Green Product Reviews | Giveaways | Twin Mom Blog

Entertainment Book - the gift that keeps on giving, and giving, and giving...

2012-12-03T21:51:00Z

Entertainment.com has their books on sale just in time for the holidays! These books are filled with coupons and special deals for both local and national stores and restaurants.

My book came last month

and you can see how I've already started to dog-ear the businesses I frequent.

My plan is to leave the book in my car since that's when we often make our purchasing and dinner-out decisions. Last minute of course.

The good news is that Entertainment deals are also available with a wallet card AND the mobile app.

These books are the perfect gift for teachers, sports instructors, neighbors, babysitters, and any hard-to-shop for person on your list! Pair it with a gift card to their favorite restaurant with a deal in the Entertainment book and you've got yourself an awesome gift!

You can purchase the book online at Entertainment.com.

Happy Holiday and Happy Shopping!

Janine

Wii U - a whole new level of family gaming

2012-08-06T11:59:59Z

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to try out the Wii U gaming console that will be released in a few months.

What's different?

There is a tablet that comes with the Wii U that can be used as a 2nd screen, it's great for balance games (think carrying a tray like a waiter), and it is used for group play.

In the new Zelda game, the person with the tablet is the one shooting the bow and arrow while the other players use the Wii remotes as swordsmen. There is a new ghost game where the person with the tablet IS the ghost, hiding from the other players who have to work together to catch him/her.

The tablet can also be used as a 2nd view, so in the game shown below, the tablet shows the view of the overal map of the area while the TV screen is the ground-level view.

The tablet is touch screen, and wireless. The wires you see are only because they don't have batteries in them for this event. You will be able to play your old Wii games and you can still use your current Wii remotes with the new Wii U system.

Look for it around the holidays.

Janine

Disclosure: I am a Nintendo Ambassador and from time to time I receive free Nintendo products, gift cards, or invites to special events like this. As always, all opinions are my own and this post was neither reviewed nor approved prior to being published.

WordLock is a Perfect Lock for Kids

2012-04-06T02:11:43Z

One way to encourage kids to be responsible is to give them their own lock.

This summer I plan to let the girls start riding their bikes by themselves around the neighborhood. Nothing too far, but enough that they'll feel independent and will have to be responsible for their things. That includes locking up their bikes!

WordLock bike lock uses letters and words instead of numbers

WordLock recently sent me two 5 Foot Cable Bike Locks for the girls that we can test out this summer. The cables are nice and long and the lock combination will be a word that is easy for them to remember. Next we need to have the discussion that you

a) never share your lock combination (or online passwords) with your friends

and

b) never use your name as part of your password (or lock combo)

The bike locks attach right to the bike frame and slide in and out of the holder easily. Perfect for smaller hands.

For more information about WordLocks

visit the WordLock website

Like them on Facebook

and look for WordLock on sale at Amazon too!

Janine

Disclosure: I received 2 WordLock bike locks for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own and this post was neither reviewed nor approved prior to being published. Some links are affiliate links.

Holiday Cards and Calendars for Your Blog (FedEx Office Giveaway)

2011-11-23T15:05:58Z

Just as we bloggers need business cards to stay in touch with contacts, we need to think of a way to Thank people who have helped us throughout the year.

One way to thank your favorite PR contacts, favorite brand reps, or even fellow bloggers (think of the friends who have passed along great opportunities to you) is with a simple, but thoughtful holiday card.

FedEx Office makes it easy to order custom holiday cards and calendars!

FedEx Office has a huge selection of holiday card and calendar templates that for cards and calendars that would work to help you highlight the 'best of 2011' from your blog. Trust me, I know. I was given a gift card to use to order holiday cards or a calendars and have spent several days just browsing and trying to decide if I want to go with a calendar or cards!

I have finally decided on a custom photo calendar (I think) and there are tons of cool backgrounds to choose from. It's taken me so long that I'm writing this post before I've even placed my final order. Once you decide, the process is really, really easy and quick.

Photo Cards are not limited to one photo

What made the decision so hard is that the photo cards do not limit you to one, or even two photos. The design options are vast...

AND, the designs work whether it's one photo, or if you choose the collage layout.

Notice you can even choose horizontal, vertical, and you can choose the collage that works best for the photos you want to use. This option is great if you want to highlight all the cool things you did on your blog this year.

Another option I was considering was the mini desk calendars that have a unique photo for each month! A very cost effective and fun way to promote your blog or your business.

SAVE on FedEx Office Cards and Calendars

Through November 27, order online using www.fedex.com/greetings to save 30% on select holiday cards and calendars!

Order on December 8-17 and use www.fedex.com/us/greetings/25email.html to save 25% on select holiday card and calendar orders

WIN a FedEx Office Holiday Prize Pack

I'm giving away a prize pack to one luck reader and all you have to do to win it is leave me a comment telling me how you'll use FedEx Office calendars or cards this holiday season.

For an extra entry, post a link to this giveaway on Twitter or your public Facebook page and leave another comment with a link to your post.

Prize pack includes:

20 holiday cards

plush ornament

FedEx Office pen

compact office supply case with sticky notes, paper clips and a ruler

Contest open to residents of the US and Canada, 18 years or older, and ends 12/7/2011 at 11:00pm ET. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will be notified via email. Winner has 2 days to claim prize before another winner will be chosen.

Happy Holiday Ordering!

Janine

Disclosure: I received a $50 gift card from FedEx Office to make this Holiday Cards and/or Calendar. I am solely responsible for selecting the winners for the giveaway (not FedEx Office). Also, the ideas in this blog post are entirely mine and I have not received ideas or advice from FedEx Office.

How to Survive an Encounter with Your Monster in Laws (giveaway)

2011-11-11T11:48:29Z

A&E has a new reality show that focuses on in-law relationships. Monster in Laws airs Monday's at 10 pm ET, and features real married couples whose relationship is struggling because of their relationship with their in-laws.

I'm sure many of you can relate. Whether it's an in-law giving their unsolicited advice, or one spouse feeling caught in the middle, in each case everyone is left feeling angry or resentful.

Monster in Laws highlights some unconventional methods that are used to get both sides to communicate. It's not always the elder in-laws fault either. Sure, you migh relate to duct-taping a mother-in-law's mouth closed just so she'll listen. But how about forcing a daughter-in-law to take her jewelry to the pawn shop so that she can finally repay her mother-in-law?

Relationships are difficult and require open communication and, most importantly, honesty, to work well. Everyone will relate to something in Monster in Laws, so everyone deserves a shot at winning this in law survival kit!

The In-Law Survival Kit includes:

$50 Body Shop Gift Card

Spa Wisdom™ Japan Yuzu & Green Tea Bathing Salts

Total Body Massager

Here's how to enter:
1. Leave a comment telling me a funny or crazy in-law story. Feel free to post anonymously and note that your email is not visible.

2. Extra entry - share this giveaway on your blog, twitter, or public Facebook page and leave another comment with the URL of your post

Contest is open to US residents 18 years and over, and ends November 25, 2011 at 11:00 pm. I will choose a winner via random.org but the prize is provided by Lifetime / A&E. I will notify winner via email and give 48 hours to claim with a response.

Be sure to watch Monster in Laws on A&E Monday nights (10 Eastern /9 Central) and follow the chatter on Twitter with #monsterinlaws.

Disclosure: I have a wonderful relationship with my OWN Mother-in-Law who occassionally reads this blog along with her other relatives. We are one, big, happy, loving family with no issues whatsoever. That said, even I can enjoy this show...it's THAT good. The giveaway prize is provided at no cost by Lifetime / A&E. All opinions are my own and this post was neither reviewed nor approved prior to being published.

Kids Have to Earn Money to Really Learn About Saving Money. Right?

2011-11-03T03:04:28Z

This post was underwritten by BMO Harris Bank, which offers a matching $25 on a new savings account opened for your child through their Helpful Steps for Parents program. Learn more at bmoharris.com/parents

What better way to teach kids about money than with their own savings account?

The opportunity to write about this came at the perfect time.

The girls have been asking about getting an allowance for a few weeks now and just last weekend we sat down to discuss how we might handle that. The Mister and I agree that we don't want to necessarily pay them to do chores. We feel that each member of the family needs to contribute and that's what chores are...they are part of life in a family.

However, how are they supposed to learn about money, managing, saving, and spending if they don't have the chance to earn it?

We discussed what other families do:

Some pay a small amount for various chores...emptying the dishwasher is $.10, while taking out the trash is $.20. Some simply pay a weekly amount and track the chores that get done...or don't get done. Other kids don't get any set amount but receive money here and there to spend (or save).

We've decided to go with the all or nothing approach.

In all honesty, I'm not sure how good I'll be at the 'nothing' part of this approach but we'll try it. For "all or nothing" the girls have a set of chores they have to do. Some are daily (putting those DAMN shoes away), some are weekly, and some are monthly. If they do all their chores for the month they will receive $20 at the end of the month! That's a large, tangible amount that they can see grow if they save it, or even a portion of it.

Earn Money then Save Money

The next step in this allowance adventure will be to open a bank account for each of them. This way, they can see the amount they save grow, but not be tempted to spend it as they are if they simply stuff it in their wallets. I think BMO/Harris Bank has a great idea matching $25 for a new kid's account! First of all - to go from $0 to $50 just for opening an account will get kids excited about seeing the balance grow, and thus excited about SAVING their money.

I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. To learn more about BMO Harris Bank, visit their website http://bmoharris.com/parents

Disclosure: I received compensation for this post but all opinions are my own and this post was neither reviewed nor approved prior to being published.

Hands-free Toilet Cleaning by Scrubbing Bubbles

2011-10-31T12:00:23Z

Who knew I could ever get my kids to clean the toilet?

All it took was a pedal.

The Scrubbing Bubbles One Step Toilet Cleaner Starter is so easy to use, all it takes is one little push of a pedal and the toilet is clean.

There are no batteries required and, Scrubbing Bubbles even thought to provide a white cover for the can of cleaning solution that sits next to your toilet! The sprayer clips easily onto to the toilet bowl rim. The only issue I had was convincing my daughter she wouldn't pee on it the first time she saw it on the edge of the bowl.

She quickly got over it when I showed her how to step on the pedal and it leaves the bowl looking and smelling nice and clean.

Disclosure: I received a Scrubbing Bubbles One Step Toilet Cleaner for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own and this post was neither reviewed nor approved prior to being published. Also, I truly hate cleaning toilets. This makes it much easier. Some links are affiliate links.

What is the ONE thing everyone does when eating cereal?

2011-10-08T22:21:13Z

READ!

So it makes a whole lot of sense that Kellogg's and Scholastic would team up on a promotion, right?

I mean, don't we deserve to read more than a ceral box (no offense Kellogg's) at breakfast?

Get $5 toward a Scholastic Book from Kellogg's and Walmart

Buy 2 specially-marked Kellogg's products (sold at Walmart wouldn't ya know) and redeem the code inside for a $5 gift card to buy a book from Scholastic Book Clubs or the Scholastic online store.

WIN a Kellogg's / Scholastic Prize Pack

It just so happens that one lucky reader can win a bounty of Kellogg's products and Scholastic books to celebrate the partnership.

Here are just some of the goodies you'll win.

a mix of picture and chaper books from Scholastic
an assortment of Kellogg's products
a $15 gift card to Walmart

Here is a link to the complete rules.

Here's how to enter:

1. Leave a comment telling me what Scholastic book you would purchase with a $5 gift card (or which book you would apply the $5 to)

2. Post this on Twitter, "What is the ONE thing everyone does when eating cereal? #giveaway http://bit.ly/qqXLrK via @JanineNickel" (Then leave a second comment with a link to your tweet.)

That's it! Giveaway ends 10/14/11 at 11:00 pm Eastern. Winner will be chosen using Random.org. A complete list of giveaway rules are HERE.

Disclosure: I received a prize pack of my own as a thanks for helping spread the word. All opinions are my own and this post was neither reviewed nor approved prior to being published. Also, I LOVE the Kellogg's products we received and purchase them on my own all the time. In addition, I have big readers and we're always big supporters of our school's Scholastic Book Fair. Great books. Great company.

October 6th is National Noodle Day and We're Celebrating with P.F. Changs

2011-10-04T13:00:04Z

Noodles for everyone!

Or, at least everyone in my family because I received a sweet package from P.F. Changs as a thank you for helping spread the word about National Noodle Day and the festivities they are planning in celebration.

P.F. Changs Home Noodle Meals

We will be sampling two of the 4 Home Noodle Meals by P.F. Changs:

Grilled Chicken Teriaki with Lo Mein

and

Pepper Steak with Chow Fun

I've had P.F. Chang's Home Meals before so I know how easy they are to make and how delicious they are as well. Plus, I don't need any other excuse to eat noodles for dinner - if it's noodle day then I'm eating noodles.

Socialize wtih P.F. Chang for Prizes

P.F. Changs is hosting a Twitter party on October 5th from m 8-10pm EST. Be sure to tweet with @PFChangs and follow the hash tag #noodlenight for a chance to win prizes and more! Then, on October 6th check out the PF Changs Facebook page (www.facebook/pfchangs) where there will be a Home Menu Sweepstakes tab where you'll enter to win a VIP noodle tasting kits like I received, chef-quality skillets to prepare your meal, and a grand prize trip for two to Las Vegas!

Of course, if you win, I would expect to be your #2 on that trip!

Disclosure: I received a VIP noodle tasting kit including 2 P.F. Changs home meals, noodle bowls, and the awesome Lo Mein t-shirt in the top photo. All opinions are my own and this post was neither reviewed nor approved prior to being published. Also, the meals really are deelish but the "Aint no shame in lo mein" t-shirt is the bomb!

20 Questions Electronic Game Keeps ME Guessing

2011-09-29T13:00:17Z

How Does it Do That?

Did you ever have someone hand you a toy for your kids and you try it out and you think,

"I'm not giving this to them!"

Yea, that's what happend with the 20Q Artificial Intelligence Game that my friend Leticia handed me a few weeks ago.

Here's how it works.

Think of something that is an animal, vegetable, or mineral.

Then, let the 20Q start guessing.

You press yes, no, sometimes or rarely for the answer.

It somehowbymagicelves guesses your thing every. single. time!

For my kids they needed some help answering the questions but for the most part they could do it all themselves and it occupied them for an entire 3-hour car ride

Here's a short list of some of the things our 20Q has guessed correctly:

Dog
Whale
Ruby
Snot

That last one had be really believing in magic.

20Q is available in all sorts of colors and themes including this 20Q Harry Potter version!

You can get more information on the 20Q Facebook page.

Disclosure: I received the 20Q game at no charge. All opinons expressed here are my own and this post was neither reviewed nor approved prior to being published. Some links are affiliate links.