GoodNites®, bedwetting, and a giveaway, oh my! **CLOSED**

A while back, I wrote this extremely heartfelt and honest post about A and her nighttime bedwetting "issue".  After the very nice comments and suggestions, both here and on our Facebook page, I've decided it's something she will outgrow.  When?  Well, that remains to be seen.  As I wrote in the previous post though, as long as her pediatrician isn't worried, I don't know why we should be.

In steps GoodNites®.  You see, we've used GoodNites® for around a year or so now.  Pull-Ups just weren't cutting it and I wanted something made more for the "big kids".  I overheard a commercial for GoodNites®one day and this line stuck out "GoodNites® Underwear are made to look, feel and sound like real underwear, so kids ages 4 and up will feel good wearing them – plus they’re specially made to protect kids while lying down." Hello!  The last thing I ever want is for A to feel embarrassed by her "issue", so these were calling our name.  Since using them she has become more confident about them.  I'm going to use another GoodNites® line here, but "GoodNites® Products are more absorbent than the leading training pants, to help keep pajamas and sheets dry all night.  Dry nights mean parents and kids can enjoy an easy night’s sleep and wake up with confidence." This is SO true!  In the time we've been using GoodNites®, A has only had a handful of accidents that required her sheets be changed.  This is the best part for her tired old Mom (me..lol).

We really do like GoodNites® a lot!  I sat down with A and ask her about them.  She said she likes that they don't crinkle like sis's diapers do and that they are easy to take off/on.  Her favorite part is that they don't have cartoon characters on them.  Just pretty little flowers so they look more like panties.  A never did like the cartoon characters on her diapers, so that could just be her.  It does help her confidence that they don't look like they are meant for small kids.

On Tuesday evening, there was a twitter party with GoodNites®.  I have to tell you I was excited and surprised at some of the ideas Moms were coming up with to help their kids.  One thing in particular stuck out with me though.  There was a fellow Mom who said she chooses not to write about her child's bedwetting because she didn't want to leave a digital footprint for her child to find later.  When I read it, something stuck out and hit me right in the gut.  Was I doing the right thing by letting everyone know about A's issue?  Is she going to hate me later in life for writing about it?

The answers I'm hoping for are Yes and No.  Leaving a digital footprint about my child's bedwetting isn't scary to me.  I want other Mom's who are in this trench to know that they aren't alone.  Bedwetting after a child is supposedly "potty trained" is more normal than discussed.  Why it seems so taboo is beyond me.  Hey, I have a 6 year old that still tinkles in her bed.  Whoop-ed-dee-do.  It happens and it's nothing the child/parent/caregiver should be ashamed of.  It's not a "dirty little secret".  It happens.

This is also why I'm thankful for GoodNites®.  Many years ago when my Grammy and other family members were having these issues, GoodNites® weren't even a blip on the radar.  Back then they had to change bedding multiple times a night...Eek!  I can't even imagine it.  So, do you have a "post toddler years" child who may still have accidents at night?  If you're like me and do, I suggest that you go and check out GoodNites® website.  They have a NiteLite Panel of experts who can answer all your bedwetting question or concerns.  They helped put my mind at ease.

As you may have read in the title, there is a giveaway attached to this post.  How awesome is that?!?  GoodNites® is being extremely generous in their giveaway and I'm really excited about it.  So much so that Chuck may or may not have ask me to stop talking about it yesterday.  :D

Here's a picture of the fabulous GoodNites® Gear Kit giveaway package which includes: a GoodNites® product voucher, Skip Hop Backpack, Foogo Water Bottle, Bob Book, Toothbrush and Hand Washing Timer, Night Time Chore Cards (which I'm looking forward to!), Kleenex® Splash ‘N Go!® Moist Wipes, Bubbles, Crayons, Stickers (obviously A's favorite), Movie Passes and a $100 Amex GiftCard. How amazing is that?  I'm mean really?  How amazing is GoodNites® for giving all that to one lucky reader of ours?



Now, I know you want to find out how to enter right?  Well, I'll make it easy for you.  Here's a couple things to remember though:

1. Leave a separate comment for each entry.  If you put all the answers in one comment, it's only one entry.


2. This giveaway will close on Friday, August 12 at 9 P.M. EST.


3. The winner will be chosen at random by random.org


4. Please be honest and play fair.

The mandatory entry is this:

• Head over to GoodNites.com and then come back and share something you learned


• OR


• Share an experience you've had with bedwetting

If you do both, leave 2 comments! After you do the mandatory entry,  here are some bonus ways to enter.

• Join in our conversations on Facebook by "liking" us.  We have many conversations!


• If you are on Twitter and think we're totally awesome, follow us @shevigirl (me) or @daisiesforu (Andrea) or @momconfess


• Leave a comment about the most exciting part of the prize pack to you.

Thanks so much for entering and sharing your bedwetting stories.  Knowing you aren't alone in something makes it that much easier to deal with.  Please remember, bedwetting post toddler years isn't anything to be ashamed of, scared of, or embarrassed by.  It's more normal than you think and GoodNites® is here to help! (Yeah, I made that one up all by myelf.  Impressed?)

***I'd like to extend a HUGE thank you to GoodNites® for providing a giveaway as awesome as this one is!  I also received a GoodNites® Gear Kit for writing this post.  Unless otherwise expressed by quotation, the words contained within this post are my own.  The experiences are that of my family and in particular my spunky, artsy little girl.  For any furthur information or see our disclosure policy.  For any questions, please feel free to email me at the address provided here.  Thanks again!***

Are you ready to "Rumble in the Jungle?" *Giveaway***Closed**

*****The winner of the tickets, when I put it into random.org, was Jeremy Jackson.  Random chose #1 and he was the first to enter.  I have honestly never had #1 appear in all the giveaways I've done.  I thought it was neat, so I had to share.  Congrats to Jeremy!  Thanks everyone for entering.  There will be more giveaways coming soon!!*****

You read that right.  You see, around the Cincinnati area "the jungle" is a reference to Paul Brown Stadium.  So what's all the "rumble" about? Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam is coming to soar, fly and delight!  Have you ever been to a monster truck show before?  Last year was my first year to attend and we loved it.  Let me rephrase that.  Ren loved it so much he HAD to have a monster truck to bring home.  Long story short, he is know the proud owner of around 5 or 6 monster trucks, all from the Hot Wheels Monster Jam line of vehicles.  They look just like the ones seen in the show!  As a matter of fact, we have the two pictured below.  He loves them.



I know you may be wondering why I'm writing a post about Advanced Auto Parts Monster Jam right?  Well, the reason is simple.  I *may* have a giveaway.  Yup, you read that one correctly.  I have a 4-pack of tickets to the show at Paul Brown Stadium!  How exciting is that?  I know I'm excited to go, yet we're keeping it a secret from the kids.  This is one surprise I can't wait to let them in on!

First though, I want to share some details.  If you don't win the tickets from my giveaway, you can always purchase tickets for the event.  Simply log onto Ticketmaster or by phone.  Mention the code MJ2011 and save $4 off of all $20 and $10 dollar tickets. *This discount cannot be used to purchase kid seats, cannot be combined with other discounts, and there is a limit of 6 tickets per purchase*. Yet, with kids seats only being $5 this is a really fun way to spend some family time without spending a lot of money.

Now for the fun stuff.  Here's the details. Advanced Auto Parts Monster Jam is going to be in the jungle on July 23.  I'm going to be ending this giveaway on Wednesday, July 13 at Noon.  The winner will be chosen by random.org.  Here's how to enter:

• Leave a comment letting me know which truck you'd most like to see.


• Head over to the Advanced Auto Parts Monster Jam facebook page and "like" them, then come back and leave me a comment.


• "Like" Mommy Confessions Blog on facebook or let me know if you already do.


• Tweet: @MomConfess is giving away tickets to see #MonsterJam in #Cinci, and let me know you tweeted by leaving a comment!

It's that easy to enter!  For those of you who are looking for some fun facts or things to share with your kids to get them excited about the event, here is a link to a fun coloring page.  I printed a couple of those off this weekend and the kids had so much fun coloring them in!  Good luck in the giveaway and I hope to see you there!

**My family was provided tickets to attend the show.  We are really excited to go and want to thank the wonderful people at Feld Entertainment for the opportunity to attend.  The words and thoughts contained within this post are my own unless otherwise noted.  Thanks!**

Cirque du Soleil OVO performance (and winner announcement)

Oh my goodness!  Last night I had the privilege of attending dress rehearsal night for Cirque du Soleil OVO.  It was amazing!  I'm going to try and describe what I saw, how it made me feel and how great the show was, using only words.

First rule of the Cirque show, no photographs allowed inside the big yellow and blue Grand Chapiteau!  It could potentially distract the performers from what they are doing and I wasn't going to be the person responsible for an injury.  I did get a picture of the kids after the show, just to prove we were there! 

The show itself was fantastic.  Honestly, I've never seen anything like this.  The performers were amazing!  The show centers around an OVO (egg for those of you who don't know), but has so much more involved.  The performers are all dressed as insects.  There were spiders, grasshoppers, the cutest ladybug ever, a snail, ants and several others.  It was in a word, mesmerizing!

The performance we attended last night we technically a "dress rehearsal".  How do I know?  We were told so at the beginning of the show.  Followed closely by, "the show may be stopped at any time".  If what I saw was a dress rehearsal, that was the best rehearsal I've ever seen! The lighting truly reminded me of something from a stage production.  The performers were outstanding.  The part that truly blew me away was the vocalist.  I didn't notice until right before intermission that the music and vocals for the show were live as well!  They were so good it sounded canned!

The different acts were amazing as well!  From the ants playing with the slices of kiwi and corn, to the grasshoppers jumping around at the end, it was hard not to look away.  A and Ren rarely looked away or spoke during the entire performance!  Since you all read this blog, you know that's a huge statement about Ren! 

When asking the kids (and Grammy who also went) what their favorite part was.  According to Grammy, it was the whole thing.  She just loves events like this.  Ren loved the grasshoppers.  A said her favorite part was the man who rode the bike on the wire.  Trust me, you'd have to see it to understand that!

All together and even without being able to share pictures with all of you, we had a fantastic time! 

Now onto the announcement I know you've all been waiting for....THE WINNER OF THE CIRQUE DU SOLEIL OVO TICKETS....is Jen Heindl!  Jen, I've sent you an email, so check your inbox!

OVO-Cirque du Soleil *Giveaway* (Closed)

Okay Cincinnati area readers.  Have I got something for you!  Tickets to go seeOVO by Cirque du Soleil!  Aren't you excited?  I know I'm thrilled beyond my wildest dreams!  I've never been to a Cirque show, but other people I know have and they rave about the experience! 

OVO-Cirque du Soleil will be at Coney Island beginning April 21st.   The show will be in town for a couple of weeks, so you'll have plenty of opportunity to attend!  Below is a small excerpt about the show.  It's Family Friendly!  I think taking the kids to a Cirque show is going to be amazing for them!

OVO is a headlong rush into a colourful ecosystem teeming with life, where insects work, eat, crawl, flutter, play, fight and look for love in a non-stop riot of energy and movement. The insects' home is a world of biodiversity and beauty filled with noisy action and moments of quiet emotion.

When a mysterious egg appears in their midst, the insects are awestruck and intensely curious about this iconic object that represents the enigma and cycles of their lives.

 

 

How can you win the tickets?  Well, I'm going to give you several ways on here and then a short list of other blogs that are also giving away tickets to the show.  The tickets we are giving away are for the Friday, May 6 show at 4 P.M. at Coney Island in Cincinnati.   I want to stress that this is the date and time of the show our tickets are for.  If you cannot make it to that specific show, the sites below may have a different date/time.  I will use random.org to choose the winner.  Giveaway ends on Thursday, April 21 at 11 P.M. 

• 
  
  Leave a comment letting me know if you've ever been to a Cirque show before


• 
  
  Tweet: @MomConfess is giving away tickets to OVO-Cirque du Soleil. http://bit.ly/ez75yw #Cinci #giveaway @shevigirl  


• 
  
  If you enter for tickets on another site, come back and leave us a comment telling us the name of the site!

 

How easy was that?  Here is the list of sites that have the OVO giveaway posted so far.  As I said before, I will be adding to this list as they are posted. 

1. 
   
   MommyBits.com


2. 
   
   Family Friendly Cincinnati


3. 
   
   Mason Metu


4. 
   
   Amy in Ohio


5.  

**I have been given a 4 pack of tickets to see OVO for writing up this post and a 4 pack of tickets to giveaway.  I'm super excited to go!**

 

Thunder Nationals

Do you have a little one in llloooovvvveeee with Monster Trucks?  I know I do.  Now, everyone please lower your voice and repeat after me.

Advance Auto Parts and Feld Entertainment are proud to present

Monster Jam Thunder Nationals

Rolling into the Nutter Center next weekend

March 18 & 19

Alright, you can go back to your normal voice now ;-D.  For those of you who are lovers or have kids who are lovers of monster trucks, this is a don't miss event in the Dayton area!  We attended the Monster Jam show last year in Cincinnati and Ren still talks about it.  He's also acquired quite a few Monster Jam Hot Wheels since then.  He know all the trucks names, but is very partial to the Grave Digger.  As a Mom, I can honestly say I expected the show to be loud, loud, and louder.  It was.  Yet it was also so. much. fun!  I had a hard time believing how high those huge trucks could fly!  Below are a few of the pictures from Monster Jam so you can get the idea, if you've never been to a show.

[gallery columns="2"]

Now for the details. 

Show times are 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 18.  Saturday, March 19 shows will begin at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Ticket prices start at $15 for adults and $8 for kids (ages 2-12).  Ticket prices will increase by $3 the day of the show.

Head on over to Ticketmaster.com grab your tickets.

Now, if you want to win a 4-pack of tickets to the event, head over to my pal Becky's blog and enter for a chance to win!!

Geckos: Tails to Toepads

Are your kids getting tired of being indoors all the time?  Are you running out of ideas on what to do?  Well, I have a solution, especially if you're in my area (Ohio).  It may be time for you and your family to make a trip to Columbus and visit COSI (Center for Science and Industry).  Think about it.  It's probably only a couple of hours away, at the most.  You could make a whole day of it. 

We will be heading up that way soon to check out the newest exhibit Geckos: Tails to Toepads.  If you're kids are as curious about everything as mine are, they are sure to love it.  Some of the highlights of Geckos: Tails to Toepads include

• A hands-on adventurewhere you get to test out gecko night vision, listen to their voices and try to spot camoflaged geckos.


• Explore all aspects of geckos including their role in human culture, their importance in ecosystems and how they may be able to help out in the bio-technology field.


• Spectacular photos of the geckos taken close-up by renowned wildlife photographers (I personally think I will adore this!)

This is from their website:

Bulging eyes for night vision, 'sticky' toepads that can climb glass, extreme camouflage, squawking voices, and disposable body parts. There are more than 1,000 species of Geckos living across the globe from balmy tropical beaches and lush rainforests to frigid mountain slopes and parched deserts. They range from shadowy nighttime hunters to neon-colored nectar eaters that scamper around in daylight. Welcome to the Geckos world!

Geckos: Tails to Toepads exhibition is going on now at COSI and continues its run through May 8, 2011, so you have plenty of time to get there!  The exhibit is included in the cost of admission to COSI, but you can purchase tickets to the exhibit only.  COSI is open Wednesday-Sunday from 10AM to 5PM and on Sundays from 12PM to 6PM.  Ticket prices vary and discounts are available.  To see the full pricing list, click here. 

Their website is chock full of information.  My personal favorite is the Itinerary page.  It helps you with planning your visit by providing a sample itinerary based on your kids ages.  Great help!!  Also, while you're there check out the Mysteries of the Great Lakes, running through May 27, 2011 on the 7 story high Extreme Screen!  This is something Chuck is going to love, while I will probably check out the Legends of Flight which runs through March 13, 2011. 

Now, onto the fun part!  How would you and your family like to go see Geckos: Tail to Toepads for free?  We have a family 4 pack of passes to giveaway!  Here are the ways to enter:

1. Let me know what COSI experience you think you'd enjoy.  Whether it be on the Extreme Screen or and exhibit.


2. Follow COSI on Facebook or Twitter.


3. Follow us on Facebook


4. Tweet #MommyConfessionsBlog is giving away a family pack of tickets to @COSICols.  I entered and can't wait to get my Gecko on! @MomConfess

Make sure you leave one comment per entry. 

This giveaway will run through February 8 at 9PM and I will be using random.org to choose the winner.  The winner will be notified by email and have 24 hours to respond.  If the winner does not respond within the 24 hours, a new one will be selected using the method above.  Thanks for entering and good luck!

***was given 4 tickets to attend Geckos: Tails to Toepads at COSI for writing this post.  My family is super excited to attend!  I can't wait to come back and share photos of our experience!***

Hallmark.com review and GIVEAWAY! *Closed, winner announcement on Monday*

Have you ever ordered invitations, cards or announcements online?  Have they met your expectations?  I will be honest and let you know that I have ordered cards online before and was let down with the results.  That was until I started planning CS's 3rd birthday party.  That all changed when I ordered our invitations at Hallmark.com.

Hallmark.com is an awesome website!  They have all kinds of invitations to choose from.  I picked the card below for CS's invitations.  It was the cutest invitation ever.  I had so many compliments on it and when they ask me where I got them, I said Hallmark.com.   I loved how easy it was to personalize it!  The back of the invitation can be personalized as well.  I used the back to put a few ideas for gifts and list her clothing size, so family/friends didn't feel like they had no idea what to get her.  Although, the first line on the back stated that "no gifts are necessary", I'm also realistic and knew they would want to get her something.



 Now, the part I am really loving on the site is the Christmas and Holiday selection of items.  With 3 kids and a few more obligations than I care to mention, I was thinking of not even sending Christmas cards this year.  That idea has since been pushed out because I fully intend on using Hallmark.com for my Christmas cards!  I mean, how easy is it to choose a card design, plug in some cute kid pictures, type in some addresses and the date I want them mailed?  Trust me, I'm a lot faster at typing than handwriting each card.  The best part is that THEY MAIL THEM FOR YOU!!!  No kidding!  You CAN have them sent to you and then you mail them out, but why?  Stamps cost the same no matter how you slice it.  I'd much rather allow Hallmark to mail the cards and give me one less item on my holiday to-do list.  So, which card(s) am I loving?  Well....



I love this one!  It has a retro feel to it and I can place more than one picture on it!  Yet, there is another card I am planning on purchasing for those people who live across the miles that we don't see quite as often as we'd like.  For them, I'm thinking the card below will work perfectly! 



Hallmark.com's newest arrival is their Personalized Baby Announcement section.  In it you will find baby announcements, shower invitations, plates and even thank-you cards.  All of these can have pictures put into them.  Plus the added convenience of making them from home...woot!  I know I would have LOVED this as a new, tired, half asleep Mom!  If I could go back in time and pick out the baby announcements we did for A, I would have chosen the one below.  It is so cute!!  I love the pink roses in the corners and that more than one photo can be used! 



Now, why am I sharing all this information with you about Hallmark.com and their cute cards?  Well, it's because I have a $50 gift card to giveaway for the Hallmark.com website!  How awesome is that?!?

The ways to enter are as follows:

1.  "Like" Mommy Confessions Blog AND Hallmark on Facebook. (You must like both for the entry to count)

2.  Tweet:@MomConfess is giving away a $50 GC to Hallmark.com http://bit.ly/dlCBMz #mommyconfessionsblog

3.  Subscribe to Mommy Confessions Blog (If you already subscribe, just tell us in a comment below)

4.  Go check out Hallmark.com and let me know which invite/card/postcard/etc. you like the best.

5.  Share the giveaway info. on your Facebook wall and then leave a comment below letting us know you did it.

6.  Join in on our daily questions on the Mommy Confessions Blog Facebook page.

As usual,leave a separate comment for each entry.  This giveaway is only open to US residents (Since the personalized greetings are only available in the US at this time.)

This giveaway will end on Friday, November 19 at 11 P.M. EST. 

I will use random.org to choose the winner based on the number of entries received.  The winner will be notified by email and has 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.

Thanks and Good Luck!!

 

***Dear FTC:  Andrea and I received a gift card to Hallmark.com to use for the event/holiday of our choice.  The opinions stated above are my own.  I really, really loved the party invitations I made on Hallmark.com and would recommend their site to anyone.  ***

Lawry's "What's your Flavor" review and giveaway (*CLOSED*)

Congrats to our winner of the Lawry's gift pack.  Nikki W!!  I'm sending you an email and you have 48 hours to claim your prize.  Thanks for entering everyone and check our giveaway page for links to other giveaways!

Do you ever wish you could try something new?  Maybe make dinner that much easier to prepare after a long day?  Well, this post may be able to help you with all of that!  

Recently I was given the opportunity to try out some of Lawry's newest marinades and seasoning mixes.  The picture below will show you what I received.  I was SHOCKED at the abundance of items to try.  Excited as well!  See, I'm one of those people who just get stuck in food ruts.  Oh, I have loads of ideas and a pretty good sized vintage cookbook collection.  The problem with me is, every time I attempt something fancy or time consuming, I just mess it up.  Typically it's a distraction (read the kids) or I forget to set the timer and it burns.  I'm a great at baking pastries,pies and such; it's the stove top that doesn't agree with me..haha! 

[gallery]

The picture above is what I got from Lawry's.  Excited?  I know I was.  We have already used both of the marinades.  They were delicious!  I used the Sweet & Sour BBQ on pork and served it with snow peas and rice.  The Sun dried tomato was used on some chicken and served with a steaming baked potato.  Both were fantastic!!  Definitely going on this Mom's list of marinades to keep on hand.  

As for the seasoning mixes, we made the Chimichurri Burrito Casserole the day we got the kit.  My kids LOVE anything with a Mexican flair and this was a huge hit with them!  On the date night-in hubs and I have bi-weekly, we made the Tuscan-Style Chicken Marsala and served it with some cooked whole-wheat Linguine.  Date night dinner was not only a breeze to make, but tasted wonderful! 

Here is the description of the products I received.  Did you know your choice of flavors say something about you?  I had no idea until I read this, yet it makes sense. 

 

A recent Lawry’s survey found that your choice of flavor says more about you than you think. The nationwide poll looked at preferences for tart, spicy, sweet, and savory flavors and found that your choice can reveal some interesting aspects of your personality.

What’s your flavor?

 

• Joyous Joiners - Tart Flavors
  If you are one for tart flavors, you tend to be extremely happy overall, particularly with your family, finances, work/life balance and even your health. As a Joyous Joiners you are an extrovert who loves to entertain at home, find it very important to join in social events in your community and are active on the greatest number of social networking sites.


• Self-Assured Adventurers - Spicy Flavors If your preference is for spicy flavors, consider yourself a confident, adventurous individual with a passion for travel and cooking. You are the biggest risk taker and although impulsive, you are not reckless – as a Self-Assured Adventurer you also tend to be resourceful, analytical, and most able to “look at the big picture.”


• The Sweet Lifers - Sweet Flavors
  As a Sweet Lifer, home and family are close to your heart. You are the kindest and most loyal, although you probably wouldn’t admit that as you are also the most modest. As an individual that prefers sweeter flavors (honey and fruit-infused), you are influenced by your parents, enjoy family entertainment, and consider yourself spiritual.


• The Conventionalists - Savory Flavors
  Your passion for savory flavors shows you have an enthusiasm for politics, enjoy camping and hiking and love outdoor barbeques and American cuisine. Along with the other Conventionalists, you tend to be more introverted than the rest of the groups and often describe yourself as a homebody.

 

Lawry’s has something for you no matter what your flavor is, including two new marinades and four new Seasoning Mix packets that help create simple meals with an abundance of flavor:

Marinades  

 

• Szechuan Sweet & Sour BBQgives meat a delicious sweet and sour flavor with a touch of Szechuan heat


• Tuscan Sun-Dried Tomato includes extra virgin olive oil, sun-dried tomatoes, sweet red bell peppers and the perfect blend of herbs

Seasoning Mixes
 

• Asian Style Beef & Broccoli – This easy to prepare stir fry meal will remind your family of their favorite Asian restaurant. The dish combines beef, broccoli and seasonings with a hint of garlic. Serve it over rice and you have a complete, satisfying meal.


• Chimichurri Burrito Casserole – Lawry’s gives the familiar Burrito casserole a new twist with this traditional Latin American sauce. With a few simple fresh ingredients, mealtime just got a lot more exciting.


• Mediterranean Sundried Tomato & Garlic Chicken – Add a taste of the Mediterranean to your family’s casserole. This easy to bake casserole combines chicken, pasta, tomatoes and Feta cheese to easily make a flavorful meal any night of the week.


• Tuscan Style Chicken Marsala with Garlic and Basil– Chicken Marsala is a restaurant favorite, but it might not make the menu at home. This effortless version comes together on your stovetop with just a few fresh ingredients. Flavorful garlic and basil gives this meal its own Tuscan flair, perfect for serving over pasta or rice.

How can you get to try these as well?  It's easy!  Lawry's and MyBlogSpark are allowing me to give away a set of marinades and seasoning mixes.  They are also giving you a Pyrex glass baking dish (with a lid!!!) and skewers.  How to enter is below and there are several ways to enter.  Make sure you leave a comment below for your entry to count.   

• 
  
  Subscribe to our blog and leave a message below letting us know you did it!  If you already subscribe let us know!


• 
  
  Tweet #MommyConfessionsBlog is giving away a Lawry's "What's Your Flavor" prize pack. http://bit.ly/bX44n5 (You only have to do this one once to be entered.  Multiple tweets don't mean multiple entries..sorry.)


• 
  
  "Like" us on Facebook http://on.fb.me/bZH4c9 and leave a comment below letting us know you did it!


• 
  
  Leave a comment and let me know which seasoning mix or marinade sounds best to you!

This Lawry's "What's Your Flavor" giveaway will end on Tuesday, November 8 at 10 P.M. EST.  I will select the winner using random.org.  Thanks for entering and good luck!! 

***I was given the products pictured above to try in my home from Lawry's through MyBlogSpark.  The opinions of the products are my own.  Thanks and go out and purchase some of them!!  They're delicious!!*** 

  

  

 

Monster Jam Giveaway

 Attention Local Readers! 

I have a fantastic giveaway for your consideration! 

 On Saturday, July 10 at 7P.M., Monster Jam will Rumble into the Jungle!

(That's Paul Brown Stadium for those unfamiliar with the Jungle!)

For those of you unfamiliar to Monster Jam, it is a fun-filled evening featuring "twelve-feet-tall, ten-thousand-pound" Monster Trucks!  They will be performing on a custom-designed track that will house all sorts of obstacles for the trucks to smash or jump.  How fun does that sound!!  The best part?  We have two family 4-packs of tickets to giveaway to this event!

Now, how do you enter?  Well, it's really super simple! 

1. 
   
   Leave a message and let us know how much fun this event sounds


2. 
   
   Tweet- #MommyConfessionsBlog is giving away a 4-pack of tickets to Monster Jam in #Cinci!  http://wp.me/pLE71-E9


3. 
   
   Become a fan on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Mommy-Confessions-Blog/111167005581078

Those are pretty easy to do right?

Now, this contest will end on MONDAY, JULY 5th at 10P.M. and the winner(s) will be selected using Random.org.  So hurry to enter!

Also, if you don't win and would still like to attend Monster Jam, there is a great ticket deal!  This is directly from Monster Jam, so the words are not mine.

Kids' tickets are only $5 by using the code KIDFUN at ticketmaster.com or by phone 1-800-745-3000**

**Limit of two (2) tickets with each full priced adult ticket.  Offer valid on all seating levels except Gold Circle and VIP.  Not valid on the day of show.  Offer expires Friday, July 9, 2010.  Price levels include $50 for Gold Circle, $35 for VIP, $19.50, $17.50, $14.50, and $10.  For more information, you can visit MonsterJam.com!

Good luck and we are so excited to attend this!  Ren is going to be sooo thrilled!  Shhh, don't tell him though, it's a surprise!

 

 

 

***Dear FTC:  My family was given a 4-pack of tickets to attend this event along with the 2 sets I am giving away.  We are completely excited about this!  The words contained within this are mine unless stated by using quotations or (as in the case above), I specifically state they are not mine.  Thanks so much!***

Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Review & Giveaway {closed}

I know, I know.  I promised everyone that I would post the BIG review yesterday.  Nothing to say except I had a family emergency this weekend and it duh-rain-ed me...  So, today I did everything I normally would have over the weekend.  Don't get too angry though, this was well worth the wait!

If you read the title, you already know what the giveaway is.  Yet, you don't KNOW how great this vacuum is!!  Let's back up a little first.

I was contacted a couple of weeks ago about reviewing the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser vacuum.  I jumped at the possibility.  Although, I wasn't sure exactly what the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser vacuum was.  Sure, I could have looked it up.  I didn't though.  Why?  Well, first impressions are big deals.  I didn't want to read about how others loved or hated this vacuum.  I wanted to form my own opinion.  So, to my surprise, this is what showed up at my door!



We have two sweet, old kitties.  Their names are Payson (he's 11) and Anna Banana (she's 10).  According to the vet, they are domestic medium haired cats.  To me, their fur is loooonnnngggg!  I mean, when the kitty has to be groomed, I think it's long.  They were our first "kids"!  Just to add a little gag factor here, Hubs got Payson as a gift for me when we first started dating because my childhood kitty had passed away (yeah, I know...It's okay to gag a little). Payson is the black and white one, Anna Banana is well, banana colored.



Back to the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser.  It arrived in the box like this.



I put it together in no time at all!  The directions were very simple to follow.  Once it was together, I immediately did a quick house pick up and revved up the vacuum.  It was great!  But, I hadn't put it to the true test yet.  I vacuumed the upstairs first, then headed to the dungeon of toys and laundry basement.  For some reason our kitties prefer hanging out down there.  Maybe it's all the toys in the playroom?  Neh, I honestly think they just hide from the kids!





The only words I truly have for the basement vacuuming is ewww.  I clean down there all the time!  I'm pretty type-A about the cleanliness of the basement, so I vacuum down there several times a week.  I COULD NOT believe all the fur, fuzz, hair, dust and ick that came out of the carpet!  Then I took the Turbo Brush attachment and started in on the futon and recliner that are down there.  The Pet Contour attachment was next.  Anna Banana loves to lay along the back of the recliner, so it was especially hairy.  Well, it was hairy.  Not any more!



What I can and will tell you is that the retail on this vacuum very affordable.  It has some super fabulous features!  I love the Pet Contour brush, and the extra pet hair lifter that is attached to the front of the vacuum.  It can be flipped up or down, depending on whether you need to use it!  Love that option!!  I have used it several (about 10 or so) times and it still amazes me with the icky stuff it is picking up!  My basement has never been cleaner and I now feel a LOT better about it!  I would recommend this vacuum!

BISSELL^® Pet Hair Eraser^® Vacuum:

A Vacuum Designed Specifically for Pet Owners

The BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser Vacuum provides pet owners with superior suction and specially designed brushes and cleaning tools for removing pet hair, pet dander and dirt from carpets, upholstery and more.  The vacuum’s pet-specific tools and technology make it convenient for everyday use.

Features

• Pet Hair Lifter - It works like a lint brush on floors when vacuuming normally. This feature grabs pet hair when you pull back on the vacuum and releases hair and suctions it up when you push forward.


• Pet Contour Tool^® - This innovative tool bends and flexes to pull out dirt and hair from hard to reach areas like stairs and upholstery.


• Pet TurboBrush^® - This tool works like a magnet to attract hair. It is great for beds, stairs and a pet’s favorite spot on the couch.


• HEPA Media Filter – It captures over 99.9 percent of pet dander, dust mites, pollen and ragweed to help create a healthier home environment.

Technology

The Easy Empty^™ dirt container’s clear construction shows when it’s time to empty the container, and it releases easily to pour pet hair, dirt and debris into the trash.  The vacuum’s dual edge cleaning with Surround Suction^® allows consumers to clean hard-to-reach places like around furniture and baseboards where pet hair may gather. Plus, a clean filter indicator monitors air flow and lets consumers know when it is time to clean the filter. The Pet Hair Eraser vacuum also includes an extra-wide 15-inch cleaning path, 35-foot power cord and extra-long hose to give consumers added reach for cleaning larger areas faster.

Availability

The Pet Hair Eraser Vacuum is available now at the suggested retail price of $149.99 at Target, Kohls, Best Buy, Lowes, Sears, Shopko, Meijer, Amazon and Linens N Things.

To see more BISSELL products for pet parents, visit http://www.bissell.com/pets

How can you win your very own Bissell Pet Hair Eraser vacuum?  Well, several ways.

1. Tell us what type of pet you own (or should I say, what type of pet owns you?)


2. Let us know if you subscribe.


3. "Like" Bissell on Facebook www.facebook.com/bissell


4. Follow Bissell on Twitter @wemeanclean


5. Leave a comment about how much you love being a pet parent!


6. Tweet "I entered the #MommyConfessionsBlog @wemeanclean giveaway to win a Bissell Pet Hair Eraser vacuum http://wp.me/pLE71-yk"

Make sure to come back and let us know after you've done it!  It's just that easy!  This giveaway will be open until Friday, June 4 at 10PM! At that time I will use Random.org to select the winner!  Good Luck and thanks for giving a pet an awesome home!

************************************************************************************

My Dearest FTC:  I was given the opportunity to review the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser vacuum.  A full size model showed up on my doorstep and I have put it to good use!  The words (with exception to the excerpt in green) and opinions contained within this post are my very own.  I did NOT receive any type of monetary compensation for anything involving this post (I never do!)  If you need to check things any further, you may look at our Disclosure Policy.

***This giveaway is now closed.***

Protect-A-Bed giveaway

For all of you who have been watching my tweets (I know some do, most don't), I gave a teaser tweet this evening.  It said I was going to be posting my second great giveaway today.  So, what is this giveaway you ask? 

Photo courtesy of Protect-A-Bed

Well, it's a Protect-A-Bed Mattress Protector and Pillow Protector to giveaway!  I know everyone read about my slight obsession love of the Protect-A-Bed Mattress Protector.  I'm 100% positive that it saved us from buying a new mattress for Ren while he was in the potty training phase.  He had so many accidents his mattress could have floated to the curb several accidents.  Trust me when I say it's well worth it's cost! 

So, why a Protect-A-Bed Mattress Protector?  According to their packaging, it's a fact that "Every Night the human body loses at least a pint of body fluids through the skin pores and mouth, as well as millions of skin flakes.  Unprotected mattresses creat the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and dust mites (a major cause of asthma, eczema and rhinitis)."  So that was enough to sell me on it!  Even without the liberty of already owning one.  I mean, ewwwww.  Now, I can wash all the icky stuff away just by taking the protectors off of the mattress and tossing them into the laundry with our sheets!

The Protect-A-Bed Pillow Protector is wonderful too!  Think about it.  Who doesn't have that favorite bed pillow they snuggle with every night?  Have you ever wondered what may be in them?  Not trying to scare you or anything, honestly, but I know when I take my pillow case off of my favorite pillow I wonder.  Now, I can zip my favorite pillow inside the Protect-A-Bed Pillow Protector and sleep a little easier!  Yes, I am *sort of* of germ person, which is why I chose NOT to think about them often!

But, if my opinion on these wonderful products isn't enough, you can try to win a set for yourself!  How you ask?  Well, several ways.

• Tweet: #MommyConfessionsBlog is giving away a @Protect_A_Bed Mattress & Pillow Protector.  I'm entered! http://bit.ly/blfzc8


• Become a fan of Protect-A-Bed on Facebook


• Head over to the Protect-A-Bed website and let me know a feature that is important to you!


• As an added entry, you can subscribe to our blog (let me know if you already subscribe!)

This giveaway will end on Monday, May 31 at 9PM EST.

Now, here is some information about Protect-A-Bed Mattress and Pillow Protector. 

Protect-A-Bed^® Premium Mattress Protector

 The Protect-A-Bed Premium Mattress Protector is a superior alternative to the traditional mattress pad, providing exceptional allergy relief and comfort. The product prevents dust mites and bacteria from breeding within your bedding, creating an overall healthy and hygienic sleep zone. 

 The Premium mattress protector offers Protect-A-Bed’s unique Miracle Membrane® with Total Heat Transference Formula, giving it the added benefit of being waterproof, stain proof and air vapor porous. The ultra-thin, extra soft and fitted-sheet style mattress protector will not detract from the comfort of your bedding, and is easy-to-use and machine washable.

 The Premium mattress protector is available in eight sizes, including Twin, Twin XL, Twin XXL, Full, Full XL, Queen, King and California King.

 Protect-A-Bed^®  Pillow Protector

With a cotton terry surface, Protect-A-Bed’s unique pillow protectors provide a cool, comfortable place to sleep while creating an allergen free sleeping environment. They are easy to use: simply slip them over pillows and zipper them shut. The product features the Miracle Membrane, which protects the pillow from bacteria, allergens, dust mites and perspiration. It has a 2 way barrier: a 100% waterproof membrane surrounds the pillow but the user won’t get hot because it is air-vapor porous. The Allergen Flap provides an additional barrier behind the zipper that won’t allow allergens to pass through. They are easy to use and transport, making them ideal for overnight stays away from home.

There really isn't a blog page long enough for why I love Protect-A-Bed!  I hope that even if you don't win the giveaway, you'll think about investing in a Protect-A-Bed Mattress Protector.  I really, really, really LOVE the ones we own (each of my 3 kids has one!)  They don't crinkle like the other ones do.  They are super thin!  They wash and dry wonderfully.  They are even fabulous to hang out on the clothes line for those who, like me, take advantage of it during sunny days!  They fit all sizes of mattresses, from crib all the way to a California king (I have no idea how big that really is, but it sounds ginormous!).  They have side pockets deep enough to fit our double pillow top queen mattress (which is hard to find ANYTHING to fit!).  This list could be endless. 

Good luck and Happy Reading!

**Dear FTC, I was provided a Protect-A-Bed Mattress and Pillow Protector to review and giveaway.  The shear love and opinion on this product is my own. **

  

Disney On Ice giveaway contest

We here at The Kandi Bar are thrilled beyond belief that we have been invited to team up with Mom Central and Disney on Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic. What it means for you is we get the opportunity to offer our first contest to our readers!! We are giving away something exciting!! A 4-pack of tickets to Disney on Ice.
How do you get entered in our contest? It is very simple and there are a couple ways to enter. You can choose 1 way or all the ways, it is up to you.

You can

1. Post on Facebook (make sure we are your friends)

2. Write about it on your blog. (post your link)

3. Post a comment on our blog and tell us about your favorite Disney princess.


This is only to the Cincinnati, Ohio show being held at US Bank Arena. The show is on September 23 at 7:30 pm. We must have all entries in by Sept. 8 and the winning number will be selected by random.org. We would love to see you there! Please pass this chance to your family and friends.

As a side note, if you do not win our totally glidin'(get it..heehee) giveaway and still want to see the show, we have been given the opportunity to extend a special offer. Here are the details. Purchase a 4-pack of tickets for ONLY $44 for weekday shows, OR receive $4 off of weekend show tickets by logging onto www.ticketmaster.com and entering the coupon code MOM.

You can also check out this Facebook link and join the Disney on Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic group for the Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio areas!

Good Luck and we can't wait to see you there!!