Tag: "Mom Central"

The Freezer In Our New Frigidaire Professional Refrigerator

Well, we’ve had our new Frigidaire 22.6 Cu. Ft. Counter-Depth Professional Refrigerator for a little over a month now and are absolutely loving it. One of the things we love the most is the 8.50 cubic foot freeezer. As I mentioned in my last post, our new freezer was not quite as deep as our last fridge, an old side by side. With the new model being a good six inches or so smaller depthwise I expected was to lose space. We didn’t. Both RB and I agree that the new unit seems bigger, despite the fact that we know it’s not.

Don’t get me wrong, the new model is by no means small, measuring in at 35-5/8″ wide x 69-3/8″ high x 26-7/8″ deep. What makes it seem bigger is the way the interior is set up. In our old freezer there were just three shelves and we could never find anything.

Take a look.

fridge freezer full

There’s even a space up top, above the ice maker, for a couple of light items. We’ve found this area to be great for keeping breakfast items at the ready, since we’re very pressed for time in the morning.

fridge freezer full 1

The freezer has two glass shelves up top. What’s great about these is that they’re glass so not only can you see the items on them but the bright lighting from the top of the freezer shines through. These features have been a HUGE time saver. Even the storage on the door is friendly, the wire bins tilt open so you can move items in and out of them quickly and easily.

fridge freezer full 2

The Frigidaire Professional makes great use of the space it’s got. Rather than just shelves it has three pull out baskets. Now, rather than emptying out part of the freezer all I need to do to find out what’s in there is pull out a basket.

fridge freezer full 3

fridge freezer full 4

“I wrote this review while participating in a Test Drive Campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Frigidaire and received a Frigidaire Refrigerator to facilitate my review.”

Mar 11, 2010 | 3 comments | View Post

General Hospital

gh brand ambassador

I am so behind, the past week and a half have been absolutely wacky. Did you guys see GH at all in the last two weeks? There was some great stuff.

Let me first say that I LOVE the new beginning, which I noticed about two week ago. As each actor/character is shown they show both the actor’s name and the character’s name. All television shows could follow this lead. It’s a great way to help new viewers acclimate.

For the week before last, the big dramatic moment was when Dante lied and Sonny stayed free on bail. I think Dante was left wondering about Sonny after a conversation he had with Robin in the hospital. I wonder if this father and son pair will ever bond or become close.

Speaking of Robin. Is anyone else thinking Robin is a bit jealous of Patrick’s closeness with his ex?

There have been plenty of humorous moments too. Here are my two favorites.

A conversation between Diane and Sonny before the trial.
Diane - “Sonny go upstairs right now and take your clothes off. You might as well be wearing a big neon sign that the godfather is waiting for the jury to come kiss his ring.”

A conversation between Spinelli and Jason over the phone.
Spinelli - The eagle flies at midnight.
Jason - Spinelli, if you’re going to use code the other guy has to know what it means.

On the subject of Jason, one of my favorite characters. I liked seeing him work a little with Lucky, it’s a whole different spin on things. I think Jason really liked Johnny . I think by helping Lucky he’s hoping that maybe Johnny will be arrested before Jason has to take care of the problem.

Speaking of Lucky. Elizabeth has decided to take a paternity test. Any bets? Is the father Nikolas or Lucky?

I still find Lulu and Dante cute and funny. Do you like them as a couple?

A parting note. I notice that scenes from the week are now being shown at the ends of each episode. Thanks! I love little teasers about what’s coming up.

I’m still catching up so stay tuned for last week’s highlights.

general hospital logo

“I am a participant in a Mom Central campaign for ABC Daytime and will receive a tote bag or other General Hospital branded items to facilitate my review.”

Mar 10, 2010 | 1 comment | View Post

The Delivery And Installation Of Our Frigidaire Refrigerator

Before leaving for Florida I received a phone call that my Frigidaire was in and they wanted to install it. I hadn’t been expecting it for a couple of weeks more so I was shocked. After doing the scheduling dance that working folks and service people do we got things squared away. With only days left before leaving our new Frigidaire Professional Refrigerator was delivered and installed.

This is the fridge we were replacing. It was about fifteen years old. (Evident by the spots you can see where I had magnets and never cleaned under. Magnets are evil.) This fridge stuck out past the counter a good six to eight inches.

old fridge

I should have thought to have Dad take pictures of the old freezer full. My bad. It was really full and we always had a hard time finding things in there.

So on the morning of installation my Dad waited at my house, with me calling him every ten minutes to see if the new fridge had arrived. Finally it did, after only three phone calls.

fridge truck

fridge dolly

The guys took the old fridge out and installed the new one. (With me on the phone with my Dad almost the whole time.) We knew the sizing was going to be close. We had less than 1/4 inch left width wise, so we just made it.

fridge installing

There were two teams. One brought the fridge and one set it up. Once everything was installed and working the guys went on their way. Leaving my Dad to deal with my phone calls while I watched the clock at work inch forward. Also leaving me at work, daydreaming what my new Frigidaire 22.6 Cu. Ft. Counter-Depth Professional Refrigerator was like.

When I got home and saw the fridge I actually started to cry. And I hugged it. Then I proceeded to check it out and admire it. It is beautiful. The first thing I noticed was depth of the fridge. I knew that the new fridge was counter depth but I really wasn’t prepared for how much nicer it looked not sticking out from the counter six or more inches. It seemed to make the kitchen look a bit bigger.

fridge installed

My old fridge had a water dispenser so I wasn’t prepared for this water dispenser to impress me. It did! The fridge dispenses filtered water! And filtered ice cubes! Clearly the folks at Frigidaire were familiar with some folks concerns with the local water supply when they made this model.The water comes out pretty quickly in a cold and quiet stream.

The difference in the depth had gotten me to thinking. Surely if I’d lost that many inches (let’s say six deep by twenty six across) then I must have lost space inside the freezer. What do you think? Stay tuned, I’ll tell you on Tuesday.

If you’d like to know what the other Test Drive Moms thought follow us all on Twitter, with the hashtag #FrigidaireMoms.

Thanks to Mom Central and Frigidaire I will be receiving

“I wrote this review while participating in a Test Drive Campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Frigidaire and received a Frigidaire Refrigerator to facilitate my review.”

Feb 28, 2010 | 4 comments | View Post

I’m A General Hospital Brand Ambassador!

I have some more exciting news! I have been named an official General Hospital Brand Ambassador!

I have watched General Hospital, or GH, as many fans know it, since I was about 12-13 years old. My Mom got me hooked. I watched in high school and remember rushing home to watch Luke and Laura get married. I kept watching in high school, occasionally skipping class just to watch. I still watch GH today. I actually never miss an episode, thanks to the magic of the DVR. Truth be told, I actually have the DVR set to record the local station feed as well as the replay on SoapNet, who never has sports or political interruptions, whoohoo!

As a Brand Ambassador for General Hospital I will have a chance to get the inside scoop on show developments, storylines, and special promotions from the ABC Daytime Team, share that information with you and give feedback to them as well.

I hope you’ll stick around and chat with me about GH. I’d love to get to know my fellow fans better, because chatting about GH is one of my favorite things to do.

One of the things I love the most about General Hospital is that they incorporate humor. Some of my favorite moments from the past week include:

Lulu and Dante - Dante is recovering in the hospital and discovers “Glow in the dark condoms!”

Jason to Sam on the Valentine’s Day decorations - “It’s pink!”

Sonny and Luke discussing discovering a child they didn’t know they had -
“How did you finally connect with Ethan?
Well I didn’t shoot him in the chest…”

If you’re a General Hospital fan be sure to check out the General Hospital Moms Group. It’s a fun way to find other Moms that are fans and chat about the show. To join the group you need to be a member of Mom Central. If you aren’t already you can register for free. Once you’re registered and logged in to the Mom Central page go to the Groups tab and find the General Hospital Moms group and click join this group. That’s it!

Mom Central is currently running an exciting General Hospital sweepstakes that fans will definitely want to enter. One lucky winner will be randomly selected to receive a trip to Los Angeles to visit the set of General Hospital and have a walk-on role. The sweepstakes is open until February 28th. Here’s a link to the survey for the sweepstakes - http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22A5X5XEZD9. Hurry, there’s still time to enter!

“I am a participant in a Mom Central campaign for ABC Daytime and will receive a tote bag or other General Hospital branded items to facilitate my review.”

Feb 24, 2010 | 1 comment | View Post

Walmart Game Time - Hosting an Affordable Party - With Giveaway

walmart game time banner

Well, it’s almost time for the Super Bowl. It seems like almost everyone I know is either having or attending a SuperBowl party. This is my favorite type of party – one where guests enjoy a common theme in a relaxed and casual atmosphere. Snacks are one of the things that can make or break a party, as well as your wallet. Fortunately you don’t have to break the bank to put out a table full of snacks. Did you know that Walmart has affordable prices on all of your favorite snacks? For as low as $44 you can get a bunch of Game Time snacks including one package of Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs, one package of Johnsonville Bratwursts, two packages of Great Value Hot Dog Buns, two boxes of T.G.I Friday’s Frozen Appetizers, one Hormel Supreme Party Tray, a 12″ Chocolate Chunk cookie and two boxes of Nabisco Wheat Thins or Triscuit Crackers.

You’ll also find some great deals on electronics, for those of you wanting to upgrade your television before the big game. I hosted a SuperBowl party once, many years ago. At the time I only had a small television of about 17 inches. Our huddle to watch the game was tighter than the huddles the players were in on the screen. We have a larger television now and it’s a lot easier to watch tv. If you decide to move up to HDTV and aren’t sure how to set everything up, don’t worry. Walmart offers home entertainment installation packages priced from $99 to $200.

Be sure to visit www.walmart.com/gametime for fun decorations, party planning tips and easy to make recipes.

WIN IT!

ONE winner will receive a $50 Walmart gift card.

HOW TO ENTER. (MANDATORY)

To enter leave a comment on this post telling me who you’re rooting for AND what your favorite party snack is.

BONUS ENTRIES

1 - Subscribe to my newsletter. (at top of sidebar)
1 - Subscribe to my RSS feed. (at top of page)
1 - Follow me on Twitter AND leave your Twitter name here. (at top of page)
1 - Tweet this giveaway.
1 - Friend me on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/valmg
1 - Fave this blog at Technorati AND leave your Technorati name here.
1 - Blog about this giveaway, including a link here.
1 - Place my button on your blog. (in sidebar)
1 - Visit HereAndThere.US (my Mom) and leave a comment on any post (except a giveaway post) there. Then return here and leave a comment on this post telling me one thing you read or learned on my Mom’s blog. (That’s two comments you need to leave for this bonus entry, one there and one here.) Unlimited entries for this method of entry.

Leave an additional comment for each entry you qualify for. You must have completed the first entry according to the instructions to be eligible for any bonus entries.

THE SMALL PRINT.

US addresses only please. This contest will end on Monday 02/15/09 at 11:59 pm est. If you’ve entered any of my giveaways before then you know that only comments containing all of the requested information will be eligible for entry. The winner must contact me to confirm they wish to receive the prize within two days of my email notifying them they’ve won. Good luck to everyone!

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Walmart. In addition, I received a Walmart gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate and one to offer as a giveaway.”

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

Feb 05, 2010 | 260 comments | View Post

Join The Mom Central General Hospital Moms Group And Enter To Win A Walk On Role On GH

general hospital win walk on banner

I watch soap operas. I’m an ABC girl, always have been. I started watching them in high school, I was about twelve. When I went to college at the age of fifteen you could almost always find me in front of the television at 3 pm for General Hospital. GH has always been my favorite. I still watch it to this day. I have the DVR set to record it every afternoon. I even have the DVR set to record the backup program on Soap Net later in the evening in case the network show was preempted. Does that border on obsessive or what?!

Mom Central and ABC Daytime are hunting for fans interested in joining a General Hospital Moms Group. Members of the group will be able to easily find other Moms that are fans and chat about the show. Right now members of the group can enter a contest where the prize is a trip to the GH set and a walk-on role! To join the group you need to be a member of Mom Central. If you aren’t already you can register for free. Once you’re registered and logged in to the Mom Central page go to the Groups tab and find the General Hospital Moms group and click join this group. That’s it! Now you can complete the survey to enter you into the contest, which ends 02/28/10.

Another thing you can do once you’re a member of the group is apply to be a General Hospital Brand Ambassador. (I’d love to do this! Pick me! Pick me!) How cool would it be to have an inside peek at story lines, developments and promotions from ABC Daytime! If you’d like to apply for the General Hospital Brand Ambassador program, please click here.

Feb 04, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post

I’m A Frigidaire Test Drive Mom! Team Fridge Baby!

frigidaire logo

I mentioned in September that Frigidaire had introduced some new appliances designed with features to make your life easier and save you time. In 2009 Frigidaire introduced more than 250 new appliances as opart of the program promising “More Me Time” to Moms. To roll out the new products Frigidaire partnered up with actress and celebrity philanthropist Jennifer Garner and initiated the “Make Time for Change” campaign to support Save the Children. The campaign continues on today with the new Spin & Win game.

On January 18 Frigidaire opened the Spin & Win game. Folks that log in to www.maketimeforchange.com in order to play the Spin & Win game will get a chance to win prizes including a new Frigidaire Affinity washer/dryer. Each day that you log in and take a spin Frigidaire will donate $1 to Save the Children as part of their $250,000 commitment to the worthy cause.

refrigerator front

I am so honored and fortunate to have been chosen to be a member of Team Fridge, a group of eight Moms that are going to put a brand new Frigidaire Professional Fridge through its paces. There is also a Team Dishwasher, Team Range/Microwave, Team Washer/Dryer and a Super Influencer Team. Follow us all on Twitter, with the hashtag #FrigidaireMoms.

Thanks to Mom Central and Frigidaire I will be receiving the Frigidaire 22.6 Cu. Ft. Counter-Depth Professional Refrigerator. It’s getting delivered tomorrow morning! I am so excited! I can’t wait to check it out and tell you all about it. Over the course of the next three months I’ll be sharing my thoughts on this gorgeous fridge. Look at it! It looks so beee-you-tee-full!

refrigerator interior

I can’t wait for it to get here tomorrow! If you want to get a good laugh, listen for my screams and squeals of delight when I get home at 2:15 tomorrow afternoon.

I wrote this review while participating in a Test Drive Campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Frigidaire and received a Frigidaire Refrigerator to facilitate my review.

Jan 28, 2010 | 3 comments | View Post

Kellogg’s Froot Loops And Apple Jacks Now Have Fiber

kelloggs fiber apple jacks

Did you know that 9 out of 10 adults and children do not have enough fiber in their diets? Kellogg’s knows it and is doing something about it – they’re adding fiber to some of their breakfast cereals. RB and TJ love cereal. TJ even eats it dry for a snack at times. I have seen them eat it at all hours of the day – for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Two of their seemingly many favorites are Froot Loops and Apple Jacks, which happen to be the first two cereals that Kellogg’s updated. Apple Jacks and Froot Loops cereals now have three grams of fiber per serving. The fiber comes from ingredients such as whole-grain corn flour, whole-grain oat flour, oat fiber and soluble corn fiber.

You know how some kids (and adults) are – if you tell them a food is good for them or has something in it they don’t want to eat it. We were sent four boxes of cereal – two of each cereal, one with fiber and one without, and asked to compare. RB and TJ relished the challenge, and even I had a couple of spoonfuls. We all agreed – the cereals looked, felt and tasted exactly the same with and without the fiber. With no need to fear a new recipe, people can still enjoy these cereals and benefit from having more fiber in their daily diet. Kudos to Kellogg’s for adding something good for you without changing the taste people love. Kellogg Company also plans to extend the added fiber benefits to their other cereal lines over the next year.

For more information on fiber and Kellogg’s visit the Kellogg’s Nutrition site.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Kellogg’s and received boxes of Froot Loops and Apple Jacks and a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.

kelloggs fiber fruit loops

Nov 30, 2009 | 1 comment | View Post

Microsoft Office Live

microsoft office live logo

As part of the Executive Board of the PTA and Chair of two committees I have a lot of stuff to organize. Some of it is electronic, some of it is data collected from paper. Different pieces of the information are used by different people. In the end I wind up with a ton of papers and a ton of emails, which is a real pain. When I was invited to participate in a blog tour for Microsoft Office Live I thought it would be a great opportunity to try a system that could make things easier and more organized, and hopefully save me some time and energy.

Microsoft Office Live is a set of free online tools. It is free to create an account. Account holders have up to 5GB of free online storage where they can store thousands of Office documents which can be accessed from anywhere. The documents all work with Microsoft Office products - Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. You can even share access to your files with others to make collaboration seamless and easy. You decide the level of access that folks you’re sharing your files with have by choosing read only or read/write.

Using Microsoft Office Live is easy. It’s all web based so there is no software to install. You probably guessed this but I’ll say it anyway - you do need to be connected to the internet to use Office Live. You create an account using your email – you can log in using this or a Windows Live id. Once your account is created you create different workspaces for different projects and needs.

microsoft office live dashboard

Once I saw how versatile Office Life was I decided to create several more workspaces for home, Scouting and vacation. I created another to share with my parents, since we often work on various different projects together. There appears to be no limit to the amount of workspaces you can have. To move between them just select the workspace you want in the sidebar and you’re set.

I prefer to do things on the computer. I find it more organized and easier to manage. I liked that I could upload my own documents into Microsoft Office Live. There are a number of preloaded templates available including Class, Essay, Event, Household, Job Search and Meeting. You can edit them to suit your needs. You can even copy and combine them. I saw a template I liked in Class but was using other templates from Household. It took less than five seconds to copy it from one to the other. Hands down, what I liked best about it is that there’s no flash drive, CD or paperwork to carry around or forget to bring with you. For me this means I can detail my thoughts and ideas without having to write myself notes, find the notes when I get home and then enter them into the computer. Changes are real time and always available – no waiting. The other thing I love is that you can easily collaborate with others without all being i the same place.

microsoft office live shared workspace

Microsoft Office Live would be a great tool for any individual, business or family trying to streamline, organize and go paperless. Small businesses, groups and organizations can also use Microsoft Office Small Business, which offers the ability to build and host a free website with no knowledge of code. That could be a big money saver!

To learn more or to get started using Microsoft Office Live visit To http://www.officelive.com/en-us/.

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Microsoft Office Live. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

Nov 17, 2009 | 1 comment | View Post

The Visual MD Infant Nutrition Website Launches

Did you ever see a video that was so detailed, informative and helpful while looking so good that you were amazed? If you haven’t then keep reading because I’m going to tell you a website where you can find a bunch of them. The website I’m referring to is the Visual MD Infant Nutrition Center site.

About the website - Developed as a resource for Moms, the website brings together information from leading health centers and researchers across the country to explain how nutrition is crucial to infant development. How can you make sure that your newborn gets the nutrients she needs to ensure healthy growth through her first birthday? How do you keep her stomach from getting upset? What should you, as an expectant Mom, eat to ensure that you stay healthy as your infant grows? What vitamins do you need if you’re breastfeeding to ensure that you’re passing along the right nutrients to your infant?

Showcasing new data and 3-D images, the site lets you explore and learn the latest research findings through video, pictures, and graphics, in depth questions like why infant eyesight depends on getting enough DHA and what key nutrients contribute to the healthy growth of your child’s brain.

I remember having a lot of questions and worries as a pregnant woman and then a new mother. On more than one occasion I worried that I was not prepared for motherhood. Then TJ was born. I learned I could live with not having all of the answers as long as I could get answers I needed. The Visual MD Infant Nutrition Site is a site full of information and resources about your child’s health and development as impacted by nutrition. You have probably heard for years that good nutrition is important but maybe you didn’t understand why it is important. This site not only tells you why it’s important, it shows you with detailed graphic 3-D pictures and video.

The site is very well laid out and easy to navigate. There are fourteen sections dedicated to nutrition, food and digestion. The articles explain nutrition and it’s impact on other body systems such as the cardiac and respiratory systems, to name a few. All of the articles are from experts in their field. The site is sponsored by Enfamil but is not formula feeding specific. The site premiered with a live webcast that you can still view (click HERE). What I like best about the site is that it answers questions we all have or wonder about. The fact that I learned that I found most interesting is that “The total minimum energy cost of reproduction is 80,000 kcal and can be as high as 120,000 kcal for some women. In fast food terms, it’s roughly equivalent to 100 double-cheeseburgers, 200 small orders of fries and 90 hot fudge sundaes for good measure. And that’s just the energy bill at birth.” Wow!

Whether you’re expecting or already a parent you’ll find this website helpful, educational and informative.

the visual md healthy nutrition group

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Mead Johnson. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Nov 10, 2009 | 1 comment | View Post

Smucker’s Uncrustables

smuckers logo

One of TJ’s favorite snacks is peanut butter and jelly. He’s not nuts about bread in general but he is nuts about peanut butter and jelly, as well as grilled cheese. The thing is, since CJ has Celiac Disease and I pretty much gave up bread after surgery, I don’t keep a lot of fresh bread in the house unless we’re having company or planning cold cut sandwiches. That’s why since spring you can frequently find a box of Smucker’s Uncrustables in my freezer.

For those of you that aren’t familiar with Uncrustables, let me explain. Uncrustables are frozen sandwiches without the crust. They come in a variety of kid favorites, including some new whole wheat varieties that are slightly higher in protein and fiber.

Peanut Butter
Peanut Butter & Grape Jelly
Peanut Butter & Strawberry Jam
Peanut Butter & Honey on Wheat Bread
Peanut Butter & Grape Jelly on Whole Wheat
Peanut Butter & Strawberry Jam on Whole Wheat
Cheese

You can heat them in the microwave and serve them or you can just let them thaw naturally and eat them.

smuckers uncrustable pb strawberry box

Smucker’s recently gave away 20,000 coupons for free Uncrustables as part of a promotion to give moms an after school break. To receive a coupon parents were asked to share their best organizational tips. The coupons are gone but you can still view all of the tips submitted and get free booklets filled with Smucker’s recipes and peanut butter recipes. Just visit the Smucker’s Promotions page.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Smucker’s Uncrustables and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. In addition, Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Oct 06, 2009 | 1 comment | View Post

It’s Time To Make Time For Change

You’ve heard of Jennifer Garner, right? Who hasn’t. Well, she’s the new celebrity ambassador for Frigidaire. Earlier this week Jennifer rolled out some new Frigidaire appliances that are designed with features to help make your life easier and save time. These appliances are one part of the new Frigidaire Make Time for CHANGE campaign, which supports Save the Children’s U.S. Programs.

Save the Children created the CHANGE program (Creating Healthy, Active, and Nurturing Growing-up Environments) to promote healthier lifestyles for children living in poverty by providing nutritious snacks and regular opportunities for them to be physically active.

Frigidaire is asking us to help Make Time For CHANGE by considering what each of us is going to do with the extra hour we’ll gain on November 1 when we change the clocks and then pledging to use that time to make a difference in children’s lives. For each person that goes to Frigidaire.com and pledges to make time for a child Frigidaire is going to donate $1 to support the CHANGE. People who pledge will have the opportunity to enter to win a new Frigidaire Professional double wall oven. To enter you need to write a pledge on your hand and submit a photo.

There’s a second way to win one of these. Folks who participate in the discussion in the Mom Central community will have a chance at winning a Frigidaire Professional double wall oven as well! To enter that contest just share what your pledge was and how you would help children in need.

I’m pledging to spend the hour as quality time with both of my boys. Maybe just talking. Maybe all of us taking a walk. Maybe reading. Maybe a little of each. The house will be uninterrupted and exclusively theirs.

What will you do with the extra hour?

frigidaire make time for change

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Frigidaire and received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

Sep 26, 2009 | 1 comment | View Post

Disney On Ice In Philadelphia - Who Wants My Tickets? - Giveaway

disney on ice 100 years of magic philly

Can you believe it?! I’ve been wanting to go to see Disney On Ice for a bit now, as has my Mom. Check out this amazing display of how Murphy’s Law is always at work in my home. Mom Central generously offered me tickets for the opening night show in Philly. The thing is, I can’t go that night because we have sign language class. I love me some Disney but some things are more important, know what I mean? So I had to turn the offer down. I am totally bummed. But, my bad luck could be your good fortune because I’m not giving away a set of four tickets for Disney On Ice, for the opening night in Philadelphia on Wednesday October 14.

First let me give you a little info on Disney On Ice 100 Years Of Magic, the show that’s coming to Philly next month.

100 Years Of Magic

Join the celebration as 65 of Disney’s unforgettable characters from 18 beloved stories come to life in Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic! You’ll be captivated by the one and only Mickey Mouse, the irresistible Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, Jiminy Cricket, Pinocchio and all the Disney Princesses. Be thrilled by exciting moments from The Lion King; Mulan; and Disney/Pixar’s Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and Toy Story films; in a skating spectacular filled with magical Disney moments you’ll remember forever as Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic!

Disney On Ice 100 Years Of Magic will be at the Wachovia Center on the following dates:

Wednesday, October 14: 7:00pm

Thursday, October 15: 7:00pm

Friday, October 16: 10:30am, 7:00pm

Saturday, October 17: 11:00am, 3:00pm, 7:00pm

Sunday, October 18: 1:00pm, 5:00pm

I’ve also got a special offer for you, courtesy of Mom Central.

Purchase a 4‐pack of tickets for only $44 for weekday shows, or receive $4 off weekend tickets by logging onto www.ComcastTix.com and entering the coupon code: MOM.**

**Get 4 tickets for $44 Monday‐Friday matinee, or $4 off weekend tickets by entering the code “MOM” in the promotional box on ComcastTix.com. Minimum purchase of 4 tickets required; additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each. Offer not valid on Front Row, VIP Gold, or VIP seats. Cannot be combined with other offers. Service Charges & handling fees will apply.

WIN IT!

One winner will receive a set of four tickets to Disney On Ice for the opening night show at the Wachovia Center on 10/14/09 at 7:00pm! The winner will pick up their tickets at the will call window with a valid picture ID.

HOW TO ENTER. (MANDATORY)

To enter leave a comment on this post answering two easy questions.

If you could see any Disney character on ice, which one would you want to see the most.
How long will it take you to get to Philadelphia if you win.

BONUS ENTRIES - LOTS OF THEM!

1 - Sign up for my newsletter. (in sidebar)
1 - Subscribe to my RSS feed. (top of page)
1 - Follow me on Twitter AND leave your Twitter name here.
1 - Tweet this giveaway
1 - Friend me on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/valmg
1 - Fave this blog at Technorati AND leave your Technorati name here.
1 - Blog about this giveaway, including a link here.
1 - Place my button on your blog.
1 - Visit HereAndThere.US (my Mom) and leave a comment on any post (except a giveaway post) there. Then return here and leave a comment on this post telling me one thing you read or learned on my Mom’s blog. (That’s two comments you need to leave for this bonus entry, one there and one here.) Unlimited entries for this method of entry.

Leave an additional comment for each entry you qualify for. You must have completed the first entry according to the instructions to be eligible for any bonus entries.

THE SMALL PRINT.

US addresses only please. This contest will end on Sunday 10/04/09 at 11:59 pm est. If you’ve entered any of my giveaways before then you know that only comments containing all of the requested information will be eligible for entry. The winner must contact me to confirm they wish to receive the prize within two days of my email notifying them they’ve won. Good luck to everyone!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

Sep 24, 2009 | 10 comments | View Post

Clorox College Survival Guide For 2009

clorox college survival guide 2009

I watched my neighbor pack up her oldest and send him off to college not long ago. I remember as a young student in college the uncertainty over everything. What about laundry? What about meals? Mom put me on a meal plan and laundry would be done at home on the weekends. I arrived at school on freshmen move in day only to develop a whole new list of worries. How should I decorate my room without looking childish to others? What would be the best way to organize my room? Did I have everything I needed in my room? What if I got sick? How would I ever manage with only a pay phone in the hall to use? My Mom assured me everything would be ok and that she was only a phone call away. That helped. For about an hour. I don’t really know how she fared once she left the campus.

The Clorox College Survival Guide 2009 is a free guide that contains tips, hints, information and advice provided by college students and their parents.

The guide is full of tips such as:

A “heads up” on the popular regional trends in clothing and accessories as well as activities that come along with going to school in the Midwest, the Northeast, the South, and the West Coast
Instructions for a “5-Minute Dorm Room Clean-Up”
Seasonal influenza and novel H1N1 2009 flu virus prevention tips
Dorm room “must-haves” for living away from home
Lifestyle tips from experienced Moms

Learn a little bit more about the guide in this brief video.

WPvideo 1.10

With flu season almost upon us and a growing concern for H1N1 I find the germ control tips most helpful. After all, germs are everywhere and college students will be sharing their space with strangers, which means they’ll be sharing space with their germs. I think it’s great that there is even a polite reminder on something that not everyone knows - the correct way to cover your cough. Hint, it’s not using your hand. I also think it’s neat that the guide offers information about regional trends, so students might feel more at ease in a new place away from home.

You can download the Clorox College Survival Guide 2009 national edition at www.momcentral.com/collegesurvivalguide2009.
There are also regional editions that you can find by visiting the College Survival Guide Facebook fan page, which you can find when you search “College Survival Guide 2009″ on Facebook. You can also become a fan of the College Survival Guide Facebook fan page.

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of The Clorox Company and received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

Sep 11, 2009 | 1 comment | View Post

Ringling Brothers Special Offer From Mom Central

It’s been a good number of years since I’ve seen the circus. I believe that is where TJ got his interest in magic and illusion. Now I’d really like to take CJ to see it. I wanted to to go last year but just couldn’t get my schedule to work. The circus is now making its way around the country again. It isn’t scheduled for my area at the moment but it might be for yours. Here’s some information about the Ringling Brothers circus shows coming this fall & winter.

ringling over the top hat

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents Over The Top, an all-new live entertainment extravaganza featuring the ultimate tug of war between Ringmaster Chuck Wagner and clown eccentric Tom Dougherty over a magical top hat that controls the circus. When the Ringmaster dons the hat he conjures stupendous spectacles for his circus, like the stunt riding Royal Cossack Cavalry while the clown uses the hat to summon silly and whimsical acts for his circus, such as a cavalry of goats riding on ponies in a Barnyard Bonanza. They continue to top one another until the Ringmaster and clown realize that the magic of the circus is not in the hat but in the hearts of everyone. The show culminates in an amazing display of gigantic glowing rainforest flowers surrounding Chinese acrobats swinging on vines and propelling through the air. Over the Top is two circuses in one providing excitement for the whole family.

Audiences will see nearly 100 animals including flying dogs, Asian elephants that skip, hop, and groove, miniature horses, llamas, pigs, and even a performing porcupine. In a daring feat, the courageous Daniel Raffo stands eye to eye with a pack of powerful Bengal tigers. Circus celebrities help rev-up the motorcycle madness featuring one cycle on a high wire and seven speeding riders in a Globe of Steel. Extraordinary aerial acts fill the arena sky with a rare double-decker trapeze and the Bombastic Bouncers who combine gigantic inner tubes and awe-inspiring acrobatics in a high-energy performance never before seen in America. And with the audience’s participation, this circus really goes Over The Top!

Ringling Zing Zang Zoom

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents ZING ZANG ZOOM®: Through the mystery of magic and the mastery of skill, audiences will be spellbound as Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents ZING ZANG ZOOM®, a thrill-filled, mind-blowing circus spectacular where family fun is no illusion.

Magical Zingmaster Alex and his assistant, the alluring Levitytia, lead audiences through a kaleidoscope of color and imagery revealing extraordinary worlds of fantasy, flight and phenomena that celebrates the uplifting spirit of the circus and wards off a cynical Mr. Gravity and his team of “heavies” who try to bring everyone down.

Be mesmerized when a four-ton elephant disappears before your eyes, and a gravity-inducing nemesis transforms across species into a ferocious tiger. Stand in awe as a dazzling trapeze artist performs a perilous, anatomically unimaginable one-arm speed-spin high atop the arena floor, and two formidable, female human cannonballs are blasted through the air in a daring, awe-inspiring display of bravery. Become electrified as the dangerous double wheel of steel, the gasp-inducing high wire and soaring gigantic swings defy both gravity and logic.

Fun-filled magic merges with traditional circus arts to create a world of infinite possibilities where apprentice illusionists levitate their parents with a wave of a wand, and audience spirits keep rising as the high flying circus is (literally) turned upside down. Perhaps the most magical of all, watch in amazement as an incomparable array of exotic animals including a herd of majestic Asian elephants, magnificent Bengal tigers and elegant Arabian and Friesian horses join forces with our human performers to create an experience that will surprise and delight Children of All Ages, rendering us speechless and reminding us that the magic of The Greatest Show On Earth® lives forever in our hearts and imaginations.

While each touring edition of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey is different, all feature amazing Asian elephants, fascinating tigers, family fun and so many thrills that you will be on the edge of your seat all night! To enhance your night at the circus, you get two experiences in one. The All Access Pre-Show begins an hour before show time, live on the circus floor. The Pre-Show provides the opportunity for kids to interact with performers, try on costumes, and get up close and personal at The Greatest Show On Earth.

Mom Central is excited to extend the following special family offers; look for the box marked “MC Promotion” when purchasing tickets:

*Offer #1: Get 4 tickets for just $44 by entering the code “MOM” at select ticketing channels. Offer good on all weekday performances, which includes all weekday evening and Friday matinee performances; minimum purchase of 4 tickets required; additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each.

*Offer #2: All weekend performance tickets will be $4 off the original price.

Offer #3: Get the best Circus Celebrity, Front Row and VIP seats available – We have reserved seats in these sections just for you! Enter the code MOM. No discounts available on these sections.

* Not valid on Circus CelebritySM, Front Row or VIP seats and may not be combined with other offers including special Opening Night pricing. Other fees may apply.

The above offers are good in the following cities:

Denver: September 30 – October 11, 2009

Boston: October 14-18, 2009

St. Louis: October 15-18, 2009

Cleveland: October 21-26, 2009

Rosemont/Chicago: November 5 – 29, 2009 *available for purchase on Sept. 8. 2009

Auburn Hills: November 18-22, 2009

Charlotte: January 27-31, 2010 *available for purchase on Sept. 12, 2009

Atlanta: February 12-21, 2010 *available for purchase on Sept. 12, 2009

Cincinnati: March 10-14, 2010 *available for purchase on Sept. 21, 2009

Dayton: April 29 – May 2, 2010 *available for purchase on Sept. 21, 2009

To learn more about Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey shows touring the country this year and to find shows in your area, visit the Ringling site at http://www.ringling.com/. And don’t forget to use the special discount code when purchasing tickets online!

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Feld Entertainment. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

Sep 11, 2009 | 4 comments | View Post