Cat Got Your Coupons??

Almost 2 years ago, I learned "how to coupon." I went wild. Buying all sorts of things (food, toiletries, toys....) for pennies on the dollar. And I thought I was doing a good thing.  We were trying all sorts of new things and I saved a lot of money (in some areas.)

But I mostly bought things just because they were cheap. And cheap they were. We ate a lot of crap and cluttered our house with stuff I would have never "paid" for. Slowly over the last year, I began to throw away coupons for things I never wanted - even if they would make items free!

I stopped playing the drugstore games, and my stress level went way down. Awesome! Nowadays, I have 2 little boxes of coupons (see the cat in the box above) and they have only a few sheets of coupons each. I hardly even check the box anymore.

90% of the items I buy in the store come from the produce/freezer/dairy/meat cases. I rarely venture into the middle of the store except for things like noodles and bread (which I will save coupons for). And I'm not spending all that much more than when I was couponing. I spend between $30-$150 a week on groceries. Holy swing batman!!!

I have such a huge swing because I don't buy meat on every visit. And sometimes I buy a lot at a time. My last shopping trip was $120 and I bought a ton of produce (and lots of berries - yay!), almonds and walnuts, a few pounds of grass fed organic beef, wild caught salmon, shrimp, halibut, flounder, Alaskan king crab, and a few pounds or organic chicken breasts. Meat adds up!

Next week, my shopping will probably stay in the $40 range because we'll be okay on meat for while. I feel so much better now that I'm buying what I WANT not just "what's on sale."  And since I don't buy much else in the store, we come out okay (budgetwise).

If using coupons is stressing you out (or causing your family to eat junk you wouldn't otherwise buy) then consider letting it go. The savings are not worth the stress (or the stress on your body from eating yuck-o food or having a cluttered up home.)

Phat QR Anti Cellulite Deep Tissue Massager - Review & Giveaway

Sponsored by Tomoson.com

Whether you have Cellulite or not, I highly recommend the Phat QR Anti Cellulite Deep Tissue Massager. I had the chance to review it recently and it is a huge hit in our house! For everyone!

Here's what the manufacturer has to say:


Phat QR Anti Cellulite Deep Tissue Massager is a simple device that replaces a massage terapist and expensive lazer treatments. Can be used by anyone on any part of the body. How it works? It's a hand held device constructed with 7 deep set metal spheres that roll on your skin and provide deep tissue massage improving circulation and delivering oxygen to the stagnant cells. It breaks down bulging and uneven fat cells "ironing" out the surface of the skin.

Warning: If you are not accustomed to a regular deep tissue massage, first few massage sessions may cause light to moderate bruising. Starting light is essential to avoid bruising.

I'd be lying if I didn't tell you that I DO have cellulite and I'd love to get rid of it. But the main reason I wanted to try this massager was the "Warning."  More on that in a minute.

Any woman that has cellulite wants to know if this product works. Since using the Phat QR Anti Cellulite Deep Tissue Massager, I do have less cellulite. To be fair, I have also been busting my rear in the gym and have only been using the Phat QR for a few weeks. That being said, I have a lot less cellulite but am not entirely cellulite free, but I don't care. 

I'd buy this product again and again. In fact, I'm  putting it on my "must include list" for every new mom or newlywed.  Yes, the cellulite reduction and lymphatic drainage, toxin removal, and all that stuff is great. But the #1 reason why this device rocks is the massaging. 

Deep tissue massage is an amazing (and expensive) thing. It's also something that's difficult to do. Have you ever given your husband a massage only to need one yourself after exerting all that effort? This little massager changes it all! 

I've owned countless massage tools (from wood knobby things, to balls, to foam rollers, to heated chairs, to rolling/kneading heated chairs, to handheld devices....) and this one is the best! The metal balls roll (just like a massage therapist kneads) and get into all your tough spots without any more effort than rubbing your hand across the area. 

And it gives a good massage. I've been massaging my self regularly and my children and husband have requested (demanded??) several massages as well. Everyone loves to give and receive massages with the Phat QR . It really is quite awesome. 

If you'd like to learn more you can check out their website at: www.skinqr.com and visit them on facebook and Twitter at http://www.facebook.com/SkinQRorganics and http://twitter.com/ArganiaLabs.

Want a chance to win one for yourself? Really, this is the BEST Christmas gift! 

One Suburban Jungle reader will Win the Phat QR Anti Cellulite Deep Tissue Massager! 

To Enter:  Visit www.skinqr.com. Look around and leave a comment here telling me about another great product you found. You can also stop back there to buy the Phat QR when this giveaway ends (or if you want to pick one up for a Christmas gift.)

Extra Entries:

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

3 Extra Entries for tweeting this contest (include @suburbanjung in your tweet, 1 extra for daily tweets)

2 Extra Entries if you are a google friend connect follower on this blog

2 Extra Entries for being an @suburbanjung follower on twitter

1 Extra Entry - Leave a comment telling me why you'd like to win the Phat QR. So easy...like a Phat QR massage. 

*This contest will end on December 6, 2010 at 9:00 PM EST. The winner will be selected by random.org and notified by email. I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Dragon Universe Party

Last weekend, we had another party at our house. This time - we had 9 boys (ages 6 and 7) and I managed to snap a few photos. I'm learning bit by bit as we go along... Note to anyone out there: if you have a party for young boys, enlist help!

This time my husband and daughter were a huge help, but pictures of boys in motion are always a challenge. Here are a few shots of some of the boys playing with their new toys from Mega Bloks Dragon Universe Collection.

And there you have the only two "semi-okay" shots from our party. Let's just say it is hard to get any and/or all the boys in one picture and it's nearly impossible to catch them standing or sitting still.

Regardless of the chaos, the party was a huge hit and all of the boys loved the Mega Bloks Dragon Universe toys. We started the party off with a few "get to know you" games and then proceeded on a Dragon egg Hunt.

They had a great time hunting for eggs. Each child got to keep their egg and put together the dragon or fighter inside. I highly recommend giving this type of prize at a party because we spent a good chunk of time putting together these sets. Not everyone had the same building expertise or focus, but all-in-all it was a fun and semi-organized event.

Next we had a drawing for a larger Dragon Universe set - each boy wrote his own name and put it in a box. My son drew the winner.

Then I let the boys play and fight with their new toys before we had snacks and a movie. We watched "How to Train your Dragon," appropriate right?

I would recommend these toys for parties or even as birthday gifts. They are small and easy to pack or wrap. Our only negative feedback about the toys were that the boys that got fighters instead of dragons really wanted dragons (even though they came with far less pieces - go figure) and that they couldn't put the guys or dragons back into the eggs without breaking them apart. 

My son has already repurposed his egg to hold treasures, and I'm guessing many of the others have done the same.

*This was a sponsored house party event and we received complimentary toys to share with our guests. 

Candy Land Party and Giveaway

Candy Land is one of those games that has endured through generations. It's the first game I bought my kids, and we've played it often. Now, there's a new version of CandyLand (no grandma nut!) and we had the chance to play the new game with all of our friends.

We hosted a "Candy Land Party" and invited over 10 little boys aged 6-7. In all we had 8 little kids running around, eating snacks, and playing.....games.

Here's the video I took before the party as I was setting up our snacks.

The goal was to take a video of 8 little boys nicely playing Candy Land and quietly eating snacks..... The goal was set by a naive mom that has never had 8 boys in her house at once. I am so glad I took a "before" video because as soon as the boys arrived, I needed all my hands, eyes, ears, everything just to keep everyone under control.

We played Candy Land - sort of. They actually played run around with the Candy Land pieces, throw the cards into the air, chase the cat, wrestle each other and run like crazy. I almost completely lost it!

I think the age range was perfect (6 to 7 years old) but the gender....not so much. I worried that inviting my daughters friends would require too much "hand holding," but I failed to think about what 8 boys would be like.

So the party was out of control. But the game was still fun, and my kids have enjoyed playing it. They quickly added their current Candy Land game to our goodwill box and adopted the new version as their new favorite.

Want a chance to try the new Candy Land yourself? As luck would have it, one Suburban Jungle reader will win a new Candy Land game of their own!

To Enter: Leave a comment telling me your favorite Candy Land memory or character.

Extra Entries:
5 Extra Entries for blogging about this contest (leave 5 comments and your link)
3 Extra Entries for tweeting this contest (include @suburbanjung in your tweet, 1 extra for daily tweets)
2 Extra Entries if you are a google friend connect follower on this blog
2 Extra Entries for being an @suburbanjung follower on twitter

*This contest will end on November 30, 2010 at 9:00 PM EST. The winner will be selected by random.org and notified by email. MyBlogSpark and Hasbro provided me with the products, information and prize packs. All opinions expressed are my own.

Knock 'em Dead at your HS Reunion - Win $150 worth of Kymaro products!

November is a big month for High School Reunions. It's also a big time for Holiday parties and events. In either case, you want to look your best. Kymaro to the rescue!!

Three (3) Suburban Jungle readers will win the following products from Kymaro to help them look their best this holiday season (or if you're going to your HS reunion!)


The Kymaro Sunless Tanning System allows you to have that “look at me” glow the healthy way.   

 

Availability: www.ubuyez.com

Price: $39.90/monthly supply

The Kymaro Body Shaper, which trims and slims in all the right places. You've no doubt seen this in infomercials - it's as awesome in real life!

Availability: www.ubuyez.com

Price: $39.95

 Use the Kymaro Bust Up Cups to give yourself an instant lift minus the surgery. These really work and feel natural. Just sayin'.

Availability: www.ubuyez.com

Price: $19.95

 Kymaro Glamour Eyes Eyelash Extension Kit will draw unforgettable focus to your eyes.  These are fun - super hollywood!

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Availability: www.ubuyez.com

Price: $39.95

The Kymaro Rollaway Facial Hair Threader will allow you to erase any signs of hair growth on your face, within minutes. It’s quick, painless, and will save you some money. 

Availability: www.ubuyez.com
Price: $9.95

These products are pure fun! I challenge any of you to order one of these products and not smile from ear to ear when they arrive. They work great, are super fun, and are the types of products women love. I couldn't stop smiling when my package arrived and when I tried each of these great products.

Kymaro will be giving away the entire HS reunion kit to 3 Suburban Jungle readers.

What's included:

Kymaro Sunless Tanning System ($39.90/monthly supply)

Kymaro Rollaway Facial Threader ($9.95)

Kymaro Bust Up Cups ($19.95)

Kymaro Glamour Eyes Eyelash Extension Kit ($39.95)

Kymaro Body Shaper ($39.95)

To Enter: Leave a comment telling me which product you are most excited to try and why.

Extra Entries:

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

3 Extra Entries for tweeting this contest (include @suburbanjung in your tweet, 1 extra for daily tweets)

2 Extra Entries if you are a google friend connect follower on this blog

2 Extra Entries for being an @suburbanjung follower on twitter

*This contest will end on November 30, 2010 at 9:00 PM EST. The winner will be selected by random.org and notified by email. I received the products mentioned above for review purposes. All prizes will come from Kymaro. All opinions expressed are my own.

Yummy Natural Treats - Review of HINT water and Wings of Nature Bars

We all want healthier snacks - especially for our families. I can resist chips and soda better than anyone I know, but my family - not so much. Luckily, we had the opportunity to sample a new brand of flavored waters and natural fruit and grain bars.

My family loves flavored drinks. So far, my kids only drink 100% juice every so often, and no soda. But my husband loves flavored waters. Have you ever read the ingredient lists on popular flavored waters? I have and it's scary!!!! 

Hint Water is different. Do you know what the ingredients are? Water and fruit. But not much fruit - just a hint of it. So there are no calories or preservatives. Just a hint of taste. All natural and all good. And my husband was a huge fan! 

You can find Hint water at high-end grocery stores, cafes, and food retailers - including Starbucks. I hope they show up at Target stores because I'd include them on my regular shopping lists. I highly recommend them. You can find out more here: www.drinkHINT.com

We also had the opportunity to sample Wings of Nature organic health bars. Again, the ingredient list was awesome - all organic, low sodium, vegan, no trans fats, No GMOs, no preservatives or additives. This is my kind of food.

We sampled all three varieties (Almond Raisin, Espresso Coffee, and Cranberry Crunch.) We liked the all except the Espresso Coffee. Sorry, we just can't deal with the coffee taste of anything. I'm the same way with tea. I just can't do it. But looking at the bars, you kind of expect them to be gross.

There are all kinds of sesame seeds, nuts, and sweet goodies. But they rock! They taste great (minus the coffee for me) and are made from excellent ingredients. I would feel great sending these in my kids' lunch boxes or packing them for on-the-go snacks.

You can find Wings of Nature organic health bars at www.wings-of-nature.com

*No compensation was received for this review. We did receive free products for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own.

PJs for the Cure - Supporting Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

We're all familiar with races and ribbons "for the cure," but what about PJ's for the cure. Yep, it exists. And today, November 14th is World Diabetes Day - exactly what PJ's For The Cure is all about. PJ's For The Cure is aiming to raise $1 million to support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

We hear so much about cancer, it's easy to forget about other diseases afflicting our population, especially children. More than 15,000 children are diagnosed with juvenile diabetes each year. Komar, the largest sleepwear manufacturer in the United States, created PJs For The Cure in order to benefit JDRF.

How can we help? PJs For The Cure offers specially designed women's and children's pajamas sets with 100% of every sale being donated directly to JDRF to fund research for a cure for juvenile diabetes. You can buy PJs For The Cure, and you can also LIKE them on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/PJsForTheCure.

You can check out their cute PJs here -http://www.pjsforthecure.org/  and one Suburban Jungle reader will also have the chance to win their own pair or women's, girl's, or boy's PJs.

To Enter: Leave a comment telling me your favorite thing to do in your PJs.
Extra Entries:
5 Extra Entries for blogging about this contest ( leave your link and 5 comments)
3 Extra Entries for tweeting this contest (include @suburbanjung in your tweet, 1 extra for daily tweets)
2 Extra Entries for following this blog on google friend connect
2 Extra Entries for following @suburbanjung on twitter.

This contest will end on November 30, 2010 at 9:00PM EST. The winner will be notified by December 1st 2PM EST and must respond by December 2nd  4:00PM EST or another winner will be selected. I wrote thsi review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Komar and PJs for the Cure and received a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Wisk takes out Oil Stains!

I've had the chance to use Wisk for the past few months and have been super impressed with it's stain removing ability. The best part - I can just throw whatever stained items into the wash and not worry about it. Wisk works on all stains and has done a great job cleaning up my wash.

This week, I had the chance to try out Wisk on a specific Oil stain - lipstick. I don't get a lot of lipstick stains in my laundry, but I do get a lot of olive oil incidents. Lipstick was fun to try though because the color is easy to track.

Here's how it worked out: I blotted lipstick onto a towel.

Then I rubbed Wisk into the stain for about 15 seconds. Easy Enough.

Then I washed the stain out with warm water for less than 10 seconds and Wallah...

The towel was back to clean. Wet, but clean. And it's a good thing. This was a cute towel and I'd hate to see it get ruined! But Wisk took the stain right out.

I've been really happy with the stain removing properties of Wisk. And there have been big dollar coupons in the papers recently ($2 and $3 off!). You may want to give it a try. It's so nice to be able to just drop the laundry in and not worry about stains. It's a Busy Mom's detergent.

*This post was sponsored by Wisk. I received compensation for this post. All opinions and views expressed are my own. 

Road Rippers R/C Motor Muscle Review

When you have young boys in the house, you're bound to be exposed to R/C cars. I can tell you with complete honesty, that I never played with these as a kid. But my son (and husband and father and...) can't get enough of them.

They love to zip them around, run over things, crash. Sometimes, boys just confuse me. But since we've had a few R/C cars around our home, I have an opinion about how they should look and most importantly - act.

We had the opportunity to review the Road Rippers 1971 Dodge Super Bee Motor Muscle car and we loved it. It drove exactly how an R/C car should - it maneuvered well, could drive backwards, and was fast. Yay!

It was also kind of cool looking - different from the usual amphibious or monster truck types. I'm sure most grandpas would approve. Guys are into car looks, you know what I mean.

You can find the whole set of Road Rippers Motor Muscle cars at Wal-Mmart, Target, Toys "R" Us, Kmart and many more. You can also find additional info at www.toystate.com.

The only downside to this car (and I'm sorry to have to say this) is the song it plays. It's not that there's anything wrong with the song, it's just that giving little boys a button that allows them to play the same song over and over and over and over again is "mom torture."  Really, I wish I could break the button....

*This is a Team Mom review. I was provided a Road Ripper R/C car for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own.

You know you've been gaining muscle when...

I've been working out for over a month now, and every time I look in the mirror, I feel like I look the exact same. It's so hard to know if you're efforts are paying off.  Well, I finally think I can tell that there's been progress. Just this week, I've noticed my pants are looser and my shirts are tighter. Gross. What in the heck!

Okay, it's so not the way it sounds. I carry almost no fat above my middle -not in the face, arms, or chest. It's all in my tummy and rear. I'm so lucky! lol

So as I've been losing body fat and gaining muscle - the arms of my shirts are getting tight. And my jeans are getting loose. Pretty awesome about the jeans, kind of annoying about the shirts. Remember the aforementioned comment about little to no chest fat. Yeah. So I'm a size XS but if I have to buy Mediums for my guns, then the rest of my body is going to be in a tent.

I've already had to cut the sleeves on a few of my shirts. I guess it's shopping time again. ;)

By the way - if you interested in seeing what my "He-Man" arms look like - you can see a recent video of me here.

Bing "Our School Needs" Contest - It's time to vote!

It's time to vote in the Bing "Our School Needs" Contest. Remember, that Bing is awarding a quarter-million dollars in prize money divided among four schools in need. Your votes can make all the difference! Voting began on October 29 and ends on Sunday November 7th!

The winners will be announced on November 9th. The entry with the most votes wins $100K, and 3 others will each win $50K.

Bing is also giving away up to $900,000 to schools in need through DonorsChoose.org, a non-profit website where public school teachers can post classroom projects that need funding. Be one of the first 30,000 to vote for your favorite finalists each day and receive a $3 donation code to redeem for the classroom project of your choice!

Check out this photo of singer Josh Groban who visited a local middle school in Queens, NY to drop off brand new musical instruments and participate in chorus class as part of the “Our School Needs” campaign kick-off.

Every little bit helps our schools. From volunteering, to donations, to contests like this! Be sure to head to www.bing.com/ourschoolneeds to check out the 15 finalists and make your vote! I liked seeing how much the kids got involved.


Kids really do care about their schools! In our school, the kids are voracious about helping their teachers get supplies and run fundraisers. It looks like these finalists are no different. Enjoy watching their videos and don't forget to vote!

 "I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Bing and received a gift card and DonorsChoose.org giving code to thank me for taking the time to participate."