CURRENT GIVEAWAYS!

More Coming Soon!

Monday, May 20, 2013

Invisalign Straight Talk Event #INVStraightTalk #AD



Having braces as a teen or tween is almost like a rite of passage. When I was in Jr. High there were more kids that had braces than those that didn't. I was so envious of those kids that didn't need braces. They were free to eat whatever their hearts desired!

I remember some of the food items that were off limits...gum, caramels and taffy. Of course, those were some of my favorite things. I remember being at a baseball game with my family and enjoying a soft pretzel. Sounds innocent enough, right? Well I was chewing a big piece of that pretzel in the back of my mouth. And lo and behold, that piece of soft pretzel pushed down on my bottom wire and popped it right out. The next thing I new, that sharp wire had pierced the inside of my cheek. What a nightmare! My mom had to find her nail clippers and clip the wire. First thing Monday morning, we were at the Orthodontist getting my wire replaced.

This is only one of the reasons that I am so jealous of those that have the chance to use Invisalign to straighten their teeth, instead of those nasty and annoying metal braces. Invisalign makes it so much easier to take care of teeth. The aligners can be removed while eating, brushing and flossing. Flossing with braces should have been an Olympic sport!

Invisalign is roughly about the same cost as traditional braces, the system usually requires fewer office visits and shorter appointments. The Invisalign website can help you with determining the cost of braces. They are also much safer for teens that are playing sports. I played a lot of sports when I had my braces with no serious sports related accidents. But, I can't imagine how painful it could be. Especially with my soft pretzel incident as a warning.




If you have teens that need braces, you should look into the Invisalign website. The one thing I addressed with the orthodontist was getting a teen to remember to put in their aligners for the correct amount of time every day. Dr. Shipley mentioned a little blue dot that is located on the aligner. When it is worn correctly the blue dot will fade and this will help keep teens accountable. I love this idea. I would hate to spend the money on Invisalign and then have my teen fail to follow the doctors guidelines.


Here is a great side by side comparison of how braces look compared to Invisalign. With Invisalign, you can't even tell that there is anything on the teeth! I've had a friend with Invisalign and I didn't know she was wearing aligners until she removed them to eat.

If you would like to learn more about Invisalign, be sure to connect with them on Twitter and Facebook. This would be a great way to connect with those that have had Invisalign and ask them about their experience.

Not all dentist and orthodontists are certified Invisalign providers. If you would like to locate one near you, visit the Invisalign Doctor Locator. You can also take the Invisalign Smile Assessment to find out if Invisalign is right for you or your child.

Invisalign can effectively correct a broad range of complex cases such as: crossbite, overbite and underbite. Visit the Invisalign website to learn about all of the dental issues Invisalign can treat.

My oldest is a few years away from this step. But, when the time comes I will definitely consider Invisalign. Being a teen is hard enough without all that metal in your mouth!

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Harlem Globetrotters Summer Basketball Clinics Coming To Phoenix!




Now everything awesome - kids, basketball, teamwork, and having fun – comes together at destination awesome: Harlem Globetrotter Summer Skills Clinics, the ONLY clinics coached by stars of The Harlem Globetrotters!

Everyone loves The Globetrotters, the stars who always put smiles on kids’ faces. At Globetrotter Summer Skills Clinics, our stars coach kids in limited size groups and bring laughs, encouragement and high fives for everyone! Globetrotters direct, motivate, inspire AND entertain, keeping it inclusive and fun for ALL boys and girls, aged 6-12, of ALL skill and experience levels. Each session is $59 and includes a free ticket voucher to see the Globetrotters live in 2014! But you can save $10 with promo code USFAMILY! Code is valid through 5/31.



Each child will receive:
  • A free ticket voucher (valued up to $40) to see the Globetrotters during their 2014 World Tour
  • Autographs and photos with the stars!
  • Official Globetrotter certificate of completion with a personalized Globetrotter nickname
Clinic Locations: Globetrotter Clinics (These are just the clinics - the games for your tickets are in 200 cities)
Save $10 on registration! Enter the Coupon Code USFAMILY on the cart page after completing your registration HERE!

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

ARM & HAMMER™ Tooth Tunes™ One Direction Toothbrush & Sweepstakes!



My youngest son loves music! But, like any five year old, he hates to brush his teeth. When this new toothbrush from Arm & Hammer came out I thought it was the perfect concept!

From the makers of the #1 kids battery toothbrushes, ARM & HAMMER™ Tooth Tunes™ features one of a kind Music in Your Mouth™ technology. This proprietary technology streams sound vibrations from the bristles of the toothbrush through the teeth, allowing kids to hear the music while they brush.

The One Direction song, "One Thing" plays for two minutes. He never brushes that long so it's great to have the timer on the toothbrush. I've even caught him pressing the button to brush for an additional two minutes.

I only wish that the song played a little bit louder. The electric noise from the toothbrush drowned out the music quite a bit. Other than that, my son is having a blast with his new toothbrush.

ARM & HAMMER is also having a Rock with One Direction sweepstakes!
  • The grand prize is four tickets to a One Direction concert in August 2013.
  • 100 First Prize Winners will receive One Direction prize packs, that include One Direction merchandise.
To enter, follow these easy steps:
  • Visit ToothTunes.com, complete the registration form and click submit to be entered for your chance to win. (enter up to once per week through 6/30/13)
  • Create a video of yourself or your kids brushing and rocking out with a One Direction ARM & HAMMER™ Tooth Tunes™ for your chance to be featured on ToothTunes.com! (a video is optional is not a required form of entry)
  • Winners will be chosen by July 2013
  • Brush with Tooth Tunes™, Rock with One Direction Sweepstakes Rules:
    o No purchase necessary
    o The sweepstakes is open only to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, who are 13 years of age or older
    o For official rules, visit ToothTunes.com

Disclaimer: I am part of the Mom It Forward blogger network. Mom It Forward and ARM & HAMMER™ Tooth Tunes™ partnered in support of this campaign. ARM & HAMMER™ Tooth Tunes™ compensated me for participation in this campaign. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Monday, May 13, 2013

Dunkin' Donuts: FREE Hot or Iced Coffee {Phx Area Only}!



Dunkin Donuts is offering a FREE medium hot or iced coffee, at participating stores in the Phoenix area. Just go HERE and fill out the form to receive your freebie!

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Walgreens: FREE Mother's Day Brag Book!



Happy Mother's Day! How about a FREE brag book from Walgreens? Create a 4.5x6 Brag Book at Walgreens Photo and receive it FREE through May 15th, using the code BRAGABOUTIT



Thursday, May 9, 2013

Have You Ever Felt Left Out? Please Don't Let Others Feel That Way!

lone flower photo: Lone Flower flower2220.jpg

I'm not usually one for writing personal posts, but today is different!

This morning my youngest son had Muffins for Moms at his preschool. Now, since I've gone back to work full time my parents or my husband usually take care of preschool drop off and pick up. That being said, I have never met many of the other mothers whose children are in my son's class.

I have however, met three or four of the mothers that came to my son's birthday party a few months ago. This party was mostly comprised of close friends and family. So, these preschool mothers did not know any of the other party goers. I made it a point to introduce myself to every preschool mom and have a pretty lengthy conversation with each of them. I know some of my friends and family made the same effort.

The last thing I wanted to do was make anyone feel unwelcome, lonely or left out!

Well, today at my son's preschool I felt all three of those emotions. Every mother that I said hello to, either completely ignored me and walked away or gave me a slight smile and walked away. Even those mothers that I had shared a conversation with at my son's party, just a few months back.

Picture my son and I sitting at a kid sized table with six chairs. Two of those chairs were obviously occupied by my son and me so that left four empty chairs. As a mother approaches with her daughter I was so excited that she was going to sit with us. I thought, "Yay, someone to talk to!" I was in shock when she walked up and snagged two of the chairs to go sit at a table that was already full. This happened again until our table was vacant except for my son and I.

After my son ate his muffin, he got up to play. I stuck around for about 15 more minutes pondering whether I should go crash another table. But, by that time I felt so defeated I just did not have the strength. I slowly got up, walked over to my son and told him goodbye.

As I stood outside of the classroom, I looked through the window watching the remaining mothers laugh and talk with each other. Now, many of these women probably see each other every time they drop off and pick up their child. Of course they would build relationships over the school year. I'm not putting them down for that. I just wish that even just one of them would have made an effort.

The moral of my post today...please don't ever let anyone feel unwelcome, lonely or left out! I truly hope that I have never made anyone feel this way and I never want to in the future.


Friday, May 3, 2013

Del Taco: Buck & Under & New Tastes Menu ~ Try It FREE ~ Plus a Giveaway!


Cinco de Mayo is only once a year but you can enjoy some yummy Mexican favorites year round at Del Taco.

Del Taco has a new Buck & Under Menu plus a New Tastes Menu. An added bonus...May 8th marks the beginning of their FREE Food Wednesdays! Del Taco will offer an item from the Buck & Under menu free with any purchase from 3-9pm (Price and participation may vary).

This offer will be available on the on the following dates:
  • May 8th
  • May 15th
  • May 22nd
  • May 29th
The Buck & Under Menu will include a variety of tacos, burritos and drinks...11 items for 50¢, 75¢ and $1! This includes a Mini Cheddar, Mini Bacon Quesadilla and a Crunchy Chipotle Beef Taco – all new products. Other menu items include a Value Bean & Cheese Burrito, Jacked Up Value Bean, Rice & Cheese Burrito, Grilled Chicken Taco, ½-Pound Bean & Cheese Burrito, Double Beef Classic Taco, Strawberry Lemonade with real strawberry slices and Medium Size Brewed Iced Tea.

The New Tastes menu includes a Bacon Ranch Grilled Chicken Taco, a Chili Cheese Fry Burrito and a Fiery 6 Layer Burrito.

At Del Taco, all menu items are prepared to order with fresh ingredients. My favorite part is that the beans are slow cooked from scratch and they are lard-free!

GIVEAWAY:

One lucky winner will receive a $20 Del Taco gift card!

To enter, just leave a comment and let me know which Del Taco item you would like to try during the Free Food Wednesday promotion! Be sure to leave your email address.

Disclosure: This giveaway has been sponsored by Del Taco. I have not been paid for this post.

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Ed Nation Book Drive With Papa Murphy's!



Papa Murphy's is teaming up with The Arizona Republic and 12 News to help donate books! You can help by dropping off gently used books at any Papa Murphy's location in the Phoenix area. All books will be sent to more than 60 pediatric clinics around the valley.

Donations will be accepted through May 10th and you can visit ednation.azcentral.com for more information.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

New eCoupon For Fry's = $5 Off $75!



Fry's has just released a new exclusive Facebook eCoupon!
The coupon expires 5/7/13 so jurry and get some shopping done!

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

A Blissdom Recap With Some Great Moments!


I've been blogging for over three years. I can hardly believe it! Over those three years I have attended two different blogging conferences, BlogHer and Blissdom. They both have different aspects to them that I liked but Blissdom is still my favorite. This year was my second time attending Blissdom and it was held at the Gaylord Texan near Dallas. Last year it was held at the Gaylord in Nashville. Both venues were amazing!



This year I had some great roomies... Karen from Desert Chica Ramblings, Kristi from Live and Love Outloud and Becca from Our Crazy Boys. Here is a cute picture of the four of us looking stylish in our Down East Basics attire!

Me, Becca, Karen and Kristi (aren't we cute?!)
When you are a blogger, you always have your smart phone close at hand. Here is a great picture of how we pretty much started our days, with our iPhones and coffee. Karen had to be different and drink Diet soda. I love our iPhone cases from UnCommon. Becca designed them with words that relate to blogging and we made them our own by choosing different color combinations.


One of our speakers for the second year in a row was Jon Acuff. He works with a guy that some people may have heard of, Dave Ramsey. Now Jon is a star in his own right! Every time I hear him speak, I laugh so hard but I also receive some great advice. One thing that Jon mentioned about blogging really stuck with me, "1,000 negative comments + 1 positive comments still equals 1,000 negative comments. As a blogger, I take negative comments very personally. I don't get very many, but they still sting.

Me with Jon Acuff
Jon has a great book called Quitter and a new one that will be coming out in a few weeks called Start. He'll be on a book tour and heading to Phoenix!

This year, I feel like I learned quite a bit about photography. Now, I am by no means a professional but I can now use my DSLR in manual! I'm hoping to add better pictures to my posts and create beautiful memories of my family with my new found skills. Here is one of my favorite shots that I took at the Gaylord Texan while on a photo walk.




This was a pretty lucky trip for us as a group! We all won a necklace from Shot at Life and Karen & I both won a Bissell carpet cleaner. I've already put  mine to good use!

Disclosure: This year I had some great sponsors for my trip. Without them, I would not have been able to attend. Invitation Consultants, Down East Basics and Education Abroad Today.

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Fry's: New Digital Coupons - $4/$40 and more!


Fry's has reached 100,000 fans on Facebook so they are offering some great eCoupons that can be loaded to your VIP card!


I'm not sure how long these will stick around, so hurry and load them!

Thursday, April 4, 2013

New Fiber One Bars at Publix® #Sponsored


My boys love granola bars! I try and sneak Fiber One granola bars into the mix to help them get some extra fiber. With the new Fiber One flavors that are available, my boys have no clue that I'm swapping them out for their regular bars.

I also love that Fiber One is offering bars with protein! With two very active boys, they need some extra protein!

All of these new flavors are available at Publix!

  • Oats & Chocolate – 35% of your daily fiber with chocolate chunks, chocolate flavored drizzle & yes some oats
  • Chewy Trail Mix – 35% of your daily fiber with chocolate chunks, raisins, peanuts & cranberries  
  • Caramel Nut Protein – 7g of protein plus 20% of your days’ fiber with caramel and peanuts wrapped in chocolate flavored coating
  • Coconut Almond Protein – 7g of protein plus 20% of your days’ fiber with coconut and almonds wrapped in a chocolate flavored coating
Disclosure: The information, products and gift pack were provided by General Mills and Publix® through MyBlogSpark.

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Panda Express: FREE Samurai Surf & Turf (4/17/13)!


Yay for FREE food! On Wednesday, April 17th you can score a free single serving of Samurai Surf & Turf from Panda Express.
The coupon can be printed or shown on your smart phone.

Monday, April 1, 2013

LongHorn Steakhouse: Give a Book Get a FREE Steahouse Kid's Meal (4/2/13)!




LongHorn Steakhouse has an awesome promotion tomorrow, 4/2/13! Here are the details on helping your local Boys & Girls Clubs in exchange for a FREE Steakhouse Kid's Meal.

·         LongHorn Steakhouse is inviting families to participate in the restaurant’s Give a Book, Get a Free Steakhouse Kid’s Meal offer to celebrate International Children’s Book Day on Tuesday, April 2, 2013.  

·         To participate, all families have to do is donate a children’s book, suitable for ages 5-12, on April 2 at any local LongHorn.  In return, participating guests will receive one free kid’s meal from LongHorn’s kid’s menu with the purchase of one adult entrée.

·         Books collected will be donated to local Boys & Girls Clubs across the country to add to their libraries for the kids they serve.  The program is part of LongHorn’s ongoing efforts to give back to the communities they serve.

Sunday, March 31, 2013

Walgreens: FREE 8x10 Photo Collage (3/31)


Walgreens is having 7 days of great photo deals, this week! The first deal is for a FREE 8x10 photo collage, today only 3/31/13.

Head over to the Walgreens Photo page and enter coupon code MULTIPICFREE at checkout. This is a great deal for all of those Easter photos that you will be taking today!

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Disney On Ice Treasure Trove Coming To Phoenix April 11-14!




Photo courtesy of Feld Entertainment
 Audiences will discover endless riches when an extraordinary lineup of stories from the Disney Vault come to life for the ultimate Disney animation celebration in Phoenix with the new production,     Disney On Ice presents Treasure TroveDisney On Ice sets the gold standard with its newest skating spectacular spanning tales from the first full-length animated film to the 50th Disney film, coming to the US Airways Center from April 11 – 14, 2013.  Tickets are now on sale and available to purchase through the US Airways Center Box Office, online at Ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at 800-745-3000.


Hit the ice with Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald and Goofy as they embark on a fun-filled treasure hunt for some of the most popular Disney films ever.  Families can expect to get tangled up in the Walt Disney Studio’s 50th animated feature with Tangled stars Rapunzel and Flynn, and enter the worlds of other favorite Disney princesses – Tiana, Cinderella, Jasmine, Ariel, Sleeping Beauty, Belle, Mulan, and of course, the one who started it all, Snow White. Youngsters of all ages will enjoy setting sail with Peter Pan, the always sassy Tinker Bell, and the cantankerous Captain Hook & his pirate pals on an adventure beyond Never Land and trekking the wilds of Africa with Simba, Nala, Pumbaa and Timon as they discover the true meaning of the ‘Circle of Life.’ And no one wants to be late to a very important date with Alice & the Mad Hatter as they march with the Queen of Hearts’ Army of Cards.  Highlighting eight Disney movies and more than 50 Disney characters featured, Feld Entertainment’s Disney On Ice presents Treasure Trove has a magical story for every generation to relive!

WHEN: April 11 – 14, 2013

Thursday, April 11 7:00 PM
Friday, April 12 10:30 AM & 7:00 PM
Saturday, April 13 11:30 AM, 3:30 PM & 7:00 PM
Sunday, April 14 1:00 PM + Spanish Language Performance at 4:30 PM


WHERE: US Airways Center – 201 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix, AZ 85004

New Discount Code:
$5 off with coupon code PUMBA
  • Good on all shows
  • Not valid on front row or VIP seating
  • No double discounts
The code can be used at Ticketmaster.com or at the US Airways Center Box Office.


PRICES: Ticket prices range from $18, $24, $40 (VIP) and $58 (Front Row)
Opening Night seats available for only 50% off (discount does not apply to premium seating)
**All seats reserved; service charges and handling fees may apply

 

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Giveaway: Carmex Healing Cream, Lotion and Hoodie!


I've used Carmex lip balm for years! Now, I can use their hydrating lotion and healing cream on my skin!

In Arizona the weather is always so dry! Everyone always thinks of dry skin and using a ton of lotion in the winter. But, here in Arizona, we have a dry heat. That means really dry skin, even in the summer months.



I received a tube of Carmex healing cream and lotion to try out. And, I'm in love. We've already broken a heat record in Phoenix...93! No, that is not a typo, last week we reached 93 degrees and it was still considered to be winter.

This week has been much milder but I've been using the healing cream like crazy. It is really light on my skin and the scent reminds of Cabbage Patch dolls. It has a fresh clean scent that is so amazing.

My oldest son has been using the lotion. He is a typical boy with rough elbows and hands. He thinks he is too tough for lotion but he doesn't seem to mind the Carmex lotion. He was happy that it came in a bright yellow tube. I guess that color was not to girly for him!

GIVEAWAY:

Carmex is going to send one lucky reader their very own Carmex prize pack. The prize pack includes a full size tube of Carmex lotion, healing cream and a Carmex hoodie!

Disclosure: I was given free product for review. I was not compensated financially for this post. All opinions are 100% mine.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Famous Footwear: 15% off Coupon!


For all of you shoe lovers out there, hurry and print this new coupon for 15% off at Famous Footwear! This will be perfect for all of those new Easter outfits, of course you will need some new shoes, as well.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Taste Guru: Gluten Free Box of the Month Club!


This looks like a fun box of the month club for all those who eat gluten-free, Taste Guru. New gluten -free treats are delivered to your door with free shipping! And, if you purchase a 3 month subscription, the 4th month is free.

Friday, March 8, 2013

Fresh and Easy: FREE 6 Pack Bagels 3/10-3/11!



Do you live near a Fresh & Easy? The closest location to me is about 20 minutes away. But, I must say I love this store!

Fresh & Easy is giving away FREE six packs of freshly baked plain or everything bagels on Sunday March 10th and Monday March 11th. You can print the FREE bagel coupon or scan it from your phone.

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Starbucks: FREE Hazelnut Macchiato!



Starbucks has a new drink...Hazelnut Macchiato. Let me tell you, I've had this drink and it is amazing! I order mine decaf with soy.

Go to the Starbucks website and a box will pop up with the picture from above. Enter your email address and they will email an eGift to you so you can try the new beverage for FREE!

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails