Link & Win Mondays: Stop in to List and Win Tons of Giveaways!

Link up your giveaways in the Mr. Linky below. Be sure to check out all of the great giveaways for your chance to win!

My giveaways this week:

Duraflame Logs

PearlParadise Pearls

Espencial Natural Kids Products

Shabby Apple Dresses

Grill Daddy

Baby Bunch Cupcakes

Keep Your Daylillies blooming all season!

Daylillies are beautiful, but they never seem to last all season. Well, that was my experience with them, until I learned how to prolong their blooming time.

We all deadhead our flowers, right? Well, for daylillies, you need to pull out the flower stems (once the flower dies).

This picture has a few of the stick-like stems in it. Just grab them and pull them out and your daylillies will bloom all summer.

You may have to pull hard....but it will be worth it. Just toss the "stems" in your compost pile. ;)

Mama Said Knock You Out!

I chose Reya for her innocent kitty look.

But since she's moved in, she's become a wild one...... Here's a brief (and fuzzy) glimpse at the real Reya.

Belly Burner - Review

All moms have extra tummy fat, right? Well, actually they don't. Most of my friends with 2+ kids actually have six pack abs. I'm not one of them. So when I had the chance to review the Belly Burner, I jumped on it.

According to the manufacturer, the Belly Burner intensifies your workout by heating up your core and revving up your metabolic rate. It's made of neoprene and secures with velcro.

If I can rev up my metabolism and increase the effectiveness of exercise (naturally, that is,) I'll certainly give it a try.

So here's how the Belly Burner worked for me:

First of all, it comes in only two sizes: medium and large. For most people that's probably fine, but I'm on the small side. Even at it's tightest, the medium was still a little loose on me. But even still, I wore it. I wore it around the house. I wore it while I did yoga. And I never wore it running...because holy crap! It made me sweat and get HOT.

My stomach was almost instantly dripping with sweat. I was roasting. Did I burn extra calories? I have no idea. Did I sweat out some impurities? Maybe. Did I feel like I was actually working out while I did yoga? Yes, for the first time ever!

All you anti-exercisers should give yoga a try. I almost feel lazy while doing it, but it always gives great results. I decided that wearing the Belly Burner while doing yoga was almost like taking a Hot Yoga class. I've never taken a Hot Yoga class; I'm just guessing.

I don't know if I could go on a full out run with the Belly Burner on, but I'll give it a real shot this winter. It's 90 degrees out and we still haven't turned on our A/C, so running with the Belly Burner is not high on my to-do list.

I'm very excited to try it in the winter. And even if I can't "take the heat" while running, I know it will keep me warm and help keep our heating bills low. ;) It really does generate that much heat.

The Belly Burner was provided to me free of charge for review purposes.

Cat Toilet Training - Part 5

And the hole widens! But cat owners beware - a playful kitten may realize the "fun" potential of the toilet bowl. I always introduce Reya to the new toilet whenever we make a change, and since she wasn't in "business mode" at this time, she saw a fine opportunity to investigate. Total gross! FYI- her head and paws are in the bowl. Just kidding, that's just a big ball of lint on the toilet seat. Okay, no really, her head and paws are inside the toilet. She just looks like a ragged feather duster.

Tide Detergent Giveaway - 2 winners!

A few weeks ago, Tide sent me a whole bunch of FREE detergent coupons - no strings attached. Yep, they're awesome like that. And yes, I tend to be lucky like that. But...as it turns out, I'm not able to use this type of detergent in my washing machine (must be HE, oh my!)

I gave a few away to friends and family, but decided I'd give the last 4 away here. Since it's been a week of giveaways (read: me finally finishing up things I started, I thought it would be fun to add one more. And there will be plenty more coming. And even more if I can ever get through my zillion email packed inbox. lol

So without further interruption - there are 4 coupons good for a FREE bottle of Tide Febreeze Freshness Sport detergent up for grabs. I'm going to give 2 coupons each to 2 lucky readers.

To Enter: Leave me a comment about why you'd like to win.

Extra Entries (you knew there would be):

5 Extra Entries for blogging about this contest (leave 5 comments)

3 Extra Entries for tweeting about this contest (1 extra for daily tweets)

2 Extra Entries for following on google connect (this blog)

2 Extra Entries for entering one of my other current contests (leave the name of it)

1 Extra Entry for following @suburbanjung on twitter

1 Extra Entry for following on feedburner

This contest will end on June 5, 2010 at 9:00 PM EST. The winners will be selected by random.org and notified by email. No compensation was given for this giveaway.

Shabby Apple Dress Giveaway

{This contest has closed. Congratulations to #259 Ranny.} Since it feels like summer, it's time to bring out your cute dresses and sandals. And it's a great time to add a new dress to your wardrobe. One Suburban Jungle reader is going to win a dress from Shabby Apple. Seriously, I'm jealous. Take a look at some of their mega-cute dresses:


And there's more where that came from! Okay, now I'm super jealous. I shouldn't have looked through all those great dresses! If you'd like a chance to win a dress (in your size) from Shabby Apple - then read on.

To Enter: Visit Shabby Apple and tell me which dress you'd like to win. Choose carefully because the dress you choose will be the dress you win. If you are selected as the winner, I'll contact you to get your size.

Extra Entries:

5 Extra Entries for blogging about this contest (leave 5 comments)

3 Extra Entries for tweeting about this contest (1 extra for daily tweets)

2 Extra Entries for following on google connect (this blog)

2 Extra Entries for following Shabby Apple on Twitter

1 Extra Entry for following @suburbanjung on twitter

1 Extra Entry for following on feedburner

This contest will end on June 1st, 2010 at 9:00 PM EST. The winner will be selected by random.org and notified by email. No compensation or products were given for this giveaway. The prize will come directly from Shabby Apple.

Episencial Skin Care - Review & Giveaway

{This giveaway has closed: Congrats to #243, Cindy} We all want to use the best products for our children - and that includes what we put on their bodies as well as what goes into them. In the spirit of choosing healthier products, I was recently able to review the healthy skincare line from Episencial.

As you may have guessed, the products are all natural and sustainable. They're also gentle and safe for babies. Episencial is healthy for kids, babies, and the planet.

I had a chance to review the following products:

Playful Foaming Wash

Sweet Dreams Bubble Bath
Better Body Butter

Protective Face Balm

Here's what I thought: I love, love, loved the Protective Face Balm. It went on without being greasy and was something I felt good using daily on my children. My only concern was the low SPF. Since my kids don't wear anything in the winter or for short outings, I thought SPF6 was better than nothing (our usual plan) and provided great moisturization and wind protection. I really, really liked it.

Similar to the face balm, I really liked the Better Body Butter. I wasn't a huge fan of it's scent, but it wasn't over powering or overly terrible. I just preferred the other scents.

I really liked the bubble bath. Really, what parent wouldn't want a better, more natural bubble bath. It smelled great, it bubbled, my kids loved it.

I was happy with the Playful foaming wash as a body wash, but wasn't as thrilled with it as a shampoo. My kids have gotten to the point where a conditioner, and unfortunately, a non-tear free shampoo is kind of necessary. So I had a tough time with it as a shampoo (especially for my long haired daughter). It smelled great though and would be awesome for babies.

But it gets better: you can find Episencial at Target. Yep, Target kind of rules for natural and organic products. ;) Right now Episencial is even running a contest for a FREE Target Gift Card on their facebook page.

Those are my 2 cents. How would you like to try the Episencial products for yourself? Well, you're in luck. They are offering one Suburban Jungle reader the same products I reviewed above.

To Enter this contest: Visit Episencial and leave a comment about something you learned on their site.

Extra Entries:

5 Extra Entries for blogging about this contest

2 Extra Entries for tweeting about this contest (1 extra for daily tweets)

2 Extra Entries for becoming an Episencial Facebook Fan

1 Extra Entry for following @suburbanjung on twitter

1 Extra Entry for being a public google friend on this blog

This contest will end on June 4, 2010 at 9:00 PM EST. The winner will be selected by random.org and contacted by email. No compensation was received for this review but I did receive the products mentioned above for review purposes.

Pearl Paradise Review and Giveaway

These were the pearls that started the fight. As soon as the package arrived and she saw the Pearl Necklace, my daughter was hooked. She loved them...instantly! She asked if she could try them on, and I put them around her neck. Her response, "Mom, these are my size. They won't fit you, will they mom? No, they're not your size so they have to be mine, right mom? Can I keep these? You won't ever wear them right, mom?"

And thats how it began. They were that lovely. It was the first time she had ever seen real Freshwater pearls. I explained to her that they could be hers, but she would have to tell me when she planned to wear them.

She asked again if that meant I wouldn't wear them. Oh! I promised her that I wouldn't, and I tried them on in secret while she was sleeping. In the end, we decided to share the pearls. That way they will be thoroughly enjoyed and worn as often as beautiful jewelry should. They are so very beautiful.

You may think I'm crazy to let my 4 year old wear $180 pearls! But life is short and beautiful things are meant to be loved and used. And if you think pearls are only for grannies, you're wrong. They're for beautiful ladies (young and old) like you and me (and my 4 year old daughter, lol.)

And your in luck! Pearl Paradies has offered one lucky Suburban Jungle reader the chance to win a pink pearl necklace from Pearl Paradise. One reader will win the same 16" pink 7.0-8.0mm pearl necklace that I was fortunate to review. Retail value $180.

To Enter: Visit Pearl paradise and leave a comment here telling me your favorite piece of jewelry on the site.

Extra Entries:

5 Extra Entries for blogging about this contest (leave 5 comments)

3 Extra Entries for tweeting this contest (1 extra for daily tweets)

Follow Pearl paradise on twitter for 2 Extra Entries

Like Pearl paradise on Facebook for 2 Extra Entries

1 Extra Entry for following @suburbanjung on twitter

1 Extra Entry for subscribing via feedburner

1 Extra Entry for being a google friend connect follower of this blog

This contest will end on June 4, 2010 at 9:00 PM EST. This contest is open to US Residents and only open to those who have not won a previous Pearl Paradise blog contest. I did receive a pearl necklace for review purposes.

I put Soft Paws on my Kitten

Are you going to declaw? - that is the number one thing people ask me when they find out we have a cat. Honestly, I'd prefer not to declaw. That being said, Reya has developed a habit of climbing my drapes and shredding my favorite dining chairs. @#!#!@!@

Fortunately, I had the chance to review Soft Pawsjust in time. Before I lost my mind that is! I'm not big on owning things, but I like to keep the things I do own looking nice. Not cat shredded.

She and I were in the midst of a fierce battle of wills. Neither of us wanting to compromise and both of us mad at each other, when the mailman arrived and brought our very own package of hot pink -kitten sized- soft paws.

I didn't even wait. I grabbed her and put them on. I was shaking. It was my first time applying "nails" to a cat. She did great. She didn't even care. She never even noticed that she was wearing nail caps. She just demanded food.

But soon after eating, she went to shred (and climb) my favorite chair. And she fell on her rear. Wahoo! I was so happy. Not because I like to see kitty's fail, but because she could no longer do the damage she loved so much. She tried again and looked at me like, "what's the deal?" Then she gave it up.

She tried in a few other places but eventually forgot about the things she liked to climb. In fact, it's been about 2 weeks now and she doesn't even look at my drapes anymore. Yes!!!!

But it hasn't all been smooth sailing. For one thing, in my initial application, I glued her hair to her nails (twice) and was unable to put 2 of the soft paws on until a few days later. But even with only 8 nails covered, she wasn't able to inflict damage.

Because she was only 12-14 weeks old at the time of review and I had clipped her nails the morning before our Soft Paws arrived, some of her nail caps came off. I'd say we lost at least one cap every other day. But even still, she had lost interest in a lot of her old damaging habits and was also unable to do as much damage as before.

The lost caps were also easy to replace.

There are a few things you should know about Soft Paws. For one, they come in all sorts of awesome colors. Yes, I chose hot pink! I think they look great, and they are easy to spot when one goes missing.

Second, she can do all of her "cat behaviors" with them on. She can scratch (and she does.) She can jump. She can run. She can grab toys and use the litter box. She can do everything except climb. And damage while she scratches.

I'm very happy with our few weeks of using Soft Paws. And I'll continue to use them. As she gets bigger and I get better at applying them, I'm sure they'll stay on longer.

If you are considering de-clawing or even if you just need a product for the transition time between kitty coming home and surgery, I'd highly recommend them. I'd also recommend touching and holding your kittens paws as often as possible. In addition to making it easier to apply things like Soft Paws, it will be easier to trim their nails, hold them, and have them checked at the vet.

*No compensation was received for this review. I did receive a complimentary package of Soft paws and did use them on my kitten. She's seen in the photos above.

Duraflame Stax fire logs Giveaway

{This contest is now closed: Congrats to #78 Mari, #44 Jessica, and #63 Carla.} This winter, Duraflame sent me their Duraflame Stax logs to review. I had intended to use them while we boiled maple syrup, but the timing didn't work out. So instead, we used them for a campfire.

Ideally, you'd use these inside to have a cleaner (and more eco-friendly) fire in your fireplace, but we only have a gas fireplace. So it was outside for our Stax. We love to have camp fires, and I was excited to see how these would stack up to real wood.

We started out with just the Stax and they seemed to burn clean. They didn't kick up ash or have an odd smell. But with only 3 logs in a big Fire pit, my husband decided to add more wood. He ended up building a huge, raging fire. Toward the end (hours later,) one of the Stax logs was still burning. That's impressive. In an indoor fireplace, I'm sure they would last even longer.

If you'd like a chance to win a 3-log bundle of Duraflame Stax logs, you're in luck! Duraflame has offered to give 3 Suburban Jungle readers a 3-log bundle of Stax.

To Enter: Leave a comment about your favorite family activity

For extra entries:
-5 extra entries for blogging about this contest (leave a link in one of your comments, leave 5 comments)
-3 extra entries for tweeting about this contest (be sure to include @suburbanjung in your tweet)
-2 extra entries for following @suburbanjung on twitter
-2 extra entries for following on feedburner (reader or email)
-2 extra entries for following with google friend connect

This contest is open to US and Canadian residents 18 years of age and older and will end on May 31, 2010 at 9:00 PM EST. The winner will be selected by random.org and notified by email. No compensation was given for this giveaway/review.

Link & Win Mondays: Stop in to List and Win Tons of Giveaways!

Link up your giveaways in the Mr. Linky below. Be sure to check out all of the great giveaways for your chance to win!

My giveaways this week:

Duraflame Logs

PearlParadise Pearls

Espencial Natural Kids Products

Shabby Apple Dresses

Grill Daddy

Baby Bunch Cupcakes

Cat Toilet Training - Part 4

My kitty is on the toilet! The litter box is under the toilet seat and a section of the box has been removed. Things are going well, and I am so looking forward to litter-free days. Look below to see a video of my kitten using the toilet

Grill Daddy Review & Giveaway

{This contest has ended: Congrats to #153 Bepoia.} When it warms up, we love to grill. Okay, my husband loves to grill. I've always been a little grossed out by the inside of our grill. He cleans it, but it always looks so burnt and yucky.

I was so excited when we were sent the Grill Daddy to review. When it first arrived, I was a little annoyed. It seemed so huge! But my husband didn't seemed bothered by it at all. He grabbed it, filled it with water, and headed right for the grill.

And just a few minutes later, it was clean. I mean, really clean. And all it took was water and a little elbow grease. As I watched him use it, I realized it had to be so long or you'd risk being burned in the grill. I asked him what he thought of the length and he thought it was the perfect size - to get just the right leverage and safely use it.


I had worries about storage, but he just hung it on the side of the grill and that was the end of it. It was easy, it worked awesome, and he was happy with it. The only way it could have been better is if I could have somehow passed it off as a Father's day gift.

But you have a chance to win one for Father's day! MamaBuzz and Grill Daddy are offering one Suburban Jungle reader a chance to win a Grill Daddy!

To Enter: Leave a comment on the status of your grill's cleanliness

Extra Entries:

5 Extra Entries for blogging about this contest

3 Extra Entries for tweeting about this contest leave 3 comments, daily tweets get 1 extra entry)
2 Extra Entries for following @suburbanjung on twitter

2 Extra Entries for being a google connect friend of this blog

2 Extra Entries for following along on feedburner

This contest will end on May 31, 2010 at 9:00 PM. The winners will be selected by random.org and notified by email. This contest is open to all 18+ residents of the US. A complimentary Grill Daddy was provided to me for review.

A Message to Moms with Babies and Toddlers

Dear moms of young children,

Hang in there! Before I had kids, I would see moms with their babies and hear them talk about all the joy their children had given them. I desperately wanted that joy and set my heart on having kids as soon as possible. But when they arrived, I don't think I noticed "joy." I was way too tired.

Most people only tell you what you want to hear, but I'm going to tell you the truth. Raising small kids is hard work! It takes a toll on your marriage, your identity, your health, everything. Now, maybe, just maybe, you have the best support system and the most doting husband and raising babies was easy for you. I hope that's the case. But if it isn't, I want to offer you a piece of advice that very wise women have shared with me.

Every phase of your life is a season. And every season passes. There are very beautiful parts of the baby days, but they are very physically and mentally exhausting times. I'm hear to tell you, that it gets better. Way better! But in the meantime, stop worrying about being perfect. And stop being angry with your husband. Recognize that you are overworked and he probably is too. Having babies multiplies the workload for both of you. And even if he's not super helpful with the house or kids, he probably feels like he's shouldering more than he can bear.

If he is super helpful with the house/kids, consider yourself lucky, but also consider that he may be doing too much. If your husband works full time and then rushes home and takes over as Mr. Mom so that you can have a break, that's nice but not entirely fair. You both worked all day. He deserves a break just as much as you do, so be sure to give him the breaks he needs as well.

I had my two babies 17 months apart and the first 4 years were pretty crazy. But things started to get better around the time my youngest was 3 to 3 1/2. Let me share with you some of the joys of the next season.

Now that my children are 4 and 5, they can dress themselves, shower/bathe themselves, get a snack if they want one, get themselves water, use the toilet (for a long time actually, lol), wash their own hands, they can play outside by themselves, they can go for long walks and bike rides without being carried/pushed/pulled, and they can play well alone or together. We can go on trips or run errands without running into nap times or wild tantrums. They can clean up after themselves and want
to help.

All of those individually are a godsend for a mom who's been tirelessly doing everything for her children, but it gets better. Do your kids wake up at 5 am? Mine are early risers, and for years I got up with them before the sun was even up. But not anymore! They can read numbers, they can play safely on their own, and I can sleep until 7! I can't tell you how much happier this makes me. It means I can stay up later with my husband and I can last all day without falling into a coma.

Sure there are downsides to the preschool years (fighting, negotiating, sassing), but they are few and are between compared to the benefits. It's a fun age of give and take. Your children will be eager learners who hang on your every word and spit back all that you've taught. They can be trusted to play in the yard and not run into the street. They will prefer to play with other children and you won't know what to do with the extra time.

Chances are you have a home or husband that's been neglected. But there's an even greater chance there's a mom that's been neglected. Take this time to exercise, garden, read, paint your nails or anything you have been putting off when your hands and eyes were busy. Be okay with letting go as they learn to do so many things for themselves and enjoy your new freedom and new more independent relationship with your kids.

I only have young children, so I can't comment on the next phase, but I do know that as long as there is a baby in the house, mom will be very, very busy. No matter what season you are in, enjoy it for the season it is and recognize that things will change soon enough. Don't wish your babies to grow up too quickly, but realize that the sleepless nights and chaos of toddler-hood will pass sooner than you think.

Personally, I am enjoying the easy preschool and early school days. I now have the time to focus on myself, my husband, my children, my home, and my hobbies. I feel like a whole person again, and it's wonderful.

So if you're in the midst of babydom, try to look at it from a bigger perspective. Enjoy it while it lasts, and try your best to keep yourself and your marriage together.

Angela

Exclusive Linen 'N Things Coupon Code

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Linens 'N Things. All opinions are 100% mine.

As someone who is currently remodeling their home, I can tell you that Linens 'N Things is at the top of my list of stores to check out. To make it even better, Linens 'N Things is offering an exclusive coupon code exclusively to bloggers and blog readers.

Use the coupon code: MOMBLOG to get free shipping on your order over $26
** This offer is good through June 1st, 2010

Have you had a chance to check out the Linens 'N Things website? There are oodles of decorating items! You can find home decor, wall art, mirrors, bedding, linens, bath supplies, kitchen gadgets, curtains, rugs, drapery rods... and that's just the stuff I need!

I am eying up this bedroom set:

And of course drapery and some beautiful home decor. Who knows, you may even see some of great Linen 'N Things finds in my "finished" remodeling project pictures. We are finished with drywall and have installed our cabinets. Decorating is just a few steps away!

When we moved into this house, I spent a lot of time at Linen 'N Things, and found some great pieces at reasonable prices. I also found their cashiers and return policy to be friendly. It's hard to tell if something will work out until it's in your home. But I've never had an issue buying something and bringing it right back if it's not right (unused of course.)

If you pick something up at LNT.com or have recently purchased something great at Linen 'N Things, leave me a comment telling me about it. I'm always open to great decorating ideas and love to hear about great finds.

Take it slow: Lessons in efficient vacuuming

I tend to do everything quickly. Everything. And it's served me well in everything except relationships, stress levels, and.... Okay, it hasn't really served me well. Except maybe financially. But my super speed has actually been hurting me in one major way.....vacuuming!

I didn't know this, and maybe it's news to you too, but vacuuming quickly is like not vacuuming at all! It's completely unnatural, but if you vacuum slowly (think grandma meets snail), you will vacuum more efficiently and remove way more dust and dirt. Who knew? Well, the guy who sold us our hide-a-hose knew. And I didn't believe him at first. Vacuum slowly? Barf!

But even at a snail's pace, I can still vacuum the whole house in a reasonable amount of time. And I feel so much better knowing I'm getting out more gunk.

Give it a try and you just may have a cleaner house.

Dove "My Mini Moment" Contest

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Dove Ice Cream. All opinions are 100% mine.

We all love to enter contests, so here's a new one that you may want to enter. Dove Ice Cream has launched the “My Mini Moment” contest. It's really easy to enter. You just log into the site and share your favorite mini moment of escape, including a photo and short essay.

You could win one of 3 mini-grand prizes: a mini-getaway to Napa Valley, Spa services for a year, or a mini home makeover. I could use all of those, lol. But hurry and submit your essay by June 7, 2010.

This contest is sponsored by Dove Ice Cream Miniatures. I have yet to try them, but according to Dove, they are only 70 calories of indulgent goodness. They have a Café Collection which features Java Chip and Cappuccino Flavors.
I love chocolate as a mini-escape, and after 6 years of parenthood, I've come up with quite a few. I'm going to enter this contest and would be very happy to win either of the great mini-grand prizes (though I'd be silently rooting for the spa services, lol.)

According to a survey conducted by Dove Ice Cream Miniatures, I'm not alone! In a survey of over 400 mothers, 70 percent say they take time for themselves each day! Wahoo! It's good for your body, mind, and soul. And surprisingly, it's really good for your family too. A happy mom makes a happy family.

Best of luck if you enter the contest“My Mini Moment” contest!

Air Pollution?

So my elderly neighbors are outside blasting their car stereo. What are they listening to? The drabbest talk radio station ever....

Now, I understand that they can't hear very well. And everyone knows it's more enjoyable to do work (outside or otherwise) with music. But puh-leaze!

I wonder how they would feel about a return air-strike of some super loud Eminem or Beastie Boys. Lol. I'm just kidding. I'm just going to shut my windows until they go back inside.

Link & Win Mondays: Stop in to List and Win Tons of Giveaways!

Link up your giveaways in the Mr. Linky below. Be sure to check out all of the great giveaways for your chance to win!

My giveaways this week:

Pillsbury "Family Pizza Night"

Duraflame Logs

PearlParadise Pearls

Espencial Natural Kids Products

My Kitty on the Toilet!

We're training our kitty to use the toilet instead of a litter box, so I get so excited when I see her making any steps toward "toilet acceptance." She's been jumping up and exploring the area lately. Next stop: the litter box is going on top. I WILL post videos of her using the toilet when we get to that stage. Wahoo! I can hardly wait.

Help - My kitty loves to jump into bathtubs

If you're a mom, then you know that taking a bath alone is a glorious event. One to be treasured, savored, and enjoyed. My kids have been good about letting me have time alone in the bath....but someone else had other plans.

Reya stalked the perimeter of my tub and eventually jumped right in. She waded around, drank the water (ew!), and showed no interest in leaving. Great. Note to self: lock bathroom door before taking a bath.

"You gotta see this" Video Contest

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Incendia Health. All opinions are 100% mine.

I wrote about having lasik surgery a few months back, and I still stand by how much I believe in the surgery's benefits. The difference I experienced in vision afterward is downright amazing. If you scroll through the "life section" of my blog you'll eventually come across my lasik post. I wish I had known in advance about the iLASIK Video Contest. I would have put together a video entitled "Freedom" and the title would have described everything I feel about having had corrective surgery.

Abbott Medical Optics Inc. (AMO) is a global leader in laser vision correction. They have announced the winners of the "You Gotta See This" iLASIK Video Contest. All of the entrants made videos showing the impact of improved vision on their lives for a chance to win cash and prizes. The grand prize was $5000. Again, I would have made a video about the ultimate freedom of having lasik. It rocks!

You can check out the winners (and other entries) at www.GottaSeeThisNow.com. You can also register to receive valuable eye products.

Here are the winners:

$5000 Grand Prize Winner

"You Gotta See This Music Video" by Alex

Category 1: My contacts are Getting in the Way of My Good Time
First Prize: “You Gotta Be Kidding Me! A True Story” by Robbo (HDTV package — a $2,500 value
Second Prize: “Contacts Stink” by windysail (Flip UltraHD™ camcorder — a $199.99 value

Category 2: My Favorite Sport or Activity Would Be So Much Cooler With Better Vision
First Prize: “iLASIK Would Make Surfing More Enjoyable” by jhbmw007 (HDTV package)
Second Prize: “Foggy Riding” by Snowman (Flip UltraHD camcorder

Category 3: You Should See Life After The iLASIK Procedure
First Prize: “Orbs Of Perfection” by Danny V (HDTV package)
Second Prize: “Army LASIK” by ahowalton (Flip UltraHD camcorder)

It's a tough life for a cat....

Cats have it so rough....Well, sometimes they do....
When you live with a 4 year old girl, there will be crowns and feather boas to wear, diapers to try on, and baby carriers to be carried in. ;) There was a time when this type of love was reserved only for peanut butter. I expect this to be repeated again soon...

Try Freschetta FlatBread Pizza for FREE - 3 Winners

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Freschetta. All opinions are 100% mine.

Freschetta Pizza sent me 5 coupons for free pizzas! Yippee! I headed out to the store and bought 2 of them (originally $7.99 each - but free after coupon). I'm a big pizza fan, and a big fan of making my own at home, but there are times when it's so nice to be able to just pop a ready made pizza into the oven.

I often find myself falling into the "cheap pizza" trap, especially since I buy that type for my husband's poker games. Since they are already in the house, it's so easy to grab one and put it in the oven.

But we all know there is a big difference between a $2 pizza and one that costs $7 or $8. The Freschetta pizzas I purchased proved that point in our home. The crust was so much tastier, the spices were just right, the toppings were plentiful. We ate the Zesty Italian Freschetta FlatBread and the roasted garlic and spinach Freschetta FlatBread pizzas.

They were so yummy and had just the right amount of extras. Right now you can go online to get a $1 off coupon at http://www.freschetta.com/thin-crust-pizzas/flatbread-pizza/default.aspx

And...three lucky Suburban Jungle readers will have the chance to try these yummy pizzas for themselves. I'll be giving away the other 3 FREE PIZZA COUPONS to 3 winners. 1 coupon each.

To Enter:

Leave a comment telling me your favorite pizza flavor.

Extra Entries:

5 Extra Entries for blogging about this contest

3 Extra Entries for tweeting about this contest (include the hashtag #Freschetta and leave 3 comments, daily tweets get 1 extra entry)
2 Extra Entries for following @suburbanjung on twitter

2 Extra Entries for being a google connect friend of this blog

2 Extra Entries for following along on feedburner

This contest will end on May 26, 2010 at 9:00 PM. The winners will be selected by random.org and notified by email. This contest is open to all 18+ residents of the US and Canada.

Cat Toilet Training - Part 3

We have reached the next stage of Cat Toilet Training. I have upped the height of her litter box and she is now using a 50/50 mix of flushable (corn - it's yellow, lol) and clay litter. Within the week, we should be able to straight to a 100% flushable litter and move the tray onto the toilet!

Wahoo! I am so excited for the next stages. Litter-free life, here we come! In case you're wondering; things have been going swimmingly so far. She has stopped complaining about the litter box and just uses it.

We did have one incident with a cling-on, but I think that's more because of her long fur rather than the toilet training. The next time you see this toilet, there will be a litter box on top of it!

Nominate a School: Lunchables Field Trips for All Contest

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Lunchables. All opinions are 100% mine.

You can help bring fun, educational Field Trips to America's schools, by nominating a deserving classroom in the "Field Trips for All" contest.

According to The American Association of School Administrators, it’s estimated that over the course of the current school year, the number of school districts eliminating field trips will increase by 56 percent. More than 30,000 schools.

Personally, my son's kindergarten class did not have a single field trip this year. This is my first year in the public school system, so I'm not sure if that's normal or not. His private school friends have been on 2 or 3 field trips this year.

But with schools cutting back across America, Lunchables Lunch Combinations wants to help deserving kids across the country experience hands-on field trips that help engage them in learning and open their eyes to the world beyond the classroom. That's why they've launched the program, "Field Trips for All."

The goal of "Field Trips for All" is to help kids reach their full potential by providing enriching experiences they might not have without them.

Check out the "Alien Field Trip" sponsored by Lunchables:

My children thought this was great. I can only imagine how much they would have loved it in person.

Anyone 6 years or older can nominate a deserving classroom by going to Field Trips For All and submitting a nomination. 50 classrooms will be chosen to participate in an inspiring field trip.

But hurry and nominate your favorite classroom now. The contest ends June 1, 2010.

I just nominated my son's kindergarten class. If they win, it will be the only field trip for their class this year. I'd love to hear your nominations as well. Feel free to leave me a comment and to share the contest on twitter/facebook/email.