Saving this Summer with My Top 5 - eBay Daily Deals

Summer is off to a great start! I love all the extra time we have to spend outdoors in the evenings. But, having the kids home every day has me looking at making some changes and improvements around here. We are moving beyond just the plastic patio furniture and water tables, and am looking to update for casual backyard entertaining with friends. I have a few items now on my summer wish-list, but I don't want to spend too much money on anything... there is summer fun still to be had!

So where do you look for great deals on your wishlist items? Well, I have had great success by keeping my eyes on eBay Daily Deals.

Each day you can find a variety of new deals from 20 to 90% off! But these deals don't last long. If you find a good one, grab it! And the best thing is, all Daily Deals have free shipping...always! You can see the new Daily Deals posted every morning, at 8 AM Pacific Time, but as they sell out, new deals are posted. So you can check for eBay deals anytime to snag something on your wishlist.

In the past, I have saved a lot on baby gear, vintage toys for the playroom and even hard to find items. But as I look to update our yard, there are many great eBay Daily Deals to help me out there, too!

Want to see what I am looking for this summer?

My Summer eBay Wishlist by andrea-potter-kruse on Polyvore

Outdoor Fire Pit Table Patio Deck Backyard Heater Fireplace Propane LP... / Foldable Adirondack Natural Finish Patio Chair Kit | eBay / 12'x10' Outdoor Hardtop Roof Gazebo Aluminum Metal Patio Canopy with... / Original Jawbone Big Jambox Wireless Bluetooth Speaker 3 Colors | eBay / New Weed Eater Twist 'N Edge 13" 120V 4 3 Amp Electric Grass Lawn...

All great deals! That Outdoor Fire Pit Table, 77% OFF!  And the Jawbone Big Jambox Wireless Bluetooth Speakers? The deal today is for 57% OFF!

And also on my wishlist is this Canon EOS 7D Mark II / MK2 Camera Body, you know, just my dream camera. It is currently on eBay Daily Deal for 23% off.

What is on your summer wishlist? What deals will you find on eBay?

Digging into a Satisfying New Yogurt - #LandofPlenti

My days are packed with to-do lists, wish lists, obligations, routines and requests from my family. From the moment my eyes open in the morning, with a little help from a vocal 2-year-old, till that blissful moment my head hits the pillow and I melt into bed, there is plenty to keep me busy.

One of the hardest things for me is to remember to eat and stay fueled throughout the day. Grabbing breakfast and even lunch can be a challenge some days. Working from home adds a new dimension of difficulty to my situation.  I often don the hat of a short-order cook to keep my picky eaters happy, then there is naptime to manage, the meal's dishes to tackle, etc.

But now I have a new option for grabbing a quick meal or snack...

I picked up these new Yoplait Plenti at my local Fred Meyer (Kroger store). I love Greek yogurt, and I really enjoy mixing in fruit and other items like nuts and grains. This yogurt comes with whole grain oats, flax and pumpkin seeds. Yes, it is the yogurt that just comes with more! 

So I can save precious time hunting around the pantry for add-ins, I can grab a cup of Plenti for everything I need to enjoy a fulfilling snack or quick meal.

Plenti is the same amazingly smooth yogurt you would expect from Yoplait, But, in this case, more is more... you get MORE in each bite, MORE flavor, and MORE texture. And yes, it has taken just one container of yogurt to leave me feeling satisfied because it contains more than your average container of Greek yogurt.

Now, I love the Black Cherry, Blueberry was nice, too. But, you can find a variety of Plenti flavors at your local Kroger store:

• Plentí – Black Cherry
• Plentí – Blueberry
• Plentí – Coconut
• Plentí – Peach
• Plentí – Raspberry
• Plentí – Spiced Apple
• Plentí – Strawberry
• Plentí – Vanilla

So for a busy Mom with plenty on her plate already, Plenti from Yoplait is how I tackle those busy days. All I need to add is the spoon.

Look for all the great flavors at your local Kroger store and be sure to learn more about how Plenti is packed full of goodness on the Plenti Greek yogurt website.

Which flavor would you like to dig into first?

Ready for your #UltraHug selfie with Huggies?

Today my little guy is turning 2!

Besides the presents, cake and snuggles, there will be a lot of photo taking today. Of course, I had to grab a quick selfie with him, because Huggies is still going strong with their #UltraHug Contest!

Just me and my little guy to nominate the Westside Community Garden of Roseburg with our #UltraHug selfie. @Huggies is awarding a $2K grant to a nominated community project. Nominate one in your community - more info #ontheblogtoday link in my profile. #sponsored

A photo posted by Andrea (@andrealkruse) on Jun 13, 2015 at 1:29pm PDT

I posted about the Huggies #UltraHug Contest last month and I wanted to make sure you knew there was still time to nominate your favorite community project, for a chance they could win a $2K grant from Huggies.

We buy the Huggies new Snug & Dry Ultra Diaper at Walmart to keep our little guy dry and comfortable all day and night. So I love hearing that a brand I use is also looking to give back to a deserving community project. 

There is still time to enter! But, don't wait too long... On July 6th, voting will begin to narrow down the 20 finalists to 10 winners who will win a $2,000 grant from Huggies for their nominated community initiative.

Want to nominate your deserving community group? It's easy!

From now until June 25th, Huggies will be accepting all your #UltraHug selfies via Twitter or Instagram. 

Selfie for a cause? Snap a #UltraHug @Huggies selfie w/ur baby 2 win $2K for your cause https://t.co/hm8RLSjIqj #ad https://t.co/nVSVHrQkjC

— Andrea Kruse (@notimeMom) June 10, 2015

Click HERE for more information and enjoy taking a selfie with your baby for a good cause.

Also, when you visit the Huggies and Walmart #UltraHug Campaign page, you will see a fun collage of all the #UltraHug selfie nominations. Do you see anyone else you know on the page? Be sure to take a look.

DIY Teacher Appreciation Card with GraphicStock

The school year is wrapping up and I have been meaning to start on Teacher Appreciation gifts for my children. This year I had one in Kindergarten and another in the 1st grade.

I have had the opportunity to watch both of my children become readers and really love learning. So, of course I want to do something special for the teacher's who created such an atmosphere in the classroom. I plan to put a few fun items together, a gift card or chocolates, but I also wanted to create a special card.

Doesn't everyone love receiving a personalized card?

Well, a great card begins with great images!

I recently discovered a fun new resource for images. Whether you like to create cards, craft or create other DIY projects, there are so many great options with GraphicStock! 

GraphicStock has over 250,000 graphics and images you can use royalty free, so no worries about running into copyright issues. 

I have to warn you, it is easy to get lost just browsing the different categories on GraphicStock. Luckily if you find something you like, that you want to save for a project down the road, just save it in your favorites. Then you can come back later.

I went in search of some school themed backgrounds and ideas. I loved the extensive chalkboard collection. I found everything from boards, to textures to sayings and doodles.

I ended up going with a classic chalkboard look. All I had to do was download the image and put it into my own design program, like Photoshop. Even PicMonkey will work here for adding images on top or text, etc.

I loved these doodles, too.

First I downloaded the graphics I wanted to use for this project. Then I opened up PicMonkey on my computer.

Then I used the text tool and added my message to the chalkboard. It was a lot of fun to play with the fonts and colors till I was happy with the end result. Having a wide selection of digital graphics and images isn't just handy for card making, I have used them in the past to create customized cupcake wrappers and treat bags. There really are so many possibilities with GraphicStock.

Would you like to make your own? Right now you can get a 7 DAY FREE TRIAL with GraphicStock. You can enjoy up to 140 free graphics during your trial, but I think you may want to stay for more.

If you want to cancel at the end of the GraphicStock free trial period, don't forget to set yourself a reminder to cancel the subscription so you don't have to pay for the membership.

Giveaway Time:

And if 7 FREE DAYS sound good, what about a full year to use GraphicStock free?  1 person will win  1-year complimentary acces to GraphicStock (valued at $588)

1. Just sign up for the free trial and enjoy your downloads for 7 days.

2. Let me know what you think of GraphicStock. Just comment below on a project you are working on or what you want to make with your images.

Huggies Snug and Dry Ultra - Another Reason to Smile, Selfie Style!

Ahhh... the many faces of Elliott.

In nearly two years, this guy has captured my heart and I have been lucky enough to have captured some of his adorable moments with my camera. Just recently we realized that he is starting to be more aware of the camera and will stop and pose for us.

If you have older kids, you know this cute stage will not last. Before I know it he will be heading for the hills, rolling his eyes at me and shouting, "MOM!?"

Since that hasn't hit yet. I am doing my best to capture the highlights of his childhood.

From his Big Wheel, to picking strawberries in the berry patch, there have been some great memories captured on camera and even more I will treasure in my memories.

You could call it "Last-Child" syndrome, but I have been cherishing our afternoons together when the big kids are off at school. Elliott is my little guy, my buddy, and the easiest child out of my three.

Of course being the third and final child means I know what works for us. I have been using the New Huggies Snug & Dry Ultra Diapers to help keep him dry during our days together. The long-lasting leak protection means our fun won't stop because we need an outfit change.They are also gentle on his legs and soft on his belly, no chaffing as he runs and plays.

They have a conforming, gap-free fit to keep your active baby dry throughout the day. After many years of diaper changes, I appreciate that the Leak Lock® System has quick-absorbing layers for up to 12 hours of protection. You can find these Huggies Diapers at Walmart.

That means we can keep having fun, making memories... and snapping pictures.

Huggies #UltraHug Selfie Contest

Huggies is also looking to give back to your community! From now until June 25th, Huggies is accepting selfies of you and your baby. Just tag them with the hashtag #UltraHug and nominate a community initiative in your area that could benefit from a little extra help. 10 community initiatives will win a $2,000 grant from Huggies, thanks to you!

How to enter:

• First, take a selfie of you and your baby and upload that selfie to Twitter or Instagram. Make sure to use the hashtag #UltraHug
• In your same post, make sure to include a text nomination (approximately 100 – 120 characters) including a name and/or identifying description of a community project in the US, which you would like to nominate. Make sure the community project is something near and dear to your heart.

So who are we smiling for? Well, I would love to see our local Boys and Girls Club win a grant. They do so much to provide a safe and welcome place for kids after school. I was a latch-key kid myself, so I know how nice it is to have someplace fun and inviting till parents get off work.

Just one more great reason to grab the camera and capture some new memories. This time it is for a good cause. Won't you join us?

Smile for your selfie.

What community project would you nominate? I would love to hear about it in the comments below.

Spring Cleaning to Wash Out Winter with BISSELL® plus Giveaway!

Now that the daily temperatures are beginning to feel like Spring weather, it is time to start my Spring Cleaning and #WashawayWinter from my carpets! To tackle this big chore, I picked up a BISSELL® Portable Spot Cleaner and BISSELL® Professional Deep Cleaning with Febreze® Formula 2515.

My carpets get a lot of traffic. I have 3 young children who spend a lot of time playing on the floor. We also have a new puppy and 3 cats sharing this space. After a Winter of use, even with taking shoes off at the front door, our carpets are very dirty.

Cleaning the carpets is my least favorite household chore. I vacuum the living room daily, but now that the sun is streaming in with Spring, I just can't ignore those spots on the floor.

Call them mystery stains, they come from sippy cups, snacks, sticky fingers, etc.

We have used Upright Carpet Cleaner Formulas before to clean the living room carpet, but this was my first time using this particular Febreze® Formula. We have used Febreeze before on our couches and chairs to help with pet odor, so I was excited to use it on my carpet. This is a 3 in 1 formula to help remove deep down dirt, gunk and lingering odors.

I know BISSELL means business, just check out this behind the scenes in the BISSELL Chemistry Lab and Scotchgard™ Demo.

Now, I am a little embarrassed to show you my before photo of the living room carpet.  I was long overdue for this carpet cleaning. I also knew we had some tough spots to tackle. 

First we used the cleaning solution as directed on the bottle. We used the spot want to treat the tougher spots before running the upright machine over the whole area. The spot cleaning wand made this task go quickly.

The Febreze® Formula smells fresh and did a great job at making my whole living room smell fresher and finally ready for Spring entertaining.

As you can see, the same spot of carpet, right in the middle of our living room, looks much more inviting after the spots and stains have been deep cleaned out. Yes, I was very impressed. My husband, who did all the hard work, was also happy with the results.

If you have kids, pets, or just carpets in desperate need of getting the dirt and grime of Winter washed out, be sure to check out the BISSELL® Professional Deep Cleaning with Febreze® Formula 2515.

BISSELL®  put together a convenient Spring Cleaning Checklist to help you get started with your own cleaning. I know I have several more things to check off the list, but I love having a handy place to look for staying on track! 

Giveaway Time!!!

BISSELL is offering two product bundles (including a BISSELL Deep Clean Lift-Off and BISSELL Professional Deep Cleaning with Febreze® Formula) as a giveaway (across all communities).  2 winners will be chosen at random from the comment on all the blogs on this campaign. Best of luck!

To Enter:

Just comment below with your favorite Spring Cleaning Tips or Tricks!

Easter Bunny Ears - Last Minute Way to Recycle Period Pads

As a Mom of three kids, my body has gone through some amazing transformations. I read and researched all the changes my body would go through when I first became pregnant. I remember mentally checking them off.

You know, the good, the bad and the ugly physical changes that come when you have a bun in the oven?

After giving birth and being given a clean bill of health by my doctor, I was sent back out into the world with dreams of getting my body back to where it was before. I couldn't wait to lose the baby weight, tighten and sculpt my late night ice cream run inspired physique.

One thing no one warned me about was the occurrence of LBL at the most inopportune times.

The truth is, one in three women experience LBL (light bladder leakage) those little and inconvenient leaks that are triggered by everyday activities like coughing, sneezing, laughing and exercise. Weak pelvic floor muscles, weight gain, childbirth or urinary track infections are just a few reasons why LBL may sneak up on you.

But, for those pesky occurrences, are you still using period pads? Do they really work to keep you dry and confident? Poise has a new option for LBL, Poise Thin Shape Pads.

They may leave you with an abundance of extra period pads. So, what to do?

Just in time for Easter tomorrow, why not whip up some Easter Bunny Ears for everyone?

You will need 4 period pads, 2 pencils, a headband, cotton balls, pink felt or construction paper and a hot glue gun.

Place the pencil between the two pads and wrap the end around your headband. Use the hot glue gun to secure the edges, if needed.

Then glue on the pink felt or paper and cover the ends of the ears with a little cotton.

See, no reason to let those period pads go to waste! After you try New Poise Thin-Shape Pads, you will have an excess of those bulky period pads.

For even more wacky, silly and inventive uses for recycling your unneeded period pads, check out #RecycleYourPeriodPad on Pinterest. Really, these are way more creative than my little 'ole bunny ears.

If you are inconvenienced by LBL, you can try the New Poise Thin-Shape Pads with super absorbent material (have you met, SAM?) and a thin-flex design to help keep you dryer and more confident in your current body.

Even better, I can hook you up with a FREE Sample of Poise so you will be free to recycle your period pads for your own Bunny Ears... or whatever creative uses you can come up.

So, what are you waiting for? It doesn't get much better than FREE, right?

How would you recycle your period pads?