I had the opportunity to review their Beauty Bursts, Beauty Serums, and Refreshing Herbal Mist. I have become a huge fan of collagen supplements and NeoCell’s amazing products. I love that they naturally promote beauty and healthy skin.

Now it’s your chance to win some great NeoCell Products!

One lucky Nifty Mom reader will win a NeoCell prize pack that includes:

• Beauty Bursts
• Collagen Radiance Serum
• Hydra+ H.A. Serum
• Refreshing Herbal Mist

No purchase necessary to enter. The giveaway is open to US residents 18+. Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST May 23rd, 2013. The winner will be selected via random.org and contacted by email. Winner has 48 hours to reply to confirm their prize or a new winner will be picked. If you have any issues entering or have any questions, please email me at contact (at) niftymom(dot)com.

GOOD LUCK!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

In a few months, I will no longer be in my twenties. I can’t believe I just admitted that, but it’s time face the facts. I think I am finally coming to terms with my age and I will embrace my thirties. I also realized it is time to make sure I am taking care of my skin so it doesn’t age faster than me.

As I started to research skin care and beauty products, figuring out what I could benefit from each, I was introduced to NeoCell. With their strong belief in promoting vital collagen health, I found myself eager to learn more about collagen. I knew little about it, but it seemed to be an important factor in aging.

What is Collagen?

Collagen is the building block for all our body’s major systems and is like the glue holding our body together. It helps to rebuild skin, minimize lines and wrinkles, and improves elasticity. It also corrects weak, broken, split and damaged nail beds, thickens hair, adds body and slows down hair loss, and improves circulation. Around the age of 25, your body slows collagen production about 1.5% each year. This is when the collagen fibers become brittle and begins to breakdown and the signs of aging begins. It seems to be quite important and a supplement needs to be added to my daily routine.

NeoCell’s Collagen Supplements

I am not a huge fan of pills and even though NeoCell offers different pills, finding other ways to get collagen proved to be easy. Beauty Bursts are soft chews packed with 2,000mg of collagen each. They are available in two flavors, Chocolate Mint and Fruit Punch. I took two Fruit Punch chews each morning for a month. The flavor is almost like candy, making it easy to take. I believe it is a great supplement and over time, I will see great benefits.

I don’t really wear makeup, but I like to use at least a daily moisturizer. I have been using Collagen Radiance Serum every morning. It immediately makes my skin feel smooth and refreshed. The serum has all the benefits of collagen plus vitamin C & vitamin E to increase moisture. Then at night I use the Hydra+ H.A. Serum to hydrate and rejuvenate my skin. Since I have been using them, I can tell my skin is firmer and definitely smoother.

With the warmer weather, we tend to be at the park and outdoors more often. I have been taking NeoCell’s Refreshing Herbal Mist with me whenever we go out. The blend of nutrients reduces dryness and normalizes skin’s appearance. The light mist is extremely refreshing during outdoor activities and warm weather. It is a must-have in my purse.

NeoCell offers a variety of other great health and collagen products. I can’t wait to try some of their liquid forms of collagen or their powders. I will always have a place for NeoCell products in my house.

To learn more about collagen and NeoCeoll products, visit NeoCell.com. You can also connect with them on Facebook and Twitter. Find a retailer near you or shop on Amazon.com.

*Enter to win a NeoCell Prize Pack here*

Blogging and working from home isn’t always easy. It requires lots of scheduling, self-discipline and balance. This week, after coming back from SoFabCon, I felt inspired and motivated to find ways to create a more manageable schedule. Not just for me, but to benefit my family as a whole. I need a schedule that doesn’t include countless nights with less than 5 hours of sleep. One I can work through without having email, Facebook and Twitter open every waking moment of the day to consistently create distractions. One that allows ‘me time’. Then, with perfect timing, Metlife creates another challenge for me: #SocialBlackout.

Metlife created the #SocialBlackout movement to encourage people to take the day and spend more time with their Mom and their families.  The idea of taking focus of our social feeds and what is going on in other people’s lives and shift it to the people around us.

The other day, I took my kids to the park and met up with a good friend. As we were chatting and playing with the kids, I looked around only to notice the majority of the adults had their phone in their hands occupied with something other than their children. I notice the same thing when I got out to eat at a restaurant. Instead of enjoying time with the people around them, so many have their heads down buried in their phones.

I have three amazing little boys and an incredible husband. I am sure they each will tell you they see me checking my phone way too often. Therefore, I will be accepting the #SocialBlackout challenge. Tomorrow, I am going to try my best to stay logged off all my social media accounts and spend quality time with my kids and husband. I am determined to fight all the urges to check my phone! I CAN DO IT!

If you want join or just spread the word, it’s easy. Some things you can do:

• Join the #SocialBlackout event page
• Invite your friends to join to the event
• Change your profile picture to the image below
• Log off Social Media on Mother’s Day

Can you stay logged off for a day?

I know I am not the only one who is always running around trying to do it all. My mind is always racing with thoughts of what the kids need, what my husband needs, what the house needs, etc. I do my best to find things to make our lives run smoothly and make my daily tasks easier and quicker. Today, @Bing is chatting about how they make Moms’ lives a little easier.

Date: Today – Friday, May 10th, 2013
Time: 3:00 – 4:00PM EST
Hashtag: #BingIt

Moderator: @MomCentral

Assistant Moderators: @MomCentralChat
Brand: @Bing & @HWTM_Jenn
Prizes: 6 party participants will win a $50 gift code.
Questions: Contact Nikki at nstaib@momcentral.com
TweetGrid: http://bit.ly/11QNBgT

Pre-tweet to Win! 
Anyone who tweets either of the below statements from now until the #BingIt Twitter Party will be eligible to win one of two $50 gift codes!

• Tweet this to share information about the #BingIt Twitter Party!
• Tweet this to share information about the Bing It On Challenge!

I’ll be there chatting about my busy life and such. Stop by, chat, tweet me, and hopefully you will win a prize! For more information and giveaway rules, visit Mom Central.

I hope to ‘see’ you there today! 

It’s no secret that my sons like to watch cartoons. The Disney Jr. channel is a favorite and the show they ask for the most is Octonauts. My three year old loves all the underwater creatures and how Barnacles, Kwazii, & the other Octonauts crew always save the day. When I learned about the Fisher Price toy line, I couldn’t wait to bring the Octonauts into my home for the boys.

Fisher Price never seems to let me down and they are always coming out with fun new toys for my kids. This time it is no different. With numerous different Octonauts sets, there is a lot of fun to be had.

The Octonauts Playset is like the center hub of the Octonauts toy line. It comes complete with the Octopod, Captain Barnacles, Kwazii, and more. It took minimal effort and just a few minutes to put the set together and attach the stickers. Each pod has a rescue tool and a slide that attaches to the launch pad. Ethan loves the rescue tools. He can put a creature in one, lift it up, drop it down, and swing it back and forth.

On the top is the removable OctoAlert. With a press of a button, the sounds and phrases of the crew makes the Octonauts comes to life (or so it seems). This truly makes the toy more entertaining. It allows the kids to respond to the phrases, dance around, and act like they are on a mission.

One of my favorites is the Barnacles and Tulip set. I love the added touch of the removable diving helmet. The set comes with seven pieces and can be used in the water. The clam-shell sinks and opens to release Tulip, who can squirt water and change colors. We haven’t used the toys in the water yet, but they would be perfect for a water table this summer.

Another Ocotonaut water set is the GUB-P & Kwazii set. GUB-P comes complete with wheels to roll around when used on dry land. When his back fin is pushed down, his jaw opens and closes.

My three year old plays with the Octo-Compass the most. He walks around the room, opens it, presses a button to hear an Octo-Alert or phrase, closes it and says, ‘OK’! At which he then reacts to the phrases. It allows him to be creative and imagine he is on a mission rescuing creatures. He can also easily put it in his pocket and take it with him when we are on-the-go.

There is also an Octonauts Magazine that is great for quite time while I am preparing dinner. Ours came with a set of three small toys. The toys are incorporated into some of the games in the magazine. There are lots of learning activities, stickers, and games to keep little ones busy.

My sons and I are extremely thrilled with the new Octonauts playsets. They continue to play with all the different toys and when the show comes on, they like to interact with the toys at the same time. My 3 year old also loves playing games on The Octonauts Website. You can find all the Octonaut toys on Amazon.com, where they are reasonably priced.

Do you have an Octonauts fan in your house?

I love making hand and footprint art with the kids. It always seems to be a huge hit and the boys love playing with paint. Last year, I made all three of the kids do footprints as butterflies. Each one a different color.

I wish I would have painted the names on the butterfly bodies, but after I scanned the footprints (to make multiple copies), I typed them in. Unfortunately, I cannot find the original scan or picture. But I wanted to share the idea with you.

I put the picture in Mother’s Day cards, but it would be cute on the front of a homemade card or just as a framed picture.

After finally getting the prints, I let me sons play around with the finger paint for a little while. They ended  up painting their whole bodies and we had a colorful bath afterwards.

Here are some other toddler activities I have do for gifts:

• Handprint Flower
• Handprint Sun
• Finger-Paint Frame

Happy Painting!

With May quickly approaching next week, the first thing that comes to my mind is Mother’s Day. In celebration of the day, Proctor & Gamble and Dollar General has teamed up to honor Moms, ‘Every Day Heroes’ who sacrifice for their families and still make time to make a difference in their community.

Maria Segura was chosen by Dollar General as its Every Day Hero for May. She has a commitment to build a better life for her family through literacy and education. Maria is the heart and soul of the Family Literacy Academy of Immokalee in Florida and donates a lot of her time to visiting families and assisting to their needs.

To help you celebrate Moms, Dollar General has created an app the Dollar General Facebook page for fans to create a custom “Moms Rule” photo for their own Facebook Cover.

May P&G BrandSAVER

This Sunday, April 28th, make sure to pick up your local Sunday Paper to get the latest P&G BrandSAVER coupons. Dollar General proudly accepts coupons, so you can the BrandSAVER coupons there to save more on some of the popular P&G Brands such as Venus, Olay, Vidal Sassoon and Secret.

Prize Pack Giveaway

Proctor & Gamble has put together a special prize pack (pictured above) for one lucky Nifty Mom reader that includes:

• $15 Dollar General Gift Card
• Venus Embrace Razor
• Secret Outlast Invisible Solid Deodorant
• Vidal Sassoon Pro Series Mega Firm Hold Gel

No purchase necessary to enter. The giveaway is open to US residents 18+. Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST May 8th, 2013. The winner will be selected via random.org and contacted by email. Winner has 48 hours to reply to confirm their prize or a new winner will be picked. If you have any issues entering or have any questions, please email me at contact (at) niftymom(dot)com.

GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received the said prize pack from Proctor & Gamble and was in no other way compensated. All opinions expressed are 100% mine.

Every once in awhile, my husband and I get the chance to go out and have a relaxing dinner together. One of our favorite places to dine at is Olive Garden. The food is always delicious and the prices are reasonable. They often offer lunch and dinner promotions that are hard for me to pass up. This includes their current ‘Buy One, Take One’ promotion.

One evening last week, my husband and I got a babysitter for the little ones and we headed out for dinner to Olive Garden. We had a short wait for a table, but that is common. Our local Olive Garden is pretty popular.

The ‘Buy One, Take One’ Meal Promotion

For a limited time, the ‘Buy One, Take One’ Promotion is being offered and it is definitely a good deal. For just $12.95, you get to pick one of the five qualifying entrees to enjoy at the restaurant with unlimited homemade soup or garden-fresh salad (and breadsticks, of course). Then, choose a second entree to take home. The entrees do not have to be the same one.

The entrees available:

• Mezzaluna Ravioli with Five Cheese Marinara
• Smoked Mozzarella Chicken
• Spaghetti with Four Cheese Meat Sauce
• Five Cheese Ziti al Forno 
• Fettuccine Alfredo

We both ordered from the ‘Buy One, Take One’ menu. Not only is it a good price for two meals, but the idea of having a quick and easy meal at home the next day or two is great. It is perfect for a quick lunch or dinner. I wanted to get something for my kids to have for lunch the next day. It is also would be good when I know my husband will be working late or when I know we have a busy day and I won’t have time to cook a homemade meal.

After we ordered, the salad and breadsticks were brought to our table fairly quickly. Honestly, I could go to Olive Garden and just eat their salad all day. It has always been a favorite of mine.

I ordered the Smoked Mozzarella Chicken entree. This was my first time having it and it was extremely delicious. It was very cheesy with just enough peppers to add a little zest. I will definitely be getting that again. My husband ordered the Five Cheese Ziti, which he normally gets and it was tasty as usual.

For our entrees to take home, we got a Five Cheese Ziti and Spaghetti with Four Cheese Meat Sauce. The server brought our ‘To-Go’ bag out after we finished our meal. The entrees are cooked and chilled, ready to be placed in the refrigerator. Within two days, you just microwave the container for the designated time (ours was 2.5 and 4 minutes) and enjoy.

We ate the take-home meals for lunch the next day. I split the spaghetti between the kids, while my husband and I split the Ziti. It was a quick, tasty lunch. The meals were just as good as the ones we had while dining at the restaurant. I can’t wait to go back again and take advantage of the promotion.

Flash Giveaway – Today, 4/22 Only

Olive Garden wants you to try their ‘Buy One, Take One’ promotion, so one lucky reader will win a $75 eGift Card to Olive Garden! This is a FLASH giveaway and it ENDS TONIGHT!

No purchase necessary to enter. The giveaway is open to US residents 18+. Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST April 22nd, 2013. The winner will be selected via random.org and contacted by email. Winner has 24 hours to reply to confirm their prize or a new winner will be picked. The sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment; Not Nifty Mom, Momma Rambles, or Random Mommy.

GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

“I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Olive Garden. I received a gift card to facilitate my review promotional item as a thank-you for participating.”

I have been doing a lot of cleaning, sorting, and organizing this month. Aside from my every day cleaning, my home office and closets have been my prime focus. A few weeks ago, you may remember when I showed you what they looked like and my goal of organization. I have been hard at work to get those area organized and de-cluttered.

5 Simple Organizational Tips

Beginning an organization project can be intimidating and overwhelming at first. I use five simple steps to make the process more manageable.

1. Select a specific target area and goal. For example, instead of having just a goal of organizing my office, I wanted to de-clutter the bookshelves and eliminate all the canvas storage bins. 
2. Layout everything you are sorting and organizing so you know what you are working with. This typically requires making a larger mess than you started with. However, it helps you easily see everything. In my case, I completely cleared off the bookshelves and lined up all the storage bins.
3. Group items in different piles. I normally have four piles: Keep, Trash, Recycle, Donate.
4. Store like products together. I had a storage box for camera accessories, software products, extra binders and supplies, and electronic cords. For the cords, I used paper towel rolls to keep smaller cords separated.
5. Use easy storage, such as Fellowes Bankers Box Stackable Storage.

These storage boxes were a huge help in my closets and office. They are available in four sizes: Small, Medium, Large, and Underbed. Assembly is simple with their FastFold Design. One if my favorite features  is the large window on the side of the box. This allows me to easily see the contents without having to open the box.

They also have reinforced plastic handles. This makes lifting and carrying the boxes easy and painless. After loading the large one up with all my camera accessories (tripod, cases, photo printer, video camera, photo paper, etc), I began to worry it was too much. I picked it up and it was pretty heavy, but the heavy-duty construction make the box sturdy and durable. The boxes are great for just about anything, including clothing, paperwork, office supplies, craft supplies, and anything needing to be stored.

Before and After Pictures

The floor on my side of our master closet was a huge mess. I had bags of unfinished projects or supplies that needed to be put away, boxes of clothes, and other misc things. I moved the boxes to the basement and used a large Bankers Box to store my projects in. It is definitely more organized and looks much better.

The bookshelves in the office were a larger task. I focused on eliminating the canvas storage bins and the clutter in the corner between the bookshelves.

The bookshelves look empty and bare now, but at least the bins are gone. I have a good reason to go shopping and find some decor for the shelves though! I’m excited that I am one step closer to my office re-design.

Fellowes Bankers Box ‘Messiest Closet’ Contest

Don’t forget about the Fellowes Bankers Box Messiest Closet contest on their Facebook Page. Submit a photo of your closet and get votes (‘likes’) to win a consultation with a professional organizer and up to $500 in free Bankers Box Stackable Storage Products. Five second place winners will also win $500 worth of products. Contest ends April 28th. Enter now.

“I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Fellowes Bankers Boxes. I received product samples and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.”

Grant’s Farm has free admission, but if you want to park in their parking lot, there is a $12 parking fee (this helps cover maintaining the farm). When we first arrived, we could have visited the Clydesdale stables next to the parking lot, but it was pretty busy so we waited in line for the Tram. It was the second day it was open for the season and the weather was awesome. It seems a lot of other people had the same idea we did, so we did have a little bit of a wait.

The Tram goes through Deer Park where countless animals roam freely. You never know what is going to be out, but it is likely you will spot some animals from all over the world such as such as bison, Black Buck Antelope, Buffalo, Deer and more.

This was a big hit with the kids because the animals can get extremely close to the Tram. This horse was very close and we had a buffalo even closer on the other side. It was a nice relaxing ride to the back of the farm where all the activities are.

Besides all the close encounters with the animals, there are a lot of different things to do Grant’s Farm for kids of all ages and adults. We caught the end of the Elephant Education show while walking around which runs a few times throughout the day.

When were waiting in line to get in, I noticed a sign for a Fun Pass they offer. For just $5, you get a ticket to redeem 1 snow cone, 1 carousel ride, and 2 goat bottles. We didn’t jump on the deal because we weren’t sure what the boys wanted to do. Well, we ended up doing all three of them anyway. Next time we go, I will definitely be purchasing a couple of the passes.

When we went to feed the baby goats, they told us that they were all pretty full and most likely won’t eat anything, but we gave it a try anyway. My three-year-old was determined to find a goat that was hungry and he did. It was by far his favorite part of the day. After he was finished eating the bottle, he just wanted to sit with the baby goats.

Some of the other activities we didn’t get to do last weekend (there will be more trips to do them, so I am not worried about it):

• Camel Rides
• Feed the Llamas (they weren’t hungry)
• Visit the Clydesdale Stables
• Behind-the-Scenes Clydesdale Tours
• Animal Encounters Show

After eating lunch and all the activities, the boys were pretty exhausted, but they couldn’t let us leave without getting a snow cone first.

Adult Bonus: Since Grant’s Farm is owned and operated by Anheuser-Busch, adults over 21 can enjoy two complimentary Anheuser-Busch samples.

We can’t wait to go back this year and I hope if you are in the area you get to visit as well. For hours, maps and more information, visit GrantsFarms.com.

I was not financially compensated for this post. I was provided with free parking. All opinions expressed are 100% my own and I just wanted to share our fun trip and love for Grant’s Farm.