Solutions Sleuth - A Giveaway and Review Blog

Check it out... School Library Journal finds new title from Nomad Press unique!

2011-02-27T19:08:00.000-07:00

Interested? Intrigued? Want to "check it out"?

MOONEY, Carla. George Washington: 25 Great Projects You Can Build Yourself. illus. by Samuel Carbaugh. 121p. (Build It Yourself Series). maps. chron. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. Nomad. 2010. pap. $15.95. ISBN 978-1-934670-63-7. LC number unavailable.

Gr 3-6-The life of George Washington lends itself remarkably well to a variety of kid-friendly crafts that don't require old-fashioned materials or 18th-century skills. Children will get a kick out of some of the projects, like using a tea bag to make a map look old. Others will mystify them, especially as the crafts get more difficult and require more set-up, and not all include necessary parental warnings about safety. The projects separate biographical chapters that are thorough and clear. However, there is a high degree of fictionalizing in describing Washington's thoughts and feelings. Sidebars with vocabulary words, quotes, interesting facts about the man and his time, and "What if?" questions regarding pivotal moments in Washington's life add to the text. These sidebars, as well as amusing cartoon illustrations, make the subject light and approachable. While the text clearly paints a picture of Washington as a great man and national hero, the author also points out the mistakes he made and how he learned from them, teaching kids an important lesson about failures. While there are many biographies of Washington for this age group, and many books of colonial crafts, this one is unique in its dual purpose and emphasis on accessibility, both in terms of the text and relative ease of the activities. While the design of the book lends itself to the possibility of kids enjoying it on their own, it will be most effective in a classroom.-Heather Talty, Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School, New York City

Find out more about this and other great titles at www.nomadpress.net.

DreamWorks Theatricals Sweepstakes

2011-02-27T19:04:00.000-07:00

You may have heard from us about the national touring production of DreamWorks Theatricals Madagascar Live! The tour recently hit the road for 2011.

There are very few of us who could not appreciate the opportunity to bust out of the routine of our lives and live out some fun, magic and adventure...on someone else's dime.

Well, I'm here to tell you, DreamWorks Theatricals would like you to invite your readers to enter their LIVE THE DREAM FLY-AWAY SWEEPSTAKES by March 3. Three winners and three guests of each will be taken on an all-expense paid trip to either LA or NYC where they will have the opportunity to get inside all the madcap madness and fun of either Madagascar Live!, Shrek the Musical, or, yes -- the world premiere of Kung Fu Panda 2.

There are details below or you can simply direct readers to www.dreamworksanimation.com/theatricals for entries. Rules and regulations about the sweepstakes are available at the link.

Attached is a logo for the LIVE THE DREAM FLY-AWAY SWEEPSTAKES!

Hurry – the sweepstakes ends March 3rd.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Three lucky grand prize winners will win one of these three packages:

MADAGASCAR LIVE AND ON THE LOOSE IN NEW YORK CITY

- Trip for 4 to New York City

- VIP tickets to see MADAGASCAR LIVE! at Radio City Music Hall from April 15-25, 2011

- A chance to meet Alex and friends backstage

- A goody bag full of fun Madagascar merchandise

SHREK THE MUSICAL IN HOLLYWOOD

- Trip for 4 to Los Angeles

- VIP tickets to see SHREK THE MUSICAL at the Pantages Theatre in July, 2011

- A chance to meet Shrek and the fairytale gang backstage

- A good bag full of great Shrek prizes

- A tour of the DreamWorks Animation campus

THE HOLLYWOOD PREMIER OF KUNG FU PANDA 2

- Trip for 4 to Los Angeles

- Tickets to the KUNG FU PANDA 2 premier this Summer

- A goody bag full of fun DreamWorks merchandise

Winner of My American Girl - Shine On Now Campaign

2010-08-10T13:15:00.000-06:00

I know you are all anxiously awaiting the results for the winner of the beautiful My American Girl doll. I am so sorry it has taken me so long to post but there were soooo many deserving entries! I am so impressed by all the wonderful young ladies that were nominated. I sincerely wish I had a doll to give each and every one of you. However, I sadly can only have one winner. I wanted to highlight some of the AMAZING things that the nominees were doing to help their community and give service.

Being "Good to the Earth"
Making hygiene kits to send to Haiti earthquake victims
Making dolls for an Orphanage in Africa
Raising money for Autism Research
Singing to residents in Nursing Homes
Breast Cancer Awareness Organizer
Washing dishes in the Food Pantry
Giving, Kind-Hearted, Sweet Spirit
Collecting items for The Children's Network and children's hospitals
Being a friend to everyone

We have some amazing young ladies nominated! I really believe all who were nominated deserve their very own doll so I just had to choose a random winner. The winner is Sherri J who nominated a special 7 year old little girl in her life. She will receive her choice of My American Girl doll to present to her special girl.

Thank you all for entering! Thank you for taking the time to help American Girl raise $1 Million to give to 4 wonderful charities. KEEP ON SHINING!

Check back next week for an American Girl "Back To School" review and giveaway!

Help American Girl donate up to $1 Million to Charities and win your very own My American Girl Doll!

2010-07-13T00:39:00.002-06:00

To foster a spirit of goodwill and help make the world a brighter place American Girl's Shine On Now™ program is a new charitable effort that harnesses the collective power of girls to help others in need! Starting today through July 31, 2010, American Girl is calling on girls across the country to help the company give $1 million in clothes, books, dolls, and money to the following four organizations: Kids in Distressed Situations, Save the Children U.S.A., National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions, and National Wildlife Federation.
http://www.shineonnow.com/

Simply visit www.shineonnow.com and receive a free star(s) that girls can donate to help American Girl reach its goal of collecting one million stars by the end of the program. In addition, every time you donate a free star (you can donate up to 100 each day!), your name will be automatically entered in a daily drawing to win a new My American Girl™ doll.

As part of the Shine On Now initiative and to further encourage girls to let their spirits shine, American Girl is also launching a brand-new virtual campus, Innerstar University™—a fun, safe online world where girls learn to be their best through a variety of games, quizzes, and other enriching activities that help boost their confidence and strength. Access to the new virtual world is free with each 18-inch My American GirI doll—the company’s newly enhanced contemporary product line that allows a girl to create a special doll as unique as she is.

I am proud to be an official Parent-Partner for American Girl and Shine On Now. Through my partnership with American Girl and Shine On Now, American Girl will donate an automatic $1000 stars in my name! I am also honored to be able to select a deserving girl to receive her very own My American Girl doll! Do you know a deserving girl who would love her very own My American GirI™ doll? All you have to do is become a follower of Solutions Sleuth Blog and leave me a comment here describing your nomination (what activities the girl is involved in, how she helps others, etc.) - without referencing the girl’s identity. The winner will be encouraged to videotape/photograph the moment as she gives the doll to the girl. All comments from the previous Shine On Now post will be counted in this contest. Winner will be chosen an the end of the campaign on July 31, 2010.

Thank you American Girl for being an amazing company that truly cares about girls and making the world a better place, and not just about making a buck. American Girl stands for celebrating a girl's inner star - that little whisper inside that encourages her to stand tall, reach high and dream big. With American Girl's' new cause realated inititave, Shine on Now, we can encourage our girls to become their very best today, so they'll grow up to be the women who make a difference tomorrow.

American Girl on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/agshineonnow

American Girl on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/shineonnow

American Girl on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/shineonnow

Tiny url: http://tinyurl.com/236lsgm

Please visit http://www.shineonnow.com/ for more information about the program, the charities it supports, and the complete Official Rules for the daily doll drawing. We also encourage you to review their Privacy Policy and Web site Terms and Conditions.
Giveaway ends on July 31, 2010. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to notification with shipping info – if no response, another winner will be chosen. No purchase necessary – void where prohibited by law. Review product was provided to me at no cost. I received no monetary gain. All opinions expressed are based on my own use and experience with the item.

The Boys Store Review and $25 Gift Card Giveaway!

2010-06-29T17:09:00.002-06:00

I never thought I would be, but I am extremely picky about the clothes I will put on my 15 month old boy. I don't like dinosaurs, football, soccer, any reptiles, too cutesy stuff or too feminine things. I have 2 older girls and finding something cute for them has been way too easy! In fact, when I go shopping for something for me or my son, I usually end up buying something for my 4 year old instead because it is just too cute to pass up!

I came across this store, The Boys Store - The Premiere site for boy's clothing and accessories, and I found tons of cute things! The Boy's Store sells exclusively boy things so I won't get sidetracked and end up with more girl clothes my son can't wear!The shopping experience here is fun and easy! I love that the site is categorized by Brand, Item, Age, Basics, American Made, Organic, and On Sale! It makes it so easy to navigate to just the right items you are looking for. The Boy's Store sells items exclusively for Boys in sizes New Born to size Junior 18!!!! Yeah!

Check out this cute Cardigan Set by Minibasix:

And I LOVE this English Biker Jacket by Appaman:

It is very easy to shop at this site because every item has a great description of the product, washing instructions. fiber content, AND you can ask questions about each specific item! Great for picky shoppers like me.

If you have a boy, you have got to check out this site!

http://www.theboysstore.biz/

Thanks to The Boy's Store I get to give one of my lucky readers a $25 Gift Card to The Boy's Store! You don't have to have your very own boy to win. Think of the great things you could get for a shower gift, grandson, nephew, cousin, etc! Just Follow the instructions below to enter:

ENTER TO WIN:
Check out the Boy's Store HERE then LEAVE A COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY:

Follow Solutions Sleuth publicly (upper left corner) 1 Entry
Add my Button to your Blog - 5 Entries
Post about this contest on Twitter, FaceBook, MySpace, Etc. - 5 Entries Each Post
"Like" The Boy's Store on Facebook - 1 Entry
Check out The Boy's Store Blog - 1 Entry

Tiny URL: http://tinyurl.com/2aqjoj8

Giveaway ends July 31, 2010. Giveaway is open for the US only. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to notification with shipping info – if no response, another winner will be chosen. No purchase necessary – void where prohibited by law.The Boy's Store provided me with an outfit at no charge to review and express my opinion on. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid for this post.

Shine On Now - Help American Girl Give $1M to Charities!

2010-06-28T12:57:00.003-06:00

http://www.shineonnow.com/

American Girl is introducing Shine On Now™—a new charitable initiative that harnesses the collective power of girls to help others in need. Through Shine On Now, American Girl is calling on girls across the country to help American Girl give up to $1 million in clothes, books, dolls, and money to four great charities: Kids in Distressed Situations, National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions, National Wildlife Federation, and Save the Children. You can learn about these four charitable organizations by visiting Shine On Now.com

Go to Shine On Now.com and sign up to become an American Girl Ambassador and download an Official American Girl Ambassador Tool Kit. The Tool Kit is filled with fun and actionable tips for fund-raising and volunteering. There is also a preview link to InnerstarU to learn about the upcoming American Girl’s new virtual campus, INNERSTAR UNIVERSITY™— a fun, safe online world where girls learn to be their best!

Come back to Shine On Now on July 13 through the 31 and earn FREE STARS to help American Girl donate up to $1 million in clothes, books, dolls, and money! For every Free Star girls donate, their name will be entered into a drawing to win their very own My American Girl doll!

I am proud to be an official Parent-Partner for American Girl Shine On Now cause-related initiative. Through my partnership with American Girl and Shine On Now, American Girl will donate an automatic $1000 stars in my name! I am also able to give away one FREE My American Girl doll! Do you know a deserving girl who would love her very own My American GirI™ doll? Become a follower of Solutions Sleuth Blog and leave me a comment here describing your nomination (what activities the girl is involved in, how she helps others, etc.) - without referencing the girl’s identity. Winner will be chosen an the end of the campaign on July 31, 2010.

American Girl on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/agshineonnow

American Girl on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/shineonnow

American Girl on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/shineonnow

Tiny URL: http://tinyurl.com/254lcn9

Giveaway ends on July 31, 2010. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to notification with shipping info – if no response, another winner will be chosen. No purchase necessary – void where prohibited by law. Review product was provided to me at no cost. I received no monetary gain. All opinions expressed are based on my own use and experience with the item.

American Girl The Cutest Nature Book Ever! Review & Giveaway

2010-06-26T12:12:00.001-06:00

From the publishers at American Girl comes The Cutest Nature Book Ever! This book is a girl's guide to having fun in the great outdoors! Designed to get girls outside, it's filled with games and craft ideas using items found in nature. Flip through the pages to find story starters and space for girls to jot down their thoughts. Plus, this book includes easy-to-follow instructions for preserving things found in nature, such as how to press leaves and flowers. Author: Carrie Anton. Paperback. 64 pages. Ages 8+

The illustrations and colors in this book are amazing! What I really LOVE about this book is the variety of activities included. There are crafts, story starters, poetry, quizzes, drawing, activities and more. Whether you have 2 minutes or 2 hours to spend with nature, you can find an activity. This book really engages girls and gets them involved in nature. I highly recommend this book to all girls, city or country dwelling.

Great job American Girl on another awesome book! American Girl celebrates a girl's inner star - that little whisper inside that encourages her to stand tall, reach high, and dream big. They take pride and care in helping girls become their very best today, so they'll grow up to be the women who make a difference tomorrow.

Thanks to American Girl I get to give one of my lucky readers their very own copy of The Cutest Nature Book Ever! for FREE. Just follow the instructions below to enter.

ENTRIES : (leave a comment for each entry)

Follow Solutions Sleuth PUBLICLY via Google Friend Connect (Located up on the left corner)
Grab my button and post on your blog -5 Entries (leave your link)
Post the link to this contest on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, or MySpace page(s) and link back here! -5 Entries each post
Follow me on Twitter @SolutionsSleuth

FYI: tiny url for this post: http://tinyurl.com/2f8m8yk

Giveaway ends on July 17, 2010. Giveaway is open for the US only. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to notification with shipping info – if no response, another winner will be chosen. No purchase necessary – void where prohibited by law. Review product was provided to me at no cost. I received no monetary gain. All opinions expressed are based on my own use and experience with the item.

American Girl Book - Just Dad and Me - Review and Giveaway

2010-06-14T16:14:00.002-06:00

From American Girl Publishers comes this exciting new book Just Dad and Me, The fill-in tear-out, fold-up book of fun for girls and their dads illustrated by Stacy Peterson and edited by Erin Falligant.

Looking for fun things to do with Dad? From car games to contests to secret handshakes, this book is full of fun things for girls to do with their dads. They can punch out the paper airplanes and helicopters, tear out and share the notes and gift coupons, or test their knowledge of each other with checklists made for two. And they can get to know each other even better with games and activities that are sure to leave them laughing.

My 10 year old daughter and her dad really enjoyed sharing this book together and getting to know each other better. One of their favorite activities was the "Tunes for Two", where they burned a CD of songs that they both liked. The book even includes two tear out CD Covers. There are tons of activities to do in this book and vary greatly on subject and time needed to complete so it's easy to find an activity in here for everyone! It will definitely take more than just one weekend to complete this book. I highly recommend this book for girls and their dads. The recommended age is 8+ but there are activities in here even my 4 year old enjoyed doing with her dad.

Doesn't this sound like a great book for Father's Day? Head on over to the American Girl site by clicking here to get your own copy.

Thanks to American Girl I get to give one of my lucky readers their very own copy of Just Dad and Me for FREE!!! Just follow the instructions below to enter to win.

ENTRIES : (leave a comment for each entry)

Follow Solutions Sleuth PUBLICLY via Google Friend Connect (Located up on the left corner)
Grab my button and post on your blog -5 Entries (leave your link)
Post the link to this contest on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, or MySpace page(s) and link back here! -5 Entries each post
Follow me on Twitter @SolutionsSleuth

FYI: tiny url for this post: http://tinyurl.com/2fwb5q9

Giveaway ends on June 26, 2010. Giveaway is open for the US only. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to notification with shipping info – if no response, another winner will be chosen. No purchase necessary – void where prohibited by law. Review product was provided to me at no cost. I received no monetary gain. All opinions expressed are based on my own use and experience with the item.

Winner

2010-06-14T15:12:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to Beth! Winner of the Pillsbury Pizza Party Prize Pack! Thank you to all who entered!

Family Pizza Party Prize Pack Giveaway! CLOSED

2010-06-06T15:01:00.002-06:00

Pizza nights are often a favorite way to enjoy a fun evening with the family, but is there anything better than a home-cooked meal straight from the oven?

Pillsbury’s Refrigerated Pizza Crust can help you combine the best of both worlds and get the whole family involved in making pizza night even more special.

With Pillsbury Pizza Crust, you and your family can make your own fresh-out-of-the-oven pizza just the way you want it! Our favorite is 1/3 Cheese, 1/3 Pepperoni & Mushroom and 1/3 Ham & Pineapple. Everyone can load their favorite toppings on to the ready-to-bake pizza crust and enjoy a fresh, hot pizza in minutes. You can personalize your meal even further by using the Classic Crust for a thicker, soft crust or the Thin Crust for a pizza that’s a bit crispier and just as delicious. So round up your little chefs and make their favorite night of the week even more memorable.

Thanks to Pillsbury and My Blog Spark I get to present one of my lucky winners with their very own “Family Pizza Party” prize pack that includes a VIP coupon for a free package of Pillsbury Pizza Crust, four fun pizza slice shaped plates and Pictureka!, the find it fast game from Hasbro, which you and your family can play to make pizza night even more special.

Like Pillsbury, Hasbro knows how important it is for families to pause from hectic schedules and take part in an evening of fun. Hasbro’s Family Game Nights provide an opportunity to share an affordable night in of game play. For additional information about Family Game Night, as well as age appropriate game suggestions, visit www.familygamenight.com.

Make a pizza tonight! Visit http://www.pillsbury.com/products/meal-solutions/default.aspx to save $0.40 when you purchase two packages of Pillsbury Pizza Crust today!

ENTRIES : (leave a comment for each entry)

Follow Solutions Sleuth PUBLICLY via Google Friend Connect (Located up on the left corner)
Grab my button and post on your blog -5 Entries
Post the link to this contest on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, or MySpace page(s) and link back here! -5 Entries each post

Giveaway ends on June 8, 2010. Giveaway is open for the US only. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to notification with shipping info – if no response, another winner will be chosen. No purchase necessary – void where prohibited by law. Review product was provided to me at no cost. I received no monetary gain. All opinions expressed are based on my own use and experience with the item. Pillsbury provided me with the VIP coupon for a free pizza crust, online coupon link, information, and prize packs through MyBlogSpark™.

Winner!

2010-06-06T14:59:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to Stephanie comment #29!!!!! You are the lucky winner of the $35 Gift Card to Jiffy Lube!

Trail Tech Review and Giveaway

2010-05-31T01:57:00.004-06:00

Thanks to Trail Tech I was able to install a TTO Temp Sensor and a TTO Tach/Hour Meter on my dirt bike. I realy like these sensors. They are small, easy to install, and work great! Even though I put them on my dirt bike these could be used on any type of engine that you would like to keep track of temp, RPM, or hours the engine has run. I installed a combination tach and hour meter but if you would like to just keep track of time they also have a hour meter only model.

I found that having these saves me a lot of guess work with maintanance on my bike. Now when I need to set my throttle screw I have accurate engine RPM right on my bike, no more setting by ear. I will also have a better way of keeping track of when to do maintenence. I can put my bike on a by the hour schedule. This is more accurate and better for the engine in my opinion. Having the ability to know when my bike is getting hot helps with maintenence and engine settings too. Trail Tech has an assortment of different computers and sensors to choose from. I am sure you will find what you need for you specific application.

Each Digital Gage comes with adhesive mounting strip with plugs for the screw holes. I chose to build a mount for mine and had to purchase allen screws, washers, and lock nuts plus a small piece of alluminum for the mount. Other than these small items everything you need is in the kits. The stick on mounting would be very fast and easy. Trail Tech also has mounts for your handel bar or for your gas tank if you don't want to make your own.

There are three different styles of sensors to choose from for the Temp Gauge. I used the inline style. It was very easy to install in a radiator hose. Another bonus is if you mess up a new radiator hose wont cost an arm and a leg to replace. It is also very fast in picking up temp changes. You can also choose a spark plug sensor type or a sensor that you tap into the radiator. The only thing that was a bit of a problem was that I chose a hose that was at the bottom of the bike and so the sensor wire was too short. I just spliced in some wire I had laying around so not too much of a problem. I wish I would have remembered to measure the wire. Some of the high lights of the digital gauges are:

Engine, water, or air temperature
Sensor options for all standard radiator hoses, oil lines and spark plugs
User selectable display: 30-500°F or 0-260°C
Measures current and maximum temperature, resettable
Spinning-arrow activity icon
Flashing dot indicates 6 second sample rate
Spinning-arrow activity icon
Peel-n-Stick or Bolt-on

The Tach/Hour Digital Gauge is just as easy to install. Just rout the wire to the ignition coil. I ran into a small problem with where to put the lead wire. This was actually a good thing though, because I was able to try customer support out. I called the number on the back of the packageing and a actual person answered! They were very friendly and put me right on track. I have a coil over ignition system so a little bit different set up worked better for my aplication. I actually think that something could be put on the instructions about this but with such great customer support it's not a big deal. It didn't slow me down but maybe a minute or two. The lead wire is plenty long enough for what I was doing, 70". I ended up cutting it shorter. A note that this is OK would be nice too. There are several settings to go through but they are simple enough. Some highlights on the Tach/Hour Gauge are:

Works on all gas engines (including newer fuel injected four cycle engines)
Tracks total hours on motor, non-resettable
Measures tach up to 20,000 RPM in real time
Measure and records max RPM, resettable
Spinning-arrow activity icon
Adjustable settings for Fast/Slow updates, Hi/low spark sensitivity (for electrical noise suppression)
99,999 Hour Digital Display
Spinning-arrow activity icon
Peel-n-Stick or Bolt-on

Trail Techs Digital Gauges were just what was missing from my WR's factory computer. I now have all the information I want with a great little product. If you would like to suppliment or start a Digital Gauge sytem Trail Tech has just what you need, and starting on Tues June 1st there will be free shipping on orders over $80.00 Thank you very much to Trail Tech for these great gauges and for the chance to try them out. I highly recomend the products I tested. Trail Tech has several other products too. they have lighting systems, handel bars, kick stands, bar clamps, and other products too. So check them out and make sure if you order something you tell them Solutions Sleuth sent you.

See slide show of how I made the mount for the gauges click here.

Trail Tech has provided three Digital Gauges to give away. 2 Tach/Hour and one Hour gauge!

ENTRIES : (leave a comment for each entry)

Follow Solutions Sleuth PUBLICLY via Google Friend Connect (Located up on the left corner)

Grab my button and post on your blog -5 Entries

Post the link to this contest on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, or MySpace page(s) and link back here! -5 Entries

Comment on what you would use one of these on. (leave a email or say where I can get in touch with you. i.e which forum) -1 Entry

Giveaway ends on June,18 2010. Giveaway is open for the US only. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to notification with shipping info – if no response, another winner will be chosen. No purchase necessary – void where prohibited by law. Review product was provided to me at no cost. I received no monetary gain. All opinions expressed are based on my own use and experience with the item.

Winner of X-Sight.

2010-05-31T01:56:00.000-06:00

X-Sight Winner!!!!!

Annette Hansen is our winer! Congratulations Annette!

Make sure to tell everyone how much you like your X-Sight remote.

Thank you to Acoustic Research!

Tugger Winners

2010-05-15T19:10:00.001-06:00

Here are the lucky winners of the Tugger!

Nolan.black
Moabdaze
michelle@flyinggiggles
Kody
Doug

E-Mail solutionssleuth@gmail.com with your address and 1,2,3 choice between Front, Rear, or the Bar Savers and I'll mail your Tugger away ASAP.

You have until May 21st to email your info. If no response we will choose a replacement winner.

Thanks for your interest and don't forget a Tugger is great for a Fathers Day present.
Also a huge thanks to Highline Recreation for the awesome products to give to you!

X Sight Touch Universal Remote with RF Extender Review and Giveaway

2010-05-12T05:10:00.004-06:00

The X Sight is a new remote from Acoustic Research.

The X Sight comes in two different versions. We tested the touch remote. It includes an X Sight Touch remote, Lithium Ion Battery, Charging Cradle with extension, Installation Disk, Power Adapter, USB Cable, and Start Up manual. I didn't spend too much time with the manual, I'm too impatient to do that. Normally skipping the manual could be bad but not with this remote! In fact I think it's encouraged. I have had a few universal remotes before, and to be honest I wasn't too excited about searching through the thousands of codes to try and talk this remote into controlling my devices. GOOD NEWS, NO CODES TO SEARCH THROUGH!!! Just slip in the provided disk in a pc, (I used a laptop and highly recommend this as it will save you some back and forth from the pc and devices), and the X Sight EZ-RC software guides you through it all. Just enter the model number of the device OR remote and the software finds the info for you. Just like that you are ready to control your device.

Another great thing is EZ-RC is web based. So if you need to access your settings on a different computer it will be saved for you online. As you can see the software is very simple to use. Just click on what you want to do and follow the onscreen prompts. It does install in the system tray so it will be running all the time so when you plug in the remote with usb EZ-RC will automatically start. I like to keep my system tray as clean as possible and with as little as I will be needing to change the remote I just simply removed it from my start up folder. After setting up your devices to be controlled by the remote now you can go in and get things the way you want. Or just stop and use the remote. If you want to use all the features like I do, just use the simple software to customize start up and shutdown sequences. I did a Movie, TV, and Good night sequence. Now with just a couple of button pushes my home theater is turned on and ready for a movie or TV. One button and it's all off. Yah no more receiver left on by the wife and kids. In all I probably spent 45 minutes setting up the remote. With tweaking the delay times and everything. I even used the Learn function to get a few of my special buttons on my receiver to work.

X Sight is built very well except for a few of the top buttons under the LCD. It seems these are a little flimsy but only time will tell. The rest of the buttons are very sturdy and smooth to operate. I have had one other touch remote before. We ended up ditching it because the touch pad was too difficult to operate. This one seems a little better but occasionally I have to press the touch area just right to get it to function properly. I would choose the non touch if I had the choice, the touch is the only one that has the RF available. Over all the X Sight is a sturdy remote. My one year old managed to throw it on the hardwood floor just after I had opened it. It still works fine though! The surface is just as most remotes a shiny black and tends to show finger prints. Not really a deal breaker though.

All in all I would definitely recommend this remote! The X Sight is very easy to use with almost no setup, if you don't want to get fancy. If you like to dig into electronics and get the most of them like me you wont be disappointed with the options and flexibility of this universal remote. X Sight picked two out of three of my devices with no trial and error. Just enter model and go. My VCR is a bit old and I had to try three codes before it worked correctly. No need to enter codes though the remote already has a list in it to try.

Some of the features I like are:

Motion light up, when you pick up the remote it automatically lights up ready to use. You can disable if you like though.
Easy set up, this is by far the easiest remote I have used.
Learn your old remotes specific buttons, sometimes this is the best way to get exact control.
Light and size, this remote is just a normal remote size.
Full button labels, you can name the on screen buttons whatever you want and its easy to type in from the pc.
Feel, the X-sight feels like a quality product.
PC connectability, at the same time not required.
Ability to program the remote for individual family members preferences.

A few misses in my opinion:
Touch buttons, this is just something that doesn't seem to work 100% of the time on the first try.
Some functions take a few pages to get to, the original remote would be quicker. With a little more time spent this could be minimized though.

The RF Extender

Not a whole lot to say about this little guy. What you see is what you get, a RF Receiver, Power Supply, and six IR repeaters. This RF extender is easy to use all you do is plug the small receiver in and plug each IR repeater in the back that you need. One IR per device. Each repeater has an adhesive back to place anywhere you need to get the line of sight to your devices sensor. I just stuck them on the device to the side of the sensor. If you had a larger cabinet you could stick then in front of or on the side or your device.

I love how small the receiver is, you can hide it just about anywhere. The best thing about this is now I can put my components anywhere I like. Mine are in a cabinet I built into the wall so I had limited remote service area due to the angle. With this I can control my devices from anywhere in the room, in fact I can control them from other rooms too. There is plenty of IR repeaters for expansion too. A very simple device but it works like a charm. With 100' range the IR Extender will work in any situation. If you wanted you could put your AV gear on a different floor of your house.

ENTRIES : (leave a comment for each entry)

Follow Solutions Sleuth PUBLICLY via Google Friend Connect (Located up on the left corner)
Grab my button and post on your blog -5 Entries
Post the link to this contest on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, or MySpace page(s) and link back here! -5 Entries
Become a Fan (Like) of RCA on Facebook write on their wall Solutions Sleuth sent you - 5 Entries
Post a message on RCA Twitter that Solutions Sleuth sent you - 5 Entries

For another chance to win a X Sight Touch Universal Remote click over to Shauna's blog Trying To Stay Calm. Tell her I sent you!

Giveaway ends on May 28, 2010. Giveaway is open for the US only. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to notification with shipping info – if no response, another winner will be chosen. No purchase necessary – void where prohibited by law. Review product was provided to me at no cost. I received no monetary gain. All opinions expressed are based on my own use and experience with the item.

Winner!

2010-05-11T12:25:00.000-06:00

The winner for the HAIR FLAIRS Reflective Hair Highlights is.....

Comment #11

Madison D

Congratulations! I hope you enjoy them.

P.S. Watch for more Hair Tinsel reviews and giveaways coming up soon!

Winner!

2010-05-04T14:42:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to Phyllis winner of the World's Softest Socks!!!!

Jiffy Lube $35 Gift Card Giveaway

2010-05-04T14:15:00.001-06:00

My husband is picky about the strangest things. Motor Oil is one of them. He has worked on engines most of his life and has seen first-hand how crappy motor oil can ruin engines. I have always just taken his word for it until I checked out MotorOilMatters.org

With the informative Web site http://www.motoroilmatters.org/ (created by the maker of industry-leading brands Pennzoil and Quaker State) you can easily locate key information about how quality motor oils can help prolong your engine’s life and improve overall efficiency, as well as help answer other questions you may have about motor oil. In addition, the site offers a fun, educational game for you to play called “M.O.M. Knows Best” where you can put your motor mind to the test with an interactive quiz.

Did you know?

Using a high-quality motor oil in the right grade can help maximize fuel economy
Low-quality oils that do not meet industry standards or the vehicle manufacturer’s requirements could cost consumers in the long run by potentially damaging the vehicle’s engine or possibly voiding the manufacturer’s warranty

I am giving away at $35 Gift Card to Jiffy Lube to one of my lucky readers! Follow instructions below to enter.

ENTRIES : (leave a comment for each entry)

Follow Solutions Sleuth PUBLICLY via Google Friend Connect (Located up on the left corner)
Grab my button and post on your blog -5 Entries
Post the link to this contest on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, or MySpace page(s) and link back here! -5 Entries each post
Tell me your score on the M.O.M game at motoroilmatters.org

Giveaway ends on May 21, 2010. Giveaway is open for the US only. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to notification with shipping info – if no response, another winner will be chosen. No purchase necessary – void where prohibited by law. Review product was provided to me at no cost. I received no monetary gain. All opinions expressed are based on my own use and experience with the item. MotorOilMatters.org and Shell Lubricants provided me with a $35 gift card to Jiffy Lube and information through MyBlogSpark.

Free Green Dot Fever Alert Pacifier

2010-05-04T10:32:00.000-06:00

Green Dot Pacifier alerts you when you baby has a fever. This product contains a color-change dot which is green at normal temperature, then turns black at 100°F or more before returning to green when normal again. Send an email to info@funtasticmedia.com to request your free sample. Click here for more information on this great product.

More Giveaways

2010-05-04T10:07:00.003-06:00

Enter to win a Joovy stroller here.

http://lewiscrazyhouse.blogspot.com/2010/05/joovy-caboose-review-and-ultralight.html

Win a Cascadian Farm "Live Green Together" Prize Pack @natdey Ends 5/22 http://bit.ly/dvQ6QD Open to US Residents #giveaway

Highline Recreation the TUGGER Review and Giveaway! Brrraaapp! Give Away Closed

2010-04-28T13:57:00.008-06:00

Highline Recreation is a local Utah company based out of Logan. They are excellent to work with and have come up with some awesome products. I really like these Tugger products. For about $45.00 you can have a Tugger for the front and rear of your dirt bike and a set of Bar Savers to boot. In the world of motorcycle parts and accessories these are a great bargain! Not to mention http://www.thetugger.com/ is the only place to make these. They resell from several places online too. Go to http://www.thetugger.com/ to find your favorite web based store or order directly from them.

The installation was a breeze and it seems they have gone out of their way to make sure everyone has all the stuff to make a super fit. There are a few different styles for the rear Tugger. I used style 1 for my Yamaha WR450. They have a fit chart on their website at http://www.thetugger.com/ The instructions were easy to follow, granted the Tugger is fairly self explanatory. Where and when to use each bushing is good info though.

There are full color illustrations in the instructions.

I have the Stealth Tuggers as shown here. For $6.00 more they will embroider anything you want on them. I have seen some people put their name and plate number on the front Tugger. It looks great.

As far as fit goes these look great and fit nicely. They are out of the way but easy to get to when needed. The elastic on the rear Tugger is a bit of genius, it works perfectly. It snaps tight against the seat but allows you to slide your hand under to get a hold of the Tugger.

The Bar Savers are a simple thing but work just right. I like to leave my tie-downs on while pushing my bike up to the trailer or truck. These keep out of the way a lot better and are shorter. I also like how easy it is to slide the strap behind wires and cables on the bars. Not to mention I won't be scratching up those new bars with a hook from the tie-down. Another plus is that I can now use any tie-down I want. No more buying the ultra expensive wrap around tie-downs. For just $7.00 I'm all set.

This is the setup that was sent to Solutions Sleuth. Tugger rear type 1

Tugger Front

Bar Savers.

I think these are a must have for any off road bike. I thing every bike should come with them! I wasn't sure I would like the front Tugger but after installing it and pulling my bike into the back of a truck a couple of times I'm sold. I haven't had to Tug my bike out of a gully or from off the side of a steep single track trail yet but I believe that is when I will be most happy to have these installed. Two people could save a bike from most anywhere with these.

Solutions Sleuth has been given 3 Rear Type 1 Tuggers, one Front Tugger, and a Bar Savers set to give away to YOU. Thank you very much Highline Recreation for this awsome oportunity to share these great Tugger products. If you aren't one of our luck winners. Or after you have one and want more. Purchase from http://www.thetugger.com/ make sure to tell them Solutions Sleuth (or J.W.) sent you! By the way any Dad or Mom that has a dirt bike would love these for Mothers day or Fathers day.

If you would like to see more on the install, fit and look check out this video.

Children's Clairitin (r) Coupon

2010-04-26T14:12:00.000-06:00

This time of year, everybody’s always talking about allergies. Well, I’m no different. But, I recently heard a few surprising facts that all the parents out there might really like to know.

For instance, did you know that 4 out of 10 kids suffer from allergies and two million school days are missed due to seasonal and indoor allergies every year? That’s a lot of days missed — and that doesn’t even include all the days kids spend in an allergy fog!

Studies have shown that the effects of allergies can be significant for kids. Daytime allergy symptoms can impede focus and result in learning problems, while nighttime allergy symptoms can result in sleep loss and lead to daytime drowsiness. How can a kid be a kid when all they can do is focus on their allergies?

That’s why we’re excited to share the news about Children’s Claritin® Grape Chewables. You’ll be able to help give your kids powerful all-day relief from sneezing, runny noses, itchy, watery eyes and other allergy symptoms, without making them jittery or drowsy*. Plus, it's the #1 Pediatrician Recommended non-drowsy allergy brand.

Be sure to share this info with parents you know, then share the link to the Claritin® Facebook Fan Page at facebook.com/claritin so they can become a fan and learn more. Do the same yourself! Plus, click here for a great coupon!

Happy Spring!

HAIR FLAIRS Review & Giveaway

2010-04-22T11:33:00.000-06:00

Have you heard about the latest hair trend? It's these beautiful HAIR FLAIRS Reflective Hair Highlights you tie into your hair. It looks like your hair is strands of glitter. It sparkles so beautifully! They are very lightweight, soft and silky, and feel natural like your own hair. They add a little flair to your hair and will sparkle like crazy out in the sunlight. I love, love, love it!

While Christmas shopping with my daughter in the mall, I came across the Reflective Hair Highlights and we had 6 strands of blue put in my daughter's waist-long hair. She has literally got hundreds of compliments on it. Everywhere we go people stop and ask where they can get them. I haven't seen them around anywhere (even while traveling to California and Nashville) so I did some research and found a fantastic online source for them. HAIR FLAIRS

I am completely obsessed with hair accessories and the new HAIR FLAIRS is my absolute fav! I love them! My favorite features:

HAIR FLAIRS are attached to a Professional Stylist Ring. With the Stylist Ring you can just cut the strands off one-at-a-time as you need them. No struggling with loose strands or packaging. The strands are treated with an anti-wrinkle coating and will hang nicely until you need them.
Just how do you get them in your hair? Awesome tutorial!
Check out the Photo Gallery! They look even better in real life.
PRO line and "Fine" collection - Fine collection is great for baby fine children's hair, PRO line is slightly stronger and more durable to withstand constant use and high-heat styling tools.
18 COLORS! A color for every occasion, Prom, cheer leading, sporting team colors, parties, holidays, and everyday wear.

From the HAIR FLAIRS website:
"Hair Flairs - hair tinsel strands tie into hair with a knot. Once tied in, you can wash, blow-dry, and style your hair. You can even flat-iron and use a curling iron. Hair Flairs do not damage hair with any hair processing chemicals. Hair tinsel adds a little bling to hair. With just a couple strands of hair bling, you will be sure to be noticed and stand out in a crowd. Hair Flairs offers the best product at the best prices with free shipping. More stylists prefer Hair Flairs glittering strands over hair tinsel."

Thanks to HAIR FLAIRS I get to present one of my lucky readers with their very own package of Reflective Hair Highlights in their most popular color, Champagne Gold for FREE! Just follow the instructions below to enter:

ENTRIES : (leave a comment for each entry)

Follow Solutions Sleuth PUBLICLY via Google Friend Connect (Located up on the left corner)
Grab my button and post on your blog -5 Entries
Post the link to this contest on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, or MySpace page(s) and link back here! -5 Entries
Become a Fan (Like) of HAIR FLAIRS on Facebook write on their wall Solutions Sleuth sent you - 5 Entries
Make a purchase from HAIR FLAIRS -5 Entries

Giveaway ends on May 7, 2010. Giveaway is open for the US only. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to notification with shipping info – if no response, another winner will be chosen. No purchase necessary – void where prohibited by law. Review product was provided to me at no cost. I received no monetary gain. All opinions expressed are based on my own use and experience with the item.

Winners!

2010-04-19T10:15:00.000-06:00

It's your LUCKY DUCKY DAY!!!!!!!

The winner of the Spring 2010 Organically Grown Outfit is:

#8 Sarah Osborne

The winner of the Green Golly & Her Golden Flute CD is

#1 Jenny

Thank you to all who entered! I hope you enjoy your prizes.

World's Softest Socks Review and Giveaway

2010-04-19T10:08:00.000-06:00

My mother can certainly attest to the fact that since birth I have been on a mission to find THE WORLD’S SOFTEST SOCKS! While trying to find some decent knee-hi socks for my daughter’s school uniform I came across World's Softest Socks website. Of course I had to try these puppies out!

I received some spa footsie socks , spa socks and classic crew. I LOVED them all. It was just like walking on clouds! The classic crew are my favorite because I can wear them with any shoes and my feet are in heaven. The real test of soft socks is after you wash them. All three of these socks stood up to my test. There were no “fuzzies” and the fabric didn’t get squished down to nothing. These socks don’t have that annoying little pointy thread glob in the corners either (ya know what I’m talking about?).

This is really cool….they have a 1 YEAR SATISFACTION GUARANTEE!!!! (If you can keep the dryer from eating them for that long ) "1 YEAR GUARANTEE: If you are not completely satisfied with your World’s Softest Socks ®, we guarantee to replace them for up to one year from the date of purchase. Simply send laundered socks, dated sales receipt, and an explanation with your return to: Crescent, Inc. P.O. Box 669 Niota, TN 37826".

"Be pampered with a daily spa retreat. Relax in luxurious softness and walk on clouds with our cozy Spa Socks."

Thanks to World's Softest Socks I get to present one of my lucky readers their very own product sample socks for FREE! Just follow the instructions below to enter!

ENTRIES: (leave a seperate comment for each entry)

FOLLOW http://www.solutionssleuth.blogspot.com/ PUBLICLY via Google Friend Connect
Grab my BUTTON and post on your blog -5 Entries
Post the link to this contest on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, or MySpace page(s) and link back here! -5 Entries each place
Make a purchase from World's Softest Socks and tell them Sarah from Solutions Sleuth sent you!

The socks will be sent to the winner directly from World's Softest Socks. Giveaway ends on May 1, 2010. Giveaway is open for the US only. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to notification with shipping info – if no response, another winner will be chosen. No purchase necessary – void where prohibited by law. Review product was provided to me. I received no monetary gain. All opinions expressed are based on my own use and experience with the item.

Organically Grown Review and Giveaway CLOSED

2010-04-08T15:40:00.003-06:00

WHY ORGANIC?

There is a direct connection between what we wear and the effect it has on the earth. According to the Organic Exchange, an estimated 170 million pounds of pesticides, and 25% of the world’s insecticides are used in the production of conventional, non-organic cotton. 7 out of 10 of these pesticides are on the EPA’s “Known” list of “likely” or “probable” carcinogens. These chemicals result in work-force illnesses, water contamination, and the devastation of farmland. All of these problems are eliminated through organic farming practices. ORGANICALLY GROWN is proud to be part of the solution.

As the awareness of the effect that pesticides and toxins have on the environment and individual health awareness grows, more and more families are realizing the importance of choosing organic products. Making this choice is not only good for our earth; it is good for all of us. With your help, organic textile production will increase, becoming more of a standard in the clothing industry.

If you haven’t already, now is the time to choose organic fabrics for you and your family. Organic cotton has all the high quality, soft and cuddly texture with none of the harsh chemicals to irritate your child’s delicate skin. Our products are not only breathable and cuddly; they are also recyclable, renewable, and biodegradable. With products by ORGANICALLY GROWN, there is no need to compromise between your budget and your conscience. As well as being eco-friendly, Organically Grown clothes are affordable and stylish.

ORGANICALLY GROWN has just launched their Spring 2010 baby clothing line, now with toddler sizes! The toddler collection is comprised of adorable two-piece outfits for boys and girls in sizes12 M to 4T. T-shirts feature cute and eco friendly slogans.

The baby clothing line has tons and tons of adorable clothes to choose from like my favorite, the Free Range Chick bodysuit:

While you are picking up some essentials for your little ones don't forget to check out their wall decor here. They are so affordably priced I only wish I had enough wall space for all them.

Thanks to Organically Grown I get to present one of my lucky readers an official Organically Grown outfit from their Spring 2010 line! Just follow the instructions below to enter!

ENTRIES: (leave a seperate comment for each entry)

Why is ORGANIC important to you? Leave your answer in a comment
FOLLOW http://www.solutionssleuth.blogspot.com/ PUBLICLY via Google Friend Connect
Grab my BUTTON and post on your blog -5 Entries
Post the link to this contest on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, or MySpace page(s) and link back here! -5 Entries
Become a Fan of Organically Grown on Facebook (here) and post on their Wall -- tell them Sarah from Solutions Sleuth sent you!
Follow Organically Grown on Twitter

The winning Spring 2010 Outfit will be sent to the winner directly from Organically Grown. Giveaway ends on April 17, 2010. Giveaway is open for the US only. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to notification with shipping info – if no response, another winner will be chosen. No purchase necessary – void where prohibited by law. Review product was provided to me. I received no monetary gain. All opinions expressed are based on my own use and experience with the item.

Green Golly & Her Golden Flute Review and Giveaway CLOSED

2010-04-08T14:30:00.001-06:00

Flute Sweet and Tickletoon in

Green Golly & Her Golden Flute

by Keith Torgan and Barbara Siesel

I'll admit I wasn't expecting much when I received this CD. The name is awkward and the cd cover image didn't really spark interest in either my 4 yr. or 10 yr. old. In fact, I forced them to listen to it. I played it on a road trip over Easter break when they were stuck in the car and couldn't escape. The recording introduces children (for ages 4-10) to the magic of classical music. Green Golly & Her Golden Flute is in two parts, beginning with an adaptation of the traditional tale of Rapunzel that seems very forced. Tickletoon uses several goofy voices that at times had my 10 year old laughing hysterically, (even if it was at him and not with him)!

The real experience of this album, however, is entwined in the lovely sound of the flute. The album continues with a beautiful flute recital by Barbara Siesel accompanied by pianist Jessica Krash. Barbara Siesel is a master flutist with a multi-faceted career wich includes performing, teaching and producing. Siesel's musical talents with the flute is amazing! If you buy the cd only to listen to her play Flight of the Bumblebee (Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov) it would be well worth the money. I never knew the flute could be played so beautifully.

In summary, I doubt we will listen to the first part of the CD again but the flute recital including 10 beautifully played classical pieces from the greatest composers of the 19th and 20th centuries will be listened to again and again and again. There are even some selections that will work really well for ballet recital pieces! I would recommend buying this CD (click here) as a great way to introduce children to some beautifully played classical music.

What's even beter than buying this CD? Getting it for FREE of course! I get to give one of my lucky readers their very own copy of Green Golly and Her Golden Flute! Just follow the instructions below to enter.

ENTRIES : (leave a comment for each entry)

Follow Solutions Sleuth PUBLICLY via Google Friend Connect (Located up on the left corner)
Grab my button and post on your blog -5 Entries
Post the link to this contest on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, or MySpace page(s) and link back here! -5 Entries

The winning Green Golly & Her Golden Flute CD will be sent to the winner directly from Walmania. Giveaway ends on April 17, 2010. Giveaway is open for the US only. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to notification with shipping info – if no response, another winner will be chosen. No purchase necessary – void where prohibited by law. Review product was provided to me. I received no monetary gain. All opinions expressed are based on my own use and experience with the item.

Winner!

2010-04-08T12:00:00.000-06:00

I am so sorry for the delay of this post. I was enjoying a wonderful Easter Break with my family. Now, finally, I am announcing the winner of Free Willy: Escape from Pirate's Cove Prize Pack. And the winner is....

Oh, I wanted to tell you I have the cooooooolest reviews and giveaways evuh coming up so be sure to check back. I should have them up the beginning of next week.

Okay, back to the winner.........

Generated by Random.org:
#32 Jenny

Congratulations Jenny! I hope you and your family like watching Bindi in this movie as much as we did!

Photos printed at 50% off and Photo books for $10!!!

2010-04-01T18:18:00.000-06:00

My favorite on-line Photo printer, Walgreens, is having a great sale and it's a biggie! 50% off Prints, good on 4x6, 5x7, and even 8x10 single image and collage with a minimum 30 purchase. Find it here http://photo1.walgreens.com/reprintscreateflow

This is a screaming good deal too: Snapfish is offering a Classic Photo Book for only $10!!! It's Snappy's 10th birthday and he's handing out great party favors! Here's a surprise that you won't want to miss. Right now get a Classic Photo Book for just $10. The classic photo book is one of Snappy's favorites at half price but this celebration won't last long. Just use coupon code APR1BD at checkout before April 7th.

Amazing Aftrica Projects You Can Build Yourself Review

2010-04-01T17:25:00.001-06:00

Did you know ancient Egyptians used gold to fill a decayed tooth? Did you know some South African gold mines are 12,000 feet deep? Did you Know for of the five fastest animals on earth live in Africa? These are just a snippet of the fun facts included in the book Amazing Africa Projects You Can Build Yourself by Carla Mooney, illustrated by Megan Stearns.

My husband's grandparents lived 5 years in South Africa and my high school BFF lived there for 2 years so this was a very fun book to review. The book introduces readers ages 9 and up to stunning landscapes, ancient civilizations and tribes, unique traditions, and amazing wildlife of the vast African continent.

With 25 fun, easy projects that kids can complete using common household supplies and many recycled materials, kids learn what life is like in Africa and have some fun while learning. To view a sample of the types of projects included in this book go to this link http://nomadpress.net/ipaper/make-your-ouwn-kikuyu-initiation-shield and make your own kikuyu initiation shield.

My 10 year old daughter and I enjoyed reviewing this book together. We only wish some of the beautiful illustrations were in color truly showcasing their beauty. The list price is only $15.95 which is a steal. You can purchase this book at Amazon.com here.

About the Author and Illustrator:

Carla Mooney is a writer who has been featured in Golfer Girl, Highlights, and Learning Through History. She is the author of Asante Samuel, Dads, Teach Your Child About Becoming a Sister, and Vanessa Hudgens. She lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Megan Stearns is a freelance artist and has completed many commissions, including portraits of animals, people, and landscapes; T-shirt designs; and children’s book illustrations. She lives in Mattituck, New York.

Thanks to Nomad Press for the opportunity to review this book and to The Product Review Place for connecting us together.

I received the review product at no cost to me to review and evaluate my opinion.

Winner!

2010-03-31T11:24:00.000-06:00

Thank you to all who entered the Lunch Box Love Notes giveaway. It was sure fun to focus on spreading positive words with our loved ones.

Congratulations to Julie #40, the contest winner.

If you didn't win, remember you can buy these adorable little cards at the website http://www.sayplease.com/lunch-box-love-for-kids or some are available at Michael's Crafts.

Winner has 48 hours to respond to email or another winner will be chosen.

Free Willy: Escape From Pirate's Cove Review and Giveaway

2010-03-20T19:12:00.000-06:00

Fans of the Free Willy series will cheer this exciting family film about a baby orca who needs a friend and a girl who finds the courage to help him. After young Kirra (Bindi Irwin) leaves her Australian home to summer with her grandfather (Beau Bridges) in South Africa, she soon discovers a baby orca stranded in the lagoon near her grandfather’s rundown seaside amusement park. She names the lonely whale Willy – and embarks on a quest to lead the little guy back to his anxious pod before her grandfather’s greedy rival turns Willy into a captive, moneymaking attraction at his slick theme park. A little girl, a little orca and big, big fun and adventure!

The official movie site http://www.freewillyescapefrompiratescove.com/ is tons of fun and be sure to print out for your kids an online Free Willy fun pack - with coloring pages, games, fun facts, (and my favorite) questions about the movie to get a dialogue going between you and your kids!

Bindi is adorable and so much fun to watch! I love how it shows Bindi working so hard to learn information about whales in order to help Willy.

Available on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and for Download 3/23!

Thanks to Warner Bros. Entertainment I get to present one of my lucky readers with a Free Willy Gift Pack!

Free Willy: Escape From Pirates Cove Gift Pack Includes:

(1) Copy of the film (DVD)
(1) Free Willy t-shirt (M)
(1) Free Willy Visor
(1) Free Willy Pirate hat
(1) Free Willy Activity booklet
(2) Free Willy Bookmarks
(1) Free Willy temporary tattoos
(1) Free Willy stickers
(1) Free Willy poster

ENTRIES : (leave a comment for each entry)

Follow Solutions Sleuth PUBLICLY via Google Friend Connect (Located up on the left corner)
Grab my button and post on your blog -5 Entries
Post the link to this contest on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, or MySpace page(s) and link back here! -5 Entries

The Free Willy Gift Pack will be sent to the winner directly from Warner Bros. Giveaway ends on April 3, 2010. Giveaway is open for the US only. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to notification with shipping info – if no response, another winner will be chosen. No purchase necessary – void where prohibited by law. Review product was provided to me. I received no monetary gain. All opinions expressed are based on my own use and experience with the item.

Read and Share The Story of Easter Retold by Gwen Ellis, Illustrated by Steve Smallman Review

2010-03-20T12:43:00.002-06:00

From the Read and Share Bible brand, this retelling of the Easter story is explained in a way that helps young children understand the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

Based on the International Children's Bible, this story walks through the last week of Christ's life and is told in a way that teaches children about the amazing gift Jesus gave us. Events include His triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday through His appearance to the disciples and His ascension.

My favorite features:

conversation starting, thought provoking questions making it easy to have discussions with your children about the story
scripture references
retell the story activity with mixed up illustrations
animated DVD includes 15-minutes of stories plus coloring pages and other bonus features

This is a wonderful Easter book for children ages 3-8. It is a fantastic buy at only $10.99 list price for the hardbound book and DVD.

I received this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers at no cost to review and evaluate. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid for this post.

Lunch Box Love Review and Giveaway

2010-03-15T15:58:00.000-06:00

I found something you are gonna LOVE! It's these adorable little credit card sized notes called Lunch Box Love with positive messages and fun trivia for your child's lunchbox, backpack, binder or pillow! It is no longer a secret but scientifically proven that positive thoughts and words have a positive affect on our mental and physical health. It's true! I secretly started putting these notes in my daughters lunch box and she came home happier and more open to sharing her day with me. These little love notes make it so easy to share positive thoughts with our loved ones such as "My favorite job is taking care of you", "Listen to your intuition", "Your Opionion Matters". There are so much more thoughtful and caring messages but I'm not going to give them all away....I don't want to spoil your fun! The quirky fun facts on the back have been great conversation starters for my daughter during lunch time. The cards are excellent quality and they come in a conveinent plastic case.

You know what else? A little birdie told me you can pick some up at Michael's craft store in their dollar bin! Now that is a dollar well spent! For a complete set oder here.

This is more than just a FANTASTIC product. Say Please is a fantastic company! The cofounders believe that Positive words can change someone's day, a life, and eventually the world! Say Please has pledged to donate a portion of all proceeds to help feed hungry children around the world! Awww...That makes my heart melt! Thanks for making such a great product!

To help you spread positive words with your loved ones I get to present one of my lucky readers with their very own Lunch Box Love cards from Say Please for FREE! Just follow the instructions below to enter.

ENTRIES : (leave a comment for each entry)

Follow Solutions Sleuth PUBLICLY via Google Friend Connect (Located up on the left corner)
Grab my button and post on your blog -5 Entries
Post the link to this contest on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, or MySpace page(s) and link back here! -5 Entries
Join my pledge in spreading positive words and tell me how you did so.
Make a purchase from Say Please -5 Entries

The winning Lunch Box Love cards will be sent to the winner directly from Say Please. Giveaway ends on March 27, 2010. Giveaway is open for the US only. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to notification with shipping info – if no response, another winner will be chosen. No purchase necessary – void where prohibited by law. Review product was provided to me. I received no monetary gain. All opinions expressed are based on my own use and experience with the item.

WINNERS!

2010-03-15T15:42:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to the following winners of my giveaways!

Eden Home Organic $50 Gift Card: Eileen #134

Easy Lunch Boxes.com Lunch Box Set: Michelle #105

LEGO: The Adventures of Clutch Powers DVD: Amy #3

Wow! Wood and Laminate Floor Cleaning System: Sohamolina #84

Thank you to all who entered! I enjoyed your comments. Please enter more of my giveaways for your very own chance to win! Winners have 48 hours to submit their mailing information or another winner will be chosen.

40% Off Children's Top 500 Books!

2010-03-08T11:51:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Daddy Forever I found this cool post I want to share with you. Walmart.com is running a month-long promotion on children books as part of Read Across America Day and Dr. Seuss’s birthday. Dads and moms can save up to 40% on the top 500 children’s books. Parents can purchase children books for as low as $2.20 (including free shipping). According to various studies, by the age of two, children who are read to regularly display greater language comprehension, larger vocabularies, and higher cognitive skills. The Early Childhood Longitudinal Study found that children who were read to at least three times a week by a family member were almost twice as likely to score in the top 25 percent in reading.

Cool! While I love to support local Mom & Pop shops for specialty books I think this is a great opportunity to stock up your children's library with some of the classics.

Here is a link to the children's book section.: http://www.walmart.com/cp/Read-Across-America/1064544

Wow! Wood and Laminate Floor Cleaner Giveaway

2010-03-02T11:49:00.000-07:00

Thanks to
Black Diamond products I got to review their WOW! Wood floor and laminate cleaning system! After breaking 3, yes 3, mops in as many years, I was searching for a better system to clean my floors and I think I've found one! My little one is crawling all over the floors now and the Black Diamond products safe for use around pets and kids. I used the system on my wood floors and they looked fantastic! (Until a gallon of milk was spilled on the floor, then back to square one!) Good thing this mop is so sturdy, it cleaned the floor right up.

Thanks Black Diamond for the great products!

Diamond Stoneworks wood floor and laminate cleaning system is the complete wood floor set for all un-waxed natural wood and laminate floors! This kit comes ready to clean with the WOW wood floor cleaner, a heavy duty cleaning mop and a microfiber cleaning pad.

Black Diamond Stoneworks was founded in 1997 with the simple belief that quality, value, and performance never go out of style. They started with five cleaning and sealing products for natural stone and ceramic tile. Due to their huge success their product line has continued to grow and now numbers over 30 superior products! Click HERE to get cleaning tips, store locations, and more!

Thanks to Black Diamond I get to present one of my readers with a FREE wood and laminate floor cleaning system! Isn't that awesome! Just follow instructions below to enter to win.

Please leave a separate comment for EACH entry! You MUST leave your email address in your comment or make your address visible in your profile so I can let you know if you’ve won.

ENTRIES:

Follow Solutions Sleuth PUBLICLY via Google Friend Connect (Located up on the left corner)
Grab my button and post on your blog -5 Entries
Post the link to this contest on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, or MySpace page(s) and link back here! -5 Entries
Leave a Comment telling me what you like about the Black Diamond Wow! Wood and Laminate Floor Cleaning System

The Wow!Wood and Laminate Floor Cleaning System will be sent to the winner directly from Black Diamond.

Giveaway ends on March 15, 2010. Giveaway is open for the US only. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to notification with shipping info – if no response, another winner will be chosen. No purchase necessary – void where prohibited by law. Review product was provided to me. I received no monetary gain. All opinions expressed are based on my own use and experience with the item.

Easy Lunch Boxes Review and Giveaway

2010-03-01T12:40:00.001-07:00

I have to pack a lunch for my daughter every single day and about this time of year we get really stagnant and repetitive. In other words, so sick of making lunches we groan just at the thought of making yet another pb&j!

I came across EasyLunchBoxes.Com and was inspired with loads of ideas for new, fun, and healthy lunches. Check these ideas out http://www.easylunchboxes.com/neat_ideas/recipes/index.htm! The best part? The containers are designed to perfectly fit in the Lunch Box. No wasting baggies anymore!

From the website (Green is my comments):

Mornings spent in chaos making breakfast, beds, & lunch boxes? YES

The EasyLunchbox system makes it simple to organize and quickly pack healthy lunches without wasting money, time, paper or plastic. -Exactly what we need!

EasyLunchboxes.com started from the desire to send my 3 kids to school with simple, healthy food, with little to no extra packaging or ingredients. But this system is not just for kids. Adult size meals fit perfectly too.

I was like other frustrated moms - I didn't like throwing together lunches during the morning rush. So much time was wasted sorting through a cabinet of mismatched food containers while trying to pack 15-25 well-balanced lunches per week. (Has she been to my house? How did she know?) I struggled to find something that would help me pack lunches fast, without resorting to the ‘convenience’ of expensive, pre-packaged ‘fast-food.’ Most importantly, I wanted something attractive, eco-friendly (thank you!), and made of food-safe materials that I didn’t have to wash by hand.

My clever solution to the lunch-packing chore is the simple two piece EasyLunchbox container : The bottom has three compartments to hold an entree or sandwich and two side dishes. The fitted lid (which comes in 4 colors) covers all three compartments in a snap. No more mismatched plastic container pieces to keep track of (matching up all those bottoms and lids was the thing that drove me nuts!) or wasteful baggies. Fits perfectly inside the roomy EasyLunchbox custom carrying bag. And there is still plenty of room to throw in an extra snack or two, whole fruit, perhaps a thermos of soup, drink and ice block. Flexibility is key, and since so many different things can fit, no matter what menu you choose to include, it packs easily and quickly. It's amazing how much faster, greener, and easier lunch box packing is with the EasyLunchbox system.

By eliminating the unnecessary multiple parts and accessories offered by other companies, the EasyLunchbox System is 1/2 the price of similar products, so it's very affordable. And it's also reusable, which helps save the environment. FDA approved. No BPA, phthalates, lead, vinyl, or PVC. Safe for dishwasher and microwave.

The simple chic design and bright colors of our Cooler Bags can even be personalized!

We have included a sturdy grommet in the carrying handle so you can easily attach a pretty key ring, or your choice of any type of handcrafted or store bought “flair.” Examples HERE

Our Cooler Bags are made of the highest quality 300D Polyester for premium durability and toughness. Vinyl free (PVC free) & lead free, with an FDA compliant PEVA lining.

I've found the perfect SOLUTION to packing lunches! I wish I could buy one of these for every single student and teacher who has to pack a lunch at my daughter's school but sadly, I can't. But thanks to Easy Lunch Boxes I can GIVE AWAY one container and Lunchbox set to a lucky winner for FREE!!! Yeah!

Just follow the instructions below to enter for your chance to win! Contest Ends March 13, 2010

Please leave a separate comment for EACH entry! You MUST leave your email address in your comment or make your address visible in your profile so I can let you know if you’ve won.

ENTRIES:

Follow Solutions Sleuth PUBLICLY via Google Friend Connect (Located up on the left corner)
Grab my button and post on your blog -5 Entries
Post the link to this contest on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, or MySpace page(s) and link back here! -5 Entries
Leave a Comment telling me what you like about Easy Lunch Boxes
Sign up for Easy Lunch Box Newsletter -- tell them Sarah from Solutions Sleuth sent you!

The Easy Lunch Box in your color choice and Container Set will be sent directly to the winner by EasyLunchBoxes.Com

Giveaway ends on March 13, 2010. Giveaway is open for the US only. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to notification with shipping info – if no response, another winner will be chosen. No purchase necessary – void where prohibited by law. Review product was provided to me. I received no monetary gain. All opinions expressed are based on my own use and experience with the item

LEGO: The Adventures of Clutch Powers DVD Review and Giveaway

2010-03-01T12:06:00.000-07:00

Remember playing for hours on end with your toys and wishing they would come to life? Well, here is the next best thing.
For the first time ever, see the creative world of LEGO® come to life in the all-new feature-length DVD movie. Meet Clutch Powers, the best builder and explorer in the LEGO®universe as he heads off on his most dangerous mission yet. Join Clutch and his team of LEGO®experts as their adventure leads them from LEGO® City to the Space Police prison planet to the medieval world of Ashlar where they must help the rightful heir to the King’s throne find the courage to regain the kingdom from the evil wizard Mallock the Malign. Their brick-building skills will be put to the ultimate test as they face off against Mallock’s skeleton army. Get ready for an action-packed adventure like nothing you have ever seen before, The Adventures of Clutch Powers!

You can check out the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBROpeHvel0
Also, here are four clips from the film: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=DCD4AC17987D97DF
Release date: The film is available on DVD and Digital Download on 2/23

The expressions on the characters faces are priceless! I loved looking for recognizable LEGO pieces in the film and it gave me ideas of all kinds of new things we could build with them. Oh, and check out the sign on the bathroom door of the "Space Travel" scene -hilarious! This movie will be a big hit with the kiddos, and the grownups will get inspired to play LEGOS with them. Which is really what it's all about anyway, right?

You can WIN your very own LEGO: The Adventures of Clutch Powers DVD. Here's how:

Post a Comment - 1 Entry
Follow This Blog - 1 Entry
Grab my Button and Post on Your Blog - 5 Entries
Post about this Giveaway on FaceBook, Twitter, Your Blog, etc. and leave me a link - 5 entries for each post.

Please leave your email address in the comment if it is not public in your profile. One lucky US Resident will be chosen on March 13, 2010. Good Luck All!

I received this DVD from Universal Home Entertainment and all opinions expressed are my own.

Winners!

2010-03-01T09:42:00.001-07:00

Here are the lucky winners! Thanks to all who entered. If I don't hear back from them with their mailing information in the next 48 hours, new winners will be chosen.

Into The Wild Book - Chrissy

How I Got This Way Book - Eva SB

Enstrom Milk Chocolate Almond Toffee - Gosfam

Hard Water Test Strips - Annette, Beth at Aunties, OneOutnumberedMama, sibabe64, Benita

Thanks to all who entered! Keep checking back for more exciting reviews and giveaways!

Eden Home Organic $50 Gift Certificate Giveaway

2010-02-24T22:50:00.002-07:00

Every once in awhile I come across a company that is concerned with more than just the bottom line. Eden Home Organic is one of those companies.

Eden Home Organic offers an assortment of ORGANIC bedding, bath, home, skincare, baby, kids, and pet products as well as men's, women's, and children's clothing items. It's truly a one-stop-shopping experience! The Eden Home website is one of the best shopping websites I’ve shopped. It is so easy to navigate and every product has a Product Overview, Product Story, What’s In It and Care tab. And if you haven’t experienced the rollover zoom feature, you’re in for a real treat. It saves loads of time waiting for pictures to load. But I have to warn you, you’ll be cursing every site that doesn’t offer this cool rollover zoom feature from now on.

Don’t miss checking out the Sales section. Free shipping is offered on orders over $100 right now (use code organic). Both the elegant gift wrapping and boxes they package with are made from 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper, and Eden Home uses biodegradable, recycled material in lieu of Styrofoam or bubble wrap for protective packaging.

Why organic? If you’re even just a teensy bit curious, you must check out the Why Choose Organic section of their website for tons of helpful information. Going "green" and choosing products that are better for our environment is not only smart but ensures the future sustainability of our planet.

Going “green” doesn’t mean you have to compromise on style. Just look at this beautiful Natalie Deluxe Travel Tote Organic Diaper Bag from the Bumble Collection. Features include hidden compartments, a large removable changing pad, dual insulated bottle pockets, and (my favorite) matching stroller straps. It is made from all natural organic materials that are oh so soft. The fabric is interwoven using a microscopic design process. This process combines each individual fiber to make water and stains impenetrable; without having to use any unnatural coatings. This bag is just one of the many easy ways you can give your baby an organic start. Be sure to check out their stylish Organic Baby Slings, a highlight of their baby products.

Thanks to Eden Home Organic I get to present one of my readers a $50.00 Gift Certificate to their store! How cool is that!

Just follow the instructions below to enter for your chance to win! Contest Ends March 13, 2010

Please leave a separate comment for EACH entry! You MUST leave your email address in your comment or make your address visible in your profile so I can let you know if you’ve won.

ENTRIES:

Follow Solutions Sleuth PUBLICLY via Google Friend Connect (Located up on the left corner)
Grab my button and post on your blog -5 Entries
Post the link to this contest on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, or MySpace page(s) and link back here! -5 Entries
Leave a Comment telling me what you like about Eden Home Organic
Become a Fan of Eden Home Organic on Facebook and post on their Wall -- tell them Sarah from Solutions Sleuth sent you!
Follow @EdenHomeOrganic on Twitter
Sign up for Eden Home's Free Newsletter (and BTW, get $5.00 order credit)

Want another chance to win? Head on over to http://www.trying2staycalm.com/ and enter Shauna's giveaway! Tell her Solutions Sleuth sent you.

The $50 Eden Home Organic Gift Certificate will be sent directly to the winner by Eden Home.
Giveaway ends on March 13, 2010. Giveaway is open for the US only. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to notification with shipping info – if no response, another winner will be chosen. No purchase necessary – void where prohibited by law. Review product was provided to me. I received no monetary gain. All opinions expressed are based on my own use and experience with the item.

Where To?

2010-02-22T11:14:00.000-07:00

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go..." - Dr. Seuss (Oh, the Places You'll Go!)

Enstroms Almond Toffee Giveaway

2010-02-11T15:20:00.000-07:00

Craving some Toffee? You will be after you read about this. Thanks to Entstrom's World Famous Almond ToffeeI got to review their delicious Milk Chocolate Almond Toffee! It is the perfect blend of sweet cream butter, pure cane sugar, and California almonds, drenched in a creamy milk chocolate and sprinkled with crushed almonds. Doesn't that just make your mouth water? The toffee has the perfect amount of crunch and superb flavor. I loved that it was not sticky or left you feeling like you needed an emergency trip to the dentist!

Enstrom's... Candies in Grand Junction, Colorado: Three generations ago, Chet Enstrom perfected the art of blending the finest natural ingredients to create batches of almond toffee as gifts for family and friends. By 1960, his almond toffee had begun to develop a reputation and, at the urging of family and friends, Chet and his wife, Vernie, founded Enstrom

I told you you would be craving some! Thanks to Enstrom's I get to GIVE AWAY a 1 lb box of their famous Milk Chocolate Almond Toffee. Wouldn't you love it? Enter to win:
*Open to USA only please*

Post a Comment - 1 Entry
Follow My Blog - 1 Entry
Post my Button on your blog - 5 Entries
Post about this giveaway on FB, your Blog, Tweet, etc. and leave me a link - 5 Entries

The lucky winner will be chosen on February 28, 2010. Good Luck!

*I received no monetary gain for this post. I did receive the product at no charge to review and evaluate for you.*

Hard Water Test Strips Giveaway

2010-02-10T17:20:00.007-07:00

Do you have Hard Water? Do you know if or how hard your water is?

Here is your Solution!

This is a giveaway for 3 water hardness test stips!!

Hard water can cause all kinds of problems in your household. Water heaters can get so full of hard water deposits they become unusable. Faucets and shower heads become clogged and barely flow. Not to mention all the spots on everything. Washers - both dish and clothes - will clean better and more efficiently. The list can go on ond on.
So what do we do? We buy water softners. But is the softner set correctly? There is a setting there you know. Usually a number is selected based on the hardness of the water before it comes to the softner. These simple test strips will give you a hardness number parts per million. Each number range is devided into a scale from Very Hard to Soft.
Maybe you are wondering if your softner is working correctly. Use the test strip at a location that soft water is supposed to be connected.
Or you might wonder if soft water is hooked to a certain fixture. Sometimes a kitchen faucet is left out of the system. Sometimes outside faucets are hooked up for washing cars etc.

Use these test strips to troubleshoot or just satisfy curiosity.

Five winners will receive 3 test strips to test your water. Each is individualy wrapped and has the instructions printed on the back. Good luck and have fun with them.

Want to know more about hard water? click here....
Great Hard Water Info.

TO ENTER TO WIN THESE TESTERS:

Post a Comment - 1 Entry

Follow My Blog Publicly (upper left corner) - 1 Entry

Post about this Giveaway on your Blog, FB, Twitter, etc. and leave me a link- 5 Entries

Grab my button and post on your blog - 5 Entries

Leave a comment for each entry. I can't wait to give this book to the lucky winner!

Winner will be announced Feb. 28 2010

Into The Wild - Book Review & Giveaway

2010-02-10T11:14:00.000-07:00

Into The Wild by John Krakauer

BOOK GIVEAWAY

Amazon.com Review: "God, he was a smart kid..." So why did Christopher McCandless trade a bright future--a college education, material comfort, uncommon ability and charm--for death by starvation in an abandoned bus in the woods of Alaska? This is the question that Jon Krakauer's book tries to answer. While it doesn't—cannot—answer the question with certainty, Into the Wild does shed considerable light along the way. Not only about McCandless's "Alaskan odyssey," but also the forces that drive people to drop out of society and test themselves in other ways. Krakauer quotes Wallace Stegner's writing on a young man who similarly disappeared in the Utah desert in the 1930s: "At 18, in a dream, he saw himself ... wandering through the romantic waste places of the world. No man with any of the juices of boyhood in him has forgotten those dreams." Into the Wild shows that McCandless, while extreme, was hardly unique; the author makes the hermit into one of us, something McCandless himself could never pull off. By book's end, McCandless isn't merely a newspaper clipping, but a sympathetic, oddly magnetic personality. Whether he was "a courageous idealist, or a reckless idiot," you won't soon forget Christopher McCandless.

Doesn't this book sound interesting? It has now been made into a movie which was well worth the view. J.W. has read it and although he though that Chris was rash and reckless he thought it was definitely worth reading. It is a short book and can be read in just a couple hours.

S. Premo had this to say, "The story of Chris McCandless serves as medium for contemplation of our will to live, our insatiable desire for risk, and the choices we make. You don't have to agree with the decisions of the character to find fulfillment in understanding. Overall, well-written."

TO ENTER TO WIN THIS BOOK:

Post a Comment - 1 Entry
Follow My Blog Publicly (upper left corner) - 1 Entry
Post about this Giveaway on your Blog, FB, Twitter, etc. and leave me a link- 5 Entries
Grab my button and post on your blog - 5 Entries

Leave a comment for each entry. I can't wait to give this book to the lucky winner!

Winner will be announced Feb. 28 2010

Patrick F. McManus Book Giveaway

2010-02-08T12:48:00.001-07:00

Are you up for some reading about some crazy funny outdoor adventures? I have this hilarious book to GIVEAWAY to a lucky reader.

HOW I GOT THIS WAY by PATRICK F. MCMANUS

"Patrick McManus is a treasure." - The Atlantic

"Everybody should read Patrick McManus." -The New Yourk Times Book Review

"A style that brings to mind Mark Twain, Art Buchwald, and Garrison Keillor." - People

"The funniest writer around today." -Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"MCManus captures the innocence most of us lose when we become grown-up, and reading him you can't help recalling similar times and events in your own life." - Booklist.

Any alert reader will remember the stir Patrick McManus created with his close examination of metaphysics a few years back. Always the deep thinker, Pat concerns himself this time with situational ethics. Here's an example: While mountain climbing, your partner falls and is left hanging by a rope—the one you control. You can either save him or save yourself. Now here's the tricky part: How do you distract your partner as you prepare to cut the rope?... On the way through the woods, Pat pauses to explain several everyday facts of life. One is called the theory of convergence, and it explains, with a minimum of mathematics, why when a hunter goes one way, the elk always goes the other. Another fact of life deals with "disinformation" and the use of lies (the bigger the better) when it comes to explaining one's prowess as a hunter. When asked, "What's the longest shot you've ever made?" a good answer would be. "I'd guess about six hundred yards." (No need to add that you missed.) Pat also offers solid thoughts on the qualities that define leadership, beginning with the need to be tall. (A good head of hair won't hurt either.). We could go on, but it's enough to tell you that one of the treats of this hilarious collection is a two-part autobiographical piece that reveals Pat's tortuous trip along the writer's path .

TO ENTER TO WIN THIS BOOK:

Post a Comment - 1 Entry
Follow My Blog Publicly (upper left corner) - 1 Entry
Blog about this Giveaway and leave me a link- 5 Entries
Grab my button and post on your blog - 5 Entries

Leave a comment for each entry. I can't wait to give this book to the lucky winner!
Giveaway ends February 28, 2010

~Love~

2010-02-08T12:40:00.000-07:00

"You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams."
- Dr. Seuss

Who's Life Are You Touching?

2010-02-07T17:18:00.000-07:00

Today in Relief Society was our Visiting Teaching Conference. We sang the most beautiful song. It reminded me to be a positive influence in someones life. I hope you enjoy reading the lyrics as much as I did.

Each Life That Touches Ours For Good

Each life that touches ours for good
reflects thine own great mercy Lord.
Thou sendest blessings from above
Thru words and deeds of those who love.

What greater gift does thou bestow,
What greater goodness can we now
than Christ-like friends, whose gentle ways
strengthen our faith, enrich our days.

Karen Lynn Davidson

Thanks for touching my life : )

Welcome!

2010-02-06T08:58:00.000-07:00

Let's face it. Life is one big sticky situation after another. In an attempt to create some kind of order I am starting this SOLUTIONS blog to find answers to everyday problems. I will seek out solutions by searching for products and offers that truly bring simplicity, quality and usefulness to our lives instead of frustrations. Do we really need yet another useless product filling our landfills? I think not!

Join me on my search. Along this journey we will explore new and established products, discover exciting offers, and create lifelong friends.

All product reviews are expressley my own opinion. I do not receive any monetary gain for reviewing and expressing my opinions on products or links. I may receive free products to review and pass along to you.

Free Diapers!

2010-02-05T20:20:00.000-07:00

What mommy wouldn't love free diapers? Well check this out.

Pampers has introduced a new line of diapers, with dry max technology, and the babies of the Olympic athletes were the first to try these bad boys out.

It's only fitting because in one day, a cruising baby can take as many steps as a marathon runner in a race! In fact, a 9 month old baby can crawl up to 400 meters in just 20 minutes.

It's this active play that drives the Pampers brand to make their diapers better.

Some of the features of the new Pampers Dry Max diapers are:

* New Dry Max technology - our driest ever - to help lock wetness in up to 12 hours.
* Twenty (20) percent less bulk, making it Pampers' thinnest diaper and our driest ever
*Softer outer cover for comfort inside and out
*Tapered design
* Sesame Street® characters (Sesame street® is a licensed character with Pampers in North America)
*Will be offered for the same price as current Pampers Swaddlers and Cruisers (Pricing is at the sole discretion of the retailer.)

What is Dry Max?

Dry Max describes the new "engine" or core of Cruisers and Swaddlers diapers.
It allows for the removal of the airfelt ("paper pulp") found in current Swaddlers and Cruisers, resulting in a thinner and less bulky core. Currently, Pampers is the only brand with this technology on the market.

The thinner core is enabled by the new Absorbent Gelling Material (AGM), removing the need for airfelt. The AGM is more permeable, meaning it locks wetness in faster than previous AGM.
The Dry Max technology will also be available in Pampers Swaddlers diapers for new babies in March 2010.

----

Here's the skinny on the FREE DIAPERS:

Right now, if you go to Pampers.com, you can sign up to receive a three pack of the new Pampers Cruisers with Dry Max.

And if you get a Team USA diaper, which will be randomly inserted into select sample packs, then your baby will win a one year supply of Pampers Cruisers with Dry Max.... (I really hope it's me)

So click on over, sign up for some free diapers, and cross your fingers that you get the Team USA logo.

Decorating Dilema?

2010-02-05T18:50:00.000-07:00

I love this website. She is the queen of decorating. My favorite decorating she does is finding cheap furniture and refinishing it or repurposing it. You really ought to check this out. It is worth the click.

http://www.olderandwisor.blogspot.com

4 Snaps!

Choices count

2010-02-05T17:39:00.000-07:00

"It is our choices, Harry, that show us who we truly are, far more than our abilities."

J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets)

Welcome!

2010-02-05T17:24:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my blog. In this fast paced world of technology I just had to jump on board. I want to be part of the snowball instead of being squished by it. Do you ever feel like that?

I LOVE to read. There is nothing like being totally swept away in your imagination simply by reading words. My favorite authors are Dorothy Keddington, J.K. Rowling, James Dashner, Greg Lund. Oh, there is so many more I could list but you would be here all day.

I would love to share my love of reading with you. I will be giving away some lucky readers books coming up very soon. Follow me on Google Friend Connection so you are sure not to miss out.

I hope you come back often and like what you see!

Sarah