Tuesday, January 17, 2012

ABE3 - Sponsor Spotlight - Summer Infant

By Jennifer (Double Duty Mommy) at 8:40 PM 22 commented
Please help me welcome my next ABE sponsor - Summer Infant!
I was sent the Carter's Wild Life Cuddle Me Musical Bouncer and this will be included in the "Baby Essentials Package"!!
The Carter's Wild Life Cuddle Me Musical Bouncer was extremely to put together that it literally took about 5 minutes from start to finish. The instuctions were the easiest and clearest instructions I think I've ever seen from something for a baby.
The suede-like material of the chair cover is extremely soft and I have no doubt that baby will love how comfy they are.
I love that the seat has a nice deep/round pocket for baby to be comfortable in. The bouncer features deluxe fabrics with adorable embroidery detail, a giraffe themed head support, musical melodies, nature, womb sounds, soothing vibrations, and a toybar with 3 soft toys. There is so so much to love about this bouncer.
Another huge plus for me is that the cover is machine washable and it's best to hang dry it! And just look how TT (Tiana) looks while testing out this Carter's Wild Life Bouncer. :)

I have always loved Summer Infant and all the great essential baby products that they carry like the Carter's brand. I can find practically every I need for a new baby in the house without having to shop anywhere else when it comes to baby gear.
The Wild Life bouncer retails for about $100 and can be purchased from Babies-R-Us (on sale for $64 right now!).

OR you can win this bouncer in my ABE3 "Baby Essentials" package - perfect for both boys or girls!!
When? January 23rd-January 28th.

Monday, January 16, 2012

ABE3 - Sponsor Spotlight - Maclaren Baby

By Jennifer (Double Duty Mommy) at 11:28 AM 35 commented
I am so excited to announce that I am a Maclaren Baby ambassador for 2012!! I truly love this brand and I am so happy to be representing them.

Last year Maclaren launched their new beautiful NettoCollection Linen Line full of beautiful lines and gorgeous colors. They recently sent me their one of their crib bedding sets and we cannot be happier with it. We don't really believe that blues are for boys and pinks for girls. Kendall wears blue cloth diapers and clothes so when we saw Menagerie Mezarine Blue crib set we fell in love with it, plus if we did ever have a baby boy in the future we'd use it for him. The set is made from Turkish cotton and I have washed the sheets a few times already and I can honestly say that the quality is just as divine as the style.
Unlike other crib sets Maclaren focuses on what is truly needed in a set. You get two (love this) fitted crib sheets, crib skirt, 1 reversible bumper, and a reusable duffel bag. The sleek skirt is incredible soft, thick and you can definitely feel the quality.
I know a lot of people don't care to use a bumper but we like them and they have proven their worth to us. For a while we stopped using a bumper and Kendall's arms and legs would get stuck and she'd wake up screaming and would be red. That's a different story though.

The flat style bumper in the Maclaren set we received is the fullest/thickest bumper I've ever felt. I love how sturdy is in it doesn't "sink" down and after the washes we've put it through it has still kept it's shape.
You can choose from 4 different colors - Menagerie Spicy Orange, Sea Coral Azalea, Sea Coral Jade Lime and of course Menagerie Mezarine Blue. Each set retails for $300 and can be purchased directly on the Maclaren Baby Shop.

OR you can win a set (in your choice color) in my ABE3 "Baby Essentials" package!!
When? January 23rd-January 28th.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

4moms mamaRoo Review and Giveaway

By Jennifer (Double Duty Mommy) at 4:40 PM 96 commented
Trying to figure out your new baby can be very challenging to say the least. Every baby is different, we all know that, and every baby likes to be smoothed differently.
When Kendall was born we quickly discovered she had colic and acid reflux. I knew about the 4moms mamaRoo but wasn't quite sure if we were going to make that purchase and before we knew it Kendall was too old for one. The mamaRoo is suitable for birth-6 months or up to 25lbs and baby can sit up unassisted.
Now I am able to review one and I really wish we had one for Kendall. but this will be great for baby #3.
Since I don't have a baby that can use the mamaRoo right now I inlisted in two "tester babies" to help me out. One is 4 days old and the other is 6 months.

The mamaRoo is a baby swing, bouncer and car all at once. How is that possible? Well 4moms put their heads together and it was unanimously decided that parents don't vibrate like a bouncy seat or swing like a swing. But rather thousands of parents scoop their little ones up in their arms and bounce and sway. 
mama said I could use his face but I opted not to :)
The mamaRoo offers 5 unique motions so you'll see it bounce up and down and sways from side to side just like you do when calming your baby.
Car Ride: A figure eight on its side. This was my younger tester baby's favorite. The slow setting was a bit too slow. We found setting 3 was perfect.

Kangaroo: Lots of up-and-down, less side-to-side. Even at it's fastest setting [speed 5] older tester baby got bored with this setting.

Ocean Wave: Big round circles. Another favorite. This time both young and old tester baby loved this setting very much.

Rock-A-Bye: Low on the sides, high in the middle. Both young and old tester baby liked Rock-A-Bye but older baby seemed to like it a bit more, especially on speed 4-5.

Tree Swing: Opposite of Rock-A-Bye, Tree Swing is high on the sides, low in the middle.

Here's a great video that shows you the 5 unique motions in action.



Everyone knows babies love to listen to music and sounds- with the mamaRoo you can choose from one of five nature sounds like wind, rain, and even white noise, or for something more your style you can connect your iPhone/iPod to your mamaRoo using the included jack. You also have control over the volume which is great. I wouldn't change anything about that setting, the loud is really loud - so no complaints there :)
4moms took play time very seriously and in their research of infant stimulation they found that the most important facets were the visuals themselves and their proximity to baby. There are two sides to the mamaRoo play toys: Black and White patterns maximize visual stimulations, and since newborns can only focus their eyes on objects 8-12inches from them, 4moms designed the mobile to remain at that distance from a baby's face. When your baby is older and can see colors better you can flip the toys around.
You can purchase the mamaRoo in two different fabric options and nine different pattern/color choices. The mamaRoo Plush is the newest addition to the mamaRoo family. The seat still zips in to be removable and washable just the same but in addition your baby will be cradled in soft plush material. Your other option is the original nylon material. My younger tester brought her own seat over (as you can see in the pictures) since her babe likes the nylon. Older tester did not like the nylon at all but loved the plush. I personally am in love with my Plush Paint Dot. I feel like the nylon is a little rough for baby so I'm glad 4moms has plush options now.
Plush retails for $239.99
Nylon retails for $199.99
4moms has kept things as green as possible because the mamaRoo runs off a power cord, not batteries.

My only couple mamaRoo requests are that there are more speed options. Even with 5 speeds it was still a bit slow. Also, I imagined the mamaRoo being taller so I was very surprised it was only 26" from floor to top of seat back and 12" inches from floor to bottom seat. I would like to see a taller mamaRoo so it's easier to get baby in and out of without the parent having to bend over so much. Lastly, I wish there was an option for batteries, in addition to the power cord. Sometimes people in apartments don't have as many wall outlets or if you're on the go in a hotel or just moving baby from room to room. 
mama said I could use it face but I opted not to.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, January 13, 2012

ABE3 Sneak Peek Announcement!

By Jennifer (Double Duty Mommy) at 5:42 PM 39 commented
I'm sure you all have heard about ABE from other blogs but I am excited to be a part of this huge event that starts in just under 2 weeks.

So wouldn't you all like a sneak peek at the awesome prizes I'll have for you??

My theme is Baby Essentials so if you are having a baby or know someone that is then this package is for you!

Summer Infant has donated a bouncer (in your choice pattern)! ARV $100!

Maclaren Baby has donated a crib bedding set (in your choice color)! ARV $300!!
Kolcraft has donated a Jeep Reclining Umbrella Stroller (pink or blue)! ARV $60

Tiny Tillia - by Avon has donated a $50 gift certificate so you can purchase clothes, nursery items, baby bath products or maybe something for your self! ARV $50

So tell me... are you excited for my Baby Essentials package that is valued at over $510?? :) ABE starts on Jan 23rd and will go on until Jan 28th. There will be a ton of ways to enter so you can't go wrong!

I will be linking up for more then 70 other bloggers with their own prize package that values $100+ so definitely check them out too!

Moving? Check This Out.

By Jennifer (Double Duty Mommy) at 5:00 PM 29 commented
My husband brought up a good point the other day. Our house is being taken over. Not by the kids and toys but by stuff. We both hate clutter so we've been looking for storage unit rentals to help us out since both the garage and attic are becoming too full to handle.
I donate as much review products that I can when we're done using them but somehow this blog has taken over the house. I love every part of my job but holy wow, something has to be done.
It made me think about maybe we just need a bigger house and then I found this cool infographic.

Enjoy :)

Are you going through a move right now? We have actually used Uncle Bob's in the past and they were so wonderful to work with. Plus, they let you use one of their moving trucks for free so you can move your stuff in and then again when you're ready to leave your unit!

Thursday, January 12, 2012

2012 Cadillac SRX Review

By Jennifer (Double Duty Mommy) at 7:49 AM 42 commented
Last week we had to let go of a gorgeous 2012 Cadillac SRX. We got to test drive this beauty for a week and it was amazing.
The 2012 Cadillac SRX is equipped to the max with all the great luxury features you'd expect from a Cadillac. The turbocharged V6 engine means it wont take forever to get from 0-60 like some huge SUVs on the market. Depending on how often you "put the pedal to the metal" you can get up to 18 city miles and 25 highway miles.
The Cadillac SRX is known as a crossover. It's bigger than a sedan but a little smaller than the typical SUV.
It's the perfect size for my family of 4 but for larger families it would be a tight fit, especially those with 3 kids in carseats.
The SRX is equipped with so many cool buttons and features galore that a week testing the car was not enough time to use all of them. The leather wrapped steering wheel has all the things you need right at your finger tips so you can focus on driving. Call someone, change the radio volume and you can even heat the steering wheel for those cold nights (or days as we even experienced here in Florida recently).
The center console area is the epitome of luxury and convenience. Standard features includes an audio system w/ navigation that houses a single CD/DVD player. The 8" touchscreen is a great size to see everything you need without having to squint. You can also connect your Bluetooth to the SRX and it will automatically upload all your phone contacts into the 40GB hard drive so you can use the call features and be hands-free while driving.

The Cadillac SRX comes standard with all the features you need like manual tilt and telescopic sheering wheel (good for short people like me), power adjustable break and gas pedal (they can come closer to you-again for short people like me, lol), driver's seat memory - a push of a button will remember your exact seat settings for you and your husband so it's easy to switch drivers, "ultraview" sunroof- The sun roof goes into the back seat as well, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, and so much more.

I was surprised at the fabulous gas mileage the SRX had. We averaged about 18MPG city and 24MPG highway which is slightly above the fuel economy estimates. Honestly, I believe that's better than our currant sedan cars which is just horrible to admit.

Other amazing features include:
■ On Star
■Keyless entry system (you don't need the key to open the doors)
■Remote vehicle start
■Cargo shade. Great to cover up shopping bags in the trunk area!
■Universal Home Start. You can start the car from inside your home! Great for the winter.
■XM Radio & service
■Bose system with 10 speaker 5.1 surround sound

We were so impressed with the Cadillac SRX and I have now decided that I am definitely a Cadillac type of girl. I test drove the Escalade hybrid back in August and I still talk about that car. Cadillac is a must it my life and I cannot go back to a "normal" car.

Disclosure: We test drove the 2012 Cadillac SRX for 8 days thanks to Cadillac and GM SouthEast. All opinions of this amazing car are those of me and my family.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

bloom launches-bloom zen and bloom yoga

By Jennifer (Double Duty Mommy) at 7:12 AM 28 commented
I am here to tell you all about an amazing little stroller that is about to hit the States and how beside myself in excitement I am to try this baby out!
Bloom, the globally coveted baby furniture and gear brand renowned for their iconic collections including the fresco, coco, luxo and alma, announces the launch of the award-winning bloom zen™ all-terrain stroller & bloom yoga™ newborn nest. Developed in collaboration with the French manufacturer BABYZEN, bloom zen & bloom yoga delivers the world’s slimmest folding, full-size all-terrain stroller and revolutionary newborn travel system.
Zen’s distinctly European design language is matched only by its engineering excellence. Groundbreaking engineering brings cutting edge folding, lighting and wheeling features, while the interchangeable and reversible seat cushions create personal zen for the child. Simple to move and easy to store, bloom zen boasts the most unique retracting compact-fold in the marketplace: with a flick of the wrist, it folds flat to an ultra-slim 9.8”! Freestanding when flat-folded, zen is designed for multi-directional wheeling without the need to lift (much like a rollable suitcase), and can be easily stashed in a closet, car trunk or other tight space.
Elevating road safety to a new level, bloom’s zen introduces the first-ever fully integrated solar lighting system. Located at the front of the stroller frame, a safety light can be activated to shine either full-beam or flashing hazard lights, with an auto switch-off after two minutes. The light is powered by three AAA batteries, which are recharged by environmentally sound solar panels. To ensure a smooth ride, the puncture-proof wheels have front and rear shock absorbers with the front wheel also boasting a patented anti-dribble mechanism.

The bloom yoga newborn nest is a 3-in-1 mobile travel bed, bassinet and portable bouncer that also functions as a parent-facing newborn cradle when placed upon the bloom zen. Complete with two recline positions and a high quality mattress foam for extra support, yoga provides snug and luxurious comfort on-the-go. as the slimmest travel bed solution in the industry, the lightweight newborn nest’s 10lb frame folds completely flat to less than 6” for easy carry and smart, space-saving storage. yoga also meets tough IATA size restrictions for in-flight usage.
bloom zen & bloom yoga will be sold exclusively in The Americas from early 2012.
Available now for pre-registration at bloombaby.com/pre-register the bloom zen all-terrain stroller will retail for $799 and the bloom yoga newborn nest will retail for $250. Available in the USA in early 2012 at giggle and selected bloom specialty retailers nationwide.

Yes, both are a bit pricey but seriously, this stroller and baby seat are just to die for in my opinion and if you're looking for a high-end luxury modern stroller than the zen and yoga are the way to go!

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

How To Contribute To Your Family

By Jennifer (Double Duty Mommy) at 8:12 AM 34 commented
I think if you ask most moms their dream is to be a stay at home mom. You know your kids will have fun, will be fed on time, get the right amount of naps in (even if the child doesn't agree), and most of all they are safe in your care. Of course there are other benefits from staying at home with your children but one downfall is your family income might suffer with only one parent working.

When John and I were trying for baby #2 we decided that I would be a stay at home mom once the baby was born. Little did we know how horribly sick I would become in the first 5 months of pregnancy which kept me from working at around 5 weeks and on. Since having Kendall it's been amazing to stay at home with her. I put my first daughter in day care for about 2 months when she was 7 months old and I don't know how I was able to do it. I can't imagine Kendall going to day care just so I could work.
Our family income did take a dip in the beginning but once we worked out our finances it's been uphill ever since.
I'm not saying it's easy, it definitely isn't, but we don't ever second guess our decision for me to stay home with the kids and I've never needed to look for jobs on www.workingmums.co.uk/ or any other online job search website.

Workingmums is a great resource for mom's in the UK so I'm glad there is a legit place on the Internet that can help stay at home moms find ways to help supplement the family income by working at home, I just wish moms in the USA could find a good place to find work from home.

Are you a stay at home mom that now has to work?

Monday, January 9, 2012

Mr. Chewy Pet Food Delivery - Review and Giveaway!

By Jennifer (Double Duty Mommy) at 9:18 AM 34 commented
Having a pet has brought so much love and joy into our home for the past 3 years and I couldn't imagine our family without Saydie. There are some negatives about having a pet and one of the major ones for me is shopping for her food. Driving to the pet specialty store, lugging around the huge bag in in the cart then struggling to put it in the car and again out of the car once I'm home. It's just too much work for food if you ask me.

Well that's where Mr. Chewy comes in and I'm so glad I found it. Mr. Chewy delivers pet happiness by conveniently shipping 70+ brands of pet food and stuff. You wont pay high costs at Mr. Chewy, nope, you will pay the same amount that you would at any pet food store except you will save money from the gas and time it saves.

I was able to review Mr. Chewy's website and all the top brand names they offer like Blue Buffalo, Orijen, and Taste of the Wild. Mr. Chewy makes it so easy to find the exact food and product you are looking for. Shop by Brand, Lifestage, or Specialty products that you need for your dog or cat.

What I love about Mr. Chewy
■ Variety of brands, food, treats and other products available
■ Free 1-2 day shipping on orders over $49
■ Auto delivery schedules available and a discount when you subscribe to one
■ customer service with phone and live chat support available
■ 365 day return policy with a full refund, including return shipping
■ Refer a friend program where Mr. Chewy will donate $10 to an animal charity

Sadly Mr. Chewy does not carry the brand of food that we buy for our dog so instead I decided to get some food for my parents dog. I placed my order on the 3rd and was so surprised when Fedex delivered the food on the 5th! I am in love with the fast shipping so even if you're running low on food you can place your order and expect it on your door step either the next day or two days later.
We are in love with Mr. Chewy and the amazing service that we were provided. I was having trouble placing my order so I had to call into customer service. I got help right away and the people over the phone were extremely nice. Turns out my problem was no big deal and everything was situated with 2 minutes! Love that.

I have a treat for you (or rather your pet!). Mr. Chewy is going to give one DDM reader a $25 gift certificate to use in their store!


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure: I was provided with the featured item at no cost by the manufacturer and/or its PR agency in order to test the products abilities and give my own personal opinions on it. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others. I did not receive any other monetary means.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

After School Snack - #TysonGoodness #CBias

By Jennifer (Double Duty Mommy) at 12:41 PM 37 commented
School is back in session and I soon remembered that my daughter needs a snack when she gets home from school. Her lunch time is around 10:30, which is just crazy to me, so needless to say she is starving when she gets home at 4:30.

I ran to my closest Walmart and picked up some more Tyson Mini Chicken Sandwiches recently because as you've heard in the past from me we love them. Only select Walmart stores carry them right now so you might want to check out TysonGoodness.com first to find a location near you but I already know which Walmart near me carries them so I was good to go - check out my Google+ story.

They were out of the regular sandwiches so I bought the Mini Chicken Sandwiches with Cheese this time and my daughter was so glad I did.
I just pop these babies in the microwave for 45 seconds, flip the package over then microwave for another 45 seconds and bam - done! How's that for a quick snack? Less then 2 minutes and my daughters have a yummy snack that will hold them over until dinner time.

Kendall wont eat the breading so I just cut up the chicken for her to snack on. Makenna on the other hand loves the sandwich and loved it even more with cheese.

I'm happy to know that I can buy the Mini Chicken Sandwiches with Cheese because I was afraid the cheese would get hard/crispy but that didn't happen. The cheese was hot, and melty and even after a few minutes of the sandwich cooling down the cheese still stayed melty and didn't turn hard.

There is still some time for you to snag two boxes and get a $5 Walmart gift card in return. Check out how right here.
This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias. All opinions about Tyson Mini Chicken Sandwiches are those of mine and my family.

Friday, January 6, 2012

Tangled Ever After Sneak Peek Clip!

By Jennifer (Double Duty Mommy) at 10:51 PM 32 commented
I am so excited, tomorrow I am attending a sneak peak of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 3D for the first time in theatres but what I am even more excited for is Tangled!
My family loves this movie. Yep, whole family. When it's just me and the hubby up late at night he actually opts to put Tangled on when Showtime is airing it and a more "guy friendly" movie. Tangled is just awesome.

For those of you who have to wait another week to see Beauty and the Beast 3D I am now allowed to show you a clip from the new Tangled short film that called Tangled Ever After!!



Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Britax B-Ready and B-Safe Giveaway

By Jennifer (Double Duty Mommy) at 9:41 PM 203 commented
I've loved Britax for as long as I can remember and we are still very loyal to our Boulevard 70 Carseat. It's not just me though, as anyone and Britax is definitely a trusted brand. Britax has been the leader in mobile safety for more than 70 years and with their uncompromising focus it has made Britax the best-selling child car seat in Europe and one of the brands most trusted by American parents and caregivers since entering the U.S. market in 1996.
Beside making amazing car seats, Britax makes three different types of strollers to accommodate your needs.
  • Full-size strollers that are appropriate from 6 months (or from birth when used with an infant car seat) up to 55 pounds.
  • Compact-fold strollers that are appropriate from 6 months, up to 55 pounds.
  • Modular strollers that are appropriate from 6 months (or from birth when used with an infant car seat) up to 55 pounds and can accommodate up to 2 children.
The Britax B-Ready stroller is a full-size modular strollers that are appropriate from 6 months (or from birth when used with an infant car seat) up to 55 pounds and can accommodate up to 2 children.
What makes his stroller so amazing is that there are over 14 different configurations. Yes, you read that right, over FOURTEEN ways you can change up the stroller to fit your family's needs!
The B-Ready is integrated with the Click & Go car seat adapter. The CLICK & GO system is the heart of the B-READY stroller and is what makes the strollers modular. The integrated receivers enable you to position the top seat forward or rear-facing, attach a bassinet, or attach an infant car seat to create a travel system. The B-READY stroller accept the BRITAX CHAPERONE and B-SAFE Infant Car Seats as well as the Bassinet without having to purchase additional adapters. The CLICK & GO feature makes life easier by enabling all BRITAX infant car seats to simply “click” into BRITAX strollers and create convenient travel systems!

Another notable features include: 
  • Reversible top seat with 3 recline positions
  • Large under seat storage accessible from all sides
  • Large canopy with sun-visor and ventilation window
  • Simple fold with automatic chassis lock
  • Adjustable handle height
  • No re-thread, adjustable, five-point harness and head pad
  • One-step linked brake locks both rear wheels with one step
  • All-Wheel Suspension provides for a smooth ride
  • Removable storage bag with insulated drink holders
  • Included accessories: adult cup-holder, rain cover, CLICK & GO BRITAX infant car seat adapters.
Now let's talk car seat. As I've said the B-Ready is already equipped to hold the Britax Chaperone or Britax B-Safe but if you already have another car seat, don't worry, the B-Ready will hold another brands such as:  Chicco Key Fit, Chicco Key Fit 30, Graco Snugride 32, Graco Snugride 35, and Peg Perego Primo Viaggio when you purchase the car seat adapter frame for $49.99

But we want to talk about the B-Safe!
The B-Safe is a rear facing infant car seat that will hold a baby that is 4-30lbs! It features Side Impact Protection which distributes crash forces, shields from vehicle intrusion, and contains the head and body. Further-more the B-Safe is equipped with a tangle-free, 5-point harness that distributes crash forces across the strongest parts of the body and provides a secure fit.

  • Energy-Absorbing Foam Liner absorbs and distributes crash forces
  • Four Harness Heights and Two Buckle Positions for your growing child
  • Removable Comfort Pillow, shoulder pads, and belly pad provide extra comfort
  • Stroller Compatible Design Integrated CLICK & GO adapter system works with BRITAX B-Series strollers.
  • Lightweight and travel-friendly for vehicle and stroller compatibility
  • Adjustable Base has five positions for proper seat angle and positioning
  • 30-pound Weight Capacity for safety and comfort through the first years
  • Large Multiple Position Canopy blocks wind, rain, and harmful UV rays from baby's sensitive skin
  • Ergonomic Carry-Handle designed to contour to forearm to allow for more comfortable carrying of child in car seat
  • Premium Lower LATCH Connectors for a quick and simple installation featuring a push button for easy release
  • Built-in Lock-Offs ensure a snug lap and shoulder belt installation with minimal effort
  • Front Harness Adjuster provides effortless front adjustment when loosening the harness system
  • Easy-to-Read Level Indicators provide quick reference for proper angle of recline
  • Easy-to-Install Seat-to-Base Design self-guides car seat into proper locked position
  • Easy-to-Install Base with LATCH Connector Storage (Included)
  • Certified for Aircraft Travel 

I cannot wait to put my little babe in this system and still be able to stroll around Kendall without dragging around a huge and heavy double stroller. And just to be clear, no, I'm not pregnant but hopefully we will be next year.
If you need this system now then you're in luck! Britax is letting me giveaway the full travel system - B-Ready Stroller and B-Safe Car Seat to one lucky reader. That's a $680 value!!


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure: I did not receive any other monetary means. Giveaway prize is provided by the company or PR agency. Prize is the sole responsibility of the company or PR agency and not those of Double Duty Mommy.

Money Saving Tips for 2012

By Jennifer (Double Duty Mommy) at 10:55 AM 56 commented
I am so excited for it to be January so I can mark my savings from day one. I began meal planning a few months ago and buying in bulk with coupons but now it's going to be great to see how much I can save in 12 full months. So This year I have 5 money saving goals I wish to hit.

1. Clip Coupons. Yes I already do this but I want to get better at it and learn more. No, I'm not going to become an "extreme couponer" but I'll do my best so spend practically nothing at the grocery store. I am determined to find more promo codes online that can be used in store as well.

2. Pack My Husband's Lunch. This is a big one for us. My husband loves his sleep so in the morning he's always running too late to stop and make his lunch. I want to pack his lunch the night before so there is no "Oh no. I need to eat out" moments... although I'm sure he is just fine with eating out everyday, I'm not.

3. Buy Generic. I am a stickler for name brand. I'm not sure why since I didn't grow up always eating name brand. Almost every grocery store offers a generic version of the product you want from food to medicine and huge discount prices. I need to remember that "generic" isn't a bad word and it will probably taste the same or do the job just as well.

4. Save Money At Restaurants. Read my twitter feed and you will see that my family eats out almost every single day. Yep, whether it be for lunch or dinner we are always eating out. We have food in the house so it really boils down to being lazy and not wanting to cook or clean up the mess. Although I'm sure we aren't ready to cut out eating out all together I know there are things we can do to cut costs. Going to a restaurant with a "Kids Eat Free" option could save us at least $10, ordering water instead of soda could also save my family of four at least $6. Also going to a restaurant without the Kids Eat Free meal plan is still an option if we were to order a "2 for $20" plan which usually includes an appetizer and two entrees, then splitting the food up 4 ways could save my family around $15-20!

5. Get Cash Back. There are lots of places that offer cash back options for the things I already buy. One way I've already been doing this is my using my PayPal Business Debit Card. Every time I use the card as credit I believe I get 1% cash back. It doesn't seem like much but I use my card a lot and it definitely adds up.

So as you see, most of my goals include spending less money on food. This is probably our only spending issue and it definitely needs to be "fixed" by any ways possible.

How do you save money on the things you need on a daily basis?

Monday, January 2, 2012

Weight Loss in 2012

By Jennifer (Double Duty Mommy) at 5:28 PM 20 commented
To start the year off right most resolve to lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle. This time honored resolution is well, time honored and all too often futile.

Around this time you may hear lots of things from people
“I resolve to eat better” This means you will wake up 30 minutes sooner to prepare breakfast and abandon you lunch time haunts. Not everyone is prepared for this.
“I resolve to eat less” Uh... that's the same thing as "I'm going to starve myself to lose weight!"
“I resolve to exercise more” Pretty much this means you have to find time in your schedule to go to the gym for an hour 4 times a week.



This year my husband and I have joined team weight loss. I just want to be more fit and active and he well, he needs to lose all the sympathy baby weight he gained (and is still gaining) when I was pregnant with Kendall.

There are lots of different ways to do this but we are going with the time honored tradition of a gym and eating better. My husband's new work schedule allows him to be home most days by 2pm so he is going to take the dog on a long walk/run then the whole family will hit the gym. Our gym has a child care facility so it's easy for us all to go together.

Regardless of whether you have resolved to lose weight because you want to look good or you want feel great, it can be a resolution that you can keep if you have a little patience and some help. You could be looking good and feeling great by spring – if you get started now.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Welcome 2012

By Jennifer (Double Duty Mommy) at 8:23 PM 15 commented
Happy New Year everyone!

Last night was a pretty uneventful night and I'm OK with that. I feel extremely old since I fell asleep at 10:30pm and only watched about 5 minutes of the Dick Clark Rockin' Eve Special.

The Christmas vaca from the blog was much needed and well deserved if you ask me. We stayed busy and the day after Christmas was my 27th Birthday - again, I feel old!
Unlike some people in my circle I am sad to see 2011 go. It was a figuring out our financials, and top headline news of Bin Laden's death, along with celeb news like Kim Kardashian's not so long marriage. Of course my amazing trip to BlogHer11 happened in August and while I was at BlogHer11 I was able to cross off one of my "to do" things before I die - participate in a Flash Mob! Operation Glory will go down in history as one of the most amazing things I was a part of.

My daughters grew up this year. Kendall turned 1 and Makenna turned 7. I am still trying to wrap my head around how those two things happened. I thought I just gave birth to those two yesterday.

2012 has big shoes to fill but I have no doubt it's going to be bigger and brighter than 2011 was. I have lots of great things lined up for this blog and for all you amazing readers as well so I do hope you stick around to read my craziness.
So many giveaways and changes will be happening that I'm sure I'll lose my mind soon enough while I try to keep up with it all.

Also, I plan on moving to Wordpress this year. I am currently in search for someone fantastic to work with for my move and possible new redesign. So if you know anyone then please tell me.

Here's to you 2012!