Mom in Training

Little Angels DVD's #Giveaway 3-2

2012-02-24T21:49:00.001-05:00

Meet the Little Angels

Inspired by LITTLE ANGELS

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment presents LITTLE ANGELS, the fresh, faith-based, animated educational series for children and their parents. From executive producer Roma Downey (“Touched by an Angel”) comes LITTLE ANGELS, created exclusively for preschool-aged children to teach not only practical learning skills, like ABCs and numbers, but also to introduce them to spiritual, moral and ethical principles in a fun and entertaining way.

Each angel in Roma Downey’s Little Angels has its own specialty and personality. Here, we will introduce the Angels with photos and fun facts, in addition to some of the valuable lessons they provide for kids.

Michael

Michael is an archangel and The Boss Angel. Michael is the leader of the little angels, has a commanding presence, and is supremely knowledgeable. If any of the little angels run into a problem, they go to Michael for help.

Gabriel

Gabriel is an archangel, and is second in command to Michael. Gabriel is the Messenger Angel, which means that when the little angels want to announce something very important, they give the job to Gabriel! He always carried a trumpet, which he blows to get everyone’s attention before his important proclamations.

Charmeine

Charmeine is the Angel of Harmony. Not only does she carry and harp and sings, but she works to teach everyone to harmonize, work together, and get along!

Hayley

If you love animals, then Hayley will definitely be one of your favorite little angels! She knows everything there is to know about animals, and loves sharing her knowledge of them with people like you!

Dina

Dina is the Angel of Learning. She loves to help others learn and help show them how to do things. Dina also carries a super awesome iPad-like computer device, so she can access knowledge on the go!

Ariel

Ariel is a guardian angel, and she protects kids from harm. Not only does she protect kids from harm, but she also teaches them how to protect themselves, and shows them how to avoid getting into trouble in the first place!

Uriel

If you like painting, Uriel is the little angel for you! He is the Angel of Creativity, and he carries a palette and a painter’s brush so that he can constantly paint and create new art!

Hamaliel

Hamaliel is the Angel of Logic. What’s really cool about Hamaliel is that he is a kind of “Sherlock Holmes” angel, meaning that he is able to figure out all kinds of different mysteries!

Win it: One lucky reader will win a set of 3 Little Angels DVD's. This giveaway will end March 3rd at 12:01 AM EST. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email. If no response, a new winner will be chosen. Open to residents of the US & Canada.

Entry Method: Please use Rafflecopter form to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclosure: Thanks to PR Firm/sponsor I was provided with this product(s) for the purpose of my personal review. This blog post is not a paid post and the honest opinions stated are my own. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, entry via Facebook like is completely optional. Please allow 4-6 weeks for prize delivery from the sponsor.

Facebook/Google+ Like You Back - 02.22.12

2012-02-22T00:01:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Facebook/G+ Like-You-Back hosted by:

7 on a Shoestring Facebook | Google+
Baby Cachet Facebook | Google+
Belly Charms Facebook | Google+
Madame Deals Facebook | Google+
Mom Always Finds Out Facebook | Google+
Mom in Training Facebook | Google+
Slop Swap Facebook | Google+
This Mama Loves Her Bargains Facebook | Google+
Wacky Jacqui's Designs Facebook | Google+

Are you looking for new Facebook and Google+ pages to follow and new friends who like your page? Then join us!

Add your FACEBOOK page to the FIRST Linky below (you only have to add it to one and it will appear on all). Click on the Facebook link for the hosts and "like" them on Facebook. Leave a comment on their wall and they will like-you-back.
Add your GOOGLE+ page to the SECOND Linky below (you only have to add it to one and it will appear on all). Click on the Google+ link for the hosts and "Add to Circle" them on Google+. Leave a comment on their wall under their "Facebook/G+ Like-You-Back" post and they will like-you-back.

Please link up directly to your Facebook page and/or Google+ pages only. All other links will be deleted. Like as many more Facebook/G+ pages as you want, leaving comments with links so they'll know where to like-you-back.

Our Facebook Page of the Week is Be Your Best Mom and Google+ Page of the Week is Like Mother, Like Daughter Hand Stamped Jewelry! They take the next spot on the Linkies, respectively, under the hosts and will get a shout out on each of the hosts' Facebook and Google+ pages! Next week's pages of the week will be drawn from all of the entries from this week's hop.

By the way, we'd love to have you stop by our websites / blogs too & here's where we are:

7 on a Shoestring - Stay at home mom of 5 living vicariously through the internet! PR friendly blogger with reviews, giveaways, and great deals!
Baby Shower Invites by Baby Cachet - Unique invitations and stationery for mom and baby
Belly Charms - Pregnancy belly button rings, Mother's bracelets & more
Madame Deals - Making Dollar$ out of Change
Mom Always Finds Out - PR Friendly blog includes family friendly topics, product reviews and giveaways, and more!
Mom in Training - Just your average Christian mother & wife trying to find her way through it all one day at a time
Slop Swap - Serving up sassy savings!
This Mama Loves Her Bargains - Family friendly products, reviews and deals!
Wacky Jacqui's Designs - Blog & website designer for Blogger and Wordpress at great prices.

Tips on Facebook: Sometimes legitimate comments are marked as spam by Facebook. To find them, go to your page and click on Hidden Posts (under your profile pic).
Want to help spread the word and add these Linkies to your blog? Write your own post telling your readers about FBGLYB. Get the codes under the Linky box.

Thank you for participating and let's have fun!

Xia-Xia Coming to Nintendo DS March 2012

2012-02-16T21:21:00.000-05:00

America’s Favorite Crab Crustaceans are Headed to Nintendo DS™ with GameMill Entertainment’s Xia-Xia™ the Game Launching March 2012

Explore Nautical Worlds, Find Kooky Friends, Collect, Mix and Match Interchangeable Shells and More with Your Favorite Xia-Xia™ Hermit Crab Characters!

GameMill Entertainment, an independent publisher of entertaining mass-market video games, today announced plans to bring the loveable Xia-Xia™ hermit crab characters to the Nintendo DS™ hand-held system as a delightful and fun adventure game. Xia-Xia™ the game comes out of its shell this March at retailers nationwide.

From sandy beaches to deep blue seas, explore it all with fun and silly hermit crab characters in Xia-Xia the game. Set out on dozens of missions to find shells with your favorite Xia-Xia friends, Bimini, Turks, Trinidad and Tobago. Along the way meet kooky friends and unlock loads of secret rewards in five unique worlds across 25 levels! Keep your eyes open, you must discover the hidden star fish in each world to move on to other adventures. With more than 30 collectible shells to uncover and over 60 missing friends to seek out, Xia-Xia the game provides hours of fun for all ages!

My Take:

We received a preview copy of the new Xia-Xia game. I tell you what my daughter loved the game so much she couldn't seem to put it down. I got about 5 minutes with the game before she took it out of my hands and wouldn't give it back. She's going to be 6 here in a few weeks and she had no problems figuring out how to make her crab jump and break open the boxes on the screen. She was constatly showing mom how far she'd gotten and how many shells she had collected. Of course now she thinks she should be able to get all those different shells for her real Xia-Xia pets. When I told her it was time to put the game back in the envelope to send back she was really not happy. She spent so much time playing the game and was sad to have to give it up. I told her she'd have her very own copy once the game came out and could play as long as she wanted and that seemed to cheer her up some.

Disclosure: I am being provided the full version of this game in exchange for previewing and posting my review of the preview game. No other form of compensation was receive and all opinions and thoughts are my own.

Big G & Star Wars Prize Pack #Giveaway 2-29

2012-02-15T13:31:00.000-05:00

What’s better than watching the epic first episode of the Star Wars Saga? Watching it in 3D with your fellow Jedis, of course! From the thrilling Podraces to the final lightsaber battle, you can enjoy Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace like you never have before. This February, General Mills Big G cereals want to help celebrate the 3D launch by featuring collectable Star Wars pens in-pack of participating cereals.

Collect all eight exclusive Star Wars pens that feature iconic Episode I characters including: Anakin Skywalker, Obi Wan Kenobi, Queen Amidala, Yoda, R2D2, C3PO, Jar Jar Binks and Darth Maul
Participating Big G cereals include Cinnamon Toast Crunch® (12.8 oz.), Lucky Charms®(11.5 oz.), Reese’s® Puffs (13 oz.), Cheerios® (14 oz.), and Cookie Crisp® (11.25 oz)
In theaters February 10, 2012 you can catch all the action and adventure and relive how the saga began in eye-popping 3D

You won’t have to go to a galaxy far, far away to bring the force to your breakfast table. Simply purchase any participating Big G cereal and begin your search for all eight collectable pens! Each Big G cereal is made with whole grain and is an excellent source of calcium, so your younglings will have everything they need to start the day off right!

Win it: One lucky reader will win:

2 Boxes of Big G cereal
4 Star Wars character pens
Star Wars sticker sheet
Star Wars magnets

This giveaway will end March 1st at 12:01 AM EST. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email. If no response, a new winner will be chosen. Open to residents of the US.

Entry Method: Please use Rafflecopter form to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclosure: The prize pack, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark. This blog post is not a paid post and the honest opinions stated are my own. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, entry via Facebook like is completely optional. Please allow 4-6 weeks for prize delivery from the sponsor.

Facebook/Google+ Like You Back - 02.15.12

2012-02-15T00:01:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Facebook/G+ Like-You-Back hosted by:

7 on a Shoestring Facebook | Google+
Baby Cachet Facebook | Google+
Belly Charms Facebook | Google+
Madame Deals Facebook | Google+
Mom Always Finds Out Facebook | Google+
Mom in Training Facebook | Google+
Slop Swap Facebook | Google+
This Mama Loves Her Bargains Facebook | Google+
Wacky Jacqui's Designs Facebook | Google+

Are you looking for new Facebook and Google+ pages to follow and new friends who like your page? Then join us!

Add your FACEBOOK page to the FIRST Linky below (you only have to add it to one and it will appear on all). Click on the Facebook link for the hosts and "like" them on Facebook. Leave a comment on their wall and they will like-you-back.
Add your GOOGLE+ page to the SECOND Linky below (you only have to add it to one and it will appear on all). Click on the Google+ link for the hosts and "Add to Circle" them on Google+. Leave a comment on their wall under their "Facebook/G+ Like-You-Back" post and they will like-you-back.

Our Facebook Page of the Week is Bella Savvy and Google+ Page of the Week is Made By Renee! They take the next spot on the Linkies, respectively, under the hosts and will get a shout out on each of the hosts' Facebook and Google+ pages! Next week's pages of the week will be drawn from all of the entries from this week's hop.

By the way, we'd love to have you stop by our websites / blogs too & here's where we are:

7 on a Shoestring - Stay at home mom of 5 living vicariously through the internet! PR friendly blogger with reviews, giveaways, and great deals!
Baby Shower Invitations by Baby Cachet - Unique invitations and stationery for mom and baby
Belly Charms - Pregnancy belly button rings, Mother's bracelets & more
Madame Deals - Making Dollar$ out of Change
Mom Always Finds Out - PR Friendly blog includes family friendly topics, product reviews and giveaways, and more!
Mom in Training - Just your average Christian mother & wife trying to find her way through it all one day at a time
Slop Swap - Serving up sassy savings!
This Mama Loves Her Bargains - Family friendly products, reviews and deals!
Wacky Jacqui's Designs - Blog & website designer for Blogger and Wordpress at great prices.

Thank you for participating and let's have fun!

Little Angels Screening Party

2012-02-14T13:17:00.000-05:00

I recently told you about the Little Angels DVD’s and how we were planning a party to celebrate their launch. Well, I'm back with good news the party was a ton of fun! The kids absolutely loved the Little Angels movies.

As each of the kids arrived I gave them each wings and halos to wear while they put together their heart picture frames. I then took them one by one and took a photo of them for their frames so they could take them home for their parents with their picture already inside! I used my phone's wireless connection to send their individual pictures right to the printer as I took them to keep things moving along. They really enjoyed having the pictures in the frames to take home with them.

Then we sat down and watched the videos. I gave each child a little of the PB&J popcorn that was sent to me with the DVDs and a juice box to wash it down. It was amazing how much they liked them, asking for another after one finished! Here's a preview of one so you can catch a glimpse yourself:

Then after the movies the kids all sat around tables and colored the pictures I was provided with and talked about the movies they just watched. I actually heard several of them asking their parents if they could get the movies at home too. All in all I'd say the party was a huge success.

You can purchase the Little Angels DVD’s for only $9.96 each at Walmart. Make sure you “Like” Little Angels on Facebook and share it with everyone!

Disclosure: I was provided the products mentioned in this blog post in exchange for hosting a screening party and providing my feedback. All opinions and thoughts however are my own.

Discover Your Winter Cocktail Quiz

2012-02-08T13:34:00.003-05:00

In celebration of the winter season, Robb Report presents the Discover Your Winter Cocktail Blog App. Everyone has their favorite cocktail, but have you wondered what winter cocktail fits you best? Take the Discover Your Winter Cocktail quiz and you can find out by answering a few simple questions!

Discover Your Winter Cocktail. Answer a few questions to see what winter cocktail suits you best!
Little Known Liquor Facts! This fun guide will give you little known facts about liquor you may not have known!
Give a Winter Twist to Four Classic Cocktails! Everyone has their favorite drink and most of the time they are the tried and true classics. Now you can spice up your classic cocktail with a fun holiday twist! Great to share with friends or become the hit of your holiday party!

Here are a few recipes to get you started:

Chocolate Snowball

Ingredients:

2 oz coconut rum
2 oz Irish cream
1 oz hazelnut liqueur
3 1/2 oz melted chocolate
3 1/2 oz cream
1 dash chocolate syrup

Preparation: Place the chocolate syrup around the glass then place the other ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake. Strain into glass.

Spring Fever

Ingredients:

3/4 oz lemon juice
3/4 oz mango syrup
1 1/2 oz pineapple juice
2 oz blood orange juice

Preparation: Shake well over ice cubes in a shaker, and strain into a collins glass half-filled with crushed ice.

Winter Breeze

Ingredients:

1 oz creme de cacao
1 oz vanilla schnapps
1 oz Irish cream
milk

Preparation: Pour liquors into a beer mug, and fill with milk. Stir, and serve.

Your Choice of RC Models

2012-02-08T08:31:00.003-05:00

"Taking good time to explore all options you've got, you will certainly agree there are remarkable models of aero planes and boats available. Each of them comes with improvements and accessories making certain they are exiting to make use of. There are plenty of types of the Rc tank as well within the toy world. They have really improved the toys as well as adults are seeking them.

There are actually four major forms of rc aero planes and these are mainly gliders, jets, planes and trainer planes. The remote control helicopter attempts to imitate such planes. All the planes stated above will uniquely or different provide something you may enjoy either alone or together with your child. Toys are actually advanced and all sorts of kids want the Rc tanks or the remote control helicopter.

The 3CH thunderloid glider is the first that deserves attention. It's a complete pack of all things that you'll want to fly it. To satisfy the expectations additionally, it comes bundled with a remote that enables you to definitely upgrade a much better model all the way down the road. a shock resistant unit that has got durable wings, it may fly as quickly or as slow based on your preference. You can cut the ability at any time as preferred it'll automatically carry on and glide. It’s often a fun trick to do often particularly when your life of the battery is running low. This can be a better RC plane that many of the remote control helicopters. There are also RC jets that have similar features along with other aero planes like the gliders but they are much more durable. Most of them may have an aspect just like the Rc tanks a replica of fighter jets. You'll have a wider variety of choice on what to savor since the Rc tank and also the remote control helicopter are not the only remote control toys. You can use this as a way of bonding together with your child because you will even love playing with these handheld remote control gadgets and toys.

XenonProject.com is a toy and hobby company that is dedicated to delivering a wide range of quality remote control products. Some of which include: RC helicopters, rc tank, RC boats, RC Airplanes, RC Tanks, and RC parts. Xenon Project carries a range of remote control helicopter as well as nitro gas powered toys."

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.

Facebook/Google+ Like You Back - 02.08.12

2012-02-08T00:01:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Facebook/G+ Like-You-Back hosted by:

7 on a Shoestring Facebook | Google+
Baby Cachet Facebook | Google+
Belly Charms Facebook | Google+
Madame Deals Facebook | Google+
Mom Always Finds Out Facebook | Google+
Mom in Training Facebook | Google+
Slop Swap Facebook | Google+
This Mama Loves Her Bargains Facebook | Google+
Wacky Jacqui's Designs Facebook | Google+

Are you looking for new Facebook and Google+ pages to follow and new friends who like your page? Then join us!

Add your FACEBOOK page to the FIRST Linky below (you only have to add it to one and it will appear on all). Click on the Facebook link for the hosts and "like" them on Facebook. Leave a comment on their wall and they will like-you-back.
Add your GOOGLE+ page to the SECOND Linky below (you only have to add it to one and it will appear on all). Click on the Google+ link for the hosts and "Add to Circle" them on Google+. Leave a comment on their wall under their "Facebook/G+ Like-You-Back" post and they will like-you-back.

Our Facebook Page of the Week is The Grandma Blog and Google+ Page of the Week is Kidspot! They take the next spot on the Linkies, respectively, under the hosts and will get a shout out on each of the hosts' Facebook and Google+ pages! Next week's pages of the week will be drawn from all of the entries from this week's hop.

By the way, we'd love to have you stop by our websites / blogs too & here's where we are:

7 on a Shoestring - Stay at home mom of 5 living vicariously through the internet! PR friendly blogger with reviews, giveaways, and great deals!
Baby Cachet Pregnancy Announcements - Unique invitations & stationery for mom & baby
Belly Charms - Pregnancy belly button rings, Mother's bracelets & more
Madame Deals - Making Dollar$ out of Change
Mom Always Finds Out - PR Friendly blog includes family friendly topics, product reviews and giveaways, and more!
Mom in Training - Just your average Christian mother & wife trying to find her way through it all one day at a time
Slop Swap - Serving up sassy savings!
This Mama Loves Her Bargains - Family friendly products, reviews and deals!
Wacky Jacqui's Designs - Blog & website designer for Blogger and Wordpress at great prices.

Thank you for participating and let's have fun!

“Little Angels” DVD Screening Party - Sneek Peek

2012-02-06T20:31:00.000-05:00

Discover the joy of learning and friendship with this season’s most heavenly new collection! From executive producer Roma Downey (“Touched by an Angel”) comes the first three volumes of a fresh, fun and inspiring educational series that children and their parents (and grandparents too) can enjoy together in LITTLE ANGELS ABC’s, LITTLE ANGELS ANIMALS, and LITTLE ANGELS 1,2,3’s,soaring onto DVD with Digital Copy February 14 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

Little Angels is being released 14th February 2012

Synopsis: Preschool twins Alex and Zoe are blessed to have eight Little Angels watching over them – literally! These Little Angels live on the ceiling of their bedroom, painted there so they are the first things the kids see when they wake up in the morning and the last thing they see before they fall asleep at night. The angels come to life when the children need them most, helping guide them through the challenges of their young lives.

In honor of the release of this movie, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment sent me all sorts of awesome goodies to have a “Little Angels” party with my daughter and her friends. I received a party pack with angel wings, angel halos, activity sheets, Valentine' Day cards, angel photo frames, a Walmart card for supplies and the Little Angels DVDs of course! I am really excited about the release of this new series and I can't wait to share the DVDs with her friends and their parents. We are having our party on Sunday the 12th. I've got the printer all hooked up so I can take photos of the kids with their angel wings and halos on so they can slip them in the angel frames before they even go home! Plus I've made my trip to Wal-Mart to get lots of yummy party snacks like pizza, cookies and other treats for their goodie bags. It's perfect that the DVDs are releasing around Valentine's day because they are so many cute things out to go along with the theme.

Here's a picture of all the "Little Angels", aren't they all just so cute!

Stay tuned for my post-party blog post with all the details of our party. In the meantime you can check out the Little Angels website for more products that are available. Make sure you “Like” Little Angels on Facebook and share it with everyone!

Disclosure: I was provided the products mentioned in this blog post in exchange for hosting a screening party. All opinions and thoughts however are my own.

Flash Giveaway: HP Faux Canvas #Giveaway 2-8

2012-02-06T19:30:00.000-05:00

HP Faux Canvas

o Price: Starts around $20

o Available exclusively at Walmart

o You can create a Faux Canvas online or in-store and pick it up the same day at a local Walmart

o Comes in three sizes. Use a personal photo or choose from the Art Gallery

My Take:

I made a Faux Canvas for my husband for Christmas (you can see the review here) and he loved it. It would also make a perfect gift for your special loved one this Valentine's Day too!

Win it: One lucky reader will win a Free Faux Canvas Coupon. This giveaway will end February 8th at 12:01 AM EST. The winner will have 24 hours to respond to my email. If no response, a new winner will be chosen. Open to residents of the US.

Entry Method: Simple! Just leave a comment with what your planning to do for Valentine’s Day.

Disclosure: The prize, information, and giveaway were provided by HP & Snapfish. This blog post is not a paid post and the honest opinions stated are my own. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, entry via Facebook like is completely optional. Please allow 4-6 weeks for prize delivery from the sponsor.

General Mills Whole Grain First Cereal #Giveaway 2-17

2012-02-03T15:07:00.000-05:00

We know whole grain is important to you, and the Dietary Guidelines recommend choosing products with a whole grain listed as the first ingredient. Now every cereal with the white check has more whole grain than any other single ingredient with the same great taste. You will see “whole grain” as a part of the first ingredient on the ingredient list, indicating that whole grain is the first and most prevalent ingredient.

According to Dr. Travis Stork, emergency room physician and host of “The Doctors,” identifying whole grain products can be challenging. Shoppers can look for nutritional cues on the front of the box, but they need to read the ingredient list to know if they are getting enough whole grain. Ingredient lists detail ingredients in order of prevalence, and if the words “whole grain” are followed by a grain like wheat or oats, it means the food contains more whole grain than any other single ingredient. Here’s how to determine if your cereals have whole grain as a first ingredient:

With all the health messages facing grocery store shoppers, it can be confusing to translate what appears on food labels into nutritional needs, and hard to determine which foods have a meaningful amount of whole grain. Dr. Stork has some additional recommendations to help you include whole grain easily into your diet. They include:

Start Early! The Dietary Guidelines recommend people get at least 48 grams of whole grain in their daily diets. Get a jump-start on the day’s nutrition by incorporating whole grain into your morning routine. For instance, when choosing cereal make sure whole grain is listed as the first ingredient. One easy choice is cereal with the white check, which have more whole grain than any other single ingredient.
Make Simple Swaps. Choose whole grain versions of the foods you love. Great options include whole wheat pasta and whole wheat bread or even whole grain crackers. Also, try different types of whole grain. Use brown rice instead of white rice as a side dish at dinner or popcorn, which is a whole grain, for a snack.
Don’t Judge a Food by Its Cover. The front of food packages provide good nutritional cues, but don’t forget to read the ingredients and check the nutrition label and side labels for additional health information. Cereals with the white check even include the amount of whole grain per serving on packaging.

To help with choosing products with whole grain, General Mills developed “Fast Lane for Whole Grain,” an online educational game. Consumers can navigate virtual grocery store aisles and identify products that have whole grain as the first ingredient, with the option to enter a sweepstakes to win one of each of the 50 cereals with the white check.

Make a commitment to add more whole grain to your diet by simply pouring a bowl of cereal with the white check including Cheerios^®, Lucky Charms^®, Cinnamon Toast Crunch^®, Honey Nut Cheerios^® and Total^®.

For more information on the importance of whole grain and a chance to enter the “Fast Lane for Whole Grain” sweepstakes, visit http://bit.ly/WholeGrain1st.

My Take:

We've always loved General Mills cereals. I've been eating many of them since I was child myself. They are just always of good quality and taste so why change! And now many of them are even better for you with the added whole grain as the first ingredient. And what luck several of them are actually favorites of my kids already, so I don't even need to change my buying habits to get them the extra nutrients! Thanks General Mills you've made this mommy's day even easier!

Win it: One lucky reader will win 5 boxes of General Mills cereal with the white check. This giveaway will end February 18th at 12:01 AM EST. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email. If no response, a new winner will be chosen. Open to residents of the US.

Entry Method: Please use Rafflecopter form to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: The prize pack, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark. This blog post is not a paid post and the honest opinions stated are my own. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, entry via Facebook like is completely optional. Please allow 4-6 weeks for prize delivery from the sponsor.

Facebook/Google+ Like You Back - 02.01.12

2012-02-01T09:08:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Facebook/G+ Like-You-Back hosted by:

7 on a Shoestring Facebook | Google+
Baby Cachet Facebook | Google+
Belly Charms Facebook | Google+
Madame Deals Facebook | Google+
Mom Always Finds Out Facebook | Google+
Mom in Training Facebook | Google+
Slop Swap Facebook | Google+
This Mama Loves Her Bargains Facebook | Google+
Wacky Jacqui's Designs Facebook | Google+

Are you looking for new Facebook and Google+ pages to follow and new friends who like your page? Then join us!

Add your FACEBOOK page to the FIRST Linky below (you only have to add it to one and it will appear on all). Click on the Facebook link for the hosts and "like" them on Facebook. Leave a comment on their wall and they will like-you-back.
Add your GOOGLE+ page to the SECOND Linky below (you only have to add it to one and it will appear on all). Click on the Google+ link for the hosts and "Add to Circle" them on Google+. Leave a comment on their wall under their "Facebook/G+ Like-You-Back" post and they will like-you-back.

Our Facebook Page of the Week is The Unexpected Mother and Google+ Page of the Week is Be Your Best Mom! They take the next spot on the Linkies, respectively, under the hosts and will get a shout out on each of the hosts' Facebook and Google+ pages! Next week's pages of the week will be drawn from all of the entries from this week's hop.

By the way, we'd love to have you stop by our websites / blogs too & here's where we are:

7 on a Shoestring - Stay at home mom of 5 living vicariously through the internet! PR friendly blogger with reviews, giveaways, and great deals!
Baby Cachet - Unique invitations & stationery for mom & baby
Belly Charms - Pregnancy belly button rings, Mother's bracelets & more
Madame Deals - Making Dollar$ out of Change
Mom Always Finds Out - PR Friendly blog includes family friendly topics, product reviews and giveaways, and more!
Mom in Training - Just your average Christian mother & wife trying to find her way through it all one day at a time
Slop Swap - Serving up sassy savings!
This Mama Loves Her Bargains - Family friendly products, reviews and deals!
Wacky Jacqui's Designs - Blog & website designer for Blogger and Wordpress at great prices.

Thank you for participating and let's have fun!

Snapfish $50 Credit #Giveaway 2-14

2012-02-01T00:01:00.001-05:00

Welcome to From Our Hearts To Yours hosted by Life With Two Boys, With Our Best, and Mama-Nibbles. There are over 100 bloggers participating in this hop, and each blogger has their own prize package of at least $25 worth of Valentine-related items! So after you have entered my giveaway, I encourage you to hop along and see what the other bloggers are giving away too!

Win it: One lucky reader will win a Snapfish $50 Credit. This giveaway will end February 15th at 12:01 AM EST. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email. If no response, a new winner will be chosen. Open to residents of the US.

Entry Method: Please use Rafflecopter form to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: Thanks to PR Firm/sponsor I was provided with this product(s) for the purpose of my personal review. This blog post is not a paid post and the honest opinions stated are my own. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, entry via Facebook like is completely optional. Please allow 4-6 weeks for prize delivery from the sponsor. Please note that the From Our Hearts To Yours Giveaway Hop hosts and participating bloggers are not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prize. We have represented each sponsor with the expectation that they will fulfill their prize in a timely manner. While we are not responsible, we will make every effort to assist the winner in obtaining their prize.

Letter Box Activity Set #Giveaway 2-14

2012-01-31T10:06:00.000-05:00

Open the mail “slot” to reveal the whiteboard and display pockets

Includes 104 double-sided alphabet cards with real-life photos and 13 double-sided letter cards (plus 8 blanks)

Activity Guide with reproducibles for home connections

Magnetic chart features reverse storage pocket — measures 24"H x 18"L

My Take:
This is a really cool activity set. It's really very basic, but the concept and actual usefulness is amazing. It's pretty easy to figure out right out of the box, but if you need them there is an instruction guide inside too. I love how the cards are all in full color, I think this gets kids attention so much better and allows them to make the connection with the physical for of the item shown. And it even has a pocket on the back where you can store all the extra cards you aren't using! This is perfect for early preschool age children on up. I say it's never too early to start showing kids the basics. Plus if you have something like this hanging for them to constantly see it's always fresh in their minds. I also like that the set came with some pages you can make copies of for kids to make their own postcards and practice their letters. I think the actual doing of activities is just as important as the visual aspect. So why not let them create a postcard with their favorite letter, or even simple word giving them the satisfaction of having created something specifically for their mailbox.

Win it: One lucky reader will win a Letter Box Activity Set. This giveaway will end February 6th at 12:01 AM EST. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email. If no response, a new winner will be chosen. Open to residents of the US.

Entry Method: Please use Rafflecopter form to enter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclosure: Thanks to PR Firm/sponsor I was provided with this product(s) for the purpose of my personal review. This blog post is not a paid post and the honest opinions stated are my own. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, entry via Facebook like is completely optional. Please allow 4-6 weeks for prize delivery from the sponsor.

Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored Snacks #Giveaway (4 winners) 2-10

2012-01-27T15:34:00.000-05:00

So you want a snack your kids will love and that you can feel good about? With new Ocean Spray^® Fruit Flavored Snacks, you need not look any further! Available in two delicious varieties, Ocean Spray^® Fruit Flavored Snacks provide kids with the great tasting snacks they crave and parents with the confidence that they come from a good place. Ocean Spray^® Fruit Flavored Snacks are:

†Made with real fruit juice and natural colors* and flavors.

80 calories, gluten free and contain 100% of the Daily Value of Vitamin C.

Available with year round Double Box Tops.

Ocean Spray^® Fruit Flavored snacks have been a big hit here at our offices. We can’t seem to keep them around! Tell us how much you and your family love them and plan to incorporate them in your healthful lifestyle in the New Year! In addition, you and your readers can click here to download a printable coupon for $1.10 off of the purchase of (2) Ocean Spray^® Fruit Flavored snacks today!
*colors from natural sources

†These Fruit Flavored Snacks are made with apple, pear, and cranberry juice concentrate. See package for a list of complete ingredients. They are not intended to replace fruit in the diet.

These fruit snacks are awesome! I love having snacks on hand that I can toss in my purse and not worry about them getting smooched or broken up. And these little packets are perfect for just that. And to top it off they have 100% of your daily value of Vitamin C!

Win it: 4 lucky readers will each win 6 boxes (3 of each variety) of Ocean Spray^® Fruit Flavored Snacks. This giveaway will end February11th at 12:01 AM EST. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email. If no response, a new winner will be chosen. Open to residents of the US.

Entry Method: Please use Rafflecopter form to enter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclosure: Ocean Spray^® Fruit Flavored Snacks, information, and giveaway have been provided by Ocean Spray^® through MyBlogSpark. This blog post is not a paid post and the honest opinions stated are my own. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, entry via Facebook like is completely optional. Please allow 4-6 weeks for prize delivery from the sponsor.

Little Caesars $5 HOT-N-READY Pizza #Giveaway 2-9

2012-01-26T17:34:00.000-05:00

For a limited time you can get a large 14" pepperoni pizza for only $5 HOT-N-READY!

For more information visit the Little Caesars Website.

To find a Little Caesars near you use this Store Locator.

Win it: One lucky reader will win a Little Caesars $5 Gift Card. This giveaway will end February10th at 12:01 AM EST. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email. If no response, a new winner will be chosen. Open to residents of the US.

Entry Method: Please use Rafflecopter form to enter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclosure: Thanks to PR Firm/sponsor I was provided with this product(s) for the purpose of my personal review. This blog post is not a paid post and the honest opinions stated are my own. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, entry via Facebook like is completely optional. Please allow 4-6 weeks for prize delivery from the sponsor.

Little Angels Coming Soon to DVD!

2012-01-26T16:51:00.000-05:00

Presented by Executive Producer Roma Downey

A Fun New Educational Series Filled with BIG Adventure

Arrives on DVD February 14

Discover the joy of learning and friendship with this season’s most heavenly new collection! From executive producer Roma Downey (“Touched by an Angel”) comes the first three volumes of a fresh, fun and inspiring educational series that children and their parents (and grandparents too) can enjoy together in LITTLE ANGELS ABC’s, LITTLE ANGELS ANIMALS, and LITTLE ANGELS 1,2,3’s, soaring onto DVD with Digital Copy February 14 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

While you're making plans for Valentine's Day here are some great printables from the Little Angels upcoming DVD. Stay tuned for my giveaway to win your very own set of Little Angels DVD's!

Disclosure: I was in no way compensated for this post I am just sharing the information.

Facebook/Google+ Like You Back - 01.25.12

2012-01-25T00:01:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Facebook/G+ Like-You-Back hosted by:

Baby Cachet Facebook | Google+
Belly Charms Facebook | Google+
Madame Deals Facebook | Google+
Mom in Training Facebook | Google+
Slop Swap Facebook | Google+
This Mama Loves Her Bargains Facebook | Google+
Wacky Jacqui's Designs Facebook | Google+

Are you looking for new Facebook and Google+ pages to follow and new friends who like your page? Then join us!

Add your FACEBOOK page to the FIRST Linky below (you only have to add it to one and it will appear on all). Click on the Facebook link for the hosts and "like" them on Facebook. Leave a comment on their wall and they will like-you-back.
Add your GOOGLE+ page to the SECOND Linky below (you only have to add it to one and it will appear on all). Click on the Google+ link for the hosts and "Add to Circle" them on Google+. Leave a comment on their wall under their "Facebook/G+ Like-You-Back" post and they will like-you-back.

Our Facebook Page of the Week is The New Modern Momma and Google+ Page of the Week is Juliana's Bits & Pieces! They take the next spot on the Linkies, respectively, under the hosts and will get a shout out on each of the hosts' Facebook and Google+ pages! Next week's pages of the week will be drawn from all of the entries from this week's hop.

By the way, we'd love to have you stop by our websites / blogs too & here's where we are:

Thank you for participating and let's have fun!

To Kill a Mockingbird Blu-ray #Giveaway 2-6

2012-01-23T19:17:00.000-05:00

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD: Famous Stories of Innocence Lost

Digitally Remastered and Fully Restored with Over Three Hours of Bonus Materials Including Two FullLength Documentaries. On Limited Edition Collector’s Series Blu-ray™ Combo Pack,

Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, one of the screen’s most beloved and critically acclaimed films, celebrates its 50th anniversary with a commemorative Limited Edition Collector’s Series Blu-ray™ Combo Pack as well as on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD from Universal Studios Home Entertainment on January 31, 2012. The powerful and poignant adaptation of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel hits the half-century mark, digitally remastered and fully restored from high resolution 35MM original film elements, plus more than three-and-a-half hours of bonus features chronicling the making of the cinematic masterpiece.

Scout, the heroine of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, lives with her father and brother and isn't privy to many positive, female role models who want her to be anything more than a 'lady' in a nice dress.

To honor the release of the film on Blu-ray on January 31, we will examine some more progressive and forward thinking female role models that Scout could have used to look up to, including the smart and talented Hermione from the Harry Potter series and Princess Leia from Star Wars.

Margo Channing from All About Eve

Margo Channing (played by Bette Davis) from the classic film All About Eve is tough as nails and definitely plays against the stereotype that woman are meek and easily led by men. Margo also stands out in comparison to the manipulative, lying Eve (played by Anne Baxter). Davis was nominated for an Academy Award for this role, and won the Best Actress Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.

Princess Leia from Star Wars

Princess Leia (played by Carrie Fisher) may seem demure at first glance, but she isn’t afraid to stare down cargo smugglers, military commanders, or even Sith Lords. Princess Leia isn’t afraid of getting her hands dirty either, often sporting a laser pistol and jumping into battle at a moment’s notice. Aside from being able to defend herself, Leia is always equipped with a one-liner that can put most anyone in their place.

Fa Mulan from Mulan

Fa Mulan (voiced by Ming-Na) is both strong and honorable. Unwilling to let her elderly father go to war, Mulan poses as a man and goes to the army in her father’s place. Mulan is able to succeed in training camp (often surpassing the actual men in her camp), and comes up with ingenius ideas that help defeat the Huns.

Erin Brockovich from Erin Brockovich

Julia Roberts portrays real life hero Erin Brockovich in a biographical film of the same name. Not only is Erin a single mother to three children (which is a feat in and of itself), but she also discovers a massive cover up of industrial poisoning by the Pacific Gas and Electric Company, and crusades for justice for those who were affected.

Hermione Granger from Harry Potter

Hermione Granger (played by Emma Watson) has shown an entire generation of girls that it’s cool to be smart and opinionated. Hermione is well read, extremely intelligent, logical, quick thinking, cool under pressure and very clever. She also has a soft spot for those in need, and often goes out of her way to defend those people or creatures.

My Take:

I can remember having to read To Kill a Mockingbird when I was in school. I can't believe all these years later it's now in movie format. I was really actually pretty excited to be able to watch it myself. I love seeing the difference between a book and movie version of a story. I will encourage you if you have never read the book to do so before watching the movie though. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Win it: One lucky reader will win a To Kill a Mockingbird Blu-ray. This giveaway will end January 7th at 12:01 AM EST. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email. If no response, a new winner will be chosen. Open to residents of the US & Canada.

Entry Method: Please use Rafflecopter form to enter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Promgirl.net - Your one stop prom shop!

2012-01-23T19:15:00.002-05:00

Promgirl.net has been offering a wide selection of prom dresses, formal dresses, party dresses, and accessories online since 1999. I can't believe how beautiful and unique some of these dresses are. I remember what prom dresses looked like back when I went to my high school prom and they were nothing like the dresses on the Promgirl.net website. Our dresses were pretty plain and simple with the occasional flower or glitter pattern. The Promgirl.net dresses have some real style. Check these out:

My daughter walked in the room when I was checking out some of the awesome dresses on their website and she just kept saying: "OOH that's beautiful, OOH I like that one!). They honestly have something for everyone in my opinion. I mean there are short dresses, long dresses, low cut dresses and dresses with a little more coverage. I really like how universal some of the dresses are too, I mean they don't have to be worn for a prom. If I'd found out about this place last year I definitely would have been scouting out my dress there for my husbands work party. It was at a country club and I had nothing even close to being nice enough in my wardrobe. The other great thing is the prices they have dresses to fit all sorts of budgets. I saw one dress that was only $49 on sale, that's a pretty great deal if you ask me. You really just have to shop around their website to see what catches your eye. And once you've found the dress of your dreams you can stop over to their accessories page and pick up any under accessories you might need to enhance your dress. And of course to finish it off make sure you visit their shoes and jewelry pages. The jewelry they offer is all very simple yet elegant and would make a great finish to any of their dresses. Heck I've even considered getting the tiara for my daughter for her birthday. You know how every girl dreams of being a princess, and what better way then giving her a tiara.

Promgirl.net is constantly adding new dresses to their sale page so make sure you check it out often, now's the time to start shopping for Prom 2012. Get that one of a kind unique look that no one else at the prom will have. It's a special night so why not make it a memorable one with a dress that everyone will be talking about!

If you visit the Promgirl.net Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Promgirlnet/59074278093 you can enter to win their Free Dress Giveaway once a month. How exciting would that be to win your prom dress? I know I'd love to win several of their dresses myself. I might be going to prom, but I'd love to have an elegant dress to wear to a dinner party.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post however all opinions and thoughts stated are my own.

Progresso Souper You Contest & #Giveaway 2-3

2012-01-20T16:22:00.001-05:00

Are you ready for a new look this New Year? Progresso® is excited to announce the return of their Souper You® Contest giving you the change to win an incredible makeover! By telling Progresso why you deserve a makeover and what you love about their soup, you could have the chance to win an ultimate makeover experience in Hollywood this Spring!

Now that the ball has dropped and the confetti has settled, it´s time to consider how you will stick to your resolution for the New Year and maintain your weight management plan, without sacrificing on variety or the taste of foods you love. Thanks to Progresso®, you can have your soup and eat it too!

With 40 delicious soups with 100 calories or less per serving, Progresso Soup has a variety of offerings that help you beat diet boredom and satisfy your taste cravings, while helping you stick to your weight management calorie goals. Progresso soups are packed with hearty ingredients like pasta, beans, rice, meat and vegetables that suit your taste buds and make you feel good about including it in your meal choices.

This year, the Souper You® Contest will provide three lucky winners with an ultimate makeover experience in Hollywood; this includes a trip for 2 to Los Angeles, California where the winner will receive a head-to-toe makeover including hair and makeup, guided shopping spree with a $1,000 fashion retailer gift card, $1,000 spending money and 2 tickets to this season´s live finale of NBC´s The Biggest Loser

Progresso is asking fans to visit www.SouperYou.com and submit their photo with a brief essay about why they love Progresso soups and why they deserve a makeover, by no later than February 22nd

Fans can check back on March 12th for the announcement of the top ten finalists, and to vote for their favorite finalist until March 25th

In addition, visit http://bit.ly/ProgressoCoup to download a printable coupon for $1.25 off the purchase of four (4) cans of Progresso Soup today, and feel free to share with your blog readers so they can take advantage of the savings as well Also, tune into The Biggest Loser on NBC Tuesdays at 8/7c

My Take:
As someone who is trying to lose some extra weight myself I was pretty excited to get this package. I can't wait to get started with The Biggest Loser workout DVD. And I'm already a big fan of Progresso so having some extra cans in my cabinet for lunch was a big plus too! Now is the perfect time to get back into a routine of eating right and exercising. Thank you to MyBlogSpark and Progresso for helping a girl out!

Win it: One lucky reader will win (2) VIP Coupons for Progresso Soup and (1) copy of “The Biggest Loser” Workout DVD . This giveaway will end February 4th at 12:01 AM EST. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email. If no response, a new winner will be chosen. Open to residents of the US.

Entry Method: Please use Rafflecopter form to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclosure: The Progresso^® Souper You^® prize pack, information, coupon, and giveaway have been provided by Progresso through MyBlogSpark. This blog post is not a paid post and the honest opinions stated are my own. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, entry via Facebook like is completely optional. Please allow 4-6 weeks for prize delivery from the sponsor.

ZEISS Lenses Provides Free Eye Care Educational Tools

2012-01-19T21:04:00.000-05:00

Corporate Overview:

Carl Zeiss Vision (www.vision.zeiss.com) is a global leader in precision optics. With a full line of advanced customized lenses, advanced performance coatings, i.Scription® by ZEISS diagnostic technology and a national laboratory network, Carl Zeiss Vision is dedicated to creating a better visual experience for patients and greater success for eye care practices.

Fun facts about Zeiss:

* Astronauts relied on ZEISS quality lenses to take pictures of the first moon landing.
* Google Earth cameras are equipped with ZEISS precision lenses.
* Nobel Prize winners have relied on ZEISS microscopes for their award-winning research.
* ZEISS camera lenses have been used to film unforgettable movies such as The Lord of the Rings, Slumdog Millionaire and The King’s Speech.

i.Profiler^plus® by ZEISS is a diagnostic tool that analyzes the performance of eyes to a level of detail far beyond traditional methods. These measurements are used to create a customized i.Scription^®lens that meets the unique vision needs of the individual more accurately than any previous technology. The result is sharper vision with better contrast and color perception. Lens performance is also influenced by the accuracy of fitting within the chosen frame and on one’s unique face. The i.Terminal^® by ZEISS measures such dimensions as pupillary distance, vision height of the eye, tilt of the eye glasses frame, distance between the eye and lens and the frame wrap to ensure that you receive the best possible visual experience from the ZEISS lenses.

I spent some on the ZEISS website and found it informative and helpful. For instance, I learned that after age 40 many adults develop presbyopia. It's a vision condition in which the crystalline lens of the eye loses its flexibility, making it difficult to focus on close objects. Sorry to say it's all a part of the eye's natural aging process so there's a chance we or some we know will deal with it at some point. Thanks to ZEISS they offer customized lenses specifically just for situations like this one. ZEISS has solutions to this and many other eye sight concerns.

Take a few moments to educate yourself about your family’s visual health at ZEISS with their free education tools. I think you’ll find a lot of interesting information. And hey it's free so why not!

Disclosure: Thanks to MomSelect and Zeiss for providing a lens care kit and gift card to me in exchange for this post. All opinions and thoughts are mine however.

Facebook/Google+ Like You Back - 01.18.12

2012-01-18T00:01:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Facebook/G+ Like-You-Back hosted by:

A Busy Mom's Crock Pot Cooking Adventures Facebook | Google+
Baby Cachet Facebook | Google+
Belly Charms Facebook | Google+
Madame Deals Facebook | Google+
Mom in Training Facebook | Google+
Slop Swap Facebook | Google+
This Mama Loves Her Bargains Facebook | Google+
Wacky Jacqui's Designs Facebook | Google+

Are you looking for new Facebook and Google+ pages to follow and new friends who like your page? Then join us!

Add your FACEBOOK page to the FIRST Linky below (you only have to add it to one and it will appear on all). Click on the Facebook link for the hosts and "like" them on Facebook. Leave a comment on their wall and they will like-you-back.
Add your GOOGLE+ page to the SECOND Linky below (you only have to add it to one and it will appear on all). Click on the Google+ link for the hosts and "Add to Circle" them on Google+. Leave a comment on their wall under their "Facebook/G+ Like-You-Back" post and they will like-you-back.

Our Facebook Page of the Week is Save Green Being Green and Google+ Page of the Week is Shopaholic Mommy! They take the next spot on the Linkies, respectively, under the hosts and will get a shout out on each of the hosts' Facebook and Google+ pages! Next week's pages of the week will be drawn from all of the entries from this week's hop.

By the way, we'd love to have you stop by our websites / blogs too & here's where we are:

Thank you for participating and let's have fun!

Sam’s Club and Box Tops for Education #Giveaway 1-27

2012-01-13T11:00:00.000-05:00

While purchasing some of your favorite General Mills brands you can also earn more cash for your local school with the Sam’s Club “6 Box Tops on a Pack” promotion

At least 6 Bonus Box Tops will be located on your favorite return-to-school brands such as Nature Valley Oats 'N Honey Crunchy Granola Bars, Yoplait and Progresso

From groceries to computers to notebooks, Sam’s Club makes shopping for all of your return-to-school needs simple

This January, be sure to visit your local Sam’s Club to find all your return-to-school necessities. To learn more about the Box Tops for Education Program and how you can help contribute to your school, visit www.BoxTops4Education.com.

My Take:
We have a Sam's Club membership in our house, I honestly use it quite often. I've been shopping there long enough I know what items are a good "bundle" deal and what items I can get a better deal on as individual packages with a sale or coupons. With the chance to get bonus boxtops I'll be definitely scoping out the General Mills products for sure. My daughter's school has done so many great things with the Box Tops they have collected over the years I am always glad to support the program any way I can.

Win it: One lucky reader will win a $25 Sam’s Club gift card. This giveaway will end January 28th at 12:01 AM EST. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email. If no response, a new winner will be chosen. Open to residents of the US.

Entry Method: Please use Rafflecopter form to enter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclosure: The Sam’s Club gift card, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark. This blog post is not a paid post and the honest opinions stated are my own. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, entry via Facebook like is completely optional. Please allow 4-6 weeks for prize delivery from the sponsor.