Busy Mom Reviews

We are lucky enough to live in a state with some of the best parks in the country, and we enjoy them often.

For more than 40 years, Coca-Cola has supported America’s parks through partnerships with individual parks and national park organizations, and they have donated more than $14 million for restoration and renovation of our country’s parks.

Coca-Cola's America Is Your Park campaign urges families to get out, discover fun ways to get active in the park while helping their favorite park win big.

Now through through September 6th, 2011, go to LivePositively.com and vote for your favorite park. The three parks that receive the most votes will be awarded recreation grants totaling $175, 000. These grants will help restore, rebuild or enhance recreation areas in parks where people can play and be active.

You can cast your vote in several ways: Click on their favorite park and vote, upload photos of themselves in their favorite park or “check in” from the park using Facebook Places. And, starting August 10, you can even upload video of yourself in your favorite park.

So, go on, get out there and enjoy America's Parks, and help your favorite one win!

No payment or compensation was received for this post. I did, however work on an earlier project with Coca-Cola and got to learn more about Live Positively, I just thought this was good information to share.

Here I go, breaking all the rules again.

I'm still testing stuff.

Hey, this is better than "Electric Avenue", no?

Arby’s has recently introduced it's new Angus Cool Deli Sandwich & Wrap.

So, what is it? (from Arby's)

The Angus Cool Deli Sandwich is oven-roasted, thinly sliced USDA Choice Top Round Angus beef served cool and topped with Swiss cheese, banana peppers, pickles, crisp lettuce, fresh tomato and onion, tangy sub vinaigrette and mayonnaise served on a toasted Italian-style roll. The Angus Cool Deli Sandwich is also available on a whole grain wrap.

Arby's gave me the chance to try one, and since today was like walking on the surface of the sun around these parts, anything that had the word "cool" in it sounded like a good idea.

It's a deli-style sandwich (not heated), and I was actually expecting it to be a re-purposing of Arby's roast beef (which I like, but it's not exactly gourmet fare, let's face it) and a bun, but I was pleasantly surprised.

The first thing I noticed was the bread (the "Italian style roll"), it was really good! There was a lot of meat on it, and it was definitely different a higher quality and tasty, too.

The lettuce, tomato and onion were fresh and I liked the dressing. (Note: there were a lot of banana peppers on it. I like them, but if you're not a fan, you might want to ask them to go easy on them.)

Be sure to check it out the next time you're there!

Follow Arby's on Facebook and Arbys on Twitter

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The giveaway

Would you like to try an Arby's Cool Deli sandwich for yourself?

The prize: $20 Arby's gift card

1. (Required): Tell us (comment below) your favorite thing to get at Arby's or something on the menu you'd like to try.

2. For an extra entry: "like' Busy Mom Blog on Facebook . Be sure to leave a separate comment telling me you've done so.

3. For even another entry, tweet about this contest (I'm @busymom and they're @arbys), and be sure to leave a separate comment with a link to your tweet.

4. One (1) winner will be picked randomly via Random.org from the comments.

5. Contest is open to all U.S. residents 18 years or older

6. Winner has 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise another winner will be drawn.

7. Hurry! Ends July 18, 2011 at 10 pm CST

Also, please come by my blog, Busymom.net and say "hi" if you're so inspired!

Disclosure: no payment or compensation other than the product sample I got to try as described above was received for this post. I'm not up to anything, I liked the sandwich, and I thought you might, too.

When I was in high school, driving was a big deal.

I drove before all my friends did since I had a hardship license, and I went everywhere.

Did you know that Allstate has a free to join, pay as you go roadside assistance plan? It's called Good Hands Roadside Assistance, it's 24/7, and it's open to everyone, you don't have to be an Allstate member to use it, and I know I could have (and probably should have) used something like that.

I remember the car breaking down more than once (even on the Interstate when I was about 17), and having to catch rides with strangers to get help.

As the mother of a teen driver (soon to be 2 drivers), I obviously don't want my kids to do that sort of thing. As a matter of fact, my daughter's car broke down just the other day. Luckily, it was at the bank, and I was nearby.

But, with 4 drivers in the family, roadside assistance fees can add up. So, when I heard about Allstate's Good Hands Roadside Assistance, a pay as you go program, I knew that might be for us.

Really, you can use it no matter what insurance you have, and you only pay when you use it!

Allstate Good Hands Roadside Assistance Features:

* Open to anyone in the U.S. whether you have coverage through Allstate or not
* You only pay when you use it, there are no monthly fees
* Anyone can call at any time to use this service when needed by dialing a 1-800 # and asking for roadside assistance
* You can register for up to 5 users on your account, making this a great service for families with teen drivers

Services include: towing, tire change, lockouts, jump-starts, refueling, (in most cases it costs about $75 per tow and $50 per other service.)

Pre-registering for Good Hands Roadside Assistance provides faster service if and when you need help on the road, and you’ll also receive a welcome kit in the mail containing a wallet card, a key fob and a window cling with the phone number for roadside help.

So, check it out, and tell your friends.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post from Allstate, but I think it's a great idea.

I really am, but somehow things are all screwed up!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Triad Retail Media for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Summer's here, and somehow, I never quite lost the poundage I swore I'd lose at the beginning of the year, nor have I grown 13 inches to take care of it.

So, with BlogHer coming up, and the fact I'd like to be healthier in general, I'd like to do something. I'm not one for fad diets, but when I do start to lose weight, seeing quick (who has time to slim slowly?) results to "kick things off" helps me get motivated.

While the best way to lose weight will always be to exercise more and eat less, the Slim-Fast 3-2-1 Plan can be a part of a your weight loss plan, and it's as simple as 3-2-1:

3: snacks: Pick 3 nourishing snacks a day – Slim·Fast 100-calorie snack bars, nuts, fruits and/or veggies.

2: shakes/meal bars: Choose two Slim·Fast shakes or meal bars.

1: balanced meal: Enjoy one 500-calorie balanced meal per day.

When I'm watching what I eat, I can be bad about not getting enough protein, and I end up hungry. Slim-Fast products have helped me with that in the past. 

So, if you're like me, and want to lose some weight to help with your confidence in wearing summer fashions, or just to feel better, do check out the Slim-Fast! 3-2-1 Plan to help you get your plans underway.

We all like to make sure our families enjoy the meals we serve, and often, we serve them delicious selections simply because we know they're family favorites.

But, "often" doesn't necessarily mean "always", now does it?

Sometimes, there's ulterior method to the meal serving madness:

Now, would I serve a meal for my own secondary gain?

Well, it depends on what you mean by "meal".

I'll never tell, but let's just say that my spontaneous offers to take the kids to their favorite drive-in may or may not correspond with us being out of iced tea or Diet Coke at home.

If you think about it, though. We all win!

I get points for surprising them, they get a treat!

I mean really, can I help it if a side effect of my generosity is a sweet tea or a fountain Diet Coke?

I think not.

No matter why you serve your family Hillshire Farm (they had me at "Lit'l Smokies, and you can be sure that I mean it since I have a very low tolerance for the word "little" spelled alternative ways) has a great lineup of lunch meats, smoked sausage and cocktail links with all kinds of recipes to give you some great meal ideas to help you plan a meal "just for them."

Don't forget to check out Hillshire Farm on Facebook!

This is a sponsored campaign, but, be assured that I do love meat as much as I say I do.

Summer's here, and sometimes, there's nothing like a cold Coke to beat the heat.

Coca-Cola turns 125 years old this year, and to help celebrate they want you to enjoy the Treasures of Summer with My Coke Rewards. You can explore a Summer Treasure Map that leads to special summer edition Coke rewards from My Coke Rewards. Be sure to check out the 125 Days of Summer Prizes Instant Win Game, too.

The beach is a favorite summer destination for many (we just got back), and you can enjoy the treasures of summer fun at the beach with this Coca-Cola Beach Kit!

The giveaway

The prize: A Coca-Cola Beach Kit (value $50)

ONE winner will receive a Beach Kit is valued at $50 that includes:

* 24 Can Cooler Bag
* Coca-Cola Visor
* RPET Can Cooler
* 24” Beach Ball
* Flyer
* 32 oz. Sports Bottle

1. (Required): Tell us (leave a comment below) your favorite Coke product that you'd like to have at the beach with you.

2. For an extra entry: "like' Busy Mom Blog on Facebook Be sure to leave a separate comment telling me you've done so.

3. For even another entry, Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter (I'm @busymom):

Enter to win a @Cocacola Beach Kit from @busymom #CokeSummer

Be sure to leave a separate comment telling me you've done so.

4. One (1) winner will be picked randomly via Random.org from the comments.

5. Contest is open to all U.S. and Canada residents 18 years or older

6. Winner has 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise another winner will be drawn.

7. Hurry! Ends July 25th at 10 pm CST

Also, please come by my blog, Busymom.net and say "hi" if you're so inspired!

Disclosure: I received a beach kit as described above. The prize was provided by The Coca-Cola Company but The Coca-Cola Company is not a sponsor, administrator, or involved in any other way with this giveaway. All opinions expressed in the post are my own and not those of The Coca-Cola Company.

Moby is private location sharing service that enable you to share your location with the people you choose and for the length of time you want.

Moby is a free iPhone app (Android coming soon) and you can see your friends or family's location on a map after they share it. You can share your own location with other users you choose and you can request a check-in from someone if you need to know where they are. You can even send out an emergency request for help, letting people know your location.

You can also share your location to your friends and family who are not using the Moby app via SMS and Email. They will receive a secure link on their smartphone or computer which will take them to a private map showing your 10 most recent locations. The map will automatically update every 2 minutes until you stop sharing location.

Moby can be used for families to keep in touch. I have a teenager who's a fairly new driver, and it can be a challenge to get her to let me know (as she is supposed to do) when she changes location. And, let's face it, sometimes you want confirmation that a teenagers is where she says she is.

We both have iPhones, so we tried Moby. It's not hard to install or use, but you might want to practice a little before you give it a go out on the town.

It works quite nicely, and it's been handy to know she's really where she says she is, and that she can quickly and discretely let me know. She's even checked in without me requesting it on occasion!

The only downside is that it can drain the phone battery, but I understand Moby is working on that and an update is due in August, 2011.

Learn more about Moby:

Follow @MyMoby on Twitter and be sure to like Moby on Facebook!

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

July is National Hot Dog Month, and SONIC Drive-In has been celebrating in a big way with some great new all-beef hot dogs:

The All-American Dog has ketchup, mustard, relish, and onions, the Chili Cheese Coney has chili and shredded cheddar cheese; the New York Dog features spicy mustard, grilled onions, and sauerkraut; and the Chicago Dog is topped with a pickle, relish, tomatoes, hot peppers, onions, celery salt, and mustard, and it has poppy seeds on the bun.

Recently, we met some friends on a warm evening to try out the SONIC hot dogs:

They were really good! Crowd favorites were the All-American, and the New York Dog (as well as one vote for "plain")

Visit a SONIC Drive-In and try them out for yourself!

SONIC provided gift cards and logo items for the party, and we had a fabulous time!

I'm getting ready to go to BlogHer next week, and am in a frenzy of preparation that includes trying to get some meals prepared for may family to have before I leave. While they are perfectly capable of preparing something to eat, I feel a little less guilty for being gone if I leave something behind for them.

Normally, though I try, I may or may not get that far on the list. However, this time my mother-in-law is coming to stay while I'm gone, so I will make it to the "cook meals" part of the list.

And? Those meals will probably be a little fancier than usual. Hopefully, they will mitigate her judgment of me being gone and leaving the family behind.

You may say "manipulative", but I say it's a "win-win" situation, just like Hillshire Farm's “So Good. They’ll Think It’s For Them” campaign. They get a nice meal, my mother-in -law doesn't have to cook, and I get a "pass" from her for being gone.

Wait, that's "win-win-win", then, isn't it?

Tell us: have you ever done something with a secret motivation, but it results in a "win-win" for everyone?

Speaking of "win-win":

Beginning August 1, 2011, you can get a $.55 off coupon for any Hillshire Farm product when you watch the featured video on the Hillshire Farm Facebook page and if you post the offer to your Facebook newsfeed or enter three friend's email addresses, you can upgrade to a larger coupon for $1 off.

So, get ready, get that coupon and make something to wow your mother-in-law.

If that's not necessary, then make something to wow me. I'll be there at 5.

This is a sponsored campaign from Hillshire Farm and One2One Media.