Master Lock 5900D SafeSpace Review

January 30, 2015 - brandy3 3 Comments

Disclosure: No formal compensation was received for this post. A product was provided for my review, all opinions are 100% my own.

This is a really big year for us, my husband will be graduation with a PHD and we will be moving once again. With all the that comes people coming and going constantly, including people I don’t know. So I am protecting the few small valuables I have by locking them up with Master Lock 5900D SafeSpace.

About the Safe:
The Master Lock 5900D SafeSpace Portable Personal Safe features durable construction made to withstand abuse and is water resistant. The safe measures 2-1/5in (57mm) H x 9-2/5in (23.9cm) W x 5-1/10in (13.1cm) D; and is ideal for recreation, campus, office, travel or leisure use. The safe includes a cable to wrap securely around a fixed object or use as a carrying handle. The Limited Lifetime Warranty provides peace of mind from a brand you can trust.

Can be ideal for use in the office, camping or traveling
Lightweight and portable, stores phones, cameras MP3 players, gaming accessories and more.
Lock up your valuables with the cable wrapped around the safe or you can use the cable as a carrying strap.
water resistant and durable materials.
Ear bud, charging cable access port.

The safe looks very small, but it can actually fit quite a few things including money, smart phones and more.

The set up was very simple, it’s easy to set the combination to your own and open and lock the safe. When setting the code, you need to hold the lever with a screwdriver and release gently. The first Safe I received broke as I used my finger and the lever snapped.

What would you put in the Master Lock 5900D SafeSpace. Find out more information about the product and how you can but it here.

LifebankUSA Peace Of Mind Contest 2015

January 29, 2015January 29, 2015 - brandy3

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

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.

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 and Shop A+ School Rewards Program GIveaway Closed

January 15, 2015February 25, 2015 - brandy3 464 Comments

Disclosure: A gift card was provided for sharing this post. Al opinions are my own.

Stop and Shop A+ School Rewards Program is kicking off 2015 with the Fighting Hunger Challenge. Stop and Shop is looking to get school involved in the Fighting Hunger Challenge by hosting food drives giving them a chance to earn money for their school.

The food drives will benefit local food banks, pantries and soup kitchens. Stop and Shop will be holding a contest with all the participating schools, and winners will be chosen from the schools that make the best displays using the donated goods.

The challenge runs from January 1, 2015 to February 13, 2015 and is open to all public and private schools in NJ, NY and CT. You must be registered for the Stop and Shop A+ School Rewards Program.

Information on Entering:
To participate in the Challenge, each school registered in the A+ School Rewards Program is asked to choose a local not-for-profit food bank, pantry or soup kitchen, conduct a food drive at their school and collect non-perishable goods. Each participating school builds a unique and creative Fighting Hunger Display using donated products and placed in a prominent area of the school. The food items will be donated to the designated food bank, pantry or soup kitchen at the conclusion of the Challenge.

Coordinators and/or Principals must submit a photograph of their Fighting Hunger Display, indicating the name of their designated recipient. Schools are divided into three brackets based on enrollment size, with the top two schools in each bracket winning $1,000 each. The winning Fighting Hunger Display photos will be placed on the Stop & Shop social media pages.

For full information visit here.

I am giving away a $25 Stop and Shop gift card to help you earn A+ Rewards for your school.

To enter: Tell me if your are signed up. Earning your school reward points whenever you shop?

Extra entries:

Put No Time Mommy button on your site-13 entries
Subscribe to my feed- 12 entries
Blog about this giveaway-9 entries
Leave a comment on any non-giveaway post-7 entries unlimited
Follow me on Bloglovin- 6 entries
Follow me on twitter-4 entries
Tweet this giveaway-4 entries (can be done daily)
Pin, Google + or stumble share-3 entries
Enter any of my other giveaways-3 entries
post this giveaway on Facebook-2 entries (can be done daily)

Contest closes 2/15/15

Taco Tuesday With Wholly Guacamole #HormelFamily

January 13, 2015January 12, 2015 - brandy3 4 Comments

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.

My kids love to do a taco night and we go all out with Tacos, burritos, fully loaded nachos, salsa and more. It’s one of our guilty pleasure nights. I have never been big on guacamole, but my kids and husband love it. The problem is that they really don’t eat that much of it and a lot goes to waste when I make it myself or buy a tub of it.

Hormel sent me the Wholly Guacamole minis and they worked out perfectly. Didn’t have to worry about food getting wasted and most importantly there was no fighting between my 3 kids over who got the bowl.

classic guacamole in fun, 100 calorie, portable cups. Peel the lid back a little for an easy squeeze or peel the lid back all the way for delicious dipping. This is an easy guacamole to love. It’s simple
guacamole goodness in the convenience of a travel cup. Stays
good in your freezer for up to 3 months.

Learn more about the product and where you can find it here.

Stop Ruining Your Coffee! 5 Tips For A Better Brew

January 5, 2015 - brandy3 1 Comment

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.

Just Go Girl Has A Brand New Site and Free Samples

January 2, 2015 - brandy3 1 Comment

Disclosure: This is a compensated post on behalf of Just go Girl. All opinions are my own.

Just Go Girl products are perfect for any woman who experiences leaks on a daily basis or infrequently.

As a mom of 3 all under the age of 10, you start to experience leaks it just comes with the territory, when you sneeze or are exercising. The Just Go Pads are perfect and very discreet as they provide protection in the front but get smaller from behind to avoid the bulky feeling around your behind. You can also wear them with smaller underwear or thongs.

Customers from all over the United States are raving about the Just Go Girl pads. Here are some of the testimonials:

“Ran my first half with a little help from Just Go Girl! Mom of two and a diabetic, I am an avid supporter of this product. I may not need it every time but it is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it! Train hard!” -Melissa M Nasits

“First off, I just want to tell you how excited I am to have found your product. When I started running 4 years ago (at 36 years old and mom to two boys, both with natural childbirth, who left my pelvic floor in very weak condition!) the worst part of it was that I would leak every time I ran. It was so frustrating and depressing! I searched for a product like yours, but as you know, it didn’t exist, so I was stuck with bulky Poise pads and they were atrocious! Anyway, I was thrilled when I stumbled upon Just Go Girl after doing another frustrated internet search just last month (I was going to order the Poise pads online, since I HATE going to buy them in the store!). I ordered a pack immediately and have been using them for every run–just did a half marathon with them last weekend–and it’s completely changed the way I feel while running. Thank you, thank you!”

Just Go Girl has just launched a new site with all the information you need on their products including a free sample to try.

Right now through January 31, 2015, when you register for a free sample, you will receive a full 10 pack instead of the regular 2 sample pack. Thats a full ten pack in their newly designed boxes, all you have to do is pay for shipping. Shipping is only around $2.00 you can’t beat that deal, you’ll pay more in store.

Who is getting their free sample?

Pepperoni Grilled Cheese #HormelFamily

December 17, 2014December 17, 2014 - brandy3 2 Comments

One of my favorite foods during the winter is Grilled Cheese and soup. They both are hot and ready to keep you warm on those cold nights. Although sometimes grilled cheese just becomes a little plain to me.

I have started spicing it up a bit with different things like Hormel Pepperoni, ham and bacon.

First we tried the pepperoni grilled cheese. It was actually really good. My son kept asking for more.

The bacon was good but my son said it made it taste to much like a bacon burger.

Have you tried any toppings with your Grilled Cheese? I suggest it, so good.

The Canon EOS Rebel T5i Is Now Availble At Best Buy

December 12, 2014 - brandy3 1 Comment

Disclosure: The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

The only thing on my Christmas list is a DSLR. It’s something I have always wanted but never been able to put in my budget. I love taking pictures and being able to share them through my blog and social media channels. A DSLR can give your pictures a professional touch and You can choose different lenses to go with the camera.

The Canon EOS Rebel T5i is one of the best selling cameras, giving all your photos a professional feel. It als makes photography easy for a beginner or a true professional. It has great 4.8 star review rating and 99% of customers at BestBuy.com would recommend using this camera.

Some features:

Capture Hollywood Calibur full HD video
Continuous autofocus while taking HD video
Features a 18.0 megapixel CMOS sensor and a DIGIC 5 image processor for crystal clear images
The 3″ vari-angle touch screen simplifies navigation.

I am really hoping to finally be able to add this camera to my family to be able to share so many more memories with my family. After going through several point an shoot cameras I think a DSLR is the way to go, plus I would love to take up photography. I looked a this camera myself in store and it is just amazing.
When you buy the camera it includes so much, Camera, lens, strap, battery pack, and so much more.

Plus she you buy the camera you get free bonus items, like a Lowepro Trax camera bag and a PNY pro elite 16GB SDHC memory card.

Save $150 on the Canon EOS Rebel T5i now, visit Best Buy for more information.

Behaviors With Friends iPad App From Teach2Talk

December 8, 2014December 8, 2014 - brandy3

Diclosure: This is a sponsored post for teach2talk but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

My kids are s close in age that they love all the same things and fight constantly over toys and clothes. It’s hard to get them to understand the right way to handle the situation. They forget to ask and share constantly they get in their own mind frame.

There is a new app called Behaviors With Friends and uses targeted video modeling to help teach your child how to behave appropriately, solve problems, make good decisions, and properly communicate with their friends and other peers in common social scenarios and settings.

The app was created by Sarah Clifford Scheflen, M.S., CCC-SLP, a practicing speech-language pathologist who specializes in providing a range of therapies to children, including children with developmental disorders.

From Sarah: “Behavior issues are a common complaint from parents. Parents need strategies to help teach their children how to behave. Behavior with Friends not only teaches children how to behave appropriately, but also provides tips to parents on how to implement their own behavior modifications.”

This app has become a great source in my house. Whenever my kids fight or become a poor sport, I ask them how the kids in the app handled it. They have to think about it for a minute, but it reminds them of the proper way to handle a situation.

This app is now available at the app store for $4.99 and would be perfect for the holidays. You can download it here.

Proactiv + Review #MC #Sponsored

December 2, 2014December 3, 2014 - brandy3

Disclosure: I participated in an Influencer Activation Program on behalf of Influence-Central for Proacitv+. I received samples of Proactiv+ to facilitate my review and a thank you item for participating.

I have suffered from acne for the past 18 years. It has not been as bad as a adult, but I still suffer a great deal. Although there is no cure for acne, there are ways to prevent and control breakouts.

Proactiv + helps fight
breakouts and makes your skin look and feel healthier through a range of skincare ingredients.
There are three steps in the core system:

Skin Smoothing Exfoliator

Pore Targeting Treatment

Complexion Perfecting Hydrator

I started using Proactiv + a month ago and I am already seeing improvements in my skin. I still get a pimple here and there, but it goes away pretty fast and my skin looks healthy and glowing.

When I first started using Proactiv + my skin really burned and my face turned red. I had tried Proactiv a few years before and now that after a few days it will pass. It got better but my skin was still a bit irritated so I started using it only once a day instead of morning and night. I use the 3 step system every night and in the morning twice a week. My skin has been fine since.

My favorite product is the smoothing exfoliator, it really gets all the dead skin and dirt off your face making it feel refreshed and vibrant. It really opens up your pores. I started noticing my face looking smoother and softer, most of my acne was fading away. I still get a small pimple from time to time. The system has been great to use, but is a bit time consuming.

I’ve noticed that the past couple of days my face has been very dry and flaky, so I have been using the complexion perfecting hydrator throughout the day and it has been helping some.
Here are my results:
Before:

After 1 week:

Kind of dark, but a lot of redness in my face

After 4 weeks:

Make Up

Makeup free:

I still have a few blemishes and tons of scars from previous acne, but my skin seems to be healthier and just looks better than it has in a long time.

Have You tried Proactiv +? Let me know your thoughts on the system. Haven’t tried it yet, you can read all about it here.