Fracture combines printing, framing and mounting into a decor solution

I am so excited to possibly get an opportunity to try a new Fracture product. Fracture has combined printing, framing, and mounting into one simple process.

It is a new one-piece picture and frame made from printed glass that mounts directly to the wall quickly and easily. Then it lets you print a digital picture right onto glass. There's no paper, film or anything involved. Simply ink and glass.

Tips how we get our grandchildren to enjoy reading during the summer

I Can Read! Books Become an I Can Read! Member

I'm so happy my grandchildren enjoy reading. It doesn't take a lot to get them to read during the summer when they are rewarded.

My daughter takes our grandsons to the school library weekly, where the boys can earn books from the bookstore for reading during the summer. They love to do this, because they earn the right to pick a book they like.

My husband and also I subscribe to children's magazines in our grandsons names as special gifts so they have reading to look forward to. We always pick a topic they're interested in at the time, so they want to read. This requires keeping up with their activities. They may like baseball one year, and skakeboarding the next.

The boys also have a kit to create their own books. I hope to get one for our granddaughter, too. They're all very creative.

Since our three-year-old granddaughter is interested in books, too, I want to help her become a reader. We buy her books on special occasions like Easter and read stories to her. And it's fun to let her read to us.

TwitterMoms and HarperCollins Children's Books want children to embrace summer reading and get an I Can Read! book. Learn how you can participate.

HarperCollins Children’s Books is the number one beginner reader series in the country with, I Can Read! It's the open door to a child’s adventure with the most beloved characters in the history of children’s literature. It's a proven series for encouraging young readers from early reading together to advanced reading alone.

The, I Can Read! series debuted in 1957 with the introduction of a familiar favorite, Little Bear. It was one of the first ever easy-to-read books that children could read independently, and has been in print ever since. Now with more than 6 million I Can Read! books sold, including 200 titles, I Can Read! books is the best series to take children step by step into the wonderful world of reading on their own.

Full Disclosure: “I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms blogging program to be eligible to get an "I Can Read!" book. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”

barbara's beat: Top 10 tips for a fun family vacation without distractions

We recently went on the first family vacation in a long time and left the distractions behind. It was a fun road trip with relaxation, fun and a few surprises.

My husband and I were in one SUV, so I could lay down if I needed to since it's hard for me to travel due to pain, and my daughter and her family in another SUV, drove from our home in N.C., to Gatlinburg, Tenn., where we rented a cabin.

The drive became very memorable when traffic stopped because elk were eating next to the road. A little further up the road, traffic was stopped again so people could watch a bear cub in a tree.

My top resolutions to get fit and healthy

TwitterMoms and Ubisoft are inspiring moms to get healthy and fit with a sweepstakes to win a copy of the Ubisoft Your Shape game.

Your Shape for Wii and PC creates a workout program completely personalized to you based on your fitness level, goals and schedule. The game’s motion-tracking camera detects your moves so Jenny McCarthy, your in-game guide, can correct your form while you exercise controller-free.

Getting healthy is very important to me this year. I am starting with five ways to get healthy and fit this year.

One of the most surprising gifts I've ever received was a gift of love

Not all gifts are gifts you can hold in your hands. In fact, the best gifts are those that are gifts of love.

I am a terrible person when it comes to receiving gifts. I am always so embarrassed and never can express how I truly feel. Usually I even screw up and say or do the wrong thing and make the gift giver think I am ungrateful.

This was the case when I was given a truly wonderful gift of love one year for Christmas. I will never forget it.

I was working hard and after a bad day came home late and very tired. I knew that once I arrived home I still had a lot to do, because it was almost Christmas.

But as I walked in the door I was greeted by my daughter and her family. And they had a wonderful surprise awaiting me - my Christmas tree was sparkling bright in the living room. I choked back tears and instead said something stupid because I was embrassed.

They had put it up for me while I was at work so I wouldn't have to it myself. It was such a relief that I could cross that off my to do list, and it made it feel like the holidays - which had been lacking.

That was one of the best gifts ever and I will never forget it. But, I will also never forget that I never properly expressed how much I truly appreciated the gift. I want them to know that now. I want them to know that gift of love meant more than anything money could buy, because it was from their heart and it was something I needed and wanted very much.

Thank you very much Patricia and Derrick. I love you very much.

Target and TwitterMoms want to know what's the most surprising, interesting, sentimental or creative gift you’ve ever received? The sweepstakes officially ends December 27 at 11:59 p.m. EST. The winners will be contacted on or about January 8, 2010.


Full disclosure: I may win a $100 Target Gift Card redeemable at any Target store or online at Target.com.







One-of-a-kind holiday gift: Girls design their own clothes at FashionPlaytes.com

Every little girl dreams of designing her own wardrobe.  A cut here, glue a little bling there, sew a trinket on and have an original we hope our friends will like.

FashionPlaytes.com has taken that idea to a whole new level. It's the first-of-its kind design studio for girls ages 6 - 12. A big girls virtual paper dolls.

Fashion Playtes is a new site that allows girls to design clothes they can actually wear. It is fun to design your own garments then have them made to order.

Young fashion designers pick every piece of their own fashion collection with their own personalized label. Then they can share their designs with loved ones, and talk them into ordering their unique creations. 

Their clothes can be shipped to them in less than 3 weeks. Then your designer can walk the runway.

It's not too late to give your little fashion designer a holiday gift she'll remember.

If you order now you can even have a discount of $15 off  your first gift certificate or custom outfit purchase of $25 or more  by using TWITTERMOM15 at checkout.

Give the gift of creativity. A Fashion Playtes gift certificate is good toward any merchandise on the site and she can decide how to use it. Upon purchase of a gift certificate, you can forward it immediately by email, or print it out at home and deliver it in person to the lucky girl.

Become a Fashion Playtes Facebook fan. And you can find them on Twitter, too.

Full disclosesue: I was not paid for this story, but I may receive a gift certificate from the company for hosting this review through Twittermoms.

We're joining Robeez and TwitterMoms to give back this holiday season

My family always gives back, because we never know when we will be the ones who may need help.

Every year we donate clothing, household items, money, toys and food to various local organizations: Boy Scouts and Postal Carriers, they collect canned goods; Christian Ministries, we donated our clothing, household items and toys; school , they're collecting books and PJs for orphans for Christmas; Salvation Army, money; Firefighter Associations, money; and many others.

We each have to do our part, and every little bit helps. Anyone who doesn't have funds to donate can donate time. Sometimes time is just as important.

This year with the downturn in the economy, more people are hurting. There are more angels on the trees. It warms my heart to make magic happen for those  angels.

I am joining Robeez and TwitterMoms to give back this holiday season. I hope you will try to give back, too.

For every pair of Robeez Soft Soles purchased, Stride Rite will donate A similar pair to a great program, K.I.D.S (Kids In Distressed Situations), through December 23.

"Barefoot is best, choose Robeez next," Robeez says on its Web site about Soft Soles. "The best shoe mimics bare feet, by supporting - not constricting tiny growing feet. Robeez footwear flex and bend with every step. They promote good balance and unrestricted growth, while protecting little feet from the world. They stay on too, with elasticized ankles to ensure a perfectly snug fit."

From crawling to cruising, walking to running, for indoors and out, Robeez makes different shoes for newborns to four-year-olds.

My favorite pair Robeez Soft Sole shoes is Robeez Classic MJ Sparkles, metallic pink. They're so girlie and would look great on my 2-year-old granddaughter.

K.I.D.S brings hope and self-esteem to children in need and their families by providing new clothes, shoes, toys, furniture, books and juvenile products donated by leading manufacturers and retailers. The donations move through their network of community social service agencies in the U.S. and abroad to reach children who are ill, living in poverty, or are the victims of natural disasters.

WHERE YOU CAN GO, WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP

The Salvation Army

Local Nursing Homes

Local Children's Hospital's

Local Free Clinics

Local Shelters

American Red Cross

Meals on Wheels

Feeding America

Soldiers' Angels

Angel Trees are everywhere

What do you plan to do to give back this holiday?

Full disclosure: I might receive a free pair of Robeez Soft Soles, a $50 Stride Rite gift card to shop in stores, a free pair of Robeez Soft Soles, or an entire Robeez Soft Sole spring collection.

French’s Baked Beans ready in one hour

French’s is hosting a Cook-off 2009 and teaming up with TwitterMoms to offer bloggers a chance to enter recipes and win in more ways than one. The contest  is open through October 31.

Each recipe has to:

• be original, unpublished, and created by you
• include at least one French's product
• include no more than 8 ingredients (with the exception of salt, pepper and water)
• be prepared and ready to serve in no more than 1 hour

French’s Baked Beans

Prep time is about 30 minutes

• 2 cans (56 oz) of VanCamp's Baked Beans
• 2 T French’s Classic Worcestershire Sauce
• 1 large can or approximately 2 cups French’s French Fried Onions
• 1 T of French’s Dijon mustard
• 1 small or ¼ cup diced onion
• 4 strips or ¼ cup of fried, crumbled, bacon
• ¼ cup of brown sugar
• ¼ cup Kraft honey b-b-q sauce
• 1/8 t of salt
• 1/8 t of fresh ground pepper

Prep time is about 30 minutes.

Mix all ingredients except enough of the can of onions reserved to go on top of the beans.

Pour into baking dish that they can also be served in, and top with the remaining canned onions, pushing them down a little.

Bake on 350 degrees until it bubbles, and browns slightly, about 30 minutes.

Serves 10

I fix these beans for Easter and Christmas, with ham for our holiday dinners. They are sweet and tangy. It makes it easier for me to get out of the kitchen and enjoy activities with my family.

Sign up for French's coupons.

10 tips to help prepare dinner in a flash

Sometimes it seems like moms are super human. They have the powers to be all things to all members of the family. With everything mom has to get done in a day, from breakfast, to car-pooling, to sporting events, and music lessons, she still has to have dinner on the table every night.

To make dinner easier at our house, I have some tips that might help make dinner run smoother at your house, too.

1. Plan meals in advance. If you wait until meal time to decide what to fix you will always feel like you are running behind. You will have to search your freezer and pantry for ingredients at the last minute to fix dinner only to find out you don't have everything you need to prepare anything.
2. Shop for everything you need to make dinner for the work week so you don't have to make another trip to the store. If you already have the ingredients in your freezer and pantry it makes cooking at home easier and less expensive than eating out.
3. Always thaw the meat you plan to cook in the refrigerator. It takes less time to cook if it's not frozen.
4. Use a crock pot. If you cook the meat while you are at work or doing other chores, then all you have to do is fix the side dishes. It takes a lot less time and you still get a wonderful home-cooked meal.
5. Stock things in your pantry and freezer that you use a lot of so you can fix a quick dinner in a pinch.
6. Have a couple of one pot recipes on file for nights you don't feel like cooking a big meal. 
7. Cooking doesn't have to be a chore if you're prepared. Make sure dishes are washed and set out pots and pans, dishes, etc., before you go to work so you're ready to cook when you get home.
8. Use a deep fryer for quicker cooking. It's not just for french fries any more. 
9. Get other members of the family involved in the cooking process. They will ease the pressure and they will be more willing to eat what they helped cook.
10. If you can't buy fresh fruits and veggies for your family, buy frozen. They are much better than canned foods, because they don't have salt and other processing.

Have fun and experiment with things you haven't tried before. You don't know if you like it if you've never tried it.

Samsung Home Appliances and TwitterMoms are giving one blogger who provides suggestions to get dinner ready in a flash, into a random drawing to win a Samsung French Door Refrigerator (RFG297AARS).
 

 

Win a $100 CVS gift card if I win, "Where is the heart of your home?" giveaway; $25 CVS gift card if I don't win

I didn't hear who won the Samsung “Where is the Heart of Your Home” , but it's time to announce my winner. You have waited long enough. I'm sorry for the delay.


AND THE WINNER IS Natalie ... #9, who said "A tip to improve your blog may be some more color, a cute background?"

Which I did, and I hope it meets more with your approval. I am going to email you and I hope to hear from you within 48 hrs.
 
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.
I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR YOUR BLOGGY LOVE
--------- IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT, I AM SORRY FOR THE DELAY BUT IT IS OUT OF MY HANDS -------

Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2009 16:00:46 -0700

From: megan@twittermoms.com

To: megan@twittermoms.com

Subject: Important Promotion Announcement

Hello Moms,

Thank you for participating in the Samsung “Where is the Heart of Your Home” promotion. I've enjoyed reading all the wonderful blog posts and I know how much time and effort you all put into this contest. However, I'm saddened by the behavior of a small number of people (and the allegations by others). The spirit of the contest was lost and it is time to close this one out and look forward. We have carefully reviewed the entries for the promotion and concluded that we are not comfortable with the integrity of the contest and as a result we have no recourse but to cancel the judging mechanism in the promotion. We still want to award these fabulous Samsung appliances, so we will be holding a random drawing to select a winner from all of the entries submitted. The winner will be announced next Tuesday.

Samsung Home Appliances and TwitterMoms asks, "Where is the heart of your home?

The winner with the most comments on their blog wins a new Samsung washer and dryer. Since I need a new set, I am willing to share the wealth. You show me bloggy love by leaving me real comments, and if I win, I will draw a winner, my first giveaway,  for a $100 CVS gift card.

The "Where is the heart of your home?" contest ends on October 2, and the winner will be announced on October 9. If I win, I will immediately draw a winner.

The heart of my home, where my family gathers together to eat, drink, talk, play, cry and pray, is the dining room. It's where we share the good times and bad, the happy and sad.

My dining room connects my living room and kitchen. It makes it easy to communicate with whomever may be in the other rooms. And if you sit at the correct end of the table, you can watch your favorite show on the flat screen, too.

We share wonderful family meals there. All major holidays, Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving, will find a spread on the table. Not to mention New Year's Eve, when I make a variety of snacks, because we celebrate at home with family.

Sometimes we throw a seafood fest. We turn the dining room table into a large crab and shrimp buffet. Everyone helps themselves until they have had their fill. When our grandsons first started eating seafood they needed help. Now, they are pros and can give everyone a run for their money digging out the meat.

The dinning room is where we always decorate for birthday partiesand baby showers. We set out food, cake and presents to surprise the lucky person.

It's the room we play board games like, "Going to Grandma's House," and card games. We've done science experiments, craft projects, and scrap booking.

Our grandsons play computer games on the laptop at the dining room table, and we helped them make a tombstone for their dog when she died.

We've decorated Easter eggs, and we've carved pumpkins.

We have made and shared many memories in our dining room. The best part is, there are many more memories yet to be made.

I hope you are as lucky. Where is the heart of your home?

The Giveaway

Required Entry for $25 CVS card if I don’t win:

Leave a comment on, "Win a $100 CVS gift card if I win, 'Where is the heart of your home?' giveaway."

Additional entries:

Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry, i.e. 1 comment = 1 entry.

1. Follow @blp3 on Twitter AND tweet about this giveaway – unlimited times. Please leave the link to your tweets in your comments. (Please email me if you do not know how to do this and I will help you.)

2. Blog about this giveaway and leave a link in your comment telling me where to find it - 5 entries

3. Follow my blog publicly (push Follow in sidebar) and leave a comment - 1 entry

4. Add me to your blog list and leave a comment - 1 entry

5. Grab my button (on sidebar) and tell me where to find it on your blog - 1 entry

6. Subscribe to my feed via email (on sidebar) and tell me you did - 1 entry

7. Subscribe to my feed via RSS (on sidebar) and tell me you did – 1 entry

8. Fave on Technorati (use share button here or Technorati on sidebar) and leave your user name - 1 entry

9. Stumble this blog or post (sidebar) and leave comment - 1 entry

10. Become my fan on Facebook and leave your FB name - 1 entry

11. Add me to your Networked Blogs and leave a comment - 1 entry

12. Please give me a tip to improve my blog. I have been doing this since April and it is a slow learning process, because I knew nothing about blogging or networking. – 1 entry

Please leave a valid email address in each of your comments or make sure one is visible in your blogger profile.

Giveaway ends at 11:59 p.m Eastern Time on 10/9/09 or after the winner is announced for the “Where is the heart of the home” giveaway. That contest ends on 10/2/09 so this one will end as well at 11:59 p.m. EST 10/2/09 and they announce the winner 10/09/09 so that is when I can announce the winner as well. Thanks for understanding.

Open to legal US residents and Canadian Residents

Winner will be chosen using random.org and will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen.

Thanks for entering and good luck!

Sprite & TwitterMoms Back to School Tips & Sweeps

Bloggers, TwitterMoms and Sprite are kicking off Back to School with fun. And there's nothing more fun than tips, tricks and cash. And you can earn 500 My Coke Rewards Bonus Points, too.

Shop for bargains on the sale racks, at Goodwill stores and thrift shops. Sometimes name brand clothes can be found in slightly used condition.

Avoid the morning rush by laying out everything the night prior.

Make a spot for backpacks and other school supplies to be kept so they don't get misplaced. When your kids come home they can put their bags there and they will know where to look when it's time to do homework.

The Back-to-School Channel is the place to visit for more tips and tricks. You can learn how to survive the overload with some good advice from experts.

• Crazy and Real Back To School Supplies
• Back To School – Enable Your Kids To Be Proud Of Their Lunchbox
• Resourceful Mommy: When Back to School Means Being Left Out
• Fickle Feline: September is the New January
• Back to School IS DIS NORMAL OR DYSFUNCTIONAL
• The Happiest Mom » The Happiest Mom’s back-to-school survival guide
• The Homeschool Messenger: Back To School Food: SNACK TIME
• Back to School Series #1 : The Plus Size Mommy
• Resourceful Mommy: Giving Back for Back to School
• 10 reasons why I’m NOT ready for Back-to-School
• 10 reasons why I CAN’T WAIT for Back-to-School
• Back to School Series #2 – Tips for Back to school moms…

Enter for your chance to win. There's a chance to win up to $100 every 10 minutes through August 31. Sprite is giving away up to $100 cash (as downloadable eCash from MasterCard or as a check reward redeemable at a network of retailers) – and they’re giving TwitterMoms members a special code to enter the sweepstakes. Just type in 100876829464 once your registered to see if you’re an instant winner. The code can only be used once per individual. And you can play again by buying Sprite and entering the My Coke Rewards code. See Rules for more details.

Contest: As a parent, how do you encourage and reinforce the positive aspects of youth sports?

Dylan and Tyler a couple of years ago when they were playing on the Braves team.

Young minds are like little sponges, they soak up everything they can - the good, bad and everything in between. And you never know what they will retain so it's better to stay positive in front of a child.
As a parent, or grandparent, it is up to us to shape, encourage and reinforce the positive aspects in their lives. One way to do that is through sports.

My grandsons, Tyler and Dylan, have been active in a variety of sports since they were toddlers. That's why I decided to participate in this contest sponsored by TwitterMoms, a mom's network, and ResponsibleSports, Liberty Mutual's Responsible Sports™ a program that supports volunteer youth
sports, coaches and parents who help our children succeed on and off the field.

My grandson's parents, my husband and I, have made sure Tyler and Dylan always have the proper equipment they need to play safely. If they are playing baseball they have the proper fitted glove to catch the ball, a catchers mask to protect their face, and a helmet to protect their head. If they're playing soccer they have fitted cleats to run the ball down the field. And if they play basketball they have a hoop set at the correct height.

But even the best protective measures don't keep the boys from getting hurt. So we always carry an ice pack and first aid kit to all the games for minor emergencies.

Tyler and Dylan have excelled in every sport they play. It has helped them mature faster than their peers and it shows in their school work.

They have both been very fortunate to have mostly excellent coaches. When they played for the YMCA, Coach Doug and their dad volunteered as their coaches. They were lucky enough to have their father coach several of the teams they have played on.

My daughter, although the loudest cheerleader for the team - hit, miss, or foul - always has the drinks on ice to prevent dehydration, and lotion to stop the sunburn. She also keeps an eye out for anyone who may reach the point of exhaustion and need to sit one out.

We encourage the boys to have fun - win or lose. Being a team player, good sport and playing to the best of their ability makes everyone a winner.

As a parent, how do you encourage and reinforce the positive aspects of youth sports?

I hope you can leave a comment since that is part of the contest. I appreciate it. Thank you very much.

Honored to review "The Triumphant Child"

I was so excited when I received an email on Tuesday with the subject line, "Congratulations you'll be receiving The Triumphant Child book.

"The letter thanked me for my interest in reviewing their book, The Triumphant Child - A Practical Guide For Raising 2, 3 and 4 year olds.

It continued, "the response to our TwitterMoms offer was truly overwhelming and we are delighted to advise that you were one of the first and qualify for a free copy of the book to review. We have asked our shipping company to dispatch your book today and you should be receiving it in the next week or so."

The email ask that once I read the book and wrote a review that I email them a copy.

"Of course please also feel free to post your review to TwitterMoms.com, your blog, twitter, facebook and anywhere else you like!"

They even offered to arrange an interview the the authors - Dr Olson Huff or Nicole Rawson-Huff - for my review.

I am so honored. My blog is still a work in progress and I have this wonderful opportunity. I only hope I can fulfill my obligation in a satisfactory manner.