Do your kids get bored with the same old lunch day after day? Let me introduce you to these magic little kitchen tools called FunBites.  These amazing tools transform regular food into bite-sized culinary creations.

I was given the Luv It! FunBites (the pink one) and the Cube It! (the green one) to review, and after using them, my family has realized that eating meals has never been more fun!

Here is the lunch I made recently for one of my boys using FunBites:

I used the Luv It! FunBites to make the cute heart shapes with the fruit, and the Cube It! FunBites to make the perfectly-shaped square pineapple pieces, and sandwich kabobs.

You should have seen the look of surprise and delight on my little boy’s face when he saw his lunch.  He took one bite of the heart-shaped fruit and said, “This is the best lunch EVER!!”  And coming from a 4-year-old who can be a picky eater, this was music to my ears.  (Thanks, FunBites!)

Needless to say, my son finished every last bite and still had a smile on his face when he was done.  By this time I was smiling too, because I didn’t have to persuade, plead, or negotiate with him to finish up his meal.  Happy kid, happy mom. Win-win!

Another thing I loved about FunBites was that they are BPA-free and made in the USA. You can learn more about FunBites on their website here or visit FunBites on their Facebook page here for more fun lunch ideas and some great deals!

I am a Home Made Simple member and really enjoy all of their helpful cleaning tips, DIY projects, recipes, crafts, coupons, organizing tips, and more!

Spring is finally here and Home Made Simple has a great 30-Day Cleaning Checklist here to help you get your home in order.

If you liked this checklist, sign up for Home Made Simple here (for free) and start enjoying all it has to offer!

Target is offering a free sample of Tom’s of Maine Wicket Cool mint toothpaste for kids ages 8 and up!  (Get your free sample here.)

If you haven’t tried Tom’s of Maine before, here is your chance for your kids to experience this fun new toothpaste made from natural ingredients with no artificial dyes, flavors, or sweeteners.

Hurry, while supplies last!

Today I took my 3 kids and dog to my local Ace Hardware store. (They’re a dog-friendly store, and I love them for that). Anyway, we spent almost 30 minutes in the store, gathering up everything we needed.

The cashier began ringing up my purchases, and it was then that I discovered I didn’t have my wallet.  Being frustrated was an understatement.  I didn’t have my checkbook either, so I was really out of luck. So, I packed up the kids and dog and went home to get my wallet. Once we got home, I found my wallet right where I had left it, next to my computer. (Sigh).

Suddenly, an idea ran through my head to do a quick search online for Ace Hardware coupons.  It’s worth a shot, right?  So I Googled “Ace Hardware coupons” and was quickly directed to the Ace Hardware Facebook page where I found a great coupon! All I had to do was “Like” their Facebook page, click on “Ace Offers” and print.  It literally took me 5 seconds to find a coupon that was going to save me $5.  Awesome!

Things were starting to look up.

So with the coupon in hand, I drove back to the store.  The cashier had saved my items (bless his heart), and he rang everything up.  My total reached just over $26, and thankfully, the coupon scanned correctly at the register.

Although it was a lesson for me to double check that I have my wallet in my purse, I am thankful that God impressed upon me the idea to check for coupons before I went back to the store the second time around.  (He knows me pretty well. )

Lessons learned:

1. Don’t get too upset when something like this happens.
2. There is always something that can be learned from the situation at hand.
3. And last but not least, make sure you have your wallet with you before you leave the house!

I came across some adorable clothes from The Children’s Place today, as I was browsing their site. They are having a great sale right now, with FREE SHIPPING on every order, with no minimum purchase!

Check out some of the cute clothes I found in their clearance section:

Heart Tutu $9.59
0-6 month sizes still available!  

Little Talker Bodysuit $5.00

Be sure to check out this amazing sale here.  And be sure to check out these online codes here to save even more at the checkout! The free shipping promo ends tonight, so hurry!

SimplyFun games are designed to connect families through the power of play.  Based on the idea of “Building Smarter Kids and Stronger Families,” SimplyFun creates fun, educational games for children and families of all ages to enjoy!

I was first introduced to SimplyFun games a few months ago at a local MOPS meeting. Our featured speaker and SimplyFun Regional Sales Director, Tami Mathis, brought in several different SimplyFun children’s games for us to try.  After playing a few of the SimplyFun games, I quickly learned that they were not your average board games…they were better!

Each game that we played offered specific educational benefits, such as reasoning, memory recollection, and creative thinking, to name a few.   And the games were so much fun to play!   I knew my kids were going to love them.

2 of my boys enjoying the Bee Alert game

A short time later, I was given the opportunity to review two SimplyFun games with my kids. The first game was Bee Alert, and it is designed for children ages 5 and up.  (This amazing game won the Top Fun Award from Tillywig and a Mom’s Choice Award!).

Photo Credit

The key learning opportunities in this game include memory and observation, paying attention, focusing, taking turns, and being patient.  My boys had so much fun playing this game that they started referring to it as the “Bee Game,” and they’ve been asking to play it every day!

(Click on the link here to watch a 2 minute video and see how fun and easy it is to play Bee Alert!)

We also had the opportunity review the “What If” game. This game was a thought-provoking, conversation-starter game that involved asking specific questions in 3 different categories:  Safety, Emotions and Social Interactions.

“What If” game

Here’s how we played the game:  I would ask each of my children a question and then we would discuss their answers.  The questions were straightforward and they encouraged my children to think about how they would respond in certain situations. Here are some of the questions we discussed:

• What if a stranger was following you?
• What if someone fell into the water and they couldn’t swim?
• What if someone asks me to do something that I know is wrong?
• What if I don’t make the team?
• What if someone told me not to tell my parents something?
• What if someone at school doesn’t have a lunch?

The answers my children came up with, and the heartfelt discussions that followed were priceless.  We were learning valuable life lessons together, as a family. It was time very well spent! 

Are you ready to check out SimplyFun?  Check out their amazing website here and learn how SimplyFun can help you find the perfect game for your child to enjoy!

And speaking of fun…Tami Mathis has graciously offered to giveaway a Bee Alert game to one lucky reader! Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below by Monday 3/4/13 for your chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tami Mathis, SimplyFun Regional Sales Director

Meet Tami Mathis!

I had asked Tami how she had gotten started with SimplyFun, and what she enjoys most about sharing SimplyFun games with other families.  Here’s what she had to say:

“I have been in direct sales since my daughter was a baby. It was a great way for me to be at home with her, but still get out, have some “girl time,” and make some extra money…I love my job because I get to work with some phenomenal people and help them to build their skills and knowledge.

I love the product line because I am able to help families connect, while using our games as a parent resource for building social, emotional, and academic skills in their children.

SimplyFun has a unique opportunity that I don’t see any other direct sales company offering – we bring families together through the power of play! Our games are for all age groups, not just young children. There is something for everyone in our catalog!”

If you are interested in learning more about SimplyFun, please visit Tami’s SimplyFun website here for more information.

Disclosure: I was given two SimplyFun games to review. I did not receive any compensation, and the opinions expressed in this post are 100% my own.

If you like eating healthy snacks, you will definitely want to check out this deal. Order your first NatureBox (with 5 full-size healthy snacks) for only $4.95!

I just ordered my first box and I’m really excited to see what’s inside.  I’m also really excited to see what’s NOT inside.  NatureBox snacks contain:

Want to give it a try?  Just visit Naturebox here place your order and use the code NEWYEAR.  You will only pay $4.95, instead of the regular price of $19.95.  And, an even better reason to try out NatureBox, is that with every box sent, NatureBox will feed a child in need!

NOTE:  With this purchase, you are signing yourself up for a monthly subscription to receive a different NatureBox each month.  If you would like to cancel this subscription after you receive your first box, just be sure to contact the NatureBox customer service at 1-888-613-6998 before the last day of the current month to cancel your subscription.

Here’s a great opportunity to support your local Humane Society or animal shelter with literally nothing out of pocket (after rebate).  Now through 12/31/12, you can get a FREE bag of Natural Organics cat or dog food after rebate!

To get started:

1.  Like the By Nature Pet Products here.

2.  Find a retailer in your area here.

3.  Print out the rebate form and make your purchase by 12/31/12.

4.  Send in your rebate form + original UPC barcode from the package + original store receipt to the rebate center.  (Rebate forms must be received by 02/28/12.)

5.  You will receive your rebate in 6-8 weeks.

I don’t know about you, but I love free music! Check out all of the free MP3 downloads you can get here, thanks to Amazon!  No credit card needed.  Hurry, before this deal is gone!

Grab your Victoria’s Secret Reward cards and make sure to redeem them by 12/20!  I have two $10 cards to use up and I can’t wait to see what I can find in my local store. Last year, I purchased the VS shampoo, conditioner, and styling serum when it was on sale for Buy 2, Get 1 Free. I paid $14 for 3 bottles!  This time, I’m going to check out all of the stocking stuffer lotions, make-up, and other goodies by the register.  There are all sorts of things you can use the VS Reward cards on, without breaking the bank.

Reward cards can also redeemed online, so don’t worry if you can’t make it in to your local store.  Happy Shopping!

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