Wordless Wednesday: Home Sick

Coups for Troops

It is not a secret that I'm sort of a crazy coupon lady. Every Sunday, we get two papers and I go to town with my scissors! Then I check out what's available online, check out the circulars, and make up a shopping list for the week. Charlie even "helps" once in a while shredding the unused ads. Hey, its good cutting practice.

Inevitably, there are coupons in the circulars, however, that I won't use and unfortunately, there end up being coupons that I don't get to use and they expire. I used to throw these away (well, recycle them), but I recently found a much better use for them!

Did you know that military families overseas are able to use manufacturer coupons that are up to 6 months expired?! There are several different organizations that coordinate coupon shipments to families overseas, but I use The Krazy Coupon Lady's program to send mine in.

What kind of coupons can you send?

The only coupons accepted are manufacturer coupons. This means that you can't send store specific or restaurant coupons. Other than that, any will do! Food, toiletries, baby items, cleaning supplies, pet supplies, etc.

How do you send them?

To help with sorting, there is a specific way to send in your coupons. First, sort your coupons into ones that are expired and ones that are current. Then, sort each of those piles into non-food and food related coupons.

Then pack the coupons in baggies (instead of paper clips or rubber bands) by category. I stack all non-food coupons together and all food coupons together, separating expired/not expired with a index card.

Voila! You have nice, neat packages of much needed coupons to send off! Stick them in an envelope and make sure you have enough postage on it.

What is food vs. non-food?

You'd think this is pretty cut and dry, but it can be confusing. For instance, pet food would go under non-food items, but gum and mints would be considered food. Medication and vitamins are also considered non-food. Really, it has to do with where the families can shop for those items. Food items are found at the commissary and others are found at the post exchange or base exchange, which is like a department store.

Where do you send them?

The Krazy Coupon Lady has two coordinating centers depending on where you live. You sort them and send them in and they coordinate where they go.

If you live West of the Mississippi:

KCL Overseas Coupon Program
Amanda Brumbaugh
10960 W. Bridgetower Drive
Boise, ID 83709

If you live East of the Mississippi:

KCL Overseas Coupon Program
Brandy McDowell
2930 Aubrey Drive
Paducah, KY 42003

I save up coupons for about a month, then send them in all together. If you coupon, please consider sending yours in too! They really help families stretch their dollar. Happy couponing!

Turkey Hill Experience

**This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Turkey Hill Dairy. All opinions are my own.**

Today we had the opportunity to participate in a blogging event at The Turkey Hill Experience in Columbia, PA. I'm always on the look out for new, family oriented things to do, so this was right up our alley!

Opened in 2011, The Turkey Hill Experience is the interactive tour experience for the 83 year old company, founded in Lancaster, PA. The Experience is housed in a beautiful reclaimed silk mill, right off interstate 83 and contains a gift shop, a historical tour, taste testing, fun games and activities, and a make your own ice cream lab.

We were asked to participate in the entire experience, then blog about our day. So, here is the run down of our fun, ice cream filled afternoon at The Turkey Hill Experience!

The tour begins on the 2nd floor with a beautiful history display of the company and the area, including a vintage milk truck that you can "drive" and the opportunity to milk virtual cows! Thankfully, there was an elevator in addition to the stairs meaning we could bring the stroller. Woo!

Then, it moves into a tasting area where you can try as many iced tea and ice cream flavors as you'd like! Nom nom nom. In true laid back Lancaster fashion, there were rocking chairs to relax in and enjoy your sweets.

There were so many flavors of iced tea that I didn't even know existed! When I thought of Turkey Hill, I thought of their standard fruit teas, but discovered a new half and half sun tea that is to die for. I had to buy a bottle of it on the way out!

Charlie and Jeff dove right into the ice cream samples. It wouldn't be Lancaster without Woopie Pie flavored something! All of the employees were so kind and patient - especially with all of the indecisive little ones running around.

The remainder of the tour was an interactive explanation of how ice cream is made. You were able to follow the creation of your ice cream from conception to the finished product; creating a custom virtual flavor, designing the packaging, and shooting a commercial. Your finished product was then emailed to you so you could share it with family and friends.

In addition to tracking your custom ice cream, there were several activities for kids to learn more about their ice cream. Explaining milk homogenization with a ball pit? Genius!

After playing in the activity area for a while, it was our turn to hit up the Taste Lab. After a brief explanation of the room, we got to creating! Each person received a pint of vanilla ice cream base with a spatula to stir. There were SO many options for flavors, mix ins, and syrups. The lab technician said that there were over 40,000 possible combinations!

Charlie chose banana and strawberry flavoring for his ice cream and Jeff chose coconut. I kept mine vanilla so I could add a ton of mix ins! And this is why.....

Holy options. There was everything! Charlie added dried blueberries and chocolate chips to his, Jeff added a ton of dried fruit and coconut to his, and I put cookie crumbles, chocolate chips, and gummy bears in mine. Mmmmmmmmm! After we added syrups, they put our creations in a flash freezer to harden them up while we learned a bit more about how ice cream is made. It was a little bit more waiting than some of the toddlers in the room were used to, but everyone did great waiting for their treat to finish up.

Overall, we had a lot of fun today visiting The Turkey Hill Experience and I'm so glad we got the opportunity go. I appreciated that it was so family friendly with several different activities for kids and adults alike. Plus, ICE CREAM! Everyone loves ice cream.

Check out The Turkey Hill Experience on their Facebook page and Twitter for more information about your visit. If you'd like to see more pictures from today's event, find us on Instagram and check out the hash tag #TurkeyHillExperience.

THANK YOU! I found clothes!

I posted on Monday about how hard its been to find clothes that I like, that fit, and that are in my budget. Well, THANK YOU for your suggestions! I have actually found clothing that I love!

The overwhelming response said to check out Old Navy, which surprised me to be honest. I haven't shopped at Old Navy routinely since I was in high school beyond stopping in here or there in recent years for $2.50 flip flops. Gotta love the $2.50 flip flops. 

Our Old Navy here is about 30 minutes away, so I headed there after work to check it out. They were having a big clearance sale with additional savings on top of those prices. There was also a huge selection of adorable summer dresses and I LOVE dresses. I'd wear them 24/7 if I could! One thing I appreciated was that the dresses were in a variety of fabrics and cuts. The trend lately seems to be this awkward jersey knit style that clings to every little bump and curve.....and bumps and curves I've got a'plenty so I avoid those styles. 

I found this one dress that I loved so much and was so comfortable, I bought it in two prints with coordinating cropped cardigans. Its soft cotton, lined, and doesn't cling in awkward places. Its not too flowy as to make you look bigger, but just enough to not cling. Plus, ladies who have a larger chest can attest -- when you find a pretty strapless dress that stays up and doesn't show an ton of cleavage, you buy it. Period. End of story. 

In addition to the two dresses and two cardigans, I also found 9 shirts and a skirt -- all for $120. You can't beat that.

The other clothing resource I found is a little different. I love nice, quality clothes, but hate the price they often carry. I shop the outlets and factory stores, but its still tough to find steals. Enter Twice. Twice is an online consignment store for higher end clothing brands at incredible prices. 

When I signed up, I got a $10 credit to the shop. Then, when I downloaded their app, I got another $10 credit! I was able to use the $20 right away and got two nice casual shirts for a total of $4. Between the sale and the credits, I saved myself over $70 on retail prices! 

This yellow top is by Boden and retails for $46. Don't mind me, Charlie's room is the only one with a full length mirror for outfit selfies. It is also incredibly dirty. Don't judge.

It's super soft and so, so comfortable. I would have never paid $46 for it, but $10.95? I can handle $10.95. With the credits though, it was practically free. I also purchased an adorable pink lace top by Pins & Needles (Urban Outfitters) for $12.95 instead of $30. There is a flat $5 shipping charge or free shipping over $49. 

Don't like something you purchased? They have free returns.

You can also sell your clothes and purses back to Twice! They have a list of approved brands you can check out, then they'll send you a prepaid bag to send them in. Money goes onto your account and you can use it right away. I love, love, love this. 

If you'd like to try Twice, you can use my referral link below for your initial $10 credit. Don't forget to download their app for an additional $10! Happy shopping!

So the hunt for clothes isn't too terrible after all. I've got a few new dresses and tops to make it through the summer. Now, if I could only fit into my summer pants and shorts. Hmmm..... That's a whole different post/problem. 

Wordless Wednesday: Curly Charlie

Where do these ringlets come from?!

Why is shopping so hard?!

I used to love shopping. Okay, so I still love shopping, but its so flippin' hard these days. Does anyone else out there feel like your choices are tween sized hot pants or cardigans with cats on them? Where are the clothes for the nearly 30's crowd?

I used to shop at NY & Co pretty regularly with a mix from Kohl's and Target mixed in. Well, my postpartum body isn't friends with NY & Co thanks to everything being fitted and button down. Eeek. Kohl's is alright, but I end up being an awkward size and fit in most of their brands. Target? I haven't purchased clothes at Target in ages. I truly feel like there is nothing for my age group there.

So, where do women my age shop?? Clarification - where do women my age shop within a reasonable price range?

Also, what do I even wear?! I have clothes for work....and then sweats. And even then, my clothes for work couldn't be more boring; black or grey slacks and mostly black/white/grey tops. Maybe a little color thrown in occasionally. For the spring and summer, I have several skirts and dresses, but like no tops to go with them. It is all a big hot mess.

I have a fashion board on Pinterest, but it is mostly a dedication to my love for 1950's party dresses, unconventional, yet beautiful Dior style coats, and my never ending search for a good pair of brown boots.

Follow Jen's board Fashion on Pinterest.


I really need to redo my wardrobe. I mean, start from scratch. Actually, back that up - I need to get down to my "happy weight" THEN redo my wardrobe with things I truly love.

::sigh:: I used to be so cute and tiny....

So, people of the internet - spam me with your places to shop, your wardrobe essentials, and any tips you have on how I can dress myself. Tag me on Twitter or Pinterest, email me, find me on Facebook - you know the drill.

Help me!

Happy Easter!

April Citrus Lane Review!

This month's Citrus Lane box was pretty darn awesome. With Earth Day around the corner, CL tapped some of my favorite green companies to contribute to the boxes! Here's the run down...

Tools & Things from Green Toys ($19.95 for full set)
Everything by Green Toys is made from 100% recycled milk containers! The toys are incredibly sturdy and contain no melamine, BPA, phthalates, or PVC. They themselves are recyclable too (#2 plastic). We love this super sustainable, made in the USA company.


Tumblers from Green Eats ($5.99)
A joint company with Green Toys, these toddler sized tumblers are dishwasher safe and have the same environmentally friendly perks as all of their toys. Charlie loves drinking from big boy cups and I love not having to worry about gross plastic chemicals.

Prince's Bedtime Book/CD from Barefoot Books ($8.99)
I love when we get new books in our Citrus Lane boxes. There are so many great stories out there for little kids, its hard to keep track. This is a beautifully illustrated and adorable story about a prince who refuses to go to sleep despite the efforts of just about everyone in the kingdom. Charlie loves that he can "read" along with the CD, listening for that classic "chime" to turn the page. Barefoot Books practices sustainable business practices, which is always good to hear. You can read about them here.

Lemon Verbena Dish Soap from Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day

I've never used Mrs. Meyer's products before, but I see them all the time at Target and the grocery store. The dish soap is concentrated, so you only need a little bit and it rinses clean, so you're not rinsing rinsing rinsing and wasting water. The smell is divine - like something from a spa, not your kitchen sink. Seen as the sink is the closest to a spa I get, I'll take it. ;-) This little sample size bottle will be perfect for washing bottles and sippy cups when we travel. 

Greeting Card from Treat
"Treat" is a new, higher end off shoot of Shutterfly, my favorite place to print pictures and enlargements. I've never ordered from them, but with this code for a free greeting card, I may give it a try. Not all of the free trial offers Citrus Lane sends out are things we'd buy or do, but this one was spot on. Who doesn't need a greeting card? Cards range in price, but seem to be around the price of a regular greeting card in the store. You can also get your customized card sent digitally for $.99, which is a pretty cool option.



While we are familiar with most of these brands, its still awesome to try out the different products. Now that we've been getting Citrus Lane for a few months, Charlie knows the boxes are for him and is excited to tear into it. He handed me the soap and card offer.....and carried the rest of the toys off. When I gathered everything back up for a picture, the half of the tools were already being played with and he refused to give them up. I guess that speaks for itself!


The Verdict...
This box is exactly why I love Citrus Lane. Fun new toys to try, cute books, things for Mom. Definitely an A+ month.


Do you get Citrus Lane? What did you think of this month's box? If you want to try Citrus Lane for your little one, you can use my link for $10 off your first order!

All views in this review are the opinion of All Four Love. No compensation was received in return for this review. 

This post contains affiliate/referral links.  

Fitness Friday: Milestone Giveaway at Sparkly Runner!

To celebrate 10,000 views, my friend Sarah over at Sparkly Runner is having her first sponsored give away! The awesome team from RUNtelligence is giving one lucky winner a free tshirt! If you haven't seen their hilarious shirts, you need to!

Personally, I need this one to go with my 30 while I'm 30 bucket list, amirite?!

Check out Sparkly Runner, people. I love Sarah's inspiring and real stories about training, running, and life. She got ME running and that's a pretty impressive feat in itself. ;-) The giveaway runs until April 25th, so be sure to get in before its gone!

Nuby Tear Free Rinse Pail Review

**This post was sponsored by Nuby and contains links to their products and media outlets. The product being reviewed was provided to me by Nuby free of cost. All opinions are 100% my own and I do not review products that I don't believe in or use myself.**

My first review as a Nuby Blogger! When Nuby asked me to pick out my review products, I scanned their site looking for things that I'd genuinely buy. I'm not about reviewing things that we wouldn't actually use. When I saw the Nuby Tear Free Rinse Pail it immediately went on my list!

Charlie has always loved bath time, but with all that thick curly hair of his, he has come to hate having his hair washed and rinsed. Even with tear free shampoo, he absolutely hates having water poured on his head. I don't blame him - it takes A LOT of rinsing to get all the soap out of his hair. The Tear Free Rinse Pail was literally the answer to my bath time prayers.

Shaped to scoop in even shallow bath water, the Tear Free Rinse Pail has a nice grip handle and one side made of soft silicone to sit comfortably flush against your child's forehead, preventing water from getting on their face. After pretending to use it on myself a few times, it was "Charlie's turn!"

People. LOOK at this happy kid!!

I am not even exaggerating how much I love this product. Bath time was so much less dramatic and Charlie's wild hair actually got clean. I've tried regular cups and trying to get him to tilt his head back. The silicone edge is really what does it. At around $6, its well worth the money to clean this sticky little boy. Now we can wash up quick and get on to playing.

Now to figure out how to get them out of the bath...

You can pick up the Tear Free Rinse Pail from Buy Baby Direct, Cookie Kids, Amazon, Ideal Baby, and Kmart.

Check out Nuby's social media sites for coupons and info about their other awesome products!

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