A couple of weeks ago, I headed out to Los Angeles for the Savings.com Deal Pro Event.  This event was the kick off to the Savings Nation Savings workshops I will be offering! It included training on the program, sessions to help our blogs, networking with other bloggers, and of course a little fun mixed in.

If you missed my previous post on the Savings Nations Workshops, I am partnering with Savings.com as one of the first phase DealPro Ambassadors for their new Savings Nation program. Savings Nation is a series of workshops all over the Nation to help you save money and maximize YOUR savings on everyday essentials.  I will be teaching classes in throughout Indiana with a focus on Central Indiana. These classes will help YOU learn to live better on a budget because we believe there is no such thing as small change!

<<—Pictured: Maria, Mitchell, Sara, Andrea, Melissa, Sami, and me

By the time I got into Los Angeles on Thursday, it was around 3 a.m. Eastern Time so I was a little off my game. You don’t know how much a three hour time difference is going to affect you until it hits you hard the next morning!  At least I was very motivated to wake up early the next morning so I could take a walk along this….

Yeah, who wouldn’t be motivated to wake up when there is BEACH waiting for you! Oh, the beach air and smell!  The brief 45 minute walk along the beach in Santa Monica was all I got at the beach so don’t be too jealous! Thankfully, the sessions were fantastic so I didn’t feel too deprived by being cooped up in the office all day.

Loren Bendele, CEO of Savings.com, kicked off the event with a warm welcome to all of us Deal Pros…

Toni, The Happy Housewife, showed off the Savings Nation workbooks, which is what all of you who attend the classes will receive! I’m very excited about this professional put together presentation and workbook!

On Friday night, we dined at the Sonoma Wine Garden for dinner and wine. The pumpkin ravioli is delicious!

Melissa (Saving Cents with Sense) and Me

On Saturday night, Savings.com hosted a red-carpet event with a DJ (me + dancing = not pretty), drinks, dinner. There was this thing I thought was a margarita fountain but it was really a lemonade fountain. Now I have the idea that a margarita fountain would be a big hit at any event! ;) Better yet, they brought in a ice cream sandwich truck, Coolhaus for a yummy treat.

The event itself was fantastic. Getting home was another issue! About 20 minutes into the flight, the pilot came on the intercom and gave us news that you don’t really want to hear on a plane, “Sorry folks, I have some bad news for you.  The landing gear hatch is stuck and we are going to have to turn around and go back to Los Angeles. It’s nothing to worry about but we are going to have to turn around as we can’t fly with the wheels hanging out.” (the technical stuff is paraphrased – I just heard Bad News.Landing Gear.Have to turn around.)

About 45 minutes of circling the airport, where we were probably dumping fuel, and getting closer to land on each rotation, we landed at LAX greeted by emergency personnel, which seemed to surprise my fellow passengers. HELLO people, the pilot did say we were having landing gear issues, whether or not it was because it wouldn’t tuck up into the airport or not, I still thought it could be an issue when we landed.

We did make a safe landing, obviously, which was fabulous, but it did affect my travel plans. I think I was awake for about 36 hours before I finally made it home. I think I’m still trying to catch up on that sleep to this day!

Oh, and they did give us a $6 meal voucher from the ordeal! I’m very grateful that we didn’t crash but I considering it took me an additional 14 hours to get home, I would have thought some type of compensation was appropriate. Of course, I emailed my airline and they did offer a $75 travel voucher and some miles for my inconvenience. It never hurts to email companies when you are satisfied with their service or in this case dissatisfied. 

This did not put a damper on the Savings.com trip, though. Even completely exhausted, it was fun to hang out with some of my long time blogging friends and meet new friends too!

A special thank you to all of the Save Up ’12 sponsors:

• BH Cosmetics
• The Body Shop
• Bowflex
• CowBoom.com
• Gevalia
• Ghirardelli
• HP
• McAfee
• Sierra Trading Post

Andrea, Jen, Erin, Melissa, Mindi, and me

Interested in a coupon class? You can find more information about the Savings Nation classes or see a calendar of upcoming events. If you would like me to come to your town or your organization would like to know how you can host a coupon workshop as a fundraiser, please fill out this coupon class interest form.

Photo credit to John of Cizmas

As a White Cloud Blogger or as my blogging friends affectionately call me, a TP blogger, one of the perks was visiting a paper mill in Quebec, which was a very exciting trip for many reasons. First for my great welcome into the country by Canadian Immigration {sarcasm}, then for getting to spend time with a few of my favorite bloggers, and lastly because yes, toilet paper production IS exciting.

The trip was not completely hampered by a slight detainment by Canadian Immigration officials, eh. Yes, I know I look threatening and like I’m totally visiting Canada to do something illegal.  I’m sure they felt I was sketchy when I was said I was a blogger when asked what I was going to be doing in the country. Even more so when I said mom blogger. Maybe, blogging hasn’t reached Canada yet, eh?

Basically, instead of giving a simple answer to the simple question, “What will you be doing in Canada,” I gave a completely truthful yet rambling answer. Apparently the truth is makes you a suspicious character. Therefore, I was sent to a special area of immigration. Questioned extensively again, put in a separate room while they checked out my “story,” No, they couldn’t just hop onto to my website and visit the White Cloud Blogger.

I probably should have used the named Kruger Products or Cashmere since White Cloud is not sold in Canada. Who knows what they thought the White Cloud was.

While it felt like hours, it was probably a total of an hour I had to endure the cold silence. I was given no explanation at all why I was sent there. So of course, one might get a little teary eye from frustration and anger.

Apparently, my story checked out. I was released. However, the immigration official decided to give me a lecture that I couldn’t cry. I couldn’t be upset. Apparently, this is completely routine. So completely routine that I saw hundreds of people walking straight on through while only just three in this special area. Well, folks, my mama taught me that noone can tell you how to feel and I let this lovely welcoming committee of one know. I’m really surprised she handed me my passport back after I told her “No one can tell me how to feel. I can cry if I want to.” {Kind of feel like letting the Cyndi Lauper out every time I think of it!}

‘It’s not that common, it’s doesn’t happen to every traveler, and it is a big deal!’

Needless to say, the trip didn’t start out on the right foot as I was ready to go home and get the double hockey sticks out of Canada. This unpleasant start of my trip didn’t ruin my trip to Canada. Take that Immigration!

As soon as I was let free, I was able to meet up with our group and head to the Paper Mill. We were warmly welcomed by the Kruger Products staff, which is the company who manufactuer’s White Cloud Products for use in the United States and the leading manufacturer of tissue, towels, and bath tissue in Canada with well known brands such as Cashmere, Scotties, and White Swan. Let me say, their welcoming was much better than the lovely immigration officials.

I’m looking back at my notes I took during the wonderful presentation and overview Steffan gave and I can barely read my own hand writing. However, I do remember the basics and took plenty of pictures to share with you.

Kruger Products, which was established in 1904,  is a 5th generation family owned-corporation, which has a diversified portfolio. They go beyond just paper products, they have an Energy Division and Wine & Spirits among others. They employ over 9,000 employees in North America and Europe.

Many of the products manufactured by Kruger, besides the White Cloud Green Earth products are made with recycled fibers. Kruger purchases most of the post consumer waste from the New York area and Eastern Canada.

For those of you who are interested in the green aspect of White Cloud like Green and Clean Mom, you will be happy to know White Cloud can proudly claim the Terra Choice Certification. Because of their process of White Cloud Green Earth, which we were able to see but can’t show due to it being a trade secret, White Cloud Green Earth has a softer feel than other green bath tissue on the market.

For those of you who only use green bath tissue products, with White Cloud Green Earth you no longer have to suffer anymore because you will get a wonderful softness you can not get with any other green product on the market on top of a great low price!

Not only is the White Cloud Green Earth bath tissue far superior, Kruger is also working towards many goals to reduce waste, energy consumption, and emissions. All things that are great for the environment.

What I think is truly amazing about the entire bath tissue process is it only takes seconds to actually make it from start to finish.

It starts with paper.

Then it becomes a slushly mess with 95% water and 5% paper.

Then it gets rolled out flat into rolls like this, which received several hilarious comments from my Facebook Page. (Cuz if you were following me on Facebook, you had access to some of these fun pictures before I created this post!)

Then the rolls are stored like this…

These giant inner rolls are ready for the bath tissue to be added to it.

Then the rolls are cut so fast, you don’t even see it happening. It was so mesmerizing.

It is then packaged. The day we visited they were manufacturing Cashmere.

Overall, the trip was fun with wonderful people. I did not let that first hour of my time in Canada ruin the entire trip. Though, I doubt I will be making any voluntary trips back anytime soon!

The trip also reinforced my idea that White Cloud is a company I want to represent and want to work with. White Cloud is the only company in North America with the technology to support making a recycled paper product that is high quality AND reasonably price. White Cloud is truly the Smart Alternative.

Disclosure: White Cloud has compensated me for my time on this project. Rest assured, all opinions and thoughts are always my own. My goal as always is to help you save time and money. For more information read my disclosure policy.

I’ve got a couple of Blog Conferences under my belt now with Blissdom in February and most recent Blogher in Chicago. I’ve felt both of the conferences have been great experiences to connect with other bloggers and make live long friendships.

No one really gets bloggers but bloggers. August 13 – 15, Indiana bloggers will be able to connect and learn from other Indiana bloggers.

I’m very excited about and nervous about speaking on a panel on Saturday, August, 15, 2009 at a Blog Indiana. Especially speaking with such savvy women who I admire on the panel: Heather Sokol (justheather.com), Amy Clark (momadvice.com), Casey Mullins (mooshinindy.com), and Stephanie Precourt (adventuresinbabywearing.com).

The whole conference is expensive compared to the other conferences I’ve been to in the past but the Social Media Summit on Saturday is very afforable. Plus, I have a special discount code for my readers.

You can attend the Saturday only sessions for just $39.20 with momblogsrock coupon code.

Other Panels on Saturday besides the Mom Panel include:

• Business
• Foodies
• Tech

So will I see you there? I would love to meet you! It is not required to live in Indiana to come!

A few weeks ago, Casey aka Moosh in Indy, invited me to a Pledge Pampering for you and your PC event at the Villaggio Day Spa. While we were getting pampered with mani, pedis, and massages courtsey of Pledge, our computers were getting pampered as well. You can save a little dough by using a product like Pledge Multi Surface which you can use on almost every surface in your house instead of having numerous different products for every job!

Pledge Multi Surface works on wood, wood laminate, plastics, stainless steel, glass, mirrors, electronics, and granite. Which is nice because you can clean something like your computer surface and your computer screen with one product. It also comes in two wonderful fragrances: Rainshower and Lavendar Fresh.

Casey is a brave soul exposuing her cleaning challenges on Pledge’s microsite, HowICleanNow.com. In my case it would be how I don’t clean now! 5 bloggers bare all in these cleaning confessionals. There is also tips and advice from cleaning expert, Trish Suhr.

The best part of the event besides the pampering was getting to meet some fabulous ladies who blog in the Indy area plus meeting the Pledge gals, Lindsay and Jamie. I was able to catch up with some bloggers I already know like Emily and Cherie. As well as meet some new faces such as Erika, Anna, Chris, Polina, Judy, Michelle, and Heather.

Best part for YOU, there is a $1 off 1 Multi Surface Pledge Coupon and one lucky reader will win Pledge Multi Surface in Rainshower and Lavendar Fresh.

How to Win?

Easy Entry: What is YOUR cleaning challenge?

Bonus entries (Up to 4 additional entries):

• Blog about this giveaway.
• Post the Bargain Briana widget on your blog, facebook page, myspace, etc.
• Grab my button. (It is on my sidebar)
• Subscribe to my free newsletter via email or RSS. (You don’t want to miss out on any deals/giveaways!!!)
• Digg, Technorati, Twitter, Stumble, etc. If you twitter, be sure to include me (@bargainbriana) in the twitter so it see it.

Leave a separate comment for each extra entry. It is very important that you leave a separate comment for each additional extra entry.

Ends around 6/26/2009 at 11:59 EST. (As long as you can still comment you can enter!) Winner, chosen by random.org, will be announced on the Giveaway Winners Page by 06/27/2009 and I will contact you shortly. (If winner doesn’t respond to my email within 48 hours, I will pick another winner.)

Want to win more? Enter to win the rest of my current giveaways!

Need a quick, inexpensive Valentine’s Gift?

One of the many great people I met at Blissdom09, Beth Rosen of the Mid Life Wife, has a great vlog with her friend Laura about 5 gifts you can make in 5 minutes for $5. Check out it, Beth is a sweetheart who was so easy to talk to. Beth is also looking for guest bloggers of the week – tenured moms. Most blogs seem to be geared toward newer moms so I think it fantastic what Beth is doing.

Jendi, of Jendi’s Journal, who I didn’t get to meet, has a great round of many ideas for Valentine’s day on the cheap. We tried to tweet to find each other but it never quite worked out.

Want to make a craft project with your child?

Another fantastic person I met, Marie @ Make & Takes, and my partner our sad little September/October birthday group has a site called Make & Takes which has fabulous ideas on craft projects you can do with your children. Right now she has several easy, inexpensive Valentine ideas like Valentine Tic, Tac, Toe, Chocolate Dipped Pretzel Hearts, and a kissable treat.

Want to cook something fun?

Fellow Indiana bloggers, Sara & Mary Ellen, who shared the delicious Smashies with me have a site called Mom’s Marbles, which gives new ideas to keep moms from losing their marbles. Cute, right? Just like Sara & Mary Ellen. I first met Sara at the Ridemakerz event in December but we didn’t really get to talk because of our kids. They have a fun food idea called Queen of Hearts’ Tarts.

San Diego Mommy aka Gidget aka Nicole has some yummy treat ideas for V-day. She is just as adorable in person as she is on her blog! She is a twinsie to Marie @ Make & Takes.

Free Valentine’s Dinner Menu. Make a  meal made with love!

Have a silly picture?

Enter your favorite silly face photo to win this week’s contest at I ♥ Faces. This really has nothing to do with V-day except their logo has a ♥ in it.  Make sure to follow all the rules to enter. I have a cute picture of my son making a silly face in his baseball uniform, I plan on entering. I had the opportunity to share an outlet with the two lovely ladies – Amy &  Angie behind I ♥ Faces on Saturday.

Want a purty card for free?

Amy, Living Locurto, has free downloads galore. Most importantly for this week is a free Valentine’s Day Card downloads. You will want to check this link out for more locurtolish downloads.

P.S. I will be posting more about the fantastic women I met at Blissdom09. I met so many great mom bloggers as well as making business connections.

Have a BARGAIN Valentine Idea? Post in the comments or link it, I would love to hear your ideas!