Mom~E~Centric

School started about 3 weeks ago here and it’s been hot but otherwise, it’s gone off without too much trouble. Well, if you don’t count the day my kindergarten child was latched onto my leg screaming. We had a blast buying school supplies and of course, our teachers put out a list and they are specific.

One of the items on their list is crayons of course and Crayola is always the suggested brand. I’m assuming they would take them even if you didn’t get the Crayola brand but really, why bother.

So, there’s all kinds of information I could give you about why these are the best but…I just like the fact that they smell like a new school year.  I will always associated certain smells with certain events in my life and this is just of them.

So, to celebrate…

How fun is that!  Check out the green square triangle on the box……And, of course, my multi-colored toes that were deemed “M & M Like”

Love it! Do you want to win a little surprise from Crayola too.  You can, you know…

Here’s some technical info you might want first….

• Crayola Markers – Thanks to new, innovative ways to manufacture Crayola markers from recycled bottle caps, “black” is the new “green!” Crayola markers will now have black barrels instead of white, which allows for more recycled plastic to be used and gives a second life to more than 1 million pounds of plastic bottle caps. Plus, switching to black barrels keeps hundreds of tons of plastic out of landfills each year. Available in 10-ct. Broadline Classic Colors, 10-ct. Broadline Assorted Colors, 10-ct. Fineline Classic Colors, 8-ct. Washable Broadline and 8-ct. Washable Fineline.

• Crayola Green 24-ct. Crayons – The quintessential school supply found in virtually every elementary classroom will be made with the power of the sun. More than 26,200 solar panels will convert sunlight into electricity, generating the energy required to make 1 billion of the 3 billion crayons Crayola makes each year, which equals 60 million 24-ct. boxes. Mother Earth will be smiling down on every forest green, pine green and jungle green crayon that rolls off the assembly line!

• Crayola Green Colored Pencils – Committed to protecting the rain forests since 1987, all Crayola colored pencils have been made from reforested wood instead of wood sourced from tropical rainforest or endangered species. For every tree used, a new tree of the same species is planted. The 12-, 24-, 36-, and 50-ct. boxes of Crayola Colored Pencils will be among the first to carry the “Eco-Evolution” callout on their packaging.

Now, what’s up for grabs?

Crayola “Green Back-to-School Essentials” prize pack that includes Crayola Green Markers, Crayola Green Crayons and Crayola Green Colored Pencils

How you can win?

Contest Information!

1. The contest starts at 5:00 PM CST on August 25, 2010 and will end at noon CST on August 31, 2010.
2. The contest is open to U.S. Residents only unless otherwise specified.
3. The winner will be given 48 hours to reply with a mailing address and then another winner will be chosen.
4. The winner will be chosen via Random.org’s Random Integer Function
5. Most of my giveaways require one entry and I give tons of bonus entries. Each additional entry is always optional and EACH ONE MUST BE LEFT IN A SEPARATE comment to count.  If you don’t follow the giveaway rules I will just delete your comment.
6. I don’t like to devote posts to winners nor do I like to mention it in my posts.   My plan is to keep those posts in the pages area in the right sidebar, I will simply mark them closed with the information to identify to the winner in the post until the prizes have been claimed by the winner.  Please make sure jareason@gmail.com is white listed in your email so that you can receive information from me regarding contests

Giveaway sponsors are responsible for shipping prizes that are offered on Mom~E~Centric. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery of any prizes won. If you do not receive your item AFTER that time, please email me and I will follow up with them.

Mandatory Entry:

The mandatory entry is to give me one example of how you teach your children to be more green.  Then return to the contest post and leave a comment identifying that product or if that is not possible, leave a comment about what you would do with the product if you won it.

Extra Entries: Various Combos of this Can and Will be Used

1. 5 extra entries will be awarded for subscribing to Mom~E~Centric.

2.  5 extra entries will be awarded for posting about this contest on your blog, you must return and leave a comment with the link to the exact url of your post, not your general url.  If you have multiple blogs, you can post about this contest once on each of your blogs and receive 5 extra entries for each blog.

3.  1 extra entry each will be awarded for following me on Twitter @The_Jerri_Ann .   If  you already follow me, leave your twitter name, if you are just following me, come back and leave your twitter name so I know to look for you so I can follow you back.

4.   2 extra entry each will be awarded for bookmarking each post in places like Digg, Kirtsy, Technorati, etc.   You can get 2 extra entry for each place you bookmark it but you must leave that information in separate comments.

5.  1 extra entry each will be awarded for bookmarking any other post on this blog to any of those same bookmarking sites listed above. You may do this as often as possible with as many posts and as many bookmarking sites, however you MUST leave a separate comment for each.  (I realize this one is a bit far fetched and out there but hey, some folks have all next week….anyway, naturally it’s an extra entry but could get you some massive entries)

6.  1 extra entry each for tweeting about this contest with @The_Jerri_Ann and the link to this contest in your tweet.  You can do this a maximum of 5 times a day.

Disclaimer: Mom~E~Centric’s reviews and its author assume no liability for damages associated with any prizes awarded here or contents contained therein. Prizes lost in the mail or those not delivered by sponsors are not the responsibility of Mom~E~Centric or its author. Prizes not claimed within two weeks of notification to the winner will have to be forfeited.

Entrants must be 18 years of age or older to enter, and entrants must follow state and local laws concerning sweepstakes.

And, as always, I received the package that I am giving away so yes, I was compensated but my opinions are not for sell…after all, who could fake those toenails?

This is probably not the best post to follow my last language lesson. Then again, this might be exactly what needs to follow that post. Either way, we are talking about education.

Basically, many women are at home and some tied to home because they choose to be but still want to further the learning process. Going to college doesn’t have to be about earning a degree all the time. Simply learning a new skill or a new language is just as important to a person’s livelihood as working inside or outside the home.

That brings me to this

American Public University (APU) offers Moms a reason to get excited again about our education. Through their diverse, entirely online curriculum, Moms can participate in more than 100 degree programs tailored to their own schedules, whether that means after the kids’ bedtime or even during a dance class. By providing class starts on a monthly rather than semester basis, APU offers greater flexibility than most universities. Plus, APU makes it easier to achieve your educational goals with some of the lowest tuition rates in the country: undergraduate classes cost just $750 per 3-credit course.

In addition to undergraduate degree offerings, APU also offers a wide variety of graduate programs for those looking to advance their careers. Over a lifetime, the typical bachelor’s degree recipient can expect to earn $800,000 more than a high school graduate,  while a graduate who earns a higher degree can expect to make over $1,000,000 more. Additionally, a 2008 National Survey of Student Engagement survey found that 97% of seniors enrolled at APU had an extremely favorable view of the university and would choose APU again.

I received my B.S. the old fashion way twenty years ago. I received my Masters via online classes and I can’t say enough about  how much more pleasant it was for me.  I honestly hate lectures and taking courses online, I can control the content coming in when it is convenient to me.  Which convenient to me can mean 2 AM sometimes. Not many colleges offering classes at that time of the morning on campus.

As you saw in the official information, APU allows you to take classes online, take them when it is convenient for you and finally, the cost is easier to handle than you think.  If you need extra help, APU has a chat program that allows you to reach out to other mom’s who may can help answer your questions.

Go now, check out that link and get enrolled!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of American Public University. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate

Yes, indeed, school dismisses at 2:45’ish for my kids. It’s closer to 3:00’ish for the older ones but technically, it’s 2:45’ish for us. People start lining up around 1:00’ish to get their child. Today, I needed to go to the gas station but I wasn’t sure I had enough time to get to station and back before the folks had taken my car riding children back to their rooms requiring me to get out or if I had enough gas to sit in line from 2:32’ish until I actually got my kids at what was suppose to be 2:45’ish.

I lost on both ends. I got in line at 2:32’ish, I waited in line til 2:55’ish, went to the gas station, had to buy snacks then of course, pumped only $10 because this gas station was high  dollar stuff.   We returned to the truck, everyone buckled, crank the truck, open my water, ding, the gas light come on.  Indeed,  I was almost out of gas and even though I got gas, I am still almost out of gas. So, how many days can I go like this before I get the man of the house to pump me some gas?

Now that you’ve heard my daily horror story, let’s talk about something that school’ish (sure are a lot ‘ish things in this post) .  You see, this is week three for our little cherubs and I’ve done my classroom mother duties and bought supplies, bought some for other kids as part of a campaign and offered up my services as a volunteer.

What else can I do to help?  I mean, duh already. There’s a ton of stuff that I (and you) can do to help the good teachers who teach our kids and the good schools that employ our teachers.

Here’s how you can help….

The Box Tops for Education program is an easy solution and this year Walmart is making it even easier! From Aug. 3 – Aug. 31, head over to your local Walmart to find 4 Box Tops on participating General Mills products and earn more cash for the participating school of your choice. As your one-stop destination for all your needs this back-to-school season, Walmart is helping you save more and earn more with the Box Tops for Education brands you love.
With over 20 great brands and more than 40 products participating, here are just a few favorites that include 4 Box Tops that you can find at Walmart this August: Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, Pillsbury Toaster Strudel pastries, Trix Yogurt, Hamburger Helper skillet meals, Totino´s Pizza Rolls snacks, Nature Valley Granola Bars and Betty Crocker Fruit Roll-Ups snacks. Be sure to keep an eye out for Box Tops on great products from Kleenex, Ziploc, and Hefty too!

So now, let me get you help your school.  Here’s how, this is a quickie so be on your toes.

What’s up for grabs: $25 gift card to Walmart

Contest Information!

1. The contest start at 4:00 PM CST on Tuesday, August 24th and will end August 31st at noon CST.
2. The contest is open to U.S. Residents only unless otherwise specified.
3. The winner will be given 48 hours to reply with a mailing address and then another winner will be chosen.
4. The winner will be chosen via Random.org’s Random Integer Function
5. Most of my giveaways require one entry and I give tons of bonus entries. Each additional entry is always optional and EACH ONE MUST BE LEFT IN A SEPARATE comment to count.  If you don’t follow the giveaway rules I will just delete your comment.
6. I don’t like to devote posts to winners nor do I like to mention it in my posts.   My plan is to keep those posts in the pages area in the right sidebar, I will simply mark them closed with the information to identify to the winner in the post until the prizes have been claimed by the winner.  Please make sure jareason@gmail.com is white listed in your email so that you can receive information from me regarding contests

Giveaway sponsors are responsible for shipping prizes that are offered on Mom~E~Centric. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery of any prizes won. If you do not receive your item AFTER that time, please email me and I will follow up with them.

Mandatory Entry:

The mandatory entry will be for the reader leave a comment here about your favorite treat and then return to the contest post and leave a comment identifying that product or if that is not possible, leave a comment about what you would do with the product if you won it.

Extra Entries: Various Combos of this Can and Will be Used

1. 5 extra entries will be awarded for subscribing to Mom~E~Centric.

2.  5 extra entries will be awarded for posting about this contest on your blog, you must return and leave a comment with the link to the exact url of your post, not your general url.  If you have multiple blogs, you can post about this contest once on each of your blogs and receive 5 extra entries for each blog.

3.  1 extra entry each will be awarded for following me on Twitter @The_Jerri_Ann .   If  you already follow me, leave your twitter name, if you are just following me, come back and leave your twitter name so I know to look for you so I can follow you back.

4.   2 extra entry each will be awarded for bookmarking each post in places like Digg, Kirtsy, Technorati, etc.   You can get 2 extra entry for each place you bookmark it but you must leave that information in separate comments.

5.  1 extra entry each will be awarded for bookmarking any other post on this blog to any of those same bookmarking sites listed above. You may do this as often as possible with as many posts and as many bookmarking sites, however you MUST leave a separate comment for each.  (I realize this one is a bit far fetched and out there but hey, some folks have all next week….anyway, naturally it’s an extra entry but could get you some massive entries)

6.  1 extra entry each for tweeting about this contest with @The_Jerri_Ann and the link to this contest in your tweet.  You can do this a maximum of 5 times a day.

Disclaimer: Mom~E~Centric’s reviews and its author assume no liability for damages associated with any prizes awarded here or contents contained therein. Prizes lost in the mail or those not delivered by sponsors are not the responsibility of Mom~E~Centric or its author. Prizes not claimed within two weeks of notification to the winner will have to be forfeited.

Entrants must be 18 years of age or older to enter, and entrants must follow state and local laws concerning sweepstakes.

The gift card, information, and giveaway were all provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.”

We all know the dangers are out there, but do we all realize at what a young age the problems can occur?

Just check out the general idea first

SafeSocial, a new AOL product that launches today, can help you protect your children, even if you aren’t a social media expert. SafeSocial helps you:

· Find out where your child has online accounts

· Know who your child is “friends” with online

· Get notified if your child is in a conversation about violence, suicide or drugs

· See photos your child has posted online, and others’ photos in which your child has been tagged

Another benefit? You can monitor all this activity without being a “helicopter parent.” Your child will have to agree to be monitored, but you won’t need to connect with them on the social media accounts, or hover over their shoulders in person.

Check out a 30 day free trial of SafeSocial

Check out the Guest post by Regina Lewis too…

I’m depressed. I don’t know why. I’m not really sure if there is a reason. But, if there reasons, it could be one of these:

• I’m alone all day while my kids are in school (although I thought this was going to be one happy occasion)
• My oldest son is getting in trouble at school (enough that I had to go to the school today for punishment)
• Tomorrow is my next appointment to see where to go from here with Melanoma care
• I like to eat. I was doing fairly well with Nutrisystem and I had high hopes. Now, all I can think about is Coca-Cola and ice cream. I hope it’s just a passing phase.

Speaking of that…….here’s last week’s scare on August 12th……

For those of you who care to remember, that was up 1.6 pounds from August 5th.

Well, today’s sight is definitely one for sore eyes…

That UP 3.4 pounds in case you needed me to tell you.

And, thus…..I am disgusted and depressed. I am very much a comfort eater. After going to school today to discipline my child, I have been in a funk all evening. So, when the option for dinner came around, I skipped my Nutrisystem and went directly for the biggest BBQ salad I could find.

At this point, I just have the down in the dumps point of view. Nothing is as bad as they seem and I know that, but right now, I’m just agitated and struggling…bear with me…please…….

Hopefully we can get a few odds and ends worked out here….it’s week 2 and we’ve had 2 discipline issues, that’s not a very good record really.  The weight issues are here, that’s always been an issue and I’m just going to get my act together and try again.  Sadly, the only food I want out of my Nutrisystem supply right now starts with or ends with “cookie”.

Until next time…….I’m culling down some work, my kids need my time, my mom needs my time, my husband needs my time and my house needs more time than I could ever ever ever have to give it.

So hang with me!

Check it all out on Twitter for @Nutrisystem or @The_Jerri_Ann or #NSDiet15 and the Facebook page for Nutrisystem too

All products have been supplied by Nutrisystem as part of their Nutrisystem15 Program. Views expressed here are my own.