ShopPlayWin at Albertson’s with Monopoly!

This post is sponsored by Sivan Social. All comments and opinions are my own.

Grocery shopping-It’s either something you love or loathe.  If you are a Mom of small children you know how grocery shopping can be better some days that others.  Our local Albertson’s right down the street is one of our favorite places to shop, not to mention it has a Starbucks too!  Making grocery shopping FUN for all the Moms while getting things checked of that list!

Another thing we love about our Albertson’s is the Monopoly game.  We’ve been playing for years and this time it’s a bit different because you no longer need a paper board or all the paper pieces of the puzzle.  I actually end up losing half my pieces because I can’t keep up with them anyway.  So I’m super excited about the new ShopPlayWin App.  The App keeps track of all your game pieces, prizes, and coupons all in one spot!

So far I have won several coupons, free bread, and tickets to enter some amazing prizes.  The Monopoly game is going on March 3rd – May 4th, 2021.  You can get your game pieces at ACME, Albertsons, Albertsons Market, Carrs, Jewel Osco, Market Street, Pavilions, Randalls, Safeway, Shaws, Star Market, Tom Thumb and Vons.

You will still be handed your tickets at check out – based on your grocery purchase.

Download the App from your phone’s App store and scan each ticket in.  Easy as that!  You can throw it away because it’s already been scanned and accounted for.

These are some of the things I’ve won so far:

Enter your tokens to win some BIG prizes too!  

There are signs all over the store telling you which items are eligible for a “Monopoly Ticket”.  There are over $230,000,000 in prizes!

Heidi helped me pick out a balloon and some Fortnite V-Bucks for her big brother’s birthday 🙂

If you get a Valpak in your mailbox -open to see if you’re an instant winner of a $100 gift card and to get more details on how to win groceries for life!

You also have the chance to win Savings.com’s #GoShopPlayWin gift card giveaway HERE!!!

—–>RSVP to join the #GoShopPlayWin Twitter party at 10AM PT/1PM ET on Thursday, March 25th, to talk about the game and for even more chances to win a $100 gift card.

With so many chances to win you will never walk away empty handed and I can’t wait to join in on all the fun parties and keep playing the Monopoly game at our favorite Albertson’s.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Game tickets end 5/4/21. Must be resident of an eligible U.S. state listed in rules; 18+. Visit www.shopplaywin.com for full rules, incl. how to enter without purchase. Series MON-14. MONOPOLY™ & © 1935, 2021 Hasbro, Pawtucket, RI 02861-1059 USA. All Rights Reserved. TM & ® denote U.S. Trademarks. Hasbro is not a sponsor of this promotion.

The Best Dishwasher from Bosch

This post is sponsored by Best Buy. All thoughts are my own.

When we remodeled our kitchen last year due to a pipe leak we had a lot of decisions to make.  One of them being what kind of dishwasher we were going to put in.  If you know my husband you know he researches EVERYTHING!  The one thing we really wanted in a dishwasher was for it to be really quiet.  We looked at several different stores and talked to many different sales people.  In the end we decided to go with the Bosch 800 Series with CrystalDry™

Kitchen Remodel:

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Life Update: 31 Weeks

Well, blogging has been as frequent as my trips to Starbucks lately.  Unfortunately few & far between.  But don’t worry I’ll come back to the land of the living eventually.  I’m a big fan of having the baby outside of my body! LOL!  I am definitely not a glowy pregnant goddess.  I WANT this baby and I can’t wait for her to get here….it’s the baking in the oven part that I find the hardest.  I’m trying to enjoy each moment, even the little ones, though it’s hard some days.  I didn’t even think I would have any more kids, so I know what a blessing it is.  All I can say is being almost 10 years older it’s a lot harder than it was with Connor.  I’ve been having these weird dizzy spells and feeling like I’m going to pass out.  It’s so strange and something I’ve never really experienced.  It happens for no reason whatsoever.  Of course I have been Googling why this is happening and all I can find is that “due to the rising hormones that cause your blood vessels to relax and widen. … Dizziness may be caused because your growing uterus puts pressure on blood vessels”  Once it starts it usually remains during the pregnancy and goes away after baby.  So, I’m looking forward to going places and not feeling like I’m going to pass out!  Ha ha!

Anyway, other than that it’s been good!  I have a baby shower coming up in a couple of weeks and I’d love recommendations on what you think is a “must have” item for baby.

We don’t have a lot of stuff set up yet, but Terence put together the crib in the living room to make sure we have all the parts.  Now we have to take it apart to get it back in her bedroom.  It’s this one from West Elm/Pottery Barn.  I had a few people ask where it was from.  We still need a mattress and I have her bedding and things like that.

Bedding

This is the room where we will move the nursery into right now, but we are seriously considering painting it.  I love the color, just not sure it’s right for the future.  

And for the changing table I found this one on Amazon here and I think switching out the knobs will make such a difference and update it.  Someone did that in the reviews section of this changing table and it looked so much better.  It’s also 1/3 of the cost of the one that matches the crib.

Here is a 28 week bumpdate:

I also had a 3D ultrasound at 24 weeks, which I think was a bit early….but here she is!  So tiny!  I don’t even remember being able to do this when I was pregnant with Connor.  She was hard to see, her bum was in the air the entire time, so this is the best shot we got.

Here are some recent pics of Connor too!  He’s going to be a great big bro.  I don’t know if he really understands how much his life is going to change.  The past nine years it’s been all about HIM!  I never want him to feel like he’s not getting enough attention, those thoughts probably run through every Mom’s mind when they have another kid.  I just always want to make sure he feels special and loved despite the age difference and different phases in life.

He loves to golf and recently got his own set of clubs with his birthday money 🙂

Of course we got our annual bluebonnet pics too!  He’s such a handsome, sweet, sometimes annoying 9 year old.  I couldn’t love him any more!  It’s gotten a lot better since we took Fortnite away on school nights…lol!

I also got a new recliner that I love.  We may leave it out in the living room or move to the nursery, not sure yet???  But I LOVE that it has a usb charger in it!

And if you don’t follow me over on Instagram … her name is HEIDI – xoxo

Catch up soon & hope everyone had a great Easter!

Kitchen Remodel & Stuff

Soooo….We’ve been without a kitchen for a couple of months now and are super ready for it to be FINISHED!  I am so tired of eating out and I’m not one who loves to cook, but I do miss having the option to cook.  I was just getting to be BFF with my Instapot too….bummer!  We are having the back cabinets re-built right now and the rest will stay the same.  It was too costly to change out all the cabinets, so we are just re-working them into our new design.  We will be changing the countertops, backsplash, sink, and faucet.  It seems like it will really brighten up the space too.  To give you an idea of what we are going for here is the wall color:

Cabinet color:

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Mary Poppins Party + Movie Sneak Peek!

Last fall I was asked to photograph a cookie exchange party for several little girls.  The party theme was “Mary Poppins”.  When I walked in I was blown away by the decorations and the magical feel of the entire party.  The hostess actually owns an event planning/decorating service, so if you are looking for someone in DFW to take your party to the next level email me and I’ll forward her information.  With the upcoming movie “Mary Poppins” hitting theaters in December 2018, this party couldn’t have come at a better time.

Each little girl attending the party got a dress and a parasol to decorate.  Of course no party would be complete without Mary Poppins popping in for an appearance and a sing along!

It was truly one of the cutest parties I’ve ever attended and photographed.  Enjoy the photos below 🙂

Now that you are in the mood for a Mary Poppins party…take a sneak peek at the new teaser trailer from Disney’s MARY POPPINS RETURNS, an all-new sequel with a fresh sensibility that celebrates the spirit of the original film.

In the sequel, which arrives in theaters this Christmas, Mary Poppins is back to help the next generation of the Banks family find the joy and wonder missing in their lives.

MARY POPPINS RETURNS stars Emily Blunt as the practically-perfect nanny with unique magical skills who can turn any task into an unforgettable, fantastic adventure; Lin-Manuel Miranda as her friend Jack, an optimistic street lamplighter who helps bring light—and life—to the streets of London; Ben Whishaw as Michael Banks; Emily Mortimer as Jane Banks; and Julie Walters as the Banks’ housekeeper Ellen; with Colin Firth as Fidelity Fiduciary Bank’s William Weatherall Wilkins; and Meryl Streep as Mary’s eccentric cousin, Topsy. The film also introduces three new Banks’ children played by Pixie Davies, Nathanael Saleh and newcomer Joel Dawson. Angela Lansbury appears as the Balloon Lady, a treasured character from the PL Travers books and Dick Van Dyke is Mr. Dawes Jr., the retired chairman of the bank now run by Firth’s character.

Top Tips for Purchasing Washers and Dryers

Over the years, washers and dryers have become necessary parts of our lives. However, this wasn’t always the case. The first washing machine wasn’t patented until 1691, and the first dryer didn’t really come on the scene until 1892. These machines were incredibly rudimentary – they primarily ran water through clothes and the dryers were hand-crank operated. The washers and dryers we take for granted today didn’t truly come about until the early 1900’s. It’s tough to imagine a world where there isn’t a washer and dryer in every home. Nowadays, of course, the options for purchasing a washer or dryer are endless. There are so many unique features – any buyer can find the exact machine that’s tailored to their lifestyle and needs.

In recent years, technology had become so advanced that it’s impacting everything from our cars to our home appliances. Washers and dryers are no exception. There are several washer and dryer sets on the market that take your laundry game to the next level. They connect to other appliances in your home, hook up to apps on your mobile phone so you can start and stop loads of laundry while you’re on the go, and more. Admittedly, these options aren’t inexpensive – but they are a unique option for those who prefer to lead a high-tech life.

The more advanced these washers and dryers get, their price point continues to hike higher and higher. However, given the fact that buyers are now getting more use out of their washers and dryers with all of their unique features, the increasing prices make sense. Of course, low-cost models are still available if you look for them. Are you interested in what kinds of features are included in modern washers and dryers? Here are some ideas to consider:

  1. Size

A few size considerations are obvious – what kind of laundry are you doing? How often? And for how many people? Larger families tend to have more laundry and therefore might need a washer and dryer set that has a larger capacity so they’re not doing laundry all day every day. However, big families aren’t the only ones who might need a larger laundry capacity. For example, one or two individuals who are particularly active and need to wash their regular laundry as well as daily sports or exercise clothes could require a larger laundry capacity.

Recommended: If you’re looking for something more compact because you’re tight on space, this GE is a good choice.

  1. Front Loading v. Top Loading

Another feature you need to consider is whether you want a front loading or top loading machine set. Front loading machine sets are generally better. They are more energy efficient, do a better job of getting out tough stains, and they save on water, as well. You can also stack front loading machines, saving on space. What’s not to love? All that being said, top-loading machines tend to be more popular. In general, they are less expensive. They are also easier to maintain. They’re also notoriously easier to unload – there’s no bending over or reaching into a front loading machine to scoop out wet clothes.

  1. Energy Efficiency

If going green is your thing, there are several washers and dryers that focus on being energy-efficient. In fact, most modern washers and dryers strive toward being more energy-efficient than older models. However, now you can specifically look for a machine set that has been Energy Star certified. Energy Star certified machines use about 25% less energy and 45% less water than regular, or uncertified, machines.

Recommended:

This Energy Star certified Kenmore might be a good fit.

  1. 2-in-1 Machines

Want to simplify your laundry? 2-in-1 machines might be the answer for you. The washer and dryer is combined in one single unit. These units are ordinarily large capacity, which makes them a good buy for big families who are looking to cut down on the total amount of time they’re spending changing laundry loads over from washer to dryer and cycling everything through. They’re also excellent for saving space since they’re only one single, large capacity machine, rather than two.

Recommended: This LG 2-in-1 model is a great option.

The beauty of shopping for anything electronic in today’s day and age is that the amount of features available to completely customize your product purchase are endless. Make a list of what’s important to you in big-ticket items such as washers and dryers, then feel free to shop around until you find something that meets all or most of your selections. Everyone uses washers and dryers, from all walks of life with all sorts of living situations and unique laundry needs that need to be met. You’re sure to find something that fits your lifestyle perfectly!

Extended Warranties? Home Warranties?

There’s a constant debate between those who swear by extended warranties (or home warranties, which is essentially a comprehensive coverage for all appliances and home systems), and those who think it is unnecessary and does not save money in the long run. It’s difficult to say what’s the precise answer to this. On one hand, purchasing an extended warranty or a home warranty should in theory keep unexpected spending at bay – if the appliance (washers, dryers or even jacuzzis) goes bust, you are reimbursed, and on the other hand they are quite expensive if you look at it over a period of time.

Home warranty companies in Texas offer a variety of plans, and the cheapest I could find is $25 a month. That’s $280 a year (before any discounts applied), which comes down to over a grand in a period of 5 years. If your new washer or dryer does not break unexpectedly, you’d be paying a hefty premium for absolutely no reason.

Extended warranties are cheaper and more focused but then again you end up with the exact same Return On Investment calculation. How likely is your return to be positive when you’re paying a monthly premium over a brand new appliance that should in theory run smoothly for years to come?

I would say buying a home warranty or an extended appliance warranty heavily depends on your situation. If you have a steady income then you should consider tapping into it, just to avoid the unexpected, and if the cost will be a burden for you, then you might as well drop it, especially considering home warranty companies don’t always pay.

Laundry Made Easier With LG

This post is sponsored by Best Buy.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

One of our favorite places to go and walk around on the weekends is Best Buy….well, actually I would say it’s more Terence’s, but there are so many things for me to look at as well!

Usually while Terence is looking at the speakers and entertainment systems I’m looking at all the cool appliances Best Buy offers.  A recent favorite is the  LG Twin Wash system which includes LG Front Load laundry paired with LG’s SideKick Pedestal Washer.

With LG’s TwinWash system you get the best of both worlds. For small loads that can’t wait (The sweatpants after hot yoga, the red shirt in a pile of whites, the dirty school uniform on a Sunday night) there is the LG SideKick pedestal washer. You can even use it simultaneously while you do a bigger load up top on your LG Front load washer.  There are so many times I just need to wash one or two items like my favorite pair of jeans or a shirt Connor spilled something on.  I love this tiny little washing machine feature.  Not only do these washers have mega capacity to tackle any size load, they are energy efficient while giving you the best cleaning performance. No wonder more households have chosen LG laundry over any other brand!

Right now Best Buy is offering a great deal from 1/11-4/25 to receive up to $500 off a LG laundry solution for your home.

So what are you waiting for?  It’s time to replace those old appliances for sparkly new ones!

This kid as made SO many messes over the years and I can’t believe he’s going to be 8-years-old in a couple of weeks.