Summer Giveaway- Win $100 PayPal or Amazon

It's hard to believe that the summer is slowly coming to a close. We start school a little later this month and aren't ready quite yet. How about you? Are you and your kids fully prepared for back-to-school? I've teamed up with a group of amazing bloggers to bring you this last-minute summer giveaway. Just in time to put some extra cash in your pocket. Whether it's for school supplies, shoes, clothes, school fees or maybe to prepay on lunch accounts, I'm sure $100 can be a big help. Check the details below on how to enter and good luck! 

How to enter: There are 10 Instagram accounts. Follow one or all, but the more accounts you follow the more entries you’ll receive. If you’re already a follower of an account, claim that entry! This giveaway starts August 15 at midnight EST and ends August 31 at 11:59 PM EST. Entrants must be USA residents and at least 18 years old. One winner will be randomly selected from all qualifying entries and contacted via the email they provide. The email will come from joannegreco at gmail. The winner has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. The prize is $100 in Paypal or Amazon online gift card, winner’s choice.
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10 Common Phrases & What You Can Use Instead

I thought I'd share this because I found it interesting. Enjoy!
 
Source: www.grammarcheck.net

Go Back To School With Mamma Chia (Giveaway)

It's officially back-to-school season and parents everywhere are scrambling around to get things in order for their families. Buying supplies, shoes, clothing, and backpacks are just the beginning. You have to think about making sure the kids (and YOU) have a nutritious breakfast each day so they can be ready for a full day of learning. Mornings can get really hectic and time seems to be non-existent.

One of the best things you can do to help ease the crazy mornings is to prepare in advance. Pick out a week's worth of outfits for the kids and have them hanging in the closet ready to go. Have the kids get their backpacks set out in a designated place along with their shoes so there's no last-minute searching. Involve the kids in making choices about lunchbox items. Eventually the kids will be old enough to do most things completely on their own (yay!)

Don't let being short on time take you away from eating in the morning. Mamma Chia makes a line of super nutritious foods and beverages that are all organic and convenient to grab and go. The Mamma Chia product line includes their Chia Squeeze pouches, granola, chia vitality and energy beverages, and of course chia seeds.

Chia seeds are very versatile and can be incorporated into salads, smoothies, and baked goods. They are filled with fiber, omega-3's, and protein. Chia seeds are a great way to sneak added nutrition into your everyday foods. Mamma Chia Granola Clusters is another delicious way to get your body fueled up for the day. You can enjoy it by the bowl with milk or yogurt, or plain as a snack. This is perfect for a lunch box or after school snack.

The Chia Squeeze Vitality Snack is a great solution for kids as a breakfast option. They are a blend of organic fruits and veggies along with chia. There's no added sugar, so that is a plus! These are perfect for the kids' lunch boxes and even for us moms.

My personal favorite is the organic vitality beverage. If chia seeds freak you out a bit, I recommend using a straw to drink this. It has such a great fruit flavor without being sweet. I like that it is lightly sweetened using organic agave nectar. This beverage is very satisfying and fills you up. It only contains 120 calories per bottle.

All Mamma Chia products are packed with those all important Omega-3's, fiber and are lower in calories when compared to many other "healthy" breakfast foods. I have found Mamma Chia items in most stores like Kroger, Whole Foods, Target, and Publix. You can even grab a coupon here while supplies last. Do you want to try Mamma Chia out for yourself? Enter our giveaway to win a prize pack filled with healthy and delicious Mamma Chia goodies.

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This giveaway is open to U.S. Residents only and will end on August 31, 2017. Please follow all rules in the Rafflecopter widget and be sure to use a valid email. One winner will be selected and contacted via email to claim prize. Please be aware that Mom Files is not responsible for any lost, stolen or damaged prizes. Good luck!

Disclosure: Products and giveaway provided by Mamma Chia. All opinions are my own as always.

8 Housewarming Gift Ideas Under $20

*This post contains affiliate links

If you are trying to figure what to give someone who is getting a new apartment or house, it can be a challenge. You don't always know a person's specific taste, color schemes or overall style. I like giving and receiving practical gifts that people will actually use. I have put together a list of great ideas that all cost under $20.

1. A cast iron skillet- I say it all the time that every person needs one of these in their kitchen. It's versatile and can be used to saute, fry, broil or bake just about anything savory or sweet. You can even include of of these silicone handle covers. 

2. Kitchen towels and dish cloths- You can go with neutral colors or even holiday-themed designs depending on what time of year you buy them. Anyone can use kitchen towels and I feel like you can't ever have enough of them. 

3. A baking sheet- If you are buying for someone who bakes and cooks often, this is a must have! My favorite one that I have 2 of is the commercial baker's half sheet size. It's perfect for baking cookies, pastries, fish, chicken, and roasting veggies. I cover mine with foil and parchment for less clean-up. 

4. An automatic soap dispenser- It can be used in either a bathroom or kitchen and is touch-free. 

5. Stemless wine glasses- These are a no-brainer for your wine-loving friends. They come in different colors, shapes and sizes. 

6. Wine cork holder- I have one of these and love it! It serves as a cute decoration for any living or dining area. Since they are affordable, you can even grab an inexpensive bottle of wine to go with it. 

7. Glass storage containers- These are a better alternative to the plastic ones and can be used as storage for leftovers or even to take lunch to work or school. 

8. A cutting board set- I love having a few different sized cutting boards for cutting specific items by group. One for meats, one for veggies, and one for fruit. 

South Carolina Is The Hot Spot For The 2017 Total Solar Eclipse

In a couple short weeks, school will resume around these parts. My middle girl will begin junior year at the University Of South Carolina, the husband will be in grad school working on his MBA, and the littlest one will start fourth grade in his third year being a home schooler. We are all so sad that the summer break is coming to an end. We are planning to have one last hurrah by having an Ismail Party of Five-Total Eclipse Party. Okay, okay, it's not as fancy as I'm making it sound. We will be here at the house waiting in anticipation of viewing the eclipse. It will be the perfect time for the five of us to hang out and witness what will be a historical event.

It turns out that Columbia, South Carolina is one of the top spots in the country where the view is slated to be at 100%! Our local news has estimated over 1 million people will make their way to our state to partake in seeing the eclipse. Hotels are sold out everywhere and they say traffic will be crazy all over. That's a great thing for South Carolina businesses, for sure. If you aren't sure if your area will be able to catch any of the action, you can check here by entering your zip code.

The most important thing we did to prepare for the eclipse was to first purchase eclipse safe glasses, which we did a month ago. Little William was listening to a news report in regards to viewing the eclipse safely and insisted we must have the proper eye-wear. Here are the ones we got. Lucky for us, they came in a pack of 5. Perfect for our family!

Since we purchased them early, they were very inexpensive. I have noticed a big rise in the cost all over. I guess people are recognizing how dangerous it can be to your eyes if you get too much exposure to the direct sun. Let's hope these glasses work because when you put them on, you can't see a thing! Of course William had to be the first to try them on. 

We are so excited to have the opportunity to view the total solar eclipse together. I hope that you live in an area so you can catch a glimpse, too. Now we will keep our fingers crossed that the weather will hold up! Will you be participating in this big event? 

*This post contains affiliate links. Any purchases made gives me a little pocket change.