This Giveaway is a (wait for it) REAL STEEL!

 DreamWorks Pictures’ REAL STEEL opens in theatres everywhere tomorrow.

The movie stars Hugh Jackman (good enough reason to see it right there), and takes place in the not-so-far-away future, where boxing is now high-tech and fought not by men but by huge fighting robots (sounds like a more humane way to go about it, actually. No more concussions!).

Hugh Jackman is a former fighter who lost his chance at the title when the robots came along. When he hits rock-bottom (and basically runs out of other choices), his son (played by Dakota Goyo), who wants a better relationship with his estranged Dad, team up to build (and train, apparently?!) their own robot contender. 

Now, if that isn't enough to get you excited for the weekend, guess what? To celebrate the opening, we at  Cool Moms Rule! get to host REAL STEEL  giveaway for you! 

ITEMS FOR GIVEAWAY:


- REAL STEEL t-shirt
(in adult  sizes S, M, L, XL)

- REAL STEEL bottle opener 

- REAL STEEL stickers

- REAL STEEL temporary tattoos

                              
One lucky winner takes home the whole kit and kaboodle (ever wonder what a "kaboodle" is? It's things like that keeping me up at night).

To Enter:

Just leave a comment here with your favorite Hugh Jackman film. Come on, the guy's had billions, this is an easy one!

For Additional entries:

Tweet about the contest using #realsteel and #coolmomsrule for THREE extra entries.

"Like" Dreamworks and the REAL STEEL Facebook page for another TWO entries.

+1 on Google Plus for another entry.

Contest ends Monday, October 17th and is available to US and Canadian entrants only, please. 

Good Luck!

P.S. A caboodle (or boodle) - is an archaic term meaning group or collection, usually of people. A "kit" is what soldiers carried their equipment in. The beginning "ca" was most likely added on to boodle simply for alliteration when combined with "kit". The exact phrase "the whole kit and caboodle" was first recorded in 1884. There. Now you can get some rest!

The items in the giveaway are being sent directly to the winner, chosen through random integer selection, by the giveaway sponsor. I have received no personal compensation whatsoever for posting about the REAL STEEL movie or hosting this giveaway on this blog.

Spyro Flies Again!

Remember the loveable, playable dragon, Spyro?

He's baaaaaaack!

Cute little purple dragon (that spits fire), Spyro

Skylanders: Spyro's Adventures, set to release October 16th from Activision, offers a unique new take on the old classic, delivering a "cross-platform experience" that will fully immerse kids in Spyro's vivid 3D world.

This Little Dude is The Eruptor

Activision has worked some kind of technological magic, and their cute little dragon toys can go from the playground to TV screen, letting your children interact with them virtually through TV, computer and game console, too. And THEN, the toys actually "remember" where they are in a game, so that your kids can take them to their friends' houses and start just where they left off via the Portal of Power (great name, btw).

The Portal of Power! Muahahaha!

But that's not even the best part! Are you ready for the best part? 

I still don't know how they can do this, but the toys can transfer those "remembered" game experiences effortlessly from one platform to a completely different one! 

So, if you have the Nintendo Wii and your neighbor's kid has the Xbox 360, there's no problem--Spyro and his pals can go back and forth between them without losing a step! And that's not all--Playstation, Nintendo DS, even PCs and Macs are compatible with the new technology. There's even a whole website world where your kids can play online, too: Skylander's Spyro's Universe. I love that everyone can keep the technology they have now, and yet their kids can still play along with their friends who have a different game console or computer.

Sounds high-tech and space-agey, doesn't it? Don't you just want to try this? I mean, let your kids try this (I admit it, I want to play this game myself, so there!).

Gill Grunt

And wouldn't you be just the Coolest Mom in the world if your family was one of the FIRST families to get this whole wallopin' world of wondrous whimsy right in their home?

You know what--I bet it would be even cooler if you could get it for FREE, right?

Okay, then.

Cool Moms Rule! is giving away TWO Skylander: Spyro's Adventure  games  to celebrate the game's launch day, October 16th!

To Enter: All you have to do is visit the game's website and leave a comment on your favorite character from the game, and on what console your family would play Skylander: Spyro's Adventure! (required for all entrants).

For Additional Entries (optional):

Like Activision on Facebook
Tweet about this Giveaway (you can do this once every day!)
Blog about this giveaway (5 entries!)
Like This post
Subscribe to our RSS feed (3 entries!)
Add our giveaway to any giveaway listing (3 entries!)

Contest ends on launch day, October 16th, at noon.

EDIT 10/17/11: I have now set up this contest on rafflcopter (if you entered previously, I transferred your entry, don't worry). Since I have not yet received my review copy, I will announce the winners along with my review. This giveaway will now end on noon Monday, October 24th!

Which just means you have more time to enter and WIN!

Skylanders Spyro's Adventure includes a vast single player adventure, co-op gameplay, battle modes, puzzle solving and treasure hunts.  The game is rated E10+ by the ESRB.  For more information, visit http://www.skylanders.com/

I will receive a complementary copy of Skylanders: Spyro's Adventures to review for the blog in conjunction with this giveaway and my blog posts about the game. The prizes in the giveaway will be shipped directly to the winners from the contest sponsors. Their prizes, and my own copy of the game, are not contingent on a favorable review. My review will be an honest assessment of my own experience with Skylanders: Spyro's Adventures.

Born to HandVibe, Baby? Our New Giveaway Puts a Ring on It

 Kids love to collect things. For some, it's action figures, others like trading cards, and I'm sure you've seen those rubber bands in strange shapes all over the place lately.

HandVibes remind me of those rubber bands, except, to me, make more sense than those do (it's hard to tell what the shapes are supposed to be sometimes, and because they ARE shapes, they don't really fit kids' wrists all that well).

HandVibes are rubber novelty rings that any kid can wear. They come in different colors and include savings like “Rad,” “BFF,” “Epic,” “Dude,” “Boo-Yah,” and lots more. There's actually 25 unique sayings, 9 vibrant colors, and when you add in the hard-to-find 10 emoticon☺ designs (!),  a total of 235 unique rings in all (huh. Never thought I'd actually use all that "permuations" stuff from Algebra. Go figure).

Personally, I like  (heh) the two-thumbs-up Handvibe, perfect for Facebook fans (naturally, HandVibes have their own Facebook page, too), and the "Dude" and "Bro" ones, because my teenagerss use those words all the time.

So I showed the HandVibes to the Rhino, who is technically a bit older than the target age range (I'm thinking more tweens and early teens), and still he thought they were pretty cool.

Adding to the collectability of HandVibes is the packaging.  HandVibes are sold in packs with two visible rings, plus a third ‘Mystery Ring’ contained in a hidden compartment. That 'Mystery Ring' might just be one of the ten rare blue swirl or black emoticon designs, featuring smiley faces, winks, smirks and more, which are randomly inserted into just one out of every six ring packs. So every purchase has an added element of surprise as kids discover if their Mystery Ring is one of the rare emoticon designs.

Viv's take: I think HandVibes are fun and colorful, and let kids show a little 'attitude' without being disruptive or disrespectful. They're age-appropriate for tweens and young teens, but also appeal to older kids. Plus HandVibes aren't expensive, so even frugal, budget-conscious Moms can indulge (or reward) their kids and not break the bank...

...Especially if you WIN some!

HandVibes are graciously offering one lucky Cool Moms Rule! reader TWO packages, for a total of 6 HandVibes (and two chances to get rare collectable rings!).

Here's how you can enter the giveaway (required):

Visit the HandVibes website to see all the possible combinations, then leave a comment below this post with which Handvibes ring (color and saying or emoticon) is your favorite!

Additional entries! (Optional and awesome):

• Tweet about this giveaway (you follow me, right?), using #Handvibes. 
• Follow us on Blogger, or subscribe to our feed (one extra entry each).
• Add this giveaway to any contest listing.
• Like HandVibes on Facebook. They'd really love you to help them get the word out about their product--THREE extra entries!
• Add our button to your site (check the middle sidebar for the code). This is also worth THREE extra entries!
• Add a blog post about this giveaway and you'll get another THREE entries!
• Donate ANY AMOUNT to our team in the fight against breast cancer before National Denim Day, October 7th! FIVE extra entries!

That's it! Contest runs until Friday, October 14th. Open to readers with U.S. shipping addresses only, please.

Good Luck!

I received two packs of HandVibes to facilitate this review. In addition, HandVibes are providing two 3-packs for this reader giveaway.

We Got All the Cool Jeans: Enter to Win Your Favorite Lee Jeans and Support National Denim Day on October 7th.

UPDATED: Now TWO pairs of your favorite jeans will be given to the winner! Thanks for helping us reach over $100 in donations so far. 

One in eight. That's how many women will be diagnosed with breast cancer.

So, instead of just putting up some Facebook status message, wouldn't it be great to actually make a difference in the fight against breast cancer?

Since 1996, Lee National Denim Day® has raised nearly $83 million to do just that.  So I'm proud to announce that I've started a team for National Denim Day®, October 7th, called We Got all the Cool Jeans.

And guess what? You're all invited to join the team!

I'm pledging to donate what I'd normally spend on a new pair of jeans to the Women’s Cancer Programs of the Entertainment Industry Foundation for Lee National Denim Day®. I hope you will join the team by contributing what you can to the cause. Every little bit helps.

Then, on October 7th, put on your comfiest jeans to show your support!

And, as a thank you, we're giving away a free pair of your favorite Lee Jeans here on CoolMomsRule! Now, you don't have to donate to enter, but I hope you will anyway. Those who do donate will get FIVE extra entries in the contest, no matter what their contribution.

To enter to WIN your favorite pair of Lee jeans, just leave a comment below this post (required for initial entry).

For FIVE extra entries, make a donation, of any amount, by clicking on the DONATE NOW image to the left of this post. It will take you to the We Got All the Cool Jeans team page (optional).

For more additional entries (optional):
LIKE National Denim Day on Facebook.
Tweet about this giveaway and use this hashtag: #cooljeans. Link to your tweet in a comment.
Share this post on Google+ (5 extra entries!).
Add this giveaway to any site that lists giveaways and link to the listing in a comment. You'll get an entry for each one.

Increase your chances of winning: You can Tweet as often as once a day from now through October 7th! And, of course, if you want to donate more than once, you're welcome to do that, too.

To sweeten the pot, when donations through We Got All the Cool Jeans reach $100, we'll add another pair of Lee jeans to the giveaway!


For coordinating a team and participating in Lee National Denim Day,  Lee Jeans is providing me with four pairs of Lee Jeans and a Denim Day apparel item. 

Pick ProFlowers for Pretty Presents (And WIN a $50 Giftcode!)

Monday was my birthday, and I don't want to make you feel bad, but I didn't get your present. And Mother's Day (May 8th) is practically upon us! You had better get on that! ; )

Seriously, though, have you even THOUGHT about Mother's Day yet?  I hadn't until recently, when I received a lovely Spring Time Sweets Tower from ProFlowers.

I've used ProFlowers myself for years (there's even a great coupons page with deals like free weekday delivery or a complimentary glass vase), and everyone I send an arrangement to always raves about how fresh and lovely the bouquets are, so it was really nice to be a recipient for a change!

First off, I was impressed with how FAST the delivery was! I picked the Springtime Sweets Tower out in the afternoon, and it arrived here early the next day, which is just lightning speed.

Next, this Springtime Sweets Tower? It's just the cutest presentation. I have three pretty pastel-pattered little hatboxes full of candy (yes, we have a sweet tooth here!), and each box contains Springtime salt water taffy, Spring mix foil-wrapped chocolates and yogurt-covered pretzels, and each bag of candy inside the box is separately wrapped.

Which is great, because being the sneaky Mom I am, I rearranged the bags so that I get more salt water taffy (my favorite), and my boys will each get a box with their favorites inside on Easter morning! So I have made three gifts out of one.

Maybe you should consider going with ProFlowers for your own gifts (or hint to your family that you'd love a Springtime arrangement for YOUR special day). They have a fabulous Mother's Day selection!

You know what? ProFlowers and I will even make it easy for you.

Win a $50 Gift Code From ProFlowers!

• To enter, follow this link to ProFlowers' Mother's Day selections, and tell me what you'd pick if you won! (Initial entry, required for everyone).

For additional entries (optional):

• ProFlowers and I would love to get the word out about their Facebook page! So if you "like" them on their page, not only will you get THREE additional entries in the contest, but you'll get 20% off at ProFlowerswhen you place an order! (leave a comment below so I know you've become a ProFlowers Facebook fan and I can credit you with those entries).
• Follow CoolMomsRule on Twitter and tweet about this contest, then leave the link to the tweet below for another THREE additional entries.
• Blog about this contest for another THREE additional entries! Leave a link to your post.

That's TEN chances to win!

Contest ends Sunday, May 1st, so get on those entries! 

Good Luck!

I received a lovely Spring Time Sweets Tower from ProFlowers, valued at $29.99, to facilitate this review and help them promote their Facebook page. In addition, ProFlowers is providing a $50 giftcode to the winner of this giveaway.

                                 

Holiday Tips and a $50 GiftCard Giveaway!

...is for Holiday Time-Saving Tips! 

1. Road trip rules: Seasoned holiday road-travelers invest in a quick pass to whiz past hour-long lines at the tolls, 2) plot out where to get the cheapest gas along the way by using a “gas prices” feature on MapQuest, and 3) pre-pack energy-boosting snacks and beverages to avoid crowded rest stops and fast-food joints.

Viv's take: We absolutely use our toll quick pass whenever we are traveling through Orlando (which the Engineer does all the time, as he flies out of there for work) to save us from having to wade through the tourists at the toll booths. I feel for them, as those tolls can add up, and some of them are fumbling for change with horns honking, while we just breeze right through!  

2. Babysitting or playdate exchange: Gain kid-free time to make your way through your holiday to-do list by coordinating a playdate exchange with another family.

Viv's take: if you can get some parents together and create a babysitting co-op just for the holidays, you'll have a much easier time wrapping the kids' gifts without little eyes spying to see what you're up to!

3. Make sure it's in stock: Nothing wastes more time than driving from store-to-store in search of a specific item.  Do yourself a favor and call ahead or better yet check store inventory online before you leave home.  Many major e-retailers offer customers the convenience of purchasing items online and then picking them up in-store…some with express pick-up lines.

Viv's take: I do the majority of shopping online these days. Whenever possible, I try to have an item shipped to me or to my local store that way. Saves time!

4. Wrap it up: Socialize and wrap up your holiday duties by inviting your friends over to chat, nosh and yes, wrap gifts! Everyone brings a roll of wrapping paper, ribbons and other decorative elements to share with the group.  Also, watch for “free gift wrapping” promotions from online merchants.  Sometimes you may have to spend a certain amount to get the promotion to kick in, but it may be worth it given the time you’ll save on the backend.

Viv's take: This is a great idea, and one I haven't tried, the getting together with friends and having a--wait for it--wrap party. I do try to use online wrapping when I can, though I haven't found any free wrapping promotions.

5. Take advantage of online banking to save time! If you are a Bank of America customer, you can set up alerts to remind you to pay bills, check your balance and transfer money, all online. Check Bank of America's solutions center  for even more tips and information! And follow Bank of America on Twitter: @BofA_Tips.

Viv's take: I'm a Bank of America customer myself, and I do the majority of my banking online these days. They even have a mobile app for your phone. So now, I don't have to make a trip to the bank as often! If I do deposit a check at the bank, though, I can save time there, too, because I don't even have to fill out a deposit slip or put the check into an envelope. I just feed it into the ATM, and with their Deposit Image ATM I get *pictures of the checks deposited* as proof that they were received by the bank! 

And just for reading through these tips, 

you could win a $50 preloaded 

Bank of America giftcard!   

Initial Entry (required for all): Leave a comment below with one of your own tips for getting through the holidays with less stress. Or let me know which one of the above listed tips you think you will try this year!

Additional Entries:

• Follow @Cool Moms Rule and @BofA_Tips on Twitter, and tweet about this giveaway (3 entries!).
• Put our Holiday Gift Guide badge on your site (or let me know you already have!).
• Post about this giveaway on your Facebook page, blog, or a giveaway listing site (3 entries!).

Deadline for giveaway entries is Christmas Eve, December 24th, at midnight EST.

Good Luck!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Bank of America and received a Bank of America preloaded gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate. 

This giveaway is hosted and fulfilled solely by Cool Moms Rule!

Despicable Me Giveaway!

...is for Giveaway!

Today, Despicable Me was nominated for a Golden Globe!

And...it's out on Bluray and DVD!

The perfect gift for the holidays arrives in the hilarious and heartfelt animated box office sensation, Despicable Me, available today from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

“Despicable Me is one of those rare titles that moviegoers of all ages have enthusiastically embraced,” said Craig Kornblau, President of Universal Studios Home Entertainment. “It’s not only one of the highest-grossing movies of the year but also one of the most popular animated films of all time. Perfectly timed for the holidays, Despicable Me will be high on everybody's wish list as the must-have Blu-ray/DVD of the season.”

BONUS FEATURES EXCLUSIVELY ON BLU-RAY™ 3D Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack, and DVD Double Pack: 

·      THREE ALL NEW, MINI-MOVIES Starring THE MINIONS — The fun continues with three all-new mini-movies, created exclusively for the Blu-ray Combo Packs and DVD Double Pack!  Available for a limited time only!  Get more laughs and more minion mayhem with "Home Makeover", "Orientation Day" and "Banana" - you'll want to watch them again and again!

·      THE VOICES OF DESPICABLE ME —Go behind-the-scenes with Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Miranda Cosgrove, Kristen Wiig and Julie Andrews as they give life to their animated characters. Includes character profiles for each of the cast members!  

·      SUPER SILLY FUN LAND—Join Agnes, Margo and Edith at the Super Silly Fun Land Theme Park and play Feed the Creatures and Freeze the Floating Minions to win super cool prizes. 

BONUS FEATURES EXCLUSIVELY ON BLU-RAY 3D COMBO PACK AND BLU-RAY COMBO PACK:

·     GRU-CONTROL  - Through a picture-in-picture window, see the making of the film with behind-the-scenes footage and cast/filmmaker interviews

·     MISS HATTIE’S TOP SECRET COOKIE RECIPES—Margo is proud to present the recipes for those wonderful cookies that the loveable orphans under Miss Hattie’s care enjoy so much! 

·     BD-LIVE™—Access the BD-Live™ Center through your Internet-connected player to get even more content, watch the latest trailers and more.

o   MY SCENES—Bookmark your favorite scenes from the movie.

·     pocket BLU™ app— For the first time available on iPad®, owners can enjoy a new, enhanced edition of pocket BLU™ made especially to take advantage of the tablet’s larger screen and high resolution display. Consumers will be able to browse through a library of Blu-ray™ content and watch entertaining extras on-the-go that’s bigger and better than ever before.  USHE’s groundbreaking pocket BLU™ app uses iPhone™, iPod® touch, iPad™, Blackberry®, Nokia® Smartphone, Android™, PC and Macintosh to work seamlessly with a network-connected Blu-ray™  player and offers advanced features such as:

o   MINION ME—Exclusively for iPhone® and iPad® -- Personalize photos of friends and family by turning them into Minions. Pictures can be customized with glasses, bowties, hats and hairstyles to make it really hilarious! Send it to your friends with a Minion laugh.

o   MINION DOMINION APP—Exclusively for iPhone® and iPad®   Control a Minion by turning, tilting, rotating and shaking your phone. Tap the screen to make him speak, tap it again to hear him laugh. Or do battle with the two-player “minion mash up.” Download to your iPhone and see who can inflict the most damage on the other’s minion. 

o  Advanced Remote Control: A sleek, elegant new way to operate your Blu-ray™ player. Users can navigate through menus, playback and BD-Live™ functions with ease. 

o  Video Timeline: Users can easily bring up the video timeline, allowing them to instantly access any point in the movie. 

o  Mobile-To-Go: Users can unlock a selection of bonus content with their Blu-ray™ discs to save to mobile devices or to stream from anywhere there’s a Wi-Fi network, enabling them to enjoy exclusive content on the go, anytime, anywhere.

o  Keyboard: Enter data into a Blu-ray™ player with your device’s easy and intuitive keyboard to facilitate such Blu-ray™ features as chatting with friends and sending messages.

BONUS FEATURES AVAILABLE ON DVD AND ALL VERSIONS:            

·     The World of Despicable Me

·     Despicable Beats—Director Chris Renaud talks about the cool factor of renowned music producer Pharrell Williams.

·     Gru's Rocket Builder—In an all-new game, Vector has stolen some of the most famous landmarks from around the world and replaced them with the pieces to Gru’s rocket. Players must return all the stolen landmarks to the correct countries in order to build their own rockets before Vector hacks into the system and steals the rocket plans. The reward for completing the rocket is a launch to the moon! 

·     A Global Effort—Learn all about the global effort behind Despicable Me. A director from France and another from the USA, plus an American and English cast created a movie in France, with artists from all over the world for a truly international movie!

·     Commentary with directors Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin, featuring the Minions! 

All three products include a digital copy of the movie to watch anytime, anywhere.  A single disc DVD will also be available.

And we have an amazing Despicable Me Giveaway for you!

GRAND PRIZE 

DESPICABLE ME Single Disc DVD

DESPICABLE ME Blu-ray and DVD Beanie (one size fits most)

DESPICABLE ME Blu-ray and DVD Stickers

DESPICABLE ME Blu-ray and DVD Activity Sheets 

One grand prize will be awarded.

In addition FOUR first prizes will be awarded! 

DESPICABLE ME Blu-ray and DVD Beanie (one size fits most)

DESPICABLE ME Blu-ray and DVD Stickers

DESPICABLE ME Blu-ray and DVD Activity Sheets

How to ENTER (required for initial entry):

Leave a comment on this post on how you would put your own minions to use this holiday season!

For additional entries:

• Put our Holiday Gift Guide button on your blog or Facebook page
• Follow coolmomsrule on Twitter (if you don't already), tweet this giveaway and post the link in the comments (3 extra entries)
• Blog about this giveaway (3 extra entries)
• Follow this blog on Google Friends connect (left sidebar)
• Subscribe to our feed

Deadline for entries is December 21st.

Good luck!

DealPop USA Giveaway!

is also for DealPop!

DealPop USA lines up great deals for you, a different one every day, so you don't have to search all over the internet to find the best prices on holiday gifts you want. And DealPop USA will still be around once the holidays are over to help you keep saving year-round.

For example, Here is today’s Deal for DealPop USA:

Thursday, December 9th: Nikki's Cookies only $15 for $40 worth of cookies made from generations-old homemade recipes, and holiday specialties. 

Note: Here's how it works: Go to DealPop USA to get the daily deal, print up your voucher and take it to your local restaurant, club, theater or store to redeem!

Want an even BETTER deal? Use the code DEALPOPHOLIDAY through 12/24 for an additional 15% off!  

DealPop is also offering one lucky Cool Moms Rule! reader $15 in a giveaway just for us! To enter, leave a comment below the post. Ends 12/16/10.

Additional Entries:

• Follow coolmomsrule on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway.
• Tweet about our Hickory Farms Giveaway or our Diary of A Wimpy Kid giveaway or BOTH (3 extra entries EACH!).
• Subscribe to our feed or follow Cool Moms Rule! blog with Google friend connect (check the sidebar).
• Put our Holiday Gift Guide badge (middle sidebar) on your blog sidebar (3 extra entries!).
• Blog about this post (3 extra entries!).

That's a total of FIFTEEN entries you could have to win $15 from DealPop!

Good luck!

Hickory Farms GIVEAWAY to kick off our Holiday Gift Guide!

Happy December, Everybody! 

How was your Thanksgiving? 

Did the leftovers hold out for a few days?  Good. Probably gone about now, right? Or this is right around the time when you are getting a little tired of good old turkey sandwiches.

As I've written here earlier, we are in the process of remodeling our whole kitchen, which means we are really short on things like, oh, I don't know, a microwave/oven/stovetop/kitchen sink these days, so we actually went over to visit the relatives and have Thanksgiving dinner.  I also went shopping on Black Friday with my Mom, at FOUR IN THE MORNING, and came out to the parking lot to find someone dinged our van and took off. *sigh*

Anyway, Mom sent me home with some sandwich fixings and pumpkin pie, thank goodness, but the Rhino, for some reason I cannot fathom, won't eat sandwiches.

Which is why I thank the heavens for Hickory Farms.

Hickory Farms has the best cheese in the world. Seriously. The Rhino goes nuts for the stuff! It's so creamy and there's all these varieties--well, I'm getting ahead of myself here. Let me back up.

I am extremely fortunate to be a part of the Mom Central Hickory Farms blog tour. Which means (prepare to envy me, readers) I received not one but TWO fantastic gift items from them to review:

The Perfect Picnic Basket, which is filled with Hickory Farms Summer Sausage (including turkey sausage, which I didn't even know they had!), the aforementioned creamy cheeses, crackers (these are excellent, with sesame, caraway and a touch of garlic) and two different mustards, one a little spicy and one sweet.  It also includes Melt Away Mints and Famously Thin Peanut Brittle, all beautifully wrapped up in a Peterboro Basket (one of those that has a hinge in the middle so the lid flips up on one side, which I plan to reuse for my own gift-giving or maybe just keep for myself, it's so pretty)! 

The Home for the Holidays Gift Box has Hickory Farms signature beef as well as Italian Recipe Summer Sausage. An array of 4 cheeses (The Rhino was in heaven!) and sweet hot as well as honey pineapple mustard, with those same delicious savory crackers to bring it all together.  

We've made Hickory Farms foods a regular holiday tradition in our house because we all love those cheeses (including our cat, Cheddar, also known as "The Fats" who thankfully cannot open boxes). The little strawberry candies sprinkled in the gift boxes also make a nice small indulgence for those with a sweet tooth. 

And, for your friends in the military, you'll be glad to hear that all the gifts found in the “Military Gifts” category of the Hickory Farms website (which includes the Home for the Holidays giftbox above), include free military shipping to military APO/FPO addresses, allowing our troops across the globe to enjoy the holidays in style. Yay!

You know what else, which didn't occur to me before writing this post? The packaging is eco-friendly. Really not a lot of padding, 'green' filler, the whole deal. That's a nice touch.  

And since we are starting our Cool Moms Rule Holiday Gift Guide, "ABCs and Giveaways for the Holidays!" on Friday, we're going to kick off December with a fabulous giveaway-- a Home for the Holidays Gift Box, valued at $50, to one of our readers from Hickory Farms!  

Here's how to enter:

• Head to the Hickory Farms website and tell me what your favorite product on the site is. This is required for all initial entries in the contest.

Additional Entries:

• Follow me, coolmomsrule, on Twitter.
• Tweet about this contest and link to your tweet.
• Subscribe to our feed (top left sidebar).
• Put our Holiday Gift Guide button (left) on your blog, Facebook or Twitter page and link it to cool moms rule! (FIVE extra entries!)  You can use the code under the button in the sidebar to do this if it would be easier for you. 
• Blog about this contest (FIVE extra entries!).
• That's it!  Contest ends at noon EST, December 10th, so get those entries in!

Good Luck!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Hickory Farms and received two signature gift boxes from Hickory Farms to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Last Day to Enter our Tangled Giveaway (Psst...It's in Theaters Tomorrow!)

Reminder: Don't forget to enter our Tangled giveaway today!

We have low entries on this one so far, so your chances of winning are excellent with THREE Tangled gift packs to give away.

We'll be announcing our winner in conjunction with opening day of Tangled tomorrow, so today is your LAST CHANCE to enter!

Good luck!

Disney Store Online Contest-Enter Now!

Disney and  Family.com want you to win a trip to the grand opening celebration of Disney Store’s Times Square, New York City location on November 9 and a starring role during the star-studded opening ceremony!

And you have just days to enter.

The Times Square opening will be celebrated with magical festivities including celebrity appearances, live musical performances, a parade of Disney’s most beloved characters and interactive experiences storewide. 

Disney fans have just days to register online for the chance to win! 

Join the fun in-person, win a $250 shopping spree, and your child could be taking the stage to turn the key to imagination and officially unlock the all-new Disney Store in Times Square.  

The lucky winning family will also meet award winning singer Jordin Sparks during a private VIP reception after she performs Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” theme song, which she rerecorded to celebrate the 2010 release of the Blu-Ray and DVD.

To participate, visit www.Family.com/sweeps/disney-store before October 26 and register for Family.com’s Disney Store Times Square Grand Opening Sweepstakes. 

One lucky family of four will be notified on October 27 and then pack their bags for a 3-day/2-night trip to New York City (November 8-10). 

See www.Family.com for complete details and official rules.

The lucky winners will join VIPs, celebrities, tourists from around the world and New York guests in exploring the magical new store. Centerpieces include:

• Two-story Disney Princess Castle complete with its “talking” Magic Mirror
• Colorful Lucite trees spring up throughout the store, showcasing custom Disney content
• Disney-Pixar CARS-branded Ridemakerz interactive custom car building experience
• Disney Store Theatre that allows guests to customize their experience by selecting their favorite Disney film clips, videos, classic animation and more

To find a Disney Store, visit www.DisneyStore.com/storelocator or call (866) 902-2798. You can also sign up for email alerts at www.DisneyStore.com/Updates, become a fan on www.facebook.com/DisneyStore or follow www.twitter.com/DisneyStore on Twitter! 

Win a Macbook Pro with Tropicana Juicy Rewards!

The folks over at Tropicana Juicy Rewards are running an amazing limited-time promotion –For one day only on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2010 (today!), Juicy Rewards members can enter for the chance to win a 13” MacBook® Pro!*

For just four Juicy Rewards points, members and newly-registered members can visit www.tropicana.com to enter online for the chance to win. The offer ends at 11:59 pm CT on Oct. 7, 2010. 

Just a reminder that there is no purchase necessary, but please remember to see the Official Rules for more details, including how to enter by mail.

*Apple is not a participant in or sponsor of this promotion.  MacBook is a registered trademark of Apple Inc.  All rights reserved.

Are You Pillsbury People? You could win a $10,000 kitchen makeover!

I always love getting a package in the mail, and last week I opened up a box that really had me smiling. 

It was full of Pillsbury products! 

I have such a sweet tooth; it really is a weakness of mine, and one of the reasons I was especially pleased to see that included in the box were some new, sugar-free selections from Pillsbury.  Reviews for these, as well as some other tasty treats (mini-brownies filled with raspberry or caramel! Yum!) are coming up soon.

Because I think everyone really does have a bit of a sweet tooth and a favorite sweet treat, I wanted to share  the Pillsbury® People Essay Contest with you.  

Not only is it a fun contest that lets you share your favorite recipes, but you have a chance to win a $10,000 kitchen makeover by simply indulging in your favorite home-baked desserts and sharing your story with Pillsbury!

From now through December 20, 2010, fans of Pillsbury Baking Mixes, Frostings and Flours are asked to submit a short story on www.PillsburyBaking.com about why they love baking and why they consider themselves Pillsbury People. 

One lucky person will win $10,000 towards a kitchen makeover. 

Additionally, three runners-up will receive a digital camera and a Pillsbury Gift Basket with Pillsbury Baking products and branded items.

And of course, everyone who visits the site will find fabulous recipes, just in time for holiday baking!

Seventh Generation Giveaway!

Replacing what’s currently under your sink with products that are non-toxic and safe for the environment is easier than ever with Seventh Generation’s environmentally friendly cleaning products.

Leading the “responsible cleaning” charge for the past twenty years, Seventh Generation has tapped into the disinfecting power of the herb thyme, to introduce an EPA registered line of disinfecting sprays and wipes that kill germs* naturally! The new line of botanical disinfectant cleaners includes a multi-surface cleaning spray, bathroom cleaning spray and wipes.

I had a chance to try out some Seventh Generation cleaning products, including a disinfecting multi-surface cleaner, bathroom cleaner, wipes and two rolls of 100% recycled, unbleached paper towels.

First off, I love the paper towels, because who needs bleach in their paper towels, for heaven's sake? All it does is make them white. These paper towels are brown, and that's fine with me. I'm going to use them to wipe up stains, after all!

The bathroom cleaner and disinfecting multi-purpose surface cleaner definitely do the job.

One caveat: the scent takes some getting used to. I don't care for it, myself, but knowing that it is thymol, a component of the herb thyme, that can be used on hard surfaces including counter tops, plastic cutting boards, highchair trays as well as children’s toys makes it more palatable. I like the idea of going as natural as possible with cleaners, especially for anyone who has kids and pets in the home.

Seventh Generation has partnered with eco-lifestyle consultant and author, Alexandra Zissu, whose new book, The Conscious Kitchen, discusses what’s good for your health, what’s good for the planet and what tastes great. Her book also includes great tips on maintaining a green and healthy kitchen, including:

Change is Good
Choosing cleaning products without indoor air pollutants like volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, is a simple and effective way to reduce your indoor air pollution. If you’re not prepared to switch everything overnight, start by swapping out the one product you use the most, and moving forward from there.

Think before you spray
Residues from cleaning products can last on a surface for longer than we we’d like to know and travel to areas that we sometimes don’t intend them to. Don’t contaminate your food by prepping it on a surface that may contain harsh chemical residues - rinse cleaning products from food preparation surfaces carefully or use botanical disinfecting cleaners that do not require a rinse step.

Home is Where the Clean Is
Your standard cleaners are good for removing soils and dirt from kitchen surfaces, but to tackle germs you need a cleaner that is effective against microbes like bacteria and viruses. Many cleaners contain ingredients that have antimicrobial properties such as vinegar or hydrogen peroxide, but the germ killing power of these is not necessarily guaranteed. To be sure you are killing germs, use an EPA registered disinfectant. Seventh Generation tapped into the disinfecting power of the common garden herb thyme, to provide a disinfecting cleaner that kills germs* naturally.

Make the Old New Again
Think twice about the items that you’re using to clean and dry your kitchen equipment and dishes. Use rags (like old t-shirts and washcloths) instead of paper towels. If you aren’t prepared to kick your paper towel addiction just yet, use only recycled versions that are unbleached or haven’t been whitened with chemicals containing chlorine and see how long you can make a roll last.

The Writing is on the … Sponge
Be sure to read the fine print on sponges and only purchase those that do not contain antimicrobial pesticides. Remember to store sponges in a dry place and frequently clean them by popping plastic sponges wet in a microwave for two minutes or boiling sponges for three minutes in water.

Mom Was Right, Wash Your Hands
Wash your hands with soap and water before and after prepping food, and always before eating. So much of what can be potentially harmful in a kitchen can be reduced by this simple act that doesn’t require any harsh chemicals whatsoever.

Seventh Generation and BlogSpark want to give one lucky Cool Moms Rule! reader a complete cleaning kit! The "Disinfection Cleaning Kit" includes the multi-surface cleaner, bathroom cleaner, two rolls of unbleached paper towels, wipes, a cleaning caddy to hold it all, and a copy of The Conscious Kitchen!

To enter:

Comment on this post: What's the best thing YOU'VE done for the environment this year? (required for initial entry).

Additional Entries:

Tweet about this giveaway and provide the link in a comment.

Subscribe to the Cool Moms Rule! feed.

Blog about this giveaway.

Contest Ends Wednesday, May 26th at noon EST.

Good luck!

I received a Seventh Generation “Disinfecting Cleaning Kit” that includes to facilitate this review. This is the same kit that Seventh Generation will be giving away to a commenter on this post.