Family * Travel * Food

$100 Walmart Gift Card Giveaway

Hello, everyone! I hope you had a great Mother's Day weekend. I am so excited to share the latest giveaway that is co-hosted by me along with 8 other fabulous bloggers. You can enter for the chance to win a $100 Walmart gift card. Think about how much you can do with this prize. Maybe you want to spruce up your garden, bathroom or kitchen? Perhaps simply stock up on groceries and household items. Think of all the fun possibilities! Enter below and good luck! 

Leave me a comment telling me how you would spend the Walmart gift card if you are the lucky winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
This giveaway starts May 10 at 12:00 AM EST and ends May 23 at 11:59 PM EST. USA, 18+. One winner will be randomly selected from all qualifying entries and contacted via the email they provide. The winner has 48 hours to respond. The winner will be announced after they have responded.
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What Rocco Thinks About The New TRU harvest® Treats For Dogs At Walmart

Sponsored post by Lunchbox. All opinions are my own.

If you are a dog parent, I'm sure your pup loves his/her treats. Our fur baby, Rocco, is very important to us and we give him the best we can. When it comes to treats, we go with healthier varieties that benefit him and not his waistline. There is a new premium line of treats available at Walmart called TRU harvest® with Ancient Grains. The Ancient Grains include: Barley, Spelt, and Quinoa. 

They come in varieties like:
  • Chewy Bars Chicken, Cheese, & Tomato Flavor
  • Wavy Strips Turkey & Pumpkin Flavor
  • Chewy Bars Turkey & Cranberry Flavor
  • Wavy Strips Turkey & Pumpkin Flavor

Sounds really healthy, but would a dog actually want to eat that? We tore open a bag of the Chewy Bars with turkey spelt, and quinoa. Rocco was very curious and snatched the Chewy bar out of my son's fingers and ran away to the other side of the yard to enjoy his treat. He didn't want anyone to get in the way of him and his delicious snack! He ran back over for more with those big puppy dog eyes. 


I always share treats with my neighbors' dogs and tossed over a couple of the Wavy Strips their way. Duke and Sherlock gobbled them up and look at what they did afterwards. Ha! They sat perfectly still in hopes of getting just one more. Of course, I indulged them. The loved their treats and since sharing with them, they take naps close to the fence on my side of the yard. You know, just in case I walk out with the treat bag. 

Look at Duke's tongue! 

The great benefits of TRU harvest® dog treats are:
  • These treats are made with Ancient Grains: Barley, Spelt, and Quinoa. Ancient grains are naturally low in fat and contain more nutrients than common grains.
  • The very first ingredient is REAL meat.
  • Treats contain NO corn, soy, wheat, artificial colors, artificial flavors or poultry by-products.
  • Each treat has either chicken or turkey as the primary meat source with a mixture of real fruits and vegetables, such as tomato, cranberry, sweet potato, pumpkin, and or carrot.
  • Wholesome goodness found in ancient grains that have been unchanged for millennia with a good source of lean protein as well.
  • Product is simply made.

You can feel good about feeding your dog TRU harvest® dog treats. You should let your dog try them out with this $1.00 off coupon from Walmart. My pup loves them so much and I'm glad we found a treat that is better for him. If you get these for your dog, let me know what he/she thinks, although I'm sure I already know the answer. Have a great week! 

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DIY Spoiled Pup 'Howliday' Gift #TreatThePups

Today's post is sponsored by Lunchbox

It is the holiday season and the days are going fast! Like me, you have probably finished all of your shopping or are hopefully close to it. The one family member we make certain to include is our dog, Rocco. He spends his days protecting our home and keeping me company during the day, so I make sure I treat him extra special during the holidays.

This year I wanted to give him the gift of treats and toys. I decided that instead of putting everything in a basket or bag, I'd use an inexpensive dog bed instead. What dog wouldn't love having an extra comfy space to lounge?


The thing I love most about this little DIY gift is that you don't have to have any special talent to do it. All you will need is a few toys, a blanket, a dog bed or basket, a glass jar, festive stickers, ribbon, and of course, TREATS! I used Rocco's favorites including: Milk-Bone, Pup-Peroni and Milo’s Kitchen from Walmart.


I found some cute chalkboard adhesive labels and snowflake stickers in the craft store to personalize a plain glass jar to keep treats in.  This would be a simple thing to do for the neighbor's dogs- just add treats and a festive ribbon. I used mini Milk-Bones in Rocco's jar because they are wholesome and delicious treats I feel good about giving. Isn't it cute?


I put all of the items together in the little dog bed and it really came together nicely. You see, you don't need to have any special talent to make a thoughtful gift for your dog. I used some festive ribbon to make the whole thing look holiday-ish. I'm pretty sure that Rocco will sniff these treats out when Christmas morning rolls around. Pup-Peroni is his top favorite and Real Meat is the #1 ingredient, along with a mouthwatering aroma that dogs simply can't resist. I like to get the 2-pound bag from Walmart so we have plenty on hand to share with the neighbor's dogs at the fence each day. 


You can get more great ideas and inspiration for DIY crafts you can make for your dog this holiday season. And don't forget to stock up on Milk-Bone, Pup-Peroni and Milo's Kitchen treats from Walmart. They are the perfect gift addition for any dog.

So how do you plan to #TreatThePups this year?
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Fun & Stylish new baby gear from Little Tikes® from Diono® #ad

If you are familiar with the brand Diono, you know that they are all about safety. They make premium car safety seats and travel items for babies and children. Introducing a new line of baby gear from Little Tikes from Diono that combines fun, safety and style. 

First up is the Sit & Play Bouncer 
This bouncer has such a fresh, modern look with bold color. It is unisex which I think is nice. Sometimes couples that are having a baby choose to not find out the gender of their baby until it is born so this would be a great choice as a gift. This bouncer will keep baby entertained with all of the fun features. It's always a plus that the cover is machine washable since babies have a tendency to spit up without warning. 

Next up is the super cute Cozy Coupe® Bouncer. It has many of the same features of the Sit & Play except for the fabric print inspired by the popular and iconic Cozy Coupe toy. Most children (including my own) have taken a "drive" on one of those fun coupes! 


Last, but not least, here is the Cozy Coupe® Doorway Jumper. How adorable is this? This would be the perfect addition to the matching bouncer. This doorway jumper is sure to provide entertainment for baby while encouraging exercise. It is easy to assemble and is great for travel. It retails for $49.99. 


It even has a play dashboard with steering wheel, music, horn, mirror and more. 
Additional features: 

Any of these items would make a great baby shower gift. My favorite is the Cozy Coupe Bouncer and Jumper. You can purchase them at Walmart or Babies R US. Prices range from $14-$54 and are suitable for ages newborn-4 years old. 

Be sure to connect with DionoUSA on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and YouTube for product updates and promotions. 

Disclosure: Items were received in exchange for sharing information on the newest baby gear from Diono. No additional compensation was received and all opinions are 100% mine as always. 
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Carmex Limited Edition Moisture Plus Collection (Review & Giveaway)

I have a confession. I am addicted to Carmex products. I apply it several times a day and haven't gone a day without it for at least 10 years. I keep them everywhere! I dare not wear my lip color without a couple swipes of Carmex lip balm on as a base. As a Carmex Blog Squad member, I was thrilled to receive the Limited Edition Moisture Plus Collection. I adore the super cute, feminine designs! 
What makes these Moisture Plus sticks even more fun is that they each have their own personality. If you go to www.mycarmex.com/uniquelyyou, you can take a quiz to find out what stick matches your style. Here is what I got from taking the quiz:

Your Style Is: Chic
You’re a classic, refined beauty with sophisticated taste.

Your personal style is the envy of your friends—you know what you like, and you are rarely swayed in your taste by new fads or trends that come and go. Your closet is filled with black and white wardrobe staples: crisp white shirts, black pencil skirts, and perfectly-tailored sheaths and trousers. Garish colors and loud prints are particularly offensive to you, and you prefer to keep your makeup tasteful and classic: a swath of winged black eyeliner and a classic red lip channel old-Hollywood glamour without being over-the-top. You idolize the sophisticated, classic beauty of style icons like Coco Chanel and Jackie Kennedy.

I really like the smooth application of the stick as well as the soft vanilla flavor. It's truly a girly kind of lip balm. These sticks would make great stocking stuffers, teacher or co-worker gifts as well as a fun "just because" gift. They can be purchased at Walmart, CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens, Family Dollar and Dollar General stores.

How would you like to win the entire collection for yourself? Enter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This giveaway is open to US Residents only and will end on December 7, 2013. One winner will be chosen at random and will be contacted via email to claim prize.  Momfiles is not responsible for any lost or stolen prizes. Good luck!

I received product samples in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and no other compensation was received.
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I have the best summer hair with Pantene Ultimate 10 BB Creme #PanteneBBCreme

It's that time of year. The time when the weather is hot, sticky and the air is humid. We had at least 3 weeks straight of heavy rain and storms. This means one thing, unruly hair. Like most people, the humidity makes my hair misbehave. It becomes frizzy, crunchy and just crazy looking. I received a Klout Perk from Pantene and Walmart a couple weeks ago that included their latest product, Pantene Ultimate 10 BB Creme.

I have heard of BB creme for your face but never for hair. I was very interested in finding out how it actually worked. It is supposed to care for your hair and style it all in one step. You can apply it to wet or dry hair. I tried it on wet hair since I blow dry and heat style. Immediately I noticed my hair felt very soft. Normally when I blow dry my hair, I have to curl it after or it will look frizzy. With Pantene BB creme, I could totally get away with just a blow dry. That is how I know it worked well! Even when I wake up the next day, my hair would feel so smooth and healthy.

My daughter took this photo of my hair (it was curled) from the back to show you how shiny and controlled it looks using the product. Would you believe that with all that hair, I did not use a conditioner after shampooing? I only used the BB creme.
To see if this stuff works on different hair types, I had all 3 of my kids use it. The oldest used it in her natural curls and loves how soft, controlled and calm her curls are. My younger daughter used it in her already dry and flat ironed hair. You could see an actual difference in how her super thick hair looks. She tends to have big hair and this products helps her hair to lay a bit flatter and it looks and feels softer. My little boy has wavy hair and the BB creme gives just enough moisture to help control his waves. We all love it and can't wait to buy other products from the line. The BB Creme is just over $6! Not bad at all! You can find them at Walmart and Walmart.com/pantene.

I was not required to review this product but loved it so much, I just had to share!

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Try It, Before You Buy (Lots Of) It | Goodies Co. Taster's Box only $7/month #spon

This article is sponsored by Walmart Labs

Have you ever purchased snacks for your family only to find out that they didn't like it? I have done that numerous times and it is such a waste of money. There is a fun new solution to fix that problem. Goodies Co. offers a Taster's box for the low cost of $7 a month. Each Taster's box contains 5-8 snacks that your family can sample. The good thing about it is you won't be wasting a full package in the event you don't like it. If you do like what you try, at least you know you won't waste your money on a full size! With so many subscription box services around, Goodies Co. Taster's boxes are a great value. You can't beat the Try It, Before You Buy (Lots Of) It method!
Goodies Co. Cereal

Goodies Co. Fall Box

Goodies Co. Winter Box
Goodies Co. Nuts

Another great incentive is At Goodies, your opinion matters, and you get rewarded for it. After you try your snacks, go back to the Goodies website and give a review of your box. By doing this you will earn points to redeem for rewards and free tastemaker boxes.

Here is how you can get started on receiving your own Goodies Co. Taster's box you will need to visit the Goodies promo page and enter the code JUNEVIP to instantly receive your invitation. Typically, there is a waitlist to get an invitation, however through our partnership with Goodies Co. you can skip the line and get right in.

Once you enter the code into the promo page, you will receive 2 emails from Goodies. The first will state you are in line for your invitation, the next will instantly tell you your invitation has arrived. This shows you how you skipped the line! So what are you waiting for? Start your Goodies Co. subscription today!
Shelly, Mom Files
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One of my favorite beauty products

I think over the years, I have tried virtually every beauty product you could get from a drugstore. One thing I use every night is a makeup removing wipe. I have tried so many brands but I go back to the same one every time. Oddly enough, the Walmart brand called Equate beauty has been the best one by far.
I love how soft and gentle the towelettes feel and they are generously sized. They have just the right amount of cleanser in them that really do the trick of getting my eye makeup off with ease. Since I use them primarily for eye makeup removal, I don't have to use a whole wipe. I tear a wipe in two or three and maximize my uses from one pack. My daughters do the same thing and they last a long time. We purchase it in a 2-pack for around $6. Not bad at all! I don't buy them because they are inexpensive. I buy them because they actually work!

What do you use to remove makeup?
Shelly, Mom Files
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I love to iron and that makes ME crazy?

I have been seeing a lot of talk lately on Facebook and Twitter about ironing your clothes. I find is astonishing that a great majority of people don't even own an iron. Some said that they have one, but would have no idea of where to find it. There were a few, very few that religiously iron. I enjoy ironing. Each and every morning, I iron my husband's work clothes (even on jeans day). I can't wrap my mind around the thought of my husband going into work in a wrinkled shirt or trousers. I feel like it is a reflection on the type of housewife that I am. It's my job. Call me old-fashioned, because I am... and rather proud of it too. It's funny that others think I am the crazy one because I do iron! I am thinking they are the crazy ones for walking around with wrinkled clothing on.

About a month ago, my beloved purple Shark professional iron died on me. I was devastated. I only had it for a little over a year and it quit on me. I really didn't want to get a new iron because the one I had was everything I wanted in an iron. I knew I had to get a new one right away because I could not find my back-up iron. Hey, doesn't everyone have a back-up iron? *winks*
I went to Walmart which is where I got the last one and they were completely sold out of the one I wanted. I had to get an iron right away because... because I just had to! I went with a Hamilton Beach which I grunted and groaned about. I did not want that brand but the alternative was going to several other stores and that was not what I felt like doing. It cost me about $30 and you know what? It actually works quite well. I loved my 1600 watt iron and this one is 1500 watt. I don't really see any major difference except the last iron had a larger soleplate.  It has a super long cord and great steam action. It also has the auto shutoff feature if the unit is left on for 15 minutes unattended. It was a great purchase. I really hope it will last me at least a year. I might consider purchasing a second one as a back-up since it was so inexpensive.

Another item I bought was the Faultless Maxx starch in the spray bottle. I usually get the one in the can and I am now trying to figure out why I have been doing that all these years. The Faultless Maxx is awesome and does not spray unevenly like the aerosol cans do. It also has a nice, light fragrance and leaves a crisp finish. I am so happy with my purchases and always looking for ways to make my homemaking more pleasurable. If you are looking to buy a good iron at a decent price, I recommend the Hamilton Beach Professional Iron with the stainless steel plate as well as the Faultless Maxx starch.

P.S.- YOU better not be laughing at me! :)

This is not a sponsored post and I purchased the above items myself. I just wanted to share my thoughts since I loved the items so much.
Shelly, Mom Files
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Old Orchard Juices and Teas Review & Coupon Giveaway {5 winners}

Are you looking for ways to save on giving your family juice and drinks and not sacrifice quality and taste? Old Orchard frozen juice and tea concentrates might be the answer you are looking for.
Old Orchard offers many flavors to choose from including Southern Style Sweet Tea, Classics like Grape, Apple, Pineapple and Orange, as well as a variety of juice blends. I found the Old Orchard frozen concentrates at my local Walmart. There were so many to choose from! I picked out the Sweet Tea and the 100% Juice in Pineapple Orange. I really love the convenience of having a frozen concentrate for those times that we run out of drinks. The plastic containers can be microwaved if you are in a rush and recycled. Of course you can't go wrong with having less packaging. I plan to save the containers to use as seed starter pots for my Spring planting.

I mixed up the Pineapple Orange juice as directed on the container and enjoyed a glass of it with my breakfast this morning. For those calorie conscious folks, each serving of Old Orchard drinks have only 90 calories. Not bad at all! The taste? Absolutely delicious. I will have to keep a half dozen of assorted flavors in my freezer at all times. To find a store near you that carries Old Orchard frozen juice, go here. Stay connected with Old Orchard on Facebook and Twitter.

I have a set of 4 coupons for any variety of teas or juices for 5 Momfiles readers to win. Enter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway is open to US Residents only and will end on February 14, 2013. Five winners will be chosen at random and will be contacted via email. Momfiles is not responsible for any lost or stolen prizes. Good luck!

Old Orchard provided me with coupons for FREE products in exchange for a product review. All thoughts/opinions expressed here are my own, as always.

Shelly, Mom Files
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Palmolive Fresh Infusions Review

I received a box of the new Palmolive Fresh Infusions dish liquid from Influenster to review. If you aren't signed up with Influenster, you are missing out on great freebies to test out! You don't even have to be a blogger (although I'm sure it helps). I was so excited about the new dish liquids to try out since I am such a cleaning queen. I received all 3 scents-- Lime Basil, Lemon Thyme and Ginger White Tea. So far I used the entire Ginger White Tea and I am half way through the Lemon Thyme. I love the fragrances. They make me think I am using something from a boutique! I really like the tall, slender bottles. They dispense the perfect amount of cleanser without wasting it.
The cleaning power was everything I would expect from Palmolive. Right now only Walmart and Target carry them so if you want to try it out, check for them there. I think the one thing that makes me like this product the most is the fancy look. I have had a few guests over and they all commented about how pretty my dish liquid was. If you have to be stuck in the kitchen cleaning, it might as well look nice and smell pretty! I think any of these would be great in a housewarming gift basket along with pretty kitchen gloves, dish towels and scrubbers.
Shelly, Mom Files
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Make this Thanksgiving Mishap-free with Walmart winner


Our Walmart Thanksgiving gift card giveaway had ended and we have a winner. Congratulations to Thomas Murphy! His tip was "prepare as much food as possible ahead of time" 

Thanks to everyone for entering and sharing your Thanksgiving tips! I know I enjoyed reading them all. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Shelly, Mom Files
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Make this Thanksgiving Mishap-free with Walmart {$50 GC Giveaway}

**CLOSED**

The winner is Thomas Murphy! Congratulations and thanks to everyone for entering and sharing your Thanksgiving tips! 

Now that we have the month of October behind us, we can now look forward to Thanksgiving. It is my favorite holiday and I almost always host a big dinner for family and friends. Along with the excitement of family time and good food, we sometimes run into mishaps here and there. It seems like no matter how much you plan, make lists or think you have it all together, something goes wrong! I decided to share some of my personal tips to help make your Thanksgiving a bit more Mishap-free.

  • Plan ahead! Make a detailed list of your menu in advance so you can have a thorough grocery list made. This way, you can start shopping over the course of a few weeks and stock up on non-perishable items. 
  • Don't be a hero. We all want to make the best meals made from scratch but sometimes shortcuts are your best friend! Pick up some cake mix and make it your own. Make your icing from scratch and use a piping bag to make it pretty. Semi-homemade is not bad! 
  • Make sure to pick up some seasonal candles and room fragrance sprays. It makes the atmosphere more festive and relaxed.
  • Practice a new dish or dessert a few weeks ahead in a smaller amount to see if you like it. I have made things before that failed miserably and there was no do-over.
  • Every year I have cooked all my side dishes the day before and packed them up in the refrigerator for the next day. This makes the day of Thanksgiving so much more relaxed and all I have to do is roast my turkey and put my pies in the oven. 
  • I love serving dinner on China plates but I have learned that you can buy "fancy" paper plates and disposable utensils and cups that you don't have to wash afterwards! Also be sure to have enough plastic storage bags and aluminum foil for leftovers. 
  • Keep wine on hand! I don't think I have to explain that one!
Thanksgiving is all about time with the ones you love and should not be stressful.You can find some great tips and advice at the Thanksgiving Mishaps website to help get you through the holiday. Check out this video from Chef Richard:

 

I am so pleased that Walmart is providing a $50 gift card for one very lucky Momfiles reader to win. With Walmart's low prices and big selection, you can get a whole lot! Enter below...
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Giveaway is open to US Residents only and will end on November 18, 2012. One winner will be chosen at random and will be contacted via email. Momfiles is not responsible for any lost or stolen prizes. Be sure to follow giveaway rules in Rafflecopter. Good luck!

Walmart provided me with a gift card and the giveaway, but the thoughts and tips shared in this post are my own.
Shelly, Mom Files
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Buy HP XL Ink at Walmart to save money and time! {$20 GC Giveaway}

**Contest closed** Winner is Jammie Morey Congratulations!

Ever since school has been back in session, I have noticed something that is inevitable. We run out of printer ink way too often and I feel like I am having to run to the store to buy it frequently. When you add a spouse that's in college in the mix, we really run out of ink fast! Good thing Walmart carries HP ink cartridges that come in HP XL. I had seen them before in my cartridge size but was afraid it would not fit in my HP printer. It turns out the "XL" means the cartridge holds more ink. It fits in the same way the regular ones do. This means way more printing and less running out to buy more ink cartridges! 

It is so convenient to be able to stock up on ink cartridges while you are shopping for your groceries and household items. I found that the HP XL ink came in a large variety of sizes and the prices were reasonable. I received a $75 Walmart gift card from MomSelect to purchase HP XL ink for my printer and I had $14 left over to purchase a few items for the kids. Besides the ink cartridges, I was able to get 2 boxes of oatmeal for William, 2 bags of candy for the girls to take to volleyball, as well as a box of cake mix and powdered sugar to make cupcakes. You can't beat getting your printer ink for a decent price and being able to grab some other items at the same time with the money you saved. I think it is a great convenience for busy moms like myself!

Giveaway: One lucky Momfiles reader will win a $20 Walmart gift card to help towards the purchase of HP XL Ink! Enter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Giveaway is open to US Residents only and will end on October 10, 2012. One winner will be chosen at random and will be contacted via email. Momfiles is not responsible for any lost or stolen prizes. Good luck!

I received a Walmart gift card as part of a promotional program with MomSelect. All thoughts/opinions are 100% my own.
Shelly, Mom Files
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