Sun Detergent Review and Giveaway!

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Do you have to cut back on household spending around the holidays so you can afford Christmas? I know I do! This holiday season, Sun Detergent wants you to consider switching from your favorite brand to theirs for some major savings. Leading detergents can cost on average $0.22 per load while Sun costs only $0.06-$0.07 per load. This means a family who does laundry twice a week can save up to 65% per load which can add up to $20 per month! 

As the colder weather is approaching, I long for hot summer days again and decided that getting Tropical Breeze scented detergent would help lift my spirits a bit. The detergent combines mango, tangy berry, and kiwi scents with white musk and hibiscus.  The scent was not very strong, but was enough to make my clothes smell good. I am always concerned about detergents because I have very sensitive skin but had no reaction to Sun.  It did a very nice job cleaning my clothes and was definitely comparable to my normal detergent - but has a better price! I would definitely buy Sun detergent again and look forward to trying additional scents. 

Buy it here: You can use the Sun Detergent locator tool to find Sun at a store near you.

Win it here: 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

*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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Hot Deal on Wearvever Cookware - Today Only!

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If you need new cookware, then jump at the chance to score this 10-piece set of WearEver C944SA64 Pure Living Nonstick Ceramic Coating PTFE-PFOA-Cadmium Free Dishwasher Safe 10 Piece Cookware Set, Champagne Gold for 63% off. The whole set ships for just $54.99! Hurry though, the sale is good today only.

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Bella Sun Luci Sun Dried Tomatoes Review

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Did you know sun dried tomatoes pack more nutrients per ounce than fresh tomatoes? Bella Sun Luci Sun Dried Tomatoes naturally have 12 times more lycopene than fresh tomatoes. Studies show that lycopene helps improve immune function, reduce the risk of heart disease, certain cancers, diabetes, cataracts, asthma, and even offers protection from UV rays.  With zero fat and no added salt or sugar, this is a great way to add nutrition and flavor to your meal! Plus, they are made using 100% pure olive oil.

The tomatoes are grown on Mooney Farms, a family business in California. Included in their line of sun-dried tomatoes are:

• Bella Sun Luci Sun Dried Halves and Julienne Cut in 100% Pure Olive Oil & Italian Herbs
• Bella Sun Luci Sun Dried Tomato Pesto with Whole Pine Nuts
• Bella Sun Luci Sun Dried Tomato Bruschetta
• Bella Sun Luci Julienne Cut Sun Dried Tomatoes with Italian Basil and Julienne Cut with Zesty Peppers

Review: I decided to try out a recipe card that came with my package and made a Super Food Garbanzo Bean Salad:

Recipe: Super Food Garbanzo Bean Salad

Salad Ingredients

2 -15.5 oz. cans Garbanzo Beans, drained and rinsed

1 cup artichoke heart pieces, drained and rinsed

1 green pepper, removed core & seeds, cut into 1/2" cubes

1 bunch celery, remove leaves and base, slice into 1/3-1/2" thick pieces

1 - 8.5 oz Bella Sun Luci Sun Dried Tomatoes Julienne Cut in oil, drain oil and reserve for Vinaigrette

1 medium or 1/2 large red onion sliced thinly and cut into bit size pieces

1/2 cup flat leaf parsley, stems removed, leaving leaves whole

Vinaigrette

1/4 cup Rice Vinegar

Reserved oil from jar plus 1/2 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 large garlic clove, minced

Salt & pepper to taste

Directions

Combine all salad ingredients in a large bowl. In a small bowl, mix vinaigrette ingredients until blended. Pour vinaigrette over salad. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Results: I have been trying to eat healthier and I was really looking forward to this salad. Unfortunately, it was just not my cup of tea.  The only part of the salad that I actually liked was the Bella Sun Luci! The Tomatoes were actually very delicious. I am not sure why I expected to like the salad because I really don't like any of the other vegetables in the salad. Oh well, it was worth a try! If these veggies/beans are appealing to you then you probably would love the salad. 

The other product that I had the chance to try was the Bella Sun Luci Sun Dried Tomato Bruschetta. I really love Bruschetta and  was really excited to have some that I could conveniently eat at home. I paired it with wheat sandwich rounds and absolutely fell in love with the combo. In fact, I liked it so much that I could not wait until I could make my next "sandwich". It is a great opportunity to go meatless, something I try to do several times a week. The taste is bold and packed with flavor. It is actually tastier than some other bruschettas I have gotten from restaurants! I am very much looking forward to trying the other two products and would definitely but these again!

Buy it here: You can purchase Bella Sun Luci products from the company's website. 

*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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Great Deal on Six Feet Under and Bog Love - Think Christmas!!

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Today only, Amazon has the complete series of Six Feet Under and Big Love at 64% off! These would make great holiday gifts!

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Fruit of the Loom Fall Clothes Review

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Fruit of the Loom has you and your family covered for your fall clothing needs. Their BEST Collection Short Sleeve Tees are available in both child and adult sizes come in a vibrant Safety Orange so kids and grown-ups alike can sport the color of the season. Of course, fall brings plenty of non-Halloween themed chilly nights and Fruit of the Loom has options to keep you warm.  Fruit of the Loom’s NEW BEST Fleece is the answer to that perfect sweatshirt whether you are a crew or hoodie kind of person.

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to review a couple of items from their BEST Collection.  In celebration of fall, I thought it would be fun to review one of their fun, bright orange short sleeve t-shirt. In a moment of brainlessness, I asked for a small boy's instead of a small men's for my son but luckily it was the right size to fit my daughter.  She loves to wear t-shirts, especially when she plays outside and she loved the bright orange color. The cotton was very soft and she found it to be extremely comfortable.  I not only love the shirt, but LOVE the price. They come in a variety of colors and are available for just $3.49 at Walmart! 

My husband was really excited to get a new hoodie as his last one needed tossed a long time ago.  The BEST Collection Men's Fleece Full Zip Hood goes above and beyond by including a media pocket designed to protect phones and valuables without the fear of them falling out. The sweatshirt was really soft and he said it kept him nice and warm. The media pocket was really cool and it was nice to have a secure place to put his cell phone. The sweatshirt is well designed and he has been wearing it happily on a daily basis.  Again, the price can't be beat: $10.88 for regular sizes and $12.88 for X-sizes.

Media pocket

Excuse my husband's lack of enthusiasm: he was sick when the picture was taken

Buy it here: You can purchase Fruit of the Loom products 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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USANA Health Sciences Review

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I have desperately been trying to eat healthier.  So, I have been on the lookout for foods and health products that will help keep me on track. USANA Health Sciences offers an assortment of products that are meant to be good tasting and good for you as well as probiotics to help aid in digestion among other things.  

USANA's Protein snacks are gluten-free and low glycemic and were created to satisfy your sweet tooth as well as your healthy lifestyle. The line of protein snacks are non-GMO, contain no trans fats and come in three flavors: Choco Chip, Peanutty Bliss, and Fudge Delite. These snacks were really delicious and filled me up.  They were soft and extremely flavorful. The Choco Chip tasted like chocolate chip cookie dough and was definitely my favorite. The Fudge Delite tasted like a very fudgy dark chocolate brownie and the Peannutty Bliss was just as good as a peanut butter cookie!   I was thrilled to have a delicious treat that I did not have to feel guilty about!

Their Probiotic formula was created to not only aid your digestive system and immune system, but also guarantee the viability of its ingredients. The formula contains the same mixture of probiotic bacteria that has been clinically proven to promote a natural balance of beneficial microflora in the gut but is now dairy and sugar free - making it perfect for those with lactose intolerance, diabetes, or those who live a vegan lifestyle! After a weekend of running around with my family and eating less than healthy my stomach was not in good shape. I was happy to have a couple of samples on hand and after two days of use my digestive system was back on track -thank goodness! I just added it to my water and let the tasteless formula do its job.  

Buy it here: You can purchase USANA products from their online store.

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

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#SweetHalloween - A Halloween without Sweets?!

 

This post was created in partnership with Crest &

Oral-B as part of the #SweetHalloween Program

 

When your kids hear the word "Halloween", one of thire first thoughts is probably CANDY!  As a parent, I tend to thinks about the after effects of Halloween  - TOO MUCH CANDY!  Every year I do a delicate dance of removing some candy from their bags on a daily basis so they won't notice to "donate" to my work colleagues. Too much candy at home means too much sugar, weight gain for all four of us, and rotting teeth.  While I could do without any of that candy in our house, I have to be realistic and realize that candy and Halloween go hand-in-hand. So, I have to minimize the effects.

 

Crest and Oral-B want you to know that Halloween is a good time to remember to replace toothbrushes and make sure you have enough toothpaste in the house.  Balancing candy-eating with good oral hygeine will help your children protect their teeth. To make it easier on your pocket book, you can download some great coupons so there is no excuse to let those teeth rot!

Happy Halloween!!

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WOW! Screaming Deal on Android Tablet!

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Act fast because this one may not last long!!This is an 83% off sale! Click below for more information and to purchase.

 

All 4 Cellular - Tablet - Oct 2013 $69 for a 7-inch Google Android 4.1 tablet — choose from seven colors!

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Chicken Soup for the Soul Chicken Noodle Soup Review and Giveaway!

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When you hear "Chicken Soup for the Soul" you probably think of their inspirational series of books. Well now they are offering a line of comfort foods! They have tons of offerings from soups to pasta sauces to gravies. Their comfort food line will continue to grow over the next two years to include a full line of products. Many items in the product line will offer convenient ways to shorten meal prep time and serve delicious meals in minutes.

I was given a box of Chicken Noodle Soup to review.  The soup had thick and delicious noodles and nice chunks of veggies. It had a really great taste and didn't taste too salty (a complaint I have about many other soups). It was a little heavy on the broth and I would have preferred more vegetables and noodles but it was filling nonetheless. Chicken Soup for the Soul calls it "comfort food" and I definitely agree.  Plus, since it comes in an adorable container, it would be great for gift giving (I am thinking some soups along with 1-2 Chicken Soup for the Soul books). 

Buy it here: Chicken Soup for the Soul foods are rolling out across the US. They are currently available at Brookshire's Food City, Giant, Giant Eagle, H-E-B, Harris Teeter, Lowes, Martin's, Raley's, Stop & Shop, and TOPS Markets.

Win it here:

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

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Aflac & Open Enrollment Information

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central 

Consulting (#MC) for Aflac. I received a promotional item 

as a thank you for participating.

Every year I have open enrollment for health and supplemental insurance through my employer. During that time I can choose to change my insurance company and opt in or out of supplemental, dental, and vision insurance. The process is overwhelming; however, my employer holds an Open Enrollment Benefits Fair where you can go and speak to representatives from different insurance companies and grab a benefits book from each. It is a great way for me to make an informed decision for the next year. 

I am luckier than most because most companies make changes in conjunction with the health care reform without their employees' really understanding (or even being made aware of) all the changes. An Open Enrollment Survey was conducted in 2013 and I was surprised to find out that 74% of workers sometimes or never understand everything that is covered by their insurance policy today! After reading that I realized how lucky I am that I am well informed. I keep my benefits book handy all year and and well aware of what is covered and how much I am expected to pay. 

It is very important that you keep well informed of your benefits. This past year I even had to fight a claim with my insurance company but because the coverage was in black and white (probably a misprint) in their benefits booklet they ended up paying a claim they were not intending on paying. There have been other times when I found claim and diagnostic codes entered by the physician's office were incorrect because I knew how much I was supposed to pay. My insurance company worked with the physician's office to fix the paperwork and I saved a ton of money! 

So, how can you make sure you are well informed of your benefits? Here are my recommendations:

• See if your insurance company offers a benefits booklet. I would imagine most, if not all, do. Keep your booklet handy and review your bills with the booklet to make sure you are being charged the right amount. Make sure that services/medications are covered before doing to the doctor as well.
• Check to see if your insurance company has a website. You can often view benefits there and I can even monitor my claims through my company online. 
• Don't be afraid to use your insurance company's customer service number. Yes, I know we live in an age of texting and people often forget that a good old fashion phone call is an option; but, when you are really confused about something talking to a live person is very helpful.
• After reviewing your benefits, consider the need for supplement insurance. My health insurance only covers very basic costs of dental and I considered dental insurance. I added up the cost of the monthly payments and figured out how much this would save me on dental bills and made the informed decision that dental insurance was just not worth it for me. 

The one insurance I struggle with every year is whether or not to get Aflac. We live paycheck to paycheck and an extra deduction taken out every two weeks stresses me out just thinking about it. Especially since I am not sure that I would even use the insurance. I have always opted not to but am seriously reconsidering this year. Last month I got sick....really sick. I had an infection that was very severe and I was given really high doses of antibiotics that almost put me into renal failure.  As days went by I began to panic because my sick leave balance was decreasing quickly. Luckily, I was able to return to work after 2 weeks but I realized that if I became ill again then I may really put my family's finances in jeopardy. Simply put, we cannot live without my paycheck.  Suddenly I realized that supplemental insurance may well be worth it!  I have had Aflac in the past with other jobs and was very impressed with what they had to offer. 

If you would like to know more about open enrollment and Aflac's supplemental insurance, you can visit the Aflac Open Enrollment Resources website for more information.

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Zim's Review and Giveaway

Sponsored post - Affiliate links included

The Zim's product line, by Perfecta Products, features different over-the-counter products formulated with naturally-based herbal ingredients for pain relief, skin care, lip care, diabetic living, and first aid. The product line offers a variety of different solutions ideal for:

• People seeking natural products as a healthy alternative
• Men and women who are seeking a higher quality of life
• Individuals in need of temporary pain relief

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to review several products from the Zim's line of products:

Zim's Arnica Max - specially formulated with Arnica for the temporary relief of minor aches and pains of muscles and joints associated with simple backaches, arthritis, strains, bruises and sprains
         Review: I have chronic back pain and I only use pain relievers (even over the counter) as a last resort so I was looking forward to trying this out. It was in a gel form and spread easily onto my back, providing me with quick relief. It has a very heavy menthol scent and the gel feels cool after application. I was amazed at how well it worked and the effects were long lasting. Even with the scent, I much prefer this to medications any day! 

Zim's Advanced Gel with Acemannan and Arnica - used as a protectant for minor cuts, scrapes, abrasions, and burns

          Review: This gel was colorless and  had a very minor scent. I applied it to a cut and it did not burn or aggravate it like some other medicines do. I am not totally clear as to the point of this gel (serves as a "protectant" but I am not exactly sure what that means). So, it is  difficult for me to speak to the efficacy of it. A better description would be my primary recommendation.

Zim's Advanced Crack Creme with Hydrocortisone - combines Arnica & Organic Aloe with Hydrocortisone to temporarily relieve itching and rashes associated with minor skin irritations such as: poison ivy, poison oak, sumac, insect bites, and dermatitis
          Review: Now that the weather is starting to turn colder, my skin is getting really dry. My feet, in particular, are in bad shape and there are even some areas that are starting to crack. This product worked really great and my skin felt almost instantaneously smoother and after continued use, it did a great job of clearing up the cracked skin and really dry patches. My only complaint was the scent  - it was very strong and reminded me of a bug spray. This is not something I felt like I could apply generously if I was leaving the house because of the scent.  

Buy it here: You can purchase Zim's at nearly every major retailer in North America including Walmart, CVS, Target, Rite Aid, and more. You can also purchase products online at Amazon, Drugstore.com, and Luckyvitamin.com. You can "like" Zim's on Facebook to print a $2 off coupon.

Win it here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*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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Measurable Difference Liquid Eyeliner Review

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I rarely go anywhere without eye makeup on. For me, it is the most important makeup and good eye makeup can really help make your whole face look brighter. I have been trying to get a more dramatic look with my pencil eyeliner to no avail and decided it was time to try liquid eyeliner. I have never tried it before so I jumped at the chance to review Measurable Difference Liquid Eyeliner.

The Liquid Eyeliner has the following beauty benefits:
- Intense colors create bigger, bolder eyes
- Serum nourishes and stimulates lashes
- Encourages appearance of stronger, thicker lashes long term
- Long lasting, smudge proof color
- Multi-use eyeliner and liquid eye shadow
- Easy to use lining brush
- Safe for contact wearers

Review: I realized after my first attempt to put this on as I was rushing out the door, that applying liquid eyeliner should be done slowly and may require some practice.  My first application was an epic fail and I had liquid eyeliner everywhere. After scrubbing my face I decided to try again later when I had more time. The more I applied the liquid eyeliner, the better I got at it and I have found that I really enjoy the look. My eyes look bigger and brighter after application and, unlike pencil eyeliners, it looks just as defined at the end of the day as when I first put it on. Clean-up is a little more involved and it takes a bit of eye makeup remover to get it all off but it is well worth it. I really love this eyeliner and I am fairly certain that I will never return to pencil applicators again. I have been using the eyeliner every day for weeks now and the liquid is still just as fresh as when I opened the tube. I foresee it lasting a long time, making the $10 price tag well worth it. 

Here are before and after eye makeup shots:

Buy it here: You can purchase Measurable Difference Liquid Eyeliner from the company's website for $10.  

Connect here: You can connect with Measurable Difference on Facebook and Twitter.

*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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Ornaments with Love Review & Giveaway!

Sponsored Post*

I love giving out personalized, dated ornaments for Christmas and sometimes even use ornaments as the gift tag to larger gifts.  It is a truly thoughtful present and is perfect for just about anyone who celebrates Christmas! Ornaments with Love takes great pride in their selection of ornaments and expert personalizers. Each individual order placed is done by a single personalizer so that the lettering for each of the ornaments is flawless and consistent.  They offer a huge assortment of ornaments on their easy-to-navigate website so finding that perfect ornament is easy.

Review: I was able to personalize the Ornaments with Love Deer Wreath with 15 Names. I thought this would be a great gift idea for my Mother-in-law and I had the family member's names placed around the wreath. The ordering process was very quick and easy and my ornament arrived quickly as well. The ornament looked just the like the picture on the website and I was extremely pleased with the quality. Everything about it was perfect and the ornament was absolutely adorable. I am certain that my Mother-in-law will love it! It was very reasonably priced as well and I can't imagine that I would get such a nice, personalized ornament with so many names for only $17.99!

Win it here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*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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SmartyPants Gummy Vitamins for Adults Review

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Gummy vitamins are very popular among children, but why should kids have all the fun! SmartyPants has developed the first and only 3-in-1 Adult Gummy Vitamin. Not only are they a multivitamin, but also Omega 3S and Vitamin D! The gummies contain no High Fructose Corn Syrup, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. They are gluten and casein free and are made in California. 

Review:  I have used gummy vitamins before and am used to having to take two gummies rather than one pill but I was a little surprised when I read the directions and realized that I had to take 6 a day. It seemed excessive but then I gave it some thought and realized that since these are a 3-in-1 vitamin that 6 gummies would be the same of having to take 2 gummies for each of the vitamins: multivitamins, Omega-3, and Vitamin D.  I really liked the sweet taste of the gummies - they are much better than swallowing giant "horse pills"! I liked to take them mid-day not only because I tend to crave something sweet after lunch, but I also tend to experience a major energy drop around 1:00pm. These vitamins really helped give me a boost of energy and I much preferred to take these to drinking coffee in the afternoon. I am quite happy with these vitamins and would recommend giving them a try.

Buy it here: You can purchase SmartyPants online, from Whole Foods, and CVS. You can print out a $5 coupon here.

*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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Easy to Make Halloween Treat Pumpkins

My daughter and I made these cute little pumpkins full of candy corn for her Halloween school treat this year.  I took baby food jars and painted pumpkin faces on them. She the painted the lids orange and put stickers on tops. I love crafts that we can do together and she was really proud of these when we were done.

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Baobab Fruit Cubes Review and Giveaway (2 winners)!

Affiliate links included

Sponsored post*

I love sweets...like, really love them. After all, I did not become "Cake Mom" for nothing. However, I know that limiting sweets is wise but the cravings can just be so consuming which is why I was happy to have the opportunity to review Baobab Fruit Cubes. The fruit cubes are made from Baobab superfruit imported from Africa and contain no added sugar, making it healthier than other dried fruit on the market and a great alternative to candy. The Fruit Cubes are available in 3 flavors: mango , strawberry, and raspberry. They are bursting with antioxidants as well as fiber and essential nutrients to include vitamin C, potassium, and magnesium. They are only 92 calories per serving, are organic, gluten free, and a raw whole food!

Review: When I first opened the Boabab Fruit Cubes package I looked at the tiny cubes and thought that there may be a slight taste to these tiny cubes but I was not expecting much. I wish I would have taped my reaction to tasting them. These little babies are packed with flavor! Each of the three flavors were very distinct and tasted great individually but tasted amazing all together - like a delicious fruit salad. These were, by far, the most delicious fruit snacks I have ever tried and definitely the healthiest. Because they are so flavorful, a small amount really satisfies a sweet tooth.  They were chewy and moist - a much better combo than other fried fruit. I would definitely buy these again and would prefer that my family snack on these rather than other fruit snacks any day. 

Buy it here: You can purchase Baobab Fruit Cubes from Amazon.

Win it here: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

* 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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New Shutterfly Deals!

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I have been waiting for a good deal on Shutterfly photo books so I can make my annual vacation book so I am glad to see they are 40% off for the next couple of days. I recently made a book for my mom of her wedding and it looked amazing. Trust me, you won't be disappointed!!  

Shop here:   Check out these amazing deals:

Take 40% off all Photobooks with code BOOK40. Valid 10/21-10/23. 

Free shipping: Receive free shipping on all Shutterfly.com orders of $30+ with promo code SHIP30

Free card: Receive one free greeting or stationery card with promo code CARD4U

New to Shutterfly? Then the deal sweetens even more: Customers enjoy $20 off any $50 Purchase with code SPOOKY! Valid 10/17-10/23.



BOOK40 - Offer expires 10/23/2013 (11:59 P.M. PT). Offer is good for 40% off hard cover photo books + pages, including iPad purchases (excludes 7x9, 5x7, premium/layflat, matte, padded, leather, cloth, croc books) at shutterfly.com. Offer valid for one-time redemption per billing address. Taxes, shipping and handling will apply. 

SPOOKY - Offer expires 10/23/2013 (11:59 P.M. PT). Offer is good for $20 off a purchase of $50 or more at shutterfly.com. Offer valid for one-time redemption per billing address and for new customers only. Taxes, shipping and handling will apply.

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Swagbucks = Free Gift Cards! UPDATE

Have you signed up for Swagbucks yet? It is a great search site that rewards you with "Swagbucks" when you search with them. After racking up some Swagbucks, you can turn them in for prizes to include gift cards! I have been using Swagbucks for years and use my points toward the end of the year to get gift cards to help out with Christmas shopping. There are no strings attached and you have nothing to lose. There are also additional ways to earn Swagbucks such as shopping through their links.  Sign up today by clicking on the button below and get some bonus Swagbucks just for signing up! 

UPDATE: If you sign up by clicking the link below and use CakeMom (case sensitive) as the referral code you will be given 70 SwagBucks right away and an additional 30 when you complete your profile. To enter the code, just click on the text that says "I have a sign up code" after clicking on the button below.  The bonus Swagbucks are available until 10/28.

 

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Warner Bros. Spook-Tacular Giveaway!

I love Halloween - the candy, the costumes, the fall colors, and fall baking! All are amazing, but whether you are the bunch that loves dressing up and scaring the neighbors or you plan to stay-in, Warner Bros. has a line-up of Spook-Tacular Movies to get you in the holiday spirit. From classics likeIt's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown & Scooby-Doo The Goblin King to Adventure Time – Jake the Dad, you can count on a spook-tacular selection that the entire family can enjoy!

Spook-Tacular Blog App: Before you and the kids take the neighborhood by storm, get in the mood by sharing some spooky stories! Download copies of the Spook-Tacular Story Time PDF, fire up the flashlights, and gather in a circle..... this Halloween it's STORY TIME! Perfect for kids ages 7 to 73! Plus, you can take the Which Spooky Family Are You? quiz where you can see if your family is all about the candy and costumes or perhaps are wild for pumpkin-carving! 

Win here: Please read Terms and Conditions.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Assets and prize provided by Warner Bros.

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Good Cook Pumpkin Carving Kit Review & Giveaway (4 winners)!

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I have a confession to make. I dislike carving pumpkins...with a passion. I have never liked doing it and usually settle for the most generic pumpkin face since my husband and kids insist that we each decorate our own pumpkins. However, this year I was feeling a little more festive and decided that I would give the Sweet Creations by Good Cook Pumpkin Carving Kit a try. The kit comes with everything (but the pumpkin) you need to have a pumpkin that looks professionally designed to include: 10 paper stencils, 2 saws, 1 scraper, 1 drill and 1 punch wheel.

Review: The book had a lot of great ideas to choose from - so many that I had a hard time selecting one. I ultimately decided on a witch (I am a huge fan of Wicked) and did not realize that the difficulty level was on the harder side.  Even with the difficulty level, I braced myself for my carving challenge. I loved the carving tools - I made much more control than with the steak knives I currently use. However, all four of us were using the tools and the one saw snapped and completely broke off the plastic while my daughter was trying to carve her pumpkin. The scooper was AWESOME. There was a serrated edge on one size so you could not only scoop, but scrape to really get those "guts" out.  

The punch wheel was not my favorite tool. You are supposed to tape your template to the pumpkin and then use the wheel to outline the template and then follow the dots on the pumpkin to carve out the design. We don't have the greatest lighting in our living room and when my husband and I tried to do this, we could not really see the dots. I ended up just drawing my design on instead. The different sizes of the carving tools did make it much easier to do more intricate designs as opposed to using a knife. It was much easier with this method and I definitely will not ever go back to carving with knives! 

Our family's pumpkins: My daughter's pumpkin face, my witch, my husband's skeleton, and my son's question mark 

Buy it here: You can purchase the Sweet Creations by Good Cook Pumpkin Carving Kit for $6.99 PLUS you can get an additional 25% off any Sweet Creations Halloween product using the code PUMPKIN25.

Win it here: Please read the terms and conditions below as the Good Cook giveaway rules have recently changed.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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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Dole Fruit in Gels Review

Sponsored post*

Whether you are planning a fall picnic or looking for delicious snacks to pack your kids for school lunches, Dole has you covered. Dole Fruit in Gels contain all natural fruit, are rich in Vitamin C, are GMO free, and have BPA free packaging. At 100 calories or less per serving, they are fat-free and do not contain high fructose corn syrup. Unlike gelatin, which is made with animal byproducts, Dole Fruit in Gels are made with plant-based extract making these snacks vegan and vegetarian-friendly! 

Dole Fruit in Gels are available in the following varieties:

• Peaches in Strawberry Gel
• Mandarins in Orange Gel
• Mixed Fruit in Black Cherry Gel
• Pineapple in Lime Gel
• Mixed Fruit in Peach Gel
• Mixed Fruit in Sugar Free Cherry Gel
• Pineapple in Sugar Free Strawberry Gel

Review: My kids love packing fruits for school snacks; however, fresh fruit is not easy to come by in chilly Pennsylvania and by the time it is shipped to us from warmer areas, the fruit is already starting to look questionable. These are a great way to keep my kids eating fruits throughout the colder months. They were so excited when we were given the opportunity to review a selection of Dole Fruit in Gels (and I was smitten with the adorable picnic basket they arrived in). 

I was surprised at how tasty these were. The combinations of the gel and fruits made for two very distinct flavors that were really delicious. The fruit tastes fresher than any other type of canned or cupped fruit.  I have had other gelatin snacks before that get kind of watery, but these gels stayed in great form.  I was thrilled that they were each only 100 calories and found that these were great to grab when I was craving sweets. My kids absolutely loved these as well and were happy to pack them for school. My daughter even chose these over cookies one day - it can't get much better than that!

Buy it here: You can find Dole Fruit in Gels at your local grocer for approximately $2.79/per package of four.

*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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