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My Favorite Sites

A while back someone asked me to post a list of my favorite sites. Some of these include links that give me stuff if you sign up, other’s don’t offer that option, but either way, I hope you find something that you like! And sign up with my links just in case 🙂

Site with Points for Searching and Shopping:

1. Bing – You earn points for searching. It’s 1 point per 3 searches and a maximum of 30 points per day – or 40 points if you want to install and use the mobile app as well. I like to redeem my points for groupon gift cards and then get some free food with my groupon bucks. Actually, these days, I get free lunches for my husband with my groupon bucks, but either way, it saves us some money and he gets tasty lunches during the week.

2. Swagbucks – Points for searching and a few other things, the search points are random so you may get 20 points or no points, you never know. There’s also surveys, daily polls, and you can click through when you’re shopping online. So, there’s multiple ways to earn points here. I like to redeem my points for Amazon gift cards.

3. My Points – This is another site where you click through when you’re shopping and you get points you can redeem for gift cards. They have a great selection of gift cards on here. Also, Bzz Agent (discussed below) gives you My Points when you interact with brands, so you can earn two ways.

4. Coke Rewards – Collect bottle caps, enter the codes for points you can redeem for merchandise or free cokes. If you’re drinking it anyway you may as well get a few free ones!

5. Kelloggs – If you eat cereal, crackers, or plow through the eggos like my kids do, this is a great way to get some free cereal bowls or other merchandise. Just enter the codes from the inside of the boxes.

Product Review Sites:

1. Pinch Me – They offer a small box of free samples every other week. You have to be on there right when the samples become available to order yours or you won’t get any. These are all sample size and a bit of a hassle to get but if you want to try out interesting products, you can give it a try.

2. Smiley360 – Free products to try and review. They recently updated their website and it’s so much easier to use and they have so many more products available. I’m currently trying out a new Nescafe instant coffee, and I’m waiting on some scented markers to arrive for the kids to test. They seem to have a lot of home stuff like soap and toilet bowl cleaner and other fun things like markers and coffee.

3. Bzz Agent – Free products to try and review. I get lots of food products from here. I just tried a new Sara Lee Pound Cake (the blog review for this is coming soon), and several Kroger $5 off coupons to promo their digital coupons and their community rewards. Plus they do toys – which the kids love, and other products like deodorant, roomba, etc. Usually the products are totally free. (I got a huge discount on my roomba but I did still have to pay something – if you don’t want to pay you just say so and don’t accept the campaign). They offer you a product and you say that yes you’d like to receive it and review it. I’ve been using this site for years and love all the fun products I get to try!

Survey Sites:

1. YouGov – Mostly government related surveys. Usually about 1 survey a week, they have a few decent redemption options.

2. My View – I’ve been using this survey site for a long time. They have a great selection of rewards.

3. Toluna – Surveys mostly, there’s also a few other activities you can do on the site for points to redeem for gift cards.

4. Schlinger & Associates – A few surveys for points. Mostly, these are research studies and they’ll tell you up front what they’re offering you to participate. Sometimes it’s a check and other times it’s a gift card.

5. Pure Profile – Surveys, you redeem for PayPal in $25 increments.

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Dress Up Your Nuggets

Chick-Fil-A Moms is hosting a Dress Up Your Nuggets challenge. Sounded like lots of fun. I chose an Around the world Theme to show off some different ways to eat Chick-Fil-A nuggets.

First up is French. They’re all about their minimal servings. Though I doubt they eat barbecue or chicken nuggets in France, if they did, this is what it would look like. And Chick-Fil-A is such a quality nugget, it could be served in a gourmet restaurant, right?

Next we have Chinese. They pair everything with rice. Add a little sweet and sour sauce and you have a meal!

Third we have Mexican. I love a good taco! My 6yr old thought this one looked so good she claimed it for herself as soon as I finished photographing it. Of course, I had to remove the lettuce, because she doesn’t eat lettuce on her tacos. A little mexican rice, cheese, lettuce, and chicken for a delicious chicken taco.

Last of all, I came back home to the Southern US and did Fried Chicken and Waffles. No one can beat some savory fried chicken and sweet syrup, especially when the chicken is boneless and oh so tasty!

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Easter

I love Easter! It’s probably my favorite holiday after Christmas. Sometimes, I wish it was a month long celebration like Christmas always turns out to be. Really, I think it should be, there’s so many fun things you could do for this holiday!

First of all, we’re celebrating Jesus rising from the dead. So, it’s a celebration! The kids love it too, on Palm Sunday they get to wave palm branches (which is probably their most favorite sunday school activity), and then on Easter they get to go with us and see our service – which is more fun than usual because there’s lots of kids in there and it is a Sunday of celebration. If I could just find a decent recipe for a resurrection cake I’d be all set…

Next, there’s lunch, and I make some of my favorite foods! Corn pudding, sweet potato casserole, glazed ham, green beans, rolls, salad, desserts, and anything else that sounds yummy.

And after the meal there’s the egg hunt. I like to put candy and small toys in the eggs. I have some special candy hidden away from the kids this year that they don’t get to see until they open their eggs!

And, best of all, it’s spring! so it’s a nice warm (or at least warmish) holiday. It’s the beginning of the growing season and I have a whole spring and summer to look forward too. What better way to celebrate new life and growth than by celebrating resurrection and life!

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Mom’s Night Out – Review

Got to see a pre-release screening of Mom’s Night Out with some friends Thursday night and I loved it! The first pre-release I’ve ever seen so I didn’t know what to expect. I had three other friends who came as well so we had a nice group going. My husband was a little nervous about feeding the baby and getting him to bed on his own (the movie started at 7:00pm which is right when we start our bedtime routines) but things went pretty well for him. The baby ate 3 pieces of french toast and then didn’t drink very much of his sippy cup, which concerned my husband a little – but I’m sure the little guy was just stuffed from his dinner and wasn’t hungry for milk. Which definitely seemed to be the case because he didn’t wake up any more than usual last night.

Back to the movie…so we get to the theater and walk in and there’s a table set up on the way in to our showing, everyone gets a swag bag. Awesome! I was going to be really disappointed if they didn’t give us something. There was a magnetic notepad, pen, car sticker, resource DVD, two movie posters, nail file, some little cards, keychain, and my favorite “Dad’s Big Book of Tips for Moms’ Night Out”, hilarious tips for Dad’s watching the kids.

So I’m already excited. Then, what I hadn’t realized before, during the introduction, I discover that the movie is created by the same people that made Fireproof, which I haven’t actually watched but it gives me hope that the comedy will be a clean comedy. You know, I invited friends to this, all of our husbands are home with the kids, I’m really hoping for a good movie!

Mom’s Night Out is hilarious and heartwarming at the same time. They did a great job on the movie, me and my friends thoroughly enjoyed it!

The comedy was clean so you could take kids to the movie (though they probably won’t find it as funny as parents do). There were only 3 men in the entire theater last night, which I expected because the marketing for this movie has been primarily to moms. But, I’m sure that men will love it just as much as women do.

It’s a nice, happy, hilarious view of motherhood and parenting and left me, as a mom, re-engergized for the stage of motherhood that I’m in. (or maybe it was the giant piece of New York Style Cheesecake that I ate after the movie…)

I really think any mother would love this movie, regardless of how old her kids are. It comes out May 9th, just in time for Mother’s Day. So if you don’t have plans for your mom yet, try dinner and a movie, and you’ll be glad you did!

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Mom’s Night Out

Looking forward to seeing Mom’s Night Out this evening! Going out with some other Mom friends to see the movie. I’m so excited!

We get to see a pre-release showing at our local theater.I’ve never been to something like this and I’m super excited!

I got the invitation a few weeks ago so I checked my calendar and saw that the date was open, then I txted my husband and asked him if he had heard of the movie and if he had any thoughts. He didn’t really care about the movie, he just thought it was awesome that I get to go to a free pre-release showing of a movie. Basically, he was like “you should go!” even before I gave him the details.

Up until last night I think he was more excited about it for me than I am excited for me. I have a friend who’s a local business owner so she and I each got tickets and we’re each bringing a friend so we’ll have a lot of fun all getting to hang out together!

Of course, last night I think my husband realized that he’s putting all 3 kids to bed on his own. He asked for a list of instructions. I am feeding everyone supper before I leave so really all he has to do is bedtime so it’s not that bad, I think thought that he’s never put the baby to bed since the baby likes to nurse to sleep at night. So I’m not sure how well the bottle will go. I guess we’ll find out!

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Disney Side

I’m so excited! I received a bunch of free products from Disney Side @Home Celebrations to host my own #Disneyside party!

First of all, people started getting their boxes weeks ago. And these boxes had some awesome stuff in them! So, I was eagerly awaiting mine. Well, it was scheduled to be delivered Tuesday. And guess what happened Tuesday? Snow, enough snow that UPS didn’t deliver. So, I had to wait till Wednesday. Very impatiently wait, I might add.

Here’s a bunch of party supplies, Mickey Mouse themed plates, cups, napkins, cookie cutters, table cloth, bracelets, stickers and tattoos, banners, and craisins. There is also Disney bingo, Disney posters, HP Photo card packs, Disney vacation planning DVD, measuring cups, recipe cards, and Hanes white t-shirts with fabric markers.

And, a very special hostess gift. An American Tourister suitcase and Mickey Mouse luggage tag. I saw pictures of other’s suitcases and some were getting black with red, pink, and green. I’m not a pink or green suitcase person so I was really hoping for the black and red. Which is exactly what I got. WooHoo! I’ve really been needing some new luggage and I’ve honestly never owned a piece of luggage quite this nice before. Now, I just need to plan a trip…

Back to the party, my kids are so excited! I told them we would have a playdate with friends and we can decorate t-shirts and cookies and have disney themed snacks. I haven’t planned out my menu yet but expect pictures of whatever I come up with!

Thanks again to Disney Parks and MomSelect for all this awesome Disney party stuff!

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TruMoo Sweepstakes

Don’t forget to enter your milk caps for an entry in the TruMoo sweepstakes. You’ll get a $2 coupon off any Goosebumps DVD and an entry into their sweepstakes for a Haunted Hollywood Vacation.

My kids had so much fun drinking the new Vanilla Orange Milk. Thanks Bzzagent for the free half gallon! Then I got my coupon and entered the sweepstakes. Orange milk would be a great addition to your child’s Halloween party!

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Goosbumps Sweepstakes

First, thanks to bzzagent.com I (and the kids of course) got to try Orange colored milk for free! My kids thought this was awesome! Seriously, who doesn’t just love orange milk! I mean, what kids doesn’t like orange milk? It was a little sweet for me, being as it’s vanilla flavored – I almost feel like I’m drinking a candy corn. But, if you have trouble getting the kids to drink milk, orange milk might just do the trick 🙂 And if your kids just love milk, they’ll think you’re an awesome parent for serving them orange milk!

Maybe TruMoo can make green milk for Christmas – or not, I don’t think I could drink green milk (but you know, if it tasted like McDonald’s shamrock milkshake I would drink the whole half gallon myself). Red milk might be fun, and yellow milk for easter – oh, wait, milk is already yellow…Colored milk is just so much fun!

What’s even better, if you buy a gallon or half gallon of TruMoo’s halloween themed milk they have a code on the cap. You can enter a sweepstakes to win a Goosebumps Haunted Hollywood Vacation. I don’t know about your kids, but mine would love it! And, when you enter the sweepstakes, you get a printable coupon for $2 off any Goosbumps DVD.

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Chamomile Tea

I gave my baby chamomile tea for the first time last night. I had read somewhere that chamomile was good for colicky babies. Now, I don’t have a colicky baby (far from it) but he had a really rough day yesterday and his tummy was obviously upset, so I looked up chamomile tea since I always have that on hand – my 5yr old loves to drink it when she’s sick.

According to what I read, you make a weak cup of tea and give the baby 1 to 3 teaspoons of the tea and it’ll settle the baby’s stomach. So I gave it a try. I put it in a bottle for the baby, of course, since this was his first experience with a bottle he had no idea what to do with it but he still drank a teaspoon or two.

Chamomile is fairly sweet on it’s own so even though the baby wasn’t familiar with it, he still liked it. And, he settled right down in 15 minutes. Then nursed and finally went to sleep.

I’ve heard you can use chamomile daily for colicky babies but I’ve never tried it since I’ve been blessed with happy babies. Though, I am tempted to give him a teaspoon every night before bed since he slept 10 hrs last night – Don’t worry, I won’t, he’s been sleeping longer and longer at night already. Though, I had forgotten what a full night’s sleep feels like, I almost didn’t need my coffee this morning!