Big Miracle Film Review~ See it in Theaters Now!

Inspired by the true story that captured the hearts of people across the world, the rescue adventure Big Miracle tells the amazing tale of a small town news reporter (John Krasinski) and an animal-loving volunteer (Drew Barrymore) who are joined by rival world superpowers to save a family of majestic gray whales trapped by rapidly forming ice in the Arctic Circle.

I love true stories about animals, especially whales. I was not familiar with the story that Big Miracle is based on. I asked my mom about it and she said she remember the story being on the news awhile ago. The movie takes place in 1988. I figured that it must have been a pretty amazing story in order for it to be remembered by many people.

One thing that I liked about this movie is that it focused on a lot of different characters and you can keep them all straight. My favorite character was the news reporter, Adam Carlson, played by John Krasinski. For me, he provided some of the most touching and most funny moments of the film. I learned a new method of what to do if someone’s eyes freeze shut!

This was a great family movie. It is pretty clean content wise and I believe that little kids will stay entertained. The whales are so cool to look at and you are cheering for them and the people through the movie. In my opinion, the movie does push an environmental message of ‘save the whales’ but does not get too political. I really liked this movie and think that it a movie worth seeing. Make sure you stay through the majority of the credits to see actual footage for 1988.

Big Miracle gets bragging rights!

Big Miracle opens in theaters today. It is rated PG. For more information, you can go to the film’s official website.

Nicole February 3, 2012 child, dad, entertainment, family, mommy, movie, review

Such a Great Deal! Sweet Tomatoes Super Bowl Sunday Catering

Sweet Tomatoes is offering one sweet deal this Super Bowl Sunday February 5th!

Instead of dealing with the hassle of cooking and preparing a savory Super Bowl meal, let Sweet Tomatoes do the heavy lifting! Cater your party next Sunday at a reasonable rate that feeds 10-12 hungry fans. For just $39.95 you get the following: deep kettle house chili with cheese and diced onions, cornbread muffins with sweet honey butter, Caesar salad, and house-made chocolate chip cookies.

Just call your local Sweet Tomatoes location to set up your order in advance (at least 24 hours) and get ready for some football!

www.sweettomatoes.com

Heidi January 30, 2012 family, food, party, restaurant

Whole Grain First Ingredient with General Mills Cereal with White Check + Cereal Prize Pack Giveaway

“Ringing in the New Year often means new eating habits. We know whole grain is important to you, and the Dietary Guidelines recommend choosing products with a whole grain listed as the first ingredient. Now every cereal with the white check has more whole grain than any other single ingredient with the same great taste. You will see “whole grain” as a part of the first ingredient on the ingredient list, indicating that whole grain is the first and most prevalent ingredient.

According to Dr. Travis Stork, emergency room physician and host of “The Doctors,” identifying whole grain products can be challenging. Shoppers can look for nutritional cues on the front of the box, but they need to read the ingredient list to know if they are getting enough whole grain. Ingredient lists detail ingredients in order of prevalence, and if the words “whole grain” are followed by a grain like wheat or oats, it means the food contains more whole grain than any other single ingredient. Here’s how to determine if your cereals have whole grain as a first ingredient:

With all the health messages facing grocery store shoppers, it can be confusing to translate what appears on food labels into nutritional needs, and hard to determine which foods have a meaningful amount of whole grain. Dr. Stork has some additional recommendations to help you include whole grain easily into your diet. They include:

Start Early! The Dietary Guidelines recommend people get at least 48 grams of whole grain in their daily diets. Get a jump-start on the day’s nutrition by incorporating whole grain into your morning routine. For instance, when choosing cereal make sure whole grain is listed as the first ingredient. One easy choice is cereal with the white check, which have more whole grain than any other single ingredient.
Make Simple Swaps. Choose whole grain versions of the foods you love. Great options include whole wheat pasta and whole wheat bread or even whole grain crackers. Also, try different types of whole grain. Use brown rice instead of white rice as a side dish at dinner or popcorn, which is a whole grain, for a snack.
Don’t Judge a Food by Its Cover. The front of food packages provide good nutritional cues, but don’t forget to read the ingredients and check the nutrition label and side labels for additional health information. Cereals with the white check even include the amount of whole grain per serving on packaging.

To help with choosing products with whole grain, General Mills developed “Fast Lane for Whole Grain,” an online educational game. Consumers can navigate virtual grocery store aisles and identify products that have whole grain as the first ingredient, with the option to enter a sweepstakes to win one of each of the 50 cereals with the white check.

Make a commitment to add more whole grain to your diet by simply pouring a bowl of cereal with the white check including Cheerios^®, Lucky Charms^®, Cinnamon Toast Crunch^®, Honey Nut Cheerios^® and Total^®.

For more information on the importance of whole grain and a chance to enter the “Fast Lane for Whole Grain” sweepstakes, visit www.WholeGrainNation.com.”

One Bragging Mommy Reader will win 5 boxes of General Mills Cereals with the white check!

How to enter: Leave comments below with your qualifying entries. Leave a Separate comment for each entry telling us which you qualify for.

MANDATORY 1st entry- Tell us which of your favorite General Mills cereals with the white check will you kick start your morning this New Year?

1st Mandatory Entry must be completed before you can qualify for additional entries. All extra entries who don’t do the mandatory entry will be deleted.

3 entries- Visit Whole Grain Nation Website and tell us something you learned there.
2 entries- Grab The Bragging Mommy button and put it on your blog. Leave a link.
5 entries- Follow BraggingMommy Heidi on Google+.
1 entry for each- Follow The Bragging Mommy via: Facebook, Twitter, subscribe to emails, subscribe in reader.
1 entry per day- Mention this giveaway on your Facebook page linking to this post.
10 entries- Blog about this giveaway linking to this post. Leave a link.
1 entry per day- Tweet this giveaway including a link to this post & @braggingmommmy in your tweet.

You can enter this giveaway until Feb. 9th @10:00 am MST. The winner will then be chosen at random, verified and contacted via email. The winner will have 48 hours to email us back and claim the prize, if prize is not claimed within 48 hours a new winner will be chosen. By entering this giveaway you agree to The Bragging Mommy Full Disclosure. You must be over the age of 18 and live in the Contiguous US to enter.

*The prize pack, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

Heidi January 26, 2012 child, family, food, giveaway, health

Timmy Time: Timmy Needs A Bath DVD Review and Giveaway

My daughter has never seen Timmy Time, so when I received it in the mail she couldn’t wait to try it out. We received Timmy Time: Timmy Needs A Bath DVD and Leah LOVED it! In fact while I’m writing this she wants to watch it for the 4th or 5th time! I thought the show was super cute and is very entertaining, even my 3 month old liked it Smile .

“Rub-a-Dub-Dub! Fun in the Tub!

Timmy Time™: Timmy Needs A Bath

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Grab your rubber ducky and get ready to soak in some lamb-tastic good fun as preschool favorite Timmy Time™ returns for an all new family-friendly, good-hearted release, Timmy Time: Timmy Needs A Bath, available on DVD January 24, 2012 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. With slapstick humor and not a single line of dialogue, Timmy Time follows a day in the life of barnyard preschoolers. With diverse animal characters along with a rich and colorful nursery school backdrop, Timmy and his friends learn life lessons that every preschooler needs to know. Whether fleeing bath time, becoming a walking collage, being bitten by the cleaning bug or engaging in a paint war, Timmy and his pals always bring joy, heart and a little silliness to any situation. Timmy Time™ is part of Disney Channel’s Disney Junior programming for kids ages 2-7 and their families, which airs in more than 99 million U.S. homes. The show is created by Aardman Studios, the Academy Award®-winning creators of Wallace & Gromit™ and Shaun the Sheep™.

DVD SYNOPSIS:

Enjoy some good clean fun with Timmy and his friends! Adventures with mud, glue and paint leave Timmy in some sticky situations. This clever little lamb uses his creativity to make tub-time fun and turn a paint fight into a masterfleece! Timmy cleans up and discovers the most fun of all is being with friends! Soak up the good times with Timmy…just don’t forget to wash behind your ears! Episodes:“Timmy Needs A Bath”“Sticky Timmy”“Tidy Timmy”“Timmy Goes Camping”“Timmy The Artist”

DVD BONUS FEATURES ·

Timmy’s Tune #2 – Music Video ·

Shaun the Sheep Bonus Episode: Supersize Timmy” (Lionsgate entertainment)

Please visit www.lionsgateshop.com to purchase this cute DVD.

Timmy Time: Timmy Needs a Bath DVD gets Bragging Rights!

One lucky winner will receive the Timmy Time: Timmy Needs a Bath DVD!

How to enter: Leave comments below with your qualifying entries. Leave a Separate comment for each entry telling us which you qualify for.

MANDATORY 1st entry- Visit Lionsgate Shop and tell us another show they own that you like.

1st Mandatory Entry must be completed before you can qualify for additional entries. All extra entries who don’t do the mandatory entry will be deleted.

2 entries- Grab The Bragging Mommy button and put it on your blog. Leave a link.
4 entries- Follow BraggingMommy Heidi on Google+.
1 entry for each- Follow The Bragging Mommy via: Facebook, Twitter, subscribe to emails, subscribe in reader.
1 entry per day- Mention this giveaway on your Facebook page linking to this post.
10 entries- Blog about this giveaway linking to this post and Zooper.com. Leave a link to your post.

Briann January 26, 2012 child, dvd, entertainment, family, giveaway, review, toddler

Create & Print Your Personalized Photo Books ~ VioVio Calendar Review and $25 GC Giveaway

I love photo books, photo calendars, and photo cards. Basically anything that I can personalize with pictures of my family, I love!! I had never heard of VioVio, and I was excited to try them out!

“One could argue that your photographs are your most prized possession. Their worth can’t be measured in dollars, and most people would grab as many photographs as they could from a burning house. Photographs are an irreplaceable record of your life, of family and friends, of events which mark the time line of your life.

Viovio is the place where you can share your life and the wonderful journeys that color your living. We are an online community designed for photographers (professional and novice), travel enthusiasts, and those who want to combine the two. We provide you a place to upload photos, create travel blogs, create photo books, and exchange information about your favorite places and memorable adventures.”

It usually takes quite a bit of time for me to make a photo book since I like to have everything perfect before I order. That is why I decided to make a Photo Calendar at VioVio. I figured it would be quicker and also, I have wanted to get a photo calendar for a long time so I figured now was that time!

My calendar really was very quick to make. All I had to do was upload the photos that I wanted (luckily we just had family pictures taken in October so I had the perfect photos to include!) and add them to the free 2012 calendar template. You can also purchase pre-made templates that other users have uploaded, but I chose to just go with the free one. Once my photos were uploaded, the process took about 10 minutes. I was really excited when my calendar arrived. It looked great, my photos were all in the correct place, and I am very happy with the results. Now I get to see my cute family on my kitchen wall instead of random pictures of trees and birds (you know…that come on most of the free calendars you receive in the mail Winking smile ). The only thing I would change is to add holidays to the calendar but it’s not a huge deal. VioVio makes it so easy to share your photos in several different ways!

Things that are BRAG WORTHY:

You can print photo books, design calendars, & create photo greeting cards
Each item comes in several different size options
Create your own templates, use the free ones provided, or purchase pre-made templates designed by other people.
Photo Books are available in Softcover, Hardcover, Die-Cut, Imagewrap, and more.
Drag & drop your photos for fast & easy designing
You can even sell what you design on the website!
So affordable!

VioVio gets BRAGGING RIGHTS!!

VioVio is generously giving away a $25 GC to one lucky reader!!!

MANDATORY 1st entry- Visit VioVio and tell us what you would make with your GC if you are the winner!

1st Mandatory Entry must be completed before you can qualify for additional entries. All extra entries who don’t do the mandatory entry will be deleted.

2 entries- Like VioVio on Facebook.
2 entries- Follow VioVio on Twitter.
4 entries- Register for a VioVio account.
2 entries- Grab The Bragging Mommy button and put it on your blog. Leave a link.
1 entry for each- Follow BraggingMommy Heidi on Google+, Facebook, Twitter, subscribe to emails, subscribe in reader.
10 entries- Blog about this giveaway linking to this post. Leave a link.
1 entry per day- Tweet this giveaway including a link to this post, & @braggingmommy and @viovio in your tweet.

You can enter this giveaway until Feb. 8th @10:00 am MST. The winner will then be chosen at random, verified and contacted via email. The winner will have 48 hours to email us back and claim the prize, if prize is not claimed within 48 hours a new winner will be chosen. By entering this giveaway you agree to The Bragging Mommy Full Disclosure. You must be over the age of 18 and live in the Contiguous US to enter.

Kim January 25, 2012 book, cards, family, gifts, giveaway, review

D.I.Y. Crafting Kits and Projects ~ Poppy Seed Projects Review and Giveaway

I am not a huge crafter BUT if someone gives me directions I can usually follow them and end up loving the results. Poppy Seed is a great place to find D. I. Y. Crafting Kits and Projects. I love that they give you the step by step instructions and any additional materials that you need.

I just purchased a home a couple months ago and I needed some things to decorate my new place. I came across Poppy Seed Projects and thought this is perfect! I decided to choose 3 projects and it took me a little while to get them done because I had just had the baby. These projects were super easy and super cute! If I can do them anyone can! I chose the HOME blocks for my first project. Basically I was sent 4 blocks of plain wood, the vinyl letters and that was it! I started out with painting the blocks black and then I selected the scrapbook paper that I wanted and added some mod podge and Walla! I think they turned out pretty dang cute!

I really like their section of home decor craft kits. Each Kit comes with several items and detailed instructions. One of my favorite kits is the Countdown Blocks. So so cute!

“Countdown to your favorite holiday with these chunky blocks! You provide your own scrapbook paper, so you can get creative! Great for Christmas, birthdays, or teacher gifts (countdown to the last day of school).

Kit Contents: 2 Wood blocks, wood stand, countdown vinyl and numbers.” (Poppy Seed Projects website)

I also chose the cute Family Home Evening Magnet Board. In our faith we like to get together once a week as a family and have a lesson, prayer, song, treat, activity and just have fun! I decided to just paint my board a plain black and then I glued the Metal Sheet on and did the Vinyl lettering, super easy!

I also really like their photo blocks and also their Photo Magnet Boards.

These Cute Families are Forever Plaque is my next project I want to do. “Display your favorite pictures on these unique divided plaques.
Available center print:
Salt Lake Temple – Families are Forever
God Could Not Be Everywhere And Therefore He Made Mothers.
A Garden of Love Grows in a Grandma’s Heart
Missionary Picture – I hope they call me on a mission.
Tulip Temple Picture – I’m Going There Someday.
Kit Contents: Plaque, print, instructions. “ (Poppy Seed Projects)

Things that are Bragworthy:

Super Cute Items for your Home and to give as Gifts!
Each project tells you what to do in detail
Each Project also tells you what the difficulty level is.
Super Easy and Fun
Great for Craft Clubs
The more you buy of one item the bigger the discount!
Perfect for a girls night of Crafting

These cute projects and more can be purchased at www.poppyseedprojects.com and right now you can get 15% off purchase, Use code: poppyseed1 at checkout!

Poppy Seed Projects gets Bragging Rights!

One lucky winner will receive a Long FHE Board!

MANDATORY 1st entry- Visit Poppy Seed and let us know your favorite project!

1st Mandatory Entry must be completed before you can qualify for additional entries. All extra entries who don’t do the mandatory entry will be deleted

3 entries- Like Poppy Seed Projects on Facebook
3 entries- Follow Blog via Google Friend Connect
2 entries- Sign up for their Newsletter
- 2 entries- Grab The Bragging Mommy button and put it on your blog. Leave a link.
- 1 entry for each- Follow BraggingMommy Heidi on Google+, Facebook, Twitter, subscribe to emails, subscribe in reader.
- 10 entries- Blog about this giveaway linking to this post. Leave a link.
- 1 entry per day- Tweet this giveaway including a link to this post, & @braggingmommy in your tweet.
You can enter this giveaway until February 8th @10:00 am MST. The winner will then be chosen at random, verified and contacted via email. The winner will have 48 hours to email us back and claim the prize, if prize is not claimed within 48 hours a new winner will be chosen. By entering this giveaway you agree to The Bragging Mommy Full Disclosure. You must be over the age of 18 and live in the Contiguous US to enter.

Briann January 24, 2012 decor, family, giveaway, home, mommy, review

Real Steel Available on Blu-ray and DVD & Digital Copy Today

“A gritty, white-knuckle, action ride set in the near-future where the sport of boxing has gone high-tech, "Real Steel" stars Hugh Jackman as Charlie Kentonm, a washed-up fighter who lost his chance at a title when 2000-pound, 8-foot-tall steel robots took over the ring. Now nothing but a small-time promoter, Charlie earns just enough money piecing together low-end bots from scrap metal to get from one underground boxing venue to the next. When Charlie hits rock bottom, he reluctantly teams up with his estranged son Max (Dakota Goyo) to build and train a championship contender. As the stakes in the brutal, no-holds-barred arena are raised, Charlie and Max, against all odds, get one last shot at a comeback.”

AVAILABLE TODAY!

We were sent the Real Steel on Blu-ray & DVD Combo Pack. It is also available in a 3 disc set which includes a Digital Copy. We didn’t have the chance to see this movie in theaters so we were excited to sit down together as a family and watch it on Blu-ray. The whole family loved the movie, especially my boys, they thought the robots and fighting were awesome. My boys favorite bots Zeus because he is such an enormous robot and Twin Cities because he has 2 heads. We even enjoyed the bonus features my boys though the building the bots was cool and enjoyed seeing that. We all liked watching the bloopers they are really fun. This is a great family movie and a great addition to our movie collection.

BONUS FEATURES:

3-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (1 Blu-ray Disc + 1 DVD + 1 Digital Copy)

All 2-Disc Blu-ray Bonus Features
All DVD Bonus Features

2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (1 Blu-ray Disc + 1 DVD)

REAL STEEL SECOND SCREEN
Countdown to the Fight—The Charlie Kenton StorySugar Ray Leonard: Cornerman’s Champ
Deleted and Extended Scenes with introductions by Shawn Levy
—Extended “Meet Ambush”
—Deleted “Butterfly” Storyline
PLUS All DVD Bonus Features

1-Disc DVD (1 DVD)

Making of Metal ValleyBuilding the BotsBloopers
HIGH-DEFINITION & STANDARD DEFINITION DIGITAL
Sugar Ray Leonard: Cornerman’s ChampPLUS
All DVD Bonus Features

For a limited time, Dreamworks is offering $5 OFF the purchase of the Real Steel 3-disc Combo Pack. Those interested should visit http://www.steelgetsreal.com/, and click on the offer in the upper right corner of the page. Offer ends 1/29/12.

Real Steel is available on Blu-ray DVD & Digital Copy online and in stores now.

Real Steel gets Bragging Rights!

Heidi January 24, 2012 blu-ray, child, dad, dvd, entertainment, family, mommy, review

Dotmine Day Planners Review + Discount Code

I’ve never owned a Day planner. Most of the time I just write appointments on the calendar hanging on our kitchen wall. But as I get busier (with 3 kids), I have decided I need something better to keep track of my days. That is why I couldn’t wait to review the day planners from Dotmine.

“At Dotmine Day Planners, we just sold our 1 millionth planner this past Fall! Family_time.mine was developed by a group of 20 moms of all shapes and sizes over 8 years ago.”

Why Dotmine planners?

the size — they’re compact and easy to use, not bulky and not complicated! They also open flat for optimal ease of use;
the space — you’ll have daily, weekly and monthly views, room for notes and for tracking the entire family, and tear-off margins for lists;
the art — elegant, fun and sometimes funky covers each year;
the price — retailing for about $20, dotmine planners are affordable; and
the catchy names and customized features — family_time.mine®, for moms; life_time.mine®, blending work and family life; and time.mine®, for the individual or student.
bonus months — our 17-month planners accommodate both the school and calendar year.

I didn’t really want anything fancy for my ‘mom planner’. I just wanted something cute that would easily fit into my diaper bag. The Dotmine Family Organizer is a great choice for me! It has a really cute cover and the inside has everything I need to keep myself organized. My planner has weekly calendars and also monthly calendars. I like that. It also has some other really helpful pages like a place to keep all my phone numbers. I have been using my 2012 planner for a couple weeks now and it has already been so helpful!! I can write down my appointments as soon as I make them, and I can also see how busy my schedule is so I don’t overbook myself. That has happened in the past but hopefully it won’t anymore! Visit Dotmine on Facebook and Twitter!! They also have a newsletter you can sign up for!

Things that are BRAG WORTHY:

17-month planners, August-December
Fashionable cover designs printed on durable plastic
Monthly and weekly planning pages on crisp white paper
Inspirational and humorous quotes each week
Perforated margins for "tear-out" lists, & note pages make errands a breeze!
Plastic coil, spiral bound, back pocket holds papers in place
Unique master schedule / planning guides
Fun colorful reminder stickers

Dotmine Day Planners get BRAGGING RIGHTS!!

Right now you can get an amazing Discount of 60% off Using code: ‘BRAGMOM60’ at checkout.

Kim January 23, 2012 family, mommy, organization, parenting, review

Mavea Elemaris XL Water Filter Pitcher Review and Giveaway [CLOSED]

I remember when we moved to Indianapolis and I first took a drink of water from the tap. It was terrible. Seriously. Lucky for me, we have a fridge with a water dispenser so we immediately went out and bought a filter for it. Now that our time here in Indiana is almost over (well….it’s about 6 months away, but that seems soon), I have been worried that we will no longer have a fridge with a dispenser. Tap water just isn’t the same as filtered water! That is why I am excited to have a Mavea Elemaris XL Water Filter Pitcher. Now I can be sure that the water my family and I drink will taste great AND be more clear.

“MAVEA is the new generation premium water filtration system made in Germany. It integrates the highest quality materials with intelligent design and a revolutionary recycling program that helps sustain healthy lives and a healthy planet. The distinctive European styling makes a statement on your kitchen counter or on your dining room table. The design strikes the perfect balance between form and function while easily and conveniently delivering clearer, cleaner, great-tasting water. Our radically new shaped filter delivers consistent flow and filtration over the life of the filter. No pre-soaking is required to activate the filters. Micro-screen in the filter reduces black particle release into the pitcher. The Elemaris XL pitcher significantly reduces chlorine taste and odor along with other unwanted elements. The unique pour through lid makes it easy to fill the pitcher; simply turn on the tap and hold the pitcher under it. The water flow opens the lid and it closes automatically when the reservoir is full. The Meter takes the guess work out of knowing when to replace your filter. The rubberized feet and handle are molded into the system to provide an elegant and functional touch. The soft handle is comfortable to hold while the feet prevent scratching or sweating on furniture or countertops. MAVEA is the only water filter company offering a comprehensive filter recycling program. The MAVEA Elemaris XL pitchers are available in either black or white.”

This water pitcher with filter has a sleek look to it. Mine is black (which I love) with a soft grip handle and an automatic pour through lid for direct filling. It fits nicely in my fridge too which is a must. If you have a smaller fridge, or don’t have a lot of extra space, Mavea also has a pitcher that is actually designed to fit in the fridge door!! I am really happy to have this pitcher on hand and will definitely be using it often for great tasting water!! Mavea is on Facebook & Twitter so be sure to check them out! Also subscribe to their blog for lots of useful information!!

Things that are BRAG WORTHY:

BPA free
Comes in black & white (possibly more colors depending on where you buy)
Gives your fresh drinks a great, natural taste
Releases the full flavor and taste of tea and coffee
Merges ultimate comfort with style
Large 9-glass water capacity
Silver-treated filter discourages bacteria growth
Pour-through lid makes refilling convenient and easy
Smart Meter filter change indicator measures water hardness, water volume and length of time in use
Used filters can be recycled
Dishwasher safe

The Mavea Elemaris XL Water Filter Pitcher gets BRAGGING RIGHTS!!

One lucky reader is going to receive a Mavea Elemaris Kompact Pitcher!!

MANDATORY 1st entry- Visit Mavea and tell us something you love about their pitchers.

1st Mandatory Entry must be completed before you can qualify for additional entries. All extra entries who don’t do the mandatory entry will be deleted

2 entries- Like Mavea on Facebook.
2 entries- Follow Mavea on Twitter.
2 entries- Subscribe to the Mavea Blog.
2 entries- Grab The Bragging Mommy button and put it on your blog. Leave a link.
1 entry for each- Follow BraggingMommy Heidi on Google+, Facebook, Twitter, subscribe to emails, subscribe in reader.
10 entries- Blog about this giveaway linking to this post. Leave a link.
1 entry per day- Tweet this giveaway including a link to this post, & @braggingmommy and @inspiredwater in your tweet.

You can enter this giveaway until February 3rd @10:00 am MST. The winner will then be chosen at random, verified and contacted via email. The winner will have 48 hours to email us back and claim the prize, if prize is not claimed within 48 hours a new winner will be chosen. By entering this giveaway you agree to The Bragging Mommy Full Disclosure. You must be over the age of 18 and live in the Contiguous US to enter.

Kim January 20, 2012 family, giveaway, health, kitchen, review

Thomas & Friends: Curious Cargo DVD Review and Giveaway [CLOSED]

My daughter received a Thomas Train set for her birthday from Grandma and is now in LOVE with Thomas! So when we received the Thomas & Friends: Curious Cargo DVD, Leah couldn’t wait to open it and watch it. She hasn’t watched a lot of Thomas but she fell in love with it right away.

“Bunnies and birds and giraffes, oh my! Thomas and his railway pals are carrying some great and unusual freight in the all new release Thomas & Friends™: Curious Cargo, available on DVD, Digital Download and On Demand January 17, 2012 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. Thomas and his engine friends embark on four fantastic adventures as they deliver the Wildlife Center’s newest, long-necked resident, make friends with local animals, chuff off in search of the perfect home for friend Bash and more!

DVD SYNOPSIS

All aboard for a wild ride on the Island of Sodor as Thomas and his engine friends deliver some Curious Cargo – from giraffes and cows to birds and bunnies and more! Thomas meets a tall challenge while taking a giraffe to the Sodor Wildlife Center, Percy learns to be gentle with the animals of Sodor and Belle and Toby discover the importance of listening to others. Join Thomas on his wildest adventures yet!

Episodes:·

“Thomas’ Tall Friend”·

“Percy’s New Friends”·

“Toby and Bash”·

“Big Belle”

DVD BONUS FEATURES·

“Find What Doesn’t Belong” Game·

“Determination” Song Karaoke Music Video·

Exclusive Activities & Fun with Driver Perkins

VOD BONUS FEATURES·

“Buzzy Bees” Bonus Episode”

We love the Thomas the Train on DVD and you will too!

Please visit www.lionsgateshop.com to purchase this cute DVD.

Thomas & Friends: Curious Cargo DVD gets Bragging Rights!

One lucky winner will win the Thomas & Friends: Curious Cargo DVD!

How to enter: Leave comments below with your qualifying entries. Leave a Separate comment for each entry telling us which you qualify for.

MANDATORY 1st entry- Besides Thomas who is your favorite character on Thomas & Friends?

1st Mandatory Entry must be completed before you can qualify for additional entries. All extra entries who don’t do the mandatory entry will be deleted

3 entries- Grab The Bragging Mommy button and put it on your blog. Leave a link.
5 entries- Follow BraggingMommy Heidi on Google+.
1 entry for each- Follow The Bragging Mommy via: Facebook, Twitter, subscribe to emails, subscribe in reader.
1 entry per day- Mention this giveaway on your Facebook page linking to this post.
10 entries- Blog about this giveaway linking to this post. Leave a link.
1 entry per day- Tweet this giveaway including a link to this post, @braggingmommmy in your tweet.

You can enter this giveaway until Feb. 3rd @10:00 am MST. The winner will then be chosen at random, verified and contacted via email. The winner will have 48 hours to email us back and claim the prize, if prize is not claimed within 48 hours a new winner will be chosen. By entering this giveaway you agree to The Bragging Mommy Full Disclosure. You must be over the age of 18 and live in the Contiguous US to enter.

Briann January 20, 2012 child, dvd, entertainment, family, giveaway, movie, review, toddler, tv show

Think Geek Retro Duo NES/SNES Game System Review

8 and 16 Bit Gaming… Back from the Dead

“If you put your hand far enough into the crack of your couch in the basement you’re likely to find an old SNES game cartridge… reach a little further and out comes a pop rock encrusted NES cartridge. Problem is, no matter how far you burrow, you’ll never come up with a full Nintendo classic game system… and you’ll never ever find a system that plays both NES and SNES games. Well luckily the Retro Duo NES/SNES Game System is here to solve all your 8 and 16 bit gaming needs. Two top loading cartridge slots, one for NES the other for SNES, ensure full compatibility with all your old games… and it’s completely couch lint free! Controllers are included of course, or you can plug in your own original SNES controllers for 100% accurate gaming nostalgia.”-Think Geek

Important Note:
The Retro Duo does not come with any cartridges or a built in game. You need to provide your own SNES or NES game cartridges. Don’t have any? Try eBay.

Product Features

Game Console Plays Old Nintendo SNES and NES Games
Two slots allow you to plug in an SNES or NES cartridge
Switch chooses from NES (8 Bit) or SNES (16 Bit) mode
Connects to your TV via standard composite video out or s-video out
Stereo sound (depending on game)
Comes with two SNES style controllers
Plug compatible with original SNES controllers
Plays most Japanese import games
Main console measures a compact 16cm x 17cm x 4.5cm high

I remember Christmas morning as a little girl when we got our first Nintendo. We were so excited! We had a blast playing it as kids and in my mind no other system or games can compare. Ahhhh Nostalgia…So when I saw the Retro Duo NES/SNES Game System from Think Geek I knew I had to have it. I had a few old NES games stored in my garage, I know crazy right?! and I also order a few more on eBay. We have had a blast playing the old NES and SNES games on this system. Super Mario 3, Dr. Mario, Monopoly, Tetris, Paper Boy, just to name a few of my favorites. So fun. retro_duo_nes_snes_game_system

Even my 4 year old is enjoying the games. I think it’s quite funny actually, give my 4 year old a Galaxy Tablet and he has no problem, needs no instruction. Give him the Retro Duo system & an NES game and he is like “How do I do this?” LOL We are raising a complex generation. It’s too funny!

I highly recommend this game system to send you back to the 80’s & 90’s with some simple and entertaining game play. I like that it is a small console so it doesn’t take up much space. It is also really nice being able to play both Nintendo & Super Nintendo games on one system.

See this and all the fun and unique items available at www.ThinkGeek.com!

Retro Duo NES/SNES Game System from Think Geek gets Bragging Rights!

Heidi January 19, 2012 child, dad, electronics, family, games, mommy, review, teen, toy, tween

Finally Home to Family

For many service men and women the day they return home is the happiest day of their lives! We have all seen the happy reunions of families during the holidays, but what happens after the reunion is over? For many men and women it’s the beginning of a new struggle, the struggle to put their families back together again, and it’s not easy. Military divorces have increased 42% since 2001, and that number is sure to increase with the number of service men and women returning home from Afghanistan.

With the Finally Home To Family widget we all can help the men and women who have defended our country fight the war in their backyard!

Heidi January 16, 2012 family

Crane Germ Defense Electrostatic Air Purifier Review and Crane Humidifier of Choice Giveaway [CLOSED]

“Clean your air without worrying about the additional expense of replacement filters! Crane’s Electrostatic Air Purifier with Permanent Filter removes up to 95% of airborne allergens and reduces up to 90% of virus and bacteria within two hours.

Household odors, dust mites, pollen, mold, pet dander all can cause watery eyes, skin irritation, congestion, stuffy noses and bouts of coughing. Crane’s Air Purifier’s sleek modern design will efficiently clean your indoor air by removing these pollutants from your air. Crane’s Air Purifier includes a 4 speed touch panel with quiet mode, a permanent washable electrostatic collecting cell to attract smaller particles and a twenty minute boost mode. Suitable for rooms up to 230 sq. ft. Better breathing, better living.”-Crane

crane

I own several Crane Humidifiers and have been very impressed with the quality and performance of each. I just love the adorable designs they have! So I was thrilled to try out their Electrostatic Air Purifier. I can be paranoid about germs especially when I have a new baby in my home. Since I am expecting a precious little one in June, this Air Purifier couldn’t have come at a better time. I am so excited to know that the air our new angel will breath in will have been purified by this wonderful product. It Removes up to 95% of Airborne Allergens and Reduces up to 90% of Viruses AND Bacteria within 2Hours! That is impressive. I will be using it mainly in the nursery once baby arrives, but for now it is in our family room. I have even noticed that it will help with odors. For example the other night I made dinner and it was very potent (good but strong smell). Having this air purifier running really helped remove a smell that would have normally lasted for days.

I am impressed by how quiet it is, especially when you use the whisper quiet mode. I love knowing that I am protecting my family (and my soon to be baby) from allergens, viruses and bacteria. Besides that, my favorite thing would have to be that it has a permanent washable filter. I love that I don’t have to spend additional money on filters. I can just wash it and it even comes with a brush for washing it. That is a great feature.

Brag Worthy Features:

High Efficiency Electrostatic Air Cleaning Technology
Permanent Washable Filter with Cleaning Brush
Removes up to 95% of Airborne Allergens
Reduces up to 90% of Viruses AND Bacteria within 2Hours
Removes Common Household Odors
4 speed setting with Whisper Quiet Mode
Compact Size for High Performance
Suitable for Rooms up to 230 Square Feet

Visit www.Crane-USA.com to purchase this Air Purifier as well as see the other products they offer.

Crane Electrostatic Air Purifier gets Bragging Rights!

One lucky Bragging Mommy Reader will win Any Crane Humidifier of their Choice!

How to enter: Leave comments below with your qualifying entries. Leave a Separate comment for each entry telling us which you qualify for.

MANDATORY 1st entry- Visit Crane USA and tell us which Humidifier you will choose if you win.

1st Mandatory Entry must be completed before you can qualify for additional entries. All extra entries who don’t do the mandatory entry will be deleted.

3 entries- “Like” Crane USA on Facebook.
3 entries- Follow on Crane_USA on Twitter.
2 entries- Grab The Bragging Mommy button and put it on your blog. Leave a link.
5 entries- Follow BraggingMommy Heidi on Google+.
1 entry for each- Follow The Bragging Mommy via: Facebook, Twitter, subscribe to emails, subscribe in reader.
1 entry per day- Mention this giveaway on your Facebook page linking to this post.
10 entries- Blog about this giveaway linking to this post. Leave a link.
1 entry per day- Tweet this giveaway including a link to this post, @crane_usa & @braggingmommmy in your tweet.

You can enter this giveaway until Jan. 26th @10:00 am MST. The winner will then be chosen at random, verified and contacted via email. The winner will have 48 hours to email us back and claim the prize, if prize is not claimed within 48 hours a new winner will be chosen. By entering this giveaway you agree to The Bragging Mommy Full Disclosure. You must be over the age of 18 and live in the Contiguous US to enter.

Heidi January 12, 2012 baby, child, family, giveaway, health, home, nursery, review

Free Chore Chart to Teach Kids Responsibility ~ GoalForIt.com Review

Goalforit.com is an excellent online resource that provides a variety of free solutions for personal success that are easy to use and can help bring more focus, balance and fulfillment into everyday living. We especially love their simple-to-use Chore Chart, which can help children of all ages learn essential skills in a fun and rewarding way.

This FREE Chore Chart can help teach kids, tweens & teens many important lessons, including:

Responsibility; A Chore Chart is an ideal way to help your kids feel like they are making a contribution to their family by doing their part around the house.
Understanding right from wrong; Setting behavior goals is an important way to help children strengthen their character and judgment.
Healthy Habits; Teaching good habits involving nutrition and physical activity are the cornerstone of prevent obesity in children and adolescents.
Money Matters; The optional point system teaches children three important lessons for managing money; earning, spending and saving.

I have been loving goalforit.com and have been using it with 12 year old C and 4 year old Bug. Each child was excited to set up their chart. They have really fun designs for the charts that you can customize for your child, tween or teen so that they will be excited about it.

We got to pick a fun theme for each boy, then we choose the behavior, responsibilities, and goals for each child. I love that there are so many choices and I was easily able to find the best goals and responsibilities for each child that were age appropriate.

Behavior_Chart_Gallery_Image2

The kids love being able to check off (or get stickers) for each item they accomplish. Probably their favorite thing is the Moolah. Moolah is an option where you give your child points for each item they complete. Then the moolah is stored in a moolah bank (or rewards section for the older kids) and they can spend it on rewards that you set up for them. Since using these charts and rewards systems I have seen a huge improvement in both kids.

I have even been using the To Do List for myself and it has helped me to stay on track and get a lot more accomplished each week.

I love that it is all so easy to use. I highly recommend using GoalForIt.com with your kids and for yourself! Sign up for your FREE account today and start seeing the benefits!

GoalForIt.com gets Bragging Rights!

*I wrote this post on behalf of GoalForit.com through Mom Select. All opinions are my own. This is a sponsored post.

Heidi January 12, 2012 child, family, mommy, organization, review, teen, tween

Dora The Explorer: Dora Loves Boots Available on DVD Now

In our house we LOVE Dora the Explorer. My daughter knows all of the characters names and the songs. So I couldn’t wait to receive Dora The Explorer: Dora Loves Boots DVD. I think this is THE perfect DVD to give to Leah for Valentines Day. She loves Dora and Boots and all of the different adventures that they go on together.

I love the friendship that Dora and Boots share together in these episodes and others as well. You can tell that they really love each other!

“Celebrate Dora and Boots’ playful friendship in Dora the Explorer: Dora Loves Boots. This DVD contains three new-to-DVD episodes that feature the adventures of Dora and her best friend, Boots. The DVD will also offer parents the opportunity to use the Gramify program and send their kids a free personalized phone call from Dora (limited time offer). Created by Nickelodeon Home Entertainment and distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment, Dora the Explorer: Dora Loves Boots will be released on DVD for the suggested retail price of $16.99.

Dora the Explorer: Dora Loves Boots Episode Synopses:
Boots’ First Bike
Boots is really excited because soon he’ll be getting his very first big bike. The Delivery Duck flies in with a postcard of a shiny yellow 2-wheeler bike for Boots. His new bike is finally ready to be picked up and he can’t wait! It’s going to be a series of “first” adventures as Baby Blue Bird takes her first flight, Lil’ Piggy sails on her first pirate ship, and Tico’s baby cousins learn how to safely cross the street and make it to the bike shop.
Bouncy Boots
Boots’ favorite boots are back from the Shoe Shop, but when he tries them on, he starts to bounce. Dora and Boots set off to find his favorite boots on a bouncy adventure past the Giant Gates, then across the Snail Bridge where their French friend Amélie teaches them how to play Escargot — a French Hop-Scotch game. They sing all the way to the Shoe Shop, but will Boots’ shoes be there?
¡Vacaciones!
Dora and Boots are meeting Diego and Baby Jaguar for a night of camping under the stars. Along the way, they run into other friends who are going on vacation too. At the Nutty Forest, Tico and Benny give them a ride on his nut-powered car. Then they help Isa water her vegetable garden before she heads out to the Snowy Mountain. Before they arrive at the Rainforest Campground, Swiper takes their snacks. Diego and Baby Jaguar come to the rescue in a canoe and together retrieve the snacks and row all the way to the Campground.
The Bed Red Chicken’s Magic Wand
The Big Red Chicken is doing magic tricks and he turns Boots into a chicken! When he tries to turn Boots back into a monkey, his beak starts to twitch and he lets out a big sneeze that sends the wand flying off into Magic Land. Big Red Chicken accidentally lands on his wand and breaks it! On the way to the Wand Shop they play a picture puzzle game to go through the Magic Mirrors, a math game to get the Giant Dice to disappear and then do a scarf trick to enter the Wand Shop.

Dora Loves Boots is available on video now! Please visit www.shop.nick.com to find out where it can be purchased.

Dora the Explorer: Dora Loves Boots gets Bragging Rights!

Briann January 6, 2012 dvd, entertainment, family, review, tv show

Home Soda Beverage Maker ~ Primo Flavorstation 100 Review

“Do you want better living at your fingertips? Now you can have it with a Primo Flavorstation 100. Create fresh, sparkling beverages at the touch of a button! The Flavorstation 100 takes up very little counter space and looks great in any kitchen. You will have the power to serve your family’s favorite sodas, teas, fruit sparklers and energy drinks with just a touch!”

“The Primo Flavorstation Premium home beverage maker that creates sparkling water in seconds at the touch of a button. Makes 16.9 FL OZ (.5 liter) single serve beverages for on-the-go convenience.

Add Primo Beverage Mixes to create a delicious variety of drinks, from classic and zero calorie sodas to sparkling fruit, tea, and energy drinks.”

We love soda pop at our house, and we buy a lot of it. That is why I was thrilled to try out the Primo Flavorstation 100 at home Soda beverage maker. Right away I loved that it is a small and sleek little appliance that doesn’t take up much counter space. We tried it out right away and I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to make our own soda! You fill up the on the go sport bottle with filtered water and then press the button on top. Now your water is sparkling.

Next you add the flavor of your choice. I love that Primo offers so many great flavors, from the classics like Cola and Grape Soda to Diet sodas and even tea. I love that all their flavors are made with 100% natural flavors. We have tried out several flavors and my favorite is the Cola. Bug’s favorite is the Lemon Lime, and my husband loves the Diet Cola.

I am so impressed with how great these beverages taste! I think they are much better than store bought beverages and I love the fact that you can flavor it perfectly to your liking.

You will love the savings you see when you use the Primo Flavorstation to make your own soda. One Primo beverage flavor mix costs just $3.99 and makes the equivalent of 24 – 12 oz. cans of soda. That is a great savings, not to mention it is much better for the environment.

Visit Primo Flavorstation.com to learn more and to purchase a Flavorstation for your family today!

Primo Flavorstation 100 gets Bragging Rights!

Heidi January 4, 2012 beverages, dad, family, kitchen, mommy, review

A Must See Family Movie ~ The Adventures of Tintin 3D Movie Review ~ Now In Theaters!

“Paramount Pictures and Columbia Pictures Present a 3D Motion Capture Film The Adventures of Tintin directed by Steven Spielberg from a screenplay by Steven Moffat and Edgar Wright & Joe Cornish. Starring Jamie Bell as Tintin, the intrepid young reporter whose relentless pursuit of a good story thrusts him into a world of high adventure, and Daniel Craig as the nefarious Red Rackham.”

The previews for The Adventures of Tintin looked exciting and we couldn’t wait to see it. My husband, myself, 12 year old C, and Bug went to see it at an advanced screening. The kids were beyond thrilled. Then when we arrived and found out it was in 3D they were even more excited.

12 year old C’s review:

“I thought The Adventures of Tintin was a great movie with a lot of action mystery and a really cute dog. The 3D was really great, you should see it in 3D. My favorite part was when snowy tripped over the box and then the guys trip. I laughed a lot and thought the detectives were really funny, they are not very smart and it’s funny to watch. I really liked the motorcycle part where they are riding down the hill through the town. It was awesome! It was a 10/10 movie for me. Actually the best movie EVER!”

4 year old Bug’s review:

“I love it. I like when he says “Nobody takes my ship”. I like when they swing the car around, it’s cool. I like when they fight. I like the pirate ship parts. I liked wearing glasses at the movie (referring to the 3D glasses). I liked eating popcorn while I watched the movie. I really want to buy it when it comes out.”

Both kids loved the movie. My 4 year old was glued and watched the whole movie, which is a big deal for him. My husband and I also really enjoyed the film. We both agree that the 3D and animation is AMAZING! There were times when it looked so real to me that I actually forgot that it was animated. They looked like real people. I was in awe because of this. It is the BEST 3D and animated film I have ever seen. It was packed with action and adventure as well as had a good story line that keeps your interest the whole time. This is the must see family film of the year. In fact I say it’s the best animated film of 2011, hands down. If you see any movie this over the holiday break make sure it’s The Adventures of Tintin. And be sure to see it in 3D, it’s incredible.

Rated PG. For more info visit: www.tintin.com

The Adventures of Tintin gets Bragging Rights!

Heidi December 21, 2011 child, dad, entertainment, family, mommy, movie, review, teen, tween

Brag Worthy Christmas ~ Simon Flash Game Review and Giveaway [CLOSED]

“It’s four SIMON games in one! The WONDER-LINK technology lets the cubes know where you shuffle them, when you win and what you scored. The yellow game is SIMON Lights Off: Can you quickly line up the cubes in just the right order to turn off all the lights? The red game is SIMON Shuffle: When the cube colors scramble, can you line them up in their original order? The blue game is SIMON Secret Color: There’s only one order that will show the same color on all four cubes. How fast can you unlock the code? The green game is SIMON Classic: Stop shuffling. Start pressing! Can you remember and repeat a longer and longer sequence of colors? Challenge your friends or tune up your skills on your own!”

Includes 4 electronic cubes, game case, rules and quick-play card.

Includes 8 “AAA” batteries.

For 1 or more players.

Ages 8 and up. simon4

We love playing games at our house and try to play as a family as much as we can. So we get excited about new Hasbro game releases. The most recent we got to test out is the new Simon Flash Game. It has cubes (similar to Scrabble Flash) that you line up to play 4 different versions of the Simon game. I’m a big Simon fan and have loved playing it since I was a kid. So it has been a real blast playing 4 different versions of the game. I love that it comes with a case to hold the tiles. It is perfect for to use during the Simon classic game since it keeps all the tiles lined up and you can travel with it. It’s fun that you can play alone or with people. This is a great family game and the perfect last minute Christmas gift idea!

Simon Flash is available online at Hasbro Toy Shop or in stores now!

Simon Flash gets Bragging Rights!

One lucky Bragging Mommy Reader will win a Simon Flash Game!

How to enter: Leave comments below with your qualifying entries. Leave a Separate comment for each entry telling us which you qualify for.

MANDATORY 1st entry- Visit Hasbro Games and tell us another game they have that you want to own.

1st Mandatory Entry must be completed before you can qualify for additional entries. All extra entries who don’t do the mandatory entry will be deleted

3 entries- Like Family Game Night on Facebook.
1 entry- Tell us your favorite Game to play with your family.
5 entries- Follow BraggingMommy Heidi on Google+.
2 entries- Grab The Bragging Mommy button and put it on your blog. Leave a link.
1 entry per- Enter another giveaway on our site, tell us which (no limit).
1 entry for each- Follow The Bragging Mommy via Google Friend Connect, Facebook, Twitter, subscribe to emails, subscribe in reader.
10 entries- Blog about this giveaway linking to this post. Leave a link.
1 entry per day- Tweet this giveaway including a link to this post, & @braggingmommy in your tweet.

You can enter this giveaway until Jan. 3rd @10:00 am MST. The winner will then be chosen at random, verified and contacted via email. The winner will have 48 hours to email us back and claim the prize, if prize is not claimed within 48 hours a new winner will be chosen. By entering this giveaway you agree to The Bragging Mommy Full Disclosure. You must be over the age of 18 and live in the Contiguous US to enter.

Heidi December 20, 2011 child, dad, family, games, giveaway, mommy, review, teen, travel, tween

Brag Worthy Christmas ~ Picnic Fun Tailgater Picnic Set on Wheels for 4 Review

I have been wanting a great Picnic Tote for a few years now for traveling. We don’t take too many road trips or vacations, but when we do, I like to pack as much of our own food so we don’t have to spend so much money eating out. Now that we have the Picnic fun Tailgater Picnic Set on Wheels for 4, that is going to much easier to do.

“The Picnic Fun website is the ideal location for anyone looking for the best picnic gear available. Here you can get the kinds of baskets, backpacks, and coolers that will keep plenty of food on hand, and in the best conditions possible. You can also find seating, beverage carriers and totes, blankets and mats, tables, portable grills, and so much more!”

I was so excited to choose something from Picnic Fun to review. I knew I wanted a Picnic Tote rather than a basket so that I could wedge it into the middle seat in our car (we like to have our food easily accessible while we are traveling Smile ). I found a lot of different totes that I really loved but ultimately went with the Tailgater Picnic Set on Wheels for 4. It is black, insulated, and made out of sturdy material that will definitely last for years to come. I love that it has a telescopic handle that I can use to wheel into hotel rooms, picnic areas, and anywhere else we decide to go! It also comes with a detachable utensil carrier that includes everything we would need to have a complete meal on the go. I am excited to take this on our next road trip which is coming up very soon.

Picnic Fun has such a great selection of the best picnic gear. Here are only a few products you will find on their website:

PICNIC BASKETS-There is something extra special about the look of a woven picnic basket, but there is also a tremendous amount of appeal to today’s modern durable fabric baskets too. Fortunately, our large array of picnic baskets makes it easy for anyone to find the perfect choice for their needs.

PICNIC TOTES-What is the difference between a picnic tote and a picnic basket? A lot of people get confused by the terminology, but anything described as totes and bags tends to mean that they are made from soft fabric, feature shoulder straps or handles, and utilize a barrel-like structure. They will never be made from the woven willow that a lot of picnic baskets feature as well.

INSULATED COOLERS-Have you ever tried to move a large cooler around on a beach? Have you struggled to move a full cooler while it sits on a grassy area? Traditional rigid coolers have to be much bulkier than seems necessary because of their insulation. They also tend to hold very little except the foods that need to be kept cold, and even then they might smash things together. This is the reason to checkout our incredible array of insulated coolers. They are designed to serve all of your picnicking needs, but they can also be used for a variety of other functions. For example, we have personal lunch coolers that will easily transport your daily lunch or meal in a stylish manner, but which will also keep foods at optimal temperatures too. These have exterior pockets that can hold cutlery, napkins, and the foods that don’t need to be contained within the cooler.

Not only does Picnic Fun have everything you need to pack your picnic, they have a great selection of accessories to really make your outing special. I was especially impressed with their picnic tables that actually fold up!! We could definitely use one of those. They also carry portable grills, picnic mats and blankets, picnic chairs, picnic backpacks and more!

Things that are BRAG WORTHY:

Huge selection
Something in every price range
Something to suit every need—from the occasional ‘picnic goer, to the die hard tailgater!
Find the best picnic gear all in one place
Makes a great gift for the family who loves taking outings!

Picnic Fun gets BRAGGING RIGHTS!!

Visit Picnic Fun on Facebook & Twitter!! You can also sign up for their newsletter!

Kim December 19, 2011 christmas, family, feeding, food, organization, review, travel, vacation

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked ~ See It With Your Kids Today in Theaters

“The vacationing Chipmunks and Chipettes are turning a luxury cruise liner into their personal playground, until they become ‘chipwrecked’ on a remote island. As the ‘Munks and Chipettes try various schemes to find their way home, they accidentally discover their new turf is not as deserted as it seems.”

In Theaters Today!

My 4 year old couldn’t wait to see this movie, every time he saw a preview he would say “Mom we have to go see that, it’s coming out”. So it was really fun to take him to see it. He was glued to the movie the entire time. He laughed a lot and LOVED every minute of it. Since seeing it he has asked to go again, and has informed me that he wants it on DVD when it comes out Huge hit with my 4 year old so I know your kids will love it. As for me, I thought this was a really fun and cute kids movie. The music was my favorite. They incorporated a lot of popular music into it and I thought it was really great. In fact it started with singing which is a must for a Chipmunk movie. I appreciated that the running time isn’t too long, it’s about an hour and 20 minutes. I found myself laughing and smiling more then I thought I would. Who doesn’t love these adorable little chipmunks who sing and dance?! It is a good wholesome movie the whole family will enjoy.

I recommend taking your family to see Alvin and the Chipmunks Chipwrecked starting today and throughout the holiday break!

This movie is rated G. For more info visit http://www.whereisalvin.com/.

Alvin and the Chipmunks Chipwrecked gets Bragging Rights!

Heidi December 16, 2011 child, entertainment, family, movie

Brag Worthy Christmas ~ Roku 2 HD Streaming Digital Media Player Review

The easiest way to stream on TV

“Meet Roku—the original, best-selling streaming player. With Roku, it’s a snap to enjoy the best movies and TV shows, live sports, music, games and more—all instantly on your TV, whenever you want it.

No PC needed
Roku connects easily to your TV and wireless (Wi-Fi) network at home. Be up and streaming in minutes.

You can do it
With the simple remote, you choose what you want to watch, and it starts instantly. It’s even more convenient than watching a DVD.

No extra monthly bills
Access your existing subscriptions like Netflix. Enjoy tons of free movies, shows, and music. Or browse the latest blockbusters available on demand.

Always getting better
Roku brings you endless entertainment choices, and we’re adding more all the time. So you’ll always find something new to watch, hear and enjoy.”

I was so excited to get the Roku 2 HD Streaming Player. We love watching Netflix and I was so excited to have a way to watch on our TV with the Roku Digital Media Streamer. It is really easy to set up and use. It has step by step set up instructions and they are really simple and fast. We stream a great quality video with the Roku 2 HD (this also depends on your internet connection & speed) and really enjoy having the player.

I also love that it is small and doesn’t take up a lot of space in our entertainment stand. The remote is also small which I like. I also appreciate that the remote doesn’t have a lot of buttons, my 4 year can easily use the remote on his own to watch his favorite Netflix shows.

But it isn’t just Netflix you can watch. You can Watch Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, Crackle and more on Roku Player. I love that with the Roku player I have all this Digital Media at my fingertips!

Last year we gave my mother in law a Roku player and it was the perfect gift! She has used it so much and loves it. Give the gift of streaming this year with a Roku Player!

You can see additional info and purchase a Roku Player by visiting www.Roku.com!

Roku 2 HD gets Bragging Rights!

roku2hd

Heidi December 9, 2011 christmas, dad, electronics, entertainment, family, mommy, review

Brag Worthy Christmas ~ Spongebob’s Surf & Skate Roatrip Xbox 360 Kinect Game Review

Grab your board. Carve it up!

“Hit the sand and surf with SpongeBob and his best pal, Patrick, for some super boarding escapades! Ride mondo waves and winding waterways, and skate gnarly seaside streets and ramps for hours of challenges that’ll test your awesome boarding skills.”

Available online and in stores now!

“SpongeBob’s Surf & Skate Roadtrip is non-stop action! SpongeBob and his bodacious Bikini Bottom buddy jump on surfboards and skateboards to explore a brand new, never-before-seen world!”

This is a must have Xbox 360 Kinect game! If you don’t have a Kinect I recommend getting one just so you can get this game for your kids. My 12 year old and 4 year old have become obsessed with it and just can’t get enough. Even my hubby and I are getting in on the fun. It is such a blast!

My kids love Spongebob and this game really delivers. I love how colorful it is, nice and bright which really makes it fun even to watch the kids play. The kids love that they can choose to be Spongebob or Gary. The kids also love that they can choose to skate or surf. They are having a lot of fun learning how to do cool tricks. It is great that their is a 2 player split screen option so both boys can play at the same time. I think the best part of this game is that there is no controller. You (or your kids) are the controller. Such fun!

It is rated E for everyone so it really is the perfect game for the whole family to enjoy!

Key Xbox 360 Kinect Features:

For the first time ever, you can BE SpongeBob
Augmented reality—move your hand through the water and watch it splash!
Compete and play with friends – show off your awesome tricks and mind-blowing stunts in head-to-head play (2-player split-screen)
12 awe-inspiring environments – 6 for each sport—and unlimited ways to perfect your board skills
7 different challenges including Gate, Timed and Score runs
Express yourself with a variety of righteous boards – earn even more awesome boards, the better you ride
Strike a pose: use your camera to show off gnarly moves and tricks

This is a must have Xbox 360 Kinect game for this Christmas! Your kids will absolutely love it!