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Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Babies coming soon...


The adventure of a lifetime begins…
Directed by award-winning filmmaker Thomas Balmès, from an original idea by producer Alain Chabat, Babies simultaneously follows four babies around the world – from birth to first steps. The children are, respectively, in order of on-screen introduction: Ponijao, who lives with her family near Opuwo, Namibia; Bayarjargal, who resides with his family in Mongolia, near Bayanchandmani; Mari, who lives with her family in Tokyo, Japan; and Hattie, who resides with her family in the United States, in San Francisco.

Re-defining the nonfiction art form, Babies joyfully captures on film the earliest stages of the journey of humanity that are at once unique and universal to us all.

A Focus Features presentation of a Chez Wam/StudioCanal co-production with the participation of Canal +. Babies. Executive Producers, TBC Productions, Chez Wam. Original Idea, Alain Chabat. Adapted by Thomas Balmès. Edited by Craig McKay, A.C.E., Reynald Bertrand. Produced by Alain Chabat, Amandine Billot, Christine Rouxel. Music by Bruno Coulais. Directed by Thomas Balmès. A Focus Features Release.

In theatres Mother's Day Weekend, May 7th.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Giveaways Galore...this week around the web

A K Blessings Monday Moments with Starbucks Frappuccino Light Giveaway/!4/12

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Tropicana Juicy Rewards-Redeeming Points

Collecting Tropicana Juicy points has been easy. Now let see how easy it is to redeem the points.
I logged into my account. I searched for a reward. For our Spring Break vacation we decided we would be in San Marcos, TX. So I narrowed my searched by zip code. Then I narrowed my search by activity. Theme Parks and Zoos, then Amazing discounts for admission at amusement and water parks! There were 106 matches. We knew exatcly what we wanted to do so I searched for our destination.
And this is what I found:

20% Off Admissions
Wonder World
Enjoy an ongoing 20% off the regular price of any ADMISSIONS - maximum discount $25.00
Redemption Instructions
1.To redeem this reward click Get Reward in order to print the coupon offer.
2.Points will automatically be deducted from your account and the coupon offer will print upon confirming that you have a working printer.
3.In order to receive your discount, you must present a printed coupon at the specific venue upon arrival

So I printed my coupon. Remember you must redeem it within 14 days, so don't print it out to early.
We arrived to Wonder World and it was so easy to use the coupon. We handed it to the cashier and he took it. We received 20% from our total. We did not have any problems with the coupons. It was so easy to use. We had a blast, and saved money.


Tropicana Juicy Rewards

I know you have been hearing the buzz about Tropicana Juicy Rewards. As a Tropicana Juicy Ambassador I feel I must give you further details on the how tos.

How to Join?
Easy, just register at Tropicana Juicy Rewards.

Enter codes?
Then enter codes to get points

Redeem and Get Rewards?
Search for rewards. Enter a search criteria. By zip code, reward type, by state, etc..

You can also enter sweeptakes while you are there.

The more points you have, the more things you can enjoy. Now what are you waiting for. Enter your codes now. I will tell you that i found codes in the Sunday paper with my Tropicana coupon.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Great Wolf Lodge-Magiquest experience review

Again I would like to thank my sponsor the the wonderful stay at Great Wolf Lodge. I will disclose that I was not compensated in monetary ways for these posts, tweets, or mentions. The stay was complimentary but my opinions and those of my family are ours and true. With that said, welcome to the Magiquest.

MagiQuest
Slaying a dragon? Helping the Pixie restore her magic? It's all part of MagiQuest, a one-of-a-kind, live-action adventure game. Armed with high-tech wands, your family must solve magical challenges throughout the resort to gain powers (and points) and move to higher levels of the game. Wand - $14.99 Game - $9.99


We bought the boys two magical wands, a game each, $90 bucks later they were on their adventure to go.
My thoughts-You know when you go somewhere and kids want what others have. Well that was always me. My parents did not have money to go around to all of us or for all of us to get something so nobody got anything. SO when we got to the lodge, we saw the kids with their wands running around. We wondered what they were doing. It was dumb of us to wait until Sunday to get their wands as they cost so much. We went to the Magiquest store and bought their wands. The boys both wanted dragon toppers which were additional. Then we went to pay for their wands and found out, that that was an additional fee. $90 later, both boys had a wand and an adventure good for many days, except we were leaving in a couple of hours. The adventure was fun for all. You go around the lodge and find clues. You complete adventures ad you go. The boys loved it. As do all the kids running around. There were some adults on the quest themselves. All in all, it was fun.

Horizon Organic Milk Plus DHA Omega-3 Review and giveaway


Horizon Organic Milk Plus DHA Omega-3 was a hit with my family. My family loves milk. Especially chocolate milk. I use milk in my shakes after coming home from the gym from my workouts. We had not ever tried organic milk. The milk was easy to find in the milk aisle. I arrived home and poured it in cups for the family to try. They all loved it and could not taste anything weird or different. There is always that misconception that something being organic might not taste good or might taste weird. After reading the nutritional facts and organic facts I was glad that my family loved it.

Organic facts-
Since 1991, Horizon™ has produced wholesome and delicious organic dairy products. Horizon Organic® products are produced without antibiotics, pesticides or cloning, from cows not given added growth hormones. You can feel good knowing our products:

• Carry the USDA certified organic seal
• Are produced in partnership with nearly 500 family farms
• Help convert more land to earth-friendly organic agriculture
• Support kindness to animals and the environment

DHA Omega-3 facts-
DHA belongs to a category of healthy fatty acids known as Omega-3's. Found
in high concentrations in the tissues of the brain and eye, DHA Omega-3 is
thought to help support healthy function in these areas. DHA has also been
shown to help support heart health.
DHA provides a nutritional boost for children's growing minds and bodies.
Children's brains grow incredibly fast. In fact, the brain nearly quadruples
in the first five years of life.
DHA is a key structural component of the brain, yet many young children
don't get their recommended daily amount of DHA as it is found in a limited
number of food sources.
Horizon Organic Milk Plus DHA Omega-3 is fortified with a natural, 100
percent vegetarian and sustainable source of DHA - a safe, wholesome,
delicious way to bring more of this important nutrient into your family's
diet.
Visit http://www.horizonorganicdha.com/ to learn more!

Flavored Milk is a Nutrient-Rich Beverage
·Flavored milk provides the same nine essential nutrients as
unflavored milk (calcium, potassium, phosphorous, protein, vitamins A, D,
B12, Riboflavin and niacin), and can help kids meet their calcium
requirements.
·Flavored milk consumers did not have higher total fat or calorie
intakes than non milk consumers
Kids Love the Taste of Flavored Milk
·According to 2005 USDA data, 66% of the milk chosen by children in
schools is flavored

Chocolate Milk is an Effective Post-Exercise Recovery Beverage
·A 2006 study showed that low fat milk was as effective at
post-exercise rehydration as sports drinks
·Because of the natural carb:pro ratio in flavored milks, low fat
chocolate milk is an effective post-exercise recovery beverage.
oThe appropriate carb:pro ratio for improving endurance performance is
about 4:1 However, effective ranges can vary from 2:1 and up to 5:1.
·Consuming carbohydrate and protein post workout has been shown to:
oEnhance muscle glycogen formation
oPromote a hormonal environment that encourages muscle growth
oPromote muscle protein production
oMay lessen immune-suppressive effects due of intense exercise

All this information and all nutritional information were provided by theHorizon web page.

Would you like to try Horizon Organic Milk Plus DHA Omega-3?

Two winners will each receive 4 total coupons (2 coupons would be for a free half gallon of the Horizon Organic lowfat Chocolate Milk with DHA Omega-3 and 2 coupons for $1 off a half gallon of the same milk.)

Here is how to enter:

1) Tell me why you would like to try Horizon Organic Milk Plus DHA Omega-3. (1 entry)
2) Fan Horizon on facebook. Leave your name. (1 entry)
3) Use the store locator and tell me what store you will use your coupons at. (1 entry)
4) Follow me on blogger. (1 entry)
5) Follow me on twitter. (1 entry)
6) Fan me on facebook. (1 entry)
7) Follow me on network blogs. (1 entry)
8) Tweet as many times as you like. ( 1 entry per tweet)

2 winners will be selected. This giveaway ends on April 8, 2010 at midnight. Please leave an email address to be contacted at. Winners will have 24 hours to claim their prize. Thank you and good luck.

Disclosure-
I was directly contacted to do a review and giveaway on my blog. I was provided with coupons for free products in order to do my review. The information used on this review came from The Horizon web page and/or was provided with my materials. I did not receive any compensation for this review. All opinions are Independentmami's opinions.

Great Wolf Lodge-Water Park Experience Review

The water park is part of your stay at the lodge. It is open from 9 am - 9 pm. It is indoors. Let me stop right there to tell you, I have been to an indoors park before and this beats that experience by far.
When you register at the front desk for your stay at Great Wolf Lodge you are given a band that gives you access to the park. There are two types of bands, on can be your room key. How cool is that. You don't need to worry about carrying anything to the water park because it can all stay at the room.

Make your way downstairs to the water park. As you enter, there are attendants that will assist you, if needed. They will also make sure that the kiddos are safe. How you ask? They measure all kids by height on their chart. then they are given different bands by height for their safety. It also lets employees know where they kids can be and not be. As you enter, you feel the warmness of the water park. A wonderful 84 degrees temperature. If you need a towel, they are provided for you right at the entrance. Grab one or two. The water park is so kid friendly. Your kids no matter how little or big they are will have something to do. If you have little ones and want to relax, you can. Relax pool side, dip your feet in the water. Sit in the kids hot tubs with the kiddos. Infants and toddlers have a section of their own. Everything is their size and water level. There are life guards present everywhere. Whether you head over to the wave pool, the big slide, the relaxing creek, hot tubs, or just are sitting and watching this place is great. I did mention it is indoors. So no matter what the weather is like outside, it is perfect indoors. A water park indoors with everything you need. If you need a snack or a drink, head on over to the snack bar. We grab a snack. I had a chicken grilled salad and it was good. My boys had chili cheese fries. They do have a bar for the adults which we did have some of those too.

We hit the water park when we first got there. Then we went to go check in, and check out the lodge. The boys loved that even though it was late in the day on Saturday, there were able to get back in and stay in the water park until it was closing at 9 pm. On Sunday morning, we hit the water park all over again.

Great Wolf Lodge-lodge experience Review

First I want to start by thanking my sponsor Great Wolf Lodge and the staffers who made our experience a great one. A couple of weeks ago as you know I was selected as one of the lucky moms from Houston to go to Great Wolf Lodge with their family. I had heard of Great Wolf Lodge but never knew how close one really was. For those of you who do not know, there is a Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, TX. It is only a few hours away from Houston. What a great place it is. If you are looking to take the family on a small get-a-way, this is the place for you. With only a few hours to drive, it is the perfect vacation spot for small or big families. I love the lodge look and feel. I felt like was out in the woods somewhere but I was not. It is a great place that makes you forget where you really are.
The weekend we went there was showers in the forecast. Don't we hate rain, and the nasty driving weather it brings and causes. I don't know about you, but I hate driving in the rain much less vacation in the rain. Rain ruins it all. But it did not ruin our weekend get-a-way. While it was cold and rainy outside we where in the warm lodge.
They have so many room options to choose from. We were given the Family Suite. The Family Suite has 2 queen size beds and a semi-private living room area with a sleeper bed. The boys hung out there playing and watching tv while we got some rest on the comfy beds. The rooms also have a microwave, and refrigerator. As we walked in we noticed a lot of people with coolers.
Great Wolf Lodge is the place to go and stay. You don't need to leave anywhere. There is a Starbucks right inside. Need a pedicure and spa day, take the girls to Scoops Spa. Kids want to play arcade games, go downstairs and you are there. Need a snack grab some Pizza Hut. Or do you want to have a sit down meal with the family at the Loose Moose. We went to the Loose Moose for a wonderful complimentary breakfast thanks to our sponsor. The breakfast is a buffet of food. If you want something special head on over to the put an order area. Place your order and they will make it for you. They even have a kids buffet. It is just their size with just the food they like. My son is a picky eater and he even went for seconds. We had wonderful waiters, and waitress that came by to check on everyone. Not just us, I notice them having conversations with the guests as they were so happy to serve them. I had never met such nicer staff than here.
A fitness room is available, which I used. Great equipment. A gift shop. And so much more, I can just go on and on about this place. If you are thinking of going on a vacation with the family or a get-a-way this is the place to go. I did not forget to mention the water park. The water park is available to all guest. And it is open from 9 am to 9 pm. Sunday-Saturday. Check out my water park review for more details.....

Monday, March 22, 2010

Wii Fit @ K-Mart

I have Wii Fit and I love it. The entire family uses it. It is great for entertainment and loosing weight. I received this information to pass along to you, my readers. If any of you have thought about purchasing, check this out...

From Wii Fit to the latest video games, everyone’s talking about the Nintendo Wii gaming system! Now, Kmart is providing my readers even more value to help you get the Wii experience at home by offering video game enthusiasts a $25 Kmart gift card when you purchase a Nintendo Wii in-store or at Kmart.com for a limited time.

From Sun., March 21 until Sat., March 27, Kmart shoppers will receive the $25 gift card offer. Whether they are purchasing Nintendo Wii for the first time, buying a second console for downstairs or getting a great gift for their soon-to-be grads, your readers will receive this added bonus that can be used towards the purchase of a Wii game or accessory to start playing right away for the must-have gaming console.

Please keep in mind that the offer is only valid for a limited time, so you need to act fast. For more information:

www.kmart.com

Disclosure-No compensation was received for this post.

Friday, March 19, 2010

Disney on Ice Presents Let's Celebrate-coupon code



Moms can enter the pass code: MOM to purchase four tickets for $44 to Disney on Ice. (Not Valid on VIP Dining, VIP Floor Seats, or VIP tickets. Service, handling, and facility fees may apply. This offer is only valid on www.ticketmaster.com.

Click here for a direct link to purchase.

I did not receive any compensation for this post. I am only passing along information for the coupon code.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

BuZZeD DrivinG- St Patty's Day




So I don't have to lecture you on how dangerous it is to drink and drive, but I will tell you to drink responsibly. In a couple of days, some of us will be drinking beers, green beers. Celebrating St Patty's Day.

Did you know that in 2008, 1,179 people in other vehicles were killed in crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers.

To learn more about the impact buzzed driving can have on a life, please watch this important video about the financial and personal repercussions of getting a DUI:
http://buzzeddriving.adcouncil.org/sign.php#video


Take the pledge today. I just did. It is our responsibility to make these choices before it is too late. There are so many things that can go wrong when you are impaired. Be safe on the streets. Protect your loved ones, and ask them not to drink and drive as well. We all can make a difference, if we all just spread the word. Be a designated driver, get a cab, call a friend, but don't get on the streets.

Remember: Buzzed Driving IS Drunk Driving. Plan ahead and ask your loved ones to do the same.

For more information, visit Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving on Facebook and Twitter (@Buzzeddriving).

All information was provided by Global Influence (I'm a proud member) and
http://buzzeddriving.adcouncil.org/

Friday, March 12, 2010

Giveaway-LOCA LOBA

Do you love smoothies? Check out this great giveaway @localoba is having...

Get you Yoplait Smoothie & blender right here @localoba

Thursday, March 11, 2010

2010 Census, count us in



I sure by now you have seen the commercials or ad for the 2010 census. The census is very important so that we get the services we need in our areas. Here in Houston we have so many people who have moved here because of Hurricane Katrina, and Hurricane Ike. We have so many homes going up in neighborhoods all around us. The population is getting bigger and bigger. We need to do our part by filling out the census. It is so easy to fill out. Trust me, I worked for the census 10 years ago. I did the final stage of the census going home to home for all those that did not fill it out. So many people don't know how the census can actually help their neighborhood get services, more school, representation, and etc. When I visited homes people were reluctant to open their doors but soon enough they found out that the knonk on their door could have been prevented by filling out the census form. Get counted, fill your form. We always complain about not getting help or services, here is when we need to do something. It is important that we teach or kids about the census. They count too. Remember schools, and programs can come to your neighborhoods when everyone is counted.

Need help talking to your kids, get Dora the Explorer to help. All this information came from the 2010 census. There are fact sheets and more information.

Children Count Too! United States Census 2010

Dora reminds you to include all little explorers in the 2010 Census!Children have been under counted in every census since the first one in 1790. Please remember to include all your children when you complete the 2010 Census form.
What is the U.S. census?
Every 10 years, the government reports the number of people who live in the United States by conducting a count called the census. This count is required by the U.S. Constitution.
Who should be counted? Everyone—even babies!All infants, children and adults who live in a household should be counted, regardless of nationality, citizenshipstatus, race, age or gender. If you have a baby or toddler in your household, remember to include them in the count.
Why is the census important? Census data are used to determine the number of representatives your state receives in the U.S.Congress, in the state legislature. The data are also used to distribute more than $400 billion in federal funds each year to communities for establishing and improving schools, hospitals, roads and senior services.

Hace 10 anos, yo ayude a hacer una differencia en mi cuidad. El census es una forma que se llena cada diez anos que ayuda el govierno mandar mas servicios a lugares que lo necesitan. No tenga miedo en llenar la forma. Yo trabaje para el censo y tube que ir de casa en casa explicar la forma, ayudar a llenar la forma, y colectar las formas que nunca se llenaron. Recuerde que esta forma es solo para el uso de el censo no para otro departamento. Necesitamos ser contados para porder tener los servicios que necesitas. Tambien es importante ensenarle a los ninos del censo. Ellos son el futuro. Esta forma ayi a hacer mas escuelas a donde se necesitan mas. No llenas la forma, y no seras contado. Pero si llenas la forma, seras contado.
Los Niños También Cuentan! United States Censo 2010

¡Dora te recuerda que debes incluir a todos los pequeños explorado resen el Censo del2010! Los niños no se han contado correctamente en cada censo desde el primero en el1790. Por favor, recuerde incluir a todos sus niños al completar el cuestionario del Censo del 2010.
¿Qué es el Censos de los Estados Unidos? Cada 10 años, el gobierno reporta el número de personas que vivenen los Estados Unidos llevando acabounconteo llamado censo. Este conteo es requerido por la Constitución de los Estados Unidos.
¿Quién debe ser contado?
¡Todo el mundo, incluyendo a los bebés! Todos los bebés,niños y adultos que viven en un hogar deben ser contados, independientemente de la nacionalidad, ciudadanía, raza, edad o sexo. Si usted tiene un bebé o niño pequeño en su hogar, recuerde incluir lo en el conteo.
¿Porqué es importante el censo?
Los datos delcenso se utilizan para determinar el número de representantes que le corresponden a su estado en el Congreso de los Estados Unidos, a sí como la representación de su comunidad en la legislatura esta tal. Los datos también se utilizan para distribuir más de $400 mil millones en fondos federal es cada año a las comunidades para establecer y mejorar las escuelas, los hospitales, las carreteras y los servicios para ancianos.

Si necesita mas information, 2010 census esta llena de informacion para toda la familia..

Around the web -giveaways

Check out Night Owl Mama's giveaways-
Sassy Bathtub Toys 3/19
Tropical Traditions Organic Foaming Hand Wash 3/19
Leap Frog Math Adventures to the Moon Dvd 3/20
Exergen Temporal Scanner3/20
Flexi-8 Hair Accesories 3/24

Mommy Mandy giveaways-
GelPro Spot Mat 3/24
A K Blessings Abound giveaways-
Mirra 3/24

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

My Cadillac Escalade Experience and Review


First I want to THANK Chevrolet, GM, Event Solutions, and Great Wolf Lodge for this wonderful experience.
The Cadillac Escalade is top of the line. I felt like a queen on the road. It is a vehicle that looks nice and is even nicer to drive. Smooth riding wherever you go. Especially a long or short roadtrip. It is great for a big family or small. It has so much room, and it is convertible. You can fold the seats and get more space.

Some of my favorite features-
Heated Steering Wheel
IntelliBeam Headlamps (We discovered these as they turned on, on their own. Now that is great. I don't need to worry about my lights being on or off. They come on automatically.)
Power-release Fold-and-tumble Second-row Seats (Remember roomy for space or seating)
Power Tilt/Sliding Sunroof (On a nice Spring, Summer, or sunny day)
Side Blind Zone Alert5 (OMG....seriously one of my favorite features. Have you ever almost hit a car because of this dumb blindside, or you almost haven't gotten hit. This was great. It lights up on the mirrors and lets you know. STOP, dont go. A car is too close.)
Rear-Seat Entertainment System - In-dash DVD with Roof-Mounted Flip-down 8" Diagonal Screen, Two 2-channel Wireless Headphones, Auxiliary Audio/Video Jacks, Remote Game Plug-in &
Rear-Seat Entertainment System - Two 7" Diagonal DVD Screens Integrated Into the Back of the Front Head Restraints (So there were 3 tvs on this vehicle. Some people don't even have that many in their house. You didn't even hear a peep from the kids in the back, only when we stopped and the dvds stop playing were there complaints.)
Electrochromic, Automatic-dimming Rearview Mirror (You don't know how much this is really needed until someone beams you in the rearview mirror with their bright lights. Or have you ever had someone driving behind you so close and their lights on in your face in your mirror and they are blinding you?)
Power-Retractable Running Boards (I'm short. I hate having to jump, hop, pull myself up into big vehicles. On the Escalade when the door opens, the running boards come out. And I just stepped down. So easy)
Heated and Cooled Cupholders (Another OMG...how many times have you been sitting in traffic and your drink is cold or vice versa? I sit in an hour of traffic every morning and every afternoon, I need this. It was perfect for our roadtrip. Our drinks were perfect temperature.)
Dual Zone Climate Control (Must I say it again, OMG. My fiancee is always HOT. SO the ac always has to be on freezing. Well I am not, and I have to freeze. On roadtrips, I always have a blanket. The Escalade has us set to the correct temperature all trip long. I had it on nice and warm and he had it on cool.)
Rear Parking Assist (Ok, I'm a girl. And most people think girls are bad drivers. I think they are wrong. We just dont have assistance. The Escalade beeped letting me know when I was too close. Warning, warning stop dont keep going. Everyone needs this feature.)


When it comes to safety, OnStar is the best-
OnStar Automatic Crash Response
OnStar Stolen Vehicle Assistance
OnStar Remote Door Unlock
OnStar Emergency Services
OnStar Roadside Assistance
OnStar Hands-Free Calling
OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics

I love OnStar. One push and you get a person who can guide you anywhere you want. Who doesn't need that? We used it all trip long to find the nearest gas station, restrooms, and restaurants. We used to find our way to our destinations. The operators were so nice. They automatically sent the directions to the vehicle. So even though this vehicle has a navigational system, you dont have to be technology savvy to use it. Hit OnStar, tell them where you want to go, they send it to your vehicle, and you keep going.

I could list every feature because I really love it all. Some features fall under features I like and safety features as well. We want to be safe in the vehicles we drive. We spend so much time in our vehicles on a day to day basis.

The weather was good on our way on the roadtrip. But during the roadtrip and on the way back, it was nasty rain. The drive was still smooth. Once again I want to thank Chevrolet and GM from everyone in my family.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Ragú® Recipe for a Good Start


Do you worry about what your kids eat? Do you think your kids are getting enough veggies? Growing up my brothers were picky eaters. And did not like veggies or fruits. When I had my son I made it a point to incorporate veggies into his meals. So I was happy when I found out the Ragú® red sauces contain more than a full serving of veggies in every half cup of sauce. I love making using Ragú®.

Check this new contest out:

Ragú® is teaming up with actress and mom Molly Ringwald to promote the Recipe for a Good Start Contest asking moms to share their recipes for a good start for a chance to win a $5,000 college scholarship. By visiting www.recipeforagoodstart.com, you'll have a chance to submit your recipe for a good start in life and your original Ragú® recipe that has the family running to the dinner table! Three first prize winners will be awarded a family trip to New York City where they will compete in a nationally televised Ragú® Recipe Challenge for the chance to win the ultimate prize of a $5,000 college scholarship.

So let's review, go to www.recipeforagoodstart.com. Fill in your entry and you could be a winner. It is really easy to enter.


Disclosure:
I was entered for a chance to win a Ragú® family package in exchange for this post. No monetary exchange took place.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Progress Report Month #2

Ok so I am a little late on my progress report for this month but I have been so busy. I finished my 21 day program on MyFitFoods. I lost a total of 9 lbs on the program. I have continued to purchase the food to eat for lunch and dinner Monday-Friday. My 21 day program finished Valentine's weekend and it was just in time too. We had such a great weekend planned. We even went to dinner and I did not feel guilty because I ordered healthy. I ate dessert but I felt I deserved it after all the hardwork I had done. At the end of this February I have officially lost 22lbs. Yes 22 lbs. I don't even know how to feel but I know I have worked for every pound lost. I have lost so much weight that my engagement ring is lose.
Life sometimes pushes you, but you need to push back. And at times it just seems like you are stuck but keep going. In the end the results will come.
Starting the month of March, I continue to look to my final goal. This month my schedule looks like this:

Sunday-no workouts, ab belt (45-60mins), cook at home
Monday-Friday-1 hr in the fitness center, 1 hr classes with trainers
(Kick Boxing, Cardio Mix, Yoga, abs, etc...)I have started strength training with the weights too. Ab belt to finish when I return home.

And just to give you a heads up I have already lost 2 lbs this first week of March.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Great Wolf Lodge-we have arrived


First I want to thank Chevy and Great Wolf Lodge for the wonderful opportunity that they have given to my family. Chevy/GM delivered a 2010 Cadillac Escalade for us to drive to Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, TX. Great Wolf Lodge is giving us a free night stay that also gives us access to the waterpark.

This morning we woke up at 4:30 am to get started on our road trip. You know waking up after staying up late until 1:30 a.m. is no joke. As we got ready to load up the Cadillac Escalade, we grab all our things and got on the road. The Cadillac Escalade has 3 road seating which we did not need, but when you put the seats down we get more room for all the luggage. And yes, 1 night stay and we packed that much stuff. We never get out as you can. The kids got their headsets on, and 2 different movies were put on. I got the passenger side, pulled in my phone to charge so I could tweet. We placed our drinks in the cup holders that can chill or warm your drinks. Set our seat preferences, temperature preferences, got the navigation ready, and got on the road.



We are here...... Ok so we just got here and I have to give you a glance at what is going on here. Let me show you what we arrived to.



Thursday, March 4, 2010

Thanks Chevy and GM

I have been invited to a wonderful event sponsored by Great Wolf Lodge, Grapevine, TX and Chevy. As many of you know, I am a Chevy girl. Our dog's name is Chevy Rolet Garza. My first car was a Chevy Blazer '00. My fiancee drives a Chevy Impala '00. My dream car is a Chevy Corvette. (One day) So we love Chevy vehicles. So when I was offered the opportunity to drive a Chevy vehicle to Great Wolf Lodge I did not hesitate to say YES. Earlier this week I found out the vehicle that was going to be delivered.


2010 Escalade Hybrid 6.0L V8 RWD Hybrid Platinum

This morning we had our Cadillac Escalade delivered to us. Thank you so much to Chevy and GM for allowing us to drive this vehicle and experience a Hybrid vehicle with OnStar, Navigation, Bluetooth, and much, much more....



If it was not enough, there was a goodie bag inside the vehicle for us to enjoy on our road trip. What is a road trip without snacks? Thanks to Chevy/GM for the wonderful goodie bag filled with snacks. Not only are there snacks but there is entertainment for the kiddos. Check out all the goodies....


I will be posting our experience all weekend long. Stay tuned Part 2-Experiencing the Cadillac Escalade coming soon

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Around the web...Giveaways

MamaLatina Tips ümbral Yoga opinión y sorteo / ümbral Yoga review and giveaway 3/5

I am a Tropicana Juicy Insider Ambassador


I encourage you to sign up for the Juicy Rewards Program. Immediately after registering use the code MOMCE-NTRAL to receive 1 free point right from the start!

You can use these points to redeem for discounts, and savings on things you already need, purchase or do. We are going on vacation for spring break and I have a week of activities already planned. One of the places we are visiting is Wonder World in San Marcos, TX.

I can use my Tropicana Juicy Rewards.

Check out this great deal....
20% Off Admissions
Wonder World
Enjoy an ongoing 20% off the regular price of any ADMISSIONS - maximum discount $25.00
Redemption Instructions
To redeem this reward click Get Reward in order to print the coupon offer.
Points will automatically be deducted from your account and the coupon offer will print upon confirming that you have a working printer.
In order to receive your discount, you must present a printed coupon at the specific venue upon arrival.

It is so easy to use. So what are you waiting for, join now and start saving.




Disclosure-
I wrote this review while participating in the Tropicana Juicy Insiders Ambassador program by Mom Central on behalf of Tropicana. I will receive 12 free Juicy Rewards points and a $50 Visa gift card to use in redemption of the points and to facilitate my review.

RADIO DISNEY AM 1590 HOUSTON ROCKS HLS&R

I just received this press release and wanted to share. I love the Rodeo. It is one thing we look forward to as a family every year. Here in Houston we have Go Texan day and everyone dresses up in their best cowboy/cowgirl gear. Well everyone in the Rodeo spirit. I have been doing this since I was little. In 2nd grade I even won best dressed cowgirl. the tradition has passed on down to my son. I take him to the rodeo every year. They have so many events from the livestock show to the concerts. The Rodeo BBQ cook off was this weekend. It was alot of fun!

Radio Disney is a kids radio station that we listen to as a family. Check out their press release.....

March 3, 2010
RADIO DISNEY AM 1590 HOUSTON ROCKS THE
HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO BEGINNING MARCH 3 AT THE KIDS COUNTRY STAGE

Listener from San Francisco Wins Chance to Join
Radio Disney’s Ernie D. for Selena Gomez & Justin Bieber Concert

Radio Disney AM 1590 Houston presents a special family-friendly show at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3 – SUNDAY, MARCH 21 (excluding March 5 & 14), from 1:00-3:00p.m. The Radio Disney AM 1590 Road Crew will entertain at the outdoor Kids Country Stage twice daily with exciting prizes, games, and your favorite Radio Disney hits.

The Radio Disney Road Crew will have a special show on Sunday, March 7, to gear up for the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato concert, and again on Sunday, March 21, to get listeners pumped up for the Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber concert.

As the Grand Prize winner of Radio Disney’s “Celebrate Houston” Sweepstakes, listener Anand S. from San Francisco will travel to Houston with his family to experience one of Houston’s premiere events first-hand. The lucky eight-year-old winner will also attend the Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber concert on Sunday, March 21 and receive $500 to shop at Rodeo Town.

The 2010 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo runs March 2-21, 2010, at the Reliant Center (1 Reliant Park, Houston, Texas). The Show is a Section 501(c)(3) charity dedicated to benefiting youth, supporting education, and facilitating better agricultural practices through exhibitions and presentation. Since its beginning in 1932, the Show has committed more than $235 million to the youth of Texas. For more information regarding the Radio Disney AM 1590 stage show go to www.RadioDisney.com/Houston. For information on the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo visit www.rodeohouston.com.

Radio Disney is the #1, 24-hour radio network devoted to kids, tweens and families. Kids help pick the music that is played and are encouraged to interact via a toll-free phone line to the Radio Disney studio. The network's current playlist, driven by listener requests and representing major record labels, includes recording artists Miley Cyrus, Jonas Brothers, Taylor Swift, Demi Lovato, Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez and Mitchel Musso. The network is available on over 40 terrestrial radio stations and is also available via RadioDisney.com, Sirius and XM satellite radio, iTunes Radio Tuner, XM/DIRECTV, mobile phones and on the Radio Disney iPhone App

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

100% Colombian Coffee "See What's Behind the Best" Contest

What is the one thing you have in the morning that you cannot live without? The one thing that wakes you up. Coffee, a good cup of coffee can do so much! I grew up seeing my mom wake up early around 4 am to drink her cup of coffee. She said growing up since she was little, breakfast=coffee.


Well whether you drink coffee or not, you will want to read more when I tell you, you could win $10,000. I have your attention now.

Visit www.whatsbehindthebest.com, where you'll have the opportunity to learn about the philosophy behind 100% Colombian Coffee and enter to win great prizes. The grand prize is $10,000!

You can also meet Juan Valdez and his mule, Conchita and taste 100% Colombian Coffee - the richest coffee in the world. The tour starts March 2nd in New York City. Go online now.....


I entered and it was so easy to enter. Name, phone number, email, and zip code. That was it. Remember there will be weekly prizes, not just the grand prize.

Information was provided by 100% Colombian Coffee and MomSelect.

"There's No Better Deal" flat screen television contest

Here is another great contest you might want to enter:


“There’s NoBetterDeal” Contest - Enter to Win a 32” TV!Come join us in celebrating the Twitter Meme we started in December (“There’s #NoBetterDeal Than____”) and you could win a 32” Television from NoBetterDeal.com!

Let us know what falls under a “NoBetterDeal” for you, and we’ll show you the best deals on the internet! There’s NoBetterDeal than that! Just fill out the form below, and we’ll handle the rest.

Want an extra entry? We hoped so – all you have to do is get your creative juices flowing and put your idea in the form of an image or video! Once you get your multimedia witticisms uploaded, point us in the right direction on the entry form so we’ll know it’s yours. Simply enter the URL in the "Address to Your Media" field.

That’s not all:

JOIN US ON MARCH 12TH AT 9PM EST AS WE HOST ANOTHER #NOBETTERDEAL TWITTER PARTY! Show off your wit to the #NoBetterDeal online community AND be entered for even more prizes!

Examples:

theres #nobetterdeal than coming home to bacon/eggs…at 9pm!” – Twitter User
There’s #nobetterdeal than Lisa! Luvyou!” – Twitter User (awww)
Theres #nobetterdeal than the one I just gave the [Unnamed Retail Clothing Store]…$85 for jeans????” – Ironic Twitter User
You could also win a Nintendo Wii!!

For more details and to enter click here
NoBetterDeal.com

Information was provided by Global Influence. Links and details provided from NoBetterDeal.com

Monday, March 1, 2010

Wisk® Launches its Pimp My Laundry Room℠ Contest


Check out this new contest brought to by Wisk......

If there is one chore that Moms are familiar with, it's laundry. For many of us, it's a daily occurrence that gives new meaning to the phrase "spin cycle!" That's why it's not surprising that laundry rooms are among the most frequented areas of the house for Mom....unfortunately, they tend to also be some of the most uninspired rooms in the home when it comes to design. Luckily, Wisk® Laundry Detergent understands and wants to help!

If your laundry room is plain and boring or a downright dungeon, you just might be in desperate need of a laundry room makeover. Wisk® Laundry Detergent is teaming up with TV's Designing Spaces to pimp-out one laundry room in dire need of a face-lift as part of the Wisk® Pimp My Laundry Room video contest.

Just enter a short video from March 1 to March 29, 2010 at www.LaundryHE.com explaining why you deserve a laundry room makeover and Wisk® could be on your doorstep with their partners-in-design, Whirlpool's DreamLaundry® Solutions team led by Bill Thomas and Emily Johnston, owner of the interior design firm EJ Interiors and founder of Materials Girls Blog. Together, they'll take your laundry room from drab to fab in no time thanks to a laundry room makeover complete with a new Whirlpool® High Efficiency (HE) washer/dryer set and a year's worth of Wisk® HE Laundry Detergent. Even better, she'll get to star in her very own episode of Designing Spaces!


The top Finalists will be featured on LaundryHE.com from April 12 - 19 and the Grand Prize Winner will be chosen by popular ballot so be sure to get your friends and family online and voting! Even better, a vote is an automatic entry to a sweepstakes for a year's supply of Wisk HE Laundry Detergent.

So go online and enter....LaundryHE.com

Information was provided by BSM Media/MomSelect and Wisk. I am a proud member of MomSelect. I am partnering with BSM Media for a Wisk contest with product giveaway

Uprinting Business Card winner..



Business Card Giveaway

Giveaway Prize:

500 Business Cards for One (1) Winner

Sizes: 2 x 3.5”, 2 x 3”, 2 x 2” (square card) or 1.5 x 3.5” (skinny card)

Paper: 14 pt gloss cardstock, 14 pt matte cardstock or 13 pt recycled uncoated cardstock

Specifications: Full Color Both Sides; Offset Press; 3 Business Day Printing

Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping

Eligibility: Limited to US Residents only


aggie said...
I would use these to promote my blog.
gavagana@yahoo.com

February 21, 2010 6:08 PM

Aggie is the winner of the business cards. Thank you to everyone who entered.