"America’s Most Amazingly Energized Woman”

Do you know an "Amazingly Energized Woman"?

From One2One: This holiday season, the makers of Centrum® multivitamins and Molly Shannon are in search of “America’s Most Amazingly Energized Woman” and they want your help!


In celebration of women who live life and love to the fullest by staying healthy and energized, even during the busiest time of the year, Centrum® is kicking off a new contest.

Do you know a woman who manages to stay healthy and energized and enjoy life to the max? Does she squeeze in a workout while cleaning the house, or turn any activity with her kids into a fun game? If you know a woman who does it all with a smile on her face, nominate her for this opportunity to be acknowledged and celebrated. (Pssst, maybe this woman is YOU!)

Visit LoveFeelingHealthy.com to nominate yourself or someone special in your life. Tell them your secret to maintaining healthy energy levels so you can enjoy the great things the holiday season brings – including friends and family time, giving gifts, hosting parties, and so much more!

Participants are asked to submit 300 words or less that explains how you (or who you nominate) does it all. Nominations are being accepted until January 3, 2011 (12pm EST). Contest open to US residents only.

Five finalists will be selected and then, from January 17-31, 2011, the public can cast their votes for who should be coined “America’s Most Amazingly Energized Woman.”

PRIZES: 

•Grand Prize: $3,000 XPERIENCE DAYS Gift Certificate.

•Four (4) Runner-Up Prizes: $400 XPERIENCE DAYS Gift Certificate

XPERIENCE DAYS offers thousands of unique gift experiences nationwide

In summary:

•Centrum® invites you to nominate someone who lives life and love to the fullest during the holiday season while staying healthy (you can even nominate yourself!)
•Go to LoveFeelingHealthy.com to nominate someone by sharing her secrets to enjoying life and love to the fullest during the holidays.
•Nomination submissions must be 300 words or less about how she does it all with a smile.
•Nominations must be submitted by no later than January 3, 2011.
•A panel of judges will select five (5) finalists and the public will then cast their vote for “America’s Most Amazingly Energized Woman!”

Open to US Residents only. Sweepstakes Rules and Regulations Here.

Bonus:  Achieve better health during the holiday season! Download a $3 coupon for Centrum® Women’s or Centrum® Men’s

Bonus 2: Also available on LoveFeelingHealthy.com are tips from Molly Shannon so be sure to check back to learn how to get the most joy out of the holidays by living to the fullest!

This review was sponsored by the:

I am a member of One2One Network and this post is part of a member project where I am eligible to win prizing. I make no claims about Centrum as a product or it's effectiveness.

Mrs. Butterworth Holiday Bottles (review and giveaway)

Mrs. Butterworth’s® Announces First-Ever Limited Edition Holiday Bottles

Collect All Three Holiday Bottles This Holiday Season

From the PR Firm: Deck the halls with Mrs. Butterworth’s® syrup! One of America’s top favorite spokes figures loves to dress up for the holidays but until now no one has seen her out of her everyday dress, but this year is different. Mrs. Butterworth’s wants to show her holiday spirit to families everywhere by wearing her first-series of her designer outfits! These holiday bottles are a part of the 2010 decorative series. Whether you like to sing carols all season long, act as Santa’s little helper or be the joyful gift giver, there is a Mrs. Butterworth’s bottle- perfect for everyone!


Make your holiday time with family and friends exciting and memorable with the help of Mrs. Butterworth’s festive holiday bottles! But be quick, this holiday bottle collection is offered for only a limited time and will quickly become a hard-to-find collector’s item! Try to collect all three.


Collecting Mrs. Butterworth’s holiday bottles are memorabilia that will help people relive their childhood and let’s face it, collecting is fun! The satisfaction of completing a collection is a sense of fulfillment and having the option to trade or sell makes it even more exciting. So if you are one of the lucky people who can find these Mrs. Butterworth’s holiday bottles at a store near you, go get them before they run out! If you can’t find Mrs. Butterworth’s fun holiday bottles and you love a challenge, challenge friends and families to search for all three. Be creative, divide and conquer and share with others how you found the limited edition bottles!


Mrs. Butterworth’s continues to make families smile at the breakfast table with pancakes and waffles but now you can bring her around to spread holiday cheer! With holiday Mrs. Butterworth’s, everyone will be eager to get in the kitchen to create the ultimate holiday breakfast that the family will never forget.   Mrs. Butterworth’s has always been synonymous with breakfast, and was recently named one of America’s top five most loved spokes figures, according to a poll of 1,500 people by E-Poll market research which rated based on sincerity, likability and coolness. It’s the brand that your children love.



Mrs. Butterworth’s Limited edition holiday bottles are available in 24 oz. bottles and at the same great price as the original Mrs. Butterworth syrup. While you are collecting all three holiday bottles, look forward to more limited edition bottles coming in 2011!

My take:  Anyone who knows me well, knows that I am a sucker delight in anything decorated for Christmas.  So these Limited Edition Mrs. Butterworth's holiday bottles are right up my alley.  I mean, what's not to like - I love Mrs. Butterworth's syrup (thick and delicious!), I love holiday kitsch, and the price is the same as a regular bottle.  Not to mention, I could collect all three (I was given one for this review), wash them out (I need to put the syrup in a shorter bottle anyway for microwaving), and boom!  Holiday decorations!  Get your collectible bottles yourself today!

The giveaway: One lucky winner will win one (1) holiday Mrs. Butterworth bottle (US and CANADIAN addresses only please)!

To win: Leave a comment here telling me which of the three Holiday bottles is your favorite.  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, December 28, 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 Mrs. Butterworth on Twitter (leave a comment with your twitter id)
• "Like"  Mrs. Butterworth on Facebook (leave a comment here with your Facebook name)
• 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)

About Mrs. Butterworth’s: Mrs. Butterworth’s® distinctive shaped bottle has been making kids smile for over 40 years. Mrs. Butterworth’s syrup can be found in Original flavor, Sugar Free or Lite—all of which deliver that distinct thick, rich and buttery taste. In addition to syrup, Mrs. Butterworth’s also offers Complete Pancake and Waffle Mix, available in Buttermilk and Home-style flavors. For more information about Mrs. Butterworth’s, please visit www.mrsbutterworthsyrup.com .

About Pinnacle Foods Group LLC: Millions of times a day in more than 85% of American households, consumers reach for Pinnacle Foods brands. We are a leading producer, marketer and distributor of high-quality branded food products, which have been trusted household names for decades. Headquartered in Mountain Lakes, NJ, our approximately $2.5 billion business employs more than 4,500 people in 21 sites around North America. We are a leader in the shelf stable and frozen foods segments and our brands hold the #1 or #2 market position in 8 out of 12 major category segments in which they compete. Our Duncan Hines Grocery Division manages brands such as Duncan Hines® baking mixes and frostingsroducts, which have been trusted household names for decades. Headquartered in Mountain Lakes, NJ, our approximately $2.5 billion business employs more than 4,500 people in 21 sites around North America. We are a leader in the shelf stable and frozen foods segments and our brands hold the #1 or #2 market position in 8 out of 12 major category segments in which they compete. Our Duncan Hines Grocery Division manages brands such as Duncan Hines® baking mixes and frostings, Vlasic® pickles, peppers, and relish, Mrs. Butterworth’s® and Log Cabin® syrups, Armour® canned meats, Nalley® and Brooks® chili and chili ingredients, and Open Pit® barbecue sauces. Our Birds Eye Frozen Division brands consist primarily of Birds Eye® vegetables, Birds Eye Steamfresh® vegetables, Birds Eye Viola!® meals, C&W® vegetables and McKenzie’s® vegetables, Freshlike® vegetables, Aunt Jemima® frozen breakfasts, Swanson® and Hungry-Man® dinners and entrees, Van de Kamp’s® and Mrs. Paul’s® seafood, Lender’s® bagels and Celeste® frozen pizza. Our Specialty Food group manages Tim’s Cascade Snacks®, Snyder of Berlin® and Husman’s®. Further information is available at www.pinnaclefoods.com.

This post was written for Family Review Network and  the Bender Hammerling Group who provided the item for review in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary product (one bottle of syrup - approximately a $4.99 value)

Elf Magic Elves

THIS YEAR, ELF MAGIC™ ELVES CAN SETTLE IN FOR A LONG WINTER’S NAP WITH A COZY QUILT AND COMFY PAJAMAS


Elf Magic Adds Red-Haired Elves, Elf Accessories, Book/DVD Combo and Suitcases to 2010 Offerings

From the KidStuff PR: It’s been an especially productive year at the North Pole. In addition to making presents for all of the good boys and girls around the world, Santa and his team of Elf Magic Elves have been busy making new Elf outfits (also known as Elfits™) and suitcases to use during the Elves’ annual visits to children’s homes. New red-haired Elves (cousins of Leprechauns, naturally) are joining their Elf friends this year for the first time.

Santa even put the finishing touches on a brand new book, “Elf Magic, The Story of a Timeless Christmas Tradition©” this year. All of this is in preparation for an exciting 2010 Christmas season, when thousands of Elves are expected to travel from the North Pole to homes worldwide.

The annual Elf Magic Tradition begins when a child writes a letter to Santa requesting that their Elf come for a visit. Then, one day between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, their good friend magically arrives. From the time the Elf arrives until Christmas Eve (Santa picks up each Elf to help him deliver presents), the Elves truly become part of the family. They tag along on family excursions, go to school, help with chores, and will occasionally embark on silly adventures, known as Elfcapades™, at nighttime. When children awake in the morning, they’re often excited and mystified to see what their magical Elf has been up to! For families who want to join the Elf Magic tradition, children have only to write Santa to ask if he can send a new Elf friend to the child’s home.

The goal of a visiting Elf Magic Elf is to spread joy, love, and kindness and also to ignite the Christmas spirit and reinforce the true meaning of Christmas. Children form a strong bond with their magical friend, and look forward to their Elf’s return each year. Elves have even been known to pop into homes at times throughout the year to help celebrate milestones like a child’s birthday, first day of school or help with an Easter egg hunt!

An Elf Magic red-haired Elf washes up The 10” Elf Magic Elves will be extra prepared for their holiday visits this year with new SnowCases™ for their belongings; the newest Elfits™; Cozy Claus Quilts; and the book, complete with a bonus DVD, that explains the origins of the Elf Magic Tradition.

Here’s a look at what you’ll be able to find on Santa’s favorite website, www.Elf-Magic.com, or at Santa’s favorite stores—known as North Pole Supply Posts—this Christmas season:


Elfits™: Elves love to dress up, even if it’s just to go to sleep! Each of the new Elfits are made for the 10” Elf Magic Elf by the Elves themselves using soft poly/cotton blend fabrics. All delivery costs (by sleigh, of course!) are shown.

Sweet Dreams Flannel Nightgown • $15
This red flannel nightgown is accented with a white eyelet lace collar and trim. A 2” Velcro® closure in the back makes changing the Elfit easy. Comes with a pair of red flannel slippers.

Peppermint Pajamas • $15

A green flannel ensemble accented with candy canestriped pockets and cuffs. Features faux buttons, elasticized waistband and Velcro enclosure in the

front. Elfit comes with a pair of matching green flannel slippers.

Full of Spice Nightshirt • $15

Elves will love settling in for a cozy night of sleep in this green flannel nightshirt with candy cane accents on the yoke and cuffs. Velcro closure in the back makes changing into the nightshirt easy. Comes with a matching pair of green flannel slippers.

Cozy Claus Quilt and Pillow • $16

Each quilt and pillow set is stitched by Mrs. Claus herself! Earlier this year, she made a Santa-sized version of the quilt, and decided to make matching quilts for the Elf Magic Elves with the leftover scraps! Elves will enjoy having a snuggly and warm piece of home with them when they travel this year.

SnowCase™ • $24.95

Elf Magic Elves are traveling in style this year! Each SnowCase contains everything an Elf needs for a comfortable stay and safe return to the North Pole. Comes with a luggage tag, mini passport and doubles as a mobile Elf playhouse with Claus-et™ to hang Elfits, a window seat to watch the snow fall, sliding drawer to keep the Magic North Pole Snowflakes that children sprinkle on their Elves nightly, and a pouch filled with stickers to decorate the suitcase and passport.

 

Elf Magic, The Story of a Timeless Christmas Tradition© Book/DVD Combo Set • $24.95

A 51-page account of how Santa began the Elf Magic tradition. Features gorgeous watercolor illustrations and an enchanting rhythmic story. As a bonus, each book comes with a DVD that contains a fully animated cartoon of the story. DVD also has four original Elf Magic sing-along songs that are sure to become Christmastime favorites for years to come. Full lyrics to the songs can be found on the last pages of the book.

 

Families interested in hosting a visiting Elf can visit the newly designed http://www.elf-magic.com/ for details on travel arrangements, and also to see hundreds of user-submitted Elfcapade adventures.

My take: Well, it's the week before Christmas and I still haven't found our Elf on a Shelf.  Sometime during our move in July, it was packed away.  The garage is about 1/2 full of unpacked boxes that our "Paulie" must still be tucked away in.  So when KidStuff contacted me about Elf Magic, I was all over it like snow on Christmas.  Now, both Elf on a Shelf and Elf Magic use Elves that move around at night, but that is where the similarity ends.  Because with Elf Magic, your elf can be played with all day long - it's even encouraged to take your elf with you everywhere so they don't get lonely.   In fact, my daughter's comments on the day our elf Adrianna came to visit were:  "This is the best day ever Mama!"  and "I LOVE Adrianna - I can hold her and kiss her and play with her - not like the Elf on a Shelf you can't touch."  Indeed, my daughter is completely over the moon with her elf and takes her everywhere - and we've started filling up her passport to prove it :-) 

You can read more about the tradition here, but in a nutshell, here is how it works: 

First we read the book and watched the short movie included with the book.  Let me tell you, be sure to watch the sing-a-long songs too - you've seen everything once you've seen elves rap - what a hoot! 

Then we wrote a letter to Santa using this handy template and left it out with crackers and water.

And the next morning, we found Santa had left us an elf with a message on the letter we wrote him and a red piece of paper with all the instructions. We checked over her heart and found a snowflake just like the book said that told us she was a gift from Santa. 

Adrianna (my daughter calls her "Aid") came with her very own passport so we took her picture and put it in the passport with her name.

Adrianna goes with us everywhere.  Here she went to Target with us:

Here she is at the touch tank at the aquarium:

And here she is the day she came to our house - we went to see Santa to thank him and he agreed to bring her back next Christmas (he is going to pick her up on Christmas Eve - she even has a train ticket already!)  Of course, we might have to look into these Pocket Elves or Giant Elves to keep in the meantime - they don't have to go back to the North Pole each year.  And look - there are even Hanukkah Helpers™!

Her first night here, we caught Adrianna reading books in the morning.  I'm wondering what mischief she'll get up to tonight - maybe making snow angels in my sugar or having a snowball fight with our Rudolph doll.  Whatever happens, I know my daughter and son are true believers and can't wait to get up each day to find out what Adrianna has been up too.  We LOVE Elf Magic!

About Elf Magic: Elf Magic is the booming tradition of Santa’s Magic Elves who have been visiting children’s homes for over 50 years during the Christmas season. The visiting Elf comes to life at night to embark on all kinds of adventures- the remnants of which surprise children when they awake the next morning. Elf Magic Elves are also very sweet and enjoy being held and loved throughout the day. While some of the Elves have mischievous streaks from time to time, Santa knows which Elf will be the best fit for each family. So whether a family wants excitement or simple companionship from their Elf, Santa will make sure the right Elf arrives at their home. For more information, visit www.Elf-Magic.com or call 1-877-Elf-Magic (1-877-353-6244).

This review was sponsored by

KidStuff Public Relations

This post was written for Elf Magic and KidStuff PR who provided the items for review. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary products (a USD $110.85 value).

Holiday Time-Saving Tips (giveaway)

From Mom Central: The holiday season can crank up our already busy schedules to a whole other level between preparing holiday meals, buying gifts, throwing a party or coordinating travel. In the midst of it all, many of us find that a little smart planning goes a long way. In addition to helping manage finances, Bank of America also came up with a few ideas to help us get back some time this holiday to spend with our family and friends, all while keeping us on track with our daily routines.

• Receive instant account balance alerts : Don't worry about making an extra stop to the bank during all of your holiday shopping. Keep track of your spending by using Bank of America's Online and Mobile Banking and receive instant alerts if your balance is running low.

• Babysitting or playdate exchange: Gain kid-free time to make your way through your holiday to-do list by coordinating a playdate exchange with another family.

• Find a holiday helper : Save time and relieve stress by finding a holiday helper to assist with household chores and last-minute errands. Don't hesitate to ask your normal sitter, cleaning person or a neighborhood college student who is home for the holiday stretch. And don't be afraid to delegate household chores to your own children home for winter break!

• No more backtracking! : A lesser-known "route planner" feature on MapQuest helps you save both time and money by mapping out an entire journey - with multiple stops - all in one convenient step. You can add up to 25 destinations along any route, and the tool gives you the fastest route.

• Road trip rules: Seasoned holiday road-travelers live by three simple rules: 1) invest in a quick pass to whiz past hour-long lines at the tolls, 2) plot out where to get the cheapest gas along the way by using a “gas prices” feature on MapQuest, and 3) pre-pack energy-boosting snacks and beverages to avoid crowded rest stops and fast-food joints.

• Bank on the go: It’s easy to set up mobile banking and secure access to your money wherever you are. Download the mobile banking app and you can check balances, transfer money, pay bills, and locate ATMs. Sign up for text banking and you’ll be able to send a text message to get your balance instantly in a reply.

• Make quick and easy deposits: Holiday means a lot of extra work, so eliminate the labor of depositing checks. With Bank of America’s Deposit Image ATMs, you simply feed checks or cash into the ATM with no envelopes or deposit slips required. You get images of your checks and a list of cash deposited on your receipt as proof.

• Make sure it's in stock: Nothing wastes more time than driving from store-to-store in search of a specific item. Do yourself a favor and call ahead or better yet check store inventory online before you leave home. Many major e-tailers offer customers the convenience of purchasing items online and then picking them up in-store…some with express pick-up lines.

• Wrap it up: Socialize and wrap up your holiday duties by inviting your friends over to chat, nosh and yes, wrap gifts! Everyone brings a roll of wrapping paper, ribbons and other decorative elements to share with the group. Also, watch for “free gift wrapping” promotions from online merchants. Sometimes you may have to spend a certain amount to get the promotion to kick in, but it may be worth it given the time you’ll save on the backend.

My take: It's the most wonderful busiest time of the year.  The holidays.  As if we didn't have enough going on in our daily lives, throw in gift shopping, wrapping, baking, decorating, work potlucks and holiday parties (hosting and attending) and our well-oiled routines all go by the wayside!  What? Your routine isn't "well-oiled" normally?  Work with me here people, let's pretend it is.  So, when all this "extra" stuff throws a monkey wrench in your life, what can you do to smooth things out?  What do YOU do to keep all your balls in the air?  I definitely can use all the tips I can get so be sure to leave some good ones in the comment section and you could win a gift card just in time for those last minute holiday gifts (winner chosen by random.org as always).  As for me, as a long time Bank of America customer, I have found some great tips at www.bankofamerica.com/solutions  (like those you see above).  Also, Bank of America has recently developed a Twitter handle called @BofA_Tips where I find more time-saving and other finance tips. Check those places out for yourself and stay SANE this holiday season!   
 

The giveaway: One giveaway winner will receive a pre-loaded $50 Bank of America gift card! (This contest is hosted and fulfilled solely by "Did You See That?" and NOT by Bank of America or @BOA_Tips)

To win: Leave a comment here telling me "what are some ways you get back time during the busy holiday season?”  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, December 20, 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 BOA Tips on Twitter (leave a comment here 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

Mom Central

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

Battle Machines R/C vehicles from Jada Toys (review & giveaway)

Battle Machines Radio Control Vehicles from Jada Toys

Jada toys Expands “Battle Machines Laser-Combat-Tag” Line with New Radio Control vehicles

New offering enters stylized-lifted trucks from Ford and Chevy, as well as the popular 2010 Chevy Camaro into the laser combat competition

From the PR Firm:  Battle Machines R/C vehicles from Jada Toys, the first of its kind to combine the excitement and strategy of laser tag combat with the maneuverability of R/C racing. Jada Toys, Inc. unveiled their newest Battle Machines Laser Combat Tag R/C’s with the introduction of stylized trucks and a new car model for the Fall of 2010.



The Battle Machines product line, introduced last year, is the first of its kind to combine the thrill of R/C racing with the strategy of laser combat tag. Maneuver your Battle Machine vehicle into position and shoot at your opponent’s car or truck- to take out their shield. Hit them 3 times and you win! The 2010 line features the licensed Ford F-350 and Chevy Silverado 35000HD designed in a post-apocalyptic style, with laser cannons mounted on each vehicle’s hood. Also available in the Battle Machines line is the 2010 Chevy Camaro. This model is paired with the 2006 Ford Mustang GT Police cruiser. The 2010 line-up is compatible with last year’s models, and kids of all ages can battle up to six vehicles for the ultimate in laser tag competition.


“Last year’s Battle Machine’s were a big hit and we wanted to add trucks to make it even bigger this year!” said Matt Golding, Vice President of Marketing and Product Development. “Monster trucks have always been popular- it makes so much sense to combine this into the line.”


The second nationwide commercial promotion will air starting in November. The new products are rolling out now at Wal-Mart, Target, Toys-R-Us, Amazon.com, and other toy retailers nationwide. The suggested retail prices are Car Twin-Pack at $49.99 and Lifted Truck Twin-Pack at $59.99.

How it works: Laser Combat Tag Is The Game: Use your Remote Controller to navigate your Battle Machine into position to shoot your opponent with an invisible IR (InfraRed) laser to knock one level off of their shield. Be careful not to allow yourself to get shot. The first person to score 3 points, knocking their opponents shield down to zero is the WINNER!!  Below are the models available for you to start your own Battle Machines tournament with (also available for purchase as single cars - the single pack comes with a transmitter and radio control AND a targeting laser scope attachment that fits on the transmitter - see WHERE TO PURCHASE). Remember, you can play up to 6 cars at once!!

Chevy Silverado Dooley Vs. Ford Mustang

 

Chevy Camero vs. Ford Mustang

F-350 vs. Silverado V-2

F-350 vs. Silverado V-1

1969 Chevy Camaro vs. Ford Mustang

Chevy Silverado Dooley Vs. Ford Mustang

 

My take:  We received the Chevy Camaro vs. Ford Mustang combination to try out.  I'm not sure who was more excited - my husband or my son.  The package had barely hit the doorstep before these bad boys were out and doing battle.  Did they live up to their billing?  I'd have to say yes - the cars are durable - despite some pretty big crashes (from two fierce competitors) the cars stayed in one piece. The sound effects are great - honestly it really does feel like you've stepped inside a video game console!  Each of the cars has a shield indicator that tells you how many "hits" you've taken so it's easy to keep track of who is winning - get three hits and you are out (with a "bang").  One piece of advice - unless you want your house under attack as well, have your Battle Machines Tournaments outside (in our court worked great) - especially if you decide to use all 6 cars that you can use at once. 


Now the most important piece of information for Christmas morning:  How many batteries will I need for this toy?  For the transmitter you need a 9 volt battery, the car or truck will need 4 AA batteries (and the single pack version needs two AA batteries for the laser scope attachment) - batteries are not included so be sure to pick those up at the same time.

Check out the You-Tube action here for more and be sure to pick up this awesome under-the-tree gift today!  





The giveaway: One lucky winner will win his/her very own Chevy Camaro vs. Ford Mustang Battle Machines R/C vehicles (a $49.99 value)!

To win: Leave a comment here telling me another Jada Toys product.  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, December 16, 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 Jada Toys 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)

About Jada Toys, Inc.: Jada Toys, Inc., a privately held consumer products company headquartered in City of Industry, CA, manufactures licensed and highly stylized diecast collectible vehicles, radio control vehicles, electronic toys, action figures, and toy premiums. Jada toys are recognized for their attention to detail, high quality production, and superior value. Current brands in the Jada portfolio include Battle Machines™, Heat™, Big Time Muscle ™, Dub City ™ and Turbo Spin ™. Jada actively pursues entertainment licenses and currently develops toys for Marvel Entertainment and NASCAR. Additionally, Jada is a licensee of Ford, BMW, Toyota, Lamborghini, Cadillac and GM, and has exclusive rights to the Chevy Stingray Concept and Chevy Camaro. Jada Toys can be found in major retail and hobby stores worldwide. For more information please visit www.jadaclub.com and http://www.battlemachinesrc.com/

This review was sponsored by Jada Toys who provided the toys for review and giveaway. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary toy ($49.99 value).

Viva ELVIS (review)

Viva ELVIS- The Album

Audio CD (November 9, 2010)

Original Release Date: 2010

Number of Discs: 1

Label: Sony Legacy

The Elvis revolution continues with Viva ELVIS - The Album

Legacy Recordings Celebrates Elvis’ 75th Birthday Year with an Epic New Studio Work Inspired by "Viva ELVIS" by Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas

From the studio: Legacy Recordings, in cooperation with Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. and Viva ELVIS by Cirque du Soleil at ARIA Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, proudly announces the release of Viva ELVIS - The Album, a 21st century celebration of Elvis and his music, featuring the voice of the king in a whole new context.

Produced and arranged by Erich van Tourneau, with assistant producer and assistant arranger Hugo "Wedge Montecristo" Bombardier, Viva ELVIS - The Album is a multi-faceted audio extravaganza creating a larger-than-life musical portrait of Elvis through newly re-imagined versions of "Blue Suede Shoes," "That's Alright," "Heartbreak Hotel," "Love Me Tender," "King Creole," "Bossa Nova Baby," "Burning Love," "Can't Help Falling In Love" and "Suspicious Minds" as well as interludes based on "Memories" and "You'll Never Walk Alone (Piano Interlude).”

Three of the tracks on Viva ELVIS including "Suspicious Minds," the album's first single, were mixed by Grammy Award winning producer Brendan O'Brien (Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen). Four of the album's tracks were mixed by Serban Ghenea with the remaining five mixed by Robert Meunier and Erich van Tourneau.

Musicians on Viva ELVIS include Elvis Presley (vocals); Erich van Tourneau (bass, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, piano and keyboards); Dea Norberg, Jennlee Shallow, Sherry St-Germain, Stacie Tabb (guest singers); Patrick Lavergne and JS "The Flash" Chouinard (basses); Mike Plant, Steve Nadeau, Martin Bachand and Paul Deslauriers (electric guitars); Olivier Goulet (acoustic guitar); Guy Bélanger (harmonica); DJ Pocket (scratch). The album's horn section includes Jean-Francois Thibeault (trombone), Bruno Dumont (saxophone), David Perrico (trumpet), Jean-Francois Gagnon (flugel horn).


When working on the music for Viva ELVIS, van Tourneau -- aided by Hugo Bombardier, Assistant Producer and Assistant Arranger on Viva ELVIS - The Album -- spent more than 3,000 hours reviewing countless albums, films, concert recordings, interviews and home recordings of Elvis. More than 17,000 samples of Elvis’ songs – the raw material for the show – were made during the process.


Working with tens of thousands of samples of Elvis’ voice, van Tourneau and Bombardier often wove several sequences and sounds into the same songs, sometimes changing details such as the key and tempo. In creating Viva ELVIS - The Album, van Tourneau was looking to accentuate and boost the emotional charge of the songs with the incorporation of ragga, punk or hip-hop elements into classic recordings. In all cases, however, the goal was to respect and understand the essence of the original recordings.

"I would like to acknowledge all of the incredible composers, musicians and technicians responsible for making this music with Elvis originally," said van Tourneau. "The album Viva ELVIS would not be what it is today if not for their remarkable contributions."

The postmodern studio masterwork invokes the spirit and essence of Elvis from a contemporary perspective while furthering the revolutionary impulses of Elvis' sound. Viva ELVIS - The Album re-imagines the king’s own vocal performances in a broad variety of new musical settings. This new sound echoes Elvis' own versatility and ability to master all music genres, from Delta blues to rockabilly, from raw soul to gospel, from Southern folk to Vegas pop, while incorporating elements of garage rock, punk, urban and hip-hop.


In celebration of all eras of Elvis' musical genius, Viva ELVIS - The Album includes songs from Elvis’ rise to fame in the ‘50s, his movie soundtracks, his triumphant return to the stage in the “’68 Special,” and his ground-breaking appearances in Las Vegas.

Viva ELVIS by Cirque du Soleil, a harmonious fusion of dance, acrobatics and live music, opened earlier this year in a specially designed 1,800 seat theater at ARIA Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. A tribute to the life and music of Elvis Presley, Viva ELVIS focuses on the essential humanity of the one superstar whose name will forever be linked with the history of Las Vegas: Elvis Presley. Significant moments in his life – intimate, playful and grandiose – blend with timeless songs that remain as relevant today as when they first hit the top of the charts.

1. Opening (mixed by Robert Meunier and Erich van Tourneau)

2. Blue Suede Shoes (mixed by Serban Ghenea)

3. That's Alright (mixed by Brendan O'Brien)

4. Heartbreak Hotel (mixed by Brendan O'Brien)

5. Love Me Tender (mixed by Robert Meunier and Erich van Tourneau)

6. King Creole (mixed by Robert Meunier and Erich van Tourneau)

7. Bossa Nova Baby (mixed by Serban Ghenea)

8. Burning Love (mixed by Serban Ghenea)

9. Memories (mixed by Robert Meunier and Erich van Tourneau)

10. Can't Help Falling In Love (mixed by Serban Ghenea)

11. You'll Never Walk Alone (Piano Interlude) (mixed by Robert Meunier and Erich van Tourneau)

12. Suspicious Minds (mixed by Brendan O'Brien)

* * * * *

My take:  If you are an Elvis purist looking to add to your Elvis music collection, look elsewhere.  Viva Elvis is an entirely new way to listen to Elvis.  The classic tunes we know and love have been "updated" with an "incorporation of ragga, punk or hip-hop elements." Did I like it?  Well, let me tell you first, I am of the opinion that there are NO bad Elvis songs, so long as he is singing (not an imitator), so yes, I really loved this album.  Viva Elvis also includes small pieces of dialogue from the recording studio or concerts that's pretty neat to listen to as well.  Some of the "updated" stuff enhances the musical arrangements, some does not.  In particular, I am NOT a fan of "Can't Help Falling in Love" because of the "duet" with a woman - the whole song sounded off to me.  The rest of the album though I will be sure to listen to again and again - if you have an Elvis fan in your life, be sure to pick up this perfect stocking stuffer this Christmas.   ♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪  Note:  You do not have to have seen or know anything about  Cirque du Soleil to appreciate this album - I've never seen any of their shows myself. 

Bonus:  Check out the new video for "Suspicious Minds"! The dazzling video for "Suspicious Minds," the first single from Viva ELVIS - The Album, debuts today on Elvis.com. Much like the album the song comes from, as well as the "every way fantastic" (Time magazine) Cirque de Soleil Vegas show the song is featured in, the sparkling video depicts what a Presley show would look and sound like today.  The track was recently hailed by USA Today as "a cross between a gospel hymn and 'Everlasting Love' before transforming into something like a U2 anthem."  

Bonus 2:  Check out the new VivaELVIS.com for multi-media content surrounding Viva ELVIS - The Album and for a chance to get your Elvis memorabilia featured!

About Elvis Presley Enterprises:  Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. is based in Memphis, with additional offices in Los Angeles. In addition to Graceland and its related attractions in Memphis, including the Heartbreak Hotel, EPE is aggressively involved in a worldwide licensing program, merchandising, music publishing, and television, film, video and Internet projects. For more information on EPE and Graceland, visit www.elvis.com. EPE is a subsidiary of CKX, Inc. (www.ckx.com), a publicly traded company listed on the NASDAQ Global Market® under the ticker symbol CKXE.  Visit http://www.elvis.com/ for all things Elvis!

About Cirque du Soleil: From a group of 20 street performers at its beginnings in 1984, Cirque du Soleil is now a major international organization providing high-quality artistic entertainment. Since its founding, Cirque du Soleil has thrilled over 100 million spectators in close to 300 cities on five continents. In Las Vegas, Cirque du Soleil has a privileged partnership with MGM Resorts International to create and present unique and innovative productions. In addition to Viva ELVIS, these productions include Mystère™ at Treasure Island, “O™” at Bellagio, Zumanity™ the Sensual Side of Cirque du Soleil at New York-New York Hotel & Casino™, KÀ™ at MGM Grand, The Beatles™ LOVE™ at The Mirage and CRISS ANGEL Believe™ at Luxor. For more information, visit the Cirque du Soleil website at www.cirquedusoleil.com/lasvegas.

About Legacy Recordings: The multiple Grammy-winning Legacy Recordings, Sony Music Entertainment's catalog division, produces and maintains the world's foremost catalog of historic reissues, an unparalleled compendium of thousands of digitally re-mastered archival titles representing virtually every musical genre including popular, rock, jazz, blues, R&B, folk, country, gospel, Broadway musicals, movie soundtracks, ethnic, world music, classical, comedy and more.

This post was written for Sony Music who provided the CD for review. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary CD.

Ouch!

Sorry for disappearing like that!!   After suffering through 3 weeks of a terrible cold virus I was finally on the mend, only to do something stupid:  I crushed my thumb in the sliding door of my van!  Four stitches and a bunch of blood later, I've got to see a hand specialist now because the thumb doesn't function.  It's amazing how much you use your thumb in everyday life, let me tell you. 

But without further ado, Let's get on with the show!  We've got Christmas presents to buy!