Frugal Family Tree

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Champions for Kids Dial Into Giving Donation #DialCFK

By Patricia

This month's Champions for Kids Simple Service Project is all about providing personal care items for children in need. Champions for Kids has teamed up with Dial Soap in the month of October to encourage donations of these very important items that children need to be and stay healthy.

I went to my local Walmart to purchase items to donate to my favorite place that helps those in need, the Kingston Food Bank. I bought lots of Dial hand soap and Dial bar soap for donation.

Did you know that Dial Complete is the #1 Doctor Recommended antibacterial hand wash? According to the Centers for Disease control, 80% of infectious diseases are spread through hand contact. You can go here and find out how to teach your children the importance of regular hand washing, and the best way to do it effectively.

I decided to make some personal care kits to donate for kids. I was also asking friends and family for their own donations to my project. For the care kits, I included Dial Soaps, kids shampoo/conditioner, toothbrushes and toothpaste, and fun nylon scrubs.

Low income families that receive food stamps are not allowed to use them to buy any personal care products, and some families struggle to obtain them on a regular basis. #DialCFK

My grandson helped me put together my care kits. We wrapped them in cellophane and a bow so that they would look cheerful and make the child that receives them will feel like they are getting a gift.

My grandson has helped me on Simple Service Projects before, and I am so happy that he understands that when he is helping me, he is really helping other children.

I chose to make my donation to the Kingston Food Bank. It is run with love and devotion by Barb Felton,

whose own parents started the food bank over 50 years ago. I love donating here, and knowing my donations are always needed, and put to good use right here in the community.

Here we are making our donation of care kits to the food bank. Barb and her volunteers distribute much more than food. Household items, clothing, baby clothes, diapers and more are available. I am happy my donation will be able to be given to kids that really need them.

You can Dial into Giving and help the children in your community by getting involved in the October Champions for Kids Simple Service Project. Simply gather donations from family, friends, or co-workers and donate them to a charity that benefits children. You can be one of millions to help Champions for Kids meet their goal of helping 20 million people by 2020.

To learn more about Champions for kids and how you can get involved in Simple Service Projects, go to their website Champions For Kids. You can read my Google+ story about my shopping trip to Walmart for Dial Soap products for ideas for your donation.

You can learn more about Champions for Kids and Dial by following them online:

Champions for Kids Twitter
Champions for Kids Facebook
Dial on Facebook
Dial on Twitter

*I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Dial Soaps #DialCFK #CBias #SocialFabric

I have been obsessed in a way with Burt's Bees since I was in my early 20s. I love the way the Honey and Milk lotion smells, the way the tomato soap feels on my face and oh my the lemon cuticle cream AMAZING! I have cut back on my use of the products as my budget has been smaller for me since becoming a Mom. Then I discovered Baby Bee! I love using the products on my son, the one product I ALWAYS have in my house is the Burt's Bees All Better Baby Balm. This balm can heal bruises, scraps, bumps and the allergic rash my son gets on his face from time to time since the poor guy inherited my sensitive skin. I had a stock pile of it and this last week it ran out. I thought no biggie I will go get more. Well heck I was wrong! I have frantically looked at Target, Walmart, Safeway, Burt'sBees.com all over the net to find it always says Product Not Available or Not in Stock. I messaged Burt's Bees on Facebook, did not hear back. I am freaking out a bit that I cannot find this product. Its my favorite thing for my son's owies and I NEED it! I am on a mission to find some. I am planning to call the head quarters of Burt's Bees to get some answers.

So please do tell me if you see it in a store near you so I can rest easy knowing its still out in the world I just have to find it! I will be so sad if its been discontinued.

World Market's HGTV Room Make Over Inspiration

In the last few years I have really enjoyed home decor. I have always loved the books and magazines but never really tried to apply it to my own life. I always thought it was too expensive or not my genre of expertise. Since my son has been born I have wanted to create a home feel for him. I find great items at World Market that are unique and affordable. World Market has been a place I have shopped for picture frames, gifts, delicious food and now home decor. I have many rooms in my house that I would love to have redecorated. The room I would pick first would be my dining room. Let me show you a few pictures of what it looks like.

I like the color of the walls but I need more color. The phone is on an odd place and the table has seen better days!

This corner I had a shelf there but it was knocked down by accident and now the elliptical is pushed in the corner. I do not like it in that spot I would love a book case there.

For me the dining room is a place for my family to come together at night and reconnect for the day. I love eating together at the table. Sadly the dining room is not the put together place I would like it to be. For one we are missing a chair that was broken so there is 3 chairs, for now there are only 3 of us but when people come over for dinner its a mix match of other chairs added. I always say when I win the lottery I will get the set I want. BUT I don't have to wait for the lottery winnings if I end up winning the World Market HGTV Passport to Style Sweepstakes! The Grand Prize package includes a $10,000 World Market shopping spree and design consultation with an HGTV Designer. I could decorate the whole house with World Market for that much money! Since I have entered the sweepstakes I have started to imagine what I would want my room to look like.

Here is my dream dining room collage:

I want my room to have rich wood colors but splashes of fun colors like the Lime Ella Chairs. The Ochre Khadi Yellow Linens and a beige rug keep the room soft with the dark wood colors. The Augustus Book Shelf I would fill with cookbooks and decor items like some of the Owl stuff I have seen at World Market.

You can check out my great Pinterest Board for my World Market Dining Room Makeover Inspiration. I found so many great items online at World Market it was hard to pick just a few items I would want. I could spend all day on the site browsing for all the rooms in my house. Hopefully I will win the World Market HGTV Passport to Style Sweepstakes so you can all see my home transformed!

Win a Room Makeover with World Market’s HGTV Passport to Style Sweepstakes

HGTV Passport to Style Sweepstakes

Grand Prize package includes: A $10,000 World Market shopping spree and design consultation with an HGTV Designer
There will also be 3 runner up prize winners that will each receive a $1,000 World Market gift card!
The HGTV Sweepstakes runs from September 22, 2012 until October 26, 2012.
If you share the sweepstakes with 5 of your friends (via FB share or email) you can receive 5 additional bonus entries. This is part of the registration process when entering. Users can also enter daily for more chances to win.
Enter online at http://worldmarketsweepstakes.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/worldmarket/app_315124871876517

Have you heard about the World Market Explorer Program? It is a rewards program where member earn exclusive perks, like coupons, offers, previews, and beyond. Spend $100 on Gourmet Foods and Non-alcoholic beverages and you will receive a $10 reward that you can use to purchasing almost anything in store or online. You can also earn FREE COFFEE Rewards! (Buy 6 12oz. bags and your 7th one is free!)

Head on over to World Market Sweepstakes page to enter to win! Who wouldn't LOVE a house decorated by World Market!

*This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™, but all my opinions are my own. http://cmp.ly/3/KqtZiE

Sacramento Cal Expo First Ever Puppy Show Oct. 13-14

Earlier in the year my family and I attended a Dog Show at Cal Expo in Sacramento CA. My son loved it! All the dogs were great and the trainers so informative and friendly. My son's favorite part was when he was able to meet a litter of Jack Russel puppies. He loves puppies, everyone loves puppies right?!? This weekend Cal Expo in Sacramento CA is hosting the First Ever Puppy Show. It will be a fun and cute time!

First-Ever Puppy Show Comes to Cal Expo

-Hundreds of puppies, pet product vendors, dog lovers and media expected to attend the first-ever Sacramento Puppy Show, hosted by the Sacramento Kennel Club-

What: The Sacramento Kennel Club, a member of the American Kennel Club (AKC), will host the inaugural Sacramento Puppy Show at Cal Expo-Saturday October 13 and Sunday, October 14^th.

A great family event, the Sacramento Puppy Show will offer pet lovers dozens of opportunities to celebrate all things dog! Bringyour pet (or even just a photo) and communicate with one of our pet psychics; let your dog run through our agility course, or watch dog agility demonstrations throughout the day; plan your dog’s birthday party, or participate in a dog wedding; enjoy AKC breed and puppy competitions; adopt a pet from area rescue groups and shelters; enter your dog in one of our fun costume contests; win fun prizes and shop some of the best pet and specialty vendors around!

This is a dog friendly event, and you won’t want to miss it!

When: Saturday, October 13^thopen from 9am-5pm

Sunday, October 14^th open from 10am-4pm

Where: Cal Expo, Building C

1600 Exposition Blvd.

Sacramento, CA 95815

Dog Wedding, 10/13:

Event highlights include a dog wedding where pet owners can let two dogs get hitched at a wedding. Participants will receive the wedding ceremony, a puptual photo, and goodie bag. The dog wedding will take place on Saturday, October 13^th at 1pm.

Dog Costume Contest, 10/14:

Additionally, and just in time for Halloween, a dog costume contest will be held in three categories- best dog/owner team or best group costume; most original; and best celebrity look-a-like costume. Register at the show, beginning at 12:00. The contest will begin at 1:00 sharp.

Schedule: Saturday, October 13^th

11am- Puppy Competition

1pm- Dog Wedding

3pm- Adult Dog Competition

Sunday, October 14^th

11am- AKC Puppy Match

1pm- Costume Contest

3pm- AKC Adult Dog Match

Shopping, dog agility demonstrations and an open course, birthday party planning, giveaways, games, adoptions and psychic readings will be available all day,every day.

Cost: $5 Advance Tickets Online

$10 Event Tickets at the Door

$8.50 Seniors (60+) & Juniors (13-18)

Children under 12 are well behaved, leashed dogs are free.

For complete event, competition and ticket information, visit www.SacramentoPuppyShow.com and ‘like’ us at www.facebook.com/CalExpoDogShow or follow our tweets @CalExpoDogShow.

Weekend in Pictures at the Seattle Zoo

This weekend the weather was amazing! The sun was shining, which is rare in Seattle this time of the year. Usually we are drenched with rain wishing we could spend more time outdoors. We decided to take full advantage of the great weather and head to the Seattle Zoo. We invited some of our favorite friends and enjoyed the day.