Thrifty Thursday - Smiley 360 Kmart Mission!

  Mommy in PA says:  Recently I received an invite from Smiley 360 inviting me to sign up for the Kmart Decorate it Forward Mission.  Of course I was super excited because they were offering a $15 Kmart gift cards to start my Christmas Shopping at Kmart.  Well I haven't gotten anything new as far as Christmas decorations go in quite some time so this was perfect!

  I was thrilled when I got to Kmart yesterday and saw that they are currently running deals on a lot of their Christmas decorations so I was able to snag quite a bit of nice things for my $15.  Here is what I got:

1.  Believe Tealight Garden (normally $21.99) I paid $10.99

2.  Jaclyn Smith Tinsel Garland in Midnight Clear (normally $5.99) I paid $4.01

and

3.  Trim A Home 3 piece towel set (normally $12.99) I paid $6.49

So for only a couple of dollars out of pocket my entertainment center looks a little more entertaining....or should I say...festive!

Entertainment center before photo

Entertainment center after photos

  Now I will admit that when I first got there it was really overwhelming trying to decide what to get with my gift card.  There were just so many pretty things that I really liked.  My advice to avoid spending too much time looking in the store (especially if you have little ones in tow) is to use the Kmart Online Christmas Shop to find what you are wanting before heading out.  This should save you a little bit of time anyway.

  Another thing that came in really handy was that I also had $10 worth of Shop Your Way Rewards Points already on my card so I was able to pick up a couple of more things while I was there.  If you aren't familiar with the Shop Your Way Rewards Program you should really check it out.  I've earned lots of points the past few months just getting the stuff I need anyway.

  Also be sure to visit the Decorate it Forward page to send your friends a virtual ornament or purchase a St.Jude collectible bear ornament to donate $1 to St. Jude. 

  Thanks to Smiley360 and Kmart I am giving away a $15 Kmart gift card to one lucky reader.  Just enter using the Rafflecopter form below for your chance to win.

Disclaimer:  I received the gift card mentioned above from Smiley360 in exchange for my review of Kmart Decorate it Forward but all opinions remain my own. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Washing Wednesday - Kristine's Shower

Kristine's Shower

Do you like bath and body products that are unique and make you feel totally pampered?  If so then you need to check out the products made by Kristine's Shower.  Mommy in GA and mommy in PA each received one of the Sample Stackers for use in our review. 

Our samplers each contained the following:
1. Bathbomb
2. Body Sorbet (Lick Me All Over scent)
3. Aloe Vera Whip 
4. 100% Soap
5. Body Frosting (Peach Fuzz scent)
...Our apologies for not having all of the scents listed...
But here is what we thought of the products...

Mommy in GA says: We both got the same products and I remember opening mine and being excited about the smells alone!!!

The body frosting was my favorite!! To use this in the winter and have your soft skin feel softer or your rough skin feel smoother!!

The Body Sorbet was a nice way to follow the body scrub to reinforce your moisture and I really like the way it smelled!

The 100% soap was a nice change from your regular run of the mill soap and it smells way better too.

I have not tried the BathBomb because I do not usually take the time to soak in the tub (you know 4 kids+ a dog+ housework= not a whole lot of time to soak in the tub!)  However to the great reviews my aunt's little boy has given (lol) I definitely intend to soon.

Mommy in PA says:  As soon as I opened my package from Kristine's Shower I knew it was going to be heavenly.  I could smell the Bathbomb and it instantly became my favorite product in the whole sampler.  I just LOVE the scent!  My 7 year old son ended up stealing it from me though and liked it so much that he actually wanted to save some of the water...which he did in a bubble bath bottle.  He loved how it smelled and thought that it turning the water blue was really cool. 

The Body Sorbet worked really well at softening my skin but I didn't stick to using it as much as I normally would because I really did not like the scent.  Now if I would have had that in the same scent as the bathbomb I would have wore it all the time.

The Aloe Vera Whip was very cooling, you are actually supposed to use it if you get sun burnt but I used it as a regular lotion and I loved it!

100% Soap was my second favorite product.  I loved the scent and I love how it made my skin feel.  It didn't make my skin too dry or too oily it was just right. 

The Body Frosting didn't last long at all.  My daughter and I used it all up within a week.  The scent was wonderful and it left my skin super smooth. 

To find our more about Kristine's Shower products or order some of your very own you can check out their website.

Disclaimer:  We received the above products for free in exchange for our review but all opinions remain our own.

Purex Plus Oxi coupon Winners are............

So excited to announce the 3 winners of the Purex Plus Oxi coupons!!!

1.  Allison Downes

2. Katychick

3.Alycia

Yall are the lucky winners and will be contacted by email also!!!!!

You will have 48 hours from the time we send out the email to get in touch with your address!!!

We have a Winner....

The winner for our Melissa & Doug Giveaway is....

Cassandra M.

Cassandra has 48 hours to reply to the email we sent or forfeit the prize.

Storytime Sunday - "The Art of TV Guide"

"The Art of Tv Guide"

By Jerry Alten

  Mommy in PA says:  "The Art of TV Guide" by Jerry Alten was my most recent choice for review.  It is a 164 page hardcover book which includes illustrations and photographs from the covers of TV Guide and information about the artists and photographers who were responsible for showing the public what to expect within it's covers. 

  The author, Jerry Alten, was actually the art director for TV Guide from 1968 through 1997.  In the book he is kind enough to give us a real inside glimpse of all the things that are considered when choosing a good cover artist and or photographer and includes 50 artist/photographers to give a great example of all types of work that were chosen to grace the covers. 

  I originally chose this book for it's visual appeal but ended up very engrossed in the information about the artists and photographers.  At first I didn't really care for the organization of the book but then I decided not to read it like a usual book but to look through it for the illustrations and photos I liked the most and read about those.  There are sections about sports, sitcoms, war, tv families, news, cops, faith, etc.  A little bit of something for everyone.  It also really makes you realize how important illustration was and still is in getting the point across when photographs just can't pull it off. 

  I think this would make a great gift idea for someone who really loves their tv shows.  I also think it would be great for an art lover.

  To purchase your own copy of "The Art of TV Guide" you can go here. 

Disclaimer:  I received the above book for free in exchange for my honest review from Dorrance Publishing Co, Inc.  All opinions remain my own.

Finally, our Winners....

  So while we were dealing with all the health issues and such we had a few drawings that were ending...

Here are the lucky winners...

Eco Lips

Tamar S.

Tanner's Tasty Paste

Tara T-R.

Softlips (redraw of one winner)

Barb P.

Congrats!  You all have 48 hours to reply to the email we sent you or forfeit your prize. 

Sorry for the lack of posts...

We just wanted to take a minute to apologize for the lack of posts recently.  Due to some health issues in both GA and PA we've gotten a little behind but wanted to let you all know that we should be back and posting again tomorrow.  Be sure to come back then to see a list of the winners to our drawings that we ran awhile back, maybe it will be you!!!

We Have Winners...

The winners of our Softlips Giveaway are...

Bridget

and

Sydnee D.

Congrats! 

 Winners have 48 hours to reply to the email we sent or forfeit their prize

Melissa & Doug Terrific Twenty List and Giveaway!!!!

 





 From now until the 26th head over to

Melissa & Doug's Facebook page for your chance to win one of 20 prizes each day.  Every day throughout the promotion they will be awarding at least one prize.  You only have to enter one time during the promotion to be eligible to win.  To see the full lineup of prizes to be given away just head over to the Perfect 20 Holiday List found here.

Melissa & Doug is also giving away a prize to one of our readers.  Just enter via the Rafflecopter form below for your chance to win. 

Disclaimer:   We will be receiving one prize of our choice for posting the information about this promotion.  . 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mattel Shop Toy-A-Day Giveaway!

Today you have a chance to win a Hot Wheels Wall Tracks Power Tower Track Set!

Click here for your chance to win!

Storytime Sunday - Tough Plants in a Fragile Land

"Tough Plants in a Fragile Land"

Saving Our Planet, One Garden at a Time

By:  Fritzie Von Jessen

  

"Tough Plants in a Fragile Land" is the story of how Fritzie Von Jessen is doing her part to help out our fragile planet.  Fritzie, who is originally from Denmark, had moved to New York City as a young girl, then to Long Island with her husband (this is where she really began her gardening skills), and finally to California's Colorado Desert after her kids were grown and her and her husband had separated. 

Fritzie does a great job explaining how using native plants not only gives you a unique look compared to your neighbors lawns but also is beneficial to the environment.  She also explains how using native vegetation is easier to care for than trying to grow things that are not used to the environment.  You also don't have to use all those chemicals when you are growing native plants so that is good for the environment and yourself. 

"Tough Plants in a Fragile Land" is full of gorgeous photos that really draw you into what it is like to live in the desert.  Let me tell you, it is so much prettier than I ever realized.  The vast amount of plants and animals that live there was amazing. 

This book is a great combination of the author's life, history of the Colorado Desert, beautiful pictures, and a great reference section about desert plants.  Even though I don't live in a desert (haven't even visited one) this book still gave me a lot of great ideas on how to incorporate native plants into my own yard.  I will just have to get past the fact that everyone else will probably still just call them weeds.  This is one of those books that you don't just read and move on, I will be coming back to this again and again. 

This book would make a great gift for the gardener in your life.

To purchase your own copy of "Tough Plants in a Fragile Land: Saving our Planet, One Garden at a Time" you can go here. 

Disclaimer:  I received the above book for free from Dorrance Publishing Co, Inc. in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions remain my own. 

Malibu Grand Prix (ATTENTION ATLANTA BLOGGERS!!!)

For all of you Atlanta Bloggers, US Family Guide has teamed up with Malibu Grand Prix!!!! For you and your immediate family, you can go to Malibu Grand Prix to experience the BIRTHDAY BASH!!  The event will take place on November 10th form 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.  You and your immediate family will get a super pass which includes all day access to the Go-karts, mini gulf, rock wall, laser tag and so much more (a 39.95 value!!)

To see if your blog qualifies click here by November 7th and I hope to see yall there!!!!

disclaimer: I received an invitation to the birthday bash from US Family Guide in exchange for my advertising this event!

Free 2 Week Subscription to "Reading Eggs"!

 Reading Eggs is a reading curriculum created by teachers, writers, animators, and web developers.  The program is suitable for children ages 3-12.  To get your free 2 week trial (No CC required) go here.

Disclaimer:  We will receive a free trial to Reading Eggs in exchange for this post from US Family Guide.

Mattel Shop Toy-A-Day Giveaway!

Today you have a chance to win a Hot Wheels Mega Loop Mayhem Track Set...

Click here for your chance to win!

Mattel Shop Toy-A-Day Giveaway!

Today you have a chance to win a Cruise & Groove Ballapalooza & Stand-Up Ballcano...

Click here for your chance to win!