Chocolate Lovers Month

February is Chocolate Lovers Month at Dunkin' Donuts. (Although every month is Chocolate Lovers Month, in my opinion.)

Some of the delicious new menu items include:

The new Triple Chocolate Donut, a chocolate cake donut topped with chocolate frosting and milk chocolate chips

The new White Chocolate Latte, served hot or iced, topped with whipped cream and a mocha swirl drizzle (I can vouch for this one! It's SOOOO delicious!!! Mmmm, writing this is making me want another one. If we weren't getting 15 feet of snow right now, I'd run out and get one. Dunkin' Donuts really should deliver!)

The Triple Chocolate Muffin, loaded with chocolate chunks and chips

Dunkin' Donuts' brownie, topped with creamy chocolate icing, white chocolate shavings and chocolate drizzle (YUM-O!)

From February 8 through 11, Dunkin' Donuts Facebook fans are encouraged to post a photo of themselves with their sweetheart and share their story of how Dunkin' Donuts helped brew their romance. One winner will be selected to become Dunkin's "CupiDD's Pick of the Week" and receive a $60 Dunkin' Donuts card. (Sixty bucks could buy a lotta coconut coffee with cream and sugar and veggie eggwhite flatbread sandwiches which are my FAVES!)

Go HERE to become a fan of Dunkin' Donuts on Facebook and enter the contest to win a $60 gift card!

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!!!

Monster Jam®, the world’s premier monster truck series will take place in Rosemont, IL at Allstate Arena this Feb. 12 - 14, featuring freestyle and racing competition. This weekend’s show will feature Grave Digger and for the first time in Chicago, Nitro Circus will be competing!

The Built Ford Tough Party in the Pits on Sunday, February 14th from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM gives fans the opportunity to get a view of the trucks up close and meet the drivers of the massive monster trucks. Free Pit Passes are available at Advanced Auto Parts or they can be purchased for $5 the day of the show at the box office.

Approximately 12 feet tall and about 12 feet wide, monster trucks are custom-designed machines that sit atop 66-inch-tall tires and weigh a minimum of 10,000 pounds. Built for short, high-powered bursts of speed, monster trucks generate 1,500 to 2,000 horsepower and are capable of speeds of up to 100 miles per hour. Monster trucks can fly up to125 to 130 feet (a distance greater than 14 cars side by side) and up to 35 feet in the air.

And here's a discount code for my readers good for $5 off ADULT tickets! Just use code: MOM at Ticketmaster HERE. The discount is good for the shows on Saturday Feb. 13, at 2PM and 7:30PM as well as Sunday, Feb. 14 at 2:00PM. Tickets for children under 12 are always just $10 and do not require a code to purchase. This time around, there is no line “MC PROMOTION” to enter the discount code in. Simply enter the code in the PROMOTIONS OR SPECIAL OFFERS LINE. The discount is NOT valid on the $50 or $30 price levels. And as with all of our discounts and offers, double discount are never allowed.

Get your tickets now because prices go up $2 the day of the show. Oh and from I understand, you need to bring earplugs because it gets LOUD!

Disney on Ice

I went to Disney on Ice tonight at the Rosemont Horizon Allstate Arena. It's not too late to get tickets for Chicagoland shows! They have performances through the 7th. You can still use the discount code: MOM at ticketmaster for a 4 pack of tickets for only $44.

As always, it was a fun-filled show that everyone enjoyed! Here are a just a few pictures of the many, many different characters in the Let's Celebrate show.

Minnie & Mickey, of course

Jack Skellington who was joined by Cruella DeVille, Captain Hook, Jafar, Maleficent, and the evil queen from Snow White.

Cinderella & her prince

The newest Disney princess, Tiana

Lilo & Stitch luau

the gang from Toy Story

a bunch of characters

another character

Fire Safety Winners!

I'm sorry I'm just now posting the winners of the fire safety products and a signed copy of Firefighter Dayna's book, Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog. I've been without a computer for a while, but my wonderful computer geek friend has resurrected it from the dead and I'm back in business now!

So, here are the random winners...

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:

54
50


The winning comments came from:

The Sadler Family said...
We talk with our 4 year old about:
1. Knowing how & why to call 911 & knowing our address.
2. Have an escape plan / practice it with the alarm chirping.
3. Never go back in the house after we go to our meeting spot if there's a fire. Leave your toys.
4. Keep towels and papers away from the stove and toaster.
5. Feeling a closed door before opening it with the back of our hand if the smoke alarm is beeping.
6. Staying low / on hands and knees/going backwards down stairs and feeling along the wall to exit the house.

AND

50amy said...
I worry about fire safety and have a couple of alarms; one on each end of our one story home. But the thing that really freaks me out is carbon monoxide poisoning. I heard about that family last week that just thought they had the flu but really they all almost died because of carbon monoxide poisoning! So scary!
I'd love to win this and help my little daughters understand more about fire safety and what to do in a dangerous situation.
Thanks Dawn.

Congratulations and thank you for your patience! Email me with your shipping addresses at mom2my6pack@aol.com so I can have Firefighter Dayna send these out to you. And for more fire safety tips, activity sheets, crafts, and videos, visit Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog's website HERE! :)

Disney on Ice Winner!

The winner of the 4 pack of Disney on Ice tickets is...

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:12
Timestamp: 2010-01-28 05:37:53 UTC

12Jen K. said...
Hope to win these tickets my daughter would love to go! She loves all princesses!

Congratulations! Email me at mom2my6pack@aol.com to claim your tickets.

And remember everyone, you can still get a discount on your Disney on Ice tickets by using code: MOM at ticketmaster.

Purchase a 4-pack of tickets for only $44 (Valid Monday-Thursday and Friday Matinees, excluding holidays) and save $4 on all weekend shows by logging onto http://www.ticketmaster.com/ and entering the coupon code: MOM.

United Center in Chicago January 20-31

Allstate Arena in Rosemont February 2-7

Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog

*****I forgot to write that I'd choose the 2 winners on Friday, Jan. 29th*****



Tango (Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog's friend) along with fire safety items from Firefighter Dayna and First Alert.

I know a lot of my readers have young children. Did you know that the very young (those under five) have a much greater risk of fire related deaths than other children? The group accounts for 11% of fire-related deaths~ the highest population for any age group (United States Fire Administration is the source). Scary, isn't it?

Firefighter Dayna Hilton has written a fire safety book for children and my readers will have the opportunity to win a special edition copy of the book and audio book, Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog. These limited edition copies will be signed by Author Firefighter Dayna Hilton and her son, Michael, who is also featured in the book. In addition, copies of the book will be “pawed” by Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog!

Firefighter and nationally recognized fire safety expert, Dayna Hilton, known as “Firefighter Dayna” to millions of children and their caregivers, is the author of this critically acclaimed award-winning children’s book. The book has been credited with saving several lives. Inspired by her work as a firefighter and her four-legged friend, Sparkles, Firefighter Dayna created a heart-warming story about Sparkles. As children learn of the adventures of Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog, they learn valuable fire safety tips enabling them and their families to keep fire safe. These tips include recognizing the firefighter as a helper and a friend, knowing the sound and purpose of a smoke alarm, learning how to crawl low under smoke, and understanding the importance of practicing a home fire drill using an escape map.

Two winners will each also receive several life saving products from Firefighter Dayna and First Alert, including a combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarm, Tundra™ Fire Extinguishing Spray and escape ladder. This prize package is worth over $100! To enter the contest, simply share what you do to help keep you and your family fire safe. And check out Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog's website for more helpful information, tips, videos, activity sheet, and photos HERE!

Let's Celebrate!

Disney On Ice presents Let’s Celebrate! It’s one colossal party on ice, with all your favorite Disney friends! Enjoy a winter wonderland with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, a Halloween haunt with the Disney Villains, a Royal Ball with the Disney Princesses, including the newest Disney Princess Tiana; a Very Merry Unbirthday Party, and more in a magical medley of holidays, celebrations and festivals from around the globe. Come join the party when this spectacular ice show visits your hometown!

Disney on Ice is here in Chicago now!

United Center in Chicago January 20-31

Allstate Arena in Rosemont February 2-7

I'm so excited to go to this show! I really, really enjoyed the last Disney on Ice show I attended and this one looks even more spectacular, if that's possible. I can't wait to take pictures for my blog! Hope to see you there! And here, to make it easy on your pocketbooks, is a discount code for you!

Purchase a 4-pack of tickets for only $44 (Valid Monday-Thursday and Friday Matinees, excluding holidays) and save $4 on all weekend shows by logging onto http://www.ticketmaster.com/ and entering the coupon code: MOM.

Want to win a 4 pack of tickets to the Feb. 2, 7:00 show at the Allstate Arena? Leave me a comment here with your favorite Disney character and I'll choose a random winner on Wednesday, January 27. Before leaving a comment, check your calendar and make sure you'll be in Chicagoland and can make the show on Tuesday, February 2 at 7:00. Good luck!

Suave Winners

Here are the winners of the Suave goody bags o' products!

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:
91
117


91kckarla said...
Just yesterday I was trying to tell my boyfriend that Suave products are great. I said that he could save a bundle of money and get the same quality of some of the high end product lines if he would give it a try. I just love Suave products.

117Tracy said...
I love Suave, I have been using their lavendar vanilla since I first found it. Doesn't everyone buy by smell first?

Email me at mom2my6pack@aol.com with your shipping addresses so I can mail these out to you as soon as possible.

And for those of you looking to try out new styles, check out celebrity stylist, Luke O'Connor's suggestions for recreating the glamorous hairstyles from Hollywood's leading ladies at the 2010 Golden Globes!

THE LOOK: Old Hollywood Glam Waves
Glam waves are always a hit on the red carpet, but Penelope Cruz took them to the next level with old Hollywood flair.
To re-create at home:
* Wash and condition hair with Suave Professionals Vibrant Shine Shampoo and Conditioner.
* Apply Suave Professionals Extra Hold Styling Foam to towel dried hair to create body.
* Take a dime size amount of Suave Professionals Extra Hold Gel and apply along the hairline.
* Part hair on the side and blowdry the top back and over to the side, leaving the remaining hair slick to the head.
* Take a 1.25-inch curling iron and spiral wrap two-inch sections to create large waves throughout the whole head of hair.
* For the structured wave off the face, take the front hair and wrap forward around the curling iron to give lift on top, keeping the hair off of the face.
* Seal hair in place with Suave Professionals Freeze Hold Hairspray.


THE LOOK: Volumninous Tuck
Tina Fey’s witty banter and comedic comments weren’t the only reasons people turned heads towards her on the red carpet. Her hair spoke volumes about her red carpet fashion.
To re-create at home:
* Use Suave Professionals Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner in the shower.
* Apply Suave Professionals Volumizing Root Lifter Spray Gel to the roots on towel-dried hair.
* Blowdry the hair smooth and straight.
* Use a medium round brush to achieve side swept bangs.
* Back comb (tease) a three-quarter to one-inch base over the whole head to create added volume.
* Gather the hair into a center ponytail two to three inches below the crown and secure with an elastic band.
* Tease the ponytail wide and spread out as much as possible. Then, lightly brush the surface of the hair to smooth out.
* Spray the hair with Suave Professionals Extra Hold Hairspray.
* Gather the ends and pull under to the base of the elastic and pin to secure.


THE LOOK: Classic French Twist
A winner both on screen and on the red carpet, Drew Barrymore stunned with her gorgeous and clean French twist.
To re-create at home:
* Shampoo and condition hair with the Suave Professionals Sleek line.
* Apply a dime size amount of Suave Professionals Sleek Anti-Frizz Cream and comb through the hair. Create a high side part and blowdry hair smooth and straight.
* Take a dime size amount of Suave Extra Hold Styling Gel and run it through the dry hair for extra hold and shine.
* Brush both sides of the hair back to the low center. Start twisting the hair, holding close to the head and lift as it twists. Use hairpins to pin at the seam of the hair.
* Tuck the exposed hair tips back into the center of the twist.
* Finish the look with Suave Professionals Freeze Hold Hairspray.

LUKE O’CONNOR CELEBRITY HAIR-STYLIST
Luke O’Connor is owner of the exclusive LuKaRo Salon in Beverly Hills and is a consultant/spokesperson for Suave.Luke was responsible for creating Debra Messing’s lovely locks every week on the set of NBC’s Will & Grace for which he was nominated for an Emmy and won the most coveted, namesake award at the Hair and Make-Up Guild. Luke’s other celebrity clients include Jena Elfman, Julia Louis-Dryfus, Blake Lively, Becky Newton, Diane Keaton, Ashlee Simpson, Brooke Shields and Lucy Liu.

LuKaRo, which opened in 1992, is named after Luke and his wife, Rona, a color specialist. Beyond extraordinary talent, the salon is noted for its warmth and lack of pretentiousness. Born into a family that left Italy to open up hair salons in Los Angeles and San Francisco, Luke is dedicated to expanding his talent and creativity to provide women with the most up-to-date hair care services and more importantly, advice.

Suave's New Year, New 'Do Party

Suave hired a hair stylist and sent me shampoo, conditioner and styling products so I could check them out. I had a few friends over for a "Ahhh, The Holidays Are Over And It's Time To Rest And Be Pampered" party. We had a ton of fun (as you can see from the pictures and videos). And I'm in love with Suave's new Almond and Shea Butter moisturizing shampoo and conditioner! It's smells good and I'm one of those weird people who buys shampoo, lotion, body wash, etc. based solely on smell. If I like the way it smells, I'll get it. If I don't, forget it. This shampoo not only smells good, but it leaves your hair totally soft and shiny.

Suave also has a new Aloe Vera & Ginseng volumizing shampoo and conditioner, and a Rosemary Mint invigorating clean shampoo and conditioner. I tried the Rosemary Mint ones and loved them too. They remind me of Paul Mitchell Tea Tree shampoo. It's a really refreshing shampoo and helps wake me up when I use it in the morning.

And Brooklyn got her very first hair cut (not counting the one Clay gave her) Friday night at my Suave party! Check out the pictures!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

And, for my readers, I have 2 bags full of Suave goodies to give away! Each bag contains the same products my guests received - a bottle of shampoo and conditioner in each of the 3 new fragrances/formulas! Plus Volumizing Spray Gel, Healthy Curls Mousse, my personal fave, Sleek Anti-Frizz Cream, and Weather Protection 365 Hairspray. Everyone at my party raved about the hairspray!
Leave me a comment here and I'll choose 2 random winners on Friday, January 15. Contest open to U.S. residents.



*Suave did provide me with a hairstylist, hair products, and refreshments. I was not paid to write about my experiences. I always give my honest opinion about products.

Sony Reader Winner

Thank you to everyone who left a comment about a literary moment that moved you. I enjoyed reading all the comments. In fact, some of your comments moved me! And I've acquired a nice "must read" list from you as well. Thank you! But alas, I could only choose one comment to win the Sony Reader. So, without further ado, here is the winner of the Sony Reader...


Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:359


Shannon said...
I love to read, but now that I have kids most of my reading is to them. One of my favorite books that is written as a kids book but touches a parents heart is "Let Me Hold You Longer." By Karen Kingsbury. It talks about how as parents we make such a big deal about "First's" but how "last" events go unnoticed, the last bottle, last time you carry your child, the last time you have to give them kisses in the night, etc. It's a serious tear-jerker. I love it!

Congratulations! Please email me at mom2my6pack@aol.com with your shipping address so I can send you your Sony Reader! I hope you enjoy it!

Kraft Winners

The winners of the Kraft basket o' goodies are.......

April M said...
I would be thrilled to see Kraft provide more gluten free recipes. Some of their products are naturally gluten free and it would be great to find some easy recipes for those of us who can't eat gluten (wheat, barley and rye).

Cropaddict said...
I love how they are so helpful on the facebook page answering questions. I also like the ease of getting to the recipes on the website.

Congratulations! Email me at mom2my6pack@aol.com with your shipping address so I can make sure these are sent out to you right away.

And thank you to everyone for your helpful feedback and suggestions!

Words Move Me

Words Move Me. That's the name of Sony's new literature community - WordsMoveMe.com. There, you can share with others your favorite pieces of literature and what impact they had on you; how they moved you. I was all set to share some of my favorite parts of classic books, but when I tried to recall specific works that moved me, my mind went blank. Gone were the discussions about books I'd read in high school, Farenheit 451, The Great Gatsby, Catcher in the Rye, Romeo and Juliet, To Kill a Mockingbird, and A Tale of Two Cities. I couldn't begin to tell you what The Grapes of Wrath or Of Mice and Men was about. (Hey, I have 6 kids and they really have drained my memory stores.)

I did, however come up with a few quotes that have stuck with me. Yes, they're mostly from humor books. What can I say? I like to laugh. I don't like to read anything too deep or anything that takes too much brain power. I like light, quick reads, romances, and humor these days. I mean, when you have to put the book down 4000 times (during the first paragraph alone) to fill sippy cups, pick kids up from kindergarten, break up fights over crayons, and clean up spilled apple juice, you don't want to have to go back through a tutorial on who's who and what's going just to pick up where you left off.

Oh, who am I kidding? I mostly just read classics like One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue and If You Give a Mouse a Cookie these days.



Ready for the really cool part? I have one Sony Reader Pocket Edition ($199.99 value) to give away to one lucky reader. I like actual books. I like the smell of books. I like the feel of them. I like to turn the pages one by one. I don't think anything will ever replace that, but I have to admit, this thing is pretty cool. It's small like a cell phone, but it holds up to 350 books! This would be awesome for travel, commuting, or just for around the house. Whenever I pick up my kids from school, I sit there in the parking lot, playing solitaire on my phone while I wait for them to come out. How great would it be to pull out this Sony Reader and dive into a good book?

To enter the contest, leave me a comment here with a literary moment that moved you and why. Did it make you think, smile, laugh, cry? Did it make you angry, happy, sad? Tell me about it and I'll choose a winner from your comments on Friday, December 18. And check out WordsMoveMe.com to see what others have to say about words that have moved them. You might even get some good ideas for books to read!

Contest open to U.S. residents. No purchase necessary to enter or win. Odds of winning are not increased by a purchase.

* Sony has empowered me to participate in this campaign and I have been compensated with a Sony Reader Pocket Edition.

It's a Jungle in Here!

How to keep your kids' brains from turning to mush (and retain your sanity) during winter break...

1. Take trips to the library to get books for your children of all ages. Keep them interested and learning even when they're not in school. Quiet reading time is a great way to help kids settle down and get ready for bed in the evening.

2. Family movie night! Rent or check out from your local library, a new movie or an old classic to watch together as a family. Make some popcorn, sit back and enjoy!

3. Play a game together! There are a bazillion fun board games out there. Have a Monopoly, Clue, Taboo, or Pictureka night! If you don't like board games, try your hand at Rock Band for Wii, PlayStation or XBox. For younger kids, check out VTech's V Motion for video game fun!

4. Keep active! There's nothing worse than a bunch of kids stuck indoors because the weather outside is frightful. Load up the kids and take them to the bowling alley, the skating rink, indoor rock climbing, or an indoor play place.

Younger kids can keep active with VTech's new line of Jungle Gym toys. You may have seen them in stores while Christmas shopping. These are awesome and I wish they made them for older kids as well. Think about it - this time of year when the kids are cooped up inside because it's too cold and snowy to go out and play (unless you're fortunate enough to live in a land of sunshine), kids can make you bonkers. They need an outlet for their boundless energy or they'll explode. VTech's Jungle Gym toys are perfect for that! Your little ball of energy toddler can pedal away on the Ride and Learn Giraffe Bike and not only will he expend some energy, but he'll get healthy exercise too. And because this is not just a bike, but a learning toy, he'll have fun learning letters and counting animals while he does it.

VTech gave me a huge box of Jungle Gym toys to donate to my church's nursery. I brought them in 2 weeks ago and the kids in the nursery had a blast playing with them. I wanted to take pictures to show you, but of course, I forgot my camera. Ugh. Then, last week I set my camera out so I wouldn't forget it. I overslept and missed church altogether. Grrr. So, you'll just have to take my word for it that toddlers love these toys! Toddlers are, by definition, active, and these Jungle Gym toys combine physical activity, learning, and fun. You just can't beat that combination.

In addition to the Ride and Learn Giraffe Bike, there's an adorable Bouncing Colors Turtle, a Monkey Moves Smart Seat, and Twist and Learn Gorilla Pals that will keep your little ones, interested, engaged, learning, exercising, and having fun while doing it! You can check out the whole line of Jungle Gym toys HERE. And if you're on Facebook, you have to check out VTech's fan page HERE! There, you can find information about deals, giveaways, and sales on the latest VTech toys!

You can check in with the other VTech Voices (MommyMandy, the VTech Mom, Pilar Clark) to get their tips on how to survive the holidays too.

* I am being compensated for working with VTech on some promotions and did receive Jungle Gym toys to donate to my church, however, as always, I only give my honest opinions on products I review.

A Tisket, A Tasket, A Kraft Goody Basket

Do you see all the goodies in this basket? Mmmm marshmallows! And marshmallows are fat-free, you know, so you can eat an entire bag a lot of them without feeling too guilty.

OK, for those of you who saw how I cook a turkey (SEE HERE), you know that I can use all the help I can get when it comes to holiday entertaining. Kraft to the rescue! They've relaunched their Facebook fan page, an interactive place to share recipes and tips with other folks. You can find exclusive Kraft recipes, holiday ideas, and even scheduled Facebook chats with the experts from the Kraft kitchens! You can find their Facebook page HERE.

Not a fan of Facebook? No problem. Kraft also has a YouTube channel! This is perfect for us visual learners who would rather see a video demonstration than just read a recipe. You can find their YouTube channel HERE.

Don't have time for that? Still no problem. You can just follow Kraft on Twitter for the latest recipes and ideas! You can find their Twitter page HERE.

Sooo, check them out and let me know what you're most interested in hearing about. Want more recipes? More how-to's on the YouTube channel? More coupons, easy dinner recipes, kid pleasing faves? What do you LIKE about the pages? What do you not like? Let me know in the comments section here. I'll choose 2 random winners from the comments on Wednesday, December 16 and they'll each receive a gift basket full of the following goodies...

* 4 delicious holiday recipes from the Kraft Foods Kitchens
* a Zak Designs garlic peeler
* an HA Mack olivewood mixing spoon
* NEW Velveeta Rotini and Cheese Whole Grain
* Planters cocktail peanuts
* Planters pecans
* Baker’s semi-sweet chocolate
* Stove Top,
* Honey Maid cinnamon crackers
* Jet Puffed marshmallows
* Oreos,
* Kraft salad dressing
* NEW Maxwell House Blend coffee
* NEW Ritz Brown Sugar Cinnamon crackers
* NEW Wheat Thins Flatbread crackers

Oh yeah! And don't forget to click HERE and send our your FREE holiday greeting ecards! For every greeting you send, Kraft will donate 10 meals to Feeding America!

*I did not receive any compensation or products for this post.