I really need to do better

Most people think I am the most organized person they know. This might be true in some areas in my life but lacks so badly in others. I have been doing a really bad job with my food/household item spending. I think from watching Extreme Couponing and seeing all of the people in the stores with monster-sized binders I have become very turned off by it all. Strange huh? Usually shows like that and seeing people save a ton of money should be motivating. It's just not the case for me. I have decided that I need to take action and maximize my dollars. I am starting with picking one day a week to do grocery shopping. I will make an organized list and use coupons accordingly. This will mean meal planning. I think I can only meal plan for up to a week. I have been noticing the popular trend of "freezer meals". I need to look into that. If I stick to that plan maybe it will keep me out the store more and save not only on impulse purchases but also fuel.

Speaking of fuel, I was startled to see that some cities have already hit the $5 and some change bracket. That scares me since I do a lot of local back and forth driving. We decided as a family that we will not be doing much dining out or even attend birthday parties of other social events that can add up. It sounds like we are being cheap but the bottom line is what the heck do you do if an emergency hits? I know that I plan on keeping my rainy day fund! I have been very free with my spending lately and I know I need to do better. I had to go on Budget Billing with our power company since the weather has been so wacky. To say that we have not had too many freezing days I still have seen so higher than normal bills. Maybe I cook too much? Wash too much? Who knows, I just figured if I publicly talk about what I need to do I might feel pressured to keep at it.

Do you have any strategies in place to keep your finances in check? Do you have any meal planning sites you can share? Thank you, I need all the help I can get!

Go AWAY Spring!

I know everyone will think I am insane but I feel royally ripped off that winter really never happened this year. I really enjoy chilly days, sipping hot beverages,  wearing boots and sweaters and sitting by the fireplace. We burned one fire this year. One. I feel like I have to refrain from turning on the air conditioner because it is getting too warm in the house. If I open the windows we all start sneezing from all the pollen that is blowing in. I can't win.

I won these super cute boots by Crocs (who knew they made boots?) from Army Wife 101 and I don't think I will get to wear them this year. As a matter of fact I actually purchased some gorgeous black boots and have worn them maybe 3 times so far. I am truly a cold weather lover. I love open-toe shoes but it seems wrong to be wearing flip flops in February. I guess I better not complain. It beats being stuck in winter storms, right? I am so not looking forward to what the summer will be like. It scares me to think how hot it will be. Hopefully before the actual winter season is over we will be lucky enough to get a few cold days.

So what's the winter been like in your city?

Seventh Generation "Lorax Approved" Giveaway

There is a new arrival of products from Seventh Generation that are gentle on your baby or toddler, safe for the planet, convenient and most importantly, "Lorax approved"! In partnership with Universal Studios’ motion picture debut of Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax* also known as the “Speaker for the Trees” who brings environmental truth and ecological hope to all, Seventh Generation will feature limited edition Lorax prints on all their diapers and training pants. These prints are intended to remind parents and caregivers of the lessons of The Lorax, and encourage family reading and environmental awareness while creating a few smiles.

The Seventh Generation family of Free & Clear baby products continues to deliver on your needs as it expands in March, with the addition of NEW Overnight Diapers. Moreover, Free & Clear diapers have been redesigned with new, improved tabs for better fit while Free & Clear training pants now have an absorbent core that is made with more renewable materials.

As a MyBlogSpark member, I received a prize pack containing a pack of  Seventh Generation Free & Clear Training pants and a copy of Dr. Seuss' The Lorax storybook. These training pants are so cute and are free of chlorine processing, free of fragrances and latex and are also very absorbent. We still use training pants for our son at night so these are great! William is completely into all things The Lorax so he is enjoying the cute designs. Starting March 2, you can register for a free The Lorax scrapbook with the purchase of any three Free & Clear diaper products, until supplies last

We are LOVING our copy of the book The Lorax as well. I read it to my son last night and he was completely drawn into the story. He has been convincing his big sisters to read it too him too. I love that the book is printed on recycled paper.  The Lorax storybook is a fun way to teach our little ones how important our planet earth is.

How would you like to win a Seventh Generation Diaper Product and a copy of Dr. Seuss' The Lorax storybook? One lucky Momfiles reader will win this cute prize pack. Just enter in the Rafflecopter widget below:

Wordless Wednesday

One perk of being a review blogger... lots of empty boxes to play in!

Dr. Seuss' The Lorax Prize Pack Giveaway

DR. SEUSS’ THE LORAX will be in theaters March 2! We are looking forward to it especially because our almost 4 year old son shows great interest in it. I just love the story behind The Lorax. Recycling, repurposing, reusing and being kind to our environment is important to my family. Hey, I want a Truffula Tree and would love a hug from a Bar-Ba-Loot! :) From the looks of the trailer, I am sure the movie will be amazing! I showed it to my teenager daughters and they want to see it as well.

If you are a Facebook user, you are encouraged to join The Lorax in speaking for the trees and to add a Truffula Tree to your Facebook profile picture. Your participation builds awareness for the reforestation efforts taking place with The Atlantic Forest in Brazil, which has been generously supported through a contribution made to The Nature Conservancy by Universal Pictures. I very proudly changed my profile picture to show my support :)

Bar-Ba-Loots are adorable bear-like creatures who live to play games and eat sweet fruits in Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, a 3D-CGI comic adventure from the creators of Despicable Me and the imagination of Dr. Seuss. Credit: Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment

Check out the trailer:
 

About the Film

Genre: 3D-CG feature 
Cast: Danny DeVito, Zac Efron, Ed Helms, Taylor Swift, Rob Riggle and Betty White 
Directed by: Chris Renaud 
Co-Director: Kyle Bald 
Written by: Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio 
Produced by: Chris Meledandri, Janet Healy  DR. SEUSS’ THE LORAX will be in theaters March 2!
Executive Producers: Audrey Geisel, Cinco Paul, Ken Daurio 


From the creators of Despicable Me and the imagination of Dr. Seuss comes the 3D-CG feature Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, an adaptation of the classic tale of a forest creature who shares the enduring power of hope. The animated adventure follows the journey of a 12-year-old as he searches for the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams. To find it he must discover the story of the Lorax, the grumpy yet charming creature who fights to protect his world. Danny DeVito will lend his vocal talents to the iconic title character of the Lorax, while Ed Helms will voice the enigmatic Once-ler. Also bringing their talents to the film are global superstars Zac Efron as Ted, the idealistic youth who searches for the Lorax, and Taylor Swift as Audrey, the girl of Ted’s dreams. Rob Riggle will play financial king O’Hare, and beloved actress Betty White will portray Ted’s wise Grammy Norma. 
Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax is the third feature created by Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment (Despicable Me, Hop). 
www.theloraxmovie.com

Stay connected with Dr. Seuss' The Lorax on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

For the giveaway:
One (1) winner will receive:
• Lorax T-shirt
• Lorax Tote Bag
• Truffula Tree Pencils
• Lorax Mustache
• Lorax Activity Card
 Prize Pack valued at $30, courtesy of Universal Pictures

Enter in the widget below and be sure to complete the mandatory entry to qualify for extra entries.

Old Orchard Cranberry Naturals Juice Review + Giveaway

I received a couple bottles of Old Orchard Cranberry Naturals juice to try out in the Cranberry-Grape and Cranberry-Raspberry varieties. I was a bit hesitant to taste the juices because it is a "reduced calorie" drink. It is naturally sweetened with Truvia and I just wasn't sure what I would think. Truvia is a natural, zero-calorie sweetener that is made from the stevia plant. Since it is natural there is no effect on blood sugar or glycemic index. This is good news since I have found that "diet" drinks make me put on weight!

I tasted the Cranberry-Raspberry and to my surprise it was very crisp and refreshing with the right amount of tart/sweet balance. I served some to some guests that visited my house over the weekend and I asked them if they liked it. Everyone said that it was good and had a nice flavor. When I told them it was sweetened with Truvia they thought I was lying! Even my hard to fool husband was impressed with the taste and did not notice the difference from the regular blends.

You might already know that cranberry juice is a great source of natural vitamins and minerals that are very effective in the treatment of urinary tract, bladder and kidney infections. Cranberries are also packed with antioxidants that help protect against heart disease and cancer. I think with all the benefits cranberry juice beverages provide and the fact it is naturally sweetened and lower in calories is a winner for me and my family. You can check out this link to find a store near you that carries the Old Orchard brand.

Would you like to try out the bold and delicious taste of Old Orchard Cranberry Naturals juices for yourself? I have coupons for FREE 64 oz size bottles for 2 (two) Momfiles readers to win. The prize is 2 coupons for a FREE bottle as well as 2 money saving coupons for 50 cents off. You can enter in the widget below. Be sure to complete the mandatory entry so your extra entries count.