Saving Money on Cell Phones and Accessories with Groupon #Groupon #Ad

Disclosure:  This is a sponsored post. All opinions are mine.

Being able to stay in contact with your friends and family members is very important.  You never know when they will need you, or when you will need them!  Nowadays, a cell phone has become a necessity.  The only problem with that...Cell phones can be expensive.

Technology changes every day and it seems like every time I turn around, there is a new and better cell phone on the market.  It is not just the cell phone itself that can be costly, it is the cell phone accessories too!  You cannot have a new smart phone without having a protective case and a screen protector.  They break way too easily to take the chance!

One way to save money is to go to Groupon Goods and check out all the deals they have on cell phones and their accessories!  They have lots of phones from new ones to refurbished ones.  They also carry screen protectors, cables, chargers, adapters, protective cases and lots more!  You can save hundreds of dollars on some of the phones, so why pay full price when you can get it cheaper?  I love saving money so cheaper priced cell phones work for me.

Next time you are looking for cell phones, accessories or almost anything, be sure to check out Groupon.  I will!  They have coupons for experiences like manicures and hair cuts as well as for meals and so much more! It is my new favorite way to save money.  What will you search for on Groupon?

I LOVE YOU JUST BECAUSE Review and Giveaway

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255:  “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”):  Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway.  Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Some of my favorite memories are of reading with my little ones.  Many of my favorite children's books revolve around how much they are loved.  I feel it is very important to let them know that you love them no matter what and that you love them for who they are, not what they do.

We were recently sent the cutest book to review.  I Love You Just Because is the third book in the I Love You series by Donna Keith.  The same bear family that we fell in love with in the other two books are back in this latest edition.  The illustrations are adorable and the rhyming text makes following along fun!  This book really helps your kids understand that they do not have to DO anything to earn your love.  You love them just because!

There are many reasons we love this book.  The bear family is made up of different bears.  This is perfect for blended families, adoptive families and foster families!  Family members do not have to look alike to be family.  We also like the fact that scripture is included in the book.  It reminded my family that we should love each other the way God loves us.  This is a board book with a nice puffy cover and it is very sturdy!  This will get a lot of work out in our house!

You can check out the book at the following link and follow on social media too!
Facebook @DonnaKeithAuthor
Facebook @TommyNelsonBooks
Twitter @TommyNelson
Instagram  @TommyNelsonBooks
Pinterest Tommy-Nelson-Books

Would you like to win I Love You Just Because to share with your favorite little one?  Simply enter on the rafflecopter form below!  Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

FlipaZoo review

Disclosure:  We received a free FlipaZoo pet to facilitate our honest review.  All opinions stated are based on the experiences of the Shelly's Bits and Pieces family.

As we prepare for the back to school season, I realize that Christmas is just around the corner.  I am always on the lookout for cute items that can be used as birthday and Christmas gifts.  The FlipaZoo pet fits the bill perfectly.

What is a FlipaZoo?  FlipaZoo, the TOY that flips for you! Not One, it’s a Two- in-One toy pillow from the first name in fun, Jay at Play. FlipaZoo will be delivering two times the Fun for Everyone! Their unique character combinations feature some of today’s most sought-after animals – including a Husky that easily Flips into a Polar Bear, a Unicorn that Flips into a Dragon, a Giraffe that Flips into a Hippo, and there are many more to choose with FlipaZoo. The must-have FlipaZoo assortment is now available at www.flipazoo.com. The new toys and pounced their way into Walmart stores nationwide with a July 2016 exclusive launch. Starting in mid-August, FlipaZoo will roll out to other retailers from coast-to-coast, including Target, Toys“R”Us, Kohls, Bed Bath & Beyond, Kmart, and more!

“Families all across the country will be ‘flipping’ for FlipaZoos,” said Shawn Glyn, Director of Sales at Jay at Play International. “Kids will flip for the very special ‘surprise before their eyes’ as they discover two new FlipaZoo loveable animal friends, while parents and grandparents will love the great “Not One, it’s Two” toys-in-one value that makes each FlipaZoo twice as nice!”

An imagination-inspiring playtime product, FlipaZoo doubles as a pillow for naptime, summer camp, and family travel. Each fun-stuffed FlipaZoo is a smiling, cuddly companion that offers two times the comfort at home or on-the-go! Made of the most huggable, high-quality materials, the adorable new FlipaZoo line features more than 12 stand-out FlipaZoo characters that magically transform from one animal to another – and then easily flip back again! With the new line’s patented one-of-a-kind “easy flip” designs, little ones can simply hold their favorite two-sided FlipaZoo friend, “flip” its soft back, and instantly reveal a totally new FlipaZoo!

The premiere FlipaZoo collection ($19.99 each, for all ages), to be available at retail starting this July exclusively at Walmart, includes a lovable FlipaZoo friend for every personality: the wild Giraffe/Hippo, clever Cat/Mouse, mystical Unicorn/Dragon, fiercely-fun Elephant/Tiger, and paw-some Husky Dog/Polar Bear. Also making their debut exclusively at Walmart this holiday season will be the jaw-dropping Grizzly Bear/Alligator and friendly Bulldog/Tabby Cat FlipaZoo characters. Each FlipaZoo features its own unique sewn-on name, making them even more irresistible! For double the fun, consumers who purchase any FlipaZoo on the official website will receive a FREE “Little Flipzee” for pocket-size flipping fun!


We received the Husky/Polar Bear and it is adorable!  I loved it as soon as we opened the package, and Kat grabbed it for her bed!  Everyone wants it and it has lovingly been named Husky Bear.  This stuffed animal is well constructed and there are no open seams or flaws.  It easily converts from husky to polar bear with no issues.  Princess Pickle is 4 years old and she has no problem flipping the animal back and forth.

This is not just for little kids.  I really like it and when I stretch out on Kat's bed for a chat, I prop my head up on Husky Bear.  We will be purchasing one of the FlipaZoo pets for Kat's bestie who will be heading off to college next week!    We highly recommend the FlipaZoo!  They make wonderful gifts!

**Sample received to facilitate review**

Putting it on the Line

I am sure that my readers have wondered what is going on with my blog.  I know the posts have been sporadic and I apologize for that.  I simply have had a hard time getting myself going.  Nothing that I have previously enjoyed has been done.  I feel a little lost.

The past five years have been hard ones for me.  A lot of things have happened and I have been trying to just chug along and act like everything is wonderful, but inside I have been screaming.  Over the past five years, I have lost too many people who were important to me.  I have lost my Papa, Daddy, Dad (father-in-law), Cousin (like a big brother), Mother-in-law, and several high school friends.  With each loss, I felt as though a part of me had died.  As I struggled to keep it together and to be strong for everyone, I realized that I was losing interest in everything I cared about.  My remaining family members were becoming the only interest I had.  My world started to revolve only around them.

Chefy pointed this out to me when I stopped scrapbooking and painting.  At the same time, just cleaning my house had become a chore that I drug myself through.  All I could manage to do was to just stare blankly at the TV and scan the internet mindlessly.  If I sat down for any period of time, I would fall asleep, and no matter how hard I tried, sleeping at night, in bed, was an impossibility.  I would go 2-3 days without sleeping at all, then I would finally fall out from exhaustion and sleep for about 24 straight hours.  I was falling apart.  So much was running through my mind.  Kat was graduating from high school and would soon be heading off to the Navy.  Who would I be if I wasn't her stay at home mom?

Recently, everything came to a head and realized that no matter what, I needed to find ME!  I bought a membership to our local gym and have been going with Kat to work out about 3-4 days each week.  I started making sure I took my medication on time everyday and I started caring a little more about myself.  Chefy and I have been doing more things together, just the two of us.  I started trying new things, and now, I am getting myself back together!

My doctor has scheduled a sleep study for me in September, because she suspects I have sleep apnea. I am working on getting my sleep schedule back in gear, and by getting more exercise, I feel better, about myself and my life.  My interest in my blogging is returning and I have a LOT of posts to do to catch up.  I CAN and WILL get caught up and get back to normal.

Yes, I suffer from depression, and I never really understood what that meant.  I am now on medication and when I combine that with the daily exercise and prayer, I will get myself together!  I am important, and my life does matter!

Again, I apologize to my readers and to the companies I owe reviews.  The reviews are coming.  I am not completely back to normal, but I am closer than I have been in years!  Bear with me!  The best is yet to come!

God Bless Y'all!
~~Shelly~~