30 Nights of Paranormal Activity With The Devil Inside The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo - DVD Giveaway

Movie Synopsis:

Scare yourself silly and scream with laughter at this hilarious spoof of Hollywood's hottest horror movies. When a young family, who can't seem to stop filming themselves, moves into a house that turns out to be haunted, they meet up with a host of creepy characters -- including a horny vampire-hunting president who wants to emancipate their dragon-tattooed daughter. With help from the hysterically high-energy "Ghost Brothers" the family sets out to solve the mystery of the haunted house.  This new spoof film will release on January 8, 2013.

Win It!

Two people will each win 30 Nights of Paranormal Activity With The Devil Inside The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo on DVD.

*This is a Rafflecopter giveaway open to residents of the USA.*

I received no compensation or product for this post.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: Dog Days - DVD Review

DVD Synopsis:

Everybody's favorite wimp, Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon), is back for three times the fun in the latest film based on the super-popular book series! When Greg's dad (Steve Zahn) threatens to send him to military school if he doesn't stay out of trouble, Greg finds all-new ways to land himself in the doghouse! For starters, Greg's in over his head when he pretends to work at the swanky country club where Rowley's family has a membership. Things don't go much better on a father-son camping trip with the Wilderness Explorers, and then there's the Heffley's new dog, Sweetie, who fetches even more trouble for Greg in this hilarious family film!

MyReview:

All of my kids are fans of the Diary Of A Wimpy Kid books and the first two movies were enjoyed by all.  The third movie, Dog Days, was just as amusing for us.  Greg Heffley thinks his summer is going to be full of fun and adventure and gets a rude awakening when his parents decide otherwise.  Greg schemes up a plan and all sorts of adventures take forth from there.  Me and the kids laughed plenty and enjoyed the silliness of the movie.  Sometimes movies don't match up with it's book counterparts, but the Diary Of A Wimpy Kid movies are close to what you'll read in the books.  Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: Dog Days was released to DVD and Blu-ray December 18, 2012.

I received DVD for review.  The opinions within this post are of my own and i was not influenced in any way.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.

Santa Was Good To Me This Year

My good behavior really paid off this year.  Santa really wowed me with my gifts.  It's really not all about the presents to me but it doesn't hurt when the presents are things you really like.

Here's a list of stuff I received from different people this holiday season:

Storage rack for Tassimo coffee discs

Tassimo coffee and hot chocolate

Living Dead doll

Cross necklace

Chenille blanket

Gamemasters hoodie

Caboodle

Travel mug

Nuwave oven

Camera bag

Vinyl wall decal
Photo collage picture frame
Christmas coffee mug

The Nuwave Oven was a gift from a friend and his wife.  We've always exchanged cards, but never gifts.  They showed up at our house with this kitchen contraption and my jaw dropped.  The Nuwave Oven isn't exactly a cheap kitchen appliance.  They own one and swear by it, so they thought we needed one too.  I felt this small because I didn't have so much as a box of candy for them.  We redeemed ourselves and took them out to eat at a Chinese buffet the next day.  As for our opinion of the Nuwave Oven, it's pretty darn cool.  We've cooked a couple things in it so far and we're impressed.

The Tassimo coffee disc storage rack comes in handy.  I also got a bunch of coffee and hot chocolate.  Now if I can just keep hubby's paws off it!

The camera bag for my new DSLR camera

It's a little creepy but oh-so-cool at the same time.  It a Living Dead Doll, complete with a coffin.

Hopefully my good behavior fares as well next year!

Purex Baby Liquid Detergent - #PurexBaby Review and Giveaway

Although it's not exclusively the only laundry detergent brand I purchase, Purex is the brand I most often buy.  It's affordable and cleans my clothes well.  Purex now has a laundry detergent that's new for babies, Purex Baby. 

Purex Baby detergent delivers the same clean you've come to expect from Purex, yet is sensitive on baby's skin.  Plus, it has a gentle baby-inspired freshness.  The dermatologist-tested formula removes stubborn stains without hurting delicate clothes.  It is specifically designed to ensure proper performance for all washers and is hypoallergenic. 

I do not have babies in my household but do have somewhat sensitive skin.  I tried Purex Baby laundry detergent and found that it got rid of the stains my household regularly gets on their clothing.  I really liked the subtle "newborn baby" smell of the detergent and that it didn't cause any skin reactions.  Instead of blue liquid like regular Purex laundry detergent, the color of Purex Baby is clear.  Of course, this laundry detergent is geared towards baby clothes but I can see myself purchasing it again for my family, or even as a baby shower gift for a friend.  Purex Baby is not available in every store.  I used the store locator and found that the local WalMart carries it in my town.  

Win It!

One person will win two coupons for free Purex Baby laundry detergent.

*This is a Rafflecopter giveaway open to residents of the USA.*

I received product for review.  The opinions within this post are of my own and I was not influenced in any way.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wordful Wednesday - Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve we gathered at my sister's house for a large spread of food and opening of gifts.  Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and it was one of my favorite Christmases ever.

One of the appetizer tables

More appetizers

Presents surrounding the little tree

Niece, Zoe

Daughter, Shelby, and great-niece, Madelyn

My mother's teacup chihuahua and my son, Logan

Great-niece, MaKynzee

Great-niece, Imani

Step-daughters Juliann, Emma and Allyson

Great-niece, Ayla, with her personalized dolly

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas as well!

Have A Heck Of A Happy Holiday Season!

Merry Christmas to each and every one of my readers...and lurkers.  Our Christmas festivities are over and the house looks like an F5 tornado came through but it was a wonderful holiday.  I received lots of great gifts.  I was especially impressed by my husband.  Anything I mentioned I even remotely liked within the past month, he purchased for me as a gift.  I watched the kids unwrap their gifts...and actually show gratitude towards receiving them.  Our family got together at my sister's and had a huge spread of food.  Not one fight or outburst took place.  We attended Christmas church service and worshiped God, the real reason for the season.  Here's hoping your Christmas is as great as mine was.  And here's wishing you a positive and uplifting 2013. 

My blog posts will be sparse for the next couple weeks as I spend the rest of the year being with family and friends.  I appreciate you stopping by my blog to leave comments and enter giveaways.  Stick around with me through the next year....it's gonna be a fun ride!

Holiday Happiness For These Winners

A few of my giveaways have ended and the winners have been randomly drawn.  The winners have been emailed and have 48 hrs. to respond to email notification or new winner(s) will be drawn.

The winner of the Neutrogena Microdermabrasion System giveaway is #195, Leslie G. (confirmed)

The winner of the Little Caesars giveaway is #81, SnowflakeDay. (confirmed)

The winner of the Ice Age giveaway is #51, VickeC. (confirmed)

The winners of the Be Jeweled Mini Lipgloss Set giveaway are #334, C.R. and #366, Debra Ann and #434, Amanda R. (all confirmed)

The winner of the Rechargeable Oral Irrigator giveaway is #20, Rusthawk.

Congrats to the winners and thanks to all who entered.  Be sure to enter my active giveaways, always listed at the top left hand side of my blog.  There's no limit to how many can enter or how many can win.

Hasbro - Marvel Avengers Action Figures Review

Hulk, Thor, Captain America and the rest of the crew are favorite superheroes in a lot of boys' eyes.  With a whole collection of action figures and toys from Hasbro, adorers of Marvel Avengers can play out their superhero fabrications.  Even I have a favorite Avenger.  It would be Thor for his chiseled looks (he is the best looking out of the bunch) and strong brawn.

I received a Thor 10" action figure for review and admittedly fiddled around with it first before handing it over to my boys.  The action figure is dressed in full costume with a fabric cape and has its own hammer.  By pressing the button on Thor's belt you can hear him speak and give out battle cries.  His arms move and can resemble the action of pounding the mighty hammer down. 

Captain America is a pretty cool superhero too.  The Shield Launcher Captain America Launcher Figure is a poseable action figure that comes with a shield and a gun.  There's also a launching shield so kids can help Captain America defeat bad guys.  I'm not real keen on the realistic gun accessory.  It's not necessarily that I'm against guns but it seems unessential.  This Captain America Action figure is 8" in height and can be stood up or set down.

I received products for review.  The opinions within this post are of my own and I was not influenced in any way.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.

Social Media Commerce For Dummies - Book Review

Book Synopsis:

Social media commerce is a booming industry. By using social networks in the context of e-commerce transactions, brands large and small are making their products more available and more convenient for customers. This one-of-a-kind guide introduces you to social media commerce and explains how you can use social media to provide better customer service, collect payments online, and build your customer base. Online marketing expert Marsha Collier helps you determine where you have the best opportunity to reach your market, which sites you should integrate with, and much more.

•Your customers are communicating with each other via social media; making purchasing opportunities available on social media sites adds convenience for your customer and opens up new sales opportunities

•This step-by-step guide explains social media commerce and shows what you can accomplish

•Helps you determine the sites where your business should have a presence

•Demonstrates how customers can help promote your brand as they recommend products and services to others on their social networks

•Author Marsha Collier is the undisputed expert on eBay and a recognized authority on social media marketing

Social Media Commerce For Dummies helps you offer your customers better service while giving them the opportunity to share information about your product with their social media contacts.

My Review:

I've been blogging for a little over three years now and am always looking for new ways to reach out to more subscribers and followers.  Although Social Media Commerce For Dummies is targeted mainly for profitable companies, it was also very helpful to me as a blogger.  I learned several new pieces of information and got refreshers on some things I already knew.  The sections on "Monitoring Your Online Reputation" and "Ten Ways To Build an Online Presence Now" were particularly helpful to me.  I also gained some knowledge on the laws and regulations regarding social media commerce that are helpful to me when working with companies and writing blog posts.  I've highlighted several areas in the book and will be using the book time and time again for reference.

I received book for review.  The opinions within this post are of my own and I was not influenced in any way.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.   Your opinions and results may differ.

Pick Up Sticks Jewelry - Review and Giveaway

Pick Up Sticks Jewelry was started in 2000 by native New Mexicans who are cousins.  The cousins design whimsical jewelry encasing art collages inspired by vintage photographs, letters, and antique finds.  All photo charms are double-sided and display distinctive images which can be worn as simple pendants, or combined into elaborate charm bracelets and necklaces.  Sabrina and Glena, the owners, want the wearer to feel a personal connection to each piece of Pick Up Sticks Jewelry.  They will assemble your jewelry in any combination, so there are endless combinations that can be created.

I received a beautiful completed necklace from Pick Up Sticks for review.  The necklace itself is a stainless steel ball chain.  The photo charm has the words "have faith" on one side and "side by side" on the other.  It is held on to the necklace by a magical clip.  The silver-plated trinkets that sit alongside it are a heart, a cross, and an anchor.  Each trinket is dotted with artificial diamonds.  The necklace is a stunning piece and I've received several compliments since wearing it.  When I want to go for a more casual look, I wear the necklace as it is.  If I want to give it a more elegant look, I switch the trinkets and photo charm over to a small link chain.  I think the completed necklace is attractive the way it is but I like that I can purchase additional trinkets and photo charms to add on to it.

Win It!

One person will win a completed necklace from Pick Up Sticks that includes a ball chain, a mini-luck trinket set, and a friendship photo charm.

*This is a Rafflecopter giveaway open to residents of the USA.*

I received product for review.  The opinions within this post are of my own and I was not influenced in any way.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

New Year, Renew You - Prize Pack Giveaway

Did you know that 81% of Americans are likely to make a New Year’s resolution to save more money this year? Surprisingly, 65% admit to breaking that New Year’s resolution!  Here are some more holiday statistics:

· Younger Americans know saving money is a challenge – 46% of 18-34 year olds believe it’s harder to stick to a responsible budget than a healthy diet

· Of the 81% likely to make a resolution to save more money, 2 in 3 (67%) plan to use coupons to support their resolution

· It takes Americans an average of 5 weeks to get back to their “normal” budget after the winter holidays

On Sunday, January 6th, the special Healthy Essentials coupon insert in your local newspaper and online at www.healthyessentials.com will provide over $175 in savings on many of your favorite products.  What better way to start the New Year than to kick your beauty routine and your budget into high gear?

Win It!

One person will win a New Year, Renew You Giveaway prize pack (valued at approximately $95) that includes:

· REMBRANDT® INTENSE STAIN® Stain Dissolving Strips ($24.99): Leave stains in 2012 because just a few minutes a day is all it takes to achieve noticeable whiter teeth in two weeks! These strips dissolve in just 5-10 minutes with nothing to remove or rinse following application, for enamel-safe use on-the-go to tackle stains

· REACH® TOTAL CARE™ + Whitening Toothbrush & Floss ($6.98-$8.58): Talk about multi-tasking! Whiten teeth while brushing and flossing with the only toothbrush that delivers whitening power with MICRAWHITENING™ Calcium Carbonate bristles, and floss that combines the power of baking soda with MICRA-GROOVES™ Technology (it works like a mini squeegee to grab and remove plaque!)

· AVEENO® Pure Renewal™ Shampoo ($6.49-$6.99): Winter doesn’t have to mean dull, dry hair. Fight the environment’s damaging effects with AVEENO® Pure Renewal™ Shampoo! It’s formulated with ACTIVE NATURALS® Balancing Seaweed Extract, which cleanses hair without over drying or over moisturizing – perfect for cold weather!

· AVEENO® Daily Moisturizer (6.99-$7.99): Clinically proven to relieve dry skin and double skin moisture, so it keeps working overtime, even if you have to skip a day. Ideal for harsh winter months to keep skin soft, smooth and protected!

· AVEENO® Positively Radiant® Moisturizer SPF 30 ($14.99-$16.99): Give your skin the confidence boost it needs! AVEENO® Positively Radiant® Moisturizer SPF 30 is formulated with ACTIVE NATURALS® Total Soy Complex to boost the 5 FACTORS OF RADIANCE® - tone, texture, dullness, blotchiness and brown spots. You’re glowing, darling!

· CLEAN & CLEAR® ADVANTAGE® Oil Absorbing Cream Cleanser ($7.49): Ideal for oily, sensitive skin, this cream cleanser washes away up to 85 percent of built-up oilto control shine all day long, while salicylic acid helps to treat and prevent breakouts.

· NEUTROGENA® Shine Control Liquid Makeup Broad Spectrum SPF 20 ($13.99): Shine and sparkle are essential to ringing in the New Year, but skin should be shine free! NEUTROGENA® Shine Control Liquid Makeup Broad Spectrum SPF 20 is clinically proven to absorb oil with rice protein complex, so skin stays shine-free for up to eight hours.

*This is a Rafflecopter giveaway open to residents of the USA.*

Statistics are according to a recent study by Wakefield Research on behalf of Johnson & Johnson Family of Consumer Companies.  I received no compensation for this post. Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.   Your opinions and results may differ.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Must Have Holiday Gifts From @TheSharperImage

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Sharper Image for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

What do imagination, creativity, passion, innovation and quality have in common?  They are essential components of the world's most valued consumer products.  Sharper Image has built its reputation on this realization, offering its customers only the best products that meet this unique set of standards. 

Founded in 1977, Sharper Image grew to over 200 retail locations and reached even more customers through its award winning monthly catalog and website, becoming a truly iconic American brand.  Throughout its history Sharper Image products are meant to be fun, unique and memorable, and are something you never knew existed until you saw it. 

This holiday season, consider these must have items from Sharper Image:

Sound Soother

Would you like to wake up to the sound of rain, or a bustling city?  With dual alarm settings, the Sound Soother can also be your alarm clock.  The Sound Soother features a brushed metal finish that looks great on any nightstand or table, and features an extra large display for sound description and digital time.  It also resets itself after a power outage and daylight savings time.  The Sound Soother plays continuously, and features an Auto-off timer you can set for 15, 30, 45, or 60 minutes.

Back Massager

Use this massager on any standard chair to experience deep-kneading shiatsu or rolling massage as four independent rollers travel up and down your back.  Use Spot Shiatsu and Perfect-Fit to customize the massage to your back and height.  Soothing heat is an option for a deeper, more relaxing massage.  The easy-to-use Advanced Touchpad Control features a laser-etched flat panel.  A carrying bag is included for bringing the massager wherever you go.

Bluetooth Speaker

Big enough for a great sound yet small enough to take on the go, the wireless speaker from The Sharper Image ensures you never have to be without your tunes.  It connects wirelessly with smartphones, laptops and most notebooks.  The wireless speaker works up to 30 feet away using your device to control music, and it has a powerful speaker output with integrated subwoofer for expanded bass response.  It also features Bluetooth hands free conference calling with any smartphone and convenient universal device holder.

I'm leaning towards the Sound Soother for Christmas.  It has a lot of features that would be beneficial when I am asleep and need to wake up.  My husband, however, would love the Back Massager.  He works hard, long hours and I'm sure it would help ease some tension.  Which of the "must have" Sharper Image items would you like this holiday season?

Only One Day Left To Enter These Giveaways

Three of my giveaways will be ending December 20th at 11:50 pm CST.  Be sure to enter them, if you haven't already.  As with all my active giveaways, there's no limit to how many you can enter or how many you can win.

Be Jeweled Mini Lipgloss Set giveaway - 3 winners - USA

$10 Little Caesars Gift Card and Bean Doll giveaway - USA

Ice Age 4: Continental Drift Blu-ray and Ice Tray giveaway - USA & Canada

Pecan and Marshmallow Almond Bark - Holiday Recipe

Here's a holiday candy treat that me and my son made recently. We threw a few ingredients together and it turned out tasting pretty yummy.

Directions:

Melt 6-8 cubes white almond bark in microwave.  Spread almond bark evenly in a small brownie pan.  Shake small amounts of red and green decorative sprinkles on top.  Layer with pecan pieces and mini marshmallows.  Set in fridge and let cool.  Once it's cool, break into pieces.

Warm Winter Wishes For These Winners

A few of my giveaways have ended and the winners have been randomly drawn.  The winners have 48 hrs. to respond to email notification or new winner(s) will be drawn.

The winner of the Thunderstruck DVD giveaway is #76, VickeC. (confirmed)

The winner of the B Is For Babar book giveaway is #132, Tylerpants. (confirmed)

The winner of the Winner Wonderland Giveaway Hop giveaway is #459, Karen F. (confirmed)

The winner of the Anne Taintor giveaway is #46, Holly. (confirmed)

The winner of the Novica giveaway is #343, polly.

The winners of the Diary Of A Wimpy Kid DVD giveaway are #409, Maria G. and #145, Priscilla B. (both confirmed)

The winner of the Make Your Own Candy Kit giveaway is #57, Kit-Kat.

Please make sure you leave your email or GFC name when entering giveaways.  It makes it so much simpler to verify entries and to locate who the winner is.  Please also make sure you are an email subscriber if you say you are, GFC follower if you say you are, etc.  I do check entries.  All of my current giveaways can be found at the top left hand side of my blog.  There's no limit to how many you can enter or how many you can win.

Wordful Wednesday - Candy/Cookie Day

For the past fifteen or so years, the women and older children of the family have gotten together in December for an annual Candy/Cookie Day. We make copious amounts of holiday cookies and candies, then divide them on to trays to hand out to co-workers, friends, and loved ones.

It used to be that we would all gather together at my sister's house and everyone would spend the whole day baking. It usually made a big mess and people would be waiting in line for the microwave and other kitchen gadgets. So, for the past two years, we've made our candies and cookies up ahead of time in our own home and then we meet at my niece-in-law's home to divvy up the goods. It's a holiday tradition that I look forward to every year and hope continues for several more.

SUPERPRETZEL PretzelDogs - Review

From the maker of America's #1 selling soft pretzel, SUPERPRETZEL comes PretzelDogs, bite-sized hot dogs bundled up in a toasty pretzel crust. PretzelDogs are made with a unique soft pretzel dough and are available in two varieties: Original and Cheddar Cheese. They are made with the highest quality ingredients, including top quality beef with no by-product. PretzelDogs make perfect minimeals, anytime snacks, or appetizers. They are microwaveable and ready in seconds.  Each box contains 12 PretzelDogs.

I received both versions of PretzelDogs for review.  Me and Jason ate both varieties as snacks while watching TV.  Each box contains 12 PretzelDogs which seemed to be enough for two people to fill up on.  They are easy to make and only take seconds in the microwave.  The pretzels are soft and the hot dogs aren't chewy or tough.  Jason wished there was more cheese in the Cheddar Cheese variety but I liked that there was just enough for taste and not too much that it was domineering.  I'll be purchasing some of each variety in the future and am definitely considering them as a snack food for a Super Bowl party I'm attending.

I received products for review.  The opinions within this post are of my own and I was not influenced in any way.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.

Chocolate Covered Pretzel Patties - Holiday Recipe

This is an easy holiday recipe that the kids can help with.  In fact, my 13 yoa son, made a batch of them just the other day.

Chocolate Covered Pretzel Patties

Ingredients:

Chocolate almond bark

Ritz or Townhouse crackers

Creamy peanut butter

Pecans or decorative sprinkles

Directions:

Spread peanut butter on a cracker, then put another cracker on top to make a patty.  Dip the sandwiched pretzel patty in melted chocolate almond bark until it's covered completely.  Top with pecans or decorative sprinkles.  Let cool before serving.

I received no product or compensation for this post.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.

Random Tuesday Thoughts - Another Birthday

Welcome to Random Tuesday Thoughts.  If you'd like to play along, link up at Stacy Uncorked.
------------------------

Another year, another birthday.  I turned 36 on the 13th.  Hubby took me out to eat at Steak 'n Shake on the day of and hosted a small birthday party at my home on Saturday.  A few presents I got were Ferrero Rocher chocolates, bath and body products, a hoodie with the church logo on it, a Yankee candle, and tumblers.

--------------------------

My thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by the massacre in CT.  It is an unfathomable nightmare.  I understand the need for change but I wish people were more concerned with supporting the people involved rather than debate politics regarding coulda, shoulda, woulda's.

----------------------

I'm thiiiis close to going to a doctor for a checkup.  I see a doctor so infrequently that I don't even have a regular.  I'm not necessarily ill but I'm extremely fatigued all the time.  I think weather has something to do with it but I could sleep 15 hours a day if given the chance.  All I want to do is sleep, sleep, sleep.  And it's not out of boredom or lack of sleep. 
----------------------------

I received the camera that I won a week ago in a giveaway.  It's definitely fancier than the ones I'm used to.  I've been spending time trying to figure out all the buttons and what-nots on it.

------------------------------------

My great-niece, Imani, celebrated her 6th birthday over the weekend.  She believes she is "Batgirl" reincarnate and has the mask to prove it. 

----------------------------------

My husband is one of the friendliest guys you'll ever meet.  He can go in a stranger and come out a best friend.  That's super great, except I want to make it clear he's not Dear Abby.  He should not be the one you want to go to when you're of the opposite sex and need someone to talk to.  I get it, he listens.  I get it, he's easy to talk to.  But there comes a time when his problems are not your problems.  Last month there was a big fiasco where there was talk of him sleeping with Sweet Sally down the alley.  Last night he got Facebook slammed because he didn't want to go down the same road and refused a female friend's "I need to call you and talk" advances. 

You won't see my picture by "gullible" in the dictionary.  I know men can sometimes be pigs and they don't always think with the right brain.  However, I can say with most certainty that my husband isn't steering off the marital course.  It's just irritating that people you think are friends and you know have your number won't ring you up when they need to talk but they will most assuredly try to get my husband involved in their muck. 

-------------------------------

Emma's 5th grade choir/band concert was last night.  If you ever hear a beginner band play, you know what I mean when I say "tone deaf".  You could tell they put their heart and soul into it though.  During the end of the performance there was a surprise.  Each student got to choose a "special person" to go on stage with them and play the instruments.  Emma chose her dad, Jason.  After listening to him play, I'm pretty sure he should stick to his day job.

-----------------------

Happy RTT!