The Smell of Fall With Better Homes and Gardens

Ahhhh.  My house smells like fall.  Or Blueberry muffins at least – which is close enough for me.  Lord knows if something is baking around here, it MUST be for a holiday!

Except, I’m not baking.  I have this bad boy plugged in by my kitchen sink and when you walk in the entryway to my home, you can smell the blueberry – I’m not kidding.  Actually, the first night that I plugged it in, I left to pick up dinner, and when I walked back up to the house I could SMELL THE BLUEBERRY OUTSIDE.  Yes, you read that right.  I ran inside and pulled Morgan back out with me to prove it, but of course his nose was adjusted to the smell so he just thought I was crazy.  Which I am.  But not for that reason – it really did smell like blueberry muffins out there!

Anyway, in the past I have found Wax Warmers like these to be a bit out of my budget – 30 bucks a pop?  No thanks, I will light a candle.  But hey – I LOVE these, and they are only $15 bucks each at Walmart.  Half the price and I can smell the blueberry OUTSIDE?  Where do I sign?

In addition to the cute warmers like the one you see above, they have a bunch of awesome seasonal warmers – like an apple and a gourd.  I actually have the gourd sitting in my living room, warming my some “Soft Cashmere Sweater” as we speak.  Can’t you just FEEL the cold weather?  I love it!

Not to mention – check out these great winter scents – Warm Vanilla Creme, Wild Berry Cheesecake, Baked Apple Streusel, and Vanilla Caramel Spice.  Love them all.

So what do you think?  Will you try these out?  Have you tried a wax warmer before – if so what are your thoughts?  Please share them in the comments!

Disclosure: I am a Walmart Mom and was compensated for my time with regards to creating this post.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.  I really do like this awesome Wax Warmer – and even my fiance has taken to turning it on himself when he want to give the house a nice boost. 

Walmart: Now With Holiday Layaway

Just in time for the Holidays, Walmart has launched their Christmas Layaway for toys and electronics!  If you were looking for a way to get a jump on your Christmas shopping, but just couldn’t afford to go all the way – this is it!

I’ve been working in partnership with Walmart for almost 3 years now, and I have to say that their commitment to their customers is truly amazing.  They are always looking for ways to assure that Walmart shoppers will get the best products for the best value.

According to Laura Phillips, senior vice president of toys and seasonal merchandising “Value is a huge priority for our customers and they rely on Walmart for the right toys at great prices everyday and especially during the holiday season. We know this economic climate is difficult for our customers and we are committed to helping them have the Christmas they want and deserve.”

Beginning today, October 17th through December 16th, customers can place the eligible items mentioned above on Layaway.  Your minimum layaway order must reach or exceed $50, and individual items in your order may not be priced below $15.  A 10% overall payment is due at the time of placing the items on layaway, plus a one-time non-refundable $5 service fee.  A $10 fee will apply to any cancelled orders.

Find out more about Walmart’s Holiday Layaway program and get a sneak peek at the 20 hottest toys of the holiday season!

Have you used layaway before?  I’m going to be heading into my store here to show you how easy it is, but until then, let me know – what would you layaway?

Disclosure:  I am a member of the Walmart Moms and this is a sponsored post on behalf of that program. Still, my words and opinions are 100% mine – I’ve got ya back. 

Fun, Football, and Family {What More Can You Want?}

Family time and family movie nights have long been something after my own heart.  I’ll just be honest – there is so much junk on TV these days that it’s hard to find something appropriate for the entire family to watch.

Think about it – creating something appropriate for the whole family to enjoy is harder than you might care to admit.  For us that means the following:

• Not overtly sexual
• No crude jokes
• No cursing
• Not violent

But it also means:

• Easy for the entire family to follow but…
• Complex enough for the adults to enjoy
• Appealing to both boys and girls (we have a 50/50 split)

I mean, honestly.  That’s a tall order, is it not?  P&G and Walmart have successfully accomplished this yet again, however, with Game Time: Tackling the Past, the newest of the Family Movie Night franchise.  You might remember that I visited the set of The Jensen Project, another one of the Family Movie Night movies, back in March of 2010.  I’ve enjoyed all of the movies that P&G and Walmart have created so far, and I have been partial to The Jensen Project because of my involvement, but I have to tell you – they have really outdone themselves this time with Game Time: Tackling the Past.

Our family LOVES football — I grew up in the South where Football is in your blood.  Even my now 4-year-old daughter has been asking to watch more football since she was barely old enough to talk.  I made this video when she was around 17 months old, asking me to put “fut-ball” on the TV.  (Sorry it’s so dark, it was one of those moments where I just grabbed my camera!)

Football fans like us will LOVE this movie because it is all about the Football spirit!  Check out the synopsis from the official Family Movie Night site:

Pro football star Jake Walker is living the dream… or so he thinks. The veteran tight end is a fan favorite and on pace to set the all-time receiving yards record that will guarantee him a spot in the Hall of Fame. While working out at training camp, Jake receives an unexpected call from his brother Dean – their father Frank has suffered a major heart attack. Jake immediately leaves practice and returns to Riverton, North Carolina, the small hometown he’s avoided for nearly 15 years. Memories of glory and regret flood his mind as he returns to the family and friends he abandoned in pursuit of his career. Jake dutifully visits with Frank and Dean, but hurt and misunderstanding from the past begins to resurface, leaving him counting the days until he can return to his team.

A second unexpected call, this time from his agent, delivers Jake another crushing blow. His contract is not being renewed amid concerns about his surgically repaired knee. Suddenly, the life Jake knows is over. To avoid the media circus around this news, Jake reluctantly decides to extend his stay in Riverton. Attempting to make the best of the situation, he begins reconnecting with the community that once revered him.    Jake is reintroduced to Sarah, his high school sweetheart, and helps Dean take over their father’s high school coaching job.

Surprisingly impacted by the people around him, the real Jake begins to emerge from behind his armor to see that life is much more than the accumulation of personal stats. But when Jake’s offered a lucrative new contract to play for another team, he is forced to decide whether to go back to the career he thought he loved, or stay in Riverton and embrace the people who always believed in him.

I was able to watch the movie online and chat throughout the film with one of it’s stars, Catherine Hicks (who you might remember as the mom from Seventh Heaven!).  It was so much fun to get the behind-the-scenes peek at the film with her insight, and I can tell you that she, along with the rest of the cast and crew, have personally put so much heart and soul into this film – and it is apparent while you watch it.  It is directed by Doug Barr, who also directed The Jensen Project (and is just a totally awesome guy.)

So, if you’re looking for something to watch this Labor Day weekend with the family, check out Game Time: Tackling the Past, which premieres on Saturday, September 3rd on NBC at 8 pm EST/7 pm CST.  Also, don’t forget to check out the Family Movie Night Facebook Page for more information!

Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of P&G and received a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Get Your Game Face On! {Geaux Saints!}

In the South we have a few things that we live by: manners, sweet tea, good food, and football.

Yes, football.

It doesn’t matter if it’s high school football, college football, or NFL football – game day is a big deal around here.  And, if game day happens to be a day of Saints football?  Then it’s game on.

My daughter and I are huge football fans.  Yes, she’s 3.5, but she’s loved it since she was a baby.  Take a look at the video that I embedded below of her in her pack-n-play when she was only 2 years old – begging for “football”.  Football was one of the first 50 words in her vocabulary – seriously.

Game day is a big day in our house – we dub them “football Sunday” – which is thrown slightly off kilter when they fall on a Thursday or Saturday.  I typically cook a yummy meal and we invite friends or family over to share it with us, and to have a football party.

Of course, I have to wear my jersey.  As a matter of fact, I wear my jersey on game day to support the (Superbowl Champions in 2010!) New Orleans Saints – no matter where I am.  Proof?  Here I am in my jersey at Walt Disney World back in February.

Isn’t that “incredible”? (Yes, I crack myself up!)

I guess you could call me the “family quarterback” – the food, fun, and fashion are up to me – the football is up to our favorite team.   We love to come up with fun menus and decorations – I love to get Audrey Grace involved with me by coloring Fleur de Lis’!

Are you the quarterback for all of the football fun at your house?  Do you have any fun traditions or ideas to share?

Disclosure: I am a participant in the Walmart Moms program. Walmart has provided me with compensation and a gift card in return for this post. Participation in this program is voluntary. All opinions are my own.

For more information, check out my disclosure policy.

Game Time! Game On!

My daughter turns 3 on Tuesday.  Oh, how it pains me to say that.  When we were deciding on a date for her birthday party, we decided on Sunday January 31st.  Why?  Well, because February 7th, the week after her birthday, had a slight conflict.  We didn’t dare place it during that weekend – just in case.

Our little football team – the boys in Black in Gold – are going to be taking on Peyton Manning and the Colts on February 7th.  Maybe you’ve heard?

It took 21 years before the New Orleans Saints had a winning season.  Both of my grandparents attended the very first Saints game on September 17th, 1967.  My family raised me to be a longtime, die-hard Saints fan.  There have been moments over the years where the relationship went more in the direction of hate than love – but as it always is with things you are loyal to – I can talk bad about my own football team, though no one else is allowed to.

This year, we made it.  Finally.  Who cares if we win or not, the Saints are GOING TO MIAMI.

I’m throwing a party.  Duh.

WalMart came to me, as one of the Eleven Moms, with the opportunity to share about their Game Time deals – you can join me and throw an awesome Game Day party of your own.  For $44 you can get:

One package of Oscar Mayer Meat Hot Dogs (8 ct.)
One package of Johnsonville® Bratwursts (6 ct.)
Two packages of Great Value™ Hot Dog Buns
Two bags of T.G.I. Friday’s™ Frozen Appetizers
One Hormel™ Supreme Party Tray
12” Chocolate Chunk Cookie
Two boxes of Nabisco Wheat Thins or Triscuit Crackers (8 to 10 oz. box)

For more information, check out WalMart’s Game Time site.  Oh, and WHO DAT?!?!?!?!?!

* Disclosure: Walmart provided me with two $50 Walmart gift cards for my participation in this program.