Fisher Price TRIO Blocks Giveaway! *Updated With Winner!*

*The lucky winner is Chaotic Joy!  Congrats!*

When I was invited by MomSelect (through BSM Media) to review the new Fisher Price TRIO Building Set, (there is a $5.00 off coupon on the website!), I jumped at the chance because hello??? I have little boyz who LOVE that kind of stuff!

So on a quiet night when Eldest and Hubby were at football, I turned off the TV, shut off my computer, and presented the boyz (ages 4 and 5) with their new block set.  And lemme tell you...it was love at first sight!

The 3 of us sat on the sunroom floor and surrounded ourselves with the 100-piece set.  It comes with an instruction booklet with step-by-step instructions that my 5-year old could follow (with some assistance from Momma).  We built a monster.  Then we built a ship.  Then I let the boys create their own masterpieces: 

We had company last night, and again, the TRIO blocks were a big hit:

Guess what?  I get to give a TRIO set away!  Just leave a comment below to win!  (And as always, if you don't have a blog, please leave an e-mail address where I can contact you!)  Winner will be picked on Friday, September 18th.

(And aren't you glad that all you have to do is LEAVE A COMMENT???  I read blogs all the time, and those 20 different steps you can take for more entries: click on the site, pick your favorite item, answer a question, then click here, then click HERE, tweet about the giveaway, subscribe to my blog, add me to your Favorites, post my button, promise me your firstborn child, etc....drive me CUH-RAZY.  So, you're welcome.)

Four Eyes

When I was asked by GlassesUSA to try out a pair of their eyeglasses (for free), I jumped at the chance!  Hello...I'm the nerd who wore BIFOCALS in the THIRD GRADE!  I'm well-acquainted with glasses. 

For many years, my prescription glasses looked like Coke bottles.  Sadly, I'm not even kidding.  I have horrendous vision.  But technology has come a long way since...gulp...the early 80's.

So I was eager to check out the site and pick out a brand new pair of eyeglass frames for myself!  They have a plethora of choices, and their prices are unbelieveably cheap.

I chose these Hilarie Red frames, which look almost exactly like my current pair that I paid ALMOST $200 for at my optometrist's office.  Grrr.

So what do you think?

From now on, GlassesUSA most definitely has my business!

*Use coupon code Mommy5 and receive 5% off your final order at GlassesUSA.  This coupon code NEVER expires!*

Grandparents.com

Did you know that National Grandparents Day is September 13th?  Yeah, me neither.

Until I was invited to check out the grandparents.com website.  I love that their tag line is "It's great to be grand"!  (My mom always wanted her grandchildren to refer to her as "GrandEllen".  Yeah, that never really caught on...)

And you all know how I feel about my mom, a/k/a Granny-911.  She stays with us every summer and I couldn't imagine those months without her!  My boyz miss her when she leaves in August.  And I know she misses them like crazy.

The Grandparents website has a great feature on it entitled YourVoice.  It's technology that enables the grandparent (or the grandchild, in my case) to record a message via phone line and then send it to their recipient via e-mail!

So on my first Thursday off, Baby and I sat down and I let him sing into the phone to Gramma and Poppa.  "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" was the song of choice.  (Which actually shocked me because he usually goes around singing "I kiss da gurl and I wiked it...")

So now GrandEllen Granny-911 will be able to hear her youngest grandchild's voice whenever she needs her Baby fix!

Check it out!  Send a message to your (or your child's) grandparents this Sunday!

Pop's Authentic

As a blogger, I receive a fair number of pitches from PR firms asking me to link to, try, write about, test, sample, promote, and/or WHORE MYSELF OUT for their various products, services and websites.

Safe to say, I ignore probably 85% of these e-mails.  Oftentimes my name is spelled wrong; the name of my website is incorrect; they want me to test out a new website marketed to teen girls, or infants, or SOMETHING ELSE HAVING NOTHING TO DO WITH ME OR MY BLOG.  And they want me to pitch, link to, or market their "fabulous!" and "new and exciting!" product FOR FREE.  Out of the kindness of my heart.  Because I have nothing better to do as a "mommyblogger".  Gah.

So when I received this pitch from Tara with the subject line titled "Add this to your stroller..maybe lighter than pasta?", I couldn't help but be impressed. 

(I'm paraphrasing her here because her e-mail was quite lengthy--but not in a bad way.  And I added the links to the posts that she referenced.)

"My name is Tara and I'm contacting you on behalf of Pop's Authentic.  I have to tell you that I was laughing out loud at your "Cross-Training with Rugrats" and "More Adventures in Strollering" posts...

..I also thought that instead of pasta on the next trek, you might be interested in something else that is easy and filling (and no need for cooking or ziplocks)?...

[INSERT HER ARTICULATE PITCH HERE]

...They may not go so well with the pre-made pomegranite martini, but I'm guessing that if you've gone through a couple of bottles, you need some sustenance! (I can also speak from opinion they go great with a beer!)

...I'm sure you're looking forward to your first Thursday off next week!"

How's that for a clear, concise pitch DIRECTLY TO ME?  How could I refuse??

Even Danny-911 tried a Pop's Habanero!

And enjoyed it immensely.

Pop's Authentic Handmade Artisan Meat Snacks are locally sourced and crafted with the highest standards of quality by a family-owned company in Missouri.  Made from a family recipe passed down from Pop Jennings, the patriarch of the fam, the snack sticks (think Slim Jims on steroids) are a perfect addition to your backpack...or stroller, in my case.

Eldest, my picky one, wouldn't touch them (except to pose for the above picture).  But Middle and Baby each snarfed down an Original Flavor. 

*Wanna try for yourself?  By entering "SNACK" when you go to popsauthentic.com, you will receive 25% off your order!*

And a special thank you to Tara.  For (1) taking the time to read my blog.  For (2) pitching to me in a such a personalized manner that you immediately caught my attention.  And for (3) being clear, concise and direct in what you wanted me to review.  Kudos!

Close Encounters of the Third-Grade Kind *Updated with Winner!*

Congrats to the first commenter, RebeccaMom - she wins a copy of this great book!

 *****

Just in time for Back to School season:  Phillip Done's thoughts on teacherhood in his new novel creatively titled "Close Encounters of the Third-Grade Kind".

Set up in school-year format, each chapter (starting with September) chronicles the escapades of his students, the thoughts and wisdom of his co-workers and the witticism of Mr. Done himself. 

And can I just tell you? I love the way this guy writes!  His tales from the classroom are ripe with sentiment and emotion and are just plain REAL.

This would make an awesome present for that teacher-friend of yours, or even better, it's a great teacher gift for the holidays!

To win a free copy, simply leave a comment below with your blog address (or e-mail if you don't have a blog).  Winner will be chosen on Thursday, September 10th!