Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Protect Yourself From Harmful Rays With Eucerin (Giveaway too!) #ProRepair

noreply@blogger.com (A.Rhodes) — Thu, 31 May 2012 03:28:00 +0000

With more two million people diagnosed annually, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, fortunately, skin cancer is also one of the most preventable forms of cancer. Summer is here and everyone wants to enjoy the beautiful, warm outdoors. But May is also National Skin Cancer Awareness Month and Eucerin wants to make sure everyone is doing what they can to protect their gorgeous skin and putting the health of their skin FIRST!

Do you know that skin is the body’s largest organ? This is why very important that we keep it healthy, so for Skin Cancer Awareness month Eucerin would like to share some tips to help protect your skin from potential sun damage this month.

· Skin Cancer doesn’t discriminate, it can affect anyone. Head to toe annual skin checks can help catch melanoma early – when it’s most curable.

· Always remember to apply sunscreen 20-30 minutes before going outside and make sure to reapply it every two hours.

· You can decrease your UV exposure by wearing protective clothing, sunglasses and avoiding the sun between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

· Making sure your skin’s protective barrier is strong is also another great way to keep your skin healthy and safe.

· Don’t forget to use SPF on days when it’s cloudy because the sun’s harmful UV rays can still cause

Eucerin has some great products that will help you protect your skin from the summers harmful rays:

Eucerin Daily Protection Moisturizing Body Lotion Sunscreen SPF 15 (13.5 oz.) – Helps protect skin from daily sun exposure with a lotion specifically formulated to moisturize and protect. This light, fast-absorbing formula with SPF 15 sunscreen provides 24-hour moisture and helps defend against sunburn

Eucerin Daily Protection Moisturizing Face Lotion Sunscreen SPF 30 (4 oz.) – This lightweight, gentle broad spectrum SPF 30 formula with UVA/UVB sunscreens including zinc oxide and titanium dioxide helps defend against long-term sun damage and also provides effective moisturization

Eucerin Daily Replenishing Moisturizing Lotion (13.5 oz) –Keeps skin moisturized all day with a lotion specifically formulated to replenish the skin’s natural moisture barrier. This light, everyday formula with nourishing sunflower oil absorbs quickly and provides 24 hour moisturization for healthier-looking, softer skin.

To help you kick off the summer, Eucerin is giving one of my super, lucky readers an awesome prize pack which consists of one of each of the three lotions mentioned above, a $100 Visa Gift Card and a $50 Gift card to Sunglass Hut! All you have to do to enter is fill out the Rafflecopter widget below. Open to US Only!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received products as well as gift cards from Eucerin, all opinions are my own.

LEGO KidsFest is coming to Milwaukee, June 15-17, 2012! (Ticket Giveaway)

noreply@blogger.com (A.Rhodes) — Wed, 30 May 2012 14:53:00 +0000

LEGO® KIDSFEST is coming to Milwaukee’s Frontier Airlines Center (Wisconsin) June 15 – 17. The tour will be bringing all of the creative hands-on, minds-on fun of LEGO building and experiences together in this three acre activity- and entertainment-packed family event for children of all ages and builders of all skills and interests.

Among the many LEGO attractions, families will find:

• LEGO Model Gallery: dozens of life-sized models made entirely from LEGO bricks

• LEGO Master Builders: live demonstrations and activities from the crew who get paid to play

• Creation Nation: build your own creation to add to a custom map of the U.S.

• Race Ramps: build your own custom car, then race it down the ramp against friends and family

• LEGO Games Arena: roll the dice to play LEGO board games

• Construction Zones: creative free build, play and display areas

• LEGO DUPLO®: younger visitors can explore imagination through building

• LEGO Retail and KidsFest Marketplace: purchase LEGO merchandise and official KidsFest tour goods

• Brick Pile: a gigantic pile full of LEGO bricks for creative play and enjoyment

• Monochromatic Builds: bricks of a single color to foster group creativity

• Brickscapes: fantastic displays that combine lots of LEGO and DUPLO sets

• And much more, covering over 150,000 square feet of space

“Any family who likes to be inspired, get hands-on and have fun together won’t want to miss LEGO KidsFest,” said Vince Rubino, LEGO events manager. “We’re bringing so many activities for Milwaukee-area families to test and showcase their creativity and building skills in what is sure to be a family event to remember.”

Based on sell-out attendance in previous markets, advance ticket purchase is strongly encouraged.

Five sessions – all identical – are available for the Milwaukee June 15 – 17 tour stop. LEGO KidsFest tickets are $20 for adults and $18 for children and can be purchased online at www.LEGOKidsFest.com.

Friday, June 15
4 pm - 8:30 pm

Saturday, June 16
Session I: 9 am – 1:30 pm
Session II: 3 pm – 7:30 pm

Sunday, June 17
Session I: 9 am – 1:30 pm
Session II: 3 pm – 7:30 pm

(Note: Each session offers the same exhibits and activities)

Want to know some fun facts about LEGO?

More than 400 Billion LEGO bricks have been produced since 1949.
The LEGO Minifigure represents the world's largest population of people, over 4 billion minifigures have been produced in the last 30 years. This is almost 12 times the population of the U.S.
LEGO minifigures are out of this world, literally. The 2 Mars Rovers have an image of the LEGO minifigure etched into their front grill.
Approximately 7 LEGO sets are sold each second.
There are about 62 LEGO bricks for every one of the world's 6 billion inhabitants.
Laid end to end, the number of LEGO bricks sold in a year would reach more than 5 times around the world.
There are 915 Million ways to combine six eight-stud LEGO bricks.
Children around the world spend 5 Billion hours a year playing with LEGO bricks.
With a production of about 306 Million tires produced a year, the LEGO group is the largest producer of tires in the world.
LEGO is the contraction of two Danish words "Leg Godt" which means "Play Well"

I am hosting a giveaway for 2 tickets to the opening night session on Friday, June 15th 4-8:30. This is a super easy giveaway to enter, just click HERE to register.

US Family Guide will be choosing the winners and notifying me on June 6th.

Good Luck!

Desi the Dog

noreply@blogger.com (A.Rhodes) — Wed, 30 May 2012 04:09:00 +0000

Its been a while, but I mentioned that I acquired a new dog and I think I said something about posting about how we got her, so here we go. I live out in the country, sort of, but by a pretty busy road so imagine my surprise when I opened my front door and found a momma dog and a puppy on my front steps. The puppy looked like an apricot toy poodle but the mom, well she was a mess. I brought them in, they were super friendly, and took them right to the bathtub.

This was the little girl puppy, she was actually pretty clean

This is the mom, she was filthy with matted up hair and sores under the hair clumps. The bath water was black and I could not brush through that hair, so I clipped it off. Both dogs were exhausted, the pup fell asleep on my slipper and the mom fell asleep on my lap while I was clipping her fur.

Here she is two baths and a haircut later.

I took the dogs to the vet to see if they were microchiped and to see if anyone had called about them. They were not and no one had inquired about two lost dogs. The vet called county animal control and they had not had anyone call either. County told the vet that they have to hold the dogs for seven days to see if anyone would claim them. So I had to leave the girls there. I literally could not sleep that night, I did not understand why they had to stay there in a cage, they could stay here until the owner came for them. So the next morning I called the vet and asked if I could foster them until their owner was located. After calling county to ask, I was allowed to take them home. About an hour after I got home I got a phone call that someone had called about them. So back to the vet we went and I had to leave them again. I felt bad for the dogs, according to the vet the mom was between two and three and had more than one litter. I don't think she was abused but definitely neglected. The puppy was in a lot better shape, probably lived indoors, but not the poor little momma. Well I thought that was the end of that story until two days later I got another phone call....the owner did not want the mom. So I went and got her. She is the sweetest little dog I have ever seen, she is doing pretty good with potty training, just having a hard time getting her to stop messing her crate. She does have some funny traits that only dogs who have to scrounge for food would pick up. If I giver her a treat she takes it to the rug and then uses her nose to "bury" it (there is nothing to bury it with so it looks funny) then she sits and guards it from my other dog.

We are a "no dogs on the furniture" family, well I guess we were until now because this little 6 pound pocket dog loves to sleep on the top of the couch, or in my daughter's bed.

And she loves to go for car rides to pick up the kids from school. And the name Desi....well we already had a Lucy so Desi just seemed to fit.

Keep Your Kids Active This Summer (and Chicago Bears Giveaway) #eatlikeabear

noreply@blogger.com (A.Rhodes) — Thu, 24 May 2012 14:58:00 +0000

Summertime is here and kids are wrapping up their school years. For many kids, the end of the school year is the end of physical education until fall. Summertime is the perfect time to get your kids involved in some physical activities so that they don't end up spending those summer months on the couch and in front of the TV. With childhood obesity running rampant through our country, its our responsibility as parents to get our kids moving. Summer camps are making a huge comeback this year and summer sports camps should be at the top of every ones summer camp list.

The Chicago Bears Youth Football Camps are safe, non-contact instruction for kids ages 6-14 and are very suitable for any kid that just wants to learn the game. They provide a station-based training format that allows campers to be divided by age and experience level so each receives the right level of instruction and support. Kids will learn to run, throw, catch, defend, form block, form tackle and explode out of their stance with proper technique and improved speed. The camps, which each run for 5 days from 9am to 3pm (that’s 30 hours active learning, instruction and fun!), do more than just introduce kids to sports, they make kids passionate about being healthy and help develop a lifelong love of fitness.

Not only that but the camps also feature:

Chicago Bears Heroes

Professional Coaches

Athletic Development

Skill Challenges

Team Contests

Tournament Action

Championship Friday

Awards and Prices

The camps are designed to get kids more interested in physical fitness and they do this by disguising it as fun activities. “Kids do Bears Youth Football Camps because they are fun,” says Tom Finks, Executive Director of Chicago Bears Youth Football Camps. “They don’t know that there is this big, underlying health initiative happening underneath all the fun-filled activities.” From learning new skills and pushing beyond comfort zones to making healthier food choices and honing young leadership skills, the Chicago Bears Youth Camps provide a great opportunity for kids to develop a lifelong love of fitness.

Tips for Parents from Chicago Bears Youth Football Camps:

Focus on New Achievements: Kids love learning new skills and are always excited to succeed. “At our camps, through fun skill challenges, fun competitions and fun games, kids exert themselves—often beyond their normal comfort level,” says Finks. Finks suggests introducing your child to a new skill—making great catches, running faster, setting an obstacle record, etc., which will often get your child to push him or herself on their own. “The fitness discovery is indirect,” adds Finks. “They experience an increased work capacity or ability. They see that they can move faster and longer than they ever imagined and for a longer period of time. That experience raises their understanding of what their bodies can achieve.”

Talk about the Affects of Exercise: Once kids begin exercising regularly, they will notice how different their body feels. “They are relaxed, they sleep well, they are happy,” adds Finks. “Their body may be tired, but it’s a ‘good tired’ and parents should openly talk about this.” This is also a great time to begin talking about how the foods you put in your body affect how your body performs. Off the field moments during camps include nutritional education games, interactive classroom activities such as “Eat Like a Bear” and lunch hours for kids and coaches. There is even an interactive online game called “Eat Like a Pro”—which is a great tool for starting the parent/kid nutrition discussion “Kids are now primed to consider what kinds of foods will help them perform better tomorrow than they did today,” says Finks. “You want them to begin thinking about what foods provide them energy, repair muscles and help them feel great.”

Provide Proper Motivation: Just as all kids are different, all kids are motivated by different things. Parents need to tap into the one or two things that will motivate their child to try his or her hardest and do their best. “At camps, kids want to run hard for different reasons. From making a great catch to winning a leadership award,” says Finks. “Either way, that child is going to give it everything he has to achieve his own personal goal."

With locations ranging from Chicago to Rockford and everywhere in between, there is sure to be one near you. To get registered or to check locations just click HERE.

I'm also excited to announce that I am doing a giveaway where one of my readers will win an awesome Chicago BearsYouth Football Camps prize which will include items such as small leather binder, Bears rally towel, water bottle, Play 60 drawstring bag, D.J. Moore fan face, Bears gloves and football cards. This giveaway is open to US residents ONLY, all you have to do is leave me a comment below telling me how your kids stay active over the summer. Don't forget your email address so I have a way to track you down if you win. This giveaway will end at midnight on June 4th. Good Luck!

***This post was compensated by Chicago Bears Youth Camps, all opinions are my own.

What's Wrong With My Boy?

noreply@blogger.com (A.Rhodes) — Tue, 22 May 2012 03:15:00 +0000

I know I mentioned earlier that my son was very sick not too long ago, so here is what happened....I would appreciate any comments from anyone who may have some insight on the matter. My son went to a birthday party, and being the picky eater that he is, did not eat anything there besides cake. My husband picked him up late evening, and ran to Mc Donalds to get him a chicken nugget happy meal. That night my son vomited (a lot) all over his bed, twice. I figured he ate something that made him sick, he had no other symptoms. The next day he seemed ok but had this horrible, watery diarrhea. Again, since he had no other symptoms, I assumed it was food related. This diarrhea went on for a couple of days, at which point I thought that it was taking too long to be food poisoning, I decided that I would take him to the doctor the next morning. Other than the bathroom issues, which he could not even control, he was acting like himself, had no fever or anything else. The next morning he woke up and was complaining that his left arm and leg hurt. I thought maybe he slept in a funny position and his limbs "fell asleep", so I told him to get up and move around and see if they get better. He started to cry in pain and refused to use his arms. I got him to walk, though you could tell it hurt, but he would not raise his arms at the shoulder joints. He said the left side was worse than the right. I took him to the emergency room, this was at 9 A.M. Once they admitted us, we had to wait quite a while, they took his vitals and they were normal, no fever. We waited and waited while he cried in pain, finally I asked them if they could at least give him some Tylenol while we wait for the doctor to see him. It seemed to make him a little bit more comfortable but every time I helped him off the bed so that he could use the bathroom, he would scream in pain. They swabbed him for a flu test and took a urine sample and left us to wait again. The doctor came in and was not too concerned, thought my son was dehydrated and sore, thought that some IV fluids would fix him right up. So they put him on an IV and left him to rest. We waited again, after he got about half of the bag in him, they came in and decided that they would do some x-rays and ultrasounds to make sure it was not his appendix, although his abdomen did not hurt him. He just kept complaining about his arms and cried in pain when I helped him up. I told them numerous times that he was saying his arm hurts and they just kept telling me that it was just the IV that was uncomfortable....well it was his left arm and his IV was in his right. The chest and abdominal x-rays were fine, as was the ultrasound. The doctor ordered some blood work, then again we had to sit and wait. The blood work was fine and they were ready to let us go, with no answers, thankfully a nurse told the doctor that she did not feel comfortable letting him go home in that much pain. She actually saw me trying to help him up and him screaming in pain. The doctor went back to have the x-rays reviewed again to make sure there was no fracture in his left arm, and everything looked normal. The whole thing was a giant puzzle. The doctor was also calling the pediatrician that the hospital had on call to ask his opinion and neither one of them could come up with anything.

They decided to give him some morphine to ease his pain. At the same time they made a decision to give him a CAT scan. So the morphine kicked in and he finally started to doze off (this is about after 6 hours of being in the ER). As soon as he dozed off, they came in with that drink that he had to drink before the CAT scan. I had to wake him up and make him drink a giant cup of this stuff (it was mixed with juice) , and after he drank 3/4 of it, he threw up everywhere. Now they were not sure if they could do the scan.....they told me to have him finish it and they would try anyway. My poor baby was so tired and hurt so bad, and I still had to force this stuff in him. They came in and gave him more morphine before they took him for his scan. They also took his vitals again and now he was running a fever.....No one had any idea what was going on with him. The scan was fine, but now that he had a fever, they ordered more blood work. This time they were not taking it through his IV, they had to stick him in his hurting arm. I had had enough. My husband was finally able to get there at 7 P.M. and while we waited for the blood test results I ran to the cafeteria to finally eat something. When I came back they said his test was fine. There was really not much anyone could do at this point. They offered us to admit him and monitor his pain, but I knew he would not sleep well there and he needed sleep. We chose to take hime home because it seemed like they had checked everything and there was no immediate danger to him, just pain. They concluded that it was viral. Has this happened to any of your children before? About two years ago my son got the flu, and he was really sick. When he started feeling better, one day he woke up and could not walk. He waddled around like a penguin with locked knees and they ran tests on him then too. All the test results were fine. That time they ruled it as viral also, saying the flu virus settled in his knees. His doctor perscribed him a steroid (oral liquid) and after one dose, he was fine. This seemed very similar, except the pain level was much more intense, and this time they did not want to try any steroids.

The whole ordeal was very scary, we left the ER at 9 P.M., 12 hours later, with no answers. He was a little better the next day, but still would not use his arms. He kept them down at the shoulders and looked like a little T-Rex walking around, only using his forearms. Thankfully he is fine now, back to his old self, I just worry now that everytime he gets something viral it will end up like this.

Winner Announcement

noreply@blogger.com (A.Rhodes) — Tue, 22 May 2012 02:15:00 +0000

Hello all you lovelies, I have some great news for you, the original winner of the $125 Visa Gift card and Eucerin prize pack never claimed their prize so I am selecting a new winner as we speak. The new winner is number 44 Ashley Hatten. Congrats Ashley, I am sending you an email shortly.

Next is the winner of the electric toothbrush ($160 value), and that winner is number 7 McMel. Congrats, I sent you an email so check your inbox.

And finally I have the winner of the Rubbermaid Hidden Recycler, that winner is number 2 Melissa. An email has also been sent out.

Congrats to all my winners, please make sure you reply to me within 48 hours or I will have to choose another winner.

A Lego Maniac's Dream Come True (and Ticket Giveaway)

noreply@blogger.com (A.Rhodes) — Thu, 17 May 2012 11:52:00 +0000

When I was little, my brother and I would build out of Legos for hours on end. Now that my kids are a little older, they have really gotten into Lego blocks as well. The other night all four of us sat around and built together, it brought back some great childhood memories. The reason I enjoy Legos so much, and encourage my kids to play and build, is because they really let you use your imagination and creativity. I also can't wait to take them to Legoland Discovery Center! If you live in the Chicagoland area, you really need to come check it out. Located at the Streets of Woodfield, 601 N. Martingale Rd. in Schaumburg, with over three million Lego bricks under one roof, you will feel like you just stepped into a Lego box.

This is just a picture of the interactive map that is available on their site, you can visit the site by clicking HERE. This is a Legomaniacs dream come true, with rides, a lego factory, a jungle adventure, hall of fame, birthday rooms and so much more. There are no additionial costs for these attractions, unless you are looking to purchase food or product. The attraction is geared towards families with children 3-10 years old. Oh yes, they also offer birthday parties, and you can submit your childs name for the birthday club so they can receive a free child ticket during their birthday month.

Legoland Discovery Center is 30 minutes from downtown Chicago by car. Adult admissionat the door is $19. Child Admission is $15. Special annual pass and ticket offers are always available at www.LEGOLANDdiscoverycenter.com. Hours are Monday-Friday from noon-7 p.m. and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Open extended hours on holidays. Last guest admission is two hours before closing at 5p.m.

I'm excited to have the opportunity to offer one of my readers a family 4 pack of tickets to check out Legoland for themselves. Must be 18 or older to enter, please leave me a comment below telling me who is a Lego maniac in your home....maybe its you? This giveaway will end at midnight on May 31st, winner will be chosen at random and notified by email, Good Luck!

**I received free tickets courtesy of Legoland, all opinions are my own**

Harlem Globetrotters Summer Skills Clinics

noreply@blogger.com (A.Rhodes) — Tue, 15 May 2012 18:31:00 +0000

For the first time, the Harlem Globetrotters are holding summer skills clinics to bring boys and girls ages 6-14 behind the curtain to see the Globetrotters’ electrifying skills and tricks, while also having fun staying active. This is a great way to get the kids off the couch and active this summer.

Each participating child receives:

A free ticket voucher (valued up to $40) to see the Globetrotters during their 2013 World Tour
Autographs and photos with the stars!
3-day trial pass to 24 Hour Fitness

Clinic Locations: (Keep in mind these are just the clinics - the games for your tickets are in 200 cities)
Phoenix, Houston, San Francisco, New Jersey, Denver, Dallas, Los Angeles, Seattle, St Louis, Miami and Las Vegas

I have a special offer for my readers, you can save $10 on registration! Enter the Coupon Code USFAMILY on the cart page after completing your registration or mention when calling 1-800-641-HOOP (4667)

WHAT:		3-hour basketball skills clinic coached by the actual stars of The HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS. Exercise that's fun, with the professionals whom parents trust to help their kids learn to play sports with a positive attitude. Register your kid and make this a summer to remember!
WHO:		Boys and girls ages 6-14. No basketball experience required, fun for all.
WHERE:		At state-of-the-art 24 Hour Fitness® locations in Phoenix, AZ, St. Louis, MO, Denver, CO, Houston, TX, Dallas, TX, Miami, FL, San Francisco, CA, Los Angeles, CA, Las Vegas, NV, New Jersey, and Seattle, WA.
WHEN:		A 3-hour morning skills clinic will run each day, Monday through Friday: 8:30-11:30 a.m. A 3-hour afternoon skills clinic will run each day, Monday through Friday: 2:00-5:00 p.m.
BONUS VALUES:		Complimentary ticket voucher to see The HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS live on tour included in the price: Retail value up to $40. Free 3-day trial pass to 24 Hour Fitness® for mom or dad! Autograph and photograph opportunity with the stars at the end of each clinic - remember your camera!
REGISTER:		Spaces strictly limited to give kids maximum interaction with the stars so REGISTER NOW TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT

Kids Live Well Program #KidsLiveWell

noreply@blogger.com (A.Rhodes) — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:34:00 +0000

Like many families, we like to go out for dinner once in a while, but it seems like wherever we go, the kids menu looks the same. There are a handful of choices, some of which include chicken tenders or a mini pizza, and of course a side of french fries. We as adults have an entire menu of choices, healthy and indulgent, but the kids have so few. The National Restaurant Association has launched a wonderful program called Kids Live Well which is changing the way kids dine out all over the country. Currently 96 restaurant brands (representing more than 25,000 locations nationwide) are revamping their kids menus to meet the demands of health conscious parents. Restaurants such as Applebee’s and Chick-fil-A are participating in this program, which has quadrupled since its launch last July, by putting things such as fruit and vegetables, lean protein, whole grains and low-fat dairy products on their kids menus. There are specific guidelines that the restaurants need to adhere to,

A Kids LiveWell meal must provide the following:

600 calories or less
35% or less calories from total fat
10% or less calories from saturated fat
Less than 0.5 grams trans fat (artificial trans fat only)
35% or less calories from total sugar
770 mg or less of sodium
Essential nutrients for a well-balanced meal; each meal must contain two sources of either fruit, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein or low-fat dairy

Individual and side items are also eligible for the Kids LiveWell program if they include

200 calories or less
35% or less calories from total fat
10% or less calories from saturated fat
Less than 0.5 grams trans fat (artificial trans fat only)
35% or less calories from total sugars (added and naturally occurring)
250 mg or less of sodium
Essential nutrients to contribute toward a well-balanced meal; each individual side must contain a source of either fruit, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein or low-fat dairy

Not only that, but participating restaurants must display nutrition information of the full meal and individual menu item or make it available upon request. With childhood obesity and diabeties running rampant through our country, this program is taking big steps to make a change.

Also, the Association has unvailed a new Kids LiveWell App. This app will connects on-the-go parents to restaurants which offer healthful children’s menu items under the Kids LiveWell program. The app is geo-coded so that users will be able to find restaurants nearest to them with Kids LiveWell menu items. The free app is available in the Android Market and iTunes app store. To download it visit: www.restaurant.org/kidslivewell.

I'm really excited about this program and how fast its growing. Last Monday I attended the NRA Show in Chicago and was honored to be a part of the Kids Live Well announcement.

“Participation in the ‘Kids LiveWell’ program has exploded in a short period of time, with restaurant companies from across the industry eager to showcase their healthful choices,” said National Restaurant Association President and CEO Dawn Sweeney. “As a result, parents are finding a growing selection of healthful children’s menu options of fruit and vegetables, lean protein, whole grains and low-fat dairy products.”

What can you do to help this program grow? Download the App by clicking HERE, support the restaurants that are already involved and suggest the program to those that are not. Tell them how important it is to you that your child have healthy options to choose from on their menu.

Disclosure: I received compensation from the National Restaurant Association’s Kids LiveWell program for my time reviewing and writing about their program. The opinions expressed are solely my own

Visa Gift Card Winner Announced

noreply@blogger.com (A.Rhodes) — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:31:00 +0000

You may be wondering where I have been, well that is an excellent question my friends.....Within the last week and a half I have acquired a new furry, four legged friend as well as had to nurse my baby through a rough illness (posts to follow), attended my daughters first Taekwondo tournament as well as celebrated Mother's Day. So now I'm back, with lots of stuff to share with you guys. First and foremost I have a winner to announce for the $125 Visa Gift Card and Eucerin prize pack.......

The winner is #717 Denise Goudy!

Congrats Denise, I will be emailing you shortly.

There are still a couple of days left in the electric toothbrush giveaway ($160 value) so make sure you get yourself entered in that giveaway.

Mother's Day Project (Grandmas, no peeking!) #CBias #SocialFabric #ExpressYourself

noreply@blogger.com (A.Rhodes) — Tue, 08 May 2012 02:54:00 +0000

Mother's Day is next weekend so I thought the kids could get a head start on their Mother's Day gifts for their grandmothers. Grandmas, please stop reading now, lol.....

Ok, I had an idea in my head, just needed to make a trip to Wal-Mart to pick up a few items. My son had gotten food poisoning the night before so the kids stayed home with their dad this time and I went to shop alone. For their project, I wanted them to decorate ceramic flower pots that we would plant some little flowers in. I am always hesitant to let them use acrylic paint because they always make a HUGE mess and it makes me nervous. The best solution to my dilemma was to purchase some Elmers Painters Paint Markers. After picking up some "food poisoning" essentials, I headed to the craft isle for the Paint Markers.

There was a nice selection of boxed sets, but I wanted to mix and match my own colors for this project.

So I chose to buy the individual Paint Markers. These also came in metallic colors and they were under $2 each.

I grabbed six colors, I had to get the gold and silver, I knew the kids would love those two. These seem so much easier than dealing with paint, brushes and cups of water. I also ran over to the card isle and picked up some cards for them. Normally I let them choose the cards but our schedules have been crazy lately and I didn't want to wait until the last minute when all the good ones are gone.

I set up the flower pots on some newspaper and got the Painters markers ready, the kids were really excited to try them out. You have to shake them well before using....

The tips of the markers are white when you first open them, you have to press them down a couple of times to get the paint to start flowing.

The colors come out smooth and don't drip or run. I love that the kids didn't have to use brushes which need to be rinsed between colors, these were so much easier.

The colors stayed bright and didn't sink into the ceramic pots, the kids designs looked beautiful!

Here are their finished products, all we need now is some soil and flowers. Oh I have to add that the drying time on these markers is so much faster than paint which is great for impatient little crafters.

All ready for Mother's Day. Now we have a hard decision, which grandma gets which flower pot, maybe we need to make two more.

If you want to check out all the pictures from my shopping trip, click HERE to see the album on Google+.

I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™. #CBias #SocialFabric

Rubbermaid Hidden Recycler Review and Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (A.Rhodes) — Tue, 01 May 2012 03:36:00 +0000

We all know how important recycling is, trust me my kids remind me everyday, but do we slack when its not convenient? The town I live in has recycling pick up, but only in town, and those of us who live on the outskirts don't have that luxury. There is a place where I can take my recyclables and drop them off, but I will admit that I don't always do it. Why? I guess here is where I list a bunch of excuses....Ok, I only really have one. My house has a detached garage and we already have unsightly garbage cans next to the house (that keep migrating) so the last thing I want is another container sitting out there for my recyclables. You may think that is a lousy excuse but have you ever had to run around your yard and pick up a bunch of newspapers and plastic bottles that are blowing around in a thunderstorm? I don't have a place to put a container inside my house and I definitely don't want to stack them on my counters. Rubbermaid came up with a perfect solution for my issue, they came up with the Hidden Recycler.

This little guy is the perfect size to hang over a cabinet door (or attach to) and its big enough to hold items like gallon milk jugs. The bag is actually a 5 gallon bag and can hold up to 36 twelve ounce cans. The bag is soft and flexible, has a leak proof liner and is machine washable. Plus everything from the packaging to the bag is completely recyclable. My favorite part is that when it is full I can do one of two things, take it out to the garage to dump into a larger container OR I can just take it with me when I run to town and recycle it. I usually just do the second one because it is really inconvenient to try to pack up a garbage can size container in to a car full of kids so you can go and recycle it.

I can now recyle without all the hassle, and the nagging kids. If you want a chance to win one of your own, just leave me a comment below and don't forget to include your email address so I have a way to track you down if you win, open to US and Canada only.

This giveaway will end at midnight on May 11th, Good Luck!

**I received a Hidden Recycler from Rubbermaid for review purposes, all opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this post**

Great Day To Be A Dog #iLoveMyK9 #CBias #SocialFabric

noreply@blogger.com (A.Rhodes) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:15:00 +0000

Our dog Lucy is more than just our pet, she is one of our family members and we love her crazy little ways. We again had the opportunity to share our love for dogs by purchasing items to put together a gift basket for donation. Our favorite place to donate pet items is Tails Humane Society, a no kill shelter in the neighboring town. We go there quite often and just hang out and play with the cats and pet the dogs. We made a shopping list with three of the items that we knew we wanted to get, the rest we would decide when we got there. This time the whole family was going to go shopping. On our list we had Milk Bone Trail Mix, Pup-Peroni Mix Stix, and Milo’s Kitchen Homestyle Treats.

Little man took a ride on the cart all the way to the pet section at our local Wal Mart. I told the kids what we were looking for and they started checking the shelves.

The shelves were a little messy, lots of empty boxes and things shuffled around, but we knew where the Milo's Kitchen treats were because we had bought them before.

We got a small bag of the Beef Sausage Slices. If you ever buy these, make sure you leave them in the original packaging or something else labeled tog treats because they look and smell just like people food and could probably be easily mistaken. I do not know what they taste like but they smell amazing!

The Pup-Peroni Mix Sticks were also easy to find, these are made with bacon and real egg, and they are really well priced.

Next on our list was the Milk Bone Trail Mix. I had not seen it before but I knew that all the Milk Bone products are usually grouped together. At our Wal Mart they are at the bottom of the shelves. I looked through all the boxes but could not find it. The kids were helping too and we did not see it anywhere. We did buy a box of different Milk Bone treats to put into our donation though. We decided that we would get the rest of our shopping done, then come back and look again, just to make sure we did not miss it.

We made our rounds around the store, getting what we needed, and stopped in the toy isles for some browsing, then headed back to the pet section.

We scoured the isles and end caps but still didn't find the Trail Mix, so we got another box of regular Milk Bones.

We came home with a nice selection of treats, some dental bones and a soft squeaky toy, now to pack it all up.

Ready for delivery, unfortunately they are not open Sunday nights so this will have to wait until Monday after school. The kids are super excited to take this to Tails and play with some animals while we are there. If you want to see our entire shop, you can check out my Google + album by clicking here.

I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™. #CBias #SocialFabric

Eucerin Daily Protection and Visa Gift Card Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (A.Rhodes) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 22:49:00 +0000

Spring is in full swing and everyday elements like climate change and pollution can weaken your skin’s protective barrier over time. Dry skin is not just a problem during the winter, changes in temperature, humidity and other environmental factors can lead to dry skin all year round. As the weather is getting warmer, you can help maintain your skin’s health with essential cleansers and moisturizers to perk up your skin care regime. Eucerin has some awesome new moisturizers to help you with all of that, the Eucerin Daily Protection SPF 15 Body and SPF 30 Face. These lotions are great moisturizers that also provide protection from the harmful effects of the sun. They are also dermatologist recommended, and fragrance free. The face lotion is also non-comedogenic, and clinically proven safe for sensitive skin

Spring is filled with lots of different activities (at least for our crazy little family); whether you enjoy running outside, playing sports (or watching your kids play them), or just taking it easy and relaxing. As you plan outdoor activities for your family, it’s important to remember your skin needs daily protection so you can prevent skin problems later in life.

I really love these lotions, they are light weight, fast absorbing and non greasy. I moisturize my face every morning, as part of my morning routine, so I replaced my regular moisturizer with the Daily Protection face lotion with SPF and now I don't have to worry about remembering to apply sunscreen.

Don't forget to help your skin get healthy from the inside out by eating a diet consisting of plenty of fruits, veggies, lean protein and high-fiber grains, as well as getting plenty of water.

If you are ever unsure of what Eucerin skin care products to use for your skin type then they have the right tool for you! They just launched their new SkinDicator app that recommends a product based your SkinDicator quiz results.

Still wondering about which Eucerin product to try, Eucerin’s Facebook page, offers a Digital Dermatologist that will answer their questions and guide you to healthy looking skin.

One of my readers is going to get a fantastic prize from Eucerin, are you ready to hear what it is.....

One (1) Eucerin Daily Protection Moisturizing Body Lotion Sunscreen SPF 15 (13.5 oz.) – Helps protect skin from daily sun exposure with a lotion specifically formulated to moisturize and protect. This light, fast-absorbing formula with SPF 15 sunscreen provides 24-hour moisture and helps defend against sunburn.

One (1) Eucerin Daily Protection Moisturizing Face Lotion Sunscreen SPF 30 (4 oz.) – This lightweight, gentle broad spectrum SPF 30 formula with UVA/UVB sunscreens including zinc oxide and titanium dioxide helps defend against long-term sun damage and also provides effective moisturization.

One (1) Eucerin Daily Replenishing Moisturizing Lotion (13.5 oz)– Keeps skin moisturized all day with a lotion specifically formulated to replenish the skin’s natural moisture barrier. This light, everyday formula with nourishing sunflower oil absorbs quickly and provides 24 hour moisturization for healthier-looking, softer skin.

And One (1) $125 Visa Gift Card

Excited? Just follow the directions on the Rafflecopter widget below, open to US residents only please.

a Rafflecopter giveaway **This post is sponsored by Eucerin, but all opinions are my own Good Luck

Quick Winner Announcement

noreply@blogger.com (A.Rhodes) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:26:00 +0000

Good Morning! Don't think I'm a slacker, I have seriously just been running this whole past week and still haven't gotten all I need to get done. I have two winners to announce this morning. First the Winner of the Silk Coupons is
#10 Anonymous

The winner of the Gogos Crazybones gift pack is Alisha Kostiuk (sorry, forgot to jot down which number entry she was on Rafflecopter)

Emails are going out right now, hope you all have a great day!

Make Music Chicago 2012

noreply@blogger.com (A.Rhodes) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 03:15:00 +0000

If you are looking for some great free entertainment this summer and you live in the Chicagoland area, you need to check out Make Music Chicago. Make Music Chicago is a one-day music festival presented by Rush Hour Concerts, and it returns for its second annual event on the first day of summer, Thursday, June 21.

"Make Music Chicago celebrates the ability of everyone to make music as people of all ages, musical genres and ability levels (from amateurs to marquee artists) all gather throughout the day in Chicago’s public spaces to engage in music-making."

98.7WFMT will devote its entire day of broadcasting on June 21 to Make Music Chicago. They will broadcast live at select sites throughout the day and, in between concerts, use roving reporters to check in on happenings at venues all across the city. The broadcast will conclude with a live broadcast of the Grand Finale at St. James Cathedral.

Last year, over 10,000 people experienced live music at 35 sites all over the city; in 2012, Make Music Chicago’s “spontaneous musical combustion” will spread across the city to over 75 sites. Make Music Chicago is free to both audiences and musicians alike and no tickets are required for any of the events.

“We launched Make Music Chicago last year knowing that we wanted to join in this international day of music-making,” said Deborah Sobol, Rush Hour Concerts Creative Director. “The enthusiasm that radiated from the whole city was palpable. Everyone taking part knew that they were part of something much larger than themselves – they’re joining people all over the world in making music.”

Performance sites consist of public spaces citywide, including Daley Plaza, Millennium Park, both Apple stores (Michigan Avenue and North Avenue), Macy’s State Street, John Hancock Center, Museum Campus, Northerly Island and over 25 Chicago Park District sites, among many others. This year Make Music Chicago is expanding both in scale and geographically, reaching north, south and west beyond the city proper. New neighborhoods which will be hosting Make Music events include the north shore communities from Evanston up to Lake Bluff, as well as Chinatown, Pilsen, Logan Square, Humboldt Park, Hyde Park and Austin. A complete list of performance sites can be found at www.makemusicchicago.com/sites.

The festivities will begin during the morning rush hour with music-makers gathering on street corners in the Loop to engage in performances. The musical celebration will continue throughout the day, with two lunchtime events returning from last year, the “Sousapalooza” from noon to 12:45 PM and an “Opera & Show Tunes Sing-Along” from 12:45 to 1:30 PM, both taking place in Daley Plaza (50 W. Washington). Richard Fischer, Director of Bands at Concordia University-Chicago, will lead any and all eager “Sousapalooza” participants through some of the most beloved marches of John Philip Sousa, then opera and chorus fans will gather to sing beloved American musical favorites.

Make Music Chicago’s Family Concerts will also occur throughout the day, including performances at the Lincoln Park Zoo, where woodwind ensemble Quintet Attacca will perform their interactive "Peter and the Wolf" show; “Musikgarten Hour” citywide, for fans of the popular music education series, and Family Concerts at the Chicago Children’s Museum and Seneca Park.

The day’s events will close with a Grand Finale at St. James Cathedral Commons (65 E. Huron Street in River North) from 6 to 9 PM, featuring singers from the Ryan Opera Center of Lyric Opera Chicago, instrumentalists from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, musicians from Third Coast Percussion with the Davis Square Park Community Band, and a massive public performance of Robert Johnson’s popular blues standard, “Sweet Home Chicago,” the signature culmination that became tradition last year.

Additional events and program details will be announced at a later time. All programs are subject to change.

Music-makers of all varieties are encouraged to continue signing up through April 30 online at www.makemusicchicago.com/participate. A complete and up-to-the-minute list of music-makers can be found at www.makemusicchicago.com/music-makers.

To learn more about Make Music Chicago, please visit www.makemusicchicago.com, and to learn more about Rush Hour Concerts, please visit www.rushhour.org

Ice Cream Fairy Review

noreply@blogger.com (A.Rhodes) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 02:38:00 +0000

I'm really excited to tell you about the cutest products for babies and kids under three, from a sweet company called Ice Cream Fairy. This company is currently selling their products in Korea, but are getting ready for their US launch. I just checked the US site and it is up and running but not quite ready for purchasing yet. Bet you want to know what they offer, right, they have the cutest baby clothes and accessories in the most darling prints! Let me show you some of their stuff....

This little hat, the Clyde, comes in many colors and is cute for a boy or a girl. Keep your baby's head covered from the sun in style this summer! The little button on the front is a little ice cream cone just like the one on their logo. I got to check out one of these hats, it has straps to keep it in place of course, and is very well made.

The dreambow is a little pillow that is just the right size for a baby or toddler. This is something you can stick in the stroller or pack and play for nap time.

I can't tell you enough how much I love their fabrics and patterns, they are simple and sweet and sophisticated at the same time.

They also have the cutest little clothes for boys and girls, I can't wait until this stuff is available in the US. I have to tell you guys though, this company pays a lot of attention to details, when I got my samples in the mail I was pleasantly surprised. Each item was in a gorgeous gift box with that cute ice cream logo, ready to give as a gift. Even the tags were cute ice cream cone cardboard cut outs attached with ribbon. Although my kids are too big for anything they sell (I'm bummed about that) this is stuff that I would give to someone for a shower gift or welcoming baby gift. To check out all the neat stuff that will soon be available for purchase you can visit their Korean website by clicking here or you can check their US website by clicking here. Keep in mind that the US website is not quite finished yet and you may need to revisit again sometime in the near future to see if it is fully finished. I will also post as soon as I hear something and things are available for purchase.

Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation Electric Toothbrush Giveaway (IL Only)

noreply@blogger.com (A.Rhodes) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:13:00 +0000

We just had a dental hygenist come in to my son's school and talk to the parents about their children's dental care. Many parents don’t know that children should visit the dentist within six months of getting the first tooth – and no later than the first birthday. In fact, Illinois children don’t visit the dentist, on average, until they are 3 ½ years old. Some parents are not aware that you should clean your baby's teeth, when they start teething, just like you would an older child.

A visit by age 1 lets you and your child develop a relationship with a dentist, which can help set a foundation for good oral health, and spot potential dental problems before they get bad. Your child could have pain in one of his or her teeth, but may be too young to tell you.

The Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation is kicking off “Dentist by 1,” a statewide public service campaign designed to educate parents about the benefits of taking their children to the dentist by age 1 and to encourage them to schedule a visit.

Along with this campaign, the Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation is offering one of my readers an electric toothbrush ($160 value) to help promote good oral health! (Open to Illinois residents only).

To enter, tell me about your child’s first trip to the dentist or something funny about their oral health care habits in the comments under this article. This Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation “Dentist by 1” Electric Toothbrush giveaway begins today and ends at midnight on May 16th.

For additional entries:

Pledge to take your kids to the dentist by age 1 or to regular visits at www.dentistby1.com and tell me in the comments below. When you pledge, Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation will donate an oral health kit to a local, underprivileged child and will also send you a kit! (Kits include a toothbrush, floss, toothpaste and a children’s oral health tip sheet.)

“Like” Delta Dental of Illinois on Facebook for more information about upcoming contests and tips on establishing good oral health habits for a lifetime of healthy smiles.

Good Luck!

We Went to See Circus Spectacular

noreply@blogger.com (A.Rhodes) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:47:00 +0000

Recently we visited one of our favorite venues, the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, to see another amazing performance. This time we got the opportunity to experience Circus Spectacular. I have seen three ring circus performances in the past, but I have to say, this one was the most entertaining. Before I continue, if you have concerns about the animals and how they are treated, please read my previous post about how Circus Spectacular takes care of their animal performers, you can read that post here.

The show has everything from high flyers, to wild tigers, clowns, stunts and great music. Even my 4 year old who has absolutley no attention span was loving every minute of the show. The transition performances were just as entertaining as the main ones.

As you can tell, some of our favorites were the elephants, they were so cute. We especially like Bo! Some of our other faves were the dogs, and the little dog that performed with the clown....had us cracking up. The tigers were great too, I was sitting at the edge of my seat because one of the tigers was acting up a little, not wanting to listen to the handler....I was scared for him, but he knew what he was doing. The night we were there it was a packed show, tons of people, but of course at the Sears Centre there is not a bad seat in the house, plus since this is a 3 ring circus, no matter where you sit there is action right by you.

During intermission (and prior to the show) you could take a pony, camel or elephant ride! Circus spectacular is the FULL circus experience, and if you have never seen a circus show before, this should be your first.

Silk Fruit & Protein Makes Amazing Smoothies #CBias #SilkFruit

noreply@blogger.com (A.Rhodes) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 20:51:00 +0000

As a super busy mom, I'm always looking for fast, easy, HEALTHY breakfast options for my family. One of my children is the epitome of picky eaters so getting him to eat fruits and veggies is virtually impossible. Silk Fruit & Protein is packed full of healthy ingredients and it tastes great, but what else can you do with it? Well you can use it to make delicious smoothies that are a great way to start (or end) the day. I went on a little shopping trip with my son to our local Wal-Mart to pick up some Silk Fruit & Protein and some fruit to see what kind of flavor we could come up with.

He's ready to get some fruit!

We walked around the produce section, choosing fruit that we thought would taste great in our smoothies.

We ended up with strawberries, oranges and mangoes, I guess we were in a tropical mood. When we got home we cut up all of our ingredients and put them in our little smoothie maker.

At first we were going to use the Berry Silk but at the last minute we changed our minds and decided to use the Strawberry Banana flavor.

Here is a picture of all the fruit that we put in and topped off with the Silk Fruit and Protein...

The finished product. We have made many smoothies with many ingredients in the past but this one came out the best! I'm just excited that little man liked it, it gives me one more healthy option to add to his otherwise junky diet. My husband is a huge fan of these smoothies too.

I really enjoy drinking this new Silk post workout, as a smoothie or just by itself, and I don't have to feel guilty. I can't wait until its really hot out so I can try to blend it with some ice for a frozen smoothie treat. If you want to check out my whole entire shopping trip you can check out my Google + album by clicking here.

For more yummy ways to enjoy Silk Fruit & Protein you can follow them on Twitter or like them on Facebook.

This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias all opinions are my own

Slim-Fast Check In and $50 Giftcard Giveaway #VowToWow

noreply@blogger.com (A.Rhodes) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 11:55:00 +0000

I realize it has been a little while since I did an official check in so here we go. My original goal was to lose about 10 pounds, I have lost 6 total so far and have sort of plateaued. I guess I could insert a lie here and tell you I have been doing everything in my power to lose more, but again that would be a lie. I have been following the plan BUT had a hard time here and there (i.e. Easter). So now I am back on track and re-motivated, and actually 6 pounds is a great accomplishment for me, so Yay Me! Just in case you guys need a little motivation to burn off that Easter candy.....I'm giving away a $50 gift card.

Wanna win? Let's make this easy....

Leave me a comment below telling me your favorite Slim-Fast shake flavor, and don't forget your email address so I can notify you if you win. This giveaway will end at midnight on 4/29, open to US residents only. Ready? Go!

I am an Ambassador in the Slim-Fast® Women of Wow Program. Visit www.facebook.com/slimfast to join the conversation.

We Had a Bobble Bots Moshi Monsters Party!

noreply@blogger.com (A.Rhodes) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 11:34:00 +0000

Let me tell you just how excited the kids were when they came home from school and saw this! We were chosen to host a Bobble Bots Moshi Monster Party! I was already familiar with the Moshi Monster website because my kids have accounts on there and play games online, but I had no idea just how awesome the Bobble Bots were until we got that giant box delivered. My first impression of the Bobble Bots was that these little guys were really collectible and I knew that they would quickly become one of the kids new favorite toys. It was really hard for the kids to wait for the party, they wanted to open the boxes right away, but I thought it would be more fun to assemble the cute little stores and play areas during the party. The Bobble Bots themselves are these cute, colorful little creatures, that when turned on with the little switch on the back, buzz and bobble around on their play areas or anywhere else. They are made by the same people that brought you HEXBUG® Micro Robotic Creatures, so if you love those, you will really love these little guys.

At the party, we started opening all of the boxes. The older kids assembled the shops and play areas, while the younger boys laughed and played with the silly Bobble Bots. They were cracking up when the Bobble Bots tip over, they spin around and look like they are break dancing.

Here some adventurous Bobble Bots are jumping from the box tower while they wait for their playsets to get built.

We loved how all the playsets joined together and could be moved around and reconnected. They played with this stuff for hours, connecting and disconnecting and building a town. Its hillarious watching the Bobble Bots go through the little doors in the shops, we had a blast.

We also really liked that each Bobble Bot and play set come with a special code to use on the Moshi Monsters website. The kids were really excited about that.

If you are lookig for something to entertain your kids, or to give as a birthday present, Bobble Bots will surely be a favorite.

**This party and products were provided to my by MommyParties, all opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review**

Chicago Green Festival May 5-6, Navy Pier‏

noreply@blogger.com (A.Rhodes) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 20:49:00 +0000

Green Festival, the nation’s largest and most trusted environmental consumer event returns to Chicago May 5-6, 2012. Featured at the weekend-long show at Navy Pier will be leaders in the social justice and environmental community, including speakers, entrepreneurs and activists; an organic beer, mead and wine pavilion as well as a dedicated kids’ area for learning about easy and fun ways to incorporate green at a young age. I have always wanted to attend this event, and I think this year will be the first year I am actually able to make it out there, so I'm pretty excited.

Joining the Green Festival speaker line-up this year will be Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. who will speak on the main stage on Saturday, May 5. Additional leading environmental and social justice advocates joining the speaker line-up include: Van Jones, RebuildtheDream.com; Laura Flanders, GRITtv; Naomi Davis, Blacks in Green; Bianca Alexander, Conscious Living TV; Karyn Calabrese; Jeffrey Smith; Amy Goodman; William Ayers; Bernadine Dohrn; Greg Palast and Reed Alexander of iCarly and KewlBites.com.

In the center of it all is a unique marketplace of more than 350 eco-friendly businesses, featuring the latest and greatest in sustainable products and services. Green Festival is the only national sustainability event that screens exhibitors for their commitment to social justice, sustainability and ecological balance using co-producer, Green America’s green business standards.

This year, FORD Motor and Green Festivals have partnered to fund a $5,000 Community Green Grant at the Chicago Green Festival. Attendees will be able to vote for their favorite project at the FORD Community Green Grants Booth during show hours

The 2012 Green Festival will return to downtown Chicago’s Navy Pier, Hall A.

Some Festival highlights include:

·Ford Ride and Drive opportunities

·Do-It-Yourself Workshops

·Green Kids Zone

·Green Living Stage

·Green Business Pavilion

·Green Jobs and Careers

·Sustainable Home and Garden Pavilion

·Renewable Energy

·Beer, Mead and Wine Pavilion

·Organic Local Food

·Fair Trade Pavilion

·Community Action Pavilion

·Sierra Club Green Cinema

·Yoga and Movement Pavilion

WHERE: Navy Pier, Hall A: 600 East Grand Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60611

WHEN: SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012: 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM

SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012: 11:00 A.M. – 7:00 P.M.

TICKETS: $15- 25 when purchased at the event door, discounts given when purchased in advance, reduced admission for seniors. Free admission for those who ride a bike to the event and park with the bike valet, as well as youth under eighteen and union members with valid identification, Green America and Global Exchange members, Sierra Club members with membership card and volunteers. For volunteer opportunities, visit greenfestivals.org/volunteer.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.greenfestivals.org or at the show. All tickets provide access to the entire exhibitor floor, all panel & speakers discussions along with all film presentations.

Farm Rich Kicks Off 2012 ‘Kids Who Give’ Contest, Featuring $10,000 Grand Prize

noreply@blogger.com (A.Rhodes) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:25:00 +0000

Don't underestimate the awesomeness of a kid. Farm Rich certainly doesn't. This month Farm Rich kicks off the third annual Kids Who Give contest, which celebrates young people making a positive impact in the world. To enter or learn more, visit www.kidswhogive.com.

Open to youth aged 7-17 who reside in the U.S., the contest awards kids giving back to their communities through volunteer work. For 2012, Farm Rich will recognize quarterly winners as well as an annual grand-prize winner who will receive $10,000 for the charity of his or her choice.

A first-, second-, and third-place winner will be chosen each quarter to receive donations of $3,500, $1,500 and $1,000, respectively, for their chosen charities. Honorable mentions each quarter get a “Pat on the Back” gift card of $250. The grand-prize winner, chosen through a public online vote next January, will receive a gift of $10,000 to donate to a selected charity or charities.

To enter, kids should go to www.kidswhogive.comand submit a 250- to 500-word essay explaining their volunteer work and how it has helped others. Entrants are also encouraged to include a creative representation of their story along with their entries. Contest rules, details and deadlines are included on the website.

Join the Kids Who Give conversations on Facebook or follow @kidswhogive on Twitter for contest updates. Video entries can also be viewed on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/farmrichkidswhogive.

"It's such an honor to recognize and celebrate these amazing kids, and we’re humbled to help them share their stories and experiences," says Jennifer Meetz, Director of Marketing for Farm Rich. "Our Kids Who Give entrants are an inspiration to us all."

Last year’s Kids Who Give honorees showed how kindness, determination and hard work can move mountains. They included:

§ Nathan Hickey of Monrovia, Calif., who formed Mountain Biking for Pablove to support kids with cancer.

§ Ricky Springer of McDonough, Ga., who started Racing for a Cause to educate others on the disorder eosinophillic colitis, which he suffers from himself.

§ Mariah Reynolds, a Cincinnati, Ohio, resident who’s been volunteering since she was 6 years old. Today, she’s behind three non-profits: Just One Heart, Love One Another and Heal the Soul.

§ Rujul Zaparde from Plainsboro, N.J., founded Drinking Water for India, which raises money to build tube-wells in remote Indian villages.

About Farm Rich

Farm Rich created Kids Who Give in 2010 to honor youth who give back. The Farm Rich popular lineup of frozen snacks and appetizers is sold at grocery and club stores nationwide. More at www.farmrich.com.

Silk Fruit and Protein Review and Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (A.Rhodes) — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 17:48:00 +0000

If you are looking for something totally new for breakfast, you have to try the new Silk Fruit and Protein. It has the great taste of fruit juice and the nourishing power of protein. Silky-smooth, fruit-luscious and easy to love, Silk Fruit&Protein is marvelous in the morning or awesome in the afternoon.

The new fruit and protein Silk comes in three yummy flavors, Mixed Berry, Strawberry Banana, and Mango Peach. I think my favorite is the Mango Peach, I like the tropical taste of it, my kids prefer the mixed berry. Here are some other great reasons to give it a try:

Silk Fruit & Protein comes in quart sizes at most major retailers, and is available in half-gallons only at Walmart.
Fruit & Protein is already getting rave reviews on the Silk Facebook page
Good source of protein; 5 grams of protein per serving (1 Cup)
Excellent source of calcium and vitamin D
Excellent source of vitamin C
Love It Guarantee Or Your Money Back.

I like to drink the Silk Fruit and Protein after a work out, and my kids love to make smoothies with it. We just throw some fruit in the blender, top off with Silk and voila! you have a healthy treat. Even if you have tried regular Silk, and were not a big fan of it, this has a totally different flavor. My husband, who doesn't like regular Silk, LOVES this stuff and drinks it all the time.

One of my readers will win 3 coupons for free Silk Fruit and Protein, so you can try all three flavors! All you have to do is leave me a comment below with which flavor sounds best to you and your email address. Open to US only, giveaway will end at midnight on 4/21 . Good Luck!

**I was provided with free coupons for Silk Fruit and Protein products, all opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review**