Rafflecopter has made hosting giveaways so incredibly easy! The simple widget makes entering your giveaway foolproof, and also makes sharing so much quicker. One thing I noticed when entering giveaways on other blogs is that I sometimes have to copy and paste link into the address bar of my browser because it's not clickable. If the prize isn't super enticing, I might skip that entry altogether.
As a blogger, we want those Pinterest followers to help grow our readership. We take care to put in different methods of entry that benefit both our blog and the company that is sponsoring the giveaway. It's a huge waste of time to add all these methods of entry and then have most people skip them over because they'd rather not copy and paste! And in a world where you can click on most anything, do you blame them?
Unlike most social media outlets, Rafflecopter doesn't automatically make your link clickable. This is why it's important to take an extra couple of seconds and enter in some super simple code. The first time I did this, I noticed a definite increase in the amount of entries that each person used! I've created a simple tutorial to help you out:
I'm using Pinterest as an example because this option is only available to those who pay for premium Rafflecopter services. Luckily, there's a way to get around that.
Select "Invent Your Own Option" at the bottom of the Rafflecopter form.
Fill out the highlighted areas.
When you're adding your link you just simply use brackets next to a parenthesis. In the brackets you'll put whatever text you'd like the link to say, and in the parenthesis you'll put your link address. No spaces, no quotes, nothing else.
I even made a little rhyme to help me remember the code even easier. Text in bracket, link in parenthesis - that's how you make Rafflecopter linkies!
When you're done it will look like this:
Now when people enter your giveaway they can click right over to your Pinterest page, your Google+ page, your sponsor's website or wherever else you'd like them to go! You'll see an increase in the amount of entries each person takes advantage of, and hopefully you'll see even more success in your giveaways.
If this post was helpful to you, please feel free to pin it or share it!
Disclaimer: I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias® and Walmart Family Mobile. This blog post is a true story about my experiences in phone service. #FamilyMobileSaves #cbias #SocialFabric
I've been a loyal iPhone user for over 3 years now. Right after I upgraded my phone last Spring I was so in love with it. But as the months went by I became increasingly frustrated with both my phone and my service provider. I mean, I get absolutely no service at my son's school. Even outside! And the other mothers who use the same provider as me can attest to that.
Oftentimes you'll find me angrily deleting apps from my phone because there's not enough room to take a picture, even though I have barely any pictures saved and the settings say I have a free gig of space. Regardless of how updated I keep my operating system and apps, it still seems to run as slow as can be. But the thing that bugs me the most is it's recent issue with chargers. Every time I plug it in - even to the charger that came with it - it gives me the same error message. After a lot of wiggling and jiggling I can sometimes get it to work. Other days it dies before I can get any juice.
My husband and I have been toying with the idea of switching to an Android - and another provider - for a while now. Many of our more tech-savvy friends have been trying to convince us to do so as well. One thing that's been holding us back of course is our current cell-phone contract. We still have a few months left, but when we can finally switch, it is nice to have an idea of where you want to go.
My Walmart has a variety of phones that are super cheap when you sign up for service. Since I'm not looking to be tied down for another two years, that doesn't work for me. Side rant: Two years is a long time to be stuck with the same phone or service provider. Every few months there is something new, and when I'm stuck in a contract I feel like I miss out on the newer technology. Contracts are not cool!
Then you have your prepaid service. While this is a better alternative, you tend to be limited on the amount of minutes you're given. In a time where most people use the data and text more than anything, you would think that minutes would be the last thing to be limited. And while I don't talk on the phone a ton, I do talk to my mom almost every day, and I'm sure we go way over 100 minutes a month. The prepaid service would end up costing me extra because I'd need to buy more minutes.
Walmart recently launched a new option for those looking for affordable and reliable phone service. The Walmart Family Mobile plan is not a contract plan, but it's not prepaid either. It's 4G service, with unlimited text, talk, and web, for a small monthly fee. How small, you ask? After the initial $25 starter kit which includes your SIM card and activation, it's just $40 a month. Need to add more lines? Each additional line is $35 a month.
I went through the activation in store, and it was pretty painless. However, I don't particularly like giving out my personal information out loud. Thankfully it was early and there weren't too many people in the store. I would have much preferred either typing the information in myself, or filling out a form to have the employee type in. Afterwards I found out that you can activate your starter kit online as well.
When I got home, I received my first text with the account management link and was excited to explore my new phone! I do have to say that it is quite a learning curve going from iPhone to Android. My brother-in-law - an Android lover - actually sat down with my husband and I and gave us a few tips and tricks, and showed us around the new phone. So far I can say that we are very happy with the service and the phone. In a few months when our contract is up we are planning on becoming a Walmart Family Mobile family!
See more pictures from our adventure in my Google+ story here!
What is your cell phone service like? Are you looking for a change?
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Goodies Co. All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way.
Are you an indecisive eater?
I am. In fact, my husband can't stand going to the store with me, because even with a list I still hem and haw over every choice. He will eat whatever he is offered. For me, choosing what to eat for a meal or a snack is as much of an emotional choice as a physical choice. And forget about eating the same thing twice in a row. I'm always seeking out something new to excite my taste buds with!
Enter Goodies Co. The Goodies Co. is a subscription service that brings a variety of snacks directly to your door each month. Each Taster's Box, as they're called, contains 5 to 8 yummy snacks and is only $7.00.
Goodies Co. is a highly sought after service, and there is currently a waiting list to get your invitation. Of course I wouldn't be writing about them if I knew you wouldn't be able to try it out, so I have a special code that you can use to "skip the line" and get an instant invitation from Goodies Co. Just use: BLOGVIP.
Once you enter the code into the promo page, you will receive 2 emails from Goodies. The first will state you are in line for your invitation, the next will tell you your invitation has arrived - not much of a wait at all!
What I really love about Goodies Co. (besides the great variety of snacks, of course) is the reward system. After trying all of the treats in your box, you can go onto the website and share your thoughts. With every review you'll earn credits that can be saved up and redeemed for free Taster's Boxes!
I didn't receive a free box, but I am definitely taking advantage of the chance to skip the wait list. I can't way to try my first box of treats. I just hope it comes when my kids aren't around so that I don't have to share!
Have you ever done a subscription like this? If you decide to try Goodies Co. please let me know what you think!
I'm always trying to give my kids the healthiest food possible. Within reason of course, because they're not always going to eat the things I really want them to eat. I try to sneak extra veggies and protein into their snacks and meals, but they have started to get wise to my tricks, sadly. Social Fabric sent me to Sam's Club on a mission to find a healthy snack alternative that my kids would love.
Luckily, in the frozen dessert section, Sam's Club has a new addition. The Chunks O' Fruti frozen fruit bars are made with real fruit! They take pride in selecting premium fresh fruit from around the world to ensure a quality product. The fruits are delivered to the facility soon after harvesting, so they're as fresh as can be.
You can really see the pieces of fruit in each bar! The Caribbean Mix (shown above) has quite the variety. It's also my favorite of the four flavors. That rich color isn't the result of artificial anything, it gets it color and delicious flavor from all of the fruit it contains. There's also no High Fructose Corn Syrup to be found, and best of all, they are now Non-GMO verified!
If your freezer looks anything like mine, you might be worried about fitting a box of 16 frozen natural fruit bars in it. Lucky for you and me, they come packaged in smaller boxes, one for each flavor.
If your kids are anything like mine, you might have less than 16 left by the time you get home, so no need to worry about freezer space! What, you don't let them eat popsicles while you check out?
While the Fruti bars are totally delicious by themselves, I thought it would be fun to make something extra special to drink. My four year old actually likes spinach in smoothies, and I'm totally fine with that, so I made him a special snack using spinach, a banana, a cut-up pineapple spear, some homemade almond milk (about 1/2 cup) and a Piña Colada Fruti bar that I broke into pieces. Don't forget to take the stick out!
Blend it all together, and what do you have?
I call it a Greeña Colada. It's alcohol-free, so everyone in the family can enjoy it. But you might want to double the recipe if you don't like to share. The possibilities are endless with the drink combinations you can make using Fruti. You can find some great suggestions on the Chunks O' Fruti Facebook and Twitter pages. Use your imagination, and enjoy your healthy treat.
Check out more pictures from our shopping adventure in my Google+ Album!
Disclaimer: I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias® and Fruti #cbias #SocialFabric #FreshNFruti
In my quest to raise my family in a more natural way, I've become very selective about the products that enter our house. Baby products are especially tricky because there are so many cute and colorful things to choose from, but I can't be sure about the integrity of the materials.
When I was contacted my MomSelect on behalf of BabyBuds™ I was immediately drawn in. All natural and very adorable baby toys that I could give to my little guy without any worries. I thought they might be expensive, much like many other eco-friendly baby products. To my surprise, they're not only affordable, they're being carried at Target! (Select stores for now, but be on the lookout at yours.)
So what are BabyBuds™?
BabyBuds™ are a line of toys that are made with naturally sustainable, eco-friendly fabrics, including certified organic cottons and natural silks. Each BabyBuds™ toy is filled with virgin biodegradable corn fiber, uses only low impact dyes, and is packed with minimal packaging.
There are four equally adorable characters to choose from:
Mogo the Monkey
Zeke the Zebra
Hoot the Owl
Frump the Elephant
Every BabyBuds™ product is free from harmful chemicals, and complies with the strictest global safety standards. There are several different products to choose from, including rattles, teethers, plush toys, crib toys, and blankies. Morgan was instantly drawn to the Mogo the Monkey blankie. It's so incredibly soft, and it makes a comforting travel buddy for a little guy who hates being in his car seat.
Each toy comes with a cute little back story that makes it all the more adorable. Although Morgan's a little too young to get it now, I would love to share it with him when he's a little older. He can even add to it if he wants to get creative with his little friend.
Mogo swings from tree to tree and does flips that make everyone gasp. He is always on the move and looking for the next cave to explore or cliff to climb. Mogo would go to the moon if he could, and maybe he’ll meet a child who can help him get there.
BabyBuds™ are available in 138 Target stores across the country. Check out the store locator to see where the closest one to you is. I have one less than 20 miles away, so next time I head up that way I'll have to check out the rest of the BabyBuds™ line.
Win it!
One lucky winner will receive a pair of BabyBuds™ products for their little one. Follow the directions on the Rafflecopter form to enter. Good luck!
I have a slight addiction to tomatoes. Plump, red and juicy - I add them to nearly every meal. I pop cherry tomatoes into my mouth as if they were candy. I heart tomatoes.
These babies inspired me to create a meal that was light and fresh and full of flavor. With First Street brand chicken drumsticks and thighs on sale at Smart & Final for $0.99 a pound starting on 4/17, I could get enough to feed the whole family for only a few dollars.
I picked up a few other ingredients besides the chicken and tomatoes, including balsamic vinegar, and fresh mozzarella cheese. Paired with some Sicilian olive oil and some fresh basil from my garden, I was ready to grill up a mouthwatering chicken dish.
For the marinade, I mixed together a half cup of balsamic vinegar, a quarter cup of olive oil, a loose third cup of chopped fresh basil, a tablespoon of minced garlic (forgot to add that to the picture), a teaspoon of salt and a half teaspoon of pepper. I arranged my drumsticks nicely in a dish and poured my marinade over them, then let them sit covered in the fridge for a couple of hours, making sure to flip them a couple times.
Right before I was ready to cool the chicken, I put my caprese salad together. With grape or cherry tomatoes, you just need to chop them in half. I prefer their sweeter flavor in this particular dish over a bigger tomato.
For a twelve-ounce package of tomatoes you need six or seven ounces of fresh mozzarella cut into bite-size pieces, a quarter cup of vinegar, two Tablespoons of olive oil, a loose quarter cup of chopped basil, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix it all together and then let it sit while you grill the chicken.
It might be hard, but try not too eat too much of it while the chicken is cooking. You want to have enough left for everyone else!
Grill chicken on medium heat until the inside is cooked through. It should take about 20 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to ensure it's at a safe temperature of 165 degrees. Once it's cooked, transfer to a clean serving dish and top with the tomato mixture. Get all the yummy liquid in there too. It only makes the chicken even better.
Caprese Chicken Drumsticks
Ingredients:
12-14 chicken drumsticks
1/4 cup and 2 Tablespoons olive oil
2/3 cup and 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/3 cup and 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1 Tablespoon minced garlic
12 oz grape or cherry tomatoes
7 oz fresh mozzarella cheese
Salt and pepper
Directions:
In a small mixing bowl combine 1/4 cup olive oil, 2/3 cup balsamic vinegar, 1/3 cup fresh basil, 1 Tablespoon minced garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, and a half teaspoon of pepper. Pour over chicken drumsticks, cover and let marinade for at least an hour, or longer if you can. Before grilling the chicken, assemble your salad by chopping tomatoes and mozzarella into bite-size pieces and combing with the 1/4 cup chopped basil. Mix the 2 Tablespoons olive oil, 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, and salt and pepper in a small bowl, then pour over your salad and mix well. Grill chicken on medium heat for about 20 minutes until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Once chicken is cooked, arrange on a serving dish and top with all of the tomato mixture, including the liquid. Serve immediately.
Disclaimer: I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Smart & Final #CBias #SocialFabric
In my perfect world, everyone would have access to organic products. We could all get our groceries from the local farmers markets and CSAs and there would be plenty of fruits and veggies for everyone. Our eggs would be nutrient-dense pastured eggs and our meats would be lean, grass-fed and full of omegas. Sure, some people can afford to eat like that. But many struggle with the cost and availability of said items.
According to a Take Part article, my state of California is number 42 on the list of states who have the best support systems for eating locally. A state with the most farmers markets in the country is in the bottom 10. But sadly, many areas that appear to be a locavore's paradise - with farmers markets nearly every day and trendy eateries boasting local delicacies - are not as perfect as they seem.
When I was looking for a CSA to join, my area only had a few options. Then when I narrowed it down by affordability, those options became even fewer. The fact of the matter is that organic farms around here don't always get the support they need from the community which drives up food prices. Because of the higher prices, more people think of buying local organic produce as out of their budget thus creating even less support and more price hikes in a vicious cycle for the farmers.
We have to stop supporting big agriculture and start supporting the little guy. It's not just because of the health factor, or the impact on the environment, but small farms are good for the community. Here are four ways you can help support your local farmers. Some of those options you can do right now while you're sitting at your computer.
Go to the farmers market. You don't have to spend your entire grocery budget there. Just going and talking to some of the vendors may open you up a little bit. Most farmers market also provide a way for people in the community to come together. Music, food, free samplings of the items available, and sometimes even community art projects. If you feel inclined, buy a few of the lower-cost items. These vendors have to pay to be there, so if they don't make more than they spend chances are they won't come back, which could make your farmers market shrink or disappear all together. Make friends with them and you might just get a better deal, like a discount for buying 4 dozen pastured eggs at a time. Some of the guys will throw a few extra items in my bag just for being a regular customer. I bet the grocery store doesn't do that to you.
Visit a farm. We have quite a few u-pick places out here. Some are just a field of strawberries on the side of the road, and others are fully-functioning farms with a farm stand, tours, and all kinds of different things you can pick on your own. Last year we took advantage of a great deal at one of the local farms towards the end of corn season. We got a free wagon ride tour of the farm, a few tastes of different veggies, and got to pick our own corn, just having to pay for what we picked - 12 ears for $7. I ended up picking up a few items from the stand as well, but got some awesome local and organic products for a great price, and had a fun day with my kids as well.
Join a CSA. Start by going online an exploring the options in your area. Not all CSAs have websites, so it's also a good idea to ask around for recommendations. I found my CSA through a friend, and I love that it's a weekly payment rather than a big upfront cost. Not only that, the particular CSA I belong to supports a network of small farms, and that helps bring even more of a variety of items to me at a more affordable price.
Sign the petition. Currently some of our tax dollars are going towards supporting big farms, and other agricultural business, many of the beneficiaries being people who've never worked on a farm a day in their life. By signing this petition, you can tell Congress that you want your money to go to supporting small farms who really need it. It's not cheap for farms to go through organic certification, and other regulations that end up bringing up the cost of local food. The hope is that with some help from the government, local can be affordable and plentiful.
Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Take Action, in support of local farms and farmers. All opinions and pictures are mine.
It's always been a tradition in my family to make a big pot of split pea soup with the remains of our Easter ham. I always ate it, but never really loved it. That chunky pale green concoction just isn't the most appetizing thing if you ask me.
This year I thought about throwing away my ham bone and forgoing the soup completely. But I just couldn't waste it. So instead, I revamped the classic pea soup recipe with some fresh ingredients for a Spring-y soup that will make your mouth water!
To make the ham broth, I put my ham scraps in the crock pot, covered it in water and let it do it's thing for about 12 hours. The meat that was left on the bone fell right off, making a great garnish for the soup. My bone made more than enough stock for this recipe, so I froze the rest.
We're currently following a Paleo style of eating, and there seems to be differing opinions on whether or not peas are allowed, since they are technically a legume. Unlike they're bean-y counterparts, you can eat peas raw, right off the plant, so I tend to lean towards them being an acceptable occasional addition to your diet.
I was worried that my kids might reject a soup bowl full of bright green goop, but I was mistaken. Even my picky four-year-old gobbled it up and praised me for it. That's unheard of around here, but I'll take it!
5 cups sweet peas
4 cups ham stock (or chicken stock)
1/3 cup chopped fresh basil
salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
In a dutch oven or heavy-bottom pot, heat up your Ghee. Sautée onions and leeks until soft and starting to brown. Add in stock and bring to a boil. Add fresh or frozen peas and cook about five minutes until tender. Toss in basil, salt and pepper and then using an immersion blender, carefully blend until smooth. If you use an upright blender, very carefully transfer the soup in batches and blend that way. Garnish with bits of ham or bacon and serve immediately.
Ever since making the switch from working mom to stay-at-home mom, one of my biggest priorities is saving money. As seen throughout my blog, I make a lot of things from scratch, do without many items, find new uses for old items, and use other frugal practices in order to make it work on one income, while still maintaining a greener way of living. Since we rent our home, I am unable to make some of the significant changes I would like to - such as some getting some more energy efficient appliances, but there are some things control, like light bulbs. I partnered up with GE and received coupons for my GE light bulbs in exchange for sharing some of the ways I save money and live a more sustainable lifestyle. All opinions posted about my GE Lighting experience are my own.
As you can see I have quite a few burnt out lights in my house. After buying a lot of cheap bulbs and having to replace them often, I decided it was time to change things. I vowed to never buy cheap-o bulbs again, and instead, replace all of the lights in my house with energy efficient bulbs. But, with a limited budget, I can only buy so many at a time, and I'm replacing them in order of most used to least used. The master bathroom is the biggest culprit, with ten bulbs above the mirror. While we can get by with the one bulb that's in there now, it does make it a little harder to do my makeup and shape my eyebrows in the dim lighting.
If you're not sure which bulbs you need, GE has a great tool to help you find the right energy-efficient bulbs for you. The lights on the left are a cheap replacement for my bathroom vanity, and the lights on the right are the ones I have been buying slowly. The price different is pretty big, but the savings turns out to be much better if you go with the energy smart bulbs. I did a little math (scary, I know) to show the difference. This is just for my master bathroom, based on the two choices of lights above. The regular bulbs have a one year life span, thus needing to be replaced eight times before having to buy more energy smart bulbs.
If that seems a little confusing, GE also has bulb comparisons and a savings calculator on the GE website. And keep an eye out in your April 14th newspaper for a GE coupon that will help save you even more. This video helps show how much you can save just by making a few small changes in your lighting.
Along with making smarter lighting choices, I also employed a few other techniques to help lower my energy bill. Not only does it save me money, but it also lessens the impact that my family makes on the environment. And the electric company actually recognizes our efforts and rewards us with small credits every now and then, saving us even more money. Over the past couple of years our average bill this time of year went from $125 down to it's lowest this year of $71.
Programmable accessories for lights and timers on outlets help me conserve energy on things like the porch light, and the lights for our reptile cages. A few cheap power strips placed strategically around the house make it much easier to unplug things when we're not using them. I like to think I'm saving as much on our electric bill as possible without making us sit in the dark for hours. While I'm passionate about greener living, I'm not over the top crazy - yet.
Here are some more tips to help you save money and "green your life."
Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without. Yes I realize this kind of makes me sound like a hoarder, but I promise I'm not. Most people throw things away that still have years of use left in them.
For example, holes in clothing, lost buttons and missing embellishments are usually easily fixed for a mere fraction of the cost of buying a new item. A lot of waste happens in the clothing industry, so it's best to buy well-made classic pieces and repair as needed. Outgrown clothes can be handed down, or with a little craftiness you can re-purpose them into new items.
Rethink your packaging. Do you need to buy that three-pound bag of onions for $3.00 just because it's easier to grab? Or will a few loose onions to the job? When I shop I think about how much trash is going to come from my haul. I tend to un-packaged items and things from the bulk bins rather than paying extra for convenient packaging. If I have to choose between a glass or plastic container, I always choose glass. Not only is it easier to recycle, but I can reuse it many times before that.
Be sustainable. Choose reusable as much as possible, and when you can't choose reusable, choose recyclable. Plastic baggies are certainly convenient, but most people just toss them when they're done, as they're not easily recyclable. Paper and aluminum are cost-efficient and recyclable, but glass is 100% reusable, and at less than $1.00 a jar, you can get all kinds of different sized containers to meet any storage need you might have.
Baby steps. Starting small is the best way to make any major changes in your life. Bring your own bags to the grocery store, try to use up all of your leftovers before grocery shopping, and walk or ride a bike instead of driving if you can. These are all simple ways you can start saving the Earth, and your wallet too.
Disclaimer: I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias® and GE Lighting #cbias #SocialFabric
Sweating. I've been doing a lot of it. Mentally and physically.
The first week of Whole30 went amazingly. I dropped over 3lbs like nothing and I was feeling so great. The next week I began Mr. Bookieboo's 5K training plan. I loved it, and I thought I was going to drop even more weight, just like the folks on biggest loser do and just like I did in my Mamavation Mom campaign. Sadly that was not my reality. I dropped a pound, then the next week I worked even harder and dropped less than a pound. How discouraging.
Chicken, peppers, plantains, and guacamole with jicama.
But Mamavation isn't all about the scale, so I had to look beyond the slow weight loss and tell myself not to sweat it. Find something to celebrate. So here are some non-scale victories I can share with you.
We made it through three different birthday parties/celebrations without eating ANY junk.
I found time to go for a run where there wasn't time in my schedule.
I broke my personal record with a 14:28 min/mile.
I fit into a pair of shorts that were previously a little too tight.
My super-picky 4 year old has started to make healthy choices on his own. (BIG victory!)
My overweight 7 year old has lost almost 3 pounds.
I think things are going to go well. Even though the pounds aren't dropping for me the way I'd like them too, the scale is moving in the right direction. (It doesn't help that my husband is losing like crazy. Jerk.) And even when the Whole30 challenge is over, I intend to keep going with that style of eating and hopefully I will continue to see awesome scale and non-scale victories.
Select "Invent Your Own Option" at the bottom of the Rafflecopter form.
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