Sunday, August 31, 2014

Information and savings for your next trip to Natural Bridge Caverns!

Thanks to being a part of the US Family Guide bloggers group, I was given information to pass along as well as a discount to anyone who wants to go and see something amazing! The Natural Bridge Caverns are located in between New Braunfels and San Antonio have so much more to offer than just being beautiful caverns to explore.
Check out what was sent to me and don't forget to let me know about your trip there!

"Naturally Amazing. Experience one of the world's premier caverns, Natural Bridge Caverns. Take the Discovery Tour and see what millions of others have seen - an incredible underground world of natural beauty. This 75-minute tour explores a half-mile of the largest and most spectacular show cavern in Texas. The Hidden Passages Tour gives guests an up-close view of rare and delicate cave formations illuminated by a state-of-the-art lighting system and includes a total darkness experience. Pan for gems, minerals and fossils like miners panned for gold at the Natural Bridge Mining Company. Take on the Canopy Challenge--a 4-level, 60 foot high challenge course and zip lines!
Climb, navigate and hang while secured from a safety harness before you "zip" over the Hill Country on one of 4 zip lines. Recently opened, Discovery Village has new food, beverage and retail spaces along with a beautiful courtyard and 5,000 square foot outdoor maze.
Picnic grounds also available. Open year-round starting at 9am, with special hours in spring and summer."


My Readers Save $2 off an Adult and $1 off a Child's Discovery Tour ticket. Valid only on the Discovery Tour, cannot be combined with any other offer. Limit 6 per coupon. http://usfamilycoupons.com/coupon.php?regionid=75&bid=8857&dealid=222 For More information on Natural Bridge Caverns please visit http://www.naturalbridgecaverns.com

Friday, August 29, 2014

Our Road Trip to Dallas!

Our trip to Lego KidsFest has begun. If you haven't gotten your tickets yet, time is not only running out, but so are the availability on tickets. Each day is broken up into sessions and so far Saturday Session 2 is SOLD OUT and Saturday Session 1 and Sunday Session 1 are at LIMITED AVAILABILITY. Hope to see some of you tonight when I'll be at the 4-8 session. 

Like the kink I woke with in my neck, this trip had barely begun and had a kink of it's own. 
Let me start by saying I didn't want to get up this morning. The shower helped, but it's the Monster that truly got the heart pumping. I felt the transition to Energizer Bunny status as I typed. 
I'd just gotten on the highway when my spouse throws up his hands and tells me we have to go home. I'm thinking, what was so important that we forgot?? I have the tickets... iPads... Chargers... What did I miss?! 
"My hat. I left my hat. And I hate how my hair looks. I don't want to be seen in public without my hat."
I take a couple deep breaths as I looked at him. Seriously?!? What is with men who wear hats that can't go out of the house without them? It's like they are naked without them! 
We had to stop by HEB to get this boy some drinks as well. He didn't think to remind me when I was leaving work yesterday that he had no drinks for the trip. Of course he grabs himself some donuts while he's in there. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't hungry. My Monster and a sandwich were enough this morning. But would it kill him to at least ask if I wanted one? They smelled so good and fresh... Then later the kids wanted a snack. Of course I'm still not hungry. But the smell of Doritos and sounds of crunching fill the air around me. I turn up the radio, but nothing really good is on. Time for a cd. And not too soon. Pouring rain makes it difficult to see the vehicle in front of me, kids are beginning to ask that dreaded "Why is it taking so long to get there?" and I forgot to get gum. I confess, I chew gum when I'm nervous so I don't grind my teeth. Driving in the rain makes me nervous. I don't like talking or being distracted at all during my drive in the rain. Wipe out in the rain on a motorcycle some time. You'll understand it better. We go from the toll mph of 80 down to 60 pretty fast. Finally it clears and the beautiful blue sky returns! 
About an hour away from our destination, we have to stop. My energy is drained by the soothing vibrations of the engine coming up through my seat. You know how babies pass out almost the instant you set the car seat in the back? I'm feeling like that. Time to scan the radio again. I was hoping for a good Spanish station to catch my ears. I'm as white as they come, but turn on a good Spanish song and I'll not only be wide awake but I might even dance! 
Back on the road after getting chocolate and Neuro drinks for the driver.
There's a huge billboard advertising Sarah's Secret; a romance boutique. ??? Just wow... 
Our first stop? The Dallas mall. With a garden in the middle of the food court and a library downstairs. This place has class! And check out the paint job on this beauty... 
Throughout this drive, and all the craziness, I've had the pleasure of my little girl sitting behind me and singing. I might feel my stress levels riding the elevator with my blood pressure, but a moment of focusing on her sweetness brings that soothing calm back. Savor those little moments!

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Vacation time!

I'm finally getting to take a mini vacation. With free tickets to the Dallas Lego KidsFest, we are making it an overnight stay. Since I worked my limit of 40 hours all by 9:30 this morning, I was able to leave a full 3 hours before my scheduled shift end. Came home to my beautiful babies and promptly got to cleaning and packing. Then of course fell asleep to the sounds of "Mom, mommy? Mom!" I keep telling myself I'll change my name but I always seem to forget. 
My 2 year old tells me, "Wake up! I love you!" My heart does melt! She's such a sweetheart. My boys of course are little crazies intent on destruction and give hugs to try to get out of cleaning their own messes. I'm wise to them though...
Packing isn't my favorite thing.
Unpacking is way easier. Figuring out everyone's outfits and knowing what we will be needing while away from home... It's draining! I keep telling myself it's just a couple days and everything will be great. The kids will of course have fun. Besides, I love going places. But I prefer being there to getting there. Driving and listening to, Are we there yet? Not so much....
But here's to plenty of fun memories. I'll post about the event as soon as I can! Have a great Labor Day weekend.

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Great movies

Guardians of the Galaxy was a wonderful movie that I look forward to owning. And there is a cool video of Groot dancing that I thought I'd share! Poor Drax is in the dark on what happens when he's not watching. As my friend said after we watched this, "Can you see the dancing Groot toy?" I just might have to buy something like that if it comes out!
On top of this, are other movies that will be coming up in the future. Such as Ant-Man. Hero movies are popping up more and more as popularity grows. Paul Rudd will be the star of this one coming out next summer on July 17th, 2015. Who among you plans to watch this one? How many of you actually know the story behind the Ant-Man?? I can see some of you looking it up right now....

"Based on the Marvel comic character first published in 1962, Marvel’s “Ant-Man” continues the lineage of epic big-screen adventures chronicled in Marvel’s “Iron Man,” “The Incredible Hulk,” “Iron Man 2,” “Thor,” “Captain America: The First Avenger,” “Marvel’s The Avengers,” “Iron Man 3,” “Thor: The Dark World,” “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Guardians of the Galaxy” and the upcoming Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron.”

 
Armed with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, con-man Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) must embrace his inner-hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from a new generation of towering threats. Against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Pym and Lang must plan and pull off a heist that will save the world."

What other movie do I look forward to seeing? Into the Woods! It brings a modern twist to several Grimm brothers tales. I love a lot of the old fairy tales, but the Brothers Grimm certainly have the darker ones. Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella are all tied together by the story of a baker and his wife who are cursed. Even Johnny Depp stars in this one.
I'm thinking he's the Big Bad Wolf. Here's to hoping its a great movie!

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Kelloggs Family Rewards codes

A reader sent in a list of codes she came across that you might be able to add points to your Kelloggs Family Rewards account with.
GOLITTLELEAGUERS   50 points
CEREALANDMILKABC   50 points
BACKTOSCHOOL2014      50 points (plus this code applies towards a free book)
NUTRITIONINABOWL      50 points
GETFUELFORSCHOOL     20 points
SPIDEYEXCITEMENT       20 points
SPRINGONTHECOLOR      20 points
EARNGREATREWARDS    20 points
HOWITWORKS20PNTS      20 points
EARNSWEETREWARDS    50 points
GIFTOFMUSICBONUS       20 points
KFRSHARETHANKS20      20 points


This code will get you 50 bonus points towards your Disney Movie Rewards account DMRTYU.

Friday, August 22, 2014

HEB savings

Found some great deals at HEB yesterday. 
A1 sauce has store coupons for 50¢ off but there's also manufacture coupons for 55¢ off. 
Herdez salsa is buy one get one free, plus I had found these manufacture coupons the last time we went attached to the ones we bought. Only paid 92¢ for 2 or 46¢ each. 
$1/2 manufacture coupons made these 14¢ each! Work lunches for sure. 
My coupon was way better than the store one... And Nutella is my favorite. Especially at $1.98! 
Don't forget to check the HEB website for printable coupons. They had $1/1 bread, chips, produce, etc. these can be used on any brand! 

Sunday, August 17, 2014

What a great day I had yesterday!

Even though I was up from midnight Friday until sometime around 10:00 PM Saturday, I had a great day of fun. As soon as I got off work, I began to do my last minute shopping before my daughters birthday party.
She turned two this week and I'm so proud she's my little girl! 
At Target I picked up just two things; a 64 count pack of Seventh Generation wipes ($2.99) and a 12.6 ounce bottle of Palmolive ($1.02).
I had a manufacture coupon and store coupon for each of them making them both free! I paid a grand total of .06 for the two of them. For the wipes, I had a $1/1 that was sent by the company as a promo. Plus an employee-only 50% off coupon that was for those companies geared towards better living. The Palmolive was a printed coupon from Target.com that didn't specify any size restrictions. And the manufacture was from the insert. Score! I love savings! 
Then it was off to HEB. I picked up the prepaid cake we ordered online.
I don't know about you, but I love the cakes from HEB and the fact I can order at home and take my time (versus being rushed in a store) is fantastic! I thought it would be fun to try a different kind of ice cream so as got the Breyers Birthday Blast.
I wasn't a fan, but the kids enjoyed it. We had so much fun! 
And everyone loved the cake. So moist! 
The best part was seeing Ana enjoying everything. She blew the candles out when her dad wasn't looking. 
Enjoy those little moments!

Friday, August 15, 2014

Avery product review via Shoplet.com

It's time for another Shoplet.com review! They sent an Avery binder this time with tabs. Heavy Duty View Binder with One-Touch EZD Rings, Index Maker Clear Label Dividers with Color Tabs, and the Index Maker Clear Label Dividers with White Tabs to be exact.
You know I'm all for organization, and this is just one of the ways I get there!
Binders with tabs help you keep subjects separated, help you sort through files that are on paper, and allow you quick access to what you are searching for.


 I let my husband use this binder for his Lego part lists. Fun fact: for every part that Lego releases, they retire one. However, you can still find those old parts. The lists for these parts are long! So he breaks them up into categories first.
Avery products in general are amazing.

They have templates online that match perfectly, helping you get through the process of creating your labels without the hassle of changing settings on the printer or trying to figure out sizes. With these labels, we were able to put in the words we wanted for each label. Then customize to make them bold. The strips of red in between are so you can peel a whole row and stick them on your lined up tabs for easy, precise and ready-to-go dividers.
Everything is done except putting in the words. I don't have much time and what little I do have is carefully put to use. There are multicolor tabs or the clear label dividers to choose from. I prefer the color label dividers. But then, I'm a colorful person! I like to brighten things up.
 

The binder is easily a one-handed use kind. No tugging and pulling required. I prefer those as I'm usually busy and wishing I had more hands anyhow to keep up with everything. You can view the binder at the attached link.
Be sure to check out the Shoplet.com website for any and all your office supplies needs! They also offer other things like Medical supplies, Promotional products, and Office Stationary. Let me know what you would like or dislike.

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Back to school discount for Label Daddy!

I've written about Label Daddy before. Well, they have asked the US Family Guide bloggers to write and maybe review again for them as they want to spread the word about a new discount they are offering just in time for your Back to School needs! Get 20% off any orders when you use the code USFAMILY20 at checkout. They have some really great labels as well as zipper tags. Last time I ordered from them, I received the zipper tags with Go Spurs! on them for my husband to use and give to his friends who are all Spurs fans.

With back to school here, having your kids things labeled will greatly reduce the hassle of discerning between what belongs to who. Especially if your child has the most popular themed items.... like all the other hundreds of kids they go to school with. Give them something to make theirs unique! For homeschoolers - you are not excluded! Your kids probably go out too and will need to know what is theirs. Camps, sleepovers, and holiday vacations are still very active.
So check them out and don't forget to get your discount!!! USFAMILY20

Adults play dress up too

I can't explain why, but sometimes I just want to look nice. I don't need a "hot date". I don't need a special occasion. I just want to look nice so when I look in the mirror I feel good. 
I wore a business-like skirt to volunteer at San Antonio Plastic Bricks yesterday.
I added a little eye make up and glass necklace to doll it up. Instead of wearing boots though, I work my OOFOS flip flops.
(It looked like this with a tank and flip flops). 
So I dressed it down a little. Why did I do this? I just wanted to look nice for a change. It gets boring wearing red and khaki everyday. Of wearing lounge pants and a tee shirt. It's a boost in my self confidence. 
Today I dressed up with a different purpose.
I had to work. I had to work on the sales floor dealing with guests. All this week, Target employees can wear Target brand jeans to work to promote the 40% off jeans sale.
So I dolled it up. Lots of questions asked of course, but do I really need a reason to look amazing?
Even if I'm the only one who thinks so. My little friend had his mom send me a picture of him signing I Love You (ILY). So I took a quick snap to send back. 
If you are like me with "nice" or "dressy" clothing sitting in the closet, use them. You don't need any more reason than, "Because I want to." Let people talk, ask questions, or speculate. Do what feels good and remember that beauty is only in the eye of the beholder. 
What do you see when you look in the mirror? 

Monday, August 4, 2014

Guardians of the Galaxy review

This was a super cool movie that I thoroughly enjoyed. It was full of laughter-inducing humor and special effects that, while 3D can be fun, didn't need to be seen in 3D to be amazing. At 2 hours long, it can make for quite a sitting but its worth it.
Each of the heroic characters had something to offer that made them fun and invited you to like them as your favorite. 
Rocket is a sarcastic little raccoon that was genetically mutated in a series of laboratory tests.
He is constantly cracking jokes and pointing out the doom the group is in. He is also heavily into all things destructive with as much fire power as he can muster.
His faithful companion, Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel) is a lovable humanoid tree.
He's always lending a helpful branch and is willing to sacrifice all for his friends.
His only vocabulary is I, Am, Groot. And only in that order. But Rocket understands what Groot is trying to say to the rest of the group. And just wait until you see the moves Groot can rock! 
Peter Quill was abducted by a group of ravager space guys right after his mother dies of what appears to be cancer. 
She tells him that his father was made of light like an angel but doesn't explain further. He grows up with the group of ravagers in space and becomes the self-proclaimed "Star Lord" while attempting to be the futuristic version of Indiana Jones.His love for popular music from the 80's is evident by his constant use of a cassette tape that his mother gave him.
Watching him break into dances at the craziest moments will surely bring a smile to your face if not full-on laughter. He may not be a saint, but he has a good heart and will be ready to take up the challenge of kicking bad guy butt as needed. 
Gomora is a surgically modified, killing machine.


She's been trained to be a warrior that is hired out by her adopted father Thanos.
Thanos loans her and her sister, Nebula to the Kree radical, Ronan the Accuser, who wishes to rain destruction on a single civilization that had made a peace treaty with his people - the Xandarians. 
Drax brings up the rear in this list of heroes.
He wants to kill Gamora for being associated with Ronan, but is convinced to go after Ronan instead. He seeks revenge for the death of his family by Ronan. He does not understand metaphors and takes everything to be of serious value. While he may be fierce, he is also very loyal to those he considers to be his friends.
At first, Quill and his rag tag bunch are only looking to cash in on an orb that Quill took from a deserted planet. Once they realize the dangers that could come from it, however, they decide to work together to save the world. Plans are haphazardly thrown together and alliances are somewhat made. The group is tested, arrested, and bonds are created. It's the craziness of it with the uniqueness of the group that made it worth seeing. I highly recommend it. Even the kids can watch so long as you're okay with fight scenes and a little language, thus the PG-13 rating. Its one of the best super hero movies I've watched so far! And don't forget!!!
While I didn't see what was to come at the prescreening, I was told there was extra footage shown after the credits. All I can tell you is that the friend who saw it says it has something to do with the Collector.
And for fun, I'm sharing the Lego version of the preview!