Sunday, October 31, 2010

Opportunity: Shutterfly Holiday Cards

Well, tonight is Halloween which means that we all officially need to start thinking about the next holiday. Wellll maybe not getting too into it (I have a firm policy of fully celebrating my birthday before really getting into Christmas), but at least starting to plan for it.

I'm one of the people who sends out cards every year. As my Christmas card list has grown over the years, my cards have changed, as well. I used to hand write long notes on every card that were customized to the person. Those notes over the years slowly shrunk. With the birth of the wee ones, I added a typewritten letter to people I didn't see often and an even shorter handwritten note. I also began including a family photo in the cards, which started to get pretty expensive.

I finally moved to photo cards with my letter, which made it far easier. Anyone who needs a little more update on what we're doing gets the letter - and it's easy enough to add some handwritten notes on that instead of on the actual card. The challenge for me is making sure that I get my cards ordered in time to send them out. I can't just go to the store and grab a pack of them at 8pm the night before I want to send them out anymore!

Enter Shutterfly.

Shutterfly has all sorts of great holiday cards. While I've used the phrase "Christmas cards" a few times, I do have several friends who are Jewish or otherwise don't celebrate Christmas, which means that offering more widely appealing holiday photo cards is a great bonus.

I love that with Shutterfly you simply upload your photos, design your card, and you're done. They offer the option of also stamping and mailing cards for you in addition to sending the completed cards to you for you to mail yourself (and add that special letter!). With a variety of shipping options, including next day, I no longer have an excuse for not getting my photo cards done.

As I perused the site, I saw plenty of cards that I would love to send out. The Joy Magic Story Christmas Card 5x7 folded card is a beautiful classic design that allows me to still write a quick personal note on the inside - and I love receiving hand signed cards still. Call me old fashioned.

The Bright Red Snowflakes 5x7 folded card is another design I love that again is folded and allows me to make my card a little more personal with notes while still being a lovely card that shows off the wee ones with three different photos of my choosing. I can also choose between a matte and glossy finish, depending on my preference (matte, I think!).

I am a big fan of cards that allow me to showcase multiple photos, and many of Shutterfly's Christmas photo cards do just that. While the folded holiday cards cost over a dollar a card (and worth it, in my opinion), there are also great options that are flat cards that are less than $0.50 per card. The Classic Snowflakes Christmas 4x8 photo card would cost me $0.47 per card for my needs with the 25% discount they have going until November 3 - see, shopping early pays! Even though this one has "Christmas" in the name of the card, the greeting on the card is not preprinted and can be completely customized - don't let yourself be thrown by the descriptors of the cards.

And I will be choosing one of these cards for my holiday needs this year. I will receive 100 cards from Shutterfly for posting this. And bloggers - you can get some free Shutterfly cards, too. How? If you do your own blog post about Shutterfly's holiday cards, you can earn 50 free cards from Shutterfly, too. How awesome is that?

In the interest of full disclosure, this post is part of a series sponsored by Shutterfly. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do. I will receive 100 free cards from Shutterfly. I received no compensation, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Winners!

It's that time again - a couple contests have ended and I have winners for them.

For the Aquaphor gift set, I had two sets to give away.

Cheryl F. The Lucky Ladybug won the first set.
Vanessa from XX won the second set but never got back to me, so a new winner has been drawn. Congrats goes to Mandala from Adventures in Winterland - and fingers crossed she gets back to me soon, or we'll have another winner selected by random.org.

Kristen won the 1-800-Flowers.com $40 gift card - congrats go out to her, as well.

Thanks all, and look for lots more fun giveaways soon!

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Giveaway: Ringling Brothers Tickets (Chicago)

I love the circus. I remember seeing it as a little girl in Madison Square Garden once and being utterly fascinated. I remember sitting as a four year old completely enthralled and not moving a muscle the entire performance. My popcorn sat untouched.

There was a period in my life where I didn't see the circus for years and years. When I began dating someone who had a company outing at the circus, I had the fun of going again, and even as two single people with no kids to show us the joy of the circus through their eyes, we both enjoyed it - and went back again the next year.

The wee ones went to the circus for the first time last year, and I'm happy to say that they enjoyed it, as well. They booed the villain and cheered for the hero, amazed by all the acts in between. The circus was the talk of our house for weeks afterward, and it was hilarious to see the wee ones trying to act out what they saw in the circus - they learned the hard way that my parents' dog isn't ready for the cirus.

They are going again this year, and the circus promises to be even bigger and better as it celebrates P.T. Barnum's 200th birthday with the show FUNundrum. From the flying trapeze to the strong man to the elephants and more, I can't wait to see the wee ones expressions. It's going to be a surprise for them.

Can you believe there are 100,000 pounds of performing pachyderms, cowboys, pirates, and mermaids? I'm still trying to figure out how they're managing to get all those performers into the show given that it's only a couple hours long. I have a feeling I'll miss a few things, but that's ok. I'm pretty sure I'll be sitting still in my chair, absolutely enthralled yet again.


I'm still trying to decide whether to let the wee ones color this sheet before the show or if they'll figure out the surprise if I do. I can at least share it with you, right?


Don't you have someone you'd want to surprise, too? The show is both at the Allstate Arena and the United Center again this year, and shows start at the Allstate Arena next Thursday November 4, while the circus begins at the UC on Wednesday November 17.

By using the code MOM, you can get 4 tickets for $44 for weekday performances (except Friday night and holidays) and $4 off tickets the rest of the weekend. Simply put MOM into the “MC Promotions Ticket” selection on Ticketmaster's website, or use when purchasing at the UC or Allstate box office or when calling 1-800-745-3000. This discount is not valid on Cicrus Celebrity, Front Row or VIP tickets. No double discounts. Service charges and handling fees may apply.

How sweet is that? What, you want more? Ok... I am also giving away a family four pack of tickets to the opening night performance at the United Center on Wednesday November 17 at 7pm. Please be sure you can attend the show prior to entering.

So what do you have to do?

First of all, let me stress that you must follow all the rules. If you do not follow the rules, your entry will not count!

This contest is open until Thursday November 4 at 7pm CST. I must have a valid way to reach you, so leave me your email address in your comment or be sure your profile has your email address visible. No duplicate comments will count. This giveaway is open to US residents age 18 and older. Winners will be selected via random.org and must respond within 24 hours of being notified by me or I will select a new winner.

Mandatory Entry: What is your favorite circus act?

Bonus Entries (leave a comment for each entry - if you put it all in one comment, I'll count it as one entry):

1) Earn one additional entry for following me on Twitter and tweeting this contest (leave a link to your tweet as your comment).
2) Earn one additional entry by following this review blog publicly via Google Friend Connect.
3) Earn one additional entry by following my “regular” blog Honest & Truly! publicly via Google Friend Connect.

Good luck!

In the interest of full disclosure, I received tickets to see the show. I did not receive any compensation, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Giveaway: Family Taco Prize Pack

The wee ones tend to be somewhat adventuresome eaters with sushi topping their current favorite food list. While Mister Man doesn't like his food spicy and doesn't like sauces or toppings, Little Miss does - and we're working on getting Mister Man there, too.

We do tacos on a semi-regular basis, and I've gotten to the point where I can season the meat and Mister Man still likes it. Yay! Then again, his tacos are simply meat and tortilla, as he won't eat anything else. Little Miss gets her cheese and tomatoes on, and sometimes she also has guacamole and lettuce, too.

Enter Old El Paso, who very kindly sent us a family taco night prize pack that included a packet of Old El Paso Taco Seasoning, a Cactus Chip & Dip Serving dish, a set of 3 Fiesta Chili Pepper serving dishes and a $10 gift card to purchase your taco fixings.


The serving dishes are really cute looking, and the cactus one is nice and sturdy. I actually had to look a couple times to realize that yes, there actually are three of the chili peppers. Those are very thin plastic, flexible, and not so sturdy. They still work though!

I used the $10 gift card to purchase our ground turkey (trying to go healthy!), cheese, tortillas, guacamole, hot sauce, lettuce, and tomatoes. It was sort of fun to have our fixings arranged in the little themed serving dishes instead of just putting them into plain green bowls like I normally do. I even convinced Mister Man to try a little bit of lettuce and cheese on his taco because this was a special occasion.

Granted, he didn't like it, but he at least tried it and did eat a few bites of it before deciding he really didn't like it. That's progress for us, and I love it. I need to remember sometimes to do things in a fun way for him - and to just keep trying.

I actually sort of liked the seasoning. It was flavorful without just being spicy for the sake of being spicy. I didn't use the whole packet when seasoning the meat for the four of us. It was more than what we needed, and I'm ok with that. It just means we'll be having tacos again soon!

I do wish that this could be made without transfats, as we do our best to avoid them wherever we can, but I know companies are working towards that all the time. It definitely isn't the least healthy option out there - far from it!

Needless to say, we enjoyed our taco night, and we're looking forward to doing it again. Do you want your own taco night? I also have a duplicate prize pack to send to one lucky reader. So what do you have to do?


First of all, let me stress that you must follow all the rules. If you do not follow the rules, your entry will not count!

This contest is open until Monday November 8 at 7pm CST. I must have a valid way to reach you, so leave me your email address in your comment or be sure your profile has your email address visible. No duplicate comments will count. This giveaway is open to US residents age 18 and older. Winners will be selected via random.org and must respond within 48 hours of being notified by me or I will select a new winner.

Mandatory Entry: What would you do to make taco night special at your house?

Bonus Entries (leave a comment for each entry - if you put it all in one comment, I'll count it as one entry):

1) Earn one additional entry for following me on Twitter and tweeting this contest (leave a link to your tweet as your comment).
2) Earn one additional entry by following this review blog publicly via Google Friend Connect.
3) Earn one additional entry by following my “regular” blog Honest & Truly! publicly via Google Friend Connect.

Good luck!

In the interest of full disclosure, MyBlogSpark and Old El Paso sent me a family taco night as described above. I received no compensation, and all opinions expressed are my own, as always.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Review: Seed Healthy Hand Cream

When at BlogHer's annual conference this year, one of my favorite events that I attended was the small "Seeds of Inspiration" reception hosted by Seed, makers of seed-based natural body care products from shampoo to lotions. The event focused on this philosophy of natural products and goodness, as well as giving back and honored three bloggers who inspired them.

I was impressed with the products they offered, as I'd never seen a bar shampoo before (call me sheltered). I loved the all natural philosophy behind all their products, and I jumped at the chance to test out their brand new Healthy Hand Cream. It comes in both citrus and unscented, and me being a citrus gal (it's the only scent I ever wear), I immediately went that direction.


Before I even get to the silky soft feeling of my skin right now (apparently with fall coming on, it's time to start testing out product and pampering myself; let's hope this keeps up as I get into January and skin cracking season), I have to share how much I love the ingredients in this. The more I read about phthalates and parabens and all the other nasty chemicals found in the majority of beauty products, the more I'm finding myself throwing away the lotions I used to use.

The Seed products are all 100% natural ingredients and none contain parabens, phthalates, artificial colors, animal ingredients, or petrochemicals. What they do have though is grapeseed oil, shea butter, aloe, and jojoba oil. Those are things that I can feel good about putting on my skin - and having absorbed into my body.

The lotion absorbs quickly, which is important for those of us who apply it at red lights and then don't want slippery hands when driving. I love that it isn't greasy but instead leaves my skin just feeling smooth and nice. It isn't strong enough to heal my hands immediately when they are super dry and cracking, but it does help to keep them from getting to that point and does heal them over a period of a few days.

I will say that if you have cracked super dry skin that the lotion does sting a little bit as it penetrates. It isn't bad but just noticeable for me, and that only happens when my hands are super dry and already starting to crack. The sensation goes away after a couple minutes, and my hands are noticeable more moisturized after applying it, so that doesn't stop me from using it when my hands are more dry than usual (like when I've been carving pumpkins all day and pumpkin guts dried out my hands).

I'm also a fan of the fact that it doesn't take much lotion to cover my hands. I just need a small dab that somehow is enough to use, meaning that I'm not going through a ton of lotion when I want to reapply it two or three times a day.


The scent is great. Citrus is a great way to explain it. It isn't a super strong smell - it doesn't linger for more than ten or so minutes after you put it on - but it's really crisp and clean. It definitely has notes of grapefruit in it, but it isn't just grapefruit. I like it a lot. At the same time - especially as someone who is rather sensitive to smells - I appreciate that Seed also offers an unscented version of the hand cream.

Needless to say, my tube lives in my purse, and I'm not looking forward to the day when I run out. The good news is that Seed products are pretty easy to find. Many Whole Foods stores carry the Seed line, as does Amazon, drugstore.com, and the Seed store online. Phew!

Like what you learned? Follow them on Facebook and keep in the loop as they continue to grow and introduce more great products! And hey, tell them I sent you.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received a tube of the hand cream for review purposes. I received no compensation, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Winner!

Congratulations goes to Vanessa of Bani's Puzzle Pieces who won the family four pack of Disney Live! tickets to the 12pm performance on Halloween at the Rosemont Theater. Have a great time!


If you didn't win the tickets, you aren't completely out of luck though. By using the code MOM, you can get $15 for Friday's show and $5 off tickets the rest of the weekend. Simply put MOM into the “Advance or Promotion Ticket” selection on Ticketmaster's website, or use when purchasing at the Rosemont box office or when calling 1-800-745-3000. This discount is not valid on Front Row or VIP tickets. No double discounts. Service charges and handling fees may apply.

Look for more new giveaways soon!

Friday, October 22, 2010

Giveaway: Wendy's Gift Card

I have seen ads recently for Wendy's new Pick 2 menu. It allows you to choose a half size of one of their four signature salads, along with another side of your choice from a Frosty to water to a junior bacon cheeseburger to a sour cream and chives baked potato. Total cost? $4.99.

So me, I look at this and think a half salad and a side might be a little more than I'd eat in a single meal, but five bucks isn't too bad for lunch, especially a relatively healthy one - and many of the options are under 600 calories in addition to including a salad.

On Tuesday this week, I had the opportunity to try the new Pick 2 menu out for myself when eight other bloggers (and two friends apiece) met at the Wendy's in Naperville for lunch. We each had a $7 to purchase our meals, and it was really hard for me to choose.


Had I been thinking, I would have looked online and firmed up my choice prior to the event, as I was too busy talking to people and catching up with them to try to actually make a decision about what to eat. I finally narrowed down my salad to the Baja or the Spicy Chicken.

After looking at the salads that other people ordered, I was finally ready. ?Or so I thought.




Even standing in line, I still couldn't fully make up my mind because there were so many I wanted to try. The good news is that at $4.99, I can have other options soon. I finally settled on the Baja salad and a junior bacon cheeseburger - hush!


The Baja salad was great. It had chili and lettuce, and cheese and guacamole and more. While I didn't like the tortilla strips we were given to spread on the salad - they tasted like Dorito's to me, and I don't like Dorito's - the rest of the salad was great. I put just a little of the dressing on the salad, but as I started to eat it, I realized that this salad didn't need dressing at all. The chili and other flavors were plenty strong enough for me.

Most interesting to me is that this is a half salad. When I finished eating it, I was stuffed. I wasn't just a little full. I had no interest in that bacon cheeseburger, which meant that I got to save it for dinner and have two meals (or at least a meal and a big snack) for $4.99. Let's just say that I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the salad.

I also sampled a piece of the chicken from the Spicy Chicken salad from a generous friend. When they say spicy, the mean spicy! It was much more so than I had expected, although I really liked it. I would definitely not feed it to the wee ones, and I have several friends who aren't into that much spice. Next time, I might have to try that salad for myself.

Everyone I talked to who tried the Pick 2 menu enjoyed their options whether it was the Frosty (and how did I not know that they now have vanilla Frosty's and strawberry Frosty shakes?) or the bottle or water or the bacon cheeseburger. Fortunately, I wasn't the only one to make that choice. The only small area of complaint on the food was someone who felt like the baked potato tasted like it was microwaved (which I assume it was) rather than being truly baked. Needless to say, the group left pretty happy.


Are you interested in trying out the new Pick 2 menu? I have another $7 gift card to send to one lucky reader. So what do you have to do?

First of all, let me stress that you must follow all the rules. If you do not follow the rules, your entry will not count!

This contest is open until Friday November 5 at 7pm CST. I must have a valid way to reach you, so leave me your email address in your comment or be sure your profile has your email address visible. No duplicate comments will count. This giveaway is open to US residents age 18 and older. Winners will be selected via random.org and must respond within 48 hours of being notified by me or I will select a new winner.

Mandatory Entry: What pick 2 combo would you choose?

Bonus Entries (leave a comment for each entry - if you put it all in one comment, I'll count it as one entry):

1) Earn one additional entry for following me on Twitter and tweeting this contest (leave a link to your tweet as your comment).
2) Earn one additional entry by following this review blog publicly via Google Friend Connect.
3) Earn one additional entry by following my “regular” blog Honest & Truly! publicly via Google Friend Connect.

Good luck!

In the interest of full disclosure, I received a $7 gift card for review purposes. I was also compensated $150 for participating in this program. All opinions expressed are my own, as always.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Winners!

I had two giveaways end in the past couple days, and winners have been selected for both of them. Both winners have 48 hours from the time I contacted them to get back to me with their information before Random.org selects a new winner.

Check back soon for more fun giveaways!

The Precious Moments mini plush animal was won by Shooting Stars Mag.

The "E Is for Ethics" book was won by skkorman.

Congrats!

Giveaway: 1-800-Flowers.com

I wrote recently about the fact that 1-800-Flowers.com has a new campaign out there to Deliver Birthday Smiles.

To support this campaign, the have three new bouquets, the Bucket of Birthday Wishes, Cupcake in Bloom, and Birthday Flower Cake (my personal favorite).




Lucky me, 1-800-Flowers.com sent me (or rather, Mister Man) the birthday cake bouquet for his birthday this week. It arrived in a bakery box, which was such a neat touch, and he was absolutely thrilled to open it and see what he had received. The flowers were adorable - although it would have been nice if they offered either a gender neutral option or one with "boy" colors. Fortunately, Mister Man isn't picky yet at this stage in his life.


While the one we received wasn't quite as professionally put together as the one in the stock photo (and quality varies by the local florist who designs it), it was nice. Mister Man was thrilled.

The flowers weren't quite as sturdy as I would have liked - but that's also what happens when you have white flowers. I remember now why I don't buy white flowers too often anymore; they simply brown and bruise too easily. Had I not been comparing the two photographs directly, I wouldn't have an issue with the way the bouquet was put together at all.

I do wish that there were a way to add to or change the water in the bouquet. If there is, I have yet to figure it out - and old stale water means flowers that don't last as long. It's been four days, and the bouquet is definitely showing its age right now, but it has served its purpose, and it really is such a neat concept. I love having flowers that are beyond the traditional bouquet and are more "fun" looking. The unique and surprising arrangements are definitely the ones that delight the most - at least in my household.

Check out their Facebook or Twitter pages for information on what's happening by you. After all, it seems like everyone I know has a birthday in October; don't you know someone who needs a bouquet like this?

You can win a $40 gift card to 1-800-Flowers.com, which is enough to purchase one of these bouquets. The Bucket of Birthday Wishes is $39.99-$49.99, the Birthday Flower Cake is $39.99, and the Cupcake in Bloom is $24.99. Or you can use that gift card to choose something for another occasion, whatever you like.

So what do you have to do?

First of all, let me stress that you must follow all the rules. If you do not follow the rules, your entry will not count!

This contest is open until Friday October 29 at 7pm CST. I must have a valid way to reach you, so leave me your email address in your comment or be sure your profile has your email address visible. No duplicate comments will count. This giveaway is open to US residents age 18 and older. Winners will be selected via random.org and must respond within 48 hours of being notified by me or I will select a new winner.

Mandatory Entry: For what occasions do you send flowers?

Bonus Entries (leave a comment for each entry - if you put it all in one comment, I'll count it as one entry):

1) Earn one additional entry for following me on Twitter and tweeting this contest (leave a link to your tweet as your comment).
2) Earn one additional entry by following this review blog publicly via Google Friend Connect.
3) Earn one additional entry by following my “regular” blog Honest & Truly! publicly via Google Friend Connect.

Good luck!

In the interest of full disclosure, I received a birthday cake flower arrangement for review purposes. I did not receive any compensation, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Ultimate Family Vacation

Sponsored By


Cheerios® is giving you the chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, your ultimate family vacation. As part of a paid promotion for their “Do What You Love” Sweepstakes, Cheerios® is sponsoring my post today about what my ultimate family vacation would be. Read mine and Enter the Sweepstakes for a chance to actually win your own fantasy family trip or one of a bunch of other great prizes.

So where would I go?

I have to say that the wee ones and I (and my husband, of course) would have to head somewhere new. While I'd love to say that I'd take the wee ones to Italy or Ireland or Egypt or Australia, I don't see that as being an ultimate family vacation for us for awhile. They're simply too young. I dream of going to these places, I want to go there and relax and truly explore them. I don't see that happening with a five and seven year old.

Instead, our ultimate family vacation would be somewhere closer to home that doesn't give them quite so much jet lag. We do well with warm weather vacations, as the wee ones love to be outside and in or near the water. They are, however, beginning to get to the point where they can do some of the cooler things out there, so I'd love to take them to Puerto Rico or Costa Rica.

I've heard such neat things about some of the rain forests there and the gorgeous wildlife that you can explore, in addition to the beach and pool play. The wee ones are also old enough now to start to "get" snorkeling somewhat, so they would so enjoy being able to see some of the tropical fish that are oh so gorgeous - maybe we could even watch Finding Nemo one night at the hotel.

I also want to incorporate some horseback riding into my ultimate vacation. Maybe I'm the only one who'd go (although I doubt it), but I love riding - well-taken care of horses, mind you! - and exploring other lands from rides on the beach to those through the countryside and more.

Because I'm finding more and more things to add to my ultimate vacation, it would have to last at least two weeks, if not three. I really hate going on vacation and feeling rushed or not feeling like I got everything done. Somewhere, I've read something about needing at least two weeks of vacation to truly unwind and relax and get the most out of a vacation.

And boy are there some other things I'd love to do to unwind. Have you ever seen the vacation spots that have all sorts of cool activities like trapeze lessons and parasailing and other cool things that you would never do at home? I would absolutely love to experience those, too. Trying out new things always makes an experience better for me. Oooo, so let's toss in some cooking lessons using native ingredients. I promise I'd share some of the new recipes I learned with you!

Our family has learned that having a condo type atmosphere is critical to a good vacation for us. We don't do well eating out meal after meal - and if I'm off somewhere for two or three weeks, I can't eat out that much! - and having a kitchen is a nice way to keep vacations relaxing, not to mention controlling cost. The wee ones sleep a lot, relatively. They need their own bedrooms that are away from the light and noise of the adults to ensure that they get their sleep and on one is crabby. Plus, most of those arrangements have a washer and dryer in them. I'd much rather do a little laundry than pack four suitcases per person, wouldn't you?

Wow, does this sound good - especially right now as fall is truly setting into Chicago. A vacation like this would be such a great bonding experience for us and would have so many learning activities, but I don't see it happening anytime soon. I can still dream though. What would you dream of for your ultimate family vacation?

Don't forget to enter the “Do What You Love” Sweepstakes, for a chance to win your own ultimate family vacation. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

In the interest of full disclosure, I was compensated to write this post. All opinions expressed are my own.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Ringling Bros Barnum & Bailey Circus Discount Offer

Not only is Feld Entertainment bringing Mickey Live! to Chicago in the coming weeks, but the circus is coming to town, too. We love the circus. The wee ones saw it for the first time last year, and they talked about Mr. Gravity and the trained dogs and the tigers and more for weeks afterwards.


Once again, the Blackhawks are headed out on a long road trip while the circus takes over the UC after its performances at the Allstate Arena (I still cringe typing that - in my head it is and forever will be the Horizon). Shows are Thursday November 4 to Sunday November 14 at the Allstate and Wednesday November 17 to Sunday November 28 at the United Center.

At the Allstate Arena:
Thu Nov 4 7:00PM
Fri Nov 5 10:30AM, 7:00PM
Sat Nov 6 11:30AM, 3:30PM, 7:30PM
Sun Nov 7 1:00PM, 5:00PM
Wed Nov 10 7:00PM
Thu Nov 11 7:00PM
Fri Nov 12 7:00PM
Sat Nov 13 11:30AM, 3:30PM, 7:30PM
Sun Nov 14 1:00PM, 5:00PM

At the United Center:
Wed November 17 7:00PM
Thu November 18 10:30AM, 7:00PM
Fri November 19 10:30AM, 7:00PM
Sat November 20 11:30AM, 3:30PM, 7:30PM
Sun November 21 1:00PM, 5:00PM
Tue November 23 7:00PM
Wed November 24 7:00PM
Fri November 26 11:30AM, 3:30PM, 7:30PM
Sat November 27 11:30AM, 3:30PM, 7:30PM
Sun November 28 1:00PM, 5:00PM

This year's show is called FUNundrum that celebrates the 200th birthday of P.T. Barnum who started it all. It features 130 performers from six continents, almost 100,000 pounds of performing pachyderms, cowboys, pirates, and mermaids. I have a feeling the mermaids will be the wee ones' favorite part.

The show begs to answer the question , “What special wonders create The Greatest Show On Earth?” Whether in your mind it's the quadruple somersault on the trapeze, Chinese acrobats, the strong man, the high wire act, motorcycles performing in a sphere, or animal acts galore, they're all a part of the Ringly Bros circus this year.

Are you excited to go see the show now? You can at a discount. Simply use the code MOM to purchase a family 4 pack of tickets for $44 Monday-Thursday and Friday matinees or (and?) to save $4 off all weekend shows. Enter the code in the "MC Promotions Box" on Ticketmaster or provide the code when purchasing your tickets via phone (1-800-745-3000) or at the box office. The offer is not valid on Circus Celebrity, Front Row or VIP seats. No double discounts. Service charges and handling fees may apply.

So what are you waiting for?

In the interest of full disclosure, I was provided with tickets to the circus. I did not receive any compensation, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Giveaway: Aquaphor Wonder Set

Winter is coming in Chicago. While it doesn't feel like it today - we were in the 80s again - we have already have frost (and killed of the mosquitoes!) and my skin is doing its annual change. In case you're wondering, it isn't for the better.

Fortunately, Aquaphor came to my rescue, and I'm rather enjoying using their products.

My absolute favorite is the healing ointment. It's described as a way to enhance the body's natural healing process with suggested uses for everything from diaper rash to eczema. I've used it in two ways that convinces me to keep it on my nightstand at all time - and maybe an extra in my medicine cabinet.

I was making my s'mores pizza recently and turned to pick up a bowl to bring back inside at the same time I was closing the grill on the pizza. Long story short, my fingers touched the 500 plus degree metal of the grill and were burned. After soaking them in very cold water on and off for a few hours, which helped significantly (it stopped the burning, and I just had rough patches on the pads of my fingers). I applied the ointment overnight, and by the next day, I was fine. To me, that was huge.


I also have really bad dry skin around my cuticles that peels back, gets bloody, and is generally icky and nasty. Summertime isn't too bad, but in the winter - ewwww! It's already begun. I tried applying the healing ointment on my cuticles overnight and went to sleep. I've done this two or three times now, and each time, I wake up with my cuticles soft and in much better condition. In fact, right now, they are completely healed. It's a significant difference. I'd show you a picture if I weren't too embarrassed to show you what they get like!


Aquaphor's Lip Repair is great for me because it is fragrance-free, preservative-free, and dye-free. It's important to me that products I use are not filled with chemicals and potentially harmful ingredients. The lip repair is perfect for cold and allergy season. When I was stuffed up a week ago, I could feel my lips drying out as I was forced to breathe through my mouth. Applying the lip repair was a quick fix that lasted. Within a day, my lips were healed - something that never happens while I'm still snuffly.


The Aquaphor Gentle Wash & Shampoo has replaced the wee ones' shampoo and body wash at this point. When I started comparing ingredients on the bottles, the old fruity smelling products went into the trash. The Gentle Wash & Shampoo is soap-free, fragrance-free, tear-free and pediatrician recommended. It doesn't have a strong scent, which I appreciate, but it's been effective. It isn't super bubbly, but I still feel like the wee ones are getting clean, and their hair is soft after washing (although Little Miss still requires conditioner to ensure she is tangle free).

The lip repair is available at Target, Kroger, RiteAid, and Harmons with a suggested price of $4.49 for a .35 ounce tube. The Gentle Wash & Shampoo can be found at Babies R Us, CVS, Kroger, H-E-B, and drugstore.com for $6.29 for 8.4 fluid ounces. The healing ointment is available at food, drug, and mass merchants nationwide for $5.49 for a 1.75 oz tube and .35 oz twin pack (tubes), $8.49 for a 3.5 oz jar, or $16.99 for a 14 oz jar.

Two of you will win a wonder set that includes the products listed - a $33 value! So what do you have to do?

First of all, let me stress that you must follow all the rules. If you do not follow the rules, your entry will not count!

This contest is open until Tuesday October 26 at 7pm CST. I must have a valid way to reach you, so leave me your email address in your comment or be sure your profile has your email address visible. No duplicate comments will count. This giveaway is open to US residents age 18 and older. Winners will be selected via random.org and must respond within 48 hours of being notified by me or I will select a new winner.

Mandatory Entry: How do you keep yourself in good shape over the winter?

Bonus Entries (leave a comment for each entry - if you put it all in one comment, I'll count it as one entry):

1) Earn one additional entry for following me on Twitter and tweeting this contest (leave a link to your tweet as your comment).
2) Earn one additional entry by following this review blog publicly via Google Friend Connect.
3) Earn one additional entry by following my “regular” blog Honest & Truly! publicly via Google Friend Connect.

Good luck!

In the interest of full disclosure, I received a set of the Aquaphor products for review purposes. I did not receive any compensation, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Review: KT Turnstall "Tiger Suit"

I love music. When I run, music is what keeps me from going insane listening to feet slap the pavement (or treadmill as the case may be) or breathing. And it keeps me from looking at the timer every two seconds to see if I'm done yet. When I'm driving, I'm the one you'll see bopping around singing to what's playing on the radio.

Granted, I do an awful lot of flipping to find what I want to listen to. I can be worse than your stereotypical man channel surfing sometimes. Fortunately, I've got some music I can listen to without endangering anyone in lanes near me because I don't have to flip through (ok, so maybe that's a little bit of an exaggeration: I always change stations responsibly).

KT Tunstall is a singer I've liked for a long time. She sings "Suddenly I See" - a song that pops into my head every time I so much as hear (or see) the title. I haven't heard much new from her since that album, but the acoustic guitar and singable melodies from that album were compelling.

Her new album "Tiger Suit" was released October 5, and it's a little different, as my husband put it. There are still the acoustics that worked so well for her in "Eye of the Telescope" but the sound has changed significantly from that effort. It's a little more dancy, but still just as catchy as that first album.


The first single from the album "Fade Like a Shadow" is already a Top 20 hit on radio, and I can see why. It's another song that gets caught up in your head, and I've found myself singing it more than once.

Most of the songs on the album have that same nature. They're great driving music and keep you bopping along as you listen to it. "Glamour Puss" is one of my favorites. Not only

My absolute favorite, though, is "(Still a) Weirdo" which rather reminds me of Tori Amos. It's earnest and carries a haunting melody and message that resonates with me. She whispers through much of it, and you can feel her aching as you listen.


I can only imagine how this would sound in person - with her focus on her voice and the acoustics rather than an overproductionalized sound and show, it is one I would love to see. And check it out, KT Tunstall is heading out on tour later this month:

Oct 31 at the Crystal Ballroom in Portland, OR
Nov 1 at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, BC
Nov 2 at The Showbox SODO in Seattle, WA
Nov 4 at the Knitting Factory Spokane, in WA
Nov 5 at the Knitting Factory in Boise, ID
Nov 7 at the Knitting Factory in Reno, NV
Nov 8 at the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco, CA
Nov 11 at The Music Box in Los Angeles, CA
Nov 12 at the House of Blues in San Diego, CA
Nov 16 at the Ogden Theatre in Denver, CO
Nov 18 at Epic in Minneapolis, MN
Nov 19 at The Vogue in Indianapolis, IN
Nov 21 at the Vic Theatre in Chicago, IL (yay!)
Nov 22 at The Crofoot in Detroit, MI
Nov 23 at the Phoenix Theatre in Toronto, ON
Nov 25 at Club Soda in Montreal, QU
Nov 26 at The Trocadero in Philadelphia, PA
Nov 27 at the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC
Nov 29 at the House of Blues in Boston, MA
Dec 1 at Terminal 5 in New York, NY

And if you can't make it to a show, you can still buy the album.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received a copy of the album for review purposes from the One2One Network. I was entered to win a gift card for participating in the reivew process. All opinions expressed are my own.

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Giveaway: Disney Live! Presents Mickey's Magic (Chicago)

As I wrote last week, Disney Live! is coming to Chicago again over the Halloween weekend. This should be a great show at the Rosemont Theater, and I'm looking forward to seeing it myself.


In the show, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and a host of Disney friends come together with world-class illusionists to perform magic from legendary Disney films right before your eyes. From the Fairy Godmother transforming Cinderella’s rags into a beautiful ball gown in a split second to the spectacular levitation of Aladdin’s Princess Jasmine to the enchanted dancing brooms of Fantasia.

The show will feature Donald Duck and Goofy, Alice and the Mad Hatter, and many more. This is a live show in a theater environment with shows on Friday at 6:30pm, Saturday 11am, 2pm and 5pm, and Sunday at 12pm (October 29-31). What's better to get ready for the show than to get your children excited with a fun coloring sheet from the show?


By using the code MOM, you can get $15 for Friday's show and $5 off tickets the rest of the weekend. Simply put MOM into the “Advance or Promotion Ticket” selection on Ticketmaster's website, or use when purchasing at the Rosemont box office or when calling 1-800-745-3000. This discount is not valid on Front Row or VIP tickets. No double discounts. Service charges and handling fees may apply.

BUT I am also giving away a family four pack of tickets to the Sunday October 31 show at 12pm at the Rosemont Theater (c'mon, trick or treating isn't until late afternoon, so there's plenty of time to see the show first!). Please be sure you can attend the show prior to entering.

So what do you have to do?

First of all, let me stress that you must follow all the rules. If you do not follow the rules, your entry will not count!

This contest is open until Thursday October 21 at 7pm CST. I must have a valid way to reach you, so leave me your email address in your comment or be sure your profile has your email address visible. No duplicate comments will count. This giveaway is open to US residents age 18 and older. Winners will be selected via random.org and must respond within 24 hours of being notified by me or I will select a new winner.

Mandatory Entry: Who is your favorite Disney character?

Bonus Entries (leave a comment for each entry - if you put it all in one comment, I'll count it as one entry):

1) Earn one additional entry for following me on Twitter and tweeting this contest (leave a link to your tweet as your comment).
2) Earn one additional entry by following this review blog publicly via Google Friend Connect.
3) Earn one additional entry by following my “regular” blog Honest & Truly! publicly via Google Friend Connect.

Good luck!

In the interest of full disclosure, I received tickets to see the show. I did not receive any compensation, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Hexbugs Party!

Yesterday, we had some of the wee ones’ friends over to play. We received a set of Hexbug Nanos (hereafter primarily referred to as Hexbugs) from MomSelect to host a party, and oh did we have fun. In fact, the wee ones played with them until bedtime last night, and the first question this morning (before they were even dressed) was when they could play with the Hexbugs again. Mean Mommy, I made them wait until after school after they’d put away their backpacks.

I’d heard of Hexbugs before. Our local Learning Express carries them, and I’ve seen them dancing in little containers in the store. I’d somewhat written them off though, figuring they were a short term entertainment and something that would quickly get lost. For those who aren’t familiar with them, Hexbugs are a little battery-operated creature that looks something like a large computer chip with tentacles. Kinda. They vibrate when turned on and move all around, including being able to flip themselves back over when turned on their backs.

The Hexbugs world is much larger than I’d anticipated, however. To start, they come in little test tube containers reminiscent of the bug in The Matrix. I had a lot of trouble opening some containers, while Little Miss was easily able to open others – the tops of the tubes just pop off, but the stickers around the edges was stuck to that top a little more on some, apparently. Once you get the test tubes open, there is also a code to an online world in addition to the bug itself. We haven’t yet explored online, but we will soon, especially since it includes learning about science. I’ve heard good things about it from some of the moms who were there yesterday.

Once we got the bugs out, we quickly learned that they won’t work on carpeting, but any other surface appears to be fair game. One friend placed his Hexbugs in the tray of our easel where they happily skittered around; ditto with Little Miss who made an obstacle course in the wagon that contains our building blocks. The Hexbugs now have “habitats” that they can explore. The white octagons connect easily with each other and the trail pieces (curved, straight, and spiral). The wee ones and their friends were easily able to assemble a massive obstacle course that took up the entire room. With the spirals and some of the other pieces, you can have the Hexbugs move from one level to another, adding a new dimension of fun to the games – in addition to simply having a raised habitat using the pegs that insert into any piece. We only had one child who had difficulty figuring out how to use the pegs, and he was able to figure it out once I showed him.


The habitats also have special bridges and other more unique connectors and parts to them that add to the variety of play. While they may not be necessary to enjoy the bugs, they are a nice addition to the sets. The bridge battle set allowed bugs to enter the center “arena” and try to knock each other off the bridge, with the surviving bug being dubbed the winner. This can also be used simply as a bridge byway by changing the direction the entry doors are set. There was a bit of discussion at the end of the party about who would get to take these home. There is also a stop and go door for the bugs to go through. That was one part that confused me a bit, as the stop side doesn’t keep the bugs from going through – at least it didn’t the way we figured out how to put it together.


I like these toys because they don’t require a ton of assembly and work on my part, making them a toy that encourages independence in the wee ones. I’ve had other toys that take me an hour or more to put together and get ready. I assembled a decent obstacle course (without reading the instructions that weren’t very descriptive to begin with – one little nit) in under twenty minutes. While the bugs can “fight” that hasn’t been the focus of the wee ones as yet. Instead, they treat them more like a giant ant hill, and I’m ok with that since I’m not voluntarily allowing any real bugs into my house.


We played several games, although the kids would have been just as happy without any intervention from me. Since I’d prepared a shoebox for a game by cutting special holes in it, I did make sure they played that one at least. Once we got going, they all loved it – seeing which bug would get out of the box first and from what hole. I also had them do an actual race through the obstacle course that was less successful – while the kids enjoyed creating the obstacle course, few of them actually wanted to do the race in it. After that, I let them simply play on their own – and on one was ready to leave when it was time to go, even knowing they were taking home the habitat and their bugs.


The kids all did want to make sure they took their bugs home. They chose their favorite bugs, and they immediately assigned name and personalities to the bug from “Intelligence Ignite” (yes, that would be Mister Man) to “Spaghetti and Meatballs” to “Bananas” and more. I love how they assigned personalities to the bugs and really had a connection to them. The bugs weren’t just appealing to boys, as I was somewhat expecting when I first heard about the party. There were bugs that were purple and pink, red and black, green and black, yellow and blue, and other color combinations that were appealing to Little Miss (and Violet who was at our house this afternoon playing with them).


My only complaint about the habitats is that the doors that close off the sides of the octagon (every side has a door to allow for flexible configurations) to keep the bugs from escaping aren’t as easy to close as I would like. It takes quite a bit of finger strength (and some fingernails) to get them to pop up to be able to close them. Once they’re closed, they’re easy enough to open again. The configuration of the habitats was changed around significantly yesterday – and again today – meaning that my assistance was required to close many of the doors. I’m hoping that they become easier to manipulate as everyone uses them more, but it would be nice if they came easier to use.

All in all, this is a popular new toy in our house, and I think it is in the houses of the kids who joined us yesterday, too. They aren’t super cheap (a single Hexbug Nano in the tube costs $9.99, the Hexbug Nano habitat set with a three octagon pieces, three straight pieces, and four curves cost $34.99 (with two rare Hexbug Nanos), while the battle bridge habitat (that also comes with two rare Hexbug Nanos) costs $39.99 and will be available as of October 15. As more and more children we know get older and already have more toys than they need, I think this is going to become one of our go to birthday presents. The kids definitely had more fun the more bugs were running through the habitat.

In the interest of full disclosure, I was provided with Hexbugs and habitats for a party with the wee ones and friends by MomSelect. The bugs and the majority of the habitats were given away to the attendees of the party. I received no compensation, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Disney Live! Presents Mickey's Magic Show

Feld Entertainment is bringing Mickey and the gang back to Chicago at the end of this month, this time in a magic show at the Rosemont Theater. In this show, the whole Mickey Mouse gang goes on a road trip to find "the coolest acts around" using audience participation.


If you go October 29-31, you'll see Cinderella, Tigger, and the Roundup Gang (and Buzz). Just having Toy Story characters in the show will guarantee its success with the wee ones. And yes, we'll be going! There are shows Friday at 6:30pm, Saturday 11am, 2pm and 5pm, and Sunday at 12pm. I'm beginning to wish we were dressing as Toy Story for Halloween so the wee ones could go in costume. How perfect would that be?

There is also a free preshow fifteen minutes before each show where the audience is invited to sing, dance, and play with characteres from Playhouse Disney. It's a good incentive to get there early.

I will be giving away a family four pack of tickets later this month - so watch for that. In the interim, you can get discounts starting this Tuesday October 5. By using the code MOM, you can get $15 for Friday's show and $5 off tickets the rest of the weekend. Simply put MOM into the “Advance or Promotion Ticket” selection on Ticketmaster's website, or use when purchasing at the Rosemont box office or when calling 1-800-745-3000. This discount is not valid on Front Row or VIP tickets. No double discounts. Service charges and handling fees may apply.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received a family four pack of tickets for this show as a Feld Family Activator. I received no compensation, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Winners!

Congratulations go out to the winners of two giveaways I've had going on.

The Scotch-Brite gift bag was won by Jennifer Mo from It's Not Easy Being Green.

The Eucerin gift bag had three winners. Congratulations go out to:
JC
Cheryl F from The Lucky Ladybug
Barbara.Montyj from Jalepeno Mama's Place

Remember - all these winners have forty-eight hours to contact me to claim their prizes, or random.org will select a new winner for me.

Have a great weekend!

Giveaway: E is for Ethics

With two small children, making sure I impart my values to them is critical to me. If I fail in having children who have a strong ethical and moral fiber, I will feel like I've failed as a parent. There are so many negative influences out there - I just had a conversation with a friend of mine whose son is being bullied on the bus where the bully's parents deny there could ever be a problem - which makes it a far more daunting task than it used to be.

Ian James Corlett has recently written a book to help set our children on that right path. E is for Ethics is a book with twenty-six short stories that focus on different situations that children are likely to come across from integrity to perseverence to helpfulness. Each story is told from the point of view of Elliott and Lucy, who are typical little kids.


These stories began from weekly conversation Ian and his wife had with their own two children to help them deal with potential problem situations and they would then talk about how the children should and could handle each of the situations and how they felt. The stories in the book are derived from those Monday after dinner talks and are simple and entertaining. At the same time, they aren't talk down to children, making them fun to read and experience with your children.

After each story, Ian has included four or five questions and discussion topics as a jumping off point for parents to really talk about the story, what it means, and how it relates to their own children. They range from, "How do you feel after being helpful?" to "Why do you think Lucy was disappointed?" to "Sometimes we say that dogs are loyal. What could we learn from them?"

I've really enjoyed reading these stories to the wee ones. Mister Man has a tough time with perseverence sometimes (he has strong perfectionist tendencies), and being a child with autism, empathy isn't always the easiest for him. Little Miss doesn't always show the strongest effort, but the story on effort has hit home with her.

They're only two or three short pages for each story, so they're a great way to have a quick conversation or get deeper into a topic, depending on how time allows. While I try to give examples of how I've had to demonstrate some of these characteristics in my life and childhood, I love how these are organized so I don't have to try to file through my memory trying to find something applicable.

The wee ones love the books, too, saying that the stories are "awesome" - and I'm hoping that they will be another brick in the foundation I'm trying to build. I appreciate that while this is aimed at younger children, at the end of each chapter, there are quotes from famous people about each topic that helps keep this relevant even as the wee ones grow a little more.

I was lucky enough to be able to also have a Q&A with Ian Scott Corlett.


Who was the biggest influence in your life for your ethics?
What a great question. I wish I could point to one person but I honestly have to say that it really comes down to being an observer and citizen of the world. So many people, me included, fail at certain ethical decisions whereas others show incredible strength of character. I thin it’s really fluid. We should always be trying to do better. Read modern philosophers like Ekhart Tolle and Wayne Dyer, and also look to classic figures like Jesus, Buddah and Aristotle. Paying attention to politics is a great way to learn ethical behavior too! (that last one was an obvious joke!)

Has your view of ethics changed since you've had your own children?
Most definitely! When they pooped into our lives I really took stock. I (and by *I* of course I mean we, my wife and I) looked at the kids as a building project. Every good building project starts with a solid foundation. And part of that foundation needs to be the understanding of ethics and values. Every family will have their own take on what those morals and values are, but the important thing is to start the discussion and start EARLY.

What do you think is the biggest mistake parents make?
Thinking that kids will figure these things out on their own. Actually that's only half true. Kids WILL figure things out on their own. They are like a cross between a sponge and a photocopier. They listen, see and observe everything you do and one way or another they repeat your actions and decisions. So you need to be brutally honest with yourself first and not think for a minute your kids won't see you for who you really are. So parents, make the changes you need to make first so you can show your kids the right way to live before you try to tell them anything different.

Do you think your children will continue “Family Fun Time” with their own children? If so, how do you think they will change it?
Boy I sure hope so. My 11-year-old daughter has already told her mom that she really wants to try to be a stay-at-home mom for her kids if and when she has them. She notices and appreciates the time and relationship element of the family dynamic we are very fortunate to have. And as far as changing the format, I have no doubt they will. Both my kids have very vibrant personalities so I'm sure they'll come up with something!

What were the ethics that were the hardest for your children to grasp - loyalty, perseverance, willingness?
Hmmm. Empathy was tough. And strangely enough so is fairness. But for different reasons. Fairness is difficult because it is not always black and white. Often it depends on what side of the issue you're on whether you felt you've been dealt with fairly or not. And empathy is just hard to explain. But the feeling is easy. Kids innately understand a lot of these feelings, but learning the words attached to them can be a little more complex. That was why I decided to tell stories around the topic rather than clinically trying to teach them these ideas in a vacuum.

You created this as a book but have experience in television, primarily. Is this something you can see branching to other media?

Yes indeed! It's funny how these things develop though. As much as I wrote the book to help other families I also wrote the book as a sort of challenge or "escape" from the world of writing for kid's TV. Authoring a book is a relatively singular experience. You write it alone, then work with an editor, who is usually just one person, and that's that. With TV there is layer upon layer upon layer of "input" for lack of a more crusty expression.

But once I had written the book and saw all the wonderful illustrations Riley (R.A.Holt) did, I said, "Oh dear... this HAS to become an animated series..." So, like Al Pacino said so famously in The Godfather, "Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in..." So we made a deal with a major broadcaster (who I am forbidden to name) to develop the book into an animated series called ELLIOTT & LUCY. It's really fun. It has a strong ethical message but touches on life values and the environment too. All great messages for preschoolers. Of course it's full of fun and humor too! We are anxiously awaiting the "green light" to put it into production.

What has been the most common reaction you've received to this book?
Overwhelmingly positive. I'm thrilled. I get notes all the time from parents who have started using the book with their kids to great success. I'm also really touched to hear that therapists and schools are using it as part of their curriculum!

Do you think that read-aloud stories like this or once-a-week discussions can counteract all the negativity and wrong messages seen on TV and elsewhere in society on a daily basis?
Oh, I sure hope so. But that is just a start. The bigger message is time spent. Spend time with your kids. Heck I don't even care if it’s doing something frivolous like playing video games together! But time spent means you will have some kind of relationship with them and that as the foundation to counteract the negative stuff.

Beyond sharing these stories with our children, what do you feel the most powerful ways are to reinforce ethics in our children?
Set a good example. Do as I say and do as I do. Simple.

I am loving this book. I was debating giving it to Mister Man's speech therapy group (they work on pragmatic language and friendship skills, perfect for this book), but after reading through it and sharing it with the wee ones, it's staying right here. You can buy your own copy of the book, or one lucky reader will have the opportunity to win a copy of this book!

So what do you have to do?

First of all, let me stress that you must follow all the rules. If you do not follow the rules, your entry will not count!

This contest is open until Friday October 15 at 7pm CST. I must have a valid way to reach you, so leave me your email address in your comment or be sure your profile has your email address visible. No duplicate comments will count. This giveaway is open to US residents age 18 and older. Winners will be selected via random.org and must respond within 48 hours of being notified by me or I will select a new winner.

Mandatory Entry: How do you help promote ethical behavior in yourself and others?

Bonus Entries (leave a comment for each entry - if you put it all in one comment, I'll count it as one entry):

1) Earn one additional entry for following me on Twitter and tweeting this contest (leave a link to your tweet as your comment).
2) Earn one additional entry by following this review blog publicly via Google Friend Connect.
3) Earn one additional entry by following my “regular” blog Honest & Truly! publicly via Google Friend Connect.

Good luck!

In the interest of full disclosure, I received a copy of "E is for Ethics" for review purposes. I did not receive any compensation, and all opinions expressed are my own.