Welcome to the Too Cool For School Giveaway Hop hosted by BloggerPR! Summer is ending which means it’s time to send the kids back to school. Parents are scrambling to refill their school supplies collection and get everything they need, so BloggerPR decided to host a giveaway hop to help everyone win some of those back to school necessities!  This event will run from September 1st through 9th, which gives you time to hop down the linky list below! Each blogger is giving away prizes valued $20 or more, so you don’t want to miss out! Good luck and a great school year to all!

For my giveaway prize, I am giving away a Honey Maid backpack and 3 boxes of the new delicious Honey Maid Grahamfuls!

These new snacks from Nabisco are different and delicious and perfect for back-to-school lunches or after school snacks. To be honest, they’re great anytime!

They’re made with 100% whole grain Honey Maid graham crackers and contain real honey. But, best of all, Honey Maid Grahamfuls do NOT contain any high fructose corn syrup or artificial flavors, so they are a snack you can feel good about.

They come in three delicious varieties, each with its own delicious filling: Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter & Chocolate and Banana Vanilla Crème. You get eight individually-wrapped pouches per box to keep them fresh and easy to slip into a backpack or lunch. They’re great for students to keep them going throughout the day and a great pick me up for parents with a cup of tea or coffee. They’re really tasty.

Graham crackers are so perfect in and of themselves, that I didn’t know you could really improve upon the taste but Honey Maid has found a way. 

The Peanut Butter flavor is great for all the peanut butter afficionados out there, however I have to admit I loved the Peanut Butter & Chocolate a bit more. It had a richer more interesting flavor and, of course, if you read my blog, you know I love chocolate! My favorite, however, was the Banana Vanilla Crème. It had a very subtle and light banana cream flavor and I adore bananas! These are so good!

And now, one of my readers will have the chance to win a Honey Maid back-to-school backpack and a box of each flavor of the new Honey Maid Grahamfuls. Fill up your backpack with notebooks, pencils, pens and a calculator, but don’t forget the Honey Maid Grahamfuls. When you want a delicious snack, they are super convenient and really delicious, a new twist on an old favorite.

Honey Maid Grahamfuls are available at local grocery or superstores in the cookie and cracker aisle.

Disclosure: I was provided samples in order to facilitate my review, but all opinions herein are exclusively my own.


So, simply enter via Rafflecopter below and best of luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I wish I had Campus Book Rentals when I was in college. Textbooks were one of my biggest expenses and often never got looked at after the semester was over. 

Are you or your kids headed to College this Fall? Here are some perks from Campus Book Rentals:

You can save a whopping 40-90% off of bookstore prices.
You get free shipping both ways so it really couldn’t be easier or cheaper (You get a prepaid return envelope).
They have flexible renting periods and awesome customer service.
You can highlight in the textbooks! (Yes, you can underline, make notes, whatever you like!)

And, another great benefit is that with each textbook rented, the company makes a donation to Operation Smile. Operation Smile is a wonderful organization that performs life changing cleft lip surgeries on children whose families could not otherwise pay for it. The long term improvement in quality of life for the children that receive these surgeries is incredible.

I wanted to see some of the great savings for myself so I looked up Literature textbooks and found: 

Literature : An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing by Kennedy and Gioia. 

 

It’s $15.57 for the semester but sells for $88.11 at Amazon and the list price is $112.80. 

 

This would surely save you money that I know you could find good use for! After all, college is about learning but it was also one of the most enjoyable times of my life. 

I, my friends, am a shoe lover. And, all shoes are not created equal as Carrie Bradshaw would be the first to say. Some shoes are for comfort, some to match an outfit, some for back to school, and then there are Christian Louboutins. Sigh.

Sometimes I stand outside shop windows just gazing at the lovely shiny heels and pressing my nose to the glass. I love the way they make your legs feel long and elegant, the smell when you first take them out of the box, the way you all of a sudden develop a style and a swagger as you walk down the street.

And, now you can win a pair of your own. I, myself, have just entered at Top Floor, where they are giving away 4 pairs of Christian Louboutins – one pair every two weeks until October 8.

So completely exciting!

The details surrounding Top Floor are a bit hush-hush, as they haven’t opened yet ( I can’t wait!) but I can tell you that they are a new, fun way to shop exclusive deals from your favorite celebrities and brands!

So,  simply click here to enter and best of luck! Soon you may be strutting your stuff in style!

Giveaway Details:

Entries for first Grand Prize Drawing begin at 12:00:00 PM PT on AUGUST 13, 2012 and ends at 11:59:59 AM PT on AUGUST 27, 2012.
Entries for the second Grand Prize Drawing begin at 12:00:00 PM PT on AUGUST 27, 2012 and ends at 11:59:59 AM PT on SEPTEMBER 10, 2012.
Entries for the third Grand Prize Drawing begin at 12:00:00 PM PT on SEPTEMBER 10, 2012 and ends at 11:59:59 AM PT on SEPTEMBER 24, 2012.
Entries for the fourth and last Grand Prize Drawing begin at 12:00:00 PM PT on SEPTEMBER 24, 2012 and ends at 11:59:59 AM PT on OCTOBER 8, 2012.

End of Summer,
doorstep of Fall.
Traveled the world
searching for answers.

Looking outside,
one sees trees in the wind,
feels the mist in the air
and waits for rain…

But there are no answers,
there is only this moment,
then this one,
then this.

You will never find it outside,
for it lives between the heartbeats,
it is the breath within the breath.

There is only this moment,
then this one,
then this.

– Debra Pearlstein

It’s almost September already and the summer is slowly winding down, but that doesn’t mean you don’t still have to take care of your skin! Whether you’re getting ready for college or heading to the office, NIVEA FOR MEN has solutions to keep your skin fresh and energized for Fall.

Yes, although I love the women’s Nivea line and often write about women’s beauty products, men need skin TLC just as much, if not more, since women are often more inundated with information and products growing up.

I’ve put together some Men’s Grooming Tips for Fall:

1. Go through your closet! If you haven’t worn it in a year, toss it out. After all this, go out and update your wardrobe and maybe get your hair cut. It’s amazing how much a small change can do to add confidence and style.

2. Assess your eyebrows! Don’t be afraid. The tweezer is definitely your friend. If you are squeamish, have your wife or girlfriend help you. Pull any stray hairs out in one fell swoop with no hesitation. The unibrow is so out.

3. Cleansing! It’s one of the most important things you can do for your face. Men’s skin typically has large pores and very active sebaceous glands. You want to get rid of any grit or sweat.

4. Exfoliate! Don’t just look at the outer layer but go deeper to the source of the problem. Regular washing won’t get at this. It will also leave your skin more radiant, less dull and softer for shaving.

5. Moisturize! Showering and shaving will open up your pores leaving your skin drier. Use a good moisturizer to soothe your skin from the elements, preferably one with SPF. Keep your skin hydrated and smelling great and people will want to get closer. This is important for facial and body skin.

6. Don’t forget lips and eyes! Keep wrinkles at bay and lips moisturized and kissable.

NIVEA FOR MEN has a great “Revitalizing Fall Grooming” package with a set of their body and facial care products to get you ready and re-energized for the fall.

They’d love to give one of my readers the chance to win this pack for yourself or for the guy in your life – be it husband, boyfriend, son, dad or granddad!

It contains:

– NIVEA for Men Energy 3-in-1 Body Wash – Need to recharge your batteries? Feel refreshed and energized with every shower.

My guy loved this body wash. It has replaced his favorite soap for sure. It doesn’t dry your skin and it has a really nice clean masculine scent with a touch of mint which I love to smell on him. He said it was a really good start to the day.

–  NIVEA for Men Energy Face Scrub with Vitamin E – Deeply cleanses to unclog pores and wash away dirt and grime, leaving smoother, healthier looking skin.

Ok, so I really had to ask him to do me a favor and try this, but he is sold. It also has a masculine clean scent and it foamed up and gave him a closer shave afterward. I did the feel test and his skin was decidedly softer and looked great.

– NIVEA for Men Energy Lotion – Enriched with skin’s own Coenzyme Q10, it helps maintain skin’s vitality and elasticity, Energy Lotion Q10 revitalizes, moisturizes, and protects tired, stressed skin.

By now, my guy wanted to know what was next (not too hard to get him on board).  It has a similar light, fresh scent and the products go great together.  This has a really nice pump dispenser with a rich lotion that is totally non greasy and absorbs quickly. This is a great wake up call for your skin and is revitalizing. 

So, as you gear up for Fall, look towards Nivea and revitalize. Their products are high quality, innovative and reasonably priced. Available online at Drugstore.com, Amazon and at your local CVS, Target, Walgreen’s and Walmart among others.

To enter to win, just follow the Rafflecopter. Best of luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I was provided a sample pack from Nivea however all opinions expressed herein are mine and my guy who helped me review.

Pepperidge Farm is such a classic! And this year they celebrate their 75th Anniversary.  I’m sure everyone has their own favorites. The Goldfish Crackers are a huge hit here for both kids and adults and they keep introducing new and delicious cookies like all the different flavors of Milanos to tempt tastebuds around the world.

It all began with a simple loaf of bread which Margaret Rudkin, the founder of Pepperidge Farm baked in her kitchen in rural Connecticut in 1937. Created to address her son’s allergy to common preservatives, Margaret’s recipe is the seed which bloomed into a flourishing business.

Margaret Rudkin

Here are some fun facts about Pepperidge Farm:

• The late Julia Child used to love to serve Goldfish crackers as an appetizer before dinner.

• Annually, the brand produces about 558 million Milano® cookies—enough to cross the United States more than 7 times—and bakes approximately 206 million loaves of bread

• Today, Pepperidge Farm employs more than 5,000 people and operates plants in nine towns

• Each year, Pepperidge Farm uses about 390 million pounds of flour

I was very happy to receive some new treats to sample in honor of their 75th Anniversary!

First up were the new Jingos! Crackers. These are crispy, crunchy and flavorful and come in three really tasty flavors: Fiesta Cheddar, full of cheesy goodness, Parmesan Garlic, great with Italian food, and, my favorite of the three, Lime & Sweet Chili. They all have a nice bold flavor and I loved the sweet chili with the lime twist. These would be great for cocktail parties as well as after-school snacks! Very versatile and unique either alone or with cheese or a delicious dip.

Next up were the Goldfish crackers. These were the Cheddar which is my favorite, but, of course they come in Pretzel, Parmesan and Pizza among others. They will always remind me of my childhood and hold a nostalgic place in my heart.

I also received the Milano Slices in Salted Pretzel. These are a thin crispy cookie adorned with a layer of rich chocolate and topped with salted pretzel pieces. The combination of sweet and salty is delicious and appealed to me as I do odd things like dip french fries in ice cream. I also love the Crunchy Almond and Sweet Toffee Milano Slices. Light, crunchy and different.

My favorite of all were the Milano Melts. I’d never tried these before. I received the Vanilla Creme. Wow! These were fantastic. They went so fast that I have already put them on my shopping list for this weekend. They have a crispy delicious chocolate outside and inside a delicious melty vanilla – not too sweet, but just right. They are so creamy and addictive. I have definitely found a new favorite.

 Over the years, Pepperidge Farm products have stocked my cupboards.  I’m a huge fan of the Pepperidge Farm Light Oatmeal Bread and serve it for sandwiches, breakfasts and snacks all the time. Are there any Pepperidge Farm products that you particularly love?

Happy 75th Pepperidge Farm. Here’s to many more years of delicious treats!

Disclosure: This review was made possible by Mom Spark Media.  I received samples to facilitate my review, however all opinions expressed are strictly my own.
 

In a few short weeks, it’s back to school and back to our weekday morning routines. Now is the perfect time to get ready and stock up on kids’ school supplies and on-the-go breakfast faves like Cheerios and Honey Nut Cheerios! Now Crayola and General Mills are teaming up at your local Target to bring you awesome deals that will help you pass back-to-school prep with flying colors!

Available exclusively at Target Stores during the month of August:

• Purchase specially marked Nature Valley® Crunchy Granola Bars, Pillsbury® Toaster Strudel® Pastries, and Big G Cereal packages and you could save up to $5 on Crayola products
• Participating Big G cereal boxes will feature a fun Crayola coloring activity on pack
• Save on General Mills products when you purchase specially marked Crayola 64-CT Crayons 

 I seriously love Target! It’s a great one-stop-shop for everything I need including great back-to-school items. We buy notebooks, pens, pencils, desk lamps, cereal and delicious snacks. There’s just so much to choose from I can get lost in there! They even have hard-to-find items that I can’t find anywhere else.

Check out www.GrocerySavvy.com where you can find even more coupons for back-to-school shopping, some great recipes and a special 2012 “Grocery Savvy Crayola^® Back To School” Sweepstakes!”

Be sure to enter that sweeps for your chance to win one of the 700 Crayola 8-count Washable Dry-Erase Crayons or one of 20 Crayola Dry-Erase Activity Centers Zany Play Edition.

Check them out!

• Grocery Savvy website
• Crayola Website
• Target Website

One lucky Strange Daze Indeed reader is going to win a Crayola/General Mills/Target prize pack including:

• A large box of Cheerios
• $20 Target gift card
• 8-CT Crayola Dry-Erase Crayons   

Cheerios are our favorite breakfast cereal here and a great start to any school day. The $20 Target gift card will help with your shopping and we love the Crayola Dry-Erase Crayons with the built-in-sharpener and E-Z erase cloth inside. The vibrant colors are fun for jotting down notes and wash clean from hands and clothes.

Which General Mills and Crayola products are you most excited to see participating?

To enter for the prize pack, just follow the Rafflecopter and best of luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure:  The product, gift pack, information, and sample have been provided by Crayola, Target, and General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

As I get older, I find more and more value in recycling and renovating. I have done some really fun things with old furniture, clothing, and even enjoy creating found art.

When I was younger, I didn’t so much value things as I do now or realize how limited resources can really be.  So, these days, my goal is to fix whatever can be fixed before looking at something new.

This is especially true when I am thinking of refinishing our deck or finding ways to restore patio furtniture.  Patio furniture restoration can save you anywhere from 30% -70% of the replacement cost. As the summer nears its inevitable end and fall is near, I fondly look out on the backyard filled with memories of barbeques and summer parties, of skinned knees and summer sun.

I recall fresh tomatoes and cucumbers, strawberries, and an overabundance of zucchini which we made into delicious bread for the neighbors. I love growing my own fruits and vegetables. I love having cilantro and dill in my backyard. Being thrifty has its perks for sure! The more I save, the more I have for a rainy day or that unexpected expense – and this really can impact all areas of my life.

After a while, it becomes a fun game. Saving resources and saving money makes me smile.