Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Woolite: Save your Jeans by Extra Dark Care Woolite

Using Woolite was a very new thing for me.  My family has used it in the past merely to treat delicates and never have I ever used it for regular clothes.  It was easy to use.  Just simply pour in the amount into the washing machine while it was filling up with water.  Put my dark colors clothes in, and voila!  I did not even put softener in.



The verdict?  I loved it!  My dark jeans did not look like they got white washed, and turns out...looked all the more darker and came out soft.  I did not have to do the Jeans Dance to get them to loosen up and relax.  I also like that the Woolite is especially designed to keep dark clothes dark.  I have a couple of shirts and pants and towels that have lost its colors, and I think from now on I will invest in Some Woolite Extra Dark Care!


Disclosure: I am a member of Crowdtap--through Crowdtap I was sent some Woolite Extra Dark Care samples to try out the product and share with others.  This review is my own personal opinion, I was not compensated in any other way. 

Friday, July 20, 2012

Adventures in Clean: Common Summertime Stains




In the upcoming Disney film, The Odd Life of Timothy Green, Jennifer Garner plays a mother who embarks on the ultimate adventure in clean when a son magically springs to life in her garden. At this moment, her character understands what every mother knows: life is full of messy adventures.

To celebrate magical moments like this, Frigidaire, makers of the Frigidaire Affinity® front load washing machine that delivers a better clean, has set out to help get families out of the laundry room quickly and on to the things they love to do. Laundry expert Tara Aronson shares solutions for the 5 most common summertime stains and 10 tips for getting clothes cleaner.

5 Summer Stain Tips or Frigidaire by Tara Aronson

Smudges, drips, drops and smears – no matter what their source, the key to keeping them from ruining your favorite shorts or T-shirt is to take quick action – before it gets a chance to dry.
For most fabrics, this means blotting up the excess or rinsing the discolored area with cold water (hot can set a stain.) Don’t rub: this spreads the spot and grinds it deeper into the fabric.

Summer spills are especially tough.
Here’s how to remove the five most common:

1. Crayon.
Scrape off as much of the colorful surface as possible using a plastic picnic knife. Apply laundry detergent directly on the stained area. Gently rub the detergent into the fabric then let sit several minutes. Launder using the hottest water the fabric can handle - or the Sanitize setting of your Frigidaire Affinity washer. Dry as usual.

2. Iced coffee.
Sponge the stained area with cold water. Apply a pretreater to the blight. Wash as usual and air dry.

3. Grass.
Prewash the garment in warm water in your washing machine –the Rinse & Spin cycle on your Affinity washer – and a laundry detergent containing enzymes. Launder as usual (normal setting) with detergent and chlorine bleach if safe for the fabric. If the garment’s care label instructions advise against it, use oxygen (color safe) bleach instead. Dry as usual.

4. Juice.
Soak for a minute or so in cold water. Remove excess water, and then apply a pretreater directly on the stained area. Wash with detergent as usual. Air dry. Do not place in the dryer until the blight is completely gone – otherwise the stain is likely to set.

5. Chocolate (or chocolate ice cream).
Prewash the garment in warm water with a laundry detergent that contains enzymes using the Affinity’s Rinse & spin setting. Launder as usual, using the washing machine’s Normal setting. Dry as usual.

Visit Frigidaire on Facebook, share your personal "Adventures in Clean", and Frigidaire will donate $1 to Save the Children as part of its $750,000 commitment to the cause. To share your "Adventures in Clean" simply upload a photo and the online app turns it into your very own movie poster!

Disclosure: I am a member of One2One Network, and information about post was provided to me.  Other personal information and stories are of my own account.  By posting I will be entered into a drawing for a $50 Gift Card.  

Savings n' the Summer!

Meals & Snacks Around the House Babies & Kids

Friday, July 6, 2012

HOME COUPON LINKS and SAVINGS!

Food & Beverage


Around the House
Babies & Kids

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Firmoo Giveaway


Found this amazing Firmoo Giveaway hosted by From PDX with Love  Click any of the links above to enter.


- WIN IT -

Two (2) lucky reader of From PDX with Love will each win a pair of glasses from any of these categories:

Fashion sunglasses

Non Prescription eyeglasses

Round glasses

Monday, July 2, 2012

Interactive Children DVD Program: Snapatoonies

What I liked about the Product:
1. Help my daughter Identify colors by Big Bold Words
2. Promoted Interaction through Question Response strategy
3. Colorful fun Animations
4. Simple and Straightforward
5. A Nice Wide Range of Colors linked to objects pertaining that color.
6. Introduced Shapes, Colors, Animals and Plants
7. Magical Color Caller is ideal for ages 6 months to 5 years old--a nice wide range!



Short Simple and Sweet.
What better way to teach a child colors and shapes than by Snapatoonies Magial Color Caller DVD!  I really appreciated how simple this dvd really is.  It is interactive and something I do not have to watch for hours upon end.  Knowing that the program takes a short 30 minutes is good for me.  I can spend a short amount of time talking to her about colors and shapes a couple of times a week. 




Unlike Regular Children Television shows.
It is refreshing having something that is not on our normal television program.  The pace of the show is not rushed.  It feels like an nice steady walking pace in which kids can take time to soak up the information without “rushing” through to the next big action part!  Sometimes I feel like regular children’s shows focus too much on BIG and the ACTION parts.  They tend to throw concepts at kids, and expect them to pick it up quick.  With Magical Color Caller I do not feel like they are going TOO slow and not TOO fast!  I feel they are slow enough for the kids to take it all in without being painstakingly slow.



Interacting and Having Fun:

My daughter enjoyed pointing to the different shapes, colors, animals and plants that are depicted in this dvd program.  She is just shy 2 years old, and I have found that calling out the colors or shapes is not only fun but a great way for her to practice speaking and responding.  For me as a mom, I sure do not mind helping my child learn by calling out answers too.  I know that I may seem pretty childish calling out colors and shape names with her, but sometimes being childlike helps her.  The little children on the train prove to be interesting to her as well.  They kind of encourage her to keep interacting and responding throughout the program.



Snapatoonies: Magial Color Caller Incorporates Words spelled out, Pictures, Color, and Shape—what more can I ask for? 



Well, for one thing.  When spelling out a color, they use letters colored in that color!  Then sometimes they come out with a shape in that color or an animal or plant featuring that color.  Which is all quite clever at reinforcing the color concept.  I hardly see enough words shown on the screen for children’s television lately that utilize all of these to describe what is on the screen.  So I appreciate that words are shown throughout the whole program and how they keep it big and bold on the screen.  Lastly, I love that it was a program that was developed with positivity! They frequently say things such as “You are so Clever!”.

For more information on Snapatoonies please visit their main site, www.snapatoonies.com. Apart from my video feel free to watch some Snapatoonies Previews

Disclosure: I received a DVD for the purpose of this review.  I was not compensated in any other way.  All opinions and words here are my own.  

Sunday, July 1, 2012

How Reading the Bible in a Year will Change Everything for You


My Initial Thoughts and End Thoughts about this Book in a nutshell:
I have been struggling in reading this book titled Passages by Brian Hardin. Hindrances Distractions, and Disinterestedness seemed to really hail on me as I set about reading this book.  Sorry Brian my first thought through the 20 first pages was...I'm a bit bored.... I had to fight tooth and nail in order to get through finishing this book, but it is of no fault of the author. In retrospect I believe there was a spiritual battle taking place that I did not know of because of the impact it will have on my life as a believer.  I'll have to reread the first pages again with my new-found perspective!

At first I hated this book, I wondered "WHY? Did I Sign Up to Read it!?" Reading the Bible in a year, I have heard this before, and quite truthfully I felt like I did not want some guy telling me I needed to. I rather liked the pace and level of Bible reading I did.

Though the deeper I got into the book, the more I understood the importance of reading the Bible for more than just a tid bit of encouragement for the day. At first it was bittersweet reading, and then it was like the sweetness and ripeness of what I was reading slowly started to hit my tastebuds.



God's Word has the power to change lives even yours.   Throughout the book, I kept hearing Hardin challenge me to take on this challenge. At first I brushed it off. But because of his persistence and I have to say his ability to really pinpoint my reasons for not reading the Bible and ability to tackle them and persuade me otherwise is quite a God thing. Hardin called me out on some things I do to "fix" my self and my life. Here is one thing he mentioned that I had to laugh my little heart out at. I shake my head knowing that Hardin hit me in the gut with this one! I laughed nervously I think because this way never works and yet I keep doing it.
We're high on a mountain in the blinding snow, but we've convinced ourselves through distractions, addictions, and busyness that we're actually on a path leading somewhere. In the deepest parts of the evening, though, while we lie in bed trying to stare past the ceiling to the heavens above, we feel the emptiness of it all.... We feel the hunger of our deepest soul crying out for nourishment, but we simply don't know where to begin.

We start making a checklist.

1. Get in Shape. If I got in shape, I'd feel better about myself.
2. Get more Culture. If I understood the world better, I'd be a better person and could help more people.
3. Get Organized. If things were a little more in order, life would feel more manageable.
I cannot tell you how often I try to feel fulfilled in life by way of Checklist! I have tried to take control of my life and fix myself by way of Checklist and doing things apart from God and His Word. And in the end the checklist makes me feel more sunk in the black hole after a couple of weeks.

 I can taste and see the change God has done through him as a result of reading the Bible as a Whole.  I can sense the thrill of placing God and His Word priority through the testimony of others...and I want it for myself. I know the thrill of watching what I want to, and it ends. I know the pleasure of spending money and shopping--and the pleasure fades.

I am persuaded that if I give God my time, my life--He will do something with me that will leave me fulfilled, joyful, and living life the way He created me to live. Hardin talked about how he started, and as he says he was shocked! He did not expect to find himself in a community where they've committed to reading along with him. He was enriched by fellowship, and even a ministry he was not exactly looking for.

Conclusion:

When I first started reading, I did not want to be challenged. Quite frankly the Bible seemed like a dry crusty piece of stale bread. Yes, I read it. When I get in trouble or feel like my world started becoming chaos, I'll come running to God's Word to read something of hope or encouragement from God. God does not want me to treat the Bible as an h'orderve either. Snacking when I feel convenient. In fact the Bible was meant to a daily part of life impacting the way I view my role as a parent (being an example), living life moment by moment, decisions I make, etc. Above all I look forward to knowing Him more through it. I look forward to that peace and joy that comes too.

Want to be challenged?  Desire to be changed?  Think life is boring even in Christ?  On the couch a bit depressed?  Need a thread of hope?  Reading the Bible as it was meant to be read as a Passage can do more than help you.  It'll change you if you stay with it!  I am fully persuaded in the power of God's Word (Hebrews 4:12).  He created the universe by His Word!  



Brian
Hardin, Daily Audio Bible

As you can see I have greatly enjoyed it. By the end of the book, I was thankful that I too can take up the challenge of reading for the author has included several types of Bible Reading Plans in the back of the book. Whether you want to follow along with the Daily Audio Bible Schedule, read the Bible Chronologically or Historically--it's right there at your fingertips.



More about Brian Hardin
Brian Hardin is a speaker, photographer, record producer and an ordained minister. In 2006, he created the Daily Audio Bible, an online podcast that now delivers 1.5 million downloads a month. He has produced over 150 albums and works with artists and the arts extensively. He is married to Christian musician Jill Parr.
Find out more about Brian at www.dailyaudiobible.com.

Find out what others are saying about this book in our Blog Tour:http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/13507671/brianhardin 





Disclosure:  I received a review copy of this book for the purpose of providing my honest oopinions.