Learn how to drive!

Living in the city of Chicago there are many horrible drivers.  Here are just a couple of errors I see people make a lot that really irritate me.

1.  If you are on a one way street and you want to turn left please be on the left side of the street!  Don't sit on the right side blocking me while I wait for you to turn left!

2.  If there is an ambulance, fire truck, or other emergency vehicle behind you honking it does not mean sit there!!  Even if the light is red move out of the way.  Proceed cautiously out of the way of the emergency vehicle in any way possible so they can get to their destination.

3. The signs that say stop for pedestrians are NOT stop signs.  They mean stop for pedestrians not stop in the middle of a busy street for no reason.

4. If you are in the left lane you may not turn right.  Especially if there is a car in the right lane!!

5. If you are in the left turn lane please pull up to the white line.  If you sit a car length or more behind the white line the left turn signal will not turn on as most signals are set to sensors in the ground.  PULL UP!

These are my 5 current pet peeves about driving that make me an angry driver.  I live on a street that requires a permit to park here and two weeks ago my block had no parking at all due to people parking without permits.  I called and had everyone ticketed.  I have lived her 7 years and never done this but I was pushed to my limits.  With over ten cars parked illegally when I pay to park here I was pissed.  

And don't expect me to let you in/turn when you are talking on your phone either.  If I see you on your phone I will intentionally not let you in.  

End of rant. 

Creekside at Beaver Creek

Vacationers looking to leave everyday life behind and enjoy remarkable skiing and the grandeur of a modern alpine ski resort should head to Beaver Creek, Colorado.

Creekside at Beaver Creek is a luxury ski-in/ski-out property located within the heart of Beaver Creek village. Nestled right up against the bubbling Beaver Creek, guests are steps away from world-class restaurants, shopping, and entertainment. In the morning, you can ski right to the lifts and access nearly 1,900 acres of skiable terrain including immaculately groomed green cruisers to steep powder-filled Aspen groves and chutes. At the end of the day, after a relaxing dip in the hot tub, unwind in a comfortable two or three bedroom condominium, elegantly decorated to make oneself at home.

Whether you are visiting Colorado to ski/snowboard or just take in the majestic beauty of the Rocky Mountains, you’ll find your stay at Creekside at Beaver Creek a memorable one.

Book by Opening Day and Save up to 30%!

Book your winter 2013/2014 vacation to Creekside at Beaver Creek by the time the lifts start turning and save up to 30% off regular rates for the 2013/2014 ski season! (Beaver Creek opening day is Nov. 27, 2013)

Book now! http://creeksidebeavercreek.com/rates/deals or call (800) 910-3240.

Del Monte Fruit Burst™ Squeezers & $50 Walmart GC Giveaway!

 “The Del Monte products, information, gift pack, and gift card have been provided by Del Monte.”

When I was given the chance to try Del Monte's new Fruit Burst Squeezers I was thrilled because my children LOVE any type of food they can squeeze from a pouch.  I love anything that incorporates more fruit and veggies into their diet.  Children have mall stomachs so it is important that every bite they eat is nutritious as possible.  Here is a little info about their new line of squeezers:

About Fruit Burst™ Squeezers

Made in the U.S.A., Del Monte Fruit Burst™ Squeezers contain 1 ½ servings of fruit or fruit and veggies and are an excellent source of vitamins A and C. In addition, Del Monte Fruit Burst™ Squeezers contain no artificial flavors or high fructose corn syrup.

                Fruit + Veggie Varieties:

-          Peach-Mango: Pear puree concentrate, water, pumpkin juice concentrate, peach puree concentrate, pear juice concentrate, carrot juice concentrate, carrot puree, mango puree concentrate, natural flavors, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), citric acid.

-          Blueberry: Pear puree concentrate, water, pumpkin juice concentrate, pear juice concentrate, natural flavors, carrot puree, blueberry puree concentrate, fruit and vegetable extracts for color, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), citric acid.

Simply Fruit Varieties:

-          Apple Cinnamon: Pear puree concentrate, water, apple puree concentrate, pear juice concentrate, natural flavors, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), cinnamon, malic acid.

-          Mixed Berry: Pear puree concentrate, water, pear juice concentrate, natural flavors, strawberry puree, red raspberry puree concentrate, blueberry puree concentrate, fruit and vegetable extracts for color, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), malic acid.

-          Strawberry: Pear puree concentrate, water, pear juice concentrate, strawberry puree concentrate, natural flavors, carmine, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), malic acid.

 I love snacks that are simple, require no thought and are easy for a mom on the go!  I can just throw Fruit Bursts in their lunchbox, diaper bag, my purse or hand them to the kids as we are walking out the door.  They are happy and mom is happy.  My favorites are the fruit/veggie combos.  My kids will not touch, look at or even allow on their plate veggies of any kind.  So I have learned to be sneaky.  My boys think they are getting "applesauce" when they are really getting fruit and veggies.  Shh, don't tell them because they absolutely loved all the varieties and they are now a staple in my hidden veggie rotation.

The package came with cute little signs with suggested ways to eat them.  Day 1, an after school snack.  Day 2, on-the-go.  Day 3, lunch box favorite.  Day 4, mom's treat (these are not just for kids, I love them too!).  Day 5 was your own idea so I chose before bedtime snack.  Its inevitable that when bedtime comes around your kids decide they are hungry so reach for something healthy and easy.

Del Monte Fruit Burst Squeezers are available at your local Walmart, be sure to add these squeezable snacks to your cart while picking up essentials for your family!  I am even giving away a $50 Walmart gift card to one of my readers thanks to Del Monte!! (Think of all the Fruit Bursts you can get with that!?!?!)

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An Evening at Ringling Brothers Built to Amaze!

I was excited as soon as I heard we were getting tickets to Ringling Brothers Built to Amaze!  I have not been to the circus in about 15 years and always enjoyed it as a child so I was thrilled to see my boys experience it for the first time.  Aside from the boys it was also my husbands first time going to the circus.  Ringling Brothers did not disappoint!  The opening act was breathtaking with acrobats and clowns.  Chris was instantly mesmerized and his eyes didn't look away at all until the intermission.

My one piece of advice would be do not bring an almost 2 year old boy.  He liked the circus for about ten minutes and then just wanted to run around so the 2nd half daddy took Nick outside to do so.  Chris on the other hand was so excited to see the tigers, elephants, dogs and all the incredibly amazing acrobats,  The acts were amazing.  They can do things I never imagined possible and are something you need to see to believe.

Despite my energetic two year old we had a fabulous time and I highly recommend taking your kiddos to the circus.  It is an experience they will remember and enjoy and as we left Chris let out his energetic "the circus was so much fun!"  His happiness makes everything that much more enjoyable.  The circus is at the Allstate arena through November 11th and then it heads to the United Center from November 20th through December 1st.  Get your tickets here and don't forget to use the coupon code MOM so you can save 40% on weekday shows and 20% on weekend shows.  Parking is my favorite word, FREE!

Ringling Brothers Presents Built to Amaze!

Ringling Brothers Built to Amaze will be arriving in Chicago in less then a week and I can't wait!  I am so excited that my boys will get to go to the circus for the first time.  It is exciting and to lead up to our trip I have some fun activities planned.  Click here for a coloring sheet your kids (or you!) can color to get ready for your outing.

Since it is almost Halloween I also have three super cute carving stencils for all those pumpkins you have sitting around.  Just click here!

Don't worry if you haven't gotten your tickets yet they are still available and make sure you use the coupon code! The best part parking is FREE!!

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey ^® Presents Built To Amaze! will be at AllState Arena November 1st to November 11th and United Center November 20th to December 1st. Get Your Tickets Today!

My readers can Save 40% on weekday shows and 20% on weekend shows.  Use promo code MOM to receive savings. Plus, get even MORE value with FREE PARKING in all official Allstate Arena and United Center parking lots.

Raise a Giant!

“Disclosure: The information and prize pack have been provided by Green Giant® through MyBlogSpark.”

Although bulling is not something new it is something that everyone has become more aware of in the past couple of years.  Cyber bullying was not an issue when I was young but with Facebook, Twitter and smartphones it is quickly becoming a dangerous and hurtful world for young kids.  Green Giant is running a campaign called Raise a Giant in order to spread even more awareness and help parents teach their children to prevent, stop and cope with bullying.  They are asking parents to write a letter of encouragement to their children.   Its sad to think that it is something every child will encounter at some point in time but I think it is important that they have the tools to stand up for themselves.

To my boys,

You are both very special to me.  Chris you have always made me laugh and bring a smile to my face.  You are so creative and your imagination takes me on so many adventures.  Nick you are my sweetheart.  Nothing makes me happier then to see your enjoyment paging through a book or spinning around saying you are a helicopter.  I know that both of you are going to grow up to be strong, smart, and amazing individuals.  Know that you can be whatever you want to be and accomplish every goal you work towards.  Sometimes people may say hurtful things, or do things to make you doubt yourself.  They may say or do hurtful things to your friends as well but it is important that you stand up for yourself and your friends.  Let them know what they are doing is wrong and tell a grown-up.  Bulling is not o.k. and if you or someone you know is being bullied I want you boys to be strong and tell them what they are doing is NOT o.k.  When I was little kids were mean and would call me names and tease me.  It hurt my feelings but my true friends always stayed by my side and defended me.  My mom was always there to support me as well.  I want you to know that as your mom I will always stand by your side and support you as well.  I am there to give you boys strength to succeed and no matter what obstacles you come to face we will work to defeat them as a team.  And most important remember that I love you!

Love, Mom

I think it is always important to give encouragement to your children and I hope I have inspired you to write a letter to your child or at least have a conversation with them about bullying.  You can visit the Raise A Giant website here.  You will find tools, tips, and a space to post you letter.

GIVEAWAY!

In order to raise awareness to this wonderful campaign I was given the opportunity to giveaway a $25 visa gift card!  So after checking out Raise a Giant make sure you enter in the rafflecopter below.

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Ringling Bros and Barnum & Baily presents Built to Amaze!

 Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey ^® Presents Built To Amaze!, the 143^rd edition of The Greatest Show On Earth^®. Surprise and wonder delights audiences with over-the-top feats of strength, agility and courage. As the momentum builds so does the anticipation. Magnificent elephants, ferocious tigers, astonishing acrobats and awe-inspiring aerialists are engineered into one spectacular performance. Celebrate the tradition TODAY and experience its modern flair of twists and turns where excitement and suspense are so intense you’ll be tempted to cover your eyes. 

 From the blueprints to the band, the crates to the clowns, the hammer to the high wire, witness the spectacle as we measure out the perfect mix of marvel and majesty in an imagination equation where the impossible comes to life. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Built To Amaze!

 Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey ^® Presents Built To Amaze! will be at AllState Arena November 1st to November 11th and United Center November 20th to December 1st. Get Your Tickets Today!

My readers can Save 40% on weekday shows and 20% on weekend shows.  Use promo code MOM to receive savings. Plus, get even MORE value with FREE PARKING in all official Allstate Arena and United Center parking lots.

Weekday is defined as any show Monday through Thursday or Friday matinee, not including holidays such as the day after Thanksgiving.  Discount does not apply to Circus Celebrity, Front Row, or VIP seats.  No double discounts.  Service charges, handling, and facility fees may apply.

Zevia a New Kind of Soda ~ Giveaway

The average american drinks a soda a day and I was probably in those statistics until several years ago when I cut back, way back, on my soda drinking.  I tried to avoid soda all together but would find myself craving it especially with meals such as burgers or tacos.  I decided I would allow myself a soda a week and have been pretty good with that until recently where I have found myself drinking it more and more.  One of the major reasons I stopped was it was an easy way to lose weight for me and now that I am drinking it more I can see those pounds coming back.  This is why I was thrilled when Zevia showed up at my door!

Let me start off by saying I am NOT a fan of diet soda at all.  I would rather go thirsty, but with flavor choices from cola to strawberry I was willing to give it a shot.  I am a stickler for following directions and Zevia recommends drinking it as cold as possible and straight from the can so I decided to try the grape and actually threw it in the freezer for about 30 minutes.  I was honestly pleasantly surprised and it was quite tasty!  Zevia would definitely satisfy my soda cravings.  And I really think that having it extra cold made it taste better.

With Zevia, not only is it an easy choice but the smart choice for my family.  We are a busy household and it is nice to have a go to product I know is the healthier option.  I may not be able to say no to that special treat but Zevia makes up for it with 0 grams of sugar and no artificial sweeteners.  So what gives it that sweet taste?  Stevia!  It is all natural and grown here in the United States

Now for the fun part :)  Zevia has offered to let 5, yes FIVE, of my readers try Zevia soda for FREE!!  Just fill out the rafflecopter below and make sure you check out Zevia here to see all the wonderful flavors they offer.

If you are not a winner or just can't wait to try it for yourself make sure you head over here to grab a $1.00 coupon for yourself!  Good Luck. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fun Times at All Seasons Orchard

I was given tickets to facilitate this review but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This weekend my family and I had the chance to experience All Seasons Apple Orchard in Woodstock.  It was about an hours drive from our house and definitely worth the time.  It was the perfect day for a trip to the orchard, the skies were clear and it was in the upper sixties my idea of a perfect fall day.  I was worried that it would be super muddy from all the rain we had the day before but surprisingly it wasn't.  One of the first things my boys saw was the corn crib and they were super excited to jump in and play with the corn.  It must of felt awesome because they begged to come back to it later!

After we played in the corn we hopped on a tractor that took us over to the apple orchards were there were tons of apple trees to pick our apples from.  They loved picking their own apples and your ticket includes a bag you can fill up with a lot of apples.  We came home with plenty to share with family and my smallest couldn't resist eating one while we were there.  This was my favorite activity and something I cannot wait to do again.

Next we went over to the play area were they had a sandbox (I say sandbox but it is like a large fenced in sand area) filled with diggers and two tube slides.  Nick and Chris were in heaven and could of played here all day long so we probably spent a good hour there just digging and going down the slides.  I grabbed Nick for a few minutes to take him over to the petting zoo and goat bridge since he is obsessed with animals and he got some kisses from the goats.

I had to drag Chris away from the slide & sand but both Nick and Chris had a fun time riding around on the goat train, swinging on the swings, and playing with the other kids in the duck races.  Josh even sneaked off to go shoot the awesome apple and pumpkin canons and had a blast, literally!  There was so much to do that we didn't even get around to everything partially because they are a little young but mostly because they were having so much fun with all the activities we did do.  There is also an assortment of bounce houses, jumping pillow, pony rides, a huge corn maze, and zip lines!  You could easily spend an entire day at All Seasons Orchard.

After grabbing some lunch from the farm house and playing in the sand some more we finally went to pick out our pumpkins.  Chris wanted to buy all of them as you can see by his wheelbarrow.  All in all it was a great time and the best pumpkin patch time we have had by far.  Chris proclaimed as we walked to the car, "I had so much fun!", at the top of his lungs.  Stuff like that just melts my heart and I can't wait to do it all again next year.

You can plan a visit to All Seasons Apple Orchard by clicking here.  And don't forget they have a coupon too just click here.  You will not be disappointed!

Purex UltraPacks Plus Oxi ~ Review & Giveaway

"The Purex brand provided me with a sample of Purex UltraPacks plus Oxi in exchange for a product review.  However, all the opinions expressed here are my own."

I was recently given the opportunity to try Purex's new UltaPacks Liquid Laundry Detergent plus Oxi and I must say I was not disappointed.  With 3 boys that love to get dirty on a daily basis my laundry is not lacking in the stain department.  By the end of the day their clothes smell of all of the days activities as well.

I personally love laundry pods because of their simplicity.  Just toss and go!  No measuring, dripping, or trying to get the last bit out of the bottle.  One less minute doing anything is a plus.  I also love that they are filled with concentrated detergent.  You wouldn't think that you need such a tiny amount of detergent but it really gets the job done.  Dirt is no match for Purex plus Oxi!  I have to mention the scent too because the clothes smelled so clean and fresh when I opened the door to my washer. 

An important reminder with all laundry pods is to keep them away from small children.  My rule is high out of reach or locked down below.  Like any chemical they are dangerous but laundry pods are overall more appealing to a small child. 

Now the fun part!  One of my wonderful readers can win a coupon for a FREE bag of Purex UltraPacks Plus Oxi.  You know I like to share right?  So enter in the rafflecopter below and good luck :) Sorry but this is for U.S. residents only.

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All Seasons Orchard ~ Coupon

My family and I are very excited to be visiting All Seasons Orchard this year.  They have so many activities it is sure to be a fun filled day with my boys!  I am personally excited to go apple picking as this has always been on my bucket list and I will finally have the opportunity to pick my own apples straight from the tree.  Here are some of the great activities you can participate in at All Seasons Orchard:

U-Pick apples, pumpkin patch, corn maze and loads of fun activities including wagon rides, petting zoo and barnyard play area activities! Make sure to stop by our country restaurant and farm market for orchard goodies like pulled pork sandwiches, freshly baked apple donuts, apple cider, caramel apples, pies, raw honey and much more! Open daily September and October. Check our website for picking schedules and special events.

Here is a coupon for 25% off your visit when you purchase Barnyard or Combo Tickets! So what are you waiting for, plan your visit today.

Biscuits & Gravy Casserole ~ Recipe

Lately I have been in the mood to cook and bake.  This is really not normal for me but my hubby is loving it.  Tonight I decided to try a new dish.  I had all the ingredients on hand aside from breakfast sausage so I grabbed some on the way home from work.  It takes about 10-15 minutes to prepare and then you just bake for 35-45 minutes and voila a perfect dinner.  I love dishes you don't have to watch over so this was perfect.

Here is what you need:

Biscuits & Gravy Casserole

1 package of breakfast sausage
1 package of biscuits
1 package of country gravy mix
1-2 cups of shredded cheese
5-6 eggs
1/2 cup of milk
little bit of salt and pepper

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and start browning the sausage in a pan.

2. While the sausage is cooking grease a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray and layer the bottom with the uncooked biscuits.

3. Whisk the eggs, milk, salt & pepper together in a bowl and then pour over the biscuits in your baking dish.

4. When the sausage is done cut it up (I used meat scissors) and add it to the dish.  Cover that with as much or little cheese as you like.

5.  Make the gravy according to the instructions on the package and pour that on top.

6. Put it in the oven and wait 35-45 minutes and voila!

Everyone really loved this dish and you could add any of your own ingredients maybe some peppers or corn.  Hope you enjoy it as much as my family did!

Fall Festivals, Corn Mazes, Pumpkin Patches & Fun!

We started a family tradition of going to a pumpkin farm every fall since Chris was born.  It is always a great time and gets me in a great fall mood.  Well the temperatures may still be hot it is a great time to check out some of the many local farms in your area or plan ahead for a fun filled fall activity.  You will be surprised all there is to do for every age!

Ready for some Fall Festival Deals!  I have put together a great list of Corn Maze Coupons and Fall Festival savings nationwide.  Download valuable coupons for Corn Mazes, Pumpkin Patches and Fall Family Activities.  Visit as many as you can before the cold of winter is here!

Arizona
Schnepf Farms - Queen City

California
Forneris Farms - Mission Hills

Colorado
Anderson Farms - Erie
Flat Acres Farm - Parker
Fritzler Maze - La Salle
Sunflower Farm - Longmont
Mile High Farms - Bennett
Wishing Star Farm - Calhan
Harvest Farm - Wellington

Texas
Devine Acres Farm - Devine
Fiesta Farm - San Antonio
Yesterland Farm - Canton
South Texas Maize - Hondo
Dewberry Farm - Brookshire
Brazos Valley Maize- Brenham

Louisiana
CM Farms - Dry Creek

Georgia
Lane Southern Orchards - Fort Valley
Poppell Farms - Odum

Michigan
Farmer Charley's Corn Maze Adventure - Monroe

Indiana
Amazing Fall Fun - Waterloo
Harvest Tyme Pumpkin Patch - Lowell
Hobson's Fun Farm - Rockville

Illinois
All Seasons Orchard - Woodstock
Kuipers Family Farm - Maple Park
Odyssey Fun Farm - Tinley Park
Siegel's Cottonwood Farm - Lockport

Maryland/DC
Summers Farm - Fredrick County

Massachusetts
Sauchuk Farm - Plympton

Missouri/Kansas
KC Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze - Gardner
Shuck's Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch - Pleasant Hill

Mississippi
Seward Farms Maze - Lucedale

Minnesota
Afton Apple Orchard - Hastings

Montana
The Maize at Grandpa's Farm - Billings

Nebraska
Camp Fontanelle - Nickerson

NewJersey
VonThun Farms - Monmouth Junction
Sahl's Father Son Farm - Egg Harbor City

New York
Wright Family Farm - Warwick
Harbes Family Farm - Mattituck

North Carolina
Patterson Farm Market and Tours - Mount Ulla

Ohio
The Corn Maze at the Sharp Run Market - Millersburg
Meadow View Growers - New Carlisle

Pennsylvania

Hurricane Hill Farm - CoatsvilleTriple B Farms - Pittsburgh
Reillys Summer Seat Farm - Pittsburgh

Rhode Island
Confreda Greenhouses & Farms - Hope (Western Cranston)

Virginia
Cows-N-Corn - Midland
Wayside Farm Fun - Berryville
Belvedere Plantation - Fredericksburg

Utah
Cornbelly's Corn Maze & Pumpkin Fest - Spanish Fork

For Daily Updates on these coupons and coupons for other family attractions please visit and bookmark:http://www.usfamilycoupons.com 

Our End of Summer Trip to St. Pete Beach

Last winter my mind was thinking beach so I went ahead and booked a beach vacation for us to St. Pete Florida. We have recently been to the east side of Florida so I was looking forward to experiencing the Gulf side and its gorgeous beaches. I was not disappointed the beaches were breathtaking and I could have stared at them all day long!

Chris has been to the ocean before and was not a fan but the water was so calm after a couple of days they all got used to being in "moving" water.  They had fun destroying sandcastles, catching crabs, and eating popsicles. We visited an alligator farm where Nick held a baby alligator and Chris enjoyed feeding them hot dogs.  We had ice cream & a delicious dinner at Bubba Gump's.  Took a beautiful Dolphin boat ride - twice.  We stopped at every park we saw to play and spent evenings together in the pool! There was no shortage of fun.

Since we were close to Tampa we decided to take a completely unplanned trip to Busch Gardens.  It was not in the budget but they were currently offering weekday tickets for only $50 (normally tickets are $89) we figured might as well!  The kids absolutely loved Busch Gardens.  There were so many attractions geared towards them they could have played all day long.  They even had rides that Nicholas, who is 21 months old, could go on all by himself.  They literally lock your child in and he loved it!

The other thing I loved about Bush Gardens was how close you can get to the animals.  They literally come right up to the glass.  Closer then any zoo I have ever been too.  The kids were able to be face to face with hippos, lions, lemurs, and tons of other animals.

All in all it was a fabulous trip.  Since it was the last week in August and most people are in back to school mode everything from the beach to Busch Gardens was very empty.  This made everything overall more enjoyable.  We made lots of great memories with each other and hearing both Nick & Chris tell me they had fun makes it all worth it even more.  I cannot wait until the great next Klein adventure!

Purex Fels-Naptha Laundry Bar Review and Giveaway!

 Disclaimer:  This is a sponsored post by Purex.  I was given a free product and coupons to facilitate my post but all opinions and thoughts are my own!


Just looking a the Purex Fels-Naptha Laundry Bar makes me happy.  It gives me a nostalgic feeling of something my Grandmother would have used.  I had to laugh too as my husband asked if the Fels-Naptha Laundry Bar was for washing clothes in a bucket.

I personally think the Fels-Napa Bar is great for keeping upstairs for spot treating all the stains my kids (husband included) get on their clothes during the day before I throw it in the hamper.  Just make laundry day a little bit easier and I am obsessed with the fresh soap smell.  I cannot place the smell but it is soo yummy to me.

The Fels-Naptha Laundry bar is "a stain remover that works overtime to remove your toughest stains".  Right now they are celebrating 120 years with 120 winners!  You can head right here to enter! 
  
"One lucky winner will win the $500 grand prize and 119 second place winners will receive a coupon for a free bar of Purex® Fels-Naptha Laundry bar. That's 120 winners for every year Fels-Naptha has been helping remove America's toughest stains!"

The generous folks over at Purex have also given me some extra coupons for a FREE Fels-Naptha bar to share with you!  So please enter in the rafflecopter below and make sure you come back daily :)
 

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Have fun with Purex Every Day! ~~Giveaway & Sweepstakes

Disclaimer:  This is a sponsored post by Purex. 

I hope you all are already fans of the Purex facebook page because if you are not I'm about to give you an awesome reason to become one!

Purex is hosting an awesome sweepstakes where participants can win prizes daily!  I took a look at the calendar and right away a few of the prizes popped out at me.  The PS4 is something my husband would absolutely LOVE.  If I had my choice though I would pick the patio gazebo, a new laptop (mine is currently falling apart), or a home theater.  All the prizes are totally awesome though and I would be thrilled to win any of them.

So make sure to head over to the Purex facebook page here and enter to win their sweepstakes DAILY!

But that's not all!! Purex has also been very generous and is offering one of my readers a $10 Amazon Gift Card, and who doesn't love Amazon :)  Be sure to enter below and come back daily.


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Purex Fabric Softener Sheets Review & Giveaway!

  Disclaimer:  This is a sponsored post by Purex.  I was given a free product and coupons to facilitate my post but all opinions and thoughts are my own!

I was awaiting the arrival of my dryer sheets from Purex and I knew they were here from the moment I opened the door.  That fresh smell of mountain breeze greeted me as I opened the door.  I do not normally purchase dryer sheets but I LOVE using them.  They are an added luxury item for me when I do laundry.  I love that they reduce the static cling especially in the winter when my house is so dry you get shocked any time you turn a light on. 

 The scent is honestly a little overwhelming when you open the box but after a spin in the dryer it is not nearly as noticable.  I love scent but I personally don't want to be walking around smelling like a dryer sheet.  Everything came out static free and smelling clean!  Even my husbands work clothes which smell horrible after a day on the construction site.

I also have to mention how affordable they are.  As I send earlier fabric softeners are something I think of as an added luxury item and not a neccesity but Purex Fabric Softener Sheets are available at Wal-mart in two scents Mountain Breeze & Sweet Lavender for under $2.00!!  At that price I would be willing to purchase themm especially in the static filled winter months.

Want to try them out for yourself?  Purex has sent me some coupons for a FREE box of Purex Fabric Softener Sheets that I would love to share with you so if you live in the US and are over the age of 18 please enter in the rafflecopter below! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy 65th Birthday Dial!! ~~ Giveaway

 This is a sponsored post by Dial.  I was given free product coupons to facilitate my post but all opinions and thoughts are my own!

Dial is celebrating 65 years!  So a very Happy Birthday to Dial on this major milestone.  I know Dial has always been a staple and a well trusted product in my parents home when I was growing up.  Dial is now a product that I use regularly in my home and will continue to use for years to come. 

When I was little I only remember having bar soap in our house.  I honestly can't remember when body wash became popular and a regular item on the store shelves.  I do know that there is not a single Dial body wash I have ever purchased that I didn't like.  Dial's scents are the perfect thing to wake me up and get me up in the morning.

In honor of Dial celebrating 65 years they are having a sweepstakes where one lucky grand prize winner will win $65,000 in GOLD!!  How cool is that?  65 other winners will also win a years supply of Dial body wash.  Not as cool as winning the grand prize but I would be equally as thrilled to win either prize.  Make sure you enter their sweepstakes daily here.

But that's not all!  Dial is going all out in celebration of 65 years by sending me a coupon for FREE body wash to give to one of my lucky readers.  So make sure you enter to win in the rafflecopter below :)

Giveaway is open to residents of the US only and you must be 18 years or older to enter.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

ModParent Giveaways!

Head over to ModParent where they have three, yes three, awesome giveaways going on right now!  You can enter to win the following:

1. Jane Nanuq Stroller
2. KidsEmbrace Batman Booster (I REALLY WANT TO WIN THIS!!)
3. A Britax Frontier 90

Make sure you put my name Katie Klein in the vote for me box and good luck :)

Why I Chose NOT to Breastfeed

I see a lot of blog posts and comments that seem to make women feel less of a woman if they choose not to breastfeed and it made me think a lot about why I chose not to.  In a day in age when Time magazine publishes a mother breastfeeding her 3 year old on the cover it seems as though the world is obsessed with the topic.  I am not against it all and in fact I praise you for doing it, sticking to it, and reaching your personal breastfeeding goals.  What I hate is the fact that many women feel that they are failures as a mom for not doing so. 

With my first son I was very strong willed...I WOULD breastfeed.  I honestly thought he would just come out, latch on, and we would bond through our breastfeeding experiences until he got teeth or turned one.  It turned out to be one of the worst experiences ever.  I am not trying to turn anyone off from breastfeeding as yes, breast is best, so STOP READING NOW if you do not want to here my horrible experience.

1. He would not latch on we tried every way and every device possible and this kid was not having it. I remember the lactation nurses being stumped and telling me don't worry he will eventually get it. Nope.

2. Since he would not latch on I was forced to use a hospital pump.  I have never experienced a more horrible pain then pumping dry boobs (and yes I had just given birth and there was NO comparison).  My milk had not come in yet so pumping every couple hours was excruciating!  I would bite my tongue and whisper curse words to myself as I turned on the machine.

3. I was determined to give this kid breast milk though so I pumped and pumped.  I was so proud of myself my freezer and fridge filled with milk.  I was like a dairy cow pumping away.  I had so much I could donate it I thought to myself.  ~ I did have one happy memory :)

4. Then it happened I woke up in the middle of the night and my boob was a rock.  I am not even exaggeratting it was so hard and hurt so bad I wanted to chop it off.  I pumped to find no relief.  I googled "boob hard as rock" and realized I had a clogged milk duct and it should go away within a day.  Fine I thought I could handle a day, hot shower maybe that will help.

5. I woke up that morning feeling like death.  It had now become infected.  I was not moving from that bed at all. It felt like I had bubonic plague.  Thankfully my husband was home to take care of our newborn son all day.

6. 24 hours later it did go away I felt fine and I went to pump and nothing.  I pumped the next day, every 3 hours, and got maybe an ounce total.  I tried the next day and it was the same.  Seriously I thought, where did  it all go I was a freaking cow with bottles overflowing I had to stop pumping just to put more bottles on the pump I had so much milk.

I was DONE!! I just couldn't take it anymore and was pleased I at least had enough milk to get through the first month. 

When I became pregnant again I made the decision not to even try.  Mainly because of me.  Some people may think I am selfish and maybe I am but it was my choice to make.  I would have been home alone with a 2 year old and a newborn and didn't want to have to worry about pumping.  Being attached to a pump every 3 hours for 15-20 minutes is time consuming and draining and then add keeping track of a curious two year old while your boobs are attached to a pump.  Washing all the parts after you pump every single time, sterilizing them, is draining too.  I didn't get that cute little sign in his bassinet at the hospital that says "I am a breast fed baby".  Was it the best choice?  Who knows, but I do know I was stress free (as a mother can be with a newborn and a 2 year old), my baby was happy, and isn't that what truly matters. 

I just want all those mothers out there to know whether you tried and stopped or decided to use formula you are not a failure.  You are just as much of a mama to the little baby as a mama who breastfeeds.  Do what you think is best for you and your situation and don't feel the pressure of what society has defined as the perfect mommy.