Kids can make friends so easily, but that task becomes harder as you get older. Most adults are awkward and have forgotten the trick to making friends the old-fashioned ways—by simply talking to others about their interests and finding like minds. Throw moving to a new neighborhood into the mix and you have quite a challenge on your hands.
That’s where this article comes in. Read up to feel inspired on how you can make friends as a newbie in a new neighborhood.
Join the Social Media Profile for the Community, i.e. Where People Post Events and Goings-on.
Most communities, even subdivisions, have their own social media profiles these days, where locals post whatever happens to be going on throughout the coming months. Make yourself known on these social media profiles. Introduce yourself, flip through community events, and find some things worth going to.
Tip: Aside from technology, you could also keep your eyes on newspapers and event boards at the grocery stores. This is where older locals might post about upcoming festivals, church events, and annual town celebrations.
Sending Your Kids to School? Make Friends via Their Friends. Get to Know Families Within Your Child’s School System.
When kiddos make friends at one of the private schools in Redmond WA and want those friends to come over, or vice versa, it’s customary for the parents of both kids to meet up and make sure their youngster will be safe and secure at the other parent’s home. Take this an extra step. Invite those parents to your house for dinner. Make friends, so whenever your kids hang out, you all can hang out too.
Take Walks that Lead You Through the Town on a Daily Basis—Say Hello to People You Pass, Bring Your Pup with You, etc.
Neighborhood walks can be great ways to explore your new community while saying hello to locals and getting to know the area. Have a pup? Take them along for walks. Or, better yet, find paths that you could use for daily exercise. You could even start a walking club that could be a little get-together for people that wanted to make friends AND stay in shape.
Showing posts with label back to school. Show all posts
Showing posts with label back to school. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 26, 2018
Tuesday, December 18, 2018
Tips For Helping Your Child Succeed In Education
Education is one of the major keys to success in life. During the formative years, a child is receiving new information that will shape their understanding of life in some of the most critical ways. In order to make sure that your child gets the education they need and deserve, it's wise to take it a few steps further than the classroom. Consider the following ways you can help your child succeed in their educational journey.
1. Develop a tradition of reading.
It's often stated that reading is fundamental. It's virtually impossible to make it through life without knowing how to read. Therefore, it's wise to encourage your child to learn to love reading. You can do this by reading with your child. Allow your child to pick out the books that interest them. It's also a good idea to read a bedtime story each night. When you read together, it becomes a habit that your child will look forward to.
2. Limit screen time.
Technology is an important part of living in today's society. However, you don't want to allow the television or the iPad to babysit your child. Instead, find different programs that stimulate the brain and encourage educational enrichment. Typing software is a great investment so that your child can improve their computer skills. You can limit your child's amount of screen time by installing a timer that goes shuts the software after a specific amount of time.
3. Be relentless when it comes to exposure.
A child needs to be exposed to different experiences and activities. When you present a child with different options and experiences, this increases their chances of learning their interests, hobbies and future career endeavors. Enroll your child in different types of programs, camps and after-school activities. It's also a good idea to make sure that your child gets a well-rounded social life experience. This includes visits to the children's theaters, local libraries and kid-friendly museum exhibits.
As you work through these various tactics in order to improve your child's educational experience, understand that this will only enhance whatever your child learns in the classroom. When you do your job as a parent, you'll increase the likelihood of success for your child in the future.
1. Develop a tradition of reading.
It's often stated that reading is fundamental. It's virtually impossible to make it through life without knowing how to read. Therefore, it's wise to encourage your child to learn to love reading. You can do this by reading with your child. Allow your child to pick out the books that interest them. It's also a good idea to read a bedtime story each night. When you read together, it becomes a habit that your child will look forward to.
2. Limit screen time.
Technology is an important part of living in today's society. However, you don't want to allow the television or the iPad to babysit your child. Instead, find different programs that stimulate the brain and encourage educational enrichment. Typing software is a great investment so that your child can improve their computer skills. You can limit your child's amount of screen time by installing a timer that goes shuts the software after a specific amount of time.
3. Be relentless when it comes to exposure.
A child needs to be exposed to different experiences and activities. When you present a child with different options and experiences, this increases their chances of learning their interests, hobbies and future career endeavors. Enroll your child in different types of programs, camps and after-school activities. It's also a good idea to make sure that your child gets a well-rounded social life experience. This includes visits to the children's theaters, local libraries and kid-friendly museum exhibits.
As you work through these various tactics in order to improve your child's educational experience, understand that this will only enhance whatever your child learns in the classroom. When you do your job as a parent, you'll increase the likelihood of success for your child in the future.
Sunday, July 29, 2018
Back To School With Minted.com
** This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. I was compensated for this post. **
You probably already started your Back to School shopping or if you're like most parents, you never really stopped school shopping! Between my homeschooler, my elementary kids and my high schooler, I seem to spend most of my summer checking for the best online deals and grabbing a few things every time I go literally, anywhere. I keep a notebook with websites, coupon or discount codes, and save emails with sales announcements and anything else that might come in handy for any and all kinds of supplies or clothes. (I named this folder, "Deals And Sales") Each kid starts making a list of everything they need and want and I add these lists to my notebook so I can work on checking everything else as I get to it.
Sometimes, an email surprises me and I find a website that has something that we absolutely need for school supplies and I take advantage of whatever discount code they have available. For instance, I have a shoe organizer behind our laundry room door and fill the pockets with little odds and ends so the kids can take what they need. The pockets make this super easy to keep track of inventory and easier for them to find! A couple of years ago, I started buying little, flavored dental floss packs and put these in the pocket next to sugar-free gum and mints. (At 25 cents a piece and several flavors and a coupon code for 25% off, I simply couldn't resist!) Besides the typical pens, pencils, lead refills, erasers, dental floss, gum, mints, and pocket packs of tissues, I like to stock up on antibacterial wipes and hand sanitizers. I'm always in search of new places to shop or new things I should buy or stock up on so, I was pleasantly surprised when I stumbled upon the "Back To School" on Minted!
Not only do they offer some super fun decor for dorm rooms and kid's rooms and desks of all ages, they also have stationery, notebooks, labels, and journals! I'm sure we can find a lot of good uses for all of the above this year!
Did I mention that you can order personalized stationery? You choose the colors, backing, type of paper, and yes, you can add their names! (PS You can always order samples of the stationery at Minted.com by paying just $1! They will credit that $1 to your order if you choose to place an order!)
There are options for journals too! My favorite option is turning the journal into a day planner or an address book if you prefer. Or you could order one of each in each option for yourself and your children.
If you decide to check out the options at Minted.com, you may want to check into a Minted More membership. This will give you year-round savings and special promos as well as free standard domestic shipping. The membership costs $50 per year but, if you sign up now, you get a Minted More gift box valued at $160! On top of the everyday discount of 15%, 30% off holiday cards, free shipping, (and a 30% off bonus sale on back to school supplies right now!) you will receive a gift box filled with some of the finest products Minted has to offer! Everything from a 12x12 pillow to stationery samples to a gift wrap essentials kit and more! This is a great way to get some school supplies knocked off of your list, grab a gift box for yourself, an annual membership that could very well pay for itself in just a few website visits (or even just 1!) and you're set for the next 12 months!
You probably already started your Back to School shopping or if you're like most parents, you never really stopped school shopping! Between my homeschooler, my elementary kids and my high schooler, I seem to spend most of my summer checking for the best online deals and grabbing a few things every time I go literally, anywhere. I keep a notebook with websites, coupon or discount codes, and save emails with sales announcements and anything else that might come in handy for any and all kinds of supplies or clothes. (I named this folder, "Deals And Sales") Each kid starts making a list of everything they need and want and I add these lists to my notebook so I can work on checking everything else as I get to it.
Sometimes, an email surprises me and I find a website that has something that we absolutely need for school supplies and I take advantage of whatever discount code they have available. For instance, I have a shoe organizer behind our laundry room door and fill the pockets with little odds and ends so the kids can take what they need. The pockets make this super easy to keep track of inventory and easier for them to find! A couple of years ago, I started buying little, flavored dental floss packs and put these in the pocket next to sugar-free gum and mints. (At 25 cents a piece and several flavors and a coupon code for 25% off, I simply couldn't resist!) Besides the typical pens, pencils, lead refills, erasers, dental floss, gum, mints, and pocket packs of tissues, I like to stock up on antibacterial wipes and hand sanitizers. I'm always in search of new places to shop or new things I should buy or stock up on so, I was pleasantly surprised when I stumbled upon the "Back To School" on Minted!
Not only do they offer some super fun decor for dorm rooms and kid's rooms and desks of all ages, they also have stationery, notebooks, labels, and journals! I'm sure we can find a lot of good uses for all of the above this year!
Did I mention that you can order personalized stationery? You choose the colors, backing, type of paper, and yes, you can add their names! (PS You can always order samples of the stationery at Minted.com by paying just $1! They will credit that $1 to your order if you choose to place an order!)
There are options for journals too! My favorite option is turning the journal into a day planner or an address book if you prefer. Or you could order one of each in each option for yourself and your children.
If you decide to check out the options at Minted.com, you may want to check into a Minted More membership. This will give you year-round savings and special promos as well as free standard domestic shipping. The membership costs $50 per year but, if you sign up now, you get a Minted More gift box valued at $160! On top of the everyday discount of 15%, 30% off holiday cards, free shipping, (and a 30% off bonus sale on back to school supplies right now!) you will receive a gift box filled with some of the finest products Minted has to offer! Everything from a 12x12 pillow to stationery samples to a gift wrap essentials kit and more! This is a great way to get some school supplies knocked off of your list, grab a gift box for yourself, an annual membership that could very well pay for itself in just a few website visits (or even just 1!) and you're set for the next 12 months!
Sunday, September 17, 2017
Cujo Smart Firewall At Best Buy
** 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. **
One of my most favorite back to school items for the 2017-2018 school year is Cujo Smart Firewall. Sure, it may not be a lunchbox item or a new pair of sneakers or lead pencils but, it is a definite must-have for any family who uses the internet. (Cujo is also great for businesses and anyone who is connected!)
This one device will secure all devices connected to your WiFi router. Cujo detects and blocks malicious sites, viruses, and hacks. Cujo and his cute, smiling face is like an antivirus for your entire network! But, there are so many other advantages to having Cujo around!
One of my most favorite back to school items for the 2017-2018 school year is Cujo Smart Firewall. Sure, it may not be a lunchbox item or a new pair of sneakers or lead pencils but, it is a definite must-have for any family who uses the internet. (Cujo is also great for businesses and anyone who is connected!)
This one device will secure all devices connected to your WiFi router. Cujo detects and blocks malicious sites, viruses, and hacks. Cujo and his cute, smiling face is like an antivirus for your entire network! But, there are so many other advantages to having Cujo around!
Cujo's Main Features
Cujo will guard every device that is connected to your network, bring you business level security, connect directly to your router, has a super handy and very easy app to control, has parental controls, and is built with 1GB ethernet so it is blazing fast!
My favorite main feature is how easy it is to set up. All you need to do is plug Cujo in, connect to your modem and your router if needed and install an app. This process takes just a few minutes and everything you need to know is right on your phone. After everything is plugged in, Cujo does all of the work for you! (I waited maybe 2 whole minutes for the app to sync with Cujo and he started learning immediately!
One cool thing to note is that Cujo comes all bundled up in a package that is easy to open, instructions that are easy to understand, has a website to visit to start the process and has a window sticker to let everybody know your house and every device in it is protected by Cujo.
You can also filter the different types of websites each profile can access! This is great for families with children of different ages!
If you offer screen time or game time as a reward or if you allow game time only after homework and chores are done, you could filter gaming specifically and then remove the block after chores are done.
Cujo will start keeping track of threats and alerting you every time anything happens. The above screenshot was taken shortly after connecting Cujo however, a few hours later and a few devices later, we did receive 1 threat. The alert will actually show you which device and what time the threat was detected.
I am really loving the parenting control features! I think it is important to set time limits for children (and adults!) and I can do this all remotely. I am also grateful for the filter options and the alerts I receive if my 14-year-old decides to get online to start playing games before finishing homework and chores. (Yes, this happens sometimes!)
If your children use any social media networks, Cujo will help you monitor that as well. You really don't have to be super duper tech savvy to use Cujo or the app. It is easy enough for everyone!
One cool thing to note is that Cujo comes all bundled up in a package that is easy to open, instructions that are easy to understand, has a website to visit to start the process and has a window sticker to let everybody know your house and every device in it is protected by Cujo.
Parental Controls
One of the most impressive benefits to having Cujo around is the fact that I can control and monitor what each device that is connected to my network, is doing. Each of our children uses tablets, 1 has a phone, we have laptops, game consoles, and a desktop. There are limits to screen time and depending on the circumstances, screen time must be earned. (Especially during the school year!) We do respect our children's privacy however, we do what we can to monitor what they can access online. Cujo makes this so much easier and I feel much safer knowing that I will get alerts on my phone if one of them clicked on something that is malicious.
You can create profiles for everybody in your home directly through the Cujo app. You can even choose your color and avatar! Once Cujo has been connected, he starts learning and finding devices. This could take a few hours up to 48 hours. Once Cujo notices the devices, you can assign them to a profile. From here, you can set restrictions if needed and you can monitor activity.
If you offer screen time or game time as a reward or if you allow game time only after homework and chores are done, you could filter gaming specifically and then remove the block after chores are done.
Cujo will start keeping track of threats and alerting you every time anything happens. The above screenshot was taken shortly after connecting Cujo however, a few hours later and a few devices later, we did receive 1 threat. The alert will actually show you which device and what time the threat was detected.
I am really loving the parenting control features! I think it is important to set time limits for children (and adults!) and I can do this all remotely. I am also grateful for the filter options and the alerts I receive if my 14-year-old decides to get online to start playing games before finishing homework and chores. (Yes, this happens sometimes!)
If your children use any social media networks, Cujo will help you monitor that as well. You really don't have to be super duper tech savvy to use Cujo or the app. It is easy enough for everyone!
Wednesday, August 9, 2017
Back To School Giveaway
Back To School Giveaway
Hosted By
Amy & Aron's Real Life Reviews
Co-Hosted By
Deliciously Savvy
Jerri1962sBlog
Oh My Heartsie Girl
Sponsored by:
Amy & Aron's Real Life Reviews
Mead Five Star
Facebook ~ Twitter
Zest
Facebook ~ Youtube
Salon Grafix
Facebook ~ Instagram
Welch's Fruit Snacks
Facebook ~ Twitter
Co-Hosted By
Deliciously Savvy
Jerri1962sBlog
Oh My Heartsie Girl
Sponsored by:
Amy & Aron's Real Life Reviews
Mead Five Star
Facebook ~ Twitter
Zest
Facebook ~ Youtube
Salon Grafix
Facebook ~ Instagram
Welch's Fruit Snacks
Facebook ~ Twitter
~ 1 Winner~
Open to US
8/9 12am ~ 8/23 11:59pm
~Prize~
The prize pack includes:
Stuffed Backpack from Mead Five Star
(backpack, binder, folders, notebooks, etc)
Zest Shower Gel
Salon Grafix Hair Care Products
Welch's Fruit Snacks
$25 PayPal Cash
Our winner will receive the amazing products we got to review this year (backpack & contents may vary depending on colors available).
Check out our reviews for them:
Mead Five Star - Backpack and supplies
Zest and Salon Grafix - Hair and Shower supplies
Welch's - Fruit Snacks
Find Amy & Aron's Real Life Reviews on
Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Youtube, and Twitter
Thank you to all of the bloggers promoting this giveaway! I appreciate all of you for your hard work and helping our readers get really awesome prizes! Stuffed Backpack from Mead Five Star
(backpack, binder, folders, notebooks, etc)
Zest Shower Gel
Salon Grafix Hair Care Products
Welch's Fruit Snacks
$25 PayPal Cash
Our winner will receive the amazing products we got to review this year (backpack & contents may vary depending on colors available).
Check out our reviews for them:
Mead Five Star - Backpack and supplies
Zest and Salon Grafix - Hair and Shower supplies
Welch's - Fruit Snacks
Find Amy & Aron's Real Life Reviews on
Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Youtube, and Twitter
Now for the fun stuff. This giveaway is open to US. There are daily bonus entries so please check back tomorrow. Share it with your family and friends, they'll want to enter to win too!!
I can't ask you to "Like" our pages but, if you see something you like, let us know so we can bring you more of it.
We LOVE it when you "LIKE" our pages.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
If you have any questions about this giveaway, reviews, or any of our other giveaways, please feel free to email us directly at grovesamy81@gmail.com or amy@aarlreviews.com
a Rafflecopter giveaway
If you have any questions about this giveaway, reviews, or any of our other giveaways, please feel free to email us directly at grovesamy81@gmail.com or amy@aarlreviews.com
Monday, August 7, 2017
Back To School Blogger Opp
Blogger Opp Back To School Giveaway
1 Winner
Sponsored by:
Mead Five Star
Mead Five Star
Zest
Salon Graphix
(more are being added this week)
Hosted By
Hosted By
Amy & Aron's Real life Reviews
Each blogger will receive up to 3 Free links
for posting and promoting this giveaway
for posting and promoting this giveaway
Giveaway Date
8/9 to 8/23
Open to US
Open to US
Giveaway will be 2 weeks long. Make sure if you are purchasing links they will be valid that long. We don't want blank entries.
Prizes:
Mead Five Star Backpack with an assorted bundle of supplies
Zest shower gel
Salon Graphix hair care products and more will be added
(and more)
Prizes:
Mead Five Star Backpack with an assorted bundle of supplies
Zest shower gel
Salon Graphix hair care products and more will be added
(and more)
The more bloggers promoting ~ the bigger the results ~ the more giveaways we get to do together.
Sign Up Here or Below
Co-Hosts spots are unlimited, Co-Hosts Needed
Co-Hosts
$5 for 5 additional links (up to 8 total) plus backlink to your blog.
Custom links available:
Adding social links $1 each limit 3
Sign Up Here or Below
Co-Hosts spots are unlimited, Co-Hosts Needed
Co-Hosts
$5 for 5 additional links (up to 8 total) plus backlink to your blog.
Custom links available:
Adding social links $1 each limit 3
(link to specific post required)
This includes Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Youtube, etc
Daily links $2 each or 3 for $5 (Limit 3)
Daily Comments, retweets, post shares, email sign ups, secret word, etc
(link to specific post required)
Daily links $2 each or 3 for $5 (Limit 3)
Daily Comments, retweets, post shares, email sign ups, secret word, etc
(link to specific post required)
Posting will be required within 24 hours of launch.
I hope to see you there.
If you have any questions about this giveaway please email Amy at grovesamy81@gmail.com or amy@aarlreviews.com
If you have any questions about this giveaway please email Amy at grovesamy81@gmail.com or amy@aarlreviews.com
Saturday, October 31, 2015
My Totally Organized, Hectic, Chaotic Life
We recently changed this dollar store shoe organizer into a recipe card holder, restaurant menu holder, and back to school organizer! I love that it fits right behind the door between the laundry room and kitchen, way out of my sight! I was so tired of little things piled up everywhere, I just had to do something! I like to be organized. It helps to keep my brain from spilling out when there is a place for everything, A nice place. So, we collected all of the loose pencils, pens, erasers, tissue packs, lip balms, Box Tops, made some hand sanitizers, filled with the kid's favorite mints, sugar free gum, anti bacterial wipes, and eye glass cleaner. Each has their own little pocket and the kids like to call this their, "back to school station". It's a busy place some mornings! Our youngest isn't in school just yet but he has a backpack that he likes to also fill with tiny things.
I think I must spend about 10 hours a week, just trying to figure out exactly how to organize some new pile of clutter, a stack of artwork the kids made that day, a new box of extra beauty products that I received that month from my favorite subscription boxes, and even bags of heirloom potatoes! I wake up, have my coffee and sit here trying to figure out, "How can I make this new pile of stuff, look nicer by putting it into something?" At least that's what my husband says I do. He thinks I prance around and try to buy more things to paint more mason jars or to glue some glitter and gems onto some subscription boxes, just so I can fill them up with stuff. Do I? I don't know sometimes! But, either way, I do love to organize and I can't get enough of the cute mason jar fad that has been all the rage! Maybe?
Well, to be fair, I have 4 children. One is grown and on her own but between the 3 who still live here? They have enough school work, papers, arts, crafts, supplies, books, clothes, and for some reason, a lot of this ends up in my kitchen! I have bags that I date and tie up each month of that month's coloring pages, paper towels with love notes that they make for me, handmade cards, A+ papers. funny sentences they wrote at school. I keep almost everything they make, ok, everything they make. School pages? I've learned to only keep the important things. But, these are all nicely kept in bags and then placed in bins up in my office.
Who doesn't love these adorable little totes? I like these for separating candles, wax tarts, cleansing grains, lip balms, anything that I make in my secret hideaway, my other kitchen!
If you subscribe to any beauty subscription boxes or any subscription boxes for that matter, I am sure you try to find something to do with those pretty boxes that all of our goodies come in! I know I do! My 8 year old tries to take all of the plain colored boxes so she can make doll beds and closets for them. She does a great job too! She decorates and matches them to each doll. The problem is, now she has so many of these box beds and box closets! (I do have a problem with telling any kid they can't make, build, draw, color, paint, cut and glue, something. I do say no sometimes if we are getting ready to leave on an errand run or something. But, for the most part, it is always craft day at our house!)
I make scented oils and I found that these red boxes from my Allure Beauty Box, are probably the strongest ones yet! They are also perfect to fit a few rows of oils in and I can label the scents with these fancy chalkboard paint markers I found! Some of the other boxes are used for leftover candle wicks, labels, ribbons, and any other odds and ends I accumulate. Waste not, want not, right? We try to upcycle as often as we can. Yes, even the trimmed wicks from candles I make. Do you know what else these beauty boxes are good for?
LEFTOVER CRAFT SUPPLIES!
Along with the beauty boxes that fill our mailbox each month, we subscribe to a few craft subscription boxes. If you have little ones, you just have to check these dandy little subscription services out! The kids just love them and lucky for me, we seem to always have scraps and buttons leftover. Of course we can't throw these little gems away! We have a few boxes where we store the leftovers for a rainy (or a snowy) day!
Besides the perfect size of these boxes, they stack nice, they have lids, they are usually either plain so we can design them however our little hearts desire, or they come in a gorgeous shade of red and are beautiful just the way they are! (Yes, the picture above is really a picture of some of these smaller boxes, inside a bigger box!) Because, after acquiring so many of these boxes, it is time to organize those boxes.
What we need are labels! Maybe more boxes to fit them in would be nice? I don't know. I am kinda going towards labeling the boxes so the kids know exactly what they are looking for and we can arrange them by type.
How do you organize a busy home with children? Especially all of their art supplies and tiny Lego guys?
Friday, August 28, 2015
Wild Oats Virtual Meetup #AffordableOrganics
** I received compensation in return for sharing, promoting and helping to manage this Wild Oats Virtual Meetup Group **
I'm sure most of you are familiar with one of the newer organic kids on the block, Wild Oats. If you aren't, it's time to meet them and learn everything you always wanted to know about organic food. Oh, I almost forgot the best part! AFFORDABLE organic food!
You can find Wild Oats in Walmart stores near you.
Wild Oats has a list of banned ingredients so you know that every effort is made to develop products with the shortest and most simple ingredients for our families. What's not to like?
Everything from applesauce to dressings to granola bars to pasta to frozen fruits and vegetables and everything in between can be organic and CAN be affordable!
#AffordableOrganics Now is your chance to chat with Wild Oats and ask them any questions you would like! Remember to share your favorite Wild Oats products and why affordable organics are important to you. Tweet 5 questions this week, tag @wildoats and hashtag #affordableorganics and you will be eligible to win a Wild oats prize pack! (Prize value $50)
There will be 2 winners at the end of the week. That's right! A week long Twitter party with 2 lucky winners! RSVP by adding your Twitter handle in the linky below. (Type your Twitter handle in the name space and the url to your Twitter profile in the link space.) Follow @wildoats and don't forget to use the hashtag #affordableorganics. The most active Virtual Meetup members in the group will win! Wild Oats would love to hear your stories and will be there all week to chat so think of your best questions and Tweet! If you need help through the week, please ask! I will be on Twitter most of the week and will be available if you need help with RSVP's and to ask Wild oats my own 5 questions! You can find me and Tweet me @busymommylist
If you haven't already entered the #WildOats4SchoolContest, you still have a little time. But, hurry and share your best Wild Oats back to school recipe ideas, after school snacks, whatever you create using Wild Oats products for back to school and you could be one of 3 lucky winners.
3 winners will receive a $100 Walmart gift card and $100 worth of Wild Oats products!
If you haven't already entered your most creative, back to school photo, enter here!
You can also find Wild Oats on Facebook
Pinterest
Instagram
Google +
and on Twitter!
I'm sure most of you are familiar with one of the newer organic kids on the block, Wild Oats. If you aren't, it's time to meet them and learn everything you always wanted to know about organic food. Oh, I almost forgot the best part! AFFORDABLE organic food!
You can find Wild Oats in Walmart stores near you.
Wild Oats has a list of banned ingredients so you know that every effort is made to develop products with the shortest and most simple ingredients for our families. What's not to like?
Everything from applesauce to dressings to granola bars to pasta to frozen fruits and vegetables and everything in between can be organic and CAN be affordable!
#AffordableOrganics Now is your chance to chat with Wild Oats and ask them any questions you would like! Remember to share your favorite Wild Oats products and why affordable organics are important to you. Tweet 5 questions this week, tag @wildoats and hashtag #affordableorganics and you will be eligible to win a Wild oats prize pack! (Prize value $50)
There will be 2 winners at the end of the week. That's right! A week long Twitter party with 2 lucky winners! RSVP by adding your Twitter handle in the linky below. (Type your Twitter handle in the name space and the url to your Twitter profile in the link space.) Follow @wildoats and don't forget to use the hashtag #affordableorganics. The most active Virtual Meetup members in the group will win! Wild Oats would love to hear your stories and will be there all week to chat so think of your best questions and Tweet! If you need help through the week, please ask! I will be on Twitter most of the week and will be available if you need help with RSVP's and to ask Wild oats my own 5 questions! You can find me and Tweet me @busymommylist
If you haven't already entered the #WildOats4SchoolContest, you still have a little time. But, hurry and share your best Wild Oats back to school recipe ideas, after school snacks, whatever you create using Wild Oats products for back to school and you could be one of 3 lucky winners.
3 winners will receive a $100 Walmart gift card and $100 worth of Wild Oats products!
If you haven't already entered your most creative, back to school photo, enter here!
You can also find Wild Oats on Facebook
Google +
and on Twitter!
Thursday, August 14, 2014
School Shopping Deals with Ebates #GivingBackPack
I was provided $25 by our sponsor Ebates to purchase a backpack and school supplies. I was not compensated in any other way for this post. Ebates Back To School #givingbackpack #ebates
It's that chaotic time of year again when we start rummaging through all of the sales ads, and trying to salvage from last years stock to see what, if anything, we can reuse or if we're lucky, open from our stock pile of school supplies, or even make look new again from an older sibling.
School supply shopping should be a super fun time, (at least it was when I was growing up) but as a mom of 4, it's not so exciting anymore!
I usually pick up odds and ends throughout the year, online, offline, anywhere I see a pack of markers, pens, paper clips, erasers, anything that I can use in my office or for crafts, I'll grab it! We sometimes end up with little crates filled to the brim with pencils, but no sharpener in site. That's when I grab 1 of my piles of sticky notes or to do list tablets and start making a priority list of what we need asap! (I don't know why it's been so hard to find a decent, dependable sharpener over the years) They just don't make them the same anymore.
Of course, with all of my top secret cubby holes and little office crates, we end up with way more then we need. Which is a good thing, because we are always gathering supplies for children who may not be able to go to the stores and grab the cute butterfly erasers, scratch and sniff stickers, pencils, folders, binders, and the character backpack of their dreams.
This year is especially fun, because we partnered with Madame Deals and Ebates, and we are participating with their #GivingBackPack event.
Lucky bloggers, such as moi!, were given a very important task.....Find a backpack and stuff it with school supplies, as much as you can for $25. We love challenges and we love donating to our community so it's been a blessing to be a part of this awesome event!
I posted on my personal Facebook account, asking my friends to message me about any local school kids who may be in need of a backpack filled to the brim. (We usually take some to the guidance office at the elementary school each year) but we wanted to first try and find somebody nearby, so we could maybe cater the supplies to him or hers, liking. I received a message from a friend, about her granddaughter who will be starting kindergarten this year. Of course, Genevive was more then happy to help with this task!
Between The Dollar Store, Walmart (online through Ebates, of course) and our stockpile, we had so much, we barely fit it all in!
We spent $11.99 on the backpack and lunch kit, $8 on Walmart.com, the extra from CVS and The Dollar Store, (totaled $5) and we threw in the glitter glue pack, some lip balms, stickers, a couple pencils I picked up at Rite Aid for 10 cents and Genevive had the bright idea to fill her Frozen lunch kit with some extra snacks that we receive from subscription boxes, case purchases and review opportunities.
We did go a little over our $25, due to the items we added from our stock at home. But even if I add those items up, it maybe would've cost another $5.
We are delivering her backpack tomorrow afternoon, since I am a friend of her grandmothers, and Genevive is so anxious to meet her new Frozen fan friend, she has not been able to stop squealing and jumping up and down since she helped create this overstuffed, little girls dream come true!
The boys wanted to help with this project, which they did! We will be delivering 4 other backpacks to the school, Monday, and they are in charge of filling those up.
We had a lot of fun with this project, I am very grateful for Madame Deals and Ebates for allowing us to be a part of this.
We love helping our community and have always believed that ALL children deserve new school supplies!
I have been a member of Ebates for a long, long time, and although I forget to log on sometimes, I always love shopping online and I usually always remember Ebates the second I'm ready to check out. (I desperately need to remember to log on!) I am usually doing 20 things at once, of course!
You absolutely have to sign up if you shop online! I am a member of many, many, many cash back sites and Ebates has always had the most and the best retailers available.
Oh, one more thing! Not only do you have cash back from Ebates, but retailers sometimes have some very nice discounts and coupon codes available to Ebates members!
Ebates – Where it Pays to Shop Online. Ebates is the pioneer and leader of online cash back shopping. Ebates pays members cash back every time they shop online as well as provide them with the best coupons and deals online. Founded in 1998, Ebates Inc.’s websites have paid over $250 million in cash to its members. That’s why millions of people have joined Ebates. Sign up today!!
It's that chaotic time of year again when we start rummaging through all of the sales ads, and trying to salvage from last years stock to see what, if anything, we can reuse or if we're lucky, open from our stock pile of school supplies, or even make look new again from an older sibling.
School supply shopping should be a super fun time, (at least it was when I was growing up) but as a mom of 4, it's not so exciting anymore!
I usually pick up odds and ends throughout the year, online, offline, anywhere I see a pack of markers, pens, paper clips, erasers, anything that I can use in my office or for crafts, I'll grab it! We sometimes end up with little crates filled to the brim with pencils, but no sharpener in site. That's when I grab 1 of my piles of sticky notes or to do list tablets and start making a priority list of what we need asap! (I don't know why it's been so hard to find a decent, dependable sharpener over the years) They just don't make them the same anymore.
Of course, with all of my top secret cubby holes and little office crates, we end up with way more then we need. Which is a good thing, because we are always gathering supplies for children who may not be able to go to the stores and grab the cute butterfly erasers, scratch and sniff stickers, pencils, folders, binders, and the character backpack of their dreams.
This year is especially fun, because we partnered with Madame Deals and Ebates, and we are participating with their #GivingBackPack event.
Lucky bloggers, such as moi!, were given a very important task.....Find a backpack and stuff it with school supplies, as much as you can for $25. We love challenges and we love donating to our community so it's been a blessing to be a part of this awesome event!
I posted on my personal Facebook account, asking my friends to message me about any local school kids who may be in need of a backpack filled to the brim. (We usually take some to the guidance office at the elementary school each year) but we wanted to first try and find somebody nearby, so we could maybe cater the supplies to him or hers, liking. I received a message from a friend, about her granddaughter who will be starting kindergarten this year. Of course, Genevive was more then happy to help with this task!
We found out that this little girl loves the movie, Frozen, so we searched online for a Frozen backpack.
Of course, I logged into my Ebates account, and started hunting.
I had to shop on Toysrus.com for my 11 year old son's birthday, so I checked there.....
Toys R Us had a special deal, get a free lunch kit when you buy a backpack!! (SWEET!!)
Genevive picked the backpack and lunch kit, (she's 7 and also loves Frozen!)
The backpack was $16.99, the lunch kit was free, free shipping, (since I had other items), and 1% cash back from Ebates!!
Besides all of that awesomeness, I had a $5 reward on my Toys R Us card!!
Between The Dollar Store, Walmart (online through Ebates, of course) and our stockpile, we had so much, we barely fit it all in!
We spent $11.99 on the backpack and lunch kit, $8 on Walmart.com, the extra from CVS and The Dollar Store, (totaled $5) and we threw in the glitter glue pack, some lip balms, stickers, a couple pencils I picked up at Rite Aid for 10 cents and Genevive had the bright idea to fill her Frozen lunch kit with some extra snacks that we receive from subscription boxes, case purchases and review opportunities.
We did go a little over our $25, due to the items we added from our stock at home. But even if I add those items up, it maybe would've cost another $5.
We are delivering her backpack tomorrow afternoon, since I am a friend of her grandmothers, and Genevive is so anxious to meet her new Frozen fan friend, she has not been able to stop squealing and jumping up and down since she helped create this overstuffed, little girls dream come true!
The boys wanted to help with this project, which they did! We will be delivering 4 other backpacks to the school, Monday, and they are in charge of filling those up.
We had a lot of fun with this project, I am very grateful for Madame Deals and Ebates for allowing us to be a part of this.
We love helping our community and have always believed that ALL children deserve new school supplies!
I have been a member of Ebates for a long, long time, and although I forget to log on sometimes, I always love shopping online and I usually always remember Ebates the second I'm ready to check out. (I desperately need to remember to log on!) I am usually doing 20 things at once, of course!
You absolutely have to sign up if you shop online! I am a member of many, many, many cash back sites and Ebates has always had the most and the best retailers available.
Oh, one more thing! Not only do you have cash back from Ebates, but retailers sometimes have some very nice discounts and coupon codes available to Ebates members!
Ebates – Where it Pays to Shop Online. Ebates is the pioneer and leader of online cash back shopping. Ebates pays members cash back every time they shop online as well as provide them with the best coupons and deals online. Founded in 1998, Ebates Inc.’s websites have paid over $250 million in cash to its members. That’s why millions of people have joined Ebates. Sign up today!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)