May 2011
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Got Milk? Role Modeling Blog Tour


Parents are their children's first teachers. Whatever we do or think is bound to have a strong influence on our children, especially during their early years. I'm frequently amazed by what an observant and fast learner my son is. I've shared with you before that the best parenting advice I've got from my mom is to set a good example for my child. My mom did and still does a terrific job in being an inspiring role model for me. There's so much I've learned from her, from frugal living to self-reliance, from cleaning tips to conservation of energy, from love for fruits and veggies to passion for music and literature... Her influence is reflected in every aspect of my life!

As a mom, I'm constantly working to improve myself so that I could be a better role model for my child. I encourage him to follow my lead to eat healthy food, take good care of his teeth, be polite, share good things with friends, and not to waste food, water, energy or other resources. I'm often amused to see my son being a diligent little "copycat".

In an effort to help arm moms with tools and resources for teaching kids important life lessons, the National Milk Mustache got milk? Campaign recently launched a new interactive section on their Facebook page designed to share information on the importance of role models in a child's life. Fans of the campaign may create their own milk mustache picture, watch a touching video about Moms and send a personalized e-card to someone they love. The page also features recipes that include milk, and easy ways to add more dairy to your family's daily diet.

Our family is filled with milk lovers. Every one of us drink milk on a daily basis, with breakfast or snack, or as a cooking ingredient in appetizer, soup, and dessert. Yogurt is my son's favorite snack. He takes at least one cup a day. He's happy to know that milk is not only delicious, but also helps him grow taller and stronger.

Be sure to visit and "like" Milk Mustache Campaign on Facebook if you're on the lookout for simple ideas to incorporate milk into your family's diet or role modeling advice.


Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of the National Milk Mustache got milk? Campaign and received a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.


Pretty Little Liars: The Complete First Season on DVD

Sharing secrets is what makes friends close--so claims Allison (Sasha Pieterse) in Pretty Little Liars, the award-winning ABC Family series based on Sarah Shepard's best-selling mystery novels under the same title. Sharing little secrets maybe one of the common things we do with friends, but friendship alone doesn't really entitle us to any of their secrets. I think it's perfectly okay for friends to maintain some personal space and keep secrets from each other, unless when withholding the truth would be harmful, as in the case of Pretty Little Liars.

Whether a secret can be shared between friends depends on a lot of factors, such as the nature of the secret, the parties involved, and the trustworthiness of the friend as a secret keeper. Keeping a dark secret might be fun to some, but it can be stressful to many. Telling it to a dependable friend would help you relieve that stress and she might even offer some valuable advice to help you resolve your problem. But if your friend is anything like Allison in the show, it's probably dangerous to let her know any of your secrets, because she would note them down in her diary, ridicule you like she did to Emily (Shay Mitchell), or even threaten you like she did to Spencer (Troian Bellisario).

The friendship among the five teen girls in Pretty Little Liars is very unbalanced in that Allison never shares her own secrets with her friends. Keeping those dark secrets to herself not only leads to her tragedy, but also puts her friends' lives at risk. I look forward to seeing how the mystery would continue to unravel in Season 2 of the show, which is set to premiere on June 14, 2011!
If you want to catch up on previous episodes, pre-order your copy of the Pretty Little Liars Season One on DVD here today: http://bit.ly/lRSTgB!



Disclosure: I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote Pretty Little Liars: The Complete First Season on DVD.

My Baby Clothes Boutique Review & Giveaway

Dressing up my child has been a newly found hobby of mine since I became a mom. I'm very excited when I recently discovered MyBabyClothes.com, where you can find a vast selection of high quality, fashion forward baby clothes and accessories, including tutus, baby hats, baby headbands, and a lot more!

My Baby Clothes Boutique is well-structured and easy to navigate. You may shop by gender, age, category, style, size (newborn to 4T) or a direct search. I had a great time browsing their collection of infant and toddler clothes. With the help of their great pictures and cute baby models, I found a good number of items that I love. It's an excellent place to shop for my son as well as for baby gifts.
My Baby Clothes Boutique has kindly offered me to review one of their products and I picked this Good Lad White and Brown Guayaberas Short Set. The clothes fit my son perfectly and the stylish design makes my son look like a little grown-up. They go well with his bucket hat and sunglasses. Made with 100% cotton, the shirt and shorts are comfortable to wear, easy to care for, and keep my son cool during hot weather. This handsome summer outfit is currently on sale for only $17.99!
Take a glimpse of the cute items My Baby Clothes Boutique has in store for you. They are not only adorable, but also affordable! Check out the sales section and you will find tons of real bargains. Better yet, for a limited time, you can enjoy Free Shipping on all orders! No minimum order and no code required!

My Baby Clothes Boutique has partnered with the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance. You can donate 12% of your purchase to this great organization to help support the research for this genetic condition. Simply enter code GIVE2TSA when you check out.

The Giveaway
To encourage you to check out their store, My Baby Clothes Boutique has generously offered to give one of my lucky readers a $25 Gift Card! The winner will be getting one or more products of her choosing plus free shipping!

Required Entry: Visit My Baby Clothes Boutique and leave a comment telling me your favorite item from their online catalogue. (Please leave a valid email address in your comment or in this form, or make sure one is visible in your blogger profile).

Extra Entries (optional): please make sure you do the required entry first! Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry, i.e. 1 comment=1 entry.
  • "Like" My Baby Clothes Boutique on Facebook and leave your FB name (1 extra entry)
  • Follow My Baby Clothes Boutique on Twitter and leave your Twitter handle (1 extra entry)
  • Subscribe to My Baby Clothes Boutique Newsletter and leave the email you used (1 extra entry)
  • Follow my blog publicly on Google Friends Connect (1 extra entry)
  • Subscribe to my feed via email and leave your email address (1 extra entry)
  • "Like" me on Facebook and leave your FB name (1 extra entry)
  • "Like" this blog post using the button below my signature picture. (1 extra entry) 
  • Follow me on Networked Blogs and leave your name (1 extra entry)
  • Follow Me on Twitter AND tweet the following message (1 extra entry per day) Yes! You may tweet once daily to increase your chances:
RT @luckytoddler #Win a $25 @MyBabyClothes #giftcard! Cute items & #free shipping! http://bit.ly/mbycb #fashion #contest #giveaway #sweeps
Please leave the link to your tweet in your comment.
  • Join Crowdtap and leave your user name (1 extra entry) New signups only. You will receive free $1 and start earning cash for answering polls and testing new products.
  • Enter the Just for Dad contest to win a $250 Apothica gift card (1 extra entry)
  • Enter to win a family vacation here (1 extra entry)
  • Grab my button or add me to blogroll and tell me where to find it (1 extra entry)
  • Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post. Then leave the link in your comment (1 extra entry for mentioning this giveaway on your blog; 3 extra entries for a separate blog post).
Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm Central Time on 6/5/11
Open to US Residents Only
Winner will be chosen using random.org and will have 72 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen.
Thanks for entering and good luck!

Disclosure: I received free product to facilitate my honest review. No monetary exchange took place. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.


Join the Walmart Ice Cream Social This Saturday! #theicecreamsocial

Would you like some FREE ice cream? Join the Walmart Ice Cream Social this Saturday (5/28) and you will receive a free sample of Edy’s ice cream* topped with Reddi-wip and Nesquik syrup. Find a participating store near you here. Enjoy your cool treat!
*Brand varies by market.

Disclosure: This shop/project has been compensated as part of a campaign for Nestlé


Splash Into Summer Giveaway Hop (2 Winners)!

Welcome to the Splash into Summer Giveaway Hop!
What could be a better way to greet the hot new season than lots of cool giveaways? I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Page Turners Blog are co-hosting a week-long giveaway blog hop involving 300+ blogs, each giving away book-related prizes! Be sure to check out the linky at the end of this post and enter as many giveaways as you can! 

The warm weather in summer encourages us to get outside and get close to nature. I am giving away two sets of high-concept books from Blue Apple Books that are perfect for children who love to explore the great outdoors! Each winner will receive the following two books:

How Things Work in the Yard describes the inner workings of just about everything that's right outside a youngster's back door, including acorns, bubbles, puddles, ants, fireflies, clouds, birds and even dandelions. Written for kids ages 4-8. Creator Lisa Campbell Ernst deftly strikes the right balance of detailed yet easy-to-understand language and cleverly labeled drawings to inventively explain the functioning of objects that may seem quite ordinary to us grown ups but rather extraordinary to our children!

Bugs by the Numbers features an amazing array of insects: butterflies to termites, dragonflies to walking sticks. What makes this book a true stand-out is that these incredible insects are ingeniously engineered out of numerals. Each entry also includes fascinating numeric facts about its subject -- like how a flea can bite up to 400 times per day or that a queen termite can lay 1 egg every 15 seconds! This eye-catching and imaginative book for kiddos ages 6-12 features 9 die-cut gatefolds and text that is fun, funny and informative!

Both books are filled with colorful illustrations and interesting facts. I believe they appeal to both young book-lovers and their parents.

Giveaway Rules

Required Entry: Follow my blog publicly via Google Friends Connect and leave a relevant comment on this post. That's it! (Please leave a valid email address in your comment or in this form, or make sure one is visible in your blogger profile).

Extra Entries (optional): please make sure you do the required entry first! Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry, i.e. 1 comment=1 entry.
  • Subscribe to my feed via email and leave your email address (1 extra entry)
  • "Like" me on Facebook and leave your FB name (1 extra entry) 
  • Follow Me on Twitter AND tweet the following message (1 extra entry per day)
RT @luckytoddler #Win 1 of 2 sets of high quality children's #books! http://bit.ly/spsbg #book #contest #giveaway #sweepstakes
Please leave the link to your tweet in your comment.

  • Enter the Just for Dad contest to win a $250 Apothica gift card (1 extra entry)
  • "Like" Blue Apple Books on Facebook and leave your FB name (1 extra entry)
Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm Pacific Time on 5/31/11
Open to US Residents Only
Winners will be chosen using random.org and will have 72 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen.
Thanks for entering and good luck!


Disclosure: I received free books for review. The sponsor will be responsible for sending the giveaway prizes directly to the winners.




Enter Every Day to Win a Family Vacation Every Week!

US Family Guide is giving away one family vacation a week from now through the end of July. Each weekly winner will be able to choose her favorite from a list of popular vacation destinations including San Francisco, Colorado Springs, Galveston Island and more. You may enter daily to increase your chances of winning. Enter now and good luck!

Must Have Summer Travel Items for Babies and Kids from AnnieWear

AnnieWear has brought us a new line of animal-themed baby and toddler clothing and accessories this summer. Their high quality products are perfect for the little pet lovers in your family. Plus, a portion of every purchase you make will go to animal rescue charities across the country! Check out their latest offerings as featured in Project You Magazine:




Ready to shop? Get 15% off any purchase with coupon code BLOG2011! Offer good until the end of the year.

Disclosure: This compensated post was sponsored by Project You Magazine and the Role Mommy Writer's Network.




Modern and Fresh Invitations and Announcements

Chic and modern announcements and holiday greeting cards can be made at Keeping Me Posted. This great site has special designs available to you. The state-of-the-art photo personalization tools can be used to grab your favorite photos from Facebook, Flickr, Picasa, and SmugMug. There are so many designs to choose from. Personalization tools can change the font style, size, and color. These great tools can be used also to change photos from color to black and white or sepia. You can preview the customized card design free of charge before you purchase it. There is no trouble to get another design. All you have to do is let Keeping Me Posted know, and they will assist you in getting it created. A customized design can be made for you for nothing extra. The cards are made with top-quality thick matte paper and HP Indigo printing presses. Every card is carefully reviewed during the card creation stages so that you get a unique product that is in a class above the competition. Visit Keeping Me Posted today at www.keepingmeposted.com for a Christmas card or an announcement.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post with contents provided by Moms Network.


Kidtoons Olivia and the Great Outdoors Prize Pack Giveaway

Kidtoons has offered to sponsor another fun giveaway this month. If you haven't heard about Kidtoons before, it's a great company striving to help parents connect with their children through entertaining activities by bringing kid-friendly animated movies to the big screen every weekend. Be sure to check if there is a participating theater near you so that you may bring your kids to the movie this coming weekend!

For the month of May, Kidtoons features Olivia and the Great Outdoors.

Here's the synopsis:

There are adventures, then there are OLIVIA adventures! Join Olivia and enjoy the great outdoors in a way only she can. From treasure hunts, to camping trips to soccer games and more, one thing is clear, with Olivia on the scene, you’re bound to have a creative, special, fun-filled experience!

You may connect with Olivia fans via their Facebook page.

The Giveaway
As part of this month's promotion, Kidtoons has generously offered to give one of my lucky readers an Olivia and the Great Outdoors Prize Pack!

Each prize pack includes the following:
  • 1 OLIVIA Poster
  • 1 Book "This is OLIVIA
  • 1 OLIVIA tin lunch box (various designs)
  • 1 OLIVIA DVD (various titles)
  • 1 OLIVIA sticker sheet
  • 1 OLIVIA Kaleidoscope
Required Entry: Follow my blog publicly via Google Friends Connect and leave a comment telling me who you would like to win this prize pack for. (Please leave a valid email address in your comment or in this form, or make sure one is visible in your blogger profile).

Extra Entries (optional): please make sure you do the required entry first! Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry, i.e. 1 comment=1 entry.
  • "Like" Kidtoons on Facebook and leave your FB name (1 extra entry)
  • Follow Kidtoons on Twitter and leave your Twitter handle (1 extra entry)
  • "Like" me on Facebook and leave your FB name (1 extra entry)
  • "Like" this blog post using the button below my signature picture. (1 extra entry)
  • Subscribe to my feed via email and leave your email address (1 extra entry)
  • Follow Me on Twitter AND tweet the following message (1 extra entry per day) Yes! You may tweet once daily to increase your chances:
RT @luckytoddler #Win an awesome 6-piece Olivia prize pack @KidtoonFilms! http://bit.ly/ogopp #toy #book #DVD #contest #giveaway #sweeps
Please leave the link to your tweet in your comment.
  • Join Crowdtap and leave your user name (1 extra entry) New signups only. You will receive free $1 and start earning cash for answering polls and testing new products.
  • Visit WeeklyPlus and tell me what you think about the site (1 extra entry)
  • Enter the Just for Dad contest to win a $250 Apothica gift card (1 extra entry)
  • Follow me on Networked Blogs and leave your name (1 extra entry)
  • Grab my button or add me to blogroll and tell me where to find it (1 extra entry)
  • Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post. Then leave the link in your comment (1 extra entry for mentioning this giveaway on your blog; 3 extra entries for a separate blog post).
Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm Central Time on 5/31/11
Open to US Residents Only
Winner will be chosen using random.org and will have 72 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen.
Thanks for entering and good luck!

Disclosure: I did not receive any form of compensation for hosting this giveaway. The sponsor will be solely responsible for shipping the prize directly to the winner.

Support the NCHS Red Light Safety Camera Initiative

Keeping our families safe on the road is a very important task that we undertake as parents. We drive carefully, keep our cars in tip-top shape, and make sure everyone is buckled in safely on each and every trip. Unfortunately, we can’t control what other drivers on the road are doing. We must rely on the police and essential safety equipment, such as red light safety cameras, to help keep us safe.

A recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that 113,000 people were injured and 676 were killed in crashes that involved red-light running in 2009 – two-thirds of the victims were pedestrians, bicyclists and occupants of vehicles hit by the red-light runners.

The study also showed that red-light safety cameras helped save more than 150 lives in 14 of the biggest U.S. cities from 2004 to 2008. Had the cameras been operating in all 99 U.S. cities with populations more than 200,000, more than 800 lives could have been saved.

Each time we enter an intersection, our families are at risk of becoming the victim of an accident – whether on foot or in a vehicle. Red light safety cameras help to change driver behavior and reduce the risk to our loved ones, however many people are unaware just how valuable these cameras are to those on the road.

The National Coalition for Safer Roads has created a powerful video, showing just how tragic the consequences of running a red light can be.





You can find the National Coalition for Safer Roads on their website, Twitter and Facebook pages, for more information about this important initiative.

Join the Coalition in spreading the word about the importance of red light safety camera. You may save the life of a loved one or spare a family the heartbreak of losing a life to a tragic intersection accident.

Disclosure: The post contents were provided by Global Influence. I was not compensated any way for posting the information above.



Don't Fret The Sweat


To help tweens and their parents remain cool, calm and confident when tweens undergo important changes in their bodies, Unilever, the maker of Degree, Dove and Suave deodorants recently launched the Don't Fret The Sweat website, which provides expert advice, product guides, and answers to frequently asked questions with regard to body odor.

Whether or not parents are ready, their tweens’ bodies are trying to show them the signs of growth. Increased hormones are causing noticeable differences like growth spurts and strange new odors, which may in turn have an impact on self esteem. As you may know how critical self esteem is at this tender age, wouldn't it be nice to get help from professionals and gain a better understanding of all the physical and emotional changes your child is facing?



If you're a parent of tweens or kids who are quickly approaching tween years, please check out Facebook.com/DontFretTheSweat for money saving offers and expert tips, tools and real life stories about how parents are communicating and transitioning their tweens into confident and self-reliant teens.

Disclosure: By writing this post, I'm entered to win a gift card from One2One Network.


Father's Day Giveaway: Win a $250 Apothica Gift Card!

Fathers need pampering too! In celebration of Father's Day, Apothica, the leading online beauty boutique is giving away a $250 gift card! The Grand Prize winner could gift her dad all the products he wants for grooming and skin care this Father's Day! The lucky dad could of course, use the gift card to get some beauty goodies for the woman he loves :) Plus smaller prizes will be given to runner-ups. To enter the Just For Dad sweepstakes, simply leave on a comment on this entry page explaining why your dad needs the $250 gift card (Click on the "Comments" tab beside "Products").

The deadline for entry is June 13th, 2011. Good luck!

Smallville: The Complete Series on DVD & My Favorite Super Power

Superman is known for his superhuman powers, like incredible strength, indestructible body, ability to fly, super hearing and vision. Throughout the Smallville series, we see Clark figure out and further develop his super powers each season. Between heat vision and super speed, my favorite is super speed, the very first manifested Kryptonian power which allows Clark to move at speeds faster than the speed of light. As Clark finds out in Season 1, Episode 1 "Pilot", he easily outruns the school bus that he misses initially.

This is certainly a super power I wish I could possess someday. It would save me a lot of time and enable me to accomplish more things in a day. If I obtained super speed, I would use it to visit my parents more often, to take my family to more interesting places around the world and use the time saved to do things I love!

What is the one super power you wish to have? How would you use it? Feel free to share!

The 'Smallville: The Complete Series' DVD lets you experience the exciting journey Clark Kent embarks upon to realize his destiny! With over 24 hours of special features and 2 hours of never before seen footage, the complete series on DVD is the ultimate resource for the Smallville fan!

Disclosure: I have been hired by Warner Bros WBWord division to raise awareness for  "Smallville."



Publix Great Deals on Great Meals Event & $25 Gift Card Giveaway

From now through May 29th, 2011, You may enjoy great savings on some of your favorite brands and delicious meal ideas through the Publix Great Deals on Great Meals Event. To maximize your savings, visit GreatDealsOnGreatMeals.com to find simple meal solutions and download $10.80 in coupons (all of which expire on 5/29) valid exclusively at Publix. Then stop by your local Publix to start stocking up on some of the participating products including Yoplait Yogurt, Honey Nut Cheerios and Progresso Soup, Pillsbury® Ready to Bake!™ Cookies, Naturally Valley Granola Bars, and more!
The Giveaway

As an invitation to the Great Deals on Great Meals event at Publix, MyBlogSpark has generously offered to give one of my lucky readers a $25 Publix Gift Card! The winner could score some free grocery to help her prepare home cooked meals for her family!

Required Entry: Leave a comment telling me what products you plan to stock up during the event. You may visit GreatDealsOnGreatMeals.com to see all participating brands. (Please leave a valid email address in your comment or in this form, or make sure one is visible in your blogger profile).

Extra Entries (optional): please make sure you do the required entry first! Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry, i.e. 1 comment=1 entry.
  • Follow my blog publicly on Google Friends Connect (1 extra entry)
  • "Like" me on Facebook and leave your FB name (1 extra entry)
  • "Like" this blog post using the button below my signature picture. (1 extra entry)
  • Subscribe to my feed via email and leave your email address (1 extra entry)
  • Follow Me on Twitter AND tweet the following message (1 extra entry per day) Yes! You may tweet once daily to increase your chances:
RT @luckytoddler #Win a $25 Publix #giftcard & save big through 5/29! http://bit.ly/pxgdm #myblogspark #fbz #contest #giveaway #sweeps
Please leave the link to your tweet in your comment.
  • Check out this page and leave a relevant comment below (1 extra entry)
  • Join Gaggle of Chicks and leave the email you used (1 extra entry) New signups only. You will receive $10 to spend instantly.
  • Follow me on Networked Blogs and leave your name (1 extra entry)
  • Grab my button or add me to blogroll and tell me where to find it (1 extra entry)
  • Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post. Then leave the link in your comment (1 extra entry for mentioning this giveaway on your blog; 3 extra entries for a separate blog post).
Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm Central Time on 5/23/11
Open to US Residents Only
Winner will be chosen using random.org and will have 72 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen.
Thanks for entering and good luck!

Disclosure: General Mills gave me one gift card to keep and one to give away, as part of the MyBlogSpark program



Method Mickey + Minnie Mouse Hand Wash Review

I was very excited when I made my first encounter with Method's Mickey Mouse hand wash not only because I love to collect anything Mickey related, but also because it's from one of my favorite brands specializing in eco-friendly cleaning products!
Packaged in adorable bottles iconic of the most loved Disney couple, Mickey and Minnie Hand Wash features:
• naturally derived formulas that leave hands feeling clean and soft
• premium, specialty-inspired fragrances that kids and adults will love
• biodegradable formulas that contain no dirty ingredients including parabens, phthalates, triclosan, EDTA or animal-by products
• recyclable packaging that is made with 25% recycled plastic
• never tested on mice (or other animals)

The Mickey Mouse Foaming Hand Wash I received for review has a refreshing lemonade fragrance (while the Minnie version has a sweet strawberry fragrance). With the Disney logo on Mickey's ear, the uniquely shaped bottle has the perfect size for kids. The hand wash is easy to dispense, creates rich foams, and rinses off easily. Our hands feel clean and comfortable after use...and they smell so good! The cute packaging has noticeably encouraged my son to wash his hands more frequently. I enjoy the peace of mind that he's using a safe, non-toxic hand wash with high quality.

The Mickey + Minnie Mouse Hand Wash retails for only $4.49, available in the United States and Canada at national retailers including Target, Shoppers Drug Mart, Babies”R”Us, Soap.com, Amazon.com and methodhome.com. Get one for your family and you'll love it!

Disclosure: I received free product from Mom Bloggers Club to facilitate my honest review. No monetary exchange took place. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Smallville: The Complete Series on DVD & My Favorite Romantic Relationship

Smallville traces the growth of Clark Kent from a super-teenager to superman, including his romantic relationships, the most notable of which are with Lois Lane, Lana Lang and Chloe Sullivan. While the romantic entanglement between Clark and Lois is the best known and dominates the latter half of the series, my favorite is the dramatic relationship between Clark and Lana, who is herself a superheroine fighting to preserve life.

The Lana/Clark romance appeals to me precisely because Lana is Clark's first love. First loves may not be perfect or long lasting, but they are certainly unforgettable and tend to have a strong impact on subsequent relationships. The intensity of Clark's first love is well represented in "Exile", first episode of Season 3, in which Lana tries to bring Clark back to Smallville after he heads to Metropolis under the influence of the red kryptonite ring and is on the verge of becoming a villain.

Clark tries in vain to indulge himself in casual relationships because only Lana is the right girl for him. He is surprised but equally overjoyed when Lana finds him, in contrast to his rude resistance to Chloe, his best friend at the time. Lana also openly and repeatedly expresses her trust and confidence in Clark as the man she loves. Although their romantic relationship comes to a dead end toward the end of Season 3, their love story is no less touching and worthy of discussion.
With the 'Smallville: The Complete Series' DVD, fans will be able to relive all of Clark Kent's romantic encounters, from start to finish! With an Exclusive Daily Planet newspaper written by DC Comics that highlights the important storylines developed during the 10-year run of the show, the Smallville Complete Series is a must-have for all Smallville fans!

Disclosure: I have been hired by Warner Bros WBWord division to raise awareness for "Smallville."


Make #HealthyChoices for Life with Healthy Choice Meals

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), two-thirds of American adults are overweight or obese, which puts them at increased risk for heart disease, diabetes and the metabolic syndrome. This disturbing fact urges us to make healthy choices for life so as to reduce our risk of getting hit by these horrible diseases. A good place to start is to watch what you eat on a daily basis.

Healthy Choice, the leading brand for frozen meals and treats, recently conducted a 30-day research study* where over 60 participants replaced 10 meals per week with a portion-controlled Healthy Choice meal for either lunch or dinner. Participants were also instructed to add 2-3 food items to their diet, such as fruits and vegetables, according to their caloric/gender needs.

The research findings show that, as part of a reduced calorie diet, eating Healthy Choice on a regular basis can lead to improved quality of life and dietary quality. Participants in the study (in both lunch and dinner substitution groups) lost an average of six pounds and trimmed their waistlines by about one inch. The quality of their overall diets was improved by increasing dietary fiber, reducing saturated fat intake by 50% and consuming 30% less cholesterol and sodium. In addition, they reported an increased sense of well being, having more energy and feeling healthier after just 30 days!

*The research was presented by the Rippe Lifestyle Institute at the Experimental Biology Conference in April 2011 and funded by ConAgra Foods.

Are you surprised by these new and exciting findings? I definitely am. I ate frozen meals primarily for convenience, but never expected them to deliver health benefits. The research study helped me feel better about keeping Healthy Choice products on hand.

In fact, brands with “healthy” in their name are held to a higher nutrition standard set by the FDA. Healthy Choice is the only major brand in its category that can call 100% of its products “healthy” as defined by the FDA. This means that each meal must be:
*Low in fat
*Low in saturated fat
*Controlled in sodium and cholesterol
*Supply at least 10% of the daily value for three beneficial nutrients (calcium, protein, fiber, iron, vitamin A or vitamin C)

Healthy Choice kindly provided me with 2 free product coupons for review. It was super easy to shop for Healthy Choice products because they are widely available in grocery stores, discount stores and club stores across the country. I'm deeply impressed by the variety of flavors Healthy Choice offers (about 70!).  I had a hard time choosing just 2 to try out. Healthy Choice meals prove that frozen meals don't have to taste like carbon. The Cafe Steamers and Steaming Entrees I tried were made with fresh-tasting, high-quality ingredients and delicious flavors. I was very pleased with the results of my taste test.

My husband and I are taking active steps to improve the overall health of our family. Here are three examples of the healthy choices we've made for a healthier lifestyle:

    *Use low-sodium recipes: When cooking, we consciously adjust the recipe to include less salty contents and to substitute salt with flavorful spices for a better taste.

    *Switch to low-fat or fat-free products: Whether consuming directly or using as an ingredient for cooking, we always opt for a low-fat or fat-free version of the product whenever available (e.g. milk, yogurt, cheese, broth).

   *Take Whole Grain foods as often as possible: When purchasing food items like bread, cookies, crackers, and pasta, we choose whole grain over other kinds to increase our dietary fiber.

Have you made any healthy choices to improve your quality of life? Feel free to share with us! Be sure to "like" Healthy Choice on Facebook for healthy eating tips and special offers.

Disclosure: I received free product coupons to facilitate my honest review. I was compensated for my time for writing this post. Research findings and product info were provided by the sponsor. All views and opinions expressed are my own.


J.C. Jewelry Design Review & $50 Gift Certificate Giveaway

Happy Mother's Day! In celebration, I would like to offer you the chance to win a $50 gift certificate to J.C. Jewelry Design, an online jewelry boutique specializing in personalized hand stamped jewelry.

J.C. Jewelry Design offers a nice variety of handmade fashion accessories including necklaces, bracelets, and guitar picks. My favorites from their store are mommy necklaces and Peas in a Pod Collection, which not only come in adorable designs, but also allows for multiple options to customize your selection.
J.C Jewelry also provides unique hand stamped gifts for men, such as Golf Ball Marker, collar stays, and money clips. Speaking of uniqueness, you have the option to design your own jewelry that cannot be found anywhere else!

Here's the Circle of Love Necklace I received for review. It comes beautifully wrapped in a gift box with a velvet jewelry pouch and jewelry cleaning cloth. I was able to customize my order by specifying the message to appear on the pendant as well as choosing my desired length and style for the chain. I really love the puffy sterling silver heart charm and white freshwater pearl that adorn the hand stamped pendant. It goes well with almost any top and dress I have!

Before you order your own personalized jewelry at J.C. Jewelry Design, don't forget to "like" the store on Facebook to receive 10% off and enter exclusive giveaways.

The Giveaway

J.C. Jewelry Design has generously offered to give one of my lucky readers a $50 Gift Certificate! The winner could choose whatever she loves from the store!

Required Entry: Visit J.C. Jewelry Design and leave a comment telling me your favorite product on the site. (Please leave a valid email address in your comment or in this form, or make sure one is visible in your blogger profile).

Extra Entries (optional): please make sure you do the required entry first! Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry, i.e. 1 comment=1 entry.
  • "Like" J.C. Jewelry Design on Facebook and leave your FB name here. (1 extra entry)
  • Follow J.C. Jewelry Design on Twitter and leave your Twitter handle. (1 extra entry)
  • Follow my blog publicly on Google Friends Connect (1 extra entry)
  • "Like" me on Facebook and leave your FB name (1 extra entry)
  • "Like" this blog post using the button below my signature picture. (1 extra entry)
  • Subscribe to my feed via email and leave your email address (1 extra entry)
  • Follow Me on Twitter AND tweet the following message (1 extra entry per day) Yes! You may tweet once daily to increase your chances:
RT @luckytoddler #Win a $50 Gift Card @jcjewelry! http://bit.ly/jcjdg #giftcard #fashion #handmade #jewelry #contest #giveaway #sweeps
Please leave the link to your tweet in your comment.
  • Check out this page and leave a relevant comment below (1 extra entry)
  • Join Gaggle of Chicks and leave the email you used (1 extra entry) New signups only. You will receive $10 to spend instantly.
  • Follow me on Networked Blogs and leave your name (1 extra entry)
  • Grab my button or add me to blogroll and tell me where to find it (1 extra entry)
  • Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post. Then leave the link in your comment (1 extra entry for mentioning this giveaway on your blog; 3 extra entries for a separate blog post).
Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm Central Time on 5/18/11
Open to US Residents Only
Winner will be chosen using random.org and will have 72 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen.
Thanks for entering and good luck!

Disclosure: I received free product to facilitate my honest review. No monetary exchange took place. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.


Pampers Little Miracle Missions & $50 AMEX Gift Card Giveaway!

~~The giveaway is CLOSED. Congrats to winner Helen!~~
In celebration of its 50th birthday, Pampers has recently launched its Little Miracle Missions campaign, a program that delivers acts of kindness to miracles and their families while encouraging parents to support others. The campaign is intended to recognize how much parenting has changed over the years and to share the brand's belief that every baby is a little miracle that deserves to be celebrated, supported and protected.

During the week of of April 11th, 2011, Pampers kicked off the Little Miracle Missions campaign by delivering a giant act of support--donating over 30,000 care packages to Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) across the country. Celebs Joey Lawrence , Ali Larter, Mark Consuelos and LaLa Anthonywere on-hand in New York City to personally deliver a care package and thank you basket to Mt. Sinai Hospital and their staff.




Everyone can easily participate in the Miracle Missions program and support little miracles across the country by logging on to Pampers Facebook page, clicking on the Miracle Missions tab and committing to a mission by clicking “I WANT TO HELP.”

Mission 1 is Mother's Day Surprise. Pampers is asking everyone to pay-it-forward by congratulating and offering support to an expectant mother with a gift or surprise gesture. Once more than 2,500 people pledge that they have achieved this mission, Pampers will respond by giving baby showers to expectant mothers nationwide just in time for Mother’s Day. The goal has already been reached before the proposed deadline. Amazing! As a bonus, anyone who pledges is eligible to win a year’s supply of Pampers diapers and wipes, which can definitely help someone in a big way! You may enter once per day for better chances of winning.

Pampers will issue different missions throughout the entire year to celebrate all aspects of parenthood, and with the help of parents, family and friends, they hope to touch the lives of every baby born in the next year.

Pampers kindly provided me with a $50 gift card to pay-it-forward in my community. I've decided to put together a newborn gift basket and give it to hubby's co-worker, whose baby girl just turned 5 days old. The gift basket consists of the following goodies available at Walmart:

*Pampers Swaddlers Diapers with DRY MAX Value Pack ($20)
*Child of Mine by Carter's Newborn Short-Sleeve Bodysuits 5-Pack ($10)
*American Red Cross by First Years Baby Healthcare Kit ($8)
*MAM BPA Free 5-oz. Bottles 3-Pack ($13)

What do you think of my selection? How would you take the challenge if you were provided with $50? Get your creative juices flowing and share your idea with us!

The Giveaway
To encourage participation in the Little Miracle Missions program, Pampers has generously offered to give one of my lucky readers a $50 Limited Edition American Express Gift Card! The winner could use it to pay-it-forward in her community!

Required Entry: Follow my blog publicly via Google Friends Connect and leave a comment telling me how you would use the $50, if you won, to complete a Little Miracle Mission. (Please leave a valid email address in your comment or in this form, or make sure one is visible in your blogger profile).

Extra Entries (optional): please make sure you do the required entry first! Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry, i.e. 1 comment=1 entry.
  • "Like" Pampers on Facebook and pledge to join a Little Miracle Mission. Then come back to this post and leave your FB name in a comment. (1 extra entry) Don't forget to enter the sweeps while you're there.
  • "Like" me on Facebook and leave your FB name (1 extra entry)
  • "Like" this blog post using the button below my signature picture. (1 extra entry)
  • Subscribe to my feed via email and leave your email address (1 extra entry)
  • Follow Me on Twitter AND tweet the following message (1 extra entry per day) Yes! You may tweet once daily to increase your chances:
RT @luckytoddler #Win a $50 AMEX Gift Card @Pampers Little Miracle Missions! http://bit.ly/pmlmm #giftcard #contest #giveaway #sweepstakes
Please leave the link to your tweet in your comment.
  • Check out this page and leave a relevant comment below (1 extra entry)
  • Join Gaggle of Chicks and leave the email you used (1 extra entry) New signups only. You will receive $10 to spend instantly.
  • Join Crowdtap and leave your user name (1 extra entry) New signups only. You will receive free $1 and start earning cash for answering polls and testing new products.
  • Visit WeeklyPlus and tell me what you think (1 extra entry)
  • Follow me on Networked Blogs and leave your name (1 extra entry)
  • Grab my button or add me to blogroll and tell me where to find it (1 extra entry)
  • Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post. Then leave the link in your comment (1 extra entry for mentioning this giveaway on your blog; 3 extra entries for a separate blog post).
Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm Central Time on 5/20/11
Open to US Residents Only
Winner will be chosen using random.org and will have 72 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen.
Thanks for entering and good luck!

Disclosure: I received a gift card to facilitate my participation in the campaign. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.



 
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