Sunday, August 28, 2011

Adora Dolls

I was reading thru my twitter feed, and saw a friend post about Adora Dolls.  I went to check them out to see what they were all about, and was very happy to see that they are offering a giveaway right now

It's not just a simple giveaway either, it's a very generous $500 ADORA-able Dolly Giveaway!
What lil princess doesn't want their mommy to win that??  I know my lil diva does.  She was sitting right beside me when I was looking at their website, and she's already picked out the ones she really loves.

I went HERE to enter.  With such a big giveaway, of course, I have to start thinking "What if I really won that"?  I know exactly what I would do with it.

I keep in touch with a place that I used to work several years ago.  It is a preschool for kids with developmental delays.  I would say that about 98% of the kids there are delayed because of the environment they are raised in.  Every child there is low-income, because that is the only way they get approved to be there.  (Nothing against that at all, because technically, the economy problems have caused my family to also be low-income as of now.)  The kids I'm talking about have NOTHING.  They come to school with dirty clothes, dirty faces, and I've even seen roaches come out of their backpacks and even shoes.  Most of the parents of these kids are only looking for welfare, and don't give a lot of thought to the kids they bring into the world.  They don't spend quality time with them. They don't teach their precious kids how to say their ABC's, shapes, colors, or count.  That is why they are considered developmental delayed.  It's not because they are slow, it's because nobody has cared enough to teach them.  Once they enter the program, almost every one of them will learn all the basic stuff they need to know to enter kindergarten.

I could go on and on about all the heart-breaking things I've seen while working at that preschool.  It is for children as young as 6 weeks up to 5 years old.  It's very easy to become attached to those sweet, sweet kids.  Since I quit working there about 5 years ago, I've still kept them close to my heart. It helps that my sister-in-law is the supervisor there.  I always "adopt an angel" at Christmas time, and instead of picking one at our local mall, I pick a kid or 2 from the preschool.  I've done it every year since I worked there.  I make sure they get clothes, pajamas, toys, socks, etc. so they can at least have a decent Christmas.  I also donate a lot of my own kids' outgrown clothes and toys to them.

So, now that I have explained all about this program, I'll get back to my point, haha!  If I was to win the Adora Dolls giveaway, I would definitely pass on the generosity and give some of their adorable baby dolls to some very well-deserving lil ones at the preschool.  I can already see their beautiful eyes light up!  It's amazing how something that seems so small can really make a child's day.  You can just see the appreciation and gratefulness on their face when you give them a gift.

I really hope that I win, mainly so that I can pass on the generosity to some of the kids in need.  With our budget being so tight, I don't know how much I'll be able to help at Christmas time this year.  I'll keep my fingers crossed, and I know Miss Sassy will, too!  If any of you reading this happen to win, then I would love to hear that you also donated part of the prize to some little girl who needs joy in her life!  Good luck to all of you!

Monday, May 23, 2011

Scare Me Nots toy review and GIVEAWAY!

Does your kiddo have monsters under the bed, or ghosts in the dark?  My kids sure do think so!  I've never quite understood where those wild imaginations come up with the crazy story about monsters and ghosts in the dark, but it has kept me up at night with both of my kids many times. 



I recently came across the cutest toys called ScareMeNots, and they are perfect for "protecting" your little one from all the things that go bump in the night.   Basically, they are "monsters for your monsters", haha!  Isn't that adorable? 

ScareMeNots are stuffed monsters that are specially trained at an academy to keep all the "bedtime scaries" far away.  They learn to stay awake all night,  see in the dark, and can even hang from their tails!  Once they graduate, they come home to children everywhere and protect them for their bedtime fears.

ScareMeNots work their magic by being able to hang from their tails, with the help of a velcro strip.  They can hang anywhere your child is afraid and need "protecting".  They can hang under beds, in closets, from curtain rods, or just anywhere they are needed.



There are several ScareMeNots to choose to from.  With cute names like Guardian Gus, Defender Dave, and Courageous Carrie, your kiddo is sure to find one that is perfect for their liking.

The great folks at ScareMeNots were generous enough to let Miss Sassy have one of her very own, so she won't be scared at night anymore.  She checked out the website with me, and she chose Watchdog Wally to come hang out with her.

I have to say, this has to be one of the best ideas ever, because she has slept with Watchdog Wally every night, and has not been scared at all since he came home.  Not only does he keep all the scaries away, but he also goes along on car trips with us, and hangs out during the day, too.



I absolutely love the ScareMeNots, and recommend them to anyone with kids who are scared at night.  The quality of the material is also really great.  It's really soft, and seems to hold up well. We got the full-size one, but they are also available in a travel size.  I think Watchdog Wally will be a part of our family for quite a while!

Guess what!!  ScareMeNots has generously offered for one BeeCute reader to win a ScareMeNot monster of their very own!  Now you will be able to sleep easy.

BUY IT

You can purchase a full-size ScareMeNot monster for $24.99, and the travel size for $14.99.  They are available to purchase online at www.scaremenot.com.

WIN IT!

**Mandatory Entry** You must be a follower of my blog on Google Friend Connect to enter. (Look at the top left corner of the blog and click Join this Site.) Then, go to ScareMeNot and tell me which monster is your favorite. (1 entry total for mandatory) Leave your entries below in the comments. Note: You must enter the mandatory entry before doing the extra entries, or you will be disqualified. Also, you must leave a valid email address on all entries so I have a way to contact you if you are chosen as the winner. Read the rules HERE for entering my giveaways.

Extra Entries

1)  LIKE ScareMeNot on Facebook and tell them BeeCute sent you. (1 entry)

2)  Follow ScareMeNot on twitter and tell them BeeCute sent you. (1 entry, leave your twitter name please.)
 
3) Follow BeeCute (@mandmvaught) on twitter and leave me your twitter name. (1 entry)

4) Like BeeCute on facebook (top right corner of blog, you can click LIKE on the widget) (1 entry)

5) Subscribe to BeeCute email newsletter. (top right corner, and you must confirm it when you get the confirmation email. I will check.) (2 entries)

6) Tweet this giveaway. May be done up to 5 times daily, at least an hour apart. You must leave the url link of your tweet with your entry. (1 entry per each tweet) You may use your own tweet including a link to this site and @ScareMeNot and @mandmvaught or you can copy/paste the following:

Kids scared of dark? #WIN a @ScareMeNot toy from @mandmvaught & have Sweet Dreams again!  http://tinyurl.com/3qbzh29 Ends 6-19
#giveaway

7) Tell me where you found this giveaway. (1 entry)

8) Share this giveaway on facebook and link @BeeCute and in the post (may be done one time daily). (2 entries per post)

9) Blog about this giveaway. You must include a link to this giveaway in your post and have at least 25 followers. Leave the link to your blog post in the comments with your entry. (3 entries)


Contest will end on June 19th, 2011 at midnight CST. Open to the US only. Winner will be selected at random, and contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond, or another winner will be chosen.

Disclosure: I was not financially compensated for this post. I did receive the featured product for the review. All opinions stated are completely honest and 100% mine based on trying out the product. Please use your own judgement when choosing products for your family.

Rules for Entering Giveaways

I'm listing the general rules here for entering all giveaways on BeeCute.  It's making the giveaway posts extra long to include them with each separate giveaway, so I'll just put them here permanently and link to them each time. 

Please be sure to follow all Rules of Entering to ensure that you are eligible to WIN!

Each giveaway will have a Mandatory Entry listed, along with ways to earn extra entries.  These will still be posted on each giveaway.

These are the general rules to entering:

BeeCute is simply hosting this giveaway and is not responsible for the prize itself. The sponsors of the giveaway are responsible for shipping out the prize to the winner. BeeCute will relay the winner's information on to the sponsor. If there is any problem with the prize, BeeCute will continue to try to work with the sponsor to correct any problems. BeeCute is not liable or financially responsible for the prizes.

You must complete your entries as stated. If you do not complete the entries as stated, then it will be deleted. For example, if you do not leave your user name with your facebook entry, then it will not count. You must leave a valid email address on each entry. This is how I will contact you if you win.

Only one person per home/IP address is allowed to enter this giveaway. If I see that you are entering under multiple names, etc then you will be immediately disqualified and banned from entering future giveaways. I do not tolerate cheating, and will be checking to ensure all my giveaways are fair.

The winner will be selected at random. I will contact the winner by email, and you will have 48 hours to contact me, or another winner will be selected.

BeeCute reserves the right to change any rules if deemed necessary without prior notice.

Online E-VENT for book "Still Missing" May 24th & book review

This is an event you don't wanna miss if you are a book lover!  Chevy Stevens has written her very first novel, "Still Missing", and this is definitely a book you will want to read.  To celebrate her book, there is an online E-vent, where you can see a video of Chevy, and have a live chat with her.   To add to the fun, they will be giving away 10 gift bags to those who attend the online chat!  So, where can you find this fun party?  It's coming up soon, so be sure to mark your calendars!

You can join in on the celebration in honor of Chevy Stevens' novel "Still Missing"  at the BookTrib.com homepage or click HERE.  It will be on May 24th, 2011 at 3pm EST/ 2pm CST.  If you would like to attend, RSVP at stillmissing@booktrib.com.




My thoughts on "Still Missing":

I generally don't have a huge amount of time to read, but this book made me make the time.  I just wanted to keep reading.  I don't want to give it all away, so here is an exerpt:

A missing young woman, a frightening abductor, a sealed-up remote cabin, and an honest, frank voice trying to sort out a situation that would destroy anyone:  Chevy Stevens’ STILL MISSING is a page turner in the truest sense of the word. STILL MISSING (St. Martin’s Press; Paperback May 24, 2011) is that rare debut find—a shocking, visceral, brutal and beautifully crafted novel.

On the day she was abducted, Annie O’Sullivan, a thirty-two year old realtor, had three goals—sell a house, forget about a recent argument with her mother, and be on time for dinner with her ever-patient boyfriend. The open house she hosts is slow, but when her last visitor pulls up in a van as she's about to leave, Annie thinks it just might be her lucky day after all. She couldn’t be further from the truth.

Interwoven with the story of the year Annie spent as the captive of psychopath in a remote mountain cabin, which unfolds through sessions with her psychiatrist, is a second narrative recounting events following her escape. This includes her struggle to piece her shattered life back together as well as the ongoing police investigation into the identity of her captor. Through this, Annie and the reader, discover that the truth doesn’t always set you free.

It's definitely intense and full of suspense.  Trust me, this is one you won't want to put down!


Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post, however I did receive a copy of the book to review.  All opinions are my own.  I am simply sharing my thoughts, and information that you may enjoy.

Friday, April 29, 2011

What a Weekend this will Be-And Do your Kids Play Video Games?

First off, I have to say a big Happy, Happy Birthday to my son!  Bubbalicious turned a whopping 9 years old yesterday!!  Like my hubby said, he has one year left til he is a "double digit midget"!! ha!



With that, brings me to the title of this post.  What a Weekend!  This weekend will be fun and probably pure chaos.  This year, with our budget, we could not afford to do a big birthday and a big gift, both.  So we gave Bubbs the choice of choosing one or the other.  Let me clarify "big".  A big party is what we have done just about every year.  He always invites his whole class, plus other friends and family and we book a party somewhere, like at a skating rink, play palace, or something like that.  It costs easily a couple hundred or more just for the party.  For the "big" present, now that he is a little older, he wants cool gadgets, electronics, and video game systems for gifts.  So we try to get him one big present and a few smaller ticket gifts.

So this year, he had to choose on either a big party, or a big gift.  He had a hard time deciding, and finally chose the big gift.  So, he will be getting either a handheld video game system, or maybe a mini laptop if I can find one for a good price. 

Since we won't be having a huge party this year, I told him that he could invite a couple friends over for a sleepover, and the next day we would go to Chuck E. Cheese's and hang out, and the family could come there to celebrate with him.  So come Saturday night, I'll have my 2 kids, plus 3 other 3rd grade boys, all hanging out in my little house!  I love having my kids' friends over, and all the kids are really great.  Miss Sassy tries to hang out with the boys, but they aren't so cool with a 4 year old girl wanting to play, lol.

I know they will want to watch movies and play video games.  Who has some ideas on other activities I can do on a budget to keep them entertained?  Of course, it's going to rain all weekend, so that counts that out.  I want to hear your ideas and tips on making sure these boys have fun.

Do your kids play video games?  It has become a regular thing for my son, and it's to the point where I'm going to have start putting limits on how much time is spent playing.  We have already put restrictions on video games that are rated M, and some of the teen games.  M rated games are not allowed, and the teen games we check them out first and decide which ones are ok and which are not.

Our whole family, including me, lol, all love to play video games.  We have a Playstation 3, an old DS, an older PSP, and a Wii.  Personally, the only one Miss Sassy and I ever play is the Wii.  I got the Wii Fit Plus to go with it, and I love it!  I also recently bought Zumba for Wii.  I haven't really tried all of it yet, but plan on it soon.  I'll keep you updated on that.  I think it might be something really awesome!  I really only play with the Wii to help me "work out" because it makes it more like a game, instead of work.  I hate working out.   The game that comes with the Wii Fit Plus is all fitness based, but are really fun and even kind of addicting.  It really makes me want to keep doing it.  My hubby loves watching me do the hula hoop game, but what he doesn't realize is that it's much more funny watching him do it, than me!  hehehe!

Miss Sassy actually just started playing the Wii.  She recently got the Sesame Street Elmo Wii game, and she loves it!  It is an educational game, and teaches her letters, numbers, and more.  She had to have a little help with some of the actions of the remote, but after I showed her how, she caught right on.  She also got sent a Hello Kitty game, but we haven't tried it yet.  There are a couple more games I would really like to get her, like the Nick Jr. Fitness game.  Is has lots of the Nick Jr. characters, like Dora and the Backyardigans and they do fun exercises.  Have any of you tried this game?  I'd love to hear more about it.  Or do you have other fun suggestions for a preschooler?

Bubbalicious and the Hubs both play PS3.  A lot.  Bubbs loves games like Star Wars and Lost Planet 2.  He likes fighting games the best, but it is definitely hard to find them without them being rated M.  I actually was shocked when I saw a game that was rated M.  I wondered if it was just violence to get that rating, so Hubs showed me exactly why it got that Mature rating.  When I started hearing "moans" and bow chicka wow wow music, I looked over and they were even showing boobies!  Ummm....hell no!  And that, my friends, is why there will be no rated M games for my kids.  To be honest, I don't even like hubby playing it.  But whatever.  He mostly plays the popular games like God of War, Modern Warfare, and Infamous.  He's also a kid at heart and plays Batman and Superman games, too, haha!

Tell me about video games in your home.  Which ones do you like?  What rules do you have for your kids?

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

CLOSED! Zebra Hoodies review and GIVEAWAY

Congrats to elliebunny!

Like most ladies, I love cute clothes.  Even when it comes to casual wear, I still want to look fab and have stuff that you don't see on everybody else.  And since I'm a stay at home mom, casual wear is pretty much my main wardrobe right now.

A little while back, I came across a website called Zebra Hoodies.  I think the Zebra part in the name is what hooked me in, haha!  Zebra Hoodies is an online store that offers embroidered and screen printed hoodies, sweatshirts, tees, and uniforms. She has also added a Bling line of shirts, and they are super cute.  And I promise, when you check out the pics on the site, you are gonna want some of your own!  This is a pic of one of the Bling shirts that she has done.



And then came the awesome part--I got to try out a hoodie myself!  I came up with a few ideas and emailed them over, and asked if I could be surprised with what the design would be.  When my package arrived, I tore it open and was extremely happy with the final design!  It turned out so cute, and I fell in love immediately.  Check out my hoodie:



Isn't it fabulous??  I love it, and it makes me one proud mama to show off my kids with my hoodie.  Not only that, but it also is super warm and cozy, which is great in the weather we've had over the last couple of months.

I asked Regina, the owner/operator of Zebra Hoodies a few questions about her business and here is what she said:

1) Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and about Zebra Hoodies?  My name is Regina Bell.  I have been teaching elementary music for 21 years.  I can't cook but I can sew!  I started zebrahoodies when my teaching salary couldn't pay for my very expensive but wonderful boys extras.  Band, Competitive Swim and Theatre.  I started making hoodies using zebra print and zebrahoodies was born.  I now do all types of colors, tiger print and so forth!  I also contract with a local T shirt company in my town for screen printing and I design the art and make things like T shirts for groups, baseball uniforms, softball uniforms and so forth!

2)  Are you the only employee?  I am a ONE WOMAN machine!!!
3)  Do you have a "most interesting" place that you have shipped a Zebra Hoodie?  I have shipped hoodies to NYC, Chicago and London!   However most of my hoodies go to small towns where people can't find affordable places to purchases these cute items.

4)  Can your products be found in any stores, or is it online only?
Currently I am only online at www.zebrahoodies.vpweb.com
However If anyone wants these in their store I am willing and able to do it for them!

Wow, I can't imagine being a teacher full-time, and then working so hard with Zebra Hoodies, too.  Regina is one busy lady!  One thing Regina and I both are passionate about is how important it is to support small, local businesses.  There is so many benefits to supporting small businesses.  Don't you love the personal attention you get when shop and you actually feel like you are wanted and welcome to their shop?  It's such a huge difference than shopping at huge franchises, where you can't even find someone to help you or get a friendly hello.  I'm the wife of a self-employed painter in construction biz, so I know exactly how important it is for people to hire him over a big corporation, because his work is what puts the food on our table, and is not going to fill the pockets of a rich CEO somewhere.  It's exactly the same with Regina at Zebra Hoodies.
Zebra Hoodies has a size to fit everyone from a child XS to adult XXXL.  You can choose your design to be put on several different color options for the shirt, and then pick what colors you want your thread or screen printing to be.  There is also several styles of shirts available, so you are bound to find one (or several) that will suit your taste.  And remember, designs are limitless, so let her know your ideas, and she will come up with something great for you.
All products are backed up 100%.  You also get a discount if you have a large order, and can find a price list on the Zebra Hoodies website.  No order is too large or too small!
I really love Zebra Hoodies, and working with Regina is great.  I have lots of ideas for shirts for my whole family that I want to get.   Actually, Regina is so great, that she is offering one of you lucky BeeCuties a chance to win a Zebra Hoodie of  your choice (up to $36 value)!!  Yay!!
BUY IT
You can purchase your own designed shirts online at Zebra Hoodies, http://zebrahoodies.vpweb.com/default.html .  Prices vary based on styles and sizes.
WIN IT
One reader will win their choice of a hoodie from Zebra Hoodies, up to a $36 plus shipping value.
**Mandatory Entry** You must be a follower of my blog on Google Friend Connect to enter. (Look at the top left corner of the blog and click Join this Site.) Then, go to Zebra Hoodies and tell me what choices of designs you like best. (1 entry total for mandatory) Leave your entries below in the comments. Note: You must enter the mandatory entry before doing the extra entries, or you will be disqualified. Also, you must leave a valid email address on all entries so I have a way to contact you if you are chosen as the winner. Read the rules below for entering my giveaways.  Leave a comment per each entry.


Extra Entries --Must do the Mandatory Entry first before any Extra Entries are valid.

1) LIKE Zebra Hoodies on Facebook and write on their wall that @BeeCute sent you. (1 entry)

2) Like BeeCute on facebook (top right corner of blog, you can click LIKE on the widget, Please leave your facebook user name) (1 entry)

3) .Follow BeeCute (@mandmvaught) on twitter and leave your twitter name. (1 entry)
4) Subscribe to BeeCute email newsletter. (top right corner, and you must confirm it when you get the confirmation email. I will check.) (2 entries)

5) Tweet this giveaway. May be done up to 5 times daily, at least an hour apart. You must leave the url link of your tweet with your entry. (1 entry per each tweet) You may use your own tweet including a link to this site and Zebra Hoodies and @mandmvaught or you can copy/paste the following:

#WIN a custom hoodie from Zebra Hoodies & @mandmvaught  http://www.beecute1.blogspot.com/  Ends 5/20

6) Tell me where you found this giveaway. (1 entry)

7) Share this giveaway on facebook and link @BeeCute and in the post (may be done one time daily). (2 entries per post)

8) Blog about this giveaway. You must include a link to this giveaway in your post and have at least 25 followers. Leave the link to your blog post in the comments with your entry. (3 entries)

9) Add my button to your blog and leave a link telling me where I can find it.  (5 entries)
Contest will end on May 20th, 2011 at midnight CST. Open to the US only. Winner will be selected at random, and contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond, or another winner will be chosen.
RULESBeeCute is simply hosting this giveaway and is not responsible for the prize itself. The sponsors of the giveaway are responsible for shipping out the prize to the winner. BeeCute will relay the winner's information on to the sponsor. If there is any problem with the prize, BeeCute will continue to try to work with the sponsor to correct any problems. BeeCute is not liable or financially responsible for the prizes.

You must complete your entries as stated. If you do not complete the entries as stated, then it will be deleted. For example, if you do not leave your user name with your facebook entry, then it will not count. You must leave a valid email address on each entry. This is how I will contact you if you win.

Only one person per home/IP address is allowed to enter this giveaway. If I see that you are entering under multiple names, etc then you will be immediately disqualified and banned from entering future giveaways. I do not tolerate cheating, and will be checking to ensure all my giveaways are fair.

The winner will be selected at random. I will contact the winner by email, and you will have 48 hours to contact me, or another winner will be selected.

BeeCute reserves the right to change any rules if deemed necessary without prior notice.

Disclosure: I was not financially compensated for this post. I did receive the featured product for the review. All opinions stated are completely honest and 100% mine based on trying out the product. Please use your own judgement when choosing products for your family.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

CLOSED! Prescription Drug Abuse & Lockmed Medication Lock box GIVEAWAY

Congrats to Paula A. winner, winner, chicken dinner!

Did you know that over 3 million American teens abuse prescription drugs?  Statistics show that each day, 3,300 children begin experimenting with prescription drugs. 60% of teens in the US will have tried prescription drugs--before the age of 15.   That's enough to disturb you, right?  It's very scary to know that one day, our kids will most likely be offered or exposed to some sort of drugs.  Prescription drug abuse is one of the most common for young people because it is so easily accessible at their very own homes. I read in one study that over half of kids ages 12-17 who have tried medications got them for free from a friend or family member.  Do you have your medications locked up?  I don't yet, but after learning all of this info, I'll be putting some serious measures down to keep my meds safe.


Prescription drug abuse is defined as "the taking of medication that is not prescribed to you, or taking altered dosages or for reasons other than prescribed for."   Some of the most commonly abused meds are those that are prescribed for pain, anxiety, sleep, and stimulants, such as those for ADHD.  There is a huge list of effects that abusing these drugs can have that range from physical addiction, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, anxiety, paranoia, and seizures to name a few.

Abuse of medications is growing in the youth at an alarming rate.  In addition to it being so easy to find, a lot of kids think that because it is prescribed from a doctor, then it can't be that bad.  They are not aware that taking meds for a condition that they do not have can lead to new problems that may need to be treated.  Also, they often take too much of a drug and over-dosing, because they are not aware of correct amounts that can be safely taken.

Of course, it's not only kids that are abusing meds.  Adults are also having the same issues, and a lot of times, it all starts with a legitimate reason to be prescribed the medication, and it then turns to dependence.  I've heard of times that a person has a minor car wreck and get some pain meds, and that's all it takes to get a person to realize they really like how those meds make them feel.  They then will try to continue getting pain meds, and soon become addicted.  The elderly are also at risk because they are prescribed so many medications, and their metabolism changes as they age, which leads to a lesser dosage being more powerful than it would in a younger person.  It can give them a euphoric feeling that they really like.

How do you know if someone you love is abusing prescription drugs?  There are many signs that can be a warning to you that somebody may have a problem.  Personality changes, excessive drowsiness, confusion, difficulty walking, and rapid eye movements are a few to look for.  Also, if a person is going around to several doctors, known as "doctor shopping", then they may have a drug problem.  Also, you may notice a bunch of empty medicine bottles or even blank prescription pads in their possession.  You read all about these warning signs HERE.

So now that you know about prescription drug abuse, what can you do to help prevent it?  Here are some of the most important tips to follow:

1)  Educate yourself and your family about the dangers of prescription drug abuse. Include prescription drugs when you talk to your kids about the dangers of alcohol and street drugs.  Become familiar with street terms and slang for prescription meds if you have kids.  Know who your kids' friends are and their families.

2)  Keep track of your medicine.  Know how much is in the bottle and keep track of refills.

3)  Don't tell people about what medicines you have and limit how many people have access to where you store your medicines.  It's best to keep medications locked up in a box such as Lockmed medication lock boxes.  Ask friends and family members to also lock medicines up.

4)  If your child is prescribed drugs, make sure they are only taking the correct dosage and are not giving it to friends.  You need to be in control and monitor the usage.  This includes ADHD meds.

5)  Dispose of any medications properly.  Remove the medication from the bottle and mix with undesirable material like coffee ground or kitty litter.  Then put them in a bag or can and dispose.  Make sure it is hidden in the trash so people can't see them to take them out.  Remove identifying labels from the bottles before throwing away.  Also, there are places that you could take your medications.  Some free and low-income clinics take unwanted medications and use them for those unable to pay for medicine.  In addition to that, many police stations have a "medication take-back" program, and they will properly dispose of your prescription drugs for you.

Taking action now is the best thing you can do to prevent prescription drug abuse.  It all starts at home.  I do have certain medications that should be locked up, and I plan on purchasing a Lockmed box to keep my kids away from them.

Lockmed is a company that is dedicated to educating and preventing prescription drug abuse.  They make medication lock boxes that range from small to large.  They will have either a key or a combination lock, depending on which size you choose.

In addition to making the lock boxes, they all support a great cause.  Every year, they donate their boxes and funds to communities in high-risk areas.  They have donated to schools, medical facilities, and army bases to name a few.

And, to help get you started with prevention, Lockmed is offering a lock box to one of you BeeCuties!

BUY IT 
You can purchase a Lockmed medication lock box online or at over 100 pharmacies and retail stores such as Target, Price Chopper, and Shaw's Drug.  Prices begin at $18.99.


And here is your chance to WIN one of your own!  Lockmed is offering one BeeCute reader to win the small Lockmed box, valued at $18.99.

WIN IT

**Mandatory Entry** You must be a follower of my blog on Google Friend Connect to enter. (Look at the top left corner of the blog and click Join this Site.) Then, go to Lockmed and tell me something you learned that I did NOT already post. (1 entry total for mandatory) Leave your entries below in the comments. Note: You must enter the mandatory entry before doing the extra entries, or you will be disqualified. Also, you must leave a valid email address on all entries so I have a way to contact you if you are chosen as the winner. Read the rules below for entering my giveaways.


Extra Entries --Must do the Mandatory Entry first before any Extra Entries are valid.

1) LIKE Lockmed on Facebook and write on their wall that @BeeCute sent you. (1 entry)

2) Follow Lockmed on twitter and leave me your twitter name. (1 entry)

3) Like BeeCute on facebook (top right corner of blog, you can click LIKE on the widget, Please leave your facebook user name) (1 entry)

4) .Follow BeeCute (@mandmvaught) on twitter and leave your twitter name. (1 entry)
5) Subscribe to BeeCute email newsletter. (top right corner, and you must confirm it when you get the confirmation email. I will check.) (2 entries)

6) Subscribe to Lockmed's channel on Youtube and leave your youtube user name.  (1 entry)

7) Tweet this giveaway. May be done up to 5 times daily, at least an hour apart. You must leave the url link of your tweet with your entry. (1 entry per each tweet) You may use your own tweet including a link to this site and @LockmedBoxes and @mandmvaught or you can copy/paste the following:

#WIN a medication lock box from @LOCKMEDboxes & @mandmvaught  http://www.beecute1.blogspot.com/  Ends 4/24

7) Tell me where you found this giveaway. (1 entry)

8) Share this giveaway on facebook and link @BeeCute and in the post (may be done one time daily). (2 entries per post)

9) Blog about this giveaway. You must include a link to this giveaway in your post and have at least 25 followers. Leave the link to your blog post in the comments with your entry. (3 entries)

10) Add my button to your blog and leave a link telling me where I can find it.  (5 entries)
Contest will end on April 24th, 2011 at midnight CST. Open to the US only. Winner will be selected at random, and contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond, or another winner will be chosen.

RULES

BeeCute is simply hosting this giveaway and is not responsible for the prize itself. The sponsors of the giveaway are responsible for shipping out the prize to the winner. BeeCute will relay the winner's information on to the sponsor. If there is any problem with the prize, BeeCute will continue to try to work with the sponsor to correct any problems. BeeCute is not liable or financially responsible for the prizes.

You must complete your entries as stated. If you do not complete the entries as stated, then it will be deleted. For example, if you do not leave your user name with your facebook entry, then it will not count. You must leave a valid email address on each entry. This is how I will contact you if you win.

Only one person per home/IP address is allowed to enter this giveaway. If I see that you are entering under multiple names, etc then you will be immediately disqualified and banned from entering future giveaways. I do not tolerate cheating, and will be checking to ensure all my giveaways are fair.

The winner will be selected at random. I will contact the winner by email, and you will have 48 hours to contact me, or another winner will be selected.

BeeCute reserves the right to change any rules if deemed necessary without prior notice.

Disclosure:  This is not a sponsored post, and I did not receive anything for this post.  It's simply a cause that I feel needs awareness, and the company mentioned supplied the giveaway prize.  All opinions stated are my own.  Please use your own judgement when selecting products for your family.

CLOSED! BabyBond nursing cover Review & GIVEAWAY

Congrats to our winner,  17sirens!



If you are breastfeeding, or plan to breastfeed, then you will probably want some sort of cover-up for when you are in public. Using a blanket, like I did, is not always easy to manage. It usually ends up falling down, the baby pulls on it, it gets hot, or you just don't want to cover up your baby's head.

I recently came across a really cool nursing cover called Baby Bond. It's made specifically to cover up mommy, and not baby.  That way you don't have to show the world your business, and at the same time, can have that special bonding time and eye contact with your baby.


Baby Bond comes in 3 different styles, which all are great.  You can choose which style fits your needs best.
Original  is worn like a sash.  It works like a nursing top, and keeps your back and tummy covered with the double panel. 
Flex  is also worn like a sash, and is similiar to the The Original, but is also includes an option to attach a burp cloth.
Couture  is adjustable and can be customized to fit your changing body.  It is great because not only is it a nursing cover, but also can be worn as a belly band.  With Baby Bond Couture, you can nurse from the top or bottom.  No matter what outfit you wear, Couture will work with it.

Each style comes with a pouch to store it in and are all machine washable.  Another thing that is really great is the selection of colors to choose from.  My favorites are a chocolate brown and also the Riviera, which is a really pretty turquiose.  Of course, there are several other colors to choose from, so you are sure to find one that you love.


I was hoping to get a picture of a family member's newest arrival and show her using Baby Bond, but the lil guy has not arrived yet!  So the wait will continue!

Baby Bond is definitely on my list of must-haves for new mommies.  I love how it's versatile, comfy, and easy to take on the go.  And most importantly, how it keeps you covered, but leaves baby's face from covered up.

BUY IT
You can purchase any of the Baby Bond nursing covers for $35 online and at select retailers.  What is even more fabulous, is that Baby Bond has offered all the lovelies that read BeeCute a special discount of 25% off!  Just use code "BEE" at checkout.

In addtion to the special discount offer, one of you lucky BeeCuties will WIN one of your own!

WIN IT

One BeeCute reader will win one Baby Bond nursing cover of your choice.  Retail value of $35.

**Mandatory Entry** You must be a follower of my blog on Google Friend Connect to enter. (Look at the top left corner of the blog and click Join this Site.) Then, go to Baby Bond and tell me Which style AND color that you like best. (1 entry total for mandatory) Leave your entries below in the comments. Note: You must enter the mandatory entry before doing the extra entries, or you will be disqualified. Also, you must leave a valid email address on all entries so I have a way to contact you if you are chosen as the winner. Read the rules below for entering my giveaways.


Extra Entries --Must do the Mandatory Entry first before any Extra Entries are valid.


1) Follow Baby Bond on twitter. Leave your twitter user name. (1 entry)

2) Follow BeeCute (@mandmvaught) on twitter and leave me your twitter name. (1 entry)

3) Like BeeCute on facebook (top right corner of blog, you can click LIKE on the widget, Please leave your facebook user name) (1 entry)

4) Like Baby Bond on facebook. Leave your facebook name. (1 entry)

5) Subscribe to BeeCute email newsletter. (top right corner, and you must confirm it when you get the confirmation email. I will check.) (2 entries)

6) Tweet this giveaway. May be done up to 5 times daily, at least an hour apart. You must leave the url link of your tweet with your entry. (1 entry per each tweet) You may use your own tweet including a link to this site and @BabyBond and @mandmvaught or you can copy/paste the following:


#WIN a nursing cover from @BabyBond & @mandmvaught A mommy must-have! http://www.beecute1.blogspot.com/  Ends 4/30

7) Tell me where you found this giveaway. (1 entry)


8) Share this giveaway on facebook and link @BeeCute and in the post (may be done one time daily). (2 entries per post)

9) Blog about this giveaway. You must include a link to this giveaway in your post and have at least 25 followers. Leave the link to your blog post in the comments with your entry. (3 entries)

10) Add my button to your blog and leave a link telling me where I can find it.  (5 entries)


Contest will end on April 30th, 2011 at midnight CST. Open to the worldwide. Winner will be selected at random, and contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond, or another winner will be chosen.

RULES
BeeCute is simply hosting this giveaway and is not responsible for the prize itself. The sponsors of the giveaway are responsible for shipping out the prize to the winner. BeeCute will relay the winner's information on to the sponsor. If there is any problem with the prize, BeeCute will continue to try to work with the sponsor to correct any problems. BeeCute is not liable or financially responsible for the prizes.


You must complete your entries as stated. If you do not complete the entries as stated, then it will be deleted. For example, if you do not leave your user name with your facebook entry, then it will not count. You must leave a valid email address on each entry. This is how I will contact you if you win.

Only one person per home/IP address is allowed to enter this giveaway. If I see that you are entering under multiple names, etc then you will be immediately disqualified and banned from entering future giveaways. I do not tolerate cheating, and will be checking to ensure all my giveaways are fair.

The winner will be selected at random. I will contact the winner by email, and you will have 48 hours to contact me, or another winner will be selected.

BeeCute reserves the right to change any rules if deemed necessary without prior notice.




I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Sponsored by Tomoson.com

Friday, April 8, 2011

Friday Follows

I'm so glad it's Friday!  This week has been the longest!  Have a great weekend, and join in Friday Bloghops and make some new friends! Also, I'll be posting some awesome new giveaways in the next day or two, so be sure to check back!


Smart and Trendy Moms              

BoostMyBlogFriday

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Coupon, Sweeps, & New Dollar General Promo to Earn Gift Cards and More!

So how many of you watched the new Extreme Couponing show on TLC?  I certainly did.  I am just amazed at how those frugalistas can get all that stuff for basically nothing.  Although I think it's a bit ridiculous to have the huge stockpiles like they do, I still think it's great to save so much money.  I wish I was that good and knew how to save that much.  But you would never catch me buying 35 bottles of Maalox just because it only was costing around 50 cents each.  Come on....really??



Anyway, my point is, that ever since this economy went to the crapper a couple of years ago, I've had to really get creative with having to cut back expenses and save money.  At the same time, I didn't want our daily lives to radically change either.  So, that's when the couponing came in.  I also hit the department stores sales' racks, search consignment stores for awesome name brand clothes, and even joined a "resale event" for moms to bring in all outgrown clothing and toys, furniture, etc and sell it, and also buy stuff from all the other moms.  It's almost like a high when I can find brand new Justice clothes for Miss Sassy for less than $5, or excellent condition Tommy or Polo shirts for Bubbalicious for just a few bucks.  Craigslist has also been a really great place to find things we need for great prices.  Just an example, to help with my new weight loss adventure, I found a brand new elliptical machine for sale on craigslist for only $50.  Can't beat that with a stick!  Now if I could just get my butt on it everyday, it might be effective.  hehehe!

Another thing I have started over the past year, is started entering sweepstakes and giveaways.  I started out with just blog giveaways, and started winning.  It was the first time in my life that I had ever won anything, and I can't even explain the happiness it gave me.  So, I found more blogs and was entering quite a few, and then winning at least once a week.  I was hooked!  I only enter for things that I actually need or want.  I don't think it would be fair for me to enter for something I wasn't going to use, when I know someone who does need it is also entering.  Now for those of you that are new to giveaways, trust me, there was A LOT of them that I didn't win.  Sometimes I would want something so bad, and try so hard to win it.  I would do every single entry that was available, and then of course, I wouldn't win.  It's a bummer, but it's just part of the game.  I've been very blessed with all the great things I have won from blogs, and am very appreciative to the bloggers who run the giveaways and the sponsors who offer the items.  Entering all those giveaways on blogs is ultimately what got me here, offering all of you lovelies of BeeCute the cool products that I love and think you will, too!

I have also added in regular sweepstakes that I enter on a regular basis.  They are much harder to win, but the prizes usually have much greater value than blog giveaways.  They also have instant win games with a lot of sweepstakes, and those aren't as hard to win.  I've won several instant win games for things such as gift cards, t-shirts, and household products.  I don't win on a lot of these sweeps, but I try to not get frustrated.  Because I have won several smaller ticket items, that keeps my spirits up.  Just last week, I won a swag pack from Nine West which will include shoes and a shirt, and I'm not sure what else.  Of course, I have to brag about my biggest win--a trip to Jamaica!!  I won the trip about 2 months ago from a one-time entry on a twitter contest, and it shocked the hell out of me when they picked me!  I have filled out and returned the affidavit, and still waiting on them to let me know how I actually will book my trip.  It's very special to me, because my hubby and I never got to go on a honeymoon when we got married, so this will more than make up for that.

The main reason I enter giveaways and sweeps is because that's the only way that I can "provide" all these awesome goodies and extras for my family.  We just can't afford to go out and buy Flip cameras, or video games whenever we want to.  We definitely can't afford to go on vacations, so that is exactly why I enter.  I hope to win a family vacation some day, so my kids can also experience it.  I know it's possible, and just keep hope that one day we will get blessed with something amazing for the whole family to enjoy.

So, do you like to enter sweeps or giveaways?  What not-so-conventional things do you do to save money or get those extras for your family?  I want to hear about your experiences, thoughts, and comments.

Speaking of saving money, Dollar General just started a new promotion called Rhythm & Race Rewards that I think is really cool.  It's based on a point system, and you earn points in exchange for gift cards, Nascar items, or Grand Ole Opry merchandise.  They have created a list of certain items that will will earn one point per item purchased.  I looked at the list, and I was pretty happy with the items on it.  It has things that I would normally buy, like Hellmans' mayo, Hamburger Helper, Betty Crocker fruit snacks, lotions, shampoo, and so on.  It's a big list, and they also have monthly bonus item, such as Huggies wipes or Pull-Ups. The list can be printed off from their Rhythm & Race website.



When you purchase the participating products, they will give you a code on your receipt.  After you sign up for the program, which began April 1st and goes thru July 31st, you will enter your code online or you can even text it with your cell phone.  All it takes is 10 points to start earning prizes.  The more points you get, the better prize you earn.

In addition to that, they are also doing an optional contest based on teams.  Up to 4 people can be on a team, and when you enter your points, those same points will also go towards your team's balance.  At the end of the promotion period, the team with the most points wins a really nice prize.  Each member of the team will have their choice of a trip for 2 to a Nascar event, a trip to Grand Ole Opry, or a check made out to you!  Pretty sweet, right?  I know what I would choose already!

Ok, so here's the deal.  I want to start a team.  I go to the Dollar store a lot, because it's very close to my house.  I know I can rack up some points quick!  So I need 3 more people who want to be on my team.  If you shop at the Dollar General and want to join in on this contest, send me an email to savvylissa@gmail.com and be sure to include your full name and email address.  Also, if you want to be on my team, please don't sign up yet and wait for my team invitation to sign up.  I'll get them sent out quickly, so you can begin earning points.  Of course, you can still shop and just hold onto your code til we are all set.

I hope to hear from some of you fellow DG shoppers and create a Divalicious team.  I don't know that Dollar Store and Divalicious should really be in the same sentence, but hey, we can bring sexy back to being frugal, right.  Oh, and by the way, they do take coupons there, and I heard they have a new revised coupon policy on their main website.  I'm off to check it out, and will be anxiously awaiting to hear from you!

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Follow Me Back Tuesday!

It's Tuesday again, and been awhile since I've joined this bloghop, so I thought I better get back in the game and join up with some of my fave blogs!  Join up with these hostesses and make some new friends at the
Follow Me Back Tuesday Bloghop!  You can also find their button over on my right sidebar, right under my facebook box.  Have a great week, and excited to meet new peeps!

Boobies, Babies, & A Blog
Survey Junkie
Little YaYa's

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Are we wrong as parents??

Parenting is not easy.  We all know that.  But some things arise that seem silly at first, but then later on make you wonder if you did the right thing. 

Here's the deal:  As I'm in Bubblicious's room hanging up laundry one night, he informs me that he wants me to buy him some skinny jeans.  (Note:  Bubbalicious is one of many names I have for my almost 9-year-old son.)  (Another note:  I HATE skinny jeans on the male gender.)  So, I just mumbled something like "Oh, really.  Wow!" and he started talking about something else.  End of discussion, right?  I couldn't get that lucky.



So, a few nights later, my lovely mommy and step-dad were over visiting, and I had walked out of the room, but everyone else, including hubby and kids, were all chit-chatting.  Bubbalicious once again brought up these not-so-fabulous skinny jeans that he wants.  I think he did it at that moment because "Ma" is always buying her favorite (and only) grandkids new clothes and goodies.  I'm pretty sure he thought he could say that he wanted them, and next time Ma came over, she would bring them.

Lucky for me, and unlucky for Bubbs, Hubby was there when the skinny jeans convo came up.  As soon as the words came out of Bubbs' mouth, Hubby exclaimed "NO WAY!  You are not going to be wearing skinny jeans!"  Since I wasn't in the room, I didn't hear if there was ever a reason given to him as to why he cannot wear skinny jeans, but in a way, I think it may be better to not have a reason. 

Like it or not, we parents are role models.  Some better than others.  And, as the older I get, I can really notice how the majority of kids grow up to be similar to their parents.  None of us actually want to admit that we are like our parents, but the truth is, well....the truth hurts!  hahaha!

So, what got me to thinking about this whole skinny jeans situation, is are we wrong for telling him no, just because we don't like skinny jeans?  It's not that we are trying to mold him to be just like us, because that is sooo not what we intend.

Hubby and I talked privately about why we both, at separate times, discouraged the skinny jeans.  In our opinions, we think that style of jeans look great.  On GIRLS.  And girls only.  Now, I know that is being totally judgemental.  But that is the truth of how I feel.  I know that skinny jeans are wildly popular with dudes, just as much as it is with the ladies, so please don't send me hate mail.  It's just my opinion and I'm entitled to that. 

I want my kids to have their opinions, their own style, and their own way of doing things.  In a way, I feel bad for not letting Bubbs wear the pants he wants, but where do we draw the line?  If he wanted to wear a dress, I would not let him.  Thank the Lord that was not what he asked for.  But if he asked for a neon-green pair of Nike shoes, I'd probably be okay with that.  It's just a matter of what type of clothing it is.

I think the main reason we don't agree on the skinny jeans, is because as parents, we don't want our children to have to deal with any negative attention.  I know that going to school is rough, without any extra attention on what the kids wear.  I know there would be some kids that would make fun of boys wearing skinny jeans.  But then again, obviously he has seen someone wearing them, or why else would he ask for them?

Maybe I am over-analyzing this way too much.  He has not said anything else about them since Hubby said no.  So, what do you think?  Would you let your 3rd grade son wear skinny jeans, and why or why not?

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

New BLOGHOP to lower Alexa Ratings!




Thanks a ton to Real Mom Reviews for this linky.  As you know, I'm still new to blogging and trying hard to start out the right way, instead of having to add in a bunch of stuff later.  That is why this linky will be very useful, especially to new bloggers.

This is from her post, to give you the info you need and how to use this linky since it's a bit different
:
                                                           Please Read..
                                                     I'm BEGGING you!

 This hop works a bit differently than most!
IMPORTANT Please make sure you have the ALEXA TOOLBAR installed.

Why do you need the Alexa Toolbar? "Alexa computes traffic rankings by analyzing the Web usage of millions of Alexa Toolbar users and data obtained from other, diverse traffic data sources." Now in english... When someone with the Alexa Toolbar visits your site, it helps lower your Alexa!



Now that you know the basics, hop on over by clicking on the button above, and join in on this awesome linky!  I'll definitely be joining this one, cuz I need all the help I can get!!

She also has a Tuesday Twitter Hop going on, but for some reason I can't get the button to link up, so just click HERE and get some new twitter friends, too!

Sunday, March 13, 2011

CLOSED! Richard Solo iPhone backup battery Review & Headphones GIVEAWAY

Congrats to #6, WinitMama!!

I love finding technology devices that are super cool.  Especially little gadgets that not everybody has.  I love having something that not many people have ever even seen before. 

One of my newest gadgets I have is the 1800 for iPhone from RichardSolo.  It's a back-up battery pack that clicks on to your iPhone or iPod (except for shuffle).  If you have an iPhone, then you know how quickly the battery can run out.  You can easily carry around the 1800 in your bag, or car, or even your pocket, and just click it on your phone and you have a full charge again.  You will never have to deal with a dead battery again!  In addition to the extra battery power you get, it also has a flashlight and laser pointer on it.  Uber cool, right?  It comes with a USB car charger, AC wall charger, and retractable USB cable all included.  I absolutely love this device, and use it all the time!



If you aren't familar with RichardSolo, you definitely need to check it out.  It is created by Richard Thalheimer, who is the founder of The Sharper Image.  It's an online store that strives on great customer satisfaction.  They have so many interesting products, such as electric corkscrews, mini speakers to hook into your cell phone, powerdocks, high end watches, and remote control cars.  And if you ever need a 7 foot tall Superman statue, RichardSolo is your place! hahaha!

Here are a few other items that I think are pretty cool and would love to try:

Flameless Timer candles--The candles have LED lights instead of having to worry about the flames of real candles.  You can also set the timer so they come on whenever you want them to.  They also have a soft vanilla scent.

RichardSolo Micro Edge 5-piece Knife set--These high quality stainless steel knives have serrated blades and are designed for years of use.  They never need sharpening.  They are so sharp, they can cut through frozen meat.  Need I say more??

Lamborghini Superleggera Remote Control Set--My son would love this!  You get 2 of the sweet rides, so you can compete with friends.  They even run fast on carpet.  Every little boy's dream, and probably some men's dream, too!  The price is great at only around $40!

That's just a sample of all the neato things you will find at RichardSolo.  I was so happy with my 1800 for my iPhone, that I asked the great people at RichardSolo if they would like to offer one of their products for  a giveaway to my lovely readers.  And they agreed!  How awesome is that!  I must give a huge THANK YOU to RichardSolo!

They are offering their Noise Canceling Headphones to one of you!  They can plug right into your phone, laptop, MP3, or just about any of your devices.  They have extra large ear-cups padded with memory foam.  The thing I think is the best, is the adjustable headband can collapse down and fold up to fit into a travel pouch.



BUY IT!

You can purchase the 1800 for iPhone from RichardSolo for $29.95.

The Noise Canceling Headphones are also available for only $59.95, and are on sale currently for $35.95.


WIN IT!



**Mandatory Entry** You must be a follower of my blog on Google Friend Connect to enter. (Look at the top left corner of the blog and click Join this Site.) Then, go to RichardSolo and tell me which product is your favorite or something new you learned that I did not write about. (1 entry total for mandatory) Leave your entries below in the comments. Note: You must enter the mandatory entry before doing the extra entries, or you will be disqualified. Also, you must leave a valid email address on all entries so I have a way to contact you if you are chosen as the winner. Read the rules below for entering my giveaways.


Extra Entries

1. Like RichardSolo on Facebook and write on their wall that @BeeCute sent you! (1 entry, please leave your first name and last initial)


2. Follow RichardSolo on twitter. (1 entry, please leave @username)

3. Follow BeeCute (@mandmvaught) on twitter and leave me your twitter name. (1 entry)

4. Like BeeCute on facebook (top right corner of blog, you can click LIKE on the widget) and tell me on my wall you are entering this giveaway. (1 entry)

5. Subscribe to BeeCute email newsletter. (top right corner, and you must confirm it when you get the confirmation email. I will check.) (2 entries)

6. Tweet this giveaway. May be done up to 5 times daily, at least an hour apart. You must leave the url link of your tweet with your entry. (1 entry per each tweet) You may use your own tweet including a link to this site and @richard_solo and @mandmvaught or you can copy/paste the following:


#Win Noise canceling Headphones from @richard_solo & @mandmvaught at http://www.beecute1.blogspot.com/  Ends 4/10

7. Tell me where you found this giveaway. (1 entry)

8. Share this giveaway on facebook and link @BeeCute and @RichardSolo in the post (may be done one time daily). (2 entries per post)

9. Blog about this giveaway. You must include a link to this giveaway in your post and have at least 25 followers. Leave the link to your blog post in the comments with your entry. (3 entries)

Contest will end on April 10th, 2011 at midnight CST. Open to the US only. Winner will be selected at random, and contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond, or another winner will be chosen.

 
RULES:


BeeCute is simply hosting this giveaway and is not responsible for the prize itself. The sponsors of the giveaway are responsible for shipping out the prize to the winner. BeeCute will relay the winner's information on to the sponsor. If there is any problem with the prize, BeeCute will continue to try to work with the sponsor to correct any problems. BeeCute is not liable or financially responsible for the prizes.

You must complete your entries as stated. If you do not complete the entries as stated, then it will be deleted. For example, if you do not leave your user name with your facebook entry, then it will not count. You must leave a valid email address on each entry. This is how I will contact you if you win.

Only one person per home/IP address is allowed to enter this giveaway. If I see that you are entering under multiple names, etc then you will be immediately disqualified and banned from entering future giveaways. I do not tolerate cheating, and will be checking to ensure all my giveaways are fair.

The winner will be selected at random. I will contact the winner by email, and you will have 48 hours to contact me, or another winner will be selected.

BeeCute reserves the right to change any rules if deemed necessary without prior notice.


Disclosure: I was not financially compensated for this post. I did receive the featured product for the review. All opinions stated are completely honest and 100% mine based on trying out the product. Please use your own judgement when choosing products for your family.

CLOSED! Kiddie Catch-All Review & Giveaway


Picture this familar situation:  You are driving around, trying to get your errands done, pick up kids from school, etc.  As you are trying to get to your destination, you hear "MAMA!  I dropped my book!"  So you look to see if it's clear enough to try to reach back and pick it up.  You strain and wiggle, and finally get the beloved book.  Within just a few minutes of handing the book back to your little one, "MAMA!  I dropped my cup!"  Oh no, not again!  Does this sound all too-familar?  It sure does to me!

Sometimes I feel like I spend more time in my car than I do anywhere else.  And if you have little kids, then you know what it's like to have an overload of toys and things to entertain them when driving.  My hubby is always telling me that there's just too much stuff in the backseat.  What he doesn't realize is that if the kids don't have stuff back there to play with, then they can be very distracting when I am driving.  So, I tell the hubs "It's a safety precaution!"  Maybe that's just my way of excusing the cluttered car. hahaha!

Needless to say, when I was contacted by the great folks at Kiddie Catch-All, it was like a dream come true!  The Kiddie Catch-All is this great little accessory that fits right onto your kiddo's carseat.  It is made with durable plastic, and has a detachable mesh-like basket.  You can fill it up with all your kiddo's favorite toys, snacks, and sippee cup.  If they drop something, they can just reach into the Kiddie Catch-All and find something else.



That's right, no more straining and twisting to reach those fallen favorite toys.  This basket has been a life-saver for my family.  It seriously has made our trips so much easier and less-stressful.  Also, I would hate to think that I could actually have a wreck while trying to grab a dropped toy.

I will add that with so many different designs of carseats these days, it may not fit your particular carseat.  Good news is, on the Kiddie Catch-All website, they have listed a bunch of types that they found will or will not fit.  You can check out the list HERE.

With that said, I found other ways to use the Kiddie Catch-All.  Even if your kids are bigger and not in a carseat anymore, Kiddie Catch-All can still come in handy for you.  You can also attach to an arm rest, or another part of your car.  My son is a "tween" and he loves the Kiddie Catch-All to put his portable game system in, plus his sunglasses and drink.  Even the adults could find it kind handy, especially when going on a vacation or road trip.  These are based on my experiences that I tried out myself on my vehicle.  It may or may not work with yours.

I really love the Kiddie Catch-All and highly recommend it.  It also is easily washable.  All you have to do is pop the mesh basket off from the plastic ring, and stick in the washing machine.  Easy peezy!  This is something that will make your life a little less hectic, which in my book, is something much needed.

Kiddie Catch-All was invented by a mother with a wiggly 1 year-old.  I personally think that moms know exactly what works and can make life better with products.  On that note, I think it's very important to support the mothers that have created a great product.  Have you seen their commercials on the HUB channel?

BUY IT!

Kiddie Catch-All is currently running a great special where you can Buy One, Get One Free  PLUS get a free Children's Sing-alongs cd all for the low cost of only $12.95 plus shipping and handling.  They are not yet available in stores, so go to http://www.kiddiecatchall.com/ to get yours!

Another thing that is so great about Kiddie Catch-All--they have offered one of you lucky lovelies to WIN it right here!  Good Luck, this is a great product!

WIN IT!


**Mandatory Entry** You must be a follower of my blog on Google Friend Connect to enter. (Look at the top left corner of the blog and click Join this Site.) Then, go to Kiddie Catch-All and tell me something new you learned that I did not write about. (1 entry total for mandatory) Leave your entries below in the comments. Note: You must enter the mandatory entry before doing the extra entries, or you will be disqualified. Also, you must leave a valid email address on all entries so I have a way to contact you if you are chosen as the winner. Read the rules below for entering my giveaways.

Extra Entries
 
1)  Follow Kiddie Catch-All on twitter.  (1 entry)
 
2)  Follow BeeCute (@mandmvaught) on twitter and leave me your twitter name. (1 entry)


3) Like BeeCute on facebook (top right corner of blog, you can click LIKE on the widget)  (1 entry)

4) Subscribe to BeeCute email newsletter. (top right corner, and you must confirm it when you get the confirmation email. I will check.) (2 entries)

5)  Tweet this giveaway. May be done up to 5 times daily, at least an hour apart. You must leave the url link of your tweet with your entry. (1 entry per each tweet) You may use your own tweet including a link to this site and @KiddieCatchAll and @mandmvaught or you can copy/paste the following:


#WIN kids car accessory from @KiddieCatchall & @mandmvaught http://www.beecute1.blogspot.com/
Ends 4/10 No more hectic car rides!

6)  Tell me where you found this giveaway. (1 entry)


7)  Share this giveaway on facebook and link @BeeCute and in the post (may be done one time daily). (2 entries per post)

8)  Blog about this giveaway. You must include a link to this giveaway in your post and have at least 25 followers. Leave the link to your blog post in the comments with your entry. (3 entries)

Contest will end on April 10th, 2011 at midnight CST. Open to the US only. Winner will be selected at random, and contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond, or another winner will be chosen.


RULES:


BeeCute is simply hosting this giveaway and is not responsible for the prize itself. The sponsors of the giveaway are responsible for shipping out the prize to the winner. BeeCute will relay the winner's information on to the sponsor. If there is any problem with the prize, BeeCute will continue to try to work with the sponsor to correct any problems. BeeCute is not liable or financially responsible for the prizes.

You must complete your entries as stated. If you do not complete the entries as stated, then it will be deleted. For example, if you do not leave your user name with your facebook entry, then it will not count. You must leave a valid email address on each entry. This is how I will contact you if you win.

Only one person per home/IP address is allowed to enter this giveaway. If I see that you are entering under multiple names, etc then you will be immediately disqualified and banned from entering future giveaways. I do not tolerate cheating, and will be checking to ensure all my giveaways are fair.

The winner will be selected at random. I will contact the winner by email, and you will have 48 hours to contact me, or another winner will be selected.

BeeCute reserves the right to change any rules if deemed necessary without prior notice.


Disclosure: I was not financially compensated for this post. I did receive the featured product for the review. All opinions stated are completely honest and 100% mine based on trying out the product. Please use your own judgement when choosing products for your family.

CLOSED!! Resurrecting Anthony book Review & Giveaway

**Congratulations to:  comment #23, Some Lucky Dog!!

As a busy mama and wife, I do not get the chance to read books very often.  I love to browse through the latest Cosmo or those trashy entertainment gossip mags, but when it comes to books, I rarely have time to ever finish them.  That is why I don't commit myself to reviewing books often.  But, when I was contacted to review the new book "Resurrecting Anthony: A True Story of Courage and Destination", there was no way I could pass it up.  Just hearing a small piece on what this story was about really touched my heart.  I had to read this book.

As parents, a lot of times we get so busy, we forget to count our blessings and realize how lucky we are to have healthy children.  It has always been my biggest fear that something would happen to one of my kids.  This fear started when I was pregnant with my first, and has not stopped since.  And that terrible fear came true for Linda and Tony Cole, the co-authors of this book.



Synopsis:

Tony and Linda Cole were living the American Dream—a successful national training and consulting company, a nice home, a close-knit circle of friends and a loving family.



Then came the call every parent dreads.


There twelve-year-old son Anthony had collapsed on the school playground. In the ensuing panic-stricken moments Anthony lay motionless, unconscious, not breathing. These critical minutes without oxygen left his brain damaged. In one heartbreaking afternoon their idyllic world was shattered and the son that Tony and Linda Cole knew was gone.


Resurrecting Anthony is the true, inspiring story of an unexpected tragedy that steals a child from his family and initially leaves them full of grief and sorrow. It reveals the Cole family’s incredible devotion and determination—despite the medical evidence and advice of health professionals—to return Anthony to his previous self.


Steadfast and single-minded of purpose, Tony Cole tries to balance stressful business demands and the emotional dynamics of a devastated family as he desperately tries to bring his son back.


Ultimately, it is a story of courage—the courage to summon inner strength to make hard decisions, the courage to do what must be done, and finally the courage to accept a new life and family


My Thoughts:

I don't want to be a spoiler, so I won't go into any more detail about this emotional story.  This was a tough book to read, but only because it made me cry.  I had a hard time putting it down, because I kept wanting to know what came next.  I have to say that even though this book is a tear-jerker, it is so inspiring at the same time.  This story is told by the father, Tony Cole.  I really like how he tells about all aspects of what the family went through.  He talks about how it affected not only the entire family, but also how it put pressure on his and Linda's marriage.  It goes on to tell about their daughter, Alex, and how she felt about the tragedy.  The entire family has so much strength and devotion, and always kept little Anthony's recovery as the number one priority.

This is a book I absolutely recommend to everyone.  It's something that anyone with children should read.  Nobody wants to think that something like this could happen, but unfortunately, it could.  Another great thing about this book is that is has a bunch of references, should you ever need them. 

"Resurrecting Anthony" will definitely make you want to grab your kiddos and hug them forever. 

You can purchase "Resurrecting Anthony: A True Story of Courage and Destination" at any major bookstore or you can go HERE to buy it at Amazon. You can get the book for under $15, so go now and get it!  You can also find lots more information on "Resurrecting Anthony" at their website  http://www.resurrectinganthony.com/.

The Cole's also have another book series, "Personal Courage Series".  It is a series of books that is shared by "ordinary people with extraordinary stories".   Each book in the series contains various short stories that deal with life crisis, such as loss of spouse, a devastating medical condition such as cancer, and even includes stories about addiction, abuse,  and eating disorders.  One thing that is really great about this series, is that anybody can submit their story, and it may be chosen to be published in the books.  You can find more information HERE.

So, would you like the chance to WIN a copy of "Resurrecting Anthony: A True Story of Courage and Destination" all for yourself?  Now is your chance!  One of my wonderful BeeCute readers will get that chance:

WIN IT!




**Mandatory Entry** You must be a follower of my blog on Google Friend Connect to enter. (Look at the top left corner of the blog and click Join this Site.) Leave a comment below telling me that you are a follower. Note: You must enter the mandatory entry before doing the extra entries, or you will be disqualified. Also, you must leave a valid email address on all entries so I have a way to contact you if you are chosen as the winner. Read the rules below for entering my giveaways.

Extra Entries

1) Go to http://www.resurrectinganthony.com/ and tell me something you learned or that touched your heart.  (1 entry)

2)  Follow BeeCute (@mandmvaught) on twitter.  (1 entry)

3)  Follow BeeCute on Facebook (look on blog in upper right corner, and you can LIKE from the widget).  (1 entry)

4)  Be an email subscriber-MUST be confirmed when you get the confirmation email- (upper right corner on blog).  (2 entries)

5)  Tweet this giveaway.  May be done up to 5 times daily, at least an hour apart. You must leave the url link of your tweet with your entry. (1 entry per each tweet) You may use your own tweet including a link to this site and @zippitydooshair and @mandmvaught or you can copy/paste the following:

#Win copy of book "Resurrecting Anthony" from @mandmvaught -An emotional true story that will inspire  http://www.beecute1.blogspot.com/  Ends 4/3

6)  Tell me where you found this giveaway.  (1 entry)

7)  Share this giveaway on facebook and link @BeeCute and in the post (may be done one time daily). (2 entries per post)


8)  Blog about this giveaway. You must include a link to this giveaway in your post and have at least 25 followers. Leave the link to your blog post in the comments with your entry. (5 entries)


 
Contest will end on April 3, 2011 at midnight CST. Open to the US only. Winner will be selected at random, and contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond, or another winner will be chosen.
 
 
RULES:


BeeCute is simply hosting this giveaway and is not responsible for the prize itself. The sponsors of the giveaway are responsible for shipping out the prize to the winner. BeeCute will relay the winner's information on to the sponsor. If there is any problem with the prize, BeeCute will continue to try to work with the sponsor to correct any problems. BeeCute is not liable or financially responsible for the prizes.

You must complete your entries as stated. If you do not complete the entries as stated, then it will be deleted. For example, if you do not leave your user name with your facebook entry, then it will not count. You must leave a valid email address on each entry. This is how I will contact you if you win.

Only one person per home/IP address is allowed to enter this giveaway. If I see that you are entering under multiple names, etc then you will be immediately disqualified and banned from entering future giveaways. I do not tolerate cheating, and will be checking to ensure all my giveaways are fair.

The winner will be selected at random. I will contact the winner by email, and you will have 48 hours to contact me, or another winner will be selected.

BeeCute reserves the right to change any rules if deemed necessary without prior notice.


Disclosure: I was not financially compensated for this post. I did receive the featured product for the review. All opinions stated are completely honest and 100% mine based on trying out the product. Please use your own judgement when choosing products for your family.