Cotton Age t-shirts, showing off my Olympic spirt - review

Tonight starts the London Olympics. Will you watch all the pageantry, disappointments and triumphs over the next couple of weeks. Our family will. I love watching all the events. From the big profile events like gymnastics to the smaller events like field hockey, my tv and dvd will be tuned in.

Of course I want to dress the part. It adds to the fun and the spirit of the moment. I'm going to wear my new t-shirt from Cotton Age tonight during the opening ceremonies.


Here's a preview of my t-shirt. Very British! Of course, I'm pulling for USA all the way, but I thought that a little English humor would be appropriate for the opening ceremonies. I'm hoping that Mary Poppins would approve.

Cotton Age offers a wide variety of graphic t-shirts. Some designs are humorous while others are patriotic. Personally, the humorous  tshirts are my favorite. I like clothing that makes you think, smile and react. It reflects a sense of personal style.

T-shirts from Cotton Age range from $5 to $9.99.  Personalized options are available.

Cotton Age isn't just t-shirts. The company offers a wide variety of bathrobes, hoodies, slippers and much more.

Want to a Cotton Age t-shirt?  I have one to giveaway. Please use the Rafflecopter form below to enter. 

Don't blend into the crowd with the same old t-shirt. Express yourself to the world with what's on your chest with a t-shirt from Cotton Age.


 a Rafflecopter giveaway



Disclosure: I received a t-shirt to review and giveaway.  

How to Train Your Dragon Live - one word, awesome - review

When you have an opportunity to see a dragon fly you don't say no. You know that dragons can flight, right?  I'm not talking about a movie, but live in person. I saw dragons fly and you can too in Dreamworks How to Train Your Dragon Live.

Like many families, we have watched the Dreamworks movie many, many times. The adventures of Hiccup, Toothless and the Vikings continually bring the awes, gasps and cheers. My sons favorite parts involve the dragons. From battle sequences to soaring flights, the dragons steal the movie.

This week in Chicago the dragons from the beloved movie take flight in the United Center in How To Train Your Dragon Live. This show definitely captures the thrill, adventure and heart of the movie. The show follows the storyline that we all know with a few modifications. The designs, technology and artistry make the audience feel as if they are in the scenes of the movie (the underwater scene is incredible).

The actors are energetic and acrobatic throughout the show. From sword fights to aerial maneuvers, this talented group keeps pace with their animatronic partners.

But everyone wants to see the dinosaurs. In one word these characters are awesome. From fire breathing Monstrous Nightmare to the farting Gronckle, these dinosaurs look like live beings. The details and life like movements are truly amazing. But the most breath-taking moment is when Hiccup and Toothless fly around the arena. It is visual and technical achievement that makes the audience believe that dragons are real.

My kids summed up the night in a single word, awesome. Their favorite items were Toothless flying, the second act fight sequence and the final battle against Red Dragon. This show is full of action, adventure and even a little fire. Still, the heart of the show is that life can and sometimes should change.

Of course, we couldn't leave the show without a souvenir. The men of our house all purchased Viking helmets. This morning the boys have brandished their helmets (and nerf swords) and are recreating the battle sequences from the show. This production is definitely memorable and made quite an impact on my kids.

Dreamworks How to Train Your Dragon Live will play Chicago's United Center now through July 29. The performances are Thursday, July 26 at 7:00 PM; Friday, July 27 at 7:00 PM; Saturday, July 28 at 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM; and Sunday, July 29 at 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM with free parking at official United Center parking lots for all performances.


To purchase your tickets for the Chicago performances, please visit Ticketmaster or www.unitedcenter.com. Ticket prices start at $26.50 plus applicable facility fees and service charges. . A limited number of special premium Dragon Hot Seats, VIP and family packages are available.

Discount tickets are available for weekday performances. Receive 25% off select seats with promo code MOM. Please use this code on ticketmaster.com.

Don't miss this unique opportunity before it leaves Chicago. Afterall, how often does your family get to see dragons live?


Disclosure: My family received tickets to see this show. 

San Antonio, Riverwalk strolls and thrill rides within your budget

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

Having spent many years in Texas, San Antonio holds a special place for me. The River Walk offers a slice of Texas culture that you can't get any where else. But San Antonio isn't just a river there is a little something for everyone.

For the thrill seekers there are mulitple amusement parks that will get your adreline pumping. Six Flags Fiesta Texas offers 8 roller coasters and 50 thrilling rides. Plus, there are admission discounts during the season. With the purchase of an adult ticket, you will receive a free child's admission. A great way to cut down on family expenses.

Other theme parks include SeaWorld San Antonio and Schlitterbahn SeaWorld has a new feature, Aquatica. This area has 18 acres of thrills, beaches and animal encounters. Schillterbahn is a periennal water park that has been a family favorite. A must do is the world's longest water park ride.

For those who prefer a calmer, relaxing vacation experience there is the South Texas Heritage Center, Balcones Heights Jazz Festival, top shopping and much more.

All of these activities are extremely inviting, but I know that everyone wants to know one thing, how much will I spend. RIght now there is a special program called SAVE – San Antonio Vacation Experience . This special set of discounts will offer over hundreds of dollars savings on the activities and lodging you want. For example, you want a special hotel located on the River Walk. Visit SAVE – San Antonio Vacation Experience and you will see all the money saving options. But don't delay, these are Limited Time Offers .

Still need a little more time to decide?  Visit  on twitter to keep up to date all the best deals around. @SAVEinSA

Don't put that vacation on hold any longer. SAVE – San Antonio Vacation Experience

 

Enterprise Rent-A-Car, share your appreciation and win - giveaway event

Who helped you grow into the person you are today?  Maybe your mom gave you the strong roots to your family. Did a special teacher give you the water to grow and develop a career that you love. Or, are your children the seedlings that you nurture from their small beginning.

There are so many people in our lives that we appreciate. Now is the time to tell them how much they have supported us. 

Madame Deals Media has teamed up with Enterprise Rent-A-Car

to bring you this great giveaway!

**Powered by Madame Deals and Mommy Needs her Coffee**

Enterprise Rent-A-Car is saying THANK YOU to all their customers who helped them grow.

You can visit their Facebook page and show some appreciation for someone in your life. Spread the spirit of "THANK YOU" by DEDICATING A VIRTUAL TREE in their name.

As a bonus, Enterprise Rent-A-Car is sponsoring this giveaway!

 

How can you WIN?

First, take a look at this great video to see how Enterprise Rent-A-Car is Saying THANK YOU!

 

Then ENTER TO WIN the $100 Old Navy eGift Card via the Rafflecopter below.

Giveaway will run 7/27 12:01 am EST - August 12 11:59 pm EST.

Wendy's Son the Baconator, curing my bacon craving

There is one food item that I crave. It is bacon. The crunchy, crispy piece of pork, especially on top of a juicy made to order hamburger. But, I'm trying to watch how much I eat. What I want is a smaller portion of the yummy bacon burger that I desire. Wendy's offers a solution to my dilemma, the Son of the Baconator.

The Son of the Baconator is two fresh, never frozen hamburger patties, which is topped with four pieces of crispy bacon. Served on a buttered bun and additional toppings including mayo, ketchup and American cheese, this burger lives up to it's baconator name.

I stopped by Wendy's for a late lunch/early dinner with the kids the other day. I was craving bacon. So I ordered the Son of the Baconator (without mayo).  Remember at Wendy's you can customize your hamburger. I usually like a little lettuce or tomatoes on my burger. At Wendy's I can request the additional items as well as remove certain that I don't like.

The best part of my hamburger was the bacon. It was crispy. Crispy bacon is key to any good burger. Between the buttered bun, the bacon, cheese and hamburger combination was so yummy.


Since I try to eat smaller portions, the Son of the Baconator was great for me.  It has all the goodness of the original Baconator, just not as large. The Baconator has 1/4 hamburger patties while the Son of the Baconator has junior hamburger patties. I was definitely satisfied, but not over full.

Next time you have a bacon craving, head over to Wendy's for a Son of the Baconator.Your craving will be satisfied.


Disclosure: I received a Wendy's gift card to try this menu item.

Costume Supercenter winner announced

Congrats to Jenna J. She was selected as the winner of the Costume Supercenter giveaway.

Thanks for entering.

Check out all the other giveaways for lots of great chances to win.

Pretty Muddy, ditch the kids and let your hair down fitness event - review/giveaway

There is one thing that I do for myself at least 5 days a week. I go to the gym and workout. Some days I might be there for 30 minutes and other days it is more than an hour. Whether it is 4:30 in the morning (and darkness everywhere) or after the kids get on the school bus, I lace up my sneakers and get moving.

There have been a couple of days where I'm tired or our schedule is jammed packed that I would (or probably should have) skipped the gym. But, there is something about getting moving and having time that is just for me that is imperative to feeling good about myself. I believe that I am a better mom, a better wife and a happier person when I take these few minutes to be active. 

This year Chicago is celebrating women in a fun and dirty women's only activity, Pretty Muddy. Pretty Muddy believes that women deserve a break from their busy lives. This women's only fun fitness event will celebrate women through physical fitness, female friendships and some dirty fun.

On September 15, women across Chicago will come together to participate in a 5K obstacle course mud run.

What will you expect in this event?  Lots of mud, it's called Pretty Muddy. You have to run, walk, or maybe crawl. There will be several architectural obstacles - no shabby hay for us ladies. Finally, all this dirty activity will followed by Finish Line party, where you can forget about the dirt and sweat. With entertainment and drinks, the party will celebrate all the competitors.

To register for Pretty Muddy Chicago on September 15, please visit the website to sign-up. The event costs $69 per entrant.

If you're not in Chicago, don't worry you can participate too!  There are several other Pretty Muddy events across the nation.

Dates and locations include:
Columbus, Ohio - September 29
NYC/New Jersey - October 6
Jacksonville, FL - November 3
Tampa, FL - November 10
Miami, FL - November 17


Would you like to join one of the Pretty Muddy events?  I have a entry and a t-shirt to giveaway to one lucky reader. Please use the Rafflecopter form to enter.





Disclosure: I was provided with this prize to giveaway. I was not compensated for this post.  

Celebrate Miracle Treat Day at Dairy Queen July 26

Who doesn't love a Dairy Queen Blizzard? This Thursday, July 26, you can enjoy the yummy soft serve and raise money for a worthy charity.

At participating DQ locations at least $1 from the sale of every Blizzard will be donated to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.

Plus, RSVP to this event on Facebook and DQ will donate an additional $1 to the charity.


Give yourself a great this Thursday and give back to the community.

Free AMEX gift card

With back to school spending in full force, don't you want a little more for your dollar?

Control your kids' spending with gift cards. There is a set amount on the card so that they can't over spend.

Plus, buy a $50 or more AMEX gift card now and get an additional $10 free.

Hurry this offer expires 7/31/12

Back to school savings at Shoe Carnival

Have the kids feet grown this summer?

Are their toes hanging out of their flip flops?

Time to get all the hottest back to school shoe fashions at Shoe Carnival.

 Right now save $5 on your back to school purchases.

Join the Dew Crew and call the Mountain Dew shots

Are you a member of the Dew Crew?  Not sure just what is the Dew Crew?  

The Dew Crew is a group of #88 Diet DEW® Chevy driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. fans on Facebook who help call the shots for the #88 team and have access to awesome Dale Jr. and #88 team content. To see it for yourself, check out the DEW® CREW app!

Earn points and get cool Mountain Dew stuff too!  Check it out today! 

disclosure: Content and/or other value provided by our partner, Mountain Dew. #spon

Reuseit.com, stylish lunch boxes that are easy to pack

Have you looked at a Sunday newspaper recently?  It's back to school shopping time!  I don't know if I'm happy or sad about summer coming to a close. Yes, it was nice to have the kids around, but I'm running out of ideas to keep the kids busy. Luckily my kids are at an age where back to school and back to school shopping is fun.

Beside finding the perfect backpack, the kids love looking for their lunch boxes. For my youngest, he will be getting his first lunch box. While I have a few ideas about what he should use, I know that he has to be happy with the ultimate decision.

What I look for in a lunch box is durability. I don't want to have to buy a replacement in 3 or 4 months. Second, I want a lunch box that can easily fit into my child's back pack. Some lunch boxes are an awkward size or shape. I don't want homework folders to be bent or papers destroyed because my kids can easily load and unload their backpacks. Lastly, I want a design that my kids will like (no one wants a "outdated" character or design).

Our family chose to order my son's lunch box from reuseit.com. With the guidance of my son, we chose the Laptop lunch benito carrier version.

What I like about this lunch box is that the design is flat. It can easily slide into a backpack. At the same time, it has lots of room to carry lunch, snack and a water bottle. Also, I really like the outer zip pocket. It's a great place put napkins or a special note.

This lunch box comes in three designs. There are options for boys, girls and adults. My son chose the solid blue color (I was pushing for the alien design). He said that he wanted one to match his backpack.

Developed by two moms (Tammy Pelstring and Amy Hemmert) the Laptop Lunch Kit helps families improve lunchtime nutrition and reduce waste. And since they believe that healthy kids come from healthy communities, they donate a portion of profits to schools and environmental organizations.

The Laptop Lunch Benito Carrier Version can be purchased online at reuseit.com. It retails for $19.95. Additional accessories, like the Benito Box inner containers, can be purchased on-line as well.

Get started on the back to school shopping. Give your kids a smile every day at lunch. Purchase a lunch box from reuseit.com. 


Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Disney Vacations from TheMouseForLess & Mission Giveaway - $100 Disney GC

 I have talked with many friends about Disney vacations. There are always one common thread. Start saving now. From the hotel to the park tickets, traveling to Disney with a family can be a huge cost. Luckily there are people and websites that can break down a Disney vacation to make it affordable. Affordable doesn't mean that the trip won't be fun. You can design your family's ideal Disney getaway and still have a few dollars to buy a Mickey Mouse ears hat to wear on the plane home.

Grand Prize: 2 Disney Gift Cards, one in the amount of $75 for you and one in the amount of $25 to give a friend!

About Our Sponsor  TheMouseForLess.com makes vacation planning easy and affordable. We help our readers get the most value for their Disney vacation dollars. Readers have access to many benefits including exclusive discounts, money saving techniques, rate reducing codes, and random drawings for prizes. TheMouseForLess.com is particularly proud of our Download Section. Here you will find Desktop calendars, wallpapers, and lots of useful items to print and take along on your Disney trips.  

Here's How You Enter: The Giveaway will open up on Tuesday 7/24 at 12:01 am EST and Close on Friday 7/27 at 11:59 pm EST.
1) Start at the Rafflecopter Giveaway form.
2) Complete the Mandatory entries.
3) Work your way through the links, entering contests at each blog as you go. These contests each have their own rules and end dates.
 4) Complete additional entries towards the bottom and come back for additional daily entries!

That's it! You have successfully entered this awesome giveaway! Side note...It's not mandatory that you enter all the giveaways at each blog. However, doing so not only increases your chances of WINNING the other prizes, it increases your chances of WINNING the Grand Prize!

Mission Giveaway started with the $100 Story where with $100 several people received the help they needed. We are on a mission to help people! We have gathered a group of bloggers that want to make a difference. Together we are the Mission Giveaway Group!

To inquire about becoming a sponsor, please contact Amee or Dawn at missiongiveaway@yahoo.com for details. Take a look at our Media Kit to see what Mission Giveaway has to offer. Are you a blogger that would like to participate in Mission Giveaway? Find out how you can join us.  



The amazing Blogs participating in the event this week are: Pixie Dusted Homeschool| Mommy Needs Her Coffee| Madame Deals| FurKid Fosters| My UnEntitled Life| Insights by April| Super Frugal Stephanie| Donna's Deals and More| The Socialite's Closet| This Flourishing Life| More 4 Mom's Buck| Raising My 5 Sons| The Mommy Island| Organic Mommy Today| Whirlwind of Surprises| A Savings WOW!| Coupon Queen that Saves the Green| Frugal Fanatic| Sweepstakes Mama| Couponing to be Debt Free| A Thrifty Diva Surviving Mommy Hood | Mama Bee Does| CEO of Me| The Coupon Sweeper| Coupon Savings In The South| Living At The Whitehead's Zoo| Stretching Your Budget| Begin To Craft| Meg's Moxie| Pink Ninja Blogger| Blogging is a Trip| Slop Swap|  


Check out how entrants would pay it forward this week and enter your own comment: .

Does money grow on trees? Search and win with Swagbucks

I love when my kids want more and more. Spend, spend, spend. What do they think that money grows on trees?

I wish that we had a money tree, but I do have Swagbucks.

Earn money by searching on the internet. I know that I get a million questions a day from my kids. Let's put that inquisitive mind to work earning some money.

Send the kids back to school with a custom t-shirt

Whether your kids are rock n roll cool or beach bums, have them create a custom t-shirt for back to school.

Create a memory of the summer fun. Right now custom t-shirts are only $2! 

Hurry before the offer is gone.

Congrats to the Spanx Bra-llywood Hills winner

Guess who will be looking fabulous in the new Spanx Bra-llywood Hills bra? 

Congrats to Mary C. Look for an email from me with more instructions.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to enter!

Share your photos with family, not the world with outmywindow

I like to take pictures. Usually, I have my iphone in my hand capturing all the moments of my kids' lives.It might be a silly face, a celebratory dinner or just a goofy grin. Since our family lives far from our home, I want the grandparents, aunts and friends to keep up to date with our lives. My concern with publishing my photos on some social media websites is the availability of that picture on-line. Does everyone have the same privacy settings?  Could a picture of my kids end up in the bowels of cyberspace?

Now there is a new application that creates a personal way to share and save your photos. It is called outmywindow.

outmywindow is an app that gives you complete control of who can see your photos. No more publishing your Facebook photos to the world. The picture of your daughter in her bathing suit will be seen my grandma, not some random guy that knew your cousin in high school. 

By using this app, you will have timelines that automatically build themselves. It's an easy way to organize your photos.You can upload photos from your computer or your mobile device. Each album is designed by you. Create albums by theme, person or anything that you want. Then share the albums with your friends.

What I like about the outmywindow is the timeline feature. In one simple snapshot, I can see everyone's photos. It's a perfect way to catch-up on summer vacations, first homeruns and silly kid moments. Now I won't miss new moments because my settings changed.

Plus this program offers 5GB of free storage. With this program you'll have your family moments available at your fingertips.


In addition to the desktop feature, outmywindow is available at the App Store. It is available for the iPhone, iTouch and iPad. The app is free.


Don't send your family's photos to the universe. Use outmywindow and share the smiles with those who will smile back. 



Disclosure: I have been hired by Warner Bros WBWord division to raise awareness for 'outmywindow™.'

Winner of the Global Giveaway

A huge thank you to everyone who entered the Global Giveaway. After going through 1000+ entries, I have a winner.

Congrats to Kathy R. Check your email for more instructions! 

Be sure to check out the sidebar for tons of more giveaways.

64 cent Arby's Roast Beef Sandwiches today only

Need a little pick me up today at lunch? How about a deal that is 48 years in the making?


Today, July 23, Arby's is rolling back prices. 48 years today, Arby's starting serving its classic roast beef sandwiches. To celebrate this momentous occasion, Arby's classic roast beef sandwiches are just 64 cents.

Head over to Arby's Facebook page to print your coupon.

Stop the battery meltdown

How busy has your summer been?  We haven't had a day off since it began. It's been crazy. Going to swim meets, birthday parties, summer festivals, and just being out of the house has taken up every day, week and month. Even just during the day we get up early and get home late. Since I live on my iphone, it's hard to make sure that it is fully charged for our long days.

Of course, if I'm in the car, there is a car charger. But I don't spend my days in a car. I need a device that charge my iphone effectively and anywhere. One good option for me is a portable usb charger batteries.

This type of device can provide 3 or 4 charges to an almost dead phone. Now while I'm sitting at the pool or at the amusement park, I can make sure that we have plenty of juice to make it back home.

These type of charges aren't just for phones. It can be used to charge cameras, video cameras and other electronic devices. Think about it. You don't want to be at the end of season baseball game and have no battery life in your camera. You won't forgive yourself if you miss that game winning home run that you child just hit. Make sure that you keep your batteries charged and ready for the perfect moment.

So whether you are active around your town, heading out to long road trip or just planning ahead for a busy school year, consider adding a usb charger to your family's must haves. You'll leave the battery crisis in the dust.



Disclosure