Package Deal at Hilton Branson Convention Center and Silver Dollar City 50th Anniversary celebration in 2010

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hiltons of Branson. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hilton One of my favorite hotel chains is the Hilton. I’ve only used them once but it was amazing. So I can only imagine how wonderful it would be to visit one in Branson Missouri. I have so many friends that have vacationed there that it must be a great place to go. I mean the attractions in Branson are very alluring. You can visit their crystalline lakes and mountain scenes, or Ride the Duck (just like we have here in Seattle, it’s where you sit on a boat with wheels, you drive around and then when you hit the water you’re on a boat) and tethered balloon rides. As far as friends recommendations go, Silver Dollar City comes highly recommended and they are celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2010. Their package prices include tickets to White Water, Showboat Branson Belle, The Wilderness and Ride the Ducks. Use Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel to get a package including a hotel stay. The package includes a three day park hopper and overnight hotel rates at 439.00 a night. For this price you will receive two adult tickets and two children’s tickets.  My personal experience with Missouri doesn’t reach further than the capital; St. Louis and her beautiful arch. I need to go back and do some further investigation of my own.

Check out the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing. They have a list of Summer activities to help you plan out your summer vacation. Spend Father’s day as a family with the wonderful accommodations that only the Hilton is capable of providing. You can book your package and be there for the Father’s Day Salute. That sounds like fun for dad. One of the package deals that Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing is offering is their Romance Package. This package is valid until October 25, 2010. It includes full American breakfast for two in your room or the designated restaurant, and if you stay longer than one night you can enjoy buy one get one free entrees.

These are only a few of the options that you can do in Branson with the Hilton.

 

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Check out the Out of Office Blog from FedEx

Remember the days of going into copying stores to ship packages? Now the Shipping stores are merging or purchasing those copying stores and we’re going in to do all of our shipping. We hardly recognize the change of names, like when FedEx acquired Kinko’s and they became FedEx Office.

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The current topic over on the Out of Office Blog is an article called: The Holidays are Over, but the wrapping paper remains. Just in this one article you can learn what to do with all of the left over wrapping paper. You know, the rolls that can no longer be called rolls because the resemble a single sheet instead.

Fed Ex Office Solutions suggests that you create things with all that paper. Make a placemat, a coaster, bookmark, or create an entire notebook. Or just use the paper as packing material, now that sounds like FedEx right?. When I packed up all of our stuff to move from one house to another, I used whatever I could get my hands on: The Newspaper, paper towels, toilet paper, I was desperate, so why not use wrapping paper scraps or the stuff just torn off of the gifts? Another suggestion would be to use it to cover a book that you make as a family. Yes you might have to laminate it to make it last. I just know that that would get my kids going, especially if the wrapping paper had Dora or Elmo on it. And what a fun way to spend the day with your kids!

 

Finding cool ideas for projects and entertaining can prove challenging even if you are the most creative of moms. Whether you want to plan a baby shower for a friend or colleague or find a fun rainy-day activity for your kids, the new Out of Office blog from FedEx Office will get you started with projects for everything from invitations and place cards to tips on how to turn your child’s artwork into a notebook, large poster, or thank you notes. In the future, the blog will feature contests and giveaways, themed series, how-to videos, and the creative insights of guest bloggers and customers.

Quoted from Mom Central

 

I quoted her because she worded the description of all that you can find at Out of Office perfectly. That’s what they cover, topics to get you through the day with your kids, to get you through the holidays in one piece and to build your business brand made simple. They have six bloggers that make up their team of writers.

Check out the Out of the Office Blog and find creative and useful ideas to inspire organization and crafts. You can also follow them on Twitter @OutofOfficeBlog

I wrote this post working for Mom Central and Fed Ex Office. Mom Central is sending me a gift card to thank me for my time.

You’re invited to a Puppy Party

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Puppy Party:

NCircle put out a cute DVD that gathers all your puppy friends and allows your children to explore the puppies. It’s pretty cute and educational. The narrator is the same voice from Animal Atlas, he’s really good at talking to children. This time he is just talking as one of the dogs. The cute little Labrador puppy that is throwing the party. His name is Milo. Now we watched this as a family when memaw was here and she said it wasn’t stimulating enough. It’s not for adults people. It’s for kids. I mean it got my daughter started up on questions, and I think it would be a great educational tool.  Maybe if you home school your kids and want them to learn about a few different breeds. This DVD features over 25 breeds, facts about each breeds and hilarious puppy antics. You can purchase it directly from NCircle for 5.99 or at Amazon for 6.99.

Puppy Party is 70 minutes long.

Wordless Wednesday – Best way to recover from surgery

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NYR – Lose Weight this New Year with The Biggest Loser DVD’s #giveaway

Everyone knows about the biggest phenomenon known as The Biggest Loser right? NBC created quite the hit show 2006. I enjoy watching it and my mother, wow, she adores the show. She tivo’s it so she never misses an episode. With New Years Resolutions starting just around the corner, I have a giveaway that could help you achieve some of those goals. Bring The Biggest Loser exercise plan into your own living room.

 

You can enter to win these two DVD’s.

The Biggest Loser: 30-Day Jump Start,

image Synopsis: Jump-start weight loss in just 30 days with the help of your favorite contestants from NBC’s "THE BIGGEST LOSER.” You’ve seen Ali, Tara and Sione shed pounds on the show and now it’s your turn! Burn fat and tone muscle as they lead you through five 10-minute workouts that cover every inch of your body. Now’s your chance to get started, get fit and lose big with this 30-day program! And it doesn’t stop there – in two special segments, Bob gives the diet tips and motivation you’ll need to get started and stay on track.

 

 

and The Biggest Loser: Last Chance Workout

 

Synopsis: In the pre "weigh-in" workouts on NBC’s hit show, "THE BIGGEST LOSER,” you’ve seen contestants push themselves to the limit to reach their weight-loss goals – and now you can too! In this intense Last Chance Workout, trainer Jillian Michaels pulls out all the stops with three workouts that challenge your body to the maximum. But don’t worry, past contestants will be by your side every step of the way. With a unique blend of cardio and strength designed to boost your fat-burning potential, and the motivation to keep going, now’s your chance to step on the scale and lose more weight faster than ever!

 

 

To Enter:

Visit Lionsgate Shop and tell me what other videos might encourage your New Years Resolution.

Add the New Years Resolution Button to your website (facebook, blog, myspace) 5 extra points

Extra Entries:

Advertise this giveaway on any giveaway site and tell me where you advertised it. 10 Extra Entries
Subscribe to my blog
Follow me on twitter tell me your twitter ID
Blog or facebook about the giveaway include a link to me and to the sponsor for 10 extra entries
Tweet the giveaway (every time you tweet you get an entry) Link to the giveaway please!!!
Comment on any other non giveaway post and come back and tell me you did
Use any of the Share options at the bottom of this post: (two entries for each one)
Add my button/blog to your blogroll/friend list 3 extra entries

Leave a comment for every entry

The contest will run until January 15th  11:59 pm Pacific. The winner will be selected by www.random.org. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

 

The prizes are provided by Lionsgate, I received some other videos from them and will blog about them later.

Making Spaghetti with NutraSalt – an all-natural Sea Salt Review

Thanks to The Family Review Network and Nutra Salt I received six seasonings from the Sea Salt collection that Nutra Salt makes. Today I decided to use them and make spaghetti. It was a family hit. My daughter ate her meat which is usually quite a challenge but she loved it and ate it first.

The ingredients:

 

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I didn’t have a recipe to go off of, and I’m one of those people that seasons to my taste as I’m cooking. I just throw in some of this and some of that. It was nice being able to just use the Zesty Italian blend for spaghetti. I covered the ground beef in the seasoning as I was cooking it. I would say that I used about two tablespoons. After tasting it I added some of the garlic to it. I love garlic. Then I added the tomatoes and tomato sauce and let it all simmer for 20 minutes. It was the best spaghetti I ever made. On their site you can find recipes to create your own low sodium creations.

 

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Here is a photo of all the other flavors that I received. Sea Salt, Savory Garlic, African Medley, Classic Curry and Texas BBQ. Not one of my best photos I know, I used the wrong camera.

Low Sodium Sea Salt sea-salt

 

 

The Benefits of NutraSalt:

Americans are consuming too much sodium, we have salt on our French Fries and it’s in the ketchup that we use to dip them in. Nutra Salt gives you the salt without all the sodium. Their Natural Sea Salt contains 66 Percent less sodium than other salts. It is harvested from the salts and rich minerals in the Red Sea and Dead Sea. The Potassium in NutraSalt is much needed in our bodies. It plays a critical role in overall wellness.Natural potassium allows the body to regulate sodium levels by encouraging the kidneys to excrete excess amounts, and reducing the risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular and kidney disease.

 

About NutraSalt:

Bon Vivant International, LLC founded by CEO and President Bez Arkush to provide delicious healthy food products to the international market. NutraSalt, its first line of products, was created in over 6 years of development efforts to provide the food industry and consumers with a delicious, low-sodium Sea Salt featuring the recommended amount of potassium in each serving.

Meal Plan Monday

Monday – Spaghetti

Tuesday – Chicken Curry (destination dinners)

Wednesday – Lasagna

Thursday – potato soup corn chowder

Friday – Left overs

Saturday – Grilled Cheese

Sunday – Left Overs

 

I think I can make everything without going to the grocery store. But I want to go to Safeway before Wednesday so I can stock up on Jimmy Dean sausage. It’s buy one get one free this week and I have free coupons so I think I can get ten for free. Depends on Safeway. I might also need some bread and bananas and milk from Costco. Might just send my husband out.

For more Meals visit the Org Junkie.

Traveling with Children is simplified by Baby Safe Travel

gogo Kidz Travelmate by Go Go Babyz

Baby Safe Travel is the resource that my husband and I wished we had found sooner. We have traveled with our children and car seats and luggage and getting in and out of the airport is a huge head ache. I’m sure that most of you that are traveling for the holidays can relate. If you haven’t made it home yet you might still be able to make  your trip easier. Just look at their travel tips section. They break their tips into categories of Infants, Crawlers, Walkers and Multiples because you know that opens up another can of worms. It’s one thing to travel with one child, but two or more in car seats is even more trouble. Baby Safe Travel also has a Baby Boutique with everything you need from Car Seat Covers to ride on suit cases.

 

 

When traveling with your baby, things will not always go according to your schedule or your plan. Your adventure will be more fun and rewarding if you can leave lots of room for spontaneity, allowing your baby to help you stop and smell the roses. So remain flexible. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. And, most important, plan ahead.

Taken from Baby Safe Travel Tips

 

Baby Safe Travel sent me a gogo Kidz Travelmate by Go Go Babyz. I haven’t had a chance to review it yet. I’m going to Texas in February so I’ll be able to review it then. I’m going to be taking my kids to their grandparents while I go to Blissdom. Then I’ll be able to write a review. I will tell you though that one of the moms in my MOMS Club said that it was a life saver while she was traveling with her son. She purchased one from a friend and has used it more than once. Her husband was there when she was talking about it and he completely agreed with her. The only thing he didn’t realize was that she paid for it. He thought they were still borrowing it.

Product Details:

gogo Kidz Travelmate by Go Go Babyz

New ratcheting, quick-release strap

Easy to attach and remove in just seconds

Lightweight: weighs only 5 lbs

Telescoping handle with four positions

Sturdy, soft 5 inch quick release razor wheels for easy removal

Compact: 5 inches deep, 17 inches wide, 28 inches high

 

 

Look forward to a review in February.

Misikko Ceramic Flat Iron Review and #giveaway

Misikko-logo-flat-ironMisikko sent me one of their professional flat irons to review. I opened it up and was quite impressed with the quality. In fact after reviewing it, I thought it would make the perfect Christmas present. It is probably the best flat iron I have ever seen.

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Picture of the Happy Recipient on Christmas Day:

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About ceramic flat irons:

True ceramic flat irons are difficult to find. Solid ceramic is expensive & easily broken during manufacturing. FHI & Hana are two of the world’s only makers of true ceramic plates. The benefits of real ceramic plates are: superior infrared heat and negative ion output (providing smoother unbroken hair); plate surfaces that won’t chip, peel, or wear; and lifelong superior performance.

What does all that mean? I look at the prices of these professional flat irons and I can hardly understand it, but then I look at the description, the quality, the fact that my hair is going to be straight as a board and not rip in the process, or be burned and over processed in the procedure. I can rest assured that the price is worth the quality. Also, I can be assured that it’s going to last. The product is going to continue to service me and keep up with time as the years go by.

 

About Chi flat iron:

Pink Ribbon Chi 1

  • Professional salon model
  • Moist ceramic heat with ceramic plates and coils
  • Ceramic produces negative ions (ionic) far infrared heat and will maintain even temperature all the time, seal the hair cuticle, repel humidity and lock in hair color.
  • Doesn’t damage or dry hair like traditional copper coils
  • On-Off switch located inside flat iron to prevent accidental shut off
  • Lightweight design
  • Fits in a standard curling iron station
  • Flash quick heating
  • Saves energy – CHI only uses 20-25 watts of electricity
  • Versatile "all in one" ergonomic design: create sleek, straight locks, flips or curls
  • 360 degree swivel cord to prevent tangling

 

About FHI flat iron:

FHI 1" Flat Iron - Platform

  • Adjustable Temperature: 140 to 450 Degrees F
  • Ceramic Plate Size: 90mm x 26mm (3 1/2" x 1")
  • Automatic Sense Recovery System: Quickly recovers heat to the ceramic plates
  • Multi Functional Hair Styling Iron: Straightens, Curls, Flips, and capable of creating many different styles
  • ON/OFF Switch with LED light
  • Heat up time in seconds
  • Efficient and cost effective to operate
  • Swivel power cord: will never tangle
  • Power Consumption only 58 Watts
  • Self adjusting plate system
  • Seals cuticle to lock in moisture and repel humidity with negative ions from Tourmaline
  • Protects color and retards fading
  • Eliminates Frizz
  • Nano Silver, Nano Titanium, and Nano Titanium Oxide technology removes chemicals, bacteria and adds shine!
  • Made in Korea
  • 1 Year manufacturers warranty

 

Enter to win one Hana Elite Flat Iron from Misikko.

To Enter:

Visit misikko and tell me what other product you would love to try, be specific please (required)

Follow misikko on twitter. (3 extra entries)

Extra Entries:

Advertise this giveaway on any giveaway site and tell me where you advertised it. 10 Extra Entries
Follow me on twitter tell me your twitter ID
Blog or facebook about the giveaway include a link to me and to the sponsor for 10 extra entries
Tweet this:

@momstart and @misikko are giving away a professional ceramic flat iron http://bit.ly/5RyqS3

The contest will run until January 11th  11:59 pm Pacific. The winner will be selected by www.random.org. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

Guy Fieri Ergo Chef Knives Review and #giveaway

The Food Network’s Guy Fieri has quite the TV personality. He was one of the very first winners of The Next Food Network Star and he managed to actually become one. With his well known name now he’s got his own line of products and I mentioned his knives in my Food Network Holiday Gift Guide. Ergo Chef sent me a set of their knives to use and my husband really enjoys using them.

I used to sell knives, can you believe that? I lasted one week as a door to door sales woman. My shortest career ever so I know what’s good about a knife and what’s not. For one thing, you do not want a wooden knife, they hold germs and the wood can deteriorate. These knives are made of high carbon German Stainless Steel, they are not dishwasher safe but most knifes aren’t. The blade goes the entire length of the knife making it very strong and durable.

Product Description:

• The blades are precision heat treated to 56RC to keep a great edge
• Patented ergonomic design is created to be an extension of your hand for natural comfort
• Made of high carbon German stainless steel (X50CrMoV15) for stain resistance
• Full tang and abbreviated bolster adds strength and balance
• Hollow ground ovals in blade promote less stick and smoother cut

guy I’m a Hot Rod guy who knows that in order to do car-building right, you need high quality performance parts. The same idea applies to cooking, so the right knives are key. My product features a combination of the best materials with a design that will blow your mind!
As a chef, restaurant owner, and TV personality, I have high expectations for my equipment and these knives meet and exceed all of them. I’d like to thank everyone who brought these knives to reality.

 

 

 

 

The Chef Knife:

chefknife

 

The chef knife’s 8 inch blade is great for cutting veggies, I used it on potatoes the other day for corn chowder. It’s also meant for fruits and meats. It features a crisscross knurl on the end of the blade to pulverize garlic and nuts.

The Utility Dragon Dagger:

Utilitydraggondagger

The Dragon Dagger’s 5 and 1/2 inch blade is great for cutting bread and sandwiches. It cuts a mean peanut butter and Jelly if you ask my daughter’s opinion. We used it on home made bread, pizza dough and on sandwiches. It features a serrated edge and fork prongs on the tip to pick up food with. It’s super sharp making it great for cheese, veggies, and small fruits.

 

I have found that both of these knives are very manly. They are red and black and decorated with flames. I’d prefer pink and flowers but if you want to get your man in the kitchen flowers aren’t going to do it are they? Both of the knives come with a blade guard for storage.

Ergo Chef has offered to give one set of these knives to a lucky Mom Start Reader.

To Enter:

Visit Ergo Chef and tell me what other products they make.

Extra Entries:

Advertise this giveaway on any giveaway site and tell me where you advertised it. 10 Extra Entries
Subscribe to my blog
Follow me on twitter tell me your twitter ID
Blog or facebook about the giveaway include a link to me and to the sponsor for 10 extra entries
Tweet the giveaway (every time you tweet you get an entry) Link to the giveaway please!!!
Comment on any other non giveaway post and come back and tell me you did
Use any of the Share options at the bottom of this post: (two entries for each one)
Add my button/blog to your blogroll/friend list 3 extra entries

Leave a comment for every entry

The contest will run until January 11th  11:59 pm Pacific. The winner will be selected by www.random.org. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.