Hickory Farms for the Holidays

...is also for Hickory Farms!

I announced our ABCs and Giveaways for the Holidays Gift Guide with a special kick-off post featuring the Hickory Farms Home for the Holidays giftbox giveaway.

But I wanted to make sure I included Hickory Farms in the actual Gift Guide, too, because it really has become a go-to for us the last few years, and especially now, with my kitchen *still* being out-of-service (though it's almost done with the remodeling now, the contractor tells me!).

Right now, if you order an item from Hickory Farms priced at $35 or more, you can get free shipping with guaranteed delivery by December 23rd, which is not only a super savings but will, I know, come as a relief to those last-minute shoppers out there who are still frantically deciding what to get for the relatives across the country.

I can personally recommend not only the Home for the Holidays giftbox, which we just devoured, but also the Summer Sausage and Cheese giftbox, which is the most popular Hickory Farms sells, and at $36 gets you just over that $35 amount for free shipping!

Of course, they also have lots of items priced lower (there's a whole section under $30, for example), so here's an idea: why not send yourself a little something for the holidays? You'll have ready-to-serve appetizers for those unexpected drop-in guests and for Christmas Day before the big family dinner is served!

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.

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!

Gaming Gift Ideas!

...is also for Gaming!

You may know that I am that rare bird, a Mom Gamer.

I know some of you who don't game get frustrated with your kids sitting in front of the TV playing games.  When the Wii came out with fitness games and sports to play with the family, I was really glad, too, that more kids were getting off of the couch and into the action.

But don't forget the benefits of gaming: improved concentration and focus, better hand/eye coordination, attention to detail, etc. And kids who game with online connections use gaming as a social community. Gone are the days of the lone gamer in the basement. Now, we are all connected! And even offline, the whole family can game together.

So, here are my favorite gaming gift ideas this season!

Top of my list: Xbox Kinect. It's amazing what this thing can do! Imagine: no controller, just your body doing the work. Talk about getting off the couch! And no more batteries to buy for the controllers, or trying to find lost controllers buried in the couch cushions, either!

The Kinect comes with Kinect Adventures. Recommended additional games: Kinect Sports, and Dance Central. Each of these games can be played with at least two players and will keep you moving AND entertained.

The Kinect sold one million units in just 10 days (!), and topped 1.5 million at the end of last month. If you can find it, you'll be someone's favorite Santa this year!


Games I personally reviewed and can recommend:

The Sims 3 (Xbox, PS3, Wii, Nintendo DS).
I had never played a Sims game before, and was a bit overwhelmed with all you can do in this game. It's incredible the way you can customize it! I created a family with two teens just like my kids (really, not only do the avatars look like them, but you can give them personality traits like, 'doesn't like outdoors.' 'social,' 'clumsy,' or 'computer genius'!).  I learned that my own Sim lady needed cooking lessons after the oven in my little Sims 3 kitchen caught fire twice. And my Sims husband ended up delivering coffee for a living, while our oldest son in the game worked in a hospital and the youngest slept in and skipped school! Uh oh. Very, very cool game, with nearly endless possibilities for customization. I like this one for older kids and adults, as there is a learning curve (though tutorials help you get the hang of your options).

There's also a Sims game for younger kids, MySims SkyHeroes, which is just adorable. Cute little Sims fly through the skies, defeating dangerous enemies in aerial dogfights. What's especially nice about this title is the cooperative gameplay option for two friends (so many games have competitive multiplayer without offering a co-op one!). So kids can work together to defeat the bad guys.

If you are a fan of traditional board games, you'll really enjoy Monopoly Streets (Xbox, PS3, Wii) and will probably end up taking over the controller from the kids and playing it yourself! To celebrate its 75^th anniversary, the world of Monopoly comes to life through a living, breathing city that you can build, own, and monopolize. MONOPOLY STREETS has everything you love about the board game, presented as a street level tour of Mr. Monopoly’s (okay, I never knew that was his actual name, did you?!) fully animated world. You can customize the game and play with your own avatar on Xbox 360 or Mii on the Wii, and when you play online the virtual board is populated with all your friends' avatars, too! 

The Tony Hawk: Shred (Wii, Xbox 360, PS3) bundle has the coolest controller I've ever seen outside of Guitar Hero: a skateboard with flames on it! The board has special motion-sensor technology, allowing you to lift, rotate and tilt the board to get "big air" on your tricks, and the gritty surface allows the player to stay on the board and "ride like the pros." The game is intended for ages 6 and up, and I think adults will like it, too (I did!). And if you have any skaters on your list, they will LOVE this game! Kids can play as one of 11 professional snowboarders/skateboarders, and unlock an additional mystery 4 through gameplay. You can even use the board controller to snowboard down mountains. To really get a feel of what the game play is like, screenshots don't do this game justice. Check out the videos here. Oh, and I have seen the bundle on sale on Amazon, with the board, for the price you would normally pay for just a game! That's a great bargain.


I received a copy of Sims 3, MySims SkyHeroes, Tony Hawk: Shred with board controller and Monopoly Streets to facilitate my review of the games. I received no other compensation (though, hey, if anyone wants to provide a Kinect...j/k), and my opinion is purely my own.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth Winner!

The winner of our giveaway for the Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth video is ready to be announced!

Thanks to all of you who posted your favorite cookie recipes! I loved reading and sharing them. Remember, naming, listing or linking to your favorite cookie recipe was REQUIRED for the initial contest entry. This was strictly enforced.

Okay, so the winner, chosen with Random.Org was.... Sheila!

Congratulations, Sheila! 

Sheila said...

Our favorite cookie at our house is the Nestle Tollhouse chocolate chip cookie. The recipe is on every package of Nestle Tollhouse Chocolate Chips. You can't improve on perfection. I remember my mother making these cookies - over 50 years ago!
Sheila
chiliburger@icehouse.net

I'll get your shipping info from you and send your prize right out.

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!