Here you go, have fun! I love doing these, we are seeing so much great stuff being offered to blog readers.
Have a Winning Weekend~Weekly Giveaway Linkup~Happy Labor Day!
August 30, 2012 by · 5 Comments
Here we go, on the verge of another weekend…and a holiday weekend at that! When you have some downtime this weekend, come back and enter some of these great giveaways. Lots of great prizes up for grabs. Good Luck and let us know if you win.
Giveaway: The Oogieloves In the BIG Balloon Adventure
August 25, 2012 by · 26 Comments
Last week I had the opportunity to take my kids to a pre-screening of The Oogieloves In the BIG Balloon Adventure. We also had a chance to meet and chat with the creator, Kenn Viselman (you may know his name from Eloise, Thomas the Tank Engine, and Teletubbies) and writer, Scott Stabile.
While we moms chatted with them, the kids had their own adventure, Oogieloves Camp. They learned songs from the movie, decorated re-useable lunch boxes, and had an all around good time.
I loved getting a chance to hear the vision behind The Oogieloves and what drives them in their pursuit of creating movies that are good for the whole family. I can tell you that as a very picky mom, I have zero issue with my kids watching the Oogieloves. They go beyond the requirements for G rated movies, even petitioning the MPAA to allow there to be a special new rating for a movie that is 100% kid friendly.
Instead of needing to have good and evil or adult humor, they keep it fun, keep it happy and full of love. With big animation, fun bright colors, and lots of interactive opportunities, this is one of the first time your kids can go to a theater and just be a kid. It’s meant to be fun and noisy and bouncy. Let your kids have fun with the Oogies coming to theaters Oogust 29. Even better, know you can take them without worrying about what they are going to walk around saying or waking up to their nightmares. Before you go, check out the Parent Guide at www.oogieloves.com. I especially loved the cameos of different artists – Toni Braxton, Jaime Pressly, Christopher Lloyd, Cloris Leachman (hysterical), Chazz Palminteri and Cary Elwes.
Thanks to the Oogies, we get to give one of YOU, our readers, the awesome prize package pictured below. 
Tent
Mobile
Glitter Tattoos (2)
Stickers (2)
Beach Balls (2)
Disclaimer: I received the opportunity to review this movie, along with my children in order to give you my honest opinion. As always, all thought and opinions are my own and reflect my personal views.
Review and Giveaway Text Bands
August 23, 2012 by · 57 Comments
Secret codes, clubs, passing notes, these are all “fun” things about being a kid. Of course I thought my kids would never make up “clubs” or anything like that. For me, call it the stereotypical “some one always gets left out fear”. However, I found that so far it isn’t too big an issue. My boys tried being part of a club that was exclusive to, well, 3 boys, 2 of them MINE, and when I explained how that could make someone feel if they were left out they changed their tune really quick. A few days later, enter technology and Hallmark’s text bands. We received a pair of text bands to review. Pictured below are our text bands on my daughter and niece. They wanted in on the action but since they are too young to use them we let them model them and the boys get the perks of keeping them.
Text Bands are cool wristband gadgets that, just like a watch, kids can wear on their wrist. My kids love the concept. They can type up to 10 characters into it and then can bump fists or shake hands with their buddy, and the message they typed will transfer to the other person’s text band. Each band has a built in filter to keep kids from passing bad words back and forth. each band can hold up to 24 messages.
The directions were so simple my 9 year old was able to follow them and get both text bands going without any help from mom. I love it when kids’ things are made easy enough for them to actually set up themselves. (Thank you to the creators of text bands for that small blessing.) The boys love playing around with them and sending each other messages. It is a little silly at times as they try to out do each other in what they say. Through this I have also learned that text speak goes over kids’ heads pretty easily. I think they will be pros in no time though.
Currently the starter kit is available in two colors – charcoal and purple. This includes the band and texting module, and is priced at $14.99. You can then buy different bands to switch it up, with 8 colorful options to choose from. The bands are $4.99. They are available at Hallmark God Crown Stores.
Hallmark has graciously offered to give one of our reader’s a set of text bands. The winner will receive 1 set of Text Bands.Please enter below and be advised that we do check to ensure you have actually completed the entry. I would hate to have to disqualify a winner because they didn’t actually complete the entry. Thanks so much and GOOD LUCK!!
