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Time To Bust out the Snow Joe Hybrid Snow Blower

February 23, 2016 by Melissa

Snow is one of those things that you either love or hate. I will admit that I LOVE one good snow storm a year then I am good until the next year. This year I was really looking forward to a nice snow storm because I wanted to give my new Snow Joe 18 in 40-Volt Lithium Ion Hybrid Snow Blower a workout which I did.

I want to start off by saying that the snow storm we received dumped about 20 inches. The Snow Joe worked liked a champ as I used it in phases during the snow storm tackling 6-8 inches at a time. I did try to run in through an area that wasn’t touched during the storm and it had some difficulty but like I said we got 20 inches which was crazy. All is all I was really impressed with this snow blower and its performance.

The battery life was pretty good lasting somewhere in the neighborhood of 40ish minutes (didn’t time it exactly) but for my driveway it was more than enough time. You do have the option of plugging the snow blower in during use but to me that is a last resort espeically since it has a nice beefy 40 volt battery.

Like I always do I will list the specs for you tech geeks:

Lightweight design to easily clear sidewalks, driveways and decks
40-Volt 4.0 Ah eco sharp PRO rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides up to 52 minutes of whisper quiet runtime and is compatible with all iON tools
No pull cords, gas, oil, tune-ups, carbon emissions or tangled extension cords
Steel auger with 2 rubber blades moves up to 500 lbs. of snow per minute; cuts a path 18 in. W x 8 in. deep without damaging surface
180° auto-rotate directional chute throws snow up to 20 ft.
3-Watt LED headlight provides increased visibility for nighttime snow removal
Powerful 500-Watt brushless motor increases battery efficiency, maximizes motor performance, decreases noise and vibration and extends motor life
Contains electric capability for unlimited clearing time

The Snow Joe was really easy to use and not overly complicated so I let Shaun use it as well which was nice. I love the battery over gas because all you do is push a button and hold down the safety lever (similar to most lawn mowers) and it was ready for use. No need to fill it with gas and worrying if it would start up or not. I also like the environmental aspect of the battery over gas and its nice not to have to smell oil and gas mixture the entire time you are clearing your driveway.

Overall the Snow Joe is a beast and I am very impressed with its overall performance. When I was asked to give it a try I was a little hesitant due to the battery but that is no longer an issue anymore because that beefy 40 Volt battery was put to the test and out performed my expectations. It retails for $399 which is a really great price considering most gas snow blowers retail north of a $1,000 easily.

Looking for a snow blower that works great for a terrific price? It’s not to late to go buy your own Snow Joe as winter is still upon us.

NASCAR #MonsterMile Is Fun For The Whole Family

September 17, 2015 by Melissa

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Dover International Speedway. I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation at the conclusion of the program.

When the weekend rolls around are you and the family always struggling to find family friendly things to do that everyone will enjoy? If you answered YES like we do in our own house you should take a look at the #AAA400 taking place on Sunday October 4th at Dover International Speedway.

I know right now you are thinking that NASCAR isn’t what you would consider a family friendly event but over the years NASCAR has worked very hard to appeal to all ages and to be a more family friendly sport.

Here are a few things taking place at the race on Sunday October 4th that in my opinion would appeal to most if not all families:

Monster FunZone

Time: 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
This family friendly environment is full of fun and popular activities that everyone can enjoy!
Located outside of Turn 4
Attractions such as racing simulators, face painting, prize drawings, moon bounces, show car displays, interactive games and rock climbing, and much more!
Please visit this link for additional details:http://goo.gl/IMrxTm

Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

Official 2016 qualifying event for the annual Fourth of July International Hot Dog-Eating Contest will take place on Sunday at 12:45 in Victory Plaza.

Monster Mile Youth Nation

Exclusive kids club for race fans age 14 and under
Provides opportunities for young fans to explore the sport of NASCAR at Dover International Speedway.
Annual membership costs $20 and includes exclusive race weekend access and benefits.
Includes an autograph session on October 4, 2015 with drivers such as Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch, and David Ragan.
Please visit this link for additional details:http://goo.gl/VsV3cf

Another awesome selling point on why you need to give NASCAR at try at Dover International Speedway is because tickets for children 14 and under are dirt cheap.

$10 Junior Tickets

Juniors ages 14 and younger can come to a SundayNASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at the Monster Mile for just $10
Junior seating sections are set in all four turns of the one-mile, concrete oval, and include seven alcohol- and tobacco-free sections.

Cars racing 115 miles around a 1 mile oval is enough to get anyone’s blood pumping. Add in that the cars get 4 tires, over 20 gallons of fuel and a few adjustments in under 12 seconds is just mind blowing. The sport is so fast in every aspect it’s hard not to be excited when you are in that atmosphere.

I have been to one NASCAR race before and it was AWESOME!!!! The speed of the race and the fans make it a great afternoon.

If you have liked what you have read I would encourage you to enter for a chance to win tickets to the AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway. Trust me this will be a race that the whole family will enjoy and talk about for a long time.

Dover International Speedway AET

Making Positive Changes in Your Community

June 25, 2015 by Melissa

While we all might entertain visions of finding ways to make our communities into better places, it can be much harder to figure out how to actually act on your good intentions. The key to making a real positive impact on your community is to think about what issues are most prevalent in your mind. What problems do you notice when you look around your neighborhood? What issues are you passionate about? Once you have answers to those questions, you can apply that passion towards finding ways to encourage others to pay attention and ultimately to solving problems.

Be an Organizer

Oftentimes, all it takes to make a difference in a community is to have someone in the community who can organize and inspire. Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to solve lots of problems in your community at once. Instead, identify one or a few related problems that really inspire you to make a difference and become the rallier in your community. Organize local events like trash pickups around your neighborhood. Adopt a road with your neighborhood, church, sports team, or a club where you are a member. Organize a local benefit event or a charity dinner. It doesn’t have to be a major affair. You could set up a small neighborhood cookout where you ask for donations for an issue, hold a raffle to raise money, or hire a band to play as a benefit and charge money for tickets to benefit the cause.

Take Things Slow

When trying to make a difference, it can be very easy to get overwhelmed with all that needs to be done, especially if you feel like there’s not a lot of support for your cause in your area. Take things slowly and just go from day to day. Organize regular events, big and small, so that you can be constantly raising awareness and contributing to the good of your cause, and at the same time be on the lookout for related events, causes, and interest groups where you can get involved, form connections, and build up your presence. Be sure to successfully spread the word about your events. Contact local radio stations, blast it on your social media accounts, get flyers made, and even hand out things like koozies.

Support Local Politics

One of the best ways to make a difference on a local level is to support local causes and politicians who support your causes. Sign up to go from door to door collecting signatures, write editorial pieces, hold fundraisers, and decorate your yard with a campaign sign. Be ready to engage in polite conversation with friends and coworkers about local politics. You never know where you might find a likeminded individual who simply doesn’t realize that a local politician agrees with them.

Be Open to Everything

If you’re not the take-charge type and you don’t have any single issue that really motivates you, be open to getting involved with community groups and as a volunteer in any way that they can use you:

Sign up for newsletters with local organizations to get notifications about volunteer opportunities.
Contact local groups like homeless shelters, animal rescues, environmental groups, the police or fire departments, local military organizations, local sports teams, schools, senior care facilities, hospitals, churches and faith centers, and policy groups to find out how you can become a registered volunteer. At many organizations, you do need to sign some liability paperwork, but once you’ve done this, you will be kept in the loop regularly on volunteer opportunities, which could be as diverse as helping prepare mailers, going door to door raising funds, cooking at a shelter, walking dogs, or picking up trash in the river.
Offer your professional services. Whatever your primary profession, find a way you can use this to give back to the community. For example, if you’re a dentist, offer to pay a visit to a local daycare or children’s shelter to teach the kids about their teeth. Or offer free checkups and cleanings at the homeless shelter.

Be Aware of Local Needs

One of the best ways to get involved is to just be aware of what’s really going on in your area. You never know when you might have a neighbor going through a difficult time or someone who could just use a friendly visit. Start out small with some simple, random acts of kindness. Only you can figure out what will be the best way to help your specific community so be open, be aware, and always be generous!

Getting Ready For That Summer Road Trip

June 24, 2015 by Melissa

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.
#FueltheLove #CollectiveBias

Road trips are awesome, family road trips are even better but making sure that you are fully ready for the road trip not so much fun.

My biggest problem is packing. I dislike everything about packing because I never know what to pack so I either pack to much or I don’t pack enough. Example, I recently took a weekend trip to Michigan two weeks ago so I knew I only needed a carry on but that carry on was packed to the gills. Funny thing is after the weekend was over I realized I wore one pair of shorts and a few t-shirts and that was all. However I packed jeans, dress shirts, sneakers, flip flops and the list goes on and on.

This past week my family surprised me with a trip down to Wildwood, NJ for Father’s Day which was totally awesome because I love the beach but again it required packing. Learning from my mistake the prior week I only packed shorts and t-shirts and believe it or not I packed just the right amount of clothes. Now this time Melinda and kids also needed to pack needless to say we had to break out the big suitcase because Melinda is an over packer for sure. It doesn’t matter where we go she always packs to much because she is afraid she won’t have something.

This was for a weekend trip to the beach, LOL.

My other problem with road trips is I am very last minute in making sure we are 100% ready and that includes making sure our vehicles are ready for the road trip. You would think I would take care of the little things like gas, fluids and oil but nope not me I wait till the last second and our trip to the beach was no different.

While looking over my car I realized it has been about 4k mile since it’s last oil change and of course I realized this a few hours before we were supposed to leave. Problem is my normal place can take upwards of two hours depending on when I go so this time I stopped over at Walmart to their Tire and Lube center to get an oil change. I have never been to Walmart for an oil change so I was pretty happy to see that they used Pennzoil which is what I typically use in both of my vehicles and I was quite happy to see that they offered three types of oil changes:

Conventional Motor Oil – A traditional oil base, fortified with Active Cleaning Agents™ to continuously prevent dirt and contaminants from creating performance-robbing deposits.
High Mileage Vehicle – Helps to reduce leaks and oil consumption in worn or higher mileage engines. It’s a motor oil that is specifically designed for new or late model vehicles with over 75,000 miles, to help keep the engines running clean and going strong for a long time.
Platinum (synthetic motor oil) – Best cleanliness and protection in the Pennzoil line-up. With PurePlus™ Technology, the Platinum® motor oil is proven to keep pistons up to 40% cleaner than the toughest industry standard. PurePlus™ Technology is a revolutionary process that converts natural gas into a 99.5% pure base oil.

My car has 185,000 miles on it so I got the High Mileage oil change like I typically do. I am trying to make my baby last FORVER if possible, LOL.

After I handed my keys over to have my oil changed I realized two things, first thing was I can get the oil change and the second was I can pick up a few last minute items like a few cases of water, new bathing suit for me and some other odds and ends. I must admit this is the first time going to Walmart for an oil change but I will go again just for the pure fact that I can knock out two things at once plus my car was done in under an hour. Also, the technicans who worked in the Tire and Lube center were super nice and friendly which always make an experience that much better.

Thankfully the Walmart near me did oil changed and they saved me from a really long wait which I didn’t feel like dealing with because I just wanted to get to the beach and have a great Father’s Day weekend.

Another successful road trip!

If you like near a Walmart that offered oil changes check them out, they are awesome!

SALE ALERT

From June 10th – September 9th, Pennzoil oil changes will be on Rollback at Walmart Automotive Care Center stores.

High Mileage $35.88, compared to the regular Walmart price of $39.88. {Industry standard price is $46}
Platinum Full Synthetic $45.88, compared to the regular Walmart price of $49.88. {Industry standard price $66}

Pennzoil Warranty: Pennzoil also offers a free warranty that covers 15 engine parts that may fail due to engine wear or which experience abnormal wear due to friction. (For more information, check out the Pennzoil Warranty Site.)

Are you like me and have problems packing for trips? Or are you the opposite and considered a super packer?

Bow Tie Cupcake Toppers

October 14, 2014 by Melissa

We have 2 very good bakeries in the area where we get cupcakes once in a while. The cake and icing flavors are always a great combination and who doesn’t love a cupcake. Sometimes I like to dress them up a little especially when we get them for company or special occasions. These Bow Tie Cupcake Toppers are just the thing when we needed recently for a big family dinner.

The cupcakes were simple so they could please a crowd. Making the cupcake toppers took them to a new level, giving them a little touch of sophistication. The best part was watching the kids then hold them up as bow ties as they talked in terrible British accents.

Create these for yourself either by cutting them out by hand or using your Silhouette cutting machine. Here is the SVG file for the Bow Tie Cupcake Toppers.Here is the printable if you are cutting them out yourself.

Supplies

Cardstock
Glue Dots, mini size is ideal
toothpicks
scissors or Silhouette

Directions

On your cardstock print the bow tie cut outs or run the file through your Silhouette on cardstock.

Add 1 mini glue dot to the center of your bow tie shape and fold over one end and stick to glue dot. Do NOT crease the bow tie.

Repeat with next side, add another glue dot and fold over to create bow tie shape.

Using the small rectangle strip fold that around so the ends meet in the back and secure with 1-2 more glue dots.

Using 1 more glue dot attach the toothpick to the back of the bow tie and you’re ready to decorate your cupcakes.

Don’t let the cupcakes be the end of your dress up. These can be placed in a cheese tray, fruit tray or even a bowl of olives. The bow ties can also be made to be any color to match your event, dinner or holiday.

The Best of Me Movie #giveaway

September 29, 2014 by Melissa

Have you ever known a love so strong that even after 20 years after there’s no way to fight to the pull of each other’s hearts. The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks is the story of this kind of love.

Based on the bestselling novel by acclaimed author Nicholas Sparks, The Best of Me starring James Marsden,Michelle Monaghan, Luke Bracey and Liana Liberato tells the story of Dawson and Amanda, two former high school sweethearts who find themselves reunited after 20 years apart, when they return to their small town for the funeral of a beloved friend. Their bittersweet reunion reignites the love they’ve never forgotten, but soon they discover the forces that drove them apart twenty years ago live on, posing even more serious threats today. Spanning decades, this epic love story captures the enduring power of our first true love, and the wrenching choices we face when confronted with elusive second chances.

For the release of the film on October 17th, ProFlowers has created The Best of Me bouquet. It’s inspired by the film and draws from the picturesque garden scene where the long lost lovers are reunited to give their romance a second chance. The striking bouquet consists of burgundy gerbera daisies, lavender spray stock and red roses.

This arrangement will only be available till October 31th but we’re teaming up with Relativity Media and ProFlowers to give a LookWhatMomFound…and Dadtoo! reader a chance to win a ProFlowers gift code to purchase their own gorgeous bouquet and a copy of The Best of Me novel (paperback, movie tie-in edition). Prizing valued at $90.

Just tell me a little something about your true love. Was is a missed opportunity? Are you living happily ever after? Have you not experienced it yet?

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry above. Please note the changes to the entries and frequency, entries that don’t follow rules may be disregarded/ignored/deleted

SUBSCRIBE to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! via NEW Email Subscription or BlogLovin
COMMENT on a recent Review/Our Life/Our Travels/Our Thoughts post, let us know where to find it
FOLLOW Mom, Dad & The Best of Me on Twitter and TWEET this giveaway (1 time per day), please leave your twitter link each time: Entering to win #TheBestofMe @ProFlowers Bouquet & Book #giveaway via @lkwhtmomfound @anddadtoo http://bit.ly/1ywUecM
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Your entries must follow the rules or they won’t be eligible for prizes. This contest ends 11:59 pm, Monday, October 20, 2014. The winners will be emailed and will have 48 hours to claim their prize. This contest is open to Contiguous US residents, age 18 or over. For complete rules please read our blog contest rules page.

Sunday Linky Edition #254

August 31, 2014 by Melissa

Every Sunday we will be hosting a Sunday Linky Edition. Please list your awesome posts and giveaways that you want others to read and know about. We love Linky’s because it gives us a chance to read other blogs and enter giveaways that we might have missed out on. So please enter your permalink below so everyone can check out what you have. Don’t forget to come back every Sunday for our Sunday edition of Linky’s.

Cranium Game Scribblish

October 26, 2010 by Melissa

You’re never too old to play games! Hasbro has just introduced a new Cranium game; Scribblish, just in time for the holidays.

Grab your pencils and get ready to giggle. Cranium Scribblish is a hilarious new game that’s like a cool mashup of the old schoolyard favorite, “The Telephone Game” and Pictionary. Simple, outrageous, and a ton of fun. Everyone chooses a caption and draws a picture. You all then take turns adding drawings or captions. At the end can you guess which picture was yours when you started? Which one is funniest? Vote for your favorite to win!

CRANIUM SCRIBBLISH includes:

Six scrolls, 60 cards, timer, pad, die, tokens and instructions.
Includes 2 “cell” batteries.
Game play approx 20 minutes
For 4-6 players
Ages 8 and up.

Shaun isn’t a very good drawer so this wouldn’t be a good game for him but I’m sure my brother and sister in-law would love it. And since it’s a Cranium game you know it’s guaranteed to be fun and appropriate for the entire family.

Visit Facebook for an exclusive $2 coupon to purchase your own Cranium game or win Cranium Scribblish for your own family here at LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! Visit Cranium and tell me another game you’ve tried or would like to try.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry above and please be sure your email in your comment or have it attached to you blogger dashboard. I will not search through About Me/Contact Me links. Please note the changes to the entries or frequency, entries that don’t follow rules will be disregarded/ignored/deleted.

Subscribe to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! via email or RSS feed
Follow Mom and Dad and Cranium on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway 1 time per day, please leave your twitter link each time, tweet a form of this message: Enter to #WIN @PlayCranium Scribblish game http://bit.ly/cS6iNm
Like LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! and Cranium on Facebook AND leave a message about this giveaway including link

Your entries must follow the rules or they won’t be eligible for prizes. This contest ends 11:59 pm, Tuesday, November 16, 2010. The winners will be emailed and will have 48 hours to claim their prize. This contest is open to US residents only. For complete rules please read our contest rules page. The prize pack and information have all been provided by Hasbro through MyBlogSpark.

This is a sponsored post but the opinions and descriptions presented belong solely to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! Your experiences and reactions may differ from ours.

Me and My Boy Are Going On Out First Real Camping Trip Together

October 23, 2010 by Melissa

Shaun and I are leaving at 7:30am to meet Cub Master Rob (Not me another Rob) and the other people going camping then we are going to drive to Camp Rodney in MD all together.

I hear once we get there around 8:30am we will set up our tent then there are activities planned like archery, sling shots, bb guns and going hiking. We will also be having a camp fire where smores will be in order. The one good thing is Camp Rodney has a dining hall so no cooking for me this weekend.

Here is a picture of my car packed full for our trip.

Here is some food for Shaun and I eat while hiking:

We are going to have a great trip. Be sure to check back because I will be posting more pictures of our camping trip.

When Did This Happen?

October 19, 2010 by Melissa

Who told Sabreena she could become a young lady? The nerve of this girl growing up so fast and becoming a mature, intelligent, respectful teenager. She had the audacity to go homecoming this past weekend and look awesome in a Little Black Dress with make-up and done up hair. She even dared to hug some boys in pictures and have a good time. Doesn’t she know that this all made me cry because she’s still my sweet baby girl in my heart. I still remember bringing her home from the hospital and celebrating her 1st bday and her taking her bra shopping. I cried because I wanted to be with her as she got all dressed up for Homecoming but she spent the weekend with friends instead. I cried because she called me after 11pm saying how much fun she had and I realized it wasn’t that late but I was the loser about to go to bed. I cried because i want to cut these boy’s hands off because thats my baby they are hugging. I cried because she’s such a blessing to have in our family and I’m grateful she turned out so well considering what an obvious basketcase I am.

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