29.2.12

Extreme Flash Giveaway Event 4 Winners Ends 3/2


Welcome to the Extreme Flash Giveaway! 
There will be 4 Prizes & 4 Winners:
(3) $60 Amazon gift certificates
(1) $50 Live Nation gift code

28.2.12

Summer & Spring Event Sign-Ups at Tatum's Family Reviews 1st 10 Register FREE

Make Your Disney Vacation Unforgettable - Free Vacation Info

Another blogger friend is visiting Disney World in only a few weeks and I am beyond jealous! I just found 2 Disney Information Freebies I thought I would share with you.

Order Your FREE Disney Cruise Line® Vacation Planning DVD Today! Click Here! We received the Disney DVD about the parks and the kids love watching it. I'm sure this one is just as good. I am hoping to go on a Disney Cruise in the near future!




Are you planning a wedding or know someone who is? Order your free brochure about Disney Weddings! I would love to have fairy tale wedding. When I was a kid, we went to Disney World and we saw a wedding at the castle and I that's when I fell in love with Disney!

Are you planning a trip to Disney anytime soon? Feel free to share any great freebies with us that you've found.

Time To Become A Work At Home Mum

I was lucky enough to be a stay at home mum with my children for the past two years. However, times have changed drastically and so has the economy. My husband and I reevaluated our budget and decided it was unfortunately time for me to get back to work. I reluctantly began researching for the perfect job and was surprised at what I found.

There were many jobs available that looked interesting to me, including working at H&M, but what really stood out for me on http://www.workingmums.co.uk were the work from home opportunities! I'd always heard about others working from home, but didn't know this could really be a possibility!

Homeworking would allow me to make my own schedule around my children's schedule. I can work during nap times, when my husband is home and when they are sleeping at night, which ends up being a good amount of time. Plus, I can still spend the day with my children, which is very important to me. The opportunities I found were all appealing, including tutoring and being an independent stylist. These jobs could more than supplement our income, so I applied. Now I have to play the waiting game, but can't wait to start working again... at home! Wish me luck!

27.2.12

Perfect Your Resume With a Free Resume Builder

After graduating college, I thought finding a job was difficult, but my more recent experiences were even more frustrating! I stayed home with my children for a little over 2 years and, for the job market, that is a very long time. I applied for job after job before I realized something needed to change. Yes, I had all of the past experience needed, but I needed a way to accurately convey what makes me a good candidate for each job.

There are many ways to prepare for the job market, but unless you know how to portray them neatly and informatively in a resume, they don't do you much good! I honestly had never written out a professional resume and had no idea what to do, so I took to the internet. There are many sites that make you pay for services, but for those of us on a budget, this is not always possible. Using a free resume builder is a great way to get started.

The first part of a resume employers will read is the cover letter. This is the part where you can really show your personality and what sets you apart from other candidates! I have the most trouble with the cover letter, which is why a service can really help you focus and help pinpoint important information to include along with the proper form the letter should follow. As for the resume, there are many different ways to make yours look professional. I found that it is important to include not only past work experience, but other activities and experiences that are relevant to the job. For example, if you have volunteered at a hospital in the past and are applying for a job in the medical field, this is definitely something to include! If you haven't volunteered in the past, this is a great idea and will be a perfect addition to any resume.

With today's job market, we definitely need all the help we can get, especially with making a great first impression on an employer. That's why perfecting a resume is the first step to landing a job, so start researching today and make your resume. You never know when it will come in handy.

I am participating in a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog and was compensated for this post. However, the views and opinions expressed are solely my own. 

26.2.12

Spring Fashionista Giveaway Event Announcement & Earings by Carol Brodie Giveaway ($279RV)

Only 4 Days Left Until The Spring Fashionista Event Begins!! 
Take a Sneak Peek at the Largest Blogging Fashion Event 
The Spring Fashionista LookBook is now live and spotlights all of the wonderful sponsors and giveaway prizes available during the event. I'm ready for the event to begin! How about you? The event runs from March 2nd to March 7th, so be ready for this huge event. There are over 100+ amazing giveaways worth at least $50 each so don't miss any of the fun.
What is the Spring Fashionista Giveaway Event?
We participated in the Fall Fashionista event and had such a great time, we decided to take part once again. This time the event is even bigger and better than before. In fact, it is the internet's larges and ONLY All Fashion related giveaway blogging event!! Every giveaway in the event will be worth at least $100, but most are worth much, much more! With over 100 bloggers, you have the chance to win thousands of dollars worth of beautiful, high fashion prizes! We are so excited about this event, so I hope you are, too!
What is the LookBook?
To get you even more excited, the LookBook is giving you a sneak peak at some of the giveaways that will be offered during the event. Flip through the pages and find the numerous gift cards that will give you a well-deserved shopping spree.

25.2.12

Step2 LifeStyle Welcome Home Kitchen and Table Set Review & Giveaway


I am constantly looking for toys and products that are built to last, encourage imaginative play and are, of course, fun! This is why we own so many Step2 products. Many are items we've had since my first was born almost 5 years ago and they are still in great shape! I was so excited to receive the Step2 LifeStyle Welcome Home Kitchen along with the matching Lifestyle Kitchen Table & Chairs Set.

About The LifeStyle Welcome Home Kitchen
The Step2 LifeStyle Welcome Home Kitchen is a compact, upscale kitchen designed to match today's interior home decor. This realistic kitchen comes complete with:
  • a realistic electronic stove 
  • an oven, microwave and refrigerator
  • "granite" counter top
  • "woven" storage basket
  • sink with faucet
  • fun frying pan and pot 
  • stylish and fun graphics and stickers
My Thoughts
Both of my boys love to help me in the kitchen, play with the bowls and pretend to cook, so I knew the Step2 LifeStyle Welcome Home Kitchen would be a hit! They could barely wait for me to get all the pieces together, which honestly didn't take very long.. I love that it was so simple to assemble and also relatively light-weight. I have, on numerous occasions, hauled it into the kitchen while trying to cook dinner so the boys could "make dinner", too.

The LifeStyle Kitchen Table & Chairs Set was even easier to assemble! The parts just basically clicked into place and the set was ready for playtime. We've used the table for snack-time as well as arts and crafts. It's the perfect size for my little ones. We used to do our arts and crafts on the floor, which usually made a big mess for me to scrub off the hardwood, but now we use the table. The boys can sit and easily reach the center of the table. I love that it also matches the kitchen perfectly and all the other decor in Josiah's room as well.
I knew they would enjoy the new kitchen, but I had no idea how much time they would actually spend playing together, helping each other. Not only has the kitchen been a wonderful tool for expanding their imagination, but they've learned to work together, inventing new foods for me to try! Out of all the toys in their rooms, the Step2 Welcome Home Kitchen is the one thing they constantly come back to play with.

24.2.12

$5 Credit To New Baby/Children's Daily Deal Site BonMimi

Now you Can have your Cake and eat it too! Bon Mimi
I meant to tell you about this earlier, but totally forgot!! BonMimi is a new daily deals site for babies and children that will be opening by the beginning of March. If you sign up before they open, you will receive a $5 credit off your purchase! So, sign up today to get your credit and be ready for the Grand Opening.

Refrigerator

Thanks for the post from Sylvester Campbell

Every night after we eat dinner, my husband and I like to settle down in our den and watch television for an hour or two. We changed our cable service tohttp://www.Cabletvadvisor.com/, and we are much happier with our service. When American Idol comes on, that is the show that my husband insists that we watch. If I didn’t know better, I would think that he bats for the other team. He insists that he wants to watch it because he cannot sing. That is probably the lamest excuse I have ever heard. I get so bored watching the early stages of America Idol each season. They have the most weird and terrible singers on there. I am sure it is just to get the ratings up. But anyway, when we were watching the show the other day, I was barely paying attention. When the commercials came on, that is when I started watching. I saw a commercial that was advertising the exact refrigerator that I have been wanting for so long. I had to pause the television and run get my husband out of the kitchen so he could see the refrigerator that I wanted him to buy. I was so excited because they were having a big sale, and it was much cheaper than the prices I had found. Guess where we are going tomorrow?

23.2.12

Clorox Clean-Up Recipes For Fun & the Ultimate Mess Party $10,000 Sweepstakes

I remember when the kids were babies and a rattle and stuffed animal were entertainment enough. Now that they are getting older, this is hardly the case. If they sit still for ten minutes, that is a miracle! I dread when winter comes around because we are stuck inside without much to do, but this year we have tried some new ideas.

Clorox® Clean-Up® Cleaner has created a new website with some amazingly fun "recipes" for fun family activities! I am always looking for fun ideas, so Recipes for Fun is perfect for our family. We made our own slime this year, baked cookies, painted and much more, which is great because we can also share our own recipes on cloroxrecipesforfun.com.

What's more? To celebrate the new Recipes for Fun site, Clorox is hosting the Ultimate Mess Party Sweepstakes! Sign up for your chance to win $10,000 towards your own Ultimate Mess Party AND chances to win daily prizes, too! All you need to do is register or submit your own recipe for fun. How easy is that? Share your own recipe and you receive a $1.00 coupon for  Clorox® Clean-Up®  and you'll also get 10 extra entries for the grand prize. In addition, there will be some amazing prizes awarded randomly just for viewing recipes each day. You can win coupons and gift cards to a variety of retailers. What are you waiting for? Go register and look at some recipes for fun. You might just win and your kids will thank you, too.

22.2.12

My Wonderful Walls Monster Town Monster Wall Sticker Decals #Giveaway US & Canada


We wrote about My Wonderful Walls last year and loved the themed wall stickers we received. This is why I am so excited to announce a new theme of wall stickers called Monster Town! These little monster stickers are absolutely adorable and I know my son would have a fit over them. Here's a little about them...


Welcome to Monster Town, where you’ll find an imaginative collection of giant & silly monster wall stickers for your kids rooms. Pick your favorites and create an original monster theme wall mural in mere minutes. Just peel & stick! No mess. No fuss. The hardest part will be deciding which monsters to choose! The monster theme looks great in boys rooms, girls rooms, kids rooms, playrooms, bathrooms and would make a great gift for any monster loving little one. So enjoy your stay in Monster Town. We have a feeling you’ll want to stay a while…

So, now they you know a little about the newest monster decals addition to the My Wonderful Walls themes, are you ready for your chance to win? 
One Lucky Children Teaching Mama Reader Will Win Their Choice of Monster Town Monster Stickers Valued at $29.99! 

Tilex Cancel The Mold In Your Bathroom Sweepstakes & Keeping Your Bathroom Free Of Mold

Keeping our bathroom sparkling clean and shiny has become quite an issue! I'm sure many of you can also relate. I get so frustrated with the hard water at our new home and the mold and mildew that always tries to sneak in. When I was in college, my shower looked like a petri dish, but now that I have children, I have to do my best to keep mold, germs and other harmful bacteria at bay! Tilex knows just how we feel, which is why their bathroom cleaners work hard to not only get rid of mold, but keep it away, too!

Tilex says to cancel the mold show in your bathroom. How? Formulated to attack mold, the Tilex Mold Stain & Mildew Stain Remover will definitely cancel that annoying mold show and help you keep it off the air. Right now you can enter the Tilex Cancel The Mold Show In Your Bathroom Sweepstakes. Three Grand Prize Winners will receive 40'' Flat-Screen TVs and 10 Runner-Ups will win a year's subscription to streaming movies! Just "Like" Tilex by clicking on the box below and then go to the Tilex Facebook Page to enter the contest. Tell your friends and receive additional entries.

So, now that you know about Tilex Cancel The Mold Show In Your Bathroom Sweepstakes, it's time for some other helpful suggestions on how to keep your bathroom clean and free of mold and mildew. We all know that mold releases spores into the air and can actually make you sick. This is why it is so important to keep your home clean. Here are some of our suggestions.

21.2.12

Vinturi Red Wine Aerator Review & Giveaway


My love of wine first began in college when I found my favorite tapas restaurant in Athens, Georgia called Speakeasy. We'd go each weekend, try different dishes and experiment with the extensive wine list. I do like white wines, but I absolutely love red wines. Cabernet, Shiraz or Sangiovese with a delicious dinner is exactly what I want on a Saturday night. The last time I went on a cruise, I found my way into a wine auction and ended up buying a case of Italian red wines, so when I received the Red Wine Aerator by Vinturi to review, I knew my weekend was going to be very fun!

About the Vinturi Red Wine Aerator
Wine needs to breathe. When using the Vinturi Red Wine Aerator, your wine received the perfect aeration in the time it takes to pour a glass! It is the original wine aerator. The effect of Vinturi on wine is immediately apparent. You will notice a better bouquet, enhanced flavors as well as a smoother finish. 

My Thoughts
I won't even pretend to be a huge wine connoisseur, but I know what I like in a red wine. I love tasting all of the flavors and how they mix together to create a delicious wine. I've never owned my own aerator, so I was very curious to see how much the flavor of the wine really changed after aeration. We had a dinner party with a few friends and decided to all put the aerator to the test. I poured each of us a glass of wine that had not been aerated and then poured the next glass straight through the Vinturi Red Wine Aerator. It only took a few seconds and my glass was ready to drink.

Sniffing the wines, I am pretty sure I noticed very subtle differences in the bouquet, but the huge difference was within the taste. We could all taste the different fruits and spices within the wine much more clearly. I was amazed at just how flavorful the Cabernet became. I honestly can't wait to try out the Vinturi Red Wine Aerator on other less expensive wines because I'm positive it will give the wine a much richer taste, much like a more expensive wine. 

20.2.12

Day2DayPrinting.com 1,000 Business Cards Giveaway - 2 Winners


As a business owner, I am always on a budget and try to cut corners whenever possible. I love saving money on my business printing, but I also want quality products. This is why we love Day2DayPrinting.com. They guarantee high quality color printing at very low prices!
The "Price Builder" is a great feature, which lets you know exactly how much your printing job will cost. There are no hidden fees or other surprises, so you can order your business cards and other printed products without worry. Plus, Day2DayPrinting.com offers a Money Back Satisfaction Guarantee, so you really have nothing to lose by giving them a try! We know you will be very satisfied, though, and we've heard nothing but great comments about them.

For some great printing tips and more, be sure to check out the printing blog. You can also "Like" Day2DayPrinting.com on Facebook and Follow them on Twitter.

Kidlandia Kreechurs Review & $50 Gift Credit Giveaway

When my boys are at home playing together, they have the most fun pretending to be knights or explorers. The things they come up with just amazes me sometimes and I love watching them! This is why I get so excited when I find new and innovative items for children that encourage the imagination to soar. Kidlandia does just that for children!

About Kidlandia
You may not know this, but Kidlandia is a planet found between Earth and Mars! This fantasy world is inhabited by Kreechurs who fled to Kidlandia for their chance at a peaceful, safe existence. This is when they began watching adults on Earth and made a huge decision: Only children should be in charge of the islands of Kidlandia. In fact, Kidlandia has been hidden from adults, which is why it has yet to be explored by them.

Josiah's Kingdom SiahWorld

19.2.12

Get Relief From Itchy Eczema With Neosporin Essentials


I was cursed with extremely sensitive skin and am always applying some kind of moisturizer or cream, but Liam has it much worse. He has eczema and is super sensitive to anything that comes in contact with his skin. We can only use certain detergents, lotions and bath wash. Plus, the dry winter weather always dries out his skin, making his eczema even worse. When it's really bad, he scratches areas in his sleep and makes them bleed, making it more difficult for the areas to heal. When I heard about Neosporin Essentials, I jumped on the opportunity to give it a try!

How do we manage Liam's eczema? We must keep skin healthy, clean and free of flare-ups, but that is easier said than done. Neosporin Essentials products are great for the entire family and work well to make skin healthier and eczema-free!  It's extremely important to treat the area where eczema is flaring up as soon as symptoms occur and, for the times in between flare-ups, it's important to continue taking good care of your skin. Neosporin Essentials are here to help!

Neosporin Moisture Essentials Daily Body Wash is gentle on sensitive and eczema-prone skin. We have often used oatmeal baths to help heal Liam's skin and lessen the itching. Neosporin Essentials Daily Moisturizing Cream actually contains colloidal oatmeal, which not only moisturizes and heals, but also relieve skin irritation and itching! This is especially important for those with eczema! In fact, Neosporin Essentials Daily Moisturizing Cream has actually been found to make skin visibly healthier within 3 days. For the time when flare-ups are at their worst and extremely itchy, Neosporin Eczema Essentials contains 1% Hydrocortisone cream to provide relief from itching and also works to moisturize skin! That's right, it doesn't more than just soothe the itching. It has been clinically shown to decrease redness, flaking and dryness while simultaneously visibly improve the health of your skin.

I couldn't wait to put Neosporin Essentials to the test. I received a trial pack containing all three of the Neosporin Essentials products. Liam's skin has been especially sensitive and dry lately due to the weather. His skin has started breaking out with eczema and I've noticed him scratching, too. I feel so bad for him and knew it was time to change our course of action! In the past, the only thing I found that really helped was Hydrocortisone cream, which mainly just soothed the itching, so the fact that Neosporin Essentials does more than just decrease the itching makes me excited at the prospect!
See the area with red splotches? This is what eczema looks like
and this can be found all over Liam's body during a flare-up!
We used Neosporin Essentials for only a few days before results started showing. Yes, only a few days!! We used Neosporin Moisture Essentials Daily Body wash, which did not break him out like many and most body washes. Then, we applied the Neosporin Eczema Essentials Daily Moisturizing Cream. When he was scratching, I applied the Neosporin Eczema Essentials Hydrocortisone Anti-Itch Cream. In only 2 days, I could feel that his skin was smoother. Usually there are rough patches where the eczema is beginning to show up. By day 3, we noticed the redness was very much decreased. After a week of using Neosporin Essentials products, his skin is moisturized, healthy and healing. There are a few raised, faded red areas still on his tummy, but, for the most part, the eczema is at bay! I can tell he is one happy boy and there has been no scratching during sleep. That is the biggest relief for me. I'm confident that Neosporil Essentials will be the perfect products for Liam's eczema. I know we are definitely fans now!
Liam showing Mama his belly without eczema! So silly!

I love that Neosporin Essentials products are not only great for sensitive skin, but can also be used by the entire family. There are so many products out there that are specifically for adults or just for kids. For families like us who are on a budget, this can get so expensive. We can save money and all benefit from Neosporin Essentials when our skin needs some help!

You can find coupons on the Neosporin website, including $3 off the purchase of any one Neosporin Essentials products AND $5 off the Trial Kit like we received for review. You can find Neosporin Essentials at several location, including WalMart, Target, Walgreens and more. You can also buy them online at Amazon with $3 discount coupons available (Just click the $3 coupon on the Amazon product page to activate before checking out.)

I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Neosporin Essentials and received a product sample to facilitate my review, and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

17.2.12

Extreme Cash Giveaway Event $650 in Prizes & 5 Winners Ends 3/15 #Giveaways #Win


Welcome to the FEBRUARY EXTREME CASH GIVEAWAY!
Our last giveaway was a huge success with over 600,000 entries. This time we’re bringing you MORE PRIZES which means MORE CHANCES for YOU to win!  
We are giving away:
(1) $300 Paypal Cash prize
(1) $200 Paypal Cash prize
(1) $100 Paypal Cash prize
(1) $50 Paypal Cash prize
(1) Kodak Easyshare Sport Camera

16.2.12

UPrinting 250 Die-Cut Business Cards Giveaway #Giveaways

As a blogger, I often purchase promotional items to hand out, especially before going to a blogging conference. I am on a budget, but still want quality items, of course, which is why I use UPrinting. This online business is the place to purchase your professional-quality promotional items. From postcards to brochures and business cards, Uprinting has you covered. Plus, when using their service, you can choose to use their own pre-designed Business card templates for free or upload your own design to use.

I also love that Uprinting is eco-conscious. They do their part to use environmentally friendly printing practices, which is another reason why we at Children Teaching Mama support them and use their services.
Would you like to give UPrinting a try? 
One Lucky CTM Reader will win:
250 Die-Cut Business Cards with your choice of: 
- Any Dye-Cut Shape
- 14pt Cardstock Gloss, Matte, High Gloss(UV) or 13pt Cardstock Uncoated
- Free US Shipping Only
- 6 Business Days Turnaround Time
Just use the Rafflecopter form below to enter! This giveaway is open to US Residents 18 years+ and ends on Friday, March 9th at 12:01AM. Good Luck!

DIY Garden Irrigation System Project For The Family

Yesterday the weather got up into the 70s here, which tells me that Spring will soon arrive and Summer will not be far behind. I am so excited because we love the warm weather and spend a great deal of time outside. Each year I pick some fun projects for us to do outside and am already compiling some ideas. Last year we particularly enjoyed gardening, so this year we are taking it a step further!

One of the main issues we had with gardening was keeping the fruits and vegetables watered. When it's 100 degrees outside, they often dried out during the day. By using PVC Fittings, we will be able to make our own irrigation system to keep our plants happy. All you need to do is measure your garden, purchase some 3/4'' - 11/2'' PVC tubes, slip joints, tees and glue to get started. The amount you purchase really depends on how big you'd like the system to be and how intricate.

I just want to make a basic irrigation system that's pretty much a straight line, so this should be simple! My husband will cut the PVC for me and drill holes about 1 inch apart down the line and attach the water house. It's really that easy! For those who want to build a more intricate irrigation system, it's important to do your homework and make sure you purchase the right kind of piping, including Schedule 80 Fittings, which are often used underground and for irrigation systems because they can withstand water pressure and the presence of metals will not damage them! This means your system will be built to last, which is definitely what you'd want after all the hard work.

I also found that CPVC Fittings are ideal for water supply lines, so this is also a possibility when building our system. It is easy to use and cut, is durable and can withstand harsh water. I had no idea, but this type of piping is now often used to replace metal pipes since it is so durable! This is definitely good to know for future reference, too.

I will keep you informed about our projects for this Spring. I'm sure we'll have many coming up and we'll start planting everything soon, too. This year we'll have strawberries, tomatoes, squash, watermelons and cucumbers. The kids are so excited and so am I!

Potty Training Part 2 : Liam's Potty Training Experience

About 2 years ago I posted about my first son's adventures in potty training. Boy, was that quite a ride for all of us and I was not looking forward to the time Liam would be out of diapers... However, the time has arrived and it's time for him to begin using the potty. I'm not so certain he agrees, but it's definitely time!

From our first experience, I learned just how difficult potty training can be, so I'm going to post about our new journey this time. Hopefully it will give us all some extra insight into this foreign concept... and we won't go insane in the process! :)

So, for our first post, how do I know Liam is ready for potty training?
  Here are some top signs that your child is ready to use the potty!

1. Your child shows signs of controlling elimination. They can hold their bladder for longer periods of time and when they do pee, they release a good amount instead of a little at a time.
2. They are aware of when they need to use the bathroom and when they are wet.
3. Knows words to verbalize they need to be changed. (Liam always comes up to me and says he needs a new diaper!)
4. Can follow simple instructions like sitting, getting a toy, etc. They must be able to understand directions so they can learn all the steps to potty training from going to the potty, pulling down pants/undies, sitting, washing hands, etc.
5. Shows interest in others using the potty and wants to sit on the potty, too. (We got Liam a potty for Christmas so he could get used to it and he always sits on it when we are in the bathroom.)

So, is your child ready for potty training? If so, keep an eye out for more posts! Wish us luck. I'm hoping this will go more smoothly than with his big brother, but at least I can say Josiah is potty trained, so that gives me something to go on. :)

15.2.12

Get What You REALLY Wanted For Valentine's Day Thanks To Green Works $50 Visa Card #Giveaway


Did you get what you wanted this Valentine's Day? I know I didn't, but I sure know what I would love... some quiet time away from the kids. How nice does that sound? 

Get What You Really Wanted for Valentine’s Day from Green Works

A recent study conducted by the makers of Green Works aims to expose some challenges and compromises made by modern parents, most notably - is romance out the door when you say “I Do?”

Of the 1,000 moms polled in the survey:
*   60 percent of moms and 74 percent of new moms admit to turning down bedroom time with their mate to clean the house, with 11 percent saying they do this frequently
*   90 percent of moms admit to feeling guilty for taking time for themselves

14.2.12

Win A Trip To New York By Telling TopDentists.com Who Makes You Smile

I know I sure could use a nice vacation and New York City sounds like the perfect getaway! Can you imagine yourself seeing Broadway shows, touring the city and shopping on 5th Avenue? There is so much to see and do! Thanks to TopDentists.com, you have a chance to win a trip to the Big Apple!

Registering to win is very easy. All you need to do is share a great photo of yourself with someone else who makes you smile! Over to the right is the picture I would submit of myself and my husband. Write a small blurb about the picture and then use Facebook, Twitter, blogging, etc. to spread the word and get all of your friends and family to vote for you. Voting will end on February 24th, so get your entries in and start enlisting everyone to vote for you.

The winner will receive airfare and hotel stay for 2 in New York, a $1,000 AmEx gift card, a professional teeth whitening session, a makeover for the winner and guest & a photo shoot with a professional photographer! How much fun is that?

The top five contestants who have the most votes will be eligible to win the grand prize. In addition, the top three voted entries within 100 miles of Austin, Texas; Philadelphia, PA; Beverly Hills, CA; Troy, MI; Aventura, FL will be eligible to win a free teeth-whitening session with a top dentist in their area.

Now that you have all of the details, go submit your photo and get those votes in! Remember, the contest ends on February 24th, so don't delay. Good Luck! Click here for more information and to enter!

Disclosure: Compensation was received in exchange for posting about the contest for TopDentists.com. However, all thoughts and opinions written are completely my own.

Valentine's Day Gift Guide: Making Lavender Bath Salts With Epsom Salt

My husband loves soaking his feet in an Epsom salt bath, but I never understood why until I started doing some research. Epsom salt is actually much different than other types of salt and its beneficial properties are soothing to the mind, body and soul! It is considered a natural stress reliever and anti-inflammatory, helping muscles relax, relieving pain, exfoliating skin and much, much more. These specific properties make Epsom salt the perfect ingredient for making bath salts!

My son, Josiah, and I decided to make some Epsom Bath Salts for his teachers as Valentine's Day presents tonight and they turned out so well I decided to share the recipe! There are many different ways to make bath salts, so we looked around the internet and used the items we had in our own home. Here's our recipe:

Lavender Epsom Bath Salts
All the items needed : Epsom Salt, Baking Soda, Glycerin, Lavender Essential Oil
Food Coloring, Measuring cup & spoon, mixing bowl, stirring spoon & glass containers
Add 1.5 cups Epsom Salt
2-3 Tablespoons Baking Soda
Stir well (get rid of clumps)
2-3 teaspoons of glycerin
Add several drops of food coloring
and stir well
Add 10-15 drops lavender essential oil & stir
After we finished stirring, we filled the glass jars halfway with the blue colored bath salts. Then, we repeated the process, but used green food coloring instead. Here is the finished product....
It's a very easy project and the perfect gift for pretty much any occasion. Plus, we had a great time making the Epsom bath salts. It took less than 30 minutes! Josiah was ready to make more, but first we need to buy more containers!
Photobucket

Ignite The Fire Kindle Fire #Giveaway #ignitekindlefire


Are you ready to Ignite the Fire this Valentine's Day? We love our readers and now offering a Kindle Fire to 1 lucky reader!

We have teamed up with a group of bloggers to bring you a Kindle Fire Giveaway.  With movie, apps, games, music, reading and more, the Kindle fire is the hottest e-reader out there and you could win it here! Click Read More to enter via Rafflecopter!

12.2.12

Planning The Perfect Family Holiday For Less

Every summer we put together a nice holiday for our family. It's the time of year when everything slows down and we can relax for a week or two away from home and jobs! When I first started planning our vacations, I honestly had no idea what to do. We paid full price for car hire, hotels, and activities! Yes, planning a trip can not only be stressful, but expensive. However, I have learned my lesson and know just what to do to plan cheap family holidays!

When planning for a holiday, be sure to make a list of your top vacation spots. This way, you can look up prices online and compare. Some places will be cheaper than others at certain times of year and it's great to take advantage of off-season prices, promos, and deals! We've stayed at 4-stars for less than half price and even received free nights. This is exactly why it's imperative to do your homework before booking.

Also, sometimes it can be cheaper to book your flight and hotel together. Buying them separately can mean extra fees and, of course, more hassle. Purchasing them together makes planning so much easier! Once you are finished making reservations, you are ready for the fun part: planning fun activities for the family and shopping! For our next holiday, we are traveling to Italy and I've found amazing deals online for our tickets and hotel reservations. No paying full price for us anymore. We are set and ready to go! Where are you going for your next holiday? Will you plan ahead of time?

Valentine's Gift Guide: Entertain Like A Texas Gentleman Cookbook Review & Giveaway

I love my kitchen and all of my fun cooking accessories! My husband and I are always looking for new recipes to try and excuses to throw dinner parties. I own many, many cookbooks, but had never seen one  for men until recently. We received Entertain Like A Texas Gentleman, a cookbook by David Harap, to review and my husband was so excited to take a look. I was also excited because now he's going to cook me a special Valentine's Day dinner!

About Entertain Like a Texas Gentleman (from Amazon)
Knowing how to entertain for that special date or for a large crowd is the epitome of being a gentleman. There is no stronger way to impress someone than by showcasing your culinary skills. Bachelor Chef and culinary instructor David Harap has created a series of menus in Entertain Like A Texas Gentleman that any man can make his own. This book helps men create unforgettable meals for their guests without stress or needing years of cooking school. In addition to many exciting recipes for every occasion, that are tons of tips and secrets on how to become the ultimate host. Memorable meals made easy. The Texas edition included several Texas inspired recipes and is larger than the other books in this series becasue EVERYTHING is bigger in Texas.

Spice Up Valentine's Day With K-Y Date Night Packs #Giveaway

Valentine's Day is coming up very soon, which is why K-Y® Brand is excited to be partnered with Moviefone.com to offer an exclusive set of Date Night Packs. This Valentine's Day can be one to remember. You will receive a combination of K-Y® Brand's premium intimacy enhancement products along with a voucher for $10 off movie tickets for two courtesy of Moviefone.com. 

Needless to say, the Date Night Packs are the way to spend Valentine's Day together... inside and outside the bedroom!


I love going to the movies and can't wait to have a Date Night with my husband very soon! We may not get to go for Valentine's Day, but my birthday is next month. Are you ready for your chance to win a K-Y Date Night Pack? 

Under Construction This Week


Hi, everyone! I just wanted to let you know (in case you haven't already noticed) that Children Teaching Mama is getting a bit of a revamp this week! We've updated our "Current Giveaways" widget on the left sidebar so that it is more visible. So, when you want to see what giveaways you can enter, just look over to your left. In addition, we are working on a new navi bar at the top of the page. It now features drop-downs so you can click to email us, see current giveaways and reviews, and also see recent winner announcements.

I'm still working out a few kinks, so be patient. I should have them all fixed within a few days. If you have any other suggestions for the revamp, let me know! I can handle it. :) We are also switching to WordPress within the next 2 months. Hopefully, that will be a smooth transition and you won't even notice.

Oh, one more thing. We now have an About Me page! This is something new that I've wanted to add for a while. I think that's about it. Enjoy your Sunday and keep warm. I sure is cold outside!

10.2.12

Children Teaching Mama is Testing Meaningful Beauty By Cindy Crawford #MomCentral

I am so excited to be writing this post! Children Teaching Mama was picked for a test drive of Cindy Crawford's Meaningful Beauty. This amazing 5-Step system we received will be tested by me, personally, to see how well it works. This anti-aging system works to restore skin from the inside out to make skin healthy and beautiful.

I've tried products in the past for my sun damage and early signs of aging, but none really seem to work well. Some were overly expensive and others were so many steps, I just couldn't keep up with the routine. What is my current skin routine? Well, I don't have anything that I do on a daily basis. I can't even say I clean or moisturize my face each day like I should. I mean, I have good intentions, but it just doesn't always happen. For this reason, my skin is looking quite dull, aged, and dry. This is why it's time to give Meaningful Beauty a try!

When I was younger, I rarely used sunscreen or wore a hat to protect my face. As a result, I can see the sun damage from years of abusing my skin. As a child, it was the last thing I thought about, but now, turning 32 next month, the fine lines are starting to appear and I am becoming more self-conscious about them. It's time to take better care of my skin, to nurture it and do what I can to restore and keep a healthy, youthful glow. No more abuse for my face!

Now, to show you just how well Meaningful Beauty works, I have taken a most embarrassing photo for you. I took the picture after washing all make-up off of my face, so you can see all the acne scars, fine lines, wrinkles and sun damage! No laughing!!

You can see the fine smile lines forming. I used to have one dimple line when smiling and now I have a third starting. Also, there are many lines around my eyes. My skin is always, always dry, too. As you can tell, I need Meaningful Beauty and cannot wait to start using the 5-step treatment tomorrow.

In addition to my kit, I was sent a second kit to give away to a friend. I am choosing my mother-in-law because I know she would love this. She's a nurse and doesn't have much time for herself and I thought this would be a nice way to pamper herself! She's such a sweet lady and would do anything for her family. The grandchildren absolutely adore her, too. She deserves so much more, but I know she'll enjoy this gift. I'll be giving it to her this weekend.


I wrote this review while participating in a test drive campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf Meaningful Beauty and received a 5-step treatment kit to facilitate my review, a second 5-step treatment kit to giveaway, and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.