Random Acts of Zhu 2011

We participated in the Random Acts of Zhu campaign last year, and loved it!  We were able to donate over 100 toys to our local Toys for Tots program, and it felt good to give.

This year, we were asked to participate again.  I was so excited, but disappointed when I found out that Toys for Tots was NOT serving my local community.  (Bummer.)  I could have made the trip over 50 miles to Omaha, so I could donate toys there, but the none of them would have returned to my community.  (And times are tough where I live, too.)  So we asked around and found out that our local newspaper was working with needy families to make sure every kid got a toy this year.  They were in need of items to fill the gaps where some of the kids didn't get a chance to have a star picked from the tree, or for families that didn't think to get on the list.

I had the flu, so I had my husband drop off the boxes.  They were thrilled to receive them!  We had a few other toys to give from the Walmart toy haul and items we had accumulated on sale throughout the year, as well.  In all, we gave over 110 toys to charity!

Here are all the boxes of Zhu Zhu Rock Stars, purses, and accessories that were delivered to our house, as well as them being dropped off at the newspaper.

My son wanted to say "good-bye" to the Zhus before they left.  (He actually found his own Zhu from his toy box to have them say farewell.)  How cute.



We want to give a BIG "Thank you" to Cepia and the folks at the Zhu Zhu Pets team for helping us help kids this holiday season!

*100+ Zhu Zhu Pets products were received to donate as we wished to charity.  No compensation was received to participate.  Opinions are 100% our own.

Review of Frosted Toast Crunch (#Giveaway!)

Our family likes trying new cereal, as we eat the stuff as much as 5 mornings a week!  We were already big fans of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, so I was curious as to whether the Frosted Toast Crunch would be good, as well.  It turns out... it is!

It doesn't have the same cinnamon taste as the original, but rather a light, artificially-flavored vanilla coating.  It's not super-sweet, but is tasty and very crispy!  I like snacking right of the box.

Your family can find this new product in stores come January.  Check your stores after the first of the year to see if they offer it!  In the meantime, find out more info at the General Mills website.

Wanna win?  We are giving one lucky read a fun prize pack, featuring:

• Spilt milk bowl
• Lickety spoon
• Frosted pitcher
• Frosted Toast Crunch cereal

To be entered to win, just comment on this post with your favorite time of day to enjoy cereal. You have until January 11th to get your entries in! You may enter every day. (Please answer the question for the first entry. Each entry after that can be "enter me.") Open to U.S. residents 18+.

Don't forget to enter our other blog giveaways while you're here!


*Frosted Toast Crunch, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

Holiday Giveaway from The Chew!

Have you caught the newest daytime show designed to help you keep it all together in a fun and family-oriented way?  It's called "The Chew" and it's getting rave reviews from some of my blogging friends. It features hosts Mario Batali, Michael Symon, Clinton Kelly, and Carla Hall!  It airs weekdays at 1pm EST, and here's the scoop:

The Emmy award winning creators of “Paula Deen’s Home Cooking” and “Down Home With The Neely’s”, have combined  the tools, tips, tricks and recipes to bring your family and friends together with memorable personalities to create a live, one hour daytime talk show where viewers get the dish on anything and everything related to the world of food and beyond.

Have you seen it?  If you haven't, I recommend you check it out -- they also have a wonderful website dedicated to helping you along with the holidays.  You can also find them on Facebook!

Wanna Win?  We have a neat The Chew-branded blanket and bottle-opener to give one lucky winner!  (It's perfect for future New Year's parties.)  To be entered to win, just comment on this post with whether you have seen "The Chew".  You have until January 10th to get your entries in! One entry per person, please.  Open to U.S. residents 18+.


Don't forget to enter our other blog giveaways while you're here!

We try Kidworth!

Since I have a passion for money and teaching my kids to be wise with it, I was intrigued by the idea behind Kidworth.  The site, which allows kids to build a "portfolio" of sorts, is free for families who set up accounts for their kids.  Here is the skinny on this innovative service:

Go to www.kidworth.com and enter your child's name (first works), as well as their birthday.  You can then set up their money goals with the suggested categories, or create your own.  Choose from three categories: spending, saving, and giving.

After you've selected a goal, you can fill in specifics for those who may be donating to that goal (why the cause is important to your child, for example) and the total goal amount.  We picked Toys for Tots and $25.

Once your child's portfolio has been set up with as many goals as you chose, you will be asked to set up a free account.  (We chose to register with Facebook.  It was much easier -- Just make sure you are already logged in to Facebook when you chose this option or you will have to start all over with the process.)

Now that you've picked goals, it's  time to let family and friends know how to support them.  You can wait for a special ocassion (like we did) to send out the event invites from the Kidworth site that include your child's personalized link to their goals.  From there, family and friends can actually buy a card with money that will go into your child's account to support their goals.  Once the goals are met, kids can cash out!

I see this as a little better than the ol' $5 in the birthday card that will probably be spent on crap, since it allows family to know what spending goals are important to your child and helps with the delayed gratification issues that kids have a hard time overcoming.  (Just let kids know that you won't request funds until they have reached the goal.)

Will this work for every family?  Perhaps.  My family, for example, is not really up on the whole "online gifting" trend, and the birthday cards with cash will continue to roll in.  I can still use the site to help my kids set goals and prioritize which ones are important, however.  Hopefully, when my family joins the rest of the world in doing things digitally, we'll have a true experience that my kids will enjoy via Kidworth.

Would you ever do something like this with your kids?  Check out on the site (www.Kidworth.com) or their FaceBook page (Facebook.com/Kidworth) and sign up for free to see if it's for you!

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Kidworth, a free service for parents to help teach children money basics -- like allowance!

Crayola Pop Art Pixies Fab Snaps Giveaway

We have been big fans of the Crayola Pop Art Pixies since we enjoyed the product launch in NYC last year (has it been a year, already?)  The release of new products from the line came just in time to gift some girls in our family with some very fabulous gifts this holiday season.  Here is what Crayola has in store, and why we are super excited about the new products:

Fab Snaps are crafty options for kids (or teens) with no craft skills required.  Simply "snap" the fabric layers and embellishments into place, and you've got a fun and funky way to decorate almost anything.  We appreciate that kids can snap and unsnap these to create hundreds of design combinations.  Change your mind?  Change your look!  We tried the Fab Snaps via a few kits, including the Wristlet, Jewelry, and Water Bottle.  You can also buy refills to keep the fresh looks coming!

Another neat addition to the line is the Ice Chandelier.  All girls love unique decor in their room and the easy-to-put-together links for this piece can be decorated with new Crayola Ice Markers.  This is perfect for the budding interior designer!

Finally, we took a look at the Ice Jewelry.  Similar to the Chandelier, these were made special with the Ice Markers.  Girls will have fun truly personalizing their bracelets, rings, and necklaces to be a innovative work of art.

You can learn more about the new offerings from Crayola Pop Art Pixies at the official website!  You can also interact with them on Facebook and Twitter.


Wanna Win? We are giving one lucky winner a fabulous prize pack, including:

(1) Crayola Pop Art Pixies Fab Snaps Wristlet
(1) Crayola Pop Art Pixies Fab Snaps Jewelry
(1) Crayola Pop Art Pixies Fab Snaps Water Bottle
(1) Crayola Pop Art Pixies Ice Chandelier
(1) Crayola Pop Art Pixies Ice Jewelry
(1) of each of the Crayola Pop Art Pixies Fab Snaps Refill Kits (Skye, Mya, Tatum, Naomi)

To be entered to win, just comment on this post with which product your child would like to try first! You have until January 10th to get your entries in! You may enter every day. (Please answer the question for the first entry. Each entry after that can be "enter me.") Open to U.S. residents 18+.


Don't forget to enter our other blog giveaways while you're here!

*The Crayola Pop Art Pixies Fab Snaps products, information, and giveaway have been provided by Crayola through MyBlogSpark.

BIG DUB Garage Giveaway!

We just reviewed some of the most exciting, realistic, and fun toy cars on the market -- DUB Garage cars.  We are still giddy over their lights, sounds, music, and speed!  Hey, even Shaq likes them!

We are also thrilled to be able to offer a giveaway to one of our readers -- a BIG box of DUB Garage Cars!

Wanna Win?  Please read the DUB Garage Car review to see what we loved about these toys.  Then comment on this post with which of the DUB cars from our review you like the best!  You have until December 30th to get your entries in!  You may enter every day. (Please answer the question for the first entry. Each entry after that can be "enter me.") Open to U.S. residents 18+.

Don't forget to enter our other blog giveaways while you're here!



*Samples and prizing received to review.  Opinions are my own.

Fun Holiday Snack Ideas from Walmart!

We love to eat at my house, and during the holidays, I clearly let my eating rules go out the window. I have a few favorite foods that I have to have at my snack table each season, and thanks to some new items that we sampled from Walmart, I may need to make room for a few new additions. Here are some of the items we tried for the first time this year, along with our thoughts:

Petite Fours

You may have seen these fancy little cakes on gourmet food sites and wondered “what’s all the fuss?” Well, these dainty sweets are gorgeous to look at, make nice gifts, and taste truly delicious. I’m not really a heavy chocolate fan, so I left those for my kids. I adored the red ones, which were filled with white cake and frosting and then coated with a white chocolate coating. Yum!

Spinach Artichoke Dip

I had made a quick recipe with this on my recent trip to Bentonville, so I already knew I would love this! When microwaved directly in the container, it creates a creamy, cheesy dip that ready for guests in minutes. I love this with a nice, thick tortilla chip, and I am always impressed to see big chunks of artichokes in this restaurant-quality product.

Sam’s Choice Brown Sugar Spiral Ham 

Ham is our favorite Christmas dinner meat, and the spiral-sliced ham from Sam’s Choice is just as good as brand-name hams. The way they are cut makes it easy to warm, cut, and serve. (You can also do some amazing things with the leftovers!) The brown sugar topping that comes with it is sweet, sassy, and full of flavor. This is a great buy that can feed many at your holiday table.

There were a few other dips and treats that we sampled from Walmart this year, but these were my top three. I would also highly recommend the meat and cheese snack trays – the ingredients are very fresh and easy to serve in minutes!

What are your favorite holiday snacks?

*I am a participant in the Walmart Moms program. Walmart provids me with compensation for my time on specific projects. Participation in this program is voluntary. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

A Holiday Meal for Under $40 At Walmart

We go to Walmart for pretty much everything any more, and that’s because they consistently offer the products we need at a price that we can afford. Take the holidays, for example; our family has our faves: chips and salsa, ham, desserts, breads, veggies, and cider. While our smaller local store may not even carry all of these items, Walmart keeps their selection pretty consistent year-round, and the prices drop around the time we would shop.

Here is what a typical holiday dinner would look like from Walmart:

• Chips and salsa ($2 and $2.50)
• Spiral Ham ($18)
• Red Potatoes Au Gratin ($5)
• Green beans with bacon ($2)
• Corn Pudding ($2)
• Crescent Rolls ($2.50)
• Pie and whipped topping ($5)

Total Cost: $39

This would easily feed our family of seven, and requires me to only make a few items from scratch. (I actually rely quite a bit on the Great Value vegetables in the steam packaging for the green beans and corn pudding. It makes the dishes taste very fresh, and it’s super affordable!)

What faves will you serve this holiday? Have you ever shopped at Walmart for your staples?

*I am a participant in the Walmart Moms program. Walmart provids me with compensation for my time on specific projects. Participation in this program is voluntary. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

Review of DUB Garage Toy Cars

4 boys in the house = someone asks for a toy car every year.....

Good thing we had the chance to review DUB Garage cars!  With several sizes and price points, there was a perfect car for each of my kids!  Just check this video of them playing with the D-Jayz (the larger car with the music mixing deck feature) and the Custom RIDEZ (which is motorized!)



We also have the larger Control Freakz R/C car to put under the tree this year. (My husband and I were VERY impressed with this car, which can be controlled via remote control or using the controls on the car itself!)

Find out about the entire very fun line at the official website!

*Samples received to review.  Opinions are definitely our own!

Click to Donate to Your Favorite Charity!

I love, love, love companies that let you donate to a worthy cause just by clicking your mouse.  With most of us a little more cash-strapped than usual, it means even more to me this year.  Upromise has joined the trend of letting consumers "click to donate" by offering their Facebook fans the chance to donate $1 to one of three charities just by visiting their Fan page!

Just visit their page, and choose from Reading is Fundamental, Junior Achievement, or Boys & Girls Club of America.  It takes about 2 seconds, and all the causes are great to support!  Your vote will be tallied, and Upromise will be announcing the selected charity and donation amount on December 23, 2011. Don't forget to share with your friends, every new LIKE is a dollar donated!

Hurry and get your vote in today!  And if you're still waiting on that last-minute shopping, might I suggest you stop by Upromise for opportunities to save and earn money for college?  (If you're shopping anyway, it just makes sense!)

*As a Upromise College Savings Ambassador, I am compensated to tell you about the program. However, all posts and experiences shared are my own.

Lille Punkin 2011 Last-Minute Holiday Gift List

If you are still trying to come up with the perfect last-minute gift, we've got a few that are guaranteed to make you smile:

The Animal Place Plush Toys

I have never seen a more lifelike version of wildlife than the stuffed toys lovingly created by the Animal Place.  We received a cute penguin to review, and since "Mr. Popper's Penguins" is all the rage at our house, the timing couldn't be more perfect.  Each animal is created from the inside out, composed of dozens of hand-crafted pieces, and hand-painted down to the last detail.  Your kids will have a friend for life with these adorable animals!  Find out more about HANSA's plush toys and save 15% on order placed before Dec. 31st with code PUNKIN2011 at www.theanimalplace.com

Pair-a-keets Socks

If finding just one of a sock has got you down, you'll appreciate the genuis behind the Pair-a-keets socks!  We'll be doing a full review of these fun and functional foot solutions soon (including a giveaway), but thought you'd like to get your order in now for the New Year.  Save on these socks that snap together for safe-keeping when you order before Jan 1st and score FREE SHIPPING!  Visit them at www.pairakeets.com.

Veggie Tales: The Little Drummer Boy on DVD

Holiday classics are made when you share them with your children.  That's why we loved watching this heart-warming version of the classic tale with our kids.  We adore how Veggie Tales brings humor and wit to the storylines, and how the message of Christmas really shines through!  This is a perfect stocking-stuffer for anyone who wants to show their child how precious even the smallest of us are.  Find out more about the DVD at the Veggie Tales website!

Zomsters Sustainable Kid Clothing and Art Gifts

If you're bored of the same-old baby gear, we've got an exciting and unique alternative for you!  Zomsters children's apparel is fun and fashionable, and the clothing is comfy, too!  We tried a onesie from the line with my son, and he really looked the part!  The graphics are engaging and the clothing is made with good stewardship in mind.  If you're not sure what size the little one in your life wears, or you want to get something for the grown ups on your list, check their their art prints -- perfect for a nursery, office, or anywhere!  (We love monsters at our house, especially the friendly ones.  This product line is perfect for our personalities!)  Get more info on the entire Zomsters family at their website!

*Samples were received of some items to review. No other compensation was received and opinions are 100% our own.

HappiTaps is a Safe Way for Tots to Play!

If you have a toddler and an iPhone in the home, you know that they really don't mix.  The kid wants to play with the iPhone, but really can't handle playing "nicely" with it.  We discovered a new way for little kids to play with the iPhone that doesn't end up with a cracked screen or tantrums, and it's very engaging!

HappiTaps is a combination of a cute, fuzzy iPhone case that resembles a teddy bear.  It even comes with a little clip to attach it to a car seat or stroller (so you don't lose it!)  When paired with the free app, it becomes a play center for your small child to learn and explore.  The screen becomes a teddy bear face that talks, sings, eats, and more!  There is also a neat mode that lets the kids use the iPhone and HappiTaps as a virtual rattle -- very cool!



My 18-month-old son loves this app.  I admit that the bear can be a bit annoying, so I appreciate that there is a range of settings for how "active" the critter is.  (If you just can't bear to hear the peppy bear voice talking constantly, set him on a less active setting.)  There is even a nap mode that lets your child put the HappiTaps bear down to sleep!

If you're considering an accessory that lets your younger child enjoy your iPhone safely, this soft and cuddly option is a good one.  Learn more at the HappiTaps website or purchase at Step 2!

*I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Infantino HappiTaps and received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked Premieres Today! (Givewaway)

It's official!  The newest installment of the family-friendly Chipmunks movie franchise is here!  You can take your family to this fun chipmunk adventure at theaters all across the U.S., and we're personally very excited to get our little critters to this flick.  (As soon as everyone gets over the flu, however... we've been dealing with sniffles and sickness all week!)

For those who aren't familiar with the movie, the vacationing Chipmunks and Chipettes are turning a luxury cruise liner into their personal playground, until they become ‘chipwrecked’ on a remote island. As the ‘Munks and Chipettes scheme to find their way home, they accidentally discover their new turf is not as deserted as it seems. Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked is rated G (fun for the whole family) and is in theaters nationwide this Friday, December 16th.

Sound like fun?  Just like the last movie, it also comes loaded with a catchy soundtrack that will have parents and kids singing along.  Just check out the lineup of songs in the film (which includes several covers of top hits):

1. Party Rock Anthem - Chipmunks & Chipettes
2. Bad Romance - Chipmunks & Chipettes  Listen Here
3. Trouble - Chipmunks & Chipettes
4. Whip My Hair – Chipettes Listen Here
5. Vacation - Chipmunks & Chipettes featuring BASKO
6. We Have Arrived - RAE featuring Classic
7. Say Hey - Chipmunks & Chipettes featuring Nomadik
8. Real Wild Child - Chipmunks & Chipettes featuring Nomadik
9. S.O.S. - Chipettes
10. We Speak No Americano/Conga - Chipettes featuring Barnetta DeFonseca
11. Survivor – Chipettes Listen Here
12. Born This Way/Ain't No Stopping Us/Firework - Chipmunks & Chipettes
13. Club Can't Handle Me - Chipmunks & Chipettes

Learn more about this fantastic film at the official website, follow them on Twitter (#chipwrecked), "Like" them on Facebook, or check out the videos on YouTube.





Wanna Win? We are giving one lucky a reader a chance to see the film (awarded as a $25 Fandango credit), as well as Alvin & The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked Soundtrack and Alvin and the Chipmunks and Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel  DVDs!  Total value of the prize pack is $80!

To be entered to win, just comment on this post with your favorite Chipmunk!  You have until December 28th to get your entries in!  You may enter every day. (Please answer the question for the first entry. Each entry after that can be "enter me.") Open to U.S. residents 18+.

Don't forget to enter our other blog giveaways while you're here!


*Prizing & sample courtesy of 20th Century Fox

Stuff Your Stocking for Less at Walmart

We have 5 kids to shop for this holiday, and the stockings can consume a big part of our shopping budget.  We took a trip to our local Walmart and found quite a few items my kids will love to find on Christmas morning -- and it all costs less than $50!

Here is what we bought:



What fun things will your kids find in their stockings this year?  Will Walmart be part of your plans?

*I am a participant in the Walmart Moms program. Walmart provids me with compensation for my time on specific projects. Participation in this program is voluntary. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

My Favorite Ice.com Holiday Pieces

I don't wear much jewelry, but when I do, it needs to be simple and make a statement.  I tend to prefer silver, classic pieces that go with anything and can be worn anywhere.  I also adore items that travel well -- I go all over the country for my job!

My two favorite items on the Ice.com site really match my personality:

The 1/7 Carat Crystal Sterling Silver Earrings are sleek yet showy.  They would sparkle with anything I wear during the holidays!

This 1/20 Carat Diamond and Sterling Silver Ring is unique, and would look nice on my right-hand.  I don't wear rings except for my wedding band and engagement set, so I wouldn't feel like I'm overdoing it with this fashion accessory.

What two items are your favorite on the Ice.com website?  Would they be something new from their collections (like the two I mentioned above?) Or would you pick an item that sells well every year? 

Wanna Save?  You can get in on an exclusive savings offer from Ice.com, just in time for that last-minute holiday shopping!  Simply shop via this link or use code  FBBOC to get your 20% savings!  (Some exclusions apply: This offer cannot be combined with any other offers. Offer is not valid for any clearance or sale items, engagement rings, watches or the Persona Charms Collection. Subject to availability. This offer expires January 15, 2012.)

Free Professional Grade Food Coloring from the Prepared Pantry!

I've got a delicious review for all you foodies!  If you've ever experimented with food coloring, you understand that it's important for the product to be easy to work with, true to the color you expect, and brilliant.  The food and candy coloring offered by The Prepared Pantry is all that, and it comes it such an array of colors!  We sampled some this month for our baking needs, and now you can try it, too (for free!)

Simply visit The Prepared Pantry on Facebook, give them a "Like" and click on the 3 FREE Food Colors Link.  You'll be asked to fill out some information, and your code good for 3 Free colors will arrive via email.  Use it to add the colors to your order for free (or just order the free colors and pay shipping.)

I suggest that you check out the store for any other baking goodies you might find delicious.  Their Sweet Sensations Gourmet Chopped Bark, for example, is a tasty, unique way to decorate cookies and cakes.

It's like peppermint bark, but comes in a variety of other delicious flavors (cherry, strawberry, apple, black forest, blueberry, and lemon.)  This pre-crushed topping can add some pizazz to the ordinary cupcake, and kids will love helping make your baked goods extra special!

It's not too late to get your order in for the holidays.  If the idea of some unique and tasty was to jazz up your baking appeals to you, check out The Prepared Pantry's website.

*Baking samples received for review.  Opinions are my own.