Winner Announcement

Congratulations to Paula whose name was randomly selected by Rafflecopter as the winner of the Welcome Mat from Carpet One.

Cobra Family Safety Radio Walkie Talkie Set #Giveaway

Disclosure: this is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

When I go to the gym, my youngest goes in the kids room and I can't see him. I am sure he is safe, otherwise I wouldn't have him in there, but an extra measure of security that we now have, and love, is the Family Safety Radio Set from Cobra. There are many features we appreciate with these radios, but the most important one is that it allows us to communicate with each other clearly, up to a 5 mile range.

See It! Stream It! Chromcast is Available at Your Local Best Buy

When we moved into our place I opted for a cable package because it was such a good deal. Fast forward to the end of that sign-up period, and the bill went up atrociously. Now, we're looking to cut the cord to cable, and have been thinking of streaming our entertainment instead, with the Google Chromecast Streaming Media Player, available at Best Buy.

$25 Gift Card (or Paypal) #Giveaway from HueTrition

This information is brought to you by HueTrition. 

Happy to collaborate and share this post for a blogger friend. 

I hope you enjoy, and that you enter the giveaway too! 

It's Fall!! Even though some of the weather around the country may not feel like fall - you are starting to see Halloween and Fall decorations all around our neighborhoods. HueTrition wants to help you make the most out this season with tips and hack to help you stay healthy.

Their newest series is called Fall Into Fun! Did you know pumpkins aren't just for decoration? Monica from HueTrition will be sharing some pumpkin tips, recipes and beauty hacks on their HueTue channel. You will even learn about exercise routines all surrounding what we love most about the Fall season! Catch the first episode here on HueTube.

Toys that Little Girls Love! Calico Critters and Aquabeads!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

Photo Source: Calico Critters Designer Studio

Have you started holiday gift shopping yet? I know it's a controversial subject, where some are completely for it, and others are on the side of  'no way, it's way to early!' Me? I start shopping the day after Christmas for the next year, and keep shopping throughout the new year, so I don't overextend myself the month or two before the big holiday. This year I've got 2 things put aside for my granddaughter. Well, I did have two things. Now I have 1 because she was with us last weekend and I couldn't resist taking one of them out (I knew I should have wrapped it!) because it's totally right up her alley, and I knew she'd have a great time using it!! More on that to come in a minute. First though, let me tell you about this adorable Designer Studio from Calico Critters (both items are from Epoch Everlasting Play and both will be featured in the Holiday Gift Guide).

Carpet One Welcome Mat Giveaway

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own. 

I don't miss much about being up north (just being honest). I do, however, have a thing for trees and though my state has some amazing, fantastic, terrific selections of their own, one thing from up north that I do miss seeing regularly, is the huuuge pine trees; made even better when they host a layer of freshly fallen white snow on top of their gorgeous, evergreen branches. With my new entry rug from Carpet One, we can have a welcome reminder (get it? 😊 ) of those glorious trees each and every time we go in and out of the front door.

Winner Announcement

Congratulations to Susan whose name was randomly selected by Rafflecopter as the winner of the Playmobil Carry Case.

Halloween Events at Legoland #BrickorTreat

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

Legoland in Florida turned out to be such a treat for the kids (we went yesterday), both figuratively and literally speaking! Now through the end of October, on the weekends only, they are hosting Brick or Treat for the kids, and it's really a fun time, and a safe environment for the kids. One thing I also love, is that it's truly for children. There's nothing scary or gruesome like there is at the other big parks right now. I know a lot of people like the latter, but when littles are involved, I'm perfectly content to stick to howling at dusk (over the loud speakers in the back of the park) as being the 'scariest' event that takes place. 

Spooktacularly Delicious: Welch's Seasonal Fruit Snacksl

It's that time of year again, when Welch's puts out their seasonal fruit snacks. It is a mixed variety of fruit flavors, shaped into little characters that are perfect for Halloween. I far prefer passing these out to kids on the holiday instead of candy, and I know they're well received too, by the parents monitoring their children's trick-or-treat goodies.

Playmobil Carry Cases Spark Imaginative Play for Kids with #Giveaway

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

I guess the cat likes the Playmobil Carry Cases too (or she just follows her boy, wherever he goes). ;)

When we took our summer vacation, one of the things we brought along on our road trip was my son's Playmobil Carry Cases. They are self-contained play sets that are durable, adorable and fun. My child loves to use his imagination anyway, and nothing sparks that faster than a kit such as this, so he was delighted to be able to see that there are now new sets available to purchase (the more the better, he loves these toys). I wrote about the Playmobil Carry Cases a couple of years ago (you can find that post here), and the ones we got then, are still played with regularly today. You can't say that about a lot of toys, but you can say it about these. They have stick-tu-i-tude, or in words I didn't make up, children enjoy these items for the long-term. They also are very reasonably priced, so they are a solid playtime investment. Recommended for ages 4+ (small pieces included).

New Toys from VTech! DigiArt Color by Lights and Starshine the Bright Lights Unicorn

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

If you have small children in your family, vtech is probably already your friend. Their wide array of entertaining toys have been engaging children for years! I know we've had vtech toys in the house for as far back as I can remember, and that's a big deal because my oldest son is 30! Two of their latest and greatest items are the DigiArt Color by Lights and Starshine the Bright Lights Unicorn.

Lonely Planet Kids: Bringing Travel to Life for Our Children One Book at a Time

I try to get nice pictures of our family interacting with items we are loving at the moment (and long-term, like this one we're looking at today), but sometimes the perfectly real moments are too hard to resist sharing. Case in point, yesterday morning my son woke up and started to go through his latest travel book, the Amazing World Atlas: Bringing the World to Life from Lonely Planet Kids. I got excited and told him to smile for the camera (he gave me a goofy face instead), not even thinking he hasn't even brushed his hair yet...and he'd brought along one of his favorite blankets and his body pillow, none of which even matched in any way, shape or form. Gasp, can I even put that online??? Of course, I can because Instagram-worthy or not, that's our real life and that's him enjoying his new book, which incidentally I love as well. :)

Saving Faith: A Chip Rossetti Film Now Available on DVD

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

I can't pass up a chance to see Vince Gill and Amy Grant (who are married in real life) together on the big screen (or the little screen in my case, since our TV is only 32"). I have music in in my collection from both of them, and think their gospel selections are the best!

ERA Organics Giveaway!

Disclosure: This is not my sponsored post. I am helping promote it for a friend. The affiliate links included are hers, not mine. I thought this might interest some of you and help her too. She gets a small percent of every purchase made.

If you're big on toner, cleanser, face cream or eye cream, have I got a giveaway for you! If you're a fan of them all, even better because they're all included in the prize package.

ERA Organics is celebrating the launch of their new Organic Face Toner Spray and they are giving away everything you need to for your nighttime skin routine! You can find it on Amazon for just $7.99 when you clip the $6 off coupon.

Winner Announcement

Congratulations to Lisa whose name was randomly selected by Rafflecopter as the winner of the $25 Visa Gift Card giveaway.

Zulily Costume Cuties: In Honor of National Dog Week

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

In honor of National Dog Week, which is September 24th - September 30th, Zulily is breaking out the cutest costumes around (and what better timing, with Halloween being right around the corner too!).

Don't Miss a Beat with the Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones!

Disclaimer: The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

There are so many times when I need to use noise cancelling headphones and Sony makes a high quality, wireless pair, the Sony Wireless Headphones (WH-1000XM3) sold at Best Buy, that is really hard to beat. I know when I'm on the treadmill or stair climber I like my workout to be intense. If the women around me are having a conversation that goes on loudly and forever, my concentration is tapped and I don't like it, not one bit. I understand the need to socialize, and hey, got a friend you're taking with you to the gym? More power to you! But some of us need it to be quiet to concentrate fully on our workout (raising both hands in the air and jumping up and down over here), so in order to make us both happy (the Chatty Kathys and me), noise-cancelling headphones that are wireless, are definitely in order.

Weekend Warrior #ProudBasketballMom

Net. Swish. Repeat. He was on fire today. Another great game. Love this team (mostly kids from last season), love the coach, and especially love this kiddo right here who scored half of the points made today!

Celebrate Milestones All Year Round with Personalized Ornaments for You!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

What a Lovely Way to Commemorate Memories all Year Round!

Ornaments are not just for Christmas, we get them all year long to commemorate events in our lives. We pick them up in each state where we travel, and if we go out of the country, we make sure to pick some up while we are there too! Personalized Ornaments for You takes it a step further by allowing you to personalize the ornaments that are important to you. Over here, we have a whole lot of important events going on, that are definitely worth remembering on an ornament!

One Night Advent Kickstarter Campaign and Information on Giveaway

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

I guess I'm feeling Christmas-y today, which is actually a little late for me. I usually start thinking about Christmas in July, and don't stop until the big day is here. I like to make sure everyone is happy on that day and that the feelings associated with the true reason behind the holiday and being together are those that will last a lifetime. That's how it was with my grandma, and I guess that tradition just kind of stuck. In any case, 'late' or not, I am very excited to share the Kickstarter campaign that is going on right now for a super-sized advent calendar for the upcoming holidays.