Family — Page 29

HUGE Freebies from Blockbuster Express!

Get LOADS of freebies right now from Blockbuster!

Head to Blockbuster Express to find a kiosk near you- and go get some FREE movies tonight.

You can also sign up on Blockbuster Express for Free Monday Movies by text message- which is very cool. It’s super handy to get the free codes by text, so you have them with you when you’re out running errands. Love it! Makes it so easy.

Then use these codes at your closest kiosk to get up to 8 FREE movies:

Each code is good for a Free One Night Rental. Just enter promotional Code: 87PGAR9, 62KRVF3, 65RMAQ7, 56AGSF4, 43MMKC5, 85JMMF7, 23CHAH3 and 64HLG5P.

These codes expire on 9/23/11 at midnight! And don’t forget to return your movie by 9:00pm the next night to avoid the $1 a night rental fee.

Join today for HUGE rewards, sweepstakes, and freebies!

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

Newest FREE Product In-Home Test Opportunity! #freebies

Would you love to get product test opportunities like this?

This is my most recent free product test survey opportunity from my FAVORITE survey site, Synovate.

I earned points for filling out a survey that they sent me- then at the end, they told me I qualified for this in-home survey- two HUGE bags of dog food to test out!

This not only saves me a ton of money, since dog food is pricey, but I also get rewarded again for giving my opinions! Awesome, right?

And this isn’t the first time I’ve gotten to try products in my home, about every other month- sometimes even more often- I qualify for some type of fun in-home product testing opp!

How to get started:

If you’re not already a member, it’s a great time to sign up! It’s super quick and easy to get started, and you can earn points today by filling out all of your profile surveys. And Synovate lets you redeem those points for cash!

Join Synovate Survey Panel today!

Any questions?

If you have ANY questions about survey sites, or how they work- or Synovate in particular- feel free to leave a question in the comments. I try to answer questions within 24 hours.

If you’re already a fan of Synovate, share your favorite product test opp with me!!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on September 19, 2011 Filed Under: Freebies, Product Testing | No Comments

{OVER!} Win a Sesame Street Party Planning Kit! #giveaway #party

Have you entered to win yet?

The amazing Etsy shop elevencupakes has partnered with me to give away a FREE Sesame Street Party Planning Kit to ONE lucky Sunshine and Sippy Cups fan! You’ll win everything you need to put together a super fun, totally unique, personalized party for your little guy or girl. Who wouldn’t LOVE that, right?

Enter to win the Sesame Street Party Planning Kit today!

It’s an easy peasy Rafflecopter entry form- so it only takes a minute to enter. And this kit has SO much cute stuff- I’m totally in love, and can’t wait until I have an occasion to use it. {I’m thinking a big play-date needs to be set up soon, just for an excuse to throw a party, right?}

Good luck!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on September 19, 2011 Filed Under: Giveaways | No Comments

Will You Love the New Halo Bars? Find Out…

How to know if you’ll LOVE the new Halo Snack Bars:

Ask yourself the following questions. If you answer, “Um, heck yeah!?” to most of them, then you, my friend, will LOVE the new Halo Snack Bars from PROBAR. {Disclaimer: this quiz is a bit less than scientific. In fact, I just now made it up. But it will still determine whether you’ll love ’em.}

Do you have a sweet tooth? Does it make demands for things like chocolate, marshmallows, nuts, or graham-crackery treats?
Are you trying to ignore that sweet tooth, but it’s not working?
Do you wish you could get yourself to eat snacks that were organic, vegan, or just plain better for you than the vending machine junk you eat now?

If you answered YES, then keep reading!

PROBAR has launched a SUPER yummy new snack, the Halo Snack Bar! This snack bar isn’t just GOOD, it’s also good FOR you. How often does that happen, right? This new snack bar bridges the gap between your current options of high calorie nutrition/energy bars and sugary granola or candy bars.

Here are a few amazing facts about the Halo Bars:

All Halo Bars are certified organic, meaning no yucky chemicals, and no weird ingredients that you can’t pronounce.
Each bar has Omega 3 & 6, is low-in-sugar and is dairy-free/Vegan- but they come in dessert-style flavors like S’mores, Nutty Marshmallow, Rocky Road, and Honey Graham.
Even with the dessert flavors – {and these babies are GOOD!!} – they are each only 150 calories! Rockin.
Like all of the other great PROBAR products, these are delicious, convenient, healthy plant based food products. How much better can you get?

Fun reactions from tasting HALO at Expo West 2011:

Now hear the reactions to the new HALO bars in my house…

Me: I’m always in a rush, and hardly have time to eat some days. I love, love, LOVE a snack that is easy to grab, fills me up for a long time, and isn’t junk. This is amazingly perfect. Plus- I crave sweets. A lot. So this is just what I’ve been looking for.
Kiddo’s: Both of the boys got SUPER excited when they heard I was getting Halo bars- they thought that it had something to do with Halo the video game, lol. They were quite disappointed when I opened the box to some snacks…. Until they got to try them. 5 year old: these taste like camping!! {this was while eating the smores bar…}
Boyfriend: He HATES anything healthy. I have to lie, so he doesn’t know, or he won’t eat it. Here is the conversation- Him: “Why didn’t you tell me these were all organic-y stuff?” Me: “I don’t know….” Him: “I’ve eaten like 5 of these already!!” Me: “That means they were good right?” Him: “Whatever. Yes, they were really good. But you tricked me.” :)

Want some too?

Does all this talk of chocolate and marshmallows make you hungry? Then head over to Probar.com, and pick out some new goodies to try out. Use code BLOGGERS at check out, and they’ll give you 40% off your ENTIRE order! Amazing, right? Not only do they take care of your health by developing a great new snack, they care about your wallet too.

Now- Enter to WIN some too!

One lucky reader will win a whole case of great Halo Bars to try out in THEIR house too! Use the Rafflecopter form to enter- Just follow the directions on each tab, then click “I did it!” to put your entry in. Easy peasy!

{Disclosure: This review was made possible by Mom Spark Media. But as always, all of the opinions here are 100% my own!}

[Read more…]

Posted by Meagan Paullin on September 15, 2011 Filed Under: Reviews, Deals and Coupon Codes, Giveaways | 11 Comments

Being Frugal Doesn’t Mean Being Cheap- Giving Back on a Budget

Thanks to Walgreens for sponsoring my writing. Help Walgreens help others! Visit their Facebook page here to learn about their charitable partners and decide which cause Walgreens will donate to with a quick vote.

Being Frugal Doesn’t Mean Being Cheap

But you already knew that, right? To me, being frugal means saving as much as I can on necessities, so that there is more left over for the things that are a priority in our family- vacations, fun, and charity. One of the things that I think is extremely important, no matter how little you have, is giving back to others in your community.

But what If I’m struggling too?

With the downturn in the economy, many food banks and other assistance groups have reported a huge increase in people asking for help- and that many of them are people who used to donate! But even if you’re living on a super-tight budget, you always have something great to offer to others. Maybe you can’t write out a donation check to send to your favorite charity- that’s ok! There are tons of ways to help out. And when you do good things for others, you become more grateful for what you do have.

How to give back to your community on a limited budget:

Are you a gardener? I’m sure you always end up with lots of extra veggie’s at the end of the season. Donate those to your local food bank- they’d be VERY happy to get them! Another thing many food banks need are your grocery bags- they need them to sort food, and make packages to give away.
Are you a crafty type? Knit, crochet, or sew some great handmade goodies like hats and scarves, or snuggly blankets- donate them to your local homeless shelter, to keep them warm this winter.
Are you a freebie junkie? Sort through your drawers and cupboards, and gather up a bunch of the extra shampoo, lotion, and make-up samples you have. {If you’re like me, you have A LOT!} Bring these to your local YWCA or women’s shelter- many women leaving a domestic violence situation don’t have time to bring anything with them. These samples are much appreciated.
Coupon crazy? Get just a few extra items each week, and donate those to your local food bank or soup kitchen. Every little bit helps.
Social Butterfly? Help out a local non-profit by staffing the front desk and answering calls!

See how easy it can be?

Everyone can help out in their community! It can even be as easy as just checking on an elderly neighbor who lives alone, and offering to shovel their driveway. Or offering a free evening of babysitting to help out a single mom on a tight budget, just to give her a break. When we all make an effort to help out one another, our communities become a much better place to raise our families.

Looking for more?

Here are few other organizations that can always use some extra help:

United Way: Check them out and learn how to help at LiveUnited.org.
Salvation Army: Find out what opportunities are available in your community, visit SalvationArmyUSA.org.
Goodwill: Find your local donation drop offs, and learn more about how they help out, Goodwill.org.
Volunteer Match: This is a great site that can help you find the right volunteer opportunity for you. It’ll match your skills and interests with a group that would benefit from your help- right in your community! I love this site.

What are you waiting for?

I believe in the idea that “It takes a Village”. What that means is that we all have a better life when each person takes the time to help out others. I drop off baby samples and items I get on clearance at our local crisis pregnancy center- they put these into care packages for low-income teen moms, to help them get a good start. I have a friend who found out that a really talented kid in his neighborhood wasn’t going to be able to play football once he got to high school, because his parents couldn’t afford it. He sponsored him for the year, and bought all of the equipment and paid his fees. This will go a LONG way towards making this kid feel worthwhile- keeping him out of trouble, and in a great program.

If each of us finds just one way to give back, imagine the difference we can make in our communities!

Don’t forget to help Walgreens help others! Visit their Facebook page here to learn about their charitable partners and decide which cause Walgreens will donate to with a quick vote. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

Posted by Meagan Paullin on September 15, 2011 Filed Under: Mommy Thoughts | No Comments

$50 Visa Gift Card Goodie Bag Giveaway, plus Win an iPad2! #RetailMeNotFallFest

Welcome to the Fall Giveaway Festival sponsored by Retail Me Not!

This multi-blog event features 100+ giveaways each at $25 value or more plus an iPad2 giveaway!!

RetailMeNot has every online coupon and promo code you could ever hope to find—all in one place.

With the help of a dedicated community, RetailMeNot thrives as a money-saving mecca free of full-priced foes.

With more than 1,000,000 coupons from over 100,000 stores, RetailMeNot is your go-to site when you want to grab the goods to create a one-of-a-kind Halloween costume, lock down the biggest savings on Black Friday and Cyber Monday or surf the Web for financial finds.

RetailMeNot is giving away an iPad2 to one lucky person! Visit Sassy Mama in LA, Simply Stacie, Makobi Scribe and Matter of Cents to enter the giveaway. You can enter on each site and earn multiple entries in the giveaway or enter on just one- it’s up to you! Good luck!

And there’s more- MUCH more!

I’ve partnered with Daily Deals for Moms to offer one lucky Sunshine and Sippy Cups fan an amazing prize package:

Win a super-cool goodie bag, stuffed full of great products for moms, babies, and kids– including a $50 Visa Gift Card!!

The goodie bag will include samples, coupons, and full size products from a ton of great companies. You can look forward to some great stuff from brands like:

Learn more about Daily Deals for Moms:

Moms, be on the lookout! Daily Deals for Moms has expanded into YAKIMA, WASHINGTON! Born out of the desire to share great deals with moms and families, Daily Deals for Moms offers exclusive access to significant money-saving deals on the products and services families use every day. Daily Deals for Yakima Moms works only with Yakima businesses, providing a win/win for both consumers (that’s you, Mom) and our local economy!

Not in Yakima? No Problem!

Daily Deals for Moms is now offered in more than 35 cities and metropolitan areas throughout the US! Be sure to check out www.dailydealsformoms.com to find a participating city near you!

Now, are you ready to win??!!

Of course you are! Use the easy peasy, and super cool, Rafflecopter Entry Form to get your entries in today- and come back every single day for the BONUS daily entries too!

After you enter this giveaway, make sure to check out the rest of the giveaways linked up too- You’ll see the full linky below. That’s a ton of prizes to win! [Read more…]

Posted by Meagan Paullin on September 15, 2011 Filed Under: Contests, Deals and Coupon Codes, Shopping, Giveaways | 8 Comments

Moms – Do Your Best, Forget the Rest

“The moment a child is born,
the mother is also born.
She never existed before.
The woman existed, but the mother, never.
A mother is something absolutely new.”
– Rajneesh

Finding out that you’re pregnant changes you.

I’m not just talking about the fact that you soon won’t be able to buckle your pants, followed a few months later by the disappearance of your ankles. And I’m not talking about the mood swings {from joy and overwhelming happiness, to fear and overwhelming anxiety- in the same 5 minutes}, or the food cravings, or the nesting instinct.

No, what I’m talking about is a different change- You become a mother. Even before you’ve seen the baby on an ultrasound. Before you know if it’s a boy or a girl. You suddenly become more aware of your body- what you put in it, what you breath, how you live. You make big changes- no more coffee or alcohol, more fruits and veggie’s, and the big one- starting Prenatal Vitamins.

From Pringles to Prenatals:

I’d always eaten moderately healthy, and was active, but had never given too much thought to what I put into my body. But, once you realize you’ve got a little person in there, already relying on you to make the best choices, well- that can be a big wake-up call!

I was determined to give my little peanut the best start possible- eating right and taking my vitamins, becoming more aware of things like organic foods and low-VOC paints, and doing my best each day to protect her and help her grow!

Fast Forward to Today:

Now, I’m the lucky momma of a toddler- and still trying to be the best mom I can be! As moms, we sometimes forget to take time for ourselves, {of course we forget- how do you remember ANYTHING when you have a baby in the house?} but it’s SO important!

To be the best mom you can be, you have to be the best YOU that you can be. That means taking a break sometimes, to do something “grown-up”, something you love- that you loved back in your former, “pre-momma” days. It means making time to eat healthy meals {not just snagging a stray tator-tot that’s left-over on someone’s plate and calling it dinner!}, and taking a daily vitamin or two, to ensure you get everything you need to keep up with a fast-moving kiddo.

Do your best, forget the rest!

That’s my philosophy. Every day I do the best I can. I’m the best mom I can be, the best me I can be, and encourage my daughter to grow into the best HER that she can be. I don’t get everything right- If I raise my voice, I apologize. If she makes a mess, we clean it up together. If my diet isn’t perfect, I know that the daily vitamin I take each day helps cover the gaps. I know I’m doing my best, and I bet you are too. And that really is good enough. Share your mommy stories with me in the comments…

We may not have it all together, but together we have it all!

{Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Nature Made and received promotional items to thank me for taking the time to participate. Vote for my entry on Facebook between 9/20/11 and noon (PT) 9/26/11.}