This Full House Reviews

Holiday AT&T Phone Fairy - Week 1: Impulse 4G by Huawei Giveaway

Comments are closed: so glad to be sharing this awesome phone with you, Katherine (comment #6) please check your email for further instructions, thanks!

I ran into the AT&T Phone Fairy at BlogHer in San Diego, this summer -- literally, she's just a tiny little thing -- and she was passing out phones to people who needed them, including friends of mine with broken, lost and/or stolen cell phones.

How awesome is that, right?!?

Last month, I received one of AT&T's budget-friendly alternative for smartphone shoppers (like me!)

Feel free to read my review of the Impulse 4G by Huawei, here.

Thanks to my friends at AT&T, I am raiding the Halloween bucket, donning a pair of wings and get to play the AT&T Phone Fairy for the Holidays.

Each week, for the next 3 weeks, I will be giving away a new and different AT&T 4G smartphone.

Why?  Well, who am I to deny an online friend the chance to get their hands on an awesome new cell phone?

TODAY:  I'm giving away an Impulse 4G by Huawei (just like the one I got) to keep for yourself or gift it forward this holiday season.  Want one?  Excellent!

Our Favorite Holiday Treat: Heather's Cranberry Apple Bread & Giveaway

Thanks to International Delight for sponsoring my writing about our family's holiday traditions. Add your comment below to be entered for a chance to win a $200 Walmart gift card from Blog Frog.

The kids and I get so FIRED UP this time of year -- especially, when it comes to homemade treats -- we ALL have such GRAND plans about baking just about every cookie imaginable and gifting them to family and friends.

Then, before we know it, it's Christmas Eve and, well, you know.

Then again, that's what attending church bake sales and those last minute Hail Mary runs to [insert your favorite local bakery, here]are for, right?

There is one baked treat, however, that remains a favorite family tradition, beginning on Thanksgiving Eve and carrying us right through to January 6th, or what my parents call, "Little Christmas."

It just wouldn't be the holidays without my almost-16-year old daughter Heather's awesome Cranberry Apple Bread.

Saving for College While Getting Your Holiday Shopping Done With Upromise

We took our 18 year-old to an open house at one of the local colleges here in Jersey, earlier this month.

Key words, rocking my world at the moment, in that last sentence being:  18 year-old and college.

However, with 3 more children following close behind, I feel it safe to say it's NEVER too late to save for college.

Looking for additional college funding or, perhaps you're like me and don't know of anyone who isn't sweating their kid's education, let alone, trying to figure out a way to pay for college, seriously?

Today, I am very excited to tell you about an awesome service that helps families (like ours) earn extra money for education while shopping for the holidays!

What is Upromise?  How Much Does It Cost Do Join?

Our Favorite Thanksgiving Tradition: Thanksgiving Tree

Only one more sleep until Thanksgiving (YAY!) 

One of our favorite holiday traditions started when my youngest brought home a craft she made in 1^st grade out of popsicle sticks.

Come by and visit with me at PlaydatePlace.com where I am sharing our favorite Thanksgiving family tradition:  creating a Thanksgiving Tree.

FIND IT HERE:  http://playdateplace.kmart.com/2011/11/the-thanksgiving-tree-that-almost-wasn%E2%80%99t/?intcmp=PlaydatePlace

I'll leave the porch light on for you, thanks!

LOOK! MORE STUFF WE'RE SHARING:

• Check out my latest (as in, last week) bathroom makeover and sharing a $20.00 gift card to Home Depot.

• Also, we would LOVE to share this awesome Xbox 360 4GB Console with Kinect Bundle with one of our online friends, this holiday season!

Because, we roll like that -- Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!!!

Extreme Home Do-Over: Glidden Oil Gloss Paint Review and Giveaway

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED: So happy to be able to share this awesome gift card with you Donna B. (comment #44) please check your email for further instructions, thanks!

So, there I was, just sitting, reading the latest issue of Cottage Living and minding my own (ahem) business, when, all of the sudden, RRRRRRRRIIIIIIPPPPP.

Last week, I spontaneously started de-constructing our bathroom and, even though we've used other people's half-bathrooms that were WAY BIGGER (hrmph) when it comes to prepping walls for paint, size does NOT matter.

Having nearly painted myself into a coronary on Friday and then coming under the wire, late Saturday night (stupid #NaBloPoMo) 12 cups of coffee, 6 trips to Home Depot and way too many potty stops I'd care to mention, at the moment (you're welcome!)  my spontaneous bathroom makeover is FINALLY complete!!!

To help mask the imperfections left behind by the stupid wallpaper, I came up with an idea:  I received a sample of Glidden's oil gloss paint eariler in the month and used it to add a cool reflective texture.

Want to see?

Deal Alert: AT&T's Black Friday & Cyber Monday Deals Announced!

Feel free to read my review and how the Impulse 4G by Huawei helped me overcome my smartphone envy - when you have time, of course.

Guess what?  I haven't broken my new cell phone from AT&T [knocks on wood until knuckles bleed] not yet, anyway.

However, I'm still having a hard time convincing my kids that, in this case, it's okay NOT to share.

I don't blame them.  It's really a smart-looking phone.

Most especially, since I've gifted myself with prettiful phone bling (it's my first smartphone, don't judge) although, I can't help but feel a little sad that my phone dresses up nicer than I do.

Hrmph.

Aaaaanyway, have any techy-type stuff on your shopping list?!?  EXCELLENT!!!

AT&T just announced their Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals on ATT.com.

Beginning at 12:01 a.m. ET on Friday, November 25th, the following promotions will be available for online shoppers while supplies last. FREE SHIPPING and WAIVED ACTIVATION is included:

Friday, November 25, 12:01 a.m. ET

• Touchscreen devices, including tablets.

Saturday, November 26, 12:01 a.m. ET

• All Windows 7 and select Android devices, for just $.01

Sunday, November 27, 12:01 a.m. ET

• BlackBerry 9860 for  only $.01, HTC Red Inspire for $29.99

Monday, November 28, 12:01 a.m. ET

• A lineup of some of AT&T’s most popular smartphones—Motorola ATRIX 4G, Samsung Infuse 4G, BlackBerry 9810, HTC Inspire 4G and LG Thrill 4G—all for only one cent!

Aaaaand, you don't even have to leave home, or change out of your pajamas, to take advantage of these really great deals. 

How awesome is that, right?  Don't tell my kids, okay?

© 2003 - 2011 This Full House

Disclosure:  No payment, product or any other consideration, besides perhaps helping families (like mine) save a little extra milk money, was received for this blog post. 

Kinect for Xbox 360 Interactive Storybooks, Games & Holiday Giveaway

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED: Looking forward to sharing this awesome prize package with one of you, real soon!

It's no secret, we love our Xbox:  it was our #1 Holiday Pick for 2010 (still is!) control free playing and full body play got my kids (and me) off the couch and took our Family Game Nights to a whole different level!

This holiday season, Kinect for Xbox 360 has a bunch of great titles, including our newest favorites: Dance Central 2, Kinect Sports Season Two and Kinect Disneyland Adventures.

We love finding new family-friendly video games and sharing fun ways to spend more time, together.

This year, there is a new Public Service Announcement from Xbox 360 and Sesame Street about parental controls that helps families learn more about the safety features built into the Xbox 360 game system, such as game ratings, setting limits on time and the ability to restrict online access.

Actually, the PSA is very entertaining.  Then again, I am a long-time fan of Cookie Monster.

Sesame Street fans (like me) may also be excited to learn that Kinect for Xbox 360 has released an awesome new holiday product.

It's an interactive storybook called Once Upon A Monster:  a guided exploration of a living storybook where players help their monster friends with problems, all while interacting with the environment around them.

Players can also engage in physical activities such as monkey-see-monkey-do, playing instruments, flying, and running obstacle courses.

So, yeah, there's lots of fun and exciting new stuff available for Kinect from Xbox 360 this holiday season.  Want one?!?

Deal Alert: Free Shipping Day, December 16, 2011

Last Christmas, I saved a bundle ordering stuff online AND taking advantage of free shipping offered on selected items.

This year, I learned about an awesome event called Free Shipping Day where over 1,000 merchants have already registered to offer FREE SHIPPING for a 24-hour period with delivery by Christmas Eve!

Including some of my family's favorite brands:   Kmart, Lands' End, JCPenney, Kohl's, Macy's, Bed Bath & Beyond, Barnes & Noble and many more.

ALL FREE SHIPPING DAY OFFERS WILL BE REVEALED:  at 12:00am EST on Friday, December 16, 2011 on their website at FreeShippingDay.com!

Also, feel free to check out FreeShipping.org for FREE shipping codes posted daily -- because, free is good -- when you have time, of course!!!

© 2003 - 2011 This Full House

  ^{Feed me, see more!!}

Disclosure:  No payment, product or any other consideration, besides the satisfaction of knowing I may be helping families (like mine) save a little extra milk money, was received for this blog post.

 

Less Cancer, More Birthdays with TinyPrints.com

Growing up, my friend Barbara and I had a lot in common.  She spoke Polish, I spoke Hungarian (close enough!) along with my twin brother, we graduated high school together and, sadly, have lost touch since then.

Until, Facebook.

"Did you hear one of our schoolmates died?"

No, but I was pretty sure that another classmate of ours WAS mistaken.  Had to be.  Because, in my mind, I'm still that same awkward 18 year-old and, well, we're not THAT old, are we?

Then again, we aren't born with any "guarantees" or "date of expiration" stamps and cancer does not seem to care to discriminate, either way:  a few years ago, my twin brother lost a kidney to cancer. 

Sadly, I haven't spoken with anyone whose life hasn't been touched, in some way, by cancer.

As for my friend, Barbara?  Her passing made me realize that the time we have together is indeed precious and perhaps waaaaaay shorter than we think.

That's why I am honored to partner with the American Cancer Society and Tiny Prints to share with you their beautiful and exclusive collection of birthday cards inspired by the way the American Cancer Society saves lives.

Why?  The American Cancer Society believes that every birthday is a victory -- another year that cancer has NOT won-- and I, for one, take every opportunity to give cancer the good old fashioned virtual bitch-slap it deserves!!!

Here’s some background on the collection:

Welcome to Our 86th Open House Blog Tour

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 over there?

Same thing with blogs, right?

So please, clean off a chair, sit down and feel free to share your links (PG-13, please) about any blogging events, fundraisers, giveaways, book tours and contests, or if you have a burning blog post and just need to a little shout out (HEY!) go for it!

Okay, I'll start:

Only 14 more sleeps until Thanksgiving

[ducks to avoid flying turkeys]

Soooo, what do YOU do with all those leftovers?  Join me at Horizon Healthy Families Community as we discuss fun leftover ideas that maybe even your kids will eat (on purpose) too!

Right,  NOW it's YOUR turn:

Thanks SO MUCH for sharing and feel free to come back, to see what my blogging friends are up to, this week -- we'll leave the porch light on for ya'!

In the meantime, TGIF (ALMOST!)

© 2003 - 2011 This Full House

Opening Myself to New Experiences with Cerra.com & Spa Giveaway

Thanks to Cerra for sponsoring my writing about how blogging has helped me to grow as a person. Add your comment below to be entered for a chance to win a $150 gift certificate to a local spa, or one (1) of (5) $100 gift certificates to the awesome Cerra Boutique!

I was introduced to Cerra.com back in September and, as a mother of 2 teens and 2 tweens, I was asked to share my thoughts on Seeking Balance, or a Reasonable Fascimile Thereof.

Can you keep a secret?

[looks left, looks right, then left again]

There is NO secret: balance is all a matter of perspective - in my experience, focusing our attentions too high, or too low, rather than what's straight ahead of us, will sooner land me on my butt, more often than not.

This month, I was asked to choose one of The Seven Intentions created to help visitors to the Cerra website along their journey of personal growth.

Mine? Well, as a freelance writer, I rely A LOT on being able to tap into creative energy, stored deep down inside, beyond all the sticky floors, killer dust bunnies and mountain-sized piles of clean AND dirty laundry.

Still, heading into my 9th year of blogging on ThisFullHouse (my home blog) I have never NaBloPoMo-ed.

[blushing]

I know what you're thinking:   so what and what the heck is it, anyway?

Disney Store's Share the Magic 2011 Holiday Collection & Giveaway

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED: Looking forward to sharing this awesome gift with one of you, real soon :)

My kids LOVED going to "the mall" when they were little:  truth be told, for me it was an easy excuse to get out of the house, grab a quick cup of coffee and clock in a few good laps with the double-stroller.

Aaaaand, if my kids promised to be good, we'd make a stop at the Disney Store, before heading home for naptime (theirs and mine!)

Now that they're older, not so much.

There are, however, three things the kids and I still love to do when "doing" the mall:  grab a cup of coffee, go window shopping and visit the Disney Store.

Especially, a few weeks before Thanksgiving, when the stores are pretty much finished decorating for the holidays and, hopefully, way before the rest of the folks, here in New Jersey, along with their friends, family AND extended relatives magically appear, out of nowhere.

PHEW!  Move over, Rover, mommy needs a cup of coffee...STAT!

This holiday season, in partnership with the Make-A-Wish-Foundation, guests at the Disney Store are asked to "Share the Magic" to help make a child's wish come true: 

Now, thru December 11, 2011 -- for every Mickey or Minnie Mouse Holiday Plush sold in-store and on DisneyStore.com, Disney Store will donate $1.00 (up to $50,000) to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

We received a lovely surprise package in the mail (thank you, Disney Store) and, I can honestly tell you, these holiday plushes really are SO adorable and totally hug-worthy, too!

Want one?!?  EXCELLENT!!!

Kmart's Playdate Place: My First Kenmore Electronic Vacuum Cleaner Giveaway

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED: So happy to be sharing this awesome prize with you, Krystle N (comment #84) please check your email for further instructions, thanks!!!

I am very excited and honored to be a featured contributing blogger for Kmart's Playdate Place website!

It's really a great place for parents (like me) to hang out, spark conversation, share ideas about planning fun playdates, find recommendations for toys and take advantage of exclusive Playdate Place special offers, as well.

Click here to read my latest posts on Playdate Place (when you have time, of course!)

Aaaand, as a Playdate Kmart Playdate Parent, I get the chance to share really cool stuff with you, just in time for the holidays, too.

Like, the My First Kenmore Electronic Vacuum Cleaner which was my kids favorite toys growing up.

Now that their teens and tweens, not so much, it's a chore just to get them out of bed in the morning :(

Still, who am I to give up a chance to share stuff we like with online friends?  Want one?  EXCELLENT!!!

Deal Alert: Annual Kmart Family & Friends Sale, This Weekend!

Now that the Halloween stuff is ALL put away (almost) I feel it safe to tell you that:

Only 51 more sleeps until Christmas!

[ducks to avoid flying desk calendars]

Frankly, after experiencing our first snowstorm of the season IN OCTOBER I'm hoping to get my holiday stuff done this year (early!)

Kmart is holding its annual Family & Friends Sale this weekend – it's a great time to get a jump-start on your holiday shopping!

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6TH - ALL DAY NATIONWIDE:

• Get 20% 0ff all regular and clearance-priced merchandise for Apparel, Infant Hardlines, Accessories, Jewelry, and Footwear.

• Get 10% of all regular and clearance-priced merchandise for Sporting Goods, Toys, Season, Edibles, Consumables, Hardware, Appliances (not major appliances) Hard Home, Soft Home, Stationery, Beauty, Health, Electronics, Entertainment and Auto.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH - ALL DAY IN THESE SELECT AREAS:

Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Utah, Idaho, and New Jersey stores: Westwood, Elmwood Park, Closter, Paramus and Lodi.

Feel free to download the flyer for more information: http://www.kmart.com/social4me

Also, we received our Kmart Toy Book at the house this week (pages have been clipped, already!) but, you can check it out online, too:  http://kmrt.us/ureQda

In the meantime, wishing you ALL happy shopping and may the force be with you!

© 2003 - 2011 This Full House

Disclosure:  I am a Kmart Featured Blogger and Playdate Place Parent.

Help! My 10 year-old Hates the Dentist (ME, TOO!)

I hate the dentist.  What?!?  You, too!!!  Seriously, the word Novocaine alone (for me, a dozen pokes, per tooth, minimum) or the thought of anything even remotely associated with drilling a hole, anywhere, is enough to bring a shiver down my spine!!!

BBBBBRRRRRZZZZZ!!!

[shiver]

Otherwise, it's nothing personal.  Until, it's my kid sitting your chair and, well, all bets are off.

With my sincerest apologies, in advance, to all you Dentists out there, I invite you to join me, as we're discussing this very sore subject at the Horizon Healthy Families Community:

.

© 2003 - 2011 This Full House

Disclosure: I have been engaged by BlogFrog as a Horizon's Community Leader and am being compensated for my services for the length of the program.