2011 April — MomStart

Florida Department of Citrus Free Meaningful Morning Checklist Magnet

April 11, 2011 By Momstart 2 Comments

To help you start each day on the right foot, the Florida Department of Citrus created a Free “Meaningful Morning Checklist” refrigerator magnet. Not only does the magnet provide quick tips to make each morning more special, but you can personalize it with a family photo or fun image of your choice. Plus, it goes right on your fridge to serve as a daily reminder to make the most of your mornings!

I don’t know where I would be without all of our refrigerator magnets and lists. My day is recorded on my fridge and in my e-mail.

Filed Under: savings Tagged With: Department of Citrus, Florida, free, freebie, Meaningful Morning Checklist Magnet, Save money

Get Ready for Prom on a Budget

April 11, 2011 By Momstart 17 Comments

Disney has a really cute movie coming out all about Prom coming to theaters April 29, 2011., capturing the teenage ritual in a very tasteful way. At “Prom,” every couple has a story and no two are exactly alike. Several intersecting stories unfold at one high school as the big dance approaches; “Prom” portrays the precarious passage from high school to independence as some relationships unravel and others ignite. For Nova Prescott (Aimee Teegarden), it’s a battle of wills as she finds herself drawn to the guy (Thomas McDonell) who gets in the way of her perfect prom. I remember Prom and my desire for a perfect night, only to realize it just wasn’t possible. But having the perfect dress was and I had to have the perfect dress and I went to about five different proms. Yep, any excuse to get dressed up and go dancing (with yet one more chance to have that perfect night LOL), and I didn’t wear the same dress to any of them, and even then I knew how to save money. So while your kids are starting to think about prom and where to find the perfect dress, you can keep them reigned in on a budget. It can be done! Andrea Woroch, a media expert source featured on NBC’s Today Show, FOX & Friends, MSNBC, ABC News NOW and many more, is sharing 8 Frugal Tips To Help You Feel Like Prom Royalty with us. Here are her tips for Prom on a Budget with my opinion mixed in here and there.

1. Borrow Accessories
Dig through your grandma’s or mom’s jewelry box to find retro costume jewelry or a vintage clutch to pair with your dress. You could also ask your sister, cousin or friends if you can borrow a fabulous pair of earrings or necklace for the special evening. If you decide to invest in jewelry, make sure it’s a style you can wear for many years to come.

2. Find Frugal Frocks
Every teenage girl wants to look like a princess at prom, but blowing your budget on a formal gown you will wear only once isn’t a smart purchase. Consider a simple cocktail dress that will serve double duty for post-prom celebrations, like college formals and weddings. Browse consignment shops and thrift stores for fabulous vintage frocks at prices that run as low as $20. Or, search sale racks at stores like Nordstrom and Dillards, which offer a large discount dress selection. Don’t forget to compare prices online and search for dresses and women’s shoe coupons to score even better deals from sites like CouponSherpa.com.

Dreaming of a designer dress? Sign up for flash-sale sites like Hautelook & Daily Candy Swirl! to receive daily deal alerts on popular fashion brands for savings of up to 70-percent off.

My two cents – raid your girlfriend’s closets. We traded dresses all the time, someone else’s dress is new to you. You can even have a dress party, everyone brings their dresses and you all trade or take home your favorite pick. It’s a fun way to share.

3. Do Your Own Grooming
Extremely formal up-dos are no longer popular, so consider doing your own hair. If you’re old enough for prom, you’re probably capable of handling your own makeup and nails. You could also swap services with friends. You could easily save up to $200, and ultimately look more like your real self. Include your mom or aunt, who may also be able help curl your locks and your lashes. Gather ideas from online photos or magazines and be sure to practice the hairstyle before the big night.

You can sign up at the malls to have the make up counters do your make up. They hope you make a makeup purchase at the end of your session and it is the polite thing to do, but it’s not required.

4. Use Simple Floral Tricks
Make your own boutonnieres and corsages, or order them from your local grocery store. Often, their prices for flowers are 40-percent less than a traditional florist. Go for a more minimalist look, like an elegant single rose or flower with greenery.

5. Chuck The Formal Photos
Professional prom portraits cost anywhere from $25 to $75, depending on the size and number of prints purchased. Unless you marry your prom partner, that expensive photo will likely end up at the bottom of a box. Nor do formal photos really capture the memory of the night. Instead, share camera duties with friends for an honest record of the evening. Photo prints at CVS or Snapfish cost as little as $0.15 per picture and offer the option to create digital photo albums for a more memorable and less expensive keepsake.

6. Compare Tuxedo Prices
Tux rentals will set most students back $75 to $100 or more. That’s why it’s important to comparison shop. Don’t be afraid to barter for a better price. You may even be able to negotiate a cheaper rate if you recruit several friends to rent in bulk from the same store. Be sure the shop provides all the needed accessories, including a shirt, vest or cummerbund, handkerchief, shoes, tie and belt to eliminate spending extra on these suiting essentials. Better still, skip expensive extras and fill in with your own stuff for a free-spirit look.

My 2 cents – You would also be surprised what you can find at a consignment shop or value village, goodwill type store.

7. Lose the Limo
Most limos have four-hour minimums and require tipping, which could result in a bill of $400 or more. Divided among several friends, the cost can be affordable. However, party buses that hold more people than limos are a fun and more affordable option, so search around for prices and negotiate among several companies. Also, consider the possibility of borrowing a nice car from a parent or relative.

8. Buy Gift Cards at Discount Prices
From pre-party decorations to such prom essentials as dresses, shoes and flowers, students can buy gift cards and save as much as 30-percent. You’ll find them at sites like GiftCardGranny.com for such major retailers as Target, Macy’s, 1-800 Flowers, and many more.

Disclosure: Tips were provided by Andrea Woroch with permission to reprint, and photos and images are from Disney Studios.

Filed Under: Announcement Tagged With: Budget, Disney, movie, Prom, Prom night, Prom on a budget

Blogging Tips: Two Ways to Know Your Return on Investment

April 11, 2011 By Momstart 9 Comments

Blogging has been a great outlet for me. I get to write about me and the kids, learn about new and fun products, save the family money and I actually have the opportunity to make some money too. To make money as a blogger you have to have ways to show what you are worth to other companies. You need to be able to show them what their return on investment would be. It’s also called an ROI.

One way is to know your readers. You should be able to use a web form generator to create polls to find out what your readers are interested in. It’s also a great way to learn about your blog demographics. Knowing who your readers are is very valuable when it comes to working with certain companies. If you want to work with a baby company they are going to want to know if you’re readers are new moms or women that are expecting. Find out what your blog demographics are. Who is reading your blog, men or women, how old are they? Are they married or single?

Another way is to have a newsletter, or mailing list. Last year, I worked with a company doing a very large giveaway, the Sleep Number Bed giveaway. I did this giveaway, one because I knew it would bring me a lot of traffic. Two, because I wanted to see if I could. One of the requirements I had to meet was that I had a acquire 2000, names, address and e-mail addresses. I thought the closest I would ever get to 2000 was 1000 and I have to admit that I thought that 1000 was stretching it. I had to create HTML forms and plug them into the giveaway so I could keep track of all the entries. It was basically a mailing list form. I ended up with 1500 unique addresses to give to the company I was working with. This was very valuable to them and they were extremely satisfied with my performance. Having a newsletter or mailing list is very valuable to companies because it’s another way that you can get information out to your followers on their behalf.

Do you have a newsletter or mailing list that you keep track of?

Filed Under: personal Tagged With: blog advice, blog tips, blogging, Return on Investment, ROI

Free Travel Alaska State Guide

April 11, 2011 By Momstart 2 Comments

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I’ve always wanted to go visit Alaska. Get a free official state guide.

Filed Under: savings Tagged With: coupons, freebie, save

Memories At Grandmas Enjoy a Spring Garden Recipe: Wilted Lettuce

April 10, 2011 By Momstart 2 Comments

Memories at Grandmas is a weekly collection of memories and recipes with Angie who blogs daily at Shop Annies.

One thing that I remember is the sweet little gardens that my parents, grandma H, and grandma S would have. Their gardens were all different and yet I loved to help in all of them. My parents had a garden where they would raise enough veggies to last the winter through as well as give us a fresh bit of goodness in the veggies that we raised through out the summer months. Here is where I would learn the gardening lessons that I retain now through work and experience. I would help till the soil, plant the seed, harvest the goodness of the vegetables, snap, pop, clean, and eat what we raised.

The thing I remember most about my mothers mom Grandma H. garden was the white picket fence that surrounded her garden

Found with in the old picket fence was a valuable resource of flowers as well as veggies that she would raise each year. The garden was not a place to play but one where she would spend many hours of work. If you were old enough to be trusted you may find yourself lucky enough to work side by side grandma in the garden. That for sure would give you bragging rights to share with your cousins and parents.

My dads mom Grandma S. had help in her garden as it was the first sort of community garden that I remember. They were large farmers but also had gardening area large enough to share with friends and relatives. Each had their favorite veggie to raise but it seemed tomatoes were the favorite of most. When I was young, finding a milk carton in the garden seemed a bit odd but as I learned how they helped tomatoes, it made sense and i was happy I learned the lesson.

One of my favorite recipes for early spring gardening is wilted lettuce.

Ingredients:

•1 head iceberg or romaine lettuce, washed, dried and torn coarsely into pieces
•1/2 pound bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
•1 large finely chopped onion
•1/4 cup water
•1/4 cup vinegar
•3 tablespoons sugar
•Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Place lettuce in a heatproof bowl. In a large skillet, fry bacon until half cooked. Add onion and continue to fry bacon until crisp but not burned. Drain all but 4 tablespoons bacon grease from the skillet. Add water, vinegar and sugar, and bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Pour hot vinaigrette over lettuce, add salt and pepper to taste and toss. Serve immediately.

Did you have a Gardner in your family or neighborhood? Were you able to help in the dark soil? Do you like gardening now?

About Angie:

Angie is going to be bringing us meals and memories as a weekly contributor here at Mom Start called Memories at Grandmas. She writes daily at Shop Annies, Annies Home where she constantly shares recipes, tips, and wonderful products she and her family of six children uses.

Filed Under: Angie, recipe Tagged With: gardening, recipe, wilted lettuce

Protect the Amboseli Wildlife Corridor: See African Cats

April 10, 2011 By Momstart Leave a Comment

In celebration of Earth Day Disney is about to release the next movie in their Disneynature label. The next film is AFRICAN CATS, opening in theatres everywhere on Earth Day, April 22nd! Now, the exciting part is the different Disney is trying to make for our world. For EARTH, Disney held the program “But a Ticket, Plant a Tree” which led to the planting of 2.7 million trees in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest. Last year for OCEANS, the program was “See Oceans, Save Oceans” which helped establish 40,000 acres of marine protected area in The Bahamas, preserving essential coral reefs. That’s pretty amazing if you ask me. Now with African Cats, during the film’s opening week (April 22-28), a portion of the proceeds from that week’s ticket sales will be donated to the African Wildlife Foundation through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund to protect the Amboseli Wildlife Corridor, a passage between the Amboseli, Tsavo West and Chyulu Hills National Parks that is frequently used by lions, cheetahs, elephants, zebras, giraffes and a host of other animals in the African savanna. Again, another great way to help the planet.

So all you have to do to help is go buy a ticket and watch the movie.

When I was in LA in January with Disney, I had the opportunity to preview a little bit of the movie and I was captivated by the story of the two of the cat families. While watching African Cats you will have the opportunity to follow along with narrator Samuel L. Jackson as the story of Mara, an endearing lion cub who strives to grow up with her mother’s strength, spirit and wisdom and Sita, a fearless cheetah and single mother of five mischievous newborns unfolds. You will also learn about another family Fang, a proud leader of the pride who must defend his family from a rival lion and his sons.

Protect the Amboseli Wildlife Corridor: See African Cats

Filed Under: Announcement Tagged With: African Cats, Protect the Amboseli, Wildlife corridor

Upside Down Chaos with Zoe Monday Mingle Vlog

April 10, 2011 By Momstart 14 Comments

Welcome to Monday Mingle! This is where we answer three questions every week over at Eighty MPH Mom on video or not you can just write them down in the comments section or on your own blog. Then we go link up and visit each other and learn about each other. This weeks’ questions:

Current questions {week of 4/11/11}:

1. Did you play an April Fool’s joke on anyone? Tell us about it!
2. Do you have a Kobo, Nook, Kindle etc? Do you read more ebooks or traditional books?

3. If your life was a book what would the title be?

My Answers:

1) No, I’m too boring to do that.

2)Yes, I’m an e-reader through and through and have tried almost all of them. I love testing electronics, I’ve played with the iPad, the Nook, the NookColor, Kindle, and Kindle2. I’m an e-reader addict.

3) Well you’ll just have to watch the video to see that answer!

Thanks for visiting this week, what would your life be called?

Filed Under: personal Tagged With: Monday Mingle

Ester-C To Go

April 10, 2011 By Momstart 1 Comment

I have been taking Ester-C vitamins in pill form for the past month and a half. I swallow two pills a day with water. Simple, but I have to take one pill at two different times of the day which can be hard to remember. For some people it might be hard to swallow. In such a case or for another form of “The Better Vitamin C” try Ester-C’s Immune Support To Go!

Ester-C has this time requested I try their To Go packets. Right now boxes are offering 20% more free and so instead of the normal 10 packets my box has 12 water resistant packages of Ester-C. Taking patented Ester-C all year long can support heart health, antioxidant health, healthy bone and joints, and healthy skin, hair and nails. Ester-C ingredients provide immune system support that is quickly absorbed and gentle on stomachs. Ester-C works along with naturally occurring metabolites which enhances the absorption and retention of Vitamin C in the body. Ester-C contains no caffeine, no stimulants, and no artificial sweeteners or flavor. If you have dietary restrictions Ester-C also contains no milk or lactose, no soy, no gluten, wheat or yeast, and no fish.

For 1000mg of vitamin C plus electrolytes and B vitamins to boost energy metabolism, just drink one zesty orange mix dissolved in 8 fluid ounces of water. The individual packets instruct cutting along the dotted line to open; however, a perforation is provided for tearing the packet open. Now Ester-C can go where ever you go for whenever you need it. Tuck a packet into your purse or into your park playdate bag. Just be sure to keep out of the reach of children as Ester-C is not intended for use by persons under the age of 18 (other restrictions and warnings do apply, see packaging for complete list).

If you would like to learn more about Ester-C you can visit their site which lets you see some of their products, read about the benefits, and ask experts questions about Ester-C. You can also obtain a $2.00 instant print Ester-C coupon to try Ester-C for yourself. Ester-C can also be found on Facebook.

The Ester-C 24/7 Mom contest is also drawing to an end. Nominations will be accepted until Wednesday, April 13. It really can’t be easier to enter by simply uploading a 30-second video or a 150-word (or less) essay with photo explaining why a mom in your life should will the title. The grand prize winner will a 7-night Mediterranean cruise. Other winners will receive spa treatments or housecleaning. The winners will be announced on Mother’s Day.

Disclosure – Product and compensation was provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the writing of this review; however, opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation. Your experience may be different.

About Summer:

Summer is the President of our Local MOMS Club chapter, she is the mother of two adorable active boys, and is always thinking of ways to help others. She is a friend, a wife, and always busy as all mommies are. She is very active on Facebook, addicted to Geocaching and very interested in organic and green living.

Filed Under: review, Summer Tagged With: Ester-C, Ester-C to Go, Summer, vitamin C

Hit The Beach with Simply Bags Beach Bag Review

April 9, 2011 By Momstart 4 Comments

I love spring and summer time! In the Pacific Northwest it means it’s time to head back out to the parks with less chance (to not chance) of rain. We like to be park-ready and prepared for any last minute park play date invitations. The very basic of needs to be prepared for such an occasion is a sturdy, easy to load and carry bag, such as the beach tote line from Simply Bags.

The great thing about buying from Simply Bags is they will embroider up to 10 characters on the bag for you. So you won’t take some else’s bag home, and they won’t take yours. I just got the Beach Duffle Bag in Flaming-Rose with Chocolate embroidery. The bag is much larger than I thought it’d be measuring 18” high x 12” wide x 8” deep. I can pile all my mommy needs right inside!

The Beach Duffle Bag is made of polycord which is very strong yet light fabric. The bag features an inner zip pocket, a zip outside to a second inner pocket, and a Velcro pocket with see through window on the shoulder strap for wallet, ID or cell phone. The fixtures to the bag are made of metal for longevity unlike other companies who use plastic.

At only $23.99 the Simply Bags’ Beach Duffle (and sister bags) will blow your mind with value and quality!

In my pre-packed Summer Tote Bag I have:

Snack such as Raisels or snacks from the HappyMUNCHIES line, and for me a KIND bar (or two)
Some water for you like Metromint and take either full water bottles for your kids or keep empty one for filling at a water fountain
A package of wipes if handy not just for diapering but for cleaning hands or washing table tops before eating
Diapers, cream, and a spare pacifier if your kids use these things

and of course

SUNSCREEN
some sand toys

You need your own! Find Simply Bags on their site for asking questions and ordering. You can also Like Simply Bags on Facebook and track them on Twitter @SimplyBags to keep up with the giveaways and contests they host. In fact, they have a giveaway currently going on for a Bridal Beach Bag.

Disclosure – A product was provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the writing of this review; however, opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation

About Summer:

Filed Under: review Tagged With: bag review, Beach Bag, reusaable bags, Simply Bags, Summer Tote Bag

Horizon’s new Fat Free DHA Omega-3 Milk Review & Giveaway

April 8, 2011 By Momstart 232 Comments

We drink a lot of milk. Actually our family consumes a lot of dairy. We love it for snacks and dairy is always a part of our meals. Horizon is making organic milk even healthier for your family by adding Fat-Free Milk plus DHA Omega-3 to their product line which offers lower fat and calorie content than their other DHA Omega-3 milks. And they’re the only company offering DHA Omega-3 in fat-free milk!

DHA Omega-3 is not only good for brain health but for your heart and eyes too. People most commonly think of DHA Omega-3 in fish or fish oil supplements. The benefit to getting DHA Omega-3 via milk versus fish or supplements is you can get your kids to actually drink it. Eating fish isn’t hard for some kids. My youngest isn’t picky but my oldest won’t eat fish. And supplements can be hard for children as the oil can taste bad or coat the mouth (as it is an oil – this doesn’t hurt but it might feel funny to children turning them off of the supplement), and gelatin tablets are hard to swallow for young children. However, the DHA Omega-3 found in Horizon’s milk is actually not fish; it’s a vegetarian and sustainable source of plant-based DHA from Martek Biosciences Corpations. This is the same type of gentle, flavorless DHA Omega-3 used in infant formulas. This special DHA Omega-3 doesn’t flavor the milk, so you are still getting the pure taste of Horizon’s high quality organic milk.

Founded in 1991, Horizon is THE pioneer of nationally offered organic milk. Since 2007, Horizon has offered whole and reduced-fat versions for their DHA Omega-3 line. In 2010, they added to the line with a chocolate milk option. This new fat-free opinion just came out in February. If your local store carries Horizon organic products but is not yet offering the DHA line or the Fat-Free DHA Omega-3 opinion, ask them to begin carrying it. Stores love filling requests to keep their customers happy; so if your store doesn’t offer Horizon, you can request that too. Horizon offers not only organic milk, but organic yogurt, cheese, cream, butter, eggs, cottage cheese, cream cheese, and sour cream.

We love Horizon products. My sons like their milk boxes which are a staple at birthday parties. They enjoy their string cheese and cottage cheese. It was no surprise to me that they would enjoy Horizon’s DHA Omega-3 line. It is true that the only taste is the milk itself and the texture hasn’t seemed to change either. I feel good knowing I’m giving my family a little boost using Horizon’s organic milk with DHA plus Omega-3 over just plain old milk. You can not only drink it, but cooking with the enhanced milk would also offer your family and friends so extra benefits, like in bread pudding.

Using Horizon your milk is still local using 600 family farmers to supply their organic products. The cows are certified organic and their product lines use simple ingredients without antibiotics, added growth hormones or pesticides. They are also making green efforts by using wind power to manufacture their products.

Check out Horizon on their site where you can find all sorts of information on their products they offer. They also have Horizon Organic recipes for some fresh ideas in the kitchen. You can also stay updated through Horizon on Facebook and by tracking them on Twitter @HorizonDairy.

Enter To Win:

2 Free Product Coupons from Horizon

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Leave a comment here telling me why you like using organic products

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Horizon’s new Fat Free DHA Omega-3 Milk Review & #Giveaway http://bit.ly/hkHneD

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This giveaway ends April 25th. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

About Summer:

Filed Under: giveaway Tagged With: DHA, Fat free milk, giveaway, Horizon, Omega-3, organic

Florida Department of Citrus Free Meaningful Morning Checklist Magnet

Get Ready for Prom on a Budget

Blogging Tips: Two Ways to Know Your Return on Investment

Free Travel Alaska State Guide

Memories At Grandmas Enjoy a Spring Garden Recipe: Wilted Lettuce

Protect the Amboseli Wildlife Corridor: See African Cats

Upside Down Chaos with Zoe Monday Mingle Vlog

Ester-C To Go

Hit The Beach with Simply Bags Beach Bag Review

Horizon’s new Fat Free DHA Omega-3 Milk Review & Giveaway

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