The winner of the HalloweenCostumes.com Giveaway is….
AMY D.
Congratulations Amy and I hope you enjoy your costume! (Winner has been contacted and confirmed)
Posts Written OnOctober 2012
Fog Machine & HalloweenCostumes.com Review & Giveaway
Not only do I love fall, but I love Halloween. We have been getting our two and three year old sons pumped up for Halloween and they are getting super excited. We’ve been decorating, doing crafts, and baking treats. This year my husband and I have decided to have a Halloween party and we’ve been on the hunt for party supplies. One thing we didn’t have was a fog machine. While browsing HalloweenCostumes.com, I found a 400W Fog Machine that seemed perfect for any party and especially a Halloween Party. I also had to get a quart of Liquid Fog to run the machine.
The fog machine has basic instructions that are easy to follow. I simply poured the liquid into the designated reservoir and plugged it in. As instructed, I waited for the red light to come on and switch the machine to on. It soon released fog into the room. After a minute or so, it shuts off and ‘rests’ before releasing more fog. It continues to cycle until it runs out of liquid or is switched off and/or unplugged. The 400W Fog Machine create 2,000 cubic feet of fog per minute. I let it cycle for 3 or 4 times and it was pretty foggy in my house. The kids definitely enjoyed it. It will certainly be a great addition to our Halloween party this year and can be used for other parties throughout the year. I did find that the machine does get pretty warm, so one should use caution when around it and picking it up after using it.
About HalloweenCostumes.com:
HalloweenCostumes.com is one of the largest retailers online for Halloween costumes. They have hundreds of costumes, with something for everyone. Their site is easy to navigate, browse categories, or search for something specific. Not only do they have costumes, you can also find accessories and Halloween Decor. Stay connected for the latest updates and become a fan on Facebook, Follow @funcostumes on Twitter, and Pinterest.
Win it!
HalloweenCostumes.com is giving one lucky Nifty Mom reader a costume (or decor) of their choice up to $40. Entering is simple using the Rafflecopter form below.
No purchase necessary to enter. The giveaway is open to US residents only, 18+ and giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST October 17th, 2012. Winner will be selected via random.org and contact by email. The winner has 48 hours to reply to confirm their prize or a new winner will be picked. Sponsor is responsible for shipping the prize to the winner, not Nifty Mom. If you have any issues entering or have any questions, please email me at contact (at) niftymom(dot)com.
GOOD LUCK!
**GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED**
Disclosure – I received the named product at no cost to conduct this review and was in no other way compensated. All opinions expressed are 100% mine.
‘Start Simple, Start Right’ with Kellogg’s Cereals
Some mornings I need to get breakfast on the table as quickly as possible. Not because we are in a hurry or have somewhere to be. But because when my sons are hungry, they become very impatient and think that food should just appear in front of them instantly. Trust me, listening to a 2 year old and 3 year old competing to be the loudest one to say ‘Mom.Breakfast’ over and over, while a 9 month old is beating on his tray trying to be heard over his brothers isn’t always the most pleasant way to start a morning. When I need something quick, I love to turn to cereal. Not only can I get it on the table within minutes, but there area lot of healthy options.
We normally keep at least 5 different cereal boxes in our pantry. Not only is it a great breakfast choice, it is also a healthy snack. When my husband gives my sons their evening snack, he typically give them cereal and sits down to enjoy a bowl with them. Most of the cereals we eat are Kellogg’s. It is a brand I grew up with and a brand I will always trust. They have a little something for everyone. Some of the healthy wholesome cereals we have been eating thanks to Kellogg’s:
- Kellogg’s Raisin Bran
- Kellogg’s All Bran
- Kellogg’s Corn Flakes
- Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Original
- Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Gluten Free
My sons are both a fan of Rice Krispies. They love the ‘snap, crackle, pop’ and they even enjoyed the Gluten Free one. I have also been a huge fan of Corn Flakes. I decided to share some with my sons to let them try it out. My two year old said ‘Mmmm, Yummy’ while rubbing his belly. I would say that is a sign of approval from him! My husband’s favorite is the Raisin Bran (and one of my other favorites). We really enjoyed all the Kellogg’s cereals and it is comforting as a Mom to know my family is eating a healthy breakfast (or snack).
All the above cereals are made with seven ingredients or less, plus vitamins and minerals, and all start with just a single grain. This is Kellogg’s Seed-to-Spoon approach. In just a few steps, all the cereals go from being a single grain, to being the cereal we all enjoy. I just love seeing how simple the process is and knowing where the food I feed my family comes from.
Also, you can see just how each cereal goes from being a simple grain to the cereal in your bowl in the follow videos.
Be sure to check out Kellogg’s ‘Start Simple, Start Right’ website for more information on the simple grain cereals. I know after learning about their Seed-to-Spoon process, I will start paying more attention to the ingredients in all the cereals I purchase.
“I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Kellogg’s. I received sample products to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item as a thank-you for participating.”
October 13 Lowes Free Kids Workshop – Ghoul Bus
Lowe’s offers a great ‘Build and Grow’ Clinic for kids every few weeks. This Saturday, October 13th at 10am the kids will be building a Ghoul Bus to get into the Halloween spirit.
The first 50 to register and be present at the store will receive the kit, an apron, and goggles. the recommended ages is 1st-5th grade.
For more information, store locations, and preregistration visit Lowe’s Build And Grow here. They also have fun activities, kits you can purchase and family projects.
The First Years Compass B570 Pathway Booster Car Seat {Review}
When you become a Mom, keeping your kids safe becomes a priority. With three little ones, I am constantly having to child-proof cabinets and drawers, move things out of their reach, and buy the latest safety products. When it comes to car safety, we have been on the hunt for a new booster seat for our three year old. He is outgrowing his convertible car seat and we wanted a booster seat that would last for long time. After weeks of searching with no luck, I was introduced to the Compass B570 Booster Car Seat by The First Years.
After the box arrived, my husband installed the seat into our vehicle immediately (he’s very impatient) while I finished reading up on all the features and settings. When my husband returned inside quickly, I thought something was wrong. There was no way he installed it already. He always has a difficult time securing car seats (shhh, don’t tell him I said that). Nope, I was wrong. He was finished installing it! The booster seat installation was easy with the lower latch anchor attachments. The back is also self-adjusting, creating the perfect fit for any type of seat. I am still in shock it was that easy.
Time to test it out. When Ethan saw his new car seat, he was thrilled. It was something new and it was more of a ‘big boy’ seat to set him apart from his two year old brother. When I buckled him up, I could easily adjust the shoulder belt (up to 1.5″) and the lap belt to fit him comfortably. The first thing he did was play with the arm rests, moving them up and down and up and down. As he was doing that, he noticed the cup holders on each side. I think besides the comfort, this is his favorite feature. They are removable, which is good for me because I can easily take them out and clean them by running them through the dishwasher. He loves them because he can have his cup in one, and he removes the other one and holds snacks in it.
Some other features I love:
Five-star “Ease of Use” government rating from NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)I know next year when my two year old turns three, I will definitely be purchasing another one. He already tries sitting in it, but his brother makes sure that doesn’t happen. Ethan and I are very happy with the First Years booster seat and I highly recommend it.
Purchase the Compass B570 Pathway Booster Car Seat for just $99.99 at local retailers (find a location near you) or on Amazon.com (currently on sale for just $85).
Learn more about The First Years products at thefirstyears.com. For the latest information and updates, follow them on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook, and subscribe to their YouTube Channel.
Disclosure – I received the named product at no cost to conduct this review and was in no other way compensated. All opinions expressed are 100% mine.
Understanding Health Insurance Open Enrollment
Before I was a Stay-at-Home Mom, I was an Office Manager. I remember each year being responsible for informing employees about open enrollment and answering any questions they had regarding their health insurance benefits. However, I normally didn’t get many questions or changes in plans. Employees were typically only worried about the amount that was coming out of their paycheck rather than the coverage they were getting. This can be a costly mistake and Aflac conducted the 2012 Open Enrollment Survey of the Aflac WorkForces Report to learn more about open enrollment and employee benefits.
What is Open Enrollment?
Open enrollment is the period that companies hold to allow employees to enroll in or change their current health benefits. It only occurs once a year, typically in the fall, and last for only a week or two. The choices you make can not be changed for the whole year, until the next open enrollment period, so it is extremely important to understand the process and your options.
What are Common Mistakes During Open Enrollment?
Aflac found that only 16% of workers are confident they are NOT making mistakes during the open enrollment process. That is such a low percentage! Some common mistakes found:
- Members are on auto pilot and aren’t aware of the options
- 61% of employees surveyed were not aware of changes to their policies
- 89% simply pick the same level of benefits each year
- Only 16% contribute the right amount into their flex spending account
What’s the Big Deal?
Choosing the wrong coverage can be very costly. The cost of coverage and out-of-pocket expenses are on the rise and employees are frequently worrying about unanticipated medical expenses. 24% of survey respondents say they have the wrong coverage and benefit options. With that and other benefit mistakes, over 56% believe they are wasting up to $750 a year! That is a lot of money wasted due to mistakes and lack of knowledge.
What Can You Do?
To get the most out of open enrollment and reduce your chances of wasting money on benefits, I recommend following a few suggestions.
- Review your healthcare costs from previous years to estimate an average cost to expect for the following year.
- Ask questions. Become knowledgeable about your current plan and the other options you have.
- Do not set up your insurance on auto pilot. This way you aren’t automatically choosing the same coverage each year.
- Become aware of and changes to your current plan.
- Follow @Aflac on Twitter for tips on benefits, coverage, and open enrollment.
For more information on the 2012 Open Enrollment Survey of the Aflac WorkForces Report, view the infographic and visit AflacWorkForcesReport.com.
“I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Aflac and received a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.”
Old Navy – $15 Fleece Coats (Reg $25-45) Today 10/6 ONLY
Old Navy is having one of there famous 1 Day Wonder Sales today! Get fleece coats for only $15 each in-store or online. There is a limit of 5 per customer while supplies last. I am getting one for the whole family today!