Free Shipping from Linens 'N Things

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of LinensNThings. All opinions are 100% mine.

Linens 'N Things is offering FREE shipping through 9/15/10.  Just enter the code - LNTFREE when you check out.

I love free shipping!  When I'm shopping online, that's one of the first things I look for.  Sometimes, even when you can get a good deal by shopping online, the cost of shipping means it costs the same or more as you can get it elsewhere.

There is so much available on the Linens 'N Things site - sheet sets, shower curtains, towels, alarm clocks, bakeware, and even things for pets.  There's a whole page of Dorm Essentials that features everything a college student could need for the dorm room, and more.  I think we've pretty much gotten Cory everything he needs - sheets, comforter, towels, laundry hamper, closet shelf, etc. - but it doesn't hurt to look.  It's so hard to know what the boy is really going to need, until he gets there.  I'm thinking the 7-day 'Never Late' alarm clock might come in pretty handy.  It's a clock that can be set for a different time for every day of the week, perfect for a college class schedule, and perfect considering I won't be there to make sure he gets up in the mornings.  There are also a lot of great organizational items, some of them I think I could use, never mind Cory.  I think those dorm rooms are pretty small, though, so every bit of organization he can get will be important.

Anyway, if you're looking for some linens or other things - home decor, gifts, candles, bedding, window treatments - be sure to check out Linens 'N Things now while you can get the free shipping with coupon code LNTFREE.  And feel free to share the code with all your friends, too.

Camera Critters (#122)

 
It’s a parade!  Our annual Kettle Moraine Days parade is always a popular event in our village.  There are a lot of fire trucks in the parade, marching bands, veterans, local businesses, Scout troops, and of course horses.

Camera Critters is a fun weekend meme hosted by Misty Dawn.Visit the Camera Critters headquarters and join in.

Feed Your Passion

Image via Wikipedia

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Haagen Dazs. All opinions are 100% mine.

What's your passion?  At Häagen-Dazs®, their passion is creating the world’s finest ice cream.  I can get pretty passionate about their Rum Raisin!  But the ice cream really isn't what this post is about.

It's about an original online series called Passion Profiles that Häagen-Dazs® is sponsoring.  In this series, ET Canada's Cheryl Hickey takes you into the lives of some of Canada's most entertaining personalities, people who are living their passions.  Chefs Anna & Michael Olsen have already been featured, and coming up next on August 11 is designer and HGTV star Sarah Richardson.  I think Beth might really enjoy that one and perhaps get some inspiration and ideas about how she can turn her interest in interior design into a career she loves.  And that seems to be the purpose behind this series, not just to entertain but to inspire people to live their own passions.

It's something I've been thinking about recently as I try to figure out what I'm going to do when Cory goes off to college and I don't have any kids left at home.  We've got to help put the boy through college, so Jeffrey says I should get a job.  And, since I've been mom for all these years since the kids were little, I don't really know where to start.  What do I want to do?  What can I do?  I keep coming back to something dealing with food.  Maybe I could bake bread somewhere.  That would be awesome.  Somebody's gotta bake the bread, right?  I'd be happy with a knife and a cutting board chopping vegetable somewhere.  I don't really know, but it would make it a lot more enjoyable to be doing something I like to do instead of just working somewhere because I have to.  Maybe all the stuff that isn't getting done at home won't seem so bad then?

Be sure to visit www.passionfiles.ca and check out the Passion Profiles series.  Perhaps you'll be inspired to pursue your passion.

Now, about that Rum Raisin...

Bag it Forward with Elmer's

#BagitForward

I always buy more school supplies than my kids really need - because I just can't resist those back-to-school sales at Walmart.  Notebooks for 10¢, boxes of crayons for 25¢, rulers for 10¢, glue sticks for 25¢.  Who can help but stock up?  I think the costs have gone up a bit in the last few years, but still, you can get some good deals during the back-to-school sales.  And you never know when the kids will lose something or need a new notebook or bottle of glue.  Of course, now I have a bunch of school supplies stored up in the basement, and the kids won't be needing them anymore.  This year we bought Cory a laptop, some pens and some notebooks for his classes.  He's a bit too old for crayons and glue.  I should probably see about donating some of our extras to the local elementary school.

Unlike my kids, there are a lot of kids who don't have the school supplies they need.  Maybe we can't all physically donate, but we can help.  How?  Join Elmer's Virtual Bag it Forward:

This Back to School season, Elmer’s is celebrating it’s every day low pricing on back to school supplies at Walmart by partnering with Adopt-A-Classroom to help make a difference in classrooms across the country.

Elmer’s will donate up to $10,000 to Adopt-A-Classroom with your participation. Join now!

The Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward is charity blog meme, bloggers are able to raise $10 per blog post for Adopt-A-Classroom by writing a blog post or Facebook note and donating a virtual bag of school supplies . Elmer’s will donate $10 per each post written for Adopt-A-Classroom, up to $10,000.

HOW CAN YOU JOIN? It’s easy.

• Participate in the Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward by giving away a virtual bag of school supplies and creating a blog post or Facebook note with specific rules described below.
• Elmer’s will donate up to $10,000 to Adopt-A-Classroom.
• You can give as many virtual bags as you want.
• The Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward will officially begin at 12 AM EST on July 22, 2010 and end at 12 PM EST on August 12, 2010. Blog posts submitted to us before or after that time period will not be counted.
• The blog post link has to be submitted in the comment section [on the Elmer's Bag It Forward page] for your participation to be counted.
• In addition copy and paste the following text into your blog post:

ELMER’S VIRTUAL BAG IT FORWARD RULES

• Copy and paste these rules into your blog post or Facebook note.
• Create a post giving a “virtual bag of school supplies” to other bloggers or write about your Back to School shopping trip at Walmart.
• Link back to the person who gave you a bag of school supplies.
• Let each person you are giving a virtual bag of school supplies know you have given them a bag.
• Leave your link in the Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward comment section. You can also find the official rules of this virtual #bagitforward program there.
• Elmer’s is donating $10 for each blog participating in the Virtual Bag It Forward Donation to Adopt-A-Classroom (up to total of $10,000 for blog posts written by August 12, 2010).
• Please note that only one blog post per blog url will count towards the donation.

Here is the photo you can use for your virtual bag or create your own!

Read more about Adopt-A-Classroom

I'd like to pass a virtual bag of school supplies to Jenn at My Kids Are My World and Sandra at Pookie and the Boys.  I hope you ladies will join in to help #bagitforward with Elmer’s. And please, if you’re reading this and have a blog – consider joining in as well!

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CSN Stores - So Many Choices

Remember my CSN Stores giveaway?  I had the biggest response I've ever had to a giveaway on this blog, and one lucky reader won a $60 gift card to use at one of the 200+ CSN Stores. 

Well, now the nice folks at CSN Stores have offered to let me choose one of the many, many products available through those 200+ stores - and they'll send it to me for review.  How cool is that?  Hopefully I will be able to decide on something.  There really are so many things to choose from.  So.  Many.

I'm wondering if I should get Cory something he'll need for his dorm room or just get something for me.  And if I get something for me, should it be something practical or something just for fun?  You see, those CSN Stores have it all at.  If you need a lamp or a bedroom vanity, they've got those.  How about shoes or purses?  Yep, those too!  And frying pans and cutlery sets.  They even have flooring and appliances. 

You see my problem?

Maybe some cocktail tumblers? 

Or a nice address plaque to add to the house once we get the new siding?

Or shoes, because, well - shoes.  Need I say more?

Whatever will I choose?  You can hardly wait to find out, huh?  Yeah, me too!

Should Breastfeeding be Required?

Image via Wikipedia

I heard on GMA this morning that supermodel Gisele Bundchen thinks breastfeeding should be required by law.  Apparently a lot of people already heard this because there's already been quite a bit of discussion on the topic.  I'm going to say right here that I breastfed both my babies, and I can't for the life of me figure out why anyone would choose not to.  It's a whole lot more convenient, definitely costs a lot less - and is so much better for the baby.  I think breastfeeding should be the norm.  It should be expected, encouraged, and supported.  Let's also point out that breastfeeding burns more calories than being pregnant and is a big help in losing that baby weight.  That ought to get a few new moms on board.

A lot of women are chiming in with all these reasons why they couldn't breastfeed their babies and telling Gisele to just butt out.  If that's really true, that breastfeeding was impossible for these mothers and the only choice they had was to give their babies formula, then fine, that's what they had to do.  No law would have made it any different.  I don't think they have to worry, anyway.  A society that allows women to kill unwanted babies just because they haven't been born yet - because what a woman wants to do with her body is more important than the welfare of the baby - is not going to tell her what to do with her body after a baby is born. 

I do believe that women who are on Welfare or State Aid or WIC or any kind of government supported program should be required to at least give breastfeeding a serious try - before the government has to start paying the high cost of formula.  Throwing away or disregarding something you already have and then expecting someone to pay to replace it, with something inferior, is just wrong.

What do you think?  Breastfeeding or formula, and why?

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I Love this Snake

I posted this on my other blog a while back, and after pulling an entire furry critter from my shower drain this morning, I thought it was time for a re-post:

Turbo Snake, a Review

I've mentioned before how much I hate the way my shower/tub drain is designed. There's nothing to stop the hair from going down the drain, where it gets caught up and clogs things up.  The drain stopper is supposed to come off so you can get something down in there and pull the gunk out, but the screw that holds it in won't budge, so I can't get it off - which means I can't get down in there to pull stuff out.  I've been trying with a screwdriver, and I can sometimes get a little, but it just doesn't work.

So, when I saw the ads for the Turbo Snake, I just had to try it.  I didn't order it from TV, because you can get all that 'As Seen on TV' stuff at Walgreens, so I got it there.  For $10 you get the bathtub Turbo Snake and the sink Turbo Snake - and the handy hook to hang them on. (Oh, joy!)

Today, I tried it, and I am very happy to say that it works!  I ended up using the one for the sink, because I couldn't seem to get the larger one down my drain.  Maybe I just wasn't doing it right, so I'll probably try again next time.  The smaller one seemed to work just fine.  I stuck it down the drain, past the stupid stopper that won't come out, twisted a little, and started pulling hair and gunk out of the drain.  And I kept pulling it out.  I could not believe how much was down there.  No wonder the drain was running slow.  It's much better now!

I didn't make my own video - because I didn't think of it, and because I really don't want anyone to see all my gunk, but I thought this video review was pretty good:

I agree, the one part I didn't like was that it was hard to get the hair off the end, but I can live with that knowing I can get down into the drain and get all that gunk out in the first place.  I love that I can clean my drains out now, and don't have to resort to using some kind of chemical drain cleaner.

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Special Offer

Remember that gift basket I got from ProFlowers last month?  If you're thinking of ordering something, either for yourself or someone you love, now is the perfect time.  I just found a coupon for 20% off any gift from ProFlowers.  Just use this link - www.ProFlowers.com/Clipper - and the discount will be automatically applied.

Fine print:

Minimum purchase of  $29.99.  Does not apply to gift cards or certificates, same-day or international delivery, shipping & handling, taxes, or third-party hosted products (e.g. wine, wedding flowers).  Discount will appear upon checkout and cannot be combined with other offers or discounts.  Offer expires 12/31/10

 What will you choose?

Kissimmee, I'm Going to Disney World

Image via Wikipedia

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Kissimmee Tourism. All opinions are 100% mine.

"I'm going to Disney World!"  That's what all the sports stars say after they win some major championship.  I'm no sports star, and I haven't won any championship, but I do want to go to Disney World.  Last time we went the kids were little - Beth was 6 and Cory 4 - and they didn't want to go on any good rides.  The first thing we went on was the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, which I'm sure they would love now, but it 'scared' them, and the only thing they liked the rest of the day was the Small World ride, which just plain drove me crazy.  The things we do for our kids!

So, we haven't gone back, and next time we go, we aren't taking the kids!  Jeffrey and I are going to go.  We're going to stay in Kissimmee which is right there next to Orlando and close to everything, preferably in a nice vacation home or condo.  We're going to enjoy Disney World and Epcot and Universal Studios and Sea World and all the great theme parks in the area.  And then, since Kissimmee is not only close to the theme parks but within about an hour's drive of the Atlantic Ocean, we're heading to the beach!  It would be a huge shame to go to Florida without some time at the beach.

Besides being close to Disney and not too far from the beaches, Kissimmee has some great attractions of its own.  Check out all these things to do in Kissimmee and see why I think we might have to stay a month to get it all in.  I'd love to try that zip line, maybe ride on an airboat, attend the Pirates Dinner Adventure, or cruise the classic cars in Old Town. The more I look, the more things I see that look like they'd be a lot of fun. 

Of course, we'd make time to visit with my cousin who lives in the area, too! 

I Guess He's Not Supposed to

A few weeks ago the National Honor Society was sponsoring a blood drive at the high school.  So, Jeffrey, Cory and I all went to donate.  When we got there, Cory realized that he had left his wallet at home - meaning he had no blood donor card and no ID.  We asked if they could just take our word for it that he was who he said he was, but the lady at the check-in desk said no.  So, Jeffrey and Cory went home to get Cory's wallet.  Cory could have gone by himself, but we took Jeffrey's car, and the kids don't drive his car.  I rarely drive that car.

While they were gone, I went ahead with my donation - answering all the questions, checking my iron, etc.  I was in the middle of donating when Cory came over and told me that he didn't get to donate after all.  After all that running back home to get his ID, he found out when he came back that he had 11 days left before he could donate again.  He had donated dual reds that last time and had to wait 16 weeks between instead of the usual 8.  And, if the lady had looked him up in the first place, and asked him a couple questions to verify his identity, he would have already known that before the guys ran home - and they wouldn't have had to do it.

Then, today, Cory had to go do some paperwork and take a blood test so he can work at the State Fair again this year.  While he was up that way, he figured it would be a good time to donate.  So he made an appointment and went - but he didn't get to give dual reds, because the lady had trouble getting the needle in his vein, and then it must not have been in right because when they started putting the saline in, it hurt.  So they had to stop, and instead of giving dual reds, he just donated a pint of whole blood - which isn't a bad thing, just not what he was wanting to do.