Cummins Life

Once Upon a Prince Review, Blog Tour, Facebook Party & Giveaway

2013-05-18T22:18:00.000-05:00

I have a new book to tell you about, Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck. I found this to be such a delightful read. It was fun, entertaining, romantic and I read the entire book in one sitting! I personally felt sucked into the story at the very beginning during the emotional breakup. Hauck does a great job developing the characters charm quickly and you cannot help but route for Susanna and Nate's budding relationship to blossom. Sure, I felt like the ending was a bit predictable in some ways but I am A-OK with that! If you are looking for a clean romance book with a modern day fairy tale feel then look no further, this is a book for you.

Read more about this book below and be sure to check out the facebook party and enter to win! You can check out the complete blog tour here.

About Once Upon A Prince:

The Royal Wedding Series Book One

Susanna Truitt never dreamed of a great romance or being treated like a princess---just to marry the man she has loved for twelve years. But life isn't going according to plan. When her high-school-sweetheart-turned-Marine-officer breaks up instead of proposing, Susanna scrambles to rebuild her life.

The last thing Prince Nathaniel expects to find on his American holiday to St. Simon's Island is the queen of his heart. A prince has duties, and his family's tense political situation has chosen his bride for him. When Prince Nathaniel comes to Susanna's aid under the fabled Lover's Oak, he is blindsided by love.

Their lives are worlds apart. He's a royal prince. She's a ordinary girl. But everything changes when Susanna receives an invitation to Nathaniel's coronation.

It's the ultimate choice. His kingdom or her heart? God's will or their own?

You can purchase a copy here!

Watch the Trailer:

Once Upon a Prince, Book Trailer - Rachel Hauck

Meet Rachel:

Rachel Hauck is the bestselling author of Carol Award winner "Sweet Caroline", and RITA Finalist "Love Starts With Elle", and of the critically acclaimed fiction collaboration with multi-platinum country artist Sara Evans, "The Songbird Novels". She lives in sunny, though sometimes hurricane plagued, central Florida with her husband and their ornery pets. Rachel earned a degree in Journalism from Ohio State University and is a huge Buckeyes football fan. She is the past President of American Christian Fiction Writers and now sits on the board as an Advisor.

Find out more about Rachel here!

Rachel Hauck is celebrating the release of Once Upon a Prince with a fun "Royal Wedding" Giveaway and connecting with readers at her May 28th Facebook Party.

One "royal" winner will receive:

A Kindle Fire
Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 27th. Winner will be announced at the "Once Upon a Prince" Facebook Author Chat Party on May 28th. Connect with Rachel for an evening of book chat, wedding trivia, laughter, and more! Rachel will also be sharing a sneak peek at the next book in the series and giving away books and fun gift certificates throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of Once Upon a Prince and join Rachel on the evening of May 28th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 28th!

Disclosure: Thanks so much to Litfuse Publicity Group for allowing me to be a part of this tour and providing me with this book to facilitate my review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Adventures in Odyssey Summer of Service A.C.T.S. Blog Tour

2013-05-16T11:28:00.002-05:00

Have you heard of Adventures in Odyssey? I really hope you have because if not you are really missing out! Adventures in Odyssey, the beloved audio series from Focus on the Family, has encouraged kids toward a stronger faith for 25 years. Whit, Connie, Eugene, and the other lovable characters from Odyssey have shared countless adventures with kids across the world in the classic audio dramas, books, videos, and devotionals, fulfilling the AIO promise to help kids discover, imagine, and grow. I am proud to partner with Adventures in Odyssey and Tyndale House in joining them in their Summer of Service A.C.T.S blog tour.

Join Adventures in Odyssey this summer to discover how fun it can be to serve others!

This summer, Adventures in Odyssey is joining with Christian bookstores across the country, inviting kids to participate in a Summer of Service. They’re promoting the biblical message, “When you serve, everybody wins,” encouraging kids to serve their families, their communities, and their world. Whether it’s baking cookies for an elderly neighbor or putting together a care package for missionaries overseas, kids will discover that serving can be a blast!

How the A.C.T.S. (A Call to Service) challenge and contest works:

Kids who join A.C.T.S. can pick up a service log and collect fun character stickers for hours served at participating bookstores throughout the summer, or download a serving log online at whitsend.org. At the end of the summer, kids can record and upload a short video telling how they serve and why they’d like to become an Adventures in Odyssey Ambassador.

A hundred winners will get the brand new AIO Album, and after online voting, two grand prize winners (one boy and one girl) will get to travel on an exciting Good-Goers Mission Based Adventure trip to another country with a parent! The out-of-country destination will be announced on a live podcast May 22—hosted by AIO actors Katie Leigh (Connie) and Chris Anthony (Chris)—which you can watch at whitsend.org/acts. You don’t want to miss it!

On May 22, there will be a webcast launch

Why serve? And how to serve?

One of the best things we can do to build selfless, confident children is to help and encourage them toward a growing and thriving faith in God which includes serving others! We do not serve because it makes us feel good - although, most of the time it actually does but instead we serve others because we are following God's instructions. Modeling and encouraging serving will help build faith that our children can carry with them into adulthood—which is one of the greatest gifts any parent can bestow on their children.

For David's 35th birthday this year the kids and I put together a "blessing box" as one of his gifts.

Some of our ideas

The box contained 35 ways that we could bless others within our community. These ideas included hiding $1 bills in our local Dollar Store, placing free red box codes on the machines, giving out reusable bags to those who forgot them, handing out Chick-fil-A gift cards, bags to be left at changing stations that contain diapers and wipes, snack bags (juice/granola bars) to hand out to those in need, Gatorade to distribute, Cliff bars to hand out, bags of change to be left on vending machines, and Hershey bars to be given out for a sweet treat to name a few.

Have you ever been out and about with a little one and forgotten diapers and perhaps wipes? We thought this could really bless people with little ones.

Ready to distribute

The kids and I are also planning on baking cookies to distribute to the local firefighters in our area for all the work they do. We want to bless them in a practical way and show them the love of God and thank them for their service! David and the kids and I have been having a great time distributing the contents of his "blessing" box. These are just a few examples of simple ways to bless and serve others. What ideas do you have? Please let me know!

Click here to gain access to the free downloadable mp3 file of the AIO Service episode! And there is a free PDF download of summer service ideas for kids available here. Hope you decide to participate!

kidecals - personalized kid's name labels and decals

2013-05-14T12:20:00.000-05:00

Have you heard of kidecals? They offer personalized, water-proof kid's name labels and decals.

Personalized Kids Name Labels can come in handy on bottles, clothing, books, toys, sports gear - really you name it! kidecals are durable, dishwasher/washing machine/dryer safe and they do not damage surfaces - what is not to love? There are even clothing labels perfect for summer camps!

Another great use - allergy notifications!

Their Waterproof labels are also durable and can stick to just about anything and stay put. These are especially handy for pool toys and you know that summer is almost here :).

Fun Mustache Stickers are a fun touch. If I had known about these I would have gotten them for my nephew's mustache bash last month! These partystache stickers can be used as drink markers and the mustache chalkboard stickers are a fun way to label and organize anything in your pantry or craft room.

The variety of options adds a bit of character!

kidecals makes some of the prettiest designs when it comes to chalkboard labels. What an easy and fun way to get organized fast and the fact that they can go through the dishwasher is amazing to me.

I love this chalkboard design.

If you are interested in purchasing kidecals I have a special promo code for you. Save 15% off kidecals by using promo code, bestlabels, here!

kidecals always has FREE shipping!

Magazines.com & Giveaway

2013-05-14T11:15:00.000-05:00

Disclosure: I will receive my own magazine subscription from magazines.com - Parenting the Early Years. All opinions expressed are 100% my own. Thanks so much to the sponsor for providing this giveaway.

Mother's Day has come and gone but it is never too late to think of Mom or even celebrate her throughout the year! Magazines.com offers people a fun, easy way to discover new reads and helps them track their magazine subscriptions. They have several great Mother's Day deals on magazine subscriptions. You'll find incredible savings on cooking, celebrity, crafting magazine subscriptions and more. Don't forget about all the Moms in your life - your aunts, sisters, grandmother - you can give a gift that keeps on giving. Check out all their current deals here!

Parenting the Early Years

I am excited because in just a few short weeks I will be receiving a subscription to Parenting the Early Years. I look forward to reading the articles and information.

Would you like to win a free magazine subscription to Magazines.com? Just enter the giveaway below and good luck.

Here are a few of the titles that you could win: Cooking with Paula Deen, Martha Stewart Living, Parenting Early Years, Parenting School Years, Prevention, Weight Watchers, Working Mother, Victoria, People, Southern Living, Food Network, Real Simple, Southern Lady, Crochet Today, Tea Time, Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting, Entertain Decorate Celebrate, Taste of South, Creative Machine Embroidery, Just Cross Stitch, Quilt, Quilter's Newsletter, Sampler & Antique Needlework Quarterly, Creative Knitting, Quilter's World, Sew News, Crochet World, Creating Keepsakes, Crochet and Card Maker.

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ABC's About ME!

2013-05-14T09:38:00.000-05:00

Thanks so much to Marla for this wonderful idea. In an effort to share more with you about who I am...These are the ABC's of me!

A. Age?

I’m 35!

B. Book?

This is really a hard one as I read a lot! I am really loving the Jesus Storybook Bible. I know it is geared for children but even as an adult it is extremely touching.

C. Cake or Pie?

Mostly Cake
(Although my friend Jenn makes the best homemade Peanut Butter and Chocolate Pie - I would actually choose these over cake (but only these))

D. Drink of Choice?

Iced water with lemon, Unsweet tea with lemon, and I do like Dr. Pepper

E. Essential Item?

My iPhone. I never thought it would be but if I am honest this is it right now.

F. Favorite Color?

Green

G. Game to play or watch?

I love word games - Scrabble and Words with Friends.

H. Hometown?

League City, Texas

I. Indulgence?

Anything chocolate

J. Job?

SAHM, I used to work as a veterinary technician.

K. Kids?

5 Kids whom I affectionately refer to as A, B, C, D and E

L. Life isn’t complete without?

My hubby, David, and the Lord

M. Music group or singer?

Love Toby Mac! Really, he is awesome :)

N. Number of siblings?

I have one sister, Stephanie, and one brother, Brian

O. Oranges or apples?

I really like them both!

P. Phobias/Fears?

I really don't like heights or snakes.

Q. Favorite Quote?

I really like Isaiah 61 which is about the year of the Lord's favor.

R. Reason to smile?

My family

S. Season?

Oh, I really like them all for different reasons but if I had to pick just one it would be the Fall.

T. Tattoos?

No way, not for me
(I have been known to wear a temporary at children's parties)

U. Unknown fact about me?

I have never broken a bone.

V. Vegetables you love?

Broccoli, Corn on the cob, Carrots, Snap Peas, - most!

W. Worst habit?

Yelling. I wish I never yelled.

X. X-rays you’ve had?

Dental, jaw - not sure if there were any others, Mom?

Y. Your favorite food?

This is really hard - chicken fried steak (I am from the South).

Z. Zodiac?

Libra but I don't put any faith into this

Did you find we have anything in common or were you surprised by any of my answers? Let me know!

Wazoo's Family Fun - My Review

2013-05-13T09:24:00.000-05:00

Remember when I first told you about Wazoo's here? Wazoo's is an indoor bounce house facility for kids up to age 12 - perfect for A, B, C, D and E. The kids and I went down to Wazoo's a few weeks ago and had a blast!

There is a special Toddlertown for children ages 3 & under. D and E loved this section. There was a small slide, animal bouncers, tunnels, a ride in canoe and much more. I loved that they were encouraging imaginative play.

Here is E enjoying the giraffe bouncer in Toddlertown.

There is a food area complete with snack bar. Outside food and drinks are welcome which is what we did. I love that they allow this option.

A small portion of the snack bar. You cannot see in this photo but there are several large containers of hand sanitizer throughout the food area as well.

B and C racing through one of the large bounce houses.

Here you can see B running through.

Climbing fun with C and D.

And ultimate climber that goes almost to the ceiling. My older kids loved this one. There is a double slide in the back.

D having a blast jumping.

B sliding fast.

They even had a bouncer geared more for the little ones.

Jumping as a family.

As you can see there are several different types of bounce houses and slides for kid's enjoyment. We didn't have a problem enjoying ourselves for several plus hours. And if it hadn't been time for E to take a nap, we would have stayed even longer. Wazoo's is open daily from 10am-8pm and they charge $9 for all day play and readmission. Remember you can bring your own drinks and food but if you forget their snack bar can help you out. My family had a blast and the kids are already asking to go back! Check out the video I made below to get a better idea of the fun.

Disclosure: Thanks to Wazoo's and US Family Guide for providing my family with the opportunity to enjoy a day at Wazoo's for free to facilitate my review. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Win a "Date Night" Prize Pack from Deborah Raney and RSVP for her 5/30 Facebook Party!

2013-05-11T10:03:00.000-05:00

Deborah is celebrating with a fun "Date Night" Giveaway (win a $200 Visa Cash Card!) and an Author Chat Party on Facebook! {5/30}

One winner will receive:

A $200 Visa Cash Card (Use that to catch up with a loved one – your spouse, friend, sister, mom…whomever!)
The Face of the Earth by Deborah Raney

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 29th. Winner will be announced at the "The Face of the Earth" Facebook Author Chat Party on May 30th. Connect with Deborah for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Deborah will also be sharing a sneak peek of her next book and giving away books and fun gift certificates throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of The Face of the Earth and join Deborah on the evening of May 30th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 30th!

Check out the complete blog tour here

Can't-Wait Willow! Book Review & Giveaway

2013-05-10T14:35:00.000-05:00

Disclosure: I received my own copy of Can't-Wait Willow! to facilitate my review. All opinions expressed are 100% my own. Thanks so much to the sponsor for providing this giveaway.

I have a fun children's book to tell you about, Can't-Wait Willow! We really loved this story. Not only is it engaging but also educational to boot. It can be hard for everyone (children and adults alike) to learn the lesson that is portrayed in this book - sometimes you need to say no to good things to end up with something great. After waiting for the circus to come to town Willow learns just that. On the first day she misses out on the truly great as she is distracted with other things. Those things in and of themselves are not bad; however, the day ends sadly when Willow is not able to do the things she truly wanted to, experience the circus. Thankfully, she is given a second chance and she takes it to heart. She learns to say no to good things and ends up with the best.

Enjoying this story as a family.

My kids loved following the star throughout the book with Willow (Star Search). When Willow makes good choices the star is happy and vibrant and when Willow makes choices that may not be the best, the star is deflated and sad. This star search feature made it really easy to talk to the kids throughout the story about all the choices that Willow was making. I loved hearing their thoughts. If you want a fun book with a great lesson, then this is definitely for you!

Read more about the book below and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About Shine Bright Kids:
The Shine Bright Kids series provides children and their families with a relevant framework to help instill solid values and teach the importance of making good choices. The principles that will be explored include: using good judgment, taking responsibility, having a positive attitude, and demonstrating perseverance.

About the Author: (Recognize the last name Ziglar?!?)
Christy Ziglar, financial planner, mother of twins and niece of legendary motivator and the world's original optimist, Zig Ziglar, is bringing the same timeless wisdom and ageless advice to an entirely new, younger audience through her new Shine Bright Kids picture book series. Christy is available for Q & A, author interviews, Skype calls, etc!

The first book in the series: Can't-Wait Willow!
Willow is so excited that the Over-the-Top Circus has finally come to town! The only problem is, that when left to her own devices, she can't say "no" to some good things. On the way to the show, she is distracted be enticing treats and fun that she just can't turn down. Willow arrives late and is sad to find that, not only has she run our of time, but money, and she won't be able to enjoy the pink cotton candy she's been dreaming of. Willow is given valuable advice and a second chance and is ultimately taught the lesson that sometimes in life you have to say "no" to good things to end up with something great!

About the Illustrator:
Thanks to her first grade teacher, who recognized her superior skills in drawing a robin, Luanne Marten has been drawing, painting and sketching ever since. She is a great experimenter and has a fresh, whimsical approach to bring her characters to life.

Website:
The author's website has great resources to support the book, including a printable poster with 'Ways to Shine Bright,' as well as reward chart you can use at home with your children. Check it out here.

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DIY Burlap Banners & Giraffe Cake

2013-05-09T16:30:00.000-05:00

Remember how I told you that I co-hosted a baby shower last weekend with 3 lovely ladies?

Here we are in our matching hostess aprons! We were also all given a homemade chocolate pie with our very own new pie dish. Thanks so much Jenn!

The theme was burlap and baby animals with a centering on giraffes. I wanted to show you some of the decorations that I made. You will see a bit of my crafty side come out in this one!

Baby Burlap Banner

For all my banners I just cut out burlap into triangles, printed letters off my computer onto computer paper and placed the letters behind the burlap and used white paint to paint them directly onto the burlap. Make sure to have some kind of backing behind your burlap as some paint will seep through. Then for this one I took two different types of giraffe fabric and tied pieces in between the letters. Super easy. I hot glued twine to the back of each banner and left extra twine to make sure they would be easy to hang.

Name banner with additional hearts. I made the hearts removable in case my friend wanted to put this up in her nursery.

The GIFTS table. I can reuse this banner at all my parties! Isn't my friend lovely?

I wish I had a better photo of this one. This is the it's a boy banner! I used giraffe felt to add a few extra triangles. I also made the ETHAN buckets on top of the mantel, galvanized buckets with twine and chalkboard labels.

You know how much David and I like to bake. We had the privilege of making the cake. We made a giraffe of course!

I found some super cute burlap photo paper at Michael's and lined the cake board with that.

We baked a 13 x 9 cake and cute the cake to form the giraffe shape.

All the spots and embellishments were made with tootsie rolls!

This photo gives you an idea of the height - it was hard to capture all of it in one photo.

And a side view, what do you think?

Etsy Spotlight: Creating Paper Memories

2013-05-08T19:35:00.000-05:00

I have a new Etsy shop to tell you about, creatingapapermemory! Dee has an assortment of paper products from thank you notes, candy wrappers, stickers, water bottle labels, invitations, seating charts, bookmarks and so much more! If you have an upcoming special event you should visit Dee. She personalizes items for weddings, baby showers, you get the idea.

I recently worked with Dee for a baby shower I was co-hosting with three lovely ladies. The shower theme was baby animals with a centering on giraffes. Just take a look at some of the items that Dee sent me.

These are advice cards for everyone to fill out for Mom and baby. My friend's name is Jenn and she will be having a son, Ethan!

These labels worked perfectly for candy favors. You just wrap them around Hershey's Nuggets - they stick themselves.

All finished. One side reads Jennifer's Shower, the other side reads 5-4-13 and the underside reads Thanks for sharing my special day!

These are adhesive stickers that can be used for favor boxes but I used them as embellishments.

A centerpiece with the themed sticker. (Note - another friend made these centerpieces, fun right?)

And the cutest Thank You notes. You fold them and the other side reads - Thank You for making my shower special! Dee also sent the cutest coordinating return address labels but I don't have a photo of that or you would know where my girlfriend lives.

Display Table

Our display table was set up so that everyone would fill out an advice card and place it in the basket, self address and envelope (one less thing for Jenn to have to do) and take a chocolate or two - not a bad set-up, right?

What do you think? I thought Dee's personalized giraffe items were absolutely perfect and really helped pull the whole thing together.

You can check out Dee's complete Etsy shop here (make sure to add her shop to your favorites while you are there) and her website, Creating Paper Memories, here.

Disclosure: All opinions expressed are 100% my own. Thanks so much to Dee and creatingapapermemory for sending the above items for review.

My Mom, Mother's Day, MAS Detergent & Sweepstakes

2013-05-08T11:47:00.000-05:00

Have you heard of MAS Detergent? MAS detergent helps protect and renew your colors and darks thanks to its unique Renew Effects. MAS produces two different types of laundry detergent - MAS Color for colors and MAS Oscura for darks and denim.

For the first time in the US it will be available for purchase at Walmart. I have not been able to locate it at my local Walmart yet but I am keeping my eyes open.

Mas Mother's Day Appreciation Sweepstakes Going on Now!

The Mas Mother's Day Appreciation Sweepstakes is live! Mas Detergent wants to thank all the hard working, child loving, laundry washing moms out there by celebrating Mother's day with a chance to win a grand prize of $1,000! This sweepstakes runs from May 6th to May 31st. Click here to enter!

My Mom with A many years ago!

I am blessed to have a pretty amazing Mom. She has worked hard her entire life and a few years ago was able to retire (yeah Mom). My Mom is one of the most generous people that I know. She consistently puts the needs of others above her own and she doesn't hesitate to give when needed. Thanks Mom for really modeling generosity :).

Disclosure: Thanks so much to Purex for providing me as a Purex Insider with this information about MAS detergent and the Mother's Day Appreciation Sweepstakes. And thanks Mom for being great!

Chick-fil-A #FreshMade Blog App & Giveaway

2013-05-08T10:39:00.000-05:00

Chick-fil-A is helping you make today #FreshMade, by creating new menu options that you can feel good about! They are introducing 3 new premium salads and an improved wrap all under 430 calories made with premium ingredients. How cool is this? And to celebrate there is a new Chick-fil-A #FreshMade Blog App, check it out below.

The Blog App includes:

•    Are You A “Starter”? Quiz - Some of us wake up with pep in our step, ready to conquer the world. Others might need a little kick in the behind to inject something new into their lives! Find out if you’re already raring to to go or need a little help getting the good time rolling!
•    #FreshMade Activities - Select your mood and let quotes and images from film express how you’re feeling.
•    See How We Start Fresh - Behind-the-scenes - Get a behind-the-scenes look at how the new Chick-fil-A salads are #FreshMade just for you!

What do you think? Are you ready to take your taste buds to greener pastures? How about a little giveaway! Winner will receive 2 Chick-fil-A Salad coupons! Enter below and good luck.

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Disclosure: Thanks so much to Chick-fil-A for providing this information and sponsoring this giveaway.

Funky Yellow Bus Review

2013-05-06T21:36:00.000-05:00

I have a new book to tell you about, Funky Yellow Bus by Robin Rosenberg and illustrated by Bernie Freytag. This book is geared for kids ages 3-7, especially those fearful of new situations, including riding the school bus for the first time. It can be applied to really any nervous moments or "firsts" that we all experience.

This book is full of cool characters and stars Brookie Cookie! B was a tad excited about this name as her middle name is Brooke :). Brookie Cookie is starting Kindergarten and finds herself super nervous about riding the Funky Yellow Bus. It is a situation that is full of unknowns. My children have never ridden a yellow bus as they are homeschooled but it is something that they are curious about.

B (who is about to complete 1st grade) read this to C and D without any problems.

I loved watching them enjoy this story.

The book has a rhyming pattern and my kids thought this was super fun. Really, who doesn't like music and rhythm? The pictures are bold and engaging for children of all ages. Brookie's nerves are soon squelched as she realizes that she has friends aboard the bus - both old and new (Brad, a friend from nursery school, and Johnny, an older kid who seems tough but is actually a nice guy). The Funky Yellow Bus ends up being an exciting place to be that offers fun and new adventures.

I think their smiles say it all.

Want to know more about Funky Yellow Bus? Check out the video trailer on their facebook page here. And you can purchase your own copy of this book on Amazon here.

Check out their website here for even more details. Thanks Robin for creating such a fun story.

Disclosure: I was provided with a complimentary copy of Funky Yellow Bus to facilitate my review by the author. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Cottonelle Clean Care Routine Sample Share

2013-05-06T20:30:00.001-05:00

Alright, let's face it - everyone uses toilet paper. I know this might sound crazy but I have never been a brand loyalist when it comes to toilet paper. I will tell you that they are not all created equal. It really isn't worth it to buy the cheapest toilet paper out there - it is usually scratchy and irritating and not worth any amount of money. There are several great brands out there, including Cottonelle. Their toilet paper is soft and reasonably priced. I love it when I can find coupons, sometimes even on the packages as seen below. I recently joined the Cottonelle Clean Care Routine Sample Share through crowdtap.

My sample share pack was pretty awesome.

One 18 roll package and two 4 roll packages of Cottonelle Clean Care Toilet Paper and 3 packages of Cottonelle flushable wipes

I went to my local Walmart and took a photo to show the variety of Cottonelle products available. Sure enough, the Clean Care Routine products were available for purchase there.

Including the wipes

If you are not familiar with Cottonelle's Clean Care Routine let me give you the skinny. It is pretty simple. It is using Cottonelle Toilet Paper and Cottonelle Flushable wipes together, that's it. Most people skip on the wipes and Cottonelle is asking why? They have a whole series of videos (The Car Wash, The Salon and The Restaurant) on this exact subject which are pretty funny to watch. I have wondered how I might have reacted if I had been one of the subject's in the videos. Click here to watch the videos for yourself.

I shared my samples with two of my girlfriends and I have been using the rest for my own family.

The biggest change I have made since joining this campaign would be including the flushable wipes in our bathroom.

Disclosure: A big thanks to both Crowdtap and Cottonelle for this sampling opportunity! I was blessed to receive one 18 roll package and two 4 roll packages of Cottonelle Clean Care Toilet Paper and three packages of Cottonelle flushable wipes to use myself and share with two friends. All opinions expressed are 100% mine.

Kick Back and Play Sweepstakes

2013-05-06T09:30:00.000-05:00

I have a super fun Sweepstakes to tell you about, The Kick Back and Play this Summer Sweepstakes! You can enter to win prizes including a Little Tikes playground, a washer & dryer from LG, and a year's supply of Purex! Just click here to enter!

Let's just imagine that my family won the Little Tikes Endless Adventure Playcenter Playground grand prize, wouldn't that be so awesome?

You know how much my kiddos love the beach! I know that they would love the sandbox feature. I could see them burying treasures and digging them up in their always imaginative adventures. Maybe they would find gold, sea shells or dinosaur bones! And I love that the toy storage area does double-duty for water play. Since my kids are water babies this will be fun indeed. C bought a collection of small water guns at a garage sale a few months ago so I could see them coming into play here. And my kids love to act like animals when we play jungle and zoo (I do not have a zoology degree for nothing!). My little monkeys and lemurs will have a ton of fun on the climbing net.

Alright, so now that you have seen a little bit of how my kids would imagine and play, what do you think your kids/grandkids/etc would do if they won the Endless Adventure Playground grand prize? I would love to know!

And don't forget to enter and win here.

Ring the Bell Movie Review & Giveaway

2013-05-03T10:55:00.001-05:00

Disclosure: I received my own copy of Ring The Bell to facilitate my review. All opinions expressed are 100% my own. Thanks so much to the sponsor for providing this giveaway.

I have a new movie to tell you about, Ring the Bell. This movie has a stellar cast including Casting Crowns, Steven Curtis Chapman and Mathew West (super fun!). This is the story of Rob Decker, a hot shot sports agent who is used to getting his way when it comes to recruiting the best. When he finds himself on the road to recruiting a high school baseball star, he begins to see things in a whole new light and experiences transformation for himself.

This movie was fun, engaging and I think it did a great job conveying that there is much more to life than just money and prestige. It does move a little slowly at times but that didn't keep me from enjoying it. I should also note that this is a family friendly movie!

Read more about the movie below and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About Ring the Bell:
Ring The Bell shares the story of a slick, big city sports agent Rob Decker who seems to have it all. But on his latest mission to sign a high school baseball superstar, Rob becomes stranded in a small town where the simplicity of life—and the faith of the people—stand in stark contrast to his own fast-paced, win-at-all-costs mindset. Torn between these two worlds, will Rob have the courage to let faith transform his life? This heartwarming story of redemption is sure to entertain and inspire the whole family.

Ring The Bell features a host of well-known Christian music artists, such as Mark Hall along with his band Casting Crowns, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Matthew West, all who play a role in this inspirational drama. Several former and current Major League Baseball all-stars are also featured in the film: ESPN analysts John Kruk and Rick Sutcliffe (a former Cy Young Award winner), along with Ben Zobrist. This family-friendly movie was produced by Mark Miller, Beach Street Records' founder and Casting Crowns’ producer. Miller, who is also the lead singer and founder of country music group Sawyer Brown, co-wrote the script with Thomas Weber and Weber directed the production.

DVD Special Features:
The Heart of "Ring the Bell"
Casting Crowns “The Well” Music Video 
On Set with Casting Crowns
Famous Faces 
A Very Special Movie 
Ringing the Bell 
The Artists and Music of "Ring The Bell"

Would you like to watch this movie for yourself? Please enter the giveaway below and good luck!

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Soft Scrub Mold & Mildew Stain Remover Review & Giveaway

2013-05-03T10:35:00.000-05:00

Once again I have partnered with Purex and Soft Scrub as part of the Purex Insiders Program. For those not familiar with the program when you join you can try new products, receive exclusive offers, interact with big brands and connect with other bloggers. I have had a lot of fun being a member and made many friends. If you are interested in joining you can sign up here!

Check out the latest Soft Scrub product that I have been using, Soft Scrub Mold & Mildew Stain Remover Gel Cleaner. This is a spray gel that clings to stains and cleans tile, grout, tubs and showers. I really like that there are no harsh fumes or overspray! This is not to say that it is completely odor free but I do find the smell to be less than most cleaners. This product can be used for quick spot cleans as well as a "deep" top to bottom cleaning sessions, another added bonus. I have used it to clean the top section of my bathroom shower, that area is tiled, and it did a great job. The way you use this mildew cleaner is that you spray it and then you rinse thoroughly with a wet sponge, cloth or rinse with water. I did find it hard to rinse off this particular area of my shower because it is so high but I managed. I am really looking forward to using it on the tile and grout on my bathroom floor. I think that is going to be a much easier area to rinse!

Getting rid of mildew

Here you can see the gel on my tile.

And Soft Scrub is running a Sweepstakes, The Say Goodbye to Mold & Mildew Stains Sweepstakes which is now live!

One lucky winner will receive $1,000 and a year's supply of Soft Scrub, while 250 second place winners get to try NEW Soft Scrub Mold & Mildew Stain Remover for FREE! Click here to sign up and good luck!

And now, ready for a giveaway?

Now, onto the giveaway! Three winners will each receive a free product coupon valid on any Soft Scrub product (coupon max value $3.39 and expires 12/31/2013).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I was selected to participate in this campaign as a Purex Insider. Thanks so much to Purex and Soft Scrub for providing me with a sample of Soft Scrub Mold & Mildew Stain Remover Gel Cleaner to facilitate my review and coupons for this giveaway. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Etsy Spotlight: If Only Lola Lee

2013-05-02T15:10:00.000-05:00

I have a new Etsy shop to tell you about, If Only Lola Lee! The owner, Mattie, makes beautiful graduation announcements and invitations for baby showers, birthdays, weddings, and all your special event needs.

Mattie first started when she made her own wedding invitation almost six years ago. How fun is that? She fell in love with designing and creating stationery. She recently opened up her Etsy shop in February of this year and is looking forward to watching it grow successfully. I really do not think that will be a problem Mattie!

I had the privilege to work with Mattie recently as she designed C's Shark Themed Birthday invitation. His party is coming up this month. Check it out below!

Oh and I should let you know, here is the information I gave Mattie. My son is having a shark themed birthday party and I was thinking the colors would be blue (for sure) and maybe orange and red. I hope that paints the picture, that is all the info that Mattie had.

She designed two different options for me to choose from. I actually liked them both but I liked the one I picked slightly better. I then gave her the party details, etc.

Our package arrived in perfect condition! I loved the wrapping :).

I had to block out the date and time and place but I hope you can still see how amazing they are!

Under the red felt is the party info. What do you think? I love all the detail!

Shark Attack Title

A close up of one of the sharks.

When I asked C what he thought he replied, "Awesome, these are so cool Mom!". You nailed it Mattie.

C was so excited to get his first batch of invites in the mail!

I have to spotlight one more creation as I am a huge Scrabble, Word with Friends fan here. Check out the below save the date word with friends inspired announcement - I love this!

So creative

You can connect with Mattie on facebook here, Etsy here and even twitter here. Please check out her blog here - it is pretty awesome! And if you need any invitations made I would definitely recommend If Only Lee!

Disclosure: Mattie generously provided me with C's custom designed shark themed birthday invitations at no cost. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Lysol Touch of Foam Review

2013-05-02T13:34:00.001-05:00

My latest Bzz Agent campaign is with Lysol and their Touch of Foam antibacterial hand wash! Health matters and that's why Lysol started their Mission for Health. With new Mom programs, healthy habits initiatives in schools and disaster relief efforts, the company is dedicated to doing more for everyone's health. For healthy hands and more, visit lysol.com/mission-for-health.

My awesome Bzz kit!

Lysol Touch of Foam Antibacterial Hand Wash

Creamy Vanilla Orchid scent

I really like the foam

Our with the old and in with the new

We have completely used the bottle provided for this campaign and replaced it with another!

Here are a few points about Lysol Touch of Foam that I really appreciate.

Rich non-drip lather works on contact to kill 99.9% of germs
Offers 10x more germ protection than the leading national competitor
Moisturizer-enriched micro-bubbles leave your hands feeling soft and comfortable after every wash
Available in three great scents — Creamy Vanilla Orchid, Rose & Cherry in Bloom and Wild Berry Bliss
Antimicrobial properties are built in to protect the pump and resist odor-causing bacteria

I really like the rich lather that this foam soap creates. After using it my hands really do feel softer and definitely cleaner. This particular scent, Creamy Vanilla Orchid, is not extremely subtle - it is not overly powerful either but it is definitely stronger than my previous hand soaps. I have grown to really like the scent and feel of this soap on my hands. Have you tried it yet? If so, what do you think?

Disclosure: I received Lysol Touch of Foam and coupons for free with my Bzz Kit for participating in the Lysol Touch of Foam Campaign. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Warner Bros Mother's Day Movie Night Blog App & Giveaway

2013-04-29T07:55:00.000-05:00

*** Giveaway Now Closed ***

Congratulations to Cinderella10383!

Moms are the best - and they do a lot for us! Now it’s time to return the favor and celebrate this Mother’s Day and one way to do that is with a movie night! Celebrate Sunday, May 12th in the best way possible by spending quality time with your family and watch one of YOUR favorite classic films! Watching a classic flick together tells the story of a different time and place, and is the perfect opportunity to catch up and share stories with your family... tell them something that they never knew about Mom!

Ready for a little giveaway? You could win - A Star is Born (1976) (Blu-ray) or Cabaret (1972) (Blu-ray) - prize will be randomly chosen.

Mandatory Entry: Follow me on google friend, that's it! Please be sure and leave your email so I can contact you if you win!

Extra Entries, leave a separate comment for each extra entry. As you can see, there are lots of extra entry opportunities so don't be shy!

1. Share your results from the Guess-the-Scene Game (2 extra entries)
2. Follow my google+ page (2 extra entries)
3. Follow my facebook page (2 extras)
4. Follow me on Pinterest (2 extras)
5. Follow me on twitter here (2 extras)
6. Share your favorite romance or musical flick from when you were a kid (2 extras)

Giveaway will end on May 7th at Midnight. Winner will be selected using a random number generator and will have 48 hours to respond. If there is no response, I will randomly select another winner. Open to US residents only.

Disclosure: Thanks so much to Warner Bros. for providing this information and sponsoring this giveaway.

Hey God, I've Got Some Guy Named Jonah in My Stomach and I Think I'm Gonna Throw Up! Review & Giveaway

2013-04-28T22:51:00.000-05:00

Disclosure: I received my own copy of Hey God, I've Got Some Guy Named Jonah in My Stomach and I Think I'm Gonna Throw Up! to facilitate my review. All opinions expressed are 100% my own. Thanks so much to the sponsor for providing this giveaway.

I have a fun book to tell you about: Hey God, I've Got Some Guy Named Jonah in My Stomach and I Think I'm Gonna Throw Up! by Troy Schmidt and illustrated by Cory Jones. This is the first in a series (others include Hey God, Can You Stop the Rain so I Can Get off Noah's Smelly Ark? and Hey God, I'm Having an Awful Vacation in Egypt Thanks to Moses!). In this book the whale tells his side of the story.

B couldn't wait to start reading this one!

A fun perspective

I love books that make you think and that give you a new and different perspective. In this imaginative retelling, just like Jonah, the whale was given a task from God. As you might remember, Jonah was told to go to Nineveh and tell the people to stop being bad and turn to God. Jonah did not want to obey and went the other direction. In this book, we read that similarly, the whale was told to swallow a human; but the whale went the opposite direction. However, before he knew it he found himself with a human in his belly, more specifically Jonah. This new ailment upset his stomach, gave him the inability to swim very far and other discomforts.

Jonah yelled, prayed, apologized to God and begged for deliverance while he was in the whale (not unexpected; have you ever considered what you might do in this situation?). In Schmidt's account, this led the whale to pray, too. He apologized to God for not wanting to listen and asked God to remove Jonah from him. God revealed his plan of importance to the whale - the whale was needed to hold Jonah until he was ready to follow God with his task. When Jonah was ready he would take a message of the Lord to thousands - and the whale would play a part in that.

Of course, please keep in mind that although based on Biblical truth, this is a fictional tale. And to my taste, there was a little more complaining in this book than I would have liked. My experience of knowing God is overwhelmingly joyful - even through sometimes really strange places or circumstances (not that I never grumble and complain myself, though).

I love that this book emphasizes how God can use anyone and everything for his purposes and plan. Just as Jonah was used, so was the whale!

I really like the Parent Connection in the back of the book - there is something to Remember, something to Read, questions to Think about and things to Do. I love this as it really brings it home!

This book is brought to you by B&H Kids and is available May 1, 2013 here.

Read more about the book below and make sure to enter the giveaway to win your own copy!

About the Book:
Oh sure, we've all heard the story of Jonah and the Whale a hundred times. But have we heard it from the perspective of the whale who experienced that history-making event? Hey God, I've Got Some Guy Named Jonah in My Stomach and I Think I'm Gonna Throw Up! imagines how that great sea creature from the incident might tell his side of the story, helping kids ages 4 to 8 discover a creative way of learning about that guy who was supposed to go to Ninevah. The "Parent Connection" feature (inside the book) will help Moms and Dads take the story further with scripture references and tips on how to talk with their children about what really happened.

About the Author:
Troy Schmidt has writing and video production credits ranging from assignments with Disney (The Mickey Mouse Club) and Nickelodeon to Max Lucado's Hermie franchise. He is currently the lead writer for The American Bible Challenge hosted by Jeff Foxworthy on the Game Show Network. Troy and his wife have three sons.

Ready for a giveaway? Enter below to win your own copy of this fabulous book!

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MVP and MVP 2 Movie Reviews

2013-04-26T16:52:00.001-05:00

Disclosure: I was blessed to receive MVP and MVP2 to facilitate my review. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Have you heard of MVP and MVP 2 from kaboom! Entertainment? It is a series from the makers of Air Bud. My kids are huge fans of the Air Bud movies. MVP stands for most valuable primate in case you are wondering!

My thoughts:
We enjoyed both of these movies. It was fun to see some of the same actors (although different characters) from the Air Bud movies in these. In MPV we meet Jack, the genius chimpanzee who knows sign language and happens to have a hidden talent for ice hockey. It has a really similar feel to the Air Bud movies. In MPV 2, Jack returns only this time he finds himself showing off his skateboarding talent along with ice hockey. This time he befriends, Ben - a runaway foster kid with a knack for skateboarding. Together they end up finding out where they both need to be.

Read more about these movies below.

More About MVP and MVP 2
MVP (Most Valuable Primate)
Rated PG, Runtime 93 minutes. Jack, the chimp, breaks for freedom - and ends up stranded in the frozen northlands. Befriended by two teens, Jack's talent for ice skating soon turns him into the local hockey team's secret weapon. Now, playoffs are in full swing. The lab officials are closing in. And Jack has one chance to prove that when it comes to skating away with the affections of an entire town, he doesn't monkey around!

MVP 2
Rated G, Runtime 87 minutes. From the makers of Air Bud, the Most Valuable Primate is going vertical! Jack is back, and this time he's traded in his hockey skates...for a skateboard! When the beloved chimp is framed for something he didn't do, he ends up lost and alone in a strange city. Befriended by Ben, a shy skateboard kid, Jack reveals a hidden talent for totally awesome skateboard tricks!

Both MVP and MVP 2 are available for purchase at Walmart for $9.99 each.

Postcards from Misty Harbor Inn Series Review, Blog Tour, Nook HD Giveaway and Facebook Party {5/9}

2013-04-26T14:19:00.000-05:00

I have a new book series to tell you about, the Misty Harbor Inn series - Seaside Harmony and Sunflower Summer!

I really enjoyed getting to know Caroline, Gracie and Sam throughout this series. I thought the authors did a great job creating unique individuals and you find yourself really caring about them as well as Misty Harbor Inn and the mysteries surrounding it. These books were truly delightful. The series contains mystery, romance, family dynamics and beautiful descriptions of settings and scenery - they really take your there. Both books read at a quick pace and you will be finished with both before you know it.

Read more about the books, the authors and the upcoming facebook party below! And check out the complete blog tour here.

More about the books:
The Postcards from Misty Harbor Inn series (Guideposts Books) introduces readers to Caroline, Gracie and Sam as they gather for a vacation where they spent the summers as children, and follows their adventures as they fulfill their mother's dream of opening a bed and breakfast. As the sisters heal from their mother's passing, they bond in ways they never imagined and discover evidence of God's hand in the unlikeliest of circumstances.

A team of four authors come together under the pen name of Evangeline Kelley to bring the unique personalities of each sister to vivid life and welcome audiences to the charming and historic island of Nantucket, complete with cobblestone streets, quaint shops, ferries, sandy beaches and salty air.

Seaside Harmony:

Three sisters, a charming inn, hints of mystery and romance, and a gorgeous seaside setting. Summer reading at its finest!

When Caroline Marris joins her sisters, Gracie Gold and Sam Carter for a Nantucket Island getaway, she has no idea how it will change her life. The sisters stumble upon Misty Harbor Inn, the place their late mother loved so much, and Caroline talks her sisters into buying the beautiful but dilapidated inn. But can free-spirited Caroline stay focused enough to make opening the inn a reality? Hand-drawn old postcards draw the sisters into the mystery of Hannah Montague, the young widow of the original owner. Can the sisters uncover the fate of this woman who disappeared in 1880? As Caroline and her sisters work together to make their mom's dream a reality, they bond in ways they never expected.

Sunflower Summer:

Misty Harbor Inn officially opens, and Gracie Gold, the middle Marris sister, wrestles with an overwhelming decision. As the sisters learn the day-to-day workings of running an inn, Gracie counsels its first guests, newlyweds whose honeymoon seems to be ending before it begins. Meanwhile, Sam's discovery of a clue in a secret room sheds unflattering light on Hannah Montague, who vanished from the house more than one hundred years ago. And as Gracie and Caroline welcome guests to the inn, they are delighted to see how God uses it --- and them --- to deepen relationships and transform lives.

Meet Evangeline Kelley: Evangeline Kelley is the pen name for the writing team of Patti Berg, Pam Andrews & Barbara Hanson, and Camy Tang, the four authors who collaborated to create Postcards from Misty Harbor Inn. Each of them has published novels individually, but this is their first series together.

Find out more about Evangeline at http://amzn.to/10d3FZM.

Guideposts Books is celebrating the release of their new Postcards from Misty Harbor Inn series with a fun giveaway and a Facebook party on May 9th.

One fortunate winner will receive:

A Nook HD
Seaside Harmony and Sunflower Summer by Evangeline Kelley

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 8th. Winner will be announced at the Postcards from Misty Harbor Inn Author Chat Facebook Party on 5/9. Connect with Patti Berg, Pam Andrews, Barbara Hanson, and Camy Tang (who collaborated together under the pen name, Evangeline Kelley) for an evening of book chat, trivia, and fun! There will also be great giveaways (gift certificates, books, and more) as well as a sneak peek at the next book in the series!

So grab your copies of Seaside Harmony and Sunflower Summer and join readers just like you on the evening of May 9th for a chance to connect with the authors and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the books - don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 9th!

Disclosure: Thanks so much to Litfuse Publicity Group for allowing me to be a part of this tour and providing me with these books to facilitate my review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Berenstain Bears Collection DVD Set Review

2013-04-25T13:21:00.000-05:00

Disclosure: I was blessed to receive a Collection Set of the Berenstain Bears to facilitate my review. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

You have probably heard of the Berenstain Bears or possibly read some of their books. I wanted to tell you about the Berenstain Bears Collection Set from Phase 4 Films, featuring the voice of Michael Cera (as Brother Bear). All DVDs are rated G.

This collection features 3 DVDs (Bear Country, Celebrations and Homework Help) with 5 episodes each. Each DVD is approximately 55 minutes in length. My kids love these DVDs. In fact, they ask to watch them every day, no kidding! The introduction is cute and catchy (check it out here) and I find D singing it on occasion. The episodes are engaging and I really like that they are each geared towards teaching a specific lesson whether it be counting your blessings, learning responsibility, valuing what is truly important, learning about peer pressure, etc. I like that the value of family and others is exemplified. If you are looking for clean, wholesome entertainment for your little ones these are perfect - I highly recommend this set.

More About Berenstain Bears Collection Set
In the rolling hills of Bear Country, this animated comedy stars a fun loving family of honey Bears whose love, loyalty and humor allow them to overcome any obstacle that finds its way down to their sunny dirt road. The funny, familiar experiences of this bear family instill timeless life lessons and reflect the traditional community values of country life.

This set is available for purchase at Walmart stores for $29.99.

Dial Kids Body & Hair Wash 6+ Review & Flash Giveaway

2013-04-23T12:05:00.000-05:00

Dial Kids 6+ Watery Melon

*** Giveaway Now Closed ***

Congratulations to Donna, amweeks and Clair!

You may remember my review of Dial Kids Body Wash for children 2-5 found here. Well, now I am here to tell you about the Dial Kids Body Wash for kids ages 6 and up! This wash comes in both Watery Melon and Berry Cool varieties. We were blessed to receive the Watery Melon scent. I love having lots of kids!

This particular wash is meant for children ages 6+, Dial offers mild cleansing without drying out your child's skin. I love that it is tear free, hypoallergenic, and has no artificial dyes. The Watery Melon variant gently removes dirt from head to toe with a fun, fresh scent. My older kids really like the scent and it works well for cleaning both their bodies and their hair.

What do you think? Would you like to try this soap for your own family? Enter the giveaway below to win some! And would you like to join me as a Purex Insider. Click here to join - you won't regret it!

I also want to tell you about the Dial Kids sweepstakes which is live right now! Enter to win $1,000 (grand prize) while 250 second place winners will try the New Dial Kids Body & Hair Wash for free!

Now, onto the giveaway! Three winners will each receive a free product coupon for the New Dial Kids Body & Hair Wash (coupon max value $4.49 and expires 6/30/2013).

Mandatory Entry: Follow me on google friend and let me know, that's it! Please be sure and leave your email so I can contact you if you win!

Extra Entries, leave a separate comment for each extra entry. As you can see, there are lots of extra entry opportunities so don't be shy!

1. Enter the Dial Kids Body & Hair Wash Sweepstakes found here (5 extra entries)

2. Follow my google+ page (2 extra entries)

3. Follow my facebook page (2 extras)

4. Follow Dial on facebook (2 extras)
5. Comment on Dial's facebook page and mention that Cummins Life sent you (2 extras)
6. Follow me on Pinterest (2 extras)
7. Follow me on twitter here (2 extras)

Giveaway will end on April 24th at Midnight (yep, it is a flash giveaway). Winner will be selected using a random number generator and will have 24 hours to respond. If there is no response, I will randomly select another winner. Open to US residents only.

Disclosure: I was selected to participate in this campaign as a Purex Insider. Thanks so much to Purex and Dial for providing me with a sample of Dial Kids Body & Hair Wash for children ages 6+ to facilitate my review and coupons for this giveaway. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.