Review

Umi Shoes For Spring — #Review & #Giveaway

by holly on January 31, 2012

When I saw Umi’s new spring styles I just knew I had to have the Halina style for my oldest daughter. The bright colors and fun plaid pattern completely fit her spunky personality. Not only that, they match nearly everything in her wardrobe from jeans to skirts. The turquoise color is a staple for her because of her bright red hair. She loves pink but for her clothing, I rarely buy her anything that has pink as more than an accent color. These Mary Jane style tennis shoes are feminine enough to dress up a little with casual skirts and dresses while still sturdy and comfortable enough for everyday wear for jumping and playing. The Velcro strap keeps the shoes on her feet so I don’t have to worry about them slipping off. Plus, she’s able to be her independent little self and put them on on her own.

My daughter always wants to wear these shoes. Luckily, they’re perfect for just about everything! As with all of the Umi Shoes we’ve ever owned, I fully expect these shoes to last through more than one child even as much as they’re worn. My youngest daughter will be able to wear these when she grows into them. You gotta love that!

The Halina style retails for $46 and also comes in pink/white.

Check out all of Umi’s new styles at www.UmiShoes.com.

Feeling lucky? Enter to win a $60 Umi Shoes gift card by filling out the form below. Also, be sure to check out all of our other giveaways. NOTE: if you are having trouble with the mandatory entry on the form below, click “I did this” first. Then the form will pop up to enter your info. If you don’t leave your address, I won’t have a way to get your prize to you. If you need more guidance, you can watch this video on how to enter Rafflecopter giveaways.

This giveaway is open until February 8, 2012 at 12:01 am CST to U.S residents.

Please leave your name, address, email and answers to the questions (if any) in the form below. This is required for initial entry. Extra entries are optional. For more information on how to enter our giveaways, please see our contest guidelines page. There you’ll find options for extra entries, rules, etc.

Your information is confidential and used for contacting the winner and prize fulfillment purposes only.

A complimentary product/service was provided for this review, however, all opinions expressed are my own. I was not compensated in any other way. See Mommies With Cents disclosure policy for more details.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Invite Schwan’s To Your Super Bowl Party! #Giveaway

by holly on January 30, 2012

Are you planning a Super Bowl party? Schwan’s can help! They’ve got two different packages perfect for feeding 8-10 people. Best of all, they are priced over $10 off and Schwan’s suggests planning tips, recipes and more at schwans.com/gameday. Here’s what they have to offer:

Tailgating Party $44.99 Includes

Chipotle Chicken Mini Tacos #604

Mix sour cream and salsa for a
dipping sauce

Crispy Chicken Breast Strips #501

Mix BBQ and Hot Sauce to dip or coat strips

Crispy Taters #708

Add chili, melted cheese and favorite toppings for ultimate loaded nachos

Ultimate Fully Cooked Bratwurst #830

Cut in half and serve in cocktail buns for mini sliders

Raspberry Oat Streusel Bars #808

Drizzle with chocolate and serve for dessert

All-Pro Party Pack $39.99 Includes:

Italian Style Meatballs #401

Make teriyaki kabobs with pineapple, green pepper and onion slices (LOVE this idea!)

Starter Crusts #671

Find Schwan’s Chicken Club recipe here.

Philly Beef Steak #429

Add an olive topper to mini sliders for festive sandwiches

LIVESMART™ Oven Roasted Chicken Bites #494

Wrap in bacon and skewer with toothpicks

Chocolate Chip Frozen Cookie Dough #644

Make football cookies with this simple recipe

Want to do your own thing? Schwan’s has an awesome selection of foods perfect for parties. This season they’ve introduced NEW Crispy Wings with Either Buffalo or BBQ sauce. My family got the opportunity to try these out and though we are pretty strictly BONELESS wing fans ourselves, we still very much enjoyed the Crispy Wings. I loved that the sauce comes in two separate packets in case you don’t want to make the whole bag at once. The fact that the sauce was on the side was perfect for our family since we have on child who loves to “dip” and one who will not eat sauce of any sort. The sauces can be served on the side as dip or tossed with the cooked wings to coat them. Either way, they are quite delicious. Once again, Schwan’s does not disappoint.

Check out their tailgating and party packs at schwans.com/gameday and everything else they have to offer at Schwans.com.

Feeling lucky? Enter to win the new Crispy Wings in both varieties — Buffalo and BBQ by filling out the form below. [click to reveal entire post…]

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Aerosoles — Only The Most Comfortable Shoes Ever: Review

by holly on January 29, 2012

When I was in my early 20′s my lower back hurt all of the time. My mom kept telling me it was my shoes but I didn’t believe her. It wasn’t until my boyfriend at the time encouraged me to follow my mom’s advice and get some better shoes. I bought a pair of Aerosoles and loved them so much that I actually tried to buy a second pair in the same exact style for when the original pair wore out. Unfortunately, I was too late and couldn’t track down a pair in stock anywhere. The original pair lasted a really long time and was the best money I’ve ever spent on a pair of shoes. I should probably say that, for a girl, I’m not crazy about shoes. I only have a couple of pairs that I wear with everything. I like to keep things simple and I don’t dress up much as a work at home mom. When I do shop for shoes, I am always drawn to Aerosoles. Every pair I have ever tried on was comfortable. The Bec 2 Differ flats I received for this review were no exception. While they are available in animal print calf hair, croco-print and other brightly colored fabrics, I think the brown plaid is most versatile. They look cute with jeans but could also be worn with a skirt or slacks. The cushioned sueded insole and smooth lining offer the comfort I’ve come to expect from the brand — they fit perfectly with no need to be broken in — they didn’t rub at all! These casual ballet style flats feature a cute bow on the toe and a patent leather trim. This particular pair is on sale right now for only $29.99 down from $69. See the other styles available as well as a large selection of other comfortable shoes at www.aerosoles.com.

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Shaklee Soy Protein Review

by holly on January 15, 2012

Mine, like so many children, are picky eaters. Two out of 3 of them will rarely eat any sort of meat. While they do enjoy other sources of protein such as beans, cheese and yogurt, I still worry that they aren’t getting enough protein. If for nothing else than my peace of mind, I started offering them Soy Protein Powder from Shaklee. It comes in two flavors — Chocolate and Vanilla. The chocolate flavor is perfect for adding to milk. My four year old drinks it right up and thinks it’s a treat but I couldn’t fool my three year old, oddly enough. The Vanilla flavor is great for adding to smoothies and the “healthy” taste is much easier to disguise. I also use the chocolate in banana or banana/peanut butter smoothies — Yum!

So, it’s obviously not just for kids. Need an energy boost during the day? Forget about caffeine which with give you a boost but then leave you feeling sluggish. Try Energizing Soy Protein from Shaklee instead. Soy protein is a biologically complete protein that is plant based. It’s low in fat, cholesterol free, and full of essential amino acids. It helps build muscle and supports the immune system. Soy protein can even help you maintain normal cholesterol levels and promote heart health. Energizing Soy Protein also contains soy isoflavones which can help reduce hot flashes and promote breast health. The powdered formula can be mixed with milk, juice, water or any one of your favorite beverages. Three tablespoons provides 14 grams of protein, enough to give you a sustained energy lift that won’t leave you feeling like you rode a roller coaster. This natural dietary supplement retails for around $43 per can.

Who is Shaklee?

Shaklee is a reputable company that has been around for over 50 years helping people live healthier lifestyles. They were “green” before people were familiar with the term. In fact, Shaklee was one of the first companies to make a biodegradable household cleaner in the 1960′s.

Become a Shaklee Member and you’ll receive a 15% discount on all of your purchases. You’ll also receive special promotions and offers and the ability to sign up for AutoShip. A membership costs $19.95 but right now you can get a FREE membership when you purchase a Vitalizer multinutrient supplement pack. You can also join as a Gold Ambassador or a Distributer. Visit www.Shaklee.com for more information on these programs.

You don’t have to be a member to purchase Shaklee products but once you try them, they chances are good you’ll want to sign up to take advantage of the benefits. Until then, you’ll just pay retail prices.

If you have a personal experience with Shaklee products or programs, I’d love to hear your opinion. Which products can’t you live without?

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Purex Triple Action Detergent Review

by holly on December 27, 2011

I’ll admit, I’m horrible at laundry. I rarely check pockets and often forget to treat stains. I’ve accidentally washed a digital camera, my car keys and my husband’s cell phone. You’d think I’d learn. I have a family of five so I do laundry every day and feel accomplished just to stay on top of washing it, folding it and putting it away. It’s rare that you’ll find a mountain of laundry at my house because I like to keep it under control. I’m not real picky when it comes to laundry detergent either. As long as it’s inexpensive, it works for me. One of my favorite inexpensive brands is Purex. I recently had the opportunity to try out their new Purex Triple Action formula. The first load I tried it on was a bunch of dingy “white” bath towels. They definitely came out looking cleaner, but there weren’t any miracles as expected. They certainly smelled fresh though. That’s one of my favorite things about Purex! The laundry always smells SO good when I use this brand. If I have a coupon or if it’s on a good sale (or both!) I’ll definitely buy Purex Triple Action again. Anything that gets my clothes cleaner without any extra effort is good in my book!

Purex Triple Action Detergent is specially formulated for use in both standard and HE washers. This liquid detergent is half the price of leading brands, and in my opinion, just as effective and better smelling! It does come in a fragrance-free, dye free version for those with sensitivities.

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Gummy Bears Headphones Review & Giveaway

by holly on December 14, 2011

Kids these days have their very own electronics — portable DVD players, hand held video games, tablets and more. My guess is, you don’t always want to hear the noise from these devices. Luckily most of them have a headphone jack so your child can play independently without bothering you. All you need is a fun pair of headphones! That’s where Gummy Bears Gummy Ear Buds come in! These adorable earphones provide a pop of color and a lot of flair. Kids can enjoy their favorite tunes, games and movies in comfort with the soft well-fitting ear buds while the brightly colored gummy bear shaped outer piece lends a fun upbeat look that gives new meaning to the term “ear candy”. Gummy Bears Gummy Ear Buds are compatible with iPods, iPhones and other MP3 players. They are available in a variety of colors and retail for around $10.

These earbuds not only look adorable, they smell good too! We received a green pair that were apple scented — so cool! The kids aren’t the only ones who like these. I’m sure they’ll catch me borrowing them from time to time!

Feeling lucky? Enter to win a pair by filling out the form below.

[click to reveal entire post…]

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Little Giant Xtreme Ladder Review & Giveaway

by holly on November 29, 2011

Once you become a homeowner you discover all sorts of things you need that you didn’t before. Things like lawn mowers, a good set of tools and a ladder become a necessity. My husband and I have been homeowners for years but we’ve always had to borrow a ladder when we needed one. Not anymore! We got a Little Giant Extreme Ladder. Now people will be coming to us, asking us to borrow it! Probably even if they already have a ladder of their own, because this one is just cooler!

It’s that most wonderful time of year again. There’s a lot to look forward to but for many husbands/dads there’s one thing they dread — putting up the Christmas lights. Perhaps a fancy new ladder will get them in the spirit! The Little Giant Xtreme is perfect for homeowners because it’s like having 24 different ladders in one. It can be used for any job big or small. The Little GiantXtreme ladder is an adjustable 5-, 6-, 7-, 8-, or 9- foot A-frame stepladder, a 90-degree ladder, an adjustable extension ladder (11 to 19 feet high), a staircase ladder and a trestle-and-plank scaffolding system. The Little Giant Xtreme Ladder might just inspire Dad to go for that first place prize for Best Neighborhood Light Display. With it’s multi-purpose uses and lifetime warranty, The Little Giant Xtreme Ladder is worth it’s $359.80 price tag. Once Christmas is over, you might even be able to get the Hubs hang some family pictures or do some painting!

Now that we have this awesome ladder I’ll finally be able to finish the paint job we started 6 years ago and never completely finished because we didn’t have a ladder that we could use safely on the stairs. I’ll also be able to hang pictures on the stairway way which I’ve always wanted to do. I never thought I’d be so excited about a ladder but just watch the video at lgxtreme.com and you’ll see where I’m coming from! You can also find more information at www.lgxtreme.com.

Feeling lucky? Enter to win a Little Giant Extreme by filling out the form below. Also, be sure to check out all of our other giveaways. [click to reveal entire post…]

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Pottery Barn Kids Star Holiday Card Holder Review

by holly on November 26, 2011

What do you do with your holiday cards? Do you display them on the mantle or refrigerator? I used to but they were always such a jumbled mess. They’d fall off the mantle and the fridge would get too cluttered.

I love my new star card holder from Pottery Barn Kids. It’s so easy to plop the card right in. The star is easy to hang (I just used a pushpin) and it adds a festive look to your decor. But what I love even more is that the start doesn’t scream Christmas. I can move it to the kitchen and use it year round to display my children’s works of art!

The red bow and greenery in the picture is added and does not come with the star holder.

A Christmas tree card holder is also available which is really cute. I choose the star over the tree though because of the fact that it can be used for other occasions and that it’s flat and stores a lot easier than the three dimensional tree.

Both are crafted of wire with an oil rubbed bronzed finish and hold up to 80 cards, photos or artwork. These are the measurements:

Star: 21.5″ wide x 22″ high x 0.5″ thick

Tree: 14.75″ wide x 14″ deep x 23.25″ high

Beautifully display your holiday cards from friends & family this year with a wire card holder from Pottery Barn Kids!

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CrinkledNose.com Magnetic Christmas Cards Review & Giveaway

by holly on November 8, 2011

There are so many options these day for Christmas Cards. More and more people are turning to the internet to create personalized photo cards. I personally enjoy receiving photo cards over standard cards because it makes me feel more connected to the sender. Every year you get a family picture taken, create a holiday card, address all those envelopes and send your cards to friends and relatives. It can be rather time consuming and the truth is, after the holidays are over, those cards are probably tossed right into the trash. This year, consider magnetic backed cards from CrinkledNose.com. Available as an upgrade to any flat card, your holiday cards will be printed on high quality MagneCote paper making them ideal for refrigerator display all year long. These magnetic cards are what sets CrinkledNose.com apart from other personalized card companies. A locally owned and operated business located in Birmingham, Alabama, CrinkledNose.com is run by creative professionals who go the extra mile to provide quality products and superb customer service. The designing process is simple,quick and perfect for busy parents. A wide variety of templates are available or you can create your own from scratch. Prices start as low as $.60 each.

The second card above is the one I created. I liked the Christmas present design because it had space for an individual picture of each of my kids plus one of them together. The cards are much thinner and lighter than I thought they would be but that makes them easy to mail without extra postage. They still stick really well to the refrigerator as the entire card is a magnet. The card making process was easy from start to finish and the people at CrinkledNose.com were lovely to work with.

Thinking beyond the holidays, CrinkledNose.com also offers magnetic photo baby announcements, magnetic photo birthday invitations and more.

CrinkledNose.com has graciously offered Mommies with Cents readers 15% off of any order with code mommieswithcents. There is no expiration date!

Feeling Lucky? Visit www.CrinkledNose.com and browse their holiday collection. Leave a comment here about your favorite design to enter to win 50 Holiday Photo Cards of your choice. Then enter the giveaway by filling out the form below. Also, be sure to check out all of our other giveaways.

This giveaway is open until November 15, 2011 at 12:o1 am CST to U.S residents.

Your information is confidential and used for contacting the winner and prize fulfillment purposes only.

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Mindbloom Review & GrowPro Lifetime Membership Giveaway

by holly on September 27, 2011

Instead of playing mindless games like The Sims or Farmville, try Mindboom. While those other games are fun, nothing comes out of them. They don’t enhance your life like Mindbloom will. Just released today, this new game will inspire you to improve all areas of your life. Stick with me here folks as I try to explain this game that I’m giving my whole-hearted, positive endorsement. I got to preview it before it went live and I’m hooked! It’s free but it’s benefits are priceless.

Mindblooom will help you define what’s important in your life and take steps to improve it with meaningful daily actions. It provides personalized motivation to help you succeed. Mindbloom integrates technology, human psychology and art for effective personal growth. Mindbloom uses the metaphor of a Life Tree that you care for and help grow. The branches/leaves of the tree can include health, lifestyle, career, creativity, relationships, finances and spirituality. You select which areas are most important in your life or the ones you’d like to improve on.

Keep your tree healthy by creating an action plan. These can be as simple or as complex as you’d like. One of my action plans is reading 20 minutes or more per day to my kids. You can also select from a list of over 500 recommended actions such as substituting water for pop, taking the stairs at work, or checking in with your parents more often.
Personalized inspiration will keep you motivated. You can choose from a gallery of free inspirational media from music to images or creat your own by using your music from iTunes or your favorite uplifting quote.
Get the support you need in the online community or keep it private. It’s your choice. Mindbloom is also integrated with instant messaging, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Skype and YouTube so you can get encouragement, be held accountable and receive challenges each step of the way.
When you complete daily actions to form new habits you’ll be rewarded with online achievements such as “seeds” and badges and the ability to level up. You can spend your seeds to expand your image gallery and music playlists as well as purchase Action Packs which provide additional actions and images in specific life areas.

You can track your progress online or from your mobile phone. To start living a healthier and more balanced life, visit:
www.mindbloom.com. You can also find Mindbloom on Facebook at www.facebook.com/
mindbloom or on Twitter at @mindbloom.

Available today for free, The Mindbloom Life Game works on all popular Internet browsers as well as any Android or iPhone. Users can purchase the GrowPro™ Package (a lifetime membership that includes premium content, rewards, and more) for $34 until November 1, 2011. After this date, the GrowPro Package will be $89 for a lifetime membership.

Since I was testing the beta version, I was advised not to get too attached to my tree since I wouldn't be saved after today's release.  I am so excited about Mindbloom and can't wait to create my tree, to cultivate it while enhancing my life and being inspired to achieve my goals (no matter how small or large). I cannot see a single negative about this program and believe it will enrich many people lives.  Now what are you waiting for?  Go create your Life Tree!  Still not convinced?  Check out this short video to see how it works:

Feeling lucky?  Enter to win a GrowPro lifetime membership package to Mindbloom by filling out the form below.  Also, be sure to check out all of our other giveaways.

This giveaway is open until October 4, 2011 at 12:01 am CST to U.S residents.

Your information is confidential and used for contacting the winner and prize fulfillment purposes only.

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Native Shoes Review & Giveaway

September 21, 2011

When I’m shopping for kids shoes I look for something easy to put on, easy to keep clean and something that fits well. Something stylish and cute is also a requirement. Native Shoes have introduced new colors for kids this fall including Scuba Green, Jellybean Purple and Crayon Yellow. The classic colors (Jiffy Black, [...]

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Tailgating Party $44.99 Includes

All-Pro Party Pack $39.99 Includes:

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