Motivation to Transformation through Facial Plastic Surgery

What would you change about your appearance if you were given the opportunity?  I think everyone has a feature that they would tweak or reconstruct altogether.  I wish I had the self-esteem to say, “There is absolutely nothing I would change”, but that’s just not me. 

Would you have surgery to change what you don’t like?  A little nip?  Little tuck?  After seeing some celebrities on television that have had “some work” done, I have to say I would be a little nervous.  What if it goes wrong and I hate the results even more and have to have surgery to repair the original surgery?  What if I get my hopes up and I am disappointed?  On the flip side, I have seen some surgeries that have done wonders for the person’s appearance and their lives were completely changed for the better.

“Fabulous Faces: From Motivation to Transformation through Facial Plastic Surgery” by Peter A. Adamson, M.D. discusses how people move through the process of considering surgery to having the surgery to recovering from the surgery.  Real-life case examples are used to discuss the reasons why people consider “going under the knife”.  For example, older individuals may consider getting a face-lift in order to compete in a career that is dominated by a younger generation.  Also, some individuals have been bullied in the past for a facial feature and wish to finally change their lives. 

“Fabulous Faces” essentially walks the reader through the whole surgery process, from beginning to recovery.  This is a valuable resource for anyone considering surgery.  You would never want to agree to a procedure you do not understand.  Therefore, having the facts is essential.  You only have one body and you need to understand what is going to happen to it and how to take care of it after a major surgery to prevent damage. 

I was impressed by the sheer amount of information that this book covers.  I have been interested in hearing about psychological processes that lead people to surgery and why people become addicted to it.  This book discusses “beauty” and the research that has been conducted on how people view others’ appearances.  I found this all fascinating!  As a person who most likely will consider a nip and/or tuck in the next twenty years, I found this book to be a great resource for answering questions.  Should surgery be in my future, I believe that this book provided me with the questions that I will need to bring to the future surgeon to be answered before I will even consider getting on the table. 

*Disclaimer: I did not receive monetary compensation for this post.  I received a free copy of this book for the purpose of the review.  All opinions expressed here are my own.

Have you purchased life insurance?

I have been concerned about life insurance lately. This is due to two facts. The first is the feeling as though I have aged ten years within the past year alone and the second is the fact that I now have two children. I realize I am no longer invincible. I used to feel invincible, but now this is no longer the case. My husband and I have wills, but I want to make sure my family is taken care of.

AptusInsurance.com can not only provide you with a free quote, but they can also provide you with affordable life insurance. Life insurance can be expensive. It can also be time-consuming to find the best rate. AptusInsurance.com can provide you with the right policy for you and your family at a price that won’t set you back.

In addition to making sure that I have a life insurance policy that will help my kids pay for their college educations, I need to make sure that (God forbid should anything happen to me) my burial is paid for. BurialInsurance.org can assist me in arranging this. Funeral costs are ridiculously expensive. If I were to purchase insurance, the money can assist my family in buying a casket, paying for the services, etc. This is not a topic I like to discuss, but I am realistic if nothing else and know that my family and I need to be covered.

Purchase Eyeglasses at Zenni Optical and Save!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Zenni Optical for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I have been wearing glasses since I was in the seventh grade.  I have had some fashionable pairs and definitely a few pairs where I wonder, “What was I thinking??”  I am one of those people that tires of the style of my glasses pretty quickly.  I go to my annual appointment, have a check-up, and use the excuse of my prescription changing to quickly go buy another pair.  In actuality, my prescription changes a miniscule amount and I could easily continue to wear my current pair, but you won’t tell my husband that, will you? Ssshhh….

I often purchase from local eyewear shops that allow pickup within an hour.  I find they are hit or miss in terms of my kind of style of frames.  I have only purchased one pair at my actual optometrist’s office and I swore I would never do that again.  The price was ridiculous.  This past year, I picked out my frames at the optometrist’s office and then purchased them online.  I think I saved maybe $50.00.  They were still expensive.

I have found a site where I can get the best of both worlds.  Zenni Optical offers frames at ridiculously low prices! Not only are there frames at a low price, but they are adorable and fashionable frames!  I could buy several pairs and satisfy my craze for new frames and not feel guilty about my purchase.  I found frames I liked that were only $19.99!  I would easily save approximately $250!  That’s a huge savings!

Zenni Optical also has a cool feature to assist you in making your purchase online.  You can upload a photo of yourself and try on the glasses!  That’s perfect! My husband is never able to go to the store with me to help me in making me decision about which frames to buy.  I can try them on virtually and have him help me at home!

Zenni Optical was mentioned recently in Time magazine, specifically the "Eyes on the Price", July 4, 2011 edition.  It was discussed in the article that Time editor, Bill Saporito, actually paid $1,000 for a pair of eyeglasses!  A Time reader followed up with a comment regarding this unbelievable purchase.

“Hey, Bill, Can You Read This?
Please tell me editor Bill Saporito is receiving mental-health treatment, because he is insane for spending $1,000 on a single pair of glasses. I buy glasses from Zenni Optical, an online site. It's $20 for a complete set at my doorstep, shipping included”.
-Peter Minton, Winsted, Conn.

I would strongly recommend checking out zennioptical.com before purchasing from an optometrist's office or local eyewear store.  Think about what you can buy with the money saved!

FUMI: Fashionable and Functional Accessories

I think I may have mentioned once or twice (or several) times that I am a tad bit (very) obsessive. I like to keep things just right, which can be frustrating for my family at times...ok, often. I hate to misplace things. It drives me a bit nutty. I am always on the go and I like to have things ready and waiting when I need them. I know – it’s a lot to expect. FUMI is a company that sells accessories that are perfect for me. Here is an article I came across that discusses a necklace that also serves as a ring holder. How beautiful and functional at the same time!

http://www.thebinghamdiaries.com/2011/06/confession-i-do-not-wear-wedding-ring.html

If you like what you see, FUMI is providing a coupon code for 15% off your purchase! Simply use the code 'iloveFUMI'.

 

Find Computer Desks and Filing Cabinets at Maylinestore.com!

The school building in which I work is undergoing massive renovations this summer. There will be a vast number of improvements made to the structure, as well as a new addition. My office is being moved as well, which is exciting because I will actually have a window after being in an enclosed cinder block office for the past ten years! I will also be receiving some new office furniture! Oh! My mind is racing with ideas! Maylinestore.com, a division of Cymax, could certainly assist me in finding some new pieces.

I have an ancient filing cabinet that no longer locks. I would love a new one. Mayline filing cabinets come in a variety of sizes. There are numerous styles, including those that fit under a desk and those that are wider and more of a wall unit. I like the wider style for my workplace – it adds more space for plants and picture frames, etc. I would choose the Mayline Aberdeen Free Standing 2 Drawer Lateral for my workplace.




I would choose a more narrow style for the home though – there is not a great deal of space for a filing cabinet. Therefore, the Mayline Mira 2 Drawer Vertical Wood File Pedestal would be appropriate.




In addition to a filing cabinet, I would love to have a computer desk. Mayline computer desks come in a variety of different wood finishes and are perfect for work or for the home. I would choose an L-shaped desk such as the Mayline Napoli 63" L-Shape Wood Computer Desk with Left Return.

Maylinestore.com has all the furniture pieces you need to accommodate a home office or business office. No matter your style, you will find professional styles at affordable prices.

Free Chilis Chips & Queso Dip

Sign up for Chili’s Bar & Grill email club and receive a coupon for FREE Chips and Queso Dip!!

WINNER!

The winner of the 50 Free Brochures from UPrinting.com is....

#8 Heidi Kundin!

The winner has been contacted and has 48 hours to confirm their win.  Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway!

Monday Hops!