Product Reviews & Giveaways | Wholesome Mommy

Pay With Cash for Online Orders at Walmart

Written on May 7, 2012 by Denisesawyer in Product Reviews & Giveaways

With so many of us trying to get out of debt and trying to stop piling on credit card debt, Walmart now has a Pay with Cash option for online orders. So, whether you just don’t have a credit card or debit card or if you are just trying not to use it, this option might be the answer for you.

Last week I bought a new blender, a Ninja, from Walmart.com. Since I busted mine the other day and needed one anyway, I thought this would be a great opportunity to try this method out so I could tell you how it worked.

So first, you place your order online like you normally would, but the only difference is when it comes time to punch in your credit card or debit card information, you select “Pay with Cash.” You will get a message that you have 48 hours to pay for your order in any store you choose. It will also tell you to write down or print your order number (I recommend you print your order because it has a bar code that the store employee can just scan).

Once you go into the store you can pay for your online order at any register. Just show them the paper you printed out and the associate can scan the barcode. Then, pay for your order with cash! Your done! I actually paid for my order along with some other grocery items that I needed that day. Why not save gas and take care of two things at once!

Once you pay for your order it triggers your order so that they can begin processing it and shipping it to you. That is unless you choose the site to store option. Then, your order will be processed and shipped to the store you choose and you can pick it up there.

This is great for items that your store doesn’t keep in stock, or items that are exclusively sold online. It is also good news because now you can purchase a gift for someone else and have it shipped right to their house and still pay with cash instead of using your cards if you prefer.

What do you think? Would you use this service?

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Fresh Pet Review

Written on May 3, 2012 by Denisesawyer in Product Reviews & Giveaways, Uncategorized

Are you particular about the food you feed your dog/cat like you are particular about the food you feed your family?

If you’ve kicked the processed foods from your own diet you might be looking to do the same for Fido and Kitty. I know our family pet, Chloe, a Jack Russell Terrier eats table food and since we eat natural and organic foods she does too. But, there are some nights when there are no left overs and/or there are no foods that she can have. So, we always keep a bag of dog food around for nights like this.

We decided to give Fresh Pet Select Meals a whirl. An alternative to feeding pets dry, processed foods, Fresh Pet Select Meals are natural and fresh from the fridge. It can be found in the Freshpet chiller or fridge in the pet food aisle at Walmart.

First off, and you may think this is silly, but, I thought that it smelled like REAL food. You know? Most dog foods (wet and dry) either don’t even remotely smell like the food I would want to eat, and some of it just stinks! I also noticed that it looked like REAL food… real meat, eggs, veggies, etc.

Our doggie really like the Fresh Pet dog food.

What do you think? Would you buy a dog food like this for your dog?

*Disclosure: I am a Walmart Mom. This post is sponsored by Walmart. Walmart has provided me with product and/or compensation in exchange for my time and efforts in creating this post. My participation is voluntary. As always, my opinion is my own.

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Cartoons for Preschoolers

Written on May 1, 2012 by Denisesawyer in Product Reviews & Giveaways, Wholesome Family

As wholesome or unwholesome as you think cartoons are, I have a confession… I let Judah watch them. {Gasp} I do try to be cognizant of which ones he is watching. There are some I do not approve of and others that I think are fine, just not for his age group.

There are times when a cartoon is a welcomed thing. I like to do art projects, pretend to be dinosaurs, go on bike rides, and build train tracks, but sometimes after all that has been accomplished the bottom line is, THIS MOMMA IS POOPED. So, I figure it is better to let him watch a few cartoons then for me to be snappy and growly from being tired.

Of course, there are times when I just won’t allow cartoons, like I have total disdain for cartoons while eating meals. I guard this time for talking with our family. But maybe that is just me. Another pet peeve of mine is watching cartoons in the car when traveling to school or other short errand. As a teacher I see this a lot and the parents and children seem to never connect. I mean I totally get putting on a movie or two on a long vacation drive to help pass the time. But, to drive down the street for ten minutes? Kids need a little time to be “disconnected” to the screen! {Stepping off my soap box}.

So, what do we watch when we’re watching? Judah likes the cartoons on Disney Junior, Nick Jr., and PBS and I like that none of these networks have real commercials trying to sell him an endless list of toys, overly sweetened cereals, and fast food. Some of our favorites are the cartoons that celebrate preschool friendships and family values like Peppa Pig, Franklin, Little Bear, Little Einsteins, and Calilou.

Have you seen any of these? I love Peppa Pig and her brother George. In this cartoon the piggy family all speaks with a British accent. Peppa is an energetic little piggy that loves jumping in “muddy puddles” much like my own little Piggy, Judah. The cartoon is about the pig family doing things that a regular family would do together like going on trips, visiting grandparents, playing outside, having other families over, and even cleaning out the attic on a recent episode. Each show ends with the family lying on the ground rolling with laughter. The storyline is simple and perfect for preschoolers.

If you haven’t seen this cartoon, it comes on Nick Jr. Monday through Friday at 12 pm to 12:30 or Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 and2:30 EST. For mor information on Peppa Pig visit their website www.PeppaPig.com or the Peppa Pig Facebook page.

What are Your Thoughts on Cartoons for Preschoolers?

*Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. My participation is voluntary. As always, my opinion is my own.

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Johnson’s Baby Cares Council

Written on April 25, 2012 by Denisesawyer in Product Reviews & Giveaways

As you may or may not know my local community was hit by devastating tornadoes a year ago. Homes and businesses were leveled and many others were damaged. A middle school and high school were demolished in the school system where I work. The community really rallied together and although things aren’t still quite the same, the community is beginning to look like its old self again. In fact, it might even be a better community strengthened by what has taken place.

Maybe it is just the media that is making us more aware, but it seems like more and more of these natural disasters are taking place. It is with these things in mind that I have become part of the Johnson’s Baby Cares Council.

I am very selective when I am asked to join a group of bloggers for a program like this. First off, I want to know the details of the program, what I will be doing, and what it will do for my readers. And, I am very excited about the answers to these questions. Besides having access to new products and the latest information about the Johnson’s Baby brand I will also be able to learn more about and take part in the new charitable platform and partnership Johnson Baby Cares just launched with global children’s humanitarian organization Save the Children. Together they will work along side with new mom, Hilary Duff.

To assist families, the makers of JOHNSON’S Baby products, alongside parent company Johnson & Johnson, are making a multi-year, multi-million dollar contribution to Save the Children that will help create and sustain key initiatives, including:

A donation and distribution of thousands of JOHNSON’S Baby “Care Kits“, providing families with baby care essentials immediately after a disaster. This commitment is an extension of the brand’s existing product donation efforts aimed to meet baby care needs in the U.S. and around the world.
Funding that enables Save the Children programming, such as Child Friendly Spaces, which supplies moms and children with safe areas to recover, play and experience the joy of being together as a family following a disaster.
Vital training for health workers in developing countries through the “Helping Babies Breathe” program, which teaches basic techniques to prevent birth asphyxia, saving newborn lives.

We can all help right now by purchasing any Johnson’s Baby product at retail stores with a $0.50 cent coupon between April 15, 2012 and June 10, 2012, Johnson’s Baby will donate $0.25 cents to Save the Children. You can also check out the Johnson’s Baby Care tab on the JOHNSON’S Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/johnsonsbaby for more info about this wonderful program.

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Microsoft Kinect Rush Review

Written on April 10, 2012 by Denisesawyer in Product Reviews & Giveaways, Uncategorized

We recently received a new game to try out with our Xbox Kinect. It is called Rush and is a Disney/Pixar adventure game. DJ and Judah had to try it out right away! The graphics and adventures are so neat you feel like you are in one of the Disney/Pixar movies! You can choose to do an adventure as one of the Incredibles, a mouse from Ratatouille, a car in Cars, a toy in Toy Story, or a kid from Up.

Judah swimming in the Up adventure!

I love it because, like all of the Kinect games, you are the controller so your movements are what the character does. It is great for a little (or a lot!) of exercise. That makes this a fantastic activity for the cold months, a rainy day, or an evening indoors. Another reason why I love this game is that it is fun for the whole family. DJ and I enjoyed it as much as Judah and I can imagine that older children would love this even more than my son did. Judah is a little too small to play the game but he enjoys trying and copying the movements daddy makes. He also enjoyed watching the familiar characters on the screen.

I swear I wish I had videoed this instead of making pictures because Judah has no idea that he isn’t really playing (he doesn’t understand that he has to stand in one place and often makes his movements all over the living room). He was hysterical to watch as he was trying to play the game with daddy. His wild swimming movements and jogging around the couch had me in stitches. He was so in to it! He could “play” for hours – although daddy wore out a lot sooner than that. LOL. (Like I said, it is good for a little LOT of exercise).

*Disclosure: I am a Walmart Mom. This post is sponsored by Walmart. Walmart has provided me with product and/or compensation in exchange for my time and efforts in creating this post. My participation is voluntary. As always, my opinion is my own.

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Seeds of Change, Planting PURPLE tomatoes

Written on April 9, 2012 by Denisesawyer in Product Reviews & Giveaways

Remember when I told you that I received some seed packets from Seeds of Change a while back? Judah and I had a blast planting the Tomato Garden Starter Kit. You can see him talking about our little “experiment” here.

Besides sending me the starter kit, Seeds of Change also sent me a selection of tomato and squash seeds. All of the seeds were certified USDA Organic and several of the tomato varieties were heirlooms – including Cherokee Purple, which I am really excited about! The Cherokee Purple Tomatoes are PURPLE! and they are native (read: do well) to Georgia where I live! I’ve never tried this type but I love homegrown tomatoes so I’m excited to give this exotic looking type a try!

I started my seedlings with my green-thumb momma’s help. The pictures here are of the seedlings outside. We started them indoors but then brought them out to the greenhouse for a bit of “hardening” (aka: to help them to become more acclimated to the outdoors and the harsh weather before just sticking them in the ground).

The next step is to actually plant them. We’ve waited just a bit longer for this step. Although it has been very pretty here, and the weather has been unseasonably warm, we decided to wait just a bit longer. Some of our neighbors have already put their plants in the ground, but word just came that we’re to get one more cold snap this week. So, its a good thing we waited…we won’t have to worry about them kicking the bucket before they even get a good start.

What about you? Have you started any plants this season? Are you growing any of your own foods – big or small, I’d love to hear about it!

*Disclosure: I am a Walmart Mom. This post is sponsored by Walmart. Walmart has provided me with product and/or compensation in exchange for my time and efforts in creating this post. My participation is voluntary. As always, my opinion is my own.

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Holland House Meal Makeover Moms Sweepstakes

Written on April 5, 2012 by Denisesawyer in Product Reviews & Giveaways, Uncategorized

As an Ambassador for Mizkan they keep me updated about what is going on in their corner of the world. Right now through the end of May, Holland House is offering you a chance at a personal consultation and meal makeover from Meal Makeover Moms, Janice Newell Bissex and Liz Weiss (one winner per month!) or a set of cookware! Go check it out over on their facebook page here: http://on.fb.me/GCQGci

Sweepstakes starts on 3/20/12 at 12:00:00 am CT and ends on 5/31/12 at 11:59:59 pm CT. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. and D.C. who are 18 years of age or older. Void where prohibited. For complete Official Rules click here. Sponsor: Mizkan Americas, Inc., 1661 Feehanville Drive, Suite 300, Mt. Prospect, IL 60056.

*Disclosure: This is a sponsored post due to my relationship with Mizkan. My participation is voluntary. As always, my opinion is my own.

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Disney on Ice – Last Day!

Written on March 31, 2012 by Denisesawyer in Product Reviews & Giveaways

We are just hitting the wonder years. Judah is three and everything is a “wonder” to him. It is so exciting to see him enjoy his firsts. Isn’t it incredible how children experience the world? They can enjoy even the smallest things in ways that us adults have forgotten how to.

That is why I love taking Judah to the shows in Atlanta. It is so exciting to him: the lights, the music, the action, right down to the cotton candy and the other children around him! This weekend Disney on Ice is at the Arena at Gwinnett Center from Thursday night until Sunday. We were there Friday night and we had an absolute ball! It was fantastic! Judah was literally on the edge of his seat taking it all in – clapping, dancing, and interacting with the characters. Even Eliana was glued to the action on the ice for most of the show.

We saw Captain Hook and Peter Pan (two of Judah’s favorites!) as well as many other favorites like Alice in Wonderland, Timon, Pumbaa, Simba, and Nala from The Lion King, Rapunzel and Flynn from Disney’s newest princess movie “Tangled” as well as many other Disney princesses – including Snow White (the one who started it all).

Here are the show times:

Thu, Mar 29 2012 7:30PM
Fri, Mar 30 2012 10:30AM
Fri, Mar 30 2012 7:30PM
Sat, Mar 31 2012 11:00AM
Sat, Mar 31 2012 3:00PM
Sat, Mar 31 2012 7:00PM
Sun, Apr 1 2012 11:00AM
Sun, Apr 1 2012 3:00PM

Ticket prices are from $30.00 to $75.00 depending on which seating level you choose and can be purchased here.

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Review: Simple Skincare Line

Written on March 26, 2012 by Denisesawyer in Product Reviews & Giveaways

I have drastically changed my beauty regimen over the past 2 years. When my husband was diagnosed with Leukemia we made an effort to kick needless chemicals our of homes and our lives. That meant educating ourselves about the chemicals in our cleaning products and our personal care products.

In addition to changing my routine for health-sake, I have also made some changes for time-sake. Being a mom of two littles means I don’t have a lot of time for primping. (:

I wear minimal make-up. On days I have to go to work I tend to wear a little more so I might wear foundation, mascara, and eye shadow. Other days I wear only mascara. However, regardless of if I am wearing make up or not, I try to take care of my skin by washing it and applying a moisturizer. I’ll be honest and say I’m not always diligent. But, as I’ve gotten older I’m beginning to realize I should be taking better care of my skin.

When I buy personal care products I look for products that are free of perfumes and “fragrance.” So, when I was asked to review Simple, a line of skincare products for sensitive skin I was hesitant. However, after hearing that this line was the UK’s #1 facial skincare brand and that it contained no dyes, artificial perfumes, and had no harsh irritants that can upset skin, I was ready to give it a whirl and learn a little more about the brand.

I bought 3 products from my local Walmart- refreshing face wash gel, eye make up remover, and Vital Vitamin Day Cream with SPF 15. There are other products available and you can see the whole line up on the Simple website. They are all very affordable, falling between $5.99 and $12.99. I was able to pick up all of these items for under $25.

I really have enjoyed the day cream. I am REALLY picky about facial lotions and creams because I hate for them to feel greasy. This was not greasy at all and actually felt good! And, the facial wash gel is going to last an eternity because it only takes a little (I mean VERY little) to do the job! I have been pleased with the line and will continue to use it and purchase it for my problem skin.

*Disclosure: I am a Walmart Mom. This post is sponsored by Walmart. Walmart has provided me with product and/or compensation in exchange for my time and efforts in creating this post. My participation is voluntary. As always, my opinion is my own.

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Food Network Magazine’s New Cookbook: 1,000 Easy Recipes: Super Fun Food for Every Day – A Give Away!

Written on March 21, 2012 by Denisesawyer in Product Reviews & Giveaways, Uncategorized

When my husband and I bought our first home I realized rather quickly that one of us had better learn to cook. We were getting really tired of the same handful of meals and quick heat and eat recipes we knew how to make.

We look back and laugh at how we used to eat and how we expanded our recipe repertoire. All of my recipes came from one of two places back then: 1. recalling things I used to eat at home and calling my mom for step by step directions or 2. watching Food Network.

Now, ten years later, I have become a pretty good cook I think with a huge repertoire of recipes, some of which I have developed on my own and lots of others that I found elsewhere and put my own spin on them. But, one thing remains, I still LOVE me some Food Network.

If our television isn’t on cartoons it is on Food Network. Even my three year old enjoys watching some of the shows on Food Network with my husband and I! I’m a junkie. And, thanks to my wonderful mother in law, I am also a subscriber to Food Network Magazine.

So, when I was asked it I would like to review a copy of Food Network Magazine’s newest collection of fast and easy recipes it was a no-brainer. The new cookbook titled, Food Network Magazine 1,000 Easy Recipes: Super Fun Food for Every Day, is a collection of short (paragraph long) recipes for all sorts of foods including 294 appetizers and snacks, 156 breakfasts, 287 main dishes, 192 salads and sides, and 232 drinks and desserts.

You know those cute bonus pull-out booklets that are found in each new issue of Food Network Magazine? Well, this cookbook is like having a compilation of those books all bound into one resource with 300 full color photos (my favorite part!).

I’ve already post-it noted several that I can’t wait to try right way, including some new ways to eat eggs and some new waffle flavors I can’t wait to try.

Want to Win a Copy?

1 Wholesome Mommy Reader will win a free copy of, Food Network Magazine 1,000 Easy Recipes: Super Fun Food for Every Day

Here’s what you need to do to enter (each is worth one entry – please comment a separate time for each entry to be counted):

Leave a comment telling me who your favorite celebrity chef is or your favorite Food Network show.
Like Wholesome Mommy on facebook
Follow @WholesomeMommy on Twitter and tweet this give away “Win a copy of Food Network’s New Cookbook 1,000 Easy Recipes: Super Fun Food for Every Day @WholesomeMommy at http://bit.ly/GAiyiG“
Subscribe to Wholesome Mommy in a reader or through your email!
Follow me on Pinterest to get lots of great ideas. Not on Pinterest yet? Email me and I will send you an invite!

This give away ends March 25th at 11:59 EST. The winner will be chosen via random.org and will be notified by email and announced on this blog.

Disclosure: I received free product for review purposes. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but were not influenced by the company or the free product provided.

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