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Disney Store Boys and Girls Clubs of America Donation School Supply Kits Donation

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I’m so excited that the Walt Disney Company is helping out the Boys and Girls Clubs of America as they are a charity that is near and dear to me. The Walt Disney Company, will donate 25,000 school supply kits to children at Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA). The Boys and Girls Clubs of America help children in so many different ways by providing activities for them after school and during the summer. Some of them even provide food for them when they would otherwise go hungry.

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Full of classroom essentials, the Disney Princess and Cars themed supply kits include a folder, notebook, pencil case, pencils, ruler, eraser, sharpener, glue stick and a pair of scissors. Cast members from Disney Store locations across the country will deliver the supply kits to their local BGCA chapters. Through this donation, Disney hopes to add a little magic to the back-to-school experience as kids nationwide prepare to return to the classroom this fall.

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Disney Store’s school supply kit donation is made in collaboration with Disney Friends for Change, an initiative that inspires kids and their families to make a lasting, positive change by helping people, communities, and the planet. Disney has a long history with BGCA that spans more than 50 years. Through financial and in-kind contributions, and through the time and talent of its Disney VoluntEARS, Disney supports the BGCA’s mission of helping young people reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens.

You can learn more about Disney Store’s school supply kit donation to by visiting www.greatfutures.org/backtoschool. The Tools for Back-to-School Supply Drive is a fun, pop-quiz style game sponsored by longtime partner, Disney.

To shop the back to school collection, guests can visit their local Disney Store location or log on to DisneyStore.com and visit the Back to School Shop. To find a Disney Store location, guests can visit www.DisneyStore.com/storelocator or call (866) 902-2798. Guests can also sign up for email alerts at www.DisneyStore.com/Updates, like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DisneyStore or follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/DisneyStore to stay connected to your favorite destination.

Enter to Win:

A Disney Store Boys and Girls Clubs of America Donation School Supply Kits

To Enter:

Leave a comment telling me if you are a Princess fan or a Cars fan

Extra Entries:

Use the rafflecopter and leave a way to verify it

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

This giveaway ends September 10th. Please see the giveaway rules. No Samples received.

Northgate Simon Mall Seattle #Tweetdrive 2011 Swag Bag Sponsor @SeaTweetDrive

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Being an Ambassador for a company should bring me some perks right? Yes of course, but I love when being an Ambassador for a brand also helps me give to charity. Northgate Simon Mall is giving us chocolate swag for the swag bags. I love chocolate and already hope I get a swag bag too.

For the first 100 people who stop by and bring us a new toy, I have a Simon Mall chocolate bar. The Seattle TweetDrive begins on December 1 2011 at 5:30 at the Hard Rock. RSVP here.

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Please join us on Thursday December 1st  for tons of fun at The Hard Rock! We’re collecting toys for Treehouse. Treehouse serves over 5,000 foster kids annually. In conjunction with the Seattle Tweet Drive, MySeattleNightOut.com will hold the finale of an 8-week Jammin’ Challenge at 8:30 p.m. Come for the Tweet Drive; stay for the music! If you arrive after 8:30pm, admission to the event is a new toy for Treehouse or a suggested cash donation of $15.00. Seattle Wave Radio Jammin’ Challenge will give one lucky and talented local artist or band an opportunity to play on-stage with some of the “greats” in the Seattle music scene at Play it Forward, the All Star, Icon Jam with Music Aid Northwest on Jan 14, 2012.

Last year, we gathered 330 toys. Can we break that record this year, let’s gather 500 toys this??? Who’s coming?

Come for the Tweetup at 5:30; stay for the music at 8:30.

 

Follow @SEAtweetdrive on Twitter, and please use #TweetDrive when tweeting about the event.

Donate Used Christmas, Birthday, Easter and All Occasion Greeting Cards to St. Jude’s

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St. Jude's Ranch LogoI was just looking at all of the cards that I received this year for Christmas. This is the largest collection of cards I have received in quite a few years. The kids even received a few cards of their own. I was just starting to gather up my cards for recycling when I received this idea from Summer.

For all those Christmas cards you’ll be recycling in the bin in a few days consider a different alternative. Turn your card fronts into St. Jude’s Ranch for Children. You simply take your Christmas cards and cut the card front from the back. Mail 5” x 7” or smaller card fronts, free of clip_image002writing on the back, to St. Jude’s so they can recycle the cards as new for next year’s Christmas as a charity sold card. St. Jude’s can’t accept cards by Hallmark, Disney or American Greeting. To keep green all year long, keep St. Jude’s in mind as they take Birthday cards, Thank You cards, Easter cards, and All Occasion greeting cards.

You can mail your donations to:
St. Jude’s Ranch for Children
Recycled Card Program
100 St. Jude’s Street
Boulder City, NV 89005
877-977-SJRC (7572)

Sounds like a great idea. Who knew you could donate greeting cards, donate Christmas Lights, or donate Snowflakes?

 

Thank you Summer for helping us make a difference in our environment and give to charity at the same time!! I love being green!

About Summer:

Summer is the President of 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.

Seattle #TweetDrive 2010 Almost Wordless Wednesday

by 17 Comments

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I LOVE using my influence on-line to make a difference in my community. Last week we had a tweet up in Seattle and I helped gather swag, donations and door prizes. The event was the Seattle Tweet Drive. I posted in detail about the Seattle Tweetdrive a few weeks ago when I started looking for sponsors and I’m so happy with all the companies that supported us. See the full list below! We had a great turnout and Look at what we did for the charity Treehouse! I’m exhausted and extremely behind on my blog posts, but I feel great because it was all for a really great cause. Club Sur donated the space, My Seattle Night Out organized the event, and local bands and entertainers donated their time and efforts for all of us to have a great time! We gathered around 333 toys total! Tweet Drive is going on nationally in many different locations, check Tweet Drive 2010 to find a location next to you.

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Special thanks to Channellock (100 bottle openers)

Special thanks to DKNY Be Delicious (over 100 bottles of DKNY Be Delicious Perfume, towels, and awesome swag bags)

Special thanks to Zhu Zhu Pets (104 Zhu Zhu Pets donated)

Special Thanks to Klutz (10 books donated)

Special Thanks to Energizer (40 iPod to go chargers donated)

Special Thanks to Soft Lips (100 packages of lipgloss)

Special Thanks to Build a Bear (5 bears donated)

Special Thanks to Hasbro (for their continued support of Mom Start and donation of 5 large toys)

Special Thanks to TJ Maxx and Marshalls (50.00 Door Prize)

Special Thanks to Hexbug Nano (3 habitats donated)

Special Thanks to Clean and Green Pet Cleaner (100 Free Product Coupons)

Special Thanks to Blue Bunny (door prize)

Special Thanks to Success Rice (door prize)

Special Thanks to Voskos Greek Yogurt (100 Free Product coupons)

Special Thanks to Sesame Street PBS (2 Wii games for door prize)

Special Thanks to Sid The Science Kid (100 notepads)

Special Thanks to Conair (door prize gift basket)

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I hope to do a single post for every company because you all deserve a huge thanks!!

Charitable Holiday Giving VTech V.Reader #Giveaway

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vtech_thumbI give to charity about four times a year, sometimes more depending on how much of the review products have stacked up in my garage. The donations are usually around 1500.00 or more in value and it’s because of companies like VTech that I’m able to make a difference in my community. Most companies send me something to review and it is my decision to donate it at the end of the review, but some go the extra mile and send me something that I can review and something that I can giveaway to a charity. Hospitals and places that care for children will not take toys that have been opened so receiving something that I can give directly to charity always excites me. Even last year, VTech was one of my largest contributors for Charitable Giving. They provided me three cases of toys to give. Thank You VTech.

This year, they have starting the giving even earlier than last year. For every 50 entries (comments or trackbacks) on this giveaway post, VTech will donate 1 product to a charity selected in a poll by VTech Fans on our Facebook Page  the week of Oct. 25. (up to 3 for each review blogger hosting this giveaway) It may not seem like much but really any donation can make a difference in your community no matter how small.

 

imageEnter To Win:

VTech V.Reader

 

Just like the adult readers, the Vtech V.reader reads aloud but as it reads the words highlight so your child can follow along and learn word recognition. It helps with phonics, and word recognition. There are certain words that if they click on them then it takes them to a definition of the word. Oh yeah, did I forget to mention it has a touch screen that works really well. And with my daughter’s knowledge of the stylus she found it and started using it in no time. My kids are so used to touch screens that they think the TV should be a touch screen.

Read the full VTech V.Reader Review

To Enter:

Leave a comment telling me which charity you would consider making a toy donation to this Holiday Season.

Extra Entries:

Follow VTech on Twitter

Become a Fan of VTech on Facebook.

Leave a comment on VTech Facebook “I’m visiting from Mom Start! Enter to win a VTech V.Reader at .”

RT this post and include the link to the post

Follow/Like Mom Start on Facebook
List this giveaway on any giveaway site, dig or stumble
Blog About this Giveaway (linking to the giveaway)
Add my blog button to your sidebar.

This giveaway ends November 8th. I was provided a sample in exchange for this post! All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

Bumbleride Flyer the amazing stroller Review, Donation and #Giveaway

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The Bumbleride Flyer has become one of my favorite strollers and I’m difficult to please. I would actually say that it is my favorite stroller if you don’t include jogging strollers, and I think the only reason whey is because it doesn’t have the inflatable wheels. So if you could upgrade your wheels to be the inflatable ones that come on all their other strollers then I would have to say that the Bumbleride Flyer is my favorite stroller hands down.

 

The Flyer is an amazing stroller. Why?

You can put it together in no time flat. This thing was so easy to put together I was in shock. The pieces all just snap together. The wheels can be locked into place and unlocked. Even the front wheels can be locked into the forward position. This is a good feature if you’re going fast or downhill. It will keep you on your path. Runners need a stroller like this.

It unfolds and folds up very easily. For a mom that is on the go this is another must. Strollers no matter how big they are need to be light weight (19 lbs) and easy to fold up. They need to not take up much room by folding down really flat.

The first stroller that we purchased was not great for our baby. She had to grow into it. So that’s another plus for the Flyer. The Flyer is suitable from infancy on with a reclining back and a five point harness it’s a treat for the baby and mother. Anything that can be an all in one is another plus in my book. The Carrying handle makes it great for traveling with, and the handlebar is reversible. I can lower it enough so that my daughter can push her brother (she’s three). But you can also use it to make the stroller face the other way.

 

As you can see from the picture above, the cover can be extended to shield your child from the sun. You can also unzip it and move it to different angles. The cargo basket is roomy, but a little difficult to shove things in when the kids are in it and reclined at all. I would also say that it’s a pricy stroller but it is good from birth to 45 lbs, meaning it’s going to last you a long time and if your children are spaced out enough, you can keep from buying another stroller. My only other complaint would be the wheels, like I mentioned above, they aren’t very good on gravel. We tried to go up hill on gravel and it wasn’t as easy as I would have preferred.

Price 359.99 and comes in five color options.

Comes Standard with:

  • Rain Cover (a must in the Pacific Northwest, all other strollers I had to buy this or we would hardly ever get any use out of our stroller)
  • Bumper Bar
  • Cup Holder (a mom must have her coffee (I’m sure hot drinks aren’t recommended around babies, but I always have coffee in my cup holder)
  • Headrest and Shoulder Pads (my daughter says, “comfy mommy”)
  • Infant Seat Adapter Bar & Safety Belt (I didn’t need this but hope the stroller goes to someone with a new child)

 

I also received one of their accessories to go along with the stroller; the snack pack. Even my daughter doesn’t need an explanation of what it was. When I took her for a ride in this stroller she said mom I need a snack for my box. Oh yea! Smart girl. The snack pack attached easily to the stroller, you place it in the location of the bumper bar. The Snack Pack is 39.99.

 

Bumbleride sent me a stroller to review and it is their policy that bloggers return the strollers. They are allowing me to donate it on their behalf. I am very excited about the donation. It is going to make a family in my community very happy. They are also providing the giveaway for one lucky Mom Start Reader.

Thank You Bumbleride!!

 

To Enter:

Visit Bumbleride and tell me what other stroller you like and what color you would want it in.

Follow Bumbleride on Twitter (3 extra)

Become a fan of bumbleride on Facebook (2 extra)

Add the Baby Event Button to your blog or facebook (5 extra entries)

 

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

@momstart and @bumbleride are giving away a Bumbleride Flyer Stroller http://bit.ly/726M4L

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, carbon copy louise@looksblue.com (1 extra per e-mail address)

Leave a comment for every entry

The contest will run until January 18th  11:59 pm Pacific. The winner will be selected by www.random.org. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

VTech’s generous toy donation, and some sales for you to enjoy

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VTech asked me if I was interested in a donation for my community toy drive. I told them that I would love that. It was very kind of them to chip in and very generous. It’s going to touch quite a few children. Before they even sent confirmation that anything was going to show up four boxes showed up on my porch.

 

 vtechThree of the boxes were very large. They said they were only sending eight items:

3 VMotions

2 Kidizooms

3 Jungle Gym Turtles 

http://www.vtechkids.com/

However, each box was full so we received 4 Vmotions (60),  2 Kidizooms (60), and 4 Jungle Gym Turtles (30). Total 480. Thank you for the wonderful donation.

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vtech1 vtech3

 

– Free Shipping is available now on the www.vtechkids.com for orders of $20 or more

– Multiple holiday bundle offers and Discounted products (10-65% off) also available

vtechsave

I just entered to win 5000.00 with Share Our Goodness Sponsored by Dole

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This Holiday season DOLE asks you to help "Share the Goodness" with family, friends and your community. It is easy as 1, 2, 3! The only trouble I had was that when I uploaded my photo, it turned out that it only wanted landscape and not portrait. So I had to crop it and it took a little bit away from the photo. Oh well, I still entered.

cansShare your favorite Holiday memory by submitting a photo to be a part of the virtual DOLE mosaic poster at www.DoleShares.com and also be entered for a chance to win $5,000 for yourself and $5,000 for your local Food Bank!

 

 

 

1) Simply upload your favorite Holiday photo to the virtual DOLE mosaic poster and become part of something special – a nationwide celebration and sharing of family traditions.

2) Share the good taste of DOLE Canned Fruit by visiting the www.DoleShares.com Recipe Gallery to find exciting new ways to incorporate DOLE Canned Fruit into your Holiday and everyday meals with delicious and easy to make recipes!

3) Share the goodness of the Holiday season with your family and friends when you send an eCard to tell them about the DOLE Share the Goodness contest for their own chance to win not only $5,000 cash, but also a donation of $5,000 to their local Food Bank. As an added incentive, if the grand prize winner is a friend that you referred, you also win $2,000!

 

Good Luck!

 

As a thank you for posting this, Dole is donating 25.00 to the Maltby Food Bank and giving me a coupon for one free product.

Guest Post – Summer Oleksy President of MOMS Club of Woodinville

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IMG_3293 The Northwest Regional Luncheon was a HUGE success again this year for the MOMS Club of Woodinville, WA.  Thank you to the 18 MOMS who shared their time with me and each other today.  Unfortunately NO ONE won a basket this year (bummer as some MOMS in other chapters won TWO baskets).  Our gift basket which Louise and her blog MomStart support was valued at $1200 and was 6th in the collection of tickets.  Thank you Louise for your time, dedication, and donations!  This year our chapter won "Outstanding Service Programs", "Supporting the Mother-to-Mother Fund (R)", "Outstanding Chapter Overall", and "Outstanding Newsletter" awards;  these were for our achievement in the 2008-9 year.  Thank you for your support.  Mark your calendars tentatively for the second Saturday (and weekend) in November 2010 as we’ll be headed to Portland for the Northwest Regional Luncheon.  All members are invited to join us!

~Summer Oleksy

President

MOMS Club of Woodinville, WA

Dragonology mini book and DS video game donation and #giveaway

by 398 Comments

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Codemasters’ Dragonology launched for the Nintendo DS on November 10. I was sent a copy of the new DS game along with the Dragonology: The Complete Book of Dragons Book for one reader to donate. They also told me that I can choose one lucky reader to receive the same set.

My husband is so excited because Kate Mulgrew is the voice in Dragonology, but I always wonder where my husband gets information like this. The Dragonology books are amazing in detail. I love them. Oh, you hear me say that a lot but the first time I saw the book I was working in retail at a children’s store. Those of us that worked together wanted to buy one. I didn’t because I didn’t see a reason when I could read it at work. Shh, don’t tell on me. 😉

DRAGONOLOGY brings the mysterious world of dragons to life in a charming, absorbing and exciting interactive adventure. Travel the globe and learn ancient tracking skills to find dangerous and secretive dragons to study, protect and preserve. On your journey from apprentice to Master of Dragonology, you’ll build up your very own Dragonological Encyclopaedia, collect dragon curiosities, and raise and train your own dragon for release back into its natural habitat.

In order to find the dragons, players must mix potions and create things as they travel from the icy wastes of Antarctica to the plains of Africa. You build up your very own Dragonological  Encyclopedia with information collected on your adventures. Then you study things including dragon claws, scales and teeth. Through 16 exciting mini-games, you can play with and fly your own rescued European Dragon while discovering 5 other rare species of dragon, including the Frost, Asian Lung and Mexican Ampithere.

“Dragonology: The Complete Book of Dragons,” which purports to be the last remaining copy of a 19th century dragon-keeper’s manual. It features a unique mix of dragon fantasy and folklore and has sold in excess of 6 million copies, becoming a favorite amongst children and adults worldwide.

To Enter:

Visit Codemasters and let me know what other game you like that 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 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: Dig, Stumble, or fav me on Technorati (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 December 14th 11:59 pm Pacific. The winner will be selected by www.random.org. All rules can be found under giveaway rules. I can not guarantee any shipping timelines and giveaways are running long right now because of my scheduled surgery. Good Luck!