tag:WWW.busymom.net,2013:/reviews/6 2013-03-26T01:55:04Z Product reviews, contests and more from Busy Mom. Mom blogger extraordinaire. Am too. Movable Type 3.33 tag:WWW.busymom.net,2013:/reviews//6.4791 2013-03-26T00:39:56Z 2013-03-26T01:55:04Z

We are famous late adopters of a lot things, after all, if what you have works, then why do you need a new one? Slowly, over the years, I've learned that there can be improvement even in everyday items...

Busy Mom Blog We are famous late adopters of a lot things, after all, if what you have works, then why do you need a new one? Slowly, over the years, I've learned that there can be improvement even in everyday items you may take for granted such as pillows. Growing up, I used the same feather pillows for years, it's just what you did, and I'm not even sure I would have recognized a worn out pillow. As I got older, allergies dictated a pillow switch and I have to say I've bought mostly cheap cotton/polyester models. I'm a side sleeper, so if they didn't provide enough support, I'd just fold them and flip them until I got comfortable and eventually fall asleep. Why spend all that money when a cheap one works just as well? A few back problems and a good bit of insomnia later, I started to wonder if maybe a quality pillow might be a good idea after all. I looked around, but never really did anything about it because I couldn't figure out the right one to get. So, when the good folks at Ashley Sleep offered me a dual sided memory foam pillow, I jumped at the chance to try it out. I don't know if the picture does it justice or not, but the first thing I noticed was how pretty the pillow is. I love the gray trim, and the covering is so soft I almost hated to cover it with a pillow case! It is indeed 2 sided, and it's a great thickness (6"), not to thin or too deep for me. One side is firm, supportive memory foam (for side sleepers) and the other side is more cushioned and "squishy". I love it, but it took a little getting used to the first couple of nights when I'd flip it in the night and lie back down with an entirely different effect! Now, I've discovered that a quality pillow really does makes a difference in how I sleep! Neck and back alignment is a big deal, so it turns out. I never realized quite how ratty my pillow had become until I saw that this one is firm enough to quickly spring back to it's original shape. I've also noticed that I no longer have to rest my head on my arm (and wake up with a numb arm) to get support because the pillow is enough. I am really glad to have this pillow and have noticed a difference in the quality of my sleep, I should have done something about this a long time ago! Ashley Sleep prides themselves on making environmentally responsible, state-of-the-art, affordable products. Here's some more information about the Ashley Sleep Advantage: Disclosure: Ashley Sleep gave me the pillow to check out. No additional payment or compensation was received. I liked the pillow and I thought you might, too. ]]> ]]> tag:WWW.busymom.net,2012:/reviews//6.4785 2012-12-07T04:39:25Z 2013-01-04T04:59:07Z

School funding/tution/whatever doesn't begin to cover everything schools need, much less the things that would enrich kids' experiences there. Things that are viewed as "extras" are often cut or ignored. Unfortunately, that often includes physical education. Sports and activities have...

Busy Mom Blog School funding/tution/whatever doesn't begin to cover everything schools need, much less the things that would enrich kids' experiences there. Things that are viewed as "extras" are often cut or ignored. Unfortunately, that often includes physical education. Sports and activities have always been a big part of our lives. We've been fortunate that our kids have been able to play soccer, basketball, volleyball, rugby, bowling, baseball, track and more with great instruction and proper facilities. But, not all kids have that and they depend on hard work and the kindness of others to get the physical education equipment and facilities they need. That's why I’m working with Clorox’s Power A Bright Future K-12 school grant program to get parents and their teens (13 and older) to vote and help schools win grants of up to $50,000 to help fund new or ongoing initiatives that provide kids with the opportunity to learn and grow. Nominations are in and this year Clorox will award seven grants totaling $200,000 including: • One Grand-prize $50,000 grant • Three $25,000 Category winner grants (One winner will be selected by popular vote in each category; Play, Create and Explore) • Three $25,000 Judge’s pick grants (A panel of Clorox judges will select one winner based on merit in each category) Get out there and vote! One of the great things about this program is that teenagers can vote, too! What a great way for your older kids to help their peers! From November 12-December 19, 2012, anyone 13 and older can vote online and via text: • Visit www.powerabrightfuture.com from a computer or mobile phone to do it, or visit the site to find your favorite school’s text to vote code. You can vote once online and once by text every day. • Voting ends on December 19, 2012 and the winners will be announced later this year. Y.O.L.O. You Only Learn Once! To encourage teens to vote, Disney's Bella Thorne of "Shake it Up" is sharing her photos on Instagram (@bellathornelovesyou), and kids 13 can share photos showing how a grant would make a difference for their school and community at a special Power A Bright Future! Instagram Contest (Photos must be tagged #yolopabf to be eligible for consideration). Be sure to check out Clorox on Facebook and Clorox on Twitter! Disclosure: I am being compensated by The Clorox Company to talk about the Power A Bright Future school grant program.. All opinions are mine, and I am happy to be a part of something to help schools. ]]> ]]> tag:WWW.busymom.net,2012:/reviews//6.4784 2012-11-28T05:18:01Z 2013-01-04T04:58:49Z

Imma give you $25: Check it out!...

Busy Mom Blog Check it out!]]> ]]> tag:WWW.busymom.net,2012:/reviews//6.4783 2012-11-22T02:54:54Z 2013-01-20T22:53:01Z

Givit is a video and editing app. Rather than sharing an entire video, Givit lets users easily edit their videos down to "highlights" of the footage by simply tapping the screen. After you choose the frames to feature, you...

Busy Mom Blog Givit is a video and editing app. Rather than sharing an entire video, Givit lets users easily edit their videos down to "highlights" of the footage by simply tapping the screen. After you choose the frames to feature, you can choose from a variety of effects. You can even put your own music to it, or choose from the themed music right in the app. Be sure to check out Givit on Tumblr, Givit on Twitter, and Givit on Facebook. Don't forget to Download Givit from iTunes, it's free! I've played around with it, and it's quick and easy to use. You can create a highlight video of the video on your phone, or you can shoot a new one. Givit is also hosting a Thanks Givit Contest in honor of the holidays for a chance to win an iPad mini. It runs from November 12 to December 7, 2012 All you have to do is submit videos that show off what you’re most thankful for. Official rules here. ************* The Giveaway Prize: One (1) winner will receive One (1) $50 Visa gift card 1. (Required): Visit Givit, come back and tell us (leave a comment below) your favorite feature of the app. 2. For an extra entry: Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter (I'm @busymom). Be sure to leave a separate comment telling me you've done so. 3. One (1) winner will be picked randomly via Random.org from the comments. 4. Contest is open to all U.S. and Canada residents 18 years or older 5. Winner has 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise another winner will be drawn. 6. Hurry! Ends December 3, 2012 at 10 pm CST. Disclosure: I received a $50 Visa gift card as well.]]> ]]> tag:WWW.busymom.net,2012:/reviews//6.4782 2012-11-22T01:40:47Z 2013-01-04T05:47:42Z

Even though the holidays are upon us, it's still important to maintain the school-year routine. In fact, it may even be harder now than it was at the beginning of the school year. People are tired, school isn't new anymore,...

Busy Mom Blog school year survival tips that are important to us because we have 3 kids in different stages, and we're on the go a lot. I really do believe in each of these, and I find that I struggle the most with keeping up with the laundry and dishes. It's tough, but these are really essential for us to keep the week running smoothly, and to keep us from getting overwhelmed with chores on the weekend. Since I work out of the house full-time, sometimes the only time I have to do laundry and dishes is right when I get home. However, that's also dinner time. It's nice to have discovered Tyson Any'tizers because a hearty snack for the kids can buy me a little time to get the house organized in the evenings before dinner. With lots of varieties to choose from, Tyson Any'tizers help your school kids get a good, fulfilling snack even with exams coming up and the busy-ness of the holidays (hint: keep some around for unexpected visitors and study partners, they're quick to prepare). Tyson has created the Tyson Any'tizers Snacks School Year Survival Guide where you can find all kinds of helpful hints from things such as managing time and developing good study habits to community fundraising efforts and ideas for snacks for the whole family. What is the most important chore or task you have to do to keep the school week running smoothly? Share in the comments below! Disclosure: This post is part of a compensated campaign with Tyson® Any’tizers® Snacks, but we really do enjoy snacks and my thoughts are my own.]]> ]]> tag:WWW.busymom.net,2012:/reviews//6.4781 2012-11-22T00:53:04Z 2013-01-14T14:29:14Z

If you've been around here before, it's pretty well established that we drink a lot of orange juice in our house. In fact, my youngest child is probably a significant percentage of orange juice. With the holidays upon us, we...

Busy Mom Blog While I make my pound cake from the grocery, either way, it's made more awesome with orange juice: Orange Glaze 1/2 c. confectioner's sugar 1-2 tbsp. orange juice (You can add some grated orange peel if you want to be fancy) Mix until smooth and heat and drizzle over warm pound cake Using really good orange juice makes a big difference in recipes and especially for drinking. That's why we enjoy Tropicana Pure Premium orange juice, it's worth it. One taste, and there's no doubt that it's made from fresh oranges. ********************* Did you know that Tropicana Pure Premium is 100% pure and natural orange juice made from fresh Florida oranges? Yep, it comes from oranges from hard working growers in Florida. In fact, Tropicana is the single largest buyer of Florida fruit, purchasing approximately 11.6 billion oranges from Florida each year. Other facts about Tropicana Pure Premium Orange Juice: At about 50 cents per 8-ounce glass, Tropicana Pure Premium orange juice has no added sugar and provides: - Two fruit servings* - A day’s supply of vitamin C to help support a healthy immune system - As much potassium as a medium banana, which plays an important role in heart health - A natural source of the B-vitamin folate, which helps with cell development (especially important for pregnant women). - A good source of thiamin, which is essential in energy metabolism, and plays an important role in nerve and muscle function *USDA 2010 Dietary Guidelines recommend a majority of your fruit servings come from whole fruit. Be sure to check out Tropicana on Facebook! Disclosure: I am a Tropicana Pure Premium as a “TropiMomma” blogger. I was compensated for this post. All opinions remain 100% my own. And? We really like orange juice around here. ]]> ]]> tag:WWW.busymom.net,2012:/reviews//6.4780 2012-11-22T00:40:01Z 2013-01-04T04:58:33Z

Need a Christmas gift idea for the young athlete in your life? Around here, Busy D. can't get enough of reading about sports, so this will make a great gift. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED Kids is THE magazine for boys and girls...

Busy Mom Blog SPORTS ILLUSTRATED Kids is THE magazine for boys and girls who love sports. It presents sports the way kids want to read about them: with great action photos, easy-to-read stories about star athletes, helpful instructional tips from the pros, and humor, comics, and activities. SI Kids is a great way to encourage kids to read, and it has won highest honors from the Association of Educational Publishers and the Parents' Choice Award. Right now, there's even a special offer: Receive an entire year of SI Kids in print and on tablet for only $19.95! Need more reasons to give the gift of SI Kids this season? Reason #1: It’s the perfect stocking stuffer. Reason #2: It promotes reading for children who are reluctant readers. Reason #3: Each issue is full of exciting stories, photos and games that are a perfect distraction while traveling. Reason #4: No gift wrapping – it’s delivered straight to your door. Reason #5: It’s the gift that keeps on giving the whole year through. Don't forget to like SI Kids on Facebook! Disclosure: I will receive a subscription to Si Kids and some promotional items.All the opinions are mine, and I think the subscription is a great gift idea. ]]> ]]> tag:WWW.busymom.net,2012:/reviews//6.4779 2012-11-19T03:46:51Z 2013-01-17T23:14:08Z

As the wife of a teacher, I know how hard teachers and schools work to make the school environment safe, stimulating and up-to-date for our children. However, the needs nearly always exceed the funds available. From books, art supplies and...

Busy Mom Blog As the wife of a teacher, I know how hard teachers and schools work to make the school environment safe, stimulating and up-to-date for our children. However, the needs nearly always exceed the funds available. From books, art supplies and musical instruments to athletic equipments and playgrounds, things that used to be considered fundamental to school, are now often "extras" that teachers even pay for out of their own pockets. School communities raise funds and seek grants to give their kids the best and they come together to do it any way they can. Through the generosity of grants, my kids' schools have been able to become a Weather Bug site to study the climate and they've even been able to work with scientists in the Arctic via the Internet. As a mother of 2 teens (and a teen-to-be), I know how important school programs are to child’s experience. That’s why I’m working with Clorox’s Power A Bright Future K-12 school grant program to get parents and their teens (13 and older) to vote and help schools win grants of up to $50,000 to help fund new or ongoing initiatives that provide kids with the opportunity to learn and grow. Nominations are in and this year Clorox will award seven grants totaling $200,000 including: • One Grand-prize $50,000 grant • Three $25,000 Category winner grants (One winner will be selected by popular vote in each category; Play, Create and Explore) • Three $25,000 Judge’s pick grants (A panel of Clorox judges will select one winner based on merit in each category) Get out there and vote! One of the great things about this program is that teenagers can vote, too! What a great way for your older kids to help their peers! From November 12-December 19, 2012, anyone 13 and older can vote online and via text: • Visit www.powerabrightfuture.com from a computer or mobile phone to do it, or visit the site to find your favorite school’s text to vote code. You can vote once online and once by text every day. • Voting ends on December 19, 2012 and the winners will be announced later this year. Y.O.L.O. You Only Learn Once! To encourage teens to vote, Disney's Bella Thorne of "Shake it Up" is sharing her photos on Instagram (@bellathornelovesyou), and kids 13 can share photos showing how a grant would make a difference for their school and community at a special Power A Bright Future! Instagram Contest (Photos must be tagged #yolopabf to be eligible for consideration). Be sure to check out Clorox on Facebook and Clorox on Twitter! Disclosure: I am being compensated by The Clorox Company to talk about the Power A Bright Future school grant program.. All opinions are mine, and I am happy to be a part of something to help schools. ]]> ]]> tag:WWW.busymom.net,2012:/reviews//6.4777 2012-11-09T18:21:12Z 2013-01-09T06:26:54Z

Obviously, the school year is well underway, but it's this time of year that we have to make a real effort to maintain our routines and keep up the organizational momentum lie we had when the school year began. These...

Busy Mom Blog To help out busy families like ours, Tyson has created the Tyson Any'tizers Snacks School Year Survival Guide where you can find all kinds of helpful hints from things such as managing time and developing good study habits to community fundraising efforts and ideas for snacks for the whole family. Do you have any school-year tips that help keep your family going? Share in the comments below! Disclosure: This post is part of a compensated campaign with Tyson® Any’tizers® Snacks, but we really do enjoy snacks and my thoughts are my own.]]> ]]> tag:WWW.busymom.net,2012:/reviews//6.4776 2012-10-30T03:06:11Z 2012-12-29T20:32:12Z

With November just around the corner, it's time to think about getting the holiday decorations out. We used to have a TON of Christmas decorations around here because we did a tour of homes 17 years ago and the house...

Busy Mom Blog Christmas tree decorations. While, we do have some ornaments that have been in the family for years, others are simply worn out, and truth be told, I'm bored with a lot of it, so this year would be a good time to freshen up the collection a little bit. That might be a nice surprise for my daughter who's away at her first year of college. She's usually the main Christmas decorator, since, if left to my own devices, I won't get anything up until a few days before Christmas. Maybe since it's time to get new decorations that will motivate me to get it done before she gets home? We'll see! Disclosure: This post was written on behalf of Tesco. The wallowing about needing new Christmas decorations is all mine. ]]> ]]> tag:WWW.busymom.net,2012:/reviews//6.4774 2012-09-20T04:14:33Z 2012-10-02T14:54:21Z

Have you checked out AARP lately? As a non-profit organization with more than 37 million members, AARP advocates a healthy lifestyle as part of its overall mission to support independence, choice and control in the lives of Americans 50...

Busy Mom Blog Have you checked out AARP lately? As a non-profit organization with more than 37 million members, AARP advocates a healthy lifestyle as part of its overall mission to support independence, choice and control in the lives of Americans 50 years old and older. AARP is hosting the Healthy Living Sweepstakes to celebrate and promote healthy living. Grand Prize: a trip for two to the Red Mountain Resort, a wellness retreat and spa in Utah. The Grand Prize includes 3 nights' accommodations, air and ground transportation to and from, plus daily guided hikes, fitness and healthy life classes, cooking demos, wellness center events and spa treatments. Daily Instant Win prizes: Your choice of either a $20 Visa gift card or a radio/pedometer in one. How to enter: Simply visit the Healthy Living Sweepstakes page. You get an entry just for signing up, and then there's lots of chances for more entries by learning and answering some healthy living trivia questions. The Healthy Living Sweepstakes is open to registrants in the U.S. who are 45 and older through Tuesday, September 25, 2012 All registrants are entered to win the grand prize and daily instant win prizes, and extra entries can be earned by answering Healthy Living Trivia questions. There is no purchase necessary. Be sure to check out the official rules for details. This is a sponsored post, I have been compensated for sharing this information. But, what are you waiting for? Go enter, there are some great prizes! ]]> ]]> tag:WWW.busymom.net,2012:/reviews//6.4772 2012-09-04T00:46:15Z 2012-09-27T16:25:02Z

Back to school time was a little different for us this year since we have a kid in college, now. College. I sent a kid off to college. Sorry, still having trouble processing that one... Anyway, this is where...

Busy Mom Blog Back to school time was a little different for us this year since we have a kid in college, now. College. I sent a kid off to college. Sorry, still having trouble processing that one... Anyway, this is where the rubber meets the road and she puts everything we've taught her over the years into action for herself. (That IS how it works, right? RIGHT?) As a freshman, she's very fortunate to live in an amazing dorm in a suite with a kitchen, so getting the day off to a good start with breakfast should be easier than living in a traditional freshman dorm room. She's always been athletic and good about healthy eating, so she knows the importance of a good breakfast. But, until this year school year, we've been able to assist her by providing a variety of healthy breakfast choices, and I hope that we've set a good example for her. Now? While she does have a complete meal plan, she's on her own to stock the food and drink in her dorm where she'll most likely be eating breakfast (even though we pay dearly for said meal plan). I did what I could to get her started with healthy eating by taking her for a grocery run before I left after dropping her off and Tropicana Pure Premium Orange Juice was part of the haul. But, I did leave wondering if, as a college student, she would get to the store regularly and buy what she needs. We went back a few weeks after drop-off, and I was delighted to find that Tropicana Pure Premium Orange Juice made in into her fridge, even when we weren't there. I guess it just goes to prove that you're never too old for a good back-to-school breakfast, and I'm still marveling about seeing proof that something we said actually got through! ********* Did you know that Tropicana Pure Premium is 100% pure and natural orange juice made from fresh Florida oranges? Yep, it comes from oranges from hard working growers in Florida. In fact, Tropicana is the single largest buyer of Florida fruit, purchasing approximately 11.6 billion oranges from Florida each year. Other facts about Tropicana Pure Premium Orange Juice: At about 50 cents per 8-ounce glass, Tropicana Pure Premium orange juice has no added sugar and provides: - Two fruit servings* - A day’s supply of vitamin C to help support a healthy immune system - As much potassium as a medium banana, which plays an important role in heart health - A natural source of the B-vitamin folate, which helps with cell development (especially important for pregnant women). - A good source of thiamin, which is essential in energy metabolism, and plays an important role in nerve and muscle function *USDA 2010 Dietary Guidelines recommend a majority of your fruit servings come from whole fruit. Disclosure: I am a Tropicana Pure Premium as a “TropiMomma” blogger. I was compensated for this post. All opinions remain 100% my own. And? We really like orange juice around here. ]]> ]]> tag:WWW.busymom.net,2012:/reviews//6.4771 2012-08-13T23:10:35Z 2012-10-09T21:37:00Z

With a kid going to college soon, we've been doing a lot of research about colleges, majors and careers. The more I read, the more I realize how much we need experts in so many areas that keep our world...

Busy Mom Blog With a kid going to college soon, we've been doing a lot of research about colleges, majors and careers. The more I read, the more I realize how much we need experts in so many areas that keep our world going, and technology is key. Best Buy College Innovator Fund is a national search by Best Buy to find, mentor and advance the next big innovators in the areas of technology, sustainability, education or related field. Participants can submit a two-minute video on the Best Buy Facebook page (hurry, ends 8/14/12) describing their innovation for a chance to win one of four cash prizes totaling $100,000 to bring their idea to life. A panel of judges including Stephen Gillett, President of Best Buy Digital, Global Marketing & Strategy, and Tim Westergren, Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Pandora will choose the winner. ************ The Giveaway Best Buy wants to help students purchase the technology that will help inspire their innovations as they head Back to campus this year, so enter for a chance to win one of four (4) $30 gift cards to Best Buy. Prize: Four (4) winners will receive One (1) $30 gift cards to Best Buy 1. (Required): Tell us (leave a comment below) something you'd like to invent. 2. For an extra entry: Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter (I'm @busymom). Be sure to leave a separate comment telling me you've done so. 3. One (1) winner will be picked randomly via Random.org from the comments. 4. Contest is open to all U.S. and Canada residents 18 years or older 5. Winner has 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise another winner will be drawn. 6. Hurry! Ends August 22nd, 2012 at 10 pm CST. Hey, since you're here, come visit my blog: Busy Mom Blog Disclosure: I received a gift card as described above.]]> ]]> tag:WWW.busymom.net,2012:/reviews//6.4770 2012-08-13T16:44:45Z 2012-09-17T16:21:29Z

With a daughter headed to college in the south this week (THIS WEEK!), we're always on the lookout for space-saving things as well as things to stay cool, so I was excited to be asked to review the Lasko Twist-Top™...

Busy Mom Blog Lasko Twist-Top™ Tower Fan. This is a neat little fan that can point in two directions at the same time. It also oscillates and has three speeds so you can adjust it to your needs in the room. With a 5” footprint, it doesn't take up a lot of room on the counter. It comes fully assembled, and it's lightweight, yet solid. It's strong enough to provide a breeze and circulate air without being reminiscent of gale-force winds, important when you have it on a desk full of papers. We've tested it out in the kitchen, and there's several feet of air coverage, especially good for a fan so compact. With only 2 buttons, it's simple to use as one controls the speed, and the other controls the oscillation. It's distinguishing feature is that you can manually turn the top section to direct the air where you want it to provide additional, directed circulation. As for noise, it's pretty quiet. While it's not silent (what motor is?), the noise is not disturbing, we've been watching TV with it right next to the TV, and it hasn't been a problem at all. However, around here, we all like the white noise of a fan, so that's a plus! Check it out (Why, no I'm not a videographer by trade, why do you ask? Cut me some slack, though, I had to film it myself.): This would make a great fan for back-to-college, at the office or really any other small space since it's so compact. Lasko has been manufacturing home comfort appliances such as portable fans and heaters for over one hundred years. Be sure to check out all of the Lasko Fan products to find one for you. Disclosure: No payment or compensation other than the product sample as described above was received for this review. ]]> ]]> tag:WWW.busymom.net,2012:/reviews//6.4768 2012-07-30T18:42:13Z 2012-09-27T16:13:44Z

We're getting ready to send Busy Girl off to college, and oh, my word, there's so much to think about and so much to do! That also means there's a lot to buy, especially this first year. In addition...

Busy Mom Blog We're getting ready to send Busy Girl off to college, and oh, my word, there's so much to think about and so much to do! That also means there's a lot to buy, especially this first year. In addition to things like books and clothes, we've had to think about linens, toiletries, kitchen supplies and more.With all the online ordering I've been doing, the package delivery people must think we've got something strange going on at our house. Any way you slice it, it all adds up and it's important to save money where you can. If my time spent in social media has taught me anything, it's that it can really pay off to look around for coupon codes to help cut the costs. Whether it's a coupon code for free delivery or a percentage off, every little bit helps. There are some great sites that aggregate coupon codes for thousands of sites. I've run across so many and have developed some favorites. I'd never really thought about country-specific coupon code sites before, but people all over the world like to save money and it looks like they're gaining in popularity. For any readers or visitors in Australia, Coupon Codes.com.au is an Australian coupon codes site with over 21,000 coupon codes and promo codes for everything you could imagine: travel, food, pets, clothes, music toys and more. It's nicely laid out and you can search by category, Top 50 codes,new deals and more. So, if you want to know where to find coupon codes for Australia, there it is! Hey, maybe I can use them to travel to Australia someday. You know, after I get the kids out of college in a million short years. Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, however my opinions are my own and I really am having to buy a lot of stuff (understatement!), and coupon code sites are handy for people all over the world. I hope this helps someone!]]> ]]>