Downtime

Hey guys, I'm sorry for the downtime. I had some family things come up and my favorite activity had to be put on hold -- my apologies! I'm not going to get into the details of it, but please know I have THOUSANDS of emails to go through and I'll be doing that as time allows, I will get back to everyone! I should be back up and running here in a few days **crosses fingers**

Ocean Spray Fruit Flavored Snacks Coupon #MyBlogSpark

Looking for a snack that your kids will love and you can feel good about? With new Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored Snacks, you need not look any further and we want you and your family to give them a try. Available in two delicious varieties and made with real fruit juice+ and natural colors* and flavors, Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored Snacks provide kids with the great tasting snacks they crave and parents with the confidence that they come from a good place. Not to mention these fruit flavored snacks contain 100% daily dose of your Vitamin C, are gluten free, contain only 80 calories, and are available with double Box Tops all year long!

Want to check out Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored Snacks? We wanted to let you know that you can visit http://bit.ly/K9P4Eo to download a printable coupon to save $1.10 when you buy any TWO boxes of Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored Snacks.

*colors from natural sources
+These Fruit Flavored Snacks are made with apple, pear, and cranberry juice concentrate. See package for a list of complete ingredients. They are not intended to replace fruit in the diet. 

Disclaimer: I received this information and the coupon offer from Ocean Spray® through MyBlogSpark.

Perfect Guy? Ten Things to Consider!

(Click on it to make it bigger and easier to read -- my column is small)

Little Miss Princess: New Outfit & Bragworthy Pics (@thechildrensplc)

 

Little lady wasn't in the greatest mood -- the only smile came from puddle stomping!

 

Dress and baby-sized flip flops from The Children's Place.

Disclaimer: This post is NOT sponsored, I purchased her outfit with my own moolah.

Instant Trainer Leash #Review

Hey guys!  Meet Molly!  She's like..my dog-cousin.  Or something.  Anyway, she's here to feature The Instant Trainer Leash because she may or may not always like to walk properly on a leash. ;)

You guys know I have cats, but with the apartment we're at our pet limit and don't really have a lot of yard for a dog to run around in, so this review is done by family members (and Molly!)!

The Instant Trainer™ Leash uses gentle but firm resistance to discourage your dog from pulling. It attaches to any collar! Have complete control over your dog, or walk multiple dogs with confidence!  The Instant Trainer Leash comes in two sizes.  The "small" is 5 ft long and is made for dogs under 30 pounds.  The "large" is 6 ft long and made for dogs over 30 pounds.  There's no guessing as to which one you need, it's pretty simple as long as you know how big your dog is. ;)

This leash was quite effective for Molly. It is very light weight and the instructions were pretty easy to follow to fit it on her correctly. She was surprisingly controllable with it! In general, she is not all that...uh...bright?! Anyway, she heeled and heeled WELL right out of the starting gate. It took very little correction to have her walk nicely by my side. Walking with her on a normal collar and leash is typically-small-dog-futile!

It works like a traditional choker collar, only closer to the hips, which seemed much more humane, since she is a small dog, than the quick tug on the neck thing that regular training collars and leashes afford. Yet, the oddness of having a strap near the hips that was loose and comfortable when she was 'good' but tightened when she tugged was VERY effective.

 

Their opinion?

 
We give it a thumbs up as it worked!

Buy It!

You can buy the Instant Trainer Leash for $10 (plus $7.95 P&H)!


Disclaimer: I was sent product from the above company in return for my honest opinion and review. No other compensation was received.

This Means War (May 22!)

IT’S SPY VS. SPY IN THE ULTIMATE BATTLE

FOR ONE WOMAN’S AFFECTION

Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine and Tom Hardy Form the

Perfect Love Triangle in this Action Packed Comedy

Available on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Download May 22

They are the CIA’s best, trained for any situation…except one.  Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment plays the ultimate spy game as two best friends fight for the right of one woman’s hand in THIS MEANS WAR, coming to Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Download May 22.  Starring Academy Award^® winner Reese Witherspoon* (Walk the Line), Chris Pine (Star Trek) and Tom Hardy (The Dark Knight Rises), the laugh-out-loud comedy gets even better on Blu-ray with three alternate endings that answer the question – what if she chose the other guy?

The world's deadliest CIA operatives, FDR Foster (Pine) and Tuck (Hardy) are inseparable partners and best friends until they fall for the same woman (Witherspoon).  Having once helped bring down entire enemy nations, they are now employing their incomparable skills and an endless array of high-tech gadgetry against their greatest nemesis – each other.

GOTTA LOVE A GOOD BROMANCE

In This Means War, Tom Hardy and Chris Pine play characters that have heterosexual man-love for each other, otherwise known as a bromance.  In this feature, we will take a look at other bromance relationships in films, including: Kirk and Spock in Star Trek, Seth and Evan in Superbad and Riggs and Murtaugh in the Lethal Weapon series.

KIRK & SPOCK

Star Trek

 Before he was FDR in This Means War, Chris Pine was one-half of TV and film’s most dynamic duo – Kirk and Spock of Star Trek.  The two leaders of the USS enterprise started off bumpy but their friendship evolved as they always had each other’s back as they try to save the universe.  Though one may never have predicted it, there’s no denying the bond of brotherhood between the farm boy from Iowa and the Vulcan half breed.

SETH & EVAN

Superbad

Bullied by the popular kids, Seth and Evan found solace in each other’s friendship as of the nerdiest kids in their high school.  Unlike Kirk and Spock, Seth and Evan of Superbad aren’t bound by their common fight to save the universe.  Instead, it’s the need to get laid before they graduate high school that pushes the bromance between these two and the friendship between Seth and Evan gets cemented when the pair makes a declaration of their man-love to each other at the end of the film.

RIGGS & MURTAUGH

Lethal Weapon

The Lethal Weapon series could have easily been another buddy-cop set of films but the chemistry between Mel Gibson and Danny Glover made audiences love the bromance between these two troubled cops.  Starting off as reluctant partners in the first film, these two developed into life-long friends who protected each other as they solved murders and crimes and saw each other began their own set of families amidst their own personal problems. 

BUZZ & WOODY

Toy Story

So they may not be real people but Buzz and Woody emulate bromance in the toy and animated world.  When they first meet each other, Woody feels threatened by Buzz as feels replaced as Andy’s favorite toy, not to mention that Buzz’s optimistic and gung-ho attitude annoys Woody’s careful ways.  However as the films progress, so does their friendship, especially after they realize that they both just want to make Andy happy. 

Wordless Wednesday: Blow Up Dinosaur

Purex: "Let's Be Honest..."

Purex has launched their new "Let’s Be Honest" promotional campaign featuring Second City Comedian Molly Erdman.

They’ve created a funny series of short video vignettes sharing honest moments that reflect the ironic truths of everyday Life, Laundry, and Whatever.

Simply go to Purex.com to check out the latest videos and enter to win their fabulous sweepstakes!  The winners will receive FREE Purex for a year and one winner is chosen each day!  AWESOME!

Evenflo Bebek Collection #Review

The Evenflo® Bebek® Collection features a complete line of bottles, nipples and pacifiers that are all created to feel more like Mom, allowing parent and baby to enjoy the bonding time that feeding provides. The superior, one-piece vented nipple rapidly vents air bubbles into the bottle and not baby’s tummy, resulting in less gas, fussiness and colic. The soft, wide-base nipple also provides an easier latch for baby and for transition from breast to bottle.

Bebek bottles are expertly designed for easy assembly and leak-free feeding. The ergonomic shape makes the bottle comfortable to hold for both you and your baby. The simple one-piece nipple with integrated vent means no extra parts to clean or lose. Bebek bottles are all BPA-free and top rack dishwasher-safe.

I'm a little ashamed to admit that my two little ones both STILL use bottles at night.  I know, this isn't good for them, and yet I've done nothing to stop it.  That said...they're both picky.  Little Man will ONLY take a certain bottle with a certain nipple and Little Miss Princess will take 2 varieties and that's been the extent of it.

What we thought!

On trying the Evenflo Bebek bottles and nipples, they BOTH liked them.  I was completely amazed.  We were sent little bottles, so maybe if I can switch them over to only a little bit of milk at bedtime and then phase the whole thing out, it would work a little easier?  I'm not sure.  Talker Man never used a bottle.  Ever.

I like the shape and softness of the nipple.  It seems like something that may have worked on them when they were newbies and used to nursing rather than bottles.  I also like that it's got the vented nipple, there's no extra pieces and the whole thing is easy to clean in the dishwasher.

When you're a new mommy, the last thing you want to do is try to clean all the parts and pieces of bottles and when it's this simple, there's no hassle!

Buy It!

You can find the Evenflo Bebek collection of bottles, nipples, pacifiers and more at BedBathandBeyond.com and Buy Buy Baby!

Disclaimer: This review was made possible by Mom Spark Media. Thoughts are my own.

Throw a Super Hero Party Worthy of "The Avengers"!

Invitations: Start your party off right with the perfect invitation. You can make your own postcard invitations with cardboard cut-outs of bright blue painted stars, and include the details about your party in a thin black marker. Decorate the front of each with classic comic book words like POW!, ZAP! And WAM!

Décor: The Avengers bring together 6 epic superheroes. Create your own easy decorations with cardboard cutouts of spiders and paint them black, neon green head’s of The Hulk and classic American flags for Captain America and, throughout the party, use bold colored streamers, which will add some mystery to the room.

Centerpieces: Choose your favorite Avenger and decorate the table around that character. Use lots of primary colors, since comic strips are usually blue, yellow and red. Print outs of comic book pages covered in contact paper make great placemats. Blanket your tables with these to tie the décor together and include stars, spiders and Hawkeye cut-outs on wooden sticks around the table with silver confetti.

Music: Keep the music simple but fun. “Live to Rise,” the original song written for and appearing in the film is the first single from the Marvel Music/Hollywood Records release Avengers Assemble.  The epic and cinematic video, featuring a searing live performance with film footage, was directed by Robert Hales (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Janet Jackson, Kings of Leon, Justin Timberlake).  View “Live To Rise”:  http://www.vevo.com/watch/soundgarden/live-to-rise-from-marvels-the-avengers/USH5V1221447 or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3ZNtOcY_1A 

Menu: Mini snacks such as cut-out tea-sandwiches make great finger food. Look for cookie cutters in shields, stars and spiders to create these treats. For Incredible Hulk themed beverages, create trays of green ice cubes by freezing water with green food color, and WOW! guests as their clear citrusy beverages transform color before their very eyes.

Party Favors: As a parting gift, place a few Avenger designed cookies in a cellophane bag and close with a gold twist-tie – your guests can enjoy the party for days to follow with these treats!”

RECIPE

1.    Whip up a batch of your favorite sugar cookie recipe and use a cookie cutter to make character cookies.  They make Superhero cookie cutters in the shape of many Avengers heroes.  You can also use any oval shaped cookie cutter and instead fill in the details with your decorating.  Once your cookies are baked and cooled, you are ready to begin decorating.

2.    You can make your own royal icing (See:  How to Make Your Own Royal Icing included below) or use store-bought.  Color with food coloring to achieve the various colors you want for decorating.  We recommend green (for the Hulk), yellow, blue, black, white, and brown.  Place each color in a piping bag. 

3.    Begin by outlining the cookie in your base color.  (If you were starting with The Hulk, outline the entire shape in green.  Color in your outline with green icing and cover the entire cookie.  (You can actually use a paintbrush to “paint” your cookie.)  Give the base a few minutes to dry and choose your next color.  For The Hulk’s hair, outline his hairline in black and proceed to fill in with black icing.  You can continue to draw features in and watch your character come to life.

How to Make Your Own Royal Icing

• 3 egg whites, at room temperature.  We prefer dehydrated egg whites, available at most supermarkets.
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
• food coloring (optional)

Mix above ingredients with a little warm water until smooth.  Add food coloring.

  
MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS is now playing in theaters everywhere!

Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Magic of Mothers and Daughters #Giveaway

101 Inspirational and Entertaining Stories about That Special Bond Mothers and daughters. 

They are, at the same time, very similar and completely unique. This relationship — through birth, childhood, teen years, adulthood, grandchildren, aging, and every step in between — can be the best, the hardest, and the sweetest. Moms and daughters will laugh, cry, and find inspiration in this collection of entertaining, poignant, and heartwarming stories that remind them of their shared love, appreciation and special bond. A great gift for Mother's Day.

What I thought:

I loved this book!  I like Chicken Soup for the Soul books in general because they're easy for me to put down and not lose my place, the short stories are GREAT for busy mamas!  With Mother's Day right around this corner, this would be high on my list if I hadn't already read it!

Win It!

Three winner's will each win a copy of Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Magic of Mothers and Daughters!  Just click, "read more" to get to the Rafflecopter entry system! 

GlitzSee #Review

We've all been there, I think...I can't be the only one, and hey, I've worked in retail so I KNOW I'm not the only one. You've got your ginormous bag that is so amazing and holds everything you need. It's AWESOME, until you realize that whatever you were looking for (the credit/debit/store card that you just tossed in there the last time you used it instead of putting it neatly in your wallet where it belongs?) is somewhere in the depths of the mammoth purse.

I've seen bags with little flashlight-type lights in them, and I thought they looked handy, but it never seemed to come on any bag I liked. I wasn't sure if they were all that useful or if it was something that was just there to make it look more appealing. When I came across the GlitzSee light, I had an "ah-ha" moment!

The GlitzSee is a little jewel shaped light.  When you flip the switch on and toss it in your bag, all it takes is a simple shake of the bag to get it to turn on!  Your little GlitzSee falls down into the bag where all that other stuff that you're looking for ends up, and lights the way to your finding whatever you're missing without having to dump the whole bag out of rummage around for 10 minutes!

This is the perfect Mother's Day gift!  I had the chance to check out the Amethyst jewel and now my problem is that the kids think it's a treasure and keep digging it out of my purse.  And Little Miss Princess squeals and proceeds to put it into HER purse, so as much I as love it, it never seems to be in there!

Buy It!

Each GlitzSee comes in a super cute tulip "purse" packaging.  Absolutely adorable and efficient!  You can buy them for $15.95 in the GlitzSee shop!     

Disclaimer: I was sent product from the above company in return for my honest opinion and review. No other compensation was received.

New Year's Eve DVD #Giveaway #ResolutionReset

Warner Bros. Pictures is proud to announce the release of the hit romantic comedy New Year’s Eve on DVD and Blu Ray May 1st! This all star comedy stars Ashton Kutcher, Michelle Pfeiffer, Katherine Heigl, Sofia Vergara, Hilary Swank, Sarah Jessica Parker, Zac Efron, Jon Bon Jovi, and Josh Duhamel!

April is a perfect time to think about all those resolutions you made that may have been placed on the backburner. With the New Year’s Eve Resolution Reset Blog App you can double check and make sure you are on the right path to making your resolutions come true!





I've taken the quiz...I don't want to say out loud what my outcome was! It wasn't very good!

Win It!

Here's your chance to win New Year's Eve on DVD! Simply take the above quiz and then hit "read more" to get to the Rafflecopter entry system!

Happiness is… Peanuts™: Team Snoopy #Giveaway

Batter up with Peanuts and celebrate their greatest sports moments in this all-new collection. For Charlie Brown, a new baseball season equals new hopes of winning. Unfortunately, one player just isn't measuring up, which makes the team decide that Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown. Then suit up for a triple-header of laughs with The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show. In The Pelicans, Charlie Brown gets stuck with mascot duties while Peppermint Patty is on the road to victory with her baseball team. Great Pumpkin finds the Peanuts gang visiting the bowling alley in hopes of teaching Charlie Brown a new sport with hilarious results, and it's game on as the neighborhood cat meets his match when Snoopy's older brother Spike trots into town. It's time to catch the winning spirit and share these tales with your teammates, since happiness is what Team Snoopy is all about!

Buy It!

You can purchase Happiness is… Peanuts™: Team Snoopy at the WB Shop for $9.95.

Win It! 

Want to check it out for yourself?  Click "read more" to get to the Rafflecopter entry system!

US Only, please!

Stonewall Kitchen: Blueberry Batter Bowl Gift Set @MaggiesDirect

Mother's Day is coming up fast, are you lacking in ideas? No worries, this week is going to be full of them here on Cars, Trucks and Teething Rings!

First on the agenda is this AWESOME Stonewall Kitchen Blueberry Batter Bowl Gift Set, featuring Wild Maine Bluebery Jam, Wild Maine Blueberry Syrup and Farmhouse Pancake and Waffle Mix along with the pretty batter bowl and spatula to mix it all up in!  The batter bowl has a 7 cup capacity, perfect for those busy mornings when Mom is trying to get breakfast on the table!   

This set is available on Maggie's Direct for $49.95 with Free Shipping.  Even better, buyers will get back $25 in Social Bucks in their account - that is like getting this gift for $25 total cost!  Hurry though, this promo is only good through May 13th!  

Wordless Wednesday: Who Needs a Pool?

Yoplait Lactose Free Coupon #MyBlogSpark

Yoplait recently announced its new Yoplait® Lactose Free yogurt and we want you to try it. Inspired by the Yoplait yogurt we know and love, Lactose Free comes in four delicious flavors - Strawberry, Peach, French Vanilla and Cherry - and contains 50% of the recommended Daily Value of calcium, with vitamins A and D in every cup. Lactose Free contains no artificial sweeteners and can be used in some of your favorite recipes - like chocolate crème brulee and strawberry cheesecake.

Lactose intolerant or know someone who is?  You can visit http://bit.ly/IiJBKU to download a printable *coupon for $0.30 when you buy any flavor of Yoplait Lactose Free yogurt cups.

*The coupon offer for Yoplait Lactose Free yogurt is not valid in some states, including Louisiana, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota and Tennessee.

Disclaimer: I received this information and the coupon offer from Yoplait through MyBlogSpark.