Goalforit!! Success Made Simple!

Kids & Chores! Now what a mix, huh! We all strive to set aside chores for our kids to learn to be responsible and be a helping hand with in the family.  Sometimes we have to be creative to get that done!  I remember when my kids were young, they would love to help out.  They always wanted to do the dishes, help with the laundry, take the trash out and vacuum.  Funny how as they grow older those "things" they use to love volunteering to do, they start to hide from.

Have you ever used a chore chart?  Goalforit! is a fun website where you and your children can create a chore chart specifically made for them!  I have noticed with my own children, when it's something they have interest in and specialized with their likes in mind, they seem to take more interest in the chores and it gives them more motivation to get their chores done.  Goalforit.com is an excellent online resource that provides a variety of free solutions for personal success that are easy to use and can help bring more focus, balance and fulfillment into everyday living. 

This FREE chore chart can help teach kids, tween & teens many important lessons, including:

• Responsibility: A Chore Chart is an ideal way to help your kids feel like they are making a contribution to their family by doing their part around the house. 
• Understanding right from wrong: Setting behavior goals is an important way to help children strengthen their character and judgment.  
• Healthy Habits: Teaching good habits involving nutrition and physical activity are the cornerstone of prevent obesity in children and adolescents. 
• Money Matters: The optional point system teaches children three important lessons for managing money, earning, spending and saving. 

Visit www.goalforit.com and check out their solutions for yourself! Get 2012 started on the right foot!


**Disclosure: This was a paid post as part of a campaign through MomSelect.

Big Miracle Giveaway!!

Inspired by the true story that captured the hearts of people across the world, the rescue adventure Big Miracle tells the amazing tale of a small town news reporter (John Krasinski) and an animal-loving volunteer (Drew Barrymore) who are joined by rival world superpowers to save a family of majestic gray whales trapped by rapidly forming ice in the Arctic Circle.  Local newsman Adam Carlson can't wait to escape the northern tip of Alaska for a bigger market.  But just when the story of his career breaks, the world comes chasing it, too.  With an oil tycoon, heads of state and hungry journalists descending upon the frigid outpost, the one who worries Adam the most is Rachel Kramer (Barrymore). Not only is she an outspoken environmentalist, she's also his ex-girlfriend.  With time running out, Rachel and Adam must rally an unlikely coalition of Inuit natives, oil companies and Russian and American military to set aside their differences and free the whales.  As the world's attention turns to the top of the globe, saving these endangered animals becomes a shared cause for nations entrenched against one another and leads to a momentary thaw in the Cold War. 

Nothing is better than a true story! They seem to have so much more meaning, right?! We are really looking forward to seeing this movie and to gear up for the release Universal Pictures has teamed up with us to provide one lucky winner a chance to see the movie.

  One winner will receive a $25 Fandango Gift Card, a whale plush and a Big Miracle T-shirt.

Mandatory Entry - Visit the Big Miracle YouTube page & tell us what your most looking forward to!

For additional entries -

•Follow HulaHoopingMom on Twitter AND tweet about the contest (two per day)

•Blog about the movie and this giveaway on your blog (five entries)

•Leave a comment on one of my other posts (one entry)

•"Like" Big Miracle on Facebook

 

Contest will end Feb 5th, 2012  at 5pm Pacific time. Contest is open to US residents only and must be 18 years of age or older to win. Leave one comment per entry. Please make sure there is a way for me to contact you. One winner will be selected at random and contacted by email. Winner will have 48 hours to contact me with their costume choice and address, or a new winner will be chosen.  Prizing courtesy of Universal Pictures.

First ever Fresh & Easy Tweet Chat!!

Can you believe January is already halfway over?!

 

While some of us are still going strong with sticking to our resolutions, others might need a little more motivation,

especially when it comes to eating healthier in 2012. 

 

That’s why they’ve partnered with renowned dietitian and author of the SuperFoods Rx Diet, Dr. Wendy Bazilian for their first ever Tweet Chat.

 

Join them next week on Thursday, January 26^th from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. (PST) to get tips that will help you stick with that resolution to live a healthier lifestyle. 

Hashtag for the chat: #fneEatWell

 

Here’s to a happy and healthy new year!

Big Miracle Promotion!!

Do you know an extraordinary teenager? Universal Pictures Big Miracle has partnered with The Huffington Post to launch a very special Teen Impact contest!  

Big Miracle, in theaters February 3rd, tells the story of a group of people who come together for a cause and to make a difference.  The Huffington Post Teen Impact contest was designed to recognize innovative, influential  young people (ages 14-18) who support the causes that mean most to them.  Eligible teens should visit http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/teen-impact and submit a blog post about their cause for a chance to win a charity donation of $1,000, plus a trip to New York to attend a special screening of the film Big Miracle hosted by Arianna Huffington!

Encourage a special teen in your life to enter if they're making a difference in a big way!! Entries must be received by January 15th!

BIG MIRACLE

(In theaters Feb. 3rd)

 

Extreme Gift-Carding: Tips for how to stretch your gift card $$

According to the National Retail Federation, eight in ten holiday shoppers planned to dole out gift cards for the 2011 holiday season.  Additionally, gift cards remained the most requested present for the fifth year in a row. As it’s almost guaranteed that most of you received a gift card at some point during the holiday season, I’d like to suggest a few expert tips from shopping expert Pamela Pekerman on how you can redeem gift cards in a way that helps stretch their overall value.

I’ve included a few of Pamela’s tips below: 

• Redeem gift cards online rather than in crowded malls, and avoid shipping fees!  Sign up for a FREE 30 day trial of ShopRunner and get FREE 2-day shipping on every purchase, with no minimum order size
• Don’t let that gift card go to waste! Be sure to check the expiration date so you don’t miss out on the opportunity to use the card. If you’re not going to use it in time, sell your gift card on Swapagift.com or http://www.ebay.com, or donate to charity before it’s too late
• Get the most out of that gift card! According to Dealnews, shoppers can score big at post-holiday sales with some retailers offering post-holiday discounts of up to 88% off!  Look for online coupon codes to further stretch your gift card dollars. A simple Google search prior to visiting a retailer’s website can often help lead to a great hidden deal found only on the web
• Stack deals! Make sure to monitor the websites and social media pages of your favorite retailers. Many will offer exclusive offers that will help shoppers stack deals and make that gift card go even further
• Don’t be in a rush! Depending on what you’re shopping for, it might be best to wait for Presidents’ Day or Valentine’s Day specials. Planning ahead will help save you from last-minute shopping stress
• Regret your purchase?! Not a fit? Not the right color? ShopRunner also offers FREE easy returns with their new ReturnRunner service; simply print a label from the ShopRunner website and put the package in your mailbox  

 ShopRunner is a members-only online shopping service that offers time-starved consumers unlimited, free two-day shipping with no minimum order size, and free shipping on returns across a wide selection of today’s most popular retailers including Lord & Taylor, Toys “R” Us, Sports Authority, PetSmart and American Eagle Outfitters.  www.shoprunner.com

Extra 120-Day Get Fit Giveaway

With all the opportunity for indulgence during the holiday season, it can be hard to stay in a healthy mindset. Although we shouldn't resist treating ourselves to some of our favorite seasonal confections, it's important to indulge wisely so we don't find ourselves in damage-control mode on January 1st! Extra Gum knows that maintaining a fit lifestyle takes a little more willpower during this sugar-laden season, which is why they've launched their 120-Day Get Fit Giveaway!

Throughout the holiday season and as New Years' resolutions approach, Extra Dessert Delights gum is the perfect ammo to have on hand as an easy alternative to high calorie snacks, and now they're offering even more ways to bring everyone a little more support during these crucial times. With the 120-Day Get Fit Giveaway, fitness buffs and gum chewers alike can enter once a day to win unique fitness-focused prizes that will help keep your New Years' resolutions on track. From now until March 29th, 2012, you can visit http://www.extragum.com/ for daily prize giveaways and the chance to win the Grand Prize- a fitness adventure trip to Red Mountain Resort in Utah. Prizes change daily, so entrants should be sure to check back each day to see what the fun new prize will be.

Disclosure: I was entered for a chance to win a gift card in exchange for this post.  No monetary exchange took place.

Migraine??

Spinning rooms, harsh bright lights, pounding pain on one side of your head and nausea; some of the many symptoms of migraines.   I remember as a little girl, laying on the couch with a cold, wet wash cloth over my forehead crying and crying because I was in so much pain.  It sometimes seemed to last for days.  Migraines run of the female side of my family.  My mother and grandmother both lived with migraines.  I'll be honest, I'm not a real big fan of prescription medication, especially having to take it everyday just to prevent migraines.   After living with migraines for over 30 years, I have learned to pretty much live with them and live my life around them.   For the past few years I have turned to Excedrin to help me get through.   Excedrin is my best friend when it comes to treating migraines.  This is really the only thing that works for me when I'm in a bind.

Excedrin  Migraine and the National Headache Foundation teamed up to conduct a survey that brings to light just how much people with migraines suffer - and how eager they are to lessen and pain and and reduce the disruption in their lives.  And what's even more remarkable are the trad-offs people would make if they didn't have to endure the pain of a migraine.  


For example, did you know that:

• The average migraine lasts for 12 hours for those who don’t take any medication
  

• Nearly two-thirds (61%) of adult migraine sufferers would willingly wait in a long line rather than suffer from migraine pain
  

• A third (33%) would give up five percent of their annual salary
  

• Other workers would toss their vacation days (26%) or weekends (17%)
  

• And more than half (52%) would rather visit in-laws

  Migraine Tips and Prevention Techniques

There are many different ways to manage migraines. There is no simple solution and every treatment plan should be individualized.

• Perhaps the most important tool in tracking migraines is a migraine diary. It is used by doctors to track potential triggers and patterns related to your migraine. It helps you track food you eat when migraines occur, duration of migraines, type of pain, amount of sleep, etc.
  

• Aerobic exercise has been shown to make an appreciable difference in reducing migraines and promoting a general sense of well-being. Even if you walk only 15 to 20 minutes.
  

• Drinking plenty of water will help you keep hydrated and can help prevent the frequency of migraine incidents.
  

• And, when migraine pain does set in, consider finding a quiet place to rest, applying a cool compress to the back of your neck.
  

• Talk with your doctor about an over-the-counter pain reliever like Excedrin® Migraine, which starts to relieve migraine pain in 30 minutes.
  

• For more tips and insights, please visit www.execedrin.com/migraine.
  

About Excedrin Migraine

• Excedrin Migraine, a trusted brand, offers convenient and fast relief for migraine pain. In fact, in clinical studies, Excedrin Migraine starts to relieve migraine pain in just 30 minutes.
• With Excedrin® Migraine, you’ll get fast and effective relief and get on with your life. Excedrin Migraine is the first non-prescription medicine approved by the FDA to treat all the symptoms of a migraine.
• Excedrin Migraine is the #1 Neurologist recommended over-the-counter pain reliever for migraine pain relief.
• Excedrin Migraine contains acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine.
• Excedrin Migraine is available in Geltabs, Tablets and Caplets.
• See your doctor for diagnosis of migraines and treatment options.

Check out http://on.fb.me/ExcMigO2O to see real migraine stories, and share your tips and suggestions with other sufferers. 

Visit the Migraine Center at www.excedrin.com/migraine for more information on migraine relief



Disclosure: “This is a sponsored post.  Migraine relief and relaxation kit were provided by Novartis Consumer Healthcare, the makers of Excedrin® Migraine; my journey for a migraine free experience is my own.”