Wisconsin Mommy

Dawn Power Clean Cuts Grease and Saves Time

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen Fitzgerald) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 01:55:00 +0000

I hate doing dishes. There, I said it. I know that nobody likes doing dishes but I really hate it. My hate seems to be proportionate to the amount of yuck on said dishes.

Wiping off a few plates - mild hate.
Scrubbing burnt on food and greasy messes - hate that burns with the heat of a thousand suns.

I am usually tempted to leave the mess soaking in the sink overnight. It does soften up baked on food but then I am left to face a mess in the sink (now soaking in dirty cold water - ewww!) first thing in the morning. The only thing I hate worse than a sink full of gross dishes is a sink full of gross dishes first thing in the morning before I've had my coffee!

Luckily, Dawn has come up with a solution to my problem: new Dawn Power Clean with micro-scrubbing enzymes. This new formulation of an old favorite allows you to get the benefits of an overnight soak in a mere 5 minutes. That means I can put my mess in the sink to soak while I get things ready for the next morning (alleviating even more stress by making my morning run that much more smoothly) and by the time the lunches are packed, the dishes are ready to be tackled.

I was thrilled to be able to put Dawn Power Clean to a five minute test of my own. I ~~created a mess~~ cooked dinner and then set the pots and pans to soak for 5 minutes in Dawn Power Clean.

Sure enough, the baked on mess in my pressure cooker came off as easily as if I had soaked it over night. The other dishes that had soaked with the greasy mess rinsed clear and squeaky clean. Color me impressed!

I encourage you to take your own 5 minute challenge and let me know what you think. Try it on your worst mess - baked lasagna with extra cheese, meatloaf, or whatever you dread cleaning up after! I can't wait to hear about your experience.

Looking to connect with Dawn online? Be sure to check out their Facebook page, Twitter profile and web site.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Dawn blogging program, to earn My SocialMoms Rewards Points, and I received free product for participating. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own. To read more posts on this topic, click here.

Band-Aid Magic Vision App Takes the Sting Out of Owies

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen Fitzgerald) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 00:43:00 +0000

Even though LJ is 7 almost 8 (I keep getting corrected about that!), he still gets a bit over dramatic about every little cut and scrape. If I don't distract him, he will go on about the tiniest paper cut for hours.

Band- Aid and the Muppets have teamed up to help moms distract their kids from their minor scratches and bumps with the new Band-Aid Magic Vision App. Once you have downloaded the free app, you can use your iPhone 4, 4S, iPad 2 or new iPad to scan the Band-Aid and magically, one of the Muppet characters will spring up out of the Band-Aid and start singing or talking.

The app basically superimposes the character onto your own surroundings (so you have have Kermit swinging off of your child's arm or Miss Piggy standing on your child's head). You can interact with the characters by swinging your phone back and forth to make Kermit swing higher or interact with other characters in a variety of ways. You can also capture the moment by taking a photo.

I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Band-Aid Brand Adhesive Bandages and received a promotional item to thank me for my participation

Keep Your Kids Active This Summer With Packers Football Camp (and a giveaway!!) #eatlikeapacker

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen Fitzgerald) — Wed, 23 May 2012 17:07:00 +0000

It's no secret that today's kids are generally not as active as kids from past generations. Parents seem to fight a loosing battle against technology when it come to capturing kids' interest and our efforts to keep them active. Luckily for parents in Wisconsin, we have some help from none other than the Green Bay Packers Youth Football Camp!

Kids are more likely to exercise if it is a fun activity that they don't necessarily think of as exercise per se. If you ask LJ if he likes to exercise, he would say no. But ask him what he likes to do and he will tell you "play sports, ride bikes, hike, and run". Funny how kids think, huh? Seems that LJ isn't the only one: “Kids do Packers Youth Football Camps because they are fun,” says Tom Finks, Executive Director of Green Bay Packers Youth Football Camps. “They don’t know that there is this big, underlying health initiative happening underneath all the fun-filled activities.”

The Green Bay Packers Youth Football Camps are safe, non-contact instruction for kids ages 6-14 and are very suitable for any kid that just wants to learn the game. They provide a station-based training format that allows campers to be divided by age and experience level so each receives the right level of instruction and support. Kids will learn to run, throw, catch, defend, form block, form tackle and explode out of their stance with proper technique and improved speed. The camps, which each run for 5 days from 9am to 3pm (that’s 30 hours active learning, instruction and fun!), do more than just introduce kids to sports, they make kids passionate about being healthy and help develop a lifelong love of fitness.

Personally, I love the idea that the kids are divided up by age AND skill levels, so every kid is working at a level where they feel comfortable. I also like that it is non-contact (even though I'm sure LJ would disagree!). Camps are held throughout Wisconsin and there is probably a camp right near you. Click here for specific camp dates and locations.

Has there been someone who has influenced your child to live a more active, healthier life? Say "thank you" by visiting the Green Bay Packers Youth Football Camps Facebook page to nominate that “Healthy Hero” who has made an impact on your child’s life. The ‘Hero’ can be someone you know or just someone you admire. One “Hero” will be selected and featured in an upcoming Green Bay Packers Youth Football blog.

Tips for Parents from Green Bay Packers Youth Football Camps:

Focus on New Achievements:

Kids love learning new skills and are always excited to succeed. “At our camps, through fun skill challenges, fun competitions and fun games, kids exert themselves—often beyond their normal comfort level,” says Finks. Finks suggests introducing your child to a new skill—making great catches, running faster, setting an obstacle record, etc., which will often get your child to push him or herself on their own. “The fitness discovery is indirect,” adds Finks. “They experience an increased work capacity or ability. They see that they can move faster and longer than they ever imagined and for a longer period of time. That experience raises their understanding of what their bodies can achieve.”

Talk about the Affects of Exercise:

Once kids begin exercising regularly, they will notice how different their body feels. “They are relaxed, they sleep well, they are happy,” adds Finks. “Their body may be tired, but it’s a ‘good tired’ and parents should openly talk about this.” This is also a great time to begin talking about how the foods you put in your body affect how your body performs. Off the field moments during camps include nutritional education games, interactive classroom activities such as “Eat Like a Packer” and lunch hours for kids and coaches. There is even an interactive online game called “Eat Like a Pro”—which is a great tool for starting the parent/kid nutrition discussion “Kids are now primed to consider what kinds of foods will help them perform better tomorrow than they did today,” says Finks. “You want them to begin thinking about what foods provide them energy, repair muscles and help them feel great.”

Provide Proper Motivation:

Just as all kids are different, all kids are motivated by different things. Parents need to tap into the one or two things that will motivate their child to try his or her hardest and do their best. “At camps, kids want to run hard for different reasons. From making a great catch to winning a leadership award,” says Finks. “Either way, that child is going to give it everything he has to achieve his own personal goal.”

Giveaway:

One lucky Wisconsin Mommy reader will win a Green Bay Packers Youth Football Camps prize package that will include:
2 G-Force Water applied tattoos
1 G-Force beaded necklace
1 G-Force Sticker
1 “Return to Titletown” story of the 2010 Super Bowl Packers—soft cover

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This post is brought to you in partnership with Packers Youth Football Camps and the Wisconsin Mom Squad.

Shopping for Energy Efficient Light Bulbs #GELighting #Cbias

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen Fitzgerald) — Wed, 23 May 2012 00:45:00 +0000

When we first finished off our lower level, we outfitted all of the lighting fixtures with (then newly released) CFL bulbs. We had heard that they were very energy efficient and would save us lots of money. They were expensive, but we figured that they were an investment as we were told that they lasted about 7 years.

No sooner had we screwed the last one in when we began discovering a few things we didn't like so much about them. We found that they took a few minutes to "warm up" when we turned them on. Once they were on, the light was harsh and very "white", which I didn't like. We also found that they did not work with the dimmer switches we had installed. When they began burning out after just a few months of use (seems the seven years referred to a bulb that was constantly on, not one that was turned on and off frequently like ours were), we decided to go back to the traditional bulbs.

Many years later, I'm ready to give the new energy efficient bulbs a try. GE has made lots of improvements on those bulbs we tried years ago. (I like to think of them as the beta batch!) Today's lights are much lower in price, have an instant on feature - no warming up, and come in a "soft white" light just like the incandescent bulbs.

I was invited to shop for some GE energy efficient bulbs to put around my house and see what kind of savings I might be able to rack up. LJ and I set off to my local Walmart to see what we could find.

Right away I saw a sign talking about special pricing for energy efficient bulbs!

It was kind of cool to see special displays around the store featuring the bulbs as well.

I like the idea of these bulbs since they are a more traditional shape, give off the "soft white" light, and are only $5 and change each.

I was really interested in this LED bulb. It claims to last over 22 years!! Plus I like the fact that it doesn't have any mercury in it. While we are careful to properly dispose of our CFL bulbs, not everyone is and I shutter to think of all that mercury getting into our drinking water. LED bulbs solve that particular concern. The price is a bit higher at $39.88 per bulb, but I hope that will come down as these become more common.

We eventually decided to grab one LED bulb and several of the CFL soft white so we could compare the difference and see which we like better. We figured out how much we would save using GE's handy savings calculator (and you can too).

Because the calculator only factors CFL bulbs, the numbers I will share with you do not reflect the added savings from our LED bulb. Just by replacing 3 bulbs in our family room with CFL bulbs, we will be saving over $23 a year and about $130 over the life of the bulbs. Not bad, huh?

So what are my thoughts? The GE Soft White Halogen CFLs really do feel more like the traditional bulbs than any other I've tried. They dim without any problems and will work for me in most areas. I could see myself using them all over the house. The "Bright From the Start" feature means no more lag time between flicking the switch and getting full light. They really have come a long way!

I really like the LED light, but the price makes me hesitate to put them all over the house. Now, if it really does last 22 years, it would be more than worth it for those need-a-ladder-to-change-the-bulb cathedral ceiling fixtures, wouldn't it?!

For more information, check out this video:

or connect with GE on Twitter and Facebook.

Save even more!!!

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 ™. #CBias #SocialFabric

Our Trip to Donate to Our Local Animal Shelter #ILoveMyK9

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen Fitzgerald) — Mon, 21 May 2012 17:57:00 +0000

If you've read this blog at all over the last two months, you know we adopted a dog (Roofus) from a local Humane Society Shelter. I was actually not too excited about adopting a shelter dog - I was leaning more toward buying a puppy from a breeder. I mistakenly thought that all of the dogs in shelters were either very old or problem dogs.

I couldn't have been more wrong!

Not only did we get an exceptionally loving and calm (as in really mellow) sweet dog under two years old, he came already potty trained and knowing a lot of basic commands such as sit and stay. Most of the other dogs in the shelter were puppies (so there goes that idea of old dogs - I think we only saw one or two over 4 years old) and none would be described as "problem" dogs. Our shelter even color codes them by personality so that you can get a dog that best matches your family's style.

I've always know the issues surrounding puppy mills and would never buy a dog from a pet store, but since our shelter experience, I have really come to respect what a wonderful service our local Humane Society Shelters offer. LJ has already announced that he'd like to volunteer there when he is old enough to be a dog walker.

When LJ and I were given the opportunity to donate some Del Monte dog treats to a worthy cause, we knew right away we wanted to give them to the shelter where we got Roofus. We were able to look up what they needed on their wish list and saw they were in need of treats for training and rewards. No wonder Roofus has such a love of Pup-Peroni, Milo's Homestyle Treats, and Milkbone treats - that what he got at the shelter!

LJ and I headed off to Walmart to pick up some supplies to donate to the shelter together.

LJ very carefully picked out the varieties of Pup-Peroni he thought the dogs would like best.

The Milo's Homestyle Treats stumped him a bit since there were so many difference choices!

He wound up grabbing one of each!

I had really wanted to make a nice cute gift basket, but we were able to get so many treats with Walmart's low prices that they wouldn't fit in the basket. Add in the two bags of dog food and we needed a box!!

The shelter we were headed to is about 40 minutes away, so we all loaded into the car and set off for our road trip.

We were so impressed that the ladies at the shelter remembered Roofus.

They were so happy to see him doing well!

It was a good thing that this little guy was already spoken for - LJ and I were both tempted to bring him home with us!!

I encourage you to look at your local shelter before purchasing a dog or puppy from somewhere else. There are so many beautiful, loving dogs who need a good home. If you are able to support your local shelter with a cash or goods donation, they will be most grateful for any help they receive!

Connect with the brands mentioned in this post online:

Milk Bone - http://www.milkbone.com
Pup-Peroni - http://www.pupperoni.com/
Milo’s Homestyle Kitchen - http://miloskitchen.com/
Milk Bone - https://twitter.com/#!/milkbone
Pup-Peroni - https://twitter.com/#!/PupPeroni
Milk Bone Facebook http://www.facebook.com/itsgoodtogivemilkbone

Want a coupon to grab some treats for your furry friend??? Get one right here: http://ilovemyk9.com/

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™. #CBias #SocialFabric As always, my opinions are my own. The Wisconsin Humane Society was not involved in this campaign except as gracious recipients of our donations.

Soy Protein Breakfast Recipes (Giveaway)

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen Fitzgerald) — Mon, 21 May 2012 01:39:00 +0000

Breakfast seems to always be a challenge in our house. Some of us (me) like to sleep in until the last possible minute and not get up a second before we have to. Others (Jay and LJ) love to hit the ground running the second their eyes open and don't want to be slowed down from what they want to get done. Either way, it is all too easy to overlook breakfast.

Since LJ started school, we've been getting better about making sure every member of the house has a good breakfast before they leave. We started off with cereal (since it's one of the few quick and easy things LJ likes), but found that it doesn't always keep him full until lunch. His teacher doesn't always make time for morning snack and when LJ is in a growth spurt (which seems to be most of the time!), cereal leaves him hungry for most of the morning.

We realized that we needed more protein in our breakfasts - for all of us, not just LJ. LJ isn't a very big fan of eggs, so we looked to a few other sources. I'm going to share some of our favorite recipes below. These recipes take advantage of soy as a protein source. Soy protein is a great addition to a child's diet – it is a nutritionally complete source of protein that can help children meet their daily protein intake needs to support growth and development. Soy protein is a good alternative for children with milk, egg or peanut allergies and is naturally low in fat and saturated fat. Moreover, multiple studies show children who incorporate soy foods into their diets at an early age have lower body mass indices than those who do not.

Two super easy and quick smoothie recipes (great for mornings when we need to bring breakfast with us in the car). If you like your smoothies sweeter, add 2 tbs of agave, honey or other healthy sweetener. Each smoothie recipe serves two average eaters - or one really hungry person.

Chocolate Banana Soy Smoothie
1 C. 8th Continent Lite Chocolate Soy Milk

2 tbsp high quality cocoa powder

1 banana (more ripe is better than less ripe)

1/4 C ice

Blend in blender until smooth and enjoy!

Very Berry Vanilla Smoothie

1C. 8th Continent Lite Vanilla Soy Milk

1 C. of your favorite berries - we love strawberries and/or raspberries!

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1/4 C. ice

Blend until smooth and enjoy!

We also had the chance to try Kellogg's Special K Protein Plus and I found that the recommended serving of 3/4 C plus a good topping of fruit kept me satisfied straight through until lunch. LJ wasn't as crazy about the cereal, but I really liked it.

As you know, this past Sunday was Mother's Day. After an unexpected trip to the animal hospital (Roofus caught a bird and then promptly started getting sick to his stomach - a lot. The animal hospital was wonderful and gave him an anti-nausea medicine and lots of fluids and he seems back to normal now *fingers crossed*) we had our traditional Mother's Day brunch at our house. One of my favorite recipes is a sausage, egg, and cheese casserole. I made a few substitutions to boost it's protein power even more. The great thing is that you prepare the dish the night before and just bake it in the morning - easy peasy!!

Maureen's Mother's Day Sausage, Egg and Cheese Casserole
Serves 6 to 8

6 slices of bread

1/2 to 3/4 ibs. of your favorite Morningstar Farms sausage product (we used the maple flavored patties)

1 C. cheddar cheese

6 eggs

2 C. unflavored 8th Continent Soy Milk

1/2 tsp. mustard

Grease a 9x13 pan and fill with 1 inch cubes of bread. Chop sausage patties into 1/4 inch pieces. Toss with cheese and bread in baking dish. Mix eggs, milk, and mustard in blender and pour over bread mixture. Cover and refrigerate overnight (or at least 2 hours). Bake uncovered at 350 degrees until set and lightly browned on top - about 40 to 50 minutes.

I hope these recipes give you some ideas of quick and easy breakfasts that will have real staying power as you and your family go through your busy days!

Now for the giveaway!!!

The winner will get:

Brunch Soyrèe Prize Pack:

2 Free 8^th Continent Soymilk coupons
12 oz. on-the-go cereal bowl with freezer gel milk holder
Children’s apron
16 oz. Tumbler

To enter, leave a comment below telling me what your favorite breakfast meal is.

(Be sure I can find an email address to reach you should you win either in your email or your profile.) A winner will be chosen via random.org on June 1st.

Solae provided me with a prize pack to giveaway to my readers, as well as a gift card and soyrèe goodies.

Cesar Cookie Crunchies Dog Treat Review

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen Fitzgerald) — Tue, 15 May 2012 02:33:00 +0000

After thirty-something years of never owning a dog, I finally get it. I went from reluctantly letting LJ play with Roofus at the shelter to agreeing to take him home with us to loving him like he has been a member of the family forever.

The more time Roofus spends with us, the more I realize he really is LJ's dog - they both have allergies (Seriously? Dogs can have seasonal allergies??? I need a canine version of the Claritin Moms Crew!) and they both are super picky eaters. I'm pretty sure I have the only dog on the block who actually turns down treats if they aren't up to his standards. On the positive side, he doesn't leap to eat food that falls on the floor as apparently much of it is not up to par.

I was curious what would happen when I was given Cesar Cookie Crunchies to review. Would Roofus turn up his nose at them or give them two paws up? I thought it was a good sign when he practically jumped inside the box that they came in!

Sure enough - he loved both the filet mignon AND the chicken flavors. These cookies are not too high in calories and make a perfect treat for small dogs. Cesar makes all kinds of treats in addition to the Cookie Crunchies - soft treats in a variety of flavors. Roofus is looking forward to trying ALL of them!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Cesar and received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Multi-tasking with the V-tech Phone

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen Fitzgerald) — Mon, 14 May 2012 00:38:00 +0000

As someone who runs a business from home, my days are often full of conference calls and other important tasks on the phone. Nine times out of ten, I need to be able to type on my computer while I'm busy chatting away.

I very quickly realized that the whole tuck-the-phone-between-your-ear-and-shoulder move was going to result in some serious chiropractic appointments if I kept it up. I tried using the speaker phone but found the sound quality lacking and the other person could hear every tap of the keyboard or shuffle of paper. I tried a headphone device that plugged into my phone headset, but it still did not provide good enough quality sound.

When I was offered the chance to try a V-tech phone that has a wireless headset with a noise cancelling microphone, I thought this might be a great solution to my dilemma!

The VTech LS6475-3 Multitasking system allows me to enjoy crystal clear call quality while offering a comfortable hands-free system. I have to admit that I've begun using it for more than just work calls. The headset has found its way out of my office and into my kitchen. I enjoy being able to chat with friends and family while I'm making dinner, doing the dishes, or even working in the garden! The high quality noise cancelling mic means that the person on the other end has no idea I'm doing anything other than sitting quietly in my chair (unless I tell them).

This phone is perfect for people for people who like to be able to do other things while talking on the phone but do not like sacrificing sound quality. The VTech LS6475-3 Multitasking system is expandable so that you can add additional headsets if needed. It includes a digital voice mailbox and voice announced caller ID (love this feature!!) and retails for about $99. It would make a perfect gift for any busy parent (think Mother's and Father's Day gift people!) or anyone who uses the phone ~~a lot~~ at all!

You learn more by connecting with V-Tech on Facebook and/or on Twitter.

I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of VTech and received a product sample to facilitate my review.

National Mom's Nite Out - Milwaukee Area

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen Fitzgerald) — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:27:00 +0000

I'm thrilled to working with our own local SIMON Mall to bring you the third annual Milwaukee areas National Mom's Nite Out!!

If you are like me, an excuse to get out with some girlfriends is always welcome and National Mom's Nite Out is just that excuse! Come on down to Southridge Mall this Thursday from 5 pm to 8 pm and enjoy some refreshments, makeovers, entertainment, and - if you're early enough - goodie bags!

Hope to see you there!!

The Fairy Hobmother Brightens My Day

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen Fitzgerald) — Tue, 08 May 2012 16:48:00 +0000

The other day was one of those days that just wasn't a good one. Nothing horrible happened - nobody died, got into an accident or even threw up. It was just one of those days where there were a bunch of little things: a project I was working on hit a glitch causing me to spend hours trying to get it back on track, I spilled coffee all over myself, those kinds of things. And after you have a bunch of little things go wrong, it starts to feel like a bad day.

At one point during the afternoon, I checked my email and immediately my bad day turned around. I had been visited by the Fairy Hobmother!

You are probably wondering who the Fairy Hobmother is...(so was I!)

The Fairy Hobmother (aka Matt) visits bloggers all over the web and brightens their day by gifting them an Amazon gift card to do with what they please and maybe even treat themselves to something special. How nice is that??

And I'll let you in on a little secret...the way the fairy finds new bloggers is by looking through the comments that are left on the posts by the folks who have already been gifted. So if you are in need of a little gift to brighten your day, leave a comment and maybe the Fairy Hobmother will visit you too!!

Twitter Party: Great Day To Be A Dog! #ILoveMyK9

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen Fitzgerald) — Wed, 02 May 2012 16:43:00 +0000

Wisconsin Doggy (aka Roofus) is so excited about the upcoming Great Day to be a Dog Twitter Party that he is already dressed in his party hat and ready to go!

We hope that you will join us in discussing all things related to pampering our pooches! And of course, there will be great prizes involved as well.

You need to RSVP in order to be eligible to win any of our fabulous prizes, so be sure to add your Twitter handle to the linky and mark your calendar so you don’t forget! You can find a customized TweetGrid here to help you follow along.

Details:

When: Friday, May 11th from 1-2 pm EST (12-1 pm CST).

Where: On Twitter, using the hashtag #iLoveMyK9.

Who: Be sure to follow the hosts @WisconsinMommy and @tsue1136

Custom Tweetgrid: http://bit.ly/Iqr1oJ

Prizes: We will be giving away three $25 Walmart gift cards and one $100 Walmart gift card.

(When entering your info in the linky, put your Twitter page in the spot that asks for a post URL. Ex: http://www.twitter.com/WisconsinMommy )

The legal rules and other fine print:
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. VOID WHERE TAXED, PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED BY LAW. Subject to Official Rules. Open only to residents of the United States.

Enter by RSVPing for the Twitter party on the link above, be actively participating in the party and are using the hashtag #iLoveMyK9. To be eligible, entries must be received by 155 p.m. EST except that mail in entries must be mailed separately and postmarked by May 7th, 2012 . To enter without purchase, hand write your name, completed address, age and telephone number on a 3”x5” card and mail it to Collective Bias, 205 S. Main Street, Ste. 1, Bentonville, AR 72712.

Prizes will be limited to 3 $25 Walmart GC and 1 $100 Walmart GC and will be given away every 15 minutes during the 1 hour duration of the party on May 11, 2012. The grand prize of $100 Walmart GC to 1 winner will be given away at the close of the party. All winners will be chosen using random.org from the RSVP link and winners must be present and participating in the party using the hashtag #iLoveMyK9 at the time that they are drawn as a winner. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. Winner will be notified via Twitter @ message by @tsue1136 during the party on May 11, 2012 and must respond to @tsue1136 within 5 minutes of being selected to claim their prize. All entries will be eligible for any unclaimed prizes after the close of the Twitter party via random drawing held on -two weeks after- .

To obtain a copy of the Official Rules, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Collective Bias, 205 S. Main Street, Ste. 1, Bentonville, AR 72712.

SPONSORS: Collective Bias, 205 S. Main Street, Ste. 1, Bentonville, AR 72712

All winners will be chosen using random.org from the RSVP link and winners must be present and participating in the party at the time that they are drawn as a winner. There is a limit of 1 (one) prize per household during the party.

Adams Flea & Tick Protection For Your Dog

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen Fitzgerald) — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 20:15:00 +0000

It's beginning to dawn on me that getting a dog for the first time is a bit like bringing home your first baby. Okay, so far Roofus has been easier since we got him already potty trained and he really doesn't cry, but I've had a couple of flashback moments where I realize that I am responsible for protecting him from dangers I don't even know about yet.

One thing I did know to ask about during our first vet visit was flea and tick prevention. For some reason, I had a vision in my head of a flea collar that he would wear. Maybe that's some sort of old technology from when I was a kid or maybe I'm thinking of cats???? I don't know.

So imagine my surprise when my vet told me that flea and tick prevention is as easy as applying a small amount of liquid to my dog's skin each month! I know that my area was already reporting tick sightings back in February and that this season could be pretty bad. I've personally known several people who have battled Lyme Disease and do not want ticks ANYWHERE around my family. Just the mention of fleas makes me start itching (you're scratching now too, aren't you?) and I'd prefer not to have to deal with them either!

The folks at Adams sent over a three month supply of their Flea & Tick Spot On with their Smart Shield applicator. (Follow the link for a high value coupon!) This specially designed applicator makes the getting the treatment onto the dog's skin (important so that it can disburse properly) much easier. The fact that I could apply the treatment with one hand left my other hand free to hold the collar of my very wiggly dog. I also appreciated the telltale "click" that lets you know the proper amount has been applied.

The Adams treatment contains a formula that begins killing fleas and ticks within 15 minutes and goes after fleas eggs and larvae to prevent infestation for up to two months. It also kills and repels mosquitoes for up to four weeks. The formula is water resistant and contains lanolin for coat conditioning.

You can find Adams fleas and tick products for both dogs and cats in Walmart stores nationwide and they sell for a suggested retail price of $8.99 for a one month supply or $19.99 for a three month supply.

This review was made possible by Mom Spark Media. Thoughts and opinions are my own

5 Things that Helped Me Stick to My 28 Day #Walkabout Program

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen Fitzgerald) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 01:31:00 +0000

You may recall that I am participating in Dr. Weil's 28 Day Walkabout Program as an ambassador. Even though today is the last official day, I am telling myself that it is not really ending. I hope to take the things I've learned and the habits I've developed and roll them over for another 28 days, and then another, and....well you get the picture.

Over the last 28 days, I've learned a little bit about what gets me to stick with a walking program and I'd love to share a few of them:

1) Commitment. And I mean out loud to someone else, not that "I promise myself" kind. Knowing that I had made a commitment to walk every day helped on those cold and rainy days where I really didn't want to.

2) Motivation. I love gift cards. Being able to go into a favorite store and shop without "spending any money" is so much more fun, don't you think? So imagine my delight when I found a pedometer that rewards you for walking with gift cards!!! Seriously. The S2H (Switch2Health) line of products give you codes for your activities that can be submitted for gift cards to Target, iTunes, Walmart, and many other businesses. The S2H Step is a pedometer that gives you a code for every 10,000 steps. The more you walk, the more you earn. (Talk about motivation!)
I was provided a Step and a Reply to try.

3) Comfort. Having the right shoes made all the difference in my willingness to get out and walk each day. In the past, I have had trouble finding walking shoes that fit well and typically wound up with blisters and even plantar fasciitis from shoes that just weren't quite right. Dr. Weil sent along a pair of Rhythm Walkers from his Integrated Footwear shoe line and they made all the difference. They are very lightweight but (somehow) still supportive. I was walking four+ miles in them the first few days I had them and didn't have a single sore spot. In fact, I loved them so much, I am buying another pair!

4) Companionship. Having someone to walk with is a great motivator. Having someone who will make a mess on your rug if you don't walk is an even bigger motivator. As you probably know, we adopted Roofus (aka Wisconsin Doggy) just before the Walkabout started and the timing could not have been better. All pee jokes aside, it was great to have a buddy to walk with me each day, even if he did want to stop at every fire hydrant.

5) Community. All of the Walkabout Ambassadors had a private Facebook group where we could communicate and trade stories and accomplishments. While I couldn't participate as much as I would have liked, it was great to be able to log on and see what everyone else was up to. I know there's been talk of people keeping the page going, and I hope we do as it is nice to know that there are folks all over the country working toward the same goal that you are!

I've absolutely loved my time as a Walkabout Ambassador and cannot recommend Dr. Weil's Integrated Footwear highly enough if you are looking to start your own walking program.

As a #Walkabout Ambassador, I received shoes and other walking apparel as well as a few other goodies. All opinions and experiences shared on this website and other social media channels are my own and not influenced by any compensation.

Win an Amazon Kindle Fire!!

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen Fitzgerald) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:57:00 +0000

Been wanting an Amazon Kindle Fire??
I'm happy to share that my friends over at Fiberon Decking are giving one away!!

The composite decking, railing, and fencing company Fiberon is giving away an Amazon Kindle Fire
(prize information)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Decking giveaway powered by Rafflecopter

Smart Phone Apps Feature Kid-Friendly Fun in Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen Fitzgerald) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 16:48:00 +0000

Whether you’re new to Wisconsin or just here for a vacation, the Madison Loves Kids and Milwaukee Loves Kids smart phone applications help you find the nearest kid friendly venues no matter the season. Now available on the iTunes and Google Play, each app is available for $1.99.

Each entry includes suggestions and helpful hints along with one-click links to venue websites, phone numbers, and an interactive Google map. Developed by Wisconsin mom of three, Julie Henning contributes regularly to Madison Mamas and is an editor with the family travel website Road Trips for Families.

Organized alphabetically by name, distance, cost, or neighborhood, entries can also be sorted in categories such as: classes and events, farms and orchards, museums, parks and playgrounds, rainy days and tours, restaurants, sports and sports teams, stores, teens and tweens, and tots.

“Wisconsin is a fantastic place to raise children. Our family has had a ton of fun exploring the venues included in both the Madison and Milwaukee apps. Because we live in a four-season state, I’ve made sure to include both indoor and outdoor suggestions for families of all ages and interests. Look for an update with new entries about every three months.”

· Madison Loves Kids on iTunes

· Milwaukee Loves Kids on iTunes

· MadisonLoves Kids on Google Play

· MilwaukeeLoves Kids on Google Play

This post was made possible by a partnership with Julie Henning. Opinions expressed are my own. (And yes, I do use the app myself and was using it long before I actually met Julie in person!)

April is Stress Awareness Month #TCBYGrocery #CBias

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen Fitzgerald) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 16:46:00 +0000

Did you know that April is officially Stress Awareness Month? Kind of ironic considering it is the month when taxes are due, right? But seriously, I took a Stress Management class and did not know that there even was a Stress Awareness Month.

While I don't consider my life overly stressful (compared to folks who are really struggling financially or have jobs where people's lives are on the line), I do notice that it's become harder for me to unplug and unwind since I started working from home. I feel like there is always something I should be doing. Even when I watch TV at the end of the day, I'm usually folding laundry or something. I really have to give myself permission to just relax and do nothing.

I have a few favorite ways to unplug:

A good book.
I love losing myself in a good story. Right now I am working my way through the Hunger Games Trilogy (I know - a little late to the party, right?). My biggest challenge is my urge to sit and read until I'm done and ignore all of the stuff that needs my attention!

A hot bath.
I have always loved taking a bath and when we bought a house with a whirlpool tub, my addiction grew even more. Add some salts with a relaxing scent and a candle and I can just feel everything melt away.

These are my favorite!! They have a great one for if your nose is stuffed up too.

A walk.
I really wish I was one of those people who find it relaxing to exercise, but I'm not. I do like going for a peaceful walk, though. Add the company of a furry friend, and I'm feeling much better right away.

It was so windy that Roofus' ears were actually blowing in the wind!

A yummy snack.
This one I have to be careful of. I could easily end a bad day with an entire pint of Chunky Monkey and several chocolate bars - not a good thing! I have found that tricking myself by making a treat that is both yummy and healthy achieves the effect I am looking for without the stress of feeling guilty about what I ate.

I heard that TCBY had a line of delicious frozen yogurt at Walmart and set off to see what kind of healthy indulgence I could create.

Once I found the TCBY products (they were hidden in the "Novelty Ice Cream" section, I picked out several different treats to bring home: fudge bars, sandwiches, and tubs of vanilla (for Jay and I) and cookies and cream (LJ's favorite).

One of the "tricks" I play on myself is to load up the dish with fruit and then just add a small scoop of Frozen Yogurt and a drizzle of chocolate syrup.

Yummy, right???

The great thing is that the TCBY vanilla is only 110 calories per 1/2 cup serving and it tastes amazing. The vanilla bean specks are visible immediately and have to be what gives it that great flavor.

What do you do for stress relief?

Connect with TCBY via their Facebook page, Twitter account or official website.

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™. #CBias #SocialFabric

Shaklee Cleaners Giveaway Non-Toxic #GetClean

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen Fitzgerald) — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 02:06:00 +0000

When I first had LJ, I suddenly got very conscious about all of the chemicals in my home. I made a real effort to switch to only using non-toxic products, especially when it came to the floor and other areas where he could easily reach by himself.

As he got older and I became (fairly) confident that he would not be licking the floor or chewing on the toilet seat, I became a bit more relaxed about what I used in the house. I tried to keep to relatively "safe" cleaners, but went back to a few that I had used before out of habit.

Enter Roofus, our rescue dog, and suddenly I am feeling like a new mom all over again! Roofus does both lick the floor AND chew on anything he can reach, so I am feeling the need to get back to green and clean basics!

When I approached about doing a review of Shaklee Cleaners, I thought it would be a good match for our family. Not only are the Shaklee cleaning products free of harmful fumes and toxic chemicals, they use far less packaging and help reduce what goes into our local landfill. One of the things I have grown to love about the Shaklee line is that they have a product for just about every need I have: laundry detergent and dryer sheets, air and fabric refresher, cleaning wipres, bathroom cleaner, all purpose cleaner, glass cleaner, dish cleaners, you name it. And I have found that the best part is...they work!!

Want to try Shaklee cleaning products for yourself? Be sure to enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. The prize is a Shaklee Mini Household Kit!

a Rafflecopter giveaway This review and giveaway was made possible by the Shaklee Corporation & Mom Spark Media. Incentives, product and support were provided. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Information via CareOne Debt Relief Services

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen Fitzgerald) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 20:12:00 +0000

While the economy of the last few years has been tough on everyone, it has hit women and children especially hard. Just take a look:

Discovery World Discount Admission through GoGeddit

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen Fitzgerald) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 20:24:00 +0000

There are so many great family things to do in Milwaukee. One of our favorites is Discovery World - we've been going there on a regular basis since it opened. When LJ was little, he loved climbing all over the "Pirate Ship" (as he called it) and seeing the fish in the aquarium. These days, he's fascinated by the more "science-y" aspects and loves learning about the more advanced concepts. It has truly grown with him through each stage of his development and I know we certainly get our money's worth out of every ticket!

Right now, you can save even more on your Discovery World tickets which are good through September 1st through GoGeddit. That means you an head down to the lake on a gorgeous summer day and take advantage of 50% off admission at Discovery World!

Plus, GoGeddit is still running that great offer where you get $12 credit when you sign up, so that would be $5 for two Discovery World tickets. Can you beat that? I didn't think so!!

So scoot over to GoGeddit and grab this great deal before it disappears in the next few days!!

GoGeddit is a sponsor of WisconsinMommy.com. All opinions expressed are my own.

Feed Your Zoo at Home #iLovemyK9 #CBias

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen Fitzgerald) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 20:28:00 +0000

Okay, we don't really have a zoo at my house. We have added two pets in the last four months, though. First we got a fish, as sort of a trial run for LJ to practice being responsible for something else. Then, two weeks ago, we adopted a rescue dog from our local Humane Society shelter.

Meet Roofus (yes, LJ named him and insisted on that spelling). He is an absolute sweetie with a bit of a mischievous streak when we aren't watching.

It turns out that Roofus is a bit of a picky eater - perhaps he's already caught that from LJ? So I went off to Walmart to find yummy snacks for the whole family (including Roofus) and a family friendly movie to watch for family movie night. We watched the trailer for "We Bought A Zoo" and everyone agreed that would be a great one to watch. As luck would have it, Walmart is running a special deal where you can buy any 2 Del Monte pet products and get $4 off of the movie! (Del Monte pet products are being featured in Women’s World magazine and Parade magazine. Del Monte fruit cups with a $0.50-off coupon are being featured in First for Women magazine)

My local Walmart had plenty of dog treats to choose from.

And all the supplies I needed to make my human treats as well!

See more of my shopping trip here.
Once I was back home, I went about making the treats. I've put directions on how to make them below.

Peaches and Cream Wontons

First, put the wontons in a muffin tin. You will need two per section and should put them diagonal to each other so that they overlap and form a star.

Push the wontons down into each section and lightly brush with a little butter.

Put them in a 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes or until the edges are golden.

Next, scoop out some of the vanilla yogurt into a bowl and add cinnamon to taste. (I like a lot of cinnamon in mine!)

Put a scoopful of the yogurt mixture in each wonton.

Top with your favorite Del Monte fruit - we used Cinnamon and Brown Sugar Peaches. Finish with a dusting of cinnamon on top! Yum!!

Both humans and canine were happy with their snacks and settled in with full bellies to watch the movie!

You can connect with the brands mentioned in this post on their respective Twitter and Facebook pages -

Twitter: @MilkBone
Twitter: @PupPeroni
Twitter: @MeowMix
Twitter: @KibblesnBits
Twitter: @DelMonteFoods
Facebook: Del Monte Foods
Facebook: Kibbles ‘n Bits
Facebook: MilkBone

This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias As always, all opinions expressed are my own.

Zero Water Filter Review and Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen Fitzgerald) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:42:00 +0000

The town I live in has a well - actually several wells - that provide water for the residents. I actually grew up on well water, but we had a private well, just for our home and it was not treated other than going through an iron filter. The water we have now tastes nothing like the water I grew up on.

Even though it is not as heavily chlorinated as city water from Lake Michigan, the taste still bothers me and for a long time I drank bottled water. Eventually the guilt about the cost and waste of bottled water got to me and we began looking for a new way to get the water we needed.

We purchased a fridge with an in-door water dispenser that also filters the water. It improved the taste of the water quite a bit. I try to drink as much water as I can daily, and LJ is actually under doctor's orders to drink more as well, so we go through quite a bit of water each week.

When we were offered a Zero Water Pitcher to try, I thought "Sure, why not?". I knew our water was already filtered, so I didn't expect a big difference. But that was before I learned about dissolved solids.

Turns out that much of the water we have contains dissolved solids that can alter the taste and quality of the water. The cool thing is that the Zero Water Pitcher comes with a meter that measures the TDS (total dissolved solids) in your water so you can check how well it is working.

Here's how my results turned out:

First the tap water...

Next the water filtered through the fridge (this one surprised me!) ...

And then tap water after passing through the Zero Pitcher...

I have to say that the water from the Zero Pitcher is some of the best filtered water I've ever had. I also love that it has a handy push button spout, so LJ can pour himself a glass without having to try and lift the heavy pitcher!

Want to try this out for yourself? (Of course you do!!) I have two pitchers to give away to two lucky Wisconsin Mommy readers!! Enter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Want to purchase on right away? That's great!! You can buy one here, and be sure to use coupon code MC30 to get 30% off the 10 cup pitcher!!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of ZeroWater and received a water pitcher to facilitate my review, two pitchers to giveaway, and extra filters to thank me for taking the time to participate. All opinions are my own.

Tyson Breakfast Bowls Make Mornings Run More Smoothly #TysonBreakfast #CBias

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen Fitzgerald) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:44:00 +0000

Well, at least in my house they do!

I'm not sure what has happened to us, but suddenly we are having a much harder time getting going in the mornings. We've had a few of those "run out the door as the bus is pulling up" kind of mornings and decided things needed to change.

Yes, that lump under the covers is LJ!

My son, who used to wake up at the crack of dawn, is now sleeping in. (He's also eating a ton, so I suspect he is hitting another growth spurt. He's going to be wearing Jay's clothes before to long!)

And now that we've added another member to the family, his needs have to be taken care of as well.

He looks all sweet and serene, but he has a LOT of energy and needs frequent walks.

Finding ways to streamline the morning process became an absolute necessity, so here's what we're doing:

Making breakfast as easy as possible.

This means washing and cutting up fruit the night before so all I have to do is scoop it on the plates. It also means finding quick and satisfying meals that LJ will actually eat. Did I mention he is about the pickiest eater I have met? Thank goodness for Tyson Breakfast Bowls - they heat up in seconds, keep my growing boy full until lunch, and (most importantly) he LIKES them!!

Doing as much as we can the night before. (And teaching him the same habit - hopefully.)

We are making sure that, before LJ goes to bed at night, his backpack is packed with his homework and anything else he might need, his clothes for the next day are picked out, and he has already made a decision about what he would like for lunch.

Showering the night before. Not only does this save time in the morning (minus the time needed to tame the bedhead hair), but it helps his allergies by making sure all of the pollen is off of his hair before climbing into bed.

None of this has magically turned us into morning people, but at least the mornings are a little less stressful and go a little more smoothly!

This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias All opinions expressed are my own.

The Brother P-Touch Label Maker Follow Up

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen Fitzgerald) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 04:21:00 +0000

It's been a few months since I used my Brother P-touch Label Maker to help me organize my home office. I'm sure it wouldn't surprise you to learn that the labels I made aren't showing any wear, right? Most are on organizational boxes or on file tabs. They really don't take too much of a beating.

However, once I fell in love with the label maker I started labeling everything in the house. I hit the garage and labeled all those containers that are kicking around. I tackled the bathroom and labeled all my bins with beauty supplies. I even labeled things in the kitchen.

I was pretty confident the labels would hold up just fine - remember that experiment I did testing how durable they were? My kitchen labels were kind of a real life repeat of that test. I labeled my water bottle which goes with me everywhere and gets washed daily. Are you wondering how it looks after several months of banging around my tote bag and getting washed every night?

Take a look:

It seriously looks EXACTLY like it did the day I put it on. Despite sitting in a sink of dirty sudsy water each evening. Wow.

If that does not sell you on the Brother P-touch Label Maker, I'm not sure what will!

I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Brother P-Touch and received a product and gift card to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

Extreme Couponing Almost Drove Me Crazy

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen Fitzgerald) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 19:38:00 +0000

For the first eight or so years Jay and I were married, I didn't use coupons. None. (I know, what was I thinking?) The Sunday paper would come, I would leaf through the sale fliers, and toss the coupons aside. I thought they were all for processed foods we never used and that I didn't have the time to cut them out.

Then I went to a blogging conference and was seated at a table with a couple of deal bloggers. I sat there with my mouth hanging open as they told me all about how they managed to buy several carts of groceries for less than what I was spending on one bag. One blogger even told me that she hadn't paid for shampoo or conditioner for over two years. The kicker was that she used the exact same brand as me!

I was sold. I jumped into couponing whole hog. I put together a coupon binder - basically a trapper keeper with baseball card holder sheets inside - and started grabbing extra copies of the paper every weekend. (Local folks - the West Bend Daily News has both Red Plum AND Smart Source and only costs $1.) I started saving money. Not "Extreme Couponing" kind of money - we buy way too many fresh fruits, veggies, and organic items to walk out with a zero balance - but good money. I also started stocking up on the health and beauty items we use regularly when they had special deals that made them free or almost free.

And then the whole thing got away from me. As work got busier and my business got more successful, I began not having as much free time to clip and file. The papers started stocking up and coupons went unclipped until they were already expired. I started staying up way too late, trying to get control of the pile. I put off grocery shopping until I got caught up, which never happened. I started feeling guilty for taking time to myself when I had this huge stack of coupons that needed to be clipped and organized.

I got discouraged.

And then I discovered online coupons and coupon codes.

With online coupons, you can search them out and print them off as you need them. You don't have to spend time collecting extra papers, clipping and filing coupons. Plus, sites like CouponCodes4U have endless coupon codes for more than just grocery items. They have hot deals on stores you shop at everyday like Kohl's, Kmart, and Target.

So, I think I've finally found a happy balance. I'm not spending tons of time hunting down and cutting out coupons, but I am still saving enough to make me (and my wallet) happy. Do you use coupons? And if you do, are you using traditional, online, or both?

This post was brought to you in partnership with Coupons4U. All opinions and experiences are exclusively my own.

Brewers Opening Day Ticket Giveaway and Great Bargains at GoGeddit

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen Fitzgerald) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 22:08:00 +0000

This week GoGeddit is hosting a sweepstakes giving away four Milwaukee Brewer’s Opening Day tickets. The winner will be announced Wednesday, April 4.

GoGeddit is also giving away a $12 credit to all new subscribers. The $12 credit is applicable to all current and future deals.

Upcoming deals include partnerships with Lake Front Brewery, Pedal Tavern, Discovery World and more. Lake Front Brewery’s deal includes two tour tickets and a six pack of Lake Front beer totaling $14. Two Discovery World admission tickets can be purchased for $17 and two seats on the Pedal Tavern for $25. These deals will be available over the course of the next 2 weeks.

GoGeddit is an online promotional company that offers deals, hosts events and produces videos in the Milwaukee area. GoGeddit proudly shares one percent of all revenue with the Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer Fund (MACC).

For more information about GoGeddit and upcoming deals, please contact Richie Burke directly or visit www.GoGeddit.com.