Life In A House of Blue !

Are Our Kids Targeted by Spammers?

2011-06-09T11:11:00.001-05:00

Are Our Kids Targeted by Spammers?

There is a big push right now by the spammers to target kids with attractive email messages, containing well known cartoon characters, colorful lettering, etc Why kids? Because they are an easy target, like "taking candy from a baby". Our children are very adept in finding their way on the computer and sooner than later they will click on the wrong email message.

Risking the Loss of Our Personal Information

And, just like that with a one click, we can not only loose our precious pictures, family videos and our personal information, there is even bigger price to pay. Many people suffer for years to come, from thieves using their personal identities. Your credit is at stake, monetary loss is at stake, and to fix and correct all of this can be a mind boggling task, requiring hiring professionals and a lot of wasted time and energy.

What Are the Objectives of Spammers Sending Email Viruses?

The are many objectives spammers may have to attach email viruses, and they would include:

Forcing others to react in a certain way
Peddling a product
Building a list of customers

The more serious objectives would be clearly to harm you:

To spread a computer virus (to damage or to steal your data)
To inflict fear and pain
To hold power over large segments of people, events and things

The Hackers and Spammers Different From Terrorists

If anybody's argument going to be that the "BIG" difference is, the terrorists are not in it for the money? If that is your reasoning, then the logical next question would be, what gives you the most power in this world? The answer is Money!
Can you buy nuclear technology without money? or Can you purchase arms, explosives, knowledge and the list goes on..., without money? Of course, not.

The ends will always justify the means to these people, whether it is a cyber terror or an explosion in the subway.
I would like to know, your opinion on this subject, whether the cyber spammers, responsible for malicious emails, and hackers should be classified as terrorists? Should we have our Justice Systems changed, regarding the classification of cyber terrorists in the eyes of the "Law", across the world to address this rapidly growing problem? We would perhaps breath a little easier?

Is There A Solution For Us Right Now?

The answer is yes. After looking at various software and tools trying to address this problem, the best option is to keep your emails away from your computer, without being tied down to any specific service. You should be able to use your current email system, whatever it is and be able to get rid off and suspicious looking emails before they even get to your computer.

Some email messages you don't even have to click on for the virus to execute automatically. When you think about it, the danger is more REAL than most people realize and it would be crazy not to have a strong email security tool to protect your computer or a network, but many of us don't even think about it. You are welcome to see what are the best solutions available right now at my site.

Should we label internet spammers and hackers as terrorists, remains the question to answer, as the Criminal Justice system across the world would have to be changed, and maybe we would breath a little easier.

BIO
Andrew Thomas is a dedicated fighter against any digital pests, spam distribution and email viruses. The mission is to halt dishonest promotion efforts and spammers and to get rid of any digital garbage from our digital space. His personal story and recommendations are at www.webbaster.com

Nustrisystem: Week 13 #NSNation

2011-06-07T09:32:00.001-05:00

I have to say after 12 weeks on Nutrisystem it has become more of a lifestyle and not a "diet". I can now go out to eat and feel comfortable about ordering and not feel like I am cheating. The biggest thing for me to remember when eating out is portion control and getting a to go box when my food first comes and removing the extra portion before I even start eating.

My new favorite snack is the Strawberry Shortcake Bar, YUMMY !!!
This is how it is described on the website:
"Nothing says summer like strawberries, and nothing brings out the flavor of strawberries more than strawberry shortcake. Now you can enjoy this flavorful fruit treat any time of the year! As soon as you unwrap this decadent dessert, you can smell the strawberries. A dense vanilla bar is topped with rich strawberry puree, then wrapped in a sweet, creamy yogurt frosting. You'll taste summer in every bite."

One thing that I have been having trouble with (but also happy about) is that my cloths DO NOT FIT !! I am down about 2 sizes in jeans...Yeah! But I am not ready to but new clothes yet. I have about 4 more weeks on the Nutrisystem program and hope to drop some more weight. But when I have nothing to wear I had to come up with a solution.....and I DID !!!! I know many of you have seen the "as seen on tv " product that allows you to make your pants a little bigger, well I bought them and used them for the opposite purpose than they are advertised for.... to make them smaller :) So glad this is working for me, I'm hoping to hold off a little while longer before I go buy new clothes.

Here is the part all of you have been waiting for !!!!

DRUM ROLL PLEASE...........................

Week 13 weight loss: - 1.6 pounds

TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS: -27.2 pounds

I know that I could have not lost over 27lbs on my own. I'm very satisfied with the Nutrisytem Program so far.

I am ready to see what week 14 will bring, don't forget to visit for my next weigh in :)

Would you like to lose weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem too? Visit Nutrisystem today or call 888-853-4689.

10,000 Glasses Giveaway - CoastalContacts.com

2011-05-25T13:17:00.001-05:00

Today, Wednesday, May 25^th starting at 9am EDT, Coastal Contacts is giving away 10,000 free pairs of glasses to Facebook fans of the brand. The giveaway is applicable to first-time participants in the US.

Here’s how it works:

1. Visit their Facebook Page and click on the ‘Free Glasses!!’ tab on the left side of our page.

2. Click the “like” button to reveal the coupon code or if you’ve already “liked” them the code will be displayed when you click on the tab.

3. Visit their website www.CoastalContacts.com and select a pair of glasses (they suggest picking out 3-5 pairs ahead of time).

4. Starting on Wednesday, May 25^th at 9am EDT, place your order and enter the coupon code at checkout to get your free pair of glasses.

*Shipping and handling costs will be applied to your order. Typically, this will be about $10-15.*

Save With 8 Free Shipping Offers For Memorial Day Purchases

2011-05-25T13:10:00.000-05:00

Memorial Day marks the date when consumers begin their serious shopping for the upcoming summer season. Vacations are just around the corner, outdoor sports kick in, and kids are ready for warm-weather play. So now's the time to stock up on everything you'll need for the new season. To receive free shipping and special offers with your online purchases, check out these eight coupon codes from FreeShipping.org.
1. eBags
Just like the name says, eBags is all about bags. From purses to luggage to duffels, this merchant has it in the bag. Best of all, eBags offers free shipping on orders of $25 or more.
2. Express
Youthful, fashionable and reasonably priced, Express is the go-to store for young adult females. Get $15 off every $60 you spend online with code 1411.
3. J. Jill
The J. Jill Summer 2011 Collection awaits females of all ages at this moderately priced retailer. Save on these new styles with free shipping on orders of $100. Beginning May 25, you also can receive 25% off sale and outlet items with code SUNFUN.
4. Kohl's
Your go-to merchant for everything from clothing to home decor, Kohl's offers 10% off when you shop online with code NEW4217. Since Kohl's allow you to use two coupons in a single order, find a free shipping code for even more savings.
5. Life is Good
Life is Good offers something for everyone, including fashions for women, men, kids and even your pet dog. Save when you shop online by receiving free shipping on all orders.
6. Lands' End
Launch a new look with savings on Lands' End fashions for everyone. Shop online now and receive free shipping plus $20 off orders of $75 or more.
7. Sears
Sears is America's one-stop shop for everything from clothing and accessories to appliances and car batteries. Beginning May 26, find what you need online and receive free shipping on orders of $99 or more with code MEMORIALDAY.
8. Shoes.com
Order great shoes, try them on at home and either keep them or return-mail them to Shoes.com with free shipping. In addition, you can take 20% off your order with code SECRET20.

Pampers Little Miracle Mission $50 GC #Giveaway(CLOSED)

2011-05-09T09:05:00.001-05:00

In celebration of its 50th birthday, Pampers is recognizing how much parenting has changed over the years, and is sharing their belief that every baby is a little miracle that deserves to be celebrated, supported and protected, by unveiling its Little Miracle Mission campaign – a program that delivers acts of kindness to miracles and their families while encouraging parents to support others.

Pampers recently kicked off the Little Miracle Missions campaign by delivering a giant act of support –donating care packages to Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) across the country. Celebs Joey Lawrence , Ali Larter, Mark Consuelos and LaLa Anthony were on-hand in New York City to personally deliver a care package and thank you basket to Mt. Sinai Hospital and their staff.

My readers can easily participate in the Miracles Missions programs, and support little miracles across the country, by logging on to Pampers Facebook page (Facebook.com/Pampers). Pampers is also asking everyone to pay-it-forward by participating in the first Little Miracle Mission- to congratulate and offer support to an expectant mother with a gift or surprise gesture. Once more than 2,500 people pledge that they have achieved this mission, Pampers will respond by giving baby showers to expectant mothers nationwide just in time for Mother’s Day. Pampers will issue different missions throughout the entire year to celebrate all aspects of parenthood, and with the help of parents, family and friends, they hope to touch the lives of every baby born in the next year.

My family was thrilled to receive a $50 Visa gift card to participate in the Little Miracle Mission campaign. Once we received it, I sat my boys down and explained to them that the campaign was all about giving and kindness. I asked then to come up with a few ideas on how we could help someone......and they came up with a great one !!! I take my middle son a few times of the year to Childrens Hospital for Dr. appointments, his next one is actually on Halloween Day. We decided to take the gift card and buy as many little treats (colors, books etc...) and pass them out at the hospital on his visit as a special Halloween treat for the kids that will be in the hospital instead of trick or treating.

$50 American Express Gift Card

Thank you to everyone that entered this giveaway.
The winner has been emailed !

MANDATORY ENTRY:

(Please Leave A Valid Email Address).

Leave a comment on how you would use the gift card to pay-it-forward !!!

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra entries, you must do the MANDATORY entry.

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UNLIMITED EXTRA ENTRIES:

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Tweet about the contest (be sure to leave the tweet link)
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If entries do not follow rules, they will be deleted !

I will be using a random number generator to select the winner. Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on 5/22/11. If the prize is not claimed in 48 hours a new winner will be chosen.Contest open to continental U.S. residents only.

Anxiety Therapy That Won’t Induce Anxiety in Your Wallet

2011-05-05T12:19:00.003-05:00

Anxiety is something that everyone gets, but health insurance isn’t. If you’re not willing to drop a couple hundred dollars on a psychiatrist visit and even more money each month on a prescription for the rest of your life, I suggest you consider these inexpensive solutions to alleviating your anxiety.

Get off of Facebook
The first thing that you should try doing is to spend less time on Facebook or any social networking sites for that matter (assuming you regularly go on them, of course). A recent study was done by Monash University where participants’ social anxiety levels were assessed for various amounts of time spent on social networking sites. The results suggested that although social networking sites initially seemed to lead to a reduction in anxiety (because they had a broader network of social support as well as online resources for support), the amount of anxiety that they experienced in actual “face-to-face” social situations increased. In other words, spending more time on Facebook increased their “online” friends, but ironically boosted their social anxiety in real life situations.

Self-Hypnosis
Hypnosis is more of a viable option than you would think, since you don’t need to hire a sketchy expensive hypnotist to put you to sleep in their office while they “do work” on you. A simple technique that you could do on your own involves creating a trigger for a “special place” that you go to where your anxiety is nonexistent. All you need to do is describe yourself descending through a relaxing place such as a beach or garden (preferably recorded) down stairs until you reach a “special place.” This place can be anything, as long as it offers complete relaxation. Do something to signify that you are in that place, such as pinching your arm or blinking one eye. If successful, it will be like Pavlov’s experiment, and every time you encounter a stressful situation, using your signifier to return to your happy place should calm you down. You should note that if you’re already a person that exhibits symptoms of OCD, this may not be the best solution for you.

Exercising
By exercising, I don’t mean to go hit up Google on ways to lose stomach fat, but to focus on exercises that are actually designed to reduce anxiety. Exercises such as PMR, or Progressive Muscle Relaxation, have been proven to reduce anxiety for those who practice it. PMR was invented in the 1920s by a physician that realized that since muscle tension and anxiety are directly correlated, a reduction in one should cause a reduction in the other. Simply tense each set of muscles for 20 seconds and then release for 10 seconds, starting with the legs and moving up the entire body. PMR has not only proven to relieve anxiety, but insomnia and even ulcers as well.

*This post was provide to Life In A House of Blue.

The Hangout Music Festival

2011-04-29T15:01:00.001-05:00

COME HANGOUT, AND BRING THE KIDS!

The Hangout Music Festival is proud to announce the lineup for Shaka Island, an activity area and stage for the young and young at heart. Hangout Music Festival takes place May 20-22 in Gulf Shores, Alabama and is a premiere oceanfront music festival. Hangout is committed to being a family friendly festival that music lovers of all ages can enjoy. Kids under 10 are admitted free of charge with a ticketed adult.

Southern Living Magazine calls Hangout Music Festival the South’s “Best New Music Fest” and raves that it is “a head-bobbing beach-comber’s dream.”

Keller Williams, The Verve Pipe, The Baby Grands, Lunch Money, School of Rock, The Q Brothers, Peter DiStefano & Tor, and Jambo will be performing on the Shaka Island stage. The complete schedule is available on The Hangout Music Festival website (www.hangoutmusicfest.com).

Shaka Island has a full range of kids activities geared towards little ears, eyes and hands including a hip hop workshop, an instrument petting zoo, a station for rock star hairdos and tattoos, a drum zone hosted by Jon Yost, arts and crafts, dance competitions, sandcastle building and a ‘paint party’ where kids can discover their inner Picasso. Another feature is the Explorium of Sound where young minds can explore the mechanics of frequency, resonance, amplitude and refraction with a PVC pipe organ, a giant bubble pool, an oscilloscope and more.

Thousands of condominiums within walking distance add to the exceptional experience shared by music enthusiasts and beach lovers heading to Hangout. Besides comfortable accommodations, the weekend is capped with a blockbuster lineup of bands performing on stages located directly on the beach. The 2011 Hangout lineup features performances from Paul Simon, The Foo Fighters, Widespread Panic, The Black Keys, My Morning Jacket, The Flaming Lips, Cee Lo Green plus many more.

WHEN: FRIDAY MAY 20th - SUNDAY MAY 22nd, 2011

WHERE: 101 EAST BEACH BLVD, GULF SHORES, ALABAMA

(JUST 15 MINUTES FROM FLORIDA /1 HOUR FROM THE PENSACOLA, FL AND MOBILE, AL AIRPORTS)

PRICES: $174 3-DAY PASS

WEBSITE: http://www.hangoutmusicfest.com

For a full listing of artists performing at Hangout, please visit www.hangoutmusicfest.com

Philips Norelco “It’s a Jungle Out There”

2011-04-29T14:55:00.000-05:00

There is a battle raging in our forests, the enemy: DEFORESTATION. Philips Norelco has once again allied with the Arbor Day Foundation to launch year two of the “Deforest Yourself. Reforest the World.” Campaign – a worldwide call to action for people to keep deforestation where it belongs: ON THE BODY. As the expert in “bodily deforestation,” Philips Norelco believes it’s time we address the overgrown problem of deforestation in the world. The weapon of choice? PHILIPS NORELCO GROOMING TOOLS, such as the Bodygroom.

Battling the destructive forces of Deforestation is as easy as taking up arms in your own home and getting involved by playing Philips Norelco “It’s a Jungle Out There” game. Each play of this jungle-themed adventure game will trigger a $.25 donation to the Arbor Day Foundation, and the gamer with each day’s high score will win a Philips Norelco product to groom their own “personal jungles.”

*Photo above is a screen shot of me playing :)

Home Automation: Your Lifeline to Sanity

2011-04-29T14:20:00.001-05:00

If having kids per se hasn’t caused you to completely lose your mind yet, those days are bound to come when they get a day off from school, and you’re faced with the ambivalently dreadful choice of taking them to work with you or leaving them at home. Although we’re still waiting on the days where we’ll have robots to look after our kids, we have the next best thing: home automation. In case you didn’t know what that is, home automation basically refers to the practice of linking various parts of your home and its appliances to your phone or computer so that they can be controlled remotely – it’s safer than a robot and does a much better job than a babysitter.

Linking everything in your home into a manageable network can be time consuming and expensive, but luckily, home security companies are beginning to include home automation in their packages. For instance, ADT’s home automation package, “ADT Pulse,” gives you the ability to receive email and text message notifications when someone enters your home, and even video clips as well. You can also set your doors to lock and unlock at various times, affording you the peace of mind that comes along with knowing that your child is safe.

Not only does it save you money on hiring a babysitter to look after your kids, but on your other bills as well. For example, home automation also gives you remote control over your lighting and thermostat, allowing you to optimize your energy efficiency. You can also turn off the TV or the computer when it’s past your child’s bed-time. With a home automation system, you can leave your kids at home without having to worry about what they or their babysitter is doing. You know what they say: less anxiety leads to a more productive day, and when you’re more productive, you’re a happier person. And when you’re a happier person, you’re less likely to lose your sanity.

This post was provided by homesecuritysystems.com

Kodak’s BOGO 8X10 Photo Book #Kodak

2011-04-29T11:29:00.000-05:00

When making that special photo book for Mom this Mother’s Day, Kodak is making Father’s Day a little easier by offering you a FREE second photo book! Now you can actually spend time with Dad, instead of worrying about his gift in a few weeks. Head to a KODAK Picture Kiosk in your area for Kodak’s BOGO photo book promotion, which will allow you to make two, 8x10 photo books for the cost of one!

Didn’t bring a memory card? No problem. Kodak now let’s users access their albums from Facebook, Picasa and Kodak Gallery! No need to sort them out on a USB or memory card before going into Target or CVS.

With more than 100,000 locations around the world, KODAK Picture Kiosks provide consumers with the convenience to create and share anytime, anywhere, whether it’s a last minute gift, card or just a few prints to share with friends and family. To locate a KODAK Picture Kiosk in your area, visit www.kodak.com/go/kiosk

Macy’s “Thank a Mom Movement” - #Macys

2011-04-27T14:53:00.000-05:00

This Mother’s Day, join Macy’s in their “Thank a Mom Movement” which not only celebrates mom but empowers you to select which charity you want Macy’s to donate $5 (up to a total of $400,000) to in her honor. At NO cost you you !!!

Here is a list of the charities involved in Macy’s “Thank a Mom Movement”.

Futures Without Violence formerly Family Violence Prevention Fund ® ,Website: http://endabuse.org

The Make-A-Wish Foundation®,Website: http://www.wish.org
National Park Foundation ®,Website: http://www.nationalparks.org
Reading Is Fundamental ®, Website: http://www.RIF.org
American Heart Association's Go Red For Women Movement ®Website: http://www.goredforwomen.org

This is how it works:

Step 1: Visit the THANK A MOM MOVEMENT on Facebook

Step 2: Choose from 5 charities. You can even see how many people have chosen which charity! (I chose Futures Without Violence.)

Step 3: Select a card design or upload your own photo.

Step 4: You can choose to add a charity badge to your profile pic!

Step 5: Macy’s will do the rest by donating the $5 to the charity of your choice!

It’s fast and easy !!! Visit the “Thank a Mom Movement” on Facebook to make a difference this Mother’s Day!

Life In A House Of Blue was allowed to send flowers as a thank you for posting about this movement. Of course, I had them sent to my mom :)

SUMMER TIPS FOR PARENTS: Prescription Drugs & Kids At Home

2011-04-26T14:35:00.000-05:00

You May Be A Drug Supplier Without Knowing It!

Studies show that more teens start using drugs during the summer months - while unsupervised and with more free time.

More than 70% of teens who abuse prescription drugs get them from family and friends, usually from the medicine cabinet at home. Sixty-eight percent of households do not properly secure their medications.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Safeguard all medicines by monitoring quantities and controlling access. Remove drugs from your medicine cabinet and lock them up.

Take inventory of your medications and check them regularly.

Warn your youngsters that prescription drugs can be just as dangerous, addictive, and lethal as street drugs. Studies show that teens dangerously view prescription drugs as "safer" to abuse than illicit drugs.

Properly dispose of old or expired medicines in the trash. Hide or mix them with cat litter or coffee grounds before throwing them away.

Don't have kids at home? What about your grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and your friends' kids that visit your house?

ABOUT THE ISSUE:

The CDC lists prescription drug abuse as the fastest-growing drug problem among 12-17 year olds. One in five high school students in the U.S. admits to having taken a prescription drug without a prescription. The number of teens going into treatment for addiction to prescription drugs has increased by more than 300%. Emergency room visits for prescription drug abuse have more than doubled since 2004, 48% of all ER visits for prescription drug abuse are by young people ages 12-20. Prescription drugs are now involved in more overdose deaths than heroin and cocaine, combined.

ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN:

Lock Your Meds™ is the new national campaign from the National Family Partnership (NFP) to inform families that they are frequently the "unintentional suppliers" of prescription medications being abused by young people. The NFP is the largest and oldest drug-prevention group in the United States, and in 1988 developed "Red Ribbon Week" into the annual campaign that now reaches more than 80 million people each year, mobilizing parents, schools and communities. As the nation's oldest and largest drug prevention group, NFP is committed to keeping families informed.

Libby's Launches Jingle Contest with JEWEL #LibbysJingle

2011-04-26T13:05:00.000-05:00

Platinum Recording Artist Jewel Partners with Libby’s Fruits and Vegetables to

Re-make the Iconic Libby’s Jingle and Invites Families to Do the Same

$10,000 Grand Prize to Be Awarded for Winning Entry

Libby’s knows the importance of family meal time and encourages families to make it a point to get back to the table to spend quality time together. This spring, Libby’s Fruits and Vegetables, along with singer-songwriter Jewel, is also encouraging families to come together and show off their creativity by re-making the iconic Libby’s jingle

To enter the contest consumers can go to the Libby’s Table Facebook page (Facebook.com/LibbysTable), click on the Jingle Contest tab and upload their video version of the jingle. Consumers will have until May 13 to submit their entries, at which point Libby’s special guest judge, Jewel, will select five finalists to compete for America’s vote to win the $10,000 grand prize, $2,500 second place prize, and $1,000 third place prize.

“Libby’s has long been committed to bringing families back to the table by offering solutions for affordable, simple and delicious meals. We encourage families to have fun and create a video that reflects their unique family dynamic,” commented Bruce Wolcott, vice president of marketing, Seneca Foods Corporation.

In the spirit of celebrating family mealtime with a musical twist, Jewel, will also be recording her version of the Libby’s jingle, which will debut in September. Between working on a new children’s album, starring in Bravo's new music competition series Platinum Hit, and preparing for a baby boy Jewel knows how hard it can be to manage schedules and make time for family meals. “As an expectant first time mom, I am thrilled to be partnering with Libby’s to encourage families to come together, both at meal time and through music,” said Jewel. “Healthy eating is so important for people of all ages and Libby’s provides a simple solution to ensure that fruits and vegetables are a part of a family’s balanced diet.”

About Libby’s Canned Fruits & Vegetables:

Libby’s, the nation’s third largest brand of canned fruits and vegetables, has been a staple on American dinner tables since the 1880s. With more than 110 different varieties and packaging options, it offers among the industry’s most complete lines of canned fruits and vegetables, including Jumbo Cups, Libby’s Naturals, with no added sugar or salt, and Libby's Organics. Since 1983, Libby’s canned fruits and vegetables have been produced and distributed by Marion, NY-based Seneca Foods Corporation, an independent, publicly–traded, fully integrated food processing company. For more information on Libby’s and Seneca Foods visit SenecaFoods.com. For information on Libby’s mission, visit GetBacktotheTable.com, follow @LibbysTable on Twitter or “like” Libby’s on Facebook.

Jewel is an acclaimed American singer, songwriter, actress, poet, painter, philanthropist and daughter to an Alaskan cowboy singer-songwriter. Growing up on a remote ranch in Alaska, Jewel endured poverty and teen homelessness on the road to the triumph of international stardom. The four-time Grammy nominee has enjoyed career longevity rare among her generation of artists and has sold 27 million albums worldwide. Her debut album, Pieces of You, became one of the best selling debut albums of all time. Singer/songwriter Jewel released her first country record, Perfectly Clear, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart in 2008. She released her first-ever independent album, Lullaby in 2009 and her country follow up album, Sweet & Wild in 2010. Jewel will star in a new Bravo series, Platinum Hit, airing in summer 2011. Currently, she is working on children’s themed album that will be released this fall. Jewel lives on a working ranch in Stephenville, Texas with her husband, World Champion bull-riding superstar, Ty Murray. For more information, please visit www.jeweljk.com.

Nustrisystem: Week 6 #NSNation

2011-04-26T09:39:00.001-05:00

I apologize for being late with my Nutrisystem weigh in post. I did weigh in this past Thursday, but with the kids being off for spring break, plus Good Friday and Easter festivities I was unable to take time time to write my post.

I will admit, with all the holiday gatherings and the kids being home from school, this past week was really hard for me. I know for a fact that next week will be even harder with all this candy in the house!

One thing that did help me during this past week was some great tips from Nustrisystem to help during the holidays. They helped me for gatherings on Good Friday and Easter, so I wanted to share them with my readers....

8 Diet-friendly Strategies for Staying On Track During The Holidays

1. Have a plan. Think things through before you get to the actual holiday meals and parties. Maybe your strategy is to take tiny portions of different dishes; that’s okay. If you’re cooking, you might want to have your bottle of water with you in the kitchen, so you’re less tempted to snack. Do what you can to stay away from the appetizer table. Plan to avoid anything that’s not homemade. The point is that if you go in with a plan, you’ll be less likely to get caught off-guard.

2. Stay on track. Holidays are not the time to skip meals in an attempt to “bank” calories. That’s a strategy that can backfire miserably. Instead, eat everything on your meal plan leading up to the holiday event, and make sure you’re drinking all your water. You’ll be less likely to overindulge at the big event.

3. Set a goal. There’s something about holidays that makes people forget what they do the rest of the year. Do you already have weight loss goals set up for November, December and January? If not you can start today. Once you’ve set a short-term goal, decide on a way to reward yourself once the goal has been reached.

4. Drink smart. Face it, overindulging during holiday events—whether it’s an office party, a family gathering or a neighborhood open house—can add a lot of extra calories to your day. In addition, when you’ve had too much to drink, it tends to weaken your previous resolve and derail any strategies and plans you might have had. Besides, you don’t want to end up as that karaoke-singing family member or neighbor everyone will be talking about for the next month.

5. Trim the calories. This tip is especially useful if you happen to be the primary cook for an event. In baked items, replace the fat with an equal amount of applesauce and the sugar with a sugar substitute; substitute a quarter cup of egg substitute for every egg called for in the recipe; replace whole milk with 1% milk and sour cream with yogurt; reduce the amount of nuts called for by half. And don’t forget both veggies and salad.

6. Enlist support. Trying to maintain your Nutrisystem program can be hard at the holidays, but there’s no reason you have to go it alone. Ask for your family’s understanding or even their help, so nobody’s trying to foist “seconds” on you. Nutrisystem counselors can help you strategize, based on your individual circumstances. Or you can go to the Nutrisystem Discussion Boards, where you’ll find people who definitely understand what you’re trying to do. Discuss your concerns; share tips of your own, or join one of the many weight loss challenges. Some of them are specifically geared to the holidays. Introduce yourself well before the event, so you have that support already in place.

7. Keep moving. Instead of just sitting around after dinner, suggest a family walk, or organize a touch-football game. Most people will be grateful for the chance to move around, and it can keep you on-track with your exercise plan.

8. Embrace the spirit. This last tip may just be the most important: You can get so caught up in all the planning and hoopla that you lose the whole meaning of the holiday season—coming together with friends and loved ones. It’s the time that’s really valuable, not the food and drink.

Surprisingly after 6 weeks I am still trying new food. This week my new favorite dinner is the Southwest-Style Chicken Wrap which is chicken breast meat that is combined with black beans, corn, rice, and a variety of peppers in a thick, spicy tomato sauce with a blend of zesty spices. Wrapped in the hearty whole wheat tortilla....YUMMY!

Here is the part all of you have been waiting for !!!!

DRUM ROLL PLEASE...........................

Week 6 weight loss: - 2.6 pounds

Week 5 weight loss: -3.4 pound

Week 4 weight loss: -1.4 pounds

Week 3 weight loss: -3.8 pounds

Week 2 weight loss: -3.4 pounds

Week 1 weight loss: -7 pounds

Start weight: I'm sure you want to know, but I'm to embarrassed to tell !

TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS: -21.6 pounds

I know that I could have not lost over 21lbs on my own. I'm very satisfied with the Nutrisytem Program so far.

I am ready to see what week 7 will bring, don't forget to visit for my next weigh in :)

Would you like to lose weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem too? Visit Nutrisystem today or call 888-853-4689.

Jimmie Johnson To Guest-Star On Breaking In

2011-04-19T17:44:00.000-05:00

Five-Time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson To Guest-Star On New FOX Show Breaking In

Episode Airs Wednesday, April 20th at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT

Five-time defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson will guest-star in an upcoming episode of the new hit FOX comedy series “Breaking In” this Wednesday, April 20th at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT after “American Idol.”

“Breaking In” is an offbeat half-hour workplace comedy about a high-tech security firm that takes extreme – and often questionable – measures to sell its protection services. Created by Adam F. Goldberg and Seth Gordon, the series centers on a team of uniquely skilled oddball geniuses hand-picked to work for a manipulative mastermind. The series stars Christian Slater as larger-than-life Contra Security head honcho Oz, Bret Harrison as computer hacker Cameron, Odette Annable as alluring bad girl Melanie, Alphonso McAuley as fanboy/mad genius Cash.

Johnson, the 35-year-old El Cajon, Calif., native, plays himself in the episode as the storyline is built around his race team needing security assistance.

“It was a very cool experience, and I’m excited to see how this week’s episode turned out,” said Johnson. “Fred Savage was really encouraging and gave me great direction and I had a blast with Christian Slater. I think the hardest part was not laughing at Michael Rosenbaum [who plays character Dutch]. That guy is what you’d call high energy. The whole experience was great. I hope the fans enjoy seeing me do something different, but trust me, I won’t be leaving my day job any time soon.”

Slater, who served last month as the Grand Marshal for the Auto Club 400, was very impressed with Johnson’s acting ability.

“Jimmie was just as smooth on the set as he is on the track. Everyone was excited to have him be part of the episode,” said Slater. “It was even more special for me as he made my son’s birthday by autographing a pair of racing shoes.”

Part of Wednesday’s NASCAR-focused episode was shot at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. Johnson, who currently sits second in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings, was also on the Sony-based set of “Breaking In” to film portions of the episode.

“Breaking In” is produced by Happy Madison Productions, Adam F. Goldberg Productions and Sethsquatch, Inc. in association with Sony Pictures Television. Goldberg, Gordon and Doug Robinson serve as executive producers, while Goldberg serves as writer. Fred Savage is the episode’s director.

HEXBUG #HEXBUGNanoEasterEgg

2011-04-19T15:44:00.004-05:00

With Easter only a few days away, are you still looking for last minute basket suffers?

Just in time for the Easter Bunny, comes the Limited Edition HEXBUG Nano Easter Egg dressed and ready to hop right into kids’ Easter baskets! Each limited edition HEXBUG Nano Easter Egg is packaged in a Easter egg and comes fully decked out with a pair of mini removable bunny ears.

What is a HEXBUG Nano? The Robotic Creature that behaves like a real bug!

Putting the 'micro' in Micro Robotic Creatures

How small can you go? Using common locomotion principles Innovation First set out to make a really small HEXBUG that gave the appearance of being smart. How will it react when it encounters an obstacle? What happens if it gets turned over? The first prototypes of the Nano were inspired by the old vibrating football games. More recent examples of vibrating motion are the BEAM Vibrobots, and then the Bristlebots. Thirty some iterations, a few years, and dozens of designs later the Nano was born. To give just a taste of how much development went into this product, they engineered and rapid prototyped over 150 variations of legs alone.

How it works. The motor inside the Nano rotates a counterweight that causes forces up and down. The down force causes the legs to bend and the Nano moves forward. The up force causes the creature to hop lifting the front legs off the ground and allowing the legs to unbend. This up and down movement repeats several hundred times per second causing the Nano to move forward. The Nano creature's ability to flip over by itself is due to the rotating forces caused by the motor and the unique internal and external chassis design (and a little magic).

Every Nano includes an exclusive access code that allows you to track your Nano collection, play games, and learn about real science!

Where to buy : Toys R Us, Target, Radio Shack and http://www.hexbug.com/

****I will be hosting a HEXBUG Nano Easter Egg Party, courtesy of MommyParties, in a couple of weeks. Please check back for our party post with photos and videos !!!! ****

Kim & Scott's Gourmet Pretzels

2011-04-19T12:58:00.072-05:00

My entire family loves pretzels, so when we were given the chance to try Kim & Scott's Gourmet Pretzels we were all excited for them to arrive. When the box came to our surprise we had a large variety to sample.

We received the following flavors:

It is funny how we all seemed to have our favorites. I really like the Spinach Feta & Cheddar Jalapeno . My husband liked the Apple Cinnamon. My four year old LOVED the Grilled Cheese for lunch. My older 2 boys claimed the rest.

I really like how easy they were to prepare, you can either heat in the oven or microwave from thawed or frozen. I tried them both ways and either was was yummy !

While browsing the Kim & Scott's Gourmet Pretzels website I came across the Egg & Cheese, which is stuffed with eggs, mozzarella cheese, chopped onions & bell peppers and topped with freshly shredded cheddar cheese and chopped bell peppers. This is something that I will be buying and trying soon, sounds like a fast and easy and not to mention tasty breakfast!

Where to purchase: Buy online or find retailer near you.

* Don't forget to click here to download your $1.00 off coupon !!

* If they are not sold in your local store here is letter you can print out to drop off with the store manager requesting they stock Kim & Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels!

About the Company:
Kim & Scott's Gourmet Pretzels delivers a strong company commitment to make a difference in our world community. Kim & Scott's Gourmet Pretzels strive to support companies that:

Fight all forms of bigotry and discrimination
Educates our children on diversity
Work to promote peace in communities
Make a positive difference

Kim & Scott’s uses only the finest ingredients available. Their pretzels are all-natural and do not include trans fats, hydrogenated oils, or preservatives. They are even made in a nut-free facility. These wonderful morsels are made from scratch and twisted by hand before being sent out to your doorstep or your local store.

"We at Kim & Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels nurture, love and feed the spirits, souls and stomachs of our world community with the highest integrity of service, quality, price and innovation. Along this journey, we share our passion and enthusiasm for our inspired products with the universe."

“Meals for Moms” Help Senior Moms this Mother's Day

2011-04-19T12:06:00.000-05:00

The Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) is launching its second annual Meals for Moms campaign to raise awareness of homebound senior moms facing the threat of hunger this Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 8th). Individuals can visit www.MealsForMoms.org to send a message of hope to a lonely and homebound senior mom or send an e-card to a special woman in their life. With the help of the official sponsor, Gallo® Family Vineyards, the campaign’s goal this year is to send 50,000 messages. All funds raised will go into the Meals for Moms Fund to help Meals On Wheels programs feed homebound senior moms around Mother’s Day next year.

“Most of us are very lucky to know the love of a mother. They are the ones who raised us and often prepared our meals. Now, too many of them are alone and hungry,” said MOWAA President and CEO, Enid Borden. “They deserve better, and that is why this campaign is so very important. Our moms need us.”

MOWAA-sponsored research reveals that a staggering six million seniors are facing the threat of hunger in America, and the numbers are growing. The majority of those seniors are women. Gallo Family Vineyards is a family-owned winery and understands the importance of family, sharing the firm belief that the world is a better place when we don't just take care of our own families, but take care of each other.

“We are proud to join MOWAA in its mission to feed more senior women,” said Stephanie Gallo, Vice President of Marketing at E&J Gallo Winery. “It’s important to find ways to give back. Working with Meals On Wheels is just one of the ways we’re trying to make our community better.”

At www.MealsforMoms.org, visitors can choose from a variety of flowers – including roses, tulips, and lilies – for the virtual bouquet they select to send with a message. Here are just a few examples of the thousands of messages sent to homebound moms across the country last year:

“Happy Mother's Day. Although we cannot meet, I am here caring for you in spirit.”

“I hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day! We all know its not easy raising a child and all mothers should get some credit for doing such an important job! So, happy Mother’s Day!”

“Mothers are special! I wouldn't be today the person I am if it wasn't for my great Mother (and Grandma too)! Happy Mother's Day. Hugs & kisses to all.”

About Meals On Wheels Association of America
The Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) is the oldest and largest national organization in the United States representing those programs that provide meals to people in need. MOWAA’s mission is to end senior hunger by 2020. To obtain more information about MOWAA or to locate a local Meals On Wheels program, visit the MOWAA website at www.mowaa.org.

About Gallo Family Vineyards
Gallo Family Vineyards has been family owned and operated for over 75 years, and the Gallo Family stands behind the quality of every bottle with our Best Taste Promise. Our family of wines (suggested retail price of $4.99 for 750-ml bottles, $8.99 for 1.5-liter bottles, $5.99 for 187-mL four-pack) includes fourteen fruit forward, approachable styles at an affordable price: Chardonnay, Moscato, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, White Zinfandel, White Merlot, Blush Noir, Sweet Red, Cabernet Sauvignon, Hearty Burgundy, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Café Chardonnay and Café Zinfandel. For more information visit www.gallofamily.com or call 1-877-425-5696.

Food Network Celebrates “Royal Icing Weekend”

2011-04-19T10:45:00.000-05:00

Food Network honors the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton with “Royal Icing Weekend” on Saturday, April 23^rd and Sunday, April 24^th. Special wedding-themed episodes of favorite series will air throughout the weekend, leading up to a new episode of Last Cake Standing and sneak peek of the brand-new show Have Cake Will Travel. Online, FoodNetwork.com has assembled a “how to” guide on throwing an at-home Royal Wedding watch party, along with photo galleries, historical facts on British food, and cake recipes fit for a Queen. Visit www.foodnetwork.com/royalicing for more ideas on how to celebrate like royalty.

Programming includes:

Dessert First with Anne Thornton: Saturday, April 23^rd at 12:30pm ET/PT, “Ultimate Chocolate Cakes”
Food Network Challenge: Saturday, April 23^rd at 8pm ET/PT, “Extreme Wedding Cakes”
Food Network Challenge: Saturday, April 23^rd at 9pm ET/PT, “Giant Wedding Cakes”
Cupcake Wars: Saturday, April 23^rd at 10pm ET/PT, “Wedding Planner”
Last Cake Standing: Sunday, April 24^th at 9pm ET/PT, “Magic Cakes”
Have Cake, Will Travel: Sunday, April 24^th at 10pm ET/PT, SNEAK PEEK

Food Network expert pastry chef Anne Thornton (Dessert First) and cake decorating queen Ashley Vicos (Have Cake Will Travel) are available for interviews to discuss cake recipes, techniques, trends and demos:

Anne Thornton (Dessert First, Saturdays at 12:30pm ET/PT)

As an expert pastry chef, Anne Thornton shares indulgent recipes for tantalizing treats on Dessert First. Anne demystifies and simplifies the world of pastry and dessert by showing viewers the ins and outs to no-fear baking. From flaky pastries to ice cream cake, Anne’s approachable techniques prove that any home cook can create impressive desserts. Anne studied at the Institute of Culinary Education, and then landed a job in culinary production where she gained behind-the-scenes media skills – a glimpse into her future at Food Network. Anne also worked as a personal chef before joining New York’s highly acclaimed restaurant, The Waverly Inn in 2006, where she honed her skills as a pastry chef and assistant general manager working under notable chef John DeLucie. In 2009, Anne made the move to the exclusive New York restaurant, Hotel Griffou, where she worked as executive pastry chef and event coordinator until June 2010. Anne has appeared on CBS Early Show, Today Show, Nate Berkus Show and Rachael Ray Show.

Ashley Vicos (Have Cake Will Travel, Sneak Peek April 24^th /Series Premiere on Tuesday, April 26^th at 9pm ET/PT)

Ashley Vicos has been professionally decorating cakes for eleven years and owns Sweet Ashley’s, a private baking studio in Atlanta. Her high-demand cakes have become so popular, she also travels around the country baking for high-profile events and top-tier clientele. Born and raised in New Orleans, her passion for cake decorating began at age five with an Easy-Bake Oven and led to a career specializing in sculpted and custom cake work. In addition to creating one-of-a-kind cakes, she teaches small groups and private cake decorating classes. A divorced mom of three daughters, Ashley has been featured on Food Network, TLC, CBS, NBC, American Cake Decorating Magazine and Modern Baking Magazine.

9 Tips For Saving On DIY Projects

2011-04-19T10:35:00.000-05:00

Spring is the time to begin working on home improvement projects. If you're thinking about stocking up on supplies for your most pressing project, consider the ways you can save when you do-it-yourself:

1. Big Box Vs. Small Stores
For the frugal consumer, shopping smart is always a logical first step. When you're shopping at the big-box home improvement stores like Home Depot and Lowes, there are always deals going down.
The two heavyweight retailers are highly competitive and both stores offer price matching with an additional 10-percent discount on identical products advertised at a lower price at any competing store. Both stores also post weekly sales, discounts and rebates on their websites so you can be prepared before you hit the store. Not to mention, you can always find coupons for these home and garden giants.On the other hand, locally owned home-supply stores, like Ace Hardware, often provide email sign-ups that allow you to receive special deals on the same items you would find at the big-box stores. While you may not be able to purchase sheet rock, the smaller places may carry everything from plumbing supplies to finishing notes for your home.

2. Tester Cans and Used Paint
Next to buying a nice area rug, painting is probably the easiest way to change the look of a room. Unfortunately, home improvement stores are aware of this and they like to make you pay for it. There are definitely ways to get around the high prices though.
If you only have a small space to paint, there's no need to invest in a whole gallon of paint that'll inevitably take up space in the garage or closet. Ask about small tester cans that can often be found for $5 or less in a variety of colors.The word is starting to get out on used paint, too. When people order large amounts of custom paint, they often order too much. This paint gets returned to the stores, but the merchant can't put such cans back on the shelf with the rest of the paint. If you're in the right place at the right time, you might be able to get gallons of paint for around $5. Not all stores will have used paint, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

3. Buy Lumber in Bulk
Working with lumber can be intimidating. It requires precise measurements and cuts, or you'll end up wasting money and materials. Prices vary by lumber grade and wood type, so be aware of what materials are required to get the job done.

4. Generic Vs. Name Brand
There's an incredible variety of nails and screws available, but how much of a difference is there really? Generic brand nails and screws are often up to par with the name brands, but cost significantly less. In some cases, the only difference between a generic and the brand name is the box! The same can be said for pipes and plumbing fixtures. Unpackaged fixtures in a bulk bin can have the same quality as their packaged counterparts on the shelf, but cost much less. Longevity is also something to consider when working on a plumbing project. Copper pipes and PVC pipes typically give you the most bang for your buck, lasting up to 60 years.

5. Caulk Singles
Caulk certainly won't be the most expensive item on your home improvement list, but it's useful for patching up holes and sealing cracks. Often when people buy a tube of caulk for a small project, they end up making a mess of it and throwing half the tube away.If you want to keep some caulk around for projects that spring up, try out some caulk singles from General Electric. Much like the fast food ketchup packet, they're enough for one project and cut back on waste and mess. Watch for coupons to home centers like the Home Depot that offer General Electric's caulk singles.

6. Government Rebates
Now that warm weather is finally on the way, you can replace your old windows and doors with more energy efficient ones. While it's a big project, it may be worth it when you save on heating costs next winter.
In an effort to reduce energy consumption, the federal government is continuing to offer tax credits when you install Energy Star certified windows, doors and skylights. The credits aren't as generous as last year, but you can still get 10 percent-off for $200 worth of windows and skylights and a rebate of up to $500 for doors.

7. Buy Reconditioned or Rent Power Tools
It's hard to justify buying an expensive power tool, especially when you know you'll never use it again. If you live the DIY credo, Home Depot rents such power tools as power washers, paint sprayers, chainsaws and buff sander. By renting, you'll get the professional finish you want without having to cut corners on expensive equipment.Many power tool manufacturers have online outlets where they sell reconditioned tools at a discount. These tools are certified by the manufacturer, so you have a guarantee they'll work. You can save even more when you use a Bosch Outlet coupon or a Bostitch Outlet free shipping code for discount power tools.

8. Used Hand Tools
The garage sale may still be king for finding good deals on hand tools. Many people don't enjoy inherited tools and are willing to part with them for next to nothing, compared to new tools. Wrench sets, hammers and screwdrivers made by quality toolmakers like Craftsman and Stanley can stand the test of time and are as good today as they were 30 years ago.

9. Working Together
No one escapes a little home maintenance from time to time. If you and a neighbors are working on similar projects, sharing the cost of renting a wood chipper or cement mixer can save both of you time and money.
While skilled friends and family don't necessarily enjoy manual labor, they can be coaxed into it with the promise of good food, drink or a labor exchange to be named later. Working with friends gets the job done faster and is usually much more fun.

Caillou Toys = FUN !

2011-04-19T10:23:00.000-05:00

One of my Preschoolers favorite shows to watch is Caillou. If you are not familiar with Caillou, here is a little synopsis of the show:

"Growing up is the greatest adventure, especially when you are 4 years old. Each Caillou episode is about a simple everyday life situation that feels so BIG to a child. It’s about discovery and imagination. Watching Caillou helps children feel empowered and inspired. What Caillou does in the episodes reflects what every child does in their day-to-day lives. Caillou is an everyday hero and “a kid just like me."

In addition to the show, Caillou has a line of preschool toys designed to develop early learning skills. We recently received the Caillou doll and Learning Train. My little one was thrilled !!

The Caillou doll has a soft body and soft, latex head, arms and legs. His trademark yellow shirt and blue shorts are made of 100% soft polyester, as is his blue and yellow baseball cap. I have to say this is my sons new best friend, since receiving the Caillou doll, Caillou goes everywhere with him !! It's his buddy !

The Caillou Learning Train was also a hit, he enjoys playing with this a lot. As a parent I love to see him learning and using his imagination while playing.

About the Caillou Learning Train:

Caillou and his little sister Rosie love exploring and learning about the world around them. Now little ones can explore right along with them using the Caillou Learning Train. They'll delight in watching Caillou move up and down as the train rolls when they wind the green key. Squeeze the steam to hear it squeak. Move the colorful bead shapes along the bar. Move the bell on the detachable train car to hear it ring, and more! Includes Caillou and Rosie figures. 12 months and up.

Where to buy: Caillou toys can be found at 272 participating Toys R Us stores (visit store locator at www.caillou.com/storelocator) and the following sites: www.toysrus.com, www.fao.com, www.kohls.com, and www.tystoybox.com

*I received the Caillou Doll and Caillou Learning Train from Cookie Jar Entertainment and Team Mom in order to facilitate my review.*

Nustrisystem: Week 5 #NSNation

2011-04-19T09:42:00.000-05:00

It is hard to believe I finished week 5 on Nutrisystem ! I was really worried that week 5 would be a set back for me since it was the first week that we had a get together planned at our home. During week 5 it was my middle sons 12th birthday and every year we celebrate with a big crawfish boil. I really enjoy crawfish and everything that goes with them so at first I was dreading the day but then decided that I would not deprive myself but CONTROL myself. I normally eat crawfish until I am so full I'm sick but this time I ate enough to satisfy my taste for them and still had room for a small piece of birthday cake. After eating I removed myself from the table and went and played horseshoes and on the inflatable slide with the kids. I did not have a urge to go for a second serving like I normally do!

I did find a new favorite Nutrisystem dinner, the Mushroom Risotto. It is a combination of wild rice, savory vegetarian Italian sausage, sautéed shiitake mushrooms, red bell peppers, and a pinch of parmesan......Yummy.

Here is the part all of you have been waiting for !!!!

DRUM ROLL PLEASE...........................

Week 5 weight loss: - 3.4 pounds

Week 4 weight loss: -1.4 pounds

Week 3 weight loss: -3.8 pounds

Week 2 weight loss: -3.4 pounds

Week 1 weight loss: -7 pounds

Start weight: I'm sure you want to know, but I'm to embarrassed to tell !

TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS: -19 pounds

I know that I could have not lost 19lbs on my own. I'm very satisfied with the Nutrisytem Program so far.

I am ready to see what week 6 will bring, don't forget to visit for my next weigh in :)

Would you like to lose weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem too? Visit Nutrisystem today or call 888-853-4689.

Save with Campusbookrentals.com #textbookrentals

2011-04-17T15:52:00.000-05:00

I know many of my readers have children in college (or will be soon) or know someone who is. My oldest will be starting in 2 years and the thought of the cost scares me....even now ! Well, thanks to Campusbookrentals.com it looks like it might not be as bad as I thought for College books!

How Campusbookrentals.com works:

Search for your textbook rentals.
Rent your textbooks.
Receive your textbooks - FREE shipping offered!
Return your textbooks - TheyProvide the Return Envelope and Shipping is FREE!!!

Every rental comes with a worry free guarantee within the first 30 days of your order if you drop your class or change your mind, you keep more cash in your pocket up front, you can order from the comfort of your home or office, it doesn’t cost a penny to return your rented textbooks when you're done with them (they even provide the package).

FREE shipping BOTH WAYS
30-Day Risk-Free Returns
Trusted Source Since 2007
Live Customer Support
Largest Selection in the Nation
Most Flexible Rental Periods, Period

MAKING A DIFFERENCE PROGRAM

CampusBookRentals.com supports The children of Operation Smile

CampusBookRentals.com have officially teamed up with Operation Smile, an organization that performs life changing cleft lip surgeries on children whose families could not otherwise afford it. The long term Improvement in quality of life for the children that receive these surgeries is almost incomprehensible. They have committed to donating enough to cover a minimum of 1,000 life changing surgeries. They hope To beat that number, but it's a significant commitment.

So for EVERY book rented starting now, CampusBookRentals.com will donate a portion of those proceeds to Operation Smile with their sights set on meeting and exceeding their goal of 1,000 lives changed. So add that extra book to your cart, and consider this goal as you go back to school this year.

Disclosure: Life In A House Of Blue being compensated with a gift basket from the sponsor in return for this post, however all opinions/statements are my own.

Gift Card Granny Challenge

2011-04-07T12:54:00.000-05:00

It's official - Gift cards aren't just for birthdays and graduations anymore. The results of the inaugural Gift Card Granny Challenge are in, and they confirm frugal shoppers have a new best friend. Ashley Grimaldo, a stay-at-home mother of two, slashed $206.29 from her monthly expenses by making all her purchases in March (excluding rent and utilities) with discount gift cards. Plus, Ashley accomplished this while enjoying almost all of the same activities and spending habits she and her family of four normally do.

During the Challenge, Ashley paid an average of 10-percent less for each daily purchase on everything from clothing to groceries to restaurants and even gas. To put those savings in perspective, that could mean $331,476 more in her family's pocket over 40 years at 5-percent interest!
Over the course of the month, Ashley saved the following:

Gifts - 23 percent
Clothing - 13 percent
Restaurants - 10 percent
Entertainment - 9 percent
Home - 8 percent
Groceries - 4 percent
Gas - 3.5 percent

GiftCardGranny.com is the most comprehensive resource for buying discount gift cards to hundreds of popular stores, restaurants and local services.

First Time All Three ‘Toy Story’ Movies Shown Together

2011-04-07T12:03:00.000-05:00

Three Time Oscar Winning Franchise to Air Back-to-Back on April 16^th

It’s three times the Pixar magic of Buzz Lightyear, Woody for the first time ever, Toy Story, Toy Story 2 and the Starz Saturday Night Premiere of Toy Story 3. This is the first time that all three films will be shown together on television, an incredible evening for the entire family.

When: Saturday, April 16^th, beginning at 6:05 p.m. (ET/PT).

Marathon continues Sunday, April 17 at 9:00 a.m. and at 5:15 p.m.

The Toy Story Story
The franchise began in 1995 with Tom Hanks and Tim Allen lending their voices as cowboy Woody and astronaut Buzz Lightyear. The first film won a Special Achievement Oscar® for director John Lasseter, culminating in 2010 with a Best Animated Feature statuette for Toy Story 3 director Lee Unkrich and Best Song for composer Randy Newman. Throughout the storied franchise, Toy Story has garnered 10 Academy Award® nominations and the three films have grossed over $1 Billion at the boxoffice.

Nustrisystem: Week 4 #NSNation

2011-04-07T11:22:00.002-05:00

It is hard to believe I have been on Nutrisystem for four weeks now! The time has went by faster than I thought it would. I have enjoyed the different meals that I have been trying, four weeks in and I am still trying new foods.

This past week was really hard for me. The past week we have been painting almost the entire inside of the house and fixing things....it has been a LONG week. My body is soooo sore. Being busy made it hard for me to eat when I needed to. I really got thrown off my schedule that my body was use to. For instance Saturday night I worked until 4am Sunday morning then slept until noon, so breakfast was skipped. I am sure this had an impact on my success this week.

I did find a new favorite Nutrisystem snack, the Strawberry Shortcake Bar. It is a dense vanilla bar is topped with rich strawberry puree, then wrapped in a sweet, creamy yogurt frosting. I only ordered a couple this time to try them, but my next order will include more !!

Here is the part all of you have been waiting for !!!!

DRUM ROLL PLEASE...........................

Week 4 weight loss: - 1.4 pounds

Week 3 weight loss: -3.8 pounds

Week 2 weight loss: -3.4 pounds

Week 1 weight loss: -7 pounds

Start weight: I'm sure you want to know, but I'm to embarrassed to tell !

TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS: -15.6 pounds

I know that I could have not lost a little over 15lbs on my own. I'm very satisfied with the Nutrisytem Program so far.

I am ready to see what week 5 will bring, don't forget to visit for my next weigh in :)

I also wanted to share with you some exciting Nutrisystem news! Nutrisystem, introduces the members of its first-ever Nutrisystem celebrity Chef Culinary Council, a team of award-winning chefs who will support the Company in its ongoing mission to provide great tasting, high quality food to its customers. The Council will be hands-on in guiding the development of new foods and menu selections and providing their expertise on the latest ingredient and culinary trends.

The members of the Nutrisystem Chef Culinary Council include:

Tony Mantuano, chef/partner of the only four-star Italian restaurant in Chicago, Spiaggia; a James Beard Winner for Best Chef of the Midwest and a contender on Top Chef Masters Season 2
Michael Solomonov, owner of Philadelphia’s award-winning restaurant Zahav, 2011 James Beard Award finalist and recent contender on Iron Chef America
Kent Rathbun, owner of Texas restaurants including: Abacus, Jasper’s, Shinsei, Rathbun’s Blue Plate Kitchen and Zea Woodfire Grill; a former winner on Iron Chef America
Mark Estee, known for his awarded restaurants in Nevada and California and former personal chef to Britney Spears and Paul McCartney
Carmen Gonzalez, known in the culinary world for over 20 years as a talented and awarded chef, as well as for her creative Puerto Rican/American fusion cuisine; most recently known as a contender from Top Chef Masters Season 2

“We conducted extensive research and learned from our customers that taste and variety is paramount and that one of the primary barriers to weight loss success is the perceived inability to eat food that tastes good. By working with this tremendously talented group of celebrity chefs, we are further investing in our mission to provide delicious and top quality food to our customers,” said Joe Redling, Chairman and CEO of Nutrisystem.

Last month, the Nutrisystem Chef Culinary Council convened in Dallas to create brand new, never-before-seen recipes for potential new menu items, as well as new recipes to help revamp current menu options. Council members also worked to create grocery lists of flavorful and healthy meal enhancers that will be available exclusively to members on the Nutrisystem program in helping them navigate the grocery store.

Would you like to lose weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem too? Visit Nutrisystem today or call 888-853-4689.

Building Confidence in Children

2011-04-07T10:41:00.001-05:00

Building Confidence in Children

By Eirian Hallinan

Are you helping or hindering your child’s self-esteem and feeling of confidence? Say your child tries to carry their bowl of food and a beaker of juice across the room, then trips and spills everything. Do you say ‘I told you not to do that! Now see what you have done!’ It is tempting but it would be much more helpful to say something like ‘Oh dear, you tried, but it didn’t work. Don’t worry. Next time you can try carrying things one by one’. This way your child is not made to feel worse than he already does for failing at trying to do something. Also, it is important to bear in mind that it is not only what your child directly hears you saying but what he also overhears you telling other people like, ‘he’s so clumsy!’ or ‘he never learns’. This can leave the child feeling that this is the absolute unchangeable truth.

It is difficult in a stressful moment when something has just been broken or spilt to take a breath, be calm and resist the urge to blurt out, ‘You’re so stupid!’ or ‘I am sick of repeating myself! You never listen!’ Do try though, to remember that too many negative words and reactions can damage children by instilling in them a sense of being stupid, useless or unvalued.

Talking negatively about yourself can also damage your child’s confidence. Children emulate their parents and adults close to them. If these adults overreact to situations or have a negative/extreme reaction to stressful circumstances, then it can lead the child to feeling that the adult cannot handle the pressures of everyday life. In turn, they too will not feel confident dealing with problems in life and will feel unequipped to tackle everyday challenges.

The following can hinder a child’s confidence:

Aggression, using shouting and swearing
Cruel teasing and being sarcastic to them
Purposely making fun of your child and how he feels
Constant nagging and criticism
Unkind statements and insults
Saying you wish they had never been born
Saying you don’t love them

It makes sense to do all you can to build your child’s confidence and attitude which is positive and optimistic. Here are some ideas to do this, along with instilling in them a strong feeling of self-esteem.

Laugh with your child but not at him
Show your child that you believe in him to be a worthwhile and loveable human being
Be generous with your praise and admiration.
Reassure your child that it is ok to make mistakes, it is normal and how we all learn
Really listen to your child so he feels he is being heard and can communicate with you
Acknowledge his feelings so again, he feels he is being heard
Respect your child’s interests even if they are not that interesting to you. Show a genuine interest in what is going on in their lives
Criticise behaviour, not your child. Make it clear to him that it is the action of type of behaviour that is wrong or unacceptable not him
Rather than disregard an anxiety by brushing it aside or not feeling it is that important, listen to your child and offer to help with any struggle he is experiencing
Encourage your child’s independence! Let him try new things, even if he makes mistakes. The feeling of accomplishment learning to do something new can accelerate the child’s confidence
Focus on your child’s achievements and successes in their lives not the things they are less successful at
A damaged, unconfident child could possibly benefit from CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)

These tips can help your child grow into a resilient, confident individual who feels equipped to cope with the challenges and pressures of life. A strong and confident adult has a better chance of happiness, as he has the foundations to grab life courageously and live it to the full without being hampered by unhelpful feelings of negativity and self-doubt.

Eirian Hallinan is Parenting Journal’s newest writer. She believes in treating children through natural health care first, especially when it comes to helping with colic.

7 Common Mistakes First-Time Parents Make

2011-04-07T10:19:00.000-05:00

7 Common Mistakes First-Time Parents Make

By Lisa Pecos

Parenting is one of the hardest jobs you will ever have, and no stage is more difficult than the first few months with your first child. It is easy to be led astray by misguided assumptions and poorly thought-out plans, and it is practically impossible to completely avoid making any mistakes. Parenting is after all a learning process, but you can avoid some of the most common mistakes simply by being aware of them in advance. Here are seven of the most common issues that arise for first-time parents.

1. Not sleeping

Everyone knows that new parents are commonly sleep deprived, but it does not have to be so bad. Especially if you and your spouse can find ways to share the load and balance your time, then you should be able to get close to your usual amount of sleep every day. Granted, the sleep may be patchy and at unconventional times, but you can get it if you try.

2. Unrealistic time expectations

Many new parents like to think that they will still have plenty of free time when the baby is sleeping or entertaining herself, but you might be surprised by how much of your time is occupied by baby-related tasks even when the baby is asleep. Yes, you should be able to preserve at least some of your personal time, but it may not be as much as you expect.

3. Believing everything you hear

There is a lot of parenting advice out there, and while most of it is harmless, the advice-givers are not always consistent in what they say. Rather than listening to and believing everything you see, try to formulate your own philosophy about parenting, and then listen only to those experts whose beliefs are in line with yours. Also keep in mind that some so-called “parenting experts” are not all they claim to be. Listen to your doctor first and foremost.

4. Spouse neglect

There is no getting around the fact that your baby will be the center of attention in your household, and not just for the first few weeks or months. Parents have to be willing to give up much of themselves in order to care for a child, and this will last until the child is old enough to be independent. For now, try not to let your child get in the way of your connection with your spouse. Find time to talk, to snuggle up without the baby, and to keep your sex life going. Otherwise, bad feelings may develop, and this can affect the entire household.

5. Over-worrying

Many new parents spend so much time reading and worrying about all the things that can wrong with a new child that they become all but convinced that bad things are inevitable. Any time you suspect that something may be wrong with your child, it is best to listen to your intuition and take the child to your doctor as soon as possible. But try not to let your paranoia project problems that are not there, or else you will just make yourself crazy.

6. Over-spending

Although we do not like to admit it, much of what we buy for a newborn baby is more for the parents’ benefit than the child’s. A newborn baby does not need much more than loving parents and a place to sleep, so you do not have to deplete your bank account in preparation for the birth. Get the things you need, and do not forget that you can get a lot of the non-necessities after the baby is born.

7. Losing perspective

First-time parents tend to get wrapped up in the life-changing nature of the event, and as a result they risk seeing the birth of their baby as a much more momentous event than it actually is. Of course, it is one of the most important events in your life, but it is not such a big deal outside of your family. Try to keep things in perspective by reminding yourself that babies are born every day, and do not take it personally when others do not share your wild enthusiasm for your child.

Lisa Pecos, a wife and well accomplished writer whom firmly believes in natural colic treatment for infants. She has authored numerous articles in Parenting Journals on the topics of toddlers, kids and teenagers.

Nustrisystem: Week 3 #NSNation

2011-03-31T10:19:00.002-05:00

First off it is hard to believe I have been on Nutrisystem for three weeks now! The time has flown by and have really enjoyed the different meals. Three weeks in and I am still trying new foods. I like pretty much all of them and have only found one or two I was not crazy about. I always pick my favorite add-ins and I am full all day long which I think makes it easy to stay on plan

I was thrilled that this week I have noticed my close fitting better. Normally I wear sweat pants or cotton pants around the house, with the elastic waist it is hard to tell the fit. This past week when I wore my jean shorts, bought two weeks before I started Nutrisystem, they where loose !! I could still wear them but I could pull them down without unbuttoning them.......WOW.

My Nutisystem app for my iPhone, is still my best friend and makes logging my food and weight easy.

Here is my favorite food from the past week :

Penne Pasta & Chicken in Alfredo Sauce -"This classic Italian-inspired entrée is rich, smooth, creamy and the height of decadence! It combines tender chicken breast with perfectly cooked penne pasta in a succulent sauce made with heavy cream, a blend of cheese, and just the right mix of spices."

Here is the part all of you have been waiting for !!!!

DRUM ROLL PLEASE...........................

Week 3 weight loss: -3.8 pounds

Week 2 weight loss: -3.4 pounds

Week 1 weight loss: -7 pounds

Start weight: I'm sure you want to know, but I'm to embarrassed to tell !

TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS: -14.2 pounds

I know that I could have not lost a little over 14lbs on my own. I'm very satisfied with the Nutrisytem Program so far.

I am ready to see what week 4 will bring, don't forget to visit for my next weigh in :)

Would you like to lose weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem too? Visit Nutrisystem today or call 888-853-4689.

CLIF Kid Unveils Backyard Game of the Year Contest

2011-03-30T12:54:00.000-05:00

CLIF Kid, maker of organic snacks for active kids, introduced today the Backyard Game of the Year Contest. The contest aims to encourage kids ages 6-12 to use their imagination and reconnect with outdoor playtime -- right in their backyard. Kids and their parents can enter for a chance to win a $10,000 scholarship plus a Trek bicycle and Bell helmet.

Three-time U.S. Olympic soccer medalist and mom Julie Foudy will serve as Official Team Captain for the contest and host the Backyard Game of the Year Playoffs. Five finalists and their families will have a chance to meet her as they play their games together.

According to the journal Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood, only one quarter of kids play outside today as compared to nearly three quarters a generation ago. A study of 2,200 moms commissioned by internet security company AVG found that more young children know how to play a computer game than swim or ride a bike.

Backyard game ideas can be submitted today through June 30, 2011 at www.CLIFKidBackyardGame.com.

A panel of play experts will select five finalists, and those kids will be flown with one parent each to New York City to compete in the CLIF Kid Backyard Game of the Year Playoffs in late August 2011. Each finalist will receive a Trek bicycle and a Bell helmet, the four runners-up will each win a $1,000 scholarship and the winner will receive a $10,000 scholarship.

Contest entries must allow at least two kids to play together and can utilize common household items such as balls, hula hoops, beanbags and, most importantly, kids’ imagination for hours of fun.

The winning game will be reproduced and donated to Children & Nature Network, a non-profit organization working to reconnect kids with nature. Please visit www.childrenandnature.org for more information.

New PAAS Egg Decorating Kits for Easter

2011-03-24T09:53:00.002-05:00

Can you believe Eater is just around the corner ? April 24,2011 will be her before you know it. My boys have always enjoyed decoration eggs. I am looking forward to this year since I know my 4 yr old will probably really enjoy decorating his own eggs.

I am always looking for new and fun kits, I was recently told about the new kits from PAAS and thought I would share with my readers.

Here is information on the new PAAS egg decorating kits for the Easter season. The products offer easy and creative ways to decorate eggs, whether you’re a beginner or seasoned pro.

Here are five new kits for this year:

Pirate Princess: Packed with 90 stickers, color tablets, egg stands and more, this kit will inspire little pirates and princesses to dress up eggs with buried treasure, skulls and crossbones, tall ships and more.
Wild Wheels: Hit the open road with PAAS Wild Wheels. Stickers and egg stands help transform ordinary dyed eggs into road-worthy hot rods.
Fun Eggspressions: A great way to unleash creativity and “egg-spress” the artist within, this kit contains sand for color and texture, paint, stickers and more.
Basket Buddies: Perfect for the pet lover, this kit lets you create egg masterpieces using stickers of cuddly puppies, adorable kittens and playful bunnies.
Easter Traditions: Featuring some of our classic designs, this kit includes the traditional symbols of the Easter season.

Kits are available at major grocery, drug store and mass merchandiser chains nationwide with a suggested retail price of $2.99.

Nustrisystem: Week 2 #NSNation

2011-03-24T09:12:00.001-05:00

Blueberry Lemon Desert Bar

I can't believe it has been two weeks already since I started Nutrisystem. I admit that I have had a few challenges this week. For example, we went on an unplanned fishing trip this past Sunday the biggest challenge for me was figuring out my meals that I could eat since we would be in the boat all day. But in the end it all worked out, I packed me a bag with my fruits and a little ice chest for my foods ( cottage cheese, tuna etc..).

I am still happy with the foods and I'm still trying new ones. This week my new favorite is the Blueberry Lemon Desert Bar (finished the 2 I ordered, wish I had more )This bar is sweetened crispiesthat are topped with a thick layer of real blueberry puree, then infused with the fresh flavor of lemon. The whole bar is then coated with a creamy vanilla frosting. All I can say is YUMMY !!!!

I have noticed that I am no longer hungry between meals. The first couple of days or even a week of starting the plan I noticed I was hungry different times during the day, but now I am not having that problem.

I know I need to add in exercise. Right now this is my biggest struggle. I know exercise is important for a healthy lifestyle regardless if you are trying to lose weight or not. My biggest problem for me is time, I start with the boys at 5:00 am ( oldest is in high school), it seems by the time I have everything done and time for myself it is really late and I do not have the energy and I'm ready to hit the bed. I know exercise is important, so my goal this week is to find the time, even if it is just for a quick walk.

Here is the part all of you have been waiting for !!!!

DRUM ROLL PLEASE...........................

Week 2 weight loss: -3.4 pounds

Week 1 weight loss: -7 pounds

Start weight: I'm sure you want to know, but I'm to embarrassed to tell !

TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS: -10.4 pounds

I am soooooo excited ! I know my week 2 weight loss is a lot less than week one but I am really happy. I know that I could have not lost a little over 10lbs on my own. I'm very satisfied with the Nutrisytem Program so far.

I am ready to see what week 3 will bring, don't forget to visit for my next weigh in :)

Would you like to lose weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem too? Visit Nutrisystem today or call 888-853-4689.

Make the World a Greener Place, One Blade at a Time

2011-03-23T13:18:00.000-05:00

Below are tips from TurfMutt, a caped dog crusader - and face of a new Discovery Education program – who aims to help kids get outside and understand the importance of the everyday green spaces all around us.

Fertilize Naturally. Lawns take up the largest amount of carbon when they recycle nitrogen contained in grass clippings. So, take off that mulcher bag and leave clippings on the ground while mowing to break down and feed your grass naturally. And, how about applying some compost to your lawn in the Spring or Fall with your seed spreader?
Plant the Right Plant. It’s important to choose grass or plants that are right for the climate where you live. Then, plants will need less water and fertilization to survive. Go to your local nursery or an online gardening site to find your climate zone to discover what plants are native and which will grow well in your area. For instance, if you live in a drought-prone area, select plants and grass that withstand heat and need less water.

3. Prune Regularly. A single grass plant can have 300 miles of roots. Roots grow strong with appropriate watering and proper pruning. Mowing your lawn regularly, similar to pruning perennial plants and flower gardens, keeps grass healthier and thicker.

4. Water Early. Watering in the early morning before the sun is intense helps reduce the water lost from evaporation. Installing rain gutters and collecting water from downspouts also helps reduce water use. Trickle irrigation, drip irrigation or smart controller systems help reduce water use and meet the needs of plants. Or, when drought conditions exist, let the grass go dormant.

5. Create More Green Space. Lawns and other green spaces lessen the “heat island” effect, especially in urban areas, keeping surrounding areas cooler. Is there an area in your neighborhood that could benefit from some green space? If so, plant a garden for tasty veggies or a lawn area for play and relaxation.

Try one or more of these tips to keep your backyard healthy and “green” in a responsible way. And, find out more tips and information at www.TurfMutt.com

The Importance of Teaching Kids About Money

2011-03-23T13:11:00.000-05:00

The Importance of Teaching Kids About Money

By Marc Courtiol

These days, too many people do not learn about money and finance until it is far too late. Americans now hold more debt than ever before, and this is at least in part due to the fact that many of us have had no financial education. Sadly, this has led to millions of cases in which individuals do not begin to get serious about their finances until they are in their 30s or 40s and already thousands of dollars in the hole.
The solution is obvious: give kids a thorough financial education, starting as early as possible and continuing until they are out on their own. Parents cannot rely upon schools to give their kids financial education, as most young people never learn about economics or finance until they are in college, if at all. Schools are not getting the job done, so it is up to parents to pick up the slack.

Early stages of financial education
Many parents’ instinct is to shield their children from financial matters. After all, childhood is the only time in life when people do not have to worry about money, and we may feel that not talking to our kids about money is a way to preserve their innocence a little longer. While this may be true, we can still give kids a sound financial education without exposing them to the stress and pressures that adults associate with money.
The earliest step is to begin teaching kids how to count money. In the U.S., this means familiarizing them with the value of pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, and dollars, and giving them plenty of opportunities to make conversions between different denominations. Most of this involves simple math, so the instruction can begin as soon as children begin learning their basic arithmetic
.
Allowance
Meanwhile, giving kids allowance is a great way to start them off on money management. However, rather than letting kids figure these things out for themselves, it is important for parents to ask questions about how kids spend their money. We do not want to have too heavy a hand when it comes to our kids’ purchases, but we are the parents after all, so we do have the power to tell our children when a certain purchase is not a good idea.
Allowance also gives parents the opportunity to teach kids about longer-term financial management. For example, when a child wants a new bicycle, it may be tempting to go out and buy it for her, but we can actually do the child a much bigger favor by providing her with allowance and encouraging her to save up to buy the bicycle herself. Smart financial practices involve emphasizing the long-term, often at the expense of short-term gain, and the earlier kids gain this perspective the better.
Many parents choose to give allowance with no strings attached, and of course that is their choice, but there is a danger in doing this. Free allowance may send the message that kids are entitled to money for nothing and that parents have an endless supply to give. Although we want our children to be provided for, it may be more helpful in the long term to show them that money is not free. Consider asking your children to perform a manageable list of chores on a weekly basis in exchange for allowance, and do not forget to emphasize that the work must be done well.

Advanced money lessons
Later on, it becomes time for kids to start learning about things like investment and loans. At around the time when the child is old enough to get a part-time summer job (i.e., around age 16), it is time to begin introducing these concepts. Kids need to know that there are more things they can do with their paychecks than just spending the money right away.
Plus, for many older teens higher education may be on the horizon, and you might want to involve them in the financial planning for college. Given the epidemic of student loan debt now plaguing young people in the U.S., it is a good idea to make sure your teenager knows the serious ramifications of taking out loans. Debt is a serious matter, and young people should go through whatever lengths necessary to ensure that they do not begin their post-college life in a deep financial hole.

About Marc: Marc Courtiol is an accomplished health researcher in the field of natural wellness. A graduate from Cornell, Marc is a contributing author for several online journal sites and believes in the many uses of gripe water. Marc has a blog on improving digestive wellness published in the Natural Health Journals.

Helping Kids Deal With Anger

2011-03-23T13:01:00.000-05:00

Helping Kids deal with Anger

By Jamell Andrews

Image by mdanys via FlickrAnger is something that kids learn. From too much violence on television, to video games, the internet, and music, violent images and words surround us all. While adults can listen to or view these things without having them directly impact the way they behave or treat others, children are an entirely different matter.
Children are impressionable and easily swayed by the things they see and hear. This is why it is important for parents to take the necessary precautions to keep their children shielded from as much violence as possible while they are growing up. Fortunately, there are things parents can do to help their children learn to manage their feelings of anger when they arise so that they do not resort to aggressive behavior.

Preventing aggressive behavior
Just as violent behavior and getting angry are learned habits, so is calmness. While all of us experience degrees of anger at one time or another, there are constructive ways of handling those feelings that are much healthier for us.
One thing you can do to help your child deal with feelings of anger is to help him develop an appropriate vocabulary. If children do not have any other method for venting their feelings, they are more likely to scream, throw things, or hit or kick others out of sheer frustration.
It will not work to ask a child to explain to you how he is feeling because he will not be able to express himself in this way. You can, however, create a chart of descriptive words that he can use to express how he is feeling. First, however, you will need to take the time to explain what each word means. You should be prepared to go over this information with him on several different occasions.
Words such as irate, mad, frustrated, ticked off and angry can be written on a chart and then used by you to try to talk to your child about how he is feeling. If you teach your child a variety of different words that he can use to express his emotions, it will help him to express himself more appropriately. He will then be much less likely to have violent outbursts. You might also want to teach your child anger control methods such as silently counting to ten, or taking several deep, slow breaths.

Calling in a professional
If your child’s anger issues are out of control and you just cannot seem to reach him, you should strongly consider taking him to a therapist for help. It is always best to deal with these issues when a child is still quite young. A professional will be able to offer you some guidelines that your entire family can follow that will have everyone responding to anger in a much healthier way.
When children have anger issues that remain unresolved, the feelings of bitterness and resentment can build up and remain with them far beyond childhood. It is best to obtain professional assistance so that your child can learn at an early age how to properly handle his feelings of anger and aggression and have a better chance of leading a peaceful, enjoyable life.

About Jamell: Jamell Andrews authors many insightful articles on parents and childern. She is a firm believer in the many uses of natural remedies for colic.

Nutella = Yummy #NutellaParty

2011-03-23T09:50:00.003-05:00

Since I discovered Nutella about a year ago, my whole family has been huge fans. We LOVE it! My kids love it on toast, on waffles, with fruit and I have even used it to frost cupcakes. I have told friends and family about it but not many have tried it.

What is Nutella ? Nutella (pronounced "new-tell-uh") is a tasty unique spread made from the combination of roasted hazelnuts, skim milk and a hint of cocoa. Nutella has no artificial colors or preservatives. It can be used on a wide variety of breads. Hazelnuts are a main ingredient in Nutella. Each 13 oz. jar contains more than 50 hazelnuts. Nutella is also kosher.

I was thrilled when I received a Party Pack to let my friends and family try Nutella, some for the first time. I put Nuttella on waffles, toast and also on bagels with fresh strawberries (my new favorite). The most popular responses after trying it were " this is good" , "I have always seen it but never tried it" and "this will be on my shopping list ". Nutella seemed to be a big hit with everyone, especially the kids. Everyone was excited to be able to take home sample packets as well as coupons to purchase some Nutella! I think everyone at my Nutella Party said they were planning on purchasing it on their next shopping trip!

I was able to send everyone home with a great gift bag which included:

Nutella sample pack
Nutella tumbler mug
Nutella spreader
Nutella coupons
Nutella breakfast tip cards
advertorial and info card

Here are a few photos:

Try Nutella for yourself..... purchase it at a store near you. Don't forget this $1 off coupon HERE! (coupon good until May 31,2011)

Disclaimer: I was provided a Nutella Party kit from Mommy Parties & Mom Select to host this party. No other compensation was received.

Nustrisystem: Week 1 #NSNation

2011-03-16T09:29:00.000-05:00

I have officially completed my first week of Nutrisystem! So far, I am very happy with the system. I was scared that the food would not taste good or that they would not be filling and I would be starving all the time, but to my surprise I was wrong. Nutrisystem is pretty simple to follow and for a mom of three kids, simple is important for me. One thing I like about the program is how each meal is color coded, blue is breakfast, lunch is green, dinner is red and snack is pink. Another great tool I use is the Nutisystem app for my iPhone, I can log my food as I am preparing it.

I will admit the 1st day was a little hard for me. Over the last few years on a normal day I would drink a 2 liter or more of regular soda. (YES, A DAY). So day 1 with no soda (caffeine) I had a killer headache, so I had to find a way to put a little caffeine in my diet and now I am having 3 servings a day of Coke Zero along with my water ...... NO more headaches.

Since it has only been a week, I have not had a chance to try all the meals. Here are a few of my favorite foods from week 1.

Breakfast: Homestyle Pancakes

Lunch: Chicken Quesadilla

Dinner: Ravioli Formaggio

Snack/Dessert : Ice Cream Sandwich

Here is the part all of you have been waiting for !!!!

DRUM ROLL PLEASE...........................

Start weight: I'm sure you want to know, but I'm to embarrassed to tell !

Week 1 weight loss: -7 pounds

I am soooooo excited ! One thing I suggest if you are trying to lose weight is to buy a good digital scale that includes readings to tenths of a pound. These scales give a much more precise reading. If a whole pound is not lost than you can still see progress even if it is .3lbs.which I know will help keep me motivated.

I am ready to see what week 2 will bring, don't forget to visit for my next weigh in :)

My Nutrisystem Journey Has Officially Started #NSNation

2011-03-13T19:50:00.036-05:00

On Wednesday, 3/9/11, I officially started my Nutrisys tem Journey. I hope you follow my progress over the next 4 months! I am so excited to see what the future brings with the healthier, and hopefully thinner me!

My freezer and shelf food arrived a few days before I decided to begin the program. I was happy I allowed a few days to review and understand the system, shop for my grocery add ins and plan my meals for a few days. This way, on day #1 I did not have to figure out what I needed to eat or when.

Here are photos of all my freezer and shelf food when they arrived.

I have only been on Nutrisystem for a few days but so for I have not come across one of their meals that I do not like and most importantly I have NOT been hungry !!!! I can't believe how much food I actually get to eat on this plan.

A typical day consist of the following:

Breakfast:

Nutrisystem Breakfast Entree

Dairy or Protein

Fruit

Lunch:

Nutrisystem Lunch Entree

Protein

Vegetable

(can have 2 tbsp. fat-free dressing if I would like)

Snack:

Protein or Dairy

Fruit

Dinner:

Nustrisystem Dinner Entree

Fruit or Vegetable

Vegetable

Vegetable (with 2 tbsp. fat free dressing if desired)

Fat

Dessert

Nutrisystem Dessert Entree

Here are a few photos of some of the meals I have enjoyed over the last few days.

I am very thrilled with my progress so far, I will be posting my first weigh in this Wednesday 3/16/11 !!!!!!

Be sure to check back weekly for my Weigh In Wednesday post. I am excited to be able to update and share with my readers my weekly progress.

Would you like to lose weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem too? Visit Nutrisystem today or call 888-853-4689.

Project 52 - Week 9

2011-02-26T21:00:00.000-06:00

Welcome to my Project 52 week 9, my attempt to capture life in a couple pictures once a week. ENJOY !!!

And they say they do not like each other....brotherly love :)

Bryce's souvenir license plate for his bike I got while on vacation!

New way to wear shorts !!!


Wish I could knock out like this LOL !

BRAVO's Bethenny Ever After PREMIERE

2011-02-25T20:47:00.002-06:00

Bethenny, Jason and baby Bryn are back! Jump right on in to the crazy and stressful day-to-day as Bethenny tries to juggle her business, her baby, and her in-laws, proving to be a challenge right from the get-go. As Bethenny and Jason head out of New York City for a visit to Jason's parents, the trip takes a quick turn for the worse when Bethenny decides she needs more boundaries between the families. Will Bethenny be able to come to a fair agreement with the in-laws and keep the family peace or will parental drama ensue? Find out this Monday 2/28 @ 10/9c on the PREMIERE of BRAVO's Bethenny Ever After

Trying to get out of the city without dog poo

Defining boundaries with Grandparents

I'm A Nutrisystem Nation Blogger ! #NSNation

2011-02-22T12:53:00.008-06:00

I am excited to say that I was chosen to participate in the Nutrisystem Nation of Bloggers Program! This opportunity could not have come at a better time, I think this is the heaviest I have been in my life, even after the birth of each of my 3 boys. It seems the older I get the harder it is to take off. I have always found it hard to know what to eat and how much to eat to successfully lose weight ans keep it off.

With the program I will be receiving 4 months of food and all the support I need for me to succeed. I picked my foods and my order was placed today! I will be starting as soon as my first order of food arrives along with the Welcome Kit, which includes their Meal Planner, On the Go Meal Planner and Dining Out Guide which will help me plan out my daily meals, as well as help with add-in grocery additions.

Here are some of the foods that will be arriving with my first order:

Homestyle Pancakes
Garden Vegetable Omelet
Golden French Toast
Ham and Cheese Omelet
Breakfast Burrito
Steak and Cheese Melt
Chicken Fajita Melt
Chicken Quesadilla
Margherita Pizza
Meatball Parmesan Melt
Roasted Vegetable Pizza
Toasted Ham and Cheese
Asian Style Beef
Chicken Alfredo
Glazed Chicken Tenders
Ravioli Formaggio
Roasted Turkey Medallions
Salisbury Steak with Mac and Cheese
Spinach and Cheese Stuffed Shells
Turkey Pepperoni Pizza
Ice Cream Sandwich
Fudge Swirl Sundae
Creamy Fudge Bar
Caramel Swirl Sundae
Orange Crème Bar

Be sure to check back weekly once I start so you can follow my 4 month journey. I am excited to be able to update and share with my readers my weekly progress.

Would you like to lose weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem too? Visit Nutrisystem today or call 888-853-4689.

This is the opinion of Life In A House Of Blue. Other people may have different experiences with this product.Thank you to Nutrisystem for providing the program free of charge for me to try.

Project 52 - Week 8

2011-02-22T12:50:00.001-06:00

Welcome to my Project 52 week 8, my attempt to capture life in a couple pictures once a week. Here are a few photos from my vacation this past week to Steamboat Springs, Co. I have tons of photos and videos to post in the next few days, so check back for more :)

Me & Mom on our first trip down on Snow Bikes

Dad found a great way to keep his drinks cold on the balcony

View from our 2nd floor Balcony

Dog Sledding

Our Condo .. our balcony is right above the cars on the left ..we are on the 2nd floor, the one under us is hidden by the snow. LOL

Project 52 - Week 7

2011-02-12T05:09:00.001-06:00

Welcome to week 7 of my Project 52, my attempt to capture life in a couple shots once a week.

A rare find....Bryce taking a nap !

Our dog,Sandy,doing what she does best...nothing LOL !

An apple a day keeps the Dr. away... Bryce's new favorite snack!

My poor bowl after the boys used it to play BayBlades


No more using my bowls, I got them a Bayblade arena !

Steamboat Springs, Colorado Here I Come

2011-02-09T15:54:00.004-06:00

From shrimp boots to snow boots.... Steamboat Springs, Co. here I come !!!! First off, as many of my readers know, I am from Southeast Louisiana, lived here all my life. Here it has snowed (more of a dusting) maybe 3 times that I can remember. I'm excited that I am going to get to see "real" snow for the first time. Where I live during the winter 55 degrees is freezing to me, I hope I do not turn in to a human popsicle LOL... last week it was -25 there.

We have a ton of activities planned. We are renting Snow Bikes, Dog Sledding, Tubing, Ice Skating, Snowmobiling and what ever else we can fit in !!! I am sad that my hubby and boys can not go, but my BFF Kristen , my parents and my bother-in-law & sister-in-law will be going! But most importantly, I will get to see my brother, Steven. Steven is the main reason the trip was planned, he moved there a few months ago to work and will not be able to come home to visit us until May, so we are going see him.

My flight leaves out at 6am Friday, check back daily (as long as I have internet) I will try to post some fun post with photos and videos while we are there.

This is our condo:

This is the view from where my brother works (top of the ski lift):

A photo my brother sent me of him playing in the snow:

Project 52 - Week 6

2011-02-05T12:20:00.001-06:00

Welcome to week 6 of Project 52. First off let me say I'm sorry that this week I only have one photo. Something happened and all my photos were erased off my camera (cough...cough...my 4yr old). Well, I did have one photo on my phone that I did not share yet, so here it is.....


Bryce wearing his "Choot'em " shirt! He loves to watch Swamp People on the History Channel !!

KIDStrong Hydration Beverage #Giveaway

2011-02-04T10:41:00.001-06:00

Recently I was contacted to review and host a giveaway for KIDStrong, as a mom of 3 very active boys I was thrilled for them to try it.

We received all 3 flavors that are available Clearly Orange, Clearly Fruit Punch and Clearly Grape. Did you notice the word Clearly....yes they are all clear !!! I really like this since my boys always seem to spill something. They are great for on the go, no stains in car or on clothes.

According to the product information, KIDStrong Hydration Beverages are scientifically formulated for kids' hydration and energy and provide a healthful alternative to high glycemic index, sugar-based soft drinks that promote childhood obesity.

The benefits of KIDStrong Products:

Contain all-natural ingredients
No artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners
Preservative-free
Low in sugar
Low glycemic index complex carbohydrate blend
Optimal electrolyte profile
Power-packed with 20 vitamins, minerals, and nutrients
Scientifically formulated for kids’ hydration and energy

The biggest test was if the boys like the taste, it seems like when something is better for them they tend to say they do not like it... well not in this case. It was approved by my 4yr old, 11yr old and 15yr old. Even though they are for kids I had to give them a try (Shhhhh) I think my favorite was the orange.

I was told they are best when served cold, so that is what I did. That also gave me the idea for summer.... KIDStrong popsicles.

Where to Buy: Use the store locator for a store near you or purchase online.

Price: $3.99 – $4.99 per 4pk

Find KIDStrong on Facebook.

The KIDStrong formula was developed by Dr. George Murphy. He is is one of the top molecular biologists in the world and was recently named The American Cancer Society’s Young Scientist of the Year. Dr. Murphy serves as a Fellow in molecular medicine at Harvard Medical School and the Children’s Hospital in Boston where he designs and implements gene therapy strategies and stem cell protocols for cancer, heart disease, and immunological disorders.

A Case of KIDStrong!

Case contains 12 bottles (4 of each flavor)!

Thank you to everyone that entered this giveaway.
The winner (selected by Random.org) has been emailed !

MANDATORY ENTRY:

(Please Leave A Valid Email Address).

Visit KIDStrong and tell us something you learned!

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra entries, you must do the MANDATORY entry.

Follow Us on Twitter & Tweet about the contest.
Add Life In A House Of Blue Button to your blog (See sidebar)
Add Life In A House Of Blue to your Blogroll
Follow My Blog- Google Friend Connect (See Footer)
Subscribe to Life In A House Of Blue via e-mail. (See sidebar)
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UNLIMITED EXTRA ENTRIES:

To receive these extra entries, you must do the MANDATORY entry.

Tweet about the contest (be sure to leave the tweet link)
Leave a comment on another post besides this one ( leave link to comment )

If entries do not follow rules, they will be deleted !

I will be using a random number generator to select the winner. Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on 2/27/11. If the prize is not claimed in 48 hours a new winner will be chosen.Contest open to U.S. residents only.

Win A Parisian Vacation from NileGuide.com

2011-02-04T10:35:00.004-06:00

The NileGuide.com recently launched a Valentine’s Day contest called ‘Fall in Love with the City of Love’ and the grand prize is a trip of a lifetime for two to Paris!

In addition, after being flown to the French capital the winner and a guest will:

Stay for a week in a high-end Parisian apartment courtesy of iStopOver
Enjoy an intimate dinner at classic Parisian restaurant Les Deux Magots
Receive two tickets to visit the Eiffel Tower
Receive two passes to the Museé Rodin to view the famous sculpture "The Kiss"

The contest is running until February 21^st and only open to US residents 18 and over.

The contest entry page is: http://apps.facebook.com/winatriptoparis/

Shabby Apple - Dress #Giveaway (CLOSED)

2011-02-02T13:28:00.001-06:00

I am thrilled to announce to my readers that Shabby Apple offered us the opportunity to host a giveaway for one of readers to win a dress !!!!

Shabby Apple is proud to offer you fantastic dresses that allow you to look fabulous, without having to compromise anything else.

When I visited the Shabby Apple site the first thing I noticed was how easy it was to navigate and find everything. Of course the first thing I looked at was the beautiful dress. I really like how they have them grouped in collections such as Central Park, Yosemite etc, and also have them in categories such as Black, Flirty, Sophisticated and more.

One feature they offer on their site that many other do not is the Shop by body type, just by answering a few questions it will tell you your type and allow you to look at dress that flatter you body type.

Besides the stylish dresses for woman they also offer Jewelry & accessories, preteen dresses and addorable dresses for kids.

Another fun thing on their site I can across is the Style Advice area. I do not know about you but I know I have had more than one question about what to wear to different events, does this match that? or heel or flats. Living in a house with all boys, it's nice to have a place to get truthful answers!

Dear Shabby understands wardrobe woes, closet catastrophes and outfit apocalypses of every shape and size. Shoot Shabby a line and she'll be sure to get you an answer within 72 hours.

After looking around the site I really like the Cortez dress (photo top left). You can see more pictures of it here.

A Dress From Shabby Apple !

(Winner will select one dress from a selection of over 20)

Thank you to everyone that entered this giveaway.
The winner (selected by Random.org) has been emailed !

MANDATORY ENTRY:

(Please Leave A Valid Email Address).

Visit Shabby Apple then come back here and leave a comment letting us know what item caught your eye.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra entries, you must do the MANDATORY entry.

Follow Us on Twitter & Tweet about the contest.
Add Life In A House Of Blue Button to your blog (See sidebar)
Add Life In A House Of Blue to your Blogroll
Follow My Blog- Google Friend Connect (See Footer)
Subscribe to Life In A House Of Blue via e-mail. (See sidebar)
Become a fan of Life In A House Of Blue on Facebook (See Footer)

UNLIMITED EXTRA ENTRIES:

To receive these extra entries, you must do the MANDATORY entry.

Tweet about the contest (be sure to leave the tweet link)
Leave a comment on another post besides this one ( leave link to comment )

If entries do not follow rules, they will be deleted !

Wallets2Wear - Wrist Wallet

2011-02-02T10:10:00.001-06:00

When I go out the house sometimes I do not need to carry much, but I hate to put things in my pocket because I am all scared things will fall out and I would not know until it was to late.

Recently I learned about Wallets2Wear, they are designed around a pouch that can carry your lipstick or credit cards, cash and key…or… anything you can think of that size!

Now when I go to the store I slip in my debit card and drivers licenses and I am ready to go. I am going on vacation next week (kid free) and I already have my Wallets2Wear packed. It will come in handy while site seeing, going to dinner and a night on the town and the best part is that I will not have to carry a purse everywhere I go.

The Wallets2Wear I selected to review was the Toasted Coconut, I love the color and think it goes with everything! I have received many complements about "what a pretty bracelet" ... they were shocked to learn that it was my wallet and commented on what a great idea and wanted to know where I got it !

Wallets2Wear offers Beaded Wrist Wallets like the one I received and also Fabric Wrist Wallets ( with and with out a watch) and Sports Wrist Wallets. They are available in a large variety of colors, I am sure you can find one to fit your style!

Check out this video from Wallets 2 Wear !

Julia Machotka is founder and head designer of wallets2wear: beautiful accessories with a secure hidden pouch. The successful innovator and entrepreneur's background in art and design has blossomed into a line of bracelets, watches and sports wristbands that are also functional accessories.

Julia Machotka became an entrepreneur by founding a web services agency that is still going strong after 14 years. Her interest in dance led her to develop accessories that she could wear and be stylish and not worry about her essentials. Her dream was realized with wallets2wear, the beautiful accessories with a secure hidden pouch. No more purse, no more worries. And still a lot of style.

If you are still looking for that perfect Valentines Gift
Ccheck out Wallets2Wear Special !

http://wallets2wear.com/

VTech LS6375-3 Cordless System

2011-02-02T09:03:00.001-06:00

As a busy mom I am always on the search for anything to make life a little easier. The story of my life is multitasking. So I was thrilled to have the opportunity to review the new VTech LS6375-3 which is a Two Handset Cordless Answering System including a Cordless Headset. Yes, a headset, just like a bluetooth earpiece people use with their cell phones.

Right out the box it was easy to set up and all the features were easy to understand and use. I have only had the phone for a little while but so far the headsetre has been my favorite feature. I wear it most of the time and no matter if I am working on the computer cooking or cleaning there is no running to find the phone to answer it or needing to hold the phone.....it leaves your hands free for anything you need to be doing.

The Push-to-Talk feature is really nice and is great when you have a teenager like me that hibernates in their room and you are always yelling for them. Push-to-Talk enables instant voice delivery through the handset speakerphone, allowing everyone to make announcements or easily have one-to-one conversations with someone in another room.

I am very pleased with this phone and like all the features , I plan to add 2 more handsets to it really soon

The VTech LS6375-3 is priced at $99.95 which includes:

Cordless Headset
2 handsets
Digital answering system

And for further flexibility, the LS6375-3 is expandable with up to four handsets and one headset. You will need the LS6305 accessory handset for this, which is sold separately for just $19.95.

LS6375-3 Features:

ENERGY STAR® qualified and RoHS compliant
Includes IS6100 cordless headset for added freedom to have private, hands-free conversations
A two-handset and one-headset system, requiring only one phone jack and including three ear hooks and an over-the head band
DECT 6.0 digital technology for the best sound quality, security and range in cordless phones
Push-to-talk functionality between handsets
Low-profile keypad
100-name and number phonebook directory– easily store and dial frequently called numbers
Noise-cancelling headset microphone– filters unwanted background noise for the highest possible audio quality
Equalizer with four audio profiles to match users’ hearing needs
Blue backlit LCD and keypad
Chrome finishing with high-gloss black design
Handset speakerphone for “hands-free” conversations
7-day/7-hour battery performance
Wall-mountable
Expandable with up to four handsets and one handset using only one phone jack – uses LS6305 accessory handsets
Available at: www.vtechphones.com and Best Buy
MSRP: $99.95

I also wanted to share with my readers that VTech recently launched a new phase of Stay Grounded, called “escape,” encouraging consumers to embrace more one-to-one communication and highlighting ways that conversation can provide a psychological “escape” from even the busiest lifestyle.

Current content on StayGrounded.com focuses on reminding people that a good one-on-one conversation can provide a psychological escape from even the busiest lifestyle, and that taking time to connect with loved ones in the New Year can offer a renewed perspective. To help people overcome the digital overload of modern life, VTech is encouraging consumers to share the ways they plan to “escape” after the holidays, at http://www.facebook.com/VTechPhones.

Connect to Win Today!!!
VTech’s StayGrounded.com features weekly visitor polls, regularly updated tips, fun facts and videos focused on the art of good conversation, along with special product discount offers. Visitors can continue the dialogue by sharing with others through email, Facebook or Twitter.

Facebook: Visitors can share the ways they plan to escape from technology at http://www.facebook.com/VTechPhones to be eligible for weekly relaxation prize packages (valued at up to $200/each), and receive information on VTech discounts, events, sports and music initiatives.
Twitter: Follow VTech at http://twitter.com/vtech411 for the latest news, including links to product reviews, contests and giveaways.

Yoplait Frozen Smoothie #Giveaway (CLOSED)

2011-01-29T09:10:00.002-06:00

In our house, fruit smoothies are a hit with everyone. When I am grocery shopping and pick up the stuff to make them ( fruit, yogurt etc....) the kids get so excited !! But most of the time when we want them I do not have the fruit on hand at that time.

Have you heard of the new Yoplait Frozen Smoothies ? Yoplait recently gave me the opportunity to try their Smoothie mixes, which is sold in the freezer case. Filled with Vitamin C and one full serving of fruit per smoothie, Yoplait Frozen Smoothies provide an easy way to enjoy great-tasting, frozen fruit smoothies at home! It is fruit and yogurt pieces and combined with the milk, provide a good chunk of our needed calcium and vitamin C for the day. All you have to do is add 1cup of milk, put everything in your blender – you are done! YES it is that easy !!!

We tried the Triple Berry and thought it was YUMMY. Each package makes two 8-oz. servings. The Yoplait Smoothies sell for around $3.25, after trying the Yoplait Smoothies, I think the convenience is totally worth the price if it gets you or your kids to eat fruit.

Did you know that seven out of every ten Americans are not eating the recommended two to four servings of fruit per day, Yoplait Frozen Smoothies could help you reach your serving amounts .Each package of Yoplait Frozen Smoothies contains one full serving of fruit (1/2 cup) and 110 to 120 calories per serving. Not only does Yoplait yogurt contain live and active cultures, but when prepared with skim milk and made according to package directions, Yoplait Frozen Smoothies are a good source of calcium. I think besides a yummy snack, I would like to incorporate the smoothies into my morning routine for breakfast!

Yoplait Smoothies come in four flavors: Blueberry Pomegranate, Strawberry Banana, Strawberry Mango Pineapple, and Triple Berry.

Visit the Yoplait Smoothie Facebook page and "like" them, then click the Coupon tab to get a printable for $1 off of Yoplait Smoothies. Also follow Yoplait Frozen Smoothie on Twitter to keep up with their latest and greatest products!

Yoplait Frozen Smoothies Prize Pack
Prize Pack includes: VIP coupon to try Yoplait Frozen Smoothies, a drawstring backpack, a water bottle and a fitness journal. (see photo below)

Thank you to everyone that entered this giveaway.
The winner (selected by Random.org) has been emailed !

MANDATORY ENTRY:

(Please Leave A Valid Email Address).

Visit Yoplait Smoothies and take a look around, come back and leave a comment letting us know what flavor smoothie you would like to try.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra entries, you must do the MANDATORY entry.

Follow Us on Twitter & Tweet about the contest.
Add Life In A House Of Blue Button to your blog (See sidebar)
Add Life In A House Of Blue to your Blogroll
Follow My Blog- Google Friend Connect (See Footer)
Subscribe to Life In A House Of Blue via e-mail. (See sidebar)
Become a fan of Life In A House Of Blue on Facebook (See Footer)

UNLIMITED EXTRA ENTRIES:

To receive these extra entries, you must do the MANDATORY entry.

Tweet about the contest (be sure to leave the tweet link)
Leave a comment on another post besides this one ( leave link to comment )

If entries do not follow rules, they will be deleted !

I will be using a random number generator to select the winner. Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on 2/20/11. If the prize is not claimed in 48 hours a new winner will be chosen.Contest open to U.S. residents only.

The product, prize pack and giveaway were provided by Yoplait® through MyBlogSpark.

Project 52 - Week 5

2011-01-29T06:51:00.028-06:00

Project 52 is an attempt to capture life in a couple shots once a week. Here is my week 5, this week we enjoyed a campfire & marshmallows plus I have been getting ready for my trip to Steamboat,Colorado!

Bryce and Jacob enjoying the fire.

Bryce LOVES marshmallows !

Starting to pack for my vacation, leaving 2/11/11( I might need another suitcase LOL)

I did not take this photo but my brother did , this is where he works at...the top of the Ski Lift... This is where I an going on vacation YAY! What a view to see everyday !

If you decide to join in on the fun and do your own Project 52 leave your link below !!

Project 52 Week 1,2,3 & 4

2011-01-22T12:59:00.005-06:00

Project 52 is an attempt to capture life in a couple shots once a week. I learned about this from my friend Melinda over at Look What Mom Found and Dad Too (catch up on Melinda's Project 52 since she gave me the idea!) Yes, I know it is week 4 of 2011...but I guess it's better later than never, right? LOL !!! So here are a few pics from weeks 1-4, come back next week to see what we are up to in week 5 !

Bryce's 4th Birthday Party on New Years day !

Proud to be 4 !!

Tyler's ROTC awards night !!!

Just Chill'in

If you decide to join in on the fun leave your link below !!

1-800-Flowers.com #Giveaway (CLOSED)

2011-01-19T18:24:00.009-06:00

Valentine's Day is right around the corner. A great way to let that special someone know how much they mean to you is to have them receive a surprise knock at the door with a special gift for them !

I have been married 17yrs and do not receive flowers that often but when I do I love it ! I personally think flowers are great for any occasion or even "just because". I know when I receive flowers just because, I think it means a little more because it was totally unexpected !

1-800-FLOWERS.COM delivers more than flowers, they also have Gift Baskets & Food , Plants and more. One thing that caught my eye was the Chocolate Covered Strawberries....YUM ! Looking around their site, I really think they have that special gift for ANYONE for ANY occasion ! It is a one stop shop for all your gist giving needs !

Would you like to get flowers this Valentines Day but are unsure how to drop the hint? Well, this Valentine’s Day 1-800-FLOWERS.COM is making it easy for you to show your sweetie the perfect gift for you! Use the “Like” button on each of the 1-800-FLOWERS.COM product pages and help your special someone find the gift to make your heart melt.

An Arrangement From 1-800-FLOWERS.COM

( The arrangement will be winners choice of 1 of the 3 pictured below)

Ruby Red Roses       Rose and Lily Cube Bouquet     Fun and Flirty

Thank you to everyone that entered this giveaway.
The winner (selected by Random.org) has been emailed !

MANDATORY ENTRY:

(Please Leave A Valid Email Address).

Visit 1-800-FLOWERS.COM product page and “Like” one of the 3 above arrangements, the one YOU would LOVE to receive this Valentine's Day. Come back here and leave a comment stating which one of the three you "Like" for a chance to win it!

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra entries, you must do the MANDATORY entry.

Follow Us on Twitter & Tweet about the contest.
Add Life In A House Of Blue Button to your blog (See sidebar)
Add Life In A House Of Blue to your Blogroll
Follow My Blog- Google Friend Connect (See Footer)
Subscribe to Life In A House Of Blue via e-mail. (See sidebar)
Become a fan of Life In A House Of Blue on Facebook (See Footer)

UNLIMITED EXTRA ENTRIES:

To receive these extra entries, you must do the MANDATORY entry.

Tweet about the contest (be sure to leave the tweet link)
Leave a comment on another post besides this one ( leave link to comment )

If entries do not follow rules, they will be deleted !

I will be using a random number generator to select the winner. Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on 2/6/11. If the prize is not claimed in 48 hours a new winner will be chosen.Contest open to U.S. residents only.

Thanks you to 1-800-FLOWERS.COM for fulfilling giveaway item.

The Kelly Moore - Camera Bag Review

2011-01-19T11:17:00.001-06:00

As many of my reader know I love photography. Many years ago I worked doing studio photography until I became a stay at home mom.

Since I purchased my Canon SLR and lenses years ago, I never what to leave home without it. I have bought and tried tons of camera bags but have never found one that I LOVE and also fit all my needs....well until NOW !

What peeked my interest in the Kelly Moore Bags is that the designer of the bags is also a (great) photographer. My thought was " Who better to know what is needed in a bag." This is a snippet of a quote from Kelly from their site about why she started to design camera bags.

" About three years ago, I started sketching and dreaming about having a handbag/lens bag line of my own. As a photographer and a woman, I was always left wanting more when it came to my options for a stylish, functional bag that I could use to carry my equipment while I photographed. I sat down and made a wish list of everything that I wanted in a great bag, and now 3 years later, I'm so excited that my wishlist has come to life!!"

Recently I received the the Kelly Moore Classic Bag in black to review and lets just say my camera and I are very happy !!!

When it arrived it was packaged very nicely.(see right). The first thing I noticed was the quality of the bag. The look and feel really make this bag stand out. It does not look like a camera bag and my first thought was people are not going to automatically think .... "hey look, a camera bag with expensive equipment". Which I think about because it is one of my fears when I am out and about that my camera gear will walk away.

I love the size of this bag (16” W x 11” H x 4” D) it holds everything I need plus room for more. One of my favorite features of this bag is that it has 3 padded, removable, adjustable velcro dividers which total 4 sections inside (it is designed to carry lenses up to 8" lens in length). This allows you to configure the inside to your individual needs. It also has 2 magnetic snap pockets, 2 side pockets and 1 large back zipper pocket. This bag holds everything I need, besides my camera equipment it also has room for my phone, keys and wallet. My netbook also fits in the zipper pocket which makes this the only bag I need when I go out the door, NO MORE camera bag, purse and netbook case.

In the past I have had a problem when setting my camera bag down it would fall over and everything would fall out. This Kelly Moore Bag is very different when it comes to this, it stands on it own, even with all my stuff in it, I can set it down and walk away and it WILL stand on its own!

This bag has one important feature that is a must for me, a LONG Adjustable ( up to 56") strap. I always like to wear my bag across my body and the magnetic snaps along the top allows easy access to gear even while wearing it.

You can purchase the Kelly Moore Classic Bag in black from the website HERE for $199.00

Here are a few more Kelly Moore Bags that caught my eye on their site.

Here is a video from Kelly Moore herself describing the Classic bag.

Kelly Moore Classic Bag Tutorial from kelly clark on Vimeo.

Scentsy Valentine #Giveaway (Closed)

2011-01-19T08:54:00.004-06:00

With Valentines Day right around the corner, I am sure you are on the lookout for that perfect gift for your sweetheart (or even for yourself). How about a gift that can be enjoyed all year long unlike flowers and candy!

Recently I was sent the new Hugs & Kisses heart warmer from Scentsy along with a couple of their scents from the Romance collection! My favorite so far is the Lucky In Love, which is described as " Sweet bouquet of mandarin, bergamot and orange with hints of peaches and berries."
I decided to put the Hug & Kisses warmer in my bedroom since the color match my decor in there perfectly ! But honestly this heart design will look great on any room with any decor !!!

For those who may be asking... What is Scentsy ? Scentsy offers electric warmers that use a low wattage light bulb to melt cubes of wax, so there is no soot, flame or smoke involved. This makes them very safe to use and they only emit scent into the air, no black smoke or soot like traditional flamed candles.

In addition to candle warmers, Scentsy also offers Scentsy wax bars/bricks, plug in warmers, hanging fresheners, foams, room sprays, scented stuffed animals and more!

Another plus with the Scentsy products is that you can easily change fragrances without wasting any of your bar or brick. Just completely melt the fragrance that is in your warmer, pour it back into the original packaging, and clean the dish out with a paper towel (very little gets left in there). Then you're ready to try a new fragrance! The melted wax will cool and resume it's former shape, ready for the next time you want to use it!

To purchase please visit this find a consultant page, this consultant locator is designed to help you quickly find your local Scentsy Consultant.

Hugs & Kisses Heart Warmer, plus a Scent Bar !!

Thank you to everyone that entered this giveaway.
The winner (selected by Random.org) has been emailed !

MANDATORY ENTRY:

(Please Leave A Valid Email Address).

Visit Scentsy, then leave us a comment on which Fragrance Collection you would like to try a scent from. For example... Bakery, Tropical, Spa etc....

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra entries, you must do the MANDATORY entry.

Follow Us on Twitter & Tweet about the contest.
Add Life In A House Of Blue Button to your blog (See sidebar)
Add Life In A House Of Blue to your Blogroll
Follow My Blog- Google Friend Connect (See Footer)
Subscribe to Life In A House Of Blue via e-mail. (See sidebar)
Become a fan of Life In A House Of Blue on Facebook (See Footer)

UNLIMITED EXTRA ENTRIES:

To receive these extra entries, you must do the MANDATORY entry.

Tweet about the contest (be sure to leave the tweet link)
Leave a comment on another post besides this one ( leave link to comment )

If entries do not follow rules, they will be deleted !

I will be using a random number generator to select the winner. Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on 2/1/11. If the prize is not claimed in 48 hours a new winner will be chosen.Contest open to U.S. residents only.

Macy’s Million Dollar Makeover- $50 GC #Giveaway (CLOSED)

2011-01-14T13:42:00.002-06:00

With a new year brings new resolutions! With that in mind, we are excited share with our readers the launch of the “Macy’s Million Dollar Makeover” with Macy’s Style Expert Clinton Kelly! This is no ordinary makeover competition though, Clinton won't just be transforming your wardrobe; he will help to transform your work, your home, your entire life.

“Macy’s Million Dollar Makeover is my typical makeover on steroids,” said Clinton Kelly, style expert for Macy’s and co-host of TLC’s What Not to Wear. “The winner will not only get some quality time with me to update their look, but they will get a truly life-changing experience. From fashion to finances to fitness, they will undergo a complete life transformation."

The excitement has already begun! Fans across the nation have started submitting photos and videos here describing why they deserve this life-changing makeover.

Macy’s will choose eight contestants who will get a personalized makeover from Clinton Kelly himself. Then, the fun really begins as America helps to decide who wins the grand prize ultimate makeover, worth $1 Million!

HOW YOU CAN ENTER the “Macy’s Million Dollar Makeover”:

Entries may be submitted at http://on.fb.me/macysmilliondollarmakeover from now through January 31, 2011. Entrants must “like” Macy’s on Facebook to access the contest application, and will be required to submit either a video or picture.

Following the nationwide entry period, eight contestants will be selected in early February and will undergo a makeover session with Clinton. Each contestant’s personal story and makeover will be filmed and posted to http://on.fb.me/macysmilliondollarmakeover for an open voting period that begins in March. Two videos will be posted each week and the video with the most votes each week will proceed to the semi-finals in April. The top two videos will compete in a finals round – with the victor winning the million dollar makeover.

“Macy’s Million Dollar Makeover” with Clinton Kelly is open to legal residents of the United States who are 18 years of age or older.

A $50 Macy's Gift Card !

Thank you to everyone that entered this giveaway.
The winner (selected by Random.org) has been emailed !

MANDATORY ENTRY:

(Please Leave A Valid Email Address)

Leave us a comment and tell us if you think you need a make over and if so why.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra entries, you must do the MANDATORY entry.

Follow Us on Twitter & Tweet about the contest.
Add Life In A House Of Blue Button to your blog (See sidebar)
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UNLIMITED EXTRA ENTRIES:

To receive these extra entries, you must do the MANDATORY entry.

Tweet about the contest (be sure to leave the tweet link)
Leave a comment on another post besides this one ( leave link to comment )

If entries do not follow rules, they will be deleted !

I will be using a random number generator to select the winner. Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on 1/30/11. If the prize is not claimed in 48 hours a new winner will be chosen.Contest open to U.S. residents only.

* Thank you to Macy's for providing the Gift Card for the giveaway prize*

Legend of the Guardians:The Owls of Ga’hoole #GIVEAWAY (CLOSED)

2011-01-14T11:37:00.004-06:00

Gather your family together for a magical adventure! Rent Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’hoole ON DEMAND This weekend for only $2.99

Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole

Based on the first three books in the series, a young barn owl named Soren escapes St. Aggie's orphanage to the island of Ga'Hoole to assist its noble, wise owls in fighting back. Starring Hugo Weaving, Helen Mirren and Jim Sturgess.

The Owls of Ga’hoole Gift Pack !!!

Gift pack includes : Temporary Tattoos,Activity Book & Lunch Pack

Thank you to everyone that entered this giveaway.
The winner (selected by Random.org) has been emailed !

MANDATORY ENTRY:

(Please Leave A Valid Email Address)

Tell us who you like to watch movies with on movie night at home and if you do something like special treats to eat etc....

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra entries, you must do the MANDATORY entry.

Follow Us on Twitter & Tweet about the contest.
Add Life In A House Of Blue Button to your blog (See sidebar)
Add Life In A House Of Blue to your Blogroll
Follow My Blog- Google Friend Connect (See Footer)
Subscribe to Life In A House Of Blue via e-mail. (See sidebar)
Become a fan of Life In A House Of Blue on Facebook (See Footer)

UNLIMITED EXTRA ENTRIES:

To receive these extra entries, you must do the MANDATORY entry.

Tweet about the contest (be sure to leave the tweet link)
Leave a comment on another post besides this one ( leave link to comment )

If entries do not follow rules, they will be deleted !

I will be using a random number generator to select the winner. Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on 1/23/11. If the prize is not claimed in 48 hours a new winner will be chosen.Contest open to U.S. residents only

All4One Alliance #WIN (CLOSED)

2011-01-13T16:10:00.006-06:00

Start the New Year off right with a one-of-a kind celebrity designed Show Us Your Bra 2011 calendar which benefits All4One Alliance. The All4One Alliance is a partnership of: CancerCare, The Breast Form Fund, Cancer Resource Foundation and Luminous Breast Cancer Foundation whose mission is to help underserved women recover from breast cancer with dignity.

The 2011 Show Us Your Bra calendar features unique creations from CeleBRAties like the fashion and music industries India and Simpson Arie, Emme, Rebecca Minkoff, Diane Birch and many more. In fact, Simpson Arie has said: "When India put out the song 'I am Not My Hair' she was inspired by Melissa Etheridge. Her lyrics say," Breast Cancer and chemotherapy took away my crown and glory. I am NOT my hair. Everything has a reason and purpose in your life.

From their site: 2011 Show Us Your BRA!™ Calendar is available for sale ( HERE). The calendar features artistic, witty, and fashionable interpretations of the bra, designed by “bratistes” and “celebratistes,” including India.Arie, Emme, Rebecca Minkoff, and more. Learn more about the artists. Proceeds from the sale of the calendar benefit the All4One Alliance.

The 2011 Show Us Your Bra™ Calendar, which features designs by celebrity, as well as soon-to-be-known, “bra-tistes” brings new exquisite, humorous, cleverly-named, “bra-art” which will inspire and touch the lives of many more people.

All4One Alliance - Show Us Your Bra 2011 Calendar

Thank you to everyone that entered this giveaway.
The winner (selected by Random.org) has been emailed !

MANDATORY ENTRY:

(Please Leave A Valid Email Address)

Visit the All4one Alliance website and tell us something you learned about them.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra entries, you must do the MANDATORY entry.

Follow Us on Twitter & Tweet about the contest.
Add Life In A House Of Blue Button to your blog (See sidebar)
Add Life In A House Of Blue to your Blogroll
Follow My Blog- Google Friend Connect (See Footer)
Subscribe to Life In A House Of Blue via e-mail. (See sidebar)
Become a fan of Life In A House Of Blue on Facebook (See Footer)

UNLIMITED EXTRA ENTRIES:

To receive these extra entries, you must do the MANDATORY entry.

Tweet about the contest (be sure to leave the tweet link)
Leave a comment on another post besides this one ( leave link to comment )

If entries do not follow rules, they will be deleted !

New Blogger, More Blue!

2011-01-13T09:36:00.015-06:00

Hello Life In A House Of Blue Readers! My name is Joanna Price, and I am the newest contributor to this great blog! I too, live in a house full of blue- with my husband Harold, and our sons Harrison {2} and Ruben {1} My little buddies are only 11 months apart, and keep me busy, but happy. We currently live in Texas, but are in our last days with the Army, and options are wide open as to where we'll be in a few months. Stay tuned for lots of fun reviews, giveaways, and a peek into my "Life In A House Of Blue"

HALLS - ULTIMATE Cold and Flu Season Survival Kit #Giveaway(CLOSED)

2011-01-05T10:15:00.003-06:00

A survey that was just released about the cold and flu season stated that Americans show up (or at least consider showing up) for work while sick during cold & flu season. Some because they won’t get paid if they don’t go, some because their boss pressures them and others because they simply have too much to do and fear falling behind.

Some stats that really stick out are:

Nearly half of Americans (44 percent) would consider going to work with a fever.
More than a third of Americans (32 percent) said they would show up to work no matter how sick they get this season.
Nearly half of Americans (46 percent) said they did not take a sick day last cold & flu season (October 2009 – March 2010).
One in five Americans (19 percent) feel pressured by their boss or supervisor to head into work when they’re sick.
One in three (31 percent) Americans said they wouldn’t get paid for taking off on a sick day.
One in 10 (11 percent) said they would likely fall behind on their bills by taking a sick day.
More than 10 percent of Americans thought they would not likely receive their next pay raise or promotion, or worse, would lose their job for calling out sick.

*Survey conducted by Kelton Research on behalf of HALLS®

HALLS ULTIMATE Cold and Flu Season Survival Kit !!!

(This will be a gift basket filled with every variety Halls has to offer, from Vitamin C enhanced drops, to cold syrup filled drops, to sugar free drops and so on!)

Thank you to everyone that entered this giveaway.
The winner (selected by Random.org) has been emailed !

MANDATORY ENTRY:

(Please Leave A Valid Email Address)

Leave a comment telling us one way you try to prevent yourself or your kids from getting sick through cold and flu season.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra entries, you must do the MANDATORY entry.

Follow Us on Twitter & Tweet about the contest.
Add Life In A House Of Blue Button to your blog (See sidebar)
Add Life In A House Of Blue to your Blogroll
Follow My Blog- Google Friend Connect (See Footer)
Subscribe to Life In A House Of Blue via e-mail. (See sidebar)
Become a fan of Life In A House Of Blue on Facebook (See Footer)

UNLIMITED EXTRA ENTRIES:

To receive these extra entries, you must do the MANDATORY entry.

Tweet about the contest (be sure to leave the tweet link)
Leave a comment on another post besides this one ( leave link to comment )

If entries do not follow rules, they will be deleted !

I will be using a random number generator to select the winner. Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on 1/16/11. If the prize is not claimed in 48 hours a new winner will be chosen.Contest open to U.S. residents only.

This is solely the opinion of Life In A House Of Blue. Life In A House Of Blue received NO compensation for this post. Thank you to Halls for providing the giveaway product.

Candy Land #WIN (CLOSED)

2011-01-03T10:50:00.002-06:00

Candy Land has been around for what seems like forever. I have tons of memories playing it as a child, it was one of my favorite games. Now as a mom I am happy to say I still get to play it often with my kids as it is a favorite of theirs also.

Did you know that Candy Land has recently been redesigned with wonderful and exciting new lands to explore?

"Travel down the rainbow path on a journey of discovery through enchanted lands filled with sweet surprises around every corner. Create delicious treats at the Cupcake Commons to deliver along the way, participate in a thrilling snowboard race down the Ice Cream Slopes with the Duke of Swirl, take a relaxing train ride through Gummy Hills and climb to the top of Chocolate Mountain. Be sure to make friends with Gramma Gooey, Lord Licorice, Princess Frostine and Princess Lolly of Lollypop Woods throughout your adventure, as you race to meet King Kandy at the grand entrance to the Candy Castle."

I was thrilled when I found out that I would be a lucky hostess and be able to throw a "Candy Land Party." Hasbro and My Blog Spark sent a whole pack full of games, a Flip camera for capturing moments and a gift card to help buy the treats and decorations for the party.

Well, unfortunately I have had a few bumps in the road with hosting my party ( death in the family right before the holidays) so my party is scheduled later this month. But, I did not want to wait any longer to share this post with you, so I will be doing another post later to share my party highlights and video !!!

One thing about Candy Land I have noticed since becoming a mom is that it is not just a fun game it is also educational ! I love that it helps teach kids to take turns, works on their counting and colors.

I am thrilled that I received enough games that after the party each guest will be able to take one home to keep! But what is even better is I also get to giveaway a Candy Land game to one of our Readers!!!

CANDY LAND Game !!!

Thank you to everyone that entered this giveaway.
The winner (selected by Random.org) has been emailed !

MANDATORY ENTRY:

(Please Leave A Valid Email Address)

Leave a comment below letting us know what one of your favorite memories you have playing Candy Land?

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra entries, you must do the MANDATORY entry.

Follow Us on Twitter & Tweet about the contest.
Add Life In A House Of Blue Button to your blog (See sidebar)
Add Life In A House Of Blue to your Blogroll
Follow My Blog- Google Friend Connect (See Footer)
Subscribe to Life In A House Of Blue via e-mail. (See sidebar)
Become a fan of Life In A House Of Blue on Facebook (See Footer)

UNLIMITED EXTRA ENTRIES:

To receive these extra entries, you must do the MANDATORY entry.

Tweet about the contest (be sure to leave the tweet link)
Leave a comment on another post besides this one ( leave link to comment )

If entries do not follow rules, they will be deleted !

Thank you to Hasbro and My Blog Spark for providing products to host party, review and giveaway.

Purex Complete Crystals Softener

2011-01-03T09:56:00.000-06:00

Recently I became a member of the Purex Insiders program. The first product I received is the new Purex Complete Crystals Softener to try. YES... I said Crystal Softener.

The Purex Complete Crystals Softener are easy to use. You simply measure out the amount needed and add it at the beginning of the wash cycle. There is no need to wait for the rinse cycle or having to deal with liquids The scent of the Purex Complete Crystals Softener was very noticeable but not to strong.... nice and fresh.

What Is Purex Crystals?

Purex Complete Crystals Softener; a purer way to get laundry that smells clean and fresh for weeks. 92% natural, this product’s unique crystal form works differently than traditional oil-based softeners that coat fabrics with oily residue, because it infuses fibers with long-lasting fragrance. In addition, since you add it directly with your laundry, this means no more waiting for the rinse cycle, no messy residual gunk in your washing machine, and no more stains from spilling liquid fabric softener.

How It Works:
Laundry scent lovers will perk up as freshness is infused into clothes with this new fabric softener. Over time, traditional oil-based softeners coat fibers causing harmful oily residue to accumulate. Purex Complete Crystals Softeners penetrate fabrics to reduce fiber entanglement and smooth frayed fibers providing a naturally soft feel.

HOW IT’S USED - ADDED WITH LAUNDRY AT THE START OF THE WASH CYCLE

Why struggle with plastic fabric softener balls, risk staining your clothes or waste time waiting for the rinse cycle? Simply add Purex Complete Crystals Softener directly with your laundry at the beginning of every wash cycle to infuse fabrics with long lasting freshness.

Why It's Different
Do ALL of your laundry—worry free! Purex Complete Crystals Softeners are safe for all laundry and will not harm, wear down or discolor your fabrics like oil-based softeners. Safe for all fabrics, including baby clothes, athletic wear, towels, and whites.

Unlike other softeners, Crystals WILL:

Preserve the flame retardant benefits of your children’s clothes
Retain your athletic wear’s wicking ability which draws sweat away from your body
Maintain your towels’ built-in ability to absorb water
Keep your white clothing from yellowing and graying vs. using traditional softeners

The product won’t harm your clothes and is safe and convenient for the entire family! The Purex Complete Crystals Softener comes in a variety of scents such as: Fresh Spring Waters, Lavender Blossom and Tropical Splash. It has a suggested retail price of $3.99 to $5.99 depending on the retailer and is available in food, drug and mass retailers nationwide!

I have already used my sample bottles and have the Purex Complete Crystals Softener on my list so I can stock up on my next trip to the store !

Bryce's 4th Birthday Party

2011-01-01T21:31:00.001-06:00

I hope my readers had a great Holiday Season and a Happy New Year ! My family has had a great holiday season and to top it off my little one turned 4 on 12/30. We had his party today 1/1/11 and he had a blast !!!

I put together a little slideshow with the photos from the party ......hope you enjoy !!!

Bryce's new puppy - Will make you smile!

2011-01-01T21:04:00.001-06:00

My youngest son Bryce turned 4 this week ( Dec.30th). We had his party today and I think this is MY favorite toy he received LOL

It was a gift from Kristen (my bff) and her family...... it just makes me smile and laugh every time ! I had to take a video and share with my readers LOL !

Life In A House of Blue !

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Are Our Kids Targeted by Spammers?

Risking the Loss of Our Personal Information

What Are the Objectives of Spammers Sending Email Viruses?

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Philips Norelco “It’s a Jungle Out There”

Home Automation: Your Lifeline to Sanity

Kodak’s BOGO 8X10 Photo Book #Kodak

Macy’s “Thank a Mom Movement” - #Macys

SUMMER TIPS FOR PARENTS: Prescription Drugs & Kids At Home

Libby's Launches Jingle Contest with JEWEL #LibbysJingle

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Jimmie Johnson To Guest-Star On Breaking In

HEXBUG #HEXBUGNanoEasterEgg

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Food Network Celebrates “Royal Icing Weekend”

9 Tips For Saving On DIY Projects

Caillou Toys = FUN !

Nustrisystem: Week 5 #NSNation

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Gift Card Granny Challenge

First Time All Three ‘Toy Story’ Movies Shown Together

Nustrisystem: Week 4 #NSNation

Building Confidence in Children

7 Common Mistakes First-Time Parents Make

Nustrisystem: Week 3 #NSNation

CLIF Kid Unveils Backyard Game of the Year Contest

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Nustrisystem: Week 2 #NSNation

Make the World a Greener Place, One Blade at a Time

The Importance of Teaching Kids About Money

Helping Kids Deal With Anger

Nutella = Yummy #NutellaParty

Nustrisystem: Week 1 #NSNation

My Nutrisystem Journey Has Officially Started #NSNation

Project 52 - Week 9

BRAVO's Bethenny Ever After *PREMIERE*

I'm A Nutrisystem Nation Blogger ! #NSNation

Project 52 - Week 8

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Steamboat Springs, Colorado Here I Come

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Win A Parisian Vacation from NileGuide.com

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Wallets2Wear - Wrist Wallet

VTech LS6375-3 Cordless System

Yoplait Frozen Smoothie #Giveaway (CLOSED)

Project 52 - Week 5

Project 52 Week 1,2,3 & 4

1-800-Flowers.com #Giveaway (CLOSED)

The Kelly Moore - Camera Bag Review

Scentsy Valentine #Giveaway (Closed)

Macy’s Million Dollar Makeover- $50 GC #Giveaway (CLOSED)

Legend of the Guardians:The Owls of Ga’hoole #GIVEAWAY (CLOSED)

Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole

All4One Alliance #WIN (CLOSED)

New Blogger, More Blue!

HALLS - ULTIMATE Cold and Flu Season Survival Kit #Giveaway(CLOSED)

Candy Land #WIN (CLOSED)

Purex Complete Crystals Softener

Bryce's 4th Birthday Party

Bryce's new puppy - Will make you smile!

BRAVO's Bethenny Ever After PREMIERE