Back to School

This is my July back to school haul.  I found an amazing clearance deal.  I'm sure you can guess where.  :o)  Nothing was more than $5.50!  Most was $1 or $2.  I had a 20% off coupon and everything was marked down low.

And I had to pick up these super cute shoes for myself.  ;o)

(at less than $5, why not!)

I can't believe that it's August already.  And my BABY.  My sweet little girl starts her very first year of school this month.  She will be a Kindergartner.  This is such a bittersweet and momentous event in our lives. 

Being the planner that I am, I have been back to school shopping here and there, for oh...a year, haha.  I counted the shirts that I have for her a few days ago...I pulled out my "stash" of clothes I've been tucking away in her closet.  There were 21.  Yeahhh...  I went out yesterday and bought her a couple pairs of shoes (and grandma got her the pair of tennis shoes that she has been asking for!), and some jeans but I think all I really need now is just a lightweight fall jacket, some sweaters/hoodies and then some heavier winter outerwear...and to let her pick out a couple of folders.  I think I posted last year that I had already bought her a backpack and lunchbox, haha...last years back to school clearance. 

I still can't believe she is starting school already.  I have been thinking about getting her teacher a First Day of School gift of some sort.  Tiny Prints has a lot of great ideas in their back to school section.  Check it out and tell me what you think.  Do you do gift for your child's teacher on the first day of school?

Should they watch?

I appreciate the guest post, Ignacio Phillips

I’m first and foremost a mother and I’m having a bit of a hard time making a decision about something. My kids are wonderful and intelligent but I’m really afraid to let them watch the news and so far I haven’t allowed them to watch any this year! I just feel like all that’s ever on the TVBYDIRECT.com news channels is bad stuff about the economy or some war or something like that and I’m not sure that at such a young age it makes sense for my kids to be exposed to such negativity. I’ve tried to pull out some inspirational pieces from the paper for us to talk about as a family but they’re few and far between so I don’t really know what to do going forward. It’s tough living in a world where literally no news is good news and I wish sometimes that the age of information wasn’t quite as pervasive as it actually is. I don’t want my kids to watch it and to be honest, I don’t want to either!

Check out Blue Sky Scrubs

There are SO many different reasons to wear scrubs.  For work, or for play.  I'm thinking like, Halloween costumes here, when I say play...but really, they wash well, and they are incredibly comfortable...why couldn't you just wear them whenever you wanted?  I practically lived in them for awhile when I was working in an assisted living facility.  I used to love checking out catalogs of medical nursing scrubs.  It's true, scrubs can be fashionable!  Thank goodness, because my first pair was shapeless and not at all flattering...but at least it was comfortable, right?

I was just browsing around looking at scrubs this morning and I found http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/.  If you need some new scrubs, you should check them out.  They have reasonable prices, and lots of cute colors.

Savings with Staight Talk

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Straight Talk for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I don't have a cell phone. I know, get with the times, Danielle!  It's mostly because I don't like to talk on the phone, but to be honest it's partly because, well, it's expensive!  I've been thinking that it might be a good idea to have one lately though (I think that my mom would agree, and well, mom knows best, right?!). I'm glad I just heard about Straight Talk, because this cell phone service provider can save you money.

I love that there are no contracts, no surprise bills and no credit checks to worry about. You get great nationwide coverage and excellent reception/connectivity. Plus, Straight Talk only uses trusted phone manufacturers like LG, Motorola, Kyocera, Nokia and Samsung. 

The “All You Need Plan” has everything you need with 1,000 minutes,1,000 texts and 30 MB of web data. I don’t think I could ever use that many minutes – but it would be nice to use to call a friend every now and then, and for emergencies.

Unlimited Monthly service is only $45, and includes calls, texts, picture messaging, and web.

Imagine getting unlimited calls, texts, picture messaging and web for a whole year, for only $499.00!  Plus, 411 calls are included at no extra charge...and the service is free from activation, reactivation, or termination fees.

Check it out for yourself!

Branson, Missouri - Hiltons of Branson

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Hiltons of Branson for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

One of these days, I'd love to go on a road trip to Branson, Missouri. What a wonderful summer adventure we could have there. Branson, Missouri, is just about 40 miles South of Springfield and right in the Ozark Mountains. There, you will find breathtaking views, and lots of opportunities for family fun.

I think I would especially enjoy a visit the Silver Dollar City amusement park. It reminds me of Knott's Berry Farm. I have some great memories of visiting there as a child and I think my children would enjoy the park very much. I also wouldn't mind going to the Titanic museum. The history is my cup of tea!

Branson offers many ongoing shows and events just perfect for your enjoyment this summer. There is a Family Fishing Weekend, National KidsFest, The Souled Out Band Concert, and so much more. You can visit http://www.explorebranson.com for more information on those events and see what else you might like while you're in the area.

If you need a place to stay while in Branson, be sure to check out the Hiltons of Branson, with the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing and the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel. With the Branson Best Value Vacation Package, you get your third night free and it includes deluxe accommodations at either of these locations. Plus, two adult and two children's tickets to the Legends of Kung Fu show at the White House Theater, AND two adult and two children's two-day passes to Silver Dollar City. That's not all either! You also get a $25 gift card to go shopping with, and a $25 food credit for the Level 2 Steakhouse. If you're headed to Branson this summer, it's definitely something you might want to look into.