11/15/11


I was recently selected to do a review of Hartstrings Children's Clothing. Tiffany loves to get dressed up and look pretty so I thought this would be a wonderful opportunity for her to model some great fashions while I got to review a brand that I have heard wonderful things about. 

Hartstrings was founded in 1979 by Ms. Peggy Hart Earle and represents an upscale girls’ lifestyle brand that embodies the essence of classic American styling with a modern view. 

After reviewing the website, www.hartstrings.com which was super easy to navigate, I set out to choose clothing for Tiffany. The first thing I noticed was that Hartstrings answers any question you may have as far as sizing right on their website. I can't tell you how important this is to me. No one likes to wait for the mail, get all excited, open the package and realize you bought the wrong size. You are able to search by size which is very convenient!

Some of the items are pricey but you can get incredible deals!


We were awarded $75.00 in merchandise credit to use towards any item or items we wanted. 

I chose to be my usual thrifty self and look through the sale items to get the most for the credit given to us. 

The first item we chose was the Hooded Cable Tunic Sweater in herbal green. 
This item retails for $60.00, but was on sale for $15.00!!
The Girls Green Hooded Cardigan Tunic Sweater Features:
Cables on the Bodice and Functional Front Pockets
It is Imported, Machine Washable, & is 100% Cotton
The hood is super cute and just adorable!


The next item we chose was the Fashionable Handbag Knit Top in Pearl.
Again, a fabulous deal! The top retails for $34.00 and was on sale for $20.40!
This Girls Pearl White Long Sleeve T-Shirt Features an Applique Pink and Green Tile Print Applique Purse with Attached Grosgrain Ribbon Bows.




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The final item we chose was the Favorite Knit Legging in Camellia Rose.
The Girls Essential Stretch Cotton Pull On Legging is Imported, Machine Washable, and made of 95% Cotton/5% Spandex. Now all of you Mom Said fans know what's coming next....Show me the deal!!! Ready? Regularly $30.00, these leggings are now available for $12.00!!!

Shipping was very quick and the customer service was excellent. When I opened the package, I noticed that there was an extra shirt in the package. I contacted Hartstrings and was told it was just a little something extra they threw in for us. How cool is that!


The clothing we received from Hartstrings fit perfectly. It is extremely well made and the colors are bright and vibrant. They have a wide variety of styles perfect for any occasion; from casual to holiday dresses and everything in between. 

Oh and no worries if you have a little boy instead of a little girl. Hartstrings has an entire line of high-end quality clothing for those handsome young men in your life too!
I shared at work with my co-workers the clothing that Tiffany received and my co-workers immediate reactions were, "Wow I have shopped at the Hartstrings store for 10 years. I love their clothing!" I would have to now say, I agree!

piZap.com free online photo editor, fun photo effects

Hartstrings clothing makes your children look great on any budget. Whether you're on a tight budget, or your spending limit is the sky, Hartstrings has something for everyone!

This Mom proudly recommends Hartstrings Children's Clothing and I look forward to making many more purchases from them!

Please visit Hartstrings at any of the online social media sites below and let them know that Mom Said That's It proudly recommended them to you.

Disclosure: I received free products from Hartstrings for review as part of my participation in a campaign by MomSelect. I did not receive any financial compensation for this post.




11/14/11

I recently had the opportunity to review Weight Watchers® Smart Ones® Satisfying Selections courtesy of Social Moms.

I have always enjoyed WW Smart Ones, but had not previously tried the Smart Ones Satisfying Selections prior to this review. I am always trying to watch what I eat due to my health, and Weight Watchers has been a huge part of the success I have had up to this point.

So with coupons in hand, off I went to the supermarket to pick out my entrees of choice. 

The first selection I tried was Sesame Chicken. I am a immense fan of Chinese cuisine! Much to my disappointment though, after eating other brands of "Diet" Chinese frozen meals, I am left feeling that the portions were not enough to satisfy me. Not so with Weight Watchers® Smart Ones® Satisfying Selections Sesame Chicken! When they advertise 30% larger portions than traditional tray meals, they mean it!

Sesame Chicken is a favorite of my husband as well. As much as I have tried to push "healthy eating", he utterly despises it. He didn't see me cook it in the microwave, or see the wrapper, but smelled what I was cooking and like a dog coming to investigate, saw I had Sesame Chicken on my plate. 

Once again, Weight Watchers® Smart Ones® Satisfying Selections Sesame Chicken wins out. He was fighting me for MY dinner! I gave in, let him have it. (Like any good wife, I waited until he ate it all to tell him it was a healthy meal...hehehe!) He couldn't tell the difference! He LOVED it! The next time we want chinese, I will be heading to the grocery store and buying Satisfying Selections. 

Since I gave in and let my husband John, have my Sesame Chicken, I heated my second meal, Smart Ones Satisfying Selections Chicken with Broccoli & Cheese! 


I love cheese, broccoli, and chicken! This was just as easy to heat in the microwave and delicious! There were large chunks of chicken, broccoli, and just the right amount of cheese. Yum! I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.

Here is some more information you may find useful in making your frozen healthy eating selections:

The pre-portioned nutritional meals help you to stay on track – especially at dinnertime.
All meals in the new line are portion controlled for dinner
And, they all have less than 400 calories, 8-10 Weight Watchers PointsPlus™ and 25 grams or more of protein.

With dual-prep methods you can prepare them just the way you like.
Either steam them in the microwave or cook on the stove top and serve on a dinner plate

The new Smart Ones bagged meals are available in five delicious flavors:
Sesame Chicken
Chicken & Broccoli Alfredo
Ziti with Meatballs & Cheese
Chicken with Broccoli & Cheese
Chicken Teriyaki Stir Fry

Sizes: 1 Package (331 g)

Suggested Retail Price: $3.69

Availability: Weight Watchers® Smart Ones® Satisfying Selections is available nationwide. You can find a store near you here: http://www.eatyourbest.com/storelocate.aspx


In conclusion: This review gets 5 out of 5 Mom Said Stars! The meal portions are generous. The taste is delicious. The calories counts and prices are just right, and Weight Watchers Smart Ones is a brand I trust. Thank you Weight Watchers, you have delivered another satisfying product that I am proud to share with my family!



Disclosure: This post is part of a SocialMoms product evaluation, for which I’ve been selected. I’ve been compensated for my time with 6,000 My SocialMoms Rewards Points. The opinions expressed in this post are mine and don’t necessarily reflect the opinions of SocialMoms or Heinz.

11/12/11


TGI Friday's has released a coupon on their Facebook page valid for a free appetizer when you come in with a group of 3 or more. The coupon is valid for dine-in only and valid at the bar. Expires 12/31/11. Go Here!

11/10/11


Enter to Win the Fiber One® Great Taste Giveaway! Just click on the image above!

If you are the Grand Prize winner, you'll win a trip for two to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in February 2012.

You will also have the chance to instantly win other tasteful prizes, including:
- a $500 gift card for a designer handbag of your choice
- a box of delicious Fiber One Bars or Brownies


Don't you just LOVE General Mills? I do!!!

Happy eats and treats!

Mom Said That's It!

11/9/11

Come Join the ‘Wacky Wednesday’ Facebook Hop!
Just click the Wacky Penguin to slide on it :)

11/8/11


Have I told you lately how awesome it is to be a BzzAgent? Well it totally is! Today, I got to try my BlenderBottle for the very first time. I was so excited!

When I opened the box I was shocked. It is bigger then I thought it would be. There are measurements on the side of the bottle, up to 20 oz. This is a great tool to use for cooking!

My first test for the BlenderBottle was a powdered energy drink mix I was reviewing. I tried to just pour the powder in a water bottle and shake it, without success. It would not mix completely. The water was filled with lumps of powder that tasted like chewing a vitamin. YUK!

Then I remembered I just received the BlenderBottle, and thought I would give it a whirl in that. Aces! No more clumps, bumps or grit. Just a smooth refreshing drink!

My first try with the BlenderBottle was a success! I can't wait to make omelets in the morning using it!!

See how you can get your own BlenderBottle at: http://www.blenderbottle.com/
Follow BlenderBottle's FB page at: https://www.facebook.com/theblenderbottle
And find out how you can win one at: http://twitter.com/blenderbottle

Look for photos and more to follow in the coming week!

I'm a BzzAgent and may have received samples or coupons to write a review however my opinions are all my own<3
Welcome to week two of the Folgers Wakin' Up Club Holiday Exclusives! 

Your chance to win this week's prize is just a few clicks away! Visit Folgers.com at home or from your mobile device, and sign up today. Enter every day to increase your chances to win.
This Week's Exclusive Prize

You could win a Keurig® Brewer, Folgers Gourmet Selections® K-Cup® Portion Packs, and International Delight® Coffee Creamer for a year! ENTER HERE!

Remember! The Folgers® Wakin' Up Club Holiday Exclusives Promotion ("Promotion") begins at Noon Eastern Time ("ET") on November 1, 2011 and ends at 11:59:59 AM ET on December 27, 2011 ("Promotion Entry Period").

11/4/11

Finally! A Giveaway for us Bloggers!
Enter today!!


MyCouportiera Giveaways: For Bloggers Only
Respect....R  E  S  P  E  C  T.

There are songs about it. We tell others we want their respect. We tell our teenagers they don't respect us. But what does it mean? Well Merriam-Webster defines "respect" as : a high or special regard for


The following are a few examples of why this Mom, is fed-up today with people in general not having respect for one another.

Yielding: There are signs all over the roads that say "YIELD". But what does it mean?



Yielding - used when speaking of traffic regulations, means that you must give the right-of-way to the vehicle that is lawfully proceeding on the roadway. (for example: At a 4-way stop controlled by signs - if two vehicles arrive at the interesection simultaneously, the drivers must YIELD to the driver on their right. -or- if you are making a left hand turn you must YIELD to all oncoming traffic).


11/1/11

 
I absolutely LOVE Olina Star! They have quality jewelry that fits a mom's budget! All you have to do is sign up for their newsletter and you're entered to win some truly beautiful gemstone jewelry!

Hugz and savings xo~
Heather
What P&G products do you use to get yourself and/or your home ready for the holidays? Tell us for a chance to win.

Simply submit a family photo through December 7, 2011, and select which brands you love the most. You could win one of 20 weekly prizes of a $50 Visa® gift card or the grand prize, a $5,000 Visa® gift card. Log in weekly to earn additional sweepstakes entries.
Click the image for your chance to win!
Married or Not.. You should read this. ❤
My husband sent this to my Facebook messages tonight. Please take the time to read it.......if you feel led, please comment if you can relate<3



【 Marriage 】
「When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held her hand and said, I’ve got something to tell you. She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes..

Suddenly I didn’t know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the topic calmly. She didn’t seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why? 

I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man! That night, we didn’t talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer; she had lost my heart to Jane. I didn’t love her anymore. I just pitied her! 

With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of my company. She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. The woman who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not take back what I had said for I loved Jane so dearly. Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now. 

The next day, I came back home very late and found her writing something at the table. I didn’t have supper but went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because I was tired after an eventful day with Jane. When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again. 

In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she didn’t want anything from me, but needed a month’s notice before the divorce. She requested that in that one month we both struggle to live as normal a life as possible. Her reasons were simple: our son had his exams in a month’s time and she didn’t want to disrupt him with our broken marriage. 

This was agreeable to me. But she had something more, she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day. She requested that every day for the month’s duration I carry her out of our bedroom to the front door ever morning. I thought she was going crazy. Just to make our last days together bearable I accepted her odd request.

I told Jane about my wife’s divorce conditions. . She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she applies, she has to face the divorce, she said scornfully. 

My wife and I hadn’t had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mommy in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly; don’t tell our son about the divorce. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outside the door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the office. 

On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest. I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn’t looked at this woman carefully for a long time. I realized she was not young any more. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered what I had done to her. 

On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me. On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy was growing again. I didn’t tell Jane about this. It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger. 

She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. I suddenly realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily. 

Suddenly it hit me… she had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart. Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head. 

Our son came in at the moment and said, Dad, it’s time to carry mom out. To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had become an essential part of his life. My wife gestured to our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I might change my mind at this last minute. I then held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly; it was just like our wedding day. 

But her much lighter weight made me sad. On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, I hadn’t noticed that our life lacked intimacy. I drove to office…. jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind…I walked upstairs. Jane opened the door and I said to her, Sorry, Jane, I do not want the divorce anymore. 

She looked at me, astonished, and then touched my forehead. Do you have a fever? She said. I moved her hand off my head. Sorry, Jane, I said, I won’t divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn’t value the details of our lives, not because we didn’t love each other anymore. Now I realize that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day I am supposed to hold her until death do us apart. Jane seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove away. At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for my wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote, I’ll carry you out every morning until death do us apart. 

That evening I arrived home, flowers in my hands, a smile on my face, I run up stairs, only to find my wife in the bed - dead. My wife had been fighting CANCER for months and I was so busy with Jane to even notice. She knew that she would die soon and she wanted to save me from the whatever negative reaction from our son, in case we push through with the divorce. 
— At least, in the eyes of our son — I’m a loving husband...

The small details of your lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, property, the money in the bank. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves.

So find time to be your spouse’s friend and do those little things for each other that build intimacy. Do have a real happy marriage! 

If you don’t share this, nothing will happen to you. 

If you do, you just might save a marriage. Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.. 


Author Unknown.
Simply click on the image below for full details and your chance to win!


The Folgers® Wakin' Up Club Holiday Exclusives Promotion ("Promotion") begins at Noon Eastern Time ("ET") on November 1, 2011 and ends at 11:59:59 AM ET on December 27, 2011 ("Promotion Entry Period"). Enter Here!


There will be Eight Weeks worth of Promotions! Today starts Week 1! 
You could win: Folgers Coffee for a Year, International Delight®Coffee Creamer for a Year, and a set of four Folgers coffee mugs. ARV: $388.


You must be a member of the Folgers Wakin' Up Club to be eligible so sign up for free and enter today!