It is really very simple:

-You want to get organized
-Smead wants to help you succeed

All you need to do is like them on facebook and the simple, bite sized tips and tricks will be coming your way.

So here are 3 reasons to like Smead Organomics on facebook

1. It’s a Zen Thing:

Getting organized helps you lower stress and often saves time and money. Who doesn’t want that?

2. Take the !*#? Out of Organizing:

It’s easy to do and won’t take a lot of time. Why not try it?

3. Win Some Stuff:

Like Smead Organomics NOW and you could win an amazing basket of organizing products!

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To select the winner of these giveaways I put the number of entries into the Random Sequence Generator on random.org. I matched the numbers that came out on top to the comment bearing the same number and made sure the comment was eligible.

Threadless Kids $100 GC winner

#14 Amanda Starr

Sears Ugliest Room Disposable Cameras winners

#8 Ruth Hill and #2 Peggy Gorman

AT&T Samsung Rugby Mobile Phone winners

#26 Melanie and #2 Cher

Lady FootLocker GC winners

#106 Andrea H and #136 Mama Zen

Thanks to all who entered the giveaways! Please consider subscribing to my feed so you don’t miss out on the latest posts, reviews and giveaways.

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Tinker Bell And The Great Fairy Rescue is due out on BluRay/DVD on September 21.

Thanks for stopping by! If you have a picture up for Wordless Wednesday, leave your link below on Mr. Linky! Then head on over to From Val’s Kitchen, Here And There, What’s That Smell,  Go Graham Go, 5 Minutes for Mom and The Not-So-Blog Blog for more wordless fun!

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Take a look at this enormous camera!

And here’s a picture that resulted from the camera.

It was fascinating seeing such a famous camera and getting a look into the history of animating movies. Disney’s movies have certainly changed over the years, somehow they keep getting better and better. Tinker Bell And The Great Fairy Rescue is no exception. It’s heartwarming, touching and funny. Here’s a look at the Tinker Bell And The Great Fairy Rescue trailer. You’re going to love it!

Thanks so much to Disney for inviting me out to see Tinker Bell And The Great Fairy Rescue, as well as learn lots of new information about making your fantastic animated movies.

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+

=

AND

Just sayin.

Now I’m going to pass out so we can do it again tomorrow. LOL.

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Thanks for stopping by! If you have a picture up for Wordless Wednesday, leave your link below on Mr. Linky! Then head on over to From Val’s Kitchen, Here And There, What’s That Smell,  Go Graham Go, 5 Minutes for Mom and The Not-So-Blog Blog for more wordless fun!

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Have you heard of the author Brenda Novak? She’s got not one, but three, great sounding books all coming out this summer. The first of the three, White Heat, is available now.
Check out the trailer.

About the Book White Heat

In Stores NOW

White Heat is the first book in Brenda Novak’s new Department 6 Hired Guns trilogy. Nate Ferrentino and Rachel Jessop are operatives for Department 6, a private security company, and they’re going undercover to expose a new and dangerous cult. This group has taken up residence in the Arizona desert, in a ghost town called Paradise. Members worship at the feet-and in the bed–of its charismatic leader, Ethan Wycliff. On his orders, they tried to stone a woman to death. And they’re implicated in the disappearance of a teenage girl. To expose the Church of the Covenant, with its arcane rituals and debauched practices, Nate and Rachel must pretend to be married. That’s the only way they can get in-but being Nate’s “wife” is the last thing Rachel wants. She and Nate have a one-night history that’s just an embarrassment to her now. But they don’t have a choice. Wycliff has to be stopped.

Don’t forget, there are two other books coming out this summer.

About Brenda Novak:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Brenda Novak has three novels coming out this summer - WHITE HEAT, BODY HEAT & KILLER HEAT. She also runs an annual on-line auction for diabetes research every May at www.brendanovak.com. To date, she’s raised over $1,072,000. Brenda considers herself lucky to be a mother of five and married to the love of her life.

WIN IT! THREE winners will each receive

• White Heat Lip Gloss (made exclusively for the book! $22 retail)
• A copy of White Heat
• $25 Visa card

HOW TO ENTER. (MANDATORY)

To enter leave a comment on this post telling me what interests you about this book or what other Brenda Novak book you love.

BONUS ENTRIES - LOTS OF THEM!

1 - Subscribe to my newsletter. (sidebar)
1 - Subscribe to my RSS feed. (sidebar)
1 - Follow me on Twitter AND leave your Twitter name here. (sidebar)
1 - Follow Brenda Novak on Twitter 1 - Tweet this giveaway with this phrase - Fellow readers, enter to #win a great White Heat by @ Brenda_Novak #giveaway by @valmg .
1 - Friend me on Facebook. (sidebar)
1 - Leave a comment on Brenda Novak’s Facebook wall that valmg told you about her new books.
1 - Blog about this giveaway, including a link here.
1 - Place my button on your blog. (in sidebar)
1 - Visit one of my other blogs - From Val’s Kitchen, Val’s Views and Game Review Network - and leave a comment on any post there. Then return here and leave a comment on this post telling me one thing you read or learned there. (That’s two comments you need to leave for this bonus entry, one there and one here.) Unlimited entries for this method of entry.
1 - Visit HereAndThere.US (my Mom) and leave a comment on any post (except a giveaway post) there. Then return here and leave a comment on this post telling me one thing you read or learned on my Mom’s blog. (That’s two comments you need to leave for this bonus entry, one there and one here.) Unlimited entries for this method of entry.

Leave an additional comment for each entry you qualify for. You must have completed the first entry according to the instructions to be eligible for any bonus entries.

THE SMALL PRINT.

US addresses only please, no PO Boxes. This contest will end on Friday 09/03/10 at 11:59 pm est. If you’ve entered any of my giveaways before then you know that only comments containing all of the requested information will be eligible for entry. The winner must contact me to confirm they wish to receive the prize within two days of my email notifying them they’ve won. Good luck to everyone!

I received compensation for hosting this giveaway. As always, my opinions are not influenced by the sponsor or compensation and my reviews and recommendations are always my own and represent my genuinely held opinions.

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If you noticed my Facebook status you might know that I have been so excited that I thought I would burst. For almost a week I have been driving my coworkers crazy singing “California here I come”. Wondering why? The awesome folks at Disney (and I don’t say that because of this news, I say that because my family LOVES all things Disney) have invited me to see a screening of the upcoming movie Tinker Bell And The Great Fairy Rescue. I’m not talking about any ordinary screening, I’m talking about a trip to the Disney Toon Studios and two days in Burbank, California! This Jersey girl has never been to a studio, Disney Land, or even California for that matter so I am super excited. Check out the fun itinerary they’ve lined up for us!

Wednesday, August 25th

• Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue screening on the Disney Studio lot
• Dinner at TBD Location

Thursday, August 26th

• Intimate tour of Disney Toon Studios to learn about the making of Tinker Bell & the Great Fairy Rescue
• Lunch with filmmakers Bradley Raymond and Helen Kalafatic
• Presentation of Tinker Bell consumer product lines & Disney Fairies website
• Beauty and the Beast Ballroom dancing lessons (bonus feature demo stations)
• Afternoon Tea with the voice of Beauty & the Beast’s Belle, Paige O’Hara
• Cocktail reception/dinner with special film talent including Producer, Don Hahn

Doesn’t that sound like a blast? I am so excited. I really enjoyed the last Tinker Bell movie and can’t wait to see this one, which releases to DVD/BluRay on September 21. I can’t wait to hear from the folks behind the movie. I’m looking forward to tea with Paige, the voice of Beauty And The Beast’s Belle even though I’ve actually never seen Beauty And The Beast - it’s one of the few Disney movies that I missed seeing. It’s releasing to DVD/BluRay in October so it looks like I’ll finally get my chance to see it. Seeing the new product lines should be exciting, since I’m betting there will be some items that are sure to appear on little girl’s Christmas lists. Ballroom dancing lessons? What can I say - it sounds like a lot of fun! And in case all that isn’t enough, after we finish in Burbank my Mom and I are heading to Anaheim, so I can go to Disney Land!

In case you noticed, Tinker Bell is a big deal. Who doesn’t love Tinker Bell?! I remember growing up we had family movie night on Sundays and I always got most excited when Tinker Bell appeared on screen - it sort of made it official. Well, apparently lots of people feel the same way since next month Tinker Bell is getting her own star on Hollywood Blvd. How cool!

Whoohoo! I have to try and get some sleep now, but that’s going to be difficult since I’m so excited I feel like I’ve had about thirty cups of coffee. Talk to you soon!

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Some of you may have noticed the site’s had a few problems in the past week and a half. It was down twice for long periods of time and that is unacceptable to me.
After much thought and research, as well as a number of discussions with tech support and some other bloggers, I’ve decided to move to a different server. Actually, to a completely different host.
Obviously I’m hoping for minimal downtime but you never know what can happen with domain propogation.
I apologize for any downtime the site may have now but feel that one short term period of downtime is better than repeated extended periods of downtime.
Please bear with me during the move.
I appreciate your reading and/or visiting my site and your patience.
See you on the other side!

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I frequently receive email from companies asking me to share news or discounts with my readers. Each week I’ll gather the best requests and share them with you here.

NAUTICA

The first day of school is an important one for everyone – any maybe even more important than your little tot realizes – those pictures stick around FOREVER. Nautica has a great selection of kids’ attire including uniforms, backpacks as well as some classic casuals to choose from. Because these new digs are bound to be grass stained and chocolate covered in no time at all, Nautica is offering up a pretty solid deal: Buy 3 uniform outfits and take 40% off the total. Send your kids to school looking their best – they’ll thank you for it later

BAUSCH AND LOMB SEEING EYE TO EYE CONTEST

Bausch and Lomb is offering a “Seeing Eye to Eye Contest” on their SofLens® Facebook page. SofLens® daily disposable contact lenses is giving parents the chance to win a $5,000 scholarship for their child and a trip to Los Angeles to walk the red carpet and attend the American Music Awards® on November 21st.

To enter parents must submit their story on how “seeing eye to eye” with their child has impacted their world in a positive way. All entrants have to do is complete the online entry form and submit a short story (200 words or less) about what brings them together with their child (between the ages of 10 and 19 years old). While, it’s not mandatory, a photo always helps tell your story! For all official contest Terms & Conditions visit www.facebook.com/soflens. The last day for entries is August 27th and the winner will be announced on September 27th.

My son loves trains so it seems sort of fitting that I am the final stop on the Scholastic Children’s Dictionary Back To School Blog Tour. I’m the caboose! Choo choo!

Are you familiar with the Scholastic Children’s Dictionary?

With exciting features, accessible definitions and helpful illustrations and photographs throughout, the new Scholastic Children’s Dictionary is the essential resource that belongs in every home, classroom and library.

The 2010 edition of the Scholastic Children’s Dictionary features more than 1,000 full-color photographs, simple sentences, illustrations, and diagrams as well as newly commissioned maps of the world, the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Central America. There are hundreds of new and expanded entries written by a prominent lexicographer as well as thousands of additional sample sentences to illustrate word usage. The dictionary also includes guides on grammar, punctuation and idioms and simplified pronunciations created with real kids in mind! The new Scholastic Children’s Dictionary is an essential resource that belongs in every home, classroom, and library.

Here in New Jersey school starts back up in a couple of weeks. I’ll be moving my boys towards their school year schedules consisting of earlier bedtimes and earlier wake up times after this weekend. I like to make the adjustments slowly so they don’t suffer culture shock. The one thing that I’ve never understood about back to school is the actual back to school night. In our area back to school night for most (not all) schools is sometime from mid-September until early October - AFTER SCHOOL HAS ALREADY STARTED. That makes no sense!

Back to school night is an important night for parents. It provides an opportunity to meet the teachers and learn about what’s going to happen during the year and what expectations are. In recent years back to school night has also included the topic of school supplies. In our district teachers are able to specifiy what school supplies are required for the class. The list used to be sent home towards the end of summer. As my son got older it happened that teachers weren’t giving the list out until the first day of school. By then all of the stores were picked clean. What sense does that make! I like to find out what I need aheadof time so I’m not hunting supplies  down.

So back to back to school night.  You wouldn’t believe how many back to school nights that I’ve gone to for my older child where the room was half empty. Parents should be going to back to school night. It lets the teachers know you take your child’s education seriously. It also lets your child know te same. The most helpful thing that I’ve found is to find out what your child’s teacher’s expectations and policies are. It’s great to know ahead of time what the policy is for make up work or missed assignments. I like to introduce myself to the teacher and make sure they know how to reach me. I also discuss any potential problems and share any information I feel they may need. Lastly I like to ask what items they recommend that may not be required - a dictionary, for example. A dictionary was not a required item but one I felt would be helpful for my son to have based on my own experience. I wasn’t required to have a dictionary in school. But I always did, because my Mom (a teacher) thought it would be helpful. And helpful it was. A dictionary is one of those books that I think everyone should have. Yes, you can look stuff up online now but nothing replaces having to actually turn pages, look for, and find a word. To me that’s part of the learning process.

If you’d like to read more more posts about the pending school year from some terrific bloggers, feel free to visit any of  the first fourteen stops on the tour. They shared stores and advice on back to school, saving money, nutrition, reading and much more.

1. Jolly Mom
2. Momma Findings
3. The Mommy-Files
4. The Dirty Shirt
5. 1StopMom
6. MommyMandy
7. Guessing All The Way
8. Serendipity Mommy
9. The Divine Miss Mommy
10. From Dates to Diapers
11. MomDot
12. My Sentiment ExactLee
13. Mommy Niri
14. 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires

WIN IT!

ONE winner will receive a 2010 Scholastic Children’s Dictionary and a $100 Visa GC.

HOW TO ENTER. (MANDATORY)

To enter leave a comment on this post telling me one question you’d like to ask at this year’s back to school night OR the strangest/funniest question you’ve heard asked at a back to school night.

BONUS ENTRIES - LOTS OF THEM!

1 - Subscribe to my newsletter. (sidebar)
1 - Subscribe to my RSS feed. (sidebar)
1 - Follow me on Twitter AND leave your Twitter name here. (sidebar)
1 - Tweet this giveaway.
1 - Friend me on Facebook. (sidebar)
1 - Leave a comment on the Lady Foot Locker Facebook wall that valmg is helping you get back on track.
1 - Blog about this giveaway, including a link here.
1 - Place my button on your blog. (in sidebar)
1 - Visit one of my other blogs - From Val’s Kitchen, Val’s Views and Game Review Network - and leave a comment on any post there. Then return here and leave a comment on this post telling me one thing you read or learned there. (That’s two comments you need to leave for this bonus entry, one there and one here.) Unlimited entries for this method of entry.
1 - Visit HereAndThere.US (my Mom) and leave a comment on any post (except a giveaway post) there. Then return here and leave a comment on this post telling me one thing you read or learned on my Mom’s blog. (That’s two comments you need to leave for this bonus entry, one there and one here.) Unlimited entries for this method of entry. Leave an additional comment for each entry you qualify for. You must have completed the first entry according to the instructions to be eligible for any bonus entries.

THE SMALL PRINT.

US addresses only please, no PO Boxes. This contest will end on Friday 09/03/10 at 11:59 pm est. If you’ve entered any of my giveaways before then you know that only comments containing all of the requested information will be eligible for entry. The winner must contact me to confirm they wish to receive the prize within two days of my email notifying them they’ve won. Good luck to everyone!

I received financial compensation and a copy of this dictionary to thank me for participating in this blog tour. As always, my post has not been influenced by the sponsor or compensation and my reviews and recommendations are always my own and represent my genuinely held opinions.

We love the movies. My son TJ would love to go with his girlfriend every week. At $9 each ticket per movie and then snacks, movies can be expensive. Weekly Cinema Today makes going to the movies a lot more affordable. Subscribe to them and you get one 4 movie tickets every month for only $19.99, plus FREE movie ticket. Not counting the free movie that’s only $5 per movie! That’s over 60% in Savings! Get a friend to join and you both get MORE FREE tickets! Tickets can be used at about 16,000 Screens partnered with Fandango Nationwide. I’m signing up!

I am a great believer in continuing education. I wish I had finished college, more for myself than anything. Time and money are an issue for me, as I’m sure they are for many other people. One alternative for folks with a busy schedule is an Online masters. How much more convenient can you get than classes in your home that fit your schedule! Gonzaga University is an online school that I recently learned about. They offer several masters degrees online including some in Nursing and Communication.
A lot of the top ranked schools don’t offer online programs because of misconceptions that the quality of education is somehow less. I was surprised to learn that it is ranked one of the nations best universities by The Princeton Review and Forbes Magazine, and was ranked number 3 in the West by US News and World Report. That’s news I think anyone considering an online school would welcome hearing. Would you go the distance to get an education? I’d love to hear if you would consider online courses if you wanted to go back to school, and why.

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while you might know that RB spent some time (about ten years) as a painter. You know what they say about the plunmber’s toilet, right? It’s the same with the painter’s house. It takes forever for me to get something painted. It’s not that I wouldn’t paint it myself, it’s that I’ve been told not to paint because I apparently don’t do it well. I’ve at times wondered if my painting skills would improve if I tried it using something like a Wagner Power Painter.

I found what looks like a great deal on a sale on a Wagner 5.4 GPH Wide Shot Power Painter. It regularly sells for $99.99 and is currently $39.99 and qualifies for free shipping. That’s some nice savings! It comes with angled suction tube, cleaning agent and brush, dual hose fitting , 6 foot remote suction hose, extra atomizer, paint cup, extra spray tip, container clip and carry case.

This looks like it would be great those of us that are no good with a paint roller. The wide shop tip allows spraying paint up to 12 inches wide. It can spray oil or latex paints. What’s neat is that it says it can draw it’s paint supply right from the can for larger jobs, as opposed to having to use the attached container which would be better for smaller jobs.

I’ve never used one of these but I’m told they’re easy to use. I’m curious if any of you have used one, how was it? Was it easy to use? leave a comment, I’d love to hear from you on this. I’d be happy to get one if it would do the job well, because it would beat waiting for the painter to show up.

I’ve mentioned it before and it bears mentioning again. We love music in our house. We have music in almost every room in our house, in one form or another - stereos, ipod speakers, portable radios. You just can’t have enough music. When I first got my computer I picked up a cheap pair of no name speakers for like $6. The sound isn’t great but it was what was in the budet at the time. I’ve wanted a better pair for a while but just didn’t have the money. I found a pair of Logitech Z520 Speakers at a great price today that folks looking for good speakers will want to look at.

These speakers sure do look impressive. They work on both Windows and Mac computers, have 26 watts of power and are powered by an ac adapter. Not only do they plug into your computer but they also have an input to plus in an iPod. They’re designed with omnidirectional 360-degree sound, so your music sounds good from all angles. Did you ever hear music from some of the really cheap speakers? You can’t hear it everywhere, you can’t get much volume and it just sounds bad. Wish I’d found this deal when I was shopping for computer speakers!

The Logitech Z520 Stereo Speakers regularly sell for $149.99 and are currently on sale for $109.99. That’s a deal but it gets better. There’s a $60 rebate, bringing the final price down to $49.99. That’s a huge savings! And they qualify for free shipping too.

I’m sure lots of you love music. Who’s your favorite band?