Christmas Angel on GMC - Family Movie Night

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Before you stop reading because of the dates in the picture...
Let me START by telling you that CHRISTMAS ANGEL will broadcast on the GMC channel Friday December 7th. 
We had the chance to review this early and it was a great movie..

It stars Della Reese and Tamera Mowry-Housley as the two names I knew. 
Kick off the holiday season with a great family movie!!!

Here is the Synopsis:
Olivia is not like most fifth graders. She is being raised by Melinda, a single mother who works at a bustling local bakery run by her good friend Daphne, the mother of Olivia’s best friend and classmate. Olivia has a heart of gold that shines through in her good intentions – and her imagination. During the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, a mysterious lady quietly moves into the house next door. The house has been uninhabited since the owner, Dr. Nathan Davis, left town abruptly. When some of the neighborhood kids’ Christmas wishes suddenly begin to come true, Olivia is convinced that the town’s newcomer is an angel – and she is determined to prove it.  As soon as the movie started, I knew that the little girl, Olivia had a heart of gold on her.  Where as most kids would have either made jokes or would not have given another thought about the little boy in her class that really wanted a bike, but knew he could not afford it because his foster parents could not afford it... Olivia could not stop thinking about it and really wanted his wish to come true. 
I really enjoyed this movie and already told my grandmother that she needs to watch it. 
Talk about a feel good movie that lets you know that there are good kids out there that do still care about one another.  Yes, Olivia is a sweet heart, but don't think she is perfectly innocent.  She not only doesn't listen from time to time, she also tries to play match maker to her mom!  Just as all kids do, she has her moments!
I am looking forward to watching this movie again soon!  Make sure you tune in to GMC on Friday the 7th to watch it too! FTC Compliant Review Policy: The product(s) featured in this review were provided free of cost to me by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing. Opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation. 

Diary Of A Wimpy Kid

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I am not sure about your household, but around here, we love the Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series.  I have read one of the books and we have watched the movies, it is just cute and relatable by everyone of all ages. 
We watched some when the boys were here and Broxton and I have watched when it was just the two of us. When I saw that they were releasing Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, I knew it was one we would want to see... I can not wait to check it out... Those boys crack me up!!!
To get ready for the new release, here is a fun post for you to read..
Come back tomorrow, as I will get to hold a giveaway for someone to win the Blu-Ray copy!!!!
Band of Misfits

Relive your summer this December 18th with Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Copy
Everybody’s favorite wimp, Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon), is back for three times the fun in the latest film based on the super-popular book series! When Greg’s dad (Steve Zahn) threatens to send him to military school if he doesn’t stay out of trouble, Greg finds all-new ways to land himself in the doghouse! For starters, Greg’s in over his head when he pretends to work at the swanky country club where Rowley’s family has a membership. Things don’t go much better on a father-son camping trip with the Wilderness Explorers, and then there’s the Heffley’s new dog, Sweetie, who fetches even more trouble for Greg in this hilarious family film!Greg and his friends Rowley, Chirag and Fregley often find themselves in trouble as they try to have the most relaxing summer yet.  In this feature, we will highlight other bands of misfits in films including those from The Goonies, Super 8 and The Little Rascals
The GooniesThe 1985 adventure-comedy film The Goonies follows a group of neighborhood friends who are on a mission to find forgotten treasure in order to save their homes from being demolished. Using an old Spanish map, a newspaper clipping, and artifacts found in an attic, the boys trek the Oregon coast looking for the treasure they believe belonged to the pirate known as One-Eyed Willie. After surviving several booby traps, the group eventually finds One-Eyed Willie’s ship filled with treasure and gold but realize they are not the only ones who want it.

Super 8 J.J. Abrams’ sci-fi flick chronicles the journey of teenage friends who discover a huge alien operation when trying to film a small-budget zombie film. They witness a terrifying train crash that is surrounded with small, white cubes that seem to have appeared from nowhere. Following the crash, several strange events happen around town including dogs running away, people disappearing, and electronics being stolen. They got caught up in all the alien action and manage to make a pretty epic film.  

Little RascalsOne of the rowdiest gangs in film is the “The He-Man ‘Womun’ Haters Club” from the 1994 classic Little Rsacals. The boys-only team is led by Spanky, a loud-mouthed kid who is determined to win the local go-cart race. He rallies his troops who include the love-stricken Alfalfa, the methodical vice-president Stymie, and the most adorable member ever, Buckwheat to name a few. Despite their cute looks and small statures, these rascals find themselves in plenty of trouble from crashing a dance recital, to ruining romantic boat rides, and even setting their clubhouse on fire.

The SandlotThe boys of the Sandlot think they rule the town when it comes to the game of baseball in the 1993 sports comedy. The teenagers find themselves in plenty of mishap as they are figuring out how to be grown men during the summer of ‘62. Some misadventures include risking drowning in order to be saved by the hot lifeguard, trying chewing tobacco at the city fair, and stealing a baseball signed by Babe Ruth in order to keep a game going. All in all, the boys of the Sandlot have one heck of a summer that they will never forget.   
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog DaysGreg Heffley seems to get into trouble no matter where he goes especially with his friends Rowley, Chirag, and Fregley. The boys cause a ruckus at all the favorite summer spots including the local country club, Rowley’s family beach house, a nearby amusement park, and in the great wilderness while on a camping trip. The addition of Greg’s new family dog doesn’t make matters any better for the group but seems to cause even more trouble! The boys’ shenanigans take place throughout the film, even to the end when Greg attempts to impress his crush at her sister’s 16th birthday party.

***** I am posting this to lead up to my giveaway tomorrow.  No other compensation was provided for this post. 

Road Rippers Are Loads of Fun!!! #HolidayGiftGuide

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 Broxton is going to be one happy kid this Christmas!  We were sent a Road Rippers Blaze Craze Ford F-250 and he is going to flip!  It is a Remote Control Truck... that also lights up!   There are three buttons on the top.  They play music and they also light up... Not just the basic headlights or something, but the full on looks like a disco party going on lighting up in the truck!
The great thing about the Road Ripper Blaze Craze? 
They are available not only in the F-250 truck model, but they also have a Chevy Camaro, Dodge Viper and Ford Mustang!!! 

They also have a bunch of smaller models. 
There is a whole bunch of Road Rippers Flash Rides!  They have all sorts, from 4 wheelers to motorcycles to emergency response vehicles!  The thing with these are they are great sizes to be stocking stuffers and they also light up and make sounds too!

If you have a younger child that is really into transportation vehicles, the Road Rippers line would be a great gift for them to unwrap on Christmas!!!!
FTC Compliant Review Policy: The product(s) featured in this review were provided free of cost to me by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing. Opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid #Giveaway #holidaygiftguide

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Told you I would  be back with a giveaway!  Are you excited about it? 
I love the Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series, I sure hope you are too! 
This looks like it will be just as great as the others!!!!
SYNOPSIS:
Everybody’s favorite wimp, Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon), is back for three times the fun in the latest film based on the super-popular book series! When Greg’s dad (Steve Zahn) threatens to send him to military school if he doesn’t stay out of trouble, Greg finds all-new ways to land himself in the doghouse! For starters, Greg’s in over his head when he pretends to work at the swanky country club where Rowley’s family has a membership. Things don’t go much better on a father-son camping trip with the Wilderness Explorers, and then there’s the Heffley’s new dog, Sweetie, who fetches even more trouble for Greg in this hilarious family film!
 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Photo Gifts With @MailPix #Giveaway #holidaygiftguide

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If you know me at all, you know that I love personalized gifts... and photo's are just wonderful for me!!!  I have loved the photo ornaments that we have from the years of the boys... I really love anything to do with pictures... They really are worth a thousand words in my book!
I recently had the chance to review for MailPix and they had so much to choose from that I was able to get a couple great gifts!!!!  (Yes, they might be for me.. but still great gifts!!!  I just know how to shop for what I want!  lol!)
 MailPix has such a great variety of products.  Not to mention that they are not only great gift ideas, but they seem to have really good prices if you want to get photo prints! 

You know one thing I got?  A photo puzzle for Broxton. 
I figured it would be something fun to do with him... and something for him to be able to enjoy for years to come.  I went with a picture of him... with his brothers and his daddy!!!  Yes, I do realize that the puzzle is a bit to young for him right now, but he can still help and take pride in the accomplishment of completion!
I thought the fact of it being a puzzle of them would be cool enough.. 
But, I think I was most impressed with the packaging!  It comes in a tin that has the photo on it as well!  That was just too cool!!!!  (They should sell tins with the photo's as another gift idea!)
I also chose to give myself  a gift...  
With Marc being military, there is always that worry about him being called up for deployment.  When he deployed last time, I kept one of his shirts and I ended up putting it on a pillow beside me... I had that and then I had a picture of him hanging on the wall...
Well, this time around... I have a pillowcase!!!
I was able to take one of the photos that I have of Marc in uniform and I printed it on my photo pillowcase! 

Finally, with Broxton being in Pre-K, I wanted a special ornament for us to remember this milestone.  I chose the commemorative ornament because I wanted to have something special, but I also wanted to see the quality of their printing on different objects. 
By choosing the ornament, the pillowcase and the puzzle, I was able to see the finished result on several different forms!!   I was very impressed with the result and I know that they are all gifts that will be treasured for years to come!!!

Enter on the Rafflecopter form below to win a photo gift of your choice (up to $25 VALUE)
Also, head over and enter to win the contest on their facebook page! 
One lucky winner that sends in a FAILED FAMILY PHOTO will win... Is it you? 


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blu-ray Review - Finding Nemo

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About the Movie
Disney•Pixar’s "Finding Nemo" dives back into homes this coming holiday in breathtaking Blu-rayTM. The must-"sea," must-own Oscar®-winning underwater adventure—featuring the unforgettable Marlin, his forgetful friend Dory and the lovable young Nemo—swims into living rooms for the first time ever in high-definition Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D and Digital platforms on December 4, 2012.

The film fully immerses viewers in the stunning underwater world of Finding Nemo! From the creators of Toy Story and Monsters, Inc., Disney•Pixar’s critically acclaimed and heartwarming tale splashes off the screen with brilliant digital picture, high definition sound and breathtaking 3D bonus features that transport you beyond your imagination.

"Finding Nemo," first released in theaters in 2003, earned the Oscar® for Best Animated Feature Film and remains the fifth highest grossing animated film worldwide. In 2008, the American Film Institute named ―Finding Nemo‖ among the top 10 greatest animated films ever made, and it is the second highest grossing Pixar film to date (behind "Toy Story 3").

The Blu-ray 2D and 3D debuts mark the first time ―Finding Nemo‖ has ever been available in these hi-def formats. Featuring pristine high definition picture and sound, the Blu-ray creates an incredible at-home experience with a host of interactive features and bonus features including 3D Virtual Aquariums, 2D Virtual Aquariums, CineExplore, A Filmmakers’ Roundtable and more.

The hi-def home entertainment release of "Finding Nemo" will be available as a 5-Disc Ultimate Collector’s Edition (2 Blu-ray 2D + 1 Blu-ray 3D + 1 DVD + 1 Digital Copy), 3-Disc Collector’s Edition (2 Blu-ray 2D + 1 DVD), 3D Digital & High-Definition Digital formats.

BONUS FEATURES:

Blu-ray 3D Disc:

• 3D HD Aquariums

Blu-ray Disc One:

• Knick Knack‖ Theatrical Short Film (Rated: G)
• Aquarium
• CineExplore
• Finding Nemo – A Filmmakers’ Roundtable
• Reinventing the Submarine Voyage
• Deleted Scene: "Alt Opening"
• A Lesson in Flashbacks

Blu-ray Disc Two:

• Aquariums
• Art Review
• Classic Content
• Making Nemo
• Exploring the Reef
• Studio Tour
• Old School
• Outtakes
• Deleted Scenes
• Publicity Pieces
• Mr. Ray’s Encyclopedia

DVD:

• Knick Knack‖ Theatrical Short Film (Rated: G)

• Finding Nemo – A Filmmakers’ Roundtable

• Aquarium

Digital:

• Knick Knack‖ Theatrical Short Film (Rated: G)
• Finding Nemo – A Filmmakers’ Roundtable
• Deleted Scene: ―Alt Opening‖
• A Lesson in Flashbacks
• Art Review
• Classic Content
• Making Nemo
• Exploring the Reef
• Studio Tour
• Old School
• Outtakes
• Deleted Scenes
• Publicity Pieces

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Those who would like to stay connected with the exciting "Finding Nemo" release are encouraged to:

• "Like" the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/PixarFindingNemo
• Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DisneyPixar
• Visit the official website: www.disney.com/FindingNemo

Mr. Ray Sings His Lesson

The Drop Off



Fish Are Friends


My Take on the Movie
I have been a fan of this movie ever since it came out, so I was very excited to see that it was being re-released! In watching the Blu-ray, the wizards at Disney have done an amazing job at capturing the magic of this film is vivid detail. I was so impressed with the quality of the overall film and the sound quality and vivid imagery was pristine. I cannot say enough great things about this movie and how well it was done! If you are already a fan of this movie, or if you missed it when it originally came out, "just keep swimming" along to your nearest store and pick this up, you will definitely not be disappointed.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Game Review - Richard Scarry Matching Game

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About the Game
It’s the classic game of picture matching, now celebrating the playful world of Richard Scarry. Flip over two tiles and discover imaginative vehicles, fun Busytown places, and familiar faces like Huckle Cat and Lowly Worm. Did you find a match? If so, keep them in your scoring pile and take another turn. If not, turn them back over—but try to remember what pictures they had for later in the game. Collect the most pairs to win. I Can Do That. Games foster self-confidence by giving kids a chance to discover what they can do. Favorite Dr. Seuss, Curious George, and Richard Scarry characters come to life—challenging kids to run, slide, hide, seek, sort, explore—and more. By engaging kids physically, socially, and creatively, I Can Do That. Games provide endless hours of fun for the whole family.

My Take on the Game
My youngest daughter is a HUGE fan of Busy Town, so when we gave this to her she was ecstatic. We started playing and we literally had to pull her away form the game. The game itself is well made with vivid characters that depict some of the very well known characters and scenes from classic Busy Town cartoon episodes. If you are a fan of Richard Scarry or of Busy Town you will love this game - both for its' educational and entertainment value! Definitely worth the purchase!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Game Review - Disney Princess Enchanted Cupcake Party Game

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About the Game
You’re invited to a cupcake party with all your favorite Disney Princesses! Work together to make as many cupcakes as you can before it’s time for the party. Follow the recipe cards to pick the perfect fancy liner, frosting, and topper. Each cupcake creation is fit for a princess in this sweet game of mixing and matching!

Creative, social play at its best!
Standard play-dates are transformed into exciting parties filled with laughter and conversation, as players practice teamwork and cooperation to build as many cupcakes as they can before the time runs out. In this innovative game, each cupcake is uniquely designed to match one of the Disney Princesses, but there are lots of opportunities to get creative! Use the interchangeable cupcake pieces to make your own original cupcake creation- there are dozens of dazzling cupcake combinations.

How to play, snapshot!
As a team, players decide which color deck they will play. Each deck offers a variety of cupcake combinations. The pink deck has recipes for single princess cupcakes. The blue and purple decks have recipes that combine cupcakes featuring two or more princesses. When players flip all three of the Mix, Bake, and Decorate tiles, it's time to draw a Recipe Card and work together to build the cupcake. Players continue to draw cards and build as many cupcakes as they can before the sand timer runs out. Players build cupcakes until all four Clock tiles are flipped over. Then, it's time for the party!

Quality
Wonder Forge has won over 120 prestigious awards by creating good-for-you games that encourage positive attitudes, teamwork, healthy competition, and get-up-and-go active play! Disney Princess Enchanted Cupcake Party is a winner of 2012 Oppenheim Gold Award, 2012 Play Advances in Language Award, and 2012 Creative Child Game of the Year Award! Enchanted Cupcake Party stands the test of time with high-quality pieces and princesses that span many generations- from the timeless Sleeping Beauty to the modern Rapunzel!

What's In The Box?
40 Cupcake Parts, 30 Recipe Cards, 10 Tiles, 1 Sand Timer, 1 Game Rules Manual. The game is intended for 2 or more players, ages 3 and up.

My Take on the Game
Especially in a house of Divas, what is better than cupcakes and princesses? My youngest daughter just loves this game and we have played it over and over again the many times since we received it. The idea of the game is to build your cupcakes as a team. Yes, I said team, thus it is not a competitive game, but one where you work together toward a common goal. I love when I can find these games where at the end we all are winners (as we have no sad faces at the end then). Overall, the game was a ton of fun and my girls had a blast playing it (both my 4 and 8 year olds). The game is of high quality and the cupcakes are very well made and I can tell will stand up to a lot which will allow the game to stay with us for a long time to come!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Game Review - Disney Princess Dazzling Princess Game

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About the Game
Celebrate your favorite princesses and collect sparkling jewels to decorate your bracelet, ring, and tiara. Are you ready for the ball? Let your inner princess shine in this fantasy-filled dress-up game.

Promotes:
Counting and matching
Imaginative play
Turn-taking and playing together

Product Contents
4 Tiaras
4 Rings
4 Bracelets
1 Decoder Heart Gem
40 Jewels
200 Cards
1 Rules Manual

My Take on the Game
If you have someone in your home that just loves princesses this game is definitely for you! Players get to collect items to decorate your Tiara and Bracelet and turn yourself into a very beautiful princess. The game has some resemblances to the older game Pretty Pretty Princess, but is very different in how it is played. Also, the cards that you use and the connection to the Disney Princesses make this a game that I know my family simply loved! I also noticed that you do have to have some familiarity with the Disney Princess movies for a few of the cards that you are playing in the game itself. Overall, this was a fun game for any budding princess!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Nano Speed Cars and Sets Provide Fun For the Whole Family

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I was lucky enough to be able to try out a number of the Nano Speed items recently. I had never tried them before, but was asked to try out a set of their cars and the Super Vert Crash Set.

First off, I have to be honest and say that though you might initially think that this is only for boys, you would be incorrect because I can attest that girls love them too! My daughters are totally into matchbox cars and I have continually been brought into many extended play times where cars are strewn out everywhere, and this was no different.

The Nano Speed cars were so small, but so well designed, and with such great artistry! The cars are super fast and you can shoot them down any flat straight away quicker than other cars I ever owned myself. All you have to do is pull them back and they are off, and at the size of a quarter, they are tiny, but a lot of fun overall!

I was glad to play with these on flat surfaces, but even more glad to have something else that I could try these cars on. The Nano Speed Super Vert Crash Set provided that "other" way to engage the cars. I found that the set itself was easy enough to put together, and only running on two "D" batteries makes it a bit more manageable than some of the other toys that we have in the home that run on many more. Getting the cars aligned once set up was also not too difficult, though I will say that when I started to shoot the cars down the track, a number of them would shoot off the track instead of staying on for the duration.

For young children, you may need to assist them and help them to be patient as it does take a bit of time to get the hang of this, and with how fast the cars go, sometimes it is over before it begins, though this just means that the child can start right over again!

I was a bit concerned that you could not really add onto the set, as it would have been nice to have this option later to change up the overall set itself, but alas, it is not meant to be (at least at this point).

Overall, I was impressed with both the cars and the set. The set did have some design issues that caused me some concern, but overall, both were a lot of fun to play with and my girls have been having a blast trying them out and shooting the cars from here to kingdom come!


All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Holiday gifts: books to share, gifts that last

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There's a buzz in the air. Kids are getting excited for winter holidays: Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa. They love the traditions, the family time together, and the gifts. Parents are making lists, thinking about how to make the holiday special for their child. As you think about the perfect gifts for your children, think about sharing books and giving a gift that lasts.

Include books for your children as you think about holiday gifts.

While books might not grab their attention right away, they have lasting power. Take a minute to think about the amount of time and pleasure we get from a book. Combine books with other gifts, to make a package - whether it's a new stuffed animal and a book, or a baseball mitt along with a biography of Jackie Robinson. Throughout December, I'll be sharing ideas for giving books. Check out the tag "give a book" for past suggestions.

Include books in your gifts to charities.

Our neighborhood does a charity drive every winter for a local women's shelter or the local children's hospital. Gifts of children's books can be especially meaningful for children struggling at this time of year. Books can help pass the time, they can help you escape in your mind, and they can bring laughter at hard times. I pass on books we're no longer using, and include some new popular books that I know kids will love.

If you shop on Amazon, please support Great Kid Books blog. 

I love sharing books with friends, children and schools. If you've gotten great ideas from my posts, please consider supporting Great Kid Books through your Amazon purchases. First visit Great Kid Books and then click over on a link to Amazon. Great Kid Books gets a small percentage of every sale - money that helps us buy the newest books to review and share with kids and readers. Anything purchased from Amazon counts here - from candles to Kindles, toothbrushes to toys, not just books.

Flickr image shared through Creative Common licensing, thanks to John-Morgan. Thank you for your support, and for helping your children find wonderful things to feed their imagination.

Freebies!

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Eucerin Professional Repair
Jelly-Kidz vitamins
Nexxus Youth Elixir
Nescafe Memento (Facebook)
Picture Frame  at Home Depot Kids' Workshop December 1st
Sandman's Plane (from Rise of the Guardians) at Lowe's Build and Grow December 1st

Free Kindle ebooks (readable on any device):
101 Best Kindle Fire Apps 
Homemade Christmas Gifts 
Organic Food: Eating Organic on a Budget 
The Playful Family 

Shopping Savings: Image Bedding

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ImageBedding has a fun promotion going on right now - scratch and save. You click on the product, and they'll reveal the code, from five to ten percent off the price. They have a variety of nfl bedding sets that you can choose from, including Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys....it looks like pretty much every team is here (although I'm not a major NFL fan, so I don't know for sure. There are 32 teams there - is that all of them?)

My husband would be much more interested in the NHL bedding sets also available - he's a fairly serious Minnesota Wild fan. He's kind of in withdrawal from the lockout, though, and has resorted to college hockey. Unfortunately, the University of Minnesota isn't available, but many other colleges are, including my mom's favorite, Michigan State.

Looking for NBA or MLB sets? Those are also available. As are camouflage sets, perfect for the hunters in your life. You can even get home decor in camouflage, so you can really deck out the cabin. NASCAR sets are sold on the site.

Not a sports fan, but still want to find something for a hard-to-get person? They have many other themes available: safari, Western, rustic, and more. They have a lot for kids too - guys or girls, with pink camo, airplanes, sailing, dinosaurs, and much more. You can buy matching kids furniture on the site as well.

To match your bedding set, you can get area rugs, too, for professional football, baseball, hockey, or basketball, as well as many colleges and some wildlife rugs. There's also wallpaper for kids' rooms, or in rustic or camouflage patterns.

The prices seem to be comparable to what you'd spend anywhere - and not very many places will have this kind of selection. You may not want to completely deck out your room in a single theme, unless you have a large room - too much matching in a small room makes it seem even smaller to me. But in a big room you could have the same pattern all over (just not too much of it, especially if the pattern is busy).

My girls would love a lot of the kids' bedding sets. The hard thing would be finding something that works for both my girly-girl and my tomboy. My older one would want nothing more than the ballerina set, while my younger one would rather have the monkeys. I think the Olivia set, with its combination of green and pink, would be perfect for them.

You can pay with PayPal or any major credit card, The site is built on e-commerce by Yahoo! so you can rest assured knowing it's a secure site.

If you're looking for a unique present for someone that you don't have any ideas for, consider a bedding set. It's practical and fun, and you can tailor it right to their personality. I'd love new sheets and blankets in our bedroom to update the look!

Sweepstakes: Calgon Take Me Away

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Calgon was a sponsor of the Latin GRAMMY® Gift Lounge where presenters, performers and VIPs, like Prince Royce, stopped by for their ‘Take Me Away’ moments. Now it’s your turn. Sign up on Facebook.com/CalgonTakeMeAway for a chance to receive the same gift bag created exclusively for the lounge and receive a $1.00 off coupon just for entering!This material comes from Motherhood Moment. Thanks for reading!

Thrifty Thinking: Investment Discipline

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I don't know much about investing, but I recently had a chance to interview Reto Gallati, author of Investment Discipline: Making Errors is OK, Repeating Errors is Not OK, to get his input on investing.

1)     What are some common mistakes investors make when they don't show discipline?
Investors rush into a decision without fully understanding what they do. They don’t spend enough time on research trying to understand what the investment actually is. Many investors don’t spend enough time on research. They buy positions that look great on a website or in an investment letter, but it does not fit into the investors portfolio because it doesn’t match their investment objectives, the time horizon etc. Another common error is to hold on to position too long. Rather than selling a position when it reached a certain profit or limit the loss when it exceeds a certain loss. In the end such an investor is ending up with collecting “losers”.
 
2)     One of your rules is "become a contrarian." Can you expand on that a little bit?
We are living in a fast-paced world. Headlines over headlines run across the tv screen, newspapers bring daily snapshots of what you are supposed to buy. We are tempted to follow such leads and effectively become short-term oriented traders. However, such recommendations generate a behavior, which I call “chasing success”, which is very difficult. Only a tiny fraction of the market participants is effectively able to predict the right investment at the current moment and make a lot of money.
You can be conservative and long-term oriented by behaving contrarian and for example establish low cost basis in gold when gold is out of favor and Treasury bills are cheap. Gold exceeded $1,000 in mid-March 2008 when the economic outlook was dismal and gloomy. Establishing a position at $450 in Q2 2005 would have generated a net return of 257%. As a contrarian you make decision that are not synced up at the moment (short-term) with the general market. What is needed to do so is, the willingness to accept a long time-horizon, establish low-cost investment by doing serious research and the nerves to accept temporary setback. As a consequence your portfolio is no longer dependent on short-term events and becomes more shock-resistant. A good example is for this approach is Warren Buffet or Peter Lynch.
 
3) What are a few ways investors can overcome common mistakes?
     Write down what you want to achieve (objectives) and compare your effective portfolio with your objectives. You will see that over time you loose the focus and start buying/selling position you actually don’t want to have.
      Establish a target price for each position when you buy the securities. By establishing a target price you will do the research, monitor your positions regularly and you will not be surprise either on the up- or downside. You keep the oversight over your holdings. 
Always invest with a margin of safety. Whatever you do, assume a safety margin by buying positions through limits.Define your target price when you are willing to sell, but don’t be too greedy. You can always reset the target limit higher if your investment fundamentally improves. When you go into an economic uncertainty only go for high quality investments and don’t buy a company just because the price dropped a lot.
 
3)     How can investors "get their feet wet" if they have no experience with investing?
Establish a paper-portfolio on a website like cnnfn.com and monitor the success of your positions as if they are real.
Start with mutual funds and etf’s first. These financial instruments have a diversification in itself and will help reducing the risk. Don’t buy leveraged instruments at the beginning, they are volatile.
Do you have a special knowledge, which might help you collecting experience faster? Some novice investors actually work in an industry where they have good insight what is happening. Or they have a family business in a specific industry and therefore already know certain things that happen in this industry.
Once you established a certain comfort you might want to do research on individual companies or themes in the same investment universe as some of your mutual funds and etf’s. Always compare research from different sources!
Increase stepwise the complexity of what you do, starting with smaller amounts and well diversified.
Talk to your parents, friends etc. how they do it and what was good and negative for them.

Burt's Bees Keepsake Box #HolidayGiftGuide

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I love Burt's Bees.  I am not really sure when I started using Burt's for the first time, but it was love at first use.  I do know that the first product I tried was their lip balm.  I loved it so much that I immediately went back to the store and bought all of the tubes they had, as I knew I was going to be giving them out to all my friends.  That year, every single one of us at work had a tube of Burt's Bees on us at all times.  No lie. 
I seriously thought that was their only product, as it was all I had ever seen or used.
Then, I saw a gift pack and fell in love with every product they had in there...
Moving along, I made it a point to purchase their mystery grab bags every time I saw it on sale! 

Once I became a mom, we made sure to use Burt's Bees on Broxton. 
No, we would not use it all the time, but we did use it from time to time...
I wish we would have been given the Sweet Memories Keepsake Photo Box!!!
Just check it out:
 The Burt’s Bees Sweet Memories Keepsake Photo Box ($19.99) contains:·        Baby Bee Shampoo & Wash·        Baby Bee Nourishing Original Lotion ·        Baby Bee Diaper Ointment ·        Baby Bee Nourishing Body Oil ·        Baby Bee Buttermilk Soap If you have a friend that is expecting, or that has a baby... or truthfully, if you want to baby yourself...
You want to grab this keepsake memory box soon!!!!
The products in there can be used by everyone (and you can give the diaper ointment to a friend) and then you still get the cute box... You can store memento's in there... or pictures... whatever your heart desires!!!
Yet again, Burt's Bees has done it again!!!

FTC Compliant Review Policy: The product(s) featured in this review were provided free of cost to me by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing. Opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

@LilTeammates for Your Little Slugger #Giveaway #holidaygiftguide

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We had the chance to review figures from the Lil' Teammates line before and let me tell you, Broxton LOVES them!!!  He has a Falcon's Player, a Basketball player and a couple NCAA Baseball players. Then, they made teeny mates and they are over the door to greet us when we walk in his room.
As you can tell, we love sports and we love collecting items.  Broxton loves to play with them and he has them playing with each other (guess they are in the Olympics or something with the mixture of sports being played.)
Well, Lil' Teammates has recently released the Lil' Teammates Collectible Team Sets. 
Each Set has a Quarterback, a Running Back and a Lineman.
This would be a cute collectible item for a Sports Fan in your life..   (Or for a couple kids you might know that love sports!) 
  The teams that are currently available:
• 22 NFL teams to choose from:
• Chicago Bears • Cincinnati Bengals • Denver Broncos  • Cleveland Browns • San Diego Chargers  • Kansas City Chiefs   • Indianapolis Colts   • Dallas Cowboys • Miami Dolphins • Philadelphia Eagles     • San Francisco 49ers    • New York Giants       • New York Jets        • Detroit Lions  • Green Bay Packers    • New England Patriots  • Oakland Raiders    • Baltimore Ravens • Washington Redskins  • New Orleans Saints • Pittsburgh Steelers   • Minnesota VikingsIsn't that great looking?  It even has a cute display packaging, so the collector might not even want to open it. I love the fact that you can now purchase the team set, instead of just the individuals!!!  Broxton has been eyeing this since he saw the pictures and I am so excited to see his face when he unwraps his for Christmas!!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Moonrise Kingdom Movie Review

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I am not one for movies that drag, but I stuck around this time. 
I knew it had an "all star cast" but for the most part, they were just supporting cast members... The real stars of the show were the two kids... I had to stay around to see the whole movie to see what would happen. 
The movie starts with a boy that runs away from home from his boy scout group... and then we learn that he is an orphan with his foster parents not wanting him to return home...  At the same time he runs away, a girl that is always looking out the window with her binoculars also runs away...
This really did drag... like really slow...  but, I will say... if you can sit through a slow movie...
It was kinda cute with the love story, but it really was slow. 


SYNOPSIS:
Set on an island off the coast of New England in the summer of 1965, Moonrise Kingdom follows two 12-year-olds who fall in love, make a secret pact and run away together into the wilderness. As various authorities try to hunt them down, a violent storm is brewing off-shore – and the peaceful island community is turned upside down in every which way.
Charming screen newcomers Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward star alongside Bruce Willis (Die Hard), Academy Award^® nominees Edward Norton (American History X) and Bill Murray (Lost in Translation), Academy Award^® winners Frances McDormand (Fargo) and Tilda Swinton (Michael Clayton), Jason Schwartzman (Rushmore), and Bob Balaban (Gosford Park). Moonrise Kingdom is a movie that critics are calling “extraordinary from start to finish” (Glenn Kenny, MSN Movies).   FTC Compliant Review Policy: The product(s) featured in this review were provided free of cost to me by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing. Opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

Core Bamboo and a Discoutnt Code

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 While Christmas gets closer and closer, we need to not only remember to get great gifts to make those faces smile when they unwrap their gifts, but we also need to make sure that we are prepared for hosting all those people at your house! 
I saw Core Bamboo online and I was immediately hooked at the different designs that they had! 
Up first, I was checking out the bamboo banana hanger.  We eat tons of banana's here and we could really use this!  The ones I have seen are like cheap looking plastic, so the fact that this was bamboo made me know that I would not mind having it sit out on the counter for guests to grab a banana while visiting! 
 We were sent a very chic 3 part entertainment set and I love it.  I am telling you, it is so nice and classic.  The design of the natural bamboo and the crisp white ceramic bowls.  This is such a great item.  I think it would be great to have sitting out for guests.  You could fill it with snacks of some sort for guests to munch on.  You could also have an assortment of candies out if that is what you want. 
I also think that if you had a bunch of guests over, you could have a sandwich station and fill it up with gourmet toppings or sandwich spreads.  It is large enough to hold a good amount, but it isn't so big that it would hold side items for families, nor would it take up that much space! 
At the price of only $25, I think it would actually make a great hostess gift! 
Head on over to their site so that you can score great savings! 
Not to mention, they have current discount codes to help you save!
(Look at the bottom of this image for 2!)
Core Bamboo has great products and great prices... I think that anyone opening up a gift from Core Bamboo would be really happy!

FTC Compliant Review Policy: The product(s) featured in this review were provided free of cost to me by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing. Opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

Cyber Monday Discount Codes

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I know this is short..
But, I just wanted to share these discount codes with you:
Paper Coterie:    Also: 
Snorg Tees  Coupon code is cybermonday15, and it gives you 15% off your order when your order includes 2 or more shirts. Remember, it's for Monday only and it ends at midnight ***** I was not required to post this, just thought you might want a discount this holiday season!

Giveaway: Make Your Own Candy Kits from Glee Gum

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Christmas is coming and you KNOW what that means...

Christmas vacation and COUNTLESS echoes of 'I'M BORED".... SIGH, you know it's coming, don;t lie to yourself. Admit it, own it, and breathe a sigh of relief, because I have the answer to get your kids busy, having fun and getting to EAT their projects!

Yup, it's Make Your Own Candy Kits! The fun activity kits that include everything you need to make natural chewing gum, gummies, and chocolate, from scratch. We made the Make Your Own Candy Kit Gummies last year, and Kiddo LOVED it- it was a great science and learning experiment, wrapped up in fun! She was shocked to learn gummies were made from seaweed!
It’s easy with 3 Make Your Own Candy Kits to choose from:

• Gummies
• Chocolate
• Chewing Gum

Each kit includes natural ingredients, simple instructions, and info about the history and origins of familiar treats. Everyone aged 8 and up gets a real kick out of the process. (Younger children enjoy it too, with parental supervision.) The kits are eco-friendly, and  connect your family to the global community, and you get to eat your creation- always satisfying in itself! AND they come with everything you need, so there is no delay in getting started!

So if you're looking for something DIFFERENT to go under the tree this year, or to keep the kids occupied over their school vacation, check out these Glee Gum Candy Making kits today!

Specials: Right now Glee Gum is running a Holiday Sale- you save 30% if order all 3 kits! Woo-hoo, if you have 3 kids/grandkids, you could give them all a different type- no arguing or complaining! Check out Glee Gum's Facebook and Twitter pages for more specials! 


You can also use the Glee Gum Store Locator to find both the gum and the candy kits locally at health food, grocery and national chain stores, in the US and Canada!  And remember to check their newsletter for an IN-STORE coupon this month! 

Want to win one of these super kits?
Please note that they can only ship winning prizes to addresses in the continental US, due to regulations.



a Rafflecopter giveaway



Disclosure / Disclaimer:  I received the offer of this kit, free of charge, from Glee Candy, for blog giveaway purposes. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it either.

Winners Recovering from Thanksgiving!

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1. Magnolia Gods- # 11 Tiffany C

2. What the Cat Saw- # 31 Carol M

3. the Sparkle Box- # 37 Apple Blossom

4. Crossing on the Paris- #55 Laura B

5. Death in the Memorial Garden- # 6 holden j

6. Cat- #4 Margie

7. Sears Gift Card- #220 Stacey C


It pays to come back and retweet- that's how some people win so often- they are consistent in entering daily the low entry giveaways!

All winners have been notified by email.

Thanks to everyone who entered!

Flower Muse Has You Set for the Holiday Season!

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If there is one thing that makes the holidays special, it is fresh flowers on the mantle, dining room table, or nightstand. Fresh flowers just seem to take the holiday decor up a notch, at least to me! So I was thrilled when Flower Muse asked if I would review some of their holiday flowers!


Flower Muse is a from-farm-to-table floral e-tailer, They work with farms (all of which that have great agricultural and socially responsible practices), that grow incredible flower varieties and then ship them directly from the farm to your door at WHOLESALE prices. Yup. WHOLESALE! And direct from the farm? That is absolutely AMAZING as most flowers sold here in the United States are brought into Miami by an importer, sold to a wholesaler, delivered to a retailer and, finally, placed in your hands- generally over 12 days from the farm to your hands- no wonder flowers never seem to last anymore! 

I had a hard time making a selection, until I saw their gorgeous Orange Mini-Calas. Their yellow orange ruffled swirls reminded me of Fall leaves, and I knew they would be PERFECT for our Fall mantle! You get 50 long stem (over 15 inches each) Orange Mango variety of mini-Calas. Aren't they stunning? But wait til you see more!


The flowers arrived 3 days after ordering them (thanks to an oops by FedEx, otherwise it would have been 2 days)! I was shocked they arrived SO quickly! As you can see, they are shipped in a floral box, with air holes to keep them from wilting from heat. Also they were strapped down inside the box, to keep them from moving around. Then the stems were split into 6 packs, each wrapped in plastic, with a foam protector around them stems, to keep the strapping tape from biting into them (in the picture I had already cut off one strap, before I remembered to take a picture!) Talk about careful shipment! I've never seen flowers shipped SO carefully!


Look how they pick up the natural light from the window!
I had a pretty tall vase I wanted to place them in, so I opted to place them in and let them sit overnight to 'revive' them some, before putting them on the mantle. Can you believe how VIBRANT the colors are? Seriously- no retouching here- this is exactly what they looked like when I put them in the vase! A little droppy, but they picked up by the following day, as you can see (sorry, low light photo)!


The flowers were just SO SO stunning, I didn't want to put them on the dining room table, where they would get moved around alot, or on the coffee table, where the cat might take a liking to them, so I opted to keep with my original mantle idea- that way every time someone went in or out of the house, we could experience their beauty all over again, and be astounded once again!


Looks like a painting, doesn't it?
As you can see, they are a prefect coloring to match what had to decorate the mantle with. And having the mirror behind and off center, they just get reflected more and more every time you look at them, and the light just shines through them! We all are amazed, and everyone has oohed and awed over them over the holiday week! They have definitely taken our holiday decor up quite a few notches and we are definitely looking at ordering some flowers for the Christmas season as well!

Check out their Amarylis selection, red rose selection, and green Antique Hydrangeas and you'll see what I mean, about how you can put together a STUNNING holiday bouquet that will have your house the talk of any party! They also have seasonal collections already put together for you- they arrive already in the vase and ready to go, just add water! 

And are you planning a holiday wedding? Check out their holiday wedding packages for some amazing flower combinations, and to get some great color combination ideas!  
 
Want to know something ELSE special about Flower Muse?

FREE SHIPPING. Yup, no matter what you are shipping. And it's going FedEx, so it will get to you as fast as possible! Now I KNOW you're sold on Flower Muse like I am!

Check out their blog for early notices of upcoming flowers to be sold, and unique varieties! Plus check their Facebook and Twitter pages for specials!




 Disclosure / Disclaimer: I was sent these flowers, free of charge, for review purposes, from Flower Muse, via Distilled PR. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it.