Facebook Like You Back - June 30, 2010

Welcome to Facebook Like-You-Back (the meme formerly known as Fan-You-Back) hosted by Kelly’s Lucky You, Coupon Mommy of 3 and Simply Stacie!

Are you looking for new Facebook pages to follow and new friends who like your page? Then join us!

1. Add your Facebook page to the MckLinky (you only have to add it to one and it will appear on all).

2. Click on the Facebook link for the three hostesses and “like” them on Facebook. Leave a comment on their wall and they will like-you-back.

3. Like as many more Facebook pages as you want, leaving comments with links so they’ll know where to like-you-back.

Want to help spread the word and add this MckLinky to your blog? Write your own post telling your readers about FLYB. Below the linky box, you’ll see “Want to be a part of this Blog Hop? Click here for instructions and code….” You can also find the code for the Facebook Like-You-Back Button on the sidebar at the right.

***Our Facebook Page of the Week is Let's Just Give It Away!! She takes the #4 spot.***

Want to be our ”Facebook Page Of The Week”? Under the profile picture on a Facebook page, you’ll see “Suggest to Friends”. Please suggest to your friends that they “like” the Facebook Page of the Week, Let's Just Give It Away! Leave a comment below, telling us that you suggested to friends and we will enter you in a drawing for the Facebook Page Of The Week next week. Next week, we will ask everyone to suggest to friends that they follow the Facebook Page of the Week. It could be you!

Thank you for participating and let’s have fun!

By the way, we’d love to have you stop by our blogs too – here’s where we are:

Kelly’s Lucky You
Coupon Mommy of 3
Simply Stacie

Please link up directly to your Facebook page only. All other links will be deleted.

Yooooo-hoooooo! Design Star, where are you?

*sigh* Design Star, Design Star..... *sigh* Where are you? I'm afraid that this show I was so excited about, has lost it's way! The last two episodes have been disappointing for me.

Are you watching? What do you think?

I don't get the "team" dynamics. Is hosting your own design show that much of a collaborative effort?

*sigh*

This week the designers were split into two teams - the boys and the girls-plus-Dan. They were each given an outdoor space on a Manhattan roof-top and challenged to create a space that was reflective of music and the musical instruments that each of them had chosen at the beginning of the show. Again, I'm at a loss, not understanding why teams of five are given a fairly small space and told to be creative, co-operative and cohesive. It's like putting kittens in a pillowcase and not expecting to hear "Mrrrrrowwwwweeeee".

So far, in three weeks, my favorite design has been Tera's white box and she's gone! I loved the first episode-each designer doing their own thing, but still having to work with ONE other in creating their design. Okay, enough of my whining! Oh wait, one more, what's up with the budgets? C'mon HGTV give them some decent money to spend, no more Design on a Nickel.

Q: Here are the two spaces.... If you didn't watch, which do you think won? Don't scroll down yet, I'll tell you below the pictures.

First, the boys
Then, the girls-plus-Dan

Colors? Courtland took the color of his cello as inspiration and created the orange wall. The judges hated it! Nina created the eggplant color in the girls space, which some forum-friends called a Barney wall. Ouch! Balance? I think Nina, even though I don't like her a bit!, is the only designer that achieved anything close to a balanced design. I liked the idea of Stacey's "trumpet" stepped fencing, but the execution with the ivy? Boring. Lighting? Non-existant. Flooring? Big faux pas! Tom was the only one that used a rug.

Neither of the rooms are inviting in my opinion, or even look comfortable! For me, it wasn't who's design was the best, it was who's was the least-worst. Is that a word?

A: Okay, did you agree with the judges? The girls-plus-Dan won (the purple space).

Well, I will keep watching - I love design shows, even bad ones. C'mon HGTV and Design Star, bring back the sparkle and the fun next Sunday night!

Justin on The Bachelorette - What a Jerk! Goodbye and Good Riddance!

Did you watch The Bachelorette last night? Yikes! Justin, the wrestler with the broken leg, was finally exposed as the jerk of the season. We knew from the beginning, didn't we? Ever since he gave the Weatherman such a hard time on the first show, I knew this guy was a jerk.

Confession time: this is my first time watching either The Bachelor or The Bachelorette! I was drawn in when we accidentally dvr'd it because it came after another show. And now I'm hooked. The idea of one guy/girl dating multiple people seemed kind of.... hmm, unpleasant. Especially when physical relationships were involved. I've been surprised though, it doesn't seem as exploitive as I thought it might be. Although last nights' olive oil wrestling wasn't exactly a classy touch - just my opinion.

If you haven't been watching, here's a little catch-up - Ali, is a girl that was on a season of The Bachelor with Jake (he was on Dancing With The Stars). She chose to pursue her dream job rather than a relationship with Jake then had a change of heart and the producers liked her so much they gave her an opportunity to be The Bachelorette and find a guy of her own.

Last night, Ali found out that one of the guys on the show, Justin, had a long-time girlfriend and was only on the show for the fame - not to date her. She called him on it and he ran - literally, he was climbing over landscaping to get away from her and the cameras. Busted! He eventually came back to talk to her but had no smug comebacks this time - busted! Nice touch when they showed Justin walking away and the voiceover was his girlfriend's answering machine playing messages Justin had left her, exposing his lies! If you missed it and want to watch, click here, ABC has episodes available to watch on their website.
Who's left?
(clockwise)
Frank - afraid to commit and still in love with his old girlfriend
Roberto - good-looking; nice guy - possibly "the one" (can you tell by center picture, he's my favorite!)
Ty - protective and strong, but exciting enough?
Kirk - not a strong personality but the chemistry is there
Chris - maybe too laid back and easy going for Ali
Surprise last minute entry? Jake?

If you want to read a blow-by-blow funny post about the show, check out Zap2It!

Did you watch?
What did you think?
Have you know a Justin or two?
Are you lucky and NOT married to a Justin?

Instant Win Sweepstakes

Have you ever entered or won anything on an instant win contest? I was very lucky and won a Kitchen Aid Artisan Mixer from an I Can't Believe It's Not Butter contest. It was so exciting! I've been luckier on blog giveaways, but instant wins are fun too.

Here are a few tips if you're thinking of trying instant wins -

1. Download auto-fill software like Google's or Autofill Forms for Firefox. You type your contact information into the software and then when you come to an instant win registration, you can just click the autofill icon and it will fill in most of the information for you. This is a life-saver when you do many contests.

2. To improve your chances of winning, enter at off-peak times. Most instant win contests, randomly choose a time of day and whoever enters closest to that time of day, wins. Late at night or early in the morning is not any more likely to be the winning time, but there is less competition at those times, so you are more likely to be close to the winning time if it is.

3. Enter every day. Almost every instant win contest lets you enter every day. The more times you enter, the better your chances are of winning!

4. Use the "If you can't see the game, click here". The chances of winning are equal whether you play the game or click on the can't see option. It will save you a lot of time. But if the game is fun, play! I get weary of these after awhile and playing the games, adds some fun.

5. Try an online sweeps listing like Sweepstakes Advantage. Not only do they list a ton of sweepstakes by category and give you links, prizes and ending dates, they have great tools for creating your own favorites listing, recording that you entered specific contests, and pop open tools to open contest windows for you all at once.

These are some fun instant wins that I read about at Sweepstakes Advantage.

Contest: Road to Super 8
Prizes*: Richard Petty Memorabilia, $25 Best Buy Gift Cards
Ends: 11/21/10

Contest: Dole Splash Into Summer
UPC Code: 4687 9456
Prizes*: $25 Visa Gift Cards, Summer Pool Toys
Ends: 7/25/10

Contest: AARP Ultimate Trivia
Prizes*: Target and Starbucks Gift Cards
Ends: 7/13/10
Contest: Honey Nut Cheerios
Prizes*: Year's supply of cereal
Ends: 6/28/11

Contest: Green Mountain Perfect K-Cups
Prizes*: Keurig and K Cups
Ends: 3/31/11

Contest: Progressive.com - Truck and Cash Giveaway
Prizes*: Truck and $25 checks
Ends: 3/14/11

Contest: Best Foods
Prizes*: Food, cookbooks, grills
Ends: 1/4/11

Contest: Bicycle Cards
Code: Bicycle125
Prizes*: Cards, small appliance]
Ends: 12/31/10

Contest: Fox.com $75,000 Scratch Off
Prizes*: $75,000, DVDs
Ends: 12/31/10

Contest: Verizon Best Seat
Limited States
Prizes*: Movie and Pizza Cash
Ends: 12/31/10

Contest: Scotts.com Snap Perks
Limited States
Prizes*: Grocery or Visa Gift Cards
Ends: 10/31/10
Contest: Ghirardelli Moments
Prizes*: Chocolate!
Ends: 10/31/10

Contest: Puma.com Recognize Awesome
Prizes*: Trip to Germany, WPS tickets
Ends: 9/30/10

Contest: CocaCola 99 Days of Summer
Prizes*: Gift Cards
Ends: 9/15/10

*These are not all the prizes for these contests, I only listed the ones I thought were most interesting!

Caution: Don't give anyone your credit card or bank account information, you should never have to pay for any part of a prize. It's possible you might end up with a ton of spammy email from entering instant wins. I try to stick to companies that I recognize and trust.

Giveaway and Discount Offer: WNBA - Women's Basketball

What I wanted most for my daughter was that she be able to soar confidently in her own sky, whatever that may be.
-- Helen Claes

What are your wishes for your daughter? Do you think about whether you are enabling her to dream wide and far?

My parents consciously tried to instill in me a spirit that embraced challenges. They wanted me to believe that I could do anything. And I still do. Of course, there are limitations, but none that can't be overcome. In Accounting we called it "compensating factors". At my age, it would be tough to become a professional basketball player. But I do believe I could do it. I would have to make alot of sacrifices and completely change my life. But there is very little, that I consider impossible. There are many things I think are not possible without incredibly difficult changes to my life that I wouldn't choose to make, but if I wanted to, I could.

I hope that Rosie will grow up with that same belief. I want her dream and then have the work ethic to make those dreams come true.
On Sunday, we took Rosie to a Chicago Sky WNBA game. These are women who had a dream and worked to make it come true. Here's a little WNBA trivia from their website.

Do you know how long the WNBA has been around? "On April 24, 1996, women’s basketball announced “We Got Next” as the NBA Board of Governors approved the concept of a Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) to begin play in June 1997."

Who was the first woman signed to a WNBA team? The first of the player signings was announced on October 23, 1996, with Sheryl Swoopes and Rebecca Lobo joining the league.

When was the first game? "The inaugural WNBA season tipped off on June 21, 1997, with the New York Liberty taking on the Los Angeles Sparks at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, Calif. "

We saw the Chicago Sky play the Indiana Fever. It was so much more than a basketball game. It is truly an entertainment event. There was a magician, face painting, tumblers, and more! The Chicago Sky play at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Il.

If you take your family ( or go with your girlfriends - it's a great GNO! ), the WNBA has a special discount for blog readers! The discount will vary depending on the price of the ticket that you purchase and the team. Tickets can be ordered at TicketMaster.com/wnba . Use the promo code WNBABLOG for discounts up to 60%, buy one get one free, or even free popcorn (depending on the team). The discount is good through the end of the regular season, August 22nd. For Chicago Sky tickets at up to 27% off, click here.

WIN THIS PRIZE:

I have three Addidas, Chicago Sky Logo T-Shirts to give to one lucky reader! They are size small (18 inches from shoulder seam to shoulder seam and 26 inches long).

TO ENTER:
Main entry
1. Go to WNBA.com and tell me something you learned.
Additional entries
2. Subscribe via email or rss feed to Kelly’s Lucky You
3. Follow Kelly’s Lucky You
4. Put the Kelly’s Lucky You button on your sidebar or blogroll page
5. Blog about this giveaway, link to Kelly's Lucky You . Please leave the link to your post in the comments
6. Follow @KellysLuckyYou on Twitter
7. Tweet this giveaway (RT 1x per day)
8. Become a Fan of Kelly's Lucky You on Facebook (please leave your first name and last initial so I can find you)

Leave one comment for each entry.
Contest ends July 11th at midnight CST.

One winner will be chosen and notified by email to the email address provided in the winning comment. The winner must respond within 48 hours of the notification email, or another winner will be chosen. Open to residents of US and Canada.
See my Giveaway Rules page for further information.

Good luck!

Thank you to One2One Network for giving us tickets to the WNBA Chicago Sky game and the three t-shirts that I'm giving away in this contest.

Giveaway - Peace and Love from Meridane Designs

I love this design!!! I have received so many compliments and questions about this unique and beautiful piece! I love jewelry with a story and this is a great one to share.

This is how it came about.....

A woman named, Sally Short, took the letters in the phrase, "Love is all you need" and superimposed them on top of each other in a rectangle shape and added a peace sign.

Sally sent off the design to be made into a pendant. When it returned, the family was looking at it and noticed other letters. They discovered every letter and every number! How cool! When you give this to someone or wear it yourself, you can spell any word or name you wish! It has a special message for anyone wearing it, but can mean something to everyone.
This would make such a great gift for a couple, it's a very unisex design, looking great on a man or a woman. What better message than love?

Where Can You Buy One?
You can order pendants, earrings, bracelets, and combined with different gem stones.

Where Can You Win One?
Well, here, of course! Meridane Designs has graciously offered one lucky reader a pendant of their own - choice of large or small in sterling silver.

TO ENTER:
Main entry
1. Go to Meridane Designs and tell me something you learned about the design or the company.
Additional entries
2. If you win, is it for you or a gift? What would you want yours to "spell"?
3. Like Meridane Design on Facebook (leave them a message, if you like!)
4. Join the Meridane Design e-mailing list (on the left sidebar at the Meridane website)
5. Subscribe via email or rss feed to Kelly’s Lucky You
6. Follow Kelly’s Lucky You
7. Put the Kelly’s Lucky You button on your sidebar or blogroll page
8. Blog about this giveaway, link to Kelly's Lucky You . Please leave the link to your post in the comments
9. Follow @KellysLuckyYou on Twitter
10. Tweet this giveaway (RT 1x per day)
11. Become a Fan of Kelly's Lucky You on Facebook (please leave your first name and last initial so I can find you)

Leave one comment for each entry.
Contest ends July 11th at midnight CST.

One winner will be chosen and notified by email to the email address provided in the winning comment. The winner must respond within 48 hours of the notification email, or another winner will be chosen. Open to residents of US and Canada.
See my Giveaway Rules page for further information.

A large pendant in sterling silver was sent to me from Meridane for review. All opinions are my own.

Good luck!

Free-bee - Disney Character Calls

Barilla Piccolini is sponsoring free character calls from Disney characters!

The available options for customizing the call are these:

Choice of character: Mickey, Minnie, Goofy or Donald
Occasion: Congratulations, Good Night, Encouragement, Good Morning
Personal Message: a ton of choices depending on which occasion you chose
First Name of Child
Sender: Folks, Mom, Dad, Someone Special
The calls can be scheduled for any day between 9am and 8pm.
I scheduled a call for Rosie for tomorrow morning from Minnie Mouse talking about how we're going to visit family (we always see Grandma and Grandpa on Sundays). I think it'll be a big hit, she still talks about the call she got from Ariel before our Disney trip.

To schedule a call to your special little one, click here.

If you are considering booking a Disney vacation, I have some tips in this post, check it out!

Thank you Barilla!!

Disney Vacation Planning Tips

Are you thinking about planning a trip to a Disney Destination?
There are some great deals available right now.

Everyone has different vacation habits and budgets, but here are a few tips from our recent trip!

Q: Where to book your trip?

I strongly recommend using Disney Travel to book your vacation. You will have the “Disney Difference” of quality customer service from the beginning to end of your trip. If any special offers start after you’ve booked your trip, Disney travel will adjust your offer, in most cases.

We went on a trip two years ago with other families, they booked through Disney and we didn't. We got a slightly better deal initially by booking through a popular travel site, but theirs (booked through Disney) was upgraded to a free meal plan saving them hundreds of dollars. We weren't eligible because we had gone through someone else. Lesson learned!

You can click here to book online or call (407) 939-7500.

Q: Where to stay?

I also strongly recommend staying on Disney property in one of their resorts. The convenience is unbeatable, the service incredible, and the price reasonable. We’ve now stayed in one each of the “value”, “moderate” and “deluxe”. I would recommend any of them, depending on your budget.

Disney Resorts offer Online Check-In up to ten days before your trip. We were staying at All-Star Music, which is a huge complex of buildings. Using the online check-in allowed us to request a room close to transportation and on the first floor. A first floor room has its benefits and drawbacks. Easy access is a big plus and time-saver. It’s amazing how much time you can spend waiting for elevators, but with first floor, you just walk right in. I was a bit bothered by the plumbing noises, and Sean pointed out that if we were on a higher floor those wouldn’t be so loud.

Tip about All-Star Music: The closest buildings are called “Calypso”. They border the main pool. If you are looking for a quiet location, these are not the buildings for you! We stayed in the next building which was “Jazz Inn”. Our room was close to the playground, also! The location was perfect for us - close to the pool, the lobby/restaurant, and bus stop.

Q: What are the current deals?
Click here to see Special Offers. If you're only staying 2 nights, there's an offer to save up to 40% on your lodging. If you're lucky enough to be staying 5 nights, you can get the Meal Plan free! That's savings of $689 for a family of 4! I have another post planned to talk about the Disney Meal Plan, stay tuned!

Giveaway - Dear John by Nicholas Sparks (Audiobook)

I love audio books for long drives - it keeps me awake at the wheel and unlike eating has zero calories! They're great to listen to while lying on the beach or next to the pool. Do you or someone you know have a long commute? Try an audio book to pass the time.

I have one to giveaway - Dear John by Nicholas Sparks. You may have seen or heard about the movie released this year starring Amanda Seyfried and Channing Tatum. In true Nicholas Sparks' style, it describes two young people falling in love. But happily ever after, isn't going to be easy. John and Savannah are instantly attracted when they meet. But John is in the Army and is sent overseas. They have plans for when his tour of duty will be over, but Sept. 11th changes everything and John re-enlists. It seems like Savannah can't wait for him, but there is more to her story than meets the eye.

Have you read or seen any of Nicholas Sparks stories? He's written A Walk To Remember, The Notebook, Message in a Bottle, Nights in Rodanthe and more. He is an amazing author and you truly feel the emotions of his characters.

WIN THIS PRIZE:

Dear John, by Nicholas Sparks (Audiobook)

TO ENTER:
Main entry
1. Tell me if you've ever read a Nicholas Sparks book or seen a movie based on his books and which one (s).
Additional entries
2. Subscribe via email or rss feed to Kelly’s Lucky You
3. Follow Kelly’s Lucky You
4. Put the Kelly’s Lucky You button on your sidebar or blogroll page
5. Blog about this giveaway, link to Kelly's Lucky You . Please leave the link to your post in the comments
6. Follow @KellysLuckyYou on Twitter
7. Tweet this giveaway (RT 1x per day)
8. Become a Fan of Kelly's Lucky You on Facebook (please leave your first name and last initial so I can find you)

Leave one comment for each entry.
Contest ends July 8th at midnight CST.

One winner will be chosen and notified by email to the email address provided in the winning comment. The winner must respond within 48 hours of the notification email, or another winner will be chosen. Open to residents of US and Canada.
See my Giveaway Rules page for further information.

Good luck!

Giveaway and Deal Alert - Agoo, Clothes for Active Kids

Deal Alert
It's an Agoo Friendship Event! Mabel’s Label’s and Agoo Apparel have come together to create an awesome deal! For a limited time, get One $75 Agoo Apparel gift certificate and one $25 Mabel's Label's gift certificate at a whopping 50% off! That is $100 worth of merchandise for only $50!" Click here for more info.

Giveaway
Do you have an active little one? Have you heard of Tushie Huggers?
A Tushie Hugger is a 2-in-1 garment, with the look of a skirt/short combined with leggings. They are trendy AND comfortable. Add a Tushie top and Agoo has created a outfit that kids will want to wear and Moms will love too!

I won a set in a contest but the largest size is 24-36 months, so I thought, "giveaway!"
WIN THIS PRIZE:
One lucky Kelly's Lucky You reader will receive this adorable set, Polka Dot Pop, in size 24-36 months. The retail price is $45.

TO ENTER:
Main entry
1. Go to Agoo and tell me about your favorite item.
Additional entries
2. Subscribe via email or rss feed to Kelly’s Lucky You
3. Follow Kelly’s Lucky You
4. Put the Kelly’s Lucky You button on your sidebar or blogroll page
5. Blog about this giveaway, link to Kelly's Lucky You . Please leave the link to your post in the comments
6. Follow @KellysLuckyYou on Twitter
7. Tweet this giveaway (RT 1x per day)
8. Become a Fan of Kelly's Lucky You on Facebook (please leave your first name and last initial so I can find you)

Leave one comment for each entry.
Contest ends July 8th at midnight CST.

One winner will be chosen and notified by email to the email address provided in the winning comment. The winner must respond within 48 hours of the notification email, or another winner will be chosen. Open to residents of US and Canada.
See my Giveaway Rules page for further information.

Good luck!

myblab.com - New Social Networking Site

I received an email this morning about a new social networking site (I know, I know, like I need another reason to sit at the computer!). This one grabbed my attention because it's a Christian site.

The founder said that the vision for myblab.com (blab stand for Be Linked As Believers) is "to form a community of believers across the globe, encouraging one another in their journeys of faith," says Burkhart. "I can't think of a better way to use the internet than that." That appealed to me, as did the zero tolorance policy for offensive material.

I was still a bit on the fence although my interest was definitely piqued. Then I read about the contest (you know me!). That hooked me in, hehehe. myblab.com is having a six week contest and the prizes are on my wish list! A Sony Bravia TV, a Dell laptop, an iPod Touch!
I saw another story on the news about cyber-bullying. Although no site is 100% safe for your children, maybe this is a safer alternative to MySpace and Facebook. Rosie is only four, so I don't know much about kids and internet safety yet.

Check it out and let me know what you think, okay?

Facebook Like You Back - June 23, 2010

Welcome to Facebook Like-You-Back (the meme formerly known as Fan-You-Back) hosted by Kelly’s Lucky You, Coupon Mommy of 3 and Simply Stacie!

Are you looking for new Facebook pages to follow and new friends who like your page? Then join us!

1. Add your Facebook page to the MckLinky (you only have to add it to one and it will appear on all).

2. Click on the Facebook link for the three hostesses and “like” them on Facebook. Leave a comment on their wall and they will like-you-back.

3. Like as many more Facebook pages as you want, leaving comments with links so they’ll know where to like-you-back.

Want to help spread the word and add this MckLinky to your blog? Write your own post telling your readers about FLYB. Below the linky box, you’ll see “Want to be a part of this Blog Hop? Click here for instructions and code….” You can also find the code for the Facebook Like-You-Back Button on the sidebar at the right.

***Our Facebook Page of the Week is The Kiddie Fashionista! She takes the #4 spot.***

Want to be our ”Facebook Page Of The Week”? Under the profile picture on a Facebook page, you’ll see “Suggest to Friends”. Please suggest to your friends that they “like” the Facebook Page of the Week , The Kiddie Fashionista! Leave a comment below, telling us that you suggested to friends and we will enter you in a drawing for the Facebook Page Of The Week next week. Next week, we will ask everyone to suggest to friends that they follow the Facebook Page of the Week. It could be you!

Thank you for participating and let’s have fun!

By the way, we’d love to have you stop by our blogs too – here’s where we are:

Kelly’s Lucky You
Coupon Mommy of 3
Simply Stacie

Rayovac Powers Your Summer! Twitter Party and Sweepstakes

Rayovac has the power to make your summer fun!

Twitter Party Alert

Rayovac Powers Your Vacation Summer Promotion Twitter Event
Date: Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Time: 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. CST
Location: #rayovac
Follow: @Rayovac_Battery, @5minutesformom, @CirclePRMary
Prizes: more than 20 fun giveaways from Rayovac ranging from a summer supply of Rayovac Batteries to $50 Target Gift Cards

Super Sweepstakes Alert

Rayovac is also having a super sweepstakes! 30 prizes in 30 days! Here's a list of the prizes:

• (9) Summer Fun Kits: Walmart Gift Card ($50), Rayovac Battery Variety Packs ($35):
  Package Worth ($85)
• (2) Ozark Trail Tent ($109), Rayovac Battery Variety Packs ($35): Package Worth ($145)
• (1) Aquaglide Kayak Kit ($69), Rayovac Battery Variety Packs ($35): Package Worth ($105)
• (1) Flashlight Tag Kit: (5) 2-pack Rayovac Flashlights ($9), (5) 12-pack Rayovac Batteries ($30), WalMart Gift Card ($50): Package Worth ($125)
• (2) Tandem BMX Bike ($169), Rayovac Battery Variety Packs ($35): Package Worth ($205)
• (2) Kodak EasyShare Cameras ($76), Rayovac Platinum Charger with Batteries ($14), 4-pack AA Platinum Rechargeable batteries ($10): Package Worth ($100)
• (2) GPX Portable Radios ($50), Rayovac Battery Variety Packs ($35): Package Worth ($85)
• (1) See The Fireworks Kit: Coleman Electronic Cooler ($69), (2) Ozark Trial Chairs ($18) and Rayovac Battery Variety Packs ($35): Package Worth ($125)
  
• (1) iPod Nano ($125), Rayovac Battery Variety Packs ($35): Package Worth ($160)
  
• (1) Walmart Gift Card ($50), Carson BookBrite Light ($15), 12-pack AAA Rayovac Batteries ($6): Package Worth ($71)
• (2) Leapfrog Leapster 2 ($67), Rayovac Battery Variety Packs ($35): Package Worth ($105)
  
• (1) Play-Freeze Ice Cream Maker ($40), Rayovac Battery Variety Packs ($35): Package Worth ($75)
  
• (1) Kid Craft Artist Easel ($69), Crayola Easel Tools ($15), Rayovac Battery Variety Packs ($35): Package Worth ($120)
  
• (1) Jada City Radio Controlled Car ($39), Rayovac Battery Variety Packs ($35): Package Worth ($75)
  
• (1) Old-Fashioned Movie Time Popcorn Machine ($62), Rayovac Battery Variety Packs ($35): Package Worth ($100)
  
• (1) Home Water Park Erupting Volcano ($72), Rayovac Battery Variety Packs ($35): Package Worth ($110)
• (1) Disney Gift Card ($100), Rayovac Battery Variety Packs ($35): Package Worth ($135)

Today's prize is a Camping Kit with tent and batteries. Sound good? To enter, go to the Rayovac Facebook page, click on the "Like" thumbs up, then the Promotions tab, and click to enter! I did! You answer one question (it's a personal opinion, no single right answer). I answered today's which was, "What is your camping style? Backyard, adventurous, or roughing it?" Our camping style is adventurous. We love nature and camping gives you the opportunity to experience it in unique and fun ways!

New to twitter parties? If anyone wants help with the twitter party, please leave a comment below!

The first 99 bloggers to promote the Rayovac Powers Your Summer Twitter Event won a prize package from Rayovac.

Carter's Super Duper Clearance Sale

Carter's is having a great summer clearance sale and hopefully there's quite a bit of summer left!

Here's some a girl's outfit and a boy's I put together from the sale. The adorable zebra print top and shorts are $3.99 each and the boy's dino and plaid shorts are $4.99 each.




If you order an item from the "little layette collection", then your shipping is free! I thought these washcloths were adorable and priced at $10, I'd rather pay for that than shipping!

Brown Rice vs White Rice: A Quiz

How about a quiz this morning?

I had some vague knowledge that brown rice was healthier than white rice, but never really knew much about the difference. Uncle Ben's sent me some of their brown rice to try and it got me thinking and wondering. Mr. Google helped me out and I wrote this quiz. The answers come from Wikipedia.

Q: What is rice? Where does it come from?
A: Rice is the seed of a plant called Oryza Sativa.

Q: What food category is rice? Is it a vegetable?
A: Rice falls into the food category of "grain" with barley, wheat, and oats.

Q: Are brown rice and white rice different varieties of rice? from different plants?
A: Brown and white rice can actually be the same variety of rice, but the processing of the grain is different. Using a rice huller, the outside layer of the rice grain is removed when creating brown rice. For white rice, more is removed including the husk or bran.

Q: Why is brown rice considered healthier than white rice?
A: Most of the nutrients are contained in the bran of the rice and when that is removed to make white rice, the nutrients are gone with it. Many manufacturers will enrich the rice and put back some of the nutrients, but white rice still doesn't have the fiber of brown rice.

I love all kinds of rice, but now I know to look for whole grain brown rice!

Uncle Ben's makes brown rice in three forms, depending on how you like to cook it. They have a boil-in-bag, a fast and natural, and a traditional. I made the fast and natural version last night and it was easy and delicious. If you haven't made rice for awhile, you just put the rice and water in a pan (quantities are on the box) and bring to a boil; cover and cook for 10-12 minutes. Doesn't get much easier than that! I love to add steamed mixed vegetables.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Uncle Ben's and received samples to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central is going to send me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Easy and Fun Summer Craft

Are you looking for a fun summer project to do with your children? How about Friendship Rainbow Sticks? This is a great summer camp activity that you can do anytime - even if you have an only child like me! We made necklaces for Rosie and her favorite Build-A-Bear, Bunny.

For each Friendship Rainbow Stick Necklace you need these supplies:

* A popsicle stick
* A piece of string approx 12" long
* 6 colors of paint
* 6 brushes
* A black thick marker
* A pencil


Using the pencil, draw lines on each popsicle stick creating six equal horizontal stripes (one for each letter in the word "friend"). Paint each stripe a different color. Do this on both sides of the stick. After the paint dries, use the black marker to write your name on one side and "friend" on the other. Tie the string around your stick and knot to make a necklace or see directions below for pre-drilled holes. Kids can wear their own or exchange with friends. You can also glue two or three sticks side by side and make a necklace that says "Rosie Friends Bunny". The possibilities are endless!

Note, you can use colored markers instead of paint and brushes.

To drill holes: Mark a pencil dot, where you want the hole on one of the sticks. Carefully drill a hole in your first stick using the slow speed on a variable speed drill and a 3/16" drill bit. Then, using that one as a template, stack two other sticks underneath and drill through those.

This post was written as an entry for Build-A-Bear Camp Happy Heart. If chosen, it will appear on the Build-A-Bearville site. Build-A-Bear is sending me a $25 gift card. Thank you to Jayme and the whole Build-A-Bear family.

Movie Review - Knight and Day

I saw this movie right after The Karate Kid, so it may be some residual good feelings (I loved The Karate Kid), but I liked Knight and Day. I didn't love it, but I liked it. It was fun. It was funny. Cameron Diaz is cute and funny. Tom Cruise is on a motorcycle again. What's not to like?

I can tell you a bit about the story, but this is one of those movies where the story really doesn't matter. It's fluff, but it's funny fluff. Cameron Diaz plays June, a "nothing", a "nobody" who is getting on a plane, in a hurry to get home in time for her sister's wedding. At the airport, she bumps into (literally) Tom Cruise's character, Roy Miller. Then she finds herself on a nearly empty plane with him. While she's in the bathroom, Roy kills everyone on the plane, including the pilots. And June wasn't even in the bathroom that long, although she did linger over freshening her breath and who wouldn't with Tom Cruise waiting for them.

It just gets stranger and more bizarre from there. But funny. They are both very funny. And cute.

I enjoyed all three of these movies - all depends on what you're looking for!
Looking for a family movie? Toy Story 3.
Looking for a good movie? The Karate Kid.
Looking for fun and cute? Knight and Day.

Movie Review - The Karate Kid

I loved everything about this movie!

I loved the story. Young Dre Parker and his mother move to China, so that she can work. Dre is bullied by a group of young men who don't like his attention to a beautiful young girl named Mei Ying.
I loved the acting. Jackie Chan (Mr. Han) was very good in his role as the broken and beaten maintenance man of the apartment building Dre and his mother live in. Dre seeks him out for help. I didn't expect much from Jaden Smith, who plays Dre. His mom and dad (Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith) were producers, after all. I was wrong. Young Jaden was not only good, he was excellent - an absolute joy to watch. I can't wait for his next film. China itself is an additional actor in the film and she is beautiful and talented. There is a lot of scenery and views of China, which I think is partly why the movie is so long.

I loved the music, the costumes, did I mention I loved everything about this movie?

Dre and Mr. Han learn together that life can kick you down but you can choose to pick yourself up again. I didn't get that quote exactly right - if you see the movie, come back and comment with the right one, okay?

Two enthusiastic thumbs-up from me - I think you'll like this one!

Movie Review - Toy Story 3

Welcome to Sunnyside.......

It sounds like a great idea. Andy is going away to college, the toys haven't been played with in years, the attic is lonely and dusty. If the toys go to a cute and sunny day care, there will be lots of kids to play with! But...... at Sunnyside, there is, dum, da dum dum, DUMMMMMMM (think scary noise, but not as scary as say, Chucky), Lotso the Bear. Lotso was lost from his owner years ago and has never been the same since.
This is a very funny, heartwarming movie - I saw a tear or two in the audience at the end. It was a little too long for me, but for a true Toy Story fan, I'm sure they will love every second of it.

The gang is back - Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Buttercup, Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head. Barbie has a pretty large role after she meets her dream guy, Ken, at Sunnyside, with his Dream House and Dream......*hushed voice* Dream Closet!


The humor strikes at every age group, from the youngest innocent humor to some risque Barbie and Ken banter. Another family hit from Disney and Pixar, if you're looking for a movie to see this weekend, this one gets my thumbs-up!

Deal Alert - Triple Play: Disney, Step 2, Walgreen's

My inbox was full of deals today! Here are my three favorites:
Disney is having their Twice Upon A Year Sale with some great bargains. And, if you purchase a Toy Story item, you get free shipping on your entire order. The code for free shipping is TOYSTORY. I was going to shop and show you my deals, but the site keeps crashing - must be popular this morning!

Amazon is selling this Step 2 easel for only $26.81! I read about this on Lipstick to Crayons (thank you!) Hurry, though, Amazon deals have been known to change quickly!

The free photo collage is at Walgreen's again! Remember, if you do in-store pickup, it is completely free with no shipping. The coupon code is GOBIG8X10. I haven't had time to put mine together yet, but I think I'm going to do one with pictures of Rosie at different ages. Love, love, love these free collages from Walgreen's! It makes me feel so lucky when I get bargains and free-bies! Technical difficulties for me today, if the Walgreen's link doesn't work, just click on the top where it says "Photo".
I'm also going to include this one, but it's with a huge, "Caution!" I have ordered quite a few things from ArtsCow. Everything has arrived, been of satisfactory quality, and as ordered BUT in my experience, it can take a very long time to arrive and you never know when it's coming. That said, I'm ordering more of these, because I loved them last time. Just don't order if you need them in a specific time frame. Playing cards are $4.99 with free shipping using the code PLCARDS499.

Summertime......Good 'ole Summertime!

When's the last time you went fishing?

Picture little Opie Taylor, whistling, the theme song to the Andy Griffith Show......
Bass Pro Shops are offering "Family Summer Camp" with tons of free activities. One of the classes was "Basic Fishing", and I thought, time for Rosie to learn to fish. Off we went! Rosie got a pin for completing the class, (she calls it her "Fishing Badge"). The staff was very helpful setting us up with the gear we needed to head out on our own. Rosie already had a rod and reel (Barbie, of course) that she uses to play/cast into the pool but that's all we had. Bass Pro Shop set us up with hooks, bobbers, weights, and bait.
My Dad took me fishing, years and years ago, but he always did the baiting, etc. It's been so long that I didn't remember much, but hey, how hard could it be right? It really wasn't that difficult! It's not like we were fishing for elusive, prized game fish.

We went to a pond stocked with tons of bluegill. You know that phrase, "fishing in a barrel", it was kind of like that. Perfect for Rosie's first time, almost every time she cast in, she caught a fish! Catch and release isn't as easy as it sounds - it was kinda hard getting the hooks out of the fish's mouth but we managed and had a great time. I feel like Andy..... *whistle* *whistle* down by the fishin' hole......