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The Brain Behind the Brand: BooginHead

Check out Sari, the owner of BooginHead!

Are you a fan of BooginHead products? They’re the brand that brings you great stuff like the SippiGrip, PaciGrip, and the PaciBed– which are all such great solutions to the challenges moms face each day. Check them out- you’ll love ’em!

Sari Crevin is one of the amazing mom’s whose products are included in our HUGE Mompact event that’s going on this week.

Watch the video to learn more about Sari, and how she balances being a mompreneur while raising a family-

Did you know…

Moms are not only responsible for over 80% of consumer spending, but they are also starting new businesses at a faster rate than any other group.

It’s time for moms to support other moms in business the way we do in motherhood. The compassion we feel when we meet a mom in need of encouraging words at the check out line, or struggling to quiet a fussy toddler at a restaurant, is the same kind of compassion and connection moms have in business. We know what the other mom is going through: how she has to juggle work and family, sacrifice financially, and learn along the way.

Mompact – Moms helping Moms!

Mompact is all about moms supporting moms in business. If you want to support other moms by being a customer of a local mom business, buying products invented by moms, or contributing to mom charities, we can connect you.

Enter to WIN some great prizes!

Now that you know more about Sari, head of BooginHead, enter to win one of her products in my Mompact SplatMat Review and Giveaway. After you enter, you can hop on over to the next blog, to enter for a chance to win another great prize.

Or, head over to the main Mompact page to find over 100 more giveaways, all great mom-invented products. This is a great way to support other moms- by checking out some great mom blogs, learning about some amazing mom-made products, and maybe winning some fun stuff too!

You can also stay updated on the event by following Mompact on Facebook, or looking for us on Twitter with the #mompact tag!

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Posted by on September 13, 2011 Filed Under: Reviews, Contests | No Comments

NOT just a Stay at Home Mom!

Research Associate in the field of  Child Development and Human Relations:

I read this today on Mampedia, and just HAD to share it with you guys.

I HATE that people often take for granted what we all do as Stay {or Work!} at Home Moms– Like we all sit around watching Oprah all day, eating bon bon’s, right? Ugh.

Being a mom is the most rewarding job I’ve ever had. Whether you work, stay home, work from home- whatever- it’s great work, but it’s demanding! And some people just don’t get it. Read how this mom handled it–

Let me know what you think…

A woman, renewing her drivers license at the County Clerk’s office was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation.

She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.”What I mean is,” explained the recorder, “do you have a job or are you just a……?””Of course I have a job,” snapped the woman.- “I’m a Mom.” “We don’t list ‘Mom’ as an occupation, ‘housewife’ covers it,” Said the recorder emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall.

The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient and possessed of a high sounding title like, “Official Interrogator” or “Town Registrar.”

“What is your occupation?” she probed.

What made me say it?
I do not know.
The words simply popped out.
“I’m a Research Associate in the field of  Child Development and Human Relations.”

The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair and looked up as though she had not heard right.

I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words.
Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written, in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

“Might I ask,” said the clerk with new interest, “just what you do in your field?”

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, “I have a continuing program of research,
[what mother doesn’t)
In the laboratory and in the field,
(normally I would have said indoors and out).
I’m working for my Masters, (first the Lord and then the whole family)
And already have four credits (all daughters).
Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities,
(any mother care to disagree?)
And I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it).
But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and therewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money.”
There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk’s voice as she completed the form, stood up and personally ushered me to the door.

As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants — ages 13, 7, and 3.
Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model, (a 6 month old baby) in the child development program, testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy!
And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than “just another Mom.”

Ah….Motherhood!

Share your thoughts on this in the comments- I’d love to hear from you!

Survey Princess- the new survey site just for you! Join today!

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Posted by on September 9, 2011 Filed Under: Mommy Thoughts | 1 Comment

Get Today’s Top 30 Best Free Samples!

Welcome to another great edition of FAN-tastic FREEBIE Friday!!

I put together a big ol’ load of great free stuff for you guys- get ’em while they last. Some of these might go pretty quick.

And, if you have just a minute today, Abby Piper still needs YOUR votes to get a spot on the Munchkin Bunch! Click to vote, and it lets you give her 5 votes each day. She’s the first cutie pie, with a pink flower in her hair. Thanks bunches!

Have a great weekend!

Free Stuff For You:

  • Coffee: Get your choice from two free sample varieties of Joe’s Coffee. Get it here.
  • Axe: Get some great samples of Axe Touch + Hold products. Get it here.
  • Busy Moms: Get an amazing, free, tool to help organize all of your family’s info- My favorite is that it can automagically make family newsletters! Free Tool.
  • Baby Talk Magazine: Get a FULL year subscription for FREE! It always has tons of great coupons- sometimes they even do promotions with $10 off coupons for Amazon or Diapers.com. Love it. Click Here.
  • Icy Hot: Get a free sample of Icy Hot from Walmart. Free Sample.
  • Free Computer Back-Up: This easy peasy service gives me total piece of mind- and backs up ALL of my baby girls photos, so I can’t lose them! Get it Here.
  • Samples: Get the newest free samples posted on MySavings, like Infusium 23 and Ojon. Free Samples.
  • Free LED Light: Like Ben’s Outlet on Facebook and get a free credit card sized LED light! Get it here.
  • Shout: No, not at me, silly. Get a free sample from Shout! Free Shout Color Catchers sample.
  • Dove: Get a great sample of the new Go Fresh body spray from Walmart. Free Dove Spray.
  • Coupons: Save $10 off a $25 purchase at Macy’s, and more. Print ’em here- Printable Coupons.
  • Free Mommy Cards: Get a set of 25, totally gorgeous, designer “Mommy Cards” – either to promote your business, or as play date cards! Minted Promotion, until 9/26.
  • Home Depot: Join their mailing list to get loads {seriously, I get so much good stuff!} of great coupons, offers, idea magazines, invites to events, and more! Sign Up Here.
  • Recipes: Get a free subscription to Melt Magazine, filled with yummy looking cheese filled recipes! Free Magazine.
  • Kabongo: Sign up with this link to get a FREE basic games package {worth about $10 bucks!} Then, share it with your friends, and for every 2 who sign up, you’ll get MORE free games!
  • Spark: Get a free sample of Spark Energy Drink- I’ve heard it’s amazing! Spark for Free.
  • Spot On: Another energy freebie- Because I know us mommas need them! Get a free sample of an energy patch, sounds cool. Free Patch.
  • Nutrisystem: Get your FREE body assessment! “Take an important step toward living healthier by determining your BMI (Body Mass Index) score today.” Click Here.
  • Fragrance: Get a free sample of Calvin Klein Beauty. Free Fragrance. I just got this- It is the most nicely packaged fragrance sample I’ve gotten, ever– and it’s the deluxe spray style.
  • Arthritis: Get a free guide to help manage your arthritis, plus other tools, coupons, and freebies. Join Here.
  • Puppy Chow: Join the Puppy Chow Healthy Start Program for coupons, free samples, and cool stuff. Click Here.
  • Herbs: Get a free herb guide from NCAM. Herbs at a Glance guide.
  • Note Cards: Add your children’s photos or artwork, and get them free! Click Here to design your set too!
  • Gourmet: Get a free sample from Food Storage Chef. Gourmet Sample.
  • Free Cash: Get $5 bucks free today when you join, and there are loads of ways to earn more. One cool way is that they pay you .10 cents EVERY time you redeem a coupon you print from their site. 10 coupons = $1! Easy peasy. Sign Up Here.
  • Parenting: Get a free Adventures in Parenting book- Order Here.
  • Sweetener: Get a sample of Sooo Sweet to try out at home. Get it here.
  • Free Bedtime Stories: These are from Goodnights, and you can burn ’em to a disc, get an MP3, or watch online. SUPER cute. Bedtime Theater.
  • Chili’s: Get a FREE coupon when you join the mailing list- and more each month! I just got a really awesome offer from them today. Chili’s Free Food.
  • Quizno’s: Sign up for the Quizno’s club too- get FOUR free coupons now, and they do TONS of promotions for members only. I even get dollar off coupons in my regular mail. Click Here.
  • Evolve: Get a freebie of the new Evolve energy mix! Request it here.

I love freebies!

So much better to get a mailbox filled with FUN stuff, instead of just bills. If any of you ladies come across a fun free sample today, share it in the comments!

And if you have more freebie-lovin’ friends, make sure to use the buttons to share this to Facebook and Twitter- Friends share, right? :)

Vistaprint

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Posted by on September 8, 2011 Filed Under: Freebies | No Comments

Simple Dinner Time Solutions

Simple Cooking for my family…

If you know me, you know that I like to cook, but I like to keep it simple. The whole Semi-Homemade trend is so my style. I’ve got a big bunch of family living with me right now- {4 adults, 3 kids, and 5 dogs- it’s a full house!}– and we all have crazy schedules, with tons of coming and going- so I think it’s so important to gather everyone up at least once a day, and eat dinner together. Good thing I have a HUGE dining room table, right?

Cooking for such a big bunch, on a budget, is a challenge. Finding something that they ALL like is sometimes an even bigger challenge! But one thing that everyone does always agree on is pasta. ANY pasta is a hit. So when the awesome ladies from The Motherhood asked me to try out the new Marie Callender’s Three Meat and Four Cheese Lasagna, you bet your buttons I said yes!

The problem with lasagna…

Remember when I said I like simple meals? Well, putting together a homemade lasagna is NOT a simple meal. It’s super time-consuming, and {for me at least!} it’s super-messy! But we looove lasagna. So of course, I’ve tried a bunch of different frozen lasagnas- and there are some that are good, but….

How do you ever get them to cook right?? You know what I’m talking about- If we cook them in the oven, it takes for-ev-er. We check it after the stated cooking time- but there are always still frozen spots. So we cook it longer. And then they end up with burnt edges. The boys will NOT eat any piece that is burned or hard- they won’t even allow it on their plate. *Sigh*

What makes Marie Callender’s NEW Bakes different…

The new Bakes from Marie Callender’s -there are a bunch of other great varieties too- check ’em out- are different than other frozen lasagnas- And what makes them so cool is that they have a brand new type of baking tray that guarantees you won’t get burnt edges or frozen spots! They’re so good that Marie Callender’s even puts a MONEY BACK GUARANTEE on every package.

Making Family Dinners Simple and Delicious…

A picture is worth a thousand words…

But since the Three Meat and Four Cheese Lasagna got eaten too fast for me to get pic’s, I’ll have to tell you about it. But I’ll try to keep it under a thousand words :) The three meats are pepperoni, sausage, and beef- love the addition of the pepperoni! Then they add 3 great Italian cheeses- ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, and Romano. The meats and cheeses, combined with perfectly cooked noodles and a great zesty sauce, are just perfection. This is, honestly, the best frozen lasagna that we’ve ever had- for reals. {Or whatever term kids use these days to mean that they’re super serious. I’m over 30 now, so I’m getting outdated…} We paired the lasagna with a great salad, and this AMAZING Gorgonzola Garlic Bread from one of my favorite food bloggers- Plain Chicken! So yummy.

A few more quick facts:

  • You can buy these in 2 sizes- either the single serve (19oz) or a family size multi-serve (31oz).
  • These cook right in the microwave, in only 19 minutes- which is waaaay faster than anyone else!
  • NPD says more people are eating frozen lasagna than homemade these days- and Marie Callender’s Three Meat and Four Cheese Lasagna is preferred over Stouffer’s 19 oz. Lasagna with Meat & Sauce by consumers two to one in taste tests!

So, what are you waiting for?

Check out the great coupons on MarieCallendersMeals.com, print ’em out, and head to your favorite grocery store to put together a great-tasting, easy to make, dinner for YOUR family tonight!

{Marie Callender’s and The Motherhood provided me with a sample to review and I will be compensated for my time. Even so, my opinions about the awesomeness of this lasagna are honestly shared.}

Do you want to try products and give YOUR feedback? Check out Nielsen- and earn some pretty darn sweet rewards for your opinions!

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Posted by on September 8, 2011 Filed Under: Reviews | No Comments

How to Simplify Spending with a Prepaid Card

American Express Pre-Paid Card Simplifies Your Life…

American Express now has a super easy to use, prepaid card, that can help you in so many ways. You can use it to budget, pay bills, pay allowance, and more.

Here are the basics of the new American Express Pre-Paid Card works:

  • You can load it any way you want- online, by phone, with cash, or link it to your checking account.
  • You can use it any way you want- online, at tons of ATM’s, and millions of stores around the world.
  • You can access it any way you want- you, and anyone you approve, can check the balance and purchase history online.

Sounds great, right?

When Mom Central contacted me about trying out this card, I was pretty excited to learn more about it. When I was young, and moved out on my own for the first time, I struggled a lot with budgeting. Partly because it was something I hadn’t done before, and partly because I just plain ol’ didn’t have enough money! The less you have to spend, the more important sticking to a budget gets, you know? Plus, I was only paid once a month, and it was hard to make the money last.

My solution was to buy gift cards to budget with. I figured out how much I had for my monthly spending, and divided it up. Then I bought a Safeway gift card to cover my grocery budget, a Starbucks card with enough for my coffee fix- which meant if I wanted a morning muffin, I’d have to skip a day of coffee. Loading my check onto the cards at the beginning of the month meant I had juuuust enough money set aside in each category– and taught me how to manage my spending!

American Express can help YOU organize your spending too

There are a ton of ways that the new American Express Prepaid Card can help you too- even as a grown up :)

Here are a few ideas:

  • Leave your debit card at home, and load your weekly spending money onto a prepaid card- and stick to that amount! Cuts down on all of that “sneaky” spending that creeps in a dollar or two at a time during the week.
  • Use it for allowance. Load your teen’s weekly allowance onto the card, and let them use it themselves. This gets them used to using a card, and helps them learn responsibility.
  • Use it for payment. Do you have a teenage babysitter, lawn mower, or dog walker, that you pay frequently? I bet they’d love the idea of their own American Express Prepaid Card that you load their payments onto! And you don’t have to worry about always having cash on hand for payments.
  • Shop online? Use a Prepaid card to keep your info safe when shopping at unknown sites.

Prepaid Card = Safety

The American Express Prepaid Card has a ton of great safety features! Unlike a debit card, you can ONLY spend what’s on the card, which means no overdraft fees. That makes it a great option for college students learning how to use a card- they can’t overspend, leaving bad marks on their credit history.

Plus, there’s loads of protection in case the card is lost or stolen- which is great for anyone. They’ve got a great team of customer service folks 24 hours a day- so you can get help asap. And best of all, they offer purchase protection- any eligible purchase made on the card, if it’s accidently damaged or stolen, can be reimbursed within 90 days! {See site for details on how this works.}

What do you think?

I’d love to hear what you guys think… Have you ever used a prepaid or gift card to help you budget? Do you think this would be helpful for you- using a card to pay your sitter, or give the kids their allowance? How about when your college kid calls home, asking you to send money- this would be a quick way to help them out, right? How would YOU use it?

{Disclaimer: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of American Express and received a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.}

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Posted by on September 7, 2011 Filed Under: Shopping, Reviews | No Comments

Today Show- BlogHer, Cool Mom Picks, and Back-to-School Buys!

One of my FAVORITE brands for moms was featured on the Today show!

These are some of the best products for Back-to-School from Cool Mom Picks… And they’re all SO much fun, I had to share ’em!

Cool Mom Picks for Back-to-School:

These are all super fun, right?

I subscribe to Cool Mom Picks via email, to see their daily finds, and they always share the coolest stuff. And this segment on the Today show is no different- I’d LOVE to have all of this stuff.

Which one is YOUR favorite?

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Posted by on September 6, 2011 Filed Under: Shopping, Deals and Coupon Codes | 2 Comments

{Rafflecopter Giveaway} Carmex Prize Package 9/20

Carmex ROCKS my SOCKS!

Carmex is one of the most requested brands in our house… Everyone loves it. My brother is addicted to the Original Jar, or Tube, and there is always one in every single pocket of pants I try to wash. He is NEVER without it. The boys love the cherry flavor- and always slather on a ton of the Healing Lotion after getting out of the pool! Me, I love ’em all– And have found some new favorites in the awesome products that Carmex sent me to test out!

Check out the NEW Vanilla and Lime Twist Sticks!

These new Carmex sticks have the same great conditioning and smoothing super-powers that I’m used to, but with some great new flavors. The Lime Twist is really bright and refreshing- not too fruity- great balance of flavor. Brightens your mood when you wear it! The Vanilla Stick is really comforting and soothing… Some Vanilla’s taste artificial, this is just yummy and natural.

Some Amazing Carmex Facts:

  • When was Carmex® lip balm invented?
  •  Carmex was invented in 1937 by Alfred Woelbing, literally on the family stovetop. For the next 20 years, Alfred and his wife made Carmex by hand and poured it into the now familiar yellowcapped jars.
  • Is Carmex lip balm addictive?
  •  No, there’s nothing in Carmex that’s addictive. However, we believe it is addictively good.
  • Is Carmex tested on animals?
  •  Only the ones we’re related to. Seriously, we never test on animals. We don’t need to because we’ve got so many Woelbing family members to use as test subjects.
  • Does Carmex contain gluten?
  •  Nope, not even a speck.

See? I told you Carmex Rocks.

And, check out their website to request a Free Sample. Each week they randomly draw 50 people, and send them out a freebie! Because not only do they make the greatest products ever, they’re also just nice guys.

Win Your Own Carmex Package:

One lucky fan will win a prize pacakge that includes:

This super amazing picnic blanket- it unrolls HUGE, with a waterproof lining on bottom, and a super soft fabric on top, then rolls up to carry. Very cool.

Both of the new Carmex Sticks- Vanilla and Lime Twist.

AND- the other product that I got to test out, the new Moisture Plus-in a stylin’ slim tube, with a great slant-tip applicator. Great over lipstick or on it’s own, gave me really natural-looking glossiness to my lips. Super pretty.

{I have no pics of the three products you will win- They all three came with this awesome picnic blanket, but everyone grabbed ’em and ran off to try them before I could snap a pic. And yes, they’re really THAT good, good enough that they turn my family into a band of thieves…}

Disclaimer: I was sent a complimentary set of products, so I could try them out and share my feedback on ’em with you guys. All opinions are of course my own!

Rafflecopter Giveaway:

[Read more…]

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Posted by on September 6, 2011 Filed Under: Freebies, Reviews, Contests | 8 Comments
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