Spring Fling - Win a Magic Castle Bounce House from Blast Zone!

The time has come again. Spring is here and with it comes the Spring Fling Blog Pop Event. If you are new to my blog, you may not know what that is(yet), but if you have been around awhile, this should be the time of year you've been waiting for, since this means you have a chance to win some incredible giveaways from not only myself, but the other wonderful bloggers in the event.

Of course, we need to kick things off with a BANG, which is why I am thrilled to once again feature Blast Zone on our Blog Pop Event. Blast Zone is always my main event for these events, and for good reason. Their products are fantastic.

Spring Fling is especially ideal to feature Blast Zone's awesome inflatables, as the weather is good and the kids get a break from school, and summer is on it's way, all of which are the perfect environment to enjoy an inflatable water slide or bouncy castle.

I have had the pleasure or working with Blast Zone many times(as I just mentioned), and having tried many of their inflatables, and all of them have been perfect. They are high quality and durable. They are easy to use and set up in mere minutes, and likewise deflate in minutes. They are easy to clean and store in a modest space.

Most importantly, they are so much fun. My kids just adore Blast Zone inflatables. They love being able to go outside and play and have fun safely without ants, dirt, itchy grass, etc. and they LOVE cooling down on the water inflatables.

which brings me to the Blast Zone item I will be reviewing this time. I will be receiving the Spray N Splash 2 Water Park.

It's on it's way as I type, but I have not yet received it. I know that the kids and I will love it though, not just because all Blast Zone products are great, but because I reviewed the Hydro Rush Water Park(you can see that review here), which is fairly similar, and the kids loved that. Unfortunately, that was my first inflatable, and I did not know how to care for it properly(drying fully before storing) and it got moldy. They miss having it, so they will be thrilled with the Spray N Splash 2.

I will come back and post that review within this post as soon as I have had a chance to let the kids enjoy it. In the meantime though, let''s get to the reason why you really want to read this post, the giveaway. I know you all want a Blast Zone inflatable to call your very own, and by entering the giveaway below, you will have a chance to win a Magic Castle Bounce House(play balls are sold separately.)

This giveaway as valued at $249.99. There will be one lucky winner, and it could be you. Enter now via the Rafflecopter below. Good luck.

Be sure to enter the other fabulous giveaways in the Spring Fling Event, they are included in the linky below and more will be added over the next 4 days, so stay tuned.

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Is Your Home Safe?

I'll be the first to admit, that I have actually never really worried about the safety of my home. It's probably from growing up in a not-so-safe neighborhood, and having a mother who still never seemed to worry for our safety. We slept with windows not only unlocked, but wide open(for "cool" air since we had no AC).

I really can't explain it. My family is my whole world, and of course I never want any harm to come to them, or even to myself, who I really have no worry for, but still I never feel that we are unsafe. Even after we had a break-in attempt last year.

I assume we were home(sleeping) when the attempt happened. We never even heard anything, only saw the damage to the back door(the next day or a couple days later. We rarely use the back door, so who knows. The door jam was all carved out and there were gashes in the deadbolt. The back door screen was off and the plastic that holds the screen was broken, and the window above the kitchen sink was missing a screen as well.

Someone obviously tried to get in the house. Thankfully, the windows were locked and the door and deadbolt apparently were secure. We called in a report and the person was eventually arrested, but only charged with the other break-in he had done(of which there were many), since he did not actually get in, it would have only been a misdemeanor apparently.

Still, I was not afraid. Feeling safe should be a good thing of course, but one can never be too careful, and I don't want to be lackadaisical and have it lead to harm for my family. I am trying to get more serious about our safety, not only from break-ins, but from anything that can cause us harm.

I discovered MBIntel, and was pleased to discover they offer a FREE Home Risk Analysis. I answered all the questions, which too about 15 minutes, and was provided with my personal results in my security, safety and emergency preparedness.

The questions are very thorough and really made me realize there are MANY factors when it comes to safety.

The results are broken into three categories: Good, Average and Poor. It turns out that my security is Average, my safety is Average and my emergency preparedness is Poor, which was very eye opening to me. Clearly, I want to score "Good" in all categories, but average can be acceptable, but discovering that I am not prepared for emergencies is not okay.

The questions alone really made me realize how unprepared I am. For example I do not have emergency food or water stored, or multiple first aid kits in different locations, or a set emergency plan(known to the family). There is a myriad of things that I should have already been doing to keep my home and family safe, and I feel horrible for being so unprepared.

I am so glad I took the Safety Analysis. I could never forgive myself if anything happened to my family because I was not doing everything I can to protect them.

So whether you have worried for your safety in the past, or after reading this, you now are, or     even    if you still don't think you are at risk, I highly recommend getting your FREE Home Risk Analysis. You have nothing to lose, but you may just save your life or the life of someone you love. Even if you are doing everything right, this will give you peace of mind.

This post was created in partnership with Mom Buzz Media. All opinions expressed are my own and are not influenced in any way. Thank you for reading!

The Flintstones and WWE Stone Age Smackdown Available Now! #WWEMoms

*I am a member of #WWEMoms, and I received a copy of The Flintstones and WWE Stone Age Smackdown to facilitate this review. All opinions are 100% my own.*

Anyone who knows me at all or has followed my site knows that I am a huge WWE fan, and that I have been since before I can remember. I only talk about it every chance I get. Perhaps it is not as well known that I am also obsessed with The Flintstones.

 My parents watched The Flintstones when they were children, and then shared the wonderful series with me and my siblings when we were growing up. Now that I am a mother, I am thrilled to share The Flintstones with my children.

While the original version is timeless, I am really excited about the newest Flintstones adventure, which combines the beloved Bedrock gang with the added excitement of WWE superstars. The Flintstones and WWE Stone Age Smackdown is newly available in a Blu-Ray, DVD, Digital HD combo pack.

I had the pleasure of receiving a copy for review since I am a (very proud) #WWEMom. I made the mistake of telling the kids in advance that we were getting it, and because of that, I was question dozens of times a day about when it would arrive. When it did, I was basically tackled by my son(and daughter following suit) so that he could watch it immediately.

I had planned for us to watch it as a family, since even my husband loves The Flintstones and, of course, is a WWE fan. My son would not wait, so he watched it first in his room, and I could hear him laughing and clapping several times. He is autistic and claps when excited, and it sounded like he was beatboxing, he was having a blast.

I decided that the rest of us would watch it that night, and assumed he would do something else since he had just watched it, but he watched it again with us, and he was still as enthusiastic( aka loud) as the first time. Our daughter, while only 3 and not fully capable of following the plot entirely, loved it as well. she loves WWE too, believe it or not, she loves to watch the "fall down", so the wrestling parts were especially fun for her.

The story is really good. Fred loses the family vacation money, so he talks Barney into becoming a pro wrestler, where he ends up facing the likes of John Cena(stone), The Undertaker and more. Even Vince McMahon(McMagma) has a role in this film. It is so fun to see all the WWE Superstars as Bedrockin' cartoons.

The Flintstones and WWE Stone Age Smackdown really is a really great family movie. We all loved it, no matter your age, almost everyone loves the Flintstones, the WWE or both. And even if you were not a fan before, this adorable movie will probably make you a fan. We have already watched this movie as a family 3 times, and my son has watched it alone probably (additional) 6 times.

If you are looking for old meets new, family-friendly entertainment, look no further. Get your Bedrock on and check out The Flintstones and WWE Stone Age Smackdown. You won't be sorry. You can buy it at WWE Shop or almost anywhere DVDs are sold. Yabba-Dabba do it now!

Learning is Fun with Kids Academy

● Mom Buzz Media Approved Blogger ● Connecting Bloggers & Brands in Perfect Harmony

Educational Apps from Kids Academy Available on iTunes & Google Play Free for a limited time!

I love helping my kids learn with free and fun Kids Academy apps. I am happy to bring you all information on the new updates and hopefully introduce you to the company. It is never too early to start learning and Kids Academy has made it easy AND fun with these apps!

 

Preschool & Kindergarten Baby Books, Songs, and Early Reading Toddler Games

 

I am trying to get my 3 year old more interested in reading. She loves to hear stories sometimes, but other times she gets distracted at story time and other, more flashy things catch her attention. What I love about this app is that she can have wonderful, classic stories like The Three Little Pigs(which she loves) in a format that is more exciting to her active little brain. Also, so can now have story time, even if I am not free to read to her, even in places like the car on long trips. The sing-a-longs are so fun too, she sings ALL the time now.

Download this game for FREE on iTunes

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123 Tracing Numbers: Montessori Math Game for Kids

 

My 3 year old is pretty good at counting, she can count to about 20 fairly easily, but she is not fully able to recognize the numbers by their appearance. This fun app allows her to not only learn to recognize the numbers, but also to "write" them. She loves catching the fireflies when she traces the number correctly. I love that when she makes a mistake, the app says, very sweetly, "let's try again". I wish all apps were this easy for her to use.

Download this game for FREE on iTunes

Free for a limited time! Normally $3.99!

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ABC Preschool Games for Kids

 

We love this app. My daughter is 3 and loves to use the iPad like her brother. We use this app when we travel or are visiting an unfamiliar place. It keeps her happy and entertained and helps her not get overwhelmed in new situations. She already knows her ABC, but the tracing helps her learn how to write them and the games help teach her proper vocabulary and early mathematics. I really love how much content this app offers, it keeps her busy and helps her grow. 

Download this game for FREE on Google Play

Free for a limited time! Normally $2.99

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About Kids Academy

Kids Academy develops mobile apps for preschool education. Covering all major platforms their apps are designed to help kids of 5 and under to master all of the preschool educational skills from letters to numbers and vocabulary. Having passed the ten million installs mark, Kids Academy continues to deliver quality apps for iOS, Android and Amazon devices.

This post was created in partnership with Mom Buzz Media. The reviews above are my own opinions and are not influenced in any way.

I can't Believe I was #Noseblind All This Time!

*This post and giveaway were made possible by Double Duty Divas and Febreze. I was compensated for my participation in this campaign, but all opinions are 100% mine.*

Over Valentine's weekend our family went out of town for a mini vacation. We were visiting my husband's parents and his aunt, who are visiting Florida from New Jersey where they live. We only get to see his parents a few times a year, so seeing them is always special. The fact that he has not seen his aunt in over 12 years and that the kids and I have never met her, made this visit extra special.

We only stayed for one night(two days), but we had such a wonderful time. The kids loves seeing their grandparents and fell in love with their great aunt immediately. The whole trip was just a fun getaway and, while short, full of lifelong memories.

Everything about the trip was great...until we got home. It was late, the kids had fallen asleep, we were exhausted(in the best possible way) and were glad to be home after the long drive. The trouble came when I stepped in the house. That is when I noticed the horrible smell of our cat throughout the entire home. It hit me as soon as I stepped inside.

Not only was I mad that I had to smell that after such a nice little vacation, but I was embarrassed that my house could smell that way, and even more embarrassed that I was so clueless. I thought back to every time I had a guest in my home and realized what they must have thought. I had gone noseblind and never realized it.

If you don't know what  noseblind means, or how it happens, you might be surprised how common it is(as I was.) Noseblindness is when one has become so used to the odor in your home(or wherever) that you literally no longer notice it. You think everything smells fine, even when you leave for short amounts of time and come back. You need to be away for awhile, for your nose to get used to the odorless air for awhile, before you can notice it.

The problem is, that anyone not exposed to the odor daily as you are is not used to it, and smells every foul stench when the enter your home. I was always worried that my home is too cluttered or a bit messy when I have visitors and never realized that was the least of my problems. I needed to take my house back, and I needed to do it fast.

I immediately sprayed air freshener and lit candles, but I knew it was all just masking the smell, because I use such scented products all the time, and if that worked, my house would not have this kind of smell. I had to take real action, so the next day I bought Febreze(as we had ran out awhile back and I was so noseblind I didn't realize how much we needed it.)

The reason that Febreze works so much better than candles and (ordinary) room spray is because Febreze Fabric Refresher actually captures and eliminates the odors from fabric and Febreze Air Effects actually traps and removes the odors from the air. Febreze even has Car Vent Clips, which are activated by your car's air conditioning to freshen the air in your car. Much better than a cardboard tree, huh?

I used Febreze Fabric Refresher on my couch, loveseat, carpets, and all 4 of our giant bean bags as well as our beds and even on the clothes in our closets. I did not want to miss anything that could have absorbed the odor.

I used Febreze Air Effects in every room. I love how I could smell the wonderful scent while knowing the real odors would disappear.

I put the vent clip in our car. I did not even think the car really needed it, but I was not taking any chances, besides just because something does not smell bad, doesn't mean it smells good, and now the car smells amazing.

I am so glad that Febreze could help me rid my home of the pet odor that I was noseblind to for far too long. Our cat is like a member of the family(especially to our daughter, who is practically attached to him at all times), and I could never imagine having to get rid of him, but it meant a never-ending odor in my home, that would have been a problem.

It looks like Baby(the cat) can rest easy knowing that no matter how smelly he is, Febreze will pick up the slack to make sure we can keep Baby in a loving and odor free home.

Someone else seems to be happy about that too. With those two sweet faces, how could I ever want Baby anywhere but in our home?

Thankfully, not only do Febreze products really work, but they also meet the standard to appear on the ASPCA's Pet Friendly Living List, so you can be sure your pets are safe. Safety is so important to me, not only for Baby, but for my own babies(children). I am so glad I can trust Febreze to protect them for odor and from harmful ingredients.

I wish I read realized how common noseblindness was much sooner. A global survey from Atomik Research in 2014 indicated that 49 percent of Americans say that they dread visiting homes with pets due to the smell. With help from Jane Lynch and the ASPCA, Febreze is prompting pet lovers nationwide to talk about what guests really smell. And I am definitely listening. Are you?

If you have a pet that you love in spite of them being a #Stinkface, you can show off one of their stinkiest moments(no poop pics) on Instagram with the hastags #Stinkface, #Noseblind and #Febreze(and tag @toastmeetsworld). Doing so will enter you into the Double Duty Divas giveaway for the chance to win a $400 grand prize. Full details can be found HERE. 

You can also enter the Rafflecopter form below for the chance to win $25 worth of Febreze product, A universal smart phone camera lens kit ($90 value), and a $100 gift card to PetCo. And be sure to follow the Febreze #Noseblind page on Facebook and the Febreze page on Facebook and Twitter.

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Homemade Without The Hassle

*This post was sponsored by Bear Creek Soups. All opinions are my own.*

I try my best to be supermom, I really do. I always have plans that I am going to make this and do that and cook this, and I am always foolish enough to think nothing will come up to get in the way. Then life happens. The kids destroy something that takes hours to clean or fix. I forget to buy or run out of a vital ingredient(while my husband is at work and I have no way to the store), I just lose track of time, and it get's too late to cook a real meal.

Whatever the reason, I end up feeling awful and end up cooking a frozen dinner or ordering pizza, which is fine sometimes, but I just want to be the mom that makes hearty, homemade dinners for her family. I just wish sometimes, there was a way to do that without spending hours peeling, slicing, chopping, cooking, etc.

That is why I was so happy to discover Bear Creek. Bear Creek began in simple country kitchen using homemade recipes and the finest ingredients to create soups and dishes that people adored. Word spread and people wanted to buy the dry mixes, so Bear Creek Country Kitchens was formed. Today, that same passion is used to bring these amazing home-style recipes to kitchens all over America, via your local store or delivered to your home with online ordering. 
 
I recently had the opportunity to try several Bear Creek products, and they more than exceeded my expectations for such a convenient product. I tried three products, and they were all delicious. I had Cheddar Broccoli Rice Mix, New White Cheddar Soup Mix and New Chicken With Pasta Soup Mix.

I know what you are probably thinking, I just went on about wanting to make homemade dinners for my family and here I am talking about dry mixes. Well I am, but these Bear Creek products are homemade, just not my home. The real, premium, ingredients, home-style recipes, and superior care that go into every Bear Creek product ensures that these products are home-made, only better.

Bear Creek dry mixes are so easy to prepare. All you have to do is add water and cook. They cook in under 20 minutes, and are rich, hearty and satisfying as a side dish, as a base for a recipe, or all on their own. Now, no matter how short on time I am, I can have an amazing meal for my family, right from the pantry. Since all I need is water, I will never have to worry about a missing ingredient.

Better yet, if I do want something that is more homemade, I can add my own ingredients to create a new recipe. Which is what I did for all of these delicious mixes.

For the Chicken With Pasta soup. This soup is so creamy and has spiral noodles and veggies. It has a really rich flavor that I love. I added rotisserie chicken. It made the soup much more filling, so it could be a hearty meal. I served it with yeast rolls, and it was delicious. My husband had 3 bowls full and asked for more, but between myself and the kids, there was none left. It was a huge hit and I will definitely make it again.

With the Cheddar Broccoli Rice, I made a casserole. I added cooked turkey breast, fresh broccoli, cauliflower and cheddar cheese, it was incredible. It is one of my new favorite meals. I love rice, and usually only serve it as a side dish, but making it the main course like this was great, such a good meal and it tasted like I made it all from scratch. 

With the White Cheddar Soup, I went for a loaded potato kind of thing. The soup already contains potatoes, but I added some rustic diced red potatoes and some cooked bacon. I topped it with shredded white cheddar and sour cream, it was so creamy, rich and indulgent. My husband said it was the best potato soup he has ever had, so I was very pleased.

I love being able to make real, delicious food for my family, even when I am short on time and ingredients, and even inspiration for that matter. I am so glad that I found Bear Creek products. Bear Creek does all the work and you get all the credit, what could be better than that?

If you are looking for great homemade meals and side dishes without all the work, you must give Bear Creek a try. If my picky family loves it, it really is amazing. You won't be sorry, not unless you dislike having more "free" time and being less stressed. Let Bear Creek make your like easier(and more delicious.)

Follow Bear Creek on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on all the delicious happenings.

BODYARMOR Premium Sports Drink Review

As a mother, I obviously want the very best for my family. I am always looking for ways to improve our daily lives and make us happier and healthier. In so doing, I look for products that will help us fuel, perform and recover.

I say "us" because while my number one priority will always be my family(and not myself), I need to be at my very best to be able to properly care for my two very active young children. Not to mention the grown "child" I have the pleasure of being married to.

I cannot be lagging behind because my body is lacking vital components like vitamins and electrolytes. My kids cannot be stuck in the house all day because it is way too hot in Florida to go outside and be active without proper hydration, and my husband cannot be in danger at work because he is outside, on his feet and driving(while standing up) at work for sometimes 14 hours a day in the heat.

We all need a way to get the things our bodies need to not just thrive, but to even survive the demands of our daily lives. With kids, nothing can ever be easy, especially nutrition, so there has been some real struggles in that department. And as I mentioned, sometimes my husband can be a big kid, especially when it comes to trying new things.

I was worried I would never find a way to make proper hydration a daily occurrence, or at least not a easily attainable one. Thankfully, that was before I discovered BODYARMOR Premium Sports Drink.

Upon learning that BODYARMOR Premium Sports Drink is made with coconut water and natural ingredients, I had very high hopes for its performance. I was a bit worried that my family might not like the taste though, which is especially a problem when it comes to my son, whose autism makes him very selective, to the point he will make himself sick to avoid certain tastes/textures.

To my delight, he actually posed no hesitation in trying it. I assume the attractive, colorful packaging had something to do with that. Even more amazing, he LOVES it. My son devoured the first bottle in just minutes, and he immediately asked for more. I am so thrilled that he not only will drink, but actually craves something that is actually better for him.

BODYARMOR Premium Sports Drink contains nothing artificial, which is so refreshing to me. My son's old favorites are so completely artificial that I felt guilty every time I let him drink them, even though he would just not drink otherwise.

My daughter, being 3, idolizes her big brother, so what he eats/drinks, so does she, so when he drinks artificial junk, she does as well(although she drank other things too). Now I am thrilled that they both love BODYARMOR Premium Sports Drink, and she asks for it(independently) just as much as he does.

As for my other picky "child", he was the most reluctant to try BODYARMOR, but once he did, he fell in love with it too. He used to get terrible leg cramps from a lack of potassium and electrolytes. He would also feel faint at times and nearly pass out from dehydration at work, a very dangerous thing for him and for others(since he drives a huge truck).

He now drinks BODYARMOR at work every day and has told me how much his endurance has improved and told me he very rarely gets cramps anymore. He also loves the taste and said he will never got back to just the plain water he used to drink.

While I was barely able to try the BODYARMOR Premium Sports Drink before the rest of my family finished it all, I was able to try some, and it tastes fantastic. I too tend to get dehydrated very easily, and I have actually passed out from it more than once, which cannot happen when I can trying to care for my children, so I am so glad we discovered BODYARMOR Premium Sports Drink, and that now my whole family can stay hydrated and healthy using the same delicious product.

BODYARMOR Premium Sports Drink comes in a variety of flavors, all of which taste wonderful.

We tried Fruit Punch as well, but the children finished that one before I even had a chance to take a picture. Mixed Berry and Orange Mango are my favorites, but they all taste amazing. I am so glad that BODYARMOR Premium Sports Drink not only met, but far exceeded my expectations.

Best of all, I can get the benefits of BODYARMOR Premium Sports Drink for less money with this amazing coupon. Save $1 on 2 bottles of BODYARMOR Premium Sports Drink. BODYARMOR can be purchased at Publix and Target stores. I am so glad that BODYARMOR is available at the stores I already shop at.

Great benefits, great savings. What are you waiting for? Try BODYARMOR Premium Sports Drink today.

*Although this is a compensated post for an item I received at no cost to facilitate a review, all opinions are 100% my own.*