Reviews — Page 13

Identity Hawk- Keep Your Family Safe

Identity Theft is Scary Stuff…

So many people have been the victim of Identity Theft {when someone gains access to your personal information, such as social security number, or credit card account info} or Identity Fraud {when that information is used by the theif to benefit themselves- Like using your credit card number to make purchases} that you’re bound to know at least one person who has gone through this.

Problems can Escalate Quickly

Most cases are pretty minor, and can be resolved quickly. I had a theif who was using my debit card to make purchases at a local mini-mart for months, before I realized that they weren’t MY purchases. Each sale was around $10-$30 dollars, but they had really added up! Luckily, all it took was a quick call to the bank, and I haven’t had trouble since then.

But… I have known a few people who started out noticing a small problem like that, thought that they had it taken care of, to find out later that the thief continued to use their info, and they were now facing MAJOR problems! That’s why I suggest checking out companies like IdentityHawk.

How IdentityHawk keeps you safe:

Whether you’ve had problems with identity theft in the past, or are just worried about it happening to your family in the future, IdentityHawk can be really helpful for you. They monitor your credit info, send you alerts when there is new activity on your accounts that might be suspicious {they even let you set up text message alerts!}, and give you protection against loss— Giving you a lot of piece of mind.

30 Day FREE Trial

I saw today that IdentityHawk is offering a 30 day FREE trial of their identity theft protection, so I wanted to share it with you guys! Check out their site to learn more about what the offer, and why it is SO important to protect yourself from this type of fraud.

Have any of you guys been a victim of Identity Theft or Fraud before? What do you do to keep your info safe?

Posted by Meagan Paullin on July 20, 2011 Filed Under: Freebies, Reviews | No Comments

{Free Baby Sleep Tool} Is Your Baby Getting the Sleep they Need?

Free Baby Sleep Tool from Johnson’s Baby

I found this on the Johnson’s Baby website today, and I think it is the coolest thing…Free Baby Sleep Tool.

“With the Customized Sleep Profile from Johnson’s, you’ll get a complete report on the details of your baby’s sleep patterns, with customized recommendations on how to improve the quality of his sleep.”

You answer a bunch of questions about your baby’s sleep patterns… Things like, how many naps does she take, and for how long? Where does she sleep at night? How long does it take to go to sleep, and what time do you start a bedtime routine?

Personalized Information

After answering all of the questions {it’s pretty detailed, but takes less than 5 minutes} you get a personalized chart of info about your baby. You can see how her sleep habits compare to other babies her age, and whether she is getting more or less than average.

It also shares tips to help you get your little one off to sleep quicker and easier, based on the answers to the earlier questions.

Super Helpful!

I loved this. As a new{ish} mom, I still feel so lost sometimes. I’m never quite sure about things like, How much should baby be eating at this age? How many snacks are ok? Is it time to wean off the bottle now? Is she sleeping enough? I didnt’ have any experience with babies AT ALL when I had Abby, so we’re learing together :)

For more helpful tips and tools…

See a couple of my favorite sites, Planning Family, and Baby to Bee. Both offer loads of free samples and cool offers for new moms, as well as tons of great information to answer your questions!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on July 5, 2011 Filed Under: Freebies, Reviews | No Comments

Free Kids Game Package {$10 Value!}

Do your kids love Kabongo too?

I found Kabongo on Mommy Perks a while back, when they were a featured partner, and am SO glad we did! The kids love playing the games, and I love that they’re learning while they play. The games are meant for ages 4-7, which is perfect for the boys at my house!

Free Games for Kids!

For a limited time, Kabongo is offering two habitats, which gives you 6 new, fun learning games, for FREE! {That’s a $10 Value!}

Kabongo offers these great features:

Builds the thinking skills kids need to read
Games adapt to your child’s level, inspiring confidence
Interactive rewards keep kids playing & learning
Designed by cognitive psychologists & learning experts

So, what are you waiting for? Check them out, and sign up for a FREE account for your kids. There is NO subscription, or any kind of weird fine print. Totally free. And your kids will love it!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on June 29, 2011 Filed Under: Freebies, Fun Stuff, Reviews | No Comments

{Lean Green Mama} My Status Update!

leangreenyou on thecaffeinecoquette

6 Weeks to a LeanGreenYOU Lifestyle Bootcamp

Most of you probably remember the HUGE giveaway a month ago, where one lucky lady won the opportunity to join me in the LeanGreenYOU Lifestyle Bootcamp with Jennifer McCay. Well, I’m now in the 3rd week, halfway through the program, so I thought it would be good time for an update on my progress!

Cha-cha-changes…

This program is focused on helping moms make better lifestyle choices, and keep them for life. This isn’t a “diet”, or get-slim-quick type plan. This is a course to teach you how to make good, healthy food choices, and how to identify your weak spots related to food, and overcome them. When you’re “on” a diet, that means you eventually go “off” of it, and back to your old habits, which is why you gain the weight right back. So Jennifer teaches you, in simple steps, how to improve your eating for good!

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Week 1

In week 1 I learned a lot about myself by completing the 360 Degree Life Self-Assesment on the bootcamp site. This really helped me figure out what I was doing right that I could build on, and where I needed to improve. And the other materials included gave me a lot of great new nutrition info, to help guide my meal choices into healthier categories. The goal for the week was simply to add one healthy meal each day. I made sure to have a really great breakfast each morning, and that helped to set the tone for my whole day! I didn’t need to stress too much over my other meals, just make sure ONE meal per day was a good one. Easy peasy, right?

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Week 2

So far, so good. This week, there were more AMAZING tips in the weekly video training, and I listened to a recorded version of the Live Question and Answer call that I had missed. {The baby was crabby that night, so I missed it.} But I love that Jennifer allows us to ask her questions, and personally answers us and gives advice. That’s awesome. This week I added an additional healthy meal… So now both breakfast and lunch need to be prepared with some thought, and I’ve made changes to make them much better. No, I didn’t eat right EVERY day, which was my goal. But I’m making a huge improvement by following Jennifers tips! Also, this week I added exercise to my days. Ugh. Me and exercise have never really been friends…

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Moving that booty in Week 3

This week the goal is that all 3 meals each day will be healthy ones, which gets a little trickier for me. I’m working on finding ways to handle dinner… My brother and his kids live with me right now, plus my mother, the baby, and many nights my boyfriend and his other two teenage daughters. That’s alot of people to make meals for, and a lot of different likes and dislikes to manage! I’m a meal planner, so I’m just adding and subtracting a few things from the weekly meal plan, to make sure there is a healthy option each night for me! A little extra work, but maybe I can set a good example for the kids with my improved eating habits?

For exercise this week, the goal is 20-30 minutes, 4-5 days per week. At first, this seemed like a lot. But really, it is TOTALLY do-able. This is what I’m doing… Each afternoon, we have one hour of cleaning time. So, for that hour, we crank up the music, and run around cleaning as FAST as we can. I mean, running to put toys away! I do squats while I vacuum, and while I put laundry in the dryer. That one hour really gives me a workout, holy heck! And it also means that I’m not trying to find time to exercise, I’m combining it with chores, so I’m actually SAVING time. It’s working great so far!

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Lean Green Success Packet

If you’d like to learn more, you can head over to LeanGreenMama.com to get her FREE Success Packet, including:

Special Report on 3 simple strategies moms can use today to lose the weight for life
Healthy Mama Hotsheet on conquering food cravings
Free weekly advice on how to get the weight off and get healthier in the process

I think that these will help you a TON! And if you’re interested in joining the 6 Weeks to a LeanGreenYOU Lifestyle Bootcamp yourself, you can find more information there on her site on how to get started.

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Stay Tuned!

I have a before picture that I’m WAY too embarrassed to post…. But I will, at the end of the 6 weeks. I’m hoping that by then I’ll have made some progress, and be brave enough to show the BEFORE and AFTER bikini pictures!! Yikes, right? We’ll see. But so far, I’m really loving the easy-to-make changes, and all of the wonderful materials, tools, and training available with this Bootcamp!

You can also check out the LeanGreenMama on Twitter, and on Facebook too, and stay updated and connected!

**Healthy Weight Loss and Living for Health-Conscious Moms**

Posted by Meagan Paullin on June 29, 2011 Filed Under: Reviews, Green Living, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Ever wondered how the Credit Card companies decide who to approve?

Introducing a cool new feature that the credit card companies will hate…

Ever wondered how credit card companies decide who to approve? Well, Credit Karma has been busy crunching billions of data points and we’ve come up with a way to help you avoid being declined for a credit card….

Introducing Approval Odds!

Tailored. Credit Karma uses key factors from your credit profile and some mind-numbing math to calculate your approval odds for over 30 of our top credit cards.
Up Front. The Approval Odds badge appears right next to Credit Karma’s credit card offers to help you understand how likely you are to be approved for that offer.
Credit Smart. Too many inquiries on your credit report can impact your credit health. Following the badges to the best offer is a good way to keep inquiries down by avoiding declined applications.

And just like the rest of Credit Karma, this is a completely free new feature. Just update your score every month and Credit Karma will instantly calculate your latest Approval Odds. Take the mystery out of getting credit, and put some power back in YOUR hands.

To get started, sign up for a totally free account at Credit Karma today:

Is it safe?

Credit Karma has been featured on shows like CNN and Good Morning America, and I use it myself. I seriously love it. People have asked me many times how to get a “real” free credit report… So many sites make you sign up for something to get it.

I used to suggest using the links to the credit places directly, since by law you can get one free copy from each, every year. But now that I’ve found Credit Karma, that’s all I will use from now on!

It is so easy to read and understand, and it’s completely safe. Read more about Credit Karma on wikipedia, on CrunchBase, or on Wisebread. And get signed up today! Knowing your credit score and having a copy of your own credit report, is such an important thing to do for your family!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on June 27, 2011 Filed Under: Freebies, Reviews | No Comments

My Interview on Moment Garden

I was interviewed on one of my favorite sites…

Moment Garden

As a new mom, I want to record and remember every special moment with my new little girl. From the first time she smiled, to her first time eating “big girl bites”, her first time crawling, her first steps, and all of those other little “firsts” in between.

But, we all know how busy and overwhelming being a new mom can be! I was lucky if I remembered to write down my signature when I wrote out the checks to pay bills… I sure wasn’t able to find much time for writing down memories in those pretty baby books I bought!

That’s why I love Moment Garden!

It’s a super simple to use site that allows you to log in once a day, {or more, or less} and add a “moment” to your “garden” timeline. It even sends you quick questions once in a while by email, like, “What did Abby have for breakfast today? Did she like it?” That reminds me to jump on and add a quick line or two.

Everyday Moments

It’s so fun to look back at our “garden” online, and see all of those little memories… the quick updates, longer stories, and pictures, and see how fast she has grown and changed. And best of all, Moment Garden is a completely FREE service for you to use, and they make it super simple for your friends and family to contribute too!

Learn More:

Visit their website and set up your own garden account, MomentGarden.com.
Follow them on their Facebook page.
Or, check them out on Twitter.

Check out my Interview on Moment Garden!!

The great guys over at Moment Garden contacted me for an interview, which was pretty cool since I’m such a big fan of thier site! You can check out my interview, learn more about me and my experience with their site, by checking it out here, Moment Garden Interview!

If any of you use Moment Garden too, leave me some comments and let me know what your favorite part is!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on June 22, 2011 Filed Under: Freebies, Fun Stuff, Reviews | No Comments

Plantsmart: The Garden Gadget That Gives Anyone A Green Thumb

Smart Garden Helper

Plants. They’ve been around since the Paleozoic period, so why is it so hard to keep them alive for one stinkin’ summer? Weeds grow without an ounce of effort, but when it comes to having flowers and plants that will make the neighbors green with envy you may need a little help from our newest find–The PlantSmart Digital Plant Care Sensor from Black & Decker. It takes the guess work out of gardening by giving you tons of invaluable gardening tips.

The Plantsmart – From Black & Decker – Saves the Day!

Stick the sensor into your soil for 24 hours and this cute little device will evaluate your soil, sunlight and temperature. Then just plug it into your computer for a detailed analysis of what’s at the root of it all your gardening woes. Even better, it will give you access to a database of thousands of recommendations for exactly which flowers and plants will thrive in your backyard. It also gives you great ideas for container gardening and wisdom when it comes to window boxes.

Watch this week’s Twirl as our resident gardening expert goes head to head with this remarkable garden gadget. You might be as surprised as she was at the results.

What do you think?

I do not have a green thumb. I have more like, the black thumb of impending disaster or something. My mother is a Master Gardener, so I was a hopeless disappointment to her. I love plants, I used to try so hard to grow my own garden, and keep my pretty flowering houseplants alive… Yet I never really succeed.

My secret weapon!

But now – I have a totally amazing vegetable garden. My mother helped me get it started, and helps me keep it up. The carrots and peppers breath a sigh of relief when they see her accompany me, since they know now that they are in good hands. A big reason I had such trouble getting started is that I really had no knowledge about things like soil types, how much sunlight was needed, when to water, etc. You know, the basic things you do to keep your plants alive. So this little gadget was like having my own little gardening wizard – helping figure out exactly what I needed to do! I could finally impress my mother by picking the right plants for the right place, AND keeping them alive. But shhhh…. Don’t tell her my secret!

More gardening help from technology!

Pocket Garden: This fun app will help you plan, organize, and track your veggie garden! With suggestions for proper plants, you’ll save a ton of money by finding the perfect plantings for any plot!
Get Growing: Another great app – This one helps you really see the value of growing your own food. You will be amazed by how just a few fruits and veggies can take a real bite out of your grocery bill! {Yep, pun totally intended!}

Carley's Byline Pic

Digitwirl.com Rocks my Socks!

Digitwirl is the weekly web show that offers simple solutions to modern day problems. In 3-minutes, Digitwirl brings busy women the very best time, money, and sanity-saving technology, and then teaches them how to use it, step-by-step. Digitwirl was created by technology lifestyle expert Carley Knobloch, who uses lots of technology to manage her busy life as mom of two and entrepreneur. Become a subscriber to get weekly show alerts and exclusive deals at Digitwirl.com, or follow Digitwirl on Twitter at @digitwirl.