CheapCookieCutters.com (review and giveaway)

We received some cookie cutters from the new site CheapCookieCutters.com We had lots of fun reviewing them this weekend!  We will share some of that with you in just a minute but first we want to share with you a little bit about CheapCookieCutters.com

Here is what owners, Chris Mueller and Karrie Pettit have to say about their new company and what they offer:

Our goal is to have the LARGEST selection of cookie cutters available online by the end of 2010. We sell “convenience” more than anything. We take all forms of payment, our site is easy to navigate, and we are responsive to emails.

Although you can probably find a “star” or “heart” cookie cutter for less money on other sites, you will not find a “vintage Mickey Mouse”, “batman”, and “golden retriever” cookie cutter on the same site anywhere else online. Bottom line is that in the past, if you wanted all 3, you had to search for 3 different sites, pay for shipping 3 different times, and enter your credit card information 3 different times, and triple your chances of having at least one of the cutters lost. With our site, you save on shipping, you save on time (searching and entering info) when you order several cutters at once, and you save on risk that one or more would get lost or not arrive in time.

I had a lot of fun checking out their site and seeing all the different kinds of cookie cutters available.  The site was very easy to navigate and if that wasnt easy enough they have a search button ...so you can type in keyword and find ones you want.

Do you have a baby shower to get ready for...check out all the ones you can get for that Baby Shower.

How about a birthday party...They have many to do themed birthday parties, like Pirate set,  or a princess party with this wand, crown, or castle.

I love this  Nativity set I think this would be great for Christmas!

How about some things you do not find many places like 5 pages of Dog cookie cutters and that bone for your dog ...or all the  US states

They even can design a custom cookie cutter for you!

We got to try out some of their Christmas cookie cutters and their mini mickey mouse ears.  We sent the mickey's into school for Zach's class and they absolutely loved them.  They all were very easy to use.  I didnt have any dough stick to any of the cookie cutters and they cut through the dough great!  The angel we had was fragile, but we use a cream cheese cookie dough which is soft too...so if you use the angel, just be careful while decorating them.  The mini ones cook a little faster too, so just watch your baking time if you buy any of the mini cookie cutters/sets. 

Need some cookie cutters?  Go check the large selection at CheapCookieCutters.com

Would you like to win some...one lucky reader can win 4 Christmas Cookie Cutters 

(from this selection: Christmas tree, stocking, candy cane, angel, bell, snowflake, Santa)

To enter: Go to www.cheapcookiecutters.com and tell me what other type of cutters you would like.

Extra entries:  

-Follow my blog

-Follow me on twitter

-Tweet this giveaway

-add my button to your blog

Please leave a seperate comment for each entry.  Please leave a valid email in one of your comments.  This giveaway will end on Dec. 8 and the winner will be chosen by random.org.

Silly Monkey Stories

Zach was so funny this weekend.  His sisters were over for the weekend and he is always happy when they visit.  He was constantly copying Cortnie...everything she said he would say.  Sunday we were decorating cutout cookies.  Everytime she wanted a new color he would say "more green" etc.  Well he iced one cookie and then would just put it on the table and take his finger to lick it off.  He had to sample all the colors too!

Christmas gift for your curious child? Check out "The One Year, Did you Know devotions 2"

The One Year Did You Know Devotions 2, by Nancy Hill is a great book for your curious child.  This book reminds me of those calendars you buy for your desk, with trivia, quotes, jokes, or scriptures.  The book has a page for every day of the year starting with January 1st.  The page title is a trivia question, like "Do all mosquitos bite?"  What makes this different from most trivia books is it the answers are based on Christian scriptures.  Each topic has a bible verse listed and is presented within the answer. Each topic have a biblical message applied to them.   I think this would make a great gift for your later elementary to middle school aged child. 

About the author:

Nancy Hill is a former school teacher who began writing devotionals for her own family an in the process became curious about everything from why Campbell's soup cans are red and white to where the word sofa came from.  If a child has a question, Nancy will find the answer. 

You can find this and other childrens(and adult) titles on http://www.tyndale.com/ Tyndale wants to help us all spend time with our family while sharing God's work with our children.  They have a variety of childrens devotionals to fit every family's need.

disclosure-I received this book for free to do this review.

Coupons ala cart coupon carton

I used to keep my coupons in a spot in my purse.  When I was shopping I would have my purse open with coupons here and there and constantly looking through them and sticking them in my pocket to use at the checkout.  Then of course half the time I would forget them in my pocket.  Then I received the Coupons ala cart coupon carton  .

The coupon carton has made organizing my coupons much simpler.  The coupon carton comes with the carton which is a cardboard box with a cover that closes around the top when not in use, or wraps around the shopping cart handle while you are shopping.  This makes it hands free and does not take up the space that your child is sitting.  It also comes with a 12 dividers and category stickers and one main divider.  I categorize my coupons, then use the main divider section for the coupons that I will definitly be using that trip.  This makes everything right there in front of you, and conveniently hands free.

I really recommend this if you typically shop with your children in the seat of the shopping cart.  It is so much easier having the coupon carton wrap around the handle vs. sitting in the seat.  Then you still have room for your child and purse.

This has been nice this holiday season too...as I have kept all my holiday coupons inside and keep it in my car so when I am out shopping I have them conveniently there.  You could also add more dividers if you need to and have a spot for those shopping cards.

You can order these online through partyplansplus for $9.99 total(shipping included) and they accept paypal. 

Mabel's Labels Cyber Monday sales

30% off Holiday Gift Tags and Return Address Labels

Regular Price: $18.50, sale price $12.95

 

40% off Selected Write-On! Stationery, in choice of Bzzz or Cowpoke designs

Regular Price $34, sale price $20.40

Mommy Madness Monday

So the Thanksgiving week is over....how did you do?  Are you stuffed still...I am glad my leftovers are finally gone...I think I ate mashed potatoes and turkey for 4 days straight...I am sure when I weigh myself in a little while I will notice it!  I did not go out shopping Friday.  I was debating going, but decided not to get the big item that we would have saved on.  We decided to wait on getting a blu-ray player, so one expense down.  I have done a lot of my shopping before last weekend, so I didnt feel like going out for a few items.  I was tired anyways and didnt feel like getting up at 3am!  So today is Cyber Monday...I might be checking out some deals online and see if I can get some gifts that way.  Right now I am entering the stride rite facebook fan appreciation giveaways.  They are doing them hourly today! 

I am not sure if Zach wanted to go back to school today.  He didnt want to get out of bed at first and decided to take his car blanket with him today.  I bet Kennedy will be glad to go back though and see her friends.  I  myself gotta work on reading some books for reviews/giveaways.  So keep watching this week.  I have some giveaways going on now and will be adding a few more. 

Here are this weeks winners.

rolled canvas giveaway- winner- ktgonyea
quantum oral health products-winner-bgcchs

Share your tips on saving time and money this holiday season

Deals for Busy Moms This Holiday SeasonCheck out This Week's Deals!

About this TwitterMoms Blogging Program

Twittermoms and Staples want to know your tips on saving time and money this holiday season.  One tip would be to take advantage of all the black friday sales...which of course are over now...but today is Cyber Monday....so go online to your favorite stores and take advantage of the deals offered today!  You can check out Staples and see their holiday deals going on.

Another tip is take advantage of the free gift wrapping!  This saves you not only the money is gift wrap but also the time it takes to wrap the gifts.  Many stores offer this during the holidays and you could have them wrapped while you are out shopping at another store. 

Another tip...clip coupons.  Many stores offer coupons for an addition percentage off.

One last one...try to negotiate prices.  Just watched on the news that almost every store will give you a small discount if you just ask...Give them a good reason why ...like you saw it cheaper somewhere else or the package is open.

So what are your tips?  You can go to twittermoms and find out a way to enter a $100 Staples gift card giveaway by sharing your tips.

The Snowman's Song and guest post by author Marilee Joy Mayfield

The Snowman’s Song:
A Christmas Story

Story by Marilee Joy Mayfield

Illustrations by Tracy La Rue Hohn

Sometimes you just come across a book that brings a tear to your eye.  For me this was that book!  Having a child that can not talk, I felt a connection from the beginning of the story "The Snowman's Song: A Christmas Story".  This beautifully told story, by Marilee Joy Mayfield,  about a little snowman longing to sing, will be a holiday favorite for years!  This children's book is so brilliantly told, adults will love it too.  The story really brings to heart the faith and joyfulness of Christmas.   Children will learn that they should never give up on their dreams. The little snowman one day is joined by a little girl wanting to play.   I love the kindness that is portrayed through the child in the story, and that the story teaches the lesson that everyone is special, and should have their chance to be heard.

"I know you can hear me.

I really believe it.

I think you are special,

I'll never forget

the day that we spent.

I hear your music even though you can't speak."

 The written story is beautiful in its words and illustrations.  The words are soft and flowing just like the snow.  The illustrations are pretty and could tell the story in themselves.  Accompanying this book is the story on CD, told by the author.  This is nice to listen to, with very pretty music in the background.  Mayfield is a great storyteller.  Come listen to some snippets of the book...pg 12  pg 22

Author, Marylee Joy Mayfield, has kindly stopped by to share with us a little background about the book.

Ideas for my childrens books come from many different places. Sometimes the ideas come from a poem or song that I love or memories that I have about my own childhood. Ive always loved snowmen ever since I was little and when my sisters and I were children we used to love the song The Littlest Snowman with the Red Candy Heart.



I was working late into the evenings during the winter and all of a sudden a question popped into my mind. What if a snowman wanted to sing but he didnt have a voice? It was that simple question that started the story of The Snowmans Song. The first draft just flowed out very quickly. I really felt that special inspiration that I think is a rare and somewhat miraculous event. It took me several weeks to refine the wording into the final poem in the book. In a way, the story took on a life of its own and when it was finished it had the essential elements that I think bring magic into Christmastimea special wish hoped for and longed for, kindness and encouragement from a stranger, faith, prayers and a heartfelt message filled with love.


The year I wrote The Snowmans Song I had been working with a local artist, Tracy La Rue Hohn and we both shared stories of why we loved snowmen. While I was working on redrafting the story, I kept thinking about the beautiful watercolor illustrations that I knew Tracy could create for the book. I was most honored when she accepted the project. We worked together for a year. We wanted to craft a memorythe type of story that families would read many times throughout the holidays.


When I was a child, my mother shared her own love of reading by reading stories to my sisters and me. It was a special time that inspired me to learn to read and discover the world through books. I think theres no greater joy for a child than to have a loving mother who enriches his or her life with stories. And theres no greater joy for a writer than to know that your stories are cherished and loved by others. I hope that The Snowmans Song will be shared by families every Christmas season.

For more information on "The Snowman's Song" or to purchase the book go to http://www.snowmanssong.com/#

For a chance to win a copy visit Kidz.

Storytime Sunday: Stop It by Sally O. Lee

George loves to bully his sister, Anabel.  He loves to pick on her by stealing her stuff when she is playing dress up.  He finally pushes her to her limit one day while picking on her cat and she yells ......."Stop It!" They get along after that.  This was cute story.  Good for a child that might not sit too long while being read to, as it is pretty short. This would also be a great one for beginning reading, as there are no big words.  The illustrations are very cute, and in themselves tell the story very well.  I think little ones could tell the story to themselves just by looking through the illustrations.

( I personally just wish it was just that easy.....if only every child would actually "stop it" when told!)



You can find more books by Sally O. Lee at www.leepublishing.net

Stride Rite twitter party and facebook giveaways Sunday and Monday

Stride Rite is celebrating Cyber Monday, this Monday the 30th,by holding a Fan Celebration Day on www.facebook.com/striderite. Stride Rite Facebook fans are invited to log on Monday, November 30th from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST for hourly giveaways with amazing prizes including gift cards and gift bags from Stride Rite Children?s Group brands including Saucony Kids, Sperry Top-Sider Kids, and more.  There will also be a fan-only coupon for Cyber Monday shopping on www.striderite.com and a mystery prize valued at over $600 that fans can enter to win throughout the day!

To kick-off the Cyber Monday celebration, Global Influence is hosting a Twitter Pre-Party Sunday, November 29th from 9 to 10 p.m. EST with our community manager, Shannan Powell (@slpowell) at the healm!  For an hour tweeps will chat about Cyber Monday shopping tips and preparing for the holidays in general using the #srCyberMon hashtag. There will be seven Stride Rite gift card winners and participants will be among the first to learn about the Fan Celebration Day on Facebook.  To learn more and RSVP, go to: http://tinyurl.com/yfjucsj

Need to clean your teeth and freshen your breath on-the-go...Get Colgate Wisp!

How many times has your husband taken you out for a nice romantic dinner, then you are off for a night out and realize you have that "not so fresh" breath!

....ok so lets be more realistic.... 

You're a stay at home mom like me.  You hurry get the kids ready for school, you  throw on some clothes, pull your hair up, and run out to the car to get them to school.   Like normal, you are  running late.  You get to school and see someone you know who wants you to stop over for a chat.  On no, you had not taken the time to brush your teeth (figuring you can do it when you get home)...and have morning breath! 

I am sure you do not carry your toothbrush and toothpaste everywhere you go....but you can now carry Colgate Wisp!  Colgate Wisp is a single-use mini-toothbrush with a breath freshening bead to give you a clean, fresh mouth with no water or rinsing required!  With the 4 pack being small as a pack of gum, you can keep this right in your purse or storage box in your car.    Each brush is individually sealed in the package, so they are always ready for you to use.  Colgate Wisp has cleaning bristles which gently remove food and plaque from between teeth and along the gum line.  As you brush a liquid bead releases a burst of freshness in your mouth.  There is no need for water, or to rinse...just brush and go. 

Feel free to chat with your friend....  or for that night out with your husband!  This will definitely leave your breath nice and fresh and your teeth feeling clean.  Four of us tried these out at our house.  My twin stepdaughters first tried this.  The Colgate Wisp comes in three refreshing flavors, Cinnamint, Spearmint, and Peppermint.  Cortnie tried the Cinnamint.  We could immediately smell the cinnamon.  Her first reaction was MMM...then holy hot.  So I guess this one has the typical cinnamon flavoring.  Corie tried the Spearmint.  She said this tasted just like spearmint gum, but said it tasted like toothpaste if you swallowed it.  I tried the peppermint and thought it had a nice cooling fresh flavor.  It did taste like toothpaste, but it made your mouth moist, so I can definitely see why you do not need to rinse.  I really liked how much flavor it had and the little bristles were soft.  I also like the soft pick end to get the hard to reach areas.  Zach also had to try this out.  He loves toothbrushes and has a collection of 6 in the bathroom right now.  He loved these!  I think he actually did a better job brushing with the wisp than with a regular toothbrush.  Got kids?  I think these would be great to keep in their backpacks for school too or when they are on the go.  Maybe they had a sugary snack or want to freshen up after lunch.  The Colgate wisp is great for the whole family!

You can find Colgate Wisp at your local convenience store for the suggested retail of $2.39 for the 4pk or $7.99 for the 16pk.  You can also go to Colgatewisp.com and download a 50 cents off coupon.   



disclosure- I received the samples for free for review purposes.

Exit Music by Ian Rankin (giveaway)

About the book:
It's late in the fall in Edinburgh and late in the career of Detective Inspector John Rebus. As he is simply trying to tie up some loose ends before his retirement, a new case lands on his desk: a dissident Russian poet has been murdered in what looks like a mugging gone wrong.
Rebus discovers that an elite delegation of Russian businessmen is in town, looking to expand its interests. And as Rebus's investigation gains ground, someone brutally assaults a local gangster with whom he has a long history.
Has Rebus overstepped his bounds for the last time? Only a few days shy of the end to his long, controversial career, will Rebus even make it that far?

About the Author:
Ian Rankin is a #1 international bestselling author. Winner of an Edgar Award and the recipient of a Gold Dagger for fiction and the Chandler-Fulbright Award, he lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, with his wife and their two sons.

You can purchase the book from Amazon....or you can enter to win a copy.
Hatchette books is generously offering 5 books for giveaway.  To enter: follow my blog and tell me why you would like to win this title.

Extra entries:
~subscribe to my blog
~follow me on twitter
~tweet this giveaway
~add me to your blogroll

Please leave a valid email with one of your comments.  Please leave a seperate comment for each entry.  This giveaway is open to US and Canada residents and no PO boxes.  The giveaway will end on Dec. 13 and the winners will be chosen by random.org

Look who we spotted....

The view is better up here

Golden Moon Tea

I love to drink tea.  I am not a huge fan of sweetened teas, but like more of the spiced flavors.  I can not wait to sample some teas from green moon tea.  They have some wonderful sounding flavors from oolong tea, green teas, black teas, white teas, and flavored teas.  You gotta check them out if you have a tea lover.  They have some nice gift sets...I might check them out for a friend who always has to have his earl gray tea.  I will be sampling some flavors soon and will let you know what I thought...but wanted to give the heads up of this company before the holidays.  They have a pretty holiday gift set.

18x24 poster print giveaway from Onlineposterprinting.com

Do you like to decorate with your photos?  How about doing this with a photo enlargement poster print from Onlineposterprinting.com. Make 18x24" Poster Prints from your digital photos.  I think these are great ideas, just like in the pic above for room decorations.  I myself would love to do one with my son playing a sport, for his sports theme bedroom.  How about getting a great shot this holiday, and making a poster for your holiday decorations? Want to check out reviews...you can do this at Yelp.

Giveaway prize: (1) 18x24 poster print for One Lucky Winner

Size: 18x24 Poster: Paper: High Gloss; Semi Gloss
Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping in the US
Eligibility: Limited to US Residents due to shipping costs

To enter:  Leave a comment telling me what great photo you would like to use for this.

Extra entries:
~tweet this giveaway using @uprinting and @colleen_mouse
~blog about this giveaway
~follow my blog
~subscribe to my blog by email

Please leave a seperate comment for each entry and leave a valid email in one of those comments.  This giveaway will end on Dec. 6 and the winner will be chosen by random.org. 

disclosure- I will be receiving a free poster print from uprinting.com for hosting this giveaway.

Corel Digital Studio 2010

Your camera does both, why shouldn't your software? Corel Digital Studio brings photo editing and movie making software together, helping you get the hang of both quickly. Touch up photos with a single click, create movies in minutes, add your favorite music, then share your memories in fun and creative ways. With easy multimedia software, you'll be amazed at what you can create.


This new multimedia software gives you all the applications you need in one box. And they all work together.

Organize all your digital media in one place, effortlessly edit photos, burn music and turn your video clips into movies in just minutes. Got the latest technologies? Digital Studio also supports HD video and Windows® 7. The best part is sharing your memories with the people you care about—on popular websites like Facebook™, Flickr and YouTube™, on professional-quality CDs, DVDs or high-definition AVCHDs, and on your favorite mobile device, including iPod®, iPhone® and PSP®.
 

Whats included:

Corel® PaintShop Photo™ Express 2010

Photo editing and photo projects made easy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Last week I tried out the Corel Paintshop Photo section that is included in the Digital Studio 2010.  There were some features I liked and some I had issues with(like most programs).  One feature I loved was how fast and easy it was to import your photos.  You can import photos from your computer, camera or memory card, phone, webcam, and scanner.  I used my computer to import and they were up in a flash!  I liked the create section, but found I have some software or even some things online have more options.  This is great though if you want some basic editting options with some extras.  They give you options to create photo books, cards, collages, calendars, slideshows or backup discs.  I checked out the photobooks, cards, collages, and calendars.  With all of these they have plain layouts or 6 different designs.  In all of these you can change the layouts to add one or multiple photos on a page, and some color options.  I personally would like more design options.  I also did not see a spot while making collages to add any text, just the photos.   This section also gives you print and share options.  I had just saved the projects, but the share options are email, Facebook, FlickR and Youtube.  Seeing I do not know how to print my own photobook at home I selected the order online, at first it told me this was not available in my area....So if you run across this, check for updates.  The next time I used the software there was an update for it, and it made the online store available.  You can order prints of your photos or your projects with a quick click of the mouse.  The smaller projects upload quickly, the photobooks take a few minutes.  The 8.5X11 linen cover photobook was priced at $28.99 plus tax and shipping.  I find this to be a pretty comparable price to sites that offer photobooks. 

(front of a card I created)

Corel® VideoStudio® Express 2010

Video editing and movie making made easy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today I was trying out the Corel VideoStudio section.  I liked that this came in the same software bundle.  In this section I tried out a few features.  The first I tried was the create a movie.  In these movies you again have 5 designs and plain layouts.  You can make a movie with photos or videos, but the videos have to be over 3 seconds long.  You can again import from the different options I stated above.  I already had my photos imported so I then imported the videos I had on my Vado camera.  These again imported very quickly which was great!  The only thing I had a hard time with is each video was just a black square until you click on them to watch them, then they show up with the snapshot of the clip.

The first video I made was using just photos.  You can add titles, background music and voice overs.  These are a nice way to share your photos, especially if you have many from one event.  I also made a movie by using a few different videos I had.  I first editted my videos and then arranged them the way I wanted them to show up.  I like this feature a lot.  I have many videos of different things and I had never known how to edit them before.  So this will be a feature I will use a lot.

You can trim and enhance your videos.  I love the trim section.  I was able to cut 7 seconds off one video...and divide another video in half and then cut out unwanted sections from those.  It saved a lot of unnecessary viewing time!  You can leave them like that or like me, make a movie.  I used 4 clips and made a movie from them. Here is the movie I made using edited videos.

Areas I had trouble with were sharing.  I was able to save as a file to my computer, but could not send through email or to Youtube.  Every time I tried to send to Youtube the program would be unresponsive and I would have to reopen it.  I tried this 5 times.  I was able to upload to Youtube by saving to my computer and then going to Youtube and uploading.  I did not try facebook or FlickR.

Corel® WinDVD® 2010
Superior DVD playback made easy

Bringing the theater experience to the PC, Corel® WinDVD® 2010 plays both DVDs and video files. Viewers can experience home movies or the latest Hollywood blockbuster with impressive sharpness, color, and audio. Corel WinDVD 2010 is optimized for video playback on laptops and can play video clips directly from cameras and camcorders.

I did not try out the WinDVD or DVD factory.  These are nice options.  The DVD factory would be great to make dvds out of those movies I just made or just to back up my photos or other programs. 

Corel® DVD Factory™ 2010
DVD burning and converting made easy

This application enables the creation of professional-quality DVDs from photos and videos. In addition, Corel® DVD Factory™ 2010 allows users to back up their digital media content easily to CD or DVD, protecting their precious memories. It also enables users to easily export digital content to mobile devices, record TV shows, and import photos and video clips from digital cameras, camcorders, set-top DVD recorders, and mobile phones.

Corel® Instant Viewer™:

This component provides a quick, direct way to view photos on a PC. Users can scroll through photos and send them to the Express Edit view in PaintShop Photo Express 2010 to perform easy touch-ups.

 Corel® Digital Studio Gadget™:

Located on Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP desktops, the Corel Digital Studio Gadget launches automatically on computer startup, enabling users to start any of the applications in Corel Digital Studio 2010.

System Requirements:

Intel® Core™ Duo T2400 1.83 GHz, AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 3800+ 2.0 GHz or higher recommended

Microsoft® Windows® 7, Windows Vista®, or Windows® XP, with latest service packs installed

1 GB of RAM (2 GB or higher recommended)

128 MB VGA VRAM or higher (256 MB recommended)

4 GB of free hard drive space

Minimum display resolution: 1024 x 768

Windows® compatible sound card

Windows® compatible DVD-ROM for installation

Recordable DVD drive required for creating DVDs

Internet connection required for online features

Online Printing services are available in select countries only and subject to additional charges.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Buy it online here....and right now they have black friday sales started already!

Download free trial by clicking here

Take a chance and win a copy!!!  That is right I have one boxed software program here to giveaway!  To enter:  Go to Corel and tell me another product you may like to try.

Extra entries:
~Follow my blog with google friend connect
~Subscribe to my blog
~Follow me on twitter and tweet this giveaway
~Blog about this giveaway

This giveaway will end on Dec. 13 and the winner will be chosen by random.org.  This giveaway is open to US residents only.  Please leave a valid email in one of your comments.  Please leave a seperate comment for each entry. 

disclosure~ I received the software for free in return for a review.

Global Influence Holiday Guide

Holiday shopping season is here again and the Global Influence network has some great gift ideas for you, tried and tested by real moms. Click on the links to check out what our team of reviewers had to say about each of these gift ideas, and then take a moment to enter our fun giveaway and take a chance at winning some of these fabulous products. Featured Reviews Pouchees -
Busy moms need all the help they can get to stay organized and keep life as simple as possible. The Pouchee is the perfect solution to keeping all those little things together, putting everything you need, right at your fingertips.
Duck Hunter -
Duck Hunter turns the excitement of the hunt into an activity the whole family can enjoy. Launch the duck in the air and try to hunt it down with the toy shooter as it flies freely in the air. A fun choice for those who love outdoor sporting.
CardStore cards
-Personalized holiday cards are an important item on everyone's to-do list and often a hassle to create and print. Cardstore.com has everything from family photo cards to invitations for your big holiday party, simplifying your holiday season.


Great Holiday Gift Ideas Things Remembered Custom Couture Jewelry Just Elfin' Around Card Cubby Harumika By Bandai Harumika Runway Showstopper Harumika Style Starter Baby Alive Whoopsie Doo Strawberry Shortcake Playset Kota Monty Rex Wall to Wall Basketball Nerf Pocket Vortex Busy Ball Popper Talking Chuck Truck Leapfrog My Pal Scout Leapfrog Tag Jr Leapfrog Scribble and Write Animal Planet Polar Land Playset Animal Planet Dinosaur Playmat Onionhead Adult/Teen Feelings Pack OnionHead Children's Feelings Pack Onionhead A-Z Feelings Magnet Set FotoboxPlus MeTime Tees 

  Fun Holiday Giveaway! For this holiday guide, we want to share the love with the blogosphere! Some of our generous sponsors have donated prizes to be given away to lucky readers! To enter to win one of the following fabulous prizes, simply fill out the form here: http://tinyurl.com/y8t92rw  


Prizes include: Things Remembered Custom Couture Jewelry Pouchee Elfing Around Harumika Onionhead Feelings Pack Nerf Wall to Wall Basketball Baby Alive Whoopsie Doo MeTime T-shirt Entries will close on December 6, 2009 at 11:59 PM EST. Winners will be contacted by email after the close of the contest. 

  Global Influence Member Guides Need more ideas for this holiday season? Check out the guides that some of our Global Influence members have put together on their own sites! Thrifty Jinxy, Happy Healthy Hip , And Twins Make Five , Because Two People Fell In Love, Mommy Musings , Lipstick to Crayons , Bargain Briana , Mommy PR , Shop With Me Mama, Santa Picks, Rave and Review, Connected 2 Christ , 3 Boys and a Dog, The Classy Closet , Contest Corner, Lisa Reviews , A Giveaway Every Day, HulaHoopinMom, Spalibrations, High Impact Mom, From Cribs to Car Keys Lisa Reviews,
and Mommy Musings

All reviews listed in the Global Influence gift guide were product provided. Featured positions were purchased by sponsors. Member gift guides are not affiliated with Global Influence.

 I myself did the review for the kids Onionhead feelings pack....you can check this out here.

Silly Monkey Stories....bandaids cure everything!

Zachs been playing with his new marble run toy....and accidently stepped on a piece and cracked it.  I told him we couldnt use it, as it was broke and to throw it away.  He went out to the kitchen, so I thought he was throwing it away...he came back with this.

What are your favorite holiday activities to do with your kids?

Watch Dora's Christmas Carol Adventure Dec. 6 on NickelodeonFavorite Holiday Activities with Kids

To promote the upcoming show on Nickelodeon, Dora's Christmas Carol Adventure, twittermoms is having a contest...they want to know what your 5 favorite holiday activities are to do with your children. If you would like to share and take a chance to win $100 gift card and Dora Christmas Carol DVD then go to twittermoms and do a post.

Here are my favorites...

I love decorating the Christmas tree!!!  I love to put on Christmas music and enjoy a fun day of putting up lights and bulbs...I like letting the kids add their decorations they have made.  We sing and have fun...and Kennedy loves all the lights. 

We love to drive around and check out all the Christmas lights around town.  Our local park has a really nice set up and you can listen to the music they have playing...and you have to make sure you check out the lighthouse at the end, and you can see Rudolph with his glowing nose!

We love visiting Santa....I remember Kennedy's very first visit to Santa she was just a few months old...the picture was just adorable...she had her hands together like she was praying and was looking right up at Santa's face...like she was really telling him what she wished for.  One of Zach's is totally hillarious...He is looking back at Santa...like who the heck is this guy!  I love those memories! 

We love just spending time with those we care about....Unfortunatly we don't get to see as many of those as we wish....but they are always in our thoughts!

We love reading Christmas stories....you really have to check out the new book "A Snowman's Song"...it is one of our new favorites!

We love our new tradition...elfing around...and all the fun our elf brings!

We love watching Christmas specials on tv....Rudolph, Frosty, Grinch, Polar Express.....and we will definitely be checking out the Dora show on Nickelodeon on 12/6 @ 8PM EST

Olay Pro-X

Imagine that your skin could perform more like it did when it was younger.  Olay Professional Pro-X has advanced technology that reveals younger surface cells faster and helps your skin's moisture barrier stay strong.  So skin doesn't just look younger, it acts younger. 


I recently was able to try the Pro-X wrinkle smoothing creme thanks to Vocal point.  I do not have real obvious wrinkles so it was difficult for me to tell if it actually helped with the wrinkles.  What I have noticed is that my skin has not been as dry as it was.  I tend to have to use a lot of facial lotion, but since starting to use the Pro-X I have not had to use this as often.  I love how it makes your skin nice and soft, and does not leave it oily.  I even had my husband ask me one day if I was wearing makeup, when I wasnt wearing any!  The pros:  Makes skin soft and healthy feeling
The cons:  The price...I believe this is over $40, which I found to be too pricey for my continuing use.

I do however have a $10 off coupon to share to one reader.  If you think you would like this be the first to leave a comment and I will mail you the coupon.

Sensodyne Iso-Active

Did you know that 40% of tooth surface area is hidden between your teeth?  New Sensodyne Iso-Active foaming gel thoroughly cleans your mouth and relieves sensitivity, even in hard to reach areas.  Iso-active's gel to foam action is a result of the inclusion of isopentane.  Isopentane responds to increases in temperature caused by the warmth of the mouth.

I recently received a tube of the new Sensodyne Iso-Active toothpaste thanks to SheSpeaks.  I had seen the commercials and thought it looks pretty effective to help clean your teeth.  My teeth are really close together and tough to floss so I  thought the foaming action would help get in between the teeth more.  I have been trying it for a couple weeks now.  I definitly feel like my teeth are much cleaner using this.  The flavor is kind of strong though, so some might have a hard time getting over it.  Also I found I had to use just a tiny dab, otherwise it got too foamy in my mouth.  For the most part it helped with sensitivity issues to ...the only time I noticed anything was one night eating some frozen berries.

Along with my sample...I received some $1.00 off coupons.  I would like to offer one to the first person to leave a comment saying they would like this.

What is your Black Friday plan of attack?

Twittermoms and Target want to know what your plan of attack is for Black Friday....well I myself hate going out for Black friday...so I only do it if I really see stuff in the ads that I want.  I also made the mistake last year to think I could get the deals online instead...well come to find out quite a few of the items were not available online.  So this year I will not try that again....that doesnt mean I wont check out cyber monday deals...but I wont rely on them this year.  Right now I am still waiting to see the local ads before deciding what my game plan is.  My first stop will most likely be who ever has the best deal for a blue ray player.  I have actually done most of my shopping already, as I prefer to spend a couple extra dollars and not wait an hour in line or fight the crowds.  So I might even wait until the door buster sales are over and maybe check out the stores later, as it gets quieter, but are still able to get some of the items at a good price.

If you want to share your plans...check out twittermoms...you could win $75 target gift card! 

So my biggest plan of attack....dont get attacked by insane shoppers trampelling people!!!

Mommy Madness Monday

I cant believe we are getting so close to Christmas already.  I love it, yet we have had a mild fall so it seems odd that we really havent had any snow yet.  I think they are calling for some on Thanksgiving.  This will actually be a quiet week for us.  We do not do a lot for Thanksgiving...sometimes have a couple friends over and we cook the turkey and all, but that is about it for us.  I myself love the holidays, yet get a bit down seeing we live so far away from family.  It gets kind of lonely, especially when your husband never makes a big deal out of any holiday(well except july 4th).  So how many of you are all geared up for black Friday shopping?  Not me...I really dont care about going then...I would rather spend a few extra dollars. I might go out just to get us a blue ray player cause I think walmart is supposed to have them about half the price I have seen anywhere.  So I guess we will see when the real ads come out.  Otherwise I have done most of my shopping...just need to get a few more people something.  I am lucky as my kids really dont ask for stuff right now, so they are happy with a couple gifts!  I do need to get stocking stuffers as St. Nicks day is coming up quick...I will probably do that later today when I pick up some stuff I ordered.  So I hope everyone has a great week and a nice Thanksgiving! 

Here are the winners this week!

Kick, Block, Punch book- Sweeter the berry!

Bella Basset Ballerina- Cheryl!

FLOH club- mverno!

bella sara trading cards/velvety mini- panicxduh!

The Gate House- CandieL, Diane baum, Jake Lswhere, Nickolay, and Rhonda!

Storytime Sunday: "For Faithful Friends"

This weeks story is a gentle loving story both written and illustrated by Marilyn E. Randall, "For Faithful Friends".  The story is about a fearful yet caring turtle.  He only has one friend because he is too scared to leave his home and join the others across the field.  His one little friend, mouse, tries to teach him that he can rely on others for help when we need it. He also points out that if our friends are not there, we can rely on faith. He tries to help him overcome his fears.  It isnt until one day that mouse is in trouble, that he is put to the test.  Will he overcome those fears? 

The text has a great poetic rhythm and is beautifully written.  It is longer, so would be better suited for elementary aged children, or those that sit longer while being read to.  It would be great for the adult reader to get dramatic, as a lot of the story is the conversation between the turtle and mouse.  It also would be great for a child that can read on their own. It is a great lesson for overcoming fears and helping others.  The illustrations are cute and show the turtles timid, fearful expressions.

You can find this and other stories by Marilyn E. Randall by going to her website http://www.marilynrandall.com/index.htm