This post brought to you by ZzzQuil. All opinions are 100% mine.

I occasionally suffer from insomnia and very few things make me more nuts than getting in to bed and staring at the ceiling trying to go to sleep. You know how it is…you’re thinking “If I go to sleep right now, I’ll get 7 hours of sleep!” Then the countdown begins:  “Ok – if I fall asleep NOW, I’ll get 6 hours”, and on and on it goes.

The people at ZzzQuil sent me a “relaxation package” which included a free sample of ZzzQuil.  The other night that old insomnia reared it’s ugly head and I decided to give it a try! ZzzQuil is brought to you by the makers of Vicks NyQuil. The people at Vicks probably know that people have been using their other Quil products for years as a sleep aid and cam up with a solution.  It’s not for colds, it’s not for pain, it’s just for sleep. It is available in both Liquicaps at well as a Warming Berry liquid.  I chose the Warming Berry

The taste wasn’t bad (although slightly sweeter than I expected) and it really did warm up in my stomach. ZzzQuil  isn’t a “knock you out cold” sleep-aid.  I would say that it took me about 30 minutes to feel drowsy and soon I was in La-La Land.  Best of all, when I woke up in the morning I was felt completely refreshed and didn’t have the groggy feeling you often have after taking medicine.

ZzzQuil is intended for adults and children 12 years of age and older. It is non-habit forming as well as safe and effective when used according to package directions. The active ingredient is diphenhydramine HCI, which helps reduce the time it takes for you to fall asleep when you have difficulty falling asleep.

If you ever need help getting to sleep, give ZzzQuil a try! Don’t forget to Like ZzzQuil on Facebook and let them know you think! You can also follow ZzzQuil on Twitter (don’t forget to use the hashtag #ZzzQuilNight)

(If you can’t see the above video, click here to view it)

Yesterday I made my first video ever of my daughter for my website.  Considering how much she “got in to it” without me coaching her (or her friend) AT ALL, it may be the first of many!

If you have a little girl who watches the “kids channels”, you may have heard of Shmoozees.  They are the new hot toy from Jay@Play and they are just adorable!

Shmoozees are cute little animals (with a mohawk….I guess to give them an “egdy look”?) that come in your choice of 6 colors/styles and are more than just another stuffed animal!  You can glam them up with Ear Resistible charms (set of 4 included with your purchase) that go in their ears.  You can also have your little girl use the Shmoozee as her own personal earring rack! Even cuter, when you turn out the light, the ears (as well as the eyes, nose & mouth) glow in the dark!

Shmoozee even has it’s own online gaming portal!  Each Shmoozee can be given its own name or you can have a name chosen for you at using the Name Generator tool.  You can continue with the Shmoozee fun online with music and games at www.iluvshmoozee.com.

Shmoozee is running a super fun contest for all their fans! Upload and share your Shmoozee inspired video throughout May and June and WIN!

• Grand prize: $500 CASH
• First prize: $250 CASH
• Second prize: A complete set of Shmoozees ($60 value)
• AND lots of Shmoozees will be randomly given away throughout the contest!

These thing are so cute so be sure to enter the contest. Be creative. Make it fun. Involve your kids. Sing a song. Do a dance. Host a Shmoozee fashion show showing your earring collection.

And to get your own Shmoozee, just head to the Shmoozee site and use the code: Mom’s Need To Know to get FREE shipping. With the current Buy 1 Get 1 Free promo, that means that you get 2 for $19.99 Shipped!

This post was sponsored by Shmoozee.  All opinions are completely my own.  My daughter is too stubborn to ever act on video any way but authentically (and her friend clearly has a future in acting)! Read my disclosure policy.

When I think of Spring, not only do I think of Spring Cleaning, but I also think of changing things up in the house!  After being cooped up in the house all winter staring at the same furniture, accent pillows, bedspread, etc…I seem to ALWAYS change something each spring!

The Happy Chic by Jonathan Adler collection at JC Penney includes everything from furniture to bedding to kitchen decor and so much more. I’m loving the clean lines combined with the bold colors.  I have a “thing” for blue, so the bedding set above is definitely on my wish-list! (I even like the headboard, which they also sell, but we just spent a small fortune on a bedroom set about 3 years ago, so that may be a bit of a “hard sell” with Brad!)

We ended up getting a new sofa over the winter.  It was actually a hand-me-down sofa from a friend, but the sofa that we had just DIED.  While it was very generous of our friend to give it to us, there is only 1 problem:  it is a beige sofa…in a room with cream-colored walls…and beige hardwood floors.  We need a Pop Of Color! Enter these throw pillows:

Did I mention that I love the color blue?

How would you like to win a $250 gift card to JCPenney to get some Jonathan Adler goodness for yourself? Shopcade is giving one away!

Shopcade, is partnering JCPenney to promote the new Happy Chic by Jonathan Adler collection – and they’re giving away a $250 gift card to JC Penney! Head over and enter!!

Never heard of Shopcade? Shopcade is a personal shopping app that brings relevant deals directly to users based on what they want – think Pinterest with direct shopping and saving capability. Invite friends, earn credits for shopping just by liking your favorite pieces, unlock special discount codes and more!

Head to Shopcade to enter (and let me know if you win!)

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Shopcade. I did receive compensation for this post, however, all opinions are my own. Please read my disclosure policy

When it comes to cleaning, one of the things I hate cleaning most is my oven. While my oven is self-cleaning, I dislike running that cycle – it takes hours to complete and it runs so hot it heats up the entire first floor of the house. That seems like an awful lot of time and energy to spend when my oven needs spot cleaning.

Easy-Off is the #1 oven cleaner and for good reason.  It has a powerful formula that cuts through baked on grease and food spills (like the lasagna or pie that bubbled over and is now baked to the bottom of your oven, stinking up the house the next time you turn on the oven!). I’m a big fan of buying as few different products as possible, but when it comes to cleaning the inside of the oven, you usually need something more powerful.  With 5 times more grease-cutting power than the leading all-purpose cleaner, Easy-Off can be your ideal oven-cleaning solution!

Most people think that you can’t use oven cleaners on self-cleaning oven, but that thinking has changed.  Easy-Off Fume-Free is safe to use in self-cleaning ovens, requires no heat and cleans without emitting any caustic fumes.

Of course, Easy-Off is still available in the original version.  Easy-Off Heavy Duty Oven Cleaner cuts through the toughest grease in less than 5 minutes! There is even Easy-Off BBQ Grill cleaner.  With summer coming, this could make cleaning up after “burger night” a breeze.

We are all looking for things to make our life easier and have more time with our families.  Easy-Off doesn’t want you to spend unnecessary time cleaning your oven because “Life is better when the cleaning’ s EASY.”

I received coupons and compensation for this post but as always, all opinions are completely mine. You can read my disclosure policy here

This post brought to you by Dollar General. All opinions are 100% mine.

Did you get the P&G Brand Saver that was in the newspapers on November 25, 2012?  With all of the Black Friday ads, you may have missed it but if you did and you still have the newspapers, you will want to grab it!  The coupons are valid through 12/31/2012 and there are over $50 in coupons in that insert alone!

The Proctor & Gamble Brandsaver insert is often your 1 chance each month to get coupons for brands like Luvs, Tide, Pampers, Gillette, Crest and more.  It usually comes out either the first or last Sunday of each month (depending on which is closest to the 1st of the month) and the coupons are good through the end of the next month. Oftentimes there are some sweet high-value coupons in there, like $5 off Gillette Fusion or Buy 1 Get 1 Free Pantene, Herbal Essences or Head & Shoulders! It’s important to know that the P&G Brandsaver follows a different schedule than other inserts.  While you may be conditioned to think that there won’t be any inserts on a holiday weekend, the Brandsaver WILL be in the newspapers if it is close to the beginning or end of the month!

In case you didn’t know, you CAN use coupons at Dollar General and there are a wide range of  P&G brands at Dollar General. They carry the popular P&G brands such as Pantene, CoverGirl, Luvs and more at everyday low prices – no waiting for a sale! Grab the Proctor & Gamble Brandsaver coupons and take them to Dollar General to really increase your savings!

This post brought to you by Clorox Bleach Dollar General. All opinions are 100% mine.

In a world of shrinking sizes (but not shrinking prices) at the grocery stores, Clorox Liquid Bleach has come out with a new smaller bottle.  The size of the bottle may be changing, but the number of uses certainly hasn’t! The new smaller bottle is both easier to store and easier to handle.  With the new thicker formula there is much less splashing!

Clorox Liquid Bleach is a “staple” in our house.  With 3 children, I am always needing to bleach socks and shirts or just clean up their messes.  Clorox has always been an inexpensive way to clean and disinfect not just the laundry, but toys and even bottles (when my children were younger).

One of my favorite uses for Clorox Liquid Bleach is my weekly “shine my sink”. We have a white solid-surface sink and it gets stained very easily.    I simply fill my kitchen sink with hot water to the brim and pour in about 1/2 cup of Clorox (or 1/3 cup with the new concentrated formula).  I let the “bleach water” sit for about 30 minutes, then drain the sink and it is sparkling white (as well as germ-free!).  FYI – this technique is also safe for stainless-steel sinks.

The new smaller bottle and concentrated formula is available in not only the classic scent, but also in Clean Linen, Meadow Fresh, Lavender and new and improved Lemon Fresh

You can find many of these new concentrated Clorox Bleach varieties at Dollar General.  As a reminder, it may be a smaller size, but there are still the same number of uses in that bottle! Don’t forget that Dollar General does accept manufacturers coupons – look for them in your Sunday paper!

Summer is almost here…my children will be done with school by the middle of next week and our whole routine will be changing. The kids will want to be snacking more and we will be running around to places like the pool, the beach and even a cruise this summer.  While my daughter enjoys many healthy snacks like fruit, yogurt, etc, my two boys are all about the junk food (and it is starting to show with my oldest).  One of my goals this summer is to get everyone (including myself – I have to bring back my 55 To Fit series!) eating more healthy and getting more exercise!

We are slowly cleaning out the pantry of all the junk food and bringing in more healthy snacks, keeping more fruit in the house as well as yogurt, rice cakes, organic granola bars and more.  The kids aren’t thrilled about it, but since they can’t drive themselves to the grocery store to buy the “junk”, they will just have to adjust! Walking the dog is no longer just a 5-10 minute.  Brad and I have been grabbing at least one of the kids with each walk and turning it in to a 15-25 minute walk.  It gives us some “alone time” with each of the children and sneaks in some exercise.

Here are a few Tips that Dannon Oikos and Keri Glassman have put together to help you live a healthy lifestyle this Summer.

• Every Meal Is A “Monday Morning”. Focus on eating better, one meal at a time. Otherwise it can be easy to get discouraged – forget the worry! Your only mission: Make the next meal you eat nutritious, balanced and satisfying.
• Don’t Eat Around A Craving. Honor your craving with a conscious indulgence – take a few deep breaths and find a healthy alternative! Try satisfying your sweet tooth with Dannon Oikos® Greek nonfat yogurt, it is nutritious but still has an incredible taste.
• No-Excuses Exercise. Sometimes the biggest barrier to working out is just getting there so a good option can be to make it as easy as possible—throw in a workout DVD or even going for a walk takes away excuses and gets you moving!
• Satisfying Proteins. A moderate-protein balanced diet with a reasonable amount of fiber, carbohydrates and the appropriate amount of healthy fats is the best way to maintain a healthy weight. Dairy is a great source of protein, try a creamy Greek nonfat yogurt like Dannon Oikos®–it has twice the protein of regular lowfat yogurt (Oikos Greek Nonfat yogurt has 12 -14g Protein (24%DV) while regular lowfat yogurt: 5g protein (10%DV) per 5.3oz.).

Be sure to check out the Dannon Oikos Grab a Spoon ’til June Page for exclusive tips from Keri Glassman on how to help achieve a balanced diet; your weight management goals, exercise ideas, motivational messages to keep one on track, nutritious recipes and more! You can also check out the Dannon Facebook Page for details on Dannon Oikos Yogurt.

I have partnered with Dannon to help promote the Dannon Oikos Greek Grab a Spoon campaign. I have been compensated for my time commitment to the program, which includes writing about the promotion and product. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments.

With 3 children (and all their friends at our house constantly) as well as a dog, our carpets get quite the workout.  It seems that I am always running the vacuum to “stay ahead of the dirt.  We even have a professional service come in once a year to clean the carpets. I thought I was doing a pretty good job of keeping the carpets clean.

Bissell invited me to take the White Sock Test and I just knew that my carpets would pass the test!  Wearing one of the socks that they provided me, I twisted and ground my foot in to the carpet for about 30 seconds.  When I lifted up my foot to look at the bottom, I was SHOCKED at how dirty the sock was (especially since it had only been about 5 months since the last time we had the carpets cleaned). Seeing that sock set me in motion…I immediately started moving furniture in the family room to put the Bissell Lift-off Deep Clean to work.

I’m happy to say that, once the carpet was dry, I repeated the test with the other sock they gave me and that one came up clean.  I realized that, even with almost daily vacuuming and yearly cleanings, the dirt can just accumulate too quickly and I need to be more diligent about keeping my carpets clean.  With the Bissell Lift Off Deep Clean Cleaner, I can do more regular cleanings on my schedule (no more having to pull the furniture out of an entire floor and wait around all day for a service to come).  Even better, the “Lift Off” part of the name is a portable spot cleaner that can be used for stairs, upholstery or even your car interior. I plan to use that to clean my car this weekend (no need to do the sock test in my car – I KNOW it’s filthy!)

Product Features of the Bissell Lift-Off Deep Cleaner

• The Lift-Off Deep Cleaner is two machines in one full size deep cleaner for entire room cleaning, plus portable spot cleaner for hard-to-reach areas
• Built-In Hot Water Heater, 12 row Dual DirtLifter PowerBrushes, and Surround Suction
• Portable Spot Cleaner removes deep down dirt & stains from upholstery, stairs, and car interiors.
• Built-In Hot Water Heater Continuously heats tap water for maximum cleaning effectiveness.
• Ready to Use hose, Tough Stain Tool and Crevice Tool

Take the White Sock Test and you could win a $15,000 Home Makeover!

If your home is in need of a makeover, you can enter to win just by uploading photos of your own White Sock Test to BISSELL’s contest page on Facebook. You can then return to the page daily for a chance to instantly win a BISSELL cleaning product or a $25 Visa gift card.

How did your carpets do in the White Sock Test?

Bissell sent me a unit to review and compensated me for my time. My opinions are 100% my own…always have been, always will be.