Sunday, October 31, 2010

Halloween Silly Bandz Giveaway WINNERS

Happy Halloween!!! We have 3 winners for the Halloween Silly Bandz Giveaway!

The winners are: Rajee, KaraSceviour, and Alissa (PiggyPen)

Congrats ladies! I have emailed the winners. 

TOMORROW THE BBB STARTS! Are you ready???

Shutterfly Holiday Cards!

It's no secret that I love Shutterfly and photo gifts, cards, prints, etc. And this year Shutterfly has some awesome designs for the Holiday Cards! They have all your needs covered! Shutterfly has Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year's cards. They even have holiday business cards, and personalized thank you cards! I'm telling ya, they have everything!!!

It is hard to pick just one card I like out of the new holiday collection, but let me share my top three with you.

This is called the Starlight Joy card. I like it because it simple and elegant. Plus it depicts the holiday season without saying “Merry Christmas”, so I can send it to everyone on my holiday card list without offending anyone.

This is the Hip Holly Berry card. I love that the pic is black and white and then the garland and words are colored. It makes it really festive and cool looking.

And this is the What A Year card. I really like this one because it is a holiday card plus a holiday letter in one. You can customize it to say what you want. I love this! Now I just have to think of something cute and clever to say on the card!

I'm sure you will find a ton of cards you love as well, for every holiday! And with all the choices, wouldn't it be fun to get 50 free cards from Shutterfly? You can! You can write a blog post on your blog about holiday cards, just like I did, and get 50 free awesome cards of your choice from Shutterfly. Go HERE to check it out and sign up.



This post is part of a series sponsored by Shutterfly. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

ButterBell Crock Giveaway

Did you see the review on Butter Bell Crocks I just did HERE? Want to win one and check it out for yourself? Here's how:

1. Follow this blog.
2. Tell me your favorite thing about the holidays!

Giveaway ends November 10th. Good luck!



Sponsored by Tomoson.com

ButterBell Crock Review





Recently I had the chance to review a ButterBell Crock. I must say I had never heard of such a thing and I was skeptical. But I was game to try it out. And it is pretty darn cool, if I do say so myself!

"A modern version of the original French butter crock, the Original Butter Bell® crock allows butter to be kept at room temperature, on the counter or tabletop, for up to 30 days without spoilage, refrigeration or odors. Made from New Bone China, the highest quality ceramics available, the Butter Bell crock insures that under reasonable, correct usage, butter storage time can be up to 30 days. Most Butter Bell users consume a crock’s worth of butter within one week.

The unique design keeps butter at the perfect “spreading” consistency by reflecting outside heat while insulating and cooling the butter. Flavor and freshness is protected by an airtight seal of water at the base of the crock.

The Butter Bell crock holds up to one full stick (1/2 cup) of butter. Softened butter is packed firmly into the bell-shaped cup of the lid. Cold water is poured into the base of the crock. The lid is then placed upside down back into the base of the crock. Soft, spreadable butter may be enjoyed and served right from the crock. Proper maintenance: Water should be changed out every three days. Replace existing water in the base with fresh, cold water."

Holiday Special Offer - For every two Butter Bell crocks that you purchase, you get a free crock! The specific offer details are available on the website HERE. The offer runs through Dec. 15th, 2010.

Butter Bell® crock is a brand name of butter crocks owned and distributed by L. Tremain. We are the brand leader and largest seller of butter crocks in the US, with many styles and colors to choose from. The product line was also recently featured on the Food Network on the show "Unwrapped" which is shown on our website.



[Product review & giveaway disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."]

Happy Halloween!



Happy Halloween everyone! Did you know one of the earliest celebrations involving the dead is the ancient Celtic festival called Samhain as early as 1999 BC? The Celts dressed up to hide from evil spirits. 2,000 years ago, the Roman Catholic Church tried to transform the pagan festivities of Samhain into a Christian celebration and eventually Samhain fused with All Saint's Day and evolved into the Eve of All Saints to the Eve of All Hallows to Hallow Eve to Halloween. Halloween is celebrated on the night of October 31st. All Saint's Day is celebrated on November 1st. It is a celebration that pays tribute to all Christian saints. All Soul's Day is celebrated on November 2nd. It is a celebration for deceased loved ones. I find it interesting how Paganism and Christianity fused to create a holiday. Halloween is festive, but All Saints and All Soul's Day are somber occasions.

Then there is Dia de los Muertos! The Day of the Dead! Which is joyous and fun! I am obsessed with Sugar Skulls! Remember my post Thursday? Hee hee. So, most of us know about Halloween, All Saint's, All Soul's, and the Day of the Dead. But did you know there were other cultures that celebrate the dead and other spooky things?

  • Tomb Sweeping Day celebrated by Buddhists on the 106th day after the Winter Solstice (early April).
  • The Ghost Festival, also celebrated by Buddhists, in August.
  • Mischief Night in England celebrated on November 4th.
  • Day of the Skulls in Bolivia is celebrated on November 9th.
Interesting to learn about other cultures! For the Westerners celebrating a traditional Halloween, stay safe, and check your candy before you eat it! Happy Halloween!


Saturday, October 30, 2010

Screenwriting For Teens Review


Screenwriting for Teens by Christina Hamlett is extremely well written and thought out. There is a ton of useful information in this book for the teen (or even adult) who wants to learn how to write a screenplay. There are exercises in the book to help get your creative juices flowing. The best part is, it is not written like a text book. What I mean is, is that it is written like a story sort of. It flows really well and is not at all boring. A very useful tool for writers.

About the Book: This books gives teens - who go to the movies more than any age group in the world - the tools to do more than just watch those movies. It gives them the tools to write their own films.

About the Author: Find out more about Christina Hamlett at her website: http://authorhamlett.com/home

BUY the book on Amazon HERE.

Nito Books Review




Nito’s Tale, Nito Meets Chloe, and Nito And Chole Get An Invitation by Judith M. Newton are all children’s books about Assitance Dogs of the West. They are all really easy and simple to read and to look at, and they each tell a nice story. Callan loved them, but of course, he loves all animals. Very good series of books for a very good cause.

About the books: The first book in the series, Nito’s Tale teaches kids 2-6 how assistance dogs are trained and what they do. In book two, Nito Meets Chloe, Nito is matched with a little girl in a wheelchair and becomes an important part of Chloe’s family. Finally, in Nito And Chloe Get An Invitation they are invited to Washington, D.C. to visit the White House, meet the president, his family, their dog Bo and receive the Service Dog of the Year award. The series is illustrated by popular folk artist Sue Blackburn.

According to national statistics, 19% of the US population is defined as disabled – this includes the aging, ill, vision and hearing impaired, physically disabled and mentally disabled. For many of them, service dogs offer both companionship and support in daily activities. Learn more at: www.assistancedogsofthewest.com

BUY the books on Amazon HERE, HERE, and HERE!

I received these books from PR by the Book.

Blogtoberfest Day 30

This is the shirt I wore yesterday. Jason's W.I.L.F - You've heard of M.I.L.F. right? Well, replace Mother with Witch for Halloween, and I am Jason's W.I.L.F. A Witch I'd Like To....um, be really good friends with.


Today we went to the Grand Day Parade and we lucked out on the weather. It was still cold but not near as bad as last year. And the kids had a great time! It was a ton of fun, but we are pooped out. Time for baths and bed!

Friday, October 29, 2010

Blogtoberfest Day 29


We are going to the Mall of America tonight to go to the Nickelodeon Universe's Halloween Blackout for the kiddos. We went last year when it was called the Nick Or Treat and Mason was brand new (13 days old!) and Callan wasn't even 2 yet. Now my Callan baby is almost 3 and Mason just turned 1. Sigh. Where does the time go? Tomorrow we are going to the Grand Day Halloween Parade at the Halloween Capitol of the World in Anoka, Minnesota! :) That is where we are from and we go every year. So it should be a fun, busy, weekend.

YouTube Video - So Funny!



Winner!!!

The winner from the Everything That Was Inside Me book giveaway is: Autumn Blues Design! Congrats! I have emailed the winner!

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Inspiration Thursday - Sugar Skulls










Halloween Quickie

I was recently contacted by an associate from Health Partners and here is the email she sent me...

Halloween is a time for trick-or-treating, jack-o-lanterns, and.....cavities. Although Halloween is a favorite holiday for kids (like yours), you might not be too excited about the amount of candy they consume. As a blogger who covers parenting topics, I thought you might be interested in our healthy (and FUN!) alternatives to candy this Halloween.

To promote dental health and avoid the dental damages caused by sweet treats, employees of HealthPartners Dental Clinics will be handing out glow-in-the-dark Silly Bandz to trick-or-treaters that visit their homes. Silly Bandz, the colorful rubber bands in a variety of shapes that are worn as bracelets, are explosively popular among kids and teens right now. HealthPartners Dental Clinics offers other ideas for candy substitutes such as:

* Temporary tattoos
* Glow sticks
* Reflective Stickers
* Popcorn
* Play-Doh

Makes sense to me! Especially since my kiddos are a little too young for all that candy. So I have 3 pack of Halloween Silly Bandz to giveaway. I know you won't get these in time for Halloween, but when you give them to your kids, you could maybe have a chat about how the Silly Bandz are better than all the Halloween candy they just got! So if you want to win one of the 3 packs, here's what you do:

1. Tell me what your favorite thing about Halloween is!

I'll only keep this open til Halloween, and then announce the winners on Halloween, as it only seems appropriate! Good luck!


BuddyFruits Review




I was so excited to review BuddyFruits! I just knew Callan would love these, and it would help him get some healthy foods in him! They are easy to grab and take on the go. And they are fun for him to eat/drink. He thinks he is getting a treat. And I couldn't resist, I wanted to see what they were like, and they are really yummy!!! One pouch of BuddyFruits is equal to one serving of real fruit! They are resealable in case your kiddo does not finish it all (which I am sure would be rare - Callan asks for seconds!) I am just in love with these, and I am convinced you will be too. 

Check out the website HERE.

Blogtoberfest Day 28


Sigh. Do you ever take on too much? I have learned in the last few days that alas, I am not invincible. I am not super woman. The song I Am Woman Hear Me Roar does not apply to me. I try to do too much at once. I agree/commit to too much at once. I spread myself too thin. So, my lovelies, I am sorry to say I am going to fail my Blogtoberfest mission to visit each blog in October. Don't hate me. I'm sorry.

Thank god for scheduled blog posts though!

Immortal Review

Immortal by Lauren Burd first off has a kick butt cover! It made me very interested to read it. And then I started to read it, and I kind of rolled my eyes. Oh gosh, not another Twilight-type book. Don’t get me wrong, I am a Twi-Hard, ha ha. Loved that series, love the vampire stuff. But, there are so many books out nowadays like that. So, I sighed, and continued reading. And it is not a Twilight-type book. There is so much more to it, and I am dying to read the second one (Forever, book two).

Alina is the main character in a cast of typical, normal, real high school kids. You know these kids. We’ve all met them. Well, except maybe Duncan and Samuel. But we just might want to know boys like them! Heh! You are reading along swiftly, as it is a good story and it flows. And you think you know where the story is going, you think you can guess. But then it goes a whole other direction, and you are surprised, you will enjoy it, and you will want more!

About The Book: The wound inflicted only a few minutes before was nearly healed. A small cut was the only sign that anything had occurred. I watched in disbelief as it finished closing and eventually disappeared. "What are you?" Gods, demons, vampires, eighteen year old Alina Taylor doesn't believe in any of them, until she meets Samuel Grant and Duncan Michaels, and discovers a world that could destroy everything she loves.

About The Author: Lauren Burd is a wife and mother of two, a boy age 9 and a girl age 4. She both works and attends school full time while writing every spare moment she has. Immortal is the first book of the series, and she is currently working hard on the follow-up, Forever. When not writing, going to school or work, Lauren spends her few left over minutes reading, watching anime, and finally passing out exhausted on the her bed.

Visit Lauren on her blog: http://laurensaga.blogspot.com/

Pixable PocketPix Review




I'm so glad I was among the first to be able to review the new PocketPix by Pixable! The online app was so easy to use. No confusion at all. And it was quick! And of course the shipping from Pixable is always fast. And I was so pleased with how my PocketPix turned out! The pictures are so vivid and clear! I love it. I have a feeling I am going to be making a ton of PocketPix! Love it!

Check out Pixable's PocketPix HERE.

My Lip Stuff Review & Giveaway



I was so excited to be able to review My Lip Stuff lip balms. I love how the balms are themed. I got a fall one, a Halloween one, and a winter time one! Very cool. They are all awesome too. I am going to use these up fast because the one thing I don't go anywhere without is lip balm! I am a chapstick-a-holic! My Lip Stuff has over 500 flavors of natural lip balm, and they even have bath and body products as well! All their products are skin, Earth, and animal friendly! I am in love with their stuff!

Check out My Lip Stuff HERE

Want to win a 6-pack of lip balms? I know you do! Here's how to enter:

1. Follow my blog.
2. Visit My Lip Stuff and tell me which product you like the best!

Giveaway open worldwide! Yay! Ends November 15th! Good luck!

Ballonatiks Review & Giveaway!


Callan and Mama were so excited when we got a chance to review the Balloonatiks DVD! Callan was glued to the TV for the whole show (only a half hour long), and he would look over at me to see if I was dancing or watching like he was, and then he would laugh. We had to watch it 4 times before he wanted to get up and go play. 4 times people!!! My goodness! It is a silly goofy cartoon, and it is fun for kiddos and parents.

Product description: Off-the-Wall Zaniness, Bizarre Super Villains, Wild Sight-Gags, and Over-the-Top Heroics? It's all here in this debut collector's edition BALLOONATIKS DVD! Five ordinary teens are mysteriously transformed into Flator, Squeeker, Airbrain, Sparky, Bouncer and Leaky - otherwise known as The Balloonatiks, rubbery, shape-stretching super heroes sworn to protect Hot Air City against any evil-doer. In their very first animated comedy-adventures, The Balloonatiks take on Mad scientist Dr. Poppemoff and his brainless behemoth in Meet Deflator and wacky villain Mr. Point in Pop Goes the Balloonatiks.

Check out more on the Balloonatiks HERE.We loved it!

Want to win a copy of the DVD for yourself (and your kiddos?) Here's how!

1. Follow my blog.
2. Tell me what your favorite childhood cartoon was?

Giveaway ends November 4th. Good luck!

Awesome Hair Finds

Esha Natural line from Esha Girl - Unruly hair and frizz don’t stand a chance when indulging in this terrific collection. It’s a one-stop s...