"Samantha: An American Girl Holiday Deluxe Edition" DVD Review

My nieces are big fans of American Girl so I was happy to give them the newest American Girl DVD, Samantha. You should have seen their faces, they were thrilled. I really love the American Girl series because it offers young girls wholesome stories of strong and smart girls after which they can model their life. 

Samantha: An American Girl Holiday Deluxe Edition, the live-action film based on the popular line of American Girl books and 18-inch dolls that depict important times in America’s past. Based on the books about Samantha Parkington, the deluxe edition of Samantha: An American Girl Holiday stars AnnaSophia Robb (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Bridge to Terabithia) in the title role as a nine-year-old orphan being raised by her wealthy and proper grandmother, Grandmary (portrayed by Golden Globe-winning actress Mia Farrow, Rosemary’s Baby) in 1904 New York. While she is well loved and cared for, Samantha is a little lonely living in Grandmary’s big house.

Special Features on the DVD include:

• An all-new special feature: Votes For Women: An American Girl: Samantha. Samantha: An American Girl Holiday joins descendants of the real American Suffragists in a discussion about getting votes for women and the journey for equal rights.
• Mount Bedford News: A Victorian Wedding. A featurette including footage from the wedding scene in the movie.  

You can purchase "Samantha An American Girl Holiday Deluxe Edition" online or a most retailers across the US.

I received the featured product in exchange for my honest opinion. The opinions expressed in this post are my own and not influenced by the company.

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Novatel Wireless MiFi Review - Get Internet Anywhere!

We use the internet a lot. You don't really think about how much you use it until you don't have it. I am reminded of how addicted I am to the internet every time we visit Joe's grandmother in South Carolina. She doesn't have internet and my little bloggy brain about explodes every time we visit. I usually force Joe to take me to a coffee shop or some other WiFi hotspot so I can get my fix. (I don't drink coffee, I'm addicted to the web.) 

Well now I can take the internet anywhere I go with the Novatel Wireless MiFi. MiFi^® delivers the ultimate in personal freedom. With the simple push of a button, wirelessly access the Internet from virtually anywhere with any WiFi-enabled device. And because it supports multiple users, you can share your high-speed connection with friends, family members and coworkers. The world's first Intelligent Mobile Hotspot, MiFi^® is the fastest and easiest way to get online on the go—and it even fits in the palm of your hand. My Internet, my applications, my content, my way.

We received the Novatel Wireless MiFi 2200 through Verizon which allows you to pay for the service only as you need it. This is great because there are several months of the year we don't need to use the MiFi and I don't like paying for things I'm not using. The MiFi is simple to set up and use. I particularly love that it is wireless and you can still be mobile with your laptop as long as you are within range of the hotspot. Like any mobile device you will find dead zones but sometimes with a little adjustment of the device you are back in service. Because the MiFi card is so small (smaller than a deck of cards) you can easily throw it in your laptop bag and take it anywhere. 

This is by far one of my favorite products of the year and I highly recommend any blogger or avid internet use to get one. 

I received the featured product in exchange for my honest opinion. The opinions expressed in this post are my own and not influenced by the company.

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Tea Collection Review

Winter has officially arrived here in NC and Jude is in desperate need of some winter clothes. I love Tea Collection not only for their cute designs but for the quality and fit of their clothes. Jude is a tall skinny 2 year old and most fitted pants just fall right off of him. He requires elastic waist pants but those are hard to find in a stylish design but not with Tea Collection.

We got the Janos 6-Piece Set and I love it. (It's on sale right now too!) All three pairs of pants are elastic waist, 100% cotton and double enforced knees for active boys.They fit Jude perfectly and look super comfortable.  There are two long sleeve shirts and 1 short sleeve shirt, all three are interchangeable with the pants. I'm really glad we were able to get him a whole set of clothes that will not only keep him warm but will last throughout the winter and maybe eventually get passed down to baby #2 (if it's a boy.) If it is a girl consider me broke because they have the most adorable New Tea Collection Arrivals for Girls. I love Tea Collection and if I could afford it I would buy everything they make.

Tea Collection offers baby clothing, boy clothing, and girl clothing a modern designs for little citizens of the world.

I received the featured product in exchange for my honest opinion. The opinions expressed in this post are my own and not influenced by the company.

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Great Giveaway Links

Every Thursday The B Keeps Us Honest offers a place to promote your giveaways, Great Giveaway Links. Be sure to link directly to your giveaway and not your homepage. Links that are not directed to the giveaway will be deleted.

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My New Toy

For Christmas my amazing husband bought me a camera, a nice camera, a Canon Rebel with a kick-ass lens. I'm super excited and super intimidated at the same time. In high-school I dabbled in photography, back when cameras used film. I have nice Nikon and Canon SLR cameras, old school cameras with... film. But alas, everything has gone digital so I thought it was time I had a hobby again.

I'm still getting the hang of this fancy thing but ultimately all camera talk is still the same. Kind of like riding a bike if you add computer chips and memory cards to your bike. So here are a few of my first few pictures.

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Wordless Wednesday: New Camera + Snow = Yum

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2B Mom Event

The count down has begun until baby 2 arrives. With the start of the new year will come the start of an awesome new blog event that will last for several months. The 2B Mom event will feature products for any expecting mother. So if you are expecting, a new mom or have any upcoming baby showers to attend you will want to participate in the 2B Mom Event.

Get a head start on entries by adding the 2B Mom event button to you blog. After you add the button to your blog come back and leave a comment letting me know where I can find it. If you add the button before January 1, 2011 you will earn 3 additional entries into any and all 2B Mom giveaways. You can find the code for the 2B Mom button in the right-hand column.

Mandatory entry for each giveaway required plus 3 additional comments on each post denoting you add the button before 1.1.11.

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Great Giveaway Links

Every Thursday The B Keeps Us Honest offers a place to promote your giveaways, Great Giveaway Links. Be sure to link directly to your giveaway and not your homepage. Links that are not directed to the giveaway will be deleted.

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Cracker Barrel Limited Edition Holiday Reserve Cheese Review

I love cheese, especially really good cheese. I was thrilled to try the Limited Edition Holiday Reserve Cheese from Cracker Barrel. We made several delicious treats with our cheese. It was great on several different sandwiches we made including a fabulous grilled cheese and tomato sandwich. It's also great with crackers for a snack or finger food for holiday party. The cheese has a great nutty yet sweet flavor and a slight sharpness which I love in a good cheddar cheese. Joe really loved this cheese and I have a feeling we will be buying as much as we can before it's no longer available.

Holidays are a time for family, fun and delicious food! In addition to typical holiday fare, hosts are looking for easy, unique and affordable dishes for their next festive gathering. Cracker Barrel Limited Edition Holiday Reserve Aged Cheddar Cheese is from the makers of award-winning cheese and packs a distinct, nutty, sweet flavor into a classic sharp cheddar taste that’s perfect for any occasion, big or small.
 

Cracker Barrel Limited Edition Holiday Reserve features flavors to please any palette– from the most notorious cheese snob to the least adventurous eater. No other cheddar cheese within the Cracker Barrel portfolio uses the same unique cultures as Limited Edition Holiday Reserve.

Cheese is a no fuss way to round out a holiday party’s menu. Cracker Barrel Holiday Reserve Aged Cheddar Cheese is delicious and unique enough to serve on its own – or to pair with crackers and accouterments like dried fruits, chocolate and nuts.

Cracker Barrel Limited Edition Holiday Reserve is only available from October 15, 2010 to January 1, 2011 in the deli and cheese section of leading grocery retailers.

The suggested retail price is $3.99 - $4.99 for a 10 oz. package as compared to a specialty cheese that can cost upwards of $8.49 per 10 oz.

I received the featured product in exchange for my honest opinion. The opinions expressed in this post are my own and not influenced by the company. Thanks to Kraft Cracker Barrel and the Family Review Network.

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Random Acts of Zhu

“Random Acts of Zhu” was established last holiday season as a way to provide toys to children in need. This year Cepia, LLC  selected several bloggers to donate 104 ZhuZhu Pets and Kung Zhu to give to the charity of their choice.

We chose to give our 104 ZhuZhu Pets to the Raleigh Rescue Mission. The Raleigh Rescue Mission is a non-profit, Christian organization that’s been providing services to the poor and homeless in  Raleigh, NC for more than 45 years. Our church, Vintage 21, does a lot of work with the Raleigh Rescue Mission so it was a pretty simple choice. I know they will give the toys to those children that are in need this holiday season and help make a few Christmas days a little brighter.

We decided to go as a family to donate our ZhuZhu Pets. I first contacted the donation coordinator for the Raleigh Rescue Mission to make sure we were properly donating the toys for Christmas. Then one Saturday morning we packed the trunk full of ZhuZhu pets and drove to the Raleigh Rescue Mission Donation Center. It was super simple to donate the toys, they brought out a large bin so we could fill it up with one trip. Jude didn't really understand what we were doing but he happily smiled at the workers. It's never to early to start introducing kids to giving. 

I was so excited to be able to give so many wonderful new toys to the Raleigh Rescue Mission thanks to Cepia, LLC. As a blogger it is by far one of the coolest opportunities I've been given. 

I was provide 104 ZhuZhu Pets and Kung Zhu by Cepia to donate to the charity of my choice. I receive no product or compensation in exchange for this post. The opinions expressed in this post are my own and not influenced by any company. 

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Pop on Pals Review

Pop on Pals are cute little figures with interchangeable clothes/limbs that are perfect for toddlers. I love the figures and playset we received are very colorful and spark imagination in young minds. The Amusement Park has a lot of fun movable parts and encourages hand eye coordination and motor skill development. I do wish the Amusement Park play-set came with more than one figure and when the figures are fully accessorized they don't fit as well into the playset. However, half the fun of Pop on Pals is putting them together and taking them apart.

Jude really enjoyed playing with all of the Pop on Pals and the Amusement Park. He didn't get how to put them together and take them apart at first but after I showed him that was all he wanted to do. His favorite part of the Amusement Park is the dinging bell on the strong man game. It did take us a little while to figure out the switching lever which alternates the spinning of the Ferris wheel and the back and forth motion of the boat ride.

I received the featured product in exchange for my honest opinion. The opinions expressed in this post are my own and not influenced by the company.

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Moon Dough Review

Jude has just discovered modeling clay and dough. The newest development in molding dough is Moon Dough. Moon Dough is an amazing new product that is soft, light, wheat-free and never dries out. It comes in eight great colors that you can play with again and again and again. 

We received the Moon Dough Barn which creates different animal shapes with the simple pull of a lever. I did find the dough to be a little flaky and messy when I opened the package. After reconstructing it we were able to make a few animals, which Jude really enjoyed. I don't think he full understands how it works yet so constant supervision and adult intervention in required. I did find it a little difficult to fully fill the animal chamber with dough to make a proper shape but after a little while I think I had a good system down. I did like that the excess dough is filtered into the silo to be recycled and made into more animals. Overall, it is a lot of fun and probably a little better suited for slightly older children. 

Moon Dough is available at select retailers and online. 

I received the featured product in exchange for my honest opinion. The opinions expressed in this post are my own and not influenced by the company.

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Swords Review

I know a lot of people will be receiving a Nintendo Wii for Christmas and I always have trouble figuring out what best new games are out there. If your game enthusiast likes action and fighting games I highly suggest, Swords.

The ultimate sword fighting battle for the Wii™, Swords, will be available for retail in September. The game enables players to travel through time and space to face-off against masters in battle. Using the Wii Remote, with Wii Motion Plus as a swift and agile weapon, players can experience the realism of 1:1 sword movement, real time blocking and advanced combos! This title is exciting for both boys and girls and approved by parents as the game does not feature the blood and gore found in other action titles.

Since Joe is the primary Wii player in or home here are his thoughts on the game...

Swords is an aptly named game about fighting with swords.  The game doesn't waste any time with a story, really, it just gets straight to the part where you fight with swords. You fight ninjas, a viking, a knight, some other guys, and a whole bunch of zombies.  There is a little blood, but it's not gory, and is probably suitable for the desensitized children of today.  Definitely follow the recommendation to use the wii-motion plus (I couldn't get past the tutorial without it), and take time to stretch before-hand. I had a really good time with this game, even though my arm was sore for a few days afterwards.

Developed by Panic Button, Swords for Wii™ is rated T and will be available in September for the suggested retail price of $29.99. 

I received the featured product in exchange for my honest opinion. The opinions expressed in this post are my own and not influenced by the company.

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Great Giveaway Links

Every Thursday The B Keeps Us Honest offers a place to promote your giveaways, Great Giveaway Links. Be sure to link directly to your giveaway and not your homepage. Links that are not directed to the giveaway will be deleted.

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Thanks to BJ's Wholesale I have a mess to clean

Just what a mom needs.
I should mention there was absolutely nothing else in the box.



Big Thanks to Kelly, Maria and Shauna, my friends at BJ's for making this post possible.
I received no compensation or actual product in exchange for this post. These are my honest opinions and not influenced by anyone... as if you couldn't tell.

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Tea Collection Private Sale - up to 70% off!

Tea Collection, known for their globally-inspired clothing for children and women, has just launched a limited-time Private Sale. They're featuring past season clothes and some selections from this season up to 70% off! There are great deals, so shop soon as the selection is limited and this sale ends Sunday, December 12 at 11:59 pm PST.

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Family Game Night: Pictureka Review

As a child my family regularly had a game night, we each took turns picking out our favorite game. Pictureka was always one of my favorites. Now there is a new Pictureka!: Disney Edition. In this new version of Pictureka!, players frantically search to find the wacky doodle drawings of favorite Disney characters hidden within the game tiles. 

This is such a fun game, perfect for kids that are Disney fans. What kid isn't? 

Make the perfect Game Night menu:

• Make-Your-Own Pizza. Get the dough in the freezer section of your grocery or buy uncooked dough at your local pizza place, and put out a bunch of toppings. Pick up some wine and sodas and then sit back while your guests assemble their own pizzas.
• Finger Foods. Wine and cheese, and maybe some pigs in a blanket! Easy to eat finger food is always a good bet for game nights.
• Dessert and champagne. Who needs a main course when there is chocolate on the menu?
• Chips, Dip and “BYOB”. Each guest brings a chip and dip pairing, and their beverage of choice. It doesn’t get much easier than that!

Just in time for the holidays, Hasbro wants to help you stock your game closet. Find a coupon for $5.00 OFF the new Trivial Pursuit: Bet You Know It at www.trivialpursuit.com and pick up the game at a local retailer. 

And be sure to check out the Game Night Fun page on Facebook for some more Game Night ideas and information! www.facebook.com/GameNightFun

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Nothing Cleans Like Pledge

I really don't like to dust but I know that Pledge will always get the job done right the first time. Pledge dusts, cleans, shines and protects not only the wood but it also makes stainless steel, granite/marble and leather look great too! Who knew?

I've tried other products but always end up coming back to Pledge. I like that it cleans and shines my furniture without leaving a greasy film like other cleaners often leave behind. We have a mixture of real wood, synthetic wood and laminate surfaces so I need one product that will work on all surfaces. I also really love the fresh lemony clean scent of Pledge.


The Pledge® aerosol (Natural Beauty, Clean & Shine, Dust & Allergen, Protection Plus and Extra Moisturizing) family of formulas can be used to dust, clean, shine and give limited protection to the following surfaces: sealed wood and wood laminates, synthetic wood surfaces (IKEA), stainless steel, leather, sealed marble, sealed granite, vinyl and chrome. This would include car dashboards (vinyl) and car seats (leather or vinyl).


I received the featured product and compensation in exchange for my honest opinion from the One2One Network. The opinions expressed in this post are my own and not influenced by the company.

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Great Giveaway Links

Every Thursday The B Keeps Us Honest offers a place to promote your giveaways, Great Giveaway Links. Be sure to link directly to your giveaway and not your homepage. Links that are not directed to the giveaway will be deleted.

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Community Christmas Episode

We reserve every Thursday night as our NBC TV time. Some of the best shows on television are on NBC on Thursday night, like "Community". NBC's "Community," a smart comedy series about a band of misfits who attend Greendale Community College. At the center of the group is Jeff Winger (Joel McHale, "The Soup"), a fast-talking lawyer whose degree has been revoked. With some help from his fellow classmates, Winger forms a study group that eventually learns more about themselves than their course work. 

NBC will be airing a special Christmas episode of "Community" featuring awesome stop-motion animation that will have everyone talking.  The episode airs this Thursday, Dec 9th @ 8pm EST/7pm CST on NBC.

Take a sneak peek at this special holiday episode...

This looks hilarous and I cannot wait to watch the whole episode.

ABED'S UNCONTROLLABLE CHRISTMAS
In this special stop motion animation episode, the meaning of Christmas is lost and Abed's intense fixation on Christmas concerns the group.When Abed (Danny Pudi) wakes up in stop-motion animation, he takes it as a sign that he and the group must re-discover the meaning of Christmas. Meanwhile, Jeff (Joel McHale) and Britta (Gillian Jacobs) become growingly concerned about Abed's mental health and enlist the help of Professor Duncan (John Oliver). The group undergoes hypnosis to explore Abed's winter wonderland and soon unravel the truth behind Abed’s madness. Chevy Chase, Yvette Nicole Brown, Donald Glover, and Ken Jeong also star.

Follow Community of Twitter

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I received no product or compensation in exchange for this post but was entered to win a contest as part of the One2OneNetwork

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A Sexy Christmas - Gift Idea for *Adults

Whenever I ask Joe what he wants for Christmas he always says the same thing, married time. It's  become such a regular answer he doesn't even have to say anything, he just gives me this look. So I don't even ask anymore. I know what he "wants" so I figure I should give hims something that will make him happy.

I love that Eden Fantasys has something for just about anyone. I think any man would like to find his lady under the tree in something as festive as the Satin Santa Apron Dress. Or maybe the Santa Apron is a little too costume-ish, you might want to consider something a little sexier like the Stretch Lace Corset.

I know that anything I buy from Eden Fantasys will make Christmas a happy day for mom and dad. It's not just about the toys for the kids. *wink

About Eden Fantasys

Eden Fantasys is top online retailers for adult toys and gifts. They offer a varitey of products which include sexy lingerie, sex toys, vibrators and  massage oils and lotions. Eden Fantasys offers $5.95 flat rate standard shipping, discrete billing and shipping and free returns or exchanges.

Buy: Online at EdenFantasy.com

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Outside

No matter the weather. Hot or Cold. We try to get outside for at least 15 minutes a day. 


On Saturday, we were at the local park when it started to snow. It was beautiful and peaceful to be playing outside in the falling snow. When it rains, we put on our rain coats and boots. When it's super hot we take lots of water and stay in the shade. When it's cold we bundle up so our arms barely move. But I find it is important to our daily routine and health to go outside.


So many kids don't go outside enough. Actually, most adults do go outside enough. The fresh air and sun is refreshing and healing. I honestly believe kids get sick more often in winter because they a cooped up inside. 


I challenge you to go outside for at least 15 minutes a day, every day this week. You'll be glad you did.

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Great Giveaway Links

Every Thursday The B Keeps Us Honest offers a place to promote your giveaways, Great Giveaway Links. Be sure to link directly to your giveaway and not your homepage. Links that are not directed to the giveaway will be deleted.

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