Just Like June

June Pin It To Win It with Whatsername Jewelry (Open Worldwide)

noreply@blogger.com (Pam) — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 04:19:00 +0000

Are you a Pinterest fanatic? Do you enjoy pouring through your friends photos or posting your own private resort pictures, maybe even adding a recipe or two (feel free to pin my recipes!)? Do you pin clothes, shoes, and accessories to put together a perfect date night outfit? Have you ever wanted to own what your pin to your Pinterest Pinboards? Well, now you can.

Join Just Like June in Whatsername Jewelry's First Pin it to Win it giveaway. The rules are simple.

1) Choose one item from Whatsername Jewelry's Etsy Shop that you personally would like to own or give as a gift and Pin it to one of your Pinterest Pinboards. (Pretty simple, huh?)

2) You may pin one charm per day throughout the duration of the giveaway; however, you must submit a unique URL for each entry. Repeat URL entries will be voided at the end of the contest.

Whatsername Jewelry offers Handmade Zodiac Necklaces in all 12 Zodiac Signs in three colors: Classic Black and Gold, Modern Silver and Black, and the most recent addition, Red and Gold. You may also choose to pin Zodiac Totems or Bracelets. The choice is yours, Don't just Pin it, Win it!

The Pin it to Win it Contest runs June 4th through June25th, is open Worldwide and the winner will be announced on June 27th. The prize will be sent by the sponsor on June 28th. Good Luck!

Not on Pinterest yet? What better time to join. Request an invite by clicking here.

Earn Bonus Entries for “Liking” our co-hosts Facebook Pages.

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Off To College with Reach Total Care Products (Up for Grabs)

noreply@blogger.com (Pam) — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 04:09:00 +0000

My oldest is leaving to go seven hours away to college this fall. Am I worried? Nope, not a bit. I'm sure she will spend all of her time studying diligently, passing hours away in the library, working to make sure she keeps her scholarship. I'm sure she'll get her needed eight hours of sleep every night and eat healthy, balanced meals. Yeah, right. Who am I kidding? Of course I am worried. To make the transition easier for me her, I've began to prepare a bag of "goodies." These are items I know she will need but, without the loving guidance of her mom(!), will probably forget.

We already use Reach toothbrushes at our home because they are my daughter's favorite brand. Having a supply of their new Reach Total Care plus whitening brushes available means she might not forget to brush her teeth.

These toothbrushes contain the traditional angled brush with calcium carbonate micrawhitening technology to clean away stains while brushing. Plus, they've added a tongue cleaner and a comfort grip handle. What will they think of next? I admit, I don't spend a lot of time cleaning my tongue when brushing my teeth but it's a nice feature to have.

I'm also sending a package of the new Reach Total Care Plus Whitening floss. I like Reach Floss because it glides easily between my teeth. I've had some floss in the past that got stuck between two of my teeth and it wasn't pretty. Thanks to the new Micro Groove technology, it does a better job of removing plague and it includes baking soda to whiten teeth as I floss.

Will she remember to brush and floss as often as she should? I doubt it. Will she have the tools available to keep her teeth clean and healthy? Yes.

Win It!
One person will receive Reach Total Care products.

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The Princess Diaries 10th Anniversary Edition 3 disc Bluray + DVD combo pack

noreply@blogger.com (Pam) — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 04:06:00 +0000

I cannot believe it has been ten years since The Princess Diaries debuted. I remember watching the movie with my little princess and laughing at Mia's antics as her grandmother attempted to transform her into the future queen of Genovia. Poor Mia was so geeky but transformed into a fairy tale princess. I believe my daughter was sure her long lost grandmother was going to show up and "take her away from it all." To her dismay, that has not happened yet. It was a perfect fairy tale with a modern day twist at the end. After all, a girl has to find her prince. He just might not be what everyone else is expecting.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary, Disney has released The Princess Diaries on blu-ray for the first time ever! The three disc Collector's edition includes a blu ray with both films in the Princess series, The Princess Diaries and The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, as well as "royal bloopers." The second disc contains a dvd of The Princess Diaries and assorted extras including deleting scenes and music videos. Remember Livin' Like a Princess? There's also an "Ultimate Tea Party," with audio commentary by the stars, Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway. The third disc is a dvd of The Princess Diaries 2: The Royal Engagement and special bonus features including the music video "Breakaway" performed by Kelly Clarkson. For fun try the Find Your Inner Princess personality quiz.

Both of the movies are rated G and offer some excellent lessons that can be discussed with the kids after the movie is over. It's a sneaky way to spend some quality times with the kids and encourage dialogue too. The movie will primarily appeal to girls so why not have a “girl’s night” with your daughter and make your own “princess” memories?

I received the above mentioned free product(s) for review purposes. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. I was not asked to provide anything other than my honest opinion.

The Tortoise and The Hare CD & $25 Gift Certificate of your choice giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Pam) — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 04:02:00 +0000

As a former elementary teacher who now teaches a high school class and also homeschools, I am all about education and helping kids learn. That's why I have joined this giveaway for The Tortoise and The Hare CD and a $25 gift certificate of choice.

This Giveaway is made possible by Maestro Classics, this Review is done by Colleen at Colleen's Book Nook

A group of wonderful bloggers have joined me in sharing this Review & Giveaway.

Did you know that Maestro Classics has a FREE home school program? It looks really interesting with History, Science, Geography, Language Arts, Art, Music, and Math that are integrated with music on the CDs for PreSchool to Middle School. There are teacher lesson plans, home school curriculum guides and home projects to go along with it. If you home school you should check it out!

The Tortoise and the Hare is just one of their CD's in their home school program.

This story is filled with wonderful music and is for children 5 years and older. You remember the old story about the rabbit so fast and agile who just knows that he will win the race against the poor slow old turtle so he takes detours along the way? This story CD has music by Stephen Simon and the London Philharmonic Orchestra! The music won a Parents’ Choice GOLD award!

A 24 page activity book is included with the CD which contains words and sheet music for a sing-along song, information on instruments, musical notation and fractions, the contrabassoon, games and more. MP3 download from Maestro Classics website includes a PDF of the activity booklet.

Maestro Classics is giving the CD, The Tortoise and the Hare, to one lucky winner! The winner will also be able to choose a $25 Gift Certificate of their Choice.

This giveaway is available to the US only.

Enter by filling out the Rafflecopter below:

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Just For Kids Giveaway-Over $500 in prizes

noreply@blogger.com (Pam) — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 04:01:00 +0000

Having kids is expensive/ That's why I've joined the Just For Kids Giveaway! We’ll be giving away five gift certificates to some of our favorite children’s online retailers for a total of $275 worth of prizes.
Be sure to visit the wonderful sponsors to see all of the amazing products they have available!
Check out these prizes we’re giving away:
$50 gift certificate to Glow Baby
$75 gift certificate to Polka Dot Pond Shop
$50 gift certificate to Lilly James
$50 gift certificate to Bumblebee Toys
$50 gift certificate to Juley Jules

Five prizes means you have five chances to win, so be sure to do as many entries as you can! This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only and ends on June 18th at 11:59 PM EST. Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway Gala

noreply@blogger.com (Pam) — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 02:11:00 +0000

Welcome to the Giveaway Gala. A collection of featured giveaways from 5 blog's including a linky for you to link up your giveaways!

This linky will be hosted on 5 blog's giving you the benefit of reaching all of our combined readers. So feel free to check out giveaways and link up your giveaways. We only ask you link directly to your giveaway, any links to your homepage will be removed.

Week 6/04 Featured Host Giveaways:

Just Like June:
$50 Swimppot GC 6/15
Rubbermaid Clean & Dry Plunger US/Can 6/15
Gift Accept GC - up to $35

3 Princes and a Princess 2:
Voda Swimsuit of choice ARV $130 6/12
Trudeau Kitchen Gadgets RV $143 6/19
GoFlex Satellite System RV $199 6/19

Closer To Lucy:
My Wonderful Walls 6/21
Barbar Hair Tools Curling Iron 6/6
Silk Apron (5 Winners) 6/23

That's What She Said:
Nature's Sleep Memory Foam Slippers 6/17

Fabulous Finds For Father's Day - Winner Takes All 6/14

"Hot" Summer Hair with a Barbar 2300 Titanium Ionic Flat Iron

noreply@blogger.com (Pam) — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 04:56:00 +0000

"Arrrgh! Look at my hair!" Many of my conversations with my teenage daughter start with those words. Living in the South, with our high humidity, is not conducive to smooth sleek hair when we are "blessed" with waves and curls. Freshly washed hair can start out with a slight curl and expand to portions worthy of Frankenstein's Bride when we step outside. A Flat Iron, my daughter's Summer BFF, provides relief from the frizzies but often at the price of dull, damaged hair.

I wanted to help her keep the frizzies away and have healthy hair. I have a Barbar Ionic Charge Hairdryer that I love. It has cut my drying time in half and leaves my hair soft and manageable. My previous hair dryer sometimes left me looking like I had stuck my finger into a light socket. After a bit of research and my previous satisfaction with Barbar, I found the Barbar 2300 Titanium Ionic Flat Iron.

I didn't realize the flat iron came enclosed in a protective case. This was a bonus, considering how rough my daughter is on her hair equipment, and will keep it safe while traveling. The digital temperature display was another plus. Not only can she see the temperature, maybe having a digital reading will remind her to turn it off after she is finished! I can not say how many times I have had to go behind her and turn off her flat iron when I smelled a slight burning odor coming from her room. Her excuse? "I forgot it was on." Having the on and off switch on top of the flat iron helps too.

The titanium plates can be used on wet or dry hair, heat up evenly and stay warm longer than ceramic plates. Due to the even heat distribution, the time required to straighten the hair is reduced. The ionic ventilation holes seal in moisture helping to prevent hair damage.

She has been pleased with her new flat iron and the straight shiny hair it has produced. For anyone interested in learning how to have that "movie star glamorous" hair, check out this article on How to Straighten Your Hair with a Flat Iron. Barbar Hair Tools can be found on twitter and facebook. Watch for a chance to win one of these awesome flat irons coming up on June 18th.

I received the above mentioned free product(s) for review purposes. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. I was not asked to provide anything other than my honest opinion.

Fab Finds For Fathers -Marvel's The Avengers USB Drive

noreply@blogger.com (Pam) — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 04:08:00 +0000

Our family was avid viewers of the television program "Who Wants to Be a Superhero?" that debuted on the Sci-Fi channel a few years ago. My kids even invented names of what our family would be if we were superheroes. I believe Bryan was "Work-a-holic Guy" and I was "Medicine Woman." At that time we traveled a lot with Bryan and I always had a handy bag of medicine for any emergency. Sadly, our dreams of becoming Super Heroes did not come true. This year, for Father's Day, I can give Bryan the next best thing- a new Avengers USB drive from Dane-Elec.

These USB drives feature four super heroes; The Hulk, Thor (my personal favorite), Iron Man, and Captain America and hold up to 8 gigabytes of information. We received Thor, who in my humble opinion, is the hunkiest of the Super heroes.

Channel the superhuman speed, agility and reflexes of Thor with the Dane-Elec Avengers USB drive. His keen senses and stamina can keep your data safe from any enemy.

Having teenagers around my house means I am constantly having to move information from one computer to another or store some of their memory sucking programs. The Avengers USB Drive is approximately three inches tall, making it large enough that (so far) my children have not been able to lose it and I can find it in the endless pit that is my purse. It's also withstood the rigors of being batted around by my kitten before I could rescue it. Each drive comes with a five year warranty, a plus in a household with children and pets.

For anyone interested in surprising the man in your life with a slightly different gift, these USB drives are available on Amazon for around $13.85. Just don't let him know if you think one of the super heroes is a hunk!

I received the above mentioned free product(s) for review purposes. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. I was not asked to provide anything other than my honest opinion.

Go Retro With a KitKat Clock

noreply@blogger.com (Pam) — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 04:02:00 +0000

My mom had inherited a classic cat clock when I was a girl. I asked to have it moved into my bedroom, falling asleep each night listening to the rhythmic tick-tick and watching it roll its eyes and twitch its tail. I used it for years before it finally stopped working and its tail, tired from years of wagging back and forth, fell off.

I described the clock to my children, although I don’t think they believed it existed. “If I ever find another cat clock it’s coming home with us!” I informed them. “I will find one!” The kids smiled and nodded, patiently humoring the crazy cat clock lady. After years of searching I discovered the Kit Kat clock company. They’ve been developing the classic Kit Kat clocks since 1932.

These aren't your Grandma's Kit Kat. They come in bright colors like lime green, honeysuckle pink, and wisteria. (Yep, that's the fancy name for purple) They still wiggle their eyes and wag their tail back and forth like the original clocks, but now lady and gentlemen clocks can be purchased. Repair parts are available as well as accessories to customize the clock. What football fan wouldn't want a helmet for their Kit Kat?

We received the 15.5" classic black Kit Kat. When the kids saw it, they remarked that it resembled a certain old cartoon cat. The tail needed to be attached-super easy and took about five seconds- and it needed batteries, but we had the assembled in no time. I was overcome with nostalgia as I watched the tag wiggle and the eyes dart back and forth. My son asked if "Felix" could be placed on his wall. He found a spot he liked, where it could be easily seen from his bed. It adds a retro touch to his decor.

The tail is blurry in the picture below because I snapped the shot in mid swing.

If you want a chuckle, check out the photos and videos posted on the Kit Kat Clock Facebook page.

I received the above mentioned free product(s) for review purposes. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. I was not asked to provide anything other than my honest opinion.

Fab Finds For Father's Day- The Polar Pillow

noreply@blogger.com (Pam) — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Summer nights in the South can be sweltering. Even running the air conditioner doesn't provide relief from the sticky, oppressive heat. I've spent countless nights trying to find a cool spot on my bed, restlessly flipping my smoldering pillow from side to side trying to become comfortable. For years I had a vague wish of owning a pillow that stayed cool, allowing me to relax enough to go to sleep.

Nick Segal, a fellow pillow thumper, made this wish a reality with the invention of the Polar Pillow. Yes, it’s a pillow that actually stays cool! I had my doubts at first and wondered how this pillow could work. Turns out the pillow is filled with twelve pounds of scientifically formulated cooling gel. By absorbing the temperature of the surrounding air, the gel begins to cool within ten seconds of being touched and continues to stay cool for two hours.

I decided to test the pillow as soon as it arrived. I was surprised at how much it weighed and was afraid it would be hard and uncomfortable. Instead, it was much softer than I imagined and began to cool quickly. One of my children had a fever and was complaining about how hot her head felt. I offered her the Polar Pillow. Unsure as to how it worked, she asked if we needed to place it in the fridge after use to allow it to cool again. Nope! When left at room temperature it will be able to work again in as little as thirty minutes. No batteries, set-up, maintenance, electricity, refrigeration, chemicals or water are required to use or rejuvenate the pillow.

The one downside to the pillow is it cannot be thrown in the washing machine, only spot cleaned or hand washed. And, of course, that I didn’t think of the idea myself! Connect with Polar Pillow on twitter and facebook to learn more.

I received the above mentioned free product(s) for review purposes. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. I was not asked to provide anything other than my honest opinion.

Dyson Housewarming Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Pam) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 15:23:00 +0000

Welcome to the Dyson Housewarming Giveaway event. This took months in the making and Mom to Bed by 8, the Iowa Mom is proud to bring you this fantastic home essential and offer you the chance to win one too! Big thank you to our lovely co-hosts How to Have It All, Mark Your Savings and GiveAway Bandit.

Dyson DC23 TurbineHead Canister Vacuum
Delivering 220 airwatts of suction power, this canister vacuum cleaner features advanced Level 3 Root Cyclone technology to ensure thorough, efficient cleaning with no clogging or loss of suction. It also offers a TurbineHead brush bar that's ideal for cleaning medium and short pile carpets and can be turned off for hard floors. Certified asthma and allergy friendly by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, the unit expels air that contains up to 150 times less mold and bacteria than common breathing air thanks to the vacuum's money-saving, lifetime washable HEPA filter. Plus, Dyson's Bactisafe screen traps and kills bacteria, mold and allergens on contact, preventing them from re-entering the air.
The Telescopic Wrap System allows the hose and wand to be compressed, and ensures that the Dyson DC23 can be stored away neatly and compactly, with no loose components or wires to get tangled. It comes with a stair tool for focusing on dust and dirt from stairs and stair carpets, a brush tool with long bristles to dislodge cobwebs and for delicate cleaning, and a high-velocity airflow crevice tool that's ideal for cleaning base boards, picture frames and in-between furniture. Other features include a clear bin with 0.44-gallon capacity, 21.6-foot cord length, and easy-to-maneuver fixed wheels. The vacuum measures 13.9 x 19.3 x 11.9 inches (HxWxD) and weighs 19.5 pounds. The Dyson DC23 TurbineHead is backed by a 5-year warranty.

Open to worldwide, ages 18+. Giveaway ends on June 15^th. Please use the rafflecopter form below to enter. Good luck to all!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fab Finds for Father's - Gift Accept Gift Card (up for grabs)

noreply@blogger.com (Pam) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 04:01:00 +0000

"Did you buy anything for Mom for her birthday?" Bryan asked me a few weeks ago. "No," I replied, "When is it?" "Yesterday," he responded. Uh-oh! I was comforted by the fact that when we took her present my Father in law asked, "Yesterday was your birthday?"

I'm not sure how it happened but over the years I have been delegated the role of purchasing all the gifts for family and friends. Birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, you name it, it's my job. Unless I write the dates on my calendar at the beginning of the year, the birthdays and anniversaries slip up on me. Having to run to the store at the last minute and hunt for a gift they may-or may not- like is a hassle. I like the comforts of shopping from home, in my pajamas if I want, and having the gift delivered straight to my door. Or better yet, delivered straight to their door.

Gift Accept takes the headache out of shopping for gifts. They have a safe, secure site full of gifts in all price ranges and for all occasions. Sure, that sounds nice, but most sites do the same. What makes Gift Accept different is I no longer have to hunt for addresses! I don't even need to have their address. All I need is their email address or facebook name. How does it work?

Select your gift from hundreds of quality items such as flowers, chocolates, jewelry and gourmet gifts. Then we’ll send a message to your friend to let them know you have sent them a gift, and they can confirm their delivery address with Gift Accept. Of course, your information as well as your recipient’s always remains confidential. You can even sync your Facebook contacts and Gift Accept will help you remember special dates, as well as favorite colors, sizes and more.

With Gift Accept synced to my facebook, I won't forget another birthday. Yay, me! I tried the Gift Accept experience and it was fairly simple. I found a gift I wanted to purchase, (selecting was the hardest part) and added it to my cart. The one slight annoyance here was it didn't tell me it had been added to me cart when I clicked. I clicked a couple of times, scrolled to the top of the page and discovered I had two items in my cart.

The checkout process was easy. I selected if the gift was for me or someone else, entered my payment information, and proceeded to check out. Once I looked over everything, I hit checkout and the process was done. The customer service people were polite. I forgot to add my shipping information and only included the billing information. They contacted me quickly, within thirty minutes of submitting my order, to check the information and determine where I wanted to send the package.

I chose the Simply Citrus Gift Basket with a reusable wooden crate as a gift for my kids. I've been encouraging them to make healthy snack choices and this seemed like a great way to get them to eat more fruit. The shipping was a little pricey ($11, but I did order sometime in a wooden crate, and I also had to pay tax of around $1.00)

I have to add a note about the oranges we received. They were shipped quickly and held up well. I was out of town when they arrived so they had to set outside in the 90 degree heat until my husband arrived home and got the package off of the porch. Then, instead of opening it, he left it setting on the table until I came home. After all this, the oranges still looked and tasted fresh. Would I use Gift Accept again? Yes. It's a convenient way to keep in touch with old friends and far off family. Want to learn how you can simplify your gift giving? Connect with Gift Accept on facebook.

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Building a Better Blog- Thanks to #SheCon

noreply@blogger.com (Pam) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Creating a blog is easy; building a blog is difficult. It takes time, perseverance, and focus. I was able to attend the SheCon convention held at Disney World Resort last week-my first conference where I was the only person not connected to the internet-and was blessed to be able to attend the presentation by "Miss Lori" of Miss Lori TV. She challenged us to write a post of what we learned and how we would apply it to our blogs.

She also encouraged us to join in a sing along, but that's a different story! Imagine a group of bloggers glancing nervously at one another and mumbling and you have a picture of us. I hope some of the pointers I received will help others on their blogging journey.

1. Be Professional.
To work with brands and companies we need to present a professional demeanor. That means spell checking our work (sometimes more than once!), proofreading, making sure the clients name and links to their site are correct, communicating clearly with the PR rep, meeting deadlines and following through on promises. We must present ourselves as business people worthy of respect.

2. Network, Network, Network!
To make a name for ourselves we must talk to other bloggers, pr reps, and businesses. Step out of the "comfort zone" and introduce ourselves. Don't be afraid to ask others for help or for suggestions on how to improve your site. Sure, some people will rebuff you, but many others will be happy to give pointers. Join blogger groups and try to be active. (I know, life happens and we can't always do that.) Go to conferences , if possible. I was *nervous* the first morning of SheCon but I introduced myself to others and met some great people who offered me tips I plan to implement in the future.

3. Create Your Brand and Promote It.
What do you plan to accomplish from your site? What do you want to do? What to you plan to feature? If you don't know, no one else will either. Don't let readers and PR reps walk (maybe click is more appropriate?) away from your site confused. Create a clear vision and stick to it. Know what you have to offer and "own" that brand. In my case, it helps to write it down so I can remember!

4. Set Goals for Yourself.
Do you want to be the ultimate travel blogger? The "go to" food blogger? The "must be seen" craft blogger? The review blogger every PR firm and business wants to work with? You can't get there without clear cut goals. Write them down and then think of ways to implement them.

5. You will get discouraged but you can do it!
Does anyone ever have those days when you are so depressed and don't know why you bother to blog? (*Raises hand and waves wildly*) Do you ever have days when you feel like everyone else has better stats, better opportunities, better posts or feel like everyone is against you? (*Still waving hand*) Think of these as challenges to make yourself improve. How can I do that? What do they do that I don't? Brainstorm. Ask friends. Research. Make new goals and write them down. Ignore haters and focus on what you have accomplished and what you will accomplish. (Yep, that's the hardest one.) As Miss Lori explained in her speech, "There is always a way forward. It doesn't have to be straight through."

6. Stay True to Yourself.
Don't compromise your moral standards and values to get ahead. Nice guys can finish first. (I know, I know, that doesn't always seem true but I have to believe it anyway.)

Have you attended a blogger conference? What was the best advice you received from a conference or from a bloggy friend?

Bingo-Gaming Gone Global

noreply@blogger.com (Pam) — Thu, 31 May 2012 18:36:00 +0000

Have I mentioned how much my son loves online games? Maybe only once, twice, or a thousand times. He saved his Christmas and Birthday money to purchase membership to a couple of online game sites. Sometimes when I hear barking I look outside to find what has upset the neighbor’s dog. It usually turns out to be my son’s guard dog on his game. That’s usually the time I decide to boot him outside!

Online gaming has become serious business around the world. According to the NPD group 62% of all gamers play games online . PC and Mac users averaged about six hours of game time per week. If this were my son and he were allowed to do so, he would spend six hours a day playing online games. I suppose this could be considered our fault he loves online games so much. When he was younger, we loved to spend family game night on the computer playing Sorry or Oregon Trail. My son especially loved the Oregon Trail game because something always managed to happen to his sister when he was in charge of the wagon. She usually drowned, got snake bit or disappeared. He never bothered to send a search party to look for her.

Because I hadn’t been able to play online games in a while, I didn’t realize how many games were available. There’s simulation games,where I can find my own sheep, goat or dog, puzzle games to stimulate my brain, games in every genre imaginable, and even online Bingo games. If I have a free minute between chasing the kids and pets, running errands or chores, I can click onto The Bingo Palace to try my hand at one of their Bingo games. I didn’t know there were so many types of bingo available.

For anyone interested in trying online Bingo, The Bingo Palace has a $5 sign up bonus going on now as well as deposit bonuses of up to 300 percent. There's even a chat group for Bingo fans and daily specials. Free games are available for us casual gamers. I wonder if I will hit the jackpot?

Do you have a favorite online game?

Fabulous Finds For Father's Day Super Giveaway Event #CMM

noreply@blogger.com (Pam) — Thu, 31 May 2012 04:59:00 +0000

Do you dread Father's Day because you can never find the perfect gift? The Collective Media Magic team, Closer To Lucy, Have Sippy Will Travel, Just Like June, 3 Princes and a Princess 2, and That's What She Said, have found awesome gifts for any dad. Whether he's high tech, healthy, or laid back, we've got a gift that's sure to please. Join us and our friends as we make dads feel like a king!

One Grand Prize Winner will receive a prize pack of the following items valued at approximately $500:

A Linksy EA2700 wireless router Router with unrivaled speed (value $109) -winner cannot have won a Linksy router in the last six months

A copy of Microsoft 2010 (value $119)

An Eat Smart Retro Food Scale (value $40)

A Cafe Press Gift Certificate (value $50)

A Pair of Shoes for Crews of Choice (no price limit on the pair of shoes! $100 value)
Plus Work Out Gear and a Series of Books For Dads (value $30)

The Fabulous Finds For Father's Day Event will begin at 12:01 AM May 31st and end at 11:59 June 14th. Contest Open to US only due to company shipping restrictions.

Read more »

Smart Shopping with June- Quick Couponing Tip #4

noreply@blogger.com (Pam) — Thu, 31 May 2012 04:01:00 +0000

Using coupons is an excellent way to save money. Getting products for free is even better. Most stores allow you to "stack" coupons. This simply means you can combine a manufacturers coupon with a store coupon for maximum savings.

For example: I found Kotex liners on sale for $1.99. Using a manufacturers coupon I was able to save $1.00, making the total 99 cents. Then I combined a store coupon for $1 off to make my liner free. I also had a store coupon for a free Lady Speed Stick when I purchased a Kotex liner, allowing me to get both items for free.

Quick Couponing Tip #4- Combine a store coupon with a manufacturers coupon for maximum savings.
Note: Be sure the store coupon is not a manufacturers coupon but says "Store Coupon: Redeemable at whatever store only." Manufacturers coupons will have "manufacturers coupon" on top. Stores do not allow 2 manufacturers coupons on the same item.

"Hot" Summer Fashion with SwimSpot (up for grabs)

noreply@blogger.com (Pam) — Wed, 30 May 2012 04:56:00 +0000

Summer is a mixed bag for me. I love the warm weather, the chance to spend time outdoors playing with the kids and at the pool. No, scratch that. As much as I like to swim, I dislike wearing a bathing suit because I don't like the top of my legs. I usually wear a t-shirt over my suit that covers my legs, but this year I wanted to "take the plunge" and "wade out of the shallow end" with a nice bathing suit.

I wasn't sure what I wanted. I knew it had to be something flattering, something that covered the tops of my legs, and something that didn't look matronly. I began my search by browsing through the designs at Swim Spot. I could search by color, body type, style, price, designer swimsuits, hot trends or price. Then, I discovered the Bikini Builder option. I could match tops and bottoms from different brands, sizes and styles to create an unique look designed especially for me.

I chose a tankini top from the Good Kharma line and paired it with the Next Chiseled Swim Shorts. Chic, stylish, and covers the tops of my legs. I received tips for the perfect suit for my body type (pear) by reading the online style tips and watching a short video designed for pears, which suggested I go with wide necklines and solid colored bottoms.

Okay, I couldn't resist this two toned bottom, but part of it will be covered with the tankini top. If I hadn't been able to make a decision using the style tips I could have called or emailed for a one on one consultation with a personal fit specialist whose goal is to make sure I look good this swim season!

Since this suit is so versatile, I included some of the mix and match looks I could create (if I ever decided to bare the tops of my legs). I could any of these styles with the pieces above to take my suit in an entirely new direction.

Here's to the summer when I finally shed my t-shirt and enjoy wearing a "real" swimsuit. I'm not ready to take a picture of me wearing the swimsuit and posting it on my site but I can wear it at our neighbor's pool. She won't believe it is me!

Want to create your one of of a kind mix and match swimsuit creation? Visit SwimSpot or connect with them on facebook and twitter. SwimSpot also sells cover ups and cute suits for girls.

Win It!
One person will receive a $50 SwimSpot gift certificate.

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Disciplines of A Godly Young Man by A. Kent Hughes and W. Carey Hughes

noreply@blogger.com (Pam) — Wed, 30 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Raising teenagers in today's world is tough. They face so many challenges that I don’t remember facing when I was a teen. Sure, there were the “usual” teen temptations- alcohol and drugs, that would have been easily assessable for me. Today, things seem harder. With the internet and cell phones allowing people to connect to anyone, anywhere, and anytime, teens know more than I ever did! My oldest daughter is constantly explaining the new culture to her father and me. As a mom, I try to encourage open discussion and honest communication with my kids-even when it is topics I’d rather not discuss or things I don’t really want to hear.

As part of the Crossway.org children’s book review program, I was sent Disciplines of A Godly Young Man by R. Kent Hughes & his son, W. Carey Hughes. The book is divided into four sections, relationships, soul, character, and ministry and discussed Biblical viewpoints regarding these traits.

The character section caught my eye immediately, discussing the values of work, perseverance, and watching what one says. I’ve spent a lot of time over the years trying to teach my children, “If you don’t have something nice to say about someone, don’t say anything at all.” It’s a lesson for the entire family. I slip up sometimes myself as my children are quick to point out to me! The section on friendship contains lessons for us all. To have friends we must be accepting of others, a good listener, be friendly, and offer affirmation to others.

Each chapter in the book includes a “Food For Thought” section with questions designed to help the reader mull over the information discussed and an “application” section asking questions on how the reader can apply the knowledge to their life. Interested in reading an excerpt? Read it here.

I received the above mentioned free product(s) for review purposes. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. I was not asked to provide anything other than my honest opinion.

Snacking, Baking, or Breakfast with Honey Bunches of Oats (Up for Grabs!)

noreply@blogger.com (Pam) — Tue, 29 May 2012 04:58:00 +0000

"I don't want it." That's the statement my children usually greet me with when I try to tempt them to eat breakfast. Never mind breakfast is the most important meal of the day, never mind that children who eat breakfast perform better in school. "I'm not hungry" or "I can't eat this early in the morning," is their mantra. I've found the easiest way to get them motivated to eat breakfast is to keep a box of cereal on hand. It's fast, it's light, and it's tasty.

Bryan was the one who discovered Honey Bunches of Oats. Searching for something different for breakfast, he found a box of the Honey Bunches of Oats with Strawberries and was hooked. He asked me to purchase a box every week. Not being a fan of having strawberries in my cereal, I switched to a rotation of the cinnamon bunches,the honey roasted and the almond varieties. With ten different blends of Honey Bunches of Oats, we can switch them up and not grow bored.

Each blend of Honey Bunches of Oats contains 10 grams of whole grains per servings, and 0 grams of transfat, saturated fat, and cholesterol. For someone, like Bryan, who is watching his diet, this offers a healthy breakfast choice. While I've been discussing breakfast, Honey Bunches of Oats can be used as the basis of any meal or for snacks. Crush the cereal into pieces and use it as a coating for homemade chicken nuggets or fish fillets. Try it for a topping on pineapple or sweet potato casseroles. The list is endless.

Here's a money saving tip: Each box of cereal always has a small amount left that is not enough for a serving. Place the leftovers into a container and store in the freezer. Use it as a topping for parfaits or ice cream. Want to discover new ways to use cereal? Check out the recipes here.

Win It!
One person will receive 2 coupons for a free box of Honey Bunches Of Oats in the flavor of your choice.

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Cooking With June--Hashbrown Casserole

noreply@blogger.com (Pam) — Tue, 29 May 2012 04:57:00 +0000

In the South, the casserole is a staple at dinners with the extended family, potlucks, church dinners, and for casual entertaining. This Hash Brown Casserole is my Mother in Law's version. It's frequently requested by her sons and her grandchildren and often makes an appearance at family meals.

Ingredients
1 bag (26 -30 ounces) of shredded hash browns
2 cups of shredded colby cheese
1/2 cup beef broth
1/4 cup of chopped onions
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425°F. Melt butter or margarine and mix in milk, broth, salt, pepper, and onion. Heat hash browns in a skillet and fold in shredded cheese until melted. Combine hash brown mixture with the butter mixture and pour into a greased baking dish. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until done.

Take Over Tuesday Social Media Hop ~ Gaining Followers In All The Right Places ~ #CMM

noreply@blogger.com (Pam) — Tue, 29 May 2012 02:54:00 +0000

Welcome to

Take Over Tuesday Social Media Hop

Gain Friends and Followers

In All The Right Places

Your Hostesses are:

Closer to Lucy

Have Sippy Will Travel

3 Princes and a Princess 2

Just Like June

That's What She Said

Southern Stay At Home Momma

<a href="http://www.closertolucy.com/"><img src="http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj112/crystalpw/Image2-3.jpg"/></a>

Add your link to any or all of the Social Media Follow Groups below! Follow as many people as you would like and be certain to leave a comment on their page to let them know you are a fan!

Please be certain to follow your hostesses. Your presence and participation is appreciated and we will always follow you back!

We'd love for you to grab the Take Over Tuesday button to display on your site!

The more the merrier!

Welcome to our Guest Hostess for this week's edition ~

Caitlin of

Southern Stay At Home Momma

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Get Unclogged with a Rubbermaid Clean & Dry Plunger (up for grabs US & Canada)

noreply@blogger.com (Pam) — Mon, 28 May 2012 04:55:00 +0000

Gurgle, gurgle, splash! When I hear that noise and looked up to see my sink and dishwasher overflowing with murky water I knew I was in trouble. Somehow the drain pipes connecting my washing machine, sink, and other pipes had became clogged. For two days, until we could resolve the problem, I would stand in the laundry room, leaving a kid positioned by the kitchen sink, and attempt to turn on my washer. This would inevitably be followed by shouts of, "It's overflowing again! Turn it off!" From this experience and other similar ones, I have had plenty of experience using a plunger.

Using a plunger is not a pleasant experience. It drips nasty water around the floor, which I have to clean. I don't even want to think about the germs and bacteria present in the water! I was asked to try the new Clean & Dry plunger from Rubbermaid. I was quick to agree since I was in desperate need of a new plunger. My old plunger had been borrowed and never returned. Bryan had picked up a cheap one that turned inside out when I tried to suction anything, leaving me fuming and with clogged toilets.

he Clean & Dry Plunger is covered with NeverWet coating, a protective shield water cannot penetrate. The water rolls off the plunger, similar to a car that has been waxed, preventing germ and bacteria buildup or water spilling onto the floor. One note- the coating will react to the natural oils found in skin and decrease its effectiveness. It's important not to touch the coating.

I haven't had any clogs (thank goodness!) since I received the plunger. Instead, I tested it to see if it lived up to its claims to repel water. I found the water rolled off the plunger and didn't drip onto my floor. My son spent some time attaching the plunger to various objects around the house and lifting them off the ground to determine its suction power. This was completely unsolicited by me, by the way, he decided it would be fun to try. My daughter was less impressed. "Is that plunger clean?" she demanded. From the amount of objects he picked up, the plunger seemed to have plenty of suctioning power.

Rubbermaid has products for every room in the home, garage, and outdoors. Need help organizing? Try their new Ask the Organizer for professional advice.

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Enjoy the Party with New Limited Edition Tostitos Thins

noreply@blogger.com (Pam) — Mon, 28 May 2012 04:54:00 +0000

Is there anything worse than having hungry teenagers swooping down to devour all the food in the kitchen? In case you wondered, the answer is yes. It's having hungry teenagers who plod through the kitchen, digging in the cabinets and complaining, "I'm so hungry! We don't have anything to eat!" I try to keep snacks on hand for when the munchies strike.

The kids love chips and salsa so I heard no complaints when we were offered a chance to try the new limited edition Tostitos Thins. We received four bags of Tostitos but I didn't get to them before the gang of teenagers descended like locusts, devouring chips in large quantities. (Note to self-make pictures as soon as the chips arrive in the future!)

The two new flavors are Lime & Salt Thins and Tex-Mex Thins. These are thinner than traditional Tostitos and work well for dipping. The Tex Mex chips were a kid crowd pleaser. They had a cheesy topping that would compliment bean dips, guacamole, and thick n' chunky salsa. The Lime & Salt Thins appealed more to the adults. The lime flavor was prominent and would be good paired with Pico de Gallo, or a freshly made salsa. If you enjoy margaritas this would be a good chip to serve with drinks.

Need a Pico de Gallo recipe to go with your chips? Here’s one I use.

Ingredients:

4 chopped plum tomatoes

½ cup chopped onion

1 chopped jalapeno pepper

¼ cup chopped cilantro

Sea salt and freshly ground pepper

1 to 2 teaspoons lime juice, freshly squeezed is best

Directions:

Combine the tomatoes, onions, pepper, cilantro, lime juice. Add salt and pepper to taste. Chill until serving.

These chips are only available for a limited time so pick up a package to enjoy today. They'd be great for Summer picnic, bar-b-ques, and lazy days by the pool. Just hide them from the teenagers so you can enjoy them!

I received the above mentioned free product(s) for review purposes. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. I was not asked to provide anything other than my honest opinion.

From Drab to Fab with Allegra #Clearbeauty #Cbias #SocialFabric

noreply@blogger.com (Pam) — Mon, 28 May 2012 00:45:00 +0000

Sniff. Sniff. Snort. That's how a typical Spring day in our house sounds. Living in the 7th worst city in the country for pollen and allergies (we've dropped down two!) means stepping outside to a yellow world. Everything is covered with a coat of pollen thick enough to turn anything unlucky enough to be in its path yellow. The entire family has been lying low, feeling miserable and looking, to put it nicely, rough. Red, swollen, watery eyes and noses had given us a slightly haggard appearance. I spent most of my time trying to find a time when no one was looking to rub my itchy nose.

Definitely Drab

My daughter and I were about to leave for SheCon. We needed a mini makeover to camouflage our appearance and some allergy relief stat! We made a list of the items we needed- I wanted mascara and my daughter had a list that seemed to expand as we talked. "I need foundation! Oh, and nail polish! Maybe some eye liner. Lip gloss would be good too."

Since I am all about saving money, I couldn't leave until I printed out my coupon match ups and extra care buck deals to check out which makeup was on sale. Finally, list and coupons in hand, we headed out to the nearest CVS.

For anyone who's new to CVS shopping, here's a quick tip. Be sure to scan the extra care card at the red coupon machine located near the front of the store. The machine automatically prints coupons geared toward the individual cardholder. We received a $3 off of $10 cosmetics purchase. Score!

We found a super deal on Allegra that's happening during the month of May. The 30 count package was $17.99. Using a $5 off coupon I found in the Sunday paper brought my total down to $12.99. The clincher was the $3 extra bucks to be used on a future purchase offered for buying Allegra. The store brand had a 15 count package that was a couple dollars less than what I paid for an entire month's supply. Go me! Save money! (Yes, I'm doing the happy dance. Imagine me prancing around the house, waving my arms and singing.)

After my daughter sneezed loudly throughout the store-causing other shopper to practically flee from us in panic- I added some tissues to our beauty makeover kit. Although the Allegra package said it was non drowsy formula, I wanted until night time to try it. I didn't want to be stumbling around in the daytime, barely able to stay awake. I've had allergy medicines that were supposed to be non drowsy that had my looking for the nearest pillow.

Our Allergy Makeover Kit

We have tested the Allegra for several days. The package said we could see results in an hour, which seemed correct. I no longer stayed hidden, scratching my nose and hoping no one would see because it didn't itch and I no longer had the Rudolph look. What's absolutely adorable on reindeer is not cute on me!

I earned $6 in extrabucks on my shopping trip!

We experimented with the new makeup and came away looking polished and poised. Our one fashion don't was the buttercup nail polish. It looked so pretty in the bottle but looked like we had contracted a toenail fungus when we gave ourselves a pedicure. The yellow polish on the toes look was not for us!

Looking Fab

We finished our day feeling better, looking better, and saving money. It was a fairy tale ending for us all!
Want to learn more about allergy relief? Connect with Allegra on twitter and facebook or check out their Allergy Makeover Game.

See our complete shopping trip, how we earned extra bucks and went from drab to fab in our google plus story.

I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™. All opinions are my own. #cbias #socialfabric #clearbeauty

"Hot" Summer Fashion- Body Wrap Cinch & Lift Cami

noreply@blogger.com (Pam) — Sun, 27 May 2012 04:53:00 +0000

My must have "one stop" Summer Wardrobe staple is a camisole. They're great for layering and are incredibly versatile, making them essential for any traveler. Camis can be dressed up for evening , worn under a business suit with only the top peeking out , or mixed and matched with a casual outfit or jeans. I try to keep a black cami in my wardrobe year round.

The Cinch and Lift camisole from Body Wrap takes the Cami to a new level. It's available in two colors-nude and black and sizes small to extra large. Sizes are also available for fuller figures. The nude Cami, invisible under clothing, is great to wear under those thin white cotton shirts that invade my wardrobe each summer.

What's so different about this cami instead of a normal tank top? It has a seamless underwire bra built in that holds everything in place. The cami has a control panel in the front to smooth and flatten the tummy. The material, designed from 75% Polyamide and 25% Elastane, makes it stretchable, but the tension in the fabric prevents any bulges. Add adjustable straps and it not only fits great but it comfortable too.

This seamless shapewear line has been designed to offer today's women the support they need to reveal their assets and feel beautiful and desirable, whether it's for a night out or all day long. Body Wrap® will give you immediate visible results, creating the illusion of a slimmer, firmer, younger, sexier, well-toned figure.

Most shape wear requires special care, delicate hand washing and lying flat for drying. The time requirement required for care limits the amount I can wear it The Cinch and Lift camisole can be machine washed so I can wear it whenever I want.

Find out more about Body Wrap and their shape wear solutions on facebook and twitter. Do you have a favorite item of shape wear?