Category: Announcements

Miscellaneous Mentionables

news newspaper bundle

I frequently receive email from companies asking me to share news or discounts with my readers. Each week I’ll gather the best requests and share them with you here.

Phonak CHALLENGES youth generation WITH YOUTUBE COMPETITION

Phonak, the world’s leading hearing systems manufacturer, has launched a competition to find the most inspiring young users of its FM technology. ‘My Phonak FM & Me’ invites children and young adults under the age of 19 to submit a short video, via YouTube, to communicate the impact that FM technology has had on their life.

The most inspiring clip, assessed by Phonak’s judging panel, will win its creator a Full HD Sony camcorder worth $1,900, with ten runners-up receiving handheld Flip camcorders. The video that has received the most views by the competition’s close date of 7th May 2010 will win a top of the line iPhone 3GS.

Phonak’s wireless FM systems are used by millions of adults and children around the world to clarify speech in difficult listening situations. The specially designed wireless technology works with hearing aids to deliver the sounds users want to hear direct to their ears, improving speech clarity and user understanding. FM systems can also be easily connected to multimedia devices.

Alexander Zschokke, Phonak’s Group Vice President of Marketing, said: “We know that FM technology really helps people get more from their daily lives whether that’s having a conversation with a friend or following a lesson in a classroom. We’re very excited to find out what our younger users come up with.”

To enter the ‘My Phonak FM & Me,’ competition, users simply need to:-

1. Make a video about how they use their Phonak FM system

2. Upload it onto YouTube using the title ‘My Phonak FM & Me’ (see competition website for further information)

3. Email their YouTube link to MyPhonakFM@phonak.com

‘My Phonak FM & Me’ closes on May 7th 2010. For more information visit www.myphonakfmandme.com.

About Phonak

Headquartered near Zurich, Switzerland, Phonak, a member of the Sonova Group, has developed, produced and globally distributed state-of-the-art hearing systems and wireless devices for more than 50 years. The combination of expertise in hearing technology, mastery in acoustics and strong cooperation with hearing care professionals allows Phonak to significantly improve people’s hearing ability and speech understanding and therefore their quality of life.

Phonak offers a complete range of digital hearing instruments, along with complementary wireless communication systems. With a worldwide presence, Phonak drives innovation and sets new industry benchmarks regarding miniaturization and performance.

First at ShopRite in the Northeast: Introducing e-Labels for Education Earn Free Stuff for Your School

Introducing the e-Labels for Education (e-LFE) program at ShopRite! Now shoppers can electronically collect Labels for Education points - no more clipping, only clicking.

Keasbey, NJ (Vocus/PRWEB ) March 9, 2010 — Introducing the e-Labels for Education (e-LFE) program at ShopRite! Now shoppers can electronically collect Labels for Education points - no more clipping, only clicking.

As the first supermarket in the Northeast to launch the e-LFE program, ShopRite stores in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland have teamed up with Campbell to help local schools collect e-LFE points which can be redeemed for educational merchandise.

Shoppers simply sign up at www.ShopRite.com/eLFE and earn e-LFE points for their chosen school every time they shop for their favorite products, including Campbell’s soups, Chunky soups, SpaghettiOs pasta, V8 and V8 Splash juices, Prego Italian sauces, Swanson broth and any of the delicious Pepperidge Farm cookies, breads or Goldfish crackers that families love.

“ShopRite has long been known for supporting the communities we serve, and this is another opportunity for us to give back to our local neighborhoods,” said Joe Sheridan, Executive Vice President at ShopRite/Wakefern. “We’re proud to be the first retail partner in the northeast region to join forces with Campbell and e-Labels for Education. It’s an easy way to make sure our kids have everything they need to succeed in school.”

“We are pleased to be launching the e-Labels for Education program at ShopRite. As the longest running program of its kind, Labels for Education has established a connection with schools and communities throughout the U.S., and the e-Labels launch at ShopRite marks an exciting way to expand the reach of the program, allowing even more schools to benefit,” said Anne Pizarro, Director of Campbell’s Labels for Education.

Here’s how it works:
Click. Customers visit www.ShopRite.com/eLFE to register and set up an account by entering their ShopRite Price Plus Club Card Number, in addition to answering a few simple questions. Then they choose which school(s) will receive points. And, they will receive 100 bonus points from ShopRite automatically just for signing up.

Earn. Now, every time they shop at ShopRite and purchase any eligible Labels for Education products, total points earned will be automatically credited to their school’s Labels for Education account.

Free Stuff. The school can then redeem any points earned for free educational merchandise and equipment available through the Labels for Education catalog at www.labelsforeducation.com/pdf/merchandise_catalog.pdf.

Mar 13, 2010 | 1 comment | View Post

Miscellaneous Mentionables

news newspaper bundle

I frequently receive email from companies asking me to share news or discounts with my readers. Each week I’ll gather the best requests and share them with you here.

Fill Your Coffee Cup For A Cause

With 7-Eleven’s charity-focused coffee campaign “Coffee Cup With a Cause” supporting a cause has never been easier. Now, through December 2010, simply purchase a limited-edition 20-oz coffee cup designed by a featured celebrity and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the celebrity’s charity of choice. 7-Eleven will introduce new celebrity (from entertainment to sports) designed cups throughout 2010, which will be sold in 7-Eleven stores nationwide.

Nicole Richie, Joel Madden and Benji Madden designed the inaugural cup, with proceeds from their customized cup benefiting The Richie-Madden Children’s Foundation, which was founded by Nicole and Joel in 2007.

7-Eleven is guaranteeing a $250,000 minimum donation to each charity, although through you and your readers support and purchase of cups, donations could reach as high as $300,000!

For additional information, please visit www.cupwithacause.org or check us out at www.facebook.com/7Eleven and www.twitter.com/7Eleven.

Harriet the Spy: Blog Wars

Interested in the upcoming Disney Channel Original Movie “Harriet the Spy: Blog Wars” starring “Wizards of Waverly Place” star Jennifer Stone?

They’re on Twitter - http://twitter.com/HarrietSpyBW

And Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Harriet-the-Spy-Blog-Wars/324936118588?ref=search&sid=504801697.2487642720..1

Feb 27, 2010 | 2 comments | View Post

Fan Nabisco For Free Cookies In March

Free cookie alert! Starting March 1, there will be a new savings offer posted every Monday throughout the month for a free package of Nabisco Cookies, when you purchase a package of Nabisco cookies and a gallon of milk. Just go to http://www.facebook.com/nabiscocookies and become a fan of Nabisco cookies.

Feb 25, 2010 | 2 comments | View Post

LeapFrog’s Math Tips

leapfrog math adventure to the moon cover

To celebrate the Lionsgate Home Entertainment DVD release of LeapFrog: MATH ADVENTURE TO THE MOON, Lionsgate Home Entertainment has shared a ‘Count’down to the DVD release on February 23rd by offering up Math Tips aimed at easing a child’s fear of math and making learning fun.

TIP #1: Math is everywhere!
Next time you’re in a waiting room with your child, scan the room (or the magazines on the tables) for evidence of “math.” Advise your child to find as much math as possible, and you can give clues if you need to. Numbers, patterns, shapes, categories, and measuring devices (e.g., ruler, scales), are just a few examples of some of the math you might see all around you!

TIP #2: Patterns and Codes are All Around Us!
Make patterns using standard household objects. For example line up repeated objects–sock, stuffed animal, sock, stuffed animal, and so on. Next, ask your child to continue the pattern to figure out the “secret code.” You can vary the difficulty of the pattern to suit your child’s ability–banana, banana, pear, banana, banana, pear. You can also make deliberate errors that your child needs to find–pear, apple, bananna, pear, apple, banana, pear, pear, banana.

TIP #3: Play the Sorting Game!
Take a deck of cards, and discuss with your child all the ways you can sort the cards. They can be sorted by color (red versus black), suit (spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs), numbers (2’s, 3’s, etc.), royalty versus numbers (jacks, queens, and kings versus the numbers), odd versus even numbers, etc. Sky is the limit! You can play the sorting game with many collections of things around the house, such as socks and building blocks.

Feb 22, 2010 | 1 comment | View Post

Miscellaneous Mentionables

news newspaper bundle

I frequently receive email from companies asking me to share news or discounts with my readers. Each week I’ll gather the best requests and share them with you here.

IHOP’S FREE PANCAKE GIVEAWAY RETURNS FEB 23, 2010

Goal is to Raise a Cumulative $5 Million For Charity In First Five Years
of Annual National Pancake Day Celebration

IHOP, one of America’s favorite restaurants for breakfast, lunch and dinner, has announced plans to serve millions of free pancakes again next year in celebration of National Pancake Day on Tuesday, February 23, 2010. Planned as a celebration of friends, family and community, IHOP hopes the program will raise $1.75 million for Children’s Miracle Network, an international non-profit organization that raises funds for children’s hospitals, and other worthy local causes.

2010 will mark IHOP’s fifth year celebrating the national event and the company has set an ambitious goal to raise a cumulative $5 million for charity in the first five years of its free flapjack philanthropic effort. More than 1,400 IHOP restaurants throughout the United States will once again invite guests to enjoy a free short stack of IHOP’s signature buttermilk pancakes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on National Pancake Day. In return, IHOP guests are asked to donate what they would have paid for the free pancakes, or more, to the Children’s Miracle Network hospital in their community, or another designated local cause.

“We are flipping for ‘five in five’ with our 2010 National Pancake Day campaign, and with our guests’ generous support, plan to reach our goal of $5 million in five years,” said Carolyn O’Keefe, IHOP’s senior vice president, marketing. “IHOP’s franchisees and guests have raised more than $3.25 million to support Children’s Miracle Network and other local charities since we started our National Pancake Day in 2006. The day has become a tradition for families and friends who wish to enjoy great food and great service while helping out a great cause.”

Children’s Miracle Network “Miracle Balloons” will be sold for $1 and $5 each and will be personalized and displayed at participating IHOP restaurants from February 1 through February 23, 2010. Miracle Balloon sales offer guests another way to show their support of Children’s Miracle Network and contribute to the National Pancake Day fundraising effort.

In 2009, IHOP gave away three million pancakes and raised nearly $1.5 million in support of Children’s Miracle Network and other local charities, far exceeding its goal to raise $1 million. Since starting its National Pancake Day celebration in 2006, IHOP has given away more than 6.1 million free pancakes to benefit children’s charities –- that stacks up more than 53.5 miles high!

For more information about IHOP’s National Pancake Day, or to learn more about Children’s Miracle Network and make an online donation, visit www.ihoppancakeday.com.

ABOUT CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NETWORK

Children’s Miracle Network is an international non-profit organization that raises funds for more than 170 children’s hospitals. Countless individuals, 90 organizations and 400 media partners unite with Children’s Miracle Network hospitals to help sick and injured kids in local communities. Donations to Children’s Miracle Network create miracles by funding medical care, research and education that saves and improves the lives of 17 million children each year. To learn more go to ChildrensMiracleNetwork.org.

ABOUT IHOP

For 51 years, the IHOP family restaurant chain has served its world famous pancakes and a wide variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner items that are loved by people of all ages. IHOP offers its guests an affordable, everyday dining experience with warm and friendly service. The first IHOP opened in Toluca Lake, Calif. in 1958, and as of September 30, 2009, there were 1,433 IHOPs in 50 states, Canada and Mexico. IHOP restaurants are franchised and operated by Glendale, Calif.-based International House of Pancakes, LLC and its affiliates. International House of Pancakes, LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of DineEquity, Inc. (NYSE: DIN).

ANIBOOM AWARDS 4 SESAME STREET

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER SESAME STREET TO FIND THE WORLD’S BEST ANIMATors IN A COMPETITION BY PARTNERING WITH VIRTUAL ANIMATION STUDIO ANIBOOM

Cash Prizes for Category Winners and Grand Prize Winning Animation to Appear on Sesame Street’s 41st Season

New York, NY, February 18, 2010 – Aniboom, the world’s first virtual animation studio, today announced a collaboration with Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, one of the world’s most beloved children’s brands, for the Fourth Annual Aniboom Animation Awards. The Aniboom Awards 4 Sesame Street contest recognizes outstanding creativity among independent animators around the world and encourages animators of all levels to push the boundaries of innovation in the medium. This marks the first time the show has participated in a world-wide competition for content in its 40 year history. Cash prizes will be awarded to category winners and the Grand Prize winner’s animation will appear on an episode of Sesame Street.

This year’s awards will showcase the work of artists creating animations appropriate for pre-school age children in 5 different categories: School Readiness Skills, Pro-Social, re-make of the Sesame Street classic animation “Pinball Number Count,” Anything Goes “The Sky is the Limit”, and Community Favorite (to be determined by a voting tool on the Aniboom website). Each category will have one finalist (all but Community Favorite to be determined by Sesame Workshop), and a Grand Prize winner will be chosen among the finalists by a panel of celebrity judges. A total of $50,000 in cash and development money is to be awarded to the winners. Additionally, the Grand Prize winning animation will be included in Sesame Street’s 41st season which begins airing later this year.

“This is the first year that the Aniboom Awards have focused on children’s animation and there is no better partner than Sesame Street to be associated with,” says Uri Shinar, founder and CEO of Aniboom. “We have provided our community of over 8,000 animators in 72 countries with remarkable opportunities to make programming for FOX, music videos for Radiohead and animation for Marvel Comics. But Sesame Street is a uniquely exciting partner for all the animators who are so eager to create for children.”

“Sesame Street has a long history of using animation to teach generations of children all about numbers, letters, shapes and the world around them,” adds Carol-Lynn Parente, Executive Producer of Sesame Street. “We are thrilled to partner with a community of animators like Aniboom to find unique programming from around the globe to help educate and engage today’s kids.”

Animators registered with the Aniboom Virtual Animation Studio will be able to submit their entries over an eight week period from March 1st until April 26th. The top 5 category winners will be announced on May 10th, 2010 and the Grand Prize winner on May 17th. For the full list of rules and Sesame Street animation guidelines for the competition, please visit www.aniboom.com.

Celebrating its impressive 40th anniversary this season, Sesame Street is the longest-running program in children’s television. The series has received more Emmy awards than any other show in television history (122), as well as a Lifetime Achievement Emmy Award honoring the 40th year.

The Fresh Air Fund NEEDS host families for the Summer of 2010

In 2009, The Fresh Air Fund’s Volunteer Host Family program, called Friendly Town, gave close to 5,000 New York City boys and girls, ages six to 18, free summer experiences in the country and the suburbs. Volunteer host families shared their friendship and homes up to two weeks or more in 13 Northeastern states from Virginia to Maine and Canada.

The Fresh Air Fund relies on donations to provide memorable summers to NYC children.

The Fresh Air Fund needs hosts for the summer of 2010.

More than 65% of all Fresh Air children are reinvited to stay with their host family, year after year.

Thanks to host families who open up their homes for a few weeks each summer, children growing up in New York City’s toughest neighborhoods have experienced the joys of Fresh Air experiences.

Fresh Air Fund Host Families

“It is rewarding to see the smile on our Fresh Air child’s face as she enjoys the simple things we take for granted…”

Friendly Town host families are volunteers who live in the suburbs or small town communities. Host families range in size, ethnicity and background, but share the desire to open their hearts and homes to give city children an experience they will never forget. Hosts say the Fresh Air experience is as enriching for their own families, as it is for the inner-city children. There are no financial requirements for hosting a child. Volunteers may request the age-group and gender of the Fresh Air youngster they would like to host. Stories about real Fresh Air host families and their New York City visitors are just a click away!

Click here to learn more about becoming a host or call (800) 367-0003!

GoodNites Bedtime Theater Contest

Prize: $2,500
Who’s eligible USA
Contest ends: 4/15/2010
Contest url http://http://www.goodnites.com/na/Bedtime-Games-Stories/Bedtime-Theater/Contest.aspx

Eight (8) weekly prizes (one per week of the Contest) will be awarded from the eligible entries submitted during that week, each consisting of an American Express gift card in the amount of fifty dollars ($50). Actual retail value: $50. Total retail value of all weekly prizes: $400. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value if the weekly prize cannot be awarded as described for any reason. Limit one (1) weekly prize per name and/or e-mail address and/or household. Weekly winning entries will be deemed the “Iggy’s Next Adventure of the Week” and featured prominently in the GoodNites® brand bi-monthly newsletter. Weekly prize winners are eligible for semi-finalist and grand prize.

Ten (10) semi-finalist prizes will be awarded from all entries submitted during the contest period, each consisting of one (1) MP3 player and one (1) set of speakers. Actual retail value: $250. Total retail value of all semi-finalist prizes: $2,500. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value if the semi-finalist prize cannot be awarded as described for any reason. Limit one (1) semi-finalist prize per name and/or email address and/or household. Semi-finalist winning entries will be deemed the “Iggy’s Next Adventure Semi-Finalist Winners” and may be announced in the GoodNites® monthly newsletter. Semi-finalist winners are eligible for grand prize.

One (1) grand prize will be awarded, consisting of a check in the amount of twenty five hundred dollars ($2,500), which may be used toward a magical family vacation. Grand prize winner’s winning story will also be produced and included in the next Bedtime Theater audio installment available on www.BedtimeTheater.com. Actual retail value of check which may be used towards a magical family vacation: $2,500. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value if the grand prize cannot be awarded as described for any reason. Winner understands story will be expanded upon to follow format of previously produced Bedtime Theater™ audio installments and grants rights to alter written story in any manner in Sponsor’s sole discretion. Winner understands the story will be produced into audio installment in months following grand prize winner announcement with the use of Bedtime Theater™ audio installment talent. Grand prize winner’s name and story may be prominently featured on BedtimeTheater.com as well as in the GoodNites® monthly newsletter.

Feb 20, 2010 | 1 comment | View Post

Last Day To Enter Pamper’s Great Baby Relay

Today is the last day of the Pampers Great Baby Relay on Pampers.com! We encourage you, your friends, family and readers to log on to upload videos of your babies crawling in our world’s great baby relay (as part of our launch of Pampers Cruisers with Dry Max at the Olympics). All videos featuring babies crawling (or walking) from left to right that are uploaded by Feb. 20 will be included in a casting call for a commercial that will air on Feb. 28!

Did you know that 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 15 to join in celebrating the development of their own best players. Parents can upload videos of their babies crawling to the world’s great baby relay on Pampers.com. All videos featuring babies crawling from left to right that are uploaded by Feb. 20 will be included in a casting call for a commercial that will air on Feb. 28!

* O’Malley, M. “Normalization of temporal-distance parameter in pediatric gait” J. Biomechanics 29,629-625, 1996

** Learning to Keep Balance. Karen Adolph, Dept. of Psychology, New York University

Feb 20, 2010 | 1 comment | View Post

Miscellaneous Mentionables

news newspaper bundle

I frequently receive email from companies asking me to share news or discounts with my readers. Each week I’ll gather the best requests and share them with you here.

WONDER® BREAD GOES MOBILE WITH LAUNCH OF FIRST iPHONE APP

Sandwich “Wonder-izer”™ Application Builds Sandwiches and Calculates Nutrition on the Go

Irving, TX – February 5, 2010 – Wonder®, America’s most iconic bread brand, is now “mobile” with the introduction of the Sandwich “Wonder-izer”™ application, a free app for the iPhone and iTouch that enables consumers to create unique sandwich combinations from a list of more than 120 ingredients – from cheddar cheese to cucumbers and sprouts to salami – while calculating the sandwich’s nutrition values in real time with each added ingredient. Available at the Apple® iTunes store, the Sandwich Wonder-izer app can create billions of sandwiches and, at the same time, show users how close they come to fulfilling the daily recommended amounts of key vitamins and minerals. For those without an iPhone or iTouch the Sandwich Wonder-izer is also available online at www.wonderbread.com.

Sandwiches created with the Sandwich Wonder-izer app can be named and shared with friends via websites such as Facebook and Twitter. In addition to creating new sandwiches, the Sandwich Wonder-izer app also offers a menu of inventive and enjoyable pre-made sandwich recipes ranging from the hearty “Wonder-full Reuben” to the diet friendly “Waistline Watcher”.

“As our culture becomes increasingly mobile, The Sandwich Wonder-izer app is a fun and engaging tool that families can use to learn about making healthy food choices while creating delicious, nutritious sandwiches,” said Stephany Verstraete, Vice President of Marketing for Wonder Bread.

The launch of the Sandwich Wonder-izer follows the brand’s announcement in October that two of Wonder’s most popular breads - Wonder Classic and Wonder Classic Sandwich - now provide the same amount of calcium in two slices as an eight ounce glass of milk and are good sources of vitamin D, which helps the body absorb calcium better.

For more information about Wonder Bread visit, www.wonderbread.com. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/_Wonder_Bread.

BJ’s Wholesale Club Scores With Food, Entertaining Ideas For The Big Game

Unlike what the Saints and Colts have to do, pulling off a game day party should be an easy win. No need for last minute play changes or substituting your star player because he or she had to run to the store for more beverages. With some simple preparations, and one stop at BJ’s Wholesale Club, you can throw a party that your friends will be talking about for seasons to come.

A strong offensive strategy is needed to pull off a great party. To help do just that, here are some tips from BJ’s to help make your Big Game party a success.

· Feel like you’re on the 50-yard line - Upgrade to an HDTV or expand your entertainment system before the big game.

· Don’t count on delivery - The BJ’s slow cooker Super Bowl Lasagna recipe allows hosts to mingle while the main course cooks, no worrying if the food will arrive late!

· Silence the crowd - Having a full appetizer spread is effortless; BJ’s carries a variety of sandwich and veggie trays, perfect for hosting hungry guests.

We’ve got a full list of Super Bowl items from BJ’s here. So whether your team wins or looses this year, these products will ensure your Big Game party is a success (just keep your guests away from the Gatorade cooler!).

Feb 06, 2010 | 1 comment | View Post

Pampers Unveils Swaddlers and Cruisers with Dry Max Technology And Partnership With Team USA In 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics

My youngest son may not be in diapers but he is still working on mastering potty training. As such I, like any parent, can appreciate diapers that keep wetness away from baby’s skin while not leaking all over the place. Pampers has redesigned the Pampers Cruisers line. The new Cruisers with Dry Max are designed to lock wetness away for up to 12 hours and will appear on store shelves in March. Check out the news, and learn how to get your free sample.

pampers olympic families

BABIES OF U.S. OLYMPIC ATHLETES AMONG FIRST TO GET NEW HIGH PERFORMANCE DIAPER - PAMPERS® CRUISERS WITH DRY MAX

New Diaper is Pampers Driest Ever and 20 Percent Thinner Than Before

CINCINNATI (January 18, 2010) - Every baby is a champion in play, and to celebrate the upcoming Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, Pampers® Diapers has partnered with 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.

The babies of Team USA athletes will be equipped with the new Pampers Cruisers Diapers with Dry Max as they head to Vancouver. In honor of these athletes and their families, Pampers has created specially-branded Team USA diapers with the Dry Max technology. Although these limited-edition Team USA diapers will not be for sale, 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, parents can request a free sample three-pack of the new Cruisers diaper on Pampers.com starting January 29th. If this sample includes a Team USA diaper (they will be randomly inserted in select sample packs), their baby will win a year’s supply of Pampers Cruisers Diapers with Dry Max.

To bring to life the incredible passion, endurance and ability babies demonstrate daily in the sport of play, Pampers Diapers has directly teamed with two world-class athlete families who are among the first to receive the special-edition Team USA diapers: Olympic gold medal speedskater Chad Hedrick and his family, and skeleton (forward-facing luge) World Champion and Olympic Hopeful Noelle Pikus-Pace and her family. These athlete families will be sharing their Vancouver experiences from their babies’ point of view throughout the Olympic Winter Games via photos and videos on Pampers.com.

“For many athletes, bringing home an Olympic medal is not just their dream, it’s a shared dream of their entire family,” said Jodi Allen, Vice President of North America Baby Care at Procter & Gamble including Pampers Diapers. “We are so proud to partner with these world-class athlete families, who are also parenting inspirations by training and succeeding while raising young, active children. We could not think of a more appropriate event than the Olympic Winter Games to celebrate babies as the world’s greatest players and introduce our new high-performance gear - Pampers Swaddlers and Cruisers Diapers with Dry Max.”

Babies’ passion and dedication to play demonstrates that they are some of the best players in the world. Did you know that 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.

“Pampers is delighted to give all babies the chance to be awarded for their everyday medal-worthy performances,” Allen said. “The technology incorporated into new Pampers Cruisers Diapers with Dry Max makes them 20 percent thinner than before and our driest diaper ever, providing game-changing improvements to babies in terms of performance and comfort, permitting them to be the best players they can be!”

Chad Hedrick - U.S. Olympic Speedskater
A skater from the young age of 18 months, Hedrick today is as dedicated to his family as he is to his sport.

“It makes perfect sense for me to be talking about Pampers Cruisers Diapers with Dry Max since it is a performance diaper. As an athlete, I understand that wearing high performance gear can mean the difference between coming in first place or fifth. And as a parent, I look for high performance gear for my daughter, Hadley,” Hedrick said.

With his unconventional technique and unique style, Hedrick quickly rose to the top of the speedskating world having won the 2004 all-around during the World Championships, and following it up by becoming the third U.S. winter Olympian to take three medals in a single Games, during the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Torino. A recent World Cup gold medal winner at the Calgary Olympic Oval and currently juggling fatherhood responsibilities, Hedrick is not only a winner on the ice, but also at home.

“With the Torino Games success in my rearview mirror, I’ve rekindled my passion for skating and am ready to make new memories and once again go for the gold at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games,” Hedrick said.

Noelle Pikus-Pace - U.S. Olympic Hopeful

For Noelle Pikus-Pace, the road to the Olympic Winter Games will be far less of a fairy tale. Going into the 2006 season, Pikus-Pace was favored to win gold in the Olympic Winter Games in Torino, but a tragic accident during the U.S. Olympic Team Trials shattered that dream when she was hit by a runaway bobsled, leading her to suffer a compound fracture to her right leg. After a miraculous six-week recovery, Pikus-Pace made her comeback and went on to win the World Skeleton Championships by the largest margin in history. Furthering her accomplishments, in 2008, she became a proud mother to her daughter, Lacee.

“Winning a medal this year would go beyond a celebration all my own; it would truly be a win for my entire family who have been a significant source of strength and support for me,” Pikus-Pace said. “We’re all on this Olympic journey together, and we consider ourselves a team. We’re delighted to include Pampers Diapers as part of that extended team and definitely plan to have some fun ‘playing’ along the way.”

“In gearing up for competition, I always look for gear that’s not only spirited, but more importantly, items that won’t sacrifice my performance, and I want the same for my daughter,” Pikus-Pace said. “The fact that Pampers Cruisers Diapers with Dry Max are smaller in size means that they’ll also take up less space as we pack and head off together to Vancouver.”

Pampers Swaddlers and Cruisers Diapers with Dry Max - Biggest Innovation in 25 Years

Pampers Swaddlers and Cruisers with Dry Max are the brand’s new high performance diapers and the biggest innovation for the Pampers brand in the last 25 years. Pampers Diapers invented the Dry Max technology and applied it to the current Swaddlers and Cruisers core, which allows the diaper to be thinner than before. This game-changing diaper - Pampers’ driest ever - helps lock wetness in for up to 12 hours and its less bulky design helps give flexibility and comfort - perfect for all of babies’ play. The new diaper design also helps families reduce their impact on the environment by containing 10 percent less material weight. In fact, if current North American Pampers Swaddlers and Cruisers users switched to the new Pampers Cruisers Diapers with Dry Max diaper, they could together throw away the weight of 1 billion less diapers every three years (based on 08/09 volume for Swaddlers/Cruisers).

Pampers Swaddlers and Cruisers Diapers with Dry Max will be available at retail across the country beginning in March 2010. Product will be available at mass, discount, baby specialty, grocery stores and online retailers where Pampers products are sold, with the same retail pricing as the current Pampers Swaddlers and Cruisers Diapers (pricing is at the sole discretion of the retailer).

For more information, please visit www.Pampers.com.

About Pampers® Diapers

Pampers is a trademark of Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG) and the company’s largest global brand and is the world’s top-selling brand of baby diapers. Our business is inspired by babies and toddlers, created by Pampers. For more information on Pampers diapers and the Pampers Parenting Network, visit www.Pampers.com.

About Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG)

Four billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around the world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Pampers®, Tide®, Ariel®, Always®, Whisper®, Pantene®, Mach3®, Bounty®, Dawn®, Gain®, Pringles®, Charmin®, Downy®, Lenor®, Iams®, Crest®, Oral-B®, Duracell®, Olay®, Head & Shoulders®, Wella®, Gillette®, Braun® and Fusion®. The P&G community includes approximately 135,000 employees working in about 80 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.

pampers olympic diapers

Feb 01, 2010 | 1 comment | View Post

Foot Locker Friends And Family Coupon

footlocker friends family coupon jan 2010

Jan 28, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post

Build-A-Bear Announcement - The Search Is On For Huggable Heroes

buildabear huggable heroes logo

The Search is On for Huggable Heroes

Build-A-Bear Workshop will recognize young leaders
making positive contributions in their communities and around the world

ST. LOUIS (Jan. 20, 2010) — Today, more than ever, young people are stepping up to make a difference in communities near and far. More than 55 percent of American teenagers have volunteered for public service projects, according to a study from the Corporation for National & Community Service. That is more than double the rate of adults. And more than two thirds of schools nationwide now offer service opportunities for students.

Build-A-Bear Workshop® has taken a leading role in recognizing efforts of young people to help those in need through its Huggable Heroes® program. Huggable Heroes are young leaders who Build-A-Bear Workshop recognizes, honors and cele-bear-ates each year for providing extraordinary service in their communities and around the world. The seventh annual search for these special people, ranging in age from eight to 18, is now on. 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 Feb. 26, 2010.

Throughout the years, Build-A-Bear Workshop has heard thousands of amazing stories of young people who do things both big and small to help improve other peoples’ lives. Projects have ranged from helping children in underdeveloped countries to supporting cancer and diabetes research, organizing toy drives and sending care packages to our troops overseas. Past Huggable Heroes have included such inspiring young people as:

Patrick Pedraja, 13, of Palm Harbor, Fla., who helped add 15,000 new donors to the National Marrow registry and raised $160,000 to support the effort. Patrick demonstrated uncommon creativity and entrepreneurship by selling ads on his bald head and by speaking to groups and businesses to encourage others to get involved.

Mimi Ausland, 12, of Bend, Ore., who created two Web sites to help collect donations to feed homeless dogs and cats in animal shelters across the country.

And Katie Stagliano, 10, of Summerville, S.C., who started “Launch Katie’s Dream” to help see to it that no child goes hungry. She plants vegetable gardens and donates the harvests to soup kitchens and organizations that help feed those in need.

Recognition inspires others

“I think we are looking at another Greatest Generation,” said Build-A-Bear Workshop Founder and Chief Executive Bear Maxine Clark. “Our challenge is to find more kids like Patrick, Mimi and Katie who are stepping up to help in so many creative ways. By telling their stories through our Huggable Heroes program, we know we can inspire many others to do the same at a time when citizen service is needed most.”

This year, Build-A-Bear Workshop will recognize 10 Huggable Heroes. Each will receive a prize worth $10,000 ($7,500 in the form of an educational scholarship and $2,500 from the Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation to be donated to the 501(c)(3) charity of each Huggable Hero’s choice). In addition, the Huggable Heroes will win a trip for themselves and a parent to St. Louis, the home of Build-A-Bear Workshop World Bearquarters. During their visit, the 2010 Huggable Heroes will meet each other, be honored for their good deeds and participate in a photo shoot for the 2011 Build-A-Bear Workshop Huggable Heroes Calendar.

About Build-A-Bear Workshop

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

buildabear 2009 huggable heroes

This post has not been monetarily compensated in any way. The information featured in this post has been provided solely as a courtesy for any readers who may have an interest.

Jan 22, 2010 | 2 comments | View Post

Lady Foot Locker Has A Resolution That Works For You

lady foot locker resolutions

This year, it’s easier than ever to stay fit, and stay informed…with Lady Foot Locker.

The Toning category is consistently growing in interest and popularity.
Footwear, like the Reebok EasyTone and Skechers’ Shape Ups give a boost to an everyday routine. For more information on these shoes and others check out The Club, a new blog on ladyfootlocker.com that provides workout tips,
product stories, and healthy recipes.

Cathy Lang, author of “Wardrobe Workouts” and fitness guru for The Club, offers the following advice to motivate a new fitness routine:

“If you burn an additional 500 calories 3x/week you will be on track to
lose about one pound every two weeks. Now that is a sustainable goal!”

Cathy makes these suggestions to add a little burn to your day:

1-Take the stairs. The average woman burns 10 calories when ascending, and seven when descending a flight of stairs. Climbing 10 sets of stairs will burn 50 calories. If you make a conscious effort to go up the stairs twice every trip you will reach your 500 calorie goal in half the time.

2- Enhance your day-to-day errands with toning footwear which destabilize your walking movements causing your muscles to work harder; more work = more calories burned going to class or taking a walk at lunch.

3- If you’re a desk diva, get out of your chair! Standing burns 50% more calories than sitting—By standing while on the phone, updating Facebook or reading the paper, the average person burns up to 50 more calories per hour.

4- Don’t hibernate for the winter! Keep up the lunchtime walk or take it up a notch with a run—you burn more calories when it’s cold outside. So that you don’t make your muscles sore, start by alternating walking with running. Walk at a quick pace for 2-3 blocks then run for the same distance. Repeat the cycle until you have reached your destination. A shoe designed specifically for running, like the Asics Kayano 16, will improve your gait, and keep your feet comfortable through your new routine.

This post has not been monetarily compensated in any way. The information featured in this post has been provided solely as a courtesy for any readers who may have an interest.

Jan 22, 2010 | 1 comment | View Post

Sega Partners with Chiquita Banana for Launch of Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll

Sega Partners with Chiquita Banana for Launch of Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll

SEGA PARTNERS WITH CHIQUITA BRANDS FOR THE RELEASE OF SUPER MONKEY BALL STEP & ROLL FOR Wii

Over 180 million Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll-Branded Chiquita Bananas to Be Sold in Grocery Stores Nationwide

SAN FRANCISCO (January 14, 2010) – SEGA® of America, Inc. today announced that they will be partnering with Chiquita Fresh North America for a nationwide promotion with Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll™ for Wii™.

Beginning in February, supermarkets across the country will be featuring over 180 million Chiquita bananas with special stickers to promote Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll. Heart-healthy, nutrient-dense Chiquita bananas will also appear in select sequences in the game itself, promoting healthy snacking for the whole family. In addition, SEGA and Chiquita are announcing a “Super Bananza Sweepstakes” to support the partnership. Consumers will be able to enter online at www.chiquitabananas.com to win prizes, including the grand prize of a family gaming room makeover. One lucky family will receive a 50” HDTV, a sofa and four gaming chairs, a copy of Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll, a Wii console, Wii Balance Board™ (includes Wii Fit Plus™) and other great prizes from Chiquita.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Chiquita,” says Sean Ratcliffe, Vice President of Marketing for SEGA of America. “This is a fun way to get the whole family together and we are proud to have AiAi and MeeMee featured on clusters of Chiquita Bananas.”

“Chiquita is excited to partner with Sega to help families play together and support healthy living. We’re thrilled to have AiAi and MeeMee on our bananas to encourage nutritious eating and a fit lifestyle among kids and families,” said Craig Stephen, Vice President and General Manager, North America Bananas.

Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll, the latest game in the fan favorite Super Monkey Ball franchise, will offer a whole new way for people to play using the Wii Balance Board. Players will feel like they are the monkey in the ball as their movements on the Wii Balance Board move their favorite characters through more than 70 brand new stages in the main game and 21 multiplayer mini-games. Players who do not own a Wii Balance Board will still be able to play through the entire game using their Wii Remote™ and Nunchuck™ controllers. The game also features the all-new two-player co-op mode where friends work together to blast away obstacles using the Wii Remote to clear a path for their monkey-rolling teammate on the Wii Balance Board. The game is perfect for people of all ages providing incredible entertainment and promoting active movement and a great way for the family to bond—all together.

Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll™ will be available for the Wii February 9, 2010. For more information about Chiquita visit http://www.chiquitabananas.com. For more game information please visit http://www.supermonkeyballstepandroll.com.

About SEGA® of America, Inc.:

SEGA® of America, Inc. is the American arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA® Corporation, a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home. The company develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. SEGA of America’s Web site is located at www.sega.com.

About Chiquita Fresh North America, L.L.C:

Chiquita Fresh North America L.L.C. is a subsidiary of Chiquita Brands International, Inc., which is a leading international marketer and distributor of high-quality fresh and value-added food products from energy-rich bananas and other fruits to nutritious blends of convenient green salads. The company markets its healthy, fresh products under the Chiquita® and Fresh Express® premium brands and other related trademarks. With annual revenues of nearly $4 billion, Chiquita employs approximately 23,000 people and has operations in more than 80 countries worldwide. For more information, please visit our web site at www.ChiquitaBrands.com.

Jan 21, 2010 | 1 comment | View Post

Free Samples Of Purex Complete 3-in-1 - Hurry supplies are limited!

purex 3 in 1 spring package

As mentioned previously I’m a member of the Purex Insiders. I love their 3-in-1 Laundry Sheets. Purex has just emailed me letting me know that they’ve put up an offer for everyone to get their own free sample. Supplies are limited so you’re going to want to hurry to get yours. All you need to do is click here and answer a couple of questions and give your shipping information and you will receive a free 2 pack of sheets.

This post has not been monetarily compensated in any way. The information featured in this post has been provided solely as a courtesy for any readers who may have an interest.

Jan 09, 2010 | 2 comments | View Post

Miscellaneous Mentionables

I frequently receive email from companies asking me to share news or discounts with my readers. Each week I’ll gather the best requests and share them with you here.

Win a Blu-ray prize pack everyday from Universal on Facebook

Universal Home Entertainment is offering movie fans the chance to win one of 2,010 Blu-rays on its just launched Facebook page. There will be 25 prize packages (includes 4 films) given away each day in January, so this is the perfect chance to add to your Blu-ray collection or start a new one.

To enter, all you need to do is become a fan and then enter at the following link (must be 18 or older and a US resident): http://www.facebook.com/UniversalStudiosEntertainment

Fans can enter each day and the prize packages will change weekly. See below for the schedule of films being given away.

Week 1 - “Action” - Wanted, The Scorpion King, Death Race, Miami Vice, Jet Li’s Fearless

Week 2 - “Comedy” - Baby Mama, Knocked Up, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Burn After Reading, I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry

Week 3 - “Drama” - Milk, Changeling, The Express, Jarhead, Friday Night Lights

Week 4 - “Family” - The Incredible Hulk, The Tale of Despereaux, Land of the Lost, Field of Dreams, Coraline

Mooove Over Chicken! Coupon to Try El Pollo Loco’s New Sirloin Steak Menu

El Pollo Loco is moooving from the coop to the field with its newest menu items. While we’ll still offer our famous citrus-marinated flame-grilled chicken, Sirloin steak is making its debut in a big way. Our new Sirloin steak menu items include:

* Two Steak Tacos: citrus-marinated, flame-grilled Sirloin steak, with cilantro and onion in authentic corn tortillas
* Grillmaster Steak Taco: citrus-marinated, flame-grilled Sirloin steak layered with melted Jack and Cheddar cheeses and topped with fresh Pico de Gallo and guacamole in an authentic grilled flour tortilla
* Sirloin Steak Bowl: citrus-marinated, flame-grilled Sirloin steak served with fresh cilantro, onions and Pico de Gallo salsa, atop Spanish rice and pinto beans
* Steak & 3-Cheese Quesadilla: citrus-marinated, flame-grilled Sirloin steak layered with three melted cheeses - Jack, Cheddar and Cotija- grilled in an authentic flour tortilla and served with guacamole and sour cream

Be among the first to try El Pollo Loco’s Sirloin steak. Below is a link to a Buy One Get One FREE coupon for a steak taco. Please feel free to pass it around to your friends and family too.

Coupon link: www.elpolloloco.com/freesteaktaco

Jan 09, 2010 | 1 comment | View Post

Miscellaneous Mentionables

I frequently receive email from companies asking me to share news or discounts with my readers. Each week I’ll gather the best requests and share them with you here.

TOYS FOR TOTS - HELPING FAMILIES READ TOGETHER

Many of us have fond childhood memories of being nestled under the covers of the bed as our mom or dad read a favorite story that took us to a magical place of discovery. Those bedtime stories created more than just fond memories; they were the foundation of our success in school.

Unfortunately, not all children are able to enjoy these experiences - far too many families can’t foster that love of reading and knowledge because they don’t have access to the resources they need, including books.

Helping to bring awareness to the issue of children’s literacy and reminds families of the importance of reading together The Toys for Tots Literacy Program offers the nation’s most economically disadvantaged children the ability to compete academically by providing them direct access to books and educational resources that enhance their ability to read and to communicate effectively.

For more on this year-round initiative from the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, please visit http://inr.mediaseed.tv/UPS_37213/. You can also find out more by visiting http://www.toysfortots.org./literacy/. Donations can also be made at participating The UPS Stores locations. For every dollar donated, a book will be placed into the hands of a less fortunate child in the local community.

IHOP’S FREE PANCAKE GIVEAWAY RETURNS FEB 23, 2010

GLENDALE, Calif. – December 14, 2009 – IHOP, one of America’s favorite restaurants for breakfast, lunch and dinner, has announced plans to serve millions of free pancakes again next year in celebration of National Pancake Day on Tuesday, February 23, 2010. Planned as a celebration of friends, family and community, IHOP hopes the program will raise $1.75 million for Children’s Miracle Network, an international non-profit organization that raises funds for children’s hospitals, and other worthy local causes.

2010 will mark IHOP’s fifth year celebrating the national event and the company has set an ambitious goal to raise a cumulative $5 million for charity in the first five years of its free flapjack philanthropic effort. More than 1,400 IHOP restaurants throughout the United States will once again invite guests to enjoy a free short stack of IHOP’s signature buttermilk pancakes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on National Pancake Day. In return, IHOP guests are asked to donate what they would have paid for the free pancakes, or more, to the Children’s Miracle Network hospital in their community, or another designated local cause.

“We are flipping for ‘five in five’ with our 2010 National Pancake Day campaign, and with our guests’ generous support, plan to reach our goal of $5 million in five years,” said Carolyn O’Keefe, IHOP’s senior vice president, marketing. “IHOP’s franchisees and guests have raised more than $3.25 million to support Children’s Miracle Network and other local charities since we started our National Pancake Day in 2006. The day has become a tradition for families and friends who wish to enjoy great food and great service while helping out a great cause.”

Children’s Miracle Network “Miracle Balloons” will be sold for $1 and $5 each and will be personalized and displayed at participating IHOP restaurants from February 1 through February 23, 2010. Miracle Balloon sales offer guests another way to show their support of Children’s Miracle Network and contribute to the National Pancake Day fundraising effort.

In 2009, IHOP gave away three million pancakes and raised nearly $1.5 million in support of Children’s Miracle Network and other local charities, far exceeding its goal to raise $1 million. Since starting its National Pancake Day celebration in 2006, IHOP has given away more than 6.1 million free pancakes to benefit children’s charities –- that stacks up more than 53.5 miles high!

For more information about IHOP’s National Pancake Day, or to learn more about Children’s Miracle Network and make an online donation, visit www.ihoppancakeday.com.

CBS EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES - $10,000 Sweepstakes from CBS Films

CBS Films’ upcoming film Extraordinary Measures, starring Harrison Ford and Brendan Fraser, is inspired by the true story of John Crowley – a man who defied conventional wisdom and great odds to pursue a cure for his children’s life threatening disease.

To celebrate Crowley’s story, we’ve created a wonderful opportunity to get the word about a cause that is close to you, and also possibly win some money for them!

It’s so easy, all you have to do is upload an inspirational video.

· Go to the Inspirational Quilt and click on Upload Your Story (http://extraordinarymeasuresthemovie.com/#/quilt)

· Once your video is uploaded, you will be entered into the sweepstakes for a chance to designate the charity of your choice to receive $10,000.

· Tell your friends to vote to increase your chances of winning.

* NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Participants must be legal residents of 1 of the 50 US states or D.C., at least 18 years old or age of majority in state of residence or older at date of entry. Entries accepted until January 26, 2010. Void where prohibited by law.

VERIZON WIRELESS HOPELINE

The Verizon Wireless HopeLine program is happy to help consumers put some “green” into their holidays. Donating old cell phones, batteries and accessories to HopeLine not only helps keep the materials from potentially ending up in landfills, but also supports non-profit domestic violence prevention and awareness advocacy groups. So, if someone opens a new cell phone during the holidays and wants to put their old one to good use, is simply trying to be more environmentally conscious during the holiday clean-up or is looking for an easy way to assist someone in need, HopeLine can help. For more details please visit: www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.

Dec 19, 2009 | 1 comment | View Post