If a fresh smelling home is on your to-do list, but you don’t like the look of plugins then you’ll be happy learn that Glade has a new product for you. Glade® Expressions™ are designed to deliver Glade freshness in an attractive package. In fact, the oil diffusing packaging is so discrete that blended into your decor guests will be left wondering where the yummy aroma is coming from. See what I mean (spot the oil diffuser, hint it is next to the pink frame):

Plus you will never have to plug in the new Glade® Expressions™ oil diffuser because it doesn’t require electricity. So you can put it anywhere (even in the bathroom).

The Glade® Expressions™ oil diffuser and fragrance mist are available in four long-lasting scents

• Pineapple & Mangosteen
• Cotton & Italian Mandarin (only available in Fragrance Mist form)
• Fuji Apple & Cardamom
• Spice Lavender & Juniper Berry

The Fragrance Mist has gotten a makeover too with a sleek white case that camouflages the refillable (and recyclable) aluminum spray can.

Have you ever bought a scent that you thought smelled yummy in the store only to bring it home and not like it (or someone in the family doesn’t like it)? I know I have. With the Glade® satisfaction guarantee if you don’t like the scent of your Glade® Expressions™ Fragrance Mist, you can fill out this form and get your money back (note, you will need your receipt).

Save on both of these products with some hot coupons. Get a $1.50 off coupon for the new Glade® Expressions™ fragrance mist from Walmart.com.

After days of a high fever I knew K was finally feeling better, but I didn’t know how much better she was until I put on her new LeapFrog DVD, Numberland, for the third time in as many days. Instead of lying there motionless, she sat upright and focused on the TV. As Scout and Violet began counting, K counted along and answered questions. It was a happy moment. Not only was the interaction a sure sign that she was feeling better, it was also a sign that she was learning too.

Don’t get me wrong, K didn’t learn her numbers from watching the DVD three times. We’ve been working on her numbers for sometime now, and she’s really good at the basics. What I was impressed, however, was some of the more “mathy” things she was doing like counting by twos (although not well) and telling the numbers they were out of order at the birthday party (with certainty).

Of course her favorite parts were the songs, which she not only sang too but also got up and danced to as well. At the end of the DVD, just before I was about to shut it off, K informed me there was a special song after the credits. So we waited. Sure enough at the end of the credits the “A E I O U” song came on. My dancing diva is already very familiar with this song from Phonics Farm so she easily sang along about vowels. (Yes about vowels, something I most certainly have not taught her about so credit definitely belongs to LeapFrog.)

We were turned on to the LeapFrog series last fall by a friend, and they have been a hit in our home ever since. The newest addition, Numberland, is no exception. Numberland is currently available on Amazon for $11.99. However, if you prefer to purchase it in store, you can print a coupon for $2 off. (Act quick on the coupon, I don’t know how long it will last.)

Here’s a sneak peak at one of the songs from the DVD:

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

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

Let me introduce you to the coolest, sleakest phone this gal has ever owned. The Driod RAZR.

DRIOD. It’s even cool when it powers up and says it’s name. (A quick aside. After I set it up I left it in the room with my daughter to finish a system update and reboot. When I returned K exclaimed, “Mommy, your phone said TOYS!” DRIOD vs TOYS… Well, apparently they sound similar enough to a three year old. So even K thinks my phone is cool.)

When I signed up for the program, the big mystery was what phone we would receive. Since my father recently received a the Driod Razr, I had it in my head that would be the phone to test. Although my techy hubby suggested it might also be a Galaxy Nexus or even an iPhone (insert ohhhs and ahhs here). When we were given a clue about gorilla glass, I knew it was either the RAZR or RAZR MAXX. (Not familiar with gorilla glass, it is supposed to be scratch and shatter resistant – whooo hooo! I don’t know about you, but I am always dropping my phone.) So far, I am please as a peach with my RAZR!

I am no stranger to smart phones, I carried a couple generations of the Blackberry in it’s hay day, and I have even owned two Andriod phones. But this is the first Verizon phone I owned, at least in as long as I can remember, at some point my memory goes fuzzy on carriers past. And my other phones, they weren’t the tip-top coolest like this little piece of machinery.

So far, this is one happy mom. I haven’t played with things too much yet. But when I have it is fast, which is good since I have zero patience.

There will be much more about my Driod RAZR in coming weeks. I can’t wait to put it to day-to-day use, and tell you want this mom things of her new phone. If you have any questions you’ve always wanted to ask about the phone, let me know. I will figure it out or be happy to ask.

Disclosure – I have been provided a phone and service plan to use throughout the duration of this program, no other compensation was received. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

In my laundry world, I already wash 70% of my loads in cold water (not cool, cold). Why? Because it helps preserve colors, limits shrinkage and, of course, the energy savings. But for my whites, sheets and towels – HOT please. It seems logical to me that hot water is necessary to really get things super clean, right?

Recently, I was introduced to Tide Coldwater. (I am not sure why I never noticed this option before, probably because I am such a creature of habit and only see what I am looking for.) So I did a little research into what makes Tide Coldwater special. Without getting into the scientific stuff, here’s what I learned…

While most detergents need hot (or warm) water to effectively dissolve (as in powder) or disperse (as in liquids) effectively, Tide Coldwater is formulated to dissolve/disperse in cold water. In fact, it has different enzymes and chemicals to compensate for the lack of heat. Ummm… Interesting…

In my research, I found an interesting article NYTimes dissucssing Tide Coldwater. This part intrigued me the most…

In trying to create Tide Coldwater, Procter’s scientists were confronted with a problem: hot water does help get clothes cleaner. In fact, thermal energy is one of three secrets to cleaning clothes, along with mechanical energy and chemicals.

“When you reduce one, you have to do better in the others,” said James Danzinger, a senior scientist who works on detergents for Procter & Gamble.

So the company set its scientists loose to find new chemicals to compensate, and what they came up with was a detergent, Tide Coldwater, with different enzymes and surfactants that work better in cold water.

So mom was right, with normal detergent I do need hot water for the cleanest clean. But what mom didn’t know, when she imparted all of her laundry secrets upon me, was that new formulas would allow cold water to also be effective.

I still plan to use the “Allergen” cycle on my washing machine (with hot, hot water) for sheets and towels to effectively kill those pesky dust mites my family is so highly allergic too. (Because that is one thing only heat can really do.) But according to my research, my whites shall soon find themselves a nice cold bath – with Tide Coldwater, of course.

NOTE – Tide Coldwater is available in regular and HE. It is also available in Free and Free HE. (Yeay for allergy suffers!)

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

There are a lot of different ways to watch Netflix Instant Video, and we happen to have Netflix streaming built-in to our TV which makes it very easy. Most Blu-ray players have the feature, and you can also use the popular and simple-to-use Roku players too. They of course have FREE iPad, iPhone, and Android apps, or you can watch their entire streaming library using your Xbox, PS3, Wii, or your computer’s web browser.

You can currently try out Netflix for one-month FREE, and they’ll even currently give you a FREE $10 Papa John’s gift card if you continue past the trial too!

You can even make Valentines with your kiddo’s picture on them! (Photos are extra, $2.50 each. But if you like a design with photos and don’t want the fee, delete the placeholder and order without photos for free.) And since we don’t put names on our Valentines for school, personalized Valentines mean no writing for me!

I am off to go make some for K! Get your free Valentines here.

Here’s the story. We have three toilets: one is pristine clean, one has a small ring issue and the third is my nemesis. Our house is seven years old, and for the first 4-5 years the toilet near my daughter’s room was rarely used. It basically just sat. The toilet near the guest room got some use, and the toilet in our master got regular use. Since those with the least use are the bowls with the issue, I am lead to believe this is a hard water issue. (Which I know we have.)

Alright, so here’s what I have tried…

1. Cleaning it with toilet bowl cleaner (many brands with false promises)
2. Cleaning it with toilet bowl cleaner with bleach (more brands, more false promises)
3. Cleaning the bowl with multiple other brands of cleaners not intended for toilets…
4. Those flushing tablet things – I can’t stand the blue water and chemical/bleach smell every time I flush
5. Scrubbing the bowl with baking soda
6. Scrubbing the bowl with Borax (a suggestion from a friend)
7. Pouring cans of Coke in the bowl (also a friendly suggestion – the acid is supposed to dissolve the ring)
8. And on and on… I promise I tried everything I could think of…

Then, one day my husband saw a product. The Pumie. I wasn’t hopeful, but for less than $10 it was worth a shot. I had tried everything else. I seriously thought I was going to have to buy a new toilet to get rid of the rings (not that I would find new toilet money in my budget, but I really thought there was no hope).

So The Pumie arrives… This unassuming pumice stone on a stick is my new best friend. No exaggeration necessary. Those rings that I have lived with for years were gone in five minutes.  Five minutes, two toilets, pristine once more. Even the lovely ladies and gentleman who have reviewed this product on Amazon sing its high praises (with a few negative nellies as always).

No longer do I feel ashamed when guest use my potty. No unsightly rings. The Pumie works, and I am a customer for life!

If you have toilet bowl rings, you need The Pumie. You will thank me later.

And now for the visual proof…

And yes, for the record, the before picture was taken after being cleaned with my normal cleaner.

So eight years later, there we were with two kids in tow, back to enjoy a little holiday spirit studio style. Guess what. It is just as much fun eight years and two kids later.

The Universal team had a very special day planned for a select group of bloggers, including some of my local pals (it’s always fun to see familiar faces), and we were thrilled to attend. If you have family in town that you are looking to entertain with a little holiday fun, you have to check out Universal Studios and/or Islands of Adventures. You will be happy to learn that all holiday events at Universal and IOA are included in the price of admission, but it will take two days if you want to see everything. (I was so close to Harry Potter’s castle, and yet this muggle has still yet to visit Hogwarts… another time.)

Our holiday agenda:

• Grinchmas – Islands of Adventure
• Cookie Decorating - Christmas Village at Universal Studios
• 85th Macy’s Day Parade - Universal Studios
• Mannheim Steamroller concert - Universal Studios

It’s hard to say what my favorite moment of the day was – catching K (on camera) licking the icing off her gingerbread cookie, K winning Rudolf in a carnival game in the Christmas Village all by herself, watching the parade that reminded me of our engagement with my daughters, or maybe listening to a Mannheim Steamroller concert in person. With Christmas all around us at the parks, we soaked in the spirit of the season.

It is official. My two month old has already been to four theme parks. I am not sure exactly how I feel about this – a mixture of pride for my theme-park loving family and sadness that I will never revel in her excitement on her first visit. She mostly slept through all four parks. My three year old, on the other hand, is loving life! Back to the current theme park adventure…

Even though the special concert series with Mannheim Steamroller has concluded for the season, guests can still enjoy the music of Mannheim Steamroller in the Grinchmas production. The classic tale of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” by Dr. Seuss is brought to life in a live stage show, “Grinchmas Wholiday Spectacular,” starring The Grinch and the Whos from Whoville with an original recorded musical score by Mannheim Steamroller. For even more Who-liday fun, enjoy a character breakfast with The Grinch and the Whos (through December 31, 2011).

It’s not too late to enjoy the holidays at Universal Studios and/or Islands of Adventures, but you have to hurry. The holiday celebrations, including the Macy’s Parade are going on now through January 1, 2012.

Suburban Mom Tip – Did you know American Express cardholders enjoy special perks at Universal (you must use your AMEX to buy your tickets, of course). In addition to a special (well-stocked) complementary lounge near the Shrek attraction, just for being a card holder, you can be a balloon handler in the parade (like we did years ago) or enjoy special reserved seating to view the parade. If you are an AMEX cardholder, this is an amazing perk. Guess what card I will be using next time we go?!

Disclosure – I was invited on a blogger trip to the parks, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

After successfully enjoying the sandwiches plain, we decided to jazz them up a bit this time around. My husband and I recently rediscovered a love for avocados (our three year old does not agree with our new found fondness for the fruit), and we are eating them with everything. The Tyson Chicken Mini Sandwich was next on the list to try with avocado. Chicken and avocado, sounds like the making of a club sandwich. So off to Walmart we headed for Tyson Chicken Mini Sandwiches, avocados, cheese, bacon and veggies for a Christmas Veggie Tree. (See more pictures from my shopping trip in my Google+ photo album.)

We don’t go to many mommy and daddy only parties. Scratch that. We don’t go to ANY. But friends were throwing a holiday shindig and I was excited to have some adult time. Between running errands and building a Christmas Veggie Tree (which you can see here), it was a busy day. Perfect to try out our club sandwich recipe.

Now, each member of the family had its own version of the club. K, no avocado. Me, no bread (yeast allergy). Hubby, the works. And we all loved it. YUM! Prep time, 5 minutes. And everyone ate every last bite.

Note – Tyson Chicken Mini Sandwiches come with or without cheese. I am super picky about my cheese, so we decided to buy our own cheese. Looking back we should have tried the cheese version so I could report back, plus it would have been the more frugal option since the cheese and no cheese versions are the same price. Oh well.

TIP – Walmart is currently running a promo that if you buy two boxes you can submit for a rebate in the form a $5 Walmart gift card. Since the boxes are $5.14 each, that made the second box virtually free. Learn more about the $5 rebate here.

Since not every Walmart carries the Tyson Mini Chicken Sandwiches (which I don’t get) be sure to check to see if your local Walmart carries them before you head out.

Disclosure - This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

When I was young, my mother and I planted a garden every year (well, mom planted I played). It was a real flower garden with rows and rows of carefully tended to plants. Day after day mom tended to our flowers, and I enjoyed picking the flowers and putting them in vases next to my bed. It’s too bad I didn’t get the gardening skill from mom (she still has the prettiest roses around), but I did learn a lot from those gardening lessons (even if it wasn’t how to keep plants alive). I was free to explore my curiosity about nature and learning about moms plants gave me a natural respect for mother nature.

These days K’s natural curiosity for nature is rampant. Discovering what bits of nature she has brought home with her from the playground is an almost daily occurrence. So I was excited when the Go Green and Giggle Garden activity kit arrived. The kit contains a book filled with garden humor, a music CD and a mini gardening kit.

Created by Dana Mauro to help teach children about mother nature, the Gigglin Garden Gang is a cast of colorful joke-telling plants that invite kids to plant a mini garden of their own. When teaching little ones anything, the key is fun and by incorporating a colorful and bright book with a bit of music, this kit has everything a parent needs to make learning about gardening fun.

After reading the book (in the middle of the kitchen (right where we opened the box because she couldn’t wait another moment), K was ready to plant her seeds.  This was the part she had been waiting for, she was so excited. After “planting out seeds,” we placed our little garden on the window sill in her bathroom alongside our other current project, a little Santa head put that we recently planted grass seeds in. Then we were off to dance to her new music.

We can’t wait for our little seedlings to sprout. I can’t promise we’ll be able to successfully transplant our seedlings to the garden to grow sunflowers, but we will give it a whirl and have fun learning and trying. (Wish our little seeds luck!)

See more pictures from our activity in my Google + slideshow.

Connect with the stars of the book, Sunflower Suzi and friends,  on Facebook and follow GoGreenNGiggle on Twitter for more tips about teaching your kids about being green.

Disclosure – This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Since we missed catching Harry in the theaters (the life of a mom), I was excited to rent it from RedBox. Now, I know RedBox is not new. In fact, I have even posted codes for free rentals on my blog before, but I had never actually rented a movie from RedBox. So I was a RedBox newbie. The first thing I did was make sure my local RedBox had Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 available. Good news, both locations right up the street had it.  I also learned I could reserve the movie and pay for it online, but I decided to risk it because I wanted to rent it in person from the RedBox.

Before heading out, I also did a quick Google search for free RedBox movie rental codes (I am always a deal hunter first). Volia, there was a code for a free rental yeay! Movie night is even better when it is free movie night. I was impressed with the ease of using the RedBox machine. I don’t know what I expected, but I was impressed. With just a few quick key strokes and my movie popped right out. I remember the days of renting VHS movies from the store with my dad. We would spend an hour picking out a movie and checking out for $4-5. Even full price, RedBox movies are only $1.20. Now that’s a business model I can get behind. Heck, it is even cheaper than renting a movie from the cable company. (Hint, if you are planning to rent a movie, like RedBox on Facebook for a free rental code – that’s where I found mine.)

While I am not an uber Potter fan, I am certainly a fan and having read the books, there weren’t any major surprises in the movie (except maybe a few of the details at the end of the movie, which I won’t giveaway). Where The Dealthy Hallows Part 1 ran a little slow (trying to fit in so many of JK Rowling’s important details), the final installment picks speed from the opening credits as the end of search for the three Horcruxes draws near.

Out of all of the Potter movies, The Deathly Hallows Part 2 hinges the most on previous story lines. So while I highly recommend the movie, if you’ve never seen a Potter flick (or read a book), this is not the movie for you. Even my husband, who has been forced to sit through each of the precious movies needed a few reminders as to the importance of what was happening in the movie.

The beauty of The Deathly Hallows Part 2 is that amidst fight against Lord Voldemort and the tragic losses in battle, the movie never lost sight of the fact that under all of the magic and mystery it is ultimately a story about three kids who grew up before our eyes (the actors too, but that’s another story). Harry, Ron and Hermione were just kids when they first charmed us with their magical ways, and along the way their friendship was real with bumps and bruises. But in the end these three friends stood side-by-side with their classmates and good magic and friendship won over the dark lord and darkness. Perhaps the real connection they had with each other is what helped keep us all memorized. Since the characters themselves were such an intricate part of the franchise, the closing movie scene back on platform 9 3/4 at King’s Cross Station were just as powerful and important as winning the epic battle against Voldemort.

As the story closes on the last chapter of Harry Potter and his magical world, the final installment did what we all hoped it would. It brought conclusion to the story line and, of course, the end to Voldemort. In the way that only a magical story could, many of the beloved characters who were lost along the way were revisited in the final movie showing again that even their loss was not in vain as they will (in a magical way) live on. And Harry Potter will live on in the hearts of today’s fans, and the fans of the future as the next generation of Potter fans are left to discover the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Disclosure - This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Without question the most important things on my computer are my photos. I can’t imagine losing the photos of my girls, so thanks to my husband its one less thing for me to have to worry about. Between my photos,  photos from my professional photographer father-in-law and my semi-pro photographer mom, I have accumulated more 20,000 photos since my daughter was born in 2008. (Oh yes, that is a real number.) This yea, I have even challenged myself to take a photo of each of my girls every day for the next year – my very own Project 365 (x2). So far, so good.

There are many options for backing up your files, from external hard drives to USB flash drives. SanDisk recently introduced a new line of Memory Vault products especially designed for preserving photos and videos for long-term storage. Available in both 8GB and 16GB, the Memory Vault works with both PCs and Macs and has been tested for up to 100 years of estimated storage life. The first thing I thought when I read this was, “How do they know it will last up to 100 years if they have not been around this long?” After a little digging around the SanDisk site, I found the following information. While I don’t understand the explanation, I’ll take their word for it .

SANDISK MEMORY VAULT TECHNOLOGY

As a leader and pioneer in the non-volatile memory market, SanDisk has been in the forefront of developing advanced memory technology for over 23 years. For the SanDisk Memory Vault, SanDisk engineers have built on this success to create an archival memory system with the capability for long term data preservation

The Memory Vault memory system contains a combination of a proprietary ASIC controller, non-volatile memory, and a system firmware to tie the two together. The resulting memory system provides users with a digital memory vault capable of keeping their most precious memories safe, at their original quality, for up to 100 years.

Test data collected during our verification process prove that the Memory Vault product is capable of up to 100 years of data retention under typical room temperature storage conditions, with humidity and static protection.

In use, the Memory Vault is as easy to use as any USB hard drive or flash drive, and files copied quickly from my computer. It has a very solid build and weight to it, and certainly feels more durable then my current USB flash drive. Yes, the Memory Vault costs more than a typical flash drive, but some things are worth it to me to make sure my photos are backed up as best as possible. To make things even safer, once my photos are backed up, I plan on storing the Memory Vault in our fire-proof safe. Yes, I am serious!

The SanDisk Memory Vault is available for purchase directly from SanDisk for $89.99 or at other retailers such asAmazon too. Photo-loving moms who don’t know what to put on their Christmas list should certianly consider asking for a SanDisk Memory Vault (or two) to protect their precious photos.

Who wants 20% off?

I have four coupon codes for 20% off a SanDisk Memory Vault purchase to giveaway to my readers. If you would like one of these 20% codes, leave a comment below letting me know. If there are more than four requests, I will randomly choose four people to award the coupon codes to.

Disclosure – I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of SanDisk and received a product sample to facilitate my review, and coupons to giveaway.

I know these guys are meant to sit on a hearth, but since we Floridians don’t have a fireplace, they take center stage by our hallway display instead. I just love them.

Pottery Barn Kids has the cutest holiday decor options for the whole house. From stockings to hang by the chimney with care, to ornaments and advent calendars to count down the days til Santa’s arrival. PBK even offers holiday fun for your outdoor display too. We have long been fans of Pottery Barn Kids (and Pottery Barn) holiday decor. Every year, I pour over the holiday catalogtrying to narrow down what we have to have. Everything I have ever received from the holiday line has been top-notch quality and high-class adorable.

Last year, I discovered these wonderful Santa Stacks. Since one of my biggest pet-peeves at Christmas is all the trash created Christmas morning, I love not only how wonderfully festive these look sitting under the tree but also how green they are too. (The one in the picture is the large Santa Sack on Christmas Eve last year. We received a small one for S this year.)

One thing I didn’t get this year, that I am considering picking up now that it is on sale… This Jumbo Santa Growth Chart. How fun to put out year after year to mark how big the kids are on Christmas morning!

There are so many wonderful holiday decorations (great gift ideas and stocking stuffers too) available from Pottery Barn Kids. It’s hard to choose just one thing to love!

If you are ordering from PBK this holiday season, keep these shopping dates in mind.

• Order by 12/19 at 5 pm PT for monogrammed items
• Order by 12/21 at 9 am PT for standard shipping
• Order by 12/22 at 10 am PT for express shipping

Don’t miss the chance to enter the Polar Bear Contest. Pottery Barn Kids and National Geographic want to send you on a once-in-a-lifetime 11-day voyage aboard the National Geographic Explorer from Oslo, Norway, to an archipelago where polar bears rule.

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

In the sequels to the classic tale, Belle is joined by her enchanted friends in all-new stories. (Well, they were all new to us. The sequels were originally released previously in the ’90s but have been locked in the vault for several years.) While I was thrilled to bring home the new Belle stories, I was a bit confused as to why her friends were once again enchanted. But when we watched the Christmas tale I quickly realized that the story is told as a memory of a Christmas when they were still enchanted. (Ohhhhh…) Beauty and the Beast fans will be happy to hear that in addition to the wonderfully enchanting characters from the original story, both sequels introduce new enchanted characters to love.

K squealed with delight when I presented her with the new stories. “Is that a new Beauty and the Beast for me?!” She couldn’t wait to watch them, and they didn’t disappoint.

The one thing I will warn is that in The Enchanted Christmas K was a bit frightened of Forte (the enchanted organ – bad guy). He is quite dark an ominous, so I understand her concern, but she chose to continue watching and asked to watch it again later. Because she is at the age where she is just discovering that there are scary things, I don’t think this is a deal breaker, just a heads-up. We will still watch it over and over in our house.

I have read several negative reviews of Belle’s Magical World, the main complaint that it is just cartoons originally intended for TV repackaged for DVD release., thus the quality of story and animation is not up to theatrical release standards. I say, “So what.” The DVD is intended for kids and K didn’t love it any less. It is four short stories (about 20 minutes each), which makes it perfect for watching a little at a time. Forget the critics, they are enjoyable tales for little princesses who just want to see Belle and her friends.

About Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas:

Celebrate the most magical time of the year with this Special Edition of the irresistible holiday classic inspired by Disney’s Academy Award(R)-winnng masterpiece, Beauty And The Beast (1991: Winner — Best Song, Best Original Score; nominated for Best Picture). Share the wonder as Mrs. Potts (Angela Lansbury) recounts another “tale as old as time” about a Christmas past that almost wasn’t — thanks to the scheming of former court composer Forte (Tim Curry), now a gloomy, holiday-hating pipe organ, determined to keep Belle and Beast apart forever. Only a true Christmas musical could possibly thwart his dastardly plans. Reuniting the original voice cast, this spectacular gem sparkles with exciting bonus features, delightful songs, spellbinding visuals, and enduring themes of hope, friendship and love. Your family will experience the spirit of the season all year long with the timeless magic of Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas.

Blu-Ray Bonus Features:

• Disney’s Sing Me A Story With Belle: “Stick To It (Don’t Give Up)”
• Behind-The-Scenes Featurettes
• Music Video: “As Long As There’s Christmas”
• Disney Sing-a-long Mode
• Disney’s Song Selection
• Enchanted Environment — Bring The Castle’s Crackling Fireplace Into Your Home

About Beauty and the Beast: Belle’s Magical World:

Join Belle, Disney’s spirited princess, Beast, Cogsworth, Lumiere, plus some charming new friends, as they discover how teamwork and friendship can turn a once-gloomy castle into a dazzling palace fit for a princess! Adorned with delightful bonus features, your favorite characters and enchanting songs, this fun-filled, instant classic proves that true beauty shies from within!

DVD Bonus Features:

• Disney’s Sing Me A Story with Belle “What’s Inside Counts”
• Belle’s Delightful Dinner Game – Help plan a special dinner for Beast
• Disney Song Selection
• Enchanted Environment – Enjoy the sights and sounds of Belle’s enchanted forest

If princess movies are on constant repeat in your house, treat your little one (and yourself) to new princess stories. Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas is available on Blu-Ray ($29.99) and DVD ($19.99) and Beauty and the Beast: Belle’s Magical World is available on DVD only ($19.99) on Amazon.

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

The night of our neighborhood’s annual parade was the perfect night to try out our new quick meal. After a full day of errands and a little Christmas decorating, we finally got around to thinking about dinner at 6 pm. Since we had to be ready for the parade at 6:45, that didn’t give us much time. (Especially since K is the slowest eater ever, these days she can take an hour to eat some nights.) Luckily, our full day of errands included our Walmart shopping trip to buy Tyson Chicken Mini Sandwiches, so we had everything we needed for a quick meal. (See our shopping trip adventure in pictures here.)

Prep was a breeze. Stick the whole pouch in the microwave for 45 seconds, flip, then 35 seconds and done. (Slicing our tiny tomatoes took longer.) Since we were really pressed for time, the sweet potato fries even went in the toaster oven (they are better in the real oven).

Alright, so they are quick, but how do they taste? Actually, I am happy to say they are pretty good. Everyone (even the pickiest eater – me) ate every last bite! Hubby added mustard to one and hot sauce to another. K ate them as is. And since I am allergic to yeast, I ate just the patties. It’s a good thing we all liked them because we bought two boxes. (Walmart is currently running a promo that if you buy two boxes you can submit for a rebate in the form a $5 Walmart gift card. Since the boxes are $5.14 each, that made the second box virtually free so we gambled and bought two. Now I don’t have to feel guilty because we all agreed that we will happily eat them again. Learn more about the $5 rebate here.)

By the way, in case you are wondering. Hubby ate three, I ate two and K ate one. That leaves two more in the first box.

After we were all fueled up, we were ready to head out to the parade. (One of my favorite annual neighborhood traditions!)

Since not every Walmart carries the Tyson Mini Chicken Sandwiches (why?) be sure to check to see if your local Walmart carries them before you head out.

Disclosure - This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own. #CBias

About the movie:

When industrious high school gamer Zach Taylor lands a prized scholarship to the prestigious Digital Institute of Game Design (DIGD), his future breaks wide open. The opportunity to study under gaming legend Marcus Bentton and alongside the country’s most creative minds will certainly propel him into a successful career as a video game designer. That is, if he can pass the infamous freshman project that eliminates more than half of the class within the first three months.

Paired with brilliant yet socially awkward teammates Phillip and Donald, the trio persuades Sara Ramirez – a determined and striking team leader with whom Zach has a history (and possibly a future) – to join their team. Working off-campus in the teched-out Lincoln Alley loft, the four set out to involve the entire campus in a quirky new social interactive game. But as the group becomes entrenched in the project, Zach learns that his father Billy, a widower, is facing growing financial woes at home. To help out, Zach accepts an opportunity to work directly with Marcus Bentton on a secretive side project that seems too good to be true. The effort requires nearly all of Zach’s time and energy, which he should be devoting to the project. Struggling to keep it together, Zach is torn between his responsibility to his team, his admiration for Bentton and a chance to help his father.

Everything comes to a breaking point when Zach’s team threatens to remove him from the group and the deceptive truth behind Bentton’s project comes to light. With the guidance of Professor Abbie Lambert, Zach must make a decision that not only affects his future, but the lives and livelihoods of the people around him as well. It’s a revealing story that recognizes the magnitude behind the choices we make and the importance loyalty plays in making good decisions.

I have written about previous Family Movie Nights including Who is Simon Miller and Game Time: Tackling The Past, so I was excited to check out the newest installment in this great series. One of the things I like about the Family Movie Night series is that not only are the movies completely appropriate to watch with the whole family, they also include an important underling message - Game of Your Life was no exception. In Game of Your Life, Zach is faced with a choice, and while he falters at first, in the end he makes the right decision to stick by his friends and not give up his integrity.

Of the three movies I have had to a chance to review for Family Movie Night thus far, I didn’t enjoy Game of Your Life as much as its predecessors. But as I mentioned before the combination of a positive underlying message and a movie the whole family can watch is still a powerful combination. If it gets the family to sit down to do something together this holiday season, I am all for it.

Game of Your Life premieres Friday, December 2 on NBC 8-10 pm EST. For more information you can visit the official Family Movie Night website. You can also check out Family Movie Night on Facebook.

Check out the trailer:

Disclosure - I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of P&G and received a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

From Radio Flyer:

The Lights and Sounds Racer has:

• Traction Tread™ on front wheel to hug the road so your child can take off without slipping or spinning out
• 7 buttons that play unique songs and sounds and includes a working turn signal
• Adjustable grow-with-me-seat
• Durable molded frame
• Molded handgrips

Why I Love It – Until recently, I thought my daughter just didn’t have the coordination to pedal. We have another small trike that she tries to ride without much success. But after watching neighborhood kids who know how to ride try to ride her trike, I realized it was the trike not her. With the Radio Flyer Lights and Sounds Racer she still won’t win any records for speed (my cautious little rider), but she doesn’t have the same pedaling issues as with her trike. And I am sure the neighborhood kids will have no problem zooming around the driveway. Because the seat is adjustable, I am able to make sure the pedals are in the exact right position for her, which makes riding much easier. Riding is only half of the fun with this racer; I believe the lights and sounds maybe the bigger hit with K.

Buy It - Radio Flyer Lights and Sounds Racer is available in Pink and Red from Walmart, Toys R Us and RadioFlyer.com.

Great Gift For – Tons of outdoor (energy burning) fun for kids ages 2 – 5.

Enter to win The Suburban Mom’s Holiday Gift Guide Giveaway here!!!

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FlGr_EILl4

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

From Topsy:

Topsy’s delicious, gourmet popcorn is available in a variety of savory flavors, including: buttered popcorn, rich caramel, spicy cinnamon, tangy cheese, and our decadent caramel with pecans or peanuts. Decorative gift tins are available in styles to suit any holiday occasion.

Why I love it - Because it tastes great! While I have certainly tasted my share of popcorn over the years, I have never seen or eatten cinnamon popcorn. I had to admit the red-hot color threw me for a moment (I have a thing about foods and color), but when I tasted it – YUM! It is like eating a handful of popcorn doused in red hot candies (my favorite). Soooo good. We taste tested the cheese, caramel and cinnamon flavors, and they were all delish. In fact, I asked K her favorite and she replied, “All of them!” as she polished off her bowl and asked for seconds. Another plus is for this gift is that it seems to have a good shelf life. I didn’t exactly open the tin of popcorn when it first arrived (it sat for more than a week), but when I opened it – fresh as can be!

Buy it - Topsy Popcorn is available from TopsysPopcorn.com from $14.95 and up (depending on tin size and flavor). Purchase popcorn by December 12 and use coupon code Topsy07 to save $3 per tin. (Note, you can also buy refill bags for the 6.5 size tin and save $8 over the price of buying the tin. So if you are buying the popcorn for yourself…)

Great Gift For - Anyone and everyone! Who doesn’t like a yummy treat for the holidays?!?

I am excited that Topsy is participating in The Suburban Mom’s Holiday Gift Guide. In addition to all of the other fabulous prizes, the winner will win a tin of Topsy popcorn!

Enter to win The Suburban Mom’s Holiday Gift Guide Giveaway here!!!

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

From the publisher:

Oh no! Happy is in trouble again! Having gone out to post his Christmas letter to Santa, he suddenly finds himself on an unexpected journey.

Although Happy is cold and scared at first, his adventure takes a turn and delivers him to magical lands where he discovers that dreams really can come true. Can Happy save the day? And more importantly, will he get home in time for Christmas?

An adorable character and wonderful, traditional Christmas story brought to life by beautiful illustrations. A treasure of a book that will stand the test of time and will surely be a favourite read for all generations.

Why I Love It – Since we have two Yorkies (Bear and Bella), K automatically fell in love with Happy. But even if you don’t have a Yorkie, your kids will fall in love too. In addition to being a story about a cute pup, Happy has a big heart and the story has a nice message about helping others at Christmas. For those who are bilingual (or learning to be), the paperback version of Happy’s Christmas Gift is in both English and Spanish (side by side on the page). I haven’t seen books done this way before, but it is really neat. In addition to the book, you can order a mini plush of Happy too.

Fun extra – Happy Tales Publishing is hosting a coloring contest through December 10 with three prizes awarded to each of three age categories.

Buy It – Happy’s Christmas Gift is available from Happy Tales Publishing. The hardback version is $19.99, and the paperback (which includes English and Spanish) is $14.99. The plush Happy is $7.50. All ship free in the U.S.

Great Gift For – This Christmas story is a great gift for little ones from birth +. With it’s large print it is even good for early readers.

I am excited that Happy Tales Publishing is participating in The Suburban Mom’s Holiday Gift Guide. In addition to all of the other fabulous prizes, the winner will win a copy of Happy’s Christmas Gift!

Enter to win The Suburban Mom’s Holiday Gift Guide Giveaway here!!!

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

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.