Mommy Ramblings

August 27, 2013 · 1:04 pm

Making Fishy Friends Blog Tour & Book Giveaway!!!

Author, former teacher and mom Kate Messner has battled the back-to-school blues from all sides – and won!

Her picture books Sea Monster and the Bossy Fish and Sea Monster’s First Day help students, parents and teachers address some of the fears and challenges that come at the end of summer and the beginning of the school year.

“Sea Monster keeps delivering important messages in fun ways.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Genuine enthusiasm and humor”—School Library Journal

We were thrilled to be asked to participate in this Blog Tour about such important issues for kids in school. I loved sharing these with my kids and it spurred some great discussion that helps then to see ways to handle things in a very positive way. Click Here for a print out of the Friend Fish Pledge to share with your child.

Special Discount For Mommy Ramblings’ Readers!!!

30% off + free shipping at ChronicleBooks.com!

Just enter this promotion code: SEAMONSTER

Offer ends September 6, 2013

The Giveaway!!!

One of my blog readers will have the chance to win Sea Monster and the Bossy Fish and Sea Monster’s First Day Books plus a Classroom Poster! Open to US residents.

About The Author:

Kate Messner books for kids include the acclaimed Martie McGuire series, Capture the Flag, Hide and Seek and Over and Under the Snow. She’s be honored bye New York Times Notable, Junior Library Guild, IndieBound, and Bank Street College of Education Best Books selections. The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z. was the winner of the 2010 E.B. White Read Aloud Award for Older Readers. Kate spent fifteen years teaching middle school and earned National Board Certification in 2006. She’s a popular speaker at schools, libraries and professional conferences, and was the only children’s book author invited to speak at the TED 2012: Full Spectrum Conference.

Sea Monster and the Bossy Fish and Sea Monster’s First Day Books Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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· 12:00 pm

Random House, Celebrate The Civil Rights Movement Blog Tour & Book Giveaway!!!

We are so thrilled to have been asked by Random House to participate in a blog tour to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s I Have A Dream Speech that he made August 28, 1963.

From Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s daughter, Dr. Bernice A. King: “My father’s dream continues to live on from generation to generation, and this beautiful and powerful illustrated edition of his world-changing “I Have a Dream” speech brings his inspiring message of freedom, equality, and peace to the youngest among us—those who will one day carry his dream forward for everyone.”

On August 28, 1963, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington, Martin Luther King gave one of the most powerful and memorable speeches in our nation’s history. His words, paired with Caldecott Honor winner Kadir Nelson’s magnificent paintings, make for a picture book certain to be treasured by children and adults alike. The themes of equality and freedom for all are not only relevant today, 50 years later, but also provide young readers with an important introduction to our nation’s past.

This book is such a brilliant way for myself and other parents and educators to teach our children about Martin Luther King Jr. and share with them this moving speech that resonates today as much as it did then. The gorgeous illustrations make this book a true treasure that captures this rich part of our country’s history. There are some great booknotes available to spur group discussion that can be viewed and downloaded HERE.

Random House is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win their own copy of I Have A Dream. Thank you Random House for the review book and selecting us to take part in this poignant blog tour!!! Open to US residents.

I Have A Dream Book and CD Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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August 25, 2013 · 10:32 am

Disney, “Peter Pan: Return To Neverland” Blu-Ray Combo Pack Review & Giveaway!!!

Finally Releasing from the Disney Vault for the First Time on Blu-ray™!

**Disney, Peter Pan: Return To Neverland!!!**

Everyone’s favorite boy who doesn’t want to grow up is back for the first time ever on Blu-Ray! My kids took one look at this and were all smiles, they could not wait to watch it. What better way to end the summer with a showing of it outside using our projector. Kids gathered on blankets on the lawn watching this great Disney adventure is the perfect way to end the night. If you have Peter Pan fans in your home you need to pick this Blu-Ray combo pack up before it goes back in the Disney vault!

Let your imagination soar as your favorite characters from Peter Pan, Disney’s classic adventure, return to Never Land! Now, for the first time through the magic of Blu-ray, experience all the thrilling action with digitally restored picture and spine-tingling high-definition sound!

Wendy’s very practical and no-nonsense daughter, Jane, begins the adventure of a lifetime when the infamous Captain Hook whisks her away to the enchanted island of Never Land. It’s up to Peter Pan, Tinker Bell and the Lost Boys to help Jane believe in faith, trust and pixie dust. With the first-ever Lost Girl at his side, will Peter Pan finally defeat Hook and his swashbuckling band of pirates?

Share the power of believing with your family in Return To Never Land—now more spectacular than ever on Disney Blu-ray!

Cast: Blayne Weaver (Manic, 6 Month Rule), Harriet Owen (TV’s “Relative Strangers,” “Castles”), Kath Soucie (Beauty and the Beast, Wreck it Ralph), Corey Burton (Aladdin, The Hunchback of Notre Dame) & Jeff Bennett (Enchanted, Bolt)

Director: Robin Budd (Skull in the Family, Name that Toon) & Donovan Cook (Las Pelotas!, Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers)

Writer: Temple Matthews (The Little Mermaid 2: Return to the Sea, Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas)

Product Packaging: US: DVD + Digital Copy; Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy) Canada: DVD; Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD)

Disney is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win their own Blu-ray combo pack of Disney, Peter Pan: Return To Neverland! Thank you Disney for the review combo pack and for sponsoring this great giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US and Canadian residents.

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August 24, 2013 · 10:23 pm

National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, Tommee Tippee Review & Giveaway!!!

One of the selfless, amazing, gifts you can give your baby is the ideal nutrition of breast milk. A mother’s body was designed wholly and perfectly to not only grow and nurture an infant in her womb, but to continue to provide her baby with complete nutrition after baby is born! Babies who receive their mother’s breast milk are usually hearty and healthy. In honor of August being National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, we are collaborating with Tommee Tippee to provide you with a review and giveaway of their BPA free, Closer to Nature products that are designed for easy transition between breast and bottle!

Tommee Tippee provided me with a manual breast pump, shields, nursing pads and bottles to check out and review. While I cannot physically try them out yet, I have definitely had my share of experiences with pumps, bottles, and nursing pads to compare with. The pump itself comes with everything you need to get started, including reusable plastic drop-ins, so you can take the milk straight from the pump to the bottle without switching containers! The soft, pliable pump shield is much more comfortable than others I have used that only had hard plastic shields where the rim would dig into my skin. After having used a two-handed pump in the past, this one-handed pump is so much more convenient. The kit also comes with a handy microwaveable, steri-box to sterilize or store your pump and accessories. This kit would be a perfect gift for a new mother to get started in breastfeeding!

The nursing pads are much thinner than others I have used, and I can imagine would be much more breathable! They also have a handy little sticky tape to keep it from moving around while you are wearing it. The nipple shields are designed for more comfortable and discreet nursing. They will, I am sure, make Momma thankful for them during those first painful days of nursing! They come with a handy carry case for hygienic and dry storage. The Closer to Nature bottles are anti-colic and are designed to prevent air bubbles in milk which can cause uncomfortable gas for baby.

I am happy to tell you that Tommee Tippee is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky reader will win a package identical to the one I reviewed! It will include:

– Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Single Manual Breast Pump
– Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Disposable Breast Pads
– Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Nipple Shields
– (2)Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature 5 oz. Added Comfort Bottle

Thank you Tommee Tippee for providing this wonderful review package and for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway!!! Readers, don’t forget to spread the awareness this month! Open to US residents.

Tommee Tippee Breastfeeding Gift Package Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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August 22, 2013 · 9:23 pm

“Chihuahua Too!” DVD Review and Giveaway!!! 3 Winners!!!

IN THE TRADITION OF DISNEY’S BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA FRANCHISE, IT’S DOVE-APPROVED FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY IN THIS TAIL-WAGGING, LIVE-ACTION SEQUEL TO THE HIT CHIHUAHUA: THE MOVIE!

chihuahua

CHIHUAHUA TOO!

Street Date: August 13, 2013

DVD SRP: $9.98

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

When the Fasteners inherit an old family vacation home, they soon realize it’s being haunted by their ancestors’ famous movie star dog, Sophie. Homer, the Fastener’s golden retriever, befriends Sophie and discovers that she is just looking for a family to love. Now it’s up to Homer and the Fastener kids to convince their parents that Sophie really exists and keep them from selling the house and leaving Sophie alone forever. Will Sophie finally have a family again? Find out in this hilarious tail-wagging adventure featuring lessons about acceptance, cooperation and honesty.

PROGRAM INFORMATION

Type: DVD

Running Time: 82 mins.

Genre: Kids

Rated: Not Rated

Audio: 2.0 Dolby Digital

Language: English w/English SDH Subtitles

If you like movies with adorable four-legged friends, your family will love this movie!!! A funny comedy with canine hijinks makes for the ultimate in family fun for movie night!!! So get the popcorn and a few milk bones and enjoy the show!!!

eOne Entertainment is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Three lucky winners will win their own Chihuahua Too! DVD! Thank you eOne Entertainment for sponsoring this dog-gone good giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.

Chihuahua Too! DVD Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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August 21, 2013 · 1:20 pm

Luna Park Is New York City’s Magical Place for Birthday Parties and Summer Events!!

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Great celebrations make life’s special moments more memorable, and Luna Park in Coney Island is the perfect place to bring together friends and family for an unforgettable experience. From birthday parties that go beyond expectations to private parties for every occasion, our New York City amusement space is fully equipped to meet your specific needs. Whether you are planning an annual summer event or important family reunion, Luna Park delivers the fun, food and excitement you would expect from a world-class amusement space. Buy one wristband Get One FREE at Luna Park in Coney Island Use Code: USFamily when you click Here to plan your visit!!!

Connect to Luna Park on Social Media:

Foursquare: @LunaParkNYC
Facebook
Instagram: @LunaParkNYC
Vine: @LunaParkNYC

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August 20, 2013 · 11:19 pm

UjENA End Of Summer Sale!!! Bikinis, Swimsuits, Super Savings!!!

UjENA SUMMER SAVINGS Sale….

Labor Day styles at up to 60% off…. no time like the present to SAVE, SAVE, SAVE on UjENA!

Stop by and visit our SuperSale and Bikinis on Sale sections at www.ujena.com for some of your

favorite UjENA Styles at up to 60% off. Time to get yourself ONE MORE suit before summer ends.

WOW-WalkOnWater Pad–A Great Summer Toy For Kids, Adults and Even Fido!!!

We still have a couple of weeks before school starts, I had hoped to bring you this earlier but the weather this summer has left much to be desired. Rain was an understatement and this soggy summer did not make for the ideal conditions for fun on the lake. There were a few days and a brief heat wave week that we are grateful for but certainly wished the sun had shined a little more and that the clouds and raindrops would have taken a backseat.

We did get to try out a great new water toy. The Wow-WalkOnWater Pad lets kids and adults even Fido have some floating, fun.

The WOW-WalkOnWater is the perfect choice to bring for fun to any lake party or ocean activity. For water skiers the WOW is a Terrific Launch Platform. This is not just a kid’s toy –WalkOnWater Pad is also designed for adult parties, too.

The WOW Pad weighs less than 30 LBS and is brightly colored for great visibility. The Rolled Pad measures only two feet in diameter and can easily be transported. The regular Pad supports a distributed weight of 800 – 1,000 LBS. while the Jumbo Pad supports 1,400 – 1,600 LBS.

Made from cross linked foam – preferred for marine applications (such as off shore buoys) vs. non cross linked foam used in pool noodles.

Each WOW Pad comes with Velcro® straps to hold the rolled WOW Pad in place for easy storage, as well as mooring device which allows easy attachment to your boat, dock or pier. You can sit, walk, run or relax on this amazing pad. It is virtually maintenance free without the puncture worries that come with inflatable products. With proper care, it will give years of floating fun.

You can order a WOW Pad direct from their website by clicking HERE!!!

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August 19, 2013 · 9:55 pm

Thomas & Friends Little Golden Book Library Set Review and Giveaway!!!

Calling all Thomas & Friends fans to hop aboard and check out this book set!!!

download (1)

Five Thomas & Friends Little Golden Book movie retellings are collected in a beautiful slipcase: Thomas and the Great Discovery, Hero of the Rails, Misty Island Rescue, Day of the Diesels, and Blue Mountain Mystery. This nifty little library will please train-obsessed boys ages 3–7.

Random House is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win their own Thomas & Friends Little Golden Books Library Set! Thanks to Random House for the review set and for sponsoring this awesome giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.

Thomas & Friends Little Golden Book Library Set Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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August 18, 2013 · 10:09 pm

Disney, Pixar, Monsters, Inc., “Monsters in a Box” Board Book Set Review & Giveaway!!!

If your little one loved Disney, Pixar’s Monsters University, they will adore this board book set.

Just in time for the DVD and Blu-ray release of Disney/PixarMonsters University, this sturdy boxed set of four monstrously-fun board books stars Mike, Sulley, and their college pals. Boys and girls ages 1–4 will love carrying the books with them wherever they go using the convenient handle!

These books were a huge hit with my four year old who loved that he could carry them in the handy box with handle and then take them to a cozy ready spot and open and “read” the books. Then he liked packing them all up again and carting them around. Inside there are four approximately 5″ by 7″ books entitled: Meet the Students,Sulley, Mike and Randall.

Random House is sponsoring a giveaway. One lucky blog reader will win their own Monsters in a Box Board Book Set! Thank you Random House for the review set and for sponsoring this great giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. Open to US residents.