Meagan Paullin — Page 141

No Drilling Required DIY Giveaway – $900+ Prizes!

No Drilling Required (Nie Wieder Bohren)

German Engineered Bath Accessories, Shower Caddys and Grab Bars with a patented no drilling required mounting technology for tile, natural stone, glass and metal now available in the United States.

Smart Solutions

Leave it to German ingenuity to solve the issue of drilling holes into high-quality surfaces like tile to install bath accessories and grab bars. It combines the strength of a high-performance, single-component commercial adhesive used in the automotive industries with a patented adapter to form a permanent bond on tile, stone, glass, metal, concrete and brick. The system works on rough or smooth surfaces and directly over grout lines. Additionally the mounting system was designed to be reversible and can be removed if needed with no damage to the surface. The system has been tested to ASTM F446 specifications for “Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Grab Bars and Accessories Installed in the Bathing Area” and is rated at 250lbs.

Want to buy your own No Drilling Required accessories?
Use code CC20 to receive 20% off!
{LOXX Collection Robe Hook}

Enter to WIN big!

Enter below to win the grand prize of a $250 certificate to choose your own accessories from the GRIPP, LOXX, KLAAM or HUKK collections or one of 20 robe hooks from the LOXX Collection. {And if you’re feelin’ lucky, enter to win all of the other amazing prizes listed in my sidebar too!}

Have fun and good luck!

[Read more…]

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 30, 2012 Filed Under: Giveaways | No Comments

Parking Pal: Smart Parking Lot Safety Solution #Mompact

“The Parking Pal™ will entertain kids while keeping them safe at the same time! Children are automatically drawn to the unique, colorful, fun designs. The Parking Pal™ gives kids a safe spot to stand, helping to reduce parking lot injuries!”

Parking Lots are Safer with the Parking Pal Magnet!

This is another one of those products where it’s so obvious that it was invented by a mom – it’s simple, smart, and a really great solution to one of those busy mom challenges… The Parking Pal is a cute magnet that you attach to your car, giving the bigger kiddo’s a safe place to wait while you unload packages or younger children. It’s cute, it’s fun, and most importantly – it’s effective.

Great for kids of all ages and abilities

I love, love, LOVE the ideas in this video from Mom 4 Life – It’s very cool to hear the other clever uses that moms have come up with for using the Parking Pal in new ways, outside of the parking lot. And you get to meet the mom that invented this great product too! Definitely take a minute to watch this video and grab some great tips.

Learn More & Connect with the Brand

I have been using the Parking Pal for awhile now – and every time that we do, someone stops to ask us about it, or comment on what a smart idea it is. And I’m not the only one who’s loving this invention –

Mom Reviews: One Busy Momma appreciates this great idea, even though her boys are a little bit older now. She says that the Parking Pal still helps keep them safer in parking lots at age 8! And Nicole loves how it allows her to focus on what she’s doing when loading and unloading the car, instead of nagging and reminding her daughter to stay close.
Amazon: For less than $9 bucks each, you can grab enough magnets for each child in your family! And read more opinions on the Parking Pal Car Magnet – Parking Lot Safety for Children too – Every reviewer on Amazon gave it a 5-Star rating!

So, don’t just take my word for it – read the other online reviews from moms just like us, watch the video above to learn how other moms are finding creative ways to use the Parking Pal to help manage their own daily challenges, and learn more parking lots safety tips for kids on their website.

Connect with Parking Pal

See the selection of Parking Pal Magnets online, then connect with them on Facebook and Twitter to stay updated on new products and promotions. And if you love supporting mom-owned businesses, be sure to visit Mompact.com today!

{This post was not sponsored. I love helping spread the word about my favorite mom-owned businesses, and Parking Pal Safety Magnets are such a smart solution for busy moms, I knew you guys would love them too.}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 30, 2012 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | No Comments

Weekly Bloggertunities – 5/30

“OTHER PEOPLE AND THINGS CAN STOP YOU TEMPORARILY. YOU’RE THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN DO IT PERMANENTLY.” – ZIG ZIGLAR

Do you ever suffer from “Blogger Burn-Out?” I’m sure most of us do from time to time – especially when you have a family that needs you, a house that’s looking rough around the edges, and the reviews are piled up in the dining room like you’re living in a FedEx warehouse. But all you wanna do is go sit outside with a Mojito and enjoy the sunshine, right? I understand. So – what do YOU do when you suffer that burn-out? I’d LOVE for you to share your best tips on my Facebook post, and possibly be featured in an upcoming post. Until then, use this extra big list of new opps and events and cool income generators to help you find some new people to work with, and maybe some new excitement and motivation for summer blogging.

Opportunties for Bloggers

Blogger Insider: Join this mailing list to get notified of new opportunities like sponsored posts, paid guest blogging, and more. You can let them know which options you are interested in, and what topics you prefer to write about. Blogger Insider Sign Up.
Question Moms: If you’re a business owner, you can get great feedback on your products or services. If you’re a blogger – you can earn incentives for sharing your feedback with the brands, and connect with them for product reviews too.
WOLF @ Best Buy Bloggers: Apply to join this cool blogging program – Get the opportunity to review new gadgets and products from Best Buy.
Kidstuff Public Relations: Email them to apply to be a partner blogger with them. You can read their terms, and what they expect – and they require a screenshot to give them information about your monthly page views. Learn more and see if you qualify: Kidstuff Blogger Inquiry.
Mommy Bloggers: Fill out this form to notify them that you would be interested in working with them on sponsored posts. I don’t have too much detail about it, but it might be a good option for some of you too.
WB Word: Sign up to get access to the hottest new DVD’s from shows like Chuck, Pretty Little Liars, and more – plus get paid to write about them. Learn more and apply for WB Word here.
USFamilyGuide.com: You can submit your info here to apply, and it says – “Drive traffic to your blog, enjoy free activities and earn money through US Family Guide.”- I’ve heard good things about them!
Work from Home: Mommy Bag Marketing, Inc. is looking to hire Christian Moms in Metro areas across the United States! Please go here to see if this unique work from home job opportunity is right for you! {And for more work from home ideas,visit my directory.

Monetize Your Writing

Sponsored Tweets: Super easy way to earn a little extra cash by sharing cool stuff on Twitter. Sign up here.
Paper Coterie: This is my very favorite photo product company – gorgeous designs, and such amazing quality. Signing up as an affiliate is easy, and thesystem is set up just like Escalate, so it’s easy to use. They’re also easy to promote since they always have cool deals and freebies.
Deal Junkies: Do you love finding great deals and sharing them with your friends? Then you’ll LOVE zuuzs – you get rewarded with cash. Very cool – Learn more here on how you earn money with them. And – if you sign up, make sure to then to the Blogger Sign Up link too, so you can earn all of the extra perks!
Coupon Lovers: If you’re a total pro at couponing, and love sharing that knowledge with others – this might be a perfect fit for you. The Couponizer is adding new affiliates, where you earn a percentage of sales. And, they have another very cool opportunity – Become a Couponizer Coach. You buy a kit, get access to support and some cool programs, and earn money by reselling the Couponizers. If you teach coupon classes, this could be a money-maker for you!
Examiner: I have a Frugal Living column on Examiner, and was promoted to now being able to get media credentials, which is helping get me access to some cool new local events. I’ve connected with a lot of cool peeps locally, and enjoy sharing their news. Check it out, and see what categories are available in your town.
Blogvertise: Earn cash for posts. Fair warning – there is a lot of… Um, not so good offers here. But, I do find plenty that I can post too – and taking 20 minutes to write up a $10 paying post, once a day, equals almost $300 a month. {The highest paying offer I’ve gotten there was around $35 bucks} Plus – they just started some new services, to pay you for tweets and possibly Facebook activity. I’m anxious to see how those roll out…
BlogFrog: If you’re a member of Blog Frog, fill out their blogger partner form for a chance to partner with them on fun campaigns! Blogger Partner Sign Up.
Social Spark: This is one of my consistent streams of income – easy posts, and they allow no-follow links. Tip: Make sure to connect your analytics, to ensure you get the right pay for your posts!
SITS Girls: Fill out their application to get matched with exciting opportunities to partner with sponsors. Learn more and sign up – SITS Girls Blogging Opp.
ChaCha Affiliates: This is another new one that I’ve joined recently – you have quite a few options on how you’d like to share their content, and it’s super easy to get started with and use. Learn more and sign up here.

Tools for Busy Bloggers

Sendible: I am totally in love with this site, and wish I’d found it a year ago. It’s the best way I’ve found to manage ALL of my social media. Seriously amazing. You can try it for 30 days free – you don’t have to add a credit card or anything, they’ll give you the option to give payment info after your 30 days, IF you want to continue. But you will – it’s awesome.
PicMonkey: If you need a replacement for Picnik, you will love PicMonkey. I actually might even like it better – which I never thought I’d say about anything else, lol. It’s built so similar to Picnik that you’ll catch on within seconds, the layout is really cool and kinda retro, and there are some really awesome tools available.
Shared Schedules: Whether you want to be able to coordinate events and schedules with a team for blogging events and conferences coming up, or just keep your “home team” on a schedule together, this is an awesome tool you can access right from your smart phone.
Pinterest 101: A pretty comprehensive guide to everything Pinterest – It’ll help show you how to get started if you’re a beginner – but it’s also got some cool new tricks and tips to learn if you’re more of an expert. Pinterest 101: Pin Like a Rockstar!
Peer Index: If you’re a blogger, enter your info here, learn what they think of your social media influence, and qualify for fun free perks – kind of similar to Klout. Peer Index Influencer Perk.

Good Reads this Week

Facebook Update: Yes, Facebook DOES now have an option {available on almost all pages by now} to pay an advertising fee to promote your post to more of your fans than would normally get to see it. But NO, it is not the end of the world. Learn the facts on the new Facebook Change here.
Pinterest Scam: I had NEVER heard of this before – but there is an incredibly sneaky scam going on, involving a fake Pinterest link, your own posts, and a spammy download. Check it out – and share it around. Pinterest Scam info.
Blogging What You Love: Why I think it’s important to define your niche – whether it’s a specific category like green living, or a overall theme like humor, it’s important to know who you are, and why you’re blogging.
31 Days to Build a Better Blog: I’m working on through this book right now – and LOVE it! Totally recommend checking it out, to get your blog rockin’ this year. Click here to view more details.
8 Wildly Effective Ways to Promote Yourself Today: Free ebook you can request from Grow with Stacy. Get your free guide to promoting your blog posts.

Events & Parties to Join

Blogathon: This sounds like so much fun! The Biannual Blogathon Bash is coming up in June – and you can sign up now. It’s a 72 hour bash to try to get as much work done on your blog as possible, with mini-challenges, a Twitter party, and more. Love this.
Reviewer’s Retreat: Are you going to be there? If so – I’ll be helping out during the second Sponsor Speedway session, and would LOVE to connect with you there! Learn more about the brands I’m representing there, and I drop me a note on my Facebook wall with your name and blog if I’ll be seeing you there! I’m excited to meet some new faces :)
Blogger LinkUp: Get guest posts, offer guest posts, connect with sources for interviews, and more. Very cool, and I’m really liking it so far – Join Blogger LinkUp.
Blogging Conferences for Women: Find lists of all the cool conferences coming up this year, and plan to attend your favorites! Women’s Blogging Conferences 2012 schedule lists.

Love it? Share it with your networks too…

Want to earn money from your blog, find cool new partnerships, and have more fun? #Blogging tips – sunshineandsippycups.com/2012/05/weekly… via @sunandsipcups

— SunandSipCups (@SunandSipCups) May 30, 2012

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 30, 2012 Filed Under: Blogging Resources, Weekly Opp's | 14 Comments

The Skinny on Dining Out

Who doesn’t want a perfect evening out, away from the kitchen and the mass of dishes? Most Americans love dining out, but even those who can afford the luxury are finally beginning to cut back from restaurant fare in an effort save cash and stay healthy. And while it’s always a temptation as a busy mom to stop in and grab dinner to go – let’s take a look at what you’re really getting when dining out….

Infographics by CouponCabin.com

Learning Smart Spending Habits

Many of us as busy moms have gotten so darn busy that we don’t have time to really notice where some of our spending habits have gotten off track. Things like dining out a few times a week, or that extra latte each afternoon, can really add up. Between getting the kids to soccer practice, getting dinner on the table, and getting the cheerios out of your hair…. it’s hard to keep track of everything you have going on. If you’re in need of a little extra help staying on track financial – check out my two favorite solutions:

Daily Worth

Daily Worth is a super smart daily email with a few easy to follow financial tips targeted at busy women like ourselves. From which fashions to buy this summer to take you into fall, to the best ways to save on salon hair care services – you’ll find great tips to look fab without overspending.

LearnVest

They make budgeting as easy as spending. {Ok, not quite – but very close!} My favorite part of having a free membership to LearnVest is that you then get access to all of their totally FREE financial bootcamps – from Baby on Board to Getting Hitched, there are tons of great go-at-your-own-pace bootcamps to help guide you to better budgeting.

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 30, 2012 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | No Comments

Party Time with MAM Baby: Smile Baby, Smile

“A mother is not a person to lean on, but a person to make leaning unnecessary.” – Dorothy Canfield Fisher… This past Mother’s Day I hosted a big celebration in my home – and was lucky enough to also get to share some amazing products from MAM Baby with the other moms who came to share the afternoon with us. I’m a big fan of all things MAM Baby, so it was great to be able to introduce some new mommas to them too.

“Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother.” – Lin Yutang

When I first saw the amazing MAM Baby party package that Child’s Play Party had put together for us, I was blown away. There were so many really smart products to encourage healthy teeth and gums from babies to toddlers. And they even included great ideas for snacks, games, activities for the kids – and some fun prizes too. I invited over about 15 moms, including one of my very bestest girlfriends – you can see Miss Teia with me in the picture above. Love her. She is always SUCH a big help when I’m trying to get parties set up while managing a bunch of crazy kiddos.

“There is only one pretty child in the world, and every mother has it.” – Chinese Proverb

Here is Miss Teia again, showing off some of the great swag bags filled with MAM Baby goodies that each guest got to take home with them. I had sets of products for girls {bags tied with a pink sparkly ribbon} and sets in blue for boys {tied with shiny silver bows} – and each set included oral care supplies to take them from infant to toddler time.

Infants: Many people think that because an infant has no teeth yet, you don’t need to worry about oral care. But it’s very important to keep baby’s gums clean, so that those new teeth pop our strong and healthy when they arrive. This can be challenging, so MAM Baby came up with a SUPER smart solution – MAM Oral Care Rabbit. It’s a little glove/cleaning cloth that makes it really simple and fun to keep babies gummy grin healthy.
6 months: As kids grow, they start developing those cute little baby teeth. And yes – they will lose those teeth eventually. But it’s still incredibly important to keep them healthy – tooth decay in little ones can lead to painful toothaches, and can start them on a path to bad habits. The Learn to Brush Set from MAM Baby is perfectly sized for little hands, and the curved shape of the brush head makes it comfortable to use.

I made tie-dyed rainbow colored cupcakes, put together pretty fruit trays, and created a sparkling Sangria wine mix for the moms to enjoy on the patio. The kids had a blast playing together and trying out their super cool new toothbrushes, and my girlfriends and I enjoyed learning some new tips and tricks on keeping smiles bright while playing some games and enjoying the sunshine. Everyone took home a great bag of goodies – and a couple of ladies won fun prizes. {Thanks Child’s Play Party!} Great times, great weather, and great new products to take home – this party was a big success!

See more great baby products and tips on my All About Baby Pinterest board too!

{Disclaimer: I received a complimentary party package from Child’s Play Party so that I could share the great products with my guests, and share some feedback with you. All photos, opinions, and over-use of the word awesome are entirely my own. If you’d like to host parties like this too, apply at Child’s Play Party today!}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 29, 2012 Filed Under: Holidays | No Comments

What Inspires You? Design Spotting with #DysonDesign

“Everything is designed. Few things are designed well.” – Brian Reed… What designs inspire you? There is beauty all around us, every day, in the simplest places – if we only take a moment to break from the rush and fuss of daily life to stop and notice it. From the new poppies blooming in my backyard in the summer sunshine, to the great texture in my old metal spinning star that reflects the light onto the patio in cool patterns each evening – there are little spots of beautiful design in many of the everyday objects in our lives.

“The only important thing about design is how it relates to people.” – Victor Papanek

This is one of my favorite store windows ever. I love the way the colors look so vibrant, the light reflects on the glass, and even the texture of the carousels of greeting cards for sale inside the store, behind the lighting display. This was inside of the SeaTac aiport in Seattle, when we were on our way to the Nike Kids event last month. I just had to stop and capture it – and it makes me smile again every time that I see it. I love finding little spots of great design like this.

“Design is in everything we make, but it’s also between those things. It’s a mix of craft, science, storytelling, propaganda, and philosophy.” – Erik Adigard

The above photo is a great design that someone purposely put together – but this one is beautiful due to a random set of circumstances. First – I have no idea if these steps once were useful, or connected to something, or if they were placed here as a joke, but they are just free-standing steps we came across one day in downtown Seattle. It was raining {as usual} and the bit of a breeze had blown these tiny petals off of the flowered trees across the street onto the sidewalk here. I love the way they catch the light, and make it look as though little stars have sprinkled down out of the sky along with the rain. So pretty.

Great design can inspire great things – from the beauty in your own back yard to the simplicity of a great product, get inspired with #DysonDesign

“Great design will not sell an inferior product, but it will enable a great product to achieve its maximum potential.” – Thomas J. Watson Jr.

A well-designed product that you use daily helps bring a little bit of beauty into your day, and simplicity into your routines. And a wonderful example of a beautifully designed product is the Dyson Air Multiplier – Smart, simple, and super impressive. I am incredibly impressed with the innovation behind this new fan…

The Dyson Air Multiplier is available in table, tower and pedestal sizes. With no fast-spinning blades, it’s safe, easy to clean, and generates smooth air with no buffeting. Keep cool with Dyson Air Multiplier. Learn more at www.dyson.com/cooling.

Get inspired with #DysonDesign on Instagram and Twitter.

{Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Dyson via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Dyson.}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 29, 2012 Filed Under: Fun Stuff | 4 Comments

Peppa Pig & Nick Jr. Make Learning Fun!

Peppa Pig – Fun New Addition to the Nick Jr. Line Up!

Have you had a chance to check out this new kids show on Nick Jr. yet? It’s called Peppa Pig, and Abby is totally in love with it! I don’t let her watch a ton of cartoons, and I know that toddlers shouldn’t have too much TV time. But honestly – as a work at home mom, there are times when letting her play with blocks while she giggles away at a fun show on television is the only way that I’m going to get some work done. And, when the shows are helping to reinforce the letters, numbers, animals, colors and other things that I’m teaching her with our flashcards and books, then I think that they’re an ok addition to her day. We have a few favorites: the Baby Signing Time DVD’s have helped Abby and I learn over 100 signs over the past year. Dora gets Abby moving around, and burning off some of that wild toddler energy, as she does “Arms up!” or “Climb! Climb! Climb the ladder with me!” – and it’s so fun to watch her act out the motions. And, Peppa Pig is now a new favorite of ours… Abby thinks the little snorting pig sounds are just about the funniest thing she’s ever seen. Check out a peek….

Peppa Pig Teaches the Alphabet

Yes, it’s silly. But seriously – Abby just can’t get enough of those little piggies! If you want to tune in too, you can catch Peppa Pig on Nick Jr., or watch more episodes right now online. And make sure to follow Nick Jr. on Facebook and Twitter – for fun updates on new shows, giveaways, and promotions!

{Disclaimer: I was compensated with a complimentary DVD copy of Peppa Pig from Child’s Play Communication, so that I could watch them with my family and give you some honest feedback. Free swag never sways me – all opinions are 100% my own. I only endorse what I love – We love this show, and think you will too!}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 29, 2012 Filed Under: Fun Stuff | 1 Comment