This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hampton Hotels. All opinions are 100% mine.

Have you heard of the Hampton Chain of Friends Sweepstakes?  Grand Prize is a weekend at a Hampton Hotel for you and 100 of your close friends!  They are also 100 First Prizes, which are weekend stays given away daily for a winner and three of their friends. All you have to do is click the link above and fill out the form. It will take 2 minutes, tops!

I would love to win this sweepstakes.  When I was younger, my girlfriends and I would rent a hotel room in Austin and then go to Sixth Street, the entertainment district.  Sixth Street is live music, restaurants, galleries, bars, eclectic shops and many places to meet and talk with others.  We would visit the street early for happy hour, grab some hors d’oeuvres and return to the hotel to nap, swim or take a Jacuzzi.

We would go back out to Sixth Street about 9 PM to find a good seat for the live music, which started about 10 pm. Those were the good old days, when there was never a cover charge. After partying to 2 am, we would either go back to the hotel and go to sleep or invite some friends back to the hotel and continue the party until dawn, when we would go eat breakfast.

I would love to recreate the old days for my friends. I do not know if there are 100 of us left, but between my friends, their friends, my family and their friends, we could come close to 100. We certainly would not make it until 2 am, let alone dawn, but we could do all the touristy type of things we never did when we lived in Austin.

My suggested day would begin with an Austin Duck Tour in a Hydra Terra vehicle that drives on the street and then drives right into the water. Then I would like to visit Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, the Blanton Museum on the UT campus and the Texas State Capitol.

I would swim in the Barton Springs Pool and walk the Hike and Bike Trail around Lady Bird Lake. I would eat at the Old Pecan Street Cafe, where they have the greatest deserts in the world. Then I would walk to Maggie Mae’s, and look over Sixth Street from their rooftop bar.

At sunset, I would sit on the outside patio of the Four Seasons and drink champagne by the glass.  As it grew dark, I would wait for the bats to come out from under the Congress Street Bridge. Finally, I would wind my way back to the hotel for a cooling swim.  I would turn in early after making my plans for the next day of fun.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Victorinox Swiss Army. All opinions are 100% mine.

My first Swiss Army Knife had a tiny pair of scissors, a toothpick, a nail file and a blade. I kept that knife in my car for emergency repairs and used it for years. Unfortunately, as soon as my sons saw it, it disappeared. Recently, I received a Dual Pro X, which is modeled after the Victorinox Swiss Army Soldier Knife. You better believe I am hiding this one from my sons and husband!

The Dual Pro X is advanced when compared to my old knife. The Dual Pro X has two one-hand locking blades (one serrated), a Phillips screwdriver, a small screwdriver, a large locking screwdriver, a can opener, a bottle opener, a wire stripper and a small curved knife blade. Keep your Dual Pro X close by using the attached key chain.

My Dual Pro X has already been a great help to me.  A few weeks ago, my car would not start, so I used the screwdriver to loosen the battery terminals.  I used the knife blade to clean the corrosion off the battery terminals.  What I really like is the large one-handed locking blade.  It is so easy to open and it stays opened, making the knife much safer.

Visit the Facebook fan page for Victorinox Swiss Army and participate in Share the Adventure.  You could win Victorinox Swiss Army products or a $25,000 Ultimate Adventure!

Do you have a person for whom it is hard to buy gifts? Visit the Victorinox Swiss Army site and pick out a truly unique, quality tool that you can give with pride.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of SaferBrand. All opinions are 100% mine.

I recently tried an alternative to ordinary petroleum-based pesticides. I planted tomatoes and insects swarmed the tender shoots as soon as they broke the soil. EndALL insect spray, listed with Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) that specifies which products may be used in production and processing of items that are to be certified organic under the USDA National Organic Program.

The ingredients of EndALL are extract of Neem oil, from a tree found in the middle East; Potassium salts of fatty acids (soap salts); and pyrethrums, a plant-based natural pesticide.  This insect spray is markedly less toxic to the environment than most pesticides. After reading the ingredients, I felt better about using the EndALL spray on my tomatoes.

The package insert stated I could use the spray ten times in a growing season, every three days if necessary. I am happy to report that the tomatoes are doing well and I have not had a recurrence of insect infestation since the first treatment.  The thing I like best about EndALL is that there is NO ODOR to the spray.  If anything, the spray has a light floral scent.

EndALL insect spray comes in a recyclable 32-ounce spray bottle.  You simply shake the bottle before using, turn the sprayer cap on and away from your face and spray the plants lightly. Do not spray to the point that the spray runs off the plants.  Wash your hands after using, be careful using around children and animals, do not spray around water because this spray is toxic to fish and other aquatic life.

SaferBrand makes many products for the home and garden that will take care of your problems with insects, disease and weeds.  The website has free information on vegetable and flower gardening, composting, identifying insects and plant disease and being planet-friendly with chemicals.  This is a site to bookmark and visit repeatedly.

Originally, the only trailer made by Scamp was the 13 foot trailer. The 16 foot Scamp was developed in 1978. Three years later the  19 foot fifth wheel was added. Now, you have a choice of  floor plans and options for 13 foot, 16 foot and 19 foot trailers.

All three sizes of Scamp trailers have been designed to be towed by the small cars, SUVs, vans, and trucks of today. The aerodynamic design assures high fuel efficiency. The trailer is lightweight and easy to maneuver. The hard shell fiberglass means it is well insulated for all season traveling.  The 16 foot Scamp weighs approximately 1750 pounds, with a hitch weight of approximately 165 pounds.

The Scamp has a full sized air conditioner as well as a bathroom module (one piece toilet, shower and sink with drain in floor).  The large dinette makes into a large bed.

The 19-foot 5th-wheel trailer adds a queen-sized loft bed and bunks. The inside of your Scamp may be customized and upgraded. If you want to get more information, to see other other floor plans, or to get a quote, visit ScampTrailers.com

Heartland created the MPG micro-lightweight travel trailer. There are four floorplans from which to choose  and four different exterior graphics colors and themes to suit you.  Can be towed by many of today’s popular crossover vehicles and smaller SUVs.  Below are just two floorplans and specifications for the MPG 181 and MPG 185.  For other plans and specs, please visit Heartland.