Join the Qlubb

I've written before about getting organizing for the new year, and Team Mom has just turned me on to a new way of accomplishing that goal.

Say, like me, you're involved in something that takes a lot of planning and organization.

In my case, this was the regional science fair (in which the Rhino, thank you very much, won second place in his division! Woohoo!).

Now, fortunately I didn't have to plan all this, because the school and the county folks have been doing it so long they have it down to, well, a science.

But if I did take on a huge task like that, I'd have NO idea where to start to get all the students, parents, teachers and judges on the same page. Which is why it's so great that someone a LOT smarter than me came up with the idea behind Qlubb.

Qlubb helps groups organize *together*, automating many of the essentials tasks involved in group events so that you can spend more time just enjoying your families, friends, maybe even your favorite Twitter friends, basically all your social networks (see what I did there?).

Qlubb offers group calendars, shared sign-up sheets, and an online RSVP so you know who is "in". By including everyone in the planning process, Qlubb ensures there's less for you to do!

Qlubb lets you:
• Easily organize group events and activities online
• Eliminate email back-and-forth
• Eliminate reminders and nags of events and responsibilities
• Easily delegate tasks to members
• Easily create a secure website for your group
• SPEND MORE TIME ENJOYING YOUR REAL-LIFE GROUPS

Qlubb is now offering a new 30-day calendar view and homepage design that make it even easier to navigate the site, and its easy user sign-on means that even your less "techie" friends won't feel intimidated by working together online to get things done.

Check out Qlubb now--like they say on the site, it's "fast, easy and free!"

Dexter: This Material is Not Suitable for Children

I frequently post on movies, DVDs or TV shows I think you would like, and generally they are family-friendly offerings.

But sometimes you want something you can watch together as a couple, or even on your own, something juicy that you can dig into when the kids are in bed and you're sitting up late unchaperoned. ; )

Definitely not for children, Dexter was available first only to Showtime subscribers, which is why I missed it the first time around. And there's good reason for the exclusivity, because Dexter is a dark, pushing-the-envelope series that really is best seen only by discriminating adults who know exactly what they are getting into from the beginning.

Dexter (played masterfully by Michael C. Hall) is, on the surface, a likeable guy, a forensics expert with a steady girlfriend who works for the Miami Police Department helping find the truth behind crime scenes.

That's nothing we haven't seen before in a series--except that's not the real Dexter.

Because this seemingly normal guy actually hides a dark secret: he's a serial killer who channels his murderous tendencies into pursuing and killing the criminals he knows, through his work in forensics, to be guilty. Taught by his foster father to harness his lust for blood and killing, Dexter's unique strict moral code allows him to prey only on those killers who, though guilty, escape justice through a technicality, whom he tracks down methodically and ruthlessly dispatches.

That's right: the protagonist is, himself, a cold-blooded killer.

I'm cluing you in on Dexter (see what I did there? Cluing you in? get it?) because now the entire first season is available on disc, and the best way to see it is definitely on the Blu-ray DVD version.

DEXTER: The Complete First Season is a three-disc set. It's presented in 1080p High Definition with English 5.1 Dolby True HD (and Spanish 2.0 Dolby Digital), with a total running time of 10 hours, 51 minutes.

Here's what's on each disc:

Disc One:
• Dexter
• Crocodile
• Popping Cherry
• Let’s Give The Boy A Hand

Disc Two:
• Love American Style
• Return To Sender

Special Feature: Audio Commentary with Jennifer Carpenter, David Zayas, Lauren Vélez and Erik King

• Circle Of Friends
• Shrink Wrap

Disc Three:
• Father Knows Best
• Seeing Red
• Truth Be Told
• Born Free

Special Feature: Audio Commentary with Producers Sara Colleton, Clyde Phillips and Daniel Cerone

BD-Live Special Features:
• The Academy Of Blood - A Killer Course
• Witnessed In Blood - A True Murder Investigation
• Michael C. Hall Podcast
• First Episode of DEXTER, Season 3
• First two episodes of UNITED STATES OF TARA --word to the wise, apparently Showtime has not released these two episodes (as of today) to the BD-Live server yet. Not sure what the delay is?

The suggested retail price is 54.98, but you can get Dexter: The Complete First Season [Blu-ray] from Amazon for 34.99.

The Newest No More Tears products from JOHSON'S

You already know that Johnson's No More Tears is celebrating its 50th anniversary (and make sure you enter the giveaway in Wednesday's post for the Bathtime Buddies gift basket from Johnson's!).

As I mentioned in that post, Johnson's is making a great thing better and including a new, improved No More Tears formula in their latest two products. Here's what you need to know about these two new offerings from Johnson's:

Baby Bubble Bath and Wash

• Contains an all-new formula combining the NO MORE TEARS® extra gentle baby wash formula with big, bath time bubbles (which even older kids will love).
  

• Gentle enough to use everyday on baby (and anyone else who wants a bathtub full of bubbles).

• Specially designed for baby’s unique skin, hair and eye needs.

• JOHNSON'S® Baby Bubble Bath & Wash is soap-free, dye-free, hypoallergenic, dermatologist and pediatrician tested.

HEAD-TO-TOE® Foaming Wash

• Comes in an easy, convenient pump-and-foam form, so that you can always have the other hand free (and who doesn't need an extra hand when you're dealing with a wet, wriggling baby?)

• Cleansing with JOHNSON'S® HEAD-TO-TOE® Foaming Wash is proven to be as mild as cleansing with water alone--it won't cause dry skin or irritation for your baby like soap can.

• Specially designed for newborns.
  

• Rinses easily.
  

• JOHNSON'S® HEAD-TO-TOE Foaming Wash is soap-free, dye-free, hypoallergenic and dermatologist tested.
  

More Bathtime Fun! Johnson's 50th Anniversary Bathtime Basket Giveaway

This month marks the 50th Anniversary of JOHNSON'S 'No More Tears' formula. Moms like me have trusted Johnson's baby products for years, just as our Moms did before us. Did you know that Johnson's Baby Powder first came out in 1890, and that the scent has never been changed? That wonderful "baby smell" that we all know and love, part of that we owe to them!

I was fortunate enough to visit Johnson's New Brunswick, New Jersey facility early last year, and I was impressed to discover just how dedicated they are to making sure their products are safe for your baby--that iconic No More Tears formula went through rigorous testing before it was released to make sure it was perfectly safe for your children's eyes.

Now, in honor of the 50th Anniversary, Johnson's is introducing two brand new No More Tears bath products: Johnson's Bubble Bath & Wash and Johnson's Head-To-Toe Foaming Wash, both containing an updated, even more mild No More Tears formula. I'll have more about these great new products in my very next post.

Now, usually you get gifts on your anniversary, but that's not the way Johnson's rolls. No, they want YOU to have a gift, in the form of a big basket of Johnson's bathtime goodies!

To win this 50th anniversary Bathtime Basket from Johnson's, just visit their site and then come back and tell me which of their products is your favorite.

I know this is a tough one, because it's so hard to pick, isn't it? Even though my "babies" are teens now, I'm still a fan of so many of their products: I've used Johnson's Baby Oil when I shave to keep my skin smooth and silky, and I've found their Soothing Vapor Bath is great when your nose is stuffed up, just to name a couple.

Additonal entry methods: I want to spread the word about these great new products from Johnson's and the 50th Anniversary of their No More Tears formula, so I'm only offering two additonal entry methods to do just that. I'm asking that you either blog about this contest or share it on a social networking site (for example, you could Tweet about it on Twitter) for additional entries.

Please remember to leave a comment for each additional entry method you choose. Contest ends February 5th, and please make sure to leave an email where you can be reached. As always, winners have three days to respond after being notified, and you need a shipping address in the continental US to be eligible to win.

Good luck!

Bathtime Fun (Part I)

I just received some bath products to offer you all in a giveaway, and I'm sure you'll agree with me that they are just adorable!

I'm tickled pink to introduce to you the "Bath Time Buddies" gang from Tiny Tillia. These critters are so cute, your kids will actually want to take a bath.


Our giveaway includes a (waterproof, safe and non-toxic) Bath Book filled with colorful pictures of the Tiny Tillia characters so that you and your child can get to know the whole crew better, an extra-soft, gentle and comfy Character Bath Mitt which also doubles as a hand puppet, and a mildly-fragranced Mini Bath Gel to fill your tub with bubbles.

I especially like that the Mini Bath Gel packs come in sets of four, so that kids can enjoy bathtime with a new buddy each night when bath time rolls around. Plus, the gel pack is so fun to "squish" that the Rhino, who at 13 considers himself generally too mature for these kinds of things, asked for one for his own bathroom!

Also available in the line are child-friendly and Head-to-Toe Foamy Wash and Hand Sanitizer. They're also "Mom approved", since the entire line is free of parabens.

Tiny Tillia is available at select specialty boutiques, such as Fred Segal, Lisa Kline Kids and Kitson, at your local Target stores and of course online at www.shoptillia.com.

To enter the giveaway, visit the Tiny Tillia website, browse their fine bath products for children, then come back and leave a comment with the name of one of the Tiny Tillia gang of bathtime buddies featured on the product line.

If you are a subscriber, make sure you let me know in another comment for an additional entry. You can also choose to become a Cool Moms Rule! feed subscriber today (see the sidebar) for an additional entry in the contest.

Other additional entry methods: Blog about or Tweet about the contest and provide the link in a comment, or add the Cool Moms Rule! button in the sidebar to your own blog.

Contest deadline is Tuesday, February 3rd at midnight EST. Winner has three days to reply to notification email to claim their prize, and, as always, contest is open to residents fo the continental US only.

Good Luck!

President Barack Obama: Celebrating the Occasion

Like so many of you (millions in Washington, D.C., alone, right on the steps of the Capitol), I've just watched Barack Obama as he was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America, and the first African-American ever to serve in the office.

I debated whether I should even blog about this, as I know that the Inauguration is ALL you have been hearing about lately. The news networks have all been previewing the occasion for the last several days, even weeks(!), and the morning shows have been televising nothing but the Inauguration all day. People are, no doubt, Twittering about it at this very moment.

I worried that we all might be feeling that we've just become saturated with the subject, and maybe I should just let it go.

But...I'm still feeling hopeful and optimistic, and I think one more post won't push any of us over the edge just yet. ; )

Simple Ways to Celebrate
the Inauguration with Your Kids

Wear Red, White and Blue--always a mark of patriotism for those of us who don't even own flag lapel pins, today is a good day to bring out those red and white sweaters (it's cold outside!) and pull on a pair of blue jeans to show off our national colors. Oh, and make sure those jeans don't slide down below your butt--Obama hates that look (it's a pet peeve of his with today's youth fashions).


Hit the Local Krispy Kreme--For a free donut of your choice, today only!

Get out the Lincoln Logs--Or anything you can use to open up a dialog with the little ones about President Obama's favorite role model, Abe Lincoln (February 12th, 2009 also marks the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth).

Dust Off Those Old Spiderman Comics--They're the new President's favorite (along with Conan the Barbarian)--in fact, he's a collector.

Check Out Some High School B-Ball--Barack was known as 'The O'Bomber' on his high school basketball court.

Serve Shrimp Linguini Tonight--The new President loves his wife, Michelle's--it's his favorite 'at-home' dinner. Wash it down with some black forest berry iced tea (another fave).

Or Go Out For Italian food--According to an interview with Obama early this year, his favorite dining spot is Italian Fiesta Pizzeria in Hyde Park, Chicago, IL.

But Skip the Ice Cream for Dessert--After working in an ice-cream parlor as teen, President Obama now can't stand the stuff!

Finally, Curl Up With An Old Movie--Obama's favorites? "Casablanca" and "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest".

Mary Poppins turns 45!

On January 27th, Disney's iconic tale of a mythical nanny turning the lives of her English charges completely upside down, Mary Poppins, celebrates its 45th anniversary.

I remember that, as a kid, I loved watching Dick Van Dyke dancing with the penguins, and singing along to "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!" or "A Spoonful of Sugar" (which is still the best way to give medicine, though I never remember that with my own kids now that I'm a Mom!). My first trip to London, which didn't happen until I was an adult in my twenties, had me imagining the city would look just as it did in that movie, with its smokey factory chimney tops. And there's something magical (well, naturally) about that very first time we see Mary with her umbrella.

It's a testament to Disney that the movie brings her world so vividly to life, that by the time Mary Poppins lifts that famous umbrella aloft and floats off to her next assignment, we've come to accept that this is a perfectly natural thing for a nanny to do!

There are just so many great moments in the film--ones that each new generation can share with their own kids and re-live again and again, together as a family.

And now, you can do experience all the wonder again with a spectacular new offering from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. To honor the 45th anniversary of Mary Poppins, they are releasing a commemorative DVD edition that includes a whole treasure trove of bonus features--really, folks, just look at what they've included in this DVD:


BONUS FEATURES

Backstage Disney
Disney on Broadway

• Mary Poppins from Page to Stage —First a beloved children’s book, then a classic movie and now a smash hit Broadway musical! Fans can follow the story of Mary Poppins from page to stage as the creative team and cast prepare to take the long running show on tour.

• Step in Time—The Broadway cast of Mary Poppins performs the never-before-filmed number “Step in Time” from the show.

• Step in Time – A downloadable MP3 featuring the Broadway cast of Mary Poppins singing “Step in Time,” featuring Ashley Brown as Mary Poppins and Gavin Lee as Bert.

• Video Intro By Scenic & Costume Designer, Bob Crowley

• Bob Crowley’s Design Galleries—Concept art, costume designs, set designs and set
models for the Broadway musical

• Audio Commentary—Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, Karen Dotrice and Richard Sherman recall the making of Mary Poppins.

• Poppins Pop-Up Fun Facts—Select this option and fun-filled facts about the creation of this classic film pop up during viewing.

• Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious: The Making of Mary Poppins—The definitive behind-the- scenes look at how this unique and beloved film came into being.

• Movie Magic—A look at the special effect techniques used to bring the magical world of
Mary Poppins to life.

• The Gala World Premiere—Footage from the Red Carpet.

• Dick Van Dyke Make-Up Test

• Trailers, Ads and More from the Original Release and Reissue of the Film

• Mary Poppins Still Art Galleries

Music & More

• Disney’s Song Selection—The whole family can sing along to “A Spoonful of Sugar,” “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” and any of the film’s other memorable songs as the lyrics pop up on screen. Each song can be selected separately or while watching the film.

• Magical Musical Reunion—Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke and songwriter Richard Sherman eminisce about making Mary Poppins and the music that makes it so special.

• A Musical Journey with Richard Sherman —A delightful magical journey through some of the film’s locations with co-composer Richard Sherman, who reveals surprising secrets about the music of Mary Poppins along the way.

Bonus Short

• The Cat That Looked at a King—Live action and animation bring a chapter of P.L. Travers’ Mary Poppins Opens the Door to life! Julie Andrews takes viewers into a magical animated world created in the style of the whimsical chalk drawings in Mary Poppins.

Deleted Song

• “Chimpanzoo”—A reconstruction of a song that did not appear in the movie using original storyboard and concept art, accompanied by a new rendition of the song performed by co- composer Richard Sherman.

This Mary Poppins
45th Anniversary EditionCommemorative DVD
has a suggested retail price of just $29.99--
but you can WIN IT from Cool Moms Rule!

Just leave a comment below on your favorite scene (or song) from Mary Poppins to be entered to win our giveaway, and you can win the DVD for your family!

As always, make sure you include an email address so we can contact you. Contest is open to residents of the continental US. Deadline for entries is midnight, February 1st.

For additional entries:

• Subscribe to the Cool Moms Rule! feed
• Tweet about this giveaway
• Blog about this giveaway and provide the link
• Put our button on your own blog

Make sure to leave another comment for each addtional entry method you choose.

Good luck!

Kyle XY: Revelations DVD winners!

Here are the 2 winners for our Kyle XY: Revelations DVD, which includes the entire second season of the series (and lots of fun bonus features)!

Once again, I channeled our old friend, the Random Integer Generator, to pick two winning comments from the 30 entries we received for our giveaway.

Here are the results:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

28 24

Timestamp: 2009-01-19 15:45:43 UTC

And the winning comments were:


K Amos, who said...

I would love to see this series
January 16, 2009 8:16 PM (24)

and


windycindy, who said...

Great show! Please enter me in your fun giveaway drawing. Many thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com (28)

Congratulations, K Amos and WindyCindy!

K Amos, you have no email associated with your comment of profile, so PLEASE contact me via email at vbruss at cfl DOT rr DOT com, or respond to this winning notification post below WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS, okay?

Cindi, congratulations again! I know you've won from us before (yay!), but if you could forward your shipping address to me again (I don't keep that info, to protect your privacy), we'll get that DVD right out to you!

We have some new giveaways coming up, so make sure to stop by Cool Moms Rule! beginning tomorrow.

Hint: think umbrellas, chimney sweeps and a spoonful of sugar!

Happy MLK Day!

Many of you who normally have to work outside the home have the day off today, and of course the kids are out of school--except mine, but that's okay.

You see, today is the last "work day" at the middle school before the school's Science Fair, and the regional Science Fair follows hard on its heels, so the kids are finishing up their projects. They'll end up displaying them in the local mall and then there will be this huge judging and awards ceremony for the regional Science Fair at the beginning of next month. So the Rhino is hard at work at school, and I'll be joining him in the afternoon to help out.

I think that's a fitting activity for this day, as the King family has said that the best way to honor the memory of Martin Luther King today is not through parades or fanfare, but by giving service back to the community, like volunteering. And of course our kids and their schools are an important commodity for the whole community--that's where our future leaders will come from, after all.

I saw a report on "Good Morning, America,"this morning about the upcoming Inauguration tomorrow, and how many families, including foster families, battered women and their children, people who normally could not afford to go, will be present as a result of other's generosity. A Washington, D.C. businessman named Earl Stafford rented 300 hotel rooms, and local businesses provided beautiful gowns, so they could feel like princesses for the day. It made me smile to see them all so excited and caught up in the momentous occasion.

Two of these young ladies, looking very elegant as they tried on their formal wear, were interviewed by Diane Sawyer, who asked them what they would like to see happen under this new Obama administration.

Their answer? Simply, "Better schools."

So, anyway, I'll be at my son's school this afternoon, hopefully helping out and making things a little better (on a very small scale).

However you plan to spend your own day off, I hope that you have a fulfilling and rewarding Martin Luther King Day.

Drugs.com and Mednotes, because what's more important than your health?

I'm so pleased to be a part of this Mom Central blog tour, introducing the new Mednotes service from Drugs.com, because it is such a valuable FREE service I think you should all know about it!

Drugs.com, of course, lets you go online and find out, again for free, Everything You Ever Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to Ask about the prescription drugs you are taking, or any new drugs your doctor gives you for any condition from asthma to...well, some condition that starts with Z. I never went to medical school; that's what you need drugs.com for! ;)


What the new Mednotes service does, is supplement that instant online repository of drug information and interactions with a new tracking service that lets you keep track of your prescriptions, gives you a notification when new medications or FDA warnings come out, and just makes it a lot easier to keep track of your medications. This is, I think, an especially valuable service for seniors, or those that suffer from chronic conditions that require them to take medication for long periods of time (like diabetics, for example, or anyone on anti-depressants).

Again, both Drugs.com and Mednotes are completely FREE. Check them out today!

Kyle XY: Revelations Giveaway!

Last night the first show in the new 3rd season of Kyle XY premiered, and I almost missed it! This was an action-packed, exciting episode, too. One problem, though, I had to try to remember what happened at the end of last season before I could get my bearings.

Well, if you're in the same boat, have no fear--we have TWO copies of the ENTIRE Second Season of Kyle XY on DVD to giveaway!

If you aren't familiar with Kyle XY, it's on ABCFamily, and it's the kind of show the whole family can sit down and watch together.

Kyle, the title character, is a mysterious figure who first came into the lives of the Trager family when Lori Trager, the Mom and a therapist, encounters him in a detention center.

Kyle really doesn't belong there--he's not a problem teen, he's just completely at sea because, as we find out later, Kyle is not like anyone else. He doesn't have a belly button, for one thing, and while he doesn't seem to grasp even the basics that most of us take for granted, he does have some amazing abilities (like learning at an incredibly fast pace, knowing things that are going to happen before they do, and incredible physical prowess, including never missing a free throw in basketball, and jumping as high as a kite).

Kyle's strange abilities originally set him apart from the other Trager kids, Lori and Josh (who is convinced Kyle is really an alien from outer space, and who keeps a journal outlining every strange thing Kyle has ever done). However, Kyle's kindness, selflessness and desire to help others soon make the Tragers not only welcome him into their home, but accept him as part of their own family. Kyle also develops a huge crush on Amanda, the sweet (but overly sheltered by her domineering mother) girl next door.

I like Kyle XY because the importance of family is really underlined throughout the whole series. This is never more evident than in the second season (which, remember, we are giving away!), when we see the vast difference between Kyle and Jessi, a teen girl who came to life in the same strange way that Kyle did. Check out the scene below.



I don't want to give anything away, but in the second season, "Kyle discovers how he was scientifically created by Adam Bailin and he starts to train his extraordinary abilities. Kyle’s link to Jessi XX are also developed and new relationships begin between Kyle and Amanda, Jessi and Declan, and Josh and Andy. " There, that's right from the DVD description, so no spoilers! One of my favorite developments is the relationship between Josh and his new girlfriend, Andy, who has secrets of her own.



There's also the usual round of bonus material on the DVD, including audio commentary from the cast, writers and producers of the show, the Science of Kyle XY, and even an alternate ending to the second season.

So, as you can see, good stuff, and you definitely need this in your DVD collection!

To WIN one of two copies of Kyle XY: Revelations (the entire second season) on DVD, just comment on this post!

For additional entries, you can:

Subscribe to the Cool Moms Rule! feed (top right sidebar)
Add our button to your site (middle right sidebar)
Tweet about this contest and provide the link and/or
Blog about this contest and provide the link.

Please make sure that you leave a comment for EACH entry method you use, that you include a valid email so that I can contact you, and that you live in the continental US for this giveaway. Winners have three days from notification to respond to claim their prize. Contest ends January 20th at midnight EST.

Good luck!

You know that thing we have to do? When IS that?

You know how sometimes you are trying to remember an important date--maybe the school's science fair awards, or your DD's next playdate, or a party you are supposed to attend (for which you still haven't bought that special gift)--and you can't for the life of you remember? Ever get one of those calls from the doctor's office, reminding you about that appointment you completely forgot, the one three hours from now?

Admit it--you'd be totally, utterly lost if you misplaced that envelope (you know, the one you carelessly jotted down important notes on when you couldn't find anything else). Or maybe, like 40% of families indicated in a recent survey on Cozi, your entire family schedule is managed on sticky notes.

You know, that's just what we need.

No, not more sticky notes!

Cozi.

If you haven't heard about it, Cozi is the one tool we Moms need to organize all that STUFF, all the appointments and due dates and schedule hassles, and consolidate them, manage them, finally organize our lives.

Remember how we resolved to do that, organize our lives? Well, with Cozi, this New Year's Resolution is a LOT easier than the diet one, believe me.


Cozi, besides being a completely FREE(!) web service, not only helps busy families manage crazy schedules, track shopping and to do lists, organize household chores and stay in communication, all in one easy-to-use solution, it also works with all those other tools you already have and makes them better. Cozi provides you with mobile phone access and a family journal and even syncs with Outlook. And unlike your work calendar, on Cozi your whole family can access the information. Just take a look at this sample family page, over on the left.


They've also added a new feature, "In addition to the ways that Moms can get their shopping lists and calendars already on any mobile phone via text message and using our toll free number, Cozi now has a mobile version especially for the iPhone and Windows Mobile phones. Families can now sign-in and access their Cozi account using their mobile web browsers. They can add and edit shopping lists and view and edit their family calendar using the mobile version of Cozi right from their iPhone. This is a new feature! You can learn more about it here: http://www.cozi.com/Promo-Cozi-Mobile.htm "

And Cozi understands those New Year's Resolutions, too!

From December 31st, 2008 through February 4th, 2009, if you just sign up and try Cozi, you will also be entered to WIN a two-day Home Organization Makeover with Laura Leist, who is an actual, professional organizer (I could SO use a professional to come in and take charge of my mess!).

In fact, Laura is Da Man when it comes to organizing, as she is the incoming president of NAPO, the National Association of Professional Organizers, which I am so disorganized I didn't even know existed.

Laura will come visit the winner for two days, and she'll makeover either your kitchen or your home office, a service valued at $5000 (told you she was Da Man!).

So...a FREE service, AND a giveaway, AND one of those pesky New Year's Resolutions all sewn up!

What are you waiting for? Visit Cozi NOW, before you forget.

You're all out of sticky notes, anyway.

Heartwarming Story the Second: Apple comes through in a big way

So, at the very moment you read this, I'm in San Francisco, attending Macworld.

You all know from my previous posts--even my previous blog header, which included a sketch of me on my --that I am a Mac girl from waaaay back. My very first computer was a Mac, back when I was a kid and Dad bought us one that didn't even have an internal hard drive. You had to swap out the disks, back and forth (and by disks, I am talking those old floppy disks here) just to complete a program, and when we bought that additional external hard drive, Woohoo! We were on the cutting edge of technology back then.

My first computer games were all played on the Mac. They included a typing tutor that ran like Space Invaders, with letters dropping down from space until you typed the correct key, and the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (infamous for software that actually cheated to keep you from winning. Yes, really).

And I was one of the first members of MyAppleSpace, a community for fans like me.

So, yeah, I know a little something about Apple computers, mmmkay?

So, when my battery died, I went online to the Apple Store and ordered a new one for my old 15" Macbook Pro confidently.

And I ordered the wrong one.

Yeah, I know, Doh. If you look at the two pictures, you can see that, obviously, the second battery (the wrong one, on the right) is NOT going to fit my old Macbook Pro!

But not to worry! Because Apple, like my own personal knight in shining armor, not only came through, but swept me right off my feet with their response.

I called them, in a panic, with Macworld only two days away and no new battery, after I had trouble accessing my online account because I had apparently entered my email incorrectly.

I know. Again, Doh.

Not only did Apple take care of the return, fixing up a FedEx label and all that jazz with no fuss at all, but they went above and beyond to make sure I had my battery in time for Macworld.

Which meant Apple overnighted my new battery, at no expense to me, to the very hotel where I would be staying in San Francisco.

That battery, folks, actually beat me to San Francisco, so that when I arrived the package was waiting for me at the hotel's front desk. I had it charged and ready to go by the morning of my very first day visiting the Macworld Expo Hall (more on that later).

Apple's commitment to my satisfaction really wowed me. In these tough economic times, more companies could follow the example Apple has set, and put Customer Service first. I'm just so impressed to find that this company rewarded the loyalty I have shown their brand over the years by coming through for me BIGTIME at the moment when I most needed them.

And what's really great is that they treat every customer, new or old, the exact same way.

And how do I know this? Because, on the phone with Apple's Customer Care, the subject of how long I have used their products never came up. They were completely focused on the situation on hand, and making sure that I left that phone call absolutely satisfied. And that's what they do with EVERY phone call.

Personal service. Every customer leaves happy. I like that.

Thanks, Apple!

TWO heartwarming stories! First up: It's all about YOU

I already knew my readers rocked, but now we have tangible proof that you are the very BEST the interwebs has to offer, my lovelies.

Why, Viv, you say, ducking your head modestly, Whatever can you mean? Do go on.

And so I shall.

Geoffrey Beene has just written to me (the corporation, not the actual man-person Geoffrey Beene. I wonder if there actually is one? But I digress), about their campaign with Macy's and GiveRespect.org.

You will all recall that I asked you to visit GiveRespect.org--I know you will, because you went there many times, and through your efforts, Cool Moms Rule! became one of the top 5 referring blogs in the whole blogosphere!

But that's not the really important part (though very gratifying, and thank you!).

The really important part is that, together, we have raised more than $270,000 dollars for the RESPECT! campaign, funds which "will support education, awareness and training programs that prevent and end family violence by building strong, healthy families and communities."

So give yourselves a big pat on the back, and thank you all so much for your efforts! We're doing good work, people.

Our Purrfect Petcam Winners!

Wow, you all really loved this giveaway! And so did I.

I just know all our winners will have so much fun with the Petcam, and with 172 of you qualifying for the giveaway, I can see you all agree! I'm only sorry that a couple of you entered too late--you can always try again in another giveaway, okay? Also, you'll notice from the winning comments that using those additional entry methods really does work for you!

I have one request for the winners: please do me a favor, and email me a pic or two of your pet if you win. I'll post them on The Cheezits blog!

Okay, without further ado, here are our 5 winners, via our good friend the Random Integer Generator:

Here are your random numbers:

157 23 122 15 169

Timestamp: 2009-01-01 17:19:26 UTC

So, comments 15, 23, 122, 157 and 169 were:

valerie2350, who said...

blogged it
http://sweeps4bloggers.blogspot.com/2008/12/coolmom-pet-cam-giveaway-123108.html (15)

Beeb said...

And I also subscribe to The Cheezits in My Yahoo reader. My username is sh3w1llb3l0v3d. Thank you! (23)

-Beeb
supercoupongirl AT gmail.com

Misty said...

Fancy!!
got my fingers crossed.
mommy2skie@yahoo.com (122)

Leah said...
I'm also subscribing to Cheezits!!!

leahita[at]gmail[dot]com (157)

Anonymous* said...

I also subscribed on email.

layna@teamandersen.net (169)

Congratulations to all our Petcam winners! I just need you to send me your shipping addresses within three days to claim your prizes.

*And I just realized from the email that Anonymous is my sis! Woohoo!