2010 January — MomStart

Melissa & Doug’s Puppet Time Theater #Giveaway & Donation Sponsored by Gummy Lump

January 14, 2010 By Momstart 578 Comments

Deluxe Puppet Theater by Melissa & Doug by Melissa & Doug

Gummy Lump is an on-line toy store, an on-line boutique high quality toy store. Many of the name brands they carry are from the top learning toy companies. They carry Alex, Crocodile Creek, Haba, and Schylling just to name a few. They have generously donated a Puppet Theater to my toy drive. I’m still collecting donations because I feel that giving should be all year round. We’re very grateful for this donation. The Melissa and Doug Puppet Theater is very high quality. Melissa and Doug makes most of their toys out of wood and keeps to the highest standards.

Description: This wooden puppet theater has a sturdy ; non-tip base and plenty of room inside for a puppeteer or two to put on a show! The playful; detailed graphics and plush; velvety curtains will help inspire creativity and expression in any child. Includes a chalkboard panel and clock with movable hands.

They create toys that encourage the imagination. Put on a puppet show and have your kids participate. It’s a great way to encourage upper level thinking. They are easy to put together and durable for playtime.

ALL Melissa & Doug Toys are On Sale right now at 20% Off, including this theater. MSRP $89.95 GummyLump.com price $71.96

They are also providing one to giveaway to one lucky reader.

To Enter:

Visit Gummy Lump and tell me the name and brand of the toy other than the puppet theater that you would love to acquire. (required)

Follow Gummy Lump on Twitter (2 extra)

Become a fan on Facebook (2 extra)

Extra Entries:

Tweet the following (2 extra)

Win a Melissa & Doug Puppet Theater from @momstart and @gummylump http://bit.ly/7Y5wbo

Blog or facebook about the giveaway include a link to me and to the sponsor for 10 extra entries
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
Email anyone you know to tell them about the giveaway include a link to the giveaway, carbon copy louise@looksblue.com (1 extra per e-mail address)

Mom Start Saving with The Coupon Mom Show

January 14, 2010 By Momstart 3 Comments

The Coupon Mom Show, the new money-saving series from nationally known author, mom and coupon clipper Stephanie Nelson (aka Coupon Mom) teaches real families how to save BIG by sharing her infamous tips and tricks on how to get the biggest bang for your buck without sacrificing quality. I learned everything I know from her. Well, at least she’s where I got started. She is the cornucopia of information when it comes to saving money at the grocery store.

Four exciting and informative webisodes of the show have already been posted on YouTube, with new ones premiering every Thursday! In the first four episodes, Coupon Mom shares her tips on how to cut your grocery bill by over 70%, how to save while eating at restaurants, and even how to make a profit by using coupons at the drugstore. I’ve learned how to get free products to give to charity by using her system at the drugstores.

Here is one of her shows:

Coupon Mom will be sharing her savings secrets every week in a new episode of the Coupon Mom Show through April.

Filed Under: Mom Start Saving, Save money Tagged With: art of couponing, Coupon Mom, Coupon mom show, coupons, cut grocer bill, make a profit at the drugstore, Save money, save while eating at restauratns

Tropical Traditions Organic Coconut Peanut Butter Review and #giveaway

January 13, 2010 By Momstart 448 Comments

I’ve been trying different Tropical Traditions product for a few months now and the Organic Coconut Peanut Butter is by far my favorite. One, I love peanut butter and two, I love coconut milk and the combination is like magic. I want to eat the peanut butter straight from the jar.

Organic Coconut Peanut Butter

Tropical traditions is made from organic Peanut Butter and organic Coconut. There is nothing else in it, no sweeteners, no fillers, not binders and it’s perfect. Valencia peanuts grown organically by family farmers in New Mexico and Texas. Grown in the dry climate of the southwestern United States, these peanuts are certified organic and free from aflatoxins. The dried coconut is certified organic coconut meat from the Philippines from coconuts that are grown with no fertilizers or pesticides. This premium dried coconut contains no additives or preservatives, and is not sweetened. I’ve been finding myself having a very hard time not eating it constantly. Let me tell you my experience from the beginning.

Working with Tropical Traditions has been my pleasure. I’ve enjoyed the experience and am excited every time they say I can pick a new product. I spent a little more time looking at each product individually as I made my decision and I found a gem. It arrived and I opened it right away. I pulled back the seal and my first reactions was. EEEWWW!

It looks funny because it is white on the top. Well, it’s organic “Coconut” peanut butter so what was I expecting. Of course I was expecting it to look exactly like peanut butter. I’m a little nut.

I took my spoon and dipped it in and it was love at first bite. MMM. I can’t wait to try out a recipe and make something with it. Tropical Traditions has quite a few recipes on their site and this one will be my first:

Coconut Peanut Butter Cup Hot Cocoa

4 – 5 servings
Preparation Time: 3 minutes

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 – 1/3 cup sugar/honey, more or less to taste*
Dash of salt
1/3 cup water
4 cups whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup Coconut Peanut Butter

Combine dry ingredients in a medium saucepan and whisk in water over medium heat. Bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Boil for 2 minutes. Whisk in Coconut Peanut Butter.

Add milk and whisk and heat until hot, but do not boil. Remove from heat and whisk in vanilla extract. Serve topping with whipped cream.

*If using honey, use less then you would for sugar. Brown sugar may be used.

Recipe courtesy Sarah Shilhavy

Thank you Sarah!!!

Third time is a charm, I can’t stop eating it.

To Enter:

Visit Tropical Traditions and tell me what product you want me to try next. I’m having a hard time deciding so I need your help. (required)

Extra Entries:

Visit Tropical Traditions and join their newsletter 3 extra entries
Follow Tropical Traditions on Twitter (2 extra entries)
Become a fan of Tropical Traditions on Facebook (2 extra)

Tweet the following (2 extra)

@momstart and @TropTraditions are giving away organic coconut peanut butter http://bit.ly/4ZAqdw

Wordless Wednesday

January 12, 2010 By Momstart 26 Comments

Filed Under: Wordless Wednesday Tagged With: Wordless Wednesday

BBC America’s Robin Hood Season Three Review

January 12, 2010 By Momstart 3 Comments

Warner Brothers sent me a copy of Robin Hood Season Three on behalf of BBC America. I was thrilled to receive it because I love BBC America and Nottingham’s greatest outlaw is just icing on the cake. I’ve never seen Robin Hood before so starting on Season Three was just a little bit shocking. There is no Marian; she was previously killed off. I was really looking forward to watching her character but soon found out she’s now the driving force behind Robin’s revenge against Gisborne. Sound complicated? Not really!

We have Robin Hood stealing from Prince John in any way he can to care for the poor across England. Prince John is a tyrant after King Richard’s thrown. King Richard is off fighting the crusades, now does it sound familiar. Two new characters join Robin this year. Kate, a beautiful blond who ultimately falls in love with Robin, I mean who doesn’t right? Also, Brother Tuck joins the band of Merry Men. If it weren’t for him Robin Hood would have died, along with his legend. Tuck convinces Robin that he needs to continue to fight for the oppressed England.

I’ve been watching it for three nights now. The more I watch the funnier it is becoming. It’s BBC American just like I like it. My husband noticed that the characters are relatable because they look normal. Their teeth are what you would expect. Only in Hollywood CA, do you get “perfection” and who wants it? I would love it if more people looked natural.

Each episode is an adventure from beginning to end and even though I’ve never seen any of the previous seasons, the characters are well developed. Including the introduction of the new characters for the season.

Released to DVD January 12, 2010. It’s available on BBC America. In case you’re still wondering what’s going on with Robin Hood check out this description.

About the DVD:.

This January, the BBC unleashes to DVD the third and final season of the epic drama, Robin Hood, with the DVD box set release – Robin Hood: Season Three. In this climactic installment of the highly-successful BBC AMERICA adventure series, Robin (Jonas Armstrong, Teachers) returns tougher, darker and consumed with Marian’s death. Splitting up the gang, Robin launches a solo mission to avenge her and kill Gisborne (Richard Armitage, MI-5, North & South). It is only the intervention of the mysterious Tuck (David Harewood, Blood Diamond; The Merchant of Venice) that stops Robin from joining Marian in an early grave. Toby Stephens (Jane Eyre, The Queen’s Sister) joins the well-rounded cast as the wickedly evil Prince John who puts pressure on the Sheriff (Keith Allen, Viva Blackpool, Bodies) and Gisborne to take down Robin Hood once and for all. This 5-disc DVD box set boasts over an hour of bonus material including behind-the-scenes features, character profiles, video diaries and more.

ROBIN HOOD: SEASON THREE BONUS FEATURES

· A Legend Reborn (behind the scenes feature)

· A New Look (behind the scenes look at costuming)

· Trebuchet: Creating Chaos

· Character Profiles

· Video Diaries

Filed Under: review Tagged With: BBC America, DVD Review, Robin Hood, Robin Hood Season Three

Get a Discount on 4 Tickets to Disney Live! Rockin Road Show

January 12, 2010 By Momstart 5 Comments

I have the unique opportunity to offer you a discount on Tickets to Disney Live: Rockin Road Show. My daughter is watching me post this post and saying, I want to watch it, like I can instantly put a live show on. Silly girl. But Disney has that kind of magic that makes us all feel young and happy.

The show will be at Comcast Arena at Everett. The discount is 4 tickets for $44 in either the $26 seats or the $19 seats. This discount is valid for all performances, and is available at the box office, internet, outlets and phones. The promo code is BLOG. This promotion runs until January 31

Show Description:

“Get ready to dim the lights and raise the curtain – Mickey Mouse is in the house and he’s setting the stage for fun – just for you! But first he’ll need to find some amazing acts to put in his show. Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Donald all head off on an adventure and find some great friends to help them out. You’ll get to sing along to cool songs, jump out of your seat to dance to the beat and laugh out loud with Buzz and Woody from Toy Story, Cinderella, Tigger, and more of your Disney friends at this show-stopping, zany, on-stage adventure coming right to your hometown!”

Filed Under: Announcement Tagged With: Comcast Arena, discount, Disney Live, Everett, Live Rockin Road Show, Save money

New Tonight on TNT Southland Extended Commercial-Free Premiere

January 12, 2010 By Momstart 7 Comments

So after a little research I found the Southland was originally on NBC, it was cancelled before it was fully enjoyed. It’s not for the weak of heart, it’s HBO, Showtime quality in my opinion. It’s a very serious cop show. It’s not softened, it’s just in your face the life of a cop.

I’ve only watched the pilot so far and that’s what coming on TNT, as they breath new life into the series by starting at the beginning. So if you’ve never seen it before here is your chance to watch it from the beginning. With the plan for all new episodes to begin in March.

This is not a show for children, I was viewing it yesterday during nap time and as soon as nap time was over my daughter wanted to see what I was watching. The Pilot begins with Ben Sherman (Ben McKenzie, The OC) who is a rookie that is partnered up with an really hard guy a veteran veteran John Cooper (Michael Cudlitz, Band of Brothers). Their relationship is rocky at best, with Ben wanting to take a punch at his new partner before the end of his first day out. Luckily though another cop calms him down. I’m sure that would be a terrible way to start out a career as being a cop.

Not sure if this is a show I’ll be adding to my list as I don’t have the stomach for cop shows. I do have an admiration for the show’s ability to present a pilot that was believable and understandable. I feel that many pilots are so confusing because there are so many elements to present to a new audience. I’m usually left confused and wondering if watching a few more episodes are worth the trouble.

Southland has characters that come across as real and believable. They all have some kind of dark closet filled with their own problems that the audience can relate to. In the mood for some real drama, tune in at 10:00 PM on TNT tonight for the Extended with never before scenes of Southland.

Filed Under: Announcement, review Tagged With: NBC, new series review, Southland, TNT, TV premier, tv show review

Random Tuesday Potty Training, Robin Hood, Blogging

January 11, 2010 By Momstart 18 Comments

So I’m sitting here watching Robin Hood from BBC America and it’s getting funnier by the second. I love British Comedy, but I think this is supposed to be a drama. Maybe I just don’t get any of it really. I need to pee but I don’t want to get out of my chair and pause it. I’m really lazy huh.

I’m tired too, but I’m always tired. Today when I was cuddling with the kids in my chair, I passed out on them. I felt so guilty but they didn’t seem to care. They were enjoying Veggie Tales.

Potty training has been on my mind. What to do?

She is three now and has no desire to do it. Not for bribes for free, nothing. Most moms I know say that the best thing to do is just let them run around naked. Oh boy that sounds fun. I let her try just her underwear once and she peed on herself and started crying then I let her try again and she pooped in her panties.

Of course, I’ve read about much worse with other moms, but I’m so tired of diapers. Even my son is ready to start training. Maybe if I just do him since he’s willing she’ll follow suit? Any ideas?

I just ordered my business cards, I need to do more work on my blog. I need to update my theme and change the header, I’m so tired of the flowers. I want it to match my blog button again. Why am I so easily seduced by the TV. I’m a tv junkie I swear. I could sit and watch TV all day.

I’m training my children to be the exact same way. I let them watch way too much TV. The doctor said only “1 hour”. Oh man am I in trouble. They watch it so much. But they hardly pay any attention. Oh well.

I wish it would stop raining, I think that’s why I’m so tired all the time. I hate the Pacific Northwest. Maybe I’ll become a famous blogger and get to travel more. Oh dreams. A girl has to have them right.

Filed Under: personal, random Tagged With: personal, potty training, Random Thoughts, Random Tuesday

Fight the Flu Season with The Cold & Flu Symptom Tracker by Triaminic Coupon & product #giveaway

January 11, 2010 By Momstart 166 Comments

My kids usually spend all winter indoors with some kind of cold or the other. We’ve been doing a little bit better this year but I think it’s because we’ve been skipping MOMS Club. We’ve been stuck in the house. I’ve been wondering how everyone else has been fairing this year? Looks like Seattle is doing ok. How do I know? I checked out the Cold and Flu Symptom Tracker.

The Cold & Flu Symptom Tracker is brought to you by Triaminic®, a leader in children’s over-the-counter cold and flu symptom medication. When dispensing medication to children, remember to always read and follow medicine labels exactly, to ensure that the child receives the right dosage. Single-use products like Triaminic Thin Strips® provides a pre-measured dose of medicine that dissolves quickly on the tongue, so parents know their children are receiving the recommended amount for their age.

Also, the Sick Day Guidelines that Triaminic® partnered with the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) to create. Parents know when their kids aren’t feeling 100% – these Guidelines are aimed at helping parents decide when to keep them at home, or send them off to school.

I always went to school sick. I never missed a day of school until my dad married my stepmom, who believed in keeping sick kids home from school. She was right, it’s wrong to send your kid to school sick, you don’t want to infect other children and they will get better faster resting at home, so it’s nice to be able to find a place where we have an indicator of whether or not we should keep our kids home. Even with that though, I think moms know their kids, trust your judgment mom. You know what they need.

Save Money with a Coupon:

May be given every 4 hours. Do not give more than 6 doses in 24 hours unless directed by a doctor.

Children under 4 years of age: do not use.

Three Readers can win:

4 Triaminic boxes and each comes with 14 thin strips.

To Enter:

Tell me how you keep healthy during the cold and flu season.

Extra Entries:

Visit The Flu Tracker and tell me what learn.

Advertise this giveaway on any giveaway site and tell me where you advertised it. 10 Extra Entries
Subscribe to my blog (recommended so that you don’t miss winner’s announcements)
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 about the giveaway and include a link to the giveaway.
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
Email anyone you know to tell them about the giveaway include a link to the giveaway, carbon copy louise@looksblue.com (1 extra per e-mail address)

Cooking with Kids, making Betty Crocker Mashed Potatoes

January 11, 2010 By Momstart 17 Comments

You may be thinking, boxed potatoes are you serious?

Yes, I am serious. Growing up I found box potatoes to be the most disgusting thing in the world. The smell of them reminded me of day care. Yuck, I hated them, well, my husband loves them so I’ve been reintroduced to them and they aren’t that bad. In fact they are

Easy

Cheap

and For the Entire Family:

She really loves to help in the kitchen and this was something she could do almost completely by herself. We helped her measure out the potato buds. Then she added the butter and I added a little salt. I measured out the milk and she poured it in and then she stirred.

And Stirred.

And wanted to add more milk.

But all we had to do was heat them up and they were ready to stir.

Filed Under: Cooking Tagged With: Betty Crocker, boxed potatoes, cooking with kids, Potato Buds

Melissa & Doug’s Puppet Time Theater #Giveaway & Donation Sponsored by Gummy Lump

To Enter:

Extra Entries:

Mom Start Saving with The Coupon Mom Show

Tropical Traditions Organic Coconut Peanut Butter Review and #giveaway

To Enter:

Extra Entries:

Wordless Wednesday

BBC America’s Robin Hood Season Three Review

Get a Discount on 4 Tickets to Disney Live! Rockin Road Show

Show Description:

New Tonight on TNT Southland Extended Commercial-Free Premiere

Random Tuesday Potty Training, Robin Hood, Blogging

Fight the Flu Season with The Cold & Flu Symptom Tracker by Triaminic Coupon & product #giveaway

Save Money with a Coupon:

Three Readers can win:

To Enter:

Extra Entries:

Cooking with Kids, making Betty Crocker Mashed Potatoes

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