Embracing a Healthy Family

How You Can Help Roger Nix President at Age Six Get Published




The story is about kindergartener Roger Nix, an ordinary boy: Roger loves kindergarten, playing make-believe, and hanging out with his imaginary friends (a baby donkey named Jack and a baby elephant named Abe). But when he learns about the plans of Old Man Plee, a perennial presidential candidate, to shut down schools and send kids to work in factories as an austerity measure; Roger decides to run against Old Man Plee as a defender of “school and summer vacation, learning and imagination”. Of course Abe and Jack are there to help him every step of the way.
 
Nick Daze and his incredible Kickstarter campaign (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/787960356/roger-nix-president-at-six) have already raised nearly $22,000 and only has $8,000 more to go in order to put the book into production.  The book has been fully written by Daze and the illustrations beautifully crafted by Bill Robinson www.FlimFlammery.com . Each $30 pledge towards the Roger Nix campaign comes with a first edition hardcover copy of the book, delivered in time for the new school year this fall.  This is a timely story that is fascinating, engaging, and a thought-provoking read for both kids and parents written by a imaginative adult who was encouraged to explore his imagination as a child.
 
Here is an excerpt from the book:
 
Roger stood up quickly. He had something to say
With a wink from Jack and a trunks-up from Abe.
I’ll run against him,” Roger said with a shout.
I’ll run for president, have you no doubt!
 
To close school would be nothing short of a crime
You can't fool all us kids, not all of the time."
 
He stood on his desk and they all watched and wondered
As Roger kept talking, his voice boomed and thundered.
“We’ll beat him and keep all the schools as they are
Or make them way better. We’ll shoot for the stars!
We go to school so one day we'll go far,
Not because it is easy–because it is hard!
 
We are KIDS! The whole point is to learn and have fun
And to use our wee noggins...
 
THIS RACE HAS BEGUN!"
 
So Abe, Jack, and Roger got to work right away.
"That kid's on to something," his parents would say.
He made lots of speeches; he shook lots of hands
He toured a big factory that made rubber bands.
 
Then one night on the tube, to Old Plee’s disdain,
The news ran a story on Roger’s campaign.
“Roger Nix, daydreamer and ultimate kid,
Is gaining on Plee in his presidential bid.”
 
But everyone knew that sooner or later
Roger would have to be quite the debater.
Because one night soon, under some bright marquee
A debate would take place between Roger and Plee.

You can help with donating at Kickstarter here.

Blogger Sign-Ups for the iPad and Tuxedo Case Giveaway!



Bloggers!  Time to sign up for this free event that will give a new iPad3 with a Tuxedo iPad case to one lucky winner!  Sponsored by EyeBuyDirect.om and Case-Mate, it's a win-win for us Bloggers!  The event for one link is truly free and any additional link is only $1!


Hurry up and sign up here!







Two $50 Gift Card Giveaways to Adorable Baby Clothing 5/22 - International




Have you checked out the new revamped site for Adorable Baby Clothing?  If not, you need to because it's everything that made the old site wonderful but now it has a new "wow" factor!  The same amazing customer service is there but now there are more choices, easier to navigate features to find that perfect outfit.  Have not heard about Adorable Baby Clothing?  Not to worry and just because baby is in the name, there are so many cute, adorable outfits and more for any child.  I'm a huge fan of this online store for many reasons ranging from clothing that stands the test of time, extra details that you don't see in other clothing, 100% satisfaction guarantee, free shipping on orders over $40 in the contiguous United States, variety and size range of clothing and the superb customer service.


Adorable Baby Clothing is also known for the available formal wear not only for weddings but also other special events such as birthday parties, christenings and much more.  One of the reasons I became a repeat customer is I like to dress my younger daughters in the same dresses but trying to find a four size difference is nearly impossible at stores but not with Adorable Baby Clothing as the drop down box usually has sizes from infant to size 14 with just a click of the mouse.  This saves me time and assures I can get exactly what I want.


Here are just some of the pictures of the dresses I have ordered in the past:




 




The extras that I found in the quality include built in inner pieces that allow the dresses to retain a fluff adding to the elegance.  They are of high quality and can be passed on for generations as I already have with my grand baby who now is able to wear the old dresses that I kept.  They look brand new even after storing for years. 


Corduroy Sash Dress-Red/White le top Campout Puppy Shortall Set - 24M Sparkly Minnie Rocker Stacked Tutu Set The Hamptons Collection Boys Shortalls


Adorable Baby Clothing also has:

  • Boy Suits
  • Le Top Clothing
  • Tutus and Tutu Sets (great for birthdays)
  • Personalized Clothing
  • Preemie Clothing
  • Newborn Clothing
  • Toddler Clothing
  • Children Clothing
  • Baby Boutique Clothing
  • Pretend Play
  • Gifts

The Giveaway:

Two lucky winners will receive a $50 Gift Card (e-mail) to be used online at www.adorablebabyclothing.com.

To Enter:

Please use the Rafflecopter form below.

Giveaway ends May 22, 2012.


Chuck: The Complete Fifth Season on DVD/Blu-Ray #ChuckS5 SP



 

Friendships are something we cherish and sometimes, we don't!  Our friends our the building block to our relationships within society but that doesn't mean friendships always come easy.  Have you ever had a friend you thought you knew but they ended up turning into someone you couldn't even recognize?  Was it a one off where they were going through some hard times or this was their true self coming out.  In Chuck, season 5, episode 3, Morgan has been experiencing certain side effects from the Intersect.  The beginning of this episode leaves Chuck wondering why on earth his oldest, closest friend had transformed into an obnoxious and petulant man.  

I can't recall ever experiencing such a change shift in any of my friends but have from boyfriends.  I think the difference with what Chuck experienced with Morgan of course, is very different but it does happen.  Not only does Morgan become arrogant but his appearance also altered with frosted tips all thanks to the faulty intercept.  If you watch Chuck, you know that ended with a cliff hanger of Morgan walking towards his car after a bomb was planted.  

Do you have a friend like that or have you had a friend like that?  Sometimes, it's easier to walk away unlike Chuck who stuck by his friend.








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

The Hunger Games Giveaway 5/29 - US #hungergamesgiveaway

The Hunger Games Trilogy Book Giveaway

Mom Does Reviews, Powered By Mom,Mom Blog Society and Mommy and Baby Reviews and Giveaways are giving you the opportunity to win The Hunger Games Trilogy Hardcover Book Set! That's right One winner will get all Three of Suzanne Collins Best Selling Books!!

The Hunger Games

Catching Fire

Mocking Jay

Giveaway will start on April 30 and end May 29, 2012!

Open to US and Canada readers!

Hunger Game fan?  If you are and even if you aren't, you won't want to miss out on this extraordinary, ground breaking New York Times bestsellers trio The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and MockingJay by Suzanne Collins.  For the first time, all three area available in this beautiful trilogy edition.  It's been deemed stunning, gripping, and powerful. 

The trilogy is now complete! Find out for yourself what all the talk is about!

Thank you to the following blogs for hosting

The Hunger Games Giveaway!

Win It for MomiPad2 Mother's Day Giveaway

Win It For Mom iPad2 Mothers Day

Win It For MomiPad2 Mothers Day Giveaway Event!

Welcome to our annual Mothers Day Giveaway!

This year, 1 VERY LUCKY mom will WIN an iPad2!

Think your mom is the greatest mom ever? Want to give her a shiny new iPad2?Think YOU'RE the greatest mom ever? Keep it for yourself!

Win It For Mom iPad2 Mothers Day Giveaway
Here's What You Get:
  • Color: White
  • Storage:16 GB
  • Wi-Fi: Stay Connected at any of thousands of internet hotspots, including your home wireless network. Get online from the couch, check email at school, download an app at the library or read the local news at your favorite cafe. iPad with Wi-Fi makes it easy to stay connected.
  • Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR technology
  • Height: 9.50 inches (241.2 mm)
  • Width: 7.31 inches (185.7 mm)
  • Weight: 1.33 pounds (601 g)
  • Display: 9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen Multi-Touch display with IPS technology. 1024-by-768-pixel resolution. Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating. 
  • Cameras, Photos, and Video Recording: Back camera: Video recording, HD (720p) up to 30 frames per second with audio; still camera with 5x digital zoom. Front camera: Video recording, VGA up to 30 frames per second with audio; VGA-quality still camera. Tap to control exposure for video or stills. Photo and video geotagging over Wi-Fi.
  • Power and Battery: Built-in 25-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery. Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music. Charging via power adapter or USB to computer system.
  • In The Box: Dock Connector to USB Cable. 10W USB Power Adapter. All Documentation.
  • Warranty: Every iPad comes with complimentary telephone technical support for 90 days from your iPad purchase date and a one-year limited warranty.iPad2 will be ordered AFTER winner is drawn. It will ship DIRECTLY to the winner. We NEVER touch it! Warranty will be put in winners name at time of purchase.



Grandma Juice and The Kids Are Grown Now What have teamed up with a great group of bloggers to bring you this awesome iPad2 for Mothers Day.

There are multiple ways to win! Do some, Do them all..... It's up to you!Some you can even do daily for added bonus entries! There's something for everyone!
Ready? Go! Good luck!

KitchenAid Mania Giveaway 5/9






WELCOME TO THE KITCHEN AID MANIA GIVEAWAY!


Ready to win a white KitchenAid KSM150PSWH Artisan Series 5-Quart Mixer, White?  One lucky reader will win this really cool mixer by one of the leading experts in small appliances! This is a perfect Mother's Day gift to every one who loves baking or simply just being in the kitchen!  This great giveaway was made possible by Bay Area Mommy, American Family and some of the most awesome bloggers! 


This KitchenAid KSM150PSWH Artisan Series 5-Quart Mixer, White, which retails at $349.99, is a beautiful White, 325-watt mixer with 10 speeds; 5-quart stainless steel bowl.  It has the great tilt-back head for easy access to mixture along with a 1 piece pouring shield with large chute for adding ingredients - Includes flat beater, dough hook, and wire whip - Measures 14 by 8-2/3 inches by 14 inches; 1-year warranty.

Giveaway will run from April 29 at 12AM EST to May 9 at 11:59PM EST. Open to the US only. Must be at least 18 years old to be eligible.

To Enter:

Please use the Rafflecopter form below.


Don't forget to enter any of my other giveaways here!

Freaky Friday Flash Giveaway 4/27 (Ends 11 pm EST)

FREAKY FRIDAY SPECIAL 4 HOUR FLASH GIVEAWAY
PRIZE: $15.00 Walmart/PayPal
Date: Today 4/27
Time: 7:00 Pm – 11:00 PM EST
Host
&
Sponsors:

Please Note: Winner Will Be Emailed Before It Is Announced Publicly
So Check Your Emails and If You Are The Winner Contact Me Carmen @ carmen.uballe@yahoo.com
With In 24 Hours To Claim Your Prize Or A New Winner Will Be Selected
Click Here –> View A Sample Of Email

BLOGGERS ONLY
If you would like to join in any of our 4 Hour Flash Giveaways
All Request to Join This Group Will Be Accepted after 11:00 PM EST
Please Note: If you are having an issue with Rafflecopter Please just keep refreshing until you are able to enter and Do Not Leave any Inappropriate Comments on this Blog Post They Will Be Removed

Post Mother's Day $25 Macy's Gift Card 5/18

 

Just in case you didn't get anything you wanted for Mother's Day or maybe you are not a mother, you can now celebrate a little bit of you with something just for yourself.  You don't have to be a mother to appreciate and acknowledge yourself which is why you every now and then buy something to pamper yourself.  Pampering can be big or small but when done right, it can turn a bad day into a good day.  It can bring a little comfort just when you need it.  You might even be working on those New Year's resolutions and what better time to reward yourself?

Badgley Mischka Swimsuit, Surplice Over The Shoulder Draped Front One Piece 

With summer approaching pretty fast, it's also a good time to start looking at swimsuits.  Macy's has a great line of suits for this summer!  I personally prefer all black suits but I've always been partial to the color of black.  If you win, you can pick out a cute suit that will have all eyes on your this summer!  

The Giveaway:

One reader will win a $25 gift card to Macy's!

To Enter:

Please use the Rafflecopter form below.

Giveaway ends 5/18 at midnight (EST) - Open to US and Canada

DVD New Year's Eve Giveaway 5/10

New Year
How are your New Year's resolutions going?  Are you meeting them or do you need a bit of a nudge to keep going?  April is the perfect time to reassess your goals and either enhance them, change them or just make new ones.  Warner Brother's is going to help give you that nudge with this new giveaway with what might be some of your favorite actors from Hollywood.  


You can win New Year's Eve on DVD starring Ashton Kutcher, Michelle Pfeiffer,  Katherine Heigl, Sofia Vergara, Hilary Swank, Sarah Jessica Parker, Zac Efron, Jon Bon Jovi, and Josh Duhamel <-- yes, Josh! I'd make him my New Year's resolution but I doubt he would deliver himself to me when I won!


If you need that extra nudge, check out the quiz below and see what it might have in store for you!  There is even a countdown to how many days until your next one!  




To enter, please use the Rafflecopter form below.


Giveaway ends 5/10 - US only please

The Avenger's Movie Release Giveaway 5/15


MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS opens in theatres everywhere next Friday, May 4th! In celebration of The Avengers opening in theaters Mommy and Baby Reviews and Giveaways, Mom Blog Society and Mom Does Reviews are giving 3 winners the Ultimate The Avengers Prize Pack filled with goodies!



Each Prize pack includes the following:
MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS t-shirt in adult sizes of S, M, L or XL

MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS set of 6 buttons

MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS one pair of limited edition 3D glasses

Free Schick Hydro Silk Razor


There are many more razors left so sign up for a free one here.

Reviewers Wanted for Book for Children with Epilepsy



I'm looking for about five reviewers for this new book, I Have Epilepsy. It Doesn't Have Me about epilepsy geared for children.  If you would like to review the book, you also must agree to post on Amazon within two weeks of receiving the book.  If interested, send an e-mail to youthfultips@yahoo.com.

Father's Day Gift Idea: Michaels & Adorable Baby Clothing

I was trying to think of a nice personalized present for my dad for Father's Day and Pinterest came through.  Even though my photos didn't turn out quite as nice as I had hoped, the end product is there.  I will probably go ahead and retake some more to get the right effect but here is what I did.  After putting the girls in one of my favorite dresses from Adorable Baby Clothing, I was ready to have them hold the letters that spelled out D A D.  I purchased the letters at Michaels and will probably pick up a frame since they have great framing sales.





That's my first attempt so I'll see what else I can come up with.  I can admit that I'm lost without the photo editing software Picnik.  Even though they moved it to Google, it's not the same as many of the features are missing so I hope they bring it back.  All in all, I think my dad will like the gift.

Blogger wii Giveaway Sign Ups!

Wii Giveaway Blogger Sign-Ups

Do you think your fans would love a wii gaming system? Who wouldn't?

Join us for this amazing event and make your readers very happy too :)

There will also be a blogger prize for most referrals!

Here's what the prize package will include
  • Black Nintendo Wii
  • Black Remote & Nunchuck
  • New Super Mario Brothers
  • Nintendo Music CD
  • 4 Games
  • All Participating Blogs get backlinks to their site.
$8.00 for 3 links. $1.00 each additional link.

Spiritillo – Italian Hand Knit Blanket Giveaway 5/8



Are you tired of Made in China, Are you looking for unique gifts or clothing for the children in your life? Spiritillo Italian Hand Crafted Creations offers select handmade clothing for children, exclusively made in Italy with Italian thread. Owned by Miriam Brindisi, Spiritillo Italian Hand Crafted Creations is Proudly made in Italy. As a child, Miriam learned how to crochet and knit from her grandmothers and aunts, who in turn learned from their grandmothers and aunts. She now continues their age-old tradition. She uses cashmire, cotton, lisle and wool. Miriam's mission is to provide quality attire for children, using ancient techniques with a modern twist. Each piece is different from the other, no two are ever the same.

Last Day to Enter to Win a $75 Amazon GC & Ficklets

Hurry and enter to win a $75 Amazon gift card and Ficklets!  Ficklets are the first patented interchangable eyewear charm huggers for  your children's glasses.  They are cute, inexpensive and adds some amazing personality to your little one's glasses.






To enter, click here.

Advertising Turnaround: "Exploiting" Men

I've long wondered why everything evolves around half dressed women in the rammed down our throat perception of the "ideal" woman who really isn't a "real sized" woman.  Of course there are women who wear size 0, sports size DD bras and is just perfect looking all around but that is not the norm.  Given what the average American woman is, I can't understand why we are bombarded with these images of women who look hungry.  I also don't understand given the population demographics of our country.  We are a country with more women than men.  Women work more now so definitely have buying power so why do the commercials and shows cater to men?  Do the advertisers really think us women want to have those images bombarded in our heads?  Do they want to create a society that we can't live up to?  I think it's dangerous on many fronts and then they scratch their heads at the soaring number of eating disorders among girls and women.


I diverted a bit but the topic of this post is THANK YOU ADVERTISERS!  I'm happy to see that businesses are now turning the tables and are exploiting men.  My oldest saw the Liquid Plumr commercial and immediately thought of me.  In fact, every time she sees a like minded commercial, she lets me know.  I've even went so far to write advertisers to give them kudos.  Maybe if men were bombarded with images of perfect, hot men, they might see how it feels to think you have to live up to the perfect image.  I was watching a vodka commercial called Save the Fireman and again, it was of another commercial for us women.  I'm glad to see more and more advertisers are figuring it out.  


There are more women then men.  We have buying power.  We want commercials catered to us too!


I had to share this one because I love it:


The Munchies: People's Choice Food Award Voting Time Begins


People's Choice Awards

If you are foodie like me, you enjoy the awards that go to food!  From world-class restaurants to food trucks, and everything in between, you can help decide who's truly the 'best of the best' across 20 categories in the world of food in the first ever The Munchies: People's Choice Food Awards.  General Mills' Tablespoon.com is honoring the most delicious food experiences America has to offer - from the most iconic burger, to the best local farmers market, to the best chef.  Featuring some of their favorite food people from TV, blogs, books, restaurants and beyond, Andrew Zimmern, Chef & James Beard award-winning television personality, and a panel of celebrity chowhounds have developed the list of nominees across three groups:
  • Terrific Tastemakers- the media and personalities that make the food world sizzle, from Favorite Food TV Personality to Favorite Food Blog
  • Best Bites- the most delectable interpretations of our favorite foods, like Most Iconic Burger and Best Cookie
  • Delicious Destinations- the establishments that keep us coming back for more; think Coolest Coffee Shop or Most Intriguing Cocktail Bar

ph <--- Vote for my personal favorite, Bobby Flay!


Vote for your favorites once per day (even recast your whole ballot with just a click!) at Tablespoon.com/themunchies now through April 30th.  You can check back in May to see who the winners are!

While celebrating food, they're also fighting hunger.  On behalf of the expert panel and all of the voters, Tablespoon.com is donating $15,000 to Feeding America, the nation´s leading domestic hunger-relief charity. One good meal deserves another, so head on over to Tablespoon.com/themunchies to vote now!



*Disclosure:  The information about The Munchies: People´s Choice Food Awards was provided to me by Tablespoon.com through MyBlogSpark.

Healthy Directions Website & DIscount


Dr. Aaron TaborHave you heard of Dr. Tabor?  If not, he has devoted his career to researching and developing scientific and medically based anti-aging solutions, including ground-breaking natural skincare therapies and weight-control products. He focuses specifically on the use of safe and effective skincare ingredients, as his research has found most anti-aging skincare therapies on the market to be scientifically baseless, ineffective, and even harmful. 

Dr. Tabor also believes that a woman’s external appearance is a direct reflection of her internal health, and he has made it his mission to develop effective products that contain ingredients that help women achieve total health, wellness, and beauty—from the inside out.  He is just one of the four doctors you can learn more by visiting the newly launched redesigned Healthy Directions website and save 15% off your entire purchase with code BLOGLUV.

The Healthy Directions website has been redesigned to provide a highly targeted experience for people to easily navigate and understand health conditions, putting them on the path to good health.  It features expert content and an e-commerce store, which offers an array of vitamins, supplements, skincare, and other health and wellness products.  The new site also provides visitors with access to Healthy Directions doctors, leaders in the industry who work with both alternative and conventional practices.

HealthyDirections.com


Healthy Directions provides:
  
  • Healthy Directions is a leading direct-to-consumer nutritional supplement company and publisher of alternative and complementary health newsletters, which has been providing doctor-guided health advice to address specific health concerns for more than twenty years. 
  • Healthy Directions has a strong history of doctor-developed formulations with incomparable safety, quality and consumer service. Their mission is to help people lead healthier, happier lives by providing expert guidance and advanced nutritional supplements from America’s leading doctors of integrative medicine.
  • The new website has been designed to help people easily navigate and understand health conditions and to provide them with information that will help put them on the path to good health. It combines the most useful doctor-guided information on how to address, treat, and cope with health ailments that affect a significant number of Americans including: heart disease, diabetes, digestion issues, arthritis, hormonal issues and aging.  
  • Previously only available via subscription newsletters, Healthy Directions’ rich online content will give consumers access to each doctor's philosophy, information on how to address a specific health issue, and feature answers to the most commonly asked questions related to achieving and maintaining good health.  


Stay Connected


*Disclosure:  I did not receive compensation for this post but the information was provided as part of a blogger program I will be participating in.

Free Schick Hydro Silk™ Available!

Free Schick Hydro Silk™ sample are available!  Through this link, you can receive a free Free Schick Hydro Silk™!  I just did so it's not a scam and I signed up to be an insider which is why I get to share these samples with my readers.


Just click to sign up for your free Schick Hydro Silk sample.

HBL Hydrating Shampoo & Conditioner Review & Giveaway 4/30 ($95.85 Value)

 HBL Hair Care | Health. Beauty. Life.


I have wavy or slightly curly hair and it's hard to take care of mostly because I color it, dry it and then use my CHI hot iron on it.  It's very abused and I have split ends, very dry hair and it's hard to keep the tangles out.  This is one place where I don't skimp out on a good hydrating conditioner.  I was offered an opportunity to review complimentary bottles of HBL (Health. Beauty. Life) Hydrating Shampoo, Conditioner and Treatment so I gave it a try for two weeks.  




Pro's:


  • Softer hair
  • Less tangles
  • Improvements in split ends
  • Conditioner is highly concentrated - I did add water as I applied it (see con below)

Con's
  • The conditioner is thick or very concentrated so I had a hard time getting it out of the bottle without using brute force.  I did add some water which helped to get it to come out and I didn't notice if it affected the conditioner because my hair still seemed to improve.  This could also be a pro because you don't need as much.
  • I did not like the fragrance of both the shampoo and conditioner.  It wasn't a bad fragrance but it wasn't one that I liked.

Overall, I did notice improvements to my hair and it did help to remove the tangles that plagues my hair.  In spite of the fragrance, I'm still using it so that is indicative to the product's effectiveness and how I like it.  The Treatment adds an extra layer of defense against the harsh elements I subject my hair to.

Stay up to date:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/HBLHairCare

The Giveaway:

One reader will win their own set from HBL!

K5 Learning Online Reading & Math Program Review Coming Soon & Blogger Opp

Home


K5 Learning has an online reading and math program for kindergarten to grade 5 students.  I've been given a 6 week free trial to test and write a review of their program.  If you are a blogger, you may want to check out their open invitation to write an online learning review of their program.

My Little Taylor Swift Wannabe

My soon to be five year old loves to sing and even goes so far as to "write" her own songs.  She's either dancing, singing or doing something as she's the busiest little bee I have ever seen.   I figure with her love to entertain us with either singing, dancing or making us laugh, she will end up being something in the entertainment world.  She is a Taylor Swift fan so I'm sure she is inspired by her quite a bit.  Both my girls love Taylor and I'm glad because she is one role model I don't mind them admiring.  

Check her out: