This year’s survey focused on men, women and modern families and their approach to cleaning and getting it all done.   Interestingly, Scrubbing Bubbles® found that when it comes to cleaning, women think they do it all:

• 58 percent of women say it’s their “job” to clean, and a quarter (25 percent) of all women feel as if they are the cleaning “leader” in their homes.
• Conversely, more than half of women confided that they want more overall help from their partner, but 38 percent don’t trust them to meet their standards of cleanliness.

Personally, I think my husband and I do equal amounts. Although it’s true, your spouse rarely does it the way you like. If anything, i prefer him to STEP AWAY from the laundry! It’s mine. And his way of loading the dishwasher is VERY different than mine. But he is EXCELLENT at cleaning the stove, when he wants to.

The survey also revealed that while men are helping around the house, they aren’t given credit when credit’s due:

• 45 percent of men surveyed say it’s their job to clean and contribute to the household accordingly.
• More surprisingly, nearly 75 percent of men claim to clean to make their partner happy – demonstrating they do care about helping out and are picking up the slack.

Isn’t that sweet!? So even if your husband doesn’t do a perfect-by-your-standards job at cleaning, a little thank you might be good encouragement to continue getting the help around the house you want.

To help partners sort it out, Scrubbing Bubbles® has partnered with John Gray, who is celebrating the 20^th anniversary of his, best-selling book,  “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus,” to engage in a healthy discussion to try to resolve the age-old household chore debate.

I totally remember reading that book in college? The gist of it is that men and women are just different, see things different and react to situations differently. Which is what makes us such good teams in everyday life! I can’t wait to see how this “partnership” works out for Scrubbing Bubbles and John Gray and how it can help us have that clean house we want!

For more information on Scrubbing Bubbles^® visit www.scrubbingbubbles.com, www.Facebook.com/ScrubbingBubbles or follow them on Twitter at @ScrubbingBubble

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. The Mom Buzzis a Scrubbing Bubbles Influencer. 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!

10% DISCOUNT CODE for Look Who’s Growing Growth Chart: Buzzing10

A few months ago one of my good friends asked if I knew of a place she could get a personalized growth chart. I sent her to Etsy at the time, because I didn’t know of any online stores specializing in growth charts. Well, now I am happy I can share with her and you Look Who’s Growing, providing growth charts that you can personalize with over 20 designs, your children’s names, various color options and even pictures.

I had the opportunity to review a growth chart for my boys, and I have to say I was impressed at the quality and attention-to-detail. It is printed on a vinyl material, which to me has a nice, fresh scent when I first opened my box. It smelled new. It was nicely rolled, so no creases in the vinyl. On the top of my growth chart it has two grommets for easy hanging, plus it eliminates the need of puncturing the vinyl to hang it on the wall. On the bottom of the growth chart it has a dowel hidden inside the chart, to ensure it hangs straight for accurate measuring.

There were 23 style choices when I ordered. I loved Liquid Fire for a boy and the purple Origin for a girl. But in the end, it was the Giraffe who got my attention. I chose that one to design and received the 12″ width. On the site you can choose 12″ or 6″ width, the 12″ width is an additional $25.  Included with the Chart Price is personalization of your child’s name, their date of birth annd your choice of font (Block or Script). You can also add a photo for an additional $20. I think I normally wouldn’t have added the photo, but for the review I wanted to see how it looked.

I uploaded a favorite photo of my boys. LookWhosGrowing.ca took the time to photoshop the photo so that it would fit perfectly on the growth chart. The only other company I’ve worked with that took the time to do the same was PicturesonGold.com, so I commend Looks Who’s Growing for their attention-to-detail.

A Growth Chart from Look Who’s Growing costs $34.99. It provides over 6 feet of “growth”. You hang it at the 2 feet above the ground.

Pricing of a Growth Chart: includes a 6″ width and Name and Birth Date Personalization.

• Growth Chart: $34.99
• 12″ Width: +$25
• Photo: +$20
• Normal Shipping: $18
• Tax – 13%: $10.39

Don’t forget where you saw these cool growth charts! Follow Looks Who’s Growing on Twitter and Facebook to stay up-to-date on their latest news.

One reader will win a 12″ Growth Chart with Personalization (Name, Date, Photo) ($108 Value)

FIRST: MANDATORY ENTRY:

Visit Look Who’s Growing and tell me your favorite growth chart option by leaving a comment below.

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

Follow @lookwhosgrowing

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

Win a Personalized Growth Chart @theMomBuzz from @LookWhoseGrowing . Give-away ends 2.25.12 http://themombuzz.com/?p=20537

• Tweet the contest – can be done daily – just push the tweet button below:

Tweet to @lookwhosgrowing

• Stumble any review or post on theMomBuzz.com (Please don’t Stumble Give-aways). Let me know what you Stumbled!
• Follow Look Who’s Growing on Facebook
• Visit theMomBuzz on Facebook! How old and how tall are your kids?
• Add the Mom Buzz to your blogroll (Feed: http://themombuzz.com/feed/)

Contest ends 2/25/12. 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 Mom Buzz did receive a sample for review.

Thermal Tote (item 3000): The Thermal Tote is normally a $15 Value. It measures 9.5″H x 14″ W x 4.5″D. It features a smooth, nylon outer, silver thermal foil lining and zipper closure. It has webbed handles and an outer front pocket. It has 11 different fabric choices and you can personalize it for an additional $7. And right now you can get the Thermal Tote for just $10! (By the way, my tote of choice is Pink Circle Spirals!)

NEW Cinch-It-Up Thermal Tote (item 3785): There is also a new Cinch-It-Up Thermal Tote, featuring a cinch-top and a longer handle that you can sling over your shoulder. Dimensions are 10.5”H x 9.5”W x 5.25”D. The silver foil lining keeps your food the temperature you want – warm or col. It comes in 5 fabulous colors, including a fabulous leopard floral, if you’re feeling wild! And it is 30% BIGGER than the Thermal Tote – great for moms packing for themselves and their kids. Normally it retails for $20, but you can get the Cinch-It-Up Thermal Tote for just $15 right now! (Deal ends 1/31/2012.) View the video to see it in action – quick 30-second video with no talking, just music:

Both products can be purchased through a consultant, simply visit www.thirtyonegifts.com to locate yours!

New Spring 2012 Catalog:

Thirty-One’s New Spring 2012 Catalog is out and filled with stylish, affordable, exclusive products. Beach Totes, Stylish Purses, Storage Solutions, Backpacks and more.  Thee is something for everyone from Thirty-One! And with stylish personalization, each item can be uniquely yours.

Become a Thirty-One Consultant:
Like I said in the beginning, my friend is a Thirty-One Consultant. Not only does she earn income from her own sales, but from the sales of the women she helped become consultants, as well. So many women across American now have their own “Thirty-One Story.” Use your Thirty-One income to help pay for those extras in life or use the opportunity to help add to your family’s income. And this opportunity begins with a $99 investment in a business kit worth more than $300!

Win a $100 Gift Certificate to Thirty-One

FIRST: MANDATORY ENTRY:

Check out the Thirty-One online catalog! What is one must-have item you would purchase with your certificate if you won? (Leave your answer in the comment section below.)

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:

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

Win a $100 Gift Certificate from @ThirtyOne. Give-away ends 1.31.12 – http://themombuzz.com/?p=20579

• Tweet the following – can be done every hour:

#win a $100 Gift Certificate from @ThirtyOne at #themombuzz – http://themombuzz.com/?p=20579

• Stumble any review or post on theMomBuzz.com (Please don’t Stumble Give-aways). Let me know what you Stumbled!
• Leave a comment on any post here at theMomBuzz – let me know where you left a comment
• Enter any other contest at the Mom Buzz - let me know where you entered.
• Add the Mom Buzz to your blogroll (Feed: http://themombuzz.com/feed/)

Contest ends 1/31/12. 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 will receive a Job Interview Success Kit for sharing the buzz.

Anyways, the Florida sun and rain (yes, we often forget to pull it in the garage) has taken a beating on our beloved stroller these past 3 years. It went from being bright red to a dull red with black splotches. So that’s why I wanted to dye the fabric somehow and Fabric Spray seemed like the best option for a stroller.

Now, for my Snowman Tutorial, I used the spray that was made for apparel. In this instance, I used 1 can of Bright Red Upholstery Spray Paint. It is suggested for sofas, chairs, rugs, umbrellas, RVs, boats, cars, etc. So I wanted to try it on the stroller. They say if the material can absorb water, the paint will work. For example, check out this video from The Today Show:

It was easy to use. I shook the can and sprayed. When the can is not in use, you want to pull the trigger back manually otherwise aerosol will escape. I chose Bright Red, because I was hoping to rejuventate the stroller. In hindsight, I should have gone with black to hide the black stains. But I can do that next time. For now, the stroller has new life and I love it! One can evenly covers about 17 square feet, so I had some spray left over in case I needed to do a touch up. See the before and after picture below:

Once the paint dried (72 hour period), it was perfect. No rubbing off on my children’s clothes at all.I did spray their foot step (whoops) so next time I’d cover that better. That said, my husband buffed some of it off without a problem.

There are currently 9 colors of Upholstery Spray Paint to choose from. You can purchase them online from these stores:

SprayPaint4Fabric.com – $19.99 for 1 can

FabricSprayPaint.com – $11.99 for 1 can

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 Fabric Paint to attempt this project.

Even though we have to wait, right now there are tools and information that helps veterans refinance their homes and VA Home loans are also available for first-time homebuyers.

Why Now is the Time to Refinance: Loan Rates have fallen, which combined with Low Home Prices means it’s a buyer’s market. If your current Loan Rate is above 5%, then it may be worth considering refinancing. 30-year fixed VA home loan rates are currently 3.85%, a 15 year fixed is 3.3%. The money you can save on payments – we’re talking approximately $100 – $600 saved per month – can be used to pay your loan down faster, fix up your current house, beef up savings or pay for a vacation!

First Time Home-Buyers: VA Home loans are also available for first-time home buyers, with no down-payment! I think the norm now is 20% down. How many loans can you get today with no down-payment? Without a down payment, you can use the extra money to fix up the house and turn it into your dream home!

if I could take advantage of these rates now, I would. If you have served in the military, definitely look into a VA Home Loan to get you into a house you love. And if you aren’t quite ready to fill out the online forms yet to get the process started, at least stay up-to-date on mortgage news via MortgageDaily.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!

What’s on my “home decor” pins? Well, a unique book shelf that opens to reveal a hidden room. A rainfall shower. A doggie “bed” area that is either cut into a closet wall or underneath a shelf. And a gorgeous black and red glass vessel sink – which I want in the master bathroom.

Now, obviously the vessel sink pictured is missing some hardware, which can seem intimidating to people who just want to buy one big sink and stick it in the proper place. But I like that you can purchase vessel sink faucets separately, really allowing you to customize a look that’s unique for your home. Although, I still haven’t figured out which vessel faucet matches the black and red sink I love. I did see an oil rubbed bronze faucet, but I can’t commit to it just yet.

So talk to me! What unique home decor ideas have you found online? And have you pinned any of them to Pinterest?

Follow me on Pinterest for more ideas to save for your future home!

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!

In another story, my husband insisted that we have Life Insurance, as well. Simply because he currently is our main bread winner, without him our bills wouldn’t be paid. Should he pass away, we’d be “okay” financially and I’d be able to keep my house, the car and pay for my children’s school. The life insurance we have on me is less, but it would still assist my husband in providing care for our children for when he was at work. As sad as it is, you have to plan for these things.

If you are like me, you might get confused with the different types of life insurance … and it may put you off from getting any in the first place. I discovered a website called AptusInsurance.com that listed different types available to you. You should research the differences, since each type of Life Insurance has different benefits, costs and requirements – so it’s not necessarily one size fits all.

If you are still confused about which Life Insurance Policy to choose, Term Life Insurance is one of the most popular ones. You renew it yearly and it is the most affordable, as well. You can learn more about Term Life Insurance here.

Ever since researching on my own the different types of insurance, I now want to sit down with my husband and see if it’s time to get a different policy that better fits our current needs. If it was just me and my husband and we were both earning equal amounts, I probably wouldn’t think too much about it. But as a team of spouses, dependent on each other and with children, Life Insurance is simply a responsible choice and I want to make sure we have the right one in place.

Do you have a type of life insurance in place? If not, is there a reason you haven’t chosen a policy or did you simply feel intimidated by the information?

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. 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!

If you think accessing your credit report is tricky, I discovered that you can find reputable free trials where you can access a free credit score from all 3 credit bureaus – TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax. When looking for free trials, I noticed that some only gave you the report, but not the score – you had to pay additional for that. My favorite deals were ones where you would receive your credit score, along with 24/7 monitoring that will let you know of new credit activity, like the opening of a new credit card. Receiving alerts like that are the first step against identity theft.

Going back to receiving your credit score from all 3 credit bureaus – that’s important because not all of the reports may show the same information. They each may be slightly different, depending on the information they have on file. That also means that suspicious or incorrect activity may appear on one report and not another, so checking all three is equally important.

So to recap, when looking for your free credit score keep in mind the following:

1. You want your credit score, not just your credit report.

2. You want the score from all three credit bureaus – TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax

3. Look for additional perks during free trials, like credit monitoring

2012 can hold a lot of opportunities for you – from a new place to live to a new car. Without a doubt, there will be a reason that someone checks your credit score, so why be in the dark or surprised by the information they have on YOU. Be the first to know your score, your report and activity under your name and check your credit score yearly!

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!

Identity thieves will target your home computer, target you for personal data in forums, and can even be friends and family who you trust and have easier access to your personal information. Once acquired, identity thieves will use your information to steal your money, use your social security identification illegally, ruining your credit and your reputation.

Identity theft protection is easily available online, helping you identify threats and potentially stop fraud before it even starts. Right now, IdentityHawk is offering a 30-day free trial period, which includes 3 Free Credit Scores, 24/7 Identity and Credit Monitoring, E-mail and Text Alerts and an Identity Health Score, so it’s a great place to start when looking for peace of mind from identity theft protection.

Just remember, there will always  be people out there looking to take advantage of easily accessible information, especially if you don’t know what identity risks you currently have out there. So this year make a New Year’s Resolution that you can easily keep – make protecting your identity a priority.

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!

1. Most recently, we dumped our land line in favor of VOIP (Ooma Telo). It saves us around $25 a month! And for most other households, you can see savings of $432 a year!

2. Another tip is to stop the power drain from Vampire Electronics. Vampire Electronics are household objects that continue to draw energy as long as they are plugged in, even when they are turned off. These electronics are costing the average homeowner $200 a year! The solution is either to unplug the items (for example, your phone charger is draining electricity if it’s plugged into the wall, even if your phone isn’t plugged into it and charging!) Or you can purchase a Smart PowerTap (aka: Smart Power Strip).

We have been using TrickleStar’s Advanced PowerStrips to cut wasteful energy use and save money here at home. It works by automatically switching off peripherals when a TV or PC is not in use through an inbuilt current sensing circuitry. It also reduces the amount of vampire (aka: standby energy) consumed by our PC, TV, Roku, Xbox and more. Finally, it provides fireproof surge protection for all connected devices.

You can visit www.tricklestar.com for a complete list of products, from Advanced Power Strips to PC and TV Trickle Savers. TrickleSavers start at just $6.95!

3. Another tip that has been saving us money since I’ve become a SAHM is to use reusable towels, instead of paper towels. I have a basket full of them. When there is a mess, we wipe up with the towel and I throw it in the wash to reuse. Paper towels are like throwing your money away! I figure, depending on the brand I was purchasing, I am saving $72 a year.

4. My final tip, and one I plan to do myself this year, is to get a programmable thermostat. My local power company will actually provide one free and then we can set it to take advantage of lower energy rates that are available throughout the day. It can save a person on average a month’s worth of electricity each year!

What ideas do you incorporate to save money at home? And have you tried any of the ideas listed above with success?

LEARN MORE ABOUT:

• TrickleStar Power Outlets, official site
• Trickle Star Smart Power Tap
• Ooma Telo, official website
• Ooma Telo, my review

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 MomBuzz did receive a Trickle Star Smart PowerTap for review.