Look put-together for work by copying these stars' styles
This is a TotalBeauty.com hairstyles article
The best part about these hairstyles? They can be done in minutes.
** ~~~~~~ CURRENT REVIEWS, DEALS, FREEBIES AND GIVEAWAYS ~~~~~~ **
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
The Secret Lives of Princesses by Philippe Lechermeier- Book Review, Fun Quiz and a Book Giveaway
Summer is just around the corner and for avid book readers everywhere, the fascinating, mystical stories of royal ladies in "The Secret Lives of Princesses" will enchant and make for an entertaining summer read!
As children, we all read the same fairy tales, and the stories, villains, heroes and princesses are fairly predictable. The princesses in The Secret Lives of Princesses do everything BUT the expected. Unusual, outrageous, and fascinating, these noble ladies break every mold. These are the princesses we would have wanted to be; if only we knew then, what we know now.
I'm well beyond the age this book is intended for. But this is honestly one of the rare books I've read in years that was hard to put down. The eccentricity and hilarious ways of the princesses are truly amusing; the art is so eye-catching, the colors so vivid.. every page is a true delight and will take your imaginations to new places!
Book Details:
* Pub. Date: June 2010
* Publisher: Sterling Publishing
* Format: Hardcover, 92pp
* Age Range: 7 to 9
* ISBN-13: 9781402766770
* ISBN: 1402766777
Synopsis:
Go beyond Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella! Some princesses are well-known to all children—but others, equally magical (and sometimes, a lot funnier) have remained anonymous, mysterious, and far from the fairy-tale crowd.
Now these captivating ladies are finally stepping out of the shadows where they’ve remained hidden for far too long. With wit, sublime humor, and beautiful art, The Secret Lives of Princesses introduces a bevy of royal daughters to the court of young readers. While it alludes to some of their more famous sisters, this large and lusciously illustrated compendium presents such unique and unforgettable characters as the petite Princess Claire Voyant, who can see very far into tomorrow (but muddles her predictions); Princess Oblivia, who forgets everything and misses all her appointments; Princess Tangra-La, who does the tango, the fandango, and any dance that comes her way; and Princess Babbling Brooke, who chatters on and on about everything and nothing. Plus, you’ll learn about such princessy matters as the language of fans; coats of arms; and how not to offend dangerous fairies who cast evil spells.
Poetic, often humorous, and always enchanting, this is the perfect collection for princess-loving girls who long for more than just the traditional fairy tale.
Go check out and discover the fantastic stories of the world’s unknown, anonymous, and vanished princesses on "The Secret Lives of Princesses" website! You can explore and learn more about the mysterious princesses featured in the Portrait Gallery, play the Slide Puzzle Game, test your memory with the Princess Memory Game, discover how much you know with the Match the Princess Game and find out which princess you are using the Princess Personality Quiz. It was so much fun finding out my own “Princess Name” after taking this quiz, (lol).
I'm Princess Thimbelina! :)
Like Princess Thimbelina, you are a real treasure. Sweet, elegant, and refined like Princess For-a-Day, you love dazzling palaces, charming princes, and enchanted forests.
You dance like a queen, unicorns tell you all their secrets, and your feet never hurt, even after wearing high heels all day. Your friends envy you. In short, everyone adores you.
Be careful, however, not to take after Princess Molly Coddle. There is a sulking seat reserved in her name in her boudoir, since she makes regular use of it. It would be a pity if you spent a lot of your time there.
Also beware of Offal the Awful, the ogre who always hangs around on the look-out for tasty morsels. He flatters anyone who will listen to his compliments. Pay no attention to him. Think about Princess Do-Re-Mi and her sister Fa-Sol-La, who are beautiful, sweet, and elegant without being silly.
I just love fantastical, whimsical stuff like these! :)
Anyway, my whole family and I are heading out to the beach this Memorial Day weekend and I'm bringing along this charming, witty and colorful book to read the second time. Thumbs up to this book's author Philippe Lechermeier and illustrator Rebecca Dautremer! You can read their bios HERE.
I highly recommend this book for every girl between seven and ninety-seven! "The Secret Lives of Princesses" is now available at Amazon for as low as $13.00, Barnes and Noble or IndieBound.org
*WIN IT!
Win a copy of "The Secret Lives of Princesses"!
To enter the contest, just leave a comment on this post and tell me your favorite princess character and why. Please leave your email address (if you don't have a blog). This contest is open to U.S. and Canada addresses only and will end on June 12th, 2010. I will choose one (1) winner using Random.org and will be announced as a comment on this post. The winner will also be notified by email and/or through a comment on the winner's blog (if available).
*IMPORTANT: PLEASE DO NOT CROSS-PROMOTE ANY OTHER GIVEAWAYS HAPPENING ON ANY OTHER BLOG OR WEBSITE. I WILL APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.
EXTRA ENTRIES:
Your comment is your one entry. To earn extra entries, just do the following: (You may leave extra comments for your extra entries if you wish)
1. You can earn 3 EXTRA ENTRIES just by posting this giveaway on Twitter. You can tweet it however you like but please include this link at the end of your post: http://bit.ly/cXCWQG #books #giveaways #HipMamasPlace
Example: "I just entered to win a copy of the book The Secret Lives of Princesses! http://bit.ly/cXCWQG #books #giveaways #HipMamasPlace"
2. Join the Hip Mama's Place Community and EARN 2 EXTRA ENTRIES. You can earn 3 more extra entries by creating a new post or join in on the conversations on the "Forum" section of our mom community. (5 TOTAL EXTRA ENTRIES)
3. Follow me or friend me on Google Friend Connect (link is under "Our Hip Followers" on the left side bar) (2 ENTRIES)
4. Subscribe to the Hip Mama's Place FEED READER for new post updates. Don't worry, we hate spam too. You will never receive spam emails from Hip Mama's Place. (3 EXTRA ENTRIES)
5. Grab the Hip Mama's Place badge code under the "Grab Our Fabulous Buttons" and paste it on an HTML page on your blog sidebar. (3 EXTRA ENTRIES)
6. Write a short post about this giveaway on your blog linking to our home page or the URL page address of this giveaway: (3 EXTRA ENTRIES)
http://www.hipmamasplace.com/2010/05/secret-lives-of-princesses-by-philippe.html
7. Follow Hip Mama's Place on Twitter (1 EXTRA ENTRY)
8. Become a Fan of Hip Mama's Place on Facebook (1 EXTRA ENTRY)
Remember, the more entries you have, the greater chances of winning! Please make sure to include the links in your comments for your extra entries (i.e. your name on HMP Community name, Google Friend Connect, blog posts, Facebook name, Twitter name and post links, etcetera). Good luck!
*Hip Mama's Place Disclosure: “The opinions I am sharing remain my own. I received a copy of the book "The Secret Lives of Princesses" to facilitate this review. The book giveaway is provided solely by Sterling Publishing".
About the Author: Jocelyn Duncan is a working mom of two boys and is a recognized blogger and mom influencer in the Washington, DC area. In her spare time, she designs and creates her own handmade jewelry, maintains her jewelry store on Etsy and is an active moms group organizer and leader both online and offline. Follow Jocelyn on Twitter and/or Facebook.
Quiz: What's Your Ideal Skin Care Routine?
See which regimen will keep signs of aging at bay
This is a TotalBeauty.com skin care article
Do you mindlessly put on the same ol' beauty products day and night? Take this quiz to see which cleansers, moisturizers, etc. are best for you -- then make the switch.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Sex and the City 2 Soundtrack CD Review and Giveaway!
I'm sure you've all heard that the movie, Sex and the City 2, is now in theaters! I'm a huge fan of the show and I can't wait how this movie will compare with Sex and the City 1! I sure enjoyed the first one! :)
Anyway, what better time to talk about Sex and the City 2: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack- just released on May 25th!
I was really thrilled when I received a copy of this soundtrack to review. I've never seen so many beautiful songs by women all in one CD! It's not one of those "just-put-together" soundtrack CD for the sake of having one for a movie. This soundtrack CD is actually well put together and features a lot of beautiful, new songs.. some of them I haven't even heard of before. But I like knowing "what's new out there". As a super busy mom, I never have the time to go to the music store anymore and check out new songs or albums. So needless to say, a soundtrack CD like this always comes in handy for me.
Check out the brand-new duet in this CD entitled, "Love is Your Color" by Grammy and Academy Award® winner Jennifer Hudson, along with global superstar, multi-platinum recording artist and three-time Grammy Award nominee Leona Lewis.
There's also a new song by platinum-selling CeeLo and International superstar Dido. Even Liza Minnelli covers Beyonce’s chart-topper “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” and 12-time Grammy Award winner Alicia Keys performs her own extraordinary new version of the Blondie classic “Rapture”.
And mind you, this soundtrack also features the stars of Sex and the City 2, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon, performing the Helen Reddy classic “I Am Woman”. I'm already thinking about how they will be singing this song in the movie- can't wait! :)
Sex and the City 2 Tracklisting:
1. Alicia Keys “Rapture”
2. Dido “Everything to Lose”
3. Cee Lo “Language of Love”
4. Erykah Badu “Window Seat”
5. Natacha Atlas “Kidda”
6. Michael McGregor “Euphrates Dream”
7. Liza Minnelli “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)”
8. Ricki-Lee "Can't Touch It"
9. Alicia Keys "Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down"
10. Jennifer Hudson and Leona Lewis "Love Is Your Color"
11. Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon “I Am Woman”
12. Sex and the City Men’s Choir “If Ever I Would Leave You”
13. Sex and the City Men’s Choir “Sunrise, Sunset”
14. Sex and the City Men’s Choir “Till There Was You”
15. Shayna Steele, Jordan Ballard, Kamilah Marshall “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered”
16. Liza Minnelli with Billy Stritch “Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye”
17. Cyndi Lauper “True Colors”
18. Aaron Zigman “Divas and Dunes”
I honestly love Leona Lewis and Alicia Keys. They're two of the hottest pop divas right now and I can say, they both got real talent. I love the new song, "Love Is Your Color" and I can't help but sing and dance along Alicia's upbeat, "Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down". This CD is definitely one to watch for this Spring! And listen to this: you can even win a call from Jessica Parker! Now how cool is that???
Sex and the City 2: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack CD is now available at your favorite music stores or at Amazon.com for $11.99.
*WIN IT!
Win a copy of Sex and the City 2: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack CD!
To enter the contest, just leave a comment on this post and tell me who's your favorite character on Sex and the City and why. Please leave your email address (if you don't have a blog). This contest is open to U.S. addresses only and will end on June 10th, 2010. I will choose one (1) winner using Random.org and will be announced as a comment on this post. The winner will also be notified by email and/or through a comment on the winner's blog (if available).
*IMPORTANT: PLEASE DO NOT CROSS-PROMOTE ANY OTHER GIVEAWAYS HAPPENING ON ANY OTHER BLOG OR WEBSITE. I WILL APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.
EXTRA ENTRIES:
Your comment is your one entry. To earn extra entries, just do the following: (You may leave extra comments for your extra entries if you wish)
1. You can earn 3 EXTRA ENTRIES just by posting this giveaway on Twitter. You can tweet it however you like but please include this link at the end of your post: http://bit.ly/bGMJKi #giveaways #HipMamasPlace
Example: "I just entered the Sex and the City 2 Soundtrack CD giveaway! http://bit.ly/bGMJKi #giveaways #HipMamasPlace"
2. Join the Hip Mama's Place Community and EARN 2 EXTRA ENTRIES. You can earn 3 more extra entries by creating a new post or join in on the conversations on the "Forum" section of our mom community. (5 TOTAL EXTRA ENTRIES)
3. Follow me or friend me on Google Friend Connect (link is under "Our Hip Followers" on the left side bar) (2 ENTRIES)
4. Subscribe to the Hip Mama's Place FEED READER for new post updates. Don't worry, we hate spam too. You will never receive spam emails from Hip Mama's Place. (3 EXTRA ENTRIES)
5. Grab the Hip Mama's Place badge code under the "Grab Our Fabulous Buttons" and paste it on an HTML page on your blog sidebar. (3 EXTRA ENTRIES)
6. Write a short post about this giveaway on your blog linking to our home page or the URL page address of this giveaway: (3 EXTRA ENTRIES)
http://www.hipmamasplace.com/2010/05/sex-and-city-2-soundtrack-cd-review-and.html
7. Follow Hip Mama's Place on Twitter (1 EXTRA ENTRY)
8. Become a Fan of Hip Mama's Place on Facebook (1 EXTRA ENTRY)
Remember, the more entries you have, the greater chances of winning! Please make sure to include the links in your comments for your extra entries (i.e. your name on HMP Community name, Google Friend Connect, blog posts, Facebook name, Twitter name and post links, etcetera). Good luck!
*Hip Mama's Place Disclosure: “The opinions I am sharing remain my own. I received a a copy of the CD to facilitate this review. The giveaway is provided solely by the sponsor". About the Author: Jocelyn Duncan is a working mom of two boys and is a recognized blogger and mom influencer in the Washington, DC area. In her spare time, she designs and creates her own handmade jewelry, maintains her jewelry store on Etsy and is an active moms group organizer and leader both online and offline. Follow Jocelyn on Twitter and/or Facebook.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Keeping Your Home Cleaner and Healthier this Spring with Filtrete Air Filters, Plus Expert Housekeeping Tips
I wasn't surprised when I read the results of this recent survey commissioned by 3M- maker of Filtrete air cleaning filters- on the routine of cleaning by homeowners. The survey showed what homeowners are most concerned about:
Stacks of dirty dishes- 66%
Piles of laundry- 58%
Dust balls on carpets- 57%
As a busy mom myself, I can completely relate to this. I think we all have the tendency to clean the visible areas in our homes first and then forget about other areas– such as bedding, shower doors and even stuffed animals. Unfortunately, these areas can be breeding grounds for bacteria, mildew and dust mites and if ignored for long, may cause foul odors in our homes and make us sick.
Healthy Housekeeper Laura Dellutri, author of The Overworked Mom's Stress Free Home Keeping, offers these tips on how to keep your house clean and help make it healthier in the process:
Start at the Top: Ceiling fans, tall mantles and bookshelves, and the tops of door frames tend to subscribe to the “out of sight, out of mind” motto. These areas often harbor dust, so it’s important to wipe them down regularly to help remove dust buildup. Start at the top and work your way down, collecting all of the dust and dirt that falls to the floor while you’re cleaning.
Wipe Down Windows and Walls: Don't clean windows the old fashioned way – newspaper can cause ink residue and paper towels leave lint behind. Your best bet is to use microfiber cleaning cloths and a professional window squeegee to get a streak-free, spotless shine. To prevent streaks on shower doors and walls, apply lemon oil to the door twice a month. This will help repel soap scum and shampoo, while also adding a nice shine.
Think Horizontally: Dust mites are nearly everywhere. In fact, the American Lung Association® estimates that roughly four out of five homes in the United States have detectable levels of dust mite allergen in at least one bed. Reduce dust mites by encasing your mattress and pillows, and wash your bedding in hot water about once a week. Also, since dust mites are microscopic, place strips of duct tape on the mattress case to prevent the dust mites from sneaking through.
Clean the In-between: While cleaning what you can see, don’t forget to clean what you can’t see – the air you breathe. Use a high performance air filter in the home, such as the Filtrete 1” Ultimate Allergen Reduction filter from 3M, to help capture particles such as pollen, smoke, dust mite debris and pet dander from the air that passes through the filter. Be sure to change your filter at the start of every season, or every three months.
Freeze the Fur: Stuffed animals can harbor dust mites so it’s important to pay special attention to them. Place stuffed animals in a large plastic bag and freeze them for four to five hours. Remove them from the freezer and plastic bag, and use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to remove any leftover dust particles.
Finish With Floors: To keep floors in tip-top shape, vacuum and clean them weekly. You can easily make your own floor cleaner by adding a few drops of mild liquid dish detergent to a gallon of water. Hot water can break down floor finishes after time so use water that is barely warm. Finally, don’t forget to clean the floor under large pieces of furniture, which may require you to temporarily move them elsewhere. Corners of rooms and the back of closets often are overlooked, so be sure to clean these areas as well.
*Kitchen Clean-Up
Certain areas of the home, especially the kitchen, can breed and harbor germs that not only cause odors but can spread to family members. These low-cost cleaning tasks, when done regularly and properly, can be effective in making the home healthier for your family:
Trashcans: Trashcans should be cleaned monthly using a chlorine bleach and water solution. Simply combine one cup of non-chlorine bleach for every three gallons of water and pour the solution into the trashcan. Swish the solution around in the trashcan, and wait about five minutes for the chlorine to kick in and kill the germs.
Refrigerators: Cleaning the refrigerator monthly will improve the safety and quality of your food. If you are tired of cleaning spills and food particles from your refrigerator, then cover shelves with washable shelf liners. They will catch most of the food spillage, and will make cleanup quicker and easier. Once a month, throw them in the dishwasher for a good cleaning, and then place them back in the refrigerator once they are dry.
Sinks: Since bacteria can accumulate in cracks and crevices, pay extra attention to these areas when disinfecting. Also, stainless steel sinks can be tough to clean and can look spotty due to water spots and lime build up. To keep the sink shiny, use a soft buffing wheel to restore the luster. Then, use a cloth to generously apply mineral oil to the sink. Water will bead up and roll off the sink, keeping it shiny and helping prevent spots.
3M Filtrete is the brand of choice for air filters in our home and I'm happy to share to you all that from now through July 31st, 2010 you can download this mail-in rebate for $4 off the purchase of two Filtrete Air Filters with a 1000 Microparticle Performance Rating or greater.
Also, check out 3M Filtrete's Clean Air Club where you can register to receive seasonal e-newsletters featuring money-saving offers, filter change reminders, better home living tips and more!
Hip Mama's Place Disclosure: “I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Filtrete and received a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”
About the Author: Jocelyn Duncan is a working mom of two boys and is a recognized blogger and mom influencer in the Washington, DC area. In her spare time, she designs and creates her own handmade jewelry, maintains her jewelry store on Etsy and is an active moms group organizer and leader both online and offline. Follow Jocelyn on Twitter and/or Facebook.
Hanes Pink Collection Is This Year's Official T-Shirt for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® Series + a Hanes Pink Melina Tee Giveaway!
I'm all about advocating for the cause to raise awareness on breast cancer. I truly believe that by spreading knowledge and fostering hope, we can continue to fight to end this deadly disease.
So I personally admire companies and organizations that support the cause to fight breast cancer.
Hanes- America's leading brand of Clothing, Socks & Underwear for Men, Women & Kids, is once again on top of this cause by expanding its partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cure to become the Official T-shirt of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® Series. Komen will provide Hanes t-shirts to the 1.5 million people who participate in the series every year. For the second year, Hanes will offer a special “pink collection” of panties, bras, socks, and graphic tees -- including three T-shirts exclusively designed by Melina Kanakaredes, star of "CSI:NY".
Melina’s three specially designed Hanes t-shirts are meant to inspire and encourage others to join the fight against breast cancer. The T-shirts communicate strength, hope and fearlessness and were designed to honor those affected by breast cancer. Kanakaredes will also be featured in a series of Susan G. Komen for the Cure public service announcements dedicated to breast cancer awareness. In addition to these efforts that will raise awareness for the cause, Hanes will also make an aggregate cash and in-kind contribution of $500,000 to Komen in 2010.
The Hanes “Pink Collection” has already begun rolling out in stores:
~ Several pink inspired tees are now available on www.hanes.com and pink Hanes socks are now available at Walmart
~ The entire Hanes "Pink Collection” will be available on Hanes.com and in select stores this Fall
To learn more about the Susan G. Komen Foundation and how and where you can participate for this year's Komen Race for the Cure, visit this link:
http://ww5.komen.org/findarace.aspx
Anyway, I had the wonderful opportunity to receive the prettiest, softest 100% cotton pink shirt from Hanes- the Pink "Hope" Melina shirt. Yes, the same shirt design worn by Melina Kanakaredes in the above photo. The shirt has a large "Hope" stylish lettering and Melina's own handwriting printed on it that says, "Love and Fearlessness xo" and she signed it "Melina Kanakaredes" with a cute "girl" smiley face. It's truly beautiful! And pink? Ahhh.. you all know I love pink! I love, love, love this Pink Melina t-shirt from Hanes! :)
*WIN IT!
*Win a Pink Melina Shirt in the size of your choice, courtesy of Hanes!
To enter the contest, just leave a comment on this post with your thoughts on raising breast cancer awareness, your shirt size and your email address (if you don't have a blog) by June 9th, 2010 at 12MN, EST. This contest is open to U.S. addresses only. I will choose one (1) winner using Random.org and will be announed as a comment on this post. The winner will also be notified by email and/or through a comment on the winner's blog (if available).
*IMPORTANT: PLEASE DO NOT CROSS-PROMOTE ANY OTHER GIVEAWAYS HAPPENING ON ANY OTHER BLOG OR WEBSITE. I WILL APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.
EXTRA ENTRIES:
Your comment is your one entry. To earn extra entries, just do the following: (You may leave extra comments for your extra entries if you wish)
1. You can earn 3 EXTRA ENTRIES just by posting this giveaway on Twitter. You can tweet it however you like but please include this link at the end of your post: http://bit.ly/dz1WxU #moms #pink #giveaways #HipMamasPlace
Example: "I just entered the Hanes Pink Melina Tee giveaway! http://bit.ly/dz1WxU #moms #pink #giveaways #HipMamasPlace"
2. Join the Hip Mama's Place Community and EARN 2 EXTRA ENTRIES. You can earn 3 more extra entries by creating a new post or join in on the conversations on the "Forum" section of our mom community. (5 TOTAL EXTRA ENTRIES)
3. Subscribe to the Hip Mama's Place FEED READER for new post updates. Don't worry, we hate spam too. You will never receive spam emails from Hip Mama's Place. (3 EXTRA ENTRIES)
4. Grab the Hip Mama's Place badge code under the "Grab Our Fabulous Buttons" and paste it on an HTML page on your blog sidebar. (3 EXTRA ENTRIES)
5. Write a short post about this giveaway on your blog linking to our home page or the URL page address of this giveaway: (3 EXTRA ENTRIES)
http://www.hipmamasplace.com/2010/05/hanes-pink-collection-is-this-years.html
6. Follow Hip Mama's Place on Twitter (1 EXTRA ENTRY)
7. Become a Fan of Hip Mama's Place on Facebook (1 EXTRA ENTRY)
You will have twenty (20) TOTAL ENTRIES when you do the above-mentioned extra entries besides your comment. The more entries you have, the greater chances of winning! Please make sure to include the links in your comments for your extra entries (i.e. HMP Community name, blog posts, Facebook name, Twitter name and post links, etcetera). Good luck!
*Hip Mama's Place Disclosure: “The opinions I am sharing remain my own. I received a Pink Melina Shirt from Hanes to facilitate this review. The giveaway is provided solely by Hanes". About the Author: Jocelyn Duncan is a working mom of two boys and is a recognized blogger and mom influencer in the Washington, DC area. In her spare time, she designs and creates her own handmade jewelry, maintains her jewelry store on Etsy and is an active moms group organizer and leader both online and offline. Follow Jocelyn on Twitter and/or Facebook.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Tuesday Giveaway Roundup #1- Link Up Your Giveaways!
Every Tuesday is now Tuesday Giveaway Roundup here at Hip Mama's Place where we can link up our giveaways and also feature fantastic giveaways happening around the web.
If you're hosting a giveaway/giveaways on your blog, please feel free to add your giveaway links at our Mr Linky's below. I just ask that you follow this format:
Blog Name- Name of Giveaway- Open to which countries only- End Date
Example: Hip Mama's Place- $20 Amazon Gift Card- US Only- 5/31
So this week, I'm so excited to offer you tons of my own giveaways here at HMP. To see the links, just scroll to the very top of the page under my "Current Reviews and Giveaways". Here are my top giveaway picks for the week:
*Hip Mama's Place Giveaways:
~Set of Toy Story Books and Plush Toys from Kohl's, Ends 6/03, US ONLY
~ $25 Starbucks Coffee Gift Card (Ends 5/30, US ONLY)
*From Around the Blogosphere:
~Sweet Dreams Bamboo King Size Duvet Cover Worth $200 at Outnumbered 3 to 1
~$50 Gift Certificate to Cute As A Bug Boutique at Energizer Bunny's Mommy Reports
~Golf Gift Basket for Dad at Rockin' Deals
Happy Tuesday, everyone and let's get this list rolling! Please leave a comment after you link up. Thank you. :)
Monday, May 24, 2010
The Choose You Commitment and A "Choose You" Healthy Lifestyle Gift Bag Giveaway
According to The American Cancer Society, about half of all cancer deaths could be prevented if people maintained a healthy weight through diet and regular exercise; avoided tobacco products; and got recommended cancer screening tests.
As a busy mom myself, I know it's not easy to incorporate healthy habits and behaviors into our non-stop busy lifestyles. In fact, a new national survey of approximately 2,000 women ages 25-64 revealed that they are so busy being caretakers of others, they have little time to take care of their own health. I can definitely relate to that.
Enter Choose You- a new national movement launched by The American Cancer Society designed to inspire women to take action and put their health first in order to stay well and help prevent cancer.
I like what Ellen Pompeo- star of “Grey’s Anatomy”, who is also a busy mom and wife- had to say about the importance of putting our health first:
”My daily schedule is quite hectic, but I have to put my health first in order to be the best mom and wife I can be,” said Pompeo in a recent interview.
The Choose You Commitment
As part of the Choose You movement, women are encouraged to sign a Choose You Commitment, an online pledge to reach a specific, individual health goal. At ChooseYou.com, women can choose from five different health categories: Eat Right; Get Active; Get Recommended Health Screenings; Protect Your Skin; and Quit Smoking. Participants give a minimum five dollar pledge once they sign a Choose You Commitment to incentivize them to stay on track. They can also ask friends and family to support them. Scientific research suggests that women who have a “stake in the game”, as well as social support from friends and family are more likely to be successful at accomplishing personal health goals. Choose You participants and visitors to ChooseYou.com will have access to online support and tools such as a calorie calculator, virtual dietitian, nutrition and activity quiz, smoking cost calculator, prevention and early detection videos, and a desktop helper with daily health tips.
To find out more about the Choose You movement and join me and other women who have already made commitments to reach their own personal health goals, log on to ChooseYou.com.
*WIN A "CHOOSE YOU HEALTHY LIFESTYLE" GIFT BAG WORTH $60!
Choose You would like to offer one lucky Hip Mama's Place mom the chance to win the "Choose You Healthy Lifestyle" Gift Bag which includes an All You women's shirt, a Swarovski blue flower brooch/pin, a full size tube of new Neutrogena Anti-Aging Sunblock with SPF 55, a water bottle, a $10 Walgreens gift card, plus valuable coupons from Sprite Zero and a few other smaller goodies.
*Contest Rules:
To enter the contest, leave a comment on this post with your email address (if you don't have a blog) by June 7th, 2010 at 12MN, EST. This contest is open to U.S. addresses only. I will choose ONE (1) WINNER using Random.org and will be announced as a comment on this post. The winner will also be notified by email and/or through a comment on the winner's blog (if available).
*IMPORTANT: PLEASE DO NOT CROSS-PROMOTE ANY OTHER GIVEAWAYS HAPPENING ON ANY OTHER BLOG OR WEBSITE. I WILL APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.
EXTRA ENTRIES:
Your comment is your one entry. To earn extra entries, just do the following: (You may leave extra comments for your extra entries if you wish)
1. You can earn 3 EXTRA ENTRIES just by posting this giveaway on Twitter. You can tweet it however you like but please include this link at the end of your post: http://bit.ly/cGP4eC #moms #health #HipMamasPlace
Example: "I just entered the Choose You Healthy Lifestyle Gift Bag giveaway! http://bit.ly/cGP4eC #moms #health #HipMamasPlace"
2. Join the Hip Mama's Place Community and EARN 2 EXTRA ENTRIES. You can earn 3 more extra entries by creating a new post or join in on the conversations on the "Forum" section of our mom community. (5 TOTAL EXTRA ENTRIES)
3. Subscribe to the Hip Mama's Place FEED READER for new post updates. Don't worry, we hate spam too. You will never receive spam emails from Hip Mama's Place. (3 EXTRA ENTRIES)
4. Grab the Hip Mama's Place badge code under the "Grab Our Fabulous Buttons" and paste it on an HTML page on your blog sidebar. (3 EXTRA ENTRIES)
5. Write a short post about this giveaway on your blog linking to our home page or the URL page address of this giveaway: (3 EXTRA ENTRIES)
http://www.hipmamasplace.com/2010/05/choose-you-commitment-and-choose-you.html
6. Follow Hip Mama's Place on Twitter (1 EXTRA ENTRY)
7. Become a Fan of Hip Mama's Place on Facebook (1 EXTRA ENTRY)
You will have twenty (20) TOTAL ENTRIES when you do the above-mentioned extra entries besides your comment. The more entries you have, the greater chances of winning! Please make sure to include the links in your comments for your extra entries (i.e. HMP Community name, blog posts, Facebook name, Twitter name and post links, etcetera). Good luck!
*Hip Mama's Place Disclosure: “The opinions I am sharing remain my own. I received a Choose You Healthy Lifestyle Gift bag to facilitate this review. The giveaway is provided solely by Choose You".
About the Author: Jocelyn Duncan is a working mom of two boys and is a recognized blogger and mom influencer in the Washington, DC area. In her spare time, she designs and creates her own handmade jewelry, maintains her jewelry store on Etsy and is an active moms group organizer and leader both online and offline. Follow Jocelyn on Twitter and/or Facebook.
Perfect Your Job Interview Style
Want to beat out the competition? Follow these tips
This is a TotalBeauty.com beauty tips article
The job market is tough, we don't need to tell you that. What we can tell you is how to look perfectly put-together when you go in for that interview. Follow these guidelines and you're sure to win them over.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
What's New at Hip Mama's Place in May
Hello everyone,
I hope you're all having a fab Sunday!
I'm excited to tell you all about a few new things I've updated for HMP this month. I'm currently working on updating two sections on my nav bar (sections under the blog header) and I want you all to be a part of it! Read on for details.
*Message Board
I honestly couldn't keep up with the old message board we had and since I've had spammers join in and posted spam online job opportunities there, I decided to completely delete the message board site and replaced it with the more interactive Hip Mama's Place Community on Blog Frog. I think you will all like it so much better. I personally like the fact that you can actually see the people who join the community, interact with them through the forum section and get a chance to visit their blogs. Great way to connect with other (old and new) bloggers! We're about 60+ members right now and I'm happy it's growing daily! :)
*Contests and Giveaways
For the "Contests and Giveaways" section, I will be updating the information there with a comprehensive list of sites and blogs where we can list/link up our giveaways each day. I'm happy to announce that starting this Tuesday, May 24th, I will be hosting a weekly, every Tuesday giveaway linky where bloggers can list their giveaways for free here! So starting next Tuesday, please come by and link up your blog giveaways.
LET'S HELP ONE ANOTHER- with Perks and a Fun Giveaway!
1. If you host a giveaway linky on your blog and would like to be included on my "Contests and Giveaways" page, please feel free to send me the name and URL of your blog and what day you host your giveaway linky and I will be glad to add it. Send it to me by email at: infoathipmamasplacedotcom
2. Please help me grow our mom community by joining the Hip Mama's Place Community on Blog Frog. To make it fun, I'm thinking of a nice prize pack giveaway for one new member who joins the community and posts a new discussion on the forum starting today, May 24th through June 15th, 2010. Your Forum post can be anything from parenting, fashion, fitness, being green, contests, giveaways, reviews, tips and questions. The post that has the most comments from other members of the community will win! So think of an interesting item/topic to talk about on the forum that's relevant with the Hip Mama's Place mom community. Details soon on the prize pack- and it will be great! I got a gift card, skin care, valuable coupons and something from my own jewelry collections. :)
UPDATE: Giveaway #1 is now up: $25 Starbucks Coffee Gift Card to one lucky HMP Community member and mom blogger in the U.S. ONLY!
Here's how it works: Simply join Hip Mama's Place Community on Blog Frog and post on the Forum section. Topics can be anything about parenting, kids, fitness, fashion and beauty, being green, current events or anything that matters to moms. I will randomly choose a winner on May 31st, 2010. You must have a blog or site relevant to moms to join the HMP community. The contest is open from 05/23/10-5/30/10 at 12MN, EST. CLICK THIS LINK TO ENTER THE $25 STARBUCKS GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY. Good luck!
3. Come by every Tuesday starting next week to link up your giveaways here on Hip Mama's Place! Great way to gain more entrants to your giveaways. I will be all around the blogosphere promoting this new exciting event, so you know what that means- free traffic to your blogs!
Also, I will be randomly choosing three giveaways each week from three blogs who link up to me by either an HMP blog button or text link on their side bars. So if you want your giveaways featured, please send me your blog name and URL page at: infoathipmamasplacedotcom and tell me how you linked up to HMP.
4. If you are listing your blog on my "Contests and Giveaways" section, please reciprocate and link back to HMP by either grabbing an HMP button under the "Grab Our Fabulous Buttons" on the top right side bar or add HMP as a text link on your "Favorite Sites" section or similar link. Thank you!
I can't wait for HMP's first Tuesday Giveaway Roundup. So come by next Tuesday and help me get it rolling! :) About the Author: Jocelyn Duncan is a working mom of two boys and is a recognized blogger and mom influencer in the Washington, DC area. In her spare time, she designs and creates her own handmade jewelry, maintains her jewelry store on Etsy and is an active moms group organizer and leader both online and offline. Follow Jocelyn on Twitter and/or Facebook.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Nescafe Taster's Choice Single-Serve Packets Review and Giveaway
I like my coffee flavored and I could honestly get used to the Hazelnut and 100% Colombian flavors by Nescafe Taster's Choice!
Nescafe Taster's Choice single-serve coffee packets has got the premium tastes without the big bucks. They come in six great flavors- Gourmet Roast, Decaf, Original Roast, 100% Colombian, Vanilla and Hazelnut and are perfect for your on-the-go lifestyle!
I do admit my (expensive) coffee drinking habits are hard to break. But it's a good thing to know that I have a choice: either I continue to pay for over-priced coffee every morning or I stash these convenient Nescafe Taster's Choice single-serve instant coffee packets in my purse and save up to $4.00 each time. I get the same great coffee taste for a quarter of the price!
Want to try a FREE SAMPLE of the 6 varieties of the new Nescafe Taster's Choice? Just CLICK HERE.!
*WIN IT!
Nescafe is giving away 3 prize packs for 3 lucky Hip Mama's Place readers in the U.S.- each containing a Nescafe coffee mug and six (6) stick packs of the Nescafe Taster’s Choice flavors!
*Contest Rules:
To enter the contest, leave a comment on this post with your email address (if you don't have a blog) by June 2nd, 2010 at 12MN, EST. This contest is open to U.S. addresses only. I will choose THREE (3) WINNERS using Random.org and will be announced as a comment on this post. The winners will also be notified by email and/or through a comment on their blog (if available).
*IMPORTANT: PLEASE DO NOT CROSS-PROMOTE ANY OTHER GIVEAWAYS HAPPENING ON ANY OTHER BLOG OR WEBSITE. I WILL APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.
EXTRA ENTRIES:
Your comment is your one entry. To earn extra entries, just do the following: (You may leave extra comments for your extra entries if you wish)
1. Tweet this giveaway on Twitter however you like and include this link at the end of your post: http://bit.ly/9gUoJ3 (3 EXTRA ENTRIES)
2. Join the Hip Mama's Place Community and EARN 2 EXTRA ENTRIES. You can earn 3 more extra entries by creating a new post or join in on the conversations on the "Forum" section of our mom community. (5 TOTAL EXTRA ENTRIES)
3. Subscribe to the Hip Mama's Place FEED READER for new post updates. Don't worry, we hate spam too. You will never receive spam emails from Hip Mama's Place. (3 EXTRA ENTRIES)
4. Grab the Hip Mama's Place badge code under the "Grab Our Fabulous ButtonS" and paste it on an HTML page on your blog sidebar. (3 EXTRA ENTRIES)
5. Write a short post about this giveaway on your blog linking to our home page or the URL page address of this giveaway: (3 EXTRA ENTRIES)
http://www.hipmamasplace.com/2010/05/nescafe-tasters-choice-single-serve.html
6. Follow Hip Mama's Place on Twitter (1 EXTRA ENTRY)
7. Become a Fan of Hip Mama's Place on Facebook (1 EXTRA ENTRY)
You will have twenty (20) TOTAL ENTRIES when you do the above-mentioned extra entries besides your comment. The more entries you have, the greater chances of winning! Please make sure to include the links in your comments for your extra entries (i.e. HMP Community name, blog posts, Facebook name, Twitter name and post links, etcetera). Good luck!
*Hip Mama's Place Disclosure: “The opinions I am sharing remain my own. I received Nescafe Taster's Choice products mentioned in this post to facilitate my review. The giveaways are provided solely by Nescafe Taster's Choice for Hip Mama's Place readers". About the Author: Jocelyn Duncan is a working mom of two boys and is a recognized blogger and mom influencer in the Washington, DC area. In her spare time, she designs and creates her own handmade jewelry, maintains her jewelry store on Etsy and is an active moms group organizer and leader both online and offline. Follow Jocelyn on Twitter and/or Facebook.
I Love Reese's Day + Reese's Candies Giveaways!
Reese’s® Peanut Butter Cups- America’s favorite candy- is officially declaring May 18 I Love Reese’s® Day!
Nearly 40,000 Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups fans showed their support by signing an online petition to create this new holiday. Television star Lauren Conrad was one of the thousands of Reese's® Peanut Butter Cup fans to sign the petition to declare May 18th I Love Reese's® Day. She is shown here visiting the Hershey's Times Square store in New York City for the event.
I Love Reese’s Day also kicked off the Reese’s Loves You Back promotion with up to $2 million in cash prizes!
Now through December 31, 2010, find specially-marked Reese's® Peanut Butter Cups with the Reese's Loves You Back™ on-pack, instant-win promotion and you could win cash prizes in $10, $25 and $100 increments. In addition to Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Reese's Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, Reese's Big Cup Peanut Butter Cups, Reese's® Pieces® Candies and Reese's Crispy Crunchy Bars will also feature promotional packaging.
Reese’s products are available at mass, grocery, drug and convenience stores nationwide.
*WIN IT!
Reese's® Peanut Butter Cups is giving away three (3) prize packs to three lucky Hip Mama's Place readers! Each prize pack will contain a combination of the five specially marked Reese’s products that are part of the Reese’s Loves You Back promotion and will receive some of each product: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Reese’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, Reese’s Big Cup Peanut Butter Cups, Reese’s Pieces Candies, and Reese’s Crispy Crunchy Bars.
To enter the contest, leave a comment on this post with your email address (if you don't have a blog) by May 30th at 12MN, EST. This contest is open to U.S. and Canada addresses only. I will choose THREE (3) WINNERS using Random.org and will be announced as a comment on this post. The winners will also be notified by email and/or through a comment on their blog/s.
*IMPORTANT: PLEASE DO NOT CROSS-PROMOTE ANY OTHER GIVEAWAYS HAPPENING ON ANY OTHER BLOG OR WEBSITE. I WILL APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.
EXTRA ENTRIES:
Your comment is your one entry. To earn extra entries, just do the following: (You may leave extra comments for your extra entries if you wish)
1. Tweet this giveaway on Twitter however you like and include this link at the end of your post: http://bit.ly/9GRsqx (3 EXTRA ENTRIES)
2. Join the Hip Mama's Place Community and EARN 2 EXTRA ENTRIES. You can earn 3 more extra entries by creating a new post or join in on the conversations on the "Forum" section of our mom community. (5 TOTAL EXTRA ENTRIES)
3. Subscribe to the Hip Mama's Place FEED READER for new post updates. Don't worry, we hate spam too. You will never receive spam emails from Hip Mama's Place. (3 EXTRA ENTRIES)
4. Grab the Hip Mama's Place badge code under the "Grab Our Fabulous ButtonS" and paste it on an HTML page on your blog sidebar. (3 EXTRA ENTRIES)
5. Write a short post about this giveaway on your blog linking to our home page or the URL page of this giveaway post: (3 EXTRA ENTRIES)
http://www.hipmamasplace.com/2010/05/i-love-reeses-day-reeses-candies.html
6. Follow Hip Mama's Place on Twitter (1 EXTRA ENTRY)
7. Become a Fan of Hip Mama's Place on Facebook (1 EXTRA ENTRY)
You will have twenty (20) TOTAL ENTRIES when you do the above-mentioned extra entries besides your comment. The more entries you have, the greater chances of winning! Please make sure to include the links in your comments for your extra entries (i.e. HMP Community name, blog posts, Facebook name, Twitter name and post links, etcetera). Good luck!
*Hip Mama's Place Disclosure: “The opinions I am sharing remain my own. I received Reese's products mentioned in this post to facilitate my review. The giveaways are provided solely by Reese's® Peanut Butter Cups for Hip Mama's Place readers".
About the Author: Jocelyn Duncan is a working mom of two boys and is a recognized blogger and mom influencer in the Washington, DC area. In her spare time, she designs and creates her own handmade jewelry, maintains her jewelry store on Etsy and is an active moms group organizer and leader both online and offline. Follow Jocelyn on Twitter and/or Facebook.
Friday, May 21, 2010
25 Irresistibly Cute Products
We just had to have these products -- and you'll want them too
This is a TotalBeauty.com makeup article
Not only are these products too cute to leave on a store shelf, they are also well liked for the benefits they offer by TotalBeauty.com readers. See, we don't only care about what's on the outside.
TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 7.5
We couldn't resist MAC's limited-edition Give Me Liberty of London collection …
TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.5
What other adorable products made the list? Click here to find out!
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Kohl's Toy Story Books and Plush Toys Giveaway
With Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story 3 premiering in June, Toy Story characters Woody and Buzz are already making a buzz at Kohl’s Department Stores with exclusive Toy Story books and plush toys- each available for just $5!
My boys loved all of Kohl's $5 books and plush toys since we were introduced to them through the Kohl’s Cares for Kids® program last year.
If you haven't heard of Kohl’s Cares for Kids® yet, it's a program that's directed towards keeping kids healthy. From injury prevention and immunization programs through hospital partnerships, Kohl’s is very dedicated to this program. By offering the Kohl’s Cares for Kids® $5 merchandise to the public, they are helping children’s initiatives nationwide while providing affordable books for millions of eager readers. To date, Kohl's has contributed more than $150 million to this program.
So when you buy these $5 books and plush toys from Kohl's, you are also helping a really great cause for children as 100 percent of the net profit goes to children’s health and education initiatives nationwide. This year marks the 10th Anniversary of the Kohl’s Cares for Kids® program.
In addition to the Toy Story merchandise, Top Secret Restaurant Recipes is also available at Kohl’s now for only $5 through the Kohl’s Cares for Kids program. Enjoy that famous food from a select restaurant and make a positive difference in the lives of children.
WIN IT!
Kohl's is giving away a Kohls' Toy Story prize package that includes the Toy Story books 1 and 2, plus 3 Toy Story plush characters- Buzz, Woody, and Rex- as pictured above- to one of you, lucky Hip Mama's Place reader!
*Contest Rules:
To enter the contest, leave a comment on this post with your email address (if you don't have a blog) by June 3rd, 2010 at 12MN, EST. This contest is open to U.S. ADDRESSES ONLY. I will choose ONE (1) WINNER using Random.org and will be announced as a comment on this post.
*IMPORTANT: PLEASE DO NOT CROSS-PROMOTE ANY OTHER GIVEAWAYS HAPPENING ON ANY OTHER BLOG OR WEBSITE. I WILL APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.
Your comment is your one entry. To earn extra entries, just do the following: (You may leave extra comments for your extra entries if you wish)
1. Subscribe to the Hip Mama's Place FEED READER for new post updates. Don't worry, we hate spam too. You will never receive spam emails from Hip Mama's Place. (3 EXTRA ENTRIES)
2. Grab the Hip Mama's Place badge code under the "Grab Our Fabulous Button" and paste it on an HTML page on your blog sidebar. (3 EXTRA ENTRIES)
3. Tweet this event on Twitter with a direct link to this URL page: (JUST COPY THE WHOLE PHRASE BELOW AND PASTE IT ON YOUR TWITTER PROFILE UPDATE) (3 EXTRA ENTRIES)
I just entered the Toy Story books and plush toys giveaway @HipMamasPlace! http://bit.ly/b6MxV4 #book #kids #giveaways #ToyStory
4. Mention this giveaway on your Facebook with a direct link to the giveaway URL address: (1 EXTRA ENTRY)
http://www.hipmamasplace.com/2010/05/kohls-toy-story-books-and-plush-toys.html
5. Write a short post about this giveaway on your blog linking to our home page or the URL page address on EXTRA ENTRY #4 above. (3 EXTRA ENTRIES)
6. Follow Hip Mama's Place on Twitter (1 EXTRA ENTRY)
7. Become a Fan of Hip Mama's Place on Facebook (1 EXTRA ENTRY)
You will have FIFTEEN (15) TOTAL ENTRIES when you do the above-mentioned extra entries besides your comment. The more entries you have, the greater chances of winning! Please make sure to include the links in your comments for your extra entries (i.e. blog posts, Facebook profile updates, Twitter follow, Twitter post links, etcetera). Good luck!
*Hip Mama's Place Disclosure: “The opinions I am sharing remain my own. I received a copy of the books, cookbook and plush toys mentioned in this post to facilitate my review. The giveaways are provided solely by Kohl's".
About the Author: Jocelyn Duncan is a working mom of two boys and is a recognized blogger and mom influencer in the Washington, DC area. In her spare time, she designs and creates her own handmade jewelry, maintains her jewelry store on Etsy and is an active moms group organizer and leader both online and offline. Follow Jocelyn on Twitter and/or Facebook.
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