Curing Mama's Winter Blues!

Last weekend we threw a little party for the kiddos to give them a chance to cut loose. This weekend it was Mama's turn! Once again, I received an epic party pack from Crowdtap. This particular pack was sponsored by Durex! Typically when I think of Durex I just think of condoms, but believe me when I say they are about so much more! There were a TON of condoms, "Love Box" protective condom carriers, lubricants, naughty dice, sex coupons, dirty games, a LOT of devices (most of my guests received a new device!) and several other fun items! Crowdtap even provided gift bags for all of our amazing goodies! This is what my trashcan looked like after putting together the gift bags. How hilarious would it be if one of the neighborhood dogs tore open my garbage bag this week!

THIS is the sign of  a good party!

People are always asking how I get all this awesome stuff, so I went ahead and printed out a link to join Crowdtap and taped it to the outside of each bag.

My friends and I have somewhat regular "girls nights" where we sit around, eat, have a few drinks and play games. This month, my friend Missy was hosting girls night and once she realized what I had in my Crowdtap/Durex package we knew we had to incorporate it into girls night. To make sure that even our most conservative friends showed up, we didn't tell anyone. We didn't even hint around about the games we would be playing or the prizes that would be won.

So, we had a few naughty games planned. Two of which I borrowed from my friend, Laura, who also hosted a Durex Party from Crowdtap. She created a "Condom Trivia" that she let me use. Our top contestant was able to answer 6 out of 10 questions! We also borrowed her idea of seeing just how big we could blow up a condom. (Ours reached 4', although Laura said hers went up to 7')

This is how Missy & I blow up a condom!

As for the prizes, well Crowdtap and Durex were kind enough to provide those! One of the things included in my package were drink coasters that had a trivia question on them. The question was, "What percentage of adults have "done the deed" in an adventurous location?" The answer was 75%. THAT was our first question to get the party started! My friend Beth had the closest answer. Now, Beth's husband has been out of state for work and she is hands-down the most conservative person I know. Therefore, we found it very important to rig the prize distribution to make sure she received the "best prize". THIS was Beth's priceless reaction.

 From the young newlywed girls, to the seasoned grandmothers EVERYONE left with a prize bag! There were even a few bags left over which we sent home with the newlyweds! The best quote of the night was the grandmother on oxygen who received a small device and loudly proclaimed, "I know what I'm doing tonight!" I thought her great niece (one of the newlyweds) was going to die right there on the spot! It was an awesome and hilarious evening thanks to Crowdtap and Durex. :)

If you want to check out Crowdtap for yourself, you can sign up with this link: JOIN CROWDTAP

Cutting Loose With the Kids at Hotel Transylvania

We all get a case of the Winter Blues at one point or another, so why should our kids be any different? Think of these little balls of energy being cooped up in a house all winter long! The lack of interaction from friends alone, is enough to drive a little one (or his Mother) crazy!!

I received an opportunity from Crowdtap & Hotel Transylvania that I couldn't refuse...a chance to host a Hotel Transylvania Monster Bowl Party for the kids! They sent me a digital kit full of fantastic printables, decoration and meal ideas. So, we invited several friends over and planned a day to just cut loose and have fun! Due to the weather, 4 of his friends were unable to make it, but several friends did show. Crowdtap provided us with a digital copy of Hotel Transylvania, but the quality wasn't great and it would have to be viewed on the computer. SO, before party day, I picked up a just-released copy of "Hotel Transylvania". My little man had been having a rough week, so I surprised him with it as well as a bag of his favorite candy and a card...never underestimate the power your words can have over your children.

Gearing up for party, day we busted out the Halloween decorations and had a blast transforming our family room and dining room into a creepy setting! We strung skull lights across the dining room entry way, set the table in red and black, had creepy candles, a hanging ghoul, ghost garland and filled black plastic cauldrons with snacks and treats!

Our party was set for noon, so I made a ghoulishly- fun lunch for the kids! We had pizza, chips, Werewolf Cupcakes, "Scream Cheese" cheese ball and "Shrunken Head Punch"! The kids LOVED the Scream Cheese and the floating "Shrunken Heads" in the punch! The punch was a great alternative. I had soda at the house, and it was never touched. The kids only wanted the punch, which I made with 100% Juice, Sierra Mist and carved apples.

Chocolate Werewolf Cupcakes

Scream Cheese!!

"Shrunken Head Punch" - Carved Apples, Raspberry Juicy Juice and Sierra Mist

After our little ghouls finished lunch, I took each child's photo and then had everyone sit down at the coffee table and decorate foam picture frames. While they watched the movie, I "Monsterized" their photos using the "Hotel Transylvania Monsterize Me" app, printed and framed their photos as a souvenir.

 

While our little ghouls watched Hotel Transylvania, I gave them each a "Swag Bag" of hauntingly good treats and a witch's cauldron of popcorn! We used the Hotel Transylvania Valentines Cards provided in the Crowdtap Digital Kit to personalize the outside of our Swag Bags!

 It was crazy during the movie, they were all sprawled out across my living room, but would jump up and start singing and dancing during the musical parts. They were laughing so hard, I'm sure the neighbors could hear us! I think the best compliment of all though, was when my son said, "I can't believe a party with girls could be THIS much fun!!" After the party there was a bit of Nerf sword fighting and random running through the house. I threw most of the house rules out the window for this special day, because even the little ones need to cut loose from the stress of school & being cooped up from a long, cold & rainy winter.

Do you want to join me on Crowdtap for your own chances at hosting parties & earning cool swag? Here's a link!

Join Crowdtap!

Crowdtap says...Tap That! (with Durex!)

Crowdtap is always sending me fun, new products to try out and share with my friends. Usually these are things like Old Navy clothing, shoes from Finish Line, products from AT&T or Verizon, spices from McCormicks, etc, etc, etc. THIS particular sample share was fun, but QUITE different!

Crowdtap teamed up with Durex and sent me a box of "goodies". This went beyond a few condom samples. This was a box full of enough "surprises" for 10 couples. So, as I sat there looking at the contents and giggling I wasn't sure who or even how I would give these away. I had myself convinced not to blog about it, but then I realized how funny this whole scenario is and if I'm really lucky my Mom will read this post and at a minimum it will make her uncomfortable. (At this point she's probably googling "Durex"!!)

Goodie Bag Contents

My first priority was deciding WHO would get the samples. I had already decided that one sample would be for me and another for my best friend. For the other 8, I relied on Facebook. My post read:

"SO! To my friends who are local... I received a very awesome box of products from Crowdtap to distribute as a "sample share". I have enough to share with 8 more people, and just so you know, these goodies are of an "intimate" nature lol. IF you are in a relationship and would like to spice up an evening with your partner let me know and I'll hook you up. :) Feel free to send me a private message if you want a goodie bag! The first 8 to msg me will discreetly receive the bags....and NO for the love of grace, I will NOT be wanting ANYONE to report back on the details of this sample share!!! lol




Within about 10 minutes I had about 30 responses, that's right THIRTY. I never knew how kinky all my friends were! So, I gave them to the first 8 to respond! My next priority was packaging. I wanted this to be epic and make people blush. So, I found clear pink bags that looked like big condoms, placed foam "conversation heart" stickers on the outside of the bags and put the contents inside and tied them up with a lace ribbon. I even made name tags with the "Tap That" Crowdtap logo! One lucky recipient even received a bottle of wine, so aptly named "Menage a Trois"! It was her birthday and she likes Moscato, so I didn't mind kicking it up a notch!








Handing out the samples was another story. Typically I host a party and distribute samples. However, with everyone's busy schedules and the nature of the sample, we weren't able to make this happen. So, I met up with all of my friends to deliver their samples. Some friends stopped by here, others I delivered to them. Like my good friend who is a waitress, you bet I showed up at her place of work during lunch hour! It was too funny, and she was amazingly discreet.

 

Unfortunately, some of my friends were compelled to give me feedback on their product samples. I will spare you the details, but rest assured it seems like everyone thoroughly enjoyed this sample share and had a very good time!

Prepping for a healthy 2013 with Crowdtap and Old Navy

2012 was an awesome year. Last year, I decided to get healthier and toned. I'm very lucky because my good friend, Dustin, gave me some great tips on getting toned and just being healthy. He's not only a Certified Personal Trainer, he's also the owner of Bratton Fitness. http://www.brattonfitness.com/ He's always offering the best advice, and sticking to it has really paid off!

It wasn't always easy, but it was worth it. I found my "belly groove" (that V line on either side of the abs), I also tightened up my arms and legs. I love how shirt sleeves are a little snug due to the size of my biceps! I really didn't lose weight, but I did "shrink"! That's what makes me feel good, I did it the right way and I feel healthier. I have more energy and I've had a lot of compliments this year that I look prettier than ever. At the age of 35, that's a huge compliment.

I really haven't "killed" myself working out. I'm just not that hard-core! I jog 1-3 miles 2 or 3 days a week and I try to do at least 15 - 30 mins of yoga every morning. SO many of my old "aches & pains" have really dissipated. I also do some resistance on the days I don't jog. I plank, do push-ups and use resistance bands. Most of all, I just try to avoid over-processed foods, "heat & eat" frozen foods (even if they claim to be healthy!), and foods high in fat & sugar. I do get tired of hearing, "You're so lucky to be thin!" NO...I'm not lucky! I'm disciplined!! I will eat junk when I want...but 95% of my diet is vegetables and lean proteins. With the right spices and a little common sense you don't have to sacrifice flavor for health!

SO, with my new 2012 lifestyle I was super excited to get invited from Old Navy & Crowdtap to get a new, free set of ActiveWear from Old Navy! There were 2 coupons, one for me and one for a friend. A lot of my work out clothes have seen better days, so this was a welcome treat!

I started the day with my friend Nicole & her 2 yr old son. We dropped our kids off at school and headed for Old Navy. Upon arrival, we found a huge selection of awesome Active Wear. There was compression gear, sweats, fleece jackets, tanks, tees, etc. There was also a nice variety of colors to choose from. Nic finally opted for the Heather Gray capri-style compression pants and the matching gray jacket. (That is complete with awesome little thumb-holes for keeping your hands toasty!)


I went with the same pair of Heather Gray pants, however I paired mine up with a black zip-up hoodless jacket. I actually already own the matching Heather Gray hoodie, so it only made sense to choose something different! I absolutely love how cozy the black jacket is. It's excellent at shielding me from the wind, but it's neither too hot nor bulky. Even our little shopping buddy had to get in on the action of trying on clothes. He went with the red Lightning McQueen Long Sleeve Tee. I'm sure he will stay quite active in it!

After choosing our new Compression Pants & Jackets we realized there was an epic sale going on. Both of us probably bought way too much, but with all the craziness of the holidays, it was fun to just cut loose and do a little splurging on ourselves. I found an adorable dress in the perfect size, some PJs, a gorgeous ivory colored pea-coat and several other items for my family. I think Nic was as lucky as I was! We both walked away with several bags of new clothes! The best part of all was the awesome savings!

I personally saved $118.82 AND earned $60 in SUPERCASH!! 

I've already sported my new compression capri's for my morning yoga sessions. They don't bunch or ride up, nor do they slide down. Everything stays comfortably in place! I also like how they look, in general. I recommend everyone have at least one awesome outfit for their work-outs. If you look fat & frumpy while working out, you will feel fat & frumpy and then your work-out won't feel as positive. It's important to keep your attitude and outlook positive, if you want to see results. Good luck and have a healthy, beautiful 2013!!

Thanks Crowdtap and Old Navy for the awesome new gear...and thanks Bratton Fitness for inspiring me to wear it!

If you want to join Crowdtap and reap all the benefits I enjoy, it's easy. Click the "Join Crowdtap!" link and sign up! All you need is a Facebook account to get started. Join Crowdtap!

Giving and Thanking - Old Navy Style

As a member of the Old Navy Style Council via Crowdtap I get the opportunity to try a lot of awesome clothes for free. In return, I give my honest opinions about style, selection, fit, durability, sales team, etc. However, it's not like they just ship me a package with something in it. I get to actually enjoy the shopping experience. The best part? I don't have to do it alone!

Recently Old Navy sent a coupon for me and a friend to each enjoy a brand new dress. I was super pumped, as it was so close to Thanksgiving. My sister/best friend is my typical partner when it comes to shopping, therefore she always receives my extra coupons from the Old Navy Style Council.

We met at IHOP for brunch where we harassed the staff. (But everyone was laughing so I don't think our food was tampered with.) Just being near her makes my stomach hurt, we laugh so hard!

After brunch we ran across the street to Old Navy. As soon as we walked in, the dress display was right there. Thankfully there was quite a large selection of dresses. Seester was able to find quite a few in her size. Unfortunately, I was only able to find 3 in my size.

I kept having to pull her back in, because she kept getting distracted by boots (and everything else). The funniest twist, is that she found this black dress and really didn't care for it. It didn't have much hanger appeal. However, once she tried it on we knew she had to take it home. It was beautiful...the cut was perfect on her. She tried on my black boots with it and it was an awesome combination. I wound up with this little black & white striped number. I really loved the white & blue dress, but had no clue what shoes I could possibly wear with it. (and let's face it, the white ankle socks just don't work!)

In the end, we both wound up having a really fun day with new FREE dresses...and a ton of other stuff we "needed". She kept going back to the Old Navy boots like a moth to a flame, and dang they looked cute on her! She had tried on the ivory tunic sweater but thought it was too short to wear with leggings. We kept telling her to try the Rockstar Skinny cords but she swore she hated skinny jeans and would never own them. Once we finally convinced her to try them on, well...you can see the result for yourself. She's stunningly adorable! But most importantly, she knew that I was right. Needless to say, she's a skinny jean convert now!

If you want to check out Crowdtap and be a part of helping brands like Old Navy connect with their consumers check out this link http://bit.ly/jfj6nJ

Fair Trade Coffee...Good Vibes for Everyone

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am rarely seen without a cup of coffee in my hand. I drink a minimum of a pot a day. So, that being said I KNOW my coffee! 

I received Green Mountain Coffee for free from BzzAgent.com. What sets Green Mountain apart is that it's "Fair Trade" which basically means that it wasn't grown, or harvested using unfair labor practices. We work our 8 –12 hr day shifts, take breaks and bring home a fair paycheck each month As an American it’s difficult to imagine people working for basically slave labor in horrible working conditions… But this is why so many jobs are outsourced. Lower production costs mean cheaper prices for us…but what is the true cost? How many children are forced to work under these conditions while our kids sit in comfortable classrooms receiving an education? THIS is why Fair Trade is important. Green Mountain Coffee beans were grown, harvested and processed by workers who received a fair wage to support their families. So, with each cup I know that I'm helping to support the employees and their families…hopefully helping to keep small children at home or in school where they belong. http://fairtradeusa.org/

OK…so we know Green Mountain Coffee supports Fair Trade practices. But how does it taste? Because let’s face it, if it tastes like dirty dish water brewed through a filter full of cigarette butts we’re not going to drink it no matter how great the cause. Rest assured friends, it’s a good cup of brew.  It had a nice, strong, robust flavor. The coffee I received was already ground and it didn’t have that “oily” taste to it that I often associate with pre-ground coffee. It was a little bitter, but not bad. When I make lattes I actually prefer my coffee to be slightly bitter. It compliments the mocha and caramel quite well!

SO in honor of Green Mountain coffee and my love of caramel mocha lattes I’m going to give you a very simple latte recipe that requires no special equipment or talent...if you can make a glass of chocolate milk you can make this latte!

“Fake” Caramel Mocha Latte

• Pour the contents of two instant, powdered hot cocoa packets into your favorite coffee cup

• Fill your cup 2/3 full with Green Mountain Coffee
• Give a healthy squeeze of caramel syrup into the coffee and stir well. (Found next to the Hershey’s syrup in every grocery store!)
• Put a huge dollop of whipped cream on top
• Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar

 ENJOY!

Love Thy Denim

Thanks to Crowdtap and Woolite I was invited to a special event to sample and share Woolite that is specially formulated to protect denim. I love my dark denim and I'm willing to spend good money on just the right fit & cut. Luckily for me, I don't have to spend a fortune when I shop at Vanity. (Their sizes are measured waist x inseam) Check them out at evanity.com! However, even if I'm not spending a small fortune I love the jeans I do own and I want to make them last. Maybe that is why I was chosen for this cool opportunity.




The day I received my sample share kit in the mail, my dearest seester was at the house so she received the first sample! She was fairly excited, because she has a lot of dark clothes and swim suits that she wants to protect.

To prepare for my actual sample share party I chose a day when the majority of the females I'm closest to (aka family) are in one place at one time. We typically get together at Mom's house every Sunday for lunch so it seemed like the perfect opportunity! The sample share kit contained enough Woolite for one load of laundry per sample. (10 total) I wanted to really stress that it was to help preserve denim so I cut out the pockets of a bunch of destroyed jeans and used them as "gift bags". I also included a sealed bag of Purex scent boosting crystals and 2 Bounce dryer sheets. (Everything needed for one perfect load of laundry!) Then I made cute Woolite tags and attached them to the pockets with a clothes pin.

The day of the party we all met at Mom's house as usual. My sisters, sister-in-law, nieces, Mom, Aunt and brother were all present. YES I did make my brother get in on the action. As you can see, he wasn't exactly thrilled to be involved but I didn't exactly give him a choice.

After engorging ourselves on tacos we sat around Mom's living room & I explained to everyone how I had received the samples from Crowdtap. I then went on about how the Woolite was designed to not only clean darker colors but to protect them from fading and early-wear as much as possible. We joked about how we love this commercial and how the clothing torture is depicted in this awesome video made for Woolite and directed by Rob Zombie! Rob Zombie Woolite Commercial Much like me, my sisters wear primarily dark jeans and darker clothes. So this is a huge benefit. My niece asked if it had to be for jeans and I told her no, it's for anything you want to keep from fading so it continues to look like new. She glanced down and motioned at the new, gorgeous bright blue dress she was wearing and said "like this, right?!?" EXACTLY!! Why spend a ton of money on clothes just to ruin them in the wash? I find that it's cheaper in the long run to protect the clothes I DO have. I brought up the fact that I have jeans that are a year old that look as new as the jeans I bought within the past month. I only wash them every other time I wear them. I flip them inside out, use cold water and Woolite. I finish by line-drying them. The results speak for themselves.

We talked about Woolite for awhile and the conversation transcended into the clothes we most want to protect, eventually fading into general conversation. All in all, I had a great day with my family and I felt good knowing I was able to share a cool product that I love with everyone.



Do you want to experience cool opportunities like this? Join me on Crowdtap by following this link. http://bit.ly/jfj6nJ