Happy Valentines Day from Build A Bear Workshop

Disclosure: No formal compensation was receive a product was provided for review.

Happy Valentines Day. It’s a day to love and cherish that special someone or just spend the day with your loved ones.

Valentines Day has never been a big deal to me, but I have to admit I love getting a small gift and I love taking my kids out to have a fun day.

For the past 2 years our special Valentine Gift has included Build A Bear Workshop. Whether the animal was for me or for my children, we love them so much.
This year, Build A Bear Workshop has included several new animals just in time for Valentines Day. Including a camouflage bear, and pink camouflage bear. Monkeys, Heart kitty, and so much more. Find out all about them here.

I received the Pink camouflage bear this year. She is so adorable. Plus you can customize her to your own liking. You pick out her clothes, shoes, and even give her sound. You can even make her say I Love You in your own voice for your loved one.

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Don’t forget to enter the giveaway I have going on right now to win your own furry friend from Build A Bear Workshop.

LifebankUSA Peace Of Mind Contest 2015

Disclosure: I received a gift card for promoting the contest.

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LifebankUSA, is the only cord blood bank processing material for FDA-approved clinical trials using stem cells from placental tissue. These stem cells are being used to treat patients with serious conditions, including diabetic foot ulcers. LifebankUSA preserves your baby’s placental tissue using the same steps taken for processing stem cells for our FDA-approved clinical trials. No other cord blood company can claim that. Tissue banking is simply one additional layer of protection and peace of mind for you and your family offered by LifebankUSA.

LifebankUSA is holding a contest on their Facebook page. 3 lucky winners will win a Uniden Lullaboo Video Baby monitors.

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I learned about the importance of banking cord blood when I was pregnant. I had a very difficult pregnancy with all 3 of my kids, and at one point my doctor even said that 2 of my children would not make it or be born with birth defects. So we looked into banking just in case. Luckily the doctors were wrong, but I am glad that we took the chance and banked our daughters blood.

You can enter the LifebankUSA Peace of mind contest here.

Stop Ruining Your Coffee! 5 Tips For A Better Brew

For many people, there’s no better way to kick off the day than with a hot cup of coffee. Everyone knows how satisfying well-brewed coffee can be…and how disappointing a bad cup of Joe is. Whether the finished product is too thick, too watery, too bitter, brewing mistakes are all too common in the coffee-loving world, and taking a few simple steps can ensure that every morning’s brew is as rich and flavorful as you expect.

Check for Over-brewing
If your coffee is consistently coming out burnt and bitter, the issue may be your coffee pot. Over-brewed coffee has had too much of its essence distilled into the coffee, and this is usually caused by having the wrong settings on the pot for the type of coffee used. Try brewing your beans for a shorter time, and if the problem persists, it may be time for a new coffee pot – see www.breville.com.au/the-oracle.

Consider the Grind
Coffee that is either too strong or too weak is common with beans that have been ground too finely or too coarsely. Overly fine grinds release too much of the essential oil in coffee beans while a grind that is too coarse does not allow the coffee to do so sufficiently enough, so if your brew could be better, think about how you’re grinding it.

Know the Ratio
Sometimes coffee can turn out either too thin or too thick, and this is typically due to having an inadequate or excessive amount of water in the brew. The ideal ratio for a standard cup of coffee is two tablespoons of grounds for every 6 ounces of water, but the amount of water can be adjusted up or down if you prefer a stronger or less intense coffee.

Never Freeze Coffee
Freezing coffee beans destabilizes the oils that give them their flavor, causing them to break down and the coffee to taste blander. Instead of freezing the beans, store them in a cool, dark location in an airtight container, and if you absolutely must freeze them, ensure that the beans are wrapped in sealed plastic as well as a freezer safe container and do not return the bag to the freezer once it has been removed.

Buy Better Beans
If the taste of your coffee is subpar on a regular basis, the issue just might be the beans used to make it. No amount of processing or flavoring will improve the overall profile of cheap coffee, and so if you are often disappointed with the flavor of your inexpensive coffee beans, you may want to consider investing in a premium brand.
There are several factors that go into the way a cup of coffee tastes, and knowing the most important aspects of a well brewed cup is the key to consistent results. A cup of coffee is the start of the day for many people, and a better cup of coffee can be the start of an even better one.

Aquaball Makes A Perfect Stocking Stuffer

Disclosure: No formal compensation was received, a product was provided.

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AquaBall Naturally Flavored Water, enhanced with vitamins, provides parents and kids a healthier alternative to traditional sodas and other high caloric, artificially colored and flavored beverages.

  • Essential B and C Vitamins
  • Natural Fruit Flavors
  • Sweetened with Stevia
  • Packaged for freshness and safety

We first saw these in the store and my kids immediately ran to them because they feature all their favorite Disney characters, like Elsa and Olaf or Dusty from Planes.  When we tried them my kids thought they were very good. They said it was sweet but still tasted like water and that they could drink it all the time, and asked for it to be packed in their lunches for school.
Their favorite flavor is fruit punch, they said it tastes the most like juice. Most of their friends are drinking these at school too, so they know there popular.
Aquaball makes a perfect stocking stuffer this holiday season, it’s small and can fit in any stocking plus you can pick up a bottle usually for a little over one dollar.

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I went out and bought more thinking they would be a perfect stocking stuffer in addition to just being something my kids liked, there are so many fun things to do with the Aquaball bottle. You can make ornaments for the tree or fill it with colored sand. Check out all the fun activities you can do with Aquaball on Pinterest.

You can find Aquaball at retailers nationwide and find a coupon for 40 cents off on the Aquaball website.

Hormel Foods Gives Thanks Pinterest Sweepstakes #HormelFamily

Disclosure: I’ve partnered with Hormel Foods as part of the Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger Program. Throughout the year I’ll be receiving product, coupons, giveaways and promotions. However, no payment was given or expected for posting about the program, and as always, all opinions given here are fully my own.

Hormel wants to thank all the fans for showing their love and support. This Thanksgiving season, you could enter for a chance to win a $700 prize pack.

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Between November 3 anne November 21, 2014, visit the Hormel Facebook page and click on Thanksgiving Sweepstakes app. Pin together the perfect Thanksgiving meal for a chance to win assorted serving platters, serving utensils, cups and a Visa gift card.

LifebankUSA Peace Of Mind Contest

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of LifebankUSA.

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I learned about the importance of banking cord blood when I was pregnant. I had a very difficult pregnancy with all 3 of my kids, and at one point my doctor even said that 2 of my children would not make it or be born with birth defects. So we looked into banking just in case. Luckily the doctors were wrong, but I am glad that we took the chance and banked our daughters blood.

Placental Cord Blood banking is only done through LifeBankUSA.

About LifebankUSA:
As the only company that offers cord blood, placenta blood and tissue banking — and the first to release placenta-derived stem cells for a successful transplant — New Jersey-based LifebankUSA is a technological leader that is pioneering key medical innovations in the field. Owned by the Celgene Corporation, a world-class biopharmaceutical company, LifebankUSA also operates a robust donation program and collects cells from anywhere in the US for use primarily in advancing medical research.

LifeBankUSA is having their annual contest to win 1 of 3 Graco 4Ever 4-1 car seats, valued at $330.

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Contest ends December 21, 2014

Will you be entering the LifebankUSA Peace Of Mind contest?

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day #VeryBadDay

I was invited to see Disney’s new movie Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day in a screening preview before the movie opened. I was a bit unsure about this movie as it wasn’t animated and I wasn’t sure how my kids would like it.

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Disney’s “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” follows the exploits of 11-year-old Alexander as he experiences the most terrible and horrible day of his young life—a day that begins with gum stuck in his hair, followed by one calamity after another. But when Alexander tells his upbeat family about the misadventures of his disastrous day, he finds little sympathy and begins to wonder if bad things only happen to him. He soon learns that he’s not alone when his mom, dad, brother and sister all find themselves living through their own terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Anyone who says there is no such thing as a bad day just hasn’t had one.

For anyone who has multiple kids, you can relate to this movie. Just certain things going wrong with all your kids at one time. Alexander has always had bad luck and on his birthday wishes for his family to just understand what he is going through. His wish comes true and the whole family just experiences a bad day. The movie also has a great meaning behind it. You have to get through the bad days to experience the good ones, and to never give up.

When the movie was over my husband and I were laughing and talking about how much we can relate to the parents in the movie.Things not going your way, running out of diapers, kids getting into everything etc.
The movie has some humorous parts to it and also references a good Disney movie, which has become my kids favorite part.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day opens in theaters October 10, 2014.

Find out more and watch previews here.

Big Game Bite Pinterest Sweepstakes #HormelFamily

Big Game season is here. MLB playoffs, football and Hockey are in full swing. It’s the perfect time to gather friends and family for some delicious food.

You can enter to win a big party pack from Hormel.

Enter the Hormel Foods Recipes Big Games Bite Pinterest Sweepstakes between October 1st and October 24th for a chance to win a prize pack that includes a slow cooker, assorted platters, serving utensils, lawn chairs and a VISA gift card all valued at $500!

All you have to do to enter is visit Hormel Foods Pinterest page and find the #HFBigGameBites board, from there it will tell you everything about the contest.

Good Luck!!

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Disclosure: I’ve partnered with Hormel Foods as part of the Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger Program. Throughout the year I’ll be receiving product, coupons, giveaways and promotions. However, no payment was given or expected for posting about the program, and as always, all opinions given here are fully my own.

Disney’s Planes Fire and Rescue Blu-ray announcement

Disclosure: No compensation was received for this post. Information provided by Disney.

Disney’s Planes has been a big hit with my son this year and we loved the movie Planes: Fire and Rescue, it was one of the best animated movies so far. It has finally been announced that Planes Fire and Rescue will be available for purchase and DVD just in time to be put under the tree.

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After flying to the top of the box office this summer as the #1 animated movie in America three weeks in a row, “PLANES: FIRE & RESCUE” soars to spectacular new heights on Blu-ray and Digital HD, featuring wondrous high definition picture and sound, plus thrilling bonus features, including the all-new exclusive short “Vitaminamulch: Air Spectacular;” the mock-umentary promotional piece “Welcome to Piston Peak;” “CHoPs” TV Promo and “Air Attack: Firefighters From The Sky,” an exciting inside look at the making of the film featuring real-life smoke jumpers and firefighters. Additional bonus features include Spencer Lee’s “Still I Fly” music video, deleted scenes with filmmaker introductions, and two “PLANES: FIRE & RESCUE” shorts: “Dipper” and “Smokejumpers.” Exclusively available on Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA) are the bonus shorts “Blade Ranger” and “Piston Peak”.

Disney’s Planes Fire and Rescue will be available on November 4, 2014.

Put it on your Christmas wish lists now.

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