New Tred Service Delivers Cars for Test Drives + Amazon Giftcard Giveaway, Ends 9/4/13

Automotive 
Giveaway details below

This is a compensated post

Here's a new service I just discovered that makes shopping for a new car a whole lot easier for harried parents who have young children. Announced this summer and already available in the Greater Seattle/Bellevue, Washington area, Tred offers the first delivery service of its type ever to bring new cars directly to where you are most comfortable trying them out, either at home or at the office. The company, which offers this unique service for just $19 per car delivered, will be expanding into other metro areas over the coming months.

My 4 kids buckled into car seats, MommyBlogExpert.com

Since my hubbie and I had to shop for a new car when I had triplets born just a year after my older child, I know exactly how stressful it can be to have to focus on both car and family at the same time -- especially when you've got four kids running and yelling their way through a car dealership's showroom. Too bad this wasn't available when my own children were small because this would have definitely been a sanity saver for me.

Still, I'm glad that those of you who have little ones now finally have a resource to help eliminate the anxiety of having to think about your kids while also test driving and making major purchasing decisions about a new car for your family. Besides, this service isn't just for parents with babies and toddlers, it's for anyone married or single, with kids or without, that wants a more convenient and pleasant automotive shopping experience. I know the next time I'm shopping for a new car -- if this service is available in my area -- I will definitely try it out.


Tred: How it works. from Tred.com on Vimeo.

Key Tred Benefits

• Eliminates the need to visit any car dealership, saving stress, time and money
• Cuts out the axiety-provoking experience of showroom sale price negotiations
• Makes it possible to test drive a vehicle on your home turf at a time that is most convenient to you, not the showroom
• Gives you the opportunity to see if a car fits your lifestyle and your garage

MommyBlogExpert.com

There's more good news. Thanks to Tred, I'm hosting an Amazon giftcard giveaway. Read on to enter daily until the contest ends.

$25 Amazon Giftcard 

Giveaway

Ends 9/4/13

MommyBlogExpert's Amazon Giftcard Giveaway ends September 4, 2013 at 12 am PT and is open to legal residents of the U.S. only. One winner will receive a $25 Amazon giftcard courtesy of Tred. Winner of this MBE contest will be selected at random from all entries and will be notified via email and must respond within 48 hours to claim their prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

More Family-Friendly
Mommy Blog Expert Giveaways

ENTER Them All HERE

Thanks to Online-Sweepstakes.com for including this contest in their directory of current giveaways.

About Tred
Tred offers a first-of-its-kind service for busy families and professionals that makes the auto buying experience faster and easier. Only Tred offers the convenience of test driving and evluating new cards from the comfort of the buyer's home or office while offering big savings on many of the most popular makes and models. For more information and to stay up on the latest news as the company rolls out the service in more cities, visit Tred.com or visit them on Facebook and Twitter.

FTC Disclosure: I received compensation for this post and Tred is providing the prize for this giveaway. However thoughts are my own. See complete FTC Discloosure information that appears at the bottom on MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual page, including this one.

Teenage Counselor Summer Camp Tour - Teen Tuesday Post by Rebecca Elspas

Teen Tuesday
by Rebecca Elspas, Teen Blogger

Hey everyone. How's your summer going? How many of you are working as a counselor at a camp like I am this year?

Welcome to my summer camp! MommyBlogExpert.com

View from my camp, MommyBlogExpert.com

Me with the largest rock in camp, MommyBlogExpert.com

For this week's Teen Tuesday column I thought it would be fun to tell you more about camp and my job here. My sister and I (we are triplets) actually don't work with the campers. 

Our responsibility, instead, is to take care of the adult staff's babies and toddlers while their parents are work or go away on overnight trips with the campers. As you might imagine playing with these cute kids is fun, but it is also a lot of work changing diapers, feeding and keeping them happy and watching the little ones every second.

My sister and I with one of the babies we care for, MommyBlogExpert.com

I made this sign for the Kiddie Camp, MommyBlogExpert.com

Now, let me take you on a whirlwind tour so can you see the camp I've been working at in the mountains near San Diego for six weeks. As you can see, it looks very much like a typical sleepaway camp, except we don't have any green grass like in the camp brochure, LOL!

This is my cabin, from the outside...

MommyBlogExpert.com

And from the inside...

MommyBlogExpert.com

Here are some other areas around camp including the dining hall, pool and art room...

MommyBlogExpert.com

MommyBlogExpert.com

MommyBlogExpert.com

Today mom and my darling little Dexter came to visit me and my sister since she was at BlogHer 2013 last week and had to miss the official Parent's Visitor's Day. We brought along a picnic lunch, drove into town, went on a shopping spree and had an overall fun day together.

Some of my fashion finds today, MommyBlogExpert.com

Shoutout to all other teens working at summer camps this summer!

Comment & Connect
Have a question for me about my camp experience? Even better, I hope you'll leave a comment on this post or Tweet me @RebElspas and tell me what you're up to this summer. I'd be especially interested to hear from other teen camp counselors. If you're not already, I invite you to follow me on Twitter and on Pinterest.

FTC Disclosure: No payment or other compensation was exchanged in association with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Twitter Party Calendar This Week July 28 - August 3 w/ Prizes - Continuous New Info

Twitter Parties

Updated 8/2/13 - Sneak Peek at Coming Weeks Too!

Get all the details in this free constantly updated Twitter Party Master Calendar listing tons of family friendly parties including specifics on prizes you can win and links to RSVP and participate. Includes Twitter Parties in the U.S. and Canada. Be sure to check back often every week as new events are added on an ongoing basis -- often with new prize-winning opportunities added several times per day. You'll also get a sneak peek at Twitter parties coming up next week and in the month ahead. Now listing Facebook, Pinterest and Google+ parties with prizes too.

Be the first to know when the latest Mommy Blog Expert Twitter Party schedule goes live by following MBE on Twitter, Facebook and/or by subscribing to this blog right now.

THIS WEEK

Monday, July 29

Verizon FiOS Twitter Party at 7 pm ET with @theonlinemom @lisasamples. Prize: Kindle Fire HD. #VZFiOSSpeed RSVP

Weekly Traveling Moms Twitter Party at 9 pm ET @travelingmoms @kimorlando @debmomof3 Carissa Rogers . Prize: $25 Amazon or iTunes giftcard. #TMom RSVP

Sleepy Moms Unite Twitter Party at 10 pm ET with @nickmom @mommyshorts. Prizes: TBA. #SleepyMomsUnite Details

Tuesday, July 30

Weekly Tech Tuesday Twitter Party at 3 pm ET with @KristinaLibby of Microsoft. Participate with hashtags #Windows #WinChat Details Soon

Orbit 4 Kids Twitter Party at 3 pm ET with @MomCentral @MomCentralChat @OrbitGum. Prizes: SIX (6) $50 gift codes. #Orbit4Kids Details 

Jellys are Back Twitter Party at 8 pm ET with @PollinateMedia @growingupthomas @fashionistammc @jBeansAUS. Prizes: FOUR (4) pairs of Jellys valued at $34.99 each. #JellysAreBack RSVP

Nuby Clik-It Twitter Party at 9 pm ET with @nubyusa @diaperedknights @finnegan_hughes. Prizes: $25 Target giftcards. #Nubyclikit RSVP

Iams So Good Twitter Party at 9 pm ET with @Shespeaksup @IAMS @PawlGriffin. Prize: Iams Prize Packs plus a Grand Prize of a $250 PetSmart giftcard. #SoGood RSVP

Wednesday, July 31

Cottonelle Routine Twitter Party at Noon ET with @brettbmartin @formulamom. Prizes: FIVE (5) $100 Target giftcards.  #CottonelleRoutine RSVP

Velveeta Skillet Singles Personal Feast Twitter Party at 1 pm ET with @MsMissy62 @momwithadotcom @cbtweetchat @ericsmith_cb. Prizes: FIVE (5) $100 Walmart giftcards. #PersonalFeast RSVP

Shape Let's Dish Twitter Party at 3 pm ET with @Shape_Magazine's Bahar Takhtehchian and @KeriGans. Prizes: TBA #LetsDish RSVP

Staples Has It Back to School Twitter Party at 7 pm ET with @Staples @ModernMom. Prizes: $100 Staples gift cards will be given away throughout the party. #Stapleshasit #BTS RSVP

Canadian Eggs Twitter Party at 8 pm ET with @Carol_Leeming @eggsouefs @Listen2Lena @FeistyFrugal. Prizes including Big Green Egg BBQ valued at $1500+ for Canada residents only. #CanadianEggs RSVP

New Balance Twitter Party at 8 pm ET with @verasweeney @audreymcclellan @NewBalance. Prizes: TBA. Participate in party with hashtag #nbkids Details

It's the weekly @theonlinemom Twitter Party at 9 pm ET. Prizes: Nike+ Kinect Training video game or Microsoft Office Home and Student! To be eligible to win a prize RSVP & participate in party with hashtag #TheOnlineMom.

Chicken Farmers of Canada No Naked Chicken Twitter Party at 9 pm ET with @chickendotCA @MBosc @RickardsBeer @BloggerWomen. Prizes: TBA #nonakedchicken RSVP

Thursday, August 1

Power Up Your Smile Twitter Party at 1 pm ET with @cleverhousewife @turningclockbac @cbtweetchat. Prizes: FIVE (5) $100 Walmart giftcards. #PowerUpYrSmile RSVP

Citi Thank You Twitter Party at 1 pm ET with @resourcefulmom @veragibbons @citi. Prizes: TWO (2) winners will each receive a tablet computer. #CitiThankYou RSVP

Vizio Smart TV Twitter Chat at 3 pm ET with @Vizio @3DGOAtHome. Prizes: FIVE (5) 3DGO $10 giftcards. #VizioSmartTV Details

Alamo Games to Go Twitter Party at 7 pm ET with @7onashoestring. Prizes: TWO (2) $25 giftcards. #AlamoGames2Go RSVP

Moms and Brands Twitter Party at 8 pm ET with @momsandbrands. Lots of Prizes TBA. #momsandbrands RSVP

Martha Stewart Home Depot Do It Herself Twitter Party with @MarthaStewart @HomeDepot @MomSparkMedia @MomSpark and others at 8 pm ET. Prizes: ONE (1) $100 Home Depot giftcard, TWO (2) $50 Home Depot GCs. #DIHWorkshop RSVP

Fit for Mom Twitter Party at 8 pm ET with @LisaDruxman @PlumOrganics @lunabar and others. Prizes: TBA. #FIT4Mom Details

L'Oreal Paris Advanced Haircare Twitter Party at 9 pm ET with @lorealparisusa @lisasamples @zipporahs @SuuperG @theBeautyBean @alywalansky @sugarjones @MommyBlogExpert. $1000 in Prizes including L'Oreal gift baskets and Target giftcards; Grand Prize is a gift basket plus Conair Pro Hair Dryer, Straightner and Curling Wand. #Advanced Haircare RSVP

Working Mother Back to School Twitter Party at 9 pm ET with @_workingmother_. Prizes: THREE (3) $100 Visa giftcards and ONE (1) Grand Prize is a New iPad. #WMBacktoSchool RSVP

PG Back to School Twitter Party with @AudreyMcClellan @PGeveryday at 9 pm ET. Prizes: TBA. Participate with hashtag #PGBacktoSchool

Villa Metro Twitter Party at 9 pm ET with @ValenciaSoCal @MetroLink. Prize: ONE (1) custom #Awesometown from @SoleBicycles plus other prizes such as MetroLink passes, Starbucks gift cards and Swell water bottles and Go-Jo mugs. #villametro RSVP

Sparkly Soul 2nd Anniversary Twitter Party at 9 pm ET with @sparklysoulinc. Prizes: TEN (10) sparkly headbands. #happysparklysoul2years Details

Fit for Mom Twitter Party at 10 pm ET with @LisaDruxman @PlumOrganics @lunabar and others. Prizes: TBA. #FIT4Mom Details

Friday, August 2

Weekly Verizon Wireless Twitter Party hosted by @theonlinemom @thetechdad @verizoninsider at 3 pm ET talking about using mobile devices for a healthier lifestyle. Prizes: Samsung Galaxy Note II or a BlackBerry Z10. To be eligible to win participate in chat, use hashtag #VZWBuzz and RSVP

More Twitter Parties constantly to be added for This Week to this list as soon as they're scheduled. So stay tuned for updates as they happen by following this blog.

NEXT WEEK

Monday, August 5

Tiny Prints Back to School Pinning Twitter Party at 8 pm ET with @Tinyprints. Prizes: TWENTY FIVE (25) winners will get various school supplies; TWO (2) winners get iPhone cases and TWO (2) winners get iPad cases; ONE (1) Grand Prize winner gets an iPad and an iPad case. #TinyPrintsSchool RSVP

Weekly Traveling Moms Twitter Party at 9 pm ET with @travelingmoms @kimorlando @debmomof3 @cindyrichards. Prize: $25 Amazon or iTunes giftcard. #TMom RSVP

StayMade Girls Night Out Twitter Party at 9 pm ET with @staymade @momitforward and others. Prize: ONE (1) StayMade bedding set ARV $150. #gno #kickstarter RSVP

Tuesday, August 6

BeachBody Twitter Party at 3 pm ET with @FormulaMom @7onashoestring @beachbody @teambeachbody. Prizes: Insanity (ARV $120), P90X (ARV $120), 1 bag of Shakeology, and one lucky winner will win their choice of Beachbody workout. #Beachbody RSVP

Weekly Tech Tuesday Twitter Party at 3 pm ET with @KristinaLibby of Microsoft. Participate with hashtags #Windows #WinChat Details Soon

Back to School Savings Twitter Party at 3 pm ET with @prettyfrugal @asavingswow @savingsmania @aleamilham @savings @savingsclasses. $460 in Prizes. #schoolsavings RSVP

Electrolux Keeping Cool: Summer Parties Twitter Party at 3 pm ET with @Clever_network @ElectroLuxUS. Prizes: EIGHT (8) $50 American Express giftcards. #PerfectTemp RSVP

Sweet Vidalia Flavors of Summer Twitter Party at 4:30 pm ET with @rebeccalangcook @cookthestory @VidaliaOnions. Prizes: Vidalia Onions, summer foods and $50 Visa giftcard. Plus an outdoor entertaining package from Sears valued at $5,000 or $1,000 cash. #flavorsofsummer RSVP

Kitchen Play Summer Cook Chilean Twitter Party at 7 pm ET with @Kitchen_Play @FoodsFromChile. Prizes: FIVE (5) Crates of food from Chile, each valued at $25. #CookChilean RSVP

Master Lock Back-to-School Twitter Party at 8 pm ET with @Resourcefulmom @MasterLockUS. Prizes: ONE (1) Grand Prize that includes iPad 2 plus a Homework Station prize pack (ARV $626). TEN (10) Homework Station prize packs valued at $227 each. #MasterBacktoSchool RSVP

Gracie B. Back to School Twitter Party at 8 pm ET with @angejim0531 @danielle_framed @ShopGracieB. Lots of prizes including $75 Gracie b giftcard. #shopgracieb RSVP

Healthy Kids Twitter Party at 9:30 pm ET with @melissamoog @itsabellyHQ @ginarau @eatingarainbow @thelunchtray. $300+ in Prizes. #HealthyKids Details

Wednesday, August 7

It's the weekly @theonlinemom Twitter Party at 9 pm ET. Prize: TBA. To be eligible to win a prize RSVP & participate in party with hashtag #TheOnlineMoms.

Thursday, August 8

Movies on Demand Twitter Party at 8 pm ET with @MomSpark. Prizes: TBA. More details Soon. RSVP

A Day to Remember Book Launch Twitter Party at 9 pm ET with @lydsrich. Prizes: FOUR (4) signed copies of the A Day to Remember book plus FIVE (5) other prizes. #BFFsRemember RSVP

Friday, August 9

Weekly Verizon Wireless Twitter Party hosted by @theonlinemom at 3 pm ET. Prizes: TBA. To be eligible to win participate in chat, use hashtag #VZWBuzz and RSVP

Saturday, August 10

The White Queen Royalty Twitter Party with @clever_network @menageatrois at 11 pm ET. Prizes: Visa gift cards, Menage a Trois wines and The White Queen book. #whitevsred RSVP

Monday, August 12

Dole 4 Kids Twitter Party at 1 pm ET with @jmanmillerbug @savvymomnyc @cbtweetchat. Prizes: FIVE (5) $100 Walmart giftcards. #Dole4Kids RSVP

Tuesday, August 20

Create Pet Home Twitter Party at 7 pm ET with @CharlotteReed. Prizes: Pet products TBA. #CreatePetHome RSVP

COMING SOON

Tuesday, September 3

Bloggy Moms Guide to a Better Blog Twitter Party at 9 pm ET with @bloggymoms. Prizes: ONE (1) Bloggy Moms Guides eBook + $500 giftcard. #BloggyGuide RSVP

About this Weekly Twitter Party List
Compiled by MommyBlogExpert.com Twitter Parties are listed free of charge in this weekly schedule. However keep in mind that each party is run by a different brand and/or hosts and MommyBlogExpert, unless specified otherwise, is not responsible for any dealings readers have with these events including, but not limited to, prizing of any party on the calendar. If you'd like to add an event to the Mommy Blog Expert Twitter Party Calendar email janis at janiselspas dot com with Twitter Party in the subject line including all the details and links in the body of your  message.

Also available, for a nominal fee, to host, co-host or serve as a panelist for your own brand Twitter party. To inquire, please email janis@janiselspas.com for information with Twitter Party Consulting Query in the subject line.

FTC Disclosure: MommyBlogExpert does attend some Twitter parties as a guest and also works as a host, co-host, and panelist on others. However, I did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Zulily Pinterest BlogHer Cutie Style Contest

BlogHer Sweepstakes

I've loved Zulily since the beginning both as a buying customer and as a blogger covering the brand and featuring the site's unique indie fashion offerings and other trendy products on MommyBlogExpert multiple times over the years. In fact I've had an account with them and also wrote monthly columns on the brand's blog back in 2010 when the company officially launched.

So when I heard about Zulily's sponsorship of the 2nd Annual BlogHer Fashion Show After Party on Saturday night, July 27th in Chicago I just had to share the news with fellow women who will be attending this major conference for women and mom bloggers. Not only are they sponsors of this high energy, high fashion show featuring real women who blog like you and me, they are hosting a Cutie Style Profile Pinterest contest just for those of us who will be at BlogHer 2013 that extends into the weeks following this big event.

Chance to win a $500 wardrobe 
for your very own cutie

Image from Zulily.com

Zulily Contest Entry Details

Sweepstakes Ends 8/14/13

FTC Disclosure: I am a Zulily fan and customer. Furthermore, I've attended multiple BlogHer conferences and have also been a speaker at this event. I have paid for my own 2013 full conference ticket and did not receive any compensation for this post. Thoughts here are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one. 

Summer Camp Tunes Inspired by Pink and Nate Reuss - Teen Tuesday Post by Rebecca Elspas

Teen Tuesday

by Rebecca Elspas, Teen Blogger

In last week's post on my Camp Counselor Flash Mob Experience, I shared how music can be a fun summer surprise. Here at camp, music really is the backbone of everything we do. Everyone, even the little one year-old campers live, breathe and embody music appreciation every day.

Me in costume after singing in school play, MommyBlogExpert.com

Some of my fellow staff members at camp play piano. In fact, that was my life's wish, too. But when I was little I was told my fingers were too small so I studied violin instead. While they were jamming out the other night to Stay by Rihanna and Just Give Me a Reason by Nate Reuss from Pink's The Truth About Love album, I sang along.

Singing is my passion, too -- yeah, maybe that sounds kinda cheesy. Seriously, I feel like it helps me push through anything even a wall (figuratively).

I really like this video shot at the Pink concert where Nate Reuss made a surprise appearance on stage singing that hit song!

My summer 2013 top artist & group playlist choices include

• Pink
• Nate Reuss 
• Michael Buble
• Lana Del Rey
• Christina Aguilera

I also love the Pitch Perfect soundtrack, which I know backwards and forwards. Invite me over to watch that musical movie and I will literally quote every single line, like a one hour 20 minute conversation with myself. To anyone who hasn't seen it yet, I highly recommend watching Pitch Perfect because your summer bucket list won't be complete without it. 

Shoutout to Pink and Nate Reuss for creating my favorite song of the moment!

Comment & Connect
Have a question for me about the songs and artists I like best right now? Better yet, make up your own summer playlist and share it below as a comment or Tweet it to me @RebElspas so I can get into some of your most loved tunes this season, too. Then, from all of you that submit one, I'll pick the playlist I like best and give you a shout out in an upcoming Teen Tuesday post. Don't miss a beat cause I can't wait to hear from you. You can also stay in touch with me by following on Twitter and on Pinterest.

FTC Disclosure: No payment or other compensation was exchanged in association with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Preschool Home Learning Ideas Contest - Prizes: $100 + $200 Giftcards, iPad Mini and iPad

Giveaway

This is a compensated post

8/5/13 Update: Vote HERE for the winners of the Zorbit's Math Home Learning Ideas Contest for your chance to win 1 of 3 $100 giftcards just for voting! Vote daily until end of contest on 8/9/13.

Hurry! 

Contest Entries Due 7/29/13

Since my own kids were young, as a mom of four I've been an advocate of leveraging all the ways technology enhances family life, especially when it comes to expanding the minds of children. So, when I was offered the opportunity to promote the importance of early childhood learning via a fun contest with awesome prizes hosted by Zorbit's Math Adventure, I was onboard from the get-go.

MommyBlogExpert.com

Thinking back to my own sons and daughters early years working with numbers and learning basic math, they always seemed to retain the most when the activity involved was fun and creative. For example, one of my kids was born in October so when he was three years old we started carving a pumpkin each year with the number birthday he was celebrating. He's a teen now that has grown to love math, continuing this tradition he started as a toddler every year since, even after taking his last Calculus class.

Now it's your turn to come up with something novel from your own experiences. Zorbit's Home Learning Ideas Contest has just begun and the deadline to submit your entry is Monday, July 29, 2013.

Awesome Prizes

Simply for entering this sweepstakes you have a chance to be one of three random winners who will win a $100 gift card.

Then participants also have the opportunity to win one of three even bigger prizes if your entry is chosen during the contest's voting phase including

• 3rd Prize ~ $200 Gift Card
• 2nd Prize ~ iPad Mini
• Grand Prize ~ iPad

I can't think of many things sweeter than winning an iPad Mini or iPad, can you?

MommyBlogExpert.com

How to Enter

Entering is easy. All you have to do in 100 words or less is share a creative way that parents can inspire kids ages 3 to 5 years old to learn the basic building blocks of math skills. Think along the lines of enjoyable and engaging learning ideas where kids use things such as toys or every day household objects like sorting LEGOs by color or counting out 10 small candies (like M&Ms) and then getting to eat them.

For your contest entry, just think outside the box to come up with your own original activity or idea for preschool children to learn one of these concepts

• Counting
• Identifying shapes
• Recognizing colors
• Comparing amounts (more than, less than)

Image from ZorbitsMath.com

Zorbit's Home Learning Ideas 
Contest

Entry Deadline: July 29, 2013

Enter HERE

Help spread the word about this great competition by Tweeting the following:

Preschool Home Learning #ZorbitsMath #Contest Deadline 7/29; Prizes: iPad, iPad Mini, $100+$200 GCs http://tinyurl.com/m867coy Pls RT

About the Contest and Brand

The purpose of this contest is to get those with kids thinking about the importance of early childhood learning.  Best Boy Entertainment, will be introducing an iOS app for children age 3 - 5 in mid-August called Zorbit’s Math Adventure and will be posting the best ideas on creative home learning as part of the contest as well as sharing ideas from real moms for encouraging learning all year long.

You can learn more and stay up on the latest news about Zorbit's Math Adventure on the official site and by following the brand on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

FTC Disclosure: The content for this post was sourced from Best Boy Entertainment, online resources and family traditions and I was compensated for this post. However, opinions here are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.