Happy Halloween 2009!!

This year was A's second trick-or-treat experience and L's first. We wouldn't have taken him at his age if his sister weren't going because I'm one of those (scroogey?) people who thinks if the kid can't walk to the door, hold their bucket, knock on the door and say "trick-or-treat" by themselves, they're too young for it. Who is the candy really for? Well, A remembered what to do from last year, and L was not horrible about it. We carried him most of the time and he would occasionally say "twick twee" and "thank you." Otherwise he would just give dirty looks and it was pretty cold and windy, so he thought we were torturing him. He can eat candy, but he's not really a big fan, so whereas his sister asked every few minutes if she could have a piece, he didn't care. (Although he did eat the banana his grandma gave him.) So, we walked around for about an hour and a half, Nick's brother Daniel came along, and then let Aurora pick a place to eat afterwards- good ole' Chinese.

What is your policy on candy eating? I'm a bit of a tyrant about it. They only get two pieces a day and it is after meals, so they have to eat real food first. After about 5 days, A tends to forget and the candy sits there until Easter, when we through it out to make room for the Easter candy. Well, here's some pictures! (It was cold, so A had to wear a turtleneck, uncool, I know!)

General Mills wants you to go to the movies! (Plus Giveaway) ***CLOSED***

Starting in November, you can receive a free movie ticket when you purchase two specially marked packages of General Mills´ Cereals. After purchasing two cereals, visit generalmills.com/moviecash to enter the code found inside each box of cereal and print your free movie certificate good for admission to any movie.

Participating brands include select sizes of: Honey Nut Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Lucky Charms, Trix and Reese´s Peanut Butter Puffs.

To find a participating theater near you, click here.

As a huge fan of movies who attempts to go as often as possible, getting one free admission when I already buy the cereal anyway is a great money saver!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

Thanks to General Mills and MyBlogSpark one lucky reader will receive a prize pack that contains FOUR movie passes and ONE coupon for a free box of General Mills cereal! Contest is only open to US residents and ends November 13th at noon.

To enter:

1) In these money-pinching times, do you still go to the movies? What makes you decide whether or not it is worth gong?

2) What's your favorite cereal?

3) Stumble, tweet, digg or post a link to this giveaway.

"Shoptimism" by Lee Eisenberg Book Review

It's a rare treat when I get a book to review and I was pretty excited about this one because - as you know- I love pop culture and social media, etc. Oh, and of course shopping! Being unfamiliar with Lee Eisenberg, I did not know what to expect. I believe I read that he worked for Esquire magazine for quite awhile and he also discusses working for Land's End as well.

So, the book begins with why he decided to write the book and his quest to figure out everything there is to know about the American consumer, the stuff they buy, the stores that sell them, etc. He goes into detail about a shopping excursion where he follows his wife on her quest to buy a little black dress...

and he lost me there.

Okay, perhaps I might be in the minority, but I can not relate to be excited to find a dress on sale for $250! And especially to spend that on a dress I'm going to wear to my kid's school fundraiser... he talks about the high end shopping in Chicago and New York, which left me completely uninterested. I am not a brand person. I don't spend mass quantities on something just because of the label.

I felt like Eisenberg came across as a bit uppity, a bit condescending and perhaps a bit out of the game. Do the snobs of the world read books? Being in grad school right now has made me really question audience, theory, all things boring and analytical that make it hard to read a book for pure enjoyment. But really, who is his audience supposed to be? Not the laypersons of the world, I assume!

But, on a positive note for this book, I did find myself chuckle several times. So, it was not a total failure... and I did learn some pop culture between pity anecdotes.

And I always like to hear other people's interpretations, so feel free to check this book out and let me know if you agree or disagree!

MOTR Grade: C

Shoptimism hits the shelves November 3!!!

Take the "What Kind of Shopper Are You?" Quiz!

Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs DVD Review

I think I watched the original Ice Age at some point in my life. The second one, not so much. But, my kids + animation= usually a hit. And this one captivated my daughter from beginning to end. She even asked me if there were dinosaurs in it (which I hadn't bothered to read past Ice Age 3, so I wasn't sure and told her she'd have to wait and see... which she did... and was pleasantly surprised!

Manny, Sid, Diego and Ellie are back, Scrat is still trying to nab the ever-elusive nut and things seem just like normal... except there's dinosaurs! Plus, Mannie and Ellie are expecting a baby, which Mannie is not handling well. New characters have been added and as expected, troubles abound, but nothing that can't be handled.

Family Time Factor: It's probably a DVD that can be enjoyed by all ages, but the likelihood of getting your teens to watch it might not be that good.

MOTR Grade: B-

Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs is currently available on DVD and Blu-Ray!!!

Wiggles Winners

The winners of the Wiggles DVD were:

@b*********5

and

r*********r

Congrats to these winners and thanks to everyone who participated!

Also thanks to everyone who offered ideas on what to do about announcing winners!

Winner Announcements

As you may have noticed, I have not been posting the names of the winners lately. I'm trying to think of a solution as I've had several winners tell me that they don't want their names posted. I have been putting ***CLOSED*** by the giveaways after I alert the winners so people know that the drawing has been done.

Please let me know if you have any good solutions or if this is an issue by me not posting the winners' names.

Thanks!

hammy

Music Monday: Muse "Uprising"

Each week (if I remember) I will post a different music video in honor of "Music Monday."

Stumpy Legs Don't Make for Good Dancers

I don't know why, but I've always been very interested in dancing. I took jazz dancing when I was younger, but quit around 4th or 5th grade because I hated being stuck in these groups where everyone was lumped together by age and not talent because I felt like we spent forever working with the not so good dancers and it was painful. (Yes, I am a conceited jerk, lol.) So, I never pursued it. And I'd like to say my legs are too short to be a good dancer. I'm 5'8", and that's my story, so don't question me! lol

Anyway, I've always been fascinated with dancing. I love movies like Center Stage, Dirty Dancing, etc. that have a story built around dancers and you get to enjoy these incredible routines throughout. Well, I also enjoy Dancing With the Stars. I enjoy also that I have DVR so I can skip the people I don't give two hoots about. This season, it's slim pickings on who I watch.

I wanted to share the Michael Jackson tribute dance because it was super entertaining! I think it was from last week, but I'm so far behind on DVR that I have no idea.

Enjoy and let me know what you think about dancing or Dancing With the Stars!

Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure Blu-Ray Review

Spell it with me now... Tinker... Bell... Tinker Bell... not Tinkerbell, lol. Okay, now that I've gotten that out of the way (I seem to never be able to remember it myself) let's move on!

My daughter is in love with Tinker Bell. Last Halloween, that's what she chose to dress up as. Don't ask me why, because she had never seen Peter Pan and I believe she received the first Tinker Bell movie on beggar's night. Well, this year she opted to go as one of Tinker Bell's friends (whichever wears purple- you got me.) And just in time, once again, Disney has released Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure, an all new adventure that takes Tink out of Pixie Hollow. (Is it just a coincidence they coincide it with Halloween? Hmmmmm...)

Tinker Bell never seems to be able to catch a break. In this new full-length movie, she puts all of Pixie Hollow in peril and must leave her home in order to make her mistake right again. On her way, she meets some new characters and has help from her friends, because we all know it's hard out there for a pixie!

And of course you know my opinion on this movie, but I'll remind those that might not know- if it makes my kids happy, it makes me happy! And my daughter LOVE LOVE LOVES Tinker Bell. My son, not so thrilled and at almost 2, I often hear him object to his sister's choice of movie, such as, "No BARBIE!" But, I've watched it with my daughter and it is definitely fun! I'd like to think men would watch it with their daughters as well, but I won't give them that much credit.

Family Time Factor: Can be enjoyed by all, but more likely girls who aren't bitter about life yet, lol.

MOTR Grade: A

Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure is available on Blu-Ray and DVD on October 27!!!

And watching it in Blu-Ray is always spectacular! The picture quality from Disney has already improved so much over the decades, but Blu Ray makes the animation amazing! And this Blu-Ray includes several featurettes, unseen footage, a music video and more! 1080p High Def, English 5.1 DTS-HD master Audio, English SDH/French/Spanish subtitles.

Leaving Pixie Hollow (film)

Is This Rude?

I know that in life there is a great debate about everything between men and women. Something as little as the trash can turn into some huge to-do. And why is the trash such a big deal? My theory is that if you see that it's full, take it out. Yes, I'm sure my husband sees that it's full and doesn't take it out, but instead of worrying about him, it's faster if I just do it myself, cause really, it's not that hard.

But here's the situation that I'm wondering about:

I hate sitting still... I can't do it. I can't just sit and watch tv and I can't just sit and listen to someone talk to me. For some reason, I have this constant need to be doing something. Case in point, I know that it is important to show respect by making eye contact, but I have to be doing something else while someone is talking to me. Whether it's reading the paper, looking at my blackberry or surfing the internet, I find myself doing something else, but I'm listening! I could recite back what was just said. I don't know if this is something a lot of women do versus something men rarely do or if it is a personality type function. Well, anyway, apparently some people think it's rude and can't get over it.

Anyone have any insight into this? Where do you stand on this issue?

Wordless Wednesday: Fun With Google Images Edition

Yo Gabba Gabba Tour Dates and First Ever CD Release Review & Giveaway

If you're not familiar with Yo Gabba Gabba, you either don't have small children or you're missing out on some crazy fun! At first after seeing clips on "The Soup," I was astounded by the insanity. But, then we started watching it on Nickelodeon and my kids became hooked. I LOVED the moral values and lessons they were teaching and I'll admit the songs are pretty darn catchy!

The phenomenon has swept the country and Yo Gabba Gabba is going on a live tour starting in November! Tour dates are as follows:

YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE: THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY

Los Angeles, CA
Shrine Expo Hall Saturday, November 14, 2009 11AM and 3PM

New York, NY
Beacon Theatre Saturday, November 21, 2009 11AM and 2PM

Chicago, IL
Rosemont Theatre Saturday, December 5, 2009 11AM and 3PM

*Recently Added

Los Angeles, CA @ Shrine Expo Hall
Saturday, November 14, 2009 11AM and 3PM
*Sunday, November 15, 2009 11AM and 3PM

New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre
Saturday, November 21, 2009 11AM – 2PM – *5 PM


Tickets are available via Ticketmaster.com and YoGabbaGabba.com.

On October 20th, the first ever Yo Gabba Gabba CD is going to be released! It is called YO GABBA GABBA! MUSIC IS AWESOME and contains the songs:

1. Theme- Yo Gabba Gabba!
2. Party In My Tummy- Yo Gabba Gabba!
3. It's Okay, Try Again- The Shins
4. I Like To Dance- Yo Gabba Gabba!
5. Robo Dancing- Money Mark
6. Get The Sillies Out- Yo Gabba Gabba!
7. Biz's Beat Of The Day #1- Biz Markie
8. Nice 'N' Clean- Chromeo
9. Try It, You'll Like It- Yo Gabba Gabba!
10. Lovely, Love My Family- The Roots
11. Don't Be Afraid- Yo Gabba Gabba!
12. Just Because It's Different Doesn't Mean Scary- I'm From Barcelona
13. Bubbles- Yo Gabba Gabba!
14. Brush Brush Brush- Of Montreal
15. Nice & Easy- Yo Gabba Gabba!
16. Hey, Won't Somebody Come And Play- The Little Ones
17. Go Crazy Remix- Weird Science
18. You Can't Always Get What You Want- Yo Dazzler
19. Bedtime Lullaby- Mark Kozelek
20. Goodbye Song- Yo Gabba Gabba!
21. Closing Theme

This is a CD that I wouldn't be opposed to listening to with my kids. One, because the songs are cute and get stuck in my head and two, the songs are good lessons for kids. I don't know how many times I've tried to tell my daughter about the party in her tummy and "try it, you'll like it!" (It doesn't work, unfortunately.)

Also, I wanted to let you know about some new episodes coming up on Nickelodeon! I'm a little late, but they started on October 12, and they will be airing repeats in the upcoming weeks as well, so make sure you check out Nickelodeon so your kids can enjoy some new music, new lessons as well as special guest appearances!

AND Yo Gabba Gabba! has also released a Christmas book called Christmas in Gabba Land. My kids were ecstatic about this as well! We love all things Yo Gabba Gabba!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

I have one advance promo copy of the new Yo Gabba Gabba: Music is Awesome CD to give away! Contest is open to US and Canada residents and ends October 31 at noon.

To enter:

1) Tell me a little bit about your experience with Yo Gabba Gabba and what you think of the show/music, etc.

2) Digg, stumble, tweet or post a link to this giveaway.

3) Subscribe to my blog.

School Update

I can't remember if I've talked about what's going on with school these days, so I'll update you now...

I am soooooooooooooooooooooo over this semester! We're half way, but this last half better fly by! I took three extremely boring subjects and even though I like the professors, I can't avoid the constant suicidal thoughts that run through my head when I'm in class or thinking about class.

And don't get me started on all the freakin' papers! I had one professor "remind" me that this is grad school and a lot is expected of us... well, I kind of got that from each prof expecting us to read a book a week, blog several times, participate in class discussions and do the other tasks required. So, add to that the 5 major papers I have to do and you have a woman on the verge of a temper tantrum! Seriously, people? Five papers? Do you think I don't know how to read and write by now?

But next semester has me stoked! I get to intern, do a creative writing independent study with Jessica (my new BFF) and the creative writing guy (who seems like a barrel of laughs) and then a third class. But, there will be far less paper writing and far more non-sucking of life.

Then, there's this total D-BAG that I work with. At first I thought he was okay because he reminded me of my brother, but he peeved me off royally a week or so ago. First he said that Jessica was an "angry person" and that he was afraid he'd catch a disease being in the same room as her. Then, he proceeded to say mean things to me personally (I can't recall them now) and I just thought, "wow, this guy is a jerk!" So, I avoid him like the plague, which is hard because I work with him and have every class with him. So he uses the class discussions as a forum to insult Jessica and myself. BTW, everyone likes Jessica for the most part, so it's not that I'm the only one. Anyway, when he disses us in class, it makes no sense to the other people and it just makes him look crazy.

Anyway, let me know if you want to write one of my 5 papers for me. Or pray for my sanity!

Apology to My Adoring Fans

Okay, so I bet there's only about two or three of you that could actually be classified as "adoring," but work with me here!

I wanted to apologize because I've been inundating you with reviews and giveaways and very little original content. This semester is hell... literally... I find myself on fire with the devil staring me down every other day! I was totally disillusioned at the beginning of the semester when I realized how much my classes were going to suck. But, there's a light at the end of the tunnel and I'm going to be like the little engine that could until December 9th! Next semester is going to be so much easier/fun and I won't be gone 10-12 hours a day, three days a week.

So, my original content has been few and far between, but what happens is I get a giant stack of product to review and I get a couple hours free and try to crank them out left and right. Then I end up doing like 8 reviews at a time. I'm going to try not to get so far behind on them and also try harder to get some original content in here and there, so bear with me.

I appreciate those who enjoy coming here for a good read and thanks for hanging in there while I sound like a typical mommy blogger who reviews like crazy. That's not what I want my blog to be.

hammy

Bill Engvall Aged and Confused CD Review & Giveaway ***CLOSED***

Okay, so redneck comedy is definitely NOT my cup of tea, but my dad loves it, so I agreed to do this review just so I could give him my copy of the CD- aren't I a good daughter?! So, when I listened to this CD, I had to put on my "open minded cap" and listen from another perspective.

Bill Engvall's new CD, Aged and Confused features over 60 minutes of brand new material. He has his own show and has had a couple very successful comedy albums to date. The tracks to this cd are:

1: Aged And Confused (7:06)

2: School Bus Kid (6:56)

3: Clubbing At 50 (6:43)

4: Game Night (2:49)

5: Bad Turbulence (4:35)

6: Shark Frenzy (3:11)

7: Zip Line (4:37)

8: Birthday Suit (5:40)

9: Pick My Nose (6:05)

10: Poopin’ Juice (5:24)

11: Colonoscopy (7:08)

One thing I can appreciate about this CD is that it is perfect road tripping material. I was pleasantly surprised that it was only mild in its redneck atrocity. I'll take Bill Engvall over Jeff Foxworthy and Larry the Cable Guy any day! I actually found myself laughing out loud a couple times.

MOTR Grade: B-

Bill Engvall Aged and Confused is currently available on CD and will also be released Nov. 24th on DVD after Comedy Central airs the special on Sunday, Nov. 21!!!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

I have one copy of this to give away. Contest ends October 28 at noon and is open to US and Canada residents.

To enter:

1) Tweet, stumble, digg or post a link to this giveaway somewhere.

2) Become a new subscriber or a new follower on twitter or facebook.

3) Tell me your favorite joke.

Sprout is the new home for The Wiggles! Plus Giveaway! ***CLOSED***

Sprout, the first 24-hour preschool destination available on TV, has announced that it will be the new exclusive U.S. television home to the most beloved family of entertainers in the world, The Wiggles. The Wiggles are the world’s #1 preschool entertainers, performing over 300 shows to more than 1.5 million fans since 2005 in the United States alone and are seen on TV in over 110 countries worldwide.

The Wiggles is a fun show that encourages creativity, dancing and singing. It has been a worldwide phenomenon since it first came to be!

Sprout, the first 24-hour preschool destination available on TV, on demand and online for kids ages 2-5 and their parents and caregivers, announced that it will be the new exclusive U.S. television home to the most beloved family entertainers in the world, The Wiggles. In addition to this brand new, original programming that will be filmed at The Wiggles studio in Australia, Sprout will be airing existing Wiggles episodes throughout the day.

Wiggles games, videos, coloring pages and more will be available on SproutOnline.com in mid July. For additional information on Sprout programs or schedules, visit SproutOnline.com. To find out where Sprout is available in your area, call 1.866.9.SPROUT. High-resolution images of The Wiggles are available now in the photo gallery on SproutPR.com.

PBS KIDS Sprout, the first 24-hour preschool destination available on TV, on demand and online for kids ages 2-5 and their parents and caregivers, was created as a partnership among Comcast Corporation, HIT Entertainment, PBS and Sesame Workshop. Since debuting its video on demand (VOD) service in April 2005, Sprout has become the #1 On Demand service for younger children, generating over half a billion views. The 24-hour digital channel, which launched in September 2005 along with the website (SproutOnline.com), is the only channel that follows the day of child from breakfast to bedtime with its distinctive programming. Currently, Sprout is available in 45 million unique households.

The network’s program lineup of gold-standard, curriculum-based children’s shows includes: Sesame Street®, Bob the Builder™, Barney & Friends™, Thomas & Friends™, Angelina Ballerina™, Caillou®, The Berenstain Bears™, Dragon Tales™, Make Way For Noddy™, The Hoobs™, Fifi and the Flowertots™ and more.

Be sure to check out their website as well to learn about the Sprout/Wiggles Facebook Contest!

Also, if you aren't fortunate enough to get Sprout, I encourage you to visit WigglesPlease.com! You can go to this site in order to petition to have Sprout carried by your service provider.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

I have 2 copies of the DVD The Wiggles present Dorothy the Dinosaur. This contest is open to US and Canada residents and ends October 27 at noon.

To enter:

1) Tell me about your or your child's favorite kids show.

2) Digg, stumble, tweet or post a link to this dvd somewhere and let me know.

3) Follow me on twitter or facebook!

PinkTogether Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign

(I was given this information to pass along- none of it is my own words, but I wanted to share it with my readers!)

"Pink Together(R) breast cancer awareness campaign aims to share hope

MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Pink Together campaign dedicated to spreading hope to those touched by breast cancer and to helping raise greater awareness of the disease today launched its third year. One in eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer in her lifetime, and in 2009 alone, more than 192,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed(1).

The 2009 Pink Together campaign includes:

* PinkTogether.com, an ever-growing online community of hope powered by MySpace where those touched by breast cancer can connect, share inspiring personal stories and provide support, comfort and encouragement to others;
* A $2 million donation from General Mills to Susan G. Komen for the Cure® to advance breast cancer research and support education and community outreach projects;
* Special Pink Together packaging on an assortment of General Mills' most beloved brands during the month of October, including Cheerios® Cereal, Nature Valley® Granola Bars, Green Giant® Frozen Vegetables, Fiber One® Cereal, Progresso® Soup, Hamburger Helper® Dinner Mixes, Pillsbury® Crescent and Refrigerated Cookie Dough, and Betty Crocker® Muffin Mixes and Warm Delights® Desserts.

PinkTogether.com Supports Largest Group of Cancer Survivors in the U.S.

"PinkTogether.com is the heart of our Pink Together campaign," said Steve Greer, Pink Together director. "People who have been touched by breast cancer - including many of us in the General Mills family - are able to share stories of strength, support and survival. We're proud to help connect the 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in America today and the many people supporting them on their journey."

Since the 2007 launch of PinkTogether.com, thousands of breast cancer survivors and supporters have made personal connections on the site by posting stories or comments of encouragement or by sending virtual flower bouquets as a sign of support. New to the site this year is a forum for the newly diagnosed and a spotlight featuring stories from celebrities.

Site visitors can draw strength from the powerful stories, blog posts and video interviews posted by five Pink Together Survivor Ambassadors, women the campaign is recognizing for the inspiration they provide others through personal stories of courage and survival. 2009 Ambassadors include Molly Bobrow, Houston, TX; Irene Hernandez, Oxnard, CA; Crystal King, Grand Prairie, TX; Linsey Maughan, Pinckneyville, IL; and Jackie Uhl, Canandaigua, NY.

"Like thousands of others, our Ambassadors are eager to share their inspiring stories of survival. Posting these stories for the benefit of others is really the essence of Pink Together," said Andrew Lainsbury, Pink Together manager. "One person's story is truly another person's hope."

Pink Together Provides Incentive to Connect Online

To encourage personal connections, General Mills will donate $1 for each inspirational story submitted, comment posted or virtual flower bouquet sent on PinkTogether.com and each shared message of hope posted on the Pink Together Facebook fan page - up to $25,000 - during the month of October. This is in addition to its $2 million donation to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

"General Mills has been a longtime partner in the fight against breast cancer," said Katrina McGhee, vice president of marketing, Susan G. Komen for the Cure. "Through Pink Together, the company is giving breast cancer survivors a unique opportunity to share hope with anyone who has ever been touched by the disease."

About General Mills

One of the world's leading food companies, General Mills operates in over 100 countries and markets more than 100 consumer brands, including Cheerios, Haagen-Dazs, Nature Valley, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Green Giant, Old El Paso, Progresso, Cascadian Farm, Muir Glen, and more. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A., General Mills had fiscal 2009 global net sales of US$ 15.9 billion, including the company's $1.2 billion proportionate share of joint venture net sales. Visit www.generalmills.com.

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure, which is now the world's largest breast cancer organization and the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer with more than $1.3 billion invested to date. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN.

Pink Together is a trademark of General Mills

(1) American Cancer Society (both statistics)"

PinkTogether is also on Facebook!

My Little Pony: Twinkle Wish Adventure DVD Review

If you have a young daughter, you know that My Little Pony movies go over as well as handing out a truckload of candy. It's an instant hit!

In this new feature length movie, Pinkie Pie and her friends discover that friendship can make wishes come true. The Wishing Star usually grants one special wish each year at the Winter Wishes festival. All the ponies are super excited, but come to discover that the Wishing Star has disappeared! The ponies must join together on a search to find it.

Along with teaching good values like friendship, this DVD has a ton of extras, including two animated shorts, six sing-along songs, downloadable coloring sheets, cut-out pony ornaments and four fun activities!

Family Time Factor: Probably most enjoyed by girls 8 and under.

MOTR Grade: B

My Little Pony: Twinkle Wish Adventure is available on DVD today!!!

Why Am I Awake at 3AM?

On second thought, maybe I should have entitled this, "why can't I go back to sleep and it's 3am?" I know why I'm awake- L has decided he doesn't want me to get a good night's sleep and is waking up constantly for some odd reason. But why I can't GO BACK to sleep is the same reason I couldn't fall asleep by midnight...

My semester paper.

If you knew me, you'd know that I never stress about school work. I enjoy it. I like to work out the ole' noggin from time to time. But this paper is going to be the death of me! And here's the kicker, writing it isn't the hard part! I have racked my brain from here to eternity trying to figure out what I'm supposed to write about! Okay, so the purpose of a "seminar paper" is to promote a scholarly conversation? Yes? No? Does anyone know? I've gone so far as to google "seminar paper" and it's about as helpful to me as hearing other people's topics.

You'd think this was the only paper I have due this semester... but it's not. I've got like four other ones due, but am I stressed about them? No. I feel in this awkward stage of limbo where I think I'm supposed to feel dumb for not getting this, but I don't. Every topic I have chosen is either not "scholarly" or not able to support an argument... or too broad... argh!

If you've been following my blog, you'd know how excited I was at the beginning of the semester. I LOVED school. I felt like I'd died and gone to heaven. But here I am eight weeks into the semester contemplating why I bother and why I don't just take my bachelor and flip burgers at McDonalds?

Disillusionment is keeping me awake. I suppose I will go attempt to watch The View while I itch myself to sleep, ready to wake up tomorrow morning completely unrefreshed and devoid of joy for life. *sigh*

P.S. (I hope you realized I had sent you an invitation to my pity party!)

Obama Won the Nobel Peace Prize!

I'm posting this because there might be a small chance that you live under a rock and my blog is the only news source you read, lol.

I found this to be crazy interesting! Apparently the only presidents to have done this are Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson. Jimmy Carter won, but he wasn't in office at the time. I love being alive for historical events! (Positive ones, that is... I'll pass on being alive for WWIII!) Here's one of the articles I read about it on People.

Gotta Catch Santa Claus DVD Review

I don't know about other kids, but with my kids, the moment the weather starts getting cold, they begin talking about Christmas! It's only October, but they act like Christmas is going to be next week. Not surprisingly, brands understand this and start releasing Christmas items early. On October 13, Lionsgate is releasing Gotta Catch Santa Claus, a new animated movie that will start airing on ABC Family's 25 days of Christmas.

Starring Will Shatner as the voice of Santa, I watched this movie with my daughter as it sounded cute and I know she loves Christmas and thinks it is coming soon. I can't tell you how many times I laughed! It was cute, clever, current and the animation was great. The plot is about a teenage boy who sets out to prove to the girl he likes that Santa Claus is real. He devises a plan with a couple of friends that will help him catch Santa. In the meantime, a monster named LeFreeze, who has a grudge against Santa, decides HE is going to get Santa and take him out of the picture.

Family Time Factor: Perhaps teenagers are too jaded to watch cartoon movies, but I actually think this movie could span all ages and would be fun to watch together for movie night! It's super cute and only 66 minutes, so makes for a quick and enjoyable watch.

MOTR Grade: A

Gotta Catch Santa Claus releases on DVD October 13!!! Check out the trailer!

Scones, Flats and Haunted Castles!

Color this serendipitous.

On my bucket list, I currently have 3 things: get arrested, go on a cruise and go to England (especially visit a haunted castle.)

So, last week I find out that the English department is doing a study abroad class for the first time in close to a decade... and guess where they're going...

ENGLAND! Well, they are going to the Lake District. But I think this is a weird coincidence that the first year I am there to get my master's in English, they are taking a trip to England. It's a 3 credit class that will be going over for spring break. And the Lake District is home to a haunted castle!!! I talked to the adviser going on the trip, and she did not seem too excited about adding a trip to a haunted castle, but since we have free time, I'm going, whether I have to walk there or not!

Now, the only fret I have that I will get some karmic slap in the face and the trip will be canceled for some reason or another. I don't think I'm deserving of such a karmic let down, but you never know.

Cheerio!

PS If anyone wants to email Ghost Hunters International for me and get them to do a hunt at that castle while I'm there, that'd be great!

Trendexhome.com Review

I live in a town where the only real place to shop is Super WalMart. That means if I want anything classy or elegant for my home I have to drive 45 miles or hope that I will luck out and find something on ebay...

But no more!

Trendex Home offers tablecloths, placemats, chair pads, table runners and napkin rings to match every decor! And the best part is that they don't rob you of your hard earned (and sometimes hard to come by!) money in order to make your home look fabulous!

Living in an old farmhouse, there's not much I can do to decorate because if you put a lipstick on a pig, it's still a pig. So, when I was asked to do this review, I immediately thought of my mom. She does enjoy decorating for company and has much nicer things than I do. She was ecstatic at the option of picking out a tablecloth because they have burgundy carpet and she has NEVER been able to find a tablecloth to match. She chose their Stanford burgundy tablecloth and loves it! I thought it suited their dining room perfectly and it was of great quality. And of course machine washable is a must have for moms.

Not only do they have the basics, but you can also find holiday prints during each season, wedding settings and sale items.

If you're having a hard time finding the right decor to match your room, or if you just want some new frills, you should definitely check out Trendex Home! Also, visit the Tredex Home blog for decorating tips, entertaining and more!

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Diamond Edition Blu-Ray Review

Disney has done it again! For those die hard Blu-Ray fans, they are releasing the classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on Blu-Ray for the first time ever! This diamond edition has been digitally restored with state-of the art technology, has Disney enhanced high definition sound as well as games, backstage documentaries and karaoke sing along. Each three disc combo pack contains the Blu-Ray AND DVD of the movie!

If you've never seen Snow White or heard the story (what rock are you living under?), the plot includes an evil stepmother, an enchanting princess, a handsome prince, an evil curse and of course those seven quirky dwarves. Did you know that Baldy, Stubby and Biggo-Ego were actual names considered for the dwarves? I'm pretty glad they didn't choose those. My favorite has always been Grumpy. He's a man after my own heart, lol.

Other than all the awesome special features, the Blu-Ray has DisneyView for an expanded viewing experience, high definition 7.1 sounds and an all-new music video. Your kids will be blown away by the picture and you will be amazed after years of watching the movie in technicolor.

Family Time Factor: Personally, I think the Disney classics span the ages and can be enjoyed by everyone. And of course, we women always hold out hope that Prince Charming will one day swoop down upon us on a white horse. (Leave me alone, Feminists! lol)

MOTR Grade: A- (only because it's not my favorite Disney princess movie)

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs releases in Diamond Edition with DVD + Blu-Ray October 6th!

Here are some fun activities your children can do along with the movie:


Apple Boxes Game
Coloring Pages
Connect The Dots
Trivia Quiz

iCarly Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to the winner of the iCarly DVD:

Deb K

Thanks to everyone that entered! I am currently running a True Jackson VP giveaway and a Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters giveaway as well and have more coming up!

Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters Huge Giveaway! **CLOSED**

This review/giveaway is being sponsored by Nature Valley and MyBlogSpark.

Being a grad student and working, I don't have a lot of time sometimes for meals. I usually bring a box of granola bars and keep them in my bag. Surprise, surprise, they're Nature Valley! So, when I had the opportunity to do this review and giveaway, I couldn't pass it up! I like crunchy granola bars, but the only complaint is I make a lot of noise when I eat them and they are messy. Enter Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters!

These clusters provide a healthy array of nuts, granola and a touch of honey. So far I've tried Nut Lovers and Almond and I REALLY liked them both! I've even shared them with my coworkers and not one person didn't like them! They also come in a resealable pouch, which makes them great on the go. And they are bite size, so also perfect for a snack for kids!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

One winner has the opportunity to win a huge gift pack! It includes everything pictured, which is the four flavors of granola clusters: Nut Lovers, Roasted Almond, Roasted Cashew and Honey Roasted Peanut, binoculars, flashlight, sling backpack and stainless steal water bottle!

Giveaway ends at noon on October 17 and is open to continental US residents ONLY.

To enter:

1) Tell me one of your favorite aspects of nature.
2) Digg, stumble, tweet or post a link to this giveaway.
3) Visit Nature Valley and tell me something you liked about their site.
4) Become a new subscriber.
5) Follow my blog on facebook.

Mickey's Christmas Carol DVD Review

Disney's Animation Collection has just released Mickey's Christmas Carol on DVD! Not only does it include the classic take on A Christmas Carol, but it includes three bonus shorts!

My son has become a HUGE Mickey Mouse fan ever since the first copy of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse that I received for review. So when this opportunity became available, I couldn't pass it up! A Christmas Carol is a traditional movie that is played every Christmas and the first version I remember seeing as a child was Mickey's Christmas Carol! So, how fun is it that my children can experience this classic as well! And of course anything that reminds them of Christmas is exciting. This is definitely a staple that should be in the collection of anyone with young children.

Family Time Factor: Not too bad to watch as an adult with your kids, but since it is a cartoon, I'd say probably most enjoyed by 10 and under.

MOTR Grade: A

Mickey's Christmas Carol is available now on DVD!!!

Winnie the Pooh Seasons of Giving DVD Review

Winnie the Pooh has been a classic for many years that has succeeded in keeping children entertained for all of those years. And just in time for the holidays, they are releasing the 10th Anniversary Edition of Seasons of Giving!

This full-length movie has Pooh, Piglit, Tigger and Rabbit on a search to find the perfect ingredients to create a festive Thanksgiving feast as well as spending Christmas together and being visited by a very special friend. There are five songs, two additional Pooh episodes and also fun activities for the kids to enjoy!

My kids really like Winnie the Pooh. Being the lowest on the totem pole as a child, I never got to watch cartoons, but instead had to watch reruns of Remington Steele, Magnum PI, Hart to Hart... you get the picture. But now I can experience it through my children's eyes. It's fun, teaches good lessons and moral values and keeps them entertained- all good qualities in my book!

Family Time Factor: Probably most enjoyed by children 10 and under.

MOTR Grade: B+

Winnie the Pooh Seasons of Giving is available now on DVD!!!

True Jackson VP Season 1 Volume 1 Review & Giveaway ***CLOSED***

With the popularity of the Hills, it's no surprise that Nickelodeon would come up with a series that revolved around the fashion world. Fashion is all around us and with all the red carpet events in Hollywood, a huge emphasis is put on dressing well and dressing with the latest trends.

True Jackson is a fifteen year old girl who has become the vice president of a major fashion label. What teenager wouldn't want this job! Unfortunately, True comes to find that sometimes the office atmosphere is much more like a high school than she'd like. Each episode sees True going through things that many a teenager girl has experienced, but also participating in activities and events that women twice her age have a hard time with!

Season 1 Volume 1 contains 13 episodes and tons of special features, such as bloopers and behind-the-scenes extras!

True Jackson VP S1V1 is available now on DVD!!!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

I have one copy of True Jackson VP S1V1 to give away. Contest ends at noon on October 17. Open to US and Canada residents only.

To enter:

1) Digg, stumble, tweet or post a link to this giveaway on your blog, facebook, etc.

2) Become a new follower to my blog.

3) Subscribe to my blog on Facebook.

Good luck to everyone and thanks for stopping by!!!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Every three minutes in the United States, a woman is told she has breast cancer. That is roughly one in every eight American women, which was over 184,000 women in 2008!

There are many things you can do to help get the word out. Add a pink ribbon to your twitter image, donate money to the Susan G. Komen foundation, or even something like collecting the pink Yoplait lids! "During our annual drive, for every pink lid you send in by December 31, 2009 Yoplait® will donate 10 cents to Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, up to $1.5 million. And we guarantee a donation of at least $500,000. So grab your friends, coworkers, yoga class or neighbors and start getting involved today."

If you would like to collect lids, but need somewhere to send them, drop me an email. The Women's Center at WIU is a team that collects all the lids, so I take mine to them. If you'd like to gather some and send them to me, I would gladly take them! Otherwise, I believe you can sign up on Yoplait's website somewhere to start your own collection group.

Whatever you do to promote Breast Cancer Awareness, it is incredibly important. The odds are that at some point in your life you or someone you know will be affected. It's a worthy cause that needs to be passed along. Also, I have listed a giveaway (below) for Stand By Her, a book guide for men who have a loved one battle breast cancer.

Please pass this message along!

Stand By Her: A Breast Cancer Guide for Men Book Review & Giveaway ***CLOSED***

John W. Anderson, an Emmy-nominated director for Lifetime Television's "Stop Breast Cancer for Life" campaign has authored a guide for men that helps them learn how to cope with the women in their life having breast cancer. John himself has helped his mother, sister, wife and close friends battle with the disease. Women need the men in their life to support them during this scary time.

Stand By Her features chapters that take men through each phase of a woman's struggle, from learning the diagnosis to going into remission to being cancer free for five years. It is extremely caring and genuine and an excellent opportunity for men to learn how to help.

I think this book is wonderful! It is important for men to hear from other men about how to cope, how to help and how to fight breast cancer. It can be extremely scary and frustrating, but I'm so happy that John W. Anderson has put together this great book for other men going through the same thing.

MOTR Grade: A

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: Amacom (publishing company) has provided three copies of this book for me to giveaway! Whether you have cancer yourself or have a friend with cancer, they all have some kind of man in their life that could use this book. And if you are a man, perhaps you know someone going through the same thing.

Giveaway ends at noon on October 22. Winners will be contacted by email and announced on the blog.

To enter:

1) Let me know who you would be giving this book to and why.
2) Digg, stumble, tweet or post a link to this giveaway.