This Full House Reviews

Campbells Mom Bloggers Event and V-Fusion Frown Commercial For Your Eyes, Only!

I was very excited to have been invited as one of the Campbell's Mom Bloggers to visit the Campbell Soup Company's headquarters in Camden, NJ (I posted the blogging guest list, earlier this week) and I'm happy to report that we all got the 4-star treatment to an AWESOME tour of Campbell's Kitchen!

The Campbell Soup Company has been manufacturing soup for 140 years (among many other products that is in my pantry, right now, as I found out) and this was the first time that the they opened their doors to this sort of an event.

So, yeah, I've got lots of cool things to tell you, oh and show you, too (because, I flipped a whole lot of the event with my video camera) but, since I only got home this afternoon, my children are requesting (okay, more like DEMANDING) that I attend This Full House Friday Movie and Pizza Night, RIGHT NOW!

In the meantime, I got to sample V-Fusion (a V8 Juice that is manufactured by Campbell's) as well as a sneak-peek of their new commercial.  I have to say, it is one of the cutest ads I've seen since, well, the Superbowl.

It's not airing nationally until next week -- but, the Campbell's Mom Bloggers have been given the okay to go ahead and share it with our readers -- wanna see?

Because, that's how Campbell's rolls!

Tune in next week for more really interesting, informative and fun stuff from Campbell Soup Company - here's a taste:

• A tour of Campbell's Welcome Center
• Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe prepared by Chef Tom
• V-8 Fusion Smoothie Recipe prepared by Campbell's Kitchen Expert Cathy
• An Insider's Look at what's new at Campbell Soup Company
• Campbell's answers to This Full House reader questions

[Read more posts about the event:  Campbell's Mom Bloggers]

Have a great weekend!

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

Marketing to Moms: The Flipside of Bad Blogger Relations - These Are a Few of My Favorite PR Firms

Last week, at this time, I was pretty annoyed and it wasn't about my kids, either. Still.  I decided to write a post about the onslaught of viral marketing to moms on the Internets and the lack of respect I've been feeling, as a blogger, lately.

My friend (and blogging mentor) Jenn (a.k.a. Mommy Needs Coffee) has a terrific post up, giving kudos to a PR firm that she feels, gets it and it got me thinking (as usual) perhaps I should focus on the flipside and share the good things I've seen with marketing to moms on the Internets.

Especially, since (according to www.bsmmedia.com) 71 percent of us now use the Internet to get product information and moms (like me) are going online to find opinions of...you guessed it...other moms, like me.

Here's a list of my favorite PR Firms (in alphabetical order) and review blog networks that I have personally worked with, who I feel understand the need for blogger relations and the brands that they represent:

Open House Blog Tour: 3rd Showing

Welcome to the Open House Blog Tour where everyone (and anyone) is free to come and leave links (PG-13, please) telling us about your individual blogging events, fundraisers, giveaways, book tours, contests, or if you have a burning blog post and just need a shout out, go for it...I'm listening!

I mean, who couldn't use a little linky love?

Okay, I'll start with the latest blog post on my personal site:  Blogging Out Hunger - For every comment, Stop & Shop will donate $1.00 and up to $300.00 to our local food bank!  Have you left a comment, yet?

Comment (or, don't if you don't feel like it) but, make sure you leave a link in the Mr. Linky fields below along with a short description of the event.

And if you forget...don't worry...it'll be here, every Thursday...linked permanently in my archives (see sidebar on left) here and on my personal blog (two linkies for the price of one entry) so, if you happen to stop by whenever, you can leave your link then and let me know where I can mail the check!

Feel free to share.

Here's the button and the code to use:

<a href="http://www.thisfullhouse.com/"><img src="http://www.thisfullhouse.com/badges/this-full-house-open-house-blog-tour-150.png">

Happy blog hunting!

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

Valentine's Day Giveaway: Planetjill - Personalized Photo Jewelry & Gifts

[This giveaway has ended: WE HAVE A WINNER- Congratulations, Lisa C. 1/28/09!!!]

Valentine's Day is just around the corner -- seriously, flip your calendars and you'll see -- especially, if you're like me and love to shop the Internets for unique gifts created by some of the busiest people I know.

Parents.

Planetjill.com specializes in designing one-of-a-kind-sterling silver or gold pieces (like, necklaces, bracelets, key chains, cuff links, belt buckles, baby spoons, and more) with the faces of loved ones inside their unique charms.

Wanna see?

This Full House Visits Campbell's Kitchen: Got Questions?

Remember this commercial?

Nuh-uh, me either.  Still, I loved coming home after school and eating Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup and, like me, It's grown quite a bit, since then.

This week, I'm heading to the city of brotherly love (because, this Jersey mom knows, don't even think about calling it Philly!) I have the pleasure of being invited to visit Campbell Soup Company's headquarters in Camden, NJ (about an hour and a half drive from my own backyard, really) and tour Campbell's Kitchen, along with some of the coolest bloggers, I know:

MomCentral.com

Table4Five.net

ThisMamaCooks.com

MomAdvice.com

Busymom.net

Fromdatestodiapers.com

BecauseIsaidso.com

Momtothescreamingmasses.com

Momof3girls.net

Chicagonista.com

Campbell's products are sold in 120 countries around the world and I was surprised to learn that they also distribute a lot of brands you'll find in my pantry, too - like Pace, Pepperidge Farm, Prego Spaghetti Sauce, Swanson broths and V8 beverages.

I'm taking my Flip camera (thank you, Suave) and, hopefully, will be able to catch a bird's eye view of the Campbell Soup Company.

In the meantime, please feel free to leave any questions, or comments, you'd like me to relay to the soup people and I'll be more than happy to serve as your Ambassador of Mmmm...Mmmm...well, you know.

[Edited to Add:  Click here to read more about Campbell's Mom Blogger Event!]

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

[No payment has been received for this blog post]

Review Bloggers Carnival - 34th Edition

Welcome to the January 26, 2009 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!

Sunday Sampler: The Perfect Shot - New Photo Tip Video Series From Motorola

World's Largest Snowball:  Actually, it's snow-encrusted basketball...but, you won't tell anyone...right!?!?

It finally started to snow here in Jersey -- I know, my Seattle and Midwest friends have plenty that they are probably more than willing to share, even -- and, since Santa Claus did NOT bring me the really cool camera I've been wanting (honestly, I was happy he remembered the kids) I was able to capture some pretty cool shots, anyway.

Funny, what a Mom (like me) could do with a little Envy and a whole lot of photo editing!

I often embed my photos into blog posts (I'm not much of a scrapbooker) and, hopefully, my kids will one day be able to look back and see that, you know, living with me wasn't all THAT bad.

Photosharing has become a easier - especially, with cool tools you can find on the Internets - taking the right picture, not so much.

Then, I came across The Perfect Shot a new series of original videos offering tips on capturing great photos from professional photographer Reggie Casagrande and Motorola.

Here ya' go:

Cool, huh.  Now, I can only imagine what I blogger (like me) could do with one of those really cool cameras.

[sniff]

Since, you know, I don't have one.

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

Marketing to Moms & How NOT to Mess With A Blogger!

Look, it's no secret, I like getting stuff -- says so, right on my review blog -- but, what I especially like about blogging is finding out about stuff (whatever it is, I need, at the moment) connecting with others (like me) and then being able to share all the good stuff...with you guys ...FAST!

Yeah, sometimes I get invited to really cool events (seriously, even my real life friends were more than a little surprised to see pictures of me...in Hollywood) but, I've been doing this for almost 6 years now (blogging, I mean) and, whenever I get to do really cool stuff, I am very thankful for it.

The onslaught of viral marketing to moms on the Internets, not so much.

Inkheart Movie Trailer & Giveaway

[This giveaway has ended: WE HAVE OUR WINNER -Congratulations, Stephanie S.!!!]

Based on the best selling trilogy by Cornelia Funke, Inkheart is a family-friendly fantasy adventure that sends a father and daughter on a quest through worlds both real and imagined and it is truly one of our favorite books, ever!!!

Aaaand it is NOT because I'm totally crushing on Dustfinger (as, my two oldest girls keep insisting) but, casting Paul Bettany sure as heck can't hurt the chance that I may just want to see the movie, anyway...right?

Riiiight.

I'm working with the YouCast Corporation in helping to promote Inkheart, the movie, which opens in theaters January 23rd...HEY!...that's today!!!

Want to see it?

In honor of my son's 10th birthday (I can't believe my boy's graduating to double digits, today) we have a $20 Fandago Gift Certificate that one (1) lucky reader can use to see Inkheart, or whatever film you'd like, really.

Because, we roll like that.

FIND IT HERE:  INKHEART - Official Movie Website

WIN IT HERE:  GO TO THE GIVEAWAY ENTRY FORM ON THIS PAGE

Before 10:00 a.m. on Friday, January 30th (you must fill out an entry form for a chance to win) and enter your name and email.  One (1) winner will be picked (via random.org) and announced via email and post on PRIZEYWinners!  See the bottom of entry form for more details, including extra ways to win.

Gosh, but I love giving stuff away - good luck!

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

Open House Blog Tour: 2nd Showing

Welcome to the Open House Blog Tour where everyone (and anyone) is free to come and leave links (PG-13, please) telling us about your individual blogging events, fundraisers, giveaways, book tours, contests, or if you have a burning blog post and just need a shout out, go for it...I'm listening!

I mean, who couldn't use a little linky love?

Okay, I'll start with the latest blog post on my personal site:  Old House, Good Bones.

Comment (or, don't if you don't feel like it) but, make sure you leave a link in the Mr. Linky fields below along with a short description of the event.

And if you forget...don't worry...it'll be here every Thursday...linked permanently in my archives and sidebar (see left) so, if you happen to stop by whenever, you can leave your link then and let me know where I can mail the check!

Feel free to share.

Here's the button and the code to use:

<a href="http://www.thisfullhouse.com/"><img src="http://www.thisfullhouse.com/badges/this-full-house-open-house-blog-tour-150.png">

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

Review & Giveaway: Nana Star Children's Book Series

[This giveaway has ended: Thank you so much for visiting - A winner will be announced, very soon!!!]

Created by their grandmother, sisters Elizabeth Sills and Elena Patrice are committed to cultivating young imaginations through the Nana Star children's book series.

Their message is simple:  Nana Star encourages compassion, kindness and generosity.

I received "Nana Star" (the first story in the picture book series) as well as her next adventure, "Nana Star and the Moonman," a comforting story for troubled little sleepers, like my 7-year-old, who need to be reminded that they are not alone.

In a good way.

Spotlight on New Jersey: Liberty Science Center - Go and Get Your Geek On!

 
I've been to the Liberty Science Center, before -- yes, it's in Jersey! -- but, that was 2 kids ago and I've heard it's changed, since then.  So, along with a few dozen other families from the New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia Moms blogs, I was very happy to have been invited for the day and see what's new at LSC!

WeightWatchers.com: Sensible Foods - When all I really want is chocolate!

I recently entered a giveaway (yeah...I like getting stuff, too) and was announced as one of the winners in the NYC Moms Giveaway Contest - Weight Watchers Way to a Sensible You.  The box arrived and sat by our front door for a few days.

No, I wasn't in a rush to open it.

Why?

Oh, I was grateful to have won.  I needed a new scale and haven't had one in the house since, well, forever.  It's just that, you know, it was from Weight Watchers and "sensible" just doesn't taste as good as chocolate, right?

You'd be surprised - I was.

Open House Blog Tour: 1st Showing

My husband, Garth (not his real name) and I love attending open houses -- especially, if it's a home that we've admired, or wondered...you know...what it looks like inside -- even though we are by no means in the position to buy a new house, which perhaps goes against exhibiting proper open house etiquette, I guess.

Still, it's a great way to get new decorating ideas.  Sort of like window shopping and seeing exactly what the product looks like, or how it's used, in a real house.

Maybe, I will buy that really cool thing-a-muh-jiggy, after all.

So, I said to myslef...SELF!...wouldn't it be nice if there was a way we could all go visit each others blogs and check out what's hiding under those couch cushions, anyway!?!?

Welcome to the Open House Blog Tour (also, running on personal blog) where everyone (and anyone) is free to come and leave links (PG-13, please) telling us about your individual blogging events, fundraisers, giveaways, book tours, contests, or if you just need a shout out, go for it...I'm listening!

I mean, who couldn't use a little linky love?

Comment (or, don't if you don't feel like it) but, make sure you leave a link in the Mr. Linky fields below along with a short description of the event.

It's running on both of my blogs, DOUBLE THE LINKS, because I roll like that.

And if you forget...don't worry...it'll be here every Thursday...linked permanently in my archives and sidebar (see left) so, if you happen to stop by whenever, you can leave your link then and let me know where I can mail the check!

Feel free to share.

Here's the button and the code to use:

<a href="http://www.thisfullhouse.com/"><img src="http://www.thisfullhouse.com/badges/this-full-house-open-house-blog-tour-150.png">

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

Review and Giveaway: About Sauvenomics, Get Some Suave for Free and How You Can Own A Copy of Glamour Reel Moments on DVD!

[This giveaway has ended: Winners will be announced, very soon!!!]

The Sauve brand believes beauty should be recession-proof and, apparently, they are willing to prove it.  They call it Suavenomics - living beautifully for less - and have asked us to put it to the test!

So, are Suave products as good as the more expensive leading brands?