Although we’ve been around for 8 years, we have never before participated in a giveaway with other mom blogs. Hard to believe, right? We decided that this giveaway was so cool that we wanted to give it a shot. We hope that you will like it and take the time to check out the other sites that we are participating with. There’s some great information on these sites for moms and families!

Wii Super Mario Bros Party Pack Giveaway!

Brought to you by Mommy & Baby Reviews & Giveaways, Powered by Mom and Mom Does Reviews

What’s included:

Black Nintendo Wii Console Black Remote Plus & Nunchuck New Super Mario Bros. Wii Super Mario Galaxy 2 Soundtrack CD

Plus 4 Wii Games

Valued at over $250 !

Wii Remote Plus and Nunchuk:

The Wii Remote Plus controller is the standard wireless controller that ships with each Wii. It combines the intuitive motion controls of the original Wii Remote with the precision technology of the Wii MotionPlus accessory, all built-in to a single unit. The device is handled in a wand-like fashion, and uses internal gyroscope and accelerometer technology to pinpoint the players movements and physical positioning which it then relates into a game via a sensor bar connected to the console. The Wii Remote Plus has only a few buttons making it easy to use. It also contains a speaker, a rumble feature, and an external connector for other input devices like the Nunchuk controller and the Classic Controller.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii:

Was anyone else as addicted to Super Mario Brothers in the 1990s as I was? I can’t help but think back to the hours I played it with my sister when I see this new version of the game. This Side scrolling Platformer for 1-4 players has a game rating of “E” with Comic Mischief. Mario has made a mighty leap out into the galaxy. We’ve also made the leap to full surround orchestration for the music that paints the backdrop to Mario games. Much as a multitude of stars come together to create a galaxy, many musicians have come together to create music to fill your hearts.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks to all of the following hosts who helped make this giveaway possible. They’ve got everything from coupons to product reviews to advice for families.

Kathleen’s Blog Spot, Couponista Queen, Fragrances 123, Coupons with Q, Single Mom Inspirations, Lil’ Daily Deals, Mommy’s Memorandum, Sweet Deals 4 Moms, Linda’s Angels, Life as Leels, Making Memories With Your Kids Mom Of One and Having Fun, Couponing4you, Mom to Bed by 8, Comic Book Mom, Frugal Diva Frenzy, Frugal 4 Four, Mommy Coupon Swappers, My Photopage, Health, Beauty, Children and Family, The Penny Hoarder, Angie’s WrapsDonnasDealsAndMore, I Love My Kids, NowandZen4u, Kat’s Cafe, Emptynester Reviews & Giveaways, Capri’s Coupons, In The Kitchen With KP, Building Carpenters, Making of a Mom, Ohayo Okasan, Giveaway Bandit Jenny at Dapperhouse, Cha Ching Queen, Nana Roberta, Sister’s Saving Cents, Heavenly Savings, PR Mom Ambassador Freebie Spot, Bear Haven Mama’s Tales, I’m A Silly Mami, Christina Serrano Ind Avon Sales Rep, Wraps With Wendy Crazed Mind, Cajun Couponer, Family, Love and Other Stuff, Freebies 4 Real, Simple Savings For ATL Moms The Shopping Duck, Tatum’s Family Reviews, Chant3llo’s Blog, Random Deals, 2 Dorks in Love, Views From the ‘Ville, Miki’s Hope, HomeGrownFamilies.net, ACE Is Healthy Weight loss, One House Schoolroom, The Maven of Social Media, Helping Moms Connect & Camp Wags

Before the term “bullying” became popular, there were just plain old “mean girls.” Kind of like that movie with Lindsay Lohan and Tina Fey but not very funny if you were the one it was happening to. The thing about mean girls is that sometimes they don’t outgrow that meanness and become mean women. In fact, when their lives don’t turn out the way that they had hoped they would, they often become even meaner the older that they get. Their jealousy and insecurities grow larger to the point that they can’t even be happy for anyone else anymore or carry on a conversation without having to make fun of others.

We teach our kids basic rules about bullying. Don’t “take the bait from the hook.” That means don’t let them get to you. It’s easier said than done because not letting them get to you on the outside doesn’t mean that they won’t get to you on the inside. We also teach our kids not to just sit back and watch other kids get bullied. We tell them to stand up for their friends. As women, we need to follow this same advice.

Too often we just make excuses for these adult bullies. We don’t want to get into confrontations with them because that isn’t the “adult” thing to do. So we sit back and listen to them make snide comments about the teachers at the school, other parents (who are often our friends), and even some of the kids in the neighborhood. Mean women tend to have no limits as to who they will ridicule.

We tell ourselves that these women are insecure. In polite conversation, we make excuses for them and say that we feel sorry for them because we know that they must be miserable on the inside. But what we would really like to do is run over them in grocery parking lot. (Which of course we will not do, because we are not mean ourselves).

It’s one thing to be opinionated. Everyone should have opinions. It’s also perfectly acceptable to engage in a little friendly gossip or competition. It’s something else entirely to be utterly, incredibly mean-spirited to the point of constantly hurting other people’s feelings on purpose.

Facebook really empowers mean women. It gives them a huge platform to make their snotty comments. Others “stay out of it” so that they don’t get unfriended or pulled into the fray. Even more, it gives the mean women further ammunition to pick on you because they see so many of the details of your life.

I know this post won’t all of a sudden turn those mean women into Pollyanna’s. They won’t change. What I do hope this post will do is 1) reassure those women who deal with people like this on a daily basis that is happens to all of us–even as adults, and 2) encourage women to stand up to this type of bullying and make it clear that it isn’t acceptable.

The next time you hear one of these women running down one of your friends, tell them you don’t want to hear it. If you are in a group, don’t just quietly hope the subject will change. Change it yourself. Tell her afterward that if she is going to continue to talk like that, you don’t want to be around her. Even if you can’t change her, maybe she’ll learn that if she doesn’t shut up, she won’t be a part of the group anymore.

I’m always getting sucked into infomercials that show the hottest new exercise programs and equipment. I never buy it because I am always skeptical. But when I see those doctor shows on tv talking about what actually works for people, my curiosity is naturally piqued.

This week one of those shows featured the Hyper Wear SandBell weights. I do a lot of cardio between my running and Zumba but have been learning more about building up muscle to help with my weight loss. Right now I only have a couple of little hand weights, so I know that I need to get more.

There is so much that I love about these SandBell weights. First of all, they are reasonably priced, starting at just $7.99. Secondly, they stack nicely so if you have a bunch of different weights, you will not be taking up much space in your exercise area. Third, they are incredibly flexible. You can do a lot of different exercises with them targeting different muscle groups.

SandBells have actually been around for a few years. I’m not sure why they are just now getting so much national attention. But you can see from the video below that they take the place of dumbbells, plates, kettleballs, and a number of other different pieces of exercise equipment.

From now through the end of May you can get free shipping on a $50 purchase with the code FREEGROUND. Check out the video and check out SandBells by Hyper Wear.

I don’t enter a lot of sweepstakes, but when I see Disney giving away a cruise on the Disney Cruise Line, I always pay attention! What I love about the new contest is that it is actually a great way to learn more about the Disney Cruise Line while you go through the entry process. Kids will love the opportunity to spin the wheel to move around the game board. As you progress through the board you can pick up crew members, reclaim onboard activities, win extra prizes for yourself, and learn more about the DCL.

Grand prize is a 7-night Disney cruise from Galveston to the Western Caribbean for the winner and three guests. Enter by visiting www.disneycruiseadventure.com. Game ends July 2, 2012.

Cheerios 2 Box Pack

Ever since I had kids, we have gone through a lot of Cheerios in our house. In fact, I think Cheerios were the first food that my kids learned to feed themselves. Over the years Cheerios has gone from being  breakfast to craft material to part of our snack mix. Because of that, I am excited for the new double sized packages. Read on to learn more about the new packaging plus see how you can win Cheerios for your family.

When you buy Cheerios at your local Costco, Sam’s Club or BJ’s, you can now get the 2 Box Packages. The packages include 2 boxes that can be separated, which makes them easier to store. In addition, the new containers fit 10% more cereal than previous packaging because of reduced air in each individual bag. Cutting down on packaging materials is saving trees and reducing the number of trucks needed to ship the packages–both good for the environment.

Learn more for yourself watching the video below. After the video, find out how you can win the same prize pack that I did–2 of the new 2 box packages of Cheerios.

To enter:

1) Leave a comment below telling why your family loves Cheerios (one entry).

2) Post on Twitter about the contest and leave a comment below with your Tweet (one entry).

3) Sign up for our newsletter at the top of the page and leave a comment below (e-mail will be verified) (one entry).

4) Become a Fan of our Facebook page and leave a comment below indicating that you did so. (one entry)

5) Blog about this contest or post the contest in your giveaway section and leave your link to the post below (two entries).

Drawing will take place May 22, 2012, at noon Eastern. Must be a US Resident, age 18 or older to enter. Winner will be notified via e-mail and have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.

“Disclosure:  Cheerios® cereal, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.”

I first had Chickenetti at Bunco a couple of years ago and knew that it would be a big hit with my family. They love all of the ingredients individually, and most of them when combined. I found a few different recipes for making it in the crockpot (slow cooker) and ended up with this one that I use regularly now. It’s one of those meals that always gets gobbled up by every person in my house and is great for leftovers (when we have them!)

Crockpot Chickenetti

Directions

Pour chicken broth into a large slow cooker. Add cooked spaghetti and diced chicken. In separate bowl, combine the creamed soup and water together until smooth. Stir in remaining ingredients then pour all into the slow cooker. Cover. Cook on Low for 2-3 hours.

That’s it! You can add diced celery if you want. Some people even add diced chilis to give it added flavor. My family likes it basic, and I can make it quickly. So that’s what I stick with.

Cupcake Vineyards Red Velvet Wine

In my efforts to try to drink more red wine, I went to the grocery store a couple of weeks ago and just hit the wine aisle with absolutely no preparation, which is very unlike me. All I knew was that I was looking for something reasonably priced and interesting. I wandered around for awhile until I saw a random sale rack with wines from Cupcake Vineyard. “Cupcake”? They had me.

Looking through the different wines, I found one called “Red Velvet.” I love red velvet cake, so I decided to take a chance on it. When I got home, I looked up the Tasting Notes on the Cupcake Vineyards website. It’s actually a red blend with Zinfandel as a base. You can expect subtle chocolate flavors, red and blackberry fruits, and a hint of coconut. They suggest pairing it with something rich like Hoisin steak, a barbecue bacon cheese burger, or dark chocolate fondue.

Since this was my evening treat, I chose to pair it with dark chocolate. Red wine and dark chocolate is one of my favorite pairings anyway. As I have been doing wine club reviews lately, I have been learning a lot more about the way that the right pairing really brings out the best flavors in the wines.

I settled into the bath with a block of dark chocolate, a glass of the Cupcake Red Velvet wine, and a new book. It was heavenly! The wine was definitely heavier than the wines that I usually drink, but not in a bad way. In fact, my husband and I usually drink a full bottle of white wine on Saturday nights but ended up being satisfied with only half of this bottle. Great news because it meant that we got to drink the other half of the bottle the next night!

I wondered if it might have just been the novelty of trying a new wine that made me like this one so much. The next weekend I had my husband get another bottle of the exact same. I paired it with a chocolate cupcake from our local bakery as a treat for running 10 miles earlier that day. I loved the wine again!

The Cupcake Vineyards Red Velvet Wine is now getting added into our permanent rotation. However, because most of my friends prefer white wine, I am also going to pick up a couple of bottles of the Cupcake Vineyards Angel Food wine and give that  a try. Look for Cupcake Vineyards wines at your local liquor store or grocery store.

Book 2 in Amy Plum's Revenants Series

When my friend Carol came back from a recent book conference with Until I Die, I was ecstatic! If you have not yet heard of it, Until I Die is the second book in the Revenants series by Amy Plum. In addition to getting the book, I got a little scoop from Carol about what a delight it was to meet Amy and how she even remembered Carol and her sister-in-law as fans of her Facebook page. THAT is very cool.

The Revenants series is about undead beings, but they are not vampires. Rather, it is a nice mix of supernatural and mythology. Mix that up with some Parisian flavor and a little romance and you get a nice read. The first book in the series, Die for Me, introduced us to the concept of revenants as well as the main characters, Kate and Vincent. Kate has recently lost her parents and moved to Paris to live with her grandparents and sister. Vincent is charming, handsome, and not exactly normal.

Stop reading here if you haven’t already read the first book. If you have and want to know more about book 2, read on! (No spoilers though)

Until I Die picks up pretty much right where Die for Me left off. Kate and Vincent are together, and Charlotte and Charles are moving away after the problems that Charles created with the numa. Kate and Vincent are desperate to find a way for Vincent to not have to die again throughout the rest of Kate’s lifetime so that they can be together. The crux of the book involves the way that each of them go about finding a possible solution.

We’re introduced to some new revenants who come to stay while Charles and Charlotte are away. Georgia is also center to a lot of the story again. She seems to keep popping up even when she isn’t exactly wanted (or helpful). Kate’s strength continues to grow, both physically and mentally. Although she does tend to do a bit of “pining” for Vincent when she is not with him, it’s not any different than the way most of us were at her age. Considering that she doesn’t really have any normal girlfriends, it’s to be expected.

One of the things that I loved about the book was that I felt like I was learning a little bit about Paris while I was reading–but not in a “tour guide” kind of way. It was fun to learn that the French frown upon people walking down the street and eating at the same time. Someday when I get to visit, I’m going to remember that.

The book was an incredibly quick read for me–maybe 2 days? I like Plum’s writing style and never felt like the plot was dragging at all. Be prepared, however, for one of those endings that leaves you hanging so far that you want to call Plum up herself and beg her to tell you what happens next. I have some suspicions about what will happen in the 3rd book, so I’ll be anxious to find out if I am right. Unfortunately, I am going to be waiting quite awhile!

Get your copy of Until I Die pre-ordered now and if you haven’t read Die for Me yet, order them both!

Music from My Teen Years

I have a mean mom confession to make. Last week I threatened to remove the country music from my daughter’s Kindle because she was singing it so much and I really dislike country music.  I want her to listen to the music that I listen to! After my gut reaction, I spent some time thinking about the music that I listened to as a teen. That music is the music that has stayed with me my whole life. I don’t get nostalgic thinking about what I listened to when I was 24. I don’t even remember what I listened to when I was 7. But those years between 12 and 19? Those are the songs that still can bring tears to my eyes or put me right back in the midst of teen angst.

I posed a question to my Facebook friends about the songs that remind them of their teen years. People were very quick to respond! They started engaging and “liking” the responses of other people that they do not even know. Clearly it’s something that strikes a chord with many of us.

Although I have friends on Facebook from age 20 to 85, the majority of the responses came from people around my demographic. We’ll politely call it “30-something.” Far and way Bon Jovi was a favorite. Specifically, “Livin’ on a Prayer” seems to be one of the songs that takes many of us back to our teen years. “Ice, Ice Baby” and “Pour Some Sugar on Me” also showed up a couple of times. A few mentioned mentioned Madonna, Billy Idol, and MC Hammer. One of the most surprising responses from more than one person was Nine Inch Nails!

More significant than the artists or the songs were people’s responses about how those songs still make them feel. Jen Goode said “[s]ome days going back to high school sounds like a heck of a lot more fun and sometimes it sounds like torture.” Another person who echoed the sentiment was Jo Martinez who said “[S]ometimes I feel nostalgic & sometimes I feel sad.” Most people mentioned “fond” memories and dances held long ago. When Anna Humnicky hears the song, she is reminded of her first love and feels “nostalgia mixed with a bittersweet tug at [her] heart.”

The music of our teen years is, indeed, music that will last a lifetime for us both in our memories and in our hearts. As parents we have to remember that and encourage our kids to find their own paths. Toby Keith may just be my daughter’s Bon Jovi and Taylor Swift may be her Joan Jett. Who am I to decide what music will last for HER lifetime?

I’ll leave you with a little Bon Jovi. Just in in case you are now feeling nostalgic yourself.

As I continue preparing to run the Indianapolis Mini Marathon, I am getting to the point where I have to make decisions about what exactly I am going to wear and eat. Headphones are always a big concern for me. The first year I followed the rules to the “T” and didn’t even bring my headphones. I was really irritated when I saw that everyone else did! Since then I have been bringing them but only using them at select times.

I’ve gone through a lot of different running headphones, some of them very expensive and others very cheap. I’ve pretty much destroyed every pair or given up on them after a few weeks. The ones that go around my ears get loose and end up falling off after wearing them for a couple of months. My friends swore by Skullcandy so I tried those. After a month or so, they started falling out as well. Other cheaper pairs were so irritating that I couldn’t even keep them in.

A friend approached me at a conference last year about SUBJEKT HerPhones. They are made specifically for women. He knew I was a runner and asked me to try them out. I was skeptical because even the headphones that work well for me the first few runs end up not working before long. I tried the HerPhones and they worked great at first. They didn’t hurt my ears and they didn’t fall out. I kept wearing them. Months and miles went by. I’m now up to about 20 miles a week and they haven’t fallen out once!

Herphones Running Headphones for Women

I’m honestly not sure what makes the HerPhones any different than other headphones, but they work. Maybe they are made of a better material that does not stretch and bend so easily that they get loose after you wear them a few times? Maybe there really is a difference between headphones for men and headphones for women? All I know is that I am hard on headphones and these have managed to do the trick for me for months.

Whether you are looking for earbuds for your iPod or gaming device or something much for sturdy for exercise, I don’t think that you can go wrong with HerPhones. If they can stay in my ears comfortably as I jump around and sweat and bop to my running music, they can stay in anyone’s ears!