This Full House Reviews

Product Review & Giveaway: My Handiwork Studio - A Fashion and Needle Arts Community for Kids!

[This giveaway has ended:  WE HAVE A WINNER - Congratulations, Kelly!!!]

My oldest daughter (she's 14) is studying to be a fashion, or graphics designer, but all of my kids have always been into crafts.  Especially, ever since they were real little, when they were old enough to roll dough, or handle a pair of safety scissors.

Whose doesn't?

That's why, I'm excited to tell you about a new website I just found - MyHandworkStudio.com is the new, safe virtual needle arts and fashion community where kids can be creative, learn new crafts and share their designs with new friends.

Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean that mommy (or, daddy) can't learn something, or won't find it fun, too!

Meanwhile, Back at Kamp Kegel - Part XII

Hey, it's Friday [sound of trumpets] HAPPY HALLOWEEN!  It's time to close out the work week with some very hot links, brought to you by a couple of equally amazing women, who happen to be totally HAWT, too!

My friends from Kamp Kegel (generously hosted by Johnson & Johnson for the makers of babies, everywhere) are holding reunions in the form of a weekly post roundup.

Here's what my fellow hair-braiding badge awardees were up to this week - oh AND there are some pretty cool contests and giveaways, too:

Spotlight on New Jersey: Pittsgrove Farms - Get the Dirt on Planting Irises, Peonies and Daylillies!

"A love of gardening doesn’t start in one day – it’s cultivated over time. For more than 30 years our family has cultivated our love of gardening one plant at a time." ~ Pittsgrove Farms

 

I come from a long line of agriculturists -- my father was a landscaper, my grandfather and both my great-grandfathers were master gardeners to noble families in Europe -- and I often tell my children that gardening is in their blood.

"Ewww, get it out!"

My 7-year-old daughter has this habit of taking the things I say literally, lately.

Pittsgrove Farms is owned and run by very close family friends (Mini-me's Godparents, actually) and they are a premier grower of irises, peonies, daylilies and select varieties of perennials, from right here in New Jersey.

"Our goal is to provide the highest quality perennials and inspire a love of gardening."

Looking ahead to next spring, the fall (okay, and even the looooong winter) is the best time to start planning for next year's garden and Pittsgrove Farm has some really great tips on the planting and care of irises, peonies and daylillies.

FIND IT HERE:  PittsgroveFarms.com

[Spotlight on New Jersey is a new feature where I share information on some of the really great stuff you can find, from right here in Jersey!]

© 2008 This Full House and This Full House Reviews - All Rights Reserved.

Product Review & Giveaway: Bella Sara and Baby Bella - A trading card game for girls!

[This giveaway has ended:  WE HAVE OUR WINNERS - Congratulations to Rebecca C, Xenia, Abby, Ginny and MaryBeth Isaac!!!]

She's just a girl - living in a Pokemon world - but, in real life, my girls have always loved to play with dolls, dress them up and pretend to live in a place where fashion, games and shopping ruled the world.

Who wouldn't?

Virtual worlds, collecting figures and trading cards are all the rage in the neighborhood and our house is no exception.

So, when Mini-me opened the 2 packs of Bella Sara trading cards she received, featuring some really beautiful horses, we actually got a sneak-peek of the cutest little foals included in the new Baby Bella cards coming out, next month.

I'm thinking, SCORE, there are plenty of reasons why this would make an AWESOME gift suggestion for the grandparents!

[looks left, looks right, then left, again]

Wanna see?

Bloggy Giveaways: We Cheer - New Cheerleading Game for Wii!

[This giveaway has ended:  WE HAVE OUR WINNERS - Congratulations to Nicole, GJ and Ashley!!!]

I am so excited to be participating in the Bloggy Giveaways Carnival, a fun festival of freebies shared around the Internets (seriously, mine is listed as number 599) and for this month's giveaway, I am including the new cheerleading game we received from Namco Bandai Games.

It's called, "We Cheer" and we've got 3 copies to giveaway to play with your Wii!

Got girls?

Review Bloggers Carnival - 29th Edition

Welcome to the October 27, 2008 Edition of the Review Bloggers Carnival!

It's no secret. I like getting stuff. I like writing about the stuff that we like and perhaps make my family's life a little easier. Especially, if it works!

Or, I haven't managed to break it...YET!

Do you have a review blog - or, perhaps found a product (or, service) that you really, really like and you're aching to share with the rest of the blogosphere - then, you may be interested to learn that the Review Bloggers Carnival has come to This Full House!

Clean off a chair and come on in - mi casa, y su casa - as we canvas the Internets and share together in the ultimate consumer experience....window shopping!

This Full House Giveaway #28: Baby Blues, X-treme Parenting and Interview with Creators, Rick Kirkman and Jerry Scott!

[This giveaway has ended:  WE HAVE OUR WINNERS - Congratulations to bunny, Busy Mom, Peter, Rebecca C, Nicole Pelton, Audrey, sandy, JayMonster, Caryn B and Marcy!!!]

(c) 2008 Baby Blues Partnership

My husband Garth (not his real name) and I are big Baby Blues fans - especially, after our oldest daughter was born - and the comic strip very well may be the original ‘parenting blog,’ chronicling the misadventures of parenthood.

Guess that's why we love it so much, huh Hon?

For those of you who aren't familiar with the strip - although, I can't imagine anyone, you know, who isn't - Baby Blues follows the adventures of a mid-30s career couple, Wanda and Darryl MacPherson and their 3 zany kids, Zoe, Hamish and Wren.

Recently, I had the extreme pleasure of interviewing the awesome creators of Baby Blues, Jerry Scott (he writes the strip) and Rick Kirkman (the gifted artists that animates the ideas) and am I the only one who thinks it's funny, you know, how they don't look anything like Darryl, or Wanda?

This Full House Giveaway #27: Animal Paradise for Nintendo DS - Beware of Cute Overload!

[This giveaway has ended:  WE HAVE OUR WINNERS - Congratulations, Susan C., Betty Shoemaker and Kimberly!!!]

It's no secret - my family is totally into gaming - we love learning about new video games, especially hand held games that are featured in the "pet product" genre and help kids learn, or teaches them responsibility, without them even knowing about it.

It's called "stealth parenting" and, thanks to  Empire Interactive, my arsenal just got upped a notch!

Got pets?

ShopRite Weekly Savings Widget

Hey Mom, what's for dinner - depends upon what's on sale, this week, yes?

Check out this new ShopRite Weekly Specials Widget - isn't it cool?  You can customize it to list savings at your local ShopRite and paste it to your favorite web pages, including Blogger, TypePad, and iGoogle.

Gosh, but I am a SUCKER for cool new savings tools that help feed the Internets ;o)

FIND IT HERE: ShopRite Weekly Specials Widget

© 2008 This Full House and This Full House Reviews - All Rights Reserved. 

Glamour Reel Moments: Just Another Mom's View from the Red Carpet - Day 2

See what happens, when Mom Bloggers hit Hollywood (HARD) and yes, perhaps you should be afraid, be very, very afraid!

Suave invited me to attend the 2008 Glamour Reel Moments film festival, last week (I do NOT know how that happened, either) hosted by Glamour Magazine.  You see, the magazine holds a contest (three years, now) where readers submit their stories and then famous actresses pick their favorite idea and make it into a short film.

Day 1 was fun - seriously, I love meeting new blogging buddies - but, it was Day 2 that really brought us together, some for the first time, as bloggers hit the red carpet!

Daily Grommet: Fresh Finds, True Stories for Women, Like Me!

The Daily Grommet (gotta love that name) is a daily product discovery site for women that features cool new gadgets and a growing list of stuff that haven't even hit the big time, yet.

Like what?

Well, from the best mascara in the world (it comes from Japan) to a clever airplane seat restraint for children, invented by a grandmother!

BOOYAH and pass the Diet Coke, but there's more:

This Full House Giveaway #26: Pillsbury Savoring the Moment Gift Bags

[This giveaway has ended:  WE HAVE OUR WINNERS - Congratulations, Jamie Z and sandy!!!]

Hey, it's Friday [sound of trumpets] and, at our house, we celebrate the end of the work week with pizza and a movie - or, anything that doesn't involve cooking, really - while, my husband Garth (not his real name) and I savor the thought of NOT having to rush through the evening, or help anyone finish their homework!

[heavy sigh]

Yep, it's the quiet little moments (like tonight) that make parents (like us) a little happier and now, thanks to our generous friends at Pillsbury.com, you can bring happy hour home to your house AND in just 20 minutes, too!

Glamour Reel Moments: When Bloggers Unite - Day 1

Bloggers invited to the premier of Glamour Reel Moments (left to right) Cindy (Hello Dollface!), Nadine (Jolie Nadine), Amy (Mom Advice), Michelle (Scribbit), Dawn (Because, I Said So), Lianne (The Makeup Girl), Liz (This Full House) and Beth (Role Mommy)!

Suave invited me to attend the 2008 Glamour Reel Moments film festival, this week (I do NOT know how that happened, either) hosted by Glamour Magazine.  You see, the magazine holds a contest (three years, now) where readers submit their stories and then famous actresses pick their favorite idea and make it into a short film.

Why?

There's a shortage of women directors in Hollywood (I know, act surprised anyway) and Kirsten Dunst, Jennifer Aniston, Kate Hudson, Rita Wilson and Gwyneth Paltrow have all made their directorial debuts with Glamour Reel Moments, which helps promote women in film.

This year?

Glamour Reel Moments is sponsored by Suave and I just love their current ad campaign (have you seen this commercial, yet?) and it's pretty clear that Suave is committed to helping mothers feel pretty, all over again!

I'm pretty sure it IS the reason they asked ME, anyway.

[smiles and breaks camera, again]

So, here's what happened.

Home Depot: All About the Savings Contest

The Home Depot wants to know how people are saving energy in their home in its “Save Money. Save Energy. Win Big.” video contest.

So, how's it work and what's in it for you...you say?

$5,000 sure can pay for a lot of those nasty little repairs piling up on the honey-do list, yes?

Just shoot a short video to show how you're saving money and helping the environment by making your home more energy efficient.

Enter your video between now and November 9, 2008.  The contest winner will receive a $5,000 Home Depot gift card and up to $2,000 for installed insulation or radiant barrier products from The Home Depot.

[Just so you know, this IS an unpaid announcement - because, we roll like that!]

FIND IT HERE:  HomeDepot.com/youtube

© 2008 This Full House and This Full House Reviews - All Rights Reserved.

Free Shipping & Discount Codes

This week, I'm away in L.A. on mommyblogging business (yeah, I don't know how that happened either) but, some really nice folks have sent along great tips and cool new websites to share with you (yes, YOU!) and today, it's all about discounts and free shipping codes!