Do You Do Allowance?

I've written about allowance on many websites over the years. Because I have five kids, the topic is always relevant. We start handing out allowance as soon as the kids are old enough to contribute around the house and to understand the value of the dollar. For the much younger kids, this can be a frustrating process; teaching them to help properly takes patience, and many dollars end up in their pants pockets and through the dryer before they "get" what money is.

I think one of the most important parts of practicing the allowance process is education. Setting aside money to save, spend, and give starts at a very early age, and my kids enjoy being involved in the decision-making process of how these categories are spent. We have reviewed several products over the years designed to reinforce our values and the teaching that goes on throughout childhood. Thanks to my recent partnership with Kidworth, I will have another valuable tool in my arsenal.

I will be doing a full review of the Kidworth website soon, but in the meantime, I'd love to know what you are doing with regards to allowance in your home.  You can start by answering these questions:

• Do you give allowance for doing chores? Or do you feel it should be given freely?
• Have you ever withheld allowance as a punishment or consequence for not pitching in?
• Is allowance an effective tool for motivating your child?
• At what age should allowance begin?
• Did you receive allowance as a child?

As you can see, the topic of allowance is not a simple one. How you decide to handle the issue will depend on several factors, including your views, your financial situation, and maturity of your child. As we look ahead to the holiday season, you may find that you would like some expert advice and resources to help ensure allowance is used effectively in your home. We hope to help fill the need in the coming weeks with tips and advice from parents who have been there!

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Kidworth, a free service for parents to help teach children money basics -- like allowance!

Review of Carmex Skin Care Line

We know you're probably familiar with the classic solutions for your lips from Carmex.  Since they are always coming up with something new, however, (like their delicious Lime Twist Carmex), we weren't at all surprised to see that they've added a skin care line to their product offerings.  We gave the Healing Lotion and the Healing Cream a try this week, and the results were fantastic!

First, I can't say enough about the Healing Lotion.  It absorbs so quickly and leaves behind no, I repeat NO, greasy residue.  You can apply the lotion and go about your business without worrying that you'll leave smudges on your iPad or your paperwork.  It smells awesome, too!

The Healing Cream is heavier, as it should be.  It contains nine healing ingredients, and it, too doesn't feel greasy when you apply it.  It is perfect for elbows and knees, and if you get little bumps on your arms in the winter, it's really effective at minimizing the irritation.

Both products come in both a full-size 4 oz. tube, or the travel size (so you can take it on the airplane with you.)  I'm not really a lotion person, so the fact that I'm in love with these two products says a lot.  I want to rub it in and be done, and the Carmex line really delivers here!

Learn more about the Carmex Skin Care Line at the Carmex website, or find it at your local Walmart and Walmart.com.


Wanna Win?  We're giving one lucky reader the duo of products from Carmex: Lotion and Cream!  To be entered to win, just tell my why you want to win.  (It's easy peasy.) You have until December 5th at 11:59pm CST to get your entries in, and the winner will be randomly selected from all complete entries. You may enter every day. (Please answer the question for the first entry. Each entry after that can be "enter me.") Open to U.S. residents 18+.

Don't forget to enter our other blog giveaways while you're here!

* Samples and prizing was received for review.  Opinions are my own.

Child Hunger is Still a Major Issue in America

I am excited today. Some of the issues that I've been discussing here on my blog are issues that were new to me when I first started working with ConAgra foods to bring awareness to child hunger. Since my involvement, however, many major news outlets have covered just how widespread food insecurity really is. For example, Parade magazine did a piece on food banks and just how many serve children:

 

I love that so many people will get to hear about how even the smallest efforts can go a long way towards permanently ending child hunger in the US.

Maybe your family is like mine; you take for granted the smallest things -- like apples.  My son asks for an apple at least once a day.  I never hesitate to tell him "yes."  There may come a time, however, when apples will be a luxury, and this is the reality for many American families.

You can help ensure that healthy, nutritious foods are always available for the asking by kids in the US, simply by purchasing your favorite ConAgra food items before the end of the year.  Buying Healthy Choice meals for work? Great, you can help a kid!  Thinking about getting a few more cans of Chef Boyardee for easy lunches?  That helps, too!

You can find the full details of the Child Hunger Ends Here program in my previous posts or at the SchoolsFightHunger.org website.  Together we can fill all the fruit bowls in America!

*I am a compensated blogger correspondent for ConAgra's Child Hunger Ends Here campaign. Opinions and experiences shared here are my own.

Get 0% Financing at Walmart!

I'm not an advocate for spending what you can't afford, but I do use credit responsibly in both my home and business to help leverage our funds and get the best buy when items are available.  That's why I have no problem sharing a recent promotion by Walmart to help you buy items in November and December with no interest for six months!

Walmart has brought back layaway, so it was no surprise to see that they are expanding the benefits of shopping to those who want to be good with their credit, as well.  You will need to already have a Walmart credit card or be eligible to sign up for one.  Every purchase made with the card both instore and online through November and December is eligible for the promotion.

That means that if you are already in a position to pay off your credit balance in full by next May, you'll get 0% financing on all your Walmart purchases this holiday!  Get the full details of the 0% financing offer at the Walmart website.

*I am a participant in the Walmart Moms program. Walmart provids me with compensation for my time on specific projects. Participation in this program is voluntary. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

Juicy Juice / Cars 2 Giveaway!

The giveaway is over.  Thanks for your participation!

Wanna Win?  We are giving away a Cars 2 Blu-Ray, a $25 rewards card to buy snacks, and specially-marked Cars 2 Juicy Juice products, just comment on this post with your spy name from the Spy Name generator!   You have until November 30th at 11:59pm CST to get your entries in, and the winner will be randomly selected from all complete entries. You may enter every day. (Please answer the question for the first entry. Each entry after that can be "enter me.") Open to U.S. residents 18+.
Don't forget to enter our other blog giveaways while you're here!

*Prize pack received for this promotion.  Opinions are my own.

How to Black Friday with Walmart

The rules have changed quite a bit since I shopped my very first Black Friday.  The store hours have expanded, the items have become more high-end, and the competition for the good stuff is even more fierce!

Whether it's your first time out and about, or you've done this for years, there are some strategies I suggest you use when shopping.  If you're a Walmart customer, you'll love these!

1.  Find out what's happening at your store.  Using the Walmart local Facebook app, you can get all the info you need to shop smart at your local store, including getting a peek at the Black Friday Ad for your location!

2.  Plan a route.  Using your local store's map (available through the local Facebook app), you can see exactly where the hot Black Friday deals will be taking place at your store.  (You know what aisle the Wii will be in before you enter the store, for example.)

3.  Stay home -- if you wish.  There's no need to rush out in to the cold if you know that what you want will be available online.  Your local Black Friday ads will tell you if an item is going to be sold in-store only, meaning you may have a shot at staying in your PJ's and ordering from home!

4.  Get there early, but stay inside!  Walmart isn't making anyone wait outside this year.  Go ahead and shop; the sales will start Thursday night at 10pm and go through the next day!

5.  Shop now, if you want.  Ready to buy now? Many of the best sales are doing on at Walmart's Pre-Black Friday online sale.  Get super savings on items like Skywalker trampolines and Crayola Color Wonder products! (See all sales at the Walmart site!)

Will you be shopping for Walmart's Black Friday sales this year?  We want to hear what's #1 on your want list!

*I am a participant in the Walmart Moms program. Walmart provides me with compensation for my time on specific projects. Participation in this program is voluntary. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

Review of Holmes Air Purifiers and Aer1 Filters

Everyone in my home suffers from allergies.  With a house in rural Nebraska, corn dust, road dust, and ragweed pollen is everywhere all the time.  My kids are always helping me dust the house, and it's gross!

We were able to review a Holmes Air Purifier with HEPA filtration for our living area.  This model was for a medium size room, and it did a fantastic job of making the air a bit more breathable.  We had to change the filter a bit sooner than recommended, because it was so dusty, but this helped me feel better about the job that it did.  (When we first opened the filter door, I was appalled!  Was that really all the dust that had been floating around for my kids to breathe?)

The model we tested was rather quiet for the size; it had several settings for the fan speed, which was nice.  When we didn't care about the noise, we would turn it up; when we were watching a movie and didn't want it so loud, we would put it on the lowest setting.  A bit of cool air would come out of the unit, which was normal.  Since I hate drafts (especially in winter), we just turned the fan towards the other side of the room so I would get chilled.

I loved the filters that came with the Holmes unit, as well.  We opted for the Allergen Remover variety from Aer1 Filter Systems.  The filters were compatible with most of the Holmes models, and they claimed to remove allergens like pollens, dust, dust mite debris, mold, pet dander, and smoke.  I can say that it did work for those things that I could notice; I burned a pizza in the oven one day and the smoke traveled into the living room.  I could actually see the smoke swirling around the Holmes unit and disappearing before my eyes!

Since I like to use medicine as a last result for treating allergies, I'm glad to have a Holmes unit and Aer1 filters in my house.  The cost of the filters and the small amount of energy the unit uses is nothing compared to the cost of frequent doctor's visits to have symptoms treated.  While it can't cure ALL of your allergy problems, it has made a noticeable difference in the air quality of our home (it even smells better in our house.)

You can find out more about these products at www.holmesproducts.com and www.aer1filters.com


Wanna Save?  Get $20 off your purchase of an Aer1 filter with this coupon!

*Sample received for review. Opinions are 100% my own. http://cmp.ly/2

Our Annual Volleyball Banquet features WhoNu? Cookies!

WhoNu? cookies supports athletic teams everywhere by giving us great opportunities to give away prizes and by providing a nutritious alternative to your typical sugary "team snacks."  This year, WhoNu? also appeared as the star of our team's annual sport banquet. 

Our team banquet was a chance for over 50 players and their families to get together, celebrate their wins, and look forward to next year.  The tables were beautiful:

Our daughters were beautiful, too:

In the middle of a classy meal line...

Was an amazing dessert table....

We displayed WhoNu? cookies at the centerpiece of the dessert table, and the kids LOVED them!

It was a long banquet, but the boys were very well behaved (and adorable in their dress shirts.)

We left happy, but exhausted.

Thanks to WhoNu? for helping our team be the best they can be this year!  To see how WhuNu? can help with your snacking goals, check them out on Facebook!

*I am working with WhoNu? in a blogger campaign.  WhoNu? provided me with compensation for my time.

Celebrate Blok Friday with BIG Savings!

Mega Bloks has a great promotion going on right now:

Click the graphic or visit the Family Club site to learn more!

Review of Caillou Firemans’ House (Giveaway)

My children have been watching Caillou for a very long time. After all, we do have children that span the ages of 18 months through 13 years.  That's a lot of Caillou!

Even more fun than the show, however, are the toys inspired by it. My children love playsets and any toy that allows them to use their imagination by putting their favorite characters in real life scenarios. The Fireman's House Playset is the tiny replica of a real firehouse; it includes all the things a firefighter needs to put out a blaze (including a ladder, bucket, firehose,and Gilbert the Cat.)  The pieces are tiny for this set, so it is not appropriate for children under age 3. My four-year-old loves this toy; he especially enjoys the small fire engine, which looks more like a car than a truck.

In addition to the Fireman's House (which we reviewed personally), Caillou has inspired a 14.5" tall doll that both boys and girls will enjoy cuddling, playing with, and sharing their day with.  The doll has a soft body in the face just like the boy from the show. 

You can learn more about Caillou and the toys that have brought the show to life via their Facebook page.

Wanna Win?  We are giving one lucky reader a Caillou prize pack!  They will receive:

· Caillou Fireman’s House playset (ARV $24.99)
· Caillou Classic 14.5” Doll (ARV $32.99)

To be entered to win, tell us if you "Like" Caillou on Facebook and why you want to win!  You have until November 30th at 11:59pm CST to get your entries in, and the winner will be randomly selected from all complete entries. You may enter every day. (Please answer the question for the first entry. Each entry after that can be "enter me.") Open to U.S. residents 18+. 

Don't forget to enter our other blog giveaways while you're here!


*Sample & Prizing courtesy of Cookie Jar Entertainment.  Opinions are 100% my own.

Recall Roundup: Build-a-Bear, Keds, and more!

We have a long list of recalls to tell you about.  Please click on the link to get the full recall info from the CPSC website!

• Build-A-Bear swimsuits recalled due to strangulation hazard
• Children's animal slippers (sold only at Family Dollar stores) recalled due to choking hazard
• KED's "Know it All" girls' shoes recalled due to laceration hazard
• Boy Scout wind jackets recalled due to strangulation hazard
• Under Armour chin straps for football helmets recalled due to laceration hazard
• Toulouse-LapTrec magnetic sketchboards recalled due to choking hazard
• Dutailier cribs recalled due to entrapment and fall hazards
• LittleLife baby carriers recalled due to fall hazards
• GuideCraft recalls Twist n' Sort toys due to choking hazard

Stay safe!!

Celebrate the Season with the Box Tops for Education online Marketplace

There are all kinds of reasons to shop online. For us, it has more to do with convenience than anything else. We live in a rural area, and getting to any retail stores takes an hour of driving, a tank of gasoline, and all my patience.  Thankfully, most everything I need to buy can be found online.

Box Tops for Education has been serving shoppers like me with their online marketplace for the past few years, and I couldn't be happier. In addition to being able to shop my favorite online stores (and being able to skip the chaos that shopping holidays like Black Friday can bring), I can earn money for my local school without doing anything extra. The online marketplace doesn't require me to do anything but start my shopping at the marketplace homepage. It is even more convenient than my typical online shopping experience because it allows me to search for the item I'm looking for and then provides me with all the online stores that sell it.

I decided to buy my husband a pair of Smartwool Phd socks (because I love mine so much), and I used the online marketplace to find the right style and the right price.

I decided to shop at the Campmore online store, and I was able to click directly through to the store from the online marketplace. I was even able to preview exactly how many eBox Tops per $10 spent I could earn for my school!  (In this case, 3.5.)

Clicking on any particular item would bring up more information, so I knew I was picking the right store before I shopped.

From there, I shopped as usual at the Campmor site.  My purchase was a success!

I found a great deal on the socks I wanted, and my school earned 14 eBox Tops.  I didn't have to do any extra work! You can do all of your holiday shopping online at the Box Tops for Education online Marketplace, too!

Wanna Win?  We are giving one lucky reader a $50 gift card to spend at the online marketplace.  To be entered to win, just which store in the marketplace you would shop at!  You have until November 30th at 11:59pm CST to get your entries in. You may enter every day. (Please answer the question for the first entry. Each entry after that can be "enter me.") Don't forget to enter our other blog giveaways while you're here!

* A gift card was provided for me to be able to try out the marketplace.  All opinions are my own.

Review of Alphie by Playskool

Do you remember the Playskool Alphie robot from when you were a kid?  They've recently given him a face lift for a new generation, and my kids have had a blast playing with him.  In addition to offering children a cute and interactive way to learn basic preschool skills (alphabet, numbers, animal sounds, etc.), he also sings and entertains.

My 4-year-old didn't put Alphie down for the first week we had him.  He sat on the floor, putting new cards into Alphie every few minutes (the cards are what tell Alphie what game to play).  He sang along, and he smiled -- a lot!  I really enjoyed that this gave my son a "technological" way to learn and play that didn't count against his screen time.  It was really more play than anything!

Alphie is a nice size, so he fits on my son's shelf.  The cards store neatly in the back, and because they are so easy to put away, my son actually picks them up by himself.  Alphie isn't too loud, so kids can play without annoying adults.  (This toy has thought of everything: he comes fully loaded with batteries, and has a handy carrying "handle" in his head!)

You can learn more about this toy at the Playskool website, or purchase it at retailers like Amazon and Walmart -- they even sell add-on packs with new cards!

*Sample received for review.  Opinions are 100% my own.

Prepping the Home for the Holidays

This year we are trying something new. We are having Thanksgiving at our house. While most people fret about all the food that they must make, I get nervous about the cleanliness of my home. Thankfully, I have a few favorite products that make the chore easy, and you can find all of them at your local Walmart.

First, the product I use most year-round are the Clorox disinfecting wipes. I use quite a few of these when wiping down my countertops, scrubbing against the edges of muolding, and when getting the greasy fingerprints off switch plates and the front my fridge. I love the smell of this product; it truly is my favorite.

For when a wipe won't cut it, I turned to the Pine-Sol. Just like my mom used to use, this product makes the whole house sparkle and smell fantastic.The new upgraded scent is reminiscent of fresh lavender. I dilute this with water and fill reusable spray bottles to keep in every room.

No home would be truly welcoming without an ample supply of bath tissue.  Not only is Angel Soft tissue septic safe, it really is affordable.  (And since my kids go through so much tissue, this is important.)

Cloth napkins are fancy, let's get real... I'm not likely to put them out for guests this year, or any year. Instead, I go a little bit more high quality with paper napkins.  Vanity Fair does a super job of keeping hands clean and adding a bit of elegance to the dinner table. They even have disposable hand towels for the bathroom.

Finally, I offer a solution for those of you who hate to do dishes. Even if you have been blessed with a working dishwasher and plumbing system that supports it (unlike us), you might rather enjoy the company of your friends and family instead of washing up. For these instances, I recommend Dixie Ultra plates. They don't bend, break, or leak, and they look okay on that fancy dinner table.

Do you have an arsenal that you turn to when you have company?  I'd love to hear what products you depend on to make your home clean and inviting!

*I am a participant in the Walmart Moms program. Walmart provides me with compensation for my time on specific projects. Participation in this program is voluntary. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

How Much Did We Save? FoodSaver Challenge Update

It has been a surprising few weeks participating in the FoodSaver Challenge.  I thought I would save money, but I was skeptical as to how much.  What really shocked me was how I ended up saving money.  Here's my story:

Yes, I saved what I calculated to be $200-300 a year on food costs due to the spoiled food that I usually throw out.  Take hamburger, for example:  I usually get tired of portioning the big tubes of meat from the butcher, and I end up freezing HUGE chunks that I wrap in foil and wax paper.  When I thaw these chunks, they don't look so good AND I rarely use all of that big chunk before some goes bad.  The FoodSaver has helped me get my portion sizes down, and, upon thawing, the meat looks just as fresh as the day I bought it.

To be honest, however, saving $300 a year hardly justified my buying a FoodSaver and bags.  What really convinced me that this is worth it for my family, however, is the storage potential.  We were all set to buy a new chest freezer last week, because we wanted to take advantage of some sales at my local Walmart.  The problem is that some of the large family-sized boxes of food just wouldn't fit in my upright. I didn't feel good about the new freezer; the cost to buy, the space in the garage, and electricity usage seemed like too much of an investment.  

I put my faith in the FoodSaver to maybe get me through.  I unboxed all of the giant packages of bacon, sausage, and ribs that I bought and portioned them out into just what our family would use in one meal via the FoodSaver.  I couldn't believe how much less space the meat took up AND the food was now safe against freezer burn (something that wasn't happening in the manufacturer's packaging.)  Instead of having my food in what appeared to be flimsy garbage bags, they were now sealed in perfect portions that took up 1/3 of the space!  I no longer needed that additional freezer, and that saved me HUGE money!

Here is a video showing how I used the FoodSaver to get my hamburger stored just right:



All in all, this challenge has the potential to save me $1,000 or more this year, and hundreds the following years.  How much can you save with the FoodSaver?

*I am a participant in the Walmart Moms program. Walmart provids me with compensation for my time on specific projects. Participation in this program is voluntary. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.