Busy Body Books (plus a special discount)

Valentine's Day Discount Code to purchase a Busy Body Book is: "BBBVDAY" for 25% off all BusyBodyBook Organizers started Wednesday, Jan. 27th.

BusyBodyBooks are pleased to announce that they are now offering Home Management Printables designed by Mandi Ehman of "Organizing Your Way" along with our ever-popular BusyBodyBook Weekly GRIDs. We can download Mandi's most popular time saving tools to keep our most important information at our finger tips. Like their own BusyBodyBook Weekly GRIDs, we can now easily plan & organize our daily, weekly, and monthly planning and more. Every one of their downloads are available always, and free! Visit BusyBodyBooks ANYtime. And, visit Mandi at Organizing Your Way for her most practical, and understanding tips on organizing YOUR life - living YOUR life, in YOUR WAY!

Triaminic can help with the cold and flu season! (plus a giveaway)

These winter months are the peak season for illness and it's time to focus on being prepared when those cold and/or flu symptoms appear. Triaminic can help with two great online tools to help you and your family through this cold and flu season.
• The Sick Day Guidelines, created in partnership with the National Association of School Nurses – Parents know when their kids aren’t feeling 100%. These Guidelines are aimed at helping parents decide when to keep them at home or send them off to school.
• National Cold & Flu Tracker – This resource provides a weekly data feed of cold & flu symptom trends by region, based on data from SDI Fan® (a source used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Being aware of the activity in your area (or an area that you are traveling) can help you prepare for when cold and flu symptoms appear. For example, Greensboro, Lexington, Knoxville, and Albany have the highest incidence of illness this week.
The Sick Day Guidelines, Cold & Flu Tracker, and a coupon for a discount on Triaminic® products can be found here: Triaminic.com.

Feel free to print out this coupon and use it!

Win: Would you like to win some Triaminic Thin Strips? Triaminic is sponsoring a giveaway to my readers, and they are sending me some Thin Strips to try out. Single-use products like Triaminic Thin Strips help ensure accurate dosing by providing a pre-measured dose of medicine that dissolves quickly on the tongue. Please remember to read the product label and use only as directed.
This contest is open to residents of the United States, bloggers and non-bloggers. Contest ends on February 8th, 2009. To enter, leave a comment about how you have handled sick days, or what things you like to do to help comfort your child.
**For extra chances you can: blog this contest, add my button to your site, subscribe to my blog, twitter and/or become a fan on facebook, and/or visit everyday and add another friendly comment about something else you found on the menu. Lots of chances to win! Don't forget to put the extra comments for the "extra" work. Good luck!**

This review was provided from Triaminic. They have provided me with a free product to review and information to share with my readers. I am sponsored to offer a giveaway prize to giveaway to my readers through this review. I was given the product for my personal opinion and option to share with my readers. I was not compensated for my time or written review.

How to raise a Modern Day Joesph

As parents, we strive to help our kids grow into their full potential.

We help them with their homework, enroll them in activities, and invest for their college education. But while we may plan for their success, we can overlook a vital part of their personal development: nurturing and encouraging a solid foundation of faith.

We can easily assume our children are growing spiritually in church youth groups and programs, but the Bible calls us to guide them in their relationship with Jesus.
The life of Joseph offers parents a biblical standard for building children of character. Drawing from his story, this book will help you do just that. Inside, you’ll find a unique guide for creating a personalized plan for your child’s spiritual growth, from preschool through high school. This practical guide will help your child:

· Respect the awesomeness of God
· Acquire wisdom from the Bible
· Understand God’s grace
· Gain a sense of destiny and purpose
· Develop a life-perspective based on God’s perfect plan

The result: Children and teenagers who know, love, and serve the Lord.

So invest in their spiritual development. And create a legacy of faith that will last a lifetime.

With her newest release, Awana author and staff member Linda Massey Weddle equips parents to build a foundation of faith for their children.

Author Bio: Linda Massey Weddle is a gifted teacher, speaker, and prolific writer. A children’s author and regular contributor to publications including Women’s Day and Christian Parenting Today, she has published twelve books and more than 2,500 articles, stories, devotionals, and radio scripts. Linda also develops Bible-based curriculum for young people and has been involved in children’s and youth ministry for the past forty years. She has two grown children and six grandchildren and resides in suburban Chicago.

You can find "How to raise a Modern Day Joesph" online at Amazon.com.

This review was provided from B&B Media. They have provided me with a bookto review and information to share with my readers. I was given the book for my personal opinion and option to share with my readers. I was not compensated for my time or written review.

New Zealand Menu: Try it out, and be entered to win HUGE (plus a giveaway)

Have you heard of McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant? I was just recently introduced to them. I went to their site and found that there are three restaurants located in my state! I am anxious to go there with my husband for a date! I am really excited to get there soon, because they have an amazing opportunity for their guests to taste New Zealand from their special menu developed in partnership with New Zealand Trade & Enterprise.
McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants is also hosting a New Zealand Sweepstakes, with a grand prize trip for two (2) to New Zealand, including airfare and six night hotel accommodations! I would totally do cartwheels over this if I was so lucky to win that prize! Could you imagine going to New Zealand, with it all being paid for (minus meals and other miscellaneous). I would be thrilled, to say the least!
Plus, each individual McCormick & Schmick’s restaurant location will award a random winner with a $50 Icebreaker gift certificate. How cool is that? Enter the sweepstakes at any McCormick & Schmick’s restaurant location or at McCormick&Schmick's.com- but don’t wait, this promotion ends February 27, 2010!
With the economy so tight for extra spending, and being extra frugal with our pocketbooks, McCormick & Schmick's offers a way for us to sample a taste of New Zealand in our own locations. Convenient and a bit more affordable.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO WIN?

I have the opportunity to host a giveaway for a $25 gift certificate for McCormick & Schmick's for my readers to enter to win. How awesome is that? A fun place to go check out, fine dining, a "date night" and some spending money for your bill. Can't pass up that deal!

This contest is open for those in the United States, for non-bloggers and bloggers. Contest ends February 12th, 2010.

To enter: Go to the McCormick & Schmick's website and look through their dinner or lunch menu. Find an item that sounds good to you and let me know about it in the comments.

**For extra chances you can: blog this contest, add my button to your site, subscribe to my blog, twitter and/or become a fan on facebook, and/or visit everyday and add another friendly comment about something else you found on the menu. Lots of chances to win! Don't forget to put the extra comments for the "extra" work. Good luck!**

Explore the Flavors of New Zealand Menu
Greenshell Mussel FritterCilantro-Roasted Garlic Pesto $8.95
New Zealand Shellfish StewGreenshell Mussels, Scallops, Shrimp and Clams in a Riesling Cream Broth, served in a Sourdough Bread Bowl $19.95
King Salmon, Marlborough Sounds, New ZealandSimply Grilled with Caramelized Apple-Sauvignon Blanc Reduction $24.95
New Zealand Grass Fed Filet MignonWellington Style with Kiwi Blue Cheese-Onion Tart $26.95
Traditional PavlovaNew Zealand’s National Dessert with Meyer Lemon Curd & Kiwi Puree $6.95

This review was provided from McCormick & Schmick's. They have provided me with a information to share with my readers. I am sponsored to offer a gift certificate prize to giveaway to my readers through this review. I was given the product for my personal opinion and option to share with my readers. I was not compensated for my time or written review, but I was also sent a gift certificate to check out the restaurant, too.

Secondhand Jesus: Glenn Packiam

So often we too easily settle for someone else’s descriptions, the Cliffs Notes from another’s spiritual journey. We are content to let “God experts” do the heavy lifting and then give us the bottom line. And after enough times through the grapevine, the truth about God deteriorates until crumbs and rumors are all that remain.

But when life derails, when things don’t go as we planned, our thin view of God is challenged. In those critical moments, we can choose to walk away from God… or let our questions lead us home. When you decide to wrestle with God, to engage Him for yourself, you—like Jacob and Job and David—will see rumors die and revelation come alive.

It’s time to hear the magnificent divine invitation. It’s time to take God up on His offer and embrace the mystery and majesty of knowing Him for yourself.

Author Bio: Glenn Packiam is an associate worship pastor at New Life Church and the director of New Life School of Worship in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was one of the founding worship leaders and songwriters for the Desperation Band. Glenn’s worship songs, like “Your Name,” “Everyone (Praises),” “My Savior Lives,” and “We Lift You Up,” are being sung in churches all over the world. Glenn is also the author of Butterfly in Brazil. He and his wife, Holly, and their two adorable daughters, Sophia and Norah, live in Colorado Springs.

You can purchase "Secondhand Jesus" online at Amazon.com.

This review was provided from B&B Media. They have provided me with book to review and information to share with my readers. I was given the book for my personal opinion and option to share with my readers. I was not compensated for my time or written review.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Devotional Stories for Women : Plus 2 giveaways!

Girlfriend time is so important to women everywhere. Who better to share your dreams, hopes, fears, and life together with? I know I value my girlfriend relationships, for one women understand each other, and two, my husband would be overloaded from me if I didn't have my girlfriends.
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Devotional Stories for Women is filled with 101 stories of friendship, faith, and comfort that affirm God's unconditional love and His wisdom. Women will find encouragement, solace, and strength in these personal stories and prayers that cover everyday trials to tests of faith.
Chicken Soup for the Soul books are wonderful books compiled of short stories. I love that each story is so touching, valuable, and heart warming. I enjoy picking up the books for a quick read, but inspiring story. Devotional Stories for Women has great stories in it, and I love that this book really focuses on Christ and our walk with Him. Each story has a scripture posted before the story, and each scripture is relative to the story. This book also has short prayers and cartoons within the pages. Chicken Soup for the Soul: Devotional Stories for Women covers stories about these topics: Faith, Motherhood, life lessons, illness, God's helpers, parenting, relationships, service to others, marriage and self esteem. I think this book is a great read for women of all ages and going through all ages of life. I recommend this book to you.
About the Author
Chicken Soup for the Soul is a favorite publisher of books that provide emotional and practical support for readers.
Susan M. Heim is a long-time Chicken Soup for the Soul editor and Christian author, specializing in family-oriented books and women's issues.
Karen Talcott is an author and educator with an expertise in women's issues, faith, and angels.

Win : Devotional Stories for Women! (2 winners)You have the opportunity to enter to win Chicken Soup for the Soul: Devotional Stories for Women! Chicken Soup for the Soul is sponsoring a giveaway. This contest is open to bloggers and non-bloggers of the United States. Contest is open until February5th, 2010. To enter, leave a comment about something you and your girlfriends like to do, or something you experienced together.**For extra chances you can: blog this contest, add my button to your site, subscribe to my blog, twitter and/or become a fan on facebook, and/or visit everyday and add another friendly comment about girlfriends. Lots of chances to win! Don't forget to put the extra comments for the "extra" work. Good luck!**

This review was provided from Chicken Soup for the Soul. They have provided me with a book to review and information to share with my readers. I am sponsored to offer a giveaway book to giveaway to my readers through this review. I was given the product for my personal opinion and option to share with my readers. I was not compensated for my time or written review.

Crazy4Love Photo Contest~ insure your love!

Moms everywhere will tell you that she does what she does because of LOVE. Mothers do much for their families, spouses, kids, etc., and what gets us through and gives us the strength is LOVE! Love is a powerful emotion and it really boosts up our abilities.
Playing dress up everyday, making meals everyday, driving our kids to school, or making homemade playdoh are some of the things we do out of love for our kids. We can say we will do just about anything out of love. Well, Valentine's day is nearing around the corner and what better time to talk about love. This is about more than the chocolates and heart shaped candies, this is a different way to express your love...with the purchase of a life insurance policy. You might be asking yourself what love and life insurance in common. More than you might realize! Simply put, life insurance is a product you purchase because you love someone and want to make sure they'll always be protected financially, even after you're gone.To learn more and add some laughter into your day, check out the video below, from a very special "spokesperson" who knows a thing or two about love. ~CUPID!
As we know from the Valentine's Day celebrations taking place in classrooms and romantic restaurants everywhere, love and fun go hand-in-hand! To get Americans thinking about life insurance as an expression of enduring love, the nonprofit LIFE Foundation is sponsoring the Crazy4Love Photo Contest. From now until February 19, you'll be able to visit the popular microblogging website tumblr.com and share a photo that captures how you've expressed your love to someone dear to you. One Grand Prize winner will receive a $1,000 gift certificate toward a romantic getaway weekend. Go to www.insureyourlove.org to learn more about the contest and to enter. I am sure you can find a photo or capture the love you share with someone through a photo! Go enter! You could have fun with this one, and it is totally worth the effort! I know my husband and I could use a $1,000 gift certificate! Check it out!

DaBib is celebrating and offering a great deal!

DaBib has just earned it's 2nd US Patent - which means that all of their product packaging needs to change!! DaBib has been an incredible hit with parents, and I am personally thrilled with this bib (I did a review on one). DaBib is celebrating by giving their customers a special savings on all of their current bib styles, and move out their old packaging in the process. For a limited time, all DaBib styles are available for purchase on the DaBib website for $9.99 each!! This special pricing is only available through FEBRUARY 28, 2010, or while supplies last. So help them celebrate & get in on the savings! And keep saving your kids' fabulous clothes in the process! Trust me, the DaBib is an amazing bib that covers your child, goes on and off easily, is hard for your child to easily remove, and has a built in crumb catcher! The bib is designed with a pouch that you can flip forward to catch those straying crumbs from your little eater, or help protect your infant with eating those runny foods.
Go check out the DaBib's now! ~makes a great gift, too!! :)

Build-A-Bear Workshop and the Huggable Heroes Program (Contest)!

Each year for the past seven years, Build-A-Bear Workshop, through its Huggable Heroes program, has searched for and recognized young leaders who make positive contributions in their communities or around the world. This year, ten Huggable Heroes, between the ages of 8 and 18, from the United States and Canada, will be selected and honored for their good deeds. Each of the ten Huggable Heroes will receive a prize worth $10,000 ($7,500 in the form of an educational scholarship and $2,500 from the Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation to be donated to the 501(c)(3) charity of each Huggable Hero’s choice). In addition, the Huggable Heroes will win a trip for themselves and a parent to St. Louis, the home of Build-A-Bear Workshop World Bearquarters! During their visit, the 2010 Huggable Heroes will meet each other, be honored for their good deeds and participate in a photo shoot for the 2011 Build-A-Bear Workshop Huggable Heroes Calendar.

Projects have ranged from helping children in underdeveloped countries to supporting cancer and diabetes research, organizing toy drives and sending care packages to our troops overseas. Past Huggable Heroes have included such inspiring young people as:
Patrick Pedraja, 13, of Palm Harbor, Fla., who helped add 15,000 new donors to the National Marrow registry and raised $160,000 to support the effort. Patrick demonstrated uncommon creativity and entrepreneurship by selling ads on his bald head and by speaking to groups and businesses to encourage others to get involved.
Mimi Ausland, 12, of Bend, Ore., who created two Web sites to help collect donations to feed homeless dogs and cats in animal shelters across the country.
And Katie Stagliano, 10, of Summerville, S.C., who started “Launch Katie’s Dream” to help see to it that no child goes hungry. She plants vegetable gardens and donates the harvests to soup kitchens and organizations that help feed those in need.

Entries are being accepted through February 26, 2010 at Build-A-Bear Huggable Heroes or by picking up an entry form at a participating Build-A-Bear Workshop store in the United States and Canada.

About Build-A-Bear Workshop
Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. is the leading and only global company that offers an interactive make-your-own stuffed animal retail-entertainment experience. Founded in 1997, the Company and its franchisees currently operate more than 400 Build-A-Bear Workshop stores worldwide, including company-owned stores in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland and France, and franchise stores in Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa. In 2007, the interactive experience was enhanced - all the way to CyBEAR™ space - with the launch of buildabearville.com®, the company’s virtual world stuffed with fun. The company was named to the 2009 FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For® list. Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE: BBW) posted total revenue of $468 million in fiscal 2008. For more information, call 888.560.BEAR (2327) or visit the company’s award-winning Web site at buildabear.com ®.

Monster Jam at the Metrodome 2010!

Our family had the opportunity to go see the Monster trucks for the Monster Jam at the Metrodome 2010! It was a super show, and we greatly enjoyed the show! I had never been to a Monster Truck show, but I have wanted to go see them since I was a young child. The trucks are HUGE and it is impressive the things they can do.
My husband and I brought our oldest, Nathaniel and his best friend, and our second oldest, Caleb to the show.

Dad and Caleb giving thumbs up! Caleb was so excited to see the Monster trucks, "AT THE METRODOME!"
Nathaniel and his friend had a blast! They really enjoyed the show. Nathaniel's friend said he went to a show a few years ago, but this show was the best!

We missed the Pit Party. We had tickets to go to the Pit Party, and I wish we could have made it, but unfortunately we couldn't get down there for the 2-5 PM show. We got to the Dome at 6:15. Our seats were really close. The stadium had the first 8 rows taped off all around the arena (for safety measures) and we were in row 10! So, we were really close to the action! I was highly impressed with the seats! At first, there were people racing their RC cars and many people can enter to be apart of the Monster Jam just by signing up (for their cars to race). It was fun to see how high the RC cars could fly. Next came the car roll overs. These cars drove fast to hit a jump to see how many times they could roll. It was fun to watch this!

Some of the cars rolled a few times, and on two occasions, the cars drove off. That was impressive! Those cars really took a beating! If they wanted to, and were able to, the cars could try again with the roll over to get a better/higher score.
The Driver of this car was a girl. She rolled over 4 times, and impressively drove away unhurt! Needless to say, she won the contest!
The Monter trucks were huge! I thought the names and designs were neat! My favorite designs was The Felon, El Toro Loco, and Arachnaphobia.
We all had a great time! The Metrodome was packed! I recommend the ear plugs, because it was loud! I am glad we brought some along.
The main show started. All the cars came out, and each one was introduced with lights. This truck, Martial Law, is a driver from Minnesota, and he was in our corner of the stadium!

The first event the trucks had to individually compete for the best overall time for speed. Then, the trucks raced against the other ones to see who crossed the finish line first with best time. Both these events were fun and exciting to watch.
One of the well known Monster Trucks, The Grave Digger, was there, as well. He had a rough night, his truck didn't want to cooperate, and he missed a lot of the events. I felt bad for him. I am sure many of his fans were disappointed.

The first winner of the Monster Truck events was Maximum Destruction. He was a fun driver to watch. He had a lot of speed.
Those trophies were huge, and you could tell that the driver was honored to receive it.
During the intermission the gals in the truck came around to shoot t-shirts into the crowd. Caleb wanted a t-shirt so bad, but we just weren't in the right aim.

Another fun event was the trailer bashing. During this event cars were pulling trailers (of many kinds) and other cars tried to knock off other car's trailers. This was comical. One of the trailers was a jet ski, one was a couch, another was a camper, and more. It was fun to see them all on a mission to get each other.
The camper didn't fair too well, and it was pretty much in shreds by the end of the race.


Here is El Toro Loco getting some great air! It was impressive how high the trucks soared into the air!
Mechanical Mischief was one of the newer trucks to the Monster Jam.
Here is a close up of The Felon. What a cool looking truck!
Here is the Avenger! He was the winner of the end driving event ~ freestyle. This was the best to watch, in my opinion. All the trucks got to drive around, do tricks and make the best of their show! The Avenger rolled his vehicle two times, did a spin out, and lived to talk about it. I was so impressed with his show. Maximum Destruction had an amazing show, too, and he even did so much that his truck was stripped of the outside frame. Here is the winner of the freestyle event~ The Avenger! I have a video clip of the last half of his performance for you to see!

It was a very impressive show, and great to see! I was happy to get the tickets to bring our family to see it. This is a fun family event, and I highly recommend going. The show in MN was this weekend, but there are shows all over the United States! You can go see Monster Jam in your state. Go to TicketMaster.com to find out when they are coming in your area.

The tickets for Monster Jam were provided to me from Feld Entertainment for purposes for review. I was not paid for my review and the review is based on my own opinions.

Organic: the better option and safer...

I want safe foods for my family and I. I have been more and more careful with what I buy, and what "kinds" of foods I choose. Organic foods, ones that aren't loaded with pesticides or chemical, but that are naturally grown...are better, no doubt. I think our health and digestion is much better off when we choose healthier and safer foods to eat. Check out this video from Earthbound Farms:

Organic - Food, Farming and Health from Earthbound Farm on Vimeo.

Cold/Flu Season getting the better of you? Try these natural remedies:

The most effective preventative medicine during cold and flu season is keeping your immune system healthy the natural way. This can be done fairly easily, by ingesting certain immune-boosting and nutrient rich foods.

ChicagoHealers.com Practitioner Dr. Helen Lee offers the following flu-fighting foods:

· The Importance of Digestion: Keep your digestive system happy. When the digestive system is healthy it is able to breakdown and access nutrients from the foods you eat, it is better able to get rid of toxicity, and process “bad” bugs such as bacteria & viruses
· Ginger: The volatile oils in ginger warm the body, helping the body to sweat, break a fever and eliminate toxins. Ginger also stimulates mucous release. Ginger is also a metabolic enhancer and the warming also helps with nausea, is a great digestive aid, lung and chest decongesting, and a body cleansing herb. Add fresh ginger to your food or in tea, or eat alone. Ginger tea (especially combined with honey) helps too sooth the throat.
· Garlic: Garlic has allicin as an active ingredient giving it antiviral and antibacterial properties. Garlic cleans your liver (which cleans your blood) since your blood cycles through your liver every three minutes. So thereby stimulating the white blood cells and in turn boosting the immune system. An onion garlic syrup can help with mucous release.
· Honey: Honey acts as a natural antibiotic with antiseptic properties. There are vitamins such as B-complexes, C, D, E, minerals enzymes and propolis. The propolis in honey boosts the immune system, disables viruses and fights infections. Furthermore, pediatric studies have shown that honey is more effective than cough syrup because it coats the throat better. Locally grown honey is best for seasonal allergies, asthma and respiratory conditions because you are treating with the irritants that are common to your area. Take a tablespoon 4 times per day, taken straight or in tea.
· Cayenne: Cayenne pepper has a high vitamin C content making it a natural choice for a cold, as well as vitamin A, B, calcium and potassium. Cayenne also increases the circulation in the body. You may take in capsule form taking 2 – 40,000 heat units (950mg), or liquid 4 drops of the 200,000 heat units. Place a few drops in water and gargle with it every 15-30 minutes to make a sore throat disappear.
· “Good” Bacteria: Increase “good” bacteria such as acidophilus and bifidus which can be found yogurt or kefir.
· Go Green: Eat dark leafy green vegetables like kale, swiss chard, and spinach provides vitamins B12, folic acid, potassium, vitamins A, C & K which supports a healthy immune system.
· Acid and Alkaline: Keep your internal acid/alkaline chemistry balanced by squeezing a half lemon into a cup of hot water to break up congestion, stimulate digestion, and create an alkaline or healing pH chemistry in the body

For additional information please visit www.ChicagoHealers.com.

Thinking about Valentine's Day? Drop a HINT...

“Hint Cards” from the California Cut Flower Commission is a great way to give a "hint" about getting some flowers. I reviewed a set of hint cards (SEE HERE), and I thought they were a fun, and clever way to let someone know you would love to get some cards. I love getting flowers, and sometimes getting the hint can be a challenge. Well, with hint cards, you can just stick them in a wallet, a lunch box, on the dash...just about anywhere.

Here is where you can find Hint Cards today:
· Online at flowerhintcards.com where you can send them virtually to anyone who needs a little reminding to buy you flowers.
· OR...If you’re travelling to California or Nevada anytime soon, you’ll find Hint Cards at Safeway, Vons and Pavilions grocery stores. They’ll be included with the purchase of a California-grown bouquet and also available for purchase separately.

You can learn more about Hint Cards here, and you can also find the California Cut Flower Commission online: Facebook Twitter @caflowers YouTube. These hint cards are a great way to get the hint across...check them out! :)

Monster Jam at the Metrodome! Contest to win a 4 pack of tickets!

MONSTER JAM: coming this weekend at the Hubert Humphrey Metrodome!! GO to the show! You don't want to miss it! You can enter to win a 4-pack set of tickets!! Just keep reading!

Show Information:Saturday, January 23, 2010 - 7:30PM

Monster Jam, the world’s premier monster truck series produced by Feld Motor Sports will ROAR into the HHH Metrodome in Minneapolis at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23. Tickets for the show is on sale now at all Ticketmaster locations and online at Ticketmaster.com. The show feature five-ton monster trucks in a freestyle and racing competition and are presented locally 1-800-Ask-Gary, Advance Auto Parts, Yamaha and Ford Trucks, as part of The SUBWAY Motor Sports Series. Approximately 12 feet tall and about 12 feet wide, monster trucks are custom-designed machines that sit atop 66-inch-tall tires and weigh a minimum of 10,000 pounds. Built for short, high-powered bursts of speed, monster trucks generate 1,500 to 2,000 horsepower and are capable of speeds of up to 100 miles per hour!! Monster trucks can fly up to 130 feet (a distance greater than 14 cars side by side) and up to 35 feet in the air! The Built Ford Tough Party in the Pits gives fans the opportunity to get a view of the trucks up close and meet the drivers of the massive monster trucks Trucks (Drivers):14 Truck Show! - Grave Digger (Randy Brown), Maximum Destruction (Tom Meents), El Toro Loco, Avenger, Wrecking Crew, Brutus, Spike, Full Boar, Bounty Hunter, The Felon, Martial Law, Arachnophobia, Eradicator, Backdraft Trucks will participate in racing and freestyle competitions so get ready for tons of action!

Prices:

$125 – Total Access Pass – Early entry allows for close interaction with all the drivers 1 hour before the general public enters for the Ford Party in the Pits and best 50 yard line seats.

$25 – Gold Circle – Best Sideline seats providing ultimate view of the jumps, races and destruction

$20 – Lower bowl seating outside Gold Circle Seats

$18 – Upper Bowl Seating

Day of Show Schedule:

Total Access Pit Party 1 - 2 PM --- special entry for TAP ticket holders only

Pit Party 2 - 5 PM -- Pit Pass available at Subway locations for free or $7 day of show. Doors open at 5:30 PM, and the show will start at 7:30 PM. Autographs Post Show -- autograph line locations announced at show.

Helpful Tips: Stop by your local SUBWAY for a free pit pass. Bring earplugs/muffs – The massive engines create a loud environment. If you don’t have any, no worries stadium stands sell them for $2. Bring a camera – all the drivers have sharpies for autographs at the Ford Pit Party Pits, but you’ll want a camera to take a picture of the trucks up close. You truly see how large the trucks are when you’re standing right next to them.

NOW, you can go to TicketMaster.com to purchase your tickets online, and/or you can enter here to win a set of 4 tickets to the Monster Jam!! How cool is that? My family can't wait to go!!

Time is short on this contest, so enter to win! You can get extra chances to win by helping me promote this contest! Here is what you can do to promote: twitter this contest, become a friend on facebook and promote this on facebook, and/ or you can blog this contest and link back to this post! Just be sure to comment the extra things you did with the links to where I can find it! HURRY, because this contest ends on Friday morning (January 22) at 10:00 am. Thanks and good luck!

Musicolor offers fun and creativity!! (Review and Giveaway)

Music is such a fun way to express oneself, especially when you get to color your tune! My kids and I just got to review a great product that is very fun and interesting. Musicolor is like an "old style" record player, actually quite like the Fisher Price one I used to play with when I was little, except this one offers so much more creativity!
Musicolor has several "records," or discs made out of paper. Each disc has color-coded letters on it, so kids (of all ages) can know which color that spot should be.

With using the special letter-marked musical markers, kids design their song. Some of the songs included in these pre-designed discs are: Three Blind Mice, Humpty Dumpty, I'm a little Teapot and more. I think it is great that Musicolor introduces colors to children through this product, and they are exposing children to recognition of letters. Caleb loved saying which color and letter he was coloring, and I am excited to use this product with Madelyn and Cole when they get a little older. What a fun and creative way to teach colors and letters.

There are eight different "special" markers that you use when you color the themed records. You also get a few blank records that you can design your own look, which in turn makes your own tune! This was a big hit with Caleb.

When you color the spaces, place the disc onto the record player and hit play, you get to hear the tune of colors. The arm of the music player scans over the colors and music pores out. It can be tricky if you miss a spot, because the record player won't detect it, and you will have a missing piece of the song. Then, you just take it off and find where you missed.

Caleb loved making his own song discs. He loved counting the shapes, saying the color names and talking about the letters on the markers. All in all, we really enjoyed this product and I would recommend this for your pre-schooler, or early elementary age child.

My 11 year old son thought this invention was neat, too. He colored his own music disc, as well.

Musicolor was created by Delta Creative, known around the globe for producing creative products that emphasize self-expression through color. Delta Creative is focused on innovation, quality and service. Last year, Delta Creative launched their “Delta Kids” product collection to include more than 50 new items appealing to creative young consumers, parents and grandparents alike.

Musicolor is available online at target.com, amazon.com and deltacreative.com. Retail price $49.99. Musicolor is for ages 4 and up and comes with 14 pre-printed song discs, 8 music not markers, 5 create-a-song discs and 1 pre-colored song disc. You can purchase additional create-a-song discs for $5.99 (20 count) and Music Note Markers for $5.99 (8 count).

Enter to Win!!

Delta Creative has offered to giveaway a Musicolor to one of my readers. To enter to win, go to the Delta Creative website and find out something that you enjoyed or learned about them. Contest ends January 25th, 2009. Contest open to residents of the United States.
**For extra chances you can: blog this contest, add my button to your site, subscribe to my blog, twitter and/or become a fan on facebook, and/or visit everyday with something else you learned from Delta Creative. Don't forget to put the extra comments for the "extra" work. Good luck!**

This review was provided from Delta Creative. They have provided me with a free product to review and information to share with my readers. I am sponsored to offer a giveaway prize to giveaway to my readers through this review. I was given the product for my personal opinion and option to share with my readers. I was not compensated for my time or written review.

Lets Grow: Lend a Helping Hand

When people work together so much more can be done! Kids will learn these things with the help of Barney, Bob the Builder, Fireman Sam, Thomas and more. HIT Entertainment and Lionsgate came out with a DVD about helping others: Let's Grow: Lend a Helping Hand, January, 12, 2010.

Product Description:
Meet Kelly and Chica, the hosts of TV’s THE SUNNY SIDE UP SHOW on the 24-hour preschool channel, Sprout. Join them as they host this special collection of delightful adventures featuring your favorite friends, Barney, Bob the Builder, Thomas & Friends, Fireman Sam and Angelina Ballerina as they discover how quickly things can go from squeaky clean to terribly messy. Throughout all the stories and with Kelly and Chica’s help, your children will learn that when friends work together, any job can be fun!

Episodes:
Barney: "Litterbot"
Bob the Builder: "Clean as a Whistle Bristle"
Thomas & Friends: "Dirty Work"
Fireman Sam" "Mother's Helper"
Angelina Ballerina: "The Ballerina Rag Doll"

Available now in stores and online: Lionsgate & Amazon for a SRP of $14.98.

This review was provided from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. They have provided me with a free product to review and information to share with my readers. I was given the product for my personal opinion and option to share with my readers. I was not compensated for my time or written review.

Bob The Builder: The Best Of Bob the Builder

Bob the Builder and his gang are out in a new DVD released from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment with 10 episodes!! My kids really enjoy Bob the Builder and his crew, and this is one of their new favorite DVD's because it has so many hours of building fun adventures!

Bob the Builder: Best of Bob hammers onto DVD January 12, 2010. Join Bob, Roley, Dizzy, Muck, Scoop and the rest of the Can-Do Crew in this great DVD. 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. Episodes:
Lofty to the Rescue
Mucky Muck
The House That Lofty Built
Dizzy Goes Camping
Bob’s Big Idea
Roley’s Flat Garden
Bob’s Big Plan
Two Scoops
Off Road Scrambler
When Bob Became A Builder

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!

“Building a New Bob: Ready! Steady! Build!” CGI Sizzler
“Bob’s Machine Mix-Up Puzzle” DVD-ROM Game
“If You Were on Bob’s Team” Game

Find Bob The Builder: The Best of Bob in stores and online: : Lionsgate.com & Amazon.com. SRP: $14.98.

This review was provided from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. They have provided me with a free product to review and information to share with my readers. I was given the product for my personal opinion and option to share with my readers. I was not compensated for my time or written review.

Winners

I have been a bit behind with things lately. With Christmas, family visiting, New Years Eve/Day, friends visiting, and running around everywhere....time really flies. I apologize for my tardiness with posting the winners to the recent contests. So, without any further delay...here is the lucky winners! Thanks to all who signed up to win, did the extra work to help promote the giveaways (and my site)...I greatly appreciate you all! Thanks to our generous sponsors, too! They have offered so many wonderful prizes!

Build-A-Bear Workshop (review & Giveaway!) Great Christmas gift~ : sohamolina
Automoblox Minis make for a great Christmas gift! ... (Maukilo gift certificate): Jen Mc
Great Gift idea for Christmas: Darda Victory Lane ... : packerfantimmy
Hallmark for Christmas (plus 2- $25 gift card giveaways) : darlanpaulsmamma & Victoria
Crayola makes great products for Christmas gifts! (review & giveaway) : Danetta

Congratulations to the winners! I sent an e-mail to the winners and they will have 3 days to contact me with their information. I will have the option to pick a new winner if I don't hear from the original winner.

More contests/reviews/giveaways coming up! Plus, I have a TON of personal blogging to catch up on! Happy New Year everyone! I look forward to another year of blogging and making friends!

Hasbro games are great for holiday parties and get togethers!

Our family loves playing games, and we love sharing fun games with our family and friends. Over the holiday festivities with Thanksgiving and Christmas we have been enjoying these great new Hasbro board games. We still have a few family Christmas gatherings, and maybe you do, too. If you are looking for a great gift idea, I suggest you check out these games. Winter time here in MN is long, cold, and much time is spent indoors. Family game nights are so much fun and they are great memory making moments. Game nights are a great way to spend time together as a family. I can say that Hasbro's games have definitely made our game nights a riot!

We got three board games from Hasbro to review. I really wanted to get this up before Christmas, to encourage you to look into these games for gift ideas. Either way, I am sure you will need to find a gift, and these games are highly recommended from our family & friends!
CLUE: Secrets & Spies EditionWith Text messaging the latest technological hit, Hasbro has implemented the texting into their new edition of Clue. With using your own cell phone, you get to be a top-secret spy with your own phone. Real tips are sent to your phone via the text messaging. You really don't need a cell phone to play this game, but it does add a fun twist. In this game, you take on a role of an international spy with the job of stopping the crimes of the Criminal League for world domination. You must stop Agent Black. True identities of Agent Mustard, Agent Scarlet and crew are kept secret as players work independently to complete missions. The agent who completes the most missions before being discovered by Agent Black will be known as the world’s number one spy and wins the game. This game is much like the original Clue game, however to read the clues you get to use an ultraviolet secret decoder to see the special clues. Using a special light-coder makes this game so fun for the kids (and us adults, too).
CLUE: Secrets & Spies Edition is recommend for two to six players, ages nine and up. This Hasbro game was released Fall 2009, and retails for the approximate price of $24.99.

Monopoly: Family Game Night Championship Edition Monopoly is a family favorite. It is a game where we can be strategic, but really is luck of the roll. The original Monopoly is fun, but honestly the game can take literally HOURS to play. That is why I reallylike the Family Game Night Championship Edition...there is a special speed dice. After you make your way around the board completely, you get to add in the speed dice with your roll. There are numbers on this dice, as well as Mr. Monopoly and a Bus. One of the pictures allows you to travel the distance of one of the dice (your choice) or total of both dice. The other picture sends you to the next available property open: to which you can purchase it, or you must move to the next property unowned by you, and you pay rent to the occupant. This way of play really speeds up the game time. Plus, it makes it fun for purchasing quickly. I personally like the new edition to Monopoly. Monopoly: Family Game Night Championship came out in October 2009, to coincide with the MONOPOLY World Championships in Las Vegas. Game is retailed at approximately $19.99, and is suited for ages 8 & up. This game is intended for 2-6 players and includes tournament rules, houses, hotels, and a score pad,to help you calculate whose won, as well as a Mr. MONOPOLY trophy. The hotels are even gold in color!

PICTUREKA! FLIPPER I spy something you eat....something in the ocean, something with teeth...Pictureka! Flipper is an "I spy" sort of game, and it is a game where you are searching, thinking, being creative, and want to be competitive. What I like about this game is even my two year old has fun looking for pictures that match the clues. Pictureka! Flipper has a host...a 3-D penguin who holds the cards and flips them out to everyone. While he is flipping the cards, he is also rotating around on his ice burg, so cards fly everywhere. Beware the cards will go pretty far. This game is exciting because you get clues to find the matching pictures on the cards, however you only have so much time before the penguin quacks and starts flipping out more cards. Our family really enjoys this game, and it is one that you can engage all different ages and many people can play. Requires 3 AA batteries (not included).
This game is intended for ages 6 and up, but our younger ones enjoyed finding the pictures, too. It can be a fast paced game, so playing with younger (than 6) kids may be too challenging.
Approximate retail price of Pictureka! Flipper is $24.99.

About HASBRO
Hasbro, Inc. is a worldwide leader in children’s and family leisure time products and services with a rich portfolio of brands and entertainment properties that provides some of the highest quality and most recognizable play and recreational experiences in the world. As a brand-driven, consumer-focused global company, Hasbro brings to market a range of toys, games and licensed products, from traditional to high-tech and digital, under such powerful brand names as TRANSFORMERS, PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, CRANIUM and WIZARDS OF THE COAST.

This review was provided from Hasbro. They have provided me with a free products to review and information to share with my readers. I was given the product for my personal opinion and option to share with my readers. I was not compensated for my time or written review.

Just released today from HIT Entertainment and Lionsgate: Thomas and Barney!

Thomas the tank engine has great shows for kids to learn about friendship, cooperation, manners, and more. My kids and I really enjoy the new animated series of Thomas videos. The new one that came out today is "Splish, Splash, Splosh." In this new DVD there is a new host: Driver Perkins, and he is found only on the DVD's. Driver Perkins helps out Sir Topham Hatt, the train engineers and all of Sodor's engines. My kids get a kick out of him because he makes things fun. He really draws kid's attention and makes the new interactive learning a blast. We got to see him make a cake that resembles Thomas~ that is fun!
In Splish, Splash, Splosh a new engine is introduced: Charlie!
DVD SYNOPSIS
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.
The DVD includes the following episodes:
o Playtime
o Splish Splash Splosh
o Slippy Sodor
o Snow Tracks
DVD SPECIAL FEATURES
All-new interactive games:
o Lift and Load Crane Game
o Counting with Thomas Game

Again, Thomas has made a hit in our homes, and this DVD is highly recommended.

Barney has been a long time example of how to share, be a friend, to use your imagination and using your manners. My kids love Barney's fun songs (with teachable words) and the fun dancing that Barney and his friends display. The Emmy award-winning series, Barney & Friends is one of the top-rated preschool shows today, airing on PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS Sprout.
Barney's new DVD from HIT Entertainment and Lionsgate just released today: "Please & Thank You."
DVD SYNOPSIS
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.
My kids really enjoyed this DVD, and I think manners are such a great thing to install into our children at a young age. I think Barney does a great job encouraging children to use their manners.
Episodes include:
· Magic Words
· Tea-riffic Manners
· Caring Hearts

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES
· Baby Bop’s Tea Party Games:
o “Cakes, Cups and Colors” Interactive Game
o “Alphabet Cookies” Interactive Game

My kids and I recommend this great Barney DVD: Please and Thank You!

Both of these DVD's were released today and can be found in your local retail stores or online at Lionsgate.com or Amazon.com.

This review was provided from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. They have provided me with a free product to review and information to share with my readers. I was given the product for my personal opinion and option to share with my readers. I was not compensated for my time or written review.