This Full House Reviews

Classical Music Meets Classical Rock: David Garret Rock Symphonies Review & CD Giveaway

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED: So happy to be able to share this with Tawnda (#1) please check your email for further instructions.

I had the pleasure of listening to German-born (not to mention, uber-handsome) musician David Garrett play live while attending the Bloganthropy Awards dinner held during BlogHer '10 in New York City and remember thinking to myself:

"Man, that boy can play a violin!!!"

Seriously, I love listening to classical music (especially, while I'm attempting to cook dinner) much to the disdain of my children (especially, the teenagers) until...

"Hey, I know THAT song!!!"

It was David's version of "Walk This Way by Aerosmith," aaaand, the words weren't even out of my mouth...

"Ohhhh, he is SO cute,who IS he?!?"

Yes, David Garrett is very cute AND talented.

I was excited to receive a copy of David Garrett's Rock Symphonies CD from my friends at Team Mom and was reminded, once again, what happens when classical music meets classical rock and if, you know, they had a baby.

Want to see?

Celtic Woman: Songs from the Heart Review & Giveaway

[COMMENTS CLOSED: CONGRATULATIONS, MATT -- COMMENT #22 -- PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS!!!]

I was watching PBS, while in the middle of a self-proclaimed "mommy needs a time out" (last year, I think) when I fell in love with Celtic Woman (figuratively speaking, of course) a 5 member Irish female ensemble, all of whom are extremely talented and awfully gosh-darned pretty, too, DAMMIT!

Then again, I'm a sucker for string instruments and a good set of pipes, not to mention, the modern movement that's recently hit Celtic music -- don't even get me started on the gorgeous that is Celtic Thunder -- so, when Child's Play Communications approached me about their latest Music Mom project (of which, I am also a proud member) I was more than happy to give Celtic Woman: Sounds of the Heart a listen and take them up on an offer to share some Celtic love, with you, too!

Wanna see?

BamBoo Bears Debut at Toy Fair 2010 and It Was Like I Was There, Almost!

Sadly, I wasn't able to attend Toy Fair 2010 (stupid, work!) however, a lot of my friends did (DAMMIT!) and I hear that Child's Play Communications (my Team Mom buds) presented a terrific social media panel, during the event.

Why is this important?

Well, having received email pitches addressed from "Intern 6" and "Assistant #3" this week, it's obvious that some companies STILL don't get it.

What?

That moms (and dads) are NOT stupid and really do a lot of research (on line and word-of-mouth) before they buy stuff, for their families!

Still, it was like I was there (almost) because, Jen from Ren Beanie sent us a BamBoo Bear and, well, who new that bamboo could be made to look like fur?

Black Friday, Everyday: Toy Industry Association (TIA) Launches Two Helpful Web Sites for Consumers

See if you've been Naughty or Nice on Claus.com

Thanks to some really great deals and free shipping offers, I was able to get ALL of my holiday toy shopping done ONLINE (don't hate me, it's the Internet!) in my opinion, there's really no reason to fight the crowds, this year.

Unless, you like that sort of thing.

[cough...cough...weirdo...cough...cough]

Still, I've decided to celebrate Black Friday, Everyday by sharing and posting really great deals, or helpful links I find, while surfing the Internet this holiday season.

Aaaand, you're invited!!!

[chases dog out & puts on party hat]

Today, we're visiting with ToyInfo.org and ToyAwards.com and checking out the top toys nominated for the 2010 Toy of the Year Awards!

Eating Right Kids & Other Stuff Parents Can Do, Too!

It's no secret.  We are ALL trying to get our kids to eat better and almost everyone (and their mother) pretty much knows who Bugs Bunny is, right?

However, all 4 of my kids have about 20 minutes to eat their lunches (sometimes, including a quick dash outside for recess) and, taking into consideration that my youngest (she's 8) already 'fessed-up to swapping lunches, on more than one occasion, there's no guarantee that they will actually eat, what we packed for them, anyway.

Childhood obesity is no joke, I get that.  

Still, now that they're getting older, it can be difficult to find healthy options, when all they insist on eating is peanut butter (like, my 8 year-old daughter) or grape jelly sandwiches (like my 10 year-old son) if anything (like, my two teenage daughters) at all.

Let's face it, parents (like me) are just really tired -- seriously, we've graduated and become a two shopping cart family -- and some of us need some serious remedial help, too!

Enter, Bugs Bunny and Eating Right Kids, stage left!

Team Mom Music Review: The Birth of Cornelius

Corneille used music as a place where he could go and forget about the world, even if it was just for a little bit, and -- as my parents and maternal grandmother were also forced to  leave their birthplace  and come to America, during the 1956 Hungarian Revolution -- I am very proud to be working with Team Mom in introducing you to singer, writer, producer, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and Red Cross Canada spokesperson, Corneille.

"Updated" Review & Giveaway: Revisiting Bella Sara and Baby Bella with Treaures & Miniatures

[THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED:  WE HAVE A WINNER - CONGRATULATIONS, COLETTE!!!]

My youngest daughter (she's 7) and I had the pleasure of visiting North by North, the magical online land and home to the beautiful horses pictured on Bella Sara trading cards, last fall with our review of Bella Sara and Baby Bella.

Hope (formerly known as Mini-me) has been an avid fan of Bella Sara, ever since.

Virtual worlds, collecting figures and trading cards are all the rage in my neighborhood and our house is no exception.  Thanks to my friends at Team Mom, we got a special sneak peek at TWO of Bella Sara's brand new product lines: Treasures & Miniatures!

Parents Toys For the Holidays: Look-at-Me Camera

I received my first copy of Parents Magazine in 2003 as a gift for my first baby's shower and -- though, my youngest is now 7 -- I am more than happy to introduce you to one of the newest products in the Parents toy line-up.

Why?

Because, well, it's from Parents Magazine and they seem to be committed to creating quality toys that are fun and safe - since all Parents toys are 100% phthalate free!

Review and Giveaway: The Secret Mountain - Stories and music for all eyes and ears!

[This giveaway has ended:  WE HAVE A WINNER - Congratulations, Melissa!!!]

Winner of the Parents Choice Gold Award

"A Duck in New York City," story and songs by Connie Kaldor and illustrated by Fil & Julie

One of the (many) reasons I love working with p.r. companies (like, my friends at Child's Play) is that it gives my family and me the chance to learn about new products and companies that we would have otherwise, you know, totally missed.

Pretty much why (if, we really, really like it, or I haven't broken it, yet) I choose to tell you (yes, YOU!) about them.

We recently had the privilege of reviewing a collection of beautifully illustrated children's storybooks from The Secret Mountain -- a publisher from waaaaaaay over in Canada and the part where they speak French -- and since we love books in our house, we were excited to receive "A Duck in New York City."

Wanna hear my 7-year-old read a little, for you?

Product Review & Giveaway: Bella Sara and Baby Bella - A trading card game for girls!

[This giveaway has ended:  WE HAVE OUR WINNERS - Congratulations to Rebecca C, Xenia, Abby, Ginny and MaryBeth Isaac!!!]

She's just a girl - living in a Pokemon world - but, in real life, my girls have always loved to play with dolls, dress them up and pretend to live in a place where fashion, games and shopping ruled the world.

Who wouldn't?

Virtual worlds, collecting figures and trading cards are all the rage in the neighborhood and our house is no exception.

So, when Mini-me opened the 2 packs of Bella Sara trading cards she received, featuring some really beautiful horses, we actually got a sneak-peek of the cutest little foals included in the new Baby Bella cards coming out, next month.

I'm thinking, SCORE, there are plenty of reasons why this would make an AWESOME gift suggestion for the grandparents!

[looks left, looks right, then left, again]

Wanna see?

This Full House Giveaway #25: Review of Aquadoodle and Bath Blizzard Giveaway

[This giveaway has ended:  WE HAVE A WINNER - congratulations, MaryBeth I.!!!]

We recently received an Aquadoodle Draw 'N Doodle mat -- advertised as the ULTIMATE in mess-free fun -- and put it to the test.  If it can survive 4 kids, 2 cats and 1 sock-eating doofus-dog...well...suffice it to say, if you're a parent (like me) then, you'll probably love it and want one, too.

So, how DOES it work?

This Full House Giveaway #19: Review of Sesame Street Building Sets from K'NEX

[This giveaway has ended:  WE HAVE A WINNER - Congratulations, Rebecca C.!!!]

Counting by one and tens with The Count, sharing a snack with the Cookie Monster and singing the, "Rubber Ducky Song" with MY best friends Bert and Ernie, these are the memories that resonate in the hearts (and minds) of children of all ages and it really doesn't matter how old you are, or where you grew up - everyone knows the way to Sesame Street.

This month, K'NEX (one of our house's favorite brands) is introducing a new line of Sesame Street building sets for kids ages 2-5 yrs. and, though my youngest is 7, I really do believe that a person is never too old to have fun and hope that my children NEVER outgrow their imaginations.

Partner two family-favorite brands (like, K'NEX and Sesame Workshop) and what do you get?

Cabbage Patch Kids Are Turning 25!

This fall, Limited Edition 25th Anniversary Cabbage Patch Kids will be hitting store shelves for a limited time only.

1983, I remember it well - Vanessa Williams became the first African-American to be crowned Miss America in Atlantic City, NJ, the musical "Annie" performed for the last time on Broadway in NYC and it also happened to be when McDonalds introduced the Chicken McNugget!

Aaaand Cabbage Kids were everywhere!

It was when I adopted my first Cabbage Patch Kids.  They were a set of bald twins (boy and girl) just like my brother and me (only, we had more hair at the time) and my mother still remembers standing on line, in the freezing cold, along with the rest of Middlesex County, NJ, I'm sure.

Okay, so I happened to be 18 at the time, so what!?!?

The Banana Splits: They're baaaaack!

Do you remember The Banana Splits?

If your answer is:

"Ah, yeah man!"

Or, something close to it, then you've obviously been to Danger Island, watched as Zazu the donkey kick it like Beckham on the Arabian Nights, rode along with Patsy and Tommy in The Micro Venture and their microscopic dune buggy and spied your fair share of laughs, alongside Atom Ant and Secret Squirrel!

[the sound of crickets chirping]

No?  That's okay, really. The Banana Splits Adventure Hour ran from 1968 to 1970 and I don't think that even David Beckham was born, yet.

[heavy sigh]

Designed to resemble The Monkees (apparently, I am that old) eating a bowl of cereal, eyes glued to the television and watching The Banana Splits on Saturday mornings are some of my earliest preschool memories.

Now, my favorite costumed rock band is back, ready to introduce themselves to a whole new generation of fans and The Banana Splits are just as cute, as EVUH!