Thursday, June 14, 2012

Little Miss Copperstone Contest




Summer is just around the corner which means most of us have beach days and poolside play dates in our future! Along with the bright sun, fresh produce and vacation plans, there's another symbol of summer that's immediately recognizable- the Coppertone girl! This summer, Coppertone is giving all littler girls the chance to embody this wholesome and charming icon with their Little Miss Coppertone Contest.

Coppertone is celebrating little girls by searching for the one who best personifies the spirit of Coppertone. All you have to do is submit a photo of your little girl, ages 2-8, by June 22nd to enter.  Special guest judge Alison Sweeney will lead the judging team in selecting finalists and starting on July 13th, America will vote to choose the next Little Miss Coppertone! The winner gets a dream family vacation and will be featured in a Coppertone print ad! To enter the contest and read the official rules, visit the Coppertone Facebook page.
"No Purchase Necessary. Contest Ends on 6/22/12. Click for Details".

Here is a picture of my Little Miss Coppertone!


"Disclosure: I was entered for a chance to win a gift card in exchange for this post.  No monetary exchange took place." 

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Fathers Day Read/ Gift Idea

Father's day is this weekend and if your not sure what to get dad here is an idea if he likes to read John Pfeiffer's Dude You’re Gonna Be a Dad is a great gift and a pleasant read. I would recommend this book to Experienced and Un-Experienced Dad's out there you can purchase the book by clicking here:
 *Amazon:http://amzn.to/KE6v3z  
 * B+N:http://bit.ly/KZMnLH
 * Adams Media:http://bit.ly/LEbNcB



 John Pfeiffer's goal with the book was to coach new dads along as they joined the cult of fatherhood, and hopefully provide some relief to the growing pains that are so familiar to experienced dads. To welcome rookie dads into the fold this Father’s Day, let’s take a look at five of the biggest mistakes us veterans know new dads can make:

1.      Playing dumb: Guys, we all know this one is classic. We’ve all done it. I think we may have overshot our goal with this technique. Originally it was a brilliant way for us to get out of doing stuff we didn’t want to do, because you know, we don’t know anything. Which end of the bottle do we put in junior’s mouth? But now we are the dumb blondes of the new century. Who is the most popular TV dad?  Homer Simpson! We can do better guys. Besides, after awhile there will be an issue that comes up we actually care about and our spouse won’t even ask us our opinion-because we are just too dumb. 

2.     Waiting for the “magic”: New dads, I know the feeling. You’re in the hospital and waiting for that rush of emotion to sweep you off your feet. Maybe they handed out magic fairy dust while you ran down to the hospital cafeteria. Either way, you don’t feel anything magical inside besides the stomachache from hospital meatloaf. Or was it liver? The truth nobody remembers to mention to new fathers is that special bond with your child is built little by little. Each small experience you have with your child helps that feeling you are waiting for to grow into something special.

3.     Learning on the fly: Guys, there is no doubt our days are full. After a long day we probably want to sit down, kick up our feet and maybe watch some sports, or read more about our favorite hobby. But whether your favorites happen to be Harleys or hydrangeas, you need to carve out a few minutes to learn more about being a dad. Because although our bodies are born with all of the right equipment to create a child, raising one in today’s world is hard. The good news is that ever since Al Gore invented the Internet we have more resources than ever at our disposal. So if you think there is an area your child needs a little help in, or a concern you have, much like the old TV show “The X Files”, the answer is out there.

4.     Neglect: This one is huge, and in applies in all directions. First and foremost, take your responsibility as a parent seriously, and never neglect your child. Keep an eye on Mom as well, as the reports state 10-15% of new mother’s get postpartum depression, but most experts feel it is a higher percentage. Dad, you may not see it coming, but estimates range from 10-25% of new Dads getting postpartum depression, you are not immune. Be vigilant in making sure you and Mom are getting exercise, proper nutrition, and as much sleep as possible. Hopelessness, anxiety, and mood swings are just some of the symptoms. If you think either of you may be experiencing this, do your research and talk to your doctor. It is much worse than the term “baby blues” makes it sound.

5.     Sitting on the sidelines: This is the distant relative of point number two. You share DNA with your child, and you will see that come through as time progresses forward. But if you kick back and watch Mom take over, you will probably be hurting your relationship with both of them. Times have changed and you need to get in the trenches. Find your role in your family, and be an active parent in your children’s lives. Most of all, realize, as the adage says, the more you put into it, the more you get out of it.


So while being a new parent isn’t as serious as, say, war, where hot metal flies by you and there are bombs overhead, there will be heated words flying between parents and stinky diaper bombs exploding all over the house. Parenting is a tough job; it always has been and always will be. Kids require a lot of time and effort, and for once in our lives there isn’t “an app for that.” But if you are willing to give the effort, you can become your child’s favorite superhero. Isn’t that what we all wanted to be when we grew up?  Here is your chance, oh, and Happy Father’s Day!

About the Author
John Pfeiffer is the proud father of three and authorof Dude You’re Gonna Be a Dad. You can check out his fatherly advice (gripes) and ramblings at http://www.dudeyoureadad.blogspot.com/ and follow him onTwitter at @johnpfeifferdad.

* Disclosure I received a copy of Dude You're Gonna Be a Dad in exchange for this post.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012



Whether you´re celebrating a holiday or simply spending time with loved ones, there´s always a
perfect opportunity to make and enjoy PillsburyŽ Ready to Bake!TM Shape Cookies. Complete with the magic of Disney and now featuring Phineas and Ferb, you and your family can celebrate any occasion with these delicious cookies. What´s even better is that they´re ready to enjoy in 8-10 minutes!
Visit  http://bit.ly/PSCMDCoupon to download a printable coupon for $1.10 off any PillsburyŽ Refrigerated Disney ShapeŽ Cookies today!

This coupon was provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark!

Monday, June 11, 2012

Baby Gourmet: Organic Blends Review









I was recently given the opportunity to review Baby Gourmet Organic Blends from Founder Jennifer Broe. Baby Gourmet is an all natural, organic baby food brand available in a convenient resealable pouch. The Line boasts nine sophisticated flavors some of those include Vanilla Banana Berry Risotto, Old Fashioned Apple Crisp, Tropical Banana Berry, Containing absolutely no added salts, sugars, filler, allergens or thickeners. I was able to try the Vanilla Banana Berry Risotto (Yes I tried it before letting my taste tester Baby Gia try it) I have to say it was very good and she enjoyed it as well. The brand is truly organic and the proof is on the pouch no ingredients you can't pronounce all natural and safe for Baby. The pouch it self is very easy to use and resealable with out any mess the pouch can be refrigerated after opening for up to 24 hours. Baby Gourmet is available for purchase at your local Walmart. For more information you can visit the Baby Gourmet at www.babygourmet.com. Jen loves coming up with recipes easily tweaked for all members of the family while using local seasonal produce. Here is on you can try yourself!

Fresh Minty Green Pea Hummus:
This dish is perfect for sharing with all the peas in your pod! Fresh mint gives this pea hummus recipe a cool refreshing twist that is perfect for any patio party!
Serves 4
Hummus Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups fresh shelled green peas or frozen, thawed
- 1 cup garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
- ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 Tbsp green onion, chopped
- 3 Tbsp fresh mint, chopped
- 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ½ tsp salt
- Pitas or sliced baguettes toasted for serving
Directions
- Purée first 5 ingredients in the food processor.
- For BABY 8 months +:
Remove ¼ cup of purée, stir in additional liquid if a thinner consistency is desired. Serve.
- For BABY 10 months+:
Spread bite sized pita pieces with prepared hummus and allow baby to feed themselves.
- For rest of FAMILY:
Add remaining salt and lemon juice to mixture, purée until smooth. Serve either on top of toasted and lightly oiled baguette slices or dip with toasted pita chips.

*Disclosure I received a product in exchange for my review these are my honest opinions.

Monday, June 4, 2012

Kaijudo Mommy Party

Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters is a new cartoon that just started on the Hub. Kaijudo is the story of Raiden Pierce-Okamoto, aka Ray, a talented 14-year-old boy, and the two worlds in which he lives. One is the real world much like our own, and the other is a fantastical world of creatures, a parallel world made up of five civilizations, visible only to a chosen few....  Thanks to MomSelect  I was chosen to do an in home party with this carton as the theme. The kids had so much fun dressed up as Karate Masters.

Find out more about Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters HERE