Ways to Show Patriotism

We take patriotism very seriously in our home.  I believe children need to learn what it truly means to be a patriot of one's country and we have tried to incorporate events year-round to help achieve this.  During the summer months, we have Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day in which we always have special events and traditions to help show the love of our country. And best of all, we have learned to do this on a budget so being a good patriot doesn't have to break the bank!!!

One thing that we like to do this time of year is send care packages to troops overseas. We are lucky to know some soldiers personally that we can send packages to but if you don't know anybody personally, ask around. I am sure someone from your group of friends, neighborhood or families in your church or community are bound to have family members who are serving overseas.  We like to involve as many people as we can in this project so that we can really make an impact so we ask each of our friends to cover certain items. For example, Family 1 is in charge of toiletries. Family 2 is in charge of snacks. Family 3 is in charge of entertainment, etc, etc. Some great choices for care packages are books, magazines, snacks, candy, toiletries, etc. and there are some great choices for snacks that won't go bad like Hormel® Compleats®!  Hormel also carries items like their Chili, pepperoni and even Dried Beef that would be perfect for a care package!

How awesome to be able to put a smile on a soldiers face!!!!

Other Ways to Show Patriotism!

*Learn about our founding fathers

*Teach your kids the Pledge of Allegiance

*Go watch a parade

*Dress up

*Visit your local festivities

*Wach a Fireworks show

*Visit a vet

*Help your neighborhood kids put on a show

We always take our children to the Freedom Days Picnic here where we live! It's a great way to teach them about the sacrifices that have been made for the freedoms we enjoy today. A couple of years ago we made hats before we went so we were all decked out and ready to go! Last year the kids all dressed up in red, white and blue before we headed out to the festival. Little things like this teach children so much!

Our Freedom Days Festival even has real army tanks that the kids could see and climb on and it is all free! Check out your surrounding areas because most communities have these same types of events!

Being together on these holidays is important to us as a family. We are so blessed that we are all here together and I think it's important to teach our children about those families who are not so lucky. So many have sons and daughters serving overseas and it is a blessing that we can enjoy so many freedoms together. So it doesn't matter what we do as long as we do it together as a family! 

Our one yearly family tradition is our big 4th of July cookout.  I have to say, this is the highlight of the year for me!  Our entire family gets together and we eat and play games and then afterwards we all walk up to the local fireworks and laser light show where they play patriotic songs throughout the show. It's a very emotional event too as people remember loved ones that are no longer with us that made the ultimate sacrifice.

Of course, my favorite part is the food!  We go all out when it comes to our 4th of July cookout!! 

This year we are hosting the bash at our house and I am super excited! We have all of our regular favorites on the menu like our fresh fruit and veggie trays and deviled eggs and meat on the grill but I am going to be attempting a new recipe this year, the Hormel BBQ Blue Sandwiches!! I was so excited when someone sent me this recipe because the total preparation time is less than 15 minutes and I know it's going to be a huge hit at our party!!

Of course no cookout is complete without dessert!

What does your family do to show patriotism? Do you think it's important to teach children?

 



In the spirit of full-disclosure, I’ve partnered with Hormel Foods as part of the Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger Program. Throughout the year I’ll be receiving product, coupons, giveaways and promotions. However, no payment was given or expected for posting about the program, and as always, all opinions given here are fully my own.

Sterling Anabella Curtain Review and Giveaway from Baby Bedding Zone Ends 7/10

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We have been doing a lot of work in the kids bedrooms and all that was left for both were purchasing curtains. Baby Bedding Zone has a full line of everything you need decorate a room but we were completely impressed with their curtains! We received the Sterling Anabella Savannah Curtains and I could not wait to get them hung!!  With a list price of $750, you can practically steal this beautiful curtain and valance set right now for just $75!!!

When the curtains arrived, I could tell before I even opened the package that these curtains were high quality!  They aren't your average cheap, thin curtains that you can buy at any ole department store. These are curtains that are going to look beautiful and elegant and they are going to last for years!  This particular one fit in perfectly with my daughters bedroom decor and it amazes me what a difference it makes! They do a great job of keeping the sun out in the early morning hours but look beautiful tied back during the day allowing her to naturally light her bedroom!

These curtains would be beautiful in a nursery too!

When our daughter was a baby, we searched for Dragonfly Baby Bedding and Baby Bedding Zone carries a full line that would go perfect in any nursery!  They also carry Bumblebee Baby Bedding! I never thought of a theme like this for a baby nursery but I was super impressed by the products in this line. They even carry Banana Fish Crib Bedding at Baby Bedding Zone!!!

Check out the Baby Bedding Zone to ses all of their awesome products!

GIVEAWAY

One lucky reader is going to win their own set of curtains from the following choices:

Palm Beach Blue (valance not included)

Palm Beach Pink (valance not included)

Palm Beach Green (valance not included)

Savannah (valance included)

Cape Cod (valance included)

Fairyland (valance included)

Ways to Enter:

Like Baby Bedding Zone on Facebook (1 entry)

Visit Baby Bedding Zone and leave a comment here on which crib set you like best! (1 entry)

Blog about this giveaway and link back to http://www.babybeddingzone.com/ (1 entry)

Follow Baby Bedding Zone on Twitter (1 entry)

Facebook Share the product you'd like to have (1 entry)

Google +1 the product you'd like to have (1 entry)

Tweet a product you'd like to have (1 entry)

*To Facebook Share, +1 or Tweet an item, visit http://www.babybeddingzone.com/ and use the buttons at the bottom of the product*

Thanks for entering and GOOD LUCK!

Giveaway will end on 7/10 at 11:59 p.m.
Winner will be chosen at random via random.org

*This is not a paid post. All opinions here are my own. Review and giveaway items were provided by the company and/or PR firm*



Crazy For Bargains Review and Giveaway! Ends 7/12

I am one of those people who really love cute sleepwear so when I was first introduced to Crazy For Bargains, I was really excited. They carry a full line of affordable sleepwear for the entire family and they offer $5 flat rate shipping on all orders up to $40 and FREE shipping for all orders over $40!!! 

These comfy looking womens pajamas are right up my alley!!! 

They carry sleepwear for men too!  My husband would probably really like one of these sets!

When our package of kids sleepwear from Crazy for Bargains arrived, I was ecstatic with what I found inside!!!  They sent each of the Crazy House kids some super cute sleepwear and I am so excited to share them with you!

They sent the Sozo Giraffe Cotton Pajamas  for our little guy.  I thought for sure as cute as they were that they would cost a fortune but was shocked to see that they are only $19.99!!!!  Everything he owns is either monkeys or giraffes so these were perfect for him. They fit him great and the material was soft and comfy, not itchy like some pajamas we have had. And best of all, they were just so darn cuuute!

For the 2 older boys, Superheroes were the theme!!!  They sent us the Batman Pajamas with Hood and Cape and the Superman Muscles Pajamas with Cape and for just $18.99 each, I was astounded by what we received. With all the extras added on, I would definitely think these would cost a whole lot more but they are totally affordable and really cute too!

Our 2 older boys had a blast in their superhero jammies!

Crazy for Bargains didn't forget the princess of the Crazy House either!  They sent her the beautiful Laura Dare Red Rosebud Strappy Nightgown and I fell in love!  This nightgown is ruffly and girly and everything else every little princess wants! Our daughter is staying the week with her Grandma but I sent her a picture of this nightgown and she gushed over and over again and even tried to convince me to mail it to Grandma's for her. It is definitely something I would pick out myself for our daughter!!!

If you are looking for some serious sleepwear bargains for the entire family (Yes, Mom and Dad too!!!), check out Crazy For Bargains at http://www.crazyforbargains.com/!

GIVEAWAY

One lucky reader is going to win an item of their choice from Crazy for Bargains (up to $30)!!!

Mandatory Entry:

Leave a comment here with your name and email address!

Extra Entries:

Visit the Crazy for Bargains website and leave a comment here on one of your favorite items!

Be a Crazy House Blog Follower, Email Subscriber, or Facebook Follower (1 entry each)

Thanks for entering and GOOD LUCK!
Giveaway will end on 7/12 at 11:59 p.m.

Winner will be chosen at random via random.org

*This is not a paid post. All opinions here are my own. Review products and giveaway were all provided by the company and/or pr firm*

One Day Only GIVEAWAY!!! Ends tonight at 11:59 p.m.

Go visit our Facebook fan page HERE and we are doing a one-day-only giveaway for a Thermacell patio lantern! Thermacell offers awesome mosquito-repellant products that are PERFECT for this time of year!

The giveaway ends tonight at 11:59 p.m. so be sure to go find the post on our Facebook page and get entered!!!



Zumbox Unveils Nationwide Million Dollar Giveaway PLUS iPAD Giveaway! Ends 7/22

ZUMBOX UNVEILS NATIONWIDE MILLION DOLLAR GIVEAWAY

WITH THOUSANDS OF ADDITIONAL PRIZES

Last week, I was introduced to the newest way to reduce our carbon footprint via a digital postal mail service called Zumbox! 

Starting June 15th, household residents in the United States have the chance to win $1,000,000 in cash, a Nissan Leaf Hybrid autombile or THOUSANDS of other prizes in a giveaway sponsored by Zumbox, Inc., the leader in digital postal mail services on the web!

Zumbox has created a digital mailbox for every street address (house, apartment, condominium or any other residence) in the US. Any resident can claim and verify the household Zumbox for their street address for free at the Zumbox Website for a chance to win. Zumbox is a safe, highly secure, private place on the Internet for every household to receive, manage and store their postal mail online instead of on paper.

More than 5,000 of the street addresses in the US have been randomly selected to receive instant-win prizes in their Zumbox, including $1,000,000 in cash, 20 Nissan Leaf hybrid automobiles, iPads and laptops, thousands of gift cards from Starbucks and Amazon.com and other valuable prizes - with total value close to $7 million. More than 650 winners are guaranteed per month.

The giveaway is open to any person over 18 years of age who claims and verifies their Zumbox digital mailbox, limited to four per household address, starting June 15, 2011. To enter the giveaway, residents simply claim and verify their Zumbox, a free digital mailbox tied to their street address. Inside each Zumbox is an instant-win envelope that, when opened, lets them know if they have won one of the thousands of prizes.

Here’s how to enter and see if you won:

Visit Zumbox and sign up by registering your street address to claim your Zumbox.

Return to www.zumbox.com and enter the verification code delivered via the US Postal Service to verify residence at that street address.

Check your Zumbox to see if you are the grand prize winner, or one of thousands of other prize winners, by opening the instant-win envelope inside.

And GUESS WHAT?! We have one of these awesome prizes to give away to one of OUR readers, right now!

GIVEAWAY

One lucky Crazy House reader is going to win an iPAD!!

To enter, just fill out the form below!

For extra entries, please visit the Extra Entry Post! These will be added to the entries at the end!


Thanks for entering and GOOD LUCK!

Giveaway will end on 7/22 at 11:59 p.m.

Open to U.S. Residents Only

Winner will be chosen at random via random.org

Before prize will be sent to the winner, we will verify that they signed up for Zumbox!

*This is not a paid post. All opinions here are my own. The giveaway and information were all provided by the company and/or representing PR firm*

 

Summer Survival Kit Review and Giveaway from Tec Labs! Ends 7/5

Summer is finally here and along with that comes bumps, scrapes, rashes and bugs!  (At least in our Crazy House!) Thankfully, Tec Labs has us covered through their great line of products that treat everything from head lice to wound care!!  We were sent a Summer Survival Kit from Tec Labs and I am excited to share those products with you!!

The first product we received was the Tecnu Original Outdoor Skin Cleanser!

Myself and at least 2 of my children are EXTREMELY allergic to poison ivy and I have personally used this product on several occasions. If I get poison ivy, I will swell up to the point where I can't even open my eyes so if I even think I have come into contact with the stuff, Tecnu is my best friend!  If you have come into contact with poisonous plants, simply apply Tecnu to dry skin for two minutes and rinse with cool water or wipe off with a cloth. When used within 2-8 hours after exposure to the plants, Tecnu can remove urushiol oil before the rash begins. Once the rash has started, washing with Tecnu helps remove any free oil on skin allowing the natural healing process to begin without possible re-contamination. Urushiol oil can also spread from contaminated clothing, shoes, gloves, tools and pets. Since the oil does not evaporate, it can remain on these items for months or even years at a time. Use Tecnu to remove the oil and avoid a rash from secondary contact. This product is awesome because you can stop a rash before it ever occurs!!!  I am definitely going to be stocking up on this stuff!!!

The second product we received was StaphAseptic®.

In our house, we know all to well how quickly a simple cut or abrasion can turn into an infection. One year, my husband got a nasty wound on his leg after sliding during a game of softball. Despite his efforts to keep it clean and covered, it ultimately turned into a terrible, painful staph infection that required a trip to the ER along with a hefty amount of antibiotics and painful treatments.  Now, as soon as anyone in our home gets even a minor wound, we will immediately turn to StaphAseptic First Aid Antiseptic/Pain Relieving Gel!  StaphAseptic contains Lidocaine for pain relief so this is a perfect product for children!  I can't tell you how many times my 6 year old has come inside scraped up from climbing trees, falling off of his bike or wiping out on his skateboard. If you have a dare devil like mine, StaphAseptic will be your best friend! 

The final product we received was Tec Labs was their Licefreee Everyday! 2 in 1 Conditioning Shampoo!

Having 4 children, one that happens to be a girl with long, thick hair, there is nothing worse than getting the call that one of the kids on the baseball team or in the classroom has head lice. We get one of those calls or notes nearly every summer and I start itching as soon as I think about it.  Tec Labs has created this awesome product that contains naturally occurring ingredients to create an environment where head lice do not like to live. It is designed to be used in place of your regular shampoo. This product is perfect to use after treating head lice to prevent a recurring head lice infestation, on other family members to help prevent spreading head lice from one person to another, when notified of a head lice outbreak at school to help prevent head lice infestation at your home or if you are a teacher or a school administrator who may be in contact with students who have a head lice infestation. I call it genius. I will definitely be keeping this stuff on hand because it is bound to happen sooner or later and now I will be prepared if/when I get that call!  We have only had to deal with head lice in our home one time and personally, it was enough to last me a lifetime and if this product can help prevent us going through that again, it is worth every penny! 

If you don't know much about head lice, you should check out the Lice Freee webpage or join the Keeping Kids Lice Free Campaign on Facebook!!!  They both offer valuable tips and tools to help keep your children lice freee!  And if you are looking for other great tips on a variety of topics, check out the Tec Labs Blog!!! 

All 3 of these products are perfect for Summer and I would say they are "Must Haves" in the first aid kits. Having products like these on hand will prevent a lot of headache and best of all, unlike most products of this type, these are totally affordable. 

Visit the Tec Labs Website to check out all of their awesome products and for more information. You can even submit your own questions about the products and their uses or sign up for their newsletter to keep up with them!

GIVEAWAY

One lucky reader is going to win their own Summer Survival Kit containing all 3 of the products we received!

Mandatory Entry:

Leave a comment here with your name and email address so we can contact you if you win!

Extra Entries:

"Like" the Keeping Kids Lice Free page on Facebook (1 entry)

Follow Tec Labs on Twitter (1 entry)

Leave a comment on any of our non-giveaway posts! (1 entry)

Thanks for entering and GOOD LUCK!
Giveaway will end on 7/5 at 11:59 p.m.

Winner will be chosen at random via random.org

*This is not a paid post. All opinions here are my own. Review and Giveaway products were provided by the company and/or representing PR firm*

EcoSphere Pod Review and Giveaway from Wind & Weather Ends 7/8

Have you ever had to purchase a gift for someone who already has everything?! Have you spent hours and hours shopping in the stores looking for that "perfect" gift, only to go home empty handed?! That was me just a couple of weeks ago as I searched for a gift for my husband for Father's Day. I kept coming up empty handed until I was introduced to Wind & Weather!!!  Wind & Weather has some of the neatest, most unique products I have found anywhere else and I was so excited to browse their site!!

First of all, their Gift Guide was extremely helpful! I was able to search for gifts by occasion, price or by interest. I searched for gifts that were "Just for Fun" and within minutes, I found so many perfect gifts for my husband! We finally narrowed our choices down and chose the EcoSphere Pod! The EcoSphere Pod has to be one of the neatest things I have ever seen.

About the EcoSphere:

This fascinating display of art and science contains active micro-organisms, bright red shrimp, and algae existing in a clear "soup" of filtered sea water. Only light is needed to keep their world in a perfect plant-and-animal balance: algae and bacteria are eaten by the shrimp whose waste supports their regeneration. Created with technology developed by scientists at NASA. No maintenance required.

What we Think:

Fascinating is not even the word. This is just such a neat product! I was a little skeptical about it, wondering how it could possibly work and how life could be maintained inside of a sealed pod. When it arrived, we were shocked to see life swimming around in the sphere!  The kids immediately started asking a billion questions which was really neat because it was like a Science lesson right in our living room!  The pod we received contains shrimp, algae, gorgonia, decorative shells and gravel. These are all parts of the working ecosystem. We never have to feed them, change the water or anything because everything they need is living right there inside of the pod. All they need is light to continue thriving in the perfect EcoSphere. How cool is that?!  My husband put it in our bedroom on the dresser and we love to wach it. It adds a lot to the decor in the room and is such a neat piece to look at. This would be great for an office or any other room as a conversation piece too!

This would be a great gift for one of those in your life who appreciate finer things but already have everything!  They come in all different sizes and shapes too so if you want something bigger, you have that option! The EcoSphere pod is a great art or conversation piece and it is sure to make someone in your life really happy!!!!!

Check out Wind & Weather for their complete line of indoor and outdoor products! They carry everything from decorative fountains to weather tools! You can even purchase live plants. And if you really like their products and you have a big event coming up, check out their online registry option!  Wind & Weather has something for everyone!

GIVEAWAY

One lucky reader is going to win their own Ecosphere Pod from Wind & Weather!!!

Mandatory Entry:

Leave a comment here with your name and email address so we can contact you if you win!

Extra Entries:

Like Wind & Weather on Facebook (1 entry)

Share a link to this giveaway on Facebook, Twitter or your own blog (1 entry)

Leave a comment on any of our non-giveaway posts (1 entry)

Thanks for entering and GOOD LUCK!
Giveaway will end on 7/8 at 11:59 p.m.

Winner will be chosen at random via random.org

*This is not a paid post. All opinions contained here are my own. Review and Giveaway products were provided by the company and/or representing PR firm*

iPAD Giveaway

Very soon, I will be posting an Apple iPAD Giveaway sponsored by Zumbox. The actual entry is going to be a very simple, form entry with NO extra entries. If you are interested in extra entries, you can do so by clicking HERE which is the extra entry post. Stay tuned and I will have the actual giveaway posted very very soon!