Lovely Lisa and Friends: DS/DSi Game (GIVEAWAY!)

Winners:

Midlife Mommy (Grand Prize)

Amazing Greis

Bison61

*All winners were chosen using Random.org.  Winners will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to respond.

Available this Tuesday, February 23 is the next installment of the successful fashion doll simulation game, Lovely Lisa and Friends available for the Nintendo DS and DSi (retail value $29.99).   Lovely Lisa and Friends is based on the Licca Chan dolls which are very popluar in Japan and is the equivalent to the Barbie in the U.S.   It lets girls explore their fun and personal style by allowing a child to dress up and take their doll on adventures through games and stimulations throughout.
My daughter has played the game a couple times since it arrived and she likes it.  She is still young so some of the games were a little hard for her but she loved dressing up and stylizing her own outfits for the character.  There were quite a few games/activities that she was able to do and enjoy though.  Overall, it has been a hit in our house with her.  There aren't very many DS games that she can play at this age (Nintendo Dogs is probably the easiest for her age group) and this one is making the list.
Want a chance to win your very own?  I am going to select three winners total.  There will be a grand prize winner and two runner ups (It's totally like Ms. America but not).
The grand prize winner will receive the following:
Lovely Lisa (Licca Chan) doll with accessories and outfits
Travel Boutique
DS Game: Lovely Lisa and Friends
Lovely Lisa Notepad
Lovely Lisa Key Chain Pens
Lovely Lisa Stickers

The two second place winners will receive the following:
DS Game: Lovely Lisa and Friends
Lovely Lisa Notepad
Lovely Lisa Key Chain Pens
Lovely Lisa Stickers

How do you win?  Why simply leave a comment below!  Any comment.   You can tell me who you would give it to or simply what your favorite pizza topping is.  I will let this run for one week and pick the winner shortly after.  You must leave an email address or a way to contact you.  If you win and I have no way of contacting you I will be forced by the powers above to pick a new winner.
Good luck!
I was given a copy of this game to facilitate my review.

Johnson & Johnson (Review)

When I was asked by Mom Central if I would like to spread the word about Johnson and Johnson baby products I jumped at the chance.  You see I have a baby shower to go to and what better gift to give then a supply of Johnson and Johnson baby products.  I know when I was a first time mom I found it so useful to have plenty of baby products on hand and I also noticed I might have used way too much bubble soap in the bath because it just smelled so good!  I love that baby smell but it also made me run out of soap fast. Johnson's Baby essentials such as PINK Baby Lotion, Gold Baby Shampoo, Head-To-Toe Wash, and Desitin rank high on this list of frequently requested baby staples. All these products provide a first-time Mom with the essentials she needs from day one in addition to making an experienced Mom's hectic routine easier by serving several purposes. Did you know that if you are out of shaving cream or traveling with an infant baby oil will work wonders for your legs?  Baby powder can be used as a dry shampoo or deodorant?  And I will tell you first hand that I have been known to frequently use the Pink Baby Lotion as my face lotion.  Honestly my face is as soft as a baby's behind and I love it!  The stuff is magic.
So when I head to the baby shower next month I am going to shower my friend with this basket full of Johnson and Johnson's baby products (although the basket I bought is looking to be too small now!).
I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Johnson’s and received free samples of Johnson's Baby products to facilitate my review.

Electorlux and Kelly are at it again! (Review)

Have I ever mentioned how much I loathe our oven?  It's back on the fritz.  I know we just need to bite the bullet and buy a new one but it's just a hard purchase to make right now.  So when I heard about Kelly and Electorlux's joining for "Kelly's Cake Off for a Cause" program that not only awesomely raises money to fight ovarian cancer but in order to get people involved is offering anyone who gets involved a chance to win an induction range from Electrolux.  I'm in, it's a win win!  Here's more information about how you too can get involved.
Electrolux and Kelly Ripa have proved to be an awesome combination! Whenever they get together, they bring us fantastic campaigns that are not only fun to participate in, but allow us to contribute to an extremely worthy cause. Their latest campaign,"Kelly's Cake Off For a Cause", is no exception. And since Valentine's Day is right around the corner, they've even added an element that all Moms can get on board with- Cake!
Kelly and accomplished master baker and cake decorator Buddy Valastro, from TLC's "Cake Boss," recently joined forces at a fun event to bake lavishly decorated cakes in support of The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF). To add to the excitement, five teams of baking enthusiasts were invited to take part in Kelly's Cake Off, where they used what they learned from Kelly and the Cake Boss, to decorate their own cakes.
Although you might not get to taste these virtual masterpieces, you can still weigh in on the results! By visiting Kelly-Confidential.com, you can cast a vote for your favorite cake from Kelly's Cake Off.

For every vote cast, Electrolux will donate $1[1] to OCRF as part of its $500,000 commitment to help fight ovarian cancer! And since love is on everyone's mind these days, you can even decorate and send a special virtual cake to a friend, family member or someone you love.  For every cake sent, Electrolux will donate another $1 to OCRF.  Plus, Buddy's top cake decorating tips are available -- sure to inspire baking enthusiasts and novices alike. 

If that's not enough to get you to click over, everyone who logs on to the site and sends a virtual cake will be automatically entered for a chance to win every baker's dream: a stylish new Induction Range from Electrolux.

*I was not paid to write this.  I am however in a drawing for a new induction range.  So go send a virtual cake, would ya?!?

There's more to explore, when you open the door...

My kids love Curious George.  The t.v. program, the movie, the books, it doesn't matter they love him dearly.  So tonight after the husband came home from work we headed straight out the door because we were given tickets to Curious George Live!

I really didn't know what to expect.  I have been disappointed in kids' productions in the past so I try to go in with low expectations and hope for the best.  Curious George Live did not disappoint.  It was honestly a really good show and I would say probably one of the best ones we have seen come to our area.  The actors precisely took on the roles and Chef Pisghetti was so good.  He was animated and very believable.  

The Man in the Yellow Hat and George did an excellent job as well although I kept thinking the Man in the Yellow Hat was Bruno (hey, just being honest).

The show itself is a very cute typical George story where that silly little monkey is always getting in trouble but this time his adventure takes him to Rome in order to save the day for Chef Pisghetti.  With the musical numbers, quality of production (set, props, costumes) and the ability of the actors compared to other shows I have seen, I felt like I was at a broadway type show geared for little kids.  The actors are actually singing live!  Can you believe it?

If Curious George Live is headed to your area I would recommended taking the kiddos to see it.  Even though the tickets were given to my family in order to share my experience with you, I believe it is worth the price compared to other shows I have seen.  It does not disappointment and gets a Midwest Mommy thumbs up!  

Clorox: I don't want to miss this! (Review)

Since my daughter started preschool I have quickly learned that she doesn't want to miss out on anything at school.  Just this morning when I went to clear the snow off the truck and start it to warm it up and all it did was groan at me (dead battery) and I told her she wouldn't be able to go to school today the tears started.  She didn't want to miss out.  Last week when her brother was so sick she kept telling me mommy I'm not sick, Mommy I can't miss school.  She doesn't want to miss out.  Killing germs on our household items and keeping common used areas clean is a great way to keep her from missing out.  Clorox has started a campaign about preventing the flu with the "I don't wanna miss this."  Here is a description of the program/contest below:

Balancing schoolwork with sports practice, play rehearsal, and club meetings complicates any teen's life enough without the added burden of getting sick. The dual risk of the seasonal flu as well as the 2009 H1N1 virus, makes this year's flu season especially complicated. To help spread the word about flu prevention, former American Idol finalist Danny Gokey has paired up with The Clorox Company to launch I Don't Want to Miss…, a national campaign designed to get teens and their teachers involved in flu prevention.
Now in its second year, the program features a contest that invites school musical groups, like glee clubs, show choirs, etc.  to develop a video performance of a song written by Berklee College of Music student Will Wells on what they don't want to miss out on if they were home sick and why prevention is important. The winning school will win a music class led by former American Idol finalist Danny Gokey!
For each entry submitted, Company will donate $100 (up to $10,000) to the Sophia's Heart Foundation, a charity founded by Gokey in honor of his late wife, Sophia, and dedicated to helping children achieve academic success via musical training and restoringmusical dreams in children.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that children and teens over 6 months and up to age 18 get flu vaccinations. In addition to vaccination, the most important step in flu prevention, disinfecting frequently touched surfaces and washing hands often play an important role in prevention.
 Visit the Clorox page on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/Clorox) after January 28 to learn more about this creative and informational challenge or go to the site here for all the rules and entry guidelines.. For the first 100 groups to submit, the teacher will receive a wellness care package from The Clorox Company.
"I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Clorox and received a $20 thank-you gift certificate."

General Mills Is Cutting Back! (REVIEW)

My kids love cereal.  They not only enjoy it for breakfast but also as a dry snack in the car or on the go.  We really try to follow some simple rules when choosing which cereals the kids can eat.  It has to be low in sugar and contain some fiber.  Well, General Mills is now making our lives a little bit easier.  This week General Mills announced a commitment to further reduce sugar in cereals advertised to kids under 12 to single digit grams of sugar per serving. The company has already been reducing sugar in cereals while increasing key nutrients, such as calcium and vitamin D, and providing whole grain.
Did you know that ready-to-eat cereal eaters consume less fat, less cholesterol and more fiber than non-cereal eaters? Cereals also deliver important vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients, making cereal a top source of key nutrients in children´s diets. 
Other cereal benefits:

Ready-to-eat cereals, including presweetened cereals, account for only 5% of sugar in children´s diets.

Ready-to-eat cereal is the No. 1 source of whole grains in a child´s diet today.

More frequent cereal eaters tend to have healthier body weights and lower Body Mass Index measures.

Studies also demonstrate the benefits of eating breakfast. A 1998 study showed that children who eat breakfast tend to perform better at school. Compared to children who skip breakfast, children who eat breakfast score higher on tests, are less likely to miss class or be tardy, have fewer reported discipline problems, and make fewer trips to the office.
For more information about kids and cereals, please visit Cereal Health and Wellness.
If you would like to give a General Mills ceral a try right now you can visit here and you will find a $1 off coupon for one of four General Mills cereals.
*Through MyBlogSpark, General Mills provided me with this information and coupons to try the improved cereals.  

Memoir of Me Winner!! & a gift-giving frenzy!

I used random.org to select the winner.

#3 was Carrie!!!  I am emailing you now.

Thank you to everyone who entered and thank you to Memoir of Me for hosting this great giveaway!

Memoir of Me is also participating in a gift-giving frenzy of 99 books in 33 days.

Here is an explaination taken directly from the Memoir of Me blog:

This January 2010, I am launching a Memoir of Me gift-giving frenzy called 99 books in 33 days.  Sharing stories is what Memoir of Me does best.  Personal stories.  Your stories.  The greatest gifts I have to offer are my Memoir of Me keepsake books.  To celebrate, we are giving away 99 books in 33 days.

I ask all of you to share your personal stories. Your stories can be touching, tragic, funny, or sweet about your child or a special child you know.  I’ll take these stories and turn them into Memoir of Me books for the children that are nominated.  The goal is to give three books each day for 33 days.

The inspiration behind 99 books in 33 days is Cami Walker who wrote the book “29 Gifts in 29 Days.”  She was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and spent late 2006 and early 2007 in the hospital.  She’d been down and out when a friend suggested that she give 29 gifts in 29 days to help her feel better.  Cami’s gifts ranged from sharing thoughtful insights with friends to giving a bigger-than-usual tip to a server.  In giving her first gifts, Cami’s health and mood took an upward swing.  The energy of her gifts reignited her spirit.  By the end of her 29 gifts, her life had significantly changed for the better.  Cami’s story shows that the impact in the power of giving.  

To nominate a child all you have to do is send the name of the child and story tomichelle.lebow@memoirofme.com, Twitter @memoirofme, Facebook Michelle Nelson LeBow or Youtube @MemoirOfMe77.  Please include an address in which to ship the book or gift certificate.  Some of the stories may even end up right here on the Memoir of Me blog, Facebook, Twitter or Youtube.  

What a great idea, right?  If you know a child who deserves such a gift consider nominating them today!

And let's not forget, congrats to Carrie!

GIVEAWAY! Memoir of Me

Would your child be excited to read a story where they are the star?  Would they get a kick out of seeing their name in print?  There are many different personalized books out there to choose from but now you can choose one that is a little more unique.  

Memior of Me is a company that creates personalized children's books that will include your child's name, a character resembling them and a letter you submit written to your child that will appear at the end of the story. 

The illustrations that appear in the book are very colorful and entertaining to the reader.  

The story follows a little girl (or boy) who gets into some bubble gum and trouble while his/her mother is trying to get a letter written.  It follows the character as she goes from the house, to the yard and eventually covers the neighbor's cat with gum all before helping her mom (you) put the finishing touches on her letter.  The letter you submit on the website is the letter that the character puts the finishing touches on which appears at the end of the story.  

Anyone can create a personalized book for a child.  This is not limited to the parent/child relationship only, if you are a grandparent, aunt/uncle, godparent or friend of a child you too can create a book.

Now, I do want to take a second and be clear about what you get because I was confused when writing my letter.  The website states that your letter will be "weaved"  into the story so I wrote a letter describing silly things my daughter has done because I thought I was suppose to be giving them material for a personalized story.  That is not the case.  The story is a very cute story about a little girl (boy) who gets into some bubble gum, kinda like the No David series, but it does not include events from your letter: only your child's name, a character resembling them and your personalized letter at the end.  

Now do you want one of your own?  Looking for a great Valentine's Day gift for a child?  The great people at Memoir of Me would like to give away ONE personalized book to a lucky reader of Midwest Mommy!  All you have to do is leave me a comment below.  Any comment, if you can't think of what to comment about tell me who you would give the story to.  This giveaway will run for about a week and I will select a random winner after.  The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email or I will choose another winner.
Ready, set, GO!
*I was given my own Memoir of Me free of charge in order to do this review.  

Fedex Office-Review

Finding cool ideas for projects and entertaining can prove challenging even if you are the most creative of moms. Whether you want to plan a baby shower for a friend or colleague or find a fun rainy-day activity for your kids, the new FedEx will get you started with projects for everything from invitations and place cards to tips on how to turn your child's artwork into a notebook, large poster, or thank you notes. In the future, the blog will feature contests and giveaways, themed series, how-to videos, and the creative insights of guest bloggers and customers.  There are many different helpful sections on the blog like, Parent Projects, Helpful Tips, Business Builder and Templates & Tools.  Be sure to check it when you have a project in the future.
And, just in time for the holidays, this month the Out of Office blog will feature tips for planning parties, creating quick and easy stocking stuffers or homemade gifts, and more. You'll want to check back often to see all the great ideas before Christmas arrives! Head over to the blog to leave comments with your own tips and ideas.


“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of FedEx Office. In addition, Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.” 

Green Works Laundry Detergent Review

I was recently given the chance to review the new line of laundry detergent from Green Works.  Included in the items were the detergent itself and the prewash stain remover.  What I like most about this product is that they are chemically safe for my kids.  I used it just this morning while working on the twenty loads of laundry that have piled up and I have been overall happy with it.  The only thing is it does have a scent which does smell nice but I would probably go for the free and clear one next just to eliminate one more chemical.

It does work just as well as my normal detergent and I like the idea that is is safe.  My daughter's skin is already sensitive enough so if I can spare her a few more chemicals that might irritate it even more I am all for it. 
Here is a little snippet from the company website:
Now your clothes, linens and towels can get the Green Works® treatment. Our new detergent is dermatologist tested, safe on colors and made with natural, plant-based cleaning ingredients. And clothes washed in Green Works™ natural laundry detergent won't leave a harsh chemical residue and are gentle on skin. Yet it still cleans with the power you expect from Clorox. For a dye-and-fragrance-free choice, try it in free & clear. Available in 30-load and 60-load bottles. Specially formulated for both standard and high-efficiency washers.
Also you can check out more here at the company website.  I also noticed that they are giving away a front load washer and dryer to one lucky winner if you share your experience with or opinion about their product.  I might just have to do that :-)  
Now excuse me this is only the first two loads of the twenty I need to get done.  Laundry Fairy?  Where are you?

"I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Clorox GreenWorks and received a bottle of Green Works Natural Detergent and Stain Remover to facilitate my review and a $20 thank-you gift certificate."

Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs GIVEAWAY!

Winners! 

I used random.org to pick the winners because I am lazy like that.  Congrats to Corrin and Krystyn.  I am emailing you now.
Thank you to everyone who signed up!

**Contest is now closed**

Tuesday (10/27) Twentieth Century Fox Entertainment is releasing Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs onto a three-disc combo pack (Blu-ray, DVD and a digital copy). Now I am going to be honest and say I wasn't a big fan of the first Ice Age. What I didn't like was the fact that everything in the movie seemed to be colored with shades of blue. Seriously I am a colorful movie lover so I was wondering just how this movie would be at keeping my attention. I.WATCHED.THE.WHOLE.THING. It was super cute and I liked it. I have actually watched it twice. My little guy seems to love dinosaurs lately so he was even liking it.

I am giving it a Midwest Mommy 4/4 stars! The daughter liked it, the son liked it, the hubs thought it was cute and I liked it.

You can pick up your copy tomorrow in stores or online. For a limited time they are releasing the Limited Edition: Scrat Pack Double DVD Pack (value $34.98).

WHAT IS A SCRAT PACK?

The Ice Age 3 Dawn Of The Dinosaurs “Scrat Pack” Double DVD Pack, another great value for moms and fun for kids, will also be available for a limited time only featuring an overload of special features focusing on the determined squirrel including three “Scrat” games exclusive to the disc.
The “Scrat Pack” will be available for a suggested retail price of $34.98 U.S./$45.98 Canada.

Like I said you can pick up your copy Tuesday in stores or you can enter here for a chance to win a Scrat Pack of your very own! I am giving away TWO Limited Edition Scrat Packs to two lucky readers right here, right now, on this post! All you have to do is leave a comment, any comment. I will let this run for one week and then announce the two winners shortly after. You must leave a way for me to contact you! If I go searching for an email address and I don't find one I will pick another winner.  Winners will have 48 hours to respond to my email and then I will choose another winner if necessary.

Good luck!

I was only given a copy of the dvd to review and no other compensation.

Winners!

The kids are in bed so I used random.org to select the winners, lol


Chop Socky Chooks Winners (5)
♥Lisa♥ @ FinalScore:Boys3Girls2
bzmomma

cpullum

Mommy Daisy

Stacie's Madness

Little Spirit of Christmas DVD (3)

FranticMommy

Momma Such

Beth

Animal Planet Presents Elephants DVD (3)

designHER Momma

ZDub

claudia

Thank you to everyone who signed up.

I am emailing the winners now.  If I don't get a response within 48 hours new winners will be chosen.

Thanks!

Little Spirit: Christmas in New York Giveaway!

Available on dvd today is Little Spirit: Christmas in New York. This is a cute holiday story about a friendly cabbie (Danny Devito) who tells two young sisters the story of a boy named Leo who moved to Manhattan with his family, a magical adventure begins in this new-to-DVD animated adventure. Moving to a new house in a new city is never easy, but when Leo’s dog (and best friend) Romona is accidentally lost in Central Park, Leo is determined to find his furry little friend in time for Christmas. Feeling lost and alone, a magical spirit takes him on an incredible adventure and Leo soon learns that this new city isn’t as scary as it seemed – and that the true meaning of Christmas may just be found in the people he meets along the way. Little Spirit: Christmas In New York features the voices of Danny DeVito (Deck the Halls), Lucy Liu (Kung Fu Panda), Brenda Song (“The Suite Life of Zach & Cody”) “NBC Nightly News” anchor Brian Williams and Freddy Rodriguez (“Ugly Betty”) – as well as music by country music sensations Faith Hill and Duncan Sheik. An enchanting tale the whole family can enjoy this holiday season, the Little Spirit: Christmas In New York DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $16.95.

Honestly my daughter liked it. She watched the whole thing and seemed to enjoy it.

You can pick up a copy in stores or online OR you can win your very own copy right here. I am giving three lucky readers a chance to win a copy of their very own. All you have to do is leave a comment, any comment. Please make sure I have a way to contact you if you win. Winners will have 48 hours to respond to my email before I pick a replacement winner. Open to U.S. residents only.

Good luck!

I received a copy of this dvd to review and no other compensation.

Animal Planet Presents Elephants Giveaway!

Animal Planet has released on dvd today Elephants! In this action pack dvd you will see the two episodes titled: Africa’s Elephant Kingdom and Queen Of The Elephants.

Explore the life and death struggle of the two surviving elephant species when Africa’s Elephant Kingdom and Queen of the Elephants arrive on DVD for the first time from Genius Products and Animal Planet. In Africa’s Elephant Kingdom, follow the largest land mammal and its extended elephant family as the clan travels across the vast, life-threatening African plains and struggles to find food, water and a place to build a stronger family. In Queen of the Elephants, conservationists and activists Mark Shand and Parbarti Barua – the only female mahout (elephant handler) in India – draw awareness to the elephant’s plight in a perilous 300-mile journey across the county atop the backs of elephants. From global warming and environmental changes to human expansion and resource depletion, Africa’s Elephant Kingdom andQueen of the Elephants explore the frighteningly small toehold that the elephant species maintains in the world as its way of life is threatened. Both specials will be available on one DVD for the suggested retail price of $14.95.

I have always loved elephants. I think they are so cute especially their butts! No, not strange! Just look at their wrinkly butts; it just makes me want to pinch it for some reason.

Anyways, you can get your copy today in stores or online. Or you can leave a comment right here to be entered to win a copy all of your own. I am giving away three copies of this dvd to three lucky readers. All you have to do is leave a comment to be entered. That's it, any comment to win! I must have a way to contact. If your profile is not set up for email replies please leave one in the comments below. The winners will have 48 hours to reply to me otherwise I will choose a new replacement winner. I will let this run for one week.

Open to U.S. residents only.

Good luck!

I received a copy of this dvd to review and no other compensation.

Chop Socky Chooks Volume One GIVEAWAY!

No villain is safe from the kung-fu capers of three crime-fighting chickens when “Chop Socky Chooks” Volume One attacks on DVD October 6 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment!
Wasabi World’s most egg-cellent crime-fighting chickens fly into action in this award-winning animated series! Full of wacky adventures and martial arts mayhem, “Chop Socky Chooks” Volume One is bursting with thirteen episodes of awesome fun. Chick P, KO Joe and Chuckie Chan are up to their beaks in bad guys as they patrol the gigantic shopping mall run by uber-evil Dr. Wasabi! Battling virtual villains, karaoke crazies, rogue robots, prehistoric predators and even fast-food fiends, they must use all of their super-spy gadgets, martial-arts skills and incredible ingenuity to keep Wasabi World safe! But with a little luck and lot of team work, these fine-feathered friends will not only save the day – they’ll even teach the crooks that crime doesn’t pay – and that’s no yolk!

Chop Socky Chooks Volume One Special Features: All episodes are compiled on two discs (wide screen, aspect ratio 1.78:1). Each episode is presented with English 5.1 Dolby Surround and English, French and Spanish subtitles. The following is a breakdown of each disc:
Disc One:

• Game over Chooks
• Big Bad Bubba
• Kobura Strikes
• Now You Coliseum, Now You Don t
• Double Trouble
• If Looks Could Kill

Disc Two:

• Do You Want Thighs With That
• In Your Dreams
• Speak Now Or Forever Hold Your Breath
• Snake In The Class
• His Master s Choice
• Chop Socky Whoops
• The Level That Time Forgot

Now my kids are three and one so I am not sure that this is targeted to their age group but my older nieces would love it. You be the judge. You can get your copy in stores today or online. OR you can enter to win your very own copy right here on this post! I am able to give away FIVE copies of the Chop Socky Chooks Volume One dvd to FIVE lucky winners!

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post, any comment to be entered. If you can't think of a comment just tell me your shoe size.

I will let this run for about a week and then pick the five winners and contact via email. If the winners don't respond to my email within 48 hours I will choose replacement winners. Open to U.S. residents only.

Good luck!

I was given a copy of the dvd to review and no other compensation.

Once in a Blue Moon (Review)

Thanks to the One2One Network I was able to get my hands on Once in a Blue Moon by Eileen Goudge.  If you like Jodi Picoult then you are probably going to like this author too.

Here is a little bit of info about the book:

Sisters Lindsay and Kerrie Ann have known hardship from an early age. Without guidance from their neglectful mother, their only aid came from an unlikely source, a retired exotic dancer by the name of Miss Honi Love. When the girls’ mother was sent to prison, Miss Honi tried unsuccessfully to save them from being separated and sent into foster care.

Thirty years later, Lindsay is still trying to reconnect with her sister. The owner of a bookstore in the sleepy California seaside town of Blue Moon Bay, she was lucky enough to have been adopted by a loving couple. Unbeknownst to her, Kerrie Ann has suffered a very different life. Bounced from one foster home to the next, she ran away as a teenager before becoming a drug-addicted single mother. Now, newly sober, Kerrie Ann is fighting to regain custody of the little girl who was taken from her.

Neither sister’s expectations are met when they’re finally reunited. But as the two sisters engage in the fiercest battles of their lives, they are at last drawn together despite their differences, restoring belief in the unshakable bond of family.

It is a very easy read that I enjoyed.  If you would like to get a copy for yourself it is available online and in stores now.

I was given this book to review from the One2One Network and no other compensation.

Elmo Winners!

Elmo Animal Adventure winners!

Out of the 31 entries LM randomly picked three.

So the winners are:

#4 Sherilyn

#15 Alisha

#19 Mommy Mo

I am sending emails out in a minute.  If I don't get a response in 48 hours I will pick another winner.  Thanks to everyone who entered.  Don't forget about my other three giveaways going on right now.

Chop Socky Chooks dvd- 5 winners ends 10/21/09

Little Spirit of Christmas- 3 winners ends 10/21/09

Animal Planet Presents African Elephants- 3 winners ends 10/21/09

Thanks!

Elmo's Animal Adventures! GIVEAWAY!

This week Genius Products has released an all new Elmo video called Elmo's Animal Adventures. Honestly what kid doesn't like Elmo? There is just something about him and his fuzzy wuzzy red fur that just melts my heart! Included in this dvd are three fun filled adventures starring Elmo and his friends. In the first adventure Tilly (gotta love him) and Elmo search for Little Bo Peep's missing cow by following clues. In the second adventure Elmo and Abby (makes me think of Maddie) succeed in the "Find the Amphibian Game" together. And finally in the last adventure Elmo camps and learns about different types of food that the animals eat. You can even spot a few celebs making an appearance including Cameron Diaz and Patricia Arquette.

You can find the dvd this week at your local stores, online, or you could win your very own copy here! That's right folks step right up because I am giving everyone a chance to win a copy of this dvd for free, delivered right to your door. Actually I am giving three people the chance to win because I am giving away THREE copies! All you have to do is leave a comment on this post, any old comment. If you can't think of something to write you can just tell me your favorite fruit loop flavor. I will let this run for one week and then announce the three winners after. If you don't leave a way for me to contact you and you win I will have no choice but to choose someone else. If you don't have a blog just make sure you leave an email address in your comment.

Good luck!!

Only open to U.S. shipping addresses.

I was only given a copy of the dvd to review and no other compensation.