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                                                                                                                                                              Remember the Happy Meal Chefs Contest? Well the winners have been announced! Head over to McDonald's USA and see the winners. McDONALD’S USA NAMES TWO YOUNG CHEFS TO HELP IN NEW HAPPY MEAL CREATION AND TESTING Inspiring Family Mealtime Stories Earn Happy Meal Chefs Contest Winners Apprenticeship with McDonald’s Executive Chef and Trip to the London 2012 Olympic Games OAK BROOK, lll. (June 26, 2012) – Sarah Ralston, 11, of New Albany, Ohio, and Elayna Saley, 8, of Salt Lake City, Utah, recently whipped up winning stories of nutritious family mealtime fun to become McDonald’s two Happy Meal Chefs.  In their new honorary roles, the young chefs will work alongside McDonald’s Executive Chef Dan Coudreaut helping in the creation and testing of new, nutrition-minded Happy Meal choices in a one-of-a-kind apprenticeship this fall. “I’

Here in my area of the country the kids have been out of school just one week!  June is almost over! We have been to several graduation parties and a few more are scheduled on the calendar.  It's always nice to send or receive a formal invitaion to an event. I don't mean like wedding event "formal", but an invitaiton  that is sent out by the host. It makes your guest feel a bit more "invited" when you  recive a printed invitaion as opposed to saying "hey we are having a party want to come over?" Then later you are wondering:  what day did she say or what time, are we supposed to bring something? I like having the invitaiton from the host family  so I can put it on the fridge and my family members don't have to ask me the same questions about the party ten times! Like what day is the party, what time is the party, where are we going?! I like Tiny Prints for invitations, I have used their inviatations and greeting cards in the past and do get com

There are many times I am in the car driving to  a store, and I realize I forgot my tote of coupons. I am a coupon shopper, and without those coupons, I skip the store. Just today after my kid's Doctor appointment, I heard from the back seat: can we go to Old Navy?   Ah, I don't have a coupon, and I did not look through the Sunday paper yet to see if there is a coupon for this week. Now,here is the way to shop The RetailMeNot Coupons App . You can find the coupons for places you shop online or in the store! Yippee! So easy! The app gives you access to a selection of RetailMeNot's awesome online coupons from thousands of merchants and over 1,600 in-store redeemable coupons you probably shop at now. The easy to use interface has "Hot Deals" updated daily and you can search RetailMeNot's best online coupons from thousands of merchants. Oh, and it's FREE The app's motto is "Save when you want, where you want" Here are four main areas of the app t

Laundry, Laundry, Laundry . I guess saying it three times won't magically make it disappear. It's worth a try right? You can laugh along with some funny honest videos over at Purex's web site. You can enter to win Purex for a year there too.  That would make doing the luandry a bit better. You can enter the giveaway on this blog for a chance to win a coupon good for a free bottle of Purex  CLOSED:  I've got three coupons to give away from Purex. Just leave a comment on this post telling me something you like or don't like about laundry duty. Winners will be chosen by random.org on July 2, 2012. Giveaway closes July 2, 2012 at 12:01 AM EST. Disclousre: The comments and views are my own. Compensation did not take place for writing this post.

<p><p><p></<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">iframe</span></body></p></p></p> Disclosure: Images and Clips provided by Walt Disney and Pixar.

Last night I went to the movie theater for the Screening of the new movie from Disney Pixar BRAVE.  I waited in line with many eager patrons. Luckily the theater allowed us to line up inside and not stay outside in the 100 degree weather.  I was glad for that. We eventually filled the theater seats and waited for the movie to begin. It did start about a half hour after the time it was scheduled for. It was already 7:30 PM. OK, so the movie began!  We had our 3D glasses on! The main character-Merida is the daughter of the Queen. She has a head of red hair that is full of fluff and curls.  She has three little brothers, also red heads,  that get into all kinds of trouble through out the movie. but prove to be at her side when she needs them to help her. Her father gives her a Bow and Arrow for her birthday. She loves to head out into the woods and practice on her day off from being a princess. Merida has her own thoughts of becoming the next Queen, she is skilled with her bow and arrow a

Have you ever been to a doctor's appointment and they hand you a clipboard with a few sheets of printed paper asking you to update your information? There are spots for your insurance ID number, the list of current medications, the list of past surgeries, and more information I can not dig out of my purse or wallet. Maybe one of the kids just got done taking an antibiotic, what was it called again? What was the dose, how many times a day? I don't know! AboutOne is my family organizer  now. I can be prepared to answer questions on health issues, or any other family topic, right from my phone or computer. No more digging through piles of papers or giving myself a headache over lost information. AboutOne is a comprehensive online organizer. It is safe and private. They have bank level security. You can keep all your family information in one place, organized, ready to use, like when I am  sitting in the waiting room.  You can also update and add information as needed. There is eve

It's a hot day! Better make sure to keep cool and wear comfy clothes.  A few days ago we had a graduation ceremony to attend, outside. The delivery man dropped off a box on my porch that day.  I love to hear that sound of the box being dropped on the porch! The box was a product I used right away! It was Dry Idea, Advanced Dry. Powder Fresh Scent, so I put it to work right before we headed to the ceremony. It did it's job, I was glad for that. Sitting in the football stadium bleachers arm to arm next to people and the hot sun right at our eyeballs, any type of cool, dry, feeling was appreciated. Have you ever tried Dry Idea? This was my first try of the deodorant, and a roll-on.  It keeps you dry and odor free! It is also available in Clear Gel and Invisible Solid. It's hypo-allergenic and contains vitamin E, and available un-scented formula. You can find out more about women's deodorant  on dryidea.com. and check out their facebook page too. Dry Idea Advanced Dry is g

The Little Miss Coppertone Contest is going on now and it's easy to enter!  No purchase is Necessary! Ends 6/22/12 so enter very soon. Head over to their Facebook page and enter. Guest Judge Alison Sweeny will be leading the judging team. Get your photos in by June 22. Starting July 13th, the voting will begin on the facebook page. So be sure to check back and vote! Tell your friends to vote for you too. The winner gets a dream family vacation and will be featured in a print ad. Details are on the link too. You can also take the " What kind of Coppertone Girl Are You Quiz" " and see what kind of Coppertone Girl you are! Disclosure:  I was entered for a chance to win a gift card in exchange for this post.  No monetary exchange took place.

You can show your support for the Farm Bill and No Kid Hungry®. Just visit  http://nokidhungry.org/farmbill and send your message to congress.Share your story and make a pledge on the site. Farm Bill & SNAP Overview: • This spring and summer, members of Congress will be working on the reauthorization of the Farm Bill, legislation that provides funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, and the largest nutrition program in the Farm Bill. • SNAP helps struggling families buy more food and fresh vegetables to feed their kids. • SNAP faces potentially devastating cuts in the Farm Bill. These cuts could reduce, or even eliminate, millions of Americans’ access to SNAP benefits, forcing families across the country to go hungry. • SNAP also provides important economic benefits to communities across the country. For every SNAP dollar spent, $1.79 is returned to the economy. As our economy slowly begins to recover, now is not the time to cut

BRAVE opens in theaters Friday June 22, 2012. "Like" BRAVE on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PixarBrave

“Frankie Talks to Josh’s Principle” clip from DreamWorks® Pictures’ PEOPLE LIKE US: From DreamWorks Pictures comes “People Like Us,” a drama/comedy about family, inspired by true events, starring Chris Pine (“Star Trek”) as Sam, a twenty-something, fast-talking salesman, whose latest deal collapses on the day he learns that his father has suddenly died. Against his wishes, Sam is called home, where he must put his father's estate in order and reconnect with his estranged family. In the course of fulfilling his father's last wishes, Sam uncovers a startling secret that turns his entire world upside down: He has a 30-year-old sister Frankie whom he never knew about (Elizabeth Banks). As their relationship develops, Sam is forced to rethink everything he thought he knew about his family—and re-examine his own life choices in the process. The film also stars Olivia Wilde, Michael Hall D’Addario, Philip Baker Hall, Mark Duplass and Michelle Pfeiffer. A DreamWorks Pictures presentat

What to get for Father's Day?  Check out Sonos, The Wireless HiFi System.   It's available at Target and right now you can get a special deal: Through June 16th at Target you can get a Free $30 Target gift card with the purchase of Play: 3 unit and a Free $40 Target gift card with the Purchase of Play 5: unit. Want to know more??? Watch this video and see how easy and very cool this system is to have and use.  You can play music anywhere in your house, using your smart phone, ipod, ipad, or stereo. Forget the wires, forget the CD's to change, play whatever music you are in the mood for. It is all at your finger tips. It is pretty darn neat! just watch and see : Play music while you cook, clean or entertain Kids like music, and play a variety to expand their culture hanging out in the living room with some of your favorite songs Disclosure: I participated in this campaign as a member of One2OneNetwork and I'm eligible for a prize drawing. All opinions stated in the post

On Sunday June 10, 2012  I traveled from New Jersey  to Fresh Vintage in West Chester, Pennsylvania. The event was a book signing with Mary Kay Andrews . Her newest book " Spring Fever " has just been released. Mary Kay Andrews is a New York Times Best Selling Author. I read "The Fixer Upper" by the same author and  I loved the book. "Spring Fever" sounds like another great book and I have my signed copy to read! Grab your beach or pool bag, and pack this book for  your Summer reading list. For more information on Mary Kay Andrews go here .  For more information on Fresh Vintage go here . What a fun shop!  I bought a vintage Table Cloth, one of my favorite things to collect.  Right next door to the shop is Highland Orchards. A great place to buy fresh produce  and vegetables. We bought Fresh ripe strawberries. They were the best ever.  A heartfelt Thank you to Colleen Allison for the invitation to visit her shop and meet Mary Kay Andrews. Visit her at fr

Walt Disney Animation Studios and Emmy®-winning director Rich Moore (TV’s “The Simpsons,” “Futurama”) take moviegoers on a hilarious, arcade-game-hopping journey in “Wreck-It Ralph.” Ralph (voice of John C. Reilly, “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,” “Step Brothers”) is tired of being overshadowed by Fix-It Felix (voice of Jack McBrayer, “30 Rock”), the “good guy” star of their game who always gets to save the day. But after decades doing the same thing andseeing all the glory go to Felix, Ralph decides he’s tired of playing the role of a bad guy.  He takes matters into his own massive hands and sets off on a game-hopping journey across the arcade through every generation of video games to prove he’s got what it takes to be a hero. On his quest, he meets the tough-as-nails Sergeant Calhoun (voice of Jane Lynch, TV’s “Glee”) from the first-person action game Hero’s Duty. But it’s the feisty misfit Vanellope von Schweetz (voice of Sarah Silverman, “The Sarah Silverman Progra

Set in the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland, Disney•Pixar’s “Brave” follows the heroic journey of Merida (voice of Kelly Macdonald), a skilled archer and headstrong daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). Determined to change her fate, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the unruly and uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson) andcantankerous Lord Dingwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane), unleashing chaos in the kingdom. When she turns to an eccentric Witch (voice of Julie Walters), she is granted an ill-fated wish and the ensuing peril forces Merida to harness all of her resources—including her mischievous triplet brothers—to undo a beastly curse and discover the meaning of true bravery. Directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman, and produced by Katherine Sarafian, “Brave” is a grand adventure full of heart, memorable characters and sign

A story set in Scotland would be jiggery pokery without its share of Scottish words and phrases. And crivens, “Brave” has plenty! But it would all be for naught unless accompanied by a proper glossary, so here goes… AUTOCHTHONOUS Indigenous, native v   Taught to filmmakers by Emma Thompson (voice of Queen Elinor), who used it to describe “Brave’s” Castle Dunbroch because it appears to have grown right out of the earth. BLUE WODE A blue dye extracted from a cabbage-type plant used by inhabitants of ancient Scotland to paint their bodies v   Lord MacGuffin and Young MacGuffin paint their bodies in blue wode to proclaim that they are ready for battle at any moment. BRAE Hill BUNCH OF GALOOTS Many fools ·          galoot = clumsy, oafish person CARNYX A Celtic trumpet with a bell shaped like a boar’s head. Held vertically so it can be heard in large crowds, a carnyx was used during wartime to send troops into battle. v   In “Brave,” it signals the start of the Highland Games. CRIVENS, YOU

On Saturday morning last week I watched Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted in a screening with a theater full of Moms, Dads, and kids. The line was long to get into the theater, luckily I was on the front of the line and was on a list for blogger to get into the theater. Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted film is fast moving and full of color. I viewed the film in 3D, I kinda like that type of viewing. So today the movie opens in theaters everywhere! Pack up the kids and go see it!  Those characters are cute, lively and smart. I love the penguins who are the engineers of all things mechanical. Why are they Europe's Most Wanted? You'll have to watch the entire film to see why!

On Saturday morning last week I watched Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted in a screening with a theater full of Moms, Dads, and kids. The line was long to get into the theater, luckily I was on the front of the line and was on a list for blogger to get into the theater. Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted film is fast moving and full of color. I viewed the film in 3D, I kinda like that type of viewing. So today the movie opens in theaters everywhere! Pack up the kids and go see it!  Those characters are cute, lively and smart. I love the penguins who are the engineers of all things mechanical. Why are they Europe's Most Wanted? You'll have to watch the entire film to see why!