Decked Out Dad's Day Giveaway: Gift Packages That Dad Will Appreciate (May 22- June 5, 2013)

Hosted by

A Lucky Ladybug

and 

Java John Z's

Co-Hosted by Tyrneathem and Funny Postpartum Lady  

Celebrate Father's of all kinds this Father's Day!  Decked Out Dad's Day is all about Dad whether he's a traveler, a techie, the chef, or even the stay at home man!!  Make Our Own Network is thrilled to bring you over $1000 in gifts for Dad.  There are 6 packages worth over $145 each! I know Father's Day is an extra special time of year, and this year is no different. Take a glance at these awesome packages. There is something that every Dad would love to call his. So, make Dad's day extra special this year- enter and you may win! 

Package #1 - ARV $215

(For more details, Click on each link to read the actual review)

Robo Form/Good Sync - Computer Program

Serenity Health - Outdoor Classics Bravado Mesh Fire Pit

Package #2 - ARV $206

(For more details, Click on each link to read the actual review)

Robo Form/Good Sync - Computer Program
Daddy Scrubs - Gift Set

Package #3 - ARV $151

(For more details, Click on each link to read the actual review)

Robo Form/Good Sync - Computer Program
DUB Garage - 007 RC Die Cast Car

Chicken Soup for the Parents Soul

I See Me! - My Very Own World Adventure Personalized Book

Package #4 - ARV $150

(For more details, Click on each link to read the actual review)

Robo Form/Good Sync - Computer Program
Zim's Natural Pain Relief - Choice of Max Freeze or Heat Roll on

TheraPearl - Back Wrap Therapy

NoNetz - Men's Swimsuit

Package #5 - ARV $148

(For more details, Click on each link to read the actual review)

Robo Form/Good Sync - Computer Program
Ultimate Green Store - $25 Gift Certificate

LOLShirts - Choice of T-shirt

Mr. Beams - $25 Gift Certificate

Opena Case - iPhone Holda Case

Package #6 - ARV $145

(For more details, Click on each link to read the actual review)
Robo Form/Good Sync - Computer Program
YouCopia - Chef's Addition Spice Rack

                                 Man Cave Worldwide - Major Flavor Injector + Rib Rack
                                                           Yum Earth - Snack Assortment

Enter For Your Chance To Win!

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"Make Our Own Network" solely organized this event and I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are 100% my own and may differ from your own or even those stated in this post. ALL IN AN IOWA MOM'S DAY is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment.
**If you are a company and would like to see your brand advertised in a M.O.O.N. event similar to this please contact ldybug1682@gmail.com

There's a High School Graduate In The House And That Means It Is Time For A Party

OK~ Reality has hit me. Our family calendar has a graduation party on it and it is one week from today, seriously? That one week will be here before I know it. Am I stressing out, Nope (not yet). That period of time will come one hour before the party starts.

I am not stressing out over this and I've got a few tips for you. So, when you host a graduation party for your high school graduate you won't have to stress out either.

The first thing you need to do is to realize that it will happen and there is nothing you can do to change it. This is exactly why you need to decide where you will have the party. Having watched several of my friends try to host graduation parties in their garages and yards, I have opted to reserve a room at our church. I have watched other families scurry to hold everything down when the winds come up or the storm clouds move in. And then there is the issue of the restroom. Do you really want loads of people tromping through your house to use the restroom? In our case, No!

I'm also liking the idea of not having to rent tables and haul them around. The cool thing about reserving a room at our church, there are tables and oodles of them! Makes for a win-win situation all the way around.

The one thing that I am missing out on is getting new carpet, a fresh coat of paint on the walls, and of course new furniture for guests to sit on. Isn't that what people do when they host a high school graduation party in their home?

I will have plenty of time after the party to install new carpet, paint, and decide what style of furniture a Mom without a child in school needs to invest in. On the flip side, if I was hosting this high school graduation party in my home I would have reason to really, really clean. I am thinking I will have time to do all that cleaning in the days following the party, don't you think? After All, It's All In a Mom's Day, Right?

My Summers Are Changing And I Think I Like It

OK~ With a high school graduate in the house, I am beginning to reminisce over the past 18 summers. Dang, those were some fun times! I am envisioning how the calendar will be so different after May 24th rolls around. I will no longer have to get a kid out of bed for school each day, or worry about the next midnight homework project. I'm liking this!

The past 18 summers began with a four year old and an infant, and the boys grew up during that period of time. Man, those years flew by. We spent countless hours at the local swimming pool. I can remember laying out in the sun with other Moms, and we often talked about what we would be doing when our kids were out of school. Surprisingly, that day has arrived, and it did not take long.

There were countless walks in the park with a stroller and a dog or two. We gradually graduated to bicycles. We invested in a bicycle trailer, so our youngest could ride as the rest of us pedaled. We biked a lot of miles. One of our favorite bicycle trails is the Sparta Trail located in Sparta, Wisconsin. I highly recommend it if you have never experienced it. The rolling hills are beautiful and the long, dark tunnels add a little twist to what you would normally think of a bicycle trail.

We camped, as a family, a lot. I quickly learned that boys, no matter what age, love fire! Yep, we had a few burns through the years, burnt marshmallows and a lot of s'mores. And if I were to do it all over again, we'd still have a fire and we would probably still have burns.

We spent many summers hiking. Our youngest started out in a pack on my hubby's back. Through the next 17 summers we all hiked and we climbed a lot of mountains. We ventured through Rocky Mountain National Park, Glacier National Park (U.S. and Canada), Yellowstone National Park, and the Black Hills National Forest in South Dakota.

There were Cub Scout Camps, Day Cub Scout Camps, Boy Scout Camps, and Church Camps. There was always an event coming up. And yep, this Mom went on 99.9% of these campouts.

So---- Our youngest son is now graduating from high school. What will I do with all of my time? Hey, I am looking forward to focusing on my writing, speaking engagements, and teaching more local classes in social media. High School Graduation time brings a feeling of mixed emotions and this Mom is relieved and excited!

I am excited about the new opportunities that lie ahead for our youngest son. He is a responsible young man and has worked hard to graduate from high school. Will I miss school conferences? NO Will I miss PTO Meetings? NO Will I miss out on the first day of school once August 2013 rolls around? NO. I am thankful for Iowa high school trapshooting, as he found a sport he could excel in.

This Mom is ready to move on. It's a new era of my life and I am excited! My life will no longer revolve around the school calendar- yippee! I am thinking back to the first day of Kindergarten for our youngest and I was the only Mom that was doing a happy dance that he was now in school. The other Moms were all crying. I still don't get that concept, but most Moms probably didn't understand my happy dance either. I have done my job- our youngest is officially an adult (he turned 18 on Monday) and he is graduating from high school and this Mom is happy! After All, It's All In a Mom's Day, Right?

My 166th Wordless Wednesday Post

Yep, The Day Has Come, Both Of My Boys Are Now Adults

OK~ I knew this day would come. I am not sure if I should be happy or sad. I am choosing to be happy. Our baby is 18 today! Hard to believe. Where on earth did all of those years go? Well, I started digging around this morning~ Here's where a lot of them went!

Fishing in many locations! Clear Lake, Iowa and Rocky Mountain National Park were two favorite fishing holes.

Golfing with Dad several times!

Several family vacations to Walt Disney World!

And look where we are today~ Hunting, Trapshooting, and a dog named Wally!

I can recall when our boys were 2 and 6. I thought to myself, someday they will be 5 & 9 and 11 & 15 and bam- they are now 18 & 22!  Wow!  What a fun ride it has been.

This Mom is blessed with a hubby of 26 years and two awesome young men! After All, It's All In a Mom's Day, Right?

V05 Salon Series Hair Products: Review And Giveaway

OK~ I recently had the opportunity to review the new V05 Salon Series products and  I was pleasantly surprised. The following appeared on my doorstep and the fun began. The opinions expressed here are mine and nobody else's. I was given these products for review purposes.

I was sent the following products for review:

ColorShield+ Radiance Shampoo and Conditioner

Anti-Frizz And Shine Styling Creme

Perfect Hold (Non-Aerosol Hair Spray)

Simply Stunning Leave In Conditioner

The Color Shield + Radiance Shampoo and Conditioner were just what I had needed. Springtime is very windy here in Iowa and this has been a fantastic product. My hair color looks great and the color seems to have a little added shine. Maybe my imagination, but it looks pretty good. After spending hours outside at high school trapshooting events in very windy conditions, the shampoo and conditioner made my hair manageable again!

The Anti-Frizz And Shine Styling Creme smells really nice and goes on smooth.  I have been putting this on my hair once it is dry and then styling it. The directions state this can be used on dry or wet hair. I don't usually blow dry my hair, it usually air dries, so the versatility makes this product even more user friendly.

The Perfect Hold Non Aerosol Hair Spray goes on really nice and light, yet offers great hold.

The Simply Stunning Leave in Conditioner is applied after you wash your hair and it's easy to put on and leaves your hair feeling silky smooth.

Five fantastic products that will leave your hair feeling silky smooth. The V05 Salon series is available at many of your local drug stores, including Walgreens and CVS, along with several more. KMart and Target also offer this fine, affordable line of hair care products, as well.

For up to date information on The V05 Salon Series be sure to connect with them on Facebook and Twitter.

Enter through the Rafflecopter form below and you could find the above products in your shower. Life gets pretty crazy and when you can have affordable, easy to use hair care products, life gets just a little easier. After All, It's All In a Mom's Day, Right?

On a note: Open to U.S. residents only and must have a mailing address, no P.O. boxes.

Good Luck!


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Dani Schnakenberg's Blog Planner Review: Bloggers Will Want To Invest In This Handy Tool

OK~ I recently had the opportunity to review Dani Schnakenberg's blog planner and let me tell you, this blog planner is amazing! If you are a blogger, this is a must. Calendars, guest post logs, income and expense trackers, and everything else that you; as a blogger have been searching for. Dani has done a fantastic job getting this information into one convenient place. I was given an electronic blog planner to review and the opinions expressed here are mine and nobody else's. I also need to let you know that this post does contain affiliate links.

If you struggle with keeping your blog fresh with ideas, this blog planner offers a fantastic solution. There is a specific section dedicated to post and series planning. So, if you are out and about and have that great post idea~ write it down!

Reviews and giveaways are also addressed and it is very simple to use!

Everything is laid out in simple terms, making this blog planner ideal for the beginner or seasoned blogger. With so many ideas, posts, and ideas to share, Dani's blog planner offers what many of us bloggers have been searching for.

So, the next time you are struggling to figure out how many miles you traveled last month, order Dani's blog planner so you don't find yourself in that situation again. When you use Dani's planner, your life as a blogger will be much easier. You will literally have everything you need in one spot!

I wish I could say this planner will do it all for you, but I cannot. Yes, you will need to get out a pen! I can tell you that this blog planner supplies you with a valuable tool that will help you be more successful. It is up to you to document your numbers on a regular basis, and the cool part is the fact that it will all be in one handy place!

I would highly recommend Dani's blog planner for any blogger out there. We are all trying to keep on top of our social media channels, while experiencing life so we have things to share on our blogs. If you know a blogger that needs a little help in the organization department,  I would suggest forwarding this information on to them. This is a must! Go ahead, invest in Dani's blog planner today, as you will be glad you did!