From the sponsor: Introducing Motif Hand & Face Wipes, the luxuriously designed, but affordably priced wipes that launch in Target stores this week. They offer a unique and beautiful alternative to the current line up of wipes in stores. Available in three rich fragrances and equally striking patterns, they’re made especially for women and moms on the go and fit into any handbag.

Each wipe contains aloe that moisturizes while it cleanses and their wonderful scents freshen with pure fragrances. See http://motifliving.com/ for more information.

My take: Beginning when my children were infants, I have always carried wipes with me. First in the diaper bag and now in my purse. Among just a few of their uses, they are handy for dirty hands, for use after public restrooms, cleaning up hands and faces after snacks, and even for cleaning up potential allergen situations as well (my son has food allergies so we often wipe surfaces clean before he plays). I’ve never had the privilege of using wipes that smelled this good though! And they worked without any irritation on our family’s sensitive skin.

We received packages of the Blackberry/Basil, Water Lily/Herbs, and Olive Leaf/Coriander scents and I would be hard pressed to tell you my favorite. I’m going to have to try out the Citrus Zest/Ginger and Cypress/Pear as well. And that won’t be hard because Motif products are conveniently sold at Target – the store that gets just about all my disposable income already! The only drawback I found to the wipes was they didn’t reseal very well so I carry them in a ziploc bag now after finding Blackberry/Basil scent all over the inside of my purse. Other than that, I really liked them and plan on carrying these from now on for all our wipe needs.

I know I’m can’t be the only mom out there that always feels like I’m rushing to get out the door at the last minute for places, right? There are days that I’m happy if I’ve gotten a shower in and my teeth are brushed, so thinking about what I’m going to wear might consist of brushing a few of the wrinkles off a shirt and deciding whether or not my jeans can get another day’s use out of them (the answer is yes, always yes).

Dressing my girls, however, is another story. They don’t head out in ironed dresses every day, but I do try to keep them looking stylish and put together. After all, even if my look varies, they’re too cute to not be trendy.

After browsing the Tommywants website for the first time, I thought to myself that the only thing that was missing to make me feel like I was on the coast was the sound of seagulls and waves. Then I turned the sound on my computer off of mute and realized that they indeed had thought of everything, including buoys.

Founded by a husband and wife team, Matthew and Megan Harden, Tommywants was launched after this entrepreneurial couple were unable to find a premium, fun line of clothing for their daughter, Haley. Following their motto of “swim against the tide,” they began Tommywants with the mission to “dress America’s youth today for tomorrow’s success.” Whether you live a beach life like the Hardens do in Virginia or you are landlocked like my daughters and I, Tommywants apparel (consisting of clean lines and updated classics) allows every child a taste of the coastal lifestyle.

Tommywants’ signature items are their Sofshell Polo shirts (available in four vibrant colors and made with 100% 40’s two-ply cotton) and their Sofshell Belts (available in two color combinations) for He-Crabs and She-Crabs. We received the Steamed Pink Sofshell Polo (Big Sister E is a major fan of pink) and it really is great quality. The cotton is soft and durable we found that markings from food rinse right off (thanks to my mother making blueberry muffins nearby and splattering blueberry juice directly on the shirt).

Even though the Sofshell Polo is a little large on Big Sister E (their sizes run from 6 to 16), I still appreciate the extra touches that Tommywants apparel offers. The shorter sleeve lengths and slightly slimmer cut give the shirt a trim, neater look than comparable polo shirts for kids. I love that this shirt can be paired with almost any pair of pants and she can be comfortable and playful while still looking classic.  This polo will easily be a go-to item in my girls’ closets for years to come.

As a bonus, Big Sister E is enamored with Tommywants’ iconic crab logo and makes “Come get me, little crab…” stories up whenever she sees it.

In the coming weeks, Tommywants will be introducing organic cotton onesies (in sizes ranging from 0-3 months to 24 months) and tees (in sizes 2 to 12) screen printed with their cute crab logo which will extend their apparel to infants and toddlers as well as youth.  I was able to take a peek at this upcoming line (called “Butter” because “Natural is always Butter!”) and the designs are not only adorable but printed with water-based inks which are great for the environment.

For now, Tommywants Sofshell Polos (market price $29.50) and Sofshell Belts (market price $22.50) can be purchased on their website or you can search for a retail location near you.  To find out about the generosity of Tommywants (I love companies that give back) and to keep up with information about their wonderful products, find Tommywants on Facebook or Twitter as well.

For a limited time, get 20% off your next order. Just use the code “ISLANDLIFE” when checking out.

WIN IT!

Tommywants has generously donated a Softshell Polo shirt (your choice of color) for one lucky winner. To enter:

Five for Fighting’s “100 Years” is still one of my favorite songs. I love how it tells a story and make you think about how it relates to your own life. On October 13th, Five for Fighting released their brand new CD entitled Slice.

CD DESCRIPTION

If every album provides snapshots of where an artist’s mind at heart is at the moment, Slice, the latest offering from John Ondrasik (aka Five for Fighting), is a collection of digital jpegs and faded Polaroids. The album takes stories of friends, family and even American servicemen, and sets them to music shot through with the spirit of the great songs of his youth. It’s a diary, or a blog, in which Ondrasik speaks his mind about current issues, experiences and sentiments, while setting those thoughts to piano, bass and drums.

OUR REVIEW

I’m a big fan of ballads so I really enjoyed listening to “Slice”. To me, ballads seem to have more meaning to them and makes you stop and think about life in general. This is exactly what “Slice” is all about. It’s underlying theme that you should enjoy your life while you have the chance.  I find that the more I listen to this album, the more I like it and I find myself selecting this CD when I need to relax after a hectic day.

Album Tracklisting:
1. Slice
2. Note To The Unknown Soldier
3. Tuesday
4. Chances
5. This Dance
6. Above The Timberline
7. Transfer
8. Hope
9. Story Of Your Life
10. Love Can’t Change The Weather
11. Augie Nieto

Purchase your copy at Amazon.com for $9.99.

This post was written as part of a program for One2One Network & Five for Fighting, who supplied the product for review. I was not compensated in any way except for the free song downloads.

On October 13, EMI’s Blue Note Records will release “Chasing Pirates,” the lead single from Norah Jones ’s upcoming album The Fall. The track will be made available digitally at all online digital retailers. The singer-songwriter’s highly anticipated fourth studio album, The Fall, will be released in North America on November 17, and on November 16 internationally. In the UK , the single will be released on November 15.

“Chasing Pirates”—which is currently featured on Rolling Stone’s “Hot List”—immediately announces a new direction for Jones. “For this record, I just had a sound in my head,” she says. “I wanted the grooves to be more present and heavy. And I also just wanted to do something different.”

That new sound began to present itself on one of the first songs Jones wrote for the project. “About a year ago, I did some demos in my home studio,” she says. “I had some friends come in and we figured out a cool arrangement for ‘Chasing Pirates,’ with a cool drum part. It went somewhere I didn’t expect it to go, and that became a direction to look in.”

“Norah Jones could have kept recording iterations of Come Away With Me for decades,” Newsweek wrote recently on their Pop Vox blog. “Clearly, that’s not what she’s doing. The gradual shifts away from that oversize debut have worked so far, and The Fall is an even bigger step away, and a step up in what is still the beginning of a big career.

“The first single, ‘Chasing Pirates,’ is a head-bobbing, compact little song whose catchy hook could put Jones on radio stations that may have spun her only rarely before. She sings, ‘I don’t know how to slow it down/My mind’s racing from chasing pirates,’ and as wistful as the lyric sounds, what Jones has done with the new record is indeed another departure. Only this time she’s heading down a louder, dusted-up rock path.”

The Fall finds Jones experimenting with a new set of collaborators, including Jacquire King, a noted producer and engineer who has worked with Kings of Leon, Tom Waits, and Modest Mouse among others. Jones enlisted several songwriting collaborators, including Ryan Adams and Okkervil River ’s Will Sheff, as well as her frequent partner Jesse Harris. King also helped Jones put together a new group of musicians to perform on the album, including drummers Joey Waronker (Beck, R.E.M.) and James Gadson (Bill Withers), keyboardist James Poyser (Erykah Badu, Al Green), and guitarists Marc Ribot (Tom Waits, Elvis Costello) and Smokey Hormel (Johnny Cash, Joe Strummer).

Pre-order your copy today!

Soundtrack Listing:
1. Chasing Pirates (Norah Jones)
2. Even Though (Norah Jones/Jesse Harris)
3. Light As a Feather (Norah Jones/Ryan Adams)
4. Young Blood (Norah Jones/Mike Martin)
5. I Wouldn’t Need You (Norah Jones)
6. Waiting (Norah Jones)
7. It’s Gonna Be (Norah Jones)
8. You’ve Ruined Me (Norah Jones)
9. Back To Manhattan (Norah Jones)
10. Stuck (Norah Jones/Will Sheff)
11. December (Norah Jones)
12. Tell Yer Mama (Norah Jones/Jesse Harris/Richard Julian)
13. Man Of The Hour (Norah Jones)

Every year, we strive to put up our Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. In the past we haven’t always succeeded but with the girls getting older, we try a little harder to establish traditions that they can look forward to. Another Christmas tradition we have is taking the girls to the store to pick out one brand new ornament to add to the tree. I then put their names and the year on it so that one day they can look back and see what they chose.

Before the girls, our tree was always color coordinated and the ornaments symmetrically placed. Now, it’s just a mismatch of princesses, Disney characters, candy garlands, snowmen, and traditional ornaments. Nothing matches and I love it that way.

For the past couple of years, I’ve been hosting a Christmas Ornament Exchange and have been able to add some really beautiful ornaments to my tree courtesy of some of my blogging friends. It’s so exciting  when you don’t know what you’re going to get. That’s why I’ve decided to host it again.

Here’s how it works:

• Ornaments should cost between $8–$10 + shipping.
• If you’d like to participate, please fill-out this form. Your information will be kept private and will only be shared with the person you’re being partnered up with.
• You may participate even if you don’t have a blog.
• The sign-up will continue until November 25th and partners will be announced soon after. Please try to mail out your ornaments within the first week of December.
• Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

Please take some time to get to know your partner and hopefully you’ll make a new friend in the end. Have fun!

I grew up with Nancy Drew. When I was young for every birthday and Christmas I received new Nancy Drew books to add to the collection I had inheirted from my older sisters. Hmmm … I wish I knew where all those books were now.

When I had the opportunity to play Nancy Drew: Warnings at Waverly Academy I was intrigued and excited. I’ve always loved a good mystery (book, film or interactive game); but not anything scary enough to make me stop reading, watching or playing. In the safety of my home, on my computer, I was able to escape into a fantasy world and solve a mystery. There wasn’t any blood or gore and certainly no offensive language. This was important to me.

While you immerse yourself in all the drama of high school with text messages, cramming for projects and navigating the social cliques, you also run the school snack bar and play air hockey in the student lounge. Choose between the Junior or Senior Detective levels to make the game easy or difficult. Either way, the game is challenging and fun. As a grandmother I enjoyed it and I know my grandchildren will too.

Nancy Drew: Warnings at Waverly Academy is available at Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and GameStop and for download exclusively at Her Interactive website. The game is appropriate for ages 10 and up (including grandmothers!).

I don’t think I know a single person who doesn’t own an iPod. That’s why I know that the Philips Docking Entertainment System would make the perfect gift for anyone on your holiday shopping list. With the DC912 you can enjoy your videos the right way by rotating your iPod from portrait to landscape position on the Philips Docking Entertainment System DC912.

The Philips Docking Entertainment Systems offer a new way to rock to music and videos on your iPod® mobile digital device, with dual speakers that add deep, powerful bass to all music – from any source. Showcased at Philips 2008 Holidays in June event, the DC910 and DC912 feature stylish, slim designs with table-stand and wall-mount options that blend seamlessly into any interior.

With portrait and landscape orientation options, Philips Docking Entertainment Systems allow you to enjoy your videos the right way by rotating the position of your iPod device and charging it at the same time. The sleek, metal finish and LCD display are accompanied by a multi-functional, all-in-one remote that controls the entire system.

Philips DC910 features six built-in speakers in addition to dual wOOx™ loudspeakers that produce 30-W RMS total power output. The wOOx technology creates a superior bass sound by capturing and enhancing low frequency bass for a dramatically superior sound experience. The DC912 features a three-inch main speaker, accompanied by dual built-in loudspeakers and a digital wireless active subwoofer, all producing 100-W RMS of total power output.

Equipped with FM digital tuning and 20 station presets, the docking entertainment systems allow users to easily play music collections from multiple sources. The DC910 and DC912 can blast MP3 and WMA files from the USB Direct or SD/MMC card slots and are compatible with the iPod touch, iPod classic, iPod nano and iPod mini mobile digital devices.

Purchase yours at Amazon.com.

WIN IT!

Thanks to Royal Philips Electronics, I have a Docking Entertainment System (DC912) to give away to one lucky person! To enter:

Information courtesy of Royal Philips Electronics

My family enjoys a wide variety of comedy acts, and watching or listening to stand up is one of the few things that will keep us all interested and entertained for any length of time. So when I was asked to review Bill Engvall’s new Aged and Confused CD, my “yes” was almost instantaneous. But, I didn’t place where I knew him from until hubby made the connection that this was the Blue Collar Comedy Tour Bill Engvall of “Here’s Your Sign” fame. I still had a hard time placing any of his specific sets, but of course that didn’t deter me; I’m always up for a new act. I should add that at 28, I am clearly not the intended audience of an “Aged and Confused” comedy show, but I think that’s what makes me the perfect person to review it.

The CD started up and Bill Engvall takes the stage during the 2009 Just for Laughs Chicago Festival. His tone is really relaxed and laid back, and immediately he seems familiar. What strikes me first is that he seems like a good guy, like someone you would meet at work who would keep all your coworkers entertained at the office Christmas party. You really would never imagine that Bill Engvall is one of the most famous men in comedy; his act doesn’t seem pretentious or elitist in any way and actually seems really down to earth.

The new CD is focused on Bill Engvall’s experiences as a 50 year old +, and focuses on how his age is starting to affect the way in which he views the world. In the first track, he claims that the world is going crazy and cites three examples to prove his point. To be honest, I wasn’t really with him on the first track or two, thinking that the three illustrations seemed to be a reach and I didn’t really “get” the old man jokes around each of the examples. But, it was easy to forget that I didn’t fully agree that the town that elected a 19 year old mayor was just looking for a kegger every Friday as I enjoyed listening to his tales.

And truly, it’s in his storytelling that he really shines. The second half of Aged and Confused focuses more on his daily life stories, telling audiences of family vacations, empty nests, and the reality that as you age it’s harder and harder to keep things exciting and new. In Birthday Suit he tells the story of how he attempted to keep the bedroom spark alive in a tale that had hubby and me rolling. Even with the suggestive topic and title, the tale still came across very much PG, as do the rest of his tracks.

Where many comics these days toe a very thin line between edgy and offensive, Bill Engvall’s comedy reminds me more of classic TV humor with the delivery being sometimes funnier than the actual punchline. And it’s his delivery that makes him such a likeable and relatable comedian, the kind that you wouldn’t mind playing if an acquaintance dropped by.

Maybe not the edgiest of comics, but his act is still a good time. I tend to like my comedy with a bit of unpredictability and zing, and sometimes a little bit blue, but I can still appreciate a comic who does what Bill Engvall does and speak to the masses. If you’re looking for a comedy CD for a parent, relative, or a coworker that you don’t know that well, or are looking for something for an “Over the Hill” birthday party, Bill Engvall’s Aged and Confused would be a perfect choice. Or, if you’re looking for a safe bet for group listening, Bill Engvall’s Aged and Confused would be a wise purchase and sure to get some good laughs from everyone – even the 28-year-olds.

http://www.billengvall.com/

Find out what else keeps Leanne laughing, and visit Rave and Review for some great reviews and giveaways!

When it comes to romantic music, it’s hard to beat Michael Buble’s soulful sound. He has a way of taking classic songs and making them his own by putting his own little spin on them. His popularity is evident by the fact that his latest CD release “Crazy Love” debuted at the #1 position on the Billboard Chart. Not many artists can claim that kind of success!

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

‘Crazy Love’, Michael Bublé’s first CD in two and a half years, features two original songs along with his always original take on 11 standards from various eras. The multi-Grammy winning artist hunkered down in recording studios in LA, Brooklyn, New York and his hometown of Vancouver for the last six months to make his ‘ultimate record about the inevitable roller coaster ride of relationships.’ The title song is a cover of the Van Morrison gem ‘Crazy Love.’ The CD closes out with a haunting version of ‘Stardust’ which is performed with the acapella group Naturally 7. The album was produced by David Foster, Bob Rock and Humberto Gatica.

OUR REVIEW

Crazy Love has always been one of my all-time favorite songs. Whenever I hear this song, I think about the kind of true  love that everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime. Buble’s rendition of this song is simple, clean, and thoroughly entertaining. However, what I liked best was the live band that he had in the studio with him. They gave the songs just the right edge and accompanied Buble’s voice perfectly.

I definitely feel this is a must-have CD for all Buble fans.

Album Tracklisting:
1. Cry Me A River
2. All Of Me
3. Georgia On My Mind
4. Crazy Love
5. Haven’t Met You Yet
6. All I Do Is Dream Of You
7. Hold On
8. Heartache Tonight
9. You’re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You
10. Baby (You’ve Got What It Takes)
11. At This Moment
12. Stardust
13. Whatever It Takes (bonus track)

WIN IT!

I have a copy of Crazy Love CD to give away to one lucky winner. To enter:

NEW YORK, NY (October 13, 2009) – Disney FamilyFun magazine announced today the winners of the 18th annual Toy of the Year (T.O.Y.) Awards, including those toys that earned a highly coveted spot on the Top 10 list. This year’s #1 toy is Invasion of the Bristlebots from Klutz: an activity kit featuring tiny, careening robots kids assemble from toothbrush heads, then use to race, make art projects with, and more. Also among the top winners are Lego’s Feeding Zoo, a 53-piece Lego set that allows young zookeepers to tame their boredom by creating animal exhibits, the kid-invented RipRider 360˚ from Razor, a steel-frame trike that lets kids “drift” and perform full 360˚degree spins as they cruise around, and Green Toys’ Recycling Truck, a 12-inch-long truck made entirely from recycled plastic milk containers.

The 30 kid-and-parent-approved winners appear in the November 2009 issue of Disney FamilyFun magazine, which hits newsstands October 13, and are available on FamilyFun’s Web site, FamilyFun.com/magazine, where you can watch a video of the Top 10 toys in action.

Hundreds of toys were distributed to families across the country for evaluation by children and their parents. Over the course of several weeks, the enthusiastic Disney FamilyFun Toy Tester Families spent hundreds of hours assembling, playing with, and rating this year’s hopefuls on quality, value, and fun factor. More than 375 toys were assessed to create Disney FamilyFun’s list of the 30 best toys of 2009.

“Disney FamilyFun’s Toy of the Year Awards have become the go-to gift guide for reliably fun toys for children ages three and up,” said Ann Hallock, Editorial Director, Disney FamilyFun. “Because our toys are children- and parent-tested, we are able to provide our readers with a diverse roundup of age-appropriate toys that they will approve of and that their kids will love.”

Past T.O.Y. award winners, such as Tickle Me Elmo, Air Hogs Zero Gravity Micro, and the Tag Reading System, have become the holiday season’s must-have toys.

The Top 10 FamilyFun T.O.Y. Award winners of 2009 are:

1. Invasion of the Bristlebots (Klutz, $20)
2. Pyramid (4240) (Playmobil, $105)
3. Recycling Truck (Green Toys, $25)
4. RipRider 360˚ (Razor, $130)
5. Feeding Zoo (5634) (Lego, $50)
6. Hot Wheels Color Shifters (Mattel, $3 for 2 cars)
7. Build It Bigger! (International Playthings, $55)
8. BFC, Ink Large Dolls (MGA Entertainment, $40)
9. Sandwich Stacking Games (Melissa & Doug, $30)
10. Pool Sharks (Gamewright, $27)