Happy Halloween!

Halloween Bundle at Macgamestore.com!

Halloween Bundle - 5 Spooky Games For $10.00!
This weekend Macgamestore.com is offering a special 48-hour Mac games pack. Get five games for just $10.00! This week game pack features these scary games. The pack includes:

- Dr. Lynch: Grave Secrets
- Mr Jones' Graveyard Shift
- G.H.O.S.T. Chronicles
- G.H.O.S.T. Hunters: The Haunting of Majesty Manor
- Monster Quest

To order this fantastic game pack, please follow THIS LINK. This bundle offer ends Monday, November 2, 2009 at 12:01 AM.

Note: This bundle can also be bought through Mac Games Arcade.

Dogs and Cats Living Together, Mass Hysteria...

Help out animals at the animalrescuesite.com, also known as the GreaterGood Store, and you'll save on shipping today only. Just use the link below the pic.

Shop at the GreaterGood Store
and enjoy just 1-cent shipping on Halloween.

Virtual Pumpkin Carving (via Methodshop)

Methodshop has a Virtual Pumpkin Carving game. All the fun and creativity, with none of the mess and the gloop!

Here's my effort. Can you tell what it is? It's supposed to look like a squirrel!

Morphoscopes are Certified Cool

I recently tried out a Morphoscopes kit from Ooz & Oz. It's a crazy concept, and I don't know how they came up with it, but I can tell you this: my boys, and these are teens we are talking about, both agreed that Morphoscopes are really cool and strongly encouraged me to review them on the site.

Here's what you get: two Morphoscopes mirror decoders (which are basically reflective cups), some crayons, and lots and lots of activity sheets to keep your kids busy.

Now, you may be thinking, okay, but how is that crazy?

Okay, take a look at this pic to the left.

You see the image on the mirrored decoder? The cute pic of the kids playing soccer?

It's not there.

There is nothing printed on the cup.

Instead, look at the page under it. See the crazy swirling mess? That's what the image looks like on paper!

To color it properly, you have to look at the image as it is reflected in the cup.

The cup shows it as it should be, rather than all distorted as it is on paper.

It is, folks, a real mind trip, and one that blew my mind.

Especially because, within the Sports of All Sorts kit, which is the Morphoscope set I received (they have tons of them to choose from over at the Ooz & Oz site, even a Halloween one) there is also a very realistic sketch of a person's face.

Or at least that's what it is when it is decoded.

Seeing a human face spread out in the weird swirly way on paper really does a number on your perception!

Morphoscopes are, as they put right on the box, "Brain-powered play." Kids can even make their own with instructions in the kit. And there are activities that kids can do that adults have trouble with, like connecting the dots using the reflection on the cup. Wild.

The suggested age for the kits are 8-14 years old, but I could see younger kids playing with this as well, and as an adult I got a real kick out of our Morphoscopes: Sports of All Sorts Kit.

I could definitely see gifting kits for Christmas. They have Twisted Pajama Party, Princess Pony and Pirate Party kits, too.

Now, on to my teens. The guys who normally wouldn't be caught dead coloring at their ages.

The Rhino's take: "Whoa, Mom. That's cool. That's a really cool idea. You have to give them a really good review on your site!" (14 yrs old)

The Owl's take: When called in to give his verdict, The Owl, who is a fan of optical illusions, wondered how they made the art sheets and marvelled at the perception of the original versus the decoded image. He, too, gave the Morphoscopes a huge thumbs-up on the coolness scale.

Viv's Take: I've never seen anything like the Morphoscopes before. They really engage kids' interest (as well as mine, I was coloring furiously right in there with the Rhino), spark their creativity and keep them interested a lot longer than just simple activity pages or coloring sheets ever could.

I received the Morphscopes: Sports of All Sorts free of charge to aid me in my review of this product.

Giant Scrat! Will it Break the World Record?

This is too cool. Literally. Just got a press release about an attempt to break the world record with a huge ice sculpture of Scrat, the cute squirrel from the Ice Age franchise, in Santa Monica, CA, to celebrate the release of Ice Age 3. Details below. ~Viv


WHAT:
To coincide with the release of the Ice Age 3 Dawn of the Dinosaurs Blu-ray disc and DVD, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment will attempt to break the Guinness World Record for Tallest Ice Sculpture at the opening of the ice skating rink, ICE at Santa Monica.

Fun Facts:
• The Scrat Ice Sculpture will stand at 45 feet tall
• Over 133,000 lbs. of ice will be used, gathered across 4 states
• Months of preparation went into the logistics
• Artists from Blue Sky Studios developed the look of the model
• The current record for the Tallest Ice Sculpture is 40.28 feet and was achieved by Michel Amann (France) in Ski Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on April 20, 2006.

Additional Highlights:
• World Figure Skating Champion Randy Gardner will perform to the “Walk the Dinosaur” song featured in the film
• The one and only acorn-loving Scrat will demonstrate his own skating abilities
• Skating for the entire family, including music and many more fun activities
• ICE at Santa Monica is an 8000-square-foot outdoor ice rink in Downtown Santa Monica

WHO:
A team of 14 skilled sculptors from Ice Bulb LLC will build the world’s Tallest Ice Sculpture over a 4-day period on the ice rink at the ICE at Santa Monica. A Guinness World Records™ adjudicator will be present to oversee the attempt.

WHEN:
Tuesday, October 27, final Scrat sculpture to be unveiled at 4:00pm
• Entrance is Free to the public
• From October 27 through January 31, 2010, the ice rink will be open Sunday through Thursday, 10am to 10pm, and Friday and Saturday, 10am to midnight
• Admission is $10 and includes rental skates
* Stand-ups and in-progress check-ins available beginning Saturday, October 24

WHERE:
ICE at Santa Monica
1324 5th Street (at Arizona Avenue)
Santa Monica, CA 90401

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs on DVD Today!

I LOVED the first Ice Age movie. Ruthless Diego, silly Sid and morose Manny made an eclectic but loveable herd.

The second movie, though, left me a bit meh on the franchise. I am not too keen on Ellie, despite the fact that Queen Latifah rocks. An elephant that thinks she is an opossum is a little too much for me. I like Manny. I want him to end up with someone loveable but not completely loony.

But the third movie, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, is every bit as good as the original. In fact, Robert Ebert gave it 3 1/2 stars, and says it is, "The best of the three films...pure invention."

First, Ellie is a bit more practical and down-to-earth in this movie, because she is expecting a little mammoth. So she doesn't seem so loony. Diego is trying to get back his edgy, bachelor side. Morose Manny has become an anxious Dad-to-be. And Ellie's possum 'brothers', while still wild and weird, are nowhere near as crazy as the newest characters.

Who, incidentally, are fabulous. First, there're three baby T-rexes looked after by Sid, who finds them as eggs and begins nesting in a bizarre parody of Ellie and Manny. The baby T-rexes do not play nice with the other kids.

They eat them instead.

And even my cool, we-don't-do-animation-any-more teens, who came to the theat to see the film with me after a little wheedling because they are fond of Diego found themselves loving Buck.

Who is Buck? He's sorta an Indiana Jones/Crocodile Dundee mashup who has been living in the dinosaur world just a little too long.

And he's undoubtedly certifiably crazy.

Why this all works, well, I just have to throw my hands up in the air because I have no idea, but it is utterly outstanding.

And as if that wasn't enough, Scrat is back!

The cute, terminally unlucky squirrel and his eternal quest for that elusive nut even features into the main film, rather than just a short at the beginning.

I watched the video of Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs again last night, as I got a preview copy, and even though I had seen it in the theater already, I really enjoyed it. I was especially impressed, all over again, with the animation. It looked as good on my television as it did in the theater.

Oh, and there are lots of extras on the video versions! You can get a two-pack DVD set, and the second disk is full of cute Scrat shorts, musical extras, commentary and games.

The three-pack Bluray set also includes a third, digital copy of the movie.

In my opinion, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs is a must-buy for your video library.

I received a preview copy of the DVD (two disk set) to aid me in my review in time for today, its official street release date.

Halloween Happenings: Grisly Galas Made Easy, Even Last Minute!

Having a Halloween Party? Need some more inspiration? Costumes, decorations, what to serve? And now the clock is ticking away and you aren't ready and ZOMG WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO??!!

Don't panic. We've scoured the web to find these helpful hints, creepy costumes and easy recipes for you!

Quick and Easy Kids Party Solutions

Disney's Haunted Mansion is the pinnacle of Halloween attractions. But did you know that Disney has Haunted Mansion printables you can download for your own celebration? Our faves? Ghost masks and Tombstone cupcake toppers!

For those cupcakes, with older kids, try using a Red Velvet Cake recipe with white icing. When kids bite the cupcakes, they look blood-red inside.

Check out the Vampire Blood punch recipe for your party beverage. It's non-alcoholic. (You can also search through the cocktail recipes for drink containing alcohol in case the adults get together later in the evening!).

This crafty Mom has a video detailing a quick and easy (really!) pumpkin craft simply made with styrofoam, glue, a knitting needle or similar tool, and your choice of fabric. You could whip up several of these for simple Halloween decor for your party.

Quick and Easy Costumes

Coupon Sherpa has a list with 50 (yes, 50!) inexpensive costumes you can make last minute. Some are better than others (2 Quarters taped to your chest for rapper "50 cent", for example), but the list is full of gems, like:

• Non-sheet Ghost: Wear an old nightgown or wedding dress (white clothes for men). Sprinkle baby powder into your hair and on visible skin for a dusty look and smear brown facepaint, coco powder or mud under your eyes.
• Pile of Laundry: The perfect costume for college students! Simply pin clothes onto an old outfit or, for a more complex costume, cut the bottom out of an old laundry basket, fill it with clothes and wear it around your waist. A hat made from a washed-out Clorox bottle adds a jaunty touch. Don't forget to toss in a few used fabric-softener sheets.
• Cereal Killer: Attach individual-sized cereal boxes to sweats and puncture with plastic knives.

There's also a recipe for fake blood (using Karo syrup) and a how-to tutorial for realistic-looking wounds after the costume list.

What NOT to do for That Kid's Party

Read this Mom's insightful look at how Halloween's focus is shifting, and make sure you don't forget the fun! You want your Halloween celebration to be for the kids, right?

Lastly, please please PLEASE do NOT dress your nine-year-old in THIS 'costume'! Noah Cyrus really is only 9 years old. What in the world were her parents thinking?!

This post was not sponsored in any way.

Halloween Happenings! HowlOScream Review

Still looking for a way to spend Halloween? Consider HowlOScream at Busch Gardens or Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights for an adult night out, or Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at Disney for little kids.

We've been to Halloween Horror Nights before, so this year we opted for HowlOScream. When I was a teen, I worked at Busch Gardens, and I've always loved the park (says a lot when you still love the place where you held your first job!).

Busch Gardens has the best assortment of roller coasters anywhere, I think, and you can ride them all at HowlOScream, which is an evening event full of haunted houses and creepy creatures.

Because the theme of this years HowlOScream is The House of Vayne (think of it as lingerie-clad vampires), it is intended as an "adult's night out," rather than marketed to children. However, we have teen sons, and we decided to take them with us, using what I think is the BEST deal out there for an event of this kind.

Available only online, HOS has a Twisted Thursday 4-pack for $19.95 per person. You must be FL residents to take advantage of this deal. Wow! We could not believe we could do this whole thing, parking included, for about $100 for a family of four. We could spend more than that at dinnner and the movies these days. Regular admission and ticket prices are also available, click here to find out more.

By the way, I found out about the great deal by following HOSInsider on Twitter. They sometimes have ticket giveaways or special admission events, so do follow them!

We rode the Kumba, the guys rode Shiekra (I was too scared, I admit it--the roller coaster STOPS WHEN YOU ARE HANGING JUST OVER THE PEAK OF THE HUGE DROP SO YOU CAN SEE ALL THE WAY DOWN before it plunges!!), and we cooled off by riding the log flume ride. Yes, we were actually hot at 10 p.m., but that was when the weather was hotter. You could go this Thursday and it is beautiful out now.

It was very crowded at HOS (to give you an idea, wait, for the Sheikra, was over an hour, which is what I used as an excuse not to go on the ride, rather than admitting I was skeered).

The fog effects and creatures walking around scaring you were *fantastic*. You couldn't see the characters until they were right up on you in most cases. The werewolves were are favorites, though the Owl tried to surprise a huge, hulking walking ghost by hiding behind it, figuring it would take a while to turn around--and ended up being startled himself by a scary clown with a chainsaw! I don't want to spoil any of the surprises for you, but they are really good at distracting half your group on one side while someone comes up on the other and scares the rest of you when you aren't expecting it at all!

The two best haunted houses, in our opinion, were the Nightshade Toy Factory, located in the old monorail station, and the Reconstruction: The Doctor is In. The Toy Factory was full of scary babies with red eyes and creepy clown dudes, while disturbing medical procedures (and I won't go into detail, don't worry) filled Reconstruction.

We also took in the Fiends dance show (fun, but a little outdated for the teens, as they weren't familiar with the music), and the Magic Show in the Desert Grill (which used to be the Festhaus, in Timbucktu).

We checked out, but didn't purchase, shirts and merchandise for the event, which I regret a little, because the Owl loved the shirts, and the whole night was a huge success.

I know the boys really enjoyed their HOS adventure, because the Rhino turned to me, unprompted, and said, "Thanks for getting the tickets, Mom! This is cool."

When it comes to teens, believe me, it doesn't get any better than that. I felt like a very Cool Mom, indeed.

Viv's take: Busch Gardens' HowlOScream 2009, The House of Vayne is the perfect Halloween indulgence, with a little something for everyone. It is definitely not for small children or the faint of heart, and is considered appropriate for, "an adult's night out." Highly recommended!

This is NOT a sponsored post. We just had a great time at HowlOScream!

Pumpkin Soup Giveaway (book and CD set)

Hitting the shelves just this August, the latest addition to Macmillan Young Listeners' Book and CD set collection is Pumpkin Soup, an endearing tale of friendship between a Cat, a Squirrel and a Duck by Helen cooper. So cute!

Every day, in their old white cabin deep in the woods, Duck, Squirrel and Cat make their pumpkin soup the same day. Each of the three friends has a task: Cat slices up the pumpkin, Squirrel stirs the water and Duck adds just the right amount of salt.

But one day, Duck decides he wants to stir the soup! When the friends start squabbling, Duck waddles off in a huff. Worried Cat and Squirrel go off into the woods to search for their friend, and in the end an important lesson about sharing is learned.

This musical and animated narrative, ready be Kathleen McInerney and lovingly illustrated by Cooper herself, makes a perfect bedtime story on those cold Fall nights. The Guardian describes Pumpkin Soup as, "A steamy mouth-watering triumph of a book." Best of all, there is a recipe for your own delicious pumpkin soup included at the end of the book!

You can win the Pumpkin Soup book and CD set from Macmillan Young Listeners by leaving your comment below this post! Tweet about this contest for an additional entry, or subscribe to our feed.

Contest ends Friday, November 6th. Good luck!

Announcing Our Snow White winner!

We had a whopping 94 entries for our Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Diamond Collection Edition Plush Set giveaway!

I know you've all been waiting for the winner of this one.

And I'm going to make you wait a little longer....

Just to let you know that we have more giveaways coming right up after this announcement!

We chose the winning comment with our old trusty Random Integer Generator, who came up with comment #66!

And that was...

Terra H. said...

I like them all but my favorite is Sleepy. Thanks.
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com

Congratulations, Terra H.!

You won the Plush gift set and DVD, worth $79.95 for the set, and what a great Christmas present that would make for someone, too!

It Works! Body Applicator

For those of you who haven't heard about them yet, the Ultimate Body Applicator from It Works! is designed with weight loss in mind.

According to the website and the product description, the Ultimate Body Applicator is, "naturally based, mess-free, and comes with an affordable price tag. It’s NOT water loss. You are not losing water weight when you use the Ultimate Body Applicator.

The website is full of testimonials from satisfied users of the product, as well as information on how to become an independent distributor. There are also pictures of Ultimate Body Applicators and other products that were passed out in Hollywood, to celebrities like Paula Abdul.

How Does It Work?

You can download a .pdf that tells you all the ingredients in the Ultimate Body Applicator from the product ordering page. I won't reprint them all here, but I did notice the green tea and jojoba in there, and definitely smelled menthol when I put mine on. It's not an unpleasant scent at all; reminded me of Vick's when the kids have stuffed up noses.

You wash the area before applying the Applicator. Since I just had one, I chose my stomach, but you can use them on your thighs or back as well. You also want to take your measurements before you put it on, and record them, since the whole point is that, especially with repeated applications, you are supposed to lose inches and tighten your skin.

The Applicator is heavily coated with all the natural ingredients, so it is easy to tell which side is applied to the skin. There's a video on the site that shows a young lady unwrapping one and putting it on if you are interested. I wore my clothes over mine, and also wrapped saran wrap over it in accordance with a suggestion in the instructions.

I felt a little silly, honestly, with the saran wrap around me! I felt like a woman in one of those vibrating belt things from old TV commercials.

The Ultimate Body Applicator felt very cool against my skin, which went along with the whole menthol thing in my mind. It actually felt really good and was surprisingly comfortable. I wasn't sitting there, sweating or anything. I drank a lot of water and kept it on for the recommended amount of time for a first application, 45 minutes.

The literature says that as you get used to using these, you can leave the Applicator on while you sleep at night, or during your regular day, under your clothes. I honestly cannot see doing this myself. It wasn't visible under my clothes, but even without the saran wrap, it felt noticeable to me.

However, I definitely felt thirsty. Also, you are really encouraged to drink a lot of water, which I did and am still doing a week later. That's just good sense. But it doesn't really go along with the claim that water weight isn't what is being lost. Think about it: Why do they stress you need to drink more water unless you need to replace it in your system?

How Much Does This Cost?

I only tried out one Ultimate Body Applicator. You can purchase one Applicator for $29 on the website.

If you purchase the Starter Pack, they come 4 to a pack, with defining gel and an informational DVD. The cost is 99.00/ 59.00 Loyal Customer Price.

To get the Loyal Customer Price, you have to choose the auto-shipment option for a minimum of three months. Whatever you put in your cart, they ship that same product or products to you for three months. If you want a different order shipped out, you have to contact them to do it. Although technically you only have to commit to three months, again you have to contact them after those three months to cancel, and if you cancel BEFORE three months are up, they charge you a $50 early termination fee.

I DO NOT like the Loyal Customer concept at all. If they had it at all, I would rather it automatically cancelled after three months UNLESS you opted in, rather than forcing you to call and cancel.

In contrast, I received my Ultimate Body Applicator from a distributor for this review. I did not receive any gel with mine, though I would have liked some. But I did not have to commit to buying any additional Applicators, either.

Okay, so let's skip forward.

What were my results after 45 minutes?

I lost 1/2 inch on my waist. That's great, but nowhere near the differences I saw in the testimonials on the website. Also, according to my scale (which is the kind with the moveable weights, like they use in doctors' offices), I didn't lose any weight, water or otherwise. So it seems to me, and I am overthinking this whole thing but that's something I do, that perhaps tightly wrapping the Ultimate Body Applicator around my stomach redistributed the weight rather than making me actually lose anything. Maybe?

Still, I did only use one Applicator, while most users may go for 4 at least, since that's how many usually come per package.

My stomach hurt the whole night after I used the Ultimate Body Applicator, too. I can only assume that this is my own fault and I did not drink enough water, though, because I really think I was dehydrated and that's why it hurt. That's what it felt like to me, mild dehydration. So I might have had better results by drinking more water. I just don't know.

Did my results last?

It's now been a week since I used the Ultimate Body Applicator. I just took my measurements again. I have not changed my diet before or since using it. So, did the result last?

Well, again, it was only 1/2 inch off my waist. It's very hard for me to tell. I did not lose any weight with the Ultimate Body Applicator, and I haven't lost weight since, as far as I can tell. I do think my waist is still that 1/2 inch less, though, because despite that not seeming very much, I do fit into my pants a little better than I did over a week ago.

That's my experience with It Works! Ultimate Body Applicators.

Have you tried the Ultimate Body Applicator from It Works!? Have an opinion about this product? Leave a comment and let me know! I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Barbara, A Twittermom who started the Mommy Bloggers group over there (the largest group of all, with over 2000 members, it's definitely one you should consider joining), is also an "independent distributor" for It Works, and she kindly sent me one of their Ultimate Body Applicators to try out.

Oprah Can't Wait for Lee Jeans!

As an official Lee Fit Ambassador, I couldn't be more thrilled for Lee Jeans!

Oprah recently taped Oprah's New Denim and the Rest of the Best show, and guess who was featured? LEE JEANS!

Oprah selected Lee Jeans and Cookie Johnson’s premium brand, CJ by Cookie Johnson, as her top denim picks!

The Lee Jeans No Gap collection was featured for its no gap hidden elastic waistband.

I'm set to receive a pair of the new No Gap jeans next week to review them for you, and Oprah was going to run her show then, but I guess she just can't wait, because she has moved up the show to THIS THURSDAY, October 22nd!

So make sure to watch Oprah and Lee Jeans, set your Tivo, do whatever you have to do to catch CJ and Lee's No Gap collection, okay?
In my role as an official Lee Jeans Fit Ambassador, I will sometimes receive a pair of jeans to review for my readers, which Lee sends me free of cost. Lee also offers giveaways to my readers on occasion.

A Walk Around the Lake

Michael Buble: Crazy Love could use more crazy

This last week, I've been listening to Michael Buble's latest CD offering, Crazy Love.

I've listened to it several times, played it for the kids, played it for anyone else I could get to listen to it with me, because I'm not a regular listener of his.

And while I like some of the song choices on this CD (in fact, "At This Moment" has always been a personal favorite of mine), I wanted a second, and a third opinion, to make sure I wasn't personally off-base in my own take on Crazy Love.

Which was, to whit: if you are going to do a remake of a famous song, you need to make it your own. It should be distinct and unique, and at least on par with the original. And if you are going to fill your CD with classic songs, your versions should be memorable.

And with Crazy Love, Michael Buble does not do this. At all.

From what I can gather, I am not alone in this opinion; all of us who listened to the CD agreed that the original versions were superior to Buble's versions.

Buble's "Georgia on My Mind," has none of the soulful longing of the original. The title track, "Crazy Love," is bland.

And his take of "At This Moment," which as I mentioned is a personal favorite? This is a song that should sound, as the artist belts it out, as though it is wrung straight from the heart:

What did you think I would do at this moment
When you're standing before me
With tears in your eyes? Trying to tell me that you
Have found you another
And you just don't love me no more?

I mean, just reading the lyrics, I get teary-eyed.

But Michael Buble's version, I'm sorry to say, is just emotionless. It makes me sad, to have someone go to the trouble to record such an incredibly emotional song and just not do it justice.

And that's not the most egregious example on the CD.

You are probably familiar with the Eagles' classic rock standard, "Heartache Tonight."

Now, I don't know about you, but whenever I think about any personal heartbreak I have gone through in my life, and if, god forbid, I then went on to sing about that time (I know how fervently you all are thanking your lucky stars that you have never had to suffer through that rendition), well, my voice would not be anywhere near as pitch-perfect as Michael Buble's.

But at least, if I were to sing about heartache? I would sound sad about it.

Michael Buble, though? He sings "Heartache Tonight" as if he were having a party. He actually sounds happy in the chorus.

I found myself wondering why he bothered to include songs he so clearly had no emotional connection to on Crazy Love.

So, yes, I was disappointed in this CD.

I do want to mention, though, one particular track which I really did enjoy on Crazy Love.

Buble sings a duet along with Sharon Jones (another artist with whom I was previously unfamiliar, but who I just might look up, because she's got a great voice) and backed up by the Dap Kings, called, "Baby, You've Got What it Takes."

And all the passion and the emotion missing in those other tunes really comes through in this one song. I don't know if they just have great chemistry, or if in trying to work together they indulged in some oneupmanship, just taking each to new heights out of pure competitive stubborness; but, sultry, sexy and upbeat, "Baby, You've Got What it Takes," is easily the standout on what is otherwise a very meh offering.

I received a demo copy of Michale Buble's CD, Crazy Love, from One2One Network, to facilitate this review. Which they are probably not so happy about right now...

Tinkerbell's Trail Mix and Pixie Nectar!

Download and print these recipes for the perfect Pixie party!

Snow White is Almost Gone! But Tinkerbell is here!

Just a reminder that last day to enter our Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Diamond Collection Plush set is tomorrow, so get those entries in now!

Also, the latest animated Disney DVD is coming out on October 27th, Tinkerbell and the Lost Treasure!




Pixie Hollow, where Tink (Miss Bell if you're nasty) hangs out, is becoming more and more popular with young girls, and we've got some great activity pages, as well as recipes from Tink and her Pixie pals!

First up, those activity pages! Just download and print.

Farm Rich for Healthier Halloween Entertaining

I love this time of year! Not only does Halloween bring out that dormant creative part of me that wants to decorate the house and throw a party, but the weather turns cooler and I can actually start using my oven to make delicious hot food without melting in the Florida sun.

Which is great, because when we do throw a party, the kids spend most of the time out on the screened porch, enjoying the cooler weather.

We're finally in for a cold snap this weekend, and I'm starting to think about what to serve the teens for our annual Halloween party, followed right up by the November poker tournament, which we are hosting this year.

For party food, I really on fast and easy. Which usually, let's face it, means less than healthy choices.

But Farm Rich has come to my rescue in the past, with traditional party favorites like their mozzarella sticks, pictured to the left. They're baked, not fried, and ready in just 15 minutes. All you have to do is pop them in the oven.

And I'm looking to Farm Rich for more mouthwatering goodies this season. Their "fall lineup" (which is actually available all year round) includes paninis, quesadillas, mozzarella bites, meatballs and pizza slices.

So, than stuffing the kids full of yet more sugary treats, I'll be serving their favorites, featuring all-natural ingredients and zero grams of trans fat.

Which, incidentally, are also a big hit with the poker crowd.

Farm Rich sent me some coupons for their delicious products so that I could get them free and try them out. Currently, those coupons are crumpled up in the bottom of my purse, still waiting to be used, as my freezer was already full of Farm Rich mozzarella sticks and quesadillas.

In a Halloween Mood? I'm Haunted

Looking for a little Hallowen inspiration?

Make it:
Reader's Digest 20 Homemade Costumes for Kids

Bake it:
Monster Cupcakes

Wear it:
Halloween T-shirts (and other great designs)

And Hear it!


Thanks to my Twitter friend, @lauralovesart, for this Poe clip of "Haunted"! I'm loving it.

More Halloween posts are coming up soon on Cool Moms Rule!, including giveaways! Stay tuned.

The Book of Samuel

Erik Raschke's The Book of Samuel is a complex work, obviously painstakingly researched. It strikes me as a labor of love.

Set in the Reagan-era eighties, this is not a typical YA novel but a coming-of-age tale of a young boy caught between escalating cycles of prejudice and violence, trying to find his own path.

Samuel's father, once a respected professor, now spends his days camped outside the family home in a canvas tent, studying scripture. His mother, a survivor of childhood polio, works long hours to keep the family solvent with a twisted, aching back,while Samuel's grandmother, embittered by a life of duty and sacrifice, spends her afternoons in front of the TV, spewing vitriolic racial slurs.

Yet Samuel remains hopeful, even when his father leaves the family on a personal (and ultimately selfish) religious pilgrimage against "Evil" and Samuel is left to console his own Mother in her grief.

Samuel must also cope with escalating animosity between his friends and the Mexican immigrants in the neighborhood, an emotionally disturbed bully, and his half-black cousin, whose own parents have deserted him.

Though the cards seem stacked against him, Samuel remains optimistic and hopeful. In his journey of self-discovery, he gains strength through remembering the words of his father, his mother's consistent patience and forbearance, and even the company of his (surprisingly transformed) grandmother.

Viv's Take: Ultimately, The Book of Samuel is one of discovery and selfless sacrifice. It's a hard book to categorize, because although it is written from the viewpoint of teen boy, it takes place in the eighties, which will have Cool Moms reminiscing about their own childhoods when they read it. The writing is excellent, the story sometimes painful, the philosophy complex. It's a book that will keep you thinking long after you've read it.

I received an advance copy of The Book of Samuel to assist me in writing this review for today, its release date.

Happy Columbus Day, Winners!

Today is Columbus Day, which means some of your kids are home from school (ours have Friday off), the post office is closed, banks aren't open either, and you are probably bored out of your skull right now.

Or maybe you are climbing the walls, trying to chase after those kids!

Well, fear not, because today we are announcing our winners for two fabulous contests, and one of them may be YOU!

So, without further ado, here are the winners to our Shrek Weird Wednesday giveaway and The Monsters vs Aliens Ginormous DVD giveaway, chosen as usual by Random Integer Generator.

First, the winner of the Shrek Weird Wednesday Giveaway!

Our winner was comment #11, by JDaniel4's_Mom, who used multiple entry options to really increase her chances, and boy did it pay off! Blogger: Cool Moms Rule! (Perfect Moms Need Not Apply) - Edit Post "Happy Columbus Day, Winners!"

As she noted, the author of Shrek is wonderful!

Next, the winner for our Monsters vs Aliens Ginormous DVD pack! The winning comment was #30, Daniel_M! He also entered with more than one method, and I know he is really looking forward to checking out all the extras loaded into this DVD pack.

Congrats, JDaniel4's_Mom and Daniel_M!

Hmm...looks like our Current Giveaways on the sidebar are getting pretty slim--time to add more soon, eh?

~Viv








First

Once in a Blue Moon

Eileen Goudge has a new book out (on the shelves October 6th), and thanks to One2One Network I read a preview copy, which I just finished on release day!

Once in a Blue Moon appealed to me the moment I read the description because the characters are, to say the least, non-traditional.

Lindsay and her little sister, Kerrie Anne, live with their Mom, but it's 12 year-old Lindsay who is really in charge. She's had to look after her little sister since day one. Only Miss Honi Love, the ex-exotic dancer who lives downstairs, seems to care about the two girls, who even Lindsay can see are different as night and day.

She, Lindsay, is the strong one, while Kerrie Anne is the cute, helpless baby.

So when the two girls are taken away from their home and placed into separate foster homes, it's no wonder that their lives take divergent paths.

Still, twenty years later, no one would ever recognize the two as sisters. Lindsay has never stopped trying to find her little sister--but when Kerrie Anne once more enters her life, is she really prepared for the new woman her little sister has become?

I don't want to give too much of the story away, but I do like how Once in a Blue Moon deals with our perceptions about what people are like and whether or not each of us is capable of change.

For example, Lindsay sees herself as strong and capable, and Kerrie Anne feels like she has become the ultimate screw-up; yet Kerrie Anne has inner reserves of strength she's never realized, and even Lindsay feels helpless when she is faced with the prospect of losing her home.

There are, to me, very few surprises in this book in the end, but it's a pleasant read, and the non-traditional characters *are* interesting, especially Miss Honi Love and Ollie, who runs the coffee shop in Lindsay's bookstore. Ollie at first seems boyish and sweet, but he's a more complex character than that initial reading suggests.

Once in a Blue Moon, so named because much of the book takes place in fictional Blue Moon Bay, Lindsay's sleepy home town on the coast of CA, is a good book to snuggle up to in the cold winter nights ahead. Again, it's not full of twists and turns, but that makes the plot more believable and the characters all the more relatable in the end.

And yes, there's plenty of romance!

I received an advance review copy of Once in a Blue Moon from One2One Network to facilitate my review of the book at its release.

Last Day to Enter These Giveaways!

Today is October the 7th, and you know what that means?

We have TWO giveaways ending today!

Make sure to enter the Shrek Weird Wednesday Giveaway and the Monsters Vs Aliens Ginormous DVD Pack giveaways before time runs out!

P.S. Might want to check out the Current Giveaways in the sidebar to see what else you are missing out on!

P.P.S. Notice anything different? I'm working on sprucing up the blog a bit for Fall! Right now, it's a work in progress.

How do you like our new look so far?

Let me know!

New FTC Guidelines--What's all this, then?

Dear Cool Moms;

I don't know if you are aware that the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) has updated their guidelines, requiring bloggers and advertisers to disclose compensation received for reviews, etc.

Apparently, some bloggers are finding the new guidelines "controversial".

Not me! I support disclosure 100%.

I really think it's important for bloggers to let their readers know if they received an item in advance to review, and if they were compensated in any way for their review.

My personal policy has always been to let you know if I get a review copy of an item to help me facilitate my review. I am always honest in my reviews and my assessments, which is why I don't just take compensation in exchange for a positive review. I feel, personally, that that is unethical. Of course, each person should decide for himself/herself.

I turn down lots of review opportunities because I don't personally believe in a product or service. Sometimes, I think I will like something and I don't, and I'm honest about that, too. Other times, I like something I was initially reluctant to try.

I have agreed to take part in blog tours and then had my blog dropped out of all the links for the blog tour because I did not have a positive experience with the product and I reviewed it honestly, indicating that to my readers, rather than either posting a positive review I did not believe in or choosing not to review the product at all.

And I'm okay with that.

Because, look, if I can't give you an honest opinion, what good am I to you? I'm putting myself out here as a Mom like you, letting you know how my experiences are going, so you can weigh that in the balance when you make your own decisions.

Of course, you shouldn't just run out and buy something because I personally enjoyed it, which is why I'd invite you to check out more than one review before you make a purchasing decision. I link to other Mom reviewers who I think have ethical review procedures as well, and of course you can (and should) do research on your own.

Anyway, I just want you to know that I have always been in favor of disclosure. I will continue to let you know whenever I receive a review copy ahead of time.

I've also, after the recent FTC changes, given some of my more recent posts an even closer scrutiny, just to be absolutely upfront and clear without a shadow of a doubt.

For instance, sometimes I will get a review copy of, say, a DVD, and the people who put out the DVD will offer a copy up for a giveaway, too. They might send me the giveaway copy and have me award it to the winner, or they might send it out to the winner directly.

It doesn't really make a difference to me, except I have to pay the postage if I send it out myself. I don't make a profit from the blog, as I've said before.

But I'm still going to let you know, not just in the body of the post where I say, "I got a copy of this to check out" like I always have, but also in italics at the bottom of the post, where I am putting all my disclaimers now, so you'll never have any doubt whatsoever about what's going on.

As you can see, I'm a real stickler about this stuff! ; )

One last time, for the record: I am fully behind disclosure and think my readers deserve to know where I am coming from.

For me? That's the only ethical way to go.

~Viv

Announcing Contest Winners! Heffalumps and Zombies, Oh My!

I'm a day late, as I intended to announce the winners yesterday, but the kids had a sleepover, I baked four dozen chocolate chip cookies, and the Rhino ended up with a nosebleed after some rough-and-tumble playtime in the pool, so I hope you all will understand!

We had TONS of entries (over a hundred!) for our Winne the Pooh Halloween Heffalump Movie giveaway, with the cute plush Pooh in his Halloween Tigger costume, so I am going to keep you all in suspense just a little bit longer on that one and instead award, first....

Our winner for the Nathan Abercrombie: Accidental Zombie 3 CD set.
This will make a fun Halloween surprise for someone!

Okay, we had 22 entries from my zombie-loving readers, and the winner, picked by Random Integer Generator, was comment #15!

This was Katrina, who said simply...

looks cute!

ykatrina at hotmail dot com

Timestamp: 2009-10-04 23:56:42 UTC

Now, the Winnie the Pooh Halloween Heffalump Movie
(with the adorable stuffed Pooh in his Tigger costume!), with 102 entries.

Again, we turn to our old friend, the Random Integer Generator...

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

85

Timestamp: 2009-10-04 23:49:49 UTC

And who was lucky commenter #85?

Shelly!

Shelly had multiple entries for following the blog and subscribing to our feed, but it was following Cool Moms Rule! on Twitter that won her the prize.

Congrats to our two lucky winners, Katrina and Shelly!

And if you want to be a winner, too, make sure to enter the contest below (the last post), as well as the others under Current Giveaways in the sidebar!

Heigh-Ho! Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Diamond Collection Plush Set Giveaway to Go!

Wow.

The incredible folks at Disney love my readers!

They've just offered me a giveaway that will blow. you. away.

Snow White and Seven Dwarfs: Diamond Edition, as you must know by now unless you live in a mine like the famous dwarfs, is out on DVD and Blu-ray. And you must also know that
Disney's perennial classic, Snow White, has been digitally re-mastered in HD for just stunning footage.

Presented with flawless newly restored picture and 7.1 Digital Theater System Hi-Def Surround
Sound, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Diamond Edition promises to set a new standard in home entertainment. The most immersive and highest level viewing experience ever available, it includes unparalleled features, exclusive and updatable high definition content, superior picture and sound, and much more.




Perfectly timed for holiday gift giving and available for a limited time only, the historic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Diamond Edition comes with a spectacular assortment of all new bonus features, including:

Blu-ray™ Bonus Features
• Magic Mirror – Using the latest in Blu-ray technology, the iconic magic Mirror guides the audience through the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Diamond Edition features with ease, serving as the host for an incredibly immersive experience. The Mirror will recognize viewing patterns, knows where the audience has left off and will even suggest where to navigate next. This marks the first use of this technology in a Disney Blu-ray release and provides viewers with the control to personally create a customized Snow White experience
• DisneyView – Disney’s pioneering animated feature is brought to the modern era of widescreen
high definition viewing by allowing the user to expand their viewing experience beyond the
original aspect ratio of the film. Utilizing Disney Blu-ray technology, acclaimed Disney artist Toby Bluth was able to draw beyond the borders of the classic full frame cinema and fill the otherwise dark edges of the screen with beautiful custom imagery, giving audiences a new view of the animated classic favorite.
• About Toby Bluth – Disney artist Toby Bluth tells how the movie inspired him to create the superb DisneyView art.
• Audio Commentary with Walt Disney, hosted by John Canemaker
• “The Princess and the Frog” Sneak Peek

BACKSTAGE DISNEY: DIAMOND EDITION
• Snow White Returns - Newly discovered storyboards suggest a brand new Snow White featurette that never got made. For the first time, current Disney animators show how this short story would have played.
• Mirror, Mirror On The Wall – Through BD-Live, this mirror can find the secret princess inside each viewer, then create for them a personal message from their favorite princess who will call them on the telephone.
• Hyperion Studios – Audiences are digitally transported to 1937 to discover first-hand Hyperion Studios, the original studio Walt Disney himself built where Snow White was conceived and developed. Viewers will virtually walk the halls of this historic landmark, experiencing life at Hyperion Studios in the 1930s. This amazing “Backstage Disney” feature contains newly dimensionalized archival photos, never-before-heard animator recordings, archival transcripts and rare footage of Walt himself revealing how Disney’s gifted filmmakers crafted the very first
animated feature.
• The One That Started It All - This featurette reveals how Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs forever changed the world of movies and the world at large.

MUSIC & MORE
• “Someday My Prince Will Come” – Music video by Tiffany Thornton

FAMILY PLAY (GAMES & ACTIVITIES)
• What Do You See? – To win this exciting interactive game, players must untangle scrambled images.
• Jewel Jumble – Players put jewels from the Dwarfs’ mine in the proper order to win this game.

DVD Bonus Features
• Audio Commentary with Walt Disney, hosted by John Canemaker
• “The Princess and the Frog” Sneak Peek
• Snow White Returns - Newly discovered storyboards suggest a brand new Snow White featurette that never got made. For the first time, current Disney animators show how this short story would have played.
• The One That Started It All - This featurette reveals how Snow White and the Seven
Dwarfs forever changed the world of movies and the world at large.
• “Someday My Prince Will Come” – Music video by Tiffany Thornton
• Dopey’s Wild Mine Ride – An interactive set-top game for the whole family
• Animation Voice Talent
• Disney Through The Decades – A series of video segments with celebrity hosts
• “Heigh-Ho” Karaoke Sing-Along
• Dylan & Cole Sprouse: Blu-ray™ Is Suite!
• Learn How To Take Your Favorite Movies On The Go

Now, Disney has a number of combo packages available.

The Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Blu-ray™ + DVD Combo Pack is $39.99 and the 2-Disc DVD set is priced at $29.99.

But we don't have either of those to give away.

Wait, we have something even better!

We're giving away the SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS: DIAMOND COLLECTION PLUSH SET!
The SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS: DIAMOND COLLECTION PLUSH SET includes a plush of each of the seven dwarfs as well as a Diamond Edition Blu-ray and DVD Combo Pack. This plush pack retails for (a very reasonable, if you ask me!) SRP $79.99.

Here's how to enter to win: Just comment on this post with your favorite dwarf! (required for entry) Yes, I know a lot of you are going to go with Dopey, because he is adorable and sweet and funny. But there's got to be some Bashful and Doc lovers out there, too, right? And let's hear it for Happy, folks!

For Additional Entries:

• Follow CoolMomsRule on Twitter.
• Tweet about this post, using the #CoolMomsRule hashtag. We want to get the word out on this generous giveaway opportunity!
• Blog about this giveaway with a link to this giveaway page. Leave a comment with a link to your blog post.
• Put the new, improved Cool Moms Rule button (in the sidebar) on your blog.
• Subscribe to the Cool Moms Rule RSS feed (see sidebar).
• Comment on another post on the site, then come back here and let me know.

That's a total of SEVEN chances to win the SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS: DIAMOND COLLECTION PLUSH SET!

Contest ends Friday, October 16th at 11:59 PM EST.

Good Luck!

Check out the Current Giveaways on the sidebar for more chances to win from Cool Moms Rule! We'll be announcing the winners of our Nathan Abercrombie: Accidental Zombie and Winnie the Pooh Halloween Heffalump DVD with Pooh Plush giveaways, which ended 9/30, tomorrow.

I did not receive any compensation for this review. Prize will be sent directly to the winner from the distributor of the DVD.

Thriller, Thriller Night! You're Fighting for Your Life Inside a Killer Thriller Tonight...

Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is launching a new series of one-hour specials called A NIGHT AT THE MOVIES beginning tonight at 8 p.m. (ET) with The Suspenseful World of Thrillers.

I got a chance to take a sneak preview of The Suspenseful World of Thrillers, and as someone who enjoys the genre (old Hitchcock movies are some of my favorites), I found the first installment of the new series really interesting.

The special starts off with trying to define what really constitutes a Thriller--my favorite definition? The ideal thriller "confirms your paranoia of the world."

Novelist Ken Follett, who wrote some truly splendid Thrillers that translate well to the screen, keeps it simple, saying a Thriller is basically any work about people in danger.

Of course, Alfred Hitchcock was the early master of film thrillers. As actor Kenneth Branagh puts it, Hitchcock had a clinical, "almost soulless objectivity" which made his thrillers work.

One plot device that Hitchcock especially liked was known as a Mcguffin. A McGuffin was intended to further the story, and keep the suspense going as long as possible by throwing an obstacle into the path of the main characters, who were usually just normal people suddenly plunged into extraordinary circumstances.

In Thrillers, a common McGuffin is that the characters cannot go to the police for help. In the classic Hitchcock movie North by Northwest, for example, police suspect Cary Grant himself of the crime he is trying to solve (and you see that now in movies all the time, the unfairly accused protagonist trying to find the real criminal).

Another observation I found interesting from tonight's special was the fact that Hitchcock frequently used blondes in his movies, at a time when brunettes were often cast as "vamps," but he gave them secrets and made them, though gorgeous, tough as nails (think Grace Kelly in Rear Window).

Of course, tonight's special doesn't just go into Hitchcock thrillers. I don't want to ruin it for you by going into too much detail, but rest assured that The Suspenseful World of Thrillers takes you right up to the present day, exploring themes like Thriller villains (a good villain, in my opinion, is *essential* if a Thriller is going to work!), Thrillers during war time and the changing role of women in Thrillers.

Which reminds me that if you have never seen Eye of the Needle, a classic Thriller based on a Ken Follett book that I myself only saw recently, you really should! It's a great movie that incorporates pretty much all of those themes I just described. Really gripping.

And it is part of the lineup for TCM's Thriller series!

That's right, with tonight's airing of A NIGHT AT THE MOVIES: THE SUSPENSEFUL WORLD OF THRILLERS serving as the kick-off event, TCM will set aside each Friday primetime lineup in October for a different style of thriller.

Here is the complete schedule of TCM’s salute to thrillers (all times shown are Eastern). You might want to print this out and stick it on your fridge or by your TV remote so you don't miss any of the fun. You can watch most of these movies with older kids, too. Thrillers are perfect for settting that Halloween mood!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TCM's SALUTE TO THRILLERS

Friday, Oct. 2 – Thrillers and Hitchcock
8 p.m *A Night at the Movies: The Suspenseful World of Thrillers (2009) – premiere.
9 p.m. *Rear Window (1954), James Stewart and Grace Kelly.
11 p.m. * Night at the Movies: The Suspenseful World of Thrillers (2009) – encore.
Midnight Shadow of a Doubt (1943) Joseph Cotten and Teresa Wright.

Friday, Oct. 9 – Political Thrillers
8 p.m. The Manchurian Candidate (1962), Frank Sinatra, Angela Lansbury, Janet Leigh.
10:15 p.m. The Parallax View (1974) Warren Beatty and Hume Cronyn.
Midnight The Boys from Brazil (1978), Laurence Olivier and Gregory Peck.

Friday, Oct. 16 – Crime Thrillers
8 p.m. The Narrow Margin (1952), Charles McGraw and Marie Windsor.
9:30 p.m. *A Night at the Movies: The Suspenseful World of Thrillers (2009) – encore.
10:30 p.m. Lured (1947), George Sanders, Lucille Ball and Charles Coburn.
12:30 a.m. The Lodger (1944), Merle Oberon and George Sanders.

Friday, Oct. 23 – Gothic Thrillers
8 p.m. The Night of the Hunter (1955), Robert Mitchum, Lillian Gish and Shelley Winters.
10 p.m. Dragonwyck (1946), Gene Tierney, Walter Huston and Vincent Price.
Midnight *Rebecca (1940), Joan Fontaine, Laurence Olivier and Judith Anderson.

Friday, Oct. 30 – Psychological Thrillers
8 p.m. *Gaslight (1944), Charles Boyer, Ingrid Bergman, Joseph Cotten and Angela Lansbury.
10 p.m. Night Must Fall (1937), Robert Montgomery, Rosalind Russell and Dame May Whitty.
Midnight *Psycho (1960), Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles and Martin Balsam.


*Listing highly recommended by me, Viv, personally!

Baby Einstein: World Animal Adventure

I love animals.

Not only do we have three adopted shelter cats, but as I've mentioned on the blog before, the Rhino had this crazy love for all things rhinoceros when he was little (hence the nickname), and we have stuffed rhinos and rhino gear all over the house (he even had a "Caution: Rhino Crossing" sign on his bedroom door). We even adopted a Rhino, named Piggy (of course!) in Africa to help fight against poaching there, and had an "Endangered Species" themed birthday party for him.

So, yes, my family loves animals too (well, accept for the Owl, who at sixteen is too cool to admit to being crazy about anything but his girlfriend).

Animals and kids go together like PB&J, dogs and frisbees, cats and....okay, cats are kinda on their own, but you get my idea.

So, anyway, naturally, I love that the latest Baby Einstein DVD, Baby Einstein: World Animal Adventure is all about introducing your baby to the amazing world of animals! Especially those exotic animals your baby won't see at home. Kangaroos, snow monkeys pandas, elephants--they're all here. Animals from all over the world come into your home to charm baby (and you!).

Baby Einstein has a history of producing quality DVDs for your baby, and what I like about this one in particular is the new "Grow With Me" feature.

Here's how it works:

Baby Einstein: World Animal Adventure can be viewed in two modes.

Mode 1 is a visual and music experience. You and your baby can just sit and watch the world go by, enjoying the animals and their antics, or sing and dance along to music from all over the world! Lots of catchy drum beats on this DVD.

Mode 2 features added written and spoken words for you to share with your baby. Moms are encouraged to use these words as a cue to interact and experience the DVD together with their babies, helping them learn new vocabulary. In addition, Mode 2 has funny puppet shows featuring animal Moms and their babies.

I'm sure you and your baby will love Baby Einstein: World Animal Adventure, especially if you are as crazy about animals as I am!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Baby Einstein and received a World Animal Adventure DVD to facilitate my candid review.

Tomorrow is National Denim Day!

As you all might remember (okay, I know you have busy lives and more important things to do, but humor me), I am an official Lee Fit Ambassador.

And so, in my official capacity, I just want to remind you that tomorrow is the BIG DAY, people!

Tomorrow, October 2nd is National Denim Day! Woohooo!

If you saw the video I posted a while back, you'll know that this year’s Ambassador is Christina Applegate. Love her!

National Denim Day helps raise money (and it's in the millions now) for the Women's Cancer Programs of EIF.

And it's really easy, and doesn't even require much in these tough economic times.

If you signed up already, good on you! If not, today's the last day.

Here's how you can help:

Sign up on Denimday.com to register a team, or join an online team.

Donate just $5 to your team.

Encourage friends and family to donate as well. Click here if you are interested in finding out more about where the money goes.

Wear your jeans tomorrow, October 2,
on National Denim Day to show your support!