Last Day to Enter Jonas Brothers and PPP Giveaways!

Today is the final day in both our Jonas Brothers and Princess Protection Program giveaways, and since you only have until midnight EST to enter, I'm pulling out all the stops!

What does that mean? You can enter using ANY of the entry methods today, from leaving a comment down to blogging about the contest, one entry for every method and as many methods as you choose!

That gives you multiple chances to win one of the TWO JoBros movies and BFF extended version PPP DVDs we have to give away!

Good luck!

Moonwalking. White socks. And a Solitary White Glove.

I feel so old today.

Two pop icons from my youth are gone.

Michael Jackson, 50, was officially pronounced dead of a cardiac arrest just a few minutes ago (CNN, CBS, ABC). Prior to that, TMZ had a blurb about him collapsing after a 50-gig run, but now his death has been confirmed.

Michael...well, in his last few years, in fact in the last decade, his star had become sadly tarnished. I don't know the veracity of the various reports about his behavior; I do know that I would never have let a child of mine visit Neverland or spend time alone with him personally.

For all that, his musical legacy was nothing short of legendary, and there's no denying that for many of us who grew up with his songs playing in the background at every school dance and party (will there ever be a Halloween video to top Thriller?), Michael Jackson will be remembered most fondly as that little boy from the Jackson 5 who danced along with his big brothers before striking out, spectacularly, on his own.

I Just Heard Farrah Fawcett is Gone

Wow. I know she's been battling with cancer for a long while now, and I saw a tearful interview with Ryan O'Neal this morning on the View. Apparently, Farrah wanted to finally get married at the end, and he was going to do it for her, but she was just too sick for them to actually go through the ceremony. She had also mistaken Ryan for their son, Redmond, right near the end.

The L.A. Times has an excellent write-up on Farrah, who was so iconic during my girlhood in Charlie's Angels. For a long time, she was viewed as this stereotypical dumb blonde, and she certainly had her quirks (like painting with her nude body as the palette and rolling it along a huge canvas to create her images), but she won new respect from me as an actress after I saw her in her dramatic movie about a rape survivor, Extremities, for which she also won critical acclaim.

Ice Cream Cakes for Fourth of July!

Actually, why wait until the 4th?

Baskin-Robbins is offering ice cream cakes all summer long, for any occasion, and they start at just $9.99! Check out the scrumptious and festive 4th of July Cake to the left, or consider taking home the Grab And Go convenience chocolatey decadence of a Brownie a la Mode.

Cool and convenient: what could be better for summer? We have a birthday coming up next weekend and I'm thinking of dropping by for this Birthday Celebration cake myself!

Just visit your local Baskin Robbins to pick up an ice cream cake today.

Confessions of a Shopaholic

I've just spent a delightful afternoon watching Confessions of a Shopaholic--which is out on DVD today, so if you haven't purchased your copy yet or added it to your Netflix queue now is the time to do it!

Naturally, the flick is filled with fabulous fashions. Of course, I can't possibly afford to buy runway fashions, let alone fit into most of them, and where I'd wear them is anybody's guess, but I still enjoyed seeing all the colors and the styles.

I have to say that I'm a bit of a geek at heart, though--one of my favorite things in the entire movie, other than the iconic green scarf, was this adorable all pink Macbook! Can you imagine having your own signature color like that?

I also have some special tidbits for you, and I'm so excited to share them!

You know how, sometimes, you can get a little feeling of how the film was put together from the extras on the DVD?

Well, I'm thrilled to be able to share with you some fun facts from the movie that I thought you might enjoy right now! You should still watch the movie yourself, though. It's really fun!

CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC

• The film shot inside of some of the most exclusive stores and boutiques in New York, including Barneys New York flagship store on Madison Avenue, Henri Bendel on Fifth Avenue, Scoop and Catherine Malandrino in the Meat Packing District, Alessi (upscale housewares) in Soho, and Kleinfeld (elaborate bridal shop) in Chelsea.
• The film also shot inside some of the most historic buildings in the city, including legendary British architect Lord Norman Foster's Hearst Tower (the only film to ever be allowed to shoot there) on 57th Street and 8th Avenue; 45 Rockefeller Center (the building that features the statue of Atlas holding up the world at its entrance); the Grand Salon inside of the 1931 Jumeirah Essex House hotel on Central Park South; inside and out of St. James Church (1884) on Madison Avenue between 71st and 72nd Streets; inside of the Beaux Arts and Art Nouveau styled Emigrant Industrial Savings Bank Building (1908-12) on Chambers Street in the Wall Street district; utilizing the exterior of St. Anthony of Padua on Sullivan Street at the intersection of Greenwich Village, Tribeca and Soho, founded in 1866.
• The production spent two all-nighters dressing the beautiful atrium of Henri Bendel with a Midsummer Night's Dream themed design, as well as the aviator-themed window displays. They also created window displays for the Hearst Tower with faux stores by Valentino, Anna Sui, Catherine Malandrino and Alberto Ferretti. Excited New Yorkers thought that actual stores had opened on the ground level of the Tower and were sorely disappointed to discover that they were only for the movie.
• Across the street from St. James Church, windows were re-dressed in actual Yves St. Laurent, Asprey and Sonia Rykiel stores for the film's climax.
• In the film, costume designer Patricia Field selected clothing and accessories to adorn Isla Fisher's Becky Bloomwood, including Balenciaga, Marc Jacobs, Christian Louboutin, Alexander McQueen, Zac Posen, Miu Miu, Salvatore Ferragamo, Prada, Christian Dior, Todd Oldham, Gucci and Matthew Williamson, among others.
• To create a lavish display in Henri Bendel's six-story atrium, as well as window decorations, production designer Kristi Zea and supervising art director Paul Kelly had to bring in a full complement of their department to pull an all-nighter with military precision, as they only had enough time between the store closing its doors to the public and reopening them again in the morning to pull off the impossible. Mission was accomplished, with legions of New Yorkers admiring the results before the cameras began rolling later that day.
• Filming in New York City gave the filmmakers access to the pool of local actors perhaps better known for their work in the theatre than on film, including Christine Ebersole (Tony Award winner as Best Actress in a Musical for "Grey Gardens"), LaChanze (Tony Award winner as Best Actress in a Musical for "The Color Purple") and Kaitlin Hopkins (star of the upcoming touring company of "Dirty Dancing: The Musical").
• Ed Helms of "The Office" is seen only on videotape in the movie as self-help money management guru Garrett E. Barton.
• A bank loan officer is portrayed by Jonathan Tisch, Loews Hotel Chairman and CEO; and in a publishing reception scene filmed in Chicago, another banker is played by Andy Serwer, managing editor of Fortune Magazine.
• Robert Stanton, who plays ruthless debt collector Derek Smeath, drew upon the only other job he ever had besides actor: a skip tracer for a student loan company, finding people who had defaulted on their debts. Stanton admits that he wasn't good at harassing people, since he would always burst out in laughter instead.

• Sophie Kinsella was on the "Confessions of a Shopaholic" set nearly every day as associate producer, consulting and watching her beloved creation of Rebecca Bloomwood come to life. Not so coincidentally considering the massive international sales of the "Shopaholic" novels, Kinsella was often approached by excited fans on New York, Connecticut and Miami locations as if she were more of a movie star than an author.

CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC is on Blu-ray and DVD beginning today, June 23rd!

Last Minute Father's Day Fun!

Looking for last-minute Father's Day ideas?

Family Fun Magazine has cute ideas like these Lawn Mower cupcakes. Find more gift suggestions at Family Fun Father's Day.

Check out tonight's episode of Cyberchase on PBS. In appreciation of “dear old Dad,” the whole family can enjoy award-winning film and stage actor Matthew Broderick in the all-new “Father’s Day” episode of Cyberchase premiering tonight, June 19 on PBS KIDS GO! (check local listings for times). Matthew voices the character of Max who, along with the help of the CyberSquad, tries to stop Hacker from setting out to ruin Father’s Day. Please let me know if you'd like more information or art.

Consider giving the gift of Boxing with a FREE workout from LA Boxing. The nation’s largest boxing, kickboxing, and mixed martial arts gym and training facility offers a unique way to spend some quality time in the boxing ring for a “knock out” present. Offering free classes for fathers, LA boxing is looking to give your father a complete workout experience, which focuses on strengthening and toning while building endurance and functional fitness. Watch your Father break a sweat while getting a knockout workout burning 800-1000 calories an hour!

Build some memories this Father's Day with SKIL and Lowe's. SKIL, Lowe’s and Worlds of Discovery Theme Parks have partnered to create a Father’s Day parent-child project contest for the chance to win an all expenses paid family vacation and other exciting prizes. The contest doesn't end until July 12, so there’s still plenty of time to pick a project, spend some quality time with your loved ones, and win some great prizes!

Outdoor projects are available for parents to do with their children, starting at age 4. Simply build the project together and submit in-action photos or videos along with your entry form on the contest Web site!

To find a list of projects, tools and materials needed and official rules, visit www.SKILBuildingMemories.com. You can complete your entry with a few easy steps on this site, or, you can enter via the SKIL Building Memories Facebook Page (You must download the application at the bottom of the page to enter).

Princess Protection Program Giveaway!

Two of the most popular young actresses on the Disney Channel, Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato, star in the adventure comedy Princess Protection Program, a
Disney Channel Original Movie about two very different girls – a princess from a small kingdom and a small town girl who, when fate brings them together, must team up to help the would-be queen pass for a regular teen.

Princess Protection Program premieres FRIDAY,
JUNE 26 (8:00 p.m., ET/PT) on Disney Channel and Family Channel Canada.

The Royal B.F.F. Extended Edition will be available Tuesday, June 30 on Disney DVD and will feature an exclusive new music video of "One and the Same" performed by Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato, behind-the-scenes look at the film with the teen stars, and a free "B.F.F" necklace set.

And you can win of TWO copies of the Royal B.F.F. Extended Edition from Cool Moms Rule!

We're so excited at all the fantastic fun we're having with Disney--first the Jonas Brothers movie (make sure to enter that giveaway, too--click the link under CURRENT GIVEAWAYS on the sidebar for entry details), and now The Princess Protection Program!

By the way, if the girls from PPP look familiar to you, you may have seen Lovato on "Camp Rock," or caught Gomez in the hit comedy "Wizards of Waverly Place."

Here's a clip from the movie to whet your appetite:



The Princess Protection Program: B.F.F. Extended Edition, again, goes on sale on June 30th, but you can WIN it from Cool Moms Rule!

Here's how to enter:

Initial Entry method (required):
Comment on this post on why you want to win! It's that simple.

Additional Entry method (choose one every day between now and June 30th):

• Follow Cool Moms Rule! on Twitter (Already following? Leave a comment reminding me)
• Tweet about this post on Twitter. Link the tweet in a comment.
• Put my button on your blog, Facebook or MySpace page (3 possible entries).
• Blog about this contest (Leave a comment with the link)
• Follow the Cool Moms Rule blog (Already following? Comment reminding me)
• Subscribe to our feed (Already subscribed? Comment reminding me)
• Stumbleupon this post!
• Digg this post!
  

That's all there is to it! Deadline for entries is 11:55 PM, June 30th. Good luck!

Chill Out With Dad on Father's Day

If you're looking for a cool way to chill out with Dad this Father's Day, you can't go wrong with a Frosty from Wendy's!

On behalf of Mom Central, I'm delighted to share Wendy's new frostycard site with you for Father's Day (which, in case any of you are panicking, is Sunday, June 21st, so you still have a little time).

Not only can you share a nice cold frosty with Dad on his day, you can send him a fun, frosty (and free!) Father's Day ecard to let him know how just how much he means to you.

And for every one of us that sends a frostycard, Wendy's will donate 25 cents to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption this Father's Day!


Here's the card I made for the Engineer for Father's Day:


It's really easy to create your own--as you can see, I added in the two boys and myself, as well as one of the cats (notice how the cat is selfishly taking up all the shade under the umbrella. Typical).

Along with the frostycard comes the option of printing up a certificate. You can promise to take Dad out for a Frosty on Father's Day on your certificate, or offer to wash the car or take on some other "Dad" chores (great gift idea for the kids!), or you can even design your own custom certificate, and print it up when you send your ecard.

And, of course, all the while you are making your frostycard, you are helping to support the DTFA, which is just such a worthy cause. We all know that while it is biology that makes for a Father, it's really that caring heart that makes for a Dad. And adoptive Dads have some of the biggest hearts of all.

So head on over to the frostycard site, and let Dad know you care, too.

JoBros Giveaway!

Update: Wow! Our Giveaway has been chosen as the Editor's Pick over at Prizey.net! Woohoo! Thanks, Prizey--and thanks to all of YOU, our wonderful readers! Your continued support lets us keep running great contests like this one.

The Jonas Brothers are the hottest guys going, and we've got them on Cool Moms Rule!

We know your kids love them, so Cool Moms Rule! is offering not one but TWO copies of the Extended, 2-disc DVD version of their hit movie!

Jonas Brothers: The Concert Experience in 3-D is set to release June 30th, but you can enter NOW to win your own copy, sent directly to you when it comes out.

Jonas Brothers: The Concert Experience in 3-D brings fans closer than ever to Kevin, Joe and Nick’s world as they and their band prepare for their live sold-out concerts all over the world. The movie also includes outstanding guest appearances by chart-topping artists Demi Lovato and Taylor Swift.

Just to prolong the suspense a little, here's a clip to watch ; )



Now, we want everyone to have a chance at this fabulous prize. And it really is fabulous! Just look what you'll win:

The Concert Experience in 3D Extended Movie (2-Disc Standard Def DVD) includes:

Disc One
2-D Extended Movie with 2 Additional Performances - “Can’t Have You” and “A Little Bit Longer”
2 Additional Bonus Songs - “Love Bug” and “Shelf”
Up Close & Personal - Go behind the scenes with the ‘Jo-Bros’ and learn what this tour means to them.

Disc Two
DisneyFile Digital Copy of extended movie in 2-D.

Here's how to win!
Your original entry is simply your comment on this post, telling me why YOU should be one of the TWO winners of everyone entering needs to use this initial entry method first.

Here's the cool part:
you can enter once every day from now until the contest ends, June 30th. Each day, though, you need to use a different method.

Here's the other entry methods (remember to leave a comment for the first entry):

• Follow Cool Moms Rule! on Twitter (Already following? Leave a comment reminding me)
• Tweet about this post on Twitter. Link the tweet in a comment. Use hashtag #jobros.
• Put my button on your blog, Facebook or MySpace page (3 possible entries).
• Blog about this contest (Leave a comment with the link)
• Follow the Cool Moms Rule blog (Already following? Comment reminding me)
• Subscribe to our feed (Already subscribed? Comment reminding me)
• Add Cool Moms Rule! to your blogroll
  
• Stumbleupon this post!
• Digg this post!
• Send a birthday greeting to my son, the Owl on June 30th! (He'll be 16)
  

Remember, you can enter once a day, using any method you like, but you need to use a different method each time!

Good luck!

Announcing the Winner of the All-Star Plush!

We've chosen the winner of the adorable All-Star plush toy from AllStarBuddies.com, and it is (drum roll):

Xenia said...

This was a harder decision than I thought it was going to be! I think my favorite is Blitz the Football Player.

Thanks!
xpsundell(at)gmail(dot)com

Congratulations to Xenia!

Stay tuned right here because I'm about to announce our next giveaways (that's right, more than one!) and you are going to LOVE them!

InsanityWear is the Sane Choice for Your Family

Recently, I was fortunate enough to sample some of the wide array of offerings from InsanityWear T-Shirt and Gifts. I discovered them through Mom Made That, a blog I follow, and I really liked the selection.

InsanityWear has designs for pet lovers, graduating seniors, parents, kids, even expectant Moms, like the maternity top shown to the right--just about everybody on your shopping list!

InsanityWear is full of catchy sayings that are sure to ring true. I know that there are plenty of phrases that I can relate to, including two that are perfect for my own life on the site, and I like both of them enough that it's hard to choose between them for which one is my favorite.

First is this one, from the parenting line, "Confused Parent of Teenagers." That's appropro for, well, any parent of teenagers! I think for some of my friends, though, the "You Can't Scare Me, I Have Daughters," would also be perfect. Whenever I'm feeling particularly stressed, I remember to thank my lucky stars that I have boys--I understand from my fellow Moms that girls are, to put it mildly, a bit "dramatic" some days. (Though, to be fair, they don't seem to spend as much time in the Emergency Room as we Moms of boys do!)

My second favorite--and again, it's hard to pick--is the design I ultimately ended up with on my own personal mug from InsanityWear. You all probably know that I have three very spoiled cats, and the orange one pictured here reminds me of my fattest, fluffiest, cuddliest kitty, Cheddar. As you can see, the motto says it all:

"I'm Just a Pawn in My Cat's Quest for World Domination."

My take: InsanityWear is the perfect, convenient, one-stop shop for all your gifting needs.

I Scream, You Scream

We all scream for FREE ice cream! Friendly's will giving away free ice cream cones tomorrow, June 6th, from noon until 5 PM local time. Yay!

Preview: Lee Denim Day. You Can Make a Difference

Powerful message from our friends at Lee. I invite you to join in on Lee's Denim Day and help promote breast cancer awareness. Five dollars a pair of jeans is all it takes to make a difference.

Tomorrow is National Donut Day!

Traditionally celebrated each year on the first Friday in June, National Donut Day (or National Doughnut Day, if you prefer) is a holiday I can get behind.

In fact, it probably will go right to my behind. ; )

Head to your local donut shop to celebrate, or my favorite, Krispy Kreme, which will be offering one free donut per customer Friday.

Dunkin Donuts will also offer a free donut per customer, provided you also purchase a beverage.

Enjoy!

Get Your Groove On

One of my teens' favorite programs for the Mac is Garage Band. They love music, and creating their own is addictive.

Until now, though, there were no kid-friendly programs for the younger set who want to get their own groove on.

Enter Groovy Music City from Avid Technology, designed with kids from 7-12 in mind. Groovy Music City has a simple interface that allows kids to create tunes of their own even if they've never played an instrument before.

The Groovy Music City software is easy to use, and (yay!) compatible with both PC and Mac. Once installed, it's easy to bring up the main screen and get started right away creating your own songs.

Groovy Music City lets your pick one of six avatars--three girls and three guys--and a login name. The friendly avatar stays on the bottom left of the screen until the child's song is created.

Creating the music is simple when you have a keyboard to plug in to your computer--kids just press the keys and the notes appear on the screen.

Without a keyboard, though, your child can still have fun with Groovy Music City, by simply clicking and dragging down any of the fun shapes at the top of their screen. Each shape has its own unique sound--everything from a cat's "Meow" to high-tech whistles, horns and drums. Kids can also change the sounds by choosing various instruments from the bottom of the screen and dragging them atop the original shapes.

Once the shapes fill the screen, clicking on the "play" button at the bottom of the screen plays the song, the avatar keeping time along with the notes as he/she walks across the screen in time with beat. There's a "help" option to the top right of the screen if kids ever get stuck. Groovy Music City comes with 28 tutorials to help kids make the most of their music software.

In addition to creating their own special sound, kids can share the music they've created on the Groovy Music website, and even download the creations of other kids just like them!

My take: the Groovy Music City software and website are easy to use, and kids will have fun with all the shapes. Making their own music, though, can get repetitive unless they have that keyboard to add functionality.

Groovy Music City software is supported on Microsoft® Windows® XP/Vista, and Mac OS X 10.4 or later systems. The software is available on the Avid e-store and at select retailers including Office Depot, Fry’s Electronics, Amazon.com, and Buy.com. Groovy Music City software has an USMSRP of $39.99.