Win a $25 Gift Card to EcoStore USA at Frugal Creativity
June 19th, 2009Frugal Creativity is giving away a $25 gift certificate to EcoStore USA – click here to enter, ends June 26th.
Lots of Giveaways at Mom Trend
June 19th, 2009Look at all the fun things you could win over at Mom Trend!
Scarlett purse accent – ends at midnight tonight, June 18th!
Brain Child Press – ends June 26th
Piggy Paint – ends June 26th
BooJee Beads Lanyard – ends June 26th
FUMI purse hook – ends June 28th
Brez – ends June 30th
Log Cabin Syrup Review
June 18th, 2009I was recently sent a sample of Log Cabin maple syrup to taste test. Log Cabin recently removed high-fructose corn syrup from their original formula, and they wanted me to weigh in on the flavor. Does Log Cabin taste as good now that they’ve changed the ingredients?
The first thing I tried this on was surprisingly not pancakes – it was chicken!
I recently found this recipe for Garlic Chicken and Roast Potatoes, which called for 1/4 cup of maple syrup. The garlic sweetens as it cooks, and combines with the syrup to make a wonderful flavor that’s a little reminiscent of a sweet BBQ sauce. This was the first time I’d ever made this recipe, and I can’t recommend it highly enough – the slow cooked chicken was so tender and good, and Jai actually told me that he thinks this might be the best chicken he’s ever had. Suffice to say, I was pretty proud of myself that night!
If you want more to see more pictures and get further details on how I prepared the chicken, click here to read a post I wrote about it on my frugality blog, Super Coupon Girl.
If you want more to see more pictures and get further details on how I prepared the chicken, click here to read a post I wrote about it on my frugality blog, Super Coupon Girl.
But of course, the true test of any syrup is how it tastes on pancakes, so I whipped up a big brunch the next day.
I made enough pancakes for myself, Jai, and my future father-in-law. We all enjoyed it – I thought the syrup was delicious. Later on, I asked Jai what he thought of the syrup, and he said, “I thought it was very good. It tastes like a really high-quality syrup.” I agreed with him and mentioned how I couldn’t even tell the difference with the high fructose syrup gone. “Wait, this was a healthy syrup? Really?!” He was actually quite surprised, because this tasted like one of the better syrups we’ve used! Perhaps the lack of high fructose is actually better flavor-wise, since they replaced with with real sugar – this has a very pure taste.
So from chicken to hotcakes, everything we tried this on tasted very yummy. Log Cabin gets full marks from my pancake-obsessed household!
Kenny Loggins "First There Is a Mountain" Video
June 18th, 2009
Amazon.com has just debuted the first music video for Kenny Loggins’ new album, All Join In - “First There Is a Mountain”, which features vocals from Loggins’ 11-year-old daughter, Hana.
Loggins talks in-depth about this fantastic song in my exclusive interview – click here to read it.
Giveaway – $50 Tiny Prints Gift Card for Facebook Fans
June 17th, 2009
You’ve no doubt heard of Tiny Prints, a popular stationary boutique that offers everything from Birthday party invitations to custom photo announcements. And whether you’re wedding planning (like me!), preparing invitations to a baby shower, sending out graduation announcements, or just want some nice stationary, Tiny Prints will have something to suit the occasion. And Tiny Prints would like to give away a $50 gift certificate to one lucky Contest Corner reader!
Here’s the details:
Tiny Prints have just launched several official pages on Facebook, and are holding an “open house” to celebrate. Here’s how you can enter to win a $50 Tiny Prints Gift Card:
1. Become a “fan”of one or more of the following Tiny Prints Facebook pages:
Eco-Friendly Cards
Business Stationery
Holiday Cards
Wedding Invitations
Then, post a comment on the “wall” containing a link to your favorite Tiny Prints or Wedding Paper Divas product. You will need to be a Facebook member to do this. Once you have done this, come back and leave another comment on this post with your Facebook username.
As an added incentive, Tiny Prints will also be drawing three people at random from each page to win an additional $50 gift certificate once they reach 400 fans – click here for more details. This gift certificate can also be applied to shipping.
Want extra entries? Do any of the following, and leave a separate comment for each one:
2. Write a post on your blog linking to this giveaway and Tiny Prints. Then come back here and leave me the link!
3. Write about this on Twitter, then come back and leave me the link to your tweet!
4. Subscribe to my blog updates by entering your email into the “Subscribe” box in the sidebar. Then come back and leave me the email you subscribed with!
5. Become a follower of my blog by clicking the “Follow” button in my sidebar! Then come back here and let me know in a separate comment!
6. Post my button on your website – just copy and paste the following code, and let me know where you put it:
Rules, regulations, and other important stuff: Giveaway ends on July 10th at 11:59 PM, PST. Winner will be chosen the following day via Random.org. Winner has 48 hours to respond to my notification email, or a new winner will be chosen in their place. Giveaway is open to entrants worldwide not excluded by applicable local laws barring participation.
Dove Go Fresh Review
June 17th, 2009
Everyone knows about my love affair with bath & body products. Being surrounded by scented lotions and potions is one of life’s little pleasures for me. So I was more than happy to review the new line of body washes and beauty bars from Dove Go Fresh! I’ve always liked Dove products, because they are usually gentler on my skin than a lot of other brands.
First, I tried Dove Go Fresh body wash. Delightfully scented with nectarine and white ginger, this body wash smells like summer in a bottle with its airy, fruity notes. It’s creamy and foams into a rich lather, and I really enjoyed the aroma. For me, little pampering touches like this help get my day off to a great start. And with its generously sized 24oz bottle, I won’t be running out any time soon – a little dab lathers up quite nicely. This body wash gets two thumbs up from me, and it’s especially good for getting into a breezy summer mood.
Next, I tried out the Dove Go Fresh beauty bar. This comes in the same delightful scent, so it smelled wonderful. The lather was richer than most soaps, but the body wash left my skin more moisturized than the body bar did – my skin felt a little dry after using the soap. Bear in mind, I never use soap in lieu of body wash because my skin is simply so dry and sensitive. I’m not kidding – I can’t use most shaving creams on the market, because they give my legs a giant rash. So I have a suspicion than anyone with less extreme skin would probably find this to be pretty moisturizing. However, I think this makes a fabulous hand soap – not only does the scent make it a luxurious treat, but since it is more moisturizing than most soaps, it’s less drying on my hands; I’ll probably continue to use it exclusively as hand soap.
Want to try Dove Go Fresh for yourself? Click here to download a printable coupon. You can also use your cell phone and text COUPON to 30241 to receive a Dove Go Fresh coupon. Standard messaging charges and other charges may apply – charges may apply to all correspondence, including confirmations, depending on your wireless data plan. All charges will be billed to your wireless bill or deducted from your prepaid balance. To quit, just text the word STOP.
Scholastic Announces Last Call for BIG Idea Submissions
June 17th, 2009
Remember the “Be Big In Your Community” contest from Clifford The Big Red Dog that I mentioned in April? Well, the contest is drawing to a close, so if you’d like to submit your “BIG” idea, be sure to get your entry in by June 26th! Here’s the full scoop:
After submissions from all across the country, this is the last chance to enter Scholastic Media’s Clifford The Big Red Dog® “Be Big™ In Your Community” Contest.
The contest calls upon kids, parents, teachers, and community leaders to submit their BIG ideas for creating positive change in their communities by demonstrating Clifford’s Big Ideas; Share, Play Fair, Have Respect, Work Together, Be Responsible, Be A Good Friend, Help Others, Be Truthful, Be Kind and Believe In Yourself
.The BE BIG Fund will help bring the winning BIG idea to life by awarding one (1) Grand Prize $25,000 community grant and ten (10) runner-up $2,500 community grants to implement the winning BIG ideas via HandsOn Network local affiliate organizations.
To enter, go to www.scholastic.com/
Stuck for ideas? Then click here to download a fun “Be Big” activity sheet in a printable PDF format.
Got Free Ecards: Review & $25 Target e-GiftCard Giveaway
June 16th, 2009
Today I am reviewing a website called Got Free Ecards, who offer fun virtual greetings and cards. And to make it doubly fun, Got Free Ecards would like to give away a $25 e-GiftCard to Target.com to one lucky Contest Corner reader, so read on!
My Take on Got Free Ecards:
I’ve always loved sending e-cards. With friends and family scattered throughout the globe, I think it’s a great way to say “Thinking of You” across the miles. The trouble is finding a card that suits the recipient’s personality, and isn’t corny or dumb. I usually spend a bit of time searching around Google for just the right thing, so I’m always game to learn about a new site with good cards.
Free Ecards on this website span a number of categories, from birthdays and holidays to general friendship and “Just Because” cards. You can also customize your cards by uploading your own images and sounds, and even choose to deliver the card by Twitter – who knew?? I thought the cards on this site were quite fun. Free love Ecards are often quite corny, but I thought this “Miss You” card starring an alien was actually pretty cute.
The site is quick to load and not bogged down with obnoxious ads or graphics. One thing I noticed immediately was how fast the cards loaded, even though they are animated – have you ever gone to send a card and had your whole browser freeze up from the overworked graphics? I don’t think that would happen as often on this site. The animations are quick and memory efficient, loading almost immediately for me. I think this is really important, because your recipient’s computer might be slower than your own, and you don’t want your nice greeting to cause a computer reboot!
Free Printable Cards are another fun option on this site. If you want something more tangible than a virtual greeting, you can customize your own special card and print it out. You can choose from their designs or create your own card with photos from your computer.
Father’s day is this Sunday, June 21st, so don’t forget about dad! My dad lives in England, so one of these Father’s Day E-cards would be a special way to remember the day. If you’re lucky enough to have your dad in the same country with you, perhaps you’d prefer one of these free printable father’s day cards to present to him in person.
And to make a special occasion even better, Got Free Ecards would like to giveaway a $25 Target.com e-GiftCard to one lucky winner!
Wouldn’t this be a great solution to a birthday present dilemma? Send your loved one a birthday greeting on Got Free Ecards, then buy their present with this $25 e-GiftCard! Please note, this e-GiftCard is only redeemable on Target.com, and can’t be used at brick-and-mortar locations.
Here’s how to enter:
1. For your first entry, check out Got Free Ecards, then come back here and leave a comment telling me what your favorite card is!
This step is required to qualify for the drawing. Be sure to leave an email address with your comment, so that I may notify you in the event that you are the lucky winner!
Want extra entries? Do any of the following, and leave a separate comment for each one:
2. Write a post on your blog linking to this giveaway and Got Free Ecards. Then come back here and leave me the link!
3. Write about this on Twitter, then come back and leave me the link to your tweet!
4. Subscribe to my blog updates by entering your email into the “Subscribe” box in the sidebar. Then come back and leave me the email you subscribed with!
5. Become a follower of my blog by clicking the “Follow” button in my sidebar! Then come back here and let me know in a separate comment!
6. Post my button on your website – just copy and paste the following code, and let me know where you put it:
Rules, regulations, and other important stuff: Giveaway ends on July 2nd at 11:59 PM, PST. Winner will be chosen the following day via Random.org. Winner has 48 hours to respond to my notification email, or a new winner will be chosen in their place. Giveaway is open to US residents – click here to view Target’s shipping policies and restrictions.
Eebee’s Adventures – DVD Series Review
June 16th, 2009In April, I interview Stephen Gass, the creator of the Eebee’s Adventures series. These unique educational DVDs are made just for babies, and features “eebee”, the puppet baby who explores every day situations, learning as he plays with friends. Gass spoke with me about his inspiration behind starting eebee, and his take on the debate about children and TV – and now it’s my turn to check out the series and share my thoughts on it.
The first disc I viewed was “All In a Day’s Play!”. Geared for babies six months and up, this DVD shows eebee playing with adult humans and babies and taking in the world around him. They bang on pots to illustrate the difference between “louder and softer”, play with containers, and experience textures as eebee’s mommy covers him in laundry and plays a game of peekaboo.
The second disc, “Exploring Real Stuff!”, shows eebee discovering everything from concepts like cause and effect to motions like rolling and reaching. The aim of this show is not to be passive, but to engage the interest of the babies watching it and get them experimenting and learning, too. This installment is also suitable for babies six months and up.
The third and last disc, “Figuring Things Out!”, is appropriate for slightly older babies, 12 months and up. This time, eebee learns about light and dark, building, and problem-solving concepts. Each disc also includes “Play by Play Guides”, providing commentary on each of eebee’s adventures, and “A Developmental Perspective”, a video Q&A with academic leaders in the fields of infant learning, play, and children’s media.
I thought the eebee series was well done, and I like how it’s gentle and unobtrusive, unlike many loud and annoying kids shows – it’s cute to watch eebee playing with real babies and their parents. I think these DVDs would be a great addition to any baby shower gift basket!
If you’d like to know more about Eebee’s Adventures or find out how to order, check out Eebee.com.
Eebee’s Adventures – DVD Series Review
June 16th, 2009In April, I interview Stephen Gass, the creator of the Eebee’s Adventures series. These unique educational DVDs are made just for babies, and features “eebee”, the puppet baby who explores every day situations, learning as he plays with friends. Gass spoke with me about his inspiration behind starting eebee, and his take on the debate about children and TV – and now it’s my turn to check out the series and share my thoughts on it.
The first disc I viewed was “All In a Day’s Play!”. Geared for babies six months and up, this DVD shows eebee playing with adult humans and babies and taking in the world around him. They bang on pots to illustrate the difference between “louder and softer”, play with containers, and experience textures as eebee’s mommy covers him in laundry and plays a game of peekaboo.
The second disc, “Exploring Real Stuff!”, shows eebee discovering everything from concepts like cause and effect to motions like rolling and reaching. The aim of this show is not to be passive, but to engage the interest of the babies watching it and get them experimenting and learning, too. This installment is also suitable for babies six months and up.
The third and last disc, “Figuring Things Out!”, is appropriate for slightly older babies, 12 months and up. This time, eebee learns about light and dark, building, and problem-solving concepts. Each disc also includes “Play by Play Guides”, providing commentary on each of eebee’s adventures, and “A Developmental Perspective”, a video Q&A with academic leaders in the fields of infant learning, play, and children’s media.
I thought the eebee series was well done, and I like how it’s gentle and unobtrusive, unlike many loud and annoying kids shows – it’s cute to watch eebee playing with real babies and their parents. I think these DVDs would be a great addition to any baby shower gift basket!
If you’d like to know more about Eebee’s Adventures or find out how to order, check out Eebee.com.
Contest Corner is your resource for the best giveaways on the net! Journalist Beeb Ashcroft gives you her upfront opinions on the newest & coolest products - along with a chance for you to win one for yourself!
