Spring Follower Giveaway Tour Is Coming!

                                  

Do you have an iPad2?

Not in your budget right now?

Would you like to win one?

What would you do with some extra cash?

Don't miss the Spring Follower Giveaway Tour!

You could win one of these amazing prizes!

Grand Prize: iPad 2

Second Prize: $500 Cash

Third Prize: $350 Cash

Fourth Prize: $150 Cash

It's easy to enter!

The Follower Giveaway Tour is a huge cash giveaway event hosted by Simply Stacie, Little Yayas, My Wee View and Kelly’s Lucky You.

Each quarter, the hosts and partnering bloggers contribute $50 towards a cash prize – the total prize is determined by the number of bloggers. This quarter, we’ve added a sponsor, Joe Shopping, who donated an iPad 2.

The first entry will be earned by following us with google friend connect and/or joining Joe Shopping. That's it - simple, easy, and "WOW", what a prize! Keep reading, there will be more opportunities to enter as the giveaway continues.

Start following the participating blogs today.

When the giveaway starts on June 6th, you'll have a headstart!

Follow the Blogs:

Meet the Sponsor

We've added a sponsor to this season's follower giveaway tour! JoeShopping.com is providing the iPad2 prize.

JoeShopping.com is a social shopping website featuring

Bring Him Home~A Song For Sunday

 

This is a song that I’ve sung with our Box Elder Symphonic Choir. We’ve sung it in lots of patriotic concerts. I wanted to share it with you for Memorial Day. I like it best sung my Colm Wilkinson.

What a song. What a singer. From reverence and trust and faith, to passion, boldness, meekness, nostalgia and regret, pity,  courage,  the most utter desperation; to selfless love and through it all, the most exquisite and gentlest tenderness. Amazing. Colm Wilkinson has passion and incredible emotion in the way he does this song. He's begging God to help and offering himself up in exchange.

Bring Him Home Lyrics, from Les Miserables

(Valjean is standing over Marius at the barricade)
VALJEAN

God on high
Hear my prayer
In my need
You have always been there
He is young
He's afraid
Let him rest
Heaven blessed.
Bring him home
Bring him home
Bring him home.

He's like the son I might have known
If God had granted me a son.
The summers die
One by one
How soon they fly
On and on
And I am old
And will be gone.

Bring him peace
Bring him joy
He is young
He is only a boy

You can take
You can give
Let him be
Let him live
If I die, let me die
Let him live
Bring him home
Bring him home
Bring him home.

Big Savings on Designer Brands at RueLaLa!

                                

Join RueLala now to get deals and steals on brands you love like Steve Madden, DKNY, Edun, Rock & Republic, Current Elliott, Dansko, XCVI, Da-Nang and more! You can also find unique gifts for dad for this upcoming Father’s Day!

What is RueLaLa?

RueLaLa is an exclusive, invitation-only online destination connecting consumers to that which only fashion insiders used to be privy to. The site features up to two new private sale boutiques a day, each open for just a brief window of time. Boutiques offer members access to current season merchandise from a mix of fashion and lifestyle brands that range from super premium labels to more mainstream must-haves at discounts of 30% to 80% below retail.

RueLaLa is accessible through membership only. But don’t worry, membership is free!!

CLICK HERE TO JOIN through Songberries today, and start saving big!

Transformers: Beast Wars- Season One coming to DVD!

                                        

Who here remembers Trandformers: Beast Wars? This show came out in 1996 and is now celebrating it's 15 year anniversary by coming out on DVD on June 7, 2011.

Transformers:Beast Wars Season 1 will feature all 26 episodes and exciting new bonus content on a 4 DVD set.  The complete Transformers:Beast Wars Collectors Edition Box Set will also be available on June 7, 2011 and you can pre-order now! The box set will contain all 52 episodes with bonus content.

I had the privilege to review Transformers: Beast Wars Season. My hubby and Chauncey sat down to watch it, and they really enjoyed it. This is a really great family DVD set and is great for a rainy day inside like today.

TRANSFORMERS: BEAST WARS - SEASON ONE
Featuring All 26 Episodes and Exciting Bonus Content in a 4-DVD Set
IN STORES NATIONWIDE ON JUNE 7, 2011
PASSIONATE FANS REJOICE! PRE-ORDER NOW TO OWN
TRANSFORMERS: BEAST WARS
THE COMPLETE SERIES COLLECTOR’S EDITION DVD BOX SET
Featuring 8-DVDs, All 52 Action-Packed Episodes, New Bonus Content,
Collectible 24-Page Comic Book and Much More!
FROM SHOUT! FACTORY AT SHOUTFACTORYSTORE.COM
TRANSFORMERS: BEAST WARS Season One 4-DVD set
Synopsis:
When the descendants of the treacherous Decepticons — now known as PREDACONS — land on a mysterious planet in search of a powerful fuel known as Energon, it’s up to Optimus Primal and the heroic Maximals to stop them before they conquer the universe!
Bonus Features Include:
* Maximize! Creating A New Breed of TRANSFORMER
* Art gallery
* Original character models

~I received a product sample in order to write my review. I received no monetary compensation. All opinions expressed are mine.

Yo Gabba Gabba!: Circus DVD Review

                            

Do your kids love Yo Gabba Gabba?   If you do then you’re in luck because on June 14, 2011 Nickelodeon will be releasing a new DVD called “Yo Gabba Gabba: Circus”. The DVD includes four episodes, including one that has never been seen before! Special guests featured in these episodes include Weird Al Yankovic, Sarah Silverman and Fred Armisen!

The little ones that I babysit really enjoyed watching this movie. It entertained them for quite a while.

Here are the episodes included on the DVD:

Circus:

Muno, Foofa, Brobee, Toodee and Plex help Al the Ringmaster (Weird Al Yankovic) make a circus in Gabba Land! Brobee learns to be a clown and everyone gets to perform. The episode also features Sarah Silverman.

Treasure Hunt:

Two special guests (Fred Armisen and Charlyne Yi) travel to Gabbaland to search for hidden treasure. As everyone joins in the search, they all do a special dance in the secret ice cave.

Flying:

Brobee and friends go on a hot air balloon ride and meet new friend Sparkles.

Fun:

All the Gabba characters learn different ways to have fun, learn to eat healthy portions and how to use their bodies to dance and make music.

My son like Yo Gabba Gabba because DJ Lance is fun and the characters are colorful.  I like Yo Gabba Gabba because it actually attempts to teach little kids lessons (like the importance of eating healthy in “Fun”).  But with my son, those lessons go right over his head for now.  He’s still little, though.  If your kids like Yo Gabba Gabba, check out this DVD.  It’s a nice one to have in your collection, especially if you’re a fan.

Yo Gabba Gabba!:  Circus is 96 minutes in length and it will be available online and at stores nationwide starting June 14th!

~I received a product sample in order to write my review. I received no monetary compensation. All opinions expressed are mine.

SpongeBob SquarePants: Heroes of Bikini Bottom DVD Review

                 

SpongeBob swings into superhero mode with an all-new eight-episode DVD: SpongeBob SquarePants: Heroes of Bikini Bottom, including the special episode, “Back to the Past,” guest starring Ernest Borgnine, Tim Conway and Batman’s Adam West and Burt Ward. A great addition to any SpongeBob collection, this DVD features animated shorts and a bonus episode of the hit Nickelodeon animated comedy series, T.U.F.F. Puppy.

SpongeBob SquarePants: Heroes of Bikini Bottom Episode Synopses:

“Back to the Past”
SpongeBob and Patrick travel back in time to see the young Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy.

“The Bad Guy Club for Villains”
SpongeBob and Patrick watch Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy fight bad guys.

“Keep Bikini Bottom Beautiful”
SpongeBob “helps” Squidward clean up the city of Bikini Bottom.

“A Pal for Gary”
SpongeBob brings Gary a pet that terrorizes him.

“Yours, Mine and Mine”
SpongeBob and Patrick buy a toy and have to learn how to share.

“Kracked Krabs”
SpongeBob goes with Mr. Krabs to the Cheapest Crab Convention.

“A Day Without Tears”
Squidward bets SpongeBob that he cannot go a day without crying.

“Summer Job”
Mrs. Puff has to work at the Krusty Krab during her summer break.

Ok, so you’re never to old to enjoy Spongebob! My kids, 15 and 13 sat down and watched it and yes, they were laughing and enjoying it! If you like Spongebob, this new DVD is a great one to add to your collection!

Spongebob Squarepants:  Heroes of Bikini Bottom runs for 88 minutes and will be available online and at stores nationwide starting on June 14th!

~I received a product sample in order to write my review. I received no monetary compensation. All opinions expressed are mine.

Joplin Missouri Aid Support

 

The employees at Gourmet Gift Baskets are determined to help Joplin in the wake of the tragedy on Monday.  In fact, we banded together to create a super-sized gift basket which will be delivered to relief workers today in Joplin Missouri. 

I want to thank Gourmet Gift Baskets for sending along this information on how to help the people in Joplin Missouri. 

Below are some ways to help that you can pass along:

Food Bank Donations

American Red Cross

Volunteering

Lyric Bands Review

Introducing the hottest lyrics focused apparel to fans worldwide!

Lyric Bands sent me a fun purple band to review. Sloan swooped it up and loves it.

This band says Whip My Hair Back & Forth. Right now Lyric Bands website is down, but you can connect with them below.

You can connect with Lyric Bands on these social media’s, Facebook and Twitter.

~I received a product sample in order to write my review. I received no monetary compensation. All opinions expressed are mine.

Polyxena~Book Review

                              

Polyxena A Story of Troy

by H. Allenger

After Troy falls, Neoptolemus claims Polyxena as his prize, but she rejects his advances. In a fit of rage, Neoptolemus contrives a story that dooms the ill-fated Polyxena. She knows what she must do to survive, but she cannot change her destiny. Polyxena, the daughter of King Priam of Troy, knows her misfortune has been to have Neoptolemus fall in love with her. As she prepares to die at the commemoration rites for Neoptolemus's father, Polyxena reflects over her past year, relating her thoughts to Aphrodite, the Goddess she believes is responsible for orchestrating the events that have beset her. As she tries to make sense of it all, Polyxena converses with all the well-known personages associated with the Trojan myth-Achilles, Agamemnon, Cassandra, Helen, and many others-while seeking solace in the hope that her existence has not been futile. In this moving story of forbidden love, a young woman who is an integral part of the romantic legacy surrounding Troy comes to a surprising and satisfying conclusion about the life she has lived.

This is a very well written book that tells the story of Polyxena in a beautiful way. The ill fate that Polyxena has to endure in her short lifetime is sad, but it also tells of the great love that she had. I really enjoyed reading about all the legendary names of try, like, Achilles, Agememnon and Paris and Helen. Definitely a great read!

~I received a product sample in order to write my review. I received no monetary compensation. All opinions expressed are mine.

Horrid Henry Rocks~Book Review

                              

Horrid Henry Rocks

by Francesca Simon

The next storybook in this hugely successful series, comprising four brand new stories about Horrid Henry and his infamous escapades.

You won’t believe what Horrid Henry will do next!

All Henry wants is to see the band in the world. But his family gets “Daffy and her dancing daisies” tickets instead. Aaarrggh! Plus three other tales that totally rock!

This is a fun book about Henry and his escapades! Reminds me of some of the mischief my boys got into. This will surely please early readers especially with the nice short chapters.

~I received a product sample in order to write my review. I received no monetary compensation. All opinions expressed are mine.

Nerve~Book Review

                                   

Nerves make us bomb job interviews, first dates, and SATs. With a presentation looming at work, fear robs us of sleep for days. It paralyzes seasoned concert musicians and freezes rookie cops in tight situations. And yet not everyone cracks. Soldiers keep their heads in combat; firemen rush into burning buildings; unflappable trauma doctors juggle patient after patient. It's not that these people feel no fear; often, in fact, they're riddled with it.

In Nerve, Taylor Clark draws upon cutting-edge science and painstaking reporting to explore the very heart of panic and poise. Using a wide range of case studies, Clark overturns the popular myths about anxiety and fear to explain why some people thrive under pressure, while others falter-and how we can go forward with steadier nerves and increased confidence.

This book will really strike a little fear as you read about snakes and tsunami’s! I goes through lots of case studies and gives advice on overcoming fears. It’s kind of like reading a series of magazine articles.

~I received a product sample in order to write my review. I received no monetary compensation. All opinions expressed are mine.

Yo Momma Extraordinary~Book Review

                                

Yo Momma Extraordinary

By Zachary Reese and Ethan McCreadie

For generations, young men have used Yo Momma jokes to torment their closest friends (e.g., “Yo momma so ugly, they filmed Gorillas in the Mist in her shower!”). 
But here at Quirk, we reject these cruel and hurtful insults. We want to show yo momma the love and respect she deserves. And so we’ve created Yo Momma So Extraordinary—the first-ever book of Yo Momma compliments. This is how we roll:
     ♥  Yo momma so considerate, she puts sheets on the couch when I stay over so it looks like I slept on it.
     ♥  Yo momma so hygienic, she sings the whole birthday song while she washes her hands to ensure that they are clean.
     ♥  Yo momma has so many cats, it’s like DAAAAAMN! Which one should I pet first?
     ♥  Yo momma so old, I sometimes question if what we have together is right.
Illustrated with dozens of ridiculously funny photographs of Mommas (and the men who love them), this odd little book will make a wonderful Mother’s Day gift for the quirky momma in yo life.

This book is really funny! It’s fairly short, written by two guys with a great sense of humor. Don’t worry, it’s not degrading, just funny!

~I received a product sample in order to write my review. I received no monetary compensation. All opinions expressed are mine.

Foldin Money Review & Giveaway!

                 

How It All Unfolded

One question that is often asked is “How did the Foldin’ Money story unfold?”

The craft of moneygami, or origami using real money instead of paper, was handed down from mother to daughter. It was a gift that was given to family and friends for birthdays where the design’s monetary value equaled the age of the recipient. Sue was inspired to add decorations to give each design even a more unique and personal quality.

                

There are lots of different kits to choose from such as, heart, cake, house, star, shirt and tie. These are such a unique way to give money. They only take a few minutes to put together, because you’re basically just taping money around a template. Don’t worry about the tape on the money because it peels right off.

                                

I was sent the star design kit. It was so simple to make and just took a couple of minutes to put together.

The star was pretty easy to make. My kids loved it and said they would love to get money this way, hint, hint! I agree, this is a fun unique way to give money!

Foldin Money is giving one lucky Songberries follower the Star Kit! To enter visit Foldin’ Money and tell me  which other kit you like, don’t forget you must be a PUBLIC* follower of my blog!

For extra entries you may~

1)Blog about this giveaway (with a link to me & Foldin’ Money )(leave me a link)~5 entries~leave 5 comments

2)Like Foldin Money Facebook~2 entries~leave 2 comments

3)Like Songberries on Facebook~2 entries~leave 2 comments

4)Update your Facebook status with the giveaway~3 entries~leave 3 comments

5)Follow Foldin Money on Twitter~2 entries~leave 2 comments

6)Follow Songberries on Twitter~2 entries~leave 2 comments

7)Tweet the giveaway~3 entries~leave 3 comments

8)Grab my button(leave me a link to your blog&tell me where to find it)~5 entries~leave 5 comments

9)Sign up for my newsletter~6 entries~leave 6 comments

10)Sign up for any of my other giveaways(top right side of my blog)~2 entries each~leave 2 comments

11)Follow me on Networked Blogs(Right side of my blog)~3 entries~leave 3 comments

*The way I check to see if you’re a public follower is by clicking on your name in the comments, which takes me to your profile. At your profile I check to see if my blog is listed.

I want to thank Foldin Money for sponsoring this giveaway. This giveaway is open to US Residents only and will close June 15, 2011 at 12am.

~I received a product sample in order to write my review. I received no monetary compensation. All opinions expressed are mine.

Bruce Paltrow’s World Famous Pancakes

I came across this recipe in a magazine a while back and had to give it a try. I liked the idea of mixing up the batter the night before. My family loved these! Chauncey said they had a crepe like taste. I’m not always a pancake fan, but I really loved these!

Bruce Paltrow’s World Famous Pancakes

1 1/2 cups flour

3 tablespoons sugar

1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

3 eggs

3 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled slightly

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

butter for frying

In a bowl whisk the dry ingredients. In another bowl whisk the eggs, buttermilk and melted butter. Add the mixtures together and mix until just combined, small lumps are ok. Cover bowl and let rest in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning heat a large nonstick skillet. (if your batter seems a little thick you can use some milk to thin it down) Butter the skillet and fry pancakes.

Sealing The Deal~Book Review

 

                          

Sealing the Deal: The Love Mentor's Guide to Lasting Love

by Diana Kirschner

Through her bestseller, Love in 90 Days, Dr. Diana Kirschner helped thousands of women find true love. Now she has written the perfect follow-up: a unique guide to deepen any love relationship, to move from casual to committed, and ultimately to go from the anxiety of not knowing where things are going...to the security of fulfilling and lasting love.

Check out these webisodes featuring Dr. Diana and Nadette as they go through the steps of finding and keeping true love:

Episode 1

Episode 2

The Love Mentors Guide to Lasting Love  will forever change your perspective on love. Dr. Diana can help with the little bumps that happen in a relationship, she has the solutions. I really enjoyed her insight on how men react and their feelings toward us women was very helpful for me. She uses simple techniques to make you aware of how you sabotage your relationship and she provides tips and ideas on how to correct your relationship with positive reinforcement exercises.I highly recommend this book!

~I received a product sample in order to write my review. I received no monetary compensation. All opinions expressed are mine.

20 Years Younger~Book Review

 

                          

It's time to turn back the clock! In 20 YEARS YOUNGER, Bob Greene offers readers a practical, science-based plan for looking and feeling their best as they age. The cutting-edge program details easy and effective steps we can all take to rebuild the foundation of youth and enjoy better health, improved energy, and a positive outlook on life. The four cornerstones of the program are: an exercise regimen for fighting muscle and bone loss, a longevity-focused diet, sleep rejuvenation, and wrinkle-fighting skin care. Woven throughout the text is practical advice on changing appearances, controlling stress, staying mentally sharp, navigating medical tests, and much more. Readers will walk away with a greater understanding of how the body ages and what they can do to feel-and look-20 years younger.

This book is about everything that you've heard and learned with more, all wrapped up in a nice book. There is really some great advice here. I enjoyed reading this book. You're never too young or too old to start doing any of his tips or techniques.  I’m find that it's particularly important, at this stage in my life, to pay attention to my exercise, eating, skin and sleep habits!

~I received a product sample in order to write my review. I received no monetary compensation. All opinions expressed are mine.

A Thread of Sky~Book Review

                                 

Looking to reconnect with their ancestral home and with one another, three generations of women tour mainland China on a journey that will change their family forever.

A stunning debut, A Thread of Sky is the story of a family of women and the powerful thread that binds their lives. In following the paths chosen by six fiercely independent women, A Thread of Sky explores the terrain we must travel to recognize the strength and vulnerability of those closest to us.

When her husband of thirty years is killed in a devastating accident, Irene Shen and her three daughters are set adrift. Nora, the eldest, retreats into her high-powered New York job and a troubled relationship. Kay, the headstrong middle child, escapes to China to learn the language and heritage of her parents. Sophie, the sensitive and artistic youngest, is trapped at home until college, increasingly estranged from her family-and herself. Terrified of being left alone with her grief, Irene plans a tour of mainland China's must sees, reuniting three generations of women-her three daughters, her distant poet sister, and her formidable eighty-year-old mother-in a desperate attempt to heal her fractured family.

If only it was so easy. Each woman arrives bearing secrets big and small, and as they travel-visiting untouched sections of the Great Wall and the seedy bars of Shanghai, the beautiful ancient temples and cold, modern shopping emporiums-they begin to wonder if they will ever find the China they seek, the one their family fled long ago.

Over days and miles they slowly find their way toward a new understanding of themselves, of one another, and of the vast complexity of their homeland, only to have their new bonds tested as never before when the darkest, most carefully guarded secret of all tumbles to the surface and threatens to tear their family apart forever. A Thread of Sky is a beautifully written and deeply haunting story about love and sacrifice, history and memory, sisterhood and motherhood, and the connections that endure.

I enjoyed reading A Thread of Sky. This novel weaves a wonderful tapestry - both with the relationships of grandmother, sisters, and daughters and the history and perceptions of life that each brings to their vacation trip to China.

 
I found all of the characters to be very realistic in their relationships with each other. And also in their reactions to what they were seeing. Deanna Fei does a wonderful job describing the scenes in the different Chinese locales and the reactions of the Chinese -American daughter’s to the food, the shops, the toilet facilities as well as the actual sights.

~I received a product sample in order to write my review. I received no monetary compensation. All opinions expressed are mine.

Stuff Every Husband Should Know~Book Review

                               

On the heels of the successful Stuff Every Man Should Know and Stuff Every Woman Should Know comes the volume that both genders will treasure: Stuff Every Husband Should Know. Finally, the priceless, practical wisdom that all wives hope their husbands possess is gathered in one book! New husbands and their long-suffering brethren alike will find helpful knowledge of all kinds:

     •  The Ten Commandments of Laundry
     •  How to Hire Handymen
     •  Side with Your Wife, Not Your Mother
     •  How to Drive in Peace
     •  Wife Space Comes Before Man Cave
     •  And much, much more!

This stylish pocket-sized hardcover is the perfect gift for weddings, anniversaries, Father’s Day, or any time of the year.

This is such a great little book! First of all, I love the size, it could easily be put in a pocket. Is has everything a guy needs to know from making a bed to fixing a sink! I think this would be a good book to give to every teenage boy so they have time to learn all the basics they need to know to be a good husband. Actually it will help them whether they marry or not.

~I received a product sample in order to write my review. I received no monetary compensation. All opinions expressed are mine.

FOOD CAN TASTE GOOD AND BE GOOD FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY

 

                 

The new Dietary Guidelines recommend Americans eat at least 2 servings of seafood a week, and no one makes it easier to do that than Gorton’s!

From kid-favorite crunchy fish sticks to expertly prepared and seasoned grilled salmon, tilapia and breaded flounder, you'll find creating a flavorful and good-for-you dinner has never been easier!

Looking for a new twist of flavor? Try topping your favorite fish with Wholly Guacamole and Wholly Salsa! Top for added spice or wrap and roll for fish taco night!

Check out these great recipes and then head on over to Facebook for up to $2.00 off tonight's dinner!

Mini Tostadas:

Crunchy Fish Tacos:

Avocado Stuffed Salmon:

Tilapia Ceviche:

You can get $1 off coupons for Gorton’s Seafood on their Facebook page!

You can also get a $1 off coupon for Wholly Guacamole on their Facebook page!

Must Haves for Your Memorial Day Getaway!

Protect your skin with the new Smart Girls Who Surf SPF 30+ Mineral Sunscreen Lotion! Unlike synthetic sunscreens that contain potentially dangerous chemicals such as Oxybenzone and Homosalate, Smart Girls Who Surf offers only certified chemical-free, paraben-free formulas, created with natural active ingredients Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide to provide powerful broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection. $14.99 at www.smartgirlswhosurf.com

Your skin isn’t the only thing susceptible to the sun and other summer elements. Make sure the Davines SU Sun Oil: Moisturizing for Hair and Body is safely packed in your beach and overnight bags! This multi-tasking hair and body essential nourishes and protects with a powerful blend of Argan and Jojoba Oils, Vitamin E and UV filters. With its innovative anti-aging formula, the lightweight oil preserves the integrity of hair color and skin tone, protecting against the drying and damaging effects of salt, sun and chloride for an all-over healthy shine. $28 at www.davines.com

Be sure to have your favorite moisturizing lip tint on hand. Each of the four shades of Clark’s Botanicals Ultra Rich Lip Tints provides sheer color that will keep your lips looking plump, while acting like mini water reservoirs for intense, long-lasting hydration! $19 at www.clarksbotanicals.com

Atopalm’s Moisturizing Hand Treatment helps fight the visible signs of aging and provide anti-oxidant protection while softening and smoothing your skin. Your skin will be left more supple and looking brighter – definitely a must for when the sun reflects off of your bracelets and rings. $18 at www.atopalmusa.com

I had the opportunity to try several items from the ATOPALM line and they are amazing creams. I tried the Moisturizing Hand Cream and it really gives a deep moisturing on dry hands. My hubby really liked it too, especially because it is scentless. I also tried the Undermakeup Moisturizing Cream. It is also scentless and left my face feeling just right. The last one I tried is the Intensive Moisturizing Cream. It is great for dry cracked heals and elbows. Mine are in much better shape since using the cream.