Mommy Needs Therapy Review Blog

Zhu Zhu Puppies review and giveaway!

2011-09-04T13:15:00.000-07:00

***And the winner is Jen S.!***

I guess its time for the big ticket items to start hitting the shelves for the holidays. I received our annual preview of the latest ZhuZhu craze the other day, thanks to MomSelect.

This year it is ZhuZhu Puppies! And ZhuZhu Babies and ZhuZhu Fashion, too, but we were sent the Puppies. We received one puppy, one outfit, and the Puppy Car and Meter to test out.

Kiel thought the puppy was so cute. Thor was thinking "puppy? who said puppy?".

The car was the most exciting part.

The outfit was cute, but Noah said it was too girly for him.

It didn't stop him from taking an opportunity to look cute for the camera though.

Here's a little video of the puppy in action, along with a little cat terrorizing action.

My thoughts:

This is definitely cute. Kiel was very excited when we opened it up. Like the other ZhuZhu toys you have to have a very smooth surface for them to run if they are not on a track. We had varied results using the car, especially when trying to get the puppy to go into it himself from the parking setup since it kept getting stuck.

The outfit we received was a little disappointing as it didn't fit very well. The Velcro in the front kept coming undone so then the outfit slid around or came off entirely when the puppy was moving. Kiel took it off because it was frustrating him.

It was definitely entertaining when we just let him run around, especially when the cat was watching.

Noah lost interest pretty quickly (he's 8 1/2). Kiel (3 1/2) played with it on and off most of the afternoon. He played with it in conjunction with his fire station and trucks.

I don't think this is the kind of toy that is going to be used every day. It could be frustrating for kids because it doesn't always work as it is supposed to. My past experience with the pets themselves is that if you push them while the wheels are running you will break the mechanism that turns the wheels. I doubt the puppies are any different.

I sense this is the kind of toy that will get a day or two's use and then will have broken or will lose its excitement. If Santa leaves this under the tree for your kids I imagine they will be pretty excited, but I'd be surprised if it is used much past New Years. Or maybe that is just my kids.

Overall: two MNT thumbs-up for cuteness, one for the fun factor, zero for the likelihood of getting your moneys worth.

That said, I would not pass this up if I received it for free, which I did!

And even better, one of my readers is going to win a Puppy and outfit!

To enter to win your own ZhuZhu Puppy and one outfit all you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post!

Don't forget to include your email address in the comment. I know you have to include it to publish the comment, but unless it is actually within the body of the comment or you have email enabled on your Blogger profile I can't see it.

You have until midnight on Sunday, September 11, 2011 to enter. I'll announce the winner that week. Again, don't forget to leave your email address so I can contact you!

Full disclosure: MomSelect and Cepia, LLC provided me with our ZhuZhu Puppy and accesories . I am not receiving monetary compensation for hosting this giveaway. The opinions in my review are purely my own.

Young Rembrandts

2011-01-22T10:34:00.000-08:00

The following is a guest post from Lisa Zollinger of Young Rembrandts. I thought you would find this art program interesting for your children.

Hi readers of Mommy Needs Therapy! Many thanks to Kristine for this wonderful opportunity to share my story with all of you. I hope you’ll enjoy my tale of how I left a fast-moving career to open a Young Rembrandts franchise and teach children how to draw.

From the time I was a child, art has been a passion of mine. I expressed myself through drawing, painting, and creating art of all kind. As I worked my way up the ranks and my career developed at the Philadelphia Inquirer, I decided to temporarily shelve my dream of making art my career for the betterment of my family. I always knew I’d fit art into my life one way or another when the timing made sense. Sure enough, one day I had an epiphany and realized that the time was right. I took a leave of absence from the Inquirer and decided to pursue my lifelong passion of starting my own business related to the arts. Through research and careful consideration, I found Young Rembrandts.

At this point, you may be wondering how I could make such a bold move in today’s economy. Secure job, great lifestyle, and I (seemingly) throw it all away to take a chance on an ambitious dream. As off-the-wall as it sounds, I was one hundred percent confident in my decision and knew I couldn’t deny my purpose any longer. It also helped that the Young Rembrandts unique and proven method, developed by an artist and educator, fit my needs perfectly. The program allowed me the flexibility to be there for my family, and was the perfect avenue for me to share my passion with children of all ages.

Young Rembrandts is built upon an exceptional mission, to teach the drawing skills children need while developing learning skills that give children an academic advantage in the classroom. Young Rembrandts teaches children how to draw using a proprietary method, which combines unique step-by-step instruction and best education practices. Coupled with the fantastic curriculum, that is what defines Young Rembrandts and sets them apart from other art businesses. The same structured, skill based learning used to teach science, math and reading is used to teach children how to draw.

I was also honored to learn that my franchise would mark the Young Rembrandts’ hallmark 100th opening, which is an incredible testament to the power of the program. For over 20 years, this program has delivered a top quality classroom experience that is fun, engaging, educational and affordable. To find a Young Rembrandts location near you, enter your zip code on our Class Locator page (http://www.youngrembrandts.com/Locator/).

There will undoubtedly be bumps along the road, and we’ll face our fair share of challenges, but I’m excited to see where this next chapter of my life takes me and my family. This is a new family-friendly lifestyle where I can apply my business skills to a new venture. Sometimes you just have to have faith in yourself and trust that the reward will be greater than the risk. Knowing that my franchise will mean dozens of small smiling faces every day serves as a constant reminder that I did the right thing by following my instinct. I hope you see the power in art as much as I do!

- Lisa Zollinger

Powertek Precision Cordless screwdriver set by Husky Tools Review

2011-01-02T14:36:00.000-08:00

In a departure from the products I typically review on MNT, I was sent a 13-Piece Powertek Precision Cordless screwdriver set by Husky Tools to review.

I figured the perfect time to review a cordless screwdriver was at Christmas when I'm putting together toys!

Husky Tools has a number of under-$20 tools available at Home Depot.

I have to admit when this showed up in the mail I wasn't quite sure what it was. (At first I thought maybe it was a surprise gift from one of my sponsors that also sells "tools" that often require batteries.) Obviously, I figured it out.

You can get a decent idea of the size of it in this picture.

Here is some info from the company about the screwdriver.

13-Piece Powertek™ Precision Cordless Screwdriver Set - ($9.88)

* Easy to Grip, Soft Touch, Forward and Reverse Precision Cordless Screwdriver Set
* Ideal for Toys, Electronics, Eyeglasses, Hobbies, Crafts and More
* Contains 12 Multiple Use Mini Bits with a Single Tool Design
* Includes Easy Use Bit Storage Case
* Ready to Use with 2 - AAA Batteries

*Guaranteed Forever

Initially I was underwhelmed. It felt very light and bit flimsy. You also have to provide the batteries. I didn't immediately grasp that because it's a "precision" set it its for smaller jobs and uses mini-bits. I first tried to use it to put together a wooden fire house for Kiel, that requires regular size screws to be screwed into wood. It took about two tries before I set it aside and was using our regular rechargeable screwdriver for that job.

The next day however, I needed something to open up the battery compartment on one of Kiel's cars so I figured I'd give it another try. It worked beautifully! And that was when I really looked at it and the size of the bits. Duh! Mini-bits!

We've used it several times in the past week to open and close battery compartments and it is great. The bits are the perfect size and the power provided in forward and reverse is good.

The set comes with 12 mini-bits. I have no idea what I would use the majority of the bits for, but as long as it has the three or four that I would use who cares, right? The storage "case" holds the bits and also allows the screwdriver to stand upright in the middle of it. I like that because I have it on my kitchen counter where I keep my pens and other odds and ends, and it is easy to find.

Husky Tools provided me with this set. All opinions are my own.

Lionel Little Lines Train Playset Review

2011-01-02T13:54:00.000-08:00

Did you know that Lionel Electric Trains now has a retail store in NYC? They also opened pop-up stores this holiday season in Cherry Hill, NYC, Westchester, Dallas, and Minneapolis. I'm not exactly sure what a pop-up store is, but if it involves trains I know my boys would enjoy visiting it.

We weren't able to attend a special event in Cherry Hill earlier in December, so Lionel sent us their Lionel Little Lines Train Playset for the boys to play with and me to review. I didn't want it to get missed in the chaos of Christmas, so we just opened it up today to play with.

Rich and I put it together while a very

excited Kiel waited a bit impatiently.

Here is a picture of the pieces right out of the box. The train isn't in this picture, but it includes an engine, coal car, carrier car, and caboose.

As with all toys we review, Thor is right in the middle of the action. He was actually more patient than Noah and Kiel were during the assembly.

The assembly itself wasn't too bad. I only swore once when I pinched my hand between two of the tracks. I was impressed by the solidity of the track considering it is made of plastic.

Snapping the tracks together took some force, but other than some difficulty snapping the tracks into the risers until I figured out it was easier to slide them in than snap them in, it wasn't too bad.

The hardest part was getting Kiel to stop playing with the engine before the track was ready.

Here we are mid- construction.

You can see my little engineer is anxious to get started.

Here it is 95% complete, just before I realized I had a 3" piece of the track under the bridge that wasn't supposed to be there, which was making things not quite snap together correctly at the curves. After I fixed that part the track looked and felt very stable.

The engine itself moves very slow in the forward direction, a bit faster in reverse. We didn't have much luck getting the engine to pull the other three cars around the track. Fortunately, the boys were happy just playing with the engine.

The remote control is easy to use and a nice size for little hands to hold. You can see Kiel is holding the remote in the picture below.

We have to keep an eye on Kiel because he really wants to push the train around the floor himself. We don't typically have good luck with trains/cars/ Zhu Zhu pets that have a gear mechanism because of that, as eventually the inner mechanism breaks from the misuse. Hopefully, I can prevent that from happening with this train.

**Updated to add that four hours in and the train now only works in reverse.**

The engine is a little tricky for Kiel to get on the track correctly but Noah does fine with it.

The age range is 2 1/2 +. I think that is a realistic age as far as ability to use the remote, but not to play with the train by itself.

Both boys have been playing with it (together even) on and off all afternoon and the track is still in one piece. We've had a couple small plastic Thomas sets in the past that quickly became frustrating because the track wouldn't stay together. So far that isn't an issue with this Lionel Train set.

My thoughts on this set:

Durability of the tracks initially seems good and feels solid.

The engine is slow, which is a little disappointing. I think it would keep kids attention longer if it had a bit more pep.

If you are thinking of getting this for a toddler keep in mind that if your kids are like mine you are going to have to supervise any use so they don't try to push it themselves, which will likely break the mechanism in the engine.

I don't see where you can buy additional track for it, but if you can that would be a nice feature.

I'll let you know if you can buy the engine by itself, since its a shame we now have a nice track without a working engine.

Lionel Trains and Dan Klores Communications provided me with the Lionel Little Lines Train Playset. All opinions are my own.

Thomas & Friends: Merry Winter Wish DVD - review and giveaway - ended

2010-11-27T15:13:00.000-08:00

***Congrats to mamaOtwins+1!****

I have one more Thomas & Friends DVD to giveaway today!

This one is Thomas & Friends: Merry Winter Wish. Just in time for the holidays!

I've been saving this one for the kids until after Thanksgiving. I think we are going to put it in tonight and enjoy it together with a bowl of popcorn!

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Celebrate with the ultimate collection of Thomas & Friends™ tales that every child will be asking for! Just in time for the holidays is the first collection of fun, festive, winter-themed adventures in new CG animation with Thomas and his engine friends in Thomas & Friends: Merry Winter Wish available in DVD, Digital Download and On Demand from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. Children will also enjoy host Driver Perkins, who can ONLY be seen on DVD, and engages children with interactive dialogue and extra fun!

DVD SYNOPSIS

Next stop, Winter Wonderland! Join Thomas and his friends as they celebrate the holidays in these four enchanting tales. Thomas has a special delivery for the season - the Star of Knapford, a festive light that makes wishes come true! The children are excited for the Snowman Party in the Town Square but it’s up to Thomas to find the snowman a special hat before the party can begin. Watch Bash, Dash and Ferdinand prepare for the first ever Misty Island Christmas party. Then Henry helps Sir Topham Hatt prepare a secret holiday surprise for all of Sodor. The more friends the merrier, so join the fun and see that winter wishes do come true with Thomas & Friends!

To enter to win your own DVD all you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post! For fun tell me what your favorite holiday DVD is.

Don't forget to include your email address in the comment. I know you have to include it to publish the comment, but unless it is actually within the body of the comment or you have email enabled on your Blogger profile I can't see it.

You have until midnight on Sunday, December 5, 2010 to enter. I'll announce the winner that week. Again, don't forget to leave your email address so I can contact you!

US mailing addresses only.

Full disclosure: Andrea Blain Public Relations and Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment provided me with my own copy of this DVD . I am not receiving monetary compensation for hosting this giveaway. The opinions in my review are purely my own.

Thomas & Friends: Adventure Pack 4-DVD set - review and giveaway - ended

2010-11-27T14:21:00.000-08:00

****congrats to slb3334!!*****

Kiel and my husband have about a 45 minute drive to and from work/daycare every day. They usually take our minivan which has a DVD player in it. That allows Rich to listen to his sport radio crap and Kiel is ~~mostly~~ entertained.

When we got the 4-DVD Thomas & Friends: Adventure pack, which includes a complete TV season of Thomas & Friends episodes.

Now, I haven't watched these myself, but my husband said Kiel has been enjoying them on their drive for the last several days. Each disk is just about the right length of time for their drive.

DVD SYNOPSIS
Full steam ahead for friendship and fun with Thomas and his engine pals! This full series set has exclusive, heartwarming tales on the tracks filled with more adventures, and more lessons than ever before. Capture the spirit of Thomas as he learns to share his workload and experience exciting festivals and surprises in these episodes, including never before seen on TV footage exclusive to the DVDs. Hop on board and put on your conductor's hat for this thrilling all-in-one-set with Thomas & Friends.

DVDs include:
· Thomas & Friends: Railway Friends
· Thomas & Friends: High Speed Adventures
· Thomas & Friends: Team Up With Thomas
· Thomas & Friends: Percy and the Bandstand

To enter to win your own DVD all you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post!

Don't forget to include your email address in the comment. I know you have to include it to publish the comment, but unless it is actually within the body of the comment or you have email enabled on your Blogger profile I can't see it.

You have until midnight on Sunday, December 5, 2010 to enter. I'll announce the winner that week. Again, don't forget to leave your email address so I can contact you!

US mailing addresses only.

Full disclosure: Andrea Blain Public Relations and Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment provided me with my own copy of this DVD . I am not receiving monetary compensation for hosting this giveaway. The opinions in my review are purely my own.

Barney: Best Fairy Tales - review and giveaway - ended

2010-11-27T13:33:00.000-08:00

***congrats to Kathy Pease!!***

Barney doesn't irritate me as much as he does some people I guess. I wouldn't say I look forward to watching that purple dinosaur, but there are times when a half hour of an entertained and quiet child is priceless.

Barney: Best Fairy Tales, (released November 9, 2010) did not disappoint when it came to the "keep my child occupied" factor. And honestly, there were a few parts of it that even I thought were kind of cute.

Barney brings nine of the best known fairy tales to life, including Jack And The Beanstalk, Goldilocks and The Three Bears, and Three Billy Goats Gruff.

SYNOPSIS

Once upon a time in a land of friendship and fun, a fairytale celebration had just begun! In this collection of enchanted stories, Barney, B.J., and Baby Bop share their favorite tales about Goldilocks, Elves, Tortoises and Hares. Let your imagination unfold as you delight in new dances and plays, and learn that no one is too big or too small --everyone is perfect just the way they are! With your beloved dino friends by your side, you'll be sure to live happily ever after!

Classic tales include:
Jack and the Beanstalk
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Three Billy Goats Gruff
Shoemaker & Elves
The Sharing Hen
Little Boy Blue
Three Little Kittens
Tortoise and the Hare
Girl Who Cried Wolf

To enter to win your own DVD all you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post! For fun tell me what your favorite fairy tale is.

Don't forget to include your email address in the comment. I know you have to include it to publish the comment, but unless it is actually within the body of the comment or you have email enabled on your Blogger profile I can't see it.

You have until midnight on Sunday, December 5, 2010 to enter. I'll announce the winner that week. Again, don't forget to leave your email address so I can contact you!

US mailing addresses only.

Full disclosure: Andrea Blain Public Relations and Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment provided me with my own copy of this DVD . I am not receiving monetary compensation for hosting this giveaway. The opinions in my review are purely my own.

Thomas & Friends: The Lion of Sodor - review and giveaway

2010-11-27T12:56:00.000-08:00

***congrats to lstanziani!!***

Kiel has learned to recognize the large yellow envelopes that arrive with DVD's in them.
"Is it Thomas?" he asks? He's pretty excited by anything we receive to review, but Thomas and Shaun the Sheep are definitely his favorites.

There was something extra exciting about Thomas & Friends: The Lion of Sodor though. Probably the golden lion on the front. "Rrrrrarww" says Kiel!

I like the message in this one that stresses the importance of listening to others. I need to get my older son to sit down and watch it a few or 20 times!

Thomas & Friends: The Lion Of Sodor will be aavailable On DVD, Digital Download and On Demand
December 7, 2010

DVD SYNOPSIS

Join Thomas as he roars down the tracks with the most special delivery yet, The Lion of Sodor. Thomas’ special delivery is not what he thinks it is - a real lion. When the other trains try to tell him that it’s actually a statue, he is too excited to listen. Join Thomas as he learns the importance of listening to others in this lionhearted collection of tales from the tracks.

To enter to win your own DVD all you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post! For fun tell me what lessons your kids learn from Thomas.

Don't forget to include your email address in the comment. I know you have to include it to publish the comment, but unless it is actually within the body of the comment or you have email enabled on your Blogger profile I can't see it.

You have until midnight on Sunday, December 5, 2010 to enter. I'll announce the winner that week. Again, don't forget to leave your email address so I can contact you!

US mailing addresses only.

Full disclosure: Andrea Blain Public Relations and Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment provided me with my own copy of this DVD . I am not receiving monetary compensation for hosting this giveaway. The opinions in my review are purely my own.

FiberOne giveaway - includes a $25 Safeway giftcard! -- ended!

2010-11-07T11:00:00.000-08:00

****And the winner is allthingsnew who said..."I'd like to call the Caramel Delight cereal! Thanks so much for hosting this giveaway!"***

I have another MyBlogSpark giveaway for you guys!

This one is from Fiber One and is for VIP coupons good for one free box of Fiber One cereal and one free box of Fiber One bars, in addition to a $25 Safeway gift card (also valid at Dominick´s, Tom Thumb, Randalls, Vons, and Genuardi´s).

Fiber One products have you covered with at least 35% of your daily value of fiber in every serving of their cereals and bars. And now they taste even better!

I haven't tried the Fiber One cereal yet, but I have a new box in my cupboard just waiting. I love the FiberOne bars! I learned the hard way not to eat more than one at a time however, if you know what I mean.

Even my little one who barely eats anything likes the bars!

If you would like to win two VIP coupons for Fiber One and a 25$ gift card to Safeway just leave a comment on this post.

Disclosure: The VIP coupons and a $25 Safeway gift card for me and for one of my readers was provided by Fiber One through MyBlogSpark. Any opinions given are my own.

Family Flick Night gift pack giveaway --ended

2010-11-06T14:51:00.000-07:00

***And the winner is shirley who said..."Here we use dry Trix and Reese Puffs for snacks, too. Thanks"***

I received a box from MyBlogSpark and General Mills today. I opened it up to find a "Family Flick Night" gift pack, which included a box of Lucky Charms cereal and Trix cereal.

Noah saw me open it and declared this was "the best day ever!" Kiel jumped up and down with excitement. I'm seriously going to wrap up boxes of cereal for Christmas since it excites them so much. I think it's obvious we don't buy "sugar" cereal.

The exciting part for me though was that the box also included four Movie Cash certificates! Yeah!

Right now General Mills is running a promotion when you purchase two specially marked packages of Big G cereals including Honey Nut Cheerios® (17 oz.), Cinnamon Toast Crunch® (17 oz.), Lucky Charms® (16 oz.), Trix® (14.8 oz) and Reese´s Puffs® cereal (18 oz.

After purchasing two participating cereals, visit generalmills.com/moviecash to enter the unique code found inside each box of cereal and print your free Movie Cash certificate (good for one admission of up to a $12 value at participating theatres). To find a participating theater in your area, log onto http://emoviecash.com/dis_locator/.

If you would like to win your own "Family Flick Night" gift pack which will include two boxes of the participating Big G cereals and four Movie Cash certificates just leave a comment on this post.

Disclosure: A "Family Flick Night" gift pack for me and for one of my readers was provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark. Any opinions given are my own.

The Day Leo Said I Hate You

2010-11-05T12:53:00.000-07:00

What do you do when you kid tells you for the first time that he hates you?

Unfortunately, with a seven year-old with an attachment disorder I hear that phrase pretty much every time he gets mad at me. I also hear "you are a lier," "you are stupid," and the latest "you wear hideous clothes," which I have to say gave me a good laugh.

My almost three year-old on the other hand hasn't done more than the stomp his feet and cry temper tantrum with a few "I don't yike that mommy" thrown in there, when he is mad. And then you can tell he immediately feels bad if he senses mommy isn't happy with him. It's a wonderful thing!

I do know that the phrase "I hate you" is in our future. Not only does he hear his older brother say it, but I think its a normal feeling for kids to have at some point, as they try and figure out what their feelings mean and appropriate ways to express them..

When I was offered the chance to review the childrens book The Day Leo Said I Hate You! by Robie Harris I was excited.

I'm always happy to add new books to our library, and this one has become a regular in our nighttime story routine.

The story starts out with Leo making some poor behavior choices (rolling tomatoes in the house until they burst, droping string beans into the fish bowl, and squeezing toothpaste all over the toilet) to which his mother repeatedly tells him "no." Leo's frustration at being repeatedly told "no" overwhelms him and eventually he tells his mother that he hates her. His mother, at first horrified, then explains to him that you that words can hurt, but there are things you can hate, like broccoli.

The illustrations are colorful and engaging, and mirror the intensity and emotions of the story.

I was somewhat nervous reading this with Kiel, because I didn't want to introduce these words to him and then live to regret it. While that would have been the case with his older brother, with my younger, well attached, "typical" child I did not need to worry.

Kiel was fascinated by the illustrations and recognized immediately when Leo was doing something naughty. Watching Kiel shake his finger at the pages of the book and say "naughty" to Leo was adorable.

Not only did we use the story to talk about "mean words," which honestly I think went over Kiel's head a bit, but we used the illustrations to work on recognizing and talking about feelings. Kiel was drawn to the emotions shown on Leo and his mothers face and was very animated in telling me that Leo was sad, or Leo's mom was mad.

Some of our books we read purely for the enjoyment of the story and just snuggling together. Other books we use in a more dynamic way, with the two of us interacting with the story line. The Day Leo said I hate You! is definitely the kind of book that your child will enjoy the story and the illustrations, but as a parent you can feel like you are teaching your child something too.

The next time my older son gets mad and says mean things to me, after he calms down, I plan on pulling out this book and reading it with him. Although it is meant for younger children I think we can use it as a discussion starter with him.

The Day Leo Said I Hate you is now available in paperback and for Kindle, as well as in hardcover. All versions are on sale at Amazon right now.

I was provided with a review copy of the book by Raab Associates Inc. All opinions are my own.

Betty Crocker Boxed Instant Mashed Potatoes Review and Giveaway - ended

2010-11-04T19:11:00.000-07:00

**And the winner is.... Have A Sweet Day! who said..."we usually make them from scratch but with 6 kids and all the things we have going on this would be great."**

I grew up in a family that thought instant mashed potatoes were the side dish of choice. We also drank Carnation instant milk for several years. The milk was to save money I think. The instant potatoes were to save time. Peeling and mashing potatoes was reserved for holiday meals.

By the time I was in college I hated instant mashed potatoes. Watery, flavorless white mush.

When MyBlogSpark and Betty Crocker offered me the chance to review the new Betty Crocker Boxed Instant Mashed Potatoes I almost turned them down. Then I thought maybe I should try them and see if I was surprised. Either way I was going to be honest about what I thought.

With a just-like-mom´s taste, Betty Crocker Boxed Instant Mashed Potatoes go from stovetop to table in just eight short minutes. Based on a scratch recipe, the Homestyle Creamy Butter variety will have your family thinking you spent hours in the kitchen the next time you serve up a hearty helping. If you prefer an extra kick of flavor, give the Roasted Garlic variety a try. And with two pouches in every box there´s plenty to go around.

I made them tonight and served them with my homemade meatloaf. This was the reaction:

Noah gave them two thumbs up! He wanted more.

This is Kiel giving his "yuck" face. He didn't care for them. Unfortunately, he didn't actually try them either, so don't take his opinion seriously.

Rich said they were the best instant mashed potatoes he has had. He would eat them again.

Me? Well, I'm a purist. I still prefer the real thing, but I do agree with Rich that for instant they weren't bad.

If you would like to try them yourselves you can grab a $0.55 coupon here.

And, if you would like to win the prize pack pictured below leave a comment on this post.

Disclosure: The Betty Crocker Boxed Instant Mashed Potatoes, the prize pack, information and the prize package for giveaway were all provided by Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark. Any opinions given are my own.

Blow it out your nose - a SinuSense review

2010-10-28T11:28:00.000-07:00

Ten years ago if you asked me what I wouldn't travel without I probably would have told you my hairdryer and curling iron.

Now, I won't travel without my sinus wash.

I know, I'm sounding old. But I sure do enjoy having clear sinuses!

Recently MomSelect and Waterpik offered me the chance to try out Waterpik's new SinuSense line of products, including their SinuSense Squeeze Bottle and SinuSense Neti Bottle.

I've been using a fairly traditional form of the Neti pot for the last year, but I was open to trying some other options so I said yes.

First, let me tell you that if you aren't doing some form of nasal/sinus rinse and you have sinus issues, you really should try it. It was a little strange the first time but once I got over the fear that it was going to hurt (It doesn't!) or I was going to choke or inhale it (I didn't, just make sure you breathe through your mouth when you use it.) it was really kind of cool.

I know it sounds gross, but I actually get a kick seeing how much crap I can get out of my sinuses some days. I've never been that great at blowing my nose and usually feel like my congestion is further back in my sinuses than I can easily blow out. The sinus rinse gets in further and cleans more out than I could ever blow out on my own.

(I wish I could get my husband to try it. He's chronically congested and of course snores like a rough engine at night because of it.)

Waterpik SinuSense™ Squeeze Bottle- allows you to customize the amount of water flow for a complete cleanse, simply with an easy squeeze. The SoftSeal™ nozzle maximizes comfort and the One-Way FlowControl™ valve prevents backflow to maintain solution purity.

Waterpik SinuSense™ Neti Bottle- a unique approach to the traditional neti pot; its ergonomic shape, SoftSeal™ nozzle and One-Touch FlowControl™ valve make the Neti Bottle easy to hold, comfortable against your nose and creates a controlled gravity-fed water flow that provides a gentle sinus cleansing.

One of the issues I have with the traditional Neti pot is that they aren't sealed, at least the one I had wasn't. It was very much like a tiny tea pot without a lid. Since you add a packet of saline salts to the water, I typically ended up using my finger to mix it up since the cat was always stealing the little spoon that came with it and I could never find it.

With the SinuSense products you remove the nozzle, fill the bottle, then replace the nozzle, which allows me to shake it to mix in the saline powder. (It's the little things people, I'm lazy, I admit it.)

I used both the Neti bottle and the squeeze bottle for a month and I think I prefer the squeeze bottle over the Neti bottle, but by a small margin. I'd really like to try the Water Pulsator since it sounds like it is a bit more aggressive in how it cleanses, now that I'm an experienced nasal cleaner. *snicker*

You can check out the Waterpik site to read more about their SinuSense line and the health benefits of a sinus wash.

MomSelect and Waterpik provided me with the products. All opinions are my own.

Thomas & Friends - Misty Island Rescue DVD review and giveaway

2010-09-06T15:50:00.000-07:00

**And the winner is 11newmom. Sorry I'm so late at posting this!! **

There is a new Thomas & Friends DVD available tomorrow! My friends at Andrea Blaine Public Relations sent me an advance copy and the boys and I watched it this weekend. Several times! All Kiel wants to watch is "twain, twain." It's a cute movie, and as always, has some good messages in it. This is the first time a Thomas movie will be available on Blue-ray as well as a standard DVD.

Thomas and his engine friends embark on a thrilling new journey that takes them from the Island of Sodor to the mysterious Misty Island in the all-new, CG animated adventure Thomas & Friends™ Misty Island Rescue - The Movie available on DVD, Blu-ray Disc+DVD combo pack, Digital Download and On Demand, September 7, 2010 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment.

SYNOPSIS

The engines are hard at work to build a new Search and Rescue Center. When Thomas helps a friend in need, he is rewarded with an exciting trip to the mainland. Along the way, he gets lost at sea and finds himself on the mysterious Misty Island, where he meets new friends Bash, Dash and Ferdinand. Together they discover the secrets of Misty Island and help Thomas find his way home. Will Sir Topham Hatt's search party ever find Thomas? Find out in this action-packed movie adventure the whole family will enjoy!!

To enter to win your own DVD all you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post! For fun tell me which engine is your child's favorite.

Don't forget to include your email address in the comment. I know you have to include it to publish the comment, but unless it is actually within the body of the comment or you have email enabled on your Blogger profile I can't see it.

You have until midnight on Sunday September 12, 2010 to enter. I'll announce the winner that week. Again, don't forget to leave your email so I can contact you!

US mailing addresses only.

Full disclosure: Andrea Blain Public Relations and Lionsgate and HIT Entertaiment provided me with my own copy of this DVD . I am not receiving monetary compensation for hosting this giveaway. The opinions in my review are purely my own.

Angelina Ballerina: Love to Dance DVD review and giveaway - ended

2010-09-06T15:31:00.000-07:00

**And the winner is Jenscout425!!**

Finally I have a DVD for my readers with kids that aren't as enamored with trains and building like my boys are. Angelina Ballerina has a new DVD available, and while my boys thought it was OK, I thought it was adorable!

Angelina Ballerina™, the eight-year old mouseling who dreams of becoming a prima ballerina, enters a whole new stage of dancing delight with the all-new CG animated Angelina Ballerina: Love to Dance piroueted onto DVD August 31, 2010 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment.

Put on your dancing shoes and get ready to take center stage with Angelina Ballerina! On Angelina’s first day at Camembert Academy she discovers new forms of music and dance, like jazz, tap and hip hop, and meets new friends who have their own unique rhythm. Together with her friends new and old, like best friend Alice and the new Hip-Hop Kid AZ, Angelina realizes that becoming a prima ballerina requires collaboration and compromise, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun! Get ready to step, leap and groove as you discover your own love of dance in this fun filled DVD.

To enter to win your own DVD all you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post! For fun tell me what your kids favorite DVD is.

Don't forget to include your email address in the comment. I know you have to include it to publish the comment, but unless it is actually within the body of the comment or you have email enabled on your Blogger profile I can't see it.

You have until midnight on Sunday September 12, 2010 to enter. I'll announce the winner that week. Again, don't forget to leave your email so I can contact you!

US mailing addresses only.

Full disclosure: Andrea Blain Public Relations and Lionsgate and HIT Entertaiment provided me with my own copy of this DVD . I am not receiving monetary compensation for hosting this giveaway. The opinions in my review are purely my own.

Yoplait Splitz giveaway! - ended

2010-08-15T17:30:00.000-07:00

***And the lucky winner is Sweepmom who would like to try the strawberry banana split flavor.***

Yoplait has a new yogurt product available, called Yoplait Splitz. We haven't tried it yet but I will be looking for it in our local Safeway store. My boys love yogurt, as I've written before, and I love yogurt without artificial colors, sweeteners or high fructose corn syrup, so I'm pleased to say that Yoplait Splitz meets both our needs.

Now you can drive past your local sweet shop without looking back. Yoplait Splitz is the new yogurt that tastes like a sundae. Providing all of the goodness of 100% real yogurt, Yoplait Splitz is a good source of calcium and vitamin D. With no artificial flavors or sweeteners and no high fructose corn syrup, this 90 calorie dessert is the treat your family craves.

For an even "cooler" experience, just pop a Yoplait Splitz in the freezer and in a few hours you can enjoy a cool, creamy cup of authentic frozen yogurt. Available in three delicious flavor combinations including Strawberry Sundae, Strawberry Banana Split, and Rainbow Sherbet, Yoplait Splitz is sure to have your family screaming for more.

The boys have been eating go-gurts frozen, so I know they will like these! I'm not a big yogurt fan myself, but I think I just might like these frozen.

You can visit My Blog Spark to download a printable coupon for $0.75 off any flavor Yoplait Splitz today! And don't forget to visit Yoplait on Facebook or Yoplait on Twitter and "Like" or "Follow" the brand to keep up with the latest news on your favorite Yoplait products.

My Blog Spark and Yoplait are offering one of my readers a Yoplait Splitz prize pack that includes an insulated carry tote and a roll up fleece picnic blanket, along with a coupon for a free pack of Yoplait Splitz.*

I was sent a prize pack and it's pretty nice. I'll definitely be using both the blanket and the insulated tote the next time the kids and I go to the park.

To win a prize pack for yourself just leave a comment on this post telling me which flavor of Yoplait Splitz you would like to try. I'll choose a winner using random.org. This giveaway ends Sunday, August 22, 2010 at midnight (EDT).

Disclosure: The Yoplait Splitz, the prize pack, information and the prize package for giveaway were all provided by Yoplait through MyBlogSpark. Any opinions given are my own.

*This coupon offer for a free pack of Yoplait Splitz is not valid in some states, including California, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, Nevada, North Dakota and Tennessee.

Staples Back-to-School review and giveaway - ended

2010-08-14T16:49:00.000-07:00

***And the winner is Leslie, who says she hasn't bought a single thing yet.***

I have mixed feelings about school starting back up. On one hand it will be nice for Noah to get back to a more structured environment, and not have to worry every day that I'm going to get a phone call about his behavior. On the other hand it means homework starts again, and that is a struggle I am not looking forward to. (I think we might be on a path to make that a bit easier, with glasses and some vision therapy, so if you read my main blog I'll update you all on the latest very soon.)

One thing I do love however, is shopping for school supplies. I love colored pens and pencils, fresh notebooks, and all the little do-dads that make organizing my office at work a little easier. I frequently use colored ink to help me organize data and notes for reports at work, and I get a little thrill every time I open a new set of pens!

With school shopping for Noah I get to buy all the fun things I don't get to use at work (like crayons!).

When MomSelect and Staples contacted me and offered me a chance to participate in a back-to-school review and giveaway, I of course said yes!

For many Moms, back-to-school season can be chaotic as we scramble to run errands and pick up supplies. Our friends at Staples want to make sure we spend our time soaking up the end of summer with our families, not combing store aisles for the lowest prices and hard-to-find items. That's why they're committed to making back to school shopping easy, by providing the best deals on everything your family needs for a successful school year. And because they know that Moms love to be prepared, they're offering you and me a chance to experience their fantastic back to school offerings!

They sent me a back-to-school goodie bag full of cool stuff including DoSomething.org-inspired note books and a date book. These feature cool designs and help students stay organized while learning about important issues impacting their communities.

The gift pack also included a Glam Rock stapler, pen and calculator. Noah of course was all over these glittery objects! We were sent the clear crystal set, which is very sparkly! (I think I have Noah convinced that keeping these at home is a good idea. His class is all boys and I think some of them may think they are a little girly. I hate to set him up to get teased. What do you guys think? Am I teaching him gender stereotypes or just protecting him?)

We also received an Omnitech 2GB Swivel Flash Drive ($12.99), which is designed to keep the cap in place and are available in some cool designs including black and white, multi-colored dots, and peace-sign patterns.We received the peace sign pattern, and I'm going to use it to transport reports back and forth from work, when I need to work from home.

And how cute is this? The Zip-it pencil case. It's a pencil case made out of a really long zipper. Just pull it and watch it zip into shape! It is the brainchild of an Israeli student whose class project called for turning an everyday item into something new. The Zip It-Unzip Your Mind pencil pouch ($5.99) is available in black, purple and pink with exclusive rainbow-zipper design for Staples. Ours came in my favorite color - purple.

And finally, we received the Omnitech Portable Speaker ($9.99), which is a mini pod that plays music from any device equipped with a 3.5mm headphone jack; including MP3 players, notebooks, mobile phones, and gaming devices. This might just inspire me to actually put music on my iPod. I know, I'm pathetic and way behind the times.

I'll be finishing up our school shopping this week at Staples, and I'll probably buy myself some new colored pens for work. I deserve it, right?

Now, I promised you a giveaway, and here you go. Staples and MomSelect have provided me with a $25 Staples gift card to give to one of my readers to help make your school supply shopping a little easier.

To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling me what you still need for your back to school list. One comment per person please! You have until Friday, August 20, 2010 at midnight (EDT) to enter.

Discloser; MomSelect and Staples provided me with a gift bag including the items I have shown above. All opinions are my own.

One week down and my son and I are both using Neutrogena's new UltraSheer Liquid Sunblock.

2010-07-06T11:26:00.000-07:00

When I was offered a chance to try Neutrogena UltraSheer Liquid Sunblock in exchange for reviewing it I jumped at the chance. I've been a Neutrogena fan since I was a teen, so trying out a new product they were making was a no brainer.

I use sunscreen every day as part of my daily skin care routine, but in the past it has been part of my moisturizer. I didn't feel I was using a high enough SPF so had recently purchased a stand-alone sunscreen from the department store line of skincare that I use. I frankly hated it. It was mostly zinc oxide and it felt very heavy on my face. It basically just sat on top of my skin and made my face feel dirty.

I started using Neutrogena UltraSheer Liquid Sunblock seven days ago. I was impressed from the first day. It comes in a bottle with a small tip. It is a somewhat thin, white liquid, so the small tip on the bottle is appropriate so you don't pour out more than you need.

The best part is that it rubs into my skin easily. I don't feel it at all after I've applied it unlike so many other products I have used. I have only been out in the direct sun once for about 60 minutes since I started using it, but I can say with that one experience it worked. If only I had used something on my shoulders and the back of my neck that day, which did not fare as well.

Interestingly, my 7 year old son started summer camp this week and I have applied sunscreen to his face every day, along with the rest of his body. He reacted badly to everything we tried on his face until two days ago when I tried using this product on him. We are still waiting for the reaction from the other sunscreens to completely heal, but the Neutrogena Ultrasheer Liquid Sunblock doesn't seem to be making it worse. I'm very interested to see how he does with another week of using it.

Would you like to review UltraSheer®, too? Then go to http://www.giantwavepool.com/ultrasheer!

Or get $2 off your UltraSheer® purchase at http://www.neutrogena.com/suncoupon.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the product mentioned above for free for review purposes from Tidal Labs. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Kung Zhu Pets review and giveaway! - ENDED

2010-07-05T16:29:00.000-07:00

***And the winner is Abbi who tweeted about this giveaway! Congrats Abbi! You should receive an email from me shortly.***

Introducing the hottest new line from Cepia evolving from the Zhu Zhu Pets...Kung Zhu Pets! These warrior hamsters are far from being the cute and cuddly Zhu Zhu Pets that everyone fell in love with. But make no mistake, these ultra cool, tough pets will be a sure competition to the original Zhu Zhu Pets! With eight original characters split into two battling groups called Special Forces and Ninja Warriors, Kung Zhu Pet owners will have the thrill of training each character to transform them into fighting, battling warriors. While these Kung Zhu hamsters may start off as "cute" and "mild-mannered," once they are sent into their main training grounds, smart chip technology will actually allow you to hear a distinct personality transformation of fighting ninja and warriors.

*****************************

A couple weeks ago I came home from work to find this box waiting on my front steps.

I was pleasantly surprised when I opened it to find it full of the latest toy craze - Kung Zhu Pets! Noah was pretty darn excited himself! How lucky were we that MomSelect chose us to review the newest Zhu Zhu pet craze!

Thor had a few ideas himself about those pesky hamsters.

Noah, Thor and I spent a very fun couple of hours unpacking and setting everything up.

Thor was especially concerned about keeping us safe from those fierce Ninja and Special Forces hamsters!

Kiel came home and was slightly underwhelmed by the training zone that had taken over the family room. That is until he realized how much fun Noah was having.

Then he was right in the middle of it all.

Much like Thor was.

Over all the "three" of them did a great job playing together.

It was a pretty impressive setup!

Even if it did take over the entire family room floor.

Seriously, the entire floor. I couldn't get them all in one shot.

Is it possible to have too many toys?

Stel says, "Yes, Yes it is." Especially when they move and make noise.

The Kung Zhu pets in action.

Training time.

So what do I think of the Kung Zhu pets? Well, as I said before, they take up a lot of space! We were fortunate to be able to review the original Zhu Zhu pets last year when they first came out, and I can say that they have improved the design. This set was much easier to put together and the connections between pieces stay together better. The entire design is pretty impressive considering all they do. Unfortunately, in our case whenever they were in the arena the same hamster always ended up losing, even when we switched the armor between the two. Noah and Kiel were less interested in the arena action than everything else, so that wasn't a big deal for us.

Unfortunately, one of our hamster's wheels are no longer turning, but you have to remember that Kiel is only 2 1/2, and these are recommended for ages 4+, so that very well could be because he insisted on pushing them along the track rather than letting them go on their own.

We had a lot of fun with the entire set-up over the last few days, but these type of toys don't do well in general with my boys. Too many pieces and way too many ways to interact inappropriately with them (as in now their monster trucks and Lego men are interspersed throughout the training area - but I love watching their imagination in action). It will be interesting to see how long this lasts with them. (Again, remember that Kiel is 2 1/2 and Noah isn't a "typical" child.)

So, ready to hear the really exciting news?

Yes, it's true. I have Kung Zhu pets to give away to one of my lucky readers!

In fact, I have two Kung Zhu pets, two sets of Kung Zhu armor, a Dragon Hammer and Missile Attack Tower, and the Giant Battle Arena. Everything shown in the picture above! And believe me, it was a difficult task for Noah to decide which two hamsters he was going to keep and which two he was giving away.

To win all you need to do is leave a comment on this post and tell me who you would like to win this for!

For extra entries you can do the following:

1. Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter with a link back to this post. You can tweet once a day. Make sure you come back here and leave a comment on this post each time.

2. Post it on Facebook. You can post once a day. Make sure you come back here and leave a comment on this post each time.

3. Follow my blog on Google connect or as an RSS feed. Leave a comment here letting me know you do.

4. Follow my main blog (Mommy Needs Therapy) in a reader or via email. Leave a comment here letting me know you do.

5. Post about this giveaway on your blog. Leave a link in the comments to let me know.

Don't forget to include your email address in the comment. I know you have to include it to publish the comment, but unless it is actually within the body of the comment or you have email enabled on your Blogger profile I can't see it.

You have until midnight on Friday, July 16, 2010 to enter. I'll announce the winner that weekend. Again, don't forget to leave your email so I can contact you!

US and Canada mailing addresses only.

Full disclosure: MomSelect provided me with the Kung Zhu pets to review and the set to give away. I am not receiving monetary compensation for hosting this giveaway. The opinions in my review are purely my own.

Balloon Time helium balloon kit giveaway! And tips on hosting a vampire party. - ended

2010-07-03T13:49:00.000-07:00

I never thought I'd be intrigued by vampires. As a kid stuff like that scared the crap out of me. When Twilight came out it took me months to jump on the band wagon and read it. I did though and was sucked in just like so many others.

The same thing happened with True Blood on HBO. My husband watched the first season and I wasn't the slightest bit interested. Then I read Twilight and became somewhat intrigued by vampires, so I watched the second season of True Blood. And of course I'm hooked and can't wait for Sunday nights to watch each new episode of season 3! I've read all the books now too.

And you better believe I'll be dragging the hubs along to see Eclipse very soon!

Now I'm not much for hosting parties; frankly my house is never neat enough to make me feel like the work involved wouldn't suck all the fun out of it for me. Yeah, I'm that lazy. And that antisocial.

Anyway, I know some of my readers do like to host parties (and probably have much neater houses than I do) so when I was contacted by Balloon Time with tips on how to throw a vampire party and the offer to sponsor a Balloon Time giveaway, I figured why the heck not!

I've used Balloon Time kits before for the boys birthday parties and other than struggling the first time to get the tank to work, because I was being a complete idiot and turning the valve the wrong way (boy did I feel like a dumb-ass), it was super easy and convenient. Cheaper and easier than going somewhere to get the balloons blown up for us. The last time we did that Rich lost a bunch of them trying to get them in the car because it was so windy.

So here is the information from Penny Warner about hosting a vampire party! Go to the end of this post and you can enter to win a Balloon Time helium balloon kit.

Celebrate Your Favorite Vampires with a Premiere Party at Home

By Penny Warner with Balloon Time Helium Balloon Kits

Vampire Parties are all the rage, thanks to books, TV shows, and movies like “Twilight,” “True Blood,” and “Vampire Diaries.” Whether you’re a fan of vampire Team Edward or werewolf Team Jacob, barmaid Sookie Stackhouse and vampire Bill Compton, or good/evil vampire brothers Stefan and Damon Salvatore, you can host a Night of the Living Dead party to celebrate a birthday, Halloween, or the latest vampire episode.

Invitations

There are lots of vampire-related party supplies available, but you can easily make your own invitations and personalize them to your theme. For a Coffin Invitation, fold a sheet of black construction paper in half. Draw the shape of a coffin on the paper, making sure one side of the coffin is on the fold. Cut out the coffin and write “Do not open until midnight” or “Open at your own risk” on the front using a sparkly pen. Or you can type it up on the computer using a spooky font, print it, cut it out, and glue it to the front. Next find a picture of your favorite vampire on the Internet or in a fan magazine and copy it for each invitation. Open the coffin and glue the picture on the right-hand side. On the opposite side, write the party details. For added fun, cut out drops of “blood” from red paper and place them in the envelope. Or add a set of vampire teeth.

Costumes

Ask your guests to come as their favorite vampire—or werewolf—past or present. When they arrive, offer them face paints, vampire teeth, and vials of fake blood to add to their costumes. Make simple capes out of black fabric and hand them out to guests.

Decorations

Create a gothic atmosphere with helium-inflated black and red balloons. Tie the balloons onto furniture, to backs of chairs, and float them to the ceiling. Turn the lights down and light candles, or string holiday lights around the room. Replace regular light bulbs with black lights and red bulbs. Make a giant coffin using a large appliance box. Paint it black, add a string of garlic or a wooden cross to the top, and place it in the center of the room to use for setting out snacks. Place vampire fangs, garlic, and plastic bats around the room or hang them from the ceiling. Cover your mirrors and black out your windows. Set the table with a black cloth and bright red paper products. Use vampire teeth as napkin rings. Make a centerpiece using a glass bowl, fill it with red tinted water, and float black candles. Make some personalized tombstones from cardboard or foam, and write epitaphs on them for each guest. Set them around the room. Play Clair de Lune, Muse, and Coldplay music in the background.

Games and Activities

Team Trivia. Divide guests into two teams and have them answer trivia questions about vampires and such from “Twilight,” “True Blood,” or “Vampire Diaries.”

Quote the Vampire. Write down quotes from the vampire books or shows and have guests try to identify the speaker.

Vamping Vampires. Write down scenes from your favorite vampire film, book, or show, and have guests act them out for one another to guess.

Vampire Shirt. Let guests make their own t-shirts with their favorite vampires or sayings on them. Print pictures of vampires and sayings on iron-on paper using the computer, and then let guests iron them on and decorate with glitter glue, sequins, and other embellishments.

Vampire Videos. Watch videos of your favorite vampire films or TV shows. Don’t forget the originals, such as “Dracula,” or the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”

Refreshments

Serve lots of red-colored food to satisfy that thirst for blood—red licorice, sliced red peppers, strawberries, red apples, red salsa with red tortilla chips, French fries with ketchup dip. Ask the bakery to tint a loaf of bread red, then make sandwiches with red jam. Cut out bat-shaped cookies, bake them, and spread with chocolate icing.

Offer a variety of red-colored drinks for the vampire guests, such as tomato juice, cranberry juice cocktail, red punch, red sports drink, etc. Freeze gummy worms in red water to make ice cubes for the drinks.

Make a coffin-shaped or tombstone-shaped red velvet cake, covered with chocolate icing.

Favors

Give the vampires plastic teeth, black capes, fake blood, posters of hot vampires, face painting makeup, videos of the shows, or other vampire related gifts—there are lots available!

Penny Warner has more than 25 years of experience as an author and party planner. She has published more than 50 books, including 16 specific to parties. Additionally, Warner writes a weekly newspaper column on family life, penned a column for Sesame Street Parents magazine and has appeared on several regional and national TV morning programs. Her latest books include LADIES’ NIGHT, HOW TO HOST A KILLER PARTY, and HOW TO CRASH A KILLER BASH.

Balloon Time is the leading brand of consumer helium balloon kits in North America. Balloon Time kits feature a helium-filled tank, latex or foil balloons and ribbon, and are available at national retail chains, party goods and grocery stores nationwide. For more information, visit BalloonTime.com.

*****************

To enter to win all you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post and tell me what kind of party you would host!

For an extra entries you can do the following:

1. Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter with a link back to this post. You can tweet once a day. Make sure you come back here and leave a comment on this post each time.

2. Post it on Facebook. You can post once a day. Make sure you come back here and leave a comment on this post each time.

Don't forget to include your email address in the comment. I know you have to include it to publish the comment, but unless it is actually within the body of the comment or you have email enabled on your Blogger profile I can't see it.

You have until midnight on Friday July 16, 2010 to enter. I'll announce the winner that weekend. Again, don't forget to leave your email so I can contact you!

US mailing addresses only.

Full disclosure: Balloon Time is sponsoring this giveaway and will provide the winner with a voucher can be redeemed at a local store (a retailer locator is available on the Balloon Time website at http://www.balloontime.com/display.php?page=storelocator). The only compensation I am receiving for this giveaway is the joy of offering something fun to my readers! ;)

Help fight Ovarian Cancer with Electrolux and enter to win a $25 Am Ex gift card! - ENDED

2010-06-29T18:28:00.000-07:00

Wow, this is the best response I've ever had to a giveaway! I actually had to come back and make sure I didn't say somewhere I was giving away the refrigerator and freezer! Thanks to everyone that visited Kelly-Confidential.com and made a banana split!

The winner of the $25 American Express gift card is commenter number 185 - missrantsypants!

***Don't forget to enter to win the Apple Bottoms 3-piece outfit I have here!***

First, can I just say "holy crap, who wouldn't love to have a refrigerator and freezer like this?!" Of course my kitchen isn't big enough to fit both, but a woman can dream can't she?

So anyway... Electrolux has a new stand-alone refrigerator and freezer! And to celebrate they have joined forces with Kelly Ripa and Stephen Bruce, the "Emperor of Ice Cream" and owner and founder of Serendipity 3, the landmark New York City restaurant and dessert spot.

The cool part (pun intended) is that Kelly and Bruce are making banana splits for a cause. And you get to dig in too, with your virtual spoon!

Go to www.Kelly-Confidential.com, and you can build your ultimate banana split using virtual ingredients from classic whipped cream to caramel sauce to rainbow sprinkles. For each "split", Electrolux will donate $1 to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund as part of its $750,000 commitment to help fight ovarian cancer.

As usual, Electrolux and Kelly find new and fun ways to say thank you to those who support this great cause. Everyone who logs on to the site and builds a split will be automatically entered for a chance to win the daily prize - $50 towards sweet summer treats - and the grand prize: the new stand-alone refrigerator and freezer from Electrolux.

You'll also find some of Serendipity 3’s ultimate banana split recipes on the site – sure to inspire incredible ice cream confections from experts and novices alike.

And to sweeten the deal a little more, MomSelect has offered me a $25 American Express gift card to giveaway to one of my readers! All you have to do to enter to win it is go to Kelly Confidential and build your virtual banana split, then come back and leave a comment here telling me what goodies you included! Besides bananas of course!

For an extra entry tweet about this post on Twitter and leave a link to the tweet in the comments. You can tweet once a day.

You have until midnight on Friday, July 9, 2010 to enter!

Disclosure: As a thank you for posting about the campaign MomSelect is sending me a $25 American Express gift card for my own use.

***Don't forget to enter to win the Apple Bottoms 3-piece outfit I have here!***

Apple Bottoms 3-piece outfit giveaway and Akademiks outfit review - ENDED

2010-06-25T18:55:00.000-07:00

***And the winner is commenter #11 "TJ and Amy"! Congrats! ***

I was very excited when I was given the opportunity via MomSelect to review an outfit from the Parigi Group. For nearly a quarter of a century, Parigi Group's stable of brands has played a major role and are some of the main contributors in helping to shape and define the children's fashion apparel market. They represent brands such as PUMA, Apple Bottoms, Akademiks, and LRG.

I'll admit, there aren't a lot of "cool" brands in my boys closets. We tend to stick to OshKosh and Carter's, with the occasional Gap outfit thrown in. At seven, Noah has yet to ask for specific brands, but I'm sure that will happen soon. *sigh* For now both boys pretty much wear what I put out for them, so the thrill of having something "cool" in the closet for Noah to wear is more mine, than his.

That said, Rich, Noah and I were all excited when the box came from the Parigi Group and we opened it up to find this outfit from Akademiks!

I thought it looked a little big for Noah, and he was in a bit of a mood, so instead of asking him to try it on I just set it out to take the picture. Well, he decided he wanted to see if it was too big.

Apparently in the seven-year-old world of fashion this is how you test out size. Fortunately feeling the outfit under him was enough to inspire him to try it on.

Here are the jeans. A little big on him right now but I think they will be perfect in the fall. Cool pockets, yes?

The "ensemble" moved him to show off some of his karate moves while I was taking pictures.

MomSelect and Parigi have offered to give away an outfit to one of my readers!

For you, my lucky reader, they have chosen an Apple Bottoms 3 piece outfit in a size 3-6 months (shown above). It looks absolutely adorable and makes me seriously sad I don't have at least one little girl to dress up in my family! We only grow boys on both sides of the family it seems, so I'll just have to live vicariously via one of my readers.

To enter to win all you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post and tell me who you would like to win this outfit for!

For extra entries you can do the following:

1. Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter with a link back to this post. You can tweet once a day. Make sure you come back here and leave a comment on this post each time.

2. Post it on Facebook. You can post once a day. Make sure you come back here and leave a comment on this post each time.

3. Follow my blog here in a reader or via email. Leave a comment here letting me know you do.

4. Follow my main blog (Mommy Needs Therapy) in a reader or via email. Leave a comment here letting me know you do.

5. Post about this giveaway on your blog. Leave a link in the comments to let me know.

Don't forget to include your email address in the comment. I know you have to include it to publish the comment, but unless it is actually within the body of the comment or you have email enabled on your Blogger profile I can't see it.

You have until midnight on Friday July 9, 2010 to enter. I'll announce the winner that weekend. Again, don't forget to leave your email so I can contact you!

US mailing addresses only.

Full disclosure: MomSelect and Parigi are providing the clothes for this review and giveaway. I am not receiving monetary compensation for hosting this giveaway. The opinions in my review are purely my own.

Shaun the Sheep: One Giant Leap for Lambkind review and giveaway! - ended

2010-06-11T15:44:00.000-07:00

And the winner is Mom2anutball! Congrats!

**Don't forget to enter the other DVD giveaways I have going on!!**

Since my boys saw their first episode of Shaun the Sheep they have been huge fans. Even Rich enjoys it. I still don't quite get the appeal, but they love it so much I don't complain. You can imagine how excited they get when a new Shaun the Sheep DVD arrives in the mail for us to review! I know I'm going to hear hysterical laughter from them as soon as we play it.

Rich and Kiel have about a 45 minute drive to and from work/daycare (Kiel's daycare is an employee daycare), so when they take our minivan Rich usually lets Kiel watch the DVD player. He doesn't understand the concept of headphones quite yet so everything is a silent movie for him. Shaun the Sheep is actually a pretty good video for him since there isn't much (any?) actual dialogue.

Shaun the Sheep: One Giant Leap for Lambkind

He’s Baa-aa-aack! The beloved, award-winning Shaun the Sheep™ returns for a brand new collection of barnyard adventures – and he’s not alone. The six-episode collection, Shaun the Sheep: One Giant Leap for Lambkind, beams onto DVD June 8, 2010 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. Shaun and his pals will have close encounters of a different kind with old nemeses the Naughty Pigs as well new friends from a galaxy far, far away! Five minute shorts of the series currently air in the U.S. on the Disney Channel. Fans can only find full length episodes on the DVDs.

DVD SYNOPSIS:

Unidentified Farm Objects and paranormal sightings are the norm with Shaun the Sheep and his barnyard buddies Bitzer, Shirley and Timmy, as they encounter more madcap mischief along with those Naughty Pigs next door. Big laughs are evident, as the creators of the Academy Award®-winning Wallace & Gromit™ are out to prove that sheep-herding fun is universal.
The latest DVD is now available and I have a copy available to give to one of my readers! Yeah!

To enter to win all you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post!

For extra entries tweet about this giveaway on Twitter with a link back to this post. Or post it on Facebook. You can tweet or post once a day. Make sure you come back here and leave a comment on this post each time.

Don't forget to include your email address in the comment. I know you have to include it to publish the comment, but unless it is actually within the body of the comment or you have email enabled on your Blogger profile I can't see it.

You have until midnight on Friday June 18, 2010 to enter. I'll announce the winner that weekend. Again, don't forget to leave your email so I can contact you!

US mailing addresses only.

Full disclosure: Andrea Blain Public Relations and Lionsgate and HIT Entertaiment provided me with my own copy of this DVD . I am not receiving monetary compensation for hosting this giveaway. The opinions in my review are purely my own.

Barney™: Songs From the Park DVD + Music CD review and giveaway! - ended

2010-06-09T18:05:00.000-07:00

And the winner is mysharona! Congrats!

OK, we've all done it. Made fun of that big purple dinosaur Barney. He pretty much annoys the crap out of us parents, but darn it, our toddlers love him! And we really can't complain because that silly dinosaur does address useful topics (like sharing and caring) for our kids, and he keeps them out of our hair for a few minutes so we can get dinner ready (right?).

Today I have Barney's new DVD Barney™: Songs From the Park DVD + Music CD to giveaway to one of my lucky readers!

A little more info:
Barney’s park is a fun place to play! Create musical memories with 20 of your favorite songs and join Barney, Baby Bop™ and BJ™ as they visit the pond, gazebo, playground and caboose. It’s something to sing about!

Strike up the band for fun in the sun with Barney™ and his playground friends in Songs From the Park DVD + Music CD available in one DVD package on June 15, 2010 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. Filled with 20 favorite Barney songs – perfect for outdoor sing-alongs -- this magical, musical DVD comes packaged with a free music CD of five fun songs, designed to create musical memories for fans everywhere. The songs featured on the CD include: "Fun, Fun, Sunny Day," "By Myself," "Duckies Do," "Rain, Rain Go Away," and "Bubbles." Songs From the Park is also available as a digital download.

Barney: song's From the Park is available in stores June 15, 2010, but you can win your own copy here.

To enter to win all you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post!

For extra entries tweet about this giveaway on Twitter with a link back to this post. Or post it on Facebook. You can tweet or post once a day. Make sure you come back here and leave a comment on this post each time.

Don't forget to include your email address in the comment. I know you have to include it to publish the comment, but unless it is actually within the body of the comment or you have email enabled on your Blogger profile I can't see it.

You have until midnight on Friday June 18, 2010 to enter. I'll announce the winner that weekend. Again, don't forget to leave your email so I can contact you!

US mailing addresses only.

Full disclosure: Andrea Blain Public Relations and Lionsgate and HIT Entertaiment provided me with my own copy of this DVD . I am not receiving monetary compensation for hosting this giveaway. The opinions in my review are purely my own.

Sara Hickman's "Big Bird, Little Bird" DVD review and giveaway! - ended

2010-06-09T17:37:00.000-07:00

And the winner is Gianna! Congrats!

I have several children's DVD's I'll be reviewing and giving away this week! So don't forget to come back and enter to win!

First up is “Big Bird, Little Bird” a new DVD from Singer/Songwriter Sara Hickman!

I wasn't familiar with Sara Hickman, so I didn't know what to expect when I received the DVD. We popped it in the DVD player one night a couple weeks ago (yes, I am incredibly behind in my reviews right now!) when I was trying to get the boys to calm down before bed.

"Big Bird, Little Bird" features 13 of Hickman's "soothing songs for children aged newborn to five years, that are brought to life through bright, colorful computer animation."

Kiel sat right down and watched about 75% of it and enjoyed it. Noah checked it out but quickly told me it was for little kids. Rich and I thought it was cute, but were a little confused (and amused) by the song "Goop's in It" that is about eye boogers.

Overall it was nice music. Definitely the kind of music I would play for little kids during naps or at bedtime.

The DVD also includes 14 short parenting tips, which I have not watched yet, so I really can't comment on them. In general I don't find "parenting tips" like that to be anything but annoying, so YMMV on that part.

Personally, I'd go out and get the CD that this DVD is based on before I'd buy the DVD. But, if you would like to win one I have one copy available to give away to one of my readers. You'll find entry requirements at the end of this post.

But before you do that, here is some more information about the "Big Bird, Little Bird."

Big Bird, Little Bird DVD from renowned singer/songwriter Sara Hickman was just named a winner in Dr. Toy’s Best Vacation Products 2010 and will be available in stores June 15, 2010.

Big Bird, Little Bird, based upon Hickman’s award-winning CD Newborn, – features 13 of Hickman’s soothing songs for children ages newborn to five. The DVD is brought to life through bright, colorful computer animation (one by Hickman herself) that engages young viewers and creates a calming bonding experience between parent and child that can be shared and enjoyed again and again.

Whether learning about the goop lingering in the corner of your eye, the family tree or a dispute between two birds over a crumb of bread, Big Bird, Little Bird DVD is a sweet union of visual, lyrical and musical art and a stunning treasure to be added to any wee one’s DVD library.

Songs – ranging from 52 seconds to 5 minutes – are “It’s Alright (Acapella), “A Slice of Heaven,” “Goop’s In It,” “Big Bird, Little Bird,” “Lily,” “This Heart,” “You Are My Sunshine,” “The Family Tree (You and Me),” “All Things Bright and Beautiful,” “We Are Each Other’s Angels” and “It’s Alright.”

The DVD also includes 14 short parenting tips – hosted by Hickman, a former certified parenting instructor – offering ideas on what to expect as they enter the glorious challenge that is their newborn’s life. Tips include “Nursing,” “First Hello,” “Introduce Your Baby,” “Being Polite,” “Being on the Same Level,” “No-No to Pacifiers,” “G.E.M.s,” “Feeling Frustrated,” “Early to Bed, Early to Rise,” Consistency is Key,” “It’s a Whole Other World,” “Going to the Store,” “Family Ritual” and “Rap Up.”

To enter to win all you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post!

For extra entries tweet about this giveaway on Twitter with a link back to this post. You can tweet once a day. Make sure you come back here and leave a comment on this post each time.

Don't forget to include your email address in the comment. I know you have to include it to publish the comment, but unless it is actually within the body of the comment or you have email enabled on your Blogger profile I can't see it.

You have until midnight on Friday June 18, 2010 to enter. I'll announce the winner that weekend. Again, don't forget to leave your email so I can contact you!

US mailing addresses only.

Full disclosure: Andrea Blain Public Relations provided me with my own copy of this DVD . I am not receiving monetary compensation for hosting this giveaway. The opinions in my review are purely my own.

Promotional screening of Despicable Me (Philadelphia area)

2010-06-08T18:00:00.000-07:00

If you are in the Philadelphia area and are interested in attending a promotional screening of Despicable Me on any of the below dates, email me or leave me a comment here and I'll pass your information on to my contact!

Wednesday, June 9 at 7:30pm at the AMC Neshaminy

Saturday, June 26 at 10:00am at the UA Riverview

Wednesday, June 30 at 7:30 at the Rave Motion Pictures UPenn 6 (formerly Bridge De Lux)

Wednesday, July 7 at 7:30pm at the AMC Cherry Hill

More info about the movie...

Synopsis: In a happy suburban neighborhood surrounded by white picket fences with flowering rose bushes, sits a black house with a dead lawn. Unbeknownst to the neighbors, hidden beneath this home is a vast secret hideout. Surrounded by a small army of minions, we discover Gru (voiced by Steve Carell), planning the biggest heist in the history of the world. He is going to steal the moon (Yes, the moon!) in Universal's new 3-D CGI feature, "Despicable Me."

Gru delights in all things wicked. Armed with his arsenal of shrink rays, freeze rays, and battle-ready vehicles for land and air, he vanquishes all who stand in his way. Until the day he encounters the immense will of three little orphaned girls who look at him and see something that no one else has ever seen: a potential Dad.

The world's greatest villain has just met his greatest challenge: three little girls named Margo, Edith and Agnes.

Release Date: July 9, 2010

Studio: Universal Pictures

Genre: Animation, Comedy

MPAA Rating: PG (for rude humor and mild action)

Official Website: www.Despicable.me

All of us at Universal Pictures are happy you'll be joining us at the upcoming screening of DESPICABLE ME and we respect your responsibility to communicate about your attendance. If you are attending as a member of the press and want to review the film, your attendance at this screening is under the condition that you hold your review until opening. As such, we consider Twitter & Facebook like any other mediums, and posting to them, regardless of brevity, is no different than posting a review to a site, broadcasting on airwaves or publishing in print. We ask, in return for the privilege of attending, that you restrict any Tweets & posts related to the event to the simplest information. Please extend the same rules of your overall review embargo agreement to Twitter & Facebook. We are continually revising our own position as technology and communication grow faster and more personalized, and we rely on your input to inform our policies. Please call us if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you.

Experience the Zestra Rush!! A giveaway and review way better than yogurt!

2010-05-02T19:21:00.000-07:00

***And the winners are commenters 4 and 9. Steph and Robin you should have received an email from me! Congrats!***

If you didn't win, Semprae Labs is offering my readers a special coupon code ZBONUS5 for $5 off a Zestra 12-Pack or 4-Pack when purchased at www.Zestra.com. This offer expires 8/11/10.

I have a fun review and giveaway for you ladies today! Something a little more exciting than yogurt and DVD's!

Last night my hubby and I had a much needed night out and since the boys were both sound asleep when we came home, we had a chance to have some "alone" time.

If you read my main blog, Mommy Needs Therapy or a Bottle of Wine, you might remember my posts here and here about my frankenvulva. They aren't for the faint at heart, so be warned.

In a nut shell, between having a baby at 39 that required a forceps delivery, the joys of peri-menopause, and having two young children, sex in the MNT household is sporadic at best. And like many women (so I've heard) it can take me a while to get warmed up to the point of fireworks. And quite often the fireworks get rained out. Frankly it sucks!

So when TwitterMoms and Semprae Labs offered me the opportunity to try Zestra, a topical, non-prescription blend of botanical oils and extracts that enhances female sexual arousal, desire and satisfaction, I jumped at the chance.

On Zestra.com there is a video that describes sex for woman as a bus ride. Some women just don't feel like getting on the bus (lack of arousal), or when they are on the bus they aren't enjoying the ride (lack of arousal). And some women never quite make it to their destination (lack of orgasm).

Let's just say I've been having problems with that damn bus for a while.

So we tried it out last night and at first I was a little underwhelmed. And then slowly things started to warm up down there. And then BAM, there was that Zestra Rush they talk about on the website. It was definitely interesting!

And a bit strange.

And very focused.

It certainly made the bus ride more interesting, but sadly I didn't quite get to my intended destination. Fortunately I have a few more tickets to try out, so maybe it was just first ride jitters. I definitely haven't given up hope that my bus ride will be more satisfying in the future!

Anyway...Semprae Labs wants to give two of my readers a chance to try out Zestra for themselves! It's definitely worth trying!

To enter to win a two-pack sample of Zestra all you have to do is leave a comment here!

LikeWear review, discount code and giveaway! - ended!

2010-04-18T18:29:00.000-07:00

And the winner is commenter 17 - ♥Georgie♥ who said...

"awesome! LOVE the 'this is how i roll' design LOL"!

Congrats Georgie. You should have received an email from me.

**************************

With the earlier than usual warm weather this spring, I was scrambling a bit to get the spring clothes out for the boys. Noah can still wear some of his stuff from last summer/fall, but Kiel has outgrown everything except some of his pj's and a few t-shirts. So on one of Noah's days off for spring break he and I sorted through clothes in his room and uncovered a few boxes of his old clothes that Kiel can wear now. I think we are good with shorts, but he could definitely use a few new shirts.

So imagine how quickly I jumped when MomSelect and LikeWear offered me the chance to try out their clothes and share some discounts and a giveaway with my readers!

LikeWear®, a modern day fusion of a fun, boutique children's clothing line and more traditional party plan direct sales companies, was founded by experienced parents- Lisa and Ken Gold. They've combined kids' clothing desires with the needs of moms to provide a flexible and financially rewarding way to earn money or have a career marketing a unique line of clothing and accessories that feature products, brands and other stuff moms and their kids really "like".

From modern day and vintage package art, to exclusive designs and unique twists on popular culture, LikeWear has created more than 100 images featuring family friendly brands like Wheaties, Trix, Tootsie Roll, Dots, Honda and many others. To make things really interesting, they use a just-in-time manufacturing process and encourage representatives to help their customers mix and match their images with different body types and color ways.

LikeWear gave me $50 to use in their online shop and paid for shipping.

Since I was in need of shirts for Kiel I didn't include him in the shopping experience, but I can see how it would be fun for older kids. The first thing I noticed was it took a few clicks to get to the shopping page I needed and the website wasn't anything fancy. It was however, fairly easy to navigate and the ordering process went quite smoothly.

Now the price of the clothes is more than I would typically spend on the boys. I ended up choosing two t's that cost $28 each, so I had to chip in six bucks of my own money at the end. I am totally not complaining about that though, because really, I still got two awesome tops for Kiel for only six dollars!

I had a hard time deciding on what to order for Kiel, because there was so much cute stuff!

My absolute favorite was this one:

I mean seriously, is there a better message than that? Rich however said "yes, there is a better message, and that one is not appropriate for a 2 year old, or a seven year old!" He clearly knows how I think.

So I ended up ordering these two for Kiel:

I ordered them on a Sunday evening. Imagine my surprise when they arrived on Wednesday! Now, they are located in NJ and I'm in PA, so I doubt this happens all the time. But still! Impressive!

And they are excellent quality! I've washed them once and even after sitting in the laundry basket for a couple days they still looked good. As long as I manage to keep them stain free he should be able to wear them this year and well into next year. Kiel wore the "this is how I roll" to preschool the other day and everyone commented on how cute it was.

So overall an awesome experience from ordering to having the product in my hand!

If you are interested, LikeWear also offers moms an entrepreneurial opportunity to have their own business.

LikeWear®, the first and only company to focus on selling licensed apparel and accessories via the Direct Selling channel, is a modern day fusion of a fun, boutique children’s clothing line and more traditional party plan direct sales companies (like Mary Kay or The Pampered Chef). We provide a flexible and financially rewarding way to earn money or have a career selling a unique line of children’s clothing and accessories that feature products, brands and other stuff moms and their kids really like. Hence the name LikeWear!

From modern day and vintage package art, to exclusive designs and unique twists on popular culture, we’ve created more than 100 images featuring family friendly brands like Wheaties, Trix, Tootsie Roll, Dots, Honda PowerSports and many others. To make things really interesting, we use a just-in-time manufacturing process and encourage our representatives to help their customers mix and match our images with different body types and color ways. By doing so, we hope to truly fulfill the promise of our tagline, “wear what you like”.

You can check them out online here, or download a high rez version of their current Spring/Summer/Camp catalog here. Below are links to .pdf’s of some of their marketing materials.

LikeWear Image Catalog (PDF)
Collection 7 Catalog – for email (PDF) (fyi - the catalog link above is a higher resolution version)
Collection 7 Kit Options – for email (PDF)
Hostess Program Flyer (PDF)
Opportunity Brochure & Comp Plan (PDF)

Now, for the exciting part!

LikeWear is offering all of my readers a 25% discount (not including sale items). All you have to do is enter the code "MOMMYNEEDSTHERAPY" in the discount/coupon code section when you are checking out (don't forget to hit "apply"). This code is good until May 17, 2010.

And, one of you has a chance to win your own $50 merchandise credit to LikeWear. To enter to win all you have to do is check out LikeWear yourself and tell me which design is your favorite in a comment on this post.

For extra entries tweet about this giveaway on Twitter with a link back to this post. You can tweet once a day. Make sure you come back here and leave a comment on this post each time.

For one more entry follow my blog in a feed reader or subscribe via Google Friend Connect and leave a comment here letting me know.

Don't forget to include your email address in the comment. I know you have to include it to publish the comment, but unless it is actually within the body of the comment or you have email enabled on your Blogger profile I can't see it.

You have until midnight on Sunday April 25, 2010 to enter. I'll announce the winner that week. Again, don't forget to leave your email so I can contact you!

Disclosure: Merchandise credits for me and the winner as well as the 25% discount and information about the products and program were provided by LikeWear and MomSelect. All opinions in this blog post are mine!

Poster print giveaway from Uprinting.com! - ended!

2010-04-18T17:12:00.000-07:00

And the winner is commenter #4 - Sue, who said "I have a picture of my husband and boys following one of my son's football games. I love it!! Thanks for the giveaway."

Sue you should have received an email from me!

**********************************************

If you are a regular reader you should know by now that Uprinting.com is a sponsor of Mommy Needs Therapy and I'm a big fan of their product!

A couple months ago they did some rolled canvas prints for me. I finally took them to be framed and then I finally picked them up. And now I've finally unwrapped them and I figure if all goes as usual I should have them up on the wall in the next three or four months! I move fast, I know!

I really wish we had a mantle to put this over.

Of course I was super pleased with how they turned out. I have yet to be disappointed by something I've ordered from them! The only problem with the rolled canvas is that it cost way more to get framed than it did to have it printed. Why is framing so damn expensive?

Anyway...One of the things I love about Uprinting.com is that they like to host giveaways!

And right now they are offering one of my readers the chance to win an 18x24 poster print! All the winner has to do is upload their picture and choose high-gloss or semi-gloss paper stock. Shipping is included. This giveaway is limited to US shipping addresses only.

To enter just leave a comment on this post telling me what you would do with the poster!

For extra entries tweet about this giveaway on Twitter with a link back to this post. You can tweet once a day. Make sure you come back here and leave a comment on this post each time.

For one more entry follow my blog in a feed reader or subscribe via Google Friend Connect and leave a comment here letting me know.

Don't forget to include your email address in the comment. I know you have to include it to publish the comment, but unless it is actually within the body of the comment or you have email enabled on your Blogger profile I can't see it.

You have until midnight on Sunday, April 25, 2010 to enter. I'll announce the winner that week. Again, don't forget to leave your email so I can contact you!

Disclosure: Uprinting.com is sponsoring this giveaway and will be providing me with a poster print of my own. Any opinions stated here about Uprinting are purely my own.

Simply...Go-Gurt "simplify your life" prize pack giveaway and coupons!!

2010-04-11T10:52:00.000-07:00

And the winner is commenter #56 - Tina who tweeted about the contest on 4/23! Congrats Tiny. You'll be receiving an email from me shortly.

********************

Last week I bought two boxes of Yoplait's new Simply...Go-Gurt and my boys ate both boxes in in less than three days! I think it is safe to say they like it!

I like it because it has no artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners! You might be surprised how many yogurts out there have artificial colors in them, and with a kid that reacts to red and yellow dye by getting more hyper than usual, we have to be careful what yogurt we buy for him.

I can tell you in all honesty that Simply...Go-Gurt is now a staple kids yogurt in the MNT house!

Would you like to try it yourself? The first 30 readers who click on the "Try It Free" tab below will receive a coupon for a free package of Simply...Go-Gurt!* After the 30 coupons are claimed, the micro site will include a link to a $1.10 off coupon so everyone who visits can share in the savings!

And if you would you like to win a coupon for a free sample of Simply... Go-Gurt* as well as a Go-Gurt "Simplify Your Life" prize pack that includes a pocket Etch a Sketch, weekly planner and a seat back organizer leave a comment on this blog post!

Other ways to enter:

For extra entries tweet about this giveaway on Twitter with a link back to this post. You can tweet once a day. Make sure you come back here and leave a comment on this post each time.

For one more entry follow my blog in a feed reader or subscribe via Google Friend Connect and leave a comment here letting me know.

Don't forget to include your email address in the comment. I know you have to include it to publish the comment, but unless it is actually within the body of the comment or you have email enabled on your Blogger profile I can't see it.

You have until midnight on Friday, April 23, 2010 to enter. I'll announce the winner that weekend. Again, don't forget to leave your email so I can contact you!

Disclosure: Simply...Go-Gurt, product information and the gift pack to give away to one of my readers were all given to me from Yoplait and MyBlogSpark. Any opinions made by me are purely my own.

*This coupon offer for free Simply... Go-Gurt is not valid in some states, including California, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, Nevada, North Dakota and Tennessee.

Yoplait Greek yogurt "Nourish Your Inner Goddess" giveaway! - ended!

2010-04-11T10:16:00.000-07:00

Wow! You guys like yogurt! The winner is commenter #95 - Swtlilchick who follows me on Google Friend Connect! Congrats! You should have received an email from me.

****************************

My boys boys both love yogurt, and I'm a big fan of them eating it because of the protein and calcium in it. While I'm not a huge yogurt eater myself, I do like to substitute sour cream with Greek Yogurt when ever possible. I like that Greek yogurt tends to be thicker than regular yogurt and that it has more protein and low to no fat in it.

And now Yoplait has come out with Yoplait GREEK in four flavors: Strawberry, Blueberry, Honey Vanilla and Plain.

I'm very excited to try it, and I think I'm going to use it to try out the Creamy Turkey Mushroom Stroganoff recipe Yoplait Greek has on their website.

You can go here or to www.yoplaitgreek.com to print a coupon for $0.30 on one cup of new Yoplait Greek yogurt so you can try it too!

Want to win two VIP* coupons for two free cups of Yoplait Greek yogurt and a Yoplait Greek "Nourish Your Inner Goddess" gift pack of your own?

To enter to win all you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post!

For extra entries tweet about this giveaway on Twitter with a link back to this post. You can tweet once a day. Make sure you come back here and leave a comment on this post each time.

For one more entry follow my blog in a feed reader or subscribe via Google Friend Connect and leave a comment here letting me know.

Don't forget to include your email address in the comment. I know you have to include it to publish the comment, but unless it is actually within the body of the comment or you have email enabled on your Blogger profile I can't see it.

You have until midnight on Friday April 23, 2010 to enter. I'll announce the winner that weekend. Again, don't forget to leave your email so I can contact you!

Disclosure: The VIP coupons, gift pack, information and additional gift pack to give away to one of my readers were all given to me from Yoplait and MyBlogSpark. Any opinions made by me are purely my own.

*This coupon offer for a free cup of Yoplait Greek yogurt is not valid in some states, including California, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, and Tennessee.

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel DVD giveaway!

2010-03-26T13:58:00.000-07:00

***Wow, you guys really like the Chipmunks! So, without further ado, the winner is commenter number 9: Rebecca G who said: The whole family would enjoy this movie. Rebecca you should have received an email from me requesting your mailing address.***

If you are in the Philly area tomorrow, March 27. head over to the Neshaminy Mall for a dance party to celebrate the release of Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel on DVD and Blu-Ray March 30!

At the dance party you can learn dance moves from the movie with instruction from Philadelphia 76ers dancers; get creative at the arts and crafts table; and win tons of free giveaways!

Date: Saturday, March 27th
Time: 11AM – 5PM
Location: 707 Neshaminy Mall, Bensalem, PA 19020

There will also be events in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and Phoenix.

Want to know a little more about The Squeakquel?

A follow-up to 2007’s Alvin and the Chipmunks, Chipmunk singing sensations Alvin, Simon and Theodore are back for an encore in this hilarious “squeakquel” packed with over an hour more of music. The Squeak-Along bonus content includes new sing-alongs such as Beyonce’s “Single Ladies,” teaches audiences how to dance like the Chipmunks with the “Shake Your Groove Thing” dance instructional video, games and more nutty fun for the whole family!

When a concert mishap lands Dave in the hospital, the Chipmunks take a break from superstardom and enroll in school to fit in with kids their age. But they soon face some stiff competition when they meet the Chipettes — a beautiful, talented trio of chipmunks discovered by Ian, the boys’ evil ex-manager.

For more Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel fun go to www.MunkYourself.com now to create your own munk! The website will include many new updates that are sure to make you party like a munk-star, including 2 brand-new games -- "Dance to the Beat" and "Munk Mic" -- as well as the ability to generate a munked audio-recording of your voice which can be downloaded as a ringtone.

Can't make it to one of the dance parties? Well all is not lost, you can enter here to win your own copy of Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel!

To enter to win all you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post!

For extra entries tweet about this giveaway on Twitter with a link back to this post. You can tweet once a day. Make sure you come back here and leave a comment on this post each time.

Don't forget to include your email address in the comment. I know you have to include it to publish the comment, but unless it is actually within the body of the comment or you have email enabled on your Blogger profile I can't see it.

You have until midnight on Friday April 2, 2010 to enter. I'll announce the winner that weekend. Again, don't forget to leave your email so I can contact you!

Fox Home Entertainment and the AMP Agency are hosting this giveaway and will be providing me with a screener of the film as well.

Thomas & The Runaway Kite DVD giveaway!

2010-03-18T09:54:00.000-07:00

***And the winner is commenter number 42, Melissa B. who said...

My girls and I love Thomas. Melissa you should have received an email from me requesting your mailing information.***

Thomas & Friends™:

Thomas & The Runaway Kite

Available March 2, 2010

From Lionsgate And HIT Entertainment

If you've entered any of my other giveaways from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment you know that Kiel is a huge fan of Thomas the Train. He's such a boys boy!

Cute story (at least to me): Kiel and I were in the car and we drove under a train trestle with a freight train going over it. Kiel was very excited and pointed at it and said "Mommy! Choo choo truck!"

I corrected him and said "Yes, Choo choo TRAIN" emphasizing the word train.

Kiel responds with "NO, Choo choo TRUCK!" very slowly and clearly and really emphasizing the word truck.

It cracked me up. I don't know why, but it still surprises me when a 2 year old shows a distinct sense of humor that is all his own.

So anyway...

Here is the info about Thomas & The Runaway Kite:

There’s a kite on the loose and Thomas must catch it before the wind blows it from Sodor. With Gordon, Charlie and Toby by his side, Thomas learns that a helping hand keeps him right on track when it comes to rescuing kites, saving a swarm of bees, and preventing railway disasters from taking flight! Hop on board for a high-flying ride with Thomas & Friends™ in these all-new, never-before-seen train adventures!

Thomas & The Runaway Kite are already in stores, so if you can't wait to win it you can buy it!

To enter to win all you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post!

For extra entries tweet about this giveaway on Twitter with a link back to this post. You can tweet once a day. Make sure you come back here and leave a comment on this post each time.

Don't forget to include your email address in the comment. I know you have to include it to publish the comment, but unless it is actually within the body of the comment or you have email enabled on your Blogger profile I can't see it.

You have until midnight on Friday April 2, 2010 to enter. I'll announce the winner that weekend. Again, don't forget to leave your email so I can contact you!

Full disclosure: Andrea Blain Public Relations and Lionsgate and HIT Entertaiment provided me with my own copy of this DVD . I am not receiving monetary compensation for hosting this giveaway. The opinions in my review are purely my own and I do not provide false information for personal gain.

Bob The Builder: Heavy Duty Diggers DVD giveaway

2010-03-17T19:02:00.001-07:00

***And the winner is commenter number 46, cdziuba who tweeted on 3/28! You should have received an email from me!***

The boys and I have been so lucky the last several months and have received several DVD's from Andrea Blain Public Relations to review. And even better, we have been able to offer many of them as a giveaway to one of YOU! Right now I have a couple giveaways going so make sure you check all my recent posts!

*********************

Bob The Builder: Heavy Duty Diggers

I just received this DVD to review today and when I showed it to Kiel his face lit up and he immediately took it over to Daddy to show him. It really was adorable. I promised him we will watch it tomorrow, and I have no doubt he will love it as Bob the Builder is right up there with Thomas the Train as his favorite shows to watch.

See Bob the Builder and the Can-Do Crew like never before through the power of CG animation! Bob and the team are hard at work in their new location in Harbor Town where Lofty leads the construction of a new ocean pier and transforms an old shack into a surf school; Scratch, the newest addition to the Top Team, is digging his way into all sorts of adventures with Scoop at the museum; and Scrambler attempts to build a tree house at the school by himself. Grab your hard hat and get ready to find out why the fun is in getting it done!

Bob the Builder: Heavy Duty Diggers hits stores on March 23, 2010.

To enter to win all you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post!

For extra entries tweet about this giveaway on Twitter with a link back to this post. You can tweet once a day. Make sure you come back here and leave a comment on this post each time.

Don't forget to include your email address in the comment. I know you have to include it to publish the comment, but unless it is actually within the body of the comment or you have email enabled on your Blogger profile I can't see it.

You have until midnight on Friday April 2, 2010 to enter. I'll announce the winner that weekend. Again, don't forget to leave your email so I can contact you!

John Deere Earth Mover Action DVD giveaway!

2010-03-17T18:19:00.000-07:00

***And the winner is commenter number 41,cstironkat who tweeted on 4/1! You should have received an email from me requesting your mailing information.***

The boys and I have been so lucky the last several months and have received several DVD's from Andrea Blain Public Relations to review. And even better, we have been able to offer many of them as a giveaway to one of YOU! Right now I have a couple giveaways going so make sure you check all my recent posts!

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

John Deere Earth Mover Action

Usually I watch the DVD's with my boys before I post a giveaway, but with this one I'm so excited that I wanted to post the giveaway as soon as possible so one of you lucky readers can receive it before it hits the stores!

I can't wait to watch this with Kiel and see his excitement. I bet even Noah gets into it. I'm positive this one is going to get a lot of play in our house. Not to mention that I've always been a John Deere fan myself. I guess it comes standard when you grow up on a farm.

John Deere Earth Mover Action is rumbling onto DVD April 13, 2010. This 40-minute tribute to big-machines – excavators, front-end loaders, graders, scrapers, and backhoes, includes a fascinating look at John Deere’s newest – the fast, powerful, four-track 764 Dozer.

This is what they are saying about it:

TM Books & Video’s crews scoured the country to find John Deere big machines working hard in interesting places – watch a grader plowing snow in the Rockies, excavators digging dirt and loading big articulated dump trucks, dozers climbing hills and pushing dirt, front-end loaders moving big rocks in a quarry – powerful, big-time earth-mover action that will thrill and delight young and old alike. Learn interesting facts about these mighty vehicles and play the “Let’s Pretend game" where young viewers imagine being the operator of an earth-moving machine.

Stop-action segments feature die-cast toys and articulated super heroes mining candy at the Big Rock Candy Mountain Quarry. Sing-along to all-new toe tapping tunes by award-winning singer/songwriter James Coffey. Kids will learn, laugh, and want more.

John Deere Earth Mover Action, is recommended for ages three and older, will be available April 13, 2010 for a suggested retail price of $14.95.

To enter to win all you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post!

For extra entries tweet about this giveaway on Twitter with a link back to this post. You can tweet once a day. Make sure you come back here and leave a comment on this post each time.

Don't forget to include your email address in the comment. I know you have to include it to publish the comment, but unless it is actually within the body of the comment or you have email enabled on your Blogger profile I can't see it.

You have until midnight on Friday April 2, 2010 to enter. I'll announce the winner that weekend. Again, don't forget to leave your email so I can contact you!

Full disclosure: I will receive my own copy of this DVD for review from Andrea Blain Public Relations and TM Books & Video. I am not receiving monetary compensation for hosting this giveaway.

Shaun the Sheep: A Woolly Good Time review and giveaway!

2010-02-10T16:33:00.000-08:00

******And the winner is commenter #21 -Jessica, who said Thanks for the giveaway! My nieces would love this!

Jessica you should have received an email from me requesting your mailing information. Congratulations!****************

Today was a good day to stay inside and watch movies! My boys didn't completely agree as you can see, but they were happy to come inside after a long romp in the Blizzard of 2010.

We were all lucky that waiting for us was a new movie we were given to review:

Shaun The Sheep™: A Woolly Good Time

I'll be honest, I don't understand the attraction to this, but my boys (including my husband) love it! They can't get enough of it. When Kiel saw the cover on the DVD box his face lit up and he said "sha shee, sha shee," which I'm fairly certain was "Shaun the Sheep."

Here is some information about the DVD:

From The Academy Award®-Winning Creators Of Wallace & Gromit™ Comes The All-New Shaun The Sheep™: A Woolly Good Time

It’s another crazy ba-a-a-tch of adventures when the all-new Shaun the Sheep: A Woolly Good Time arrives on DVD February 16, 2010 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. An international hit, Shaun the Sheep recently won an International Emmy Award for Children & Young People. Five minute shorts of the series also currently air in the U.S. on the Disney Channel. Fans can only find full length episodes on the DVDs.

A little pinch of zaniness and a big dash of fun is the perfect recipe for laughter as Shaun the Sheep and his barnyard buddies Bitzer, Shirley, Timmy and friends get into more wacky shenanigans in Shaun the Sheep: A Woolly Good Time. The laughs keep rising as the creators of the Academy Award™- winning Wallace & Gromit are on a roll, dough-ling out more sheep herding mayhem by the baker’s dozen.

I figure even if I'm not a fan, it keeps the boys occupied for an hour so I can get some work done. So win-win in my book!

And because my guys are such fans of this, and Andrea Blain Public Relations Inc. is so awesome, I'm able to offer one of my readers their own copy of Shaun the Sheep: A Woolly Good Time!

To enter to win all you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post!

For extra entries tweet about this giveaway on Twitter with a link back to this post. You can tweet once a day. Make sure you come back here and leave a comment on this post each time.

Don't forget to include your email address in the comment. I know you have to include it to publish the comment, but unless it is actually within the body of the comment or you have email enabled on your Blogger profile I can't see it.

You have until midnight on Friday February 19 26, 2010 to enter. I'll announce the winner that weekend. Again, don't forget to leave your email so I can contact you!

Full disclosure: I was provided with a copy of the DVD for review. The opinions in my review are purely my own and I do not provide false information for personal gain.

$50 Safeway gift card giveaway!! Grocery money people! - ended!

2010-02-03T13:47:00.000-08:00

****~~~~~****And the winner is commenter 54 - Annette D ****~~~~~****

Annette you should have received an email from me requesting your mailing information.

***Don't forget to go here and enter my other giveaway!**

I do most of my shopping at our local Genuardi's (a Safeway store). I like it because over the years I've come to know many of their employees. Their pharmacists have been especially helpful dealing with all of Noah's medication and insurance billing issues. It feels like a family store, and I like that.

Right now the Safeway family of stores has a special deal where you can purchase two 4-packs of Fiber One yogurt for only $4. This deal is going on until February 9th. It's a great deal, especially if you are able to combine it with the coupons that I'm pretty sure I've seen floating around or go to the Fiber One website and click on the box at the bottom of the front page to print out their coupons.

Safeway and Fiber One (through MyBlogSpark) are offering one of my readers a $50 Safeway gift card (also good at Dominick´s, Tom Thumb, Randalls, Vons, Genuardi´s).

To enter to win the $50 Safeway gift card all you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post!

For extra entries tweet about this giveaway on Twitter with a link back to this post. You can tweet once a day. Make sure you come back here and leave a comment on this post each time.

Don't forget to include your email address in the comment. I know you have to include it to publish the comment, but unless it is actually within the body of the comment or you have email enabled on your Blogger profile I can't see it.

You have until midnight on Friday February 19, 2010 to enter. I'll announce the winner that weekend. Again, don't forget to leave your email so I can contact you!

**Safeway and Fiber One (through MyBlogSpark) have generously given me a gift card and VIP coupon for a free 4 pack of Fiber One yogurt as well in exchange for hosting this giveaway.**

Don't spend more than you have to!

2010-01-15T18:20:00.000-08:00

It's never been a secret that I loved breastfeeding! In fact you can read all about it here.

Breastfeeding was one of the big things I felt that I missed out on with Noah. It's definitely one of the big reasons I wanted to be able to give birth to our next child.

That being said, I have nothing against formula. We used it with Noah and despite everything else that is going on with him the kid is healthy! We paid up the wazoo for his formula because he had serious reflux and constipation that we attributed to a dairy sensitivity, so the doctor recommended we give him Enfamil's Nutramigen. Talk about expensive!

It turns out that we probably would have been fine giving him soy formula instead, but we never tried. I have no idea why. After he was a year old we tried soy milk with him and he did fine. He still drinks it.

With Kiel of course you know I breast fed, but despite all my efforts to increase my milk production I never quite had enough for him, so we supplemented with formula when needed. I never felt bad about supplementing with formula, although it pissed me off that there was another part of my body that wasn't doing what it was supposed to. I do think "breast is best" as much for the health reasons as for the amazing bond Kiel and I have because of it, but when I say "breast is best" I mean it was best for us! I don't think you are doing something horrible if you choose not to. Its a personal decision and not one that anyone else should judge.

When we did supplement with formula of course we only bought the "best" for Kiel! No store brands for my child. They aren't as good as the name brand, right? I believed Enfamil when they said Lipil was best and store brands could not compare.

I used coupons whenever I could, but still that shit is expensive!. I'm thankful we only had to buy it occasionally.

So, imagine how pissed off I was when I received an email from MomSelect that told me about the false advertising the makers of Enfamil were involved in. Here's a little bit of the email they sent me:

In a landmark federal court case, a jury verdict confirmed that Mead Johnson, the maker of Enfamil LIPIL Infant Formula, has engaged in false advertising by stating that store brand-infant formulas sold at Walmart, Target, CVS, Walgreens and other retailers, do not provide the same nutritional benefits as Enfamil.

The jury found that Enfamil advertisements were false and misleading, especially since store- brand formulas have the same nutrients at the same levels as Enfamil. In the process, they have exposed the truth about infant formula: store-brand infant formulas are nutritionally equivalent to, and confer the same developmental benefits as, the more expensive national brands like Enfamil. Buying a heavily marketed formula from a big pharmaceutical company does not get you any closer to breast milk.
If you would like to read more about this you can go here, here, and here. Even Consumer Reports supports store brand formula.

It really busts my boiler when I hear of companies doing things like this, so when MomSelect asked if I'd pass on the information I said hell yes. I just want to know when Mead Johnson is going to reimburse me for some of that money I didn't need to spend!

Disclaimer: While I was offered compensation to post this information I have declined. I feel it is important that parents know this and not spend money needlessly. We spend enough money on our kids, use those dollars on something else!

Bob The Builder DVD review and giveaway!! - ended

2009-12-17T09:18:00.000-08:00

***Stephanie is the winner of the Bob the Builder DVD. You should have received an email from me requesting your mailing address! Congrats***

Kiel has just recently started enjoying Bob the Builder, although not quite as much as Thomas. I think he may need another month or two until he is really ready for the story line of Bob, but he still enjoys watching Muck and Scoop.

Several weeks ago we received a copy of

Bob the Builder: Building Crew Holiday Collection

The press release has this to say about it:
Just in time for the holidays, discover why "the fun is in getting it done" in these action-packed, fun-filled adventures! Join Bob and the Can-Do Crew as they rescue their friend from a winter storm in "Bob's White Christmas." Then it's time to build a log cabin and smooth the ice rink for the Winter Games. Finally, come along as Bob and Scoop hunt for buried treasure -- and make some amazing discoveries -- in this one-of-a-kind collection that's the perfect holiday treat for Bob the Builder fans.

We've been watching the three DVD's in this set for the last couple weeks in between Thomas episodes, and both Noah and Kiel are enjoying them. This would definitely be a hit for those of you with kids that really get into Bob!

I was recently notified that there is another Bob The Builder collection coming out soon and I've been offered a copy to giveaway to one of my readers! Yeah!!

It’s The Biggest Building Collection Ever!

Bob The Builder^™: The Best Of

Bob the Builder

Hammers Onto DVD With 10 Favorite

Episodes In Stores January 12, 2010

From Lionsgate And HIT Entertainment

It’s the biggest building collection ever when Bob the Builder™: Best of Bob hammers onto DVD January 12, 2010 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. With 10 great episodes that feature nearly three hours of nuts and bolts action, aspiring builders can revisit their favorite adventures with Bob, Roley, Dizzy, Muck, Scoop and the rest of the Can-Do Crew. Ready to tackle any project, Bob the Builder and his machine team demonstrate teamwork, positive thinking and the importance of getting the job done right. Can they build it? YES THEY CAN!

DVD SYNOPSIS

It’s Bob at his best, along with Roley, Dizzy, Muck, Scoop and the entire Can-Do Crew! Enjoy 10 great episodes celebrating 10 years of building.

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES

· “On-Site: Trains” – A 30 minute never before seen feature – Join Bob and his Can-Do Crew for some full steam action as Bob’s world meets the real world in “On Site: Trains.” With Mr. Bentley’s birthday approaching, Mrs. Bentley asks Bob and the team to repair his model train set as a surprise. With footage from real-life railroad construction sites, the team learns the three important stages of the build: setting the foundation, laying the tracks and cleaning up. From recycling old rail ties, to welding the new tracks to creating a railroad crossing where cars and people can cross the tracks safely, there’s no job too big for the team to handle together. It’s all in a day’s work when you go On Site!

If you would like to win your own copy of this DVD just leave a comment here!

For extra entries tweet about this contest on Twitter with a link back to this post. Come back here and leave me a comment letting me know you did. You can tweet about this contest once daily for extra entries.

Make sure you include your email address in your comment so I can contact you if you win.

You have until Sunday December 20th at midnight to enter. I'll contact the winner on Monday to get your mailing address.

Don't forget to enter my other giveaway for the new Barney and Thomas DVD's.

Barney: Please & Thank You DVD giveaway!! - ended

2009-12-16T18:15:00.000-08:00

****Julie is the winner of this DVD. Julie you should have received

 an email from me requesting your mailing address****

Here is the 2nd DVD giveaway I have this week!

Have Fun Learning Manners with Barney & Friends^™ in All-New

Barney^™: Please & Thank You

Available On DVD January 5, 2010 From

Lionsgate And HIT Entertainment

Preschoolers learn the importance of being kind and courteous to others when Barney™: Please & Thank You debuts on DVD January 5, 2010 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. Trusted by moms and adored by children, Barney displays sharing, caring, imagining, dancing and learning on television, online and through live events, home entertainment and publishing. The Emmy^® award-winning series, Barney & Friends^™ is one of the top-rated preschool shows today, airing on PBS KIDS^® and PBS KIDS Sprout^SM.

When Baby Bop forgets to say “please” and “thank you,” Barney realizes it’s time for a lesson on how magic words can make other people feel good inside. As Baby Bop daydreams about a world without good manners she realizes that being polite is not only important but it’s easy to do after all. The DVD features 19 favorite Barney songs including, “Please & Thank You,” “Being Together,” “Clean Up” and more.

If you would like to win your own copy of this DVD just leave a comment here!

For extra entries tweet about this contest on Twitter with a link back to this post. Come back here and leave me a comment letting me know you did. You can tweet about this contest once daily for extra entries.

Make sure you include your email address in your comment so I can contact you if you win.

You have until Sunday December 20th at midnight to enter. I'll contact the winner on Monday to get your mailing address.

Don't forget to enter my other giveaway for the new Thomas DVD here.

Disclosure: I'm receiving my own copy of this DVD in exchange for a review and this giveaway.

Thomas Holiday Express review AND Thomas & Friends™: Splish Splash Splosh giveaway! - ended

2009-12-16T15:36:00.000-08:00

***Andrea from House of Sprout is the winner of this DVD! I left you a comment on your blog. Please email me with your mailing address!***

Kiel is a huge Thomas fan. He asks for "choo choo" all the time and then hands me the remote. When he knows I am turning it on, or if it comes on when he isn't expecting it while watching Sprout, he yells "Yeah!" and jumps up and down. It's adorable and makes it awfully hard to say no when he asks.

Several weeks ago I was sent the Thomas & Friends Holiday Express DVD to review and I've been very remiss in not getting this review up sooner.

The DVD comes with a collectable Thomas holiday train, which I think was the best part! I barely had it out of the envelope it came in before Kiel was begging for the "choo choo."

It’s cold and snowy on the Island of Sodor and Thomas and his engine friends are busy clearing the tracks, making deliveries and helping each other out in the all-new Thomas & Friends™: Holiday Express arriving on DVD November 3, 2009 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. Packaged with an exclusive, collectible Thomas holiday train only available with the DVD, little carolers will love watching their favorite Number 1 blue engine steaming down the tracks in these winter and holiday-themed stories.

Teaching timeless tales and life lessons such as discovery, friendship and cooperation, Thomas & Friends invites children to enter a world of imagination through the tracks of a train and the words of a story.

All aboard for snowmen, Christmas trees and festive train rides! When you ride the rails with your favorite friends you never know what to expect. Enjoy exciting adventures filled with lucky trucks, Christmas puddings, surprise parties and much, much more! Join Thomas, Henry, Emily, Percy and all your engine friends for a trainload of fun in these six Holiday Express episodes:

· “Thomas and Percy’s Christmas Adventure”

· “Snow Engine”

· “Henry’s Lucky Day”

· “Don’t Tell Thomas”

· “Thomas, Emily and the Snow Plough”

· “Thomas’ Frosty Friend”

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES

· “Sodor Sounds” Game

· “Cargo Challenge” Game

This DVD is heavily in the rotation at our house right now. If your child loves Thomas this is a must have as a Christmas or Hanukkah gift.

******

I was just notified that there is a new Thomas & Friends DVD coming out in January and I've been offered the chance to give one away to one of my readers!

Soak Up Adventure With An All-New
Thomas & Friends™ DVD Featuring CG Animation
And Never Before Seen Content!

Thomas & Friends^™: Splish Splash Splosh

Available January 5, 2010

From Lionsgate And HIT Entertainment

Soak up adventure with Thomas and his engine friends as they travel around the Island of Sodor in the all-new Thomas & Friends^™: Splish Splash Splosh arriving on DVD January 5, 2010 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. Teaching timeless life lessons such as discovery, friendship and cooperation, the Thomas & riends animated series invites children to enter a world of imagination through the tracks of a train and the words of a story.

The new host, Driver Perkins is new on the Island of Sodor, and can be seen ONLY on DVD. Driver Perkins helps out Sir Topham Hatt, all of Sodor’s engines and the train engineers. This friendly character also engages children with interactive dialogue and extra fun, like showing how to make a cake that looks just like Thomas and more!

Even when it’s wet outside you can still have plenty of fun, especially when you share your adventures with Thomas & Friends! Grab your galoshes and join the team as they prepare for rainy day visits and sudsy spills, and then get unstuck from a snowy situation in this collection of stories from the Island of Sodor.

If you would like to win your own copy of this DVD just leave a comment here!

For extra entries tweet about this contest on Twitter with a link back to this post. Come back here and leave me a comment letting me know you did. You can tweet about this contest once daily for extra entries.

Make sure you include your email address in your comment so I can contact you if you win.

You have until Sunday December 20th at midnight to enter. I'll contact the winner on Monday to get your mailing address.

Don't forget to enter my other giveaway for the new Barney DVD.

"The Strawberry Shortcake Movie: Sky's the Limit" DVD review

2009-10-19T19:25:00.000-07:00

I received a review copy of The Strawberry Shortcake Movie: Sky's the Limit DVD several weeks ago. Since my boys aren't big Strawberry Shortcake fans, OK, since they aren't fans at all, I gave the copy to one of my coworkers who has two girls (3 1/2 and 6 years).

Like my boys like Thomas the Train, her girls like Strawberry Shortcake! That means they like her a lot!

Here's a synopsis of the movie that came with the press release:

A sudden storm leaves Berry Bitty City with a gigantic problem. Strawberry Shortcake and her friends will have to move their whole tiny town unless they find a way to safely remove a huge boulder that threatens everything they hold dear. The storytelling Mr. Longface Caterpillar says he has an easy solution. Strawberry reluctantly agrees to follow him in an adventure-filled journey in search of his fabled Geyser Stone. When that journey ends in failure, Strawberry loses faith in herself. Can her friends restore her "Sky's the Limit" attitude to help lead them to save the town?

According to my coworker her girls are enjoying the movie. Her 3 1/2 year old is really enjoying looking at the brochure that came with the movie, and planning what toys she wants to add to her Berry Café collection next! Apparently they already have three of the toys that go with the movie.

If she gives me anymore feedback I'll update this post, but overall the impression I got is that if your kids love Strawberry Shortcake they will enjoy this movie!

The Strawberry Shortcake Movie: Sky's the Limit is available now!

Bonus: Here's the link to a coloring page you can print off!

"Thomas and Friends: Hero of the Rails The Movie" review

2009-10-19T18:45:00.000-07:00

If you have toddler or pre-school aged boys I'm feeling pretty confident in guessing that they are Thomas the Train fans.

Noah was a huge fan when he was three and four, and one of my favorite memories with him at that age is taking him to a Day Out with Thomas at Strasburg Railroad, in Strasburg, PA.

When I received a copy of the new Thomas & Friends^™: Hero of the Rails The Movie DVD I was excited to have a chance to introduce Kiel to Thomas.

Unlike Noah at that age Kiel is actually happy to sit and watch a video or age appropriate TV show. (Yes, I let my toddler watch TV. I value what sanity I have left.)

Kiel, with his love of trucks, trains and planes, was immediately hooked! No surprise there.

Noah was happy to sit and watch the movie too. Talk about a win-win for Mommy!

Unlike the Thomas episodes I'm used to watching, which aren't more than five or ten minutes long, this is a full length movie (approximately 60 minutes). It's also, according to the press release I received the first time individual character voices are heard for the engines.

Here is a synopsis of the movie:

-->
In this action-packed tale of friendship, determination and teamwork Thomas discovers an abandoned and broken down engine named Hiro from an exciting far away land. Fearing that he will be scrapped, Thomas enlists help from many friends including Victor, a new steam engine and Kevin, a new crane vehicle who both work at the spectacular Sodor Steam Works. But mishaps, mistakes and one boastful engine could foil their plans for a heroic rescue. Can the engine pals work together to help their new friend? Join the adventure and find out!

There's a really good plot recap of the movie here. I love that it also includes trivia and goofs that point out inconsistencies in the movie. As an adult watching a kid movie I think it makes it a little more fun for me to look for those things. Of course I don't point them out to my boys!

What did I think? Well, in general Thomas kind of annoys me, but less than some other stuff my boys like. Like all Thomas stories there is a message in the story line, which I appreciate. I don't like the teasing and general bullying of some of the engines. Noah has never been able to separate the good from the bad with stuff like this, so I have to be extra conscientious about not letting him watch Thomas without guidance. That's just another bonus of the autism spectrum disorder.

What did my boys think? They loved it of course. They have watched it several times and it is in regular rotation now with the frequently asked for DVD's.

I definitely recommend this if your kids are Thomas fans!

“Art House Volume 1: Basic Shapes and Animals” review

2009-10-19T17:47:00.000-07:00

The Louvre, The Met, the Guggenheim, the … refrigerator door? The family “gallery” will display the creative genius of budding young artists like never before with the launch of Art House, a charming new DVD series teaching children the fundamentals of drawing.

I recently received the initial title in a new DVD series that introduces children to the basics of art and drawing, Art House Volume 1: Basic Shapes and Animals to review with the boys.

I was very exciting when I received the video. Noah has shown a lot of interest lately in drawing so I figured this would be perfect to try with him if I could get him at a time when he could focus.

Well, today was the day, so after homework Noah, Kiel and I did "art" together.

I pulled out the big drawing pad and the box of crayons and markers and we set to work.

The DVD starts out by working on the four basic shapes: circles, squares, triangles, and ovals.

I was a little concerned at this point because they spent a couple minutes on each shape and I was afraid it wouldn't keep Noah's attention. He did some drawing in between, but the video was able to pull him back in with each new shape.

Although Kiel can't draw any of the basic shapes considering he's only 23 months old, he had lots of fun "helping."

The first animal they showed how to draw was a fish, by combining ovals and triangles. Noah did a great job listening to the video, but didn't always watch it when it showed exactly where to put the different shapes. He still drew a pretty awesome fish and wasn't phased by Kiel's "additions."

They also showed how to draw a dog, a bird, a monkey, and a dinosaur.

After each animal there was a little music video type break, where they showed the "real" animal for a couple minutes.

Again I was afraid Noah would lose interest during those breaks, but he just spent them coloring in his animals.

I was very pleased with how interested Noah was during the video. By the last animals he was remembering to listen and look at what the next step was before he started drawing.

He added plenty of personal touches to his drawings, which I was happy to see. I think it's great to teach a kid the basics, but you don't want them to lose their imagination either.

Kiel enjoyed helping Noah for a while, then he sat on my lap and just watched the video.

Overall it was a win for both kids! I'm pretty sure Noah will ask to watch this again, which for a DVD like this is high praise.

I'm looking forward to seeing how he does with Volume 2: Start Your Engines and Volume 3: On the Farm which are due out in 2010.

Here is some information that the PR firm sent me with the DVD:

Developing artistic skills at an early age has proven to promote problem solving, communication, curiosity and perspective. Created by Amy Wilkes, a USC School of Cinematic Arts graduate and Tiffany Jennings, an elementary school teacher, Art House DVD series teaches children ages 3 and up how to draw using basic shapes – squares, circles, triangles, etc. – as a base to illustrate almost anything.

“When schools feel the financial crunch, art programs are the first to go,” says Wilkes. “The Art House series nurtures young minds and offers parents a chance to create art with their child even if neither have any experience in drawing. Seeing our children’s faces light up with pride as they complete a drawing makes the whole project worthwhile.” Adds Jennings, “We’ve seen the confidence that art skills can bring to children. By simply learning how to draw, they are unlocking a wealth of developmental abilities.”

In Art House Volume 1: Basic Shapes and Animals, join Teacher Emily and the Art House Gang as they draw fish, dogs, monkeys, birds, dinosaurs and more. Engaging kids with bright, bold animation by Brad Abelson (The Simpsons); original music by award-winning composer Peter Scaturro; and fun live-action visuals, the program is both interactive and easy-to-follow, providing step-by-step instructions to help young viewers create simple drawings of their very own. Along with printable coloring book pages, learning to draw has never been easier … or more fun!

So give your child some crayons and paper and watch their imaginations flow.

Art House Volume 1: Basic Shapes and Animals just received the Dove Family Foundation Seal of Approval The Dove Family Foundation is a national nonprofit with the goal “To encourage and promote the creation, production, distribution and consumption of wholesome family entertainment.”
Also endorsed by KIDS FIRST!, Art House Volume 1: Basic Shapes and Animals will be available on DVD nationwide November 17, 2009 for a suggested retail price of $17.99.

Future titles in the series to be released in 2010 are Volume 2: Start Your Engines, Volume 3: On the Farm and Volume 4: Under the Sea. Recommended for ages 3 and up, Art House Volume 1: Basic Shapes and Animals is available at www.InTheArtHouse.com and www.amazon.com.

# # #

Tilty Cup giveaway!

2009-05-17T16:41:00.000-07:00

***And here I am even tardier in actually picking a winner! Oy... So, I went to Random.org and they laughed at me when I told it to randomly pick an number between 1 and 2. Then I flipped a coin. Heads = comment 1, tails = comment 2. And it was Heads! So, the winner is The House of Sprout! Please send me your mailing address!****

Once again I'm tardy in getting a giveaway up. *sigh* I really do have the best of intentions.

Just to make it worse, somehow I managed to delete a bunch of emails (from my trash too) and I lost all the information I had for this giveaway, so I'm scrambling a bit there too. I'm almost certain though that I got this giveaway from MomSelect.

I was sent a two-pack of the Tilty Cup to try and a two-pack to giveaway! Since I lost the email that had all the information about the Tilty Cup I visited their website and pulled information from there.

Ergonomic design makes drinking easier and more comfortable.
Requires less head tilt than any other sippy cup.
Teaches better mechanics to help babies graduate from a sippy to a regular cup.
Has a snap on lid without a valve for better dental development, as recommended by the ADA, American Dental Association .

9+ months
7oz
Dishwasher Safe (Top Rack)
Polypropylene
BPA Free
Dye Free
PVC Free
Easy to use in a car seat or stroller

”When shopping for a training cup, avoid those that have no-spill valves. A useful training cup will have a snap-on or screw-on lid with a spout.”
For the Dental Patient…, JADA, Vol.135, March 2004, ADA

In all truthfulness this was a difficult review for me, and I think mostly it was because Kiel already knows how to drink from a sippy cup. The Tilty Cup doesn't have a valve and therefore isn't leakproof. It took Kiel about 0.2 seconds to figure that piece out and cover the kitchen table and himself drop by drop with water from the cup. He certainly had no problem drinking from it, but he thought making a mess with it was far more fun. The Tilty Cup is designed to help kids learn how to use a sippy cup, and because of that it isn't leak proof for a reason. Their blog about how it was developed is interesting and worth a look if you are at this developmental stage with your baby.

Pro's: BPA and PVC free, great price at two cups for approx. six bucks.

Con's: It leaks, probably not any better than anything else out there for the toddler set (because it leaks).

So, I have a two-pack to giveaway. I'd love to hear how it works for someone with a baby who is just learning to use a sippy cup.

You have until Friday at midnight to enter. Or longer, basically I'll leave it open until sometime next weekend when I get around to randomly choosing one commenter. Make sure there is a way for me to contact you.

There are several ways you can enter this giveaway. You can enter up to five times by doing the following:

Leave a comment on this post telling me something funny about your own kid(s).
Follow the MNT Review blog (click on the FOLLOW button to the right). Leave me a comment here letting me know you are following me.
Check out my main blog Mommy Needs Therapy and leave a comment on one of my posts. Leave me a comment here telling me you did so.
Follow my main blog Mommy Needs Therapy. Leave a comment here telling me you are following me. (If you are already following me, thank you! And leave a comment here anyway!)
Mommy Needs Therapy has been nominated for Best Local Blog in Nickelodeon's Parents' Picks Awards! Vote for me here and I'll give you another entry. Just leave a comment here and tell me you voted. Pure bribery I know!

Florastor Kids Giveaway!

2009-05-03T13:30:00.000-07:00

***and the winner is commenter number 4 - Hopeful Mother!***

If you read my main blog, Mommy Needs Therapy, you might remember when Kiel spent the night in the hospital for dehydration brought on by a stomach virus. His diarrhea lasted for several weeks. Eventually, one of the pediatricians in the practice we use suggested we try probiotics. I happened to have some on hand because I had tried them with Noah several months earlier, as someone had suggested he might have a yeast allergy and that may be impacting his behavior problems. The probiotic didn't appear to improve his behavior, and it was pretty expensive, so we stopped it. But, I had about half of a box of packets left.

So I gave it to Kiel and his diarrhea did gradually improve. The problem I had with the brand we were using though was that the packets contained an adult dose so I had to try and pour out a smaller dose of what I hoped was an appropriate amount for Kiel. It was inconvenient, and even though I was pretty sure I wasn't going to overdose him, I still wasn't happy that I wasn't able to be sure how much I was giving him.

Ironically, just a few weeks after Kiel stopped being Mr. PoopyPants and was back to his old self, MomSelect offered me the chance to try out Florastor Kids, a probiotic made of live freeze dried yeast cells of the species Saccharomyces boulardii lyo.

I wish I'd had this back in January when Kiel's diarrhea first started!

If you don't know anything about probiotics, they are great for diarrhea, especially diarrhea as the result of taking antibiotics.

You can read the fact sheet here to learn more about probiotics and and Florastor Kids.

You can also read a Q&A from Dr. James Sears M.D. here. Dr. James Sears, board-certified pediatrician, author and co-host of the CBS-TV show “The Doctors,” has recommended Florastor Kids to patients for years, first of all because he’s seen its efficacy in pediatric diarrhea, and because it’s backed by scientific studies.

I have two boxes of Florastor Kids (a total of 20 powder packets - a 10 day supply) to give away to one lucky reader! This would be great to have on hand the next time your child has to take antibiotics.

There are several ways you can enter this giveaway. You can enter up to five times by doing the following:

Leave a comment on this post telling me something special about your own kids.
Follow the MNT Review blog (click on the FOLLOW button to the right). Leave me a comment here letting me know you are following me.
Check out my main blog Mommy Needs Therapy and leave a comment on one of my posts. Leave me a comment here telling me you did so.
Follow my main blog Mommy Needs Therapy. Leave a comment here telling me you are following me. (If you are already following me, thank you! And leave a comment here anyway!)
If you are feeling "wild" read the review I wrote prior to this post (about an adult "toy") and leave a comment on it. Then leave a comment here telling me you did so. *warning, this post is probably not considered safe for work*

Again, you can enter up to five times, but you MUST leave a separate comment on this post for each entry.

This contest is open until Friday, May 8, at 5pm eastern time. Or until I get around to closing it and choosing the winner. I'm a lot of things, but punctual is not one of them. I'll notify the winner by email sometime next weekend, so make sure you've left me a way to contact you!

My husband went to see The Boss, and I stayed home and wrote about vibrators.

2009-04-28T05:47:00.000-07:00

Once again the wonderful people at Eden Fantasys offered to let me review one of their adult toys!

Who thinks working there must be one of the best jobs ever!?!

This time they sent me Little Paul. I know, Little Paul! If I was Paul I definitely would not want to be referred to as "little." And why Paul? Did Paul design it? These are some of the things I think about late at night. Sad, I know...
Annnyyywayyy.....meet Little Paul. He has eyes, and what looks like a mouth. And he's kind of segmented, like a worm. Cute or creepy? I'm not quite sure yet. Because now all I can think of is him inside my va-jay-jay eying up my cervix. Or knocking on my G-spot. Helllooooo anyone home? And if there's an echo...well, I had a baby peoples, with forceps, and stitches that came out too soon. Just saying...

OK, OK, back to Little Paul.

IM LOOKIN AT UR CERVIX AN KNOCKIN ON UR G-SPOT.

Breathe, Katt, breathe. I'm loosing focus here. 'Cause I'm cracking myself up!

OK, so Little Paul. When I opened up the package my first thought, after I saw he was made in Germany, was that he's really smooth feeling. Soft, smooth feeling. Quite nice actually. I guess that's from the medical grade 100% silicone.

According to the description Little Paul is about half the size of his "colleagues." Since I don't have much to compare him to I'll take their word for it. He's definitely smaller than the real thing (yes honey, I mean you and by more than a "little"!). But he did hit the spot he was intended to hit. So yes, if you've been following the saga, I have indeed located my G-spot. Still working on getting it to perform as I'd like, but that's a post for another day.

Of course Little Paul vibrates, because whats the point if it doesn't, right? There are two push buttons towards the base that control the different vibratory variations. (I kept losing track of where the buttons were though, which was kind of frustrating.) There are increasing levels of intensity, and then a couple options with different pulsing variations. And it's quiet, which I really liked. No worrying you are going to wake someone up. Like ~~a horny husband~~ the kids. And a very smooth vibration, if that makes sense. Ultimately though, I would have liked it more if the intensity had increased a couple more levels. As I've said before, I need the powerz people.

So, the Pros: discreet, very quiet, love the feel of the silicone, multi-speed vibration, definitely felt like a well made, quality item, cute (if you don't think about the eyes)

And the Cons: I didn't like the position of the push-button controls, the vibration wasn't powerful enough for me, moderately pricey at $47.99 (although again, good quality)

If you are looking for a good quality, discreet, G-spot vibe, and you don't require serious power in your vibration, I would say Little Paul is a good choice for you. I you require the powerz though, like I do, well, we'll keep on looking.

Win yogurt and a prize pack!!!

2009-04-12T13:30:00.000-07:00

And the winners are: cdziuba, souldolphindream, and Kimberly C.
You should have received an email from me requesting your mailing address, let me know if you did not receive it

Noah has always loved yogurt, and until recently when we couldn't send it to school in his lunch because it was too hard to keep it cold, he had it every day.

And, with all honesty I can tell you that we almost always buy Yoplait Kids yogurt for him because it has 25% less sugar than other leading kids yogurts, and because it has natural food coloring in it, such as beet juice. We learned early on that Noah's behavior was affected by sugar and red food dye. Yoplait Kids met both those requirements, and Noah loved it. Not to mention the vitamin D, calcium and protein he gets in it too. So, we have been long-time Yoplait Kids yogurt lovers. Now if only they made soy yogurt so Kiel could eat it too!

And then I was offered the chance to receive some free yogurt and a Yoplait Get Active Prize Pack.

Noah's has been having fun showing off his jump roping

skills to us all day today!

The best part though! I get to give away three Yoplait Get Active Prize Pack's and some free Yoplait yogurt to my readers! The Yoplait Get Active Prize Pack includes a travel cooler (to take your yogurt on the road), a jump rope, a water bottle and an outdoor game set that includes a beach ball, paddle ball, Jai-Ali and a Frisbee.

All you have to do is leave a comment here and tell me your favorite summertime family activity! I'll randomly choose three winners this Friday April 17 (which also happens to be my birthday, Yo!) or sometime this weekend when I get around to it. You'll have until at least 5pm Friday to enter though!

If you don't win you can still go to the Yoplait website to print a coupon and learn more about Yoplait for Kids!