Inspiring Stories From The New CaringBridge Book Hope Conquers All #sponsored

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for CaringBridge. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

Almost three years ago, I was writing a blog post about birthmarks and this is when I noticed something odd about the many cafe au lait spots my son, Liam, had. With about 13 spots at under 2 years of age, all articles online said to go to the doctor immediately for a professional opinion. Of course, I was scared out of my mind. Since then, he has gone through an entire life-changing process to treat two brain tumors cause by Neurofibromatosis. Along the way, he has met some incredible people and some of the most courageous boys and girls I've ever met in my life.

When Liam began his chemo treatments, we were struggling emotionally with everything going on and that was when another family mentioned CaringBridge. I checked it out and was amazed at this inspiring and hopefully website. CaringBridge is a nonprofit website that brings families together that are struggling with illnesses and tragedies. You can read memoirs and entries relaying everything a family has gone through and, in the process, I found several others who were just like Liam. Some were successfully treated and others had more difficulty, but one thing was certain... there was a complete support system readily available for us online at anytime.

The founder of CaringBridge, Sona Mehring, has created a new book, Hope Conquers All, which contains awe-inspiring personal journeys sharing the importance of CaringBridge and the hope it brings to over 44 million families. We all have moments when we need to be uplifted with affirmation and these stories cover a wide variety of tales from all ages, including young children with cancer like Liam to adults awaiting transplants. Reading the accounts of these brave families and individuals really makes your heart grow along with hope that everything will be okay.

Before Liam's experiences, I have to admit I took life for granted and have no learned that every day is a blessing. We try to live each day to the fullest and remain positive about the future. Another thing I have learned that not only should we have hope, but we should also be encouraged to share support with others. This is what CaringBridge is all about, as well Hope Conquers All. So, take a moment to check out the new book, which would make for a great read and a present for a loved one. This will be a perfect present for my mom's birthday! Plus, all of the author proceeds will go directly to CaringBridge, so you would also be supporting a wonderful cause, a cause that has helped many individuals, Liam included.

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for CaringBridge. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

Kohl's Has All Your Back To School Needs That Kids Will Love #sponsored

I am participating in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Kohl’s.   I received a promotional item to facilitate my review.

A few weeks ago, we met Josiah's 1st grade teachers for the during open house and were ready to get into school mode. This means many things for our family, including buying new clothes for the school year. Since we are on a budget, I shop for great deals, but I also want quality clothes that will stand the test of time. That's why I love shopping at Kohl's! They have everything we need not only for Josiah, but for my younger son as well as my husband and myself. After buying Josiah some new clothes, we can head right over to the shoe department for new socks and shoes. They have all the popular brands, so Josiah is always excited to check them out.

What excites me the most is using Kohl's Cash coupons! Yes, I said the magic word: COUPONS! When you purchase $50 worth of items at Kohl's (in-store or online), you automatically receive $10 in Kohl's Cash to use on your next purchase. Plus, if you have a Kohl's charge card like we do, you can save even more. They often send some great coupons for percentages off your purchase. These can be used during specific dates and you can still get Kohl's Cash.

Josiah on his first day of school with his new backpack and shirt from Kohl's!

Whenever we go, I always have my Kohl's Cash and coupon in hand. Once I even had a 30% off coupon and couldn't wait to see how much I would save. This year Josiah knew he would need a backpack for school and when he saw a Skylanders backpack at Kohl's, he had to have it! I purchased all of Josiah's back to school clothes and his backpack for a little over $100 and saved close to $100. Saving so much money is an incredible feeling! Not to mention, my husband can't complain about me shopping in the future since I have more Kohl's Cash to save even more money. There are always clearance racks around the store, so I always check those out first and have even bought off-season clothes before for less than $2 a piece. I just buy one size up for the kids and hang them in the closet until the next year. When clothes are priced so low, I have to buy them!

The weather was cooler today, so Josiah wore his new fall attire from Kohl's!

Not only can you find great deals and receive Kohl's Cash for your purchases in-store! You can also get both online at Kohls.com, too! I've found some great deals there as well and they often have items that aren't available in my local store. I love being able to see other outfit selections!

I am participating in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Kohl’s.   I received a promotional item to facilitate my review.

Umi Shoes August Deal of The Month

We love our Umi Shoes and love sharing with you all of the great deals. Here is the deal of the month for August, which is perfect timing for back to school and can save you money when buying all of the new clothing for kiddos.

The adorable Ravern Shoes are 40% off this month, so they are only $29.50!!! 

While on the website, be sure to look at all the other cute shoes for babies, toddlers, boys and girls. My boys love their Umi shoes! Have fun shopping for back to school gear. 

Back To School With Master Lock #sponsored

Disclosure: This post was written for Master Lock in conjunction with Resourceful Mommy Media. Compensation was provided for the post, though all written opinions are my own. 

School just started in our county this week and it has been quite an adjustment! A parents worries are never over, especially while children are at school. Looking back to when I was in school, I remember struggling with our lock combinations so much that we would just leave our lockers open. Bad idea, I know, because this lead to items being stolen. We didn't have as many expensive electronics back then, but now kids have iPods, laptops, tablets, phones and more. In fact, the average college student spends about $281 on their back to school electronics! I even had my $400 bicycle stolen when I was in college. I always used Master Lock when I was in school and throughout college, too, so I never thought of using any other brand when my son started going to school. Did you know Master Lock has been around since 1921?

I certainly don't want my son's items stolen, so I have been looking at the Master Lock products that are perfect for back to school. In particular, the Master Lock 1500eDBX dialSpeed caught my eye, It's different from other locks in that it is actually electronic and, with so many amazing electronics out there, this lock is perfect for students and something they would love!

Yes, it looks cool and it is pretty awesome, too. Unlike other locks, you can encode several different personalized combinations for multiple users (4 in all), which is something I love about its features. It does take batteries, but comes installed with one that will last 5 years. The Boron carbide shackle is also very strong, making it more resistant to being cut. This lock is for indoor use and would be perfect for back to school! Now I can rest assured that my son's belongings will remain safe inside his locker, so I have one less thing to worry about each day.

In addition to the Master Lock dialSpeed lock we wrote about, there are many other great Back To School products they offer to keep items safe for students, including the SafeSpace Portable Safe (pictured below), which would be perfect in a dorm room so they can stash money and other important items, and the SafeSpace Laptop Computer Lock, keeping computers safely locked when students are not around. Be sure to check out the Master Lock website for all the other great back to school products!

Win With The Master Lock Master Campus Challenge

From July 15th until September 8th Master Lock is hosting a fun interactive online game, which can be accessed on the Master Lock Facebook page or on MasterCampusChallenge.com where you will have the change to win many gift cards, video games, electronics and Master Lock products. How? Each week brings a new game challenge, which features a different animated lock on a unique campus locations. Players are given hints during the game and can use hints given on the Master Lock Facebook page to help crack the code! There will be daily prizes AND for each week you play the game, you can be entered to win the weekly sweepstakes and earn more points for the grand prize, a digital SLR camera! There are many ways to earn points, including taking a creative picture or video of a Master Lock product, uploading it to Instagram or Twitter to show Master Lock how they can master any security challenge. Be sure to use the #MasterCampusChallenge hashtag when doing this.

Twitter Party Alert

Please join us for the Master Lock Twitter Party on August 6th at 8pm EST! Hosted by @ResourcefulMom, this will be such a fun party and we hope to see you there. Be sure to RSVP before the event to qualify for prizes!

Disclosure: This post was written for Master Lock in conjunction with Resourceful Mommy Media. Compensation was provided for the post, though all written opinions are my own. 

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One Direction: This Is Us Special Mother-Daughter Screening Event In Atlanta, Georgia GIVEAWAY

My kids absolutely love One Direction, so when I heard about the new movie coming out, I knew she'd have to see it. We were so excited to be invited by TriStar to a special One Direction: THIS IS US Mother-Daughter Movie Preview Party!! The movie does not officially open to the public until August 30th. Plus, we get to offer a giveaway to our Georgia readers!

Here is a little more about the event:

One Direction: THIS IS US Mother-Dayghter Movie Preview Party

When: Saturday, August 10th

Time: The party begins at 10AM and the movie begins at 11AM

Location: AMC Sugarloaf Mills in Lawrenceville, Georgia

What: A special event for mothers and daughters to watch the new One Direction movie. PLUS, there will be fun prizes, gift bags, a red carpet photo booth and more! Seats are first come, first serve, so winners want to get there early for all the fun opportunities and good seats.

Ready For A Giveaway?

There will be two winners and both will win a code good for 4 ticket downloads! Bring your tickets to the event and you are in! 

This giveaway is open to US residents and ends on Tuesday, August 6th at 11:59pm. Please register only if you can come. Winners will contacted via email and given 24 hours to respond. Otherwise, another winner will be chosen. Good Luck!!

Enter The "Win $5,000 A Week Forever" Sweepstakes From Publishers Clearing House

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting sponsored by Publishers Clearing House. I received a product sample and promotional item as a thank you for participating.
As a child, I remember my mom and grandmother getting so excited when mail from Publishers Clearing House would arrive in our mailbox. The thought of Ed McMahon showing up at our door was a dream for my grandma. I remember them talking about it all the time. Now that I am older, I still get excited when I see Publishers Clearing House mentioned. It reminds me of my childhood and, as you all know, I love sweepstakes and giveaways, so this is right up my alley.

Their current sweepstakes is so amazing and I would be so excited to win it! On August 29th, someone will win the "Win $5,000 a Week Forever" sweepstakes. Not only will the winner receive $5,000 a week for their entire life, but they also get to choose someone else to receive $5,000 after that. So, you can really leave a legacy behind to someone.

Of course, I've already started thinking about what I would do with this money if I won. What would you do?

• First I would pay off any outstanding bills... Liam's hospital/doctor bills, credit cards, etc!
• Put a down-payment on an eco-friendly car that gets awesome gas mileage. 
• Go back and get my master's in Library Science! I used to be a librarian at UGA and would love to do this again one day.
• I would start saving for my own children and for their future. My parents did not save any money for my college education and is was tough for me, so I want to have money saved for my own children. I want them to enjoy school without working full-time!
• Lastly, I would save for our retirement days. I know we have quite a while before those days arrive, but I would love to have money already saved so we can travel around the world without worrying about money.

Can you imagine having an extra $5,000 a month? That would be absolutely fabulous. As for someone who would inherit the $5,000 a week prize, I'd choose my grandchildren so they, too, can build a savings, invest money and have funds for their own education.

Be sure to check out the sweepstakes, tell your friends about it and enter yourself for this great opportunity to not only win for yourself, but to do something special for someone else. Then, come back and let me know what you would do with the money if you win.

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting sponsored by Publishers Clearing House. I received a product sample and promotional item as a thank you for participating.

Visit Your Local Park this July For National Park and Recreation Month #ParkRecLuv

Did you know July is national Park and Recreation Month? We love our local parks and, since we live up in the mountains, we visit them often for day and weekend trips with the kids. We can go biking, hiking or even just stay at one of the cabins. There are 9 state parks within 50 miles of our house and the one we visit most often is the Amicalola Falls park, which is absolutely beautiful and has an amazing lodge or you can even hike to an inn that is only reachable by foot! This area is perfect for families and makes for such a great day or weekend trip.

We also have several local parks that the kids love and, in fact, Josiah just had his birthday at one nearby. It has a playground and splash pad, so we could cool off afterwards.

We've spent so much time at local parks as a family and have made some wonderful memories together. Looking at all of our pictures has been a great trip down memory lane and I am sure there will be many more in the future. Here is a picture of Liam's first visit to Amicalola Falls at only a few weeks old, all wrapped up in a baby sling as we hiked around trails!

As part of Park and Recreation Month, the National Recreation and Park Association has one important question for everyone to answer:

"I Love my Parks and Recreation Because..."

You can visit the NPRA website for more information on their initiatives, free resources, a calendar of fun events nationwide and about their month-long weekly photo contest!

Yes, I said contest! 

We love our giveaways and contests here, so we are excited to share this one with you. Get out and about this month as a family and explore your local park or recreation area. Then, share your experience with them via social media. Easy, right? Go to the NPRA Facebook page, click on the Show UR Love Contest and enter for a chance to win a $500 gift card and more! Go and show some love for your local parks by snapping some great family photos.

I try to make summer vacation as fun as possible and this means we spend a great deal of time at our local parks. The boys just love running around and going down slides. I love that we get some great exercise and it gives them a way to get out some of their energy. We just recently packed a turkey sandwich picnic lunch and headed to a park, which the boys liked very much.

There is still time this month and during summer vacation to visit your local parks! Believe me, your kids will really enjoy the experience. Be sure to snap pictures for the contest, too. So, what do you like most about your local parks and recreation?