Free Admission in 2010 for Servicemen at Anheuser-Busch Seven Theme Parks

"Here's to the Heroes," a program sponsored by Anheuser-Busch, provides free admission in 2010 for any active duty, active reserve, National Guardsman or ready reserve servicemember representing any of the five service branches and as many as three of his or her direct dependents. All servicemembers need to do is register online at http://www.herosalute.com/ or in the entrance plaza of a participating park, and show a Department of Defense (DoD) photo identification. Each pass is valid for a one-day admission per person per year to five of Anheuser-Busch's seven theme park brands.

Information from:  http://www.military.com/military-report/free-theme-park-admission

Family Fun Night & Great Hasbro Offer

We started a family tradition back in the fall of "Family Fun Night" and one of our family Christmas presents will help us to continue the new tradition.  We bought one of those bigger but small popcorn theater type popcorn makers and I just ordered the same popcorn, coconut oil and salts that the movie theaters use.  I think instead of a movie, we'll take advantage of Hasbro's great new offer.

Hasbro has Create Your Own Family Game Night special where you choose six games and get one free for only $13.99 a month (plus shipping and handling).  If you sign up for this, you will also get the bonus pack that includes:

• 2 free Dominos pizza coupons
• Family Game Night trophy (great idea for the kids!)
• Family Game Night Score Sheet

What makes it even more enticing, you don't know which game you will receive so it will be a surprise each month.  There are restrictions in choosing the games and they break it down to three groups but the games include:

• Monopoly
• Boggle
• The Game of Life
• Battleship
• Scrabble Upwords
• Sorry
• Clue
• Hungry Hungry Hippos
• Taboo
• Memory
• Chutes and Ladders and many, many others.

There is even a breakdown for bundles that simplifies the decision making based on children, new games, adult games, family fun and strategy based games.

Tips for Starting a Blog for Reviews and Giveaways

Need some tips for starting a blog or establishing relationships with Public Relations professionals for reviews and giveaways?  Check out my guest blog at SheBlogs:

http://www.sheblogs.org/2009/12/tips-for-starting-the-path-to-product-reviews-and-giveaways/#comments

Blogger Giveaways Available Outside of US?

I'm curious as to the blogger sites that allow giveaways for outside the US and what interests there are.  I notice on my Feedlink that I get hits from other countries and most giveaways are for US only.  Is there an interest for more products available outside the US?  Feel free to leave a comment or send me an e-mail at staying_younger@yahoo.com.

Thanks!

Higher Education Opportunity Act: Great News for Military Spouses & Dependents

The reauthorization of the Higher Education Opportunity Act of July 1, 2009 allows spouses and dependents of active duty service members for a period of more than 30 days will eligible for in-state tuition at public universities and colleges in the site where they reside OR where permanent residency is.  In addition, as long as the student is enrolled, they will continue to pay in-state tuition rates regardless of the next PCS.

This is great news!

Marcasite and Onyx Heart Sterling Silver Pendant Giveaway

This elegant Marcasite and Onyx Heart pendant is crafted of genuine sterling silver.

Specifications:

• Sterling silver locket and chain
• Heart-shaped locket features polished onyx stone and sparkling marcasite stones
• 18-inch-long box chain closes with a spring ring clasp
• Dimensions: 31mm H x 24 mm W
• Materials: Sterling Silver Marcasite and Onyx
  
• $55 value
  

Click HERE for the Gift Pack 4 Giveaway.

Current Valentine's Day Gift Pack Giveaways: More Coming Soon!

Current Giveaway Packages:


Gift Pack 1:

• Two Customized Chocomize Chocolate Bars
• $25 Zazzle Gift Certificate
• Chocolate:  A Love Story Hardcover Recipe Collecton

Gift Pack 2:

• Skinfood Skincare Three Products 
• $25 Kmart Gift Card
• 1 Mini Bottle of Estee Lauder Sensuous
• 1 Mini Bottle of Wild Honeysuckle
• 1 Mini Bottle Pure White Linen

Gift Pack 3:

• Sprig Toys Adventure Dino Set
• $10 Walmart Gift Card

Gift Pack 4:

• $25 Eden Fantasys Gift Card

Stay tuned for more giveaways, reviews and ideas!  Items will be added to gift packs as they come so you never know, a gift pack might end up with more items for each lucky winner!

Get Denise Austin’s new book, FREE!

Denise Austin has a new diet and fitness book designed to blast away fat and get you fit in no time. It’s called Denise’s Daily Dozen: The Easy, Every Day Program to Lose Up to 12 Pounds in 2 Weeks! To thank you for being a loyal Morning Stretch with Denise Austin subscriber, they’re giving away a FREE copy to the first 50 people who respond via e-mail.

Just send an email with your full name and mailing address* to giveaways@deniseaustin.com.

Imagine, over 300 pages of illustrated exercises, meal plans, recipes, success stories and more from Denise Austin – absolutely FREE!

Get ready to burn fat, boost metabolism, tone up and get into the best shape of your life!

Scarecrow Finds a Friend by Blume J. Rifken Book Review

Product Details:

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Whirlpool Press (August 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0979694809
• ISBN-13: 978-0979694806

Imagine a witch needing help to regain her flying powers from a scarecrow and you have this delightful children's story by author Blume J. Rifken.  Tally, who is a good witch, lost her power to fly and needs the help of Scarecrow to regain those powers.  Scarecrow met Tally at Halloween when she granted him a wish.  Tally grants many wishes and forgot that the very thing that gave her happiness could take away her abilities to fly.  Unknown to them, Scarecrow has a plan and the story gives the little ones a chance to see a true form of friendship and the rewarding outcome of helping one another.

This is a heartwarming story about friendship and teamwork.  It is a great read anytime but particularly a good choice during the fall.  Both my girls were delighted as I read the story to them and they enjoyed the illustrations by Carl Wenzel.

The author, Blume J. Rifken, is a former fashion illustrator and is the author of Silhouettes in America, 1790-1840: A Collector's Guide.  Scarecrow Finds a Friend was her first book inspired by her two grandchildren.

 

Military Spouses MyCAA Career Advancement Account

Are you taking advantage of the Department of Defenses' Military Spouse Career Advancement Account (MyCAA)?  If not, you should as it's $6,000 that can be paid towards a degree to include advanced degrees, educational training, counseling and license fees.  This is a program for spouses of active duty personnel and activated Reserve Components that started last May of 2009.

Call 1-800-342-9647 or click here for more information:  https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa/mosLogin.aspx.  There is a two week backlog per the site.

Disappointed Zhu Zhu Pet: Wheels Don't Turn

I wonder if others are having issues with their Zhu Zhu Pets?  I ended up buying three and gave one away as a giveaway in the spirit of Christmas and ended up keeping the one that ended up being broken much to the dismay of my six year old.  The wheels won't turn but the other one works. I haven't heard from my winner if their Zhu Zhu works.

I just wrote the toy company to see if there is anything they could do.

Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving: Take the Pledge

Take the pledge to not get behind the wheel even if you or someone you know is only buzzed as buzzed driving is drunk driving.  Impaired driving is no accident. It's a serious and deadly crime that kills every 30 minutes.  This holiday season, especially tomorrow night, New Year's Eve, is a particular time to ensure no one is injured or killed over drinking and driving.

Watch Emily's story on how Buzzed Driving affected her life:



The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA), the Ad Council and Global Influence wants everyone to drive smart all the time and especially tomorrow night.  Take the pledge, follow on Twitter (@buzzeddriving) and become a Facebook fan. 

In 2008, nearly 12,000 people in the U.S. were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes - and during the periods around Christmas and New Year's, this number was particularly high, with 316 people killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes. In 2007, 162,493 women were arrested for a DUI, an increase of almost 29% since 1998. 

I have not lost anyone fortunately to drunken driving and pray I never do.  It's such a tragic and senseless act to commit. 

Disclaimer:  I was not compensated for this post.  I am a member of the Global Influence who partnered with NHSTA and the Ad Council to spread awareness.

Merry Christmas!

I bought a Santa suit and had my daughter's boyfriend dress up to "catch" some surprise pictures for the younger one's of Santa placing the presents.  I woke up the six year old to quietly join in on the surprise but she was too tired to be coherent and didn't remember a thing this morning.  Luckily I had pictures to show her which she was tickled over.

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

12 Pearls of Christmas: Celebrate

What Really Matters
by Dawn Meehan

In the hustle and bustle and commercialism of Christmas, take time to remember the real reason why we celebrate - the birth of Christ, our Lord and Saviour. May you all have a blessed Christmas!

I had a VERY long day with the kids doing little but fighting. By the time we left for church, we were all short tempered, snapping at each other, and not at all in the Christmas spirit. Thankfully, once at church, we calmed down. Things were put in perspective for us. We sang Christmas songs and began to smile at one another again. The kids didn't fight once while we were there. Well, they did use their battery operated candles as light sabers for a minute, but we'll forget about that part.

I never sent out cards (sorry to all my family and friends). It just didn't happen this year. I don't think I ever completely finished my shopping, but it's a little late now. Several items I ordered online have been back ordered. I just realized that the kids have eaten all the cookies I've made and there are none to put out for Santa now. I encouraged them to leave him a glass of wine instead. And I failed to read the Christmas story to the kids before they went to bed.

But you know what? None of that matters. It really doesn't. Christmas is here! Christ is born! And He doesn't care if we sent out Christmas cards. He doesn't care if we ate all the cookies we baked. He doesn't even care if we never got around to baking a single cookie at all! He loves us no matter how much we screw up.

Now that's worth celebrating!

_____________________________

Dawn Meehan (aka mom2my6pack) grew up in Chicagoland where she began her writing career at the age of 5 with her widely praised, The Lucky Leprechaun, an epic tale of a leprechaun who is- yes, you guessed it, lucky.

Dawn has six children, basically because she didn't want seven. She is the author of Because I Said So and spends her days blogging at BecauseISaidSo.com, changing diapers, cleaning pudding off her ceiling, tackling insurmountable piles of laundry, and explaining to her kids why they can't have a pet squirrel or an indoor slip-n-slide.

__________________________________

A three strand pearl necklace will be given away on New Year's Day. All you need to do to have a chance of winning is leave a comment here. Come back on New Year's Day to see if you won!

12 Pearls of Christmas Series and contest sponsored by Pearl Girls®. For more information, please visit http://www.pearlgirls.info/

The Coupon Mom Show!

In tough economic times, Coupon Mom comes to the rescue and helps stretch your dollars to the max!

Stephanie Nelson, better known as Coupon Mom™, has appeared on numerous television shows (The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Today Show, and others) to share her remarkable tips and tricks for getting the biggest bang for your buck without sacrificing on quality! Now you too can learn the tips and tricks of strategic shopping and see how to save big money with the Coupon Mom Show!

With one new episode posted weekly until late April, you’ll know everything about saving from shopping at grocery stores and drug stores to eating at restaurants inexpensively and even entertaining on a budget. There are even a lot of fun hands-on challenges and an intensive savings boot camp! Perfect for any real family learning to save money! If you're hoping to save 25% or 50% or even up to 75% this show can help!

About the Coupon Mom Show

The Coupon Mom Show teaches viewers how to save money by watching Stephanie Nelson work with real families to solve their savings challenges in a fun and entertaining way. In each episode, Coupon Mom addresses different financial challenges, from families that want to slash their grocery bills to those hoping to save on holiday meals, birthday parties or even school supplies and provides saving solutions for them. New episodes of the Coupon Mom Show will be airing every Thursday on YouTube and on the Coupon Mom Show website.

Have a question for Coupon Mom? Viewers can submit questions and challenges to the Coupon Mom Show forum.

About Coupon Mom

Stephanie Nelson has built a loyal following and has become a trusted source. She has been featured as an expert on Oprah Winfrey Show, The Today Show, The Early Show, Good Morning America, and profiled on MSN, AOL, Yahoo, and many other sites. Her site, http://www.couponmom.com/, attracts more than 1 million unique visitors per month, and she distributes her money saving newsletter to more than 1.5 million subscribers.