Monster Jam coming to Cleveland!

Monster Jam is coming to Cleveland!

When: FEB. 15 - 17

Where: QUICKEN LOANS ARENA

Show Times:
Fri. 7:30 PM
Sat. 2:00 & 7:30 PM
Sun. 2:00 PM

The premier monster truck series, Monster Jam attracts more than four million fans annually at arenas and stadiums throughout the world. Monster Jam events showcase freestyle and racing competition among custom-designed machines that average 12 feet tall by 12 feet wide, sit atop 66-inch-tall tires and weigh a MINIMUM of 10,000 pounds. Built for short, high-powered bursts of speed, monster trucks generate 1,500 to 2,000 horsepower and are capable of speeds of up to 100 miles per hour. Monster trucks can fly up to 125 to 130 feet (a distance greater than 14 cars side-by-side) and up to 35 feet in the air.

Monster Jam is sanctioned by the United States Hot Rod Association®. Monster Jam trucks slated to appear at The Q in 2013 include Grave Digger, Avenger, Wrecking Crew, Samson, hometown heroes Spiderman and Bad Habit, and making their Cleveland debut – Son Uva Digger and El Toro Loco!

Strangely (at least to me), the person in my house that is most excited about Monster Jam is my 6 year old daughter. I think that one of her friends at school last year (a little boy) was really in to Monster Trucks, because she talked about them all the time. She even has a Grave Digger Monster Truck that she claims to be a favorite toy.

DISCOUNT INFO

MONSTER JAM FAMILY FOOD PACKAGE ***BEST VALUE!

Buy 4 tickets, get 4 FREE hot dogs and 4 FREE sodas using code: MJMOM

Not valid on FR or Gold Circle tickets. Can buy any number of tickets, not just in 4 packs.

$12 tickets to Opening Night, Friday 2/15/13 at 7:30PM

Not valid on Front Row or Gold Circle Seats.

$10 KIDS tickets to all performances!

Not valid on Front Row or Gold Circle Seats.

HOW TO GET TICKETS:

1. Quicken Loans Arena Box Office

2. Q Arena Website


3. By phone at 888-894-9424

(charges may apply for phone and internet purchases)

Tickets are $3 more day of the show.

PRE-SHOW PIT PARTY
Come see the drivers & their trucks up-close and personal for $10!

A sold-out event year after year, Monster Jam’s Party in the Pits runs from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 16th and Sunday February 17th, prior to the 2:00 p.m. show. The pre-show pit party gives fans (with a pit pass and show ticket) the chance to see these larger-than-life monster trucks up close, meet the drivers behind the wheel, take pictures and get autographs! Pit passes will be available for $10 online at theQarena.com after tickets have been purchased and at the Quicken Loans Arena box office, while supplies last.

Giveaway!

One A Busy Mom of Two reader will win a 4 pack of tickets + 4 pit passes to Saturday’s 2PM show.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Giveaway will remain open through February 9th. Giveaway is open to residents of the US only. Winners will be selected through Rafflecopter. The winners will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.

No compensation was received for this post. I received four tickets to show and information about the event and discounts as a Feld Family Blogger. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family.

Pretty Muddy 5K

I am so excited to share that I get to be a part of the Pretty Muddy blog team.

I have heard of similar events before, but was not familiar with the Pretty Muddy 5K. Pretty Muddy is an All Women Mud Run, that is 5K in length and features several obstacles (more on them here). And when you are all done? - Pretty Epic Finish Line Party (entertainment, music, drinks & celebration galore).

The events are held around the country, so there's a good chance that there is one near you.

It is really short notice, but right now is the best time to register. TODAY only!, you can receive a $20 Discount on registration. This is the cheapest registration that you will find for the events this year.

2013 Pretty Muddy Events

Dallas, TX – June 1

Sacramento, CA – June 29

Chicago, IL – September 7

Columbus, OH- September 14

Richmond, VA – September 28

Atlanta, GA – October 12

Tampa, FL – November 30

Miami, FL – December 7

Interested? Here is a post that steps through how to select an event and use the code code GIRLTIME to get a $20 discount!

I am looking forward to running it. It has been 16 years since I last ran a 5K, but I like having a goal, plus it sounds like a ton of fun. Won't you join in the fun?

My Kid Report- Hormel® Natural Choice®

When my kids were born, my husband created little fact sheets about their birthday. There were events from that month, information about cost of living, sports news, the year in music, the year in movies and famous people that shared the birthday. He laminated them and we included them in their baby books.

Recently, I learned about a fun little app on Facebook - the new Hormel® Natural Choice® “My Kid Report” - that allows you to create fun infographics to keep track of all of your kids "firsts, favorites and feats.” It is a cute little application, that probably works best for the 5 - 6 year old set (based on the presets that you can choose between).

I wanted to print it and share, but my printer seemed to be having some issues this morning. So, here is a screen shot for you to get a little taste:

Head over to Facebook and check it out with your kids.


No compensation was received for this post. All opinions expressed are mine or those of my family. I am completing this post as a participant in the Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger program. Hormel Foods provided a thought starter and some of the information for this post.

Winter in Ohio

After a cold and snowy sort of weekend, it got pretty nice here yesterday - close to 60⁰ for the high. Here we are starting the day near 60⁰, by the end of the day the temperature will be dropping 34⁰. Tomorrow, the slide continues.

'Nuff said!

This post shared at Wordless Wednesday (guess there are few words though).

Menu Plan Monday

What a great weekend it was! Friday night was just a normal evening. My daughter had soccer, but otherwise it was a quiet evening at home. Saturday was filled with activity. I started my day off with Zumba, then we had a soccer game and then my son had baseball practice. I got the chance to go out with several friends to enjoy a great dinner at Cilantro, a Thai restaurant that I had not been to before and then enjoyed Girls Night: the Musical at the Akron Civic Theatre. Sunday afternoon we fit in grocery shopping and a baseball practice for my son.

This week's menu continues to use up stuff in the freezer. I am trying to essentially empty the upstairs freezer and then will start to restock.

Sunday
Chicken Enchiladas

Monday
Chicken and Dumplings

Tuesday
Pizza

Wednesday
Lasagne/Pasta

Thursday
Tacos

Friday
Hot Dogs

Saturday
TBD


Breakfast is cereal or oatmeal each morning. Lunch for the kids is either the school lunch or usually a couple of times a week they pack. Lunch for my husband and me is typically sandwiches, frozen meals or leftovers.

This post shared at Menu Plan Monday.

Ride Along Dolly - Doll Bike Seat winner

Congratulations to the winner of the Ride Along Dolly - Doll Bike Seat:

Jen!

Thanks everyone for entering and be sure to check out the current giveaways, listed in the upper right sidebar.

Progresso Recipe Starters

I am always one to try new things. I recently tried the Progresso Recipe Starters. I picked up the Creamy Roasted Garlic and tried the recipe inside. It was pretty tasty, but I think that for me, the better application of the Recipe Starters will be to use them as a base for other recipes - like my Lemon Artichoke Pasta, where it would provide a thicker base for the lemon juice and deliver closer to the restaurant dish that I am making at home.

Game Day is one of the best days of the year to get together with friends and enjoy some delicious food and fun. This year, let Progresso™ Recipe Starters™ be the perfect teammate and help you score big at your party. With plenty of recipe ideas for different Game Day snacks, Progresso™ Recipe Starters™ will make sure you have a crowd-pleasing performance.

Check out our line of Progresso™ Recipe Starters™ and use some of our favorite recipe ideas below for your Game Day party!

Creamy Portabella Mushroom: Creamy and highly indulgent, this smooth sauce is rich with sautéed Portabella mushrooms, giving you any easy way to start delicious dishes like Cheesy-Mushroom Joes and Mushroom-Swiss Burgers.

Bacon Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms

Creamy Parmesan Basil: This creamy, full-bodied and indulgent sauce that was inspired by alfredo and creamy pesto sauces can be used to make dishes such as Pizza Primavera and Slow Cooker Lasagna Alfredo.

Chicken And Ham Slab Sandwiches

Creamy Roasted Garlic: With caramelized, roasted chicken broth, garlic and a touch of cream, this stock is perfect for dishes such as Cheesy Turkey Sandwiches, Chicken Enchiladas and Green Chiles Chicken Quesadillas.

Easy White Chicken Chili

Creamy Three Cheese: Rich and creamy with a blend of yellow and white cheeses, and a savory background of chicken stock, onion, garlic and cracked pepper, this is a great way to satisfy cheese lovers with Easy Weeknight Bacon Mac & Cheese, Baked Turkey Hoagie and Cheddar-Parmesan Puffs with Dipping Sauces.

Chorizo Con Queso

Fire Roasted Tomato: A medium-thick tomato sauce, accompanied by flavors of roasted, caramelized tomatoes, oregano and bell peppers, which can be used as a great way to begin creating Buffalo Chicken-Potato Bake, Saucy Meatball Hoagies and Zesty Turkey Tacos.

Pulled Chicken Sandwiches

Want to try out one of these recipes? You can click here to download a printable coupon for $.65 off the purchase of 1 can of Progresso Recipe Starters.

To learn more and find more recipes, check out the Progresso Website and be sure to Like Progresso on Facebook.

Giveaway!

Your gift pack will contain:
• 10 Piece Cheese & Appetizer Set
• One Can of Creamy Roasted Garlic Progresso™ Recipe Starters™
Giveaway will remain open through February 11th. Giveaway is open to residents of the US only. One winner will be selected through Rafflecopter. The winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.
a Rafflecopter giveaway


No compensation was received for this post.
The information, products and Progresso™ Recipe Starters™ gift packs were provided by Progresso through MyBlogSpark. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family.

CVS Deals - 1/20

For the first time in a long time, I made it to CVS this week.

1 - Speedstick
1 - Irish Spring Body Wash
1 - 6pk Irish Spring Soap
1 - Colgate Optic Cool
1 - Clear Conditioner Travel Size

-$1 Speedstick mfg coupon
-$1 Irish Spring mfg coupon
-$1 Irish Spring soap mfg coupon
-$.50 Colgate Optic mfg coupon
-$2.49 Clear Travel Size

Paid with $3, $4, and $.75 ECBs and $1.14 OOP. Earned $6 ECBs. Then, I submitted the receipt on ibotta and Endorse and earned $1.75 and $.15 back. Essentially, paying $.60 and tax for the above.

Samples and Freebies

Requested:
L'oreal Hair Care sample

Recevied:
Align sample (VocalPoint)

Emmy Rossum - Sentimental Journey

When I was first asked about listening and sharing Emmy Rossum's soon to be released album, Sentimental Journey, I had never heard of her and had no idea what to expect. When I received the album, I started to listen to it, before doing any research. As is the case with any music, I set out to listening to it in my car. I like this because I am driving and don't have the ability to look ahead on a track listing or anticipate what is left on the album.

As I listened, I started to recognize some of the music that she was singing - turns out that Sentimental Journeys is a collection of classic covers. She has the perfect voice to present these classics to the listener. As I listened to her, I could imagine her singing along with the Rat Pack or being a lounge singer, like you see in those older movies.

As I listened, I noticed that there were a number of songs about seasons, including one that seemed to be a Christmas song. I later learned that her organizing principle when compiling the album was a musical calendar that would take listeners on an emotional journey through the 12 months of the year. This is a rather unique approach, but I think I kind of like it - even though it was odd to listen to a Christmas like song in January.

Sentimental Journey, releasing on January 29th, is a collection of classic covers that takes us through the American Songbook.

On Sentimental Journey, the multi-talented actress and singer brings her stellar voice to songs popularized by some of the most beloved artists of the last century. Emmy's 12-song 'passion project' is an emotional musical journey, with each song representing a month in the year.

"Each song needed to either lyrically or emotionally reflect the corresponding month," Emmy explained. "Some songs were obvious fits, like Summer Wind for June, and Pretty Paper for December. Others songs were less literal fits. I chose Nobody Knows You (When You're Down and Out) for September because, to me, the plaintive melody and lyric emotionally reflect the cold weather creeping in and the sense of melancholy we can get in the fall months."

Rossum is also an acclaimed actress who currently stars in the Showtime series Shameless with William H. Macy. She also stars alongside Emma Thompson and Viola Davis in the upcoming feature film Beautiful Creatures, which hits theaters on February 13th.

Sentimental Journey Track Listing:

“Sentimental Journey” (Les Brown, Ben Homer, Arthur Green)
“The Object Of My Affection” (Pinky Tomlin)
“I’m Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover “(Mort Dixon, Harry M. Woods)
“These Foolish Things (Remind Me Of You)” (Eric Maschwitz, Jack Strachey)
“(I’ll Be With You) In Apple Blossom Time” (Albert Von Tilzer, Neville Fleeson)
“Summer Wind” (Heinz Meier, Johnny Mercer)
“Many Tears Ago” (Winfield Scott)
“All I Do Is Dream Of You” (Nacio Herb Brown, Arthur Freed)
“Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out” (Jimmy Cox)
“Autumn Leaves” (Joseph Kosma, Jacques Prévert)
“Things” (Bobby Darin)
“Pretty Paper” (Willie Nelson)

Check out the video for These Foolish Things:

Her album is currently available through iTunes or Amazon for pre-order. (It was cheaper on Amazon by $2, when I checked).

You can catch Emmy performing a track from her new album today (January 25th) on Access Hollywood Live. She will also be appearing as a guest on several other shows in the next week or so - on Conan on January 28th, Chelsea Lately on January 29th, and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on February 6th.

You can follow Emmy on Twitter and learn more about her on her website. When I was exploring her website, I saw that she received Golden Globe nomination for her role as Christine in the movie Phantom of the Opera. I watched that movie a few years back, but after listening to her album, I want to go back and check out the movie again.

No compensation was received for this post. I participated in this campaign for One2One Network and received a free copy of the CD to facilitate my review. By posting, I am eligible for incentives. All opinions stated are my own.

National Soup Month

It has been extremely cold here this week. When it gets this cold, nothing warms you up like a nice, hot bowl of soup. This week, I have had soup at lunch a couple of times and tonight, we are having it for dinner.

With as cold as it is in January, it is no wonder that January marks National Soup Month. I imagine that I am not the only that turns to a hot bowl of soup to warm them up!

When it comes to soup, my favorite ones are those that are easy to prepare. Whether I am enjoying a made from scratch soup like my Roasted Cauliflower Cheese soup or I am simply making a can of ready to eat soup, I want it to be flavorful and satisfying. I frequently will pair it with a sandwich - who doesn't enjoy a nice grilled cheese sandwich with their tomato soup or a turkey club with a bowl of chicken noodle - or with a salad and a nice slice of bread.

With it being National Soup Month, I thought I would share with you some easy soup recipes from Hormel.

• Chicken Taco Tortilla Soup: Ready to spice things up? This recipe features a variety of CHI-CHI'S® ingredients for a flavorful, Mexican inspired soup that will warm you right up!

• Bacon and Potato Soup: Filled with favorites like Hormel® fully cooked bacon, the Bacon and Potato Soup is a perfect complement to a salad for lunch or dinner.

• Chicken Noodle and Vegetable Soup: An all-time favorite of many, this recipe gives a gourmet spin on the classic chicken noodle soup and is full of flavor with Herb-Ox® chicken instant powder and Hormel® chunk breast of chicken.

For more soup ideas, check out the Hormel Foods recipe page featuring plenty more to choose from!

What soup does your family request the most during the winter? Do you prefer homemade soups or canned soups? Does your family enjoy any other soup recipes featuring Hormel Foods products?


No compensation was received for this post. All opinions expressed are mine or those of my family. I am completing this post as a participant in the Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger program. Hormel Foods provided a thought starter and some of the information for this post.

America's Got Talent Live - All Stars Tour. CANCELLED!

UPDATE:
This tour has been cancelled.
"AMERICA'S GOT TALENT LIVE - ALL STARS TOUR"
Wednesday, February 20, 2013 8:00 PM
Akron Civic Theatre

The America's Got Talent Live: All Stars Tour is bringing the top fan-favorites to you live!

Hosted by the one-and-only Jerry Springer, it will feature superstars such as:

• Olate Dogs and their amazing style of K-9 entertainment- This Season's $1 Million Winner
• Eugene Landau Murphy and his awesome big band Sinatra singing sound
• Last Season's Winner Eric Dittelman -This Season's Mentalist/Mind Reader
• Spencer Horsman -This Season's Escape Artist and Illusionist
• Singer Tim Hockenberry
• Comedian/Impressionist Dave Burleigh

... all under the watchful eye of iconic Master of Ceremonies Jerry Springer.

See the acts that wowed the nation live and in-person!

You can purchase your tickets online through the Akron Civic Website or in person at the Akron Civic Theatre. Tickets start at $29.50 and there is an option for VIP tickets with Meet and Greet for $85.00

Giveaway!

Show has been cancelled. Sorry!

Giveaway will remain open through February 5th. Giveaway is open to residents of the US only. Winners will be selected through Rafflecopter. The winners will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.

No compensation was received for this post. I received the tickets for the show, courtesy of Akron Civic Theater. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family.

Girls Night: The Musical - winner!

Congratulations to Keri! Her entry was selected as the winner of the Girls Night: The Musical tickets for the show at the Akron Civic Theater. An e-mail was sent to the winner.

Thanks everyone for entering and be sure to watch for another show giveaway, coming soon!

Also, be sure to check out the current giveaways in the upper right sidebar.

CVS Scenarios - week of 1/20

Not many of the deals at CVS jumped out at me this week. There is one deal that I will check out, because combined with Endorse and my ibotta coupons, it makes for some inexpensive soap, body wash, deodorant, and toothpaste. (note, ibotta customizes based on your likes/dislikes and deals you have redeemed, so your offers may be different)

Transaction #1
1 - Clear Shampoo sample size
1 - Irish Spring Bar Soap, 6ct
1 - Irish Spring Body Wash
1 - Speed Stick Deodorant
1 - Colgate Optic White Toothpaste

-FREE Clear Shampoo Sample size (CVS.com coupon)
-$1 Irish Spring Soap mfg coupon
-$1 Irish Spring Body Wash mfg coupon
-$1 Speed Stick Deodorant mfg coupon
-$.50 Colgate Optic White mfg coupon

Total $8.49 OOP, earn $6 ECBs. Redeem for $.50 Speed Stick ibotta offer, $1.25 Colgate Optic White ibotta offer and 10% on any toothpaste Endorse offer - for a total of $2.05 cash back. The net cost for everything works out to be $.44. Not too shabby!

For more CVS Scenarios and Deals, check out Money Saving Mom and Deal Seeking Mom.

Removing Nail Polish from Wood Furniture

I recently learned this tip, out of necessity. My daughter and her friend decided that they wanted to paint their nails on Saturday. I gave them paper to put underneath, but at some point they managed to either have some drip on the table or inadvertently rubbed a wet nail on the table, because on Sunday, when we were cleaning off the table, we noticed a nice green spot and streak.

The thing about a wooden table is that you don't want to remove the finish, so your choice of cleaners has to be careful. We knew that using acetone or likely even a non-acetone nail polish remover was out of the question. We tried assorted sprays including wood cleaners, to no avail.

Then, we tried steel wool grade 0000, super fine. With the lightest of touch (so as not to sand off the finish), we removed the nail polish from the table. The smear was easier to clean up, as it was a very thin amount. The drip took a little more effort. There was a slight dullness to the finish, but a quick use of some Pledge brought back the shine. Because I know where to look, I can still see the spot, but if you aren't looking for it, it is invisible.

Glad I know this trick, but certainly hope I don't need to use it again.

This post shared at Works for Me Wednesday.

Menu Plan Monday

Okay, I know, it is Wednesday already, but I just have been busy and not had the time that I hoped to have for doing some posting. The menu this week is pretty straight-forward. We had friends in for the evening on Saturday, so I went shopping for what we needed on Saturday afternoon, but hadn't yet determined the menu yet. I developed a plan on the fly and grabbed a few things, filling in the gaps with what we had on hand.

Sunday
Cereal
Sandwiches
Stuffed Peppers

Monday
Spaghetti with meat sauce

Tuesday
leftovers

Wednesday
Sausage and Pancakes

Thursday
Coconut Shrimp and Sauteed Scallops

Friday
Homemade Pizza

Saturday
cereal
sandwiches
Buffalo Chicken Rolls

Breakfast is cereal or oatmeal each morning. Lunch for the kids is either the school lunch or usually a couple of times a week they pack. Lunch for my husband and me is typically sandwiches, frozen meals or leftovers.

This post shared at Menu Plan Monday.

Yo Gabba Gabba - Get The Sillies Out winner

Congratulations to Stacey! Her entry was selected as the winner of the ticket giveaway for the Yo Gabba Gabba - Get the Sillies Out giveaway.

Thanks everyone for entering and be sure to check out the other giveaways on A Busy Mom of Two.

Sisterchicks in Gondolas by Robin Jones Gunn

Over the holidays, I did a lot of reading. The book that I was nearly finished with when I had to return to a more standard schedule of work, school and sports was Sisterchicks in Gondolas by Robin Jones Gunn. I was intrigued by the title. I had recently finished reading the Girl in the Glass, which had also been in large part set in Italy, when I selected it to read.

Sisterchicks in Gondolas follows the story of Jenna and Sue, who head to Venice to cook for a mission leaders' retreat. Jenna's friend from college was organizing the retreat and asked her to come and cook for the group. He offered her two complimentary airline tickets and the opportunity to stay on at the villa where the retreat was being held for the remainder of the week after the four day retreat was complete. She brought along her sister-in-law Sue to help with the cooking and to share in the experience. This journey to Venice turns into a spiritual journey that leaves the women feeling transformed and 'victims of grace'.

The book was well written and entertaining. I enjoyed the experience of Venice through Jenna's eyes. I watched as they fell into a daily routine and pushed their own boundaries of comfort. I liked their references to earning 'badges' for the various adventures, including sleeping on the roof and later, mattress surfing down the stairs. It was really great to watch these women's relationship with each other, themselves and God develop as they lived life in Venice. Jenna even renewed a relationship with a woman that she worked with years ago, through one of the mission leaders at the retreat.

I was a little bothered that after spending chapters exploring a seven day visit, the author tried to summarize the next few years in last five pages. Whereas it was nice to learn that they continued on their Sisterchick adventures, spreading laughter and bringing gifts where they went, it was just too much info in five pages and felt forced. Simply summarizing with the perspective that they carried on their adventures and spread laughter and shared gifts, would have been a smoother ending.

Otherwise, though, the book was enjoyable and I would recommend it.

As I continue to read stories set against various cities in Italy, I will soon need to plan a trip there. I will of course include Venice and Florence on my journey, so that I too can share in the sites and sounds that the women in my recent books have experienced.
No compensation was received for this post. A copy of the book was provided through Blogging for Books. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family.

pv.body

I never used to have much concern or consideration for my workout clothes. Most of my exercise would take place in my family room or in the fuzzy light of pre-dawn. If I saw people, it certainly wasn't many and not usually the same people even. When I worked out at home, it wasn't uncommon for me to put on a workout top and keep on my pajama bottoms. Or, if I did change, I didn't worry much about them matching.

Now that I am working out most mornings at the Y, in organized classes, I feel like there is suddenly a need to be concerned about my workout fashion. I want to have clothes that are comfortable, but reasonably fashionable (matching?). There seems to be a common group of people that take the classes each morning, so having variety is also important so that I don't have to wear the same outfit each day.

pv.body is a company that, once you sign up and complete a survey of what type of athlete you are, they send you an awesome complete outfit of fitness apparel in brands people love – Lululemon, ALO, Nux, Nike, etc. Best of all, each outfit is only $49 (~$150 ARV).

pv. body keeps things simple. Basically, you take a quick quiz (answering questions about your favorite types of workouts, your size, style, color palettes you like, etc.) and a personal pv. body style profile is created for you. The pv. body team puts together a personalized outfit for you each month and ships it to you. You can decide how frequently you want to get a new outfit and take breaks from shipments too. Products are offered in sizes XS - L.

Want to check it out? As a special for A Busy Mom of Two readers, you can get 20% off your first outfit if you sign up through my link. This makes it only $39/month for a new workout outfit.

As a special bonus, after you sign up through the above link, you can then come back here and use this link to take the pv.body 30 Day Challenge and kick start your New Year resolutions and receive tons of fun prizes. (IMPORTANT: Please note that you will not receive the discount if you sign up for the challenge first; you have to sign up through the discount link above to receive the 20% off.) The pv.body 30 day challenge provides you with your own personal dietitian and trainer to help you meet your fitness and health goals. Everyday, our pv.body babes will be given a new challenge that they can share with friends! Challenges include workouts, recipes, meal plans, group activities and more!

No compensation was received for this post. As a pv.body ambassador, I will receive one free workout outfit based on my survey responses, so that I can experience the service. The discount link is also my referral link.

Winner of Michael Palmer's Political Suicide Giveaway

Congratulations to Carrie! Her entry was selected as the winner of the Michael Palmer's Political Suicide giveaway. She will receive a hard cover, autographed copy of Michael Palmer's latest release.

Thanks everyone for entering and be sure to check out the other giveaways on the side bar.

Kohl's - new online tool

Recently, I have been doing a lot more shopping online - both real shopping and "window" shopping. Don't get me wrong, I still love to go shopping, but time is not always on my side. Frequently, shopping means going out in the evening after the kids are in bed or trying to squeeze it in between activities. As such, even if I am going to shop, if I am heading out to get something for someone, I like to have a good idea in my head of what I am going to get.

Recently, Kohl's launched a tool in their toys department that will make browsing even easier. This new tool allows shoppers to browse toys based on age. It makes shopping for age appropriate gifts for your kids, cousins, nieces, nephews and grandchildren a whole lot easier!

Giveaway!
To help celebrate their new tool, Kohl's is offering one A Busy Mom of Two reader a $50 Kohl's gift card.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Giveaway will remain open through January 31st. Giveaway is open to residents of the US only. One winner will be selected through Rafflecopter. The winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.


No compensation was received for this post. Kohl's provided information and the gift card for the giveaway. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family.

Samples and Freebies

Requested:
Tide Pods sample (Home Depot)
Lipton Black Tea (Facebook)

Received:
Cream of Wheat - Chocolate, sample and coupon

Disney On Ice presents Rockin' Ever After - giveaway winner and special offer

Cograts to Jaci! Her entry was selected as the winner of the 4-pack of tickets to see Disney on Ice presents Rockin' Ever After in Cleveland.

Don't forget, you can still take advantage of this special for tickets -
Buy 4 tickets, get 4 FREE hot dogs and 4 FREE sodas using code: FAMILY the Quicken Loans Arena Box Office, theQarena.com or by phone at 888.894.9424.
Not valid on Saturdays @3PM or Sundays @1PM. Can buy any number of tickets, not just in 4 packs.

The show opens this Friday.

Be sure to check out the other giveaways going on now at A Busy Mom of Two. They are listed in the right side bar and there are more to come!

Ride Along Dolly - Doll Bike Seat

Being of a frugal mind, like I am, when we picked out my son's first bike several years ago, I made sure that we selected one that wasn't too 'boy'. I figured that when you are looking at a small starter bike, you won't get much use out of it and using the same bike for both kids simply would make more sense. The one we got was definitely 'boy', but being green and black without any character tie in, I felt it would work for my daughter.

When he was big enough to move up to the next size bike, we put the training wheels back on and added a basket with big flowers. Of course, my daughter wanted a seat for her dolly, which seemed to be available with some new bikes. Last year, I searched high and low for a doll seat that could easily be attached to a child's bike. I even called the companies that sold bikes with them on to find out if there was any way I could buy it direct from them. I simply wasn't able to find one. It was the only thing that I had wanted to get and I couldn't find it. I actually continued to check when we were at the store to see if I could find one.

This year, my daughter got a big girl bike from Santa. It didn't come with a doll seat either.

Now though, there is finally an option (I actually think it might have been an out of stock option the prior year, as I am pretty sure I did a search on this item before) - Ride Along Dolly - doll bike seat.

It is a cute little, pink, lightweight plastic seat that easily attaches to the bike frame - all of the hardware is included. It even comes with stickers so that your little mommy can decorate that seat in whatever way she feels. Dolly can be securely fastened in with an easy to operate clasp. The seat fits dolls (or a favorite stuffed toy) from 18'22" and up to 3#.

I like that it is lightweight, because it doesn't feel like it would have a significant impact on the balance of the bike or make it harder to pedal. I have to believe that the 3# guideline for doll weight has to mean that most dolls can ride along, I can't imagine a dolly that is much heavier than 3#.

Unfortunately, while it is easy to attach and includes all of the necessary hardware, the bicycle that my daughter got has an integrated rear fender that flows from the frame, meaning that while the seat would have worked on the bike she inherited from her brother, now that she has her own 'girl' bike, there is no place to attach it on the new bike.

Giveaway!
Courtesy of Ride Along Dolly, one A Busy Mom of Two reader will have the chance to win a Ride Along Dolly seat.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Giveaway will remain open through January 22nd. Giveaway is open to residents of the US only. One winner will be selected through Rafflecopter. The winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.

No compensation was received for this post. I received a complimentary Ride Along Dolly doll seat to facilitate my review and one to give away to a reader. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family.

Yo Gabba Gabba! - Get the Sillies Out! Ticket Giveaway!

YO GABBA GABBA - Get the Sillies Out!
Tickets on sale 12/3/12
Show Times: January 22, 2013 3:30 and 6:30 PM
Akron Civic Theatre

"Is your family ready to GET THE SILLIES OUT? Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! is going back on the road in 2013 with a new show, "Get the Sillies Out!" featuring the one and only DJ Lance Rock, plus Muno, Foofa, Brobee, Toodee, and Plex, and of course, hip hop legend Biz Markie.

Winner of Billboard's Creative Content Award, Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! has performed in front of countless fans across the U.S. and Canada over the past three years, and the new show "Get the Sillies Out!" is sure to be one you won't want to miss. They have taken the fan favorites from the past two tours and combined them with some all-new music and other surprises that we can't tell you about- yet!

Buy tickets or Gabba Party Packages (including a meet & greet with the characters) right away and give your kids an experience they won't soon forget. Plus, you'll have just as much fun as they will!

For more information, visit http://www.yogabbagabbalive.com."

You can head over to Ticketmaster.com and purchase tickets. Ticket prices range from $25 - $45 for the show or $125 for the Gabba Party Packages (including a meet & greet with the characters).

Giveaway!
Courtesy of the Akron Civic Theater, I have the opportunity to giveaway another Family Four-Pack of tickets to see Yo Gabba Gabba - Get the Sillies Out on January 22 at 6:30 pm at the Akron Civic Theater.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway will remain open through January 15th. Giveaway is open to residents of the US only. Winner will be selected through Rafflecopter. The winner will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.

No compensation was received for this post. I received the tickets for the show, courtesy of Akron Civic Theater. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family.

Girls Night: The Musical at Akron Civic - discount code and giveaway!

Girls Night: The Musical

January 26, 2013 8:00 PM
Akron Civic Theatre
Girls Night: The Musical has been thrilling audiences and earning raves from critics throughout North America since it began touring after its sensational Off-Broadway debut. This touching and hilarious "tell-it-like-it-is" musical takes audiences on a journey into the lives of a group of female friends. Audience members can't help but laugh, cry and even sing and dance in the aisles to some the most popular hit songs of the 80s and 90s! Follow five friends as they re-live their past, celebrate their present, and look to the future on a wild and hilarious night out ... and you'll recognize a bit of yourselves in each one of them! It is described as "Desperate Housewives meets Mamma Mia" (Applause Magazine) and "As funny and outrageous as Sex & the City!" (The Advocate). Girls Night is packed with hits "Lady Marmalade," "It's Raining Men," "Man I Feel Like A Woman," "I Will Survive," "We are Family" and many more!

You can purchase your tickets through the Akron Civic site and get 20% off your tickets when you use the code PARTY.

My friends and I are looking forward to a night out. We will likely start our evening with a dinner and then head to the show.

Giveaway!
One lucky A Busy Mom of Two reader will win a 4-pack of tickets to see Girls Night: The Musical at the Akron Civic Theater on Saturday, January 26th at 8 pm.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Giveaway will remain open through January 20th. Giveaway is open to residents of the US only. Winners will be selected through Rafflecopter. The winners will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.

No compensation was received for this post. I received the tickets for the show, courtesy of Akron Civic Theater. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family.

DiGiorno Deal

A week or so ago, there was a coupon on Coupons.com for Buy 2 Get 1 Free DiGiorno Pizza deal (it was still available the other day). I printed it off, knowing that I was in the midst of defrosting my freezer and soon would be ready to stock up.

I went to Walmart and combined it with the iBotta coupon and got a great deal on pizzas.

6 - DiGiorno pizzas @ $4.98

-$4.98 DiGiorno B2G1 IP
-$4.98 DiGiorno B2G1 IP

Total $19.92 OOP

-$1 iBotta coupon

= $3.15 each net cost for the pizza.

Now, I purchased in two separate transactions, because I noticed that iBotta tends to bring back variations on the same offers. Unfortunately, their variation on this one was for a traditional crust, which I didn't buy or I could have gotten an additional $1 back.

Disney On Ice - Rockin’ Pep Rally

Disney on Ice presents Rockin’ Ever After is coming to the Q January 11-21, 2013!!

On January 11th, the opening day of the upcoming Disney On Ice presents Rockin' Ever After in Cleveland, they are hosting a Scottish Target Practice Pep Rally at the Q Arena from 10 a.m. – noon. Clevelanders (moms, aunts, uncles, downtowners, etc.) are encouraged to stop down at the Q to throw snowballs at a target set up on the outside of the Q Arena.

Food trucks will be present to serve lunch. Participants that hit the bull’s eye of the target will receive 2 free tickets to the show! Each ring outside of the target has a discount amount attached to it (ex. outside ring is $3 off, next ring to the bull’s eye is $4, etc.)

Don't forget you can purchase tickets from the Q website.

Use FAMILY at check out and get the following deal:
Buy 4 tickets, get 4 FREE hot dogs and 4 FREE sodas.
Not valid on Saturdays @3PM or Sundays @1PM. Can buy any number of tickets, not just in 4 packs.

You can also still enter to try to win tickets here on A Busy Mom of Two.

No compensation was received for this post. I received four tickets to show as a Feld Family Blogger. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family.