Isn’t it cool how the internet has taken games to a whole new level like the ability to play bingo online.  I can remember when I was younger and going to the bingo hall at the local church on Saturday nights with my grandparents.  Now all you need to do is go online and there is no need for you to ever leave the comforts of your own home.

Looking back I can remember going through the process of getting our boards and finding just the perfect seat.  We would spread out our multiple cards and get ready to play.

A few funny things I remember about going to bingo was everyone bringing their own bingo bags equipped with ink blotters and/or chips depending how hard core they were.  I remember the regulars who attended the games being the most aggressive and really getting aggravated if you got anywhere close to them after they selected their seat.  People tend to be creatures of habit and we weren’t exactly regulars so we tried to respect the other players by giving them their space.

I need to see if I can find some place to play bingo in our area because I think Shaun and Shae would have a lot of fun especially if they got the chance to yell “B-I-N-G-O” at the top of their lungs, LOL.

I did enjoy the game of bingo and yelling it out on the rare occasion that I did win but one of the biggest attractions for me was the food.  The church saw bingo as the perfect opportunity to make a few extra bucks with their concessions and I am glad they did.  They sold items like hamburgers, hot dogs, candy and ice cream and I took every opportunity I could to visit the stand for my select goodies for the night and my grandparents were always ready to oblige.  I know Shaun would also love the food at bingo because like they say like father like son and I love my snacks.

This is a guest post written for Look What Mom Found…and Dad too!

As parents we know too well the daily chaos of coordinating our family’s schedules. Coordinating our own schedules between spouses, among all of the events in our kids’ lives (class schedules, school events, practice/games schedules, Sunday school, ballet, swim meets- It can get a bit hectic.

For those of us needing a way to tame the chaos, a new platform called LivingTree has just launched nationwide. Good news is, it was created by parents for parents.

LivingTree offers a web and mobile (iOS and Android) service, a cutting-edge system that aims to make it easy for busy parents to organize things with one another, coordinate and share the most important moments of their children’s lives with loves ones, as well as enabling the organizations that are helping teach our children (teachers/schools, coaches/leagues, etc) to more effectively communicate and coordinate with us as parents – all in one safe, and integrated place.

How it works…

LivingTree’s offering is focused on three key functions:

Organization. LivingTree makes it easy to organize the everyday chaos. The LivingTree shared calendaring system keeps spouses on the same page to ensure personal events, family events, and events for each child in your family are organized and communicated efficiently. The platform is designed to automatically integrate the children’s classes, teams, schools, and leagues for easy coordination of the classroom or school events, parent teacher conferences, volunteer opportunities and commitments, or a season’s practice/games, etc. When locations or other details are changed (by a parent, a coach, or teacher) the calendar updates in real time, and all spouses or co-parents are automatically notified on their mobile devices. The LivingTree shared calendaring system also supports subscription to other calendar types like Outlook, Apple Cal, Google Calendar, etc.

Engagement. LivingTree simplifies communication between all the people participating in our children’s daily development. LivingTree’s “Conversations” provides tools for parents, extended families, youth leaders and organizations to privately share posts, photos, media, files, and converse in the context of our children’s lives. LivingTree aggregates all conversations into one secure place, providing a quick and easy way to converse with schools, teachers, leagues, coaches, etc. No more emails, reply-alls, or series of websites.

Sharing and Remembering. LivingTree’s “Memories” feature offers parents an easy (yet private) way to chronicle the lives of their children. Quickly post a set of photos or media to a “Memory Mix” per child, and share it with other extended family members. It not only helps you capture the important moments and experiences, but instantly arranges them in the way you want to remember them. For example, chronicle the changing interests of one child— construction, superheroes, marine biology—while showing the steadfast interest of another—Shelby sings her heart out, age 3 to 15. And when connected to a child’s classroom or team, users get instant access to other photos or media the teachers, coaches or other parents have shared privately into the class or team – grab any of those, and chronicle for future posterity.

Finally, a secure and private way to coordinate our lives all in one place. To check out LivingTree and sign up for a free account, visit: www.livingtree.com.

This is a sponsored post. I am a Kmart blogger, though all opinions are my own

What if you have the chance to win a $100 Kmart Gift Card for less than 5 minutes of your time? Who wouldn’t spend 5 minutes of their time for a chance to win free money?

Enter the Kmart LocalAd Sweeps on ShopYourWay #SWEEPS Points. Prizes. Play! All you have to do is ‘follow’ the Kmart LocalAd brand page on ShopYourWay, then pick 5 must-haves from your local Kmart store and add them to your ‘Wish List’ on ShopYourWay.

For example: search deck furniture on ShopYourWay, hover over a set you like with your mouse and click ‘want.’ The product will automatically be added to your Wish List. No need to write anything  down because the SWEEPS app will walk you through it. Once you’ve completed these steps, you’ll be entered to win 100,000 points, which equals to $100!

You also have the opportunity to score two additional entries easily by sharing the Sweeps with your Facebook & Twitter friends.

What would you buy if you won $100 from Kmart?

This is a sponsored post. I am a Sears blogger, though all opinions are my own.

With spring here and summer right around the corner I can think of a hundred different things I would like to buy if I won $100.  I could use a new toolbox, a deck umbrella, a new weed wacker, new sneakers and the list goes on and on.  I don’t know about you but spending money that you win is so much sweeter than actually spending your own hard earned money.

How would you like a chance to win some free money?  If so now you could win 100,000 points (that’s equal to $100) when you enter the @Sears LocalAd Sweeps on ShopYourWay SWEEPS Points. Prizes. Play! All you need to do is ‘follow’ the Sears LocalAd brand page on ShopYourWay, then pick 5 must-haves from your local Sears store and add them to your ‘Wish List’ on ShopYourWay. For example: search lawmowers on ShopYourWay, hover over the ones you like with your mouse and click ‘want.’ The products will automatically be added to your Wish List.

The great thing is you don’t have to worry about remembering this, the #SWEEPS app will walk you through it.  In 5 minutes or less you’ll be entered to win $100 from Sears. If you want two additional entries, all you have to do is share the Sweeps with your friends on Facebook & Twitter.

If you win how will you spend your gift card?

We are being compensated to share this sponsored post. All opinions are our own.

I am not sure what the weather is in your neck of the woods but here in Delaware we are anywhere in the 60-70 degree range which means my family have been outside enjoying the great outdoors.

I love spring because that means Melinda and I get get outside and get the yard and garden back into shape after a very long winter.  So far this season we are on top of both because I have mulched all of the flower beds, cut the grass twice and tilled the garden.  Melinda has planted seeds and is growing an assortment of vegetables in her portable greenhouse so hopefully in the next month they will be ready to be replanted in the garden outside.

When we aren’t in the yard soaking in the sun we love to take trips to the park and the beach.  We actually took a short weekend trip to Ocean City, Maryland this past weekend and it was a lot of fun.  The kids love everything about the beach and I love spending time with the family by the water building the perfect sand castle.  This spring/summer I think I am going to try and get the family out at least once for a weekend camping trip.  I use to camp with my family all summer long when I was growing up and it might be something that my family might enjoy.  I can’t say with 100% certainty yet since my entire family is so dependent on electronics that the wood might actually break us, LOL.

Stay tuned for more details on that trip assuming we make it back in one piece.

So if you love spring/summer and love to get outside then you need to find online deals and vouchers for the home and garden and offers on camping equipment that will allow you to spend some real quality time as a family.

If you’re expecting a baby, congratulations! Starting a family is one of the most rewarding things many people do, but it can also put an additional strain on your finances. I can remember how scared I was when we first had our kids.  I was a total wreck and nervous on how we were going to be able to afford to have Shaun and when Shae came along I almost had a heart attack, LOL.  The cost of prams, nappies, cot beds, Moses baskets and other essentials can leave you out of pocket, so take a look at these four money-saving tips for parents-to-be.

Keep your borrowing costs low

With a little one on the way, you may be considering taking out a bank loan or a credit card to help you make significant purchases. If you do, however, it’s essential to look out for offers and deals online and to keep your borrowing costs low. This will help you clear your debt quicker and allow you to buy everything from car seats to nursery furniture – without receiving a hefty bill.

Shop around for discounted clothes

New-borns will be toddlers before you know it, so there’s no point in spending a fortune on designer baby grows or state-of-the-art footwear. Instead, head to markets, car boots, nearly new sales, discount stores and supermarkets or look for second-hand items online. As babies grow so quickly, pre-loved items are often in a great condition and could save you a fortune in the long-run.  I can say that Melinda is a pro when it comes to finding gently used clothes at great prices because with three kids you need to do everything you possibly can to save whatever money you can.  Also, considering how fast kids grow spending a lot of money for 1 or 2 wears just doesn’t make sence.

Save money on the nursery

Believe it or not, you don’t have to spend a fortune on the nursery! Simply keep redecorating to a minimum and make the most of furniture you’ve already got – or browse second hand and charity stores. If you need to paint the walls, use a single colour to keep costs down and use wall transfers, stickers or stencils to brighten up the room. Throw in a few teddies, wall hangings and perhaps a mobile for good measure and you should notice a big difference in no time.

Think about childcare

It might seem a while off yet, but it’s important to think about childcare. Will you send your little one to nursery or is it cheaper for you to stay at home all day? This will depend on your job, salary and who takes care of your child, but it’s worth putting a budget in place today – or at least setting up a savings account. That way, when the time comes you won’t receive any unwanted surprises.  We never saved for day care and looking back I wish we would have because it’s just as expensive a car payment or two.  Thankfully Melinda stays home now and has been since the day Shae was born so we no longer have to worry about day care coasts.

Everything from shopping around for clothes to making a credit card comparison could save you a fortune, so look after your hard earned cash.

Would you consider yourself a one stop shopper?  I have tried and tried but I seem to fail every single time.  I have tried one stop shopping when it comes to food, clothes and even electronics with little to no success until recently.

Imagine browsing a site that’s mastered the art of one-stop shopping. With the limited amount of square footage in retail stores, we’re excited to know Sears offers an expanded assortment online. Thank goodness for unlimited virtual space! Don’t see a size, color or style you want in store? Visit the Sears website for millions of additional options at your fingertips

Sears has a ton of different products available in one convenient place creating a much easier shopping experience so I am now able to shop for everything (except food) in one place.  I can buy tools (since I only use Craftsman), kids clothes and even workout equipment (Yup I said workout equipment).

Sears.com carries some of your favorite designer brands like Tory Burch, Ray Bans, Nike & more! So go ahead and get everything you want in one place; you deserve it. With new arrivals every week, you never know what you’ll find!

Also, make sure you are following Sears on Twitter @Sears.

Happy Shopping!!!

This is a sponsored post. I am a Sears blogger, though all opinions are my own.