Savvy Rest Soap Shape Pillow Giveaway!

I recently reviewed Savvy Rest's Soap Shape Pillow. Read my review here. I have great news! Savvy Rest has generously offered to sponsor a giveaway for a Soap Shape Pillow! Simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter.

Family Moved - Guest post written by Arnoldo Acevedo

My family and I recently moved into a new home and I made sure we had direct tv Austin all hooked up before the first box was even unpacked. It's hilarious because we have become obsessed with singing talent shows as a family… Everything from American Idol all the way through the X factor wrap our attention any like to watch them together as a family and vote on who we think will win. I don't think it's the worst thing in the world to watch competition shows with your family in my kids could be doing much worse things with their time than hanging out with their parents. I love having a TV show or two that we can all agree on and sometimes we even watch after dinner. The kids aren’t usually allowed to have TV although I think it’s great for us to have a show they can watch sort of as a treat. I think giving them the trust to watch what they want is important because it shows them we believe in them.

*Disclaimer: I received monetary compensation for this post.

Oliver’s Labels Review

It is essential to label your child’s belongings when they go to daycare or school. My son goes to a home daycare with other little boys and it is inevitable that, on occasion, sweatshirts and sippy cups get mixed up. I really do not like writing on belongings with marker…Maybe that’s just my OCD . I have seen other parents who have printed, colorful labels for their children’s belongings and I have always wondered whether they hold up in washing and normal wear and tear.

I had the opportunity to review personalized labels from Oliver’s Labels recently and experiment with them for myself. In personalizing the labels, I was able to choose the name typed on them as well as a design theme. I chose my son’s nickname and the “Transportation” theme. I received a pair of shoe labels, mini labels, original size labels, and clothing labels. I placed the clothing labels on his sweatshirts and the shoe labels on his shoes (obviously). I placed the original size labels on his sippy cups and the mini labels on the underside of his toys. His daycare provider was really happy to see this!







I was most interested in seeing whether the labels lasted under the normal wear and tear of the week as well as held up in the wash. I figured the mini labels and shoe labels would hold up, but I was a little skeptical about the clothing labels and the original labels. I was pleasantly surprised to see that both held up in the washing machine and the dishwasher. The labels still look awesome! My son loves that he has little pictures of trucks, trains, cars, and motorcycles on his cups and giggles that they are in his shoes as well!

*Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Deal or No Deal - Play for Free!

Play Deal or No Deal for Cash and Prizes on GSN!     

New Coupons from Coupons.com!

$0.30 off 4 oz. or larger HARIBO product
$1.00 off any JOSÉ OLÉ brand item
$1.00 off 1 Cream Cheese w/1 Keebler Toasteds
$0.40 off one Frigo Cheese Heads String Cheese
$3.00 off when you buy Citracal and Bayer
$1.00 off eighteen cans of Elegant Medleys
$1.00 off twenty-four cans of Fancy Feast
$2.00 off twelve Mighty Dog cans or pack
$1.00 off one bag Fancy Feast Dry Cat Food
$2.00 off any one (1) Clearasil PerfectaWash
$1.00 off one bag of M&M'S Pretzel
$1.00 off ONE 6-pack Snapple Tea
$0.55 off Florida's Natural Ruby Red Juice
$1.00 off Cat's Pride cat litter
$0.75 off any TWO (2) Bagel-fuls (4ct)
$1.00 off two (2) packages of ARMOUR Pepperoni
$0.50 off 5 Campbell's Spaghetti0's pasta
$1.00 off ON ANY ONE (1) GARNIER FRUCTIS STYLE
$1.00 off ON ANY ONE (1) GARNIER FRUCTIS SHAMPOO
$0.50 off ONE MARIE CALLENDER'S FRUIT PIE
$1.00 off any TWO (2) UNCLE BEN'S Whole Grain

Vistaprint Snow Day Ideas! Day 1: Magnets as drawing boards!

On day one Vistaprint features Magnets! Order one with lots of blank space for drawing.  When you need an activity, stick it to the fridge and let your kids draw their own artwork with dry erase markers!  Kids can draw their own colorful artwork for display in your kitchen.  Today they are 50% Off, with FREE Shipping!  That's $4.99 for a small magnet (11.25" x 8.5") or $9.99 for a large one (17.3" x 11.25"), including free shipping!    

 

Savvy Rest Soap Shape Pillow Review

I fall asleep the moment my head hits the pillow. I wake at 5am and drop at 10pm. If I am living it up, I am up until 11pm! My husband considers sleeping a talent for me. I can sleep any time of day, with noise, and after drinking coffee. My son, on the other hand, was a different story. As with many kids, once he started teething, he became a terrible sleeper. He hated his crib and ended up sleeping with me in my bed for months. Therefore, my husband and I slept very little for months! I am so happy to say that he has moved into his little racecar bed and sleeps like a champ now.

My son was very excited to receive his racecar bed and never asked to come in with us again. However, we still had one issue. We didn’t have a pillow that was appropriate for him. He loves to sleep on his stomach and all the puffy pillows we have seem as though they consume his little head. I was pleased to be introduced to Savvy Rest, a business that provides organic mattresses, pillows, and bedding.

Savvy Rest developed their products due to the concern that conventional mattresses contained toxic chemicals. I have to admit that I was never aware of this. It makes me wonder what is in my own mattress because I know it is not a natural mattress. As stated on Savvy Rest’s website – “In conventional mattresses, flame retardants have been identified as the biggest health threat to individuals. Conventional cotton culture is toxic to the planet, accounting for 30% of pesticide and herbicide use and a huge negative effect on ecosystems. Conventional wool processing releases harsh chemicals and solvents into the environment. And petroleum-based foams are common in furniture items, including many mattresses”. Why haven’t we heard about this before?? Savvy Rest’s products are all organic, including organic latex, cotton, and wool.

I chose to review Savvy Rest’s Soap Shape Pillow. I was really curious about each of their pillows; however, the concern about my son’s sleep was at the forefront of my mind. I was drawn to the Soap Shape Pillow because it is a low pillow and a good choice for young children who sleep on their stomachs. Also, “the Soft Dunlop molded latex design has hollow channels throughout to promote air flow”.




My first impression about the pillow when I received it was that it is heavier than what I am accustomed to. This makes sense considering my pillows are so fluffy. I tried the pillow out for myself prior to giving it to my son. I was pleasantly surprised that this low pillow provided so much support and comfort. I felt so relaxed! My son has been sleeping peacefully with his new pillow and I am resting easily as well knowing that it is organic!

Follow Savvy Rest on Facebook!

Follow Savvy Rest on Google +!

Disclaimer: I did not receive monetary compensation for this post. I received a free product from Savvy Rest for the purpose of this review. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Free Samples from FreeFlys!

Free sample of Tena Twist
Free sample of Versace: Yellow Diamond Fragrance
Free sample of Depend
Coupon for a free Kraft Macaroni and Cheese Product
Free sample of Golf Pain Away

Diabetes Clinical Study Opportunity

See if you qualify for a clinical research study on diabetes. If you qualify, you may receive monetary compensation, free medication and doctors care and more.

Blooms Today - 50% Off Valentine's Flowers & Gifts

Receive 50% off from America's 4th largest online florist retailer! Send your loved one the perfect flower arrangement this Valentine's Day.

Prepare for First Communion with Communion Cards!

My daughter is going to be making her First Communion in May. I participated in RCIA last year and had my First Communion last Easter. It was emotional for me, but I won’t get into that here. I am so happy for my daughter and I cannot wait for the big day. I have been thinking about ways in which I can make the day more special for her. We will certainly invite family and friends over for supper and a cake from our local bakery that will be personalized for her. She will receive gifts, of course, as well. But, I wasn’t sure if there is anything else I should do.

Maybe it was “divine intervention”, but I received an invitation to check out the Communion Cards. This invitation came at the perfect time! Communion Cards is a business that provides Invitations, Response Cards, Thank You Notes, Bookmark Keepsakes, and Candy Wrappers for First Communions. The designs are simply beautiful! They have Classic, Elegant, and Modern design themes. I found the perfect invitation for my daughter that is dark pink with a rosary necklace on it. I decided that even though we have a small family, it would be nice to send them a formal invitation. In addition, I can purchase Thank You Notes in the matching design! I was able to use the website easily in personalizing an invitation and a bookmark. I liked that I was able to preview the designs immediately and change the wording as I saw fit.

In visiting the website, I learned that Communion Cards has been in business since 1982. I think it’s wonderful that once you place your order, your order is printed on-site. Your order does not need to be sent to another facility, printed there, and then shipped. No middle man!

Communion Cards has affordable products that can add that extra touch of personalization to what I consider a very special day. Please consider checking them out if you are also preparing for your child’s First Communion.

*Disclaimer: I received monetary compensation for this post.  However, the opinions expressed here are my own and are not influenced by compensation.

Bacon Wrapped Tees Review & Giveaway

I know bacon isn’t exactly the healthiest of foods for you to eat, but oh my….I just love it so much. I splurge when I go out to breakfast. I have to have bacon with my omelette. These Funny Bacon T-shirts caught my eye and I just loved their tagline of “Everything Tastes Better Wrapped in Bacon”. Isn’t that the truth? I haven’t seen any t-shirts like this – they are definitely unique!

“At Bacon Wrapped Tees, we're on a mission to tell the world how funny a bacon t-shirt can be. We believe bacon is proof that god loves us and wants us to be happy. Our bacon shirts will not only put a smile on your face every time you wear them but will cause everyone that sees your bacon t-shirt to burst with joy!”

I reviewed the Bacon Elements t-shirt featured in the photo above. I admit that I am a little bit nerdy just a little :); therefore, this t-shirt is perfect for me. As you can see from the photo, the t-shirt spells “Bacon” using the periodic table. My t-shirt fit perfectly.  In visiting their websites, I liked the fact that you can personalize your t-shirt by color. They have many options from which to choose, which was impressive. I saw many that made me chuckle. A few of them are posted below:






Bacon Wrapped Tees are eager to give customers a funny, entertaining t-shirt, but they are also committed to providing a quality experience. Their t-shirts will be printed and shipped within 24 hours!

Bacon Wrapped Tees has kindly offered to sponsor a giveaway for one of their t-shirts!  One Tidbits From A Mom reader will win their choice of tee.  Please fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter.

C3* for Stress Drink Mix Review & Giveaway

Stress affects us all. No matter who you are, there is stress in your life. However, stress affects us all differently. Stress impacts our health, relationships, work and school performance, etc. There are a variety of ways that people can manage stress, including diet and exercise. Each individual needs to figure out what works best for them.

One of my New Year’s resolutions is to relax. This is probably the toughest resolution I have ever chosen because I am an anxious person by nature. I have stress throughout my day for numerous different reasons. The kicker is that I am a licensed mental health counselor! I am really trying very hard to listen to my own advice, but it can be difficult. One of the reasons why I am so stressed is due to the fact that there are simply not enough hours in the day to accomplish what I need to accomplish. My head is swimming with “To Do” Lists. While at work, I attempt to focus energy and attention on one thing and before I know it, someone is requesting something else, and then I am sidetracked.

I was intrigued when I heard about C3* for Stress, which is an all-natural lemon-lime drink mix that contains vitamins, minerals, and botanicals that help provide energy and keep you calm. “C3* keeps you focused allowing you to me more productive when you need it most and when you can’t afford to slow down”. This is sounded perfect for me and I was excited to be chosen to review the product.

More information about C3* for Stress:
• Conveniently packaged in single-serve packets, the drink mix can be enjoyed anytime, anywhere
• Works quickly within 15 to 20 minutes, yet is naturally gentle
• Stimulant- and sedative-free – your mind stays clear, focused, and alert
• All-natural, preservative free
• Sugar free; no artificial sweeteners
• 100% of the RDA of Vitamins B6, B12, Zinc, and Niacin
• Only 15 calories

I received a box of five packets to review. I tried my first packet while at work to see if it could really help me in focusing my attention and provide energy. I have to admit that I was slightly skeptical. I was pleasantly surprised to say that I did feel a burst of energy and I felt driven to accomplish my “To Do” list. I also initially thought that I would not like the taste since it is an all-natural product (sorry, I was being judgmental), but I was surprised once again. The lemon-lime taste was fine. I did feel a difference in the afternoon, once the effects wore off. Since I have more energy in the morning anyway, I decided that I should drink C3* for Stress in the afternoon when I need an energy boost.

In addition to the box of C3* for Stress, I received a ton of information about the botanicals that are included in C3* for Stress. This was truly educational for me because I am not knowledgeable about what botanicals can actually do for the body. For example, licorice root has been used for more than 2,000 years in Western and Eastern systems of medicine to ease anxious states and mild inflammation. This is only one example – there are actually 8 other botanicals included that have majors benefits for your body. I also learned some statistics about stress in general that were very informative. For example, 75% - 90% of all doctor’s office visits are for stress-related ailments and complaints. That’s amazing! If people could manage their stress better, imagine the benefits to the healthcare system!

If you want to read more about C3* for Stress and learn about stress and management tips, visit www.c3forstress.com!

Right now, C3* for Stress is FREE for new customers! You just need to pay shipping and handling! I am a new fan of C3* and loving the fact that I have an all-natural tool to help me through my day. This does not discount the fact that I need to eat a healthy diet and exercise to relax as well, but this is another tool that can be used without having to visit my doctor for a prescription.

I am very happy to have the opportunity to host a giveaway for you! One Tidbits From A Mom reader has the chance to win a $50 gift card to SpaFinder.com AND one month’s supply of C3* for Stress (two 15-packs)! This is a great giveaway so enter today by completing the Rafflecopter form below.

American Family Sweepstakes - Win $50,000!

 

Click HERE to enter the American Family Sweepstakes where you have the opportunity to win $50,000!

Action Campaign - Raising Awareness About Nyanya Project

The Nyanya Project is a non-profit organization in North Carolina that assists grandmothers in raising their grandchildren who were orphaned as a result of AIDS.  They help these women in forming working cooperatives, which help them earn money, healthcare, and education.  The Nyanya Project has been operating a preschool in the slums of Kibera in Nairobi for the past three years.   They would like to open a new school in Rwanda as well.  The Nyanya Project has a goal of raising $20,000 by Mother’s Day 2012 - $20 for 1,000 people. 

Learn more about the Nyanya Project at www.nyanyaproject.org and visit their ChipIn page at http://nyanyaproject.chipin.com/nyanya-project

Free Babytalk Magazine Subscription

Get your FREE subscription to Babytalk Magazine today by clicking on the image above!

Free eCookbook - Mr. Food - Lighten Up

20 Tasty & Healthy Recipes for the New Year from Mr. Food, features 20 pages of our favorite recipes made lighter + Mr. Food Recipe eNewsletter for FREE! Get this brand new FREE eCookbook collection full of exciting new recipes to brighten your 2012 mealtime line-up. In our latest eCookbook, the Mr. Food Test Kitchen has collected healthy versions of your favorite recipes, whether you're looking to lose weight or simply eat healthier. We've also got the tools you need to make healthy choices: each recipe in our Lighten Up! free eCookbook features complete nutritional information! From healthy appetizers & bites and soups & salads to easy main dish recipes and light easy desserts, these great-tasting recipes are also simple to make. The eCookbook has step-by-step instructions for easy recipes like Parmesan Spinach Dip (page 1), Fruit-full Tossed Chicken Salad (page 8), Guilt-Free Beef Stroganoff (page 14), Not Fried "Fried" Chicken (page 15), Peanut Butter Cup Pie (page 17), Lighter Chocolate Chip Cookies (page 20), and lots more.

Find Personalized Valentine's Day Gifts at the Personalization Mall!

Find a huge selection of exclusive personalized gifts for Valentine's Day at the Personalization Mall!  All the gifts are personalized for free!   Click HERE to find a great gift!

Everyday with Rachael Ray Magazine Subscription for only $4.99!!

Everyday with Rachel Ray Magazine Subscription, $4.99 with Coupon Code: 'EVERYDAY': (Up To 4 Years!) Click Here

Couponing: The Extreme Video Course Review

I am newbie to the world of couponing. Sure, if I found a coupon in my local paper or a manufacturer’s coupon attached to a product, I would use it. But, I have not been actively seeking coupons on the Internet or reading through circulars each week. I have been naïve to the amount of money that can be saved! The truth is that my husband and I spend a ridiculous amount of money on our grocery bill every month and we need to make some drastic changes.

I had the opportunity to review Rayven Perkins’ Couponing: The Extreme Video Course. This course peaked my interest when I heard I could possibly save $5,000 per year on my grocery bill! Who wouldn’t be interested in hearing more? This course was comprised of 14 video segments plus 2 bonus videos, which included the following:

• Couponing Basics
• Collecting Coupons
• Organize Your Coupons
• 7 Rules of Couponing
• Double Coupons
• Free Item Coupons
• Shopping at Target
• Shopping at CVS
• Shopping at RiteAid
• Shopping at HEB
• Shopping at Walgreens
• Couponing Ethics
• YMMV – Your Mileage May Vary
• Your Stockpile
• Bonus Video: Other Food Savings
• Bonus Video: Resources

In addition to the videos, I received a free Companion Workbook in a PDF format. This has been great to have to turn to as a reference, so I don’t have to listen to the audio file all over again.

The videos were brief, yet comprehensive in explaining the basics to me. I think Perkins has done a fabulous job explaining how to go about acquiring coupons, storing and organizing them, and then finding the best deals possible. I really like how the Perkins discusses the best way to shop at CVS and RiteAid because I often shop in these two stores.

I have been so motivated to find any and every coupon possible within the past couple of weeks. I have been paying close attention to the papers and the circulars and even attempting to educate my husband. He is not as willing to change brands to save money, so I will need to impress him with a seriously lower grocery bill in order to catch his attention!

I also visited Perkins’ website - Stay A Stay At Home Mom, which was chock full of information for mothers who are trying to stretch every dollar and earn extra money from home. Perkins discusses many opportunities for mothers. It is definitely worth the time to check this site out for yourself.

*Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Goalforit Chore Chart Review

I am a big fan of lists and charts – it’s the OCD in me I guess. I often create behavioral charts for my students and my daughter has had chore charts in the past. One observation I have made is that my daughter, similar to so many other children, wants to earn money or a reward, but is not overly thrilled with completing the chores or maintaining the chart.

Goalforit is a website that allows parents and children to create personalized charts for behavior, chores, and goals. You can also create lists to help with organization. This website is perfect my family! I was most interested in creating a chore chart for my daughter because this is a daily/weekly struggle for us. I wanted to be able to create a chart that clearly lists what we expect of her.



The chart took just minutes to create – it was super easy. You are given two different chore chart options – one for kids and one for tweens and teens. My daughter is only eight, so I chose the chart for kids. I plugged in her name, age, gender, and how often I wished to receive an email to remind us about the chart (I chose weekly, although you do have the option of not having a reminder email sent at all).

You are provided a whole slew of design themes from which to choose. My daughter chose the “Rocker” because she stated that this is her “style”. We then selected the chores we wanted to include. I kept it fairly simple – I didn’t want her to take a look and groan when she saw it. After choosing all the tiles you would like added, you can easily maneuver the boxes so they are in the right order by clicking on the up and down arrows. You can also dictate on which days you would like certain chores completed. For example, I am only asking my daughter to help me with the laundry on Sundays. In addition to Chores & Responsibilities, there are categories for Behavior, Healthy Habits, and you are also given the option of creating your own custom tiles. Essentially, you can structure your whole child’s day on the chart. Once you have completed it, you have a colorful, fun chart for your child. The chart can be maintained online or printed out to place on the refrigerator.

One additional aspect of the chart that is worth mentioning is the ability to place weight on how much each chore/responsibility is worth in points. Points can be added towards a particular reward or they can represent the money that will be earned. This can certainly be very motivating for a child to see on their chart and help keep them focused on what they are working towards.

My daughter has reacted positively to her new chore chart. She states that it is “pretty” and she thinks it is “cool” that she can take care of it herself. I like the fact that it can be easily edited if we decide to change things around. I played around with creating a chart for my son for when the time is right to introduce one. We have yet to need one because he is so young, but once he is ready, I will certainly be inclined to create one on Goalforit!

*Disclaimer: I did receive monetary compensation for this post. I was asked to participate in this review as a Mom Select member. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Save on prescriptions with Walgreens Prescription Savings Club

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

Purchasing prescriptions can be a source of stress at times in some families.  It certainly was for my family about four years ago when his doctor was attempting to mask my husband’s stomach problems with one new medication after another without truly attempting to find the root cause.  The amount of medications he was prescribed over the course of a few months was insane.  Recently, I carried two plastic bags full of pill bottles to our local police station in order to turn them in to be destroyed and thrown away (instead of simply throwing them in our own trash bag).  Not only was I in shock that these meds were prescribed to him, but I couldn’t help thinking about the amount of money that was spent on them.

The Walgreens Prescription Savings Club would have been very useful for us years ago.  Right now they are offering a discount on their annual membership.  For only $10.00 per year, your entire immediate family is covered under this membership, including spouses, dependents 22 years old and younger, and even pets.  Individuals may join for just $5.00. 

The Prescription Savings Club also has other benefits.  They have savings for over 8,000 brand-name and generic medications.  People can receive discounts on pet medications, flu shots (which can be expensive if your insurance doesn’t cover them), diabetic supplies, and supplies for asthmatics.  In addition to these great perks, you can also receive discounts when you purchase Walgreens brand products and photo services. 

Follow Walgreens on Twitter!

Follow Walgreens on Facebook!

Family Cookbook Project - Create and print your own family cookbook!

FREE Photo Book from Vistaprint!

For a limited time, get one FREE customized Photo Book for Valentine's Day! This 10 page, 4x6 photo book is a great way to give a personal, meaningful gift without spending too much money. Choose from a variety of designs to compliment your style and add your own text! The photo book is free, just pay shipping and processing. Shipping Starts at: $6.16.

Click HERE to purchase one today!

Sign-up for Nielsen Home Scan Consumer Panel and earn rewards!

Join Nielsen Home Scan Consumer Panel! Earn valuable points, which are redeemable for electronics, household items, jewelry, toy, gift cards, and more. 

I have been scanning for a few weeks now and it is so easy!  I’m looking forward to being able to redeem my points!

Click HERE to sign-up today!

Sneakpeeq Sweepstakes! Ends 1/27!

When it comes to the Tidbits From A Mom/sneakpeeq giveaway, everybody wins!

What is sneakpeeq you ask? Sneakpeeq is the fast-growing social shopping company on Facebook. In December 2011, sneakpeeq was named as one of the “Top 10 Best Social Apps of 2011".  You will find new items every day, including fashion, food, and home products. The products you see are unique and not found in your local stores! Here are a couple of photos that I wanted to share with you:






sneakpeeq is giving away 20% off your next purchase just for entering, plus a chance at the Grand Prize: One winner will receive a $25 gift card to use on your favorite food, style and home products. Three runners-up prize winners will receive a $10 gift card—that goes a long way in sneakpeeq’s amazingly low-priced boutiques!

Enter the giveaway by clicking on this link: http://bit.ly/wUByy2

and joining sneakpeeq! Good luck!

*Disclaimer: I did not receive monetary compensation for this post.  I am publishing this post in collaboration with sneakpeeq.