Mom Knows Everything

I do a lot of shopping. I shop for things for the home, my children, my husband, and myself. Unfortunately I'm one of those women who does not like shopping. I like to get in and get done as soon as possible. I've noticed that when I do go shopping that the store signs make a difference if I want to shop there. Things like how the sign is presented, the size of it, and the type make an impression on me. This also goes for office signs.

When it comes to your business how it is presented to the customer is important and your business sign is the first thing that makes an impression with the customer. There are a lot of different types of signs and a website like ImpactSigns.com can help you find the right one for your business.

If you're not quite sure about what type of sign would look good on your business then you can check out more info on architecture to see what types of signs look best on what types of buildings.


Brought to you by your friends at ImpactSigns.com.

Unfortunately, not all great deals mean that we are going to receive great products and services for free, and we are used to this. We enjoy our 20 percents off and the occasional buy one, get one free, but very rarely do we actually receive free items. Unless you are an extreme couponer, there is a good chance that you pay for everything at slightly discounted prices just like everyone else.

Finding these discounts and deals usually requires scouring the internet or the Sunday paper looking for the latest coupons or sales, or signing up for sites like Groupon that will alert you to deals in your area. However, there is a different way to receive discounted products, even free products, and instead of scouring, the discounts are delivered to you simply for dishing out your opinions.

Online surveys have become an incredibly important tool for companies wishing to gain insight into their products and services. Many of these businesses have chosen to hire online survey companies that both create and distribute surveys. These survey companies then hire individuals online to fill out surveys in return for discounts, free products, and even cash.

The surveys take between 15 and 20 minutes to complete, allowing you to fill out a couple while you watch your favorite TV show. With each survey completed you earn points that can be redeemed for cash or gift cards to some of your favorite online stores, or discounted or free products related to those you provided feedback for. Although taking surveys does require a bit of effort, the task is no more difficult than scouring for coupons and you can actually receive free products for them. Coupons generally won't give you free products.

If you decide that filling out online surveys may be a great way for you to get some good deals and discounts, be sure to fully review each online survey company before you sign up. Although there are various online survey companies out there, not all of them are created equal. Some are scams that will have you fill out surveys without giving you any rewards. You should also never give out your banking information to any online survey site.

Filling out surveys can be a great way to make some extra cash and avoid paying for items such as detergent and dish soap. You simply need to be mindful when signing up with these sites, and once you find a great company to work with, you can sit back and enjoy the rewards.

I love baking and I especially love eating what I bake. When it comes to sweets I am the Queen, but unfortunately sweets comes with a price....pounds! One way I'm able to eat the sweets I bake without having to take weight loss pills like they were Tic-Tac's is by making my baking recipes more healthier.


Here are some easy tips on how to make your baking recipes more healthier.

- Use low fat margarine instead of butter.
- Use banana puree instead of eggs.
- Use soy milk instead of cows milk.
- Use whole wheat flour instead of white flour.
- Cut back on the white sugar by adding some honey.

Back to school shopping with my teen aged daughter means hitting the mall and when we are at the mall her favorite store to go to is Claires. While we were at Claires we saw these arm warmers that my daughter really liked. They were about $15, but since I love to knit instead of buying them I told my daughter I would be able to make her some myself.



This is how mine turned out.


This are actually very easy to make and all you need is left over yarn for other knitting projects.

Arm Warmer Pattern-

I used 3.5mm needles and left over yarn from previous knitting projects.

Cast on 36 stitches with furry yarn.
1. Knit to end
2. Purl to end
3. Knit to end
4. Purl to end.
5. Change to normal yarn and knit 14 rows in stocking stitch (knit one row and purl the next row pattern).
6. Increase 3 stitches evenly across the next row (will be a knit row).
7. Knit 16 rows in stocking stitch (knit one row and purl the next row pattern).
8. Knit 2 stitches, cast off 4 stitches, knit to end of row.
9. Purl to cast off stitches, cast on 4 stitches, purl 2.
10. Knit 8 rows of stocking stitch ( knit one row and purl one row pattern).
11. Change to furry yarn and knit 4 rows of stocking stitch pattern (knit one row and purl one row pattern).
12. Cast off and sew up sleeve.

If you have any question about this pattern feel free to ask.

As mothers we all know how much our children mean to us and because of that we put our childrens needs before our own. P&G knows what being a mom means and they want to show their appreciation to moms by being the official “Proud Sponsor of Moms” for the London 2012 Olympic Games and beyond (for the next 10 years). P&G will honour the Moms of Canada’s Olympic team by giving them the ability to stay connected to their Olympians throughout the games. Whether it is in person or through Internet technology, P&G is giving these moms the chance to be with their children every step of the way.

One thing that makes a mothers face light up is hearing "thank you for all you've done" from their child. You can show your mom the recognition she deserves by going to their Facebook page and creating a special thank you for your mom. You can find out more about P&G Thank You Mom campaign by clicking going to www.pg.ca/moms.

For some mothers, higher education was sacrificed to start a family. We often tell ourselves that we will pursue our degrees when the kids get older or when we have more time, but these excuses often prevent us from ever obtaining a degree at all. However, thanks to the ever-growing reliance on the internet, moms can now achieve their goal of obtaining a degree by enrolling in one of the numerous accredited online colleges.

Just a few years ago, online colleges and universities were not seen as being as credible as traditional universities. However, that stigma has rapidly faded as the need for higher education has increased. Employers now rarely care if you received your degree from a traditional or online school. As long as the school was accredited and you obtained the education you needed they are happy.

Online colleges are particularly beneficial to working and stay-at-home moms as they allow you to take classes at your own pace. There is no need to worry about finding a baby-sitter while you go to class or trying to schedule time in for family, work, and school. With online courses, you can complete your homework or take quizzes after the kids are in bed and you are comfy in your pajamas.

In today'sworld, a degree is highly important for anyone to have. Even if stay-at-home moms never intend to work again, simply have the degree will set a positive example for your own children. For working moms, it may give you the chance to pursue a job that will actually become a career allowing you to better provide for yourself and your family. No one wants to be stuck at a dead end job forever, but the current job market is rough. With a degree you will be a better candidate for better jobs. Employers want to see that you have a degree as it proves that you have more specialized training in your chosen field.

Don't continue to put off your dreams. With online degree programs any mom, or person for that matter, can obtain the degree they want at there own pace. Online colleges are also relatively affordable, and many offer scholarships and grants to non-traditional students, especially single mothers. They also allow you to save on gas needed for commuting to and from traditional universities and don't pass costs along to you such as tech and gym fees which can also save you money on your tuition.

However, before you enroll into an online degree program, you need to make sure that the school you are interested in is accredited. While the reputation of the online degree has dramatically increased, the caliber of all schools haven't. To make sure that your degree matters, you should check online to ensure a school's accreditation.

If you are interested in more specific programs such as medical billing and coding, you will also need to make sure that the program itself is accredited by your state's medical board, as well as the federal boards. Your online education will be an investment of your time and money, and you want to make sure that your investment will not go to waste.

There are a variety of online programs available to moms ranging from business management to healthcare services. Don't stifle yourself or your abilities simply because you are also a mom. Online degree programs provide the flexible atmosphere every mother needs to succeed in school while also providing the individualized attention they also need. You've been caring for your kids for years. Do something that will provide a better life for both you and your family, and consider pursuing a degree.

We all want to eat healthy and we want our kids to eat healthy. When it comes to snacks it's hard to find something that is both healthy and has that naughty feeling that junk food gives us. Triscuit has just solved that problem for us with their new line of Triscuit Thin Crisps crackers in a wide variety of flavors.

Triscuit Thin Crisps are less dense and crispier than the regular Triscuit cracker so they are more chip like. They come in Original, Chile Pepper, Parmesan Garlic, and Four Cheese flavors. Triscuit Thin Crisps are made with 100% whole grain wheat. Studies have shown that whole grain wheat may help reduce the risk of heart disease.

My family loves the new Chile Pepper flavor. I was worried at first that it was going to be too strong, but it isn't. It's more like a very flavorful barbecue flavor. Not only is it a hit with the adults, but the kids love it also, and I love the fact that the kids are eating a healthy snack instead of wanting chips. Triscuit Thin Crisps makes a great snack for not only after school, snacking on while watching TV, but also for entertaining.

Triscuit Thin Crisps have a new distinct packing that makes snacking easier with a wider opening. They are available in the cracker isle at retailers nationwide and costs about $3.69. For more information about them and the other varieties of Triscuits you can go to www.nabiscoworld.com/triscuit/.



The product in this review was given to me free of charge. My review and opinions are not influenced by this or any source, they are my honest opinion of the product. No other form of compensation has been given. I am not responsible for the statements made by the sponsoring companies or it's affiliates. Click here for my disclosure policy.

We all know "going green" is great for the environment, but did you also know it can help save you money as well? Take your power bill for example, by having a home energy audit you can find ways to make your home more energy efficient, thus helping the environment, and help reduce your monthly power bill.

Home energy efficiency tips such as turning off your lights and electrical equipment when you leave a room, using cold water to wash your clothes, and making sure your home has the proper amount of insulation by having home insulation contractors check your home are easy and simple ways you can help the environment and save money on your monthly power bill.

You can find more information about how to make your home more green and save money on your power bill by going to HomeEnergyTeam.com.


This post was brought to you by your friends at www.homeenergyteam.com.

Whether you're enrolling in online college or your kids are headed back to school there's usually no getting around those expensive costs of supplies. It turns out if you've already made another expensive purchase for you and/or your children this year – smartphones – there could be apps either already on your phones or that could be easily downloaded to your phone that can get you through a semester or two. While it's not exactly appropriate for school-age children to be accessing their phones in class, apps make for a great homework helper. More importantly, no matter what the level of your education they can shave off otherwise unavoidable academic expenses.

Almost every smartphone operating system comes with a calculator app and voice recorder. In addition, they include typically schedulers and deeply interfaced alarm systems that can help anyone stay on task easily. But upon visiting the various online app marketplaces for these phones, you'll find countless additional applications for your device - many of which are designed to assist all levels of academic pursuit.

Learning apps vary from free and simple math flashcard programs to paid-for college-level calculus tutor applications. The periodic table of elements can be made available either to you or your children with a free download, as well as information about celestial bodies in real-time and in real-space. Stores of knowledge about math and science are literally at your fingertips with the flick of a free download.

You're bound to find plenty of free or nearly-free apps on either the Android, Apple, or Blackberry markets that are sure to help you save on that back-to-school budget. Depending on how well you can keep up with tapping away on your phone and if your professor can tolerate it, you may never need to buy another notebook again. That sounds like a dinky deduction from the cost of your degree, but over time, stuff like that adds up to money you could definitely be using elsewhere.

For those of you with smartphones, go ahead and see what all you can find for you and your kids. Do it before you head out for that back-to-school supply spree or else risk buying more than you need.

When it comes to cell phones just about everyone has one. I recently switched from my old cell phone to the new Motorola Defy and I have to say that I absolutely love it!

The Motorola Defy™ features a water-resistant, dustproof design, and a scratch-resistant display. Powered by Android 2.2 and is Skype capable.

Features

• Corning® Gorilla® Glass impact and scratch resistant display
• CrystalTalk™ PLUS intelligent voice amplification and background noise filter
• Latest version of MOTOBLUR™ syncs, streams, backs up and filters messages
• Create a Wi-Fi® hotspot* to share web access with up to 8 devices like your tablet or laptop

The Motorola Defy is only available fromTellus.

What I love most about the Motorola Defy is well basically everything! You can do so much with this phone it's amazing! I can check my emails, watch videos, play games, and so much more. I also love the fact that you can use it on a Pre-Paid plan.

If you're looking for a new cell phone then I suggest you check out the Motorola Defy.



This is not a sponsored post.

A few years ago I made my son a Thomas sweater. I didn't have a pattern for it exactly. I used a plain sweater pattern and created the Thomas symbol on the front by making a graphic for it.

Now that September is getting closer I decided to start on my winter knitting projects. Not only do I make hats and mittens for my children, but I also make them for my nieces and nephews. One specific thing my son wanted was a Super Mario winter hat. He has a Super Mario baseball hat that he wears all the time, but when the cold weather hits he will need a winter hat.

To make this Super Mario winter hat I used a simple and plain hat knitting pattern and I created a Super Mario symbol on it with graph paper similar to the way I created the Thomas on the sweater.

It really quite simple to make any image on a knit. All you need to do is get some graph paper. Graph the design you wish to have and simply count in the number of stitches you have to center the design. This is an easy and inexpensive way to get the knits you want.

I found a great new dessert recipe thanks to Life Made Delicious. It's called Chocolate-Berry Cheesecake, but I call it heavenly!

The recipe is simple and it tastes delicious. The only thing is that you better grab your digital cameras and take a picture of it because it's not going to last long. I made it and it didn't last a day because everyone loved it so much they ate it all up quickly.

This is a great dessert to make for a special occasion and will be a big hit with everyone! To get the recipe click the Life Made Delicious link at the top of the post.

Summer is almost over and that means back to school. The cost of getting you child ready for school is overwhelming sometimes and when your child is in college or university it is much more expensive. It can costs over $1000 a year for college text books and since they are only going to use those books for one year it seems like a lot of money for something that they are only going to be using for a short time. A great way you can save money on the cost of college and university is to rent textbooks instead of buying them.

When you add up the cost of tuition, room and board, transportation, supplies, and personal expenses for your college student you are looking at a lot of money. So why spend over $100 on a text book they are only going to be using a short time when you can rent one for about half the price. Saving money by renting textbooks not only makes sense, but it's also a great way to help the environment by reusing books.


Brought to you by your friends at www.rent-a-textbook.com.

Have you ever had a shoe emergency where the sole of your shoe is starting to pull away from the top of your shoe? I think we all have. Last February my daughters winter boots started to do that and because the winter season was almost over it was very hard to find her a new pair of winter boots she liked so instead I fixed her boots for her and it worked so great I've used this fix-it method for other shoes including my own sneakers.

The fix-it method I used is Plumbers Gloop. It's a clear silicone that's waterproof, rubber-like consistency that's flexible, so it won’t crack or break under stress. All you have to do is simple use the Plumbers Gloop like glue on the part between the soul and top of the shoe and press them together. You may have to use some weight to get a close seal.

Plumbers Gloop can be purchased at your local hardware store for about $8. You might even have some at home in your husbands tool box already.

I'm sure you all have, like I have, on numerous times tried to contact a company about a product or a problem. In this digital age the way most people, like myself, contact a company is through email. On most occasions when you email a company, if they reply at all, is you get a standard form letter saying they are sorry about your problems. I recently contacted the company Kimberly-Clark about their Cars 2 promo and after a week I got a standard form letter emailed back to me. I thought that was the end of it, but it wasn't! The company actually called me and sorted out my problem very quickly.

I want to say thank you to Kristin from Customer Services at the Kimberly Clark Corporation for helping me with my problem so quickly. It's very nice to know that there is a company like Kimberly Clark that cares about their customers. I'm definitely a lifelong customer of theirs from now on!

I love coupons and I'm always searching the Internet for more whether I'm using them for grocery shopping or shopping online. I found this great website that can help you find coupons while you are shopping online. The website is called Drop Down Deals and it's the easiest coupon finder ever! All you do is install the add on to your browser and when you go to an online shopping website if there is coupon available a drop down section appears on the right hand screen telling you what coupons are available for that website. For example if you are on the Best Buy website you can automatically find all the best buy coupons at dropdowndeals with this great browser add on and best of all it's free!

After getting a pretty bad burn the other day I headed for our First Aid Kit to bandage myself up when I discovered that the supplies in our First Aid Kit was getting low. It's time to restock it and I thought that I would share with you what exactly should be in a First Aid Kit.





First Aid Kit Supplies

• - first-aid manual
• - sterile gauze pads of different sizes
• - adhesive tape
• - adhesive bandages in several sizes
• - elastic bandage
• - a splint
• - antiseptic wipes
• - soap
• - antibiotic ointment
• - antiseptic solution (like hydrogen peroxide)
• - hydrocortisone cream (1%)
• - acetaminophen and ibuprofen
• - extra prescription medications (if the family is going on vacation)
• - tweezers
• - sharp scissors
• - safety pins
• - disposable instant cold packs
• - calamine lotion
• - alcohol wipes or ethyl alcohol
• - thermometer
• - plastic non-latex gloves (at least 2 pairs)
• - flashlight and extra batteries
• - a blanket
• - mouthpiece for administering CPR (can be obtained from your local Red Cross)
• - your list of emergency phone numbers
• - blanket (stored nearby)

Make sure your First Aid Kit is easily accessible by adults, but keep away from small children.

Staples is having a great sales on school supplies this week. Click the link to find out the Staples flyer for your area.

Here are some of the a few of the sales items in my area.

• Hilroy Coil Notebook ( 80 pages) - $0.15 (limit 6 per family)
• Duotangs - $0.10 (limit 20 per family)
• Staples' brand Pencils (10 pack) - $0.25 (limit 6 per family)
• Crayola Crayons (24 pack) - $0.80 (limit 6 per family)
• Ross White Glue (150 ml) - $0.74 (limit 6 per family)
• Hilroy Notebooks (4 pack of 32 pages) - $0.25 (limit 6 per family)
• Crayola Coloured Pencils (24 pack) - $1.25 (limit 6 per family)
• Looseleaf (150 sheets) - $0.19 (limit 6 per family)

With another long weekend over here in Canada and it being August it's time to start thinking about the up and coming Fall and back to school. But just because summer is coming to a close doesn't mean you still can enjoy every last minute of it.

One thing that my family really enjoys doing during the summer months is having family barbecues. It's a great way to get your extended family and friends together and have some fun. Your barbecue can be as casual or as formal as you like. You can have everyone eating off of paper plates in the back yard or you can have patio tables set up with unique designs for drink coaster for a more formal event.

Whatever you decide to do have a great time and every the remainder of your summer.