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Season of Giving Day 23: The Swiss Colony

November 23, 2011 By 3 Comments

By Summer,

The Swiss Colony is a family owned on-line store; I know them best for their desserts – cakes, candies, chocolates, and sugar free – though they offer cheeses, meats, nuts for food items, and also offer clothing and home gift items as well. This year The Swiss Colony is celebrating 85 years!

Got a party or want to send a cute dessert? The Swiss Colony can help with that! Send or bring their 72 Petits Fours which include 12 Royal Vanilla, 12 Carrot Spice, 12 Strawberry Shortcake, 12 Lemon Mist, 12 Red Velvet, and 12 Chocolate Fudge mini cakes. What a tasty, cute way to impress anyone. The 72 Petits Fours cost $29.95.Swiss Colony Gingerbread House

Right now when you purchase the 72 Petit Fours The Swiss Colony will donate a gingerbread house with some added candies to the National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions, Inc. [NACHRI] for delivery to a hospitalized child in need of holiday cheer. NACHRI and The Swiss Colony also work together to have the gingerbread house delivered to a child in a hospital in your area; I love that gifts stay local! The Swiss Colony has had this program for 20 years now and has donated more than 200,000 houses. Each recipient of the 72 Petits Fours will also receive a thank you card from the gifting hospital to the gingerbread house donation.

Swiss Colony

The 72 Petits Four would complete any spread: on a tiered tray for desserts at a baby shower or tea party, bring them to book club, use them as a lunchbox surprise dessert for your spouse or children, eat one (or three) as a daily reward to yourself when your child is in a nap, or wish your colleagues a happy holiday season.Swiss Colony logo

Keeping up with The Swiss Colony on Facebook and Twitter will gain you access to their contests, giveaways and any special coupon codes.

Disclaimer: Product samples were provided.

About Summer:

Summer is very active in our Local MOMS Club chapter, she is the mother of two adorable active boys, and is always thinking of ways to help others. She is a friend, a wife, and always busy as all mommies are. She is very active on Facebook, addicted to Geocaching and very interested in organic and green living while cooking up a storm

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Have Happy Feet Two with Dearfoams Design Your Own Slipper

November 22, 2011 By 440 Comments

By Summer

I’ve already confessed I’m a t-shirt and jeans gal … heck, I’ve admitted I’m a pajama anywhere, anytime kind of gal! I’m “that friend” that went shopping with my girlfriends in fancy clothes and high heels, and I was the one ditching them in the cool of the autumn afternoon for cheap flip-flop slippers.

It’s no surprise then that my loved ones have always bought me slippers for Christmas … every year. It started with my parents when I was about 12YO and even now my husband buys me slippers. Since moving to the Pacific Northwest my husband has been buying me Dearfoams from Costco.

Happy Feet Prize Package

I love all the newest looks in slippers now. Wouldn’t you just LOVE to design your own slippers? Now you can create your own Dearfoams slippers to win a $1000 gift card, or a Dearfoams and Happy Feet Prize Package with includes the Happy Feet Two CD and Happy Feet DVD. What do you like – boots, moccasins, and men’s? What are your ideas about colors, prints, bling? Find your style! If you just don’t want to design a pair, then vote! But be sure to design or vote NOW as the contest ends at 11:59pm PST on December 2, 2011; check out the Dearfoams Facebook page for the full details. I have to admit my favorites currently are the boots, however I designed a pair of men’s slippers for the contest.Contest Picture

Don’t forget to go see Happy Feet Two out in theaters now; check your local listings! Happy Feet Two makes the perfect post-Thanksgiving meal movie for the entire family. Then come home, change into your pajamas and Dearfoams slippers and allow the turkey’s tryptophan to allow everyone a tiny holiday nap. (Though wearing your PJs and Dearfoams to the theater is acceptable too!)

Nevertheless, head to the Dearfoams Facebook page as they currently have a weekly giveaway happening in addition to the design a slipper contest. Each Monday Dearfoams features one pair of slippers and on Friday a winner is announced for that week’s giveaway. Also keep up with the latest from Dearfoams on Twitter @Dearfoams.

Mom Start has also got a pair of Dearfoams slippers to give to three lucky readers, simply enter to win!

Disclaimer: Product was supplied for this post.

This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to the winners: Jami Brigham, Janet F and Stephanie Phelps.

All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

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Season of Giving Day 22: Help Feed The Homeless Union Gospel Mission

November 22, 2011 By 6 Comments

By Summer:

I was listening to Spirit 105.3 the other night while running an errand in my car. It was commercial time but I didn’t change the station, I just thoughtlessly listened while I drove until something caught my attention: For only $1.92 you could provide a meal and a night of safe accommodations for a homeless Seattleite through the 4th Annual One Meal/One Hope Campaign at my local Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission. You can donate any amount to help.

 

One Meal / One Hope 2011 from Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission on Vimeo.

I’m on the late end as far as hearing about these Thanksgiving meals, though I know meals are always needed, but I feel it’s important to know and pass on since your help can span beyond this season of giving. The Seattle Union Gospel Mission offers a community room as a safe, warm place to enjoy creativity and games; mail services; free meals – breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as sack lunches if working; overnight mat stay for men; personal care center and with men’s showers and hygiene supplies; men’s and women’s restrooms; men’s clothing; metro bus tickets for work, school, or emergencies; a pet clinic; legal services; dental services; men’s recovery programs; and chapel services. If you live in the Seattle area there is a small card you can print to have handy for homeless you encounter.

Union Gospel Mission Place Mat

My Union Gospel Mission says you can help by preparing a “car kits” to hand out to homeless asking for help or holding signs on the street. Include a bottled water; healthy snack – bought or homemade; warm clothing – hats, socks or gloves; hand warmers; hand sanitizer; and if you live in the Seattle area place the aforementioned small card inside too. Though any city’s homeless could use a car kit.Union Gospel Mission Care Package

If you’re interested in helping the homeless in your community, visit the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions (AGRM) where you can locate a mission in your area. If homelessness is a hard subject for you or you’d like more thought and digestion time on your role, then I’d recommend reading Under the Overpass by Mike Yankoski.

About Summer:

Summer is very active in our Local MOMS Club chapter, she is the mother of two adorable active boys, and is always thinking of ways to help others. She is a friend, a wife, and always busy as all mommies are. She is very active on Facebook, addicted to Geocaching and very interested in organic and green living while cooking up a storm

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Enchanted Holiday Events At The Bravern

November 21, 2011 By 2 Comments

We missed another holiday event last week. The Bravern Kicked off holiday season with its second annual tree-lighting ceremony as part of the “Enchanted Holidays at The Bravern”. The tree-lighting ceremony, was hosted by Kevin Joyce, former performer and director at Teatro Zinzanni  Jolly St. Nick arrived in a horse-drawn carriage alongside Jamie and Karen Moyer of The Moyer Foundation and two campers from Camp Mariposa. The arrival was led by Bells of the Sound accompanied by Captain Smarty Pants and Sensible Shoes. 

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The Enchanged Holidays Continues:

“Enchanted Holidays at The Bravern” offers the Pacific Northwest’s most stylish and comfortable shopping experience. In addition to the tree-lighting ceremony, “Enchanted Holidays at The Bravern” includes a variety of family-friendly events to help celebrate the holidays including:

· Pony Rides: Enjoy pony rides in the 110th Avenue arrival court every Saturday and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. between Nov. 26 and Dec. 24. Riders are encouraged to make a donation for their trot to The Moyer Foundation.

· Photos with Santa: Santa will be available to listen to children’s wishes and pose for holiday photos every Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. beginning Nov. 25 to Dec. 13 and every day from Dec. 14 to 24. All of Santa’s visitors will receive a free cupcake from Trophy Cupcakes.

· Dear Santa Letters: Kids are invited to write letters to Santa at Silberman Brown Stationers detailing their holiday wish list. Letters can be handed directly to the big guy himself or dropped off in his special mailbox. Letters will be made available to parents as keepsakes.

· Pet Photos: Santa doesn’t only listen to children’s wishes, but your pet’s wishes too! On Saturday, Dec. 17 from 6 to 8 p.m., guests are invited to bring their furry friends in for a photo with Santa.

· Cookie Decorating: Bring the kids to enjoy an hour of delicious holiday cookie decorating on Wednesday, Dec. 7 from noon to 1 p.m. at Sur La Table, immediately following Little Bookworms, The Bravern’s weekly story hour.

· Friday Night Entertainment: Every Friday evening in December, enjoy live entertainment from a variety of entertainers including Captain Smarty Pants, Sensible Shoes and The Dickens Carolers.

· Breakfast with Santa: Enjoy breakfast with Santa at Mariposa at Neiman Marcus on Saturday, Dec. 3 and Saturday, Dec. 10 at 9 a.m. Reservations can be made by calling: (425) 452-3333.

For more information on these events call (425) 456-8780 or visit the website at http://www.thebravern.com/ . You can also find The Shops at The Bravern on Facebook and Twitter.

 

Fun Facts about “Enchanted Holidays at The Bravern”:

· The Bravern holiday tree stands 35 feet tall.

· There are 4,400 feet of live garland throughout the shopping center. That is enough garland to go up and down the Space Needle nearly four times!

· 10,000 jewel-colored ornaments cover the tree and garland.

· It takes 10 people more than 480 hours to install all of the decorations.

The Bravern is located at the intersection of NE 8th Street and 110th Avenue NE, Bellevue, WA 98004

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Northgate Mall Kidgets Holiday Event Schedule.

November 21, 2011 By 2 Comments

Last  Saturday was a very busy weekend for us. I went to the doctor right after breakfast, then we ran to The Muppet movie screening and then came home for a five minute nap, literally, then rushed the kids off to a birthday party and had an hour to take a shower and figure out dinner before picking up the kids and I was done. So we missed a really special event at Northgate mall this weekend. Santa ARRIVED!

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Kidgits Santa Arrival
On Saturday, November 19th, 1:00-3:00 pm at Northgate Mall Santa arrived. On this very special day, the one and only Santa Claus hopped out of his magical sleigh and arriving at Northgate Mall! Kidgets members celebrated his arrival in style as they met jolly old Saint Nick at the Kidgits Santa Arrival event on Saturday, November 19th, 2011, from 1pm-3pm at the Santa Set in the Ben Bridge Court. They decorated cookies, made festive holiday ornaments, and there had a special meet and greet with Santa Claus himself, exclusively for Kidgits members!

Free with $5 Kidgits annual membership. The membership pays for itself with all of the special bonuses and coupons you receive as a member. The Kidgets membership runs for a full year with lots of Kidget activities.

imageOther Kidgets Events this Year:

12/2 – Story Time with Mrs. Claus

12/10 – Santa-palooza (and the grand opening of the Play Area)

12/16 – Story Time with Mrs. Claus

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Heads Up Seattle: Macy’s Holiday Events Bring Santa, Fireworks and Charity All Together

November 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment

We didn’t really do anything outside of the home and family for last year’s holiday season. This year though we have big plans and one of them is the Macy’s Holiday Parade.

MACY’S HOLIDAY PARADE AND STAR LIGHTING TO KICK OFF HOLIDAY SEASON

In celebration of the 2011 holiday season, Macy’s is proud to announce that its annual My Macy’s Holiday Parade will take place on Friday, November 25, 2011 in downtown Seattle. My only concern is that this is going to be insane because it’s also Black Friday. Oh well, it’s good to do fun Holiday stuff as a family. The parade steps off promptly at 9 a.m. and lasts approximately one hour. The Holiday Parade route will begin at 7th and Pine, then travel west down Pine St. to 5th Avenue, south on 5th Avenue to University Street, west on University to 4th, and then north on 4th to Macy’s doorstep.

The Seattle Times and Warm 106.9 FM radio are the media partners for the Parade this year. Macy’s signature inflatable floats will make their annual appearance in this Seattle tradition. This year’s Parade will include two new train cars for the candy cane express inflatable float and a new rocking horse inflatable float and costumes from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York. The parade will feature more than 20 inflatable floats, local high school marching bands, over 500 costumed characters, professional sports teams and community drill teams.

The parade will conclude shortly after Santa dashes in his sleigh past Macy’s, heading directly from the North Pole to his Seattle holiday post in Macy’s Santaland, which opens at 11:00 AM.

MACY’S STAR LIGHTING & FIREWORKS SHOW

What excites me even more than the parade is the three lighting. That same evening, Macy’s will continue the tradition of the Holiday Star Lighting Ceremony in conjunction with the annual Seattle Westlake Center tree lighting. The famous 161-foot high, 3,600-bulb Holiday Star is a Seattle favorite. This event begins at 5 p.m. and will include an incredible fireworks display (weather permitting). My husband and I attended this event in the beginning of our marriage. I think it would be so fun to do it again with the kids this year.

SANTALAND AND SANTA DIGITAL PHOTOS

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The tradition of visiting Santaland and having family portraits taken with the Old St. Nick continues at the downtown Macy’s store on the 6th floor. Macy’s will once again offer a wide assortment of digital photography packages. Santa photos will be available every day from Friday, November 25 through Friday, December 24. For more information visit www.macys.com/believe and www.macy.com/events for Santaland daily hours

HOLIDAY “BELIEVE” CAMPAIGN TO BENEFIT MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION

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We mentioned this campaign in Beginning November 6, believers of all ages are invited to drop off letters – stamped and addresses to Santa at the North Pole – at any Santa Mail letterbox at your local Macy’s store. For each letter received, Macy’s will donate $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, up to $1 million, to grant wishes to local children with life-threatening medical conditions.

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Sears Real Deal Coupon Book & Black Friday Event Start Early

November 21, 2011 By 9 Comments

Black Friday is the craziest shopping day of the year. It’s so crazy that getting me out of my house is almost impossible but Sears is trying to entice me with some early bird on-line shopping and their great diversity of selection. Sears has something for everyone on-line and in stores. I can shop for the whole family from tools, video games, and a big screen TV for dad and cosmetics, jewelry and shoes for mom. To save time on Black Friday do your shopping the day before. You have the opportunity to purchase items in the black Friday circular on-line a day before. Sears will offer customers more than 900 doorbuster deals and provide Shop Your Way Rewards Members with exclusive coupons and offers. You can already view the circulars on-line at searslocalad.com, which provides real deals in real-time from local Sears stores using frequent inventory updates and access to ads 24 hours a day.

Sears Black Friday Event

When you buy something at Sears you should experience Real Joy! Sears has a very special holiday guarantee this year called the Real Joy Guarantee. This includes your satisfaction, the lowest price meaning they’ll match a competitor’s advertised price on the same items plus give you 10% of the difference. Also, if you can’t find the item you’re looking for in the store, Sears is going to ship it to you for free. When ordering on-line use the promo code RealJoy for free shipping. Plus on any on-line to store purchase, Buy on Sears.com and they guarantee it will be ready to pick up from the Merchandise Pickup center in 5 min, or you can get a $5 coupon. This Ready in 5 guarantee is also available for returns and exchanges. Start the return on Sears.com and complete your return in 5 minutes in store, or get a $5 coupon. I’m already starting to experience some joy with this Real Joy Guarantee. The Craftsman Hand Toll Lifetime Guarantee is also included. For more details on the Real Joy Guarantee visit Sears Real Joy.

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When you go in to Sears on Black Friday be sure to pick up your Sears Real Deal Coupon Book (while supplies last of course). Each book has more than $3,000 worth of storewide savings that will be available throughout the holiday season. You can use the coupons starting Saturday November 26th the day after Black Friday. Each week after week 1, the savings will decrease since offers expire. $3000 savings is for the entire coupon book.

 

I will receive compensation for this post as part of the Sears Holiday Blog Ambassador program.

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Dinosaur Train Nature Trackers Club & Dinosaur Train Wall Murals

November 21, 2011 By 5 Comments

Last week on PBS kids Emmy nominated Dinosaur Train children watched the Dinosaur Train Nature Trackers Club begin. The Jim Henson Company is using Dinosaur Train to encouraging our kids to join the club! Earlier this month, November 2011, the Dinosaur Train website at pbskids.org/dinosaurtrain started featuring a downloadable Nature Trackers activity book that kids can do with their families. You can still go there and download them now to encourage your children to go outside. Once the activities are completed, kids can send in proof of their participation to The Jim Henson Company and receive a free dinosaur Train Nature Trackers reward in the mail celebrating their outdoor achievement! You can also sign up to receive a Nature Trackers e-newsletter with a new outdoor activity challenge each month. That’s pretty cool right? I’m all about getting my kids outside playing.

Dinosaur Train Wall Mural

You can also enjoy Dinosaure Train on your walls with Murals Your Way. Murals Your Way creates beautiful, full-color wall murals in 15 different Dinosaur Train varieties to help transform your child’s room into a Nature Tracker clubhouse! No paint, no mess, and the vinyl material won’t damage walls or peel paint!  Visit Dinosaur Train Wall Murals to choose your favorite Dinosaur Train mural and ANY size to fit your child’s bedroom, playroom or even daycare! 

 

We’re receiving a Mural to donate to the 2011 Holiday Tweetdrive in Seattle.

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Holland House $500 Holiday Sweepstakes Giveaway

November 21, 2011 By 2 Comments

As a Holland House Brand Ambassador I find out about all their giveaways so I can share them with you. I’ve found Holland House to be an excellent brand that’s going to be in my pantry all the time. Why? Because the Holland House line up of products are amazingly easy to use and add so much flavor to my meals.

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Now, how would you like to win $500. Cash for a memorable Holiday Bash or whatever you’d like to use it one. LOL. No, really, this prize is all about the holidays. You’ll win help from an expert blogger, not me someone else will help you create and plan your dream holiday party and menu planning for your event.

we’re going to be hosting a Facebook sweepstakes to give away a $500 gift card for holiday meal ingredients and cooking supplies. I will let you know once this is live. To Enter, all you need to do is visit the Holland House Facebook page and give them all your information. It’s really easy to enter. So go enter the Holland House $500 Holiday Sweepstakes.

 

I will be compensated for this post.

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The Learning Company Curious George & Reader Rabbit Learning Books

November 21, 2011 By 2 Comments

Miles and Zoe are both in Preschool this year. Miles started out not very interested in learning letters or numbers. I would work with him and it just wasn’t his thing. I couldn’t even get him to sing the alphabet. Just a week in preschool and he sings the alphabet and LOVES to trace. He’s actually getting really good at it too. So one thing I like to let them do is practice.

imageCurious George is a familiar character thanks to my blog and PBS. The kids are excited to try things out when they see a familiar character. In the Learning with Curious George Kindergarten Reading book, the kids had fun working the puzzles, reviewing letters, and getting ready to read. Together with my help we went over basic words and started learning how to sound out the words. I tried to keep this book just for Zoe to use because she is a little big ahead of Miles, but he loves that this book is Curious George and wants to do all the tracing that’s in the book. The Curious George workbook series draws on curriculum designed by teachers and aligned to National and State Standards. Children will be led through colorful, kid-friendly activities by their familiar friend Curious George.

Reader Rabbit has been a great book for the kids too. The full color pages make practicing their letters and math skills more interesting than the black and white printer copies I had been making them before. The Reader Rabbit books are designed for children ages 3-7.  The Reader Rabbit brand sets out to capture the imagination of kids while seamlessly blending learning activities with captivating entertainment. Reader Rabbit has been delighting children, parents, and teacher in countries all around the world for over 25 years.

What’s really amazing is that at The Learning Company you can download a free Curious George Workbook.

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At The Learning Company each workbook features full color worksheets that draw on Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s deep expertise in classroom curriculum, stickers and certificates to help keep kids motivated.

 

We received samples to review this product.

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