collective bias Archives - Look What Mom Found

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?

Keeping My Day Balanced With #PortableProtein

March 12, 2014 by Melissa

Being a UPS driver for a living is fun but can very tough at the same time. I am constantly on the move and a typical day on the road for me is anywhere from 10-12 hours so needless to say it can be exhausting. Finding time to eat a healthy balanced meal is very challenging. I don’t have access to a microwave so I am not able to bring leftovers from the night before so my food for the day takes a lot of planning. I try to pack foods and snacks that I know I am going to eat because eating fast food during the day isn’t an option for me due to cost and nutrition. One big problem I have is I am the kind of person that can’t eat the same thing for more than a few days in a row before I get tired of it and need to move onto something new which makes lunch even more of a pain in the neck. Thankfully I discovered the P3 Portable Protein Pack from Oscar Mayer.

Thankfully #CollectiveBias asked me to do a shop for a product called P3 Portable Protein Packs from Oscar Mayer. P3 Portable Protein Packs are specially designed snack size packs to provide a nourishing boost of solid protein. They come in 4 varieties: Applewood Smoked Turkey Breast, Applewood Smoked Ham, Rotisserie Seasoned Chicken Breast and Slow Roasted Turkey Breast. We were able to find three of the varieties at our local WalMart for just $1 per pack in the packaged deli section of the store. The P3 Portable Protein Packs contain three different components, #meatcheesenuts. Each pack is approximately 2 ounces and contains about 13 grams of protein.

In a typical day I will eat anywhere from 3 to 5 small snacks like peanut butter crackers, granola bars, fruit snacks, veggies and cookies. Like I mentioned I get tired of the same foods day in and day out but I do realize I have to eat better because I am not getting any younger. This month I turn the big 40 and constantly moving for 10-12 hours a day isn’t as easy as it use to be. I need all of the help I can get to stay mobile, fueled, nourished and healthy. Starting with a good night’s sleep is best but I have to keep my day going with well balanced foods and snacks. Cookies may have cut it for me when I was 25 but not anymore. I need foods that are high in protein to keep me energized throughout the day as I burn calories.

I started with the Rotisserie Seasoned Chicken Breast P3 #PortableProtein Pack and it was really good. I thought after eating the 2 ounces I would still be hungry but that wasn’t the case. Since the protein pack is full of high quality protein it filled me up and kept me feeling full and fueled longer than the typical snacks I tend to eat. This came in handy for that 4 o’clock hour when my body wants to call it a day. I also like that the P3 Portable Protein Packs are only $1. It’s not easy to eat healthy on the go on the cheap. The portability of the P3 packs is a great feature. I can through these in my cooler without any prep and I don’t need any utensils. These allow me to keep working because I typically don’t have time to stop anyway.

I am glad I was asked to do this shop because it allowed me to discover a nutritious and balanced snack that I am able to eat while on the road that I may not have discovered otherwise. I shared these with some of my fellow drivers and so far the ratings are all thumbs up.

Give a Child a Shot When You Get a Shot #walgreens #giveashot #cbias #shop

September 23, 2013 by Melissa

For the past week and half I’ve been battling a cold. The kids have been back in school less than a month. Coincidence? I think not.

As a mom to 3 kids in school and activities I worry about germs and illness all the time. I encourage hand washing, not sharing personal items, keeping hands to themselves and of course stay on top of immunizations. What I do forget about sometimes is myself. I move along handling all of the kids materials, book bags and lunchboxes not thinking twice about where they’ve been all day. Now today I walk around the house hacking up a lung and sniffling as if my breathing depends on it, well because it does.

Staying on top of everyday health and wellness is important but so are staying up to date on vaccinations. Have you ever taken a closer look at the Healthcare Clinic at your local Walgreens? Immunizations such as the flu shot, pneumonia and shingles vaccine are available for walk ins, no appointment necessary.

Immunization is one of the world’s biggest public health success stories. Yet, 1 in 5 children still lack access to the lifesaving immunizations that help keep children in the U.S. healthy. Coordinated worldwide vaccination efforts have made significant progress, particularly in reducing cases of measles and polio.

Walgreens is stepping up with their Get a Shot Give a Shot program by offering not only easy access to adult immunizations but Now through October 14th, when you get a flu shot or any other immunization at Walgreens or Healthcare Clinic, we’ll help provide a life-saving vaccine through the United Nations Foundation’s Shot@Life Campaign.

Shot@Life educates, connects and empowers Americans to champion vaccines as one of the most cost-effective ways to save the lives of children in developing countries. A national call to action for a global cause, the campaign rallies the American public, members of Congress, and civil society partners around the fact that together, we can save a child’s life every 20 seconds by expanding access to vaccines. By encouraging Americans to learn about, advocate for, and donate to vaccines, Shot@Life aims to decrease vaccine-preventable childhood deaths and give every child a shot at a healthy life.

There is no appointment necessary and most insurance plans are accepted making this an effortless step towards giving a child a shot at a future. The Shot@life program empowers Americans to help children in underdeveloped countries gain access to disease preventable vaccines.

Visit your local Walgreens Healthcare Clinic or Pharmacy for more information about the health services, immunizations and rewards programs they offer to your community. See how we maneuvered through out Walgreens shopping trip to learn more.

Starbucks Coffee and Walmart Muffins #DeliciousPairings for Breakfast

January 17, 2013 by Melissa

School and work schedules often keep up apart for breakfast as an entire family. Come weekend time when errands need be done and we’re all going in different directions it doesn’t often get any better.

But Rob and I make it a point to stop for a few moments for a quick breakfast and talk about what to expect for the day. It isn’t fancy but it’s a time we set aside because it’s important to connect and get on the same page about the family happenings.

Coffee is our go-to. Anything else is just extra. But paired with a perfectly sweetened Banana Nut Muffin makes the experience so much better. The Starbucks House (Medium) Blend was rich with slight bitterness like I expected. Pairing it a Walmart Banana Nut Muffin brought out hints of nuts and fresh sweetness. I’m not a coffee and donut kinda person, I think the overt sweetness of a sugar glaze throws off the taste of coffee but this was a much better match, something I can get used to.

Shopping at Walmart is usually very easy. Seeing the #DeliciousPairings sign above the baked goods is a great way to learn what coffee blend goes with which bakery item. As you can see the display is directly above the danish and donuts. I went searching for muffins. I found a sugar free and regular version of their Banana Nut Muffins but that was the only flavor. I wanted to try the Blueberry Muffins also but there were none to be found.

I did find these Apple Pastry Bites but I’m the only apple filling fan in the house, that means I would’ve had to eat them all on my own. I skipped it.

The brewing process was wonderful. I could smell it as I stepped out of my bedroom. It’s a calming effect, knowing I’m just minutes away from a hot cup of coffee even though there are also kids and dogs waiting for breakfast so they can head off to school. I need to invest in a really good travel mug so I can take my coffee to go because stopping at random places never beats what is served at home since we already brew Starbucks Breakfast Blend and Thanksgiving Blend when it is in season.

Starbucks can be found at many retailers but visiting your local Walmart to shop will give you a little education about the best flavor matches for the coffee blends.

“I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™. #cbias #SocialFabric

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