Free Coupon Book for Mother's Day

Balancing Beauty and Bedlam has created an absolutely PRECIOUS coupon book for Mother's Day. It has some fun coupons as well as some blank coupons for you to personalize. This would be a great book to print on cardstock and tie together with some ribbon. Stick it in a basket of candy or a coffee cup and you have one CUTE Mother's Day gift! I know I would love to receive one of these!!



You can download and print your coupon book here.

So cute...

Thanks, Balancing Beauty and Bedlam!!

Vintage Couture - Cute Clothes for Little Angels! Future Giveaway!!

Okay...so I am LOVING Vintage Couture!! Vintage Couture is a line of PRECIOUS clothing and accessories for children and moms. Most of their clothing is for the little ones, but they do offer some GREAT clothes for mom occasionally as well. They have hair bows, blankets, diaper bags, etc. It's SUPER fun, SUPER fashionable and SUPER unique! This is a fairly new line, so you won't see many people wearing it - dress your little one in it and you're sure to be a hit!!

I LOVE that they have super stylish clothing for boys AS WELL as for girls. It's easy to find fun things for my daughter, but not so easy when it comes to my son.

Go to Vintage Couture, scroll to the bottom left-hand corner and click to browse the catalog. For every $100 spent (not necessarily from one person, just any sales that add up to $100), I will be hosting a Vintage Couture giveaway!! This offer will go through the end of May, so pass along to your friends and at the end of May be sure to follow along and look for the giveaway postings. Have fun shopping!!

Subscription to Parents Magazine: $1!

Get a Year of Parents Magazine for $1 from Barnes & Noble.

The subscription $9.97 until you enter coupon code K9B9J4H. This reduces the price to just $1! Depending on where you live you’ll also owe tax - but my total was just $1.08! I love this magazine because they have great articles and usually have coupons for diapers through Amazon Mom!

Shipping is free for magazines.

Go here to get yours!

Public or Private School - THAT is the Question!

Let's debate for a moment...public or private school? My son will begin kindergarten next year and I'm having a VERY difficult time deciding where to send him. You would think it would be an easy decision since I work for a public school, but alas...that makes my decision more difficult! If I take him to school with me, he would have to leave between 6:15 and 6:30 each morning...and not get home until 4:30. It would make for a long day and he wouldn't even be with me - I work in a 3rd-5th grade school. He would be at the K-2 school which is on campus, but still not the same building. It would enable me to be close for school events, parties and field trips...but make it difficult to return at night and on weekends for special school events, programs, sports and birthday parties. If I send him to the public school directly across the street from my home, he would get to "sleep in", but I don't know much about the teachers there and he would still have to be in an after school program until I could pick him up in the afternoon. Not to mention our school calendars are different - he would have spring break during a different week, different weather days and start/finish days.

We HAVE looked into several private schools, one we "like" another we LOVE. However, the one we love is rather pricey. I'm not even sure we could do it. Their schooling is phenomenal and their ratio is between 5:1 and 5:8 - AMAZING! Their graduate rate and scholarship rate is out of this world and the extra curriculars are great. It's down town from where we live and my husband could drop him off there in the mornings, but he would still be in after school. The private school we could afford has a better Bible program, but not a great ratio (better than public school) and their Math program STINKS. I can say this because I taught it for years and I'm not sure I could actually PAY someone to teach it to my child. It will remain nameless so as not to step on any toes. ;)

After talking to LOTS of friends and family members, I get mixed feedback. From someone who taught in private schools for years, sent her child and now teaches in a public school...she says "don't waste your money". From another who sent one child to public and one child to private - two schools I'm actually looking at - she says the difference between her two children and their experiences is AMAZING and she wishes she had sent them both to private school. From yet another, I was told she removed her child from private school because it was no better than the public school down the road. From yet another, his children graduated from the "better" of the private schools and one is now an attorney, another is at a Fine Dance Academy in New York. What to do, what to do?? The stories and advice go on...

And so my husband says, and I believe, if it is God's will, he will make a way and provide - which I believe. The problem I am having is differentiating between what I want and what GOD wants...I need Him to write it across my forehead! AND to make things more difficult, schools begin registering next month...and private schools will fill up quickly... HELP!!

I would love to hear your stories and advice...at this point, I keep wavering and honestly...I don't know what I'm going to do. I just want what's best for my son...and...I would LOVE to hear your opinions.

So the question is...public...or private?

Swagbucks: Are YOU Earning Free Stuff?

I LOVE Swagbucks!! If you haven't heard of it, or even if you have but you haven't signed up - I HIGHLY recommend it!! It is my NUMBER ONE favorite way to earn free gift cards - and you earn LOTS!! Why? Because you earn for doing something you would already be doing anyway - searching! When I signed up for Swagbucks, I downloaded the toolbar on both my home and work computers - so I could search from both locations. And today is THE perfect day to sign up - it's Mega Swagbucks Day!! Searching could earn you 10, 25, 50 or even 100 swagbucks today...and it only takes 45 Swagbucks to get a $5 Amazon gift card!

Here are the basics of Swagbucks:
You earn bucks for searching and then redeem those bucks for Amazon gift cards, Paypal cash, Movie tickets, and the list goes on... I ALWAYS purchase Amazon gift cards. You can purchase these in $5 increments and stack them when you're making purchases. So if you're making a $25 purchase from Amazon, you can use 5 of your $5 Amazon gift cards AND you get free shipping on any Amazon purchase of $25 or more - so everything is FREE! I've purchased shoes, birthday gifts, books and LOTS more this way - my total earnings are over $300 - so it really helps save $$!

When you sign up, it helps me...and when YOUR friends sign up...it helps you! Why? When referring friends, you get a buck for every buck they earn...so your Swagbucks could pile up quickly - especially on Mega Swagbucks Days!! If you post on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc telling your friends when YOU earn bucks, they'll start joining and help you earn faster! The more people you add the more you earn. It's easy, it's free, it's money for something you're already doing!!

Go here to sign up today and earn 3 Swagbucks INSTANTLY!

Swagbucks often sends out codes for free bucks. You can check the Swagbucks Widget at the bottom of my blog daily for codes - just click "swag codes"!

Have something fun you've bought with your free gift cards or earned through Swagbucks? I would love to know!

Spongebob MP3 Player - WOW!

Okay, I thought I was done posting for today, but I just HAD to share this - it's a GREAT deal!! Buy.com has the Spongebob MP3 player on sale for $12.99 - that's 67% off the regular price of $29.99 - and they are SURE to go fast!! So, if you want one, get it quick! My son has been wanting an MP3 player, but I thought he might be a bit young...for this price, Happy Birthday to D! I'm almost done with his birthday and it's still over a month away - yippee!

Go here to get yours...or wait, better yet...you can earn 3% cash back from Mr. Rebates!! I went to the site, put the MP3 Player in my cart, opened up a new tab, logged in through Mr. Rebates, found buy.com, clicked to go shop...and it will pull up the shop with your item still in the cart - and you'll get cash back - yay!!

You can sign up for Mr. Rebates here.

Yay!! What a great gift at a GREAT price!! You could just stock up for classmate birthday parties...or...Think CHRISTMAS already!! With deals like this, you'll be done before you know it. And as The Short One says when I say "before you know it", "Mom...I already know it"...hehehe.

Thanks, Swaggrabber!!

Ecostore USA - Review and Giveaway!

I was so excited when I received two products from Ecostore USA to review. I've always WANTED to live greener, especially since becoming a mom, but sometimes it's difficult to find inexpensive alternatives - especially when you live in an area that doesn't even have a recycling program (THAT's a great project I need to look into getting started). Ecostore USA was kind enough to send me their Laundry Liquid AND their Toilet Cleaner - two things I use regularly, so I thought they would be great items to try out and review. Let me tell you...I AM SOLD! I will be going to Ecostore USA time and time again to restock these two cleaners - and to try out some of their other items!! I LOVE THEM!

The Laundry Liquid:
I'm constantly washing. My son and husband both have allergies, so I try to buy detergents that are free of dyes and perfumes - although I like the nice, clean smell - I tend to do without them for the two men in my life. Well, I got the best of both worlds with this laundry detergent from Ecostore USA!! Not ONLY is it 100% organic and free of chemicals, it has THE BEST clean smell!! Since it contains organic Eucalyptus oil, my entire laundry room smelled like Eucalyptus - but it wasn't overpowering...it was just subtle, clean and nice. So for me, my family gets a laundry detergent with no chemicals and "I" get my smell good scent - yay!! LOVING this - it was by all means my favorite out of the two products I tried. It's super concentrated, so one bottle goes a long way. Trust me, I washed all day last Saturday - at least eight large loads - and I still have a TON left to use this week. I caught my husband using it to wash a load of towels...hey, if it will make HIM wash - give me more!!

Ingredients

* Palm and Coconut based non-ionic and anionic surfactants
* Fatty acid derivative
* Mineral hydroxide
* Certified organic Eucalyptus oil


The Toilet Cleaner:
Okay, just let me be honest...I.Can.Not.Stand.To.Clean. I WANT everything to be clean, but I don't like doing it. And honestly, I can't stand being confined in a bathroom, smelling the millions of chemicals you're using to clean...inhaling as you scrub...that can't be good for you?!? PLUS, I live with two males - a small one and a large one - but they both make messes when they go to the restroom. I am ALWAYS having to clean up the toilet - so this product was right up my alley. It cleaned just as well as any other cleaners I have used, it was a good, thick consistency and honestly, I cleaned as soon as I put it in the toilet, but it says to let it sit - so I'm SURE if I had let it sit, I would be seeing even MORE sparkle! I was just impatient...but it still worked great! It also says you can use it on Stainless Steel, so that's a big plus in my book!!

Ingredients

* Water
* Ethanol
* Anionic and Amphoteric Detergents (from coconut oil)
* Formic acid
* Ethereal Oils
* Chlorophyll
* Polysaccharide
* Citric acid


A BIG thank you to Maggie and Ecostore USA for allowing me to review these products - I'm in love!

Ecostore USA offers MANY items other than household cleaning products, too, that was just my choice when it came to a review. They also sell baby products, bath & body, hair care and even pet products!

Ecostore USA prices their products so that they are VERY affordable - which I love because I'm a coupon clipper. They also offer FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $25 - so that's really a great deal! If you live near a Meijer, you can find an assortment of their products in store, so be sure to look for them the next time you're shopping. Here's a little blurb from their website:


Value for Money

We know it's expensive to buy natural or organic products but we've found a way around this by safely super concentrating our formulations.

* Our plant based ingredients are a lot more expensive than the petrochemical alternatives but we have kept our prices down by economically concentrating our formulations.

* We don't use cheap fillers or bulking agents to make it look like you're getting more for your money - just pure active ingredients.

* This means that you only use a much smaller amount of the product which cuts down significantly on the cost per use.

* In many cases the cost per use is actually less than many 'cheaper looking' supermarket brands.



Ecostore USA is giving one VERY lucky Champagne Wisdom reader a $25 gift certificate to their store - yay!!

To enter, simply leave a comment stating the product you think would best fit your lifestyle and why. Go here to have a looksie around their site.

Want more entries? Gladly!
*Visit the Ecostore USA blog and sign up for their monthly newsletter
*Follow Ecostore USA and Champagne Wisdom on twitter
*Tweet this contest (you can do this daily) and leave a link
*Become an Ecostore USA Facebook Fan
*Sign up for Champagne Wisdom updates via email (3 entries)
*Follow Champagne Wisdom or subscribe via feed
*Grab my button! (3 entries)
*Watch the Healthy Child, Healthy World Video and leave a comment on THAT post about one way you're going to try to live "healthier".
*Vote for my grant and help our students win money for a new reading program.

That's a TON of extra entries! Be sure to leave a separate comment for each thing listed above. This giveaway will end 2/20 @ 9:00am central time. Good luck!

Healthy Child, Healthy World

I recently received the following video in my inbox from Healthy Child, Healthy World...asking me to share it. Wow. Gladly. Simple, yet powerful. And, I thought...what better video to share with a giveaway from EcoStore USA coming up within the week. You'll definitely want to watch for that one.

A wake up call...Change the world...one child at a time...

3T Boy's Clothes - Ebay Listing!

I just wanted to let you know about a listing I just posted on Ebay for a GREAT lot of 50+ boy's items, mostly size 3T...with a starting bid of $5! If you're like me, it's always nice to find a great deal on children's clothes. They grow so fast!! I just found a shirt on my son's life sized Biscuit Puppy that still has the 4T sticker on it - and he's now wearing 5T! So, he never wore it - because - I didn't realize it was on Biscuit - and obviously, since I didn't miss it, he had plenty of clothes to spare - ha! If you're looking for a great school/play lot for the little boy in your life and you need a size 3T, be sure to check out my auction here.

Just to let you know, I've agreed to help a family member list a HUGE amount of his "stash" on Ebay. If you're looking for cameras or camera supplies...lens, straps, etc...mostly Nikon OR Nascar, trucking, CAT cars and vehicles collectible items - all in the boxes - you'll definitely want to be watching for those to come soon. I have 6 boxes of items to list for him - if I can ever get around to it!! If you're interested in knowing when these things go up, let me know...I'll do my best to share!!

Have a listing on Ebay you would like to let the readers of Champagne Wisdom know about? Feel free to leave a comment below!

Valentine's Day Swap!

Audrey over at Audrey's Country Crafts is sponsoring a Valentine's Day Swap! It sounds like so much fun! Hurry on over if you want to participate. The last day to sign up is January 18th.

You can find all the information to sign up here!




It's always nice to get a little surprise in the mail!! Thanks, Audrey, for sponsoring such a fun idea!

Eyes, Lips, Face - the Way to Go for Cosmetics?

I want to know - who has tried Eyes, Lips, Face - better known as E.L.F. ---?? I've heard of their line, but haven't looked into it much until my cousin sent me an email inviting me to check out their new line (thanks, Kelli!). The more I started looking around, the more I was amazed!! Their PRICES are phenomenal - I mean, they have an entire line of cosmetics for $1 each!! They offer other items for more of course, but nothing is much more - and I'm thinking, if this is good stuff, wow - you really can't beat it! They have everything from facial cosmetics to nail polish to brushes and accessories to lotions...so tell me, have any of you ever tried this?? Shipping is around $6.95 - it never changed for me from one item to ten items in my basket, so I'm thinking it's really better to order multiple items at once - to save on shipping. I'm sure shipping would go up a bit if you ordered a massive amount of makeup, but $6.95 for ten items isn't all that bad...here are a few of their specials I came across via their site and/or their twitter feed:

E.L.F. - Go here to shop now!

Shipping Discount: Pick any 10 items and pay just $5 for shipping - makes it even better! Use promo code ECPICKZ

Dear John Sweepstakes sponsored by E.L.F. - win a Girl's Night Out, E.L.F. gift cards and more!

10 free $1 products from the "Get the Look" section (tab on top of website) - when you spend $20 - so if you can get the $5 shipping with this offer, that's 20 items for $15!! Even if shipping is still $6.95, it'll be less than $1 per item - shipping included. Not too shabby! Use code 2010

I'm a DiGiorno House Party Host - YOU CAN DO IT TOO!!

Who has heard of HouseParty.com? If you haven't or you have and you haven't applied for a party, you are seriously missing out!! It is SO MUCH FUN - and you get AWESOME free stuff!! Basically, you sign up to be a party host. Depending on what the party is for, you'll get some really awesome free stuff. I've already hosted a Juicy Juice party and I've now been accepted to be a DiGiorno Pizza host for an upcoming party toward the end of January - yahoo! I just received an email today saying my party pack has shipped...I'm SO EXCITED!! When my husband asked what that meant exactly, I told him all he needed to know was...free pizza! Here's a little blurb from the House Party website:


What is a House Party™?
House Party™ lets people who really love something host a special event featuring a fun, free, exclusive experience sponsored by the world's leading brands.

Cool people sharing cool stuff. A House Party™ is thousands of parties happening across the country on a single day, hosted by people just like you. Each event is sponsored by a leading brand and focuses on something cool–like a new product, hit TV show, or great cause–that the sponsor wants its best fans to experience firsthand and share with their friends. (Check out some of our recent events.)

You host. Everyone wins. House Party lets you share the stuff you like with the people you like, through a fantastic, free party experience. What's the catch? There is none: Our partners understand that if they share something good with the right people in a fun way, we'll all help spread the word.


For example, when I hosted the Juicy Juice Party, I received 5 boxes of goodies. Four boxes were of large bottles of juice for the party and the other box consisted of vinyl toy bags, coupons for guests, napkins, plastic Juicy Juice water bottles, playing cards, utensils, plates, coloring books, growth posters and more - 25 of EACH thing!! It was awesome. We sent it to my son's Sunday School class and they had a "juice party" there - so it doesn't have to be something big and elaborate that you set up at your house.

For the DiGiorno party, this is what I'll be receiving:
* 1 Party Planner Booklet
* 6 DIGIORNO Host Gratuity Coupons - pizza for party day! (free pizza)
* 15 DIGIORNO Guest Coupons
* 1 Supreme Pizza Cutter
* 15 Party Rally Beads
* 1 Football Pot Holder
* 1 Refrigerator Magnet
* Party “Believer” Stickers

You just can't go wrong!! I mean, the worst that can happen is you won't be accepted...but...maybe you will!! Since I've been accepted twice, I figure the chances are pretty good. Here are the current parties you can sign up for:

Do the Potty Dance House Party, hosted by Pull Ups

Boca Surprise House Party, sponsored by Boca Meatless Products

Zatarain's Mardi Gras House Party, sponsored by Zatarain's

Oscar Mayer Turkey Bacon Brunch House Party, sponsored by Oscar Mayer

Follow one of the above links to sign up now!! Here are some ideas if you're not up for an all out party night:

*Sunday School Gathering
*School Party
*Incorporate with an existing party, such as a birthday!
*Family Gathering
*Cook Out
*Play group/play date gathering
*Incorporate with a jewelry, home interior, gold party, etc.

The possibilities are endless!! And you don't have to spend more than you get for free...I'm SUPER excited about my upcoming party. Let me know if you've ever hosted one - and ESPECIALLY if you get accepted to an upcoming party. You can sign up on the website for email updates - they're always updating with new parties. Good luck and happy partying!

I'm a Winner, You're a Winner

I am going to admit, I LOVE blog giveaways. I've become addicted to them. I could sit and enter them for HOURS. I've won so many things and trust me, I am NOT typically a lucky person!! It's so exciting to come home, check your email and discover...you've won! Today I found out I've won a G-Force DVD from Here and There. That is the cutest movie EVER!! My son loved it and I know he'll be super excited to OWN it!! Trust me, if you're not entering blog giveaways, you should. Here are just a few of the items I've won throughout the past year:

Zhu Zhu Pet
Casio Watch
$50 Visa gift card
$30 Target gift card
$50 Wal-mart gift card
$25 Lowe's gift card
Imagination Movers CD
Game Night Family Package (several card games, Battleship, Monopoly, Connect 4)
Melt it Off Weight Ball and DVD
Totally Toned Arms Book
GE Microwave
Hormel Pasta Dishes
Super Hero Trading Cards
Halloween Candy Dish
Custom "Dad, My Hero" Keychain

...and the list goes on...it's so exciting!! I find it REALLY saves me a lot of money by helping me stock up on birthday and Christmas gifts - and the gift cards speak for themselves!! If you haven't been entering giveaways, there are a TON of places to start. You can simply type in "blog giveaway" on google and the list will be never-ending. Here are some of my favorite places to start:

Mom Fuse

The Funky Monkey

5 Minutes for Giveaways

Deal Seeking Mom's Weekly Giveaway Gathering

Etsy Giveaways (handmade)

So what are you waiting for? Enter those giveaways! I would love to hear about items you have won in the past as well as your favorite giveaway spot...it's fun to share and be inspired! Good Luck!

Tulle - $2.99 Clothing Sale - Woohoo!

Okay, have you ever shopped at Tulle? I LOVE IT. I shopped this sale last year and I was VERY pleased with the quality of their items and the way they fit - super cute!! We'll, they're having the same sale again where LOTS of items are $2.99 - you can NOT beat that!! Items go on up in price, but there's still a good variety to choose from in the $2.99 category - shop fast, things have already started selling out...you'll be very pleased with their clothes - I know I was! Can't NOT pass on a good sale when I find one... especially one for me...I'm usually looking at Children's Place or Toys R Us...well look out kiddos, this one's for momma! ;)

Start shopping the $2.99 sale!!

Happy Shopping, you know you deserve it!