A little of this and a little of that...

Real Steel - In Theaters Now! (Movie Review)

2011-10-09T21:52:00.001-04:00

This past Friday Real Steel opened in theaters everywhere. Did anyone go see it? What did you think? I had the pleasure of seeing an advanced screening a few week ago and was blown away. I went into the movie thinking it would be a nice action movie for my hubby and I would get to enjoy the Hugh Jackman eye candy. My thoughts were that the movie would be something like Transformers or packed with guns, explosions, blood and guts. So not my kind of thing. I prefer the romantic comedies.
That said, I am *so* glad I went because Real Steel was more than I imagined. (And no, it wasn't guns, explosions and blood and guts!) It's so much more than just an action movie. There's drama, comedy, action, suspense and love. The story is actually quite moving and powerful.

Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman) was at one time a big shot boxer but when robot boxing came about he found himself out of the boxing ring and completely down on his luck. Charlie was a high roller and made some gambling bets on robot boxing tournaments that left him out of money and with nowhere to turn. Just when he's hit rock bottom he's confronted with his past and has to quickly learn how to deal with a very witty, and somewhat cocky, 12yr old, Max (Dakota Goyo).

This movie is rated PG-13. I would love to take my 6yr old son to see the movie, as I know he would LOVE it. But because some of the language is inappropriate for his age, he's going to have to wait. Other than the language, I think the movie is great for all ages.

If you have the opportunity to see this movie in the theaters, I highly recommend it. I think seeing it on the big screen will help you grasp just how big these robots are! They're HUGE at 8 - 9 feet tall!

Below is a clip from DreamWorks Pictures’ REAL STEEL featuring Hugh Jackman (“Charlie Kenton”), Evangeline Lilly (“Bailey Tallet”) and Dakota Goyo (“Max Kenton”) as they are introduced to Charlie's newest robot, Noisy Boy.

I watched an advanced screening in exchange for this post. No other compensation was received. All opinions within are 100% my own.

Yo Gabba Gabba LIVE It's Time to DANCE!

2011-10-07T12:05:00.000-04:00

The Yo Gabba Gabba LIVE shows are the best live kids shows, hands down! Check the tour dates for a location near you! Tonight we're going to the show in Upper Darby (Philadelphia), anyone else?

YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE! RETURNS TO OVER 50 CITIES

IN NORTH AMERICA THIS FALL

Hip Hop Legend Biz Markie and Razzle Dazzle Gabba!-Favorite Leslie Hall Join DJ Lance Rock and the Colorful Cast of Characters on Stage for YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE!: It’s Time to Dance! Presented by Kia Motors

Los Angeles, CA (May 24, 2011) — On the heels of receiving two Daytime Emmy nominations, a season 4 pick up from Nickelodeon and phenomenal ticket sales for their upcoming live tour in Australia, Yo Gabba Gabba! announced they will rock the preschool and young adult set in over 50 cities across North America in 2011 when today’s hottest live show returns this fall. Enthusiastic fans of all ages have the opportunity to see the characters come to life on stage for a live show experience like no other. Kia Motors America will reprise their role as presenting sponsor of the tour. The tour will kick off in Minneapolis at the State Theatre on Thursday, September 15 and will wrap on Sunday, December 11 in Fort Lauderdale at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Citi^® is the official credit card of the tour. Visit www.YoGabbaGabbaLive.com for complete tour, ticket and VIP package information.

YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE!: It’s Time to Dance! Presented by Kia Motors promises to be a memorable experience, featuring a mix of classic Yo Gabba Gabba! favorites, as well as new songs and new performances. The state-of-the-art, high-energy production features DJ Lance Rock, Brobee, Foofa, Muno, Plex and Toodee, and a mix of music, animation, games, singing and dancing.

Yo Gabba Gabba! is one of the most popular series on television worldwide and on stage, with broad appeal among preschoolers, their indie-rock loving parents, teens and young adults. The award-winning series, created by Christian Jacobs and Scott Schultz, is produced by The Magic Store and W!LDBRAIN Entertainment. S2BN Entertainment, in association with The Magic Store and W!LDBRAIN Entertainment, produces the live show. Kia Motors America began their relationship with Yo Gabba Gabba! when they kicked off 2010 with the biggest vehicle launch in company history for the Sorento mid-size crossover. The auto-maker’s “Joyride Dream” advertising campaign included the company's first-ever Super Bowl ad, which featured Muno. Building on the momentum of the Kia Motors Sorento “Joyride Dream” campaign, Kia Motors was named the title sponsor of the fall 2010 tour of YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE!: THERE'S A PARTY IN MY CITY!.

Kia Motors Presents YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE! THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY took place in over 60 cities in the U.S. in 2010. The 2010 live show played to over 300,000 fans in sold out theatres in all major cities, including Radio City Music Hall in New York and NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles. The live show featured celebrity guest performers, including The Aquabats, Devendra Banhart, Black Kids, Zac Brown, Cold War Kids, Matt Costa, DMC (Run DMC), Drive By Truckers, Dave Grohl, John Heder, Kid Koala, Mates of State, Jack McBrayer, Mix Master Mike, Moby, Ozomatli, Shaggy, Snoop Dogg, Shooter Jennings, Steel Train, Talib Kweli, Nicole Richie, Kid Sister, Keri Russell, Lou Diamond Phillips, Jason Reitman and more.

YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE! is proud to support Baby Buggy and their work across the country. For more information, please visit: www.babybuggy.org.

Revolution Foods and Plum Organics are the official suppliers of snacks for the YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE! VIP party experience.

Tour dates for YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE! It’s Time to Dance! Presented by Kia Motors:

Thursday, September 15, 2011	Minneapolis	State Theatre
Friday, September 16, 2011	Milwaukee	Riverside Theatre
Saturday, September 17, 2011	St. Louis	Fox Theatre
Sunday, September 18, 2011	Indianapolis	Clowes Memorial Hall of Butler University
Tuesday, September 20, 2011	Cincinnati	Aronoff Center for the Arts
Thursday, September 22, 2011	Toronto	Sony Centre
Friday, September 23, 2011	Detroit	Fox Theatre
Saturday, September 24, 2011	Chicago	Rosemont Theatre
Sunday, September 25, 2011	Chicago	Rosemont Theatre
Tuesday, September 27, 2011	Akron	Akron Civic Theatre
Wednesday, September 28, 2011	Roanoke	Roanoke Performing Arts Theater
Friday, September 30, 2011	Fairfax, VA	Patriot Center
Saturday, October 1, 2011	Uniondale	Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Sunday, October 2, 2011	Boston	Agganis Arena at BU
Tuesday, October 4, 2011	Buffalo	UB Center for the Arts
Wednesday, October 5, 2011	Albany	Palace Theatre
Friday, October 7, 2011	Philadelphia	Tower Theatre
Saturday, October 8, 2011	Pittsburgh	Petersen Events Center
Sunday, October 9, 2011	Hershey	Hershey Theatre
Tuesday, October 11, 2011	New Brunswick	State Theatre
Wednesday, October 12, 2011	New Brunswick	State Theatre
Friday, October 14, 2011	New York	Beacon Theatre
Saturday, October 15, 2011	New York	Beacon Theatre
Sunday, October 16, 2011	New York	Beacon Theatre
Tuesday, October 18, 2011	Scranton, PA	Scranton Cultural Center
Wednesday, October 19, 2011	Norfolk	Chrysler Hall
Friday, October 21, 2011	Charleston, WV	Municipal Auditorium
Saturday, October 22, 2011	Richmond	Landmark Theater
Sunday, October 23, 2011	Greensboro	War Memorial Auditorium
Tuesday, October 25, 2011	North Charleston, SC	North Charleston Performing Arts Center
Wednesday, October 26, 2011	Columbia, SC	Township Auditorium
Friday, October 28, 2011	Charlotte	Ovens Auditorium
Saturday, October 29, 2011	Charlotte	Ovens Auditorium
Sunday, October 30, 2011	Atlanta	Fox Theatre
Tuesday, November 1, 2011	Raleigh	Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts
Wednesday, November 2, 2011	Knoxville	Tennessee Theatre
Friday, November 4, 2011	Memphis	Orpheum Theatre
Saturday, November 5, 2011	Tulsa	BOK Center
Sunday, November 6, 2011	Kansas City	Music Hall
Tuesday, November 8, 2011	Denver	1st Bank Center
Wednesday, November 9, 2011	Salt Lake City	Kingsbury Hall
Friday, November 11, 2011	Vancouver	Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Saturday, November 12, 2011	Seattle	Paramount Theatre
Sunday, November 13, 2011	Seattle	Paramount Theatre
Tuesday, November 15, 2011	Sacramento	Memorial Auditorium
Wednesday, November 16, 2011	Reno	Reno Events Center
Friday, November 18, 2011	Fresno	Save Mart Center
Saturday, November 19, 2011	San Jose	San Jose Civic Auditorium
Sunday, November 20, 2011	San Diego	San Diego Civic Theatre
Tuesday, November 22, 2011	Bakersfield	Rabobank Theater
Friday, November 25, 2011	Los Angeles	Nokia Theatre
Saturday, November 26, 2011	Los Angeles	Nokia Theatre
Sunday, November 27, 2011	Las Vegas	Orleans Arena
Tuesday, November 29, 2011	El Paso	Abraham Chavez Theatre
Wednesday, November 30, 2011	San Antonio	Lila Cockrell Theatre
Friday, December 2, 2011	Houston	Verizon Wireless Theatre
Saturday, December 3, 2011	Dallas	Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie
Sunday, December 4, 2011	Austin	Cedar Park Center
Tuesday, December 6, 2011	New Orleans	Mahalia Jackson Theatre
Wednesday, December 7, 2011	Tallahassee	Tallahassee Leon County Civic Center
Friday, December 9, 2011	St. Petersburg, FL	Mahaffey Theater
Saturday, December 10, 2011	Fort Lauderdale	Broward Center
Sunday, December 11, 2011	Fort Lauderdale	Broward Center

Dates, venues and ticket prices are subject to change.

Facebook

Twitter

About YO GABBA GABBA!:
YO GABBA GABBA! premiered in the U.S. on Nickelodeon in August, 2007 and currently ranks as one of the most popular series on television with broad appeal among preschoolers, parents, teens and adults. The live tour launched with a float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and an appearance at The White House. YO GABBA GABBA! infuses retro-style and beat-driven music to teach simple life lessons through music. The series and the live show stars DJ Lance Rock (Lance Robertson) and a cast of colorful characters, including: Brobee, the little green one, Foofa, the pink flower bubble, Muno, the red Cyclops, Toodee, the blue cat-dragon and Plex, the yellow robot. Today’s most popular names in movies, television, music and sports flock to the groundbreaking series, including series regulars Biz Markie and Mark Mothersbaugh, and guest stars such as Fred Armisen, Erykah Badu, Jack Black, Anthony Bourdain, Devo, Rachel Dratch, Rob Dyrdek, Flaming Lips, Melora Hardin, Tony Hawk, The Killers, Angela Kinsey, Solange Knowles, Jack McBrayer, MGMT, Mos Def, The Roots, Andy Samberg, Amy Sedaris, The Shins, Sarah Silverman, Amare Stoudemire, The Ting Tings, Weezer, Jimmy Eat World, Elijah Wood and Weird Al Yankovic, among others.

YO GABBA GABBA! apparel, CDs, DVDs, books and other merchandise are sold in stores nationwide in the U.S. The series, now in production on its fourth season, airs on Nickelodeon in the U.S., with encore episodes airing daily on Nick Jr. The series also airs in several major international territories, including Australia, Canada, Israel, Latin America, New Zealand, South Africa and the U.K. Visit www.yogabbagabba.com.

I will be seeing the Yo Gabba Gabba show with my family in exchange for this post. No other compensation will be received. All opinions expressed within are 100% my own.

Chuggington Fans, listen up! HOT DEALS for you!

2011-09-27T09:52:00.000-04:00

Today at Totsy you can really stock up on all things Chuggington at unbelievably hot prices! The Interactive All Around Chuggington Set is $48.00 (regularly $79.99)! That's an incredible bargain and would make for a great holiday gift for your favorite Chuggington fan! Chuggington costumes are $19.40 and Chuggington sneakers are $15.00. It doesn't stop there - books, games, tableware and more!

HURRY though, because these are going to sell out fast!

Meet and Greet Monday: Mom Mart

2011-09-26T10:22:00.000-04:00

Your Name: Laura Andry

Where do you blog? Mom Mart

How did you decide on what to name your blog? I am a stay at home mother with two little boys. My husband always jokes around about how certain "jobs" around the house are mine and fall under my job description. I told him I felt like one of those superstores that is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week, and that he could just refer to me as MomMart from now on.

Tell us a little bit about you: I am a stay at home mother with a 5-month-old baby boy and a 2 1/2 -year-old little boy. My boys are 100% boy 100% of the time and I love it! I have been happily married to my best friend going on five years now and couldn't feel more blessed. I am a Christian and thank the Lord everyday for all the blessings in my life. I am a glass half full type of girl who looks for the humor in every situation. I am an organizational neat freak who loves being crafty and creative. I have been blogging since April 2011 after deciding that I wanted to try my hand at writing. So far, it has been a lot of fun.

Tell us five of your favorite things and five of your least favorite things:

5 Favorite Things:

My family- I love my entire family, they are my best friends. I have a great relationship with my in-laws and truly love spending time with each and every member of my family.

Baby Gear - I am completely addicted!

Vacations where I don't have to drive - if I have to drive it is not a vacation.

The smell of apples - yummy!

Pedicures - nothing makes me feel more pampered than pretty toes.

5 Least Favorite:

Rude People - I have no idea where manners have vanished to, but they need to make a come back!

Heels - I strongly dislike wearing heels. They hurt my feet :(

Long lines - really, no need to explain.

Getting lost - I feel incredibly vulnerable when I am lost.

Asking for help - I am stubborn and like to think that I can do anything and everything on my own and I rarely ask for help, even when I need it. It is a big fault of mine.

When and why did you start blogging? I started seriously blogging in April 2011 after having suffered from mastitis. I had no idea what was wrong with me and I was frightened. I had a hard time finding information about this subject and decided that I would share my experiences with others and put my information out there. I wanted to write and this was what really pushed me to start doing it.

What do you blog about? I guess it is more accurate to ask me what I don't blog about. I share my experiences and my perspectives as a stay at home mom. I talk about breastfeeding, potty training, family friendly activities, crafts for kids, blog hops, product reviews, giveaways, and have recently started adding quick and easy recipes. I essentially share my life.

What is your favorite blog post ever? Potty Training William Continued I think my whole potty training experience is too funny. I laugh every time I think about it.

What is your favorite item you ever reviewed? My Hoover Vacuum Cleaner!!

What are your favorite blogs to read?

Mama B
The Baby Guy Gear Guide

There are many many more that I check on a daily basis, but these two I check before I check my own email!

Where can we find you?

Facebook Twitter

Thank you for taking the time to get to know me, I look forward to hearing from you and getting to know you too

Beyond the Rack - Up to 80% OFF Brand Names!

2011-09-21T18:38:00.000-04:00

Beyond the Rack

Get up to 80% off designer brands. Join for free now! Invitation only shopping for high end brands. Shoppers join to save up to 80% off. Limited Time Designer Events up to 8 new brands daily.

ALL ABOARD, The Giveaway Train! $100 in LUXURY bedding from 1500Threads.com

2011-09-20T10:49:00.001-04:00

This Weeks grand prize is $100 in luxury bedding from

1500Threads.com

They offered to give away $100 dollars to their shop www.1500threads.com.

In addition to the giveaway, 1500Threads.com is graciously offering our readers 50% off of their entire purchase during the event only. If you win the event you will receive $100 credit on your purchase. The event code is GIVEWAY50.

Enter using the rafflecopter form below. Be patient while it loads, there are lots of awesome blogs on the train this week! After completing the mandatory entries you can complete as many, or as few, extra entries as you choose. Remember, the more you enter, the better your chances of winning!

The amazing Blogs participating in the train this week are:

Madame Deals
Living on Love and Cents
Slop Swap
Inspiring U 2 Save
Gimmie Freebies
November Sunflower
Bargains for WAHMS
Moms Review 4 You
Cheap Junkie
My Coupon Lady
Nearly Nothing
Coupon Kristin
Giveaway Bandit
Go Momma Coupons
Pays 2 Save
Bargain Hound
Heavenly Savings
Sweeping Me
Cinnamon Hollow Network
The Thrifty Things
Living at the Whitehead's Zoo
Money Savvy Michelle
Crunchy Frugalista
Crazy About Deals
3 Princes and a Princess 2
Couponing to be Debt Free
Saving by Design
Coupon Clipinista
MommyV Freebie Frenzy
A Little of This A Little of That
A Day in Motherhood
Nifties Thrifties
Just Trying to Save Money
Deal Hunting Diva
Giveaway Blogdom

PREVIOUS WINNERS:
Christie Jackson won A 32" Vizio HD TV
Angela Lunsford won A $100 Walmart Gift Card
Angie Womble won A Diamond Bracelet
Carey Parks won A $50 Pfaltzgraff gift card
Lynda Clark won A Pfaltzgraff flatware set
Kari Howell won A $100 Amazon.com Gift Card
Renee Thompson won A Nintendo 3DS
Shannon Pickin won A Nintendo Wii
Melissa Haggerty won A Tommee Tippee Breast Pump
Tracy Taylor won A $100 LOFT Gift Card
Mary Clarisse won A Happy Baby Prize Pack
Katie Reader won A Pepto Prize Pack
Maggy Austin won A Kodak Mini Camcorder
Wanda Rupright won A 100 Coupon Clippies

(If you would like to sponsor our Train, "Hop Aboard!" and contact Amee or Heather at Giveawaytrain for details.)

Fiber One 80 Calories ~ Prize Pack Giveaway with #MyBlogSpark

2011-09-20T10:01:00.000-04:00

I recently started the Weight Watchers program so when I saw Fiber One 80 Calories you know I was excited. Why? Because it's very low in points (2 points plus), yet very satisfying with a whopping 10g of fiber! The question was, how good can cereal so low in calories taste? Pretty good, that's how good! Now I wouldn't say it's 'your favorite sugary cereal' good but it's pretty good!

What I liked: I liked the flavor, nice and sweet. I liked the nutritional values. I liked that it makes for a great filler snack. I liked that I can eat it and easily stay on my weight loss program. I liked that when eaten dry it makes for a fun crunchy snack. I liked that I could add sliced strawberries, bananas and blueberries to not only bulk it up but enhance the flavor. I liked that my kids liked it and thought it was a great treat!

What I didn't like: I did not like how fast it got soggy in milk. I did not like that it left a bit of an after taste in my mouth.

Would I recommend Fiber One 80 Calories? Yes.

The wait is over - brand new Fiber One 80 Calories cereal is on store shelves now! Each crunchy wheat and corn puff square in every bowl of Fiber One 80 Calories cereal has a light honey flavor – a delicious way to start your day. Fiber helps satisfy your hunger and helps you feel full, making it a great tool to help manage your weight.

With 40 percent of the Daily Value of fiber in one 80 calorie serving, Fiber One 80 Calories cereal can help curb your hunger, which can help you stick to your weight loss plan.

With great-tasting Fiber One 80 Calories cereal, there is a new breakfast option that helps you feel satisfied without sacrificing flavor!

Are you hungry yet? If so, look for new Fiber One 80 Calories cereal on grocer’s shelves now! Visit http://www.fiberone.com/ for great information on healthy living and coupons for new products. Also, be sure to check out the Fiber One Facebook page and get involved in the conversation. We’d love to hear how you feel satisfied with new Fiber One 80 Calories cereal!

Have you tried Fiber One 80 Calories yet? Would you like to? Would you like to win it before you buy it? Together with General Mills and MyBlogSpark the prize pack pictured above will be awarded to one lucky reader!

Enter the giveaway via the Rafflecopter form below. Pls. give it time to load as it sometimes loads at a turtles pace :-D Giveaway ends 10/11/11 at 12:01am. Open to US Residents.

Disclosure: Fiber One 80 Calories cereal, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

Meet and Greet Monday: and the little ones too

2011-09-19T20:53:00.001-04:00

Your Name: Ashley T

Where do you blog? and the little ones too

How did you decide on what to name your blog? I wanted something cute but also something that would also cover future kids.

Tell us a little bit about you....: I am a working mother of 2 boys also helping support my husband through school.

When and why did you start blogging? I started blogging a couple days before my son’s first birthday to help my family keep up with how he was doing. In the past year or so, I began doing more writing and dedicating myself to my blog. I dove into reviewing and loved it right away. I’ve been happy with it ever since.

What does your family think of your blog? Do they read it? My husband is the only one who reads it regularly. It doesn’t bother me that they don’t read it… much. I know that if I wrote something that I wanted them to read and told them about it, they would check it out.

When do you find the time to blog? I do most of my writing either right before bed after the boys go to sleep or during work. Sometimes its slow where I work and I could write 3 posts in a day and schedule them to keep up with days where there just aren’t any extra hours.

What is your favorite item you ever reviewed? I have 2 favorite items I’ve reviewed. The first is a post I just published last week called Luminess Air and the other favorite is the Soda Stream review. There were the 2 I had the most fun with.

What brand or product would you really like to work with/review? I don’t have a specific company I’d LOVE to work with but I’d love to review a car seat. You can only do so much in the stores and I loved Hayden’s convertible seat but I am always on a lookout for a new one.

What advice would you give a new blogger? Reach out to other bloggers and interact with them. I have found that I wouldn’t know as much as I do without the help of other bloggers around.

What widget or feature could you not live without? Commentluv. It makes it so much easier for me to visit other blogs and check out what they write about. Maybe even start following them.

Where can we find you?
Facebook
Twitter

Spooky Buddies available on Blu-ray & DVD 9/20! (Tomorrow!)

2011-09-19T14:13:00.002-04:00

My family and I are so excited about the release of Spooky Buddies on Blu-ray & DVD tomorrow. We have been waiting for this since we first saw the ad in the Santa Buddies DVD box. You don't have to be a dog lover to find the buddy movies absolutely adorable. We all have memories of holiday movies and shows we liked to watch every year. My kids are growing up knowing the buddy movies as holiday tradition. We cannot wait to see Spooky Buddies and add it to our Halloween traditions!

Below are some activity sheets and recipes for you and your family! You can download the Spooky Buddies activity sheets by clicking the images or clicking the highlighted links.

While you're here, go ahead and watch a sneak peak trailer!

I will be receiving a product sample in exchange for posting. No other compensation will be received. All opinions expressed within are 100% my own.

Jake and the Never Land Pirates - Coming soon on DVD!

2011-09-16T14:45:00.001-04:00

I'm not sure who's more excited about this release, the kids or me! Jake and the Never Land Pirates is one of my favorite kid shows on TV. My husband is going to absolutely love this - the DVD box set comes with an official eye patch. I've been having some eye problems and he's been busting on me for being a pirate. Lots of Arrrrr's going on in our house. LOL See the press release below. - Melissa AKA Froggy

YO HO, LET’S GO MATEYS!

DISNEY JUNIOR'S #1 SERIES
"JAKE AND THE NEVER LAND PIRATES"
RELEASES ITS FIRST MUSIC SOUNDTRACK & DVD THIS FALL

ALBUM SET FOR RELEASE SEPTEMBER 20
DVD SET FOR RELEASE SEPTEMBER 27

BURBANK, CA, July 28, 2011 – A new soundtrack and DVD inspired by Disney Junior's #1 series Jake and the Never Land Pirates, are planned to set sail this September with Walt Disney Records' album release of eighteen hook-filled songs from the series on September 20 and The Walt Disney Studios "Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Yo Ho, Mateys Away!" DVD release featuring seven episodes from the series on September 27.

Jake and the Never Land Pirates is cable's #1 series among Boys 2-5 and is on track to be Disney Channel's #1 preschool series ever. It is the most co-viewed series among all Disney Junior and Nickelodeon series, with 47% of Moms watching with their preschooler. A music-filled interactive treasure hunt, the series introduces a crew of kid pirates – leader Jake and pals Izzy and Cubby – and follows their Never Land adventures as they work to outwit two infamous characters, the one and only Captain Hook and Smee, from Disney's classic "Peter Pan." Every episode features the animated Sharky and Bones characters as they pop up throughout to perform original pirate ditties, and each episode concludes with a live action music video featuring The Never Land Pirate Band.

About the Album Release:
Written and performed by Loren Hoskins and Kevin Hendrickson, a.k.a. Sharky and Bones of The Never Land Pirate Band, the album features 18 swashbuckling tracks sure to thrill any young pirate. Also included are downloadable activities and games to plan the perfect pirate party, a Sing-Along version of the show’s theme song and a bonus track from a future episode. The deluxe edition includes a pirate bandana. The album arrives at stores and online retailers September 20.

The album features a variety of songs that kids and parents can enjoy together. Songs include the kooky, comical "Hot Lava," “Aw Coconuts,” "Pirate Password,” and the arrrghhh-rated “Talk Like a Pirate.” Some songs refer to popular characters in the show, such as “What’s Cookin’ Smee,” "Captain Hook (Is A Cranky Crook)," “Tick Tock Croc” and “Bucky’s Shanty.” Others capture the island spirit of Never Land, such as “Castaway on Pirate Island," "Shipwreck Shuffle" and "Never Sky," as well as the "Jake and the Never Land Pirates" theme song. All songs can be heard in episodes of the show.

Portland, Oregon-based Hoskins and Hendrickson have been creating pirate rock music for kids of all ages for more than a decade. The duo produced four previous children's albums and even led their own pirate band. The pirate rockers also provide the musical score for “Jake and the Never Land Pirates.”

The Jake and the Never Land Pirates soundtrack will be available wherever music is sold on September 20. For more information on Walt Disney Records’ releases, please visit Disney Music , become a fan at Disney Music on Facebook or follow us at Disney Music on Twitter .

About the DVD Release:
On September 27, The Walt Disney Studios will be releasing Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Yo Ho, Mateys Away!, a DVD packed full with seven episodes from the series and two incredible bonus features including Yo Ho, You Want To Be A Pirate?, where Jake teaches viewers how to talk like a pirate, and Pirate Party With Pirate-oke, a collection of music videos performed by The Never Land Pirate Band that allow viewers to enjoy with or without the sing-along/karaoke-like feature.

Retailing for the suggested price of $19.99 in the U.S. and $24.99 in Canada, the Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Yo Ho, Mateys Away! DVD also comes packaged with a bonus 7-track CD sampler and a pirate eye patch.

About "Jake and the Never Land Pirates" TV Series:
"Jake and the Never Land Pirates" airs daily during Disney Channel's Disney Junior programming block for kids age 2-7. The series stars the voices of Colin Ford (TV’s “Supernatural”) as Jake, Madison Pettis (TV’s “Cory in the House”) as Izzy, Jonathan Morgan Heit ("Bedtime Stories") as Cubby, David Arquette ("Scream 4") as Skully the lookout parrot, Corey Burton (TV’s “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”) as Captain Hook, and Jeff Bennet (TV’s “Johnny Bravo”) as Mr. Smee.

About Walt Disney Studios:
For more than 85 years, The Walt Disney Studios has been the foundation on which The Walt Disney Company (DIS: NYSE) was built. Today, the Studio brings quality movies, music and stage plays to consumers throughout the world. Feature films are released under four banners: Walt Disney Pictures, which includes Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios, Disneynature, Touchstone Pictures and Marvel. Through the Home Entertainment division, innovative distribution methods provide access to creative content across multiple platforms. Original music and motion picture soundtracks are produced under Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records, while Disney Theatrical Group produces and licenses live events, including Broadway theatrical productions, Disney on Ice and Disney LIVE!. For more information, please visit www.disney.com.

I will be receiving a product sample in exchange for posting this press release. No other compensation will be received. Any opinions expressed within are my own.

Danny Phantom - Available on DVD now!

2011-09-16T10:33:00.002-04:00

We are super excited about the release of Danny Phantom on DVD. My son really gets into ghosts and spooky things so Danny Phantom is right up his ally. And Danny has something going for him that many other characters don't - that's the coolness factor. Check out the press release and clip below. - Melissa AKA Froggy

Ready to take a trip to the other side?

DANNY PHANTOM: SEASON ONE

FINALLY DEBUTS ON DVD!

Four-Disc DVD Set Includes 20 Awesome Episodes

DVD Flies Onto Shelves September 13, 2011 from Shout! Factory

Part boy, part ghost Danny Phantom, one of Nickelodeon’s most popular animated characters, finally arrives on DVD! Get ready to hunt ghosts on September 13, 2011, when Shout! Factory releases Danny Phantom: Season One on DVD. Featuring all 20 spooky and hilarious episodes, Danny Phantom: Season One follows the adventures of Danny Fenton – a regular boy by day, a ghost hunter by night except that as fate would have it, he’s part boy part ghost! Long anticipated by fans, Danny Phantom: Season One has not been available in stores until now. A must have for Nickelodeon fans and DVD collectors, the four-disc DVD set will retail nationwide for $29.93.

Aside from other-worldly action, adventure and homework, Danny Phantom: Season One boasts an all-star voice cast which includes David Kaufman (The Buzz on Maggie), Grey DiLisle (Rugrats, The Fairly Odd Parents), Rickey D’Shon Collins (Recess), Colleen O'Shaughnessey (Naruto), Rob Paulsen (Pinky and the Brain), Kath Soucie (Dexter’s Laboratory, Ben 10), Martin Mull and Frank Welker (Transformers).

One of the most memorable Nickelodeon cartoons, Danny Phantom stars 14-year-old Danny Fenton, an unpopular but good-natured boy attending Casper High School in his small American hometown. Danny lives with his strange, ghost hunting parents Maddie and Jack as well as an overbearing 16-year-old sister, Jasmine. One day, while exploring his parents’ Ghost Portal, Danny accidentally turns himself into a half ghost boy launching a series of memorable adventures. Accompanied by his best friends Samantha and Tucker, Danny battles ghosts, the spiteful ghost hunter Valerie Gray, his ghost hunting parents all while keeping his new identity a secret!

Created by Butch Hartman for Nickelodeon and produced by Billionfold Studios, Danny Phantom premiered on Nickelodeon in 2004 and ran until 2007. The show also aired on TeenNick from 2004-06 and currently airs daily on NickToons.

Street Date: 09/13/11
SRP: $29.93
Disc #: 4
Running time: +/- 600 minutes
Catalog #: SF 12375
U.S. Rating: Not Rated
Canadian Rating: C8

About Shout! Factory

Shout! Factory is a diversified entertainment company devoted to producing, uncovering and revitalizing the very best of pop culture. Founders Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos have spent their careers sharing their music, television and film faves with discerning consumers the world over. Shout! Factory’s DVD offerings serve up classic, contemporary and cult TV series, riveting sports programs, live music, animation and documentaries in lavish packages crammed with extras. The company’s audio catalogue boasts GRAMMY®-nominated box sets, new releases from storied artists, lovingly assembled album reissues and indispensable “best of” compilations. These riches are the result of a creative acquisitions mandate that has established the company as a hotbed of cultural preservation and commercialreinvention. Shout! Factory is based in Santa Monica, California. For more on Shout! Factory, visit shoutfactory.com.

About Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon, now in its 32nd year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in more than 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 16 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).

I will receive a product sample in exchange for posting this press release. No other compensation will be received. Any opinions expressed are my own.

Sponsor Spotlight: Cleava

2011-09-15T21:52:00.001-04:00

How many times have you had to pass up on a fabulous top or dress because it was too low cut for you? Everything else about the garment is perfect, except for the neck line. You spend who knows how long in the dressing room trying on top after top (or dress after dress) and nothing compares to that one. You try it on again, hoping to find a way to make the neck line work for you. Your first thought is to pin it, but that makes the fabric lay funny. So your next thought is to get a cami to wear under it. But that won't work because it will make the top look too bulky or not even fit right. By now you've got sweat beads on your forehead, because Lord knows the stores keep their dressing rooms at 100 degrees at all times. Your frustrated. You settle on a different top and leave disappointed.

Ladies, I'm here to tell you I have the solution for the next time you find yourself in the above predicament. Cleava.

Cleava snaps right on to your bra in 3 super quick and easy steps. It provides the coverage you need without the added fuss. No adhesives to irritate skin. No Velcro to snag fabrics. In fact Cleava is so easy to snap on or off that you can quickly change your look from workplace conservative to flirty happy hour.

What I found greatest about Cleava is that it doesn't discriminate against various bra sizes. In other words, Cleava isn't just for large breasted women. Cleava is available in many different colors and styles. They even have some with a little bling to add some pizazz to an otherwise dull outfit!

Cleava can be found internationally in retail shops, boutiques and specialty shops. Or you can buy Cleava online. They retail from $19.95 to $24.95 USD.

The fabric is soooo soft and comfy. One Size Fits Most. Soft fabric; 92% polyester and 8% spandex. Wrinkle resistant. Machine washer and dryer safe.

I received a product sample to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. All opinions expressed within are 100% my own. All photo credit: http://cleava.com/

Meet and Greet Monday: Rockin' Deals 4 You

2011-09-12T22:03:00.001-04:00

Your Name: Amy AKA Rockin' Momma

Where do you blog? Rockin' Deals 4 You

How did you decide on what to name your blog? My son loves to play Guitar…well any musical instrument and always seems to be rocking out some kinda of (So-called) music. And since I’m on this journey because of him, I only thought it right to name by blog Rockin’ Deals.

Tell us a little bit about you:

My husband, Dave and I have been married for 16 years. A little over 4 years ago we were blessed with the birth of our adopted son, Jace. Jace is a very active 4 year old. I never thought I'd be running my 4 year old around to sports and classes, but he keeps me busy. I worked for 13 years at a local daycare before Jace came along. I've been a stay at home mom for most 4 years. I now work at a local preschool as the preschool assistant 2 days a week. I love being able to get out of the house but I still get to be a stay at home mom!

When and why did you start blogging?

My frugal journey started about 3 years ago, after the birth of our adopted son, Jace. Mostly to help off set the cost of diapers, wipes and formula. I had been finding lots of great deals and wanted a place for my family and friends to read about them, too. So, Rockin’ Deals was established on March 16, 2010. I'd been blogging for about 4 years before that on our personal family blog.

What do you blog about? I mostly blog about freebies, samples, coupons and HOT deals. But I also do reviews and giveaways.

What does your family think of your blog? My husband was the one who helped me get started. He designed my blog layout. I'm so thankful that I have a husband who is able to do some much on a website!

When do you find the time to blog? I try to do as much as I can while my son is in preschool and in the evenings after he goes to bed. But as a frugal blogger I hate to miss a good deal, so I'm off and on all day looking for the best deal to post!

What is your favorite item you ever reviewed? Divvies Bakery and Imagination Movers Concert

What advice would you give a new blogger? Make blogging friends. It's great to be part of a group of people who think like you do and have the same kind of goals. Help out other bloggers and they will help you in return. If it wasn't for other great bloggers my blog would not be where it is today!

Where can we find you? Facebook Twitter Email

100% FREE Ion Sports Watch

2011-09-08T09:09:00.000-04:00

Last week I told you how you could get 100% FREE nail polish.

Today you can get a 100% FREE Ion Sports Watch!

1) Sign up for SaveMore.com to receive daily deals in your inbox and receive a $10 credit just for signing up!

2) Purchase Today's Deal which is the Ion Sport Watch for $10.

3) At check out your $10 credit will be applied to your purchase.
Shipping is FREE making this deal 100% FREE to you!

More colors available. Think about holidays - what a great stocking stuffer!

Hurry, before they sell out!

The Giveaway Train - WIN a 32" HD Vizio TV

2011-09-06T00:00:00.002-04:00

Presents:

"Win a skinny TV!"

This week we've got a 32" HD Vizio TV to give to you guys!
(we're even more awesome than last week right?)

This Week's Prize brought to you by:

Medifast Health

Previous Winners:

Angela Lunsford won A $100 Walmart Gift Card
Angie Womble won A Diamond Bracelet
Carey Parks won A $50 Pfaltzgraff gift card
Lynda Clark won A Pfaltzgraff flatware set
Kari Howell won A $100 Amazon.com Gift Card
Renee Thompson won A Nintendo 3DS
Shannon Pickin won A Nintendo Wii
Melissa Haggerty won A Tommee Tippee Breast Pump
Tracy Taylor won A $100 LOFT Gift Card
Mary Clarisse won A Happy Baby Prize Pack
Katie Reader won A Pepto Prize Pack
Maggy Austin won A Kodak Mini Camcorder
Wanda Rupright won A 100 Coupon Clippies

Awesome Blog Participants:

Madame Deals
Freebies Sweeps and Deals
Living At The Whiteheads Zoo
Crunchy Frugalista
My Coupon Lady
Slick Housewives
Giveaway Blogdom
This Mama Loves Her Bargains
Just Trying to Save Money
The Frugal Free Gal
Crazy About Deals
Yankee Texan Mom
Mama Money Tree
The Dealyo
Slop Swap
Have Kids Will Coupon
I Save A 2 Z
Couponing To Be Debt Free
Saving By Design
Frugal Mom Rocks
Heavenly Savings
Coupon Kristin
Coupons Are Great
Deal Hunting Diva
Giveaway Bandit
A Little of This and That
Nearly Nothing
Money Savvy Michelle
Super Coupon Lady
The Thrifty Things
A Proverbs Wife
Bargains 4 Wahms
Mom on Dealz
Adventures Of My Family of Eight
November Sunflower
Go Momma Coupons
The Coupon Girl
Gimmie Freebies
Stretching Your Budget
A Day In the Motherhood
Living on Love and Cents

To inquire about becoming a sponsor, or a giveaway train stop (publisher) please contact GiveawayTrain@gmail.com for details.

Meet & Greet Monday - Mama Chocolate

2011-09-05T12:56:00.001-04:00

Your Name: Johanna

Where do you blog? Mama Chocolate

How did you decide on what to name your blog? I wanted something short and sweet, but unique. As a chocolate enthusiast, Mama Chocolate seemed fitting for me. :-)

Tell us a little bit about you....

I've been a busy stay-at-home-mama and wife for about four years now, and God has already blessed me and my husband, John, with two beautiful daughters, Katie (2) and Victoria, (10 months.)

We are Christians and plan on homeschooling our little ones. John and I are both homeschool graduates (and successful, well-balanced adults,) and we're excited to be passing on that vision on to our children!

We enjoy living out in the sticks and raise kids, sheep, dogs, cats and weeds, (the legal kind).

Like most, our life is hard work, but it's good, and I love it. I'm living my dream: raising beautiful children with a godly, loving husband, out in the country.

When and why did you start blogging? I had a little private blog for some time to keep family and friends updated before I started Mama Chocolate in July 2010. I had officially become a Giveaway Addict and wanted to share the love by hosting giveaways myself, and I knew that if I posted about recipes and such, it would help me actually try new things.

I expanded on that and hope to bring truly useful information to moms more and more in the future.

What do you blog about? I write about the ins and outs of mothering and homemaking, share recipes, family-related reviews and giveaways, and occasionally brag about my precious girls.

What does your family think of your blog? Do they read it? I finally added my husband to my email subscribers last week so that he would actually read it. ;-)

My mom and sisters read it (and tell me they love it, of course, LOL,) and are actually quite accomplished bloggers themselves!

When do you find the time to blog? Early in the morning or late at night are my most productive times. I work on blogging sometimes during the girls naps and now and then during the day.

What is your favorite blog post ever? "Why We Canceled Our Netflix Subscription"

What is your favorite item you ever reviewed? Teething Tots Amber Necklaces

What brand or product would you really like to work with/review? I would love to giveaway an Ergo baby carrier. I love mine and think every mom should have one!

What advice would you give a new blogger? Do not try to do it alone! Do whatever you can to network with other bloggers. There are a lot of nice bloggy people out there who are happy to help you out and there is so much to learn. You can become overwhelmed and discouraged if you're trying to do it alone.

What are your favorite blogs to read?

Pioneer Woman
Life is Too Short Not to Wear Red Shoes
Enjoying the Small Things

Where can we find you?

Facebook Twitter

Bargain Shopping: Uncle Milton, Barbie, Osh Kosh B'gosh and more!

2011-09-03T10:17:00.000-04:00

Hi, my name is Melissa AKA Froggy, and I am seriously addicted to shopping at Zulily. Who can blame me? Have you seen the awesome brands they carry? Can't beat the prices, either. I also love all the boutique items Zulily offers that I wouldn't otherwise find.

Today launched an adorable line of Barbie clothing and Uncle Milton educational toys - which includes a super cool Star Wars Light Saber wall light! (My son would LOVE that!!!) You won't want to miss out on these bargains and so many more!

And guess what!? This weekend Zulily is offering a great shipping discount.

All-Day Shopping, One-Time Shipping

You asked, we listened.

When you see something you love, buy it before it sells out.

Then, you can shop all day without paying another standard shipping fee. Enjoy!

If your first order is placed Monday through Thursday,
you'll receive free shipping until 11:59pm pdt the same day.

If your first order is placed on Friday, Saturday or Sunday,
you'll receive free shipping until 11:59pm pdt on Sunday.

Doodlebug Boutique Hair Bows at Totsy

2011-09-01T22:39:00.000-04:00

Photo Credit: Totsy & Doodle Bug Botique

Totsy is hosting a sale with Doodlebug Boutique for the next 3 days. Their hair accessories are beyond *adorable*. If you have a daughter and like hair bows at a LOW PRICE, hurry over to totsy to take advantage of these cheap bows before they're all gone!

Review & Giveaway: VeggieTales Princess and the Pop Star DVD

2011-09-01T21:17:00.001-04:00

Veggie Tales Princess and the Pop Star is adorable. I knew it would be an instant hit with my 4yr old daughter, who is into all things princess and who loves music! We've seen many of the Veggie Tales shows and have always enjoy them. We can count on Veggie Tales to send good messages to our kids. There is never any concern about inappropriate language (that many kids shows freely use these days). The songs are catchy and are fun to sing along with.

About VeggieTales Princess and the Pop Star: A Story of Trading Places:
Princess Poppyseed’s life on her family’s farm is far from the glamorous but lonely world of her favorite pop singer Vanna Banana. On a chance meeting at a playground, Vanna and Princess cross paths and realize that they look almost exactly alike—which leads to the crazy secret plan where they decide to switch lives! As each girl realizes that the life they longed for doesn’t fulfill all of their dreams, they learn that the life God gave them is the one for which they were uniquely and lovingly designed.

DVD Bonus Features:
Audio Commentary
“Astonishing Wigs” Silly Songs Sing-Along
“Right Where You Belong” Sing-Along
Behind the music with Francesca Battistelli and Friends
Princess Poppyseed’s Points For Being Uniquely You
In stores now! SRP $14.93 at all major DVD retail outlets.

Review & Giveaway - Peter Rabbit Organics

2011-09-01T12:25:00.000-04:00

It's that time of year again, Back-to-School. The stores have been crowded as we all have our supply lists in hand, filling our carts with glue sticks, pencils, folders, notepads etc. Next stop is to shop for snacks to fill the lunch boxes.

In today's society there is a huge concern about childhood obesity. More and more parents are finding healthy alternatives to the typical cookies, chips and gummy fruit snacks. Many kids are happy with cut up fruit but how many are really content with cut up veggies? So the bottom line is that we want our kids to eat healthier but it's not always an easy thing to accomplish.

The folks at Peter Rabbit Organics have done their very best to help! They are dedicated to offering only healthy, organic snacks. Peter Rabbit Organics has our kids in mind even when it comes to the packaging. The fruit and veggie purees come in kid-friendly, BPA-FREE, resealable pouches with no-choke caps.

Peter Rabbit Organics offers 6 amazing fruit and veggie puree combinations:

Strawberry and Banana
Apple and Grape
Mango, Banana and Orange
Sweet Potato, Corn and Apple
Carrot, Squash and Apple
Pea, Spinach and Apple

My family and I got to sample each of the available flavors. We sat and passed each pouch around like it was a peace pipe as we tasted each one. I was afraid that the kids would shy away from the pouches that contained veggies in the picture. And I was right. So I gently enforced the "Just give it a little taste. You don't have to like it but you don't know until you try." household policy. I would say 90% of the time the kids end up liking what they try. This was no exception. Surprisingly the kids like the Pea, Spinach and Apple flavor. I wouldn't say it was a favorite but they certainly didn't turn their noses up to it!

Peter Rabbit Organics is available at a variety of locations nationwide including Starbucks, Whole Foods Markets, Publix and Albertsons, and natural food stores, in all Buy Buy Baby stores, and online at Amazon.com, Diapers.com, BabiesRUs.com and Spud.com.

Try it before you buy it!
Enter to WIN 12 Assorted Pouches

Spa for Ma Sponsor Spotlight: Pure Bliss Essentials #Spa4Ma

2011-08-31T23:46:00.001-04:00

What's a wonderful way to pamper ma? Give her some swanky bath and beauty products! What woman doesn't love fresh, clean smelling, handmade soap? Or luscious, thick and creamy lip balm? There's something about handmade products that is just more appealing than products manufactured in a factory, don't you agree?

Pure Bliss Essentials is located in Portland, Oregon and was established in 2007. Grace Antares is the founder and raised Pure Bliss from the ground up. She takes great pride in her products as each soap is a labor intensive process. She sees to it that each soap is done to perfection, using only the finest ingredients. You won't find parabens or phalates in Pure Bliss Essentials products!

So I mentioned swanky bath and beauty products. You're probably thinking to yourself, really? "swanky" bath products? That's right. The bar of soap that I received, which smelled lovely, by the way, had a artistic, modern face with a tube of lipstick in it. Don't be fooled, as my family and I were! We seriously had to take a second look to see if Ms. Antares actually put a tube of lipstick in the bar of soap! We were all amazed at how real it looked but was 100% soap! Very impressive!

Pure Bliss Essentials makes sure to design soaps to fit in with just about any bathroom decor. They have pin up girls, glam girls, whimsical, seasonal and more! They even provide packages for large events like corporate parties and weddings! You've got to check out the unique, custom designed wedding favor soap!

And not to be outdone by Pure Bliss's soap line, their lip balm is divine! I was lucky enough to get to sample the Vanilla Butter Cream. Oh my heavens. It's like putting a cupcake on your lips without it forever going to the hips! So smooth, thick and creamy. It got passed around my family and continues to be a favorite by everyone!

Thank you so much to Pure Bliss Essentials for being a wonderful Spa for Ma blog event sponsor!

I received samples to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. All opinions expressed within are 100% my own.

Spa for Ma Sponsor Spotlight: Teamotions #Spa4Ma

2011-08-31T22:22:00.003-04:00

Our handcrafted teas blended with adaptogen herbs foster and support emotional well-being, transforming a simple cup of tea into a truly healing experience.

I am a coffee drinker. I drink it day and night. I get twitchy, although my husband might use another term that rhymes with twitchy, when I don't get my coffee. However, I do like tea. I love Jasmine Green Tea. I love Chai Tea. English Breakfast Tea. My most favorite tea is Earl Grey Tea. Mmm, haven't had that in a while!

I believe teas offer different comforts than coffee. You can drink a soothing chamomile tea before bed to help you drift off to lala land. Or when you have a sore throat you can drink herbal Throat Coat that actually really does help - speaking from experience! Peppermint tea for an upset tummy. It's amazing how many holistic healing properties herbal teas provide.

Presented with the opportunity to sample Teamotions tea I immediately checked out what they have to offer. They have 6 herbal blends, each offering a unique flavor. I read through each one and ultimately decided I wanted to try Roobios Coconut Chai. What stood out to me is that it contains neem leaf, which is said to calm anxiety. Anxiety has been something I have trouble controlling and with some recent medical concerns it has certainly been at peek levels. Let me share with you what Teamotions has to say about Roobios Coconut Chai:

Flavor Profile Smooth with subtle spicy notes and a hint of creamy sweetness.

This product is Caffeine Free

Ingredients Rooibos, Cardamom, Ginger, Cinnamon, Cloves, Dandelion Root, Milk Thistle, Coconut, Black Pepper, Pink Peppercorn, Neem Leaf, Natural Flavors.

Emotional Benefit Helps relieve anger and frustration. Encourages healthy emotional release and fosters inner peace and contentedness.

Did You Know? The liver is the organ associated with anger. Dandelion root and milk thistle cleanse, support, and restore the liver and foster emotional well-being. Neem leaf relieves anxiety and stress and the chai spices stimulate circulation and promote the movement of stagnant energy in the body.

Our Little Tip As you sip, open a journal and let your soul empty onto the paper. As the words flow out let peace flow in.

It was like they created this blend especially for me. I love that Teamotions provides all of this information, right down to their little tip, for each of their available teas. It really helped when making the decision of which to try!

Oh, and for the record, it is simply delicious and exactly how the flavor description says. I'll be honest, I haven't gotten through all of the samples I received yet - but I'll get there!

Make sure you hop over to read "our story" to see how Teamotions got started. <3

The holidays are coming up and Teamotions offers some wonderful gift boxes! These would make lovely gifts for teachers, co-workers, assistants, friends, grandmothers etc.

Which tea is your favorite?

WIN your choice of tea at the Spa for Ma $190 prize pack giveaway! There's still time to get your entries in.

Teamotions on Facebook.

I received samples to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. All opinions expressed within are 100% my own.

100% FREE Nail Polish

2011-08-31T14:44:00.000-04:00

Here's an opportunity for you to get some high quality nail polish for FREE! See below for details.

1) Sign up for a SaveMore account.
You will receive $10 in your account just for signing up.

2) Buy today's deal.
You will see the total at $0.00 when you add it to your cart.

Oh and guess what, it's FREE shipping, too!
One last thing - after you 'buy' your FREE Nail Polish, share the deal with your friends. For each referral that makes a purchase you will receive another $10 in your account.

SPA for MA Giveaway Event ~ Aug 18 - 31

2011-08-31T08:00:00.001-04:00

This is a sticky post that will remain at the top of my page during the rest of the Spa for Ma event. Be sure to scroll down to see sponsor spotlights and daily postings.

Enter to WIN a prize pack
valued at $190!!

One Winner Takes It All:

Entice Moisturizing Body Lotion

Dust Me Pink Body Powder

Glow Shimmering Body Silk
Basic Instinct
ARV $74.00
*For product descriptions, please click here.
(Site contains some adult products with images.)

Fake Bake Fair:
ARV $25.95
Self-tan lotion for fair skin. Builds a gradual tan over time. Fake Bake Fair Self-Tan Lotion has been specially formulated for people with fair complexions. The easy glide formula and subtle "show where it goes" cosmetic colour guide enables even the most inexperienced self-tanner to apply a self-tan with ease and confidence. A combination of cutting edge, naturally derived tanning agents DHA and Erythulose work with the melanin cells which lie in the top layers of your skin to develop into a tan that compliments your skin tones for a perfectly natural looking results. If you desire a darker tan, Fake Bake Fair Self-Tan Lotion can be reapplied over consecutive days giving you complete control of your colour development.

ARV $27.99
For K-Y INTENSE *product description, please click here.
(Site contains some adult terminology.)
Check out the recently launched INTENSE® Effect, a site dedicated to sharing real reviews from real INTENSE® users. In addition, INTENSE® Effect also shares facts and tips from resident expert Dr. Hilda Hutcherson, a best-selling author and Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Director of the Center for Sexual Health at Columbia University. Better yet - the site also includes a $5 off coupon, so grab your partner and K-Y® Brand INTENSE® and ignite an unforgettable summer romance.

$15 Gift Certificate to Lilla Rose Flexi-Clips with Kim
The Lilla Rose product line centers around unique, functional, and well made hair jewelry. From our flagship Flexi Hair Clip, we have expanded to Hair Sticks, Orings, Hairbands, and Bobby Pins. From there we rounded the line out with complimentarily designed Eyeglass Holders, Badge Holders, Necklaces, and Earrings.

$10.00 Gift Certificate
Our mission is simple: to provide the best handmade soap and bath products to our customers as possible. We take great pride in our company, every single product is made carefully by hand, and without the use of parabens or phalates. Our artisan soaps are multi-process, highly detailed and skillfully executed. They are very labor intensive, so cannot be mass produced.

Winners choice of Cleava.
ARV $19.95
Cleava was designed by a woman for women, to hide the décolletage area it can be instantly removed or placed on, allowing the user the freedom to expose or conceal her cleavage, depending on the occasion or environment. Go from work hour to happy hour (Corporate to Casual), no need to fully undress - go from conservative to sexy in seconds!

Winners choice of one Tea Tin.
ARV $12.95
Our handcrafted teas blended with adaptogen herbs foster and support emotional well-being, transforming a simple cup of tea into a truly healing experience.

One small container of Epsom Salts.
Beauty benefits from Epsom Salt usage:
May soften skin and exfoliate
Provides magnesium, which has been shown to:
Ease stress
Lower blood pressure
Create a happy, relaxed feeling
Raise energy levels

*Please note that this is a family friendly blog. For that reason I have not included detailed product descriptions for Pure Romance and K-Y Intense within the giveaway post. However, I will be posting a Sponsor Spotlight for each company during the event, keeping them family friendly as well.

This giveaway is open to US Residents Only.

Now that you've entered this awesome giveaway, make sure you see what else Spa for Ma has to offer! Visit the blogs listed below to check out some great giveaways you won't want to miss out on!

Real Steel starring Hugh Jackman

2011-08-30T22:27:00.000-04:00

DREAMWORKS PICTURES

Website and Mobile site: www.steelgetsreal.com
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter

Genre: Action-Drama

Rating: PG-13

U.S. Release date: October 7, 2011

Cast: Hugh Jackman, Dakota Goyo, Evangeline Lilly, Anthony Mackie, Kevin Durand

Director: Shawn Levy

Producers: Don Murphy, Susan Montford, Shawn Levy

Executive Producers: Steven Spielberg, Jack Rapke, Robert Zemeckis, Steve Starkey, Mary McLaglen, Josh McLaglen

Screenplay by: John Gatins

Story by: Dan Gilroy and Jeremy Leven

Based in part on the short story “Steel” by: Richard Matheson

A action ride set in the near-future where the sport of boxing has gone high-tech, “Real Steel” stars Hugh Jackman as Charlie Kenton, a washed-up fighter who lost his chance at a title when 2000-pound, 8-foot-tall steel robots took over the ring. Now nothing but a small-time promoter, Charlie earns just enough money piecing together low-end bots from scrap metal to get from one underground boxing venue to the next. When Charlie hits rock bottom, he reluctantly teams up with his estranged son Max (Dakota Goyo) to build and train a championship contender. As the stakes in the no-holds-barred arena are raised, Charlie and Max, against all odds, get one last shot at a comeback.

“Real Steel” is directed by Shawn Levy (“Night at the Museum” franchise and “Date Night”).

“Real Steel” is about a former boxer (Hugh Jackman) who, against all odds, gets one last shot at a comeback when he teams up with his estranged son (Dakota Goyo) to build and train the perfect contender for the new high-tech sport of robot boxing.

The Giveaway Train - $100 WalMart Gift Certificate Giveaway

2011-08-30T10:52:00.001-04:00

Presents:

"Hi-Ya Sweepstakes $100 Walmart Giftcard from Sweepstakes Ninja"

This week we've got a $100 Walmart Gift Card to give to you guys!

(we're awesome right?)

This Week's Prize brought to you by:

Sweepstakes Ninja

Previous Winners:

Angie Womble won A Diamond Bracelet
Carey Parks won A $50 Pfaltzgraff gift card
Lynda Clark won A Pfaltzgraff flatware set
Kari Howell won A $100 Amazon.com Gift Card
Renee Thompson won A Nintendo 3DS
Shannon Pickin won A Nintendo Wii
Melissa Haggerty won A Tommee Tippee Breast Pump
Tracy Taylor won A $100 LOFT Gift Card
Mary Clarisse won A Happy Baby Prize Pack
Katie Reader won A Pepto Prize Pack
Maggy Austin won A Kodak Mini Camcorder
Wanda Rupright won A 100 Coupon Clippies

To inquire about becoming a sponsor, or a giveaway train stop (publisher) please contact GiveawayTrain@gmail.com for details.

K-Y INTENSE Giveaway 2 Winners

2011-08-29T21:26:00.000-04:00

Check out the recently launched INTENSE® Effect, a site dedicated to sharing real reviews from real INTENSE® users. In addition, INTENSE® Effect also shares facts and tips from resident expert Dr. Hilda Hutcherson, a best-selling author and Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Director of the Center for Sexual Health at Columbia University. Better yet - the site also includes a $5 off coupon, so grab your partner and K-Y® Brand INTENSE® and ignite an unforgettable summer romance. ARV $27.00

Enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter form below.
Ends 9/11/2011US Only

Meet and Greet Monday: Coupons are Great

2011-08-29T19:03:00.002-04:00

Your Name: Leandrea

Where do you blog? Coupons Are Great

How did you decide on what to name your blog? When I started using coupons I was so excited. I really liked the "I Heart" sites, but I knew that was someone else's idea. Since my site was about saving with coupons and I thought coupons were great...the name was born. It seems like three word names are pretty popular. However, if I could redo my name I would. Because my site contains the word "Coupons" my emails get sent to spam on a regular basis. It is very frustrating!

Tell us a little bit about you: I am married to my high school sweetheart. My husband and I have known each other since the sixth grade. We have two little girls who are 15 months and 3 weeks apart in age. I am a former educator. My degree is in Special Education, but I taught a 1st/2nd combo at a charter school in Oregon. I now stay home with my daughters and attempt to have a clean house and prepare healthy meals. I love helping others - whether they are children or adults. I have a co-blogger on my site who I met on an online pregnancy forum. It was scary meeting in real life for the first time, but now we are the best of friends.

Tell us 5 of your favorite things, and 5 of your least favorite things.
Five Favorite Things: Tetris, Scrabble, Watermelon, Apple products, and running
Five Least Favorite Things: Bad grammar, drama, heat combined with humidity, soggy cereal, beef

When and why did you start blogging? I started blogging three years ago. I wanted to share my deals with my friends. I believe that everyone should be saving money. If there is a coupon for a product then it seems very silly to not use it! I hoped to motivate my friends when I started blogging.

What do you blog about? At Coupons Are Great you will find many ways to save money including coupons, mystery shopping, and online deals. We are a family friendly site and we share all sorts of family ideas. Each Tuesday we have a Crafty post. We try to incorporate a broad range of posts.

When do you find the time to blog? I find the time to blog at night when my girls are in bed or during the few hours that my youngest is in preschool.

What is your favorite blog post ever? This is a tough one! My favorite posts are generally the crafty posts. My favorite posts are tied: Crafty Tuesday: A Care Bear Party and Crafty Tuesday: Sesame Street Birthday Party.

What is your favorite item you ever reviewed? My favorite item that I have reviewed is the Blooming Babies Personalized Stamp. I love personalized things. My wish list includes a personalized necklace with my daughter's initials. Being able to support small businesses makes me very happy!

What brand or product would you really like to work with/review? I would love to work with Garmin to review their running watches.

What has been your biggest blogging challenge, how did you overcome it? My biggest blogging challenge is finding the time to sit down and blog. I have too many tabs open on my computer and I am easily distracted. I am working on focusing more.

What advice would you give a new blogger? As hard as it may seem, try to make blogging friends! I am a very reserved person who has a hard time getting past the "Hello how are you's" but the best thing you can do is introduce yourself and try to get in to some blogging social circles. I am not the most active person in my social circles and I tend to learn more from others, but it is totally worth it. Blogging is much more fun when you have friends. Plus, the friends you make are always a wealth of knowledge.

My next piece of advice is to stay true to yourself. When you blog about the things that make you happy you will be successful. As a frugal blogger I sometimes have to remind myself "Just because everyone else is posting about it....doesn't mean I have to too."

What widget or feature could you not live without? My favorite widgets are Askimet (spam control), and the winner is (for giveaways), and Mile 51 (list maker)

What are your favorite blogs to read?
My favorite blogs include:
Run Faster Mommy
Skinny Runner
Skinny Taste
Eighteen25

Where can we find you?
Facebook
Twitter

Spa for Ma Sponsor Spotlight: K-Y INTENSE #Spa4Ma

2011-08-27T22:03:00.001-04:00

Note: This is a family friendly blog, the links provided my contain terminology unsuitable for children.

What can I say about K-Y INTENSE? I can tell you that it is appealing to dogs and makes for an 'INTENSE' chew toy. Yep, my dog, Max, enjoyed my sample of K-Y INTENSE as his very own chew toy. Now if only I could get him to give me his own product review. :P I'd say from the remains that it would be a positive review. I mean, come on, this 'chew toy' had a nice liquid inside that his others don't! From cleaning up the lovely mess he left for me, I can also tell you that it smells nice, is silky in texture and is not sticky.

The generous folks at K-Y sent me a replacement sample for my review. Now if I shared my personal review about K-Y INTENSE that'd probably be sharing a bit TMI, wouldn't it? I firmly believe some things are better not discussed publicly - especially when there's a chance your mother could read your post *snicker* We'll just say that I wouldn't promote it if I didn't like it. 'Nuff said.

So anyway, there's is this fab new site, K-Y INTENSE Effect. There you can find uncensored reviews. You will also find a $5 off K-Y INTENSE coupon. While you're there, scroll over to see what Ask Dr. Hilda has to say, too!

I have two exciting ways for you to WIN K-Y INTENSE!

Enter the Spa for Ma

$190 prize pack Giveaway (1 winner)
and/or
Enter to win the K-Y INTENSE Giveaway

(2 winners)

K-Y INTENSE Giveaway 2 Winners!

2011-08-27T22:02:00.004-04:00

Spa for Ma Sponsor Spotlight: Lilla Rose - Flexi Clips with Kim #Spa4Ma

2011-08-25T00:12:00.001-04:00

Before my participation in the Spa for Ma blog event I had never heard of Lilla Rose. When the pitch came in I ventured over to the website and saw what has to be the most beautiful hair accessories on the market. That is, aside from tiaras *snicker* *snicker*. I browsed through the online store and I loved each and every flexi-clip I saw. How would I ever pick one to review? Let me tell you, I browsed the pages over and over before finally deciding.

Photo Credit: Lilla Rose

I chose the Silver Elegant Dangle, pictured above. It's beautiful, isn't it? I figured it was a style that I could wear, knowing full well my 4yr old daughter would ~~steal~~ borrow it. The clip arrived a few days ago and I was amazed at just how stunning the flexi-clip is. It is very well crafted with high quality materials. Don't expect a hunk of plastic, because that's not what you'll receive from Lilla Rose.

The flexi-clip was very easy to put in, even in my short'ish hair. My hair is poker straight, very thick and is cut in the reverse bob style. I am able to pull the sides up and use the flexi-clip to hold it in place. What I like is that it stays in place without the use of a hair band. We've all had hair accessories that don't stay put, right? They slide down and you have to keep putting them back in. So far I haven't experienced that with the Lilla Rose Flexi-Clip. I think if I was going to wear it while doing some kind of high impact activity I might consider using a hair band under the flexi-clip for extra hold.

Another positive about these products is that they are super comfortable. I've used many, many different types of hair accessories in my day. I never liked the french clips as they always seemed to grab hair and pull. Or if I slightly bumped the clip it would pop open. Alligator clips etc. never help my heavy, thick hair. I am so happy for this alternative to the traditional hair clips! I forget that I have it in until my daughter asks when she can have a turn wearing the beads lol

There are so many styles to fit everyones unique style. Take a look through the online catalog and see what style you might like. You never know, if you enter my Spa for Ma giveaway, which includes a gift certificate to Lilla Rose, you very well could be the lucky winner!

Just remember, Lilla Rose products are even more stunning in person. Santa will be stuffing my daughter's stocking with some Lilla Rose Flexi-Clips. Maybe then I'll get to keep my own. (Yeah, right. I should just give up now on that, right? lol)

Below are two that I have in mind to purchase for my daughter, who loves fairies (Tinkerbell) and all things pink.

Photo Credit: Lilla Rose

Lilla Rose doesn't stop at the flexi-clips. They offer a full product line that includes hair sticks, orings, bobby pins and hair bands. And guess what! It doesn't stop at hair jewelry, they also offer eyeglass holders, badge holders, necklaces and earrings!

Know someone who likes high end fashion? Need a great holiday gift idea? That's right, I'll bet you can knock a few gifts off your holiday shopping list just in one visit to Lilla Rose.

Kim is our Lilla Rose consultant, who has graciously sponsored Spa for Ma by providing the review product and gift certificate giveaway to include in the prize pack. She has been a pleasure to work with and will be able to answer any specific questions you may have about Lilla Rose. Who knows, maybe you're local to Kim and may be interested in hosting a Lilla Rose party!

Don't forget, enter the Spa for Ma giveaway for your chance to WIN a gift certificate to Lilla Rose and much, much more!

I received a product sample to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. All opinions expressed within are 100% my own.

thredUP.com 48hr Back to School flash sale

2011-08-24T00:01:00.000-04:00

thredUP.com 48 hour back-to-school flash sale!

thredUP.com is where busy moms swap children’s clothes, toys and books online. This back-to-school season, thousands of moms are saving money and giving back by trading outgrown kids’ clothes for gently used school clothes that fit.

Sale Starts: August 24, 12:01 am EST

Sale Ends: August 25, 11:59 pm PST

Today (Aug. 24th) and tomorrow (Aug. 25th) only, get 30% off boxes of pre-loved kids & baby gear listed by other moms across the country.

HOT HOT HOT $0.99 Pirate Costume - Little Tikes

2011-08-23T11:53:00.000-04:00

Halloween is just around the corner!

I just stumbled across this awesome sale on a

Pirate costume from Little Tikes for only $0.99!!!

The Giveaway Train ~ 1CT Diamond Bracelet giveaway #diamondsareagirlsbff

2011-08-23T00:01:00.000-04:00

Proudly Presents:

"Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend"

This week we've got a gorgeous Silver and 1 CT Diamond Bracelet from Shadora up for grabs. This bracelet retails for over $500!!!

This Week's Prize brought to you by:

Shadora

Shadora would also like to offer you an opportunity to make a purchase of at least 7.99 and receive this necklace for $0.01.

Previous Winners:

Lynda Clark won A $50 Pfaltzgraff gift card
Carey Parks won A Pfaltzgraff flatware set
Kari Howell won A $100 Amazon.com Gift Card
Renee Thompson won A Nintendo 3DS
Shannon Pickin won A Nintendo Wii
Melissa Haggerty won A Tommee Tippee Breast Pump
Tracy Taylor won A $100 LOFT Gift Card
Mary Clarisse won A Happy Baby Prize Pack
Katie Reader won A Pepto Prize Pack
Maggy Austin won A Kodak Mini Camcorder
Wanda Rupright won A 100 Coupon Clippies

To inquire about becoming a sponsor, or a giveaway train stop (publisher) please contact GiveawayTrain@gmail.com for details.

Meet and Greet Monday's: Mother of Pearl It Is

2011-08-22T07:00:00.002-04:00

Your Name: Tree (aka Mother of Pearl)

Where do you blog? Mother of Pearl It Is

How did you decide on what to name your blog? Long story short... my oldest son began calling me Mother of Pearl years ago, and it kinda stuck. You can read about WHY he came up with that name for me here at Mother of Pearl, You Say?!

Tell us a little bit about you....
I've been with the love of my life for 24 years... married for 15 of them. We have 5 beautiful biracial kiddos, a lovely DIL-to-be, and 2 precious (or is that precocious) granddaughters. We are very family-oriented, although slightly dysfunctional. :) I work outside the home part-time, and LOVE my computer. I'm also scheduled to have Gastric Sleeve surgery this Friday, and am looking forward to feeling good inside and out again. You can read about why I made this decision HERE.

Tell us 5 of your favorite things, and 5 of your least favorite things...

Favorite things: my family, the beach, my laptop, amusement parks, chocolate

Least favorite things: liver & onions, procrastination, being broke, fake people, aching all the time (I have RA)

When and why did you start blogging? I actually started 9/2009, but got frustrated and stopped after a few months. Then got the bug again, and have been blogging steadily since 2/2010. I started doing reviews around that time too.

What do you blog about? MOPII is a mixture of our family's crazy antics, teenage dramas, the fun of being "young" grandparents, & a mish-mash of reviews and giveaways.

What does your family think of your blog? Do they read it? They don't really pay much attention to it... unless I tell them they MUST listen to my latest post. LOL They do love the reviews though (well, the review products anyway... tee hee)

When do you find the time to blog? Right now, I am on unemployment and getting ready to have my surgery, so most days I'm on throughout the day. When I'm working... I get right on as soon as I'm home. Then go back and forth in between doing chores, playing with the kids, watching tv, etc.

What advice would you give a new blogger? It's YOUR blog... you write whatever you want to write about, add whatever you want on your blog, but do take into consideration any advice that others offer you. You don't want to "follow suit" just because Jane, Betty, and Tom are doing it, but you also want to be sure to listen to their critiques. They may offer things you didn't know about, which may make your blog even better! :)

What are your favorite blogs to read? I don't get around to reading as much as I used to, since I began doing reviews/giveaways. But, there are several that I love to read when I get time. I like to laugh, and these gals (and guy) always make me chuckle.

Boobies, Babies, and a Blog
The Boogie Man is my Friends
The Blog O' Cheese

Where can we find you?

Facebook
Twitter
Linked In

Spa for Ma Sponsor Spotlight: Fake Bake #Spa4Ma

2011-08-21T22:32:00.001-04:00

We all know how dangerous tanning beds are for us, right? We also know that laying out in the sun without proper skin protection is also dangerous. Yet many continue to tempt fate and do it anyway. I'd venture to guess that a good part of the population thinks that self tanners make your skin turn orange. And maybe years ago that was the case. Well times have changed and there are several reliable products on the market now.
I was recently introduced to the Fake Bake line, and I have to say, I giggled at the name. But really, it's a clever company name, no? As a fair skinned person and a avid sunscreen user, I'm never going to have the beautiful tan that those with darker complexions get. And self tanners, although have come a long way, aren't really formulated for different complexion types. Or so I thought. Fake Bake offers Fake Bake Fair! Who knew!? You better believe I jumped on the opportunity to give it a try. What's the worst that would happen? My skin would turn temporarily orange? At least that's what I had hoped was the worst that could happen!

So I put on the beautiful blue gloves provided in the Fake Bake Fair box. Read the instructions and decided to do just a small part of the inside of my arm as a 'test', as per the instructions. I opened the bottle and was pleasantly surprised that it didn't have a chemical type odor. It actually smells pretty good! But man was I surprised with the color - oh. my. goodness. It looked like chocolate pudding! LOL Now of course my husband had walked in the room and began to poke fun of me. Meh. Hush up I told him. I gave the bottle a little squeeze and a huge glob appeared on my arm. It was kind of scary seeing how dark it was as I started to massage the lotion in. Then as the lotion absorbed it became less and less scary. Although my husband continued to tease me.

What's nice is that Fake Bake Fair provides a *gradual* self-tan. So after the first application it wasn't like I had just bathed in the stuff. My skin felt soft and silky and I could see an ever so subtle darker color to my skin. According to the instructions it's best to apply Fake Bake Fair before bed and see the results in the morning. Off to bed I went.

6am rolled around and I was awoken by the dog, who was ready to go out. I had totally forgotten about the self tanner I had applied the night before. That is, until I returned inside and sat down with my 1st morning cup of coffee. I glanced down and was reminded of the test from the night before. Wow, look at that, rock on! I had an itty bitty little tan going! Woot!

Now since this is a gradual process I will need several more applications to see true results. I'm also armed and ready for the "full body" application. I'm not sure if I'm brave enough to do before/after pictures, but I may consider it. *wink*

Fake Bake has oodles of different products available, specializing in facial tanners to airbrush and more. I highly recommend checking out their website to see what other products you might like. You can also do a search to find a store near you that carries Fake Bake.

Photo & Product Description Credit: fakebake.com

FAIR SELF-TANING LOTION:
Self-tan lotion for fair skin. Builds a gradual tan over time. Fake Bake Fair Self-Tan Lotion has been specially formulated for people with fair complexions. The easy glide formula and subtle "show where it goes" cosmetic colour guide enables even the most inexperienced self-tanner to apply a self-tan with ease and confidence. A combination of cutting edge, naturally derived tanning agents DHA and Erythulose work with the melanin cells which lie in the top layers of your skin to develop into a tan that compliments your skin tones for a perfectly natural looking results. If you desire a darker tan, Fake Bake Fair Self-Tan Lotion can be reapplied over consecutive days giving you complete control of your colour development.

You can WIN a bottle of Fake Bake Fair by entering my Spa for Ma giveaway from now until 8/31!

I received a product sample to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. All opinions expressed within are 100% my own.

Spa for Ma Spotlight: Pure Romance #Spa4Ma

2011-08-20T12:18:00.000-04:00

NOTE: The Pure Romance website contains product images that may be inappropriate for children and the workplace. However in keeping this blog family-friendly, the links I have provided bring you to safe landing pages.

Pure Romance is one of my very generous sponsors for the Spa for Ma giveaway blog event.

Who doesn't love to pamper themselves with high quality bath, body and bedroom accessories? Pure Romance offers just that.

Pure Romance is an in-home party company that sells a premier line of relationship aids, including lubricants, heighteners, and bedroom accessories. Pure Romance products are not available in stores; they may be purchased online or through our network of more than 40,000 independent sales consultants throughout the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

What I first noticed about Pure Romance is that their products are very classy and elegant in appearance, making the consumer feel every bit as beautiful as the product they're using. The next thing I noticed is that the products I received to sample have a pleasant scent. The Entice Moisturizing Body Lotion - Island Breeze - smells so good and leaves your skin feeling silky soft. My 4yr old daughter loves the pink bottle it comes in. She also loves how Glow Shimmering Body Silk makes my skin sparkley.

I invite you to visit Pure Romance online and see what products they have for you! Who knows, you may like their products so much that you decide to become a consultant yourself.

The four products pictured above are part of my Spa for Ma prize pack. Click the link below to enter the giveaway.

ENTER the SPA FOR MA GIVEAWAY
I received samples to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. All opinions expressed within are 100% my own.

Get ready to be spoiled with Spa for Ma! ( #Spa4Ma )

2011-08-16T23:01:00.001-04:00

I am so excited that this blog event is just about here. Many, many bloggers have been working around the clock to make this event spectacular for all you Ma's out there! Most blogs will be offering one, or more, prize packs worth $100 and up! I have my sponsors listed on the right side, go ahead and check 'em out!!

I'd also like to express my gratitude to our fabulous hostesses who have done an amazing job organizing this event. These two ladies really went above and beyond in making this event happen.

Thank you!

HOT FREE classic Swiffer Duster

2011-08-16T19:43:00.000-04:00

The new and improved line of Swiffer® products
is designed to provide a high quality, HD clean.
Look for it in stores!

New Swiffer Dusters® with Dust Lock technology clean better than a regular dry cloth, even in tight spaces.
New Swiffer Sweeper® Dry Cloths clean better than a broom on multiple floor types, even on textured surfaces.
New Swiffer WetJet® solution cleans better to reveal more shine than a mop on glossy ceramic tile, hardwood and laminate floors.

CLICK FOR YOUR FREE SAMPLE

*Must be a Vocalpoint member; limited quantities available. Only one package will be mailed per member. Please allow 5-7 weeks for delivery.
** I received this offer and all information from Vocalpoint. No other compensation was received.

The Help - In Theaters NOW + WINNER Announcement

2011-08-15T12:05:00.000-04:00

Who has seen The Help already? Phenomenal movie, right? If you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend seeing it in theaters. The cast is absolutely amazing. It's just one of those movies that sucks you in and makes you feel like you're living within each scene.

I do have two favorite characters - Celia and Minnie

Also, CONGRATULATIONS to Crystal!
She is the The Help prize pack winner!

HOT ('n Toasty) QUIZNOS Coupons

2011-08-15T09:39:00.000-04:00

Quiznos Toasty Savings
Print All 4 Coupons!

- Free Sub of equal or less value with the purchase of any sub and a regular fountain drink

- Free chip or cookie and regular fountain drink with purcahse of regular salad or sub

- $1 off 1 Sub, $2 off 2 Subs, $3 off 3 Subs

- $2 Off Regular or Large Sub

Meet & Greet Monday: Freebies & Cheapies + Mia's Musings

2011-08-15T06:00:00.002-04:00

Your Name: Lori (AKA Mia)

Where do you blog? Freebies & Cheapies and Mia's Musings

How did you decide on what to name your blog? Pretty much kept trying until I found something that was available.

Tell us a little bit about you.... I am a forty-something year-old mom of a precious 4 year old boy. After having lost a twin pregnancy in 2000, I never thought I would be a mom-he was a true gift from God. I quit my job of 10 years to be able to stay home with him. Things are pretty tight around here but it is worth every minute to be able to stay home with him.

Tell us 5 of your favorite things, and 5 of your least favorite things...

Favorite things:
My son
My dogs-Sadee, Rambo and Sophie (also known as Puppy Pia)
Camaros
Music
My fish

Least favorite things:
Being broke all of the time
High electric bills
Selfish people
People expecting me to do everything for them because I don't have a J-O-B
Housework

When and why did you start blogging? I decided to blog to see if I could make a few dollars here and there. So far, I am not making much but I am having a good time with it and have met some awesome bloggers!

What do you blog about? At Freebies & Cheapies, I blog about coupons and saving money. I decided to start Mia's Musings so I could diversify and post about other things.

What does your family think of your blog? Do they read it? My mom is 85-she used to play games online but has moved in with my older sister and they, nor my other sister, ever get online. I do have a few cousins that like the coupons deals and freebies.

When do you find the time to blog? Not sure, LOL! I pretty much spend all day online but seem to get lost in cyberspace here lately. I am trying to set a schedule to go by so I can hold myself accountable if I don't get something done.

What advice would you give a new blogger? Take it slow and find a few friends that blog to give much needed support when you need it.

What are your favorite blogs to read? Too many to pick favorites!

Where can we find you?

On Facebook: Freebies & Cheapies and Mia's Musings

On Twitter: @Mommymia

Win $100 Amazon.com GC from The Giveaway Train - Wooo wooo

2011-08-09T00:01:00.001-04:00

$100 Amazon.com Gift Card
It's almost as good as cash, pick your own prize this week!

See What's For Sale on Amazon.com Here

This Week's Prize brought to you by:

Autism United

PLEASE NOTE: After you complete the first two mandatory entries, the rest are optional. But remember, the more you enter the better your chance of winning!

Click the read more tab below to see our previous winners and to open the Raffelcopter entry form.

Previous Winners:
Renee Thompson won A Nintendo 3DS
Shannon Pickin won A Nintendo Wii
Melissa Haggerty won A Tommee Tippee Breast Pump
Tracy Taylor won A $100 LOFT Gift Card
Mary Clarisse won A Happy Baby Prize Pack
Katie Reader won A Pepto Prize Pack
Maggy Austin won Kodak Mini Camcorder
Wanda Rupright won 100 Coupon Clippies

To inquire about becoming a sponsor, or a giveaway train stop (publisher) please contact GiveawayTrain@gmail.com for details.

Meet & Greet Monday: Happenings of the Harper Household

2011-08-08T06:30:00.003-04:00

Blog URL: Happenings of the Harper Household

Where can we find you? Facebook Twitter E-Mail

Tell us a little about you... Let's see..... well I am a SAHM, but prior to that I was a bank teller attending college part time as an English major. Now please don't get on me about the fact that I don't follow proper grammar rules in my blog posts. I write like I talk - and I don't talk right - bahahahaha. My family always makes fun of me for this - but I can bust out an A paper like no one's business! Like I said, I'm a SAHM to two beautiful little girls - Dilly & Sugar and wife to an amazing man. And we have decided to try for #3! I am a cloth diapering, breastfeeding, baby wearing mama so you will see lots of reviews and giveaways for products related to those things plus lots more.
Tell us 5 of your favorite things, and five of your least favorite...

Favorites: Cloth Diapers, The Twilight Movies, Geocaching, Tattoos, and Crab Legs

Least Favorites: Drama, Most cooked vegetables, Sarah Jessica Parker, Snow, and Scales

What are your favorite blogs to read?
Prett All True
Three Times The Fun
Motherhood, WTF?

What do you blog about? I blog about my life and my girls which leads to lots of posts about cloth diapering, breastfeeding, and baby wearing. I also like to blog about any other products that fit our lifestyle.... especially green products! It will be interesting to see how my blog evolves as my girls grow up - but I don't want to think about that right now... they grow up too fast as it is.

When and why did you start blogging? A year ago!! I celebrated my one year blogiversary on August 6th. I originally started blogging to share our day to day activities with friends and family, but I soon noticed I was mentioning products. For example I talked about the baby food cookbook I used to make Sugar's baby food and I decided to try out the review/giveaway world.

How did you decide on your blog name? When I first started blogging it was just to share our day to day life with family and friends and I'm a big fan of alliteration - yes I was an English major, hehe - so I started thinking of words that started with H like our last name. Soon "Happenings of the Harper Household" was born!

When do you find time to blog? Usually after the kiddos are in bed for the night which is 8:30 PM. I am blessed to have two little girls that lay down and go to sleep without a fight. I really hope this continues because I enjoy my me time which could really be called blogging time!

What does your family think of your blog, do they read it? My hubby reads it when his facebook updates him to the fact that I wrote a new post and he likes that I get all sorts of new awesome products to try out - though he would like it more if these products were golf clubs or Xbox 360 games! My mom enjoys reading my blog and checking out the pictures I post of the girls. Every time she sees something new around our house the first thing out of her mouth is "so is that a review item too?" Hehe!!

What is your favorite blog post? The Worst Gift Ever

What is your favorite review item you have ever reviewed? Zooper Tango

What advice would you give to a new blogger? Blog about what you like and what you enjoy writing about. Don't worry about offending someone because there is always going to be someone who doesn't agree with you. Write from the heart!

What brand would you LOVE to work with? Kolcraft - I want to be a Kolcraft Mom sooooo bad!

Carmex Review & Giveaway

2011-08-07T22:45:00.000-04:00

Did you know that Carmex has added Lime Twist to their collection? If you're like me and LOVE key lime pie, you're going to love this new Carmex flavor. It's not a super strong aroma or taste, it's subtle but there.

My son, who underwent reconstructive lip surgery after a dog bite a few months ago, is supposed to wear sunscreen on his lip daily. Well to put sunscreen on his face is a chore, to say the least. He's 6yrs old and puts up a fight! But he will put this on, loves to actually, and we rub a little extra on his scar. Why? Because it contains SPF 15, as well as all of the other moisturizing ingredients of the Carmex lip balm line. However, these new premium lip balms contain three additional moisturizers not found in the original line.

Did you also know that this same premium Carmex lip balm is available in vanilla flavor? That's right, vanilla. Who doesn't love vanilla flavored products? Well, I'm not personally a fan of vanilla scented candles but I don't have a problem with lip balms! Just like the lime twist flavor, the vanilla is subtle but there. Enough to make you think "Wow, this is nice!" but not not over powering. It also contains 15 SPF (yay!) and the three additional moisturizers not found in the original line.

Maybe you're not looking for something with a flavor twist. Well you can always try Carmex Moisture Plus. It offers a hint of shine (but not so much shine that I won't allow my son to use it!), Aloe, Vitamin E and SPF 15 (yay again!)

Why do I love Carmex products so much? Because they are consistent with their products. Their lip balms are always soft, creamy and smooth to apply. I am always left with smooth, soft lips after applying Carmex products. You won't find dry, cracked lips on this gal! With Carmex on the market, there's no excuse. I am proud to be a Carmex Blog Squad member!

I bet now you'd like to try these lip balms first hand, right? Here is your chance to 'try it before you buy it'! Carmex is going to send one of my lucky readers a Lime Twist and Vanilla stick of lip balm. But wait, there's more! The winner is also going to receive a super nice, compact picnic blanket! It's made of a fleecy/flannel type material, folds neatly and Velcros shut to showcase a nice zipper pocket.

Giveaway is open to US Residents only.

BRITAX SALE

2011-08-04T15:43:00.000-04:00

If you are in the market for a new Britax seat, now is the time to shop!

25% OFF
Next Generation Marathon, Boulevard, Frontier & Advocate Models

FREE SHIPPING
on orders over $100

SHOP NOW

Choo Choo! Here's The Giveaway Train!

2011-08-01T23:59:00.004-04:00

The New Nintendo 3DS
Win it before you can buy it!
Tuesday 8/2 12:01am - Thursday 8/4 11:59pm
Would You Choose Cosmo Black or Aqua Blue?

View The Prize Details Here on Amazon

This Weeks Prize brought to you by:
The Giveaway Train Blogger Group

Previous Winners:

Shannon Pickin won A Nintendo Wii
Melissa Haggerty won A Tommee Tippee Breast Pump
Tracy Taylor won A $100 LOFT Gift Card
Mary Clarisse won A Happy Baby Prize Pack
Katie Reader won A Pepto Prize Pack
Maggy Austin won Kodak Mini Camcorder
Wanda Rupright won 100 Coupon Clippies

To inquire about becoming a sponsor, or a giveaway train stop (publisher) please contact GiveawayTrain@gmail.com for details.

Meet and Greet ~ Real Dad Reviews

2011-08-01T00:00:00.002-04:00

Your Name: Nathan "The Dad"

Where do you Blog? Real Dad Reviews

Tell us a little about you... "My name is Nathan! I am a retired United States Army Veteran. I have been married to my wonderful wife Skye for 4 years. We have three beautiful children together. We also have custody of our two nephews, and my sister in law."

Tell us 5 of your favorite things...
Top Five Movies of all time-
1-Twister
2-Stargate
3-Independence Day
4-Hard Rain
5-Day After Tomorrow

What do you blog about? "I blog about anything and everything my family can use, that I think others would want to know how it worked and if it worked. Some products rock my socks off, while others I would not use if I was paid. Well maybe if I was paid a lot..."

How did you decide what to name your blog? I decided on real dad reviews because I was getting jealous of all the cool stuff my wife (real mom reviews) was getting in the mail. Every time I mentioned something I liked or didn't like about the items she was getting, she told me it was real MOM reviews, not real dad reviews, so I improvised!

What is your favorite blog post? My Newest Baby

Favorite item ever reviewed.. Pack It

When do you find time to blog? I am a stay at home dad, who does the majority of my blogging after the kids are asleep!

What does your family think of your blog? My wife, of course loves it. We team up sometimes for reviews together. The rest of my family just doesn't understand how it works.

What advice would you give a new blogger? Never give up- it is not easy. Take a step back, give yourself a week break, and hit the ground running when you get back!

What are your favortie blogs to read?
Frugal Mom of Two
The Bloggess
The Oatmeal

What brand or product would you really like to work with/review? Boon! I love all the products from Boon.

FREE lunch kit at Toys R Us #BacktoSchool

2011-07-31T08:20:00.000-04:00

Purchase ANY backpack at $12.99 and receive a FREE lunch kit (up to $9.99)
Valid in-store only. Expires 8/6/2011
Some exclusions
No rain-checks
Don't miss out on the Crayola Dollar Days!! Get those craft and school supplies and stock up!

Pet Food Recall ~ Purina ONE Vibrant Maturity

2011-07-30T18:46:00.000-04:00

Nestle Purina Recalls Limited Number of Purina ONE Vibrant Maturity 7+ Dry Cat Food Bags Due to a Potential Health Risk

ST. LOUIS, July 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Nestle Purina PetCare Company (NPPC) is voluntarily recalling a limited number of 3.5- and 7-pound bags of its Purina ONE Vibrant Maturity 7+ Dry Cat Food from a single production run and shipped to customers in 12 states in December 2010. This is being done because some bags of the product have been found to be contaminated with Salmonella. Only Purina ONE Vibrant Maturity 7+ Dry Cat Food with both the "Best By" date and the production code shown are included in this voluntary recall:

Purina ONE Vibrant Maturity 7+
3.5 lb.
MAY 2012 03341084
17800 01885

Purina ONE Vibrant Maturity 7+
3.5 lb.
MAY 2012 03351084
17800 01885

Purina ONE Vibrant Maturity 7+
7 lb.
MAY 2012 03341084
17800 01887

Purina ONE Vibrant Maturity 7+
7 lb.
MAY 2012 03351084
17800 01887

*"Best By" Date and Production Code are found on the back or bottom of the bag.

No additional Purina cat or dog products are involved in this voluntary recall. No other Purina ONE brand products are involved. Only Purina ONE Vibrant Maturity 7+ brand products which match the "Best By" dates and production code above are included in this recall.

Consumers who have purchased Purina ONE Vibrant Maturity 7+ Dry Cat Food products with these specific "Best By" Date and Production Codes should discontinue feeding the product and discard it.

Salmonella can affect animals eating the product, and there is a risk to humans from handling contaminated products. People handling contaminated dry pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to this product. Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may exhibit decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, pets may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If you pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

The product was distributed to customers located in California, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin, who may have further distributed the product to other states.

Nestle Purina PetCare Company became aware of the contamination as a result of samples that had been collected in several retail stores.

At Nestle Purina PetCare, the safety and efficacy of our products are our top priority. We apologize for any inconvenience due to this voluntary recall. For further information or to obtain a product refund, please call NPPC toll-free at 1-800-982-6559 or visit www.purina.com.

SOURCE Nestle Purina PetCare

Information received from PRNewswire.

THE MUPPETS in Theaters November 23rd

2011-07-29T16:38:00.000-04:00

THE MUPPETS

WALT DISNEY PICTURES

Website and Mobile site: Disney.com/Muppets

Become a fan on Facebook: Facebook.com/Muppets

Genre: Family Comedy

Rating: TBD

U.S. Release Date: November 23, 2011

Cast: Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Animal, Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper and

Walter

Director: James Bobin

Producers: David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman

Executive Producers: Jason Segel, Nicholas Stoller, Martin G. Baker

Writers: Jason Segel, Nicholas Stoller

On vacation in Los Angeles, Walter, the world's biggest Muppet fan, and his friends Gary (Jason Segel) and Mary (Amy Adams) from Smalltown, USA, discover the nefarious plan of oilman Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) to raze the Muppet Theater and drill for the oil recently discovered beneath the Muppets' former stomping grounds. To stage The Greatest Muppet Telethon Ever and raise the $10 million needed to save the theater, Walter, Mary and Gary help Kermit reunite the Muppets, who have all gone their separate ways: Fozzie now performs with a Reno casino tribute band called the Moopets, Miss Piggy is a plus-size fashion editor at Vogue Paris, Animal is in a Santa Barbara clinic for anger management, and Gonzo is a high-powered plumbing magnate. With secret, signature, celebrity cameos, “The Muppets” hits the big screen Nov. 23, 2011.

Notes:

Funnyman Jason Segel (TV’s “How I Met Your Mother,” “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”) stars in, co-writes and executive produces “The Muppets.”
“The Muppets” is directed by James Bobin, who was a director/writer/EP for HBO’s “Flight of the Conchords.”

Kermit received a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2002. His song “The Rainbow Connection” was nominated for an Academy Award®.

Bret McKenzie, who starred in, wrote for and served as composer for HBO’s “Flight of the Conchords,” is the music supervisor for “The Muppets,” as well as the writer/producer on some of the songs, which include big Muppet-style opening and closing numbers.
It’s been 11 years since the Muppets’ last big-screen feature film.

When Walter, the world's biggest Muppet fan, and friends Gary (Jason Segel) and Mary (Amy Adams) discover the nefarious plan of oilman Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) to raze the Muppet Theater, they help Kermit reunite the Muppets to stage The Greatest Muppet Telethon Ever and raise the $10 million needed to save the theater.

THE HELP Fun Facts & Prize Pack #Giveaway #TheHelpMovie

2011-07-29T16:05:00.009-04:00

In Theaters August 10, 2011

FUN FACTS

The film is based on the phenomenal New York Times best-selling book by Kathryn Stockett. With 3 million copies in print, “The Help” remained on the NYT best-seller list for 103 weeks, six of which were at No. 1.

Produced by Brunson Green, Chris Columbus and Michael Barnathan, and directed and written for the screen by Tate Taylor, “The Help” is a deeply moving, poignant film about the ability to create change.

Tate Taylor directed and wrote the screenplay for “The Help.” Both he and the author of the novel, Kathryn Stockett, were childhood friends and grew up in Jackson, Mississippi, where the book is based.

“The Help” boasts an illustrious cast, including Academy Award® nominee Viola Davis, Allison Janney, Emma Stone, Bryce Dallas Howard, Octavia Spencer, Oscar® winner Sissy Spacek and Academy Award® nominee Cicely Tyson.

Growing up in Jackson, Miss., in the 1970s, both director Tate Taylor and author Kathryn Stockett had maids (whom both refer to as their “co-mothers”) who cared for them while their mothers worked. Taylor’s “co-mother,” Carol Lee, has a small part in the film.

The film was shot on location in and around Greenwood, Miss., and the citizens of Greenwood willingly pitched in to find period props for the film by digging around in their attics and basements, and many played extras in “The Help” as well. Even producer Brunson Green’s grandmother’s dress wound up in wardrobe.

Octavia Spencer, who plays Minny in the film, is a longtime friend of director Tate Taylor, having met him when they both worked on a film. The two eventually became roommates in LA for four years. In addition, producer Brunson Green (also from Jackson, Miss.) is also a longtime friend of both Taylor and Spencer and the three used to hang out together, occasionally with Kathryn Stockett, author of “The Help.”

While growing up in Jackson, Miss., Tate Taylor, Kathryn Stockett and Brunson Green would regularly be treated to milkshakes and grilled cheese sandwiches at Brent’s Pharmacy soda fountain. The production was able to recreate the real Brent’s Pharmacy as it was back when they were children.

Local chefs were brought in to make sure foods used in the scenes, from fried chicken to congealed salads, were regionally correct and also correct for the times, and a conscious effort was made to make it all look homemade—not fancy or store-bought—to add to the authenticity of the film.

Cast members spent a whole day in a ballroom learning how to do period dances, including the bunny hop—taught by Sissy Spacek.

A dialect coach, hired to make sure everyone’s southern accent was perfect, flew into Jackson, Miss., to record accents for the actors. Even the real southerners in the cast were coached in the proper way of speaking specifically for the Mississippi Delta. Allison Janney picked Producer Brunson Green’s mother’s accent to emulate for her character, Charlotte. In 1963, Mrs. Green was the same age as the character Skeeter, played by Emma Stone.

The mothers of Tate Taylor, Kathryn Stockett and Brunson Green all have appearances in “The Help.”

Due to the intense summer heat in Mississippi, the filmmakers adjusted the schedule to shoot only indoors in the middle of the day. Exteriors were shot in the early morning and late afternoon.

Director Tate Taylor grew up visiting Greenwood, Miss., as a child and would later spend nights in the home used for the interior of Skeeter Phelan’s house. Taylor was college buddies with the homeowner’s son.

The Mayflower Café, a Jackson, Miss. landmark, where Stuart and Skeeter eat oysters in the movie, is one of Director Tate Taylor’s favorite restaurants. It is the place where Taylor ate his first raw oyster as a child.

The movie theater that Skeeter observes in the beginning of THE HELP while getting gas was the theater Director Tate Taylor went to as a child. It closed down in the 1980s and was brought back to life by the production crew. The gas station is a yoga studio today, but was transformed back into a gas station for the shoot.

GIVEAWAY

Open to US and Canada

One lucky winner will receive:

- THE HELP t-shirt in adult female sizes of S, M, L, XL
- THE HELP pocket jotter & pen
- THE HELP fan
- THE HELP nail file/mirror

HOT FREE Beauty Bag from ULTA - ARV $35!

2011-07-23T11:43:00.000-04:00

Other **HOT** deals at ULTA

FREE Philosophy Tote with $50 purchase

FREE Shipping on Bare Minerals
Coupon Code: 33055
$3.50 OFF ANY $10 Purchase In-store OR Online
Coupon Code: 60032
Print Coupon
exp. 7/23/2011

$10 OFF ANY $60 Purchase In-store OR Online
Coupon Code: 18137
Print Coupon
exp. 7/23/2011

ALL ABOARD the #Giveaway Train - Tommee Tippee Breast Pump

2011-07-19T00:42:00.000-04:00

Each week The Giveaway Train features a spectacular giveaway. In addition to entering to win the weekly giveaway, you have the opportunity to hop on the train to find lots of other great giveaways!

Enter as much as you want or as little as you want. Remember though, the more you enter, the greater your chances of winning!

Follow the instructions on Rafflecopter for entering and you'll be good to go.

So what are you waiting for? All Aboard!!

click here to enter ---->THE GIVEAWAY TRAIN
Tuesday 7/19 (12:01am) to Thursday 7/21 (12:01am)

Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature
Single Electric Breast Pump System
(ARV: $149.00)

This Weeks Prize brought to you by: Mamas & Papas USA

Previous Winners:

Tracy Taylor won A $100 LOFT Gift Card

Mary Clarisse won A Happy Baby Prize Pack

Katie Reader won A Pepto Prize Pack

Maggy Austin won Kodak Mini Camcorder

Wanda Rupright won 100 Coupon Clippies

To inquire about becoming a sponsor, or a giveaway train stop (publisher) please contact GiveawayTrain@gmail.com for details.

NEW! Dog Collar Charms for your favorite fur kid!! #DogCollarCharms

2011-07-19T00:10:00.000-04:00

DOG COLLAR CHARMS

Several weeks ago I had the pleasure of working closely with the folks at Dog Collar Charms. As part of a #CollectiveBias shoppertunity As part of the shop I was to purchase 3 dog collar charms, one for myself and 2 to give away. Now if you haven't already heard of Dog Collar Charms you're probably wondering what in the world I am talking about! Let me explain.
We, as humans get to accessorize our outfits and now dogs can accessorize their collars with their own, personalized collar charms! I'm not talking about the plain ol' metal name tags that you have done at a kiosk at PetsMart. (I'm not saying anything bad about those, we have one, too! It's very important to keep identification on your pet!) The Dog Collar Charms are actually made out of a super durable glass and you can have pictures infused directly onto the glass charm. That means the photo of your choice becomes a part of the glass charm! There are currently 9 different color charms to choose from and all pictures are printed in sepia.

Yep, I thought the same thing that you are probably thinking right now. "No way a glass tag would survive on my dog!" My dog, Max, has been wearing his since the day we received his order. Trust me when I say this charm has held up to the ultimate challenge!

The picture above is of Max's charm after over a month of wear. We spent 3 weeks with an 85lb Golden Retriever and he and Max certainly put this charm to the test. Those two are quite the wrestlers and tuggers. And as they were wrestling and rolling across the floor, we'd hear the tags on their collars clanking like crazy. Did I mention that Max is a 7 month old, high energy, Hound/Lab mix? LOL Since Dog Collar Charms were new to us, a few times I inspected the charm just to make sure there were no cracks or chips. Because like I said, these two dogs played *hard*. To this day it's as smooth as the day it arrived in the mail. There's not a rough edge to be found. As you can see in the close up picture, some of the image does seem to have been scrapped off during the wrestling wars.

There is only *one* thing that would make this Dog Collar Charm even better, and that would be the ability to put ID information on the charm. As of right now, that's not an option. If I was able to have Max's ID info, on the back of his Dog Collar Charm that would eliminate the need for an extra ID tag. With so many tags for this that and the other thing, the clanking can get annoying. I know there are covers you can put on the tags but IMO that just makes them too bulky.

7 Month Old Max wouldn't cooperate for a "photo op" so I had to pin him down to get a picture that shows how nice the charm looks on the collar!

While we were in Myrtle Beach for 3 weeks the Dog Collar Charm got tons of raves from fellow dog owners. Why on earth did I not bring the extra cards provided by Dog Collar Charms in the package they sent? Instead I wrote down the web address and handed it out like candy. People were wanting them for their own dogs and for gifts!
Oh, as I said above I was able to order 2 extra charms to give away at a local dog park. So before we left for our 3 week Myrtle Beach vacation we hit the local dog park. Unfortunately it was SO blasted hot that many dogs were there only for short walks with their owners. And at the time my Max, who had just arrived at our home as a rescue from Chattanooga, TN, had Kennel Cough and couldn't go to the dog park. I decided I would take the kids to the park (there's also a playground) and bring Max's collar with me.

I met a couple there that had 2 dogs. I started to tell them about Max and Dog Collar Charms. I believe there was a slight miscommunication somewhere and they ended up taking both of the charms LOL They didn't want their pictures taken but agreed to let me take their dogs pictures. I asked if we could put the charms on the dogs for the pictures and I got a blank stare. Either I didn't present the material well or they just didn't "get it". Regardless, their dogs, Buddy and Max (another Max!) were adorable and were super friendly.

Lucky them, I had ordered a lavender and a maroon charm, both with a paw print image. It matched their harness and leash sets perfectly! I do hope they are enjoying the charms as much as we are! And I hope I didn't scare their little grandson too much. When I tried taking pictures he was crying saying "NO NO NO" because he thought I was going to take the dogs. Poor fella.

The purchase process is incredibly easy and the staff is phenomenal to work with. I will elaborate more on that in a separate post. This one is long enough :-D

I received product sample to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed within are 100% my own.

Divorcing Virgin Mobile

2011-07-17T09:12:00.000-04:00

Virgin Mobile = FAIL!

According to CNet News, Virgin Mobile is going to raise prices, move away from fully unlimited plans and throttle connection speeds of their "bandwidth-hogging customers".

What are they thinking!? The whole reason I switched to Virgin Mobile was because of the awesome plans they offer. My current plan is the 300 minute anytime talk plan with unlimited text and data for $25/monthly NO contract. And from what I understand this plan is going to increase to $35/monthly and there will be limited text and data. So okay, increase the price and decrease the service. Are you kidding me?

Good thing there are many other providers available. Looks like it's time for me to start shopping around and as soon as I find a new one I will be divorcing Virgin Mobile.

This is the second company within a week to announce decreased service and increased prices (Netflix was the other). Not the best way to keep customers.

Winnie the Pooh ~ In Theaters NOW!

2011-07-16T22:34:00.000-04:00

Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending an early screening of Winnie the Pooh. The whole family went and we all loved it. If you're my friend on Facebook you've seen me raving about what a wonderful movie this is. Many kids movies have crude humor that only adults (or older kids) would "get". I often find myself thinking "Wow, it's a good thing the kids didn't understand that joke!" There wasn't any questionable language, either, which made this froggy mama very hoppy!

Winnie the Pooh is exactly what a good, clean cut, classic Disney movie is all about. The length of the movie was just perfect for the younger viewing audience. There was lots of silly humor that had even the adult viewers giggling.

Much of the movie is about Pooh trying to find some honey to fill his grumbling tummy. However, one of my favorite scenes is of Owl reading a letter from Christopher Robin. He got some words mixed up and suddenly everyone was getting prepared to capture the "Backson" (if I spelled that right?)! It brought just enough adventure to the movie to keep it alive.

I also very much enjoyed how the story book was incorporated into the movie. The narration was engaging and refreshing. Seriously, I cannot rave enough about this movie. It has it all and is pleasing to the entire viewing audience.

Below is a humorous clip that I think you'll all get a chuckle from.

If you've seen Winnie the Pooh in theaters I'd love to hear what you thought about it! If you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend it. It's a "must see in theaters" kind of movie, in my opinion.

I went to an early screening of Winnie the Pooh in Brick, NJ. No other compensation was received. All opinions expressed within this review are 100% my own.

Minnie Mouse Birthday Invitation

2011-07-16T12:43:00.001-04:00

I just finished designing my daughter's 4th birthday party invitation. I think it turned out pretty cute so I thought I'd share it here. I removed the address for privacy purposes.

1,000 GFC Follower Celebration PayPal #Giveaway!

2011-07-15T16:20:00.002-04:00

It's taken a long time but I finally made it! WOOT! I polled you guys a few weeks ago to see what you'd prefer to win, a Amazon.com GC or PayPal $. The results are in and PayPal won the vote in a landslide! So PayPal it is!

$20.00 PayPal
I'm using Rafflecopter to make entering this giveaway super easy for you. There is NO mandatory entry. It's your choice. All are super easy and don't require jumping through hoops.

THANK YOU

You guys are what makes blogging exciting. I love receiving your comments and e-mails. I've made some great online connections and friends through blogging. I've also had some wonderful opportunities all thanks to this blog. I really do appreciate you ALL - readers, sponsors and PR reps!

GOOD LUCK!
Giveaway Ends 7/24/2011 12:01am

FREE bag of Fresh Express Salad

2011-07-12T23:05:00.000-04:00

Fresh Express® salads washed in Fresh Rinse™ are ready to eat...not ready to wash.

Fresh Express® has developed a breakthrough, eco-friendly produce wash called Fresh Rinse™ that is 7x more effective in cleaning salads than traditional chlorine wash,1 but is still gentle on lettuce.

- Environmentally friendly
- Acceptable for use on organic produce

1Based on average reduction of bacteria (Total Aerobic Plate Counts, and indicator for the level of microorganisms on a product)

TRY IT FREE

I am receiving a coupon for a FREE (max. value $4.00) Fresh Express salad and a free bag clip from Vocalpoint.

Super HOT TOTSY Deal!

2011-07-12T22:25:00.000-04:00

What is totsy? Totsy is a fun and exciting private shopping site where members can find up to 85% off on products and services for the family!

Totsy holds exclusive sales events online everyday featuring the best brands for moms, moms-to-be and kids. Sales events last between 48 and 72 hours.

Enjoy savings on your favorite brands and discover new brands. Find items for your family including kids apparel, shoes, toys, baby gear, travel accessories, education materials, maternity and so much more.

Who wouldn't love FREE MONEY to spend at totsy?? Here's your chance! Plum District is one of those sites that offers great deals to merchants we love. Right now they're offering a $30 voucher to totsy for only $15! And done in my best As Seen On TV impersonation "BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!" How about getting a $30 voucher to totsy for only $5! No need to double take, that's what I said - you can get $30 to spend at totsy for only $5. This is one offer you're going to want to take advantage of because it won't be available for long!

Here's how it works:

Go to Plum District and create an account if you don't already have one.
New members get an automatic $5 credit.
Buy the totsy deal and enter Promo Code WINWIN to receive an additional $5 off.
Your total will be $5!

Go to totsy and start shopping!

You'll even have the opportunity to receive the $30 totsy voucher absolutely FREE if you refer three friends and they all buy the same deal!

I'm very excited - I stalk, er, browse, totsy daily because they always have such great stuff!!!

Happy Shopping!

Changes coming to NETFLIX

2011-07-12T21:00:00.000-04:00

Just one month ago I finally signed up for a Netflix account. I had a hard time justifying that we watched enough movies for the $10/Month fee. Then I decided what the heck, I'd give it a try. Swagbucks was offering a sweet deal, 1st month FREE and receive 900 Swagbucks. The timing was perfect as the kids and I were out of town for 3 weeks. I loved having their favorite shows just a mouse click away and I was able to watch chick flicks after they were in bed. Not to mention, sign up was a breeze and in a few short minutes we were watching our first streaming movie. Now that we're home I am looking forward to taking advantage of the unlimited, one at a time, DVD's. No late fees is a HUGE bonus.

So tonight I decided I would check out the DVD's that are available. I noticed that the instant videos are a bit older and many are unavailable. My hope is that more are available on DVD. Before heading to the Netflix website I checked my e-mail and what do I see but an e-mail from Netflix informing me of upcoming price changes.

Before I begin my rant let me tell you the changes, in case you aren't already aware:

CURRENT: $9.99/Month Unlimited DVD's (one at a time) and Unlimited Instant Watch Videos.
UPCOMING CHANGE: There will no longer be 1 fee for both. They will be split into two plans:

Plan 1: Unlimited Streaming (no DVDs) for $7.99 a month
Plan 2: Unlimited DVDs, 1 out at-a-time (no streaming) for $7.99 a month

Your price for getting both of these plans will be $15.98 a month ($7.99 + $7.99). You don't need to do anything to continue your memberships for both unlimited streaming and unlimited DVDs.

The new plans and pricing will go into effect Sept. 2011.

Now. I am not-so-happy about this. I understand the price increase isn't significant but it's enough to make me question if I will continue to keep an account with Netflix. I also understand their reasoning ("to better reflect the costs for both") for wanting to separate the plans. And since I'm entitled to my own opinion, I will share it with you.

1) Current customers should be grandfathered in to show customer appreciation.

2) There should be a price cut for the customers who choose to purchase both plans. Why not 1/2 off the second plan?

Netflix says in their e-mail that they are aware that we have many choices for our home entertainment, they even give links to change and/or cancel service. But do they really realize how many people will likely cancel their plans? I know come Sept. 2011 my account will be canceled. I'll stick to Redbox.

All Aboard - The Giveaway Train!

2011-07-12T00:01:00.003-04:00

Each week The Giveaway Train features a spectacular giveaway. In addition to entering to win the weekly giveaway, you have the opportunity to hop on the train to find lots of other great giveaways!

Enter as much as you want or as little as you want. Remember though, the more you enter, the greater your chances of winning!

Follow the instructions on Rafflecopter for entering and you'll be good to go.

So what are you waiting for? All Aboard!!

click here to enter ----> THE GIVEAWAY TRAIN
Tuesday 7/12 (12:01am) to Thursday 7/14 (11:59pm)

$100 Loft (Ann Taylor) Gift Card

This Weeks Prize brought to you by: The Loft

Previous Winners:

Mary Clarisse won A Happy Baby Prize Pack

Katie Reader won A Pepto Prize Pack

Maggy Austin won Kodak Mini Camcorder

Wanda Rupright won 100 Coupon Clippies

To inquire about becoming a sponsor, or a giveaway train stop (publisher) please contact GiveawayTrain@gmail.com for details.

New Upcoming Blog Event: Spa for Ma #Spa4Ma

2011-07-08T23:26:00.000-04:00

Shouldn't moms be pampered and spoiled more often? I think so. Spa for Ma is a blog event designed especially with moms in mind. The event will run from August 18 - 31 with up to 200 participating blogs. Each blog will be hosting giveaways with a minimum total value of $100.

Sound like an event you'd like to participate in? Click the button above, or visit Measuring Flower, for more details and info. on how you can join!

If you are a PR rep who has products you'd like featured during this event, please e-mail me at Darwinsfrg AT gmail DOT com

Get ready for WINNIE THE POOH!

2011-07-08T16:31:00.000-04:00

WINNIE THE POOH

IN THEATERS JULY 15th

Winnie the Pooh, the "willy, nilly, silly old bear" that even Harry Potter fans will love!
The family and I are going to see a screening of the movie tomorrow morning. We are all excited, even Mr. Froggy!

“Like” WINNIE THE POOH on Facebook

A full year of Parents Magazine for just $4!

2011-07-08T12:22:00.000-04:00

EXCLUSIVE OFFER

Parents Magazine
Full Year Subscription
ONLY $4!

Get your subscription
Use Promo Code: PX0294

Fisher-Price BOGO at Toys R Us

2011-07-07T20:34:00.002-04:00

2 Day Bonus Deals

FRIDAY JULY 8th and SATURDAY JULY 9th
ALL Fisher-Price infant toys are BUY 1 GET 1 FREE!

Blog Hop One Stop Comment Spot

2011-07-07T20:07:00.001-04:00

This weekend you can find me blog hopping!
This is the "One Stop Comment Spot" for all my blog friends visiting from blog hops :-)

$100 Amazon.com GC Giveaway!!

2011-07-07T00:00:00.001-04:00

$100 Amazon.com GC Giveaway

July 7 – 21
No lengthy post, no major hoops to hop through. Simply follow the instructions from the Rafflecopter form below and enter away!

Leave a comment here with your name and e-mail address saying you entered and I will give you an automatic entry to my next giveaway when I reach 1,000 GFC followers! The giveaway will be either be a Amazon.com GC or PayPal $.

Giveaway Sponsors:
Oh my gosh, Beck! (Thank you, Beck, for coordinating this awesome giveaway!)
A Dime At A Time
Conversations with Carolyn
Baby Steps with H2O at home
The Adventures of J-Man and MillerBug
Aubut Family
Makobi Scribe
Simply Stacie
Rockin' Deals
Our Family World
Libby's Library
Staying Me...
Beauty Brite
Just Married with Coupons
Let's Start Saving Now
Racing and Saving Mama
The Centsational Saver
A little of this A little of that...
Someday I'll Learn
Brag All About It

DISCLOSURE: I did not receive any compensation for this giveaway. The prize has been generously funded by the blogs listed above.

PayPal or Amazon ~ You Decide!

2011-06-28T11:19:00.002-04:00

It won't be long until my giveaway for reaching 1,000 GFC followers goes live! So I'm asking you, my loyal readers, which kind of giveaway you'd prefer! You can place your vote in the form below. Make sure you leave your e-mail address - your vote will count as an entry in the giveaway! The poll will remain open until the giveaway is posted.
Loading...

#BlogBash11 WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT

2011-06-27T16:59:00.000-04:00

I am excited to announce the lucky winner of the Blog Bash 2011 Prize Pack!

CONGRATULATIONS
BECCA!

Thank you to everyone who entered and welcome to my new followers!

Speaking of new followers, I nearly have 1000 GFC followers. I think when I hit 1000 a celebration will be in order, don't you? Hm. Maybe I'll have to host a poll seeing which you prefer, $20 PayPal or a

$20 Amazon.com GC. Anyway, just thinking "out loud" :-)

Congrats again, Becca, you will be receiving e-mail from me shortly.

Blog Bash 2011 Giveaway Event #BlogBash11

2011-06-26T03:00:00.003-04:00

June 22 - June 26

Win a PRIZE PACK
Valued over $355.00!

Open to US Residents only

Included in this prize pack:

Prosperity 4 kids
Money Mama & The Three Little Pigs, Children's Book
It's Only A Dollar...Until You Add To It, Allowance Chart
(Read My Review)
FACEBOOK
NEWSLETTER

Kung Fu Panda

Kung Fu Panda DVD, One Box of participating Big G Cereal
This item is provided by General Mills and DreamWorks through MyBlogSpark.
(Read My Review)

Gourmet Gift Baskets
Junk Food Care Package
(Read My Review)
FACEBOOK
TWITTER

ENVY Specialized Skincare
LUMIXYL Topical Brightening System
(Read My Review)

TWITTER
BLOG

*~*~*ENTER TO WIN*~*~*

After you're done entering here, make sure you stop by the other awesome blogs linked below. There are so many fan-tab-ulous prizes available that you don't want to miss out on!

Rules and Regulations (HA): Click the link above to enter. The winner will receive all of the items in the prize pack and will be chosen using random.org. Winner will be notified via e-mail and will have 48 hours to respond claiming the prize or a new winner will be selected.

DISCLAIMER: I received samples of the products above free of charge. No other compensation was received.

#BlogBash11 Sponsor: LUMIXYL Skin Brightening System

2011-06-25T22:23:00.000-04:00

Take the makeup away and my guess is that most of us would wish for smoother, even toned, brighter skin. Otherwise we wouldn't wear makeup to give us that desired look, right? And how many of us have fallen for the false promises made for products largely advertised? I wish I could get back all the money I have spent on skin care products over the years! I'd be able to buy myself that new Canon camera I've had my eyes on.

I was recently given the opportunity to try LUMIXYL, a new and wonderful skin brightening system. Of course I was a bit skeptical about it, figuring it was just another gimmick. At first I was feeling a bit "eh" about it, not seeing much improvement in my skin. But I continued to use it, realizing that I was being irrational expecting immediate results. So I continued to use the step by step guidelines provided, as some of the products are to be used every other day, some specify AM or PM etc. The "How To" felt a little overwhelming when I first glanced at the chart but it was really easy to fall into a routine. And as I continued to use the LUMIXYL brightening system I slowly started to see some improvements in my skin. Instead of looking in the mirror and thinking "Man, I need a facial!" I started thinking "Hey, my skin looks pretty good today!" And that was without any makeup!

On thing I was worried about was how harsh would this be on my skin. I have very sensitive, fair skin. It doesn't take much to set it a blaze. I have to say I was pleased in reading the product descriptions to see words like "natural", "non-toxic" and "gentle". At this point I can agree that it is a gentle, easy to use, system.

There is one downfall to the LUMIXYL system and that is the cost. To buy the system online, from Make Me Heal is $270. Yeah, that's quite a bit out of my budget range for skin care. That said, having used the products I do think it's something worth saving your pennies for.

Below is some *information about LUMIXYL:
There are few skin care systems available which can brighten and protect skin while removing sun damage, black heads and acne without the use of hydroquinone (HQ). Lumixyl made big news last year with its new peptide technology for evening out skin tone. Today, they have created a full skin brightening system of products around the Lumixyl Peptide technology.

This new Lumixyl Topical Brightening System is an effective four-part system used to get rid of sun damage, hyperpigmentation and melasma. Plus it is safe for all skin types and even helps with acne. With Lumixyl, both men and women now have the easy access to achieve healthy and youthful looking skin without the use of needles or lasers.
Included in this daily skincare regimen is an anti-oxidant cleanser, the brightening crème (the real hero product), and a great glycolic exfoliating lotion, followed up with really elegant sunscreen (SPF30). They all work together to give you amazing looking skin, clearing away old damaged skin and promoting healthier skin with one even skin-tone.

Developed by Stanford University dermatological researchers to address mild to moderate hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone, Lumixyl is the first science-based alternative to safely and significantly brighten skin without the use of hydroquinone (HQ). For years HQ has been the gold standard treatment for melasma, hyperpigmentation, sun spots and photodamage. But with serious side effects on the rise and the proposed ban on over-the-counter HQ products by the FDA, consumers and dermatologists are seeking safer and more effective alternatives.

* The above information was provided by KelzPR.

How would you like to TRY IT before you BUY IT??? The folks at Envy Specialized Skincare have offered one of my lucky readers just that opportunity!

*~*~* WIN *~*~* WIN *~*~* WIN *~*~*

To enter click WIN above.

I received samples to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed within are 100% my own. No other compensation was received. If you have specific questions about LUMIXYL please contact the company directly.

#BlogBash11 - Kung Fu Panda DVD #MyBlogSpark

2011-06-25T10:13:00.000-04:00

General Mills is teaming up with DreamWorks’ Kung Fu Panda 2 to bring the action-packed adventures right to your breakfast table.

Throughout the spring, spin fighter toys featuring Kung Fu Panda 2 characters including Po, Tigress, Shifu, Monkey, Lord Shen, Mantis, Crane and Viper can be found inside specially marked boxes of participating General Mills cereals: Cocoa Puffs® (11.8 oz.), Trix® (10.7 oz.), Golden Grahams® (12 oz.), Reese’s Puffs® (13 oz.), Cheerios® (14 oz.), Apple Cinnamon Cheerios® (12.9 oz.), Cookie Crisp® (11.25 oz.), Lucky Charms® (11.5 oz.), Cinnamon Toast Crunch (12.8 oz.) and Honey Nut Cheerios (12.25 oz.).

Let the games begin with one spin fighter toy in each box. Simply cut out the targets on the box and then use your spin fighter to try and knock them down. With eight character toys to collect, the Kung Fu fun can continue all summer long!

When the previews for Kung Fu Panda 2, or "Pung Pu Panda 2" as my 3yr old says, started airing my kids were ecstatic! I have to admit, so were my husband and I. After all, who doesn't love that adorable, cuddly black and white panda we've all come to know as Po. He has got to be the most entertaining and agile panda around!

Kung Fu Panda is a movie the whole family can enjoy. We are most certainly planning on seeing Kung Fu Panda 2 before it leaves the theaters. The question is, do we see it in 3D or not? Such tough decisions lol

Now for the fun stuff :-)

Dreamworks' and General Mills want to share a special Kung Fu Panda 2 prize pack (original Kung Fu Panda DVD, one box of participating Big G cereal and a Kung Fu Panda 2 Sping Fighter Toy) with one of my lucky readers. Isn't that wonderful? To sweeten the deal I've included the Kung Fu Panda 2 prize pack in the totally awesome Blog Bash 2011 event! What does that mean? It means the winner will not only win the Kung Fu Panda prize pack, they'll also win everything offered in my Blog Bash 2011 prize pack!

So what are you waiting for? Hurry up and go enter, if you haven't already, before time runs out!

*~*~* WIN *~*~* WIN *~*~* WIN *~*~*

To enter click WIN above.

I received samples to facilitate this review. General Mills and DreamWorks provided you with the prize pack, information, and additional prize pack through MyBlogSpark™. All opinions expressed within are 100% my own. No other compensation was received. If you have specific questions about Gourmet Gift Baskets please contact the company directly.

#BlogBash11 Sponsor: Gourmet Gift Baskets

2011-06-24T23:40:00.000-04:00

Imagine this: There is a special occasion coming up and you just don't know what kind of gift to get. You don't have time to go from store to store trying to find that perfect gift. So what do you do? You turn to the Internet, that's what you do! But then you start browsing and become overwhelmed with all of the online stores. Feeling flustered you are about ready to throw in the towel. But just then you stumble on this fabulous blog who has a review on Gourmet Gift Baskets. The writer raved about the online store and you become intrigued, so you check it out. After you venture over and do a quick browse you find the perfect gift and place your order. And just like that, you're done!

Seriously, folks, your gift buying can be done that simply by visiting Gourmet Gift Baskets. They have something for *everyone* and *every* occasion. I can personally vouch for the quality of the products that Gourmet Gift Baskets has to offer. Back in December I received a wonderfully delicious holiday basket. It was so well put together and packaged perfectly. Most recently I received a Junk Food Care Package from Gourmet Gift Baskets to sample. It was exactly what the description said it would be. A box full of fabulously fun junk food! My kids thought they hit pay dirt when the box of junk food arrived LOL

Below is a description of the Junk Food Care Package:
Junk food, junk food and more junk food. We feel as though sending junk food to someone is a great way to put a smile on their face. Our Junk Food Care Package was uniquely designed to make sure the biggest junk food addict in your life was pleasantly surprised when they received this care package. We have included a wide selection of the best known junk foods that we know will provide many days (or hours) of enjoyment. From M&M's to Doritos to Mac N' Cheese this care package has it all. Like all of our care packages, this unique recipe comes by doing thorough research (including taste testing!), so take our extensive research and send this Junk Food Care Package to your biggest junk food addict today!

Have you ever considered sending someone a care package? They can be a lot of work to put together on your own. Let Gourmet Gift Baskets do all the work for you! Look at the huge variety that are available for a reasonable price: Care Packages

*~*~* WIN *~*~* WIN *~*~* WIN *~*~*

Gourmet Gift Baskets is generously offering a Junk Food Care Package as part of the Blog Bash 2011 Event. To enter click WIN above.

I received samples to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed within are 100% my own. No other compensation was received. If you have specific questions about Gourmet Gift Baskets please contact the company directly.

#BlogBash11 Sponsor: Prosperity 4 Kids

2011-06-23T19:44:00.000-04:00

We all want our kids to grow up to be successful in life, right? Well Money Mama & her Three Little Pigs also want our kids to grow up to be successful and prosperous and they're here to help us make it possible!

Money Mama is the only #1 Award-Winning Money Management System Designed Just For Kids! Lori Mackey, Founder and CEO of Prosperity 4 Kids, has taken the complexity out of money and made it easy for kids to understand.

My kids love when we read Money Mama & The Three Little Pigs. It's done in such a way that it's easy for them to understand. And although they are able to understand, they ask different questions each time we read the book. This is great because I feel like they're getting a deeper understanding about money each time we read and discuss Money Mama. And in my opinion, the more they understand it, the more they will respect the value of a dollar.

I especially like how the section about investing is done. Even as an adult I have a hard time understanding how investments, stocks etc work. But all the kids need to know is that the money they invest grows as they go about every day life. This is explained simply with excellent illustrations with Money Mama.

Another helpful tool is the It's Only a Dollar... Until You Add to It - Allowance Chart Calendar. It reminds me of a typical reward chart but with a twist. There is a reusable page for each day of the week where you can write daily chores, behavioral goals, etc. There are stickers to use with words describing activities kids do on a regular basis. There are also fun stickers of money to help motivate the kids! The kids love it and get excited seeing the totals add up.

Prosperity 4 Kids also offers other products, such as the Money Mama Piggy Bank. I don't have that but think it would also be a great tool and motivator.

*~*~* WIN *~*~* WIN *~*~* WIN *~*~*

Prosperity 4 Kids is generously offering a Money Mama and The Three Little Pigs Book with Read Along CD and an It's Only a Dollar... Until you Add to It - Allowance Chart Calendar as part of the Blog Bash 2011 Event. To enter click WIN above.

I received samples to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed within are 100% my own. No other compensation was received. If you have specific questions about Prosperity 4 Kids please contact the company directly.

Technical Difficulties + Updates

2011-06-21T23:13:00.000-04:00

Man. I'm not sure what it is with me but it seems every electronic device I touch I zap! After several weeks I finally have a working laptop, thanks to my awesome husband who literally pieced one together for me. Although he did tell me that he was going to have me sign a waiver saying I won't zap this one, too. Men think they're so darn funny :P

My poor blog has been so neglected while I've been without a computer, too. Well I'm back in action and it's time to dust out the cobwebs and bring some life back to this place! I've got a ton of catching up to do, many past due reviews etc. and tomorrow kicks off the Blog Bash. So I think tomorrow morning, since tonight is not panning out the way I had anticipated, I will open up with a "Re-Grand Opening" of my blog.

I also want to send out a huge THANK YOU to all my valued readers who stuck around even while my blog was sitting idle. You guys rock. I had one person tell me they actually missed my blog. Anyone who blogs knows the warm and fuzzies that brings! I don't care what the stats show, knowing that one loyal reader actually looks forward to what I have to say is awesome.

Until tomorrow, Good Nite and Sweet Dreams to all!

A little of this and a little of that...

Real Steel - In Theaters Now! (Movie Review)

Yo Gabba Gabba LIVE It's Time to DANCE!

Chuggington Fans, listen up! HOT DEALS for you!

Meet and Greet Monday: Mom Mart

Beyond the Rack - Up to 80% OFF Brand Names!

ALL ABOARD, The Giveaway Train! $100 in LUXURY bedding from 1500Threads.com

Fiber One 80 Calories ~ Prize Pack Giveaway with #MyBlogSpark

Meet and Greet Monday: and the little ones too

Spooky Buddies available on Blu-ray & DVD 9/20! (Tomorrow!)

Jake and the Never Land Pirates - Coming soon on DVD!

Danny Phantom - Available on DVD now!

Sponsor Spotlight: Cleava

Meet and Greet Monday: Rockin' Deals 4 You

100% FREE Ion Sports Watch

The Giveaway Train - WIN a 32" HD Vizio TV

Meet & Greet Monday - Mama Chocolate

Bargain Shopping: Uncle Milton, Barbie, Osh Kosh B'gosh and more!

Doodlebug Boutique Hair Bows at Totsy

Review & Giveaway: VeggieTales Princess and the Pop Star DVD

Review & Giveaway - Peter Rabbit Organics

Spa for Ma Sponsor Spotlight: Pure Bliss Essentials #Spa4Ma

Spa for Ma Sponsor Spotlight: Teamotions #Spa4Ma

100% FREE Nail Polish

SPA for MA Giveaway Event ~ Aug 18 - 31

Real Steel starring Hugh Jackman

The Giveaway Train - $100 WalMart Gift Certificate Giveaway

K-Y INTENSE Giveaway 2 Winners

Meet and Greet Monday: Coupons are Great

Spa for Ma Sponsor Spotlight: K-Y INTENSE #Spa4Ma

K-Y INTENSE Giveaway 2 Winners!

Spa for Ma Sponsor Spotlight: Lilla Rose - Flexi Clips with Kim #Spa4Ma

thredUP.com 48hr Back to School flash sale

**HOT HOT HOT** $0.99 Pirate Costume - Little Tikes

The Giveaway Train ~ 1CT Diamond Bracelet giveaway #diamondsareagirlsbff

Meet and Greet Monday's: Mother of Pearl It Is

Spa for Ma Sponsor Spotlight: Fake Bake #Spa4Ma

Spa for Ma Spotlight: Pure Romance #Spa4Ma

Get ready to be spoiled with Spa for Ma! ( #Spa4Ma )

**HOT** FREE classic Swiffer Duster

The Help - In Theaters NOW + WINNER Announcement

**HOT** ('n Toasty) QUIZNOS Coupons

Meet & Greet Monday: Freebies & Cheapies + Mia's Musings

Win $100 Amazon.com GC from The Giveaway Train - Wooo wooo

Meet & Greet Monday: Happenings of the Harper Household

Carmex Review & Giveaway

BRITAX SALE

Choo Choo! Here's The Giveaway Train!

Meet and Greet ~ Real Dad Reviews

FREE lunch kit at Toys R Us #BacktoSchool

Pet Food Recall ~ Purina ONE Vibrant Maturity

THE MUPPETS in Theaters November 23rd

THE HELP Fun Facts & Prize Pack #Giveaway #TheHelpMovie

**HOT** FREE Beauty Bag from ULTA - ARV $35!

ALL ABOARD the #Giveaway Train - Tommee Tippee Breast Pump

NEW! Dog Collar Charms for your favorite fur kid!! #DogCollarCharms

Divorcing Virgin Mobile

Winnie the Pooh ~ In Theaters NOW!

Minnie Mouse Birthday Invitation

1,000 GFC Follower Celebration PayPal #Giveaway!

FREE bag of Fresh Express Salad

Super *HOT* TOTSY Deal!

Changes coming to NETFLIX

All Aboard - The Giveaway Train!

New Upcoming Blog Event: Spa for Ma #Spa4Ma

Get ready for WINNIE THE POOH!

A full year of Parents Magazine for just $4!

Fisher-Price BOGO at Toys R Us

Blog Hop One Stop Comment Spot

$100 Amazon.com GC Giveaway!!

PayPal or Amazon ~ You Decide!

#BlogBash11 WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT

Blog Bash 2011 Giveaway Event #BlogBash11

#BlogBash11 Sponsor: LUMIXYL Skin Brightening System

#BlogBash11 - Kung Fu Panda DVD #MyBlogSpark

#BlogBash11 Sponsor: Gourmet Gift Baskets

#BlogBash11 Sponsor: Prosperity 4 Kids

Technical Difficulties + Updates

HOT HOT HOT $0.99 Pirate Costume - Little Tikes

HOT FREE classic Swiffer Duster

HOT ('n Toasty) QUIZNOS Coupons

HOT FREE Beauty Bag from ULTA - ARV $35!

Super HOT TOTSY Deal!