This Full House Reviews

Choose You Campaign Less Cancer, More Birthdays Healthy Lifestyle Giftbag

[CONGRATULATIONS:  JULIE L (COMMENT #52) PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS!!!]

According to the The American Cancer Society, when asked to pick one day to focus on themselves and their health each year, the majority of women (65 percent) chose their birthday.

Today (May 28th) is MY birthday and, in celebration of the 17th Anniversary of my 29th birthday (ahem) I am proud to partner with the Choose You movement (doing something special on my mom-type-blog, too) to shine the spotlight on a sobering statistic: one in three women will get cancer in her lifetime.

Considering my twin brother has been battling cancer for a few years, now (AND WINNING!) I am committed to finding and sharing ways in which women (especially, moms like me) can lead a healthier lifestyle.

Why?

Because, it's My birthday, being nice matters and cancer sucks wet poodle!

Open House Blog Tour - 56th Showing

My husband, Garth [not his real name] and I love attending open houses - especially, if it's a home that we've admired from the sidewalk, or wondered...you know...what the heck is going on in there? 

Welcome to the 55th Showing of our 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 to shout out, go for it!

WHAT, IS YOUR LINK TOO LONG?  NO PROBLEM:  Shorten your links with http://bit.ly/ (it's easy AND free!) or, if you need to edit a link -- just let me know -- I can do that, too.

Okay, I'll start:

Leave a link, or comment, if you'd like -- trust me, I know how busy you are -- and, don't worry if you forget, it'll be here, linked permanently on our Open House Page (24/7) so, if you happen to stop by, whenever, just go ahead and leave your link; I'm easy.

ALREADY SHOWING: OPEN HOUSE BLOG TOURS

Thanks SO MUCH for sharing and don't hesitate to come back, next week -- we'll leave the porch light on for ya!

[Please, clean off a chair, stay a while AND feel free to visit my personal blog and I'll love you forever!

© 2010 This Full House ~ This Full House Gone Shopping - All Rights Reserved.

Got Acne? Stridex Naturally Clear - Summer Survival Kit Giveaway

[WE HAVE OUR WINNERS: CONGRATULATIONS RAE HIGGINS (#37) TINA (#43) AND AMANDA STARR (#2) PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAILS FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS ]

Got acne?  Unfortunately, raising 2 teens and 2 tweens (ages 16 to 9) and my STILL suffering from adult acne (UGH!) the battle against blemishes is a rite of passage, in our house.

Still, I try to be very careful with acne medicines we use -- my middle girl (she's 14) got a terrible rash, using something I ordered from an infomercial, once -- and all of my cosmetics are for sensitive skin.

So, when the nice folks representing Stridex contacted me about a new alcohol-free product with 1% salicylic acid (my skin can't handle benzoyl peroxide) I was all, like, got any extra?

Easy Peasy Pizza Fondue

I have a love/hate relationship with cooking - love to cook, hate that I simply cannot find the time to, you know, actually cook something. 

"What's for dinner?"

[blank stare]

Especially, around this time of year, with end of school events, my crazy work schedule and the older kids' final exams making it nearly impossible for any of us to sit still, long enough to breath, let alone take a meal together.

Yesterday was one of those days.

"But, I had chicken at Medieval Times!"

My 11 year-old's 5th grade trip put the kibosh on my plans for a baked chicken dinner AND the rest of the kids were pretty tired of pasta...me, too.

I stared at the meagerness of the kitchen cupboard -- hate food shopping, more than cooking, go figure -- then, I remembered my favorite 5th grade Home Economics class project.

"How about pizza fondue?"

The kids were skeptical and, since it has been eleventy-hundred years -- I don't think they even teach Home Economics, anymore -- I had my doubts, too.

Pizza fondue in a crockpot?

LeapFrog's New Mobile Learning Device: Can You Guess What It Is?

In 1995, LeapFrog was founded after a dad discovered that the toy market offered nothing to help his 3-year-old learn phonics. It's the year that the company introduced its first product (LeapFrog Phonics Writing Desk) and LeapFrog has consistently been coming up with cool interactive toys to help parents (like me) teach kids basic skills, ever since.

This summer, Leapfrog will be announcing their new mobile learning device - shhhhhh, it's a secret; can you guess the device?

I have absolutely NO IDEA what it is, either.  Still, I'm just itching to give one away - want to be one of the very first people ANYWHERE to own one?

Nate Berkus: 10 Simple Design Tips to Live Your Best Life

Designer, Nate Berkus Photo credit:  Oprah.com

Thanks to my friends at Truvia (pronounced, tru-vee-uh) I had the extreme privilege of attending Oprah's Live Your Best Life Weekend for O Magazine's 10th Anniversary celebration  with life experts, like Martha Beck, Suze Orman, Elizabeth Gilbert and the grand dame of inspiration, Oprah herself.

I posted my recap of the Oprah event, here.

My favorite part?  Listening to design expert Nate Berkus -- his website is still under construction, but you can find Nate's designs on HSN -- besides the fact that he IS absolutely adorable (seriously, Dude, I want your hair) Nate's simple design philosophy really resonated with me:

"Design is not about the money or keeping up with anyone else. It's about the story behind [your choices]." — Nate Berkus

6 people, living in a 7 room house, you'll hear NO argument from me.  In fact, I even took some notes, with my Oprah pen -- here are Nate's 10 Simple Design Tips:

Are You Clueless or Crafty?

In her new book, "Do It Gorgeously: How to Make Less Toxic, Less Expensive, and More Beautiful Products," Sophie Uliano demonstrates how women can update their beauty regimen, create an eco-friendly home, adopt a healthier diet and fitness routine, indulge in guilt-free shopping, and more, all whilst making a positive impact on the earth.

So, I took the Gorgeously Green Quiz (only 6 questions) and, as per the results, it seems I, "Need a Bit of Help!"

I know (act surprised, anyway) looks like I also need to get Sophie's book, huh -- go ahead, give it a whirl and maybe even win some pretty prizes, too -- how about you; clueless or crafty?

 

© 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

FWIW:  NO PAYMENTS, OR CONSIDERATION, OTHER THAN SHARE THE CHANCE TO WIN SOME PRETTY PRIZES, WAS RECEIVED FOR THIS BLOG POST.

Open House Blog Tour - 55th Showing

My husband, Garth [not his real name] and I love attending open houses - especially, if it's a home that we've admired from the sidewalk, or wondered...you know...what the heck is going on in there? 

Welcome to the 55th Showing of our 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 to shout out, go for it!

WHAT, IS YOUR LINK TOO LONG?  NO PROBLEM:  Shorten your links with http://bit.ly/ (it's easy AND free!) or, if you need to edit a link -- just let me know -- I can do that, too.

Okay, I'll start:

Leave a link, or comment, if you'd like -- trust me, I know how busy you are -- and, don't worry if you forget, it'll be here, linked permanently on our Open House Page (24/7) so, if you happen to stop by, whenever, just go ahead and leave your link; I'm easy.

ALREADY SHOWING: OPEN HOUSE BLOG TOURS

Thanks SO MUCH for sharing and don't hesitate to come back, next week -- we'll leave the porch light on for ya!

[Please, clean off a chair, stay a while AND feel free to visit my personal blog and I'll love you forever!

© 2010 This Full House

Snapfish Last Minute Father's Day Gift Ideas & Giveaway

[WE HAVE A WINNER: CONGRATULATIONS, ANNE -- COMMENT #14 -- PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS!!!]

 

If you are like me -- a bit frazzled, often times running late, or forgetting something -- and you have kids in school, well, then, you ALREADY know that this is perhaps one of THE busiest times of the year!

All 4 of my kids go to 4 different schools, 3 of them are graduating to new schools, this year (UGH!) aaaaand, my youngest daughter's birthday is in June.

[slaps forehead]

Father's Day sort of gets lost on our calendar. 

HP and Snapfish (2 of my favorite brands) are offering a nice variety of memorable photo gifts and printables (yes, it's a word!) and have offered to share them with one of you (yes, maybe even YOU!) just in time for Father's Day.

Or, for whatever day you'd like it to be...really...so, come on in, clean off a chair and check it out!

Oprah's Live Your Best Life Weekend: Truvia at Oprah Event Recap

I had the extreme privilege of attending Oprah's Live Your Best Life Weekend for O Magazine's 10th Anniversary celebration with a very good friend of mine (waves to Gina) where we learned life tips from experts, like Martha Beck, Suze Orman, Elizabeth Gilbert, Nate Berkus and the grand dame of inspiration, Oprah herself.

Along with eleventy-hundred of Oprah's biggest fans, I mean -- you can almost see the end of the line, at the traffic light, waaaay over there -- so, how the heck did WE get in anyways?

Vistaprint: Personalized Photo Book Giveaway

[COMMENTS ARE CLOSED:  Congratulations, MitchJ -- please see your email for further instructions!!!]

Vistaprint is a printing company that offers such great products as Birthday Invitations, Custom T-shirts, and Personalized Mugs.

I ordered my business cards (pictured above) for BlogHer '10 and I am a very happy Vistaprint customer.  

They are easy to use (if I can create a business card, then anyone can) and I am very satisfied with the quality of their work.

[see business card above]

My good friends at Team Mom have presented me with an exclusive opportunity to share some good stuff with you (yes, YOU!) and, well, how could I say no, right?

Wanna see?

Open House Blog Tour - 54th Showing

My husband, Garth [not his real name] and I love attending open houses - especially, if it's a home that we've admired from the sidewalk, or wondered...you know...what the heck is going on in there? 

Welcome to the 54th Showing of our 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 to shout out, go for it!

WHAT, IS YOUR LINK TOO LONG?  NO PROBLEM:  Shorten your links with http://bit.ly/ (it's easy AND free!) or, if you need to edit a link -- just let me know -- I can do that, too.

Okay, I'll start:

Leave a link, or comment, if you'd like -- trust me, I know how busy you are -- and, don't worry if you forget, it'll be here, linked permanently on our Open House Page (24/7) so, if you happen to stop by, whenever, just go ahead and leave your link; I'm easy.

ALREADY SHOWING: OPEN HOUSE BLOG TOURS

Thanks SO MUCH for sharing and don't hesitate to come back, next week -- we'll leave the porch light on for ya!

[Please, clean off a chair, stay a while AND feel free to visit my personal blog and I'll love you forever!

© 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

Frigidaire Test Drive: The FINAL Countdown - Microwave of Microwaves

I am very excited (okay, so, this is where my kids would interrupt and suggest, "SHOCKED," as a more accurate description of my reaction) to have partnered with Mom Central as one of their Fridgidaire Test Drive Moms - Team Everything!

Why?

Well, as I mentioned in my inaugural post, 'cawse nobody breaks stuff, like I do! 

Here's a quick recap (you're welcome!)

• We survived THE BIG INSTALL
• My attempts at burning down the house
• Not to mention, nearly snapping the wheels off the dishwasher
• Using the over-the-range-microwave as a, well, on-the-counter-for-now-microwave
• Playing a game of Fridge or Dare
• Then, about six weeks in at this point, really began working out the kinks

We're in the final countdown of the program:

• Dishwasher still working? [check]
• Gotten over my fear of the convection oven? [check]
• Refrigerator STILL running? [check]

Aaaand, if you're still reading along, with me, well, you might as well consider yourself family, at this point, which means you are also very surprised I haven't broken anything yet, and here's why...

Books Make a Difference: Help BlogHer and BookRenter bring books to kids in need!

BlogHer.com and BookRenter.com, a company that rents textbooks to college students, have launched a book donation drive.

All you have to do is visit and leave a comment, sharing the book that's had the greatest impact on your life.

Bookrenter will be donating 1 book for every comment left on the post up to May 28th (my birthday!) or, up to 1,000 books to kids in need.

Why?

Books are shockingly scarce for kids in need:

• In low-income neighborhoods there is an average of only one book for every 300 children, compared to 13 books for every child in middle-income neighborhoods.

• 80% of preschool and after-school programs serving low-income populations have no age-appropriate books for their children.70% of 4th graders from low-income families in the US score ‘below proficiency’ in reading.

• 85% of juvenile offenders have reading problems.

• Among adults at the lowest level of literacy proficiency, 43% live in poverty.

• Among adults with strong literacy skills, only 4% live in poverty.

Here's the link to the book donation drive:

http://www.blogher.com/books-make-difference-share-which-book-changed-your-life-donate-book-child-need

Remember, all you have to do is click and leave a comment for a donation to be made -- I just donated a book with this blog post -- thanks for reading!!!

 

© 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

DISCLOSURE:  NO PAYMENT WAS RECEIVED FOR THIS BLOG POST -- BECAUSE NICE MATTERS AND POVERTY SUCKS!!!

My Gym Childrens Fitness Center Presents: Aaron Nigel Smith - Featuring The Activators

[CONGRATULATIONS: BROWNBEAR129 -- COMMENT #2 -- AND TINA -- COMMENT #5 -- PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS!!!]

My mother weighed 13 lbs. at birth and joked that she has NEVER seen a skinny day in her life.

I, on the other hand, was quite petite, until about the 6th grade, when puberty hit me like a Mack truck (literally) and it is still very upsetting for me to think that I used to blame her for my weight problems, too.

Today, I know better (sort of) and, now that my kids are getting older, my husband, Garth [not his real name] and I try really hard to help our family eat healthy and, now that the warmer weather is here (mostly) I have made a commitment to get my family outside, more often!

It's not always easy.

However, with resources like www.TheActivators.net to help parents inspire kids to get physically active, it's getting a little easier -- wanna know how?