Angie – Page 946 – Luv Saving Money

Is anyone else offended by the new trend with restaurants?

I just read this article on Yahoo titled: Restaurant bans kids under 6: Discrimination or smart move?

As I read the article, the newest restaurant to jump on the band wagon is one that is only about an hour from me. I could have possibly stopped their on a drive to Pittsburgh. The one near me is McDain’s Restaurant in Monroeville.

I often try to remain neutral on my blog but I actually find this article a bit offensive as a parent with small children. I can understand how a screaming child would ruin a mood for a couple eating dinner next to us but only once did I have an incident where my toddler started a tantrum. We asked the waiter to box up our food and we left. But that was the only time we had an issue eating out as a family.

I have a 2 yr old, 7 yr old, and 9 yr old. I don’t think it’s fair that more and more restaurants are starting this policy. It seems that the restaurants in these articles feel that families with small children should just be content to eat at McDonalds until all their children have reached the age of 6. Well I’m sorry but once in a great while we like to splurge and go out for a nice sit down family dinner. Why should families be banished to restaurants with bright colors and cardboard boxes?

Think of the economy. I think it’s safe to say that family dinner bills are a bit more than couples.

I’ve been in restaurants where I’ve heard adults with inappropriate or obnoxious conversations. I’ve seen adults yell at waiters/waitresses over something trivial like forgetting the ketchup. I’ve seen adults in a place like Applebee’s have one too many drinks and make a spectacle of themselves. I used to work as a waitress and these things happen more than some people realize.

How is a small child going to learn how to act in a nice restaurant if the years they soak up the most knowledge are spent strictly in restaurants that have a playground in it? I realize that not every restaurant is doing this BUT, I was shocked to read the comments in the article and see how many were in support of it.

I don’t have a babysitter at the snap of my fingers. My family works and lead busy lives. I am a mother who enjoys spending dinner together as a family. We don’t go out to a nice dinner but a few times a year. I want to splurge and enjoy our time, not be turned away at the door. I’m a paying customer.

Ok I’m going to get off my soapbox. Anyone else have an angle on this?

I sent an email off to McDain’s voicing my opinion: mcdains@gmail.com

McDain’s Restaurant
4440 Broadway Boulevard
Monroeville, PA 15146

If you want to write them too, either email or letter.

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10 reasons why I should have considered Virginia Beach this year

I’ve honestly never been to Virginia Beach. I live in PA, I’ve been to Daytona beach, Myrtle beach, Ormond beach, Isle of Palms, Rehobeth beach, and Ocean City Maryland but I’ve never been to Virginia beach. Not sure why really. Virginia beach isn’t too bad of a drive compared to some of the others I’ve been to. I’m thinking that maybe our next beach vacation we’ll definitely consider Virginia Beach. Here is a list of 10 reasons why I would consider it (no particular order):

1. We aren’t really a flying family. Driving is generally cheaper for a family of 5 and we love to see the sites and stop when we feel like it.

2. Virginia beach would be more cost effective for us in travel expenses (IE. Not as much money for gas and food stops on the way there).

3. I have family that live near Virginia beach. I think it would be neat to meet them there and spend a day together.

4. My boys have been bugging me to go pier fishing. You can do that at Virginia Beach.

5. We have never been to the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center. My family loves aquariums. Just something about the allure of seeing creatures you can’t normally see close up. The tranquility of seeing the sea creatures swiming around in the clear waters. Oh man I really want to go now.

6. During the summer months you can catch nightly entertainment in an area they call Beach Street USA. I like the name. Sounds like all kinds of fun things go on when that is up and running.

7. I think my hubby and my boys would love to see the Military Aviation Museum. I could just imagine my toddlers eyes.

8. Would you believe I’ve never seen a lighthouse up close? Truly I haven’t. Virginia beach apparently has a Cape Henry Lighthouse and Memorial Park. I think that would be a site to see!

9. Virginia Beach offers budget friendly and family friendly packages like Beach/Busch Gardens family package for 3 days and 2 nights, Fishing for fun afternoon charter package, build your own package and more. That would make it so easy for me to find something to fit our budget AND something my family will enjoy.

10. Virginia Beach has something called “Family Great Adventures Series”. My family could participate in an adventure along the ocean front to help solve a mystery or watch a movie on a giant inflatable movie screen. I’ve never seen anything like that on the beach. The best part, it’s free!

I had booked and paid for my family’s vacation months ago. Typing all this up though I’m thinking, why didn’t I look more into Virginia Beach?? Well now I know for next time. Would have been much closer too.

Have you ever been to Virginia Beach? What was your favorite thing to do? If you haven’t been, would you consider?

***I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Virginia Beach Tourism blogging program, for a gift card worth $40. For more information on how you can participate, click here***

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OMG, OMG, OMG, look what I won!!

I’m sorry but I just had to share this. I’m bursting at the seems. I enter a lot of giveaway but I never get “the big prize”. Understand that I appreciate anything i win. I use it too or make sure I give it to someone who can if I have my fair share.

I have to write about this one because I almost didn’t get it. Let me explain. I’m a member of several blogger sites: Mom Bloggers Club, Mom Central, SocialMoms.com, etc. I try to log into each of the sites once a week. I sign up for emails from them so I can keep abreast of any contests, changes, etc.

Well Mom Bloggers Club had a contest in June from Clorox Green Works. Everyone who entered could only have a max of 2 entries. I made sure to do both entries. I nearly forgot about the contest. There was only 1 prize and I thought there was no way I would win it.

I check my main email and secondary email daily. I check my tweets, DMs, and facebook sometimes several times a day. I won a few things here and there.

Well I logged into Mom Bloggers Club to post a giveaway and check out what was going on there. I saw I had 11 inbox messages. I honestly wasn’t even going to check it even then because it’s usually just group invites, voting requests, etc that could have waited at the time. Something prompted me to check it though. I see an email from Jennifer James saying “Clorox Green Works giveaway winner”.

So I replied, thanked her, and sent her my shipping info. I’m thinking I maybe just won some Clorox Green Works cleaning products. I don’t mean to say “just” but I didn’t expect it to be bigger than that. I love winning stuff that I can use like that because it saves money on the grocery bill. Again, Something told me to check the link she included. It opened up to the contest page. What do I see but this (seriously check it out): http://www.mombloggersclub.com/page/green-works-summer-giveaway

I felt the blood drain out of my face. I thought, there’s no way I won that. I’m not THAT lucky. So I read through the rules and saw that there was ONLY 1 WINNER. That’s me! There was no time frame stated as to when the winner had to reply. I looked back at the email she sent me. It was sent on July 1st, a full 9 days from when I replied. I was sick. I thought, OMG I didn’t check my Mom Bloggers Club inbox for over a week and I may have lost this awesome prize. I frantically emailed her again and sent a DM. I didn’t hear a reply that day. Not that I should have expected that. She’s a busy woman. In desperation I sent a tweet out to her today. She got back to me. She said she was glad I replied because she was about to choose another winner TODAY! No kidding. So thank God for prompting me, thank God for the wonderful prize, and thank Mom Bloggers Club for not have a super small window to reply for prizes.

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CLOSED–Vivacious Swimwear review and giveaway and check out their sale until July 15th!

RANDOM.ORG HAS SPOKEN. GRAND PRIZE WINNER (1ST DRAWN) IS: #150 HUGUETTE
$10 GIFT VOUCHER WINNERS ARE: 169 BEAUTYTOLOVE, 154 ANNIE1, 74 LAURA1877, 118 DANA WEST, AND 143 KARLENE.

CONGRATULATIONS WINNERS AND THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR STOPPING BY TO ENTER. WINNERS HAVE BEEN EMAILED AND HAVE 48 HRS TO REPLY.

I discovered Vivacious Swimwear on twitter: @Vivacious_swim because they had a tweet about a fantastic sale. $15 monokinis and $10 bikinis. I checked out the site. They had a great selection on their site. There was quite a few choices in the sale too.

Now I’m not a busty gal but for you girls that were extra blessed in the bosom department they have swimsuits especially for DD/E/F/G cups. Vivacious Swim also offers worldwide shipping and free shipping on orders over $100.

Vivacious swimwear is from the Gold Coast of Australia. They specialize in standard sizes but also cater to DD/E/F/G cup ladies as well offering luxury bathing suits at affordable prices. They offer sizes from 8-14.

From now until July 15 you can get in on the sale for $10 bikinis and $15 Monokinis. I had the opportunity to review a Vivacious Swimwear swimsuit. I had a hard time choosing. I ended up deciding on the Isla Ultimate Cleavage bikini in black. First of all I thought it was a nice looking bathing suit. Second of all, repeating that I am not a busty gal and thought this might add something to to my figure.

Ok that picture is NOT me, not even close. This is the pic from the Vivacious Swimwear website. I do like the way the suit fits me however. I got a very positive reaction from the hubs when I tried it on.

This suit is very well made. Very durable construction. For a bikini, it covers well. (IE I don’t feel like I’m hanging out of the pants and the top covers well). The top ties in the back and at the top. The top is padded and gives a lift as the name suggests. This particular bathing suit also comes in white.

I’m a bit shy about putting up a bikini pic of me here. Trust me when I say, that this is a quality suit. The customer service from Vivacious swimwear has been excellent. Shipping from Australia, to here in the US, I got my suit in just a little over a week. That is super fast.

If you want to hear more from Vivacious Swimwear you can like them on Facebook or subscribe to their Youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/VivaciousSwimwear

Don’t forget about the $10 bikinis and $15 monokinis sale on the site until July 15!

GIVEAWAY

Vivacious Swimwear is offering a very generous giveaway. The grand prize winner will win a $50 gift certificate to Vivacious Swimwear. 5 more winners will win a $10 gift certificate!

Open Worldwide.

Mandatory Entry:

Like Vivacious Swimwear on Facebook OR follow Vivacious Swimwear on twitter. Leave a comment letting me know you did and your id (for facebook first name, last initial is fine) You can do both for one entry each but only 1 is required.

Bonus Entries:

Please leave a separate comment for each entry completed.

1. Subscribe to Vivacious Swimwear’s Youtube channel and leave a comment with your user name.

2. Follow FFCM through Google Friend Connect, RSS feed, or Email Subscription (+1 for each one completed. Leave a separate comment for each).

3. Tweet this giveaway using the RT button in upper left hand corner of this post OR use this phrase:

” Win a new bathing suit from @Vivacious_swim on https://luvsavingmoney.com ends 7/24 open worldwide @angiewith3 “

Can tweet 2 X per day at least 2 hrs apart. Please leave a link to your tweet if you know how.

4. Like FFCM on facebook

5. Share this giveaway on another site, for example: StumbleUpon, Facebook, Digg, a giveaway linky, etc. +1 for each site you share it on. Please leave an appropriate link or user name for each site.

6. Blog about this giveaway and include a link to this giveaway AND Vivacious Swimwear. +5 entries.

The giveaway will end 7/24/2011 at 11:59 PM EST. 1 grand prize winner and 5 other winners will be selected using random.org. Winners will be contacted via email and will have 48 hrs to respond to winning email notification. If no response in specified time frame, and new winner will be chosen. Gift codes will be emailed from sponsor. Giveaway is open Worldwide.

***I received a swimsuit of my choice (with exception of sale items) in order to complete a review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. Any opinions expressed are my own. Giveaway is sponsored by Vivacious Swimwear and prizes will come directly from sponsor. ***

Review: Montagne Jeunesse Beauty masks

Montagne Jeunesse products have been around for a while. They are made in the UK. I actually remember picking up some of these little convenient mask packets when I was around 12 years old and giving myself a facial. I’ve found their products in a number of stores near me like WalMart for instance and on Amazon.

Montagne Jeunesse products are an affordable way to pamper your skin. Their website is selling them right now for $2.25 a packet and get a second one for 74 cents. I believe I saw them a little cheaper than that at WalMart.

They offer a variety of masks for whatever your skin care needs or concerns. Just a few of the many choices are Crystal Masque to condition skin, Fudge Sauna self heating mask to draw out impurities, revitalize, refresh, and moisturize and Passion Peel Off Mask to deep cleanse and purify. There are many options though including masks specifically for men and hair masks. They even make their own pore strips for only $2.99 a pack!

I recently just try the Fudge Sauna mask. The instructions tell you to cleanse your skin with water only. Then apply mask while skin is still wet. The packets size is very generous. There was plenty to apply to my face and neck. This mask is not a hardening mask. It has something of a honey texture on my skin without the stickiness. I could feel teh self heating effect as soon as it hit my skin. Within a few seconds however the heating feeling died down. The smell of this particular mask is incredible. It’s vanilla fudge fragrance. To be honest it was a little bit of a temptation on my face. It smelled so good I wanted to lick it off. Of course, that would not have been a good idea, not to mention nearly impossible. The instructions state to leave it on for 10-15 minutes. I left it on the full 15 minutes. It has sort of a tan color to it.

The mask was easy to remove. My skin felt so soft and smooth after I rinsed it off. I think these masks would be great to pick up for a girls night in or just to give yourself a little pampering. Think about this, a mother/daughter beauty night including these mask. Wouldn’t that be fun?

Check out the site to find their specials and close outs too for even more savings.

You can follow the company that makes Montagne Jeunesse products on Facebook and Twitter (@alphahydrox) too!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com created by WebBizIdeas.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.