Breyers Smooth & Dreamy (review and giveaway)

From Mom Central: As temperatures rise and summer approaches, my family starts to crave frozen treats even more than usual, and clamor for ice cream at the ready in the freezer. Whether enjoying dessert on the back porch while watching the setting sun or grabbing a frozen treat out of the cooler at a picnic, it doesn’t really feel like summer without ice cream in hand.

Between hanging by the pool, picking my kids up from camp or just relaxing at home, the new Breyers Smooth & Dreamy ice cream bars and sandwiches prove an excellent treat for me at the end of a long day. With six rich and creamy flavors, including Chocolate Caramel Brownie, Vanilla Caramel Chip, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Chocolate Covered Strawberry, Vanilla Fudge Brownie, and Triple Chocolate Chip, Breyers Smooth & Dreamy bars and sandwiches offer something for everyone. And with no artificial flavors or colors, 160 calories or less and 4-6g of fat per serving, and delicious mix-ins and swirls, these bars and sandwiches make for refreshing snacks and desserts. Hello summer!

Vanilla Caramel Chip Bars

Vanilla light ice cream with a luscious caramel swirl, caramel flavored chips and milk chocolatey coating…all this with 6g Fat and 130 Calories. It's creamy, luscious Joy on a Stick.

From Breyers:

The new Breyers® Smooth & Dreamy™ frozen novelties line consists of six deliciously indulgent desserts: three bars and three sandwiches.

These treats have 120 to 160 calories and 4 to 6 fat grams per serving, are all made with rich, extra creamy light ice cream and contain no artificial colors or flavors.


Breyers® Smooth & Dreamy™ Triple Chocolate Chip bars include chocolate light ice cream with dark chocolate chips and a fudge swirl, half-dipped in a milk chocolatey coating.


Breyers® Smooth & Dreamy™ Chocolate Covered Strawberry bars are made with strawberry light ice cream with a strawberry swirl, half-dipped in a milk chocolatey coating.


Breyers® Smooth & Dreamy™ Vanilla Caramel Chip bars contain vanilla light ice cream with caramel chips and a caramel swirl, half-dipped in a milk chocolatey coating.


Breyers® Smooth & Dreamy™ Vanilla Fudge Brownie sandwiches feature vanilla light ice cream with fudge brownie pieces sandwiched between brownie cookies.


Breyers® Smooth & Dreamy™ Chocolate Caramel Brownie sandwiches feature chocolate light ice cream with fudge brownie pieces and a caramel swirl sandwiched between brownie cookies.


Breyers® Smooth & Dreamy™ Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough sandwiches feature cookie dough flavored light ice cream with chocolate chip cookie dough pieces sandwiched between chocolate chip cookies.

Breyers® Smooth & Dreamy™ frozen novelties will be available nationwide in 6-count boxes for the suggested retail price of $4.29. Breyers® ice cream is available nationwide for the suggested retail price of $5.49-$5.99.

My take: I recently received a coupon from Mom Central to purchase one of these new Breyers Smooth & Dreamy bars and sandwiches that I had been checking out in my local grocer.  So I picked up a box of Vanilla Caramel Chip Bars (I REALLY wanted to try the Chocolate Covered Strawberry bars but alas, they were sold out).  To be honest with you, ice cream is my Achilles heel - especially in summer time - all I have to do is LOOK at ice cream and all my weight loss resolutions go out the door.  Which is why I've been such a fan of the Breyer's Smooth & Dreamy ice cream line lately - low on calories but NOT low in taste (I honestly cannot tell the difference from their full fat line).  And the addition of these bars and sandwiches (just 130 calories!) are just what the 'doctor' ordered for these busy days of summer - the yummy taste of Breyer's Smooth & Dreamy, on the run or while relaxing by our new pool.  Pure bliss I tell you.  Be sure to check them out for yourself today!  And don't forget to visit The Wheel of Delights instant win & sweepstakes for your chance to win some awesome prizes!

The giveaway: FOUR lucky winners will the same full-value coupon I did, that you can use for a free package of Smooth & Dreamy bars or sandwiches!

To win: Leave a comment here telling me which Smooth & Dreamy bar or sandwich you'd get with your coupon!  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, August 6, 2010. Good Luck!

Bonus entries: Get up to 9 extra entries for a total of 10 entries (please leave a separate comment for each extra entry):

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

• "Like" Breyers on Facebook (leave a comment on their wall that CPA Mom sent you and come back here and leave a comment that you did this) 

• 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)

• Follow me on Twitter (leave a comment with your twitter id)

• 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 tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Breyers and received products necessary to facilitate my review. In addition, I received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate." )

A Fierce Radiance (review and giveaway)

A Fierce Radiance

by Lauren Belfer

List Price: $25.99

Hardcover: 544 pages

Publisher: Harper; 1 edition (June 15, 2010)

Language: English

From the publisher: Set during the uncertain early days of World War II, this suspenseful story from the New York Times bestselling author of City of Light follows the work of photojournalist Claire Shipley as she captures America’s race to develop life-saving antibiotics—an assignment that will involve blackmail, espionage, and murder. A sweeping tale of love and betrayal, intrigue and idealism, A Fierce Radiance is an ambitious and deeply engaging novel from an author of immense talent.

My take:  I'm a speed reader (self taught over 30 odd years of reading voraciously) so I typically tear through a novel like this in a matter of a few hours.  Not the case with A Fierce Radiance.  This book was too nuanced, too thought provoking, and too layered for a quick read.  Which was fine with me - I was riveted from the start of this thought provoking novel.  Most of you are probably like me, and take our current medical advances for granted - indeed, until I read the Gabaldon "Outlander" series, I never gave antibiotics a second thought.  Now, especially after reading A Fierce Radiance, I find myself reflecting over what it must have been like in the early 1900's (and earlier) when a simple scratch could mean the death of your child or yourself.  How incredibly lucky we are to be living today with antibiotics at the ready.  And though the heart of this novel is the discovery and manufacture of penicillin, it also includes a murder mystery and a romance.  I personally thoroughly enjoyed this novel and have already placed Ms. Belfer's first novel (City of Light) on my wish list.  ★★★★

The giveaway: One lucky winners will win their own copy of A Fierce Radiance, courtesy of Harper Collins Publishers [US ADDRESSES ONLY PLEASE].

To win: Leave a comment here telling me the name another Harper Collins book that looks like a good read to you. 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, August 5, 2010, 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):

• Follow Harper Collins on Twitter (leave a comment with your twitter id)
• 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)
• Follow me on Twitter (leave a comment with your twitter id)
• 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 Harper Collins Publishing who provided the book for review and giveaway. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary book.

Pop On Pals

From Team Mom: Welcome to a new world of endless “Popabilities!” Spin Master is introducing Pop On Pals – a wonderful world of fun pals, pets, vehicles and playsets! With endless mix n’ match fun, little ones can be anything they want to be. A fireman can become a musician, a princess becomes a baker, a puppy becomes a ballerina – Pop On Pals encourages imaginative play and helps develop fine motor skills. Pals are perfectly sized for small hands to play with and the signature "pop" sound adds to the fun!  There are a number of Pop On Pals packs and playsets to choose from, including: Pop On Pals Pet Pack, Pop On Pals Pal Pack, Pop On Pals Ring Deluxe Ring Pack, Pop On Pals 2 n' 1 Vehicle Set, Pop On Pals Pop and Go Airplane, Pop On Pals Pop and Go School Bus and Pop On Pals Amusement Park Playset.  Pop On Pals are available at Toys "R" Us, Target, Kmart, Sears and more! 

My take: We received the Amusement Park Playset to check out:

Pop On Pals Amusement Park Playset

SRP $34.99 USD

The Pop On Pals Amusement Park Playset comes to life with lights, sounds, music and more! Pop your pal in five different activation points for lots of action/reaction play.  Show off your strength on the strong man striker! Ride the roller coaster! Win the milk toss game! Swing on the dragon swing and spin around in the musical Ferris Wheel!  The package includes: ONE PAL, Three park-themed easy pop-on rings, one amusement park.

Now clearly, my children are a bit old for this toy as Pop On Pals "encourage developmental skill building in children ages 2 -4 years old" and mine are 5 and 7.  Still, I wanted to check it out because I have many friends (and readers) which children in that age bracket.  Interestingly enough, when I pull the amusement park out of the package, my kids went nutso over it - the bright colors, the sounds - clearly they really enjoyed the heck out of it (until I took it away because I was sick of them fighting over the one Pop On Pal that was included).  In fact, that would be my biggest complaint with the toy - it's one of those "sets" that are not complete unless you buy MORE sets - I would have been happier to see at least 2 - 3 Pals in the set, given there are 5 places for them to "pop" in.  Overall though, it's a great toy for the younger crowd and the manipulation of the "Pals" into those 5 places can definitely encourage their fine motor skill development.  The music will keep their attention engaged as well. We're sending ours to a good friend with a young child but I highly encourage those of you with kids 2-4 to check out "Pop On Pals" for yourself!  Just be prepared to spend some dough - the sets are pricey and you'll need to buy some extra pals and such. 

About Spin Master: Spin Master Ltd. is a children's entertainment company based in Toronto, Canada.  The origins of the company began in 1994 when the three company founders came out with a product called The Earth Buddy. It was originally incorporated at that time as Seiger Marketing, Inc. In 1995 the company adopted the name of Spin Master Toys. In 1996 the company released the Air Hogs line of air-pressured flying toys based on the design of two British inventors. Over the next decade Spin Master diversified its offering beyond traditional toys. The company dropped "Toys" from its name and adopted its current name in 2004 to reflect the diversity of its products.  Today, Spin Master has over 600 employees. In addition to its global headquarters in Toronto, the company has offices in London, Paris, Hong Kong, and the United States in Los Angeles, California and Bentonville, Arkansas. Visit http://www.spinmaster.com/ for more information.

This review was sponsored by Spin Master and Team Mom who provided the toy for review. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary toy ($34.99 value).

I am proud to be a member of Team Mom, which sponsored this review.

Caillou: Caillou’s Fun Outside

Caillou: Caillou’s Fun Outside

Number of discs: 1

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: PBS (DIRECT)

DVD Release Date: July 13, 2010

Run Time: 120 minutes

SRP: $14.99 U.S.

From the studio: The beloved Caillou is back in four new-to-DVD episodes featuring 14 fun-filled outdoor adventures. Delightfully imaginative and intrepid, Caillou is ready to teach kids about nature, patience, creativity and outdoor activities. The CAILLOU: CAILLOU’S FUN OUTSIDE! DVD also includes interactive games, music videos, parents’ information and coloring pages – a perfect break from fun in the sun.

Episodes: “Caillou Outdoors” - Caillou makes a scarecrow to protect his garden, takes a roadtrip with his family, and plays with a special visitor named Alan who has Down’s Syndrome.


“Springtime for Caillou” – Caillou delivers Valentine’s Day cards as Cupid, prepares for spring, and joins Mommy and Daddy for some April Fool’s Day fun!

“All Wet!” – Caillou learns about having fun with water through fishing, making a homemade water park, playing a laundry game, and swimming with a new friend Tammy who happens to be handicapped.

“Outdoor Adventures” – Caillou explores nature by taking a canoe trip. Caillou also learns duck calling tricks, befriends a rabbit, and encounters a herd of cows during family picnics.

My take: "Nature, patience, creativity and outdoor activities" - what parent wouldn't want their child to learn more about these things?   In "Caillou's Fun Outside," your kids will learn about all these plus learn more about children with special needs and how to be sensitive to children who are different physically.  And I don't know about you guys, but it's been way too hot around here for my kids to even go outside so I'll take them learning about nature inside for now!  The DVD gave us some ideas for outdoor activities for when things cool off some.  Of course, now they are clamoring for a canoe trip, a fishing trip AND a rabbit - lol!  Well Played PBS, Well Played. 

Fish:

This post was written for Click Communications who provided the movie for review. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary DVD.

Martha Speaks: Martha Goes to School

Martha Speaks: Martha Goes to School

Number of discs: 1

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: PBS (DIRECT)

DVD Release Date: July 20, 2010

Run Time: 120 minutes

SRP: $14.99 U.S.

From the studio: The endearing beloved family dog, Martha, has a lot to say in her new release Martha Goes to School. Join Martha and her family as they discover hundreds of new words to teach children. Based on the successful children’s book series by Susan Meddaugh, and now airing on PBS KIDS, the DVD features eight new-to-DVD episodes, printable coloring pages, resources for parents and descriptive video service for the visually impaired.

Episodes: 

■Martha Goes to School – TD thinks it would be funny to put Martha’s name on the list for substitute teachers.

■TD and the Light Bulb of Doom – TD panics after he leaves his school project to the last minute.


■Truman’s Secret – Where has Truman been hiding and why is he acting so weird? [bad haircut].


■Skits Monkeys Around – Skits loves Malcolm (TV’s blue monkey) so much he wants to be Malcolm.


■Ain’t Nothin’ but a Pound Dog, part 1 – Martha loses her collar and winds up in the animal shelter.


■Ain’t Nothin’ but a Pound Dog, part 2 – Martha decides she can’t leave her shelter friends behind.


■What’s Bothering Bob? – What’s gotten into Bob? He’s off his chain and chasing Truman all over town.


■Martha Spins a Tale – Martha tells Jake the story of Goldi-Martha, the Skits Hatter and Little Red Riding Helen

My take:  Martha Speaks is a relatively new show for us - we do not own any of the books and I think this is only the second DVD we've received from the series.  For those of you who don't know, "Martha Speaks" is about a talking dog (source): Martha Speaks is an animated children's television program based on the 1992 children's book of the same name by Susan Meddaugh about a dog named Martha (voiced by Tabitha St. Germain), who is owned by ten-year-old Helen Lorraine (known in the books as Helen Finney). When Helen feeds Martha some alphabet soup, the soup travels to her brain instead of her stomach, resulting in her ability to speak. My kids both seemed to enjoy this one (5 year old daughter and 7 year old son) probably because of the hilarity of a talking dog - can you imagine what your pets would say if they could talk just by eating alphabet soup?  The show is educational as well (after all, it's on PBS!) so the kiddos are soaking up new words as they enjoy the stories.  Pretty neat in my book.  Check it out for yourself:

Bob

This post was written for Click Communications who provided the movie for review. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary DVD.

 

Super Why! Attack of the Eraser

SUPER WHY! ATTACK OF THE ERASER

Number of discs: 1
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: PBS (DIRECT)
DVD Release Date: July 20, 2010
Run Time: 120 minutes
SRP: $14.99 U.S.

From the studio: Super Why and his super friends go to new and exciting places in the new-to-DVD release ATTACK OF THE ERASER. Join the super friends as they practice spelling, use the power to read and investigate rhyming words in order to change the outcome of the story and save the day. From Out of the Blue Enterprises, PBS KIDS and Paramount Home Entertainment, the SUPER WHY! ATTACK OF THE ERASER DVD includes four exciting and educational adventures, music videos, resources for parents, printable activities and coloring pages. The “Super Why!” television series has received the 2008-2009 Parents’ Choice Silver Honor Award and was nominated for an Emmy® for Outstanding Preschool Children’s Series. The Four Episodes include:

#162 - The Comic Book: Attack of the Eraser;

#161 - The Story of the Tooth Fairy;

#164 - The Cookbook; and

#163 - The Big Game. 

My take:  As I complemented my daughter on her singing the ABCs along with the Super Why! characters, she said "I'm good at it Mom because I learned my ABCs from Super Why!"  And that's not all she has learned from Super Why! - as she explained it to me, from this DVD, she learned how important it is to practice (from The Big Game) and she learned about two other kinds of books she wasn't familiar with - cookbooks and comic books.  And with her first loose tooth in her mouth already, she was thrilled to learn more about the tooth fairy.  I was thrilled that while she was being entertained, she was learning.  With the cast of Super Why!, she is one step closer to reading on her own.  If you have a pre-reader or beginning reader, Super Why! is an awesome show from PBS for them too.  Check it out today! ★★★

Lickety Letters



This post was written for Click Communications who provided the movie for review. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary DVD.

32 Candles (review and giveaway)

32 Candles

by Ernessa T. Carter

List Price: $24.99

Hardcover: 352 pages

Publisher: Amistad (June 22, 2010)

Language: English

From the publisher: 32 Candles by exciting newcomer Ernessa T. Carter is the slightly twisted, utterly romantic, and deftly wry story of Davie Jones, who, if she doesn’t stand in her own way, just might get the man of her dreams. For fans of John Hughes’s “Sixteen Candles”, 32 Candles is a fresh and fun fiction debut for every fan of romantic comedy.

From Publishers Weekly: This debut novel of longing for family, love, and acceptance finds some interesting territory before settling too early into inevitability. Davidia Jones, a nerdy child of poverty, is abused by her alcoholic mother and despicable father and is the subject of merciless taunting at her high school. But it's the "Molly Ringwald Ending" that guides this fragile 15-year-old when she bolts town with a lesbian trucker named Mama Jane and lands a gig as a '40s-style chanteuse in L.A. With a little Hollywood stardust, she redefines herself and begins living the life she's dreamed of--until James, the rich golden boy she had a crush on back home, walks into her nightclub. Not knowing their connected past, James promptly goes gaga for the overhauled Davie, whose need for sweet revenge adds a welcome dark edge to an otherwise predictable trajectory toward self-empowerment. New Agey embellishments (an "atonement list") seem like a misstep for a spirited heroine stuck in a middling narrative.

My take: At 39, I'm not that far from 32 years old but I am very far from 16 and the angst of the teenage heroine of the coming of age movie "16 Candles."  And I can promise you, Davie Jones is about as far as you can get from Mollie Ringwald's character; in fact, Davie is like no other fictional character I've read.  What makes her different is what made her so real to me - Ms. Carter wrote Davie as a multi-faceted individual, not your typical "summer" easy read fiction protagonist who is in search of life long life and happiness.  No, Davie is in search of revenge first.  Now THAT is a real woman.  I found myself pulling for her page after unpredictable page, even after all she had done had been revealed.  And her redemption, several chapters in the making, made the whole book worthwhile.  If you've ever been in love, especially from afar, you need to read this book.  ★★★★

The giveaway: One lucky winners will win their own copy of 32 Candles, courtesy of Harper Collins Publishers [US ADDRESSES ONLY PLEASE].

To win: Leave a comment here telling me the name another Harper Collins book that looks like a good read to you. 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, August 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):

• Follow Harper Collins on Twitter (leave a comment with your twitter id)
• 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)
• Follow me on Twitter (leave a comment with your twitter id)
• 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 theHarper Collins Publishing who provided the book for review and giveaway. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary book.

Stiltsville: A Novel (review and giveaway)

Stiltsville

A Novel

by Susanna Daniel

List Price: $24.99

 Hardcover: 320 pages

Publisher: Harper Collins

Publishing Date: August 3, 2010

Language: English

From the publisher: One sunny morning in 1969, near the end of her first trip to Miami, twenty-six-year-old Frances Ellerby finds herself in a place called Stiltsville, a community of houses built on pilings in the middle of Biscayne Bay. It's the first time the Atlanta native has been out on the open water, and she's captivated. On the dock of a stilt house, with the dazzling skyline in the distance and the unknowable ocean beneath her, she meets the house's owner, Dennis DuVal—and a new future reveals itself. With Stiltsville, Susanna Daniel weaves the beauty, violence, and humanity of Miami's coming-of-age with an enduring story of a marriage's beginning, maturity, and heartbreaking demise.

My take: It's been about a month since I finished this book (many thank yous to Harper Publishing for their patience) and I have to confess, the story still resonates with me.  I find myself musing over Frances and her life as if she were a real person.  The story of Frances and her husband Dennis is set against the backdrop of Southern Florida - a place I'm not familiar with at all but now feel as if I've lived there forever, such is the power of Ms. Daniel's prose.  Not to be undone by the backdrop, the story itself captivated me from the start - the unlikely pairing of the Atlanta native with her carefree Florida boy - and their enduring and REAL marriage.  Ms. Daniel, using the first person voice of Frances, doesn't pull any punches when it comes to the real work (and real joy) of marriage.  After staying up way to late many a night, I came to the inevitable conclusion of Stiltsville and was quite literally sobbing.  Such a true but tragic ending.  Real life.  Real people.  Real magic.  I highly recommend this novel.  ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

About the author: Susanna Daniel was born and raised in Miami, Florida, where she spent much of her childhood at her family's stilt house in Biscayne Bay. She is a graduate of Columbia University of and the University of Iowa Writers' Workshop, and was a Carl Djerassi Fiction Fellow at the University of Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing. Her stories have been published in Harcourt's Best New American Voices Anthology, One Story, Epoch, and The Madison Review.


Susanna lives with her husband and son in Madison, Wisconsin, where during the long winter she dreams of the sun and the sea, and of jumping off the stilt house porch at high tide. She is at work on a second novel. Learn more about Susanna and Stiltsville at http://www.stiltsvillebook.com/.


The giveaway: One lucky winners will win their own copy of Stiltsville, courtesy of Harper Collins Publishers [US ADDRESSES ONLY PLEASE].

To win: Leave a comment here telling me the name another Harper Collins book that looks like a good read to you. 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, Sunday, August 1 , 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):

• Follow Harper Collins on Twitter (leave a comment with your twitter id)
• 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)
• Follow me on Twitter (leave a comment with your twitter id)
• 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 with Google Friend Connect (see top left sidebar)

This review was sponsored by Harper Collins Publishing who provided the book for review and giveaway. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary book.

Here we go again

I feel like all I do around here lately is apologize for illness.  Take my daughter's bronchitis and strep throat, and my ear infection (and now...tonsillitis - yeah for me) and add in our household move across town this past Saturday and you have on very busy mommy blogger with many, many undone obligations.  Hang with me please and we'll be back to our regularly scheduled "programming" very soon, I promise.  xoxo

Angela

The Not-Its! Time Out to Rock‏

The Not-Its! Time Out to Rock‏

Release Date: July 20, 2010

(available for pre-order at $14 a piece here)

“Seattle: Ground Zero for Cool Kids’ Music … the Seattle kids’ music scene is so interesting these days. Today’s parents, who grew up listening to Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, the Presidents of the United State of America and other local wonders, might just be the unwitting witnesses to another Seattle music renaissance, this one in children’s music.” – Martha Brockenbrough, MSN.com

“Their debut CD makes me want to pull over to the side of the playground, open the hatchback and turn the volume up as high as it’ll go, to share their music with the masses of kids. Yes, it’s that good.” – Christina Refford, Cool Mom Picks

From the PR Firm: Seattle is, at this moment, a hotbed of incredible kids’/family music. Sharing the Seattle scene with such “kindie” luminaries as Recess Monkey and Caspar Babypants (a.k.a Chris Ballew of the Presidents of the United States of America) is an amazing five-piece band where it’s not just the boys having fun. Lead vocalist for The Not-Its! Is Sarah Shannon, who made a name for herself as the lead singer with ‘90s indie-pop sensation Velocity Girl. Bassist/backup singer Nori Hoeft adds more female energy to the band, making sure that with The Not-Its!, girls get some awesome musical role models, just like the boys.


Red Tricycle wrote, “This Seattle quintet shows us that girls rock too, with most of the lead vocals by tutu-wearin’, rockin’ mom Sarah Shannon (of the 90’s indie-pop band Velocity Girl). The Not-Its! is a diversely talented group made up of local indie musicians (who also happen to be moms, dads, and teachers), and their sound is edgier than much of what you’ll find in the land of kid music. You’ll find electric guitars, drums, and way-cool, danceable songs.”


The Not-Its! received an impressive array of critical praise for their 2009 debut CD, We Are The Not-Its!, even being honored with a Fids & Kamily Music Award as one of the best family music albums of 2009 – unprecedented for a freshman release. The Not-Its!’ new album, Time Out To Rock, mixes up-tempo, power-pop songs that are “just for fun” with songs about such topics as welcoming the new kid at school or dealing with bullies, all without being preachy or straining to teach a lesson. The album’s first track, “Welcome to Our School,” sets the energy level on high with an irrepressible dance beat, clean playing that doesn’t clutter the lyrics, and superb lead and background vocals. The music rocks on from there until Time Out to Rock winds down, slowing the pace at album’s end with the poetic, reflective “Hollow Tree.”


Time Out to Rock will be released on July 20. Please visit The Not-Its! website at http://www.wearethenot-its.com

My take: It's hard to hand down our moral lessons to our little ones in some form of speech without them tuning us out automatically.  Think out it - didn't we tune out the same lectures from our own parents (note: Mom, if you are reading this, I listened to every word you said like it was gospel!)?  As parents, we have to be more subtle than that and sneak in what's important whenever we can so I'll take all the help I can get with that; I rely on books mostly but with this new CD, I have another option.  Both kiddos love rockin' music like this and "Time Out To Rock" includes quite a few lessons I like for them to hear too (like it's ok to have accidents - a lesson we talk about a lot! - being nice to new friends and the like).  What I love too? The Not-Its! are about as far from "typical" saccharine kids music as you can get - I've played this CD over and over in my office (not just for review purposes - I really liked it!) and never once got an odd look - it just doesn't sound like kid's only music.  I'm thinking I need to head to their website to pick up their debut CD as well for upcoming summer days at the pool.  Do yourself a favor and check out the Not-Its! yourself.  ★★★★

Tracklisting:

Welcome To Our School
Time Out to Rock
First Kid in Outer Space
Green Light, Go!
Accidentally
Say It Loudly!
Cheetah the Buffalo
Fantastic
Only Kids Can See
Change My Luck
Hollow Tree

The giveaway: One lucky winner will win his/her very own copy of The Not-Its! "Time Out to Rock" CD!

To win: Leave a comment here telling me something you learned about any one of the band members (for instance, former careers).  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, July 22, 2010. Good Luck!

Bonus entries: Get up to 9 extra entries for a total of 10 entries (please leave a separate comment for each extra entry):

• Follow the Not-Its! on Twitter (leave a comment with your twitter id)
• "Like" the Not-Its! on Facebook
• 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)
• Follow me on Twitter (leave a comment with your twitter id)
• 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 Waldmania! PR who provided the CD for review and giveaway. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary CD ($14 value).

SID THE SCIENCE KID: GOTTA KNOW MICROPHONE

PRESCHOOLERS CAN CHANNEL SID THE SCIENCE KID AND ASK THE BIG QUESTIONS WITH THE NEW GOTTA KNOW MICROPHONE FROM HASBRO, INC.

PLAYSKOOL Sid the Science Kid Gotta Know Microphone

Approx. Retail: $14.99 Item: 39368

Ages: 3 and Up

From the PR Firm: Preschool kids will have fun exploring the world around them this summer with the new electronic SID THE SCIENCE KID GOTTA KNOW MICROPHONE from Hasbro, Inc., now available at retail for $14.99 (ages 3 and up).


SID THE SCIENCE KID is an animated television series on PBS KIDS®, starring Sid, a funny and inquisitive preschooler. Join Sid and his friends as they celebrate their excitement and curiosity about the world through discovery, activity and fun! Just like the SID THE SCIENCE KID characters on the animated television series, preschoolers can ask questions, tell jokes and sing songs with the colorful GOTTA KNOW MICROPHONE! Easy to use push-button features let you play a round of applause after you’ve interviewed someone, hear the sounds of laughter or silly sounds when you’ve told a joke and even play the SID THE SCIENCE KID series theme song when you’re ready to sing along! For extra fun, push the “echo mode” button and listen to your voice echo…echo…echo… everywhere you go.

My take:  Sid the Science Kid is one of my kiddo's favorite shows so you can just imagine the excitement when I opened the package containing Sid's microphone; the very microphone he uses in every single episode! They both wasted no time fighting over it sharing it nicely with each other as they explored all the buttons.  Their favorite activity now is to use the "echo" button to tell a joke, then press the applause and laughter buttons right after.  There is even a button of the Sid theme song (annoying as heck to me but they love it).   We take it in the car for the ride to day care each day too - they ask me to tell a joke or story so they can press the applause for me - may be the only applause my jokes will ever get so I'll take it!  So if you have a Sid The Science Kid fan in your home (or even just someone who is a fan of his or her own voice!), this microphone is for you.  Check it out today!

About Sid The Science Kid:  SID THE SCIENCE KID is created for 3–6-year-old children. The television series, which airs in the U.S. on PBS KIDS®, has garnered several accolades including four Daytime Emmy Award nominations, Common Sense Media’s Best series for children 4-years old, and a Parents’ Choice Recommendation. Developed to inspire a lifelong curiosity and love for learning, SID THE SCIENCE KID appeals to preschoolers’ natural desire to figure out how things work, using humor and music as key teaching tools. Sid, the show’s energetic and inquisitive “star,” starts each episode with a new question and embarks on a fun-filled day of finding answers, inspiring preschoolers at home to think about how to find answers to their own questions. The conceptual content of SID THE SCIENCE KID is based in national science learning standards, cognitive learning theory, and on the preschool science curriculum, Preschool Pathways to Science (PrePS).

About The Jim Henson Company: The Jim Henson Company has remained an established leader in family entertainment for over 50 years and is recognized worldwide as an innovator in puppetry, animatronics and digital animation. Best known as creators of the world famous Muppets, Henson has received over 50 Emmy Awards and nine Grammy Awards. Recent credits include the Emmy® nominated SID THE SCIENCE KID, DINOSAUR TRAIN, WILSON and DITCH: DIGGING AMERICA and PAJANIMALS." Features include THE DARK CRYSTAL, LABYRINTH, MIRRORMASK, and UNSTABLE FABLES. Television productions include FRAGGLE ROCK and the sci-fi cult series FARSCAPE.


With additional locations in New York and London, The Jim Henson Company is headquartered in Los Angeles on the historic Charlie Chaplin lot, complete with soundstage and postproduction facilities. Independently owned and operated by the five adult children of founder Jim Henson, the Company is also home to Jim Henson's Creature Shop™, a pre-eminent character-building and visual effects group with international film, television and advertising clients, as well as Henson Recording Studios, one of the music industry's top recording facilities known for its world-class blend of state-of-the-art and vintage equipment.

The Company’s Henson Alternative brand recently launched the New York run of STUFFED AND UNSTRUNG, a live puppet improvisational show at the Union Square Theatre.http://www.henson.com

The giveaway: One lucky winners will win their own SID THE SCIENCE KID: GOTTA KNOW MICROPHONE!

To win: Leave a comment here telling me the name of another fun Hasbro toy that looks cool to you!  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, July 19, 2010. Good Luck!

Bonus entries: Get up to 7 extra entries for a total of 8 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)
• Follow me on Twitter (leave a comment with your twitter id)
• 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 Jim Henson Company and Hasbro who provided the toy for review and giveaway. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary toy ($14.99 value).

Playing Ketchup

Last week we lost internet for two days and then my daughter was very sick again (bronchitis before, strep throat this time).  So now I'm a week behind with reviews and will be playing "catch-up" this week....a week that happens to include a move to a new home as well (and I am on day 23 of my own illness as well).  Oy! Thank you to everyone (companies, readers, etc.) for your patience this week!

Enchanted Names from Samantha Nowak Illustrations

What is an Enchanted Name (in Ms. Nowak's words):  Enchanted Names are customizable prints. You choose a style, then the individual customizable items of the style (eye color, skin color, etc), tell me the name you need on the print, and I create the print for you! Enchanted Names also include a mat for easy framing.


The Enchanted Name prints come in two sizes. Some are 5x7 and include an 8x10 inch mat, and other designs are 7x10 and include an 11x14 mat. They make great gifts for children, lovers of cute things, the young at heart, Christmas, birthdays, baby gifts, or just because! What I personally love about Enchanted Names is putting the print together after someone selects their style and options. Its fun to see how individual prints turn out. No matter what, they always end up looking cute, and very professional with the nice mat.

Select a category (Creatures and Objects, Boys, or Girls) to start browsing through all the Enchanted Name possibilities!

Prices:  5x7 print with mat = $15.00; 7x10 print with mat = $20.00

How it works (in Ms. Nowak's words): Normally a person will cruise the site, looking at the various styles available. I can customize the names to whatever a person needs, so if you don't see your child's name, that is not a problem. Each style's page (like this page, for example: http://samanthanowak.com/pages/products/enchanted_names/girls/sp102.html) shows an example of the style set up, and then you scroll down to see the available options for Hair, Eye, Skin and Outfit color.

Once a person finds a style they like, then they fill out the Order Form on that style's page. The order form asks for the name you need on the print, plus color choices for available color options. Then they hit the "Add to Cart" button and it will take them to their Shopping Cart page (which is powered by PayPal). A person then can check out through PayPal or continue shopping on the website.

After I receive a person's order I then set up a Proof of the print for them to look over, so they can double check my work, and make sure the print is set up exactly like they want. I also include mat color options - so they can choose what mat color they would like with the print. Once they approve the Proof and let me know the mat color they like, then I fulfill the order and mail it out for them.

My take: I approached Ms. Nowak about reviewing her Enchanted Names product on my website after seeing them on another review site - I was simply, well, "enchanted" by these name signs and happened to be "in the market" for them already, so to speak.  You see, we are moving in two weeks and I wanted to get the kids something to hang on their new bedroom doors to help ease the transition.  Updated name signs I was thinking, that reflect who they are and what they enjoy.  Finding Samantha Nowak Illustrations was truly a gift I never expected - because these are no mere name signs - her Enchanted Names are true works of art.  Take a peek at the two we received (names changed to protect my children's identities):

That dinosaur - Ms. Nowak created just because I asked!  Now it's available for everyone of course, but I thought that was such unique customer service that I had to mention it to you.   My kiddos (and yours will too) got to pick out the color of the figures, the color of the eyes, hair, dress, skin color, what have you, they were able to choose it all.  Which meant for truly unique signs for my unique kiddos.  We cannot wait to hang them on their new bedroom doors.  If YOU are in the market for a singular, one-of-a-kind gift for that someone special in your life, I urge you to check out Samantha Nowak Illustrations today!

About the artist: Born 1983 in Nuremburg, Germany (considered a US citizen born abroad) Samantha was a military brat and moved around most of her childhood and into her teenage years. Fantasy, fairy tale and mythology have always been a major inspiration for her artwork, which she has been drawing since a young child. At the age of 10 she decided to become an artist, though the actual desired job position has changed over time as she grew and better understood herself as an artist and person. Emoting feelings and passion in pieces, telling a story and making the audience connect with the characters are what move her and push her to become a better artist.

Samantha has a BA in Art, area of emphasis in Illustration. Currently she lives with her husband, Joe, cockatiel Mozart, German Shepard Sasha and three parakeets (Jade, Cloud and Skylark Speckles (Sky)) in Kansas City, KS. In her free time she enjoys Sims 2, reading, exercising, contemplating her dream house/art studio, and playing Guild Wars or Rise of Nations with her husband.

The giveaway: One lucky winners will win their very own custom Enchanted Name! [US ADDRESSES ONLY PLEASE].

To win: Leave a comment here telling me which Enchanted Name basic design you'd choose to customize if you win. 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, July 13, 2010. Good Luck!

Bonus entries: Get up to 9 extra entries for a total of 10 entries (please leave a separate comment for each extra entry):

• Follow Samantha Nowak on Twitter (leave a comment here with your twitter id)
• "Like" Samantha Nowak Illustrations on Facebook (leave a comment on her wall saying CPA Mom sent you)
• 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)
• Follow me on Twitter (leave a comment with your twitter id)
• 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 Samantha Nowak Illustrations who provided the Enchanted Names for review and giveaway. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary Enchanted Names detailed above ($30 retail value).

Aron with One A: Something for Savvy

Aron with one A Book Series:

Book 1 - Something for Savvy: Saving Money

List Price: $14.99

Three-year-old Savannah learns how to save up money for something that she REALLY wants.

Aron with one A’ is a children’s picture book series that uses a hands-on approach to teach money basics. Each book contains a different lesson to help children grasp the complexities of personal finance. The series meets national standards in personal financial management, economics, math and English language arts.

Book 2:  August 2010

Book 3:  October 2010

From the publishers/authors: Learning how to manage money is more crucial than ever: Mortgage defaults and foreclosures are at their highest levels in decades, credit card debt and delinquencies are growing with consumers having more than $1 trillion in debt and savings rates are at dismal levels. The National Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy conducts a annual survey given to high school seniors to measure their knowledge of basic financial concepts. In 2008 the average score was just over 50%. Although a handful of states offer personal finance education for high school seniors it is obvious that personal finance education needs to start as early as possible!


As soon as a child can count, they’re ready to understand the basics of money. Using “Aron with one A,” children can develop money-management skills that can help lead to financially stable lives.

“Aron with one A” is a first-of-its-kind children’s book series that begins the conversation and facilitates learning opportunities. The stories, activities and games help children become financially literate. Being financially literate means knowing how to manage money, use credit effectively, build wealth and make healthy financial decisions.

My take: From the files of the obvious, I'm a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).  Which means I'm supposed be one of the most financially savvy people on the planet and I've trained my children to be the same, right? Um, not so much.  When it comes to knowing and teaching financial wherewithal, I'm a product of my upbringing just like ya'll are and I don't recall any financial lessons ever being taught, at least not explicitly (though I did pick up what to do and not to do by observation, of course).  I want things to be different for my children - I don't want them to get into the usual financial pits that seem to be rights of passage almost - remember credit cards in college?  Oy! 

So where do I start?  Well, for my 5 and 7 year old, books are the perfect way to start (along with allowances, and "piggy" banks like I've reviewed here in the past).  And let me tell you, I absolutely LOVED this book, "Something for Savvy."  I sat down with my kids and we read it and at the end, discussed what saving for something we wanted really meant to us.  It was probably just a day later that my daughter asked for something she saw on T.V. and we talked about how she needed to save the money for it in her bank "just like Savvy did."  And she got it.  She really got it.  I will definitely be picking up the next 19 of the planned 20 books series as they are published and I hope you will to.  Let's help our next generation be better money managers than we were! 

More information:  The series is designed for children ages 4-8, and each of the 20 books addresses different personal-finance topics, including:


•Budgeting
•Managing Household Expenses
•Borrowing Money
•Earning Income
•Methods of Payments
•Saving Money
•Comparison Shopping
•Protecting your Identity

“Aron with one A” meets national standards and guidelines in personal financial management, economics, math and English.  You can follow "Aron with One A" on Twitter and find more tips on their blog here.  Their website is here. 

This post was written for Aron with one A, LLC who provided the book for review. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary book.

The review was sponsored by An Island Life;

I am proud to be part of Kailani's review team: