Reduce or Prevent Rodents in your home

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Victor Pest. All opinions are 100% mine.

My husband is fond of saying "It can't stay if it doesn't pay rent".  This was especially true of the last house we owned before this one - a lovely home built in the 1920's with a huge unfinished basement that was ripe for mice to come and play in.  As an older home, we knew that we had to be vigilant about keeping the rodent population at bay, and we were forever laying traps and putting out poisons and such, and we've taken those lessons to heart and now are working hard to prevent rodents from getting into our new home.  But, since moving from PA, our lives have changed and we now have Liam and Erik to keep out of the solution - which means no traps that they can catch their fingers in and definitely no poisons or pesticides lying around for them to get into... so how do you keep the rodents at bay?

One of the ways to get rodent control is to use the Victor Ultrasonic PestChaser as part of your arsenal!   

Victor® is recognized as a world leader in the rodent control category andhas been a trusted brand name since 1890. Victor® revolutionized the rodent control market 100 years ago with the invention of the spring-based Victor® Mouse Trap.  Today, we continuously strive to manufacture innovative, quality products that keep your family safe from the dangers rodents pose.  Our current product offerings are targeted to meet the varying needs of you, the consumer!  So, whether you are attempting to prevent a rodent infestation or trying to fight one, there is a product to fit each and every situation.

Preview
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The Ultrasonic PestChaser is:
  • Kinder than traps and safer than poisons and you don't have to dispose of the dead rodents
  • Safe for children and pets
  • tested and verified by third party laboratory research and was granted registration by the Canadian EPA

Righpackage dealt now, Victor has a great package deal for your rodent control - you can get two Electronic Moustraps, 2 mini pest chasers, and 1 2x Pro Pest Chaser for just $99.99 with free shipping!

This package is a great way to monitor and prevent rodent infestations and keep your home safe from 'non-paying' visitors.  Whether you have an issue currently, or like me, want to prevent anything from ever encroaching on my new home, the package is a great deal!  

Victor is a trusted name in rodent control and offers an effective solution to your rodent issues.  You should check out their website for more solutions and information!

Visit Sponsor's Site

Posted by heather@actingbalanced.com at 1/31/2011 | | Comments

We have a Winner and Ending Today!

I am pleased to announce the winner of the January EdenFantasys.com gift certificate, chosen by random.org from the 1341 entrants is:

#580 Beka!

Beka is a gfc follower of Acting Balanced

Beka, you have 48 hours to fill out this form to confirm your prize, or it will be redrawn


Don't forget everyone that the Winter Follower Giveaway Tour ends tonight - if you are already a GFC subscriber and haven't entered, why not???  It's CASH!!!

Also ending tonight:



Posted by heather@actingbalanced.com at 1/31/2011 | Labels: | Comments

Meet Me on Monday

Every week I give you the opportunity to learn more about me as I participate in Meet Me on Monday hosted by Java at Never Growing Old...
Click on the button to check out her answers and the linky of all the other blogs that participate:


Questions: 

1.  What do you put on your hot dog?
2.  Do you play Sudoku?
3.  What is your favorite vegetable?
4.  Do you color your hair?
5.  What is your favorite brand of clothing?
---------------------------------------------------------------
My Answers!

1.  What do you put on your hot dog?
Absolutely nothing other than the bun...

2.  Do you play Sudoku?
Not as much as I used to, but I do the giant sudoku in our Sunday paper... my favorite puzzles are the logic puzzles where you have 5 people doing 5 things at 5 different times wearing 5 different hats...

3.  What is your favorite vegetable?
have to pick just one?  red cabbage

4.  Do you color your hair?
no, but I'm seriously considering starting again... the gray is creping faster now that I have 3 kids

5.  What is your favorite brand of clothing?
I'm honestly not fussy... if you asked what I have most in my closet, it would be Old Navy yoga pants... the mom uniform of choice
Posted by heather@actingbalanced.com at 1/31/2011 | Labels: , | Comments

MMMmonday - Polish Mushroom and Barley Soup and a LINKY

Do you have a theme that you'd like to see for February or should I go back to a free for all approach for MMMmondays?  Speak up and leave your comments below!


This is another yummy soup recipe to round out my soup month here at Acting Balanced... we've gone from freezing to balmy here in SC, but a good soup doesn't go amiss any day...  This one is another gift from Chef Joe at wwrecipes.com


Polish Mushroom and Barley Soup (Krupnik Polski)
Serves 4 to 6.

4 - 6 cups (1-1.5 L) fresh or canned beef stock
1 cup (250 ml) sliced mushrooms, preferably crimini or shiitake
1 cup (250 ml) green beans (haricots), cut into 1" (2 cm) pieces
2 - 3 medium potatoes, diced
1 Tbs (15 ml) butter
1/2 cup (125 ml) barley, cooked according to package directions
2 Tbs (30 ml) chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Bring the stock to a boil in a large sauce pan over high heat. 
Add the mushrooms, green beans, and potatoes. Simmer for 5 to 10 minutes, until the vegetables are tender. 
Stir the butter into the cooked barley and add to the soup. 
Bring the soup to a boil and serve immediately, garnished with chopped parsley if desired.
Posted by heather@actingbalanced.com at 1/30/2011 | Labels: , | Comments

Last call for Handmade With Love Sponsors!



There is still time if you have a home based business making handmade items and are interested in being featured on Acting Balanced as part of 


Handmade with Love


I am currently looking for Sponsors to feature during the 5 day blog hop event!  You will have access to over 2200 of my followers and thousands of other hoppers who will be coming from throughout the blogosphere!


It is scheduled to begin on February 2 at 12:01 am EST and end on February 6 at 11:59 pm EST to give readers 5 days to enter all of the giveaways. 
 
Each blog will host their own giveaway. All the blogs will be linked up through the Handmade with Love Winter Giveaway linky so that readers can just hop from blog to blog. 
 
The theme of the giveaways are handmade products or gift certificates to handmade stores. Any homemade items or stores that sell handmade items can be featured and I would love to feature your work!  There is no dollar limit high or low for this event.

Every sponsor on Acting Balanced who has confirmed their participation by January 15th will be featured in promotional blog posts, facebook messages and tweets in the two weeks prior to the event.

General package guidelines:

Gold Package- Donate a prize of $75 or more. Includes a feature post (300 words) with up to 3 bonus entries for visiting your site, mention with multiple links in all general promotional blog posts (2 minimum), liking you on facebook etc, 2 dedicated Facebook posts on the Acting Balanced Blog page as well as 2 personal status posts linking your business shared with my friends, 4 tweets.  Sidebar 125 x125 button with link for one month.
 
Silver Package- Donate a prize of $40 to $74. Feature post (200 words) with up to 2 bonus entries,  mention with 2 links in all general promotional blog posts (2 minimum), Facebook post on Acting Balanced Blog page, 3 tweets.
 
Bronze Package- Donate a prize of $39 and under. Included in all general promotional posts with 1 link (2 minimum), Handmade with Love Winter Giveaway, Facebook post, a tweet.

I am also happy to work with you on designing a custom sponsorship package.  Email me at heather@actingbalanced.com to discuss your participation!

Posted by heather@actingbalanced.com at 1/30/2011 | | Comments

Review and #Giveaway - Valentines Pillow Pet

oI was sent a pillow pet to review and before I could even open the package, it was claimed, named and taken away by Robyn who claims that her new My Pillow Pet Red And White Valentine Dog is the softest and cuddliest stuffed animal/pillow she has ever had.
My Pillow Pet Red And White Valentine Dog
If you've never heard of pillow pets - they are exactly what they sound like - a cuddly stuffed animal that you can  pull apart to lay flat and make it a pillow.  At 18 inches square, the pillow itself is a generous size.


Robyn really likes the cute heart nose and heart underbelly of her
Valentine Dog and she has named it Ericka... and it now holds a place of honor on her bed.

My Pillow Pets Valentine CatThe beauty of pillow pets is that they span multiple age ranges - from preschool to senior... there's just no denying - these cute Pillow Pets are a great Valentines Day gift, or even better- a just because I love you gift!


You can also find the My Pillow Pet Red And White Valentine Dog's feline companion - My Pillow Pets Valentine Cat, or if the sheer size of the 18" versions are intimidating to you (or you want to surprise a toddler with their own Pillow Pet) then I recommend the Valentine Cat Small 11" or My Pillow Pets Limited Edition Small Valentine Dog- 11"!


You can find these limited edition My Pillow Pets at fine retailers, directly from Mypillowpets.com and Amazon.com or you can win one Limited Edition Valentines Dog here:


Rules:



Giveaway is open to US Residents only
One Mandatory Entry must be completed before other entries count.
Each entry must be made as a SEPARATE COMMENT
Giveaway will end on February 11th, 2011 at 11:59 PM and the winner will be chosen by Random.org and announce on Acting Balanced and contacted by email.
The winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize.

Mandatory Entry:
Visit mypillowpets.com and tell me which Pillow Pet is your favorite.

+ 1 Bonus entry Follow Acting Balanced/Chascouponmom on Twitter (leave twitter name)
+ 1 Bonus entry Follow Acting Balanced on Google Friend Connect
+ 1 Bonus entry Like Acting Balanced on Facebook 
+ 1 Bonus entry Subscribe to Acting Balanced by email (must be completed)
+1 Daily tweet
I want to #WIN a Pillow Pet from Acting Balanced @chascouponmom  ends 2/11 

Disclaimer: I received this product at no cost to facilitate my review.  All opinions are my own.
Posted by heather@actingbalanced.com at 1/30/2011 | Labels: , | Comments

Sunday Family Stories - Where did the time go?

It's been three months since Erik was born - boy has time sure flown by ... he's moving further and further away from that newborn stage and totally emerging as his own little self...

Well, not so little I guess... he's already outgrowing the 6 months size clothes that he started wearing a few weeks ago... guess I'd better not get too attached to any of these cute outfits, and I need to stay vigilant for sales on 9 and 12 months size winter clothes, since the 9 months stuff fits now, but I'm not sure for how long.

Erik is becoming much more like me than Liam ever did - he's a very social kid, perfectly suited to be the never-stay-at-home kid of this never-stay-at-home mom... he flirts outrageously with any woman who coos at him and has started smiling and giggling at so much.

The other thing is that he's a much happier and better sleeper away from home... at home he wants to be held all the time and entertained, but when we go out the world is his oyster and he just soaks in his surroundings.

He still has amazing head control, and is working on his sitting and tummy time activities.  Unlike Liam, he doesn't mind a stretch of 15-20 minutes on his stomach.

As for sleeping through the night, we're not there yet, but as long as mommy heads to bed at 8:00pm when he goes down for his longest stretch, I seem to be a semi-functional human being during the day.

I just can't believe how fast time is flying by, he's growing up so fast

 newborn
 10 days
 1 month
2 months
Last week
Posted by heather@actingbalanced.com at 1/30/2011 | Labels: , | Comments

We have a winner!

I want to thank everyone for their overwhelming support of the Priolosec OTC giveaway... unfortunately, I only have one to give away... so random.org is going to work and choose one entry from the 1777 entries...

#887

Stacy· 1 week ago
Congratulations to Stacy!

You have 48 hours to claim your prize by completing this form - or you will forfeit your prize.
Posted by heather@actingbalanced.com at 1/30/2011 | Labels: | Comments

Saturday Bonus entry

You can use this bonus entry on any ONE current giveaway except the Winter Follower Giveaway (I will delete any on there

SIMPLY SATURDAY

Don't forget that some end today!
Posted by heather@actingbalanced.com at 1/29/2011 | | Comments

Product Review - Boba Classic Baby Carrier

I am pleased to be reviewing the Boba Classic Baby Carrier in Glacier as part of  



PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

  • accommodates children 15-45 lbs / 7-20 kg
  • one size fits most adults
  • front and back carry
  • Boba Organic collection made with GOTS and OE100 certified 100% organic cotton and organic Texas cotton lining
  • Boba Classic collection made with 100% natural brushed cotton
  • Instructions included
  • high density waist and shoulder strap foam
  • removable foot straps for extra leg/hip support
  • high back for better overall support
  • removable hood
What I Love:
I love that this is adjustable and fits me, darling hubby and even Robyn to carry Erik around.  I love the padded straps and waist support - it really distributes my chunky monkey's weight around so that it doesn't center on one part of my body.  I also really like that the carrier itself has a high back which supports and cradles Erik nicely against me.  The organic cotton is really soft and although we've only tried it for front carry, I like that as Erik grows it can be used for rear carry options and the removable foot straps will be good too...

Erik is about 17 lbs now, and is really at a good age for snuggling and being carried around the mall and while we're out walking.  He can easily fall asleep in such a comfy carrier.  I can wear him for quite a long without getting fatigued.  Wayne doesn't feel that the carrier looks too girly either...

It is easy to adjust between users too... the straps adjust quickly, but also stay in place once you set them.
  
What doesn't work for us as well:
Erik is a really social boy and likes to look around a lot, so while the Boba baby carrier was really supportive, it didn't allow him to face forward and watch the world.  I would have liked it if there was a way to do that.

Overall reaction:
This is a great carrier that is both supportive and safe!  If you're looking for a good snuggle with your baby that will grow and allow you to use it as a backpack as he or she gets older, than this is a great carrier option for you!

Where to find Boba: 
You can order directly from http://www.bobababycarrier.com/, or check out their store finder here

The best way to keep up with all the happenings at Boba is to connect on social media:

Boba is on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BobaCarrier
Boba is on Twitter at www.twitter.com/BobaCarrier


Disclaimer: I received this product at no cost to facilitate my review.  I received no other compensation.  All opinions are 100% my own.
Posted by heather@actingbalanced.com at 1/29/2011 | Labels: | Comments

Friday Fragments

I feel like me again for the first time in a long time... Liam started school full time, so Erik and I have been enjoying our freedom by going out every day and meeting my friends from MOMS Club... It really is amazing how much better I feel when I get back into my never-stay-at-home mom routine as opposed to spending more time at home...

I've also learned that Erik is a really social baby - we spent the day at home yesterday and he protested heartily... so we went out again this morning and now he's napping... hopefully at least long enough to get through this post and maybe one more :)

I'm debating about whether I'm going to cook dinner tonight or support Robyn's school and take the fam to Chick-Fil-A for Spirit night... guess we'll see whether I get inspired to cook tonight or feel well enough to venture out with the whole fan-damily for dinner...

Liam is absolutely loving full day school... no transition problems and his teacher actually remarked that he's way more interested in learning after lunch ... so he's engaging in the afternoon activities more than the morning ones - who knew?

Robyn is hitting her teen age angst stride a few months shy of the thirteenth birthday ... and she seems to reserve most of it, and the sarcasm for me... gotta love being a mom of an almost teenager...

No big plans for the weekend, what about you?

Okay, I actually have time to get more written, but the brain is mush... so I'll just send you over to Mrs. 4444's blog for more Friday Fragments fun...


Posted by heather@actingbalanced.com at 1/28/2011 | Labels: | Comments

Five Question Friday

Wanna know a little more about me... i knew that ... so I hooked up with Five Question Friday again... just so you'd know the answers to these five questions... you can share by clicking on the button and linking up, or just leaving your answer to one of them in the comments :)







Questions:



1. If you had $1,000 to donate to a charity, which would you choose?



2. Snow days: Do you welcome them happily or are they a pain in your butt?

3. What talent did you wish you had and why?

4. Are you a news, politics or celebrity gossip junkie?

5. What is your favorite "cocktail"? (Are you a beer person, a kiddie cocktail junkie, or perhaps your more the "Cosmo" kind?! Anything flies...doesn't hafta be alcoholic!)

My answers:


1. If you had $1,000 to donate to a charity, which would you choose?

What a tough question... I'd probably share the wealth...

Autism research/Autism support charities - no brainer there...
Cancer Society - my uncle just past away from colon cancer and my sister in law died from it several years ago... 
Heart & Stroke foundation - especially since my mother-in-law's heart attack, this one has been on my mind
Alzheimer Society - my grandfather has Alzheimer's and it's not a fun disease.
My children's schools 

(Can I have a $1,000,000 to giveaway?)

2. Snow days: Do you welcome them happily or are they a pain in your butt?
Yep... I welcome them, but they are also a pain in the butt... 

3. What talent did you wish you had and why?
I wish I could invent things... cause it would be so cool!


4. Are you a news, politics or celebrity gossip junkie?
Not really any of the three... especially since giving up tv, I read the papers, but tend to skim rather than delve into the news

5. What is your favorite "cocktail"? (Are you a beer person, a kiddie cocktail junkie, or perhaps your more the "Cosmo" kind?! Anything flies...doesn't hafta be alcoholic!)

Diet coke with lime...

Now wasn't that fun?  Why don't you play along?
Posted by heather@actingbalanced.com at 1/28/2011 | Labels: | Comments

Review - Smead Organizers

If you are like me, you've started and abandoned more organizational systems than you care to count... especially when it comes to taxes... Now that tax time is here again, I am rushing around trying to make sure I have everything I need, and the paper is coming in fast and furious - Wayne's W2, the bank interest statements, the mortgage information... it all needs a home, so when I was asked to be part of a review for Smead, i jumped at the chance, because when I looked on their website, the products seemed straightforward and made sense for my needs.


I received two items to review, the Tax Organizer and the Jan-Dec File Organizer.  They are a great combination to keep me on track while I do taxes this year and get me ready for 2011's taxes too!

The Tax Organizer is a stand up product... that's not the endorsement, it's a fact - the tax organizer is designed to stand up on a bookshelf, but can also be easily stored in a file drawer.

It has 6 pockets, pre-made and blank labels so that you can decide how you want to use your organizer and then a tax check list that helps you sort and process all that information.

I really like that it's a simple organizer that I can put to use in my own way - I've decided to organize my tax information annually and use this as a place to keep my return and all of the paperwork associated with it.  I also like that they left me some blank labels so that I can use it the way I want to... The organizer is made of sturdy cardboard that should last for years to come!

Since the Tax Organizer is going to house my annual tax information, I need something that I can use to sort my bills and paperwork monthly, and Smead has the solution for that too...

The January - December File Organizer is a great expanding file that holds up to 900+ sheets of paper and is reinforced so that it won't split under the weight.  It has an elastic cord and a pull over flap so things don't go missing... I think this is really going to help keep me more organized in 2011 and I plan to use it to keep all my bills and medical receipts...

It's a simple thing, but when you're organizing, simple is usually best, at least in my experience... and that's why Smead products are so great!

Smead not only provided me with great tax prep organizers, they also have a really great article on Making Tax Time Easier that gave me some great tips for ensuring we get a great return!

Disclaimer: I received these products from Smead for the purpose of completing my review.  All opinions are my own.
Posted by heather@actingbalanced.com at 1/27/2011 | Labels: | Comments

Winter Follower Giveaway Tour - Subscriber Bonus Entry!

Have you entered my giveaway for $950 Cash? If not, then make sure you do! It’s an easy entry- just follow on Google Friend Connect, and make a comment on the original post here letting me know you are a follower.


How would you like an extra entry into the contest? Today and tomorrow (January 27 & 28 ) we  will be offering a special bonus entry into the $950 Follower Giveaway Tour! In fact, we will be offering a few Bonus Entry days until the date the giveaway ends. All will be easy entries- we promise!
Today and tomorrow, the bonus entry will be to Subscribe to Acting Balanced by Email.  Make sure to verify the subscription.

PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE YOUR COMMENT ON THIS POST. Please leave your comment  that you subscribe by email to my blog on this post, by clicking here.

If you would like to get up to 18 bonus entries, please visit each of the other host’s blogs and subscribe by email.  You get one bonus entry per blog.
Posted by heather@actingbalanced.com at 1/27/2011 | | Comments

Lovable Labels Review, #Giveaway & Coupon Code

I've become a Love Bug!  


What does that mean for you, my blog readers?  


  • Discounts on great labels and personalized products
  • Reviews by yours truly, so you know exactly what you can get
  • Giveaways and contests so you can share my largess!
I guess I should backtrack and give you some background on Lovable Labels:
It is said that necessity is the mother of invention and this proved all too true for Laura Porreca, Owner and President of Lovable Labels. 
When Laura’s first child entered daycare, she was told to label all his belongings.  This meant labeling everything from his outdoor clothing, to his indoor shoes, lunches, sippy cups and backpack.  Laura recognized a need in the market for personalized labels that were tough and durable and could stand the test of time and the everyday use that children put them through.
After researching and testing many different products and designs, Laura created a line of labels that include Regular and Slimline Stickers, Shoe Labels, Iron-ons and Bag Tags.  They are not only bright, fun and colourful but also met the high standards that parents have come to expect. The Regular and Slimline labels are microwave and dishwasher safe, the Iron-on labels stay put in the washer and dryer, the Shoe Labels have an extra strength adhesive to ensure they won't come off and the Bag Tags are made of a durable and flexible plastic.  
In 2003 Lovable Labels was born!
Today, the company continues to grow and offer exciting opportunities for its team of sales agents.  Laura also feels strongly about giving back and has incorporated fundraising into the Lovable Labels company.  Schools, daycares and camps use our labels to raise funds for extra-curricular activities while providing a practical and useful product for parents and children. 
I was sent a one of their Friendship Packs to review for Valentines Day - the Friendship pack is jam-packed with 120 labels and as a bonus I got a Free Friendship Sampler pack as well which includes 40 labels for a friend!

  
  

I chose the Bedazzled (pink/purple) pack for Robyn - and she was able to personalize it by choosing one of 45 different icons ... she debated between a few, but settled on the dolphin as being cute, but still mature enough for middle school.  As for the bonus pack, I cheated and made baby Erik her friend, since I knew that as we started going out and about more, he'd need his own labels for bottles, toys and sippy cups.   He got the Majestic Friendship sampler (black, blue, green and gold) and as his mom, I chose to go cute, but different and picked the happy little frog as his icon.

The labels are high quality - they've survived the daily grind on Robyn's binders as she shoves them into her bookbag, carts them around school and accidentally spills soda on them while doing homework.  I color coded some of Erik's bottles because we have some that are Fast Flow nipples for when I add rice cereal to his bottles in the hopes he'll sleep longer (not working out completely, but that's a different post...).  I've also labelled his wipes container and some of the other things I carry in my diaper bag, in case Liam removes them for me when my head is turned and we're out...

So far, the labels have stood up to dishwashing, both by hand and dishwasher, I've also, for the purposes of testing them out, microwaved them - and they are stood up well!  

I love that the friendship pack comes with so many different sized labels, there are uses for all of them.

How can you get your own Lovable Labels?  

Visit www.lovablelabels.ca - choose your labels and get 10% off any product by using the coupon code: HeatherSLB1

Or Win a Friendship Pack + Friendship Sampler Pack of your own from Lovable Labels and Acting Balanced!

Rules:
Giveaway is open to US and Canadian Residents only
One Mandatory Entry must be completed before other entries count.
Each entry must be made as a SEPARATE COMMENT
Giveaway will end on February 2nd, 2011 at 11:59 PM and the winner will be chosen by Random.org and announced on Acting Balanced and their email forwarded to Lovable Labels who will contact you directly.
The winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize.

Mandatory Entry:
Visit www.lovablelabels.ca and tell me what product you like best

Bonus Entries:
+2 Bonus entry Follow Lovable Labels on twitter (leave twitter name)
+2 Bonus entry Like Lovable Labels on Facebook (leave a comment on their wall that @ActingBalanced sent you, so I can verify)
+ 1 Bonus entry Follow Acting Balanced/Chascouponmom on Twitter (leave twitter name)
+ 1 Bonus entry Follow Acting Balanced on Google Friend Connect
+ 1 Bonus entry Like Acting Balanced on Facebook 
+ 1 Bonus entry Subscribe to Acting Balanced by email (must be completed)
+1 Mention this giveaway on your blog and leave link
+1 Daily tweet
#WIN a Friendship Pack + Friendship Sampler Pack from @chascouponmom and @mylovablelabels  ends 2/2 





Posted by heather@actingbalanced.com at 1/26/2011 | Labels: , , | Comments
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