Securatrac

As you know I am very concerned about child safety. I am also concerned about privacy rights with some gps tracking devices. They can be used for good or evil. One good use can be as an amber alert gps tool.

Child safety is important. I founds some info from SecuraTrac:
"Every 40 seconds someone’s son or daughter is reported missing, totaling over 800,000 missing children in the United States each year. Whether you are in a crowded shopping mall, amusement park or even a neighborhood park, as a parent, turning around and not seeing your child induces instant panic and a sinking feeling in your stomach.

There are a few steps parents can take to help shorten the time it takes to locate their child should he or she ever go missing. The first step is to remain as calm as possible and other tips that can help include:

1.Teach your children to look for other moms or dads to ask for help if they ever get separated from you.

2.Practice memorizing last name, address, home phone and cell phone numbers with your children by turning them into a rhyme or pneumonic device so the child can recall it when they are scared.

3.Check around your home in places that would be easy to hide or places where young children might get trapped.

4.Keep a current photograph on hand.

5.Notify local law enforcement and the media and report where they were last seen, what they were wearing and other key pieces of identifying information.

6.Contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) on their toll-free telephone number: 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).

7.Consider renting or purchasing a GPS locator for gps tracking your child that can notify you if you child leaves home and allows them to send you an SOS message if they are in danger." It can be used as an amber alert gps tool. Check out SecuraTrac for more information.

Great news! Free shipping by using code pal08shipping. But hurry, it is expires August 31 2010.



This post contains affiliate links.

NEVER SHOUT NEVER - Harmony

NEVER SHOUT NEVER With nearly 1 million fans on Facebook and MySpace and over 1 million tracks sold in the US, alternative retro-pop band Never Shout Never is evoking excitement from even the most jaded teen with their debut album Harmony!

Harmony was just released this week and the band will be rocking living rooms across America with their appearance on The Jimmy Fallon Show next Friday.

As a Back-to-School gift, the band is delighting fans and getting the masses ready for their headlining VMA tour by making Harmony available for 50% off thru Saturday only at Target - just $7.99 (sale price available in stores only).

New NEVER SHOUT NEVER CD - 50% Off at Target thru Sat. 8/28 - $7.99 -
Your kids will think you're cool :)
Please note the deal is good in stores only thru this Sat. Aug. 28 - Just 3 more days!

This was posted for a chance to win a CD or a pair of tickets to their show through @One2OneNetwork.

10 Tips for Planning a Unique Baby Shower

Tiny Prints and TwitterMoms are teaming up with a fun new blogging program. I was to post about making a unique baby shower. I love baby showers. Everyone is so happy getting ready for the new arrival. Some ideas for a unique baby shower include:

1. You can get unique invitations for the shower, something that is more personalized than the regular, store bought kind. Tiny Prints has cute baby shower invitations.
2. If you know the name of the baby, you can put it on the cake and decorations.
3. Play some fun games. I like the seek and find game where you look for the baby related words.
4. Give away some good prizes to the winners.
5. Have each guest bring a pack of diapers. You could do that for the shower gift itself or in addition to the gift.
6. Pass around a notebook so all the women can write parenting words of wisdom. The mom will look at that many times in the future.
7. Serve foods that are the favorites of the mommy to be. Hopefully it won't be something expensive like lobster!
8. A diaper cake makes a cute centerpiece that is also a great gift! I love all of the diaper cakes that are available now.
9. You could serve drinks in baby bottles that the mom to be keeps.
10. Remember to take many pictures. She will want to remember the shower forever.



About Tiny Prints:

Tiny Prints helps you get together, keep in touch and share your love—one little card at a time. Tiny Prints was started in 2003 by three friends and a dream. With a shared a love of babies and an affinity for beautiful paper, they set out to create a stationery company that would offer the experience of a local boutique with the ease of an online retailer. Specializing in the celebration of all of life's special occasions, we're thrilled to offer a fresh selection of exclusive designs, from birth announcements and baby shower invitations to personal stationery and more, delivered with the best customer service you can find online or in stores.

Stop by the Tiny Prints Blog and follow them on Twitter @TinyPrints to discover news, trends and creative inspiration for social stationery, family celebrations and so much more!

More info: http://www.tinyprints.com/
Join Tiny Prints on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tinyprints
Follow Tiny Prints on Twitter: http://twitter.com/tinyprints

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Tiny Prints blogging program, making me eligible to get a Tiny Prints gift code worth $50, plus 25 FREE Tiny Prints greeting cards—a total gift value of $149.75! For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Flavorful Low-Sodium Family Meals

Everyone knows in the United States we eat too much salt. I try to serve meals with less salt, or at least I try not to add salt. Decreasing salt in your foods doesn't have to mean decreasing taste or making the food bland and boring. There are many ways to jazz up your meals without using a lot of salt. Whether you use tricks like "oven frying" instead of deep frying, sauteing in low-sodium chicken broth instead of oil, or incorporating fun herbs and spices, like Mrs. Dash salt-free seasoning blends into your dishes for extra flavor, you can make your family meals flavorful and appealing!

Mrs. Dash Low-Salt seasonings can help make food delicious, and you will never miss the salt. There are 15 flavors of Mrs. Dash® Salt-Free Seasoning Blends which add delicious taste to everything in your kitchen from seafood to salads, and always with no MSG. Each Mrs. Dash® Seasoning Blend adds unique flavor and is an all-natural blend of 14 natural herbs and spices.

I like Mrs. Dash® Fiesta Lime Seasoning Blend. you can mix 2 tsp. with a large diced tomato, medium mango and small red onion for Mango Salsa. Add to ground beef or chicken to make taco or burrito meat.

It is great for:
• Salsa
• Chicken
• Fish
• Shrimp
• Meats
• Fruits
• Tacos
• Guacamole



Fiesta Lime Fajitas
3 Tbsp. Mrs. Dash® Fiesta Lime Seasoning Blend
2 Tbsp oil, divided
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts or boneless beef sirloin, cut into 1/2 inch strips
1 medium onion, cut into thin strips
1 medium bell pepper (red and/or green), cut into thin strips
1/4 cup water
Directions:
1.Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet on medium-high heat. Add meat; cook for 3 minutes until no longer pink. Remove from skillet.
2.In the same skillet, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Add onion and bell pepper; cook 3 to 5 minutes.
3.Return meat to skillet. Stir in water and Fiesta Lime Seasoning. Cook for 3 minutes until heated through.
4.Spoon into warm tortillas. Serve with toppings, if desired.


Fruity Spinach Salad Recipe
The perfect picnic pick that helps with the recommended daily allowance of 4 – 5 cups of fruits and vegetables. This sweet-yet-savory salad brings together fresh strawberries, kiwi and slivered almonds that’s light and flavorful. Toss with the homemade dressing, flavored with Mrs. Dash® Lemon Pepper Seasoning Blend.
Ingredients:
Salad
1/3 lb. (165g) spinach leaves, washed
1/2 pt. (240mL) fresh strawberries, sliced
1 kiwi, sliced
1 Tbsp. (15mL) slivered almonds
Dressing
1 tsp. (5mL) Mrs. Dash® Lemon Pepper
1 Tbsp. (15mL) SugarTwin® Granulated White
2 Tbsp. (30mL) vegetable oil
2 Tbsp. (30mL) rice vinegar
Directions:
1.Place salad ingredients in attractive bowl.
2.Make dressing by mixing remaining ingredients together.
3.Toss spinach with dressing and serve immediately.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the Mrs. Dash and TwitterMoms blogging program for a chance to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Healthy Smiles

This was my list of five simple things you can do for your child to help keep their smiles healthy and bright
1. Make it a routine to brush their teeth
2. Lead by example
3. Use rewards like stars
4. Let them pick out their toothbrush
5. Praise them

About Trident® Sugar Free Gum
Trident gum has long been a pioneer in providing oral health benefits to consumers. Trident was the first gum brand of its kind to undergo testing in 1967 with studies showing that people who chewed Trident experienced significantly fewer cavities. Trident is available in 11 great-tasting flavors: Original Flavor, Bubble Gum, Spearmint, Tropical Twist, Watermelon Twist, Wild Blueberry Twist, Minty Sweet Twist, Passionberry Twist, Wintergreen, Strawberry Twist and Cinnamon. All flavors can be purchased in 18-piece packs and 54-piece multi-packs (three 18-piece packages).

About Smiles Across America® (SAA)
SAA is a signature program created by Oral Health America, a national non-profit organization dedicated to changing lives by connecting communities with resources to increase access to care, education and advocacy around oral health. SAA improves the health of elementary school students by supporting oral disease prevention services in school-based or school-linked settings, and demonstrating to communities that healthy mouths are integral to overall health. For more information, visit http://www.oralhealthamerica.org.

Chewing Trident sugar free gum for 20 minutes after a meal can help fight cavities. Xylitol, a sugar free sweetener in Trident, has been shown to loosen plaque. Trident is available in 11 great flavors so kids have lots to choose from!

More tips include:
Brush: Remind children to brush their teeth at least twice a day for two minutes each time, using no more than a pea-size amount of fluoride toothpaste.
Eat: Nutritious foods are an important part of keeping children’s smiles healthy and their teeth strong.
Floss: Have children gently floss once a day to remove food that can get stuck between their teeth and sticky plaque that forms on their teeth. Brushing alone cannot reach all of the surfaces on a tooth.
Avoid: Try to avoid overindulging in sticky and sugary foods. When kids do have a special treat, make sure they brush and floss afterwards.
Routine: Remember to get regular dental check-ups. Have them visit a dentist twice a year to make sure that they are taking good care of their teeth and gums.

You can get coupons for Trident gum.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Trident blogging program, making me eligible to get a $25 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Five Favorite Family Time Ideas

It is important to spend time together as a family. Some of the things we like to do together are the following:

1. Family game night
2. Family movie night at home
3. Go swimming together
4. Go to the library together
5. Go to a movie together

My son loves legos, and he has been asking for Ramses Pyramid. Legos has ten new games.

1) Monster 4: Night has fallen in the graveyard and the monsters have come out to play with the skeletons. The first to get four of their monsters in a row wins. But keep an eye out for the spider jumping in and scaring you off! A clever and exciting game for 2-4 players.

2) Lava Dragon: Prove you are the bravest knight of all by being the first one to summon the dragon from the top of the volcano. Avoid the lava and block your opponents as you climb to victory. With the LEGO® Dice no two games of Lava Dragon are ever the same. For 2-4 players.

3) Pirate Code: Who can be the most sneaky pirate of them all? Guess the other players’ secret codes before they discover yours and become the pirate captain. A game of logic and luck, secrets and treasures for 2 to 4 players.

4) Minotaurus: The mighty Minotaur, a mythical creature, protects a secret temple hidden deep inside a labyrinth. Be the first to lead your heroes to the temple, avoiding the Minotaur and cleverly placing walls to block your opponents. Clear and simple rules make this game great fun for the whole family. For 2-4 players.

5) Creationary: Test your imagination, creativity, building and guessing skills! Roll the LEGO® Dice to select one of four exciting building categories: vehicles, buildings, nature or things. With three levels of difficulty you can show off your building skills, while the others guess what you are creating. A great game for family and friends to test your imagination, creativity, building and guessing skills to the max. For 3-8 players.

6) Harry Potter™ Hogwarts™: Between the moving staircases and secret passages at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, it can be tricky to find your way around. Be the first to successfully navigate the magical castle to collect all your homework items and get back to your common room! A fun and challenging family game for 2–4 players.

7) Magikus: Be the first to cast the magic spell in the cauldron! With the help of the owl you must be the first to collect the four special ingredients from the shelves. Steal ingredients from your opponents to slow them down and help you win the game. A simple yet extremely engaging game for 2-4 players.

8) Race 3000: Do you have what it takes to cross the finish line first and win the trophy? Use shortcuts, overtake or turbo boost past your opponents to get in front and change lanes to avoid the oil slicks in your way. The LEGO® Dice brings a new twist on a classic racing game for 2-4 players.

9) Robo Champ: There is a contest at the robot factory. The first to build a robot with all the correct color parts will win this year’s trophy and be named the Robo Champ. If someone takes a part you need, you may have to steal it back to achieve victory. A fast and fun game to play again and again for 2-3 players.

10) Ramses Pyramid: The Mummy King Ramses is planning on conquering all of Egypt with his army of mummies! Unlock the crystal coded layers to climb to the top of the pyramid and defeat the Mummy King, taking his crown and the treasures s within. A family game of memory, skill and cunning. Complete against each other or take on the Mummy King together! Created in cooperation with Reiner Knizia, a multi award-winning game designer. For 2-4 players.

You can see more about their new games here.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and LEGO blogging program, making me eligible to get a prize pack. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Twitter Hop

How it Works
1.Follow all 4 hosts & guest host blogs 1 -5
2.Add your Twitter URL (not your blog url or giveaways)
3.Snag the new button to use in a post about the Simple Sunday Twitter Hop
4.Follow as many people as you would like & follow everyone back that follows you :)

Go to one of the 4 host blogs (1-4) to get the button code and more information.

Amazon Free Movie Ticket

Amazon is having a good deal if you buy any one of 56 listed movies between July 6, 2010 and September 6, 2010 you will receive a promotional code which you can redeem for a certificate valid for $10 admission to see the movie Eat Pray Love, Salt, or The Other Guys.

Some of the movies include: Steel Magnolias ($6.49)
Talladega Nights - The Ballad of Ricky Bobby ($8.49)
Casino Royale (2-Disc Widescreen Edition)($8.49)
Made of Honor ($7.99)

See what else qualifies for the Free Movie Ticket.

Athenos B1G1F Coupon

Buy one get one free Athenos feta cheese coupon available. You need to fan on facebook. You can print it twice.

Simple Sunday Twitter Hop

How it Works
1.Follow all 4 hosts & guest host blogs 1 -5
2.Add your Twitter URL (not your blog url or giveaways)
3.Snag the new button to use in a post about the Simple Sunday Twitter Hop
4.Follow as many people as you would like & follow everyone back that follows you :)

Go to one of the 4 host blogs (1-4) to get the button code and more information.

U*neaks Review and Giveaway

U*neaks are kids shoes with windows and socks with fun and fashionable designs, so that you can change the look of your shoes by changing your socks. The socks are double sided, so that you get two appearances from each pair of socks by simply switching your socks from one foot to the other. Pair the shoes and socks to unleash your imagination, match your mood and express your style.



I was given the opportunity to review U*neaks shoes and socks. They generously sent me a pair of shoes for my son and 3 pairs of socks. My son absolutely loved them! The shoes are cute and durable. They have several selections of cute socks to choose from and they appeared to be well made also.

You can get U*neaks online and at several retailers.
Now you can get free shipping on orders of $20 or more at Uneaks.com!

The great people at U*neaks have agreed to send one lucky reader a pair of shoes and 2 pairs of socks of their choice!

To enter go to the U*neaks website and pick your favorite shoe style and 2 sock styles that you want to win, and leave them as a comment. Please, leave your email address, so I can contact the winner.

Bonus entries: (Leave an extra comment for each)
1. Follow this blog
2. Subscribe to this blog
3. Subscribe to my new blog Saving Simplified.
4. Leave a comment on any post on Saving Simplified for 2 entries. (Please leave 2 comments here.)
5. Follow me on twitter and leave your user name (@donnak4)
6. Put my button on your bog and leave the link.
7. Tweet about the contest and leave your user name or link.
Here is one you can use:

Win a pair of U*neaks and 2 pairs of socks. Kids love them!
http://tinyurl.com/25bnxpo #Giveaway

This is for US residents and ends 8/28/2010 at 11:59 CST.

I received shoes and socks for my review. No compensation was received.

Cystex Review and Giveaway

Cranberries have long played a role in helping many women, particularly those with recurring urinary tract infections (UTIs), to promote better bladder health. In fact, some 50 percent of women report drinking a lot of cranberry juice when they suspect they have a UTI, according to a survey conducted for Cystex. But drinking eight glasses of cranberry juice is not enjoyable or tolerable, and can be loaded with sugar and calories. A clinically-proven alternative is just one tablespoon of new Cystex Liquid Cranberry Complex with Proantinox taken daily to promote urinary tract health, which can benefit millions of women most susceptible to recurring, painful urinary tract infections

Cystex® Liquid Cranberry Complex combines the health benefit of eight glasses of cranberry juice in its unique, convenient, pleasant-tasting Proantinox® cranberry formula. More than just cranberry concentrate, its proprietary blend also contains D-Mannose, inulin, bromelain, and vitamin C, a combination designed to boost bladder health. One tablespoon, taken daily to promote urinary tract health, can benefit millions of women most susceptible to recurring, painful urinary tract infections.

Cystex Liquid Cranberry Complex uses the proprietary, clinically-proven Proantinox formula, which contains:
•Natural cranberry concentrate: disables the cell structure of E. coli by inhibiting their ability to adhere to the wall of the urinary tract
•D-Mannose (active ingredient from cranberries): to increase bacterial anti-adherence effect. E. coli bacteria adhere to the D-Mannose forming a compound that is expelled with urine
•Bromelain (from pineapple): a natural anti-inflammatory that may increase antibiotic effectiveness plus digests protein
•Vitamin C (ascorbic acid): to help maintain adequate urine acidity, which helps create a less tolerable environment for E. coli bacteria
•FOS (inulin): a prebiotic that stimulates the growth of bifidobacteria in the colon and reduces the number of E. coli – feeds healthy bacteria

I received a bottle of Cystex to review. The taste was fine. It didn't taste like a medicine. I am lucky that UTI's are not much of a problem for me, but I a going to give it to a family member who needs it.

The good new is the makers of Cystex have agreed to a giveaway. They will send one winner a bottle of cystex just like the one I received. To enter go to the Cystex website and tell me something you learned. Please, remember to leave your email address.

Bonus entries: (Leave an extra comment for each)
1. Follow this blog
2. Subscribe to this blog
3. Subscribe to my new blog Saving Simplified.
4. Leave a comment on any post on Saving Simplified for 2 entries. (Please leave 2 comments here.)
5. Follow me on twitter and leave your user name (@donnak4)
6. Tweet about the contest and leave your user name or link.
Here is one you can use:

Win a bottle of the new Cystex Liquid Cranberry Complex with Proantinox for UTIs.
http://tinyurl.com/nxrwvo #GIVEAWAY

This is for US residents and ends 8/27/2010 at 11:59 CST.

I received a bottle of Cystex for my review. No compensation was received.

Blog Copy

Blog Copy is a tool designed to monitor which texts and images readers copy from your blog. It does not copy entire posts or blogs. It traces the copy actions and analyses user retention and engagement, generating detailed statistics based on user behavior. None of the data that BlogCopy monitors can be used to uniquely identify an individual user. Use it to understand which keywords attract more users, but especially to eliminate what hasn't raised anyone's attention. Thanks to their copy-pasting of your content, you can now generate more visits and page views just by taking a look at what exactly they copied from your blog. Then just simply give them more of that.

To install you simply create an account on Blog Copy,then get the code snippet and insert it inside the HTML of your website. Then you can get your BlogCopy stats on your dashboard. The stats are updated near real-time. You can track multiple domains in a single account.

I just installed it on my blog. The great news is it is FREE!

This is a sponsored post.

Digene HPV test

Cervical cancer can easily be prevented. Its cause is known: the human papillomavirus (HPV). Today, technologies are available to test for the cancer-causing types of HPV and determine if you may be at risk.

• THE PAP TEST looks at a sample of cells taken from a woman's cervix for any cell changes or abnormalities.

• THE HPV TEST is conducted from the same sample as the Pap and identifies women with high-risk HPV infections that can cause cervical cancer. When used with a Pap in women 30 and older, the HPV test increases the ability to identify who is at risk of developing cervical cancer.

If you are age 30 or older, ask your doctor for the digene HPV Test together with your Pap test.

• If one or both tests come back abnormal, this doesn’t necessarily mean you have cervical cancer. It simply enables your doctor to monitor you more closely or treat pre-cancerous cells before cervical cancer develops.

Educational materials and insurance information can be found at www.theHPVTest.com.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of the QIAGEN digene HPV test. Mom Central also sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Good Deals

SAM-e Review and Giveaway

Nature Made SAM-e Complete recently launched called “Give a Smile”. They are working with Dream Factory, the second largest children’s wish-granting organization in the U.S., to grant the wishes of three children suffering from a critical or chronic illness. Through this campaign SAM-e will donate to a child’s wish for every social action people complete (like uploading an image to their mosaic). The more actions, the more SAM-e will donate. You can find out more about the program using the link above and learn how your actions lead to SAM-e donations!

Do you occasionally feel down? I learned that as we get older our bodies start making less SAM-e, a naturally occurring compound, which ultimately works to maintain a balanced mood. Nature Made SAM-e Complete helps replenish your body's natural levels of SAM-e and when taken daily it can begin to help naturally restore a healthy mood in as little as 7 to 14 days.

I recently was given the opportunity to try SAM-e by Nature Made. Since I haven't been taking it very long, I haven't noticed much difference yet. But I am hopeful that it will help since I was sent a 3 month supply. On the SAM-e website there is interesting information about mood and SAM-e.

You can win a 3 month supply of SAM-e along with a Nature Made aluminum water bottle and mood journal. To enter go to the Sam-e website and tell me something you learned. Please, remember to leave your email address.

Bonus entries: (Leave an extra comment for each)
1. Follow this blog
2. Subscribe to this blog
3. Subscribe to my new blog Saving Simplified.
4. Leave a comment on any post on Saving Simplified for 2 entries. (Please leave 2 comments here.)
5. Follow me on twitter and leave your user name (@donnak4)
6. Tweet about the contest and leave your user name or link.
Here is one you can use:

Win a SAM-e prize pack. http://tinyurl.com/2fv3cgb

This is for US residents and ends 8/25/2010 at 11:59 CST.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Nature Made and received products necessary to facilitate my candid review.

Review of My Talisman

I am very interested in Russian culture and language since my son as born there. I try to learn things to teach my son about his birth culture. Recently I was given the opportunity to review My Talisman: The Poetry & Life of Alexander Pushkin (English and Russian Edition) by Julian Lowenfeld.

I felt it was an excellent bilingual book (English and Russian). Prior to this I was not familiar with Pushkin's works. The introduction gives interesting information on the role of Pushkin in the Russian literary world and Russian society. The book is also beautifully illustrated with Pushkin's drawings.

It would be great for anyone interested in Russian language or culture. I would definitely recommend it.

I received a copy of the book for my review. I received no compensation, and the opinions are my own.

Winner of Cheerios Do What You Love Giveaway

The winner of the Cheerios do what you love giveaway is ohstac.

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:

207 Timestamp: 2010-08-07 05:14:00 UTC


ohstac said
tweet
http://twitter.com/ohstac/status/19916645433

An email has been sent to the winner. Congrats. Thank you for entering.

DIY Craft Using Colgate Toothpaste Tubes

TerraCycle Toothpaste Tube Toothbrush Holder
Upcycle your toothpaste tubes into this fresh bathroom caddy
By: Tiffany Threadgould

Looking for a refreshing alternative to throwing away your toothpaste tubes? This easy do-it-yourself project upcycles your empty tubes into a simple toothbrush holder. Upcycling materials like these are a great way to reuse without costing a mint.

Materials:
5 empty toothpaste tubes
scissors
ruler
clear tape
hole punch
ribbon or plastic lanyard
binder clips

Instructions:

1. Collect five Colgate® toothpaste tubes. Clean them by cutting off the bottom and slipping your scissors into the side seam. Flatten them out and clean with soap and water.

2. Cut four tubes to 3 ½” x 4 ½” and one tube into a 3 ½” x 3 ½” square. Fold down the top ½” of the four rectangular tubes and tape.

3. Take one of the four rectangles and punch holes every ½” along the two tall sides and along the short bottom side that is not folded. Use this punched piece as a template and punch holes in the exact same spots on the other three rectangular pieces.

4. To punch the small square piece, line up the short punched side of the rectangle piece with any side of the short piece. Repeat punching holes for the other three sides of the square using the short side of the rectangular piece as a template.

5. Then punch two holes near the center of the square. This will be the bottom of the container and the holes will be for drainage.

6. Match up two large pieces and lace up one side tying it off at the top and bottom. Open it up. On one of the non-laced ends, attach to the next rectangular piece in the same way with the printed sides facing out. Repeat for each additional rectangular piece. When you’ve laced all four pieces, connect the two end pieces together and lace creating a cube with your pieces.

7. Match up the square piece with the bottom of the container. Use binder clips to hold it in place. Lace around the bottom of the container and tie it off. You’re ready to put your upcycled toothbrush holder into action.

Tip: This toothbrush holder can also double as a pencil holder!

If you have completed this project and still have more toothpaste tubes and other oral care products to upcycle, be sure to sign up for the TerraCycle (http://www.blogger.com/www.terracycle.net) oral care brigade and send them in. These items will be transformed into new products, and better yet, your collection will earn money for your favorite charity!

Colgate is offering a bunch of money saving coupons on theColgate website.

I posted this as part of the TerraCycle's Blogger Club to enter a contest.

Twitter Hop Thursday

Freebies

On facebook you can get a FREE sample of Redken Time Reset products.

Free pledge from Right At Home

FREE OB Tampons sample pack

On facebook get a free sample of Eucerin Daily Skin Balance.

Free box of Better Oats Oatmeal

BOGO printable coupon Nescafe Taster's Choice Stick Variety Pack

Tips for Back to School

Well, it is getting close....the first day of school. My children are both glad and sad. The are glad because they missed their friends and can't wait to see them, but they are sad because they can't sleep in. :) Here are some tips for getting ready for back to school:

1. Start getting on schedule. My kids love to stay up late and sleep late. At least 2 weeks before school starts, I start getting them up a little earlier everyday. Even doing that 6:30 is TOO early!

2. Get school supplies. Look for the sales. I found 10 packs of pencils for 9 cents, a free backpack, free pens, and many more deals. The key is to check the ads in the Sunday paper and to only buy when you get a good deal. And when you find a good deal-stock up!

3. Get clothes for school. Again look for deals. Amazon.com is having a back to school clothing sale now. I bought several things there.

4. Work on some skills. It is normal for kids to get a little "rusty" on their skills in the summer. It is a good idea to get them back into the school/thinking/learning mindset before the go back. We have been working on math facts with division facts cards. They have been doing some school assigned summer reading also.

5. Buy healthy foods for lunches. I have been tying to get more organic products and less processed foods.

HarperCollins has several books for back to school including:
Rules for School
Kindergarten Diary
There's No Place Like School
One Smart Cookie

Don’t forget to share these important back-to-school tips with your children:
Get enough sleep each night.
Eat a healthy breakfast each morning.
Always go to school prepared. It might help to pick out your school outfit, pack your lunch, and organize your backpack the night before so there’s no rushing the next morning.
If you don’t understand something, always ask your teacher.
Try your best at everything you do.
Smile!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms blogging program to be eligible to get a HarperCollins book set. For more information on how you can participate, click here.