Cascade Complete

Have you tried the new Cascade Complete All-in-1 ActionPacs?  I have and I love them.  In my house, we have a bad habit of baking something and then leaving the baking dish sit for a day or two.  I love to cook but I hate to clean up the dishes from cooking!  So, obviously, I need something that is able to fight off the nasty dried on messes on my dishes.  I tried the ActionPacs and love them!  They really do work!

I was challenged to bake something and then see how well the ActionPacs worked.  I, of course, forgot to take a picture of my scummy dish so I will come back and put up a before and after picture later.  But, let me tell you, my dish was clean after the wash cycle.

 If you have never seen the gel pacs, they look like the picture above.  They have swirls of different stuck-on food fighting ingredients.  They are actually cool little packs.  I love the no mess thing about them.  I don't have to worry about squeezing too much soap into the dishwasher or getting it all over the place.  I just pop a Pac and I am good to go!

The best part is that you can get them for fairly cheap.  You can try the trial pack for less than $1 from Walmart.  This gives you 3 ActionPacs to try out to see if you will be hooked on them too.  P&G & MyBlogSpark have provided several giveaways for me to offer.  I have a $15 Walmart giftcard & 5 trial packs.  To be entered into the giveaway, you must follow my blog and you must fill out the form below.

Thanks to P&G and MyBlogSpark for providing the Cascade Complete All-in-1 ActionPacs Kit, trial packs & $15 Walmart Gift Card.

Deal-a-Day Websites

Candace Parkson, a web promoter, sent me a link to a website where you can learn more about those Deal-a-Day websites that are promoting all kinds of great deals.  Click here to see how they benefit from you getting a "good" deal.  Thanks Candace!

Pay It Forward Winner

I have read the submissions for the $50 gift card giveaway.  I have chosen Karalin L. to pay if forward to her friend.  Here is her story of how she desires to Pay It Forward:



I have a friend that lost her job earlier this year and she was the main breadwinner and insurance holder. Right at the same time she lost her job, her mother was diagnosed with late-term cancer (bone, I think?). It had already begun to spread to other parts of her body. Sure enough, I just found out this morning that her mother passed away yesterday. My friend feels so stressed and overwhelmed. I would LOVE to help her by filling up her pantry and making her a warm meal. With coupons, I could make that $50 stretch and take at least one minor worry off her plate for a while.

I feel that this is a fabulous way to help someone in our community which was the mission of Pampers for this promotion.  I will have Karalin submit a follow up post for me to keep my readers posted on the results of her good thoughts.

Yoplait Kids Snack Offer

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 Have you or your children tried the Yoplait Kids yogurt?  My little man actually loves the yogurt.  Here is a great videos to get more information about Yoplait Kids by the author of Mama's Boy, Christine Coppa!

If you liked that video, there are several others that you can check out here:

http://bit.ly/YPKSnackChat1,

http://bit.ly/YPKSnackChat2,

http://bit.ly/YPKSnackChat3,

http://bit.ly/YPKSnackChat4,

http://bit.ly/YPKSnackChat5,

http://bit.ly/YPKSnackChat6,

http://bit.ly/YPKSnackChat7,

http://bit.ly/YPKSnackChat8

Information was provided by Yoplait through MyBlogSpark.

Guest Post - Frugal Tips

Three Frugal Tips That Are Too Simple To Skip

Today's financial climate has inspired many things. With saving money on the forefront of everyone's mind, the internet is swarming with frugal tips and tricks. While some of these helpful hints are less than practical (toilet train your cat, really?), there are several incredibly simple tricks to frugality that can save anyone some extra cash. These three tricks are extremely easy steps you can take to help you save on your household expenses.

Many of us fail to realize just how significant the amount of money we spend on groceries really is each month. For most households, the grocery bill is the largest bill we pay. The easiest way to save money on grocery shopping is by writing a grocery list before you leave for the store. Go through your kitchen and pantry before you leave and write down all of the items that you are out of. Try to devise a meal plan for the week, so that you can go to the store with specific meals in mind. This way you can purchase the items you need for individual meals without forgetting items or getting items you do not need. All too often, we go to the store and buy whatever items we see on the shelves that look appetizing. This often leads to either buying things we do not actually need or want or having duplicate items in our pantry. Each of these situations leads to both a waste of money and a waste of food. The key to cutting back on unnecessary purchases at the store is planning a careful list before you leave and sticking to it. Do not deviate from your list. Also, beware of the store's discount marketing plans. Signs will often say "4 for $4" and people think this means that they must buy four items. Usually this sign means that each item costs one dollar a pop.

Next, cook large dinners in the evening and freeze the leftovers. Cook up a double or triple batch of casserole or pasta and put the remaining food in meal sized tuperware containers. You can then take these pre-cooked meals to work for lunch or serve them again for dinner some time later in the week. Although leftovers are never super popular with the kids, there are things you can do to spice things up a little. Try adding new and fresh side dishes to go alongside the leftover meal. Eating leftovers is a great way to save money and time for the busy professional parent. Eating out is a huge expense. While going out to dinner for a special occasion or celebration can be a lot of fun, it is usually very expensive and not particularly healthy. Eating leftovers can save you a significant amount of dough and a significant amount of time.

Lastly, (and I know this one is going to be less popular) try to eat less meat. Meat is expensive. Cut back on the amount of meat that you eat and notably cut back on your spending. Don't get me wrong. I love eating a delicious steak or a tasty fish filet. But, these dishes can be very pricy. At least once a week, on a day that you would have eaten a meat product, try replacing it with a delicious and inexpensive meatless meal. Pasta dishes, vegetarian chili, and hummus with pitas are all great choices, among dozens and dozens of others. I'm not suggesting that you become a vegetarian (although that probably would save us some money), but sacrificing some of your meaty meals can help you save quite a bit of cash.

Saving money takes a little more effort and a little more forethought. While these tips are not going to give you thousands more in the bank right away, they can help you save little by little. The key to living a frugal life is doing it one small purchase or practice at a time.

Author Bio:
Donna Reish, a freelancer who blogs about best universities, contributed this guest post.  She loves to write education, career, frugal living, finance, health, parenting relating articles. She can be reached via email at: donna.reish13@gmail.com.

Pay it Forward

In our economy today, it is the "thing" to be thrifty it seems.  We are always trying to find savings wherever we can and cut corners where we can.  I think sometimes we forget that there are others that don't even have the option to cut corners.  How can you cut when you never start with anything?

Pampers has a campaign running called "Little Miracles Mission".  They had the fabulous mission to Pay-It-Forward within individual communities.  They have sent me a $50 gift card to use to help someone in need.  They told me I could use it however I saw fit to help someone in need.

Here is how I have chosen to use it.  I have a friend from church who works at a local pregnancy resource center.  I asked her to find me a mother that has a real need and could be greatly blessed by $50 worth of goods.  Here is the story for the family I am supporting.

The family of S (names changed for confidentiality) is a couple who recently had a set of twins and already had 4 children.  The father is unemployed and the mother works a part-time job but searching for more employment.  They are definitely struggling but are very thankful for what they do have.  Unemployment is a hard thing to deal with but the fact that they are trying to do better for themselves makes me happy to help support their efforts and be a blessing to them.

With the $50 I was able to purchase 6 bags of diapers, 2 large packs of wipes and a box of disposable nursing pads for the family.  I hope to deliver them this week.  I did not purchase Pampers diapers for this family because I got what was the best deal so I could get them the most possible for the money.  (Pictures to come.)

I love that Pampers is running this promotion.  Babies are a special treasure no matter how they got to this world or what they are like, they are a special little miracle.  Here is a wonderful video that Pampers put together to show their mission.

Because Pampers wants to continue their mission, they are offering one of my readers a $50 gift card to Pay-It-Forward as well.  Here is what you need to do to win the $50 gift card:

1.  Tell me how you would use your $50 gift card.

2.  Once I have read and considered all the entries, I will write a post of how the 2nd $50 will be used.

3.  Once the winner receives  the gift card, they must purchase the items and write a post (if they have a blog and link my blog) or send me an email story about how the $50 was used (so I can make a post).

Welcome to Thank Goodness Its Friday! Our linky will open every Thursday night so you can join us for Thank Goodness Its Friday, also known as TGIF. Let’s make some new blogging friends and celebrate the end of a wonderful week!

<center><a href="http://2against1-twins.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="TGIF Blog Hop" src="http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k586/2Against1/tgifbutton.jpg" /></a></center>

Would you like to be featured as our Guest Host for theTGIF blog hop? Just fill out this form by clicking here. We are promoting growing blogs with less than 500 followers.

To join us in the Thank Goodness Its Friday Blog Hop, follow these 3 easy steps!

#1 Follow your three hosts via GFC and leave them a comment on their blog to let them know you are following from the TGIF blog hop (if you already follow via GFC, follow on facebook, twitter, or networked blogs)

"

#2 Follow our guest hosts, Riannon, from Mom on a Mission 2008, and SSK Craftshop from Hooks, Needles and Brushes.

#3 Add your blog to the linky

#4 Follow the 2 blogs directly above yours and leave a comment letting them know you are following from TGIF Blog Hop.

Then, please stop by as many blogs as you can.

We’d love it if you would place the button to the Blog Hop somewhere on your page, whether it’s on your sidebar, a “Blog Hops” page, or a separate post. Please help us support this blog hop!

Have fun and remember to stop by again next week!

Guest Post: How to Reface Your Kitchen Cabinet

How to Reface Your Kitchen Cabinets

If your kitchen is getting "rustic" feel to it, and you really don’t want it looking that way, perhaps it’s time to replace your old, worn cabinets. A fresh, new set of cabinets will rejuvenate the entire kitchen. There’s only one problem--you don’t have enough money to install new cabinets. There is an inexpensive alternative--reface them instead. It’ll give the kitchen that revitalized appearance you’re looking for at a fraction of the price. Here are some tips on how to reface your kitchen cabinets.

Reface or Replace

The first thing you need to look at is the condition of the existing cabinets. If they are structurally sound, then refacing is a viable alternative. However, if the cabinets are in poor condition, then it would probably be better to consider replacing them. Refacing can give your kitchen cabinets a like new look for much less expense. Doing the work yourself can save a bundle, and you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you did it. Each time you enter your kitchen, you’ll have a new appreciation of your work.

Preparing to Reface

Before starting the process, you need to remove all the hardware and brackets on the cabinets. Remove the hinges and place the cabinets on a flat surface. Although it’s possible to do the refacing job on the kitchen table doing it outside or in a well ventilated garage would be much better. Once the cabinets have been taken down and moved to your work area, you’re ready to begin.

Removing the Old Paint

Getting rid of the old paint is the first step in refacing your cabinets. Scrape the paint off using a paint scraper (available at any hardware or paint store.) If the paint is exceptionally thick, you may have to use paint thinner to soften it up. Use a mask so you won’t be breathing the fumes. Some older cabinets may have been painted with lead-based paint and the fumes could be harmful to you.

Smoothing the Surface

After the paint is removed you’ll need to make sure the surfaces of the cabinets are smooth. Use a power sander or do it by hand. The power sander would be quicker, but you run the risk of making gouges. Either way, start with a rough grit and make sure all the paint is removed. Use a finer grit sandpaper to smooth out the entire surface. Once the surface is smooth you’re ready to move to the next step.

Resurfacing

When the cabinets are smooth it’s time to actually reface them. There are a couple of choices you can make for your new look. One is to paint. Another is to apply a veneer. Each has some merit.

Painting is simpler, quicker, and requires less expertise to ensure it’s done correctly. Veneers come in many textures and colors and can provide a more stylized appearance. Choosing a finish for your cabinets is a decision that you can base on personal preference and your budget. Once you’ve decided on how to reface your cabinets you’re ready to proceed to the next step.

Painting

If you’ve decided to paint, the first step is to make sure the surfaces of the cabinets are smooth and clean. Brush off any grit left from the sander. Apply the paint in smooth, even strokes making sure the entire surface is uniformly coated. It would advisable to give the cabinets a second coat, or even a third, to ensure they will remain looking new for as long as possible. When the paint is dry, put on new handles and hinges, and the cabinets are ready to hang.

Veneer

A veneer is a thin coating of material designed to cover a surface, such as your old cabinets. Veneer is made of very thin strips of wood that can be placed over the existing surface. The veneer can be much more decorative than the original surfacing and comes in many styles and colors. It is applied by peeling off a protective covering which protects an adhesive surface.

If you’ve decided on a veneer, the first step is the same as painting; make sure the surface is smooth and brush off any grit left from the sander. Cut each piece of veneer to size. It may be advisable to leave a small margin that can be trimmed later. Remove the protective covering from the back of the veneer and place it on the surface of the cabinet. Be careful to place the veneer squarely on the cabinet. Starting in the center and working your way toward the edges should prevent bubbles from forming. Using a flat piece of wood, make sure the veneer is applied evenly, and then trim the edges. Once the adhesive dries you’re ready to install the new handles and hinges and hang your newly refaced cabinets.

Guest post from Bailey Harris, who writes about home insurance and related topics for http://www.homeownersinsurance.org/.

What Is Your Favorite Thing About Easter?

I absolutely love Spring.  Here where I live, Easter is usually right around the time when Spring is in full bloom.  I love the weather warming up, the flowers & trees blossoming, animals become very active and you can hear kids playing outside.

My absolute favorite thing to do is just step outside and breath it all in.  Nothing is more enjoyable or relaxing than to see Spring come alive.

 It is always fun to see all the kids line up at the mall and wait to meet the Easter bunny.  They are always dressed up so cute in their matching Easter clothing, adorable little hats and bows.  I also enjoy watching a good Easter egg hunt.  It is neat to see even the littlest of kids get so excited to find a hidden egg.

Every year, our family gathers at my mom's house and have an Easter lunch.  After lunch, we sit inside and chat while she goes out and hides the eggs in the yard.  She makes a lot of them really easy to find as our kids are still pretty young.  Some of them she makes more difficult.  We take lots of pictures and video of the kids searching for the eggs.  They each have a basket to fill.  It is really cute to see them fill their baskets to overflow and more eggs fall out then they put in.  This is a tradition that I play to continue and hope my kids will continue it with their children as well.

Don't forget about my annual Easter egg voting contest here on the blog.  The week before Easter, my family gets together one night and we paint eggs.  We try to make original creations.  One egg picture from each family member is uploaded onto my blog and I let my readers vote on which egg is their favorite.  I usually offer a gift card to a store to one lucky person who votes.  Not only is this a fun opportunity for you, my readers, but also bragging rights for my lucky family member.  I have yet to have one of my eggs be a winner :-(.  Last year, my mom's won and the year before my 2 year old won.  Lots of fun is had by all.

Though I love the awesome Easter weather, Spring coming alive, kids enjoying festivities, the real meaning of Easter is always first on my mind.  It is the day we celebrate that Jesus rose from the grave and fulfilled Bible prophecy.  Just like at Christmas, He is the real reason for the season!  Rather than dressing my kids up to go see the Easter bunny, we dress up to go to church and celebrate Jesus with all our friends.

What is your favorite thing about Easter?

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Hop blogging program, for a gift card worth $25.  For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Disney on Ice Mickey's Magical Journey Review

My family had a blast at the Disney on Ice show last night.  We were able to attend opening night and the place was packed!  We had a terrible time fighting through traffic to get to parking and into the show that we missed the first 15 minutes, unfortunately.

Once we got there, it was awesome.  I absolutely love to watch ice skating and the bright colors and familiar characters made it all the more fun!

 The above picture was from The Little Mermaid.  The ugly sea witch was scary looking for sure!  It made me want to watch the movie again!  The Little Mermaid (Two-Disc Platinum Edition)

 This one was from Lilo & Stitch.  My little guy has never seen this movie and he was amused by Stitch.  I guess I will have to at least rent this one for him.  Lilo & Stitch 2-Disc Big Wave Edition

This one is the finale.  All the characters came out for their final appearance.  There was so much color and action!  I like that they used very well known movies like Peter Pan & The Little Mermaid and then not so well known (to us anyways), Lion King & Lilo & Stitch.  I really enjoyed the show.

If you have been thinking of going and have not bought your tickets yet, be sure to do so.  You have until Sunday, the 20th to get tickets for the show!  Be sure to use code: MOM to get a family 4-pack of tickets for $44 (some restrictions apply).

If you saw the show, leave a comment and let me know what you thought of it!

Yoplait Kids Review & Giveaway!

Congrats to Susan M. for winning this giveaway!

Do you struggle to find nutritious snacks for your kids?  I know I do.  I think I have the pickiest 3 year old on the face of the planet!  He will not eat vegetables and he hardly eats any fruits.  He has no problem eating cheese but anything else is a chore.

He does like certain yogurts though.  He seems to like the Yoplait Go-Gurt pretty well.  Yoplait Kids yogurts are an excellent source of Vitamin D & Calcium as well as protein.  It also contains 25% less sugar than other kids yogurts.  Another great quality is that it does not contain high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners.

Not only do I feel okay giving my little guy Yoplait Kids yogurts but I don't mind the price either.  It is only about $2 for a 4 pack and with coupons even less than that.  It currently comes in 3 flavors that seem to be kid favorites:  Strawberry, Strawberry/Banana, & Vanilla.  They even come in themed cups from Dora, Cars, & the Disney Princesses to entice your kids even further.

Yoplait Kids has teamed up with Christine Coppa, a mom-blogger and author of Rattled!  Be sure to visit Yoplait on Facebook for other great tips and product information.  If you tweet, you can also follow them on Twitter.  Yoplait & MyBlogSpark would also like to offer you a coupon for $.50/1 4-pack of Yoplait Kids yogurt here & here.

Yoplait & MyBlogSpark would also like to offer one of my readers a Yoplait Kids Prize Pack as seen below.  Tons of things your kids will love to play with while they eat their yogurt!  There are even a coupon for FREE yogurt* & yogurt spoons in the prize pack to eat with. *This coupon offer for a free four pack of Yoplait Kids yogurt is not valid in some states, including California, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota and Tennessee (sorry!).

To enter the giveaway you MUST be a Google Friends Connect follower of Mom On A Mission 2008 (left sidebar) & fill out the form below.  Please only fill out the form one time, extra entries are included on the form.

Do you have your Disney on Ice tickets yet?

Don't forget, Disney on Ice Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey is coming to the Scottrade Center in St. Louis Thursday through Sunday, the 17th-20th!  If you enjoy attending opening night, like I do, you better get your tickets quick!

You can purchase your tickets through TicketMaster but be sure to use code: MOM.  With this code, you will get a Family 4-pack of tickets for $44!  Thanks is only $11 per ticket.  The show times that this code qualifies for are:

• Thursday 7pm
• Friday 10:30am
• Saturday 11am
• Sunday 1pm
• Sunday 5pm

If you are intested in winning a family 4-pack for free, visit my Facebook page tomorrow at

3pm for a flash giveaway!

Angell Organic Candy Bar Review

I recently had the chance to try out some new organic candy bars called Angell bars.  They are awesome!  The company sent me all three of the flavors to try out.  The greatest thing about these candy bars is that they aren't loaded with corn syrup and they are organic!  Who doesn't want a candy bar that they don't have to feel guilty about?  I am a slight chocoholic so these were a breath of fresh air.

The Crisp ones are just that, crispy!  It is made of creamy milk chocolate and rice crisps.  This one is also gluten free for those of you who have to avoid gluten.  It was chewy and crispy at the same time, awesome!

This one was made with dark organic chocolate, cocoa center and almonds for a little crunch.  I am normally not a fan of dark chocolate.  What made this bar good for me was the soft cocoa center and the almonds.  I think the almonds kind of broke up the super dark chocolate idea to me.  It still definitely has the dark chocolate bittersweet taste to it so those of you that like dark chocolate will love it.

Let me tell you, this one was my absolute favorite!!!  This one is made with creamy white chocolate with an organic coconut center.  It was amazing!  I loved the smooth coconut flavor which really added to the white chocolate.  If you like coconut even a little bit, you should definitely try this one!

These candy bars are not available in all areas yet.  You can go to their locator here and see if any stores in your area sell them.  Otherwise, you can buy the Snow Angell and Dark Angell on Amazon.com.  Click the links to order!

A 3 Year Old's Must-Have!

I reviewed this book last year but my son was really too young to grasp the concept.  He loved the pictures and wanted me to read him the book but it wasn't until this year that he really got it.  This year was the first year he was to go to the dentist.

About 1 week before his dentist appointment, I grabbed this book back out and read it to him.  He remembered it and really loved it this time.  Each different tool in the book, I was sure to explain to him and let him know that he was going to see all those tools. 

He wanted me to read the book to him several times a day.  By the day of his dentist appointment, he knew what each tool was called and what it does.  When we went in, he was telling the dental assistant what each thing was before she had a chance to.  He was ready.  He was not scared of anything she pulled out.  He thought the whole process was cool, like he was living out his story book.

If you have a little guy that is about to go to the dentist, you may want to consider investing in this book.  It really was neat to see my little guy just glow at all the dental equipment instead of fear it.  He still can't talk about how clean his Melvins are!

(Click on the image above and it will take you to view &/or purchase the book from Amazon.com.)

Progresso Soup Review & Giveaway

Becky is the winner of this giveaway. You have been emailed and have 48 hours to respond with your mailing address. Congrats on your win!

On a cold winter day, there is nothing better than warming up to a hot cup of soup and maybe even a mug of hot chocolate.  One of my favorite soups is Progresso.  It is not only great tasting soup, it is also healthy.  I love the large chunks of vegetables that are in the soups.

Did you know that there are 40 different flavors of Progresso soup with 100 calories or less.  I had no idea there was that many.  It seems that the stores I shop at only carry 4-5 different flavors.  If your New Year's resolution was to slim your mid section, this soup might just be what you are looking for.  If you are on Weight Watchers, 100 calories is only 2 points which is great for a snack when you are a little hungry or just need a pick-me-up.

Progresso also decided on a new outlook for the New Year, the "Souper You Debut" Contest.  From now until March 16th, visit Progresso on Facebook to enter a sweepstakes for your chance to win a full makeover in New York City!  Here is what 3 Grand Prize Winners could win:

• Trip for 2 to New York City, May 20th-22nd
• Roundtrip Airfare
• 2-Night stay in a NYC hotel
• Full makeover
• Guided wardrobe shopping spree w/ a personal consultant at a NYC department store
• $1,000 spending money

Here is what you will have to do to enter:

• Go to Progresso on Facebook and enter the contest.
• Submit a 200 character or less essay telling Progresso why you love their 100 calorie or less soups & why you deserve a chance to win the NYC trip.
• Submit a photo of yourself that reinforces the theme of your essay.

10 finalists will be chosen.  Visit Progresso on Facebook from March 30th-April 13th to vote for which of the 10 is your favorite.

If you are interested in printing a coupon for $1/4 cans of Progress soup, click here.  While you are there, you can check out makeover videos by MyStyle.com & the Style Network.  You can also follow Progresso on Twitter.

Now that you have read about the great sweepstakes you can enter, here is a chance to win what you see in the picture above.  My Blog Spark & Progresso soup would like to offer one of my readers the Progresso Prize Pack.  Simply fill in the form below for your chance to win.  It is MANDATORY that you be a Google Friends Connect follower of my blog.

Disney on Ice Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey

Get excited all! Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey will be in St. Louis before you know it. March 17-20, 2011 plan on heading to the Scottrade Center to watch the show. It will be an amazing time to enjoy Mickey & all his friends.

When you purchase your tickets through TicketMaster use code MOM and you can get 4 tickets for $44 at the following show times:

Thursday 7pm

Friday 10:30am

Saturday 11am

Sunday 1pm

Sunday 5pm

Here are some coloring sheets you can download for your kids to have fun with before the show comes. Who is your kid's (or your) favorite Disney character? My little guys favorite character is Mickey Mouse. Mine would have to be Mulan.

Organic Family Garden Guest Post

How to Grow an Organic Family Garden

If you’re in the mood for fresh herbs and vegetables, the best way to get them is to plant your own garden. Most gardeners agree that vegetables taste better and are better for you when they’re grown organically. Even if you have a modest amount of time and space, it’s easy to grow an organic family garden. Here are some tips to help you get started.

What Is an Organic Garden?

An organic garden is a garden that is grown without the use of chemicals or pesticides. The organic gardener takes advantage of natural fertilizers and composting by using the decomposable material that might otherwise go to a landfill.

Most advocates of organic gardens say that not using chemicals or pesticides improves the taste of the vegetables and herbs and is also healthier. Organic vegetables have a high content of vitamins and natural minerals which have proven to be better for your overall health. Growing your own herbs and vegetables will save on your grocery bill, and if you store them right you can enjoy the bounty year round.

Space Is Not a Concern

Your family organic garden need not take up acres and acres of property. All you really need is a patch of soil and the determination to grow your own herbs and vegetables. In urban environments, some people’s gardens consist of nothing more than a few planters on a window ledge or patio. Your garden can be designed to feed your family for months or merely supplement their diet.

How to Plant an Organic Garden

Prior to starting an organic garden, do as much reading as you can on the subject. Ask friends and neighbors who are already experienced organic gardeners for tips. Most people who have been gardening organically will be more than happy to help you get started. Organic gardeners are like a fraternity--they believe in the practice and strongly advocate it.

You will also need to collect the seeds to be used. For a truly organic garden, you need to use organic seeds. This may sound silly, but there is a difference. Organic seeds come from plants that have been grown organically. They haven’t been genetically altered.

Many people use heirloom seeds and heirloom plants, because their seeds can be harvested and used in subsequent years. These are seeds and plants that haven’t been genetically altered and were not grown commercially.

Preparing the Soil

Soil preparation is also important in organic gardening. The better prepared your soil is before you plant the better your chances are of harvesting a good crop. Establishing a healthy root system is necessary for the organic plants to thrive, and nutrient rich soil is the key. The process of getting your soil ready to plant is relatively simple--but can take time.

It may be best to begin the process of preparing your soil a year before actually planting. Mixing compost and natural fertilizers will help draw out any leftover chemicals and revitalize the nutrients in the soil. You must also check the pH level with a soil testing kit, which can be purchased at most nurseries or hardware stores. The kit will come with instructions. If you’re unsure of how to test or how to interpret the results consult with someone you know who is more experienced than you are. Knowing how to prepare the soil is an art in and of itself. After you learn how to do it the benefits will be obvious when you harvest your first crop of vegetables or herbs. They will taste terrific.

Caring for Your Garden

After the garden is planted taking care of it becomes a necessity. Making sure it is properly watered and fertilized is a daily responsibility. Weeding should also be kept up. If weeds are left to go to seed, they can spread quickly. Since your garden is organic, you will want to avoid using chemicals and stick to weeding by hand.

Guest post from Bailey Harris, who writes about car insurance quotes for www.carinsurancequotes.net.

Guest Post - Jiffy Lube Love Me, Love Me Not?

Love Me, Love Me Not? Americans’ Response is Loud and Clear When It Comes To Their Vehicles

Jiffy Lube® Survey Reveals Special Bond Between Drivers and their Faithful Road Companions

Whether it was love at first sight or a relationship that developed over time and many miles, there’s no denying it – drivers love their vehicles. With the holiday dedicated to love just around the corner, a national survey conducted by Jiffy Lube International shows that drivers shower their rides with affection just as they do a close friend or family member. More than a third of American drivers reveal they’ve humanized their relationships with their vehicle by providing words of encouragement, doling out compliments, and apologizing or saying thanks.

Expressions of Love

Open communication is a driving factor in the relationship between man (or woman) and machine these days – with many drivers admitting they very openly express their love and affection for their set of wheels. In fact, drivers are 30 percent more likely to encourage their cars for good performance than they were three years ago[1]. Today, 60 percent of drivers say they provide encouragement to their rides in various ways, allowing the relationship to blossom as the pair travels along the roads of life. How else are drivers showing love for their vehicles?

Simple Support – Drivers show their endearments in many ways, proving that sometimes actions speak just as loudly as words. Three-in-five drivers say they have shown affection for their cars by providing verbal support or physical gestures of encouragement – such as rubbing the dashboard or steering wheel – to get their rides to start up, speed up, not stall out or stop.

Friendly Flirting – More than a third of drivers compliment their vehicles. Dependability, superior performance and appearance top the list of drivers’ reasons for bestowing praise on their rides – if only the rides could flatter their owners in the same way.

Abundant Appreciation – Ever been thankful to get somewhere on-time, make it through rough weather or on a limited fuel supply? Almost half of drivers have thanked their cars for a job well done and nearly a third has apologized to their vehicles – be it for driving recklessly or getting into an accident.

“Valentine’s Day is about celebrating love and appreciation for special people in our lives, but for some people that extends beyond friends and family to their vehicles,” said Eric Eurich, head of marketing for Jiffy Lube International. “Just like any relationship, the one between driver and vehicle is built on taking care of each other. As drivers, we rely on our rides to get us to where we need to go, and our rides depend on us to properly care for them.”

In it for the Long Haul & Avoiding Heartache

Long-term relationships are also on the rise, with nearly nine-out-of-10 drivers planning to keep their vehicles as long as possible. It’s no wonder, since more than three-quarters of drivers have experienced major life milestones, such as having a baby, getting a new job, or acquiring a new pet, while owning their current vehicles. In fact, for some, vehicles outlast significant others – one-in-10 drivers say that his/her current vehicle has been with him/her through a break-up with a significant other or spouse.

Drivers’ passion for keeping their ride alive has become a national trend, and today, odometers are sporting hundreds of thousands of miles, with more than a quarter of drivers aspiring to clock 250,000 miles or more before moving on[2]. Drivers who are passionate about standing by their ride for the many miles ahead can confess their love and share their stories with the Jiffy Lube Facebook community, “Keeping My Ride Alive.” Visitors can cruise the site to browse photos and stories from other enthusiastic drivers, or share their own photos and stories. No matter what the relationship status, every driver is welcome to join the community by “liking” the page and uploading their vehicle’s image and story. Visit www.Facebook.com/KeepingMyRideAlive to share a story and read about others.

So what’s the secret to any long-term relationship? Proper preventive maintenance. To help drivers express their affection for their rides and keep them running for years to come, Jiffy Lube offers quick and easy preventive maintenance services, including the popular Jiffy Lube Signature Service® Oil Change – a convenient service that includes changing, inspecting, checking/filling and cleaning key vehicle parts and fluids and offers drivers a quick and convenient way to maintain their vehicle. This Valentine’s Day, drivers can demonstrate their commitment to the relationship by ensuring their ride keeps up with its preventive maintenance – a date involving a Jiffy Lube Signature Service® Oil Change might be just the right way to show how much they care.

To find a Jiffy Lube in your area, please visit Locations.JiffyLube.com. Drivers can also visit JiffyLube.com to find oil change coupons and promotions, Jiffy Lube news articles, community involvement programs and events, franchise information, and employment opportunities.

Survey Methodology

The Jiffy Lube International survey was conducted via telephone interviews during the period of January 13-16, 2011. The survey included a national probability sample of 1,006 adults comprising 502 men and 504 women 18 years of age or older living in the Continental United States. The survey was conducted by Opinion Research Corporation.

About Jiffy Lube®
Jiffy Lube International Inc. (“Jiffy Lube”), with more than 2,000 franchised service centers in North America, serves approximately 24 million customers each year. Jiffy Lube pioneered the fast oil change industry in 1979 by establishing the first drive-through service bay, providing customers with fast, professional service for their vehicles. Headquartered in Houston, Jiffy Lube is a wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Shell Oil Company. Visit www.JiffyLube.com to learn more about Jiffy Lube and vehicle care.

I was not compensated in any way for posting this and the content is not my own. The article was written by Emilie Valle.

Review of Mickey's Magic Show

Mickey's Magic Show is by far Disney's most unique family program, with the "magic" setting it apart from the ice shows and general stage performances. I am a huge fan of magic, and the illusions performed by the actors, actresses, and characters are packed with ample "wow factor", humor, and wit, to tickle everyone from toddlers to grandparents.

The cast consisted of those familiar to me when I grew up: Snow White, Cinderella, Jasmine, and Belle, to name a few. A couple times throughout the show, the hosts searched for kid volunteers. Each child's innocence and honesty added that much more personality. You will see the "traditional" illusions, such as the impossibly fast switcheroo, and the human being sawed in half, but with Disney's own twist. Don't even try to dissect the magic - just say, "How'd they do that?!", before the entire show blazes right past you! Along with the grandiose tricks, there are also the one-person acts of "silly" magic and side-splitting comic relief.

Overall, this is a well-rounded program that will have you reminiscing about the classics from decades ago, bursting your buttons with humor for all ages, and of course, "oooooh-ing" and "ahhhhh-ing" to all the illusions. So throw those cell phones away (or just turn them off), leave everything behind, sit back and relax and let Mickey's Magic Show rock your socks off!

-Husband of Mom on a Mission 2008

Disney Live! Mickey's Magic Show

Mickey's Magic Show is coming to St. Louis very soon! Thursday, February 10th is opening night at the Chaifetz Arena. The show starts at 6:30pm. If you haven't bought your tickets yet, be sure to get them today so you get the best seat possible! There are also 2 showings on Friday 10:30am & 6:30pm.

If you use code: MOM, you will get discounted tickets limit 6:

•$5/ticket discount for Feb. 11, 6:30pm performance.
•$15 Kid's ticket discount for Feb. 10, 6:30 performance.
•$15 Matinee ticket discount for Feb. 11th, 10:30am performance.

You can also get VIP tickets for $57 which gets you into the pre-party event, meet & greet with a character from the show, floor seat tickets, and much more! Be sure to get your tickets now for this exciting addition!

Who are some of the characters you will see at the show?

• Mickey
• Minnie
• Fairy God Mother
• Cinderella
• Aladdin
• Jasmine
• Donald
• Goofy
• Alice
• Mad Hatter
• Much more!