Celebrate Coca-Cola’s 125th anniversary {Giveaway}

**Contest Closed**
Winner is #137 RILEKAT~ Congratulations!

Can you believe summer is winding down? It is often difficult finding ways to keep the kids entertained before back-to-school hits, especially with the outrageous heat we all have been dealing with. Coca-Cola wants to help make sure you enjoy every moment with Coca-Cola’s 125 Years of Summer Fun initiative.

To celebrate Coca-Cola’s 125th anniversary, they’ve created a summer-long program, available through My Coke Rewards. It’s designed to create summer fun for families by offering a variety of rewards through an interactive summer treasure map. By entering codes, found on 15 different Coca-Cola brands on My Coke Rewards, you gain points that can later be spent on prizes including: sweepstakes, instant win prizes, supporting a good cause, donating to your child’s school and much more!

You can register to become a My Coke Rewards member by logging on here and follow the prompts for new member registration. I am wondering why on earth I am only now registering! It took me all of maybe 2 minutes.

To help get you and your family through the last stretch of Summer, Coca-Cola is providing a Summer fun prize pack ($50 value) for one lucky Momfiles reader.
The prize pack includes: a Coca-Cola tote, sunglasses, a sports bottle, a sunblock kit, an LED lamp (for nights when you’re just not ready to go inside), a football, a frisbee and a reversible ball.










Mandatory entry: Sign up for My Coke Rewards and tell us what your favorite Coca-Cola beverage is.

For extra entries you can do any of the following. Please leave a separate comment for each entry to count.

~ "like" My Coke Rewards , Coca-Cola and Momfiles on Facebook
~ Share this giveaway on FB and leave a link to your post
~ Follow My Coke Rewards , Coca-Cola and Momfiles on Twitter
~ Tweet this giveaway (once daily) and leave a link to your Tweet:

Want to spend a day at the park but missing the essentials? @Cocacola has the answer! Enter http://tinyurl.com/3vfhg5m @momfiles #CokeSummer

This giveaway is open to US & Canada Residents only and will end on August 24, 2011 at 9:00 pm EST. One winner will be chosen at random and contacted via email. Please leave your email address in your comment if you do not have a Blogger Profile. Good luck!

Disclosure: The prize was provided by The Coca-Cola Company but The Coca-Cola Company is not a sponsor, administrator, or involved in any other way with this giveaway. All opinions expressed in the post are my own and not those of The Coca-Cola Company

Update on the girls

Last week was a busy week. The girls completed volleyball tryouts and they both made the team. Chardie will be on Varsity and Brie will play JV and will also get to join in on Varsity practice as well as get a little play time if they need her. They are both pretty happy and are excited about the season. They also picked up their schedules and got all the classes they needed. Remember in past posts how happy I was to finally have both girls in one place so I don't have to be scattered around all over town? Well they will be going to the same school and will playing the same sport except their schedules are very different. One has early bird and the other doesn't. One will have early dismissal second semester and the other one doesn't. So, you know what this means.... yep, scattered around again. We came up with a solution for mornings though. I will take them at the 2 different times for a couple weeks until Brie becomes comfortable with her new school and then she will get dropped off early with her sister. She will be able to go to the library at that time. It still freaks me out that both my girls are in high school! As far as afternoons go I still have about 4 months before that happens. I am looking forward to the girls going back to school in a week so I can focus more on teaching little Will his school lessons at home.

Has school started back in your city yet? Are you prepared?

Orbeez Review

I recently received an Orbeez Light-up Star Lamp to review. This toy came with packets of these itty bitty pellets called Orbeez that come in a variety of colors. When you soak them in water for 3 hours or overnight they grow into cool gel-like balls. With the Orbeez Light-up Lamp you choose 3 colors (must include clear as one) and once you "grow" your Orbeez, you drain them and fill them in the star container.

Once the star is filled you screw on the light-up cap and turn it onto the base (requires 3 AAA batteries not included). Now you just flip the switch and watch the Orbeez light up and change colors. It is such a cute item and I think any girl would like this. Although my daughters are teenagers this still appeals to them. Come to think of it, I am 37 and I want one for my desk!

Orbeez items can be purchased at Amazon.com, Kmart, Walmart, Target and ToysRUs (online and in stores for some major retailers)

Check Orbeez out on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube

These are amazing!

I received these Orchard Bars from Liberty Orchards to try out. Whenever I read certain things like: all-natural, good source of protein, high in Omega 3, rich in antioxidants, 60% organic ingredients, gluten-free, no trans fats, low sodium, no cholesterol, vegan, non-GMO, no preservatives.... I get a little scared that it is not going to taste good at all.

The back of the label listed some of the ingredients and then it ends with~ "And the best part? You won't believe how good they taste!" I had to see for myself. I tried the Pineapple, Coconut & Macadamia variety. I am not lying when I tell you it is the BEST energy bar I have EVER tasted! The texture, the sweetness, the REAL taste of the ingredients and the fact that it is actually good for you really took me by surprise! If you are interested in trying them out for yourself you can order them here. You can even get FREE gift wrapping!

New Carmex flavors and a giveaway!

Contest Closed
Winner is #81 Shelly~ Congratulations!

I am so excited about the latest Carmex Blog Squad kit. I received a super cute picnic blanket with the famous Carmex logo, a stick of Moisture Plus Hydrating Lip Balm and two new flavors of Carmex click sticks~ Lime Twist and Vanilla.


I am both a lime and vanilla girl and as always these new lip balms did not disappoint! They both have a subtle flavor and make your lips super soft. They contain 15 SPF sunscreen and of course that awesome Carmex tingle that we all love! I can't decide which one I like better! These premium lip balms contain 3 additional moisturizers not found in the original line. They are available at Walgreens, Walmart and CVS.



Check out this super cute Carmex picnic blanket. It is portable and comes with a small zippered pouch attached with a carrying handle. Perfect for stashing a tube or stick of Carmex :-) It has vinyl underneath so moisture won't mess your blanket up. It folds back neatly and stays intact with Velcro. It is perfect to keep in the trunk of your car.


Our friends at Carmex are providing one gift pack just like the one I received for one lucky Momfiles reader. Just let us know which new flavor of Carmex you would like to try as well as what your favorite Carmex products are.

For extra entries you can do any of the following. Please leave a separate comment for each entry to count.

~ "like" Carmex and Momfiles on Facebook
~ Share this giveaway on FB and leave a link to your post
~ Follow Carmex and Momfiles on Twitter
~ Tweet this giveaway (once daily) and leave a link to your Tweet:

Enter to win a @CarmexLipBalm prize pack @momfiles http://tinyurl.com/44tn799 #giveaway

This giveaway is open to US Residents only and will end on August 19, 2011 at 9:00 pm EST. One winner will be chosen at random and contacted via email. Please leave your email address in your comment if you do not have a Blogger Profile. Good luck!

Disclosure: I received products samples for review. All opinions are 100% mine as always.

Wordless Wednesday | Waiting for sisters

Oldest child = Guinea pig

I was listening to the girls having a conversation the other day about high school issues. Chardie was explaining to Brie how good she has it since her big sister has already been there and done that. Chardie said that it is not fair that she is the guinea pig for everything and then Brie seems to have things so easy. It is hard being the oldest sibling according to Chardie. You work so hard to figure things out and it seems as if things are just handed to your younger siblings. We always have to remind Chardie that this is nothing new. It has been this way forever and she is not the only big sister to go through it. Hey, at least Brie has an excellent role model! Chardie makes Brie want to be even better. You can't beat that!!

The girls are having volleyball tryouts this week. They are both very excited about it and I look forward to the upcoming season. At least this year I will be at ONE location only. I am SO happy about that!

Have a great week my friends :)

Lysol® back-to-school giveaway

**Contest Closed**
Winner is #22

Back-to-school time is nearing for most of us. Besides getting to find out what classes your kids have, buying new clothing and supplies... we have to be ready for the big battle~ GERMS. It never fails, every time school starts back one or both girls come home with a sore throat or sniffles. It seems like it was a lot worse when they were younger. Lysol® products have always been a household must-have even when I was a little girl. Lucky for us, Lysol has come out with so many new products to help us fight those nasty little germs. I received the Lysol® Healthy Touch® No-Touch Hand Soap System in the "stainless steel look" dispenser. It was super easy to put together (it even comes with the batteries) and just as easy to use it. We love the concept of not touching a germy hand soap pump. I placed our unit in the kitchen and both daughters are nagging me already about replacing all of the traditional hand soap bottles with the Lysol® Healthy Touch®. I wish all classrooms had this kind of system! One thing I do recommend is that you make sure when you put your hand under the dispenser for your soap, be sure to wait until all the soap comes out. If you take your hand away too fast it will end up on your counter (ask me how I know). We tried the Aloe Vera & Vitamin E with Moisturizers. I love the fresh scent and the fact that your hands are lightly moisturized. Very nice.


I also received a container of Lysol® Dual Action Disinfecting Wipes.

We already use these wipes in our home and they are very convenient! I even sent one into the husband's office for those just in case days (they happen more often than they should). These Dual Action Disinfecting Wipes:

• Kills 99.9% of Viruses and Bacteria when used as directed
• Kills Cold and Flu Viruses including Pandemic 2009 H1N1 Influenza A
• One side with built in Fibers for Tough Messes or a Side for Touch-up cleaning

Be sure to check out some of these great prevention tips , back-to-school basics and even download a neat poster to read together with your kids and hang it up near the bathroom sink.

{Giveaway}
How would you like to win your own Lysol® No-Touch Hand Soap System as well as a container of Dual Action Wipes? (One winner)

Just leave a comment letting us know what things you do to help keep your kids healthy during the school year or what cool thing you learned from the Lysol® site.

For extra entries:
~ "like" Lysol® and Momfiles on Facebook
~ Enter the Lysol® No-Touch Stainless Steel Kitchen Sweepstakes on Facebook and leave a link to your entry in a comment.
~ Follow Momfiles on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway once daily (leave a link to your Tweet)

Win a Lysol No-Touch Hand Soap System & Dual Action Wipes @momfiles http://tinyurl.com/3vte2wm #giveaway #backtoschool

This giveaway is open to US Residents only and will end on August 14, 2011 at 9:00 pm EST. One winner will will be chosen at random and contacted via email. Please leave your email address in your comment if you do not have a Blogger Profile. Good luck!

Disclosure: I received products samples for review. All opinions are 100% mine as always.

Good manners make moms happy!

Some days William goes into overdrive when it comes to not listening to me, making a mess or being wild. Of course I take into consideration that his is only 3 and is also 122% boy. I let the little things slide with him... maybe it's that sweet smile or that special way that he says "pleeeeeease". One thing I will say that I get all day long from him are the words "thank you". He thanks me for everything... food, bathing him, taking him to the store, giving him his toy, brushing his teeth, getting him dressed... It doesn't matter how small it is, he thanks me. He even takes it the extra mile and requests a hug and kiss. This makes me feel so good to see that he is grateful for everything. It never gets old hearing him thank me and those sweet hugs and kisses are a bonus :)

Do you really need money to have kids?

I have been chatting with friends online as well as over the phone lately and there seems to be this one topic that keeps popping up~ Finances and having babies. It appears the majority of people felt that you should be financially stable, have a house, vehicles, credit cards etc... before considering having children. I don't agree with that. I think that the number one thing you can give a child is unconditional love. Once you do that, the rest falls into place.

I am so glad I had the girls while we were young. Although we struggled financially, they never went without all the necessities. Our girls are so appreciative of anything you give them and have become very wise spenders. They are loving and compassionate individuals. William on the other hand has it all and then some. I still make sure to work just as hard to teach him all of the life lessons that we did with the girls. Now I also know some parents (ages 35+) that waited until they bought their house, acquired a cushy bank account and landed the job/career they desired. Guess what? 85% of them wished they had their babies when they were in their 20's. I have heard this from so many people I know!

My point is that babies need minimal "stuff" and a whole lot of love. I am not saying to be irresponsible and just have babies for the heck of it. Life has a way of working out no matter what your financial position might be.

What are your thoughts?

Look what was lurking in our backyard...

It rained last night...heavily. It was the first time in 2 weeks. I was so happy for it. I just didn't expect this...

You should have seen how many birds were lined up on the fence and flying down close to the snake. I guess they thought they were going to catch a big worm? I get chills every time I look at this photo.

This cements my dislike of the Summer months. Thank goodness for husbands. I don't know what I would have done without Dwayne! He sent me back in the bedroom and he made it go away. I know I talk a lot of smack about him but today... he is royalty!

Has anyone had any encounters with snakes this Summer?

What’s in Every Mom’s Beach Bag? {Giveaway}

**Contest Closed**
Winner #135 kathy pease

We are in the thick of the summer and most of us are packing up the family and heading for the beach. Of course if you are a mom you pack as if you are going away for the entire summer, especially when you have babies or small children. You plan for those "just in case" moments as well as the usual drinks, snacks and entertainment items. We are going to the beach in a couple weeks and I have already started my checklist. Of course I know I will overdo it as always but hey, a mom must be prepared! Check out some of these products below that are great for throwing into your beach bag (or bags if you are like me!)

USANA Usanimals vitamins: Usanimals comes in fun animal shapes while providing a phytonutrient blend of blackberry, cranberry, raspberry, and wild blueberry fruit flavors. The vitamins contain a comprehensive array of antioxidants, and minerals, in amounts designed especially for active, growing children.

Smart for Life protein bars: Eliminates post-exercise hunger, so you gain muscle not fat. Supports healthy cardiovascular function, helps promote weight loss, boosts metabolism and controls hunger.

Inky Perfume: Used after showering or as a pick-me-up during those hot summer days, these body sprays refresh and revive the senses, with just the right amount of scent. The Tattooed by Inky collection offers 5 distinctive scents for every personality---two men’s, two women’s, and one unisex. Inky is available at Big Lots and Target stores.

Star Rock for Kids CD: A CD of fun and age-appropriate music that is perfectly “in tune” with the whole family, featuring hits from past decades and today. Beyond being a rockin’ CD series sung completely by kids, Star Rock for Kids! Presents an exceptional opportunity for budding singers to show off their talent and realize their dream by becoming a “Star Rock Kid” and appearing on the next CD.

Kids-EEZE Allergy Soft Chews: Kids-EEZE® is a children’s symptom reliever specially formulated to ease the symptoms of hay fever and upper respiratory allergies. The convenient chew form makes dosing easy with no measuring or messes.

BornFree Eco Classic bottle: BornFree leak proof BPA-Free baby bottles come in plastic or glass and feature an innovative venting system designed to promote ActiveFlow™ and help minimize the painful symptoms of colic. After use, the bottles can be returned to BornFree where they will be recycled into other products such as toys and furniture.

Medifast Parmesan Cheese Puffs: Provides just the right balance of fiber and high-quality protein to keep you feeling full and satisfied, plus your daily requirement of 24 vitamins and minerals!
____________________________________

Giveaway:
How would you like to win all of these *items? All you have to do is tell us what top five beach essentials you would pack for baby. Please leave your list of five products in the comment section as your mandatory entry.

If you would like additional entries you can do any or all of the following:

~ Follow Momfiles via Google Friend Connect
~ "like" Momfiles, Medifast, StarRock for Kids, Smart for Life, Kid-EEZE, BornFree, USANA
(each one counts as a separate entry)
~ Follow Momfiles, USANA, BornFree, Medifast, Smart for Life, StarRock for Kids, Kid-EEZE on Twitter (each one counts as a separate entry)
~ Tweet this giveaway (once daily):

Win some great goodies from @momfiles to put in your #beach bag http://tinyurl.com/3wmjhfd #giveaway

Note: Prize quantity or variety may vary from what is pictured.

This giveaway is open to US Residents only and will end on August 3, 2011 at 9:00 pm EST. One winner will will be chosen at random and contacted via email. Please leave your email address in your comment if you do not have a Blogger Profile. Good luck!

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post

From princess to diva?

I remember when little girls were referred to as princesses. They would be decked out in pink with ruffles and glitter. They were all things sweet and innocent. Of course times change...people change. Now parents refer to little girls (even babies) as a diva. If you look up the definition of the word diva you will find out that it means a celebrated female singer. Ladies like Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston or Mariah Carey are great examples of a diva. The word "diva" is also used negatively, to describe a celebrity in film or music who is extremely demanding and fussy when it comes to their personal needs or wants.

Now tell me something. Why on earth does a 6 month old baby girl need to be referred to as a diva? Am I missing something here? Little sweet girls are being called a diva like it is a badge of honor. I am not judging you if you do this so please don't get me wrong. I just need some understanding.

What are your thoughts?

When the hubby has the camera...

Obviously no one pays attention...

And there is usually a lack of focus.

I will admit, that face is adorable!!

Happy Friday friends! Have a great weekend and stay cool :)

WTH? Wednesday | Coffee

Today's gripe is about coffee prices. Let me start out by saying that I am a coffee snob. I only like a couple brands and although I try others for the sake of saving a couple bucks, I end up regretting it. So I stick to my fancy coffee brands. My main coffee that I love comes in bigger bags at Walmart so I go there twice a month for it. It used to be $9.98 then $10.98, $11.98 (last week) and it is now a whopping $13.98!! WTH??!! There is no way I am spending that much. I know that everything has gone up price-wise but this seemed to be a bit too much. I looked around at other brands and I was floored to see even the cheaper ones were very expensive. What to do? Stop drinking it? We tried that before and failed miserably. I spotted an old school favorite that we used to drink exclusively in our Miami days.

Good old fashioned Cafe Bustelo. It was $3.88 a can. Hmm...$13.98 or $3.88? Yeah, Cafe Bustelo won the price battle. I told Dwayne he better get used to a couple espresso shots each morning. When I told him the cost difference he was completely with me. I even broke out my old stove-top espresso pot. Nothing like jet fuel to start your day! Y'all know Dwayne is going to get me for the product advertising!! Shh, don't tell on me! :D

If you have any WTH moments please share them in the comments!