Tuesday Free For All - 08/30

Okay, so here's my excuse for this week:

This week I had to postpone my giveaways one day because I didn't have all of the material at home to write the giveaways over the weekend. So I had to write them all last night. And that means I didn't leave myself time to do a full Free For All post.  Next week looks sketchy as well with the holiday weekend, but I'll try.

In the meantime, list your giveaways in the linky before AND/OR find some to enter! Don't forget to enter the four I have live RIGHT NOW!

Prefense Hand Sanitizer - 9/5

Carmex Prize Pack - 9/5

Happikins Cloth Napkins for Kids -9/5

$25 to The Ultimate Green Store - 9/5



Thanks!

(Back to School Blowout) Ultimate Green Store - Giveaway - CLOSED

NOTE:  At the request of the sponsor, this giveaway has been extended and changed in methods of entry.  The giveaway is now open via Rafflecopter and the entry methods can be seen below after the page cut.  Be sure to click over and enter even if you already have. Sorry for the confusion, but this will give you many more chances to enter!!

I don't know about yours, but our school highly encourages the use of eco-friendly/green products. It not only is friendly for the earth and the future generations, but it helps teach our children to respect their environment and make informed and responsible decisions.

And I love it.  I love that I have been able to provide our son with products that will not harm him or the planet to assist in his education.

One of the best places I have found online to buy these products is The Ultimate Green Store. Why are they one of the best?  They offer it all!  You can find school supplies that not only cover notebooks and paper, as you can more easily find out and about, but you can also find earth-friendly glue sticks and dry erase markers.

And they carry some of the cutest stuff!  Here is just a quick preview of some of their items:












We were sent a Laptop Lunchbox to try out with Patrick. It's a Bento style lunchbox that not only encourages the use of reusable containers, but it actually makes packing his lunch easier on me. Something about having premeasured little cups to fill takes a lot of thinking out of the process.








I like that you can take some compartments out and replace them with reusable snack pouches if you want. There is a storage area on the top where we have store reusable freezer packs to keep his food cold. The net storage holds the pack in place but keeps it from direct contact with the food, so the condensation from the pack doesn't get the food all soggy. There is a zippered pocket on the front where we put a reusable napkin for him each day.

There is also a little zippered feature on the side that expands to hold a reusable water bottle. If you have more than one kit, the small compartments have a place for the child's name so you can keep everyone's lunchbox items separate in and out of the fridge. They seriously thought of everything for this compact little tool!

The Ultimate Green Store wants to offer one of my readers the chance to win $25 to use to shop at their store! There are so many things to choose from! I can't imagine what I would do with $25 to shop there!

This giveaway is a little different than my usual giveaways. The Ultimate Green Store will be choosing a winner and notifying them directly!

The rules are as follows:

Each entrant must both like The Ultimate Green Store on Facebook AND sign up for their newsletter. When you sign up for the newsletter, tell them you came from Mrs Nespy's World in the contest code section to make sure you are entered in the correct giveaway.

(Back to School Blowout) - Campus Book Rentals - Review

Raise your hand if you’d love to save money on items that typically cost an outlandish amount of money?

Got your attention, didn’t I?

Well, for those of you who are in college, who have been to college, or have children (or grandchildren) in college, it is no surprise that one of the largest single costs associated with a traditional term of college is those textbooks! Those tomes that you have to carry around on your back as you hike across campus daily cost even more than they weigh, believe it or not!

I remember my first quarter in college when I purchased a HEAVILY used Calculus book for $170. And that was 14 years ago! It made me sick to my stomach!

Well, today there are a variety of ways to save money on textbooks. There are online retailers who can help you save more than your traditional local college bookstores.

But I want to introduce you to an even better solution: Renting textbooks via CampusBookRentals.com.


How is this a better solution? Well, even when you buy them as cheaply as possible, you STILL are faced with the necessity of either keeping them and loosing all of the money you paid for them OR trying to sell them back at a fraction of what you paid for them. Not only do you lose money if you are able to sell them back, but if you are lucky enough to have the previous edition of a book while the next quarter will be taught from a newer edition, you are simply stuck.

Not so with these guys. I wish I would have a way to rent textbooks!

CampusBookRentals.com is really easy to use! You simply search for the book you are looking for by ISBN, author, title, or keywords. Once you find your book, you can select a semester rental, a quarterly rental, a summer rental or even select your own return date to get the most for your money! Awesome!

That’s it! Just use someone else’s book and return. And yes…you can even highlight in it, so no need to worry about that!

What makes this site even better? Here are some of their features:

• Free shipping both ways! (WHAT?!)
• 30-Day risk free returns (in case you drop the class)
• No fees or paid memberships needed
• You’ll save 50-85% off typical book prices
• If you decide to keep the book, you just pay the difference between renting and buying.
• Live customer support
• Largest selection in the nation
• Flexible rental periods (which I already showed you)
• Proving themselves awesome since 2007

In addition to making your college experience as inexpensive as possible, CampusBookRentals.com is also donating money from each rental to Operation Smile, an organization that performs life changing cleft lip surgeries on children whose families could not otherwise afford it. They have the goal of donating enough money to provide a minimum of 1000 of these operations that will change the future of a child. This is their 4th year of giving back. You can read about their projects here. I LOVE a company that is socially responsible on top of their main business!

So, when starting the upcoming summer term or planning ahead for your soon to be high-school graduate, make sure you keep CampusBookRentals.com in mind. It might be one of the smartest financial decisions you could make toward your (or your child’s) education.


This post is a sponsored post by CampusBookRentals.com. However, I do not write about companies I do not believe in and the opinions expressed above are solely my own.

(Back to School Blowout) Happikins - Giveaway

Kids are messy. No one will deny that. And since they are, they can use up a LOT of napkins/paper towels/etc at any one meal setting. That amounts to a lot of waste in a landfill.

Happikins were created with that thought in mind. In fact, on their website, they state, "we believe in the products and what they stand for: making responsible products that reinforce the importance of thinking about the bigger picture for ourselves and our planet."

By creating products that are fun, high quality (and therefore seldom replaced) and encourage good habits, Happikins is doing much for the way of life of many children. They are learning responsibility for the earth naturally and with a fun twist.

Happikins cloth napkins for kids are made of 100% cotton (in most cases) and made to a great 12"x12" size for kids. With all of the fun pattern choices, what meal wouldn't be more fun with these by your side?





My son has been using his Happikins napkin for over a year now and still loves his "napkin cloth" (as he calls it). It makes him feel special and unique. I cannot imagine how many napkins we have NOT thrown away due to using this napkin for him.







Since I was first introduced to Happikins, they have expanded their line! They now offer snack pouches in a number of fun designs for all ages. Here are a few glimpses!







Although the Happikins website is currently undergoing some renovation, they are still wanting to offer a giveaway of a set of Happikins napkins for one lucky winner!

Just click through and follow the Rafflecopter form to enter!

(Back to School Blowout) Malibu Quilts - Review

If you are still looking for those last-minute school supplies, your kiddo has personality and/or you child wants something unique and fun, I have the perfect product to recommend to you!

Malibu Quilts is a great little etsy shop that has some binder pencil cases that will really knock your socks off!

Just check out some of this cuteness!





Yeah...I slipped a pig in there too. He was too cute not to show off to you!

So needless to say, she makes other things too! As you might could guess from the shop name, she makes quilts too. They are GORGEOUS! And they are practical, as they are cozy AND machine washable! Yippee!

So if you need something a little extra special, go pay her a visit and grab one of those pencil cases (and a few other things while you are there).

(Back to School Blowout) Carmex - Giveaway

Carmex is one of those products that I was introduced to as a member of the high school band. Yep - that little screw-lid container lived in my saxophone case and came out frequently during practices as well as after to soothe the tired and dry lips. It truly made it possible to continue playing even when it seemed impossible.





Carmex was also there during the blustery Friday nights while I sat in the bleachers of football games, ever my friend. I knew it worked during rehearsals, and it stayed true to me even when the weather was rough on my face.

Since my high school days, Carmex has expanded its line of products without sacrificing the quality and integrity of its product.  I am so pleased to see that they now how scented varieties that give you the non-medicated smell of other (less effective) brands, but still uphold the protection and ability to repair hurting lips that has always been synonymous with Carmex to me.

As a member of the Carmex Blog Squad, I get to offer you some amazing products straight from Carmex! Lucky you!


One winner will receive one Lime Twist stick, one vanilla stick, and one awesome picnic blanket (not pictured) courtesy of Carmex!

Just click through and fill out the Rafflecopter entry form!

(Back to School Blowout) Prefense Hand Sanitizer - Giveaway

Back to school means back to germs, both for your kids and your entire household (since they like to bring those things home with them).  There are many products on the market to help keep your family health, but there is one new (to me at least) one that I want to make sure you are aware of.

Prefense is an alcohol-free hand sanitizer that stands miles above the competition. It is good for 24 hours or 10 hand washings (whichever comes first); and it even protects against staph, strep, E.coli, drug resistant MRSA strains, and more-- basically, it fights germs that other hand sanitizers can’t. Who doesn't want that?

I know that I have recently heard of children getting really sick from putting their hands in their mouths after application of hand sanitizer. That is no longer a concern of mine now that I have Prefense because it is completely non-toxic! Peace of mind really goes a long way!

When we tried it out, I have to say that I was really impressed.  I don't really know what I expected, but the smell was really pleasant.  It didn't have that alcohol smell, so at first I had lost the assurance that my hands had been cleansed. However, I soon came to appreciate the fact that I didn't have to reapply it AND it wasn't really drying out my hands like other products do.  In the upcoming winter when I will be battling dry skin anyway, that will be a relief!

Buy It: 
Prefense can be purchased at Amazon or directly from their website for a great price! Just think of how much you'll save just because you only have to apply it once a day!

Win It:
Prefense wants to offer one of my readers the opportunity to win a large 8 oz bottle, which is the equivalent of 640 applications!






Please click through to the Rafflecopter form to enter to win!

Taking Out a Loan with Lending Club

So – we bit the bullet last Friday and signed up for a Lending Club loan.

What is Lending Club?
Lending Club is a peer to peer lending network that allows people like me who have made stupid financial decisions regarding debt (and other people who have legitimate debt, but I’m focusing on my own stupidity right now) and are working to get out of our mess.

It allows borrowers to acquire loans at lower interest rates than banks can offer because there is no middle man to be paid. Just you and some investors.



It also allows people who want to invest to get high returns on their money. In fact, I signed up a while back and got $25 free to invest just for signing up (you can too). I invested that plus another $25 into two different loans that I got to hand select. I chose one mid-range “rate” (indicating their credit rating) and one lower-range rate. I figured it was only $25 each, right? Well, both have always been on time with all payments and I am averaging a 17.91% return right now.Yippee! The average return at Lending Club is 9.61%. Compare THAT to your typical CD.

You can gauge for yourself what you are comfortable with and shop around through the loans with whatever criteria you feel is important. You can see what the loan is for and ask a myriad of questions about the borrower’s financial situation before deciding whether or not to invest.

Why Did We Need on a Loan?
We have a timeshare that we owe around $10,000 on (I talk more about that here). The interest rate is currently at 17.90% and we’re going nowhere fast on it. I applied for a 3 year loan with Lending Club at 9.99% to save us money and knock this thing out.

Why the Timeshare Rather Than Other Debts?
First of all, it has the highest interest rate, so it makes the most math sense.

Secondly, we are going to take Dave Ramsey’s advice and once we send this check to the finance company currently holding the loan, we will have the deed in hand. We will then attempt to sell it back to the vacation resort business we bought it from at a loss to ourselves and a profit for them. They will be able to resell it for far more than we could, so they’ll make money on it. We’ll be out from under it and its maintenance fees. We hope they agree to this. If they are willing to buy it back from us (even at half of what they can sell it for), we will use that money to pay down our next highest interest rate (our Chase credit card).

So we hope to both get out from under this burden and get a little bit out of it to apply to our other debts.

Why Lending Club?
Well, as a (small) investor, I’ve seen that it works.  And I would rather give my payments to people who are making responsible choices with their money by investing rather than some big banks that are more and more the bane of my existence.

And the lower interest rate doesn’t hurt either.




So, if you decide to invest, check out our loan (#548511 or under the name Kaye_T - or do a keyword search for "Timeshare") and help us out. Of course, you are not obligated to do so, but I just had to throw that in there.

The links and banners on this article and on my sidebar are paid affiliate links/banners. I am taking out a loan, and I do have an investment with them. I have seen it work and these opinions, which I am sharing with you, are purely my own.

Next Giveaways Postponed One Day

Tomorrow's reguarly scheduled giveaway posts (the end of the series) will be postponed one day. I am at home and without some info that I need to write the series. So, I will try to write them up tomorrow and post them on Tuesday! They will still run for one week!

In the meantime, I have an ACTUAL post going up tomorrow that I would really love you to read!

Weekend Round-Up #98

Have a great weekend! If you are in the path of the storms, my prayers are with you! FINANCIAL:

• 12 Money Saving Tips For Parents at Parenting Squad is full of tips we all need to learn and/or remember! 
• It Might Be Time To Break Up With Your Bank at Bible Money Matters is a must read. I am trusting major banks less and less these days. 
• 8 Little Luxuries That Go a Long Way by Camilla Cheung at Wisebread is full of truth!
• The 7 Deadly Credit Card Sins at Credit Karma Blog is something we all should read and reread from time to time! 
• 8 Simple Ways to Make Your Refrigerator More Efficient by Dealnews at Wisebread is a great practical list of tips! 
• Where Would YOU Hide $100,000? at Budgets are Sexy is quite an interesting question! What about you? 
• How to Reduce Your Teenager’s Monthly Car Budget at Frugal Dad is hopefully a really helpful post for those of you with children in that age range.  By the way...don't envy you at all right now. =) 
• Debt is Not the Answer at Enemy of Debt sounds like the type of conversation that typical goes on between one of my friends and me.

FAMILY/LIFE: 

• Peanut Butter & Jelly Sushi {kids lunches} at In the Know Mom was something I ran across the same day I asked for some more ideas about my son's lunch. Tried it on Friday and it was a hit!
• Dog mourns at casket of fallen Navy SEAL at MSNBC broke my heart.
  
  

FAITH: 

• Still Smiling by Shaun Groves is a reminder of the faith that I am so often lacking. Thank you for the reminder, Shaun (and Becky). 
• Cleaning Day at Call Her Blessed reminds me of a few things I need to do. Seriously.

FUN:

• Weather Shelter FAIL at Failblog cracked me up. As someone who grew up in the heart of severe weather, this was quite surprising/funny! 
• #173 When you walk straight through one of those empty winding lineup things at 1000 Awesome Things IS, in fact, awesome! 
• It’s my spot and I’ll park what I want to at Passive Aggressive Notes seriously looks like something my husband would do. I am not even kidding.

Photo credit: DorkyMum

Friday Faves - Some Harry Potter Fun

Most (all?) of these are from the Failblog family of websites. I found them amusing and thought you might too.  Enjoy!








This one is thrown in for you Star Trek fans

Healthy School Lunch Ideas for the Picky Eater

Our son is a picky eater. It would be totally frustrating except I remember that I used to be just like him. Scratch that – I used to be much worse. Back to him – he doesn’t eat any veggies. He doesn’t eat deli meats. He doesn’t eat potato products (except chips). Everything else is a hit or miss depending on his mood for the day.

He just started kindergarten this week and the school he is attending is very, very big on health and wellness and there are certain foods that we cannot send. There is no juice allowed. No chocolate. No processed meats or cheeses. No potato/cheese/corn chips. No cookies, no fast food, no pudding. No squeezable yogurt, applesauce only if “no sugar added” type. Okay – I agree that these aren’t healthy and we’ve got to work within these guidelines.

To find a happy medium that will please both our son and the criteria that our school is laying out, we have had to do some searching in order to find some good lunch options for him. So far, this is what we’ve sent so far this week:

Monday:
PB&J Sandwich
Goldfish (only original color are ok with the school)
Peach yogurt
Strawberries
Mandarin Oranges

Tuesday:
Tomato Soup
Grilled Cheese
Grapes
Blueberry infused craisins

Wednesday:
Blueberry bagel
Whole wheat crackers
Key Lime Yogurt
Peaches

Thursday:
Chicken Nuggets (white meat)
Ketchup
Cubed Cheddar and Colby Jack Cheese
Peaches
Strawberries

Other ideas:
Soft taco wraps
Nachos (meat, cheese and tortilla chips for scooping)
PB&J wrap
Peanut Butter Crackers
Meatballs
Spaghetti
English Muffin/Bagel Pizzas
Pizza Wraps
Lasagna
Beefaroni
Macaroni and Cheese
Other fruit (pineapple, whole banana, raisins, etc)
Air popped pop corn
Tortilla chips
Pita chips
Garden vegetable chips
String cheese
Granola Bars (without chocolate)
Apple sauce
Rice Cakes

Some other ideas for your (not as picky) child:
Tuna
Peanut Butter and honey
Pretzels
Deli meats as sandwich or wrap
Raw veggies
Other fruit (apples, oranges, kiwi, melons, etc)
Pasta salad (sans mayonnaise)
Salad

In less than a week I have found that he is eating better (more) at school than he did at home. I think it is because all of the other kids around him are eating. The result? He comes home happier and in a much better mood than when he was in PreK and refusing to eat what they served.

Also, I have found that he is eating what we put in his lunch because he is choosing it the night before. We give him a few choices and he picks – and so far, an empty lunch box each afternoon! Hooray!

Any other ideas that you can think of or that has worked for your child? I’m all ears and I’m sure we are not the only parents looking for help on this one!

Cash Spending - How Do You Do It?

A few days ago at work, some coworkers called to see if I wanted to go to lunch with them. Sometimes I do go just to get out of the office, but try to keep these occurrences to a minimum.

This particular day I wanted to leave, but knew that financially it would be much better if I stayed and ate something I had in my fridge at work.

Then I found $5 in my wallet and immediately called one of them back and said, “Hey…I can go! I just found some cash in my wallet.”

She and I proceeded to talk about how amazingly we seem to feel no guilt about spending cash. Somehow spending $5 in cash is “ok” for lunch while spending $5 on lunch from my debit card is a more difficult decision.

I wonder why that is.

I’m not trying to hide any spending. Nothing of the sort, really. Just somehow it seems like “real” money if it comes directly out of my bank account rather than from my wallet.

This is a big reason why I try not to carry cash – it seems to disappear without me knowing what in the world I’ve done with it.

To add to this madness, if I am using cash only at the grocery store or while shopping, I spend less because I don’t want to have to pull out my debit card while I have cash specifically for a purchase. I know that is totally contrary to what I just told you, but the big purchases seem to make me think differently than the small ones.

What about you? Do you view cash the same way as a debit card purchase when deciding what to buy/how much to spend?

Photo credit: foxumon

Tuesday Free For All - 08/23

There is NO WAY you honestly believed that I would go three whole weeks in a row with a full Free For All post, right?

Well, since I hate to surprise you, I'm giving you a short post today.

If you are looking for somewhere to post your giveaways, you've found the right place. If you are looking for giveaways to enter, you've ALSO found the right place.

Don't forget to enter the six that I have live right now (five here and one at Girly Girl Giveaways).


Raise Stain Remover - 8/28

Alphabet Tile Magnet Set from World of Whimsy - 8/28

Pocket Purifier - 8/28

$10 GC to Whitties Knitties - 8/28

Prize Pack from Naked Binder - US/CAN - 8/28

Bath Luve at Girly Girl Giveaways - 8/28






Photo credit: Failblog

(Back to School Blowout) Naked Binder - Giveaway - US/CAN

When speaking of school supplies, we like to buy as "green" as we can. While there are a number of companies who are making it easier and easier to find these products and make them affordable, one of the absolute best I have run across is Naked Binder.



Naked Binder's mission is to "create the most sustainable office supplies offering and eco friendly alternative to the toxic options on the market."  As an added bonus, a portion of their sales goes to help the preservation of wildlife and wilderness areas. Without giving away all of the incredible information about them (you'll get to learn some of that as an entry later), just know that they are working really hard to make durable products that not only are made from recycled and reusable materials, but use processes to make them that are clean and efficient as well as so durable that you won't have to replace their products for 10 years. Think of all of the money and waste you will save over that kind of time!

With an offering of their classic Naked Binder, project binders, and other specialized binders, you are sure to find something you love and need. They also sell naked folders, cd holders, tabs and labels to go with the binders or to be used independently.




And not only does this company make incredible products for your use, but their website offers a number of helpful tools for organizations and families. You can find assistance in finding the right binder for your project. You can find tips for your business that is even industry specific. You can find customization options for your project or business. You can find an eco school supply list.  So you can tell, they are all about customer service and education - truly concerned about their clients and the planet.

I received a prize pack similar to the one that you will have an option to win in just a few moments.  My impression?  I was so truly impressed by the sturdiness of their binders. There is nothing flimsy or lacking in these products. The recycled products I have found in the past has sacrificed strength and robustness. It was a trade off that you had to make in order to buy products that are earth friendly. Naked Binder makes sure that is not the case though. These products are going to last a long time in my hands as well as in the hands of one of my readers!

Naked Binder is offering a prize pack composed of 2 binders, 2 folders, and 2 set of labels/tabs to help your children get off to a new school year with products that you and they can both be proud to carry.  To enter, just click the link below to read more and enter the giveaway via Rafflecopter. Any information request as an entry should be entered in the Additional Info field of the giveaway form when you click "I Did It".

(Back to School Blowout) Whitties Knitties - Giveaway

I've said it before and I'll say it a thousand times more - I am in awe of the things that people can create with their own hands. Growing up in modern society it's strangely normal to think that machines mass-produce all things and easy to forget that everything used to be handmade. I hate that we have somehow lost that and love the emergence of great shops on etsy that will remind you that beautiful items are frequently being made by hand by some incredibly talented artists.

Whitties Knitties is a shop that proves this true again and again. The shop owner Whitney paints, photographs, knits, writes, and crochets, to name a few of her talents. But her knittiing is what  fills all of the nooks and crannies of the Whitties Knitties that you can explore. You can find headbands, booties, hair pins, bracelets, and shoe clips! I mean, seriously, just check out this sampling of the goodies you can find:





And now she wants to offer one of you a chance at a $10 GC so you can choose what you'd like from her shop. So many items would be great for back to school for your girly girl...or just something special for yourself!

Just click the link below to read more and enter the giveaway via Rafflecopter. Any information request as an entry should be entered in the Additional Info field of the giveaway form when you click "I Did It".

(Back to School Blowout) Pocket Purifier - Giveaway

Being as healthy as possible is not just a back-to-school event, but an everyday effort we all can make.  Purely Products exists to make this as easy as possible for us by offering products to aid us in living in a modern world while keeping ourselves well without the use of chemicals and irritants.

While perusing their site, you will also find amazing products like the Heatlhy CFL (a CFL light bulb that doubles as an air purifier - what?!), a Pet CFL that reduces pet odor and dander while lighting your home (seriously), the Healthy Night Light that is a LED nightlight and air purifier in one, as well as other products to make your lifestyle more healthy.

Another incredible product you will find is the Pocket Purifier, which I was sent for review.

I love, love this gadget! I can stick this little gem in my purse or diaper bag and use it anywhere to eliminate the germs that usually make me cringe in the outside world. Whether coming upon a bathroom that I don't want to touch, sitting down with my children at a sticky table in a restaurant, or placing my toddler in the shopping cart at the grocery store, this handy tool will use UV-C light to eliminate the germs that cause the common cold, flu, and staph, as well as mold, fungus, and many other "ick" factors we all encounter on a regular basis.

I know with a daughter who is potty training, taking her into a public restroom is often a nightmare for me. I don't want her to be afraid to use the potty, I don't want it to be okay to use the training pants instead of the potty, but at the same time, I totally don't want her touching the seat in most bathrooms (it IS easier most of the time with boys who don't HAVE to sit every time).  This handheld device is now putting my mind more at ease.

It's also perfect for the gym, public transportation, doorknobs, waiting rooms, and an almost infinite number of other germ-filled locales!

Buy It:
The Pocket Purifier runs on AAA batteries, is available in black or pink, and can be yours for less than $20!  If you visit Purely Products during the month of August, you can get free shipping just for ordering 2 products (minimum order of $35).

Win It:
Purely Products wants to offer one of my readers their very own Pocket Purifier! Incredible! To enter, just click the link below to read more and enter the giveaway via Rafflecopter. Any information request as an entry should be entered in the Additional Info field of the giveaway form when you click "I Did It".

(Back to School Blowout) World of Whimsy - Giveaway

You know I can't a week without an etsy giveaway or two in this series, right? Well, it's time for another awesome one!

One of this week's featured etsy shops is a fantastic little storefront known as World of Whimsy. I love the name and I love even more that the shop truly lives up to its name!

At World of Whimsy you will discover all types of fun finds. You can find cards, magnets, hair accessories, pendants, bracelets, and even ornaments (because that time will be around the corner before you know it!).

The owner of this shop is a teacher by day, so she knows exactly what type of great back to school items you might be looking for! Whether you are looking for some great hair items for your little girl or some fabulous teacher gifts, this is your place to shop!

Here are just a few treats from the shop:







And what is World of Whimsy being so gracious to giveaway to one of my readers? This incredible handmade 26 letter alphabet tile magnet set! Perfect for the frdige, the locker, or even your filing cabinet at work or home, this is an awesome prize that everyone will ask you about! It's adorable, it's educational, and it's handmade! All of the above just melts my heart!



So, how do you win? Just click the Just click the link below to read more and enter the giveaway via Rafflecopter. Any information request as an entry should be entered in the Additional Info field of the giveaway form when you click "I Did It".

(Back to School Blowout) Raise Stain Remover - Giveaway

I remember when I was young and there was some product advertisement that was always on the TV about "ring around the collar."  I truly don't remember what it was and wondered for a long time, as a small child, what in the world they were talking about and why this was such a big deal to adults.

Then I became an adult and started doing laundry, which quickly (more than?) doubled after getting married. That's when I started seeing that lovely armpit stain that comes in tshirts. Chip often wore white undershirts under his shirts and I was getting so frustrated as to why the stains in the armpits of his shirts were not coming out. Not with hot water. Not with bleach. Not with hot water and bleach. It seemed to be permanently a part of his shirt. It drove me crazy because I realized that although his shirts should be perfectly clean due to the washing treatment they had received, they still looked dingy and just dirty.

I wish I had known about Raise armpit stain remover at that time.






Raise is the first ever stain remover to effectively eliminate underarm stains as well as ring around the collar. I did learn though, that treating those stains with bleach, makes them obviously permanent - so I wasn't doing myself any favors.  If you check out Raise BEFORE trying to bleach them, you'll be able to get them out in a snap.

Is this lowly blogger not enough to convince you?  How about Shape, SELF, Ladies Home Journal, InStyle and the Wall street journal? Because Raise armpit stain remover has been featured in all of those as well as been named Good Housekeeping's cleaning product of the month.

So as this back to school season kicks off, grab some Raise to use as a laundry pretreatment to remove those gross yellowing armpit stains cause from perspiration. It will extend the life of your clothes and if you are like me, it will make you feel like the shirts are finally clean!

And now...the giveaway. One lucky reader will win their own bottle of Raise armpit stain remover as a back to school win for mom (or whoever does the laundry in your household).  Just click the link below to read more and enter the giveaway via Rafflecopter. Any information request as an entry should be entered in the Additional Info field of the giveaway form when you click "I Did It".

Good luck!

Water's Edge by Robert Whitlow - Review

The publisher's description:

Sometimes the smallest towns hold the biggest secrets. Ambitious young attorney Tom Crane is about to become a partner in a big-city law firm. One final matter has to be cleared from his docket—the closing of his deceased father’s law practice in the small town of Bethel. Killed in a tragic boating accident, John Crane didn’t leave his son anything except the hassle of a bankrupt estate.

Then, within twenty-four hours, Tom loses his job, his girlfriend, and his cat. Job didn’t have it much worse.

Returning to Bethel with his pride ground to powder, Tom’s plan to quietly shut down his father’s practice and slink out of town runs into an unexpected roadblock—two million dollars of unclaimed money stashed in a secret bank account. Tom follows the money into a tangled web of lies, theft, and off-shore financial transactions manipulated by powerful men who will do anything to stop him from discovering the truth.



My thoughts:
This is the second book by Robert Whitlow that I have read and I was not disappointed. Great story, a few difficulties and plot twists thrown in, and enough intrigue to keep the pages turning.

I like that the situations in his books are realistic. The characters are so real that you can honestly see the events of these books unfolding. I found myself more than once thinking, "I know someone just like that."

The book is a great read. If I had any hesitation about it, it would be that most people don't have the eye-opening experiences quite as clearly and openly as the main character is this book does. It usually doesn't come so easily and with such clarity. But in all honestly, from time to time I am sure it does, so although it isn't exactly "normal" to have such momentum in one's faith, it is certainly not impossible.

Summary:
A great read that I would certainly recommend. Great for most any age, but certainly best understood by adults.  It's an easy read that does not bore and would be great to take on vacation or a flight.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”