Strange Daze Indeed

With the start of 2014, I resolved to not write down any New Year’s resolutions. Nevertheless, I have quite a few in my mind and I’m finding that not setting myself up with making a big deal out of it has actually made them easier to keep! Along with being generally more organized, I find that I am exercising more and eating and serving healthier meals.  That’s the theme for us this year: good all-around health, balance and well-being.

We use a lot of Johnson & Johnson products and they have become staples around here so it was great to find out that this month, to help families usher in a healthy New Year, HEALTHY ESSENTIALS® is offering amazing printable coupons, tips & tools and so much more.

Here’s the deal: you can save over $45 by visiting www.HealthyEssentials.com in January and signing up for extra-special HEALTHY ESSENTIALS® coupons and offers. Now is the perfect time for a fresh start to your healthcare routine! From pain & allergy relief to dietary & digestive health to products for kids & babies, there are significant savings on items for every member of the family! It’s very simple, just visit www.HealthyEssentials.com to sign up!

Enter the sweeps!

Want to go to 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™? Visit HealthyEssentials.com and see if your wish could come true. Plus, get tips and coupons to save on your favorite products for the New Year.

All you have to do is share a picture or story of a moment of caring in your life and you could scream “GOAL!” from Brazil.

Visit www.healthyessentials.com for more information on this amazing opportunity!

We are excited to join Johnson & Johnson Family of Consumer Companies for a Twitter party to talk about HEALTHY ESSENTIALS® for the New Year, resolutions, family wellness and how to score great deals on health and hygiene products! I will be co-hosting and look forward to seeing you there!

Learn how HEALTHY ESSENTIALS® can help you reach health-related goals for 2014.

When: Tuesday, January 14, 1 p.m. ET

Hashtag: #Moms4JNJConsumer

Prizes: We will randomly award 15 prizes throughout the party, from all eligible correct responses to trivia questions. Each prize includes an assortment of Johnson & Johnson Family of Consumer Companies HEALTHY ESSENTIALS® products with an estimated retail value of $50.

Prize Eligibility: No purchase necessary. Entrants must be legal residents of the 50 United States + D.C. 18 years of age or older. Void where prohibited.

Hosts: @theMotherhood, @CooperMunroe, @EmilyMcKhann, @TheMotherhood25

Disclosure: This post is part of the HEALTHY ESSENTIALS® 2014 program by Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc. and The Motherhood, who sent me a box of products and compensated me for my time. Opinions, experiences and photos shared here are all my own, and I hope you enjoy them.

I love gift cards! Both giving and receiving. They are such a versatile present, especially when shopping for my hard-to-please uncle or my teenage cousin who changes styles all the time. They make a great teacher’s gift or thank-you gift as well.

I, myself, love getting a gift card because it’s a license to go shopping!

While shopping around this holiday season, I recently found out about Cardpool.com. I was pleased to find out that they have discounted gift cards from over 300 brands on their website for sale, many of them at 10, 15, even 35% off, and there is free shipping. You can even give cards as e-gifts. It’s great to skip the mall and get some of your shopping done at a discount without leaving home.

Whether it’s food, entertainment, or home improvement you’re looking for, you can find it there.  If it’s a weekend movie you want to go to, you can get a discounted AMC or Cinemark card that will make the movie cheaper.

If you’re hungry, there are lots of choices to please your palate from gourmet to fast food.

And, if you’d love to spruce up your home for the holidays or gift a friend, you can get discounts on cards from Lowe’s, Home Depot, Macy’s, Target, Pottery Barn, Williams-Sonoma and more.

It always feels so good when I have a gift card to spend. I love not having to add to my credit card bill or pull out cash when dining out.

I also love to browse online when I have a gift card. It’s like window shopping, but you are able to have your present delivered to your door. Some of my favorite gift cards are for Macy’s, Kohl’s and Amazon.

They also are a great gift to enclose inside a friendship or birthday card.

I don’t know too many friends who wouldn’t love a Target, CVS or iTunes gift card. I’ve been using my iTunes gift cards lately to purchase songs from my favorites on The Voice.

From beauty and health to pet supplies and holiday shopping, from jewelry to jeans, why not check out the merchants available from Cardpool? 

What do you love about gift cards?

Enter to Win

I’ve been given a $25 gift code to give away! You can use the code on Cardpool to buy any of the discounted cards you’d like for up to a $25 value. It’s like credit on any of your favorite brands.

Enter below and win!

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Disclosure: I received compensation for this post however all opinions are completely my own. 

Thanksgiving is officially over and I know I still have Holiday shopping to do! But, I’m not stressing because we have a Best Buy that is close and, for me, it’s a great place to buy gifts for friends and family.  I also love shopping at Best Buy online!

In fact, Best Buy is pretty much the authority and destination for all your tech and appliance product gifting needs this holiday season.  They have a huge selection which will help check off almost everyone on your gift list and their Low Price Guarantee will ensure you’re getting the most competitive price possible. 

I love going in there and checking out all the newest technology, getting to try out everything: all the new tech toys,  the laptops and tablets.  They have the hottest smartphones, gaming consoles and releases.

I’ve also recently been enchanted with their wearable tech, health and fitness gear, mobile accessories. I love seeing row upon row of DVDs to peruse and I’ve always had salespeople that have been extremely helpful and knowledgeable there. Not to mention, the incredible tech support you can get with the Geek Squad. 

As you enjoy the holidays, remember that Best Buy features the newest selection of cameras, accessories and advice so you can find the perfect gift or capture your own holiday memories.

 Right now,  Best Buy has two exclusive offers for you which are good starting today 12/1/13 – 1/18/14.

COUPON OFFERS

15% off Health and Fitness products, Fisher-Price and Mattel Toys

Some fun ideas that this coupon works for are Gifts for the Kids including the Digital Barbie Makeover Kit and the Fisher-Price Little People Apptivity Barnyard. Also Gifts for Everyone, including Misfit Shine and Fitbit! I really would love a Fitbit this year.

10% off Headphones and Portable Speakers 

How about a Jawbone Up or Logitech Headphones & Speakers? These would make life easier and more fun for  friends and family.

And while you’re there, don’t forget to buy something for yourself!! What’s on your Wish List?

Disclosure: The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free 

Perhaps Dorothy said it best in The Wizard of Oz, “There’s no place like home.” And, there’s no better time to come home than for the holidays. But you don’t need ruby slippers! Campbell’s Homestyle – “The taste that takes you home” is helping 15 lucky winners go back home during this holiday season to enjoy precious time with family and friends.

Just like a bowl of Homestyle soup warms you inside and out, sharing family traditions warms your heart. Whether you love to help with the cooking or just enjoy the delicious pies. Whether you are an outdoor adventurer or enjoy snuggling by the fire, there truly is no place like home.

Entering the Sweepstakes is easy! Simply pick the photo that reminds you most of home or upload your own for your chance to win a $500 airline gift card to help get you home for the holidays.

Entries are limited to one per person using only one email address and one Pinterest account throughout the Sweepstakes Period. Five winners will be chosen each week and you can only win during the week in which you enter.  (ends 12/16)

Now you can win a $25 NAPA Cash card good at any of your neighborhood NAPA AutoCare Centers and enjoy the premium, friendly, certified, and guaranteed work that NAPA AutoCare Centers provide. 

Disclosure: I am working with NAPA AutoCare on this post/giveaway.

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Twitter for Mary J. Blige 
Shop “A Mary Christmas” 
Verve on Facebook
Verve Music Group

Every once in a while it’s good to stand back and take an objective look at your home. Is it scattered with laundry? Overflowing with photos? Do you have mail piled up on your desk from weeks and months ago?

There is a psychology behind the way we keep our homes, from decor and accessories to habits of organizing and neatness. It not only reflects on you, but it may also be affecting your feelings and thinking.  Our surroundings matter to us. When the outside world feels unforgiving, we retreat to our homes to find comfort. Home is a place where we can display what we find meaningful and beautiful.

Our home is emotionally connected to who we are. In design, emotions are often attributed to the most basic aspects of the house: “Steps to a happy kitchen,” “How to have an awe-inspiring entryway”, “Create perfect mood lighting.” The process of creating a space that we connect to emotionally is as varied as the emotions themselves.

For example, did you know that bright colors — vibrant shades of green and blue, yellow, and orange — provide an expansive feeling. These are friendly, happy colors that encourage communication and are therefore especially welcome in the dining area and kitchen. When it comes to being organized at home, this can have a beneficial effect on your lifestyle. Being organized offers a slew of benefits. It gives you peace of mind and saves you money since you can find and use what you own instead of buying more. It also helps you stay connected to others. When you’re disorganized, you may miss events or stop inviting people over to your home. Clearing up the space helps you feel more confident and capable and it saves you time.

Perhaps you need a change, a pick-me-up in your environment. Maybe you’re just ready to get serious about making a statement with your home for yourself and your guests. Your home is a portrait of your personality, and wellness should be reflected in even this aspect of your life. Since style is the art of living, the Philip Zepter Home Design collection represents Zepter International’s firm reply to the current popular trend of minimalism in home furnishing. Beautiful turkish linens and organizational boxes are just two of the ways Zepter can help ou to spruce up your home. The Masterpiece Collection is designed to bring style to your kitchen and table as well, with a range of design to compliment all tastes and styles.

Don’t wait until Spring cleaning to spruce up your home! Making changes for the better now will have profound effects on your happiness and health that will reflect and reward you in your life at home and well beyond.

If you would like more ideas and solutions for a healthier and happier life, you can check out Zepter on Facebook.

Do you feel that there are changes you can make to your home that will make you happier?

This post is sponsored by Zepter, an international company whose mission is to enlighten people on how to live healthier, happier lives.

Most animal lovers will agree that their pets are part of the family. I’ve found a website that has daily deals specifically geared towards your dog or cat that’s very cool. 

Coupaw offers multiple new deals daily on any type of dog and cat product that you could imagine! I didn’t even know some of these things were out there. The prices are terrific, up to 85% off, and they also make unique gifts for all your pet-loving friends. 

They have toys, treats, chews, home goods, health products, leashes/collars, and t-shirts. Offering quality products and, importantly, keeping pet safety first is Coupaw’s #1 priority!

Here are a few of the deals going on now: 

Yeowww! Catnip Candy Cane Toys (USA Made)

7″ Bully Spirals Dog Chews (6-Pack)

Fresh Breath Clean Teeth Gel for Dogs & Cats

Andy Warhol’s Cats, Cats, Cats (Book)

How it Works                   

• Buy items directly on our website
• Redeem in-store deals at local retailers
• Buy vouchers for use on other websites

• 1st place – $50 coupaw bucks
• 2nd place – $25 coupaw bucks
• 3rd place – $10 coupaw bucks

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A Bad Mad Sad Day for Mama Bear

On a very bad day, Little Bear offers Mama Bear various items to make her feel better, but she’s too busy to notice-until he gives her his super, so good, so very special dolly. Silly humor, alliteration, repetition, and onomatopoeia make this a fun read-aloud story. Suggested age range for readers: 3-7

Author Mayra Calvani Mayra Calvani writes fiction and nonfiction for children and adults and has authored over a dozen books, some of which have won awards. Her stories, reviews, interviews and articles have appeared on numerous publications like The Writer, Writer’s Journal, Multicultural Review, Bloomsbury Review, and others. She lives in Belgium with her husband of 25+ years, two wonderful kids, and her two beloved pets. When she’s not writing, editing, reading or reviewing, she enjoys walking with her dog, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Book Blast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 12/9/13 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway