This Full House Reviews

Cooking-Hits.com Website Launch for Mom Foodies!

I don't know about you guys, but I have quite a large collection of cookbooks, sitting on a shelf somewhere collecting dust, that I just don't get the chance to read, or find their recipes are not as helpful as I once thought.

Hi, my name is Liz and I am a homecook in desperate need of some serious remedial help -- I NEED PICTURES OF OUR FOOD, PEOPLE!!!

Cooking-Hits.com is a new website (launched this week) that allows moms (like me) to search for recipes based on individual food and ingredient preferences, based on keywords or categories, such as events (i.e. bridal showers, holidays) ethnicity (i.e. Italian, Chinese, Mexican) cooking techniques, health considerations and cost.

Here's the hook:  the site allows members to post videos of their favorite recipes, as well as comment and rate other people's recipes.

Want to see?

Introducing Alice.com: Never Run Out of Toilet Paper, AGAIN!

Let's be frank, shall we?  After 15 years of raising 4 kids and killer dust bunnies, I have become severely and irreversibly domestically challenged.  We run out of important household stuff, like toilet paper, all the time; sometimes I don't even notice, until I'm sitting on the toilet, or someone hollers:

"I need toilet paper!"

That's why I am very excited to introduce you to my new friends at Alice.com!

101 Days of Summer Fun from Club Penguin

We got the chance to review Club Penguin earlier this year and I wanted to let you know about a fun program that’s recently kicked off in Club Penguin as part of an effort to give kids (and the grown ups who love them) ideas on some creative things to do over the summer holidays from school.

101 Days of Fun includes daily and weekly suggestions of activities (on and offline) from tips on how to uncover secret game levels online to examples of recipes and crafts that players can do at home.

Anything to help pass the time on those really rainy or "But, it's too hot to go outside" sort of summery days, right?

FIND IT HERE:  http://community.clubpenguin.com/funactivities/

[No payments or products were received for this blog post - just passing along some useful information I find in my mailbox courtesy of Disney Online Studios and Club Penguin]

Check out other Weekend Specials and Reader Discount Codes!

© 2009 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

A Different Way to Celebrate Father's Day with Tributes.com

One of my 13 year-old's bffs lost her father during the Christmas holidays, a few years ago (they were only 8 and in the 2nd grade together, at the time) as you can imagine, Father's Day is a very difficult time for their family, too.   Her younger sister is my youngest girl's age and the poor thing doesn't even remember their Father.

According to David Kessler, grief expert for Tributes.com:

“The idea that ‘holidays are a special time to be with loved ones’ was imprinted on us from a young age. For many people, this is the hardest part of grieving, when we miss our loved ones even more than usual.”

So, rather than linking to the tons of last-minute gift ideas cramming my mailbox at the moment, I decided to share a few ideas on a different way to celebrate Father's Day, this year:

TheFabricofOurLives.com: Summer Camp Essentials and Staycation Tips

Take a "Staycation"

Relax and Recharge In Destination Home

Have you heard about Cotton Incorporated's new website at www.thefabricofourlives.com?  I found it to be a great resource for information on cotton fashion, home décor, crafts and lifestyle related topics that even a professional dork (like me) can follow easily:

---->  Cotton Incorporated’s Lifestyle Monitor ™ data reveals that 47% of female respondents have cut back on travel or vacation plans this year due to the economy. Instead, “staycations,” are the theme for the summer. Consumers are opting to vacation in their own hometown - a great way to relax and recharge without breaking the bank. Cotton Incorporated offers some tips and ideas in Take a Staycation for a successful and enjoyable vacation with all the comforts of home.

---->  Cool nights, hot days.  Swimming, hiking. Ease of care. Durable.  The lists of needs for a child’s summer camp wardrobe are endless. Cotton Incorporated has created a primer on what to pack in Summer Camp Essentials to help parents cover all the bases.

My kids will be attending Camp Thompson, AGAIN, this year...how about yours?

[No payments or products were received for this blog post - just passing along some useful information I find in my mailbox courtesy of Daddi Brand Communications and Cotton, Incorporated.

Check out other Weekend Specials and Reader Discount Codes!

© 2009 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

Rosie's Five Tips for Catching Up to Your Internet Savvy Kids

It’s no secret, kids today are much more technologically advanced than their parents and my kids are no exception.

If you're a frazzled and wigged-out, or frustrated time freak of a parent (like me) or perhaps even a grandparent, who's feeling a little "behind" when it comes to the amount of fast-paced information traveling along the Internets, here are five tips from RosieKnows.com:

T-Mobile Mom to Mom Quiz: What's Your Parenting Style?

Raising kids, especially teens, requires a real good sense of humor and T-Mobile has designed this fun Mom to Mom Quiz as a cool way for parents to discover facets of their personalities and determine their "parenting style."

TheFabricofOurLives.com: Summer Fashion Finds & Budget-Friendly Ideas in Cotton

Memorial Day is still 2 weekends away -- I know, I can't believe it...either -- but, the kids and I live, breath and pretty much swear by everything cotton; especially, to help beat the summertime heat, here in Jersey.

I found this cute widget over at Cotton Incorporated’s www.thefabricofourlives.com website, which is the a very comprehensive site available for information on cotton fashion, home décor, crafts and lifestyle related topics.

They also sent me some quick tips on how to "naturally" cool your home, finding trendy AND affordable summertime fashions, cover ups for kids and...MY FAVORITE ANYTIME FASHION STATEMENT...the classic durability of denim:

2009 Glambassador for Glamour Magazine: I've been crowned!

Yeah, I applied to be a Glambassador.  Why?  Well, it sounded like fun and I thought it would be a great opportunity for me to represent, you know, all us "real moms" in cyberspace.  So, I sent them a video, a few months ago, while hiding from my kids in the bathroom, sans makeup!

Liz Thompson Glambassador? from Liz Thompson on Vimeo.

Boy, my hair got long, right?  Aaaanyway.  Guess what?  I got picked!  What?  Oh, so you wanna know how a self-professed professional dork (like me) would even be considered for such a title, let alone, you know, wanna wear a crown?

Good question.

I am very excited to, once again, be working with Glamour Magazine -- having attended the Glamour Reel Moments Film Fesitval to help support women in film -- and look forward to sharing with you guys all the latest fashion and beauty products that even a dork (like me) could wanna love!

Besides, us "real moms" have to stick together...uh-huh...oh, and women, most especially, should try to help support each other, whenever we DO get the chance, right?

[sound of crickets chirping]

Riiiight.  Aaaanyway, just wish me luck and I love you forever, 'kay?

 

© 2008 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

An Open Invitation to Zula World Beta Testing, Just for You (Yes, YOU!)

Last year, I had an opportunity to participate in a PBN blog blast to help promote The Zula Patrol - a show on PBS promoting science education among 4-8 year olds - and it gave me an opportunity to talk about how my husband, Garth (not his real name) and I were bringing science back for our kids.

We were given the opportunity of screening The Zula Patrol Explore Space DVD and it took me a while to convince my 7 year-old that it was NOT a video game.

I thought that preschoolers would appreciate the vibrant colors and catchy theme song and also recommended The Zula Patrol Space Explore Space to 1st and 2nd graders (still do) because, there's enough drama to satisfy even the PG-rated set and the only thing parents had to fear is the possibility of going into some sort of seizure, from an overload of cuteness.

In a non-threatening sort of way, of course!

Today, I'm excited to tell you that they've launched a new website for kids 6+ years and have the opportunity to pass along an invitation to a private beta testing of Zula World, just for you.

Because, we roll like that!

Stouffer's Says, Take the Let's Fix Dinner Challenge and You Could Win a Wii!

Something's gotta give and (at our house) that something is usually dinner!

Today, a bunch of my blogging friends are in Ohio (yep, I was supposed to go, but you know, life happens and, well, I'm not there, but wish I was) because, these moms are talking to the folks at Stouffer's about what's keeping families (like mine) from eating together, sharing suggestions on cooking time and management with industry experts and (hopefully) taking lots and lots of notes!!!

Oh, and to help my dear mom blogging friend's out, who won't be home tonight, I hear that Stouffer's is sending their families dinner.

Are you serious?

Video Interview With Bobbi Brown

Did you know that Barnes & Noble has a new tricked out website featuring video interviews with authors, like Bobbbi Brown?

Me either.

It's called Barnes & Noble Tagged!  This week, make up guru Bobbie Brown shares her secrets and talks about her new book, "The Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual" and I've got the video, right here!



It's nice to be able to see writers talk all, you know, up close and personal, right?

FIND IT HERE:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/Tagged/

The Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual is also available at Amazon.com!

© 2009 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

[No payment has been received for this blog post]

2009 Friends & Family Savings at Lane Bryant: Save 30% on Entire Purchase March 7th & 8th

[click on coupon to view full-size and print!]

It's good for 30% off your entire purchase (except SPANX)-- plus you earn $25 Real Women Dollars for every $50 you spend in the store.

The coupon also has a promo code that makes it accessible online-- and that sale even starts early on March 6th.

Go for it!!!

FIND IT HERE:  http://www.lanebryant.com

© 2009 This Full House, This Full House Reviews - All Rights Reserved.

[No payment has been received for this blog post]

"Updated" Review & Giveaway: Revisiting Bella Sara and Baby Bella with Treaures & Miniatures

[THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED:  WE HAVE A WINNER - CONGRATULATIONS, COLETTE!!!]

My youngest daughter (she's 7) and I had the pleasure of visiting North by North, the magical online land and home to the beautiful horses pictured on Bella Sara trading cards, last fall with our review of Bella Sara and Baby Bella.

Hope (formerly known as Mini-me) has been an avid fan of Bella Sara, ever since.

Virtual worlds, collecting figures and trading cards are all the rage in my neighborhood and our house is no exception.  Thanks to my friends at Team Mom, we got a special sneak peek at TWO of Bella Sara's brand new product lines: Treasures & Miniatures!

Club Penguin: A Virtual Playground Where Kids Get to Waddle Around and Make Friends - Parental Discretion is Allowed!

[THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED:  WE HAVE A WINNER - CONGRATULATIONS, JAMAISE!!!]

My kids and I discovered Club Penguin -- a popular virtual world for kids -- a few years ago and all I heard, most days, was how my two oldest girls (now 13 and 15) were saving up their virtual coins to buy puffles.

What are puffles?

Well, puffles are furry little pets that (I think) look an awful lot like tribbles (gosh, but I'm dating myself) and one of the many fun things kids get do on a snow-covered island of Club Penguin.


Wanna see?