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Answer the Question, What is the Ultimate Family Vacation? Do What You Love Sweepstakes

October 14, 2010 By 6 Comments

Cheerios® is giving you the chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, your ultimate family vacation. As part of a paid promotion for their “Do What You Love” Sweepstakes, Cheerios® is sponsoring my post today about what my ultimate family vacation would be. Read mine and Enter the Sweepstakes for a chance to actually win your own fantasy family trip or one of a bunch of other great prizes.

imageI have never been to Disney World and I would love to take a trip to the . I’ve been to Disneyland and some friends of ours that have been to Disney World say it is bigger and better. Zoe knows all of her princesses and is dying to meet them. A friend of hers went to Disneyland last weekend and Zoe really wanted to go with her. I’m not sure if Miles is ready to meet any of the characters but I think he is. Me, I’m addicted to roller coasters. I love the thrill of speeding along a long twisted track.  But in all honesty, I’ll be happy just being with my family. If it is anything like the vacation we took a year ago we’ll all be happy. I would say to make it an ultimate family vacation for me, there has to be beach, sunshine, water and fun. My husband would need the temperature to be cool though, so Hawaii would be a good choice too. I hear the temperature stays moderate. I love to travel and would be happy anywhere. I spent three weeks in Europe one winter and loved it there. Taking the kids on that airplane ride to get there does not excite me though so it would have to be somewhere close.

imageLast year we went on our very first family vacation and it met all of those requirements. We went to California with one of the companies I blog for. Zoe and Miles had an amazing time. Hearing the kids laugh and have a great time makes it easier for me to relax and have a great time. imageSo happy kids and fun! Then the beach and sand at my feet was perfect. I love to feel the warm sand, not too hot, but warm sand in my toes. Even though Disney World is in Florida, California makes a great choice for us as a family. It’s close enough to drive to. They have the sand I like, they have the warmth and cooler seasons and the Ocean is near by. Of course, we can also drive to an amusement park and I can get that big thrill that I love so much then my vacation would be complete.

 

Don’t forget to enter the “Do What You Love” Sweepstakes, for a chance to win your own ultimate family vacation. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

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Pink Pony Initiative For Breast Cancer Awareness

October 13, 2010 By 6 Comments

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and I’m quite impressed at all of the companies that are jumping on the support train. I am in the high risk category for breast cancer. My mother’s mom had breast cancer and had both breasts removed. My dad’s mother had breast cancer and had one breast removed. My mother has been regularly screened since she was 30 and has already had some lumps removed; thankfully so far they were benign. Because of all of the cards stacking against me I must be very vigilant about screening with monthly self breast exams and yearly mammograms. This year will be my first mammogram since I was pregnant with Zoe.

When I was pregnant with Zoe I had quite a scare. One morning I woke up and instead of just finding breast milk all over my shirt, there was also blood. The doctors never found an exact cause, so they determined that it must have just been my glands were not used to swelling so big. But I can tell you that waiting and wondering if I had some form of cancer was pretty scary. I was mostly worried what would happen to Zoe if that had been the case but God was watching out for me that day. Every doctor that I had to see at that time, including a surgeon all said to stay on top of it.

I urge you to stay on top of your health too!

One of the many companies that is supporting Breast Cancer Awareness month is Ralph Lauren. Ralph Lauren is dear to my heart pinkponybecause it is a brand that has been with me since I was a little girl. My mother loves Ralph Lauren and buys it whenever she can find it on sale. I’ve been purchasing a few of their items over the years myself, including my all time favorite pair of sunglasses that I have managed to not loose. So I was pretty excited when I was chosen to be a Ralph Lauren Mombassador. Because I am a Mombassador I was asked to share with you all about their Pink Pony Initiative. The Pink Pony Initiative is celebrating it’s 10th year anniversary with a Pink Pony Auction  through their partnership with charitybuzz. Together they are going to auction off over 200 unique items and experiences from now through October 21st. Ralph Lauren is hoping to raise awareness and funds in support of the fight against cancer. With a focus on breast cancer, Pink Pony supports programs for early diagnosis, education, treatment and research and is dedicated to bringing patient navigation and quality cancer care to medically underserved communities. Ten percent of proceeds from Pink Pony products benefits the Pink Pony Fund.

"I am a participant in a Mom Central Consulting campaign for Ralph Lauren and have received various Ralph Lauren products as part of my participation."

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Filtrete Elite Allergen Reduction Filter Rebate

October 13, 2010 By 1 Comment

Saving money and writing about a company that I love at the same time now that is something I am passionate about. Filtrete makes many types of filters, water filters, to air filters and they are all under the 3M brand. For those of use that have a few allergy problems they make Filtrete Elite Allergen Reduction Filters. They capture 94 percent of large airborne particles such as pollen, smoke, dust mite debris and pet dander from the air as it passes through the filter. The Filtrete Elite Allergen Reduction Filters also capture up to 40 times more microscopic particles than ordinary fiberglass filters. The filters also help maintain airflow in heating and cooling systems, which may help prevent stress on the system and reduce the amount of energy needed to warm your home this Fall and Winter.

Save on Filtrete with this Rebate:

And Join their Clear Advantages Program.

Rebate

Oh and Here are some Kitchen Cleaning Tips Courtesy of Filtrete:

Kitchen Clean-Up

Certain areas of the home, especially the kitchen, can breed and harbor germs that not only cause odors but can spread to family members. These low-cost cleaning tasks, when done regularly and properly, can be effective in making the home healthier for your family:

Trashcans: Trashcans should be cleaned monthly using a chlorine bleach and water solution. Simply combine one cup of non-chlorine bleach for every three gallons of water and pour the solution into the trashcan. Swish the solution around in the trashcan, and wait about five minutes for the chlorine to kick in and kill the germs.

Refrigerators: Cleaning the refrigerator monthly will improve the safety and quality of your food. If you are tired of cleaning spills and food particles from your refrigerator, then cover shelves with washable shelf liners. They will catch most of the food spillage, and will make cleanup quicker and easier. Once a month, throw them in the dishwasher for a good cleaning, and then place them back in the refrigerator once they are dry.

Sinks: Since bacteria can accumulate in cracks and crevices, pay extra attention to these areas when disinfecting. Also, stainless steel sinks can be tough to clean and can look spotty due to water spots and lime build up. To keep the sink shiny, use a soft buffing wheel to restore the luster. Then, use a cloth to generously apply mineral oil to the sink. Water will bead up and roll off the sink, keeping it shiny and helping prevent spots.

 

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Filtrete and received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

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Wordless Wednesday My Little Vampire

October 12, 2010 By 29 Comments

image

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Giveaway Winners

October 12, 2010 By 1 Comment

I just updated the Winner’s Page, and I think I’m all caught up on picking winners. Please check to see if you are a winner of any of the giveaways on Mom Start.

 

giveawayjingle

So if you are wondering if you won a giveaway, check out the winners page.

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This Week’s Savvy Savings

October 11, 2010 By 1 Comment

5 % of the proceeds of sales from these links will go to charity!

Atlanta:
$10 for: Admission for 4 to an improv puppet show, just for the kids
($20 value)

Giggle, grin and guffaw at Uncle Grampa’s Hoo-Dilly Storytime, only at Dad’s Garage Theatre.

Boston:
$21 for: Family 4-pack of admission tickets to the Discovery Museums
($42 value)

Children discover the world around them (along with the world in their imagination) at these two wonderful museums

Dallas Fort Worth:
$5 for: Frozen yogurt from Cassie’s Yogurt Shop
($10 value)

Enjoy a sweet treat while watching your wallet and your waistline.

Denver:
$40 for: Family Premium Membership to the Colorado Railroad Museum
($80 value)

Climb aboard and let your imagination start you on your own rail adventure as you lose track of time.

Houston:
$42.5 for: 10-pack of open play time at Wonderwild
($85 value)

Nurture your child’s sense of wonder and indulge his wild side, all under one roof.

Minneapolis:
$5 for: Half off a $10 coupon to Wild Rumpus Bookstore
($10 value)

Books, animals, children, and all the Wild Things of their imagination live cozily together at the Wild Rumpus Bookstore

New York:
$25 for: Coupon to Steiner’s Last Licks plus a free sundae
($50 value)

A place for a sweet treat and some sports history

Philadelphia:
$25 for: Half off a coupon to Kids on 12th: Philadelphia Kids Club
($50 value)

A fun environment where your child’s mind and body will thrive

San Francisco Bay Area:
$47 for: Family membership to the Oakland Zoo
($95 value)

Have a zoo-per day with the bears, elephants, lions and more.

Seattle:
$30 for: Family membership to the Burke Museum of Natural History
($55 value)

Take a journey into the rich history and culture of the Pacific Northwest
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Windows Phone 7 …. Really?

October 11, 2010 By 11 Comments

I’ve been really excited about the New Windows Phone 7, until I found out that Verizon will not be carrying one until next year. Ugg, I don’t want to wait for a new phone, my phone is a technical dud that I want to throw into the bottom of the Ocean. I still find myself checking my e-mail and website from it all the time so I found this commercial hilarious. Aren’t we all like this, Really? We’re all so stuck on our phones and technology. I think the better you make a phone though, the more we’re going to be on it, not less. The only thing that keeps me off mine is that I can’t do everything I want to do!

I need a phone that I can do all of my social media on. I need twitter, facebook, a camera, a touch screen and a keyboard. Is that too much to ask from a phone. So will Windows Phone 7 really hold up to all of our expectations?

What do you think of the commercial?

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What is Your Favorite Thing About Fall?

October 11, 2010 By 12 Comments

What is your Favorite Thing About Fall?

I love the change in the leaves, the weather getting cooler after a long hot Summer and all the baking that happens. The weather in Washington doesn’t get that hot but once it gets cool enough for sweaters it makes me happy because I love to wear sweaters all Summer long too and everyone just looks at me like I’m a freak. Well, I’m from Texas land of the 100 plus degree days so a small breeze makes me freezing cold.

I love baking bread and chocolate desserts. The long list of things that I love to bake. I have a new neighborhood that I live in and now when I bake, I can have just enough to get the taste and desire taken care of and then share the rest. I love my neighborhood enough to write a post about how wonderful everyone is.

I love having kids and doing fall festivals, fairs, and carnivals. Oh yeah growing up we used to always go to the carnival that came into town, but here in Washington they don’t seem as safe, and maybe that’s because I’m looking at them through the eyes of an adult now. I would love to know what your favorite things are about Fall. If you don’t participate in Monday Mingle, just leave the answer in the comments!

mondaymingleThis is my Monday Mingle Post, and this week the questions are mine.

This week’s questions (submitted by Louise from Mom Start):

1. What is your favorite thing about Fall?
2. What is your favorite Fall/Winter thing to cook or eat?
3. What do you like to do with the kids outdoors during the Fall?

 

 

 

 

 

Want to participate? Monday Mingle is a Meme over at Eighty MPH Mom. Go over to her site, find the questions, take a video of the answers and post them to share. Then visit everyone that linked up and have fun getting to know each other.

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Voskos Greek Organic Yogurt Review & 30 Day Supply #Giveaway

October 9, 2010 By 311 Comments

imageEating healthy is always on my mind even when I’m failing at it. I’m always thinking of ways to prepare and give healthy options to my kids. Voskos Greek yogurts are flavorful, rich and creamy. Greek Yogurt has a different consistency than regular yogurt. It is thicker without being a custard. It also to me has a different flavor. The Voskos Greek Yogurt flavors are high in protein, contain live and active probiotic cultures and no rBST, rBGH, GMO, and are gluten Free. They can replace sour cream, mayonnaise and cream cheese in many recipes, thus lowering the amount of calories and upping the protein.

Voskos Greek Yogurt recently sent me some samples to try. They sent me a few of the certified organic yogurts and some of their non organic yogurt flavors. I’ve been quite happy with both sets. I don’t have the strongest of taste buds around and I can’t tell a difference. I usually can tell a difference between organic and non-organic, but I think that since they use natural ingredients in both they are very similar.  One thing that I do really like is that they have a lot of interesting and natural flavors. Take these three flavors for instance Honey Vanilla Bean, Organic Vanilla Bean, and Exotic Fig.

Each flavor has around 130 calories and no fat. Yogurt is so good for you in so many ways.

Enter to Win:

30-day supply of Voskos, in the form of 30 free product coupons

To Enter:

Tell me what you think your favorite Voscos Yogurt Flavor would be?

Extra Entries:

Tweet or RT this post and include the link to the post

Follow/Like Mom Start on Facebook
Follow me on twitter tell me your twitter ID
Follow me on Google Friend Connect
Subscribe to my blog
Comment on any other non-giveaway post 
List this giveaway on any giveaway site, dig or stumble
Blog About this Giveaway (5 extra entries, linking to the giveaway)
Add my blog button to your sidebar.

This giveaway ends October 25th, I was provided a sample in exchange for this post! All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

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Bialetti Aeternum Red Cookware Line

October 9, 2010 By 646 Comments

There would be no eating in this house if it wasn’t for the pots and pans that I cook on. We’re pretty picky about the pots and pans we use, well they have to meet only one requirement. They must be dishwasher safe, therefore, they must be easy to clean. Everything else comes after that. Bialetti is known as an European Leader in the cookware sector. Bialetti Industrie with the brands: Bialetti, Rondine, Girmi and Aeternum, offers an assortment of aluminum and steel products unique worldwide. We had the opportunity to try out some pans from the Aeternum line. They are light, a beautiful red color and so easy to clean. The pans have the best non-stick coating, in fact, it is this attention to detail that has made Bialetti Industire the “ non-stick specialist”, capable of producing technologically innovative products.

 

aeternum

Aeternum Eco Friendly

I used the pans to make eggs and stir fry. On both occasions the pans were practically clean when I put them in the dishwasher. Food just falls off of the insides of these pans. I love them. This three set pan set includes:

- 8" (20cm) Saute Pan
- 9.5" (24cm) Saute Pan
- 11" (28cm) Saute Pan

The pans are “nano-ceramic” which is a water-based coating made of titanium and silicate particles (the main component of glass). They are scratch resistant and offer a smooth surface for the easy cleaning that I love. The white color ads a fun and unique experience to your kitchen. Their base allows for excellent thermal conductivity. I’m quite happy with the aeternum pans and love any excuse to get them out and use them.

Enter to Win:

image3 piece aeternum pans

To Enter:

Leave a comment telling me what your favorite product is from the Bialetti Website.

Extra Entries:

Tweet or RT this post and include the link to the post

Follow/Like Mom Start on Facebook
Follow me on twitter tell me your twitter ID
Follow me on Google Friend Connect
Subscribe to my blog
Comment on any other non-giveaway post 
List this giveaway on any giveaway site, dig or stumble
Blog About this Giveaway (5 extra entries, linking to the giveaway)
Add my blog button to your sidebar.

This giveaway ends October 25th, I was provided a sample in exchange for this post! All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

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