One of my favorite items to find for our Walt Disney World vacation was a princess dress for my daughter Lily. You simply cannot go to Disney without a princess dress! I made Lily a reservation at the Bippity Boppity Boutique so that she could get the full Princess experience. Lily talked about becoming a princess for months so I was so excited when I found this Deluxe Rapunzel Dress by Little Adventures.

Here are some things I kept in mind when I was looking for a costume for Lily:

1. Florida is H-O-T. You want a costume in a breathable material. Lily’s cousins changed out of their costumes because of the heat, but Lily was able to stay in hers all day. Part of the fun of the fun of doing Bippity Boppity Boutique is being a princess all over the parks! Cast members addressed her as princess the entire day which she absolutely loved.

2. Disney World is full of sticky, messy treats. Having a costume that is machine washable is crucial when you are up against chocolate-dipped Mickey. I loved not having to worry about Lily’s dress being ruined forever at meal times. I did come prepared with bibs and a Tide stain stick, but I had peace of mind knowing I could run it down to the Art of Animation laundromat at the end of the day.

3. Your child is going non-stop all day. Your little girl will be dancing in parades, climbing in Dumbo’s play land, and running all over the parks. Her costume needs fit well and stay on! My daughter has some $10 Princess outfits that are fun for dress up at home, but are not ideal for the parks because of the velcro. You do not want to be doing up velcro all day! Believe me! The costumes from Mom Approved have no buttons or tie. Just slip easily right over the head!

4, Get the most bang for your buck. The dress Lily selected was on par as far as cost with the ones online at Disney.com. However, I love the material and look of hers much more! I’ve been a fan of the brand Mom Approved Costumes uses for years. Lily was able to wear her first Rapunzel dress until she grew out of it with no tearing or seams coming undone. Mom Approved Costumes does have several more affordable, but still high quality dresses that will save you money compared to the boutique prices.

5. Make sure it is comfortable.  If you are anything like my family, you open the parks and close them down at night. An itchy underskirt is not going to be fun after the first hour! The dress has to be in a soft, stretchy material that allows your princess to run, jump, and twirl to her heart’s content in the Florida heat. We made a huge mistake on the shoes we bought for our daughter – don’t make that same mistake. Keep your princess comfy and happy!

6. Guaranteed Princess satisfaction. With the Bippity Boppity Boutique there are no guarantees on selection and sizes. Your daughter may have her heart set on Elsa and Anna, but they may not be in stock! Buying a dress before hand guarantees that your princess has the dress she desires. It is also easier to match the accessories before hand as well.

Now mamas, Halloween is NEXT MONTH so now is the time to get those Anna and Elsa dresses before they sell out! Mom-Approved Costumes is also fully stocked with Sleeping Beauty, Belle, Merida, and all your other favorite princesses, too.

And don’t forget about your little men! How darling is this Prince Charming suit? 

If you are already set for Halloween, remember that Christmas will follow shortly behind (I know! I know! I’ve always got to think ahead). Seriously, if you are planning a Disney trip for next year – how fun would it be to surprise your daughter with one of these dresses under the Christmas tree?!?

Be sure to follow Mom Approved Costumes on Facebook for some fabulous giveaways and specials as well! You don’t want to miss out!

I received this darling costume in exchange for this review. I have purchased the products before and I love the quality! All opinions are my own. 

Who is your child’s favorite Disney princess?

Who is your child being for Halloween this year?

Have you ever worn costumes to Disney?

The post Tips on finding the perfect costume for your princess appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

Let it Go. Let it Go! Have you heard that delightful song as much as I have this year? My daughter loves Frozen and so do her cousins! When we went to Walt Disney World, her cousin was lucky enough to score an Anna dress to take to the Bibbidi Boppity Boutique! Isn’t she a darling Anna? Something tells me that these costumes are going to be hot for Halloween this year! Excited to share some Frozen Hair Tutorials at the bottom of this post (skip to them if you just can’t wait) and also let you know about a FABULOUS sale on 8/28 on zulily that you cannot miss if you have a little Elsa or Anna wannabe! But first … these shoes.

Seriously. Adorable.

My sister-in-law and I did some shopping before our big trip to help keep the costs down. One of my favorite places to score deals on Disney merchandise is zulily. I scored this adorable swimsuit and cover-up for under $25! The savings for the Frozen sale are just as amazing – up to 60 percent off! Save those extra pennies for my next Disney vacation! (PS – if you are getting ready to book your 2016 Southern California vacations – check out Get Away Today for amazing deals! Use my special code – KMFWM – to get $10 off your vacation package!)

Let’s get a closer look at the adorableness. I also picked up swimwear for my boys as well from zulily.

Love saving on adorable vacation wear! So here are the details for the zulily Frozen sale TOMORROW (Thursday, August 28). We’ve got 8 weeks until Halloween so it is time to get shopping! Not to mention perfect the goodies from this Frozen sale are perfect for Christmas presents or getting ahead of time for your trips. The sale will have apparel, toys, and gear – everything on your little princesses list! So click on this link and get to shopping! To get you and your little one in the spirit of the sale, zulily has put together some special tutorials on how to create the magical updos and braids of Anna and Elsa. Better get practicing so you have it perfected by the time the dresses arrive!

Happy Braiding!  

Who do your children want to be for Halloween this year?

Are you dressing up? Who are you going to be?

Tell the truth, how much of your Christmas shopping do you have done?

The post Frozen Hair Tutorials + a Frozen Sale! appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

I recently had the chance to learn more about the Weigh to Health Program from Intermountain Healthcare. I spent the evening with a nutritionist and trainer getting excited about small changes that will make a big difference in my family’s health and wellness.

The nutritionist spoiled us with a fast and easy meal that even children will love. We went over the Weigh to Health Program step by step to see how easily it can fit into our day to day lives.

I am excited to be offering four entries to the program to four lucky readers!

Fill out the form below for a chance to be entered into the Weigh to Health® program from Intermountain Live Well!

The Weigh to Health® program can help you feel better every day. You’ll learn how to make changes in your life that will help you lose extra weight. Those same changes will also help you:

• Have more energy

• Be more confident

• Reduce stress

• Sleep better

• Be more active

• Manage chronic health conditions

We’re giving away four (4) entries to the program. Enter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rafflecopter – Giveaway
www.rafflecopter.com

The post Live Well Utah Giveaway to help you get healthy! appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

Last year I shared some of the ways we are saving for our Disney vacation. With our vacation coming up next month, it’s time to update with more ways to save for Disney!

1. As I mentioned in my last post, saving for a Disney vacation boils down to determining the amount you need to save, dividing it up into monthly achievable amounts, and working toward it each month (my next tip will help you with that!). Some months I do great earning money with freelance writing and yard sale groups; while other months I concentrate more on coupon savings from our monthly budget. Find out what works best for your family and stick with it! I’ve listed a few of the coupon and cash back apps I use below as well as some more ways we’ve been able to bring in extra cash.

2. If you are new to planning Disney vacations, well-established Disney gurus like Get Away Today are invaluable! They can help you with all the details and take the stress out of vacation planning. Get Away Today is the leader in Disney vacations and since several of my blogging friends rave about them – I just had to check them out! Here’s what I found out:

• Get Away Today offers the great deals on hotels including free night specials and exclusive offers like free breakfast, free parking and waived resort fees at select hotels. (cha-ching – love those savings!)

• Discount Disneyland tickets

• Free gifts with package purchases (your kids will love this!)

Get Away Today currently has a Layaway Lock-in plan that allows you to hold your vacation (Southern California only) for as low as $125 down. Lucky for the Disneyland fans! Here are more details about the Layaway Lock-in plan:

1. $125 fee includes non-refundable $50 Layaway Plan fee.

2. $125 down payment for each room if multiple rooms are purchased. $50 fee

only applies once if rooms are booked together.

3. Make as many payments as you’d like prior to travel.

4. Vacation must be paid off two weeks prior to travel.

5. Layaway Lock-in plans may be set up online at www.getawaytoday.com or over

the phone at 855-GET-AWAY.

This Layaway Lock-in plan works perfectly with what I mentioned above about saving for a vacation. The earlier the book, the more you save. You determine the amount and when you make payments up until two weeks before the trip when you pay it in full. Start planning your summer vacation and get $10 off with this exclusive code for my readers (KeepMoving). Stay tuned into Get Away Today on Facebook for the heads up on more deals!

3.  Sponsored Tweets. If you are an avid tweeter and have followers who like to click on your links – this money-maker is for you! You set a price to be paid per advertised tweet based on your number of followers. Last August I started at .50 cents a tweet and I am up to $2.00 a tweet as my followers have grown and more people have clicked through my links. I only select tweet ads that are applicable to me and then I can personalize them. People won’t click if they don’t relate! If you are social media savvy or a blogger – this is a simple way to make a few extra bucks. I’m almost up to $100. Sign up and tweet away!

4. Shopmium.I love the new coupon apps available on your smart phone! I use several and every little bit helps. They are simple to use – see what products are available, purchase them, save your receipt and click a picture, submit, and see the moola! Right now Shopmium has Fage yogurt, toothpaste, Heinz ketchup, Mini Babybel cheese, Smuckers fruit spread, and more. If you use any of those products – you need to sign up and save on your groceries!

Just download Shopmium on your Iphone or Android and sign up with my referral code: GFCEAFVU. When you sign up, you get a Lindt chocolate bar … for free! My favorite thing about Shopmium is that there is not a minimum payout. The coupon amount goes directly into your paypal or bank account – no waiting! In the spirit of full disclosure, this is the first time I have referred Shopmium and the other coupon apps so I have not made any money from referrals – just the coupons! If you do choose to sign up, it will give me a referral bonus and you will help me on my way to Disneyworld!

5. Ibotta – Another great couponing app and the first one I signed up with! A feature that sets Ibotta apart is that it also gives cash back for restaurants like Chili’s and Quiznos. They have a larger database of coupons including ones that are specific to certain stores. Ibotta also has bonuses that are fun and will save you extra money. When you sign up for Ibotta, you can earn a $2 bonus right away. You can cash out after $5 to paypal or get a Starbucks or iTunes gift card. I’ve been using Ibotta casually and have a balance of $20 – that’ll pay for snack time at the Disney parks just by couponing and buying products that I would have bought anyway.

6. Checkout 51. I downloaded the Checkout 51 couponing app the beginning of March and have received $6.25 cash back in my account. This app has a smaller amount of cash back offers that are updated weekly, but it includes products like milk, apples, peanut butter, and bacon. They didn’t have a link I could pass on, but if you search for it in the app store, it will come up. Their payout level is $20 and they mail you a check.

7. Shop At Home. Shop At Home is similar to Swagbucks and Ebates in that you get cash back from any of your online shopping. I take a quick peek at whichever has the highest cash back rate and then shop through that site. If I am going to be shopping online, I may as well be getting money back! For example, this week I am shopping for a wedding gift at Target – I can go through Shop At Home and get 4% cash back.   If I want to do some early souvenir shopping, I can shop the sales at the Disney Store  before the trip and get cash back by going through Shop At Home as well! Get an Easter dress from Kohls (because they are doing a fabulous $10 off $30 in children’s apparel and shoes) and receive 4 percent cash back. You can see how it slowly starts to add up!

8. Watch for good credit card offers. Disney teamed up with Chase earlier this year and had a fantastic promotion. We signed up for a Disney credit card and were able to get a $200 Disney gift card after we purchased a certain amount. We put our Disney vacation package on the credit card which easily met that amount. We paid it off right away from our vacation savings so there was no interest and now have $200 for dining at Disney!

9. All of my extended family knows we are going to Disney this year. While I don’t go around asking for Disney gift cards and cash, if someone does ask what we would like for our birthdays – we tell them Disney gift cards or things for the trip. We’ve tied many of our birthday and Christmas presents into necessities for the trip. My children may find a few trip essentials in their Easter basket this year, too!

10. I am still entering giveaways as much as I can! I spend about five minutes a day entering giveaways from blogs and occasionally win helpful prizes! Since I last posted I’ve won a $50 VISA gift card, tickets to local events, and several Amazon.com gift cards that have helped with groceries.

I hope you find these tips helpful! What are other ways you save for a Disney vacation?

I’d love to pay it forward to one of my lucky readers! I’m giving away a $20 Disney Gift Card to help get you started on your savings!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for your support! 

The post More ways to save for Disney + $20 Disney Gift Card Giveaway appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

Welcome to my next post about saving money for your Disney trip. My first saving for Disney post talked about some of my favorite ways to make extra money for your vacation. Today I want to share how I am pinching pennies as I prepare for our Disney trip.

When we go to Disneyland, my children love wearing costumes and Disney-themed apparel. When you buy on property it can cost a pretty penny! Even off-property, Disney apparel can be expensive. I like to start looking for Disney items about a year in advance. I subscribe to deal blogs, local and national, and like their Facebook pages so that I am alerted to all the great deals as soon as they happen. Here are three of my favorites:

Freebies2Deals 

Money Saving Mom

Utah Sweet Savings

These three sites are fantastic for money saving ideas and deals. They save me time, too, by finding all the best deals for me! For example, I have Disney t-shirts on the list of items I am looking to buy before our big trip. Money Saving Mom posted today about a fabulous deal at The Children’s Place online. The darling shirts below are normally $12.99 and I was able to get them for $6.40 a piece plus 5 percent cash back through ShopAtHome.com. 

Did I mention free shipping? You can get the same deal today! Sign up at ShopAtHome.com and search for Children’s Place. Click through to The Children’s Place web-site and use the code V8KFAY13 to get an additional 20 percent off your order. Order your favorite tees for your little girl and check that off your packing list! Hurry, though, sizes are selling out fast!

I always use cash back programs when I shop online – which is a lot – especially when I can get free shipping. It ranges from 2% to %18 percent cash back, but every little bit helps! My favorite three cash back programs are:

Shop At Home.com

Ebates.com

Swagbucks.com

If you are going to be shopping online – you may as well get getting money back! Whenever I shop online, I quickly check out each of those three sites to see which is giving the most money back.

So happy that I was able to score these darling Disney t-shirts for my daughter today! Check that off my Disney to do list! Be sure to check out my post on how I pack all these cute clothes for my littles for some helpful tips!

What is on your packing list when you go to Disneyland?

Where do you like shopping online?

(This post includes affiliate links. I only share the sites that I actually use and make money from! I hope you save money and make it on your Disney trip, too! Say hi to Mickey for me!)

The post How to save for Disney – Disney deals! appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

Disney is a big part of our family culture. I grew up going to Disneyland and now that I’ve seen my own children’s eyes sparkle at the sight of Disney magic – we are hooked on Disney family vacations!

We are planning a Disney World  trip for next year. My brother priced it out and we discovered that it will cost about $6,000 for our family of 5 to go to Disney World.

Did I mention we are saving for a down payment on a house and for our next baby as well? When we worked out our 2013 finances, our chances of going on a cheap Disney trip were looking pretty slim. We determined that I would need to earn $400 a month OUTSIDE of our regular budget. How does a stay-at-home mom earn that kind of money? With three children under the age of five, I do not want to take on a second job. So I made a list of every way I have made money since my college days and decided to start tracking and hitting them hard.

I’ve listed below the ways I have met our Disney budget so far in 2013. I was pleasantly surprised to discover how doable it has been so far!

So my lovely readers know, I will only list companies/programs that I have actually made money from. Some of the links below are affiliate links – meaning that if you decide to sign up for Swagbucks, I get more swagbucks. Same with Ebates. Just want to be up front with you! I’m making money/saving money with those programs, though, so I want you to benefit just as much.

My five-year-old daughter sold the shoes she outgrew to earn money for Disneyworld.

1. Indoor Yard Sale. Online yard sales were big for us our first few months. I simply went on facebook and searched for our city plus the words “online” “yardsale” and “indoor.” I found five online yardsale groups in my area alone.

My husband and I went through our belongings and made a giant pile of items that we no longer use or love. FYI- we are living in my in-laws basement apartment – we don’t have a house full of antiques and lots of extras. But we did find a lot of things that we aren’t using and we were able to do $403 in sales so far this year. The best part is that my five-year-old daughter has got in on the action and decided to sell some of her old shoes – she’s happily made $5 for Disney so far!

2.On-line Giveaways/Sweepstakes. I love entering online giveaways/contests/sweepstakes. So far this year I have won:

• $5 Amazon.com gift card through a trivia contest via Love of Disney.
• Butcher’s Bunches Jam from Mama Mouse Says
• A Very Jane Bubble Necklace and concert tickets from Jani Serendipity
• Martha Stewart Wall Organizer from Organize and Decorate Everything
• Thanksgiving Point Family Pass from Utah Sweet Savings
• $25 Gift Certificate to Fab Decor
• $20 to Little Prince Couture

Only the $5 Amazon.com gift card counts toward our savings, but the rest of the prizes are nice ways to treat ourselves while on a tight budget! Be sure to check these web-sites out for more great giveaways.

3. Swagbucks. In January & February I earned $15 worth of Amazon.com gift cards. I earn “swagbucks” through my regular searches, daily polls, and a few easy surveys. I buy all of my diapers (cheaper than Costco) on Amazon.com so this definitely helps save us money.

4. Costco rebate. We have an American Express through Costco. It earns cash back from our purchases. We put our bigger purchases on the card and then immediately pay them off. We get a nicely sized rebate twice a year. This last rebate was 216.65

5. Freelance work. I received $200 for doing social media for a company and my husband received $75 for web work he did for a preschool. Think of any skills that you could use – babysitting, yard work, editing, etc.

6. Ebates. I do a lot of my Christmas/gift shopping online. I follow deal sites like Freebies2deals and local deal sites like UtahSweetSavings. Love the ease of having things shipped straight to my door. When I see a good deal, I first go to Ebates.com and then click through to the store via their site. Depending on the store, you can get anywhere between 2 to 16 percent cash back on your purchases. I received $13.79 in January.

7. Secret Shopping. I do restaurant reviews for several companies in the area. Typically you get reimbursed for your purchase and a little extra. So far this year, I have received $48.48 for secret shopping doing two shops.

These seven ways of making money have helped us meet our goals so far this year. We have our Disney World trip in sight! I will update the blog each month letting you know how we are setting aside that little bit extra for the big vacation.

What ways do you save money for vacation?

Linking up to Works for Me Wednesday and the Mommy Club

The post How to save for a Disney trip appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

I went skiing on Wolf Mountain last Thursday and it was fantastic to get out of the inversion! FYI – if you live in Utah and have never been skiing before – Wolf Mountain is the perfect ski resort to learn. Full post to come on that soon. But until then ….

Groupon is offering some fantastic deals on Wolf Mountain Ski Resort lift tickets!

You can choose from these four options:

• $49 for two full-day adult lift tickets (a $70 value)
• $89 for four full-day adult lift tickets (a $140 value)
• $29 for two full-day child or senior lift tickets (up to a $54 value)
• $59 for four full-day child or senior lift tickets (up to a $108 value)

Take advantage of the late snow and get out of the inversion!

My five year old Lily and I did and we had an incredible day! Wolf Mountain was ideal for beginning skiers like us, but our more experienced friends were having a great time as well.

Wolf Mountain Ski Resort Phot0 Courtesy of House Wife Eclectic

The post Wolf Mountain Ski Deal appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.