Reviews — Page 6

Frugal Tips: Slay the energy vampires in your home!

This is the problem-

Oh sure, your electric toothbrush, toaster and TV look innocent enough, but do you realize they’re robbing you blind? It’s true! In fact all your electronics are pulling power even when they’re not on. Which means you’re paying for a lot of electricity unnecessarily.

Don’t worry! I’ve Got Your Solution-

We found the perfect solutions. First the Belkin Conserve Socket which shuts off the electricity when you’re done toasting your toast, brewing your coffee or charging your phone. Second, the Belkin Conserve Smart AV, a power strip so smart it stops your TV, stereo and gaming system from drawing energy when you’re not using them, but keeps your DVR and cable box on so you won’t miss any of your favorite shows. Whatwill those Kardashians do this week?

Watch this week’s Twirl and watch Carley destroy all the energy sucking vampires around her house, no wooden stake required….

Good For Your Wallet, Good for The Earth!

What great ideas, right? I have been on a mission to cut back all of our expenses this past year – since, as a blogger, I’m not exactly rich yet. I annoy the family on a daily basis, reminding them to turn off the lights when they leave a room, turn off the TV, etc, close the windows when I have the heat running – what’s wrong with you guys!! Whoops, slipped into mommy-mode there for a minute… :)

I am totally in love with these new little gadgets, and am excited to see what kind of difference they’ll start making in my monthly energy bill. And – if you’re using SwagBucks, and earning free Amazon Gift Certificates like I am, you can get these FREE! Check ’em out on Amazon:

Belkin Conserve Smart AV Energy-Saving Power Strip is only $23.97, and gets FREE Shipping with Amazon Prime or Amazon Mom membership.
Belkin Conserve Socket Energy-Saving Outlet is only $9.99, and also qualifies for FREE shipping. I bought 3 of these sweet gadgets!

And if you’re still unsure, read the reviews on Amazon — one happy customer called the controls on the outlet “idiot-proof”, which is pretty important for me when buying tech stuff, lol.

What do you think? Are you lovin’ this idea too?

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.

Posted by Meagan Paullin on October 6, 2011 Filed Under: Shopping, Reviews, Busy Mom Solution | 2 Comments

Mmmmm…. Breakfast with Skillet Bacon Jam!! #recipes #bacon

Have you heard of Bacon Jam??

Skillet Bacon Jam takes Niman Ranch bacon and renders it down along with onions, balsamic, and other spices. Then it cooks for several hours until it is a perfect blend of smoky, tangy, savory and slightly sweet… Basically, it’s spreadable bacony goodness! And you know I LOVE me some bacon!!

Bacon Jam on Toast Rounds with Fried Eggs

Here’s a great way to use the amazing Skillet Bacon Jam – we absolutely loved this! Partner it with some friend potato’s and fresh fruit – perfect for lazy Sunday morning breakfasts with the family.

How to Make It:

Get enough English Muffins, Biscuits, or rounds cut from your favorite bread to feed your family. Toast them in the oven under broil until they’re a crispy golden brown, and spread with butter if you’d like.
Spread a tablespoon or two of Bacon Jam on each toasted bread. Smells amazing already, right?
Now, fry up an egg, however you like ’em, and top each bread with an egg.
Finish up by sprinkling with your favorite herbs and spices, cheese, or salt and pepper.
Enjoy! And check out the big smiles on everyone’s face as they bite into this crispy, bacon-flavored yumminess!

For more great morning recipes, check out Best Brunch Recipes!

More Great Skillet Products:

This Bacon Jam is also so great on burgers, boosts your grilled cheese to new levels, and works mixed with cream cheese or sour cream as a great dip! It is so versatile, and so so good!
My other new favorite product is the Skillet Pumpkin Sauce in Brown Sugar and Apple Vinegar… Ohmyheck, it is amazing!! You have got to try it.

Try it Yourself!

You can use the search tool to find a local grocery in either the US or Canada that carries Skillet products, or if there are none near-by, you can shop their online store.

You can get a 10.5 oz jar of Skillet Bacon Jam for $14.00, and it lasts a long time. The Skillet Pumpkin Sauce is only available for a limited time, and is a great buy at only $8.00!

{Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on October 5, 2011 Filed Under: Shopping, Reviews | No Comments

Rafflecopter Giveaway- Win The Homeschool Planner! #educational #homeschool

The Printable Homeschool Planner, by Heather Bixler

I have two little guys in my house that are in school- my youngest nephew just started Kindergarten, and the older one is in Second Grade this year- Gosh I cannot even believe that they’ve gotten so big!

I don’t homeschool the boys; they both attend the public elementary school around the corner from our home. But, since I’m the one who is here each day when they get home from school, I dedicate afternoons to helping them with their homework, and hearing about what they’re learning in class. On the days that they don’t have homework, I like to have fun activities lined up, to help reinforce the skills they’re learning.

“Heather Bixler has been homeschooling since January 2006 and knows that organization is key to a successful homeschooling experience.”

When I heard that the amazing Heather from www.thehomeschoolplanner.com was looking for people to review her Printable Homeschool Planner, I knew right away that this was just what I was looking for! And I was not disappointed- it is SO incredibly helpful to have this binder- I can have our activities, games, and worksheets all organized in one spot.

What Makes The Printable Homeschool Planner so Great:

You all know that I am a BIG fan of printables- from crafty goodies, to calendars and to-do lists, I use printables almost every single day. I put together both my blogging binder, and my “Mommy Central” binder {which you’ll learn more about soon!} from printables, and I love the way that using them allows you to fully customize your planner.

When you purchase pre-made planners, there are almost always sections that you don’t need, or sections you need more of. When you purchase The Printable Homeschool Planner from Heather Bixler, you get access to download ALL of the printable sections, so that you can add and subtract pages as needed! Plus, you’re set for years- since you just print more as needed.

The The Printable Homeschool Planner is available for only $4.99 – what an amazing value for everything that is included!

Putting it together:

If you have a sturdy 3-ring binder, ink in your printer, and some dividers to get organized, the Printable Homeschool Planner will supply everything else you need!

The Cover Page – PDF Printable
Art Project Planner – PDF Printable
Attendance Record Keeper – PDF Printable
Book Report Worksheet – PDF Printable
Field Trip Planner – PDF Printable
Project Planner – PDF Printable
Science Experiment Planner – PDF Printable
Scripture Verse Planner – PDF Printable
Student Project Notes Worksheet – PDF Printable
Thematic Unit Planner – PDF Printable
Lesson Planner – PDF Printable
Password for unlimited access to our current and future homeschool printables in our exclusive member download page.

Win a Copy for Your Family!

This is a great tool if you’re currently homeschooling, but it can also be a great help to anyone- if you’re like me, and do after school activities, this can help you stay organized and on top of things!

Use the easy peasy Rafflecopter entry form to enter to WIN your own copy today!

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Posted by Meagan Paullin on October 3, 2011 Filed Under: Printables, Giveaways, Reviews | 19 Comments

Rafflecopter Giveaway: Winners Choice from Rock ‘N Learn!!

Rock ‘N Learn – Rocks our Socks!

About a month ago, our family got the chance to review the new “Sight Words” DVD from Rock ‘N Learn. I was super excited to share it with the kids- The youngest little guy in my house just started Kindergarten, and is really struggling. I figured that this had the potential to be a BIG help!

A little about Sight Words:

Sight words are the most popular words in the English language- words like come and go, in and out, up and down, and you and me. The idea is that kids should learn to recognize these words on sight – helping to build a great base for their beginning reading skills!

The DVD is from the great people at RockNLearn.com– where you can find tons of other great DVD Videos, Audio CDs and iPad apps to “Capture Kids’ Attention and Get Results.”

I’d read great things about them, but this is the first time we’ve gotten to experience it for ourselves. I’m very happy to tell you- this video totally lived up to the positive reviews that I’ve read!

See it in action:

The Reaction in My House:

Abby: Abby is 14 month months, which is a bit too young for this video {it’s meant for Pre-K and up}- but she LOVES her Baby Signing Time videos, so I thought she might like these too. I was SO right! She giggles and claps, and dances along to the songs. It’s never too early to start learning to recognize words, right?
Little Guy: He’s the perfect age for this, and since he’s struggling with school so far, I was really hoping he’d like these. He was totally engaged with the video the whole time! And, even after a month of watching this a few times a week- he still loves it! He says, “Reading is ROCK AND ROLL!!” {Translation- his dad is in a rock band. He thinks that rock music is the coolest thing ever. So, if he says that something is rock and roll, that’s his highest compliment.} He seems to be really starting to grasp the words and their meanings, and is getting better with his skills when doing schoolwork too. So grateful that Rock ‘N Learn contacted us to try this out!
Big Guy: The older little guy in my house is 8, and is starting to become “too cool” for some of the things that interest his brother- making it a challenge to keep them both entertained. But- he really enjoys this video too! He is a really advanced reader, so he doesn’t really need to learn these sight words- he knows them. But he gets a big kick out of helping his brother learn them- and I think it really helps reinforce the meanings of words that he already knows. I love the way the words are taught in context- the character goes up when showing the word UP, then back down to show the word DOWN.
Me: These don’t drive me crazy, like many kids video’s do – which means that I love them! They’re really cute, the songs are catchy, and the educational value of them is very obvious. They keep all three kids entertained and engaged after school, they’re teaching the kids some wonderful reading skills, and they’re totally pleasant to listen to- I give Rock ‘N Learn – Sight Words a rating of 5 Suns out of 5!! {Remember, I don’t do “star” ratings, I do suns :)}

You can purchase your own copy of Sight Words on Rock ‘N Learn for $19.99. And bonus- use this special coupon code- JQ7711 – at check out, to save an additional 25% off of any purchase at Rock ‘N Learn!!

Win It!

One lucky Sunshine and Sippy CupsA fan is going to WIN their choice of DVD or CD from Rock ‘N Learn!! Use the easy peasy Rafflecopter form to enter to win! Good luck!!

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Posted by Meagan Paullin on October 1, 2011 Filed Under: Reviews, Deals and Coupon Codes | 29 Comments

Busy Mom Solution – Keep your home fresh!

Check out the New Febreze Set & Refresh!

I love a clean house. I’m a little bit {ok, maybe a LOT} OCD about organization. I organize the books and dvd’s by color. All canned goods must be in rows by category, all labels facing forward. I could go on, but I’ll stop before you think I have too much time on my hands…

Point is, it’s super important to me to have a clean, organized home. BUT- with 4 adults, 2 kids, a toddler, and 5 dogs- this can be a challenge. No, challenge is too light of a word. It’s near impossible for me to keep my house clean and tidy! But, it doesn’t stop me from trying.

Love this new Set & Refresh!

Since it’s so tough keeping things clean and fresh around here, I’m always looking for new products and gadgets to make it a little easier. When I got this little Febreze freshener, I honestly didn’t think I would be much impressed. I thought it seemed to small to really do much.

Big Surprise

This seldom happens, but…. I was wrong. Wow, right? I know, I was shocked too.

I put this Febreze Set & Refresh in the kitchen, on a little ledge we have in there. With all of the cooking, the constantly overflowing trash can, and the dogs running in and out from the patio- this room can always use a lot of help staying fresh!

When I walked into the kitchen later that afternoon, I was super shocked that it smelled like fresh laundry. The laundry room is near by– but I wasn’t even DOING laundry. Then I realized- the Febreze Set & Refresh had a “Linen & Sky” refill in it. Ohmyheck- it really worked!

Learn what makes it so cool-

There are a ton of home fragrance products out there, and there are tons of them that I really love. One of my favorites is the Febreze Air Effects, in Sunflower & Sunshine- it really does smell like Sunshine, if you can imagine it :) And this little gadget really is new and different- it’s super cool that it doesn’t have to be plugged in- you can set it anywhere. And it isn’t ugly like those cones, it’s totally unnoticeable. Love it.

You can get the Febreze Set & Refresh for about $2.99 at most major retailers. There is a great refill called Apple Spice & Delight that I’m pretty excited to try next – perfect for fall holidays! This is totally a Sunshine approved product – and a great solution for busy moms!

{Disclaimer: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Febreze and received a Set & Refresh unit plus refills to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on September 29, 2011 Filed Under: Reviews, Busy Mom Solution | No Comments

Rafflecopter Giveaway List – Enter to #Win!!

Enter to WIN in all of my Rafflecopter Giveaways Going on this week!

The first giveaway is for an adorable little Etsy Shop- Win a Gift Certificate for Gentry’s Closet- Custom Bows and Baby Accessories! These are some of the best quality hair clips that we’ve ever used- LOVE them!

I couldn’t get Abby to hold still for pictures, so I’ll try again later this week. I can’t wait for you to see these little clips being “modeled”– they’re just so darn cute!

If you have a daughter, grandbaby, niece, or heck- wear one yourself! – you have to enter this giveaway!

Another Giveaway-

Next up is your chance to Win a Fall Baking Prize Package from Betty Crocker and Gold Medal Flour!

You’ll get everything that you need to make some super amazing fall treats! {Plus read the post for a recipe to make your own DIY Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte’s! Mmmm…. Those are my FAVORITE coffee drink of all time. I can’t wait to try out this recipe!}

Who Loves Sweets?

Win a FULL CASE of the New Halo Bars Delivered Right to Your Door! These have ridiculously yummy flavors like Smores and Rocky Road- but they’re totally good for you!

A snack you can eat without guilt, and that the kids will gobble up without yucky preservatives and artificial stuff! Awesome, right?

The last- and most AMAZING- giveaway is the Fall Giveaway Festival!

You can enter to Win a Mommy Goodie Bag stuffed full of prizes- including a $50 Visa Gift Card!!

This Goodie Bag is STUFFED full of great prizes for moms, babies, and kids. You’ll LOVE it!

As part of this event, you can also enter to win an iPad2- sponsored by RetailMeNot!! And there are also over 100 other blogs all linked up after my giveaway- making it easy peasy to hop along and enter them all!! The more you enter, the more chances you have to win!

Learn how to build a Complete Coupon Kit!!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on September 27, 2011 Filed Under: Giveaways, Reviews | No Comments

Check it Out- How to Build the Total Couponing Kit

Check out the New Way to Store and Organize Your Coupons

I know that a ton of people swear by the coupon organizing binders- but those just haven’t worked out for me.

Currently, I store my monster pile of coupons in a few big folders in my filing cabinet- and take ’em all out when it’s time to make my shopping list.

But- I TOTALLY think that this would be the PERFECT system for me- My Coupon Closet is a super cool new storage system to help you get organized.

My Coupon Closet is the newest and easiest way to organize your coupons. No need for expensive and bulky binders with this coupon box. Everything you need comes in your coupon box, ready for you to create YOUR Coupon Closet.

Right now for a limited time, you can get FREE shipping when you enter the code freeship11.

See it in action:

Everything you need is included:

Reusable Shopping Bag: Each box comes with a reusable shopping bag (random color). The box fits perfectly in the bag, so now you can easily carry your box anywhere. It is a very lightweight organizer that fits perfectly in your shopping cart. Looking for coupons while shopping is now a breeze.
Plastic Box with Snap on Lid: Because we use a sturdy plastic shoe box, you will never have to worry about your new organizer falling apart. A snap-on lid insures that your coupons will stay in place.
A pen and scissors: Each box comes with a pair of scissors and a pen. You need scissors in your box, so you will always be ready to clip coupons. If you are out shopping, you may find in-store coupons in a flyer that you need to use now. Because you have your scissors ready, you are ready to instantly use that coupon! We include a pen, so you are actively keeping track of your budget and making off your check list. Head on over to the Coupon Closet blog to learn more about shopping lists and budgets.
Sturdy Envelopes: Our envelopes are not your average envelopes. These little files are specially made for this coupon box. They are sturdy and made to last. They have the perfect tabs, for you write your own categories on. You can completely customize your new box!
60 White Envelopes: 60 envelopes are used to create individual categories for your new coupon box. If you are a beginner, we suggest you start with just 30 categories and then build up to 60 the longer you coupon. You can see my category suggestions here.
5 Green Envelopes: The Green envelopes are used to separate your stores. These are perfect for individual store coupons, and to place the coupons you plan to use at each of those stores.
Separator: Added into the coupon box, is a small separator. This divider is a small basket that is placed inside your coupon box. It keeps all your envelopes lined up properly and holds your pen and scissors. I also like to place a calculator and my cell phone in this basket while I am shopping.

Everything you need to get started is included. Go here to purchase your kit today!

Save Money AND Save Time!

You don’t have to be a crazy Extreme Couponer to save your family a ton of money – {read my thoughts, and share your own, about it all on- It’s Time to Get Real About Extreme Couponing}

This is a HUGE time-saving set-up for anyone wanting to maximize their savings, but doesn’t have a ton of time. If you’re already using it, I’d love to hear what you think of it. And if you know of anyone who could totally benefit from this too- use the share buttons to post it to your favorite social media page too!