Wordless Wednesday- Christmas Morning

Share your own pictures this week at Wordless Wednesday HQ!

Before you leave, have you entered all of my giveaways?

Last Minute Gifts: Speck CandyShell Cases for iPhone and iPad

If you're out scurrying about, trying to dig up something that will wow your family and friends tomorrow morning, here's a little hint: everyone loves candy. Tech geeks especially love CandyShells, the iPhone and iPad cases by Speck that feature a thin, lightweight outer shell and a rubbery, shock-absorbent center. They're shiny and pretty with easy access to ports and controls. And they come in extra-festive holiday styles:

I received the blue snowman Speck CandyShell for iPhone 4 and GoGo White iPad CandyShell for iPad. I've gotten about a zillion compliments on the snowman case, possibly because it's the only real sign of holiday cheer I've bought into this year. (Bah, humbug!) My kids looooove it. I like the iPad case a lot, too, because it reminds me of stormtroopers, with its glossy white finish, black trim, and subtle badassness.

I think the pierced rubber interior of CandyShells are super cool, don't you? It's almost a shame to put a device inside and cover that up!

Here's a better look at the cuteness of the snowman motif. So cheerful.

The sturdy exterior of "the stormtrooper" installed:

I'm also a big fan of Speck Fitted cases, having received one from Apple when the iPhone 4 signal issues were in the news. Lo and behold, there are holiday versions of those, too! I think the Holiday SweaterBest case would look pretty stylish when you're checking your messages Après-ski, non?

Disclosure: In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I received the two cases shown above for review purposes. My opinion is not swayed by that, nor by adorable snowmen.

eBay Group Gifts: It's Not Too Late!

eBay Group Gifts use Buy It Now and PayPal to create a hassle-free way for multiple givers to chip in for a for a single gift recipient. No more trying to squeeze pennies from other parents in the carpool lane for a teacher gift, now you can do it all via email. Or, better yet, via Facebook Connect. It seems like eBay Group Gifts would also be a great way to get the most out of communal gift cards: if you have roommates, for example, you could pool a bunch of $50 gift cards together on a shared big-budget item like a TV. I can't help you with who gets to keep it when you move out, though…





Disclosure: In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I received an eBay gift card to try out using eBay Group Gifts. My opinions are, however, entirely my own- as usual.

Slap-py Christmas!

I'm not usually very fad-happy. Perhaps it was because I wasn't one of the kids who had Swatches from wrist to elbow in high school and I'm still jealous, but anytime something is a cultural phenomenon, I'm skeptical. When I heard that the creators of Zanybandz and Splash Watches had created an interchangeable watch/slap bracelet hybrid, I was a bit jaded. Yeah, yeah. It couldn't be that cool.

I was wrong.

SLAP Watches consist of a brightly colored silicon "slap" band and an equally brightly colored watchface. The faces slip in and out of the bands with ease so you can create your own crazy color schemes. It sounds simple but it is also totally brilliant. It's sturdy, water-resistant, and very cute.

I was expecting Roo and Jasper to go nuts for the SLAP Watch but surprisingly the member of our household who loves it most is Bob! He likes the simplicity of the design. The watchface has no numbers but is very easy to read, although younger kids might just learning to tell time might prefer the SLAP Jr. which is smaller (3/4 scale) and has numbers printed on the face.

Pricing is nice at about $18 for a single SLAP Watch and $40 for one SLAP Watch with two additional bands to mix and match. One SLAP Watch with all five of the other band colors is just $60 and, incredibly, you can get a set of all six SLAP Watches (six bands and six watchfaces) for just $99.

Connect with SLAP Watch on Twitter and Facebook.

Disclosure: In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I received a SLAP Watch for review purposes.

Hallmark Giveaway

***WINNER PICKED 12/27 WITH RANDOM.ORG***

***CONGRATULATIONS, #22 Julie !!!***

her comment...
Bastin Birds on Branch cards
thanks for the giveaway


Hallmark threw a heck of a Christmas party at BlogHer last summer, with a roaring fire and a sneak preview of all the good things they had in store for this holiday season. Leave it to me to still be running late on ordering holiday cards and ornaments, even though I had six months to prepare… sigh. If you're anything like me, you will be happy to know that you can still order Christmas cards and even have them personalized, addressed and sent for you. At this late date, though, perhaps New Year's cards would be a safer option since delivery won't be guaranteed for Saturday. Use promo code HOLIDAY30 through Christmas Day to get 30% off all online Hallmark purchases. You can also send e-cards all year for one flat fee of $9.99.

Of course, a big part of the Hallmark tradition is visiting your local Hallmark Gold Crown store to check out the latest in collectible keepsake ornaments, memory keeping supplies and gifts. Click here to find the location nearest you. Kids love the popular characters (Star Wars, Ben-10, Harry Potter…) and musical ornaments– the Jingle Jamboree ornament shown above plays a banjo rendition of Deck The Halls that is hard to resist.  Now through Christmas Eve, all of their recordable storybooks are on sale for $19.95- a $10 savings! We have the Frosty the Snowman recordable storybook and it's absolutely adorable, especially with Roo reading it aloud.

My favorite new discovery at Hallmark online is personalized paper plates. You put your own image and/or text onto a stock design for table settings you won't find at party supply stores. You can even mix and match with coordinating solid colored napkins, cups and utensils. I love this idea! And my kids are going to love the plates I've ordered for them: Star Wars for Jasper and Hannah Montana for Roo. I can't wait to see how they turn out!

For more information, like Hallmark on Facebook, follow Hallmark on Twitter, or download the free Hallmark iPhone app.

Disclosure: In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I received product samples from Hallmark and they are also providing the prize for this giveaway. All opinions, however, are entirely my own.

To enter and win a $40 one-time use online gift code, please comment on this post with your favorite Hallmark memory or item from their website.


Entries will be accepted through December 26th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible.


For an additional entry, post my button on your blog (see code on sidebar), follow my blog, follow me on Twitter, fan me on Facebook, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader. Leave an extra comment letting me know what you did for each additional entry.


Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win!


***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***

Iams Home 4 The Holidays

Iams has launched their annual Home 4 The Holidays campaign to encourage animal lovers to donate to and volunteer with rescue organizations this holiday season. Last year, over 1.3 million pets were adopted; this year’s goals are to find forever homes for 1.5 million pets AND provide 5 million bowls of food to shelters in need. Over 3,500 partner animal organizations in 21 countries around the world will participate! For more information on how to get involved, how to find a participating shelter in your area as well as other important tips for new pet parents can be found on Facebook and on the Home 4 The Holidays website. You can also enter your zip code into this handy widget to find opportunities to help near you!



Disclosure: I am not being compensated for this post, it's just a public service announcement for animal lovers like myself. Although, in all fairness, I should mention that we go through a lot of bags of Iams, with five kitties and a hungry basset puppy.

Gummy Lump Toys- Wooden Tool Bench Giveaway

***WINNER PICKED 12/22 WITH RANDOM.ORG***

***CONGRATULATIONS, #65 susanlanai!!!***

her comment...
My favorite toy are the Automoblox Wooden Cars.


I've written before about Gummy Lump and their proclivity toward selling wooden toys that last and last and instigate imaginative play rather than encouraging rote memorization of cartoon dialogue. It's pretty hard to overstate how awesome their selection is, everything from arts and crafts to building blocks and cooking kits. They have a bunch of phenomenal holiday offers, too, including free shipping for offers over $50 through midnight on December 16th (Orders placed by December 22nd will be guaranteed for Christmas delivery, with expedited shipping, FYI!).

When Gummy Lump approached me about reviewing a holiday item, I jumped at the chance. I chose the Wooden Workbench Pretend Play Set by Melissa and Doug because Jasper and Roo love helping their dad in the studio. Bob and Jasper put it together pretty easily and we're impressed with how sturdy it is. Both kid have enjoyed making things and they should be able to use it with their real tools, like a hand drill and hammer, farther on down the road– Roo is already an old pro with tools but Jasper is still learning how to use them safely. Scroll past the admittedly huge number of photos to see how you can win a Wooden Workbench Pretend Play Set by Melissa and Doug of your very own.

To enter and win a Wooden Workbench Pretend Play Set by Melissa and Doug, please comment on this post with your favorite toy at Gummy Lump.


Entries will be accepted through December 21st and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible.


For an additional entry, post my button on your blog (see code on sidebar), follow Gummy Lump on Twitter, Like Gummy Lump on Facebook, follow my blog, follow me on Twitter, fan me on Facebook, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader. Leave an extra comment letting me know what you did for each additional entry.


Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win!


***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***

Little Drummer Boy

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Two of my most unlikely movie star crushes. Merry Christmas, indeed.

My eBay Unwrap Attack Victim

I chose to spring an Unwrap Attack on my friend Kristin. She was one of my very first blog friends and has always been incredibly supportive of me and my blog. We've met in person a couple of times but last year our daughters got to meet at Disney Social Media Moms Celebration and were fast friends.

Kristin was an obvious choice for my Unwrap Attack! I asked her husband's advice on what gift would make her head explode, and he suggested a telephoto zoom lens for the DSLR she got over the summer. I knew she was really into photography these days and eBay has tons of great deals on electronics, so it was the perfect surprise. Here's how her Unwrap Attack played out on Twitter yesterday:

Kristin wrote about her Unwrap Attack experience today, including some great photos with her new lens. I think she was totally surprised! And it is definitely just as much fun to give as it is to receive… so don't forget to enter my giveaway to win a $100 eBay gift card to launch your own Unwrap Attack!



Disclosure: In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that my time, travel and accommodations have been compensated by eBay for my participation in the Love to Give campaign. Although I have a material connection to eBay, any publicly stated opinions of eBay remain my own– formed over the last decade or so, trolling the web looking for cool stuff and finding much of it on eBay.