Mother's Day Gift Guide: Wondershare DVD Slideshow Builder Deluxe Review & Giveaway *5 Winners*

As a mom, I take more and make pictures each year and, now that I finally purchased my Canon Rebel, I can take videos of the kids as well. I have just been storing them on my computer and occasionally posting them online for friends and family to see, but it's just seems like a waste of all those cute pictures and I wanted to do something more creative with them. I was recently contacted to review Wondershare DVD Slideshow Builder Deluxe and found that this is the perfect way to put together a collaboration of videos, photos and music, too!

The first thing I did was easily download the program onto my computer from the Wondershare website. Once it downloaded, I decided to choose standard mode so I could get the hang of the program. Then came the fun part! I started downloading pictures and videos. I love looking through all of the pictures, especially the baby pictures of my boys. The pictures actually downloaded very quickly and I could get them not only from my computer, but straight from my camera.

Click add photos and they easily download onto Wondershare!

Once I added all the photos I wanted included, I went to the next step "Personalize" and began to customize the pictures just the way I wanted them. I was surprised at how many options there were for how the pictures would be displayed on the DVD. There are 450 movie styles and 150 transitions to personalize your video. At first I wasn't sure what I was looking at, bug the program really guides you every step of the way.

When I picked a style, I was instantly shown a preview to make sure it was the one I wanted. This way I was able view many different displays in order to pick the one I liked the most, which ended up being one of the more colorful options, which not only showed the pictures, but included background graphics as well, giving something extra to the video. I also love all the little extras you can add to the pictures, such as clip-art and other effects like bubbles or balloons floating across the screen.

Once I completed the movie, I uploaded my video onto a disc and couldn't wait to show it to everyone! This is when it dawned on me that these videos would make great gifts for grandparents! Next Christmas I know exactly what they are getting and they will love it. Plus, I can upload the video onto social media, such as Facebook and YouTube. Wondershare Slideshow Builder Deluxe really takes your pictures from ordinary to extraordinary.

Check out my first slideshow I made below!

Special Deal For Our Readers

The Wondershare Slideshow Builder Deluxe retails at $59.95, but our reader can receive it for $35.00!!

Giveaway Time!

Thanks to Wondershare, we have an awesome giveaway for our readers!

FIVE Very Lucky Readers Will Win Coupon Codes To Download the Wondershare Slideshow Builder Deluxe for FREE! 

The 2013 Mother's Day Gift Guide Event Has Officially Begun

 

Hi, everyone! It's that time of year again when we come together and celebrate amazing moms around the world! Just like last year, Happenings of the Harper Household and Children Teaching Mama have teamed up for our  Annual Mother's Day Gift Guide Event, which features great gift ideas moms are sure to love!

Click Here to take a look at the gift guide and what to see what is in store. From now until Mother's Day, we will be posting reviews of the items in our guide and most of them also include a giveaway! With 12 items in our guide, one will be posted almost every day up until Mother's Day.

Take a look at the guide and let me know which one you are most excited about having a chance to win.

We wish you all good luck and hope you have a wonderful and happy Mother's Day!!

Brood X $300 Home Depot Gift Card Giveaway

Welcome to the Brood X $300 Home Depot Gift Card Giveaway!

Hosted by Giveaway Promote.

Sponsored by author Michael Phillip Cash.

Are you prepared for the invasion of Brood X? It's here and you need to get ready!

Nothing will stop this 17 year swarm from happening. All humanity can do is hope that they will not stay around long.

Introducing Michael Phillip Cash's new book, Brood X. It is available on Amazon and coming soon to online book stores near you. Now you can win a copy of Brood X and a $300 Home Depot Gift Card or $300 USD via PayPal to help you get prepared for the invasion!

About Brood X:

Seth is laid off from work. His wife Lara just found out they are expecting a baby this summer. Seth plans on documenting the entire pregnancy with his brand new digital camcorder.

During an evening home watching television, the news reports that a swarm of cicada (Brood Ten) are expected to overwhelm the entire Northeast.

Brood Ten is vicious and ready to invade.

During a sweltering summer night, Brood Ten emerges and wreaks havoc with the electric grid, phone and cell service, wi-fi, food and water supply. Civilization as they know it is gone.

Seth and Lara are thrown back to the stone age in their own home with trillions of cicada trying to deposit their eggs and breed.

Will Seth grow up and take responsibility for his family? Or will the devastating bugs destroy humanity?

About Michael Phillip Cash:

Born and raised on Long Island, Michael Phillip Cash has always had a fascination with horror writing and found footage films.
He wanted to incorporate both with his debut novel, Brood X. Earning a degree in English and an MBA, he has worked various jobs before settling into being a full-time author. He currently resides on Long Island with his wife and children.

Making The Family Move As Stress-Free As Possible For Children

Moving home more than once is a fact of life for many of us, and whilst it can be a stressful time with its fair share of worries, there are things to do that can minimize the upheaval. Cutting ties with a much-loved district and heading off for pastures new may seem daunting, but it needn't be. A positive outlook, plenty of planning and organization and realistic expectations all help to make moving home a rewarding experience.

Involve the children

Families on the move successfully go the distance when all members of the team are kept in the loop - and that includes the children. Right from the outset, involve the children as much as possible in planning for the move; this will help dispel any anxieties about their new lives in a new place.  Also encourage the children in sorting through and packing up their belongings, and discuss what their new rooms may look like. Have fun planning together the new layout of their bedroom.

The more time youngsters have to get used to the idea of a new home, the easier they will find it to adapt and accept the change. Most children will be reluctant at first because the idea of leaving all that is familiar can be frightening. But there is an intrepid explorer inside all children and soon they will become curious about their new home. Be prepared with lots of answers to questions about all the fun things and great activities to be enjoyed at the new house!

Remain positive

Remember to put the best possible spin on the situation, without being misleading – keeping any doubts or misgivings about relocating hidden, as children pick up on these and will worry. Accentuate all the great reasons for moving home, such as being closer to other family members, making new friends, having a bigger bedroom or garden, being closer to the shops, playground, beach, etc.

There will be a million and one things to do in the run up to moving day. Involving the children in the planning and packing reinforces the reality of what is happening and helps them adjust to the situation in an involving, non-passive way. Transporting all the contents of a house or apartment is a huge job but significant savings can be achieved by doing things independently, organizing the hire of convenient shipping pods that offer a cost effective and simple way of self-moving belongings either right across the country or just into the next town.

Once safely installed in the new home children can explore and begin to enjoy their new environment. At first children may be a little clingy and it's important to be reassuring and there for them. Quickly establish routines at the new house, getting meal and bed times regular is important as this semblance of normality will be comforting.  Find local clubs for the sports or activities that children enjoy and take them along for a look, but don't expect too much enthusiasm at first, there may well be a little shyness to overcome.

Attitude is everything when moving home. Keeping things happy and upbeat, accentuating the positives and embracing the new - there is no reason why a change of location shouldn't be a fun adventure for all the family.

Time To Potty Train With the Kolcraft Elmo Adventure Potty Chair Review & Giveaway

When it comes to potty training, I have to admit I have not had much luck. I have two boys and, from my experiences, boys are definitely extremely difficult to train. This time around, I am determined to make potty training as painless as possible and fun for Liam, too!

There are certain TV shows Liam could watch all day, including Sesame Street, and when he saw the new Kolcraft Elmo Potty at Target, it immediately expressed interest. Was this his way of telling me he would start using teh potty? How could I not get it out as soon as possible for him to try?

Yes, Liam is a huge Sesame Street fan and, of course, loves Elmo. He already had one Elmo potty, but a part got lost when we moved, so I was very excited to receive this one. With Josiah, we just had a plain potty, which was not fun and did not really intrigue him at all or encourage him to use it. The Kolcraft Elmo Adventure Potty Chair is just the opposite! This adorable potty is perfect for little ones attempting to use the potty, especially for those who are fans of Elmo. Decorated with Elmo and his little fish, Dorothy, in a aquarium themed scene, the potty is cute and fun for little one.

A very proud boy on his new potty!

What I love about this potty is that it looks so much like a real toilet! I think this is such a great potty and will help him eventually transition to using the grown-up potty one day. The seat looks similar to a real toilet seat and there is even a flush handle on the potty. Liam loves to flush the toilet, so this was a huge point of interest for him. He absolutely loves the handle! Plus, it emulates using a real toilet because he can go through all of the motions from using the potty to flushing just as he will with the big potty when he gets older.

Flushing the potty!

How is Liam doing with potty training? Well, this weekend something clicked with Liam. Before, he was dead set against potty training. I've tried everything... besides the Elmo potty, anyways. I got this out of the box, put it in the bathroom and the next morning he was talking about using the potty with his grandma. She asked if he wanted to go sit on the potty and he said yes... and he used the potty for the first time!!! I cannot believe it! I knew he was ready to use the potty and I suppose his new Elmo potty gave him the incentive to do so. With the Kolcraft Elmo Adventure Potty Chair, we've definitely reached a turning point in the training. He shows much more interest in sitting on the potty and, each time we go into the bathroom- be it for brushing teeth or getting in the bathtub, he wants to sit on it. Since using the potty on Saturday, he has continued to do so several times a day. I'm such a proud Mama and I know he is super proud, too. That's why he is smiling in the pictures I took of him on the potty.

Now that you've heard all about the new Kolcraft Elmo Adventure Potty Chair, how about a giveaway?

Giveaway Time

One Lucky Children Teaching Mama Reader Will Receive Their Very Own Kolcraft Elmo Adventure Potty Chair!

Let's Do Our Part To End Bullying Today & $20 Amazon Gift Code Giveaway

Looking back to when I was in middle school, there was always that one person who was mean to the younger kids and took advantage of their size. This bullying happened to us on a daily basis on our bus ride home from school. The bully was a high school student and he never let an opportunity pass to say something rude, push around the little ones or just make them feel horrible. The time came when he decided to bully me and, luckily, I knew how to stand up for myself. Needless to say, he didn't bother me anymore.

Unfortunately, many children do now know what to do when being bullied. My son, Josiah, gets his feelings hurt so easily and tries to make everyone happy. This is why I have worried about this happening to him once he begins school next year. The best way to approach the subject of bullying is to talk with your children, be honest and teach them how to prevent bullying.

Bullying is such an important subject to explain to children and something we, as parents, must actively work to end this behavior between children. You can do your part today by signing the TakePart Pledge below:

You can stand up and make a difference today, so please take a moment to sign the pledge. This could help so many children and also help prevent bullying.

Ready For A Giveaway?

One Lucky Reader Will Win A $20 Amazon Gift Code to redeem at Amazon.com! 

$100 Flash Cash Giveaway Event

$100 Flash Cash Giveaway!

Organized by: Mom to Bed by 8

One lucky reader will receive their choice of $100 via paypal or a $100 Amazon Gift Card!

Giveaway ends April 25th at at 8pm eastern, open to US residents only, ages 18+. To enter please use the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

Crayola Is Celebrating Their 110th Birthday! Come Celebrate With Them!

To celebrate their 110th birthday, the 8 original crayons are throwing a birthday bash at the new fun-omenal Crayola Experience, the world's only interactive Crayola family attraction. Right now, they're out on a colorful adventure to spread the news, and you're invited to join the fun!

How can you join in on the fun? You can FOLLOW the crayons on their adventure, LEARN more about each color and enter to WIN a trip for 4 to celebrate their birthday and the Grand Opening of the all new Crayola Experience this coming May, 2013! Visit the Crayola Facebook page and click "enter now" for your chance to be first in line when the Crayola Experience reopens. The new Crayola Experience features four floors of new interactive exhibits and one-of-a-kind attractions that will bring the magic of color and your child's creativity to life! The winner will be among the first to experience the fun, along with a three- night, all-expenses paid stay. It's an experience your kids will never forget - and neither will you! Disclosure: Crayola provided the information above and will provide me with a box of the limited edition 110th birthday pack!

Keurig B60 Single-Cup Home Brewing System Giveaway from Massdrop

Children Teaching Mama is excited to join Adventures of 8 and Blog with Mom in a new Advertise with Bloggers Event!

One lucky reader will WIN a Keurig from our friends at Massdrop, the newest way to buy online and save money!

Let me tell you a bit about Massdrop and how you can use this new site to save you MONEY!!! This is unlike any site I have seen before, as it works off of 'group buys' to offer the lowest price and YOU can vote for items you would like to have brought to Massdrop!

Here is how it works - let's say you have always wanted a Keurig B60 Single-Cup Home-Brewing System, but didn't want to pay the high department store price, nor did you want to purchase a refurbished one. What you would do is VOTE to bring the Keurig B60 Single-Cup Home-Brewing System to Massdrop, then once the poll option gets at least 200 votes, they negotiate bulk pricing with the supplier and pass them on to the Massdrop community.

This is where it gets really cool; THE MORE PEOPLE THAT PURCHASE the product, the lower the price!!!

Basically, the sale goes on for seven days, it starts at a certain price and as more people purchase the item the lower the price goes, with up to 3 price drops unlocking until the lowest price available is offered... and in the end you will only be billed for the lowest price; cool, right? The funny thing is that when the community worked together for their first Keurig B60 group-buy, they cleared out all of North American inventory in just a few days.

Oh and a really neat thing is that if you don't see a product that you want, as a community member, you can create a product poll for anything from coffee makers cards to homebrew beer kits.

Go sign up for Massdrop now to see how awesome this site is, then come enter to win a BRAND NEW Keurig B60 Single-Cup Home-Brewing System!

PRIZE DETAILS: Step into the world of single serve coffee with Keurig's Special Edition gourmet brewing system. With the touch of a button you can enjoy the perfect cup of coffee, tea, hot cocoa or iced beverage with the quality and convenience of Keurig's patented K-Cups. Forget the mess that accompanies typical coffee making and start brewing with the revolutionary Keurig B60. The B60 combines both ease and elegance, with its chrome accents and backlit LCD display. This Special Edition 1500 watt brewing system allows you to program water temperature, set the digital clock and utilize its energy-saving Auto On/Off modes. Its 48-ounce removable water reservoir holds up to eight cups and the removable drip tray allows for easy cleaning. With three different brew size options (6 oz., 8 oz. and 10 oz.), and over 200 K-Cup varieties, you can easily find a brew that fits you. PRODUCT FEATURES:

• 1500-watt single-cup brewing system for gourmet coffee, tea, or cocoa
• Uses patented K-Cups; no messy grinding or clean up
• Removable 48-ounce water reservoir; removable drip tray
• 3 brew-size options; 2-hour automatic shut-off; descale indicator

Giveaway Details:

Event Dates: April 24th through Midnight May 14th Giveaway Rules:

• All mandatory entries must be submitted in the entry form below. All other entries are optional for more chances to win this beautiful
• All entrants must be 18 years or older
• This Giveaway is opened WORLDWIDE!
• See full disclosures in the entry form

⇩⇩⇩⇩Enter Giveaway Here⇩⇩⇩⇩

Bellini Fabulous Finds Mother's Day $150 Gift Card Giveaway

Welcome to the Bellini Fabuous Finds Mother's Day Giveaway!

Bellini Fabulous Finds offers really unique finds each month! If you are looking for the perfect unique gift for a wonderful mom this Mother's Day Bellini Fabulous Finds has done all the work of searching for you. Each month their awesome team works hard to search all over to find the the hottest new mom and baby items! If if you see what you want make sure to grab it before all new finds are featured!

From unique decor items to the perfect baby gifts, you can find it at Bellini's Fabulous Finds.

One lucky winner will receive a $150 Gift Code to Bellini's Fabulous Finds !!

Organized by: Mom Powered Media

Hosted by: Baby Costcutters, Mom to Bed By 8, Powered by Mom, Giveaway Booster, Frugality For Less, and Mommy May We

Giveaway ends May 7th at 11:59pm, open to US residents, ages 18+. To enter please use the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

Pink Blush Maternity Review & $25 Gift Card Giveaway

When I was pregnant with A I bought 1 pair of maternity pants and 2 maternity sweaters. That was it for maternity clothes. I did buy one dress for a friend's wedding during that time, too, but that was it. I didn't really need anything else, my jeans still fit fairly well and I could also wear leggings. I felt great! I felt like I looked great and if I wanted to wear leggings and one of the Mr.'s old shirts I would still look great.

Well this time around, I haven't felt all that cute. My clothes still fit and I could wear what I wore while pregnant with A, but things just aren't shaped the same anymore. So I started looking into getting maternity clothing. Thank goodness for Pink Blush Maternity.

If you are like me you might be scared by the thought of buying maternity clothes. I know I hear people complain that they are hard to find, especially trendy maternity clothes. Well, Pink Blush Maternity changed my mind. If you haven't been to their site, go now. You'll fall in love. I know I sure did!

While wandering their site I was looking for something that I don't usually wear. Something different than the stuff in my closet. Well there ya have it: The Ivory Bird Print Belted Top. Not something you'd normally see me in, but I love it. It's so easy to move in. It was long enough (for now) to wear with black leggings & flats. I'm sure as my belly grows I'll be wearing it with pants! My favorite detail was the belt. I loved the pop of color it gave to the outfit, now if only I had bought some matching jewelry to wear! The day I wore it, I got quite a few compliments! Definitely makes a pregnant girl feel good! My pregnant sister, has been eyeing it in my closet, I'm still waiting for the day its not there.

Giveaway Time

So, as you can see, I am now a huge Pink Blush Maternity fan! This is why I am so excited to offer this awesome giveaway! 

One Lucky Children Teaching Mama Reader Will Receive a $25 Gift Code to use at Pink Blush Maternity online store. This giveaway is open to US residents, 18+ and will end on Monday, May 20th at 11:59pm. Good Luck!!

Entry-Form

Back To The Roots Home Mushroom Kit Review & Giveaway

We are homeschooling this year and my son gets very excited when we have science class and also study about growing plants. This is why I was so excited to hear from Back To The Roots! They have the coolest At-Home Mushroom Kit that yields an amazing amount of oyster mushrooms and is so easy to do!

With this mushroom kit, there is no need to even step outside, so, even in the middle of winter, you can grow mushrooms! The kit also comes with a small water sprayer, so once you have the kit, you are really ready to grow mushrooms. All you need in addition is the water!

We couldn't wait to give this kit a try, so Josiah got the kit out and we followed the directions. First we cut an X on one side of the bag of mixture and soaked it overnight in water. The next day, we put the bag back in the box with the X side facing outward and placed it in by the window in our kitchen. After that, all we had to do was spray it two times a day! So easy, right?

Every day we sprayed the mushrooms and looked to see if we noticed anything. After about 3 days, we noticed something starting to pop up and 1 day later, here is what they looked like:

Here is what they looked like the next day:

They continued to grow and grow until they looked exactly like how pictured on the website:

Unfortunately, something happened to all of my pictures, and of course we ate them all, so there are none left. Let me just say that they were absolutely delicious. Knowing that we made them together made them that much better. 

The great thing about the Grow Mushrooms kit is that it can be used more than once! We can harvest mushrooms from the other side of the pouch now that we've done used this side. Two crops are guaranteed, but you may get three or more. Isn't that just awesome?

We had such a great time with this one. It went right along with our science lessons, too, so it was not only fun, but educational. Josiah is already asking if we can get another kit! 

So, now that you've read all about the Back To The Roots Home Mushroom Kit, you can purchase one for only $19.95. 

What about a giveaway?

Thanks to Back To The Roots, One Lucky Children Teaching mama Reader Will Win Their Very Own Mushroom Kit!  Just use the GiveawayTools form below to enter! Good Luck!

Celebrate Earth Week with a Share & Tell Party with Yerdle and NBCUniversal #ShareandTell

Monday is Earth Day and we've been celebrating all month long with some great reviews and giveaways. We want to continue this celebration by telling you about NBC's Share and Tell! This Earth Week, NBCUniversal is partnering with the sharing site yerdle to help you minimize your impact on the planet by sharing your stuff! We absolutely love this idea!

What the heck is Yerdle?
Yerdle is the new mission-driven California Benefit corporation that’s out to help people share with their friends rather than buying things new. On yerdle, friends post items they're willing to give away or loan, search for items they're looking to get, and nab the things they want. Simple. 

We threw a Share & Tell Party last year at a friend's house and had so much fun. Plus, we all came home with some new-to-us clothes! Okay, here is how it works:
1. Join or host a Share & Tell Party (by clicking the "Join the Party button in the app below)!
2. Post your stuff to share with friends. Discover other items that are up for grabs, too!
3. Tell the story of your sharing experiences on your favorite social media site with hashtag #ShareandTell

Did you know 71 pounds of waste are generated during the manufacturing of products? Why not share items and cut down on this amount of waste? This is why I think the idea of a Share & Tell Party is great! I love that we can do something like this online and share with friends across the country. You invite friends to come, but they can come anytime to check everything out. Or you can do it at your own house like we did. Either way, it's sure to be great fun for all!

So, ever wonder just how Green you are? I know I did, so I took the quiz found in the widget below. You can also find some other information within the widget, including ways to start sharing with others and creating healthier, happier families and communities. In addition, you can read and also add sharing stories!  My results say I am a Sensational Sharer. I have to admit I was quite surprised and happy with that.

Take the quiz below, check out the great eco-friendly info and sign up to start sharing with friends via yerdle! We are going to make an account right now.

Disclosure: I was provided a eco-friendly gift pack for posting the Share & Tell information. All opinions written are my own.

Protecting Your Entire Family Against Identity Theft with Identity Guard

There are so many reasons I love the Spring season! The weather is warmer, the flowers start to bloom and we get our tax returns! However, there are other things we must deal with, too, like all of the tax forms we have to submit and, of course, spring cleaning. Eck! I never look forward to cleaning, but I get my cleaning gloves on and clean the house from top to bottom each April. Some things can simply be thrown away while others must be handled more carefully, such as important papers. We have some great ideas for properly disposing of these items!

Since my husband started his business this year, we've had even more paperwork that usual. To avoid Identity Theft, we cannot get rid of our old paperwork like the other spring cleaning trash. Instead, we've shredded the important paperwork to make sure it does not get into someone else's hands. That includes tax forms, business information and anything that is personal.

I'm not sure if you are like us, but somehow we've ended up with more magazine subscriptions that I ever thought possible. As I was gathering all the trash during my big cleaning day, I realized that magazines have our names and address printed on them. Would I really want someone else finding this at the dump? Not really. This is why I keep a black sharpie handy and can black out all the information.

In addition to our magazines and my husband's business papers, we've also had to fill out many forms for my son this year. Since he was accepted into Make A Wish and other programs for his Neurofibromatosis, We've had to submit information we normally wouldn't, such as his social security number. To guard against Child Identity Theft, we have to get rid of these papers properly, too. That means deleting all files from the computer as well as shredding any papers we still have at home. All other important papers we need to keep are always stored in a lock box for safe keeping.

We have been working with Identity Guard® for the past few months to share information with our readers about Identity Theft and how to protect yourself against it. Not only can you protect yourself, but, with  Identity Guard® kID Sure®, you can easily protect your children as well. Yes, children are also at risk for ID theft. As the world becomes more mobile and internet based, this opens up so many ways for thieves to access personal information you would not willingly want them to have.

Did you know that Identity Guard® has been protecting others against Identity Theft for over a decade now? They have an amazing program with solid technological solutions that very quickly alert you if any type of activity with your personal information should arise. The latest innovation is kID Sure®, making it possible to now protect the entire family from identity theft. Even when you aren't online, Identity Theft continues to work and keep your family's information safe. Just knowing that the program is always there to keep our personal information safe makes me feel more at easy when working online each day.

Disclosure: This service was provided to me for review at no charge. In addition I received monetary compensation. All opinions are my own.

Hilton HHonors Supports Teachers With The Teacher Treks Travel Grant Contest

Looking back at my middle school experience, I was just a growing girl, uncertain of myself and my abilities. Going into the 6th grade, we entered a new school with new teachers, which was both exciting and frightening. Well, frightening until I walked into Mrs. Oxford's English class. She was the type of teacher who cared for her students and wanted to see them not only succeed, but to better themselves and grow as a person. I never have been a great writer, but do enjoy writing, which Mrs. Oxford sensed immediately. From that moment on, she helped me with my stories and poems, telling me how great they were. It gave me confidence not only as a writer, but helped me learn something about myself.

Until that moment, I'd never had a teacher who cared for her students and really wanted to make such a difference. At 32 years old, I still think about her and the profound effect she had on me. I was such an awkward little tomgirl who was shy, but by the end of the year, I had a deeper love of literature and writing, which has stuck with me ever since.

Hilton HHonors wants to recognize amazing teachers like Mrs. Oxford with the Hilton HHonors Teacher Treks Travel Grant Competition! Hilton HHonors is the loyalty program for Hilton Worldwide's hotel brands and has now announced the 30 finalists of its Teacher Treks Travel Grand Competition. Which means that from now until April 30th, 2013, they need your help narrowing down these awesome teachers to 15 winners!

It will be a tough decision, so take a look at all of the great entries and make your votes. The 15 winning teachers will be provided travel and experience related to the subject they teach, which helps enrich their curriculum and further inspire students. What better way than experiencing the world first-hand!

The finalists are from several states, including North Carolina, New Mexico, Texas, Illinois and Michigan. Take a look and see if there are any finalists from your home state
.
Need another reason to go and vote? Each vote you make counts as an entry for a $250 Hilton HHonors Gift Card! So, not only can you help someone win, but you have a chance to win, too! There will be 10 winners for the $250 Hilton HHonors Gift Card, so go vote.

The 15 top winners will receive a $6,000 travel grant to the destination of their choice. In addition, the teacher's school will receive a $2,500 grant for cultural activities and enhancements. That's not all, though. The 15 runners-up will also receive a $2,500 grand for their school and one winner will receive a cultural excursion for their classroom valued at $1500.

Hilton HHonors knows the power of travel, which brings people together and helps us understand different cultures and countries. As someone who has traveled often, I can say that this will be an amazing experience for the winners and something that will change them for the rest of their lives. I love that they will be able to not only get to go on such a wonderful trip, but will also be able to share their experiences with students from that moment forward. This can inspire and encourage students to also travel, learn and experience the world.

Click here to also sign up for the Hilton HHonors program! We've been a member for over a year now and have gotten some great discounts in our weekly newsletter.

Disclosure: This post was written in conjunction with Hilton HHonors and Global Influence. I was paid for this post, though all opinions provided are my own.

Get Your License To Spill With Mohawk Flooring #LicenseToSpill #CBias

Last week I was super excited to receive an invitation to not only attend the Dogwood Festival in Atlanta, Georgia, but to also hang out with the Mohawk Flooring gang at their booth! We have worked with Mohawk in the past on reviews and giveaways, so I was familiar with the brand. Mohawk is one of the world's largest flooring manufacturer and sells its beautiful flooring products in a variety of retailers, including Home Depot (where we've purchase a Mohawk rug in the past) and Kohl's!

My son Josiah and I headed to Atlanta and couldn't wait to get there. As soon as we walked in the front gates, we spotted the Mohawk Flooring License To Spill Atlanta Tour Booth area complete with some fun and amazing things. I noticed Josiah's eyes get bigger as we neared the first table full of SmallCakes Cupcakery cupcakes. They had the most delicious peach and cinnamon peach cupcakes. What a perfect choice for all of us Georgia Peaches!

When we arrived, Audra Lowe was there filming a spot with Mohawk Flooring! For those of you who do not know the name, Audra is the co-host of nationally syndicated The Better Show. True to her demeanor on tv, she was so nice and down to earth. I even ran into her later and she gave me directions back to another part of the park!

I was introduced to several other bloggers and then we moved on to the really interesting part of the License To Spill Tour! Mohawk Flooring was introducing their SmartStrand carpeting.

About SmartStrand
This awesome material is permanent stain AND soil resist in a way that never wears off or gets old. Most other carpets have a stain resistant treatment applied to the top of the fabric, which actually wears off after time. We learned this from carpeting we purchased for my mom's house. With SmartStrand, as long as you have the carpet in your home, it will have stain protection because it is much different than other carpets, having the stain protection actually built into the carpet fiber!

Knowing this information, we were given License to Spill! Actually, Josiah was in charge and allowed to make a mess for once! He was asked to spray a variety of staining liquids onto a piece of carpet... and boy did he! The entire piece of carpet was covered in red wine and juice stains. You can see it here:

All we had to do was clean with a spray bottle of water and then wipe dry with a cloth before the carpeting looked like new again. How amazing is that?

I swear it is like magic. For those of us with kids, this would be the perfect carpeting for our homes, right? I don't know how many times the kids have spilled drinks or foods on the floor. Being able to easily clean up the mess would be wonderful!

As you can see, SmartStrand is so easy to clean. This means you don't have to spend a bundle of money on those expensive carpet cleaners any more. No more harsh chemicals are needed either! All you need is a cloth, some warm water, maybe some mild detergent or dish soap. Then, you are ready to clean. We saw this amazing carpeting get rid of stains in less than a minute. This is why the SmartStrand carpet is rated #1 in consumer satisfaction.

We had such a wonderful time meeting other Atlanta area bloggers and learning about SmartStrand carpet. Now I know what carpeting we are going to look at when we get our new house! My son is already asking when we can go back to the Dogwood Festival, so I know we'll definitely go back next year. You can check out our Twitter account at @Children Teach to see the tweets we sent throughout the day and you can also follow Mohawk Flooring on Twitter, too! Also, be sure to go to the Mohawk Flooring website for your chance to win a 6'x9' SmartStrand Silk bound carpet rug. (This material is unbelievably soft! We got to feel it today and loved it!)

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias®  and Mohawk Flooring #cbias #SocialFabric #licensetospill

Shake Up Your Wake Up with Silk Fruit & Protein #SilkFruit @LoveMySilk

There was a time in my life when I did not pay close attention to what I ate and, as I got older, I could tell a decline in my energy and health. After having children, my body and my life changed, so I had to adjust to the change and knew it was time to start eating healthier. The first step to altering my eating habits was to eat a healthy breakfast. Starting the morning out right really does set the tone for the rest of the day. Thanks to SocialMoms and Silk, I am participating in a sponsored blogging program to tell you about my new breakfast routine!

I had the same morning routine for years and years. You know, the glass of juice, cup of coffee and a bowl of oatmeal or cereal routine. After a while this really got monotonous and, when you have kids, they definitely let you know when they are ready for a change. This is why we decided to really shake things up by incorporating Silk Fruit & Protein into our morning routine. We are huge Silk fans, so when this came out, we had to give it a try.

What makes Silk Fruit & Protein so special? It contains a great source of protein, something that other juices do not provide. It is an excellent source of Calcium, Vitamin D and Vitamin C! In fact, it contains a full day's supply of vitamin C! Plus, it comes in three delicious flavors, including Mixed Berry, Mango Peach and Strawberry Banana. We've purchased Silk Soy Milk for years because my husband and I are lactose intolerant. Just like with their other products, the Silk Fruit & Protein is lactose, dairy, gluten, casein, egg and MSG-Free! In addition, it contains no cholesterol, saturated fat, artificial coloring or flavors, so you know what you are drinking is not only delicious, but healthy for your body!

So, back to our morning routine... My favorite of the Silk Fruit & Protein options is definitely the Mango Peach. I love mango and this one has a great flavor with a hint of peach that is not overwhelming. I love it so much that I even made a smoothie from it and talk about delicious! The boys LOVE the Mango Peach smoothie, so it has been high on the breakfast request list lately. In fact, they like drinking it at snack time, too.

Celebrate Earth Day With A Conscious Box Subscription - 3-Month Subscription Giveaway

I get so excited when I find other companies with eco-conscious values. When I received an email from Conscious Box, I had to check them out immediately. This awesome company is all about promoting eco-friendly products at great prices.

What is a Conscious Box? It's a monthly subscription service that delivers the purest, most natural products on the planet, right to your doorstep! You can discover new products each month that are non-toxic, earth-friendly and sustainable. Plus, you can also receive discounts on those products for future purchases.

Here are some of the awesome types of products you can expect to find in your Conscious Box:

It is seriously packed full of mother-nature goodness! I cannot wait to start receiving my subscription... which reminds me, we have an awesome code for our readers. Want to try out a Conscious Box for FREE? Yes, I wrote FREE. We have a secret code to share with you. Use: SECRETCODE at checkout and you will only be required to pay about $12 for shipping! This way you can check it out for yourself, become addicted and then subscribe to receive goodies every month if you wish. OR, use this code: LOVELIFE to receive 50% off any package! Click here to get started.

Ready for a giveaway?

Conscious Box is giving away a 3-Month Subscription to Conscious Box to one lucky Children Teaching Mama Reader!!! That is a $60 value!

Celebrating Aveeno for Earth Month & Pure Renewal Collection Gift Package Giveaway

 I am a huge AVEENO fan and have used their products for many years. I am so excited to be an AVEENO Ambassador because that means I get to share with you many of their awesome products and host some amazing giveaways!

To celebrate Earth Month, we wanted to highlight the PURE RENEWAL Hair Care Collection! Created by AVEENO scientists with the help of eco-friendly celebrity stylist, Patrick Melville, this awesome collection allows hair to be cleansed without sulfates, parabens or synthetic dyes that can further damage hair. AVEENO wanted to provide consumers with hair care products that are non-abrasive and clean hair in a way other sulfate-free products fail to do.

How is the AVEENO PURE RENEWAL Hair Care Collection eco-friendly? Well, the bottles are comprised of 48% pre-consumer recycled materials. Plus, the formula is 90% renewable and produced using a low-energy, solvent-free process that creates zero waste. In addition, the formula is starch-based, actually derived from potatoes, which means a high performing shampoo for consumers without releasing pollution of chemicals into the environment.

How about a celebration giveaway?

Thanks to Aveeno, Children Teaching Mama Readers Have A Chance To Win A Great AVEENO PURE RENEWALS Gift Package, which includes:

• AVEENO® PURE RENEWAL™ Shampoo – naturally-derived cleansers carefully lift away impurities and rebalance hair’s optimal moisture
• AVEENO® PURE RENEWAL™ Conditioner – conditions and softens without weighing hair down, for more manageable hair
• AVEENO® PURE RENEWAL™ Dry Shampoo – refreshes hair for a clean, healthy look between washes
• The Tree Planting Kit pictured below!

Just use the Rafflecopter form below to enter! This giveaway is open to US Residents, 18+ years and ends on Monday, May 13th at 11:59pm. Good Luck!

A Healthier Mama With Provella Probiotics & 30-Day Supply Giveaway *5 Winners*

A few years ago, I came down with the flu while my husband was at work. It was the worst day of my life. Since then, I've tried to keep my body healthier, in shape and feeling good. There isn't just one way to become healthy. You have to find what works for you. For myself, exercise is a must each day. Yes, as a stay at home mom, it would be easy to lay around on the couch all day with the kids watching tv, but I don't want to become a couch potato and I certainly don't want that happening to my children. Each day we go outside for at least one hour. Although I don't jog or run, just playing with the kids is a great workout. The weather has been great for this lately, so we've been outside even more than usual.

Another important factor in my health is diet. Eating right changes the way I feel, from the energy I have to the way my stomach digests food. Before I had children, I never had any stomach issues, but now things are unfortunately much different. Shortly after having Liam, I noticed my stomach was hurting much more often, I became constipated more often and just didn't feel very well. I spent more time trying to sit still so my tummy wouldn't hurt, which made me feel even less healthy. I knew something had to change, but I had no idea what to do. Then, a friend suggested probiotics and this changed everything!

We all know there are good and bad bacteria in our bodies, but did you know they can severely disrupt your system's performance if unbalanced? Most noticeably, it can upset your digestive and feminine health. Probiotics aren't drugs or vitamins. In fact, they contain live microorganisms that work within your body to restore the balance of good and bad bacteria in our bodies. There are many factors that can cause an imbalance, including diet, hormonal fluctuations, sickness and more.
The probiotic I am trying right now is Provella, a probiotic specifically for women. Provella contains 6 bacteria strains, which specifically give support to digestive feminine and immune health. This is something different from other probiotics and I love that there is one specifically for women. Another fact that makes Provella unique is the patented controlled-release technology, which allows the probiotic bacteria to better survive stomach acid, so it can get to the intestines and start working!

I take one each day with or without food and that's it! I don't have take medicines or other drugs to target stomach issues because probiotics do this naturally for me. Having an alternative like this for myself is always preferred because I don't like taking medicines unless completely necessary. I feel healthier, my energy is restored and I can keep up with my kids. There are many benefits to taking probiotics and I, personally, can tell a difference in my digestive health.

Want to give Provella a try? Click Here to print out a $6 coupon for your next purchase of Provella! Provella is available at drugstores around the United States and can also be purchase via Drugstore.com.

Giveaway Time

Now that you've ready a little about probiotics, would you like a chance to try Provella? We are so excited to offer our readers an awesome giveaway:

FIVE Children Teaching Mama Readers Will Win A 30-Day Supply of Provella!

Just use the GiveawayTools form below to enter. This giveaway is open to continental US readers 18+ years of age and will end on Tuesday, April 23rd at 11:59pm. Be sure to come back daily for extra entry options. Good Luck!

State Farm Helps Assist Neighborhoods & So Can You! Vote Today!

Have you ever wished you could give something back to your community or help improve it in some way? When I was younger, our Girl Scout Troop helped build a nature trail at our park with the Boy Scouts and, today, that trail is still used and loved by the community. This would not have been possible without help from other companies and their donations. Well, State Farm is doing their part to give back to communities, too, and we just had to tell our readers about this wonderful cause.

The State Farm Neighborhood Assist Program is a yearly chance for State Farm to give back to 40 communities to help make a difference. Yes, 40 winners will receive a $25,000 grant, so they are giving away a total of $1 million!!! Isn't that amazing?

As a mom who tries to do our part for our small community, I know $25,000 can go a very long way! Just imagine a community garden or a program for our children. I think Canton, where I live, could definitely benefit from a community garden where our children can learn all about organic gardening. They could learn about each of the plants, their nutritional value as well as how to grow a successful garden. Something else I think our community needs is a program or resource for children with Neurofibromatosis. There is nothing like that around here and, with so many children being diagnosed, this would be a wonderful resource for parents and children that educates and shows them support. I think our children are our future, so programs for children are what most interest me.

Help Communities Win By Voting!
You Can Help State Farm choose the winners!! That's right! The top 200 submissions were announced on April 4th, so from now until Just go to the State Farm Facebook app to read all about the communities who have submitted their ideas to win the $25,000 grants. You get 10 votes each day, so come back each day to cast votes. The hardest part is deciding who to give votes to each day. All of the causes are worthy of votes!

What improvements or betterments would you like to see in your own community? Check out this video of one of the winners from the 2012!

Please take a moment each day for the next 5 days to vote and support communities nationwide! Give them a chance to do something amazing for their residents. Who knows, maybe you will even find your own community and can vote for it!

I wrote this review while participating in a campaign for MomCentral Consulting on behalf of State Farm and I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

April Extreme $400 Cash Giveaway Event

Welcome to the April Extreme Cash Giveaway! Children Teaching Mama has teamed up with some of our favorite blogger friends to give our fabulous readers the chance to win $400 cash! How exciting is that?

The April Extreme Cash Giveaway will run for four weeks giving you plenty of time to complete any entries you choose to do. Remember, all entries are OPTIONAL. There are lots of daily entries for you to take advantage of as well, so don’t forget to bookmark this giveaway and come back everyday for more chances to win!

A huge thanks to our awesome co-hosts who made this giveaway possible: GeminiRed Creations, FreeMakeupandBeautySamples.com, Beauty Brite, Shopaholicmommy.com, My Vegan Gluten-Free Life, Life With Levi, Must Love Coupons, Broward Saves

Just use the Rafflecopter form below to enter! Giveaway is open worldwide and ends May 12th  at 11:59 PM EST. Good luck!