Monday, December 9, 2013

Ho! Ho! Ho! from Portable North Pole

Portable North Pole is back again this year with so many new selections to make your little ones and even not so little ones squeal with delight!

PNP is mostly for young children who still believe in Santa and the magic of Christmas but even adults can join in with customizable videos for those 18 and older. PNP offers a different video scenario for nice and naughty kids – and nice and naughty adults too.

Make Christmas magic and make the holiday season more special than ever with a host of personalized products like the newly update iOS and Droid apps. Disclosure: I received complementary Portable North Pole products in exchange for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. The magical Portable North Pole console allows Santa to stay in touch with his millions of friends around the globe, all at the click of a button. Nothing makes Santa happier than creating special "Merry Christmas!" video messages and spreading his holiday cheer.

A sampling of products offered:


·         Portable North Pole’s standard Santa’s Video, Retail: Free
A FREE personalized video message from Santa Claus filled with magic and exciting discoveries for your loved ones.
 
·         Premium Video, Retail: $3.99
Premium videos includes almost 6 minutes of personalized video message from Santa Claus, features 3 additional photos and more personal details, a clip of Santa's riding on his sleigh and even a personalized Christmas carol!
 
·         Portable North Pole’s Mobile App, Retail: $3.99 for iOS and Android; $4.99 HD app for iPad and iPad mini
Portable North Pole offers iOS and Android users anapplication to create Christmas magic on their mobile devices. The newly updated PNP app includes: credit to create and access premium videos, call from Santa himself, an Advent Calendar game, Christmas Radar, Countdown game and access to a PNP account to synchronize with your online content.
 
·         Santa Sprint: PNP Adventure, $2.99
This unique Christmas adventure game, for iOS devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod), provides hours of fun for the whole family. Guided by the voice of Santa, kids can help him get ready for Christmas and unlock exclusive video stories as they complete the different levels.
(In App purchase $1.99 for coin doubler; $0.99 for 10 “second chance” bundle)
 
·         Portable North Pole’s Santa’s Phone Call, Retail $3.99 for one call or $6.99 for three calls
Santa has a very important message for your loved one! He will pick up the phone and call directly to deliver his personalized message. Santa’s call will last approximately two minutes and you can choose between 14 message options.
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Sunday, November 24, 2013

'Tis the Seaon for Holiday Cards from Minted.com


Disclaimer: I received product from minted.com for sharing this information with my readers.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and in the blink of an eye Christmas will be upon us! Have you ordered your holiday cards yet? Well what are you waiting for?

Minted.com recently launched their 2013 Holiday Card Collection featuring over 550 unique designs from indie designers. The company holds ongoing competitions, giving designers and artists the opportunity to submit their work. Those voted to the top are sold on the site. Designers earn cash prizes and commissions on all their sales.


Minted.com uses fine paper stock, rich inks and crisp printing methods and promises 100% satisfaction for their products.


Minted also offers recipient address printing with any purchase of holiday cards. Customers simply upload their address books and Minted prints addresses on the front of the envelopes and ships the printed envelopes with the customer’s holiday cards, at no additional charge.

Additionally, Minted.com  provides great looking greeting cards, invitations, stationery as well as art and decor items and much more.


Make a purchase by Tuesday, November 26, 2013 and save 15% on your holiday card order by using code 15RCP. You can even buy now and upload your photos and personalize later!

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Monday, October 7, 2013

Healthy Choice Baked Entrees Review

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by ConAgra, all opinions are my own.

This is my third and final review of Healthy Choice products. You can find the first and second posts here and here. Today I'm sharing Healthy Choice Baked Entrees.


After a very long and . . . let's just leave it at long moving process, Whynot and I are finally in our new home! Just him, me and the furbabies and very little else. As we wait patiently for our belongings to arrive we've been a little creative when it comes to our day to day routine. It's a little like camping with a/c but no grill or utensils.

We currently have no pots and pans for cooking so we've been living on meals we can prepare without them. Healthy Choice meals fit in perfectly! We can prepare the entrees in our microwave and eat right out of the container.


• Healthy Choice Baked Entrées combine wholesome, quality ingredients like freshly-made pastas, flavorful sauces and blended cheeses. 

• Baked Entrées not only deliver on the Healthy Choice nutrition people rely on, but also feature culinary favorites and ingredients that win on taste like no other. 

 • Healthy Choice Baked Entrées offer fresh, baked-from-the-oven taste straight from the microwave in ten delicious recipes. 

• In a national taste test, Healthy Choice Four Cheese Ziti Marinara was preferred over Smart Ones Three Cheese Ziti Marinara (Based on a national taste test conducted by an independent research agency with 350 consumers. Smart Ones® is a registered trademark of H.J. Heinz Company.) 

 Healthy Choice Baked Entrees are available in the following yummy varieties: 

• Four Cheese Ziti Marinara: Freshly-made ziti pasta tossed with classic marinara and topped with a blend of fine Italian cheeses; Parmesan, Romano, Asiago and mozzarella. 

 • Roasted Chicken and Potatoes: Savory slices of chicken breast with red skin potatoes, crisp carrots, and tender pearl onions in a light chicken and herb sauce. 

• Fettuccini Alfredo Bake: A classic combination of freshly-made fettuccini pasta and rich Parmesan Alfredo sauce with crisp broccoli and topped with seasoned bread crumbs. 

• Italian Sausage Pasta Bake: Freshly-made whole grain rotini pasta paired with juicy Italian sausage, tossed in a rich garlic marinara together with bubbling mozzarella cheese. 

• Lasagna with Meat Sauce: Three rich layers of freshly-made pasta, hearty meat sauce, and ricotta cheese topped with mozzarella for perfection. 
• Chicken & Rice Cheddar Bake: Whole grain brown & wild rice pilaf with crisp broccoli and sliced chicken breast in a creamy cheddar cheese sauce. 

• Chicken & Spinach Alfredo: Freshly-made whole grain penne pasta tossed with sliced chicken breast, spinach and tomatoes in a creamy Alfredo sauce. 

• Chicken Enchilada Bake: A full-flavored chicken enchilada over cilantro rice and topped with corn, black beans and a decadent queso sauce. 

• Ravioli Marinara Bake: Rich ricotta and spinach filled al dente ravioli tossed in a tomato basil sauce and topped with fresh mozzarella cheese. • Slow Roasted Turkey Bake: Slow roasted turkey breast accompanied by potatoes, butternut squash and crisp green beans topped with classical gravy and crispy onions. 


What we thought:

In less than 5 minutes from freezer to lawn chair (I said we were roughing it) we had a warm, tasty meal. Even better, it was under 300 calories and under the maximum 45 carbs Whynot is supposed to consume at each meal. We sampled the Slow Roasted Turkey Bake, our version of an early Thanksgiving. In all honesty, Whynot is not a fan of onions, but he was easily able to pick those off and still enjoyed his dinner. I especially like the new Even Bake tray that was specially designed to cook evenly so as to avoid those burnt edges. With all the choices Healthy Choice has available, we can try something new every night until our stuff arrives!

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by ConAgra, all opinions are my own.
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Thursday, October 3, 2013

Happy HalloWEENIE with Wayfair

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Wayfair.com, opinions are my own.



The furbabies are getting settled into their new surroundings and they're super excited about 

Halloween! 

It's a holiday just for them!

Halloween . . . HalloWEENIE!


You've probably already started decorating your home for fall and prepared costumes for yourself and/or the kiddies but have you considered a costume your faithful four legged companion?

Wayfair.com has a huge selection of costumes that will make Fido or Fifi feel like part of the crowd. If your furbaby isn't comfortable going out in full costume but still wants to go Trick or Treating, Wayfair has tons of LED collars and leashes to ensure your pup’s safety while collecting candy.

Additionally, Wayfair is holding a pet photo contest! They'll be creating a fun pet Halloween album on Facebook where fans can vote on their favorite. The most liked pet costume will then be featured at the top of our popular pet costumes page for Halloween.

Here's a sneak peek at our costumes! Please go vote for my babies!





Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Wayfair.com, opinions are my own.
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Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Ross Fall Trend Hunters and Giveaway


Disclaimer: This post and giveaway was sponsored by Ross Dress for Less, opinions are my own 

The Ross Fall Trend Hunters promotion is live and will run through October 25th. Each week you will be able to choose your favorite look from Ross’ top three fall trends presented by our trend hunters – Black and White, Leather Details and Denim-on-Denim – for a chance to win one of three $100 Ross gift cards every week! Head over to the Ross Facebook today and vote for your favorite Black and White look!

Photo credit http://thekelseywolfeblog.com/2013/09/27/ross-fall-trend-hunter-black-and-white/  Meagan Stevenson
Kelsey is one of the bloggers chosen to participate in the Ross Fall Trend Hunter Challenge. I love the black and white striped sweater she chose. So comfy and under $25!

Although I won't be heading to Ross for fashion any time soon, I'm excited to see what Ross has to offer for home decorating. I'm thinking lamps for our new master bedroom or maybe some throw rugs for the family room. I know I could use a splash of color in the kitchen as well! Whatever your needs, at Ross, you’ll find fashions for the whole family and products for every room in your home, all priced 20 – 60% off the same brands carried in department stores.

Ross Dress for Less has generously agreed to offer one of my readers a $25 gift card to pick out a little something something to put a smile on your face.

Leave me a comment below telling me what you might purchase with $25 at Ross. Include your email address so I can contact you in case you win.

For extra entries:


Winner will be chosen from valid entries on October 10, 2013

Disclaimer: This post and giveaway was sponsored by Ross Dress for Less, opinions are my own
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Monday, September 23, 2013

Healthy Choice 100% Natural Cafe Steamers Review





Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by ConAgra, all opinions are my own.

I was recently asked to participate in the review of some new Healthy Choice products. My first review of Greek Frozen Yogurt can be found here. Today I want to share Healthy Choice 100% Natural Cafe Steamers with you. Healthy Choice frozen entrees aren't new to me, I've tried them before and I love, love, love the convenience of them. I've never been a fan of cold cut sandwiches in plastic baggies for lunch so Healthy Choice has been my go to lunch for many years. They're quick, 3-4 minutes in the microwave, delicious and fairly inexpensive.



You're probably wondering what sets these frozen entrees apart from all the others. Well for one, Healthy Choice is now steaming up better than ever with improved vegetables and more sauce. They also listened to consumers on ways to improve their recipes and created five great new vegetarian options! The 100% Natural Cafe Steamers use a unique tray-in-tray technology that separates the ingredients while cooking. This keeps the vegetables crisper and the pasta al dente

Currently in your grocer's freezer you can find the following culinary inspired meals:
  •  Portabella Marsala Pasta: Freshly made whole wheat pasta and rich crimini mushrooms, tossed with a savory Marsala wine sauce and topped with rich fontina cheese. ·
  •  Pumpkin Squash Ravioli: Tender pumpkin-stuffed ravioli with crisp green beans, sweet butternut squash, and juicy Granny Smith apples, topped with a tasty butter-sage sauce.
  • Portellini Primavera Pasta: Four-cheese-stuffed tortellini featuring whole-grain pasta, julienne carrots, and red pepper strips and now includes more tortellini and sauce. ·
  •  Asian Potstickers: Vegetarian dish served on a bed of rice and covered with a sweet Asian-style sauce. We’ve also added more potstickers and sauce, while making it less spicy, per consumer feedback. ·
  •  Portabella Spinach Parmesan: Freshly-made whole wheat pasta, and now featuring even more baby portabella mushrooms, red peppers, tomatoes and spinach.

What I thought:
As I already stated I love, love, love the convenience of Healthy Choice. My very favorite is the Pumpkin Squash Ravioli! I could eat these every day. Actually I could eat any kind of pasta every day. But I am really disappointed that they switched out the asparagus and added green beans instead. After that shock wore off, my tongue did a happy dance and enjoyed the sweet and spicy combination of pumpkin, squash and sage sauce. The tangy apples were a lovely texture and balanced out the sweet taste nicely. With Whynot being somewhat of a picky eater, this is definitely something I will treat myself to in the future. He can have cold cut sandwich in a plastic bag.

Check out the Healthy Choice website and be sure to print your coupon for $1.00 off any two (2) Healthy Choice® Café Steamers.

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by ConAgra, all opinions are my own.




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Thursday, September 12, 2013

Healthy Choice Greek Frozen Yogurt Review



Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by ConAgra, all opinions are my own.

Healthy Choice now offers delicious low-fat Greek Frozen Yogurt that is available in six refreshing flavors:
  • Blueberry
  • Strawberry
  • Raspberry 
  • Vanilla Bean
  • Dark Fudge Swirl
  • Honey Swirl
These tasty treats come in a 3 pack of 4 oz cups and are loaded with 4 grams of protein per serving! Additionally, each cup has only 100 calories and are low in fat!

Glitter Gurl and I recently tried three different flavors, Dark Fudge Swirl, Strawberry, and Honey Swirl, all in one sitting. Probably not what Healthy Choice had in mind, but eh, life is short.

I found the Greek Frozen Yogurt at my local big box store for $2 a package. If I had access to a printer I could have saved $1 off of each package with a coupon offered on the website. Next time I'll be better prepared. Also to save you the hassle, this frozen yogurt is NOT in the ice cream section, it's located in the frozen food section near all the other Healthy Choice meals.

We were both really pleased with the taste, it was smooth and creamy, and loaded with flavor, plus no bitter after taste. During our first taste test, there was no need to thaw as we tore right into them as soon as I walked int the door. However, the next day after being in our home freezer all night, the consistency wasn't quite the same. So, I do recommend letting the cup thaw on the counter for a few minutes.

I understand that the whole point of Healthy Choice packaging is about portion control, but I was a little disappointed in the small size. Apparently I have been delusional about the amount of dessert one should eat at one time. I'm trying to do better in that department.

I'd just like to add a few things that the Healthy Choice people want you to know:


·         Healthy Choice Greek Frozen Yogurt is made with real nonfat milk, yogurt cultures and dairy protein to create just the right creamy tartness.

·         Perfectly portioned at 100 calories with 4g of protein per serving, Healthy Choice Greek Frozen Yogurt is the ideal anytime treat!

·         Healthy Choice Greek Frozen Yogurt Dark Fudge Swirl, winner of the Shape Magazine 2013 Snack Awards “Best Night Bite,” is the perfect 100-calorie treat to get your evening chocolate fix.


You know you want to try this for yourself so grab a coupon and run to your grocer's freezer. I don't think you'll be disappointed!

 Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by ConAgra, all opinions are my own.
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Wednesday, August 7, 2013

I Missed BlogHer13 and Lived to Tell About It

Just barely . . .

I've been under somewhat of a gag order for a few months. So much to say and so much of Whynot hovering in the background saying Don't be blabbing all over the internet, you'll jinx us!

I applied for a scholarship to BlogHer13 and was awarded a full conference ticket in exchange for being a mic wrangler. I was searching for and secured some roomies! I was soooo excited about going and then, because of the poor timing of a series of events, I had to contact the BlogHer people and say thanks but no thanks.

And I was very sad . . .

BlogHer13 was in my home town, with all of these fabulous people attending and I couldn't go. Not even Gus and Jaq could fix this! My Notso Fairy Godmother had waved her wand and my pumpkin coach was not taking me to the ball.

Instead, I had to take a road trip.

First stop Springfield, MO to visit my mother, brother and sister in law. Then Oklahoma where the wind comes sweeping down the plain. Only there was no wind, just rain . . . through the entire state. On through Texas and New Mexico. 1,800 some miles later, I found myself in the Grand Canyon State, following tweets and FB status updates from BlogHer.

And I was still very sad . . .

So to cheer myself up, we bought this:

  
And I breathed a huge sigh of relief and was no longer very sad!


Pinch me! I still can't believe we're doing it!

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Thursday, July 18, 2013

Purina® Dog Chow® Light & Healthy Brand Adult Dog Food


Disclaimer: I am a member of The Healthy Hundred, an exclusive group that has been hand-selected to receive a pre-launch gift of Purina Dog Chow Light & Healthy. All opinions are my own.


Has your family pet put on a few extra pounds?

Just like overweight humans, overweight dogs can suffer from serious health problems!

To help your dog lose weight you'll want to switch his or her diet gradually. When introducing new food you'll want to mix it with the old food to avoid upset tummies. Be firm and stop feeding table scraps! Increase the amount of exercise your dog gets . . . it's good for both of you!

Try a specially formulated food like Purina Dog Chow Light & Healthy and always measure out each serving,

Purina Dog Chow Light & Healthy is a no-sacrifice solution for dogs that are looking to maintain a healthy weight. It will not only taste great, but make your pup feel great too!


 Before any changes in diet or lifestyle, you should consult with your veterinarian.


 Disclaimer: I am a member of The Healthy Hundred, an exclusive group that has been hand-selected to receive a pre-launch gift of Purina Dog Chow Light & Healthy. All opinions are my own.
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Ross Dress for Less Grand Openings - #Giveaway

 Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Ross Dress for Less, opinions are my own



As you may already know, Ross is your source for summer fashions and much more at 20-60 percent off department stores prices. Ross Dress for Less will be opening four brand new stores in Chicagoland (one of which is the first Ross store in Chicago proper) on Saturday, July 20! Just in time to pickup something super cute for BlogHer!


Where:

Water Tower Plaza
1555 North State Route 50
Bradley, IL 60915

Lincoln Village
6103 N. Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60659-2313

Rivercrest Shopping Center
13200 S. Cicero Avenue
Crestwood, IL 60445-1426

Hillside Town Center
140 S. Manheim Road
Hillside, IL 60162-1821

When:

Saturday, July 20 @ 9 a.m.

Store hours: 

Monday – Thursday 9:30 a.m. -10:00 p.m.
Friday – Saturday 9:00 a.m. -10:30 p.m.
Sunday 9:30 a.m. -9:30 p.m.

To get your shopping started, Ross Dress for Less is offering one lucky reader a $25 gift card. Just leave a comment below telling me how beautiful I am that you want to win! Leave a valid email so I can contact you with the good news. Contest ends Monday July 29, 2013, winner will be notified via email.

Check out and become a fan of their Facebook page (if you haven’t already) – in the coming weeks, Ross Dress for Less will be launching the Back-to-School Savings in Style promotion where you’ll have a chance to win three $100 gift cards each week for four weeks!  

 Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Ross Dress for Less, opinions are my own. 
Ross also provided a gift card for the giveaway
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Thursday, June 20, 2013

Language Stars SUMMER OF FUN Giveaway

 Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post, all opinions are my own.

It may come as a surprise to some of you that English is not my first language. The product of an American born mother, who spent her formative years and then some in Poland and a Polish born father who came to the US as an adult, I spoke strictly Polish until about age 4. It was only when I was preparing for kindergarten that I began to learn the English language. Even then, we continued to attend Polish Mass every Sunday and I was enrolled in the local Polish school on Saturdays . . . until I somehow talked my parents into letting me dropout in the 2nd grade. Something that as an adult, I deeply regret.

My knowledge of the Polish language is now embarrassing. I can read a little, I can write even less. I understand it very well, but my conversation skills are lacking. Oh sure, I could order a cold beer (zimne piwko) at the neighborhood tap and toast to your good health (sto lat). I could request a pound of ham and some sausage links (prosze dwie laski kabanosow) at the deli, I could even leave holiday greetings on Facebook (Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia/Wielkanocnych/Nowego Roku). But even after 2 years of Polish in high school for an easy A, without daily use, my native language is sadly slipping away from me.

We are now living in a time where being comfortable with only the knowledge of the English language isn't enough. Spanish has been accepted as a second language in the US and those that are bilingual have an advantage over those that don't. But the benefits don't end with communication skills. Statistics show that the bilingual brain develops differently, learning a second language can boost math and English skills as well! Studies also show that these effects are strongest in those that learn a second language before age 5.


Language Stars makes learning a foreign language over the summer fun for kids aged 1-10. Using a full immersion foreign language setting, Language Stars offers classes in Spanish, French,  Italian, German and Mandarin in 14 Chicagoland locations. To learn more about Language Stars unique and flexible programs and how to register for a FREE class visit Language Stars and "Bring the World to Your Child"

Enter the Language Stars SUMMER OF FUN Giveaway for a chance to win $500 in Language Stars Classes

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/046eae53/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway

 Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post, all opinions are my own.


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Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Wake Up Maggie, I Think I Have Something to Say to You #TimeWithRod

I participated in this campaign for One2One Network. I received a free copy of the CD to facilitate my review. By posting, I am eligible for incentives. All opinions stated are my own.

Maggie Mae was the very first Rod Stewart son I can remember singing into my hair brush.
It had to be almost 40 years ago!

Today, Rockin' Rod is back! For the first time in almost 20 years Rod has released a new album, Time




Stewart wrote and produced 11 of the album's 12 cuts. 

Stewart rediscovered the spark for songwriting while reviewing his life for his recent memoir. 

"Suddenly ideas for lyrics were piling up in my head," he says. "Next thing I knew, I had a song called 'It's Over' about divorce and separation. And now I was getting up in the middle of the night and scrambling for a pen to write things down, which has never happened to me. I finished seven or eight songs very quickly and I still wasn't done, and it became apparent that I would eventually have a whole album of material to record." 

 

Along with the release of Time, Stewart is set to embark on the European leg of his Live the Life tour on June 1st, while American dates with Steve Winwood will kick off October 17th.  

 I participated in this campaign for One2One Network. I received a free copy of the CD to facilitate my review. By posting, I am eligible for incentives. All opinions stated are my own.
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Friday, May 3, 2013

New Build-A-Bear Workshop Store at Orland Square

Disclaimer: We received free products for attending the Grand Opening, all opinions are my own. 

This morning TC and I were invited guests at the grand opening of the new Build-A-Bear Workshop store at Orland Square!

The new store heightens the traditional bear-making experience with a bold new design that incorporates modern technology. The Orland Square store is enhanced to provide a richer, more interactive experience for Guests. The new design received rave reviews when it was introduced in six U.S. markets in the fall of 2012. Overall sales in these locations have exceeded expectations. Based on these results, Build-A-Bear Workshop plans to open 20-25 newly designed locations in North America in 2013.

“At Build-A-Bear Workshop, we are continually innovating to provide breakthrough experiences and products for today’s generation of tech-savvy Guests,” said Maxine Clark, founder and chief executive bear of Build-A-Bear Workshop. “We are thrilled to bring our newly imagined store to Orland Square and look forward to having fun and making memories with our Guests.”

“Build-A-Bear Workshop’s newly designed store concept will be the perfect complement to Orland Square’s family friendly shopping and dining mix,” said Gayle Gleespen, Director of Marketing & Business Development at Orland Square. “As a leader in the interactive retail space, Build-A-Bear Workshop is providing a special destination to Orland Square that we know our families will enjoy for years to come.”



Guests who visit the new store will see a noticeable change to the company’s trademarked stuffed animal-making experience including:

• An interactive storefront that is enabled by Microsoft’s Kinect technology and interactive touch elements. Guests can play games and view the latest product offerings as they enter the store.
 • The Love Me station allows Guests to customize their furry friends with special personality attributes displayed as emoticons on an interactive table. Using Samsung’s SUR40 with Microsoft® PixelSense™ technology, Guests add unique traits - like brave, silly, and smart - to their red satin heart, which is added to their stuffed animal during the Stuff Me process.
• The Hear Me station features an assortment of high quality sounds that can be added to stuffed animals. Using an interactive touch screen, Guests can select and load popular hits from current music, sounds, or their own voice onto a chip to further personalize their stuffed animal.
• The Fluff Me station features a digital bath tub enabled by Samsung’s SUR40 with Microsoft® PixelSense™ technology. The tub magically recognizes the items as they are placed on it and reacts with sensory effects such as virtual bubbles that appear when play soap is placed on the “water surface.”
• The Name Me station, where Guests use a viewfinder or “Bear-O-Scope” to reveal the special attributes they added to their stuffed animal. At Name Me, Guests also create a one-of-a-kind birth certificate that includes a photo of their new furry friend. Through these interactive elements, Guests can personalize the bear-making process and have a different experience each time they visit. The store includes a number of technology platforms that enable Build-A-Bear Workshop to continue to update the store experience. Similar to how one might download a new app to a mobile device, the company is able to update the stations inside the store with interactive experiences that are relevant to certain product launches and seasons.

Only Build-A-Bear Workshop can put a smile this big on TC's face!


To take a virtual tour of the new store visit: http://bit.ly/QAoJqJ

Disclaimer: We received free products for attending the Grand Opening, all opinions are my own. 
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Monday, April 29, 2013

All My Children and One Life to Live on The Online Network!

Disclosure: I am participating in a campaign from One2One Network and The Online Network. I have not received payment for this post. My participation makes me eligible for a prize drawing. All opinions stated are my own.  

All My Children & One Life to Live are back and better than ever!*

The beloved soaps are getting a new life online and will premiere on Hulu Monday, April 29th at midnight. They will also be available on Hulu+ and iTunes for on-the-go viewing. 30 minute episodes will be available each weekday, with a recap on Friday!

All My Children actors include returning actors include Debbie Morgan as Dr Angie Hubbard, Julie Barr as Brooke English,Sal Stowers as Cassandra Foster, Eric Nelson as AJ Chandler, Denyse Tontz as Miranda Montgomery, Jordan Lane Price as Celia Fitzgerald, Ryan Bittle as JR Chandler, Eden Riegel as Bianca Montgomery, Cady McClain as Dixie Cooney, Ray MacDonnell as Dr. Joe Martin, David Canary as Adam Chandler, Heather Roop as Jane McIntyre, and Francesca James as Evelyn Johnson will be returning once the soap moves online.

One Life to Live actors include Corbin Bleu as Jeffery King as well as returning actors Erika Slezak as Victoria Lord Buchanan, Robin Strasser as Dorian Lord, Tuc Watkins as David Vickers, Robert S. Woods as Bo Buchanan, Kassie DePaiva as Blair Cramer, Jerry verDorn as Clint Buchanan, Florencia Lozano as Tea Delgado, Melissa Archer as Natalie Buchanan Banks, Hillary B. Smith as Nora Buchanan, Kelley Missal as Danielle Manning, Josh Kelly as Cutter Wentworth, and Andrew Trischitta as Jack Manning. Recurring actors include: Sean Ringgold as S haun Evans, Shenaz Treasury as Rama Patel, and Nick Choksi as Vimal Patel.

Tune in:

The Online Network - www.theonlinenetwork.com
AMC on Hulu - www.hulu.com/all-my-children
OLTL on Hulu - www.hulu.com/one-life-to-live

Catch a sneak preview right now:

AMC teaser http://www.hulu.com/watch/468389
OLTL teaser http://www.hulu.com/watch/468388

Disclosure: I am participating in a campaign from One2One Network and The Online Network. I have not received payment for this post. My participation makes me eligible for a prize drawing. All opinions stated are my own.

*Since these shows are "off network" their content is more adult oriented and includes profanity and other material not appropriate for younger children.
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Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Easy Peasy Oven Cleaning

OK first of all, please don't judge me, I'm baring all in a confession here.

I've NEVER cleaned my oven! Well not NEVER EVER, but NEVER this one that we currently own!

Stop that!

I see you rolling your eyes!

I've wiped it up and gone out of my way NOT to make a big mess, but I've never actually rolled up my sleeves and did whatever you do to clean your oven.

But now, I as I wait to exhale, I thought it would be a good time to clean the oven.

I remember seeing somewhere on Pinterest that you could sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of your oven and spray with vinegar and walk away and the oven would basically clean itself.

Being an optimistic skeptic, I thought I'd give it a try before heading to WallyWorld for something stronger and a gas mask. I wasn't really expecting it to work, but OH MY GRANNY and HOLY SCHNIKES BATMAN!

It works! It really works!

I'm very impatient, so I had to scrub a little almost instantly to see if it was working and UH MAY ZING!

I wish I had taken better before pictures! I did manage to get a little corner where I hadn't sprinkled the solution, you can see the grossness below.




Sorry you have to cock your head to the side like that.

That last picture is without any elbow grease! I was just so excited I had to sit down and blog about it!

Now I'm off to find a cure for cancer or something!
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Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Avon Walk Chicago/Cadillac Drive for the Cause

On June 1-2, I will once again join 6 friends that comprise Team One More Mile in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Chicago. This is an invitation to join me in the fight against breast cancer by making a donation to my fundraising efforts. No amount is too small! Seriously, the minimum donation on my website is $5 but if all you have is $1 or 25 cents even, Paypal me at megryansmom@sbcglobal.net and I'll transfer the funds to the Avon Walk myself.

I do this walk for so many reasons, because there are three million women in the United States living with breast cancer—and one third of them don’t even know it. Because no one knows what causes breast cancer or how it can be prevented or cured. And because I know too many people who have struggled with and been affected by this awful disease.

I'm required to raise a minimum of $1800 to participate in the walk and sadly I am not even close to that goal right now. Last year, with a lot of help from Cadillac, I was able to raise over $2500!

Here's another option, that won't cost you anything! Cadillac is back for the third year as a Premiere Sponsor of the Avon Walk Chicago and is thrilled to sponsor Drive for the Cause to support Chicago Avon Walkers.

On Saturday, April 13, and Saturday, April 20, 2013, come into any participating Cadillac dealer (bring your family and friends) for a test drive of any new Cadillac and I will receive a $25 donation from Cadillac for every person that gets behind the wheel. Just mention my participant number #341321 at the time of the test drive and the donation will be made directly to my account.

Limit one donation per person. Must be 18 years of age with a valid driver's license.

Participating dealers:

Barrington IL, Motor Werks
Bourbonnais IL, David Bruce Auto Center
Calumet City IL, Napleton Cadillac
Chicago IL, Grossinger City Autoplex
DeKalb IL, Sycamore Cadillac
Hodgkins IL, Ettleson Cadillac
Joliet IL, Bill Jacobs Cadillac I'll be here on the 20th, stop by and say Hi!
Libertyville IL, Weil Cadillac
Lincolnwood IL, Grossinger Autoplex
Lombard IL, Heritage Cadillac
Matteson IL, Arnie Bauer Cadillac
McHenry IL, Gary Lang Cadillac
Merrillville IN, Schepel Cadillac
Naperville IL, Cadillac of Naperville
Northbrook IL, Steve Foley Cadillac
Oak Lawn IL, Frank Shirey Cadillac
Schaumburg IL, Patrick Cadillac 


Thank you in advance for your support.



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Thursday, March 21, 2013

Homemade Febreze

I'm cheap!

And I have three dogs!

And I love a clean smelling house!

Like a Febreze smelling house!

Did I say I was cheap?

Yeah!



So $5 a pop on Febreze isn't going to fly!

Even with coupons, that's a crazy price!

Especially when you can make it yourself!

It's easy!

And cheap!

You'll need:

1/8 cup of fabric softener (Downy will make it smell most like Febreze)
2 tablespoons Baking Soda
Hot water
Spray bottle (the old Febreze bottle is perfect)
A funnel

Grab the funnel, measure the fabric softener and baking soda and dump it into the funnel that you're now holding over the open spray bottle into your spray bottle. It's going to clog :( Use the the straw attached to the sprayer part and unclog that sucker. Turn on the faucet and fill the spray bottle with hot tap water, screw the top back on and then shake well. Voila! You just made Febreze for a lot less than the store bought!



(I found this recipe on the internet, if you don't like it, you can find a bunch of others or you can adjust it to your liking. More fabric softener, more baking soda, different fabric softener. This is just one I tried and I like.)
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Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Life . . .

. . . has sucked the blogging out of me!

It's been a month, no one has sent out a search party. Do I have any followers anymore? My numbers are so low. Ask me if I care. (I do sort of)

I made the Red Tricycle Mom Blogger List today. Someone still loves me. Maybe.

Catholics have a new Pope today! Francis I.I already like him better than ExBenedict, (read eggs Benedict)

Guide him Heavenly Father to be a Pope for the people, a Pope of the New World, for the New World.

More thoughts for today:

Drs, hard as they try, just don't have a sense of humor nor do they get sarcasm. They're all business. Except for my Kate, but then she's not a full fledged Dr. Must be why I love her so.

Don't go to Target during the week when big kids are in school, unless you want to hear eleventy sixteen screaming toddlers. Oh my nanny! Do moms go there with screamers to keep their own sanity while driving the rest of us bat shit crazy?

When you have to wait a half hour at that same Target for your prescription, it's better to spend the $1.49 on popcorn to keep your preschooler happy than walking through the books where he will most definitely fling himself on the floor in an epic tantrum. He was much happier looking out the window at the parking lot eating popcorn in a swivel chair. Money well spent.

Now it's your turn . . .  whoever may still be out there. Ask me a question, or 12. I'll answer almost anything. Lotto predictions, weather, good eats. So go for it and I'll answer in my next post, hopefully in less than one month.





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Friday, February 8, 2013

Let's Play Get to Know!

I stole this straight from Marilyn at Fat Bottom Farm. I hope she doesn't hate me for it. Go show her some love and see her answers and maybe that will make up for my theivery.

I don't think that's a word. Spell check says it's not. Sounds like it should be. Aha it's thievery. Oops. I before e except after c and every other time it feels like going first. Whatevs, I never won the the spelling bee at SHS. Although I used to be a pretty good speller. A stellar speller!

What's your favorite toothpaste? 
Mine is Colgate. But when I say Colgate, I hear my mother's voice in my head pronouncing it COAL- GAYTCH in her Polish accent.

What's your favorite laundry soap? 
Gain, because it smells so good. But I use Purex because it's economical and as a Purex Insider I get free samples. Plus the boys have eczema, so I use the unscented. 

What's your favorite dish soap?
Dawn - it's more than dish soap. It's stain remover, soap scum buster, dog flea killer. It's amazing stuff and no one paid me to say that. 
 
Do your cookies go flat in the oven and look like cat puke? 
I don't put cookies in the oven. Just straight in my mouth, so no.
 
Do you eat the marshmallows out of the Lucky Charms? 
Eww, Lucky Charms are gross!

How many pets do you have? 
We have three wienie dogs.

Do you live in the country or in town, a house, apartment or tin palace? 
'They' refer to this as a city, I say it's a town, hence J-Town. And I live in a house on The Avenue.
 
Are you afraid of the snow storm this weekend?
Nope not at all.

Are you scared of heights?
Um sort of.
 
Are you on a diet?
Yes! It's that SEEFOOD diet . . . I see food and I eat!
 
Do you have kids?
Six of them. Well eight technically I guess. 2 of mine, 2 of his, 2 from one of his and 2 from one of mine.
 
Coffee or tea?
Coffee until it runs out and tea if I'm super cold in the afternoon or evening.
 
Soda or water?
Soda? We say pop in these here parts. 
 
Cake or pie?
A little slice of each please. (See that diet part above)
 
Married or single?
Married.
 
Isn't this fun! 
Yes!

Do you have kids? 
Marilyn, didn't you already ask me that? Again, see above.

Do you know how to roller skate?
I used to. And roller blade and ice skate too. Just last month I took the boys ice skating with GlitterGurl and stayed upright the entire time. It's been 20 years people! TWENTY!
 
What's your favorite show?
Oh I have so many! CSI, Grey's, Vegas, Law and Order SVU, Hawaii 5-0, oooo Deception! I'll stop at that.
 
Do you know how to swim?
Yes
 
Have you ever painted a popcorn ceiling?
No but I think my ex did and maybe Ynot too. Once I painted the walls in my kitchen with textured paint, because I was getting ready to sell and I wanted to hide the imperfections. Does that count?
 
Have you ever run a marathon?
I've never run anything. Oh wait, maybe once or twice for the Harlem Avenue bus with my BFF.
I did walk 2o miles in 2 days for The Avon Walk last June and I'm doing it again this year! EHEM, get those big fat wallets ready.
 
Can you talk without moving your lips?
It's comes out all mumbl-y.

Have you ever paid it forward?
Yup

Do you paint your toenails?
No, I let the Vietnamese girl at the nail salon do that for me. I tip well.
 
Have you ever held a chicken? 
I have! I was 7, we were in Poland and my aunt tied a string on it's foot so I could walk it and play with it and then . . . she cut it's head off right there in front of me and I was traumatized for months! I couldn't eat chicken for a long time. I guess it's a common thing on a farm, but shit, I was SEVEN and from the city! In a different country!
 
Ridden a camel? 
No. I've ridden a mus . . . wait, that's TMI
 
Do you know how to sew?
I do! 

Now wasn't that fun!

Come on, go old school blogging with me today. Go ahead and copy and paste this meme in your own blog with your answers and leave a link in the comments so I can come visit you! 
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