But there is a new way to shred, demanding less of your time so you can attend to more productive tasks. It’s the Swingline Stack & Shred 80x. Sounds like a fitness DVD, right? But nope, this is a real shred-your-documents shredder. Stack up to 80 sheets of papers inside, shut the machine and it will cross-cut your papers so no one else can get their hands on your valuable information. This is GREAT for small offices, home offices and even home-use. I like that I can go over my bills with my husband, pay online, then shred all the papers we don’t need. And it’s PERFECT for the annual purge of the filing cabinet.

Swingline actually has a few different hands-free shredders to choose from. The larger the model, the more beneficial features you can take advantage of. For example, the 80x has automatic jam clearance, where is will automatically reverse and re-feed the stuck papers to clear a jam. If there is a REAL jam that requires some human help an LED light will alert you.

It is also designed for 1 – 2 person use. That means it holds more shreddable papers than some of the other Swingline Shredders (80 sheets) and also has a larger waste bin (5 gallons). Finally, I love that it has a self-clean feature to extend the cutter life. Because, uhm, I never think of cleaning the shredder.

So to recap, the Swingline Stack & Shred 80x self-cleans, self-shreds, cross-cuts, clears its own jams and has a larger capacity for paper.  And you know what, if you feel the need to manually feed your you can still do that with the Stack & Shred 80x. For example, if you want to personally see a picture of an ex shredded to cross-cut, unsalvagable bits … you can do it. It can also shred credit cards, paper clips and staples.

See it in action:

It makes a fabulous Father’s Day gift, with an MSRP of $200. Other models of the Stack & Shred start at $150.

Where to buy:

• Amazon
• Buy Online Now
• Office Max
• Office Super Savers
• My Binding
• Mono Machines
• Grainger

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz was not compensated for this buzz. The Mom Buzz did receive a the Swingline Shredder mentioned above for review. Links lead to various places to purchase the Stack & Shred 80, an affiliate link to Amazon and links to the official Swingline site.

The Allergy Sufferers

My youngest son and I suffer from allergies. Blah! To alleviate our symptoms I use the following products and items:

1. Oreck UV Halo Vacuum – it kills and removes the following allergens – dust mites, bacteria, molds.

2. Clorox – to kill mold in the kitchen and bathroom.

3. BISSELL 2X Multi-Allergen Advanced Formula – This is my favorite cleaner to use with my Bissell steam cleaner, since it targets allergens like dust mite waste, pet and pollen allergen.

4. Honeywell Humidifier: Since I started using the Honeywell HEPAClean® 3-in-1 Tower Air Purifier 3 months ago, I noticed a decrease in nighttime sneezing and sniffles! I love it!

5. all Free & Clear: It’s been my favorite laundry detergent for … oh… somewhere between 4 – 6 years. Pretty much, ever since I had babies. That’s because it is free of dyes and perfumes – for both sensitive noses and skin! And even better, I just learned it removes 99 percent of the #1 spring allergen – grass and tree pollen.

None of the items really TREAT allergies, like medication will. They don’t prevent or mitigate your reaction to allergens. But if you can remove the allergens from your home and clothes, you may able to decrease the amount of allergy medication you normally take. For example, I personally stopped taking medication this year. I am taking my son to the pediatrician for additional allergy relief, though.

Now, I know allergy sufferers can be a little “scared” to venture outdoors. Imagine all the allergens you  might drag back into your safe haven! But with some help from the products above, you can be more comfortable. Yes, we do still sneeze and sniffle during allergy season, just a lot less! But when I visit OTHER houses who don’t use the same products, we are forced to take medication! It’s crazy, so I know it makes a difference.

Now, to remove allergens from blankets, towels, clothes and other washables – remember your all Free & Clear. According to a recent study, on a peak pollen day up to 7 million pollen grains can get trapped on a large t-shirt. But all Free & Clear can remove up to 99% of those allergens.

I load up on all Free & Clear! One full-size sample and another bottle bought by me, ready to go!

I like the ease of the liquid detergent over powder. To me it leaves clothes softer. Powder seems gritty and harsh to me. And all is just superb at getting clothes clean! One little bottle (depending on the size you buy) can do between 28 – 32 loads. So that is about a bottle a month for me! (With 2 boys, me working out and my husband working out – we have a lot of laundry!) I feel really good about how my clothes look once I pop them out of the dryer. They smell fresh and look clean! What more can you ask for?

One reader will win a full-size bottle of all Free & Clear and a deluxe picnic basket filled with utensils, mugs, plates, a picnic basket and even a laundry bag!

Picnic Basket with Goodies!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This is open to the USA. Please refer to complete contest rules. The entries listed above are the ONLY entries for this contest. Winners will be notified by e-mail (if supplied in the entry or on profile page), as well as on the Winner’s Wall. This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contestsso you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz was not compensated for this buzz. The Mom Buzz did receive a picnic basket and full-size bottle of all Free & Clear as inspiration for this buzz. TheMomBuzz was already using all Free & Clear at the time of this posting, as evident in the photo above. One was the sample, one was one I purchased. Links within this post include affiliate links, links within theMomBuzz and links to the official all website.

With the Energizer Utility Cash program, you collect codes from select Energizer battery and lighting products and redeem them online for savings, up to $25 total savings each per person/household/email address, off your own utility bill.  You start earning rewards with just two codes and will need 10 codes total to earn the full $25.  Or you can help make a positive impact and choose to turn the codes into a donation to Habitat for Humanity®.

You see, Energizer has partnered with Habitat for Humanity® and is working with baseball legend Cal Ripken, Jr. to donate more than $300,000 and 1,000 volunteer hours to Habitat through a multi-city series of volunteer projects to help build new homes and revitalize existing homes for those in need.

Whether you use the codes to lower your own utility bill or decide to donate them to Habitat for Humanity, you still need to take advantage of these battery packs.

Here’s how it works:

1. Collect your codes.
2. Once you are finished collecting your codes, visit www.nowthatspositivenergy.com/utilities to enter your codes.
3. You must enter your codes all at once.
4. The last day to redeem codes is 3/31/13 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

One reader will win two packs of specially marked Energizer batteries. Roughly a $10 MSRP.

FIRST: MANDATORY ENTRY:

How else can you lower your utility bills?

SECOND: EXTRA ENTRIES:

To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED/MANDATORY entry. But for extra entries, you can do the following – leave a comment for each:

• Add theMomBuzz to your Twitter
• Share this contest on your Facebook page – Link it to @theMomBuzz – Here is the text:

Win Energizer Batteries @theMomBuzz. Give-away ends 6.2.12 http://themombuzz.com/?p=22130

• Tweet the following – can be done daily:

#win Energizer Batteries at #themombuzz – Visit http://themombuzz.com/?p=22130

• Like Energizer on Facebook

Contest ends 6/2/12. Please refer to complete contest rules. The entries listed above are the ONLY entries for this contest. Winners will be notified by e-mail (if supplied in the entry or on profile page), as well as on the Winner’s Wall.

Disclosure Statement: The winner of any giveaway in this program will be randomly chosen and gift card fulfillment will be handled by a third party. This is solely the opinion of theMomBuzz. TheMomBuzz was updated on this program through a press release. TheMomBuzz did receive two packs of batteries to learn more about the contest.

Being a mom means unconditional love and some sacrifice. The power of a mom can go beyond their immediate family to also include helping friends and communities.That’s why throughout the month of May Dollar General® is teaming up with Procter & Gamble® to honor moms – the true Every Day Heroes who have made sacrifices for their families and their communities. This is the time to recognize moms who go above and beyond the norm every day .

To celebrate your mom, or another notable mom in your life, go ahead and upload a video describing why your  moms is an “Every Day Heroes.” Videos can be submitted and viewed at www.dollargeneral.com/everydayheroes.  

To help spread the word about this sweet campaign, we are giving away a special prize package! The prize pack includes: Tide® Pods, Febreze® Auto Air Freshener, Always® Radiant, Tampax® Radiant, Secret® Coco Butter Clear Gel, Old Spice® Champion Deodorant and a Dollar General chip clip.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Contest ends 5/31/12. This is open to the USA. Please refer to complete contest rules. The entries listed above are the ONLY entries for this contest. Winners will be notified by e-mail (if supplied in the entry or on profile page), as well as on the Winner’s Wall.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contestsso you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz was not compensated for this buzz. The Mom Buzz is receiving a similar prize pack. The company is supplying the prize, but is not responsible for choosing the winner or promoting this reader give-away.

I knew we had some plug-ins lying somewhere in the house, and I managed to find one tucked in the junk drawer. I bought  the Magnolia & Cherry Blossom scent and put it in our hallway. Now everytime I walk into my house I am greeted with that sweet scent! Love it … and so does my husband! It was such a success, I decided to buy another plug-in for the guest bathroom (which is also the boys’ bathroom). This time I used the Vanilla Passion scent. You can never go wrong with Vanilla! And yes, it really helped make the bathroom seem “cleaner”, covering up any lingering (undesirable) smells in there.

Then I received a surprise in the mail – a plug-in with a National Park Limited Edition scent. I think it was Yellowstone Wildflower Valley. The other National Park Limited Edition scents are Hawaii Kaloko-Honokohau Tropical Sunset, Virgin Islands Paradise Flowers and Glacier Bay Serene Waters. These scents help bring the vibrant scents of nature into your home, while supporting the National Park Foundation. The new scents should be available at all major retailers, but I haven’t spotted them at my local supermarket yet. As soon as I do, I am buying the twin pack of the Hawaii Kaloko-Honokohau Tropical Sunset. I love Hawaii and haven’t been there in 8 years, so it would be nice to “smell” like I am there again.

Whether you choose a Spring/Summer style National Park Limited Edition scent or a more “traditional” favorite, Air Wick Plug-Ins will allow you to breathe easy when you have guests over or simply make it home after a hard day at work!

Air Wick Twin Packs are $5.50 at my local Publix. They last about 3 weeks on a medium setting.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz was not compensated for this buzz. The Mom Buzz has purchased her Plug-ins and Air Wick scents. She did receive a National Park Limited Edition Scent as a sample.

Stanley Steemer has the experience to get the job done quicker, easier and more thoroughly. In fact, last year they cleaned more than 200 tons of dirt!  Stanley Steemer’s proprietary equipment and cleaning processes can remove more than 98% of dry soil from floors. And it’s actually suggested that residents should consider a deeper cleaning twice a year by professionals, like those at Stanley Steemer, who can combat dirt and allergens beyond where the carpet lies. They can also handle hardwood, tile, air ducts, and even water damage restoration.

Call the experts at Stanley Steemer and let them help you achieve that deeper level of clean in your home this season. With over 70 branches and 220 franchise locations in 48 states, Stanley Steemer services 95% of the country.

Want to see Stanley Steemer in action? Check out the Stanley Steemer van and crew as they visited Corine Ingrassia’s home of Complicated Mama:

One reader will win a $100 Gift Card to Stanley Steemer

FIRST: MANDATORY ENTRY:

What would be the first room you have Stanley Steemer tackle?

SECOND: EXTRA ENTRIES:

To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED/MANDATORY entry. But for extra entries, you can do the following – leave a comment for each:

Follow @themombuzz

• Share this contest on your Facebook page – Link it to @theMomBuzz – Here is the text:

Win a $100 Stanley Steemer Gift Card @theMomBuzz . Give-away ends 5.06.12 http://themombuzz.com/?p=21969

• Tweet the contest – can be done daily:

Win a $100 Stanley Steemer Gift Card from #theMomBuzz . Give-away ends 5.06.12 http://themombuzz.com/?p=21969

• Add the Mom Buzz to your blogroll (Feed: http://themombuzz.com/feed/)
• Follow Stanley Steemer on Facebook
• Follow Stanley Steemer on Twitter
• Enter any other give -away at the Mom Buzz – let me know where you entered.
• Leave a comment on any other post at theMomBuzz – let me know where you commented.

Contest ends 5/06/12. This is open to the USA. Please refer to complete contest rules. The entries listed above are the ONLY entries for this contest. Winners will be notified by e-mail (if supplied in the entry or on profile page), as well as on the Winner’s Wall.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz was not compensated for this buzz. The gift certificate, information, and additional gift pack have been provided by Stanley Steemer through MyBlogSpark.

Shirt we saved from "the stain".

So I used to be a stain gambler. My kids clothes would get odd stains from chocolate, ice cream, popsicle drips, dirt/mud, ketchup, colorful food dyes in icing and more. I’d put it in the wash with the rest of the clothes and hope for the best. Sometimes it works. Sometimes there is that darn dingy stain that just won’t go away.

I was sent Resolve All-Stains to try out, which has a a unique bottle that has two separate chambers with a different formula in each. One formula is specifically designed for oxygen stains (dressings, sauces, condiments, coffee, juice, etc), and the other for enzyme stains (greasy foods, grass, dirt and chocolate). When you are attacking a stain, you actually squeeze the bottle so that both liquids come out and set into the potential stain. You let it sit for 3 – 5 minutes and then wash as-normal.

I thought I had a stain that would stump it. BLACK ICING on a baby blue shirt. A new shirt that I just bought for my boys from Etsy – so custom and kinda pricey! It happened after my son ate a sugar cookie with black icing and then rubbed his face on his shirt. Oi.

Stains can come from anywhere - even penguin cookies with black icing.

Black spots RUBBED INTO the shirt. So after our party I took off his shirt and put on the Resolve. I let it sit for longer than 5 minutes (I got distracted), then I remembered to finish the laundry so I started the load. After the wash I threw it in the dryer. After the dryer I took it out … and no signs of the black dye at all. As good as baby blue. So without a doubt I’ll be keeping this stain fighter close at hand from now on.

And keep in mind, the ARE YOU A STAIN GAMBLER contest is still going on at Resolve’s Facebook Page! The prize is a Washer, Dryer and a year supply of Resolve All-Stains. The contest is ALMOST OVER, so get your entries in now. The official end date is 5/04/12.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz was not compensated for this buzz. The Mom Buzz did receive Resolve for review.

Then I got married, had kids and we tried to cut costs. Lots of my friends did the same and cable was one of the first to go, thanks to a variety of tv watching options. For us, we love our Apple TV and streaming Netflix. And our DVD collection is HUGE.

But my neighbor actually has satellite tv. I know she doesn’t bring in too much money, she has to scrimp and save like us. But with some fabulous Dish Network Deals she is able to get hundreds of channels, many in High Def. And if you do your research like she did, you may be able to get your choice of freebies, like Free HD for life, Free HD TV Receivers, Free Installation, Free Activation, Free HD DVR.

And truthfully, prices weren’t as high as I thought  after I did some of my own research – totally comparable to a Netflix streaming/DVD combo. For example, I saw a Dish Network Deal that would get you 55 channels for only $19.99/month the first year. SatelliteSales.com actually has 5 different packages under $50 a month.

And this isn’t just boring, everyday tv – with Dish Network you can get awesome movie channels like HBO and Showtime. Although, with access to ABC, Fox, NBC, PBS and WB (to name a few local channels), you’ll be able to keep up with the tv talk around the break room at work! Unlike me right now … I have to wait for my shows to be available on Netflix streaming or iTunes ($$$) so I can watch them way after everyone else.

So do you have Dish Satellite TV? Cable? Rabbit Ears? And are you happy with how you watch and your entertainment access?

Recently Lee from MySentimentExactLee.com was a victim of a home invasion. I’ve had my purse stolen twice, the contents of my car stolen once and my car stolen once, and that was bad enough. I cannot imagine what she has gone through after these men went through her personal items, stole valuables that were necessary for work, took items that held her memories and even tormented her dogs. After writing about her ordeal, she did a follow-up post on 10 Things She Wished She Knew Before Her House was Burglarized, which is a valuable read for anyone who doesn’t want to be a victim.

To also help protect yourself, it’s important to know how most thieves work and think. The infographic above has 7 Burglary Facts you may not be aware of. Like when do most burglaries occur – between the hours most people are at work! Of course, right? They are counting on you and your neighbors not being home so they have time to look and grab.

If they aren’t scoping your house when you are at work, then July and August is another common time frame to be robbed. That’s because most people take their summer vacations during that time. And other people leave their doors and windows open for ventilation in the heat, giving robbers an easy entry point.

Check out those facts above to see if you are making any “easy” mistakes that you can fix to help prevent becoming a victim. And consider a security system to help decrease your chances of being a target.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz was provided the infographic to share with her readers. Learn more about a first hand experience in dealing with a home invasion by visiting MySentimentExactLee.

And, deep down I am not a fan of the character comforter sets you get a Target. And not every comforter set you see online is created equal, which is why it’s so important to read reviews! For example, the comforter set I bought my oldest (back to that one) is so “thin”, mostly for looks and not cuddly. I wanted something plush and perfect to cuddle with, especially since my youngest is such a blanket boy, dragging them all over the house to cocoon himself in.

Detailing on Sham

I knew about Beyond-Bedding for 2+ years, I’d say. And I could easily tell you my top pick for my youngest, oldest and myself. They do specialize in bedding for all ages, separating it into categories from Baby Bedding to Bedding for Adults. They further divide the categories by gender and you can even design your own Custom Childrens Bedding.

Now, my youngest is INFATUATED with pirates. The Pirate of the Caribbean theme song was the first song he ever sang. He has pirate hats, pirate swords, a Captain Jack Sparrow Halloween Costume, Pirates of the Caribbean LEGOs and even the Patch Treasurechest the Pirate LalaLoopsy. I knew I wanted a Pirate Kids Bedding Set, but the ones I saw either looked too young, he’d outgrow it by the time he’s 6. Or they looked like they were designed ONLY for older children. Not something that could cross a few age groups … until I spotted the Treasure Cove Pirate Children’s Bedding.

The Treasure Cove Pirate Children’s Bedding is available in a 4 piece Twin Set or a 3 piece Queen/Full Set. The 4 piece Twin Set included a Twin Comforter (62″ X 86″), 1 Twin Standard Sham, a Twin Bed Skirt , and a Window Valance. The 3 piece Queen/Full set is available for the same price and comes with a Queen Comforter (86″ x 86″) and 2 Standard Shams.

For me, the 3 piece set was a better option since we can’t use a bed skirt on a bunk bed and we don’t need to change the window valance. Plus, my son sleeps with 2 real pillows, 1 pillow pet and 1 cuddle cover. So 2 Standard Shams would be preferred. Finally, I wanted the larger blanket since he loves big, comfortable blankets. Both Treasure Cove Pirate Bedding Sets are available for $109.99, saving you $44 off the MSRP.

I loved the shams. They are easy to slip pillows into and keep the pillow in place. The design is so cool, with the pirate crossbones and double words underneath. The camel edging is like a microsuede while the black is regular cotton material.

The comforter is patchwork quilt, with various pirate-like patterns and designs. The camel, brown and red colors are all micro-suede – very soft and smooth. The other parts of the design are cotton fabrics. My favorite design on the comforter is the skull and crossbones that match the shams. There is also a treasure chest, pirate, pirate ship and the ship’s wheel. On the reverse of the comforter it is a white and red cotton design. Very pirate-y.

I have washed the comforter already and it cleans up nice! I just did a normal wash and dried it in my dryer. Nothing special re: care for it to smell and look clean again.

Overall, I really love this set and so does my son. The reaction’s we’ve gotten from visiting friends and family have all been “cool!” and they want to know where we found it. After this experience, I’d definitely purchase a future set for my other son from Beyond-Bedding.com.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz was not compensated for this buzz. The Mom Buzz did receive the bedding set featured above for review.