Office Depot Foundation



Most children look forward to the beginning of the new school year.  But for those in families where money is tight, this can be a challenging time.  That’s why as school is getting ready to begin around the country, the Office Depot Foundation is helping deserving children like these start school on the right foot.
In 2014, the Foundation is donating 350,000 sackpacks to children in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and a number of other countries through its National Backpack Program, which is now in its 14th year.  By the end of this year, Office Depot and the Office Depot Foundation will have given away more than 3.3 million backpacks and sackpacks since the National Backpack Program began in 2001. 
The specially designed sackpacks come in seven bright and colorful designs that are new for 2014.  Each one includes a zippered pouch containing a pen, pencil, pencil sharpener, eraser, six-inch ruler and four crayons. The sackpacks do not have any Office Depot Foundation or Office Depot logos or markings.



Connect & Learn More!

Twitter – @OfficeDepotFndn 

Congrats Mountain Ridge



Whoop Whoop!!!  Congrats to Mountain Ridge for making it to Willamsport!! So exciting!  When the playoffs first started, my son played representing our league, but lost in the first round.  As a parent of a little leaguer this is what we live for - to see the smiles on these boys faces just melts your heart!! I love watching little league baseball, there's nothing better to do on a beautiful day, than to sit out there and watch these boys play.    Let's show these boys that we are behind them!  Through the end of the tournament on August 24th, Las Vegas-area fans can utilize Canon's PIXMA Printing Solutions and Cloud Technology to submit supportive comments and images via custom microsite, thegreatwalloffrandom.com.  These will be printed on-site in South Williamsport, PA to create "The Great Wall of Fandom" and players of the Mountain Ridge team can take heart in having the backing of their hometown!

While anyone can submit photos to "The Great Wall of Fandom" from virtually anywhere during each game, Canon will also produce keepsakes for on-site spectators and attendees of the Little League Baseball World Series by inviting them to pose in a Canon-branding batting cage located in the Family Fun Zone area, where on-site brand ambassadors will take photos using Cannon EOS 5D Mark III Digital SLR cameras and then print the captured images directly on Canon PIXMA MG7120 printers as tokens of the attendees experience.  

This year marks the 75th Anniversary of Little League, and part of its longtime success in providing a healthy, safe environment for 2.4 million children in more than 80 countries can be attributed to the assistance provided by sponsorships.  Canon joins Little League as its 20th National Sponsor, which help Little League maintain low team affiliation fees and provide valuable training and educational resources to coaches, parents, umpires, and volunteers.  Many of Little League's national sponsors also participate in enhancing the fan experience at the Little League Baseball World Series Family Fun Zone. 

Go Mountain Ridge!!!

Happy National Filet Mignon Day!



Ohh do I love beef!!  Especially a good steak!  Today is National Filet Mignon Day! What better way to head over to your local Morton's Steakhouse to grab a petite filet mignon sandwich for a buck!!

Find your local Morton's here -->  www.mortons.com

*Check with your local Morton’s location for details and participation. Valid while supplies last. Not valid with any other offer or discount.

Book your Winter Vacation Early to Save!



As a Mom, I just love the fall and winter months!  It seems to reconnect family, bring closeness and most of all, creates the best memories!! I use to always wait until last minute to book trips, find hotel room and make a plan.  Years later, I learned that planning early, really can help save you not only the added rush, but it actually can save you some spending cash too!  Start thinking winter vacation and as you read this, write it down, because if you are like me, you will get distracted and forget!  This is too good to pass up!   Mountain Resorts offers a wide variety of attractive, well-maintained accommodations at prime locations in Steamboat Springs, Colorado surrounding the Steamboat Ski Area, with rates ranging from affordable to indulgent. As you plan your families winter vacation to Steamboat Springs there is no better time to book your trip. When you book early you have access to the best properties at the greatest discounts. Plus, I found out the hard way  many times, that the later you book, the harder it is to find an available spot! Check out these early booking deals. Up to 35% off lodging and 25% off lift tickets!

For more information & reservations call 800-995-6049 or visit them online at www.mtn-resorts.com

Fresh Home Delivery


**Disclosure:  Schwan's will be proving our family with a sample of their product so that we can review in an upcoming post!  No monetary compensation was or will be received.

For over 60 years, Schwan's Home Service has provided superior frozen foods with convenient home delivery. Their foods are flash frozen at the peak of freshness and flavor. Choose from USDA Choice meats, wild-caught seafood, flavorful skillet meals, Grade A fruits and vegetables, plus heritage ice cream, distinctive desserts and much more.

Schwan's offers delicious foods to satisfy everyone, including family members with special dietary needs including:

- No gluten ingredients
- Vegetarian
- No sugar added
- Heart healthy
- Low calorie
- Low sodium choices

Schwan's offers weekly specials, coupons, online hot deals and new customer special offers. Join the Schwan's Rewards program and earn 5% back on every online purchase, to be used on a future order.

100% Guarantee! Love It or Return It! If you're unsatisfied one of their products - for any reason - they will gladly replace it or provide a refund.

My Readers Save $ On Your First Order at Schwans Home Service!
$5 off $25 Order - Coupon Code: JULIEN2
$10 off $50 Order - Coupon Code: JULIEN2
$15 off $75 Order - Coupon Code: JULIEN15

Become an Expert!



  **Disclosure:  This is a paid post, provided by the Sponsor.

Does the dream of being a top chef stir your soul? Does the possibility of getting your pilot’s license make your heart soar? Want to fine-tune your musical talent? What kind of expert do you want to be?
Service Experts Heating and Air Conditioning, one of North America’s largest heating and air conditioning brands, wants to make your passion happen.  The “Experts Creating Experts” contest, open now through September 30, will award $25,000 to be used toward gaining expertise and training in that one topic you’re most passionate about.
 
To enter, visit ServiceExperts.com/ExpertContest, or ServiceExperts.ca/ExpertContest, and submit an essay, presentation, photos or video explaining one subject in which you would like to become an expert, why you are interested in that subject and how/why this expertise would improve your life. The winner will be awarded $25,000 to be used for professional instruction, to attend school, take a trip, for equipment or in other ways that help make them an expert on the topic. “We know that becoming an expert isn’t easy, and it doesn’t happen overnight, but the upside is tremendous” said Dave Moody, director of marketing for Service Experts. “We’re committed to being experts in home comfort because that is what our customers deserve. Now we want to also “pay it forward”, and help someone else in their pursuit of expertise and excellence. We cannot wait to see what America wants do to!”

Judging of entries into the Experts Creating Experts contest will be based on: the creativy of the entry, the uniqueness of the area of expertise and the inspirational appeal of the entry. The initial round of judging will be conducted by a panel selected by Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. Finalists will then be posted on the Service Experts Facebook page for the public to encourage Service Experts to help one person’s dream come true.

            About Service Experts
             Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning, based in Plano, Texas, is one of North America's largest heating and air conditioning brands, with over 95 locations serving more than 2,000 homes and businesses per day. Service Experts service centers provide heating repair, air conditioning repair, indoor air quality sales and service, HVAC system sales and installation, and HVAC maintenance for both the residential and commercial HVAC markets. Find Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning at on.fb.me/serviceexperts or at ServiceExperts.com


**Disclosure:  This is a paid post, provided by the Sponsor. 
 
 DON’T BE “BOARD” WITH YOUR DECK
Spruce Up Your Outdoor Space With Deck Of Your Dreams Sweepstakes  
 
                Summer may be winding down, but the fun doesn't have to stop. 
Thompson’s® WaterSeal® is offering its Deck of Your Dreams Sweepstakes to help transform your dull outdoor space into a vision of perfection, with a grand prize valued at more than $15,000. That includes $10,000 in cash for building or repairing a deck, $5,000 in gift cards from the popular Plow & Hearth (www.plowhearth.com) of home furnishings and an in-person visit from HGTV/diy Network star, Jeff Wilson, who will offer his expert guidance throughout the design and building process. Enter at www.thompsonswaterseal.com from April 5-October 4.
Past winners have included the Beck family in 2011 (tore out a 250 square foot composite deck and built a 750 square foot deck), the Durands from Minnesota in 2012 (built a 10x18 screened-in deck on their new house) and the Freeman family from Georgia in 2013 (just completed a 12x12 octagon-shaped deck.) Wilson says that considerations when building a deck include size, shape, built-ins and type of wood. “But there are also a lot of creative choices to make once the deck is finished,” he commented. “It’s no different than finishing a family room or any indoor space.” To choose a color of deck stain, Wilson suggests referencing the color wheel, and choosing a color that is opposite of your house color for a complimentary effect. “The new line of Thompson’s® WaterSeal® Waterproofing Stain at The Home Depot® come in the five most popular colors – Acorn Brown, Maple Brown, Harvest Gold, Sequoia Redwood and Woodland Cedar – which will work with most home styles,” he said.  And since “deck-cessories” make the deck, Plow & Hearth offers the following tips to up the style, function and comfort factor:
  • When selecting furniture for outdoor use, be sure to pay attention to the materials from which it was made. Woods like teak, cedar, eucalyptus and cypress are durable, long-lasting and require little maintenance. While wicker can be made of natural materials like rattan and bamboo, it is often crafted of resin—a durable, low-maintenance, easy-to-clean material. 
  • Wicker is often lightweight, which makes it easy to move around to create new seating looks whenever you wish.
  • The addition of deck planters can really make a deck come alive (literally!) Self-watering planters are an ideal choice, because their reservoir system ensures plants get the water they need to grow.
  • It’s important to find the right style of furniture for an outdoor space. Adirondack chairs remain a favorite outdoor option. Rockers and gliders offer a traditional, comfortable way to enjoy a leisurely afternoon on your deck.
  • Adding a trellis is an effective and affordable means to add vertical interest to an otherwise boring wall on the deck. Trellises can be almost any size.
  • Looking for the perfect lighting so the deck can be enjoyed late into the evening? Solar lighting is an eco-friendly, energy-saving option, plus it requires no wiring or cords, which means installation is quick and easy. (And adequate lighting even makes the deck safer for use at night.)
            Along with the 2014 Deck of Your Dreams Sweepstakes, the Thompson’s® WaterSeal® web site (www.thompsonswaterseal.com) will feature a new look and inspirational new projects  and deck care advice for the 2014 season. And there’s even more “deck-citement” at www.facebook.com/thompsonswaterseal, www.pinterest.com/thompsonswseal and www.youtube.com/thompsonswaterseal.