Valentines from Peaceable Kingdom

From KidStuff PR:  Try some different and innovative Valentine’s Day card packs with Valentines from Peaceable Kingdom. They’re new Super Valentine Fun Packs and they come with 28 Valentines and are $13 each. Kids can choose from 12 styles, including scratch-and-sniff styles, like Stinky Bug or Chocolate, or choose activity-filled packs, including fold-up paper airplanes or temporary tattoos! They’re sure to be a hit in the classroom!

They also make “traditional” Valentines for the classroom, with 20 fold-and-seal cards in four designs with 48 stickers for only $5.00. 14 styles to choose from, like Big Dig or Dinosaurs, or Mermaid or Cupcake!

My take:  Back in June, I was introduced to Peaceable Kingdom when we reviewed one of their cooperative games.  Now they've got new products in the form of Valentines!  As you may know, we've been struggling like most of America and so we were on the hunt for affordable Valentine's Day cards for school, that would still be considered "cool" enough for the kids to give to their friends.  So we were excited to see these awesome sets that fit the bill perfectly!  We received the following two sets to check out:

Scratch and Sniff Chocolate Super Valentine Fun Pack

Super Valentine Fun Pack

Details: Ages 5+ 8 1/2" x 9 1/2" x 1 1/2" tote $13.00 Includes: 28 Chocolate-Scented cards 7 each of 4 designs 28 envelopes	Why boys and girls love this item: Scratch me! I smell like Chocolate. Happy Valentine's Day!
© 2012 Peaceable Kingdom

Airplanes Super Valentine Fun Pack

Super Valentine Fun Pack

Details: Ages 4+ 8 1/2" x 9 1/2" x 1 1/2" tote $13.00 Includes: 28 paper airplane valentines 7 each of 4 designs 28 envelopes 28 stickers	Why boys love this item: Cards that fly for a supersonic Valentine's Day!
© 2012 Peaceable Kingdom

We got started right away (I asked the teachers for a class list early).  My daughter eagerly penned the names of her classmates on the chocolate ones (which really smell like chocolate - her favorite thing in life) and my son turned out the airplane ones for his friends (there is a punch-out paper airplane with instructions in each Valentine that really fly) - he loved these because he is forever making paper airplanes out of every piece of paper he can lay his hands on {please excuse my daughter's Donald Trump hair...it's been a long day, LOL}.

These Valentine Super Fun Packs were a hit in our house!  To get your own this year, hurry over to
www.peaceablekingdom.com  to order.  They've got 12 Super Fun Packs and 14 traditional "fold-and-seal cards with stickers."  Be sure to visit them on Facebook as well to keep up with all their latest news and products.

ABOUT PEACEABLE KINGDOM: Peaceable Kingdom was founded in 1983 with a single product – a children’s poster based on the artwork from the classic children’s book Goodnight Moon (printed by the son of the book’s illustrator). Twenty-eight years and more than 5,000 SKUs later, the company has grown to be a leader in juvenile stickers Peaceable Kingdom’s mission is to make good, do good, and be good. Which means: to create fresh, fun, award-winning products that educate, inspire, and tickle funny bones, to donate to charitable organizations that support the well-being of children, to remain committed to socially-conscious manufacturing practices and sustainable and eco-friendly materials, to maintain integrity in all business relationships and to support the people who support us! The Peaceable Kingdom philosophy – come into the kingdom and join the fun! Visit www.peaceablekingdom to learn more.

This review was sponsored by

KidStuff Public Relations

P.S.:  Be sure to check out my new fan page for Did You See That? on Facebook! 


(Facebook rules do not allow giveaway entries for "Liking" Facebook pages)

This post was written for Peaceable Kingdom and KidStuff PR who provided the Valentines for review. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary Valentine's (a USD $26.00 value).  

My opinions are my own.

Thank you

 

for your

January is always very busy for me at my "real job" as a CPA.  Thank you for hanging in with me as it takes me a little longer to get the books read, and movies watched for review!

"Let Us In" Nashville - A Tribute To Linda McCartney

"LET US IN" NASHVILLE - A TRIBUTE TO LINDA McCARTNEY

(Cover Art by Peter Max)

From the PR Firm: The Women and Cancer Fund is a not-for-profit charity led by Dr. Alicia Alvarez and established in the memory of Linda McCartney. Sir Paul McCartney has given his "whole-hearted blessing" to "Let Us In" Nashville, a campaign led by Reviver Music to raise awareness and proceeds for this charity which promotes prevention, lifestyle awareness, enhances available health services and advocates advanced breast cancer and children's cancer research.


On Monday, November 7th a special benefit concert was held at Nashville's legendary Ryman Auditorium. The "Let Us In" Nashville benefit kicked off CMA Week in appropriate fashion, and was hosted by actor/musician Jeff Daniels who also performed at the event. The concert featured performances by Sarah Darling, SHeDAISY, Steel Magnolia, Phil Vassar, Cheyenne Kimball, Juliana Cole, Jeff Daniels, Nikki Shannon Fernandez, Jordyn Shellhart, Chuck Wicks, Nancy Sirianni, Samantha Landrum, and Blue Sky Riders. Each artist performed an original version of a Sir Paul McCartney song, as well as songs from their respective catalog. 


Performers for the "Let Us In" event, along with several other artists who are unable to attend the live show have each contributed their original version of a Sir Paul McCartney song for an album that will also benefit The Women and Cancer Fund. Monday, November 21 saw the release of the charity-based collection "Let Us In" Nashville - A Tribute To Linda McCartney, via Reviver Music and distributed by BDG/RED Distribution. The "Let Us In" benefit event was also filmed and recorded for a live DVD release.


The following artists (alphabetical order) and songs will comprise the tribute album:


Blue Sky Riders (Kenny Loggins, Georgia Middleman and Gary Burr) - "Junk"
Juliana Cole - "Bluebird"
Jeff Daniels - "Heart Of The Country"
Sarah Darling - "Blackbird"
Tommy Emmanuel - "She's A Woman"
Nikki Shannon Fernandez - "I Saw Her Standing There"
Cheyenne Kimball - "Mull Of Kintyre"
Samantha Landrum - "Pipes Of Peace"
Timothy B. Schmit, Mark Hudson, Laurence Juber, Denny Seiwell - "Every Night"
Ricky Skaggs - "Listen To What The Man Said"
SHeDAISY - "With A Little Luck"
Jordyn Shellhart - "I Will"
Nancy Siranni - "Calico Skies"
Steel Magnolia - "Maybe I'm Amazed"
Phil Vassar - "Lady Madonna"
Chuck Wicks - "No More Lonely Nights"


The social action agenda of The Women and Cancer Fund and the ongoing mission of Reviver Music are dearly expressed via the "Let Us In" Campaign. The words "Let Us In" were designed as a battle-cry and a poignant declaration stating emphatically that women with cancer will not be spectators of their own life.

The Women and Cancer Fund | Reviver Music | Facebook

My take:  The first time I listened to this album all the way through, I thought "Ugh! How awful! Nothing like the original songs at all." Then I realized I wasn't being very fair to the artists.  It can't be easy to step up and re-record a song as originally sung and penned by a true music legend.  So I gave it a listen again, this time with an open mind and heart.  And I was blown away.  From the bluesy "Lady Madonna" as interpreted by Phil Vassar to the soulful Sarah Darling's "BlackBird," I can't get enough of this album. Jordyn Shellhart's "I Will" is my absolute favorite (or maybe Nancy Sirianni's "Calico Skies"). Let me tell you, I've literally listened to this album on repeat for weeks now while commuting too and from work. And the fact that sales help fund breast cancer research? A true bonus.


The giveaway:  Win your own copy of "Let Us In" Nashville - A Tribute To Linda McCartney!"

To win: Leave me a comment telling me your favorite Beatles song.  Be sure to leave your email address with your comment if you are not a blogger or your email is not easily found on your blog. This giveaway is open until 11:59 p.m., EST, Thursday, January 26, 2012. Good Luck!

Bonus entries: Get up to 8 extra entries for a total of 9 entries (please leave a separate comment for each extra entry):

• Blog about this giveaway (don't forget to leave the link in your comment)

• Share this giveaway on any of your Social Networking sites (like Twitter and/or Facebook) and come back here with a link to your post/tweet (you can have up to two entries - be sure to leave 2 comments and if you tweet, include @CPAMom in your tweet)

• Follow me on Twitter (leave a comment with your twitter id)
• Subscribe to my blog via RSS or Email

• Add my blog to your blogroll or my button to your sidebar (leave your website address for verification)

• On Technorati - click on this link, then on Fan or Fav

• Follow me on Google Friend Connect

P.S.:  Be sure to check out my new fan page for Did You See That? on Facebook!

P.P.S.: New Facebook rules do not allow contest entries for "Liking" facebook pages.

This review was sponsored by 'stache media who provided the CDs for review and giveaway. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary CD.  My opinion is my own.

Zeke Bartholomew, Superspy (review and giveaway)

Zeke Bartholomew: Superspy!

By: Jason Pinter

Reading level: Ages 9 and up

Paperback: 256 pages

Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky; 

Original edition (November 1, 2011)

Language: English

From the back of the book: It all started on a day like any other.


The sun rose. I had waffles for breakfast. I caught my dad SCRATCHING HIS BUTT. It
was a rerun of pretty much every day of my life. But late that night, EVERYTHING CHANGED…


One minute I’m digging through my neighbor's garbage looking for clues (long story), and the next minute I'm KIDNAPPED BY GOONS and MISTAKEN FOR A SPY.


You might think everything I'm about to tell you is a big lie. But I promise you that THIS IS ALL TRUE. This is how the fate of the world fell into the hands of an UNIMPORTANT DORKY KID FROM NOWHERESVILLE.

From the PR Firm:   NOTE FROM CPA MOM - this was so funny, I had to include the email in it's entirely for you - it really gives you a feel for the tone of the book!

Greetings! Zeke Bartholomew here, ahem, I should say, Zeke Bartholomew, Superspy. I wanted to give you lucky readers the chance to review my (totally awesome) new book. This guy named Jason Pinter (who’s actually kind of a big deal already) approached me a while back and asked if he could write my story. My story is actually also kind of a big deal. So I said yes. I mean, the guy’s a bestselling author of adult thrillers! Clearly he knows what he’s doing. His books have been published in over a dozen languages and sold hundreds of thousands of copies around the world. He’s a columnist for the Huffington Post Books section, and Mashable.com named him one of the top 100 authors to follow on Twitter. If anyone is going to write the Zeke Bartholomew story, it’s him. And here it is! Zeke Bartholomew: Superspy. Great title, right? (I thought of it myself.) This book is the story of how my life changed forever. How I went from being Super Nerd to Superspy (sorry, I had to use that line). Before this happened I was just your average bottom feeder— geektastic and totally below the social radar. I dreamed of being a spy, all cool and suave like James Bond, and one day I got my wish. Well, sort of. First, I had to get kidnapped, hunted by a lava-powered giant, keep up with this crazy butt-kicking girl who goes by the codename “Sparrow” and oh yeah, save the kids of the world from being turned into brainwashed zombie minions by the hottest tween pop band ever (no, not Justin Bieber, but don’t think I didn’t check.) This book is the first in a series—how cool is that? Jason wanted to write about more of my adventures (which are still happening, every day) and Sourcebooks wanted to publish them (thanks guys!) so the Superspying doesn’t end here! (sorry, had to use it) I’m back in Spring 2012! So yeah, um, I guess that’s it. Please, please, please read my book, and please review it!


Zeke Bartholomew: Superspy!


This is Jason Pinter’s debut middle grade novel and he’s super excited—it would be really great if it was as big a success as his other books have been. The fate of my series rests in your hands! (sorry, had to use it)


Sincerely,
Zeke Bartholomew: Superspy (sorry)

My take:  As you, my loyal readers know, I'm a big fan of Young Adult Fiction.  I always have been, ever since I, well, since I WAS a Young Adult.  I might have grown up but I still love to read the same stories I read in middle and high school.  Good writing transcends the ages anyway - to pigeonhole a story to one age group does it injustice I think, IMHO.  Anyway. let me tell you about Zeke Bartholomew, Superspy.  This book, if you will excuse the pun, is SUPER fun.  To start with, the description on the back ("I caught my dad SCRATCHING HIS BUTT.") made my 9 year old boy laugh out loud (me too!). I quickly dived into the story and was immediately hooked.  With current (on the sly) references to other great books and authors (like the awesome Percy Jackson series, Harry Potter and the indelible James Bond), any reader can relate to Zeke Bartholomew and his adventures (and tell me the truth - doesn't that villain on the cover look JUST a bit like the one in Austin Powers? Hmmmm, LOL).  It was really fun to ride along with the self described "medium everything" as he discovered his inner spy.  I don't want to give anything away here, but suffice to say, this is a series I will be keeping up with.  And as soon as my son finishes the book he is reading, he's starting this one next!


About the Author: Jason Pinter is the author of five novels with 1.5 million copies in print in many languages, most of which he cannot read. As a child, he was only slightly less qualified to be a spy than Zeke Bartholomew. You can find him living in New York City buried under a pile of books. This is his first juvenile fiction book.

The giveaway: Win your very own copy of  Zeke Bartholomew, Superspy!

To win: Leave me a comment telling me the name of another of Jason Pinter's books! Be sure to leave your email address with your comment if you are not a blogger or your email is not easily found on your blog. This giveaway is open until 11:59 p.m., EST, Wednesday, January 25, 2012. Good Luck!

Bonus entries: Get up to 8 extra entries for a total of 9 entries (please leave a separate comment for each extra entry):

• Blog about this giveaway (don't forget to leave the link in your comment)
• Share this giveaway on any of your Social Networking sites (like Twitter and/or Facebook) and come back here with a link to your post/tweet (you can have up to two entries - be sure to leave 2 comments) Be sure to include "@CPAMom" with your tweet.
• Follow me on Twitter (leave a comment with your twitter id) (you can use the yellow button on the top right sidebar)
• Subscribe to my blog via RSS or Email (see top right sidebar)
• Add my button to your sidebar (leave your website address for verification)
• Fan or Fav me on Technorati (or use the purple box link on the top right sidebar)
• Follow me on Blogger using Google Friend Connect (see right sidebar)

This post was written for Sourcebooks, Inc. who provided the books for review and giveaway. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary book. My opinion is my own.

P.S.:  Be sure to check out my new fan page for Did You See That? on Facebook!


(Facebook rules do not allow giveaway entries for "Liking" Facebook pages)

SpongeBob's Surf and Skate Roadtrip (XBox Kinect and Nintendo DS)

SpongeBob's Surf and Skate Roadtrip

Product Details: 

Media: Video Game

Release Date: November 8, 2011

Available for XBox Kinect ($49.95) and Nintendo DS ($29.95)

Product Features:  SpongeBob and his very best Bikini Bottom pal, Patrick, just got back from a bodacious boarding trip. With mondo waves, winding waterways and righteous ramps left behind with the sand and surf, it's no wonder SpongeBob and Patrick want to share their crazy roadtrip memories with you. As SpongeBob gets the slideshow ready and Patrick pops some popcorn, ask yourself one question — are you ready to relive the adventure and put your awesome boarding skills to the test?

Synopsis: For the first time ever, step into the square pants of SpongeBob in SpongeBob's Surf and Skate Roadtrip. In Story mode, you'll relive their roadtrip to the beach and experience fantastic, arcade-style gameplay. Move on to Challenge mode to visit a never-before-seen world with your best pal, Patrick. Go head-to-head with a friend in two-player split-screen gameplay that gives you a chance to show off awesome tricks and mind-blowing stunts. With seven challenges to face and 12 sublime environments to discover, you'll have to stay on top of your game — and the board — to prove you're the best boarder around.

Key Features:

• Grab a board and head for the beach in this seaside adventure with SpongeBob and Patrick
• Ride righteous waves and face down gnarly ramps as you put your boarding skills to the test
• Relive SpongeBob and Patrick's wacky roadtrip through slideshows that lead into awesome arcade-style gameplay in Story mode
• Become SpongeBob as you explore a never-before-seen world with Patrick in the freestyle Challenge mode
• Board through 12 stunning environments, six for each sport, as you master your skateboarding and surfing skills
• Complete fun challenges, including Flag, Timed and Score Runs
• Compete with a variety of boards and earn more as you become a better rider
• Take on a friend in two-player split-screen gameplay that challenges you to perform the best stunts

Product Description: Grab your board. Carve it up! Hit the sand and surf with SpongeBob and his best pal, Patrick, for some super boarding escapades! Ride mondo waves and winding waterways, and skate gnarly seaside streets and ramps for hours of challenges that'll test your awesome boarding skills. SpongeBob's Surf & Skate Roadtrip is non-stop action features 2 modes of play: Story and Challenge. In Story Mode, SpongeBob and Patrick relive their crazy road trip to the beach through slideshows leading into arcade-style play. Freestyle your way through Challenge Mode as you, SpongeBob and his bodacious Bikini Bottom buddy explore a brand new never-before-seen world.

 

My take:  (Well, really my kiddo's take)  My kiddos both have a DSi from Nintendo - we let them get one each when we got our tax refund back in March.  Any of you with these game players know just how expensive the games can be so I was excited to get this one to review, especially since both my 7 and 9 year old love Spongebob.  Imagine my dismay when first the 9 year old, than the 7 year old, rejected this game.  "Too boring" the 9 year old boy said (not as challenging as the games he typically plays).  "I can't figure it out" said the 7 year old girl (not surprising - she is still learning to read independently and I hear this about a lot of the DSi games she attempts).  So I had a 6 year old boy we were babysitting try it out.  This boy has a Wii at home but has never played a DSi.  Let me tell you, not only did he love the game, he went to town on it!  He kept saying "Look at this Mrs. S!  Look at what I did!"  He was able to figure out how to play it all on his own and really enjoyed the game.  So once again, I have failed at predicting a child's behavior LOL!  If your kiddos like Spongebob and have a Nintendo DS or XBox Kinect, you might want to give this game a try.  I know of at least ONE kid that loved it!

Bonus:  Hide-and-Seek with SpongeBob!

In the trailer clip below, we've hidden silhouettes of SpongeBob. Can you find them all?? We've provided a "hint" image identifying one location complete with timecode to start you out!

For more information, visit:  http://tinyurl.com/SpongeBobSurfSkate

This post was written for Click Communications. I was not compensated in any way except for a complimentary Nintendo DS copy of this game. My opinion is my own.

Therein lies the rub

"Therein lies the rub (old-fashioned): something that you say when you are explaining what the difficulty is in a particular situation."


In November 2007, I started writing reviews for a well known PR firm.  Well, it's well known now, especially on the Mom-Blog scene, but back then, not so much.  In fact, I was one of their very first bloggers.  And I've been an enthusiastic blogger for them ever since.  Their staff has changed quite a bit since the beginning - employees I became quite close to moved on, as is wont to happen in business (no, I'm not missing an apostrophe, check out the link for the definition of wont) - and I haven't a clue who many of them are any more.  With the exception of their CEO, who I have always (and still do) adore.   One of the highlights of my decade was finally meeting her in person as a recent blogging convention (no, not BlogHer - I refuse to go to that debacle ever again).  This CEO has a warm and gracious personality and a huge heart.  She deserves every success she has earned.

Over the years, I've watched as the clients for this firm got bigger and bigger.  And the PR firm grew and grew.  Unfortunately, my little blog here didn't keep up.  In traffic, in notoriety, in pure numbers, I'm no longer in their league.  In December, I sent a letter to that CEO, asking why, after 114 reviews for them, I had not been selected for a review in 8 months.  And received back a response from her staff that basically, I'm no longer relevant.  While "grateful" for my "hard work" and "support," I'm now really a person non grata.  Don't call us, we'll call you.

It's humiliating, to say the least.  I mean, I didn't start this blog to get famous.  I didn't start this blog to get rich or get noticed or become a "super blogger" (in fact, with a few exceptions, most super bloggers I've met are not nice people at all and I've had a few spirit crushing encounters with some that made me want to push them off the nearest cliff).   I started this to review a few products I found interesting and to hopefully get to keep some of them for my kiddos.  We're not rich - we're at the point of relying on friends and the food pantry this year to make it - so the products I've gotten over the years have been a real perk for us.  This little site has provided for many a birthday and Christmas my kids would have otherwise not had.  So to be told (basically) that my best isn't good enough, stings a bit.

So I took the last month off to reassess.  Do I want to continue this blog?  Certainly, the offers I get to review have gotten fewer.  Certainly losing this big PR firm hurts professionally and personally.  Am I any good at this writing thing anyway?  Does anyone even read my posts anymore?  To add to my anxiety, I paid for a ticket to the Reviewers Retreat 2012 already (many, many months ago) and put down a deposit for the room.  Now, unless we get a good tax return (doubtful), I may have to give up that ticket and give up that room (and give up the only family vacation we have planned due to finances).

Well, self doubt aside, I do know I AM A GOOD REVIEW WRITER.  I have a GREAT format for reviews and I DO have people who believe in me.

So, hopefully with you the reader by my side, I'm ready to start again.  I do have a few books and movies I've been asked to review so I'm working on reading and watching them so I can get their reviews up.  And hopefully, we'll get this blog back up on track again.  

Watch me.

Not to increase my traffic.

Not to be noticed.

But to true to myself.

To be ME.

Elfcapades

Let's take a look at what our Elf-Magic elf Adriana and her "boyfriend" Paulie have been up to, shall we?

Going for a ride with a buddy:

"Roasting" marshmallows

Reading Christmas books:

Borrowing Barbie's convertible for a romantic ride and snuggle:

Writing a letter to Santa with her own Christmas wish list:

Playing Harry Potter Uno with friends:

Going "fishin'"

This is how they look when my daughter goes to bed.  Innocent, no?

Playing DSi:

Making snowflakes with my GOOD scissors no one is allowed to use!!!  Bad Adriana!