Celine Dion

I grew up listening to Celine Dion and still find her to be one of the greatest musical talents of all time.  If you’re a fan or enjoy great live entertainment, check out Celine’s Taking Chances World Tour.  Her North American tour dates have been extended into February ’09  so take a look and see if she’s coming to your town.  Celine’s concert tickets may just be the perfect gift for a friend, family member or yourself.  See what the show is like here.

Preschool Musical On a Stick Giveaway

This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks for stopping by!  The winners are Leah and Jennifer T.  Congratulations!

In true HSM fashion, Sprout launched it’s holiday musical event entitled Preschool Musical on a Stick.  If you missed it, don’t worry…you can see it one more time on 12/31 (that’s tomorrow!) at 5:30 pm ET.  For all of the behind the scenes 411, check out this fabulous Q & A session.

Win It!  2 lucky readers will win a copy of Preschool Musical on a Stick on CD.  Head on over to the site and watch a video…or three!  Come back here and leave me a comment with your favorite video or song.  Also let me know if you’ve seen it.  Comments will close on January 10, 2008 at 10 pm PST.  One comment per person, please. US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.

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Pledge Review & Giveaway

This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks for stopping by.  The winner is Mrs. Peets.  Congratulations!

For as long as I can remember, my parents had a can of Pledge in the house at all times. I remember using it to clean everything from tables to televisions.  The fresh lemon scent is all too familiar and it is just as effective as it was 15+ years ago.  It’s super easy to use…simply spray it on and wipe the dust away!  It leaves your surfaces shiny, smooth and dust-free.  I like that I don’t have to worry about inhaling flying dust when I wipe off dusty surfaces.

Pledge is now better than ever with it’s ability to remove 84% of allergens from dust mites and pet dander. Plus it still shines, restores, and refreshes wood surfaces, protects against spills and stains, and does not leave a waxy build-up.  You can use it on most surfaces in your home including vinyl and leather. Pledge is available as an aerosol spray or wipes and can be found in any store that sells cleaning products.

Win It!  The company has generously donated a can of Pledge to one of my readers.  Just leave me a comment indicating whether or not you’ve used Pledge and what you like about it.  Comments will close on January 12, 2008 at 10 pm PST.  One comment per person, please. US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.

Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest.

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Blog about this giveaway.  It doesn’t have to be a separate post.  Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.

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“This post was written for Family Review Network as part of a program by SC Johnson, who also supplied the product for review and give away.”

Giveaway: Zenses for Nintendo DS

*Update*

This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks for stopping by!  The winner is Carolyn S.  Congratulations!

Up until recently, I had thought of video games as a childhood past time.  I attended BlogHer in July and was able to demo some of Nintendo’s newest games.  I liked them so much that I’m even considering the possibility of having a system in our house.  One of the games I think would be so fun and relaxing is the all new Zenses games! These games are geared specifically for women!  And..they are stress-free! I promise!

Here is a little more about the games from the site:

Zenses, active relaxation and the perfect “me time” companion, allows the player to transcend the stresses of everyday life, unplug and experience an “active escape.” Zenses, with Zenses Ocean and Zenses Rainforest as its first two titles, will be a series of games targeting women 25 years and older – one of the newest and fastest growing segments of the videogames industry. With a clean, fresh and stylish look and a soundtrack that complements the calm and relaxing atmosphere, Zenses offers the modern woman a brand new and fresh experience.

There are two editions, Ocean and Rainforest and I love that you can escape the stress of daily life while challenging your mind, body and spirit through relaxing puzzle games, soothing ambient sounds, and authentic rainforest and oceanic visuals.  One very cool feature is that you don’t have to press a single key…simply use the stylus.

Both the Ocean and Rainforest Zenses games for Nintendo DS retail for $29.99 each and are available now.

Win It! One very lucky reader will win a copy of both the Ocean and Rainforest versions of Zenses.  Simply head on over to the site and take a little time to explore each.  Come back and leave me a comment with your favorite features. Comments will close on January 10, 2008 at 10 pm PST.  One comment per person, please. US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.

Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest.  I’ll make it super easy…

“Win a copy of Zenses Ocean and Rainforest DS games from Rockin’ Mama: http://tinyurl.com/6wac3y”

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Profuse thanks to The Game Factory and the Family Review Network for this review opportunity.

Disney Classics

Do you like classic movies?  Do you like DISNEY classic movies?  Throughout the month of December, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) presents:  The Family Classics which will include the premiere of 25 Disney live-action classics and an all-new original documentary called The Age of Believing: The Disney Live-Action Classics.  

I grew up watching some of these classics like The Parent Trap and Pollyanna.  With the amount of violence and inappropriateness I see on supposed children’s television shows, it’s nice to know that these are classics I would feel comfortable having my child watch unattended.  

For more information and a complete listing of the movies to be aired, visit the site. 

 

Sun., Dec 7 

Noon Treasure Island (1950) – starring Robert Newton and Bobby Driscoll

1:45 p.m. Swiss Family Robinson (1960) – starring John Mills, Dorothy McGuire, Sessue Hayakawa and Tommy Kirk

4 p.m. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954) – starring Kirk Douglas, James Mason, Paul Lukas and Peter Lorre

6:15 p.m. Old Yeller (1958) – starring Tommy Kirk, Dorothy McGuire and Fess Parker

8 p.m. The Parent Trap (1961) – starring Hayley Mills, Maureen O’Hara and Brian Keith

10:15 p.m. Pollyanna (1960) – starring Hayley Mills, Jane Wyman, Karl Malden, Adolphe Menjou and Agnes Moorehead

12:30 a.m. The Barefoot Executive (1971) – starring Kurt Russell, Harry Morgan, Wally Cox and John Ritter 

Sunday, Dec. 14

Noon The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes (1970) – starring Kurt Russell and Cesar Romero

1:45 p.m. The Strongest Man in the World (1975) – starring Kurt Russell, Cesar Romero and Dick Van Patten

3:30 p.m. The Absent-Minded Professor (1961) – starring Fred MacMurray, Nancy Olson and Tommy Kirk

5:15 p.m. Son of Flubber (1963) – starring Fred MacMurray, Nancy Olson, Keenan Wynn, Tommy Kirk and Ed Wynn

7 p.m. THE AGE OF BELIEVING:  THE DISNEY LIVE-ACTION CLASSICS – narrated by Angela Lansbury

8:30 p.m. The Apple Dumpling Gang (1975) – starring Tim Conway, Don Knotts, Bill Bixby and Susan Clark

10:15 p.m. The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again (1979) – starring Tim Conway, Don Knotts, Tim Matheson, Kenneth Mars and Jack Elam  

Sunday, Dec. 21

Noon The Black Hole (1979) – starring Maximilian Schell, Anthony Perkins, Robert Forster and Ernest Borgnine

2 p.m. Escape to Witch Mountain (1975) – starring Eddie Albert, Kim Richards, Ike Eisenmann and Donald Pleasance

4 p.m. Return from Witch Mountain (1978) – starring Bette Davis, Christopher Lee, Kim Richards and Ike Eisenmann

6 p.m. Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971) – starring Angela Lansbury, David Tomlinson and Roddy McDowall

8 p.m. Candleshoe (1977) – starring Jodie Foster, David Niven and Helen Hayes

10 p.m. Freaky Friday (1976) – starring Jodie Foster, Barbara Harris and John Astin

11:45 p.m. THE AGE OF BELIEVING:  THE DISNEY LIVE-ACTION CLASSICS (encore)  

Sunday, Dec. 28

Noon The Shaggy Dog (1959) – starring Fred MacMurray, Jean Hagen and Tommy Kirk.

2 p.m. The Shaggy D.A. (1976) – starring Dean Jones, Tim Conway and Suzanne Pleshette.

4 p.m. The Love Bug (1968) – starring Dean Jones, Michelle Lee and Buddy Hackett.

6 p.m. Herbie Rides Again (1974) – starring Helen Hayes, Ken Berry and Stefanie Powers.

8 p.m. Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo (1977) – starring Dean Jones and Don Knotts.

9:45 p.m. Herbie Goes Bananas (1980) – starring Cloris Leachman and Harvey Korman.

11:30 p.m. The World’s Greatest Athlete (1973) – starring Tim Conway, Jan Michael Vincent, John Amos and Nancy Walker 

 

WW: Santa…Scary?

I Love Disneyland!

A couple of weeks ago I blogged about the wonderful time we had at Disneyland.  I wanted to share with you a little more about how magical Disneyland is during the holidays!

One of the things I love about the holidays is the food!  Disney knows how important food is and they’ve risen to the occasion with the Merriest Treats on Earth!  There are many traditions that surround food at Disneyland and it is through food that the stories are kept alive and strong.  Some of the traditional treats you’ll find during the holiday season include gingerbread cookies, holiday biscottis, rice krispy treats, snowman cookies, cranberry and pumpkin mini loafs, almond and chocolate yule logs, holiday brownies, tres leches desserts, and jiggle mortis with whipped cremation.

We were given a lovely demonstration on the “science of gingerbread houses” by a real French pastry chef. One of the mom bloggers in attendance was right upfront getting in with the decorating action.  I went home with some wonderful tips on creating the “perfect” gingerbread house including an icing recipe (Egg white, powdered sugar, lemon juice) that is certain to withstand even the tiniest of tots.

While decorating expert David Caranci was not able to join us for our Mom Blogger evening, the PR team created a video clip of tips on how to turn that holiday fruitcake into a lovely centerpiece.  Enjoy!

Disneyland Decorating Tips from Heather Hust on Vimeo.

One of the things we really enjoyed at Disneyland was decorating cookies at Mrs. Claus’s Kitchen. You can choose between sugar or gingerbread and the kit includes frosting and sprinkles to complete your cookie creation.  I think more frosting ended up on our little one’s face than on the cookie but we all had fun! While you’re over in Frontierland, be sure to check out Big Thunder Ranch which has been magically transformed into Santa’s Reindeer Roundup where you can sing and dance at the Holiday Ho-Ho-Hoedown, make your own cowboy-inspired gift, and take pictures with your favorite Disney characters.  Here is where we took our family picture (more on that in a bit).

One of my favorite things about Disneyland during the holidays is the decor.  From the magical glow of Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle to the festively international it’s a small world “holiday” you’ll be in the spirit from the moment you step foot into the park.  Be sure to take a picture in front of ginormous tree on Main Street decorated with over 60,000 lights (you may even see some snow!).  For a complete listing of the holiday happenings, visit their special holiday website.

By now you know how passionate I am about photography.  The last “gift” that we were given was from Disney’s PhotoPass Service.  You probably remember having your picture taken by one of Disney’s own photographers at any number of places throughout the park.  Now you can edit, share, and create photo gifts with one handy little service (and card!).  Once you’ve taken your first picture with Mickey, you’ll receive Disney’s PhotoPass card.  Re-use the card every time you stop for photos throughout the park.  Once you’re ready to view them, go to DisneyPhotoPass.com within 30 days and enter the number from your card.  Once you’ve registered, you can order prints or create fun products like calendars, ornaments, and photo books.  One of the great things about the service is that you can upload your own photos to create gifts that have that magical Disney touch.  All of us mom bloggers received a lovely print of Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle and the opportunity to create a Disney Photo Calendar.   I can’t wait to show you how our calendar turned out.

I’d like to thank Michele Himmelberg once again for the opportunity to experience Disneyland during this festive holiday season!

Get In Shape Girl! With Weight Watchers!

I am going to get a little vulnerable and share with you something that I’ve struggled with since I was a teenager.  As a woman, we all feel pressure to “fit the mold.”  Actresses and models don’t accurately portray most women.  I remember the embarrassment I felt getting dressed for gym class as a teenager in high school.  I’ve never been obese per se, however I’ve also never been the skinniest girl on the block.  I have hips and curves (like most women!).  A couple of years ago I had gotten to a weight that I felt was not healthy and wanted to shed the pounds before it got out of control.  I decided to do it the “right” way…no more dieting and skipping meals and exercising until I wanted to collapse.  I joined Weight Watchers.  And lost 17 pounds!

It’s been a few years since I stopped going to Weight Watchers and up until I got pregnant with my son, I had managed to keep the weight off.  What I absolutely love about the program (besides the fact that it works) is that you are taught the proper way to eat. Most of my problem (and maybe yours as well) was portion control.  I never really knew what 1 serving meant so I was eating my share plus everyone else’s!  : ) I also like the ability to achieve results without having to consume the company’s food (which is actually pretty good!).  Weight Watchers, when done correctly, is so effective that physicians are recommending the program to their patients. While I actually attended physical meetings, it’s nice to have the flexibility of following the plan online.

Weight Watchers recently introduced new interactive tools, specifically for those who are fans of their online program.   They now have a Facebook page that will showcase upcoming products.  If you become a fan, you’ll receive news and information including links to recipes, product-related vidcasts, instant polls and more.

I love to snack. In fact, I’d snack all day if I could and skip meals altogether!  But since that isn’t the healthiest way to lose weight, I try really hard to find healthy snack alternatives.  Weight Watchers is debuting an interactive widget tool called “I Really Want!” to help consumers find a sensible snack alternative. The “I Really Want!” widget offers various Weight Watchers sensible food products as well as everyday snack alternatives.

Lastly, Weight Watchers has made it easy for you to earn rewards that can be redeemed for items such as beauty products, cooking accessories, and DVDs.  Simply purchase any Weight Watchers food item and save the UPC barcodes. When you’re ready, follow the instructions on the site for redemption.

Profuse thanks to Weight Watchers and the Family Review Network for this review opportunity!

Welstar Organic Care Products (Contest Details at the End!)

If you can believe it, I have baskets full of brand-new, never opened bath and body products.  I still haven’t figured out what I should do with them since they’re full of parabens and phthalates.  I can’t in good conscience give them to someone or throw them away (can you imagine my carbon footprint?). For now, they’ve taken up permanent residence under my bathroom sink while I peruse Whole Foods and the net for the best in organic skin care products.

I was recently introduced to Welstar Organic Care Products, a company with a fabulous line of skin care products for moms and babes. Welstar was created by Mahara, a mom with a background in alternative healing, visual arts, nursing, and art therapy.   Mahara has combined her experience in alternative treatments and her advanced training to create a line of healing products designed to bring wholeness to both the body and the soul.

I was sent a fabulous package from the company’s Body Care and Mother & Child lines, which included the following:  Clearly Soft Gel Cleanser, Shea Butter Body Milk Glow-On Radiant Hydration, Deeply Heaven Cape Cod Bath Salts, Wishing Star sleep time cream, and Naked Baby Oil.

I appreciate the company’s use of natural ingredients including natural preservatives.  I always strive to purchase skin care products that don’t contain parabens, phthalates, etc but in the past I have not had the most favorable results.  In particular, I have had a difficult time finding an all-natural facial cleanser that actually removes my makeup!  The Clearly Soft Gel Cleanser is pH-balanced to provide a gentle facial cleanse.  It is mild but effective.

I love baths (although they’re few and far between these days). I like the lovely, calming scent of the Deeply Heaven Cape Cod Bath Salts.  Follow it up with the Shea Butter Body Milk.  This moisturizer hydrates and protects your skin.  It goes on lightly and doesn’t leave your skin feeling greasy.  If you want an all-over body treatment that will moisturize, nourish, and protect your skin, try the Glow-On All Purpose Body Moisturizer.  Overall,  the entire line of skin care products is gentle and effective.

As a mom, I appreciate Welstar’s Mother & Child line of products that are safe!  One of my favorite products is the Wishing Star sleep time cream.  This cream is a blend of calendula cream and essential oils to help babies, children, and mommies sleep. I tried it on my son and myself and LOVED it!  The Naked Baby Oil is wonderful for my son’s chronic diaper rashes, cradle cap, and dry skin, or as an alternative to moisturizers.

Welstar carries a wide variety of organic care products in the following categories: Body Care, Essential Aromatics, Facial Care, Hair & Nail Care, Herbal Remedies, Men, Mother and Child, and Outdoor Essentials. If you  order in December you’ll receive free shipping.

*Enter to win a $50.00 gift certificate by joining the mailing list.  Be sure to type in “referral” when asked how you found out about the company

Profuse thanks to Welstar for this review opportunity!

I Want A Wii!

I know, I know…You’ve heard me say that a gazillion times!  Imagine my poor husband. Denver Mile High Mamas recently hosted a Wii Fit party and are giving away Wii and Wii Fit to one very lucky person!  Head on over before December 20 for your chance to win!

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