1, 2, 3, 4 & 5.

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

Can you believe that Summer is almost here? It is time to start thinking about Summer family vacations!

Our favorite type of family vacations typically include time spent at the beach. Perhaps this is because Oklahoma is land-locked and we are miles from the ocean. There is something so calming and tranquil about the waves that cannot be compared to any other vacation, and that is probably the reason we keep going back.

Newport Beach, located in southern California, is a laid back beach town that includes pristine waters, beautiful views, amazing family outing options and more. Known for its yachting community and style, Newport Beach accomodates both adults and children alike, which makes it a fabulous Summer vacation spot.

Ready to visit Newport Beach? Learn more by visiting VisitNewportBeach.com. Also learn how you can win a trip for a family of four below!

GIVEAWAY

Mom Spark and two other blogs are hosting a family of four trip to Newport Beach! One winner will be selected from the three blogs and will receive free:

• Airfare
• 2-night stay (in one room) at the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach
• Breakfast both mornings
• Guided Duffy boat tour

HOW TO ENTER

• Leave a comment below explaining your favorite amenities in Newport Beach. Get ideas by visiting VisitNewportBeach.com.
• Tweet out a message about what you would like to do in Newport Beach using hashtag #VisitNewportBeach with your tweet link in our comments.
• "Like" Newport Beach on Facebook at http://facebook.com/visitnewportbeach

See full Contest Rules. Good luck!

Spring is in full swing and soon the Summer months will be upon us. Often times we prepare our homes for winter weather in the Fall, but what about preparing for warmer weather in the Spring? Have you ever given it much thought?

Rentals.com offers several DIY projects ideas for Spring, including Simple Steps For Getting Your House Ready For Warm Weather Months. Honestly, I didn’t give this topic much thought before, but it really makes a ton of sense. Let’s go over a few, shall we?

HOME SAFETY CHECKS

Time to start cleaning out those fireplaces, chimneys, air filters and making sure all smoke and carbon dioxide detector batteries are fresh. Double check each detector on a regular basis throughout the summer as well.

DECK

Since Summer means more time outside and on the deck, it is important to check for loose nails or boards, as well as any cracks or rotting wood that may need repair. Getting these repairs handled before Summer allows for more fun in the sun!

ROOF

It is always a good idea to inspect the roof for any damage or missing shingles. Also check on the gutters which may need a good cleaning out.

SWIMMING POOL

Summer just isn’t Summer without swimming! If you have a pool, test the system to make sure everything is working properly and check for cracks in the tile or pool itself. If you have children, always make sure the pool is secure with a sturdy fence to keep the little ones out. Lastly, you will want to start cleaning out debris and dirt, as well as begin checking the chemical balances.

THE YARD

Clean all yard furniture, grills and bird feeders. Also check garden hoses for holes or cracks, and replace any light bulbs that may have burned out.

DOORS AND WINDOWS

Check all locks on exterior doors and windows to make sure they are working properly. Before cleaning windows, check for gaps that may need caulking.

GET MORE TIPS

Get a full Summer home maintenance checklist HERE and also see Repair it Yourself or Call For The Handyman? How to Know Who to Call  and Circuit Breaker 101: Learn What To Do When The Lights Go Out.

When you’re ready for a new place to call home, Rentals.com has the information you’ll need to find the perfect property for your family – choose from rental houses, apartments, condos or townhouses. “Like” Rentals.com on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Rentals.com or follow them on Twitter @Rentals_com to get their latest tips on making the most of your home.

GIVEAWAY

One lucky Mom Spark reader will receive a $50 American Express gift card to help prepare for the coming warmer months! To enter, use the Rafflecopter widget below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE – Rentals.com and owner Consumer Source, Inc. partnered with bloggers such as me to participate in their monthly blogger programs.  As part of that program, I received compensation.  They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about the products used, and believe that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Consumer Source’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations. The winner of this giveaway will be randomly chosen and gift card fulfillment will be handled by a third party. 

I’ve bee-n inspired by those busy little wonders of nature to put together an ode to their beloved colour scheme. I’ve been spying this combo all over lately and it’s getting me all excited for springtime!

From the fifties. Love this textile pattern.

I can’t stop looking at it!

Stripes! Bold pockets! Yes!

The colour of that chair is basically my favourite.

Gauzy scarf love!

What do you think of the black/yellow/white combo? Are you buzzing with excitement yet?

It’s National Women’s Health Week this week – May 13-19

Take this week to take the necessary steps to get active, get enough sleep and to eat healthy.

Start with breakfast to begin to treat yourself to good health:

Think you don’t have time for breakfast? Blend your favorite fruits with 100 percent Florida orange juice for a convenient, on-the-go smoothie.  Want to jazz up your weekend breakfast? Substitute orange juice for water in your whole wheat pancake batter to give your meal a zesty, new taste.

Here’s a great Florida orange juice breakfast boost smoothie recipe to kick start your day as well as other healthy breakfast tips:

http://floridajuice.com/health-professionals/docs/Meaningful_Morning_Tip_Sheet.pdf

I’ve teamed up with nine other bloggers to bring you an awesome giveaway for an iPad and 20 single issue digital magazines courtesy of Zinio! Zinio is the world’s largest online newsstand – which is perfect for digital moms like us!

Magazine fans crave more than just covers. Zinio’s digital ecosystem empowers enjoyment of the stories inside the covers. Boasting a library of more than 5,000 top consumer magazines, in 33 languages, visitors can feed their passions by searching for the categories of content they love and read key articles for free. This unprecedented access positions Zinio as the consumer choice leader for digital and mobile content consumption, connection and distribution.

Using its UNITY™ platform, Zinio serves tens of millions of digital magazines each month to avid fans around the world, across multiple platforms. Zinio remains focused on ubiquity, giving consumers access to magazine content both on and offline on PCs, Macs, and iOS, WebOS and Android smartphones and tablets.

Some of the coolest features of reading on Zinio are the ability to bookmark and highlight items – gone are the days of the huge pile of dog-eared magazines you kept meaning to go back to. Now your magazines are all in one place with easy access and functionality.

May is the beginning of the summer travel season and it’s almost Memorial Day! Zinio has a huge selection of awesome travel magazines so you’ll have the most current information on your travel destinations!

Zinio has 2 GREAT deals for you today:

1. Get 1 year FREE digital subscription to VIVMag, the women’s online magazine!

2. Get a 1 year subscription to Caribbean Life & Travel for just $8.99!

Make sure to visit the other bloggers participating in this giveaway:

One (1) lucky winner will win a new iPad (16 GB) and 20 single issue digital magazines of the winner’s choice!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
US only, over 18. You can only complete the entries on the Rafflecopter once per person. Ends Tuesday, May 22, 2012 at 12:01 AM.

DISCLOSURE: I did not receive anything in return for this group giveaway.

This recipe comes from my mom. It utilizes some shortcuts, like a roaster chicken and frozen broccoli spears.  It is ultra comforting and a delicious meal I loved growing up. If you would like to lighten it up, by all means feel free to use lower in fat alternatives.

Chicken and Broccoli Casserole
Makes 6 servings

2 boxes broccoli spears
1 roaster chicken, chicken pieces removed
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 can mayo (use empty cream of chicken soup can)
1 tsp. paprika
2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
3 Tbsp. butter
1 c. dried breadcrumbs

1. Spray a 9“x13” baking dish.

2. Thaw and drain broccoli spears in a colander. Place in bottom of baking dish.

3. Tear apart roaster chicken. Add chicken pieces on top of broccoli.

4. Mix cream of chicken soup with mayo and paprika. Spread on chicken. Top with cheese.

5. Melt butter in skillet and add dried breadcrumbs. Mix. Toast in pan  until butter is melted and incorporated.

6. Add breadcrumb mixture to top of cheese.

7. Bake at 350-f degrees for 30 minutes.

Recipe from my mom!

As a mom, a good night’s rest is always a struggle. Either I’m so overtired that I can’t fall asleep at all, or I’m so wired from the day’s events that I toss and turn all night.

Even though I always set a regular bedtime routine for my children, I don’t always do the same for myself. I end up not getting enough sleep, which leads to me nodding off at my desk or in the most random places. Yes, I am guilty of “sleeping around” and I know if I’m dozing off in odd places, it’s because I’m not getting enough rest in my bed. But I know I’m not the only one.

Join #StopSleepingAround for a Twitter party Thursday, May 17th at 9:00 pm ET. We will be discussing ways to reclaim your sleep and handing out fabulous prizes, including $25 VISA gift cards and a $150 VISA gift card. Check out the details below and RSVP!

In the meantime, find out how you can “stop sleeping around” by visiting www.facebook.com/stopsleepingaround. See you Thursday!

THE DETAILS:

TOPIC – How to Sleep Better at Night

TIME – Thursday, May 17, 2012 at 9-11 PM Eastern (8-10 PM Central, 7-9 PM Mountain, 6-8 PM Pacific)

HASHTAG – #StopSleepingAround

CUSTOM TWEETGRID - http://bit.ly/IZPm2D

PANELISTS  -  @stopsleepinarnd @MaryHelenSleeps @MomSpark @blueviolet @staceynerdin @Robynsworld @linda_sellers (follow everyone before the party!)

PRIZES:

• (4) $25 VISA gift cards
• (1) $150 VISA gift card

*Winner must be a USA resident and MUST be present at the Twitter party to win!  Not sure how Twitter parties work? Email us at momspark@gmail.com for help!

Going to the party? RSVP HERE! List your “name” as your Twitter handle (i.e. @MomSpark) and your url as your Twitter web address (i.e. http://twitter.com/momspark)!

DISCLOSURE – Mom Spark Media has partnered with the Better Sleep Council to produce this Twitter party. Read Mom Spark’s full disclosure here.

I recently brought some feather necklaces into my shop & I’m now on a bit of a feather kick… want to see some pretties that are tickling my fancy? Not just jewelry… take a peek!

1, 2, 3, 4 & 5.

Are you a feathery lass?

I love this Brave Mother’s Day video!

Welcome to our Mother’s Day Weekend Flash Giveaway, hosted by Baby Costcutters with co-host Donna’s Deals and More.

For this flash giveaway, we are giving away $35 of “What You Want” Paypal Cash, Starbucks Gift Card, Amazon, Target Gift Card…..just let us know

Along with your host and co-host these great group of bloggers joined together to bring you this prize: Mom Spark ♥ Small Town Savings Momma ♥ The Holley Herald ♥ SmartySaver ♥ The Penny Hoarder ♥ That Canadian Mom

This giveaway is open to the US only and ends on Mother’s Day at 11:01 pm CST.

Entering is simple on the Rafflecopter form below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The participating bloggers were not compensated for this post.We are not associated with Amazon, Paypal, Starbucks, or Target. No purchase is necessary to enter. Void where prohibited by law. Open to US residents only. The odds of winning are based on the number of entries received.** This promotion is no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.** To qualify to win, you must fill out the Easy Entry. Winners will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to respond. This giveaway is compliant with Facebook Rules! You must be 18 years old to enter! Must be aged 18+ to enter and win.

I have been a Bissell fan ever since I reviewed the Bissell Little Green back in 2009. I still use the Little Green today and it hasn’t failed me yet!

Bissell recently reached out to me about their new White Sock Test campaign and asked me if I were ready to take on the challenge myself. Of course, I had to say yes!

Just as the iconic white glove test instantly detects dust on hard surfaces, Bissell’s White Sock Test exposes the unseen dirt that’s lurking in carpets. It’s a simple, at-home test that helps consumers see for themselves that vacuuming isn’t enough to clean carpets thoroughly.

I received two pairs of Bissell white socks and a Bissell Lift-Off Deep Cleaner unit to conduct the White Sock Test. The Lift-Off Deep Cleaning System features a portable spot cleaner that easily lifts off from the deep cleaner and can be carried away for cleaning hard-to-reach areas. Much like the Bissell Little Green or SpotBot portable deep cleaners, this machine is perfect for deep cleaning stairs and upholstery. It is also convenient to have on hand for unexpected messes, like spills and pet accidents, and for cleaning auto interiors.

It was then time for the test. I was nervous.

Although we don’t have carpet in our living room, but we do have carpet in our bedrooms, stairs and bonus room. This hallway leads to my son’s bedrooms and bathroom. Definitely a high traffic area. Let’s see what happens when I walk across the carpet.

Looks clean enough.

Walking and holding my breath.

Time to see the results.

Ewwwwwww!!!! How can it be that dirty and I can’t see it?

Time to get the Lift-Off Cleaner ready to clean this dirty carpet.

Filling up the tank with hot tap water.

Adding 2 ounces of the Bissell cleaning solution.

Now locked, loaded and ready to clean!

The Bissell Lift-Off Deep Cleaner was so easy to use. I just moved forward while holding the button on the handle to saturate the carpet, then pulled back over the same area to lift off the dirt. I was done with the hallway in no time at all.

While I am waiting for the hallway to dry, I detached the smaller unit to tackle the stairs!

This is much easier than I expected!

Now that the carpet is dry, it is time to test it out with a fresh pair of socks. Again, I was nervous!

Drum roll…..

Super clean socks!!! Yay!

I was extremely pleased with the results of the White Sock test and the Lift-Off Deep Cleaner unit. I will continue to use the Deep Cleaner every couple of months to ensure that our carpet stays fresh and clean.

Learn more about the White Sock Test campaign, including how you can take your own test, by visiting whitesocktest.com.

WIN A $15,000 MAKEOVER!

How would you like to win a $15,000 home makeover? To enter, just upload photos of your own White Sock Test to BISSELL’s contest page on Facebook. You can return to the page daily for a chance to instantly win a Bissell cleaning product or a $25 Visa gift card!

Disclosure: I received two pairs of Bissell white socks, a Bissell Lift-Off Deep Cleaner unit and compensation in return for this post. Thoughts are my own. Read Mom Spark’s full disclosure here.

1, 2, 3, 4 & 5.

Are you just as excited about Brave coming out next month as I am? Until then, enjoy this funny “kilt” video below! Are you brave enough to wear one?

“Brave” follows the heroic journey of Merida, a skilled archer and headstrong daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the unruly and uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane). Merida’s actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric Witch (voice of Julie Walters) for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to harness all of her skills and resources – including her clever and mischievous triplet brothers – to undo a beastly curse before it’s too late, discovering the meaning of true bravery.

“Brave” arrives in theaters everywhere on June 22^nd. “Like” BRAVE on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PixarBrave.

Have you seen the commercials for the Samsung Galaxy Note? If so, you are already aware of the awesome power of the Galaxy Note! If not, learn about the device below.

The S Pen

The S Pen offers the precision of a stylus with the added features of its built-in Wacom technology. While a stylus simply points, the S Pen also features 256 levels of pressure sensitivity, as well as the useful S Pen button on the side.

Samsung has released the software development kit (SDK) for the S Pen, so developers can take advantage of its unique features to enhance their apps. In addition, the Galaxy Note comes preloaded with some great apps and features that take advantage of the S Pen.

S Memo Lite

No matter what you’re doing on the Galaxy Note, you can always use the S Pen to quickly take notes.

1. Remove the S Pen from the Galaxy Note. Hold the button on the S Pen and tap the screen twice.
2. The S Memo lite app will appear.
3. You can draw directly on the paper in S Memo lite. The default pen is a simple, black stroke.
4. Tap on the pen icon at the top to change pen styles. You can choose from a pen, paint brush, pencil, or highlighter. You can also change the thickness and color of your line, and the transparency of the highlighter.
5. If you want to undo your drawing, tap the left-facing arrow at the top to move back a step. If you want to erase, choose the eraser icon up top.
6. When you save a memo from S Memo lite, it is stored in the S Memo app, which you can find in the Applications menu.

S Memo

S Memo is a more full-featured version of S Memo lite. It has all the features of the lite version, with a few additions.

• Store multiple memos. The main S Memo screen shows all the memos that you have saved, and you can start a new drawing memo or typed memo from this screen.
• Share memos. You can share your work via Twitter, Facebook, or any other service you have loaded onto the Galaxy Note. You can also email your memos using Gmail or your preferred Email service.

Annotation and screen shots

The Galaxy Note lets you add your own ideas to anything you see. You can write personal notes on photos or Web pages, add comments to documents, or even send along a screenshot from your favorite game with a handwritten message.

1. Hold the button on the S Pen, then hold the S Pen to the Galaxy Note screen.
2. The screen will briefly flash white, letting you know it has taken a screen shot.
3. The image editor will open automatically.
4. From the image editor, you have all the same drawing tools that you’ll find in S Memo.
5. You can also crop the part of the image you want to keep. Select the crop tool from the top, then draw a lasso around the piece you like. Then tap “Done,” and everything else disappears.
6. Images are saved to the clipboard. You can paste images into memos, emails, or documents the same way you copy and paste text.

Make mom squeal with delight by purchasing her a new Samsung Galaxy Note for Mother’s Day! Learn more about the Galaxy Note by visiting www.samsung.com. You can also enter to win one below!

GIVEAWAY!

We are giving away a Samsung Galaxy Note to one lucky Mom Spark reader! That is a retail value of $700! To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter form below!a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I did not receive anything in return for this giveaway. Read Mom Spark’s full disclosure here.

Celebrate Mom and Get Ready for Mother’s Day!

Lands’ End Hosts the Memorable Moments Mother’s Day Twitter Event

Celebrate mothers everywhere with Lands’ End and New York Times bestselling author, mom and grandmother, Nancy Thayer. Reflect on the important role mothers play in our lives during the Memorable Moments Mother’s Day Twitter Event on Tuesday, May 8, 2012 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. CDT (8 p.m. to 10 p.m. EDT) at #landsend.  Participants can tweet along for a chance to win fabulous Mother’s Day prizes, great gift ideas, to share thoughts about their mom and being a mom, answer trivia questions and chat with Nancy Thayer about the upcoming release of her latest book, “Summer Breeze.”  Randomly selected attendees will have the chance to win more than 25 great giveaways over the two-hour period.

Date: Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Time: 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. CDT/8 p.m. – 10 p.m. EDT

Hashtag/Location: #landsend

Be Sure to Follow: 

• @LandsEndPR
• @LEPRMolly
• @LEPRMichele
• @LEPRMariella
• @Nancy_Thayer
• @AtRandom
• @MomminItUp
• @JennyItUp

Twitter Event Schedule:

7 – 8 p.m. CT: Memories of Mom (Nancy Thayer/Mommin’ It Up)

8 – 9 p.m. CT: Mother’s Day Gift Ideas (Nancy Thayer/Mommin’ It Up)

DISCLOSURE – I was compensated for this promotion.

We have so many giveaways going on right now, I thought it would be best to make a list in one post! Good luck!

• Marvel’s The Avengers Swag – ENTER HERE
• $250 Sephora Gift Card – ENTER HERE
• $320 Cash & More – ENTER HERE
• $100 Amazon.com Gift Card – ENTER HERE
• $25 Chili’s Gift Card – ENTER HERE
• $50 American Express & 6 Months of Popsicles – ENTER HERE
• Chuggington DVD – ENTER HERE
• Edible Arrangements Basket – ENTER HERE
• $100 Visa Gift Card & Sleep Sanctuary Kit – ENTER HERE
• Samsung Galaxy Note Smart Phone – ENTER HERE

In the meantime, calculate your mom salary by visiting www.salary.com!

THE DETAILS:

TOPIC – Mom Salary and Paychecks!

TIME – Thursday, May 10, 2012 at 8-9 PM Eastern (7-8 PM Central, 6-7 PM Mountain, 5-6 PM Pacific)

HASHTAG - #MomSalary

CUSTOM TWEETGRID - http://bit.ly/J9FmIj

PANELISTS –  @MomSpark @MomSparkMedia @MomLife @simplybeingmom @lunaj1456 @thedomesticexec @HaleyTweetsToo (follow everyone before party!)

PRIZES:

• (1) $200 spa gift card/Visa gift card towards relaxation
• (1) $100 spa gift card/Visa gift card towards relaxation
• (1) $50 spa gift cards/Visa gift cards towards relaxation

*Winner must be a USA resident and MUST be present at the Twitter party to win!  Not sure how Twitter parties work? Email us at momsparkmedia@gmail.com for help!

Going to the party? RSVP HERE! List your “name” as your Twitter handle (i.e. @MomSpark) and your url as your Twitter web address (i.e. http://twitter.com/momspark)!

DISCLOSURE – Mom Spark Media has partnered with Salary.com to produce this Twitter party. Read Mom Spark’s full disclosure here.

I have a bit of a stamp obsession. My collection has been growing over the last few years, and now my daughter loves playing around with them just as much as I do. Whether you’re sending a letter, or decorating invitations… there are so many ways to utilize purdy stamps! These are just some of the ones I’d love to add to my collection… I also want to acquire a veritable RAINBOW of coloured inks! Swoon!

The coffee/tea addict in me is doing a little happy dance when I see these stamps! So cute.

I spy a cupcake!

Tweet, tweet!

Gorgeous fern stamps. LOVING that green!

Stunning leaf motif. I’d love to make wrapping paper from this.

Cute bird stamps… and that little potted tree is just so sweet.

What’s the neatest stamp you’ve ever seen? Do you make your own?

How do you feel when you wake up in the morning? Well-rested? Exhausted?

Most mornings are tough for me. I have always been a light sleeper, especially after becoming a mom, and I do not always set myself up for a good night’s rest. I often head to bed still wired from the day and then toss and turn all night long. Some mornings, I just need 10 more minutes…

May is Better Sleep Month and I have partnered with the Better Sleep Council on a campaign that is focused on not “sleeping around”! By sleeping around, I mean those unfortunate situations where we fall asleep at our desk, dinner table or even at the movies. Check out the video below to see what I’m talking about.

There are solutions for this wide-spread epidemic. For example, do you have a bedtime ritual? As parents, we know that a bedtime ritual is key for getting our kiddos to sleep each night, yet we often do not do it for ourselves! A regular routine helps us unwind and prepare our bodies for sleep. If you are anything like me, you go to bed with your mind racing, which keeps you up for hours before you fall asleep. This is not a healthy way to rest, and with a little practice we can change our habits and receive much healthier sleep.

To help with your new bedtime ritual, we are hosting a fabulous giveaway for one winner! See details below and make sure you visit the Better Sleep Council on Facebook for more tips to stop sleeping around! Also, keep an eye out for a Twitter party hosted by Mom Spark Media on May 17th at 9-11pm Eastern!

GIVEAWAY

We are giving away a $100 Visa Gift Card and a Sleep Sanctuary Kit that includes:

• Sleep Sounds CD - to help your mind relax as you fall asleep to soothing sounds
• Mineral Bath Salts - which have been shown to induce calmness and promote relaxation
• Lavender Oil Reed Diffuser - to provide a little aromatherapy to help relax and calm the mind.
• Sleep Mask - to block out distracting light
• Package of Ear Plugs  - to block out any distracting noises
• Better Sleep Guide - to provide additional tips on creating your personal sleep sanctuary and getting a full night’s rest

To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter form below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by the Better Sleep Council, but thoughts are my own. Read Mom Spark’s full disclosure here.

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