Life is like a sandcastle something beautiful here for awhile & then gone, but the impression it makes on others can last forever.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Giveaway Linky Thursday 9/1/11

Thanks for stopping by Giveaway Linky Thursday. Check Out:

8/31 Fiber One 80 Prize Pack
9/1 Kix Cereal Prize Pack
9/16 $10 Walmart Gift Card

Stop by The Night Owl Mama to Thursday Giveaway Linkup.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Wordless Wednesday Linky 8/31/11

Helping daddy!
5Minutes For Mom & Go Graham Go, Mom Start, Jolly Mom, Two of A kind, Working on a full House and many more wonderful sites, sign up, and share your Wordless Wednesday.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Twitter Hop Tuesday 8/30/11

Make new friends & gain followers with Twitter Hop Tuesday. Please follow host @lifesandcastle @Nightowlmama & Newest Host @HaveSippy we will follow back. If you don't mind please retweet/share so we can all gain more friends and participates:) Follow & follow back if someone follows you. Lets help each other #twitterhop
*I use Just Unfollow for non followers.

Win Simmons I Really Want My Beautyrest Mattress Contest 10 winners

Good news you have the chance to win a Simmons Beautyrest®elite mattress of choice (retail value of up to $3,000). Ten lucky winners will receive a new Beautyrest®elite mattress.

Bad news it is a voting contest!! I'm not a fan of voting contests. Way to much stress and voting clubs. Not everyone has the resources to gain votes and can be very sad results. Just saying it's my own personal opinion :) 

Interested? here are the details entries accepted from August 29, 2011 - October 29, 2011. Submit entry to Simmons early to get more votes!

Disclosure: Just sharing:)

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Daily Steal Deals + $6.99 New Hot Wheels Playset

I just purchased some more Christmas gifts at Daily Steals and thought I would share todays deals.


$16.99 Black & Decker TRO480BS 4 Slice 1200 Watt Toast-R-Oven with Removable Crumb Tray and Baking Pan

$29.99 SanDisk 8GB Sansa Clip+ MP3 Player with Expandable Memory and Built-In Microphone

$6.99 New Hot Wheels Crash Curve Playset with Jump Ramp and Realistic Accessories

$49.99 Fellowes 4 Gallon Cross-Cut Shredder with SafeSense (Choice of DS-1200CS or P-12C)

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Giveaway Linky Thursday 8/25/11


Thanks for stopping by Giveaway Linky Thursday. Check Out:

8/25 Dinosaur Big City DVD
8/31 Fiber One 80 Prize Pack
9/1 Kix Cereal Prize Pack
9/16 $10 Walmart Gift Card

Stop by The Night Owl Mama to Thursday Giveaway Linkup.

Wordless Wednesday Linky 8/24/11

Bad Boys
5Minutes For Mom & Go Graham Go, Mom Start, Jolly Mom, Two of A kind, Working on a full House and many more wonderful sites, sign up, and share your Wordless Wednesday.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Twitter Hop Tuesday

Make new friends & gain followers with Twitter Hop Tuesday. Please follow host @lifesandcastle @Nightowlmama & Newest Host @HaveSippy we will follow back. If you don't mind please retweet/share so we can all gain more friends and participates:) Follow & follow back if someone follows you. Lets help each other #twitterhop
*I use Just Unfollow for non followers.

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Lots of Big Winners!! Are you one?

Thanks everyone for entering. Congrats to all the winners!!
Remember if you do not follow rules entering you will not win. I do check, so don't waste your time and mine.
Xtrema Cookware- Zestywonderland
My Sweet Dreams Baby School Backpack- manthas24
John Deere Roll and Go Flashlight- Janet W.
Better Oats- BethElderton

Thursday, August 18, 2011

AJ Madison Hoover SteamVac Appliance Review


People you speak to at a company makes an impression on you and employees represent companies. I've spoken with 3 employees of AJ Madison and the impression I received from them was Hardworking, Courtesy, and Knowledge of the company and their products. Each was a pleasure to communicate with via twitter, phone, and email. I helped with a giveaway back in July, one of my readers won a Weber Grill courtesy of AJ Madison, and I had the opportunity to review the Hoover SteamVac Series F5912900.

Back in the days before I had children I didn't have to use a carpet cleaner but, once a month. I found with 2 little boys making messes I have to use it more frequently now. Cleaning up little spills and messes they make and regular cleaning. For the past two weeks, I've had sick children, part of the back to school season. I've been hard at work cleaning the germs away in our home. I have to say having carpet can be a magnet with sick & non sick children with out getting too graphic. Thanks to AJ Madison the clean up task is simplified with the Hoover SteamVac Series F5912900. A must have for a carpeted home, bare floors, and upholstery care as you can see from the photo below why...

Now more information on the Hoover SteamVac, I'm not great at assembling products so my husband handled that part. It comes in pieces and requires assembly, according to my husband it was easy to put together, and didn't take him long. He had plenty of help with our son. I took some pics during the process.

The time came to try it out. First it has two tanks, easy carry handle for one on top for clean hot tap water and one on the bottom to suck the dirty water back up. I've used other carpet cleaners but, this one had a better spray that covered the area. The spin brush were better picking up dirty water than my old rolling brush cleaner and my floors dry much more quickly. I used less water cleaning with this model than my older steam vac. That meant I could keep going with less refilling the tank with water and solution. I also like the nice big filter on the recovery tank. My carpet looked renewed and my house felt so much more cleaner. This model has 3 speed settings to be used on bare floors and carpet with an surge button for heavily soiled areas spot treatments. To get in to the smaller spaces you can use the hose and attachment tools stored on the steamvac. I would always suggest get a steam cleaner with hose and attachments you will use them more than you think.




Hoover SteamVac Series F5912900 TurboPower Steam Carpet Cleaner with SpinScrub Brushes, 3-Speed Brushroll Control, Tool Mode, Removable Brushes, Heated Drying and Dual Tanks

Features:
SteamVac SpinScrub Features
SpinScrub Multiple Rotating Brush System
Heated Cleaning - Applies heat directly to the floor
Removable Rotating Brushes for quick rinse cleaning
Fingertip Clean Surge function for spot removal and heavy traffic areas
Two separate translucent tanks to keep clean solution and dirty water separate
No belts to change, break, or replace
SpinScrub Powered hand tool for cleaning stairs & upholstery
12 AMP motor
Full One Year Warranty


Get ready for back to school & fall cleaning with the Hoover SteamVac from AJ Madison. I recommend this product and this company. Discover all the great indoor and outdoor appliances at http://www.ajmadison.com 
Keep up with all AJ Madison tweets @AJMadison
Fan the facebook page of  AJ Madison 
Follow AJ Madison You Tube

Disclosure: Company or PR provided me with complimentary product for trial. No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Giveaway Linky Thursday 9/18/11

Thanks for stopping by Giveaway Linky Thursday. Check Out:

8/17 John Deere Roll and Go Flashlight
8/20 Dance Pocoyo Dance! DVD
8/25 Dinosaur Big City DVD
8/31 Fiber One 80 Prize Pack
9/1 Kix Cereal Prize Pack
9/16 $10 Walmart Gift Card

Stop by The Night Owl Mama to Thursday Giveaway Linkup.

$10 Walmart Gift Card Giveaway


Mandatory Entry *Follow Life Is A SandCastle via Google Friend Connect

********EXTRA ENTRIES***********
*Blog about the giveaway (5entries)
* Follow on twitter & tweet " #giveaways $10 Walmart GC Back to School #Giveaway @lifesandcastle http://t.co/fLzKFq9 #contest #win 9/16" (1 daily)
*Subscribe to my blog by email. (2 entries)

*Give me a Klout +K (1 entry per +K)(Daily entry)
*Enter (current) The Night Owl Mama or giveaways on my site- one entry for each you enter.
*Add this giveaway to a contest linky & leave link (3 entries each link, up to 3contest listings)


Disclosure: This giveaway is 100% sponsored by me to help with back to school blues for my readers.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

38 Days of 38 RoseArt Back-to-School Giveaways!!

38 Days of 38 RoseArt Back-to-School Giveaways!!  August 16 until September 22nd

**After the 38th giveaway, everyone (win or lose) who has entered the contest will be put into a draw to win the whopping grand prize of $250 worth of Rose Art school supplies!

Offical Rules & Prize information here http://www.megabloks.com/familyclub/elle/back-to-school-contest-rules-regulations/

Monday, August 15, 2011

Twitter Hop Tuesday 8/15/11

Make new friends & gain followers with Twitter Hop Tuesday. Please follow host @lifesandcastle @Nightowlmama & Newest Host @HaveSippy we will follow back. If you don't mind please retweet/share so we can all gain more friends and participates:) Follow & follow back if someone follows you. Lets help each other #twitterhop
*I use Just Unfollow for non followers.

IWave Cube Smallest Portable Microwave

The days of family and business trips without the luxuries of home has passed with inventions like the IWave Cube. Taking your microwave with you has become easier with the smallest microwave in the world. The IWave Cube has a carrying handle, settings are also located on the top. Some settings are already programed in the top for popcorn, coffee, and heat pack, etc.. It has a little light inside and the cooking timer is low sounding, which is a great feature for an office or nursery.


When first seeing the IWave Cube I thought it would be perfect for my father. Farming, there's not many food stops or home cooking near by. Many times he just skips lunch. Some of the fields he works in has an power source and he can use the IWave Cube to get a warm meal, quickly, and then be back to work fast. Especially in the winter when they work cotton they are in the field till 1:00 am and I mean it is freezing weather. How perfect to heat up with a hot cup of coffee or hot chocolate. Small enough to stay in the tractor or truck:)


It is missing a turn table for even cooking on large items, you will have to rotate package or stir for even heating. It takes a little longer than tradition microwaves but, all in all it does a great job heating. Below you can see it's size compared to the KFC bucket. The bucket will not fit inside of the IWave Cube. This portable microwave actually measures 10.5"W x 10"D x 12"H
Heating cavity is .3 cubic feet (8"W x 8"D x 6"H) 600 watts, and weighs 12 pounds.
Where size matters the IWave Cube World's Smallest Portable Microwave makes a great addition.
 Camping
Long-haul tractors with a sleeper
Recreational vehicle (RV)
In-truck inverter power for appliances Semi-Tractor Truck Living
Even in the field farming
Office
Nursery
College Dorms
So much more uses!!!
"Founded in 2004, iCubed International, LLC, is driven by the opportunity to invent, the luxury to imagine and the need to innovate. "

Stay connected with the IWave Cube
Twitter @IWavecube http://twitter.com/iwavecube
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/IWaveCube
YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/iwavecube
Disclosure: Company or PR provided me with complimentary product for trial. No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

$12.99 Sylvania DV1100 Digital Video Camcorder

I had to share this deal from Daily Steals.


New Sylvania DV1100 Digital Video Camcorder with 4x Optical Zoom – Choice of 4 Colors


A perfect Christmas gift to my 4 year old son that always wants to hold my camcorder. I just purchased a blue one. His Favorite Color:)

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Kix Cereal Prize Pack Giveaway

Studying a little background history of Kix Cereal, I found they have served breakfast to the table for more than 70 years.  I also learned that Kix was one of the first non flake cereals and child stars Shirley Temple & Kirsten Dunst starred in Kix Advertising. In 1978 Kix tag line was written "kid-tested, mother-approved®"

Today, Kix Cereal is proud to say they are still kid-tested, mother-approved®. A good source of calcium, fiber, and Vitamins C and D, providing your family a wholesome breakfast with nutrients they need to grow. Kix is slightly sweetened crunchy whole grain corn balls and an excellent source of iron and low in sugar. Kix has no artificial color, flavors or preservatives.

Try the Kix Honey Cereal & Original flavor. Visit Kix online for background history, nutritional content, and special offers. Kix hope you´ll join in on the conversation and tell why Kix cereal is "approved" in your household!
Thanks to General Mills through MyBlogSpark one winner will win a prize pack that will contain: 6 boxes of Original Kix cereal (12 oz.)


RULES: Contest closes 11:59pm Eastern September 1, 2011.
Open US winner has 2 days to respond to my email
Leave your email in to post or available in profile, I will not search for it
MUST complete Mandatory Entry. Winner will be chosen by random org. Entries that does not follow the rules will not win.


Mandatory Entry *Follow Life Is A SandCastle via Google Friend Connect and let me know why Kix is "approved" in your home.  

********EXTRA ENTRIES***********
*Blog about the giveaway linking this post (5entries)
* Follow all on twitter & tweet " #win Kix Cereal Prize Pack 6 boxes original @lifesandcastle http://t.co/mOfuLND #MyBlogSpark! 9/1 #giveaway #contest" (1 daily)

*Become a Kix Facebook fan. (3 entries)

*Become my face book fan. (2 entries)
*Give this post a google+1 (1 entry)
*Tell me an event for Kix timeline (2 entries)

*Give me a Klout +K (3 entries)
*Subscribe to my blog by email. (2 entries)
*Enter (current) The Night Owl Mama or giveaways on my site- one entry for each you enter.
*Grab the "Hotter Than Summer" Button @ top left side of my blog (2 entries) But if you already had it and commented on extra entry link before May 1, you get (5 entries).
*Add my regular button (2 entries)
*Add this giveaway to a contest linky & leave link (3 entries each link, up to 3contest listings)


"Disclosure: Kix cereal, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark."

Winner!! Plus Audiovox DVD Player $49.99

Audiovox 9” Widescreen Portable DVD Player for $49.99 at Daily Steals & Logitech X-530 5.1 Surround Sound Speaker System for $39.99.



WINNER
Thanks Everyone for entering and congrats to the  winner of the Plasmart Plasma Car.

Friday, August 12, 2011

Ending Giveaways, Winners, & more!!

Busy past 2 weeks starting preschool, doctor visit for ear infection & sinus infection oldest son. Carrying mother in law to hospital with high blood sugar. Doctor office with youngest with a touch of the flu bug. I'm ready to get in to a routine and get normal again with out tears, snot, and vomit. Maybe this coming up week:)

Hurry these are ending soon PlaSmart Plasma Car ends 8/12

 
Back Pack of Choice My Sweet Dreams Baby ends 8/15
 
 
Xtrema 10" Open Skillet ending 8/15
 
 
 Month's supply mixed case of Better Oats.
 
 
Congrats!! WINNER'S
 
Winner of the Happy Feet Insoles








Thursday, August 11, 2011

Fiber One 80 Prize Pack Giveaway

As a mom I look for foods that my children will enjoy to eat with out a fuss and the new Fiber One 80 happens to be on my new discovery list. My toddler is enjoying it as his newest finger food snack during the day. My boys love the honey taste and they are not the only one. I think it's pretty good too.

I tried it both with milk and without and like it both ways. I like the fact that it  has 80 calories per serving, tastes good, and has 40 percent of the Daily Value of fiber. Fiber can help curb your hunger, which can help you stick to your weight loss plan. Light honey flavor crunchy wheat and corn puff square in every bowl.

Are you hungry yet? If so, look for new Fiber One 80 Calories cereal on grocer´s shelves now! Visit http://www.fiberone.com/ for great information on healthy living and coupons for new products. Also, be sure to check out the Fiber One Face book page and get involved in the conversation. Fiber One 80 would love to hear how you feel satisfied with new Fiber One 80 Calories cereal!

Winner prize pack will contain:
1 box of Fiber One 80 Calories Cereal
1 sensor pedometer with USB connector to chart walking progress
1 neoprene iPod/smart phone holder with arm strap

RULES: Contest closes 11:59pm Eastern August 31, 2011.
Open US winner has 2 days to respond to my email
Leave your email in to post or available in profile, I will not search for it
MUST complete Mandatory Entry. Winner will be chosen by random org. Entries that does not follow the rules will not win.


Mandatory Entry *Follow Life Is A SandCastle via Google Friend Connect and let me know another Fiber One product you like. 

********EXTRA ENTRIES***********
*Blog about the giveaway linking this post (5entries)
* Follow all on twitter & tweet " #win Fiber One 80 Cal. Cereal, pedometer/USB connector, iPod/smartphone holder @lifesandcastle http://t.co/QoPNg3S #MyBlogSpark! 8/31" (1 daily)

*Become a Fiber One´s Facebook fan. (3 entries)
*Become my face book fan. (2 entries)
*Give this post a google+1 (1 entry)
*Does your current breakfast keep you full until lunch time?(2 entries)

*Give me a Klout +K (3 entries)
*Subscribe to my blog by email. (2 entries)
*Enter (current) The Night Owl Mama or giveaways on my site- one entry for each you enter.
*Grab the "Hotter Than Summer" Button @ top left side of my blog (2 entries) But if you already had it and commented on extra entry link before May 1, you get (5 entries).
*Add my regular button (2 entries)
*Add this giveaway to a contest linky & leave link (3 entries each link, up to 3contest listings)



"Disclosure: Fiber One 80 Calories cereal, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark."

Giveaway Linky Thursday 8/11/11

Thanks for stopping by Giveaway Linky Thursday. Check Out:

  • 8/15 My Sweet Dreams Baby School Backpack



  • 8/15 Xtrema Cookware


  • 8/16 Better Oat Month Supply


  • 8/17 John Deere Roll and Go Flashlight



  • 8/20 Dance Pocoyo Dance! DVD



  • 8/25 Dinosaur Big City DVD


  • Stop by The Night Owl Mama to Thursday Giveaway Linkup.

    Tuesday, August 9, 2011

    Wordless Wednesday 8/10/11


    When things get rough, it's nice to view nature. Last week was hard and so far this week is a repeat. Little moments like this does wonders.

    5Minutes For Mom & Go Graham Go, Mom Start, Jolly Mom, Two of A kind, Working on a full House and many more wonderful sites, sign up, and share your Wordless Wednesday.

    Monday, August 8, 2011

    Twitter Hop Tuesday 8/9/11

    Make new friends & gain followers with Twitter Hop Tuesday. Please follow host @lifesandcastle @Nightowlmama & Newest Host @HaveSippy we will follow back. If you don't mind please retweet/share so we can all gain more friends and participates:) Follow & follow back if someone follows you. Lets help each other #twitterhop
    *I use Just Unfollow for non followers.

    Sunday, August 7, 2011

    Winner!!

    Thanks everyone for entering. Congrats to the winner of the Fotobounce $20 Pay Pal.

    Friday, August 5, 2011

    DINOSAUR TRAIN: Dinosaur Big City DVD for GIVEAWAY + Amtrak Vacations®

     The Jim Henson Company, Random House Children’sBooks and Paramount Home Entertainment have partnered with Amtrak for a nationwide promotion in August to support the season premiere on PBS KIDS of Dinosaur Train:  Dinosaur Big City on August 22 and the DVD release on August 23. 


    From August 1 – 31, families can embark on their own DINOSAUR TRAIN adventure by entering the Amtrak - Dinosaur Train Sweepstakes.  One lucky family of 4 (2 adults / 2 children) will win an Amtrak Vacations® Rocky Mountain National Park Tour to visit the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center in Woodland Park, Colorado as part of the grand prize.  In addition, the promotion will feature DINOSAUR TRAIN place mats on Long Distance Trains, while seat backs, counter cards, activity book giveaways will be in over 100 stations nationwide to promote the sweepstakes and DVD release.  One million ticket jackets will be used system wide featuring DINOSAUR TRAIN. The “Dinosaur Big City” DVD will also include an Amtrak offer in 50,000 units.  Visit www.henson.com/Dtsweepstakes for promotion details.

    DINOSAUR TRAIN, created by Craig Bartlett(Hey Arnold!), embraces and celebrates the fascination that preschoolers have with both dinosaurs and trains while encouraging basic scientific thinking and skills. Each episode includes animated segments with live-action sequences featuring a paleontologist who brings to life the show's natural science and natural history curriculum for preschoolers, giving specific facts about dinosaurs and comparing their features to animals of today.


    The DINOSAUR TRAIN: Dinosaur Big City DVD includes eight fun and engaging learning adventures, as well as interactive games, coloring pages, dinosaur reference guide and information for parents. The DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $14.99 U.S./$15.99 Canada. 

    The DINOSAUR TRAIN: Dinosaur Big City DVD is presented in wide screen with Dolby Digital English Stereo and English SDH subtitles.  The run time is 100 minutes.  The DVD includes the following:

    Adventures:
    ·      Dinosaur BigCity – Part 1
    ·      Dinosaur BigCity – Part 2
    ·      Dinosaur BigCity – Part 3
    ·      Dinosaur BigCity – Part 4
    ·      Troodon Train Day
    ·      King Cryolophosaurus
    ·      The Theropod Club
    ·      Laura Giganotosaurus

    Special Features:
    ·      Interactive Games
    ·      Coloring Pages
    ·      Dinosaur Reference Guide
    ·      Dinosaur Discoveries with Dr. Scott, the paleontologist

    In “Dinosaur BigCity,” join Buddy the T. rex and his Pteranodon family as they gather all their Theropod friends together to travel to the big Theropod Club Convention which is being held in Laramidia, the “Dinosaur Big City!” Among the travelers is King Cryolophosaurus, who’s more than a little nervous about giving a concert in front of his biggest audience ever. Can Buddy and Tiny help him overcome his fear of performing?

    Thanks to PBS KIDS & The Henson Company one of my readers will win the new The DINOSAUR TRAIN: Dinosaur Big City DVD

    RULES: Contest closes 11:59pm Eastern 8/25
    Open U.S. winner has 5 days to respond to my email
    Leave your email in to post or available in profile, I will not search for it
    MUST complete Mandatory Entry. Winner will be chosen by random org. Entries that does not follow the rules will not win.

    Mandatory Entry: Win by following my blog Google Friend Connect and tell me your favorite Dinosaur Train Character.

    ********EXTRA ENTRIES***********
    *Blog about the giveaway (5 entries)

    *Follow all and tweet once a day "#giveaway DINOSAUR TRAIN: Dinosaur Big City DVD @pbskids @hensonparents @lifesandcastle http://t.co/3aKYOvw #win 8/25"

    *What is your favorite activity @ Dinosaur Train
    interactive website (3entries)

    *Become my face book fan.

    *Become a Facebook Fan
    Henson Company or PBS Kids (3 entries each)
    http://www.facebook.com/pbskids
    http://www.facebook.com/hensoncompany

    *Give this post a google+1 (1 entry)

    *Give me a Klout +K (3 entries)

    *Subscribe to my blog by email. (2 entries)

    *Enter any current giveaways from The Night Owl Mama giveaways on my site- one entry for each you enter.

    *Grab the "Hotter Than Summer" Button @ top left side of my blog (2 entries) But if you already had it and commented on extra entry link before May 1, you get (5 entries).

    *Add my regular button (2 entries)

    *Add this giveaway to a contest linky & leave link (3 entries each link, up to 3contest listings)



    Disclosure: Nothing was recieved. Information & giveaway was provided by company & PR. No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

    Wednesday, August 3, 2011

    Giveaway Linky Thursday 8/4/11

    Thanks for stopping by Giveaway Linky Thursday. Check Out:

  • 8/05 Fhotobounce $20 Pay Pal


  • 8/07 Happy Feet Insoles


  • 8/10 Funrise Bubble Flash Ray & Bump-N-Go Bubble Bug


  • 8/15 My Sweet Dreams Baby School Backpack


  • 8/15 Xtrema Cookware


  • 8/16 Better Oat Month Supply


  • 8/17 John Deere Roll and Go Flashlight


  • 8/20 Dance Pocoyo Dance! DVD


  • Stop by The Night Owl Mama to Thursday Giveaway Linkup.

    Winner!!

    Running a little behind picking a winner with school starting. Things are a little crazy right now. Thanks everyone for entering. Congrats to the winner of the Walmart gift card & Ice cream.