LuguLake Portable Bluetooth Speaker #Giveaway

Hosted By Tammie's Reviews, Giveaways and More and 1StopMom

Sponsored By LuguLake

Having the perfect Bluetooth Speaker can make or break your viewing or listening experience. You can read Tammie's review of the product by going HERE. Having a high quality Bluetooth Speaker is a product that is perfect for your home, car, college dorm rooms and just about everywhere you could think of where a speaker is warranted.

Robyn's thoughts--I know how important it is to be able to have a working speaker system. These days, nobody has a CD Player or Boombox (remember those?) or any portable stereo device--other than their phone. All you need is a speaker and your phone and off you go. With this Bluetooth Speaker, you won't need wires or cords. Just sync to your smart device and off you go. Even to stream videos or watch TV on your tablet/phone/etc--this would be an amazing speaker set.

Almost every device I can think of requires a Bluetooth Speaker to help you maximize the sound quality that just makes it so much better. There are a ton of Bluetooth Speakers on the market but the quality varies a great deal among them. LuguLake is a company that specializes in high quality products. I am sure you are going to want to enter to win this so.....

And Now ForThe Sweepstakes~

• One reader will win a LuguLake Portable Bluetooth Speaker
• This will end on 9/12 at 7 p.m. est
• Void where prohibited By Law
• Terms and Conditions are on the Giveaway form below
• This is open to U.S., Canada, UK, France, Germany and Japan
• Must be 18 years of age or older
• All entries will be verified and winner will be notified by email

Enter below and Good Luck to you~
 

Entry-Form

Disclosure- Coolestmommy's Coolest Thoughts  was not compensated either by free product or payment. I have not been compensated for this post. All opinions and experiences are my own. Open to the US, must be 18+. Confirmed Winner(s) will be contacted by email and have 24 hours to respond before a new winner will be drawn. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. Entrants must only enter with either one email address, IP address and/or Facebook account, anyone found violating these rules will be disqualified. It is at the sole discretion of the admin of the giveaway if the winner has met the rules or not. The sponsor(s) will be responsible for product shipment to winner(s) of the giveaway. Sponsor will be responsible for prize fulfillment. This event is in no way associated with, sponsored, administered, or endorsed by Facebook, Twitter, Google, Pinterest or any other social media network. The disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. For questions about this giveaway or to have me promote your product, Please email Tammie at PubRel@live.com.

Back to School savings from #Purex and #Cartwheel #Coupon

Disclosure: As a Purex Insider, I am given the opportunity to win a gift card in exchange for my post. No other compensation is given and all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Are you back to school yet? We are in my neck of the woods. Would you like to get a little extra savings during back to school season? Purex and Target have teamed up to help give you some extra savings.

Now through the end of August, get 10% off any Purex detergent at Target stores with a #Cartwheel coupon! You can download your coupon and be on your way to big savings!

I know I've been stocking up - I hope you'll join me for the savings!

Happy Birthday #BlogOmaha - Hiro88 Celebration with Omaha Cupcakes

Disclosure: I was provided with food in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

  

Is there anything in the world that beats a really good birthday celebration? Not in my mind.

Blog Omaha Birthday Bash Friends

Now let's look back in time. I've been blessed to be a part of the Omaha Bloggers Network for the past year. These gals and guys are amazing people with vast and varied blogs. And--they are totally willing to share their experiences and expertise. I'm so happy to have made some awesome blogging friends and I believe I've been making my blog even better because of their influence and help.

Beautiful place settings at Hiro88 Old Market

Cupcakes from Cupcake Omaha waiting for us to open.

I was thoroughly impressed by the party coordinated by one of our own. She worked with Hiro88 in the Old Market for us to meet and they provided our group with three giant boats of sushi, plus other happy hour appetizers such as the crab rangoon, edamame, and fried gyoza (similar to a pot sticker).

Crab Rangoon

One of our sushi boats

Another Sushi Boat

Happy Hour Drink Special

She also got cupcakes from Cupcake Omaha for dessert. Can I be the first to tell you that I've never had such a moist cupcake in recent history. So much better than the others I've had. Yum!

We didn't have formal plans for our event, it was a time for us to get together, celebrate a year of better blogging and just be social. Don't worry, we still had lots of 'shop talk' and I've noticed other bloggers putting their shop talk to good use. I was able to get some questions answered and learned of some new conferences I want to check out. In today's world, it's sometimes hard to connect with others in similar pursuits. So I'm thankful for the Omaha Bloggers and our network.

My thoughts about Hiro88:
I found it to be a trendy, upscale dining spot, but the dress ranged anywhere from dressy to very casual shorts or jeans and a tshirt. I was glad to see that patrons were welcomed and treated as valued guests no matter what attire they were wearing. The food was delicious. The crab rangoon was simply amazing. So light and crunchy and the inside was rich and creamy. I also rarely find good 'pot stickers' so when I tasted the fried gyoza, I knew what I was ordering off of the happy hour menu.
Old Market Location Happy Hours:

Mondays:3pm-6:30pm
Tuesdays:3pm-6:30pm
Wednesdays:3pm-6:30pm / 10pm-12am
Thursdays:3pm-6:30pm / 10pm-12am
Fridays:3pm-6:30pm / 10pm-1am
Saturdays:10pm-1am
Sundays:All Day (11am-10pm)

PB Cup Cupcake -
It was amazing!

My thoughts about Cupcake Omaha:
I tried a few bites of several cupcakes (we played pass them around). My descriptor is moist. They weren't dry and crumbly--which I find disgusting in a cupcake. They were moist and almost all of them have a surprise center. Might be a pudding, might be a creme filling, but whatever it was, delicious was the word I'd use over and over. The salted caramel peanut topping on one was enough to make me a happy girl. I got to eat the PB Cup Cupcake. It was delicious. I meant to save a portion of it for my son who loves PB Cakes...that didn't happen. I ate every last bite.

Chocolate creme center

Oreo Cupcake

Dial Coconut Water Refreshing Mango Body Wash #GetNoticed Giveaway

Disclosure: "The Dial" Brand provided me with a sample of Dial Coconut Water Refreshing Mango body wash in exchange for a product review. However, all opinions expressed are my own. 

Look at the very cool box that arrived in my mailbox recently. I love the Dial family of products and my daughter and I were thrilled to get the Dial Coconut Water Refreshing Mango Body Wash as a sample to try. When we opened the box and smelled the body wash, she announced, "It smells like summer." Who doesn't want a little bit of summer year round? I like the Dial body wash products because it's truly a family body wash. Even my boys didn't complain that the smell was 'too girly'. I think that's a great success. 

Dial's nourishing body wash helps with skin care. My kids loved this because of the delicious scent. I liked it because they USED the body wash in order to get really clean. I love both the scent and the way my skin feels clean and fresh after I've used it. I don't know about you, but Dial products have been a part of my body care routine since I was a small child. My mother and grandmother both used Dial products in their homes and I continue that tradition.

What is even better than a bottle of Dial Coconut Water Refreshing Mango Body Wash for my family? How about the chance to win a bottle for yourself. I was given a free coupon to give away to one of you. Please be sure to fill out the entry form below. 

For the giveaway:

• Limit one set of entries per household.
• Open to the US only
• Giveaway ends Friday, September 5

Good luck!

Entry-Form

5 Hour Energy and $25 Visa GC Sweepstakes

Hosted By Tammie's Reviews, Giveaways and More and Michigan Savings and More

Sponsored By 5 Hour Energy

You can read Tammie's views on the product by clicking HERE

Have you ever tried a 5 Hour Energy? Sean has used these more than me, but the few times I've tried it, I've ended up only taking half a bottle. It does perk me up and keep me going, but I get jittery if I take a whole bottle. And I do like how they have come out with new flavors--some of them are really quite tasty. I'd love to hear what your favorite flavor is of 5 Hour Energy. Or when do you use it?

 5 Hour Energy is having a video contest called Yummification.

Information about the “Yummification” Drink Creation Video Contest:

• The makers of 5-hour ENERGY® announced the launch of the “Yummification” video contest, where entrants can win a share of $100,000 for creating a video of their favorite way to mix a 5-hour ENERGY® shot with an everyday beverage. The contest will be judged on the creativity of the video and the taste of the creation

• Drink creations must follow the approved/non-approved ingredients guidelines (i.e. no caffeinated beverages or alcohol)
• To enter the contest, visit www.5houryummification.com and follow the instructions to complete the entry form; “Like” 5-hour ENERGY® on Facebook, then create and submit a video that is no longer than 60 seconds showing an original combination being made, tasted, and named (creativity counts!)
• One grand prize winner will receive $50,000, and the following prizes will also be awarded:

o Second Prize (1): Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000)

o Third Prize (1): Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000)

o Fourth Prizes (10): One Thousand Dollars ($1,000)

• Entries must be received by August 19, 2014 at 11:59 p.m. EDT to be eligible. No purchase necessary. US residents only. 18 years and up
• To enter, visit www.5houryummification.com and follow the instructions to complete the entry form or “Like” the 5-hour ENERGY® page on Facebook and follow the instructions to click the contest tab

• For official rules, visit 5houryummification.com

Onto the Sweepstakes~

• One reader will win a 5 Hour Energy Prize Pack and  $25 Visa GC
• This Sweepstakes will end on 8/30
• This is only open to the U.S. only
• Void where prohibited
• Winner will be notified by email
• All entries will be verified
• Must be 18 years of age or older

Enter below and Good Luck~

Entry-Form

Disclosure- Coolestmommy's Coolest Thoughts was not compensated either by free product or payment. I have not been compensated for this post. All opinions and experiences are my own. Open to the US, must be 18+. Confirmed Winner(s) will be contacted by email and have 24 hours to respond before a new winner will be drawn. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. Entrants must only enter with either one email address, IP address and/or Facebook account, anyone found violating these rules will be disqualified. It is at the sole discretion of the admin of the giveaway if the winner has met the rules or not. The sponsor(s) will be responsible for product shipment to winner(s) of the giveaway. Sponsor will be responsible for prize fulfillment. This event is in no way associated with, sponsored, administered, or endorsed by Facebook, Twitter, Google, Pinterest or any other social media network. The disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. For questions about this giveaway or to have me promote your product, Please email Tammie at PubRel@live.com.

Zcan+ Scanner Mouse #Giveaway

Hosted By Tammie's Reviews, Giveaways and More and Finger Click Saver.

Sponsored By DTOi and Promoted By Some Awesome Blogger Friends including Coolestmommy's Coolest Thoughts.

The Zcan+ is all the talk in the tech world as this mouse is sure to help even the most nontechnical person. You can read Tammie's review of it by going HERE. The Zcan+ Scanner Mouse can be used on a Mac or a Windows based computer. You can edit the item that you have scanned if need be. It is available on amazon and right now they are having a sale on it. This product usually retails for $99.00.

So who wouldn't want something as easy as this? I can see all sorts of applications in my own life. I spend a lot of time meeting folks in coffee shops or other places where we don't have access to a scanner or printer. It would be so handy to be able to scan and save documents to print later when back at home--or to save the file and email to everyone in the meeting. Since our scanner has been on the fritz for a couple years, this would be a handy way to solve the scanning problem at my house as well. 

Would you like to win one for yourself? 

• Giveaway will end August 21
• This is only open to the U.S., Canada, Australia and Hong Kong only
• All entries will be verified
• Void where prohibited by law
• Winner will be notified by email
• Must be 18 years of age or older
• 1 reader will win a Zcan+ Scanner Mouse

Enter below and Good Luck!

Entry-Form

Coolestmommy's Coolest Thoughts was not compensated either by free product or payment. I have not been compensated for this post. All opinions and experiences are my own. Open to the US, must be 18+. Confirmed Winner(s) will be contacted by email and have 24 hours to respond before a new winner will be drawn. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. Entrants must only enter with either one email address, IP address and/or Facebook account, anyone found violating these rules will be disqualified. It is at the sole discretion of the admin of the giveaway if the winner has met the rules or not. The sponsor(s) will be responsible for product shipment to winner(s) of the giveaway. Sponsor will be responsible for prize fulfillment. This event is in no way associated with, sponsored, administered, or endorsed by Facebook, Twitter, Google, Pinterest or any other social media network. The disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. For questions about this giveaway or to have me promote your product, Please email Tammie at PubRel@live.com.

Sea Life Aquarium in Kansas City #Review and #Discount

Disclosure: I was provided free tickets to Sea Life in exchange for my review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and no other compensation was provided.

Sea Life Aquarium is one of the newest hot spots in Kansas City in the Crown Center area of downtown. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to find using our handy GPS. When we arrived, we followed the signs to park at the Crown Center Mall. Take your parking ticket with you as you enter Sea Life and they will validate your parking for 6 hours (which is longer than any of the stores in the mall will validate for). The free parking was terrific so we could relax and really take our time and enjoy all of the rooms and activities.

I was pleased to see this sign when we arrived.
This means animals are well cared for. 

There are about ten different rooms where you can view different species of sea creatures. We couldn't believe how beautiful the school of fish was in the first room. At first, this viewing window was empty, then all of a sudden, a whole school of fish swam through. 

I like the shark tank and the tunnel. While it's shorter and smaller than the Omaha Zoo shark tunnel, it was still fun to be surrounded by sharks on all sides.

Selfie with the sharks.

Family Selfie

The "touching" tide pool was very fun for kids of all ages. Rebekah LOVED petting the starfish. So did I! I didn't realize how hard they are on top when they are in the water. The underside is soft, but the top is definitely a protective skin. We also got to touch some sea cucumbers, there were shrimp--but they were too skittish to touch--and other animals in the pond. The staff member was very knowledgeable and answered our (endless) questions patiently and completely. With five museum buffs in our family, she earned her pay that afternoon. 

One of the things the kids (and their parents) liked the most was the Quiz Trail for kids. This is really meant for the 13 & under crowd, but Andrew was a good sport and did a quiz trail, too. Mostly, he helped his sister find answers without her realizing he was leading her to the answer. Good job! If you find all 10 of the trail markers and answer the questions, you get a prize at the end. The younger kids were thrilled with their prize - a medal from Sea Life Aquarium. 

Here are some pictures of the fish, the viewing tubes/bubbles, etc. There is so much to see and do--we had a great time. And even though we come from a city with a top zoo and aquarium, I was surprised at how much we learned and how fun Sea Life was. We didn't think it would compare to our zoo--but it was different. We had a terrific time and hope to have another Kansas City adventure at Sea Life (and Legoland--watch for that review, too) soon. 

In addition to all the rooms and the bubbles and tunnels, there are several VERY kid friendly areas. There's a movie theatre where you can watch and learn about Gertrude the Turtle (who we saw in a tank--she's doing well) and how they saved her. She was tangled in fishing line and ended up having a leg amputated. She's happy in the Sea Life Aquarium home. 

There's also a play area at the end where the kids had a great time. I didn't get any photos (they were moving too fast). Also a room where they can watch sharks from all sides and even look into the tank from a viewing platform above. That particular room also has Lego tables where you can add to the Lego Sand Castles. The kids had loads of fun.  

Would you like to save $3 per ticket on your visit? Be sure to print the discount coupon and take it with you. It is valid through 12/31/14 so you still have time to go and save. 

What Would You Do--Then and Now #SensoryBlogHop

Have you ever seen the show "What Would You Do?" It's a hard hitting show that sets up scenes to see how people react. The show is hosted by John Quiñones and he gets people to ask of themselves some pretty tough questions. 

I love that show but haven't gotten to see every episode. I saw a post last week on a friend's facebook page that said,

"While [my son] doesn't have a diagnosis of autism, he does have some difficulties including not being the "nice little well behaved child who sits still and doesn't make a sound". We don't go out much. And never out to eat. Causes too much anxiety for me because of people like that "diner". The other diners give me hope."

Then I watched this episode from "What Would You Do?" It's one I've never seen before. And I cried...a lot...

So what would you do in that situation? I don't have to wonder...I know. Because my second child has autism. And when he was 3-4-5 years old, eating out was it's on circle in Dante's Inferno. I know the horror of being stared at, nobody ever 'said' words to us, but we got 'the look'. I knew people were whispering about us. We were the center of attention. It was hard. It was embarrassing, and it wasn't really much fun and eating out wasn't a 'break' from cooking. It was a different kind of work.

My husband and I had a game plan each week. Who would 'eat fast' and who would stay? If you were eat fast, you didn't take care of kids or anything--you ate...fast. Because the moment Nathan started to cry, melt down, get loud, etc.,  you had to move. You had to take him out of the building, walk the parking lot, sit in the car, do whatever it took for the next 30 minutes to keep him from disturbing everyone else in the place so the rest of the family could eat. If you stayed, you had to fill pop cups, get napkins, help feed remaining kids, but you got to relax and enjoy the meal more than the 'eat fast' parent.

We went out every Sunday after church. It's a tradition in our family--one that dates back to my own childhood. I wasn't willing to give up one meal out a week and lose that tradition in my life. So we made it work. This is when we didn't know Nathan had autism--we were told (repeatedly) that he did not have autism. Often we were told he didn't have problems, but screaming and crying in restaurants doesn't seem normal either.

Once we had his diagnosis, it explained the 'why' of his behaviors, but we refused to let autism be an excuse for cancelling this one tradition we were clinging to. And, over a very long time, he got better at it. He learned some tools and coping skills. We bought earplugs that he could wear in noisy restaurants. Just $2.69 wax earplugs from the store and we could avoid crisis mode for an additional period of time.

Today we eat out a lot--probably more than a lot of other families. Not that it's a good thing in some ways. But it's a good thing for us that I don't take for granted. So watching this episode (which is old because the new numbers are 1 in 68...not 1 in 88) brings back a lot of memories for me. I again feel the shame, the horror, the dread of waiting for someone to tell us to leave and not come back. And I cry. I cry for those who are in the trenches right now like my friend who posted this clip. I cry for those who defend the boy in the restaurant. I cry because I have lived and breathed the Autism Society of Nebraska since mere weeks after he was finally diagnosed. I sit on the state board, I go to DC and lobby for other kids with autism, I work to make connections and cultivate contacts so we can promote not just awareness, but acceptance and inclusion. 

And, as a method of catharsis, I joined this blog hop. Check out the other articles, you will be amazed at these incredible people. 

An InLinkz Link-up

Enough: 10 things we should be telling teenage girls #Review #Giveaway

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my review.

Have you heard of the new book called ENOUGH: 10 things we should be telling teenage girls? You haven't--well, you need to check it out. I don't care if you are male or female, young or old, teenager or not, everyone should be required to read this book. I'm in total love with Kate Conner and her down to earth wisdom. 

This book happened after a blog post about this subject gained over 2 million views in two weeks. Her list of #10Things sounds so simple, but truth rings through. Here is one of my personal favorites: 

How many times have you wanted to tell someone that Facebook/Twitter/Insert name here isn't wasting your time...YOU are wasting your time? I have that feeling quite often. And the way she explains each of these 'bullet points about life' really makes sense. It's not preachy and it's not condescending. It comes from her heart and her concern and reasons are valid and meaningful. 

Another favorite:

Enough said.

Would you like the opportunity to read Kate's book for yourself? 

Enter below using the Giveaway Tools form. Remember, if you click the options on the top right side, you can have all entries open at one time to make entering faster and easier than ever before.

Giveaway guidelines:

• Giveaway ends on August 15
• One entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.
• Winner subject to eligibility verification.
• Winner has 24 hours to respond with shipping information. 

Entry-Form

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.