Thursday, June 30, 2011

Winner Announcement: SmartLab Toys Indoor-Outdoor Microscope Giveaway

I want to thank everyone who entered my SmartLab Toys Indoor-Outdoor Microscope Giveaway. I would also like to thank the giveaway sponsor, SmartLab Toys, for sponsoring this great giveaway for my readers.

Don't forget to stop by and enter my other giveaways! Check back and enter often, I'll be posting new and exciting giveaways on a regular basis!

The winner is #90:

CONGRATULATIONS, GIANNA!!!

Shoulder Buddies Review and Giveaway

I can't walk into a store without my two children asking for something. Whether it be candy or a toy it never fails. More often than not their requests are denied but there are those times when i just can't resist and they deserve something special.

Shoulder Buddies Collection 2

Shoulder Buddies are colorful, fun and adorable. When I saw them they brought back fond childhood memories.

They remind me a lot of the trolls I used to play with as a kid! The brightly colored hair that was both fun to feel and mess with.

Their cute little faces instantly put a smile on my face and that of my 7 year old daughter. She couldn't wait to open them even though she had no idea what they could do.

When I put on on her shoulder she immediately started giggling. She couldn't believe it was staying there even when she bent over, jumped up and down and ran through the house.

Shoulder Buddies come with a magical, magnetic coin that keeps them in place no matter where you go.

She wore her new little friend on her shoulder for the entire afternoon. Inside the house, playing outside and even on a bike ride to get our mail. She really did have a new Shoulder Buddy!

Each one is just as cute as the next making it difficult to choose a favorite. My daughter has changed her mind several times already.

Shoulder Buddies are cute, colorful, collectible and affordable making them perfect for party favors, stocking stuffers, good behavior awards, prizes and so much more!

Shoulder Buddies are collectible friends that kids love to wear! But they're more than just cute... each Shoulder Buddies "Smarts" character teaches kids a special life lesson, from Friendship to Fire Safety. The metallic Magic Coin lets kids wear Shoulder Buddies on their shirt, hat, hair and more! Each Shoulder Buddy character comes with a collectible "Smarts" card so that kids can take Shoulder Buddies and their "Smarts" with them wherever they go!

Shoulder Buddies Collection 1

WIN IT:

ONE lucky Being Frugal and Making it Work reader is going to receive 2 adorable Shoulder Buddies of their very own!

Mandatory Entry:

Visit Shoulder Buddies and tell me which one you think is the cutest.

This giveaway will end at 11:59 pm EST on Thursday July 28th

This giveaway is open to US residents only. The winner will be chosen using Random.org, with the winner will be notified by e-mail. Please make sure I have a way to contact you. You can leave your email, or link to your blog site. The winner will have 48 hours to respond, if there is no response another winner will be chosen.

**I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own. Results may vary. I was not compensated in any other way for this review. The generous sponsor of this giveaway will mail the prize directly to the winner.

A special thanks to Shoulder Fun USA for this great review and giveaway opportunity!

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

FREE Pantene Product Coupon Giveaway on Facebook

Here is another HOT FREEBIE coupon giveaway on Facebook! Simply like Pantene North America on Facebook and click the “Pantene Coupon Giveaway” link located on the left sidebar of their page.

If you are one of the first 454,000 people to fill out the request form, you will be mailed a FREE Pantene coupon valued up to $4.99. Allow 4 - 6 weeks for your coupon to arrive.

Hurry on over to request yours now before they are gone!

FREE Aussie Product and FREE Herbal Essences Product Coupons on Facebook

WOW! Two HOT FREEBIES are now available on on Facebook! I just requested BOTH of them and they are still available!

Aussie is giving their Facebook fans a FREE product coupon (up to $3.99 value) to the first 75,000 who make the request and Herbal Essences is giving away a FREE product coupon (up to $3.99 value) to the first 125,000 to make the request.

Hurry on over to request yours now before they are gone!

LOW ENTRIES: Last Chance to Enter: SmartLab Toys Indoor-Outdoor Microscope Giveaway (6/29)

Last chance to enter! This is a great toy for summer exploring!

SmartLab Toys Indoor-Outdoor Microscope Giveaway (6/29)

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Wisharoo Park Review and Giveaway - 5 Winners

Summer is here and I'm sure every parent is looking for something fun, new and exciting for their children to enjoy. While I am one of those parents who wants my children to enjoy the weather outdoors as much as possible there are still days where we need to slow down and enjoy an indoor activity.

One of our favorite indoor activities to just sit back and relax is to watch movies together. Our most recent rainy day movie was Wisharoo Park! We snuggled up on the couch with a big bowl of popcorn and enjoyed the show.

The mix of people and puppets makes Wisharoo Park both fun and educational. The puppets are simply adorable and are sure to capture the attention of even the busiest child. Children will learn a number of very valuable and important life lessons by having fun!

As a parent, I know that when you make learning fun it's beneficial to everyone involved - especially the children! Wisharoo Park does exactly that with the use of cute and colorful puppets, singing, action, imagination and animation.

My 7 year old daughter thought it was cute and funny. My 10 year old son said it was for babies but that didn't stop him from watching it with us. We all know how 10 year old boys can act! We had the chance to enjoy this and now we are going to pass it along to my 1 1/2 year old nephew. It's something that he can enjoy now and grow with.

The Wisharoo Park website is a super kid-friendly place for learning and fun too! Fun games, name your own wish stars, storytime and fun activities. The perfect place for both children and parents. New and exciting content is added weekly so there is always something fun and different!

An adorably engaging, exciting, entertaining and educational Wisharoo Park is dedicated to promoting positive self-image and self-esteem in preschool age children that is sure to capture the hearts, minds and imaginations of young kids aged three to six years old. It was originally introduced on air as a children’s television series on PBS stations across the country with a loving embarrass by its audience and met with great critical praise and accolades for its positive messaging, production quality and superb music and story lines. It is now rolling out as a dynamic multimedia program which includes the interactive website, WisharooPark.com, DVDs, apps for mobile media devices, and much, much, much more!

WIN IT:

FIVE (5) lucky Being Frugal and Making it Work readers are going to win:

2 Grand Prize winners will get the DVD and 6 Wish Stars (ARV $40)
3 Runner Up winners will get 6 Wish Stars (ARV $20)

Mandatory Entry:

Visit Wisharoo Park and tell me something you learned or something you like.

This giveaway will end at 11:59 pm EST on Tuesday July 19th

A special thanks to Wisharoo Park for this great review and giveaway opportunity!

Newly Added Giveaway Option: 2 Dozen Patriotic Red, White and Blue Roses ($120 Value) - Winners Choice

You may already be aware of my 2 Dozen Fiesta Roses Giveaway ($120 Value) - Winners Choice that ends on July 18th.

I have some EXCITING news for all those who have entered and those of you who still have time to enter! In addition to the beautiful rainbow, purple and blue roses... The winner now has the option of choosing their NEW Red, White & Blue Roses!

Be sure to click HERE to enter!!

Monday, June 27, 2011

Frugal Summer Fun: Regal Summer Movie Express - $1 Movies Every Week

I have been taking advantage of the Regal Free Family Film Festival since my 10 1/2 year old son son was just 18 months old. It's something that I look forward to doing with my children each summer. It's a great way to spend the morning, one day a week. Even if it's a movie we have already seen, the kids LOVE going to the theater and watching it on the BIG screen!

This year Regal Cinemas is offering something just a little bit different. Instead of being free, movies are going to be $1 each. Still a fantastic deal and one that my children and I are going to be taking full advantage of.

It's first come, first served, so my advice is to get there about a half hour early. Also, bring a sweater, our theatre is a little chilly.

Regal's Summer Movie Express 2011:

Moviegoers of all ages can climb aboard to enjoy a great selection of films. During this 9-week festival, select Regal Cinemas, United Artists and Edwards Theatres will offer selected G or PG rated movies for only a dollar on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10:00am.

Here is the great movie line-up at our local Regal Cinemas:

Learn more about the Regal Summer Movie Express and find a participating theatre near you!

Sports Fans: Three60 Sports Gear Review and Giveaway

Do you have a sports fan in your house? Is your dad or father-in-law a die hard sports fanatic? Do you struggle to find them the perfect gift, a gift that they don't already have? If you answered yes to one or more of these questions then you're going to love Three60 Gear!

My husband and 10 year old son are huge sports fans. Hockey is their favorite sport of all time, they are almost to the point of being obsessed. Our son is a huge Steelers and Red Wings fan, dedicated and loyal no matter what others say. He also has a huge sports collection that includes figurines, trading cards, baseball bats, posters and more that cover his room from top to bottom.

I recently found Three60 Gear photo shirts. Many of which come in both youth and adult sizes. What a great gift idea for that sports fan in your life. They are original, unique and functional making them the perfect gift.

For my review, I was able to get a shirt with my son's favorite baseball player of all time, Lebron James! You should have seen the look on his face when he opened the package and saw what was inside. I only wish I had been able to capture it on film. It was priceless!

My son immediately took off the shirt he was wearing and put his new Three60 Gear shirt on.

He said he was never going to take it off, not even to get it washed. The smile on his face in this photo tells you exactly how thrilled and excited he was about his new shirt. Honestly, it took me 3 days to finally get him to take it off so I could wash it.

Daddy even threatened to steal it from him but he was convinced it would never happen because it was too small for Dad to wear.

The photos are simply amazing. So clear and detailed it's almost like you are viewing the action in person.

Each Three60 Gear photo shirt includes a patch with its own serial number that details the date and location of each photo.

The fabric is soft, comfortable and durable. It is also "cool" to the touch and helps keep you cool on hot days and during physical activity. It's similar to swimwear and under armour. They dry quickly and help control odor too! Very important for young, active boys and men as well. I appreciate it too since I'm the one doing the laundry. It washes wonderfully too.

Now that my husband has seen our son's Three60 Gear shirt he wants one for himself. There's only on slight problem... he can't decide which one he wants.

Three60 Gear offers a wide variety of sports shirts for MLB, NBA, and very soon they will have NHL. My son and husband can hardly wait for the NHL release!

Need a Three60 Gear T-Shirt right now? You can save 25% off your entire order AND get FREE shipping! Simply use coupon code ALLSTAR2011 as checkout! Valid through 7/12!

About Three60 Gear:

Vivid photo-real sports apparel: The Three60 Gear line captures the excitement of sports with all-star athletes in motion! One of a kind, high definition sports apparel. Our MLB-licensed photo shirts are unique!

Three60 Gear has created a jersey with an innovative design which makes each one distinct, eye catching, and exciting. Featuring all-star athletes in motion, each jersey is handcrafted and uses high-quality action images from key games to create a vibrant piece that is a collector’s item.

Creases and folds in each piece are indicative of the craftsmanship and handiwork that goes into each jersey, with a different 360 degree image on the front and back. A comprehensive design of the player, the field, and the fans, sporting the jersey is a unique way of supporting your favorite all-star.

Your one-of-a-kind Three60 Gear original photo t-shirt has been created by hand using vivid action photos. The performance fabric includes wicking, anti-microbial properties, and is dye sublimated resulting in white areas near seams, creases or folds. These are marks of the authentic handcrafted process.

WIN IT:

ONE lucky Being Frugal and Making it Work reader is going to receive a Three60 Gear Sports T-shirt of Their Choice ($55 Value)

Mandatory Entry:

Visit Three60 Gear and tell me which shirt you would want!

This giveaway will end at 11:59 pm EST on Wednesday July 20th

A special thanks to Three60 Gear for this great review and giveaway opportunity!

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Melissa and Doug Sand Toys Review and Giveaway

Whether playing at the beach, in the sand box or a plastic tub or noodles and rice, sand toys are perfect! My daughter loves baking, cooking and playing in the sand so I was thrilled when I was given the opportunity to receive a variety of Melissa and Doug sand toys.

Melissa and Doug have some of the cutest toys in the world! I love the fact that they are fun, unique and durable. They are made with children in mind and are made to hold up to hours of play and abuse.

Did you know that Melissa and Doug offer more than 1,000 innovative products for children of all ages? Items include games, pretend play, arts and crafts, trains, dollhouses and so much more! There is something for everyone no matter how young or old they are.

Just in time for summer fun...

Seaside Sidekicks Sand Baking Set:

Make fabulous mudpies and sandcakes with this sea-creature inspired "baking" set. Young chefs will love using the shell shaped measuring cups, octopus whisk and crab mixing spoon to "cook" up some great beach treats. The turtle lid on the "mixing" bowl doubles as a sifter!

Clicker Crab Pail And Shovel:

A crab-shaped scoop and a sunny red-orange, crab-face bucket make digging for treasures at the beach even more fun! Clicker Crab is always smiling and you will be too, with this sturdy plastic duo.

Seaside Sidekicks Sand-Molding Set:

The turtle has lots of friends hiding under its shell: a fish, crab, starfish and a seahorse! This set provides hours of sand molding fun and quick clean up, as all the molds store neatly in their turtle "shell".

Seaside Sidekicks Sand Cupcake Set:

First, fill the unique , hinged cupcake molder with sand "dough", add cupcake toppers, put in tray and "bake". You can even use the icing tool to add more designs!

As soon as I opened our Melissa and Doug sand toys my daughter couldn't wait to get her hands on them. It was pouring down rain so we were stuck playing inside but we didn't let that stop us from having some fun. I put some dinosaur noodles in a plastic tub and she was as happy as a clam! She sat there at the kitchen table and played with her new sand toys for over an hour.

The first thing I noticed was just how bright and adorable they were. Just looking at them is enough to put a smile on your face. Don't tell the others this but Clicker Crab is my favorite.

The next thing I noticed was just how durable and sturdy they were. The plastic is thick and hard! I can't even begin to count how many sand buckets and sand toys my kids have broken over the years. Most times they are made of poorly made thin and flimsy plastic that snaps after just a few scoops of sand. It's easy to tell that we aren't going to have to worry about broken sand toys this summer and I'm thrilled!

We can't wait for the weather here in North Idaho to warm up enough to take our new sand toys on a trip to the lake for some sandy fun in the sun!

WIN IT:

ONE lucky Being Frugal and Making it Work reader is going to receive a Melissa and Doug Sand Toys Prize Pack that includes the 4 items listed above! ($50 Value)

Mandatory Entry:

Visit Melissa and Doug and tell me what other item you'd like to have.

This giveaway will end at 11:59 pm EST on Tuesday July 26th

A special thanks to Melissa and Doug for this great review and giveaway opportunity!

Winner Announcement: $50 Smart and Sexy Prize Pack Giveaway

I want to thank everyone who entered my $50 Smart & Sexy Prize Pack Giveaway. I would also like to thank the giveaway sponsor, Smart & Sexy, for sponsoring this great giveaway for my readers.

Don't forget to stop by and enter my other giveaways! Check back and enter often, I'll be posting new and exciting giveaways on a regular basis!

The winner is #101:

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Follow Us Monday Morning Blog Hop 6/27

Are you ready to see who is the Hot Blog of the Week?

**********************************************

The Hot Blog of The Week is:

IN HIM WE LIVE AND MOVE AND HAVE OUR BEING

NC Sue has been married to her husband Dave for 38 years. Sue and Dave live in North Carolina, and they are parishioners of St. Matthew Catholic Church, where they have a wonderful church family.

Congratulations, IN HIM WE LIVE AND MOVE AND HAVE OUR BEING!

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Fiber One Cereal Review and Giveaway

Up until last week I had never tried Fiber One Cereal. To be totally honest, I was more than just a little nervous to try it. Would it taste good or would it taste like cardboard? We eat a lot of cereal in this house but we tend to stick to our usual favorites.

Why fix something that's not broken. Right?

I had placed five boxes of Fiber One Cereal on the kitchen counter and simply hadn't gotten around to putting them away. My kids were hungry for breakfast and went into the kitchen to get their morning cereal. I was surprised when I walked into the dining room and they were each eating a bowl of Fiber One.

My 10 year old son was eating a bowl of Fiber One Shredded Wheat and my 7 year old daughter was eating a bowl of Fiber One Caramel Delight. I asked them if they liked the cereal and they both said loudly... "YES!" Then my son said, "This is the best cereal I've ever had!" My daughter quickly followed with, "It sure is!"

Two of their favorite breakfast cereals are Frosted Mini Wheats and Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Guess what the two Fiber One Cereals they chose look like? Yep, you guessed it... their favorite cereals. They had no idea they were eating something other than their favorites and that is was healthier for them.

CARS 2 in 3D: Free Movie Tickets and Snacks = Frugal Movie Night

Rev your engines as Lightning McQueen and Mater are back on the track and racing through theatres in CARS 2! My kids have been waiting to see this movie for months now and they finally got their chance this afternoon. My husband, the kids and I spent the afternoon at the movies for FREE!

I've been planning and saving for this special CARS 2 movie date for months now. In fact, I've been saving a $50 Fandango Gift Card since January and a $25 Regal Cinemas Gift Card since February. I knew I could use one for movie tickets and the other for snacks. I earned both gift cards online which made them perfect for a frugal movie night for my entire family!

CARS 2 was fantastic! My husband and I enjoyed it just as much as our children (girl 7 and boy 10) did. The movie reminded me a little bit of James Bond. It was full of action and suspense. Spies, secret agents and lots of laughs.

The scenery and bright, bold colors were simply stunning. I enjoyed my trip around the world. While CARS 2 was full of excitement the bottom line was all about the value of friendship and staying true to yourself. That's one lesson that every child (and adult) should teach, learn and remember.

We give CARS 2 two thumbs UP! It's a great movie that the entire family will love!

**Don't forget to enter my CARS 2 Prize Pack Giveaway! (It ends on July 2nd)

Star racecar Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) and the incomparable tow truck Mater (voice of Larry the Cable Guy) take their friendship to exciting new places in “Cars 2” when they head overseas to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix to determine the world’s fastest car. But the road to the championship is filled with plenty of potholes, detours and hilarious surprises when Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage. Mater finds himself torn between assisting Lightning McQueen in the high-profile race and towing the line in a top-secret mission orchestrated by master British super spy Finn McMissile (voice of Michael Caine) and the stunning rookie field spy Holley Shiftwell (voice of Emily Mortimer). Mater’s action-packed journey leads him on an explosive chase through the streets of Japan and Europe, trailed by his friends and watched by the whole world. The fast-paced fun includes a colorful new all-car cast, complete with menacing villains and international racing competitors.

Frugal Living: Plant a Vegetable Garden

My kids love planting their very own garden! It has been our tradition for years, to plant the garden on Memorial Day. It's a frugal summer activity that the kids look forward to each year. They love picking out seeds, helping get the garden ready and planting it.

Planting the garden is always fun. The kids take pride in their garden and do a great job planting the seeds and labeling each row.

Not only do we grow our own veggies, we grow our own meat as well, cows and pigs! We also have a friend who has chickens, we get most of our eggs from her! The rottotiller that my husband uses used to be my grandpa's. I remember him using it in his garden when I was a kid!

Planting a garden is so much more that just a garden. Not only is it fun for the kids but it's also a valuable learning experience. It teaches them responsibility: they have to water, weed and care for the garden in order for it to grow. It teaches them about home farming and it's benefits: fresh, organic vegetables that are delicious and healthy! It teaches them about community: they enjoy filling their wagon with their fresh picked vegetables and walking to the neighbors house to share their veggies of love! It teaches them about teamwork and family: look at what we can accomplish when we work together as a team. Plus, it's fun to spend that time together with them!