Review: CouponChief.com

Have you ever noticed the small promotional code box that pops up when you are checking out online? Have you ever wondered where people find these promotional codes to use? CouponChief.com is a fast expanding website that provides such codes. With over 50,000 coupons and 15,000 stores available at a click of your mouse, there is sure to be a coupon that suits your needs. CouponChief.com is easy to navigate and understand. Browse through their shops or simply type in the store you are looking for (i.e Walmart.com or just Walmart). When you find a code that fits your needs, simply copy and paste it when you are ready to check-out at the retailers’ online store.

Have you stumbled across a great promotional code that you would love to share? Why not get paid for it? Coupon Chief’s Pays-2-Share program allows its users to upload coupons/codes to its database. When other members use your code for their purchases, you earn 2% of their sales. CouponChief.com uses PayPal, so earning money is easy and safe. If you don’t have PayPal, Coupon Chief will gladly send you a check in the mail. When you sign up for this program, you can track your coupons through your account and see how many people have used them.

Using CouponChief.com can also help you give back to your favorite causes. With Coupons-4-Causes, Coupon Chief allows you to choose your favorite charity, church, or school to support. With every purchase you make using one of their coupon codes, Coupon Chief will donate 20% of your entire purchase to the cause of your choice.

I personally believe that Coupon Chief is a great resource to have. Anytime you are purchasing an item online, take a minute to swing over to CouponChief.com to see if they have a coupon for you. A few minutes and a few extra clicks can save you a bundle on your purchase. While searching through the various stores, I noticed that many of the retailers have free shipping codes. Shipping prices often deter me from purchasing products online, so these types of deals would be perfect for me. One thing to be aware of when using CouponChief.com, is that some of their codes don’t work. Coupons uploaded by users often didn’t have an expiration date. Therefore, it was hard to determine which were valid or not. Coupon Chief attempts to remedy the problem by asking users if the code worked or not. Although I’m not 100% sure, I believe if the code gets negative feedback, it will be removed from the database. So head on over to CouponChief.com and start saving and giving back to the community!

Disclaimer: CouponChief.com invited me to peruse their vast supply of coupons in May.  All opinions are my own. Although I was comensated with PayPal credit, I was under no obligation to review this website positively. 

New Blog Awards!

Thanks to Camila, at 2 Teach is 2 Touch Lives Forever, for believing that my blog was good enough for "It's worth keeping an eye on this blog" award. I appreciate you keeping an eye on my blog and giving me pointers along the way! ;) Obrigada!

I would also love to thank Sarah, at Stepping Into The Story, for the beautiful Sunshine award.  Sarah, thanks for reading my blog and letting me know you enjoy it! :)

The chosen blog has to copy the picture, with a link to the blog from which it has received the award . Then write ten more links to the blogs which are well worth a visit.
1. Kelly’s Lucky You
2. A Nut in a Nutshell
3. Couponing to Disney
4. Rachel Cotterill
5. Simply Stacie
6. Confessions of a Wannabe Baker
7. Survey Junkie
8. Theta Mom
9. Mommy Has to Work
10. Pure Imagination

Tricky Trivia

What was the first Lifesaver flavor?

Take a guess in the comments below!

Fabulous Food Friday With Mama Bird’s Nest

Welcome to my first Fabulous Food Friday featured Blog! While exploring the blogosphere, I realized that there were many great recipes to share. So every Friday, I am going to try to feature an awesome blogger with their great recipe!

Today’s feature blogger is Kat from Mama Bird’s Nest. When you get a chance to swing by Kat’s lovely blog, make sure to check out all her fantastic recipes. While perusing through them, one caught my eye immediately. Al’s Soon To Be Famous Greek Dip. Growing up in Europe, my parents loved finding a great Gyros shop. My mom just loved the Tatziki sauce that was on it. Hopefully, she is reading this and she can add another great recipe to her collection. ;) Below is Kat’s post that caught my eye. Enjoy!




Mama Bird's Nest is your one stop spot for delish family favorite meals!
It is all about everything I love! Food, Family, Party Planning, Gardening, Cupcake & Cake Design, and all things FOOD!!! It's a little bit of this, that and everything in between.

Al's {soon to be famous} Greek Dip is the perfect addition to any party buffet, a great weekend snack, or just a fun app for most any occasion! It is healthy but has alot glitz than a boring veggie plate.

10 oz Sabra Hummus (I love the Roasted Red Pepper)
1 large cucumber, peeled & diced
1-2 tomatoes, diced
4 oz feta cheese, crumbled
Tzatziki sauce (recipe follows)
Layer ingredients starting with hummus and finally topping with the tatziki. Serve with pita chips and fresh veggies. Doubles wonderfully. You can make ahead. DELISH!!

Tzatziki (Greek Yogurt and Cucumber Sauce)
8 oz plain Greek yougart (strained for an hour or 2 to remove excess moisture)
1 large cucumber, peeled, seeded & excess moisture removed
1 t fresh dill
1 T fresh lemon juice
salt & pepper to taste

Toss everything in the food processor and blitz for a minute. Chill in fridge.

Chris Brogan Challenge : Technology That Empowers Me

As I was sitting in a lonely hotel room, waiting for my husband to get out of work, I was searching the web for new ideas for my blog. During my search, I came across a guy named Chris Brogan, author of Social Media 101 and coauthor of Trust Agents. Mr. Brogan had made a list of 100 blog topics that he hoped “I” would write about. Many of his ideas fit me perfectly, while others I’m not really sure what they are. In all my boredom, I decided to challenge myself to write about all 100 of his topics. This won’t be easy, since some of the topics are a big question mark to me, but a little research never hurt anyone. Figuring in the fact that I don’t write real posts on the weekend, this challenge will be 100% successful if I complete it in 20 weeks. So let’s begin…Day Five – Topic Five(So far, so good)!

Society today has nearly immersed itself in technology. It is a normal everyday part of our lives. But does that technology empower you or have power over you? The answer to this question will be different for everyone and you may answer it differently depending on your mood of the day. For example, I think the “fancy” phones that have internet capabilities are amazing and very convenient. It can be very beneficial to have this great resource at your fingertips. However, it is very inconvenient when your husband’s work is aware of his phone’s capabilities and he is expected to answer emails even when out to dinner with the family.

I also think it depends on your age. How amazing is it that there are now navigation systems such as TomToms? This technology will keep us from ever getting lost or having to stop for directions. Unless of course it breaks while we are on a trip. Now you may discover that this technology that had empowered us to travel without a worry, may have taken power away from you. Those of us in the 30-90 year old range, will know that we can turn back to our trusty old maps, but will the younger generations even know how to read a map? Why learn to use a map to navigate when technology does it for us?

There are many arguments for and against technology, but on the whole I think the progress we have made is good. I think the key is to learn to use technology as a tool and not depend on it too heavily. I personally would be lost without my computer. I love to write and blog, but owning a computer for the last 20 years has taken away from my hand’s stamina. I can only write on paper for about 5 minutes before my fingers hurt. I know it is sad, but at least I know if computers disappear, I can still write. I hope that teachers don’t forget the importance of this simple skill. With more and more laptops entering classrooms, I fear writing will become obsolete to teach. Do you think technology empowers us or has the power over us? What piece of technology could you not live without? Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion!

Tricky Trivia

What is a scatologists?

Take a guess in the comments below!

Chris Brogan Challenge : A Community I Love

As I was sitting in a lonely hotel room, waiting for my husband to get out of work, I was searching the web for new ideas for my blog. During my search, I came across a guy named Chris Brogan, author of Social Media 101 and coauthor of Trust Agents. Mr. Brogan had made a list of 100 blog topics that he hoped “I” would write about. Many of his ideas fit me perfectly, while others I’m not really sure what they are. In all my boredom, I decided to challenge myself to write about all 100 of his topics. This won’t be easy, since some of the topics are a big question mark to me, but a little research never hurt anyone. Figuring in the fact that I don’t write real posts on the weekend, this challenge will be 100% successful if I complete it in 20 weeks. So let’s begin…Day Four – Topic Four(keeping up)!

Community is a perfect topic for this week’s celebration. Every year, our community celebrates the Apple Blossoms, by throwing a week long festival. The community comes together for dances, luncheons, a marathon, a carnival, a circus, and of course parades. There are so many activities that I don’t even know all of them yet. I’m fairly new to this area, but each year I learn of new activities that are mainly family oriented. I believe that this festival is not only a good way to bring the community together, but it is also a great place for local businesses and artists to make people aware of their products. This year’s Apple Blossom festival was kicked off with a wine tasting festival on the downtown walking mall. Different vineyards from around the area were there to showcase their wine. And to my kids’ delight, there was homemade kettle corn! And as if it couldn’t get any better, this year’s Grand Marshall is Val Kilmer. I imagine there will be more ladies buying front row seats to the main parade.

I am also proud of how much our community gives back. There are many various charitable groups that make a big difference right here in our own backyard. I have been fortunate enough to participate with several of these groups. Last year I was a part of an all woman’s build with Habitat for Humanity. With the help of some trusty contractors, we were able to build a home for a single mom working hard to give her daughter a better life. For the last few years, I was also able to help the Salvations Army soup kitchen my donating and cooking meals for the homeless. Currently, my friends and I are working to raise money for cancer research with Relay for Life. Although our group is small, the community as a whole has already raised about $73,000! Talk about making a difference! What do you love about your community? Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion!

Recipe Corner: Kettle Corn

Last weekend, my family and I decided to go for a walk downtown to find a wine festival going on. Since we don’t drink wine, we just walked around and checked out the other vendors. My kids found and fell in love with Kettle corn. So I went online and found an easy recipe. Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup unpopped popcorn kernels

Directions

1. Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Once hot, stir in the sugar and popcorn. Cover, and shake the pot constantly to keep the sugar from burning. Once the popping has slowed to once every 2 to 3 seconds, remove the pot from the heat and continue to shake for a few minutes until the popping has stopped. Pour into a large bowl, and allow to cool, stirring occasionally to break up large clumps.

Tricky Trivia

How many average size omelets can an ostrich egg make?

Take a guess in the comments below!

Giveaway: Roslyn’s Closet $20 Gift Card

Welcome to my first ever giveaway! I’m so excited to have a chance to introduce you all to a wonderful Mom, wife, designer, and artist. Jodi Crisp, the brains and labor behind Roslyn’s Closet, is not only a great designer but she is also my wonderful sister-in-law! Here is a little introduction to Roslyn’s Closet from Jodi herself.

"Roslyn’s Closet" was inspired by sheer determination and, of course, from the support and love of my family and closest friends. For the past two years, I have been at home working FULL-time. My job…being a mom of two very young children! We all know that being a mom is a 24-hour job, and how easy it is to forget about our own dreams and passions and push them off to the side. I knew that I had to have something for me in order to be "the best mom I could be," and it had to be something that I enjoyed and allowed me to be creative. So, with a bit of soul-searching, I decided to start my very own line of adorable children’s clothing.

I shop for my kids all the time, and I know what is out there. I was ready to create something that captured the innocence and sweetness of being young. My vision for "Roslyn’s Closet" is to have illustrations that are simplistic and timeless for your little love. All of my illustrations and designs were created with your little love in mind!

"Roslyn’s Closet" recently celebrated our 1 year anniversary and we are so excited with how far we have come in such a short time! We have added many new products to our boutique. Not only do we offer onesies and tees, but we have also included adorable flower hats, personalized name canvases, and super sweet art décor for your little one’s nursery or bedroom. We are so excited to share that our clothing, flower hats, and artwork is being sold across the country and in other continents! Every product you see here is designed, made, and shipped out from our in-home studio.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your business! I have truly enjoyed this experience, and just the idea that my clothing has made somebody smile makes it all worth it.

Jodi has generously donated a $20 gift certificate to one of my lucky readers! My girls have been wearing her clothes for many years so I know you will be completely happy with your purchase.

Mandatory Entry: Visit Roslyn’s Closet and leave a comment about your favorite item.

Bonus Entries: Make sure to leave an email so I can contact you if you win!

1. You may repeat the mandatory entry with another item you would love to have.
2. Be a follower of Between the Lines.
3. Make a purchase at Roslyn’s Closet and leave a comment saying you did (15 entries).
4. Grab my button and leave a link to wear it is placed (10 entries).
5. Add Between the Lines to your Blogroll  and leave a link(5 entries).
6. Visit A Writer’s Road and leave a comment that you did.
7. Become a follower of A Writer’s Road and leave a comment that you did.
8. Comment on another post (1 entry per post).
9. Blog about this giveaway and leave a link (15 entries).
10. Add giveaway to a McLinky and leave link and number on McLinky (10 entries).
11. Visit Jodi's Etsy shop and leave a comment on your favorite item.
12.  Heart Jodi's Etsy shop.

Best of Luck to all that entered.  This giveaway ends May 19th at 10:00 pm.  I received no compensation for this giveaway.  I just wanted share Jodi's Lovely Shop with you!

Chris Brogan Challenge : Should My Town Use Social Media?

As I was sitting in a lonely hotel room, waiting for my husband to get out of work, I was searching the web for new ideas for my blog. During my search, I came across a guy named Chris Brogan, author of Social Media 101 and coauthor of Trust Agents. Mr. Brogan had made a list of 100 blog topics that he hoped “I” would write about. Many of his ideas fit me perfectly, while others I’m not really sure what they are. In all my boredom, I decided to challenge myself to write about all 100 of his topics. This won’t be easy, since some of the topics are a big question mark to me, but a little research never hurt anyone. Figuring in the fact that I don’t write real posts on the weekend, this challenge will be 100% successful if I complete it in 20 weeks. So let’s begin…Day Three – Topic Three (still on track)!

I am embarrassed to admit this, but before writing a response to this topic, I had to do a double check on what social media was. I am new to the computer and blogging world and I wanted to make sure my idea of social media was indeed accurate. Luckily, I was correct in assuming that sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace are all examples of social media. I’m sure there are hundreds more, but I’ll just stick with the ones I’ve heard of. So back to the question at hand, I definitely think it would be valuable for a town to use social media. Where large corporate businesses have the benefit of mass advertisements on TV, radio, and newspaper, local businesses could use free social media sites to promote themselves. These businesses could announce sales or coupons through twitter and Facebook. We all know that sales bring out more customers, but if no one knows about them, they don’t help. On sites, such as Twitter and Facebook, word of mouth could bring many new followers/customers. Having a Facebook fan page for your business, can also help spread the word that your business actually exists. When one person becomes a fan, all their friends on Facebook are alerted. Then if one of their friends becomes a fan, their friends would be alerted. This would begin a domino effect that would bring in more and more people.

Social media could also be helpful in spreading the word of various events that are happening around your town. In the fall, families could be made aware of various pumpkin patches or hay rides. In the winter, those following the town’s Facebook or twitter page could know the best sledding hills or where to visit Santa. In the spring, one quick check would alert you to the various egg hunts going on around your town. And in the summer, you would know about all the camps and recreational activities happening in your area. What other ways would social media be beneficial to your town? Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion!

Tricky Trivia

Who launched the world's first artificial satellite?  Bonus: What year did this happen?

Take a guess in the comments below.

Chris Brogan Challenge : Ways I Embrace My Audience

As I was sitting in a lonely hotel room, waiting for my husband to get out of work, I was searching the web for new ideas for my blog. During my search, I came across a guy named Chris Brogan, author of Social Media 101 and coauthor of Trust Agents. Mr. Brogan had made a list of 100 blog topics that he hoped “I” would write about. Many of his ideas fit me perfectly, while others I’m not really sure what they are. In all my boredom, I decided to challenge myself to write about all 100 of his topics. This won’t be easy, since some of the topics are a big question mark to me, but a little research never hurt anyone. Figuring in the fact that I don’t write real posts on the weekend, this challenge will be 100% successful if I complete it in 20 weeks. So let’s begin…Day Two – Topic Two (still on track)!


As a blogger, you always want to find a way to connect to your audience. At the beginning of your blogging career, it can be a little touch and go. But if you truly listen to your readers’ lovely comments, you can begin to see a pattern of what types of posts they enjoy. When I first started blogging I tried a variety of things. Some ideas that I thought were fun (i.e. Quote of the Day), didn’t get much response. Since my readers weren’t enjoying them, I cut them out. I did discover that my fabulous readers love recipes and trivia, so these two topics are posted daily. On top of that, I also try to have a daily main post that discusses topics on my mind or that attempts to share information. I try to embrace everyone by posing a question at the end of my post and by inviting them in to join the discussion. I also think that it very important to answer comments and return the favor. If my fantastic followers are taking time to read my blog and respond with love, suggestions, or critiques, I think that it is only fair that I do the same. Thankfully, they always have great posts waiting for me to read. By reading other blogs, I not only get to learn more about my audience, but I’m also starting to make online friendships with many wonderful women. What do you do to embrace your audience? Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion!

Recipe Corner: Beef and Bean Chimichangas

When I go out for Mexican food, I usually order the Chimichangas. This is a yummy recipe to use when you can’t get out to a restaurant. Enjoy!  And don’t forget to contact me if you are interested in having your blog and your yummy recipe featured in a Fabulous Food Friday Post. Whether you bake it, sauté it, or just microwave it, send it in! Share your yummy food and you may find yourself with new visitors. Please email me directly if you are interested. (betweenthelines-kam@hotmail.com )

Ingredients

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 3/4 cup chopped onion
• 3/4 cup diced green bell pepper
• 1 1/2 cups whole kernel corn
• 2 cups taco sauce
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 (16 ounce) can refried beans
• 8 (12 inch) flour tortillas
• 1 (16 ounce) package shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• 1 tablespoon butter, melted
• shredded lettuce
• 1 tomato, diced

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat. Drain excess grease, and add the onion, bell pepper, and corn. Cook for about 5 more minutes, or until vegetables are tender. Stir in the taco sauce, and season with chili powder, garlic salt and cumin, stirring until blended. Cook until heated through, then remove from heat, and set aside.
3. Open the can of beans, and spread a thin layer of beans onto each of the tortillas. Spoon the beef mixture down the center, and then top with as much shredded cheese as you like. Roll up the tortillas, and place them seam-side down onto a baking sheet. Brush the tortillas with melted butter.
4. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown. Serve with lettuce and tomato.

Tricky Trivia

What are the three most popular seasonings found in American homes?

Take a guess in the comments below!

Chris Brogan Challenge : How I use Facebook

As I was sitting in a lonely hotel room, waiting for my husband to get out of work, I was searching the web for new ideas for my blog. During my search, I came across a guy named Chris Brogan, author of Social Media 101 and coauthor of Trust Agents. Mr. Brogan had made a list of 100 blog topics that he hoped “I” would write about. Many of his ideas fit me perfectly, while others I’m not really sure what they are. In all my boredom, I decided to challenge myself to write about all 100 of his topics. This won’t be easy, since some of the topics are a big question mark to me, but a little research never hurt anyone. Figuring in the fact that I don’t write real posts on the weekend, this challenge will be 100% successful if I complete it in 20 weeks. So let’s begin…Day One – Topic One!


When I first joined Facebook last year, I knew very little about it. From what friends had told me, it was a social network that allowed you to connect with your friends, share pictures, and chat online. I had no idea that you could play games, share videos, and create or follow fan pages. Although I would love to say I do something fabulous with Facebook, like market my own Etsy shop or promote my new best -selling novel, I really only use it to stay connected with my friends. I know that sounds rather dull and boring, but I have reconnected with so many friends of the past that it is actually pretty exciting. When my family left Germany (Military family) in 1992, I never imagined that I’d see or hear from any of my grade school friends again. But with the help of Facebook, and a very dedicated Gymnastics coach, I have reconnected with nearly all my close friends from Germany. It is fun to reminisce, but it is also great to see how everyone has changed, what career path they’ve taken, and all the beautiful babies they have brought into this world. Facebook has also helped me reconnect with high school friends that I had lost touch with during college and it helps keep the day interesting with my current friend’s daily status updates. How do you use Facebook? Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion!

Recipe Corner: Fast and Easy BBQ sausage

I’m always faced with days where I’m am running around like crazy and don’t have time to think of dinner. I have a handful of quick and easy dinners that are always on stand-by for those particular days. BBQ sausage is so easy to make and you really only need 2-3 things to make it. Hope you enjoy!  And don’t forget to contact me if you are interested in having your blog and your yummy recipe featured in a Fabulous Food Friday Post. Whether you bake it, sauté it, or just microwave it, send it in! Share your yummy food and you may find yourself with new visitors. Please email me directly if you are interested. (betweenthelines-kam@hotmail.com )

Ingredients
- Sausage (I use Hillshire Farms horseshoe shaped Turkey Sausage)
- 1 bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce
- Rice or baked potato

Directions
- Slice sausage and cook on medium high heat until cooked through
- If you are not using Turkey sausage, drain off the grease
- Add BBQ sauce and simmer on medium heat for 20-30 min.
- Meanwhile, cook your rice or baked potato
- Pour sausage over the rice or potato
- Serve with your favorite veggie and dinner roll for a complete meal!

Tricky Trivia

Do snakes lay eggs or give birth to live young?

Take a guess in the comments below!

Silent Sunday

We just got our confirmation for the Disney Beach Club!  We are so excited to be going back!

That shipwreck is actully a slide.  This awesome pool has a lazy river, sandy bottom, and a whirlpool!

                                                          Ariel was there to greet us!

                                                             That is one big butterfly!

They love coloring and playing with stickers while we are in the room.

If you ever get a chance to go, don't miss the yummy character breakfast right in the Beach Club Lobby.