Friday, May 29, 2009

Moms Know Best!


As a mother, I have always looked to my fellow moms when it comes to getting the best advice for raising my children. From sleep issues, to toilet training, illness and more, my mom friends have always been my best source for help.

There are times, however, that us moms are facing an issue that our friends do not have experience with. Or, we may just want a quick and easy solution, or are too embarrassed to ask a certain question.

Mamapedia is the perfect solution! This one-stop portal of wisdom enables you to search for answers to whatever questions are on your mind. For example, I just popped on over to Mamapedia and read about a first crush in first grade, making your own baby food, and even advice on self-tanners for the moms.

Imagine being able to hang out with your most fun and wisest mom friends to talk about whatever is on your mind, without having to leave your home or even change out of your pajamas! That's what Mamapedia does for us mothers and it's a wonderful resource.

Mamapedia brings millions of women together online so we can help each other tackle those difficult parenting questions or even just give recommendations on our favorite pediatricians, playgroups, and kid-friendly restaurants.

Stop on by Mamapedia today and take advantage of the collective wisdom of mothers everywhere!

momlogo


So A Blonde Walks Into A Review

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Lands' End Launches "The Island"



Summer is coming! My favorite time of year. In celebration of the season, Lands’ End has launched “The Island” where one can enjoy a virtual, tropical getaway.

Amidst the backdrop of a private island paradise, you can shop for Lands’ End swimsuit styles, enter an exciting sweepstakes and more.

To celebrate the launch of The Island, Lands’ End is providing a promo code for free shipping (ends Monday, May 25). Simply enter the promo code and pin number below at Lands' End checkout and you will receive free shipping off your entire order.

Promo Code = ISLAND

PIN = 5262


While visiting The Island, you can scroll through the multiple Lands’ End swimwear collections (including Swimwear That Slims, high-performance Aquaterra Separates, Beach Living Separates and Resort collections) in a fun and highly-interactive format . Also, all your finds can be easily shared with friends and family through built-in share tools for Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Digg and email.

After you're done drooling over the virtual island as I did, you can enter a sweepstakes offering a trip for four to Barbados. Visitors can enter daily for a chance to win at “The Island” (ends midnight (CST) on May 31, 2009). The prize package also includes a Lands’ End Swimwear package for four, round-trip airfare and transportation, and meals.

Good luck and have fun exploring “The Island”!

So A Blonde Walks Into A Review

Latino Book Month Giveaway


For the month of May, Hachette Book Group is honoring the Latino community with a fabulous "Latino Book Month Giveaway" celebration!

FIVE lucky winners will each receive the following bundle of great reads:



~B as in Beauty by Alberto Ferreras.



~Into the Beautiful North by Luis Urrea.



~Hungry Woman in Paris by Josefina Lopez.



~The Disappearance of Irene Dos Santos by Margaret Mascarenhas.



~Houston, We Have a Problema by Gwendolyn Zepeda.

To enter, simply leave a comment on this post telling me which book from this bundle you look forward to reading the most. Be sure that there is an email address for you that I can find, or your entry will have to be disqualified. By entering, you automatically agree to all the rules and disclaimers listed here.

You can receive additional entries by doing one or all of the following (one entry for each step):

~Twitter with a link to this post. Then leave a separate comment here with your Twitter link.

~Blog about this contest with a link to this post. Then leave a separate comment here with the link to your post.

~Follow this blog. Simply click on "Follow this blog" found near the top of the sidebar to the right (under "The Blonde"). Then, leave a separate comment letting me know you are following.

~Post the button below on your blog and then leave a separate comment here letting me know it's posted and where. Here's the code for the button:

So A Blonde Walks Into A Review




~Add So a Blonde Walks Into a Review to your Technorati Favorites (just click the button below and follow the simple steps). Then, leave a separate comment here letting me know you've added this blog to your favorites:

Add to Technorati Favorites


Deadline to enter is 11:59 EST, May 31, 2009. Winner will be selected at random using Random.org. Good luck!

So A Blonde Walks Into A Review

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Orange You a Diva Winner

Congratulations to rbailey1958! Her name was selected at random as the winner of the "Orange You a Diva" giveaway.

Thanks to all who entered and to Weber Shadwick for sponsoring this fabulous giveaway. Stay tuned for more fun contests to come! If you haven't already done so, be sure to enter the Mother's Day book bundle giveaway here.

So A Blonde Walks Into A Review

Friday, May 8, 2009

Mother's Day Giveaway



With Mother's Day coming up this weekend, the wonderful people at Hachette Book Group are helping all of us to celebrate with an exciting book giveaway! And because mothers deserve more than just a day to honor them, this giveaway will run until the end of the month. The best news? There will be FIVE winners in total.

The prize package includes:



Miracles of Motherhood by June Cotner




Odd Mom Out by Jane Porter




Mommy Grace by Sheila Schuller Coleman




Beginner's Greek by James Collins




The Road Home by Rose Tremain


To enter, simply leave a comment on this post letting me know why you'd love to win. Be sure that there is an email address for you that I can find, or your entry will have to be disqualified. By entering, you automatically agree to all the rules and disclaimers listed here.

You can receive additional entries by doing one or all of the following (one entry for each step):

~Twitter with a link to this post. Then leave a separate comment here with your Twitter link.

~Blog about this contest with a link to this post. Then leave a separate comment here with the link to your post.

~Follow this blog. Simply click on "Follow this blog" found near the top of the sidebar to the right (under "The Blonde"). Then, leave a separate comment letting me know you are following.

~Post the button below on your blog and then leave a separate comment here letting me know it's posted and where. Here's the code for the button:

So A Blonde Walks Into A Review




~Add So a Blonde Walks Into a Review to your Technorati Favorites (just click the button below and follow the simple steps). Then, leave a separate comment here letting me know you've added this blog to your favorites:

Add to Technorati Favorites


Deadline to enter is 11:59 EST, May 31, 2009. Winner will be selected at random using Random.org. Good luck!

So A Blonde Walks Into A Review

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Orange You a Diva!

With warm weather approaching, what better way to refresh than with a Carl's Jr. Orange Cream Shake? These shakes remind me of my favorite orange creamsicles popsicles as a kid.

To help celebrate this tasty treat, Weber Shandwick and Carl's Jr. are giving away an "Orange You a Diva?" gift crate valued at $150 to one lucky reader of So a Blonde Walks Into a Review.



The gift crate includes:
  • Carl’s Jr Orange Cream Shake Coupons
  • Citrus Bath & Body Works Lotion (8 oz), Shower Gel (10 oz)
  • Citrus Fragrance Bulb
  • DVD of the First Season of “The O.C.” TV Show
  • Polaroid POGO Camera (sponsor has notified me that there is a change in camera...the gift crate will instead include a Flip Video Ultra F260 Orange 60-Minute Digital Camcorder)

To enter, simply leave a comment on this post letting me know why you'd love to win. Be sure that there is an email address for you that I can find, or your entry will have to be disqualified. By entering, you automatically agree to all the rules and disclaimers listed here.

You can receive additional entries by doing one or all of the following (one entry for each step):

~Twitter with a link to this post. Then leave a separate comment here with your Twitter link.

~Blog about this contest with a link to this post. Then leave a separate comment here with the link to your post.

~Follow this blog. Simply click on "Follow this blog" found near the top of the sidebar to the right (under "The Blonde"). Then, leave a separate comment letting me know you are following.

~Post the button below on your blog and then leave a separate comment here letting me know it's posted and where. Here's the code for the button:

So A Blonde Walks Into A Blog




~~Add So a Blonde Walks Into a Review to your Technorati Favorites (just click the button below and follow the simple steps). Then, leave a separate comment here letting me know you've added this blog to your favorites:

Add to Technorati Favorites


Deadline to enter is 11:59 EST, Tuesday, May 12, 2009. Winner will be selected at random using Random.org. Good luck!

So A Blonde Walks Into A Review

Saturday, May 2, 2009

The Perfect Pillow (Really!)



As someone who suffers from insomnia as well as allergies, finding the perfect pillow is extremely important...one that is both comfortable and protects against allergens.

I have tried many expensive pillows in my life, but have never been completely satisfied. Thanks to Fleischman-Hillard, I was given the opportunity to try out a customized Select Comfort pillow and I can honestly say that I have finally found the perfect pillow.

The key, in my opinion, is the fact that the pillow is customized to my liking. I selected my pillow options by phone, but the usual method is via online or in-store.

I really recommend you go through the in-store process since an expert can guide you to the right fit for you based on your personal preferences. The experts I spoke to by phone were so friendly and asked me all the right questions to help me make the right choices.



You have three different steps to finding your perfect pillow: outer comfort, inner support and pillow protector. And within each of those steps, there are lots of choices.

I told the experts that I sleep mostly on my side, prefer a semi-firm pillow (I do not like memory foam pillows...those are too firm), and that I suffer from allergies. They talked me through each step with all of this in mind and we were able to create a pillow customized to my liking.

For the first step, I selected the Silver Outer Core which is a shapeable, naturally antimicrobial, high-quality down alternative with 5% silver fiber. The fact that it's shapeable means it won't be too firm, and the antimicrobial properties help protect against allergens.

The inner core is what really gives my pillow its balance. Although I do not like memory foam pillows, I selected the Classic Memory Foam for this part (the inner core is placed inside of the outer core). By combining the shapeable nature of the Silver Outer Core and the firmness of the Classic Memory Foam, my pillow is now the perfect firmness for me. It contours to my head and neck but it also bounces back. I have honestly never had a pillow this comfortable before!

I selected the In Balance Pillow Protector for the final step. I had mentioned that I prefer a cool pillow when I go to sleep and this particular protector provides temperature balancing to minimize temperature swings and makes for a cooler pillow. It's also hypoallergenic so it is free of dust and allergens.

While this pillow is the most comfortable one I've ever owned, it's also done wonders for my allergies and that is my favorite aspect of it.

I used to take Benadryl around-the-clock for my allergies. Shortly after I received the pillow and began using it, I noticed that I wasn't needing my Benadryl as much. I didn't put two and two together right away, but one day, I realized that my allergies had improved right after I changed to the Select Comfort pillow.

So in addition to its comfort, it's actually improved my health. It truly is the PERFECT pillow! I will never go back to using any other brand than Select Comfort from now on.

Click here to learn more and to select YOUR most perfect pillow from Select Comfort.

So A Blonde Walks Into A Review

Friday, May 1, 2009

It Starts with a Playground

And it also starts with you! Having a safe place for our children to play is so important and those spaces are harder and harder to find these days.



KaBOOM!, a non-profit organization dedicated to finding and creating play spaces within walking distance for every child, has started a nationwide campaign to help communities across America find and build those spaces. This campaign is so crucial for children who live in neighborhoods that lack playspaces, or are forced to use rundown or unsafe playgrounds.

KaBOOM! believes that play has a purpose and unstructured play in particular helps make children happier, fitter, smarter, more socially adept and creative. So how can you help make this a reality for kids everywhere?



KaBOOM!! needs YOU to help them map online 100,000 playspaces in 100 days. Here's what counts as a playspace: a playground, field, a skate park, roller hockey rink, lake, dog park, community center, basketball court or ice rink - any place where kids can engage in unstructured play for free or a nominal fee. A playspace listing on KaBOOM! consists of an address or cross street and a description, one photo and one rating.

KaBOOM! has made creating this playspace listing easy: either a quick fill-in on their website or even easier - a twitpic from your cellphone.

For every play space entered into the KaBOOM! database on behalf of the Mom Central team, $1 will be donated to Jumpstart, a non-profit that brings at-risk preschool children and caring adults together to improve literacy. So you're efforts will help in more ways than one!

In addition, having these playspaces marked with photos and ratings will be helpful to us parents if we are traveling to see relatives, vacation, etc. You can go online and find cool places to take your kids to play- near Grandma's, the hotel, or off the highway to break up a long drive. So really, everyone benefits from this wonderful campaign!

momlogo


So A Blonde Walks Into A Review

Country Crock Calcium with Vitamin D



Getting your kids to drink their milk and eat the proper foods can be a challenge. In fact, my kids do not like milk, so ensuring that they have enough Vitamin D and calcium is that much harder for me.

9 out of 10 girls, and 3 out of 4 boys, don't get enough calcium, and a recent study indicates that there has been a decline in Vitamin D levels among Americans, both children and adults, over the past 10 years. Calcium is an integral part in the development of strong bones and teeth, while Vitamin D is needed to help the body absorb calcium, although very few foods are natural sources.

Now, Shedd's Spread Country Crock has made it easier for us moms to ensure that our children get these vital nutrients by sneaking calcium and Vitamin D into their spread. Isn't that so clever?!

Each serving of Shedd's Spread Country Crock with Calcium and Vitamin D provides 100 mg of calcium, (10% of the Daily Value) and 80 IU of vitamin D (20% of the Daily Value). And the taste is the same, so your kids won't even notice the difference.

Visit CountryCrock.com for a coupon, recipe ideas, nutrition information and tips for simple ways to get more calcium and vitamin D into your family's diet.

There's also a fun Shedd's Spread Country Crock® Calcium quiz. Take the quiz and you could win a $25 Visa® gift card and a family vacation for five to Yellowstone National Park. Good luck!

momlogo


So A Blonde Walks Into A Review