The Prissy Mommy Reviews & Giveaways

Family Dance-off Presented by Primrose Schools

 

Sadly, childhood obesity has become an increasingly widespread problem in the United States.  One-third of today's children eventually will suffer from diabetes and, in the African American and Latino communities, the proportion will be almost half!  So imagine my joy when our First Lady Michelle Obama announced that she was launching a major initiative to combat this widespread problem.  Lady Obama even came on my favorite childhood show to deliver this public health message! 

Michelle, Elmo, and their vegetable friends teach children about healthy eating

During Mrs. Obama’s PSA she encourages parents to be healthy role models for their children. We can start by making sure exercise becomes a regular part of our family's life, in any shape or form!  Primrose Schools, the leader in educational child care, has also launched a national campaign to promote physical activity and healthy lifestyle choices by encouraging families across the country to boogie on down!  Dance is a fun, easy way to introduce physical activity into your family's routine while enjoying quality time together.

The Family Dance-off supports Children's Miracle Network, a non-profit organization that raises funds for more than 170 children's hospitals, which collectively treat 17 million children annually for every illness and injury imaginable.

Here's how you can compete in the Family Dance-off:

1. Record a 30-second home video of your family's best dance moves. The sillier, the better!
2. Visit www.FamilyDanceoff.com and upload your best take from now until March 19th, 2010.
3. View and vote daily for your favorite family dance video!

If your video makes the cut, your family can have a chance to WIN these great prizes:

♥ $5,000 grand prize
♥ Wii Fit Bundle
♥ FLIP Video camera
♥ $30,000 donation to your local Children's Miracle Network hospital

Win an Exclusive Fashion Week Experience From American Express

Twice a year Bryant Park of Midtown Manhattan is magically transformed into "The Tents," where the Mercedez-Benz Fashion Week is held.  Arguably the city's most glamorous event, Fashion Week involves 80 designer runway shows held in 65,000-square-foot white tents.  The event is expected to attract over 100,000 people and features only the crème de la crème of fashion! 

Most Fashion Week events are by invitation only, meaning no invitation, no access.  If you are a legitimate member of the press you can request coverage of the event.  (Legitimate means your work, writings, photos, or video footage appear regularly in a respectable venue).  However, the amount of press and where you can go may still be limited. If you are an employee of standing either in the retail, magazine, internet, or television worlds, you may receive an invitation but admittance is still not guaranteed, as it all depends on space available.

Lucky for all my fashionista readers, I just learned that American Express will be announcing a contest to win a pair of tickets to view two amazing designers' fall preview fashion shows from the private American Express Cardmember Skybox overlooking the runway!

The winner and a guest will join American Express under the tents at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Bryant Park and enjoy the amazing runway views complete with food, drinks and a special gift.

Follow @AmericanExpress on Twitter for more details on the giveaway and information on how to enter. The contest rules will be announced via Twitter only on Friday before 12:00 p.m. EST.

Pampers Partners With Olympic Team USA to Introduce New High Performance Diapers

 

Since our son was born we've been an exclusive Pampers family.  We've tried other brands but consistently found that Pampers diapers are the only one that didn't lead to diaper rash and messy leaks.  He can have a huge bowel movement overnight and the next morning we wake up to no leaks or spillage.  As Chase grew older and became mobile we transitioned to Pampers Cruisers and became even bigger fans!  Soft on the inside, and so absorbent in the middle, Chase can always tell the difference when he isn't wearing Pampers.  He just doesn't seem as comfortable or confident in his play.  

Well I'm excited to tell you that now Pampers has partnered with Olympic Team USA to introduce new Pampers Swaddlers and Cruisers Diapers with Dry Max, the brand's new high performance diapers sure to earn gold with world-class "players" - babies.  These new Pampers are 20 percent thinner with no sacrifice in performance.  In fact, the new Pampers Cruisers with Dry Max helps lock wetness away up to 12 hours, making this their driest diaper ever.  Parents all across the country can buy Pampers Swaddlers and Cruisers Diapers with Dry Max for their best players in the world in March. In the meantime, you can request a free sample three-pack of the new Cruisers diaper on Pampers.com starting January 29th. If your sample includes a Team USA diaper (they will be randomly inserted in select sample packs), you will win a year's supply of Pampers Cruisers Diapers with Dry Max!

Here's an interesting, fun fact I just learned on the Pampers website: A cruising baby in one day can take as many steps as a marathon runner in a race, and a nine-month old baby can crawl up to 400 meters in 20 minutes! It's this active play that continually inspires the Pampers brand, and that's why moms and dads are encouraged to log on to Pampers.com beginning February 12 to join in celebrating the development of their own best players. Parents will have the ability to upload a video of their baby crawling from left to right, and randomly selected videos will be compiled into a Pampers Cruisers Diapers with Dry Max "Baby Relay" commercial which will air during closing day of the Olympic Winter Games, giving babies a chance to showcase their own playful ability in the same forum as the most elite athletes. 

Be sure to request your free sample three-pack of the new Cruisers diaper on Pampers.com and be entered for your chance to win a year's supply of Pampers Cruisers Diapers with Dry Max!

♥ Insure Your Love ♥

When my husband and I were married life insurance wasn't the first thought on our minds.  We talked casually about it from time to time, but it wasn't until the birth of our baby son January 2009 that we became proactive about researching and ultimately purchasing life insurance policies!  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. 

Ask any Mom on the street why she does the things she does for her family, and the answer will likely be simple - love. Our love for family, and desire to show it, drives just about everything we do as Moms. Whether baking cupcakes until midnight the night before your child's classroom party, dressing up like a princess to host a tea party with your kids or working overtime to be able to afford a special family vacation - sometimes we're willing to do just about anything for love. 
 
And with the holiday dedicated to love just around the corner, it might be time to look past heart-shaped chocolates and consider a different way of expressing your love...with the purchase of a life insurance policy. 

To get folks 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!

Q-tips “Perfect Nursery” Product Pack Review & Giveaway

Q-tips cotton swabs has teamed up with Celebrity Nursery Designer, Wendy Bellissimo, to introduce the newest addition to the Q-tips family: Q-tips Baby Packs.  To celebrate the launch of the new Q-tips Baby Packs I was invited to attend a Q-tips Nursery brunch at David Burke Townhouse with Wendy herself! 

Wendy has worked with celebrity moms like Brooke Shields and Kelly Ripa, and she has great tips and tricks to create a nursery that is both beautiful and practical!   At this totally fabulous event Wendy would be giving select bloggers her nursery decor tips and also discussing how she has used Q-tips in raising her four lovely daughters.  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend the event, but Wendy generously shared her Top Ten Tips for Creating the Perfect Nursery:

♥ Be Your Own Designer - Go through magazines, catalogs, and visit baby & furniture stores to see the looks available.

♥ Save the Paint for Last - Select your nursery furniture and fabric before you paint.

♥ Don't Sacrifice Style for Functionality - Create a beautiful, organized space in the nursery to hold your baby's personal care essentials.

♥ Add a Personal Touch - Give your nursery a personal touch by adding framed covers of your favorite childhood books or classic black & white or sepia photos of you and your significant other when you were babies.

♥ Create A Sleepy Time Sanctuary - We all need our beauty rest, so it is important to create an environment that’s peaceful for your baby to sleep.

♥ Room to Grow - Choose design options that can grow with your child – consider color palette, furniture style, storage options and a play/reading area.

♥ X vs. Y - Design a gender-neutral nursery with yellow, green, white or crème and simply add touches of blue or pink accessories when the baby arrives

♥ To Theme or Not to Theme - Nursery themes such as safari, princess or transportation are a great way to create a fun, light-hearted statement.

♥ Accessorize - A few must-have accessories for any nursery are books, a silver piggy bank, and soft stuffed animals.

♥ The Essentials - Be sure you have a crib, glider, changing table/dresser, light dimmer switch and books within the little one’s reach.

My generous friends at Q-tips and MomSelect sent me the NEW Q-tips Baby Packs in two adorable nursery animal deisgns (safari and farm animals designs - pictured above) for review.  The Q-tips Baby Packs are a stylish nursery essential that are functional and finally cute enough to keep out in the baby’s room!  These space-saving packs make it easy for you to keep Q-tips cotton swabs at your fingertips and they also feature a sliding drawer that will help keep your Q-tips fresh and clean.  I was so delighted to receive this cute little set and have already put it to use on the dresser in my son's nursery! The Q-Tip boxes are just so stylish and I'm excited to re-use them as little holders for a number of things once the Q-Tips have run out.

I was also sent a chic, silver elephant bank to display in baby’s room – another nursery design essential that Wendy recommends!  It's an absolutely beautiful, timeless treasure that I know we'll keep for a long time!  Thank you, Q-tips and MomSelect! 

I'm offering one reader of The Prissy Mommy Reviews & Giveaways her very own “Perfect Nursery” Product Pack, which will include: 2 (TWO) Q-tips Baby Packs in safari and farm animals designs & 1 (ONE) silver elephant bank.   

To Enter:

• Visit the Q-tips website and tell me your favorite product or tip.   

Extra Entries:

• Become a follower (via Google Friends Connect or NetworkedBlogs)
• Leave a brief review of my blog on Amazon for Kindle using this link. Write "review" in the comments
• Blog about this giveaway and link back to my site. "blogged about it"
• Add my button to your blog.  Leave link to your blog.
• Follow me on Twitter (@ThePrissyMommy) and Tweet this giveaway (up to twice a day).  Leave link to your tweet. 
• Send an e-mail to your friend(s) about this contest and CC me. Write "email" in the comments.
• Subscribe to my updates.  Write "subscribed" in the comments.

Rules:

• Eligible entry will be randomly chosen as the winner.
• The deadline for entries is February 8, 2010 at 3:00 pm, EST.
• Leave each "Extra Entry" in a separate comment or it will not count.
• Please include your email addy within the comment so I can contact you if you win the prize.
• The winner will be announced on this blog (as well as emailed) by February 10, 2010, EST.
• You will have 3 days to accept or another winner will be chosen.
• Valid for US addresses only.

*Note* The more entries you've submitted, the greater your chance of being selected!  

Search hashtag #qtipsbaby on Twitter to see more updates and details about this fabulous new nursery essential!  Have fun!!!!

Build-A-Bear Workshop's Search for Huggable Heroes

Today, more than ever, young people are stepping up to make a difference in communities near and far.  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.  The seventh annual search for these special people is now on!

This year ten Huggable Heroes, between the ages of eight 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). 

2009 Huggable Heroes

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.

Anyone and everyone, ages eight and above, are eligible to nominate a candidate (and kids can nominate themselves) by visiting buildabear.com/huggableheroes or by picking up an entry form at a participating Build-A-Bear Workshop store in the United States and Canada.  Nominations will be accepted through February 26, 2010.

Good luck and have fun!

Pillsbury Grands! Flaky Layers Honey Butter Biscuits Review & Giveaway

Though it's only Friday night, my tummy is already growling for Sunday morning breakfast.  I just love the weekends... that's the only time I can make a big, country breakfast!  Being a busy, working mom I'm lucky if I have time to grab a bowl of cereal or toast before I leave the house weekday mornings, and I usually end up having a quick bowl of oatmeal at my desk at work.  So the weekends have become my special time to cook a hearty breakfast, and it's become a tradition of sorts that we really look forward to.  My husband is a "meat man," and enjoys any breakfast as long as there's heaping piles of bacon or sausage.  On the other hand, I'm a displaced "southern gal" and must have something I can put syrup on - be it pancakes, biscuits, or waffles. 

I was therefore quite delighted when I was offered the opportunity to review the NEW Pillsbury Grands! Flaky Layers Honey Butter Biscuits.  Who can resist warm, soft biscuits fresh from the oven and drizzled with butter and syrup (or jelly, as my husband prefers)?  Yum!!!  Pillsbury Grands! Biscuits have been a long-time staple in our home, however, I've always bought either the Southern Style or Buttermilk flavors.  I was excited to try the new Honey Butter Biscuits, however, as they layer the flavors of sweet honey and creamy butter into one mouth-watering biscuit.  When I made the honey butter biscuits for my family they loved them!  Through mouthfuls of biscuits I heard things like, "Where did these come from?" and "Mmmm, is there seconds?"  We finished all eight biscuits, which is unusual for the three of us!  My husband, who typically isn't a sweet bread kind of guy, enjoyed three of them!  He asked if I planned on making these biscuits next week too?  I just smiled at him and took his plate to the sink. :-)

If you´re craving a more fulfilling breakfast to start your day these easy to bake biscuits are a great new option for a warm, hearty breakfast that you and your whole family will love!  Though you may enjoy eating brunch out on Sunday mornings, nothing compares to the smiles you'll get when your family wakes up to the wonderful aroma of biscuits baking in the oven.  Delight your family this weekend with this extra special breakfast.  I promise it will be well worth the extra effort!   

I'm offering one reader of The Prissy Mommy Reviews & Giveaways 2 (TWO) coupons for free cans of Honey Butter Biscuits along with 1 (ONE) butter dish and knife.

 

To Enter:

• What do you usually make for a family breakfast?   

Extra Entries:

• Become a follower (via Google Friends Connect or NetworkedBlogs)
• Leave a brief review of my blog on Amazon for Kindle using this link. Write "review" in the comments
• Blog about this giveaway and link back to my site. "blogged about it"
• Add my button to your blog.  Leave link to your blog.
• Follow me on Twitter (@ThePrissyMommy) and Tweet this giveaway (up to twice a day).  Leave link to your tweet. 
• Send an e-mail to your friend(s) about this contest and CC me. Write "email" in the comments.
• Subscribe to my updates.  Write "subscribed" in the comments.

Rules:

• Eligible entry will be randomly chosen as the winner.
• The deadline for entries is February 8, 2010 at 3:00 pm, EST.
• Leave each "Extra Entry" in a separate comment or it will not count.
• Please include your email addy within the comment so I can contact you if you win the prize.
• The winner will be announced on this blog (as well as emailed) by February 10, 2010, EST.
• You will have 3 days to accept or another winner will be chosen.
• Valid for US addresses only.

*Note* The more entries you've submitted, the greater your chance of being selected!  

Disclaimer: Pillsbury provided me with the free product, information, and prize pack through MyBlogSpark. 

Disney & Carol's Daughter's "A Magical Beauty Collection" Giveaway

Congratulations to Nicole B., winner of "A Magical Beauty Collection" giveaway!

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

This past December Disney introduced the first African-American princess in fairy tale history in "The Princess and the Frog."  I'm beyond delighted about this because the implied message of Princess Tiana is that African-American girls can be as elegant and beautiful as Snow White, Cinderella, Ariel, and all the other European Disney princesses.  Princess Tiana symbolizes a culture-changing standard of feminine beauty and it is important to me to share with the world just how beautiful and important Tiana is to our community!  I'm so excited about our new princess that I even dressed my entire family up for Halloween as Princess and the Frog characters. This was my way of celebrating and welcoming this beautiful African-American princess who has been such a long time coming!

Well I'm thrilled to inform you that Disney and Carol's Daughter have teamed together to create "A Magical Beauty" gift set for the little princess in your life!  Beloved for its genuinely natural products, Carol’s Daughter was a natural choice for creating a Princess Tiana-themed hair and body collection. Gentle enough for children and appealing to parents, the fanciful product line delivers the benefits of natural ingredients such as aloe leaf juice, sunflower seed oil, cranberry fruit extract and lemon peel. The Magical Beauty Collection captures Princess Tiana’s unique experience in one universal collection, making every aspiring princess feel like Tiana at bath time.  Each product features an inspirational message reflecting the values and lessons that Tiana learns during her journey, making the Magical Beauty Collection a way for girls to connect with Disney’s newest princess.

"A Magical Beauty" Gift Set Includes:

♥ Shampoo "The Beauty Within" - 8 fl. oz.

♥ Conditioner "Inner Shine" - 8 fl. oz.

♥ Bubble Bath "Sharing Means Caring" - 8 fl. oz.

Value: $30.50

Enter my contest and pamper your little princess with this trio of genuinely natural hair and bath treats that gently clean, condition and soothe. This little loving magic is sure to bring out her inner shine!

ONE (1) winner will receive "A Magical Beauty" gift set.

To Enter:

• Who is your favorite Disney Princess?

Extra Entries:

• Become a follower (via Google Friends Connect or NetworkedBlogs)
• Leave a brief review of my blog on Amazon for Kindle using this link. Write "review" in the comments
• Blog about this giveaway and link back to my site. "blogged about it"
• Add my button to your blog.  Leave link to your blog.
• Follow me on Twitter (@ThePrissyMommy) and Tweet this giveaway (up to twice a day).  Leave link to your tweet. 
• Send an e-mail to your friend(s) about this contest and CC me. Write "email" in the comments.
• Subscribe to my updates.  Write "subscribed" in the comments.

Rules:

• Eligible entry will be randomly chosen as the winner.
• The deadline for entries is February 1, 2010 at 3:00 pm, EST.
• Leave each "Extra Entry" in a separate comment or it will not count.
• Please include your email addy within the comment so I can contact you if you win the prize.
• The winner will be announced on this blog (as well as emailed) by February 4, 2010, EST.
• You will have 3 days to accept or another winner will be chosen.
• Valid for US addresses only.

*Note* The more entries you've submitted, the greater your chance of being selected!  

Have fun!!!!

Introducing the New Rainbow Brite

As a mom, you've probably shared many stories of your favorite childhood toys with your children.  Your favorite toys often bring back fun memories of play and imagination.  Millions of moms who became inspired by Rainbow Brite with her cheerful look and personality in the 80's can now share their favorite childhood friend with their children!  Rainbow Brite has blasted back onto the doll scene with a vibrant makeover, continuing to delight children with her empowering and imaginative adventures as she spreads her positive messages of courage, kindness, and hope.

My gracious friends at MomSelect would like to introduce you to the new Rainbow Brite interactive website, which features animated videos, a contemporary theme song, coloring pages, wallpapers, games and more!   And luckily for mom and dad, all of these fun activities are free!

Even more exciting, the newest Rainbow Brite fashion doll collection will be available in February 2010 at Toys R' Us and Target (please check website for availability www.rainbowbrite.com).  Watch out for Rainbow Brite, her two loyal friends Moonglow and Tickled Pink, and their companion horse friends: Starlite, Shimmer and Sunriser.

We hope your children are excited to meet Rainbow Brite and the entire gang, while exploring the Rainbow Brite website and doll collection!

Holiday Shopping With T.J. Maxx & Marshalls

I discovered while in college that there's absolutely no reason to ever pay full price for gifts, home décor or fashion. Now, almost ten years later, I'm still shopping off-price at Marshalls and T.J. Maxx.  I rarely go elsewhere for my clothing and department store needs as I can usually find the same essentials, but for up to 60 percent less.  Today, as a full-time working mom, I still find that I want to spend less time shopping and more time enjoying the holiday season with my family and loved ones. I therefore headed straight to T.J. Maxx and Marshalls to kick off my holiday shopping.

Marshalls is a special favorite of mine, as I find they always carry the same first-quality, on-trend merchandise as department and specialty stores but for a lot less!

While perusing the home accents aisle I was delighted to discover this absolutely breathtaking "Baby's First Christmas" ornament by Lenox.  Winnie the Pooh is crafted in ivory fine china, accented with 24 karat gold, and he is taking a ride on his rocking horse, scarf flying behind him!  It's an absolutely beautiful memento for our son, Chase's, first Christmas, and looks so beautiful on our tree.  I've bought Lenox pieces at full retail value in the past and, my, this was a steal!  I left the store with that special glow - you know, the one where you feel giddy because you've found such a bargain! :-)

One of the very first events on my agenda for the new year is a visit to the portrait studio.  We'll be celebrating our son's first birthday and we'd like nice, professional photographs taken of him as well as an updated family portrait.  My husband is super lucky in that he owns a wide and diverse array of ties and of course, being a lawyer, has many nice suits to select from each day.  I, on the other hand, struggle with what to wear to work on a daily basis, let alone for a special occasion!  I'm at a weird "in-between" size, with having lost "some" of my baby weight but not quite "all" of it.  So my husband encouraged me to find something new, for both me and Chase.  He assured me that he'd pick out a nice, matching suit and tie based on our wardrobe selection.  Well, I immediately headed to T.J. Maxx, as they are well known for having the latest designer fashions to ensure you always look your best for any occasion. Sure enough, after browsing for about half an hour, I had found the perfect dress for myself and a gorgeous, complementary sweater for Chase as well.  We're now all set for our family portrait, and I can't wait to show off our new outfits.

With gift giving at the top of everyone’s holiday check list, both Marshalls and T.J. Maxx offer an array of options to make shopping easy this season. As new merchandise is continually being brought into the store, even if you're a last minute shopper (like me) you'll still find wonderful items for everyone on your list!  If you're looking for a fun and stress-free holiday shopping experience, the hottest designer fashions, gifts and home décor, skip the mall this holiday season – off-price is a better way to go! 

Disclaimer: Marshalls and T.J. Maxx, partnering with Unilver, sought out mom bloggers to review their holiday shopping experience.  I received gift cards to use towards my shopping so that I could review this service.  No other compensation was provided.

"America's Cutest Last-Minute Tax Deduction" Contest

 

Calling all December babies!

All Moms would agree that the joy that comes from having a new baby is priceless! The sweet sounds of cooing, chubby cheeks and the intimate bond between parent and child can make any family feel rich with love. But, as any new parents can attest, raising children can have an impact on your checkbook, as well as your heart. In fact, the typical family spends more than $221,000 raising a child through age 17.

Because they love to bestow gifts on new moms, MomSelect is thrilled to pass along the news of a fun contest that might lighten the load of one lucky family! Thanks to TurboTax®, one "last-minute" baby will help his or her parents save a bundle.

TurboTax®, the nation's No. 1 rated, best-selling tax preparation software from Intuit Inc., is conducting its third annual nationwide search for America's Cutest Last-Minute Tax Deduction. The parents of one lucky baby, born in December 2009, will win $5,000.

To enter, parents or legal guardians should submit a photo of their baby born between Dec. 1-31, to www.cutesttaxdeduction.com. The deadline for submissions is January 7, 2010. Judges will select 10 finalists, and America will determine America's Cutest Last-Minute Tax Deduction and the $5,000 grand prize winner!

"Dora, Diego, and Me" Personalized DVD

Kideo has partnered with Nickelodeon to create the first-ever personalized DVD featuring characters from the hit television shows Dora the Explorer and Go, Diego, Go!. Through the use of Kideo’s patented technology, parents, grandparents and friends alike will be able to have their little explorer star alongside Dora, Diego and the rest of their pals as they go on a rescue mission in Dora, Diego and Me.

After obtaining a photo of your child and your child’s name, Kideo digitally inserts the image and name into the story, allowing kids to see themselves and hear their names on screen.  Now kids can star alongside their two favorite heroes for the first time!

You'll be delighted to watch as your child goes on a personalized excursion with new learning experiences at every turn and watch!  Dora, Diego, and Me will allow your little traveler to virtually zip lines through the rain forest and water ski up the river to save Baby Jaguar who is stuck at the waterfall.  Each child who stars in the 25-minute video is featured in full color animation, Dora the Explorer speaks your child’s name throughout the episode, and his or her name will also be included on the DVD and its packaging.

Dora, Diego and Me is available exclusively at www.kideo.com retailing at $29.95.

"Elmo Loves You!" DVD Giveaway #15

Congratulations to CocoaMommy, winner of the "Elmo Loves You!" DVD giveaway!

Celebrating its 40th anniversary this season, Sesame Street is the longest-running program in children’s television.  As you all know by now I'm a long-time fan of Sesame Street - and my toddler son is a burgeoning little fan. :-) I'll forever appreciate Sesame Street because of the strong hand they had in contributing to my profound love of music and dancing and having fun while learning! 

I was therefore so tickled when I was invited to review a DVD featuring my son's favorite character: Elmo!  Warner Home Video and Sesame Workshop will re-release "Elmo Loves You!" on January 5, 2010.  Now Chase and I can watch as everyone’s favorite little loveable monster learns about love, emotions and friendship in this fun-filled adventure featuring musical performances by music legends Trisha Yearwood, John Legend, and R.E.M.

When a big gust of wind blows Elmo’s special surprise card away, Rosita tries to help Elmo chase after it.  But just when the card seems to be out of reach for the monster friends, Super Grover comes to the rescue and helps save the day! This DVD features a special reflective treatment on the cover, the new song “Elmo Loves You,” and a special music video about signing “I Love You.”  This release also includes a bonus 5-song music CD featuring a collection of all-time favorite Sesame Street hits!

I'd love for you and your little ones to join Elmo and friends on this sing-along adventure about love, emotions and friendship!  So Warner Home Video has agreed to give one reader of The Prissy Mommy Reviews & Giveaways their very own "Elmo Loves You" DVD.  Elmo has lots of love to share in this 46-minute DVD, so enter to win your own!

 

 

ONE (1) winner will receive the "Elmo Loves You" DVD.

To Enter:

• Who is your favorite furry Sesame Street character and why?

Extra Entries:

• Become a follower (via Google Friends Connect or NetworkedBlogs)
• Leave a brief review of my blog on Amazon for Kindle using this link. Write "review" in the comments
• Blog about this giveaway and link back to my site. "blogged about it"
• Add my button to your blog.  Leave link to your blog.
• Follow me on Twitter (@ThePrissyMommy) and Tweet this giveaway (up to twice a day).  Leave link to your tweet. 
• Send an e-mail to your friend(s) about this contest and CC me. Write "email" in the comments.
• Subscribe to my updates.  Write "subscribed" in the comments.

Rules:

• Eligible entry will be randomly chosen as the winner.
• The deadline for entries is January 1, 2010 at 3:00 pm, EST.
• Leave each "Extra Entry" in a separate comment or it will not count.
• Please include your email addy within the comment so I can contact you if you win the prize.
• The winner will be announced on this blog (as well as emailed) on January 4, 2010, EST.
• You will have 3 days to accept or another winner will be chosen.
• Valid for US addresses only.

*Note* The more entries you've submitted, the greater your chance of being selected!  

Have fun!!!!

Café Press Holiday Ornaments Review

Christmas is my favorite time of year for, oh, so many reasons.  I love making Christmas treats and trimming the tree - I'm one of "those" folks who put the tree up the day after Thanksgiving and take it down January 15th. :-)  I adore caroling and shopping for presents, then wrapping them and placing them lovingly under the tree.  I just love the fellow-shipping with friends and family throughout the season.  I love driving around with my family, in the crisp night air, looking at lights... then curling up and drinking hot chocolate back home.  Christmas really is a beautiful time of year and it makes me feel all fuzzy and warm on the inside.  This year Christmas is especially significant for my husband and I because it is our son, Chase's, very first Christmas ever! I'm so excited to help him discover the magic of the holiday season and I really want to make it extra special for him.

I was therefore quite delighted when I was invited to work with Café Press on their new holiday ornament program!  Café Press is the largest online retailer of user-generated t-shirt designs and a multitude of other neat products.  This holiday season Café Press has introduced an easy and fun ornament online tool that enables you to easily customize your holiday ornaments with a variety of designs, graphics, or photos.  The generous folks at Café Press allowed me customize two ornaments in order to try out this new feature!  As I'd been searching for the perfect way to commemorate Chase's first Christmas I was super excited to try this new tool out. 

I had so much fun designing and personalizing our special ornaments!  There are a variety of templates to choose from, including Baby’s First Christmas, Hanukkah, Twilight/New Moon, Peace, and many more.  Customizing our ornament was simple as 1-2-3.  First I selected my favorite holiday ornament design.  Then my husband and I each chose our favorite photos of Chase, which we uploaded to the program, and finally we entered a special message. Voilà!  We had created two beautiful, custom porcelain ornaments - in under ten minutes!

I created this cute little Gingerbread Boy Ornament.  How absolutely darling is that?!!

My husband created a Baby Snow Boys Ornament.  I'm excited for our ornaments to arrive in the mail - Chase will be so tickled to see his little face in the ornaments, and they will be the perfect finishing touch on our Christmas tree.  But more importantly, we will forever have this special memento of our baby's first Christmas!  Thank you, Café Press, for this lovely and affordable way to memorialize our son's first Christmas!  Thank you MomSelect for this very fun and unique holiday opportunity!

If you're looking for an extra special way to celebrate the holiday season do visit Café Press to customize your own ornament or other piece! Café Press has also partnered with Autism Speaks and, in the spirit of giving, will give an additional 10% of revenue from these ornament sales to help kids with Autism.

Wishing all of you a very merry holiday season! 

Sid the Science Kid Plush Toy & DVD Giveaway #14

Congratulations to Nabs, winner of the Sid the Science Kid Plush Toy giveaway!

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

Do you remember any of your favorite childhood toys?  I sure do!  I always loved Barbies, My Little Pony, and my Cabbage Patch doll.  Another favorite toy was my Easy Bake oven, which allowed me to explore my domestic tendencies even at an early age.  To this day, I still love to be in the kitchen creating.  There’s no smell I love more than homemade goodies baking in the oven.

Well speaking of fun toys and activities for kids, since its premiere last fall Jim Henson's Sid the Science Kid television series has gained a whole lot of young fans!  The show was created by a revolutionary process known as "digital puppetry" and appeals to preschoolers’ instinctive quest to figure out how things work, using humor and music as key teaching tools. 

Series Goals

• To encourage children to think, talk and work the way scientists do by building on preschoolers' natural curiosity about the world.
• To show that science is all around us, and that we all interact with and are capable of learning about scientific concepts.
• To contribute to school readiness by fostering children's intellectual skills, motivation to learn, and confidence in themselves as learners.
• To support children's learning by partnering with parents and teachers to create a "climate of curiosity" for children.

Helping Kids Prepare for School

• Sid the Science Kid helps prepare children for school by exposing them to science in a comfortable and enjoyable way. Children will discover basic, yet important, concepts such as change and growth. This type of early exposure to science can inspire a lifetime of learning and exploration.
• Sid the Science Kid's theoretical content is based on national science learning standards, cognitive learning theory, and on the preschool science curriculum, Preschool Pathways to Science.

Since its debut fans have been clamoring for Sid the Science Kid merchandise.  Well now The Jim Henson Company has partnered with Hasbro Toys to produce a deluxe "Talkin' Sid the Science Kid" doll.  The producers of the series along with The Jim Henson Company and PBS/Los Angeles sent me and my toddler son (Chase) a Sid the Science Kid talking doll to review.

My husband I were thrilled because we are all for educational toys in our home!  We're eager to inspire and nurture a love for learning in our son - and what better way to make science fun than through an animated role model like Sid the Science Kid?   I was so excited when his new toy arrived in the mail.  I unwrapped the package quickly and gave it to Chase to explore.  He was instantly taken by the doll!  When we press Sid's belly we can hear six different phrases and also hear him sing songs from the show - Chase especially loves that part!  He smiled and hugged his new friend close to him (which delighted him because it made Sid talk more!).  Chase just adores his soft and cuddly Sid doll that talks and sings.  It has quickly become his favorite toy!

The fun doesn't end here!  The generous folks of PBS/Los Angeles are giving a reader of The Prissy Mommy Reviews & Giveaways his or her very own Sid the Science Kid doll to keep! So all you Sid the Science Kid fans... come out and play!

ONE (1) winner will receive a Sid the Science Kid Plush Toy along with a DVD  of "The Sticker Chart" episode of Sid the Science Kid.

To Enter:

• Leave me a comment telling me one of your favorite childhood toys you remember playing with!   

Extra Entries:

• Become a follower (via Google Friends Connect or NetworkedBlogs)
• Leave a brief review of my blog on Amazon for Kindle using this link. Write "review" in the comments
• Blog about this giveaway and link back to my site. "blogged about it"
• Add my button to your blog.  Leave link to your blog.
• Follow me on Twitter (@ThePrissyMommy) and Tweet this giveaway (up to twice a day).  Leave link to your tweet. 
• Send an e-mail to your friend(s) about this contest and CC me. Write "email" in the comments.
• Subscribe to my updates.  Write "subscribed" in the comments.

Rules:

• Eligible entry will be randomly chosen as the winner.
• The deadline for entries is December 18, 3:00 pm, EST.
• Leave each "Extra Entry" in a separate comment or it will not count.
• Please include your email addy within the comment so I can contact you if you win the prize.
• The winner will be announced on this blog (as well as emailed) on December 18, 2009, EST.
• You will have 2 days to accept or another winner will be chosen.
• Valid for US addresses only.

*Note* The more entries you've submitted, the greater your chance of being selected!  

Find out when Sid the Science Kid airs in your area!

'Glee' Carol-Oke & Raising Money for Toys for Tots

from l to r: Cory Monteith, Nikki Blonsky, Mark Salling, Amber Riley and Kimberley Locke.  Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images

I was recently invited to attend 'Carol-Oke,' a wonderful holiday event sponsored by T.J. Maxx and Marshalls.  It took place yesterday at The Pond at Bryant Park, the illustrious "winter wonderland" in the heart of Manhattan.  I knew that it promised to be a special time as I would be surrounded by many of my favorite things: like-minded, holiday-loving New Yorkers singing Christmas carols, filled with good cheer... and fellow-shipping over hot cocoa while sitting in the beautiful park among the old leafy trees that shield from view the encircling skyscrapers.  Aaah, it doesn't get any better than that!

Even more exciting, Cory Monteith, Mark Salling, and Amber Riley from the hit show "Glee" would be singing traditional (and non-traditional!) holiday carols to help kick-start "Carol-Oke!"  They would also be joined by "Hairspray's" Nikki Blonsky and "American Idol's" Kimberley Locke.

Quite unfortunately, I wasn't able to make this fun-filled event as my work schedule simply didn't permit.  I was deeply disappointed about this until I learned that I could still join in the festivities from home!  "Carol-oke" will be part of YouTube's new "Caroling Channel," which will feature unique carols about off-price holiday shopping as well as traditional carols complete with lyrics to follow, making it easy for consumers to sing "Carol-oke" style! 

Now here's where it gets really fun - and where you can get involved!  Record your own video singing one of the "off-price carols" and, in the spirit of the season, T.J. Maxx and Marshalls will donate $1 (up to $50,000) to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program.  For every video uploaded to their YouTube site $1 will go toward purchasing toys for children in need this holiday season - helping more than 3,500 children have a merry holiday season.  You can also participate in special contests, giveaways, and interactive games on site, and you'll be eligible to win a $5,000 shopping spree.

I hope you decide to get in the holiday spirit by singing holiday tunes for a worthy cause!  Have fun!

Grover Stars in First Sesame Street iPhone App

“Hello Everybodeeeeeee!”  

Sesame Street's Grover has been uttering his famous greeting on television for 40 years!  My husband and I are huge Sesame Street fans, and have been so for over 30 years.  My earliest memory of watching TV is of watching Big Bird, Grover, Cookie Monster, and all the rest of the Sesame Street family, and it is endearing to watch our toddler son now as he falls in love with Elmo and pals on his own.

I'm super excited to inform you all that iPhone and iPod touch users can now share in Grover's zaniness with a new app available from the App Store!  Sesame Workshop, the producers behind Sesame Street, and IDEO, an award-winning design and innovation consultancy, announced the availability of the Grover’s Number Special App.  This is the very first official Sesame Street app for the iPhone and iPod touch. 

When Charlie, the cook, doesn’t come into the restaurant and the customer wants his lunch right away, Grover, our cute and lovable waiter, needs help!  Join Grover in the kitchen to catch—and count—ingredients to make delicious and nutritious meals.  All users have to do is tip the iPhone or iPod touch back and forth to move the tray.  Grover tells you how many ingredients to catch, and then counts the items with you.

"Oh, it is so much fun,” said Grover.  “Please play my little app—the customer is getting very hungry!

The Grover’s Number Special App includes original Sesame Street video and encourages visual discrimination, counting, and number recognition.  You can download your own Grover’s Number Special App for $2.99 from the App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore/.

Caress "Evenly Gorgeous" Body Wash and Beauty Bar Giveaway #13

Congratulations to Deb K., winner of the Caress "Evenly Gorgeous" giveaway!

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

Hi Folks!

So most of you probably know by now that I'm a major body wash fanatic.  Oh, I just love the stuff.  To me lathering up and bathing with body wash is the ultimate "at home" pampering experience.  As such, my husband and I are very particular about the ones we use, and can spend interminable amounts of time in the bath and beauty aisle at the market selecting the perfect one to buy.  I was therefore so delighted when I was given the opportunity to try out and review the new Caress Evenly Gorgeous Exfoliating Body Wash & Beauty Bar in Burnt Brown Sugar and Karite Butter.

♥ About Evenly Gorgeous Exfoliating Body Wash:

The new Caress Evenly Gorgeous Exfoliating Body Wash and Beauty Bar have burnt brown sugar and karite butter that gently exfoliate and lusciously moisturize, revealing sensually smooth skin that’s even toned and polished to perfection. They’re must-haves to achieve any look that shows off your smooth, sexy shoulders. Caress gives you gorgeous skin – right out of the shower – that you will want to flaunt just like the season’s hottest styles.

For a luxurious, silkening shower or bath: Squeeze a dab onto a poof  (you judge the dab).  Lather, breathe deep, and relax.  Ignore any knocks at the door. 

♥ My Review:

My first impression of the Evenly Gorgeous Exfoliating Body Wash was that the consistency of the wash is perfect (thick, creamy, and luscious).  It squeezes out of the bottle in a rich, shimmery bronze!  I just loved, loved, loved the way it made my skin feel... soft, moisturized without feeling greasy, and silky to the touch.  I actually felt the burnt brown sugar crystals in the wash, gently exfoliating my skin as I massaged it in.  It reminded me of last Valentine's Day, when my husband and I treated ourselves to a sugar body scrub at the spa last year - sensuous and luxurious. 

I discovered that pouring just a few drops onto the wet loofah and gently rubbing it all over my skin in circular motions creates loads of rich, creamy lather!  You need only use a little of it, which makes it very economical.  Oh girls, and it smells so delicious - it has the aromas of sugar and vanilla!  After I finally dragged myself out of the bathroom, my husband hugged me and told me that my new body wash smelled more like "something we'd have for dessert."  I think that means he liked it!  :-) 

As moms we're sometimes so busy taking care of everyone else we often forget to treat ourselves!  I'm officially in love with the Evenly Gorgeous Exfoliating Body Wash not only because of the deliciously subtle aromas (I catch whiffs of it throughout the day and just smile a secret smile to myself), but because the line is so darn affordable!  As moms managing our households during an ever changing economy, who doesn't appreciate pampering on a budget?  

♥ The Skinny:

It just gets better and better! :-)  The great folks over at Unilever are giving one lucky reader her own Evenly Gorgeous Exfoliating Body Wash & Beauty Bar in Burnt Brown Sugar to try out. 

Oh folks, I urge you to enter my contest.  The magic of Christmas is in the air and it's the perfect time to take a break from the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping and pamper yourself silly (without leaving the house!) with the Caress "Skinwear" Collection!   

 

♥ ONE (1) winner will receive the Evenly Gorgeous Exfoliating Body Wash & Beauty Bar in Burnt Brown Sugar & Karite Butter. ♥

To Enter:

• Leave me a comment telling me your favorite way to pamper yourself at home!    

Extra Entries:

• Become a follower (via Google Friends Connect or NetworkedBlogs)
• Leave a brief review of my blog on Amazon for Kindle using this link. Write "review" in the comments
• Blog about this giveaway and link back to my site. "blogged about it"
• Add my button to your blog.  Leave link to your blog.
• Follow me on Twitter (@ThePrissyMommy) and Tweet this giveaway (up to twice a day).  Leave link to your tweet. 
• Send an e-mail to your friend(s) about this contest and CC me. Write "email" in the comments.
• Subscribe to my updates.  Write "subscribed" in the comments.

Rules:

• Eligible entry will be randomly chosen as the winner.
• The deadline for entries is December 14, 3:00 pm, EST.
• Leave each "Extra Entry" in a separate comment or it will not count.
• Please include your email addy within the comment so I can contact you if you win the prize.
• The winner will be announced on this blog (as well as emailed) on December 16, 2009, EST.
• You will have 3 days to accept or another winner will be chosen.
• Valid for US addresses only.

*Note* The more entries you've submitted, the greater your chance of being selected!  

Good luck!!!!

Awesome Cyber Monday Deals at Mabel's Labels

Hi Folks!

Just recently I blogged about my wonderful experience with the ladies of Mabel's Labels and raved about how much I appreciate their labels.  My husband and I use them on everything - from Chase's bottles and sippy cup for day care to cannisters in the kitchen.  They're so attractive and versatile you really can find uses for these handy little labels all around your home.

Well to kick off the holiday shopping season Mabel's Labels is having a huge sale on some great gift-giving items!  They're having a Cyber Monday special and I wanted to give you the heads up first! If you place your order today you will get:

♥ Holiday Gift Tags 30% off (Regular Price: $18.50, sale price $12.95)

♥ Holiday Return Address Labels 30% off (Regular Price: $18.50, sale price $12.95)

♥ Write-On! Stationery Kits 40% off Buzz and Cowpoke Kits only (Regular Price $34, sale price $20.40)

♥ Backyardigans Write-On! Stationery Kits 40% off

With the holiday season in swing and Christmas rapidly approaching we're all probably guilty of spending a little bit more than we should.  So definitely take advantage of this great opportunity to save while you can.  

This sweet deal lasts for one day only, folks - so hurry up and shop now!

Have fun!

Free Spirit "Best Behavior™ Series" Books Review

 image source: Free Spirit Best Behavior™ Series

A few weeks ago I wrote a blog post about my feelings about the H1N1 virus, my thoughts on getting our infant son vaccinated, and reflections on the tough decisions that parents are often faced with.  The artwork I thoughtfully chose to include with this post was the cover of a children's story near and dear to my own heart: Germs Are Not For Sharing.  Through child-friendly words and fun illustrations this short story helps little ones stay clean and healthy, by helping kids learn that germs are not for sharing!  It teaches the basics of not spreading germs: Cover up a sneeze or cough. Hug or blow kisses when you're sick. And most of all, wash your hands!  I love it!  And how important today in light of the rapidly approaching flu season and concerns about H1N1!

Little did I know that posting that blog would put me in touch with the fantastic folks at Free Spirit Publishing, the leading publisher of learning tools that support young people’s social and emotional health.  Imagine my surprise and pleasure, a few days after the post went live, to find myself chatting with an associate from the publishing company.  She had noticed my use of Germs Are Not For Sharing atop the post, and wanted to express her appreciation that I had used the book at such a relevant time, with all the concern over H1N1 and germs in general.

I actually have a long history with the Best Behavior™ Series!  I first learned of this very important collection of books through my best friend and colleague, Dr. Nichole Adams.  Nichole worked as a Bilingual School Psychologist with the public school system for a long time but now holds the title of Chief Psychologist with Nassau BOCES.  She is also Children’s Clinical Assessment Consultant with a private practice.  So, needless to say, my girlfriend knows a "little something" about children's behavior and educational tools. :-) She shared Hands Are Not For Hitting of the Best Behavior Series™ with me several years back when I did a brief internship with her kindergartners.  I would read this story to my group therapy kids and they were always delighted by the lively, colorful pictures and easy-to-understand message.  It was a really fun and simple book that used gentle language to encourage children to choose positive, peaceful behaviors over violence.

I truly love this series... so much so that I bought my sister the complete collection as a baby shower gift in 2006!  You see, as the shower coordinator, I had asked that guests bring a book (with dedication written inside) in lieu of a card, so that we might begin building my new nephew's library.  Always the psychologist, I of course chose books that focused on the emotional health/wellness of children.  My sister, who is now mom to a 2 year old terror tot and a 5 month old, has since shared with me that she and her husband often read Hands Are Not For Hitting and Feet Are Not For Kicking to help teach valuable lessons about non-violence to their son.  She laughingly admits how she didn't realize just how valuable this gift was until she actually became mom to a toddler.  Now she is a fan as well!

I eagerly jumped at the opportunity to review this series of books.  Once my review books had arrived my husband, who was previously unfamiliar with the series, pored through the pages of the books with rapt interest.  At one point he smiled and commented that Pacifiers Are Not Forever would likely be quite helpful for us as we prepare to transition our baby to life without his paci.  Although we had planned to introduce the "pacifier fairy" to help minimize the drama and discomfort of this major change, we're glad to have such a great resource available now to help facilitate this transition!

I'm very excited to share this series of books with you all, and do hope you take a moment to peruse the Free Spirit Publishing website.  Our kids are often presented with unique life challenges and choices, at home, school, and the world out there. No matter how difficult the choices and changes young people face, the mission of Free Spirit Publishing has remained the same for over 25 years: to help children and teens think for themselves, succeed in life, and make a difference in the world.

Happy Reading!