Victor - Keep those pests at bay!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Victor Pest. All opinions are 100% mine.

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With winter time underway, I think it's important to take a second to think about a dirty side of life. During this time of year it is very common for animals to want to come in the house where it's warm, dry and for many it offers an endless supply of food. Keeping pests at bay is a huge priority in our home as I refuse to live with wild mice/rats in our house. I say wild because my family has been known to have rats as pets. PET RATS, mind you. Regardless, if you're worried about fuzzy little creatures rummaging about in your house at night, maybe it's about time you took a look at Victor.

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Victor is a company that specializes in rodent control using a wide variety of products, including electronic traps. Electronic traps are safe to use around children and other larger pets. They are 100% effective, humane and non-toxic! The best part is.. you don't have to worry about carrying a dead rodent out to the garbage. Electronic traps are a no see-no touch solution to common mouse traps. Not only do they have products to remove the little critters from you home but they also have products to keep them away, as well.

Do you have a rodent problem that you need a little help with? No worries! Victor is currently running a promotion to help you out. Victor Protect Your Space Combo Kit sells for $99.99 and with that you receive; (1) Victor Sonic PestChaser Heavy Duty Sonic, (2) Victor Sonic Mini PestChaser Ultrasonic Rodent Repellent, (2) Victor Electronic Mouse Trap. You will also receive FREE SHIPPING!!!

Unsure of what PestChasers are? It's okay! I didn't know either. PestChasers are a great alternative to using mouse traps. PestChasers are kinder and safer than traditional traps and eliminate the need for disposing of disease bearing critters. PestChasers emit a frequency that is inaudible to humans and pets alike and will reduce the pest activity within your house within 6-10 days of use. They also last 5 to 7 years! That's a small price to pay to keep your house mouse/rat free for 5-7 years! Unfortunately, ultrasonic sound can not penetrate furniture or walls so additional units will need to be installed for multiple room use. Still unsure? PestChasers are the only rodent repellents that are backed by third party research and have been through exhaustive field tests. Victor was also granted registration by the Canadian EPA (PMRA) due to their strict testing standards on electronic rodent repellent devices.

Unfortunately I know about mice a little too well. My mom is currently battling a mice problem in her house and instead of using a horrendous rat poison, I'm trying to convince her to buy some electronic mouse repellents. It's so much healthier, safer and easier to use! These would also be great for use in barns around horse feed. You don't have to worry about pets getting into rat poison or ingesting poisoned pests and it will eliminate your pest problem.

Aurorae Northern Lights Yoga Mat

I am a yoga beginner but when it comes to beautiful products that I love, the first company that I turn to is Aurorae Yoga.

Aurorae Yoga doesn't just carry beautiful yoga mats, but many more products to fulfill all of your yoga accessory needs. Aurorae yoga mats include illuminating colors, focal point icons, extra long and extra thick yoga mats, as well as yoga bags and yoga accessories. Browse their best reviewed yoga mats, yoga bags and yoga accessories for all your yoga needs.

What I like about this yoga mat is how comfortable it is. It's not too thin to where you can feel the floor underneath, but not too thick where it's throwing you off balance. It's beautiful to look at and it's more than perfect to help you center yourself and find inner peace. It is made with ECO SAFE material, it's biodegradable and it's phthalates FREE!


Aurorae Yoga also carries great carrying bags for your yoga mats and accessories. Such as the Aurorae Denim Yoga Bag.I like that the fabric is strong but not over the top and you don't have to worry about throwing your yoga mat in the trunk anymore and having your bag get snagged and your mat torn. This one is very protective and will keep your mat safe. I also love that it has an extra pocket to keep a rosin bag and anything else you may need.

Would you like an Aurorae Yoga Mat for yourself or someone you love? Here's how you can!

Buy It! Visit Aurorae Yoga and purchase a Norther Lights Yoga Mat for $39.95 and a Denim Yoga Bag for $29.95.


I would like to send a special thank you to Aurorae Yoga for providing us with (1) Northern Lights Yoga Mat, (1) Denim Yoga Bag and (1) Slip Free Rosin Bag for review.

Vive Vita - Everyday solutions to living life with kids!

Recently I was given the opportunity to review a few products from Vive Vita's line of kid friendly products to make everyday life with kids, easier. Since I loved them so much, I wanted to share them with you. One of the products is called a Bandette and the other is a Gripsterz. I will explain them both below.

Bandette Cup Labels are reusable labels for kids cups. You can use them on pretty much any type of cup. The best thing about these labels is that you can take them off to wash or leave them on, it doesn't matter. Simply use a ball point pen to write your childs name on each label. Mess up or have a friends child over? Great! Simply use your finger to rub the name off and start over. It comes off and looks as good as new and you can use them over and over again. As you can see they come in many great styles and colors and are great! This is a great help when you're traveling to friends' house or meeting with other little ones. You don't have to worry about them having the same sippy cup or going home with the wrong cup.

Gripsterz Stay Alongs are another one of the great products from Vive Vita. This gives your child the freedom to walk beside you but the safety of hanging onto you. This gives them something fun to hang on to, to keep their attention. With this little guy, they'll want to hang onto mom, without being forced to sit in the cart or be stuck in a stroller. My little guy is still a little young for this but he loves it. If we're out and about he loves to hold onto it knowing that I'm on the other end.


ViveVita carries some other great products so make sure you check them out! They're wonderful. I love ours and I know we're going to use ours for many years to come.

Isabella Water Bottle

Isabella Water Bottles are something that I am truly proud to have. Ya' see. These water bottles aren't your run of the mill stainless steel water bottles. Isabella Water is an organization who is determined to provide clean drinking water to everybody.


These water bottles aren't only extremely stream line, but they're also for a great cause. Isabella Water Bottles retail for $20, each, and that may seem a little extreme to some but when you hear about the cause behind the company, I know you will be willing to participate. This $20 water bottle's purpose isn't only to convince people to stop buying plastic bottled water, but also $10 of every purchase will help fund a well, to bring fresh, clean drinking water to those in need in Africa and Asia.

DID YOU KNOW?

.....

1 out of every 8 people does not have access to clean drinking water!

75% of Americans across the country are chronically dehydrated!

70% of preschool children don't drink enough water and often mistake thirst for hunger!

This is the perfect gift for someone trying to go a little greener and trying to help others all at once. You're not just giving one gift, here, you're giving a gift to many.


If you would like to have an Isabella Water Bottle for yourself or someone you love, please visit www.isabellawater.org for more details.


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Chiquita Mom

Two months ago I was contacted by Angela who works with Chiquita. Yes, Chiquita as in the banana. She turned me on to this super cool idea and asked me if I would like to be a Chiquita Mom. After learning more about Chiquita Mom's, of course I said yes.
 

A Chiquita Mom is a mother who uses nutritious meals, snacks and products to better the quality of life for her family.

To become a Chiquita Mom, they were kind enough to send me the following products to help me find new ideas to better my family and our lifestyle;

• Chiquita Mom's Flip Book
• Chiquita Banana Recipe Cards
• Baby-Safe Chiquita Bowl, Cup, Spoon and Fork Set
• Chiquita Mom's Grocery Tote Bag
• Chiquita Moms Freezer Bags
• and a coupon for FREE Chiquita Bananas

 What I love about my Chiquita Mom's kit is that not only does it provide just about everything one would need to buy, create and make healthier snacks for their family, but my favorite items are the Grocery tote bag and the the recipe cards. I also love the freezer bags, too. You can reuse the tote as many times as you want and I simply love it's BRIGHT yellow Chiquita color. I also love how easy the freezer bags are to use. The instructions are on the bag and it's simply;

Peel the over ripe banana, put it in the bag, date it and put it in the freezer. Done. It doesn't get any easier than that. We're big on freezing our over ripe bananas to use later in delicious recipes and to be completely honest, I never thought to put them in a freezer bag. I've always put them in in the peel and waiting for them to thaw before I could peel them out of the wrapper. It's genius!

Nature’s Energy Boost
Did you know that Chiquita bananas provide potassium, Vitamin B6 and complex carbs? They also have manganese (essential for metabolizing fats, carbs and protein for energy) and Vitamins A, C, E and K, all occurring naturally. Chiquita bananas are high in fiber, fun to eat and naturally tasty to satisfy your sweet tooth. They come in nature’s own biodegradable package. Perfect for the whole family, Chiquita bananas are the ideal natural breakfast, on-the-go afternoon snack or pre-workout boost.

 Not only were they awesome enough to send me a kit, but they're awesome enough to hold some aside for my readers. If you would like a Chiquita Mom's Kit simply comment here and let me know. If we get a good following, five winners will be chosen. This giveaway will close on Sunday, January 31, 2011.

Hop Along Friday

Welcome to the 38th edition of Hop Along Friday, hosted by My New Life As Mom, Chubby Cheeks Thinks, This Adventure Our Life, Belly Charms and Living On Love & Cents!

Please feel free to follow through and link up to facebook and twitter accounts as well
once you get on someone's page, but please only link your blog up, here. As always, we continue to invite you and your friends to link up every Friday and join us for a wonderful
blog hopping adventure! We're all about making friends and having fun so come join us!

You can still be rewarded for participating! Each week we will use random.org to pick a
"featured blog" of the week from the previous weeks link ups! Want your blog featured? Then you have to link up! Here's how you can join in on the fun;

• Link up to your blog using our inlinkz link list, below.
• Follow the host/hostesses located in the first 5 slots.
• Follow any other blogs that you feel appropriate! :)
• If you get a new follower, please feel free to reciprocate the love!

This is a new list every Friday, so please remember to come back and link up!

We understand that not everyone has time to follow and comment on every Hop Along Friday Participant, just do what you can and are willing to do. We will do the same! Take your time and go at your own pace. FYI, however, if you follow me and leave a comment, guaranteed, I will follow you back!

The link list is only open to add new blogs on Fridays but will be visible all week long.

This weeks featured blog is #102 from last week!

 

Changes to come!

First, I feel the need to apologize to you. To each and every reader that I have. To say I am sorry. Sorry for the ways things have gone and sorry for not being clear headed enough to recognize what was happening. I am truly sorry and I promise that I will take the needed steps to turn this around.

What am I apologizing for, you ask? I am apologizing for allowing my blog to turn into something that I never wanted it to be. For allowing the marketer in me to take over and turn this into nothing better than an annoying pop-up ad.

You see, I never intended it to be this way. When I started this blog, my only purpose was to share in the experience of being a first time mom and enjoying the journey of raising my son. Share pictures, stories, tips and tricks and hopefully receive some in return. Unfortunately, some how I lost sight of that. I was grabbed a hold of by the marketing bug and I swear it took off with me. Now I'm not saying all reviews and giveaways are bad. They're totally not! I've just been up to my neck working on things and it has made me resent my blog. Resent the thing that I love. The thing that I grew from nothing. Nourished with my love and attention and now I hate it. I hate what it has become and I don't want it to be like this anymore.

I want to know my readers again. I want to know the stories behind the names and faces and get to know the personalities behind the comments. I want to love my blog again and love the material that is posted. I want this blog to reflect me. Reflect my family. Reflect the love and attention that I am trying to pass on to my readers. To you.

With that there will be changes. Some of the changes will include the following:

•  95% of the posts will be personal posts, by me.
• There will still be reviews and sponsored posts, but rarely.
• You will be seeing MUCH more of me.
• More pictures.
• More stories.
• Much more to look forward to.

I will still participate in Hop Along Friday, as I have every week since I started it, I just hope that the changes to come will help me be a much bigger part than I have played lately.

I wish you all the best and pray that your lives are going well.
Best Wishes,
Stephanie


If you have any questions, comments or ideas, please feel free to leave a comment below or email me, personally, at stephanie[at]mynewlifeasmom[dot]com

Hop Along Friday

Welcome to the 36th edition of Hop Along Friday, hosted by My New Life As Mom, Chubby Cheeks Thinks, This Adventure Our Life, Belly Charms and our newest host Living On Love & Cents!

Please feel free to follow through and link up to facebook and twitter accounts as well
once you get on someone's page, but please only link your blog up, here. As always, we continue to invite you and your friends to link up every Friday and join us for a wonderful
blog hopping adventure! We're all about making friends and having fun so come join us!

You can still be rewarded for participating! Each week we will use random.org to pick a
"featured blog" of the week from the previous weeks link ups! Want your blog featured? Then you have to link up! Here's how you can join in on the fun;

• Link up to your blog using our inlinkz link list, below.
• Follow the host/hostesses located in the first 5 slots.
• Follow any other blogs that you feel appropriate! :)
• If you get a new follower, please feel free to reciprocate the love!

This is a new list every Friday, so please remember to come back and link up!

We understand that not everyone has time to follow and comment on every Hop Along Friday Participant, just do what you can and are willing to do. We will do the same! Take your time and go at your own pace.

The link list is only open to add new blogs on Fridays but will be visible all week long.

This weeks featured blog is #48 from last week!

TABASCO® - Original Red

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of TABASCO® Original Red. All opinions are 100% mine.

TABASCO® Original Red is one of my favorite condiments to use in dishes. Not only does it add a slight kick to anything you add it to, but it also enhances the flavor of other foods to give you the ultimate flavor of every single bite. I use TABASCO® Original Red on every day dishes. From soup to breakfast, it's an all around go-to item. I even love to mix it with ranch dressing or ranch dip to give that boring dip an extra kick! It's amazing. You also don't have to be into heat to enjoy this... just add a drop or two while you're cooking and you'll be amazed at the flavor difference. Heat enhances the flavor of food. It doesn't just add cover it up with 'heat'. The amazing combination of salt, red pepper and vinegar that has been aged in a 3 year process brings out those subtle flavors, brightens dishes and give you the most out of your food.

It's football season and the Super Bowl (as well as college bowl games) are right around the corner, you should try adding a touch or two of Tabasco® Original Red to some of your favorite party dishes. It makes Pizza Perfected. Add a couple drops to your pizza and it will add a whole new dimension to your pizza. The taste is absolutely amazing.

Want some menu ideas for your upcoming game day party? Check out TABASCO® Game-Day Party Menu to make a new favorite.

Did you know that Original Red was the very first sauce introduced back in 1868 and continues to be their best seller out of 6 sauces! If you haven't yet, you should definitely give it a try. You'll be amazed at the difference.

Hop Along Friday

Welcome to the 35th edition of Hop Along Friday, hosted by My New Life As Mom, Chubby Cheeks Thinks, This Adventure Our Life, Belly Charms and our newest host Living On Love & Cents!

Please feel free to follow through and link up to facebook and twitter accounts as well
once you get on someone's page, but please only link your blog up, here. As always, we continue to invite you and your friends to link up every Friday and join us for a wonderful
blog hopping adventure! We're all about making friends and having fun so come join us!

You can still be rewarded for participating! Each week we will use random.org to pick a
"featured blog" of the week from the previous weeks link ups! Want your blog featured? Then you have to link up! Here's how you can join in on the fun;

• Link up to your blog using our inlinkz link list, below.
• Follow the host/hostesses located in the first 5 slots.
• Follow any other blogs that you feel appropriate! :)
• If you get a new follower, please feel free to reciprocate the love!

This is a new list every Friday, so please remember to come back and link up!

We understand that not everyone has time to follow and comment on every Hop Along Friday Participant, just do what you can and are willing to do. We will do the same! Take your time and go at your own pace.

The link list is only open to add new blogs on Fridays but will be visible all week long.

This weeks featured blog is #77 from last week!

Parents Choice - It's YOUR choice!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of PBM Products. All opinions are 100% mine.

Tired of spending almost your entire income on high priced name brand infant formula? Why not purchase a nutritional equivalent for much, much less. Many popular retailers offer formula that is nutritionally equivalent to the high priced formulas, without the stress, without the expense. Retailers including Sam's Club, Target, Kroger, Walgreens, CVS, Babies R Us and Walmart offer store brand formula for much less than you think!

You can compare formulas, such as Parents Choice Advantage against Similac Advantage and feel comfortable knowing that they are offering your child the same nutritional benefits.

~ Prebiotics to help support your infants growing immune system.
~ Milk Based nutrition that contains all the nutrients, vitamins and minerals for growth and development as well as offering DHA & ARA which may support brain and eye development.
~ Available in 12.4oz and 23.2oz sizes

I also wanted to let you know that ALL infant formulas are subject to the exact same FDA standards pursuant to the Infant Formula Act. This legislation vested FDA with the authority to be sure that all infant formulas that are sold in the United States provide all necessary levels of specified nutritional required for growth of healthy babies.  As I said all store-brand formulas are nutritionally equivalent to name brand formulas such as Enfamil and Similac but cost up to 50% less!!! You can switch to generic formula and save up to $600 per year, PER baby! You can see the savings for yourself at Parents Choice Formula Calculator.

And if you haven't heard of the recent recall of Similac's Infant Formula, you should read this article to learn more. Bugs in a baby formula. That's just disgusting. I understand that sometimes things happen and things get recalled but we honestly need to take care of our infants and the food they eat is of utmost importance.