What Matters Most to Me!!

Just like every month in the life of a mom, September is full of milestones and special moments. From first-day-of-school photos to Labor Day barbecues, these are the moments that we'll cherish forever. September is also Life Insurance Awareness Month (LIAM), which is the perfect time to think about protecting the most important people in our lives.

While life insurance might not be top-of-mind for most moms, we can all agree that it offers peace of mind and helps ensure that the life we've worked so hard to achieve for our loved ones won't disappear if something were to happen to us. The LIFE Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping consumers make smart insurance decisions, recognizes that it's hard to imagine the unimaginable.

That's why they have created the new Facebook Application called "What Matters Most to Me" and are sponsoring a contest around it during September.

The "What Matters Most to Me" App allows us to indulge in our love of sharing photos and memories with our family and friends. In a matter of minutes, the App helps you easily create a multimedia slideshow - pictures, captions and music! - showcasing the important people and things in your life. When you create and post your multimedia masterpiece on Facebook through September 30, you are eligible to win a trip to Aruba, where the winner and one guest will spend five days enjoying the white sands and blue waters in this tropical paradise, and relaxing at the Radisson Resort, Casino & Spa.

And don't forget to show off your slideshow and make a difference in the process! For every friend on Facebook who indicates that they "like" your slideshow, $1 will be donated to Comfort Zone Camp, the nation's largest bereavement camp serving children who've lost a parent, sibling or primary caregiver.

"Disclosure: I was entered for a chance to win a gift card from The LIFE Foundation in writing this post. No monetary exchange took place. The opinions and ideas expressed are my own."

Ragu is the BEST!!

If you're having trouble finding time to prepare nutritious meals for your family while adjusting to new back to school schedules, relax, you're not alone. According to a recent "Feed our Kids Well" survey conducted by Ragú®, half of moms say that during the back-to-school season they have less time to prepare nutritious, home-cooked meals for their kids. Fear not, Mom; Help is on the way!

To help make sure your kids get the veggies they need (and the meals they love) Ragú® Old World Style® Traditional Sauce now has 2 servings of veggies in every half cup! Available soon in major retailers nationwide, the healthy, great tasting Ragú® Old World Style® Traditional pasta sauce that is already a kitchen staple has a new, naturally thicker recipe.

Healthy, delicious and now with a naturally thicker taste the whole family will love, Ragú® Old World Style® Traditional Sauce is a perfect component to pulling together quick and tasty meals during this busy time. And Ragú® wants you to be among the first to try out their great new recipe! To be one of the first to taste Ragú® with 2 servings of veggies in every half-cup visit them on facebook.com/ragusauce for more details.

Yum...Pasta is sooo great this time of year!!! Even better is the kiddos get their veggies in without fighting them now thanks to Ragu!

"Disclosure: I was entered for a chance to win a Ragú® prize package in exchange for this post. No monetary exchange took place."

Swap 'n' Share

Back-to-school time is here, and for most Moms that means back to car-pooling, homework monitoring and of course, packing lunches. It can be hard to come up with lunches made with real, simple ingredients that kids will eat and actually enjoy. Luckily, Hellmann's® and Best Foods® Mayonnaise are putting the fun back into lunch this September with their virtual Sandwich Swap 'n' Share program.

Celebrity chef Bobby Flay and actress/mom Lori Loughlin are teaming up with Hellmann's® to help re-launch Hellmann's® virtual Sandwich Swap 'n' Share on the Facebook® application (Facebook.com/Hellmanns). This virtual version of the beloved school lunch ritual of swapping sandwiches will benefit Share Our Strength®, the leading non-profit organization ending childhood hunger in America.

When people visit Hellmann's® Page on Facebook®, they'll have the opportunity to create a sandwich on the application and, for every sandwich built, Hellmann's® will make a donation to Share Our Strength®. What's more, when they share a sandwich with a friend, an additional donation will be made as part of Hellmann's® $75,000 commitment to support Share Our Strength®.

So what are you waiting for???



P.S. I was entered into a contest for a chance to win a gift as part of the Hellmanns program!

"Rumpled to Runway"

As Moms, we pull a lot of things together, from weekday meals to our little ones' back-to-school wardrobes. However, usually what suffers is our own wardrobe, as we pull wrinkled garments over our heads to make it out the door on time! Luckily, our favorite Mom/Brand team is getting together to show women everywhere how to go from rumpled to runway.

Electrolux and brand ambassador Kelly Ripa are partnering with some fashion-savvy bloggers to host a special fashion show to help raise awareness and funds to support ovarian cancer research.

Since September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, this fashion-focused event couldn't have come at a better time! This fun and innovative fashion show will demonstrate how Perfect Steam™, and a little fashion ingenuity, can take any garments from "Rumpled to Runway".

Even if you're not in the Big Apple to watch in person, you can cheer them on LIVE at www.Kelly-Confidential.com TODAY at 1 PM EDT. You can also follow along at Facebook/KellyConfidential and on Twitter @KCbyElectrolux.

Find out how you can help support the cause at Kelly Confidential and enter for a chance to win a daily shopping spree and the grand prize: a Perfect Steam™ washer and dryer from Electrolux. When you participate, Electrolux will donate $1 to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.

P.S.

I been entered for a chance to win the gift as part of the Electrolux program from Momselect.

www.onlineschoolsolutions.com is awesome!

I recently got introducted to a website called www.onlineschoolsolutions.com. The website is amazing!

Read some more!

Today's students, known as the "iGeneration", are the first to crave and benefit from education "on demand" - or the option to choose where, when and how they want to learn.

To put it in context, the "iGeneration" has never known life without the Internet, being mobile, using avatars, IMing or choosing and watching content whether they are at home, in the car, at a football game or shopping at the mall. To reach them in their high-tech, high-touch world, many parents and educators are looking at how to rewire schools to match how the iGeneration learns.

Taking classes online is one way to give middle and high school students (and their school districts) new options to learn using preferred tools in a familiar environment, and even experience enhanced, one-on-one relationships with educators. Whether they're in need of more assistance, looking for wider range of classes or simply prefer to learn in a medium that they have grown up with, online learning can be a great way to fit your child's needs.

Students are increasingly able to take online classes in partnership with their local school districts. Schools facing budget cuts and a reduction in teachers are turning to online classes to supplement their curriculum, from offering classes for which they have no teachers, Advanced Placement® classes for students who excel, and credit recovery options for students who struggle. In fact, today there are 1 million children learning online, either part time, full time or between school terms. Additionally, more than 20 percent of schools and educational institutions around the country offer online classes today, and that number should grow by another 30 percent within a couple of years, according to industry research. (Simba Information).

KC Distance Learning (KCDL) offers online learning options to fit all types of students and learning situations.

From the home-schooled family, the student brushing up on skills to compete at the next level or the child facing challenges in traditional schools such as bullying, KCDL provides academic solutions to fit your child's needs. We welcome you to look through the website at www.onlineschoolsolutions.com, and then click on your state to find the KCDL online school serving your area.

It's really beneficial. You should check it out!

RaceTrac is the greatest!!

If you're always on the go with a drink in your hand, you have to check out the new RaceTrac Freefill Cup. Available for only $6.99 at your local RaceTrac location, this cool cup entitles you to FREE refills from their impressive fountain for the entire summer. From now until August 1st, you and your family can be sipping all of the refreshing drinks you love, without any additional charges!

Become a friend!!

RaceTrac Facebook Fan Page

Playtex Bra Makeover!

Slipping straps, riding up backs, or not enough support have you ready to write a Dear John letter to your old bras? Apply for a Bra Makeover from Playtex! Seven out of 10 women are wearing the wrong size bra, which can result in an ill fit for the rest of their outfit, back and shoulder pain, as well as bruising and digging.

We know that busy moms don't always have time to update their bras or even check to make sure they are wearing the correct size. That's why we wanted to let you know about this contest from Playtex! Playtex recently launched www.PlaytexBraMakeover.com, a site where women can go to apply for a bra makeover or nominate a friend. If chosen, the winner will be flown to New York to receive a Bra Makeover with style expert Alison Deyette. Deyette is a fashion and trend lifestyle expert who has been featured on Bravo's Millionaire Matchmaker and TLC's Ten Years Younger, as well as in print publications including Good Housekeeping, The Washington Post, and O Magazine. Apply for your chance to win a Playtex Bra Makeover today. The last day to apply is Friday, May 21st, 2010.

The 10 winners selected for a Bra Makeover will also star in their very own webisode wherein a makeover candidate will receive a fitting with Deyette and walk away with the perfect Playtex products. A new webisode will premier on www.PlaytexBraMakeover.com every two weeks.

So what are you waiting for???

By posting this information, I am entered into a contest to win a free bra from Playtex. I did not receive any compensation for this post and thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

"The Changing Room: A Mother's Journal of Gratitude to Her Little Girl.

I would like to tell you about a wonderful woman named Christina Carlino and her campaign for She Colors My Day - the now worldwide movement which embarks upon a global journey to create for a cure. Inspired by a mother's infinite love, this ever widening circle of caring will benefit Susan G. Komen for a Cure ® and The Entertainment Industry Foundation's Women's Cancer Research Fund.

To continue giving back to women everywhere, Cristina has published her first interactive journal, "The Changing Room: A Mother's Journal of Gratitude to Her Little Girl." This interactive journal by Cristina Carlino and YOU captures all those astonishing parenting moments before they fade into the swirl of everyday life. Throughout the book, Cristina shares her personal story and asks questions that inspire you to remember those first precious years of motherhood. This journal is a special place for your memories, drawings and letters. One day it will become a priceless keepsake for your daughter. (For more on The Changing Room, click onto this video link: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=107098785997769)


Cristina's friend, actress Mariska Hargitay is in love with the book, and she and Cristina have joined forces for her Joyful Heart Foundation, benefiting survivors of rape, incest and abuse. The neat thing is 100% of the net proceeds for The Changing Room will go to Joyful Heart.

Mariska says this about the book:

"This beautiful and rare journal is an expression of the exquisite and tender delight Cristina takes in motherhood. As if by magic, the journal opens doors into the most precious terrain where the miracles of childhood transform into memories large and small. What a gift to be led to this place of wonder, joy and gratitude. And we are so pleased that 100% of the net proceeds from this book are being donated to the Joyful Heart Foundation. Thank you, Cristina!"

To celebrate the season of mothers and the release of The Changing Room, Cristina is hosting a WISHES FOR MY LITTLE GIRL PHOTO CONTEST on her Facebook fan page (www.facebook.com/cristinacarlino). Five winners will receive a free copy of The Changing Room.

To enter Cristina's Wish and Photo Contest, Wishes for My Little Girl, click onto Cristina's Facebook Fan Page, and post your favorite photo of the little girl in your life -- it can be your daughter, a niece, a neighbor, the daughter of a friend. All our little girls need our wishes. Tell us of a big wish you have for this little wondrous person.Winners will be determined by the number of "Likes" they receive from other Cristina Carlino Fans, so invite your friends to Cristina's fan page and vote! Hurry! Contest ends on Monday, May 10th.

Fisher Price "Moments To Share" Facebook App

Hello All!!

I just found out about a new awesome Facebook App called Fisher Price "Moments To Share"!
This app allows me to create and share a timeline of all my special family moments like Xavier's first haircut and simple things such as his Easter Egg Hunts!

What you can do:

• Pull unlimited photos/videos from your Facebook account or your computer.
• Add captions and even a short story about your moment.
• Date your moments - they automatically appear chronologically.
• View your children's moments on one timeline, or as individual timelines.
• Share some or all of your moments to your Facebook Wall.
• Choose a close circle of family and friends who can view your entire timeline of moments. These Timeline Friends will be notified every time you add a moment.
• Learn about age- appropriate toys for your child.

Check it out! It's free!

http://www.fpmoments.com/



"Disclosure: I was entered for a chance to win a gift card in exchange for this post. No monetary exchange took place."

WOW! My Job Chart- Teaching Kids To Work

Spring is officially upon us. And in addition to warmer weather, chocolate bunnies and blooming flowers, this season signifies far less fun for most Moms- spring cleaning! If you're having trouble rallying your troops to help you clear out the clutter and get your house in tip-top shape, we just might have the perfect solution for you. And unlike those pretty petals in your garden, this is one tool that will be brightening up your household throughout the seasons!

Trust me, I signed up and what a nifty tool this thing is!! It's such a great idea!

My Job Chart is a FREE online Chore Chart that teaches kids to work in a fun and productive way. Using an easy and fun online system, My Job Chart inspires kids to do their chores on time. An interactive point system tracks your child's progress, creating excitement and enthusiasm among kids. And the fully customizable chore chart allows you and your child to decide upon mutually determined rewards, fostering communication and developing responsibility. You even get an email or text message when your kids finish their chores or they earn a reward!

Click here to create your very own online chore chart

So go ahead and check out http://www.myjobchart.com/l/mom-select.

Lands' End Harbour Island Twitter Event

Hello all! I am participating in the Lands' End Harbour Island blog promotion!

Join Lands' End and representatives from the Islands Of The Bahamas and iexplore.com for a Twitter Event to celebrate the Lands' End's Bahamas Adventure to Harbour Island promotion at The Hub www.landsend.com/thehub. The site features engaging content focusing on travel through the summer as well as the chance to win a trip for four to the pink-sand beaches of Harbour Island.

Be a part of this exciting Twitter Event and tweet with representatives from Lands' End, the Islands Of The Bahamas and iexplore.com. The event will feature more than 25 fun giveaways ranging from Lands' End luggage, beach towels, travel kits, beach bags and gift cards.

Lands' End Harbour Island Twitter Event

Date: Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Time: 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. CST
Location: #landsend

Join the fun and follow:
@LEprMichele, @LEprMolly, @LEprLibby, @VisitTheBahamas,
@iexplore and @iexplore_Amanda

Join in on the fun!!