Febreze Fabric Refresher Review

Posted by Jenna | Sunday, March 29, 2009

I was asked to try and review a new and improved Febreze product and couldn't have been happier. We are currently in the process of getting our house on the market in hopes to relocate closer to my husband's job...so anything to help make our home more inviting and fresh to potential buyers is always welcome! I got that and a whole lot more with this Febreze product!

I received the Febreze Fabric Refresher in the mail last week and began using it right away. What a difference! It helps to eliminate any odors in the air and on fabrics while using a fine mist spray. This allows for an amazingly even application and creates a sense of freshness throughout the house. There really isn't anything that I didn't like about this product. I would definitely recommend trying it in your own home if you're looking for a new, fresh feeling.



Easter Candy and Oral Health

Posted by Jenna | Friday, March 27, 2009

Growing up with a Mom who worked in the dental field, I learned a lot about dental health and why it's so important! Now, having a child of my own, I can appreciate all that my parents taught us about taking care of our teeth each and every day. This comes to mind as Easter quickly approaches. Did you know that it is one of the top-selling candy holidays celebrated?! It's actually second to Halloween! This really didn't come as a big surprise to me knowing that many children receive baskets and eggs full of candy, but I thought this year it may take a back seat with the economy the way it is and people not wanting to spend on it. That is not the case! In fact, I read that the National Retail Federation has said consumers are expected to spend more than $2 billion on candy this year!! WOW!

Dental health is very important, and with the unavoidable sugary treats many of us give our children each year for holidays like Easter, it concerns many of us that their oral health may be at risk. Tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease...even more so than asthma and hay fever! I'd say with those facts, parents have a right to be concerened, wouldn't you?!!

Easter is right around the corner, and now more than ever it's important that all parents make sure that the right steps are being taken to ensure good oral health for their children! Oral-B Stages feels very strongly about this and has actually posted a video about the importance of dental health. It was taken at an even in New York at a fun and kid friendly venue, and features some helpful information from Dr. Laura Jana, M.D. She is an author and founder of Practical Parenting Consulting, LLC and a mother of three. She can relate to having children and wants to help those of us who are also parents, do what's best for our children when it comes to dental health.



The following are some easy to remember tips that Oral-B has put together to help make brushing fun...some of which I've already begun to use with my daughter and have had much success!

-Brush your teeth with your child to set a good example. This also helps your child to learn by watching and imitating you.
-Choose toothbrushes and toothpaste with popular kids’ characters, like Oral-B Stages, to help establish positive oral care routines with familiar friends like Winnie the Pooh or Disney Princesses.
-Sing your child’s favorite song, such as “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” for two minutes to encourage brushing for the dentist-recommended time. For older children, play a song from their favorite pop singer for two minutes.
-Making your child’s brushing routine fun will encourage proper habits early and help prevent oral care issues later in life.

For more information on oral health you can visit, www.oralb.com/kidscare.



New Weight Watchers Branded Foods

Posted by Jenna | Thursday, March 26, 2009

I was asked to review a couple of the new Weight Watchers food products, and was excited to receive two coupons (one for a free frozen novelty item and another for a free cheese product) in my mailbox a few days later! They have some new items that are delicious...and better yet....are a healthier choice than many other similar products on the shelves today! I am not on the Weight Watchers diet plan myself, but still can appreciate the healthier options it offers! There are several new items out there, and I was fortunate enough to be able to try them!

After trying the Natural reduced fat Swiss Cheese Slices and the Giant Mint Ice Cream Sandwich I can tell you I would never have known that it was a "healthier" choice for me if I hadn't bought them myself. They were absolutely delicious and tasted so natural! Sometimes you buy foods that are supposed to be healthy and they taste bland, and well...healthy! Not these though! They were phenomenal!

The cheese slices are an excellent source of calcium and have a great taste. Each slice has a points value of 1 and about 45 calories. The ice cream sandwich allows for great dessert option with its rich, low-fat mint ice cream and two chocolate cookie wafers. There is 140 calories at a value of 2 points per sandwich. It's really a perfect snack for anyone...whether on the Weight Watchers diet or not.

If you're interested in learning more about them, head over to the Weight Watchers website. You can also check them out on Facebook!



Diary of Destiny

Posted by Jenna | Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Diary of Destiny: A True Story of a Miracle is a truly inspiring one about a young child battling cancer and her mother's diary entries....sharing with us her deepest thoughts as she takes us through a journey that was painful, yet miraculous and life changing!

My friend Lindsey, now a beautiful 25 year old and cancer survivor who was healed from this terminal illness, is the little girl in this story who dealt with cancer at only 18 months of age. Her story, told from her Mom's perspective (Normajean Ashburn), is a touching and thought-provoking one. She has put together this collection of diary entries her Mom had written during this very difficult time in their lives so that others who may be going through similar hurts and sorrows would know that there is hope in God. He is a miraculous God who is there for us every step of the way! Even if you have never been through a similar situation, we have all had hurts of some sort and a story such as this is an amazing reminder that we have a God who loves us and wants the best for us...it will truly touch your heart!

A preview of the first 15 pages of this book can be found here as well as ordering information if interested.



Resource For Parents: BrillBaby.com

Posted by Jenna | Tuesday, March 24, 2009

We are so very fortunate to have the Internet and a wealth of information at our fingertips whenever we need it! As a Mom I find one of the most common things I am searching for is information on Parenting. Whether that be for the products we use or the foods we feed our daughter....there is a lot of helpful information out there.

Recently I came across BrillBaby, a resource for parents with babies on a variety of useful topics. You'll find information on babies learning and flash card resources, as well as Early Childhood education and right-brain learning methods. As a former Early Childhood educator, and a parent, I found this site to be very informative and could appreciate many of the resources they offer. For instance, do you have questions on Babies Watching TV? Visit BrillBaby for more information.



FamilyChristian.com has a $5 and $10 kids sale going on for a number of select kids items RIGHT NOW! The sale goes through tomorrow (March 20)...so if you're interested, I'd check them out soon! The sale includes the super cute Easter Veggie Tales DVD...

An Easter Carol
Veggie Tales:An Easter Carol DVD for just $5.00 (originally $9.99). Perfect for the coming holiday and to help remind children what Easter is truly all about! It's much more than candy and bunnies!




There's so much more...so browse the latest in kids products on sale at FamilyChristian.com today (click on the $5 and $10 kids sale banner for those items)!! Remember....the $5 and $10 sale on select kids products ends tomorrow!

A few other items available on their site at outstanding prices, that you may be interested in taking a look at with Easter right around the corner are:

Resurrection Eggs
Resurrection Eggs for just $12.97! This is a fantastic way to teach kids the real message of Easter by use of the symbols hidden in each egg.

Easter Gift For Me



Easter Gift For Me for only $5.97! A celebration of the life, death, resurrection and hope of Jesus Christ.



Jesus Is Alive Coloring Book

Jesus Is Alive Coloring Book

for only $1.99!! It tells the story of Jesus in a poem and allows children to learn the Easter story while coloring!!





Seventh Generation has three great online printable coupons right now that you don't want to miss. If you enjoy using their natural and safe cleaning products or baby products, you will want to check out these deals and print them off soon. You can print off 2 of each coupon and be sure to check back often, as they add more offers regularly.

$2 off any one Seventh Generation Baby Product
$1 off any one Seventh Generation Cleaning Product
$1 off any one Seventh Generation Laundry Product

A little more about Seventh Generation:

I used to think of them as being a brand which only carried cleaning products and baby products...that's what we hear the most about...or at least I did anyways. With time I began searching their website and found that they offer a whole lot more. Whether it's baby products like diapers and wipes, laundry, household cleaners, paper products like paper towels, facial tissue and toilet paper, feminine care products, or dish washing products you're looking for...they have it all! I wanted to pass that information along for others who may not have known the extent of this line of products either. I'm thrilled to learn that they carry many of the products I need and use. What a great feeling to know that I can use products that are safe for myself, my family and the environment!

Many of the products they offer can be found for affordable prices right on Amazon.com, either single or in bulk. The following link will take you to Amazon's website where you can search through the various Seventh Generation Products they offer. In the left column you will find a convenient way to search through departments to find the specific item you are seeking more information about.



Diapers are probably one of the most expensive things with having a young child who is not potty trained. Our daughter is 16 months old...and although she can tell us when she is about to go potty, or after she has gone.....I have a feeling it will still be a while before she is out of diapers. That means finding all the deals I can on diapers...whether that be coupons, sales or even freebies! Did you know that there are actually ways to get free diapers?!?

In the past I have signed up to get free samples of diapers through Walmart's free sample section, but have never found any other way to get freebies....that is, until now!! I was reading Engineer a Debt Free Life by Money Savin' Momma, and happened to come across a recent post about free diapers through Arquest! They do diaper studies often and are always looking for parents to review 20 free diapers that they send. They also send you a survey to fill out, and a week later will call for your responses (only takes about 2 minutes I guess). After you have completed your survey, they will send you 10 dollars as well! You can be contacted to do this multiple times, which is an added bonus!

Don't pass up an opportunity to get free diapers. Help Arquest out with their diaper studies by calling today!

Girls: 1-888-342-7372 ext. 646
Boys: 1-888-342-7372 ext. 634

You can also call the number above and just dial 9 for the "diaper study" option. It will take you to a recording where you leave your name, phone number, child's gender and diaper size...then they will get back to you when there's an opening.



Early last month, I was contacted to test and review a fun product kit of the new Destinations Collection from Febreze! Loving Febreze products as much as I do, you could say I was more than excited to try out these great items. I had no idea what to expect, so when I received the package on my doorstep last week, I was thrilled to find three great products...all scents that were new and wonderful!

How would you like to temporarily getaway to an exotic place? That's what this new collection can give you with their fresh three scents, Hawaiian Aloha, Brazilian Carnaval and Moroccan Bazaar. It's absolutely refreshing and gives your home a feeling of renewal. Even if the economy is preventing you from taking that dream vacation...it's great to know that with Febreze you can still have that "scent getaway" where a vacation experience is brought right to your own home.

I really enjoyed the new scents Febreze is offering through this collection, and thought others might as well. For those that are interested, you can even find savings over on Walmart's website. In their free samples/trials section they are offering a booklet with cleaning tips, recipes and coupons for Febreze and other popular brands like Dawn, Swiffer, and more!



Another great find that I just had to pass along is one from All You magazine!! I happened to check out their site today and saw that they are offering 2 free trial issues to anyone who signs up for them! This is a great find for anyone who enjoys learning more about money saving tips and a resource for some really great coupons! If you decide you want to keep the subscription going it only costs $21.24 for the other 10 for the rest of the year! I thought this was an amazing deal and wanted to share with others who might be interested!

I also came across the "free samples" section on Walmart's website which offers a free sample of All You magazine as well. It would definitely be worth checking out as well. What better way to see if you like all that this wonderful magazine has to offer than to try a free issue first!

If you decide you LOVE this magainze, as I'm sure you will with all the great coupons they offer....you can purchase a full year subscription of All You magazine over at Amazon for 19.97! Check it out today!



Free Samples at Walmart.com

Posted by Jenna | Thursday, March 12, 2009

One of Walmart's current Free Samples is Parent's Choice Infant formula! I know how expensive formula can be, so I wanted to pass along the information about this free sample today because I'm sure there are many who could use it. Free samples are also a great way to try out the product before you buy. After trying Parent's Choice Infant formula for instance, you may find yourself liking it and wanting to purchase more (Parent's Choice being a lower priced formula than others out there).

I suggest checking back with Walmart's Free Samples daily, as they always have great items to offer. Whether it's diaper samples you're looking for or something else...they seem to offer it all at one time or another. And besides, who doesn't like freebies, right?! All you have to do is fill out your mailing address information for the items you'd like to receive, and they will send them directly to your door step. I've done this many times and think it's great!!



In the past few months, we have been working hard to get Kaelyn's playroom finished. As always, in finishing this project, affordability was key! Many of the items we were able to purchase were thankfully found at consignment sales or eBay shopping...however the bigger things like her toy shelves and book shelves were more difficult. If you've ever looked for something like this before, you know how expensive they can be. When you factor in the price of the item, plus shipping, many times one shelving unit can cost over $100! We were looking for two at the time and this wasn't a price we were wanting to spend on each.

With a little searching, I found ClosetMaid Cube Organizers and was so excited! This was exactly what I had been looking for at a fraction of the cost of most others. At $66.15 with free Super Saver Shipping on Amazon, you can't go wrong with the 6-cube organizer, or $78.15 for the 9-cube organizer!


Not only are they affordable, but they are also durable enough for the purpose we are using them for, and they are attractive looking. You can even personalize them with the ClosetMaid Fabric Drawers sold separately, offered in a variety of colors. Many ClosetMaid items can also be found in Target stores as well.

We have been very happy with our purchase! They look so cute in her playroom and have held up wonderfully! In the beginning I was hoping to find a 6-cube organizer, but only being able to find the 8 cube one we went with that route and couldn't be happier. If you're looking for an affordable organization option for your child's playroom, you may want to consider the ClosetMaid Organizers...I know we're very happy we did!



Non-toxic Safe Cleaning Products

Posted by Jenna | Tuesday, March 10, 2009

It's important that we keep ourselves and our children safe from the potentially harmful toxins and chemicals in today's cleaning products, by finding those that are natural and safe. Small children in particular, are more at risk for the dangers these chemicals can induce...therefore making your home healthier and more safe in every way is key! My choice for helping to keep our home clean and safe is using cleaners which are non-toxic and free of harsh chemicals. There are many great options out there, two of which I wanted to share:

The first, and probably my favorite, is Babyganics. Babyganics offers a whole line of useful cleaning products that are free from harmful toxins and chemicals and are safe for pets, children and the environment! They are superior in their cleaning abilities, and yet still offer a natural option to help keep your household healthy and safe. They have everything from glass cleaner, floor cleaner, tub cleaner, and all purpose cleaner to hand sanitizer, dish soap, and laundry detergent. There are just a few of the many products they offer.


The second option is Seventh Generation, which is a brand I like as well. They too, offer an extensive line of products that are free from harsh chemicals and are non-toxic. They offer all kinds of great cleaners, similar to those from Babyganics.

Both options are wonderful choices when seeking toxin free and safe cleaners. Their prices are comparable as well as their ratings. If you're looking for a safe way to keep your home clean you may want to consider these. There are many other products out there similar to these two options....but Seventh Generation and Babyganics are just two of many I would recommend trying.



100% Natural Safe Teething Toy

Posted by Jenna | Monday, March 09, 2009

Wouldn't it be great to not have to worry every time your child puts a toy in their mouth...wondering what was actually used to make it and if it's harmful to their health?! Well, now you can do just that!

Here's a Mommy Must-Have anyone with a teething baby should check out! The Sophie the Giraffe Teether
is not only a great teething toy because it's 100% natural rubber and use of food-grade paint, and is Phthalates and BPA free, but also because of the many learning activities and chances for discovery it offers your little one!!

All the senses are stimulated when playing with this toy! You can't say that about too many products out there and that's one of the many reasons I am so impressed with it! With contrasting colors, a cute squeaker, 100% safe rubber for your baby to chew on, flexible and easy-to-grip body, and the natural scent of rubber from Hevea tree, makes Sophie the perfect teething toy for any young child!

I for one love the fact that it is 100% safe for my daughter, as well as something that stimulates the senses and learning. This is a Mommy Must-Have find that I couldn't pass on sharing with other parents out there looking for a great toy that is natural and safe for baby. Who wouldn't want to pay for a toy that is safe, rather than one that is cheap and full of lead paint?!



Organic Food Coupons

Posted by Jenna | Friday, March 06, 2009

I received another great tip from Coupon Dad that I wanted to pass along. He let me know that although Natural and Organic Foods are so expensive and have people wondering how they can afford to buy them at times, don't get discouraged....there are options out there which offer coupons and deals that we can take advantage of. I discussed a few of these including Horizon Organic, Stonyfield Farm, and Organic Valley previously...however he shared a couple of other options that are useful as well.

Mambo Sprouts is a great one, as well as Affluent Pauper. I checked them out and was very impressed....I would encourage you to check them out if you get the chance. They offer a variety of coupons and deals on Organic foods and can help to give you big savings! These aren't the only sites though, Coupon Dad also has a site which offers coupons and deals of this kind as well! Start saving today!



Consignment Shopping

Posted by Jenna | Thursday, March 05, 2009

Everyone knows how quickly kids grow...especially when they're in their baby and toddler years. I've learned this first hand, watching Kaelyn grow faster than I can even buy clothes for her. Baby clothes are SO expensive, and for the short amount of time kids wear them, it's really not worth the money. Have you found that to be true, also?

Much of our shopping is done in local consignment stores. Thankfully we have a few nearby which offer great items for outstanding prices! Aside from that, I make sure to go to our Just Between Friends Consignment Sale every Spring and Fall as well. If you've never been to one and have kids, you really must find one near you! It's AMAZING! I walk out with huge bags full of clothes and only spend 50 dollar or less on it all. I can purchase clothing for the next year and not spend more than that. If you ask me, that's a good deal! Wow!

Consignment shopping is the absolute best way to save money when buying clothes for your little ones. And better yet, you can make money by participating in these stores and sales once you are finished with the clothing by selling them for a profit. Definitely something to consider.



Cherish These Moments

Posted by Jenna | Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Just wanted to share a picture of our big girl sitting in her "big girl booster seat". She is growing right before our eyes, and to see her sitting up at the table and not in her highchair was a huge milestone and a little bittersweet for me. She's no longer considered a baby, but a toddler now. The "baby" time went so fast! I can't hardly believe it's been 16 months since she was born. I know many parents can relate...I have a feeling I'm going to be saying "where has the time gone?" throughout her whole life. It goes too fast! Cherish these times while you have them is a big thing I've learned since becoming a parent.



There are many options out there when it comes to starting your little one on solid foods. For us it was an easy decision...organic baby food was the way to go. I know there is a growing number of parents choosing this route for their own children which is wonderful. Having children is expensive, especially when they're young and are eating baby food and wearing diapers still. For most of us, anytime there is a deal or coupon to help us save money, we jump at it!

I happened to come across a couple of deals that I wanted to share. Two brands of organic baby food which we tried with our daughter and really liked, are Happy Baby and Earth's Best. Both offer many options when it comes to healthy, organic baby food. Earth's Best is currently offering a coupon for $1 off your purhcase of 10 jars of Earth's Best baby food. I also happened to come across a $1 off Coupon for Happy Baby Premium Organic Baby Meals (expires June 2009), over at SuzySaid.

Don't miss out on these great deals!!



Organic Milk Coupons

Posted by Jenna | Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Since Kaelyn was born we have been trying our best to eat more organic foods. With that decision, came our transition to organic milk. When she turned 12 months, I began weaning her onto Organic Whole Milk and she took to it amazingly! She absolutely loves it. It feels great to be giving her something that offers everything other kinds of milk offer along with the benefits of organic production. Anyone who buys organic foods knows that it's a healthy choice, but also an expensive one. We have found this with Kaelyn's milk....so I went searching for deals and coupons.

In my search for a cheaper way to purchase organic foods, I came across three sites which offer some amazing deals. I know there are other families out there going organic who would benefit from the offers available, so I thought I'd pass them along.

You can check out Horizon Organic, Organic Valley, and Stonyfield Farm. Horizon Organic allows you to enter your e-mail address and access any coupons available at that time. They will also keep you up to date via e-mail. Organic Valley has many coupons available to print as well, including those for milk! Stonyfield Farm does not have coupons for milk, however does offer many for other organic dairy products including yogurts and more.



Walgreens Deals on Diapers

Posted by Jenna | Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Coupon Dad left me a Comment yesterday and has been so kind to inform us that if you shop at Walgreens ever, save those Huggies coupons from Coupons.com until next week (March 8)! They are having a deal where if you buy $25 in Huggies products you get $10 in register rewards (which is basically money to use at your next visit...more money off diapers maybe?!?) Also the Jumbo packs of diapers will be on sale for only $10 and you can use the coupons on those items as well!

Basically it ends up that if you use all the deals available and buy 3 ($30 minus the $15.00 in coupons you print, minus the $10 RR) would be getting 3 Jumbo packs for $5!!!
That's pretty amazing! Be sure to take advantage of this great opportunity!

Thanks Coupon Dad for letting us know of these great deals!!



Deals on Baby Products

Posted by Jenna | Monday, March 02, 2009

One of the most expensive items we purchase since having Kaelyn is diapers. I'm sure many parents can relate! I did some searching to find deals on both Pampers and Huggies (both of which we have used) and came across so many great ones that I couldn't help but pass them along to anyone else who could find them as useful as myself. In the process I also came across some wonderful deals for Seventh Generation products (both baby and other) that I wanted to share as well.

Let's start with Huggies. The two very best deals I found are over at Coupons.com! Here is where you'll find daily deals that you won't want to miss for a variety of things, including those for your baby. You can get 5.00 off any 1 Huggies Gentle Care product and/or 3.00 off any Huggies Natural Fit diapers by clicking here. (Thanks Baby Cheapskate!)

Pampers has some great deals going on at the moment as well. One of which I wanted to share with you is over at StartSampling, which I happened to find at Freebies For Mom. (Thanks!) You will find a great offer where you can asking for a coupon to get 1.50 off on Pampers products. With Huggies Diapers you can turn in your receipts to The Caregivers Marketplace and they will give you 75 cents back for each package.

One other great thing about Pampers is that they have codes which you can submit to their Gifts to Grow program and reedem for prizes. About a month ago I found out from my sister in law that there are actually some codes out there available to everyone, no matter if they purchase Pampers Products or not! Since then I've been using many of them. Here are some of which are still current and worth anywhere from 1-3 points each.

GIVE09UNICEFGTG

HAPPYHOLIDAY089

THRIFTYMOMMYGTG


Finally is Seventh Generation. Seventh Generation offers some wonderful products for the Mom who is looking for healthier options for her family. Find non-toxic products with this company. About a week ago I joined Seventh Generation and gained access to some great deals and coupons. A couple which are available right now are $2.00 off diapers, wipes and baby products, as well as $1.00 off any cleaning or baby product.




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