Bloggers Wanted!

Creating Holiday Memories Fujifilm FinePix Event is hosted by Mom Blog Society.

Prize: Fujifilm FinePix S4250 Black 14MP Digital Camera

The event dates: 10/8 - 10/22

Free Event ~ Sign-Up Here - Bloggers Wanted Creating Holiday Memories Event

September is Time for a Change!

September is Self-Improvement month, and a great reason to change something in your life to be healthier.  My goal is to try to cut out as many sweets as I can, and its going to be tough.  When fall comes around I start baking and with baking comes lots of snacking, not to mention all the other yummy things that fall brings like pumpkin lattes and apple cider doughnuts at the apple orchard.  Normally this is when I put on my winter pounds, the ones that it takes me all summer to lose again.  This year I'm going to try to break that cycle.

In honor of Self-Improvement Month, CoolSculpting is hosting a Self-Improvement Instant-Win Challenge asking you to make one small pledge on how you will improve your health and fitness routine this month for a chance to win one of 10 instant win $50 Amazon e-cards or the grand prize of a $500 American Express Gift Card.  What is CoolSculpting?  Its a new non-invasive procedure that helps you get rid of that stubborn fat that doesn't seem to go away no matter what you do.

CoolSculpting is challenging you to make a pledge on how you will improve your overall health and fitness this month, and you could win big with theif Self-Improvement Instant Win Sweepstakes.  One Grand Prize winner will be awarded a $500 American Express gift card.  Ten instant winners will be chosen at random throughout the submission period and will be awarded $50 Amazon e-card.  The sweepstakes is going on now through October 8th, so hurry and head over HERE to enter.

Not sure what you can do?  Its easy, just change one thing in your current routine, maybe get an extra hour of sleep, add more fruit to your diet, try a new workout, drink more water, take a walk every day, anything!

Don't wait for New Year's resolutions, or warmer weather, NOW is the time to start becoming the new, healthier you.  I am going to cut out most of the sweets that I have been eating, and get back in my gym routine that I was in last year, hopefully once spring comes I won't have those extra pesky pounds to lose before swimsuit season.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post for CoolSculpting by ZELTIQ

Earn Additional Box Tops for Your School

With Jingit, you can earn real cash, instantly for watching ads online; or checking in and shopping for select products at your favorite stores; even for giving your feedback to leading brands by taking brief surveys.  Try it out HERE.

Free Month of ABC Mouse

If you are looking for a great educational program for your child to try online, now you can get a FREE month of ABC Mouse!

ABC Mouse offers a full online curriculum for preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten in the subjects of reading, math, science, social studies, art, and music. Children can start anywhere and move through the curriculum at their own pace! ABC Mouse has won numerous awards, including the Parent's Choice, Teacher's Choice, and Mom's Choice GOLD awards! Get your first month FREE!  CLICK HERE

Spot Shot Has Gone Green!

Going green is what responsible companies are striving for these days because it is what we as consumers are demanding.  I love to see products that I already use at home "going green".  We are a dog family who recently adopted another little pooch, and though our first dog no longer has accidents, this little gal lived outside in not so great conditions so it took her a little while to get the whole potty training thing.  Thankfully she is only a 6 lb. dog so her messes were small, but they were still messes.  I have always used Spot Shot, it is a product that I trusted to remove not only pet stains but also kid stains, out of my carpet.  I was floored when I found out that there is now a new non-toxic, biodegradable Spot Shot!  But the big question was, did it work as well as the regular Spot Shot.  The first thing I did when I brought it home was try it out in my son's room.  There was no doggie mess to try it on but my son has almost white carpet (not a well thought out idea) in his bedroom, which has acquired many mystery spots.  The new non-toxic Spot Shot got rid of all the little spots, and even left some spots cleaner than the rest of his carpet.  This stuff works just as well as the original product.  Here are some facts about the new Spot Shot:

Safe and Permanent Removal of Tough Stains and Odors

• Permanently eliminates all kinds of new and old stains
• Proven better than competitors on the most difficult stains
• Dual-odor eliminators absorb and neutralize odors
• Anti-Resoiling agents protects carpets
• Approved by the Carpet and Rug Institute for product performance

Safe for Pets, Kids and the Environment

• Non-Toxic
• Certified Biodegradable by Scientific Certification Systems
• No Phosphates
• No Volatile Organic Compounds
• Recyclable packaging

Proven Better than Competition

Spot Shot Pet Aerosol is proven to remove the worst pet stains better than the competition, including:

• Urine
• Feces
• Vomit
• Tracked in Mud, Dirt and Oil

The new non-toxic Spot Shot is available at Walmart.

**I was provided with free product coupons to try out the Spot Shot, all opinions are my own**

Classic Chillin' Cucumber Eye Coolers - Only $1.00 AND a Free Bracelet!

Looking to rejuvenate your skin post-party, or relieve pesky allergy symptoms? Eyecandy coolers (a sneakpeeq user favorite!) is back with their strap-free, chillable eye coolers! Fun and functional, these are great for your next at-home spa day! The Classic Chillin' Cucumber eye coolers are a great combination of old and new, and yours for only $1 with your $10 New Member Credit!

Don't forget, you can welcome autumn with open arms and get a look lifted from the pages of October's fashion mags. The Autumn Glow Bracelet has a rustic appeal, perfect for the season's warm sweaters and rich textures. Pair it with wraps, jackets and coats, and watch your cold-weather wardrobe come to life. This bracelet retails for $49 but is yours FREE just for joining sneakpeeq! (Please note: there now is a s&h charge on Free items) 

Click HERE to get it!

Monday Flash Giveaway

Its Monday so let's get the week started with a flash giveaway....

How about 6 free product coupons from Slim-Fast?  All you have to do to enter is leave me a comment with your email address.  This giveaway will end at midnight tonight and I will choose a winner tomorrow.  Good Luck!

For the Love of Whales and Dolphins

Many of you already know that we recently went on vacation to Orlando.  It was our first BIG trip as a family and one of the things we were really looking forward to while there was visiting Sea World.  My kids, especially my son, love whales and dolphins and they really wanted to see Shamu in real life.  I have been to Sea World before but I was a kid and a lot has changed since then.  The whole park is absolutely stunning with all the beautiful, fragrant flowers and topiaries.

I really enjoyed strolling around by all the shops and restaurants, everything was very elegant and well laid out.  My husband and daughter rode on the huge coaster Manta, that goes over areas where you walk, they said it was their favorite coaster they ever rode.

So excited to get her hair braided

Feeding Sharks

It was incredibly hot that day and we cooled off in the shops and indoor attractions such as Turtle Treck.  Wow is all I can say, its a 3D experience for sure.  The whole room is a screen and you take a journey through the eyes of a baby sea turtle.

Dolphin Show

Of course our favorite part was seeing the Shamu in the One Ocean show.  This show has come a long way since the one I saw as a kid.  The stadium is a modern, beautiful stage with huge screens.

We did not sit in the splash zone since we were still soaked from our earlier encounter with the dolphins in dolphin cove, where the kids got to pet them.  Sea World does have dolphin feedings that you can participate in at scheduled times but we unfortunately missed them.  My daughter did, however, feed some sharks.

We ate at the Terrace Garden Buffet which was a pizza, pasta and salad buffet, all you can eat.  It gave us a nice break from the heat and the food was really good.  For those of you who enjoy premier dining experiences, Sea World has them.  You can dine with Shamu, sharks, or watch a Luau.

We had an amazing time and will be coming back for sure.  I think we went at a great time of year because the lines were super short or non existent even, every where we went.  We were at Sea World almost all day and looking at the map now, there are still more things for us to see and do when we go back.

**Thank you to Sea World for providing our family with complementary passes, all opinions in this review are my own**

Hey Chicagoland, Does Your Kid Love Trains?

If you have a little one at home that loves trains, there is a restaurant that you just have to visit.  2Toots Train Whistle Grill is the ONLY train themed restaurant that has all of the seating on the tracks with your meals delivered by multiple scale trains.  Your kids will be so excited to see the train deliver their meal!  If that is not reason enough to go visit, 2Toots is proud to  announce that they are doing everything necessary to be a leader in the organic and healthy, sustainable food movement!  They have made a commitment to offer more healthy food choices for your family.  They are currently they only family friendly, fast casual restaurant group that uses 100% grass fed, 100% prairie raised beef exclusively for their preservative free hot dogs, famous hamburgers and homemade Chili.

This restaurant brings whimsy into your dining experience and is great for anyone that enjoys trains or just wants a healthy meal option.  No matter what reason you choose to visit 2Toots, you are going to enjoy your experience.  They currently have two locations, in Glen Ellyn, IL and their new location in Bartlett, IL.  You can get directions and more information by visiting their website  HERE.

Spooktakular Halloween

If you are planning any kind of Halloween or Fall Festival, you know that every detail is important starting with the invitations.  PaperDirect has a huge selection of Halloween party invitations that you can customize and order or print out right on your printer.  They even give you the option to print out a free sample which is great if you are trying to decide between designs.

I love the ones that have a more spooky feel, they really set the mood for a fantastic party.

If you are planning a children's party, you can opt for a cute Halloween invite instead.

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays and fall is the most wonderful season with all of its Fall Festivals, apple orchards, falling leaves and sweatshirt weather.  If you are in charge of planning a bigger party for an organization or a festival, PaperDirect offers a large selection of fall themed and Halloween banners.

I think this one is perfect for any fall themed activity, for any apple orchard, parade, pumpkin patch and so on, and you can customize it any way you want and their prices are really reasonable.

So if you are planning any kind of Halloween or fall get together, start with PaperDirect products to make your event extra special.

This sponsored post was made possible by Mom Spark Media. I was compensated for my time investment and work on this campaign. Thoughts are my own.

LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Chicago Launches Merlin’s Magic Wand Days for Children with Special Needs

CHICAGO – Beginning Sept. 20 and continuing the first Thursday of each month, LEGOLAND^® Discovery Center Chicago will host Merlin’s Magic Wand Days exclusively for children with special needs, disabilities and serious illnesses. Doors to the fully ADA-accessible Center will open at 10 a.m., offering programs and activities designed to engage and entertain LEGO^® enthusiasts of all abilities.

Activities will include

-An exclusive “lights-on” viewing of the 11 minute 4D movie “Clutch Powers”

-LEGO Soft Brick and DUPLO building activities

-Creative building challenges lead by LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago’s expert builders

-Kingdom Quest Laser Ride and more!

*A designated quiet room will also be available for guests to rest between their LEGO adventures.

“We want everyone to have the opportunity to take part in the fun and learning that goes on here at LEGOLAND Discovery Center,” said Andrew Johnson, LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago’s Master Model Builder. “Merlin’s Magic Wand Days were created for children who may need an extra bit of encouragement and attention.”

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Sept. 20, Oct. 4, Nov. 1, and Dec. 6. Tickets are $7 per guest. $1 of each admission benefits Merlin’s Magic Wand, an international charitable trust that provides magical experiences at its attractions for children with disabilities and serious illnesses.

For more information, visit www.LEGOLANDDiscoveryCenter.com/Chicago.

About LEGOLAND^® Discovery Center Chicago

LEGOLAND^® Discovery Center Chicago is an indoor family entertainment destination with over 3 million LEGO^® bricks and nine attractions including: Model Builder Workshop; Jungle Expedition; Kingdom Quest Laser Ride; LEGO City Construction Site Play Zone; Technicycle Ride; LEGO 4D Cinema; Build and Test; LEGO Factory Tour; and MINILAND^TM featuring iconic Chicago landmarks.

Located at the Streets of Woodfield, 601 N. Martingale Rd. in Schaumburg, LEGOLAND Discovery Center is 30 minutes from downtown Chicago by car. Last guest admission is two hours before closing. Extended hours are available on school vacation days and national holidays. Visit www.LEGOLANDDiscoveryCenter.com for updated daily opening times. LEGOLAND Discovery Center is a part of the Merlin Entertainments Group.

Creativity For Kids #FaberCastellParty #CreativityforKids

Now that warm weather is behind us and long winter months (yes I said it) are just around the corner, its time to start thinking about ways to keep our kids busy with fun indoor activities.  I was asked to try out some awesome crafting kits called Creativity For Kids by Faber-Castell, so I thought I would ask my Girl Scout troop to help me out.

I set up all the cute goodies before they came, I love that each kit contains everything you need for that craft so you don't have to worry about getting extra supplies.

The girls started out by decorating the cute zebra striped bags that they would use to take their goodies home.

They loved making their own headbands, I could not believe some of the designs they came up with.  Some of the girls got really creative, braiding the ribbons and adding so much detail.

They made bottle cap necklaces and decided to exchange them with each other.  I really liked that the instructions were easy to follow on all the projects, the girls could read them and figure out what to do on their own.

Crazy girls wearing the headbands, bracelets and necklaces that they made.  We had a blast, Creativity for Kids is perfect for troops, sleep overs, birthday parties or just to add some fun to your kids day.

Bloggers Wanted

The LG Smart Magic Bigscreen Event is hosted by Mom Powered Media.

Prize: LG 42" Smart 1080p Edge-Lit LED HDTV with Wi-Fi and Magic Remote

The event dates: 11/5 - 11/26

Free Event ~ Sign-Up Here – Bloggers Wanted LG Smart Magic Bigscreen Event

Mabel's Labels Make Labeling Easy

Going back to school was a little different for us this year since my baby was going into Kindergarten.  I forgot just how crazy that first year of school is, with learning all the rules and making all new friends and of course losing all your stuff.  My kids are both notorious for losing everything from sweatshirts and shoes, to lunch boxes and backpacks.  When stuff is labeled with a child's name, its much easier to get it back to them than to just put it in the lost and found and hope that they remember that they lost it.  Mabel's Labels makes labeling all your kids' stuff super easy, they have a label for just about anything.

I put labels on all my children's stuff, even their shoes, and I get lots of parents asking me where I got them plus I think they look much better than trying to write your child's name with a permanent marker all over their stuff.  Mabel's Labels are great quality and they have many colors and designs to choose from.  I love the Teeny Tags, I put one on my son's backpack zipper and another one on the zipper of his lunch box.  My daughter got the tween pack which is so fun with all the designs, she had so much fun sticking all the labels to her things.  

**I received complementary labels for review purposes, all opinions are my own**

Save Money at Walgreens with #BalanceRewards! #CBias

 Like many of you, I find great deals at Walgreens.  I was in there the other day and the cashier said that after Sunday, the only way to take advantage of any sales or deals that they have is to join their Balance Rewards program.  I was in a hurry that day so I had asked the cashier if I could do it online, to which he replied yes, he also said you can sign up via the app on your phone.  

When you visit the Walgreens.com website, just look for the Balance Rewards icon in the middle of the page, click on it and you will be prompted to sign up.

You can also sign up via the Walgreens app which can be downloaded on the Walgreens.com website.  The app is great for shoppin in store with.

I signed up online and downloaded the app to my phone.  Since I already had a Walgreens account, all I needed to do is add a little bit of information.  It was fast and easy, and once I was signed up I could log in and start using the balance rewards program.

What I really like about this program is that you can shop in the store or online.  I made my purchases online and still got rewarded with points.

My eyeliner was one of the items I purchased online that qualified for Blance Rewards Points.

Here is my shopping cart, and I got free shipping!

You can also look in the circular for Balance Rewards sales and deals, you can even check the circular online.    What I love most about the phone app is that it works just like a physical card, just have the cashier scan it.

You can keep track of all your activity and your points right on your phone, its that easy.  The Balance Rewards program is now the only way you can take advantage of sales at Walgreens, so all of you super couponers out there make sure you get signed up.

An added bonus to this program is that you can earn extra points just by walking, with the Walk with Walgreens program.  If you are already part of this program, you can easily synch the two online.

A very easy way to earn extra points.

If you want to check out all of the screenshots from my shop, you can visit my Google+ album by clicking HERE.

I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Walgreens  #CBias #SocialFabric