TFH Family Favorite Finds

5 Simple Steps to Surviving Back-to-School Night

A lot of parents look forward to attending their child’s Back-to-School night.

I am NOT one of those parents.

Come by and visit with me at PlaydatePlace.com where we are sharing tips on how to make your Back-to-School night as successful as possible.

When you have time, of course!

FIND IT HERE:  http://playdateplace.kmart.com/2011/10/5-simple-steps-to-surviving-back-to-school-night/?intcmp=PlaydatePlace 

NEW! THIS HALLOWEEN:  My friends at Kmart.com have launched Attack of the 50ft Party, an online social hub to help families (like mine) find some great deals, blog posts, costume information, sweepstakes and much more!

This week's AND next week's special deals are:

October 9 to October 15:  30% off featured Halloween Costumes, plus FREE shipping on orders $39.99 and over http://kmrt.us/qHRXMU

October 16 to October 22:  40% Off featured Halloween Costumes http://kmrt.us/qHRXMU

Thank you for visiting Gone Shopping (sharing family-friendly reviews since 2007!)

Be sure to visit and/or subscribe to my home blog, ThisFullHouse.com (when you have time, of course!) or stop by and just say, "Hi!"  We'll leave the porch light on for you, just in case.

© 2003 - 2011 This Full House

Disclosure:  I am a featured blogger and Kmart Playdate Place Parent.

Answer Me This For a Chance to WIN! $500 Getaway Spa Day: How to Get Tweens and Teens to Eat Healthier Food?

Moderation is the key to raising healthy tweens and teens.   This is NOT always easy and, once they get older and start school, it becomes almost impossible to monitor their eating habits.

So, we try to keep the junkier stuff off our shopping lists and pack healthier lunch bags with stuff that we know our kids will, you know, actually eat.

Like, single-serving packs of hummus, string cheese, cut up pieces of fresh fruit (2 out of 4 of my kids wear braces) and buying whole wheat wraps and bread, instead.

Today, parents (like us) have access to all sorts of nutritional information and resources both online, or at the grocery store and there is very little reason why anyone should remain indifferent about their child's nutrition.

We're keeping more informed about our purchases and, more importantly, helping to empower our kids to make healthier choices, as well.

This helps a whole lot, I think. What do you think?

Share how you get your kids to eat healthy food below for a chance to win a $500 Mom’s Getaway Spa Day from BlogFrog!

REMINDER: LIVE CHAT! September 22nd Join for a chance to win an iPad2!!

What are your favorite healthy Halloween treats? Do you have favorite low cost fall activities? Tips for the best kid friendly fall crafts? Have any easy and creative costume ideas?

Join the BlogFrog Team and Horizon Healthy Families Community Leaders for a Live Chat on Thursday, September 22nd at 8pm EST/ 5pm PST as we discuss Fun Fall Activities to do with your Kids.  Share your tips and tricks with other moms like you. We will be giving away 5 Horizon Prize Pack's, plus one lucky participant will win an iPad2!!

Hope you can join us for this fun fall chat!!

© 2003 - 2011 This Full House

Disclosure:  I am a Horizon Families Community Leader

Recycle Old Blue Jeans into Fun Locker Magnets!

I'm still having a hard time believing that, in just a few months, I will have 3 teenagers in the house. 

[shiver]

My kids are growing up SO FAST it seems they don't even have time to wear their clothes out.  What, yours too!?!?

Come by and visit with me at PlaydatePlace.com where we are sharing one of our favorite ways to recycle old, or worn out blue jeans!

When you have time, of course!

FIND IT HERE:  http://playdateplace.kmart.com/2011/09/recycle-old-blue-jean-into-fun-locker-magnets/

COMING SOON THIS HALLOWEEN:  Also, my friends at Kmart.com will be launching an Online Social Hub to help you find some great deals, blog posts, costume information, learn about our sweepstakes and much more -- details to follow REAL SOON!!!

In the meantime, Kmart has over a 1000 costumes online, with great deals on all product, and shipping too -- currently, shipping is FREE on all items!

Thank you for visiting my shopping blog.  Be sure to visit and/or subscribe to my home blog, ThisFullHouse.com (when you have time, of course!) or stop by and just say, "Hi!"  We'll leave the porch light on for you, just in case.

© 2003 - 2011 This Full House

Disclosure:  I am a featured blogger and Kmart Playdate Place Parent.

LIVE CHAT! Thursday, September 15th (8-9pm EST) Tips, Traditions and End of Summer, Early Fall Celebrations (OH MY!)

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© 2003 - 2011 This Full House

Horizon Organics: It Was a Dark and Stormy Night...Night...Night...Night

I am very thankful for the opportunity to be working with the good folks at The Blog Frog as a leader in the Horizon Families Community, throughout the summer.

COMING SOON!:  I am hosting a Live Chat on Thursday, September 14th (8 - 9 p.m. est) trading End of Summer and Early Fall Celebration Tips and Ideas and I really do hope you can make it -- 'll be sure to leave the porch light on for ya'!

THIS WEEK!:  Hurricane Irene rocked our world (literally and figuratively) thankfully, we stocked up on Horizon milk boxes and were very glad for it:

Scotch Magic Tape Blog Tour & Giveaway

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED: So happy to be sharing this awesome prize pack with you, Pauline (comment #32) please check your email for further instructions, thanks!

My youngest is heading into 5th grade, this year (how did THAT happen?!?)

In all the hub-bub of experiencing one of the biggest storms to hit the New Jersey coastline in recent memory (seriously, we're still rebooting) ALL 4 of my kids and I are actually looking forward to starting school, tomorrow (FTW!)

All of those science projects, reports and requests for craft supplies coming home...not so much.

Truth be told, with 4 kids, attending 4 different schools (last year this happens, btw, YAY!) I found myself hard-pressed to be all, you know, crafty (oh, I used to be) so, we use A LOT of tape.

Still, in our family's never-ending effort to be less wasteful, I was SO HAPPY to learn that the Scotch brand has created the more environmentally friendly Scotch Magic Greener Tape and received an awesome sampling of their products:

Elmer's Kids in Need Foundation: Still Time to Help Kids Get Back-to-School Supplies!

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED: I am SO EXCITED to be sharing this awesome prize pack with you Jane H. (comment #99)  Yvonne Butler (comment #48) and Veronica Garrett (comment #110) please check your email for further instructions, thanks!!!

We love Elmer's products and have been loyal customers for, um, how old is my oldest kid?!?

Anyway, I know that a lot of your kids are back-to-school (already!?!?) and most kids here in Jersey start up after Labor Day weekend (SOB!)

I recently learned that Elmer’s is partnering with the Kids In Need Foundation to provide essential school supplies to students who need them the most.

Here's two very simple ways in which we can ALL help:

• For every “like” on the Elmer’s Facebook page (through Sept. 1st) the company will donate one Elmer’s product.

• Plus, they will make an additional donation for every unique view the video receives on the Elmer’s Kids In Need tab.

Please like the Elmer’s Facebook page, watch the video, and share it with your friends and family. With just one click, you will help a child in need!

To help you (yes, maybe even YOU!) get back-to-school ready, the good folks at Elmers have offered to send three (3) of our online friends a lovely Back-to-School prize pack, including:

Nestle Family Best Summer Ever Blogger: Wrap Up and Giveaway

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED: I am SO EXCITED to be able to share this awesome prize package with you Geoff K. (comment #144) please check your email for further instructions, thanks!!!

I was very excited to announce the launch of the Best Summer Ever by Nestle Family program, where I, along with some fellow bloggers, were given the opportunity to contribute to a huge list of summer challenges for your family.

It was fun sharing ideas and some of our favorite stuff in celebrating summer with our online friends.

My kids are mentally (and physically) getting ready to get back-to-school after Labor Day (parenting equivalent of bittersweet, no?)

My oldest is graduating high school, this year (SOB!) so, my husband and I were super thankful for our awesome trip to Cape Cod, MA considering it may be the last summer vacation we'll be able to spend together, as a family.

[insert major heart squeeze, here]

My partnership with this awesome program is also coming to a close (thank you, Nestle) so, let's celebrate EVERYTHING summer and spending quality time with family and friends, with an awesome giveaway, including a $100 Visa Gift Card, right here, right now, what do you say, you with me?

Camping Indoors with S'mores

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED:So excited to be able to share this awesome prize package with you, Julie L (comment #28) please check your email for further instructions, thanks !!!

Remember when I blogged about our celebrating S'mores season with Hershey's and The Motherhood, back in June?!?

[glances at calendar]

Okay, so, like where DID the summer go?!? 

It seems like only yesterday, we were celebrating the last day of school, right?!?

Did I mention that my second favorite holiday is the first day of school?!?

Just kidding (sort of!)

The kids and I really did have a GREAT time, this summer.  We were able to visit with family AND hang out at the beach with friends at two of our favorite vacation destinations: Cape Cod, MA and Cape May, NJ.

Now that summer is winding down and ALL four kids are going back-to-school, after Labor Day (bittersweet, I know!) we're sticking closer to home and enjoying late night camp outs by the fire pit, in our backyard.

Unless, a late summer thunderstorm shows up, pretty much out of nowhere (like it did, yesterday) and chases the kids back into the house...in less than 5 Mississippi's...me, too!

So, my daughters and I thought it would be fun to show you exactly how easy it is to go camping indoors with S'mores...anytime:

  

Camping indoors really is SO MUCH fun and the best thing about S'mores is that you can make them anywhere, anytime, no matter the weather, indoors AND out!

Want some?  EXCELLENT!!!

Bic Back-to-School Review & Giveaway

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED: So excited to be able to share this awesome prize pack with you, Stacey M. Signor (comment #66) please check your email for further instructions, thanks!!!

CONFESSION:  I have this thing for office supplies.  It started when I was in grade school and has manifested into a lifelong fascination.

Don't even get me started on my ever-growing collection of pens.

Speaking of which (sorry, just can't seem to help myself) the good folks representing BIC products sent a lovely package of back-to-school supplies and just in time!

You see, it seems that my kids have this thing for pens, too.

Aaaaand, we are almost all out of pencils:  my youngest daughter (she's 10) swears mechanical pencils are easier to hold (especially, for small hands, like hers) and I'd much rather she concentrate on her math, comfortably.

Of course, it doesn't hurt that BIC Impressions Mechanical Pencils are available in fun designs, or that Bic offers a line of sustainable products AND their website (BicWorld.com)  is also very, very pretty.

Want some?

Share Your Back-to-School Money Saving Advice for a Chance to Win a $500 Shopping Spree from BlogFrog!

It's the same thing, every summer (right about this time, actually) the kids shake down our mail carrier, desperately awaiting news of their teachers and classes for the new school year.

However, NOT until I've had a chance to review each of their back-to-school packets....first!

Personally, I would love it if teachers included ALL of their classroom supply needs...ahead of time!

My husband and I have been gathering school supplies, here and there, throughout the summer. However, the middle school and high school teachers all have separate supply lists, which we don't see, until the first week of school, when the aisles have pretty much been picked clean of back-to-school supply deals.

So, our best advice for shopping for back-to-school supplies would be:

1. Pick up extra standard back-to-school supplies (like, composition notebooks, binders, 3-subject notebooks, book covers, etc...) you find on sale before school starts.

2. Save those receipts (I'm really, really trying to get better at this!) then, return any unused/unopened items.

3. Or, you could always put any leftover supplies aside for next year -- we keep ours in a plastic tote in the garage.

How about you?

Share your back to school money saving advice below for a chance to win a $500 Back to School Shopping Spree from BlogFrog!

Want to exchange more tips and ideas with other moms about back to school topics such as healthy snacks, school supplies and saving money? Visit the Horizon® Healthily Families Back to School Community!

© 2003 - 2011 This Full House

Disclosure:  This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Horizon. The opinions expressed by me do not necessarily reflect the view of the Horizon Organic brand.

Getting Back To Back-To-School Bedtime Routines

With 42 days left until the First Day of School (here in Jersey, anyway) my kids are tearing through their summer math and reading packets.

Okay, not really.

.Honestly, it takes all of July for us to get into the summer groove and most of August to, you know, start thinking about re-entry into the school daze.

Join me over at BlogFrog where we’re discussing getting back to a back-to-school bedtime routine at the Horizon Milk Community:

MY OTHER BLOGFROG COMMUNITY POSTS:

• Horizon Back-to-School Community
• Giving Kids Allowance for Chores
• Do You Make a Date With Your Kids?
• Smoothing Our Way Into Chillaxing Summertime Snacks
• Family Dinner Fun LIVE CHAT! (notes available, in case you missed it!)

© 2003 - 2011 This Full House  

Disclosure: I have been engaged by BlogFrog as a Horizon's Community Leader and am being compensated for my services for the length of the program.

Family Dinner Fun LIVE CHAT! TONIGHT!

I am so excited to be teaming up with Sara from Saving for Someday to bring you a lively discussion about Family Dinner Fun. Join us on Monday, July 25th at 8pm Eastern/5pm Pacific to talk about ways to make eating together as a family not only a priority but something the kids will want to continue well into their teens.

Join us in The Horizon Dairy community on The BlogFrog to meet other parents to talk about food (of course) and chat about how to get the kids to engage and share, ways to make dinner time fun and so much more.

So, I hope you considering joining Sara and me at 8:00 p.m. for the Family Dinner Fun live chat -- it will be, you know, fun!!!

© 2003 - 2011 This Full House

Disclosure: As a Community Leader I am compensated for my time. My views are not edited. All opinions are my own.

Blue Sky Home Series Organizers Giveaway: Because, I'm Old School when it comes to using paper calendars, too!

UPDATED 8/1/11: So excited to be able to share this awesome prize with you, Heather B (comment #52) please check your email for further instructions!!!

I launched TFH Gone Shopping 4 years ago, B.F., B.T. (before Facebook and Twitter) as an extension of my main blog, which I started 8 years ago (the Jurassic period, in blogging terms) and a way to connect with families (like mine) online and share information on products and services that perhaps help make life a little easier.

My 2010 academic calendar ends in July and it is unraveling (literally) as we speak.

So, when the good folks at Blue Sky contacted me about their new organizational product line designed by Susy Jack, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it.

Because, I'm old school like that.