Sweepstakes Trip to Los Angeles for MTV The Host Premiere Prize Package ARV $4,095

Contest

Win a trip for two to Los Angeles for MTV's The Host Premiere, tentatively scheduled for March 18 - 19, 2013.

The Prize Includes

• 2 Tickets to the Premiere of The Host in L.A.
• Roundtrip airfare for you and a friend to Los Angeles
• Roundtrip transportation to/from airport
• 2 nights hotel accommodations
• In room snacks and treats amenities
• $200 spending allowance for one
• $300 The Grove shopping giftcard
• A transformative makeover for The Host Premiere

ARV of Prize Package is $4,095

Watch this exclusive clip for a sneak peek of the new show...

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FTC Disclosure:  I am sharing the opportunity for MommyBlogExpert readers to enter to win. I also entered this contest. MTV, a brand of Viacom International, is hosting this sweepstakes and will be providing the Grand Prize to the winner. 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.

Coffee Bean Tea Leaf $1 Drink Nationwide Full Size One Day Spring Deal - March 7th

Deals

Can't believe it's almost Spring because it seems like only yesterday that Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf was having their Fall $1 Drink Special. Come to think of it I'll never forget how scrumptious the Spring Peach Tea Party Drink was back in 2010. Well time really does fly because another spring season is right around the corner. Now, best of all, it's time for another CB&TL seasonal drink event and you're invited.

Here's one of my triplet daughters with her fave drink: Mucho Mango

My 2 girls & I have been enjoying these specials for years, Photo circa 2010

Loyal MommyBlogExpert readers know how much my family and I love our neighborhood Coffee Bean so I couldn't be happier to share their latest almost free drink day with you all.

This time on offer for just a dollar is a full-size hot or cold Spring beverage. Available nationwide at participating retail locations on March 7, 2013 from 2-6 pm local time only. While supplies last.

Take your pick from these delicious sounding coffee and tea drinks

• Chai Tea Cappuccino
• Scottish Breakfast Tea Cappuccino
• Anniversary Blend Tea Cappuccino
• Agave Nectar Sweet Tea
• Blood Orange Sweet Tea

I think I'm going to try the Blood Orange Sweet Tea on Thursday. How about you? What do you think sounds good? Will you be joining me at Coffee Bean for this special event?

FTC Disclosure: I am a long-time Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and 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.

5 Spring Home Spruce-Up Tips - Spring Cleaning 101 for Busy Family Lifestyles

Homekeeping

It may still be snowing right now in parts of the country, but that doesn't mean we all can't start thinking about spring wherever we live. I know at my house with several sloppy teens spring cleaning is an honored but hated tradition but nevertheless is still well underway already. Warm weather will eventually arrive for everyone soon enough, though. So you'll want to be ready to enjoy all the wonders of spring which traditionally starts on March 21st.

Me pulling my brother on our sled in late Winter, Photo circa 1960

To get you to start visualizing about those sunny and warmer days ahead, you and I need to figuratively and literally sweep away those winter cobwebs and refresh our homes. 

Here to inspire us and get the job done are five easy tips from Sally Morse, Director of Creative Services at HunterDouglas, a brand renowned for their custom window fashions, to create a brighter, lighter, more organized home for you and your family. 

Farmers market tulips brighten up the dining room

1. Clear Away 
If cleaning and clearing away the clutter seems overwhelming, Morse has one simple trick to calm the nerves. To avoid stress, split spring cleaning into easy-to-manage smaller tasks. “Try setting the kitchen timer for 15 minutes per area, like the bedroom closet, pantry or foyer," she says. "Telling yourself you’re going to de-clutter the home in one weekend sounds draining. Rather, split up the tasks into smaller ones so you stay focused and don’t get lost in the process.” 

2. Welcome Springtime Light
While you might want to update everything in your home with more spring-like furnishings and accessories, it may not be the most time- or cost-effective approach for you. One uplifting and impactful décor change that can easily be made, however, is to update your window treatments. By adding the right window fashions in your home, they will not only look stylish and beautifully filter light for a glowing room, but also provide a host of practical benefits such as energy-efficiency, UV-protection, sound absorption and more. Most definitely, nothing says spring like a sun-soaked room. 

3. Bring Nature In
As Mother Earth comes to life again it’s a great time to bring that feeling of nature's regeneration indoors with easy-to-maintain plants and flowers. Additionally, to make your indoor and outdoor spaces feel more seamless, use the same planters on your porch and entryway as in your foyer and kitchen.  Lastly, don’t forget about the flowers; add pastel bouquets of lilac, forsythia and narcissus to spread a cheerful dose of color around the home. 

4. Make it Lemony Fresh
Appeal to all five senses with this year’s spring updates. After your initial scrub and, sorting and clearing of clutter, extend that fresh scent by adding a lemon-scented diffuser. You can, of course, easily purchase one, but for a fun DIY project, create a citrus diffuser at home. Simply take any small vase or glass bottle and add lemon-scented fragrance oil, mineral oil that’s used as a non-evaporating base to hold the essential oils, a small dose of vodka that thins the oils getting it to the right consistency to move up the reeds, and diffuser reeds that can be purchased at any crafts store. Start by pouring 1/4 cup of mineral oil into a measuring cup, add 2-3 tablespoons of vodka, stirring to emulsify both together; then put in the essential oil. Pour the mixture into your container and insert five reeds. With these basic ingredients on hand, you can keep your home smelling fresh and clean all through the season and beyond.
  
5. Lighter Linens 
For one spring refresher that goes a long way, try brightening up your home with lighter fabrics.  This update can awaken nearly every room from the living room, bedroom and bathroom to the kitchen.  Swap out heavier, darker fabrics such as rugs, pillow covers, and towels for lighter ones both in texture and color.  Top beds with a lightweight blanket, folding the comforter and placing it at the foot of the bed for chilly evenings.  You can even go so far as to invigorating the living room with slipcovers in light, washable fabrics.
  

Image provided by Hunter Douglas

As you can see with a little work and a few additions, you can happily welcome in the new season with a clean, orderly, beautiful home.  

For more ideas on getting your home ready for spring you're invited to visit HunterDouglas.com as well the Hunter Douglas Facebook Page and their Pinterest Page.  For even more inspiration, don't miss the brand's “The Art of Window Dressing” iPad app in the iTunes App Store.

What are your ideas for getting a home filled with kids into the spring spirit? I hope you'll feel free to leave a comment and share your thoughts.

FTC Disclosure: Hunter Douglas provided the tips incorporated into this blogpost as interpreted by MommyBlogExpert. 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.

Recycling is a Beautiful Thing in California - A Great Teaching Moment for Kids & Families

Eco Lifestyle

As a Baby Boomer I'm old enough to remember growing up in 1970 when April 22 was first officially designated as Earth Day. In fact the year before, in 1979, I did my 8th grade research paper on the ecological impact that the devastating Santa Barbara Oil Spill had on marine life along the coast of California.

Santa Monica Bay View from the Bel Air Bay Club, Pacific Palisades, CA 

Sadly people are still dumping into this waterway leading to the Pacific Ocean

Decades later I've continued to strive to decrease my carbon footprint with things like organic gardening and composting as well as eco-friendly recycled crafts, responsible disposal of electronics and the promotion of environmental awareness.

Now that I'm a mom I've realized it more than ever -- Living green definitely begins at home.  So I've made it my mission to pass that caring for eco responsibility here in L.A. on to my kids beginning when my now-teens were just toddlers.

One of my triplets helping out with cleanup when she was a toddler

My hubbie and our two sons at work planting a Title 1 School Garden

Our whole family has been involved in a range of eco-friendly activities from volunteering to pick up trash at the beach overlooking Santa Monica Bay to helping to plant gardens at public schools to tossing everything that could possibly qualify into the green and blue recycling bins that the city provides. 

I love this mural at my kids high school made almost entirely of bottle caps

My favorite Arrowhead product is Sparkling Water seen here at a local store

Families like mine can and should do everything we are able to live a greener life. But we can't do it alone. That's why it's a good thing that big companies like Arrowhead Water -- which is a brand with a long history that began right here in Southern California where I live -- are so devoted to doing their part too, because as the infographic below shows, the U.S. has a BIG recycling problem. And it's particularly note-worthy to point out that in 2011 California alone 2.8 billion plastic beverage bottles were unfortunately, NOT recycled.

Click HERE to see enlarged infographic

Recycling is one of the easiest and most beneficial ways we can all help the environment. Sadly, only about 30% of PET plastic bottles get recycled. For recycling to work, we all have to do our part. 

Unfortunately, not all plastic bottles are made with recycled plastic. It’s Arrowheads goal to continue increasing the use of recycled materials in their bottles, but they need everyone’s help. Currently, there isn’t enough recycled plastic available for Arrowhead to make 100% rPET bottles.

See why recycling really is a beautiful thing in this video

Don't wait for Earth Day 2013. 

Why not make recycling a part of your family’s routine today?

The Reborn Bottle, Image provided by Arrowhead

For more information about the new Arrowhead Reborn Bottle which is made with 50% recycled plastic and more about the brand's commitment to educating the public you are invited to visit and like the Arrowhead Water Facebook Page.

How are you teaching your children about recycling and being kind to the environment? Please leave a comment and share your thoughts and experiences.

Image provided by Arrowhead

FTC Disclosure: This is a sponsored post and I am being paid for participating. However all 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.

All Occasion Candy & Chocolate Bouquet Giveaway, Ends 3/17/13

Giveaway

Whether creating the Candy Bar Candy Apple recipe for Halloween or baking up my original Butterfinger Blondies recipe for Christmas or Hanukkah or giving readers the how tos for creating an elegant candy bar party presentation table for Valentine's Day, I love working with and writing about candy. But who says you need a holiday to give, receive or just enjoy something sweet that's really pretty too? Any occasion is a perfect time for candy.

Image from AA Gifts & Baskets

That's why I'm pleased to announce another great giveaway involving your favorite and mine -- CANDY. This definitely isn't just any candy, either. These sweet treats that you can win are lavishly presented and packaged, always special and apropos 365 days a year. 

For this contest you have the chance to win one of TWO beautifully arranged and colorful large candy bouquets loaded with an assortment of chocolate and candies valued at $60 each from AA Gifts & Baskets. My mouth is watering already, how about yours?

You must be at least 18 years old and a resident of the continental U.S. to enter. This contest ends at midnight on March 17, 2013 and winners will be announced on March 24, 2013. 

Enter to Win this FUN &

Sweet Giveaway NOW

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Complete contest rules 

Good Luck Everyone!

FTC Disclosure: I did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. All opinions 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.