Shameless Season 2 - Sundays on Showtime

Shameless is just what it sounds like it's about.  Shameless is starting up on Season 2 with all of Season 1 available on DVD/Blu-Ray.  Through Season 1, we saw the struggles that each of the Gallagher children endure the shameless antics of a father that is drunk all the time.  It must be hard being a child with the only remaining parent left being so pathetic but Macy plays such a great role in this entire make up of a dysfunctional family.  At the end of Season 1, Steve tried to convince the oldest, Fiona, to skip town and enjoy all the warmth and care-free environment that Costa Rica has to offer.


One can only imagine all the thoughts she had going through her mind with removing all the responsibilities she has being the parental role in that house.  Not only would that be a huge factor in her decision but she also has to struggle with what she would leave behind.  Although burdensome, she is the glue that keeps this family together.  I can't blame her at all.  It would be easy to take that route but at the end of the day when you know others are depending on you, it's a no brainer.  If Steve truly loved her, he would understand that it's not even an option for her.  Have you ever been in a love over family situation where it would appear that love would be the easy way out but family's love trumps?


If you are a fan or soon to be, check out a scene from Shameless here:



Shameless - 'We Have a Proposition' by thewbdotcom


Don't forget to tune in on Sundays at 9 p.m. (ET/PT) on Showtime to catch Season 2 of Shameless.


Buy Shameless on DVD or Shameless on Blu-Ray.

*Disclosure:  I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote Shameless Season One on DVD.

Baby K’tan Baby Carrier Teams up with Operation Shower to Honor Expectant Military Moms

Once again, Baby K’tan Baby Carrier Teams up with Operation Shower to Honor Expectant Military Moms!   I love this program so I wanted to share the press release (see below).

Expectant military moms will receive the baby shower they deserve, along with the unique Baby K’tan Baby Carrier, at the first three upcoming 2012 events hosted by Operation Shower.

Through Operation Shower and generous donors such as Baby K’tan, LLC, military moms-to-be are recognized and honored for their sacrifices. These companies partner to organize baby showers for expecting families in the armed services.

“Baby K’tan feels privileged to be able to support Operation Shower in this important endeavor to celebrate our military moms,” says Michal Chesal, President of Baby K’tan, LLC. “In addition to our donation, we want to thank all of the new military moms for the sacrifices and contributions they, along with their families, make to better our country every day.”

Each mom-to-be will receive a stylish and unique award winning Baby K’tan Baby Carrier as well as gift boxes filled with baby supplies, clothing, toys, books, and more courtesy of Baby K’tan, LLC and other donors.

“Operation Shower celebrates and honors military families,” says LeAnn Morrissey, Chief Shower Officer. “Thanks to our generous partners, we don’t just throw a party; we provide each family with all the essentials needed for a great beginning with their baby.”

Last April, First Lady Michelle Obama, Dr. Jill Biden and Martha Stewart visited the Red White & Coo shower at Camp LeJeune, NC hosted by Operation Shower to provide support and encouragement for the moms as they highlighted their initiative to challenge Americans to support and honor America’s service members and their families.

“We know that being a new mom has its own challenges, but these moms make even more sacrifices to protect our families, as well as their own, and we are honored to be part of such a worthy cause” says Chesal. “We want to lessen their burden however we can.”

Both Operation Shower and Baby K’tan, LLC were founded in 2007, and have shown a devotion to giving back to the parenting community. Operation Shower has honored more than 400 families and hosted 12 unit-wide showers for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and National Guard. Baby K’tan LLC, founded by two families raising children with special needs, devotes a percentage of its proceeds to the American Heart Association, the National Down Syndrome Society and a number of local charities in addition to their new partnership with Operation Shower.

General Mills Frosted Toast Crunch Cereal Prize Pack Giveaway 1/30

I have to admit that we buy a lot of cereal!  My girls love cereal and one of the best things about my participation with MyBlogSpark is the opportunity to receive and try so man great cereals.  This time was no exception as my girls were able to try Frosted Toast Crunch and since they were already Cinnamon Toast Crunch fans, this was going to be an easy discussion.  


One of the things that draws me to Frosted Toast Crunch is it's made with 11 grams of whole grains, only 9 grams of sugar and is a good source of calcium.  


If you are like me, making sure your children get calcium is vital.  I want to give them a cereal they will eat that is also made with whole grains.  

The verdict?


Happy girls!  They loved it and they loved the spilt milk bowl and lickety spoon that arrived in our complimentary prize pack.  Each frosted square is just as delicious as the Cinnamon Toast variety but it has a frosted yummy taste.


Don't forget to enter my other giveaways!


The Prize Pack:

• Spilt milk bowl
• Lickety spoon
• Frosted pitcher
• Frosted Toast Crunch cereal

a Rafflecopter giveaway








Disclosure: Frosted Toast Crunch, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark

Progresso®'s Souper You® Contest

Are you ready for a new look this New Year? Progresso^® is excited to announce the return of their Souper You^® Contest giving you the change to win an incredible makeover! By telling Progresso why you deserve a makeover and what you love about their soup, you could have the chance to win an ultimate makeover experience in Hollywood this Spring!  I have lost 26 pounds in 2011 and can tell you that soup was a big part of my diet from time to time.  You can even see what's in my pantry via the picture below.

Now that the ball has dropped and the confetti has settled, it´s time to consider how you will stick to your resolution for the New Year and maintain your weight management plan, without sacrificing on variety or the taste of foods you love. Thanks to Progresso^®, you can have your soup and eat it too!  I'm a big Biggest Loser fan and watch for inspiration and Bob isn't bad to look at either!

With 40 delicious soups with 100 calories or less per serving, Progresso Soup has a variety of offerings that help you beat diet boredom and satisfy your taste cravings, while helping you stick to your weight management calorie goals. Progresso soups are packed with hearty ingredients like pasta, beans, rice, meat and vegetables that suit your taste buds and make you feel good about including it in your meal choices. 

• This year, the Souper You^® Contest will provide three lucky winners with an ultimate makeover experience in Hollywood; this includes a trip for 2 to Los Angeles, California where the winner will receive a head-to-toe makeover including hair and makeup, guided shopping spree with a $1,000 fashion retailer gift card, $1,000 spending money and 2 tickets to this season´s live finale of NBC´s The Biggest Loser
• Progresso is asking fans to visit www.SouperYou.com and submit their photo with a brief essay about why they love Progresso soups and why they deserve a makeover, by no later than February 22nd
• Fans can check back on March 12th for the announcement of the top ten finalists, and to vote for their favorite finalist until March 25th
• In addition, visit http://bit.ly/ProgressoCoup to download a printable coupon for $1.25 off the purchase of four (4) cans of Progresso Soup today, and feel free to share with your blog readers so they can take advantage of the savings as well
• Also, tune into The Biggest Loser on NBC Tuesdays at 8/7c

Click here to watch this amazing video of the 2011 winner experience.  








*Disclaimer: All information provided from Progresso through MyBlogSpark. 

Mamavation & Chicago

  

There is just something about Chicago that I find so beautiful at night!  I grew up near Chicago and have so many fond memories.  Of course, I could focus on the not so fondness memories but I think it's healthier to stay focused on the good.  Now that I've finished my first week of the new year, I didn't lose any weight but I gained.  I gained in that my focus is on healthy and I'm still learning to not eat out of anger, sadness or stress.  I've gained a lot over the last year and for that, myself and my girls have benefited.

Last night, for example, the girls asked for almonds.  Big deal to some but almonds are great for you.  They could have asked for chocolate or cookies but they asked for almonds.  My four year old hijacked my apple on Saturday.  They ask for salads now and for being four and eight, I'm very proud because it's been my influence that has shaped them.  My 23 year old is in Georgia and she took what I have been focusing on over the last year and has incorporated it into her lifestyle.  I wasn't always a mom who focused on healthy eating and chose convenience mostly.  Single moms who work full time have trouble keeping it balanced if they were not raised or shifted to the healthy culture as how I was.

All has changed and I'm rearing to go.  After I write this, I will run my two miles and then proceed with continuing my healthy mamavation challenges of being the best that I can be.

Gift Card Gala 1/9 - 1/16

 

Debbie Does Coupons has teamed up with 26 of the most amazing bloggers to bring you another GIFT CARD GALA GIVEAWAY! Every one of us have sponsored at least a $10 gift card that will be mailed/emailed to the winners! This event will run from 1/9 - 1/16 and you will have lots of opportunities to win the gift cards!

Rules: * You must complete ALL mandatory Entries to Qualify, you earn 1 entry for every one you complete and we do put this through a verification process before the winners are announced! * We are asking you to follow all of us on Facebook! There are additional entries that are not mandatory and are at the end f the rafflecopter. 

SIMPLY FOLLOW EACH BLOG THEN CLICK THE DO IT" BUTTON FOR EACH ONE, THAT IS WHAT ENTERS YOU INTO THE GIVEAWAY? WE DO VERIFY ALL WINNERS BEFORE WE CONTACT THEM TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE FOLLOWING! Have fun and good luck. The following blogs are participating in this event and while it is not required, it would be nice if you visited their blogs to see what they have to offer.

  Debbie Does Coupons Coupon Frenzy Mom JustFindIt4U Couponing Away Debt My So Called Homeschool Life Sweet Pea Savings Gone Klippin' Krazy Capri's Coupons Baby Coupons & Stuff Bloggity Blog Health, Beauty, Children and Family Ficklets Frugal Fanatic Penny Pincher Jenny Centsible Stewardship Mark Your Savings Books R Us Divine Deal Diva Eco-Crazy Mom Coupon Spice The It Mom SunEGrl Loves To Shop Shore Savings With Patti Saving and More Fabulous Deals and Steals Extreme Couponing with shuriken Mom with a dot com a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sesame Street Free e-Books

If your little one loves Sesame Street, don't miss out on the free e-Books of the week!  Just click on the Sesame Street e-Books to see more! 

   

Live Q&A with Angelina Jolie 1/12 at 8 pm ET & Win a Poster 1/12

I'm a HUGE Angelina Jolie fan and was excited to be able to share this with you!  Just leave a comment on this post if you have a question for Angelina and it might be asked!  One person will win a special collector's edition poster of In the Land of Blood and Honey!  


Angelina wrote and directed In the Land of Blood and Honey and it has been nominated for a Golden Globe. In the film, Angelina Jolie tells the love story between a Bosnian Serb who is in charge of a prison camp and a Muslim artist who is taken prisoner during the Bosnian War in the early 1990’s. 


Hurry and post your question before 1/12 to enter to win!

Pediped Rewards Program and Purchases with Purpose Fundraiser

pediped^® footwear launches the pediped® Rewards Program with

“Purchases with Purpose” Fundraising Sale

Beginning January 5 pediped^® footwear will host a Purchases with Purpose Sale to benefit the pediped foundation™.  During the fundraiser which will run through February 5, select styles available on pediped.com will be marked down as much as 50 percent.  Half of the sales from the selected styles will be donated to the pediped foundation™ to help children in need. 

In addition to kicking off the New Year with the “Purchases with Purpose” sale, pediped® announces the launch of the pediped® Rewards program.  Customers who make a purchase onwww.pediped.com are automatically enrolled in the pediped® Rewards program, which allows for them to earn cumulative rewards for every purchase they make:

·         Level 1 (spend $100 or more) - At Level 1, customers will receive a $5 credit to use on a future order and they will continue to receive a $5 credit for each additional $100 spent. 

·         Level 2 (spend $150 or more) - At level 2, customers will receive free shipping on any order of $30 or more for the remainder of 2012.

·         Level 3 (spend $200 or more) - At level 3, customers will receive free return shipping for the remainder of 2012.

·         Level 4 (spend $250 or more) - At level 4, customers will have through December 31, 2013 to use all of the rewards they have earned.

"We are committed to giving back to the community and to our customers,” said Angela Edgeworth, President of pediped® footwear. “The ‘Purchases with Purpose’ fundraiser is the perfect time for shoppers to receive pediped® Rewards and make a difference in the life of a child at the same time. Our new pediped^® Rewards program allows us to thank our customers for their loyalty with some great shopping incentives including credits and free shipping."

Since the company’s inception in 2005, pediped® has been committed to bettering the lives of children and has donated nearly $1,500,000 in monetary and product donations to children's charities.

For more information on pediped® footwear or to make a purchase visit www.pediped.com.

About pediped®pediped^® footwear was founded in 2004 by Angela and Brian Edgeworth in their quest for the perfect soft-soled shoe for their first daughter. Exceptional quality, unsurpassed comfort and distinctive styling have made the award winning company the fastest-growing children's footwear brand in the United States. pediped^® footwear has been awarded the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance for the promotion of healthy foot development, and preeminent orthopedic medical professionals, Dr. Mininder S. Kocher and Dr. Thomas W. Vorderer, deem pediped shoes an excellent choice for parents/caregivers who want their children’s feet to develop naturally and healthily. In 2011 Earnshaw’s, the premier media resource serving the children’s market recognized pediped® with Earnshaw’s Earnie Awards for Company of the Year and Best Footwear.

pediped^® footwear is sold in over 3000 stores in the United States and 40 countries worldwide with an offering of more than 120  designs for boys and girls between their three lines, Originals®, Grip ‘n’ Go™ and Flex®. Originals® (soft-soled shoes for newborns to age 2), Grip ‘n’ Go™ (thin rubber-soled shoes for children ages 9 months to 3 years) and Flex® (rubber-soled shoes for children 1 to 8 years) are available in EU sizes ranging from 17 to 33. For more information, visit www.pediped.com or call 1-702-567-0311.

About the pediped foundation

Headquartered in Henderson, NV, the pediped foundation™ is the work of pediped® footwear’s founders and co-owners Brian and Angela Edgeworth and co-owner Rudy Glocker.   The mission of the pediped foundation™ is to enhance the lives of children through financial and product support to charities and organizations that are aligned with the foundation's mission. 

*Disclosure:  I received no compensation for this post.  I posted as a public service.

Share the Love Giveaway Hop 2/7 - 7/14

The Share the Love Giveaway Hop is proud to announce that Tweetalicious will be joining the event as a grand prize sponsor!

The goal at Tweetalicious is simple: To give people a place to find, manage and use the best deals and coupons on Twitter from anywhere and at anytime. The site is an invitation only destination where members can discover great deals from brands they love and share with friends on Twitter.

Tweetalicious will be sponsoring the grand prize giveaway of a Kindle Fire as part of the Share the Love Giveaway Hop!

Registration is still open if you are interested in participating in the Share the Love Giveaway Hop. Don't forget to come back on February 7th and hop around to win some fabulous prizes including a Kindle Fire from Tweetalicious! They are definitely sharing the love this Valentine's Day season!

JumpStart and MathBlasters 3 Month Giveaway 1/20

If your children love computer games, then they are like mine and will love JumpStart and MathBlasters!  JumpStart is this online community of games that teach while your kids don't even realize it because they are having fun.  Both my children, ages 4 and 8, love both JumpStart and MathBlasters.  My eight year old had difficulties with the learning how to move around a year ago but quickly learned and has a blasts.  Being the four year old is ambitious and headstrong, she keeps up with her older sister with no problem.  Their website even boasts over 30 million parents who trusts JumpStart.


The way it works for JumpStart, your child creates their own character and can have a make over later.  After they create their own character, they start their own adventure.  Mine love how JumpStart changes the environment for the season or holiday.  They particularly had a blast with the Christmas items available and the scenes.  JumpStart has been around for over 20 years in providing safe, age-appropriate games that provide parents the ability to place controls for added security.  An extra bonus is Piggyback which is an easy to use Facebook application that allows parents to review their child's progress and provide rewards for free.


You can add up to six children per membership which is very nice for those of us with multiple children.  There are even other games you can buy along with different apps.  The recommended ages are 3 to 10 and includes interactive adventures and award winning learning games.  MathBlasters takes it a level further with focusing on math adventures.  I think they prefer JumpStart more but they enjoy taking turns and playing with both.  You can read more about the area for Parents here.


  

Girls Playing

I cannot say enough about the two games as they do love it and they are learning without the pain of making them learn!  I love JumpStart and MathBlasters!


Don't forget to enter my other giveaways!

The Giveaway:

One reader will win a three month membership to JumpStart and MathBlasters.

To Enter:

Please use the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Disclosure:  I received no compensation for this giveaway.

Happiness Is…Peanuts: Friends Forever

Who doesn't like Peanuts?  It's like tradition to turn on a Peanuts cartoon at any holiday or even every day for a laugh.  Peanuts are timeless and it's great that we grew up with them and now our kids get to experience what we did.  My girls love Snoopy and in fact, their birthday party a couple of year's ago was in a Snoopy theme.  This Valentine's Day, you can experience some Peanuts laughs with Happiness Is Peanuts: Friends Forever!  

The release includes the 1968 Emmy Nominated television special, You're in Love, Charlie Brown.  Friends Forever is the latest installment in the Happiness is ... Peanuts collection and is available for purchase. The great thing about these new compilations from Warner Brothers is the variety you receive.  Not only do you get to follow Charlie interest in meeting the little red headed girl but you also get to see skits from The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show.


My girls loved the DVD and have already watched it a couple of times.  They are fascinated by Snoopy and at times confused with Charlie Brown's friends.  It's fun to watch their reactions and answer their questions but most of all, wonderful to hear the squeal of excitement from my four year old when she sees Snoopy.  It's a must have this Valentine's Day!


To purchase, check out any store or places like Amazon.

About PEANUTS WORLDWIDE

The PEANUTS characters and related intellectual property are owned by Peanuts Worldwide LLC, a joint venture owned 80% by Iconix Brand Group, Inc. and 20% by members of the Charles M. Schulz family. Iconix Brand Group, Inc. owns, licenses and markets a growing portfolio of consumer brands including CANDIE'S (R), BONGO (R), BADGLEY MISCHKA (R), JOE BOXER (R), RAMPAGE (R), MUDD (R), LONDON FOG (R), MOSSIMO (R), OCEAN PACIFIC(R), DANSKIN (R), ROCA WEAR(R), CANNON (R), ROYAL VELVET (R), FIELDCREST (R), CHARISMA (R), STARTER (R) and WAVERLY (R). In addition, Iconix owns an interest in the ARTFUL DODGER (R), ED HARDY (R), ECKO (R), MARC ECKO (R), ZOO YORK (R), MATERIAL GIRL(TM), and PEANUTS brands. The Company licenses its brands to a network of leading retailers and manufacturers that touch every major segment of retail distribution from the luxury market to the mass market in both the U.S. and worldwide. Through its in-house business development, merchandising, advertising and public relations departments Iconix manages its brands to drive greater consumer awareness and equity.

About Warner Home Video

With operations in 90 international territories, Warner Home Video, a division of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Inc., commands the largest home entertainment distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video's film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Video and New Line Cinema.

About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment's home video, digital distribution, interactive entertainment/videogames, direct-to- DVD production, technical operations and anti-piracy businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. WBHEG is responsible for the global distribution of content through DVD , electronic sell-through and VOD , and delivery of theatrical content to wireless and online channels, and is also a significant worldwide publisher for both internal and third party videogame titles.

*Disclosure:  I received a complimentary copy in exchange for this review.  All opinions are of my own.