When I first started Nifty Mom a couple years ago, I initially just wanted to share great deals and coupons. Then, I started to meet fellow bloggers, networking, and getting more involved in the blogosphere. Last year, with three kids under three, it was getting more and more difficult to constantly post deals and coupons throughout the day, so I s-l-o-w-l-y started to do more reviews, recipes, activities and other non-coupon posts. My goal was to become more of a lifestyle blogger and put the ‘nifty’ more into my site. Then in September, a fellow blogger posted in a Facebook group that Social Fabric was open for new members. Since I have only heard good things about them, I figured it couldn’t hurt to apply. To my surprise, I got accepted and was welcomed with arms wide open.
Around here, we are all huge fans of baseball. Tickets are on sale, spring training is in full swing, opening day is right around the corner, and today, PlayStation released MLB 13 The Show. To celebrate the release, join me today for the #MLB13TheShow Twitter Party for your chance to win a Playstation 3 and a copy of the new game!
Date: Today, Tuesday, March 5th, 2013 Time: 3-4pm EST Hashtag: #MLB13TheShow TweetGrid:http://bit.ly/105Ez32 Moderator: @DadCentral Assistant Moderators: @MomCentral,@MomCentralChat Special Guest:@MLBTheShow Prizes:Pre-Party (see below) –Four winners will win a copy of MLB 13 The Show. During the Party –Six people will win a PlayStation 3 and a copy of MLB 13 The Show.
Pre-tweet to Win! Anyone who tweets this from now until the party starts will be eligible to win one of four copies of MLB 13 The Show!
We will be chatting about our love for baseball, the new Playstation game and all its new enhancements. For more information and giveaway rules, visit MomCentral.
I hope to ‘see’ you there today!
“I wrote this post to help promote Mom Central’s #MLB13TheShow Twitter Party. I received a promotional item as a thank you for my time. All opinions expressed are my own.”
Last week, I shared with you my quick tips for potty training and the start of the potty training journey with my two year old. So far things are going pretty well. We’ve had some struggles, but that is expected. Some days he doesn’t want to use the potty at all, but we work through it with patience. I know that each and every flush is a reason to celebrate. We like to celebrate each flush with an enthusiastic high five, but of course a big brother’s high-five is better than a Mom’s. His three year old brother has been encouraging him just as much as I have. I couldn’t be more proud of the two of them.
This week, I am proud to announce that I am a Pull-Ups ‘First Flush’ Ambassador! Over the next month I will share with you our progress, more potty training tips and more. I will also be hosting a Pull-Ups “Why Wait – Let’s Celebrate! First Flush Party” for my friends and their children in January.The party is sure to be full of fun and games.
Do you have a little one that is currently potty training or about to start? If so, you can apply to host your very own ‘First Flush’ party! If selected you will get a Party Pack that includes:
Engaging activities to get tots excited about starting potty training
Celebration party hats and noisemakers to cheer on potty training success
Exclusive Pull-Ups® Potty Training Fun Celebration App sticker
Pull-Ups® Training Pants for every Big Kid® at the party
Pull-Ups® coupon books
And more!
To apply, fill out the form on the Pull-Ups Facebook Page. Sign ups are only open until the end of the December. Don’t forget to visit Pull-Ups.com for potty training tips and resources.
“I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Pull-Ups. I received product samples to facilitate my review and to host a party. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.”
The holidays are a great time to visit friends and relatives, but holiday travel can be a hassle. Learn how to take the stress out of holiday travel by making these five considerations prior to embarking on a trip.
Avoid Illness
Traveling can expose you and your family to cold and flu germs, but being proactive about staying healthy while on the go can greatly reduce your risk of becoming ill this holiday season.
Stay hydrated and pack healthy snacks to take on a lengthy car trip or flight. Wash hands frequently, and be sure not to touch your face after touching a railing, seat back or anything else that someone who is ill could have touched.
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.
“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.”
One of my favorite things to eat are stuffed mushrooms. I love mushrooms. My family, they don’t enjoy them nearly as much. I have a 1 and 2 year old who are very picky when it comes to food, especially veggies. So I like to secretly add vegetables sauces, mixes, and other recipes. Sometimes I like to add cut up mushrooms in with hamburger meat and my toddlers never know the difference. Not only are they healthy for you, they’re also cheaper than meat. Since it’s hard to find a coupon for meat, substituting all or some of the meat in recipes with something cheaper is always a good way to save some money on your grocery bill.
From AllRecipes - Photographer AmberHorton
Instead of a hamburger, try a grilled portobella mushroom. Here’s a good one I like:
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
4 portobella mushroom caps
Heat the grill for medium heat. Mix all ingredients (besides the mushrooms). Place mushrooms stem side down over indirect heat for 5 minutes. Flip over and spread mixture onto them. Grill for another 15 minutes or so with the grill covered. Enjoy on a bun or alone.
This month is National Nutrition Month. The Mushroom Council, a group of U.S. mushroom growers, are celebrating this month and promoting mushrooms as a great way to “get your plate in shape”. Mushrooms have fewer calories than meats, and make for a great partner or substitute for ground beef because of it’s texture and flavor. The “swapability” with mushrooms is a very economical way to eat more nutritiously. As you will notice in the recipes above, you can chop mushrooms to blend them into meats, cook them the same as you would meats, and combine them to make a great mixture.
Did you know that mushrooms are the only fresh fruit or vegetable with vitamin D? Within the produce aisle, mushrooms are a leading source of the antioxidants selenium and ergothioneine; these antioxidants help maintain a healthy immune system. Mushrooms provide B vitamins, including riboflavin, niacin, and pantothenic acid; B vitamins help to provide energy by breaking down proteins, fats and carbohydrates.
Want to learn more?
Join the #Mushrooms Twitter Party on Monday, March 12th from 8-9pm EST. Learn more about the mushroom ‘swapability’, cooking techniques, and recipes. Chat and win great prizes. The event hashtag is #mushrooms. For more information and to RSVP, visit Resourceful Mommy.
See you there!
This is a sponsored post through Global Influence and I was compensated. All opinions expressed are 100% mine.
