This Full House Reviews

BlogHer12: Caution, Professional Dork at Work!

Tracey, Me, Melisa and OH LOOK! It's freakin' Busy Mom at #BBSummit12

I love traveling to blogging conferences and when people ask me, "What IS it that you do again?" I half-jokingly reply about my being a Professional Dork, by definition:

• A little odd
• Often times silly
• Extremely clumsy
• Breaks things (a lot!)
• Prone to laugh-snorting
• Jumping jack hating
• Careful to cross her legs when sneezing
• Average, every day, you just can't make this stuff up, dork of a mom

In other words:  what you see is what you get and, well, it's our imperfections that make us unique...most especially, in the blogging world...yes?

That being said, I feel blessed to be able to work with some of the smartest, kindest, funniest folks I've ever had the pleasure of meeting (IRL) and touched upon this while speaking on the Blogger and Brand Relationships panel during #BBSummit12 last weekend.

I'm still working on a blog-worthy recap (soon-ish, rather than later-ish) but my friend and BlogHer12 roomie Michelle actually live-blogged the whole shuh-bang AND my sistuh-from-anuh-thuh-muh-thuh Melisa shared her experience as one of the awesome organizers, as well.

Today, I am honored to be able to share with you my partnering with Readers Digest and Taste of Home Magazine during BlogHer12.

I will be live-tweeting from the Reader's Digest BlogHer Suite #4203 as:

Guest Post: Gardening the Easy Way! 1-Hour Herb Garden & Climbing Roses

Can you believe it's March 1st, already?  You know what that means, right?  Only 19 more sleeps until springtime!!!

Then again, if you're like me and can't wait to go dig your hands deep into some nicely de-frosted dirt, maybe you've been collecting seed catalogs, dog-earing magazine articles and/or surfing Pinterest, creating the perfect garden (in our heads, anyway) since January.

The good folks at Hearst Magazines have harvested expert advice and inspiring photographs from some of MY FAVORITE magazines:   Good Housekeeping, Redbook, Country Living and Woman's Day!

Gardening the Easy Way hits the stands on March 6th:  however, we get to share a sneak peek at the issue with an awesome article on 1-Hour Herb Garden and Climbing Roses.

Happy Birthday Ranger Rick: Special Offer - Save 57% On 1 Year Subscription & Receive a FREE Ranger Rick Plush

Every year, my in-laws would send their grandchildren birthday and holiday gift subscriptions and Your Big Backyard and Ranger Rick were two of my kids' favorite magazines (mine, too!)

I was surprised to learn that the children's magazines offered by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) featured no advertising.

Ranger Rick is Celebrating its 45th Birthday:  by offering readers a FREE Ranger Rick plush with each subscription of their award-winning magazines!

Deal Alert:  Save 57% on a 1 year subscription (10 issues per year) for $19.95 (cover price is $35.00) also, all profits from the sale of their magazines support the National Wildlife Federation (BONUS!)

Happy Birthday, dude!

© 2003 - 2012 This Full House

Disclosure:  I'm a Founding Mother of NWF's Be Out There program - just helping families (like mine) get their kids outside and enjoy nature, more - no payment was received for this blog post.

Foodie Hottie Alert: Cooking at Home with Chef Tyler Florence

Next month, one of my favorite star chefs will begin sharing his recipes, kitchen advice, and cooking tips with HouseBeautiful.com, as their kitchen columnist, each month -- online and in their very prettiful magazine, as well!

There's a nice slide show of Tyler Florence's home kitchen (major covert-worthy alert!) which, of course, includes adorable pics of his beautiful 2 year-old daughter, Dorothy (major cute baby alert!) and interesting personal facts, too.

Like, Chef Tyler Florence is a dad of 3, owns 3 restaurants; 3 kitchen shops; has a new wine label; an organic baby food company [inhales deeply] yeah, the man is just a little busy.

Here's a really quick interview about what he'll be sharing with his readers with his monthly column on  House Beautiful:

Personally, as a mom and wannabe foodie (i.e. professional food eater) I can appreciate Chef Tyler Florence laid-back and super-friendly style of presentation that hasn't changed much, in my opinion, since his early days as a television chef, thank goodness.

FYI:  You can find more recipes on his blog via TylerFlorence.com!

I'm just itching to try Chef Tyler's Osso Bucco recipe featured here in House Beautiful (the magazine, not my house, I mean!) 

Although, I've seen variations using pork shanks and, thanks to a fabulous dinner, celebrating my 20th Wedding Anniversary at one of our local favorite restaurants, last summer (Trinity in Keyport, NJ -- thanks mom and dad!) I prefer Pork Osso Bucco, mah-own-self!

Great...now I'm coveting AND hungry.

© 2003 - 2011 TFH Gone Shopping / This Full House Blog

Disclosure: No payment or product was received for this blog post.  I just like sharing cool stuff I find on the interwebs that perhaps other families (like mine) would like, too!  As always, the words and opinions expressed here are ALL mine, but you can't have them.

Deal Alert: Two Years for $20 on NWF Award-Winning Childrens Magazines

TFH Holiday Picks 2010

Every year, my inlaws would send their grandchildren birthday and holiday gift subscriptions and Your Big Backyard and Ranger Rick were two of my kids' favorite magazines (mine, too!)

The photography is absolutely breath-taking, the stories and activities are really a lot of fun and I was surprised to learn that the children's magazines offered by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) featured no advertising!

TODAY'S DEAL ALERT:  Visit the NWF Children's Magazine Center to get 2 year subscription for $20.00!

That's 10 issues per year for a total of 20 issues which, IMO, is NOT a bad deal, right?

© 2010 TFH Gone Shopping / This Full House Blog

[FWIW:  I'm a Founding Mother of NWF's Be Out There program - just helping families (like mine) get their kids outside and enjoy nature, more - no payment was received for this blog post.]

Deal Alert: 51% Off a Subscription to Cricket Magazine

 
One of my favorite gifts to give family and friends is a subscription to their favorite magazine.  This week, the Savvy Source editors are offering parents a significant savings on a 9 issue subscription to Cricket Magazine!

DETAILS:

Retail Value $44.50
Discount 51%
Discounted Subscription Price $22.00
(You Save $22.50)

Click here to find out how you can receive 9 issues of Cricket Magazine for $22.00!

GIFTS THAT GIVE BACK:  5% of your purchase will be donated to a preschool scholarship fund for children in need.

© 2010 TFH Gone Shopping / This Full House Blog

No payment, product or any other consideration, other than a chance to share cool stuff with our online friends, was received for this blog post.

 

Sheepisly Adorable Easter Egg Crafts from FamilyFun.com

After 16 years of raising kids (and killer dust bunnies) I've become quite the expert...in the many practical, not to mention, sometimes very abstract uses of a standard glue gun...trust me, I have the scars to prove it. 

However, whenever I find myself stuck for an original idea (which is, you know, more often than I'd care to admit, at the moment) I simply turn to the creative folks at FamilyFun.com!

Holy Hannah Montana, this has GOT to be the cutest (and easiest) Easter egg craft, evuh, right?

Hard-boiled eggs (color them or just use brown eggs) slap on a cute pipe cleaner stand, add some glued-on details (paper ears, pom-pom nose, and so on) and viola!

Not that into sheep -- no problem -- you can also make a pink pig, purple cow, blue mouse, a pretty Easter dove and any of the other fun (AND EASY!) crafts available on FamilyFun.com!

FIND IT HERE:  Easter Crafts on FamilyFun.com - Sheep Egg  (http://familyfun.go.com/easter/easter-crafts/easter-egg-decorating/easter-eggs-sheep-egg-661501/)

Or, just use those colored plastic eggs, if you're really, really pressed for time or, tend to break things (like I do) a lot.

Go ahead, I won't tell!

 

© 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

DISCLOSURE:  NO PAYMENTS, PRODUCTS, OR OTHER CONSIDERATIONS, OTHER THAN A CHANCE TO SHARE SIMPLE IDEAS AND/OR STUFF WE LIKE, WITH FAMILIES (LIKE OURS) WAS RECEIVED FOR THIS BLOG POST.

Salad Toss Up: ShopSmart Puts 20 Salads from 8 National Chains to the Test

My husband, Garth [not his real name] has lost over 20 lbs. since January (YAY!) while, I lost a mere 4 lbs. (ARE YOU KIDDING ME?) needless to say, we've been eating a lot of salads, lately.

Especially, whenever we get the chance and actually do go out to eat, alone, you know, together!

Still, I was surprised to learn that ordering salads out may not always be the healthiest choice (ARE YOU KIDDING ME?)

ShopSmart Magazine, from the publisher of Consumer Reports, put 20 salads from 8 national chains to the test to find the best—and the worst.  Check it out:

American Baby Photo Contest - Ends March 31, 2010

Gosh, but I really do miss those early toddler years (sort of!) especially, tickling tiny baby feet and nibbling chubby little baby fingers.

[heavy sigh]

Do you have a cutie-puh-tootie(s) 3 to 24 months? 

Parents.com is holding a photo contest -- the grand prize winner will be featured on the cover of August issue of American Baby Magazine!

The editors have put together some photo tips to help moms and dads create the winning photo:

1. Remember how professionals get all those gorgeous shots? They take lots and lots of shots to get that one good one, so take a ton of photos.

2. Photo judges don’t really take to cranky babies, so capture your child in a happy moment – not too posed – so it reflects your baby’s personality.

3. Don’t cover up the beautiful little one – no big hats or towels, just the cute baby will do fine!

4. Simple backgrounds are best. Try to remove clutter so that the focus of the picture is your adorable baby.

5. Often times the best shots are taken spontaneously, so keep your camera handy during this period.

Have fun and good luck!

© 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

DISCLOSURE:  NO PAYMENT WAS RECEIVED, OR CONSIDERATIONS, OTHER THAN A CHANCE TO SHARE SOMETHING NICE WITH OTHER FAMILIES (LIKE MINE) WAS RECEIVED FOR THIS BLOG POST, COURTESY OF PARENTS.COM