{Review} SC Johnson Smart and Easy Spring Cleaning from BzzAgent

A little over a week ago I received my Bzzkit from BzzAgent.com for the SC Johnson Smart and Easy Spring Cleaning campaign.  It was just in time because this week (Spring Break), I was starting my Spring cleaning.

In the kit I received "Scrubbing Bubbles® Mega Shower Foamer with Extend-A-Clean™ that keeps your bathroom cleaner for longer to Scrubbing Bubbles® Toilet Cleaning Gel which eliminates odors as it cleans with a fresh scent. From Glade® Limited Edition Spring Collection fragrances that fill your rooms with the fresh scent of spring, to the new PlugIns® Scented Oil refill bottle that now fits both Glade® and Airwick®* Scented Oil warmers. And Pledge® Lemon Clean."

It was pretty much a complete package for Spring cleaning.  The first thing I used was the Scrubbing Bubbles shower cleaner and the SB toilet cleaning gel. Both worked very well but I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised by just how well the toilet gel worked... and still working just as well as when I first applied it.  Just a little dab really does do it!

My favorite item in the bzzkit was the Glade candle... when I opened the box, the scent already began to fill the room and after I lit the candle, the sweet smell was the perfect touch to a clean bathroom. 

I will be testing the other products today througout the weekend... I much say, I am looking forward to getting my Spring cleaning finished.

BzzAgent.com sent me some great coupons with this bzzkit.  If you are local, and interested in grabbing a few, let me know.

{My Thoughts} Tax Cuts = Life Cuts

Last night, I went to sleep worried, and woke up irritated.  Never in my life did I think tax issues would ever get me so heated that I would want to write about them.  Now do not get me wrong, I know tax issues constantly affect me... but to the point of not being able to focus on my daily life... nope, never thought it would be like this.

When tax cuts are proposed, schools always seem to be in the line up of the victims.  That is something I may not ever understand.  The chance of our country, state, county and even down to the city being able to thrive as a successful community revolves around OUR children.  The children who we teach now, will lead in the future. 

Here I am in Duval county, Jacksonville, Florida... home of the... umm... well... soon to be sportless, artless, busless school system.  Oh yes Duval, good luck getting new families to want to move here to buy up the empty, foreclosed homes.  I wonder if we will ever host a Superbowl here in Jacksonville again if the country finds out we do not support school sports.  Doesn't the city make money during the Superbowl?  What are we going to cut to make up for that loss?

Oh wait, I forgot to mention a possible 4 day school week... that I am quite sure the county will not be picking up the tab for childcare so parent's can go to work that 5th day.  Hopefully, the state welfare budget has enough extra funds for the families that will have less income because there work week has to be cut short... or they could just give the funds to the parents to pay for childcare for that 5th day.

I'm a stay at home / work at home mom (at the moment... not so sure for how long with the rising gas prices) so a 4 day school schedule may not have too much impact on our family.  AND we are a family that appreciates art and music so my children may not miss out on that too much from school.  AND although gas prices are ridiculous, even if they cut our buses, my husband and I would be able to provide transportation for our children to go to school...

AND THEN comes sports...

My son has played sports since he was 4 years old.  T-Ball and flag football at 4 are great entertainment.  Sports through the elementary years are exciting.  Then comes a time in every young athletes life who decides to stick with sports, when they begin to play with the middle school and later high school team, that they may just be able to go to college thanks to a sports scholarship.

School sports in Duval county is the only thing keeping some kids in school, giving them a reason to keep their grades up, and the only hope for some to go to college. It teaches character, discipline and so much more. I do not believe there are any programs in schools that would be considered a waste... each program does something for OUR children whether we understand it or not.



No more sports in school will also hurt our entire community. We will have more kids on the street, without educations, job training and a positive goal for life... which equals higher crime rates... and then of course equal lower property values (just something to think about for those who think this will not impact them).  School sports is not just about allowing our kids to "play a game" on the school budget, it's about keeping OUR kids in check... and it works!

My son who started playing sports at 4 and is now 13, will graduate from high school with or without sports... because "I said so!" He know this... and he understands, and agrees.  In our house, sports does not determine if he stays in school BUT it DOES determine whether he may attend a 4 year college or not. 

Isaac, my son, makes good grades.  He has only missed honor roll a few times and it was because he had straight A's.  Sadly, that is not good enough for an academic scholarship.  It is however good enough for a possible sports scholarship since he plays multiple school sports.

This morning, while listening to our elected (not necessarily by me) government officials talk about school cuts, a cold feeling hit the pit of my stomach... I may actually have to depend on winning the lottery to afford to send my son, who is filled with so much great potential, to go to college.  Now I know Isaac does not have a guaranteed college sports scholarship coming his way, but he (as well as many others) have a fair chance... or should I say, did (if certain lawmakers get their way). 

So where is the silver lining?  I am usually good at finding it...

Well I can say, if this happens the way that our anti-childrens' future, local government officials want it to happen, maybe when all the money they save from cutting programs is schools and later spent (and some) on expanding and building new jails and prisons because "our" children who once had a future end up there OR when I can afford to buy one of their mult-million dollars homes for just under 200k because the property value dropped so low, maybe then I can look back at this letter and say, "I told you so."  Too bad I know that the ol' "I told you so" line, never actually makes one feel better.

{Review & Giveaway} Purex Complete Crystals Softener

A few weeks ago I was selected to be a Purex Insider and asked to provide a review for Purex Complete Crystals Softner.  Laundry in this house is known as "The never ending story..." so any help on making doing laundry easier, I'm all for trying it.

I decided to try it out on my son's clothes first... after all, he is a 13 year old boy, so his clothes need the most work.  I figured if the Purex Complete Crystals Softner can help his clothes, they have my vote.

My 2nd favorite thing about the crystals is that they are used during the 1st step of doing the laundry.  They are adding directly at the beginning of the wash.  No more waiting for the rinse cycle and forgetting like I do.

The crystals are 92% natural, and are made of a unique crystal form that works differently than traditional oil-based softeners that coat fabrics with oily residue and it infuses fibers with long-lasting fragrance.

There are three scents available: Fresh Spring Waters, Lavender Blossom, and Tropical Splash. I tested the Fresh Spring Waters.  Upon opening the bottle, it smelled good... but after pulling the clean clothes out of the dryer... well... umm... let me share with you what my 13 year old son said:

"Mom, what did you do to my clothes? They smell so good. Can you make my room smell like this?!?" <--- My 1st favorite thing about the Purex Complete Crystals Softners.

Oh how I wish I could... but can I?  As we speak, his sheets are in the washing machine with the Purex Complete Crystals Softeners, working their magic.

Mom tested, Entire Family Approved!

The Purex Complete Crystals Softeners range from about $3.99 - $5.99... HOWEVER since you just sat here and read my experience and thoughts on this great product, you can enter to win a FREE bottle for yourself.

To enter: Leave a comment with a little tid bit with your feelings about laundry. Please keep in mind this is a family blog, and no matter how you may actually feel about laundry, keep it PG.  Besides, these crystals are going to make doing laundry so much better.

Would you like an extra entry? Hop on over to my Frugal & Fabulous Facebook page and "LIKE" me. Leave me a comment under the post for the review and giveaway and come back here and comment that you did it... VIOLA, you will have a 2nd entry.

Follow my blog publicly to score a 3rd entry. Make sure you comment below letting me know you did.

*I will use random.org to select a winner.  Giveaway closes Sunday 3/13/2011 at 10:23pm

Let your friends know about this giveaway too.  If I reach 25 people entering, I will give 1 bottle to 2 different winners.  If 50 or more people enter, I will give away 1 bottle to 3 winners.  The more the merrier!!!