My orthodontist recommended that I chew sugar-free  gum to help ease some of the discomfort of having braces.  There are a lot of sugar-free gums on the market but many are so heavy laden with chemicals I can't pronounce and lose their flavor quickly. What's the perk of chewing gum if the flavor dissipates soon after you start chewing?  None.  I am always trying new gums and really appreciate brands sending me samples of new gums to try.   I also watch a certain weight loss show on tv and the contestants are always chewing gum during workouts and between meals. Chewing gum has become my go to choice between meals and it really is a better choice than some heavy calorie snack.   Last year PÜR Gum sent me a few samples of their aspertame free gum to try and  PÜR has become one of my favorite gums.  I love the variety of flavors so when  PÜR revealed the newest members to its premium sugar  and aspartame-free family, I was eag...

A pedometer is a small mechanical device that measures the distance traveled on foot by recording a person’s number of steps. This inexpensive instrument can help athletes and casual exercisers improve their fitness level. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese. If you are among them, a pedometer could help you lose weight and stay fit. Wearing a pedometer in the correct position will give you an accurate measure of the steps you take each day. If you wear the device in an improper position, it may add or miss steps and give you a false reading. A reading that is too high or low can discourage you or fail to challenge you. Check your pedometer from time to time to be sure it is placed properly. Here are three ways to wear a pedometer. Your Belt or Waistband Some pedometers must be worn on your body, so read the directions. Most devices must be several inches from the center of your body or in ...

It's that time of the year folks!  Time to enroll the kids in the Kids Bowl Free program.  This marks the 3rd year my kids and I have participated in the program.  Bowling is a fun family activity and a great way to keep the kids active.  With Kids Bowl Free , your kids get two free games per day at over 950 participating bowling centers throughout the U.S. and Canada. The first year we signed up the kids were like "Ugh, bowling.  Boring."  Now they look forward to an afternoon of competitive play.  We are pretty fortunate as we have 3 nearby bowling centers that participate in the program so the kids can choose which center they want to go to.  They also choose what theme they want on the scoreboard.  Sometimes it's a cool rock motif, others crazy cartoon characters and the bowling center DJ rocks.   Some of the bowling centers also features Disco Bowling!  It's crazy insane.  Lanes lit with neon lights.  ...

I've talked about Swagbucks for awhile now, so you may know how great it is to get free gift cards and pay for gifts, big purchases and anything else with them instead of paying out of pocket. Well now I have exciting news and a great opportunity for all of you to earn bonus SB -- enough to  get a free $5 gift card !  Any of my readers who signs up for Swagbucks.com through  my link here  between now and June 30th is eligible to get a 500 SB bonus! Think of it as a free gift card just for signing up through me. In order to get the bonus automatically*, you must also earn 1500 SB by July 14th. Note that since this is an exclusive offer, you must  sign up through this link  and earn 1500 SB in order to get your 500 SB bonus. If you sign up elsewhere, or only do one of the two steps, the bonus unfortunately will not be available to you.  So how do you get that 500 SB bonus? Simple: you can earn SB from any of the earning activities found on the ho...

DORA AND BOOTS -  BEST FRIENDS FOREVER Available on DVD on May 27, 2014 Join best friends Dora and Boots on EIGHT of their greatest adventures in the all-new DVD Dora and Boots – Best Friends Forever. Come along with the inseparable duo as they explore a magical rainforest amusement park, celebrate Best Friends Day, rescue Boots’ beloved shiny red boots, recover Boot’s lost cuddly dinosaur, and much more! Enjoy more with this set including over three hours of fun with Dora and Boots. Created by Nickelodeon Home Entertainment and distributed by Paramount Home Media Distribution, Dora and Boots - Best Friends Forever will be released on DVD on May 27, 2014. Dora and Boots - Best Friends Forever Episode Synopses: Riding the Roller Coaster Rocks Dora, Boots and Abuela explore the magical rain forest amusement park, Adventure Forest, so they can ride the Roller Coaster Rocks! Best Friends Happy Best Friends Day! Today is a special day for best friends to play together. ...

I've been "natural" AKA perm free for a few years now.  However last Summer, I decided to forego the flat irons and start wearing a TWA (teeny weeny afro).  I blame it on my friend and former co-worker, Tanya, who uttered six words on a hot, sweaty day.  Words that changed my life forever:         Your               hair                   looks                         cute                               like                                     that.   One compliment and my hair has been on a journey like never before.  It's been quite a journey these past few months.  Some days I like my hair.  Others, ummm...notso...

Disclosure: I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser. When it comes to graduation gifts, I am known to gift some pretty fab gifts.  I'm a tech geek and I oh so love gifting the latest in technology and gifting technological costs nowhere near what it costs say, 3-5 years ago.  Some fab tech finds can be found for under $100 like the Samsung Galaxy Exhibit phone with an accompanying # FamilyMobile  plan. And really, what grad wouldn't want the latest and greatest in cool new phones?  Walmart Family Mobile offers unlimited talk text and data/web plans perfect for every budget.    I purchased a Walmart FamilyMobile plan last year when the twins went to Summer camp.  They were far enough for our plan to consider calls home roaming so we opted for an inexpensive talk and text plan to stay in touch over the Summ...

It's never too late for a new beginning. Look closely and you'll see that theme all through the Bible. Page after page, God delights in turning tragic endings into new beginnings. A childless woman conceives in her old age; a fearful, self-conscious shepherd becomes a leader of millions; and a prostitute becomes a wife and mother in the lineage of Christ. Every biblical fresh start reveals the amazing, awe-inspiring hope we have for our own new beginnings in God's plan for our lives. In YOU CAN BEGIN AGAIN, bestselling author Joyce Meyer explores the beauty and infinite supply of God's love and grace. Through inspiring stories, Scriptural principles, and her classic practical, life-application approach, Joyce powerfully demonstrates that God isn't done with you yet. If you're stuck in a rut, disappointed by an outcome, hurting from a wound, failing in an endeavor, struggling in a relationship, or unsure about the future. . .don't give up. Don't g...

DIVE INTO ADVENTURE BAY WITH THE PUPPY HEROES WHO LAUGH, LEARN, AND SAVE THE DAY PAW PATROL Available for the First Time Ever on DVD May 13, 2014 When in trouble, just yelp for help! The PAW Patrol pups are ready to save the day at home in their first-ever DVD! Prepare for 10 exhilarating adventures from the hit animated preschool series, PAW Patrol. The series, produced and owned by Spin Master Entertainment, follows the adventures of six heroic rescue pups and a tech-savvy boy who work hard to show the people of Adventure Bay that “no job is too big, no pup is too small!” The series features a curriculum that focuses on citizenship, social skills, and problem-solving. PAW Patrol premiered as the #1 preschool series on TV in August 2013 and is currently one of Nickelodeon’s top three preschool series. The DVD is produced by Nickelodeon Home Entertainment and distributed by Paramount Home Media Distribution in the US. PAW Patrol will be available on DVD on May 13, 2014 fo...

Papa Murphy’s wants to help feed your family on National Mom’s Nite Out! On May 8th, at participating Papa Murphy’s locations, you can take advantage of the Mom’s Meal Deal*. For only $12, you can treat your family to any large 2-topping pizza and your choice of 2 sides: Cheesy Bread, Cookie Dough, Cinnamon Wheel or S’mores Pizza. This is a great option for Dad to feed the kids while Mom is out celebrating, or simply a great excuse to take the night off from cooking! See below to view the coupon and promotion details. You can print it out or pull it up on your phone, but make sure you show it at your Papa Murphy’s location in order to redeem the offer.