Something Like Life

Mom Blog Society Presents the KitchenAid Classic Stand Mixer Giveaway Event! Prize Sponsored by: American FamilyOpen to US Residents 18 years of age and over


Mom Blog Society: A Bloggers Network- bringing Brands and Bloggers together from around the world Event Co-hosted by:Powered by Mom | Mom to Bed by 8| Mom Does Reviews | Mommy Moments from Abby| By the Way GirlfriendIf you are like me, a kitchen aid mixer is one of those things on your list of must haves! Not that i have one :/ well now is your chance to WIN ONE! Just enter on the raffle copter below!

With the school season FAST approaching , as it always seems to do , I (fishingforsavings) decided to buy some goodies, throw a giveaway and hopefully help some of you with your Back To School costs! THE PRIZES: A Backpack full of school supplies including: BackpackCrayonsWashable markersColored Pencils#2 PencilsEraser Pencil TopppersPencil SharpenerCalculatorGlue SticksKid ScissorsRuler ( I forgot to get 2 of these so I will randomly pick the bag it goes in SORRY)Water Color Paints1 Subject Notebook

Whew what a hot start to the weekend! Some of you may remember that last year our roof got totaled in a hail storm. Well we had finished the main house part but the garage still wasn't finished and this weekend that was our mission! It was hot and humid but we got it done.........almost.lol We ran 6 shingle short......yep....6! So off to Lowes we go :0) but that is ok i have a bunch of extras to get my money back on.
I hope everyone is having an amazing Saturday. Enjoy some olympic games and cheer on whom ever you support.GO USA!

Every year about 5,000 people are kill by being struck by a car and nearly 60,000 people are injured. Sadly while those facts are alarming they only account for pedestrians and many of them were children. From dusk till dawn is the most dangerous time to be walking around. Even driving as slow as 30 MPH a car may not see you till they are 50 feet away, leaving little time for reaction.

What a crazy night! While here in West Texas rain is not a really common thing in the summer, it does happen. When it does happen the storms are CRAZY and yet amazing all at the same time. Last night was no different. While the weather channel only reports 0.17 inches of rain here they are usually a bit off. The ground is still wet(which doesn't happen easily) and there are puddles about. We spent 3 hours awake with our daughter(by we I mean me ;o) ) she really isn't a fan of thunder at all no matter how old she gets. The garden however is in LOVE with it! Here is an update on the happenings in the garden.






There is more rain coming today, tonight and tomorrow! I can't wait :O) I better get out and weed whack before it rains more.lol

Happy new school year everyone!

All of our boys are early risers. There have been many mornings when one of the younger ones will come into our room before the sun is even up, ready to start the day. We have to continually send them back to their room. The Stoplight Alarm Clock is the perfect solution! It's a visual aid that shows kids when it's time to get up. The clock features red and green lights that can be easily set by parents. When the red light is on, kids know that it is still time to sleep. When the green light turns on, it gives kids the all clear to get out of bed. A digital clock and optional beeping alarm function are also included.

Whew what a fun filled week! Last of the new giveaways today.



Notebooks are a back to school staple. Ecojot.com, which is based in Ontario, provides a variety of notebooks and other paper products, including calendars, jounals and sketchbooks. What makes them different though is that all of their stationary products are made from 100% post-consumer recycled paper. Not only are their products eco-friendly but they're also fun! Designer Carolyn Gavin gets inspiration from different artistic genres found in her travels and varying facets of life. I was sent the MP3 red notebook.   My kids love music so they really liked the design on the front. the notebook is really good quality. I can't stand when the spirals aren't done well and the paper gets caught or the pages won't turn. I didn't have any pf those problems with the ecojot notebook. Another thing I love about this company is that they give back through their GIVE program.

I am sure you have realized that both Belinda and I are seeking greener lifestyles for our growing families. One of the ways I was interested in "greening up" was my school supplies. That is why I was so excited to learn that we would get to partner with the Ultimate Green Store for our Back to School event! The Ultimate Green Store is one of the biggest retailers of eco-friendly and organic products. They have a huge selection of back-to-school products (including BPA-free lunchboxes and eco-backpacks) and baby and kids products as well as a wide variety of products for the home (including organic bedding and eco-kitchen products). I have been drooling over their selection of organic baby bedding ever since we found out we are expecting out 4th. I was sent a box of Soybean Blend Crayons. Living up to their name, the package arrived in

Don't forget the biggest part of school. THE SNACKS!

Part of the school year is packing lunches and making sure you have snacks handy when the kids get home from school. I don't know what time your kids eat lunch at school but our girls are eating at 11. When they get home at 3:30 they are hungry and ready for a snack. We have a pretty hard and fast rule that before you go out and play you have a snack and get your homework done. Then the rest of the evening is open to fun and games! But finding the right snacks can be hard. I love giving our kids Annie's products for their lunches or for an after school snack. I was sent some of their bunny crackers and fruit snacks. All three kids really enjoyed these! The bunny crackers are especially nice for our toddler. The crackers are just the right size for his little hands. PLUS, I can read and pronounce every item that goes into these little bunny crackers: "ORGANIC WHEAT FLOUR, EXPELLER PRESSED VEGETABLE OIL…

Its that time again! Look at this great back to school giveaway!
Learning Resources is my go-to place for Educational purchases and resources. I am super excited to share this review and giveaway with you. It is simple and extremely useful too. It is a set of 4 Super Strong Magnetic Clips...each capable of holding up to 20 pounds! Since there were four and each was a different color, I let each child select one to be their own personal magnet. The last color left is being used for the baby in my belly! Right now the magnets are holding artwork and stuff, but come school time, you can easily see how useful they will be! Each child can clip their permission slips, homework assignments etc.. onto their OWN magnet! It will make the school year so much easier.

I love this giveaway for back to school!



I've mentioned before about how I really like to try and stay organized. With so many activities for the kids, I need some help keeping track of all the dates and times. The Mom's Plan-It 17 Month Calendar by Families With Purpose is perfect for that! It's a great way to keep track of important dates and appointments. I was sent the 2013 Mom's Plan It Christian Engagement Calendar. This is the same as the standard version but has a Bible verse on the cover.

Here we go more great items to help your kids get ready for school! Who is excited??

I remember how fun it was picking out new school supplies. I loved all the new pencils, erasers, and other neat things I would use. My boys are the same way. They love going to the school store to pick out new items. Raymond Geddes sells supplies that are not only functional but fun! They supply students with imaginative and affordable pens, pencils, mechanical pencils, erasers and other school supplies designed for school stores, classrooms, and education fundraising. They offer so many neat items! We were sent a variety pack of supplies. The first things we saw were these adorable pencils holders.

It is great to strive and become more eco-friendly. However, in some areas it can a little hard. One of my struggles has been finding a reusable water bottle that keeps my drinks iced and cold for longer than 1 hour at a time. So many of them just do not keep my drinks cold. When I find one that works, well, I cannot help but tell everyone about and let me tell ya...Eco Vessel rocks!

My boys are always ready for a snack. This is especially true once school starts. The first words out of their mouths when they walk in the door are "Can we have a snack??". So, I was happy to try out Funky Monkey Snacks. These snacks are made from full fresh slices and pieces of freeze-dried fruit. I love that the snacks are healthy and my kids love that they are delicious!

You probably think we have gone mad with this  many giveaways! Well we have.lol


We go through a lot of baggies when we pack lunches. With 3 kids in school right now, it adds up quickly. Not only can this be expensive, but I also hate all the plastic trash it adds to the landfills. ReUsies are the perfect solution! They're the re-usable alternative to sandwich/snack bags. ReUsies are 100% cotton lined with leak-resistant nylon and are secured with Velcro® closures. ReUsies come in 2 sizes, sandwich and snack. They have many different patterns and colors to choose from.

How is everyone liking this awesome giveaway event?? Well here is another one have fun and good luck!

My kids eat the school lunch at times and like to take it at other times. On the days they pack, I try to make sure it's something tasty as well as nutritious. GoPicnic makes it easy! They provide a wide variety of nutritious ready-to-eat meals. All of their meals contain no trans fats, no high fructose corn syrup, no MSG, and no artificial flavors and colors. Many of their meals are also gluten free (make sure to check the ingredients label to see which ones are included). These pre-packaged meals are SO much better than the lunchables my kids are always begging for, both in taste and nutrition. They have combos such as Turkey Pepperoni + Cheese, Hickory Farms Beef, Cheese & Crackers, Sunbutter + Crackers, and Peanut Butter + Crackers, just to name a few. We received the Turkey Pepperoni + Cheese and the Peanut Butter + Crackers meals.

You have probably noticed that lately there have not been a lot of personal posts. So sorry about that and I promise it will be coming back real soon :O) I've entered a new phase in my life lately, as my blog progresses I seem to be becoming the person I use to be. I never really talk about it but until 7 years ago I was in an extremely abusive relationship...or a relationshit as my now husband calls them.lol I always thought I was a strong woman but recently I have realized how far down I had really gotten. I have been spending a lot of time going through my house. A house that well...lets just face it was in complete disarray! the last two weeks while I am blessed to have all these back to school giveaways going on I have been focusing on my life and getting it in order. Now I will admit with hanging head that in two weeks I have thrown away over 20 bags of trash out of my house and made almost $500 in garage sale profits with another big one coming this Friday. as I sit here t…

Whew here is another great giveaway from Mudpies and Tiaras! Are you ready for school yet??



If you like Bento boxes, flat rate shipping and all things eco-friendly, then stay tuned for an awesome review and giveaway from Laptop Lunches. I have heard all about Bento boxes but have never owned one before. Laptop Lunches allowed me to select one of their boxes to try out. I tried the Black/Avo.

Don't worry we are just getting started! Thanks again Mudpies and Tiras for sharing this event with us.


 When you have kiddos in school packing lunches can consume quite a bit of your time. Having a good lunch box is essential for the school year. I was pleased with the selection I found available at Lunchboxes.com. I was able to choose a lunchbox to review and I selected the Hardliner.
The blue divider is removable if you do not need it. If you do want it, you can easily store grapes on one side and a sandwich on the other. or something similar. My husband takes a lunch to work 6 days a week. It has to stay cold in the elements and be quick and easy for him to eat on the run. Typically he wants a wrap, dressing to dip it in and a drink. I fit that all in plus room for an ice pack! The model of the Hardliner I received has a very small zipper pocket on the outside for slipping in a napkin or fork. But, Lunchboxes.com is giving one reader a Hardliner and that lunchb…

Nope your eyes aren't playing tricks on you :O) there are two giveaways today for the back to school event ;O)

We strive to use eco-friendly products in our house whenever possible. So, I was excited to learn about Wexy Bags! They're eco-friendly snack bags that are BPA free and biodegradable! They are perfect for kids' lunch boxes and even have 4 funky monsters on them. Wexy Bags were created by two moms who were dedicated to the health of their kids. Together, they developed bags that helped to make healthy eating fun.   My kids loved the bags! They thought they were so neat and loved the monsters :)

As promised here is another great back to school giveaway from Mud Pies and Tiaras :O)

 I'm a picture fanatic! I love taking pictures, especially of my kids. We also love sending photo cards. All of my hubby's family lives out of state and most of mine does as well so it's a great way to share holidays and such with them as well as friends. I was so excited to find CrinkledNose.com! They offer a huge selection of personalized announcements, invitations, and holiday cards. But what makes Crinkled Nose unique is that they offer the option of turning their cars and invites into magnets! How neat is that?! We get several photo cards during the holidays and I struggle with how to display them. Photo magnet cards are the perfect solution! Now grandparents have the perfect way to show off the grand kids. They don't have to worry about the cards getting lost or damaged. I decided to create my own 4th Of July card. The process was super easy. I just picked the te…

Welcome to the $50 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway! Hosted by Giveaway Promote. Sponsored by HappyFreebie.   At HappyFreebie, we're all about cool, new products that make your life better and easier.   If you take the time to learn about each product and share it, we give you entries to win. If you want to try the product, we give you 40% off.   And to make it all worth your time, we give you points, we call them "honey bees." When you get a certain number of honey bees (see the how it works page) you get double entries, an extra 10% off, and eventually a product of your choice free!   Check out Happy Freebie today and start winning, saving, and playing!  
Enter to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card.This giveaway is open Worldwide.It will end at 11:59pm EST on August 5th, 2012. a Rafflecopter giveawayBloggers, join us in an upcoming group giveaway event like this one!Sign up to be emailed about future events hosted by Giveaway Promote.   If you'd like to hear about all group g…

are you ready for school yet! Here is another great giveaway to get you ready.
My absolute favorite place for kids shoes is Umi Children's Shoes! They have a great selection, amazing quality and some awesome customer service to boot. All 3 of our kids have Umi shoes and wear them proudly. Knowing that the start of school is just around the corner, I knew we wanted Umi shoes for our kids again. Umi graciously sent me a pair for our daughters and a pair for our toddler son. For our daughters we received the Payce in Black.

Here is another great giveaway in the series of back to school giveaways! I hope we can help you get ready :O)

Do your kids have a passion for anything? Our middle daughter, has a soft spot in her heart for Panda's. She loves them and collects them and worries about them becoming extinct. One of her dreams is to visit China and see the Pandas living in their natural environment. At one point she had a dream to ride a panda. LOL! Anyways, when looking for Back to School items and panda themes, I literally stumbled across Pandas International. In case you are wondering, yes, they are a non-profit organization with a great mission! (The following is taken directly from their website)  

I'm so glad to have the chance to once again team up with Mud Pies and Tiaras to offer my readers some great giveaways! The next couple of days will be pack with so many great back to school giveaways ENJOY!


What says "Back To School" more than a new backpack?? I know this is a highlight for my boys. They love picking out the perfect new backpack to fill with all their school supplies for the first day. I recently found a great site called WhyNotBackpacks.com. They offer a great selection of messenger bags and backpacks for kids, from elementary to high school. Not only do the bags come in really neat designs, but they're also high quality. I let me nine-year-old pick out a backpack to review.

So this post is totally random but you know what a struggle my garden has been this year. I went out to water this evening and there they were 4 little pumpkins ready for the picking. I'm not sure they will be good at halloween but i guess we will see! Funny how the plant I have no idea where it came from is the one doing the best :)

Swim suits...........what can be said. At some point in our lives we all need them.lol Let's face it though sometimes shopping for a swim suit can be quite a daunting task. Nothing wants to fit right, you go from store to store and brand to brand looking for just the right suit. Recently I was given an opportunity to review SwimSpot.com. Now I'll admit I have been wearing the same swim suit for the last 11 years.......yep through 3 children and 30 pounds heavier I was still sporting that bikini. For your safety don't picture that :oP. Needless to say this opportunity was very appreciated. SwimSpot.com has so many incredible features on its site.Suits available from 12 different designers for all ages of women, which leaves you not running from store to store looking, or site to site even. Their bikini builder lets you mix and match together pieces from some of your favorite brand like Hurley and Next. My favorite feature though is the Fit Specialist. Everyone has a differen…