Don't you DARE cancel "The Good Guys," FOX!!!

I've heard rumblings that The Good Guys on FOX may be canceled.  (Rumblings from my dad who heard it from my sister, which I verified by googling my fingers to nubs.)  They have not been doing too great in the ratings and to that I say, America is stupid!  It is a good show, I laugh out loud, it's witty, clever... okay, so the name is a horrible fit to the show, but it's an AWESOME SHOW.

And speaking of canceling shows, I turned to good ole' TVGuide.com to find out which shows are returning in the fall.  Dollhouse was canceled, which is unfortunate, but they gave it a terrible timeslot... stupid stupid heads.   Then FlashForward is canceled, which I find out a mere week after finishing all the episodes on my DVR.  What happened?!  I don't think I cared too much about the other ones that were axed.  I also must say that NBC might as well declare bankruptcy now because their new falls shows look horribly pathetic.  Plus there was that whole getting rid of Conan thing which made me wanna throw a flaming pile of dog poo on their doorstep.

So check out the list and tell me what you think.  Let's talk boob tube, eh?

(snagged from TVGuide.com)

RENEWED
30 Rock (NBC)
90210 (CW)
The Amazing Race (CBS)
American Dad (Fox)
American Idol (Fox)
America's Most Wanted (Fox)
America's Next Top Model (CW)
The Bachelor (ABC)
The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
The Biggest Loser (NBC)
Bones (Fox)
Brothers & Sisters (ABC)
Castle (ABC)
Celebrity Apprentice (NBC)
Chuck (NBC)
The Cleveland Show (Fox)
Community (NBC)
Cops (Fox)
Cougar Town (ABC)
Criminal Minds (CBS)
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS)
CSI: Miami (CBS)
CSI: NY (CBS)
Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
Desperate Housewives (ABC)
Family Guy (Fox)
Friday Night Lights (NBC)
Fringe (Fox)
Glee (Fox)
Gossip Girl (CW)
The Good Wife (CBS)
Grey's Anatomy (ABC)
Hell's Kitchen (Fox)
House (Fox)
How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
Human Target (Fox)
Kitchen Nightmares (Fox, midseason)
Law & Order: SVU (NBC)
Lie to Me (Fox)
Life Unexpected (CW)
Medium (CBS)
The Mentalist (CBS)
The Middle (ABC)
Modern Family (ABC)
NCIS (CBS)
NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS)
The Office (NBC)
One Tree Hill (CW)
The OT (Fox)
Parenthood (NBC)
Parks and Recreation (NBC)
Private Practice (ABC)
Rules of Engagement (CBS)
The Simpsons (Fox)
Smallville (CW)
Supernatural (CW)
Survivor (CBS)
Two and a Half Men (CBS)
V (ABC)
The Vampire Diaries (CW)

CANCELED/ENDING

24 (Fox)
Accidentally on Purpose (CBS)
The Beautiful Life: TBL (CW)
Better Off Ted (ABC)
Brothers (Fox)
Cold Case (CBS)
The Deep End (ABC)
Dollhouse (Fox)
Eastwick (ABC)
FlashForward (ABC)
The Forgotten (ABC)
Gary Unmarried (CBS)
Ghost Whisperer (CBS)
Hank (ABC)
Heroes (NBC)
Law & Order (NBC)
Lost (ABC)
Melrose Place (CW)
Mercy (NBC)
Miami Medical (CBS)
New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS)
Numb3rs (CBS)
Past Life (Fox)
Romantically Challenged (ABC)
Scrubs (ABC)
Sons of Tucson (Fox)
Three Rivers (CBS)
'Til Death (Fox)
Trauma (NBC)
Ugly Betty (ABC)

PILOTS PICKED UP
Better Together (ABC)
Blue Bloods (CBS)
Bob's Burgers (Fox, midseason)
Body of Proof (ABC)
The Cape (NBC, midseason)
Chase (NBC)
Criminal Minds spin-off (CBS, midseason)
The Defenders (CBS)
Detroit 1-8-7 (ABC)
The Event (NBC)
Friends with Benefits (NBC, midseason)
The Good Guys (Fox)
Happy Endings (ABC, midseason)
Hawaii Five-O (CBS)
Hellcats (CW)
Lonestar (Fox)
Love Bites (NBC)
Mike & Molly (CBS)
Mixed Signals (Fox, midseason)
Mr. Sunshine (ABC, midseason)
My Generation (ABC)
Nikita (CW)
No Ordinary Family (ABC)
Off the Map (ABC, midseason)
Outlaw (NBC)
Outsourced (NBC)
Perfect Couples (NBC, midseason)
Raising Hope (Fox)
Ride-Along (Fox, midseason)
Running Wilde (Fox)
S#*! My Dad Says (CBS)
Terra Nova (Fox, midseason)
Undercovers (NBC)
The Whole Truth (ABC)

Dora the Explorer: Dora's Big Birthday Adventure DVD Review & Giveaway!!!

My kids literally have like 10 Dora DVDs. They used to have more, but I thought it was getting a little excessive. My kids are Dora fiends. Most kids I know are Dora fiends. There is just something about Dora that makes her appeal to every child. As a parent, I love her upbeat attitude, and the fact that she teaches kids everything from Spanish to counting to colors to shapes. It helps them use their memory and critical thinking. My son is 2 and I will hear Dora ask a question and he answers her. It's mind boggling and I love it!

Dora is a little girl who likes to go exploring. She uses a map to tell her where to go, has a pet Monkey friend named Boots who goes along with her and then there's Swiper the Fox, who likes to steal things and hide them from Dora.

This DVD contains the new movie-length adventure "Dora's Big Birthday Adventure."  It's the final installment in the Magic Storybook Trilogy.  Dora and Boots must travel through Magic Storybook Land and complete all their tasks while trying to avoid the witch.  Plus, they have to do it all in time to make it back for Dora's birthday party!!


Bonus Episodes:

Dora Helps the Birthday Wizzle

Dora is reading a storybook about a Birthday Wizzle who could make birthday wishes come true with his magic wand.  Today is his birthday so it was his turn to make a wish, but a wind came in and blew the wand out of the book! Dora must jump into the book and bring the wishing wand back to the Wizzle to give him his birthday wish. 

Wizzle Wishes

Dora and Boots meet a cute little Wizzle who lost his bag of wishes and can’t get home. Our heroes set off in search of the lost wishes, but their friends keep finding the wishes first, and their wishes get everyone into trouble. Dora and Boots must overcome a giant sunflower in Isa’s garden, a storm of raining nuts in the Nutty Forest and slippery slopes at the Wishing Well in order to return to wishes to their rightful owner.


Family Time Factor: Definitely appeals to a wide variety. I think it could be enjoyed by boys or girls through age 10. It's also tolerable to parents.

MOTR Grade: A+

Dora the Explorer: Dora’s Big Birthday Adventure is available on DVD August 3rd!!!


Giveaway Details: 

Nickelodeon and The Karpel Group have made a copy available for me to giveaway to one of my lucky readers!  Giveaway will end Thursday, August 12 at noon (central).  It is open to US residents only.

 

To enter:

1) What is your favorite Dora character and why?

Additional entries:

2) Post a link to this giveaway on Twitter telling what your favorite Dora character is.  If possible, use @hamsterkitten and/or @nickjrdvd in your post.  You can get an entry for each day you post on Twitter.  Just post the link in a comment each time.

3) Become a new follower of this blog.  If you already follow this blog, become a new follower of Miss Advice and comment below letting me know!

That's it!  Good luck!!!

Super Why! Caillou and Martha Speaks New PBS DVD Releases

My kids love watching PBS and Super Why! is their favorite! Super Why! is a critically acclaimed preschool series that takes kids through a story while teaching them phonics, the alphabet and other lessons in a fun way. Picture Dora, but even more educational and a smidge less annoying.

In Super Why!: Attack of the Eraser Super Why and his super friends learn all about spelling and rhyming while changing the outcome of a story and saving the day. This DVD includes 4 stories.

Both my kids LOVED this DVD! A loved the stories and the learning exercises and L apparently thought the graphics were interesting. They have watched it many times so far and just adore it!- which makes me love it! I appreciate its learning value and anything that can teach my kids while entertaining them is A okay in my book! And it's like they listened to my previous complaint because now they have a Play All feature that they didn't used to have!

Family Time Factor: More of something to have your young children watch while you are doing other things, but it is definitely for preschool age or kindergarten age and younger.

MOTR Grade: A

Super Why! Attack of the Eraser is now available on DVD!!!

Also available from PBS:

Martha Speaks: Martha Goes to School
"The endearing beloved family dog, Martha, has a lot to say in her new release Martha Goes to School.  Join Martha and her family as they discover hundreds of new words to teach children.  Based on the successful children’s book series by Susan Meddaugh, and now airing on PBS KIDS, the DVD features eight new-to-DVD episodes, printable coloring pages, resources for parents and descriptive video service for the visually impaired."


Caillou: Caillou's Fun Outside
"The beloved Caillou is back in four new-to-DVD episodes featuring 14 fun-filled outdoor adventures. Delightfully imaginative and intrepid, Caillou is ready to teach kids about nature, patience, creativity and outdoor activities.  The CAILLOU: CAILLOU’S FUN OUTSIDE! DVD also includes interactive games, music videos, parents’ information and coloring pages – a perfect break from fun in the sun."

SpongeBob SquarePants: Triton's Revenge Winner!!!

Congratulations to the winner of this DVD giveaway!

Cheryl


I have a couple more giveaways coming up (I just need to post them) so keep watching and thanks to all that entered!

Vacation Bible School

So I'd never been to vacation bible school before. Not as a child or as an adult. I'd often thought that it sounded like something fun to do if you were a kid. Well, as some of you may or may not know, I've been going to this wonderful church for several months now and have met some super awesome people!

I love how friendly and positive everyone is. No one cares about your past, no one cares about how much money you have, they just love you because you're a human being, and that's good enough for them! Anyway, to my adoring fans, no, I have not changed and don't expect to get some huge overhaul in my personality. I do find that I can feel the ice that has long since been encompassing my body slowly melt away. I'm less wary of saying hi to strangers for no reason. I smile a lot more and I feel more joy. Yes, I still feel those moments when I want to break out my chainsaw and go batpoo crazy on the world, but hey, who doesn't feel like that sometimes?

This week has been vacation bible school. I was asked to help (but I'm sure it's because they reeeeeeally wanted me there, not cause they ask everyone) and I am loving it! It's great practice for my future profession as an elementary teacher and it's jubilant! I smile often, I laugh occasionally (mostly when Ms Tara doesn't know the words to the songs, lol, j/k!- like Tara's gonna read this anyway.) It's just great to hear kids get excited about something that doesn't involve television, video games or merciless throwing of pancakes.

Our theme is The Kingdom and they are learning all about Joseph. So, I have included the Veggie Tales trailer for The Ballad of Little Joe because everytime I hear, "oh little Joooooe" it makes me think of it.

Enjoy!

Fun Video of the Day

This is in honor of my time at vacation bible school this week!

Updated Bucket List

 Below is my original blog post on my bucket list.  I completed one thing on the list, so wanted to share!

 Welcome, Pierre the pig!  No pork chops for you!

 

Sunday, April 5, 2009

My Bucket List

You know what a bucket list is: a list of things you want to do before you die.

Well, I've had a couple things on my bucket list for awhile and I've shared them with friend/family before. I figured I'd share them with the rest of the world. Cause maybe some rich person will look at this and want to fund the things I can't afford to do right now, lol.

Okay, so here is my list to date:

1) Take a cruise.
2) Go on a haunted tour of England.
3) Get arrested.
4) Save a pig from being slaughtered. (done on July 17, 2010)
5) Save a cow from being slaughtered.
6) Go to a Broadway show (preferably Annie)

Exciting, I know, lol. Anyone want to share their bucket list with me?

Interesting Fact of the Day

The Eisenhower interstate system requires
that one mile in every five must be straight.
These straight sections are usable as airstrips
in times of war or other emergencies.

KinderCare Learning Centers

I was a public school kid myself.  I was sent to babysitters as a child, the last one being one where the woman sat in the kitchen on the phone selling Avon while the kidlets watched MTV and sat on each other's heads in the living room.  Public school has also become a lot creepier (socially) than when I was young, with kids learning inappropriate words and behavior at a younger age.  Having worked with kids from kindergarten through high school, believe me, I've found myself shocked more times than I can count.

With that in mind comes KinderCare!  "The KinderCare Difference is our commitment to your child's future. With our experienced staff and innovative programs unlike any other, we provide your child with an unsurpassed learning experience. Your child will discover that learning is fun, while making new friends and building strong relationships with teachers who partner with you in your child's education."

KinderCare takes the time to maximize your child's potential with a grounded education where they will be surrounded by other kids who love learning.

According to their website, here's what you should know:

• Our programs are tailored by age group
• Questions to ask any childcare center
• Why accreditation matters
• Our Parenting Resources section is filled with articles and videos
• We offer special resources for military families
• Our teachers share why they work at KinderCare

Another interesting fact is that "in a nationwide survey of parents, KinderCare Learning Centers learned that when selecting a school, 76% of parents are most concerned that their school of choice employs quality and passionate teachers and 80% want to know that their child is excited to take part in activities while at school."

Unfortunately, I live in a van down by the river and there are apparently not any centers near my zipcode.  This is quite saddening.  However, after preschool I am seriously considering sending my daughter to the Christian school where we go to church.  I want her to get more attention than she would at public schools, but more importantly socialize with non-thugs and non-hoodlums.  Is that too much to ask?

If you live somewhere other than a van, you should log onto KinderCare's website and see if there's a location near you!!



“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of KinderCare Learning Centers and received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

Interesting Fact of the Day

St. Paul, Minnesota

St. Paul, Minnesota, was originally called Pig's Eye
after a man named Pierre 'Pig's Eye' Parrant
who set up the first business there.

People of WalMart hilarity!

Thanks to @CrazyCatLadie for emailing this to me:  I picked my favorites (the captions were in the email, I didn't write them)...


Ummm, I think you might need something more than the pine tree air-freshener. It’s a start......not where I would have started.......but it’s a start.



Hookers love cupcakes. I have nothing else to add to that. Can’t argue with the facts.



I wonder if she can 'tie ‘em in a knot or tie ‘em in a bow'......because unfortunately, I already know they 'wobble to an fro’.



At what point does a person just say “F*ck it, I don’t need to put on shoes or pants”? Most people in the world would put pants on to walk into another room of the house, or if not that, then they would put some on if they're going to the street to get their mail. And you made it to Wal-Mart.



The irony here is overwhelming. I’m just going to sit back and let you soak it in.

ProFlowers Review

Being unfamiliar with doing nice things for people, I was not completely aware of ProFlowers.  Sure, I've seen some commercials, heard the name dropped a couple times, but had never ventured to their website to see what there was.

I was given the opportunity to review something of my choosing from their Birthday Gift Basket selection.  Note to readers:  if someone gives you the chance to have a bonsai tree, TAKE IT!  Feeling giddy at the prospect of having a CHOICE, I stupidly let my stomach do the picking instead of letting my brain and youthful exuberance control my decision.  I chose the Hearty Traditions gift box because it looked delicious (and FYI, it was.)  Did I mention they have bamboo in vases?!  WHY DIDN'T I PICK A PLANT, ARGH!!!!!

Anyway, aside from sending stuff to people for birthdays, they have gifts for every occasion.  Personally, I like the occasion "because you're awesome."  I don't know anyone who wouldn't want to receive flowers just because.  They have everything you can think of from flowers to plants to fruits to stuffed animals to ... did I mention bonsai trees?

Okay, so check out ProFlowers.com and while you're at it, add them on Twitter.  And if you wanna send ME flowers... I'm more than okay with that.  I can be bought.

Interesting Fact of the Day

Sahara Desert

 
In the Sahara Desert, there is a town named Tidikelt, Algeria,
which did not receive a drop of rain for ten years.
Technically though, the driest place on Earth
is in the valleys of the Antarctic near Ross Island.
There has been no rainfall there for two million years.

Life is Better Than Ever!

Before having kids, my life seemed like a lot of the same.  Each day, I'd wake up, work or not work, watch TV, it was boring and I was in a state of depression.  When I found out I was pregnant with my daughter, life took on a whole new meaning.  Cleaning became important, eating healthy became important, just my overall priorities in life became better.  I realized that it was no longer just going to be my husband and I and a bunch of dogs.

Of course, reality doesn't really hit until your baby is in the world.  You realize that every moment until your child moves out will be devoted to thoughts about them, doing things for them, worrying, caring.  A child is an investment and your soul is the banker.  Life is so much better than it ever was because I have passion.  I have motivation.  I am in love with my life and my children are a major part of that.  They invoke emotion in me every day; laughter, tears, worry, frustration, curiosity.  It's a neverending process and I look forward to a lifetime of challenges and rewards.  I am a far better person than I was before I became a mother.

Tell me how your life is better than ever and also check out the Dove® gofresh™ Facebook Contest Page. 


I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Dove® gofresh™ blogging program, making me eligible to get a $25 gift card and some product. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Nickelodeon: The First Day of School DVD Review

Let me just preface this by saying: compilation DVDs rock my mommy world!  You know how sometimes you secretly stick your kids in front of cartoons because you need to get things done without having someone tugging at your hem every thirty seconds?  You know how you tell yourself that it's okay because it's Nick Jr. and it's educational?  Well, that's why this DVD is perfect!  Now you don't have to keep your fingers crossed that there are shows on that they like.  You can just plop this DVD in and you're good to go, so start cleaning your tush off, responding to emails or sobbing quietly in the closet- you know, things you normally do when your children are preoccupied.

This DVD features episodes that relate to school and how scary yet wonderful it can be!  It's especially great for us because A is entering preschool in August (although she really wants it to be kindergarten) and she loves knowing all about school.

This DVD includes episodes from:

• Dora the Explorer- First Day of School
• Go, Diego, Go!- Linda the Librarian
• Blue's Clues- Blue Takes You to School
• The Wonder Pets!- Off to School/Save the Pangaroo
• Ni Hao, Kai-Lan- Lulu Day

These are all shows my kids love, so having them all on one DVD is like having your boyfriend in high school make you a mixed tape of NSync and Backstreet Boys songs!

Family Time Factor: Um, hello!  Everyone should be watching these! 

MOTR Grade: A

Nickelodeon: The First Day of School is available on DVD July 13!!!

Febreze Home Collections 2010 Review

You know those commercials about Febreze where people spray them on their carpet and then lie face down sniffing their floor the rest of the day?  It is SO TRUE.  We've always been huge fans of Febreze in my house because it just smells so stinkin' good!

Now Febreze has this super cool home collection that allows you to enjoy this awesome smell, but also add some cute decor to your house.

 

Febreze provided me with the Febreze No-Spill Solution Kit, information, and a $15 Walmart gift card through MyBlogSpark and I was stoked!  My favorite looks-wise is the flameless luminary.  Having kids makes candles a little scary to have lying around (as does having a husband who burnt down our garage a few years back, lol).  So fire is not our friend.  But these luminaries are super cute and they LOOK like they are flaming, but really aren't and they are scented as well, so they add some nice aroma to whichever room you put them in.  Ours is in the living room.  My only complaint is that the scent isn't that potent after the first day and it's more decorative than fragrant.  

With the no-spill wood diffuser, it's the opposite.  It's not really decorative, but hooray it is fragrant!  This one I chose to put in my bedroom (because men are stinky) and it has been in there for over a week and the smell still hits you when you open the door.  It's not overpowering in the least, it is VERY pleasant.

 

I can see myself buying them both.  The luminary because it is pretty and decorative and the wood diffuser because it works well.  I loooooooooove Febreze!

Interesting Fact of the Day

Ohio

 
There are no natural lakes in the state of Ohio, every one is man-made.

SpongeBob SquarePants: Triton's Revenge DVD Givewaway!!!

If you read my recent review of SpongeBob SquarePants: Triton's Revenge you'll know that it's super funny and a must-have for your library, er, I mean your KIDS' library!

Nickelodeon and The Karpel Group have made a copy available for me to giveaway to one of my lucky readers!  Giveaway will end Wednesday, July 21 at noon (central).  It is open to US residents only.

 

To enter:

1) What is your favorite SpongeBob character and why?

Additional entries:

2) Post a link to this giveaway on Twitter telling what your favorite SpongeBob character is.  If possible, use @hamsterkitten and/or @nickelodeondvd in your post.  You can get an entry for each day you post on Twitter.  Just post the link in a comment each time.

3) Become a Facebook fan of Piersee Pekes.

That's it!  Good luck!!!

Interesting Fact of the Day

New York City

The term 'The Big Apple' was coined
by touring jazz musicians of the 1930s
who used the slang expression 'apple' for any town or city.
Therefore, to play New York City
is to play the big time - The Big Apple.

There are more Irish in New York City
than in Dublin, Ireland;
more Italians in New York City
than in Rome, Italy;
and more Jews in New York City
than in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Uncle Ben's Whole Grain Brown Rice Party

Tonight I had the opportunity to gather friends and enjoy some good food and good times thanks to Uncle Ben's.  Several of us gals got together and watched me make a yummy rice dish with Uncle Ben's whole grain brown rice and talk about the product.  I made this recipe my friend Tara had that was:

1 cup rice
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup salsa
your favorite cheese

Cook the rice with the broth added until the rice is ready and then add cheese and salsa.  It was a hit!

To see pictures from our fun get together, you can check them out on this Facebook page.


"I wrote this review while participating in a Kitchen Kickoff campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Uncle Ben's. Mom Central sent me a gift card and other Uncle Ben's items to thank me for taking the time to participate."

Melissa & Doug Puppets Rock My World!

Okay, am I an uber dork that I was so excited about getting Melissa & Doug puppets that I didn't want to share them with my kids and insisted they handle them with care?

If you check out CSN's website, you will see they have the coolest collection of Melissa & Doug products that I've seen anywhere.  And at my house, we are Melissa & Doug fanatics!  My daughter is outgrowing the wooden puzzles, so I'm always on the lookout for something else she can use for her ever growing imagination.

The puppets I chose were Megan Pompomovich and Cyrus (Cy) Wren. 

Check out the short skit video A and I did:


 

Interesting Fact of the Day

Antarctica

 
Antarctica is the only land on our planet that is not owned by any country.
Ninety percent of the world's ice covers Antarctica.
This ice also represents seventy percent of all the fresh water in the world.
As strange as it sounds, however, Antarctica is essentially a desert;
the average yearly total precipitation is about two inches.
Although covered with ice (all but 0.4% of it, ice.),
Antarctica is the driest place on the planet,
with an absolute humidity lower than the Gobi desert.