The episode is called “Chugger of the Year” and the premise is below:

Chuggington “Chugger of the Year”

The new Mayoress, accompanied by her nephew Denzil, is touring Chuggington. She’s observing the chuggers working, in order to help her decide who should be the recipient of the prestigious Chugger of the Year award. Koko is sure she’s in with a chance – but rather than doing her jobs, she spends her time trying to impress the Mayoress. In the process, she ends up nearly ruining the ceremony. Tune in to find out who wins “Chugger of the Year!”

Below is a clip from the new episode:

In order to celebrate “Chugger of the Year” Chuggington is offering one lucky reader a special prize. It’s so special, I don’t even know what it is!

To enter, watch the premiere of “Chugger of the Year” on Friday and then come back here to respond with the correct answer to the question below after the premiere:

Q: Who helps Koko clear the tracks?

Winner will be selected at random from all correct entries.

Giveaway is open to the USA and ends on May 14, 2011 at noon CST. Winner will be selected at random from all eligible entries and will be contacted by email. Winner will have 48 hrs to respond.  Please add kim@accidentalmommies.com to your trusted email filter.  If original winner does not claim their prize within 48 hrs, it is forfeit and a new winner will be selected promptly.

Imagine being able to unwind.

Chat.

Connect.

EAT!

With your girlfriends.

No kids.

No husbands.

Just the girls.

You might actually get to enjoy a hot meal.

And an adult beverage.

The last time I went out with friends, there was 2 of us girls and 2 guys.  We have known each other since high school (actually my friend Sean and I have known each other for 30 years..you know, like 10 years before we were born…) and it was kind of a late, last minute thing and we ended up at a local family restaurant.  The food was good but it was all about connecting with old friends.

Outback Steakhouse recognizes that we need time with the girls and is having a great new promotion they are calling Kick Back with the Girls at Outback!

I love Outback Steakhouse and can just taste the Victoria’s Filet (my entree of choice whenever I go), the garlic mashed potatoes and the bread.  Their bread is heavenly.  I like to start with the Alice Springs Chicken Quesadilla®, I know others love their Bloomin’ Onion, but I’m a fan of the Quesadillas.

Not to mention the drinks & dessert.

Margarita anyone?

Have you tried their Strawberry Waffle Shortcake made with Philadelphia Cream Cheese?  I haven’t tried it yet, and can’t wait!

I am sooo looking forward to grabbing a couple of girlfriends and heading out to Outback.

To help give you a night out with the girls, Outback is awarding 50 winners a day a dinner for 4 prize pack of Outback Gift Certificates!  You can enter with Facebook (or they have an alternate form of entry) by going here: Outback’s Kick Back With the Girls.

But check this out, you can also enter to win here!

I have a prize to give away to one of you to be able to Kick Back with the Girls at Outback!

ENTER TO WIN A KICK BACK WITH THE GIRLS AT OUTBACK DINNER FOR 4 EXPERIENCE

Each Kick Back with the Girls at Outback Dinner for 4 Experience has $90 worth of Outback gift certificates—enough for you and three friends to enjoy shareable Aussie-Tizers, fresh entrees and irresistible desserts like the Strawberry Waffle Shortcake.* (We have a source on the inside that tells us the secret ingredient in this yummy concoction is Philadelphia Cream Cheese!)

*Alcohol, tax and gratuity are not included.

HOW TO ENTER (mandatory):

To enter, leave a comment and tell me about a rough day you had recently that shows why you need to kick back with the girls at Outback.  Or share a story about the last time you got to hang out with your girlfriends and enjoy good food.

EARN EXTRA ENTRIES (optional):

Must complete required entry in order to qualify for extra entries.

• Subscribe by Email or RSS to What’s That Smell? – 1 EXTRA

• Follow me on Twitter – 1 EXTRA

• Tweet the following or something similar (leave the link to each new Tweet each day) – 1 EXTRA PER DAY
  

Enter to win a $90 Night Out with the Girls Experience for 4 at Outback Steakhouse from @whatsthatsmell http://bit.ly/hfyDja

• Like my page on Facebook – 1 EXTRA

• Follow me on Google Friend Connect (on the right sidebar of my site) – 1 EXTRA

• Share this giveaway on your Facebook wall – 1 EXTRA PER DAY

Please leave a separate comment for EACH extra entry.  Provide links to Tweets, Facebook wall, blog posts, etc. as required for the entry.

Giveaway is open to the USA and ends on April 30, 2011 at noon CST. Winner will be selected at random from all eligible entries and will be contacted by email. Winner will have 48 hrs to respond.  Please add kim@accidentalmommies.com to your trusted email filter.  If original winner does not claim their prize within 48 hrs, it is forfeit and a new winner will be selected promptly.

These other bloggers are also hosting a Kick Back with the Girls at Outback giveaway, head over and enter to increase your chances to win!

• Life With 4 Boys
• Cocktails with Mom
• 2 Wired 2 Tired
• The Mom Buzz
• 3 Kids and Us
• The Divine Miss Mommy
• The Not So Blog
• A Moms Impression

Note: I received a Kick Back with the Girls at Outback Dinner for 4 Experience for facilitating this giveaway.

As much as I was not a girly-girl growing up (or ever), I was a big fan of Barbie as a kid and my daughter is quickly following in my footsteps.  She notices all the Barbie themed toys and dolls at the store and is constantly asking for one.

With summer coming, we’re all trying to promote activity and creativity with our kids, especially when school lets out.  As the weather warms up, or we take vacations and travel, there are a lot of great Barbie toys that can lend themselves to helping girls get and stay active, keeping them entertained and keeping their imaginations plugging along at full force even when school is out.

Barbie bikes (or Hot Wheels bikes for the little man in your family) let them ride around the neighborhood while they burn off energy and stay active.  But there is also a full line of Barbie electronics for outdoor and indoor fun.  Because let’s face it, we can’t be outside all the time.  Inclement weather and other things sometimes leaves kids stuck in the house, even in the summer.  Sometimes too, they get tired of bike riding or running around and there are other opportunities to explore, learn and have fun outdoors with products such as a Barbie themed digital camera, video camera, a sing-along CD player and even more.  They can stage plays and record them, photograph nature, or put on their very own concert!

And Toys R Us is the perfect place to shop because next week they have some very special deals going on from Mattel.  Check them out:

Now, get the kids ready without breaking the bank with these exclusive deals at Toys R Us. From April 17 – 23:

• ALL Barbie or Hot Wheels bikes are $20 off (prices of bikes vary)
• Purchase $40 worth of any Barbie electronics product and receive a FREE $10 TRU gift card.

One example of the creative and fun Barbie electronics is the Barbie Sing-A-Long CD Player.

Product Description
The Barbie Sing-A-Long CD Player lets you sing to your favorite tunes in Barbie style. Be at the height of fashion with your newest Barbie accessory! Live your rock star fantasy by singing to your favorite tunes.

Barbie Sing-A-Long CD Player features:

• 2 microphones Sing with your friends
• Plays CD, CDR and CDRW
• Top loading CD
• Individual microphone and master volume adjustment
• Operates on AC Power or 6 C size batteries (not included)

Imagine the fun kids can have singing and dancing along to their favorite tunes with their own Barbie CD player!  I can imagine backyard concerts and all sorts of creative, fun uses for this toys.

In order to help spread the word about this great sale at Toys R Us, we are giving away a Barbie Sing-A-Long CD Player to one lucky winner.

ENTER TO WIN A BARBIE SING-A-LONG CD PLAYER

ARV $49.99

HOW TO ENTER (mandatory):

To enter, leave a comment and tell me how you think the Barbie Sing-Along CD Player will enhance your child’s summer fun.

EARN EXTRA ENTRIES (optional):

Must complete required entry in order to qualify for extra entries.

• Subscribe by Email or RSS to What’s That Smell? – 1 EXTRA

• Follow me on Twitter – 1 EXTRA

• Tweet the following or something similar (leave the link to each new Tweet each day) – 1 EXTRA PER DAY
  

Toys R Us has exclusive Barbie deals April 17-23.  Check them out & enter to win a Barbie Sing-A-L ong CD Player http://bit.ly/hMwoVg

• Like my page on Facebook – 1 EXTRA

• Follow me on Google Friend Connect (on the right sidebar of my site) – 1 EXTRA

• Share this giveaway on your Facebook wall – 1 EXTRA PER DAY

Please leave a separate comment for EACH extra entry.  Provide links to Tweets, Facebook wall, blog posts, etc. as required for the entry.

Giveaway is open to the USA and ends on April 23, 2011 at noon CST. Winner will be selected at random from all eligible entries and will be contacted by email. Winner will have 48 hrs to respond.  Please add kim@accidentalmommies.com to your trusted email filter.  If original winner does not claim their prize within 48 hrs, it is forfeit and a new winner will be selected promptly.

Note: I received compensation in the form of product samples for promoting this product and sale.  The product mentioned was not reviewed, this is an awareness post only, not a review.

Gift Card Legal: In-store only.  Quantities limited; no rain checks.  Gift card valid beginning 6 hours after activation and expires 5/31/11, except where prohibited.  See card for Terms & Conditions.  Gift Card offer expires 4/23/11.  Limit one per Guest.

Also, please note that certain states have non-expiring gift cards.  Those states are as follows.

• Maine
• Connecticut
• Vermont
• New Hampshire
• Florida

Your Winner

When it comes to summer fun, nothing seems to captivate my kids as much as a bounce house.  With the advent of indoor bounce facilities, they’ve had more exposure to bounce houses and instead of satisfying their desire to “bounce” it actually has seems to fuel it.

When we drive past a house or a business where a bounce house is setup outside, for the rest of the day I hear “mommy, I want to go in the bouncey house” over and over and over.

And over.

Sometimes for days.

There are so many options when it comes to outdoor, backyard fun for kids.  For us, we needed something that would be safe and enjoyable for a wide range of ages.  My son is 7, my daughter is 3 and my niece who I watch during the week is 2.  There are few things that will really keep that wide of an age range entertained and active, yet safe at the same time.

A bounce house is a great option, and as you’ll see as you keep reading, the Big Ole Bouncer from Blast Zone is the perfect solution for backyard fun all summer long.

And with obesity on the rise in children in this country, a bounce house is not only fun, it’s a great way to get kids moving and exercising without them really even knowing it.

About the Big Ol Bouncer from Blast Zone:

The Big Ol Bouncer is, well, a BIG…. ol… BOUNCER.

This 12x15x7 Inflatable provides hours of huge, hopping fun for your family.  With approximately twice the bounce area of a standard 8×8 bouncer, this gigantic jumper is great for parties, developing motor skills and backyard exercise, but still low enough to clear most indoor ceilings.

The Big Ol Bouncer is constructed with Blast Zone’s super-durable quality standards, using reinforced polyester oxford and commercial vinyl for endless family fun.

• Included Fan
• Uses Constant Air Technology
• Puncture Resistant
• Included Carrying Case
• Fully-Enclosed with safety netting
• 12W x 15D x 7H
• Inflates in seconds
• Max user weight 100 lbs
• max gross weight 600 lbs

The Big Ol Bouncer was delivered in a single box.  The delivery man carried it, I had to use a dolly to get it out to the yard.  But I managed to get the box open myself and complete the entire setup myself.

But, I did not exactly do it right the first time.

I did read skim the directions, but I guess I didn’t pay enough attention and I attached the blower fan to the wrong yellow tube.  I attached it to the one that happened to be sticking out when I unrolled the bounce house, which was not the inflation tube.  It still inflated as you’ll see, but I wanted to make sure to clarify that the LONG yellow tube is the inflation tube.  The other one simply needs to be tied off during inflation.  After the Big Ole Bouncer started to inflate and the long yellow tube popped out I realized I messed up and turned the blower off and I switched them around.

**Please note that the blue tarp does NOT come with the bounce house.  I purchased this separately from a pool supply store.  Our lawn is only a few years old and still partially dirt and I wanted to make sure that I kept the bottom of the bounce house as clean as possible so when we put it away the dirt doesn’t end up in the storage bag.  It’s not at all necessary, but it’s nice to have if your lawn is more dirt than grass.**

Once I had everything in place, I flipped the switch!  Feel free to laugh when the long yellow tube pops out. After it inflated (and switched the blower motor to the other tube), I anchored each corner down with the provided stakes and let the kids have at it. My mother-in-law (she’s just barely over 100lbs) joined in the fun too.

Just be careful if you are a small adult (max wt per person is 100lbs) and are not sure how to GET OUT of the Big Ol Bouncer.  Actually she got herself out ok, she just didn’t know what to do once she was on the little slide.

Oops.

(I know I’m totally gonna pay for posting this too)

The kids had a BLAST (pun intended)!

The Blast Zone Big Ol Bouncer bounce house has a very large area for bouncing which makes this ideal for families.  It’s also great for parties, finally something to do that will keep the kids constantly occupied instead of running in and out of the house all day!  And with its size and weight limit, you can fit quite a few kids in there, and it certainly seems heavy duty enough to handle everything they will put it through.

Setup takes a matter of minutes.  It really was quick and easy.

By the way, this is how the blower is supposed to be attached:

It is recommended that you put your Big Ol Bouncer away each night to protect it and make sure it continues to function properly for you for years to come.  Putting it away takes a little longer than putting it up and while I did it by myself, having a helper would have been nice.  Once you turn the motor off, the unit deflates fairly quickly.  Untie the yellow tube to help get the air out, and then start folding the unit back up length-wise.  Of course, it doesn’t quite compress down to the same size it was when I pulled it out of the box, but it more than fits in the carry bag provided.  I can lift the carry bag for short distances, but I need the dolly again to move it easier.

Storage is easy and convenient and it doesn’t take up a ton of room.  It’s like the size of a large duffel bag set on it’s side.  Like one of those green military bags.

I don’t really have much negative to say about the Big Ol Bouncer.  Some minor things to be aware of, is that sometimes closing the velcro on the slot where they get in and out is a little tricky because if you aren’t super tall with the slide in the way it can be hard to reach.  Luckily my son did it all from the inside.  Also keep in mind that you still need to supervise your kids and it is important to pay attention to the weight limits.  When jumping towards the edge of the Big Ole Bouncer, the tops of the side depress, and if you had too many big kids this could become an issue.  It’s a normal part of the way the structure of these work, but I just wanted to stress the importance of following the maximum weight restrictions.  I would also like to see the unit come with a ground cover cloth.

Overall I was impressed with the ease of setup, the durability, and the FUN FACTOR the Big Ol Bouncer provides.  It’s going to be an integral part of our lives this summer and the best part is that it combines fun with physical activity.  The kids are getting exercising and don’t even know it!

So.

Now your kids you want one right?

That’s easy!

Where to buy

The Blast Zone Big Ole Bouncer is available on the Blast Zone website for $499.99 (shipping is free) or EXCLUSIVELY at Toys R Us.  And get this.  If you buy it from Toys R Us, you can save $100 because their price is $399.99!  For more information, visit Blast Zone.

Or.

If you are feeling lucky, you can try and win one here.

WIN A BOUNCE HOUSE

One winner will receive a Big Ol Bouncer bounce house from Blast zone.

HOW TO ENTER (mandatory):

To enter, tell me WHY your family needs the Big Ol Bouncer from Blast Zone.  What features make this an ideal outdoor toy for your family?

EARN EXTRA ENTRIES (optional):

Must complete required entry in order to qualify for extra entries.

• Stumble this post (use your toolbar or see the link at the top of this post) – 1 EXTRA
  

• Subscribe by Email or RSS to What’s That Smell? – 1 EXTRA

• Follow me on Twitter – 1 EXTRA

• Follow MomDot on Twitter – 1 EXTRA

• Tweet the following or something similar (leave the link to each new Tweet each day) – 1 EXTRA PER DAY
  

Enter to win a Blast Zone Big Ol Bouncer BOUNCE HOUSE from @whatsthatsmell & @momdot http://bit.ly/fb1eZU

• Like my page on Facebook – 1 EXTRA

• Like Trisha’s page on Facebook – 1 EXTRA

• Follow me on Google Friend Connect (on the right sidebar of my site) – 1 EXTRA

• Share this giveaway on your Facebook wall – 1 EXTRA PER DAY

• Comment on the bounce house giveaway announcement post on MomDot – 1 EXTRA PER DAY

Please leave a separate comment for EACH extra entry.  Provide links to Tweets, Facebook wall, comments, etc. as required for the entry.

Giveaway is open to the USA and ends on May 9, 2011 at noon CST. Winner will be selected at random from all eligible entries and will be contacted by email. Winner will have 48 hrs to respond.  Please add kim@accidentalmommies.com to your trusted email filter.  If original winner does not claim their prize within 48 hrs, it is forfeit and a new winner will be selected promptly.

Your Winner

Author: Angela

Comment: GlideBikes would be great for my 4 year old.

Over the last few weeks I have been listing some great gift ideas in my Merry Christmas Gift Guide. I have gift ideas for boys, girls, moms, dads and a few for everyone else on your shopping list this year.

To go along with the gift guide, I have a great giveaway as well, and one winner takes all!

It’s the Christmas season and I thought it would be a lot of fun to surprise one lucky winner with 8 great prizes that can help make Christmas a little more merry for them and their family this year.

On to the prizes!

Merry Christmas Gift Guide Prize Pack

GlideBikes

Winner will select their choice of color Mini Glider.

Crocs Berryessa Boots

Winner will select their choice of color and size of the Crocs Berryessa style boots.

Original Pillow Pets

Winner will select their choice of Pillow Pet.

Sesame Street Cookie’s Counting Carnival Video Game for Nintendo DS

Winner will receive the Sesame Street Cookie’s Carnival Video Game for Nintendo DS.

KID K’NEX Sesame Street Neighborhood Collection School House

Winner will receive a KID K’NEX Sesame Street Neighborhood Collection School House 40 pc. set.

KID K’NEX Big Building Tub

Winner will receive a KID K’NEX Big Building Tub 50 pc. set.

The Swiss Colony

Winner will receive their choice of either The Swiss Colony Melting Snowmen or The Swiss Colony Penguin Cake.

EatSmart Precision Pro Digital Kitchen Scale

Winner will receive their choice of color of the EatSmart Precision Pro Digital Kitchen Scale.

Melissa & Doug Shopping Cart

Winner will receive a Melissa & Doug Shopping Cart from Gummy Lump Toys.

ARV of prize pack:

~$320

ENTER TO WIN

Main Entry:

(required)

• To enter, leave a comment on this post telling me which of the 8 items in this giveaway is your favorite and who on your Christmas list you would give it to if you won.
• You MUST pick an item and tell me who it will be for in order to have a qualified entry.

Extra Entries:

(optional)

• Take a look at our full gift guide and all the great gift ideas.  Then come back here and leave a comment telling me one that you think would be appropriate for someone on your shopping list, and who it would be for.
• You can actually do this for each and every item in the gift guide so long as you name the item and who you would give it to.
• Leave a separate comment for each extra entry.
• (note: we are still adding gift guide items this week, so check back to make sure you get ALL of your extra entries).

Giveaway is open to the USA and ends on December 3, 2010 at noon CST. Winner will be selected at random from all eligible entries and will be contacted by email. Winner will have 48 hrs to respond.  Please add kim@accidentalmommies.com to your trusted email filter.  If original winner does not claim their prize within 48 hrs, it is forfeit and a new winner will be selected promptly.

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Return of the butterfly (why fly when you can squeak) Pickle Shoes giveaway (11/6)

• Pickle Shoes
• shoes that squeak
• Toddler Shoes

• 10-16-2010
• Kim
• 72 Comments
• 157 views
• Edit

So a couple of weeks ago I was an accomplice in squashing my daughter’s dream of being able to fly.  The next day, I was riddled with guilt, so I took her to the park before we went to the grocery store.

The park I hate because it is covered in goose poop.  Gross.  What are they eating that there is SO MUCH of it?

And she fell in the mud.

I am 2-for-2.

We came home, got her cleaned up, opened up a box that got delivered and magic happened.

In the immortal words of Forrest Gump, “they was my magic shoes.”  But this is totally not the same thing, that quote just popped into my head at that moment.

“Squeaky shoes” she yelled with excitement after she put them on, and proceeded to run around me in circles flapping her arms like a butterfly for 10 minutes or more.

Pickle Shoes saved me and Abby has never been happier!

And for those of you who might eventually be bothered by the squeakers (like maybe for church or the library) you can remove them.

Your premier online boutique for toddler shoes. Pickle toddler squeaky shoes are designed for style, durability, and comfort. You will find many fun styles for both girls and boys. Kids love our shoes because they look and feel great! Parents love them because of the colorful styles, flexible leather and non-skid soles.  All of our shoes have a removable squeaker!

Abby and I both like her Pickle Shoes, they are great looking, fit great, and seem super durable.  And they are fluffy on top.  What more can a squeaking butterfly ask for?

And let me say, that even for an active kid, having the squeakers on the shoes multiplies it.  She doesn’t stop moving when she is wearing them.  And she constantly wants to wear them.  I have to say that I don’t even notice the squeaking anymore.  When we go out, adults stare and kids will ask “why is she squeaking?”  When we go for walks, I have to jog to keep up with her because she just loves to hear herself squeak.

ENTER TO WIN A PAIR OF PICKLE SHOES

One winner will receive their choice of shoe style and size.

HOW TO ENTER (mandatory):

To enter, visit Pickle Shoes and take a look at all their adorable squeaky shoes.  Then come back here and leave a comment telling me which pair you would pick if you won.

EARN EXTRA ENTRIES (optional):

Must complete required entry in order to qualify for extra entries.

• Subscribe to the Pickle Shoes email newsletter – 5 EXTRA

• Subscribe by Email or RSS to What’s That Smell? – 1 EXTRA

• Follow me on Twitter – 1 EXTRA

• Follow Pickle Shoes on Twitter – 1 EXTRA

• Tweet the following or something similar (leave the link to each new Tweet each day) – 1 EXTRA PER DAY
  

Enter to win a pair of Pickle Shoes – toddler shoes that squeak from & @WhatsThatSmell http://wp.me/pfNov-663

• Add our button to your sidebar – 3 EXTRA

• Like Pickle Shoes on Facebook – 3 EXTRA

• Like my Free Paid Surveys page on Facebook – 3 EXTRA

• Share this giveaway on your Facebook wall – 1 EXTRA PER DAY

• Leave a comment on any other NON-GIVEAWAY post on my site – 1 EXTRA per post commented on (indicate which post in comment)

Please leave a separate comment for EACH extra entry.  Provide links to Tweets, Facebook wall, blog posts, etc. as required for the entry.

Giveaway is open to the USA and ends on November 6, 2010 at noon CST. Winner will be selected at random from all eligible entries and will be contacted by email. Winner will have 48 hrs to respond.  Please add kim@accidentalmommies.com to your trusted email filter.  If original winner does not claim their prize within 48 hrs, it is forfeit and a new winner will be selected promptly.

I had never dried my laundry on a clothesline.

Never even considered it.

Recently I was contacted by MyBlogSpark and Seventh Generation and CHALLENGED to line dry my clothes.  Not only that, they sent me everything I needed to give it a try, including some Seventh Generation Natural Laundry Detergent and a video camera in order to record my reactions.

For me, line drying my laundry and using the Seventh Generation Natural Detergent is a dual-benefit.  It is an environmentally conscious decision, because the detergent is plant based, but it is very helpful for our family budget as well.  Washing in cold water and line drying saves enough energy that could mean $200 in savings a year.

Below is a video I took roughly 2 weeks after I first started line drying some of our clothes.  I talk about the laundry line challenge, what I received in order to participate, and my reactions to it so far.  Please forgive the fact that I had to hold my own video camera (my son kept taking videos of my feet and the top of his own head), and I swear I do not have a double chin.

So far, for us, I am excited to continue to line dry our laundry AND use the Seventh Generation Natural Laundry Detergent.  My husband has NOT had a reaction to it and I never would have believed that my clothes smell cleaner than when I use the dryer or dry them inside.

ENTER TO WIN YOUR VERY OWN SEVENTH GENERATION LAUNDRY LINE CHALLENGE KIT

One winner will receive: A Seventh Generation “Project Laundry Line” kit that includes Seventh Generation Natural 2x Concentrated Laundry Liquid (good for 66 loads of laundry), a portable laundry line, clothes pins and a laundry basket.

HOW TO ENTER (required):

Leave a comment here telling us if you have ever line dried your clothes or not, or a memory you have of line drying, maybe from your childhood.

EARN EXTRA ENTRIES: (optional):

Must complete required entry in order to qualify for extra entries.

• Leave a comment telling us of any steps you have taken in your home and your lifestyle to be more eco-friendly – 1 EXTRA

• Subscribe by Email or RSS to What’s That Smell? – 1 EXTRA

• Follow Seventh Generation on Twitter – 1 EXTRA

• Follow me on Twitter and Tweet the following or something similar (leave the link to each new Tweet each day) – 1 EXTRA PER DAY
  

Take the laundry line challenge from @SeventhGen enter to win a “Project Laundry Line” kit from @WhatsThatSmell http://wp.me/pfNov-5xx

• Add our button to your sidebar – 3 EXTRA

• Share this giveaway on your Facebook wall – 1 EXTRA PER DAY

Please leave a separate comment for EACH extra entry.  Provide links to Tweets, Facebook wall, blog posts, etc. as required for the entry.

Giveaway is open to the USA and ends on July 3, 2010 at noon CST. Winner will be selected at random from all eligible entries using random.org and will be contacted by email. Winner will have 48 hrs to respond.  Please add kim@accidentalmommies.com to your trusted email filter.  If original winner does not claim their prize within 48 hrs, it is forfeit and a new winner will be selected promptly.

Note: I received a project laundry line kit from Seventh Generation and a Flip video camera in order to create a video of my experience.  Seventh Generation has also provided the prize for the winner.

I have a thing about having clean floors.  I like clean floors.  I hate dirt, stains and dog hair on my floors.  They drive me nuts.  It’s a sickness really.  If there are crumbs on my kitchen floor, I immediately vacuum them up.  It there is a clump of dog hair on my carpet, I feel compelled to vacuum the entire thing. I don’t let people in my house with shoes on.  For a long time I’ve been able to blame it on having small children who often eat off the floor, but that excuse is quickly coming to its useful end and I’m going to have to come up with a new one.  I shudder thinking about what is on the bottom of people’s shoes that could be tracked into my house.

But above and beyond the obvious loose dirt and hair that can be vacuumed up with a traditional vacuum, the stuff that could be IN my carpet that can’t be simply sucked up really creeps me out.  I used to have a carpet cleaner attachment that worked with my Kirby vacuum but I was never happy with what was involved in using it and eventually it stopped working.

So for the past few years I have had to live with dirty carpets.  I could clean up small stains with my Bissell Spot Lifter, but the rest of our tan carpet was obviously dirty with ground in debris.

Enter the Bissell ProHeat 2X Select Pet Deep Cleaner to the rescue!

About the Bissell ProHeat 2X Select Pet Deep Cleaner:

Removes stubborn pet stains, tracked-in dirt and tough pet odors

• 12 rows DirtLifter® PowerBrushes remove deep down dirt
• Built-In heater for maximum cleaning
• Includes special tools for cleaning pet messes

The Bissell ProHeat 2x Select Pet Deep Cleaner is an upright deep carpet cleaner that uses heat, water, cleansing formula and suction to remove stains and embedded debris from your carpets.

Additional Features:

• Four cleaning settings: light clean, normal, heavy traffic & water rinse
• Heat indicator light to show if the built-in heater is turned on or not
• 1 gallon two-in-one water tank that cleverly keeps clean water an dirty water separate
• Edge brushes
• 30 foot long power cord
• Cleans carpets, upholstery and stairs
• 12 amps of power
• 12″ wide cleaning path
• Microban protection
• Includes 4 specialty tools: Turbobrush, Spraying Crevice Tool, 6″ Pet Eraser Tool & 3″ Stain Tool

What’s in the box:

In addition to the vacuum and the accessories, there was a small bottle for 2X concentrated Pet Formula shampoo in the box as well.

The assembly was fairly straight forward.  The hardest part for me was figuring out which attachments went where…but it didn’t take too long.

Use:

[xrr rating=4.5/5]

The actual use of this cleaner is fairly simple.  You lift off the tank with the convenient handle, flip the latch on the back of it to remove the cover, and fill the bladder with water.  Replace the top, latch it, and set the tank back in place.  Then you remove the cleaning fluid tank, add the cleaner (and water if using 2X concentrated formula), and replace the tank.  Plug it in, set your desired cleaning level and you are ready to clean!

This isn’t a light machine (its 26lbs) but it was not too difficult to move and maneuver.  One thing I have learned when it comes to deep cleaners is that you want to move slow with them.  You want maximum exposure to the brushes AND you want to make sure as much water as possible gets sucked back up.

The first time I used it, I cleaned my living room and hallway and also quickly went over my kid’s rooms (but I didn’t move anything out of the way, just cleaned the center area) and a couple of my couch cushions.  First, you use the machine while depressing the spray button on the underside of the handle to wet the carpet with the heated water and cleaning solution.  Then you release the spray switch to work on letting the brush rollers do their job to clean the carpet and suck the dirty water back up.  I had to empty the dirty water once the whole time and refill the clean water once as well.  I had plenty of solution, I even had a bit left over from the first filling.

Effectiveness:

[xrr rating=4.5/5]

I had the cleaning level set on “normal clean” when I cleaned my carpets with the Bissell ProHeat 2X Select Pet Deep Cleaner.  I probably should have used the “heavy traffic” setting, but I wanted to see how well it cleaned on “normal”.

I think it’s fair to say it did a really good job.  I was also surprised by how much hair and fuzz it picked up as well as dirt.  I vacuumed ahead of time and didn’t expect so much of it to still be in the carpet.  I was disgusted, yet impressed!

There was also a visible difference in the carpet itself.  The middle of the floor is now the same color as the carpet under the couch, instead of being a couple of shades darker.  It also feels softer and cleaner on bare feet.  And best of all, I have the peace of mind that I have removed deep down dirt and my carpet is as clean as it can be for my family.

I noticed that we had a lot of small spots all over our carpet.  Dogs, kids, coffee…who knows what they were, but they all came up easily with the Bissell ProHeat.

I also used the Bissell Deep Cleaner to clean some stains off our couch and loveseat.  We bought microfiber a few years back without realizing what having kids and a dog can do to it, and it has gotten really stained.   This gave me an opportunity to try the specialized pet attachments.  The Turbobrush was really easy to use, with a moving brush and a sprayer acting much like a mini version of the main vacuum.  I didn’t spend a lot of time on the couch cushion focusing specifically on the center of two of the cushions where most of the staining was.

You can see a line on the clean photo at the edge of the cushion where I stopped cleaning.   I was very happy that it was that easy to clean the cushions, now I have to go back and finish the job.

Room for improvement:

[xrr rating=3.5/5]

Overall, the “pros” about this product heavily outweigh the “cons” for me.  But there are still some things that I would certainly improve if I could.

The first is the cord.  While super long (30′) it is mounted kind of low on the unit and it makes it a little more difficult to control while you are cleaning the floors.  If the cord is in the way, you have to bend down pretty low to grab it to move it out of the way.  I tend to hold the cord close to the machine as I clean, and this one just made it a little harder because it is not within easy reach.  This is a minor inconvenience that will likely just take some getting used to.

The other thing that I would change has to do with removing the front plastic part that sucks up the dirt and water out of the carpet.  It also sucks up hair and fuzz and had a tendency to get a lot of it built up inside so it needed to be cleaned out. It is removable, but you have to take out a screw to do it, and I also found that I had to remove the side pieces as well (2 screws each) to get all the hair out that built up on the sides of the brushes.  The screws are a little inconvenient, especially if you want to clean it out while you are still cleaning your carpets.  I’d love to see an easy-access clip of some sort so you could clean it out on-the-fly.

Summary:

Even with the improvement suggestions that I have, I think this is a solid product.  It cleans very well, is easy to use, has specialty attachments for versatility of use and does what it is designed to do.  The retail price is $249.99, but you can purchase it on Amazon right now for $223.66.  I’ve paid to have my carpet deep cleaned in the past and it is invasive and expensive.  The Bissell ProHeat 2X Select Pet Deep Cleaner does a fantastic job for a fraction of the cost of a professional cleaning.

Final overall rating:

[xrr rating=4.25/5]

ENTER TO WIN A BISSELL PROHEAT 2X SELECT PET DEEP CLEANER

HOW TO ENTER (required):

Visit Bissell.com and check out all of their cleaning products.  Then come back here and leave a comment telling me which of their products (besides the ProHeat 2x Select Pet Deep Cleaner) you have a need for in your home.

EARN EXTRA ENTRIES (optional):

Must complete required entry in order to qualify for extra entries.

• Subscribe by Email or RSS to What’s That Smell? – 1 EXTRA

• Follow Bissell on Twitter – 1 EXTRA

• Follow me on Twitter and Tweet the following or something similar (leave the link to each new Tweet each day) – 1 EXTRA PER DAY
  

Deep clean your carpets w/ the @wemeanclean Bissell ProHeat 2x Pet Deep Cleaner & enter to win 1 from @whatsthatsmell http://bit.ly/92Tzn0

• Blog about this giveaway and provide a link back to this post – 5 EXTRA

• Add our button to your sidebar – 3 EXTRA

• Share this giveaway on your Facebook wall – 1 EXTRA PER DAY

Please leave a separate comment for EACH extra entry.  Provide links to Tweets, Facebook wall, blog posts, etc. as required for the entry.

Giveaway is open to the USA and ends on July 3, 2010 at noon CST. Winner will be selected at random from all eligible entries using random.org and will be contacted by email. Winner will have 48 hrs to respond.  Please add kim@accidentalmommies.com to your trusted email filter.  If original winner does not claim their prize within 48 hrs, it is forfeit and a new winner will be selected promptly.

Note: I received a Bissell Proheat 2X Select Pet Deep Cleaner for no charge to evaluate in order to facilitate my review.  I was under no obligation to provide a positive review.  The opinions expressed are my own based upon my experiences and perspective.  Bissell has also provided the product for giveaway as well.

Who doesn’t love ice cream?  With summer approaching, ice cream is one thing that makes EVERYONE in the family happy.  Ice cream really is the ideal summer snack.

But sometimes I think people shy away from enjoying ice cream at home during the warm summer months.  Maybe they are afraid it will melt before they will get it home.  Maybe they are afraid it will sabotage their attempts to look great in their swimsuit.  Maybe they are frustrated over the packaging, and have trouble pleasing the entire family.  Maybe traditional frozen ice cream treats are just too big for snacking.  Maybe they are concerned over the amount of space it will take up in their freezer.  No matter what the excuse is, I’m here to debunk it!

Myth #1: The ice cream will melt before you get home.

Fact: If you happened get a free freezer bag from Sam’s Club and Skinny Cow in January, you can take your ice cream home safe and secure in an insulated bag.  If not, many grocery stores sell freezer bags now, and I know that Sam’s Club actually has a brand of freezer bag in their seasonal section.  Otherwise, you can always bring a small cooler to ensure your ice cream stays frozen on the drive home.

Myth #2: Ice Cream is not diet friendly.

Fact: The Skinny Cow is a delicious low-fat treat that will not ruin a mom’s attempt at a swimsuit ready body.   In fact, some of The Skinny Cow treats only have 140 calories and they all taste great!  The Skinny Cow is an approved Best Life treat and on their website they provide WW Points values for all of their products.  Sam’s Club carries big 20 count boxes of The Skinny Cow, that’s almost enough to eat one every day for a month.  Better get two boxes!  Each Skinny Cow treat is individually wrapped.

Myth #3: There is not enough variety in the large packages.

Fact: The Original Drumstick (yum) is a family favorite, everyone loves it, but if you do have some fussy family members who want a little more excitement or variety in their Drumstick, Sam’s Club has an awesome variety pack of 16 Original Drumstick Sundae Cones – with a twist.  Each variety box comes with Vanilla, Vanilla Fudge and Vanilla Caramel cones.  That way they can stop complaining about what you buy and just enjoy it!  Each drumstick is individually wrapped.

Myth #4: Traditional frozen ice cream treats are too big.

Fact: Nestle has a BRAND NEW variety pack of snack sized treats with BIG fun and BIG taste for the entire family.  Sam’s Club carries the Nestle Snack Size variety pack that has 10 Lil’ Drums and 8 Dibs Snack Bags.  Perfectly sized for families with a lot of little hands, or just for a mom who likes the convenience of the snack size.   Each Lil’ Drum and Dibs snack bag is individually wrapped.

Myth #5: Ice cream takes up too much room in the freezer.

Fact: First of all, I believe there is ALWAYS enough room for ice cream.  Second, if you are completely freezer-space challenged, you have an opportunity to win a brand new upright freezer RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW so you have no excuse not to fill it with great Nestle treats.

ENTER TO WIN AN UPRIGHT FREEZER FROM NESTLE

One winner will receive a GE® 13.7 CU. FT. Frost-Free Upright Freezer from Nestle.

(you can see the freezer here: GE Upright Freezer; note the prize is being provided by Nestle, GE and Sam’s Club are registered trademarks and not sponsors of this giveaway)

ARV: $538.00

How to enter (required):

Re-read ice cream myths 2, 3 and 4 above.  Which one of the great Nestle varieties shown would you choose to de-bunk an ice cream myth that exists in your house?

Earn extra entries (optional):

Must complete required entry in order to qualify for extra entries.

• Tell me who in your house is most likely to eat one of the Nestle varieties listed above (The Skinny Cow, The Original Drumstick, Lil’ Drums or Dibs) – 1 EXTRA

• Tell me what summer occasion could you incorporate ice cream into to make it more fun for the family – 1 EXTRA PER DAY

• Subscribe by Email or RSS to What’s That Smell? – 1 EXTRA

• Follow me on Twitter and Tweet the following or something similar (leave the link to each new Tweet each day) – 1 EXTRA PER DAY
  

Summer of Snacking: The Skinny Cow, Drumstick & Nestle Snack Size Ice Cream treats – enter to win a $500 freezer http://bit.ly/bgoa2r

• Blog about this giveaway and provide a link back to this post – 5 EXTRA

• Add our button to your sidebar – 3 EXTRA

• Share this giveaway on your Facebook wall – 1 EXTRA PER DAY

Please leave a separate comment for EACH extra entry.  Provide links to Tweets, Facebook wall, blog posts, etc. as required for the entry.

Giveaway is open to the USA and ends on June 9, 2010 at noon CST. Winner will be selected at random from all eligible entries using random.org and will be contacted by email. Winner will have 24 hrs to respond.  Please add kim@accidentalmommies.com to your trusted email filter.  If original winner does not claim their prize within 24 hrs, it is forfeit and a new winner will be selected promptly.

Sponsor reserves the right to insist upon a re-draw if the winner pulled has already won an identical prize on another blog.

Note: I have a material connection because I received a cash payment, gift or item of nominal value from a company affiliated with a brand, topic and/or product that is mentioned herein.

I don’t like to shop, especially for clothing for myself.  I’ve said it before, but when I find something I like (tops, pants, shorts, etc) I generally just buy one of each color rather than shop for additional styles.   Part of this attitude has to do with my struggles to get back to my “normal” weight since my daughter was born over 2 years ago, and part of it is just that I am impatient and find shopping with 2 kids emotionally draining.

Recently, however, I’ve been seeing great results with my diet and exercise and have lost 20 lbs so far, so when Kmart asked me if I would like to go shopping for some spring and summer clothes for myself I couldn’t say no.  Currently my wardrobe contains two types of clothes – too big and too small, so I needed some “in-between” clothes so I can spend the next few months in comfort until I can fit into my “skinny clothes”.

I haven’t shopped for myself at Kmart in a long time, and I was pleasantly surprised by some of their selections.  Kmart asked me to focus on items specifically for spring and summer including tunics, cropped pants, dresses and denim.  They had some really pretty dresses, and I held a few of them up in front of me, but practicality took over and I knew I needed to get some comfortable, well-fitting, everyday clothes.  I also don’t wear cropped pants, they make me feel short, although Kmart had a few styles I liked, once I put them on, I still felt uncomfortable in them, so I moved on.

I had $50 to spend and actually made 2 trips, I returned a few items from my initial purchase because a few things went on sale that I had looked at but we’re a little more than I wanted to spend.  Plus I re-evaluated my spring wardrobe and realized that I don’t really need that many casual shirts.

My purchases from my first trip:

I bought 4 cotton tops and a pair of Riders by Lee jean shorts and with tax, I was right around $50.  I was SO EXCITED that the shorts were 2 sizes smaller than the “big clothes” I have been wearing.  I ended up returning the brown shirt, the blue shirt and the black shirt in back.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE the black Route 66 cotton top.  It is fitted and soft and not too short on the bottom (I hate that).

On my second trip to Kmart to return the 3 tops I mentioned, I knew exactly what I wanted.  I wanted a Jaclyn Smith tunic and a pair of colored jeans that could double as casual or semi-dressy.  This is what I ended up with:

A Jaclyn Smith Women’s Medallion Print Wide Sleeve Tunic, and a pair of Riders by Lee relaxed stretch jeans in a sandstone color.  The jeans (also 2 sizes smaller than my current clothes) fit and feel comfortable and the tunic is light and cool (it has a thin solid brown liner inside to keep it from being see-through) and is perfect for spring events like father’s day parties and graduations but also can be casual as well.  These 2 items, on sale, were right around the same price as the 3 shirts I returned, I think I had to pay a few dollars extra.

Most of my shopping was done in the women’s department, although I did check out the junior’s department as well.  They had some fun styles and some really great colors and patterns of tops for spring and summer.  I also noticed how large of a plus size department Kmart has, and frankly there were a few tops in that section that I wish they had in smaller sizes.  They were CUTE!

Kmart wants to help you experience the great spring and summer fashions they have to offer by giving one of you a $25 Kmart gift card!

WIN A KMART GIFT CARD

One winner will receive a $25 Kmart Gift Card

HOW TO ENTER:

Head over to Kmart.com and check out their great women’s clothing selection.  Then come back here and tell me what you found that you think you would love to have as a part of your spring or summer wardrobe  (if you don’t happen to be a woman and want to enter, find something that you think would appeal to a woman in your life – and tell us who they are and what they would like).

EARN EXTRA ENTRIES:

• You can earn one extra entry for EACH of the following:
  • Subscribe to What’s That Smell?
  • Follow Kmart on Twitter
  • Like Kmart on Facebook

• You can earn ONE extra entry (one single extra entry, NOT daily) by hitting the greenish retweet button at the top of the post to share this post on Twitter. Please leave the link to your Tweet (click on the date/time of your Tweet to get its link).

Please leave a separate comment for EACH extra entry. Giveaway is open to the USA and ends on Friday, June 4, 2010 at noon CST. Winner will be selected at random from all eligible entries using random.org and will be contacted by email. Winner will have 48hrs to respond.

Kmart provided a $50 gift card to facilitate my review, and provided a $25 gift card for a prize winner.

To see if you are a finalist, or to check out all the wonderfully GRIM grills, visit the Sam’s Club Spring site for entry photos and descriptions from all 10 finalists.

Over the next couple of days, myself, along with all of the other Sam’s Club Sharing the Savings bloggers will be rating the Grim Grill entries based upon 3 factors: GRIME, DESCRIPTION & IMAGE and ORIGINALITY.

It’s been a lot of fun watching the entries roll in (people have some really sad looking grills), and I can’t wait to see who we collectively select as the winner!  The winner receives a brand new grill valued at $1,300 plus a $100 Sam’s Club gift card to buy some fixins to fully enjoy that new grill.

Stay tuned for the winner announcement!!

“Sam’s Club provided me with a $200 gift card for my participation in this campaign in April and May.”