A personal "memorial" day

Thumper on his 11th birthday

Our family pet died today, Memorial Day, 2010. 

He will be greatly missed.  He was so much more than "just a pet" to us; he was a member of our family.  Please pray for my children as they deal with his loss. 

Uncle Ben’s Whole Grain White Rice

From Mom Central: When preparing homemade meals, we face constant tension between making something healthy and balanced, and making food that our kids will actually eat. How many nights I must have spent at dinnertime battling a picky toddler demanding frozen chicken nuggets instead of a home-cooked chicken dinner, or a tween who just won’t touch “brown” anything, from pasta to bread. So, when Uncle Ben’s created a new Whole Grain White Rice that looks and tastes like white rice, but has all of the benefits of whole grains, I was thrilled.

With the look, taste and texture of white rice, but packed with whole grains (almost a full day’s worth in one serving), Uncle Ben’s new Whole Grain White Rice provides a healthy alternative to plain sides like pasta or potatoes. The rice comes in a variety of flavors from traditional Long Grain to Chicken, Broccoli Cheddar, Taco Style and Sweet Tomato, so you can mix-up meals and still know that you’re getting whole grains on the table. Plus, with a quick 10-minute prep time, Uncle Ben’s Whole Grain White Rice provides a great solution for the nights when jam-packed schedules leave you scrambling for a quick, healthy option. 

To help spread the word about the new Whole Grain White Rice, Uncle Ben’s has partnered with Missy Chase Lapine, author of “The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids’ Favorite Meals.” For Moms struggling to get kids to eat enough fruits, veggies and whole grains, Lapine’s tips and recipes can help sneak nutrition-rich foods into children’s favorite dishes. I love the way she purees items like cauliflower, white beans and tofu so they disappear into food while adding important nutrients.

My take: I have two kids - one eats fairly well and one is the pickiest eater you've ever seen - I can literally count on my fingers the number of food items he will actually eat.  I'm lucky to get ANY food into him, let alone healthy food like whole grains.  That's where Uncle Ben’s Whole Grain White Rice (which looks and tastes like white rice but has the benefits of whole grains) can help.  You see, one of the few foods my picky eater likes for dinner is a bowl of white rice with butter.  Yup, white rice.  The other night, I made Uncle Ben’s Whole Grain White Rice in place of his usual (without saying anything) and served it up.  Can I tell you, he ate the whole bowl without comment - he could not tell the difference!  I definitely will be serving up Uncle Ben’s Whole Grain White Rice from now on! 

The giveaway: Mom Central sent me an Uncle Ben’s Whole Grain White Rice shipment filled with 6 boxes of the new rice and 3 Uncle Ben’s aprons. We tried one box and I donated the other 5 to my church's food bank.  I'll be giving three of you the aprons! US ADDRESS ONLY PLEASE - I'm paying the shipping myself!

To win: Leave a comment here telling me the name of your favorite recipe that you'll be using Uncle Ben’s Whole Grain White Rice in (or if you will serve it by itself).  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,  Friday, June 4, 2010.  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):

• "Like" (used to be "Fan") Mom Central on Facebook and leave a comment on her wall that includes "CPA Mom sent me" (leave a comment here with your FB name-first name only is fine)

• Follow  Mom Central on Twitter (leave a comment here with your twitter id)

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

• Twitter, Stumble or Digg this giveaway

• Subscribe to my blog via RSS or Email (see top left sidebar)

• 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 (or use the green link on the top left sidebar)

• Follow me on Blogger (see top left sidebar)

 

This review was sponsored by

Mom Central

(which means: “I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Uncle Ben’s and received samples (6 boxes of rice) to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central also sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.” )

Nancy Drew’s 80th Anniversary

NANCY DREW CELEBRATES HER 80th BIRTHDAY IN MAY 2010

NANCY DREW MYSTERY STORIES: THE SECRET OF THE OLD CLOCK

80th Anniversary Limited Edition

by Carolyn Keene

Publishers: Grosset and Dunlap

On Sale April 29, 2010

▪ Hardcover

Ages 8 and up / Grades 3 and up

▪ 192 pages

▪ $6.99 / $8.50 CANADA

From the publisher: The original teen girl amateur detective continues to influence generation after generation of young women readers.


Iconic super-sleuth Nancy Drew has dazzled generations of readers with her smart and daring detective skills since her first mystery, The Secret of the Old Clock, was published on April 28, 1930. This May marks the 80th anniversary of the brilliant heroine, whose books are published in 25 languages and have sold more than 65 million copies in the United States and 200 million copies worldwide.


“From the moment Nancy Drew arrived, readers identified with her as a character of substance and intelligence, a character that they could admire and look up to. Her timeless appeal is a credit to the strength of the stories and to Nancy herself—a brilliant young woman considered a feminist and ahead of her time, and an influence to the likes of Hillary Rodham Clinton, Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Sonia Sotomayor, and Diane Sawyer,” said Francesco Sedita, Vice President and Publisher, Grosset & Dunlap.


In celebration of this milestone, Grosset & Dunlap will release a special 80th anniversary limited edition of THE SECRET OF THE OLD CLOCK by Carolyn Keene featuring a new cover.

Originally created by Edward Stratemeyer and the Stratemeyer Syndicate, the Nancy Drew series was an instant success with young readers during the depression and World War II, earning a legion of devoted followers. The first distinctive images of Nancy were created by artist Russell H. Tandy. Under Russell’s design, Nancy evolved into a polished, titian-haired girl whose no-nonsense, classic fashion sense allowed her to solve crimes and look gorgeous doing it.


In 1962, Grosset & Dunlap’s distinctive yellow spine and picture cover format was introduced, and is still to this day the established Nancy Drew calling card on bookshelves all over the world. Grosset & Dunlap continues to publish the original Nancy Drew Mystery Stories, Books 1–56. Since 1980, Simon & Schuster has owned the license for Nancy Drew.

Nancy Drew is a timeless heroine for women young and old, whose influence will undoubtedly continue for years to come. Through both the classic and modern mysteries, her sharp, save-the-day spirit and her infinite gifts as an ingenious and brave crime solver shines through, gaining new readers each day.

Cool Links:
· The Official website for Nancy Drew
· The Nancy Drew Facebook fan page
· Go to www.penguin.com/youngreaders for information on all Penguin Young Readers Group titles.

My take: Once I started reading independently, I'm pretty sure the Nancy Drew series was the first series I read completely.  My school library had them and I diligently checked each book out and devoured it at home.  Nancy Drew was the kind of girl I wanted to be - beautiful, confident and smart, with a devoted best friend (a girl with a boy's name!), father and boyfriend.  I only actually own about 5 of the 56 titles in the original series but dream of one day owning them all so I can read them again for my daughter to read.  I was delighted to discover a used bookstore recently (review to come) that has a literal stockpile of those original yellow sided books in stock so you'll know I'll be back there over and over (Shush! don't tell my husband!) Even though 80 years has passed since the 'birth' of Nancy Drew, she remains as relevant as ever - through her books, my daughter will come to know that it's ok to be a confident and smart woman who can do anything she sets her mind to.  Now read below for a giveaway I sure wish I could have won....

The giveaway: One lucky winner will win the Nancy Drew Prize Pack detailed below, courtesy of Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing! [US ADDRESSES ONLY PLEASE].

Nancy Drew Prize Pack ($60.46 value)

Includes:

· (1 copy) The Secret of the Old Clock 80th Anniversary Limited Edition 

· (1 game) THQ's Nancy Drew: The Model Mysteries for Nintendo DS

· (1 game) Nancy Drew: Warnings at Waverly Academy PC Adventure Game

· (1 charm) Nancy Drew Silhouette Pewter Charm

· (1 copy) Nancy Drew Girl Detective: Secret Sabotage

To win: Leave a comment here telling me your favorite Nancy Drew book.  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, June 3, 2010.  Good Luck!

Bonus entries: Get up to 10 extra entries for a total of 11 entries (please leave a separate comment for each extra entry):

• "Like" (used to be "Fan") Simon and Schuster on Facebook and leave a comment over there "CPA Mom sent me" (leave a comment here with your FB name-first name only is fine)
• "Like" (used to be "Fan") The Nancy Drew Facebook fan page and leave a comment over there "CPA Mom sent me" (leave a comment here with your FB name-first name only is fine)
• Follow Simon and Schuster on Twitter @simonschuster
• Follow Simon and Schuster Teen @simonteen (leave a comment here with your twitter id)
• Blog about this giveaway (don't forget to leave the link in your comment here)
• Twitter, Stumble or Digg this giveaway
• Subscribe to my blog via RSS or Email (see top left sidebar)
• 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 (or use the green link on the top left sidebar)
• Follow me on Blogger (see top left sidebar)

This review was sponsored by the Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing who provided the books for review and the gift package for giveaway. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary books.

Filtrete Healthy Housekeeping

From Mom Central: When it comes to cleaning, it often seems like I barely have time to tackle the stacks of dirty dishes and piles of laundry let alone the rest of the house. But with allergies at an all time high this year, making sure I cover all areas of my home – including bedding, shower doors and even stuffed animals that can harbor bacteria, mildew and dust mites – proves especially important.

To keep your house clean and help make it healthier in the process, Healthy Housekeeper Laura Dellutri, author of The Overworked Mom’s Stress Free Home Keeping, offers these tips:

•Reduce dust mites by encasing your mattress and pillows, and wash your bedding in hot water about once a week. Also, since dust mites are microscopic, place strips of duct tape on the mattress case to prevent the dust mites from sneaking through.

•While cleaning what you can see, don’t forget to clean what you can’t see – the air you breathe. Use a high performance air filter in the home, such as the Filtrete 1” Elite Allergen Reduction filter from 3M, to help capture particles such as pollen, smoke, dust mite debris and pet dander from the air that passes through the filter. Be sure to change your filter at the start of every season, or every three months.

•Stuffed animals can harbor dust mites so it’s important to pay special attention to them if your child has allergies. Place stuffed animals in a large plastic bag and freeze them for four to five hours. Remove them from the freezer and plastic bag, and use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to remove any leftover dust particles.

My take:  Traditionally, April and May would be the start of Spring Cleaning time.  At least, in the days of old.  In today's society, with so many 2 working parent households, who has time for a big cleaning job?  I have to clean on the weekends and am lucky to keep up with the basics.  But with people in my household with allergies to dogs, cats, grass, weeds, dust and mold, keeping our air clean is especially important.  Luckily, I have a husband who is a fanatic conscientious about changing our air filters.  And he ONLY buys Filtrete filters (which is why I volunteered for this tour - I already know how great these filters are).  You should see how filthy they are when we change them (and he changes them like clockwork, let me tell you).  I can rest easy knowing Filtrete is on the job and so can you.  Pick some up today and get a $4 rebate too (see below)!

Be sure to:  visit the Filtrete site, http://www.filtrete.com/, to check out the Clean Air Club where you can register to receive seasonal e-newsletters featuring money-saving offers, filter change reminders, better home living tips and more.  Also, be sure to pick up a downloadable mail-in rebate for $4 off the purchase of two Filtrete Air Filters with a 1000 Microparticle Performance Rating or greater.
 

This review was sponsored by
Mom Central

(which means: “I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Filtrete and received a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.” )

One eskimO

.

From One2One: Are you a fan of Massive Attack, Snow Patrol, Gomez or Damien Rice? It's hard to pigeon hole the sound of One eskimO, but ambient, electro, acoustic hits the right note. If you love vibey music that sets the mood to hang out, chill out and tune in, then this music is just for you.

One eskimO is a critically-acclaimed English band fronted by singer-songwriter Kristian Leontiou and includes musicians Pete Rinaldi (guitar), Jamie Sefton (bass, horns) and Adam Falkner (drums).

They currently have the #1 adult alternative song called 'Kandi' which you may have already heard since it's the most played song on all adult rock radio 4 weeks and counting.

Billboard Magazine calls One eskimO's self-titled debut album "...catchy, ambient pop." and Los Angeles Times Magazine hails the song "Kandi" “a beautiful, aspirational track.” The album is available in stores now.

The album release comes in tandem with a full length animated film. “Hometime”, one of the tracks that an animated short was first done with proved to be quite a sensation. It received numerous honors at film festivals around the world, as well as a 2008 British Animation Award.

My take: I completely agree with the One2One Network that it's hard to pinpoint the music genre of One eskimO.  Personally, their music reminds me of Eric Clapton, and Gabriel Yared, as well as an independent band I fell in love with in college called Fairchild.  It's the kind of music perfect for sitting around with friends, relaxing with a cold one.  I also enjoyed cranking it up in the car during my commute time - helped de-stress me when traffic got too bad.  I highly recommend this CD if you are looking for something different than the mainstream - music that is unconventional and fun that you will find yourself listening to over and over again.  ♥♥♥♥

The Band is on tour May/June/July supporting Michael Franti and in addition to festivals and headlining shows.  Tour Dates:

May 14 Miami, FL Fillmore

May 15 Jacksonville, FL Free Bird Live

May 18 Orlando, FL House of Blues

May 19 Tampa, FL The Ritz Ybor

May 22 Raleigh, NC Lincoln Theatre

May 24 Asheville, NC The Orange Peel

May 25 Charleston, SC The Music Farm

Jun 01 Toronto, ON The Guvernment

Jun 03 New York, NY The Beach at Governor’s Island

Jun 04 Boston, MA House of Blues

Jun 05 Essex Junction, VT Camplain Valley Expo

Jun 06 Hunter, NY Mountain Jam Festival

Jun 08 Royal Oak, MI Royal Oak Music Thtr

Jun 09 Grand Rapids, MI Orbit Room

Jun 12 Memphis, TN Minglewood Hall

Jun 13 Kansas City, MO Crossroads

Aug 14 Denver, CO Mile High Festival

Links for more from One eskimO:

One eskimO Website: http://bit.ly/bCAfYE

“Kandi” Video: http://bit.ly/9CkEsg

You Tube Channel: http://bit.ly/bgZM8P

Deluxe Edition on iTunes (features a bonus track and pairs the album with "The Adventures of One eskimO" - an animated story set to the music of the entire album): http://bit.ly/agXgTj

Free Download of “Astronauts” via Twitter: http://bit.ly/97B94S

Tracklisting:

Hometime

Astronauts

Kandi

Slip

Simple Day

Givin Up

Chocolate

All Balloons

Chosen One

UFO

Amazing

The giveaway: One lucky winner will win his/her very own One eskimO CD and a t-shirt!

To win: Leave a comment here telling me which song of theirs was featured in Toyota's environmentally aware "Why Not?" campaign.  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, June 2, 2010.  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):

• "Like" (used to be "Fan") One eskimO on Facebook and leave a comment on their wall that includes "CPA Mom sent me" (leave a comment here with your FB name-first name only is fine)
• Follow  the One eskimO on twitter (leave a comment here with your twitter id)
• Blog about this giveaway (don't forget to leave the link in your comment here)
• Twitter, Stumble or Digg this giveaway
• Subscribe to my blog via RSS or Email (see top left sidebar)
• 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 (or use the green link on the top left sidebar)
• Follow me on Blogger (see top left sidebar)

This review was sponsored by the:

Scrubbing Bubbles Extend-A-Clean "Minimize Morning Madness" gift baskets

 

From the PR Firm: Ready, set, go! Living a hyperlife is an understatement for most moms, as they’re forced to multi-task right from the start every morning. Between getting the kids out of bed, showered, dressed, fed and out the door to school on time, there’s no doubt that morning madness is a term most moms know well.

Minimize your morning madness with new Scrubbing Bubbles® Extend-A-Clean™ Power Sprayer, which contains a formula that actively cleans to keep bathroom surfaces cleaner, longer – for up to four days. What’s more, Scrubbing Bubbles® Extend-A-Clean™ Power Sprayer’s one-touch continuous sprayer makes cleaning easier by providing better coverage in your bathroom without having to repeatedly pull the trigger.

• Morning Madness. 81 percent of moms admit to multi-tasking right from the start, early in the morning. And 79 percent are looking for solutions that would save them time in the morning.


• The Need for Clean. Almost all moms (98 percent) agree it’s important to have a clean bathroom. 91 percent confess that keeping the bathroom clean is a never ending task. And 9 out of 10 are also looking for solutions that would help them clean less often!


• Go-Go-Gadget Arm! It’s unanimous – moms need some help around the house. Eight in 10 actually admit to multi-tasking more now than ever before, with over one-third wishing they had a third arm to help them clean the bathroom.


• Chocolate Schmocolate. When asked what they’d give up in order to keep their bathroom cleaner longer, a surprising 24 percent said chocolate, while 23 percent would trade in their morning coffee and 35 percent would say sayonara to a dream date with their favorite actor.

Product Description: Minimize your morning madness with new Scrubbing Bubbles® Extend-A-CleanTM Power Sprayer. Scrubbing Bubbles Extend-A-Clean Power Sprayer actively cleans to keep bathroom surfaces cleaner, longer. With powerful cleaners to cut through soap scum and grime, Scrubbing Bubbles Extend-A-Clean Power Sprayer not only cleans your sink, showers, tubs, tile and chrome to a shine – it keeps them cleaner for up to four days. What’s more, Scrubbing Bubbles Extend-A-Clean Power Sprayer’s innovative battery-operated power sprayer provides a continuous spray of cleaner for better coverage without having to repeatedly pull the trigger.

My take: I've been a fan of Scrubbing Bubbles for many years.  One reason I prefer the Scrubbing Bubbles traditional spray can is I don't have to use a pump trigger on it; dude, if you have a separate shower and bath like I do, you know how get tiring it can get to keep on pulling the trigger on a pump cleaner to cover the whole area.  Now I have another Scrubbing Bubbles option with this power sprayer - awesome!  Note that I haven't the foggiest idea how a bathroom cleaner fits into a "morning madness" routine - I personally do my cleaning on the weekends, not when we are rushing to get out the door in the morning - but I do know this is truly a product I will buy again - it really does extend the time in between cleanings and makes for less scrubbing when I use it.  Check it out for yourself today!

Instructions for use (could NOT be easier): 
1. Remove the clear tab from the white lock switch and place the switch in the unlocked position.
2. Squeeze the trigger for continuous spray, hold 8-12 inches from the surface for an even clean and allow the foam to penetrate dirt and soap scum (for tough jobs, let stand for several minutes).
3. Wipe the surface clean with a damp cloth or sponge, then rinse and let the powerful formula work overtime so you don’t have to!

Availability: Scrubbing Bubbles Extend-A-Clean Power Sprayer is available in the home cleaning sections of food and mass-merchandise stores such as Target, Wal-Mart and many more.

Price: The manufacturer's suggested retail price for Scrubbing Bubbles Extend-A-Clean Power Sprayer is:  $8.99 for the starter trigger and $3.99 for one refill

More information: For more information about Scrubbing Bubbles Extend-A-Clean Power Sprayer, please visit http://www.scrubbingbubbles.com/.

The Giveaway:

One lucky winner will win a “Minimize Morning Madness” gift basket which includes the Extend-A-Clean Power Sprayer, Starbucks Via, mug, travel alarm clock and AquaNotes!

To win: Leave a comment here telling me your favorite Scrubbing Bubbles product and why. 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, Tuesday, June 1, 2010. Good Luck!

Bonus entries: Get up to 6 extra entries for a total of 7 entries (please leave a separate comment for each extra entry):

• Blog about this giveaway (don't forget to leave the link in your comment)
• Twitter, Stumble or Digg this giveaway (leave a comment with a link)
• Subscribe to my blog via RSS or Email (see top left sidebar)
• 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 (or use the green link on the top left sidebar)
• Follow me on Blogger (see top left sidebar)

This post was written for SC Johnson who provided the item for review. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary products (the same basket being given away).

The review was sponsored by An Island Life;
 I am proud to be part of Kailani's review team:

Care Bears: Share-A-Lot In Care-A-Lot

Care Bears: SHARE-A-LOT IN CARE-A-LOT

List Price: $14.98

Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC

Language: English

Number of discs: 1

Rated: Unrated

Studio: Lions Gate

DVD Release Date: May 4, 2010

Run Time: 88 minutes

From the studio: Lionsgate Home Entertainment hasjust released the new DVD Care Bears: Share-A-Lot In Care-A-Lot! Every mother remembers loving the Care Bears in their youth, and Moms everywhere can now share their favorite childhood play pals with their own kids! There’s a new face coming to Care-a-lot when the all-new Care Bears™ DVD from Lionsgate Home Entertainment Care Bears: Share-A-Lot In Care-A-Lot features their new friend McKenna on the cover! Girls especially will enjoy these eight all-new, never-before-released episodes from the new Care Bears television series that emphasizes “Sharing and Caring.” Viewers will join their favorite band of bears as they embark on new adventures focusing on themes that help kids develop emotionally and are mom-friendly, too. Care Bears: Share-a-Lot In Care-a-Lot also features Kid Friendly Direct-Play,  allowing kids to play the DVD without the assistance of a parent.
 
Product Description: Join the Care Bears for eight wonderful tales filled with sharing and caring delight! Whether it’s the Care Bears welcoming Grizzle, Share Bear helping Harmony overcome her fears on Surprise Day, or McKenna learning the joys of giving at a Giving Party, the Care Bears discover that warmth and kindness bring friendship and fun! Get ready to journey into Care-a-lot for more charming Care Bears adventures! "Sharing and Caring” is the focus of SHARE-A-LOT IN CARE-A-LOT.

My take:  The PR release that came with this video told me that The Care Bears brand has a 98% awareness among moms of girls 2-5 years old and that their website (CareBears.com) has 1.2 MILLION unique monthly visitors.  Wowsa!  That's quite a brand.  It's no wonder though since Care Bears have been around since I was a girl in the 1980s and they are now enjoying a resurgence in the brand (thanks to Moms like me who are passing on their love of the Care Bears to their daughters).  My own 5 year old daughter is HUGE fan of Care Bears and ever since we received this video, she requests it over and over again.  In fact, we are getting ready to move and so have packed up most of our movies - I kept this one out though to avoid any drama!  The eight new episodes include lessons about sharing, empathy, courage and caring - all ideas I love to expose my daughter to anyway.  Looks like another winner in the Care Bears franchise with this DVD. 

The giveaway: TWO lucky winners will win their own copies of "Care Bears: Share-A-Lot In Care-A-Lot!" [US ADDRESSES ONLY PLEASE - I'm paying for the postage myself!]
 

To win: Leave a comment here telling me the name of your favorite Care Bear. 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,  Monday, May 31, 2010.  Good Luck!

Bonus entries: Get up to 6 extra entries for a total of 7 entries (please leave a separate comment for each extra entry):

• Blog about this giveaway (don't forget to leave the link in your comment here)
• Twitter, Stumble or Digg this giveaway
• Subscribe to my blog via RSS or Email (see top left sidebar)
• 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 (or use the green link on the top left sidebar)
• Follow me on Blogger (see top left sidebar)

This review was sponsored by Lionsgate Home Entertainment who provided the DVDs for review and giveaway. I was not compensated in any way except for the DVD.

P&G’s Thank You Mom Reunion

From One2One: Procter & Gamble, proud partner of Team USA and “Proud Sponsor of Moms,” kicked off the “Thank you Mom” program at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games where they gave over 250 Olympic moms a gift to help defray the cost of getting to Vancouver to see their children compete.


Now, to celebrate moms everywhere, P & G is continuing this campaign and in honor of Mother’s Day launching a new, sentimental initiative to 'thank mom' in a very special way - in person!


"Thank You Mom Reunions" is a nationwide contest to reunite Moms and their children for milestone family moments they otherwise might have missed.


Does your Mom live too far away to attend your daughter's piano recital? Do you only see her once a year during the holidays? What about all the special milestones that happen during the rest of year that make you wish she lived closer? P&G is providing you the opportunity to bring Mom home and share the memory.


“Thank You Mom Reunions” will bring together 105 moms with their children, who are unable to do so on their own (15 per month for a 10 month campaign).

YOU are invited to log onto ThankYouMom and enter to win a travel voucher to help cover the cost of a special reunion with their mom or mom figure in their life.

My take: I am extremely lucky to live very close to my mom - we live just a few miles apart.  I remember though, the years we lived half a country away from each other and how much I wanted to live near her again.  And now that I have kids, I cannot imagine not having her close by to attend my daughter's ballet recital like she did this week, to take my son to the zoo, and to spend Mother's Day with us as my husband grilled us dinner!  Now, I know many of you don't have the privilege of living nearby your mother and P&G knows that too - and they want to do something to help you out.  So they've launched this awesome campaign to reunited 105 of you with your moms!  Entering is super easy - submit an essay and ask everyone you know to vote for you! 

How to Win a 'Thank You Mom' Reunion

* Entrants must submit a 100 word essay describing why they’d like to be united with their mom.
* Consumers vote for their favorite entries.
* 15 winners will be chosen every month through November.

*  Winners will also receive a portable digital video camera to capture their reunion and are encouraged to share the video on http://www.thankyoumom.com/.

Now GO - visit the ThankYouMom and vote for your favorite entry, or better yet, submit one of your own (be sure to come back here and let me know if you entered!)

P&G's "Thank You Mom" campaign is aimed to touch and improve the lives of families across the country in small, but meaningful ways and help celebrate the role moms play in our families.

This review was sponsored by the:

Fun Projects. Cool Perks. Nice People.

One2One Network

Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang

Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang

By: Chelsea Handler

List Price: $25.99

Hardcover: 256 pages

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; First Edition/First Printing edition (March 9, 2010)

Language: English

Book description: WHAT . . . A RIOT! Life doesn't get more hilarious than when Chelsea Handler takes aim with her irreverent wit. Who else would send all-staff emails to smoke out the dumbest people on her show? Now, in this new collection of original essays, the #1 bestselling author of Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea delivers one laugh-out-loud moment after another as she sets her sights on the ridiculous side of childhood, adulthood, and daughterhood. Family moments are fair game, whether it's writing a report on Reaganomics to earn a Cabbage Patch doll, or teaching her father social graces by ordering him to stay indoors.


My take: Chelsea Handler first came to my attention in 2007, when she starred in the Internet based show "In the Motherhood" with Leah Remini and Jenny McCarthy.  I thought she was such a hoot I immediately went out and purchased her memoir "My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One-Night Stands" and collection of essays entitled "Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea."  These books literally made me laugh out loud.  So it was no surprise I was all over her new book.  And "Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang" does not disappoint...I laughed so hard I cried.  I cannot believe the level of practical jokes she is able to pull off..."Punk'd" has nothing on Chelsea!  If you are a fan of Chelsea Handler or just want a few hours of fun, be sure to pick up this book to read...perfect beach blanket reading!

About Author: Born in Livingston, New Jersey, to a Jewish father and a Mormon mother, Chelsea Handler is the youngest of six children. She is the star and host of E!'s Chelsea Lately.
www.eonline.com/chelsealately and www.myspace.com/chelseahandler

This post was written for Hachette Book Group who provided the book for review. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary product

French’s Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce

French’s Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce

From the PR Firm: Everyone knows kids loves to play with their food, so why not let them dip! From the favorite chicken fingers to the not always favorite carrots and veggies, French’s new honey mustard will become a family must have from the first time you try it!  Introducing the sweet dipping sauce that makes ordinary foods delicious and fun! Made with real honey and #1 grade mustard seeds, FRENCH'S® Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce is sweet, smooth and creamy. It's great for dipping your favorite chicken nuggets and fries. Or use it to liven up everyday snacks like carrot sticks, pretzels and cheese. French's Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce brings smiles to snack time!  It is available in a 12 oz. squeeze bottle with a suggested retail price of $2.49.

My take: Anyone who knows me well knows I cannot stand dislike mustard by itself.  Add a little honey though and I'm a big fan - in fact, honey mustard is my favorite salad dressing flavor - a flavor very similar to French's new Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce.  This stuff tastes great - sweet and a bit tangy.  It's perfect for corn dogs, carrot sticks, warm pretzels...really anything you can think of to dip!  This will definitely be on my shopping list from now on.  Try it yourself - I'm thinking it would be perfect for upcoming summer picnics!

Bonus:  Get coupons for French's products here!
FRENCH'S® Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce Net Wt.: 12 oz (340g)
Nutrition Facts Serving size: 2 Tbsp (30g) Servings: 11 Calories: 60 Fat Cal: 5

INGREDIENTS: Distilled Vinegar, Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Corn Syrup, #1 Grade Mustard Seed, Sugar, Corn Syrup Solids, Tapioca Starch, Salt, Honey, Sodium Benzoate (As a Preservative), Carrot Oleoresin (Color), Spices, Titanium Dioxide (Color), Garlic Powder, Tartaric Acid, and Citric Acid.

French's® Mustard History: One day early in the twentieth century, Francis French decided that America needed a better mustard. "I want a new kind of pure, prepared mustard," he told his elder brother George, then President of the R.T. French Company. "There is no condiment like I have in mind on the market, and I'm sure that such a mustard, even if it costs $10 a gallon, would have a ready and wide sale."

This was 1904. Teddy Roosevelt had just started working on the Panama Canal. Radio and film were still brand new forms of entertainment. The few automobile owners out there were limited to twenty miles per hour. In fact, the ice cream cone had hardly even been invented yet! If Americans wanted mustard, they had to make it themselves.

Needless to say, Francis and George were on to something. Since 1880, their father's brand represented excellence in the spice market. Now the founder's sons were starting fresh and reinventing mustard. As the story goes, French's Cream Salad Mustard debuted at the St. Louis World's Fair, where more than twenty million people—about a quarter of the population at the time—discovered French's natural flavor. And when paired with the hot dog—another American classic that came out of the World's Fair—French's mustard became an instant success!

In 1974, French's introduced the squeeze bottle, and soon after a family of specialty varieties. Today, the French's brand and pennant remain and French's is still America's Favorite® mustard.

This post was written for French's who provided the item for review. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary product (one full size bottle of French's Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce - a $2.49 value).

Persona Pails

From the company:  Forget the boring gift bag or wrapping paper - now there's a new way to present your gifts - with a personalized touch! The one-of-a-kind gift pails allow you to decorated and personalize for every personality or special interest. You pick the color of hair, eye shape, lips, nose and eyebrows- to turn your gift pail into a character of its own! You can even use old hats, scarves and glasses to make your pail even more unique! Your Persona Pail can resemble various hobbies and interests like a fashionista, golfer, chef, shopaholic- whatever mom is in to!

Next, fill your unique Persona Pail with mom’s special gift- at 6.25" x 5.5", the pail can hold small electronic devices, CDs, small books, jewelry, gift cards and a lot more. Each pail comes complete with colorful gift shred to jazz things up. They are great for absolutely every occasion, birthdays, weddings, summer parties- you name it! Available online at www.personagiftpail.com

My take: I received this gift pail set in time for Mother's Day so I immediately set to work put my kids to work creating a gift pail for my Mom for her gift (a gift card).  The kit includes all you see in the picture below - there were so many stickers we decided to create TWO faces on the pail so each child could make their own rendition of Nana on each side.  And as you can see on the bottom picture, my mom added a Red Hat to it to make it even more personal (she is a Red Hat Queen).  Let me tell you, not only do I think Persona Pails are the coolest idea ever for gifts (sure beats those boring gift bags any day), they are SUPER easy to do and you are bounded only by your imagination!  Be sure to check out their awesome website for all kinds of ideas for YOUR own creations.  I'm thinking GRAD gifts...Father's Day gifts....the list is endless!

About Persona Pails: At Persona Designs, Inc., we are driven by the desire to bring innovative and creative products to the marketplace. After 10 years with the corporate gift design studio Originality, Inc., we felt the need to branch out into the consumer market by filling a niche in the gift industry. Realizing that not everyone has the time or artistic talent to create an attention-getting gift, we decided to develop a simple kit that takes less time than wrapping a traditional gift!



At the same time, we want to make a difference in our little corner of the world. The PERSONA Gift Pail kits are assembled in the U.S. by Friendship Industries in Harrisonburg, VA, a wonderful fulfillment center that employs disabled adults. We also plan to launch “Gifts to Life,” a program through which $1.00 from each pail sold online will be given to charity. The kit is eco-friendly and your pail will be shipped to you in a box made of recycled material.

 

This post was written for Persona Pails who provided the item for review. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary product.

The review was sponsored by An Island Life;
 I am proud to be part of Kailani's review team:

One World One Love...Michael Bolton (giveaway)

One World, One Love

by: Michael Bolton

List Price: $13.98

Audio CD

Original Release Date: May 4, 2010

Number of Discs: 1

Label: Motown / Universal

From Team Mom: He’s sung with Luciano Pavarotti and Ray Charles, written songs with Bob Dylan, Ne-Yo and Lady Gaga, penned hits for Barbra Streisand and KISS, played guitar with B.B. King and had his music recorded on a track by hip-hop superstar Kanye West (featuring megastar Jay-Z).


On Michael Bolton's brand new record One World One Love (due out on May 4th) from this two-time Grammy Award-winner, he’s collaborated with a number of exciting talents including award-winning singer/songwriters Lady Gaga and Ne-yo. He will also be embarking on a 6-month World Tour with stops across the US and Europe through September of 2010.

Song list:

1. Just One Love
2. Ready For You
3. Hope It's Too Late
4. Murder My Heart
5. The Best
6. My Lady
7. Need You To Fall
8. Sign Your Name
9. What You're Doing To Me
10. Survivor
11. You Comfort Me
12. Crazy Love

My take: I've not listened to Michael Bolton in years but I think it's safe to say I used to be his biggest fan in my teen years.  And let me tell you, time has not changed his talent at all, if this new CD is any indication.  You can definitely see how he managed to sell over 53 million records in his career (18 studio albums) and received multiple Grammy awards.  With the release of One World, One Love, Michael Bolton proves he has still "got it."  His mantra for this particular record was "No heartbreak songs" and the songs included certainly reflect that - all are upbeat and uplifting - perfect for these beautiful days of summer.  The vocal contributions of Lady Gaga and Ne-Yo are just icing on the cake.  If you are a Michael Bolton fan, or just in need of some "feel good" music, One World, One Love is a must have for your music collection.
 
The giveaway: One lucky winner will win their own copy of Michael Bolton's latest CD One World, One Love! [US ADDRESSES ONLY PLEASE]
 

To win: Leave a comment here telling me the name of another one of Michael Bolton's records. 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,  Friday, May 28, 2010.  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):

• "Like" (used to be "Fan") Michael Bolton on Facebook and leave a comment on his wall that includes "CPA Mom sent me" (leave a comment here with your FB name-first name only is fine)
• Follow  Michael Bolton on Twitter (leave a comment here with your twitter id)
• Blog about this giveaway (don't forget to leave the link in your comment here)
• Twitter, Stumble or Digg this giveaway
• Subscribe to my blog via RSS or Email (see top left sidebar)
• 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 (or use the green link on the top left sidebar)
• Follow me on Blogger (see top left sidebar) 

This post was written for Universal and Team Mom who provided the CD for review and giveaway. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary promotional CD copy.

I am proud to be a member of Team Mom's "Music Moms" who sponsored this review.