Embracing a Healthy Family

Imagine Fashion Designer 3DS Review


Imagine giving your little fashion diva a game that lets them make believe in a world of fashion designers?  Do you have a child who loves fashion and fashion design?  If the answer is yes, you have to check out the Imagine Fashion Designer game for Nintendo 3DS. This is a very cool game for the budding fashionista!  My middle one loved all the designs she could make and although I had to help her with the path of becoming a top fashion designer, it's something she will easily learn.




Here are some of the features:

  • Bring your unique fashions to life in a stunning 3D view and you can keep them in your own virtual closet.
  • Customization options are endless!  The player will be able to create what they want without having predefined patterns so the original pieces are really unique.
  • The players will discover the latest trends and develop their fashion skills, Learn tips from fashion journalists and will experience fun fashion challenges.
  • If they have a friend who plays, they will be able to check out each other's designs, participate in fun challenges and even buy, sell and give their fashion designs to each other!
  • With this unique Nintendo 3DS feature, the player will be able to capture their favorite patterns with the 3D camera to create even more unique pritns.  Realistic looking touchable fabrics will leave them in awe and the 360-degree views will let them see every facet of their fashion creation.

It's truly a fun experience even for the older teen or even an adult with the guilty pleasures of being the next top fashion designer.  Both my girls really enjoyed the game and I can think of one other girl, my cousin who loves fashion, who would love this game!  It's a lot of fun, easy to use and captures the imagination of your little ones to explore new fun and creations!






Thank you to Ubisoft for sponsoring this blog post. Please click here to learn more about Ubisoft. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions are my own.

Bob Evans $25 GC & USB Drive Giveaway 1/7



Bob Evans is something that I don't get enough of and I can admit that I love their food.  I received a Bob Evans GC and portable drive as a promotional and since I can't use it, I decided to pass it on to one of my readers.


To Enter:


Please use the Rafflecopter form below.  Note: You can use your FB account to login or your e-mail/name.

Oral-B Stages & Crest and Oral B Pro-Health


Oral-B Stages Princess Manual ToothbrushWe recently held an Oral-B Stages, Crest and Oral B Pro-Health party as part of my participation with MommyParties.  It was a great experience for the children mostly because they received these really cool toothbrushes from Oral-B, floss picks, their very own toothpaste, Cars II Gummy Vitamins and Cars II DVD!  My youngest one, who insists on being a princess, loved the Oral-B Stages 3 Princess tooth brush.  I can tell you that there were not a more excited group of kids who looked forward to taking their vitamins, brushing and flossing their teeth.  Having their very own kid-oriented oral health products was the kicker for them.

I cannot forget that the kids are also big Cars fans and most has not seen Cars II yet so this was the icing on the cake.  Our party started out with activities provided in our MommyParties' kit while everyone arrived.  After that, we had some Christmas fun with cake pops, cookies and other deserts before the big event started.  After our cake pops, I thought it was the ideal time to introduce the Oral-B Stages toothbrushs, Pro-Health For Me Rinse, the Pro-Health For Me Floss Picks and Pro-Health Paste.  So my bathroom became a watery mess but they had fun.






 
 

The kids were very excited to watch Cars II and although my children didn't like the vitamins, the others did so they were much loved as a gift.  The other big thrill were our popcorn boxes just like at the circus.  They really had a great fun and learning more about how to brush your teeth, the importance of flossing, brushing and rinsing were great.

 Oral B Toy Story Flossers

What I liked about the Oral-B Stages toothbrushes is they taught my children and party attendees how they help to protect tender gums, that they help to surround and clean teeth and also helps to reach the back of their teeth as I know my own kids have trouble with that.  The smaller brushes are ideal for small hands and not to mention the appeal of using a Disney Princess brush!  They even have tips on customizing hygiene care for your children.

Did you know that you can begin good hygiene care starting at 4 months?  There is this great parent's guide here.


Follow OralB and Crest on Twitter. 

*Disclaimer:  I was provided by Oral-B and MomSelect the items to host this party, I was not compensated.   This review is solely my honest opinion of these products.)

ABBA You Can Dance Party! #UbiABBA #spon #CleverGirls

If you were a kid or teen in the 80's, you definitely remember ABBA!  I know I do and I loved the songs.  I always remember hearing them on the radio as we didn't have CDs or even video games that would let us partake in the guilty 80's pleasure.  What a sin right?  Now, better late than never, we get to enjoy the music we grew up with and either annoy our kids or brainwash them into liking it!  I succeeded in both since I have kids ranging in ages from 4 through 23!  Evil laughs can be heard after the party we had!  As part of my participation in Clever Girls, I was able to host my own ABBA You Can Dance Party!


For our party, we were also provided a gift card to help ABBA'ify our party.  I thought it was appropriate to try to have some great 80's foods like Doritos, chicken wings, avocado dip and chips, pizza and a variety of drinks.





Our party included a fun disco ball that set the atmosphere let alone the thrill of the kids who attended.  The beauty with the ABBA You Can Dance for wii, is there are so many songs to choose from and you can pick from single dancer to two dancers to a group.  What fun that is and I can tell you it's a work out!  Even if you don't want to dance and would rather sing, you can take a chance with Karaoke and belt out some fun tunes.




I will admit my youngest, who is four, did not like the music but that's okay.  We all had a lot of fun and even those that were too young to know the music, they learned quickly to adapt to the catchy tunes and the movements.  For some Christmas fun, this would make a great gift to have after eating all that food or to start the New Year on getting healthy as you get groovy to the music.


KEY FEATURES:

The Timeless Music of ABBA
Enjoy all the hits – 26 in all – from ABBA’s rich catalog of classic songs, now digitally remastered for Wii™ and your home entertainment system.

You Can Dance
Unleash your inner dancing queen and play for fun or to set a new top score to challenge yourself and others. Play any way you want with up to four friends.

Mini-Musical
Perform a story through the music of ABBA! Experience the magic as you play a role in a mini-musical of ABBA’s songs.

Karaoke Mode
Up to two additional friends can join in on vocals. Simply follow along with the on-screen lyrics.*

A Must-Have for Fans
Get immersed in the amazing world of ABBA with authentic content including their music videos, live concert footage, and classic photos!

*Wii-compatible microphone required, sold separately.





*Disclaimer:  I received this game via Ubisoft. Please click here to learn more about Ubisoft. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions are my own.

Starting an LLC

I guess it's time to start seeking an official LLC for my blog and other activities as well as an accountant for myself and my eight year old's non-profit.  Has anyone done this on their own and have any advice on what to look for in an accountant and what needs to be done to form an LLC?

Give and Get the Gift of Sleep Giveaway 12/31


Zeo LogoWe’re all pulled in multiple directions these days – women are spending 48.3 hours multitasking each week and men are following close behind with 38.9 hours per week. It’s no wonder we’re all so exhausted!

Next year though, you can help those you love control their exhaustion with a Zeo Mobile Sleep Manager. Zeo Mobile is a revolutionary way to monitor and manage sleep. Help those you love take control of their sleep by tracking it, finding pesky ‘sleep stealers’, and getting sleep improvement tips. It makes a great gift for everyone on your list, even your hard-to-shop-for friends; husbands, your parents, parents with newborns, insomniacs and other frustrated sleepers. Because when we sleep better, we do better.


Zeo has partnered with us this holiday season to offer you a chance to win a free Zeo (plus everyone who enters gets $10 off til 12/31)! 

To enter the promotion, get started by clicking here.

Good luck!

How to enter: 

Click here to enter this giveaway. This form will prompt you to ‘Like’ our blog and Zeo on Facebook and enter your name, email address and zip code (to prove you are a US Resident). You will need to connect to this app through Facebook to enter.

Important Rules: Entries to this giveaway must be submitted through the form above. Many partner sites are participating in this giveaway with Zeo, so winners will be drawn from all qualifying entries. Limit one entry per person; more than one entry per person will disqualify entrant. Zeo is the sole administrator of this giveaway and is responsible for drawing winners, contacting winners and prize fulfillment. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. You understand that you are providing your information to the sponsor(s) of this promotion and not to Facebook. 







*Disclaimer:  I will receive a $25 Amazon gift code. Plus I'll be entered into a drawing where one lucky winner will receive a Zeo Mobile & a Kindle!


Star Wars The Old Republic

Star Warsâ„¢ The Old Republicâ„¢ Pre-Order for Early Game Access* Game Release: 12.20.11. Game Critics Award Winner. Winner of over 90 industry awards and accolades including 2010 Games Critics Award for Best PC Game!


Calling all gamers!  Who is already signed up to play the new Star Wars' The Old Republic?  It's the biggest thing getting ready to hit the gameosphere and was curious if any of my readers will be playing?  Since Sony shut down Star Wars Galaxies at the end of this year, The Old Republic offers some big time fun for those that love Star Wars and MMOs.  My daughter, the oldest, has signed up for her account and tried to play the beta version unsuccessfully so she's going to try again once she returns to Georgia this weekend.



Shameless Starring William H. Macy: A Fan?


Have you caught Shameless yet?  It's a show about a single father of six who is usually drunk while his six children learn to raise themselves.  Starring William H. Macy who plays Frank Gallagher who lives on his disability checks.  Frank  leaves his eldest daughter Fiona to hold down the house, donning the proverbial apron and making sure her younger siblings do their chores, keep a clean(ish) house and stay fed.  Fiona, in a difficult position being the eldest of the Gallagher children, takes the responsibility of child-rearing which often results in humorous outcomes. For example, in episode four, the middle Gallagher child Debbie, after becoming depressed with her Aunt's passing, decides to steal a toddler from a birthday party. Fiona and the rest of the siblings devise a plan to return the boy to his family while going unnoticed by the increased police presence in the area. 

It's a story line that has played throughout the years of an older sibling taking on the burden of a parent or parents but this show is full of comedic points and drama. It's captivating in that many people will most likely find a character to relate to. Often times, many of us feel a similar weight of the world as Fiona has. It may not have been the intent to make her the caretaker but it happens. I'm usually in the position in my family of being the one who makes everything alright. We had a family tragedy about seven year's ago in which everyone expected me to find the solution.  As Fiona faced, it's something that had to be taken care of and without hesitation, you jump right in.  I've been the go to person far too often and it can be taxing and burdensome.  On the other hand, it can also be rewarding when everything turns out well.  Fiona took a delicate situation and as usual, led the path forward to recovering for the sake of the family and especially Debbie.  Have you been in the same situation where you are the person everyone turns to in order to right a wrong?  

The complete season will be available December 27th on both DVD and Blu-Ray.

If you want to see more, check out the Shameless trailer now!



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

Smallville: What Would You Do If You Were the Show's Writer

Smallville fan?  What would you do if you were a write for the show?  Would you let Lois and Clark marry?  Would you break them up and bring in someone else?  How about a twist of having Lois die by Lex Luther only to have something unexpected pop up that would allow Superman to bring her back and only end up finding out it was just a dream?  So many twists and turns to change the show's outcome but what would be the most profound change you might make?  Lots of questions for a show that already has a tremendous following and fan base.


I'm not sure that I would be able to change it for the better or not.  I think the show is perfect as it is. If you rushed Clark and Lois then you would change the dynamics but then again, it would introduce new plots.  I'd probably add a love scorned villain to the mix to stir up trouble for them.  I think we'll just have to wait and see what will happen next but I'm certain it will include more drama, more bad guys and more complexities in the love affair between Lois and Clark.

Now you can get the 10 Season DVD on Smallville here http://bit.ly/sB4sYu and the Complete Series here http://bit.ly/tGOjMX.



Smallville The Complete Series

 





*Disclosure:  I have been hired by Warner Bros WBWord division to raise awareness for 'Smallville.'

Great Christmas Idea: The Bandee (headbands)

The BandeeLooking for that little extra special gift for the woman or girl in your life?  I love headbands but despise how they slip down.  I never wear them for that reason and putting them on my girls is about as senseless as having a box of chocolates around when you want to lose weight.  If you are like me, you would love to wear them but hadn't found the perfect one until now!  I "met" this wonderful woman on Twitter and want to share with you The Bandee.  The Bandee isn't your normal headband as it's made with soft fabric with a slight curve to fit your head and fits comfortably behind your ears.  The Bandee has small velcro strips that allow you to make it as tight or loose as you want so no more headaches!  I know my girls would love that!


What also makes The Bandee extra nice is they are reversible with a solid color so you are getting two bands for one!  They even have fleece Bandees to keep your ears warm and for those of us that live in cold states, that's a bonus!


The Bandee is also big in to promoting good causes and was instrumental in helping my eight year old's non-profit Angels4Epilepsy win a Pepsi Grant thanks to her Tweets.  She is truly inspirational and is dedicated to helping others.


You can follow The Bandee on Facebook and Twitter.


Here are some of my favorites:


  






 

Great Gift Idea: Sharon Barber Dress Your Purse


Who says purses are just for women?  Purses are functional, fun, sophisticated, stylish and so much more. Whether you are a girl or a woman, purses bring out your personality.  They are iconic.  I wanted to share a little about these innovative purses made for both women and girls from Sharon Barber.  When Sharon was tired of changing her purses and the contents inside, she came up with this clever patented idea of a having changeable covers that switch out in a flash.  Sharon hand makes the purses and they are one of a kind.


Each purse also has an impact resistant mirror so there is no need to carry a mirror and what a convenience it is to not have to fumble around to open that compact and drop it.  I love the idea of having something that I can take a quick peek without worry.  All the accessories you purchase can fit into a convenient box so no more storage needs for the numerous purses you collect through the seasons or years.  The outer parts wrap up like an envelope thus making traveling easier.


As you can see, they are stylish and are of perfect size to easily find what you might need without having to waste time looking through a pile of cosmetics, notes, etc.  






Here are some of my favorites:



You can stay up to date with Sharon Barber on Facebook, Twitter, her blog and YouTube.


*Disclaimer:  I did not receive compensation for this post.






UPrinting Die-Cut Business Card Giveaway 12/31

Business cards can be used for so many different things that having a business does not limit your need for them.  They can be used as thank you cards if you send a lot out or save the date cards for an event you have coming up.  If you are a blogger or busy in the outside world, they are perfect calling cards too.  We use business cards for my daughter's non-profit for our gift delivery bags for children hospitalized.  They are ideal for so many things and the die-cut business cards from UPrinting are of great quality and look beautiful as I have had the opportunity to review them in the past.  




With this giveaway, one person will win 250 die-cut business cards!  

Prize Details:
- 250pcs Die-cut Business Cards for one winner
- 2x3.5" Rounded Corners, 2x2" Rounded Corners, 1.75x3.5" Rounded Corners,
- 2x3.5" Leaf, 2x3.5 Rounded one corner, 2x3.5" Half Circle Side, 2x3.5" Oval, 2.5" Circle
- 14pt Cardstock Gloss / Matte / High Gloss (UV), or 13pt Cardstock Uncoated
- 6 Business Days Turnaround time
- Free US shipping only


Mandatory Entry Requirements:
  1. Like UPrinting Business Card Page and share how you would use the business cards if you win the giveaway.
  2. Tweet how you will use the business card if you win the giveaway and at the end of the message include the UPrinting Business Card URL (http://www.uprinting.com/business-cards.htmlNOTE: Make sure to use the FULL URL (http://www.uprinting.com/business-cards.html) and not use any URL shortening tool for the tweet. Twitter will automatically shorten the URL for you.
  3. Follow my blog and leave a comment that you follow.
  4. Subscribe to my blog (two entries) - optional entry

Restrictions: 

Open to US residents only, must be 18 and above to enter.

*Disclaimer:  This giveaway is sponsored by UPrinting, no monetary compensation was given and I will receive die-cut business cards for hosting.

Pepto Party Pack Giveaway: iPod Shuffle, GC, Pocket Camcorder & More 12/31 ($250~ Value)

Pepto-Bismol


Are you ready for the holiday season?  From family get togethers to office parties to neighbors and friends getting together for the yule tide celebrations, there will be a lot of eating and drinking.  This is where Pepto-Bismol comes in to play.  Turducken and shrimp and chocolate, oh my!  With more than 46 million holiday parties planned this season, discomfort related to overindulgence of food and drink can become the unwanted gift that just keeps on giving.  Pepto-Bismol is teaming up with a holiday Elf to encourage people to enjoy their favorite holiday treats knowing that Pepto has them covered. 


I have been fortunate and not had to endure any over indulgence or stomach issues in some time but I do vividly remember Pepto-Bismol coming to the rescue.  Pepto-Bismol, in addition to national TV commercials, will have the Elf featured in a series of funny web videos being released throughout the holiday season.  The first of the web videos, can be seen here: http://bit.ly/ytpb.   


As you will see, the straight talking Elf is not shy about sharing his wisdom on all your favorite holiday indulgences!  



As part of the celebrations, Pepto-Bismol is going to give one of my readers this really nice Pepto Party Pack that I have to admit, I'm slightly jealous ...okay, I'm very jealous!  It's a great party pack and I cannot wait to be able to award this to one of you!  Here is what you will get to not only help you through the holidays but all year round.


·        Preparing for the Celebration: Crate and Barrel Tripoli Server (value $49.95)
·        Enjoying the Celebration: iPod shuffle with iTunes gift card (value $75.00)
·        
Recording the Celebration: Toshibo Pocket camcorder (value $119.99)
·        
Saving the Celebration (if needed!): Pepto-Bismol*use as directed




5 Chick-fil-A Cow Watches & 2 Plush Cows Giveaway 12/29

It's holiday time or better yet Christmas is coming!  I love Christmas ...did I say love?  I cannot wait each year to put up the decorations, put on the music and start planning all the best gifts.  I cannot get enough of it and this year, I put up all my decorations a week before Thanksgiving.  I have an army of Santas of various sizes that I like to torment my family with.  Chick-Fil-A is a favorite of my family and I will admit since moving away from Georgia, we have not had it enough.  The kids would love the new cow watches that are in the kid's meals right now and of course would love some of that tasty chicken!  


With the widget below, you can take the Holiday Quiz and see how you fair.  I'm a Friend of the Frost.  It was spot on because I am sad when it's over and I enjoy spending time with my family.  It's a joyous occasion that makes for fond memories.  You are in luck as you have a chance to win this fabulous prize pack of 5 Chick-fil-A cow watches AND two plush cows!  It's easy to enter, just use the Rafflecopter form below and don't forget to have some fun with the activities!







a Rafflecopter giveaway
*Disclaimer: I received no compensation for this post or giveaway.

Coupon Diva Queen 10,000 Giveaway Bash



Welcome to the 10,000 Coupon Diva Queen Giveaway Bash! We have  joined together with some AMAZING BLOGGERS to bring you a Giveaway to remember!  To enter simply follow the rules on the Rafflecopter, you must LIKE each Blogger to be entered. Make sure to stop by their site I am certain you will find some interesting information, great savings and tons of deals. The contest runs from December 12th thorough the 19th the winner will be chosen via the Rafflecopter Widget on the 20th. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the email or another winner will be chosen.


Here is the list of Bloggers in Our Giveaway!!




Good Luck Everyone!!!

Encouraging Reading Through Christmas



I saw a blog post from another blogger and I wished I could remember as I do like to give credit where credit is due.  I loved the idea she had in encouraging her children to read by providing books to unwrap each day through December.  I thought I would take it a step further and actually throw in some educational books much to the learned demise of my children.  They didn't take to them and showed their obvious disdain towards non-Christmas stories quite clearly.  Nonetheless, they are having fun opening the books and we're enjoying our reading time.  It's a lesson learned in that I'll make sure next sure that I scout out some Christmas books as well as wrap what we have on hand.


Do you have any holiday traditions you use as a way of teaching?

Smallville's Story Ending: Perfect?


Are you a Smallville fan?  Did you watch the last episode in Season 10?  At long last, Clark realizes what his true calling and powers are and takes hold after a series of events that is what we have come to expect and love.  Tess plays a huge role in this episode from foiling and uncover diabolical plots to helping to curtail Lex a little longer.  It was great to finally see him understand his true powers and the ability to fly.  The episode is full of ups and downs and still chronicles the attempts of Lois and Clark to have a relationship that might lead to marriage.


One thing that can be counted on is Superman saves the day yet again and we just have to wait and see what happens next.  If I were to change anything, I would have kept Tess around longer but given the unexpected, you never know what might happen in the future.  Any guesses?  What did you think of watching Clark finally embrace his abilities?


If you are a big fan, you can purchase Smallville 10th Season DVD: http://bit.ly/sB4sYu and Smallville The Complete Series: http://bit.ly/tGOjMX.  What a great Christmas present this would make!



Smallville 10th Season DVD





Smallville The Complete Series



*Disclosure:  I have been hired by Warner Bros WBWord division to raise awareness for 'Smallville.'

Pillsbury Crescent-Wrapped Brie Recipe

Planning for your Christmas dinner, party or New Years?  Check out this from Pillsbury.  My oldest used Pillsbury to make some tasty snacks at her last party.  If you want to know how to make this or any other great sounding recipes, click here on Pillsbury.



Gift Card Gala 12/9 - 12/16

Welcome to the 3rd Gift Card Gala sponsored by Debbie Does Coupons and 27 other great bloggers, bringing you a chance to win an assortment of Gift Cards!
This event starts at Midnight EST on 12/9 and ends at Midnight EST 12/16
Each blogger is offering a Store or Restaurant Gift Card with a value of at least $10 ! Some may be more.
If you are a winner, you will be emailed by the owner of the blog that you won on and asked for your mailing address. You will have 48 hours to respond, so make sure to give an email address that you check daily.
Simply click to "like" each of the Facebook pages on the Rafflecopter and then click the green "I did this" button.
Extra Entries at the Bottom will have their point Value listed.
Don't forget to enter my other giveaways!

RULES:
There will be one winner per blog. All winners will be picked by December 18th. Winners will be contacted via email within 24 hours by the blog owners where they won. The winner has 48 hours to contact the blogger back with your mailing address.
Good luck to everyone!!