Getting Luscious and Beautiful (in the yard)

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Scotts® for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

It’s undeniable, spring has sprung here in Pittsburgh. That means we’ve been trying to spend some more time outside, but when you have yard with dry (crab?) grass, pool runoff, and a dry flower bed, it’s hard to imagine yourself in a relaxing place. As Mr. Burgher and I prepare for our summer yard plans. We want a lush, beautiful “oasis”, but we’re going to need some help. A miracle, perhaps? 

That’s where we’re hoping that Expand ‘n Gro™ from Scotts Miracle-Gro line will help. This products boasts moisture control–and in a yard with spots of dry and spots of wet soil, this is key. Plants need the right amount of moisture to stay healthy, right? Well, if we till the concentrated Expand ‘n Gro into our native soil, we’ll have lighter “soil with better water holding ability, moisture distribution, and drainage”, according to Miracle-Gro’s website. 

Here,  take a look for yourself and see how Expand ‘n Gro can help transform yards (or pots) by making the environment right for growth.

Doesn’t that sound just heavenly? I can already see my plants growing better this summer, and what a relief it will be to know that using Expand ‘n Gro this summer will improve our soil for several years. The coconut husk fibers will help our garden be fed and watered for up to 6 months–and at the rate we’re going, we’ll still be enjoying flowers in September! 

Are you as excited as I am about getting the yard ready for summer? Leave me a comment below about what your summer yard/gardening plans are, and make sure you check out the Expand n’ Gro website. There’s a coupon there, too! 

 

New Sheets Plus Purex Laundry Detergent…

…equals one happy Mama Burgher! We put new sheets on the bed last night, fresh out of the dryer and I have to tell you, it was incredible. Thank goodness that Purex gave us a chance to try out their new Ultra Packs laundry detergent before it hits stores.

This is the newest innovation from Purex, an experience that is truly “laundry simplified”. The pack pops into the wash with your clothes (or sheets in our case) and just dissolves with the water. Nothing spills, there’s no lifting of heavy bottles, no measuring. Keeping our skin sensitivities in mind, Purex was willing to send us the “Free and Clear”, but there is also a “Mountain Breeze” version available, too.

Mr. Burgher was most excited of all. He opened the package of Ultra Packs and went to work at the washer. Next thing I knew, he was showing me the pre-measured pack of ultra concentrated laundry detergent and asking me to give it a squeeze. It was evident that he was liking the ease of use. He just threw it in with the water, tossed the sheets in, and walked away. Easy!

The sheets came out smelling fresh and feeling clean. I think we’ll take it. This product made our lives easier, and these days, that’s a win! Doing our sheets, the kids’ clothes, and our clothes did take up 5 packs (almost a third of the package of 18), so I’m not sure that we’ll be able to pay the price of convenience. (And can I say, I am not sure how long a bottle of detergent lasts us, so I have to leave this one up to Mr. Burgher–we get bottles that have enough detergent for 32 loads, so they last us about 6 weeks. One pack of Ultra Packs will go in about three weeks.) Either way, we still loved them and are glad we got the chance to test these out.

If you are interested in trying out this new product, look for it on shelves in February!

Thank you, Purex, for giving us a chance to test out your newest product! We were given a pack of Ultra Packs to test for this post; however, the opinions here are my own.

Take a Peeq (#Giveaway)!

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you for entering!

Alright, world. I feel like the worlds of crafts, squares, pins and racks just collided and the retail lover inside of me just exploded. Friends, I have discovered sneakpeeq, and I have to say, I am one happy girl.

Sneakpeeq is a Facebook application that showcases micro-boutiques and offers great savings. Once you “like” them and then sign up for the app, you are given 20 “peeqs” at extreme discounts on cute boutique offerings. For instance, last night, I sat for 15 minutes drooling over cupcake/cocktail sprinkles and goodies from Ticings. Each peeq cost me one peeq to see how much my wallet would lighten, but it’s worth it. You get 20 peeqs every day to take a chance at some cute sales.

Because I am a little bit of a dork, I love earning badges for doing stuff. Sneakpeeq rewards you with badges (I currently have four) for shopping and browsing. Looks like there are about 50-some more to earn…who is going to race me? One other great thing? You only pay for shipping once every 24 hours! Sweet!

As you know, there’s got to be something in it for you. When it comes to the ‘lil Burghers/sneakpeeq giveaway, everybody wins! sneakpeeq is giving away 20% off your next purchase just for entering, plus a chance at the Grand Prize!

Prizes:
* sneakpeeq will be awarding a Grand Prize: one winner will receive a $25 gift card to use on your favorite food, style and home products

* One runner-up prize winner will receive a $10 gift card—that goes a long way in sneakpeeq’s amazingly low-priced boutiques!

* Everyone wins with the 20% off just for signing up at http://bit.ly/wZfLIW

Details:
1. Giveaway starts at 12:01 AM, Friday 1/27/2012 and ends at 11:59 PM, Thursday 2/9/12.
2. Winner and runner-up will be chosen via Random.org based on sign ups at sneakpeeq. The winners will be notified via e-mail and they will have 48 hours to respond. sneakpeeq will add your prize to your account.
3. This giveaway is limited to US Residents only, sorry!
4. This giveaway is limited to new sneakpeeq fans only.

How to Enter:

1. Mandatory Entry: Enter the giveaway by clicking on this link: http://bit.ly/wZfLIW and joining sneakpeeq! Leave a comment below letting me know you have done so. Sneakpeeq will be validating this for me.
2. Optional Entry: Follow sneakpeeq on Twitter and leave a comment that you did. (1 entry)
3. Optional Entry: Follow me on Twitter and leave a comment that you did. (1 entry)
4. Optional Entry: Tweet about this giveaway and leave the link in a comment below. (1 entry per day)

Come see all the things you love but haven’t discovered. sneakpeeq only has New Products that you have never seen before! Good luck, and remember, everyone is a winner!

All opinions on sneakpeeq are my own. sneakpeeq provided the gifts for this giveaway, thank you!

Have Pets? Get Mr. Chewy! #Giveaway

Our dog, Rowdy, is not just a pet, he’s a family member. Keeping him healthy requires attention and care…and sometimes some money. That’s where our savings mind kicks in. Thanks to Mr. Chewy, Rowdy’s medicine for the next three months was bought on super savings.

When I started browsing the Mr. Chewy site, my mind first went to buying some food, but when I stumbled upon the Frontline treatments, I knew exactly what I wanted to pick up. We were out of flea medicine, and the savings were too good to pass up.

The site’s categories, brand listings, and suggestions based on “cat” or “dog” really helped steer my shopping. Should I have had questions, there even was a live chat that could be used. And can I mention unique? When I go back to my account on Mr. Chewy, I am greeted with a “Woof” instead of the standard “Login” or “Welcome” of other sites. Love it!

I placed an order for 3 months of Frontline and picked up a few treats for Rowdy (and some for your pet), then went to check out. Check out was straightforward. I was stunned when I selected my shipping options and realized 1) I had spent enough to get free shipping and 2) it would be at my house the day after next. You see, I placed my order late on a Monday evening, so I never imagined I would get the box in two days. Sure enough, it was waiting for me when I got home Wednesday!

One other thing I love about Mr. Chewy is that they have a sweet referral program that give back. If you place an order at www.mrchewy.com and use my referral code BECK4218 at checkout, not only will you get 10% off your first order, but Mr. Chewy will donate $10 to an animal loving charity of my choice! (I chose the Best Friends Animal Society).

I’d love for you to consider using Mr. Chewy for your next pet supply order. To entice you, I am also hosting a giveaway of a few extra treats I picked up plus a $25 worth of pet food coupons from Mr. Burgher’s stash.

So, here are the details on the giveaway and how you can enter:
* Giveaway runs from 1/24/12 to 1/31/12; winner will be selected using random.org based on entries before 12:00 AM 2/1/12
* If you win, you will be e-mailed and have 48 hours to respond with your mailing address so I can send your goodies out.
* Mandatory Entry: Leave a comment on this post giving me your pet’s name and favorite treat.
* Optional Entry: Follow Mr. Chewy on Twitter and leave your Twitter name below. (only 1 entry)
* Optional Entry: Like Mr. Chewy on Facebook and leave your Facebook name below. (only 1 entry)
* Optional Daily Entry: Tweet about this review and leave the link in the comments below. (1 per day)
* Optional Daily Entry: Share this review on Facebook and leave the link in the comments below. (1 per day)

Like the site says, they have the brands we love, are cheaper than going to the store, and ship for free right to your house (if you order over $49). What’s not to love?!?! Good luck!

(I was given a code to order products from Mr. Chewy, but these opinions are all my own. Thanks, Mr. Chewy!)

Purex and Jockey: A #Review and #Giveaway!

Even though Mama Burgher is on a nice getaway where she can literally open a door and smell the ocean, she is also quite excited to share her thoughts about two products with you! Jockey and Purex teamed up to bring us busy mamas a nice refreshing moment in our busy days. I was sent a Jockey Tech Terry sports bra and a bottle of Purex Crystals Tropical Splash and was asked to see how they paired together. Even better, they are giving you a chance to try them out, too!

After a workout, wouldn’t it be great to still smell fresh? This is the premise of the pairing of Jockey and Purex. Usually, sports clothing soaks up the moisture and smells of working out, leaving you feeling a bit “out” after your workout. Thanks to Purex’s technology, the Crystals fabric softener don’t use oils to soften fabrics, so it is safe to use on products (like Jockey’s Tech Terry sports bra) that use wicking technology to stay dry.

At first, I was skeptical of how the Crystals would outlast a good walk. When I got my box, I was incredibly excited about the opportunity to test out the new (at least to me) scent. I pried open the bottle of the Tropical Splash Crystals and took a huge whiff. Amazing! It was a “take me away” kind of moment. Next, I took a look at the Jockey sports bra, and I was so excited. There was a holder for a key (smart!) and the material just felt like it would be supportive and keep me dry. Unfortunately, I was not able to give the bra a shot–I ordered an XL, but it looked (and felt) a bit more like a Medium. Fair warning, I think this bra runs small!

Just before heading to the beach, Mr. Burgher made sure the Crystals were used for my clothes. My suitcase smelled awesome when I unpacked it! My friend S and I took a nice walk on the beach, and I still smelled fresh when we got back. I’d say they work!

Time to give you a shot at these products! Purex and Jockey would like to give you a chance to try the same products I received–a Jockey Tech Terry Sports Bra and Purex Complete Crystals Softener (a perfect match)–for free! All you have to do is enter my giveaway below (which ends on January 26 at 11:59 PM) for a chance! Say you don’t win and still would like to try this out? Head over to Jockey for a 20% coupon for a Jockey sports bra.

Alright, ready for the giveaway? It’s easy to enter. The only mandatory entry is to leave a comment below telling me what is your favorite workout. You can also get up to 2 bonus entries per day if you share this link on Facebook or Tweet about it (and leave me a comment with the link below). Winner will be selected at random after January 26 at 11:59 PM. Good luck!

A Way to Shop Smart

I’ve heard that most of shopping in the coming year or two will be online. This year, I would be safe to say we’ve utilized the heck out of online shopping opportunities. Boxes are arriving on our doorsteps, and there were no paper coupons to clip. Just great deals on super products.

There are a lot of great discount sites out there, so it could be hard to pick one to get started on. Mr. Burgher shared a great opportunity with me–No More Rack. I scoured the site, and there seemed to be a lot of benefits to shopping the site. Of course, I did a little bit of research to make sure it wasn’t a nomorerack scam, and was pleased with the nomorerack reviews I came across.

Why do I make it a point to check out the site on a daily basis? There are a lot of great benefits to shopping here…

When you first go to nomorerack.com, you will find 8 Daily Deals. If it is close to noon, and you see they are sold out–be patient. Eight new deals are about to go live! They sell out quick, especially if they are deep discounts. These deals are beyond fabulous, I have seen “normal” savings of 70% off designer items. You can’t beat that, right?

Well, actually, you can. There are also Insanity Deals that pop up during the month and can save you lots–we are talking around 95% or more! You really have to click on them when they are available and hit buy–impulse buyers, beware because you are going to become addicted quickly. These prices really can’t be beat, and if you have a wide range of people to buy for, these are perfect opportunities to pick up a gift on the fly and “cheap”.

Speaking of flying, shipping is another great benefit to shopping here. All items have a $2 flat fee for shipping in the United States (unfortunately, international shipping is not available). That means no matter what you buy (computer or headphones or clothes), it is only going to cost you an extra two dollars to get in your hands.

One final thing I love is sharing the site with friends. The more friends you invite, the better. Some deals are based on the number of friends you have, and you can get the daily Friend Deal for free if you have the right number of friends. What a great opportunity! If you’ve signed up and don’t have many friends, then there is also a daily free deal (all you do is pay shipping).

Seriously, could it be any better? You know how us ‘Burghers love deals, so you better believe we are keeping our eyes on these ones…and think you should, too. …and go!