Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Safe Winter Driving Tips


I hate winter driving.  I actually hate driving in any sort of bad weather, but winter driving is my least favorite.  I feel like I am not in control of the situation because weather is so unpredictable.  I was actually really happy to see that Esurance had put a bunch of helpful safe winter driving tips on their blog.  While I am obviously still not in control of the weather, with these tips, I can feel like I am in control of being as prepared as possible.  These are my favorite tips from Esurance:

1.  When you are expecting icy/snowy conditions it is a great idea to keep a bag of sand (or kitty litter) in your car.  I keep a gladware container with some right near the front seat so if I need to get out and it is icy, I can just put some down as I walk.

2.  Of course when you are expecting the roads to be icy or snowy, you would want to drive slowly and cautiously.  Make sure you are leaving enough space in front of your cars.

3.  If it is hailing it is suggested that you get under an overpass if you can.  We don't really see too much hail in my area, so this is not really something that I have worried about.

4.  Something I did not know until I read the Esurance blog was that you are not supposed to use cruise control in the rain.  Driving with it can lull you in a false sense of security and cut down on your response time. 

5.  Black ice is something that we do see around here.  It is always something to watch out for, but normally you don't know it is there until you feel yourself skidding.  If that happens, then you are supposed to release the gas ped and turn into the direction of the skid without slamming on the breaks.

6.  Keep a winter car kit.  This is a kit that you should have in case you get stuck.  Esurance recommends you have the following in your winter car kit:  chains, jumper cables, cat litter, shovel, basic tool kit, flashlight, warm clothes, food and water, first aid kit, AM/FM radio (battery- powered) and a book.  We also keep some spare diapers in our car, just in case as well.

If you are a smart driver, no matter the weather conditions, it will make it much easier to be a safe driver. 

About Esurance
With a wealth of easy-to-use online tools as well as 24/7 expert service, Esurance is making car insurance smarter from quote to claim. Everything we do is done with the goal of saving you time, hassle, hair-tearing-out, and oh yes, money too. Use the Esurance Coverage Counselor® to help you figure out the exact coverage limits you need. File a claim (and send pics of the accident) from your mobile phone. Call anytime — and by that we mean anytime — to talk to a friendly expert about discounts. Do what you need to do, when you need to do it. And do it with ease. That's what Esurance is all about.

For more driving hints and information about Esurance, be sure to visit the Esurance Facebook page: 

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Esurance blogging program for 8,000 My SocialMoms Rewards Points. For more information on how you can participate, click here.  All opinions and thoughts (unless otherwise stated) are my own. I will only post reviews for items that I believe are worthy products. 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. Never miss a review or giveaway- sign up here:

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Holiday Gift-Giving: Gift cards!!!

We LOVE gift cards in this house (both giving and receiving), so I was excited when I saw that SocialMom and GiftCardsRock were looking for some bloggers to write about gift cards.

I am normally a last minute shopper.  You know- the shopper who is running all over the night before the holidays start trying to figure out what to get people.  I always have lots of great ideas but then I can never decide what that perfect present will be.  So more often than not, we will get someone a gift card to a store or shop that we know they love. 

This year I have noticed that many retailers have a deal with their gift cards- when you purchase a gift card for someone else, you will get a little gift card for yourself for example.  And my gas station offered me fuel discounts when buying gift cards in grocery stores nationwide through fuel savings programs. I love it!

I also love that some of my credit card companies will let me trade my points in for gift cards.  I have a couple credit cards that will let me trade in for Amazon.com giftcards which is just fantastic since I can get anything I want there.

Sara (my 4 year old) LOVES getting gift cards.  This year she actually decided that when people called to ask her what she wanted for Hanukkah that we would let them know we are saving up to go to DisneyWorld next year and that we would love a gift card to go towards that.  She knows that it will help her get towards her goal and because she is getting something tangible, she still feels like she has gotten something really cool and it makes her really happy. 

I looked online to find some neat gift card tips:

One of my favorite tips that I found was to decorate the wrapping for the gift card.  This is one of the hardest things for me about gift cards since they usually don't get wrapped up fancy like other gifts so I absolutely love this idea.  Someone even used a plantable card to house their gift card to a nursery.  How clever is that!

I also found out that there are lots of places where you can purchase a gift card for charity in someone's name for the holidays.  I think this is such a nice idea.  I may have to do this next year for some people.

Gift Cards Rock! is an online community for people who love to give and receive gift cards.  If you need some help this holiday season head on over and I am sure there will be tons of suggestions, as well as sharing of great deals and exciting gift-giving tips. Click on the like button and then head on over to their facebook page!


 
I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Gift Cards Rock blogging program, for 6,000 My SocialMoms Reward Points.  For more information on how you can participate, click here.   All opinions and thoughts (unless otherwise stated) are my own. I will only post reviews for items that I believe are worthy products. 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. Never miss a review or giveaway- sign up here:

Saturday, December 17, 2011

MommyParties: Oral B sponsored Winnie the Pooh Party



THE PARTY: I was recently selected to host a Winnie the Pooh Movie Viewing Party sponsored by  Oral-B.
All the goodies!

I was so excited because my kids love Winnie the Pooh and really wanted to see the new movie.

I was also excited because both kids LOVE toothbrushes and Sara LOVES toothpaste (although she is REALLY picky about it).  I mean loves it.  Matty will constantly try to grab his toothbrush from the sink so he can brush his teeth more.  Sara loves it because "they make my teeth nice and shiny".

Sara was really excited to help me put together the goody bags for her friends.  She was also excited to have her friends over for a party.  We blew up all the balloons that came with the party kit as well as made the popcorn.


Popcorn all popped and ready for the kids.
The kids came over and we had such a good time.  They loved the movie and were SO excited about the goody bags (well they were excited about the toothpaste and toothbrushes, not the body wash so much).


The bags ready for the kids.
Each gift bag included:
*A toothbrush (Oral-B Stage I or II)
*A full tube of Oral-B Stages Toothpaste
*A full bottle of Disney Lavender Wash
*Coupons for Oral-B products

I also received the Winnie the Pooh Movie DVD, activity ideas, balloons, and popcorn for the guests.


Stage II toothbrush (Age 2-4)
Sara LOVED getting a new toothbrush and toothpaste.  She actually like the toothpaste and has been brushing her teeth even more than before.

I loved all the great features of the her new toothbrush:
*Narrow head provides easy access for small mouths
*Toothpaste target so Sara knows how much toothpaste she should be using
*Easy to hold handle to help child learn to brush
*Power Tip bristles designed to help clean hard-to-reach back teeth
*Cushioned head designed to help protect tender gums
*Fun characters on the toothbrush



Thanks to Oral B and MommyParties!  I received the party kit free of charge so that I could host the party and it was just fantastic!  All opinions and thoughts (unless otherwise stated) are my own. I will only post reviews for items that I believe are worthy products. 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.
  Never miss a review or giveaway- sign up here:

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Coupons! November 29, 2011

Catalina's CouponNetwork Coupons
$1.25 off when you buy any TWO NestlĂ©® Jingles (10-11 oz) including Minis
$1.00 off when you buy any TWO Wonka® Holiday Sugar Candies (7.5-12 oz)
$1.00 off when you buy any TWO Wonka® Fun Books 4 oz or larger
$1.00 off when you buy any TWO Wonka® 6 oz Candy Canes
50¢ off when you buy any ONE YoCrunch® 100 Calorie Pack or Fruit Parfait Multipack
50¢ off when you buy any FIVE YoCrunch® Cups (Parfait, Granola or Candy/Cookie Crunch)
$1.00 off when you buy any TWO LEAN CUISINE® varieties
$1.00 off when you buy any FOUR 7.5 oz or larger packages of HOT POCKETS® Brand items
$1.25 off when you buy any ONE LISTERINE® SMART RINSE® Anticavity Flouride Rinse 500ml
$1.10 off when you buy any Infants' Advil® product
$1.10 off when you buy any Children's Advil® product
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Coupons.com
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SavingStar Coupons
Buy 1 My Essentials Granulated Sugar (5 Lb. bag), Save $2.00. Expires 12/16/2011. One time use only. (Only at Hannaford)
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 This post contains affiliate links.All opinions and thoughts (unless otherwise stated) are my own. I will only post reviews for items that I believe are worthy products. 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..
  Never miss a review or giveaway- sign up here: