Steals, Deals and Life

The Gruffalo- Kidtoons {GIVEAWAY}

2012-03-08T17:55:00.001-08:00

About Kidtoons (From the Website)

Kidtoons is dedicated to helping parents connect with their kids by bringing family friendly animated movies to the big screen every weekend at participating theatres across the country.
Participating Kidtoons theatres showcase a fun, affordable family friendly matinee movie and provide a family experience filled with entertaining, kid-friendly characters, as well as cartoon shorts, music videos and sing-alongs before each movie. We even have fun giveaways for the kids, such as stickers, temporary tattoos, activity books or toys after every film.

Be sure to check out Kidtoons website for your local theater location and times. You will also find some really fun activities on their website including a coloring contest for kids!

This months feature movie is The Gruffalo.

Be sure to look for this movie in theaters- for locations click HERE.

The Gruffalo Synopsis
A mouse is taking a stroll through the deep, dark wood when along comes a hungry fox, then an owl, and then a snake. Since the mouse “looks good” to all, he explains that he’s meeting the Gruffalo! As Mouse explains, the Gruffalo is a creature with terrible claws, and terrible tusks in its terrible jaws, and knobbly knees and turned-out toes, and a poisonous wart at the end of its nose. But Mouse has no worry to show. After all, there’s no such thing as a Gruffalo.

Kidtoons is giving one of my readers a great Gruffalo Prize Package!

Each prize package includes:

One The Gruffalo Book

One The Gruffalo DVD

One The Gruffalo Rhyme Game

One The Gruffalo Kidtoons Movie Poster

Just click the “Read More” button to enter the giveaway!

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Disclosure: I was not compensated in any way for this posting.

Pound Puppies on DVD- TODAY! {REVIEW}

2012-03-06T09:59:00.001-08:00

Today, POUND PUPPIES: Homeward Pound releases on DVD! Catch Lucky, Squirt, Cookie and the entire Shelter 17 gang as they find homes for wayward canine cuties. There's 5 puppy-rific episodes and a Learn to Draw Lucky bonus feature to engage a preschool audience.

MY THOUGHTS: You just can’t go wrong with animated talking dogs! My kids have been begging for a puppy ever since they could speak but there’s a very slim chance they will ever get one because I’m not a huge fan of real animals and have lots of allergies but I will admit that these Pound Puppies are so cute! My kids always get excited about new DVD’s we have the opportunity of reviewing however they were particularly interested in this one because of the puppies. They sat down and watched every episode on the entire DVD. I love these kinds of DVD’s because I can break them up and let them as a special treat watch a short episode but when something is brand new like this they normally want to watch it all at once. They enjoyed the different personalities of each puppy and I really liked how they had great lessons for the kids. Not only were my kids in hysterics but I also got a chuckle out of this cute show.

So be sure to go grab your copy this morning at your local store and surprise your kids- and don’t forget that the GIVEAWAY for one of my readers to win their own copy ends tonight so click HERE to get all your extra entries in now!

Crane Humidifier {GIVEAWAY}

2012-03-03T20:14:00.001-08:00

Check out this awesome new giveaway for a Crane Humidifier! This would be a great addition to your child’s room and is absolutely adorable at the same time!! Just click on the image below to enter!

Extra Giveaway Entries- VeggieTales & Pound Puppies

2012-03-01T09:36:00.001-08:00

Looking for a few extra entries for the two current giveaways- VeggieTales: Robin Good DVD and the new Pound Puppies DVD? Okay how about 25 for each one! Click on each giveaway and go check out the new method of entry (last one on the Rafflecopter form) it’s simple and easy and will benefit you too!

Graco Bundle {GIVEAWAY}

2012-02-27T06:58:00.001-08:00

Just click on the image below to head on over to enter to win this great Graco Bundle for either a boy or girl (your choice), everything you need for your new baby!

VeggieTales: Robin Good and His Not-So-Merry Men {GIVEAWAY}

2012-02-25T13:08:00.002-08:00

VeggieTales presents: Robin Good and His Not-So-Merry Men

DVD Synopsis

VeggieTales: Robin Good and His Not-So-Merry Men is a fun parody based on the classic Robin Hood tale. This DVD title features a Robin Hood themed story with a special VeggieTales twist, includes plenty of high-energy, family-friendly music, and a new fan-voted Silly Song ("Bubble Wrap") that was selected through a recent online fan contest. Just in time for the Easter holiday season, VeggieTales Robin Good helps to teach children lessons about handling hurt and forgiveness. Even the animated short, “Lenny & the Lost Birthday,” focuses on handling these important and universal feelings. Check out this fun video: http://veggietales.com/robingood/!

Available beginning March 6th, 2012 for $14.93 wherever DVDs are sold.

My Thoughts: I love the VeggieTales DVDs and Silly Songs because they are Christian based and strive to teach good life lessons while being fun and silly at the same time. I particularly like the titles that are similar to other titles my children have seen before. While Big Entertainment has done a fabulous job producing their own stories my kids seem to be a little more interested in the ones that they look at and think they might sound familiar. I love that they are similar but that Big Entertainment has given it their own creative twist. This movie was just the perfect length to keep all three of my kids attention spans, including my three year old as it runs right under an hour. The story is fun but my kid’s favorite part of all the VeggieTales DVDs are the silly songs included and this one didn’t disappoint. I also loved watching it with them because there’s always a bit of humor that’s a little more geared towards adults than the kids- like the reference to low-fat cottage cheese.

ORDER YOUR OWN COPY: You can also pre-order your own copy of Robin Good (receive a FREE Veggie Clock), download a fun coloring page and watch the trailer HERE.

GIVEAWAY: One lucky reader is going to win their own copy of VeggieTales: Robin Good and His Not-So-Merry Men!

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Pound Puppies: Homeward Pound on DVD {GIVEAWAY}

2012-02-25T12:42:00.002-08:00

“A Pup For Every Person And A Person For Every Pup”

POUND PUPPIES: HOMEWARD POUND

DVD Special Feature include Learn to Draw Lucky

AVAILABLE MARCH 6 FROM SHOUT! FACTORY

Puppy lovers rejoice! Pound Puppies: Homeward Pound will arrive on DVD on March 6, 2012, from Shout! Factory Kids in collaboration with Hasbro, Inc. The DVD set will contain bonus feature Learn to Draw Lucky.

The Pound Puppies are a team of fearless dogs whose sworn mission is to find homes for lonely puppies. Even though they look like regular dogs, these pro-active pooches match up pups with loving families fulfilling the mantra of a pup for every person and a person for every pup—all while they keep the humans at Shelter 17 clueless. Sometimes dogs are dogs' best friend!

The Pound Puppies series is currently airing on The Hub in the U.S. and YTV in Canada. The DVD release marks the North American home entertainment debut of Hasbro Studios’ hit show.

The DVD will feature five episodes including Homeward Pound, My Fair Rebound, Quintuplets, K-9 Kid, Zoltron and the Bonus Feature: Learn to Draw Lucky.

Pound Puppies: Homeward Pound is priced at $12.99 SRP.

GIVEAWAY: Just use the Rafflecopter form below by clicking on the “read more” button to enter to win your own copy of Pound Puppies: Homeward Pound on DVD courtesy of Shout! Factory Kids, in collaboration with Hasbro Studios.

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BOB Revolution Stroller {GIVEAWAY}

2012-02-25T07:17:00.001-08:00

Have you entered to win the BOB Revolution SE Stroller from Lullaby Lane? Winner will have the opportunity to choose which color they’d like, orange, navy, black or plum. So click on the image below to head on over there right now for your chance to enter!

Giveaway not sponsored by Steals, Deals & Life.

BRITAX Marathon Car Seat {GIVEAWAY}

2012-02-24T07:02:00.001-08:00

Have you entered to win the BRITAX Marathon Car Seat from Lullaby Lane? If not click on the image below to head on over there right now for your chance to enter!

Moms Spare 5 Minutes for Themselves {Bestselling Book GIVEAWAY}

2012-02-15T13:55:00.001-08:00

Founder of Dahn Yoga, with more than 1000 centers worldwide, Ilchi Lee teaches traditional Korean healing philosophies so that every person can achieve stress release, life balance and emotion release in their everyday life. Lee’s Washington Post bestseller The Call of Sedona: Journey of the Heart is perfect for mommies with a demanding life because it offers quick meditations that can fit into your schedule, while inspiring you to take your own “journey of the heart”:

Energize your body and mind with the Ki Energy exercise
Clear memories that burden you with the Purifying Emotions exercise
Release daily tensions with Chakra Light Meditation exercises
Learn to listen what your Heart is saying to you with the Starlight Meditation exercise
Banish thoughts that make you upset with the Vortex exercise

Ilchi Lee is a respected educator and trailblazer devoted to developing the awakened brain and teaching energy principles. Founder of the Dahn Yoga methods and author of 33 books, he has helped thousands of people harness their creative power through meditative exercises that awaken the brain. Ilchi is invited to speak all over the world about the topic of brain education and recently spoke at the United Nations. For more information, visit http://www.ilchi.com

GIVEAWAY: One of my readers will have the opportunity to win their own copy of The Call of Sedona: Journey of the Heart.

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Disclosure: This is a sponsored giveaway posting in which monetary compensation was received.

Umi Birthday Club- Sign up and Receive a Special Gift!

2012-02-15T10:28:00.001-08:00

Just click on the image above to sign up for their new Birthday Club on Facebook.

Umi Valentine’s Day Giveaway- 10 Days of Prizes!

2012-02-15T10:24:00.001-08:00

Just click on the image above to be re-directed to their Facebook page to enter to win!

Valentine’s Day Breakfast

2012-02-14T09:41:00.001-08:00

Here’s what I made for breakfast this morning. Even got up extra early so I could make it special for the kids and hubby. I absolutely LOVE Pinterest and all the great ideas I’ve found there.

Just click on the images to see my pins- the first one is the Swedish Pancakes and the second image the recipe I used for the Vanilla Pudding Sauce. We didn’t roll them like crepes shown in the first picture because I made them a little smaller for the kids but the taste was still the same- YUM!

Thanks to the original poster of these recipes on her blog and whoever pinned them! To see the original posts you can click HERE for the Swedish Pancakes and HERE for the Vanilla Pudding Sauce.

Chuggington: Brewster’s Little Helper {GIVEAWAY}

2012-02-10T12:06:00.001-08:00

‘CHUGGINGTON, FANS WILL FALL IN LOVE WITH THEIR FAVORITE TRAINEE TRIO WITH

“BREWSTER’S LITTLE HELPER”

Newest Release in Award-Winning DVD Series from Anchor Bay Entertainment Launches Valentine’s Day 2012

All aboard! I’m excited to share with you the release of the newest “Chuggington” DVD that’s perfect as a sweet treat for young fans! “Brewster’s Little Helper,” from Anchor Bay Entertainment, will pull out of the station and into retail stores nationwide, February 14, 2012 – Valentine’s Day!

“Brewster’s Little Helper” will have preschoolers honking their horns alongside their favorite trainees, Wilson, Brewster and Koko, through six energetic episodes. In the title episode, Zephie is determined to prove that she can pull her weight. After overhearing Brewster’s tasks for the day, she tries to take care of them all, but winds up chugging headlong into trouble. When Zephie is unable to complete the chores correctly, she realizes she still has some growing up to do. And, with a little help from Brewster, everything gets back on track. Each of the additional episodes – Koko Takes Charge, Brewster Knows Best, Zephie’s Zoomaround, Nurse Wilson and Wilson And The Paint Wagon – are filled with loads of fun and coupled with positive lessons for preschoolers such as patience, teamwork, responsibility, friendship, creative thinking and more.

My three year old LOVES the Chuggington episodes and watches them on television and DVD every chance she gets.

GIVEAWAY: I am excited to announce that I have been provided with the opportunity to giveaway one copy of the new Chuggington DVD to one of my lucky readers! So be sure to fill out the form and enter below for your chance to win!

Just click the “Read More” button to enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter below.

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Disclosure: I am being provided with a copy of the new Chuggington DVD for review. All opinions posted are my own and no monetary compensation was provided.

Great Wolf Lodge- Grand Mound, WA {Review}

2012-02-10T09:28:00.001-08:00

The Surprise: We decided to surprise the kids with a trip to Great Wolf Lodge for my daughter’s 8th birthday and were able to keep it under wraps pretty well. They really had no idea. We packed their bags for them, hid the suitcases in our trunk before they got in the car and just got in the car and started driving. I wasn’t quite sure the kids would even know where we were when we arrived because except the once in a while commercial I’ve seen on television for Great Wolf Lodge I don’t think they’ve ever seen any advertising for it and I’ve never really talked about it before. So when we arrived they were still pretty confused. I jumped out of the car and went to check in while my husband parked with the kids. It was great to see the looks on their faces as they entered the doors taking in every tiny little detail. Once I was done at the desk, which didn’t take long we led the kids to the back of the resort main floor where they were able to get a sneak peak of the fun awaiting them inside the water park portion of the resort through the big tall glass windows. Their little eyes instantly lit up and you’d have thought we had arrived at Disneyland! They couldn’t wait to go in.

Check-in: Simple, easy and quick- not what I expected because I had heard things about the long lines and up to 15 minutes per party for check-in (not the case in our situation). No wait time, I walked right up to the counter and it took about 5-7 minutes total for my check-in. We showed up at about 1:45 so maybe we missed the 1pm rush and when I did walk by the desk later that afternoon around 4pm (which is when rooms typically are supposed to be ready) there was more of a line up for check-in but it didn’t look too bad.

The Waterpark: Our room wasn’t quite ready, but we anticipated this as we were told that rooms typically weren’t ready until 4pm but that guests could check-in and start enjoying the resort amenities at 1pm. So we had packed a waterpark bag with our swimsuits. After adorning each family member with the wrist band they would wear the entire stay, which provided entrance to the water park attractions we proceeded to the second floor to gain access to all the fun that awaited us. As soon as we entered the water park I was instantly overwhelmed by a warm humid climate. (Great Wolf Lodge keeps it at a nice 84 degrees and the water at 82 degrees.) At first I will admit that I thought I might have trouble breathing in there, being seven months pregnant I sometimes get easily short of breath, but after a few minutes of adjusting I was fine (changing into my swimsuit really helped too because I wasn’t adorned with so many clothes weighing me down). Before we went to change the kids were measured and given special wrist bands indicating their height and what waterpark attractions they’d be able to enjoy. Both of my older girls got a wrist band that would allow them access to everything with no restrictions and my youngest who is definitely small for her age and only three years old was given a wrist band that had quite a few restrictions placed on it- but there were plenty of things for her to enjoy so we weren’t concerned. She wasn’t able to go on any of the big waterslides with inner tubes- which she was a little disappointed with at first because she LOVES inner tubes. I would have loved to see an indoor lazy river attraction but everything else was great.

One little problem we had is that they measured my daughter the 1st afternoon we got there when we went in and she was fully clothed and in shoes and they gave her a wrist band that would allow her to go on all the slides. She LOVED the big slides and went on them a ton that day. She kept that wristband on and the next day when we went back in she walked up the tall stairs to go down the big slide and they told her that she was too short and had to get a new wristband. I understand safety issues and such but she was only like less than an inch too short to use the slides and she had already spent an afternoon doing so. Not that I’d want them to make an exception for her and let her use them but I think the staff needs to be consistent about their measuring and if they are going to measure the kids as they come in before changing that they have them remove their shoes, especially if they are really close to the height restriction.

Favorite Waterpark Rides: Being pregnant we decided to bring my 16 year old sister along to help out and I’m glad we did because my older girls LOVED the Howlin’ Tornado- one of the most thrilling rides there that drops 6 stories- I chose not to ride this one being pregnant but the kids and my sister enjoyed it MANY times. I spent quite a bit of time with my three year old hanging out at the Cub Paw Pool where the maximum depth was 1’6” and they had this fun purple water slide that was perfect for her. She just kept going on it over and over and over again. Luckily Great Wolf Lodge does this great thing where every 10 minutes they have all the kids get out from that area to use the bathroom if needed and take a break, this was a nice way to break my daughter away from that little water slide and change up what we were doing. She also really enjoyed the Slap Tail Pond (wave pool) and Chinook Cove Activity Pool where she could swim around and splash to hear hearts content.

After a few hours of enjoying the waterpark we were informed by text to my husband’s phone that our room was ready and while we weren’t able to pull the kids away from all the fun, he did take a break and take all of our bags out of the car and up to our room for us to setup. We also setup balloons we had brought with us and the presents for my daughter’s birthday for a big surprise later. After about another half an hour the kids were getting a little tired and we convinced them that there was a fun surprise upstairs and were able to pull them away from all the water fun.

The Room: Showing the kids our room was like one surprise after another. With three adults and three kids we were able to stay in the KidCabin Suite (sleeps 6, max 7). This suite had one queen size bed for mom and dad and a sleeper couch for my sister and a miniature log cabin that doubled as the kids’ sleeping quarters that had a bunk bed, daybed and TV. (My sister actually ended up sleeping in there with the kids though because all the little ones wanted to snuggle together on the bunk bed and she took the day bed so we didn’t even need to use the pull out couch.) Honestly we didn’t spend very much time in our actual room because my kids just wanted to play in the water the entire time but it was nice to enjoy a little themed fun with our room and have plenty of space to stretch out and relax if we wanted too. In fact that KidCabin made a perfect sanctuary for the kids to escape to and watch their own television shows for a little bit at night while mom and dad got a break. Our room also include a microwave, mini fridge, main television for mom and dad to enjoy and a fireplace. The mini fridge option was great because we were able to bring some of our own snacks from home and water to save a little bit of money.

Story Time: That night at 8pm the lodge offered a story time so the kids got their pj’s on and we went downstairs where they got to see a giant tree with animals come to life singing and dancing. Since it was January they still had a few of their Snowland perks going on and partway through the singing it started snowing all over the main floor of the resort. My three year old went nuts! She absolutely LOVED it! She was running around trying to catch all the snow, she was just in awe over it all. (We of course hadn’t seen any snow yet in Washington so I think that made it even more special.) Then someone that worked there came out and read the kids a story and afterwards we got in line to get our picture taken with Wiley Wolf- by that point my 6 and 8 year old wanted to go back up to the room but my 3 year old was loving every minute of it so we let her stay while the others went and got ready for bed.

Other Activities: There were so many other activity opportunities for the kids at Great Wolf Lodge and if we had stayed a few more days we definitely would have taken advantage of them but I seriously couldn’t pull my kids away from the waterpark. MagiQuest where the kids could purchase magic wands to unlock many different activities and fun surprises around the resort looked like quite a bit of fun. They also had an arcade and kids spa that I know my girls would have loved! Cub Club would have been the perfect place for my three year old while the older two were enjoying MagiQuest because they offered some fun hands on crafts, and cute souvenir opportunities. If you’re going to enjoy all of the “dry” activities Great Wolf Lodge has to offer I’d suggest getting a Paws Pass upon arrival. It will help save you about 25% off if you were to buy everything individually.

Paws Pass: $59.99 + tax

One Color Your Own Item from Cub Club
One Animal From Animal Land (Outfit Not Included)
One Dippin’ Dots serving at Spirit Island Snack Shop
One Souvenir Great Wolf Lodge Sipper Cup & Drink
One MagiQuest Classic wand and game
One small Great Wolf Lodge Kandy Kup from gift shop
One Grand Mound collectible logo pink from gift shop
One Small Glitter Tattoo

Dining Options: There are quite a few dining options available at Great Wolf Lodge. We decided to eat dinner at Camp Critter Bar & Grille. While the food was good, my kids decided they really didn’t want to eat after ordering their food, so while they got these great wolf ears with their meals that they loved their food went to waste. We definitely ended up spending a little more on dinner then we anticipated- it was a little over $100 for my husband, sister and I and the three kids, not too bad of a price but I honestly wish we had just take advantage of the in-room pizza deal they had for less than $30, which is what we’ll do next time. For breakfast the next morning we enjoyed the all you can eat buffet at The Loose Moose Cottage. I don’t know if my kids were just more hungry in the morning or if they just like breakfast food better but they loved the spread! This was definitely a really good deal. We added the breakfast package onto our room package for only $50 (our 3 year old was free to eat and my 16 year old sister was considered a child). There were definitely other places to buy snacks like the Bear Paw Sweets & Eats, Pizza Hut Express and the Spirit Island Snack Shop (that was actually located inside the waterpark area) but my kids were much too busy playing to want to stop for food and it helped that we brought a few of our own in our room. (They also have a Starbucks for those who might want a morning cup of coffee.)

Cute wolf ears that the girls got with their kids meals for dinner at Camp Critter Bar & Grille.

For my 8 year old daughter’s birthday they brought her a cupcake at dinner and sang to her.

The kids did eat some of the nachos we got for an appetizer so maybe they were just too full to eat their actual meals.

Overall Great Wolf Lodge was definitely a great place to take the family! I loved being able to go somewhere warm where we could enjoy swimming and the waterpark amenities without having to get on an airplane. Next time we’ll be staying a few more days so we can really enjoy everything because one night just wasn’t enough! My daughter had a great birthday and after dinner our first night got to enjoy some cupcakes we brought with us and open presents, but I think just being there and having fun was present enough for her! All three of the kids are already begging to go back!

Top Things to Know:

The Waterpark opens at 1pm to guests checking in but rooms aren’t usually ready until 4pm- be sure to bring a separate packed bag with just your swimsuits in it.
I would suggest checking in about 1:45pm or 4:30pm just to avoid the rush times.
The Waterpark provides guests with towels so you don’t need to pack these.
You can rent a locker for $10 a day and I would definitely suggest doing so to put all your stuff in because you aren’t going to want to have to go back to your room.
The locker rooms didn’t provide that great of a space for changing so maybe change into your swimsuits in your room before you go down and wear a lightweight cover-up over top so you aren’t walking through the resort in just your suite. You can use the bathroom stalls to change if you want a little more privacy but I found them a bit cramped and difficult to do that in.
Waterpark opens at 9am and closes at 9pm.
There’s a great story time in the lobby for kids at 8pm where they can wear their pj’s.
Purchase the Paws Pass if you’re planning on doing all the “dry” activities it will save you a good deal of money.
Try and add on a meal to your package if you can to save money- I would suggest the all-you-can eat breakfast – it’s a great price and you get a good amount of food to fill you up for the day.
Always check the Great Wolf Lodge Facebook page for specials and their website and be sure to sign up on their website to receive deals by email.
Be sure to check the height restrictions for waterpark attractions on the Great Wolf Lodge Website before you go so you know what you’re kids will be able to enjoy.
The waterpark provides life jackets – you don’t need to bring these. My two older girls are both pretty good swimmers but still liked the comfort of wearing the life jacket the entire time, as did my 3 year old.

Disclosure: I was provided with a room at The Great Wolf Lodge Grand Mound, WA location for a discounted rate in exchange for my posting.

The Adventures of Chuck & Friends: Friends to the Finish {Review & GIVEAWAY}

2012-02-10T08:55:00.000-08:00

THE ADVENTURES OF CHUCK & FRIENDS:

FRIENDS TO THE FINISH DVD

AVAILABLE FEBRUARY 14 FROM SHOUT! FACTORY

Drivers, prepare to buckle up! The Adventures of Chuck & Friends: Friends To The Finish will arrive on DVD on February 14, 2012, from Shout! Factory in collaboration with Hasbro, Inc. Featuring 10 exhilarating episodes, The Adventures of Chuck & Friends also touts a color-your- own-cover activity.

Follow CHUCK THE DUMP TRUCK character and his incredible cast of friends in this delightfully fast-paced, song-filled, high-energy series for preschoolers. Every visitor to the truck stop where CHUCK lives fuels his exciting fantasies, and he enlists his pals Digger, Boomer, Rowdy, Soku, Biggs and Handy to turn those fantasies into reality.

The Adventures of Chuck & Friends series is currently airing on The Hub TV Network in the U.S. and on Treehouse in Canada.

The Adventures of Chuck & Friends: Friends To The Finish is priced at $12.99.

REVIEW: If you have boys this would probably be a great Valentine’s gift for them. (I’m always trying to think of things that I can give my kids for holidays that aren’t candy related.) However, I don’t want to exclude all those parents of girls from this either because my three year old daughter LOVES Chuck & Friends! She’s never seen it on television before (which is where it first debuted) but we were sent the DVD for review and she’s been watching it daily! It reminds me a little bit like the show Chuggington- where the animation and storylines are similar however these are trucks rather then trains. This DVD is packed full of fun with 10 episodes there’s so much to enjoy however I seem to always sit down or hear the same ones over and over again, I think it’s just my luck. Each episode teaches lessons such as working together, helping friends out and being responsible and making good decisions. This show isn’t just all about race car trucks or monster trucks though, there’s definitely a good variety of different kinds of trucks that your child is bound to find a favorite! I’m including a little more about each of the trucks below so you can get to know them better!

CHUCK: He's a little dump truck with a big sense of humor and lots of energy. Chuck is always curious and has a way of dreaming big — then putting his dreams into action. He loves to go places and find out how things work, and he never backs away from anything new.

BIGGS: This little monster truck loves to live large. Biggs has energy to burn … and a "go for it" attitude that keeps him ready for anything, anytime. He really stands out with his giant tires, rally flag, shiny tailpipes, and steer horns. You can just tell Biggs dreams of being a race star — and he gets plenty of practice racing against Chuck.

BOOMER: Did you ever think a fire truck could be shy? Boomer is big, and he can be loud, but he needs Chuck around to pull him out of his shiny red shell. He may need a push to join in an adventure, but Boomer always jumps into action when it's time to help a friend. His sirens blare and his lights flash — so you'd never guess that Boomer is really a quiet guy at heart.

DIGGER: Digger is the strong, silent type of front-loader of Hispanic descent, happy to let his powerful scooper and backhoe do the talking for him. For the most part, he’s content to let others make the plans and just follow along, but he’s not without opinions. Digger is smart, gentle and considerate – He’d never use his great strength in anger. He’s also level-headed and surprisingly graceful for a truck of his size. Digger is completely, one hundred percent reliable. If he sets out to get something done, you can bet that he will, even if he’s up until the milk trucks make their rounds.

HANDY: Handy is the “get it done” fully-loaded tool truck, who’s so fully loaded, he’s never quite sure of exactly what he has on board. He is a creative, inventive sort who’s up for anything, which makes him very simpatico with Chuck. He is always ready to use his Handy hook which enables him to do just about anything. He’s also very encouraging, quick to note the gifts his friends have, even if they don’t, and to suggest to them ways they might think outside the box to use them. Handy is also very generous, willing to loan anyone any of his tools…After all, he probably has a spare inside himself somewhere!

ROWDY: Rowdy the garbage truck has no clue that he’s smelly, loud, a little clumsy and completely excitable – and probably wouldn’t care if he did know! He’s a big, energetic, physical teddy bear who loves to collect off things, is eager to please, and even more eager to join in the fun, leaving a trail of garbage behind. Comments about his stench or the commotion he causes roll right off his back. Rowdy is proud of the things that make him uniquely him, and he’s not going to change for anyone…then he wouldn’t be himself. That sense of individuality makes him one of Chuck’s favorite people.

SOKU: If you hear the latest hot tune coming from over that hill, you better get ready, because that means Soku is on his way! And every time Soku comes to visit, this slick custom car has something new to pop out of his sunroof and show off – a new stereo, a new chrome hitch, a new gear rack, or a new paint job. He is a born show-off who always knows the latest and greatest of everything. One thing Soku is definitely not into is getting dirty – Hey, it’s not easy looking this awesome! Lucky for Soku, his vanity is endearing and he is extremely tech-savvy, knowing how every latest gadget on the market works. If he’s behind on a trend – or on something he thinks might be a trend – he works tirelessly until he is the undisputed expert…and sometimes his knowledge comes in very handy!

There’s also Haulie, Porter and Rally (who is Chuck’s older brother the race car truck).

GIVEAWAY: I’m happy to announce that I have been provided with one copy of The Adventures of Chuck & Friends: Friends to the Finish to giveaway to one of my readers! So be sure to fill out the form and enter below for your chance to win!

Just click the “Read More” button to enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter below.

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Disclosure: I was provided with a copy of The Adventures of Chuck & Friends: Friends to the Finish for review. All opinions posted are my own and no monetary compensation was provided.

DownEast Basics Blog Mixer- Southcenter

2012-02-09T17:35:00.001-08:00

As many of you know I’ve written quite a few things on my blog about DownEast Basics. I started shopping at DownEast Basics when I lived in Southeastern Idaho and was so excited when they announced they’d be opening one here in the local mall near my house. On Monday, February 6th I had the opportunity to attend a blog mixer at DownEast Basics where I met some great local bloggers and got to see many new things from their new February catalog. What a great night of socializing and shopping it was!

Most of you know I’m pregnant and getting quite bit – I’m 7 1/2 months along, however I’ve still been wearing some of my favorite pieces of clothing from DownEast Basics. I just love the modest styles at an affordable price without sacrificing fashion. Just because they’re modest doesn’t mean they don’t have some really cute stuff! Some of my clothes might be a little stretched out by the time I’m not pregnant but I love the tunic styles and dresses that have accommodated my growing belly by simply going up a size or two.

Not only do I shop at DownEast Basics for myself but they also have the cutest little girl’s clothing and I’m excited to announce that this year for the first time they have come out with a line of little girl’s swimwear that is adorable!! I had to resist from buying one for each of my girls because it just wasn’t in my budget for the night – although still a great price at $29.99 – $32.99.

Since this was my night out I splurged on myself and bought the new Adriatic Tunic in the Quarry Stripe pattern – ($26.99 retail) and the Oceanfront Dress in Soft Blue ($39.99 retail). DownEast Basics also carries one of my favorite items- tees and camis that I buy simply to wear under my clothes to either make my shirts longer, add sleeves or with a boat neck top.

In the picture above I’m wearing the Adriatic Tunic the white demi tee underneath that you can sort of see poking out at the neckline (the demi tee is a half tee style that only covers my top- making it nice for my growing preggo belly to not feel too tight under my clothes) and one of their cute belts.

While their selection of little girl’s clothing is small they have a wide variety of women’s choices from fashion tops, sweaters, tees, camis, dresses, swimwear, jeans, accessories and more! Their sizes range from XXS to XXL which is the equivalent to like a size 0-16. Their girls sizes are available from 2-14.

When I shopped they were having a great in-store sale on select fashion tops and sweaters priced at $20 which meant that the Adriatic Tunic I purchased was on sale from it’s original $26.99 to $20. Now it looks like they are offering an in-store and online special of 30% off fashion tops and sweaters- just use the promo code SPRING online to redeem, their accessories are also 30% off with the promo code SAVENOW.

If you’re local to Tukwila, WA be sure to stop in the store at the Westfield Southcenter Mall on the ground level near the Apple Store and Gap and check out these cute new styles for Spring and say hi to their very friendly staff!

Disclosure: A special thanks to DownEast Basics for coordinating this blog mixer event. I was compensated with a gift card for attending and posting about it on my blog.

Bertolli Meal Soups- Mealtimes Made Special #BertolliMealSoup

2012-02-09T13:55:00.001-08:00

I’m a mom of three little girls and 7 1/2 months pregnant. My kids all keep me on my toes and busy, especially my older two who are in school and have all kinds of activities going on. We really have tried in our family to make mealtime a special time where we sit down together as a family and eat. Generally do a pretty good job but oftentimes I struggle to figure out what to make that everyone will enjoy and won’t take too long to prepare. I really hate being on my feet in the kitchen for too long late in the afternoon because it seems to be the time of day that I’m just worn out.

I know I’d be perfectly content pulling out a can of soup but when it comes to kids it seems there’s just no pleasing and a can of soup won’t satisfy my husband. A can of soup is just plain boring too, there’s really nothing fun or special about it so I was excited to get to try Bertolli’s Frozen Meal Soup. I hesitate at frozen products, even though they are usually quick, easy and convenient I often find them lacking in flavor and quality of ingredients. I chose the Roasted Chicken & Rotini Pasta and was pleasantly surprised by the real veggies. The soup was packed full of white meat chicken, zucchini, yellow squash, carrots, tomatoes and pasta. I decided to have the kids help with the preparation of the dinner and setting the table so they would feel more involved. This was the perfect meal to do that with because it was quick and simple to prepare and didn’t involve too many directions.

My eight year old was put in charge of helping prepare the actual soup while the 6 year old and 3 year old got to choose where everyone was sitting at the table, a huge deal in our house, and the dishes we used. They love their colored bowls but sometimes fight over who gets what color so the fact that they go to pick was a big deal and they had to work together to decide who would get what. They thought name tags would be a great idea too so there was no confusion when we went to sit down, so I wrote them up for them and my 6 year old got to cut them out while the 3 year old chose where they would go. It was great to see them working as a team without fighting- this in and of itself made mealtime special for me!

I knew a bowl of soup wouldn’t cut it with my husband so I had my 8 year old help make a quick Cesar salad and added a loaf of French bread to our meal both really easy and simple items that helped make it just a little more substantial and special. For the soup all we had to do was pour the bag of ingredients into the pan, add a cup of water, wait for it to boil then let simmer for 5 minutes and serve – super easy, it really can’t get any better than that! The bag of soup said it included 2 servings however we were able to feed two both my husband and I and our three kids with a little leftover so it would have easily served 4 adults as long as you weren’t just eating soup. The flavor was great! My kids thought it was kind of a fancy chicken noodle soup, but to me it was so much more. I loved the heartiness of the chicken and vegetables and while the broth was thin it was still filling. This probably isn’t something I’d purchase for an everyday meal because my local grocery store wanted $7 .99 for a bag and honestly the taste was similar to Progresso soup that’s quite a bit cheaper. However, this frozen soup really makes a great once in a while special treat!

Bertolli Frozen Meal Soups can be found in the frozen food section at your local grocery store in four different varieties, Chicken Minestrone, Roasted Chicken & Rotini Pasta, Tomato Florentine & Tortellini with Chicken, and Tuscan-Style Beef with Vegetables. I can’t wait to try some of the others!

My Top 3 Tips to make mealtime special:

If you have kids let them help you prepare the food
Nametags for each person at the table- let the kids choose the seating arrangement- mixing it up is always fun.
Add side dishes that are simple and easy but spice it up- like a Cesar salad (we normally have a regular house) or bread – change up your normal routine.

Oh and don’t forget the dessert!! We ended up with a yummy pan of fudgy brownies with vanilla ice cream.

More about the Bertolli Meal Soups:

Bertolli® Frozen Meal Soups are hearty and fresh-tasting with vegetables, meats, pasta and herbs individually flash frozen at the peak of freshness.Bertolli® Frozen Meal Soups are available in the frozen aisle, and can be prepared on your stovetop in minutes.
With robust flavors and rich textures, new Bertolli® Frozen Meal Soups are available in four varieties: Chicken Minestrone, Roasted Chicken & Rotini Pasta, Tomato Florentine & Tortellini with Chicken, and Tuscan-Style Beef with Vegetables.

For more information on Bertolli products you can check them out on Facebook, Twitter and their Website.

Disclosure: I was compensated by Bertolli to participate in the Weeknight Meal Special Challenge.

Blo & Go {Great Exclusive Coupon Deal}

2012-02-09T10:54:00.001-08:00

Recreate the same great look you get at the salon every day at home with ease! The Blo & Go, as seen on TV holds your hair dryer so you don’t have to! Benefits include:

Great for styling long, short, straight or curly hair
Dry & style the back of your hair with ease
Completely portable, so it goes with you anywhere
Holds virtually any blow dryer

Additional information: www.bloandgo.com

Enjoy an exclusive Facebook offer from Blo & Go- the amazing hands free blow dryer.

Deal: $5 off your online order

Date: Monday, February 13, 2012

Original Price: $29.95 + S&H

www.facebook.com/bloandgo

Contours- This Baby’s Got it All–Re-launch!

2012-02-09T10:27:00.001-08:00

All of you moms or those of you who are expecting will be excited to hear that Kolcraft is re-launching their Contours brand with a new look and some SUPER exciting products! Be sure to check out the launch of their new Facebook page for Contours Baby HERE.

Contours Re-launch Info:

The look of the Contours name and logo just got an exciting new makeover! It’s still the same trusted baby gear you’ve grown to love, along with a few new exciting editions throughout 2012.

The fresh look of the C with the open O inside represents the tender embrace of a parent and child. As parents ourselves, we understand the importance of embracing the everyday moments with your child. Whether you are exploring the world with your child using our stroller’s reversible seat or your newborn baby is nestled near you in our bassinet’s removable Moses Basket, Contours is there for your special moments.

At Contours, we are committed to providing parents and grandparents with innovative designs that fit your family’s ever changing needs. The options our strollers and bassinets provide you easily fit into your lifestyle and allow you to give your baby everything. Don’t be surprised if the next time you’re strolling down the street you hear someone say “That baby’s got it all.”

Contours. This baby’s got it all.

Love Is In The Air {Giveaway Event} February 1 -7th

2012-02-08T05:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Giveaway Love is in the Air, sponsored by The Maven of Social Media. We all love a great giveaway and what’s better than one that comes from the heart? Make your way through the linky and enter to win prizes full of love, romance and friendship! All prize packages are valued at $25 or more!

Make sure to enter the Grand Prize Giveaway to have a beautiful bouquet of flowers delivered to you or the recipient of your choice. The Maven of Social Media is sponsoring one Sunshine Valentine Romance Bouquet to a reader of one of the participating blogs! You can enter to win the Sunshine Valentine Romance Bouquet here.

But don’t run off yet- I’ve also got two great sponsors who have donated prizes to this giveaway event that you can enter to win below!

GIVEAWAY PRIZE 1: Thanks to Pure Pearls they are one of our sponsors for the Love is in the Air Giveaway Event and have graciously offered one of my blog readers the opportunity to win their own Freshwater Pearls Bracelet.

Growing up I always wanted a nice pair of pearls, earrings, necklace and bracelet set. I mean forget the diamonds, they’re nice but pearls to me always had a look of sophistication. Pure Pearls sent me a Freshwater Pearls bracelet which I found absolutely exquisite! These pearls are so delicate and classy and complete any outfit whether it’s casual or dressy. If you love pearls but are looking for a budget price then you have to head to Pure Pearls and check out their selection. They have a huge selection of fine, quality pearls available at wholesale prices.

I won’t pretend to be the know it all when it comes to educating you on pearls including their origins, types, colors, overtones, sizes and identification but Pure Pearls has a great page on their site called Pearl Education that will do just that!

I was sent the White Freshwater Pearl Bracelet, 7.0-8.0mm that retails for only $75 but included an appraisal certificate with a value of $375. The bracelet measures a standard 7.5 inches, but can be customized to fit any wrist. Each of their pearl bracelets are individually hand-knotted on twinned silk, and arrive in their Signature Little Black Gift Box, accompanied by a GIA Graduate Prepared Appraisal.

If you’re looking for a great Valentine’s day gift for your special loved one, Pure Pearls is definitely the place to shop. They have a wide variety of beautiful necklaces, earrings, pendants and pearl sets.

GIVEAWAY PRIZE 2: One of my lucky readers will receive a Valentine’s Gift package of coffee including the following: (Retail Value $43.80)

Valentine's Day Coffee: An Affectionate Blend
Country Morning Coffee: A Leisurely Breakfast Blend
Beach Blend Coffee: A Mellow Mocha Java
Wide Awake Coffee: A Bold and Zesty Premium Blend

Proving that their coffee LOOKS as good as it tastes, Winchell Mountain Coffee is pleased to introduce their exclusive Sandra Boynton Coffee Collection -- witty, playful and smile-inducing on the outside, caffeine-fueled bliss on the inside. A beloved cartoonist and children's book author for well over 40 years, Sandra Boynton's wry humor and legendary characters are perfectly matched with 15 varieties of hand roasted coffees with names like "Expresso Overdrive," "Not a Morning Person," and "Bob's Diner."

To celebrate cupid's favorite holiday, Winchell Mountain Coffee is sharing some caffeinated love with a limited edition Viennese roast "Valentine's Day: An Affectionate Blend." A great gift idea for the coffee fanatic, "Valentine's Day" and the entire Sandra Boynton Collection is available in markets and cafes across the country and online at www.winchellmountaincoffee.com.

They use beans from all around the world and will not accept a shipment until that harvest has been sampled repeatedly, both in its raw green form and in its roasted form.
With these carefully selected beans, they create exclusive blends like the more rare single origin coffees called yrgacheffe. Yrgacheffe is a region of Ethiopia and rumored to be where the first coffee bean came from.
They roast their coffee in the old old-world tradition, only utilizing heat and hands
They are obsessed with quality and will throw entire roasts away if the beans are not sampled perfectly.
One-way goglio valve bags vacuum pack the beans so consumers are guaranteed the absolute freshness. Using this technology there is no air whatsoever entering the beans to spoil their integrity so the bags have a healthy shelf life of up to six months.

Winchell Mountain Coffee website offers information about their coffee, their roasting process and orders can also be accepted here: http://www.winchellmountaincoffee.com/

Thanks to both of our sponsors for this event and everyone who has put in so much hard work to make this giveaway event possible!

Just click the “Read More” button to enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter below.

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I HEART MINNIE {Release, Fun Activities, Review & GIVEAWAY}

2012-02-07T10:24:00.001-08:00

Today the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse gang is getting together for a special celebration of Minnie Mouse’s birthday and releasing the new Disney’s Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: I Heart Minnie. Packed with five fun-filled episodes as well as an all new bonus feature “You’re Invited to Minnie’s Birthday Party!” Two Best Friend necklaces are also included with this DVD, a great gift to give to that special someone on Valentine’s Day!

Follow along and Celebrate Minnie’s Birthday

MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE: I HEART MINNIE
Available On DVD with Digital Copy, February 7, 2012

Don’t let the party start without you!

The five classic episodes include:

Minnie & Daisy’s Flower Shower (All-New, Never-Before-Seen) - The botanical highlight of the year is in trouble, unless Minnie and Daisy can get their flowers to bloom! Together, they board the glove balloon to help coax the clouds to sprinkle much needed rain.
Daisy’s Dance -Clap your hands and tap your feet! Join Daisy, as she gets ready for one of the most important events of her life––performing in the big talent show!
Daisy’s Pet Project - The Pet Parade is almost here and Daisy needs to find the perfect animal for which she can love and care. But it’s not as easy as she thinks and soon she has three new friends: an elephant named Bubbles, a giraffe called Longfellow and a bunny called Captain Jumps-a-lot!
Minnie’s Rainbow - After a brightly colored rainbow appears over the clubhouse, Minnie searches for the pot of gold that’s supposed to be at its end. Along the way, she meets a leprechaun and discovers that not all treasure turns out to be as she expected!
Minnie’s Birthday – Today is Minnie’s birthday, but the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse friends need to set up her birthday party.

Review: My three year old absolutely LOVES Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and while we don’t want much television in our house she loves playing on Disney Junior online and is always extra excited when we get these Mickey Mouse Clubhouse DVD’s. I love that Disney always combines an element of learning with an element of fun and what could be better than a whole DVD of episodes dedicated to Minnie Mouse?! Minnie Mouse is my all-time favorite Disney character so I even took the time to sit down with my daughter and watch these episodes. Of course when my two older girls (8 and 6 1/2 year old) came home from school and saw the DVD we had to watch it all over again. Minnie’s Birthday had to be my favorite episode on the DVD because it was all about getting prepared for Minnie’s party and then ends with a big party just for Minnie! I did however really like the Minnie & Daisy Flower Shower episode also and felt special that it was an all-new, never-before seen episode. The bright colors, fun sounds, audience interaction and music just make this DVD a perfect addition to Disney’s great collection of fun! This will definitely be one that is played over and over again in our house and I would suggest picking a copy up for your kids as a special treat for Valentine’s Day!

GIVEAWAY: But wait don’t leave yet- one of my readers is going to win their own copy of the I Heart Minnie DVD.

Just click the “Read More” button to enter the giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I did receive a copy of the DVD reviewed but no monetary compensation was received for this posting.

Umi Special 24-Hour Sale!

2012-02-07T09:50:00.001-08:00

Sprint 4 Day Sale- Online Only! {2/5 - 2/8}

2012-02-06T18:00:00.001-08:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Sprint for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Are you looking for a new cell phone service provider or are you one of those people who don't have a cell phone? I know it seems weird that there might be people out there who don't have cell phones or cell phone service but I know of at least a few people who don't have them. But wait you don't have to be a new customer to take advantage of this great deal- just keep reading for the great details below!

Sprint is having a great 4 day online only sale for those who open a new line of service. So this means you'll want to jump on this one quick!

GREAT DEAL #1:

You can get the Nexus S™ 4G for FREE when you open a new line of service or add to your account- which means you don't have to be a new customer to take advantage of this great deal!

Nexus S™ 4G @ FREE online only savings ($50 MIR converts to instant + $99.99 web only savings).

GREAT DEAL #2:

You can get the HTC EVO™ 3D for only $49.99 when you open a new line of service or add to your account- another great one where you don't have to be a new customer to take advantage of this! Yes Sprint also likes to reward their great customers.

HTC EVO™ 3D @ $49.99 online only savings ($50 MIR converts to instant + $50 web only savings)

You can also get your activation fee waived for new lines of service and free shipping on sprint.com.

Tiny Prints- FREE Valentine’s Day Card

2012-02-06T10:16:00.001-08:00

Just head on over to Tiny Prints Facebook today for your FREE Valentine’s Day Card!

As a thank you for “liking” their page they are providing their fans with a FREE personalized Valentine’s Day greeting card with free shipping or just the cost of a stamp!