Family Movie Night: "Who Is Simon Miller?"

This Saturday, August 6th, NBC is hosting Family Movie Night! Grab your kids, grab some popcorn, turn out the lights and tune in at 8 pm EST (7 pm CT) for "Who is Simon Miller?"
So what's this all about? P &G and Wal-Mart, as you may remember, have made a commitment to partner up and create more movies family-friendly movies on television. The idea is to get the whole gang together and share some quality time, watching a thought-provoking but appropriate-for-all-ages movie with your kids.

This month's movie focuses on Simon Miller, a geologist who suddenly vanishes one night, leaving his family (naturally) desperate to to find him. Simon's wife, Meredith, and his children, Sarah and Kevin, set out on a quest to discover the mystery behind his disappearance. But though his wife and children start out trying to piece together where Simon went, uncovering a cache of passports under a host of aliases leaves them instead wondering who he was. An international adventure to solve the puzzle spurs his family on as they race to find the missing husband and father and ask him, once and for all, "Who is Simon Miller?"

Here's what you need to know to share Family Movie Night with your own kids this weekend:

• Who Is Simon Miller? premieres this Saturday on NBC (8pm ET/7pm CT).
• Mom Central is also hosting a #FamilyMovie Twitter Party tomorrow, with giveaways!
• You can check out the Family Movie Night website here. 
• You can also "like" Family Movie Night here. 

I had a chance to preview "Who Is Simon Miller" on Monday, August 1st. While I watched the movie, I jotted down my own impressions, and used them to come up with some questions for my own kids about the film, the way the family in the movie was portrayed, and how realistic that portrayal really is.


I thought I'd share them with you.

Questions for Who Is Simon Miller?

1. What are your first impressions of the son and daughter in the film? How about the Mom? 

1. How do the kids in the movie help in the search?  At the beginning of the movie, I was frustrated myself, because I felt the daughter was just standing around looking confused and pretty, or manipulating Mom into letting her do what she wanted. The son seemed to have a variety of skills. Thankfully, the movie didn't perpetuate the "girls are pretty, boys do things" stereotype. 
2. How realistic are the kids' skills?  My sons are gifted gamers, but know nothing of hacking, and I'm great with puzzles but never learned to pick locks. And all of us have taken languages in high school and/or college. So, we had trouble accepting the daughter's proficiency with languages. I learned the hard way that 'knowing some French words' and "actually conversing with French people" are two different things. Oh, and my kids would be texting the whole time and taking a lot more pics!
3. How would you handle yourself if you were in the kids' place? I liked the kids' self-sufficiency in this movie. I know my kids would not fall to pieces emotionally, but even with all the travelling we've done, I think they'd feel anxious trying to get around town on their own. I also think the movie handled the emotional reactions well. 
4. (Okay, now the scary question) How do you think Mom/Dad would handle themselves in this kind of situation? Yeah, you'll have to fend this one for yourself!

Enjoy "Who is Simon Miller?" on Saturday night. And feel free to come back and comment to let me know what you and your family thought of the movie!


I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of P&G and received a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Truth Be Told makes family movie night a teachable moment

On Saturday, April 16th, FOX will be airing, Truth Be Told, a movie the whole family can (and should!) watch together.

Presented by Walmart and P&G, Truth Be Told explores the reasons why even good, honest people might fall and slip into deception. I had a chance to view the movie in an early premiere, and it really does provide an excellent opportunity for a teachable moment with your kids about lying, situational ethics, and why it is important to stay true to your own personal moral compass. 

The premise is simple: initially motivated with the best of intents, to make a difference in the world, the two eminently likable stars make the decision to engage in a deception that spins them into a web of lies. 

Here's a link to the official "Truth Be Told" movie trailer over on youtube.

In Truth be Told, Annie Morgan is a marriage counselor who helps couples keep their relationships strong. Her motto is "love takes courage." Mark Crane is a widower with kids trying to raise money for a good cause. When the old college friends are each offered an opportunity to make their dreams come true, the two enter into a deception together--posing as a happily married couple with children!--that complicates their lives in ways they never anticipated. 

I sat down (with my thoughtfully-provided movie kit containing candy and popcorn!) to watch Truth be Told yesterday, and I really liked Candace Cameron Bure, the woman who plays Annie. I found her engaging and believable in the role. In addition, Mark comes across as a decent man who has seen some tough times but still has faith in the good in the world, and the kids who play his children interact well with each other, like actual siblings might. 

I really recommend making this into a Family Movie Night and seeing this movie with your kids, whatever their ages. Truth be Told is appropriate for the whole family. There's even an official Family Movie Night website devoted to Truth be Told!

Oh, and check out the Facebook page with your kids!

Reminder: Truth be Told airs on Fox this Saturday, April 16th at 8 pm (7 central). 

 I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of P&G and received a movie kit to facilitate my review and a gift code to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Cottonelle Flush Wipes: Get Fresh With a Friend!

So, this last week, the Engineer has been in China.

Yes, THAT China, the one way, way far away.

And while he is gone, the remodel on our kitchen started, so I had to clean everything out of the kitchen cabinets, AND I have what might be, according to my doctor, a torn or strained ligament in my hip. So I am SUPPOSED to be resting.

And the contractor is doing a WONDERFUL job so far (Hi, A!), but the house is overflowing with the boxes for the cabinets, and the kitchen appliances are in the dining room and the entryway.

And I can't even vent to the Engineer unless I do it on the computer, over Skype, because we think the phone charges would be absolutely outrageous overseas.

In case you are all wondering why I am regaling you with this list, it's because I am, unforgivably, late with this post. With all the hustle and bustle going on around here (did I mention the Rhino started JV soccer, too?), I lost track of my schedule. I should have posted this review yesterday!

Yikes.

So, now that you know what I am dealing with, can you bear with me?

Okay. Good.

Because I really do like Cottonelle Flushable Moist Wipes, and did even before this blog tour. I just got a little behind with my flushable wipes tour (oh, dear. "A little behind" might have been a poor choice of words there!).

Look, I know you don't want too much detail on WHY I like these personally (TMI), but I don't think I have to tell any of you that when it comes to the bathroom? You can't be TOO clean.

Which is why we keep wipes in both our bathroom and the kids' bathroom (hey, if we had bidets over here, I'd probably put one of those in the teens' bathroom, too).

Cottonelle (very important for us environmentally-conscious Moms) made these moist wipes flushable, and they don't tear or shred when you need them to be strong. They break up after you flush them, so they are sewer and septic tank safe.


But you don't have to take my word for it.

You can go to Cottonelle's website, www.GetFreshWithaFriend.com, and register to find out more about Cottonelle Flushable Moist Wipes. You can also check out their "Funny or Die" video while you're visiting the site, and download Cottonelle's "fresh rewards". You can even get $1.00 off!

The Cottonelle Flushable Moist Wipes, by the way, have a little hanger coming with the tub of wipes right now. I like the idea of a separate hanger for the wipes, right above (or below) the toilet paper roll where it's convenient.

And I think that, if you have little ones going through that difficult potty training time, these wipes will be a godsend for you while they are learning.

Again, when it comes to the bathroom, you can't be too clean, right? : )

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of the Cottonelle brand and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. In addition, I received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Dunkin' Donuts Coffee Brings the Holidays Home

It's funny; I'm mostly a tea drinker myself, but even I can appreciate the aroma of fine, rich coffee. Tea just doesn't have that same inviting scent to draw you in like good coffee does. You just find yourself wanting to wrap your hands around a warm mug and snuggle up under the blankets during the cool winter months. It's the perfect drink for the holiday season.

And Dunkin' Donuts is well aware of just how much you all need your caffeine fix!

So, in addition to their existing coffee flavors (Hazelnut, Cinnamon Spice and French Vanilla), they've introduced three seasonal coffee varieties, available for a limited time only, and perfect for gift-giving. And you don't even have to venture out far to find them; they're available now at
at your local grocery store!

So, the Dunkin' Donuts' seasonal coffees come in three varieties: Vanilla Nut, Pumpkin Spice, and Mocha Mint. I served them recently to a test panel consisting of my husband (The Engineer), his brother and his Dad, all coffee drinkers.

Now, I need to pause here for an important Message for the Holidays!

Pro tip: The Engineer suggests that if you REALLY want a happy holiday? Turn your Dunkin' Donuts Vanilla Nut Coffee into an Irish coffe with some Bailey's Irish Creme. Oh, yeah. ;)

So, the Vanilla Nut was a big hit for both the Engineer and his bro. And it smelled *heavenly*!

And Dad chose to take the entire pack of Pumpkin Spice coffee *home with him*, which just goes to show Dunkin' Donuts is onto a good thing here.  (We didn't try the Mocha Mint yet, but that's just because we are saving it for the relatives in Tampa.)

Viv's Take: Coffee lovers will enjoy these seasonal offerings from Dunkin' Donuts during the cool Winter months. And they also make great (and affordable) holiday gifts!




Which reminds me: I also want to take a moment to acknowledge that, although you can purchase the Dunkin' Donuts seasonal coffee  flavors at your local grocery, you might want to head down to Dunkin' Donuts anyway because 1) Hey, Donuts; and 2) Many Dunkin' Donuts are running a promotion now where they will donate a pound of coffee to our troops every time you buy two pounds. And I think this kind of gesture is what the holidays are all about.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Smuckers and received necessary products to facilitate my review. In addition, I received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Tropicana Juicy Rewards Twitter Party! (With PRIZES!)

You already know I'm a Tropicana Juicy Rewards Ambassador, and let me tell you, I've really been enjoying their rewards.

For example, when you go to the Juicy Rewards website, did you know that there's a different special offer showcased every day?

Recently I was able to get a FREE movie ticket from Fandango for just 3 of my points through one of these daily offers (I still have twenty-something left; it's really easy to get points when you drink orange juice every day). So far, I have just downloaded the code for the ticket, but I haven't used it yet (I'm thinking of going to see Oceans today for Earth Day!).

Juicy Insiders can save $15 on an FTD flower bouquet of $49.99 or more for Mother's Day for just 3 points, too, so be sure to give a nudge to your family before May 9th rolls around. You deserve it! ; )

Mom Central, who has been working with bloggers like me to spread the word about Tropicana Juicy Rewards, is having a Twitter party today from 3-4 PM EST.

Here's the best part: six lucky winners will be randomly selected throughout the Twitter Party to win a $50 American Express gift card!

To be eligible to win one of the six giveaways, log onto Twitter during the party and enter a tweet using the hashtag #TropicanaRewards. Anyone leaving a comment using this hashtag during the party will be automatically eligible to win.

See you there this afternoon! Look for me on Twitter, @CoolMomsRule. This is the time when I usually pick up my kids, so I won't be on the entire time, but I'm definitely tuning in!

Oh, and here's some tips for following the Twitter party:

1. Set up a #TropicanaRewards search on search.twitter.com or on your twitter program (e.g. TweetDeck or Twirl), or
   
2. Use a twitter aggregator such as twubs.com to follow the hashtag.
   

I wrote this post while participating in the Tropicana Juicy Insiders Ambassador program by Mom Central on behalf of Tropicana. I received 12 free Juicy Rewards points and a $50 Visa gift card to use in redemption of the points and to facilitate my reviews of the program.

I'm Mad with Power and Juicy Rewards! Points, Points, Points

I now have a whopping 32 points in Juicy Rewards!

To recap, last week I told you how to earn Tropicana Juicy Rewards just by drinking your favorite O.J. in the morning and entering the codes on the cartons over at the Juicy Rewards site (this post, in case you missed it).

Back then, I already had 23 points (12 staked to me by Mom Central), and after drinking more OJ, I now have 9 more.

Here are just some of the ways I could spend those points:

1 Point

I could take the family and visit my local art museum for 50% of each admission.

I could enter a Sweepstakes!

3 Points

I could donate my points to save 100 square feet of rainforest.

I could get $10 off AND free shipping off of an EA Sports Fitness game.

6 points

I could save 20% on legendary Coleman outdoor gear for camping, hiking, backpacking and tailgating.

Hmm. I don't see how I can just sit by and do nothing when it is so easy to help support the rainforest. I'm going to donate 3 points right now!

Which still leaves me with 29 points to spend. I'm very tempted to get that $10 off on the EA Sports Active: More Workouts game. I've been working out with the Sports Active for the Wii and it's so much fun I actually don't mind exercising. But since next month is my birthday, I think I'll save that reward for April.

I think what I am going to do right now is enter this SWEEPSTAKES:

• Trip for two to Los Angeles, including airfare and hotel for 3 days/2 nights
• Breakfast with Bruce Jenner
• 9 holes of golf with Bruce Jenner
• TaylorMade golf clubs and adidas Golf apparel

PLUS! Get a Tropicana-branded video camera.

Doesn't that sound great?! You only use one point to enter each time, and you can enter up to three times a day. So, there goes 3 more points!

Wow.

That was fun, I supported the environment, AND I still have 26 points to spend next month! I have lots of reward opportunities I haven't listed yet, so stay tuned.

I can't wait to share my Juicy Rewards with you!

I wrote this review while participating in the Tropicana Juicy Insiders Ambassador program by Mom Central on behalf of Tropicana. I received 12 free Juicy Rewards points and a $50 Visa gift card to use in redemption of the points and to facilitate my review.

Check Out The View From Up Here (hey, I can see my house!)

I'm so excited to announce that Mom Central has chosen me as an (dah da da da DAH) official The View Brand Ambassador!

I just love The View and watch it every day (it's on ABC at 11 am where I am), which is why I applied to the program.

So many times at least one of the lovely ladies of The View mirrors my own view.

Of course, frequently another one of them gets me all worked up!

But that's all part and parcel of healthy debate, which is what I like about the show. It's not just celebrity appearances, though there are plenty of those as well, but intelligent discourse among women like me, especially during the Hot Topics portion of the show.

As a woman who has been a stay-at-home Mom for many years now, it is SO nice to hear adult conversation! And now, as an Ambassador for The View I feel like I am part of the panel myself.

This morning, for instance, the Hot Topics discussion featured the male figure skaters from last night's Olympic coverage. Now, I stayed up way too late watching the men skate, and let me tell you, I was blown away. I missed Yevgeny Plushenko's quadruple jump, unfortunately, but Evan Lysacek, of the USA, looks like Sylar from Heroes to me, and he skated sublimely even in a feathery bird suit. I thought that Johnny Weir, also of the US, was just a blast to watch and should have been awarded a much higher score, and he reminds me of a young Johnny Depp. The Japanese skater Takahashi's moves were sharp and strong and kept me riveted throughout the whole routine, and France's Brian Joubert, justly known for his spinning looked, as Elizabeth remarked this morning on The View, like he could drill a hole in the ice with his skates, he was turning so fast!

Other relevant topics this morning (to me, anyway) included a discussion about healthy women and fashion, models being perhaps too thin, and how the tide is turning towards a more voluptuous silhouette like Christina Hendricks of Mad Men. And since I had just posted on CH over on Metafilter,(a post which garnered a lot of discussion, some insults and offense and over 200+ comments), I felt very In the Know this morning.

I also have the pleasure of announcing the exciting The View sweepstakes that’s currently being run by Mom Central.

One lucky winner will be randomly selected to receive a trip to New York City to watch a taping of The View!

The sweepstakes is open until February 28th. Here is a link to the sign-up survey!

I am a participant in a Mom Central campaign for ABC Daytime and will receive a tote bag or other The View branded items to facilitate my review(s).

Cherish Your Time as a Couple

Tonight is Date Night for the Engineer and me, which I look forward to all week.

The Engineer works really hard, pretty much round the clock, and there will be nights where, what with his working long hours to begin with, then coming home to work some more on his laptop, and THEN the occasional overseas call in the evening (to offset the 12-hour time difference), we fall into bed and he falls asleep right away. Or he nods off in front of the television, before we even have brushed our teeth! I'm a Night Owl, and I admit to getting a little frustrated with this (though I'm happy to snuggle in my bed a little later in the morning than he does and sleep in whenever I can). Sometimes, it's just hard to connect with your spouse.

And we're the lucky ones. I know how hard it can be to make time for just the two of you when the kids are little and more demanding of your time and energy.

So if I had one tip for couples, with Valentine's Day coming up, it would be to make special time for each other, just the two of you, all year round.

This month, K-Y Brand is introducing its new Couples Place Website, a resource for couples looking to strengthen their connection with each other. The site will feature advice and commentary from the nation's leading relationship and sexual health experts.

When you visit the Couples Place Website, you can also enter in a contest to be selected as "America's Top Couple!" The winning couple receives a trip to New York City to participate in a professional photo shoot and be featured in a national magazine. Wouldn't that just be amazing? You'd feel like movie stars in your own romantic comedy (well, if it were my life, it would definitely lean to the comedy side).

You may also have noticed the ads on TV with couples enjoying K-Y Brand intimacy enhancement products, a new line introduced in recent years to further help couples make the most of their connection behind the bedroom door, like Yours + Mine couples lubricant and Intense arousal gel for her.

I like that K-Y understands that we sometimes have to make the most of the limited time we can carve out together and just enjoy "Couple Time" whenever and wherever we find it.

So, I'm getting ready for my own Date Night, like I do each Friday. Now, what are YOU going to do to celebrate Valentine's Day?

Make it a special occasion for the two of you, as a couple, that lasts not just this weekend, but throughout the whole year.

You won't be sorry.

I wrote this post while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of K-Y Brand and received samples of the Yours + Mine and Intense products. In addition, Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Giveaways Galore Over at Mom Central!

Mom Central offers reviews from bloggers like me, timely tips and advice and a social network where Moms can connect with each other.

They also often have great giveaways, like right now with their Valentine's Day Gift Guide!

Not only will you find gift ideas for your honey (or for you honey to get you) over in their guide, but giveaways of romantic and sexy Valentine gifts that you can enter to win.

For example, when you register at Mom Central today, you can win Chocri chocolate bars, sexy lingerie from Frederick's of Hollywood, even a cute bumble bee Pillow Pet! And that's just a few of the many items up for grabs. From Ecogear recycling bags to Perry Ellis Platinum cologne for your man, there's sure to be a giveaway (or two, or three, or many!) that you'll want to enter.

So head on over and check out the Mom Central Valentine's Day Gift Guide today!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central. Mom Central entered my name in a random drawing to win a gift to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Stressless Holiday Shipping with FedEx (and a chance at an iPod Touch!)

I've already posted the shipping deadlines for the season, and I know that shipping can be the most stressful part of the holidays (right after holiday travel).

In fact, shipping can be stressful any old time!

So here's my first special tip for stress-free holiday shipping: when shipping wrapped Christmas or Hanukkah gifts, put clear packing tape over the gift label on your wrapped gift. This keeps the gift tag from falling off and causing chaos when your recipients get them--you don't want Grandma mistaking your teen's latest Metal CD for one of her presents! And the teens might not be too keen on that Snuggie you ordered for her, either.

My second tip? Rely on FedEx. I had to ship back a (*gulp*) laptop recently, and I knew I could trust FedEx to get it back in a timely manner and to take care of that package while it was in transport. I was able to schedule a pickup time and have them come to my house so I could hand it right to the FedEx guy. That REALLY eased my worries about returning a computer!

FedEx just really gets it, you know? They recognize, for example, that while we may be tired of waiting in long lines (I know I am), we also want--even need, in this tough economy--to find the best deals for shipping out our gifts this holiday season. We just can't afford to pay high rates. And since we have enough to do with all the shopping (unless you are one of the lucky ones whose spouse and children actually go out holiday shopping...yeah, right!), we really do need a one-stop solution.

So FedEx is helping us all to save time and money this holiday season with discounts!

Here's an example: When you visit a FedEx Office location, shipping with FedEx Ground costs 10% less than with UPS. And while you are there, the new FedEx Office Print & Ship Centers offer tips and help on shipping unusually-shaped or large-sized containers. They will even help you figure out how to ship safely while cutting down on the weight of your package, so that shipping will cost you less.

In-store or online (more about FedEx online in a minute), you can design calendars for your family, or you can print customized holiday newsletters to let the rest of the clan know what your kids are up to. You can even get personalized holiday cards, which FedEx will deliver to the local FedEx center or right to your entire Christmas list! Now THAT'S a time-saver.

Even better, you can save up to 16% on FedEx Express services and 8% on FedEx Ground and Home Delivery if you sign up on the FedEx site this season. Now, if that wasn't incentive enough (and saving money is a pretty good incentive, IMHO), they're running a contest!

Anyone who signs up for a free account on FedEx.com as a result of this post and records their name and confirmation number here:

http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB229YSQDALUE

Will be entered to win ONE OF 5 APPLE IPOD TOUCHES!

Okay, I KNOW you have to be psyched now. Remember, you don't have to do anything other than sign up for that free account on Fedex. I just did it myself, and it is really easy. Took me five minutes. Then I just entered it in that link above and presto, I might be a winner!

So you really have nothing to lose, and wouldn't someone on your list just LOVE to get an Apple iPod Touch?

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

You Could Always Tell Them Your Name is Nancy

We're going to be putting up lots more holiday recipes in the coming days, and even an edible centerpiece (!), but sometimes you just need someone else to do the cooking for you.

Maybe you're still tired out from Thanksgiving weekend, or maybe you're planning a big dinner party and have everything set for the actual meal, but just need a little something for your guests to nibble on before they sit down.

I recently tried out Nancy's Appetizers, which are available right at your grocery store in the freezer section, and they're delicious! What's more, they're the kind of appetizers you would love to make yourself, if you were Julia Child, but probably never would because they're a pain to whip up in the kitchen.

For instance, take the Lorraine Petite Quiches in the pic, which are what I tried. They come in a 12 piece size all the way up to a 60 piece party size, and have Swiss cheese, fresh milk and bacon mixed in their cute little crusts.

Now, you'd need an hour with a food processor just to whip up the eggs and get all the ingredients down to size and the crusts formed, but here they are, all done up and ready, looking like a professional chef just made them. And what's more, you only have to pop them in the oven for a few minutes for a delicious, golden crust. You can even, in a pinch, microwave the petite quiches, though it's not recommended for the other appetizer varieties, because you do want a nice crispy crust.

Plus, you could eat 4 of these little quiche guys and still only take in 240 calories, which I, as someone watching her calories, really appreciate. Those little bites and nibbles can add up, but a couple of these are totally doable for my diet.

And if you don't like quiches (though why in the world anyone wouldn't like quiches...well, anyway), Nancy's Appetizers also come in other varieties, like Deli Spirals in turkey bacon ranch and tomato provolone flavors, and mushroom turnovers (mushrooms and onions baked in a tender cream cheese pastry). These Nancy's Appetizers are also available in different sizes, and the biggest boxes can be found at your local Sam's or B.J.'s warehouse store.

So if you are feeling harried this season and need a little help in the kitchen, pick up some of Nancy's Appetizers for your guests, and save yourself the stress. You don't have to do it ALL yourself!

And I'm going to send out a coupon for a free Nancy's Appetizer to the randomly picked commenter below! Just leave me your favorite holiday appetizer recipe (link or instructions) below this post.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Nancy’s Appetizers and received 2 coupons to facilitate my review and a $20 thank-you gift certificate.

Epic Cheese

With Thanksgiving coming up, your mind has to be turning to delicious food, right? Now, you've probably got Turkey Day all covered, but when Christmas rolls around, you really have to consider Hickory Farms.

As part of this Mom Central blog tour, we were delighted to sample a huge gift basket from Hickory Farms (the picture on the left is not mine, but it is the same gift basket we received).

The rhino had been recently sick with a head cold (and now I am, too, so our own Thanksgiving plans are up in the air depending on how well I am tomorrow morning), and was just beginning to get his energy and appetite back, so I had the brilliant (ta-da!) idea of tempting him into eating with some of the cheeses in our Hickory Farms basket.

Great for me, since I didn't even have to cook or fix anything up--the basket comes with not only cheeses, summer sausages, mustard and crackers to put them on, but its very own wooden cheese board with a bulit-in cheese cutter. Which the Rhino and I thought was adorable.

And you know, it really surprised me, but that little board worked better than the cheese cutters we already have.

We tried out one of the 2 Vermont cheddar bars and some Edam (there was also a cheese ball), and the Rhino came out with the title of this post, declaring it, "Epic Cheese!"

Which, as he is a big cheese fan, is high praise indeed. We finished all three of the cheese bars over the course of two days, and we still have the summer sausage with sweet mustard to look forward to.

I'd never had a gift basket from Hickory Farms before, but I'm definitely going to get one again now that I've tasted them. And I like that the basket all that delicious food came in can be re-used to make up my own gift basket for family this holiday season.

You can check out all the gift baskets, as well as other tasty treats, at the Hickory Farms website.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Hickory Farms and received a Hickory Farms gift basket to facilitate my review.

OH, I Wish I Were an Oscar Mayer...

..Lunchable. (Thought I was going to say weiner, didn't you? I'm full of surprises like that.)

Oscar Mayer Lunchables are what we're here to discuss today, people, and if you think you know what that means, you might be surprised.

That's because Oscar Mayer Lunchables have been given a makeover. They're still budget-friendly and filling, but now they're health conscious, too.

The new line of healthier food choices from Oscar Mayer Lunchables are called "better-for-you," and I had a chance to try them out.

My overall impression was really favorable, because what was inside the box was similar to the kind of lunch we might have at home.

Only (yay!) I didn't have to do a lot of prep work.

The Lunchable I tried out consisted of ham, cheese and crackers, which is great, because those are all typical fare for us during the hot summer months.

We don't like to eat heavy meals when it's really hot outside, so we typically cut up some cheese and crackers, maybe some ham. I liked the convenience of not having to cut up cheese and ham this time.

For a healthy "dessert", we usually also add some apple slices.

The new Oscar Mayer Lunchables, rather than apple slices, came with chocolate chip cookies, which I can also get behind. This weekend, we've got a household full of teen guys spending the night for Labor Day, and chocolate chip cookies are a HUGE hit with the neverending pits that are teenagers' stomachs. I'm planning on making a batch myself.

So my boys naturally also loved he idea of chocolate chip cookies. So that's all good.

The Lunchables drink was a bottled water, and I like that, since these are meant to be taken to school and so need to be portable (I'm trying to cut down on my own bottled water intake, because of the bad effects on the environment from all the bottles). Water is a good choice, and healthy. Thing is, there's also some KoolAid brand flavored powder in the Lunchable, and that would be the one feature I'm not so keen on. You've already got the chocolate chip cookies, so you don't really need a 'sweet' to complete the meal.

I know that we are dealing with standard lunch fare for kids here, and kids like sweets, so I understand why they went with KoolAid, a perennial favorite, but I would have preferred a natural fruit drink instead of the water plus powder combo.

My kids, though, especially the Rhino, really liked the idea of pouring the powder into the water and shaking it up for some KoolAid on the spot. That's like magic to him. Sweet, sweet magic.

So the kids' response was very positive, and the drink, as I say, was my only complaint.

And it's hardly worth mentioning, because I really do like the new better-for-you Lunchables. Not just for the healthier content, which is a plus, but also because my kids would actually eat these, even at school when lunch time in just 25 minutes and they're in a hurry. Lots of finger foods, easy and quick and filling. That's perfect for school lunch.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central on behalf of Oscar Mayer Lunchables and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. In addition, Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.span style.

McAfee Family Protection--set your mind at rest

If you've been reading Cool Moms Rule! for a while, you'll know that I have two teen boys who just (Monday!) started high school.

If you haven't been reading for a while, I'll pause for all the sympathy I know my fellow Moms are sending me right now at this revelation.

Because teenagers are fascinating, fabulous and frazzling just as a subset.

And teenage boys are especially...challenging.

They don't always confide in you.

Strike that.

They *never* confide in you. You have to pry those secrets out. (Tip: Younger siblings are good for that).

Plus, with teens you are working on a whole Trust/Responsibility dynamic. You want to trust them (and my kids, knock on wood, are basically good kids), and they want more rights, and with more rights goes increased responsibility, and there's this whole cycle going on.

And one of their new rights is: a computer of their very own. They each have one now, and yes it does make my heart flutter sometimes to think of this.

Their responsibilities? Backing up their important stuff regularly (and by important, I mean not just those latest tunes, guys, but your homework), and adhering to our common sense rules about online behavior (only chatting with online friends they know through IRL interaction, not giving away personal information to any strangers, etc).

One of my biggest scares with the boys was when my oldest, the Owl, would run into problems on the old computer because of something he'd seen online that he "just had to" download. Usually, it was a game or a software patch.

And though we are very careful, he ran into some of those annoying ads that pop up all over your screen.

And once, a virus.

To be safe, I had to wipe the whole hard drive, and start from scratch. Not fun.

Which is why I installed McAfee protection on our old computer. I've trusted McAfee for years as the best anti-virus protection around.

And now, thankfully just when we need it with all these computers in the house, there's McAfee Family Protection.

All you have to do to protect the computers* in your home is install McAfee Family Protection on each one, and you're good to go.

It works for...well, everything!

First, it protects your kids against spyware (that's like what I mentioned above happened to the Owl, where your personal browsing history causes ads to pop up all over your screen).

And of course McAfee has always been my own first defense against viruses.

But it does more.

McAfee Family Protection filters YouTube videos so that your kids don't access content you find objectionable, and even alerts you (through a text message or by email) instantly if your kids are giving out their personal information to strangers over the internet.

If that whole Trust and Responsibility dynamic I mentioned has gone seriously south and you really need to keep a close eye on your kids for a while, you can even record their instant messaging and social media interactions with others.

You can block questionable email addresses if you are worried about cyberbullying.

And McAfee Family Protection even lets you limit their time online.

I know of at least a few parents who could really benefit from this last option, when their kids are having trouble budgeting their online playtime with schoolwork and chores at home.

Including us, really. Our kids often need more than a gentle reminder to get off their computers. Usually it comes down to me yelling, red-faced, at the top of my lungs, "I said get off NOW!"

I wouldn't be surprised to her my head's spinning like Linda Blair's in the Exorcist at that point.

Anyway, trust me, this is a tool you'll actually use. I trust McAfee because I feel that they have the most up-to-date protection out there, and it's really easy to work with for even those of us who are, perhaps, not the technical gurus we'd like to be.

No, don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about here. You know if you're that woman--the one that has to ask her kids how to take a picture with the new camera.

Yes, even you can use McAfee Family Protection.

Now, you may have noticed that I've included this review in our Back to School Bonanza series. That's because, through August 31, 2009, Cool Moms Rule! readers can save $5 off of McAfee Family Protection using this promo code: 5familyprotection.

In addition, if you have any questions you’d like to ask an expert, McAfee’s Chief Cyber Security Mom, Tracy Mooney, is available at cybermom@mcafee.com or at www.mcafee.com/cybermom.

*System requirements:

• Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack 1 (SP1) or higher
• Microsoft Windows Vista (32-bit platform only) and Windows Vista Service pack (SP1) or higher
• 10 MB Hard Drive Space
• 800x600 or higher Screen Resolution
• 128 MB RAM
• Active Internet Connection
• Microsoft® Internet Explorer 7.0 or later
• Mozilla Firefox 1.5 or later
• For up to 3 PC

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of McAfee and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. In addition, McAfee sent me a blanket and care package to thank me for taking the time to participate."

Kellogg's Cinnabon Snack Bars Deliver!

The Owl has braces, and any of you Moms whose kids are suffering along with him know that sometimes, it just hurts too much to chew when those bands get tightened.

As Moms, though, we do have to feed our kids, darn it, and so we end up cajoling and pleading with them to try a banana or a milkshake or mac and cheese, something soft that we can entice them to eat while they are going through those tough times.

The Owl's weaknesses include the aforementioned mac and cheese, blueberry muffins, and Cinnabon cinnamon rolls.

This love for cinnamon doesn't surprise me. I have a sweet tooth myself, and I heard once that the scent of cinnamon causes an immediate response in many of us--this warm, friendly, welcoming scent of cinnamon triggers memories of "home": baked goods fresh from the oven.

Well, Kellogg's must know that, because their latest cinnamony good snack hit a home run in our family.

Now, instead of heading out to the mall for a Cinnabon, we can unwrap Kellogg's Cinnabon Snack Bars instead.

What I think makes these treats even better than their sticky bun counterparts, though, is that in addition to the sugar and cinnamon filling and cream cheese frosting, each Kellogg's Cinnabon Snack Bar weighs in at just 150 calories.

So Moms can indulge our sweet tooth, too, without feeling guilty.

Not that, you know, I eat them all the time or anything.

But, when I do?

I like to microwave mine for just a few seconds, for that "just baked" taste. ; )

I'm a Mom Central reviewer, and posted this entry as part of their blog tour!

Modern Rock!

There's no doubt that Mom Central is full of cool Moms--they've teamed up for a blog tour with Activision's Guitar Hero on Tour: Modern Hits for the DS.

You may remember that I recommended Guitar Hero on Tour: Decades in our Holiday Gift Guide. Well, this latest version of the Guitar Hero series not only doesn't disappoint, it delivers even more fun with 28 master tracks from influential artists including Coldplay, Fall Out Boy, Tenacious D, The Strokes and Weezer and LOTS of new multiplayer options.

I am hardly, by the way, a Guitar Hero myself. I've played the games, and I'd say I stack up more as a Guitar Goat. Or possibly a roadie.

But despite my lack of hand-and-eye coordination (or any musical talent whatsoever), I had lots of fun playing Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits on the DS.

I worked my way through the "Opening Act" songs and I'm ready to become a big star--if only I DON'T play against my (much more talented) kids.

I do find the DS interface a little more challenging than the console version of the game. It's very well-designed, in that it comes with a special attachment that allows you to "play" the notes with one hand while strumming your stylus on the DS with with the other. If, you know, you're coordinated.

I'm left-handed, and the game even offers an option for us that allows us to switch the screen around completely and even flip the colors of the notes so that it is left-hand friendly.

Even so, it's a bit of a stretch to get my fingers around and push down the color-coded buttons. And my fingers are pretty long.

I found it easiest to work with the DS not completely "open", so that my fingers can wrap around but I can still work the stylus with the other hand and see the screen fully. I was able to play pretty well this way, meaning that I can get "Star Power" on the first few songs and even get the audience (obviously not too picky) behind me.

My kids can generally get 100% through a whole song, but I am challenging myself to reach a 90% level once I'm past the easy intro music.

GHOT: Modern Hits doesn't stop with just challenging yourself, though. I'm really impressed, as someone who likes to game and really values repeat playability (which may be a term I just invented, but you know what I mean), with how many multiplayer options this game has.

First off, there's Face Off, which lets players each choose specially designed guitar tracks and play head-to-head, each with their own personal difficulty level chosen. This works well when one player (me) is not as advanced as another player (my kids).

Then there's Pro Face Off, which has the players go head-to-head with the same track, and the same difficulty level.

But it doesn't stop there, and this is what really makes GTOH: Modern Hits rock, to me.

Players can opt for Co-Op multiplayer, where they play a song together, one player taking the lead guitar and the other playing Bass or Rhythm.

Or they can have a Guitar Duel, which is really fun. Players pick up "battle items" as they play, like broken strings and dud notes (bombs), which they can send to the other player to mess them up! Hilarity ensues. At least when I play, anyway. Broken strings freak me out so much I just fall completely apart. This option had me laughing out loud.

Finally, if one player has the older GHOT: Decades and the other has the newer GHOT: Modern Hits, they can use the multiplayer capability for Song Sharing, sending approved songs to each other!

If you can find the right fit for your hand and really get to rockin' with the DS, I highly recommend Guitar Hero on Tour: Modern Hits for parents, tweens and teens to all play against each other. If you, ahem, listened to my recommendations last year, you'll already have Guitar Hero on Tour: Decades, and you can all play against each other!

My take: Guitar Hero on Tour: Modern Hits is a Must-have for your DS games collection!

Chill Out With Dad on Father's Day

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

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

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

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


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


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

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

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

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

"Gimme Veggies!"

I know, you have never, ever in your life heard your kids say those words, have you?

The people who bring you Hidden Valley Salad Dressings want to change that.

Understanding what a challenge it can be to interest your children in healthy greens and veggies, they've put together a free online game that your little ones can play with you. Since a recent study indicated that 60 percent of parents play computer games with their kids, the makers of Hidden Valley Salad Dressings hope Veggie Adventures will be yet another tool Moms can use, "to expand their young children's appreciation for vegetables."

Which I think is just a brilliant plan. Once your little ones play a game all about loving vegetables, they're much more likely to think of them as "fun" instead of "blah" food. And the game is cute, and easy to master--mostly you just need a mouse, and occasionally the spacebar.

There's three levels to Veggie Adventures. The first has your little farmer growing their own vegetable garden, watering the plants (and squirting at the animals that are trying to make off with their yummy vegetables!).

Next, they have to drive the vegetable truck, making sure not to go too fast, because there's potholes and also more critters trying to cross the road. Don't worry about those animals, by the way--I sadistically tried to hit a few critters just to make sure, and your little one can't even accidentally hurt them, thank goodness. Yay, Hidden Valley folks!

Lastly, your child will dole out veggies to other kids just like them. Only, you know, animated and two-dimensional. ; )

I found this level a little more challenging, because you are basically sliding across the screen, hitting the spacebar to drop dollops of fresh veggies to the kids, who come up and hold out their plates. Sometimes I would drop a veggie in the wrong spot because I wanted to be over there <>. Even so, I filled up a lot of tummies with delicious veggies, so I feel good about that.

Those kids on the computer have probably had more veggies than my own kids lately. *sigh*

I think your kids will enjoy Veggie Adventures--keep in mind, this is a game for very young children, pre-school age and maybe early elementary school kids (who will still probably play it better than I did).

One nice feature to make your kids feel proud of their achievements: after each level, they can print up a certificate showing just how great they are with all those vegetables.

I'm a proud member of Mom Central and this Hidden Valley blog tour.

Time to Check Those First-Aid Supplies

Remember that old party game--we played it as kids, mostly--where one person says, "I'm going on a camping trip, and I'm going to take an aardvark (or something starting with the letter A)," and then the next person goes and adds a letter B thing, and you go around the room adding on for each letter of the alphabet (I'm going to take an aardvark, a bicycle, a chainsaw, a dinosaur...etc.)?

Well, if I had the letter N, I would add, "Neosporin" for mine now.

In fact, I already have it ready. For Spring Break, we actually are going up to the mountains to go hiking, which is close to camping, and I'm going to need it.

Except I don't do the whole tents-and-bugs-and-no-bathrooms thing, so we are renting a nice log cabin for the week, and taking a couple of the boys' friends along. I'm not a "roughing it" type of girl.

But I'm still taking my new Neosporin Pain Relief Ointment and my new spray Neosporin Neo To-Go, and plenty of bandages, too.

Because, you know, I'll have my accident-prone Rhino with me, the one who just two weeks ago was in the Emergency Room again because he was slammed into the wall of the gym playing basketball during P.E.

He's fine now--just a minor concussion and some gluey gel-stuff sealing the gash in his eyebrow while his Dad and I shared a scary Oh my God, that could have been his eye! moment in the ER.

But that Neosporin Neo To Go spray has been a godsend, as the folks at Mom Central and Neosporin sent it to me to review just in time for us to have it around for that scary eyebrow wound.

And it earned big points in my book. That little spray is really conveient, since it's not messy at all to use, and protable, so we can keep it in the car. And of course, it's antibiotic just like the ointment we all know and love, and just as soothing, and I can apply it just by spraying it (I'm super careful with anything near his eyes, of course), so I don't have to probe his cut with my fingers to put it on. Big thumbs-up on the Neo to Go spray!

I keep the Neosporin Pain Relief Ointment in the medicine cabinet at home with the band-aids, so I can apply that when I need to, too. The Rhino also had some cuts and scrapes on his knees from his wall-slamming basketball incident, and we used the regular ointment for those. They have some Neo to Go Ointment packs if you prefer the ointment, which are individual-use packs you can slip into your first-aid kit.

All of that applying ointment reminded me, as the good folks at Neosporin want to remind you, that there IS an expiration date on those topical antibiotic ointments that, according to a recent study, 40% of you have in your medicine cabinets, too.

You really do want to check to make sure that antibiotic stuff hasn't expired, so that you'll be ready now that it is (today, officially!) Spring, and the kids will be going outside more to play.

Do you know, when I went to put my new Neosporin ointment and Neosporin Neo to Go spray away, I found some tubes that had expired in 2005?

And that's with having the Rhino in the house and needing up-to-date supplies all the time, people!

Just for fun, why don't some of you check and tell me how old the oldest thing in your medicine cabinet is right now? Just leave a comment, don't be shy!


I proudly wrote this post as part of a Mom Central and Johnson's blog tour!

Put 'Em on Ice--Moms Save with Disney!

Have you ever been to an ice show? If not, let me tell you that I was fortunate enough recently to attend one, and discovered they're a lot of fun, and one of the few entertainments the family can all enjoy together.

And when it comes to family entertainment, you know you never have to look any further than Disney!

Disney on Ice shows (and there are several different ones) feature your children's favorite Disney characters and songs, so that they can join right in and sing along, becoming a part of the action on the ice. You'll find all the colorful costumes, excitement, and action you'd expect from Disney in full force at their ice shows-- and even a little humor thrown in for the adults to enjoy as well.

Mom Central asked me to invite you all to enjoy a special promotion for Disney on Ice shows across the country, available exclusively to Moms!

By entering the code MOM at select ticketing channels, you can save money and enjoy affordable entertainment at a Disney on Ice show near you!

Here's the specifics on the offers available to Moms:

Offer #1:
Get 4 tickets for just $44 by entering the code "MOM" at select ticketing channels*. Offer good on all performances, minimum purchase of 4 tickets required; additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each. Offer not valid on Gold Circle Seating, Front Row and VIP seating or combinable with other offers. Other restrictions may apply.

Offer #2:
A select amount of Front Row and VIP seats have been reserved for you to buy before they go on sale to the public! - just enter the code "MOM" when purchasing those seats.

Here are the select dates and cities where your family
can use the national MOM code:

Houston
Disney On Ice presents Mickey and Minnie's Magical Journey
April 15-April 19


Dallas/Ft Worth
Disney On Ice presents Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey
March 18-March 29

Sunrise/Miami
Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy
March 26-April 5

Toronto
Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy
March 18-March 22

Kansas City
Disney On Ice presents Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey
April 1-April 5

Denver
Disney On Ice presents a Disneyland® Adventure
March 12-March 15

Phoenix
Disney On Ice presents a Disneyland® Adventure
April 9-April 12

Chicago/Rosemont
Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic
Sept 8-Sept 13

Go here to learn more about Disney On Ice shows touring the country this year!

And visit ticketmaster.com to use the 4 tickets for $44 code, MOM.

P.S. Guess what?! Because they are owned by the same parent company, these MOM code offers can also be used to save on Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey® shows in select cities. Click here to find a show near you!