Improving my Health with Nature Made Vitamin D from Walmart #VitaminD #cbias

Before I was pregnant with my son I would take a daily multivitamin to be sure I was getting enough of the essential vitamins and minerals I needed. When I got pregnant it changed to prenatal vitamins. But now 2 years later I am not taking any. I have been wanting to start taking a few vitamins to improve my over all health. Since turning 30 I have been looking into my calcium and vitamin D intake. I know now is the time to start taking extra care of my health for the future.

As a busy mom I know I do not eat right to get enough of the Vitamin D I need to properly absorb the calcium I need for my bone and teeth health. Taking a supplement to help seemed like a great idea. When selecting the Vitamin I wanted to take I wanted there to be no artificial colors, flavors or preservative. I am a label reader and I found Nature Made to be the vitamin brand I would purchase.

I went shopping at Walmart for the Nature Made Vitamin D and also did some birthday party shopping while I was there. I had my son with me so I did not purchase any presents but we ordered his cake and bought party decor. I was so excited for what I did find that I forgot to get the "clean" part of the decor, the napkins and table cloth so we had to run back in after getting to the car to go back for them. Thankfully speedy check out was speedy!

I have been taking the Nature Made Vitamin D now for 4 days and am looking forward to continuing to do so. I have had trouble in the past with stomach issues and other brands of vitamins but the natural make of this vitamin has made it easy to take. I like knowing that I am improving my overall health by taking #VitaminD since it is what helps my body absorb the calcium in my body to make strong bones and teeth. As well as being an immune system supporter. I am curious to see if taking Vitamin D this winter will help boost my body to fight any cold or flu I may get.

 Nature Made Vitamins has a Coupon Center if you register you can print them out to save. Below is also a short and informative video about the need for Vitamin D in the body.





You can see my whole shopping trip including the party supplies we purchased @Walmart by clicking the picture below.

Improving my Health from Nature Made Vitamin D at Walmart #VitaminD #cbias

*This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. 

All opinions expressed in this shop are my own and your experience may vary.

Balloon Time Helium Tank Review and Giveaway Birthday Bash

I love decorating for a party. Its so fun so plan it and then put up all your decor. Most times we go to the store to get a few helium filled balloons for my son. He loves "bawoons" as he calls it. This year we wanted lots of balloons to fill up the living room and kitchen as well as having special balloons to fill. I did not want to have to pay a dollar per balloon plus the cost of filling our specialty balloons. We found Balloon Time Helium Tanks to the solution to our balloon needs.

 

The Balloon Time Helium tank that we got at Target was super easy to use. I did all the balloons myself with great ease. Basically you put the balloon on, twist the knob on top and squeeze and slight bend the stem on the tank and the balloon fills right up. I filled up many balloons in addition to filling up a Cat balloon and a giant Shark balloon.

My son was thrilled to have so many balloons at his party. I made him a big balloon bouquet that he carried around the house. I eventually tied it to his booster chair since he was only wanting to play balloons and nothing else! We had a great party and out Balloon Time tank was an awesome item to have. It was essential in making two of his birthday presents that required helium to work be possible without having to go to the store to fill them. I definitely will be having a Balloon Time tank again next year at his party.

You can find Balloon Time tanks at Target and Walmart stores from $19.99 to $34.99. If your looking for Birthday Party ideas Balloon Time website has lots of great ideas here.

GIVEAWAY

Win a Balloon Time Helium Tank Balloon Kit for your next party (will be in the form of a manufacture coupon that can easily be redeemed at Target or Walmart)

To Enter This Giveaway:
What is the next party you would love to have a Balloon Time Helium Balloon Kit for?

*Leave a comment answering the question and be sure to leave your email address if its not public in your Google account*

Extra Entries: Can be done after leaving a comment for mandatory entry. If the extra entry says 1 extra entry leave 1 comment and 2 extra entries leave me 2 comments and so on.
-Like Balloon Time on Facebook +1
-Follow Balloon Time on Twitter +1
-Follow Frugal Family Tree on GFC ( right hand side) +1
-Like our new fan page on Facebook Frugal Family Tree +1
-Follow FrugalFamTree on Twitter +1
Share this giveaway on Facebook ONLY, using the Share Button at the bottom on this post. +1 for each share you do. (can be done once a day)

-Copy and Paste This Tweet on Twitter and leave me the link (to find the link click on the time stamp under your tweet)

#Win a @BalloonTime Helium Kit @FrugalFamTree #Giveaway ends 12/3 http://www.frugalfamilytree.com/

-Add our button to your blog and leave a link of where it is located +2 (right hand side)

*Limited to US residents; 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts November 21, 2011 and ends on December 3 , 2011 at midnight PST. Winner will be emailed and has 48 hours to respond before another winner is selected. I was not paid for this giveaway or post. The opinions on this item are 100% mine and may vary from others. The sponsor is responsible for providing the prize.

Lazoo Books Review and Giveaway Birthday Bash

In our family books are a very important part of life. We are readers, especially my boys. They obviously cannot read themselves yet, but they love to have books read to them. They love books, coloring books, and JJ even makes his own books all the time. If you are looking for a combination of a colorful book style coloring book (sounds weird but it is almost two books in one) then you should check out Lazoo.

Here is a little info about Lazoo from their web site-
When we enter the world of Lazoo, we enter the realm of a child's imagination, a place of endless possibility where cars race across tree branches, mermaids teach dinosaurs to sing, and ghosts host fashion shows. In this world, kids are encouraged to think independently; "coloring outside the lines" is celebrated and all types of creative self–expression are honored.


Lazoo carries all types of books, but we reviewed the Squiggles Drawing Book and the Holes! Coloring Books. They are so cool because they are not your typical coloring books, they are more of a learning and follow directions type.





Squiggles A Drawing Book teaches you lines and squiggles you add to the pictures on the page to make the picture come alive in a sense. JJ had fun with this, it is simple and yet creative. We even let Baby L draw some squiggles, because after all, you can't really mess up a squiggle. Great for both of my boys!





Holes! A Coloring Book is a really cool idea. Some pages have questions, some have statement and each page has a task. When you turn the page to do the next, it changes the shape, but also relates to the previous page. Sounds kind of strange right? I am not quiet explaining it well, but trust me it is pretty cool. JJ LOVED this coloring book! Holes! is colorful cute and creative, perfect for a child who loves to draw and learn.


Not only does Lazoo carry great books, they carry toys and apparel for boys, girls and infants as well. Just check out there products here.


GIVEAWAY

Win a Lazoo Books for your little one.


To Enter This Giveaway:
What other item from Lazoo would you like to have?

*Leave a comment answering the question and be sure to leave your email address if its not public in your Google account*
Extra Entries: Can be done after leaving a comment for mandatory entry. If the extra entry says 1 extra entry leave 1 comment and 2 extra entries leave me 2 comments and so on.
Like Lazoo on Facebook +1
Follow Lazoo on Twitter +1
-Follow Frugal Family Tree on GFC ( right hand side) +1
-Like our new fan page on Facebook Frugal Family Tree +1
-Follow FrugalFamTree on Twitter +1

-Share this giveaway on Facebook ONLY, using the Share Button at the bottom on this post. +1 for each share you do. (can be done once a day)

-Copy and Paste This Tweet on Twitter and leave me the link (to find the link click on the time stamp under your tweet)

Enter to #Win a Lazoo Books @FrugalFamTree from @Lazoo4U #Giveaway ends 12/3 http://www.frugalfamilytree.com/

-Add our button to your blog and leave a link of where it is located +2 (right hand side)

*Limited to US residents; 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts November 20, 2011 and ends on December 3 , 2011 at midnight PST. Winner will be emailed and has 48 hours to respond before another winner is selected. I was not paid for this giveaway or post. The opinions on this item are 100% mine and may vary from others. The sponsor is responsible for providing the prize.

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Space Adventure DVD Review and Giveaway Birthday Bash

This Mickey Mouse Club movie was really fun for us. We love Mickey and are always watching and reading about cool space stuff. My son enjoys the cool characters and I enjoy the Mickey and friends are teaching him about counting, colors and friendship. I loved Mickey as a kid and sharing him with my son is a joy.

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Space Adventure is a 45 minute, full-length space-themed escapade, geared
for kids 2 to 5 years of age, that invites young viewers to discover outer space and use their problem- solving skills while they watch. In this specific adventure, Mickey and pals head to space where they tour
the Moon, Mars and the Rings of Saturn as well as meet new alien friends while on the hunt for a unique
space treasure. This exciting release will be available for purchase as a 2-Disc (DVD + Digital Copy)
Combo Pack (the ultimate “2-for-1” value) for the suggested retail price of $19.99 U.S./$24.99 Canada.

 

This is a great DVD for any Mickey Mouse fan! We have watched this one a few times already.

GIVEAWAY

Win a DVD copy of Mickey Mouse Club Space Adventure

To Enter This Giveaway:

Who is your favorite Disney animated character?

*Leave a comment answering the question and be sure to leave your email address if its not public in your Google account*

Extra Entries: Can be done after leaving a comment for mandatory entry. If the extra entry says 1 extra entry leave 1 comment and 2 extra entries leave me 2 comments and so on.
-Like Disney Junior on Facebook +1
-Follow Frugal Family Tree on GFC ( right hand side) +1
-Like our new fan page on Facebook Frugal Family Tree +1
-Follow FrugalFamTree on Twitter +1
Share this giveaway on Facebook ONLY, using the Share Button at the bottom on this post. +1 for each share you do. (can be done once a day)

-Copy and Paste This Tweet on Twitter and leave me the link (to find the link click on the time stamp under your tweet. Can be done once a day for the duration of the giveaway)

#Win a Mickey Mouse Space Adventure DVD @FrugalFamTree #Giveaway ends 12/3 http://www.frugalfamilytree.com/ #Disney

-Add our button to your blog and leave a link of where it is located +2 (right hand side)

*Limited to US residents; 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts November 22, 2011 and ends on December 3 , 2011 at midnight PST. Winner will be emailed and has 48 hours to respond before another winner is selected. I was not paid for this giveaway or post. The opinions on this item are 100% mine and may vary from others. The sponsor is responsible for providing the prize.

Birthday Bash Starts Today!

Our Birthday Bash for JJ and LW starts today and will run through the 30th. We are very excited to share this celebration of our sons with everyone. As a mom our childrens birthdays are a very special occasion for us as well. It makes us think of the day they were born and forever changed our lives for the better. I love looking back at the pictures of the day my son was born and previous birthdays. Kids grow up so fast and as our mother always tells us we need to savor every moment of their childhood.

 Happy Birthday to our sweet boys and we love you!!!

Our boys being born years apart but so close to the same day is special to us. Sam and I have birthdays close to one another and I can remember so many great birthdays we shared to celebrate together. We even had matching dresses! It makes me smile that our boys have birthdays close together too and we can celebrate them with you!

Having a kid with a birthday close to the holidays we always want to make sure our sons still get great gifts and the day feels special. I know many families have birthdays for their kids close to the holidays and this event will feature products parents and grandparents can purchase for their little ones for a birthday and ideas for Holiday gifts.


We are happy here at Frugal Family Tree to share our celebration with you our readers. We will be having awesome giveaways and birthday ideas to share.

Thanksgiving Tales True Stories Of the Holiday in America Book Review

Thanksgiving Tales True Stories Of the Holiday in America  Edited By Brian D. Jaffe is a collection of forty eight stories, written by forty eight different writers from all across the country. From New York City to the Pacific Northwest, these authors share the happy, the sad, and the sometimes unpredictable outcomes of sharing Thanksgiving dinner. While most of the stories here are interesting and entertaining, I was very much surprised by so much family dysfunction these stories bring to light. I know that no one lives an Ozzy and Harriet life, but some of these people are portrayed as mean, unhappy, or at the very least, unkind. Is sharing Thanksgiving dinner with extended or immediate family really all this painful? The authors of these stories are all mostly unknown, though most all of them do have some kind of writing background. Thanksgiving Tales is definitely filled with an interesting variety of stories about this beloved American holiday.

* I was not paid or compensated for this post. I was sent a free copy of this book for my review by the publisher/PR company. The opinions are 100% mine and may vary from others.

Cheer Up Our Troops by Sending CHEER from Cherrios #sendcheer #CBias

My family has members from many generations that have been active members of the military. In 3 different branches over 3 generations my family has served.

My grandfather, Nana's Dad, served in the Marines during WWII. He served for 4 years than reenlisted to further serve our country. I have great memories as a kid looking through his scrapbook from his time in the Marines. The book was a dark green with black pages that has all sorts of pictures and other memorabilia. My mom even let me take some of the pictures to school for show and tell one year. He was a dashing young man in the pictures and I loved seeing the smiling face of a grandfather I never met.

My father in law and his dad served in the Navy. My father in law during Vietnam and his dad during WWII as my own grand father did. My father in law has shared pictures of him during his service time and its amazing how much he looked as my husband does now.

My brother in law, Sam's husband, served 5 years in the Army. He enlisted a year before 9/11 and when it happened we knew he would be going to war. He served his 4 years but then was required and did so honorably serve an additional 1 year in Afghanistan. My sister was one tough woman being alone for a year while he was gone. He missed her so much and the letters, phone calls and care packages are what kept him smiling. Our little brother enlisted to the Army to train to be an Airborne Ranger but due to an injury during training could not continue his service. We are all so proud of him and our families continue to support the troops. There are many military families that are still friends with my sister and her husband who continue to serve. We are proud of Jodi and her husband for all their sacrifices.

My son on both sides of his family has a great history of military service that we are proud of that he will learn more about as he grows up. Every year since my husband and I have been together we always are sure to buy a few toys to donate to Toys for Tots to help the Marines collect toys for kids. The last two years we have taken our son with us. We are very excited for this year as he can now put the toy in the collection bin himself.

I can only imagine how lonely and how much soldiers must miss their loved ones back home so we are happy to be apart of the sendCHEER campaign from Cherrios and General Mills.

Cheerios has teamed up with the USO to "send cheer" to military families by sending encouragement and thanks using special postcards you can cut out from specially marked Cheerios boxes. Once stamped, these pre-addressed postcards will go to the USO to be distributed by them to military families. As a result, for each card received, $1 for each card will be donated by Cheerios to the USO to help fund programs that help support the military and their families. How wonderful is that? You can do all that, just for the price of a stamp, and a few words of encouragement and thanks written! You can shop for these specially marked boxes at local Walmarts, and be on the look out for special displays. You can see the other families that are sending cheer by visiting the sendCheer website.

We will be on the lookout for the special sendCheer displays at our local Walmart. You can read about how to participate in the Cheerios sendCheer campaign. Later in the week we will be cutting out our cheer cards and decorating them to send to a military member. My son recently has really been into coloring, using stickers and painting. We are going to have a blast doing this project.




*This post has been compensated as part of a sponsored charitable opportunity for Collective Bias.All opinions and stories expressed in the post are my own.

Heely's Skate Shoes for Adults Review

 Have you ever been in the store and seen a kid go whizzing by and wonder how did they do that?!? I have wondered how they can skate with a pair of shoes. I have mentioned to my husband a few times I want a pair of those. He has replied "They are kids shoes!" When I realized they made adult sizes I really wanted to try them! When I had the chance to review some I was excited.

They look like great shoes, sort of remind me of a converse type of shoe but with wheels. As soon as I got them I opened up the wheel package and installed them. That part was easy, it comes with a little tool to pop out the plug and put in the wheel. I thought was a great aspect to be able to go with wheels or without wheels. But for me that was the only easy part. I am not sure of its me or the shoes but I fell over a few times while trying to test these out. I tried over the next 2 weeks to see if I could master the wheeled shoes like the kids I saw in the grocery store. Well I did not master the cool shoes as I thought I would. They were fun to wear around the house but I could not seem to be able to wear them outside.

Kids seem to love these shoes and I am sure must be more coordinated than me. I will be giving these shoes to my little sister in hopes she can wheel her way around school.

Heelys is throwing a Black Friday special!! Between Nov 25-Nov 28, Buy any pair of Heelys, get the second pair for $25. 


I even tried a few of the cool tricks from the Heelys website. They did not turn our as well as the example but it was fun to try. Here is some useful info on Heelys shoes.
General Heelys Skating Info – Including How-to videos on “Heeling”
Heelys Safety Playbook

* I was sent a pair of free Heelys to review through Business2Blogger. I was not paid for this post. All opinions are 100% mine and your experience may vary.

Let's Rock Elmo OR Rock Star Mickey?

There is a bit of a debate in my home as to which Rocking toy to consider getting for our son for Christmas. No doubt he needs one or the other. My boy has rock star in his heart. He loves music, dances like crazy and even knows that certain music requires different dance moves! Hes so cute!


We can't seem to decide between Let's Rock Elmo OR Rock Star Mickey. Both are cute rocking characters that any kid would love to have. Elmo my son adores and will tell me anytime he sees Elmo anything. He was going Elmo crazy in Toys R Us. Mickey is a classic character that I love and we like to watch Mickey Mouse Club DVDs. I am stuck as to what to buy.

Part of me says wait and see what is going to be the best deal. And the other part says test it out. Let him see both in the store and see which one he likes more. But will he be heart broken when I take them both away and leave empty handed!

What are your thoughts on the Let's Rock Elmo OR Rock Star Mickey debate?

Activia Yogurt Review

For the last couple of years I have taken a deeper interest in eating healthy foods. I have become much more aware of the role that food plays in maintaining a healthy body and a healthy weight. Yogurt is one of the foods I love to eat at least 3 to 4 times a week. Sometimes I will eat it for breakfast with fruit or granola. I also like it for a mid morning snack or afternoon pick me up. Yogurt is also considered a "super food". One of my very favorite brands of yogurt is Activia, made by Dannon. This yogurt comes in a wide variety of textures and flavors, so that everyone can find a favorite way to enjoy this yummy and healthy product. Activia Greek Yogurt, Activia Fiber, and Activia French With Fruit On The Bottom are just a sampling of the many delicious varieties that are available. Eating Activia has healthy benefits including helping to regulate your digestive system, and can help you with occasional irregularity. Activia is suitable to eat for the entire family, including children. It can be a part of a healthy and balance diet. My absolute favorite is French Vanilla, with a few sliced strawberries on top. I feel like I am having a treat, but am happy knowing that what I am eating is good for me, too. Visit their website for a wealth of information on the benefits and facts of eating Activia Yogurt.

*I was not paid or compensated for this post. The opinions in this post are 100% mine and may vary from other opinions. I was provided a free coupons for this review.