Get Your Kids Excited and Engaged in the Olympic Games

Are you and your kids watching the Olympic Games? Get your kids excited and engaged about the Olympics and learn more about Japan, the countries their ancestors came from, the countries competing in the Olympics, as well as the USA. 

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eat2explore- Kids and families can explore Japan where this year’s Olympics will take place. In the explore Japan box, families and kids are introduced to basic information about the country and to the nine key essential seasonings of traditional Japanese cuisine. Included in the box are three popular recipes (Salmon Teriyaki, Chicken Katsu and Okonomiyaki), as well as the Explore Toolkit for lesson plans which help you Explore Japan in a week. Or learn more about the country your family is from or the USA. Each month kids receive an explorer box which includes: three recipe cards, a flag pin, a country sticker, essential spices, an activity sheet and a collectible. eat2explore provides tools for families to cook together, learn and dine on different cuisines and cultures. The boxes can be purchased one box at a time, or through a monthly subscription. The kits combine history, geography, social studies, math and more as children create delicious, healthy meals right at home. Available at www.eat2explore.com and Amazon.

Little Global Citizens- Dive deeper into the country’s cultures, the importance of diversity and tolerance with Little Global Citizens monthly subscription boxes. With countries including China, Jamaica, England, India, Kenya, Egypt, Thailand, Peru and Nigeria. This subscription service (send one time, every two months or every other month for a year) sends an expertly designed box to kids (aged 4 to 10) to bring a new country and its culture to life. Each box is filled with items from that country including authentic guides, crafts, screen-free activities (games and puzzles), language skills, recipes, a storybook and more. Each box helps children feel connected with others around the world at this isolating time, as well as teaching them about diversity at an early age.

$8000 Back To School Giveaway

 This post contains affiliate links.

In honor of Back to School, Savings.com is giving away $8,000 in gift card prizes over four weeks from top back-to-school shopping destinations including HP, The Children's Place, JCPenney, and Old Navy.

Here are all the details!  

You must come back and enter each week to be entered in that week's giveaway. Bookmark this page for easy reference!

• Tuesday, July 27th at 12:00 AM PT to Monday, August 23rd at 11:59 PM PT.
• During each week of the four-week campaign, eight (8) winners will receive a $250 e-gift card, two from each of the four featured brands: HP, The Children's Place, JCPenney, and Old Navy.
• Users enter each giveaway by heading to the brands' merchant pages on Savings.com and submitting their email address on the form on the pages.
• Users are allowed one entry per giveaway, per week.
• The winners will be chosen through a lottery drawing and notified via the email address they used to enter on the following schedule:
• Week 1: Entries accepted 7/27 - 8/2. Winners emailed 8/3.
• Week 2: Entries accepted 8/3 - 8/9. Winners emailed 8/10.
• Week 3: Entries accepted 8/10 - 8/16. Winners emailed 8/17.
• Week 4: Entries accepted 8/17 - 8/23. Winners emailed 8/24.
• See complete Official Rules for entry instructions, full prize descriptions, restrictions and other important details. Official Rules for each giveaway can be found via a link on the giveaway form

ENTER THE HP GIVEAWAY

Enter The Children's Place Giveaway

Enter the JCPenney Giveaway 

Enter the Old Navy Giveaway

Macy's Back To School Buying Guide

This post is sponsored by Sivan Social. All comments and opinions are my own.

School starts in my area in less than two weeks and I have been looking for some great deals to share with my readers.  Look no further, I have a great deal for you at Macy's! 

Get Up to 50% Off Back to School Gear, Plus Up to an Extra 20% Off Select Sale and Clearance Items

• Coupon Code: BTS
• Sale Dates: 7/22 - 7/25
• Restrictions may apply.

My top five picks for back to school are as follows:

Tommy Hilfiger V-neck Tshirt in Sunshine:  This versatile t-shirt is a must-have for your back-to-school wardrobe.

Indigo Rein Cuffed Jeans:   

A new pair of jeans is ALWAYS on my back-to-school list.  These cuffed skinny jeans can be paired with so many tops to give you a multitude of looks throughout the school year.

Lucky Brand Printed Tiered Babydoll Dress

This super cute dress can be paired with a pair of sneakers of your favorite flats for a classic look.

INC International Concepts Backpack

The Karissaa backpack is the trendy piece for your back-to-school wardrobe.  Functional and fashionable, this backpack comes in Rose Dust, Black, Berry Red, and INC Camel(shown above).

Dolce Vita sandals

 These Iman Stappy Espadrille sandals come in black, white, and natural.  Perfect with a pair of jeans or your favorite dress.

 Macy’s will be having a one-day college essentials flash sale on Saturday, July 24th, during which you can save up to 60% on college essentials.

What are you buying at Macy's during these sales?

Back To School Guide

 Welcome to our Back To School Guide! We will be featuring innovative products for your back-to-school needs.  Be sure to check back often as we will update this list!

This post may contain affiliate links.

Denali Home Collection's Luxury College Blankets

Denali's custom college blankets are the perfect way for students to add flair to their college dorm room. These premium blankets feature MicroPlush fabric and innovative fiber technology to create double the softness and durability. Denali's products are made in America and include a wide range of licensed collegiate sports team designs. Denali customers receive a lifetime warranty on their purchases, so you can get your blanket replaced or repaired for as long as you own it.

 We chose a UGA Bulldogs blanket. Go Dawgs!  Who is your fave college team?

Meet Planet Buddies, an environmentally conscious child-friendly electronics brand, with a product range that includes Bluetooth and wired headphones, Bluetooth wireless speakers, tablet cushions, and more. Each Planet Buddies product comes as a character that represents an endangered animal to help raise awareness and educate children. The products each have a story about their character, why they are endangered, and practical tips on what children can do to help protect all life on our planet. A portion of the revenue from each product purchase goes to World Land Trust and the Marine Conservation Society.

Our new Bluetooth wireless headset comes in a variety of animals including Pepper the Penguin, Olive the Owl, and Pippin the Panda.

Key Headset Product Features:

• Child-safe limited to 85db volume limited audio
• Wireless compatible with iOS/Android
• Up to 38 hours total playtime (2 hours charging time)
• Built-in microphone
• Extra line-out jack for music sharing
• Strong, adjustable design for comfort and durability
• Foldable, portable design with carry pouch included
• 100% recyclable packaging with zero plastic

Pricing and availability:
Planet Buddies headsets and tablet cushions are currently available at Amazon.  Headsets come in a variety of animals and start at $19.99. The tablet cushion is available in a variety of animals for $19.99.
And the BT Headset is available in Pink Owl or Black Penguin and can be purchased for $34.99.

We chose the Turtle in both the headphones and tablet cushion.

EZ Safer Surface is exactly what you need for those pesky germs your kids may bring home from school.


The cleaning solution demonstrates a 99.9% kill rate in under two minutes, with no regrowth after 24 hours. This versatile solution is safe to use on food surfaces, electronics, and even porous surfaces. This would be the perfect solution for parents, students, and teachers as they get ready to head back to school and classroom learning.


Ageless Global recently released an efficacy study on its EZ Safer Surface and it is classified as a non-toxic, EPA-registered, and allergen-free oxygenated water solution that has been clinically tested specifically against the coronavirus pathogen.


You may find the product available here: https://www.ezsafersurface.com/

Sharing a bathroom in your first dorm can be a big adjustment for students. OCM's shower bundle is the perfect solution for shared bathrooms. The bundle includes a caddy to tote your toiletries to and from the bathroom, shower shoes to protect your feet, and a 6-piece washcloth set so you always have fresh towels on hand.

Create extra storage space under the bed with this pop-up under-bed storage solution. You can organize and store a seasonal wardrobe or items you don't use all the time in these storage containers. Plus, they protect your items from dust and bugs with their covered design.

Mabel's Labels

Get back to basics this year with the Ultimate Back-to-School Combo Label Pack from Mabel's Labels! This classic set includes all the durable, waterproof labels needed to keep your child's things out of the lost and found. With new, on-trend designs for children of all ages, Mabel's Labels make it simple to identify belongings… from backpacks and lunchboxes to clothing, school supplies and more! https://mabelslabels.com/



MyWish4U Notes From Me!

Pack your child's lunch with love... and include Lunch Notes from MyWish4U, which give your school-aged child reminders of love, thoughtfulness, and support during their school day. Starting this sweet tradition is easy - simply tear off and slip a note into your kid’s lunchbox, container, or backpack! With positive notes, riddles, facts, jokes, and more, your child will be thrilled to find Lunch Box Notes each day. 

Handzies Soap + Water Wipes

Get a 'soap and water clean' anytime, anywhere! Individually packaged and perfect for on-the-go, Handzies Soap + Water Wipes give you fresh, clean hands using only natural castile soap, water and essential oils. Say goodbye to harsh hand sanitizers, Handzies do not contain alcohol, BZK, triclosan, artificial perfumes or dyes. Gentle for use by the entire family! Ideal for keeping in backpacks, lunchboxes or desks.

Starling Skincare All-Natural Kid’s Deodorants

Perfect for summer fun, back-to-school sports and more, allergen-free and chemical-free children's deodorants from Starling Skincare keep children smelling fresh all day! Gentle enough for tweens and teens, each deodorant is made without aluminum or synthetic fragrances, so it is safe to use and non-irritating for kids. Three varieties are available, including Force Field, Birthday Cake and Birthday Cake Sensitive. 



Without a Trace Foods

Healthy, allergy-friendly snacks to pack in your kid's backpack or lunchbox that is free from the top 8 allergens! Developed by a mom whose children have severe food allergies, Without a Trace offers a mouthwatering variety of plant-based, gluten-free Chewy Granola Bars, Power Bites, and Cookies. Perfect for tucking in lunchboxes or as a grab-n-go snack for everyone in the family. Their Rad Raspberry Power Bites & Strawberry Surprise Chewy Granola Bars are truly phenomenal. 

Alkaline water is all the rage, and TEN makes a great product because they are the premium, 10ph alkaline water brand and are now available in cans. Works great for the home office, gym, at school on the go, and of course for gatherings this Summer!

• TEN Spring Water is 10ph and the #3 alkaline brand in the country
• 10pH water, rich in alkaline minerals and electrolytes 
• Sourced from natural springs (Appalachian Mountains)
  
• TEN is also available in bottles (multi-packs) and jugs
  
• Endorsed by major athletes, teams, and celebrities
• In major US retail grocers, Amazon and coming soon to Whole Foods

I Miss Your Face Box - the Perfect Care Package!

Do you really miss the college student in your life? Let them know with this amazing gift package, which includes one 4 oz Good JuJu Body Oil, one 4 oz Good JuJu Hand Rescue, and one 7-pack of Good JuJu mini bath bombs (which all feature a refreshing Satsuma & Mandarin scent), as well as delectable Good JuJu Chocolate Covered Jubes. This gift set also includes wonderful sour cream & onion Chip Rescue seasoning (just add yogurt, sour cream, or cream cheese — great for dorm parties!), as well as 8 bags of Peppermint Tea to help the college student relax and have a cozy night after studying. This gift set retails for $79.99.

Check out this adorable MINISO We Bare Bears-Wirebound Book featuring a cute ice bear from the We Bare Bears series and New York City subway map as cover. This wire-bound book also has an ivory ink-proof paper that is thick enough to avoid ink-bleeding and ghosting, which will also protect your eyes.

Surprise your college student with this gift tower from Jet Gift Baskets! Filled with snacks they will love, they will be the envy of all their roommates.  The best part, you can upcycle the gift boxes!  

These wireless BlueTooth earbuds from Edifier come in a variety of colors.  Battery life is up to 32 hours.  What a great piece of technology for your student to have for back to school.

My daughter is OBSESSED with lip balm!  We love all the flavors from Eco Lips!  Eco Lips is all-natural and organic!  A must-have for back to school

Iron In A Bottle

I dislike ironing.  I mean I REALLY do not like to iron!  But, I do not like wrinkled clothes.  I have a solution for you!  Iron in a Bottle!  I can give my true and honest testimonials for this product.  IT WORKS and it works great!  Just spray onto your garment, shake it a little and then smooth it out!  It really is that simple!

IIAB's an all-natural wrinkle-releaser spray for clothing and home, with an eco-friendly, BPA-free, cruelty-free, Made in America breakthrough formula. It's been featured as one of Oprah's Favorite Things and on Good Morning America, and makes the perfect tool to keep summer wardrobes wrinkle-free without the drudgery of tedious ironing (talk about a great #lifehack)!

Family-inspired, family-created, and family-owned. Years ago, female founder Sheri Eudaly gave up ironing and created a homemade spray that turned out to be a game-changer - no more irons, no more hassle, and best of all... no more wrinkles! Her son Austin saw the global need for the product when friends kept stealing his, so in 2018 set out to perfect the formula and share the magic with the world. The result? A modern wrinkle-releaser that's efficient, effective, and plant-based (bonus: it smells great, too)! 

Thanks to our friends at IIAB,  we are giving away a 32-ounce size of this wonderful product!  Make sure to enter the Rafflecopter below and make sure to come back to this page for your daily entries! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tips For The First Time Home Buyer

 Buying a house can be daunting.  And in today's market, it is even more daunting. I am going to give you some tips to consider if you are a first-time homebuyer.

Start Saving Now

There are many aspects to buying a home that requires money!  Closing costs, down payments, and even moving costs.  Make sure to save money now so when you get that final step and are ready to close on your home, you have the funds to do so. 

Check Government Programs

Do you qualify for a VA(Veterans Administration) loan? You must be in or have been in the military and have been honorably discharged.  Make sure you have a copy of your DD214s.  If you do not, contact the nearest Veterans Administration office in your area.  What about an FHA Loan?   There are many government programs to assist you in buying a home.  Each has different sets of criteria you must meet, so be sure to check those out.  They can be very helpful when buying a home and often have grants or low or no down payments.  Also, many states have different programs that help first-time homebuyers.

How Much Can You Afford?

We all have the dream home, but we have to be sensible about buying a home.  Your creditworthiness, monthly expenses, downpayment and will all be taken into consideration before any lender will give you a home loan.

According to this mortgage calculator, my mortgage will vary depending on which lender I use.  If I am buying a house for $325,000 and put a down payment of 20% ($65,000), and choose a 30 year fixed rate, my mortgage payments would range from a low of $1045 a month to a high of $1243.  You must do your due diligence and shop around for a lender and ideally get pre-approved for a home loan.  

Stay up to date on Mortgage News

At the time of this post, the housing market is crazy, BUT there are many government-backed incentives to help you procure a home. Whether you follow a certain mortgage company or government-backed one like Fannie Mae, subscribe to their emails, check their site frequently, and don't be afraid to Google any questions you may have.  

 Look around in your area and go to some open houses.  Realtors often advertise open houses or may just put a sign out in front of the property.  This helps you get familiar with the home buying process.

Do you have any tips you would like to share?  Drop them in the comments below.