Thursday, July 28, 2011
There’s nothing more special in a woman’s life than the moment that the man she loves pops the question. I remember like it was yesterday when my husband proposed to me, it was Valentine’s Day 2007, I was pregnant and I didn’t immediately say yes. Of course, I came to my sense rather quickly and definitely agreed to marry him and while the moment that he asked is forever etched in my memory the moment that he slipped my engagement ring on my finger was one of the happiest moments of my life.
Getting engaged to the person you love is huge step and choosing the perfect ring is crucial! Of course, you don’t need to be on the verge of a proposal to look at gorgeous diamond engagement rings and one of my absolute favorite things to do when I have a few extra moments is scour the web looking at amazing jewelry. One of the places that I recently discovered, and have already became a huge fan of, is Brilliance.com!
From their wide selection of engagement rings and wedding sets to their drool worthy collection of loose diamonds, this is one website you will definitely visit again and again. The thing that I love most about Brilliance, except for the jewelry of course because it is just fabulous, is that they make it so easy to find exactly what you are looking for. With just a few clicks you can search the for the perfect loose diamond to craft your dream ring or if you’re feeling more inspired they also have a custom jewelry option that allows you fully customize, with the help of jewelry designer, the perfect piece of jewelry. Brilliance also makes sure that you are fully educated about your jewelry purchase and offer their customers the guidance of industry professionals to help when it is needed. Above all else Brilliance just has amazing pieces of jewelry that are very reasonably priced and backed by a 30 day money back guarantee and lifetime warranty…you cannot beat that kind of customer service!
While I may not be in the market for a new engagement ring at the moment, though honey if you’re reading this a new ring would make an amazing anniversary gift and just in case you’re feeling generous I really dig that gorgeous ring above, I can still get online and with just a few clicks find exactly what I’m looking for at Brilliance.com and I love that!
Getting engaged to the person you love is huge step and choosing the perfect ring is crucial! Of course, you don’t need to be on the verge of a proposal to look at gorgeous diamond engagement rings and one of my absolute favorite things to do when I have a few extra moments is scour the web looking at amazing jewelry. One of the places that I recently discovered, and have already became a huge fan of, is Brilliance.com!
From their wide selection of engagement rings and wedding sets to their drool worthy collection of loose diamonds, this is one website you will definitely visit again and again. The thing that I love most about Brilliance, except for the jewelry of course because it is just fabulous, is that they make it so easy to find exactly what you are looking for. With just a few clicks you can search the for the perfect loose diamond to craft your dream ring or if you’re feeling more inspired they also have a custom jewelry option that allows you fully customize, with the help of jewelry designer, the perfect piece of jewelry. Brilliance also makes sure that you are fully educated about your jewelry purchase and offer their customers the guidance of industry professionals to help when it is needed. Above all else Brilliance just has amazing pieces of jewelry that are very reasonably priced and backed by a 30 day money back guarantee and lifetime warranty…you cannot beat that kind of customer service!
While I may not be in the market for a new engagement ring at the moment, though honey if you’re reading this a new ring would make an amazing anniversary gift and just in case you’re feeling generous I really dig that gorgeous ring above, I can still get online and with just a few clicks find exactly what I’m looking for at Brilliance.com and I love that!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Y’all may remember me talking about a cool new campaign I am working on through the WB Word of Mouth, Supernatural: The Anime Series DVD/ Blu-Ray? Well, it’s week 2 and that means another cool prompt (I love these) and more details to share with all of you Supernatural fans!
This week’s prompt is:
The creators of Supernatural were able to construct an animated world in which there were no boundaries. This new look into Supernatural brings new perspective to the show. From adding color, intensity and action to scenes, to vivid images of horrifying demons, the medium does not disappoint. Has your perspective ever changed by looking at life moments in a new light? If you were to develop a story about your life would you want it to be told on film or animated in ink? Why?
First and foremost, yes, my perspective has definitely changed by looking at different moments in my life in a new light. I can remember when I still lived at home with my parents, I remember getting into awful arguments with my mother because I wanted to hang out with my friends and go out when she thought that doing those things would only lead me down the wrong path. (Truth is she was right, just don’t tell her that!) I never really understood what the big deal was with me just wanting to party with my friends, fast forward several, several years and now I completely understand why she tried so hard to keep me on the right path. As a parent myself I know that I will always do whatever I need to do to keep them on the straight and narrow and though I didn’t see or understand it at the time that is exactly what my mom was trying to do with me…thanks mom!
This next question is a fun one and I know exactly what my answer will be. If I were to develop a story about my life I would want it to me told on film, why? Well, because while I do love animation I also love the truth and honesty behind real people on the screen in front of you playing a role…and let’s face it, my life is crazy so all of the emotions that real actors would bring to the table are definitely needed to tell my story!
Don’t forget, you can order your copy of Supernatural: The Anime Series on DVD or Blu-Ray here today: http://bit.ly/p0WOMq !
“I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote Supernatural: The Anime Series on DVD/Blu-Ray."
I can’t wait to see this one!
“OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL” BEGINS PRODUCTION IN MICHIGAN
James Franco, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, Michelle Williams
Topline Sam Raimi’s New Fantasy Adventure
Pontiac, MI., July 25, 2011—Walt Disney Pictures’ fantastical adventure “Oz The Great and Powerful,” directed by Sam Raimi, went in front of the cameras at the brand-new Raleigh Studios in Pontiac, Michigan, on Monday, July 25, 2011, boasting a stellar cast that includes Academy Award® nominee James Franco (“127 Hours”) as the young wizard, Golden Globe® nominee Mila Kunis (“Black Swan”) as the witch Theodora, Academy Award® winner Rachel Weisz (“The Constant Gardener”) as Kunis’ sister Evanora and two-time Oscar®-nominated actress Michelle Williams (“Brokeback Mountain,” “Blue Valentine”) as Glinda, the Good Witch.
The cast also includes Emmy® and Golden Globe® nominee Zach Braff (“Scrubs,” “Garden State”), who will play Franco’s circus assistant as well as lend his vocal talents to one of the CGI creatures in the story — Finley, the winged monkey who accompanies the magician on his journey to Oz; and 12-year-old actress Joey King (“Ramona and Beezus”), who will voice another CGI character in the story, China Girl, who also joins the future Wizard on his excursion through Oz.
“Oz The Great and Powerful” imagines the origins of L. Frank Baum’s beloved character, the Wizard of Oz. When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot—fame and fortune are his for the taking—that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity—and even a bit of wizardry—Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well.
The film will be produced by industry veteran Joe Roth, along with executive producers Grant Curtis (the “Spider-Man” trilogy, “Drag Me to Hell”), Philip Steuer (“The Chronicles of Narnia” series) and Palak Patel. The screenplay was written by Mitchell Kapner, (“The Whole Nine Yards”) and David Lindsay-Abaire (“Rabbit Hole,” “Robots”).
Raimi has assembled his own band of technical wizards and movie magicians on the project, which includes cinematographer Peter Deming (“Mulholland Dr.,” “Drag Me to Hell”), two-time Academy Award®–winning production designer Robert Stromberg (“Alice in Wonderland,” “Avatar”), Oscar®-winning film editor Bob Murawski (“The Hurt Locker,” the “Spider-Man” trilogy), veteran Oscar®-nominated costume designer Gary Jones (“Spider-Man 2,” “The Talented Mr. Ripley”), visual effects Oscar® winner Scott Stokdyk (“Spider-Man 2,” “Spider-Man”) and Academy Award®–winning special makeup artist Howard Berger (“The Chronicles of Narnia” series), who will create the looks of several of the unique denizens of Oz, including creatures such as the Whimsies, the Tinkers and the Winkies, as well as the ghastly look of the Wicked Witch of the West.
Production on “Oz The Great and Powerful” will take place entirely on site at the new Raleigh Michigan Studios, the 200,000 square foot sound stage facility in Pontiac, Michigan, once the location of General Motors’ Centerpoint business campus and truck manufacturing plant.
“Oz The Great and Powerful” will be released through Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures on March 8, 2013.
About Smart Kids Who Play SPF 30+ Face Stick:
“Perfect for busy parents, this portable face protector makes for quick, no-mess application on the go. The SPF 30+ Face Stick shields delicate skin with a natural, chemical-free blend of Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide—no harmful additives that sting sensitive faces.”
As soon as I received the Smart Kids Who Play Face Stick I put it to good use applying it to all 4 of my kiddo’s faces before swimming. In the past it has been a struggle to apply sunscreen to my children’s faces, especially Lil Man and Lil Diva, and I was over the moon excited that with the Smart Kids Who Play Face Stick application was a breeze! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve accidentally gotten sunscreen in one of the kid’s eyes, mouth, or nose, but with this face stick perfect application happens every time—no more crying because I’ve accidentally gotten sunscreen in their eyes…huge plus! I also love that the smell is pleasant enough without being overpowering!
At only $12.99 this is a must-have summer beach bag essential and one that I always have in my beach bag, purse, and diaper bag! If you’re in the market for a facial sunscreen for your kiddos then you have to try this one…it’s my top pick for children’s facial sunscreen this summer! Smart Kids also has an all-over kids sunscreen as well as sunscreen lip balm so you’re covered from every angle!
Buy it!
You can purchase Smart Kids Who Play SPF 30+ Face Stick for $12.99 online!
*I received the product above to facilitate my review, all opinions are 100% my own!*
Monday, July 25, 2011
Yesterday while cleaning off my desk I found a Borders gift card that I had completely forgotten about, remembering (rather quickly) the mess that Borders has found themselves in I quickly rushed over to Borders.com and used up the balance on my gift card…you never know!
With that in mind here’s a guest post from consumer and money-saving expert Andrea Woroch regarding gift cards and what to do if you have a gift card for a store who is currently in the same situation as Borders!
In the wake of Borders recent announcement it's folding up shop, those holding gift cards from the bookstore chain may have cause for concern. While the second-largest bookseller says it's presently honoring gift cards, shoppers are well advised to use up their balances before it's too late. We faced a similar situation when Blockbuster and Circuit City filed for bankruptcy and are likely to do so again. To ensure consumers don't get left in the lurch, here are a five lessons we've learned from these
experiences.
1. Move Fast
Store liquidations usually begin rapidly -- this Friday for Borders -- so it's often best to use up gift cards online, rather than wait until you have time to visit a retail store. Border
2. Research the Bankruptcy Status
Borders was refused bankruptcy, meaning they had no choice but to liquidate. Other retailers, however, filed for bankruptcy and turned things around. Sometimes a company that's filed for Chapter 11 is allowed by the bankruptcy court to honor its gift cards. California, however, specifically requires merchants in bankruptcy compensate gift card holders.
3. Consider the Company's Stability
If you hear tales of other merchants threatening to close shop, research their financial stability via such sites as BBB.com and Forbes Risk List. (Stores considered at-risk by Forbes presently include Rite Aid and Zales.) Also, ScripSmart.com regularly updates its list of "Gift Cards to Avoid."
4. Use It or Sell It
If you've received a gift card for a merchant you wouldn't frequent, don't wait until a store goes out of business. You can exchange gift cards for cash right now on such sites as GiftCardGranny.com and receive up to 95 percent of the card's value in cash.
5. Use a Credit Card
If you're concerned about a retailer's financial stability but still want to buy a gift card, do so using a credit instead of a debit card. You can then ask the card issuer to withhold payment until you're sure of the merchant's status.
Andrea Woroch is a consumer and money-saving expert for Kinoli Inc.. As a nationally rec
I’d only recently heard about Gerber Graduates Fruit & Veggie Melts and since both of my youngest children have both been big fans of Gerber Graduates Yogurt Melts for the longest time it was a no brainer that I would say yes to a request to review them.
“GERBER® GRADUATES® Fruit & Veggie Melts™ Snacks are made with a NutriProtect™ blend of vitamins A, C and E for healthy growth and natural immune support and each package delivers 3 fruit/vegetable servings[1] with a taste toddler’s love.”
Research shows that many toddlers are not eating a single serving of fruit or vegetables on a given day[1]. For moms looking for products to fill nutritional gaps in their toddler’s diets in a new, fun and convenient form, GERBER® GRADUATES® Fruit & Veggie Melts™ Snacks are a great option!
Good for Toddlers:
· With a NutriProtect™ blend of vitamins A, C and E – nutrition for a healthy growth and natural immune support
· Each package delivers 3 fruit/vegetable servings[2]
· Made with real fruit and vegetable purees and juices
· No preservatives, artificial flavors or artificial sweeteners
Made for Toddlers:
· Easy to chew and swallow
· No mess
· Just right for self-feeding
2 flavor[3] combinations:
o Truly Tropical Blend
o Very Berry Blend
We received both the Truly Tropical Blend and the Very Berry Blend to review. I didn’t think I would have a hard time getting Lil Man and Lil Diva to eat the Fruit & Veggie Melts since they have a great taste so I replaced their usual afternoon snack with a serving of each of the flavors of Gerber Graduates Fruit & Veggie Melts. Both Lil Man and Lil Diva ate the Melts and asked for more and I was ecstatic that Lil Man had eaten some veggies and didn’t even know it…that’s a total win-win in my book!
Gerber Graduates Fruit & Veggie Melts are available in stores nationwide as well as online at Walmart.com, Amazon, Target and others.
* I received the product mentioned above from the company or PR firm to facilitate to my review, all opinions are 100% mine!*
Thursday, July 21, 2011
If you’re a parent (and even if you’re not) you probably know all about the Box Tops 4 Education program. Well, starting this month you can head over to Walmart and find over 70 products that each have 4 Box Tops…all of those extra Box Tops will definitely go a long way for your child’s school this coming school year!
Whether you’re shopping for a summer barbeque or gearing up for back-to-school, Walmart makes it easier for you to find everything for every list. And while you stock up on your family’s favorites, don’t forget you can earn cash for the participating school of your choice with Box Tops for Education products.
Shop at Walmart to purchase products from your family’s favorite brands such as Nature Valley, Cheerios, and Yoplait, and earn more cash for the upcoming new school year!
Whether you do all of your shopping online at the Walmart website or in store you can stock up on the products you buy every day (and for special occasions like Back to School and Summer BBQ’s) and collect a ton of Box Tops for your child’s school.
I was given a $25 gift card from Walmart through MyBlogSpark to head over to my local Walmart and stock up on some much needed products and I was surprised by how many products I found that offered bonus Box Tops! I picked up some of my kiddos favorite General Mills brands including Cheerios and some Yoplait yogurt and started my Box Top collection for this school year. I have to admit, it feels great to be able to give my family the brands that they know and love and still be able to help out their schools at the same time!
Stay up-to-date with the latest Walmart information by following Walmart on Twitter and “Liking” Walmart on Facebook!
What you can WIN!
One (1) MIBR reader is going to win a $25 Walmart gift card!
How You Can Win!
To enter this giveaway simply leave a comment telling me what must-have item they’ll be purchasing from Walmart for their children’s back-to-school needs! Easy peasy! This is mandatory and must be completed before any additional entries are allowed!
Extra Entries!
Please leave separate comments for each additional entry!
Follow MIBR via GFC (2 extra entries)
Follow MIBR via Email (2 extra entries)
Follow MIBR via RSS Feed (2 extra entries)
Like” Misadventures in Baby Raising on Facebook (3 extra entries)
Follow MIBR on Twitter (3 extra entries)
Follow MIBR on Networked Blogs (3 extra entries)
Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter…Make sure you leave the URL to your Tweet in your comments! (2 tweets per day = 2 extra entries per day)
Submit this giveaway to a giveaway site or linky…please leave a link to the giveaway posting in your comment. (5 extra entries per giveaway site or linky)
Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post. (5 extra entries)
This giveaway ends on Thursday August 4, 2011 at 1:59 PM EST. One (1) winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced in a separate winner’s post shortly after the giveaway has ended. Winner will have 48 hours to claim his/her prize, failure to respond to winner’s email in a timely manner will result in winner forfeiting his/her prize and me choosing a new winner. Giveaway open to US residents only please!
*Both Walmart and General Mills through MyBlogSpark provided my with information about this promotion as well as the $25 Gift Card to giveaway!*
Whether you’re shopping for a summer barbeque or gearing up for back-to-school, Walmart makes it easier for you to find everything for every list. And while you stock up on your family’s favorites, don’t forget you can earn cash for the participating school of your choice with Box Tops for Education products.
Shop at Walmart to purchase products from your family’s favorite brands such as Nature Valley, Cheerios, and Yoplait, and earn more cash for the upcoming new school year!
Whether you do all of your shopping online at the Walmart website or in store you can stock up on the products you buy every day (and for special occasions like Back to School and Summer BBQ’s) and collect a ton of Box Tops for your child’s school.
I was given a $25 gift card from Walmart through MyBlogSpark to head over to my local Walmart and stock up on some much needed products and I was surprised by how many products I found that offered bonus Box Tops! I picked up some of my kiddos favorite General Mills brands including Cheerios and some Yoplait yogurt and started my Box Top collection for this school year. I have to admit, it feels great to be able to give my family the brands that they know and love and still be able to help out their schools at the same time!
Stay up-to-date with the latest Walmart information by following Walmart on Twitter and “Liking” Walmart on Facebook!
I have an awesome treat for one very lucky MIBR reader! One of y’all is going to win a $25 Gift Card to Walmart (courtesy of WalMart and MyBlogSpark)!
What you can WIN!
One (1) MIBR reader is going to win a $25 Walmart gift card!
How You Can Win!
To enter this giveaway simply leave a comment telling me what must-have item they’ll be purchasing from Walmart for their children’s back-to-school needs! Easy peasy! This is mandatory and must be completed before any additional entries are allowed!
Extra Entries!
Please leave separate comments for each additional entry!
Follow MIBR via GFC (2 extra entries)
Follow MIBR via Email (2 extra entries)
Follow MIBR via RSS Feed (2 extra entries)
Like” Misadventures in Baby Raising on Facebook (3 extra entries)
Follow MIBR on Twitter (3 extra entries)
Follow MIBR on Networked Blogs (3 extra entries)
Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter…Make sure you leave the URL to your Tweet in your comments! (2 tweets per day = 2 extra entries per day)
Share this giveaway with your Friends and/or Fans on Facebook by linking to this post on your wall. (You can share 2 times per day with your friends/fans on Facebook)
#WIN a $25 GC to @Walmart at MIBR| #giveaway @Allie_23| #MyBlogSpark| Enter Now: http://tinyurl.com/3o2wbvz
Submit this giveaway to a giveaway site or linky…please leave a link to the giveaway posting in your comment. (5 extra entries per giveaway site or linky)
Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post. (5 extra entries)
This giveaway ends on Thursday August 4, 2011 at 1:59 PM EST. One (1) winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced in a separate winner’s post shortly after the giveaway has ended. Winner will have 48 hours to claim his/her prize, failure to respond to winner’s email in a timely manner will result in winner forfeiting his/her prize and me choosing a new winner. Giveaway open to US residents only please!
*Both Walmart and General Mills through MyBlogSpark provided my with information about this promotion as well as the $25 Gift Card to giveaway!*
My kiddos love getting dirty! Whether it’s from playing hard outside all day long or from digging in the dirt for hours on end, they love dirt! And while buckets and shovels are cool and lots of fun to play with, sometimes having something unusual and new to play in the dirt with is just pure awesomeness and HandTrux are the coolest in sand/dirt digging accessories this summer!
Not sure what a HandTrux is? From the HandTrux website:
HandTrux IS ALL ABOUT the kids. Inventor Ernest Autumn Van Den Heuvel reveals thoughts on his brainchild. According to Van Den Heuvel, there is nothing that brings him more joy than to see a child's face light up when presented with the HandTrux model. Van Den Heuvel tells the story of one such occurrence: he had taken to carrying a small stock of the recently released HandTrux Backhoe toys in his truck so that he would be able to give them to any families he would happen across. One day, Van Den Heuvel says, he was stopped at a gas station when he encountered a distraught-looking boy and his father. Van Den Heuvel, wanting to cheer the boy up, went up to the father and explained that he was a toy inventor and would like to give a toy to the child. The father, who was amazed to be meeting the inventor of the toy he had heard so much about, readily agreed. Van Den Heuvel describes the awe and joy on the boy's face as he is presented with the HandTrux Backhoe. The boy knew how it worked and excitedly thrust out his arm so that Van Den Heuvel could slide the toy on. "Daddy?!" the child asked, and at his father's nod he began to play immediately. There was no longer a trace of his earlier sorrows. "That is my favorite thing," says Van Den Heuvel, about the simple joy of seeing amazement glowing on a child's face.
The HandTrux line is designed to unleash a child's imagination. Van Den Heuvel feels strongly about the importance of expanding the creativity of young minds. In this day and age, where video game consoles dominate the children's entertainment market, Van Den Heuvel fears that kids are being taught to pigeonhole their minds into the world that the game produces for them. They cannot think beyond the dimensions of these digital, pre-made universes. Van Den Heuvel believes that the mind is a precious thing, deserving of respect and honor; creativity is something to cherish and nurture. With HandTrux, kids make their own world to construct or excavate in. There are no limitations to how wide or far the imagination stretches a universe, and that is just how it should be.
We were sent a HandTrux toy last week to review, and I was barely able to get it out of the box before my son and youngest daughter were arguing over who was going to use it to dig in the dirt first.
What I like About HandTrux!
I love that my kiddos (especially the lil ones) had a blast playing with the toy. I also like that Lil Man and Lil Diva can be so creative while they’re playing with the HandTrux toy, while the toy is clearly designed to dig, my kiddos have managed to come up with some very unique and creative ways to use it…and I love that!
What I don’t love about HandTrux!
They are kinda hard to use. I tried using the HandTrux toy before my little ones and it was not easy. Between my wrist being uncomfortable using it and it being extremely hard to operate it just seemed rather difficult and uncomfortable to use. That didn’t however, prevent my youngest kiddos from having a blast with it digging in the dirt!
And right now through September HandTrux has a very cool contest going on that you might want to check out…details below!
Beach + Summer Vacation + Kids = Sand Castle Contest! HandTrux Toys just announced the 1st Annual “You Can Really Dig It” Sand Sculpting Contest starting now through September 2011. We encourage families to build their wildest, most imaginative sand sculptures and submit their photographs. Winners will be chosen across all age categories and announced on September 30, 2011.
Details:
• Take pictures of your prized sand sculptures
• Submit your photographs to www.HandTruxToys.com/contest.asp.
• Open to all US and Canadian residents.
• Photos will be judged by creativity and originality.
• Vote for the winner at: www.HandTruxToys.com/contest.asp.
• Prizes awarded include: cash, gift certificates, autographed HandTrux Backhoes and other really cool prizes.
Follow along on the Facebook, Twitter, and the HandTrux Toys website to see who you’re up against as a new “King/Queen of the Sand Castle” will be posted weekly. “Come On & Get Dirty - You Can Really Dig It!”
You can purchase HandTrux online at the HandTrux website!
I received the product mentioned above for review purposes…all opinions are 100% my own!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
It’s been hot in Ohio this summer…I mean HOT! While summer might normally mean tons of fun outside, the higher the mercury climbs the more my kiddos are staying in doors where it’s cool.
Of course, having 6 children stuck inside on a hot summer day means hearing lots of, “MOM, we’re bored!” and the ever popular, “There’s NOTHING to do!”. It’s not always easy to find something that all 6 of the kids like to do and it’s even harder finding something that will keep their attention for more than 10 minutes, that’s why I was more than happy when I received Glow Crazy for them to review!
If you’re unfamiliar with Glow Crazy let me give you the low-down on this wicked cool toy!
Glow Crazy is a glow-in-the-dark drawing toy that has provided my kiddos with hours of fun so far this summer. Essentially Glow Crazy is a Magic Lightwand (think Lightsabers for kids that they can magically draw and write with) that your child can use to write and draw on the provided canvas wall clings. When I say that this thing is cool, I mean it, even my husband and I have played around with Glow Crazy (when the kids weren’t looking of course). All you need is a dark room, batteries, and a wall…and your little ones will be drawing until their hearts content!
What you get when you order Glow Crazy!
1 Dual-action Magic Lightwand
2 canvas wall clings
4 Stencils
Tip booklet
And for less than $6 more you can get a second magic lightwand
5 canvas wall clings
AND 4 more stencils
Some cool features of Glow Crazy!
Works from over 10 feet away!
You can draw and write freehand or use the provided stencils!
You can easily make silhouettes!
Make wide beams or thin beams!
Target practice has never been more fun!
Discover a new form of Tic-Tac-Toe…Tic-Tac-Glow!
Why we loved Glow Crazy!
I love Glow Crazy because it’s easy enough for my youngest children to play with and still fun enough for our oldest kiddos to have a good time. I also love that there is absolutely ZERO mess involved and that the wall clings can be easily moved from one wall to another without damaging the paint! Glow Crazy is also a great way to inspire creativity in your children and as a mom I love that about this “toy”!
What I Don’t Love About Glow Crazy!
Honestly, there’s not one bad thing I have to say about the product…my children LOVE it and I love that they can all have fun playing with Glow Crazy. The one thing I would suggest to all of you mommy and daddy’s out there is to make sure you order enough Glow Crazy’s so that you have one magic lightwand for each child. I was sent one Lightwand and it has been a constant battle between the older kids and the little kids over whose turn it is to draw.
Aside from the fights over the Lightwand I would buy Glow Crazy in a second for all of my kids, they all have a great time playing with it, it definitely sparks major creativity, and it’s an awesome alternative to video or computer games or television!
Buy it!
You can purchase Glow Crazy (which includes all of the items listed above) from the Glow Crazy website for $24.99!
*I received the product mentioned above for review purposes, all opinions are 100% my own.*
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
You may remember back a few weeks ago when I worked with the WB Word of Mouth on a campaign for Supernatural, well I’m working with them again and this time it’s Supernatural the Anime Series that’s coming to DVD/Blu-Ray and you are NOT going to want to miss this!
As always we receive a prompt related to the show, this time is no different, and the prompt this time is…
After being separated for years, the Winchester brothers come together and surmount enormous obstacles (including some pretty gnarly demons) in search of their father. Throughout the show, family and brotherhood specifically is a very important theme. In fact, it is often the key element that saves each brother’s life when things get the most dangerous. How has family been there for you in moments of crisis? Do you have a brother or sister that you would stand alongside and fight demons?
Well, while my family is not as close as we once were (and that’s a post in itself) we are still always there for each other when it’s needed most. There’s never a time that I can remember when my mother or sister haven’t been there for me when I really needed them.
On the flip side of that I’ve also been blessed with an amazing mother-in-law who I love like a mom and who has always been there for me and my husband whenever we’ve needed her.
Growing up my sister and I were pretty close, and though we’ve grown apart a little as we’ve grown older there is nothing that I wouldn’t do for her, and I’d like to think that she feels the same way about me. That said I would gladly stand beside her and fight whatever demons came her way…that’s just what family does…right?
Do you feel the same way about your family? Is your family as close as the Winchester family?
And don’t forget, you can order your copy of Supernatural: The Anime Series on DVD or Blu-Ray here today: http://bit.ly/p0WOMq !
“I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote Supernatural: The Anime Series on DVD/Blu-Ray."
Monday, July 18, 2011
Summertime is in full swing and at my house that means lots of outdoor activities! With 6 very active children at my house for the summer I am constantly looking for outside activities that they can all enjoy and given their varying ages that is not always an easy task. While the trampoline and the pool are always popular choices in the summer, there’s only so much jumping and swimming the kiddos can do before they get bored. I haven’t had to worry too much this summer about the kids getting bored, thanks to Sportcraft!
Sportcraft is THE place to go for discounted billiard tables, dartboards, and so many other family games! Whether you’re in the market for a new foosball table or basketball hoop, Sportcraft has it and they have it for a great price!
I received the 5 Game Combo set from Sportcraft a few weeks ago to review, and just in the nick of time too! The 5 Game Combo set from Sportcraft is 5 games for one super-low price; Volleyball, Badminton, Shuttle Smash, Jai Lite, and Flying Disk. I chose the 5 Game Combo set to review because with six kids it’s never easy finding a sport or activity that they all enjoy, but this set has a little something for every one of them!
5 Game Combo Set Features:
· Two Badminton Rackets With Tempered Steel Shafts
Two ultra durable shuttlecocks
· Backyard Play Vinyl Volleyball
· 20'' x 1 1/2''x 1 1/2" (3-ply) Knotless Net
· Quick Set-Up Net System Patented On Net Scorekeeping System
· Create your own games with Shuttle Smash, Jai Lite, and Flying Disk
I have had other game sets like this one in the past, but this one seemed to be a little more substantial and more well-made than the ones I remember. While the kids had a blast playing with the flying disk I wanted to set up the volleyball/badminton net so that we could really get down to business and play volleyball…one of our family’s favorites! While putting the net up was a bit of a challenge, the poles are not the greatest and had a tendency to bend and bow while we were trying to get the net in place, we did eventually get the net up and it was smooth sailing from there! I can’t tell you how much fun all of us had playing volleyball, the 5 Game Combo set has been a great way to spend time together as a family being active and an awesome boredom buster. The one suggestion for improvement I have for the product would be to make the net poles more sturdy, during a pretty bad storm that we had recently the wind snapped one of our poles in half and rendered the net useless. We did easily manage to rig up a replacement pole so that the kids could continue to play and it hasn’t stopped the fun!
Buy it!
You can purchase the 5 Game Combo set from Sportcraft for $41.99.
Guess what? Sportcraft has all kinds of outdoor (and indoor) family games and one very lucky Misadventures in Baby Raising reader is going to win one!
What You Can Win!
Winner will receive his/her choice of one (1) of the games listed below.
How to Win!
To enter this giveaway please leave a comment telling me which of the games listed above (or any other game from the Sportcraft website) you like most.
Extra Entries!
Please leave separate comments for each additional entry!
Follow MIBR via GFC (2 extra entries)
Follow MIBR via Email (2 extra entries)
Follow MIBR via RSS Feed (e extra entries)
Like” Misadventures in Baby Raising on Facebook (3 extra entries)
“Like” Sportcraft on Facebook (3 extra entries)
Follow Sportcraft on Twitter (3 extra entries)
Follow MIBR on Twitter (3 extra entries)
Follow MIBR on Networked Blogs (3 extra entries)
Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter…Make sure you leave the URL to your Tweet in your comments! (2 tweets per day = 2 extra entries per day)
#WIN an awesome outdoor game from @SportcraftLTD at MIBR| #giveaway @Allie_23| Enter Now: http://tinyurl.com/3msh33t
Share this giveaway with your Friends and/or Fans on Facebook by linking to this post on your wall. (You can share 2 times per day with your friends/fans on Facebook)
Submit this giveaway to a giveaway site or linky…please leave a link to the giveaway posting in your comment. (5 extra entries per giveaway site or linky)
Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post. (5 extra entries)
This giveaway ends on Monday August 1, 2011 at 1:59 PM EST. One (1) winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced in a separate winner’s post shortly after the giveaway has ended. Winner will have 48 hours to claim his/her prize, failure to respond to winner’s email in a timely manner will result in winner forfeiting his/her prize and me choosing a new winner. Giveaway open to US residents only please!
*I received the product mentioned above for review purposes, all opinions are 100% my own!*
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Let’s be honest, Jennifer Lopez and her husband Marc Anthony are HOT right now and everything they put their names on seem to be as hot as they are, so it seems only natural that they would come out with a joint clothing line…right? Well they have and Kohl's has it for Fall 2011, and it get’s better, Kohl’s Department Stores is launching a Facebook contest that is offering 15 very lucky winners a chance to live it up with their best friend in New York City! Check out all of the details below!
To celebrate the fall 2011 launch of the exclusive Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony Collections, Kohl’s Department Stores is launching a Facebook contest, offering 15 lucky winners a chance to live it up with their best friend in New York City. While it’s apparent that Jennifer and Marc have a lot of love for each other, Kohl’s is launching an online contest to find out who has the most love for Jennifer and Marc. The “Best Friends Getaway Contest,” invites participants to submit a creative video to show why they love Jennifer and / or Marc. Fifteen winners will be selected to win an all-expense paid trip to New York City with their best friend to experience everything that Jennifer and Marc love about their hometown of New York City.
To enter, legal residents of the 50 United States and District of Columbia , 18 and older, can submit a video on the Kohl’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/kohls), starting July 11 at 12:00 p.m. CT and ending at 11:59 p.m. CT on July 30, 2011. Facebook users, who haven’t done so already, must “Like” the Kohl’s Facebook page to unlock the entry form. Only one entry per person is permitted. The winning videos will be selected based on four equally weighted criteria, including: originality / creativity of the video submission; personality of the entrant; level of enthusiasm expressed during the video; fan voting by their peers within the Kohl’s Facebook community. To view a complete listing of the contest rules and to enter to win, visit www.Facebook.com/kohls.
The 15 winners will be announced on August 12, 2011. In addition to winning an all-expense paid trip for two to New York City , including airfare, hotel and transportation, contest winners will receive star treatment for the day, including:
- Entry to a star-studded NYC Fashion Week event in September
- Dinner at one of Jennifer and Marc’s favorite NYC restaurants
- A pampering session at an NYC salon
- A $500 Kohl’s gift card
- $500 spending cash
- A flip cam to document their travels / experiences to be shared via Kohl’s online and social media sites following the event.
The Jennifer Lopez Collection includes contemporary sportswear, dresses, handbags, jewelry, shoes, and sleepwear along with a home collection of bedding and towels. The Marc Anthony Collection consists of sportswear, dress shirts, neckwear, accessories, suit separates, sport coats, and shoes. Both collections will be available at Kohl’s stores nationwide and Kohls.com beginning this September.
Hey y’all! I know I haven’t been around much since July 4th, blame it on my husband and his kidney stones, and since he has another surgery scheduled for tomorrow it’s looking like it’s going to be another couple of days before I really get back into the swing of things. Not to worry though, because when I do get back to business I have all kinds of awesome reviews, stories, and giveaways just for you!
Many of you may remember me talking about Company Kids and The Company Store and how much I adore them, well they have a completely awesome offer going on right now that you will definitely want to check out! So what’s this offer you ask? You can check out all of the awesome details below…happy shopping!
How cool is that? Remember the chance to win will only be around until August 8th (no worries, there’s still plenty of time left to win your shopping bag) so head over to The Company Store now and check out the selection of adorable bookbags and dorm essentials (school time is almost upon us again) and you might just get lucky and WIN your shopping bag!
Monday, July 11, 2011
If there’s one thing I learned from being a mom, it’s that cereal fixes everything; late-night munchies…eat cereal, need a quick and easy breakfast…eat cereal, have a boo boo…eat cereal. Seriously, cereal is the answer to most questions at my house, my children love it and my husband, well let’s just say he enjoys a bowl (or 3) for breakfast as well. While I’m not a huge cereal eater myself, there is one cereal that I always keep around the house…Post Pebbles!
Now I’m an old-school Fruity Pebbles fan, when I was younger I could have eaten it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner without thinking twice, and I must admit it kinda takes me back to those days when I pour a bowl for my own kiddos now. Needless to say, we always have Pebbles on hand, whether they’re Fruity or Cocoa there is always a box around here somewhere. That’s why I was pretty excited when I heard about NEW Pebbles Boulders, and even more excited that I was going to get to try them!
“Introducing a new cereal with Mammoth taste from Pebbles! New Pebbles Boulders cereal has 16 grams of whole grains along with playful boulders and dinosaur bones—offering a boulder part of a complete breakfast!
Only Pebbles has the fun of Fred Flintsone, Barney Rubble, and the rest of THE FLINTSTONES gang.
New Pebbles Boulders Stone Age Caramel Apple cereal is available for a limited time…so make sure to snag some before it’s too late!”
With a houseful of kiddos this summer (and two very hungry grown men) I had the perfect guinea pigs to help me test out Pebbles Boulders! Everyone was eager to try the new cereal and it was a hit with 8 out of the 9 people in our house…my husband isn’t really a caramel apple fan so he was a little bias going in. The kids loved Pebbles Boulders saying it was just the right balance of caramel and apple flavors, and the babies loved the little bones. I personally enjoyed the cereal finding it sweet enough for the kids taste, but not too sweet for mine.
We definitely give Pebbles Boulders 2 big thumbs up…and I’ve already had numerous requests to “BUY MORE MOM!” I’d say it was a definite hit around here!
Thursday, July 7, 2011
This week has been a whirlwind of busy activity (and not in a good way). On Monday night my husband tossed and turned, tossed and turned ALL NIGHT until about 5 am when he woke up in so much pain that it kind of scared me. We decided that he needed to go to the ER so at 5:30 am with less than 2 hours of sleep between us we headed to the hospital.
Six hours later my husband had been given a shot of Toradol (a pain medicine typically given for kidney stones), a shot of Morphine, an IV, and 2 XRAY’s. We soon found out, much to our dismay, that a rather large kidney stone was the cause of all of the pain. Kidney stones are nothing new for my husband, he has had 3 in the past year, but this particular kidney stone was too large and too stubborn for my husband to pass on his own. When the urologist told my husband that he was going to have to have surgery I think Jamie was ready to get up and run right then, never having had any type of surgery before…ever, Jamie was less than thrilled with the thought of being put to sleep.
Fast forward to yesterday morning and we were back at the hospital, this time for Jamie to have the stone surgically removed. Around 1 pm the urologist came out of the OR to let me know how things had gone during surgery, he let me know that Jamie was doing fine and coming around in the recovery room, that was the last bit of good news that we received. The urologist went on to tell me that the stone was stuck in the urinary tract and that he was unable to remove it. Instead of removing the stone the urologist had to force the stone back into the kidney, which to me sounds beyond horrible, and added a stent to the area of the urinary tract being obstructed by the stone. On top of the painfully annoying stent, my husband found out that he would have to go back to another urologist (the one he seen yesterday is going out of the country this Saturday…figures) on Monday or Tuesday of next week to have the stone either pulled out or lasered into passable pieces. That means driving at least an hour away to another hospital, seeing a new doctor, having to go through surgery again, having another stent inserted (for at least 3 days) and then having it removed the following Monday. On top of all of that my husband hasn’t been to work at all this week and will likely not be able to to go work next week either, thank God my husband works for an amazing company and he has enough paid sick days and paid vacation amassed that he will still get paid.
My husband and I have been together for nearly 5 years and I’ve never in that time, ever, seen him in so much pain. He’s heavily, heavily medicated (thank God) and hasn’t felt like doing anything the past few days…it’s been a long week, hence no posts from me!
I just thought I’d let y’all know why I haven’t been around this week, hopefully things will be back to normal soon. Hope y’all are enjoying this gorgeous, HOT, July weather!
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Over the years I’ve learned that marriage is a balancing act and in order to keep yourself from falling on your face you have to make a few sacrifices, even if those sacrifices mean that your husband is going to be right…I know I don’t like the sound of that either.
One of the things that my husband and I seem to disagree about most is his need for the latest, biggest, and most expensive electronics. If he’s not arguing his case for why he has to have the latest game system then he’s arguing about why he should get the newest, biggest, best flat screen. For you to understand my frustration you have to understand that we already have more than enough electronics in our house, we already have the Grandfather of all flat screens, and we have enough game systems and accessories to keep all 6 of our children busy 24/7. To my complete surprise one of our biggest disagreements happened over not the flat screen televisions, but what the place the television on.
Last spring my husband decided that he wanted to get rid of the entertainment center, i.e. the one I love and picked out, for something that took up a little less room. At the time we lived in a much smaller house and our family room was much too small to accommodate the massive television in the first place. Even though I adored the entertainment center I agreed to consider other options in order to create more space in the family room. My husband first brought up the idea of a wall mount for our television, but given the trouble that we had had with our old plasma TV mount and the size of our current TV, we both agreed that a wall mount was not the best choice…little did I know that would be the last thing we agreed on. After deciding against a wall mount we began looking for TV stands for flat screens, and the choices seemed endless. Of course my husband wanted something “manly” looking and I wanted something “pretty” and needless to say finding something that offered both was not an easy feat. Every stand that I suggested was either too big or had too many shelves or was just not right and every stand that he suggested was, well, they were all just hideous, to say we were at an impasse is a huge understatement. After weeks (and yes it did literally take us weeks to find the perfect stand) we were no where near agreeing on a TV stand.
A few days after our last frustrating trip to what seemed like 50 furniture stores I was working online when I decided to look around and see if I could find something that fit both of our criteria and that’s when it happened, I found the perfect TV stand. It was a Bello TV stand that fit all of our wants and needs; it was manly while still being gorgeous, it was big enough to accommodate our TV without being too big for the space, and it had the perfect amount of shelves and drawers…it was just perfect. To my complete surprise my husband seemed to agree completely when he saw the stand…who knew getting my husband to agree about anything could be that easy?
A little over a year later we still have that TV stand in our family room…and we both still agree that it’s perfect.
One of the things that my husband and I seem to disagree about most is his need for the latest, biggest, and most expensive electronics. If he’s not arguing his case for why he has to have the latest game system then he’s arguing about why he should get the newest, biggest, best flat screen. For you to understand my frustration you have to understand that we already have more than enough electronics in our house, we already have the Grandfather of all flat screens, and we have enough game systems and accessories to keep all 6 of our children busy 24/7. To my complete surprise one of our biggest disagreements happened over not the flat screen televisions, but what the place the television on.
Last spring my husband decided that he wanted to get rid of the entertainment center, i.e. the one I love and picked out, for something that took up a little less room. At the time we lived in a much smaller house and our family room was much too small to accommodate the massive television in the first place. Even though I adored the entertainment center I agreed to consider other options in order to create more space in the family room. My husband first brought up the idea of a wall mount for our television, but given the trouble that we had had with our old plasma TV mount and the size of our current TV, we both agreed that a wall mount was not the best choice…little did I know that would be the last thing we agreed on. After deciding against a wall mount we began looking for TV stands for flat screens, and the choices seemed endless. Of course my husband wanted something “manly” looking and I wanted something “pretty” and needless to say finding something that offered both was not an easy feat. Every stand that I suggested was either too big or had too many shelves or was just not right and every stand that he suggested was, well, they were all just hideous, to say we were at an impasse is a huge understatement. After weeks (and yes it did literally take us weeks to find the perfect stand) we were no where near agreeing on a TV stand.
A few days after our last frustrating trip to what seemed like 50 furniture stores I was working online when I decided to look around and see if I could find something that fit both of our criteria and that’s when it happened, I found the perfect TV stand. It was a Bello TV stand that fit all of our wants and needs; it was manly while still being gorgeous, it was big enough to accommodate our TV without being too big for the space, and it had the perfect amount of shelves and drawers…it was just perfect. To my complete surprise my husband seemed to agree completely when he saw the stand…who knew getting my husband to agree about anything could be that easy?
A little over a year later we still have that TV stand in our family room…and we both still agree that it’s perfect.
Friday, July 1, 2011
If you’re a Little Tikes fan like me then you will definitely appreciate this post!
Little Tikes has been super busy getting ready for their Christmas in July event. This year, in addition to the about 150 items we’ve put on sale (just do a quick search www.LittleTikes.com for the phrase “Christmas in July” and you’ll see ALL the fabulous deals), we’re going make it even sweeter for this weekend only. For the holiday weekend we’re giving all of our loyal customers an extra 5% off. This includes items already on sale! Just use the code: BANG at checkout to redeem the 5% savings. (This is for your product total only before shipping and taxes. But don’t worry; we also have tons of items with Everyday Free Shipping!) Hurry in quick, the extra special deal only lasts from Thursday June 30th and ends on Wednesday July 6th!
Since July 4th is this coming Monday and I know that everyone will be having cookouts and get-together’s this long weekend I thought I’d share one of my favorite dessert recipes with y’all. These are easy, absolutely amazingly yummy, and you can even make them red, white, and blue in honor of the 4th!
Red, White, and Blue Jell-O Cupcakes!
Makes 2 dozen
1 box of white cake mix (prepared according to package directions)
1 3 oz. box of your favorite red Jell-O (we used cherry)
1 tub of Cool-Whip
Blue food coloring (optional)
Preheat oven according to package directions. Prepare white cake mix according to package directions, fill cupcake pan (lined with cupcake papers) 3/4 of the way full and follow the baking instructions for cupcakes. Once the cupcakes have cooled place the cupcakes inside of a baking dish (I used 2 13x9 baking dishes to accommodate all of the cupcakes). With a toothpick or fork poke holes into the tops of the cupcakes (going about 3/4 of the way into the cupcakes…be careful NOT to poke through the bottom of the cupcakes).
Meanwhile dissolve Jell-O using 1 cup of boiling water and set aside. DO NOT add the cold water to the Jell-O! Once the Jell-O has dissolved pour into a measuring cup and then slowly soak the top of each cupcake with enough of the Jell-O to cover the top. Once all of the cupcakes have been soaked with Jell-O transfer the cupcakes into clean baking dishes and refrigerate at least 2 hours (I made them the night before and refrigerated them, covered, overnight).
Right before serving cupcakes (or up to an hour or two before if you cover and refrigerate afterward) add 2 to 3 drops of food coloring to the Cool Whip and lightly fold until you reach the desired blue color (you can also skip this step and just use the Cool Whip as is, which is what I did). If adding food coloring be careful not to mix or whip the air out of the Cool Whip. Frost the top of each cupcake with Cool Whip and serve.
These cupcakes are AMAZING and you WILL be asked to make them every single time there is a get-together! The best part is that they are beyond moist and so full of flavor from the Jell-O! Enjoy!
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)
Popular Posts
-
**Updated at bottom with winner* Thanks so much to all who entered! I have always loved jewelry. When I was a little girl I remember...
-
Something about me that may come as a surprise to all of you is that I have carpal tunnel. I was diagnosed with moderate to severe car...
-
I am very lucky in that all of my children love to be creative. Since birth my children have seemed to be able to find creativity in nearly...
