Friday, August 30, 2013

Fun Friday Flash Giveaway! Ends at Midnight EDT!

It's time for a fun Friday Flash Giveaway!

One lucky person will win $20 eGift Card* or $20 Paypal!


Down South Savings has teamed up with a fabulous group of bloggers to sponsor this fun six hour flash giveaway so that you can have a little extra something to spend on something fun! Make sure to stop by and say hello to all of these wonderful bloggers on their sites!

This giveaway will only be live on Aug. 30, 2013 from 6pm to midnight EST! Open to US & Canada** (Canadian winners will be paid via paypal in USD)
It's super easy to enter and there's not a ton of entries to do so go and enter now!

Let's Go To The Fair!

It's that time of year again! Kids are all heading back to school and we are finally getting ourselves back into a somewhat normal routine. Grocery lists have shrunk enabling us to put a little money back for the Tennessee State Fair! We have made the state fair a family event for as long as I can remember and it just gets better every year! 

Did you know the Tennessee State Fair has been held every year (with the exception of the 4 year span during World War II) since 1906!! The fair has entertained Tennessee families for more than 100 years. It attracts more than 230,000 visitors annually. 

TSF Apple Pie (homebox-noLottery)

There are some big things going on this year including the Tennessee Two-Crust Apple Pie Contest! (Seriously considering turning my Apple Dumpling Recipe into a pie form for this one!) Winner will receive $500 and the Tennessee State Fair Award! I don't know about you but I could definitely use that to put back into the grocery budget. Teenagers can EAT!

My four teens are most excited about the rides of course! I have yet to see a coaster that they will not get on. While my husband can't wait to get in on all the Funnel Cakes! Who doesn't like funnel cakes right? Me, I'm most excited about the memories to be made with my young family. I hope they will remember these days just like I did when I was a kid at the fair and continue the tradition with their families!

tsf-vendor

This year we plan to make it a day long event. There is so much fun to be had and we simply cannot wait! 

Admission ticket prices are below.

On-Site Tickets – Available During the Fair
Admission Tickets
Adults (19-54): $8
Youth (3-18): $6
Seniors (55+): $6
2 & Under: Free

*Bring any non-winning Tennessee Lottery ticket to the gate to receive $2 off one adult admission. (I have PLENTY of those!) 
 You can purchase your tickets online, on site, or at participating Kroger locations.

Unlimited Ride Wristbands: $25
The Fair starts Friday September 6th and wraps up Sunday September 15th so make A day of it! I hope to see you there enjoying the great music and fun in the sun!


Thursday, August 29, 2013

Never Go Down Without A Fight: One Mom's Struggle to Fight CPS

Many people don't know a whole lot about my personal life. I normally keep things quiet and just post my reviews and go on about my day. I started this blog to do coupon match ups but quickly found that I liked doing reviews and hosting the amazing giveaways. It pretty much keeps my mind occupied from the struggles I face and have faced daily the past 4 years.


 Four years ago (next month) I lost custody of my then 8 year old daughter. She had gone to her Dad's for a 2 week summer visit in July of 09. I let her go a few days early simply because we weren't doing anything big here at home, however I told them that she would probably be needing a visit to the the Dr by the next morning because she had just gotten into some poison ivy and it would probably be spread by the next morning, but if they were willing to take her, then she could come early. The two weeks came and went and I didn't hear much from anyone. They had taken a trip to Panama City Beach so I didn't want to interrupt their vacation. On the day it was time to come home, I called to see what time we would be meeting when I was informed that we wouldn't be meeting. I was told that after my daughter had arrived at her Dad's home she had a bruise on her butt and he had called CPS 2 weeks prior stating that she had been whipped at my house. He told me that the worker (whom had yet to contact me) stated that he didn't have to return her until she met with me, (even though she had 2 weeks to do so already). Furious does not even begin to explain it.

Fight CPS photo:  NCJFCJsNationalConferenceonJuvenileandFamilyLaw.jpg


I immediately started calling this worker. No answer. I hung up and called again and again until she answered. She was nowhere near pleasant to say the least. She had already made her assumption without ever meeting me. We were informed that we would have to meet with her in her office so she could question everyone in my home before my daughter was allowed to come home. I have 3 older children as well. To make a long story short, we went to the meeting, she had my ex husband go file paperwork on me so he still wouldn't have to return her until a court date the following month. We broke for lunch, I went straight to the court house that he just left, had them serve me with the papers and went back  prepared. When she told me that the judge had just signed a paper stating that my daughter could stay with her Dad until court, I presented the copy that I had just been served with. It had nothing more than "his story" and was signed by the clerk with a court date. When I told her I WAS taking my daughter home with me that day, she was PISSED. She wasn't prepared for me to be thinking ahead and have this information. I took my child home and we waited. In between this time and time for the court dates CPS came to my home numerous times. Her bad attitude still existed and mine did as well. She didn't come at me with one ounce of attitude that she didn't get 10 ounces in return.  I was determined to take no shit from this woman what-so-ever. These are my children and I would NOT let her take them from me.

Fight CPS photo:  n743837164_2389931_9893.jpg

The big court date finally came after being put off numerous times and I just knew that it would go okay. I had medical records stating from when they had taken my Daughter to the ER the next morning for the poison ivy and given a steroid shot in her butt, that there was no abuse reported. This worker approached the Judge and told her that my daughter was whipped in my home and my daughter also told the same. The CPS worker told my attorney that the only thing they would agree to was to let my daughter go to her Dad's OR they would take my boys and place them in foster care and I wouldn't know where they were. If I would just agree, then my boys would stay with me and I would know where they all were. With that said, my daughter was gone. I asked them to drug test my ex husband before allowing this custody change. They did. He failed but was still allowed to take her. The medical records were not allowed to be seen.

Fight CPS photo:  PruGowardMinisterDepartmentCommunityServices-ChildDeaths.jpg

Now throughout the next 3 1/2 years my Daughter started telling me little details here and there about court, even though the Judge advised her not too. Of course I appealed and appealed and nothing went in my favor. My daughter told me that her Dad's girlfriend was good friends with the CPS worker as the Dad's g/f had worked in the Juvenile Clerks office in a different county but knew her from there. She also stated that she was promised horses, go-carts, dogs, etc, if she would just say that she was whipped at my house causing a bruise. Now living in the middle of (almost) downtown Nashville, there is no way he could have fulfilled the promise of a horse or a go-cart. They DID get her a dog but as soon as court was over she said they got rid of that. In between this time her and her Dad had moved in with 2 different girls basically overnight. The g/f that helped him get custody was old news to him so he left her and the next few days had another one. That lasted no time and he was back with the original. More recently he did the same thing again but back to square one yet again. For 2 years, every other weekend, I had to treat my Daughter's head for head lice, even though luckily no-one in my home ever got it, we still got the blame for her lice. This was reported in numerous emails and court documents, but not one time brought up in court by anyone.

But back to the beginning of 2013. I hadn't seen her Dad at all while exchanging for visits in almost 5 months. It was the "flavor of the week" that always met me. So while we were waiting on them one day my Daughter was mad. She didn't want to go home, b/c she kept telling me the g/f was being mean to her calling myself and my daughter bitches and other nasty names. She claimed that the girlfriend was locking her in her room at night and she would have to bang on the door for a long time in the mornings to get someone up to let her out for school. I told her that I would attempt to call her Daddy and inform him but I had no direct number. I HAD to go through the g/f and her response was ALWAYS "he's asleep but I'll have him call you" He never did. But as she was getting out of the car, she said "Mama, I'm sorry, but you know all that time we spent in court, I lied about it all because they made me. They promised me all this stuff and made it sound really good and told me that I HAD to tell  the Judge I was whipped at your house or I would be in big trouble." 

Now in between the time she was taken until now she had actually told a counselor that was court ordered to come to my house that she wanted to be with me but stated she couldn't tell her Daddy because "he would get mad." The counselor documented this but the Judge and the CPS worker, as usual would hear nothing of it just as they wouldn't with the medical records. They also wouldn't hear of the challenges the Counselor had with said CPS worker. Even though it was a signed and notarized document by a counselor THEY recruited into my home, they refused to allow it in court. The counselor was in court but was never allowed to speak on the stand.

Fight CPS photo:  MyownexperiencesandresearchFORHUMANRIGHTS.jpg

Immediately after she told me this, I went home and documented it all. The next morning, I called CPS on them, reporting everything that she had stated, including the verbal abuse, food stamp fraud, since they lived together but he adds his address as apartment B and they both draw food stamps from the same house. There is no apartment B. Needless to say they worked with the previous CPS worker, case thrown out AGAIN! I went and filed another court petition. I made my way into court, and lo and behold there sits the same Judge. he snapped on me. He told me that I kept filing all of these petitions and it was going to stop! As I was about to leave, I turned to see the BEST attorney in my county and asked her to please consider taking the case. She knew the case well and agreed. I met with her a few days later. Her first words were, "We HAVE to get this moved to another Judge" And she did. For this I am forever grateful. 

My daughter is now 12 and is sick to death of her Dad's actions. She has several overnight bags that she keeps her very favorite things in. When I asked her WHY she always had those same bags with the same things in them, her response was , because I never know from one day to the next where I will end up at with my Dad and since I have stuff at 2 different ex girlfriends house, I want to make sure to keep this stuff. We now have a new court date coming up on September 10th with a new Judge and no CPS workers. Definitely got my fingers crossed for a good outcome. My Daughter has made it very clear that she was made to lie by her Dad and his Girlfriend. She puts it in letters to me, she writes it in notes on my phone and iPad. She has stated numerous times now that her Dad will work his way around things, including drug tests. They are now living with the ex husbands Mother but the Dad continues to see the ex girlfriend and another girl according to my daughter. There are many nights that he doesn't come home, leaving her there with his parents.

Shortly after drafting this post, I received a text message from my daughter. She stated that when she returned home from her last visit with me, her Dad asked her if she wanted to live back with me and she said yes. She said that he told her he was going to let her, but he just had to make sure it was ok with the Judge on our court date coming up. I'm not sure if he is intimidated by the fact the he has no Judge on his side now, but rather a Judge that is unbiased, and looking at the case from the beginning, medical records and all, or if he is just tired of not being able to live the free life that he wants, but  either way, I want the day of court to proceed as it would have. I want the Judge to hear my daughter say she was made to lie. I want CPS and DCS to know that it's not okay to take one child from the home, leave 3 and call abuse, all because she is allegedly friends with a party involved. I personally am not a fan of the Department of Children's Services. Especially not in this little town. When all is said and done, I will tell the FULL story to anyone that will listen. News media, newspapers, you name it. I will attach all of the notes made throughout this four year period and let everyone know that you do have rights when it comes to dealing with DCS or CPS.

Fight CPS photo:  NSWSupremeCourtWelfareServiceAdoptionCorruption.jpg

My biggest piece of advice... If they ever come knocking on your door, do not let them in your home without an attorney/officer WITH a search warrant, or some other unbiased party there! You do not have to be rude about it, but you can simply call and have an officer come to your home. You DO have rights!

Record every conversation! I put a note on my door that simply stated anything you say or do in this home could be recorded. I do have a camera in my home now that records video and voice. I personally use it as a surveillance camera but in the event DCS ever comes back to my home, it will be used to record their entire visit and they will be warned ahead of time by a note on the door.

Get a GOOD attorney. Court appointed is not going to help you most of the time. I don't care WHAT you have to do to come up with the money, sell your car, your boat, whatever! I'd much rather lose a boat or a car than my child. 

Trust me when I tell you, DCS is NOT your friend! They will kill you with kindness many times and tell you anything you want to hear just to get something to use against you in court. DO NOT ever think they are on your side. They are going to make you do their bullshit psych evals, sign medical release forms to ALL of your Dr's giving them access to every appointment you have ever been too, etc. My Psych eval was a crock. It ONLY came about after I appealed the courts time after time. They said my mental stability was in question for me to keep appealing this case. I walked in and had to look at ink spots on paper and tell him what they were. They were freaking ink spots! Yeah some of them looked like certain characters, some of them looked like nothing more than what they were. I had to draw a house, a person (I'm no artist so my person looked like something from Star Trek and of course, that was used against me).

The Psychologist that done my eval was upset with the DCS worker. He said he would probably not ever get paid for the eval b/c of how she submitted it. She submitted wanting MY insurance to pay. I called my insurance and told them that it was DCS ordered and they would be paying for it. He also stated that I was one that would help any stranger that ever came to me looking for food, etc. Of course that was used against me in the final paperwork. I'm sorry but I thought being generous and helping others are what we are SUPPOSED to do!

ANYWAYS!!

Give your children a Reverse Maranda Card. Teach them how important it is to keep it with them at ALL times! Instruct them to give this to ANY CPS or DCS worker that comes to question them! For many this may seem like you have something to hide. Call it what you will. After the HELL I have been through, I will NOT let DCS or CPS ever intimidate my children again. They once came and asked my 15 year old son if we ever locked him in a cage?! He said I looked at her like she was a nut and told her no and that I have nothing more to say to her if she can't ask me questions that actually make sense! He left the meeting and sent me a text.

FRONT:

NOTICE TO GOVERNMENT AGENTS

You are hereby informed:

1. I am exercising my right to remain silent.

2. I am exercising my right to speak with my parents now.
Notify them immediately.

I WILL NOT ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME WITHOUT MY PARENTS AND MY ATTORNEY BEING PRESENT

BACK

YOUR INFORMATION!

I lost my job because of this case and the numerous court dates and workers coming to and calling my job. They want you down to nothing and they will stop at nothing to get you there if they get half the chance. I strongly advise that if you have minor children in your home, to learn your local laws regarding DCS/CPS. You may think it will never happen to you. I thought the same thing. You've been warned. Now this is just a basic layout of how my story went. There are hundreds of pages of documents and evidence in this case, which when this case is said and done, will be brought out to my local media.

You may wonder if I am upset with my Daughter. Absolutely Not! She was 8 years old when this started. She was doing what her Dad told her to do all while (according to her) promising her the finer things. I will never be upset with her for this and hopefully once she is home where she belongs and wants to be, we will never have to discuss this again!

NOTE: I am NOT an attorney. Always research your local laws and proceed as you feel necessary when dealing with CPS. This is simply the way MY case played out and how I chose to handle MY situation. You may choose to handle your case completely different. However you proceed, I suggest you research, research, research and never let them get you down. NEVER go down without a fight and you fight with every ounce of energy you have in you!

ALSO I'm not saying ALL DCS workers are this way.

There are LOTs of disturbing statistics regarding DCS here in TN. Here is one article published in June

 You can find great information on many sites including the American Family Rights Association.

Update: Since writing this post, my daughter has written a 4 page letter to the Judge in the case stating that everything about the previous court date was based on lies. She wrote this while at her Dad's home. She admitted that she was 8 years old and had to say whatever they told her to say or suffer the consequences. I have said this time and time again in court, but no one would hear a word of it coming from me. The Dad is still taking her from on girlfriends house to the next. Thanksgiving they stayed with the ex girlfriend, him sleeping in her bed, and the next night they were at the new girlfriends, him sleeping in her bed. My daughter getting pulled right down the middle of it all. Not a good role model for an almost 13 year old girl. Our new court date is now set for Tuesday December 17th, 2013. I hope all goes well and the new Judge will take the time to hear the case in it's entirety unlike the Judge in the past!

JANUARY 7TH, 2014 UPDATE

WE WON!!! 

Since my ex husband decided it was not necessary for him to show in court, imagine his surprise when I showed up at his door (100 miles from my home) with a police officer to get my daughter. She knew I was on the way. She was packed and ready so the minute he called her name, she was at the door, bags in hand. Not only did I get custody back, he lost ALL parental rights until he can "find the time" to come to court and ask for visitation. Even then, due to the instability, and other "issues" the visits will more than likely be supervised. Thank You ALL SO much for all of your comments and support!


Tiny Prints 25% off Sitewide Sale!

 

Now through 11:59pm PT September 3, 2013 take 25% off Any Order at Tiny Prints using Promo Code LABOR13

Click HERE!


Down South Savings receives free products for review purposes, and may sometimes be compensated for posts. Posts may also contain affiliate (marketing) links . All opinions expressed are solely from Down South Savings and were not and will not be influenced by any form of compensation. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” 
Please see the Disclosure Policy for complete details.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Free Blogger Opp: Prize: Height Right™ High Chair + Infant Insert +Tray + Tray Cover


New Event! 
Dates: Sept. 12 – Oct. 2, 2013
Prize: Height Right™ High Chair + Infant Insert +Tray + Tray Cover rv $229.95
Open to Continental US Only
Join HERE and tell them April Wray sent you!

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Willa Skincare Review

Thank You to Willa Skincare for providing me with their products free of charge in exchange for my honest review.

willa natural skincare for girls. start young. stay young.

My daughter, like many other 12 year old girls has recently started suffering from acne. I remember the days and also remember trying anything that anyone told me would work. Toothpaste, alcohol, excessive sun, you name it. With my daughter, I didn't want her putting all of that harshness on her face. I wanted her to have the absolute best line of skin care for girls her age. So I contacted Willa for a review. I had heard many great things about Willa and wanted to give it a shot.

 We received the Start Fresh Foaming Face wash and Face Friendly Clear Face Moisturizer. My daughter, Justice, was very excited to receive the package. I explained to her how to use it and off to the bathroom she went. 


Her problem areas were more around her nose and her chin. She has always had very sensitive skin so when she gets breakouts the areas also get really red. Willa is made from All Natural Ingredients, so I felt good sending her off to clean and moisturize her face with something I knew that wouldn't harm her or do more damage. About a week into use she complained a bit about seemingly more breakouts. I explained to her that will happen with any good cleanser. It had to get in deep and bring the "embedded" dirt and oil to the surface so it was completely normal. Shortly after, it really started to clear up and in turn made her very happy and much more confident! 



Why Willa?

Willa Skincare can now be found at the following retailers if you are like us and just cannot wait for the package to arrive in the mail.


find us at


We are very pleased with the results we have received from Willa Skincare. Finally!, we have found something that works great but very gently on her skin. We will definitely continue use of the Willa Line and hope that you will consider it as well for your young girl!

We will continue to update the post with her after pictures to show you the progress we are making with Willa!

See what all the Buzz is about! 
Socialize with Willa via Facebook and Twitter!

Down South Savings receives free products for review purposes, and may sometimes be compensated for posts. Posts may also contain affiliate (marketing) links . 
All opinions expressed are solely from Down South Savings and were not and will not be influenced by any form of compensation. 
I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” 
Please see the Disclosure Policy for complete details.

Monday, August 26, 2013

Yabbly Great Decisions Giveaway Event Ends 9~9


 Yabbly is an online community of thoughtful people who help each other make great purchasing decisions everyday. They were finalists in SxSW 2013 in the social category and are a top 3 search result in "product reviews" on the iPhone app store. Now we all know how hard it is to get to the top 10 in the eyes of Apple. So that is pretty big news. Get the Yabbly App today. It's free! The Yabbly philosophy is that the best purchasing decisions are made through dialogue with actual people who have made similar decisions recently. They believe that one of the main frustrations about online shopping today is that averaging a bunch of reviews just doesn't cut it, and you're left buying a product and simply hoping for the best. Breakdown on how Yabbly works and you will see why it works for you, you and yes, even you:
   
One of my favorite things about Yabbly is their customer service! The guarantee and answer to all of your questions within 24 hours, all for free. Customer service is very important to me so when I head about the great customer service at Yabbly, I was hooked!

About Yabbly, Inc. Yabbly is a shopping Q&A community where members provide vital, real-time reviews on choosing products that best fit their needs. Yabbly motivates people to help each other pick the best product for them with its 1:1 karma system and is revolutionizing how we connect through shared product experiences. For more information, please visit yabbly.com.

Grand Prize Winner will receive a $300 Amazon Gift Card and Four Additional Winners will each receive a $50 Amazon Gift Card!

Giveaway ends September 9th at 11:59pm, open US and Canadian residents, ages 18+. To enter please use the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck.
Organized by Mom Powered Media: Mom to Bed by 8 and Budget Earth.
Disclosure: Down South Savings did not receive compensation for this giveaway. Facebook, Twitter, & Pinterest are in no way associated with this giveaway. Prize fulfillment and shipping will be handled by MPM.
Would you like to have your products featured in a similar giveaway event? Want to increase your social media exposure before the holiday season? See how we can help! Contact teri@mompoweredmedia.com to see what Mom Powered Media can do for your company!

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Smart Silk: A Luxury Pillow Review

Thank You to Smart Silk for providing me with a pair of their luxury pillows free of charge in exchange for my honest review.

SmartSilk


If you're anything like me, you are kind of attached to your two old pillows. I have had mine for years and they definitely needed a replacement, but I couldn't find another pillow worthy enough! My current pillows are flat to the point I have to fold them in half to get my head off the mattress itself, but they were oh so soft.

Recently I was introduced to Smart Silk. And it took all of 10 seconds for me to toss those old worn out pillows to the curb! While they were still in the plastic I had my head on them, and let me tell you they are comfortable! Lately I had been waking up with headaches every morning, obviously from just not sleeping well and having my head and neck supported. Since using the Smart Silk pillows, I have slept like a baby, err husband. 


How it's made:

We begin with the cozy silk-filled liner that smoothly borders the entire pillow. The all-natural soft cotton outer shell then encases our unique polyester micro gel fiber filling providing you with a very comfy combination for a relaxing night's sleep.

SmartSilk™ Bedding is:   Naturally 100% hypo-allergic - does not trigger feather-related allergic reactions  Rich with the protein sericin - the best choice for those with skin allergies  Inhospitable to dust mites - a great relief to allergy sufferers  Able to wick away excessive moisture - ideal for those affected by night sweats, or mild incontinence  fire retardant - ideal for crib bedding  Resistant to mold & mildew and is one of the strongest natural fibers - durable, long lasting  Light in weight and will not take on body odor - luxurious, soft, comfortable  temperature regulator - gives you warmth when it is cold and cools you down when warm 
The Smart Silk Pillows are certified Asthma and Allergy friendly 

Certified asthma & allergy friendly

SmartSilk™ is the first all natural bedding to be certified asthma & allergy friendly™ by the: Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America and the Asthma Society of Canada.
That alone made me feel better about their products! I don't have asthma, but I do have allergies and many nights I would find myself having a hard time breathing shortly after lying down. I'm assuming now that it was the pillows! Since I have been sleeping on my Smart Silk Pillows, I have not had any breathing issues!  

Smart Silk has many items to choose from including Crib Bedding and their newest addition, Paws n' Silk for your four legged friends! 


Overall I am completely satisfied with my Smart Silk Pillows and will definitely be investing in a set for the rest of my family, including the 4 legged ones!

Socialize with Smart Silk via Facebook and Twitter!

Down South Savings receives free products for review purposes, and may sometimes be compensated for posts. Posts may also contain affiliate (marketing) links . All opinions expressed are solely from Down South Savings and were not and will not be influenced by any form of compensation. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” 
Please see the Disclosure Policy for complete details.

Let's Talk Bums! The Cottonelle Care Routine #ad

Tracking Pixel                        This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Cottonelle.

Ctnl-Brand-Logo


Talking about bathroom habits can be embarrassing but you may be missing out on a better way to get clean. That’s why Cottonelle is partnering with Cherry Healey to get people to talk about the way they wipe.

I have always been a fan of flushable wipes. Not only do they make me feel cleaner, they make the bathroom routine much more pleasant! From the time I my children were born and I bought baby wipes, I figured it only made sense to buy flushable wipes for myself as well. I knew that just a plain dry cloth or toilet paper wouldn't get my babies clean so why would I expect they would get me clean?! I have probably tried every brand of moist wipe on the market. Some were definitely better than others but Cottenelle really takes the cake!



Experiencing is believing. Incorporating cleansing cloths into your bathroom routine may feel weird at first but ultimately, it’s a clean and fresh feeling that leaves you ready for anything.

I have experienced this first hand! I have always been OCD about cleanliness. Whether it be my home or personal care. When I was introduced to Cottonelle Flushable Wipes, I was pleasantly surprised! They weren't really "soapy" like many brands of wipes are. They were just the right amount of moist, and didn't leave a "squeak" feeling after using them. Many times I would use a wet wipe only to have to follow up WITH toilet paper to get the "wetness" from the wipe away. With Cottonelle Wipes, I didn't have that problem. I of course use the Cottonelle toilet paper first and finish up with the wet wipe. There was never a need to reverse that with Cottonelle!


Cottonelle Flushable Cleansing Cloths are now available in a sleek, newly designed, upright dispenser – making it easier for everyone to enjoy the clean and fresh feeling of the Cottonelle Care Routine. The dispenser fits nicely on the back of the toilet and it's a gawky looking box. It's very modern and will fit well into any restroom! The dispenser is very easy to use as well. They don't clump up and come out by the handful, and they also didn't sink back in o the dispenser like my previous brand. i hate to be in a rush and have to flip open the top to re-route the wipes through the box.

P2_Hug


The wipes are very thick and durable as well. One wipe works well vs four or five from my previous brand. Being the frugal mom that I am with my family of 6, that is very important! The thickness is just right. I feel confident that we don't have to worry about the wipes accidentally tearing while in use. That's something none of us want to worry about! Cottonelle has me covered!




Cottonelle Toilet Paper and Cottonelle Flushable Cleansing Cloths are designed to work together for a clean you can feel. Join the conversation on Facebook and try the Cottonelle Care Routine for yourself! I will definitely be changing up my old wipes for the new Cottonelle Flushable Wipes! My Bum has never been fresher!

So what do you think about Cottonelle's new Wet Wipes? Is it something you are willing to incorporate into your bathroom routine? Let us know by joining the conversation on Cottonelle's Facebook Page!


Cottonelle wants to get you talking about your bum and on a better way to clean “down there” by using the Cottonelle Clean Routine. By combining the use of Cottonelle Toilet Paper and Cottonelle Flushable Cleansing Cloths, the Cottonelle Clean Routine is a revolutionary way to keep your bum cleaner.
Are you ready? Don’t be shy! Visit http://www.facebook.com/cottonelle to learn more about the Cottonelle Clean Routine and join the clean routine conversation.
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Cottonelle.

Friday, August 23, 2013

Giveaway! 40 Gift Code from TinySoles Ends 9~2

Welcome to the TinySoles Giveaway Event

Sponsored by: TinySoles

Hosted by: Southern Mom Media 

Adventures of a Midlife Mommy

A great big "Thank You" to TinySoles for Sponsoring this event! 

Down South Savings is pleased to be a part of this awesome event!

TinySoles is an amazing one stop shop for all your child's footwear and accessories needs. They have an awesome selection of shoes from tons of name brands like Geox, StrideRite, See Kai Run, KEEN and more. 

Check out Midlife Mommy's full review HERE.

***Check out the super easy entry form below to get your entries in***

***Prize: 1 $40 eGift Certificate from TinySoles***

***GOOD LUCK***

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Let Southern Mom Media host your next big event! Contact us at SouthernMomMedia@yahoo.com



DISCLAIMER: I was not compensated for this post. Down South Savings is not responsible for sponsor prize fulfillment. 

YOYO Initial Retractable Lip Gloss Review!

Thank You to YOYO Lip Gloss for providing me with their products free of charge in exchange for my honest review. 


I received the Bubble Gum Flavor retractable lip gloss to base my review with the letter A. The glosses are very handy and can be attached to most anything including your purse or belt loop. My daughter prefers to clip mine on to her backpack as she loves to use lip gloss constantly. It smells great and doesn't taste half bad either! :)


They are very stylish too! Everyone that sees it questions us about where we got it. YOYO lip glosses can only be found at Justice Stores so be sure to head on over and snag a few for yourself! My daughter will sometimes joke that it's "her brand" since she too is Justice. Overall she really enjoys the gloss and she is great at PR because she sends all of her friends to our local Justice store to get their own. 

Be sure to check out the YOYO Blog as they have great giveaways going on as well!

Socialize with YOYO via Facebook and Twitter!


Down South Savings receives free products for review purposes, and may sometimes be compensated for posts. Posts may also contain affiliate (marketing) links . All opinions expressed are solely from Down South Savings and were not and will not be influenced by any form of compensation. 
I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” 
Please see the Disclosure Policy for complete details.

$20 Gift Card of your choice or PayPal 6 Hour Flash Giveaway! Ending Midnight EDT 8/23!

It's time for some Friday Fun! It's a flash giveaway!

One lucky person will win $20 eGift Card or $20 Paypal!


Down South Savings has teamed up with a fabulous group of bloggers to sponsor this fun six hour flash giveaway so that you can have a little extra something to spend on something fun! Make sure to stop by and say hello to all of these wonderful bloggers on their sites!

This giveaway will only be live on Aug. 23, 2013 from 6pm to midnight est!
It's super easy to enter and there's not a ton of entries to do so go and enter now! Giveaway ends 8/23/13 at Midnight EDT!

Disclaimer: The participating bloggers were not compensated for this post. We are not associated with any of the companies named above. No purchase is necessary to enter. Void where prohibited by law. The odds of winning are based on the number of entries received Open to US & Canada * (Canadian winners will be paid via paypal in USD), 18+ only. Confirmed Winner(s) (by Random.org) will be contacted by email. Winner(s) have 24 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. The sponsor(s) will be responsible for product shipment to winner(s) of this giveaway. My blog is not responsible for product shipment/delivery. This event is in no way administered, sponsored, or endorsed by, or associated with, Facebook and/or Twitter, Google, Pinterest. This disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Baby Beanbags Review

Thank You to Baby Beanbags for providing me with their products free of charge in exchange for my honest review.



About Baby Beanbags:
Baby Beanbags is an Australian baby products company headquartered in Sydney. Founded by Pediatric Nurse, Rachael Brown the company’s mission is to delight parents and children with high quality, innovative products and outstanding customer service.
Our founding product is the Baby Beanbag, an amazingly comfortable, high quality and innovative seating option for babies. The company constantly develops new designs and seeks other innovative and complimentary products to add to the current collection of Baby Beanbags.

When our newest Granddaughter was born we knew we wanted her to have a beanbag chair but not just any old chair. We wanted the best of the best. That is why we chose Baby Beanbags! They have not let us down!

We chose the Giant Jelly Bean pattern to base our review. The bag came pre-filled with the beans, and included an extra swappable seat cover. This was great in case of a spit up accident, we could easily toss that one in to the wash and replace with the other. 


Now this cutie pie is quiet spoiled to say the least, so we wondered how she would react in the site vs being held. She was napping when we put her in it, and to our surprise, she never woke! The pre-filled beans provide a molding effect around the baby's body to make them feel more secure. I'm thinking she didn't even realize she wasn't being held anymore. She seemed quiet comfortable to say the least. Later that night, I got a text from her Mom and Dad saying she LOVED the beanbag! Now Mom can get housework done and not have to worry about holding her all day. She wasn't sweaty after being picked back up like she is after being in her bed. That's thanks to the Goretex watereproof backing.


You can also adjust the bag for when baby is awake or to feedings. That's also a plus. We can put her carousel toys over top of her in the beanbag now vs a blanket on the floor and she can play comfortably. 

I highly recommend these bags to anyone with a little one! They give you peace of mind that your precious Bundle of Joy is safe and comfortable and allow you a little bit of "me time" throughout the day. 

Baby Beanbags are now stocked in the US through Babyhaven.com with FREE Shipping!

Socialize with Baby Beanbags via Facebook and Twitter!


Down South Savings receives free products for review purposes, and may sometimes be compensated for posts. Posts may also contain affiliate (marketing) links . 
All opinions expressed are solely from Down South Savings and were not and will not be influenced by any form of compensation. 
I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” 
Please see the Disclosure Policy for complete details.



Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Great Deals at Castle Rock Resort and Waterpark in Branson, Missouri!




I recently found out about some great promotions from Castle Rock Resort and Waterpark in Branson, Missouri and couldn't wait to share the details with you all!

Castle Rock Resort and Waterpark is located in beautiful Branson, Missouri. We offer a 30,000 square foot indoor waterpark and 10,000 square foot outdoor waterpark. We also have an on-site restaurant, a 24-hour arcade and gift shop, and day spa & salon.

Our resort features 98 Tower rooms connected to the Waterpark through interior corridors and 102 exterior entrance rooms in the two Atrium buildings located approximately 50 yards from the Waterpark. Each Tower room has a built in Kiddie Cove (6' x 4') with a bunk bed and 19” flat screen tv. Our Tower room accommodations boast 2 double beds or 1 king bed, 32” flat screen tv, mini fridge, coffee maker, iron, ironing board, and hairdryer. Our newly refurbished Atrium rooms boast 2 queen beds, or 1 king bed, a 32” flat screen tv, coffee maker, iron, ironing board, and hairdryer.


Castle Rock offers one of Branson’s best attractions right on-site with our 30,000 sq ft indoor and 10,000 sq ft outdoor waterpark. Our waterpark features 150,000 gallons of splashtacular fun with two 500 gallon dumping buckets, multiple indoor and outdoor kiddie pools with rain showers and waterfalls and more! Enjoy a swim in our indoor lap pool or play basketball in our indoor activity pool. Loop and dip through our 2 large three-story thrill slides, kick back for a ride on the lazy river, play on themed water slides or relax on the multilevel sun deck. 


Special Offers: 

Big Savings Weekday Special - Book your reservation online and receive 30% Off your entire stay! Valid on new reservations only. Not valid in conjunction with any other offers, discounts, promotions or packages. Blackout Dates: 10/13-10/17, 11/28. Offer Expires: 12/19/13

Wet & Wild Weekend Package - Includes 2 nights lodging, waterpark access, breakfast each morning for 2 adults & 2 children, VIP coupons, 1 water blaster, 2 adult & 2 children Branson Wild World VIP admission (includes animal adventure tour, arcade, and mini golf). Package starts at $268, 25% off. On new reservations only. Not valid in conjunction with any other offers, discounts, promotions or packages. Blackout Dates: 8/30 - 8/31, 10/18 - 10/19 Expires 11/2/13

Call 1-888-273-3919 to book or visit http://www.castlerockbranson.com

I cannot wait to book my family trip to Branson! I hope to see you there!


Down South Savings receives free products for review purposes, and may sometimes be compensated for posts. Posts may also contain affiliate (marketing) links . 

Monday, August 19, 2013

Diamond Candle Review and Giveaway

Thank You to Diamond Candle for providing me with their products free of charge in exchange for my honest review.


Diamond Candles is a combination of highly fragrant premium quality soy candles, with an exciting and fun 'ring reveal' experience and a ring to wear for months and years to come! That means making something as boring as burning candles in your home something to look forward to all in one! I chose the Vanilla Cream candle to base my review. I love anything to do with Vanilla and the Diamond Candle brand was nothing short of a great Vanilla scent. 

After lighting it, everyone that walked in thought I was baking. It smells like a fresh sweet treat in the oven. The story behind Diamond Candles is very sweet as well! Definitely worth reading from their "About Us" section of their page. 


One thing I like about the Diamond Candle is that you don't have to guess as to where your ring is. You can see the foil pack inside. It was a good ways down but my house smelled amazing while I patiently waited for the prize to reveal itself at the top. When it finally made it's appearance, this is the ring I found inside! 


Despite the numerous pictures I took, I couldn't get a good quality picture, but the main stone is Violet and it has four "diamonds" on either side. My only complaint is when the ring did surface, it was not wrapped well therefore causing it to be covered with melted soy and look very dull. I'm hoping a good cleaner will take care of that and make it wearable for a little while. Overall, my experience with Diamond Candles was a good one. The scent of the candle is definitely the best part! 

Socialize with Diamond Candles via Facebook and Twitter!


Down South Savings receives free products for review purposes, and may sometimes be compensated for posts. Posts may also contain affiliate (marketing) links . 



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Get Paid To Take Surveys!

Join Inbox Dollars free and get paid to take surverys, shop online, try name brand products and play games online. Great way to start saving for Christmas!


Inbox Dollars

Down South Savings receives free products for review purposes, and may sometimes be compensated for posts. Posts may also contain affiliate (marketing) links . All opinions expressed are solely from Down South Savings and were not and will not be influenced by any form of compensation. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” 
Please see the Disclosure Policy for complete details.

Ace All Stars Sweepstakes! $5,000 Grand Prize!

Ace Sports Bandage Sweeps

"Like" ACE on Facebook and submit story about your allstar to be entered to win $5000 cash and a $5000 donation to an approved charitable organization.

Down South Savings receives free products for review purposes, and may sometimes be compensated for posts. Posts may also contain affiliate (marketing) links . All opinions expressed are solely from Down South Savings and were not and will not be influenced by any form of compensation. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” 
Please see the Disclosure Policy for complete details.

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