Capezio & Wisharoo Duckle Dance Sweepstakes & $100 Prize Pack Giveaway (Ends 9/1)

Shall we dance? And win a nice prize! Wisharoo Park, a dynamic multimedia program dedicated to promoting positive self-image and self-esteem in preschool age children, has partnered with dancewear leader Capezio this summer to host the Duckle Dance Sweepstakes. You could win 1 of 5 Grand Prizes of $500 dance scholarships, or 1 of 20 second prizes of Duckle Dance prize packs valued over $100!

Here's how to enter:
1. Watch the video at www.WisharooPark.com/duckledance for a little dance inspiration from the Duckles.
2. Choose either the BALLET or TAP song to dance to.
3. Get out your video camera, or your camera phone, and record yourself or your kid dancing along with either song.
4. Click the “Enter Now” tab to upload your video for a chance to win.
5. Entry closes on September 1, 2011 at 11:59 PM ET.

The nice thing about the sweepstakes is that you won't be judged by how well you can dance. It is all about fun! Dance submissions are completely open to individual interpretation. Although the official Duckle Dance video teaches specific dance steps, in your Duckle Dance, no step is wrong, no leap falls short, no tap is off, no plié is blasé and no arabesque is grotesque. The sky is the limit as Capezio and Wisharoo Park applaud and salute the creativity and individuality expressed by each and every entrant with prize winners to be chosen through a random drawing. For your convenience, I've embedded the video below.

Don't be shy. Get moving, have fun, and you could win one of the awesome prizes!

The Giveaway

Now here's your chance to win the same prize pack as the second prize winners will, without the need to dance or upload a video. Wisharoo Park has generously offered to give one of my lucky readers a Duckle Dance Prize Pack valued over $100!

Here's what you will find in the prize pack:
• 1 Pair of Capezio Daisy ballet Shoes (ARV $18)
• 1 Pair of Capezio Jr. Tyette Tap Shoes (ARV $25)
• 1 Capezio Logo Drawstring Backpack (ARV $8.50)
• 1 Limited Edition Do the Duckle Commemorative T-Shirt (ARV $12.99)
• 1 Wisharoo Park 2-Disc 13 Episode DVD Set (ARV $19.99)
• 6 Wisharoo Park Wish Star finger puppets (ARV $19.98)
The winner will have her choice of gender and size for the ballet and tap shoes.

Please use the Rafflecopter form below to submit your entries. A few things to note:

*You must enable JavaScript to see the widget and it may load a bit slower than the rest of the webpage. Thank you for your patience! Need help to enable JavaScript? Click here.

*Please make sure you fill in the "Extra info" field in the form as instructed. I moderate all entries and only valid ones will count in the drawing. If you submit an empty form by accident, you can note that in the comment and I'll correct the entry for you.

* Comments are for feedbacks, questions, etc. but NOT for entries unless otherwise indicated. Thank you for following the rules and making things easier for all of us!

Kidtoons Candyland The Great Lollipop Adventure Prize Pack Giveaway

Have you seen any of the summer flicks? Do you sometimes have difficulty finding a good kid-friendly movie to watch in the theater? I know I do. As a parent, I wish there were more companies like Kidtoons, who has been working hard to bring kid-friendly animated movies to the big screen every weekend.

For the month of August, Kidtoons features Candyland: The Great Lollipop Adventure, plus a special short feature The Busytown Mysteries: The Vanishing Vehicle Mystery.

Here's the synopsis for Candyland: The Great Lollipop Adventure:
Jib, the youngest of all the gingerbread boys is about to go on the adventure of his young life... to bring Mama's special gingerbread icing to Candy Castle for the Sweet Celebration, a festival that ushers in the sweet new candies of Spring. And all Jib has to do is stay on the Rainbow Path, follow his heart, and be on time. But on his way, Jib meets Mr. Mint in the Peppermint Forest and the most fun-loving fellow in all of Candy Land. Jib tries to stay on schedule, but Mr. Mint has other, much more fun ideas!

And the synopsis for The Busytown Mysteries: The Vanishing Vehicle Mystery:
Curiosities are everywhere in Busytown and so are Huckle Cat, Lowly Worm, Sally Cat, Hilda Hippo plus Pig Will and Pig Won't. With a learning based blend of humor, six unforgettable friends and many other colorful characters from the amazing world of Richard Scarry's books scour Busytown looking for the answer to The Vanishing Vehicle Mystery.

The Giveaway

Kidtoons has generously offered to give one of my lucky readers an awesome Candyland The Great Lollipop Adventure Prize Pack! Here's all that you can find in the prize pack:
*1 Candyland movie poster
*1 Busytown Mysteries Toy Vehicle (Various Different Versions)
*1 Busytown Mysteries Cars & Trucks Numbers Flash Card Game
*1 Busytown Mysteries DVD (26 Episodes!)
*1 Busytown Mysteries Shapes Stickers

Please use the Rafflecopter form below to submit your entries. A few things to note:

*You must enable JavaScript to see the widget and it may load a bit slower than the rest of the webpage. Thank you for your patience! Need help to enable JavaScript? Click here.

*Please make sure you fill in the "Extra info" field in the form as instructed. I moderate all entries and only valid ones will count in the drawing. If you submit an empty form by accident, you can note that in the comment and I'll correct the entry for you.

* Comments are for feedbacks, questions, etc. but NOT for entries unless otherwise indicated. Thank you for following the rules and making things easier for all of us!

Dinosaur Train Amtrak Sweepstakes & Dinosaur Big City DVD Giveaway

For the month of August, the Jim Henson Company, Random House Children’s Books and Paramount Home Entertainment have partnered with Amtrak for a nationwide promotion in support of the season premiere on PBS KIDS of Dinosaur Train: Dinosaur Big City on August 22.

As part of the promotion, one lucky family of 4 (2 adults & 2 children) will win an Amtrak Vacations® Rocky Mountain National Park Tour to visit the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center in Woodland Park, Colorado, from the Amtrak-Dinosaur Train Sweepstakes. The deadline to enter is August 31, 2011.

To promote the sweepstakes and DVD release of Dinosaur Train: Dinosaur Big City on August 23, over 100 Amtrak stations nationwide feature Dinosaur Train themed seatbacks, counter cards, activitybook giveaways, in addition to Dinosaur Train placemats on Long Distance Trains. One million ticket jackets will be used system wide featuring Dinosaur Train. The “Dinosaur Big City” DVD will also include an Amtrak offer in 50,000 units.

The Dinosaur Train: Dinosaur Big City DVD includes eight fun and engaging learning adventures, as well as interactive games, coloring pages, a dinosaur reference guide and information for parents. It is available for the suggested retail price of $14.99 U.S./$15.99 Canada. The run time is 100 minutes.

Synopsis

In “Dinosaur Big City,” join Buddy the T. rex and his Pteranodon family as they gather all their Theropod friends together to travel to the big Theropod Club Convention which is being held in Laramidia, the “Dinosaur Big City!” Among the travelers is King Cryolophosaurus, who’s more than a little nervous about giving a concert in front of his biggest audience ever. Can Buddy and Tiny help him overcome his fear of performing?

The Giveaway

The Jim Henson Company has generously offered to give one of my lucky readers a copy of the "Dinosaur Big City" DVD! I'm sure your little Dinosaur Train fan will have a blast watching the all-new episodes.

Please use the Rafflecopter form below to submit your entries. A few things to note:

*You must enable JavaScript to see the widget and it may load a bit slower than the rest of the webpage. Thank you for your patience! Need help to enable JavaScript? Click here.

*Please make sure you fill in the "Extra info" field in the form as instructed. I moderate all entries and only valid ones will count in the drawing. If you submit an empty form by accident, you can note that in the comment and I'll correct the entry for you.

* Comments are for feedbacks, questions, etc. but NOT for entries unless otherwise indicated. Thank you for following the rules and making things easier for all of us!

Gossip Girl: The Complete Fourth Season on DVD & Summer Travel

Summer is a great time for vacation. In the first episode of Gossip Girl Season 4, "Belles de Jour", Serena and Blair enjoy their summer vacation in Paris trying to take their minds off of home. When Serena and Blair take this lavish trip to Paris, they experience the food, culture, fashion, and even romance! Blair meets a French royal Prince Louis, who wants to sweep her off her feet, gets into a major spat with Serena, and even bumps into her ex, Chuck.

I have never been to Europe and Paris is on the very top of my list of dream vacation spots. While I don't want my trip to be as eventful as that of Blair and Serena, I really look forward to experiencing the unique culture in Paris as much as possible. I want to visit all the world renowned landmarks: Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Louvre, Notre Dame de Paris, Grand Palais, and more! I'd also love my trip to be filled with romance...with my husband of course :) What's your dream vacation like? Anywhere fancy?



Too busy for a summer vacation? Join Serena and Blair in Paris with Season 4 of Gossip Girl http://bit.ly/r4GTe8!

Disclosure: I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote Gossip Girl Season Four on DVD.

The Vampire Diaries: The Complete Second Season on DVD/Blu-Ray & Epic Moments

The new season of The Vampire Diaries is set to premiere on September 15, 2011. Are you excited? There's still time to refresh your memory and catch up on where the show left off in Season 2.

In the season 2 finale "As I Lay Dying", Demon (Ian Somerhalder) is dying from the fatal werewolf bite in the arm, while Stephan (Paul Wesley) sacrifices himself in order to save his brother's life. This episode is filled with twists and turns, and includes some of my favorite epic moments from the entire season. I was deeply moved when Demon opens up his feelings to Elena (Nina Dobrev) and apologizes for his past mistakes. This is not something we would normally expect from the "bad" guy. "I know you love Stefan. And it will always be Stefan. But I love you. You should know that...", "I made a lot of choices that have gotten me here. I deserve to die." So says Demon.

In exchange for Klaus' (Joseph Morgan) blood--cure for Demon's wound, Stephan agrees to work for Klaus and is forced to drink up a large number of blood bags and to feed on an innocent, as what an old school vampire would do. That's the most jaw-dropping scene of all. Klaus is so cruel when he says:"I could have compelled her to behave, but a real ripper enjoys the hunt." It's hard for me to imagine what other evil things Stephan will be obliged to do as Klaus' new apprentice. Will the bond between brothers save Stephan just as it does Demon? We'll need to find out in Season 3.


Pre-order your copy of The Vampire Diaries: The Complete Second Season on DVD/Blu-Ray here today: http://bit.ly/mkiZtx!


Disclosure: I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote The Vampire Diaries: The Complete Second Season on DVD/Blu-Ray.

Paper Jamz Pro Series Microphone Review & Giveaway

Do you love to sing? Do you want to sound like a super star? Then you should definitely check out Paper Jamz Pro Series Microphones, a new product line developed by the makers behind popular paper-thin, pro-level play musical instruments known as Paper Jamz Guitars and Drums. Featuring real-time, cutting-edge technology called Perfect Pitch™, the Pro Series Mics enable kids as well as adults to sing with rockstar-quality vocals instantly!

Unlike other Paper Jamz products that let users make music with a touch enabled-print, the Pro Mics are real microphones, which come with a small 4x2 inch box acting as both an amplifier and tuner. Powered by 4 x “AA” batteries, the device uses pitch detection to transform the quality of your voice as you sing, with five different modes:

• Solo/Duet: Sing with the artist or become the artist by turning the original vocal track ON or OFF;
• Auto Harmony: Doubles or triples singer’s voice and shifts pitch to create perfect harmonies;
• Auto Vibrato: Adds perfect intonation and pitch variation;
• Chorus: Multiplies singer’s vocals to add depth; and
• Auto: Recreate original sound of song with real-time effects control.

Each Pro Microphone is pre-loaded with two songs. You can easily add new songs or replace the current ones by connecting the box to your computer with the USB cable included in the kit. The Paper Jamz Pro software allows you to load the box with your favorite music from iTunes. Need ideas for songs most suited for sing-along features? Download one of the "Certified Compatible" songs provided on Paper Jamz website. There are hundreds to choose from!

WowWee has kindly sent me a Pro Microphone Style 1 to try out. Everyone in our family loves to sing. We had tons of fun playing with our new toy. It produced much better sound than our karaoke player. My favorite modes are Chorus and Auto Harmony. My son really enjoys singing along the pre-loaded song "Kung Fu Yu". The box is compact and lightweight. It comes with a belt clip, but I think it easier to just hold it with one hand. The amplifier is more powerful than what I would expect from a toy, so be sure to turn the volume down before you start playing. The Pro Microphone would be helpful to boost the confidence of your young singer, to add joy and laughter to your house party, and to keep you up-to-date with what's hot on the Billboard.

The Pro Microphone is available in 3 colors/styles: pink, neutral, and grey. It can be found at Walmart and Target stores at a retail price of $29.99.

The Giveaway

To encourage you to check out this new product, WowWee has generously offered to give one of my lucky readers a Paper Jamz Pro Series Microphone! A $30 value! I'm sure the winner will love her new entertainment gear.

Please use the Rafflecopter form below to submit your entries. A few things to note:

*You must enable JavaScript to see the widget and it may load a bit slower than the rest of the webpage. Thank you for your patience! Need help to enable JavaScript? Click here.

*Please make sure you fill in the "Extra info" field in the form as instructed. I moderate all entries and only valid ones will count in the drawing. If you submit an empty form by accident, you can note that in the comment and I'll correct the entry for you.

* Comments are for feedbacks, questions, etc. but NOT for entries unless otherwise indicated. Thank you for following the rules and making things easier for all of us!

48-Hours Only! America's Favorite Cereal: Honey Nut Cheerios Prize Pack Giveaway

Have you heard that Honey Nut Cheerios® cereal is America’s Favorite Cereal! (Based on Nielsen sales data, 52 weeks ending 1/1/2011)? To celebrate their loyal legion of enthusiasts and thank you for making Honey Nut Cheerios® cereal America’s #1 choice, they are hosting a "Billion 'O' Giveaway" providing free samples of Honey Nut Cheerios® cereal to fans, available while supplies last. If you haven't done so already, zip on over to www.FavCereal.com and claim your sweet free sample!

MyBlogSpark sent me an adorable Honey Nut Cheerios prize pack for review. It includes 1 box of Honey Nut Cheerios® cereal, 2 cereal bowls, 1 Honey Nut Cheerios® t-shirt, and 1 bee antenna headband. My son is already a fan of Honey Nut Cheerios. He enjoys eating the cereal every morning. The t-shirt fits my hubby perfectly. I love the addition of well-made bowls. The headband can make a nice costume accessory during Halloween.

The Giveaway

As part of the celebration, MyBlogSpark has generously offered to give one of my lucky readers a Honey Nut Cheerios Prize Pack, with the same contents as the one I received for review! It will sure make everyone in your family happy.

Please use the Rafflecopter form below to submit your entries. A few things to note:

*You must enable JavaScript to see the widget and it may load a bit slower than the rest of the webpage. Thank you for your patience! Need help to enable JavaScript? Click here.

*Please make sure you fill in the "Extra info" field in the form as instructed. I moderate all entries and only valid ones will count in the drawing. If you submit an empty form by accident, you can note that in the comment and I'll correct the entry for you.

* Comments are for feedbacks, questions, etc. but NOT for entries unless otherwise indicated. Thank you for following the rules and making things easier for all of us!

Medela MommyParty #Medelaparty

Whenever asked the question "What did no one tell you about motherhood?", the first thing that came to my mind is: breastfeeding isn't as easy as it sounds. You won't fully understand the challenges you're about to face until you have gone through breastfeeding yourself. Poor latch, sore nipples, clogged milk duct, low production, or leakage could discourage new moms from continuing with their breastfeeding practice. That's why it's important to have quality products on hand to make the learning process easier for both mommy and baby.

I didn't think it necessary to purchase a breast pump when I was pregnant with my son. I rented a Medela hospital-grade breast pump for the first two weeks after the baby was born and found that it had significantly increased my milk production and saved me considerable time for post labor recovery. Then I decided that breast pumps are a very good investment for moms who plan to breastfeed for an extended period of time and for more than one baby. So I bought my own Medela Pump In Style Advanced Pump with the Metro Bag, which helped me breastfeed my baby with ease for over one year!

I was super excited when I was chosen to host a Medela house party and supplied with a fantastic party kit filled with Medela products. I invited 9 of my mommy friends over, who are either pregnant or breastfeeding. Each of us got a Medela goodie bag complete with samples of Disposable Bra Pads, Quick Clean Micro-Steam Bag, Quick Clean Wipe, Tender Care Lanolin Sachet and Breastfeeding Information Guide (as pictured above). We went through the information guide together and discussed about the breastfeeding basics and tips included in the booklet. Moms who have breastfeeding experience before, including myself, shared our personal stories with the first-timers and explained why and when some of the Medela products are needed. We also had fun playing the Baby Memory Game suggested in the party guide.

Besides the goodie bags, Medela also provided an incredible prize package including the new Medela Pump In Style Advanced On-the-go Tote, Pump & Save Breastmilk Bags (50pk), Quick Clean Micro Steam Bags (50pk), Quick Clean Wipes (24pk), Disposable Bra Pads (60pk), Tender Care Lanolin (2oz tube), and Tender Care Hydrogel Pads (4pk). Instead of raffling it off, we all agreed to give this package to Ashley, who is expected to deliver her first baby in late September. It took her and her husband 2 years to conceive this baby. She deserved a special celebration for the new bundle of joy that she had been longing for.

The Medela party was quite an eye-opener for me. I didn't know that Medela carries such a wide range of breastfeeding products, not just breast pumps. I also enjoyed refreshing my memory about the breastfeeding experience and exchanged tips and funny anecdotes with my friends. The Medela website is a great source of information for nursing moms. You can find the benefits of breastfeeding, tips and solutions, and use the product select to help identify the breast pump that best meets your needs. If you love Medela products as much as I do, don't forget to show your support by following them on Facebook and Twitter. Interested in finding out how other Medela parties were going? Check out MommyParties Facebook page or follow twitter stream #Medelaparty.

Disclosure: I received a free party kit from Medela via MommyParties. No monetary exchange took place. All views and opinions expressed are my own.

Today Only! Free Tshirt for the First 1000!

Here's another one-day hot freebie offer from Deals in DFW! Be one of the first 1,000 Texas residents to “Like” Deals in DFW on Facebook and then fill out the registration form to claim your free "I Survived Summer" T-shirt. You're in as long as you're able to submit the form. Their FB app is experiencing some problem, but your info is captured even though you received the out of Texas message. The offer won't last long. Hurry!

Deals in DFW is a new daily deal site brought to you by the Dallas Morning News. They offer exclusive deals for the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex for 50 - 80% off!

Fine Print:
Available to the first 1,000 registrants or while supplies last. Offer valid for Texas residents only. Limit one per person, not valid for previous registrants of DealsinDFW.com. You must "Like" Deals in DFW on Facebook before Midnight on August 25, 2011 to be eligible for this offer. Please allow 2-3 weeks for shipping and handling.

Gossip Girl: The Complete Fourth Season on DVD & Its Fashion Inspiration

Besides the drama and romance, I love Gossip Girl for the endless fashion inspiration it provides. Each episode is like a mini fashion show, featuring Serena and Blair in various high-end, trendy ensembles. The different dressing styles reflect each girl's individual personality--Blair’s style is classic Upper East Side chic while Serena’s style is sexy and effortless. Blair's style appeals to me more than that of Serena, but they both have cute looks that I love in Season Four. Check these out!

I wish I could afford those beautiful designer clothes and accessories the girls are wearing. What's your favorite looks or fashion styles from the show? Is your personal style more like Blair or Serena?




Step on the runway of style with the fabulous 4th season of Gossip Girl on DVD http://bit.ly/r4GTe8!

Disclosure: I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote Gossip Girl Season Four on DVD.

The Vampire Diaries: The Complete Second Season on DVD/Blu-Ray

The Vampire Diaries, American teen's favorite supernatural TV show, captures fans' heart with unending suspense, undying romance. In Season Two of the series, Elena (Nina Dobrev), Stefan (Paul Wesley), Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and the other residents of Mystic Falls are joined by sinister new blood. The Originals – the world’s oldest and most dangerous vampires – hunt for Elena, who discovers she has a terrifying connection to their world. On moonlit nights, werewolves roam in search of victims…including vampires, who succumb to a single werewolf bite.

The love triangle among Elena, Stefan, and Damon continues to evolve in Season Two. While there's great chemistry between both couples, I'm leaning toward Team "Stelena". Heavily influenced by my personal feelings toward the leading actor and actress,  I think Stefan and Elena look better together and hope they will stick together in the upcoming Season Three. Do you wish otherwise? I know Team "Delena" has a strong following too.

Pre-order your copy of The Vampire Diaries: The Complete Second Season on DVD/Blu-Ray here today: http://bit.ly/mkiZtx!

Disclosure: I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote The Vampire Diaries: The Complete Second Season on DVD/Blu-Ray.

Save A Ton with TracFone

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of TracFone. All opinions are 100% mine.

What is TracFone? It's "the least expensive way to own and use a cell phone in America."  Why so? It requires no contracts, no credit checks, no activation charges or cancellation fees, but offers various affordable pay as you go monthly plans. Check out what real TracFone customers have to say about the benefits of having no contracts.

As a TracFone user, you can pay as you go online or with cards available at thousands of retail stores across the country, including Walmart, Target, CVS, Walgreens, Dollar General and more. Monthly plans start as low as $9.99 for 50 minutes. For only $30 a month, you can get 200 minutes, which comes down to only 15 cents per minute! If you anticipate using your cell more often, try the 1 year service cards and receive double minutes for the life of your TracFone and 800 minutes, for only $119.00. Looks like these real TracFone customers are really happy to have no surprise bills from TracFone.

TracFone is the only wireless service where you can call internationally, for the same price as any other call. You can all over 60 international destinations directly from your TracFone at no extra cost! That's amazing! Their International Neighbors program allows you to provide family and friends in Mexico or Canada a local phone number in their home country to reach you at your TracFone in the U.S. So not only you, but your friends can save too.

Besides great nationwide coverage and excellent reception/connectivity, TracFone also offers brand name phones from leading manufacturers like Motorola, Kyocera, LG, Nokia and Samsung. Choose from simple phones with calling and texting capabilities for under $10.00 or "smart" phones packed with features like camera/video recorder, web access, app capabilities, mp3 player, and full QWERTY keyboard, for $29.99. There are so many features you can enjoy on a single phone!




All in all, TracFone is a great way to cut your cell phone bills. It's also a great choice for a low cost phone for your kids to help you keep in touch with them easily. Try it out!

Back To School with AboutOne & $500 AMEX Gift Card Giveaway!

More students are going back to school this week. It can be easily told by the number of school buses running on the road. The start of the new school year means a noticeable change in schedule for both the kids and parents. There are a variety of calendars to keep up with: the school calendar, after school activities calendar, special events calendar, volunteer work calendar, and so on so forth. How do you stay on top of all of them? One of the major challenges for moms during the back-to-school season is how to get organized and avoid chaotic situations.

Each mom has her own tips and tricks for keeping things in order. More and more organizational tools, both online and offline, have been developed to help make a busy mom's life easier. One great example of such tools is AboutOne, which offers a digital filing system and more to assist you in managing different aspects of your life, including important contacts, family memories, health records, valuable possessions, and education history, along with all appointments and deadlines you need to take note of. It's the most comprehensive and versatile online organizational system I have ever tried.

Besides the schedule challenge, moms are also faced with growing piles of handouts and homework sheets kids bring home from school. You may begin to wonder how to declutter without losing any crucial information. AboutOne has a neat feature that allows you to store school records for all of your kids. You can easily keep track of their assignments, test results, awards, and upload images of their completed school work, art and science projects, or anything you think is worth keeping a record of. It's extremely helpful for kids in high school to put together a college application with all the necessary information conveniently stored in one place.



You can enjoy all the AboutOne features for just $30 per year. You may test drive it for free before you decide whether it's the right system for your family. No strings attached!

The Giveaway

AboutOne and the Global Influence Network have teamed up to bring us a fantastic giveaway. One Grand Prize winner will receive a $500 AMEX gift card, an upgrade to a free subscription to AboutOne.com, and a $250 donation to the school of her choice! All other entries will receive an email with a code for 25% off a one year subscription to AboutOne.com.

Please follow 2 mandatory steps to enter the giveaway:

1. Sign up for AboutOne free trial through this link. The 17-day free trial gives you 17 full days of usage with no expiration date. No credit card information is required! You must sign up through the above link to be eligible.

2. Fill out this secure entry form with all required information.

The giveaway ends September 9th at 11:59 p.m. ET. Open to U.S. residents age 18 or older. Limit one entry per person.

Disclosure: I was compensated for my time by the Global Influence Network, who directly administers the giveaway and handles prize fulfillment.

ezShade Review and Giveaway

~~The giveaway is Closed. Congrats to winner Dara!~~

Sun safety is of top priority during summertime, especially if you live in an area with daytime temperature continuously above 100 degrees (like here in Dallas)! When participating in outdoor activities, we want to stay in the shade and escape from the burning sunshine as much as possible. But no shade could provide adequate protection against the UV rays until we were introduced to ezShade, the only portable shade curtain on the market that helps block harmful sun rays and doubles the shade area.

Invented by a mom with two boys in sports, ezShade is a lightweight curtain that can be easily attached to an umbrella or canopy to provide a UPF 50+ and block over 99% of UVA & UVB rays. Have you noticed that most portable umbrellas and canopies provide only a limited shade area? The shade cast by the umbrella or canopy is very small and never directly under the device. As shown in the picture above, ezShade considerably increases the shade area to keep you cool right under the umbrella. The video below will give you a better idea of how ezShade works.



I was so glad to have received an umbrella ezShade for review. It provided the much needed sun protection for our family while we were playing at the beach and picnicking at the park. The umbrella ezShade weighs only 9 oz. It comes with a matching tote for easy storage and portability. When folded, the ezShade can fit in any bag or backpack. The height is adjustable and you can keep the curtain from blowing in the wind by weighting the bottom pocket with lightweight objects like water bottles. I also love that ezShade is machine washable.

EzShade is available in a variety of sizes and colors. You can find them at Babies R Us, Toys R Us superstores, Sport Chalet, Cabela’s, BuyBuyBaby.com, and BedBathandBeyond.com. The umbrella ezShade retails for only $24.95 each.

The Giveaway

The mom behind ezShade has generously offered to give one of my lucky readers an Umbrella ezShade in red, blue or green! That's a $25 value!

Please use the Rafflecopter form below to submit your entries. A few things to note:

*You must enable JavaScript to see the widget and it may load a bit slower than the rest of the webpage. Thank you for your patience! Need help to enable JavaScript? Click here.

*Please make sure you fill in the "Extra info" field in the form as instructed. I moderate all entries and only valid ones will count in the drawing. If you submit an empty form by accident, you can note that in the comment and I'll correct the entry for you.

* Comments are for feedbacks, questions, etc. but NOT for entries unless otherwise indicated. Thank you for following the rules and making things easier for all of us!

Free Screening for Dolphin Tale 3D in Dallas This Sunday

If you haven't already got plans for this weekend, consider taking your family to a free 3D movie in Dallas! You can get up to 4 free screening passes for Dolphin Tale via Gofobo. Here's the screening info:

When: Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 2:00PM
Where: AMC NorthPark, Dallas TX

I already secured my passes. Get yours now!

More on Dolphin Tale:
Dolphin Tale is inspired by the amazing true story of a brave dolphin and the compassionate strangers who banded together to save her life.Swimming free, a young dolphin is caught in a crab trap, severely damaging her tail. She is rescued and transported to the Clearwater Marine Hospital, where she is named Winter. But her fight for survival has just begun. Without a tail, Winter’s prognosis is dire. It will take the expertise of a dedicated marine biologist, the ingenuity of a brilliant prosthetics doctor, and the unwavering devotion of a young boy to bring about a groundbreaking miracle—a miracle that might not only save Winter but could also help scores of people around the world. The real Winter, who plays herself in “Dolphin Tale,” today serves as a symbol of courage, perseverance and hope to millions of people—both able and disabled—who have been touched by her remarkable story of recovery and rehabilitation.

The movie will be in theaters on September 23, 2011. Rated PG.

Gossip Girl: The Complete Fourth Season on DVD

Relationships play a key role in Gossip Girl, one of the big winners of the 2011 Teen Choice Awards. The relationships among the main characters are complex and tangled, making it hard to predict who would end up staying together. My favorite couple from the show, Chuck (Ed Westwick) & Blair (Leighton Meester), have been on-and-off throughout the series. In Season 4, Blair begins to have feelings for her best friend Serena’s (Blake Lively) ex, Dan (Penn Badgley). In Season 4, Episode 18 "The Kids Stay in the Picture", Chuck comes to the realization that he wants to win Blair back after she and Dan share a kiss. Will he succeed?

As a "Chair" fan, I'm hoping to see Blair and Chuck get together again. I feel that Chuck and Blair are made for each other. They both appear to be tough and condescending. But under the protective shells they've constructed for themselves, they are fragile, insecure, and longing to be cared for and loved. They understand each other in ways no one else could. On the other hand, Chuck has a lot to do in order to make amends to Blair given how badly he has hurt her towards the end of the fourth season.

So much relationship drama unfolds in the fourth season, available for pre-order here: http://bit.ly/r4GTe8! Who are you rooting for? Chair, Dair, or Blair's fairytale romance with Prince Louis?

Disclosure: I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote Gossip Girl: The Complete Fourth Season DVD.

Kidtoons Stila Convertible Color Review & Giveaway Plus a Chance to Win $500!

~~The giveaway is CLOSED. Congrats to winner Gretchen!~~

This summer, Kidtoons has teamed up with Stila Cosmetics to create a new segment called "Wake Up Your Make Up.", which features a 90 second make-over of one of the Kidtoons moms by renowned make-up artist Sarah Lucero. This segment is playing in theaters during regular Kidtoons events in July and August.

Stila is offering Kidtoons moms 20% off and free shipping on product ordered through http://www.stilacosmetics.com/mom/, with coupon code STILAMOM. Besides, Stila is giving away $500 worth of products to one Grand Prize winner in the Stila Loves Moms sweepstakes on Facebook. Fifty second prize winners will receive a lip glaze+illuminating tinted moisturizer. If you choose to enter, please kindly put my blog name in the referral box on the entry page so that Stila can know that you learn about the contest from me :) Deadline to enter is August 31, 2011.

Kidtoons and Stila sent me a Convertible Color lipstick and blush-in-one in Rose for review. I love the warm color and luxurious feel of the product. Like the name suggests, it can be used both on cheeks and on lips, which means one less item to carry while you are on-the-go! Depending on your complexion, you may choose from 8 different beautiful colors.

Here's the product description on Stila website:

This versatile favorite brightens cheeks and lips with creamy, translucent color. Tap onto cheeks and press onto lips. The sheer tint adds an inherent glow to the cheeks while lips bloom with fresh, radiant color. Our two-in-one compact holds the key to easy, monochromatic makeup. A must-have in every stila girl's kit.

It has a retail value of $25!

The Giveaway

Kidtoons and Stila have generously offered to give one of my lucky readers a Convertible Color lipstick and blush-in-one in Rose! A $25 value!

Please use the Rafflecopter form below to submit your entries. A few things to note:

*You must enable JavaScript to see the widget and it may load a bit slower than the rest of the webpage. Thank you for your patience! Need help to enable JavaScript? Click here.

*Please make sure you fill in the "Extra info" field in the form as instructed. I moderate all entries and only valid ones will count in the drawing. If you submit an empty form by accident, you can note that in the comment and I'll correct the entry for you.

* Comments are for feedbacks, questions, etc. but NOT for entries unless otherwise indicated. Thank you for following the rules and making things easier for all of us!

Help Energizer Bunny Make a Difference & $10 iTunes Gift Card Giveaway (Ends 8/12)

~~The giveaway is CLOSED. Congrats to winner Jeff!~~

To help kick off the new school year with a positive note, Energizer has partnered with the VH1 Save The Music Foundation to help restore instrumental music education in America’s public schools. Grammy®-nominated platinum-recording artist Jordin Sparks is helping to get the word out about the campaign as the VH1 Save The Music Foundation Ambassador. Here are ways in which you can help Energizer make a difference.

1. Like the Energizer Bunny on Facebook and Help Increase Energizer’s Support to the VH1 Save The Music Foundation

Now through August 12, you can help support the VH1 Save The Music Foundation by clicking “LIKE” on the Energizer Bunny® Facebook page and becoming a fan of the unstoppable icon. For each new “LIKE” through August 12, Energizer will donate $1 to help restore instrumental music education through the VH1 Save The Music Foundation, up to $15,000.

2. Help Energizer Pick a Grant Recipient
Energizer is making eight grants to public schools around the country, and fans of the Energizer Bunny® Facebook page will help direct one of these grants by voting for a city where an instrumental grant will be made. Cities vying for the now that’s positivenergy™ grant from Energizer and the VH1 Save The Music Foundation include Philadelphia, Birmingham, Minneapolis, New Haven and Weirton, W.V. Energizer is supporting these grants with a $250,000 overall donation to the VH1 Save The Music Foundation.

3. Power Your Playlist
In addition to powering music education in America’s public schools, Energizer is also powering Americans’ playlists. Right now in stores, specially-marked Energizer products contain a special code so when someone buys three participating products, he or she can go online to www.nowthatspositivenergy.com/music and redeem the codes for a $10 iTunes Gift Card.

The Giveaway

To encourage participation in the program, Energizer has generously offered to give one of my lucky readers a $10 iTunes Gift Card!


Please use the Rafflecopter form below to submit your entries. A few things to note:

*You must enable JavaScript to see the widget and it may load a bit slower than the rest of the webpage. Thank you for your patience! Need help to enable JavaScript? Click here.

*Please make sure you fill in the "Extra info" field in the form as instructed. I moderate all entries and only valid ones will count in the drawing. If you submit an empty form by accident, you can note that in the comment and I'll correct the entry for you.

* Comments are for feedbacks, questions, etc. but NOT for entries unless otherwise indicated. Thank you for following the rules and making things easier for all of us!

The Help In Theaters August 10th Prize Pack Giveaway

This summer's most anticipated movie from DreamWorks Picture, The Help, is hitting theaters everywhere today (August 10th)!

Based on one of the most talked about books in years and a #1 New York Times best-selling phenomenon, The Help stars Emma Stone (“Easy A”) as Skeeter, Academy Award®–nominated Viola Davis (“Doubt”) as Aibileen and Octavia Spencer as Minny—three very different, extraordinary women in Mississippi during the 1960s, who build an unlikely friendship around a secret writing project that breaks societal rules and puts them all at risk. From their improbable alliance a remarkable sisterhood emerges, instilling all of them with the courage to transcend the lines that define them, and the realization that sometimes those lines are made to be crossed—even if it means bringing everyone in town face-to-face with the changing times.



I was invited to a private screening of this movie earlier this week. The movie went well beyond my expectations. It revisits the troubled times during the early 1960s and tells a highly provocative and inspiring story with poignancy, humor and unique perspectives. I couldn't help shedding tears at various places. The movie kept my full attention from beginning to end. I will definitely add it to my collection when the movie becomes available on DVD.

Hope you'll get a chance to watch the movie in theater. You will automatically be entered into a drawing to win $1500 cash and a daily drawing for a chance to win 1 of 175 limited edition tote bags, if you purchase a movie ticket for The Help by 8/28/11 via Fandango using the promo code 081011.

Feel free to join the discussion about this amazing movie on Facebook and on Twitter with hashtag #TheHelpMovie

The Giveaway

The producer of The Help has generously offered to give one of my lucky readers an exclusive prize pack, including the following:
- THE HELP t-shirt in adult female sizes of S, M, L, XL
- THE HELP pocket jotter & pen
- THE HELP fan
- THE HELP nail file/mirror

Please use the Rafflecopter form below to submit your entries. A few things to note:

*You must enable JavaScript to see the widget and it may load a bit slower than the rest of the webpage. Thank you for your patience! Need help to enable JavaScript? Click here.

*Please make sure you fill in the "Extra info" field in the form as instructed. I moderate all entries and only valid ones will count in the drawing. If you submit an empty form by accident, you can note that in the comment and I'll correct the entry for you.

* Comments are for feedbacks, questions, etc. but NOT for entries unless otherwise indicated. Thank you for following the rules and making things easier for all of us!

The Looney Tunes Scene & Sound Machine Application: Make Your Own Looney Tunes Digital Card!

Another major feature of the Looney Tunes Scene & Sound Machine Application is the "Digital Card", which allows you to create a custom e-card with your favorite Looney Tunes character or your own picture, along with a personal message.

It takes 3 simple steps to make a digital card from scratch, one that you can't find elsewhere. First, choose a header that fits your occasion, such as birthday, anniversary, and major holidays in the U.S. Then, choose an image from the Toon library or the photo album on your mobile device. Last, draft your message to the recipient. Now your card is ready to be sent!

Check out the "Thinking of You" card I sent to my friend who just moved to California. The intense hug of Pepe Le Pew perfectly represents how much I miss her. I think the card is both cute and hilarious.

Wanna try making your own Looney Tunes digital card? Download the Looney Tunes Scene & Sound Machine App from the iTunes Store here today: http://bit.ly/lbpx84!

Disclosure: I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote The Looney Tunes Scene & Sound Machine Application.

Today Only! Free $5 Starbucks Gift Card from Deals in DFW!

Hot freebie from Deals in DFW! "Like" Deals in DFW on Facebook, and get a free $5 Starbuck's gift card! Available for the first 5,000 registrants between 6am and midnight on August 9, 2011 only! I'm sure the offer won't last long, so act fast! Don't forget to fill out the registration form with your mailing information!

Deals in DFW is a new daily deal site brought to you by the Dallas Morning News. They offer exclusive deals for the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex for 50 - 80% off!

Fine Print:
Limit one per person, not valid for previous registrants of DealsinDFW.com. You must "Like" Deals in DFW on Facebook before Midnight on August 9, 2011 to be eligible for this offer. Starbucks Gift Cards will be mailed out to all eligible registrants during the week of August 22-26, 2011 and will arrive via USPS within 7-10 business days.

Join Ragú Mom's the Word on Dinner Community & $20 Visa Gift Card Giveaway

~~The giveaway is CLOSED. Congrats to winner Diana!~~

As moms, we've all experienced the challenges of dinnertime at one time or another. Earlier this year, Ragú®, the leading producer of pasta sauce, launched an online community on Facebook, known as Mom's the Word on Dinner, where moms share tips on getting the picky eater to chow down on veggies, exchange quick and easy recipes, or just vent about a dinner disaster.

Everyone is welcome to join the community and take advantage of the videos, photos, polls and dinner ideas featured there. Be sure to check out the latest video "When Dinner Gets Tough" and join the live chat tonight (8/8/2011) at 8pm EST at Facebook.com/ragusauce. During the live-streamed chat, we can laugh, and vent a little, about the everyday chaos in the kitchen. One of the Momversation friends and participant in the program, Audrey McClelland, will be hosting the discussion. Feel free to drop in to share your stories and questions!

The Giveaway

Ragú has generously offered to give one of my lucky readers a $20 Visa Gift Card! Use it to get your meal started!

Please use the Rafflecopter form below to submit your entries. A few things to note:

*You must enable JavaScript to see the widget and it may load a bit slower than the rest of the webpage. Thank you for your patience! Need help to enable JavaScript? Click here.

*Please make sure you fill in the "Extra info" field in the form as instructed. I moderate all entries and only valid ones will count in the drawing. If you submit an empty form by accident, you can note that in the comment and I'll correct the entry for you.

* Comments are for feedbacks, questions, etc. but NOT for entries unless otherwise indicated. Thank you for following the rules and making things easier for all of us!

Win 1 of 50 Pairs of Express Jeans! Pick Your Favorite Style!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Express. All opinions are 100% mine.

Jeans are a must-have for my wardrobe of all seasons. They are comfortable, versatile, and a great way to express my personal style. The leading fashion brand Express, offers a wide selection of jeans in various styles--boot cut, flare, wide leg, trendy colored jeans, the ever so popular jean leggings, and more! Besides leg style, you can easily shop for Express jeans by fit, color, size, price and other criteria that interest you.

My favorite jeans have to be the flare leg jeans because they best compliments my body shape, making me look taller and slimmer. Flare jeans also go well with all kinds of shoes. For a limited time, when you buy 1 pair of jeans at Express, you can get a second pair at half off.


Better yet, from now until August 28, 2011, you can enter the Express giveaway on Facebook to win 1 of 50 pairs of free jeans. You could win your choice of women's jeans or men's jeans. Available styles include Must-Have Flare for her,  Must-Have Flare for her, Sexy Skyscraper for her, Slim cut Rocco for him, and Classic Kingston for him. Enter once per day to increase your chances of winning. Invite your friends to earn up to 20 additional chances. Good luck!

What's your favorite jeans style? Which pair would you choose if you win? Feel free to share your preferences with me in a comment below!

Increased Phone Secruity with Sprint Total Equipment Protection App

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Sprint. All opinions are 100% mine.

Losing your cell phone can be a big hassle. Not only will you lose all the valuable contact information stored on your phone, your privacy could be at risk at well.  The all-new Sprint Total Equipment Protection App is designed to minimize the trouble caused by a misplaced or stolen phone.  Available for Android, Blackberry and select feature phones, the app provides the ability to find a misplaced phone with an audible alarm, locate your phone on a map using network integrated GPS technology, remotely lock a missing phone, as well as wirelessly sync and manage and restore your contacts.

Current Sprint Total Equipment Protection (TEP) subscribers can have this app up and running in just a few minutes at no additional cost! Don't feel bad if you didn’t enroll in TEP within 30 days of activating your phone.  Sprint is holding an Open Enrollment from August 1-30, 2011, which allows all current Sprint customers to add the TEP feature to their existing phone. For only $8 per month, TEP provides subscribers with a quick and convenient way to receive a replacement if their phone is ever lost, stolen, damaged or malfunctions after the warranty expires. It even covers accidental dips by your phone into the pool or lake--perfect for summertime! Watch this short video to know better about what TEP has to offer.





Current Sprint customers only have until August 30th to opt in for Total Equipment Protection. Act now for your chance to take advantage of this awesome feature! Don't forget to download and enjoy the Protection app that comes free with your TEP subscription.