Walmart Pharmacy Wants Your Feedback!

Do you ever wish that you could give major companies feedback on you feel they are doing well, or not so well? Maybe you have an idea, a suggestion that you are SURE if they just heard you, would make life easier for everyone involved?

Well, Walmart wants to listen. As a matter of fact, they want your feedback on your in-store Pharmacy experience. If you aren’t currently using the Walmart Pharmacy, you might want to call and check the prices of your regular prescriptions – when I moved mine I started saving almost $100 a month. And in all honesty – Walmart didn’t ask me to say that, they just asked me to post the link to the survey – the fact that I’m saving that much money is just simply the truth.

Ok, so here goes. Take the Walmart Pharmacy Survey and share your feedback on everything from wait times, the cost of your prescriptions, and the way you most often refill your RX. Next time you’re in store, who knows – you might see some of your thoughts and ideas being put in to practice!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for Walmart as a part of my role in the Walmart Moms. All opinions are, and always have been, my own.

Gaggle Of Chicks {Giveaway CLOSED}

By now I’m sure you’ve heard of the plot by group-buying sites to take over the world, and Gaggle of Chicks has stepped up to throw their hat into the majorly-discounted ring.  This group-buying site, however, is targeting moms specifically.  I mean, let’s face it, we rule the roost and make the majority of purchasing decisions in the household.  So, in familiar fashion, a deal on Gaggle of Chicks “hatches” after several moms purchase the deal.

The products are not just for moms, however, but fit for everyone in the family.  From children’s clothes to skincare products to baked goods, there is a little something to suit all of your needs.  Originally Gaggle Of Chicks was only a NYC based site, but they have now expanded to include nationwide deals as well.  The deals expire after only 48 hours, so time is of the essence!  You can work on getting some of your deals free, too, if you invite friends to try the service.  For every friend you refer that makes a purchase, you get a $10 credit.  You friends also get a $10 credit to Gaggle Of Chicks as soon as they sign up!

The current New York deal has me drooling – half-off of a skin-care package (which still costs a whopping $249). I’ve noticed that several of the deals are a bit pricey, especially the local New York deals, while the nationwide deals tend to be more affordable.  However, I’m not necessarily saying that this is a bad thing – the discount on high-end items gives me the chance to purchase or afford something that I normally wouldn’t be able to.

The Gaggle Of Chicks website is adorable, and easy to navigate.  As we say in geek-speak, the user experience is a good one.  I was given a gift card to try out the service, but had a short time frame in which to publish my review, and feel I should tell you that while I haven’t purchased anything from Gaggle of Chicks yet, I’m totally planning to – it’s just that nothing on the site in the past week has been able to float my boat.

You can win a $100 credit to try out Gaggle of Chicks yourself!  To enter, just head over to Gaggle of Chicks and sign up to try out the service (it’s free!), then come back here and leave a comment letting me know that you did!  Bonus entries if you invite your friends to try the service too – let me know in a separate comment that you have invited 3 or more friends (the Gaggle of Chicks folks will verify this) and you will receive a bonus entry!

This contest ends on February 24th, 2011 at 11:59pm CST.  US residents only, please.  Good luck!

Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Gaggle of Chicks and received a Gaggle of Chicks credit for myself to facilitate this review, and a $100 Gaggle of Chicks gift certificate to giveaway.

Spring Style: 70′s inspired accessories

Tired of hearing me talk about the 70s inspiration for Spring? No, not yet? Great. ‘Cause I wanted to share some of my favorite, affordable, fun accessory picks that deifinitely have a retro/boho vibe. These pieces can be added to a simple tee and jeans or back to a maxi dress (or skirt-try it!) to give you a fresh, funky look for Spring. The best part is, you don’t have to choose just one…they’re all from Forever 21. So go nuts!

Valentine’s Day Haul at Walmart

I love Valentine’s Day!!!

Some may say it’s overly commercial, a holiday manufactured by the greeting card companies, but I don’t care.  Why in the world would I turn down any chance to celebrate the most amazing feeling in the entire world – love?

Valentine’s Day is always special in my house, and I love to do fun, special things for the people that I love.  I love making Valentine’s Day cards and crafts with Audrey Grace, and filling a special gift bag with little treats and surprises for her.  Now that my family is expanding, I get to do the same for my fiance’ and his precious son, which makes the holiday even better.

In that vein, Walmart challenged Audrey and I to go to our local store and see what goodies we could scoop up for this love-ly holiday (see how I did that?) for under $25 dollars.  Instead of choosing all little items, we did choose one larger item for $15 but filled in the rest with some fun items to share with our friends and family.

While Audrey immediately took a shining to the $20 Teddy Bear that was taller and larger than she is, I felt (based on the giant Panda Bear and red and pink puppy dog that already take up tons of space in her little room) that it wasn’t the best use of our money.  So we greeted the bear, took a little video, and moved on to the $3.50 stuffed animal range.  We ended up with a spotted, multi-colored bear that Audrey declared was “so very soft”!

Instead we ended up with the following:

• $15 heart-shaped mini-cupcake maker
• $3.50 stuffed multi-colored teddy bear
• $1 adorable giant marshmallow sucker that resembles a puppy dog
• $1 adorable giant marshmallow sucker that resembles a frog
• $3 Reese’s peanut butter hearts
• $1.50 box of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Valentine’s Day Cards

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• Total:  $25

Check out the video below and let me know how you think we did!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for Walmart as a part of my role in the Walmart Moms. All opinions are, and always have been, my own.

Spring Trends: This Season’s Hottest Shoes

So way back in September, I fell in love. It was unexpected, sudden, and just swept me off my feet. The object of my affection? Tory Burch’s Spring 2011 line. It absolutely embodies the feeling of the season. The color, the 70s silhouettes, the shoes…oh, the shoes.

So, looking to find some of Spring’s hottest shoes?  Look no further – here are my top shoes trends inspired by this collection: metallic, rich browns, neutral, wedges and low-cut boot styles.

Happy 4th Birthday Audrey Grace!

My sweet little Audrey Grace,

Today at 2:39 pm you will officially be 4 years old – an age which you are embracing with unabashed glee and considerable determination.  Just last night you were playing dress up in your Veterinarian costume, and you came to me, requesting for help taking it off.  I helped you out of your blue lab coat and toy stethoscope as you explained that had you changed your mind and weren’t going to “help animals” anymore.  My initial reaction was one of shock, and I gently asked why you didn’t want to help the animals anymore.  Confusion filled your face as you turned to me and plainly explained that when little girls “got big” they could only be one thing, that you knew exactly what you want to be, and it isn’t a “Vet”.

You want to be a Princess.

I have no idea where you got that from.

This year has marked the beginning of your change from loving all things neutral and non-girly – Tigger, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, blocks, trains, coloring, etc. – to lots of pink, to refusing to wear anything but a dress on some days, to dancing in front of a mirror in your Princess gown.  You now request to meet the Princesses when we go to Disney World, though your face still lights up for Mickey, Minnie, and Tigger.  You still love all of the things that you once did, it’s just that things are more balanced – you are clearly a little girl with a love for all things feminine – much like your mommy.

While you have embraced turning 4 with so much joy, I have approached it with slight trepidation.  You are no longer an infant, or even a toddler – you are a preschooler – a child.  You don’t toddle over playground equipment with uncertainty, you aren’t shy around new people – in fact you often talk their ears off.  Tonight I told you playfully that I didn’t want you to grow up, and you crawled up in my lap and told me that just because you were turning 4 didn’t mean that you were suddenly going to grow “big and strong”.  Then, with a wisdom far beyond your 4 years, you gently turned my face to yours and said “I’m still Audrey”.

You are still Audrey.  You are still the little girl that the nurses placed in my arms minutes after your birth, weighing a respectable 7 lbs 8 oz.  You held on for 42 weeks – arriving 2 weeks after my due date – not because you are a shy, clingy child, but because you are willful and determined to do things on your schedule.  Rushing you to do any task, no matter how small, seems fruitless – you have your own personal timeline.

Your blonde curls have never had a pair of scissors near them, though I feel your first haircut is likely inevitable this year.  I can’t bear to bring myself to cut off that first hair at the very ends, so symbolic to me of our earliest days together.  No matter what I do your curly hair always looks out of control but neither of us seems to mind very much – so for now it remains untouched.

You started school this year, a decision that I knew was right even though I hate every moment that we are apart.  The beginning was tough – lots of tears for you, lots of guilt for me.  Now things go a lot more smoothly, and you usually dismiss me from your classroom with a “bye mommy!” as you run off to play.  You have changed so much in these past few months – you are more social, well-adjusted, and you have definitely learned a lot.  Just the other day I asked you what you wanted to drink, and you answered me with “agua” – which you promptly explained was “Splan-mish for wadder”.  Moments like those make me want to giggle and wrap you in the worlds biggest hug – you make me so proud.

When you are excited or happy, you completely light up a room.  Seeing your glow when we go to Disney World or to the Aquarium or Zoo is addicting – so much in fact that we went to Disney 4 times this year!  I would move mountains if I could to make your face light up like that every single day – seeing you happy makes my heart sing.  I have never felt a stronger desire to make someone happy than I feel every day, every moment, for you.

Audrey, you bring so much joy to my life, more than I can ever express to you.  I love listening to you laugh at things that make you happy – a full-on belly laugh that is contagious to everyone around you.  You are so loving towards both people and animals – you are always worried about crying babies, asking about animals and how they are feeling, even “taking care” of me when I am sick.  Your analytical side is amazing, and I am in awe of your ability to sit down and complete a 48 piece puzzle on your own.  Where most kids ask why, you want to know HOW.  How does that work?  How did you change the batteries, mommy?  How does the medicine make me feel better?  I do my best to keep up with your questions, but I know that one day you will outgrow my explanations and need more.  Thankfully you love to read, so I know you will have no trouble diving into a book to find the answers that you crave.

I am so proud of you my sweet baby girl.  You are only 4, but you have already handled life’s very real challenges with grace, finesse, and a wisdom that I cannot even comprehend.  Hang on with me kiddo – I think we are in for a very wonderful ride, and I will be by your side for every possible moment.

I love you so much, my sweet little souchy.

Love always and always,

Mommy