This February, moms can save of P&G products for baby at Sam’s with a special gift card offer. Buy any two participating baby products and get a $10 Sam’s gift card. (In-club purchases only.) Participating baby essentials include:

• Pampers Swaddlers or Pampers Cruisers Diapers
• Pampers SoftCare Scented Baby Wipes
• Similac Advance Powder or Similac Sensitive Powder
• Dreft Liquid Laundry Detergent

Gift card offer must be redemed online before March 14, 2012. Find more details at SamsClub.com/giftcardoffer.

GIVEAWAY – One lucky reader will win a $25 Sam’s Gift Card to stock up on baby supplies or anything else your heart desires.

To enter – Please use the Rafflecopter form below to take advantage of your entry opportunities.

MANDATORY ENTRY MUST BE LEFT AS COMMENT ON BLOG POST BELOW– then you can check off in Rafflecopter that you did it. Otherwise, all other entries will be invalid. (Click instructions for what to comment about.)

*** PLEASE be sure to read instructions in Rafflecopter form as to what to comment about.***

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Disclosure - The Sam´s Club Gift Card and information have been provided by Sam´s Club and P&G through MyBlogSpark.

With the Baby Bullet, moms (and dads) can make quick work of creating healthy meals for baby. Just throw your choice of veggies, fruit, etc in the The Turbo Steamer (which steams food in about half the time of a normal steamer), chop it up in the Baby Bullet and then store in the containers provided. Ta-da dinner for a week in about five minutes for a lot less than the cost of jarred baby food.

Check out this demonstration:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsAF2Qlyfro

Doesn’t that inspire you to make your own baby food? I didn’t make baby food for my big girl, but the more I think about it the more I think I will make at least some of my daughter’s food. If you are like me and need recipe ideas to create yummy baby food, then check out Baby Bullet’s blog. In addition to yummy ideas, you will find practical parenting tips and advice including a post from your’s truly about Planning the Perfect Birthday Bash.

Here’s another quick tip. The Baby Bullet isn’t just for baby food. Want a yummy snack for the big kids (and mom and dad), what about a fresh smoothie?

GIVEAWAY – The Baby Bullet system includes a Baby Bullet Unit (with The Power Base, The Cross Blade and Flat Blade, Two Short Cups, The Batchbowl, Six Storage Cups with Date-Dial lids, The Batch Tray, The Soft-Tip Spatula), a Turbo Steamer and a cookbook — everything you need to make homemade baby food for your little one. The system is worth more than $100!

To enter – Please use the Rafflecopter form below to take advantage of your entry opportunities.

MANDATORY ENTRY MUST BE LEFT AS COMMENT ON BLOG POST BELOW– then you can check off in Rafflecopter that you did it. Otherwise, all other entries will be invalid. (Click instructions for what to comment about.)

*** PLEASE be sure to read instructions in Rafflecopter form as to what to comment about.***

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Disclosure – The system is being provided to my winner, however, no compensation was received. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

So, with some trepidation everything went in the washer with a Shout Color Catcher with Oxi sheet.

When the cycle ended, I was happy to find that everything in the load was the same color it was when it when in. I had successfully (gasp) mixed colors in the wash. Baby clothes, a red/pink blanket, khaki pants, jeans, burp cloths, t-shirts and more… It all went in, and it all came out clean. I was pleased.

I had been most worried about the reds going in, but my color catcher revealed that it was one of the darks that ran a bit. (If you look closely at the picture, you will see a little bit of blue snatched up be the color sheet.)

So here are my thoughts.

Everything is better with Oxi. My whites come out brighter and my stains disappear. So I love that they have added Oxi to the color catching sheets. It gives the color catching sheets dual purpose, which I dig. (It’s like a little satchel of Oxi, but it doesn’t all get used up. Even though it says not to, I am so considering cutting it open and using the rest to fight a future stain.)

However, while the color catching idea is great, and it worked well for this load, in general mixing colors gives me great anxiety. It makes me terribly nervous to risk ruining clothes with color run, which is impossible to reverse. Yes, in my last minute, I-have-to-get-everything-done-before-Christmas haste, it was nice to have my color catching sheet to throw in. But for everyday use, separating colors is easy and safer. (I would have been a wreck if it hadn’t worked, but it did – yeay.) For regular use, I can’t see myself deciding to mix loads willy nilly and rely on the color catcher.

It’s kind of a catch-22. If I mix loads using the sheet, and it captures color I probably would have been better to separate it. If I mix loads and no color is captured, I feel wasteful for using a sheet I didn’t need. So, when to use it? Plus there is the cost. Amazon sells the Shout Color Catcher with Oxi for $11.75 for 20, so $0.59 each (plus ship). (It is probably less in the store with a coupon, but this the price I could find easily.) That adds up quick if using regularly.

So, I think my little box will last a long while because I don’t know when I use it. Next time I in a major hurry and have to get several things washed of various colors in one load I suppose

But it did do it’s job when I used it, so if you are into mixing your loads this might be the perfect product for you.

My bottle of Shout Free, on the other hand, is still getting a work out. Having just successfully tackled ground in mud from the tush of my daughters leggings.

If you want to try Shout Color Catcher with Oxi for yourself, you can print a $1 off coupon from Shout’s Facebook page (look under offers).

Giveaway – Two lucky readers will win a box of Shout Color Catcher with Oxi.

To enter – Please use the Rafflecopter form below to take advantage of your entry opportunities.

MANDATORY ENTRY MUST BE LEFT AS COMMENT ON BLOG POST BELOW– then you can check off in Rafflecopter that you did it. Otherwise, all other entries will be invalid. (Click instructions for what to comment about.)

*** PLEASE be sure to read instructions in Rafflecopter form as to what to comment about.***

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Disclosure – I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Shout and received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

With a new baby in the house stains seem to appear in triplicate these days – on baby, on mom and on whatever I use to try to wipe up the mess. Because of a family history of sensitive skin, I always use dye-free detergents. But to really get out tough stains, there are few options for stain fighters that are both safe for sensitive baby skin and tough on stains. So I found myself using regular stain fighters on my baby’s sensitive clothing. Not any more… I have discovered Shout Free!

Shout Free features

• Dye Free
• Fragrance Free
• 99% Natural Ingredients
• Convenient trigger dispenser
• Safe for all colorfast washables
• Works in all water temperatures

I first discovered Shout as a stain stick when I went off to camp in college, and it has been my go-to pre-treater ever since. So I was excited to get the power of Shout without all of the other stuff. In my unofficial testing, Shout Free worked great as a pre-treatment to every day stains. I have no idea what this mystery stain on my khaki pants was, but I sprayed it down with Shout Free before washing normally and the before and after pictures speak for themselves:

(Note: I promise those are the same pants, I took the first picture in my laundry room under terrible light in a hurry and the second picture with good light. But the point is that mysterious weird stain – gone!)

I also tried Shout Free on a stain from a fruit juice bar (blueberry), unfortunately I didn’t have any luck with the fruit stain. (Realistically, this isn’t the type of stain I would normally use regular Shout on, so I really wasn’t surprised.) Where Shout excels is on run-of-the-mill stains where Shout Free works like a charm.

Bye-bye regular Shout, Shout Free is my new go-to pre-treater. Since Shout Free seems to work just as well as my old Shout, I don’t ever see myself going back. Why would I? I don’t have to worry about washing clothing treated with Shout Free separate from my baby’s duds because it free of all of the extras I want to protect her skin from. Even as she grows, it still seems better to avoid any unnecessary fragrances and dyes. Now I can.

If you want Shout it out with Shout Free, you’ll find a coupon for $1 off on the Shout Facebook page.

Giveaway – Two winners will each receive a bottle of Shout Free to pre-treat all of your every day stains.

To enter – Please use the Rafflecopter form below to take advantage of your entry opportunities.

MANDATORY ENTRY MUST BE LEFT AS COMMENT ON BLOG POST BELOW– then you can check off in Rafflecopter that you did it. Otherwise, all other entries will be invalid. (Click instructions for what to comment about.)

*** PLEASE be sure to read instructions in Rafflecopter form as to what to comment about.***

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Disclosure – I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Shout and received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Every time I used it, my husband grumbled. It became a game. If I started the dishwasher, I put in the liquid. If my husband started the dishwasher, in went the all-in-one packs. The problem, according to my husband, with the liquid is two-fold. Not only does it spill out everywhere if you aren’t starting the dishwasher right then (and we are fond of the delay start), but it also left spots on glassware. Admittedly, I noticed it too. But while it didn’t really bother me on the glassware, it did bother me on the baby stuff. Somehow a baby bottle nipple and paci just don’t look clean with spots, and that just seems gross. So when Finish Jet Dry asked me to test out a bottle, I was game.

I am happy to report that the grumbling about using the liquid detergent has stopped since adding the Jet Dry to the dishwasher. The glassware looks better and, more importantly, the nipples and pacis do too. The big test was the set of new plastic containers I bought my husband for Christmas. When we washed those for the first time, using the liquid detergent along with the Jet Dry they came out spot free.

My mom always used Jet Dry with her detergent, and still does, do I don’t know why I didn’t think about getting some on my own. Probably because in my mind I was just using yo what we already had on hand. In the end it seems once again, that mother really does know best because what a difference a little bottle of Jet Dry makes.

Since we are basically lazy, it is nice that you can fill up the Jet Dry and then just add detergent each time rather than having to add both for every load because let’s face it, that would never happen.

Ultimately once we use up the liquid detergent, we’ll most likely go back to the all-in-one packs for the convince factor alone. But since this bottle of Jet Dry will out last our detergent (40 washes in just one little bottle), should I come upon a really good deal on liquid detergent I will totally pick it up knowing that Jet Dry is ready to tackle the spots and my husband’s grumbling. If you use liquid detergent in your house, without a doubt you need Jet Dry – save $.50 with this printable coupon.

How would you like to out Jet Dry to the test at your house?!

Giveaway – One lucky reader will win a bottle of Jet Dry (40 washes).

To enter – Please use the Rafflecopter form below to take advantage of your entry opportunities.

MANDATORY ENTRY MUST BE LEFT AS COMMENT ON BLOG POST BELOW– then you can check off in Rafflecopter that you did it. Otherwise, all other entries will be invalid. (Click instructions for what to comment about.)

*** PLEASE be sure to read instructions in Rafflecopter form as to what to comment about.***

NOTE – sorry for the confusion on the mandatory entry. I blame it on holiday brain. Any and all comments left on the blog will count due to my own mistake! The entry now asks for your New Year’s Resolution, but if you left a comment before I changed it your comments will count. 

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Disclosure - I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Finish and received a FinishJet-Dry product sample to facilitate my review, a sample to giveaway, and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Check out this fun holiday widget from Chick-fil-A

Giveaway – One lucky reader will win all Five Cow Watches, Two Chick-fil-A Plush Cows, a Free Peppermint Chocolate Chip Milkshake Coupon with speciality Christmas ornament!

To enter – Please use the Rafflecopter form below to take advantage of your entry opportunities.

MANDATORY ENTRY MUST BE LEFT AS COMMENT ON BLOG POST BELOW– then you can check off in Rafflecopter that you did it. Otherwise, all other entries will be invalid. (Click instructions for what to comment about.)

*** PLEASE be sure to read instructions in Rafflecopter form as to what to comment about.***

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Disclosure – No compensation was received, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sam’s Club and Chex want to challenge you to include a Chex Mix in your next bash. Whether it is a holiday affair, a party to ring in the New Year or a birthday party, your guests are sure to enjoy a sweet and salty snack. To make your preparations easy (well, easier) Chex has a number of 15-minute recipe ideas, tips and tricks and even some creative packaging ideas available at ChexPartyMixChange.com.

If you are planning to take a snack to a holiday party this year, consider one of these yummy Chex Mix recipes. (Click on the names to get any of these fabulous recipes.) Oh, and here’s a printable coupon for $1.00 off two boxes Chex cereals.

The classic, Muddy Buddies.

Cinnamon Apple Chex Mix

Chocolate Chex Caramel Crunch

White Chocolate PB&J Muddy Mix

Snickerdoodle Chex Mix

And the award to the CUTEST Chex Mix – Santa Party Mix

Now that I have your mouth watering for some Chex Mix goodness. How about a giveaway courtesy of Sam’s Club and Chex Mix?

Giveaway – One lucky reader will win a $25 gift card to Sam’s Club and three boxes of Chex Mix so you can take the party challenge and make a sweet treat to share.

To enter – Please use the Rafflecopter form below to take advantage of your entry opportunities.

MANDATORY ENTRY MUST BE LEFT AS COMMENT ON BLOG POST BELOW– then you can check off in Rafflecopter that you did it. Otherwise, all other entries will be invalid. (Click instructions for what to comment about.)

*** PLEASE be sure to read instructions in Rafflecopter form as to what to comment about.***

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Disclosure: The Sam´s Club gift card, information, and giveaway have been provided by Sam´s Club, Chex Party Mix and General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

Is there anything more inviting than a yummy scented candle? Especially at the holidays, I can’t get enough ginger and spice scented warm glow going on in my house. Just thinking about it makes me want to light all of my candles around the house. It just makes me feel so cozy.

If you are a fellow candle lover, chances are you are familiar with PartyLite, the number one direct seller of premium candles and home fragrance products. Sold through in-home parties (and online), more than 12 million people attend PartyLite parties each year. I have attended a few PartyLite parties over the years, and I have always walked away with lovely, yummy smelling candles for my home. One of the things I love most about the candles I have purchased is that they burn evenly and cleanly. For a gal who likes to squeeze every last ounce out of her purchases, this is very important to me.

Another great thing about PartyLite is that because the candles, warmers and decor change seasonally, you can always find something new to decorate your house. A simple candle display on a mantel or end table is a quick and inexpressive way to jazz up your space and give it a seasonal feel.

Like all in-home parties, not only do the guests enjoy a good time and a little shopping, hostesses are rewarded for their time with free products. Of course, just before the holidays is the perfect time to host a PartyLite party because guests can shop for gifts while the hostess earn gifts (for herself or to give – if she can part with them).

Even if you don’t know someone hosting a party, you can always shop online and browse the seasonal catalogs. (The new Winter/Spring catalog will launch December 16.) Here are some of my faves from the current Fall/Holiday catalog:

Snowman ScentGlow Warmer

Votive Holder from the Enchanted Collection

Clearly Creative Votive Trio

I was able to do a little PartyLite shopping myself, and after a lot of thought (there are so many wonderful things to choose from), I selected this Giving Tree Multi Candle Holder (on sale for $45) for myself.

In addition to my giveaway here (more about that in a moment), PartyLite is giving away five $500 gift certificates on its site in the PartyLite Simple Pleasures Holiday Sweepstakes. Since $500 will buy a lot of candles, reed diffuseness, candle warmers and decor, make sure you enter by December 15 to be eligible. If you miss the deadline, like find out about monthly special offers on the PartyLite Facebook page.

Now on to the giveaway.

GIVEAWAY - One lucky reader will win a $15 coupon code to PartyLite. (Note the code can be used on any purchase, but it is not valid on purchases associated with parties. Also, the code will NOT cover shipping.)

Mandatory Entry - Leave a comment below telling me what you would buy if you won.

Additional Entries:

• Sign up for my newsletter. (You must confirm your subscription – thanks.)
• Like The Suburban Mom on Facebook.
• Follow TheSuburbanMom on Twitter (@SuburbanMomClub) and tweet about this give away. “Enter to #win a PartyLite #giveaway from TheSuburbanMom @SuburbanMomClub #giveaway http://wp.me/pQHaE-5cs”
• Comment on any other NON-giveaway post.

Contest ends December 28, 2011 at 11:59 PM. Open to U.S. residents in the continental U.S. only. Winning comment will be chosen at random by Random.org and contacted for shipping information. Winner will have 72 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Of course, the irony with a second child is that although my oldest daughter was two and half for her first circus, we will most likely take our newborn with us to her first circus at 4 months old. Oh this kid is going to be well entertained before she is even six months old having already been to multiple theme parks and shows! Too bad she won’t remember any of her firsts…

But I digress…

This year, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey^® Presents DRAGONS! For the first time in circus history, myth and majesty will share the arena during this must-see family event that can only be witnessed at The Greatest Show On Earth^®!  Experience circus spectacles so incredible that once again you will believe in the unbelievable! Dragon tribes from the far reaches of the earth are brought together in a single performance, displaying their breathtaking skills in a circus tournament of champions. Each tribe must prove that they have virtues of Courage, Strength, Wisdom and Heart to arouse dragons which appear right before your very eyes! Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime family event when The Greatest Show On Earth brings the world together… to bring your family together!  

Here’s a peak at rehearsals for the show

BTW – If you will be taking your little one to the circus for the first time, be sure to sign them up for a free commemorative first circus certificate.

Giveaway – One lucky reader will win 4 tickets to Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey^® Presents DRAGONS! in Orlando. (Note, this giveaway is for tickets to the Orlando show, you must either be local or plan to be in town to be qualified to win this giveaway)

To enter – Please use the Rafflecopter form below to take advantage of your entry opportunities.

MANDATORY ENTRY MUST BE LEFT AS COMMENT ON BLOG POST BELOW– then you can check off in Rafflecopter that you did it. Otherwise, all other entries will be invalid. (Click instructions for what to comment about.)

*** Make sure you follow the directions as to what to comment about.***

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Disclosure - In exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment has provided me with complimentary tickets to Feld shows and opportunities to attend private Feld pre-Show events. Even though I receive these benefits, I always give an opinion that is 100% mine.

From Richard Scarry:

Since the 1960’s, boys and girls around the world have grown up with Richard Scarry’s best-selling books about his busy world of iconic animal characters and their whimsical vehicles. With over 300 titles in the Richard Scarry library and over 150 million books sold, Richard Scarry is one of the best-selling children’s authors of all time. In fact, he has five books in the Publishers Weekly’s Top 100 List of All-Time Bestselling Children’s Books. His popular stories follow the adventures of Huckle and Sally Cat, Lowly Worm, Hilda Hippo, Pig Will and Pig Won’t in a very busy town, leading very busy lives. His characters have become household names that parents fondly remember and kids adore.

Why I Love It – Not only is the playset tons of fun, but in case your kiddos are unfamiliar with the Richard Scarry series, it includes a DVD to catch up on all the fun in Busytown. There are also other playsets available from Busytown including a Town Fire Station, Roadway Starter Set and more. All of the playsets can be combined to make a whole town of fun.

Buy It – The Richard Scarry’s Busytown Town Hall Deluxe Playset with DVD is available from Toys R Us for $39.99.

Great Gift For – Kids ages 3+, especially those who love Richard Scarry themselves or who have parents who grew up loving the Scarry gang.

Giveaway – One lucky reader will win a Richard Scarry’s Busytown Town Hall Deluxe Playset with DVD. (Note, giveaway will end December 17 at midnight and I will the winner ASAP. The winner will have until Sunday at 6 pm to send me mailing information so that I can get it to the sponsor Monday morning. If I don’t hear from the winner by 6 pm December 18, I will choose an alternate winner. The plan is for the prize to ship December 20 with the hope that it should arrive December 23 just in time for your little one to find it under the tree Christmas morning.)

To enter – Please use the Rafflecopter form below to take advantage of your entry opportunities.

MANDATORY ENTRY MUST BE LEFT AS COMMENT ON BLOG POST BELOW– then you can check off in Rafflecopter that you did it. Otherwise, all other entries will be invalid. (Click instructions for what to comment about.)

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Disclosure – I was provided a promotional product to facilitate this review, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Over the years, I have purchased all kinds of great gifts from TJ Maxx and Marshall’s, and with both stores restocking more than 10,000 new items weekly through Christmas, you don’t have to worry about finding bare shelves even if you shop the week of Christmas. (Which at this rate, I will be!) If you need some ideas to get those shopping juices flowing, here are some great gift ideas you can find at  TJ Maxx and Marshall’s: For the kiddos - Stuff their stockings with Play-doh (you know they can never get enough of this stuff). And if toys are already overrunning your house (like mine) fill the tree with books. (I often buy books from TJ Maxx, they have great titles and low prices – love the Sandra Boyton for little ones.)

For tweens – You can’t go wrong with beauty and bath products. (Heck, you can’t go wrong getting those things for girls of all ages, my three year old will find nail polish in her stocking this year!)

For the fashionista – Appeal to her sense of style with these uber chic gloves in bright colors (they are practical too, unless you live in Florida). Since it rarely gets cold enough to actually wear winter scarves here in Florida, I love fashion scarves. Jewelry always makes a gal smile, and chunky bracelets are so in. And check out the bling on those watches! (There are at least two people on my list who will receive bling watches this Christmas!)

For the (hard-to-shop-for) man – Gadgets rule with men, and I love this mod looking alarm clock. See that toy helicopter, I am sure it would make a great gift for a kid, but my Aunt gave one to my husband for Christmas last year and it was the hit of the day. Grown men have even more fun than kids playing with it. And for the handy man if your life, new tools.

Giveaway – One lucky reader will win a $25 gift card to TJ Maxx/Marshall’s.

To enter – Please use the Rafflecopter form below to take advantage of your entry opportunities.

MANDATORY ENTRY MUST BE LEFT AS COMMENT ON BLOG POST BELOW– then you can check off in Rafflecopter that you did it. Otherwise, all other entries will be invalid. (Click instructions for what to comment about.)

*** PLEASE be sure to read instructions in Rafflecopter form as to what to comment about.***

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Disclosure – I was provided a promotional product to facilitate this review, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The holidays are all about making family memories, and Hallmark has some great things to jump start your memory making. In addition to the toys at Hallmark being just plain cool, Hallmark does an excellent job of creating traditions with series like our snowmen that return year after year. Of course, we have to have the newest snowman in the series each year!

The newest addition to our family’s Hallmark Christmas traditions, not including our snowman of course, is the Countdown to Christmas ornament. K is really into the Christmas countdown with her advent calendar, so the ornament was a perfect addition. Everyday, she taps the ornament to see it light up and wants to know, “Now, how many days till Santa.” (Even though she does this several times a day, it is still adorable.) The countdown ornament is a perfect fit to our Christmas tree of memories.

Hallmark’s recordable story books, are another great way to start a holiday tradition. We are lucky that in our family, both sets of grandparents live in town. But for those who aren’t able to spend the holidays with extended family, recorable story books are an excellent way to stay connected.

Not to be out done by the toys, Hallmark will always be known for its cards. If you are purchasing personalized greetings this holiday season, use the coupon code SOCIAL20 on purchases of $20 or more to get 20% off. (Code valid through 1/12/12.)

Giveaway – One lucky reader will win a Countdown to Christmas ornament and the Recordable Storybook – A Charlie Brown Christmas to bring a little Christmas tradition home.

To enter – Please use the Rafflecopter form below to take advantage of your entry opportunities.

MANDATORY ENTRY MUST BE LEFT AS COMMENT ON BLOG POST BELOW– then you can check off in Rafflecopter that you did it. Otherwise, all other entries will be invalid. (Click instructions for what to comment about.)

*** Make sure you follow the directions as to what to comment about.***

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Disclosure – I was provided promotional products to facilitate this review, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

You can be part of the goodwill by simply encouraging your kids to write a letter to Santa. Through December 24, Macy’s “Believe” campaign invites children of all ages to mail letters to Santa using Macy’s Santa Mail Letterboxes. For each letter received, Macy’s will donate $1 , up to $1 million, to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The Macy’s Believe campaign is in its fourth year, and I am so excited that my daughter is finally old enough to participate. (I guess we could have done it last year, when she was 2, but it will mean more this year.) Since K is just learning to write her letters, I am going to use this tracing a letter to Santa template to assist. Then we will head down to Macy’s to mail her letter. (Of course, I will do a little switcheroo and have her mail a photo copy of the letter so I can keep the original.) For older kids, Macy’s has brought letter writing to the digital age and now offers an online letter writing tool complete with decorative icons that you can fill in, print and mail to Santa.

This year, Christmas magic also comes to life this year with Macy’s Believe-o-Magic app. Download the app before heading to Macy’s and your kids can have their picture taken with their favorite animated characters from stars  from the animated holiday special “Yes, Virginia.” See how the app works in this video:

Yes, Virgina, there is a Santa Clause, and I believe. How about you?

Giveaway – One lucky reader will win a Macy’s Believe Snowglobe to bring a little Christmas magic to their home.

To enter – Please use the Rafflecopter form below to take advantage of your entry opportunities.

MANDATORY ENTRY MUST BE LEFT AS COMMENT ON BLOG POST BELOW– then you can check off in Rafflecopter that you did it. Otherwise, all other entries will be invalid. (Click instructions for what to comment about.)

Disclosure – The snowglobe is being provided to the winner, no other compensation was received. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

What kinds of deals can you find through Plum District? Just the other day there was a great deal on a Starbucks holiday gift basket and another deal for a letter from Santa. Plum District’s slogan is For Moms, By Moms, so you will find all kinds of deals for yourself and your family.

To get in on the deals, all you have to do is sign up. And just for signing up, you will get $5 free credit added to your account to spend on your first deal!

A friend recently hosted a House Party and received extra Plum District gift codes, and she was kind enough to pass them along to me to giveaway. So, two lucky winners will win $10 each. (Note, the $10 promo cards expire 1/31/12.)

What does that mean?

Advil is on a mission to relieve social congestion. From undersupplied schools, congested traffic lanes and more Advil wants to help. For its first project, Advil unveiled a new library at P.S. 130 in the Bronx on Tuesday, November 15. Now it’s your chance to help decide where Advil should relieve congestion next – maybe in your town.

If your community has a congestion problem that needs Advil’s help, you can enter your community to win up to $30,000 to fund a solution. Entry is easy, you will just have to answer three questions:

1. What’s congested in your community?
2. How does that affect your community?
3. How could Advil® Congestion Relief relieve your community’s congestion?

Wouldn’t it be great if you could be part of the solution by bringing Advil’s attention to the needs of your community! Enter your congestion needs by January 24, 2012 to win up to $30,000 for your community.

Giveaway – To help fight your nasal congestion, one lucky reader will win a 10 count package of Advil® Congestion Relief (retail value $7.99)

To enter – Please use the Rafflecopter form below to take advantage of your entry opportunities.

MANDATORY ENTRY MUST BE LEFT AS COMMENT ON BLOG POST BELOW– then you can check off in Rafflecopter that you did it. Otherwise, all other entries will be invalid. (Click instructions for what to comment about.)

Disclosure - I am a member of One2One Network and this post is part of a sponsored campaign I received both product and compensation for my time. I make no claims about Advil Congestion Relief as a product or it’s effectiveness.

Drum roll please…

• Holiday Gift Guide Winner – Jamie B
• Harry Potter DVD Winner – Erica C
• Kingston USB with urDrive – Kerrie M

Prep and Landing quickly became a Christmas favorite in our house (like from the moment we first saw it!). The Christmasy combo of hilarious characters, a smart plot line and witty inside Christmas jokes make for a great Christmas cartoon. Even my bah-humbug father is a fan of Prep and Landing (having been forced to sit and watch it with his granddaughter last Christmas). I could watch Prep and Landing over and over. Oh wait, I do!

Prep and Landing is an adorable holiday story about a high-tech team of elves who ensure homes around the world are properly prepared for their visit from Santa. After working for a tireless 227 years, and elf named Wayne is upset when he doesn’t receive an expected promotion. Instead he is partnered with an idealistic rookie elf named Lanny to execute a special Christmas mission. While on their journey, Wayne and Lanny encounter unexpected challenges that push them to their limits and ultimately threaten Christmas for children around the world. But in the end, these two elves work together to guide Santa through a raging snowstorm in order to save Christmas.

The only problem with Prep and Landing is that the 22-minute running time will leave you wanting more! (The good news is that the length is perfect for little ones.) A short sequel (referred to as a stocking stuffer short), Operation: Secret Santa, aired last last Christmas and is also included on the DVD (it is about 5 minutes). I am THRILLED that a new 22-minute sequel, Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice, is set to air December 5, 2011 on ABC. I.Can.Not.Wait.

If you love Christmas, you will love Prep & Landing! 

Bonus Features:

• Tiny’s Big Adventure – a one-minute short that originally aired with Prep and Landing
• Operation Secret Santa – the short sequel that aired in 2010
• Prep and Landing Kringle Academy Training Videos

Prep and Landing is available on Amazon (currently for $14.99).

Giveaway – One lucky reader will win a copy of Prep and Landing for their family.

To enter – Please use the Rafflecopter form below to take advantage of your entry opportunities.

MANDATORY ENTRY MUST BE LEFT AS COMMENT ON BLOG POST BELOW– then you can check off in Rafflecopter that you did it. Otherwise, all other entries will be invalid. (Click instructions for what to comment about.)

Disclosure – I was provided a copy of the movie to facilitate this review, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

So during the holidays, we have to work especially hard to maintain a healthy lifestyle for ourselves and our family. Before the holiday madness begins, take a moment to review a few simple things you can do to keep your family healthy during the holidays:

• Drink water. And then drink more water. Skip the sodas and eggnog when you can and fill up on water. Save the sugar indulgences for desert.
• Eat before you go. If you arrive at that holiday party starving, you are more likely to fill up on whatever is in front of you. Choosing to eat something healthy before you go will give you control over something nutritious and you will have less room to indulge. (One idea, grab an apple.)
• Walk it off. After a big meal, suggest a walk around the neighborhood to burn off some of that energy. Get the kids into the action by making it a nature walk (if during the day) or a chance to look at Christmas lights (if at night).
• Stock up on the good stuff. If you know you will be eating less-than-stellar options at parties and family’s house, stock your pantry with nutritious items for the other meals.
• Two words – crock pot. No time to cook, ask for an early Christmas present and get yourself a crock pot. With a crock pot, you can chop and dice the night before, then dump it all in to cook all day long. When you return from a day of shopping or merry making a nice, healthy, hot meal will be waiting for you. (Even I can cook with a crock pot!)

Those are just a few ideas to keep holiday indulgences from getting to your hips.

This holiday season, Parents.com and Aetna have teamed up to encourage parents and families to recommit to their health and learn more about their health. Today, many parents want to take health matters into their own hands and be able to make more informed decisions about health care and living healthier for the sake of their children. Furthermore, they’re looking for ways to live healthier to help them drive down costs of medical expenses so they have money to use on more fun recreational activities with their kids.

To help encourage you to Live Smart, so you are invited to share your moments of struggles and successes in maintaining a healthy lifestyle for a chance to win $300 from Parents.com and Aetna.

Aetna also offers the following tips to help you keep moving:

• Gym membership too expensive? Check out these low/no cost options to keeping you moving
• No time to workout? Check out these tips to fit exercise into a busy schedule
• Overwhelmed by what to do? Learn good fitness basics and terminology

Now for the giveaway!!!

Giveaway – One lucky reader will win a $100 Visa Gift Card, Williams-Sonoma cookbook, Pedometer and an assortment of Yogi Tea (more than $125 value!)

To enter – Please use the Rafflecopter form below to take advantage of your entry opportunities.

MANDATORY ENTRY MUST BE LEFT AS COMMENT ON BLOG POST BELOW– then you can check off in Rafflecopter that you did it. Otherwise, all other entries will be invalid. (Click instructions for what to comment about.)

Disclosure – I was provided a promotional product for sharing my healthy tips and the prize is being provided to the winner, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Mickey Mouse recently blasted off with its newest DVD release Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Space Adventure.

It’s Adventure Day and Professor Von Drake is sending Mickey and pals into the far reaches of outer space. The team blasts off in their Clubhouse Rocket in search of Treasure Stars that will point the way to the Out-of-this-World Treasure, their ultimate goal. The interplanetary trip takes preschool viewers first to the Moon, Mars and the Rings of Saturn. Along the way, the gang gets help from friendly space aliens Moon Men Chip and Dale, Martian Mickey and Pluto from Pluto but they also encounter sneaky Space Pirate Pete, who wants the Treasure all for himself. Eventually the Clubhouse Rocket’s crew and Space Pirate Pete manage to become friends, and they all follow the trail of the Treasure Stars to the mysterious Planet Mickey where they discover the location of the Out-of-this-World Treasure. It turns out to be a futuristic, space age version of the Clubhouse — the perfect meeting place for all pals across the universe!

It came as no surprise that K was completely into her new MMCH “movie.” For all the Toodles fans out there, in this episode Space Pirate Pete introduces his new helper, Quoodles (a female Toodles). And both helpers sport faces and voices (like Professor Van Drake gave Toodles on his birthday in “Happy Birthday Toodles.”) Oh Quoodles!

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Space Adventure is now available on Amazon.

If you have a MMCH fan in your house, I have a treat for you – a free activity pack. The activity pack includes coloring sheets, games and even a fun project. Download the activity pack here.

Check out this clip:

Giveaway – Win a copy of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Space Adventure on DVD for your preschooler.

To enter – Please use the Rafflecopter form below to take advantage of your entry opportunities.

MANDATORY ENTRY MUST BE LEFT AS COMMENT ON BLOG POST BELOW– then you can check off in Rafflecopter that you did it. Otherwise, all other entries will be invalid. (Click instructions for what to comment about.)

Disclosure – I was provided a copy of this DVD to facilitate this review, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

For a little holiday fun, check out the Cow Watch Widget:

Giveaway – I am excited to giveaway an annual tradition in our house – a Chick-fil-A Calendar a $30 value. If you aren’t familar with the Chick-fil-A calendar, each month is filled with coupons for FREE Chick-fil-A food! So if you love Chick-fil-A, you will love this calendar with a year of savings!

To enter – Please use the Rafflecopter form below to take advantage of your entry opportunities.

MANDATORY ENTRY MUST BE LEFT AS COMMENT ON BLOG POST BELOW– then you can check off in Rafflecopter that you did it. Otherwise, all other entries will be invalid. (Click instructions for what to comment about.)

Disclosure – The calendar is being provided to the winner, no other compensation was received. All thoughts and opinions are my own.