Summer is almost officially here and it’s that time of the year to hit the beaches and parks! Let the little ones get out there and play in the sand and…dirt of course! If you have boys like me, getting dirty is just part of the fun when playing outside. I am not to strict on them getting dirty. I mean I do have a bathtub and a washing machine after all. Spencer is a get down and dirty kind of a boy. He loves to run his trucks and cars through makeshift hills and courses. He was hauling around all of his Jelly Beans in his dump trucks after Easter was over!

Why not let your little guy have fun with the iconic CAT and CAT Preschool toys brought to by Toy State!  These preschool, designed iconic machine styles bring “the feel of real” to even the most junior CAT operator. The wide range of classic play functions, along with exciting lights & sound features will encourage creative play and lead to hours of playtime fun!

CAT Preschool

Classic ‘Bump & Go’ feature with popular Cat machine styles. Age: 2+    Available Styles: Dump Truck, and Wheel Loader

EZ Machines areemote control fun for the most junior operator! Simple 1-button activation allows the child to steer his Cat machine forward when pressing the button, or watch it spin in circles when the button is released or if the toy goes out of range. Bring the remote control unit back into range, push the button and away you go! Age: 2+     Available Styles: Bulldozer

Shape Sorter are traditional shape-sorting play with iconic Cat machine styles. Age: 12 Months+ Available Styles: Dump Truck and Cement Mixer

Take-A-Part Trucks give your little guy the take-apart action fun with Cat machines! Includes motorized hand drill for assembly and removal of machine components. Age: 3+     Available Styles: Dump Truck, Wheel Loader and Skid Steer

Honk n Rumble Wheel - Cat machine wheel loaded with fun sounds and lights. The rumble motor ignition function and vocal phrases put “Big Honkin” fun into this wheel! Age: 18 Months+

CAT

Job Site Machines bring the job site to you with motorized Cat machines. Each machine features classic Cat styles with working lights, construction tunes, and foreman vocals, as well as motorized driving and other machine features. Age: 3+  Available Styles: Dump Truck, Bulldozer, Wheel Loader and Excavator

Mining-themed ‘Build & Play’ playset. The set includes 1 free-wheeling Cat machine, and a working rock crusher. Construction site sound effects, music and fun vocal phrases also included. Age: 3+

Enter below to win a Classic ‘Bump N’ Go’ Dump Truck from Toy State!
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Disclosure: MAK Media, LLC was compensated for this post in some form. (product, monetarily, etc). The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own. This post is not endorsed, sponsored or has any connection to Twitter, Facebook or any other Social Media network that may be mentioned. This post is the sole property of MAK Media, LLC.  All opinions are mine whether positive or negative. You can read more about our Policy Disclosure here.

Royal will be 10 in just a few months and he has a teddy bear who’s name is Sam. He received this as a gift when he was just 3 years old from his great-grandmother. He is very serious when it comes to Sam. For many years he would not sleep anywhere without him. Sam has made MANY trips back to Pennsylvania with us to visit my family. I can’t tell you how many times I have fixes Sam and surprisingly, he still is in great condition but he stays in the bedroom now. No more traveling for Sam. I am thrilled about this because it means no more incidents of poor Sam potentially getting left behind.

Spencer, my “baby”, who is turning 5 tomorrow, has Freddy Teddy. When he was born myself, my Mom and Royal were walking around a national clothing store when he spotted Freddy Teddy. He asked if he could buy it for Spencer, so we did. Freddy Teddy is still with us today kicking it every night with Sam.

Though the boys are so serious about Sam and Freddy Teddy, they aren’t the softest things I have ever seen. One would think that cuddling up to them wouldn’t be that much fun. If you have a child that doesn’t yet have that favorite stuffed animal, let me suggest perhaps the most huggable plush ever, Fuzzy’s from GUND. These are extra soft and extra floppy making them the ideal companions everywhere you go! Spencer is the owner of  the Fuzzy Dog, who’s picture does not do this cute guy any justice! HE is so incredible soft I almost want to cuddle up to him myself!

Looking for something that will hug your little one back? GUND also offers a like of Nuzzles which are designed to lay gently and comfortably against your neck and cheek. A great decorative addition to any child’s bedroom or playroom.  Nuzzles also offer a soft place to lay your head on longer car or plane rides, or while you’re watching TV! These are a soft stuffed animal with an over sized head. The animals next sits on your shoulder and essentially hugs you back. Royal has Harry the Lion whom we think is just so cute.

GUND also offers Curious George, everyone’s favorite inquisitive little monkey, in soft 8” plush, wearing your choice of a red or yellow shirt.

Want to win one of these cute animals from GUND? Enter my giveaway below! You will have a choice of Curious George 8” in a red shirt, Alice the Bunny Nuzle, Harry the Lion Nuzzle, Fuzzy’s Dog or Monkey.

Disclosure: MAK Media, LLC was compensated for this post in some form. (product, monetarily, etc). The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own. This post is not endorsed, sponsored or has any connection to Twitter, Facebook or any other Social Media network that may be mentioned. This post is the sole property of MAK Media, LLC.  All opinions are mine whether positive or negative. You can read more about our Policy Disclosure here.

I used to live in Pennsylvania in an area where the cost of garbage pick-up was an outrageous price. Most people in the Poconos burn their garbage instead of paying for the pick-up. This means a lot of jar and can washing because you obviously can’t burn that stuff. I remember when I first moved to Ohio, I had finished up the mayonnaise and I started to rinse the jar out. Complete habit! I was asked what was I doing? As stupid as this may sound, the moment I remembered that I could just throw it in the trash, I was so excited. Not because I didn’t want to recycle but because it was almost like a novelty to throw it away lol

It seems like more and more people are getting involved in recycling these days. Royal even tries to get into it a little bit but he isn’t consistent. I live in a small apartment for now so I really don’t have the space for a bunch of bins. The Rubbermaid Hidden Recycler is an easy solution to that problem. It attaches to the inside of a cabinet door to collect recyclables out of sight and keeps your counters clear. The bag is durable, machine washable, and made of recycled material. Once your bag is full, you just have to easily lift the bag from the lid and cabinet by the handle to take them out to your recycle bin. The Hidden Recycler is currently available for purchase online at Rubbermaid.com and in store at Meijer. Here are a few details about the Hidden Recycler.

• Hinged lid attaches to cabinet door with over the door hooks or screws
• Bag is made from 65% post-consumer resin
• Bag is machine washable
• Comfortable handle for transport
• 5 gallon bag holds 36 uncrushed cans and is large enough to fit 1 gallon milk jugs
• Great for single stream recyclers
• Great for apartment living

The only problem I found with this product with my cabinets is the door wouldn’t shut all the way. There is nothing unusual about the design of my cabinets so I am not sure what type these would fit right on.

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Disclosure:MAK Media, LLC was compensated for this post in some form. (product, monetarily, etc). The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own. This post is not endorsed, sponsored or has any connection to Twitter, Facebook or any other Social Media network that may be mentioned. This post is the sole property of MAK Media, LLC.  All opinions are mine whether positive or negative. You can read more about our Policy Disclosure here.

It is very rare that I come across a Rubbermaid product that I don’t love. I have had some minor issues with some from time to time but mostly I offer nothing but positive things to say. I really don’t even know where to start with this review. I am so ridiculously in love with these boxes! I have “cubby” unit in my living room that holds 18 “bins” total in 3 different sizes. I own so many of the fabric bins that I keep my sons toys organized in and they really just don’t hold up. The boys are constantly pulling the bins out and putting them back in. Most of them come apart at the seams. I have been using the Rubbermaid Bento Storage Boxes for many months now and much to my surprise, (considering all the others I’ve owned) these are still in like new condition!

Typical storage boxes contain your items, but the inside becomes cluttered and makes it difficult to find what you need. Rubbermaid’s Bento collection is designed to organize items, rather than just store them. The Bento Boxes have internal flex dividers, which enable you to divide the space by creating unique sections when needed. Boxes can stack vertically, or fit inside each other. Bento Toppers can act as trays, covers or lids, providing an extra layer of organization for the Bento Boxes, or hiding what’s inside. The Bento Collection is made from sturdy materials, and the heavy-duty decorative fabric enables it to remain out in your social spaces while complementing your home’s décor.

• Internal Flex Dividers that can be individually popped open or closed
• Toppers act as trays, covers or lids
• Same size containers can stack on top of one another
• Smaller sizes nest inside larger sizes for space efficient storage when not in use
• CARB-certified MDF covered in durable polyester fabric

I use the large one for toys, the rectangle one to keep my spices organized in the cabinet, the lid for this one sits on our entertainment center for remote controls and the little square one holds pencils, pens etc because the internal divider makes 4 sections inside.

If you are in the market for storage boxes of this type, I personally recommend giving these a try. They are a little on the pricey side but when I factor in how much I have spent on other “fabric bins”, these are well worth the month. In this case, you get exactly what you are paying for. They range in price from $9.99 to $26.99 or you can pick up the complete 6 piece set pictured above for $99.49. Enter below using Rafflecopter to win!

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Disclosure:MAK Media, LLC was compensated for this post in some form. (product, monetarily, etc). The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own. This post is not endorsed, sponsored or has any connection to Twitter, Facebook or any other Social Media network that may be mentioned. This post is the sole property of MAK Media, LLC.  All opinions are mine whether positive or negative. You can read more about our Policy Disclosure here.

It’s that time of year again and many people are rushing around in these past 2 weeks to get their papers in order. Identity theft has no boundaries. When I read this information I was pretty shocked. I never associated identity theft with income tax time.

While many consumers look forward to filing their income taxes in anticipation of a refund, many remain frustrated as the deadline approaches and they must make good on what they owe the IRS. Identity thieves are not concerned which category you fall in as they prepare to assume your identity and make good on a return that you were or weren’t expecting.

According to a May 2011 report on Taxes and Identity Theft developed by the US Government Accountability Office, the median amount of suspected identity theft related refunds identified in the 2009 tax filing season was around $3,400.

On January 11, 2011, National Taxpayer Advocate Nina E. Olson released her annual report to Congress and highlighted “the IRS’s centralized Identity Protection Specialized Unit (IPSU) received more than 226,000 identity theft-related cases, an increase of 20 percent over 2010.”

There is no way to stop all identity theft, however, LifeLock offers the following tax filing tips for consumers to consider when preparing their income taxes in 2012:

• FILE FAST – Your procrastination can turn into profit for an identity thief. The sooner you file, the less time an identity thief has to compromise your information and cash in on a fraudulent return.
• SECURE YOURSELF – When using online tax preparation software, be certain that the Web site is secure and that you see an https:// in the URL. The “s” in the URL indicates that the server is secure and personal information is encrypted and can be transmitted safely from your computer to the end point.

• SKIP THE PHISHING TRIP – Remember this: the IRS never initiates communications with taxpayers through email. Identity thieves can send fraudulently emails, posing as an employee of the IRS in an attempt to collect personally identifiable information to use in compromising your identity. This type of scam is commonly referred to as phishing. Do not respond if you should receive an email from the IRS, instead forward it to phishing@irs.gov.

I was given the option to host a small giveaway for a LifeLock bank. I thought these were just the cutest things that I decided to go ahead and host it. I hope you think he is as cute as I do!

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Disclosure: MAK Media is a LifeLock Brand Ambassador and was compensated for this post. All Opinions expressed here are my own.  This post is not endorsed, sponsored or has any connection to Twitter, Facebook or any other Social Media network that may be mentioned. This post is the sole property of MAK Media, LLC.  All opinions are mine whether positive or negative. You can read more about our Policy Disclosure here.

From the makers of Despicable Me comes an all-new comedy about candy, chicks and rock n roll! He was destined to be the Easter Bunny, but all he wanted to do was rock! When teenage E.B. (voiced by Russell Brand) leaves for Hollywood in pursuit of his dream to become a rockstar drummer, he meets Fred (James Marsden), an out-of-work slacker with his own lofty goals. Together the two encounter a series of hilarious mishaps and misadventures and in the end help each other recognize the importance of family.

We haven’t gotten to see this yet but it will be out next week and we are excited too! It looks like an incredibly cute movie. We tried to see it when it was in the theaters but things just didn’t work out with everything that was going on. If you are interested in seeing the movie, Enter my giveaway below! I have a cute prize pack for one lucky reader and their little ones! Own the Perfect Family Easter Movie!

Walmart – Pre-order HOP Combo Pack at Walmart.com and get a FREE download of the original soundtrack!

Target – Receive free wearable bunny ears & printable Easter party kit when you Buy HOP on Blu-ray Combo Pack

Best Buy – Get a free 7” Bunny Minion Plush when you buy HOP on Blu-ray Combo Pack

‘Like’ HOP on Facebook

Visit the official website

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Disclosure: MAK Media, LLC was compensated for this post. This post is not endorsed, sponsored or has any connection to Twitter, Facebook or any other Social Media network that may be mentioned. This post is the sole property of MAK Media, LLC.  All opinions are mine whether positive or negative. You can read more about our Policy Disclosure here.

Just in time to catch up with my complaining about McDonald’s, they go and change the Happy Meals. On the rare occasion that I actually take the boys there, they get apples with no caramel sauce and white milk. No Fries, No soda etc. I figure if we have to stop there, I might as well try to make it a LITTLE healthier for them. Have you ever tasted that caramel sauce for the apples? YUCK! Thankfully the boys think it’s disgusting too.

What’s new about the Happy Meal? The new Happy Meal automatically includes Apple Slices (¼ cup or ½ serving) as a side to the choice of a Hamburger, Cheeseburger or Chicken McNuggets,® and choice of beverage, including new fat-free chocolate milk and 1% low fat white milk. In addition to Apple Slices, the meal also automatically comes with new smaller size French fries. For customers who prefer apples only, an additional bag of Apple Slices is available to replace the fries.

The new Happy Meal that includes 4-piece Chicken McNuggets, Apple Slices, new smaller size French fries and 1% low fatwhite milk or fat-free chocolate milk delivers produce and dairy food groups encouraged by the USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010 and MyPlate1. The sodium in the Happy Meal entrée favorite, Chicken McNuggets, has been reduced by more than 20 percent since 2003. In fact, McDonald’s recently reduced sodium 10 percent in most of its chicken menu items as part of its national sodium reduction eorts.

I wasn’t sure how I felt about this until I saw the meal. The fries are so small it almost seems like a waste of cardboard and the apple bags are much smaller than before. The boys like that the apples now have the skin removed and had a confused look when they saw fries in their bags lol For me and my sons, the only positive I can see with this new setup is that you can request double apples instead of fries. Considering the new size of the apple bag, I don’t think you are really getting much, if any, more apples than you were before. The small fries is listed as being 100 calories. Some adults have said they wish they sold that size for like $.50. Sometimes you just need a couple fries I think the new size could be a benefit for the children who always get just fries. Anything to get kids eating a little healthier?   On that note…..

The search has begun!  Today, McDonald’s announced that they are searching for two parent and child teams to help their own Executive Chef, Dan Coudreaut, in the creation and testing of new, nutrition-minded Happy Meal choices. Now through April 18, the McDonald’s will seek top inspiring stories from families who enjoy cooking with wholesome ingredients at family mealtime. While only two will be deemed honorary “Happy Meal Chefs,” winning the opportunity to experience a one-of-a-kind apprenticeship with Chef Dan, ten young chefs will win a trip to the London 2012 Olympic Games.

In order to enter the contest, parents or guardians of kids (ages 8-11) must answer a brief questionnaire and submit a short video online that creatively showcases their family mealtime via the Happy Meal Chefs contest page. As part of their entry, family teams are encouraged to incorporate recommended food groups from USDA’s MyPlate, the balanced-eating symbol based on federal dietary guidelines.

Want to try out the new happy meals? 5 winners will each win 2 Free Happy meals!

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Disclosure: MAK Media, LLC received free products coupons. This post is not endorsed, sponsored or has any connection to Twitter, Facebook or any other mentioned social media network. This post is solely the property of MAK Media, LLC. . All opinions are mine whether positive or negative. You can read more about our Policy Disclosure here.

If you are looking for that special one of a kind Valentine’s Day present, look no further! Pictures On Gold creates beautiful personalized jewelry in 14K gold or sterling silver. I agree that there are some men who just are clueless about shopping. It is also true that there are some woman who are completely impossible to shop for. Lockets could be the gift this year! These are not just for your significant other. They have ones for Mom, Sister and Nana too!

I don’t wear to much jewelry. I am simple, a necklace, earrings and a ring. I have never owned a piece of photo jewelry before so when I was asked to do a review for Pictures On Gold I thought it would be fun. I sent over pictures of my boys that I took over Christmas and in less than 48 hours I received the locket. The Sweetheart locket contains 2 of your favorite pictures on an 18 inch box chain.

They laser etch your photo onto your choice of jewelry. I took so many pictures of this locket it was unreal. I could not get a photo that did this piece justice. They are so clear and beautiful. The shine you see on the left photo is not on the actual item. When it came in the mail my boys told me that I always had to wear it when they were away so that they were always close to my hear. Adorable right?  They want to open it and look at it all the time! This is without a doubt something I will treasure for the rest of my life.

Pictures on Gold is not just limited to lockets. They also sell Customized Sports Jewelry, Fingerprint Jewelry, Police and Fire Department Jewelry (with City and Badge Number) and Medical Jewelry. If you are in a hurry to get one of these beauties today, you can save 5% by using the discount code PATTY5.

The only complaint I have about this item is the engraving. I don’t like how the quotes were placed. Considering it was two lines, it should have been written as one of the following; “Royal & Spencer” 2011 or Royal & Spencer “2011″…. This could be my slight OCD coming out but I would have preferred it one of the other ways.

Enter our Rafflecopter giveaway below! This ends on 2/10 and if you get your information over to them immediately, you will receive it in time for Valentine’s Day!

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Disclosure: MAK Media, LLC was compensated for this post. A product was provided courtesy of Pictures on Gold. The views and opinions expressed in this blogs content are solely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product should be verified by the above mentioned manufacturer, PR Agency or product designer. This post is not endorsed, sponsored or has any connection to twitter, facebook or any other network. This post is solely the property of MAK Media, LLC. The product itself did not persuade my personal beliefs or views. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions are mine whether positive or negative. You can read more about our Policy Disclosure here.

Today is Groundhog Day! Wow, it seems like Christmas was just yesterday and Valentine’s day is right around the corner. In celebration of Valentine’s Day, Sweety High is offering special baking prize packs!  Sweety High members are also competing for a grand prize baking kit with more than 20 pieces by submitting pictures of their very best baking creations.

What is Sweety High you may be wondering? Sweety High is a new social networking site for young ladies! It was designed for self expression for girls ages 9 to 14 and combines your online and offline life into a single gaming experience. Whether it’s earning virtual currency, meeting your heroes, or becoming a Sweety celebrity, the possibilities are as limitless as your imagination.

It represents the ultimate in wish fulfillment for tween and teen girls. It carefully combines all the most important aspects of the world they love – arts and entertainment, music, fashion, celebrity, sports, community – online in an environment that fosters their creative participation.

Whether it’s shooting original shows, publishing scrapbooks, or writing about your life, the entire experience rewards expression. You can become a star in your community, site-wide, or advance to become a part of the entertainment industry with our help.

This is a pretty original website in my opinion. I don’t have daughters so I wouldn’t be searching for such a site but, I will say I have never heard of come across one like it.  Gamers can win everything from iPods to backstage passes. They offer a calendar of events nationwide that gives members the opportunity to connect with each other and their favorite celebrities.

The site is FREE, unless you want to become a premium member. Then the cost is $4.99/month but they offer discounts if you purchase for 6 or 12 months at a time.  A premium membership gets you access to exclusive content from our webseries’, ability to become friends with all the cast members in their SH lockers, 1000 hearts per month to use in the store, access to special items in the store, a Sweety Society badge, inclusion in all our contests, the SH newsletter, and a handful of other things.

To see all of Sweety High’s original programming, please visit them on YouTube.

Enter to win a Valentine’s Day Prize Pack!

2 Heart Shaped Plates
1 Petite Pie Mold with Heart-shaped cut-out
1 Set of Valentine’s themed confections
1 Heart-shaped cookie cutter
2 Heart embroidered kitchen towels
1 Spatula

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When a new year rolls around, one of the first resolutions so many people make is to get healthier during the new year. Whether it’s eating better, working out, losing weight or simply taking vitamins, it’s the top resolution. Sadly many don’t stick with it because it can be very frustrating and disappointing.

I have never really been big on taking vitamins. This is a little funny considering my eating habits are atrocious. I have tried in the past a few times but I never felt any different taking them and it seemed like a waste of money.  For 2012, Centrum has released a new line called ProNutrients.

ProNutrients is a new line of dietary supplements launched by the makers of Centrum multivitamins, and is formulated to naturally work with a multivitamin. The line includes Omega-3, Probiotic, and Fruit & Veggie—three supplements that support health and well-being.  Each supplement is backed by the nutritional expertise of Centrum, identifying the right ingredients to take consumers’ nutrition to the next level. Here is a little bit about each one.

New ProNutrients Omega-3 provides two of the most scientifically studied Omega-3s (according to Eicosapentaenoic Acid/EPA and Docosahexaenoic Acid/DHA standards) in an ultra-concentrated MiniGel.  Since the MiniGels are smaller than the sizes of most brands’ softgels, they are easy to swallow. They help support heart health, brain structure and eye structure.*  The retail value of the 50-unit package is $12.99, and the 100-unit package is $19.99.

ProNutrients Fruit & Veggie each MiniTab of new harnesses the power equal to a serving of a blend of fruits and vegetables. It is 100 percent naturally sourced from grapes, blueberries, raspberries, plums, carrots and tomatoes.  Each MiniTab helps support cell protection and general health.*  The retail value for the 50-unit package is $11.99, and the 100-unit package is $19.99.

New ProNutrients Probiotic is a unique blended powder containing two of the most scientifically studied probiotics.  The individually wrapped packets are designed to ensure the bacteria arrive active and ready to work in the digestive tract.  ProNutrients Probiotic helps support immune health and digestive balance.*  The retail value for the 14-unit package is $18.99, and the 28-unit package is $29.99.

I have been taking these for a few weeks now and while I can’t confirm it is specifically related to the vitamins, I will say that I have feel that I have a little more energy. Much more that the other ones that I have tried. I am not a big vegetable eater so I am sure that the ProNutrients Fruit & Veggie one is really helping me. If you are already taking these, I would love to hear what you think!

Do you want to try ProNutrients? There are 2 ways! Enter my giveaway below or grab this $5 Centrum ProNutrients coupon and head to the store!
a Rafflecopter giveawayDisclosure: MAK Media, LLC was compensated for this post. A product was provided courtesy of One2One Network on behalf of Cdentrum.  The views and opinions expressed in this blogs content are solely my own. I make no claims about Centrum ProNutrients as a product or it’s effectiveness. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product should be verified by the above mentioned manufacturer, PR Agency or product designer. This post is not endorsed, sponsored or has any connection to twitter, facebook or any other network. This post is solely the property of MAK Media, LLCand/or its above sponsor. The product itself did not persuade my personal beliefs or views. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. You can read more about our Policy Disclosure here.