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Melissa & Doug Wooden Workbench Gummy Lump Toy #Giveaway

November 9, 2010 By 514 Comments

imageGummy 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. Last Year they generously donated a Puppet Theater to my toy drive. I’m collecting donations again this year because I feel that giving is very important for us to do. We’re very grateful for the donation last year.

imageThis year Gummy Lump sent us a Melissa & Doug Workbench and we decided it would be the perfect toy to review with Miles. To keep it though, Miles will need to go through some of his toys and help me decide what to donate the next time we do a donation. We make donations about every 3 months and this Holiday Season we will be doing another Toy Drive. Gummy Lump is a supporter of ours when it comes to charity. So we thank you Gummy Lump!

The Melissa & Doug Workbench Pretend and Play Set by Melissa & Doug usually retails for 99.99 but is currently 20.00 off of the regular price at Gummy Lump. The kids had a lot of fun with this set. Andrew put it all together, they started helping him but it was naptime before then finished. So he did the final work. He said that the quality is great and that it is quite a sturdy toy. After it was together the kids were able to enjoy it.

Miles & Zoe playing on the Workbench itself:

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Miles & Zoe building an airplane with dad:

 

Not only can they pretend to play with the tools but they can build a few different items. The wooden pieces left over build an airplane, a helicopter, a robot or whatever the imagination can come up with. Miles and Zoe now know the name of all the tools and the difference between a nut and a bolt.

 

imageEnter to Win:

The Melissa & Doug Workbench Pretend and Play Set

To Enter:

Visit Gummy Lump and let me know what else it is that you like from their site:

Extra Entries:

Follow Gummy Lump on Twitter (2 extra)

Become a fan on Facebook (2 extra)

Tweet: Win a Melissa & Doug Wooden Workbench from @GummyLump @MomStart #Giveaway http://bit.ly/cuwlMk

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This giveaway ends November 29th, I received a product as compensation! All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

Filed Under: 2010 Gift Guide, giveaway Tagged With: , , , ,

Arnold & Oroweat Get Kids Excited for Lunch #Giveaway

November 9, 2010 By 141 Comments

Arnold and Oroweat Bread want to help give kids a reason to get excited about lunchtime again! They put together some fantastic lunch kits and one Lucky Mom Start Reader will get to win one. My kids aren’t quite ready to have lunch at school, I have one in only half day pre-school so we make lunch at home. We have peanut butter and jelly almost every day. My kids don’t need any excitement for lunch other than Peanut Butter and Jelly. I know that’s not the case for most kids and that kids going to school it’s even harder to get them to eat.

A Few tips I can share to get kids more interested in eating lunch:

Make it fun for them.

Let them pick out the ingredients at the grocery store.

Cut up their sandwich with a cookie cutter into a fun shape.

Let them pick out their lunch box or bag.

Give kids options, it makes them own their lunch.

 

 

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Enter To Win:

Arnold & Oroweat Lunch Kit:

includes 3 4.00 off coupons for Arnold and Oroweat Bread (enough to get it free or almost free), colorful lunch and sandwich bags, bread cutter shapes, and kid-approved sandwich recipes.  This fun lunch kit is also a great way to sneak in some 100% Whole Wheat Bread!

To Enter:

Leave me a comment telling me what is good to serve kids for a school lunch.

Extra Entries:

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This giveaway ends November 29th! All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

Filed Under: giveaway Tagged With: , ,

Warm Winter Magaritas and Cranberry Mint Margarita Recipes

November 9, 2010 By 5 Comments

Entertaining your family and friends has never been easier and your guests are sure to leave abuzz about drinks such as Marcela’s Warm Winter Margarita, a traditional Mexican recipe passed on to Marcela from her grandmother… an old family recipe that she’d love to share with us. Marcela’s Show on the Food Network is ‘Mexican Made Easy.’ Marcela has partnered with Sauza® Tequila to create easy-to-make, fresh tasting margaritas at home—no fancy tools and no exotic ingredients! She is a chef after my heart!!

WarmWinter_glassesWARM WINTER MARGARITA : Perfect for a cold day. This drink is full of flavor and makes the tequila blend smoothly.

Ingredients – Serves 4:

3 ½ cups apple juice

1 cinnamon stick

2 cups dried fruit of your choice

2 tbs granulated sugar

4 shot glasses Sauza® Silver Tequila

Directions:

Combine apple juice and cinnamon in a heavy pot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove cinnamon stick carefully. Add sugar, dried fruit, and tequila. Mix well. Serve warm.

cranraspmargCRANBERRY MINT MARGARITA: As families gather for Thanksgiving festivities, cranberries seem to be on everyone’s plate.  So why not have them in your glass as well?

Ingredients:

16 oz. cranberry/raspberry juice

8 oz.  lemon/lime soda

6 oz. Sauza® Silver Tequila

8 mint leaves for garnish

Combine all ingredients except mint leaves in a pitcher. Serve over ice and garnish with two mint leaves.

Filed Under: 2010 Gift Guide, recipe Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Re-live the Action of Toy Story 3 Action Links Stunts Play Sets

November 9, 2010 By 227 Comments

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Toy Story 3..

Ahh, Toy Story has been a huge hit in my house for years. I was in high school when Toy Story first came out and in college when Toy Story 2 came out. Now I have children and they are sharing in a story that has been touching kid’s hearts for years. My husband even had some really cool Toy Story original toys that I purged one year before we had children. It’s kinda sad that I did that because the kids would have loved playing with them. Not to feel sorry for my kids though because they have quite a collection of Toy Story action figures. Including the New Action Links Stunt Play Sets.

· clip_image0015 Action Link Stunt Sets. Each set comes with at least one buddy figure.

o Evil Dr. Porkchops Attacks

o Jessie to the Rescue

o Buzz Saves the Train

o Sunnyside Breakout Deluxe Playset

o Junkyard Escape Stunt Set

imageMattel sent us three different Toy Story 3 Action Links to review. Action Links are really cool, you put them together and then set them up and it’s like the game Mousetrap. The best part is that each set you get just makes your first set larger. My children were just a tad too young for this as it is in the age range 5+ but they still liked it and if you watch the video below you’ll see that Miles is dying to get to take his turn.

imageMiles’ favorite part would have to be the little characters that come with each set. He loves action figures and anything that relates to Toy Story is a winner. The boy was Woody for Halloween, and would have loved to have been Buzz too. We’ll probably get him a buzz costume soon. I meant to pick one up in an after Halloween sale but I forgot.

 

 

Enter To Win:

Toy Story 3 Action Links Play Set and Toy Story 3 Blu-ray Combo Pack

To Enter:

Leave a comment on this Toy Story 3 Review and then leave a comment here saying that you did.

Extra Entries:

Tweet:

Win a Copy of Toy Story 3 Combo Pack & an Action Links Stunt Play Set @MomStart #Giveaway http://bit.ly/9NwlML

RT this post and include the link to the post (make sure that the link shows up or it won’t count)

Follow/Like Mom Start on Facebook
Subscribe to my blog
Follow me on twitter tell me your twitter ID
Follow me on Google Friend Connect
Comment on any other non-giveaway post 
List this giveaway on any giveaway site, dig or stumble
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This giveaway ends November 29th, I received a product as compensation! All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

Filed Under: 2010 Gift Guide, giveaway

Borders Teamed up With Build A Bear for a Holly & Hal Moos Charity Drive

November 9, 2010 By 41 Comments

HH DVD Cover 2010Charity is my passion. I’ve been thinking about this a lot this year, and with the Holiday Season it weighs even heavier on my heart. So I’m happy to support companies that are making donations to charity. Borders is teaming with Build-A-Bear Workshop® for a holiday charity drive to benefit children in need. Now through Dec. 24, customers shopping at Borders stores nationwide will have the opportunity to donate books and stuffed animals, including Hal Moose®, a Build-A-Bear Workshop furry friend with soft brown fur and antlers. Hal Moose is the star of "Holly & Hal Moose™: Our Uplifting Christmas Adventure," a book and DVD available at Borders. Each Borders store will deliver the books and stuffed toys to a local charity.  In addition, Borders will kickoff the holiday charity drive by promising to donate $50,000 to First Book, which provides new books to children in need, addressing one of the most important factors affecting literacy — access to books.

The book retails at $15.99 and the DVD at $14.99. They’re from the Build-A-Bear collection (BAB is a Borders partner).

 

HH Book

Enter to Win:

Holly and Hal Moose Book Our Uplifting Christmas Adventure and

Holly and Hal Moose Our Uplifting Christmas Adventure DVD

5 winners

To Enter:

Leave a comment on this post letting me know what you love about the Holidays with children.

This giveaway ends November 29th.

Filed Under: 2010 Gift Guide, giveaway Tagged With: , ,

Monday Mingle Books Movies and Favorite Pets

November 8, 2010 By 5 Comments

Welcome to Monday Mingle, where we chat over video answering questions. It’s fun and the more video you do on your blog the more comfortable you will be in front of the camera. Want to participate? Monday Mingle is a Meme over at Eighty MPH Mom. Go over to her site, find the questions, take a video of the answers and post them to share. mondaymingleThen visit everyone that linked up and have fun getting to know each other.

This week’s questions (submitted by Amy from Mevolving):

1. What pet have you always wanted? Yes, include the sublime and ridiculous as well.
2. What is your most recent favorite book and why?
3. If there is one film that you think everyone should watch what is it and why?

1) I have the pet I have always wanted. She’s a chocolate lab and quite an adorable little puppy.

2) I love reading Twilight. I’m sort of addicted to the books, I read them over and over and over again. I’ve read them so many times that I have lost count on how many times I’ve read them. I recently picked up The hunger Games to give something new a try and well I read all three books in two weeks. I’m not sure I’ll read them over and over again like Twilight but I did really enjoy them.

 

 

 

Support My Husband and the Movember Foundation Prostate Cancer

Filed Under: personal Tagged With: ,

Hasbro Furreal Friends LuLu, My Cuddlin’ Kitty

November 7, 2010 By 8 Comments

imageFurreal Friends Lulu is another donation that Hasbro sent for the toy drive. Zoe and Miles both wanted to open it and play with it. I actually did too because of how interactive it was just inside the box. My Cuddlin’ Kitty reminded me of a cat I had as a child but it didn’t have any sensors and react to my movement. Lulu purrs and meows whenever you walk by or as you play with him. So I placed Lulu in our garage and I forgot about her. One day, I kept hearing this kitten meowing and it was driving me crazy. I was sure there was a imagecat in my yard somewhere and it needed some food. Well, I finally figured out that it was the cat. Now that I know for sure there is no kitten in my yard, I still get creeped out every time I walk by it.

FURREAL FRIENDS LULU, MY CUDDLIN’ KITTY

clip_image001image(HASBRO/Ages 4 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $54.99/Available: Fall 2010)

LULU, MY CUDDLIN’ KITTY pet is the most realistic feline in the FURREAL FRIENDS family. The "purr-fect" pet for little girls, LULU, MY CUDDLIN’ KITTY pet features an all new look with her beautiful, snow-white fur. LULU preens, cuddles, and mews just like a "real" kitty cat and she loves to snuggle; gently rub her back and she will “purr" and "meow" to show that she is happy. Once she’s relaxed, LULU will roll over onto her back, indicating it’s time to have her tummy rubbed. Just like a real cat, LULU preens as she "licks" her little paw, then lifts it up to clean her adorable face. Lulu comes complete with a pink comb so girls can make her pretty! Requires four “C” batteries, included. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

Filed Under: 2010 Gift Guide Tagged With: , , ,

Playskool Weebles Musical Treehouse

November 7, 2010 By 9 Comments

imagePlayskool was at BlogHer and they had a great display of toys that are coming out this year. Weebles had a very strong presence and there was a case that you could just pull them out of and load up your bag with them. I knew my kids were too old to keep them so I didn’t grab any but I could tell that they were going to be a hit with kids 18 months and up. The Weebles Musical Treehouse looks like a lot of fun. This again is another donation that Playskool sent us to give to the charity of our choice. We’re having another toy drive this year and this is on the stack of toys to give and should be on your toy list for kids 18 months and up. We didn’t open it so I can’t do a full toy review, but I wanted to provide a toy description to thank Playskool.

WEEBLES MUSICAL TREEHOUSE

clip_image001image(Ages 18 months & up/Approx. Retail Price: $29.99/Available: Fall 10)

WEEBLES pals can wobble, climb, slide, hide, and dance in and around this captivating Musical Treehouse playset from PLAYSKOOL.  Turn the handle on the colorful escalator to bring WEEBLES figures to the top of the slide and send them spiraling down.  When the WEEBLES characters land, they are rewarded with fun music and sounds before wobbling off for another ride.  Open the door to reveal a secret space inside the tree to hide a playful WEEBLES figure. Have a dance party on the wobbly tree house deck or take a spin on top of the lookout post.  The set comes complete with a convenient carrying handle and two WEEBLES figures.  Requires three "AA" batteries, not included.  Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

Filed Under: 2010 Gift Guide Tagged With: , , , ,

Foster Farms Great Bites #Giveaway

November 7, 2010 By 164 Comments

imageFoster Farms understands the need for moms that are in a hurry. I’m one of those moms that has a hard time taking the time to feed myself. You might be asking, why don’t you just eat the same thing the kids eat, well, I get really tired of peanut butter and jelly. In fact I don’t really like to even eat it once a week, that’s just too often for me. So I’m always either not eating or making myself something extremely convenient. I’m the reason why Foster Farms created Great bites, well not me personally but mother’s like me.

Great Bites are new, mini chicken cheeseburgers perfectly portioned for easy (microwaved in under 2 minutes) snacking.  Both kids and parents alike are loving this new snack as a fun and healthier option for those midday cravings and energy boost.  They only have 100 calories each so eating two isn’t a bad lunch for an adult. Cheeseburgers have long been a staple in the American diet, and moms will love this new product from a trusted brand.  Try out the newest (and possibly the smallest) burgimageer to hit the frozen snack aisle to date.  These bite-sized burgers may be small but they pack some BIG taste.

The Great Bites come in two flavors All-American BBQ Burger with real smoky bacon and cheddar cheese; and the Santa Fe Burger with real creamy pepper jack cheese and chipotle sauce. They come six in a package and I’m not sure about resealing them and putting them back in the freezer. That’s what I’ve done and they seem to be ok, but I can see them getting freezer burned really quickly, so my suggestion would be to eat them all at one time.

I tried out the All-American BBQ flavor first and it was a big hit in my book. I’m a big fan of BBQ sauce and would eat it on almost anything really! It’s YUMMY!

imageEnter to Win:

5 Free Product Coupons for Foster Farms Great Bites (5 winners)

To Enter:

Leave a comment on this post telling me what you like about Foster Farms.

Extra Entries:

RT this post and include the link to the post (make sure that the link shows up or it won’t count)

Subscribe to my blog
Follow me on Google Friend Connect
Comment on any other non-giveaway post 
List this giveaway on any giveaway site, dig or stumble
Blog About this Giveaway (linking to the giveaway)
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This giveaway ends November 22nd, I received a sample free to me, my opinion are still my own. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

Filed Under: giveaway Tagged With: , , , ,

Adventure Heroes Hero On the Go Playset

November 7, 2010 By 2 Comments

imagePLAYSKOOL was kind enough to make a donation to my Holiday Toy Drive. One of the donations was the Adventure Heroes Hero on the Go Playset. Zoe and Miles had a great time helping me sort through the donations. The Adventure Heroes Hero on the Go Playset was a big hit with Miles and he continues to try to play with it while I have it waiting for our toy delivery later next month. The Fire Hero On-The-Go Pack is exactly what they sent us.  We haven’t taken it out of the box so that we can donate it as a new toy donation for a child in need.

ADVENTURE HEROES Hero On the Go PLAYSETS

clip_image001image(Ages 3 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $29.99/Available: Fall 10)

Grab your pack and let’s go!  With the PLAYSKOOL Hero on the Go playsets little ones can play the adventure or become the hero with two ways to play.  In role play mode, kids strap on the backpack complete with flashing lights and realistic sounds to become an exciting police officer or a brave fire fighter with a role play fire hose!  With the simple press of a button, the pack opens to reveal a themed playset inside, complete with an action figure and vehicle ready for adventure. Choose between a fire or police HERO ON THE GO playset, each sold separately.  Requires three "AA" batteries, included.  Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

Filed Under: 2010 Gift Guide Tagged With: , ,
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