New Years Eve - Ideas For A Night In With The Kids

If you are stuck at home tomorrow night, you can still have a good time by making it a family fun night! There are plenty of ways to make New Years Eve special for both you and your kids.

Here are a few fun ideas!

• Have an Ice Cream Party! Make sundaes and set up a table full of really fun toppings like sprinkles, chocolate chips, M & M's, whipped cream, hot fudge, etc!

• Have a Pizza Party Night Make homemade pizzas and let your kid pick out which toppings they want. They can help knead the dough, sprinkle the cheese, and lay on the pepperoni!

• Have a Games Night! Break out the Guess Who, Monopoly, Life, Connect Four, whatever you and your kids enjoy!

• Play the Wii! Wii's are a great way to get everyone involved. You can play a karaoke game, Mario Kart, Guitar Hero, etc! All are SO much fun!

• Make Your Own Party Hats! you can use simple construction paper, add some glitter & ribbon, and some 2010 cut out numbers! Also get noisemakers...they may be annoying to listen to but your kids will love them!

• Order Take Out - my personal favorite! A night with no cooking is a good night indeed!We like Chinese Food or Applebees best.

• Have a Movie Night! Have you seen the new Harry Potter? Or Up, Night at The Museum (2), & Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs
  

• Play Cards with play money, poker chips, or even pretzels as the money :)

• Have an At Home Dance Party! Crank the tunes & get dancing! Even my toddler loves to listen to music & dance with us, so this is a popular one at our house! You can even let your kids dress up!

• Resolutions/Reflect Older kids can make New Years Resolutions or talk about what there favorite events were in 2009! It's a great way to get talking & look back at the past year.

• Invite other friends with kids over to your house! Someone may be in the same boat as you - why not have another family over at your house so everyone can have fun together? A couple more adults, a couple more kids...much more fun!
  

What are some of your plans for New Years Eve? Are you going out for a night on the town? Staying in with the kids? Or maybe putting them to bed early to have an at home date night with your Husband?

Whatever you are doing, I wish you all a happy & safe night!

Allstate Foundation - Safe Driving This Holiday Season & Always

All of the new technology that is available for us these days is a wonderful thing, and helps us communicate in a whole new way. But with those new devices comes a great amount of responsibility. One issue that has been getting a lot of attention lately is texting (sending text messages from your phone) while driving. I am a VERY strong believer that NOBODY should text while driving, ever. Now I personally don't even text people when sitting on my own couch, mainly because I would prefer to make a phone call or email them. But I have personally seen how much a distraction it is to even dial a number on your phone while driving, I really can't wrap my head around people sending complicated texts to people. There is just no way you can keep your eyes on the road while being distracted like that.

I was eager to help Mom Central spread the word about this issue, because it is a topic I feel very strongly about.

Studies done by the Allstate Foundation have shown that teenagers are particularly susceptible to dangerous distractions, which really should show that we as parents need to discuss these issues with our Children. According to Allstate's finding, 2/3 of teens admit to texting and instant messaging while behind the wheel! And recent research from Virginia Tech's Transportation Institute revealed that texting while driving can increase the risk of an accident by 23 times!



Allstate is trying their best to raise awareness about the dangers of texting and driving, and have started the 'X the TXT: Thumbs up to the Safest Holiday Ever' Campaign. This campaign challenges BOTH teens and Adults to take the pledge not to text and drive. By joining the cause at www.causes.com/thumbsup, you're pledging to put your cell phone down behind the wheel. For each person who takes the pledge, Allstate will donate $1 to the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) – a collaborative network of national organizations and federal agencies that serve youth and focus on youth safety and health – for safe teen driving programs.

As part of the campaign, a 30-city "X the TXT" tour kicks off this holiday season during which teens and their families can add their thumbprints to a pledge banner as a public commitment not to text and drive.

I believe as parents it is our responsibility to be open with our Children and have honest and real conversations. This should include safe driving talks with your Teenagers or Young Adults. If you have 15 year olds, eager to get their drivers permits & licenses, it's a great time to have this important talk. The earlier the better! Although my daughter is still young, it is never too early to show her proper examples of how to be safe, in driving and everyday activities. It's also a great reminder to us parents that WE should not be texting and driving. If your teens see you do it, they may think it's okay. We have to lead by example.

I hope that you will sign up for this Pledge, and have your teens sign up as well. It's easy to do and a great way to get the conversation going and help a great cause at the same time.

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

3 More Winners!

Slanket Winner

Zach & Hannah Parris

Congrats!



You Can Make This Winners (2)

Janell

S Club Mama

Congrats!!

All winners have been emailed and have 48 hours to reply! Thanks!

Great Contest From Softlips!

Ever since my Softlips Review & Giveaway, I have been enjoying my awesome Winter Edition flavors of Softlips! I wanted to also pass along to you some info about a great chance to win a cash prize & year's supply of Softlips!!

Here's the info:

If you’ve been told you have great lips, don’t “kiss off” the compliment. Instead, enter the Softlips® Picture Perfect Lips Search, sponsored for the fourth year by the popular Softlips® lip conditioning line of products. The 2009 winner will receive a cash prize of $2,500, a year’s supply of Softlips® lip care products, the possibility of becoming a professional lip model, and the prestige of having the prettiest pucker in America, which will be posted online for all to see at www.softlips.com.

In addition to the grand-prize winner, there are also ten runners-up chosen by the judges who will take home a year supply of Softlips® lip care products, including a variety of flavors of the original Softlips® lip balm line (with SPF 20) and the new 100% natural, USDA-certified-organic Softlips® PURE line.

For the 2009 contest, there is the addition of a special “Fan Favorite” feature, as well, allowing Web site visitors to vote on their top choices from all the entries. The “Fan Favorite” will have received the most votes online, winning a year-supply of Softlips® lip products, as well.

The Softlips® Picture Perfect Lips Search is open to legal female U.S. residents, age 13 or older, and entrants will be judged by a panel of expert judges, including Danielle Korwin, president of the Parts Models modeling agency in New York City, the only modeling firm in the U.S. that specializes in parts models only – lips, eyes, hands, feet, etc.

For a full set of rules and photo guidelines, as well as an official entry form, visit www.softlips.com. Contest entries will be accepted online (with digital image) or via U.S. mail at: Softlips® Picture Perfect Lips Search, P.O. Box 675, Mount Kisco, NY 10549, starting today, through December 31, 2009. All winners will be announced and prizes awarded in January 2010.

Keep up to date on the latest from Softlips by “fanning” them on Facebook!

If you would like to enter, remember that you must do so by December 31st! Good luck!


Disclaimer: NO payments were received for this post. Just passing along this chance to win to my readers!

Get A Free On Demand Movie From Amazon!

Just thought I would share this freebie from Amazon!

Right now you can sign up for a free $4 credit to Amazon Video On Demand! This will get you a free movie to watch, any choice under $4!

• Go to this Amazon link and follow the directions to enter your code. You'll have to have an Amazon account, but they are free & super quick to set up.

• Then you can browse through their movie titles and click on 'Rent' when you find one you want to watch. The movie prices are listed too, so make sure it's one that is under $4.

The total will be automatically deducted from your $4 credit. No need to enter a credit card or anything!

This would be fun for a family movie night, or maybe a movie date night with your husband after the kids have gone to bed! I used my credit Christmas Night to watch Four Christmases ($3.99), which was entertaining and a good way to unwind at then end of my long day.

If you do this offer, let me know what movie you choose! The offer expires January 3rd, 2010. You must get your credit before then.

A Peek Into Our Christmas!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! We had a great Christmas Day together as a family. We actually had our plans get canceled because of the snowstorm...it DID NOT stop snowing for 3 days or so. It was messy, but actually better than I thought it would be. So Christmas Day we got to stay home and enjoy each others company, and play with our new gifts!

We had our daughter open all of her regular gifts first.....and the play kitchen was built and sitting in the living room near the tree. She saw the wrapping paper draped over something, but had NO idea it was her kitchen. She loved all of her toys, but by the end I think she was wondering why none of those gifts had held her play kitchen! lol

Here are some photos from our Christmas!

Opening her Veggie Set....this was a fun accessory I picked up for her kitchen theme.

She has REALLY been enjoying toy. It's the So Small Pets from The Only Hearts Club. I actually won it on a Twitter Giveaway. I wasn't sure if she would be interested, but she plays with them all the time!

This was a secret present from 'Santa' that even I didn't know about! A set of all of the Disney princesses, which she LOVES!!! She has plays with them everyday, setting them up together and making them talk to eachother. She even makes them sing their songs from their movie! Too Cute!



After she had opened all of her presents, we did the stocking. Then we asked her if she had seen her play kitchen anywhere. We were trying to help her along a little in seeing the GIANT wrapped object in the room, LOL! My husband had to bring her over & get her interested in it. But she then caught on that something was underneath the paper!

I found her a chef hat in the dollar section of Target, and the apron is the Jaq Jaq Bird Apron that I got from The Soft Landing (another Twitter win!). It's going to be great for painting too!




A Family Photo, Christmas Day.

Merry Christmas!

I wanted to take a moment to wish all of my readers a VERY Merry Christmas!

The snow is hitting us hard, and the roads are messy. But we are home & warm now...ready for Santa!!

I will be mostly offline the next couple of days, enjoying my daughter & husband, and all of our new goodies

I hope everyone is having a wonderful time with their families, eating some good food, and enjoying their little ones smiling faces!!!

Christmas Shopping...

Here's my random post for the day.

Shopping early is not the way for me. Because the buzz is so great around the Holidays, as we get closer to Christmas, I just want to BUY things. I can't help it. So normally this works well, because I always procrastinate and do my shopping last minute.

Except this year. I bought really early. Months ago I was putting things in my closet, wondering if I could actually make it until Christmas without giving it to my sweet pea.

I am still struggling not to give her everything early! I mean, she's cute. That fact alone means she deserves presents, right? ;)

But I still have this urge to get just one more thing so I really end up with more than I need.

Like MORE My Little Ponies. Cuz there is one she doesn't have yet. More stocking stuffers. Maybe she needs more books?? See, I just need Christmas to BE HERE so I can stop feeling the urge to buy things LOL!!!

2 More Days!

One thing I will be buying tonight?? Wrapping paper. I love wrapping presents, even though I am not very good at it. They don't turn out very pretty, but it's SO fun to do!

Hope all of your last minute shopping is going well, and that you are all resisting the urge to overspend.

2 Days. I can make it :)

Yule Log DVD: Provide Music Entertainment For Your Guests!

Starting the day after Thanksgiving, I begin listening to Christmas music. It may be too early for some people, but not me! I love it, it helps get me into the Christmas spirit and excited for the Holiday season! Whether I am baking, folding laundry, or doing the dishes, I like to have it on in the background. My daughter now knows many Christmas songs, for 2 1/2 she has a pretty good memory!



Thanks to Sony, I was able to review a wonderful DVD....Christmas Classics the Yule Log edition! This DVD is filled with classic favorites such as:

1. It's The Most Wonderful Time of The Year
2. The Christmas Song
3. Frosty The Snowman
4. Silver Bells
5. Jingle Bells
6. Pretty Paper
7. The Little Drummer Boy
8. Winter Wonderland
9. O Holy Night
10. Silent Night
11. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
12. Santa Baby
13. The Twelve Days Of Christmas
14. What Child Is This
15. Snow
16. White Christmas

When you play your DVD, you have three background choices. The classic yule log, the cozy cottage, and the snowy cabin. I personally love the yule Log the most, maybe because I don't have a real fireplace of my own :) It just look warm and inviting! Yule Logs are a great way to play lovely Christmas Music for your guests, or even to get you in the mood to when you wrap your Christmas presents! That's exactly what I have planned for tonight - and you can bet I will be playing my DVD and singing along to my favorites!





BUY IT:

You can also purchase these DVD's that are performed by your favorite artists like Mariah Carey, Brooks & Dunn, Whitney Houston, Johnny Cash, and many more!

You can purchase your Yule Log at Legacy Recordings. I bet your local stores have them too, there is still plenty of time to pick one up for your Holiday Party!

Disclaimer: Thanks to Sony Music for providing me this DVD to review!

Holiday Gift Guide Coming To A Close This Week - Quick Links!

My Holiday Gift guide is coming to a close this week!! It was a lot of fun, and a lot of work :) I hope I was able to share some new companies and products with you, and that you found something you loved!

Here is a more complete list of my Holiday Gift Guide Themed posts. I do have more regular Posts coming up this week, along with a few giveaways & reviews so keep an eye out for those!

Holiday Gift Guide Event Quick Links!

GREAT GIFTS (Giveaways too!)

Joovy Stroller Giveaway ends 12/11

Tiny Pumpkin - Personalized Piggy Bank Review & Giveaway - Ends 12/2

Ozone Socks Giveaway Ends 12/5

Flatten Me Personalized Books! With Giveaway Ends 12/7

Bangerang Bake Shop Gift Card Giveaway Ends 12/10

Myah & Me Coordinating Clothing - Review

ImagiPLAY Toys - With Giveaway - Ends 12/17

Daniel Green Slippers - With Giveaway Ends 12/16

Hyper Noodle - Custom Purse - With Giveaway - Ends 12/15

Floor Cushion from Strawberry Jam Designs! With giveaway - Ends 12/14

Tee Wit - Products for EVERYONE on your list! With giveaway ends 12/16

Sassafrass Baking Kit - Bake with your Children - have fun in the kitchen! With giveaway Ends 12/17

John & Kira's Chocolates - With Giveaway ends 12/17

Glass Tile Pendants - Personalize them too! With Giveaway - ends 12/16

Lauren Nicole Gifts - With Giveaway - ended 12/14

Slanket - With giveaway ends 12/18

Eco Time Toys - $30 Gift card giveaway ends 12/17

Strider Running Bike

Alex Products

Bee Well Wishes With Giveaway Ends 1/5








STOCKING STUFFERS!

STOCKING STUFFER: (Great For Men!) Anti Monkey Butt Powder Giveaway Ends 12/7

STOCKING STUFFER: Softlips Giveaway Giveaway Ends 12/7

STOCKING STUFFER: Felt Play Food by BugNik Designs - With Giveaway! ends 12/5

STOCKING STUFFER: Bath/ Body products from Sun Kissed Bud - With Giveaway ends 12/15

STOCKING STUFFER: Crayon Roll from Cricket And Six - With Giveaway Ends 12/9

STOCKING STUFFER: Artisian Bath / Body products from Ayelet - With giveaway Ends 12/15

STOCKING STUFFER : All Things Simple - Natural Wooden Toys - Hand made - With giveaway Ends 12/15






BOOKS:

HOLIDAY READ: Lakeshore Christmas by Susan Wiggs




MEAL PLANNING:

Nancy's Appetizer's Coupon Giveaway Ends 12/11




DIY:

You Can Make This Holiday Bundle With Giveaway Ends 12/18


ENTERTAINING:

Hickory Farms

Nancy's Appetizers - Giveaway ends 12/11

Ulitmate Party Meatballs

Bee Well Wishes Review & Giveaway

"WHAT TO SEND WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO"

When I was first introduced to Bee Well Wishes, I was sincerely touched and moved by the story behind the company, and what these products mean to people who give and receive them. I think most of us have been in some kind of a situation where someone you love gets sick. Maybe they have a long hospital stay. Maybe its a mom on bed rest. Maybe it's something more serious, like Cancer or a tumor. That was the case for Tina, the founder of Bee Well Wishes.

She was 8 months pregnant when she woke up seeing only double. After an emergency MRI The doctors told her that she had a brain tumor, but luckily it was benign. But the tumor was still in a bad location, and it would be a difficult surgery and recovery. So not only did she have this brain tumor, but she still had to worry about delivering her Baby! Even after a successful delivery, she had to wait 6 more weeks to have her tumor removed, so her body could recover.

After her surgery, Tina had relearn many things. She could not swallow, talk, walk very well, or see out of her right eye...and she couldn't hold her precious daughter Elizabeth. For her entire 8 month recovery, family and friends would send gifts like flowers or food. Unfortunately, her husband was allergic to flowers and she was fed through a feeding tube. She found they could not actually enjoy those common gifts. The one gift that Tina received and could enjoy was a pair of pajamas.

During this time, she thought of the gifts she had sent to people in similar situations. Many of us are the same way - we want to help and send gifts that we think they could use. I would do the same thing. But Tina realized that what people in recovery really needed were comfort items, like soft tee shirts, pajamas, and cozy blankets. When searching for these types of items, she found a void in the market...nothing quite like this existed. So her company was born!

When I heard the idea, I immediately thought YES! Absolutely, that is a wonderful product to have. When you are in bed, not feeling well, a nice pair of pajamas can be all the difference. It is an inspiring thing to have such a fantastic idea came from such a hard time for one family. I admire Tina's strength, courage, determination, and desire to help others in her situation.

When you want to send someone you love something perfect that they can really get a lot of use out of, I highly recommend you visit Bee Well Wishes. You will find products such as:

• Sleep Shirts
• Tee Shirts
• Pillowcases
• Blankets
• Onesies
• Lounge Pants
• Sweatshirt Blankets

All of these products come with an adorable Bee Design - symbolizing 'Bee Well' wishes for your loved one.

Bee Well Wishes was very kind in sending me the BIG,BIG Bee Sleep Shirt to try out. The 100% Cotton material is ultra soft and comfortable making it the perfect sleep attire. I really loved the length on this Sleep Shirt...it is long enough to pass my knees which gives it a modest, cozy feel. I could see it being a great length for all Women. The Bee design is very cute, and I love the uplifting and bold orange color of the bee. It's long sleeved which makes it perfect for Winter as well!

BUYING INFO: You can visit Bee Well Wishes online to place your order!

Any of these products would be great for someone who needs a little extra love and comfort in their lives. The Bee Well message is a wonderful and caring one to send. It will show them that you are thinking about them, and they will really appreciate the thought and care you put into the gift.

Every item also comes with a Personalized Bee Well Card you can choose when you checkout. The box your package is delivered in is bright orange and is wrapped up beautifully, sure to put a smile on your loved one's face!

GIVEAWAY:

It was definitely an honor to share this Company with my readers, and today Bee Well Wishes would like to offer one reader a Big, Big Bee Tee Shirt!

TO ENTER: Please visit Bee Well Wishes and take a look around at their wonderful products. Then leave a comment telling me which product you enjoyed the most!

EXTRA ENTRIES: Please leave a comment for every extra entry you complete.

1. Follow My Blog
2. Subscribe
3. Add my Main Button
   
4. Blog about This Giveaway (post must link to Bee Well Wishes & Ladybug Soup)
   
5. Follow me on Twitter & Tweet about this Giveaway

Giveaway will end on January 9th at 10pm CST. Winner is chosen via random.org and will be announced on Ladybug Soup & emailed directly. Winner has 72 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: NO payments were received for this post. I was provided a free product to facilitate this review. All opinions given are my own and different people may have different experiences with company and/products.

Read Free Sesame Street eBooks As Part Of Their Ongoing Anniversary Celebration!

As many of you Moms may already know, Sesame Street celebrated their 40th Anniversary this year! We are of course HUGE Sesame Street fans, and I remember growing up with them as well. They are apart of so many households and children are drawn to their fun songs and characters, and also can learn some great life skills while they watch!

In celebration of this 40th Anniversary, Sesame Street has announced the availability of free eBooks on their website!They have teamed up with Impelsys to bring you different eBooks, including the VERY fun Audio eBooks!

Right now you can find 5 eBooks, including the ultra popular 'A Monster At The End Of This Book' which my daughter owns and loves. It is her favorite eBook because it has Audio - Grover actually reads it out loud to her! She grabs her little copy of the book and follows along with him, turning the pages and laughing! She also says the lines along with him (from memory) and gets very into it!

You can visit http://www.sesamestreet.org/ebooks/ to see the wonderful selection of books available for your Child to watch - for free! Each week a new eBook will be introduced, so be sure to check back weekly! You can even subscribe so that you get an email when they add a new book!

Thank you to Impelsys for sharing this info with me!

A Look At Our Tree!

I am SOOO Excited for Christmas this week!! These last few weeks I have been super busy, so I haven't shared many personal posts. But we have been having a lot of fun doing crafts, especially Christmas crafts! I thought I would share a few ornaments from our tree for this post, after all it won't be up too much longer!

Our tree is very 'colorful' this year. It's certainly not the most elegant, and it's not all color coordinated. But that's the way we like it! A little of everything, and this year was especially great because my daughter could contribute, and these ornaments will always be special because of that.

This little Preggo mouse is a gift my Mom got me the Christmas I was pregnant with my daughter. It says 'Mom To Be' on her Tummy :)

We bought Elmo last year because he was my daughter's FAVORITE character back then! I think it's a cool idea to get one ornament a year of her favorite thing....this year I am picking up a Disney Princess ornament. Can't wait to see what it will be next year!

These are some ornaments I picked up at Michaels. When her cousins were all here, I let them sit down together and do this little craft, and they all got to do their own. It was fun! They just used a little stick to scratch away the black, and underneath was a pretty and colorful design!

These are clay ornaments I picked up at Michaels too. My daughter has painted MANY of these, in fact I have a bag sitting on my table to paint this week with her! It's fun and entertaining for her! And they are so cute, I love the artwork of a two year old! And they are still on sale for 60% off - they were only about 20 cents each!

I did one too...okay I did a few :)

This one is a stuffed mouse who she calls "Gus Gus' from Cinderella. We took a trip to the Mall and played some games for prizes. My husband and I got her three of these stuffed ornaments, but the other two's strings fell out before we got home. So only one is on our tree right now :)

And of course we have the classic Baby First Christmas Ornament! This one has her picture from her Christmas photo shoot.

Adventure Of Meno: Adorable Book Series With Special Giveaway!!

Reading is one of my favorite pastimes, and I have definitely passed that love onto my daughter. We read books all the time which teaches her invaluable skills like learning letters, sounds, a larger vocabulary, and even the love for reading that she will hopefully keep into adulthood.

There is a really fun new book series out from Award Winning Author/Illustrator Tony Diterlizzi and his wife Angela. Here is some more info about this talented pair:

Award-winning author and illustrator, Tony DiTerlizzi, has been creating books with Simon & Schuster for over a decade. From his fanciful picture books like, Jimmy Zangwow’s Out-of-this-World Moon Pie Adventure, G is for One Gzonk! and The Spider & The Fly (2003 Caldecott Honor), to young chapter books like the New York Times best-seller, Kenny and The Dragon, Tony always imbues his stories with a rich imagination. His middle-grade series, The Spiderwick Chronicles (co-created with Holly Black), has sold millions of copies and has been adapted into a feature film. Tony grew up in South Florida, and lives in Amherst, Massachusetts with his wife, Angela, and their daughter. Visit Tony at www.diterlizzi.com.

Angela DiTerlizzi is an up-and-coming author within Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing. In addition, to the Adventure of Meno series, Angela's picture book Say What? comes out from Beach Lane Books in Spring 2011. She lives with Tony and their daughter in Amherst, MA.

THE BOOKS:

So far there are two books out in this 6 Book Series, Big Fun! and Wet Friend! It follows Space Elf Meno and his best friends Yamagoo and Wishi as they have fun being silly together! They even have a few made up cute words that your Child will love to learn & use - only they will know the secret meaning :)

The books are geared towards children ages 1-5. I was able to review both of the available books, Big Fun! and Wet Friend! I loved the adorable illustrations and ultra cute characters, especially Wishi, a cute little pink girl who helps Meno and Yamagoo find a new friend in the second book. I think the story is good for girls, but would be especially great for little boys! They will love the humor and silliness, and the fact that Meno is an alien! The extras included in the book include a Pronunciation Menu (you will need it!) and a cute Meno Theme Song - sang to the tune of twinkle twinkle little star.

To learn more about Meno and his friends you can visit their fun website Planet Meno!

GIVEAWAY: One reader is going to win a very special Prize Pack!!

Includes signed copies of both books (Big Fun! and Wet Friend!) and a Custom Made Meno or Wishi Blanket!

TO ENTER: Please leave a comment telling me who you would like to win the gift set for!
EXTRA ENTRIES: Please leave a comment for every extra entry you complete!

1. Follow my blog
2. Subscribe
3. Add my Button
4. Blog about this Giveaway
5. Follow me on Twitter & Tweet this Giveaway

Giveaway will end on January 9th at 10pm CST. Winner will be chosen via random.org and will be announced on ladybug Soup & emailed directly. Winner has 72 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. US Residents only.

Disclaimer; NO payments were received for this post. I received copies of both books to facilitate this review. All opinions given are my own and different people may have different experiences with products.

More Winners

My Holiday Gift Guide is wrapping up, and I really want to thank everyone that took the time to visit these Sponsor's and enter my Giveaways!

I hope I was able to bring you some new companies to check out and a few products that were perfect for someone on your list! Now onto the winners!

$30 Gift Card to EcoTimeToys

Michelle

Congrats!! (confirmed)


John & Kira's Chocolates

Hippie4Ever

Congrats!! (confirmed)



Sassafrass Baking Kit

Anne J

Congrats!! (confirmed)



ImpagiPLAY Hippo Puzzle

Amanda

Congrats! (confirmed)


Strawberry Jam Designs Cushion, Carrying Bag, and Mini Designer Pouch

Janell

Congrats!!


Joovy Kooper Stroller

Mary Pat

Congrats!!


All winners have 48 hours to respond to my email or a new winner will be chosen. I will be announcing the Slanket winners & You Can Make This winners soon!

The Sound Of Music: 50th Anniversary - Review & Giveaway!

The Sound Of Music is a classic film that I first saw when I was in Elementary school. I remember learning and singing along to songs like My favorite Things and Do-Re-Mi. The Sound of Music first opened on Broadway 50 years ago last month. It quickly became one of the most popular and enduring musicals of all time. In celebration of the 50th Anniversary, Sony Music has released the 50th Anniversary Special Edition of the Original Cast Recording: The Sound Of Music along with Simon & Schuster’s beautiful The Sound of Music: A Classic Collectible Pop-Up.

Here is some more info on each of these products:


The hills literally come alive in this magnificent pop-up adventure, based on the songs by Rodgers & Hammerstein. Readers are transported to the lush green hills of the von Trapps’ Austria in this heartwarming tale of familial love and growth. With paper engineering and illustrations as unforgettable as each timeless melody, The Sound of Music: A Classic Collectible Pop-Up couples visually stunning pop-ups with words from favorite songs, such as “My Favorite Things” and “Edelweiss.” It is sure to become one of this season’s favorite things, as well as a phenomenal keepsake to read again-and-again for years to come.




On November 16, 1959, The Sound of Music – the last musical collaboration of composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II – made history when it opened at Broadway's Lunt-Fontanne Theater. Masterworks Broadway celebrates that milestone with a special 50th anniversary edition of the musical's beloved original cast recording, starring Broadway legend Mary Martin. The 50th anniversary edition of the original cast recording of The Sound of Music was released on November 3, 2009.

While a larger audience came to know The Sound of Music six years later, when the Oscar-winning film version starring Julie Andrews was released, the musical became a major hit of the 1959-60 season, sharing (with Fiorello!) that spring the Tony Award for Best Musical. It ran 1,443 performances on Broadway, toured the U.S. for several seasons and became an even longer-running hit in London when the first British production (1961) ran twice as long as its Broadway counterpart. It continues to be one of the most popular and enduring musicals of all time.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Broadway premiere of The Sound of Music, Masterworks Broadway has restored the original cast recording in a new edition that features three unusual bonus tracks, extensive liner notes about the show's history by Bert Fink of the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, and rarely seen photos of the recording sessions, held November 22, 1959, in Columbia Records' celebrated 30th Street Studios.

MY THOUGHTS:

I was able to review both the Soundtrack and the Pop Up Book, and I really enjoyed them both! The Music was fun to hear again, as it has been years since I last heard them played. It was fun to see my daughter enjoy them too! I even remembered the words to my favorites! The Pop Up Book was beautifully illustrated, and was packed FULL of cute characters and the full story. The Pop Ups were intricate and entertaining, some even moved like the dancing Maria. Two of my favorite book pop up scenes were The Chapel where Maria and Goerg von Trappe were married, and the scene where all of the children piled into Maria's bed and they sang a song. The little kids were just so cute, and the little pop up bed was adorable too! If you are a fan of The Sound Of Music, you will definitely want to add this Pop Up Book to your Collection. They provide the complete story along with tons of Pop Ups that your Children will love to see!

There is a really fun Sing Along Guide that includes lots of fun activities for your Child to do such as Seek & Finds, a Cross Word Puzzle. Fill in the Blank Lyrics, and spaces for children to draw their favorite things! You can easily print these pages as some fun extras to do after you read the story or listen to the music!

BUY IT:

The Sound Of Music CD can be purchased on Amazon for only $10.99.

The Sound Of Music Pop Up Book can also be purchased on Amazon for approx $17.00

GIVEAWAY: One reader is going to win The Sound of Music Special Edition of the Cast Recording CD!

TO ENTER: Please visit the Sing Along Guide and tell me an activity you think your Child - or a Child you know - would enjoy!

EXTRA ENTRIES: Please leave a comment for every extra entry you complete!

1. Tell me a few of your favorite things :)
2. Follow My Blog
3. Subscribe to my feed/emails
   
4. Have my Main Button on your Blog
5. Blog about this Giveaway
6. Follow me on Twitter
7. Tweet the Giveaway

Giveaway will end on January 3rd at 10pm CST. Winner will be chosen via random.org and will be announced on ladybug Soup & emailed directly. Winner has 72 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: NO payments were received for this review. I received a download of the album & a pop up book compliments of Sony Music to facilitate this review. All opinions given are my own and different people my have different experiences/opinions of products.

SmartKnitKids Seamless Socks Review!

Have you ever felt your socks bunching, and had it really bother you? Sometimes that happens to me, and once it does that is ALL I can feel. A lot of people have this problem, especially children. Some are experiencing sensory processing differences, hypersensitivity or some maybe just can’t stand annoying seams!

Fortunately for them, SmartKnitKids is around to bring them seamless socks. Yup, their socks are completely seam free! Which means no icky bunching on your toes! Here are some great reasons to love SmartKnitKids!

• Completely Seamless

• The socks are made with Corespun yarns using Lycra, and have a form-fitting design resulting in children's socks that “hug” the foot reducing wrinkling and bunching.

• The tops also 'hug' the leg so they won't slip down while your child runs and plays. This feature also comes in handy during the Winter months....you really don't want those socks slipping when you are outside, like going from your car into a store for example.

• Socks are made with high-tech fibers that wick moisture away helping ensure a drier and more hygienic sock environment. They are also anti-microbial, inhibiting fungal odor-causing bacteria.

I was able to try out some socks on my daughter for this review. The first thing I loved about these socks were the colors! They come in Pink, Black, White, Purple, and Navy. I opened them up and looked for a seam (of course!) and you know what? I didn't see one! They really are seamless! My daughter picked out the Pink Pair to wear, so I put them on her little feet. The material of the socks was very soft and stretchy. They fit my daughter's feet snugly, which is good because they weren't going anywhere! I have plenty of cotton socks that slip off of her feet as she plays throughout the day, and with SmartKnit Socks I don't have to worry about that.

Another thing I love about these socks is that they have no set heels. Which means as her foot grows, I can actually keep using them! I won't have to worry about the heel not being in the correct spot, so they can be used much longer than my other socks!

I am so happy to be able to share this Company with my readers. It is wonderful to see companies that are doing something for Kids who may have extra sensitivities, or for Children with Autism or sensory processing differences. They are providing a wonderful product to so many Children, and I know many families are thankful for that.


If your Child has complained about the feeling of their socks, you will definitely want to try a pair of SmartKnitKids Socks! It does make a difference!

SmartKnitKids Seamless Socks come in ankle, crew and knee-high styles and are available up to a youth size 8.

You can visit their website to check their selection and for a a Size Guide!
Also to stay up to date with SmartKnitKids you can become a Fan On Facebook!

Disclaimer: NO payments were received for this post. I received sock samples to facilitate this review. All opinions given are my own and different people may have different experiences with product and/or company.

3 More Winners!

Daniel Green Slippers

Barbara.Montyj

Congrats!!



$30 Gift Card to Tee Wit

Melissa Barnes

Congrats!!



Necklace from Designs By Linda Nee

Annette

Congrats!!

All winners have been emailed & have 48 hours to respond. Congrats! More giveaways end tonight!

Ultimate Party Meatballs - The Perfect Easy Appetizer Recipe!!

Potlucks are so much fun, but I know I feel pressure when it comes to bringing a great dish everyone will love. I usually just go with a Pasta Salad, but the next time I have a party to go to, I will be bringing these delicious Ultimate Party Meatballs!!

Mom Central introduced me to this super easy recipe from Heinz and Ocean Spray. It literally uses only 3 ingredients - which is my kind of recipe!! You just need one can of Ocean Spray Cranberry Sauce, one can of Heinz Chili Sauce, and one 2lb bag of meatballs. Then you combine the sauces in a large saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring until smooth. Add your meatballs. Cover and cook for 15 minutes or until meatballs are heated through, stirring occasionally.

If the Crock pot is more your style, add the meatballs then pour the combined sauces over the meatballs. Cover & Cook on high for 4 hours.



I made this recipe for dinner one night, for my husband and I to try out. I decided to use the Sauce pan instead of the crock pot, mainly because I was short on time. I actually really enjoy meatballs, and usually eat them with BBQ Sauce. I have brought them to potlucks and served them at parties. I was a little skeptical, because I have never had Chili Sauce before. Guess what?? We LOVED them! This sauce is SO much better than your regular BBQ sauce. It is sweet and tangy, and these flavors make it feel more like a classy appetizer. I was VERY pleasantly surprised. After we ate, I asked my Husband if he liked them. He said they were great, and that he would never eat them with BBQ sauce again!!



Ultimate Party Meatballs would be great to serve at your Holiday Parties! It makes it a great appetizer, you can use some toothpicks so that they are convenient for your guests to grab while they mingle. It's quick, very easy, and delicious!! I bet your Guests will be asking you for the recipe after they try them! My Husband's work often has potlucks, and next time i will be sending him with a Crock Pot full of Ultimate Party Meatballs!

Or maybe you are a football fan...these would be perfect to serve for your guests while they watch the Game! You can visit http://ultimatepartymeatballs.com/ to find out more about this Recipe, and to see lots of other tasty ideas too!

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Heinz and Ocean Spray and received the ingredients necessary to facilitate my review. In addition, Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

2 Ayelet Winners!

Gift Set from Ayelet - Soap, Sugar Scrub, and Body Souffle

Katie

Congrats!!!



Sample Pack of Botanical Perfumes from Ayelet


Beeb


Congrats!



I have emailed you both, please respond within 48 hours to claim your prizes!

More Winners!

Purse from Hyper Noodle

Jackie

Congrats!!!


Nancy's Appetizers

Jennifer T.

Congrats!!



Lauren Nicole Gifts Bracelet

Tracy DeLuca

Congrats!!




All things Simple Wooden Stacker toy

Donna (mom24boys)

Congrats!!



All winners have been emailed and have 48 hours to respond.

More winner to be announced soon!!

All Holiday Giveaways are ending this week, so if you haven't entered yet, hurry over!! Giveaways are listed in sidebar.

Thanks!

Christmas Gift Is On Its Way!

Our Step2 Kitchen is on its way!! I am so excited, LOL!

When I ask her what she wants for Christmas, she says 'a play kitchen!' It's super cute!! I think she overheard Mommy & Daddy talking about getting her one. Although she saw Santa on Saturday, and now she is SURE he is bringing her one!!

I have some other things to give her too, but this is the main gift. The other things I have been saving up for over 2 months now, they are items that I got at a great price & saved for Christmas.

Kids make the Holidays so much fun, don't they??

I'd love for you to leave a comment & tell me how your Holiday shopping is going!!

Holiday Gift Gude: Strider Running Bike - With Review

For children, learning to ride a bike can be a challenge, especially once their training wheels are off! The Strider Running Bike was created to help toddlers learn balance and coordination, and give them the confidence they need to ride a big kid bike! The concept is to teach the Child those important skills before pedaling....when you take the pedaling out of the situation they can focus on gaining the skills they need to ride a 2 wheel bike!

Strider Running Bikes are great for kids ages 1-4. We were sent one to try out for ourselves, for my 2 1/2 year old daughter. My husband put the bike together in only 5 minutes....very easy to assemble! Which is great when you have a squealing and impatient two year old next to you :) She got on the Bike and at first was looking for the peddles! It frustrated her at first, and she got a little crabby (she is 2 after all:)) But we explained it to her, and kept letting her try again. She later figured out how to walk with her bike and started to enjoy it more. I just read on the Strider website that the first thing Kids usually do is grab he handle bars, straddle the bike, and walk without sitting on the seat. Reading this made me feel much better, because that's what my daughter does LOL!! Pretty soon she will be learning to push herself along, and sit down and enjoy the ride! I am confident that once Spring comes again and we can actually go OUTSIDE she will really enjoy this bike!

I also loved that the bike was lightweight - it weighs 7 pounds. If it tips, my daughter is strong enough to hold onto it and pull it back up. It's not clunky, it's sleek and attractive! It also comes with an adjustable seat so you can find the perfect fit for your growing Child.

Strider Running Bikes come in some great colors! Currently they have:

• Blue
  
• Red
• Green
• Orange
• Pink
• Yellow

They also have an assortment of Helmets (so important to be safe!) and other accessories!




Strider is so sure your Child will love their Running Bike, they have a 60 day Money Back Guarantee! If for some reason it doesn't work for you, you may return the bike that is purchased from their site within 60 days of them shipping it to you.

If you are looking for a great starter bike for your Toddler, you definitely want to check out Strider Running Bikes! Prices start at $98.00 for the Bike and $24.00 for the Helmets.

Great for children ages 1-4.

Click HERE to see their selection!