Carmex Healing Lotion and Healing Cream Prize Pack Review & Giveaway

As the weather gets colder, it's more important to keep your skin protected and moisturized all day. Carmex, best known for their extensive line of moisturizing lip balms, has recently launched their skin care line featuring Carmex Healing Lotion and Healing Cream. Their goal is to let what keeps your lips healthy make your skin happy.

Both using a patent pending process, the Healing Lotion is good for daily use, while the Healing Cream is designed for concentrated healing and moisturizing of extremely dry, rough or cracked skin. The Healing Lotion includes Aloe and Vitamin E and is available in tube or pump. The Healing Cream features 9 healing ingredients that penetrate and help repair your driest skin on problem areas like hands, feet, elbows and knees. You can get it in tube or handy small tin.

I was given the opportunity to try both products in full size and travel size. I love that they absorb fast and leave no greasy feel on skin. Their scent is light and sweet. The Healing Cream is thicker in consistency and works well on my elbows and feet, where my skin gets very dry and rough. The travel-sized tubes fit easily in a purse and are prefect to keep your skin nourished while on-the-go during wintertime.

Don't forget to follow Carmex on Facebook, and Twitter for more chances to win free products!

The Giveaway

Carmex has generously offered to give one of my lucky readers a Carmex Skin Care Prize Pack, which includes:
*1 Carmex Healing Lotion
*1 Carmex Healing Cream
*1 Travel size Carmex Healing Lotion
*1 Travel size Carmex Healing Cream
All 4 items come in a matching satin pouch.

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 Thomas & Friends: Day of the Diesels Prize Pack Giveaway ($75)!

I know quite a few ardent fans of Thomas & Friends, including my son, so I'm sure you would love Kidtoons November feature and giveaway: Thomas & Friends: Day of the Diesels! Here's the synopsis:

The Steamies and the Diesels face off in this action-packed movie adventure! When a fire breaks out on the Island of Sodor, two new firefighting engines - Flynn and Belle - join Thomas and Percy to save the day! When Thomas starts spending all his time with Sodor's newest heroes, Percy is left feeling alone. Diesel sees this and invites Percy to the Dieselworks, where Percy is made to feel special by none other than the master of mischief Diesel 10! But Percy doesn't know that he is part of Diesel 10's master plan to take over the Sodor Steamworks. Can Percy lead the Steam Team to reclaim the Steamworks or will the Diesels make it their new home? It's full steam ahead to sure-fire excitement in this all-new movie from Thomas & Friends!

Remember I told you last month that Kidtoons matinees are available in more theaters nationwide? Use the theater locator at Kidtoonfilms.com to look up for a participating theater near you.

The Giveaway

Kidtoons has generously offered to give one of my lucky readers an exciting Thomas & Friends Prize Pack! It includes a Thomas & Friends™ TrackMaster™ Cranky & Flynn Save the Day and a Thomas theatrical one-sheet/movie poster! The playset is made by Fisher-Price with a retail value of $75! I'm sure your little Thomas & Friends fan will be thrilled to receive this fancy Christmas gift!

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!

Energizer Free Movie Rental Offer & Battery Prize Pack Giveaway

A lot of popular holiday gifts are battery-powered. Energizer now has a sweet offer that not only provides you with batteries for the gifts but also a free online movie on demand rental to help with the relaxation. Simply purchase a package of specially-marked Energizer Ultimate Lithium, Energizer Advanced Lithium or Energizer Recharge AA batteries and you will receive a free online movie on demand rental reward that can be redeemed at Blockbuster.com, Amazon.com, iTunes.com, or the YouTube store.

Here's how to claim your free gift with purchase:

1. Visit www.energizer.com/movies;

2. Follow the on-screen instructions to input your battery pack codes. Limit to one reward certificate per person/household/email address.

3. The last day to redeem codes is 4/30/12 at 11:59 p.m. ET

4. Your Reward Certificate does expire and must be redeemed for your online movie rental within 2 months from the date of issuance. Redemption of the Reward Certificate is subject to all terms and conditions and policies imposed by Hollywood Movie Money On-Demand Rewards.

The Giveaway

To encourage you to take advantage of this free offer, Energizer has generously offered to give one of my lucky readers an Energizer Battery Prize Pack! The winner will have her choice of two packs of either Energizer Lithium or Energizer Recharge batteries, or a combination of both! The battery packs come with codes that you can use for the free movie reward.

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!

One Stop Christmas Giveaway Hop: Artisan Multi-Colored Necklace from World Vision ($100)!

Welcome to One Stop Christmas Giveaways Blog Hop!

Today marks the start of the One Stop Christmas Hop Event hosted by Mama to 4 Blessings. If you're not done with holiday shopping during the Thanksgiving weekend, now it's your chance to score some nice Christmas gifts FREE! Each participating blog will be giving away a prize valued over $25 between 11/29-12/6. Feel free to use the linky at the end of this post to start hopping and winning!

The prize I'm giving away is a beautiful Artisan Multi-Colored Necklace, a top pick from the World Vision's Gift Catalog valued at $100! The necklace is made with semi-precious stone and glass bead. You can wear it long or short, as a bracelet, necklace or even a belt! Proceeds of this item go to Maximum Impact Fund, which helps fight human trafficking.

The holiday season is also the season of giving. The World Vision’s Gift Catalog offers a decent selection of unique and life-changing gifts with a two-for-one benefit: 1) a meaningful and affordable gift for a loved one; 2) proceeds that make a difference in the lives of children and families living in poverty in the U.S. and around the world. Isn't it marvelous to please someone on your holiday gift list and help a person in need at the same time?!

Check out this cute animated video that demonstrates how the Gift Catalog works.


You can easily sort through the gifts by price range or by category, and choose the one you feel like giving. Here are a few examples of the gift items in the catalog:

Take your time to browse the catalog and give a gift with two-for-one benefit this holiday season! You always have the option to donate directly to a child in need, in the form of cash, school supplies, and even live stock.

For the third consecutive year, World Vision staff will be traveling across the world this December to see the impact that goats, sheep and other gifts have on families and children. You may follow the “The True Spirit of Christmas Tour” on Facebook.

About World Vision
World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice.

Please use the Rafflecopter form below to enter the giveaway. 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!

Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! Tour Coming to DFW & Prize Pack Giveaway!

Yo Gabba Gabba! Live!: It's Time to Dance Tour is coming to the DFW area this Saturday! We had such a blast attending the show last year that we can hardly wait to go again!

The Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! Tour is presented by Kia Motors, featuring an all new show performed by DJ Lance Rock, Brobee, Foofa, Muno, Plex, and Toodee, with special guests Hip Hop Legend Biz Markie and Razzle Dazzle Superstar Leslie Hall. Don't miss your chance to meet your favorite characters and enjoy awesome live music and dance, if you live close to a tour stop!

Here is a list of the remaining tour cities and show info:

Tuesday, November 29, 2011 6:00 PM
El Paso, TX--Abraham Chavez Theatre

Wednesday, November 30, 2011 6:00 PM
San Antonio, TX--Lila Cockrell Theatre

Friday, December 2, 2011 4:00 PM & 7:00 PM
Houston, TX--Verizon Wireless Theater

Saturday, December 3, 2011 2:00 PM & 6:00 PM
Grand Prairie, TX--Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie

Sunday, December 4, 2011 2:00 PM & 5:00 PM
Cedar Park, TX--Cedar Park Center

Tuesday, December 6, 2011 3:00 PM & 6:00 PM
New Orleans, LA--Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts

Wednesday, December 7, 2011 6:00 PM
Tallahassee, FL--Tallahassee Leon County Civic Center

Friday, December 9, 2011 3:00 PM & 6:00 PM
St. Petersburg, FL--Mahaffey Theater

Saturday, December 10, 2011 2:00 PM & 5:00 PM; Sunday, December 11, 2011
11:00 AM
Fort Lauderdale, FL--Broward Center for the Performing Arts

The Giveaway

Whether or not you will be able to attend one of the live shows, you're all welcome to enter to win a Yo Gabba Gabba! Prize Pack, including a copy of "Music is Awesome 3" CD and a DVD that is sold exclusively during the tour (You can't get it in stores)!

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!

Protect Your Business and Family with Norton by Symantec

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Norton Small Business by Symantec. All opinions are 100% mine.

I know many moms who are small business owners and who rely heavily on computers and the Internet for managing their business as well as their day-to-day activities. A hacker attack or virus infection could result in serious financial losses. In a recent survey of small business owners, nearly one in three respondents (28 percent) identified technology as one of their top business priorities, while almost six out of ten small business owners (59 percent) admitted to having experienced some sort of malware in the past three years, and half of them (51 percent) had to pay an expert to resolve the problem.

It's therefore important for small business owners to protect their computing system with reliable anti-virus services like Norton Small Business by Symantec, which could detect and prevent malware and viruses from damaging your website and networks.  In fact, you can get 30% off Norton Small Business Products now (primarily for 5 and 10 user products) and start taking advantage of Norton's premium protection and 24/7 tech support.

Small business owners are not the only ones who need computer and internet security. As an avid Internet user, I'm confronted with malicious online attempts to steal my personal information and take over my computer every day.  My old laptop was killed by an unknown virus after I accidentally clicked on an unsafe website. Luckily I had all my important files backed up on an external hard drive, but still, it was a huge hassle trying to recover my dead computer. This could have been avoided had I installed a good anti-virus software.

The Norton 360 and the Norton Internet Security 2012, both of which have just launched this past September, include an array of neat features such as optimizing your computer performance, safeguarding all your online activities from emails to downloads, and automatic file backup. Be sure to check out what Norton has to offer and tell me in a comment which Norton product would you most benefit and why.

PackIt Buy One Get One Free Sale

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

As seen on Martha Stewart show, PackIt lunch boxes are the latest invention that keeps your food cold and fresh for up to 10 hours! Motivated by their need to keep their kids lunch cool for a longer time (Ice gel packs only last for 2 hours), Single Moms Jeannette and Melissa created PackIt, which offers a revolutionary solution to food storage problems that are common among moms on-the-go and moms with school age children.

PackIt is both convenient and versatile. When not in use, it can be easily folded for storage and carriage. It expands to 8"x10"x5", the perfect size for a delicious meal, healthy snacks, or chilled beverages. You can even use it to carry baby bottles with milk or formula. The product is made with safe, non-toxic material and is sweat-proof and PVC and lead-free. You can enjoy the peace of mind when using it for your family. Check out the video below and see why moms love PackIt so much.



Interested in giving PackIt a try? Now is the best time to do so because you can purchase a Packit and get a second one free for only $19.95. The offer is available for a limited time only.  You can choose from three vibrant colors and patterns that fit different genders.

I would use PackIt primarily for snacks and drinks on a road trip or playdate. What would use a PackIt for?  Any fun ideas? Please don't hesitate to share them with us in the comment section!

Walmart BabySteps: Find Solutions for All Your Baby's Needs

New moms are very likely to be overwhelmed with baby care challenges, many of which are unexpected and unprepared for. Instead of desperately searching for solutions all over the place, now you can visit Walmart BabySteps and get all your baby feeding and changing concerns addressed by watching short, entertaining and informative videos. You will also be provided with relevant product recommendations and convenient online purchase options.




The Walmart BabySteps website is easy to navigate and intuitive to use. Simply start by choosing your topic between "Changing" and "Feeding, then specify your baby's age and weight (It even includes an option for expecting moms!), and you will receive a customized list of videos that cover commonly discussed topics like diaper essentials, potty training, good nutrition and formula feeding. You can learn all baby stuff from tips on how to change a squirmy baby, to how best to introduce solid foods.

You may easily see all Walmart BabySteps has to offer by taking a test drive of the site. If you like it, please recommend it to any expecting and new moms you know and help them adapt to the many changes brought by motherhood.

Disclosure: I wrote this post as part of my participation in a Mom Bloggers Club program. I was compensated for my time. All views and opinions expressed are my own.

Kroger Free Milk w/ General Mills Purchase & $25 Gift Card Giveaway (Ends 11/26)

We love shopping at our local Kroger store for many good reasons. It's conveniently located (only a 5 minutes' walk away). It provides high quality products and premium customer service. Last but not least, it frequently offers great deals on brands and products that we love.

Check this out! From now through November 26th, with the purchase of any four participating General Mills products* like Cheerios, Pillsbury Ready to Bake Cookies, Nature Valley Bars and Fiber One Bars, you will either receive free milk (up to $3; limit of 2) or to receive $3 off your shopping order**.

What’s better than being rewarded for buying your favorite products from your favorite store? Don't forget to visit Kroger website for offer details and load digital coupons onto your shoppers card to save even more!

*Excludes General Mills meal and baking products including; Betty Crocker, Old El Paso, Progresso, Hamburger Helper, Macaroni Grill, Wanchai Ferry, Yoplait


**Promotion varies based on store location. Please be sure to check your local Kroger Co. Family of Stores for specific deals and offers which include Kroger, Ralphs, King Scoopers, City Market, Dillons, Smith’s, Fry’s, QFC, Baker’s, Owen’s, Jay C Food Stores, Hilander, Gerbes, Food4Less, Fred Meyer, Pay Less Supermarkets and Scott’s Food & Pharmacy

The Giveaway

Kroger and MyBlogSpark has generously offered to give one of my lucky readers a $25 Kroger Gift Card! It is good at all Kroger Co. Family of Stores as described above. Who wouldn't love free grocery during the holiday season?

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!

FlipKey Flippin’ Awesome Vacation Giveaway: Win Your Dream Vacation Plus $3000 Cash!

Do you love to travel internationally and to experience cultures that are distinct from your own? Wouldn't it be cool to start off the new year with a luxury vacation in South Asia, Latin America or Italy? Flipkey, TripAdvisor's exclusive vacation rental marketplace, now offers you the chance to win a FREE vacation in Bali, Costa Rica, or Tuscany through their Flippin’ Awesome Vacation Giveaway!

The Grand Prize package includes one-week stay in a luxury vacation rental home in the destination of winner's choice and $3,000 cash to cover other travel expenses like airfare, ground transportation, food and shopping. The giveaway is open to US residents 21 years of age or older. To enter, you must "like" FlipKey on Facebook and click on the Sweepstakes tab to fill out the entry form. There is a limit of one entry per person but you can receive one extra entry for each friend you invite who enters the giveaway. Entry closes on January 10, 2012.

I just entered the giveaway. It wasn't easy to choose which vacation package I would like to win because they all look so nice. Here are a few pictures of the vacation rental homes the winner will be staying at:

Which location do you like best? Submit your entry today and good luck!

Disclosure: I was compensated for my time for writing this post. Giveaway info and images were provided by FlipKey. Please read the official rules before you enter.

Monopoly: Electronic Banking Edition Review & Giveaway

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

Monopoly has been a classic board game loved by players all over the world. We're often reluctant to leave the game board even after playing Monopoly for hours on end during family game nights. The game is not only entertaining but also teaches children about some basic economic concepts and financial management strategies.

Now the game gets a significant upgrade in its latest version--Monopoly: Electronic Banking Edition. With the addition of a bank card, the new game reflects how the real world uses money, i.e. electronic transactions. Monopoly's new banking card system allows players to buy property, pay bills and collect debts with the simple swipe of a bank card! Monopoly: Electronic Banking Edition comes with a game board, a battery-powered electronic Banker Unit, 6 tokens, 28 title deed cards, 16 chance cards, 16 community chest cards, 6 Monopoly bank cards, 32 houses, 12 hotels, and 2 dice.

I was provided with a copy of the new game for review. It's very easy to handle if you are familiar with the classic version, as the basic rules remain the same. I love that a modern twist has been added to all the game pieces. For instance, property values have raised significantly to reflect changes over time; utilities are Internet service providers and cell phone services; airports replace railways; and identity theft could put you into jail while a computer virus infection could cost you a fortune. The upgraded game is so much more fun to play!

You can get your own Monopoly: Electronic Banking Edition at mass merchandise retailers nationwide for only $24.99.

The Giveaway

Hasbro Games has generously offered to give one of my lucky readers a copy of Monopoly: Electronic Banking Edition. A $24.99 value! It'll make a great Christmas gift. And it's perfect for family gatherings during the holiday season!

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!

Upcoming One Stop Christmas Hop Event

Next week between 11/29-12/6, Mama to 4 Blessings is hosting a giveaway blog hop called One Stop Christmas Hop Event. Over 70 bloggers have signed up for this multi-blog holiday celebration, including myself. Each participating blog will be giving away a prize or prize package valued over $25 and all giveaways will be run via Rafflecopter to facilitate entries. Don't you love fast and easy entries?!

Mark your calender and get ready to win some great Christmas gifts!

Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon When You Take the North "Poll"

Melissa & Doug want you to tell them which of their educational toys you think is the best! Just click on the image below to place your vote in the North "Poll!" You'll Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon** to use at MelissaAndDoug.com just for voting!

Disclosure: I received a free discount coupon for posting this information. No monetary exchange took place.

Gratitude Giveaways Blog Hop: $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Welcome to the Gratitude Giveaways Blog Hop!

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

It's hard to believe but Thanksgiving is only one week away. We're planning on a huge party with lots of delicious food. Are you ready for the celebration? I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and All-Consuming Books have graciously organized this 10-day blog hop--over 300 participating blogs will be showing their appreciation for their readers with book-related gifts, including gift cards to Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble. Please use the linky at the end of this post to enter as many giveaways as you like. Have fun and good luck!

As a way to thank you for all your continuous support, I'm giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card to one of my lucky readers!

To enter, simply choose one way to follow my blog (Google Friends Connect, Facebook, Twitter, or email) and then fill out this secure entry form with your info. Limit to one entry per person per email per household. Open to US residents only. The giveaway runs through midnight on 11/27/2011. Thank you for entering!


Disclosure: The prize is provided by myself and will be sent directly to the winner upon verification of eligibility. It's in no way affiliated with Amazon.com, Facebook or Twitter.

Green Christmas Gift Giving Giveaway Hop: Cascades Children's Cardboard Playhouse

Welcome to the first annual Green Christmas Gift Giving Giveaway Hop!

To encourage everyone to have an Eco-friendly holiday season, Home Grown Families and Just My Everyday Life are co-hosting this great week-long blog hop. Each of the 50+ participating blogs will be giving away a prize package worth $25 or more consisting of Eco-friendly, sustainable, up-cycled, and recycled items, as well as items from independent consultants, authors and Etsy! Please use the linky at the end of this post to enter all the giveaways.

I'm so honored to be part of this multi-blog event featuring a theme I love. The prize I'm giving away here is a Children's Cardboard Playhouse provided by Cascades. It's a $48 value! I'm sure it'll make a perfect Christmas gift for any Eco-conscious family.

Cascades is a Canadian-based company specializing in items made from recycled materials. They offer a variety of Eco-friendly products that make great green gifts for the holiday season. The Children's Cardboard Playhouse is my favorite from Cascades' new line of children's furniture. That's why I picked it for review and giveaway.

Made from recycled cardboard, the playhouse is sturdy yet lightweight. From our experience, it's easy to assemble and dissemble (no glue or tools needed). My son really enjoyed being part of the assembly team and witnessed the stack of cardboard turning into a cute kid-sized house, which includes 2 doors, 4 windows, 2 skylights, a chimney and a mailbox. All the corners have been rounded to reduce the risk of injury. Safe for children aged 3 and above.

The neat thing about the playhouse is that it allows your kid to decorate and personalize it in any way she likes. Just let her creative juices run wild with crayons, water paint, stickers, and any other art media at her disposal! This unique toy not only gives recycled product a second life, but also helps nurture creativity and imagination in children. Plus, kids can learn about the recycling process while having a great time in their own space.

Besides the playhouse, Cascades also offers cardboard tables and chairs that are 100% recyclable and customizable. Be sure to check them out while shopping for eco-friendly furniture for your child's playroom.

Real Moms Love To Eat Preview & Chances to Win Prizes #RMLTE

Do you have a passion for food? Do you love to cook? Are you looking to eat healthier food that will help you look your best? If your answer "yes" to any or all of these questions, Real Moms Love To Eat would be the perfect book for you!

Written by mom blogger and certified health counselor Beth Aldrich, Real Moms Love To Eat introduces a simple and realistic approach for busy moms to healthy eating, losing weight, and feeling fabulous. Using a mom-to-mom conversational tone, Beth reveals her secrets for keeping fit while enjoying the foods she loves. Her book lays out in three sections, a fun and easy-to-follow 10-part plan for moms to implement to make gradual, life-long changes in their approach to food and 21 days of meal suggestions, tips, recipes and lifestyle exercises. You’ll learn a lot about the food you eat and how it impacts your body and develops a more natural, positive, and pleasurable relationship with food.

Real Moms Love To Eat will be officially released on January 3, 2012. You can pre-order a copy now and be entered to win nice prizes every other week!

Beth also offers a unique Food Affairiate program for bloggers who are interested in helping spread the word about this new book. All registered Food Affairiates who post a review of the book will receive a digital copy of the book and be entered to win awesome food-related prizes like blender, food processor, bakeware, kitchen utensil goodie basket, cutting boards, and more. Please visit Beth's website for more details about the program and sign up today!

I look forward to reading this fun book. Hope you'll get a chance to check it out too. Happy and healthy eating!

Disclosure: I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Beth Aldrich - Real Moms Love to Eat blogging program, for a chance to get 3,000 My SocialMoms Rewards points. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Stand Up For Family Comedy Special

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

Do you value your family more than everything else in life? I know I do because it is my family that defines who I am and makes me feel that I'm always needed and loved. Therefore, I think it necessary to teach my own children about the importance of family and assure them that they can always count on their family for support.   Stand Up For Family is a comedy special presented by American Family Insurance, featuring short yet funny anecdotes of family life. Leading comedians including Bill Bellamy, Rodney Perry, Mark Viera, Donnell Rawlings, and Tony Roberts offer their own perspectives on the importance of family by telling stories inspired by experiences from their own families.

Among the videos available on the Stand Up For Family website, my favorites are "Still Free" and "Momma Talk" by Bill Bellamy. "Still Free" reminds of me of the good old days when children had no access to high-tech toys and gears, but had their imagination in full bloom with free play and simple games. "Momma Talk" reflects, although in a somewhat exaggerating way, the old school parenting style that many of us experienced when we were kids.

As a parent, I highly appreciate AmFam efforts to re-etashilsh the importance of strong family ties through a keen sense of humor and stories we all can relate to. I think the show offers great entertainment that the whole family can enjoy. I suggest all of you checking it out when you have a moment.

November Giveaway Hop: Curious Critters

Welcome to the November Giveaway Hop!

To kick start the holiday season in November, Kathy at I'm A Reader, Not A Writer has teamed up with Tristi Pinkston to host this 4-day giveaway hop featuring 200+ blogs giving away prizes for their book-loving readers. Please feel free to use the linky at the end of this post to visit the other participating blogs and enter as many giveaways as you like!

I'm giving away a hardcover copy of this beautiful children's picture book Curious Critters, written by photographer David FitzSimmons. The book was officially released on November 7, 2011. The winner will be among the first in the nation to read this amazing book!

Curious Critters features stunning pictures of a variety of intriguing animals common throughout North America, including a red flat bark beetle, an Eastern spiny softshell turtle, a spotted salamander, and many more. Each Curious Critter is photographed against a white backdrop, showcasing the animals' colors, textures, and shapes with precision and clarity. Along with each photo is a vignette, told from the critter's perspective, that educates and entertains the little readers.

I had the opportunity to review an advanced copy of this book. Although this book is intended for children aged 4-8, I find it fun to read as well. My son was attracted by the fascinating and colorful images in the book as soon as he noticed it on his bookshelf. He was excited to recognize some of the animals and kept asking me for the names of those that he hadn't been exposed to before. It's definitely a great book for kids to read with their parents. It not only helps nurture children's love for nature, but teaches them interesting facts about each critter.

Here are a few examples of what kids (and adults too!) will learn:

*What turtles and humans have in common
*How Eastern box turtles can live longer than humans (over 150 years!)
*If squirrels can fly
*Why frogs sing
*How jumping spiders jump and why they never have to look over their shoulders.

You may preview sample pages of the book by visiting www.curious-critters.com. Free games and coloring pages are also available on the website. The book has a retail value of $19.95.

About the author:
David FitzSimmons is a freelance photographer and writer as well as a university professor. He photographs and writes for various magazines, including Outdoor Photographer, PopularPhotography, and Shutterbug, newspapers, and online publications, and his over-100 calendar credits include numerous titles by BrownTrout and Barnes & Noble. Curious Critters is David's first children's picture book. Learn more about David here.

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!

*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!

Tetley Tea Nook Club Contest & $25 Barnes & Noble Gift Card Giveaway

Do you love to read? I've got some exciting news for you. Tetley Tea is giving away one Nook Color per day in their Nook Club contest on Facebook! To enter, simply "like" Tetley Tea on Facebook and submit a photo or essay expressing your love for Tetley Tea through the contest tab. You can enter once per day until November 7, 2011. Open to US residents only.

In addition, you could instantly win a $25 Barnes & Noble Gift Card by purchasing Tetley Tea in specially marked packages as shown above. Thousands of prizes are up for grabs, which means you'll have a good chance to winning!

Tetley Tea comes in a variety of blends and flavors. I was provided with a box of Classic Blend Back Tea to try out. The tea tastes delicious and comes with both health and beauty benefits. There's also a decaf version for those who are concerned about over-consumption of caffeine.

The Giveaway

To encourage participation in the contest, Tetley Tea has generously offered to give one of my lucky readers a $25 Barnes & Noble Gift Card! Perfect prize for book lovers!

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!