This Full House Reviews

Horizon Healthy Families: LIVE CHAT TONIGHT! Tuesday, December 27th (8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.) RINGING OUT 2011

MISSED OUT ON OUR CHAT? NO PROBLEM!!! Feel free to catch up on the discussion here:   http://bit.ly/horizondairylivechatonthisfullhouse when you have time, of course!!!

YOU WILL BE ABLE TO WATCH AND PARTICIPATE IN THIS HORIZON HEALTHY FAMILIES COMMUNITY DISCUSSION LIVE AT 8:00 P.M. TONIGHT, RIGHT HERE!!!

Now that the Christmas rush is through (mostly) and as 2011 winds to a close, it’s time to sit back and relax (sort of) and start thinking about the New Year.

Join us for a LIVE CHAT TONIGHT! (Tuesday, December 27th from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. est) at the Horizon Healthy Families Community as we celebrate our successes, share a few of the lessons we've learned along the way and maybe even help each other map out a whole new "game plan" for 2012.

Grab a warm beverage, maybe a quick snack from those holiday leftovers and join us for a quiet hour of reflection:  a self-imposed time-out, if you will.

What made this year special for you?   Who had the biggest impact on your life?  What would you do differently, next year?

[clink-clink]

Cheers!!!  See you then :)

 

JCPenney Santa Tags: Secret Santas REVEALED!

A couple of weeks ago, I got to play Santa and gift another blogger with something on his or her wish list, featuring JCPenney's new Santa Tag: an easy-to-use QR code that gift recipients can scan and listen to when they open their gift.

Bare Escentuals BareMinerals – The Total Package

It was SO MUCH fun picking out a gift for Christine (a.k.a. The Menu Mom) JCPenney's online catalog very easy to navigate and I hear she really, really likes her Secret Santa (okay, her gift even more!)

I received MY gift yesterday and, well, IT'S PERFECT!!!  Miriam and the gang at The WiC Project chose a pair of Fitz and Floyd Holiday Mugs and...[shiver]...holiday coffee for my beloved Keurig!!!

Aaaaand, she recorded the most awesome message.  I scanned the QR code on the tag with my and which prompted me to listen to it on JCPenney.com: http://www.jcpsanta.mobi/498407139

I had SUCH A GREAT TIME participating in this program (thank you JCPenney and Mom Central!) and I hope it helps if you're considering looking into Santa Tags for any of your last-minute shopping, when you have time...of course!!!

In the meantime, I would like to take this moment to wish ALL of my online friends (yes, YOU!) a very Happy Holidaze!

Oh, and don't forget to check out some AMAZING STUFF we're sharing :)

We'll leave the porch light on for ya!

© 2003 - 2011 This Full House

“I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of jcpenney and received a jcpenney Secret Santa gift and a promotional item to thank me for participating.”

International Delight Sponsored Post & Giveaway: The Hungarian Santa

Thanks to International Delights for sponsoring my writing about our family's favorite holiday traditions. Add your comment below to be entered for a chance to win a $200 Target Gift Card from BlogFrog.

One of our family's favorite holiday traditions is celebrating Mikulas Day: on the morning of December 6th, when the Hungarian Santa (a.k.a. St. Nicholas) visits children and leaves his gifts.

Just like my twin brother and I did when we were growing up (never mind, just how long ago it was) my kids would clean their shoes on the night of December 5th and leave them near the front door.

Not unlike the American tradition of hanging stockings by the fireplace.

IF YOU WERE GOOD: then Mikulas would fill your shoes with candy treats and chocolate goodies.

IF YOU WERE NAUGHTY: well, I still remember one particular morning when their uncle was surprised to find a bag of coal in his shoes and how my parents seemed very pleased with themselves, that year.

Now that my kids are older, it warms my heart whenever they talk about continuing this tradition when they are parents and, just so you know, the threat of grounding them during the holidays works much better ;)

Now, it's your turn, tell us what your favorite holiday tradition is for a chance to win a $200 Target gift card from BlogFrog.

LEGO Games Giveaway: Reliving My Childhood, One New Year's Eve At a Time!

Thanks to LEGO Games for sponsoring my writing about how playing board games has become a bonding experience for my family. Add your comment below to be entered for a chance to win one of five ultimate LEGO® Games prize packs!!

I still remember how excited my parents would get at Christmas time. We’d all sit in front of my grandmother’s console television, while my twin brother and I made out our individual wish lists, during the endless stream of toy commercials that would play, in between the Christmas specials.

As a mother of 4 children (ages 18, 15, 12 and 9) and a child of the 70’s (personally, I prefer the term retro) I can certainly understand the excitement of reliving one’s childhood.

Some of my favorite memories involve playing with our new toys on marathon family game nights, together.

I’ve since carried on this tradition with my own kids and playing our favorite board games has become a New Year's Eve tradition, as well.

Now, it's your turn to spill the beans (heh, my kids LOVED that game) how are board games a bonding experience for your family? Reply for a chance to win one of five ultimate LEGO® Games prize packs!!

The Bagster Bag Blogger Challenge Update: When It Rains, It Pours!

 
Thanks to TheBagster.com for sponsoring my writing about our latest home improvement project and the Bagster Bag Blog Challenge.   

When I first told my husband about this challenge, he was all, like, I've seen these guys on HGTV (I missed that episode, dangit!) and, seeing as we can't afford to rent a dumpster, right now (or, probably never) he also thought The Bagster Bag was a perfect fit for us.

Unfortunately, our renovation plans have not gone...well, as planned...and here is why:

How about you?  Got any renovations coming up in the new year?  Have you had any home improvement projects go, you know, NOT as you quite planned?

FIND IT HERE:  TheBagster.com

The Bagster Bag on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/bagsterbag)

The Bagster Bag on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/bagsterbag)

© 2003 - 2011 This Full House

Disclosure:  Waste Management partnered with bloggers such as me to participate in its The Bagster Bag Blogger Challenge.  As part of the program, I received compensation.  They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about the products used for the The Bagster Bag Blogger Challenge. Waste Management believes that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Waste Management’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

Wrapping Up the Season: Help Raise Funds for Educational Charities and Save on Last-Minute Gifts With Upromise

 

Last month, I got the chance to tell you about a terrific program to help folks (like us) save for college while getting your holiday shopping done.

With only 6 more shopping days left until Christmas (I know, how in the heck did THAT happen?!?) today, I'm excited to share some great last-minute savings tips from the good folks at Upromise:

Ode to Breakfast: Sometimes, It's What's for Dinner, Too!

 

Speaking as a parent, I feel it safe to say we ALL know that breakfast is the most important part of our day, right?  

Finding the time to actually eat it, sitting down AND at the same table together -- not so much.

Our friends at Kellogg recently ran an interesting survey which stated that:

"Families only spend 17 minutes preparing and eating breakfast each day."

Okay, but am I the only one who believes that, some mornings, 17 minutes sometimes can sound like a whole lot of time, too?

Let's be real.  With 4 kids, attending 4 different schools, leaving the house as early as 6:30 a.m. and kicking the last one out of the car at around 8:30 a.m. (figuratively speaking, of course!) our kitchen normally works like a drive thru window.

Still, my husband and I tag-team our mornings:  he makes the kids lunch, while I make sure they each eat something for breakfast or, at the very least, wrap it up to go on the bus.

Weekends aren't much different, either.

Sundays, however, are made for...sl...ow...ing...down, enjoying a buttery stack of pancakes, waffles and bacon (lots and lots of bacon) oh, and my husband makes the most awesome crepes.

Here are the rest of the results on the Kellogg's Breakfast in America survey:

New Discussion @HorizonDairy: Recycling Christmas Cards into Fun and Easy Holiday Crafts!

Don't throw out those old Christmas cards  -- declare a holiday craft night, instead! Come join me, as we discuss green living at the Horizon Healthy Families Community (when you have time, of course!):

Holiday AT&T Phone Fairy Week 3: Samsung Focus Flash Giveaway

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED:  I am SO EXCITED to be able to share this awesome phone with you, Cathy McCaughan (comment #16) please check your email for further instructions, thanks!

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

It's been very exciting giving away a new and different AT&T 4G smartphone, every week, this month!

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

Congratulations to Katherine for snagging the awesome Impulse 4G by Huawei, during week 1  and to Leslie S for snagging the awesome Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY 4G, last week!

TODAY IS MY LAST DAY AS THE AT&T PHONE FAIRY (SOB!)  I'm giving away a Samsung Focus Flash to gift forward OR keep for yourself this holiday season. 

Want one?  Excellent! 

Key features are:

JCPenney Santa Tags: Send Along a Little Magic - Record a Special Holiday Message With QR Codes!

I know, I know, not everyone likes suprises.  In fact, I know quite a few people who can't stand them.

I am NOT one of those people. 

Especially, when I used to work full-time (in a real office, with an actual door, I mean) I loved participating in Secret Santas.

Which is why I am excited to be a part of the JCPenney Secret Santa Blog Tour this holiday season, featuring their new Santa Tag: an easy-to-use QR code that gift recipients can scan and listen to when they open their gift.

Which means, I got to play Santa and gift another blogger with something on his or her wish list.

Sounds fun, right?  Still, there's a reason why it's called the holi"daze," and just how easy is it?

A Hungarian's Recipe for Hungarian Gulash: You Say Goulash, I Say Gulyas - Let's Just Call it Soup!

This is what Hungarian Gulyas (a.k.a. Gulash, Goulash) is supposed to look like (for real!)

You may or may not know that my twin brother Steve and I are first generation born Americans. 

Yep, we grew up in the kitchen, breathing in the delicious aromas of my mother's and grandmother's Hungarian cooking.

Feel free to trust me when I tell you that there is absolutely NOTHING better than a big old steaming bowl of happiness, served up with some crusty bread, on a cold, wet, gloomy, or slightly sad sort of day.

Hungarian comfort food, baby!

You know that reddish-brown-gravy-laden stew-type dish served over noodles and featured as "Hungarian Goulash" in cookbooks and cooking magazines?

Nope, that is actually called Pörkölt (purr-curlt) although, also filed under Hungarian comfort food, it is very versatile and can be prepared using beef, veal, lamb or chicken (a.k.a. chicken paprikash!)

Gulyas (ghoul-yah-sh) on the other hand, is a soup.

Backstory:  Gulya in Hungarian means herdsman, or cowboy.  Gulyas (a.k.a. Gulash, Goulash) means "of the herdsman," who would have prepared this dish in a cast iron pot hitched over a stone fire pit while working the puszta (pooh-stuh) or the Hungarian prairie, if you will.

Although, they probably didn't include dumplings in their recipe (I don't think.)

I mentioned something on Facebook about making Hungarian Gulyas (et al) yesterday and then promised to share my family's recipe here with everyone, too!

So, to set the record straight:

Kmart's Playdate Place Perk: Just Kidz 2 In 1 Tea Cart Playset Giveaway

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED: So glad to be able to share this adorable tea cart play set with you, Sheri (comment #74) 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 post at on gaming, video games and bridging the generation gap (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 adorable Just Kidz 2 In 1 Tea Cart Playset which -- although, now that their all in double digits and would NEVER admit it -- brings back fond memories of the many teddy bear tea parties we've hosted over the years.

Want one?  EXCELLENT!!!

Holiday AT&T Phone Fairy - Week 2: Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY 4G

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED:  I am so happy to be sharing this awesome phone with you, Leslie S (comment #78) please check your email for further instructions, thanks!

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.

I will be giving away a new and different AT&T 4G smartphone, every week, for 3 weeks, in December.

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

Congratulations to Katherine for snagging the awesome Impulse 4G by Huawei, last week!

TODAY:  I'm giving away a Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY 4G  (perfect for gaming teens) to gift forward OR keep for yourself this holiday season. 

Want one?  Excellent! 

Key features are:

Good Oral Health for the Holidays Gingerbread Making Kit Giveaway

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED: So happy to be sharing this awesome prize pack with you, Joey from SC (comment #44) please check your email for further instructions, thanks!

My youngest daughter (she's 10) hates going to see the dentist (me, too) because, she is the only one of her siblings who's ever had to deal with cavities.

In fact, she's got another appointment to have the 2nd of 4 cavities filled today and we're BOTH looking forward to the end of these visits.

In the meantime, Hope is painfully aware of the importance of cutting back on sweets and maintaining good oral health:  most especially, during the holidays.

The good folks representing the Reach, Rembrandt and Listerine brands have offered to help us out by providing a fun holiday gift pack including a ginger bread making kit.

Want to see?

All I Want for Christmas Is: A Special Sort of Teacher's Gift

I invite you to join me, as we're discussing this very sore subject at the Horizon Healthy Families Community: