Best Tips For Prepping Outdoor Living Areas For Entertaining ~ Prize Pack Give Away

The pool is finally open!  Let the summer season entertaining begin!

Not quite.
After a series of unexpected false starts, we're nearly ready to entertain guest around the pool this summer.  No small amount of new gray hair growth and under breath muttering could be heard the last few weeks in my should-be backyard oasis. A new in ground pool filter, rebuilt pool pump motor and no shortage of finger crossing later and we're almost ready!

According to a recent Procter & Gamble survey, only 25 percent of consumers clean their grills and only 20 percent of consumers clean their outdoor furniture.

Although the waters are blue and inviting, during the chaos of pool opening, we have neglected to prepare the rest of our outdoor entertaining components to accommodate our guest.  I was surprised to learn we are not alone in our negligence.

Admittedly, we usually do clean our outdoor furniture and grill at the start and end of each season.  The job, however, hasn't been terribly easy.  With a fleet of lounge chairs, deck boxes, wicker and tables, not to mention the pool paraphenalia, this Mom is welcomes help!  With mind to treating my summer guests to a clean outdoor oasis, as well as maximizing the life of my outdoor pieces, I was pleased to have an opportunity to put some specialty Proctor & Gamble products to the test!

Highly motivated to get the rest of our outdoor living area ready for guests, putting the power of Mr. Clean Outdoor Pro to work on our chaise lounge chairs made quick work of the seasonal clean up job!  Strong and packed full of Mr. Clean cleaning power, the Magic Eraser cleared away the grime and old season dirt with ease.  I love that I can use, rinse and reuse these sturdy cleaning wonders!

The Hubs went to work right away with the Mr. Clean Outdoor Pro cleaner and found the job of sprucing up our grill much easier than usual!  More effective cleaning tools and less elbow grease is always high on his priority list!  Strong Bounty One Sheet Paper Towels made cleaning up after the clean a breeze, rather than another chore.   While some bargain towels might save a few pennies initially, we'd rather do the job right with less waste!

Outdoor Living Seasonal Spruce Up Tips

• Maintain Your Outdoor Furniture – Keep it looking good all summer

• Inspect your Deck – Give it good once over -  check for loose nails, bricks, cracked concrete

• Remove the Clutter – Clean up, power wash, remove unnecessary items/debris.

• Accessorize – Add in the little touches (i.e., plants, outdoor lighting, lanterns, centerpiece)  

• Clean your Grill – Give your grill a clean start this season.

• Clean Pre and Post Season ~ Post season cleaning makes pre season cleaning quick & easy!

• Handle Repair Post Season ~ Complete repairs and refurbishing post season to maximize your time to enjoy summer entertaining.

• Cover & Store with Care - Choose a storage area that will keep your stored outdoor furniture out of the rain and snow.  Protect finishes and fabrics with covers and tarps.

• Buy New Pieces Mid or End Season ~ maximize your outdoor living buying power by picking up new and replacement pieces during or after season for best prices.

***GIVEAWAY***

Proctor & Gamble is generously offering That's What She Said readers a chance to win their own Summer Spruce Up Cleaning Prize Pack as shown above.  This Prize Pack contains: 1 - Mr. Clean Outdoor Pro Magic Eraser Multi Pack, 1 - Mr. Clean Outdoor Pro Spray, 1 - roll Bounty One Sheet Paper Towel and 1 - Home Depot Logo Leather Craft Multi Pocket Natural Canvas Apron.

This giveaway is open to resident of US, 18+ and will end on Sunday, July 22, 2012 at 11:59pm EST.  Winner will be selected randomly from all eligible entries via Random.org.   Winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to respond before I must move on to a Runner Up.  This Summer Spruce Up Cleaning Prize Pack is provided by Proctor & Gamble.

***MANDATORY ENTRY ***

* Via a comment to this blog post, share with me your best summer spruce up tip or an outdoor living project you'd like to tackle this year. ~ 1 entry.

* Via a comment to this blog post, tell me if you have used any of the Prize Pack products.  What did you think of them?   ~ 1 entry.

*  "Like" Mr. Clean Magic Eraser on Facebook, leave Facebook name in comment below ~ 1 entry. 

* "Like" That's What She Said on Facebook, leave Facebook name in comment below ~ 1 entry.

* Follow That's What She Said (@tsue1136) on Twitter, leave Twitter name in comment below ~ 1 entry.

* Give That's What She Said G+!  Click button on top left side bar and leave your G+ name in a comment below ~ 1 entry.

* Enter another That's What She Said Giveaway, leave comment telling me which you entered ~ 2 entries.

* Comment on any non-giveaway post, leave comment below telling me which  ~ 2 entries.

* Follow Just Like June (@momsmutterings) on Twitter, leave Twitter name in comment ~ 1 entry.

* Follow 3 Princes & A Princess 2 (@crystalnjoe1105) on Twitter, leave Twitter name in comment ~ 1 entry.

* Follow Closer To Lucy on Twitter, leave Twitter name in comment ~ 1 entry.

* Follow HaveSippy on Twitter, leave Twitter name in comment ~ 1 entry.

NOTE:  if you email address if available through your comment name link, you do not need to leave your email address in your comment.  If you email address is not available via your comment name, please leave your email address in anti-spam format in your comment.

Congratulations to Alison, 

comment #126, courtesy of Random.org!

I received a Summer Spruce Up Cleaning Kit courtesy of Proctor & Gamble for the purposes of exploring to create this feature.  The opinions above are both honest and my own.  Some images and information sourced from various Proctor & Gamble or Home Depot sites.  Facebook, Pinterest and Google+ are not involved in nor responsible for this giveaway in any fashion.  Sponsor is responsible for supplying prize.  Pool Image.

Best Mom Tips ~ Simplify Shopping With MyGofer.com

Our hectic weekdays make it beyond difficult to fit everything in.  Errands, running the kids about, sporting events, meetings and more keep this Mom hopping!  It seems I am forever waxing about the reasons I need a personal assistant.  What luck!  I think I've found one!

I discovered a new to me service  MyGofer.com:  an online shopping service that allows me to shop for everything from groceries and everyday household items, such as laundry, cleaning, baby and pet supplies,.  The best part about this service is that when I place my order conveniently online,  MyGofer.com sends its personal shoppers out to local stores to pick and pack my order for same day delivery, whether I order during the day, at night or on weekends!

Although there may be some readers who aren't in the home delivery area or need their order particularly quickly.  For those situations, MyGofer.com prepacks your shipment and through their partnership with Kmart, customers can pick up their order instore or via curbside pickup within two hours at over 1000 locations across the US.  Beyond convenience, the MyGofer.com service is free, sans a modest delivery fee for home deliveries. 

Even more convenient, I love that MyGofer.com has a host of other time savings features and tools on site!  One of my favorite is the list center that automatically stores my past purchases making creating a new order simple and speedy.  With our crazy schedule, I appreciate the ability to schedule new orders and reoccurring orders alike.  If I want to make changes to my orders, I can do so online or via  the MyGofer App, available for download to iPhone or Android.

This Mom is all about saving money and time.  MyGofer.com makes it easy to do!  I can take advantage of Shop Your Way Reward points, see and shop weekly deals and find just what I'm looking for through their easy to navigate online search tool.  If I happen to have a treasure trove of applicable manufacturer's coupons, I can apply them during checkout if I select an instore pickup for my order.  With all of the great benefits, I’ll be hard pressed to find a faster or more convenient way to shop than MyGofer.com!

What are your tips for convenient shopping for busy Moms?
Have you ever used a home delivery grocery service?
Did you love it or what?!
Tell me all about it in a comment below!  I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Thank you to mygofer.com for sponsoring this introduction and for supplying this infographic.  The opinions above are both honest and my own.  Some images and information sourced from various mygofer.com websites or its representatives.

Must Have Fab ~ Age Repair Trio from Exuviance ~ Give Away

Now in my middle Mom years, I'm always on the prowl for products and tips for helping me battle the effects of sun, age, gravity and life!  Certainly diet, exercise and positive outlook help.  Unfortunately, the further into my middle Mom years I travel, the more extra help this Mom needs!





One of my favorite Must Have Fab resources is NeoStrata!  They offer just right kits and products for all manner of skin concerns, including Coverblend concealing treatment makeup, PSORENT specialty products for psoriasis, as well as products designed for targeted solutions for dry, oily and sensitive skin concerns.

My go-to line, of course, is the anti-aging solutions in the Exuviance collection of products from NeoStrata.

Why is the Exuviance line this Mom's Must Have resource?    

I choose Exuviance products because of their high quality.  I've personally tested a number of these premium anti-aging products and have absolutely loved the results.  I can count on Exuviance products to deliver as promised.  NeoStrata's collections are created by blending beauty with science:  the perfect recipe for quality, skin care solutions.

I also appreciate that I can find specifically targeted products in the Exuviance line to meet my specific skin care concern. Other skin care lines I've tried offer products that are touted to cover a wide range of issues.  Although these products claim to be effective, I've found targeted products truly address my concerns, saving me beauty funds in the long run.  No misses with Exuviance!

Bonuses, Free Gifts ~ Go ahead, Pamper Me!

As a customer, nothing makes me feel more appreciated than a company that knows how to pamper me.  Shower me with free samples, bonuses and savings!   Whenever I shop at NeoStrata, I always find special savings and bonus offers!   The perfect way to sample new products before purchasing!

Always Innovating

NEW! Exuviance Age Repair Trio
Three potent targeted treatments clinically proven
to reduce lines and wrinkles and transform aging skin
with the power of Alpha & Poly Hydroxy Acids.

Always excited to try a new quality skin care product, I've never disappointed when I explore NeoStrata's online store!  This Exuviance Age Repair Trio certainly has piqued my interest!   Usually priced at $155, I can steal this anti-aging trio for only $105!  Infused with Alpha and Poly Hydroxy Acids, Exuviance customers have been raving!

• 91% had smaller pores
• 95% had increased elasticity and firmness
• 100% had increased skin clarity

With Exuviance customers singing praises for the Age Repair Trios ability to improve their skin's clarity, texture and smoothness, I'm confident about placing this Must Have Fab collection in my virtual shopping basket!

Stay In The Know

Website   

***GIVEAWAY***

NeoStrata is generously offering That's What She Said readers  an opportunity to win the Exuviance Age Repair Trio in the What's Hot in Style & Beauty for Summer 2012 ~Summer Social $700+ Giveaway

Do you have tried and true skin care tips?

How do you slow down the signs of aging?

Are you winning the battle against aging skin or fighting the good fight?

Tell me in a comment below!  I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Thank you to NeoStrata Exuviance for sponsoring the introduction of the Age Repair Trio and for supplying a prize for the Style & Beauty Giveaway Event..  The opinions above are both honest and my own.  Some information and images sourced from various NeoStrata sites.

How Green Is Your Fridge? #ChooseCartons

My family is on a mission this year....a GREEN mission.   While we do seek out green products and companies to support and do our best to recycle, this Mom has found that careful examination of different areas and aspects of our lives uncovers new way to green up our eco footprint.

Our latest target?
The Fridge!  After learning of and exploring a new to me site, Choose Cartons, not only did learn fascinating new facts about the eco value of carton containers, I also discovered that these cartons are recyclable in my area!  However, a quick inspection inside our fridge revealed great opportunity to make green up some of my family's grocery purchases.

A Peek Inside
I found common, fresh residents,

some green storage containers,

as well as definite opportunities for green improvement.

Paper Cartons ~ Good Green
I was surprised to learn just how green and beneficial paper food product cartons truly are.  They are manufactured from responsibly managed forests which in turn creates and promotes new forest growth.  New forest growth is incredibly beneficial, as it removes carbon from the atmosphere and counteracts the effects of greenhouse gas emissions.  Responsibly managed forests across the country "offsets roughly 11% of the country’s industrial greenhouse gas emissions, the equivalent of removing almost 135 million passenger vehicles from the nation’s highways." 1  The manufacturing process of paper cartons is also fueled by over 50% Biomass which is a renewable energy source made from wood products. 1

Although I had not thought to look into the possibility of recycling paper cartons in the past, I was further surprised to learn that this recycling option is available to over 41 million household in the United States!  A quick check at RecycleCartons.com assured me that carton recycling is available in my area.  A simple click on my state and entering my zip code into the search bar made this search and discovery quick and easy.

Paper Cartons block UV Light that can reduce the nutritional value of foods.

At the Choose Cartons website, I discovered a wealth of interesting and interactive information about the benefits of purchasing grocery products in paper cartons.  The kids and I enjoyed taking the Carton Checkout Challenge, an interactive option that allows you to select various products that are available in paper cartons to place in your virtual shopping cart and provides you with a score based upon how many paper cartons products you generally buy.  Each paper carton selection you make unveils an interesting green fact about paper cartons.  Through this fun page, I was reminded just how many products are available in paper cartons, such as milk, soy milk, teas, juices, creamers, salts, snacks and even fabric softener!


Paper Carton Crafts

Photo Credit:  Mary Anne Enriquez

I also found a wealth of fun, paper carton craft ideas at the Choose Cartons website, from a page filled with a wide range of carton crafts from hand puppets to water worthy sea craft!  Amazing!

Photo Credit:  Mulad

Stay In The Know ~ Choose Cartons

Website    Facebook     Twitter    Paper Carton Recycling

Share The Paper Carton Story   

Every carton fact shared, via Twitter, using the hashtag #choosecartons will help raise money for Habitat for Humanity®!


Do you purchase products in paper cartons?
What products do you purchase?

How are you greening up your eco footprint this year?

Please share and tweet with #choosecartons!

Tell me in a comment below.  I'd love to hear your thoughts!

I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Evergreen and received a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.  The opinions above are both honest and my own.  Some information and images sourced from various Evergreen websites. 1 - Facts sourced from Mom Central and ChooseCartons.com.

Riding Lessons & Finding The Right Gear

It was bound to happen sooner or later.

The Teen Diva declared her new found passion and must do summer adventure.

She wants to take riding lessons.

Although we are, without a doubt, city folks, my children have enjoyed exposure to benefits of both city and country living throughout their lives.  My parents retired from the 'burbs to the country and their new extensive property has provided hours of exploration and adventure as my children and their cousins explored the woods and creek, not to mention salamander hunting, Gator rides, bon fires and even a bit of an education in chicken farming.   Although my parent's new property came equipped with a weatherized stable, as opposed to hosting a fun animal, such as a horse or llama, my father decided to try his hand at semi free range chicken farming.

Odd Chicken Fact:  Chicken love to eat tomatoes!

Just a few miles away, my children have always enjoyed visiting with my sister and their cousins because her husband's family runs a centennial farm.   With enormous, shiny farm equipment to admire and stock representing all manner of traditional farm beasts, including cow and pig, my children have delighted in exploring the farm for years.  Always welcoming, my in-laws have welcomed my children to participate in their 4-H club events and we never miss attending the country fair with them.

Adjacent to the centennial farm is a riding stable that has caught the Teen Diva's attention for years. Although we've discussed the possibility of riding lessons in the past, her typically busy sports schedule throughout the year has put this potential passion fairly low on our family's list of priorities.  Simply finding time to make the 30 minute trek has been prohibitive.

However, this summer, with some much needed free time and the benefit of a driver's licence, the Diva is determined.  Of course, the fact that one of her new BFFs is a rider likely serves to fuel her new passion.  Although the price involved her allowing her riding lessons will take a significant bite out of our budget, I'm inclined to indulge her.  All too soon she'll be off to college and this Mom wants to encourage her to enjoy fun activities during her momentary reprieve from her typically grueling schedule.

True to her Diva nature, I have no doubt she'll insist upon having a full riding habit, from head to foot to look the part.  Although our friendship with the folks at the riding stable might allow for a modest discount, the only way I'll be able to accommodate the Diva's new found passion is to save on riding gear.  I'm certain we'll have some fun searching for a fun riding outfit online and what a great outfit to have available for her upcoming Senior portrait shoot!  I did find a great deal on Chaps from Equestrian Clearance but we're on hold until the Diva decides if she wants to go with a Western or English riding look.

What fun new adventures are in store for your kids this summer?
Have you even taken riding lessons?
Any tips for the Diva?
Tell me in a comment below!  I'd love to hear your thoughts!

 Please find my disclosure policy.  Horse Image.

Must Have Fab ~ Calling All Fabulous Girls ~ Fendi Spy Bag Give Away

 

sponsored by HipSwap  hosted by Sidetracked Mom’s Blog

Must Have Fab ~ Week One

“Win This Bag” is a 6-week event that will feature 6 weekly giveaways. There will be one designer handbag given away every week! Each bag will be an authentic, recognizable designer brand such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Coach, or Fendi. Our 6^th week will feature a highly coveted designer handbag and you will have the option to claim bonus entries for each of the 5 weekly "Win This Bag" giveaways you entered leading up to this grand finale! So, enter each weekly giveaway to increase your odds of winning!

Here’s what really separates this event from any other handbag giveaway you may have seen before… some of these handbags will come to you directly from a celebrity’s closet! 

This week’s fabulous prize

About our Sponsor:

HipSwap is a mobile and web marketplace that connects buyers and sellers locally and nationally. It enables people to discover what's inside the most fabulous closets, homes, and shops in neighborhoods and cities across America. HipSwap currently offers delivery service in Los Angeles and New York with its iconic pink delivery van.

Of course, high on every girls list of Must Have Fab are chic, designer handbags!  Second only to a coveted  new pair of designer shoes, or perhaps an unprecedented really, really good hair day, nothing says "I'm fabulous and you know it," like a gorgeous new designer handbag!
Want to win Karina Smirnoff's Fendi Spy Bag?  Of course you do!

How to Enter:
1. Create a HipSwap account. You will be asked to enter your name, email and zip code. If you do not live in the United States, please enter your City and Country in the Zip Code field.

2. Once registered, you can earn additional entries by:

a. Pinning your favorite HipSwap bag on Pinterest

b. “Liking” HipSwap on Facebook

c. Following @HipSwap on Twitter

d. Tweet with the hashtag #winthisbag for daily bonus entries

e. Following the blogs who are bringing you this awesome giveaway

NOTE: To be credited, all entries must be completed using the Rafflecopter form below. 
You can complete as many or as few entries as you’d like but remember, the more you do, the better your odds of winning! Plus, once you are following all of your hosts, entering each subsequent weekly Win This Bag Giveaway will be even faster & easier!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

This giveaway is open to entrants worldwide 18 years of age or older, except where prohibited by law. No purchase is necessary to enter. Void where prohibited by law. The odds of winning are based on the number of entries received. This promotion is no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook and is Facebook-compliant. To qualify to win, you must complete, at minimum, the mandatory entry on the Rafflecopter form. All entries will be forwarded to our sponsor for the purpose of randomly selecting a winner. Winners will be notified by email from a HipSwap representative. Winners will have 72 hours to respond or risk forfeiting their prize. Prize may re-awarded solely by the Sponsor's discretion. Prize fulfillment is the sole responsibliity of the sponsor. This blog may not be held liable for Sponsors who do not fulfill prize shipments. The participating bloggers were not compensated for this post. We reserve the right to publicly publish winners' names and/or likeness. By entering this giveaway, you are agreeing to these terms and conditions.

Keeping Up With the Kids ~ Fit Moms For Life Give Away

In these delightful summer days, grateful for more time to spend with my children, I have found myself remembering my own fun-filled summer days from not a small number of years ago.  So much life and energy and vigor I had, not unlike my children have today.  Although certainly no longer a spring chick, rather one of the middle regions of life, I miss all that ready energy and, seemingly, never-ending zest for life and adventure.

My progression into the realm of dwindling pep is certainly not unexpected, although most definitely unwelcome.  This Mom is not at all interested in going gently into that soft night.  Rather, I would prefer to challenge myself to overcome the easiness of aging and add fun and adventure into each of my days.  Goodness knows, simply to keep up with my on the go kids, it is a necessity!

My Challenge
Although I have kept fairly physically active in the past, a recent foot surgery has put the temporary breaks on my ability to maintain even my slower get up and go, not to mention, has had a less than pleasant effect on my middle mom metabolism.  I have no doubt, once I'm back on both feet, I'll require more than positive thinking to get myself back on track.

Holistic Solution

Having been given an opportunity to explore a book from women's fitness expert, Dustin Maher, Fit Moms For Life, I was curious to see if I would find any information or tips that I might apply to my own situation.  With a tag line of, "How to Have Endless Energy to Outplay Your Kids," it was certainly worth a look to learn more!

“An approach to fitness that is well-rounded and sustainable, and makes it easy to fit into the busy lives of mothers is the only program that is going to make a difference,”   

Author Dustin Maher's resume is quite impressive.  I learned that his efforts to encourage women to adopt the philosophy of self care as the best choice they can make for themselves and their families and of his success in assisting over 5,000 women to transform their lives for the better.  From his numerous network television appearances, library of 28 workout DVDs and the lofty goal of helping 1 million Moms make a healthy change for the good by 2015, Maher is certainly full of energy himself.  A significant part of his efforts are the formation of Fit Moms For Life communities across the globe.

My Take

Although my slow healing process has preventing me from adopting Maher's well constructed workout routines, I was certainly able to avail myself to the philosophies and healthy eating choices clearly outlined within this book.  Maher's approach in Fit Moms For Life is a holistic one, encompasses all parts of Mom: mind, body and spirit.

I found great detail about what foods work with, as well as against Moms on a mission for health, including suggested meal plans and tempting, healthy recipes.  

A comprehensive exercise routine, designed to be effective for Mom, with helpful detail and step by step photos to serve as a guide.

Potential the most persuasive portion of the book, the inclusion of numerous success stories from women who have tried this approach to improving their overall health and efforts of self-care is inspiring as one reads their heart felt personal stories.

Armed with personal stories with before and after photos, Dustin takes the reader through the five pillars of fitness: Mindset, Nutrition, Strength Training, Burst Training, and Environment, .ultimately leading to the end goal: Staying Fit for Life.  

No More Mom Martyrs 
As a admitted Mom Martyr who has been on a journey of my own in regard to self care and rediscovery, I found I was able to easily connect with the message of this book and do recommend it for those currently on or aspiring to begin their own journey to once again discover, celebrate and care for the woman within the Mom.

***SPECIAL OFFERS***
Purchasing Fit Moms For Life provides readers with special opportunities and savings, including four free gifts as outlined at Dustin Maher's site, including DVDs, motivation audio tape and bonus literature.

Learn More via Dustin Maher's website and by following him on facebook and twitter.

***GIVEAWAY***
Dustin Maher is generously offering That's What She Said readers an opportunity to win their own copy of Fit Moms For Life!  This giveaway is open to residents of US, 18+ and will end on Sunday, July 22 at 12:01am EST.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
GOOD LUCK!

FIND MORE THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID GIVEAWAYS!

I was provided with a copy of Fit Moms For Life to explore for the purposes of creating this feature.  Some images and information sourced from various Dustin Maher sites and materials.  The opinions above are both honest and of my own experiences.  Facebook, Pinterest and Google+ are not involved in nor responsible for this giveaway in any fashion.

Shopping Tips: Staying In Style For Less

With a Teen Diva in the house, the battle between her passion for fashion and this Mom's shopping budget are frequently at odds.  In the interest of full disclosure, I must admit that shopping for new looks with the Teen Diva does ignite a spark in my own shopping beast.  Left to our own devices, we can easily find our virtual shopping carts brimming with fab fashion finds, yet the nagging from the left hemisphere of my brain never quite lets me forgot our budgetary restrictions.

What is a fashion loving duo to do?
We certainly are not lacking for inspiration to shop for fun, summer looks!  With seasonal family gatherings, weddings, and open houses filling our calendar, it is easy to justify a new dress or look is necessary.  The challenge is truly to maximize our ability to acquire new looks for less!

Shop After The Season Begins

With the weather in Michigan often lagging behind in accommodating new seasonal temperatures, the Teen Diva and I have found that postponing our shopping for the new season by a few weeks is a wonderful way to avail ourselves to seasonal sales!  Rather than jumping on new looks before the season breaks, we take advantage of sales and clearances that are frequently available early in the season.  Retailers seem to be pushing the seasons earlier each year and even still in June, our Michigan weather is just now appropriate for full summer apparel yet online retailers are already offering great sales and bargains!  What fashion loving gal could pass up a great sale at Neiman Marcus?

Never Pay Full Price
To keep the Teen Diva in style, this Mom never pays full price!  While it's certainly tempting to jump on a new look you discover, I've found that keeping a close eye on my favorite online retailers will often unveil a pattern of sales.  A particular retailer may offer better sales and special certain times of each month or rotate between dramatic sale prices being offered two weeks on followed by two weeks off.  Investing a little time to get to know the sale patterns of your favorite fashion retailers will pay off by allowing you to buy the looks you crave for less!  Grabbing a Deal of the Day from BlueFly.com is always a special, stylish treat!

Maximize Your Savings With Coupon Codes

Shopping slightly off season and watching your favorite retailers ad cycles is only part of the solution to adding great new looks for less to your seasonal wardrobes.  Combining lower prices with saving money using Coupon Codes  can make a dramatic difference in stretching your shopping budget.  Creating my "own sale" at our favorite go-to retailers can be as easy with this simple strategy!  Of course, knowing how to go about finding promo codes for Maurices and other retailers on your own isn't always simple. 

 I recommend using a coupon code search site, like CouponCodes4U, that offers great promo codes for a wide variety of retailers and specialty shops.  Although the Teen Diva and I are fairly short in stature, whenever I look for fashion gifts for my sister, I always take a peak to see if I can get free coupons for Long Tall Sally or my sister's other favorite online retailers.

Saving Means More Shopping 

The Teen Diva and I have found that using the techniques above and taking some time to explore before we spend can make a tremendous difference in how many items end up in our final virtual shopping basket!  We often save enough to be able to treat ourselves to a great new pair of summer shoes!  Nothing better for pampering a Diva or her well deserving Mom than that!  This Mom wouldn't mind treating herself to a new pair of summery heals from Piperlime!

What are your tips for saving on shopping for fashion?
Do you have favorite fashion go to sites?
Tell me in a comment below!  I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Thank you to CouponCodes4U for introducing Shopping Tips: Staying In Style For Less.  The opinions above are both honest and of my own experiences.  Images sourced from various Maurice's and Long Tall Sally sites.  

Secure Online Gift Sending ~ Gift Accept Flash Give Away

Guest Giveaway 
from one of our favorite sites ~ 
3 Princes & A Princess 2

A few years ago we moved out of state and away from 90% of our family and friends. Since the move it seems like each passing birthday or holiday is getting harder and harder to deal with and not for the reason you might think. So what is making it so hard? The simple act of gift giving.

I love taking the time to pick out the right gift, but when there is distance between you and your intended recipient, it can get tricky. I have no longer know what a person can need or use, I have to find a gift I can easily ship, I have to remember to actually ship it on time, the list just goes on and on....

Well thanks to a little site called Gift Accept things are starting to look up. Gift Accept is a safe, secure way to send gifts without having to keep track of contact information. No address? No problem. They make it simple to send candy, flowers and special gifts and even help you remember birthdays and special dates.

What is truly unique about their service is that Gift Accept can sync with your Facebook account, making it easy to send a gift even when you don't know someones actually address. I had this problem not too long ago. A friend had a loss in the family and I really wanted to send a gift to express my condolences but felt awkward having to ask them for an updated address. With Gift Accept I can order my selection of flowers, candy, gifts, gourmet food, etc using just a name through my Facebook friends list ( or via email address) and Gift Accept will take care of all the details for me - like collecting a shipping address. 

If you choose to use the Gift Accept Facebook app you can also create a wish list/registry with items you like or desire, making it easier for someone like myself who never knows just what to get, to purchase something you'll truly love.

Learn more by visiting Gift Accept online and checking them out on Facebook.

Fabulous To Family Friendly ~ Explore the Give Away Gala #CMM

Welcome to the Collective Media Magic Monday Giveaway Linky and Gala.

A collection of featured giveaways from five blogs including a linky for you to link up your giveaways!

This Monday Giveaway Linky will be hosted on all five blogs giving you the benefit of reaching all of our combined readers. So feel free to check out giveaways and link up your giveaways. We only ask you link directly to your giveaway, any links to your homepage will be removed.

Week 6/24 Featured Host Giveaways

Just Like June 

Sylvania Head Lights and Restoration Kit 6/29 

Ark Clothing 6/29 

Alter Ego Gourmet Goody Bag 6/29 

3 Princes and a Princess 2 

Dremel Saw-Max SM20 RV $129 6/28 

PetSmart Toys R Us line 7/10 

JC Toys Doll 7/2 

Closer To Lucy 

$50 Shabby Apple GC 6/30 

Beyond Bedding 7/14 

  That's What She Said: 

  Summer Social Beauty Prize Pack a #CMM feature event 7/14 

$100 Amazon Blast 6/30

SPECIAL FLASH GIVEAWAY

ends 6-30

Gift Accept $35 Gift Code

Save On Amazon Purchases ~ Amazon GC Give Away

This Mom loves online shopping and while I can't get enough of exploring unique, specialty sites, truth be told, i do tend to gravitate to Amazon quite frequently for my online purchases and for holiday and birthday shopping.  I'm usually hard pressed to not find what I need at Amazon!

Often this Mom is pleasantly surprised by the deals I find.  With a variety of vendors, careful exploration of any searched product may reveal exceptional prices on nearly anything you might want to buy.   Most recently, I've been on the hunt for some new pieces for my outdoor living spaces.

Zuo Tempe Pool Side Lounge

Slate & Tile Fire Pit with Copper Accents

Beyond the wide variety of options and prices, this Mom loves that so many of my Amazon purchases are eligible for free shipping, helping my shopping budget stretch farther!

Of course, beyond sale and clearance prices and expansive selection to choose from, the best way to save on your Amazon purchases it to not have to pay for them at all!  In the spirit of summer shopping, That's What She Said is pleased to partner with Makobi Scribe and Surf and Sunshine to offer Week Four in the Amazon Blast Giveaway Event!

I received no promotional items or compensation for promoting this giveaway event.  Sponsor is responsible for supplying and shipping the prize.  Facebook, Pinterest and Google+ are not involved in, nor responsible for this giveaway in any fashion.  Images sourced from Amazon.com.