The Lands’ End Family + Friends sale runs Tuesday, February 21 through Tuesday, February 28 and offers 25% off regular priced items on both the Lands’ End and the Lands’ End Canvas website, plus free shipping with no minimum purchase.

It’s a great time to take advantage of this Lands’ End discount and stock up on your favorite items – you might even be able to purchase a few items that you have been swooning over for the past few months

You can find things on sale for women, men, girls, boys and even your home.  Ready, set…go!

More details of this sale are available on the Lands End website.

*I will be provided a gift card for posting about this sale.

If you haven’t signed up for Swagbucks – what are you waiting for? You can get rewarded just by doing something you do everyday – like searching web, taking surveys, playing games, or watching videos. The best part is that you can earn free stuff including gift cards and 1,000′s of products just by doing these things.

Signing up for Swagbucks is free and easy. Now is a great time since Swagbucks 4th Birthday Celebration is happening on February 27th. To celebrate they’re giving out four $1000 prizes to their users.To celebrate they’re giving out four $1000 prizes to their users. Enter to win and check out their other fun birthday.

SWEET!

This past Sunday my son turned three! I can hardly believe it, and wish I could keep him little forever. Anyways, I had an amazing party supplies set sent to me by Discount Party Supplies for his birthday party.

Discount Party Supplies is a leading online retailer of party supplies, birthday supplies, and other party products. Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for busy parents and others to host fantastic parties that are fun, easy, and affordable. We know how hectic our lives can get with children, jobs, family, and more, and so we want to make your party planning as simple as possible.

We chose the Angry Birds Theme, and our set contained everything we needed – even candles!

My set had 2 packs of dinner plates, 2 packs of desert plates, 2 packs of dinner napkins, 2 packs of desert napkins, 2 packs of plasticware, 1 stack of cups, 24pack of birthday candles, 2 packs of red and yellow ballons, 1 long yellow table cover,  1 red and 1 yellow packs of streamers.

All of my son’s favorite Angry Birds were in the set, including the pigs! I baked an Angry Birds cake to match

Discount Party Supplies has everything from SpongeBob to Elmo to Star Wars and more.  There is a huge selection to choose from, and something to please every personality.

At Discount Party Supplies, we place a premium on product quality and service. All of our products are chosen with an emphasis on quality, and all of our items are packaged and shipped fast to your location.

I was amazed at how many themes Discount Party Supplies had. Everything from Yo Gabba Gabba to Twilight, even cartoons that I’ve never even heard of, like Monster High.  They also have Justin Bieber party supplies!

The shipping was really fast and prices are really inexpensive. I will be using them for our next birthday bash! You can order your own party supplies from Discount Party Supplies - they always have great sales going on!

Make sure you connect with Discount Party Supplies on Facebook to keep up with the latest news and discounts!

*Katy received the above products free of charge, to facilitate this review.

Of course the program does much more than just create recipe books – according to the folks that created the Cook’n Recipe Organizersoftware, it can help with grocery shopping, planning meals, and so many other things. This should give you an idea of what you can do with it: The Easiest Way to…

• Find the Best Recipes on the Internet
• Capture and Save Internet Recipes
• Enter Your Own Personal Recipes
• Sync Recipes with iPhone, iPad, & Android
• Print a Family Cookbook
• Analyze Nutritional Values
• Make Menus, Shopping Lists & More!
• Get Free Cookbook with Purchase

Discount code! You can take 50% off the Cook’n Recipe O rganizer when you use this code: mb-80mphmom (expires 3/15/12) I am thrilled to announce that I get to give a copy of the Cook’n Recipe Organizerto one lucky reader!

Cook’n Recipe Organizer is available for PC and Mac.

THE GIVEAWAY: One winner will receive a copy of Cook’n Recipe Organizer ($79.95 value!) ***NOTE: DO NOT STUMBLE GIVEAWAYS!*** REQUIRED ENTRY: Tell me in a comment about your current recipe organization system (or lack of!)

I’m a shrimp.  My parents were both short and they passed on the short genes to me – I stand about 5’2. Sometimes it makes my life harder by being so short, but there are also advantages.  For one thing, I can easily walk under cabinets that people leave open in the kitchen!   Another advantage is that if I fall, I don’t have as far to go before reaching the ground.

The disadvantages of being so short are numerous.  It is really frustrating when I try to get something off a tall shelf at the grocery store.  It never fails, the very item that I need is always the highest up.  I have to go on the hunt for a tall person, and use every ounce of “charm” that I have, to enlist their help. This happens at home too, when someone else unloads the dishwasher and puts my favorite glass on the top shelf.  I usually have to retrieve the step stool on a daily basis, even at home!

I didn’t let it stop me!

When I was in Jr. High School, I always loved to play basketball during P.E. and considering my height, I was pretty darned good (if I do say so myself!).  I remember my friends joking though, as I put all my brute force behind the ball as I swung it behind me, then hurled it toward the basketball hoops. I’m sure it was quite a sight, but hey – it worked!

If I had to choose between being really short or really tall, I think I would still choose being short. After all, I can put on heels. And I don’t tower over my husband

How tall are you? Do you wish you were taller? Shorter?

I’ve explained in my past couple of Ball Park franks posts how men are easier fed than understood.  I realize this more each and every day, as my husband so kindly compliments me after every homemade meal.  I believe the way to their hearts are through their stomach (I guess it’s a good thing I am an excellent cook – if I do say so myself!).

My husband, bless his heart, tries to do most of the projects around our house (you know – like Tim Taylor). He is good at many of them, but electrical work is just not his thing. I cannot count the number of times he has zapped himself when working with wires. It scares the living daylights out of me. I don’t understand why he tries anymore, but at least I do understand something about him – his stomach.

Speaking of food, I have learned over the years to always be prepared for unexpected guests, and especially for those times when my hubby’s friends stop by unannounced (and hungry).  Of course, I am usually not in the mood to create a huge meal for his friends at the drop of a hat, so I try to keep things on hand that will help me serve up something easy and tasty.

Some of my favorite things to always have in the refrigerator are Ball Park Franks, and all of the fixins’ for hot dogs, including relish, ketchup, mustard and cheese.  These things all keep really well, so throwing something together is a breeze.  In addition to franks in the fridge, I always keep Ball Park buns in the freezer!  I also keep a few cans of chili con carne, and tortilla or corn chips,  in the cabinet.  I throw the chili in a big pot, slice up some Ball Park Franks and warm thoroughly.  I pour the chili and franks over the chips, top with a little sour cream and cheese and voila – a yummy plate of nachos is ready.  I love how inexpensive this idea is too!  I get rave reviews every time I make this, and I feel good knowing that I have taken care of a group of hungry bellies.

Another thing I like to make (and my mom used to make these for me), is to slice a Ball Park Frank in half lengthwise (but not all the way through), spread the frank flat and add cheese in the middle.  Lay these out on a cookie sheet and place in the oven until the cheese is melted.  These can be cut in half, or in thirds and placed on a platter with toothpicks.

We will probably never understand men, and the crazy things they say and do, but it is certainly easy to understand their love for food.   Men are definitely easier fed than understood.

Whether you’re enjoying a day with the family or stocking up the fridge for those unexpected guy get-togethers, Ball Park has you covered offering a variety of beef, meat and turkey products, including a line of Angus Beef and Deli Style Franks as well as a line of better-for-you options like Smoked White Turkey Franks. The possibilities are endless! If you need inspiration for cooking with Ball Park Franks, make sure you check out their recipes!   I’d love to hear your ideas on how you use them.  What food items do you keep on hand for friends that stop by? Do you have any easy recipes you’d like to share? I’m always open to new ideas!

Make sure you follow Ball Park on Facebook to keep up with the latest news, promotions and more!

*This is a sponsored post. Ball Park product and additional incentives were provided to me. All opinions stated are my own.

I am extremely picky about my pillows. They cannot hoist my head too high, and they cannot be so thin that I feel like there isn’t even a pillow under my head. I like them firm but not too hard, and soft enough to cushion my head without the sides surrounding my face. See what I mean?

To say I was ecstatic when I learned that I would be reviewing a Nature’s Sleep Vitex Memory Foam Pillow would be an understatement. I did worry of course, since I am so particular. Would it be perfect? Would it only be so-so? The day my new memory foam pillow arrived, I was one happy girl.

When I was asked to choose which pillow I would like for review, I had a difficult time, as they each had features that I liked. The Exo Tex pillow is a 100% organic pillow which is packaged in natural and earth friendly materials (good for those who want to breathe clean air). The Azlon/Soybean pillows allow you to enjoy the natural benefits of Azlon fiber from soybean and corn. Visco Memory pillows are temperature sensitive pillows which conform which conform to the contours of the head and neck (now THIS sounds pretty spectacular too!). The Faux Down pillows also form to the head and neck but they have the feel of down, at a really affordable price.  Finally, the pillow I chose – the Vitex Memory Foam Pillow ($135):

I chose this pillow for several reasons – I love that it responds to my body temperature and weight. Since I am middle-aged now (and suffer from hot flashes), this is really important to me. I often get overheated at night, and some pillows I have had in the past are simply too hot (I’ve noticed this mostly with memory foam pillows). When I am comfortable temperature wise, it leads to a better night’s sleep, which ultimately makes me a happier person (and the people around me daily also appreciate this!).

Since I have been using the Nature’s Sleep Vitex Memory Foam pillow, I have noticed how much better I feel in the morning. It cradles my head and neck perfectly, which reduces the aches and pains I usually have upon waking. Each night when I hop into bed and lay my head on my new pillow, I feel my tensions melt away. Now THAT is something to be happy about.

In addition to their fabulous selection of pillows, Nature’s Sleep has swoon-worthy mattresses. You may have heard that my husband and I are in escrow! Yes, we finally found our retirement home, and it is gorgeous. I was just telling my husband how much I am enjoying my new pillow, and how I would love to get a Nature’s Sleep mattress for our new home. The bed we have currently is just okay, but I want the bed of all beds for our gorgeous new bedroom. I want us to be comfortable and not hurt in the mornings. My husband has a bad back, and he deserves a bed that will offer the support he needs. Look at this beauty:

I.must.have.this.bed. MUST! We will be buying new furnishings for our retirement home shortly, and I have even bookmarked this bed.

I am smitten with Nature’s Sleep products. I love that most of their products are washable, anti-microbial, anti-dust mite, anti-bacterial and allergen resistant. If you suffer from allergies, you definitely want to check out their products. I also love that Nature’s Sleep is an environmentally minded company.

Good news – use this Nature’s Sleep Discount Code to take 50% off for any purchase off of the website: BEARS50.

I am SO happy to announce that the wonderful folks at Nature’s Sleep are letting me give away the same pillow that I received!

THE GIVEAWAY:

One winner will receive a Nature’s Sleep Vitex Memory Foam Pillow ($135 value!)

***NOTE: DO NOT STUMBLE GIVEAWAYS!***

REQUIRED ENTRY: Take a look around on the Nature’s Sleep website. Come back and tell me in a comment what is another product you love!

Welcome to Monday Mingle!

Monday Mingle Questions for 2012
Monday Mingle Instructions
Previous Monday Mingles.

Current questions
1. If your family was a reality show, what would it be called?
2. Were you in Girl Scouts, Brownies, etc.?
3. On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like your first name (10 best, 1 least)

NOTE: If you link your Monday Mingle, make sure you comment on other mingles.  It’s just a nice thing to do  Also, don’t forget to check back later in the week, as some people post throughout the week.

If you have a home party business, make sure you check out Monday Mingle Business Edition at Party Plan Divas!

THIS IS NOT A GIVEAWAY LINKY, OR A LINKY TO ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS! PLEASE ONLY USE THIS LINKY IF YOU HAVE POSTED A MONDAY MINGLE ON YOUR BLOG! Thank you.

I mentioned that our little one refers to our weekly music together class as “school”. That totally tickles me! Our Music Together classes are filled with upbeat songs, dancing, and instrument play. Ruby has really blossomed in this setting and this week even ran around the group – twice! You know that kid that doesn’t really listen and just does their own thing? That was my girl this week and I loved every single minute of it! Our awesome teacher Miss Liz has created a safe and fun environment that my girl feels so comfortable in that she left my side. That is huge for us.

Let me talk about the music cd’s that we were given at our Music Together class. There are 2 cd’s provided with each semester class. One for the car and one for the house or however you want to divide them up. We listen in the car more than at home but over the course of the past 5 weeks our little girl sings and does the motions while we are running errands.

I couldn’t ask for a better result from our daughter. Ruby has a delay in her speech and we have weekly sessions with a therapist. To hear her put multiple words together in song is music to her mama’s ears.

Do you have a Music Together class in your area? I’ll bet you do and they are probably starting to sign up for Spring Classes right now. Check them out with your family and see the smiles and joy that it will bring your little one.

*Jessie was provided free music classes for posting about her experience.

Do you love Rafflecopter giveaways?  Now you can have them all in one convenient place!  A new linky post will go up each Saturday.

Introducing the Rafflecopter ONLY Giveaway Linky!

Please enter your Blog Name/Prize, and the directly link to your giveaway.

**THIS LINKY IS ONLY FOR RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAYS!**

If you would like to list a giveaway that is not using Rafflecopter, please feel free to list them on Link em Up Thursday Giveaway linky.

Before leaving, please tweet this to help me spread the word – thanks! If you see any giveaways on the linky that aren’t using Rafflecopter, please let me know the entry # in a comment and I will remove it

PLEASE RETWEET THIS POST!

RT:  New! Rafflecopter ONLY Giveaway Linky! List and find giveaways that use Rafflecopter for entries. http://eightymphmom.com

**THIS LINKY IS ONLY FOR RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAYS!**

Please put the direct link to the giveaway, the prize, end date and if the giveaway is open to US, US and Canada or Worldwide.