Movie Night with TMNT

One of the things my kids and I look forward to when it comes to the various family times is our family movie nights! Well to help with this weeks family movie night, we were sent a great pack filled with TMNT goodies, so we could watch the movie in style!

We were given the movie as a digital download, so we could watch the movie and stream it from our television! The kids were sent a fun pizza box filled with goodies like those iconic eye sashes with the various colors that represent each of the turtles, some TMNT dog tags, a fun facts book, a TMNT shirt, a blanket, and some popcorn to enjoy during the movie!

The movie TMNT turned out to be a great movie to watch over our Thanksgiving holiday with the kids. My husband and I liked that the new movie is similar to the old one we remember by having those same characters involved, but different in a way that the story line is a bit different! Making the TMNT movie a great one to watch and share with your kids! You can download your HD Digital Copy now by heading to either iTunes or Paramount Movies, so you can stream your movie anytime!



Product received, thank you to Paramount Pictures and the PR for supplying me with a product for this review, all opinions are my own.

#Giveaway I See Me! Merry Christmas Giveaway Hop

Happy day after Thanksgiving and official kick off to this years holiday shopping! Now that the holiday shopping season is upon us, it is time to get serious with the holiday lists, and to help out with that shopping, myself and a group of bloggers are offering some amazing giveaways in this years, Merry Christmas Giveaway Hop which is being hosted by Planet Weidknecht and LeahSay's Views!

In the list below you can find and enter all of the awesome giveaways that are ready for you to enter.

Also, be sure to enter to win your own, personalized Christmas book from I See Me! in the form below!

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Unusual Uses for Shoes Infographic

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Get Ready For Black Friday Deals

With Black Friday fast approaching it's important to get ready for all those amazing Black Friday deals. It should come as no surprise that the biggest shopping day of the year is also a great day to finish all your holiday and gift shopping for the rest of the season. There are tons of great offers and discounts on every product imaginable and everyone from big name retailers to local businesses are offering something to get customers through their doors.

Whether you need a brand new television or you just want to get a winter jacket for a good price the sales are abundant across the nation. Many retailers are rolling out sales a day early and as soon as Thursday shoppers can start taking advantage of the various savings being offered. By doing your research it's possible to save a lot of time and visit the stores or websites that offer something you're interested in. Various online promotion sites, such as www.couponwind.com, offer a wide variety of discounts and coupons for related purchases you can make on the web. The deals they offer are updated quite often so be sure to check back so you don't miss out on anything.

Black Friday and the following weekend presents one of the best opportunities for saving money on big name purchases and getting all of your holiday shopping out of the way. If you want to save money and beat the December shopping rush then Black Friday is the best day for you to visit the mall, shop online, or check out your local big box retailers for the amazing deals they'll be offering. When you're online shopping be sure to browse around for the best deals. Online promotion will provide awesome coupons and discount codes for your online purchases stretching your dollars even further. Don't miss out on all the savings you can take advantage of this Black Friday so get shopping!

#Giveaway #KeepSakeIt Holiday Ornaments from Hallmark

I am one who enjoys the holidays, with the memories that are to be made to the memories from the past which we share with loved ones. For my family, we have many traditions, and one that my mom had started when I was a child, was the tradition of adding Hallmark to our holiday decorations each year! This tradition is not only one that is still going in my moms house, but it is one that I started when I had my first baby, and is one that I have continued throughout the years. To help with that holiday tradition in my house, I was sent the Countdown with Merry the Elf Countdown to Christmas, Hallmark Keepsake for review!

With this adorable keepsake, we can begin our Christmas countdown with Merry the Elf! Starting when we press the button on day one, we can listen as Merry the Elf shares stories, sings songs, and gives advice on how to stay both patient and nice over the holiday season!

I find that this Hallmark Keepsake will not only make a great addition to our holiday collection of Hallmark items, but I like that we can all sit as a family, with the kids as they anticipate the big day, counting down together! Then we can continue the countdown for years to come, with our kids and Merry the Elf! Making the Countdown with Merry the Elf, a perfect Hallmark Keepsake not only for our home but for any home this holiday season, and to help with adding to that Hallmark Keepsake collection, the wonderful people from Hallmark would like to send one of my amazing readers their own Hallmark Keepsake Ornament. Also, between now and December 18th, you can share your own holiday moments and enter to win in the Hallmark #KeepSakeIt Sweepstakes where you can enter to win some great weekly prizes!

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Product received, thank you to Hallmark and the PR for supplying me with a product for this review, all opinions are my own.

Keeping Little Messes at Bay with Cibo this Holiday Season

As Wyatt has gotten older, we have found that he enjoys having his meals and even craft times, at the table with everyone else instead of in a highchair. This is something that we encourage, but also something that can be quite messy. We have him in a booster now at the table in one of the chairs, and with that, instead of having a tray to clean up, we have his little messes that end up on the table and floor below him, and can be quite a bit more of a hassle when it comes to clean up. Well to help with this years holiday meals, arts and crafts, and any other messes we might end up making, we were sent a Cibo to review.

I like that the Cibo, clings onto the table, staying in place. So even when we are coloring, or painting, the Cibo stays in place, not only helping for when little messes are made, but also for catching anything that might get away. The Cibo not only acts as a placemat for keeping Wyatt's place at the table clean, but with the crumb catch part, we can also keep the floor clean. Then once we are done with a meal or a art project, we can easily pick the Cibo up, wash it, then put it back on the table for the next mess that is ready to be made! In all, making the Cibo a must have product for any parent with kids of any age! Also be sure to get your 10% off when you pick up your Cibo by using promo code KATIE at checkout!



Product received, thank you to Cibo for supplying me with a product for this review, all opinions are my own.

Holiday Gifts from American Girl

The holiday shopping season is upon us and as a parent I find myself in search of those toys, gifts, that my kids will not only like, but that they can cherish. When I do the holiday shopping, I like to think back on when I was little, and some of the items that I once had and cherished. As I think back, one item really comes to mind. The item was my very first American Girl doll, Samantha. I can remember looking through the catalogs that we would get and circling the doll I wanted, opening that catalog every time I would see it so I could see the doll again and again, then to wake up one Christmas morning to find my very own Samantha doll under the tree.

This memory was not only a fond one, but a cherished one, because I can remember after I got my Samantha doll, I put her on my shelf for display, keeping very good care of her, and taking her down every so often so I could brush her hair and play with her to then put her back on her place on my shelf. Well, over the past few years, my own daughter has developed a love for that same line of dolls, and has added her own dolls to her collection. So when we were sent the Samantha doll from the American Girl BeForever line, I was excited to share her with my daughter.

When our Samantha doll arrived, I right away began to remember what it was like when I had received my first American Girl doll, and how much I cherished my own Samantha doll so many years ago.

I like that Samantha Parkington is still that same girl that she was when I little, and that when we added the Samantha doll from the American Girl BeForever collection to my daughters collection, she not only added a doll that is like the one her mom once had, but we also added a new book to my daughters American Girl book collection.

In all making the Samantha Parkington doll from the BeForever line of dolls from American Girl, to not only make for a great addition to my daughters American Girl Doll collection, but also a great doll to bring back those wonderful memories I had when I was I child of my own Samantha doll! So as you head out to get the gifts to put under the tree this year, be sure to go online to head to your local American Girl store, and pick up your own Samantha doll from the American Girl BeForever line!


Product received, thank you to American Girl and the PR for supplying me with a product for this review, all opinions are my own.

Give your teen the gift of independence this Christmas

When young people reach a certain age they want to spread their wings, and there may be no greater motivator than seeing their mates hit the road in a new vehicle. At 16 the world of motorcycling opens up, and if that milestone coincides with Christmas the parental gift might be an obvious one.

Riders can take to the road on a moped from 16, and there’s something to be said for starting with a 50cc vehicle with a top speed of only 30mph. There’s less likelihood of an accident and it won’t hurt you as a parent in the pocket; a brand new ride may cost as little as £500. A provisional P licence will only allow moped riders to use a 50cc scooter for 16 year olds, while at 17 a rider can move up to a Provisional A licence and a 125cc vehicle.

Young riders must take Compulsory Basic Training through an Approved Training Body before they take to the road. These courses are held at training centres across the country and include five elements covering on and off road riding and training across one day. Once this is completed a full motorcycle test must be taken within two years, or the CBT training must be taken again. There are two tests, depending on the type of bike you intend to ride.

In the meantime your young rider will want to get on the road, and it’s worth doing research for the best scooter before diving in – a good store such as Metropolis Motorcycles will advise you on everything from locking and storage to fuel consumption and style.

At the same time you’ll want to find out about appropriate clothing; riding motorcycle helmets are mandatory on UK roads of course, and it must satisfy either British Standard 6658: 1985 or ECE Regulation 22.05 standards. If possible your choice should really be fitted, as a helmet that moves about will provide little protection in an accident, while a too-tight helmet will be uncomfortable and stifling.

Ask the bike shop for more information or alternatively visit the SHARP helmet safety scheme website. Damage to second-hand helmets is sometimes not visible, so be wary. The visors/goggles should also comply with British or European standards, and it goes without saying that you should still wear glasses or contact lenses if needed.

Look for the best insurance deal, which can be tricky as motorcyclists are the most high-risk demographic. They are 38 times more likely to be killed in a road accident than car occupants, and young cyclists are the most vulnerable sub-group.

There are several ways to trim costs: taking an enhanced drivers scheme, storing the bike securely when not in use, and using price comparison sites will get your new rider the best deal. You’ll also need to tax the bike; anything under 150cc costs £17 for 12 months.

The worst part of buying a bike for Christmas is that the young motorcyclist will need to wait to complete the CBT training before taking to the road, and even then it’s likely that the weather will be difficult for the rookie rider. The best advice might be to head out to a quiet road with the vehicle in the back of a car,  and practice a little before hitting the city. Riders with their CBT can take to the roads unaccompanied providing the vehicle displays an L-Plate, and that it does not exceed 11kw and 50/125cc.

You can’t stay with your young driver at all times but encourage them to take their journeys at a slow, comfortable and safe pace, with steady manoeuvres. They’ll build up awareness and experience to complement their physical, practical abilities – and their new cool vehicle.

Have You Prepared For The Birth Of Your Baby?

Having a baby is one of the most exciting things for a mother. You get to have a new member of the family that you can take care of and nurture. Preparation starts as soon as you learn that you are pregnant. For sure, there are many things that are going through your mind the minute that you find out that you will be giving birth in 9 months. One thing to ask yourself is if you have prepared enough for the birth of your baby. Below are some tips for you:

• Maternity pictures. Pregnancy is a journey and it is good to have keepsakes during your pregnancy. You may want to hire a maternity photographer in Philadelphia to take pictures of you while you are pregnant. This will make your pregnancy even more special and in the future, you will have some pictures to look back to when you want to remember the special moment you carried your child in your womb.

• Learn about the process. Learning about the process of giving birth is also an important step in order for you to prepare for the birth of your baby. Giving birth, especially for first time mothers, may be a daunting experience and it can be a lot of help to know what your body is going through during this time. You can also take a birth class, so that you can be more relaxed and be in control of your body by the time you give birth.

• Visit your OB. Visit your OB regularly to make sure that your baby is doing well in your womb. This should be done in the first trimester, so that you can listen to your baby’s heartbeat, confirm the gender of your baby if you wish to know, and to run some tests. Doing this will also give you the chance to ask some questions to your doctor. 

• Prepare other children. If you have other children, it is best to prepare them for what’s to come before you even give birth. This is crucial especially for younger children who may see the new baby as a replacement. It is best to have them get used to the idea of having a new sibling early on, so that they can have a good relationship.

• Prepare a room for your baby. One of the most exciting things to do for mothers is to go shopping for the baby. Prepare your nursery months in advance. This can also be a good bonding experience with your husband. Choose paint colors, assemble a crib together, purchase baby clothes, diapers, baby wipes, and other important items that you must have in your home as soon as the baby arrives.

These are some of the things that you can do to prepare for the birth of your baby. Of course, you also have to prepare yourself and be healthy during your pregnancy to ensure that you have a healthy and happy baby. You can also talk to other mothers about their experiences and learn from them. With these tips, you are sure to be prepared for when your baby arrives into the world.

Myths Uncovered: The Truth About Pregnancy And Childbirth

Mothers say that holding their baby for the first time after giving birth takes all the pain that they went through go away. In a world where information can be retrieved almost anywhere, facts and myths about pregnancy and childbirth often get tangled. Mothers who are pregnant for the first time get to read misconstrued information that may make giving birth to a human being scary. You may have heard about some information about a urethral catheter, an epidural or the excruciating pain that child birth brings. However, you also have to know which information are facts and which ones are myths.

Here are a few myths and facts about childbirth:

Childbirth on TV
What scares most women who are going into childbirth are the hospital scenes on television that often deal with running around the hospital, screaming and sweating for hours, and sometimes even fainting. While some women do experience these, childbirth is pretty straightforward for most women. Of course, you will be sweating and screaming at the peak of your labor and while you are delivering your child, but generally, childbirth in real life is far from all the drama that you see on TV.

Labor is always painful
This is not true for every woman. Of course, there will be a point where you know that you are in labor, but in some cases, women don’t even notice when they are beginning labor. Some women experience mild contractions that may not even be a nuisance. The contractions can even last for several days without bringing you pain until you are ready to go to the hospital and give birth. Furthermore, women who have already given birth before may be dilated without even knowing it.

No eating before childbirth
This information is not always true for all hospitals. However, for majority of places, pregnant women are not allowed to eat and are given only ice chips or limited amounts of water. The reason behind this is that doctors must prepare your body in case an emergency C-section is needed. If food is ingested, and you are under general anesthesia, doctors wouldn’t want you to aspirate and get food into the airways. Besides, doctors say that most women who are ready to give birth don’t think about food.

Your water always breaks
Some women tend to wait for their water to break before they go to the hospital, but this does not always happen. There are instances where the amniotic fluid doesn’t come out. If you are having regular and strong contractions, but your water isn’t breaking, it’s time to go to the hospital. In cases like this one, the doctors will be the one to break your water, so you shouldn’t always wait for your water to break.

These are some of the myths and truths about pregnancy and childbirth. Of course, every experience is different for every woman, but you have to know which ones are true. If you get the proper information from your doctor, you will have peace of mind knowing that some the things that you read online are not always true.

Looking After Your Pooches This Winter

In our hurry to bundle up everyone in the family to ward off the chill of winter, we sometimes forget that our four-legged loved ones need a little extra care as well. Just as the searing summer can cause heat stroke in pets, winter can also bring danger to the furry family members.

One of the best ways to keep you and your pet warm is to share a cuddle, but before that, give your dog a bath with ChlorhexiDerm Shampoo, which effectively cleans and conditions your dog’s skin and coat. It also keeps the bad microbes away, and keeps your pet smelling fresh and clean.

Here are some more tips about taking care of your dogs this winter.

Provide warmth.
If your pet spends most of his time in the backyard, you may want to keep him inside the house during the freezing months. Place blankets or rugs over tiled floors and uncarpeted areas, or create a special corner where your pet can snuggle in to stay warm when you’re not home. If it’s not too frigid but the cold chill still has a bite to it, make sure to provide your pet with extra bedding in a dry and warm shelter that’s free from drafts outside. When walking your pet, consider getting him special booties and coats to avoid frostbite. Check your pet’s paws, the tip of his tail, and his ears for warning signs such as blisters and a firm, waxy skin.

Warmth is good, but be sure to protect your pet from burns. Place covers on radiator baseboards, keep portable heaters out of reach, and install screens on fireplaces.

Mind the antifreeze.
Keep your dog away from where your car is parked, as antifreeze may leak from your car’s radiator and collect on the street or garage floor. Dogs may be attracted to the smell and taste of the chemical, but it is extremely dangerous, even fatal.

Groom regularly.
Your dog’s coat is his protection from the cold, so make sure it is well-groomed. If your dog has short or coarse hair, consider getting him a sweater or pet coat. Long-haired dogs may find the extra clothing comfortable as well. You should, however, pay special attention to the excess fur around long-haired dogs’ foot pads and toes. Keep the hair in these areas trimmed so that the paws will be easier to clean, especially if you’re removing snow or mud. If you’re coming in from a walk, dry your dog with a warm towel immediately, and wash and dry his feet as well. The salt that is used for melting sidewalk ice may irritate foot pads, so you have to make sure all of it is removed. You can also put a little petroleum jelly on his paws to prevent cracked pads and cuts.

Give him food.
Pets expend a lot of energy to stay warm during cold weather, so they tend to eat a lot more during the chilly winter months. Make sure you give your pet an adequate supply of food (be careful not to overfeed!) and check his water bowl often to make sure the water hasn’t turned to ice. If it has, replace with fresh water right away.

Now that you and your pooch are ready to face the winter chill, bundle up and snuggle to your hearts’ content!

Free Yourself Up To Spend More Time With The Family

Going to work, cleaning the house, doing the laundry, buying groceries, and cooking meals are all necessary to maintain our home and feed our family, but doing all of these often leaves us little time to spend with our loved ones. If you find yourself working, doing chores, and going on errands every single day instead of spending quality time with your family, then you may want to make some changes in your life, both at home and at work. You can consider going for a maid service in Chicago, simplifying your schedule, or delegating tasks to others. There are many things you can do save time on everyday tasks and be able to devote time to those you love most. Here are some practical tips to help you do just that.

Delegate or outsource work.
Delegating tasks to coworkers or subordinates lets you focus on the projects and core tasks you should be concentrating on. You may have to spend some hours training the person you’re delegating the task to, but it will all pay off later, when the particular task or set of tasks is taken off your plate. Plus, it’s always good to equip trainees with more work-related skills. If you cannot delegate tasks, then consider outsourcing via the Internet. There are many online workers who are capable of tasks big and small, from creating phonebook entries to transcribing and editing interviews. Delegating and outsourcing frees you from having to do extra or overtime work, letting you go home earlier.

Simplify your daily schedule.
We often try to fit in as much work, appointments, chores, and errands as we can in a day, leaving us too exhausted to even listen to our children tell us about how their day went. Look at your schedule again and see if there are things you can cross out, or reschedule. Always make room for your family, especially if you have young children. If a commitment isn’t necessary, cancel it if possible, or send in your regrets to the host. You may disappoint some people, but that’s nothing compared to the disappointment your children will feel when you’re not around, again.

Start work early and do the important tasks first.
Going to work early—before everyone else arrives—gives you time to focus on your tasks without distractions and constant interruptions. This way, you can get a lot done earlier and leave work earlier too. Determine what your most important tasks are and do those first. Avoid pushing these tasks back at the end of the day, or else you may have to work late or not get the tasks done at all.

Do the small tasks in batches.
Unless your work requires you to check your email every five minutes, limit your mail-checking to twice a day: once in the morning when you arrive at work, and when you get back to your desk after lunch. Frequently checking up on your email (and social networks) takes up a lot of time.

Practice teamwork at home.
When at home, assign chores to family members so you can all work together and spend time together when the chores are done. Even young children can be given simple chores such as tidying up their toys and filling up the dog’s water bowl. Doing chores together also makes for a great family bonding time!

How To Maintain A Healthy Body And Mind In Your Later Years

As we age, we face the challenge of making sure we stay healthy both in body and mind. Having a healthy body contributes to a healthy mind, and vice-versa. Specialists in adult day care centers in Austin TX can attest to the fact that the mind benefits from physical activity, low blood pressure, a healthy wait, low cholesterol, and nourishing food.

As such, healthy aging involves eating nutritiously, keeping physically and mentally active, limiting alcohol, and seeking treatment when needed, to name a few steps to aging success. There are many things we can do today that will help us maintain a healthy body and mind as we age, here are just a few!

Be active physically.
Regular physical activity helps to maintain and improve memory and mental ability. It also helps prevent dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, improves energy levels, and generally gives a positive feeling, lessening the feelings of depression that many who have heart disease, cancer, and diabetes suffer from. Exercising regularly greatly contributes to improved mobility and reaction time, a stronger heart and better blood flow, and a decrease in blood cholesterol, blood pressure, and heart rate.

Eat your vegetables!
You may recall how difficult you were as a child, refusing to eat your veggies. Now that you’re older, you should also be wiser to eat your greens without a qualm, because food that can help us stay physically strong and healthy also provides the necessary nutrients for keeping our brains sharp. For a healthy mind and body, keep your kitchen well-stocked with the following:

• Asparagus and spinach – these vegetables contain folate, a B vitamin that is necessary for cell health. It also prevents anemia and alterations to our DNA that could lead to the big C. Aside from asparagus and spinach, you can also get folate from strawberries, beef liver, beans, and dark green leafy vegetables.
• Nuts and vegetable oils – vitamin E is an antioxidant that guards the body against cell damage and also reduces the risk of heart disease and cancer. Foods that are naturally rich in this vitamin include vegetable oils, seeds, almonds, and nuts.
• Broccoli – when we hear “Vitamin C”, we often think of an orange, but you can get more of the antioxidant from broccoli and other greens such as Brussels sprouts, cabbage, bell peppers, kales, spinach, and collard greens. Of course, grapefruits and oranges are prime sources too.

Stay connected socially.
Developing and maintaining relationships with family, friends, and the people around us will enrich our life and have a positive effect on our wellbeing. We should set aside a time to enjoy the company of friends, children, and grandchildren, or make new friends through social clubs and book clubs. Joining a club who share our interests gives us a sense of belonging and has a great effect on our mental health.

Keep mentally fit.
Use it or lose it, goes the saying, and this applies to our brains. To maintain mental fitness, it’s important that we engage in activities that stimulates our thinking abilities. Doing brain teasers, learning a new language, reading a challenging book, writing creatively, and watching a play are just a few of the many activities we can do to continue growing new connections in our brain cells.

We can’t put a stop to aging, but we can age gracefully by staying healthy in both mind and body. Follow these tips early on in life, and your older self will thank you for it.

#Giveaway Give the Gift of Pearls this Holiday Season

With the holiday season upon us, and the holiday shopping season kicking off in just a few short days, we find ourselves not only ready to shop, but in search of those perfect holiday gifts! I am one who enjoys finding gifts for those on my list what they want, but I also like getting them items that are special and will make an impression this year. There are many ways to go about finding that certain gift that is sure to make an impression, and with the various people on my list with the very different likes and dislikes, I can find the mission at hand when it comes to finding that unique gift, a difficult one at times.

In my family, I would have to say that aside from my sister, the hardest person to shop for would be my mom. My mom is a woman who, when asked what she wants for Christmas, does not ever give a real answer that helps with the shopping. The way she sees it when it comes to the gifts for her, she has everything she could ever want. So when I shop for my mom, I like to find gifts of meaning, ones that can help with showing her my appreciation for her and for being the mom she has been to myself and the grandma she has been to my children. This year, I will find that special gift when I head on over to The Pearl Source.

At The Pearl Source, I can find those beautiful and unique gifts, that are sure to put a smile on my moms face this holiday season. I like that I can find a variety of pearls that can be found from around the world, and with those pearls, a variety of settings and styles that are available. I can really appreciate that I can not only find the variety when it comes to shopping for pearls, but the price is one that can make the shopping experience this holiday season a more enjoyable one when it comes to my budget! In all, making the gifts you can find from The Pearl Source, not only a must have, but also as unique as the person you are shopping for, and to help with this years holiday shopping, the wonderful people from The Pearl Source would like to give one of my amazing readers a Tahitian South Sea Pearl Denise Pendant!

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This post was sponsored by the wonderful people from The Pearl Source and the PR group, all opinions are my own!

Protect your Home this Season with Products from Bedbug.com

As we prepare for the holidays, we find that there are many plans to be made and put into place. One such set of plans that many of us make over the holidays is the travel plans. Now like many, when it comes to traveling with the family there are many things that need to be put into place to ensure safe travels. From the stops made along the way, to the accommodations that need to be made. After we have done all of that, we then begin making our lists of what to pack as we travel, so as a parent I want to ensure that I not only pack what we need while we are away from home, but also pack those things that will protect myself and my family even after we are back home.

One such list of items would be the bed bug protection products, and to help with preparing for holiday travel this year, I was introduced to a site that offers the products needed in order to not only protect my family this year, but also protect my home. The site is called Bedbug.com, and when I shop there, I can shop the products I need not only for protecting my home, but also for protecting my family.

With the travel that we do over the holidays, we enjoy seeing family and friends, catching up on old times, but when we head back home, we do not want to head back with any uninvited guests. These uninvited guests that I am talking about would be bed bugs, and it is shown, that when we travel we are more prone to getting bed bugs than at any other time. So to help with avoiding bringing those unwanted pests home, I will be adding products like the the Travel Protection Bundle to my list of packing items.

The Travel Protection Bundle from Bedbug.com has the items needed in order to avoid bring those pesky bed bugs home to your house and family. The items in this pack include 1 Travel Pillow and Encasement, 1 Luggage Liner for my large luggage, 1 Luggage Liner for the carry on luggage, and 1 Laundry Bag. Making the Travel Protection Bundle a must have item to put on your holiday travel packing list this season and for any time that you plan on traveling!



This post was sponsored by the wonderful people from Bedbug.com and the PR group, all opinions are my own!

Personalize Your Holidays with GiftsForYouNow.com

The holiday shopping season is upon us, and it is time to get the decorations out and the gifts put under the tree. This is the time of year where we spend time with family, share memories and also make new ones, so like many I like to make the holidays in my home, personal. To help with making those holiday memories and even decorations personal, I was introduced to GiftsForYouNow.com.

At GiftsForYouNow.com, I can find those personalized gifts from the photo gifts that I can create and send, to the ornaments and holiday stocking that I can decorate my home with. When it comes to the holiday items, I like that there is a great assortment of personalized Christmas ornaments to choose from.

From the family ornaments that come in various designs and collections, to the individual ornaments which I can have personalized for each of my kids. I also like the first Christmas ornaments that I can get either for babies first Christmas, or for those like my sister, who will be spending her first Christmas with my new brother in law as a newlywed!

When it comes to the holiday memories, I can have some of the personalized holiday mason jars made for us to use when we sit down with our cups of hot cocoa and read those Christmas stories with the kids. Having the personalized mason jars will not only come in handy, but they will also be there when it comes to adding to our holiday traditions and making memories.

Then to go along with the personalized holiday mason jars, we can hang up personalized Christmas stockings, after sharing the holiday tales and laughter! We can even find personalized stockings to hang up for our pets, so they are included in the family traditions. In all, helping to make our Christmas a memorable and personal one, when we shop at GiftsForYouNow.com.





This post was sponsored by the wonderful people from GiftsForYouNow.com and the PR group, all opinions are my own!

#Giveaway #TOMSforTarget Gift Giving while Giving Back with Toms and Target ($100 Gift Card)

The holidays are upon us, and as we prepare for those meals with our families, the get togethers with loved ones and the holiday shopping, we need to keep in mind what the season is all about. For my family, when we sit at the table this Thanksgiving, we not only enjoy a meal together, but we give thanks. We like to go around the table and say what we are thankful for, aside from that, we also give back by helping others. Each year when it comes to the Thanksgiving meal, we have gone to our local Ronald McDonald House, to help cook and serve Thanksgiving to the families there, who are not able to be home and have kids in the hospital. We also find other ways to give back during the season, that is not just limited to Thanksgiving either.

Aside from the meal we help out with, we take part in giving gifts to kids in need, from donations that we take each year to our local CASA to the donations we also take to our local Children's Home. This is something that we include our kids in, to teach them and show them that this time of year is not about getting, but about giving back to others. This tradition is something that we not only include our kids in, but a tradition that my own parents took part in when I was a kid.

Now over the holiday season, there are many ways to give back, from helping at a soup kitchen, donating clothes, blankets, and even toys to those less fortunate, and also finding ways to give back as you prepare your own holiday celebrations. Like when we head out to our local Target or shop online at Target.com, I can give back while I shop by picking up items for my family and home from the TOMS collection at Target.

I like knowing that as we pick up those hoodies, hats and scarves for the kids from TOMS line at Target, we are not only picking up items that we needed for the season and for gift giving, but we are also giving back. Because for every item purchased from the TOMS + Target collection, there will be money donated to those in need, which will either be $3 from Target to FeedingAmerica.org which is the monetary equivalent of one week of meals for someone in need or $5 to American Red Cross Disaster Relief redcross.org which is the equivalent of one blanket, or TOMS will give one pair of shoes to a child in need!

The donations will vary by the product you purchase, and you can see the donation that will be made on the packaging or label.  This is not only a way of giving back that you can partake in right now, but you can continue to shop this line through the holidays on to March 12, 2015!

For myself and my family, this is just one of the many ways in which we will be giving back this year, and to celebrate the giving, we will also be participating in Giving Tuesday, which is December 2nd this year. So as you prepare for those holiday meals, and head out to do the holiday shopping, be sure to keep the true spirit of the season in mind, and remember that this is the season of giving!

Well to help when it comes to the spirit of the season, the wonderful people from Target would like to give one of my amazing readers a $100 Target gift card!

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This post was sponsored by the wonderful people from Target and the PR group, all opinions are my own!

Bring the Family Together on Family Movie Night with Feeln

When it comes to the holidays, I think one thing that I look forward to is the family time. I find that over the holidays, we have more time indoors together, from the fact that those Fall sports are over and the weather is a lot colder to the fact that there is more time off from school with the snow and the holidays. With that, I like to take advantage of the family time we have, and not only find fun family games to play while we are indoors, but also add movies to our family movie nights.

Like many, we are a family who enjoys streaming movies to watch at home, but like many, I am one who would prefer a selection of movies, that are family oriented, so when say my kids log in, the only shows and movies they will see as suggestions, will be ones that are appropriate for them to watch. Well with the holiday season upon us and more time being spent with the family, we were introduced to a great streaming service called Feeln!

With Feeln, we can watch those family friendly shows and movies, even ones that my husband and I enjoyed as kids, with our own kids. And when our kids log into the Feeln site from our devices, we can feel good about knowing that they will not have the option of watching something that we might see as inappropriate.

Feeln is very easy to set up, and once it is set, finding and streaming movies from Feeln is easy. My kids like that they can go in, then choose the movies we will watch during our family movie times, and we also like that with the holiday season upon us, we can find a great selection of holiday movies available to us to stream!

We have found Feeln to be a great service to have in our home, and starting at just $3.99 with 1 week free to try the service, Feeln not only makes for a great program to have in the home for streaming movies and shows with, but also for a great gift to give this holiday season!




Product received, thank you to Feeln and the PR for supplying me with a product for this review, all opinions are my own.

Shopular Alerts for Holiday Shopping

As I prepare for this week, I find that with the big sales that will occur later this week, I have to make those plans and ensure I get the deals that I am in search of ahead of time. I have been keeping an eye on the sales, the ads, the coupons and the deals that are out there, and with the Shopular App, I have been able to get these deals sent straight to my phone, updating as the sales change, as the coupons come in and as the ads are listed!

I have found the alerts to not only save me time while I prepare for everything this week, but with all of the deals, I will be saving money as well. I like that with the time saved, since the updates come right to my phone, I can spend more time with the family, and relaxing, instead of heading to the stores to pick up the ads and searching for the coupons online.

Another great feature that I really like when I use the Shopular app that will also come in handy as we head out later this week to get some of the holiday shopping done, is that I can redeem those coupons, deals, and promo codes right from my phone. Not only reducing the time I spend searching ads and cutting out the savings, but also saving paper, so instead of scouring through my coupon binder as we go to the checkout, I can just pull up the Shopular app on my phone, select the store and the deals, then scan them right at the checkout!

As a parent and a consumer, I find that the Shopular app has not only come in handy by saving me time so I have more time to spend with the family, but aside from the Black Friday deals that are to be had, with the alerts for the sales on my phone, I will also find Shopular to be a time saver as I prep for the next round of sales as I go online for those Cyber Monday sales! In all, making the Shopular app a must have for consumers who want to save money and time!



Thank you to Shopular for sponsoring this post, all opinions are my own!

#TanksofThanks with the Teddy Tanks

This is a busy week for many, as we prepare for the big meals on Thanksgiving. For my house, aside from the meals that we are planning, we like to show our kids that Thanksgiving is more than just the turkey and food, but a time for giving thanks. We have a tradition where we go around the table, and share what we are thankful for, and to help with sharing what we are thankful for, we were sent a Teddy Tank for review.

The Teddy Tanks are not only a great item to put a new pet fish in, but they are multifunctional, and will prove their many uses when we use our Teddy Tank to fill with notes of thanks this Thanksgiving! This Thanksgiving, the people from Teddy Tanks want to not only encourage those you love to share what they are thankful for, but they want to help others in need by feeding up to 100 families for each tweet to Telebrands that is shared using the hashtag, #TanksofThanks!

So as you prepare for the big meal this week, take a minute to tweet to Telebrands, and you can use the tweet below, showing your support in helping those in need, and also be sure to add the Teddy Tanks to your holiday shopping lists this year!

Tweet:  Help @Telebrands feed up to 100 families in need this month by tweeting #TanksofThanks & they’ll donate to @foodbankSJ. RT!

Product received, thank you to Telebrands and the PR for supplying me with a product for this review, all opinions are my own.

Stuffing the Stocking this Year with ANiMALZ

With all of the gifts that are available on the market for the kids, I like to find ones that will get some use out of them. One thing that all of my kids like is music, so when it comes to the gift giving, finding something that incorporates their love for music is a given. To help with this years holiday guide I was sent some very cute, retractable headphones from ANiMALZ!

These headphones not only have some very cute and fuzzy animals on the ears, making them a fun accessory for travel this year, but they are also made in mind to protect those precious ears of kids. I like that the cords are retractable, so we do not have to worry about cords getting tangled. I can also appreciate that the headphones from the ANiMALZ are designed to only go up to a volume maximum of 85 decibels, and with the various furry animal designs you can choose from, they are sure to be a favorite this year for your kids!




Product received, thank you to Animalz and the PR for supplying me with a product for this review, all opinions are my own.

Holiday Must Have with Let's Imagine Elmo

When I head out to do my holiday shopping, I not only like to find gifts for everyone on my list, but I want to get them gifts that they will really like. So when I look for gifts to give my kids, I like to add their likes as far as themes and characters go, insuring that they will really like the gift I give them!

One character that I grew up loving, and that each of my children have loved over the years is Elmo, so when I began looking at gifts to give my toddler this year, I knew that by adding Elmo into the mix would be sure to put a smile on his face! To help with the gift giving when it comes to the little ones on my list, I was sent the Elmo the Musical, Let's Imagine Elmo doll for review from Playskool!

My little guy loves watching Elmo and playing along with Elmo, so with this Elmo doll, we can bring that play he enjoys from just watching Sesame Street, right into our home with his very own Elmo doll! With the Let's Imagine Elmo you find that your little ones imaginations can soar as they play, count and sing with Elmo.



There are 4 interactive play modes and with the 3 hats, little ones can play along as Elmo gets into character! Making the Let's Imagine Elmo a must have toy for the little Elmo fans in your life!!


Product received, thank you to Playskool and the PR for supplying me with a product for this review, all opinions are my own.