Can you believe Summer's here already? 2012 is going by so quick! Well, as a member of the Mom's Do it Better community, I have an extra special treat for you, ... ready for it? We're giving away some amazing prizes to help you get Summer started with a splash. This giveaway event is open to US & Canada residents. Here's what we have lined up for you: ![]() GGrand Prize:
But don't worry, we have other prize packs for you to give you even more chance to win some great things!Prize Pack 1:
Prize Pack 2:
Prize Pack 3:
Ready to enter? Use the Rafflecopter form below and good luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Who wants to win a Dyson?! I know I would love to have one! Dyson has a fantastic reputation for being one of the most innovative and effective vacuum cleaners on the market. This would make a great housewarming gift, or a "just because" gift. Yes, guys...This would be the one time an appliance would be appreciated rather than land you in the proverbial dog-house! Well guess what? One very lucky reader will be winning one. And when you do, you can always send it to me. We're moving this summer, and I could use some great housewarming gifts! (Of course, I am kidding. I know a Dyson would be too hard to part with!) Welcome to the Dyson Housewarming Giveaway event. This took months in the making and Mom to Bed by 8, the Iowa Mom is proud to bring you this fantastic home essential and offer you the chance to win one too! Big thank you to our lovely co-hosts How to Have It All, Mark Your Savings and GiveAway Bandit.
Delivering 220 airwatts of suction power, this canister vacuum cleaner features advanced Level 3 Root Cyclone technology to ensure thorough, efficient cleaning with no clogging or loss of suction. It also offers a TurbineHead brush bar that's ideal for cleaning medium and short pile carpets and can be turned off for hard floors. Certified asthma and allergy friendly by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, the unit expels air that contains up to 150 times less mold and bacteria than common breathing air thanks to the vacuum's money-saving, lifetime washable HEPA filter. Plus, Dyson's Bactisafe screen traps and kills bacteria, mold and allergens on contact, preventing them from re-entering the air. The Telescopic Wrap System allows the hose and wand to be compressed, and ensures that the Dyson DC23 can be stored away neatly and compactly, with no loose components or wires to get tangled. It comes with a stair tool for focusing on dust and dirt from stairs and stair carpets, a brush tool with long bristles to dislodge cobwebs and for delicate cleaning, and a high-velocity airflow crevice tool that's ideal for cleaning base boards, picture frames and in-between furniture. Other features include a clear bin with 0.44-gallon capacity, 21.6-foot cord length, and easy-to-maneuver fixed wheels. The vacuum measures 13.9 x 19.3 x 11.9 inches (HxWxD) and weighs 19.5 pounds. The Dyson DC23 TurbineHead is backed by a 5-year warranty. Open to worldwide, ages 18+. Giveaway ends on June 15th. Please use the rafflecopter form below to enter. Good luck to all! ![]() You may recall that in my recent Nature's Sleep Memory Foam Slipper review, I stated that I had a bone to pick with this company for simply being too awesome. You see, I wanted to enjoy my comfy slippers, but no one in my family would let me. Both my toddlers, the dog, and my 12 year old kept on hijacking them. I understand that, as a mom, there are many sacrifices I must make. Sharing my luxurious, super-plush Nature's Sleep Memory Foam Slippers shouldn't have to be one of them. After all, after a long day of chasing toddlers, dealing with a surly preteen and taking care of the household, I think I deserve to have a little bit of comfort, all my own! I am sorry to say, my epic "Battle of the Slippers" is still very much underway. Everyone still wants my slippers, so I have taken to hiding them or just keeping them on my feet at all times. I have hidden them on the top shelf of my closet as well as in the freezer. I have even hidden them under our sectional. The rest of the time, those babies are on my feet. I am not too proud to admit that I have even rocked these slippers on a Wawa run. (For those of you up north, Wawa is a convenience store/gas station...Kind of like an upscale 7-11, where the food is actually edible and made to order.) You may also recall that I mentioned that Nature's Sleep also offers pet beds, pillows, mattress toppers, and some of the most heavenly memory foam mattresses around. Much to my shock and delight, I recently got the chance to review one of their mattresses. This felt like winning the lottery, since I have been semi-stalking their website for months, drooling over their luxurious mattresses. I even had fantasies about resting on a Nature's Sleep mattress somewhere in the Caribbean, with the sound of the waves right outside the window and a nice, tropical breeze passing through a pair of beautiful French doors. Being the busy mom of 3, these fantasies often got interrupted. Always right before the handsome cabana boy arrived to cater to my every whim. Darn! So when the amazing folks at Nature's Sleep informed me that I was going to get a mattress of my own? Well, let's just say there was some hyperventilating and a goofy, uncoordinated happy dance, as well as hoots and hollers that woke up my toddlers. (Oops! Sorry, kids!) I spent a couple of hours scouring their website, comparing specs for all of their mattresses. Currently, there are 10 crave-worthy models, all with different peoples' sleep preferences in mind. I love the fact that Nature's Sleep uses an easy, firm to plush scale to rate each and every one of their mattresses. Now I happen to like a more plush mattress, so ultimately, after much deliberation, I chose the St. Cloud LUXE. This 12" mattress is the Rolls Royce of mattresses, and the most luxurious of all the Nature's Sleep offerings. The multi layered design creates sleeping perfection. The top layer of the St. Cloud LUXE mattress features 2” of exclusive Nature's Sleep proprietary vitex memory foam, specially formulated to offer unique softness and plushness. The second layer is 2” of their highest density advanced visco technology memory foam. These 2 top layers create a pressure free surface that molds and contours to you in an out of this world surface softness. The dual layered support core completes the package with 2” of pressure relieving foam and 6” high density support core. The waterfall cover is an 80/20 cotton blend and features a decorative black and grey cording and a grey micro suede side. The cover zips off for easy laundering and is antimicrobial for years of luxury and pleasure. The best of the best rates a 9 out of 10 on the Nature's Sleep firm/plush comfort scale. In less than a month, Disney/Pixar's new animated feature, "Brave" will be hitting theaters! I am super excited about this film, since I know my kids will just love this adventurous tale of bravery and triumph. “Brave” follows the heroic journey of Merida, a skilled archer and headstrong daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the unruly and uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane). Merida’s actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric Witch (voice of Julie Walters) for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to harness all of her skills and resources – including her clever and mischievous triplet brothers – to undo a beastly curse before it’s too late, discovering the meaning of true bravery. While this film won't be released until June 22, 2012, I have a couple of great, authentic Scottish recipes that you can prepare with your kids! Whether you choose the Scotch Eggs or Great Granny May Scott's Cullen Skink, your family is sure to be delighted by these dishes. They're so rich with Scottish culture, and they're sure to get everyone excited to see "Brave" this June! "Like" BRAVE on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PixarBrave
BRAVE arrives in theaters everywhere on June 22nd! Okay, so I am a couple of days behind on drawing winners. I apologize to those of you who have been waiting. We were very busy over the Holiday weekend, and then I had a very painful medical issue I have been dealing with for the past couple of days. Hopefully my meds are kicking in and I can get back into the swing of things now!
I do have a few very lucky winners to announce, so I will get right to it! Winners have been contacted via e-mail and have 48 hours to reply and claim their prizes! Thanks so much to everyone who entered, and as always, check back for more great giveaways! Blogger PR: Amazon: Lisa Book: Gena L. Rita O. Nancy D. Gerber: Lauren U. Peter Rabbit Organics: Nicole H. ![]() We have 2 dogs, a 25lb Jack-A-Bee named Chloe and a spitfire Yorkie pup, aptly named Trouble. Chloe is my 12 year old son's dog, and he is head over heels in love with her. He even calls her his "daughter". Chloe is mild-mannered and the perfect companion for my son. She sticks by his side 24/7. Trouble on the other hand is MY dog. Which is funny in itself, since I am not usually an animal person, due to horrible pet allergies. Being a Yorkie means she's hypoallergenic and therefore "safe" for me to snuggle. She's absolutely adorable, has a ton of personality, and is definitely living up to her name. She follows me around, plays with the babies, and her favorite place to relax is in my lap. Yep, I am quite smitten with this little furball, and getting her was one of the greatest gifts I have ever received. We have only had her for a month or so, but she's worked her magic on us all and is definitely part of the family! I think my husband spoils Trouble almost as much as he does his own kids. I guess that's what Daddies are for, though. Here are a couple of pictures of our pets: There have been countless debates as to what the best workout program there is that would promote
muscle strength and endurance. There are those who advocate for specialized workout splitting the workout to several days specializing in a limited muscle group per day. There are those who believe that whole body workouts and compound exercises are better. There are those who train 4 times a week, there are those who do thrice, twice and even once a week. Some believe that 5 sets are better while some believe in lower sets. Some think that higher reps are more effective while some believe in intensity over repetitions. The discipline of weight training and body building is a jungle. There are thousands of views as to how programs should be performed and what diet should be eaten. People will argue about this all the time. But every jungle has a king. In this case, a constant idea that everybody agrees with and recognize. In the world of weight training, everybody agrees that some exercises are better on the other. And it would help you a lot to know the following; the kings of exercises; the best exercises that you can do. 1. The Squat The squat is recognized as the king of all exercises, the king of kings, that is. Yet, this is one of the most underperformed exercises that many neglect. First, because it is so damn hard. Second, many fall to the preconception that the squat is just a lower body exercise. It is true that the squat mainly works the quadriceps out. However, it is a whole body workout. It works the abdominals and the erector spinae, trapezius, and biceps brachii isometrically. The squat works your whole body's system so holistically that it is known to produce the most growth hormones for a single exercise. 2. The Bench Press The bench press has always been a favourite. It is quite simple to do compared to the squat and does your upper body good. Indeed, focusing on the bench press will make you look and feel good as it is the most productive upper body workout. The bench press is known to develop your body's "show parts" or the ones that has the greatest impacts on looking good. These parts are the pectoralis major (and minor), and the triceps. Together with these two muscle groups, the bench press also uses the deltoids as stabilizers providing decent activity for the said muscle. If you want to look good and call yourself a body builder, the bench press should never be out of your training program. 3. The Deadlift This is perhaps the hardest exercise to perform. The movement required for the proper deadlift is a little more complicated than the squat. And it really tires the body out. However, this is also one of the most productive exercises that you can do and rivals the effectiveness of the squat. The deadlift is like a handheld squat picking the barbell up from the ground with the squat’s movements instead of having it on your shoulders. It also puts emphasis on your lower back muscles but still provides lots of activity for the quadriceps. The wrist muscles are also a major player in this lift. If you are onto weight training, there is no reason why you should not do these exercises. Even at your own home, all you need is a squat rack, a bench, and a barbell set and you can do all of these exercises. All of the requirements can be bought cheaply using the proper bestbuy coupon HSN has partnered with Universal Pictures to create a 24-hour Snow White and the Huntsman event. The event will take place on Wednesday, May 30th, across all of HSN’s platforms, including TV, HSN.com and HSN mobile. In the epic action-adventure Snow White and the Huntsman (in theatres June 1st), Snow White is the only person in the land fairer than the evil queen who is out to destroy her. Join HSN on May 30th as they celebrate this breathtaking new version of the legendary tale with a HSN Snow White and the Huntsman Collection from your favorite brands inspired by the movie. “HSN is the perfect partner to bring the look and feel of Snow White and the Huntsman to life through fashion and lifestyle items inspired by the film,” said Stephanie Sperber, President, Universal Partnerships & Licensing. “We know this 24-hour event featuring unique clothing, jewelry and accessories alongside Snow White and the Huntsman footage will build anticipation for the film’s opening on June 1.” Check out some of our top picks from ybf’s Snow White and the Huntsman Collection and shop the collection on May 30th. Special features, videos and community boards maybe found at HSN.com/snowwhite.
This would be the perfect gift for any of the fairest ladies of them all in your life! To help get you ready for the premier of Snow White and the Huntsman in theaters: ybf and Mom to Bed by 8 have partnered up to bring you one amazing giveaway!Open to US residents only, ages 18+. Giveaway ends on June 4th. Please use the rafflecopter form below to enter. Good luck to all! May 21, 2012 was officially 1 year since I moved my old blogspot blog over to WordPress and became 7 on a Shoestring. The past year has been an amazing ride! I have done things I could have never imagined and have been to places I would never have thought possible. Plus, the friends I have met along the way have been incredible and I am excited about continuing the journey.
10K Facebook Fans and 1 Year Blogiversary CelebrationTherefore in honor of hitting 10K Facebook Fans {and then some} and my 1 Year Blogiversary, I am celebrating by giving each of you the chance to win some great prizes from some of the gracious sponsors who have joined me in commemorating the event. Not only do you have a chance to win the great prizes below, but you can also enter to win from the 7 Giveaway-A-Day sweepstakes from over the past week. Our sponsors have been awesome and all deserve much appreciation as well!Sponsors for the Grand Prize EventEach of the sponsors below have included a prize in the Grand Prize event. On the Giveaway Tools form you will find each of their Social Media accounts listed in order to support them as well. I will draw 6 winners, 1 for each prize. You MUST tell me your 1st and 2nd choice in prizes and you MUST like the sponsors Faccebook page in order to be eligible for that prize. I believe it is only fair to the brand. Secondly, a HUGE thank you to the 143 other bloggers that have joined me in promoting this celebration! My blogging community has been amazing and I could do not have gotten where I am without your support. Therefore, other than liking them on Facebook or following them on Twitter, please make sure to include the blog's name or URL where you are entering so I can personally thank them for their hard work!Enter to WinAre you ready? Here are the prizes up for grabs and the sponsors offering them:VTech - Safe & Sound Digital Audio Monitor Clipa- Polished Silver Handbag Hanger BabbaCo - The BabbaBox Bling Bling by Cyndi- $25 Gift Certificate Rubbermaid - Clean & Dry Plunger Build a Dream Playhouses - Choice of The Cosmic Cruiser or The Dream Machine Enter using the Giveaway Tools form below. Make sure to show your support for the sponsors and bloggers in the event. And THANK YOU for making the past year a success. Good luck! Javascript must be enabled to enter this giveaway. Learn how to activate Javascript by clicking here. ![]() Loading Entry-Form Cook'n Recipe Organizer is Celebrating their 20th Birthday! |
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I'm Brandy, a happily married, proud Mom of 3 amazing kids. If you're interested in building a working relationship, please feel free to e-mail me at: NewlyCrunchyMamaOf3@gmail.com Links We Love :Archives
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