Restaurant.com is Celebrating 20,000 Partner Restaurants with the Plates of Thanks Sweepstakes!

It's no secret that my family enjoys eating out now and again, not to mention that we have been fortunate to have been introduced to a whole set of restaurants that we otherwise may not have tried thanks to Restaurant.com. Plus, using their certificates save a bundle of money each time. It's a win-win!

However, back when we first starting using Restaurant.com, I have to admit that I was skeptical that we would continue to do so. After all, there were only a handful of options available in our area, so how long could this last? But here we are, years later, and we're still loving it partly due to how easy it is to use and partly because more and more restaurants continue to be added to try out!

In fact, Restaurant.com has recently reached a milestone 20,000 partner restaurants across the nation, so if you haven't checked to see if there are participating ones near you lately, you might be missing out!

Even better, they're celebrating this accomplishment by giving away fun parties in their Plates of Thanks Sweepstakes!

Taking part in this sweepstakes couldn't be much easier and the 20 randomly selected winners will receive a free party for up to six people at a participating Restaurant.com restaurant!

Here is how to enter:

Until 11:59 pm CT on Sunday, June 21, 2015, visit Restaurant.com/Sweepstakes and submit your name and email address. It's just that simple!

Then, for extra entries or to enter on social media, start by following Restaurant.com on Twitter and/or Instagram. Next, snap a photo dining out, tagging either Restaurant.com's Twitter or Instagram with a caption that indicates the photo is part of the sweepstakes and includes the #PlatesofThanks hashtag. Then you're all set with even more chances to win!

Ready to party with your friends while celebrating the 20,000 participating partner restaurants? Then head over and enter the Plates of Thanks Sweepstakes today and later this month you and your pals could be out having a great evening courtesy of Restaurant.com!

You'll also want to connect with Restaurant.com on their homepage as well as on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and their blog so that you never miss their next great deal.

As a member of the Restaurant.com Review Crew, I have been provided gift cards and compensation in order to facilitate my reviews and for sharing this information. However, all thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.  

Mabel's Labels Limited Edition Camp Label Pack {Review & Coupon Code!}

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Mabel’s Labels. I received a voucher to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

With only one week of school left and an already-filled summer schedule, both of my girls are excitedly anticipating getting to do one activity after another all summer long.

Yes, they want to do swimming lessons and soccer camp and yes, they want to do arts & crafts classes and yes, Little Sister B has her toe shoes ready for another season of ballet classes while Big Sister E can't wait to do a week of camp on a farm... the list just seems to keep growing and growing.

So what does that mean for me? As well as having to keep track of where and when each girl needs to be somewhere, I'm going to need to stay well-organized so that they show up with their soccer balls at one location, their swimsuit at another, and the right tennis shoes at a third.

For me, one of the best ways to keep away the stress and anxiety of not only packing but of my obsession with not losing things, is to have each and every item well-labeled. I want their name on every single thing so that the chances of swim goggles, a hat or a lunch box getting returned to its rightful place are increased tremendously.

That's where Mabel's Labels steps in and takes over, making the entire process quick, easy, and fun!

Created by four moms who were frustrated by all of their children's belongings that never returned home, Mabel's Labels was started in 2003 and has been committed to excellence ever since.

As millions of clothes, shoes, bags and more wind up in lost-and-founds every year across the nation, knowing that Mabel's Labels and their high quality products and renowned customer service are there helps me look forward to summer activities just as much as my kids. 

And what better way to prepare for summer than with the Limited Edition Camp Label Pack?

Designed to help avoid mix-ups and lost items on anything and everything that goes to summer camp, the Limited Edition Camp Label Pack contains 10 Personalized Name Stickers, 24 Mini Custom Name Stickers, 8 Custom Shoe Stickers, 50 Tag Mates Stick On Clothing Labels, 2 Personalized Bag Tags and a bonus set of 5 colorful postcards.

The result is that this combo pack provides the perfect assortment of sizes and shapes to make identifying the rightful owner of nearly anything a quick and easy process! Whether you are packing clothes, swim gear, backpacks, shoes, toiletries or more, these UV resistant, dishwasher-, microwave- and laundry-safe labels are 100% guaranteed.

Mabel's Labels offers so many colors, designs, fonts and icons to choose from when customizing your labels (there are even five new limited edition motifs available this summer) that I had no doubt that Big Sister E would have fun picking her favorites... and that the result would be perfectly suited to her preferences and just as unique as she is!

As we went over many of the different styles and debated whether they should be in the solid or multi-color color palettes, I really appreciated that Mabel's Labels shows a clear preview as to what your choices look like on their products. No guessing as to which font better suits the letters in a child's name or if one motif might look better in another color, as you can see right there on the screen just how it will look!

After Big Sister E narrowed down the options to her top pick, it only took another few clicks before her Limited Edition Camp Label Pack had been ordered.

Only a short few days later, they were here!

There really isn't anything that we would change about these personalized labels and Big Sister E has commented multiple times about how much she loves the way that they turned out. Considering that this Camp Label Pack has so many different sizes and shapes, it was a snap for me to go right to work labeling items that will be used over and over this summer (and I already feel better that her belongings and wardrobe are prepared for all of her camps and activities).

Whether simply to make it easier for my daughter to recognize her own items or for a teacher or coach to quickly be able to reunite lost items later on, I know that these labels will end up being nearly indispensable for my daughter all this summer and for years to come!

Ready to find out more about how the Mabel's Labels Limited Edition Camp Label Pack can help ensure that you and your child are ready for everything that the summer months will entail? This great combo pack comes with everything you need to be prepared at a retail price of $39.95 — but it is only available until July 31st, 2015, so get yours today!

But, wait! Right now Mabel's Labels is offering a fun way to receive a discount on their award-winning products by giving consumers a chance to win a one-time use coupon code. Just sign up for the Mabel's Labels newsletter (a fun and reliable source for all things mom-related!) and complete one additional social share below and you'll receive a coupon for 15-50% off this Camp collection... or maybe even get it for FREE!

Go ahead and enter right here:

Mabels Labels Camp Combo

Find out much more about all things Mabel's Labels and place your order by visiting MabelsLabels.com. You'll also want to join the Mabelhood community by connecting with them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

Humidify and Purify Your Home with the Venta Airwasher LW45 {Review}

When I read studies and statistics showing that there are more pollutants in the air inside our homes than outside, that just makes me cringe. With the amount of time that we spend indoors around here, the idea that my family and I are breathing in so much air that isn't clean is frightening. What is that doing to my kids' developing bodies, lungs, and immune systems?

Therefore, instead of staying with the cycle of using little and inexpensive humidifiers that inevitably stop working and are then replaced with another small and cheap one, it is time to take the best possible care of our families by providing them with perfectly humidified and clean air all at once.

Because that's what is precisely possible with the Venta Airwasher!

The original dual design humidifier and purifier, the Venta Airwasher was invented in Germany in 1981 and is still manufactured there today. As opposed to standard machines that require constant setting changes, use a great deal of energy, leave a white film, strain your budget by needing expensive filters, and more, a Venta Airwasher is just the opposite.

Instead, this filterless humidifier and air purifier is designed to work in harmony with your heating and cooling units to properly rehydrate the air, eliminate dust, and remove allergens so you can relax, knowing that the whole family is breathing easier at home.

In fact, along with the low maintenance, ease of use, and zero filters to purchase, the Venta Airwasher utilizes a revolutionary cold evaporation method. What this means is that the air in your environment takes only the moisture it needs from the Venta Airwasher, and no more. This unique feature makes this machine an ideal air purifier 24 hours a day, 365 days a year!

After reading up on the Venta Airwasher and all of its benefits, I knew that I needed to see just how much it could help take care of my family with perfectly humidified and clean air in our home.

Right away I appreciated that the Venta Airwasher LW45 came fully assembled and was nearly foolproof to begin using. Simply remove the upper housing (containing the motor and cord) and, with that portion safely away from your water source, go ahead and fill!

Once your Airwasher is filled and ready to go, it just needs a home that is at least two feet from walls, with neither of the vented sides facing towards a wall.

Voilà!

The only daily maintenance required is to make sure that the Airwasher is filled with water and Venta does recommend emptying it completely and cleaning it out twice a month (if you don't want to wipe it down, every part of your Airwasher, with the exception of the motor, is dishwasher safe).
.
Otherwise, due to the simple control panels located right on the top of the LW45, basically all I have to do is press a button and know that perfectly humidified and freshly washed air is filling my home!

I love that the Venta Airwasher is designed to be turned on and left on at all times, as that is one less gadget or device in my house that I need to devote a lot of thought to.

Instead, due to the way that the Airwasher can sense when the room air is hydrated just right, it will then simply just stop taking moisture and risk over-humidifying the room. No forcing more and more moisture into the air if it doesn't need it!

Plus, the list of benefits of having an Airwasher goes on and on! It includes moisturized skin that feels healthier and younger; less colds, sniffles, allergies, headaches and sicknesses; fewer pet odors and static electricity; and more. I love knowing that my Venta Airwasher can wash the pollen, dust, mites, bacteria, germs and more right out of the room. The result is a healthier environment for all of us and less stinky odors along with it!

Ready to find out how a hygienic, premium quality, low-maintenance (remember, NO filters!), eco-friendly machine that is extremely simple to use, fill and clean can help in your home? Then head over to Venta-Airwasher.com to see more on how the Venta Airwasher works, to join the Venta family by making a purchase (also available on Amazon), to find out which size Airwasher is right for your space, and more.

These amazing Airwashers are available in three sizes (in black or white), for small, medium and large spaces and retail for $219, $299 and $399, respectively. You'll also want to connect with Venta on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to stay up to date on the latest and greatest from this innovative company and their one-of-a-kind products.

Other than the Airwasher LW45 I received from Venta in order to facilitate my review, I was not compensated or enticed to do this post in any way. This review is solely my honest opinion about this product.

Authentic and Delicious Mexican Food from El Burrito Loco {#ReviewCrew}

Although I never would have thought of my family as being picky eaters, when I actually stop and look at how many different meals that we can all agree on... that number is awfully low.

Therefore, when our typical dinner rotation feels so repetitive that I can't handle the same old, same old one more time, it's easy to turn to Restaurant.com to the rescue. Trying something new, not having to cook or clean, and saving money all at the same time? Count me in!

Plus, there's always the chance that we'll discover a local restaurant that we otherwise may not have and then we would have missed out on a delicious meal that left everyone full and happy! Case in point, our introduction to the tasty authentic Mexican food at nearby El Burrito Loco.

What started as a food cart in downtown Madison, WI back in 2001, El Burrito Loco was so popular that they couldn't help but open a full-fledged restaurant to keep up with their fans. These days, their delicious Mexican fare is available in a casual and friendly environment that is just right for stopping by with friends for a margarita or bringing the whole family in for a filling meal.

Considering that we're all big fans of tasty Mexican food, we were more than ready to head out for a late dinner to see what El Burrito Loco had to offer!

Right inside, we found a colorful and welcoming dining area adorned with plenty of decorations and decor that the kids were excited to point out.

After we were greeted, shown to our table and settled, we took to perusing the menu... which proved to be a much more difficult feat than we initially had thought. El Burrito Loco has a full selection of appetizers, soups, salads, tacos, quesadillas, fajitas, burritos, enchiladas, chimichangas, and more that all looked delicious!

At the same time, we were pleased to see that there was a separate children's menu included so that we were easily able to order "traditional" kids' items or a smaller quesadilla meal just for them.

Once we had finally decided and ordered, my husband and I sipped our margaritas and the kids pointed out all of the various photos on the walls, the "fancy" way that the napkins were folded in the glasses, the instruments on display and more...

...and, before we knew it, our food had arrived. Yum, yum and yum!

Our orders of (clockwise from top left) a Kid's Quesadilla Meal, Quesadilla Sencilla, Mexican Fajitas, and Enchiladas Verdes arrived piping hot, full of flavor and extremely delicious. There really wasn't much more that we could have asked for and the silence that fell over our table as we all dug in and enjoyed our dishes spoke for itself!

Big Sister E tends to be the most particular when it comes to trying a new restaurant or meal, but when I saw how she was happily clearing her plate along with the rest of us, I knew that we had found a hit!

In fact, we were so pleased with our dinners that why not complete the evening with a little dessert?

While the traditional Flan was light and moist with just enough sweetness, the Chocolate Flan was a fantastic combination of custard, chocolate cake and chocolate chips that was melt-in-your-mouth delectable. Everything is better with chocolate!

We found that the prices at El Burrito Loco were competitive and reasonable to begin with, but of course the fact that we used a Restaurant.com gift certificate made the whole meal even more of a bargain! I have no doubt that we'll be visiting again as, from start to finish, this restaurant left us all satisfied, happy and talking about returning to try even more tasty menu items.

For more information about El Burrito Loco, including their full menu, Happy Hour, catering options and more, visit ElBurritoLocoLLC.com and connect with them on Facebook and Twitter. To find out about all of the money-saving options that Restaurant.com has to offer in your area (or in an area that you are planning to visit), head over to Restaurant.com as well as on Facebook and Twitter.

As a member of the Restaurant.com Review Crew, I have been provided gift cards and compensation in order to facilitate my reviews. However, all thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.