Pack-It Freezable Lunch Bag Review

Just wanted to share something that my family uses quite often and loves. It's a Pack-It Freezable Bag.

Last year we were looking for something to take to Disney to keep our water bottles in. We were going in the middle of July and knew water would be really pricey.

I saw this little bag at my local WalMart and loved it. It's small enough to fit in a backpack, still keep our drinks cold, and not get everything else wet when it defrosted. 

It can hold 5-6 bottles (depending on their size) and keeps them cool all day.

It was super easy to use we would stick the bag in the freezer each night and fill it each morning. 

This year we used it for our trip to the beach. I love that it's not bulky.

It's perfect for school or work lunches, baby formula or for adding to a picnic basket to keep stuff like mayonnaise from going bad.

They are sold at WalMart, Bed, Bath and Beyond and online at Amazon.com and come in loads of colors and patterns.  They cost $18-$24 depending on where you buy. 

Feel free to share your comments or experiences with this product below. I'd love to hear them.

* This post contains affiliate links. However, all opinions were my own and I was not compensated in any way for telling you about this product. I just like it and thought I'd share with others.

My New Erin Condren Life Planner

After seeing lots and lots of photos of Erin Condren Life Planners on Instagram I broke down and purchased one just after Christmas. Now let me just say these are quite pricey at $50 plus shipping! The only way I was able to get one was because I received a Visa gift card for Christmas. My family knows I love to shop and gift cards are my favorite gifts to receive.

I was drawn to the planner because of all the creative ways people decorate them. Lots of washi tape, stickers and colorful pens. To be honest - it didn't take much - I'm obsessed with calendars and stickers!
 
I ordered the "Quick Ship" option instead of a personalized cover page, because I really didn't want to wait more than a couple days for this year's planner.

It arrived yesterday in a pretty box via FedEx in the middle of a snow storm. I was thrilled!

It was even wrapped like a present.

I had also ordered a pen holder and some clips so I can add pages to my binder.

It is all ready for me to decorate. I'm so excited!

The only thing that is disappointing to me is that there isn't really any contact or address pages. There is two tiny pages listed in the perpetual calendar insert, but they aren't remotely enough for me. I will have to turn a couple of pages in my notes section into address/contact pages. I post pictures once I've successfully designed them.

If you are interested in getting your very own Erin Condren Life Planner click here. If you register prior to ordering you will receive a $10 off e-coupon that you can use on your first order.

* This is an affiliate link however I was not compensated at all for writing this post. It is completely my opinion. 

Walmart Savings Catcher

I want to share my latest obsession. The Walmart Savings Catcher.

You may have seen the commercials on TV.  That's how I found out about the app.

It's super simple. You download the app. I used the app store on my iPhone. It's fr^ee to purchase. Once it's installed you simply scan your Walmart receipt. That's it. You wait for the app to check the current prices of your items at a bunch of different stores. Once the scan is done, you receive a message saying how much money you are getting back. Done.

I really like this app, my only issue with the app is that it takes soooooo long for it to scan. I mean 3-4 days! It's constantly running in the background on your phone - could potentially drain your battery.

But hey they are giving you money back, so who cares that it takes a couple days.

I've only entered 5 receipts and already have a balance of $3.37. It may not seem like a lot, but I don't purchase a lot of stuff each week from there. Plus it only took me about 5 minutes of my time.

I plan to save all the money up and cash it in around Christmas time. The app lets you get your savings money whenever you wish in the form of an electronic gift card which you can take to your local store. It will let you accumulate your savings up to $599.99 a calendar year.

This is ideally for a person/family who purchases food items because they don't include many household, sporting and general merchandise. It does include name brand foods, paper towels, toilet paper, make-up, shampoo and such. It only works with in-store purchases. Not online purchases which suits me just fine.

Try it out and see how much you will save.

Happy shopping!

* This is not a paid advertisement. I haven't been compensated in any way for sharing this. It is solely my opinion. *

Really Cool School Supplies

As I mentioned before I love school supplies, so today I thought I would share a couple really cool school supplies I have found in my travels over the web.


1. Disguise Your Lunch.
Adorable sandwich bags are sure to be a hit with almost any kid.

2. DCI Yummy Pocket Taco
This cute pouch is the perfect place to store lunch money, house key, cell phone, etc. Hamburgers, cookies, sushi, hot dogs and more are also available.

3. Teddy Bear USB Drive
This is perfect for little kids or older ones with a slightly twisted sense of humor.

4. Pencil Knee High Socks
These are too cute. Great for teachers or your favorite teacher's pet.

5. A Magnetic Chandelier for Your Locker
Brighten up all the dark spaces of your locker with this neat light.

* All the Amazon.com links in this post are affiliate links. All other links are not affiliate links and I am not compensated in any way if you visit or purchase from them.

Free Lance Xtra Fulls at Walmart

Look what I got for free yesterday!

Don't worry...you can too! :)

Visit the link below to print out a coupon for a package of 8 - 6 packs of toasted cheese and peanut butter crackers. The site allows you to print out 2 coupons equaling 2 packages. Each retails for $2.78. Only available at Walmart.

My kids and hubby really like them. There is more peanut butter (obviously) and it tastes yummy!

http://wm6.walmart.com/lancecrackers.aspx

Random Stuff I Found Online - April 30, 2013

Today I thought I would share a couple really fun things I discovered this week. Kinda random, but that's okay. Enjoy!

Write On Watches
My middle schooler loves these. They are watches, but you can draw and erase on the watch band. Pretty neat. You can write notes to yourself or doodle.  They are also waterproof and tear resistant. Plus they are only $5 plus s/h.


I just thought this was really cute!

Source: 29.media.tumblr.com via Joanna on Pinterest

* None of the links in this post are affiliate links. I am not compensated in any way for mentioning these sites. I just thought they were really neat. :)

Crayola Wild Notes Index Cards

Crayola Wild Notes Index Cards

Okay first let me say, I'm in love with notebooks, index cards, pens, and almost anything stationary related. I love making lists and writing in general, so there were right up my alley.

I was shopping in Michael's for fun stuff to do and I came across these really cool index cards. They were a bit pricy for index cards at $5.99 plus tax for 50 cards and the pen, but I had to have it.
 
Anytime I find something fun, interesting, cool or whatever I just want to tell the world.  That's just who I am.

They're index cards, and they come with a pen that lets you write in a rainbow of colors. Similar to the black scratch art paper that creates a rainbow of colors when you scratch it.

When you take the cap off the pen the tip is white - not rainbow like a pencil or pen would be. It must be similar to the Color Wonder technology because this pen won't work on other paper.

I use these for my daily to-do lists and cool notes to the hubby and kids. They are also fun to use in scrapbooking and Smash books.

Obviously they would be a great motivational tool to get kids to actually study if they were to use them as flash cards. They would be neat as chore cards as well.

I just thought I'd share another neat product I've found. Feel free to share your comments below :)

* The link above is an affiliate link, but I was not compensated by Crayola or any other company in any way to write this. I just love sharing products that I find really neat and that you may enjoy.

Strap Perfect Saved My Night

I've seen these on television and to be honest never actually considered buying them. I'm strickly a t-shirt kind of gal. The only time I ever dress up is each June when my hubby and I go to a graduation for his students.  This year I found the most beautiful dress, but couldn't find a bra that fit and wouldn't show. I had picked out a Mock Halter dress from JCPennys like this one only black. I searched for about a month with no luck.

In talking with my sister one day, she happened to mention she had 2 packages of these that her friend had given her. She offered one set to me - which I gladly accepted. I didn't really think much of them at first. They are little plastic clips.

Boy was I surprised. I tried on my dress with one of my normal bras and the clear clip. It worked great. Plus I couldn't even tell it was there. I wore it all evening long (sitting and standing) and it stayed put and was pretty comfortable. I'm telling everyone because I like to share when something I buy works for me. Many people are skeptical buying off the television - I know I am.


So anyways, I have to say this is a really great invention. Congrats to the person who created them. I would definitely recommend  buying the Strap Perfect. They are small, affordable, and they work.

* By the way, I was in no way compensated for my opinion or for purchasing this product or any other product. I freely share my own experiences to help others make better, more informed shopping decisions.

Food Loving Fridays - Wanchai Ferry Orange Chicken Review

This week I fixed the new Wanchai Ferry Frozen Dinners for my family. We tried the Orange Chicken. I bought it because a.) I had a coupon and (b.) we love, love, love the boxed dinner version by Wanchai Ferry.

To start out with I have to say the package states it's a meal for 2 people. We are a family of 5 - two adults and three kids 10 and under.

Okay for the pros:
* It has the same great sauce as the boxed dinner kits. YUMMY!
* Chicken tastes really good. 
* There are lots of great coupons out right now to bring the cost down.
* It is quite easy to prepare and only requires one pan. Bonus for the quick clean-up.

 Now for the cons:
* The portions are very small.
* The chicken is breaded  -  which isn't the most healthy.
* It has quite a few calories - 610 calories prepared and 22 grams of fat prepared. 13WW points.

Overall, I'm not sure we would buy again. The reason is the serving sizes are too small - you get way more at any local Chinese restaurant. Plus, this is not a family friendly meal in that to feed our family of 5 we would need to buy 3 packages. Ouch - even with coupons that's pricey.

This would be perfect for a single person or two people who don't eat very much. Otherwise, skip the frozen section and visit your local Chinese restaurant for hot food your don't have to cook or clean up after. ;-)

* By the way - I was not paid or compensated in any way for this post.

So Much Coughing

What a way to start off the year. Like many others, I've been a bit under the weather lately. Mostly a cough from post nasal drip. Yuck!  I finally broke down and went to the doctors this morning.

Anyways, my primary doctor told me about a neti pot about a month ago. He suggested I use it on my daughter who was having a really bad cough that just wouldn't go away. Well, we bought one at our local drug store and read all the directions. To sum it up, you fill up the container with distilled water and a special mix and pour it in your nose. (Make sure to follow the directions because otherwise it will burn). Need less to say, we were too afraid to try it.

Well I reached a point with my cough were I couldn't take it anymore. My stomach even hurt from coughing so much, so I got desperate and gave the neti pot a try.

To tell you the truth I was scared. Would it feel like I was drowning??? Actually no. It only felt weird as the water got to the back of my throat. ( I could have been holding my head wrong). That wasn't even back - my natural reflex was to swallow. No big deal. Afterward, my nose felt so clear. It was actually a good experience.

I didn't see anything come out except water (no mucus). I gotta say I would do this again.

You may have different results, based on your symptoms. Check with your doctor or a pharmacist. I'm simply a customer who tried out this product and wrote about my experiences. I hope it relieves some concerns others may have about using this product.

By the way, I was not compensated in any way for this post.

Make Chinese Food at Home

Just thought I would share with you something I found that my family loves. I bought this kit at my local grocery store. It's made by Wanchai Ferry and it includes all the ingredients to make Orange Chicken (except the chicken). It even includes the rice! I've made this a couple times before and my family absolutely loves it.

I don't know about you but my family loves Chinese food. The only problem is to feed my family of 5 it costs about $50 at the restaurants near my home. That's a bit expensive for my family nowadays. Whereas this kit only costs about $5 and the price of chicken (on sale of course).

I'm sure there are other companies that make the same type of kits. We've only tried this one because we had a coupon for it.

Anyways, I'm not much of a cook, but this kit is really easy to make.

Just a note: I was not paid, given anything, or in any way compensated for this post. I just love the product and thought I'd share it. Hope you enjoy it also. :)

Electro-Shock Therapy Killed My Phones

Here's something that has happened to me recently that you may give you a chuckle. Over the past 2 weeks I've zapped two phones and killed them. Yes, I've actually made two of our phones completely stop working, by zapping them with static electricity. One was a cordless attached to the base and one was corded.

The bad part was you could actually see the arch of electricity come out of my finger tip. It was quite painful. My family laugh their heads off at me getting shocked all the time (sick joke about electro-shock therapy). I even touched other metal objects (ie. light switch, door knob, etc.) Nothing worked.

After 2 weeks, I finally remembered there is a great product out now called "Static Guard". I haven't needed Static Guard for 15 years. I just spray the living room carpet twice a day to get rid of the static electricity.

Finally, my electro-shock treatments have ended ;)

Beginners Get Fit With Wii Fit

Copyright 2009 Kimberly Shavatt

With 2/3 of Americans considered obese, the Wii Fit is an excellent tool to get people moving. It is perfect for people just starting an exercise regime, embarrassed to attend weekly meetings, or too busy to go to the gym a couple times a week.

It's Fun
First of all, the Wii Fit is fun. Seriously, try not to laugh when your Mii (your character) is getting hit in the head with a stuffed panda head or soccer shoe. Plus, when was the last time you saw your Aunt Sue hula hoop? What about your kids trying to balance on one foot without falling?

Makes You Sweat
You may be thinking, "Can I really get a decent workout with a video game?". Well the answer is yes! You get easily break a sweat while hula hooping for 3 minutes straight or jogging around on the Wii Fit Island. There is also boxing and step aerobics mini games.

Easy to Use
It is easy to use at any age. Whether your 5 or 75. The game records your weight, BMI, tracks how many minutes you've been training, when you worked out last, and even provides motivational tips. There are easy to follow demos or directions for every game. All you need to do is pick and chose which mini games you want to try.

Variety of Games
All games help improve your balance, flexibility and strength - something almost every American could improve on. There are yoga moves, strength training, aerobics, and balance games. Almost anything you could do in a gym you can do on your Wii Fit including boxing, step aerobics, jogging, yoga, and lots, lots more.

Better than a Gym
The absolutely best reason Wii Fit is perfect for beginners is you can use it in the privacy of your own home. No need to pay for expensive gym memberships and then drive there a couple times a week. You don't have to feel self-conscience working out in front of others. There's no big, bulky equipment to buy. Plus, no meetings with embarrassing weigh-ins.

Wii Fit has all the elements to get you started with an exercise regime. It will make you sweat and get your heart pumping. It has a variety of games to choose from, so you won't lose interest fast. You won't need to travel to a gym or pay those pricey monthly dues because it can be done in the comfort of your home. Best of all, it's fun and easy to use.

Review of Lysol Antibacterial Kitchen Cleaner

I've used this product for a couple years now and love it! I spray it on my kitchen counters and appliances like my toaster, microwave and stove top. If I have a difficult spill or stain I simply spray it on and leave it for about 5 minutes then wipe it off. With 3 kids, a husband, 2 dogs, and 2 cats, it's hard to catch every spill right after it happens.

The company claims it can:
Help protect your family from the spread of foodborne bacteria.
Kills 99.9% of germs* on hard, nonporous surfaces. It is effective against Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria. Help protect your family from the spread of foodborne bacteria.
Effectively cuts tough grease and grime.


This one I would definitely give ***** (5 stars out of 5). Can't live without this product!

It Really Works

I bought my kids the "Fisher Price Computer Cool School" at Aldi's the other day. I have to say it really is cool! They haven't wanted to stop playing with it. It is easy to set up and easy for them to use. My youngest is 4 and hasn't really gotten too much exposure to our computer, but she is still able to use it with very little assistance from me. She is still learning her numbers and letters and she's having a lot of fun with this system. She actually tried to trace the letters with the stylus and I've been trying for weeks to get her to try writing letters to no avail. I have to give this ***** (Five Stars out of 5). I would highly recommend this product.


You can find it on Amazon.com. Click below.
Fisher-Price Fun-2-Learn Computer Cool School