ToiletTree Professional Skin Care System Review and Giveaway (US and Canada)!

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ToiletTree products, a leading designer and manufacturer of innovative bath products, has introduced a Water-Resistant Professional Skin Care Face and Body Brush. It was designed to be a highly effective and affordable alternative to more expensive systems sold by skin care professionals. The brush comes with four interchangeable rotating heads that cleanse and exfoliate from head to toe.

Skin Care System Features and Benefits:

• 2 face brushes (1 soft for sensitive skin, 1 medium for normal skin), 1 large body brush, 1 pumice sphere for tough foot skin
•  Battery operated (4 AA batteries included with purchase)
• Water-resistant strap design allows for use in the shower
• Available in 6 colors: pink, purple, green, blue, gray and black
• Reduces the appearance of problem areas, such as dead skin cells, oily skin, dry patches, fine lines, blemishes, visible pores, blackheads, and wrinkles
•  Stimulates skin renewal and improves overall skin clarity and appearance
• Cleans deep to help remove stubborn makeup
• Enhances absorption of moisturizers

Review: I have seen similar items advertised and, since I am prone to breakouts, have been very intrigued by these skin care systems. I love that everything you need is included, right down to the batteries. It is also great that it is shower safe so I hung the unit right on the hook of our fog-free shower mirror. The brushes really created a nice massage for your skin. The attachments were so easy to take off and put on that even my 7 year-old daughter was able to do it (and loved to use the system to "massage" her face).  It seemed to do a really good job getting rid of dry patches and felt amazing. I did observe, however, that it seemed to stimulate oil production on my face so I needed to follow up with a toner and repairing cream that I use for acne prevention because I was worried I would have a break-out (which did not happen when I used the combination). My favorite attachment was the pumice sphere - it did a great job of smoothing my feet and was much less rough that just using a standard stone. If you have been wanting to try a skin care system like this, then you can't go wrong with the ToiletTree Professional Skin Care System which works great, has more attachments than others I have seen, and is very reasonably priced! 

Buy it here: You can purchase the ToiletTree Skin Care System for $39.99 from  Amazon

Connect Here: 

Twitter: @ToiletTreeProd

Facebook: ToiletTreeProducts

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/toilettreeprod/

Newsletter sign up: http://eepurl.com/BJwXf

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*I was provided with the above mentioned products for the purpose of facilitating this review. ALL opinions expressed are my own. 

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CVS Gold Emblem & Total Home Line Review

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I have been more and more impressed with CVS over the past few years. Not only are they the only pharmacy I use, their line of store brand products gets better and better all the time. Their Gold Emblem line offers a fabulous assortment of delicious, affordable snacks that exclude MSG and trams- fats whenever possible. More recently, they launched a NEW home care line - Total Home - which offers reliable options at 15-20% savings compared to national brands. 

I was able to sample some amazing products recently from the Gold Emblem and Total Home line. The selection came at a great time because we were leaving the following day for our family vacation to Boston and I was so thrilled to have a selection of goodies from the Gold Emblem line to take along. Not a single item disappointed!

• The Gold Emblem Mediterranean Apricots were so delicious. I have found that dried fruit tends to lose a lot of its flavor, but this was not the case for these. They were so flavorful that this was truly the next best thing to eating a fresh apricot. Since carrying fresh fruit was not easy on vacation, this was a perfect, satisfying substitute. 
• My family fell instantly for the Gold Emblem Raspberry Shortbread Cookies. Raspberry shortbread is one of my favorite cookie flavors and I thought the combination was perfected until CVS smartly decided to add a layer of cream to the inside of the cookie - genius! These were so tasty and really helped satisfy a sweet tooth.
• I make spinach and berry salads almost every day for myself and my son. I usually top them with almonds, but I ran out and decided to improvise with the Gold Emblem Select Natural Granola. Smart move - this combination on top of my spinach, strawberries, and blueberries was outstanding! In fact, my son has asked that we substitute with the granola from now on since he was not a huge fan of the almonds. 
• I don't drink soda at all anymore and drink water 90% of the time. There are times, however, when I would like something with a little more flavor. The Gold Emblem Sparkling Fruit Burst had a fresh strawberry-kiwi taste. It is a nice alternative to soda, but I will probably just stick with regular water because of my own personal decision to avoid artificial sweeteners. It was, however, tasty so I would recommend giving it a try.

From the Total Home line, I was able to review the Antibacterial Moist Wipes and Premium Dinner Napkins. The napkins were thick, yet soft and really were able to take quite a bit of abuse and still stay in one piece. They were much stronger than my current brand so I would have no problem switching over. I used the Antibacterial Moist Wipes to not only clean and sanitize my hands on the go (Boston subways must just be crawling with germs!) and also found them quite useful with my Bulldog. She has quite a few wrinkles that need regularly cleaned or they can get infected. These wipes allowed me to do double duty: clean the dirt and kill germs to fight infection. I am sure CVS did not have that in mind when they made these wipes but they worked well! 

Buy it here: You can purchase these products from your local CVS and online from CVS.com.

*I was provided with the above mentioned products as a CVS Taste Maker. All views expressed are my own. 

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Get Stuffed Burger Challenge Submission: The All American Hot Rod Burger

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I love doing food reviews and challenges and often try to engage my family to no avail. However, I was pleasantly surprised when my husband teamed up with me to enter the Get Stuffed Burger Challenge...and he took the mission very seriously. He flips classic cars for a living and after we invented the burger, he decided to name our creation The All American Hot Rod Burger to capture the classic American ingredients and highlight the zest and spice to the burger...and he really wanted to photograph the burger on his Hot Rod!

All American Hot Rod Burger (Makes 2)

Ingredients:
1/2 pound of lean ground beef
1/8 teaspoon garlic
1/8 teaspoon Worcestershire powder
pinch of salt 
pinch of pepper
pinch of cracked black peppercorn1 mini red sweet pepper, chopped
1 mini yellow sweet pepper, chopped
1 mini orange sweet pepper, chopped
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
2 strips of precooked or cooked bacon
4 chopped mushrooms
2 slices of pepper jack cheese
2 kaiser rolls
preferred burger toppings

Instructions: 
Mix the lean ground beef with garlic, Worcestershire powder, salt, pepper, and peppercorn by hand until spices are well blended into the beef. 
Using the Good Cook Burger Press, place a little more than 1/2 of the burger meat into the press and flatten. Create a pocket and add chopped fillings and cheese. Press the remaining beef onto the top.
Cook on a grill or the Good Cook Cast Iron Grill until cooked through.
Serve on a kaiser bun with preferred toppings. This burger tastes great with a mayo/ketchup combo, onions, lettuce, and tomato. 
 

Stuffed Burger Press Review:  I am not a huge beef eater, but I was very excited to try this burger stuffer. The Stuffer was made of three pieces of very sturdy, thick plastic. The cylinder has marks on it indicating the size of the burger (e.g., quarter pound) so you don't have to use a kitchen scale. It is so easy to use.  You simply place a little over 1/2 of the meat in the cylinder attached to the bottom and press it with the top part until it is flat. You then flip the top piece over and the smaller end is then used to press a pocket into the meat so you can add your fillings. Then top with the remaining beef and press again. It makes a perfect patty and it looks restaurant-quality by the time it is all put together. We enjoyed experimenting with different fillings (I made a bacon, swiss, and spinach burger). It was so easy to use that our children were even able to make their own burgers. We also received an awesome Cast Iron Grill which I LOVED. I have never learned how to use our barbecue and am not a huge fan of the chemicals that are added to your food when you barbecue so this was perfect for me. The burgers grilled up so nicely and it was really easy to clean. I think this pan will cause me to say "how did I ever live without this" very soon.

Buy it here: You can buy these and other Good Cook burger tools from the Good Cook website. Plus, you can save 25% when you enter the code: BurgerLovers

Connect here: You can follow Good Cook on Twitter and Facebook.

Enter to win a Good Cook Burger Stuffing Kit! You can win a burger stuffing kit of your own by going to GoodCook.com and placing your vote for your favorite stuffed burger beginning 9/3 and daily through 9/17.  My burger will be featured so I would so appreciate it if you would vote for the All American Hot Rod Burger! 

*I was provided with the above mentioned products in order to participate in this Get Stuffed Burger Challenge and to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

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Pear Tree Greetings Review and Giveaway!

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If you have been following my blog for awhile then you may know that the reason I started decorating cakes is because I love throwing birthday parties for my kids.  From the invitation to the cake, everything is themed and aimed to please both my children and our guests. This year, my daughter is having an Ice Cream themed party - complete with a sundae bar! So, I was very excited when I had the opportunity to review some party invitations from Pear Tree Greetings. 

Pear Tree Greetings is a Minnesota-based company that celebrates life's sharable moments with a collection of uniquely personal, high quality greetings and stationary.  This year, the company has been very busy creating new and memorable baby announcements and kids' birthday party invitations.  They also offer an assortment of gift ideas under $40, including custom notepads, personalized kids placemats, coloring books, and more.

Review: I was so happy to see that Pear Tree Greetings offers an ice cream themed party invitation so I quickly went to work to personalize the invite. "Work" is probably not an accurate term to use because the process was so easy. When you find the invitation you want to use, the program walks you right through personalizing it and the process took me only about 5 minutes.  My invitations arrived just days after placing the order and I was very pleased with the outcome. They were printed on heavy cardstock and came with envelopes. I loved the contrast between the brown ice cream and the adorable argyle design in the background. It is really easy to read and I am certain the party guests will recognize the theme instantly!


  
 Refer a Friend , Save Money, and Help a Great Cause: Pear Tree Greetings recently launched a new program to benefit a great cause. Refer a friend when ordering products from Pear Tree and earn $20 for you, $20 for your friend, and $20 for CaringBridge, the nonprofit communications hub used for families in crisis. You can earn a $20 credit through my account by setting up an account through this link.

Win it here:

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*I received the above mentioned product in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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WEXY Eco-Friendly Lunch & Munch Bags Review

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Trying to pack affordable snacks while making sure to be mindful of the environment is something that is both very important, yet challenging for me. I watched a documentary about the negative effects of plastic on the environment and I have been trying to reduce the use of bags ever since. This has proven to be a real challenge when it comes to packing lunches. When I heard about WEXY's eco-friendly bags, I just knew I had to try them out. 

Check out all the great features of these fabulous little bags:

• BPA free
• Biodegradable
• 28 bags per box (made from 100% recycled paperboard)
• Made in the USA
• Features 4 fun monster designs

Review: The last few years I shopped and packed for convenience. I would buy individually packaged items so I could just grab and stuff the snacks into a lunch bag. There are a few problems with this: it is an expensive alternative to buying a larger package and dividing up the snacks into single servings, it involves much more packaging, and these snacks are usually unhealthy. So, this year I have made a commitment to purchasing healthier snacks and packaging individually. The WEXY bags have already come in handy! 

The monster design is really adorable and I love the bright colors. They are a perfect size for a variety of snacks and even sandwiches. They have a zipper/lock seal that is seamless to zip and also very easy to pull back apart so I don't have to worry about having my kids struggle with opening their foods at lunch time. Of course, I love that they are functional and the fact that they are biodegradable and eco-friendly makes these that much more special!  

So, what was the first thing that I packed for my daughter? Celery! Healthy food....check.   Environmental responsibility....check. I feel good about myself today!

Buy it here: You can purchase WEXY bags from Amazon.

Disclaimer:

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

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The Ultimate Life Blog App and Giveaway!

Between the pressure of running a foundation started by his late grandfather, being sued by his greedy extended family, and seeing his beloved Alexia leave on an extended mission trip to Haiti, Jason Stevens' world is unraveling. But when Jason discovers a journal that his grandfather began as a Depression-era lad, his writings transport Jason on an incredible rags-to-riches ride. With everything he loves hanging in the balance, Jason hopes he can discover The Ultimate Life.

Opening in theaters September 6, The Ultimate Life (the sequel to The Ultimate Gift) reminds us some things are worth more than money! 

The Ultimate Life Blog App: Take the quiz to find out if YOU are Living Life to the Fullest! Read six great ways to start living the ultimate life NOW, as written by Jim Stovall, author of The Ultimate Life book. And watch the official trailer for this inspiring movie!

The Ultimate Life Giveaway:

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The assets included within this message were delivered to me to promote The Ultimate Life

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Fruit of the Loom Review

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Not only is this a good time of year to stock up on back to school supplies and new clothes, it is also a good time to replace all those undergarments that have probably been through a lot over the past couple of seasons. Fruit of the Loom wants to remind you that this is a great time to make sure that tees, undies, and socks are also updated. With the way my kids are growing, I need to replace their undergarments almost seasonally!

Fruit of the Loom is helping you get more bang for your buck by offering seasonal bonus packs. With one, two, or even three extra items  per pack – complete with a diverse selection of colors, patterns, and style options – kids and teens have a chance to express themselves with the first thing they put on in the morning.  Included in this promotion are:

• Boys White Crew (5+3 free pack)
• Boys Boxer Briefs (5+3 free pack)
• Girls Cotton Briefs (5+3 free pack)
• Girls Cotton Hipster (9+3 free pack)
• Men's Easy Care V-neck (5+1 free pack)
• Men's Boxer Briefs (4+2 free pack)
• Ladies' Lowrise Bikini (6+2 free pack)
• Ladies' Cotton Hipster (6+2 free pack)

Review: Updating some undergarments was way overdue for my family so I was very excited to have the opportunity to review some Fruit of the Loom products. My son received a packet of White Crew undershirts and my husband received some Boxer Briefs. My son, Jack, tends to go through undershirts quicker than almost any other clothing item. He wears them to bed most nights and often wears them under clothes during the winter. Between stains, shrinking, and his growth spurts I can never have enough.  We have been buying another brand for the past couple of years and I have always been a bit disappointed with how much they shrunk in the washer and how they lose their softness after a few washes. The Fruit of the Loom undershirts; however, shrunk less and maintained their shape and softness after washing. He said they were very comfortable and he even started wearing these around the house when we had lazy weekends.

My husband really needed new underwear.  He has needed some for a long time and told me multiple times that he needed more. Perhaps it was my desire to help him learn how to shop on his own or a little bit of passive-aggressiveness because I am not sure when "household underwear shopper" became part of my job description, but I have let him wear some pretty beat up underwear for a while now (come on, I know I am not the only wife out there who has done something similar). He has a bad back so it is  critical that the underwear not only fit him well, but are also comfortable around the waist band as this is wear he had multiple back surgeries.  He told me that these underwear were extremely comfortable and did not bother his back at all. Well, looks like when I do give in to my "household underwear shopper" duties, I at least know which brand to buy!

Buy it here: You can find these bonus packs of Fruit of the Loom items at your local Walmart.

*I was provided with the above mentioned products for the purpose of facilitating this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Repurposing Left Over Buttercream - Cookie Cake Time!

I had quite a bit of buttercream left over from the Subway Surfer cake I made last week. Rather than tossing it, I surprised my kiddos with a cookie cake to celebrate their return to school. Since I still had the frosting in decorating bags (I like to keep them on hand until the cake is delivered in case of touch up needs and never got around to tossing them) decorating took me only minutes. I used a bagged cookie mix so this was a super easy and delicious treat! 

By the way, after the last few days of summer spent listening to my kids bicker and argue over every last little thing, I was totally ready for them to go back to school! How about you? If you are loving the adorable signs my kids are holding, check out my Hallmark back to school giveaway and enter to win a set of your own!

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Carmex Moisture Plus Review

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Carmex^® is giving smart lip care a fashion makeover with the launch of Carmex Moisture Plus^® limited edition designs, a slim-stick lip balm line that presents a fashion-forward exterior while providing the legendary moisturizing formula of Carmex. The new line will help keep lips healthy, protected and glamorous while appealing to an array of personal styles. The line features limited edition designs and named personalities to match, including Chic in houndstooth, Fab in a groovy retro look, Adventurous in a leopard print and Whimsical in an art deco design. The brand is asking consumers, “Which personality are you?”

Review: I have become a real fan and brand loyalist of Carmex over the past couple of years and I was excited to learn about these fabulous lip balms in fashionable designs. I do not typically wear lip stick because I don't like the thick, caked-on feel but my lips are frequently dry so I love lip balms. The Carmex Moisture Plus products leave your lips feeling extremely moist and soft. Not only do they feel great, but it adds a slight shine that makes my lips look really healthy. I found the length of wear was comparable to most other similar products and while I did have to reapply throughout the day, each time was a treat for my lips.  Plus, it was fun to pull the bright and fun lip balms out throughout the day - it spoke to my inner youth!

*I received a sample in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Easy Canvas Prints Review & Giveaway!

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Canvas photos has become very popular and they can be a great way to commemorate an event, update your family picture, and they make an amazing gift for someone. Easy Canvas Prints offers great canvas photos that are great for decorating. Their canvas prints are printed and stretched in-house by their canvas professionals, and come ready to hand or display with a classic semi-gloss finish. You just choose your canvas size and wrap thickness, upload your pictures or art, and choose your border for a personalized canvas print of your own.

Review:  It was time for a new family photo and since my mom got married this summer, we had some really great pictures of us dressed up to the nines.  So, I decided to make a canvas of us and found the process to be very quick and easy. Easy Canvas Prints has an easy-to-use canvas print designer. After selecting your size and canvas wrap thickness, you upload your picture. You can upload from your computer, Facebook, or Instagram. The designer lets you know instantaneously if your photo is of a high enough quality to be enlarged and placed on canvas so you don't have to worry about getting a blurry or pixelated picture back! The upload only took seconds. Since I am a very impatient person, I really appreciated the speed.

After the picture is loaded, you can adjust the zoom and placement on the canvas. The only downside to the process that I could see was that the canvases were all set up to be printed as a landscape orientation. I originally wanted my picture to be printed as portrait orientation but there was no way to change this. So, I ended up having to zoom more on the family faces rather than the full body shots I was hoping to have.  After you have finalized the look of the picture, you can choose from other options like display and border options. You can also opt to have the canvas in black and white or sepia and there are touch up options available for a fee.

I found the order process to be extremely easy and I literally ordered my canvas in about 5 minutes. It was shipped to me very quickly as well.  I would have preferred an option to not have the semi-gloss finish because I found that the gloss reflected light in a strange way and the canvas did not look as attractive as I would have liked from certain angles when I originally hung it on the wall. Instead of hanging it, I decided to place it in our TV stand furniture piece. This area does not get direct light so the picture not only looked more attractive, but it also became the instant focal point of the room! I really love the canvas and I have gotten compliments from every person who has came into our house since I received it! 

Buy it here: You can make your own photo canvas at Easy Canvas Prints.

Win it here:

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*I was provided with the above mentioned product for the purpose of facilitating this review. All opinions expressed are my own. 

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Paparazzi Jewelry

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I don't know about you, but I do not walk out of the house without jewelry. I have a large free-standing jewelry box full of accessories and I can never have enough!  I can't think of a better way to pull together an outfit. I have considered getting a side job as a consultant of some kind and always thought it would be a perfect fit for me to sell jewelry. Paparazzi sells jewelry and accessories, changing its inventory every couple of weeks so you have access to fresh styles all the time.

Business Opportunity: If you are looking to make some extra money, you can join Paparazzi Accessories and become a member of Debbie's Dazzling Divas! When you become a Paparazzi Consultant, Debbie will connect you with a proven leader within the company who is dedicated to making sure you are successful. In addition to access to your leader, you can also consult Debbie, and have access to other support with an active Facebook group.

Shopping! If you are not interested in selling and would like to do some shopping instead, you can check out their amazing product line.  Not only is there a fabulous assortment of jewelry and accessories, but they are all ONLY $5 each or less!!! I could not believe it. I usually spend about $15 per accessory so with Paparazzi I can get 3 for the price of what I would usually pay for 1. Shopping on the site is great because you can shop by style or color, seriously cutting down the time it takes to find your perfect piece. I have received items from them in the past and their jewelry is great! In fact, I wear a piece from Paparazzi Jewelry almost weekly and have received a lot of compliments.   You can shop for Paparazzi Jewelry at www.DebsJewelryShop.com.

*I will be provided with samples as a thank you for this post. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Van's Natural Foods Review & Giveaway!

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I have been on a health kick over the past few months and while I am enjoying eating healthy foods, I am having a hard time convincing my husband and children to eat healthier with me. With school starting in two days, I have been trying to stock my pantry with healthier snack foods so I was thrilled when I received an assortment of Van's Natural Foods to review. Not only does their food taste good, but their foods are natural and healthier than many other snacks we are used to eating. 

Most well known for their frozen breakfast foods,  they now offer a wide variety to satisfy many dietary needs (wheat/gluten free along with organic, mini and 8 Whole Grain varieties). The recently launched their first line of all-natural, nutrition-packed, whole grain snack bars, cereal, and crackers.

Review: I received a nice selection of snacks to review but instantly fell in love with the crackers! Their whole grain crackers are available in five varieties including Fire Roasted Veggie, Lots of Everything!, Multigrain, Say Cheese! and The Perfect 10. Each variety is gluten-free and packed with 16 grams of whole grain per serving and contain no artificial flavors, color, or preservatives.  

We received the snacks the day before we went on vacation so we toted them all with us and it was a real treat to have these healthy and delicious snacks with us. My husband and son dove right into the individually packaged Say Cheese! crackers and they LOVED them. My son is used to eating packaged cheese crackers but said that he liked these better and I certainly liked these better because they are so much more nutritious. The Perfect 10 crackers were amazing as well. There was so much flavor packed into every cracker that I could not stand the thought of pairing it with a dip or a cheese because there was enough goodness eating them by themselves. My absolute favorite, however, was the Fire-Roasted Veggie crackers. They were really crispy and the blend of vegetable flavors was outstanding. These may have been the best crackers I have ever eaten - I had a hard time limiting myself! 

We also had the opportunity to review  a box of Cinnamon Heaven Cereal. The cereal offers nutrient-rich whole grains, including gluten free oats, brown rice, millet, quinoa, and amaranth along with 5 grams of fiber per serving. I was very excited to have my son try this because his favorite cereal is another cinnamon flavored variety that has way too much sugar.  He said that he liked Cinnamon Heaven and that it reminded him of his favorite brand but that he enjoyed the other one better. Darn! However, he said that he would continue to eat Cinnamon Heaven if I bought it so I have a plan to slowly replace the other brand with Van's because of the nutritional benefits. 

Van's Snack Bars are naturally gluten-free and baked with whole grains (and 4g of fiber per serving!). They are available in Cranberry Almond, Chocolate Chip, or Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip. They are free from artificial ingredients, high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, and GMO oils. We received the Cranberry Almond to review which thrilled me because I put cranberries and almonds into tons of foods already. The snack bar was delicious and was a great and filling in-between meals snack.

I was thrilled with all of the Van's foods and would definitely buy them again!

Buy it here: You can use Van's store locator tool to find a store near you.

Win it here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*I was provided with the above mentioned products for the purpose of facilitating this post. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Chicken Soup for the Soul: Reader's Choice Review and Giveaway (3 Winners)

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It is hard to believe that this year is the 20th anniversary of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. As part of their 20th-anniversary celebration, they asked their readers to tell us how their favorite Chicken Soup for the Soul stories affected them. As a result,  Chicken Soup for the Soul: Reader's Choice 20th Anniversary Edition: The Chicken Soup for the Soul Stories that Changed Your Lives  was born.  This edition has stories in pairs - a new story written just for this book, followed by the story or poem that the reader found so inspiring in one of the past 250+ titles. 

The stories and reflections are organized into the following chapters:
Epiphanies
Attitude Adjustments
Great Advice
Motivation
Doing Good
Amazing Connections

Review: This is a totally over-simplified way to describe this title, but I am going to write it anyhow: this edition was really cool! I have been reading these books for, well, 20 years and I have certainly experienced my moments of inspiration so it was really neat to read how these real-life stories helped others improve their lives. My favorite chapter was "Amazing Connections" which shared stories of people bonding after reading an earlier edition. There was even a story from a woman who found her daughter she gave up for adoption as a result of having one of her stories published in a Chicken Soup for the Soul edition. How awesome is that! The collection of reactions in this edition really do illustrate how there are Chicken Soup for the Soul editions for just about everyone and there are simple and profound reactions that can occur when reading about the strength in other people. This is a must-have edition for any Chicken Soup for the Soul lover!

Buy it here: You can purchase Chicken Soup for the Soul books from your local bookstore and from Amazon. 

Win it here:
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*I was provided with the above mentioned book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.  

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Lulalu Review

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Lulalu is a colorful collection of products that stick where magnets do - and where they do not. Use Lulalu on stainless steel refrigerators, mirrors, glass and other smooth non-porous surfaces. Sick and re-stick again and again. The products leave no marks or residue and the sticky surface can be revived with water or a vinegar-based cleaner. 

The Lulalu Paper Pad allows you to upgrade your important daily plans, reminders and lists on vibrant and colorful papers. On one pad there is a column for "now" , "later", and "whenever" so you can prioritize your to-do lists. The Stripe Weekly Pad allows you to keep a weekly calendar in a fun and modern way. The pads have 50 sheets and measure 10 x 10".

 

Review: I took the Now, Later, Whenever pad to work to help me organize my never ending to-do list. I was using Post-it notes to help me but there have been times when I dropped a note or accidentally threw it away and an entire to-do item was lost - not good!! Plus, during really busy times the Post-its can take over my space and make it look very messy. This pad not only makes my work space look more organized, it helped me keep more organized. I like the column strategy and it really helped me prioritize my tasks. This is an attractive and functional change to my previous system!

I decided to use the Stripe Weekly Pad to help keep the family to-do lists in one place. To date, I had not been able to figure out a good system for this and there have been negative consequences. The calendar sticks nicely to my refrigerator and I love the bright, attractive colors. It has already proven to be very helpful. Since my husband and I do not wake up at the same time in the morning currently, this has been a nice way to remind him of my "honey do" list which has been getting longer and longer as school is approaching. I am looking forward to using this to help with school organization as well. I am planning on putting test and project reminders for my kids as well as paperwork reminders for me. No more late field trip slips from this family!  I am already very happy with this system and am pretty confident it will continue to help us keep organized once the school year starts and things get more hectic. 

Both pads had great sticking power, yet were completely repositionable. Since the adhesive is on the entire back side of the pads, there was no problem with the weight of the pad causing it to slide. My daughter was even a little rough with the Stripe Weekly Pad, but it stayed in place right on the refrigerator! 

Connect Here: You can find Lulalu on Facebook and Pinterest.

*Disclaimer 

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

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Flirty Aprons Flash Sale!

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Mom & Daughters Flash Sale!


Once again Flirty Aprons is flashing you with their fantastic aprons. These aprons for both mom and daughter are marked down 40% and with the code you will get free shipping also. Huge deal, huge savings, huge fun. 

Hurry, the sale only lasts till Tuesday and many of the favorite aprons will sell out quickly. Sales in a flash, but only if you get your links up NOW.
 

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Standing Up Giveaway and Anti-Bullying Pledge Printable

Did you know that more than 160,000 U.S. students stay home from school each day from fear of being bullied?  Based on one of the most beloved Young Adult novels of all time and directed by the acclaimed D.J. Caruso, Standing Up follows two kids who get bullied by a vicious summer camp prank. Left together on an island, their adventure begins once they decide not to be victims and instead they Stand Up! 

What can be done to help the bullied “stand up” for themselves? One of the best things we can do to understand the problem and discuss solutions is to be inspired. The movie “Standing Up” is THAT inspiration. Standing Up is an adorable and heart-warming gem of a movie with an important anti-bullying message that’s suitable for the whole family! Get the DVD August 20!

Take the Anti-Bullying Pledge! PDF PRINTABLE - I frequently talk to my children about bullying and last week, I almost burst into tears of pride when another mom told me that when her son started school all of the kids, except my son, Jack, were picking on him. She said that her son would come come and tell her what a horrible day he had, but that Jack stood up to the bullying for him. What a proud moment for me!  

Standing Up not only has incredible charm, it also carries a powerful message. After watching the movie as a family, sit down with your young one(s) and talk about some of the essential life lessons from Standing Up. Tell your children about how bullying can affect even the strongest of people. Read and sign the Standing Up to Bullies Pledge and pin it on the fridge, bulletin board, or wherever you can see it as a reminder. You can click on the image below for a printer-friendly version.

Standing Up Blog App: Take the Do YOU Stand Up to Bullies? QUIZ - Like in the movie Standing Up, life is full of beautiful, amazing things, but bullies sure aren't one of them! Do you stand up to bullies? Or do you let them intimidate you and others? Take this quiz to see where you stand and get tips and tricks to beat the bullies in your life.

Win it here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The assets included were provided to me in promotion of Arc Entertainment's Standing Up. 

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Guest Post: 10 Useful Baking Tips (from PAM Cooking Spray)

With fall right around the corner, it is almost time to start utilizing your oven again to prepare some of your favorite baked meals and desserts. While it is easy to buy your favorite baked items, nothing beats a freshly baked treat. Use the following simple baking tips to take the fear out of baking and make your baking experiences a breeze.

1. Review your recipe before starting. Check that you have all the necessary tools and ingredients to properly prepare the recipe. Follow your recipe carefully to ensure that you come out with a successful finished product.

2. Always measure your ingredients. When baking, eyeballing measurements can completely ruin a recipe.

3. Coat dishes with non-stick cooking spray before baking to make cleanup easy. 

4. Utilize quality, fresh ingredients to get the best results out of your baked goods.

5. Accurate measurements are extremely important when baking. Use the proper measurement devices to ensure that your measurements are accurate. For example, use measuring cups and calibrated measuring spoons to measure dry and liquid ingredients to be certain that your measurements are accurate and consistent.

6. Pay close attention to the temperature that your ingredients should be in before you begin preparing the recipe. As a rule of thumb, always bring ingredients such as eggs and butter to room temperature unless otherwise noted.

7. Combine your dry ingredients together before adding them to your wet ingredients.

8. Never increase the baking temperature in an attempt to cook food faster. Always bake at the specified recipe temperature.

9. Remember that food continues to cook after you remove it from the oven. Always account for residual heat when baking. Cook and cool food as directed.

10. Preheat your oven so that it is at the proper baking temperature during the entire baking process. Also, pay close attention to the position of the oven rack. The higher the position, the faster it will cook.

Baking doesn’t have to be intimidating. Bake perfect creations every time with these easy baking tips.

The post was written on behalf of PAM Cooking Spray. For other cooking tips visit the PAM website.

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