Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Frigidaire "Adventures in Clean"


Do you hate dirty laundry as much as I do?  I always manage to lose a sock or damage a piece of clothing, or my laundry comes out less than clean.  Here are a few steps to follow to help you get cleaner clothes!  (Thanks to Frigidaire and Tara Aronson)
  1. Immediately rinse or blot away spills on your clothes with cool water to prevent stains from setting.
  2. Read fabric care labels before you wash. Your clothes will last longer if you know how to treat them.
  3. Sort laundry by color, wash cycle needed, and water temperature required. The Frigidaire Affinity’s Permanent Press cycle washes with warm water and less agitation, resulting in less wear and tear on your sturdy jeans, khakis, and sweaters; the Delicates cycle uses cold water and light agitation to gently clean swimsuits, workout clothes, and lingerie.
  4. Before washing stained garments, pretreat or prewash the spot using the Affinity’s Rinse & Spin cycle. If at first you don’t succeed, wash, wash again.
  5. To keep snags and lint to a minimum, zip zippers, button buttons, empty pockets, and brush away lint before tossing duds in the hamper.
  6. If your clothing is heavily soiled, your load large, or the water cold, add extra laundry detergent. Use the Affinity’s Heavy Duty cycle for sturdy but really dirty items like jeans and towels; choose the Sanitize setting to use the hottest water available to get rid of germs and grime as thoroughly as possible.
  7. Check wet garments for remaining stains, and re-treat as needed before drying. Heat will set stains.
  8. Dry only full loads. Tumbling a handful of garments prolongs the drying time by reducing the tumbling.
  9. Fold shirts and T-shirts to prevent wrinkling. If the shirt has buttons, button it at top, middle and bottom. Lay facedown. Fold both sides of the shirt so they meet in the back, with the sleeves aligned with the side folds. Fold the tail up to the cuffs, making a straight line at the bottom. Then fold in thirds crosswise. For T-shirts: a child’s T-shirt needs only one crosswise fold in half; an adult’s should be folded into thirds.
  10. Fold shorts and pants by aligning the inseams and outer seams of the legs and fold so that a crease forms at the front center of the legs. Fold in half or in thirds, depending on the size of the garment.


If summer stains are more of a problem, here are more tips or you! (Thanks to Frigidaire and Tara Aronson)

Smudges, drips, drops and smears – no matter what their source, the key to keeping them from ruining your favorite shorts or T-shirt is to take quick action – before it gets a chance to dry.
For most fabrics, this means blotting up the excess or rinsing the discolored area with cold water (hot can set a stain.) Don’t rub: this spreads the spot and grinds it deeper into the fabric.
Summer spills are especially tough. Here’s how to remove the five most common:
1. Crayon.
Scrape off as much of the colorful surface as possible using a plastic picnic knife. Apply laundry detergent directly on the stained area. Gently rub the detergent into the fabric then let sit several minutes. Launder using the hottest water the fabric can handle - or the Sanitize setting of your Frigidaire Affinity washer. Dry as usual.
2. Iced coffee.
Sponge the stained area with cold water. Apply a pretreater to the blight. Wash as usual and air dry.
3. Grass.
Prewash the garment in warm water in your washing machine –the Rinse & Spin cycle on your Affinity washer – and a laundry detergent containing enzymes. Launder as usual (normal setting) with detergent and chlorine bleach if safe for the fabric. If the garment’s care label instructions advise against it, use oxygen (color safe) bleach instead. Dry as usual.
4. Juice.
Soak for a minute or so in cold water. Remove excess water, and then apply a pretreater directly on the stained area. Wash with detergent as usual. Air dry. Do not place in the dryer until the blight is completely gone – otherwise the stain is likely to set.
5. Chocolate (or chocolate ice cream).
Prewash the garment in warm water with a laundry detergent that contains enzymes using the Affinity’s Rinse & spin setting. Launder as usual, using the washing machine’s Normal setting. Dry as usual.
Right now, when you visit Facebook.com/Frigidaire and share their personal Adventures in Clean, Frigidaire will donate $1 to Save the Children, as part of its $750,000 commitment to the cause. It’s simple to share your Adventures in Clean – just upload a photo and the online app turns it into your very own movie poster! Plus, to help spread the word, everyone who participates will be entered for a chance to win a new Frigidaire Affinity® washer and dryer featuring Ready Steam™.

Why not give it a shot?  Who knows, maybe you could walk away with your own Frigidaire Affinity washer and dryer!!  

Disclosure:  By posting this information, I am eligible for a drawing!  All opinions are my own and although the information was provided to me, I was under no obligation to post and have not been compensated!

Monday, July 23, 2012

Brighten Up Your School Year with AstroBrights

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Astrobrights Papers by Neenah Paper for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

When I was a young child, I always looked forward to going back to school.  The teachers had these cute decorated bulletin boards and everything was fresh and new.  The school provided all the copy paper and our worksheets were mimeographed on that old machine that you had to add fluid to in order to print the work.  Ah, the good old days!  Fast forward to today and things are a lot different.  Now, the teachers have to provide their own paper to have worksheets printed.  No longer do the papers have that smell that the high schoolers all sniffed when they were passed out.  The teachers still decorate their bulletin boards, only now, they can spruce things up with AstroBrights papers.  

AstroBrights paper comes in 23 vibrant colors.  Teachers can make awesome bulletin boards with those colors!  Imagine the beautiful reports and projects that could be done!  Almost makes me wish I was back in school again!  

Right now, AstroBrights is running a "Give a Brighter Year Sweepstakes" where you can enter to win and help your local elementary school!  Enter and you could win cash prizes and school supplies valued at $30,000 for the school of your choice!  You could also win a $500 gift card for yourself!  All you have to do is Like AstroBrights on Facebook and then click “Go to App.”  The contest runs until September 10, 2012.  It is quick and simple to fill out the form!

You can also join the “Make Something Astrobright” design challenge where Astrobright wants you to share your projects with your pictures and video.  Check out #goastrobrights for all the awesome prodject and for some ideas!

Visit Sponsor's Site

Saturday, July 21, 2012

SEARS OPTICAL CELEBRATES AUGUST’S NATIONAL EYE EXAM MONTH


SEARS OPTICAL CELEBRATES AUGUST’S NATIONAL EYE EXAM MONTH BY GETTING FAMILIES READY FOR BACK-TO-SCHOOL


WHAT:           Sears Optical founded National Eye Exam Month in 1989 to build awareness about the importance of eye health and annual eye exams. During the month of August, as you are getting your family ready to head back-to-school, Sears Optical reminds you to make an appointment for an annual eye exam.

During the back-to-school season, Sears Optical customers can take advantage of special offers for the entire family. Adults and kids are able to receive two complete pairs of eyeglasses made with Ultralight lenses for $99.


WHEN:           Now – September 11th


WHERE:         Sears Optical Stores Nationwide
To find a store near you visit www.searsoptical.com


DETAILS:       Families across the nation are preparing for back-to-school and annual eye exams should be part of the routine. 80% of what children learn comes through their vision and undetected vision problems can lead to learning difficulties.

Eye exams are important for adults as well. Many vision-threatening eye problems such as glaucoma can be treated and prevented if discovered early enough.

With over 50 years in the eye care industry, Sears Optical is the expert in family eye care. With experienced opticians and quality brands with a great frame selection, Sears Optical is the one-stop-shop for all your family’s vision care needs. Make an appointment with your eye care provider to schedule an eye exam for your family today.





Disclosure: This information was provided to me and I felt like it was important to share with my readers. I did NOT receive any type of compensation for posting!

Friday, July 6, 2012

Where "Margaret" Got Its' Title




Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment will release of Margaret to Blu-ray/DVD combo pack on July 10. The title Margaret is not for a character in the film, but it's featured in the poem "Spring and Fall" recited in the movie. It has more meaning than perhaps the first-time viewer would catch.

 Here is the poem for you:


Here is a Synopsis:
From Academy Award® nominated* writer/director Kenneth Lonergan (You Can Count On Me) comes a stirring drama Rolling Stone calls "a film of rare beauty and shocking gravity." Anna Paquin, Matt Damon and Mark Ruffalo lead a celebrated cast in the story of a Manhattan teenager whose life is profoundly altered after witnessing a terrible accident. Experience an emotional teen's extraordinary journey to set things right as her innocent ideals come crashing against the harsh realities of the adult world.

Disclosure:  I received all the photos and information from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment through Think Jam.  I was not monetarily compensated, but I will be sent a screener copy of the movie to review. 

Win a Legoland Florida Vacation from Atlantic Luggage

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Atlantic Luggage for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

For the first time in quite a while, my family is actually taking a real vacation!  We will be going on a cruise to the Bahamas, and we are so excited about it!  This cruise is bittersweet because we had planned to take it with my parents, but then my daddy passed away in February.  We decided to take my mom with us and cruise in honor of my dad! 

Traveling is a lot of fun, but the more you travel, the worse your luggage looks!  If your family is like mine, your luggage probably has seen better days!!  If so, you should check out Atlantic Luggage.  C2 3271161-01 image.jpg

Atlantic Luggage is perfect for families on the go!  They have durable, lightweight and affordable luggage and their luggage is available in various sizes and styles!  Even my picky teenager found some luggage she liked!

AtlanticLuggageNonSa#B8DED2.doc

Atlantic Luggage is holding a Legoland Sweepstakes!  The Atlantic Luggage and Legoland Sweepstakes winner will receive a prize of a 2 day vacation for two adults and two children to Legoland in Florida!   The prize also includes hotel for 2 nights (one 4 occupancy room), a car voucher, a Meet and Greet with a LEGOLAND Master Model Builder and a free set of Atlantic luggage.

Want to know a little more about Legoland Florida?  Legoland Florida has a new waterpark (opened May 2012) with wave pool, tube slides and body slides. Families can also imagine, design, and build a unique LEGO vessel and set it afloat on the 1,000ft lazy river.  This sounds like a great trip to me!  Why not check out the Atlantic Luggage and Legoland Sweepstakes and enter for your chance to win!  I entered!

 

 

Visit Sponsor's Site

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Our Favorite California Grape Smoothie

Right now, fresh and delicious California grapes are just coming into season.  In fact, California-grown grapes account for 99% of all the grapes sold in the US!  My family loves fruit.  As a matter of fact, we eat more grapes than most any other fruit!  Our favorite grape snack would  be our mixed grape smoothie!   The smoothie is so simple to make and it is very delicious!

The ingredients you need are:
  1. 1 quart of PLAIN yogurt (we use non-fat)
  2. Apple or grape juice (or both)
  3. California Seedless Grapes (any color)
We wash then freeze the grapes for at least an hour, then we mix in our yogurt and some frozen grapes into a blender. (How much you use is up to you.  It depends on how many you are feeding)  Slowly add your juice as you blend to the consistency you are happy with!!

This is wonderul on hot days and has been a crowd pleaser this summer!

You can follow Grapes from California on facebook by clicking HERE!

You can enter your recipe in the Grapes From California $5,000 Snack Makeover Contest which runs through July 31, 2012!




Disclosure:  I received a cookbook and $10 to purchase grapes from the California Grape Commission from the Family Review Network!  The recipe is my own and no other compensation was received.  However, if I am lucky, my recipe could win!

**Please note there is no photo because our camera is not working and our new one has not arrived**