Simplify Your Life With Return Address Labels

As a busy mother of twins, I don’t have a whole lot of time to get the extra stuff done. Since having the boys, I have switched to a lot of things that tend to make my life easier.   Since having the boys we do a lot of mailing out to relatives who are overseas, and just family in general.  I never really had labels printed out for anything I mailed.  I had always hand written all my return addresses on my envelopes and it never dawned on me to just have some self stick ones available.  As a parent, anything that will make your life easier is worth looking into no matter how little it may seem.  There have been times where I am running to catch the mailman while still writing my address out.

Vista Print has a whole selection of return address labels to choose from and the ordering process is easy and hassle free.  Everything on the site is easy to navigate and well organized.  I can’t get over how much of a selection they have and not only did I get my address labels from them, I ordered some really great business cards, and I am o excited to get them.  I am looking forward to making my life easier.  Now I can just stick a label on my envelope and pop it in the box, and with two toddlers running around the less time I have to spend on certain tasks the better.
Vista Print offers a whole range of printing services besides address labels and the prices are extremely reasonable and I have ordered from them on several occasions. You can design business cards, print announcements, greeting cards, and you can order it all right in the comfort of your own home. I love online shopping!

Eleven Shoes Spring Has Sprung Reveiw and Giveaway!

Finally, the sun is shining and Spring is here. Along with the warmer weather comes all the fun things that I love about Spring including the new 2009 Eleven Collection of shoes. I can’t help myself when it comes to buying shoes for my little guys.

I am a sucker for shoes it seems, and every chance I get, I am usually eyeballing the shoe isle when I am out and about. Thankfully my boys are growing, so I get plenty of opportunity to get my shoe fix. Eleven Shoes has plenty of adorable shoes for the choosing and each shoe has a little character all of its own. When I was first introduced to Eleven shoes last Fall, I simply fell in love with them. Their shoes are far from the ordinary and offer a fresh and vibrant look for your special little someone.  Each shoe in their collection has a little personality all of its own and you are sure to find a style to fit your little guy or gal’s own individual style.

About Eleven Shoes
Eleven is a sister company with See Kai Run, carrying on the same tradition of flexibility and good looks, but for the older children (ages 3-8 years).

Their mission is to create wonderful shoes for little travelers who make each step an adventure. Based in the Northwest, Eleven combines quality footwear with independent style and modern accents. Made with attention and care for the journey that happens every day, their shoes don’t have a break-in period. All of their shoes feature artisan craftsmanship and city-chic style, making them perfect and functional for every occasion.

If you have young kids, and toddlers in particular, like I do, you know that shoes take a beating. Eleven shoes stand the test of time in this regard. The boys first pair of Eleven shoes lasted them until they grew out of the shoe and they still had plenty of wear in them. The thing I like most about Eleven shoes, is the fact that they are light weight and not clunky. They bend and flex with your child’s feet and since little kids are constantly on the move, a shoe that goes with them is essential. They go on comfortable and the boys ask to wear their new shoes all the time.

Eleven Shoes Feature
Comfortable Fit:
Flexible soles designed for growing, active kids
Premium, soft leather ensures comfort and breathability
Cushioned insole makes each step a comfortable one
Easy on and off, with padded collars for a sensational, secure fit
Premium Construction:
All premium materials and construction
All leather uppers
Durable and sturdy soles with superior traction
Independent Style:
Vibrant and bold colors

I love them because they are easy to get on, there is nothing worse than a shoe that is difficult to get on when you have squirmy toddlers.  They are cool and fashionable, they don’t have to be broken in and they outlast the rigorous play of young children. With all these wonderful features in such a little package, you can’t go wrong with Eleven shoes.  We chose the Aubin which is such a classy little shoe but there are so many others that I would choose.    I love everything about them and the boys run and dance and play in them and never complain about them bothering their feet.  You simply must get a pair of Eleven shoes for your little one.

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED!

DoubleBugs and Eleven shoes would like to give DoubleBugs readers the chance to win a pair of these fab shoes for your little guy or gal!

So here’s what ya gotta do!

• Visit elevencollection.com and come back here and leave me a comment telling me what style of shoe you like best.
• Please leave me an email so I can contact you if you win

• Winners are chosen at random via Random.org.
• If Winner Does Not Respond Within 2 Days the prize is forfeited and donated!

For Additional Entries (please leave as an additional comment):

• Tweet about this post
• Follow me on Twitter
• Blog about my contest and give me the link!
• Put my badge on your sidebar

Contest Starts Monday March 23, 2009 and Ends Monday April 13, 2009

Good Luck!!!!

Web Hosting Geeks

When you get into blogging as much as I do, I think it is important to have your own domain, because you have a little more control over all your settings and how you present your blog.  When my blog sort of blew up, I went into panic mode because I wasn’t sure if I could get my information back.   Thankfully since I had my own host they were able to run a recovery and get most of my data back.  Good web hosting
is the key.

When I first got started in blogging I didn’t know too much about getting your own domain.  I mostly had my husband setting it all up for me. I am one of those people that want to make the job easy as possible especially when you are a mom of twins. I know that my husband is always switching our domains in search of a better deal. At Web Hosting Geeks they offer reviews of the top providers for your own domain. I like this because it has all the information in one place, so you aren’t out scouring a half a dozen places to find the right one. They also have a customer review page which is always helpful when you can hear others opinions. I love lists that rank things anyway because it is an organized and precise way of presenting valuable information.  For me, this makes the task less arduous. If you are looking for a new web host you should definitely visit the Web Hosting Geeks site for all your web hosting needs.  Having your own web host makes a big difference.

NearbyNow Saves You Legwork and Hassle

I know that you have had those moments in the store where you come across that great pair of shoes or the perfect shirt and it just happens to be in the wrong size or color.  It never fails for me, when I go shoe shopping that the store never has my size in stock.  I usually do one of two things, ask the sales person if there is another store I can go to, or I am inevitably standing there waiting behind 50 people just to ask if they have something.  I have spent many shopping endeavors looking for something that I can’t find and by the end of it all I am without what I was looking for and too tired to want it.

There has to be a better way and there is with NearbyNow.  Basically this is what I have needed all along, and I don’t have to leave my house to go on a wild goose chase.  NearbyNow will tell you which retailers have this item near you, place a hold on a specific product you’re curious about  – and even find out which items are on sale.  NearbyNow saves you time you’d normally spending searching multiple sites for a specific item; then it saves you money by locating the items you want, and indicating where they are on sale. In addition, you’ll receive directions to the local stores where these items are currently available (and the name of a helpful clerk), as well as the opportunity to feel and even try on the items before purchasing.  I love being able to sit here in the comfort of my home, find out if the stores even have what I need, and it saves a whole lot of potential hassles.

This is such an awesome resource if you are trying to find what you need and it saves so much time.  Plus when you have two little ones like I do, if I can get in and get out it makes my life much easier!  With NearbyNow, I can just enter my info in, do a search and get what I need.  Now I don’t have to leave the stores empty handed and with a big headache!

Disney’s Baby Einstein: World Music DVD Review

Both of my boys are music lovers.  They love to pound on their drum sets, grab their play guitars and love to dance and sing to the music on their favorite shows.  I loved music so much as a child and I want my boys to have the same appreciation for music that both me and my husband have.  There are all sorts of music styles all over the world and especially here in the United States since we are considered a melting pot.  Music is a great way to teach children about this diversity and to teach them a love of other cultures.

The Baby Einstein World Music DVD, which comes out March 31, 2009, encourages live interaction and introduces children to the world’s distinctive sights and sounds with fun-loving puppet host Jane the Monkey and her toy drum as she travels across the globe to play music with her puppet friends. It features real-world images of global musical instruments, regional toys and animals, and takes an extraordinary look at the universal language of music, encouraging viewers to join in the fun by blowing on a flute, strumming on a harp and singing along to songs from all seven continents. And for a more customized experience for each family’s stage and needs, the World Music DVD provides two settings- Grow with Me and Select-a-Segment. The “grow with me” setting offers a second viewing mode containing spoken words and additional content that grows with babies, while “select-a-segment” gives parents the choice of viewing shorter segments, such as five or ten minutes, as opposed to longer programming.  This is just right for my boys as they tend to watch for short periods of time and then come back to something.
We received a copy of the Baby Einstein World Music DVD big thanks to Mom Central for this opportunity and the boys simple loved watching it.  The music is very fun and has a very lively tempo which just drew my two to the television.  Both of them went to get their drums and guitar and played along.  I thoroughly enjoyed watching the DVD just as much as I enjoyed seeing their little faces light up.  This is such a great DVD and you can introduce a whole new world of music to your children while incorporating cultural differences.  So cool!  Available from www.babyeinstein.com starting March 31, 2009!

Corneille Making Music From Tragedy

Corneille has a wonderful music style and I wasn’t sure what type of music I would be listening to, I was pleasantly surprised.  Corneille is considered an R&B artist but is is more of the older style music.  It reminds me of the Motown style music but more of an easy listening with an upbeat tempo.   I already have acquired one of my very favorite songs on the album, and I am afraid that I am going to wear the track out on my cd!  All of the songs are wonderful but “Too Much Of Everything” is the one I love in particular.

I started listening to this cd after I had a particularly long and stressful day and, it was after the boys had gone to bed.   This is definitely a good way to relax and music has a tendency to lift our spirits, or calm them.   I can imagine popping this cd in, taking a hot bath, and ignoring the rest of the world for a while.   It just has a very relaxing tone to it and some good upbeat rhythms too. 

Even more amazing than the cd is Corneille’s life story.  Corneille Nyungura was born in Fribourg, Germany, where his parents were students.  At the age of 6, his family returned to Rwanda.  As a boy he began to develop a great interest in music.  He credits his father for nuturing his interest in music by his encouragement and hearing him sing.  At age 16 he made his first actual recording and was selected as a finalist in a state run television station. Corneille’s parents and other family members were killed in Rwanda during the genocide in 1994.  He managed to escape first to Kinshasa, and then to Germany where he was taken in by some family.  After three years in Germany he decided he didn’t fit into their society or culture and moved to Montreal.  Music was a place where he could go and forget about the world, something that you can definitely feel when you listen to this cd.

Some of his musical influences are that of Michael Jackson, the ever so wonderful Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye.  Scoring a number of hits in Canada, France, and even Japan.  His new album “The Birth of Cornelius” is Corneille’s Englinsh-language debut.

I think Corneille’s story is an amazing one, and quickly reminds me that when things seem like they are bad that, there are much worse things in this world.  And to see someone like Corneille that has taken a tragic life and turned it into something positive and rewarding helps me to be thankful for the things I have.  When my days are stressful, I will definitely be putting Corneille’s music on so I can escape and remind myself that I have a lot to be thankful for.

The Birth of Cornelius is currently in stores from Universal Motown. And to celebrate Corneille’s wonderful life, the release of his record, and the 50th anniversary of Motown Records.  DoubleBugs would like to offer it’s readers the chance to win one of Corneille’s cd’s!   We will be giving away 2 cd’s to two lucky winners! You don’t want to miss this chance.

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED

Here’s What You Gotta Do

• Leave me a comment tell me what music means to you, a story that you remember where music lifted your spirits, or what kind of music you love and why you would like to win this cd
• Please leave me an email so I can contact you if you win

• Winners are chosen at random via Random.org.
• If Winner Does Not Respond Within 2 Days the prize is forfeited and donated!

For Additional Entries (please leave as an additional comment):

• Tweet about this post
• Follow me on Twitter
• Blog about my contest and give me the link!
• Put my badge on your sidebar

• Deadline is March 30, 2009

The Current Card by Discover

Teenagers always want to be as independent of their parents as possible. I can remember the teenage years and sort of wanting my own space to do my own things and I was always asking for money to do things with my friends or go shopping. Financial responsibility is something my parents tried to teach me early on.

I think when kids are handed everything, they aren’t really aware of how that stuff gets there. I know kids are always wanting from their parents, but I think it is important to teach a sense of responsibility to your children and develop that awareness that money doesn’t grow on trees. I have always been a firm believer in earning an allowance and teaching kids good spending habits. With teenagers how do you do this with minimal interference and sort of giving them some amount of freedom?

Discover Card has introduced the Current Card. The Current Card is an innovative debit card for teens that helps them track and manage their spending while ensuring their money is safe. The card also helps parents foster financial responsibility in teens.

Features
Parents can set spending limits, restrict merchant categories and track their teen’s spending through online statements, e-mail and text message alerts. They also enjoy the convenience of free, flexible loading options. Teens also can load their paychecks onto the card through direct deposit.

Current is protected by Discover’s $0 fraud liability, which means cardmembers are never responsible for unauthorized charges – online, offline, anytime, anywhere. Current cards that are lost or stolen will be temporarily suspended or deactivated, and cardmembers will be eligible for an emergency replacement.

Teens can learn how to spend smarter by logging onto the Account Center at CurrentbyDiscover.com. There they can view helpful articles on topics such as basic financial concepts, protecting yourself from identify theft, starting a savings program, and making your money go further.

In addition, Current by Discover Card also is sponsoring a financial literacy program across high schools nationwide through its Money Smarts Program, designed to help educate high school juniors and seniors on basic money management skills. The Money Smarts Program covers the basic concepts of financial literacy and correlates with national academic standards set fourth by the National Endowment for Financial Education.

I think this is such a great idea to give teenagers a sense of money management without overly invading their privacy. I think it teaches them how to delegate their money, and allows parents to control where they are spending it at the same time. The Current Card is so much more than just a way to allow your teen to spend money, it is a useful tool in teaching them all aspects of being financially responsible in the future.

Somebody’s Mothers Chocolate Sauce

I am definitely a chocolate lover, but who isn’t?   Id probably have chocolate with every meal if you let me, but that isn’t very good for the waistline, but great for releasing the happy joy endorphins.   I am always on a quest to find some of the most divine chocolate creations on the market, when someone suggested I try Somebody’s Mother’s Chocolate sauce and they were nice enough to send over their Chocolate Sauce, White Chocolate Sauce, and Caramel Sauce which I have now strategically hidden in the refrigerator

About Somebody’s Mother’s

When Somebody’s Mother’s three children were little, Somebody’s Mother hoped that their summer lemonade stands, which focused on advertising, cash flow and customer service, in addition to flipping quarters, would awaken in them an interest in business so that one day they might actually support themselves. Two of the three are now in college studying…acting.

In April 2005, Somebody’s Mother and her children launched a company in order to produce and sell a really great chocolate sauce (made often over the years at home by Somebody’s Mother’s Mother) which can be eaten warm over ice cream, at room temperature fastened to fruit, or cold straight out of the jar. What began as a grown up lemonade stand has become a nearly booming business.

We had planned this past weekend to have a bit of an ice cream social in our house, and the boys were very excited to get ice cream.   My husband said since I twisted his arm, that he would love a sampling as well.   So I scooped up the ice cream, drizzled it with Somebody’s Mothers Chocolate and Caramel Sauces and added a few colorful sprinkles, and I didn’t hear a peep out of anyone.  Meanwhile I am hanging over the jar with a spoon of the chocolate sauce in my mouth.

The sauce has no preservatives and is just plain chocolate, which I love.   There isn’t anything that you cannot pronounce in the ingredient list.  You can eat the chocolate cold or hot, and I’m pretty content with a spoonful of it either way.   The boys bowls were cleaned, and faces were messy which is a pretty good indicator that this is some of the best stuff around!  In the afternoon after a particularly stressful day a bowl of Haagen Dazs vanilla ice cream with Somebody’s Mother’s Chocolate sauce is an instant stress reliever.

For Stress Relief

You can serve this chocolate sauce over just about anything, dip your strawberries, dip your spoons, over ice cream, over brownies.  The white chocolate sauce is divine over baked pears with cinnamon.  The possibilities are endless.

You can also check out their new gift boxes, a perfect anytime gift or even better, Mother’s Day is coming up and Somebody’s Mother’s would make a perfect gift!

Carpet Fresh Just Say No To Odors

Since having children and pets there seems to always be something amiss in the air at any given time.  I am a bit particular about things smelling in my house.  If I walk in from grocery shopping and things don’t smell right then I will find its source.   Since having the boys, I have acquired the mommy nose for everything!

One of my big things is any odors related to our dog.  She is one big fur ball and even though I love her, we all know that dogs can stink.  When they lay on your carpet, the oils from their fur and skin just sort of stick like a magnet to your carpet and anything else, so  I thought I would give Carpet Fresh Carpet and Room Odor Eliminator a try.

Carpet Fresh Carpet and Room Odor Eliminator permanently neutralizes carpet odors and helps keep entire rooms smelling fresh by delivering odor-fighting agents deep into carpet fibers and reaching places air fresheners can’t and leaving a long lasting fragrance. Additionally, the Carpet Fresh Quick-Dry Foam format allows you to simply spray your carpets and walk away without scrubbing or vacuuming.  It dries in minutes, leaves no residue, and is safe for use around your family when used as directed.  Not only that, it can be used in your car and on the drapes.

I love the stuff because all you do is spray and walk away, there isnt anything you need to do other than that.  This is nice and it works!  I had the room smelling fresh and airy in a matter of minutes and it dries very quickly with no weird residue or sticky films.  This is perfect when you get those unexpected calls from guests that say they are stopping by in 30 min! And, the best part is that is comes in some really great scents like Country Potpourri, Morning Rain, Apple Cinnamon, Fresh Scent and Super Pet Neutralizer.

Thank you to Mom Central and Carpet Fresh for a wonderful opportunity to try new Carpet Fresh Carpet and Room Odor Eliminator!

Big G Kid Cereals and Giveaway

Being a first time parent, I am almost always concerned about my two little guys and their health.  From a very early age, I have tried to influence healthy food choices and make sure that they are getting a fairly balanced diet.   If I buy something at the grocery store, I am always reading the labels, to see what they are getting in their food.  We are a cereal loving family here, because it is something that is simple to make and the kids just love it.   It is a perfect snack too in the afternoon after naps, and it doesn’t have to be served with milk.  My two love to have their own bowl, their cup of juice, and watch one of their favorite shows.

Recently the importance of Vitamin D in the diet has been in the news, and the importance of calcium is so important in bone growth and development.  Vitamin D is also important in bone growth and is now suggested to be a key factor in healthy lung function.   Approximately 75% of kids today don’t even get the required amount of Calcium and Vitamin D in their diets, and that is an astounding figure!   The American Academy of Pediatrics has even upped the amount of Vitamin D your child should be getting to 400IU.

The good news is, that it isn’t that hard to incorporate these nutrients in your child’s diet.  Parents can easily get both vitamin D and Calcium in milk and many juices and now in fortified cereals.  All General Mills Big G kid cereals including Kix, Lucky Charms, Cocoa Puffs, Trix, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and more.

This is great news for our family because we are huge Lucky Charms, and Cocoa Puffs fans.  The boys think they have gone to heaven when I give them these cereals in their snack bowls!  Additionally, a recent report in a leading consumer magazine ranked kid cereals by nutritional content, and all nine General Mills Big G kid cereals included in the report were ranked in the top half. All Big G kid cereals have at least eight grams of whole grain per serving (at least 48 grams are recommended daily), and all have 12 grams or less of sugar per serving.  This is awesome, and you can feel good about giving them something they love and not worry about them getting a ton of sugar.

Cereal is one of the most nutritious breakfast options a kid can eat. Most cereals have about 100 – 130 calories per serving and provide at least 10 key nutrients. And, ready-to-eat cereal is the number one source of whole grain in American diets.  If there is one food that your child would eat than at least you know that it has nutritional value.

This Giveaway Is Now Closed

As part of a healthy diet and the love of  Big G cereal (especially Cocoa Puffs), DoubleBugs  is giving away these totally adorable and way cool Cocoa Puffs vintage ringer Ts (child’s sz large) to 9 lucky winners.

Here’s all you gotta do!

• Leave me a comment on what your child’s favorite Big G cereal is, and yours too.
• Please leave me an email so I can contact you if you win

• Winners are chosen at random via Random.org.
• If Winner Does Not Respond Within 2 Days the prize is forfeited and donated!

For Additional Entries (please leave as an additional comment):

• Tweet about this post
• Follow me on Twitter
• Blog about my contest and give me the link!
• Put my badge on your sidebar

That’s all you gotta do!

Contest Starts February 25, 2009 and Ends March 11, 2009

Good Luck!

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