Purina Light & Healthy for Your Dogs Weight Management {Plus Giveaway and Coupon} #lightandhealthy

We all know that being over weight is bad for our bodies and our health.  The same goes for man's best friend, our dogs are suffering from being overweight.  Here are some statistics that will make you look twice at your pooch's diet.

~ 22% of dog owners surveyed believe their dog is overweight. This is in stark contrast to the reality that 53% of US dogs are actually overweight

~ 41% of dog owners surveyed rely on their veterinarian to determine if their dog is overweight.

~ According to 36% of dog owners surveyed, ‘fed my dog smaller portions of the same dog food’ is the first action they took to manage their dog’s weight. When asked why they aren’t feeding a low calorie dog food, 40% of dog owners surveyed believe their dog will not like the taste.

~ 77% dog of owners surveyed would rather exercise with their dog than go to the gym.

Tips For Slimming Down Your Heavy Hound 

Helping your dog reach his ideal weight is important to his overall happiness and quality of life. Not only are healthy weight dogs able to exercise with ease, but his day-to-day activities are much more manageable. Furthermore, maintaining a healthy weight can help extend his healthy years.

Count Calories: Just like people, dogs need to consume fewer calories than they burn in order to lose weight. While some owners may achieve this by simply reducing their dog’s portion size, this can leave the pet feeling less than satisfied. Instead, opt for a low calorie food like Purina Dog Chow Light & Healthy which contains 20 percent fewer calories than Purina Dog Chow Complete & Balanced, and includes a tender and crunchy kibble blend , is steam-cooked at the start, and is made with high quality protein sources including real chicken. Its Light in calories, big on taste.

Perfect Portions: Portion control is also essential to both weight loss and healthy weight management. Always feed your dog as directed, and use an eight ounce measuring cup and on package feeding instructions to ensure you are providing him with the correct portion at each meal.

Get Moving: Slowly start adding physical activity to your dog’s daily routine. Exercise will not only help him maintain a healthy weight and support overall good health, but it can also strengthen the bond you share with your pet. Remember, it’s a good idea to check with your veterinarian before beginning any new exercise regime.

Make a Plan: Develop a feeding plan that takes into account reduced calories, controlled portions and additional exercise. While it can be tempting, avoid sneaking your dog table scraps which are not complete & balanced and can sabotage his weight loss.

You can save $2.00 on your Purina purchase by printing the coupon HERE

GIVEAWAY!!
One of my readers will win a 4lb. bag of Purina Dog Chow Light & Healthy, as well as 2 coupons that are good for one free 16.5lb. bag each!

All you have to do is follow the directions on the Rafflecopter widget below!
  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Summer is Crazy, Netflix is Awesome! #StreamTeam

You would think that since school was out and I didn't have to go to one of my jobs (I no longer stay at home) that I would have a little time to myself.  But little league and travel ball took over our summer and is just now starting to quiet down.  Since city league is done and travel ball only has two more tournaments, I can finally do some relaxing and catch up or start some shows that I have been dying to watch on Netflix.

One of my favorite shows is Parenthood.  No matter what your family structure is, this show really touches on so many things that people go through on a daily basis.  I watched the first two seasons and then somehow got way behind, no now thanks to Netflix I can catch up.

Orange is the New Black is seriously the talk of the town and it seems like I am the only one on this planet that has not seen it yet.  This is a show I have been wanting to watch for some time and I finally have time to do some binge watching, Yay!!!

I'm always happy when I can get a little moment to myself, with the kids home all the time a break is completely necessary!

Hallmark Value Card Greetings Make a Great Impression! #ValueCards #CollectiveBias #shop

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser.  #ValueCards #CollectiveBias

Summer is such a busy season for us, not only do we have the kids home and all of their sports are going on, but we also have TONS of summer birthdays, anniversaries, graduations and so on.... for example last weekend was a graduation party, today my husband and I celebrate 8 years together, next Saturday my son and I celebrate our birthdays....and it just keeps going!  Stocking up on greeting cards is a must because in all reality there is no way I can find a perfect gift for everyone on my list.  Hallmark is a trusted name in greeting cards and now they have a value line at your local Walmart! And by value I mean they start at under a dollar!

Sticking a gift card or cash gift in a greeting card is sometimes my favorite way to give.  That way I save time and the receiving party gets to buy what they want.  But giving a card sometimes lacks creativity.  My favorite way to dress up a card is to actually put it in a box, with tissue paper and wrap it up.  This way you still get the joy of unwrapping a gift and it makes your greeting card even more special.

Hallmark also has a card reward program, which is really great when you are stocking up.  For every 5 cards you buy you earn a reward.  To find out more information about the rewards program, click HERE.

Make sure you check out Hallmark Rewards to sign up for Hallmark Rewards, and to see great content from other bloggers. Join in the #ValueCards conversation on Twitter!

The Greatest Gifts for Grads at Best Buy @BestBuy #GreatestGrad

The end of the school year is here and graduation parties are in full swing.  Weather its High School or College, getting a perfect gift for that grad is easy when you shop at Best Buy.

We are actually going to a graduation party tomorrow for a distant family member.  I was looking for a great gift for under $50 and Best Buy had tons to choose from.  Here are a few of the items that would be great gifts if you are shopping for a grad who loves to network and likes their tech gadgets.

• Roku Streaming HDMI Stick
• SOL REPUBLIC JAX Earbud Headphones
• Case-Mate Glam Case for iPhone
• Insignia Case for Samsung Galaxy S5
• Otterbox Symmetry Case for iPhone 5/5s & Samsung Galaxy S5
• Samsung S-View Flip Cover for Galaxy S5
• Speck Case for HTC One (M8)
• Modal case for iPhone 5/5s
• Modal Bluetooth Speaker
• Thule Gauntlet Laptop Sleeve
• Incase City Laptop Sleeve
• Incase Neoprene Laptop Sleeve
• Incase City Laptop Sleeve
• Incase Neoprene Laptop Sleeve

Whether  the grad you know is a social networker or just needs something for when they move out, Best Buy is your go to store for everything you need.

Best Buy has an awesome deal going on right now, you can get a free case with the purchase of a Sony QX10 Camera

Click HERE to get this great offer!

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

Restaurant.com $3 Deal Today ONLY!

Sizzle up Your Summer with this $3 for $25 Deal from Restaurant.com!

Craving barbecue, seafood, burgers, or lighter fare? Whatever your taste, Restaurant.com has your place! The trusted and valued source for connecting restaurants and diners nationwide is offering a one day only sizzlin' hot $3 for $25 deal Friday, June 20, with promo code: SUMMER.  Grab your Restaurant.com $3 for $25 Gift Certificates today and be on your way to dining bliss!

Restaurant.com is social. Connect with them on:

• Facebook


• Twitter


• Pinterest

*Valid ONLY on 6/20/14. Offer ends 6/20/14 at 11:59 p.m. CT

Bloggers Wanted!

Back to School Tech-Style Event

Organized by: Mom Powered Media

Grand Prize: $500 Visa Gift Card + HP 14" Chromebook PC

20 Additional BTS Prize Package Winners

Event dates: 7/15 - 8/15

Giveaway is open to US and Canadian Residents.

SIGN-UP HERE

Win a Rafting Trip in Cañon City & Buena Vista, CO!

Have you ever wanted to try white water rafting?  My husband and I did last summer and it was a blast!  If you are a resident of Colorado, or heading there on vacation make sure you raft Colorado's Arkansas River with the whitewater professionals. Choose from beginner, intermediate and advanced whitewater on half-day, full-day and overnight raft trips. Open daily April through Labor Day. Call 800-723-8987 or book online at whitewater.net.

Giveaway!!

One of my readers will receive will receive a half-day rafting trip of your choice for two people!  (This is in the state of Colorado, travel expenses are not included)

All you have to do is leave me your email address in a comment below.  Please note that if you are not a resident of Colorado or traveling there in the near future, this opportunity will expire September 1st.

Giveaway will end at midnight on 6/25 and winner will be chosen at random.  Winner will be contacted via email and have 24 hours to reply.  Good Luck.

Themed 5K Runs, Yay or Nay? {Plus Two that You Don't Want to Miss}

There are color runs, mud runs, obstacle courses, zombie runs, glow foam night runs and even the Ditka Dash.  There is literally a 5K for every occasion.  If you have never done, what I call, a themed 5K these things are wild and they always have a HUGE turnout.  The people are pumped up with loud music, they wear crazy costumes and they put together teams, and one thing they have in common is they're smiling and having fun.  So what are your thoughts on this trend?  Would you pay money to run/walk in a 5K with your friends?  Is this a good investment or a waste of money?

Sometimes I think that some "athletes" turn up their noses at these kinds of races, you know those kinds of people that only think triathlons are worth their time, but I love them.  I don't necessarily think that they are greatly difficult, but I think that they do something else for people, people that may not get up and run or walk too often, these 5K races get people off their couches and moving.  I love seeing the variety of participants, old, young, disabled, obese, athletic....they're all there.  They are out there enjoying the sunshine, hanging out with friends and getting off their butts and exercising.  The themes make the race a positive experience, whether you're getting muddy or covered in color, it leaves a positive impression on you. Themed 5K races make exercise FUN.

I've done a themed 5K before but this Father's Day we did one as a family and it was such an amazing experience.  My son, who is 6, kept saying that it was the best day of his life.  And guess what....he ran/walked the whole thing, without complaining!  I think that this may be our new tradition, rather than sitting around on family days, were going to plan an outing that gets us active!

This post is not sponsored, it is my opinion.  I guarantee if you do a themed 5K with your family they will love it.  You only get a short time with your kids until they are grown up and don't want to hang out with you, spend as much time with them as you can.

Here are my two favorites

The Color Vibe 5K

Known as the happies 5K on the planet.  Easy 5K, perfect for any age or athletic ability, kids welcome. Offers a free ticket for a child under 12 for each paying adult.  Check out the list of cities to see if its headed your way.

Pretty Muddy

Women's only mud run.  Has some simple obstacles like ropes and inflatable slides.  Great female bonding experience and a perfect way to introduce yourself to mud runs.  Have to be at least 14 to do the run, and if you are under 18 you need a parent or guardian with you.

Why Bank with LifebankUSA? Plus a Car Seat Giveaway!

New Jersey-based LifebankUSA is a technological leader that is pioneering key medical innovations in its field.   As the only company that offers cord blood, placenta blood and tissue banking, and the first to release placenta-derived stem cells for a successful transplant.  Owned by the Celgene Corporation, a world-class biopharmaceutical company, LifebankUSA also operates a robust donation program and collects cells from anywhere in the US for use primarily in advancing medical research. 

For an expectant parent, the baby’s health means everything. Right now, he or she is protected in the womb and will soon enter the world. There is a lot to think about and prepare for, but an invaluable step you can take when your child is born is to preserve his/her stem-cell rich cord and placenta blood. The ability of stem cells to save lives via cord blood banking has proven successful for replacing abnormal or diseased cells, and treating life-threatening blood disorders such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. In fact, since 1988 stem cell transplants have been used to treat some 80 diseases.

When you bank with LifebankUSA, they include tissue banking (tissue from the placenta). Placental tissue contains mesenchymal cells (MSCs) and MSC-like cells. While stem cells found in cord blood and placenta blood have been used to successfully treat patients, there are currently no approved uses for stem cells derived from the umbilical cord or placenta tissue. Possible therapeutic applications are in early research stages and LifebankUSA's parent company is actively involved in their development. LifebankUSA will store the placenta tissue for you as part of our complete banking package using our cryogenic tanks for long-term preservation. In the event your baby's tissue cells are ever needed for future therapies, the tissue may then be processed and cultured using available technology at that time.  Tissue banking is just one more layer of protection and peace of mind offered by LifebankUSA.

Through cord blood banking, you can collect and preserve potentially lifesaving stem cells, and doing so could one day save the life of your child or a blood relative. You can bank even more stem cells by collecting them from 2 usable sources of stem cell-rich blood: the umbilical cord and the placenta. This service is called Placental and Cord Blood Banking, and it's available only from LifebankUSA. Whether you choose Placental and Cord Blood Banking or Cord Blood Banking alone, there are many important reasons to choose LifebankUSA.

LifebankUSA has a contest going on right now for all of their Facebook fans!  They are giving away THREE Britax Marathon G4 Convertible Car Seats (valued at $260 each) in a random drawing from entrants in the Facebook contest.

All you have to do to get entered is visit their Facebook page HERE

We're Doing the Color Vibe Run {Plus Ticket Giveaway!} #TEYColorVibe #ColorSelfies

I have only done one 5K in the past but it was so much fun that this time I'm getting my whole family on board.  To make it even more exciting, we are going to do the Color Vibe Run this Sunday!!

We have been busy getting ready and putting together our "gear".  We have a good start but still need a couple more items to complete our color kit.

We still have some items that we need to add, like long tube socks and crazy sunglasses but we're getting there.  My kids came up with our team name, we are the #ColorSelfies!!  Let's not forget something to quench our thirst after the run, some Tum-E Yummies!!

We will be running in the Chicago Color Vibe run this Sunday and we would love to see you there!  Color Vibe and Tum-E Yummies can make that happen!

GIVEAWAY

One of my readers will score 2 tickets to the Color Vibe (Chicago) Run and some awesome Tum-E Yummies race swag!  All you have to do is leave me a comment below with your email address and who you want to bring with you.  This giveaway will end today at 4 p.m. so hurry and get entered! Also if you have kids and you would like them to run/walk/dance with you they can do it for FREE!  Kids under 12 can do the run for FREE just fill out the kid race form HERE http://www.thecolorvibe.com/kids.php.  What at great way to spend Father's Day!

Bulls/Sox Academy to Host Toni Kukoc Basketball Camp

The Bulls/Sox Academy announced today that it will host a Toni Kukoc Basketball Camp for boys and girls ages six to seventeen on June 23rd through June 27th at the Bulls/Sox Academy located at 6200 River Bend Drive in Lisle, Illinois.

Toni Kukoc and the Academy coaches have developed a five-day camp curriculum focused on all the fundamental basketball skills: shooting, ball handling, defense, free throws, and footwork. Kukoc will work directly with the players teaching his techniques at each of the five days. The camp will run from 9:00am -12:00am for six to ten year old athletes, followed by a session for the eleven to seventeen year olds from 1:00pm - 4:00pm. All participants will have the opportunity to receive an autograph and photo from the legendary Bulls forward. The cost of this opportunity of a lifetime is only $350.00 per athlete.

“We are very excited to have the opportunity to have European superstar and three-time NBA World Champion, Toni Kukoc, bring his expertise to the youth athletes in Chicagoland this summer,” said Larry Stewart, General Manager of Basketball at the Bulls/Sox Academy. “The children will have the opportunity to learn basketball fundamentals, have fun, and truly be trained by a champion."

One of the most versatile and talented European players to ever play in the NBA, the 6’ 11” Kukoc was best known for his incredible shooting touch and passing ability. His natural position was a small forward but Toni could play all five spots on the court. The “Croatian Sensation” started his professional career at the age of seventeen for his hometown club, Jugoplastika Split. Throughout his career overseas, Toni won numerous MVP awards while leading his teams to a variety of League Championships including the prestigious Euroleague Championships three years in a row (1989-1991).

Originally selected by the Chicago Bulls in the 1990 NBA draft, Toni continued to play in Europe until the 1993-94 NBA season. During that season, he made his debut with the Chicago Bulls where he had a very solid first season averaging double-digits in scoring and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. With the return of Michael Jordan in 1995, Kukoc established himself as a huge contributor off the bench on a team that would go on to win three consecutive NBA World Championships (1996-1998). Kukoc won the prestigious NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award in 1996. During his 13 year NBA career Toni played for the Bulls, Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks.

The Bulls/Sox Academy, located in Lisle, Illinois, is owned and operated by the Chicago Bulls and Chicago White Sox. The Academy runs extensive and fun training programs in basketball, baseball, fastpitch softball, and sports conditioning for boys and girls from beginner to professional. There are additional Academy locations in Glen Ellyn and La Grange. For more information about all camps, lessons and programs or to register for the Toni Kukoc Basketball Camp, go to www.BullsSoxAcademy.com or call 630-324-8221.

Clear The Voice

Although there are many singing/dancing competition shows out right now, The Voice really stands out.  I love the fact that the judges base their opinion of the contestant only by their voice and not their appearance. The whole competition is really about the music and there are so many different kinds of performances that its tough to choose a favorite. The judges are great and I really enjoy the little competition between Adam and Blake.   Walgreens has partnered with The Voice for an awesome promotion.

This year let your hair perform for you! CLEAR SCALP & HAIR™ will make your hair beautiful and resilient by deeply nourishing your scalp. Just like the most talked about show The Voice, CLEAR SCALP & HAIR™ will give you the confidence you need to feel, look and perform your best!

Right now, you can head into Walgreens from 5/1/14–7/27/14 and purchase any CLEAR SCALP & HAIR™ product and get 2 Free song downloads (while supplies last). The download instructions will be right on your receipt!


This post is sponsored by Global Influence

If You Love Your Little Girl {or Your Big Girl, Girlfriend, Sister or Best Friend }

Many of you know already that my daughter and I both do Taekwondo.  For those of you not familiar with what that is, it is a Korean form of Martial Arts.  I am a huge promoter of martial arts for many reasons but I think the main one is because it empowers girls.  I recently watched a video online of a young girl (who happened to be a black belt) on an elevator and a man who tries to attack or abduct her.  Here is the video, watch to see what happens....



Whether this video is real or staged is not important, this is a situation that can happen to anyone at any time.  Everyday we hear about  child abductions, child abuse, rape, domestic abuse, girls getting harassed at college parties and so on, so the question arises, why are we not empowering these girls?  Why are we not teaching them self defense skills and giving them the confidence to use them?

I think that we spend too much time glorifying beauty and teaching girls that a man will be their protector and not teaching them anything about how to help themselves.  A man might be their protector, if he is there at the time of the attack, but most attacks happen when girls are alone, or by the man that is supposed to be their protector.  The girl in this video did not pause to think, she did not even waste one second, she took action and she saved herself.

My daughter and I both received our black belts in April of this year.  That was an amazing day, all the hard work that we had put in, finally paid off.  Our training does not stop there because you can always be better and stronger.  Training with my daughter makes me feel confident that I am giving her a life skill that is so necessary in today's society.

We need strong women, dance and gymnastics will make you strong and graceful but martial arts gives you something more, the ability to protect yourself.