A Couch With A View: 08.11

Friday, August 26, 2011

Save money on your cell phone bill with TracFone

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of TracFone for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I absolutely DESPISE cell phone bills. I'm always looking out for ways to keep my wallet from shrinking when it comes to technology and using a prepaid cell is one of those ways. TracFone is one of the least expensive prepaid cell phone options out there, and just because its inexpensive, doesn't mean it doesn't have its perks. TracFone has so many features like great coverage, reliability and superb convenience.

Parents are getting their children cell phones earlier and earlier, I've been thinking about it myself. With Boug returning to school in just a couple short weeks, I've been contemplating getting her a prepaid cell just for any sort of emergency. real TracFone customers are able to choose to go as low as 50 minutes a month for just $9.99 or 200 minutes for under $30, with yearly options available or double the life of your phone options as well!!

real TracFone customers

With TracFone, you're able to chose an amount of minutes or texting option that works for you, instead of locking into something for an extended period of time. real TracFone customers can get full texting capabilities for under $10 per month, and we all know how much people absolutely love texting these days!!

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Back to school with Box Tops & Sam's Club

Since I don't have a whole lot of free time, or a whole lot of extra money to donate to my daughters classroom, I'm always looking on ways to increase my contribution to her school and education. It doesn't stop in the summer and throughout August, at Sam's Club, you can get bonus Box Tops for Education to send to school with your child when it rolls back around!

On participating BTFE items, you can get 6 box tops on a pack of some of your most favorite items. There are quite a few BTFE items that are great healthy snacks for your kids, or super breakfast items so that you know your little one is starting their day off right. Of course you can get more than just General Mills BTFE products at Sam's Club, and you can get so much of your back to school shopping done there as well. Their values are unbeatable on so many items!

Want to win a $25 Sam's Club gift card? Leave a comment here with what one of your favorite BTFE products are!

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This giveaway will accept entries until 11:59 pm on Friday, September 2nd. Winner will be drawn with random.org and emailed. Winner must reply within 24 hours to winning email or a new winner will be drawn. Please make sure that your email is accessible, whether in the comment or a blogger profile, cause if I cant contact you, how can you win?

Disclosure: The Sam’s Club gift card, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark

New Coupons.com Printable Coupons!!

FLASH SALE at threadUP.com!!

thredUP.com 48 hour back-to-school flash sale!

thredUP.com is where busy moms swap children’s clothes, toys and books online. This back-to-school season, thousands of moms are saving money and giving back by trading outgrown kids’ clothes for gently used school clothes that fit.

Sale Starts: August 24, 12:01 am EST
Sale Ends: August 25, 11:59 pm PST

Today (Aug. 24th) and tomorrow (Aug. 25th) only, get 30% off boxes of pre-loved kids & baby gear listed by other moms across the country.

The joy of September...

I sit here, and its officially August 24th. Granted its only a half hour into the 24th, but its one day closer to back to school. Miss Boug is sooooo antsy to get back, and I can't say I blame her. All her friends are there, and going back to school means she gets to escape her pesky little brother for more than half the day. The only thing different about this year, is that I'll be headed back to school as well, only a couple weeks earlier than she does.

I love checking out back to school items that are more unique, and that make Boug feel a bit more special than the standard marble composition books and the like. I've been eyeballing some really great stuff over at Tiny Prints that I'm really hoping to pick up for her this year. I'm more than in love with the Lucky Lady Bugs note cards that are perfect for stashing into a little ones lunchbox, to remind them that you're thinking of them throughout the day.

As for myself, returning to college after more than 10 years out, I'm lusting after the Striking Snapshots notebook. It can be personalized with pictures, which I love, because I could put pictures of the kiddos on there to keep my focus, and constantly remind myself, even in class, the two reasons why I'm going back to school to better myself. Boug, and Lil' Buddy.

Friday, August 19, 2011

Outdoor fun with Backyard Safari Outfitters

My boy is a real "boys boy." All dirt, bugs in pockets, carrying around frogs, type of boy. When it came up again to be able to review some Backyard Safari Outfitters products, I couldn't say no. I knew these would be things that Lil' Buddy would like, and of course Boug as well, since she's a bit of a tomboy too. Although the products that were sent were for ages 5 and up, I knew that Boug would have no problem being the helpful big sister, and they would be toys that they could enjoy together.

First off, the Base Camp Shelter, along with the Camoflauge Netting, is what the kids are most excited about. Its large enough for both kids to sit in, and easy to be set up. There are tons of storage spaces and pockets for all the field gear that Backyard Safari Outfitters offers. Lil' Buddy was excited that the tent came with a Mini-Lantern with a carabiner. Boug even mentioned that the camoflauge netting would be perfect so that they don't scare the deer that walk through my parents yard.

Boug's been trying to teach Buddy how to use the Expedition One 3-in-1 Compass Tool, but he's still a little too small. She's trying though, cause she wants to show him how the flip out magnifying lens works, as well as how a compass actually works.

Buddy is really lovin the Backyard Safari Hiking Stick, because it lets him be just like his grandfather! They take nature walks through the woods and grandpa always has a walking stick. The hiking stick from Backyard Safari looks hand carved, but with no worry of splinters!

With Backyard Safari's new patch program, kids are able to receive cool patches as rewards for completing fun, outdoor adventures! Backyard Safari gear is available at Toys R Us and Amazon.com.

This review was done in conjuction with Team Mom, and product was provided to me free of charge. This in no way changes my opinion about the items.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Saving money on back to school shopping--

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Zenni Optical for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

In some parts of the country school has already started back up. Around here we have until September 7th to get all our ducks in a row with our back to school preparations. I'm way too broke to go overboard with the shopping and I look to save a buck where ever I can, but I can't sacrifice quality. It just doesn't make sense to spend less on something that is just going to fall apart and need to be replaced!! I do my best to save money by shopping sales, discount stores and buying key pieces to Boug's wardrobe that can be mixed and matched to go a long way.

For some there are even more items that need to be purchased for back to school, including prescription glasses. I did get nervous that Boug was going to need them, but her eyes checked out alright. I had peeked at the selection at Zenni Optical and had a few pairs in mind just in case my daughter was going to have to take the glasses route. Switching from no glasses to wearing glasses can be a big obstacle in self esteem and its nice to know that Zenni has some of the most fashionable, up-to-date styles, to help your kiddo feel better about the change. At Zenni you can save money on prescription glasses, a perfect fit to your back to school shopping savings!

Life Update--

I know that I haven't posted a personal update in a while, or posted much recently for that matter, so I figured its time for one...

My boy is going to be THREE tomorrow. Where the heck did the past 3 years go?? My girl turned SEVEN mid-July and that was a shocker too, I mean I knew it was coming, but 7? Come on, time doesn't fly THAT fast... or does it??...

We've been potty training, but its been inconsistent so its been difficult. I feel like Lil' Buddy isn't as mature as Boug was when it comes to potty training, so I have this feeling its gonna take a little bit longer for him to get the hang of it.

Got a promotion at work not too long ago, so managing my schedule has been increasingly difficult. I was taking the higher road and allowing my ex-husband to camp out here to help me with the kids, but as of a couple days ago, he has since disappeared again, leaving me to head back into the babysitter struggle. I'll figure it out, I always do, but its just a pain right in the rear.

I decided to return to school. After being out of high school for 11 years and barely applying myself in college and dropping out after that, I feel like its time to make myself a better person. Do something for myself to get ahead in life. And go figure, I'm going for chemical and substance abuse counseling... something that I've lived through with the ex-husband, so I'm pretty sure I'll kick ass at it.

I'm a guest judge for Balloon Time's "Put A Face On Fun" contest that started today, keep posted for more info about that, as well as a Balloon Time giveaway hosted right here!

Back to school for me on the 29th, back to school for Boug on the 7th... this summer went by way too quickly!!