I wouldn’t typically think that an event such as an auto show is something you’d take the kids to.  However, my son was in awe of all the shiny cars.  I wish I had actually gotten a picture of him kissing this car (yes…he kissed the car and said “It’s BEAUTIFUL”).

What I’m supposed to tell you is that kids can’t typically handle an event like this…but my son really enjoyed it!  Yes…he was running from car to car….yes…he was climbing all over the cars…and yes…they were ok with it!  But if you have a child who doesn’t like kissing cars (ahem!), the auto show offers a Kids’ Fun Zone so that the entire family can attend the event.

The Kids’ Fun Zone is brand new this year and offers a variety of activities for kids under the age of 12.  So while dad is checking out the exotics, mom can bring the kids down to the Fun Zone to get some energy out.  Attractions include bounce houses, a kids’ Jeep driving course, face-painting, Xbox driving simulators, bubble-making, arts and crafts, and games.  My son took particular interest in the fruit and veggie game offered by First 5 California.  The Kids’ Fun Zone is free and includes a variety of activities for children in all age groups.  But please note that at least one parent must remain with the child at all times.

The LA Auto Show runs through the 13th at the Los Angeles Convention Center.  Tickets are $12 and kids under the age of 12 are free.  If you purchase tickets online, you’ll save $2 (and I’m all about saving money!).

Here are a few more pictures, courtesy of the PR compnay:

Disclosure:  I did not receive financial compensation for this post.  My husband and I received complimentary tickets to the LA Auto Show in order to share our experience with you.

]]> http://rockinmama.net/2009/12/my-son-kissed-a-car/feed/ 5 http://rockinmama.net/2009/12/shopping-red-carpet-im-so-there/ http://rockinmama.net/2009/12/shopping-red-carpet-im-so-there/#comments Mon, 07 Dec 2009 05:38:47 +0000 caryn http://rockinmama.net/?p=11265 Just hearing the two words shopping + red carpet make me want to jump up and down. But I don’t think that’s a good idea at this time!  Tomorrow morning I get to wake up at 5 am (and I’m actually excited about it), get in a car with Julie and head to LA for the Marshalls Holiday Red Carpet Event.  Rain?  Cold?  It doesn’t matter.  We’re going SHOPPING!

If you know me, then you know that I almost never purchase products at full price.  My husband laughs at my search for sales and discount codes.  But, saving money is important to me, particularly during this season of our lives.  Marshalls offers incredibly low prices on apparel, footwear, accessories, and more.  Their main site has a section called Shopportunities, which features the best finds at Marshalls‘ stores across the country.

Stay tuned!  I’ll be sharing MY finds with you this week to help you check everyone off that Christmas list of yours!

During BlogHer, I had a chance to speak to some of the representatives of e.l.f. makeup (eyes, lips, face). The company offers high quality cosmetics at affordable prices.  Here is a little more information about the company:

We at e.l.f. believe that innovative technology, quality ingredients and superb delivery systems should not be limited to prestige retailers. Every woman should have the opportunity to participate in innovation, without sacrificing her budget.

In one week, I’ll have an opportunity to showcase some of the company’s most popular products at a Make-Up At Home Party, thanks to e.l.f. and She Speaks.  I can’t wait to show you pictures of our fab girls all made up!

Even better, e.l.f. cosmetics will be available in all Target stores beginning 11/1/09!  You’ll find $1, $3, $5, and $10 products (can it get much better than that?).

During the conference, I was able to select a few samples, so I chose a few different colors of their mineral eyeshadow. I just love mineral makeup, and I was very impressed with the samples I received from e.l.f. They’re easy to apply and I like how vibrant and sparkly the colors are.  Plus you can wear them wet or dry.  And…mineral makeup is good for your skin.  It contains vitamins A & B and is free from parabens, no preservatives, or chemical dyes.

Check out these amazing offers:

FREE with purchase – Studio Mini Makeup Collection $15 retail, $45 value… use Coupon Code: LOYAL http://bit.ly/jkeAW

FREE with purchase – 27 Piece Studio Mini Makeup Collection $15 retail… use Coupon Code: LOYAL http://bit.ly/jkeAW

FREE w/ purchase – 27 Piece Studio Mini Makeup Collection… use Coupon Code: LOYAL http://bit.ly/jkeAW

I can’t wait to show off all of our makeovers after next weekend’s party!  And a party isn’t a party without food.  Thanks to Z Pizza and Sprinkles Cupcakes, all of our fabulous ladies will be well-fed!

Z Pizza is our go-to pizza place in our city.  They offer delicious fire-baked pizzas, made with organic ingredients. Their whole wheat crusts are so yummy!  And they offer pizza creations you didn’t know exist!

Sprinkles Cupcakes…I’m having a craving…right now!  Gourmet is one word that comes to mind (give me one right now are a few more!).  They use ingredients you only dream about…like Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla and Belgian Chocolate.

]]> http://rockinmama.net/2009/10/afternoon-tea-with-simple-human/feed/ 3 http://rockinmama.net/2009/09/thank-you-general-mills-giveaway/ http://rockinmama.net/2009/09/thank-you-general-mills-giveaway/#comments Tue, 29 Sep 2009 04:19:58 +0000 caryn http://rockinmama.net/?p=8487 This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks for stopping by.  The winners are Becca and Karin!  Congrats!

Last month I attended a blogger event at General Mills.  The company has been incredible to work with.  They value our input and are constantly trying to improve their products for the consumer.  As I mentioned in my previous post, they are striving to offer organic and all-natural product alternatives.  Some of those Cascadian Farm, Muir Glen, and  Pillsbury’s new Simply cookies which are delicious and free from trans fats, high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.

There were many, many products featured (with posts to follow over the next several weeks).  One that I was actually very interested to learn more about was not entirely food-related.  Box Tops is a program that helps raise money for your local school.  It’s a great way to make a difference in your child’s school and community. You can join the Box Tops for Education Facebook fan page or follow them on Twitter for the latest. This is just one more way the company is giving back!

Since it’s nearly impossible to fit anything other than clothing and cosmetics into a suitcase designed for one night, the company sent a box of snacks and goodies from the new lines they were promoting at the event.  Thank you General Mills!  You’ve blown me away once again!

Win It! I have a few coupons for cereal and soup to giveaway (2 winners).  Simply leave me a comment with your favorite General Mills products!  Comments will close on October 13, 2009 at 10 PM PST.

One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). 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.

Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.

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.

Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments!

One of the most exciting aspects of our vacation was our visit to the General Mills headquarters in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  From the invite to the good-byes, the company made us feel special.  I appreciated how much they valued our input and opinions.  From the moment I received the invite, I was impressed with the company and the PR agency that coordinated the event.  I felt the company went above and beyond to accommodate the attendees.  For example, we each had our own room, so I was able to have my husband and son stay with me so we could go straight to our vacation after the event.  They worked with me on my flight so I could fly straight to my in-laws, rather than flying home.  It’s these small details that really made me feel like the company valued each one of us.  When I arrived at the airport, there was a booth where we were able to check in after we obtained our luggage.  Why is that so important?  Because the event felt organized…from start to finish.  I didn’t have to wait after I received my luggage.  The company had cars waiting to take us to our hotel.  Some of the gals brought their babies and I noticed that car seats had been provided.  I also had a crib in my room for my son. Later at the company headquarters on the second day, I noticed they had provided bouncers and a pack and play for the babies at the event.  Once we checked in, we were directed to a room where we received an awesome goody bag and some refreshments to tide us over before dinner.  Details.  Important details that the company thought about prior to the event.

Dinner that night was held at the famous Mill City Museum in Minneapolis.  If you know me, than you know that I absolutely LOVE going to museums.  I’m the girl that must see every exhibit, reads every display, and then wants to go back and do it all over again in case something was missed.  So while I enjoyed every moment inside the museum, I obviously would have loved more time to explore.  The Mill City Museum actually has important significance to the company.  Here is the history behind it:

The Mill City Museum is housed in the ruins of the flour mill built by Cadwallader Washburn in the early 1920′s. John Crosby eventually became Washburn’s business partner and the Washburn Crosby Company was formed. In 1928, Washburn Crosby merged with other regional millers to become General Mills.

Isn’t that amazing?  The museum itself is fascinating. It’s actually a National Historic Landmark…the Washburn A Mill.  While we didn’t have much time to explore, we did have an opportunity to experience the story of flour milling through the awesome eight-story Flour Tower Elevator presentation.  The theater you sit in, is actually an elevator and the media show chronicles the stories of employees who worked in the mill.  The presentation has won numerous awards and for obvious reasons.  The only unfortunate part is that photos are not allowed in that particular exhibit, but definitely Google it!

After our museum visit, we spent the remainder of the evening at dinner, socializing with the representatives from the company and the other bloggers at the event (the dinner was inside the museum…again…so cool!).  Here are some pictures from the evening:

A little food…

Hehe!

Gorgeous views…

Great…Now I have a craving…

Full…and exhausted…

Our second day started bright and early.  I mean EARLY!  I was still on California time so it was like 4 am for me when I woke up for our 7 am breakfast.  We headed over to General Mills for breakfast…which, by the way did not include cereal (seriously!).  But no worries because there was plenty of brand new cereals to try over in the Betty Crocker Kitchens, where we had the biggest tasting session of my life.  By the way, did you know that the Betty Crocker Kitchens are real, working kitchens?  I had no idea!  There are 19 kitchens in total and they feature state of the art appliances.  I’d like to have one of these in my home! The kitchens are used to taste over 50,000 recipes each year. WOW!

We tasted a LOT of products.  A LOT!  Did I emphasize the sheer number of products available to taste test?  Take a look!

Now you can imagine why we were STUFFED!  Next up was a visit to the company’s photography studios.  Now, I know I’m not the best photographer around (hence the pictures above), but one day I’d love to take a class and get a DSLR like the pros!  It was fascinating to see a demonstration of how the company shoots the foods you see in advertisements and magazines.  I was highly intrigued by this hallway, filled with brilliant pictures with a food item as the focal topic.

The day concluded with lunch (more food!) and a visit to the General Mills gift shop.  The company was kind enough to give us some store credit to bring back something memorable from the trip.  I was honored to have the opportunity to visit with the company and share my feedback on their products.  I was most impressed with their organic lines (Muir Glen and Cascadian Farm) and the elimination of MSG from their canned soups.  The company is striving to provide healthier foods for families and I’m excited about their up and coming foods.  Here are some last photos from the event.

Be sure to check out even more pictures (they’re spectacular) from the trip on Flickr!

Profuse thanks to General Mills and Coyne PR for a fabulous trip!

]]> http://rockinmama.net/2009/09/all-about-our-vacation-my-visit-with-general-mills/feed/ 6 http://rockinmama.net/2009/09/the-ultimate-playdate/ http://rockinmama.net/2009/09/the-ultimate-playdate/#comments Wed, 16 Sep 2009 06:19:08 +0000 caryn http://rockinmama.net/?p=7972 I love playdates.  It’s a great opportunity for my little boy to hang out with other kids  Oh, and it’s wonderful having some adult converation!  What is your idea of the ultimate playdate?  For me, it would be in an enclosed play area (it’s so hot in Southern California) with lots of wiggle (ahem running) room and a little cafe with healthy (dare I say organic?) snacks and drinks.

I recently had an opportunity to visit the Mattel Headquarters in Los Angeles for a Blogger’s Playdate.  Ok, I have to admit… it was so cool…beyond cool!  Walking through the lobby, we were privvy to photos and product displays I am not allowed to post pictures of (sorry).  The playdate was set up in a room filled with some of latest toys from Mattel.  It was casual and a lot of fun for my son.  Most of the toys on display were a bit too old for him, but he did enjoy playing with the UNO Moo! and the Saucer Scramble.

UNO Moo! is fun and educational.  My son doesn’t fully understand the concept, but he does enjoy putting the animals back in the barn.  Just like in traditional UNO, the goal is to get rid of all of your animals (and place them in the barn).  Matching of colors and animals is the goal of the game.  The entire game also stores nicely in the barn (great for taking it places).  Retails for $19.99

My son was pretty fascinated by Saucer Scramble.  The goal is to catch as many flying saucers as possible before time runs out.  My son was not coordinated enough to use the handheld nets (it’s for children 5 and over) but he was in awe of the flying saucers.  Retails for $23.99

Mattel has also come out with Electronic Toss Across which is like a modern day tic tac toe, complete with lights and sounds (hubby and I actually like playing this); WHAC-A-MOLE which is a table-top version of the classic arcade game; and UCreate Music where children become the DJ, recording, mixing, and creating their own tracks.

The other highlight of the event was a screening of Hot Wheels Battle Force 5 Animated Series.  This series, which made it’s debut on August 29th, is an “eye-catching CGI animated show which follows an elite team of teenage drivers (called the Battle Force 5) and their super-cool, ultra-fast vehicles as they hit hyper speeds to break into inter-dimensional battle zones.”  It’s an exciting series, but definitely too old for my son.  My husband took him out at the beginning of the screening while I watched.  It was actually well done and exciting for the children who were old enough!

Here are some pictures from the event:

Profuse thanks to Mattel for allowing us to come “play!”

Do you know what the Gap fitting specialist told me about the Sexy Boot Jeans?  He told me that they’re perfect for moms like me because they’re slim in the hip and thigh (which will apparently make my legs look fabulous) and feature a low-rise waist.  Do you know why the low-rise waist is good for moms like me who have had children?  LOL!  Maybe I’m not supposed to say that.  Anyway…they’re supposedly great at hiding areas that still may need to be worked on!  Go Gap!

It was so great meeting Sarah and Tammy and some of the other local bloggers!  I know you really just came over for pictures so I’ll leave you with one last funny story.  I was OBVIOUSLY pregnant at the event.  So one of the guys serving the food kept coming over to me to make sure I was still ok.  Do you have enough grilled cheese?  Yes, thank you.  Do you want another chocolate cream puff?  No, thank you.  He was very nice, and believe me, I had more than enough grilled cheese and chocolate (thank you Gap!).  At the end, I said something about the fact that if I ate one more dessert all hopes of fitting into the jeans I had in my hand would be lost.  He looked at me and said something to the effect of “don’t worry, I’m a personal trainer if you need some help getting the weight off after the baby is born.”  What a great night!  Thanks Sarah, Tammy, and everyone who worked to make it happen!

]]> http://rockinmama.net/2009/09/jeans-that-were-born-to-fit-eventually-anyways/feed/ 3 http://rockinmama.net/2009/02/spray-n-wash-mom-panel/ http://rockinmama.net/2009/02/spray-n-wash-mom-panel/#comments Fri, 20 Feb 2009 05:58:35 +0000 caryn http://rockinmama.net/?p=2268

Imagine my excitment when I opened an email stating that I was accepted as founding member of the Spray ‘n Wash Mom Panel. So what does it mean? It means that I’ll be one of the first to test out Spray ‘n Wash Bright & White, bring you the latest news and product information, and many other exciting offers, including a giveaway for YOU in the not too distant future. Stay tuned!