April 16, 2018 · 1:42 pm

“Charlie & Frog: A Mystery” Book Blog Tour & #Giveaway

Are you looking for a page-turning, contemporary middle grade mystery novel filled with humor, intrigue and heartwarming friendships? If so, Charlie & Frog: A Mystery is a brand new book by debut author Karen Kane. My kids love the story of Frog AKA Francine Castle, who is deaf and shines as a tenacious, crime-solving protagonist who introduces Charlie to the world of sign language and teaches it throughout.

Charlie Tickler is feeling frustrated, all he wants is for his parents to listen, but they have left him once again. This time his parents are off to South Africa to help giant golden moles. Where does that leave Charlie? They dumped him off with his TV-obsessed grandparents.

Feeling lonely and curious, Charlie heads into the  village of Castle-on-the-Hudson, where a frightened old woman gives him a desperate message—in sign language. When she suddenly disappears, Charlie is determined to find answers.

Charlie walks into a cafe looking for help. He finds Francine who would much rather be solving crimes than working at the Flying Hands Cafe. This is her chance to be the world’s greatest detective that she has been dreaming about. She leaps at the chance to tackle a real-life case.

Together, Charlie and Frog set out to decipher a series of clues and uncover the truth behind the missing woman’s mysterious message. Charlie needs to learn American Sign Language (fast) to keep up with quick-witted Frog. And Frog needs to gather her detective know-how (now) to break the case before it’s too late.

Giveaway:

Disney Hyperion is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win their own hardcover copy of  Charlie & Frog: A Mystery! Thank you to Disney Hyperion for the review book and for sponsoring this thrilling giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! Open to US Residents.

Charlie & Frog: A Mystery Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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April 12, 2018 · 8:08 pm

Discover Elyptol- a Natural Sanitizer Spray and Gel #Giveaway

It is no secret, that I am a germophobe, in fact, you can always find sanitizer in my purse, car and on my desk. Problem is, many of the sanitizers on the market are not natural, and I am a stickler for natural products.

That is why I was excited to discover a natural antimicrobial hand sanitizer that is available as a spray and in a gel. It is called Elyptol, and it is the next generation of hand, skin and surface hygiene products.

Elyptol is safe and gentle and is enhanced by the healing properties of eucalyptus oil, combined with naturally sourced  ethanol.More than antibacterial, Elyptol is antimicrobial and kills a wider range of germs.

Elyptol’s products meet or exceed global efficacy standards across the antimicrobial spectrum by using natural green technology. Check out the features below:

  • FREE CARABINER CLIP WITH EVERY PURCHASE NOW THROUGH EARTH DAY (APR 22)!
  • Naturally Antibacterial formula kills 99.9999% of germs. Great alternative when soap and water are not available.
  • Nourishes, Moisturizes & Sanitizes Hands – Will Never Dry, Crack or Chap the Skin
  • Infused with Eucalyptus Oil to Leave a Non-Lasting Natural Scent. Safe and gentle for your skin when used as directed.
  • Certified USDA BioPreferred 100% Biobased Ingredients

I can tell you that if you like the smell of eucalyptus oil, you will love this sanitizer. Every time I use it, it totally clears my sinuses and is very refreshing. If you would like to try Elyptol, you can find the gel and spray on Amazon. Don’t forget to enter for your chance to win both the spray and the gel using the widget below. Good Luck!!!

Giveaway:
Win a Elyptol Gel & Spray bundle #2


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· 3:38 pm

8 Reasons You Should Use An Aromatherapy Diffuser

If you have been on the fence about getting an aromatherapy diffuser, this article might be the catalyst you need to make your decision. It is no doubt, you have heard many people talking about the health benefits of diffusing essential oils in their home. Below you will find 8 reasons why you should be using an aromatherapy diffuser in your home. 

cool mist humidifier and aromatherapy diffuser

 

Improves Mood

Did you know that diffusing certain types of essential oils can help improve your mood? It is true, they can make you feel energized, uplifted and even increase your focus. I love diffusing peppermint oil in the morning or when I am working on an important project. During the winter months when many suffer from seasonal depression, diffusing mood stimulating oils like peppermint, bergamot, grapefruit, lemon and orange can be very uplifting. In fact, those oils can be used daily in your diffuser to help enhance your mood and keep you feeling your best.

Relieves Stress

Just as the oils mentioned above can help to invigorate you, and elevate your mood, other oils are known for the way they can help you relax and unwind. Oils like lavender, chamomile, cedarwood, and ylang ylang can help you at the end of a tough day to soothe nervous tension.

Promotes Sleep

Taking into account the way certain oils can help you relax and unwind, diffusing oils in your bedroom can help promote a healthy, restful sleep. Lavender is well-known for helping you sleep better. In addition to diffusing it, you can add a few drops to your pillow case or into the wash when you launder your sheets.

Relieve Allergy Symptoms

Allergies can cause all kinds of respiratory issues. Did you know that using an aromatherapy diffuser can help ease scratchy throats, stuffy noses and clogged sinuses. Try oils like eucalyptus, tea tree, basil and peppermint to help you cope with irritating allergy symptoms. When you use a diffuser that is also a cool mist humidifier, the moisture it adds to the air will help you immensely.

Boost Immunity and Kill Germs

Did you know that certain oils when diffused can kill airborne germs?  Oils like tea tree, oregano, peppermint and lemon have powerful antimicrobials so they are perfect to diffuse during cold and flu season or when someone in your home is ill. They are also good to diffuse regularly to kill germs and help you stay healthy.

Freshen the Air in Your Home

Diffusing essential oils in an aromatherapy diffuser works to freshen the air in your home without the use of cancer causing and toxic chemical sprays. Diffuse scents you like to keep your home smelling its best. Lemon and other citrus oils not only create a pleasing citrus scent, but can even kill airborne germs.

Safer than Candles

Candles have been the cause of many home fires and can be a huge hazard in homes with children and pets. Aromatherapy diffusers are a safer alternative because they do not have an open flame. They also are cleaner than candles because they do not release smoke or suck oxygen out of your air.

Natural Insect Repellent

When you use your aromatherapy diffuser to diffuse oils like citronella, clove, lemongrass, rosemary and cedarwood you will find that mosquitoes, flies, fruit flies and moths stay away. Given these pesky insects can carry disease carrying germs, this is a huge health benefit of using an aromatherapy diffuser. So ditch the toxic bug spray and start diffusing.

These are just a few of the benefits of using an essential oil diffuser, there are many more. If you feel you are ready to try it out for yourself, you might like the Luna Top Fill Aromatherapy Diffuser by InvisiPure. This diffuser has a lot of features that make it a great choice.

One of the best things about the Luna is that it is also a cool mist humidifier. Not all aromatherapy diffusers are cool mist humidifiers and most cool mist humidifiers are not designed to diffuse essential oils like the Luna.  This means, the InvisiPure Luna Cool Mist Humidifier and Aromatherapy Diffuser will help put moisture back in your air as it diffuses your favorite oils. This is especially helpful during the winter and in dry climates. 

The InvisiPure Luna has a top fill design that makes it easy to fill and clean, in fact, the tank and all of the parts are easy to access and clean. You won’t have to use any type of cleaning brushes or tools to clean the Luna.

Check out all the features:

  • Ultrasonic top fill cool mist humidifier with magnetic suspension technology
  • 2.5L water tank
  • Lab tested and certified BPA FREE
  • Safe to use with all essential oils
  • Patented top fill water tank design for easy filling and cleaning
  • 360 degree adjustable mist nozzle
  • Automatic shut off when the water tank is removed or low on water
  • Seven color LED night-light can easily be cycled or turned on and off
  • Easy to use touch button controls for power, 3 timer settings, and 3 mist levels
  • Compact and lightweight in design that can be moved from any room in your home or office
  • Run Time: 58 hours(Low), 17 hours(Med), 10 hours (High)
  • Unit measures 7.95 x 7.95 x 10 inches and weighs 2.3 lbs. Power input: 110-240V.

 

This is a sponsored post, as always my words and views are 100% my own.


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April 11, 2018 · 2:58 am

Shop Personalized Cart For Special & Unique Gifts

Have you ever wracked your brain trying to think of the perfect gift for someone special? If you are like me, you probably have. When I am really stuck, I try to think of something unique. Personalized gifts are a great choice for one-of-a-kind presents.

Recently, I was looking for something special for my husband on Personalized Cart. I found a large watch case that was just perfect. My husband loves cases like this, and I appreciated how large it was with 12 compartments on top, and a drawer on the bottom. The top has a clear glass pane that allows you to see inside, but I thought you could add a special photo or other artwork to change the look.

Each of the compartments has a soft pillow that you can fasten your watch around. You could also remove the pillows to store other items. It is a very versatile box that can be used to store many kinds of items. The drawer on the bottom is perfect for holding my husband’s wallet, pens, passport and more. Best of all, I was able to have it customized with his initials.

 

The workmanship of the box was very nice with dovetail detail on the drawer and a sort of weathered finish that makes it look like an heirloom. This box would make a great birthday, Father’s Day or Christmas gift for anyone.

Check out the Personalized Cart site for many other items for women, men, babies, weddings and other occasions. Don’t miss the giveaway below for a monogram necklace. For other unique gifts, hover here for more info.

Giveaway:

Personalized Cart is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win a monogram necklace in the style of their choice. Thank you to Personalized Cart for the review watch case and for sponsoring this great giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! Open to US residents.

Monogram Necklace from Personalized Cart Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

 

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April 10, 2018 · 12:41 am

Get Cooking in Caillou’s Kitchen #Giveaway For 5 Winners

If your little ones love helping in the kitchen, they will love Caillou’s Kitchen on DVD. They will delight in watching Caillou’s adventures with food. He makes some delicious messes in the 16 fun-filled episodes on this DVD. Watch Caillou make a surprise breakfast for Mom and Dad, help Mom create a feast for guests and then creates a big gooey mess when he tries to make some cookies.

Caillou also learns all about being on his best behavior when eating out at a fancy restaurant. Caillou and babysitter Julie play dress up and then take turns being the waiters and so much more!

DVD Includes 16 Yummy Adventures:

  • Caillou’s Kitchen
  • Caillou Makes Cookies
  • Caillou’s Surprise Breakfast
  • Caillou Tidies His Toys
  • Caillou Goes Shopping
  • All You Can Eat
  • Sunday Brunch
  • Recipe for Fun
  • Caillou Becomes a Waiter
  • I Scream For Ice Cream!
  • Caillou’s Favorite Plate
  • Caillou’s Milk Run
  • Caillou’s Coins
  • Caillou the Timekeeper
  • Olive Muddle
  • Glitter Glitch

 Run time is approximately 60 minutes.

Giveaway for 5 Winners!!!

 

PBS Kids is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! 5 Lucky Blog Readers Will Each Win a Caillou’s Kitchen DVD!!! Thank you to PBS Kids for the review DVD and for sponsoring this amazing giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! Open to US Residents.

Caillou’s Kitchen DVD Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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· 1:18 am

“Tad The Lost Explorer and the Secret of King Midas” DVD Available April 10th!

My kids have a great imagination, and that is why I knew they would love the new movie, Tad the Lost Explorer and the Secret of King Midas. It was super easy for them to get lost in the adventure of this film. To help, we were sent an adventure kit to go along with the DVD and Digital copy. You can bring it home too on April 1oth! 

TAD THE LOST EXPLORER AND THE SECRET OF KING MIDAS

Get Lost in the Adventure on DVD & Digital April 10, 2018!

Tad and his loveable and zany friends are back in the all-new animated adventure TAD THE LOST EXPLORER AND THE SECRET OF KING MIDAS.  In this highly anticipated follow-up to the 2013 hit Tad, The Lost Explorer, Tad dreams of becoming an archeologist traveling the world, uncovering hidden secrets and lost treasure, but his job working construction keeps him daydreaming instead of exploring.

The chance of a lifetime comes when he is invited to attend archaeologist Sara Lavrof’s presentation of her latest discovery–the papyrus that proves the existence of the Necklace of Midas, the legendary King who turned everything he touched into solid gold.  When an evil billionaire forces Sara to help him find the enchanted talisman, Tad must rescue the girl of his dreams on a trip around the world, in this new hilarious, action-packed adventure the whole family will love!

This film is a recipient of the Dove Seal of Approval, TAD THE LOST EXPLORER AND THE SECRET OF KING MIDAS is rated PG and is an ideal family film loaded with fun, laughter and adventure.  Are you excited to see this new movie? Let me know in the comments.

 


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April 7, 2018 · 7:34 pm

Easy DIY Birthday Shirt – Video Tutorial

I know that I have shared a DIY Birthday Shirt with you before in a blog post. This time, I decided to do a video tutorial. I hope you see how easy this is, even if you are brand new to sewing. This shirt is great for kid’s birthdays or as a photo prop. You can even make them as gag gifts for adults. You can make the shirt for under $5!

Beyond the birthday theme, you can applique them with letters, symbols, animals objects and more. Watch the video below to get all the details.

Let me know what you think, and if you try this, I would love to hear about your results.


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April 5, 2018 · 11:07 pm

Rethinking the Way You Budget in Two Simple Steps

Learning how to put money aside for when you need it can often prove to be a difficult endeavor. Most people make saving a priority but that does not mean it is a straightforward path for everyone. If you make the same amount of money each month, you may feel like you do not have the extra cash available to save. While this might be true to the naked eye, a little bit of effort can reveal all sorts of appealing and practical tactics for saving money and still covering your monthly expenses.

Provide yourself with some useful tips by looking over some of these suggestions for how to save. By taking the right steps, you might find it is much easier to start saving money for your future than you had believed.

Step One: Your Car

Before you look at other areas of your budget, you want to start with your car. Most families own at least one vehicle in the current day and age. While your cars provide you with a sense of freedom and the ability to take on daily responsibilities with success, automobiles also eat away at a budget easier than most other investments. If your car is costing you more than you would like, it might be a good time to start thinking about how you can adjust the amount of money you spend on keeping it roadworthy.

For many, this comes down to changing insurance policies. When your car is costing you an arm and a leg, you want to slow down and look over how much you spend on your plan. Reaching out to another insurance agency for quotes can help you to learn more about your options. If you find that you can save more by switching providers, then you might want to take advantage of this option and see what type of impact it has on your budget moving forward. Speak with an agent and get a more well-rounded understanding of your choices.

Step Two: Your Lifestyle

How you live your life is also going to hold sway over how much money you spend daily. Some people work long hours which can lead to a lot of time spent away from the home. The more time you spend in the office, the less likely it is you are able to bring meals from home to eat when you get a break. Spending money on food is one of the easiest ways people waste money. Instead of buying lunch or dinner to eat at your desk, try to get into the habit of bringing it from home.

To stop extraneous spending, you need to take a look at your life and see where you need to do the most work. This is a long journey that will often require a lot of attention and patience from you. Following the above steps will help to give you a solid understanding of how to begin your journey. Once the ball is rolling, it will be up to you to make sure it gains momentum and helps you to save money for your future in sensible ways.

This is a sponsored guest post that does not necessarily represent the views or ideals of Mommy Ramblings.

 


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· 8:13 pm

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store is Your Destination for Homestyle Southern Cooking

I cannot believe it is the beginning of April, and we have ice all over the trees. The weather has been so crazy here in the northeast. We recently took a trip up to Binghamton, and it was downright nasty out. Coming home we found ourselves dealing with freezing rain. Thankfully, we made it home safe! One of the best things about that night, was having dinner at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store. 

As soon as we crossed the threshold into the country store, we stepped back in time. It was as if we were teleported back in time to an old-fashioned general store.

Glancing around we saw classic toys, old-fashioned candies, apparel, home and garden accessories on our way toward the dining room, which is adorned with oak tables and chairs. We can count on Cracker Barrel to have a warm fire burning which warmed our bodies and souls. We were fortunate to be seated at a table in front of the large hearth and fireplace. There are mind teaser puzzles on the table, as well as, all kinds of nostalgic items hanging on the dining room walls.

Cracker Barrel has an extensive menu including all day breakfast, with so many great southern favorites, it is hard to choose. We had a friendly server who did not mind allowing us some extra time to look over the menu.

My husband ordered the Country Fried Shrimp which consists of a half pound of buttermilk-battered shrimp and Cracker Barrel’s signature hush puppies served with tangy cocktail sauce.  He was able to pick three country sides to go with his dinner. My husband chose a side salad (counts as 2 sides) and pinto beans.

One of our sons and I each ordered the 10 oz. Rib Eye Steak cooked medium with three sides, He picked fries, macaroni and cheese and apple slices and I choose a baked potato and green beans.

Our youngest son had the Chicken Tenderloins which can be ordered marinated and grilled or crispy friend with BBQ or Honey Mustard sauce. He wanted them crispy fried and with BBQ sauce. For his sides he had corn, fries and macaroni and cheese. A large plate of their made from scratch Buttermilk Biscuits and Corn Muffins was brought for all of us.

The kids had homestyle lemonade and raspberry lemonade, I had coffee which our waitress refilled promptly and my husband had sweet tea.

After dinner myself, my husband and one of our sons ordered  one of the Frozen Mug Sundaes with Roasted Almonds. Our other son had the Double Chocolate Fudge Coca-Cola Cake which is served warm with rich, creamy vanilla ice cream. I had a bite and it was delicious! My husband and I each had one of their new hand crafted mocha lattes which are served with chocolate syrup drizzled whipped cream.

Needless to say, we were warm and stuffed with good, old-fashioned southern cooking when we left. One nice thing about taking a road trip is that you can usually find a Cracker Barrel along the way. They are usually located in areas that make it easy to get off and on the highway. I love that they have so many locations, over 600 stores in over 40 states.  It is nice that even when traveling to new places, I can count on Cracker Barrel to make us feel right at home.

So, let me know if you love Cracker Barrel as much as I do. I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

A big plate of their made from scratch Buttermilk Biscuits and Corn Muffins was brought for all of us.

This post was sponsored by Cracker Barrel who provided us with gift certificates for dinner. As always, my words and views are 100% my own.

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