Hand Out Smiles This Halloween, While Supporting the Dave Thomas Foundation For Adoption #Frosty4Adoption

About three months ago, we met an amazing little boy.  We had the pleasure of meeting this boy because he was to become our new nephew and a new cousin to our children.  You see, my sister and brother-in-law are currently in the process of adopting.  It is a long and difficult process, but I know they feel it is worth it.  This little boy has already stolen their hearts.  Thinking about what this little boy has been through over the past year or so is quite saddening.  However, thinking about how he is so close to not only having a home with loving parents, but also aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and great-grandparents who all love him too, is extremely heartwarming.

Did you know that there are more than 100,000 children in foster care awaiting adoption? I find that statistic to be astounding and can't help but think about how many children will never be placed in loving homes.  This is why it's so important to support foster care adoption and why Wendy's makes it easy for you to take action. All you have to do is Purchase a Wendy’s® Halloween Coupon Book for $1 at participating Wendy’s restuarants!

The next time you stop into Wendy's or go through their drive-thru, perhaps to try one of their new Pulled Pork Sandwiches, remember to pick up one (or more) Halloween coupon books.  They're only $1 each and contain 10 coupons for a free Jr. Frosty™. Ninety cents of every $1 Halloween Coupon Book sold between September 13 – October 31, 2014 will benefit the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption®.

Do you love gifts that give like I do? Last year, one of our children's teachers gave each of her students a  Jr. Frosty™ Halloween coupon for Halloween.  They'd be perfect to hand out to trick-or-treaters in place of or tied to a lollipop or other type of candy.  You could even buy one coupon book for each stocking you have to stuff this Holiday.  If you like any of these ideas or have some ideas of your own, don't wait to pick up your coupon books.  They're only available until the end of October, but can be redeemed from November 1st, 2014 through February 1st, 2015.  Thanks to Wendy’s® consumers and the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption®, 4,000+ children have found adoptive families.  Let's all do our part in helping to make that number grow!

Visit your local Wendy’s® to purchase a Jr. Frosty™ Halloween Coupon Book* for $1, which benefits the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption®! 

*Coupon book may contain coupons for 5 or 10 free Jr. Frosty™ treats. Prices and participation may vary. Ninety cents to every $1 coupon booklet sold between 9/15/14 and 10/31/14 will benefit the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption®. Coupons valid from 11/1/14 through 2/1/15. ©2014 Oldemark LLC

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Is It Too Early to Think Stocking Stuffers? New Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putties are Here!

Thank you to Crazy Aaron's Putty World for providing samples of Thinking Putty for us to base this review upon.  All opinions are our own.

Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty has long been a favorite nontoxic tactile fidget activity in our home. Our first Thinking Putty was a small tin of it and both my kids love the way it felt and how strong and flexible it was. We’ve owned other kinds of Thinking Putty since our first, and we’ve always loved them. When I was offered a review of Crazy Aaron’s newest Thinking Putties, I was excited and knew my kiddos would be as well. We received the Phantom and Super Magnetic putties and think they’re both really fun.

The Phantom putty comes in two kinds, Foxfire and Arctic Flare, and both react to a  blacklight  (included). We received Foxfire Thinking Putty and it’s green in color until it meets the blacklight when it then becomes blue. This Thinking Putty is really fun and the kids have loved writing messages to each other and decorating their creations with faces, eyeballs, etc. The Phantom putty is really cool and provided my children with hours of entertainment.

The Super Magnetic Thinking Putty comes in four varieties: Tidal Wave, Strange Attractor, Reactive Razz, and Quicksilver. We received the Quicksilver and were instantly captivated by this unique Thinking Putty. This putty comes with a ceramic magnet that you can use to “charge” the putty and make it magnetic. From there, the possibilities are endless!

You can pick up small metal objects, such as paperclips, make it levitate with the help of the magnet, and more. This putty is really cool and my kids started experimenting with what kinds of things they could pick up with the magnetic putty.

All of Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty products are very well made and come in their own storage tin.  They retail for about $14.95 each on their website, www.puttyworld.com. You can learn more about Crazy’s Aaron’s products there or on their Facebook and Twitter pages.  These little tins of fun would most certainly make a unique stocking stuffer or Easter basket toys!

Shop 'n' Share: #RadioShack Has You Covered For Holiday Gift Ideas For the Whole Family! (Sponsored by #MC)

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for RadioShack. I received a gift card to facilitate a shopping trip and promotional item as a thank you for participating.  All opinions expressed are my own.

As a child, I remember visiting our local RadioShack store with my Dad a countless number of times.  It was the place to shop for electronics, even if you were just looking for a power surge protector.  In 2013, there are many places to shop for electronics and gadgets, but RadioShack will always be among the top choices of trusted technology retailers on my list.  My husband and I are happy to have a RadioShack conveniently located in our local mall.  Aside from some specialty stores for mobile phones, Apple, or Microsoft products, the only other electronics retailer in the mall is a modest section in one of the anchor stores.  This RadioShack store must be a lifesaver for anyone who wants to finish all their Holiday shopping in one trip to the mall.

Many families save most of their major electronics purchases for Christmas gifts.  My family is the opposite.  If we need (or want) a new TV, tablet, or mobile phone, we usually do not wait to purchase it as a gift.  Instead, for the Holidays, we buy smaller thoughtful items for each other and for other people on our list, which often includes gifts in the tech and gadgets category.

I was delighted to see a sign for RadioShack's Holiday Cash promotion at the front of the store.  For every $50 a customer spends, they will earn $10 in Holiday cash that the customer can redeem one at a time during the specified dates on most purchases (with some exclusions).   That $10 could pay for a stocking stuffer or batteries for the gift you purchased during your first visit!

Although our local RadioShack store is likely smaller than freestanding locations, I was still amazed at how much they could pack into this mall location.  They had some of the most sought after gifts of the season, such as no-contract mobile phones, the newest smartphones, tablets, gaming systems, and more.  I was also extremely impressed with the selection of toys, which included modular remote control cars, quad copters, and learning toys.  For more gift ideas, visit RadioShack's Holiday Hub.

If you have stockings to stuff this year, RadioShack also has you covered with fun and useful items sized perfectly for a stocking.  Not only were there gift cards for Xbox Live, Google Play, iTunes, and more, there was a huge assortment of external battery portable chargers for mobile phones and novelty USB thumb drives.  I even found special edition Hexbug Nanos that pulled Santa's sleigh!

That day, I was shopping at RadioShack to check off a few things on my husband's wishlist.  An intercom system for the house was something that has been on his list for a long time.  Because I know it's not a common gift idea for the Holidays, I was happy to be able to find one for a decent price.  Also, my husband's alarm clock stopped working many months ago and he has been using his smartphone's alarm clock app in its place.  We both miss being able to glance at the clock to know what time it is instantly, so I picked up a digital alarm clock for him as well.

Since I spent more than $100, I received two $10 Holiday Cash coupons.  I will be returning to RadioShack soon to get the batteries I need for all our gifts plus a compact external battery for my smartphone.

If you haven't shopped your local RadioShack lately, be sure to make a point of stopping in.  Nearly 2,000 store locations have received a makeover with more to come.  I hope ours is on the list of stores to be reset in 2014.  As a sneak peak, checkout the new RadioShack Speaker Wall below . . .



To learn more about what RadioShack has to offer, visit www.RadioShack.com.

Rise of the Guardians (DVD) - Holiday Edition with Bonus Marching Elf

Thank you to M80 for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon and for providing an additional product for our contest prize.  All opinions expressed are my own.

If you are looking for an atypical holiday movie you can stop your search. Rise Of The Guardians is the one. Dreamworks did a fantastic job of creating a modern and exciting story involving many of our most beloved holiday characters.

At first I was skeptical (I always am regarding animated holiday movies), but after watching the first few minutes of Rise Of The Guardians I knew I was going to enjoy it. The movie is fresh and exciting, offering just the right balance of humor, suspense, and action.

Although the movie leans towards Christmas, it is not a Christmas movie. In fact, 5 of our most favorite yearly holiday and legendary characters, Santa Claus, the Sandman, the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, and Jack Frost are represented in the movie and we get to learn a great deal about them and their stories.

What makes the movie so clever, is the fact that our most beloved fantasy icons are portrayed in more fun and alternate ways . . . as heroes and protectors of all children. Santa with sleeve tattoos and swords? Check. The Easter Bunny as an action hero who fights with boomerangs? Check. Jack Frost as a fun-loving and adventure-seeking teenager? All there. Don't let my descriptions panic you, it was all done very well. Never in my life would I have been okay with Santa having “Naughty” and “Nice” tattooed down each arm while fighting shadow demons with broadswords, but I saw it….and LOVED IT.

I can really rave about this movie and go on and on, but so much that I want to say here would spoil it for you. The overall message is that Rise Of The Guardians is an out of left field story about characters we all think we know. Dreamworks did such a wonderful job of expanding upon their lore in ways that supremely entertain us, while keeping our images of them intact (mostly).

The kids loved this movie, my wife loved this movie, and I loved this movie. Between the 5 of us, there were countless moments of out-loud laughter throughout the movie. There are a few moments younger children may find scary but nothing that would prevent them from seeing it with mom or dad sitting beside them. Our six year old twins did just fine.  This DVD also has an hour of new bonus content following the movie.

Although not specifically a Christmas movie, Rise Of The Guardians - Holiday Edition would make an excellent family night movie for this holiday. It is always good to see Ole’ Saint Nick kicking some evil booty before Christmas!  The Holiday Edition packaging, which includes a wind-up marching elf, makes this DVD (also available in a Blu-ray/DVD combo) a perfect Holiday gift or stocking stuffer!  To learn more about this film, visit www.RiseOfTheGuardians.com.

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***Please Note: We cannot guarantee that the prize will be delivered by 12/24/13.*** This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. A random drawing will be held shortly after the contest closing. The winner will be announced here and will be contacted via email. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.

6 Super Duper Gift Ideas for Children Who Love to Have Fun While Learning (plus a 15% off Promo Code!)

Thank you to Super Duper Publications for providing complimentary product samples for us to base this review upon. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Holidays are upon us, and Super Duper Publications wants to be your go-to place for holiday gifts. Their new, fun and educational items are perfect gifts for any age of child and you are sure to find something they will love.

Teaching children to tell time can be a daunting task, but the MagneTalk Telling Time Game makes learning this skill fun. Kids can learn to tell time both on the traditional clock and a digital clock, so they will have this skill mastered in no time. There are even “sentence makers” so you can have your new time-teller practicing their reading and story-telling skills. We’ve always had good experiences with the MagneTalk products and this one doesn’t disappoint either. Using this has really improved my 6 year old’s clock-reading abilities and it’s been done in a fun way. This product retails for $21.95.

We’ve used Super Duper’s Yogarilla products for a while, so when we saw the MagneTalk Yogarilla Exercises Game, we knew we would love it. In this game, kids copy the magnetic pictures posted on the board by Yogarilla Otis. This helps improve posture and balance, builds proprioceptive input, and more. We all love using our Yogarilla board every day. This product also retails for $21.95.

Word Joggers for Categories is a game that puts a spin on regular BINGO. Each card features items in one of the following categories: animals, food, clothing, home, school, and transportation. Players then take turns drawing from the corresponding decks to get clues as to which animal they should cover with their chips. This builds their vocabulary and causes them to think in another way. The game is fun and has variations for different levels of children. It contains 30 boards and 396 cards and retails for $64.95.

In the Go For the Dough Board Game, kids take turns finding answers to problems based on categories, synonyms, multiple meanings, opposites, rhyming words, and definitions. On their turn, kids read the word on their colorful dollar and then come up with a word that fits their category. If they give a correct answer, they put their dollar in the center and advance according to the dice. Once they deliver their pizzas, they collect the loot in the middle. This game can be played quickly or can be played for a long time. It is fun and fairly fast-paced and is both my children’s favorites of the lot. This one retails for $49.95.

The Hopping Frogs Language Game builds articulation by having children say certain words based on their sound. They use the most commonly mispronounced sounds, P, B, T, D, K, G, and F, and use them in the beginning, middle, and ends of words. Once the child produces their sound or word correctly, they can “hop” the corresponding number (according to their card) of frogs onto their lily pad. The player at the end with the most frogs on their pad wins. As with most of Super Duper’s games, this has variations for more advanced players. The pronunciation portion of this game is not my son’s favorite, but the frog hopping part more than makes up for it, according to him. He loves playing this game and I’m glad we have it. This game retails for $49.95.

Finally, if you’re in need of stocking stuffers, the Electronic Spinner might be a great one to consider. This spinner has a 3-inch diameter and features both numbers and colors (6 total) and lights with optional sound. It is sure to add a flair to any game night with family and friends. This one retails for $10.95.

Super Duper Publications. is one of my favorite sites on the web and these kinds of games are why. Their games are all fun, well made, creative, unique, and almost always have variations based on learning level, so they are great for any age or stage of child. Super Duper Publications has also been kind enough to offer 3G2S readers a 15% off coupon code through December 20th with the Super Duper promo code D39A3S7R. Shipping is also free on all orders of $20 or more for anywhere in the US and Canada.  To shop, visit www.SuperDuperInc.com.

2013 Holiday Fashion Gift Guide on 3G2S

Product samples of some of the items featured below were provided to facilitate this gift guide.  All opinions expressed are our own.

1.  Dollie & me Matching Outfits  ($25.00 - $50.00) - Designed for girls who wear sizes 2T thru size 12 and their 18" doll, Dollie & Me is a favorite brand to many young girls.  The matching outfits, usually sold in sets, are a unique way to increase the fun and to enhance the bond between a girl and her 18" doll.  This matching "My Three Roses" Baby Doll Dress with Leggings Set is just one example of the 120+ matching outfit sets currently being offered by Dollie & Me.  The outfit designs are fun-loving, stylish, and bold, but also built for comfort.  A Dollie & Me matching outfit set would be the perfect gift for a girl who is receiving a new or even her very first 18" doll this Holiday.  In addition to casual dresses and legging sets, Dollie & Me also offers matching special occasion and Holiday dresses, as well as matching pajamas.  All doll outfits fit most 18" dolls, including American Girl dolls.

You can learn more about Dollie & Me fashions by visiting www.dollieme.com.  This brand is also sold by select retailers, such as Zulily, Sears, and Kohl's.

2.  RUUM Moto Jackets for Boys and Girls  ($59.50 - $69.50) - Moto jackets and boots are one of the most prominent trends this fall for men, women, boys, and girls.  RUUM American Kid's Wear is on-trend as usual and is currently offering the Boy's Motorcycle Jacket for both toddlers and grade school age boys, the Toddler Girls LG Moto Jacket, and the Girl's Hooded Moto Jacket (not shown).  One of these faux leather jackets would make the perfect gift for a child who enjoys looking stylish just as much as he or she loves playing their favorite video game.

To learn more about these kids moto jackets, visit www.ruum.com.  Be sure to also read all about our RUUM store visit.

3. Mialisia Jewelry  ($12.00 - $78.00) - Mialisia is a new jewelry brand that launched in 2013.  What makes this patent-pending jewelry unique is that its entire line of necklaces is interchangeable.  You can take any one necklace and turn it into a completely different style necklace, a bracelet, a belt, or combine it with other necklaces to create a brand new statement.  The number of possibilities only end where the stylist within wants it to end.  To complete every look, Mialisia also offers coordinating earrings and rings.  This jewelry would be the perfect gift for the woman who loves to change her look often.  Since this will be the first Holiday season Mialisia Jewelry has been available, she will likely to be the first among her friends to wear it, thus reinforcing her trendsetter status.

You can learn more about Mialisia interchangeable jewelry by reading our review and by visiting ohmy.mialisia.com and www.ohmymia.com.

4.  Cole Haan City Chukka Boot for Girls  ($67.95) - Also available for walkers and toddlers, this City Chukka Boot for little girls by Cole Haan is available in size 12 to 24 months up to a girls size 2.  What little girl could resist a shoe with pink laces that glitters all over?  The style of the City Chukka Boot is sure to delight any young lady.  The non-slip soles and the quality of Cole Haan will please her parents as well.  These boots would be the perfect gift for a little fashionista who needs something special to wear during the Holidays and would also be just the thing to bring new life to any fall or winter outfits that have begun to get dull.

You can find the Cole Haan City Chukka Boot in Black Glitter or Navy Glitter at Nordstrom.com.

5.  Limited Edition Justice YOYO Retractable Bling Initial Lip Gloss  ($8.00 - $10.00) - YOYO Lip Gloss is offering a limited edition line of lip glosses at Justice that makes beauty crossover to fashion for tween girls.  In addition to the fun sparkling initials and designs, what makes these lip glosses unique is their retractable design.  Simply fasten the crystal adorned clip onto a belt, pocket, backpack, or handbag.  This allows the lip gloss to stay handy, but never be lost due to the retractable line that attaches the lip gloss to the yo yo clip.  This scented lip gloss is colorless, so it is perfect for a tween who is still too young for makeup.  In addition to initials, the YOYO lip gloss is also available in other fun designs, such as a peace symbol.  Scents include Bubble Gum, Cotton Candy, Grape, and more.  These limited edition lip glosses can be purchased at www.shopjustice.com and at your local Justice store.

To learn more about YOYO Lip Gloss, visit www.yoyolipgloss.com.

6.  Hand-woven Guatemalan Headband  ($25.00) - If you love to give gifts that give or know someone who loves to receive them, then this vibrantly colored hand-woven headband from the World Vision Catalog might be perfect for someone on your list.  Although sized for an adult, this soft cotton headband also works for a child.  The pleated style allows it to be worn as a narrow or a wide headband.  The proceeds from this tax deductible gift will be combined with others to fund programs around the world, such as child protection, clean water, and disaster response, just to name a few.

To learn more about this hand-woven headband and the causes behind the World Vision Gift Catalog, visit www.worldvision.org.

7.  Pinch Provisions Minimergency Kit  ($15.00) - This 3.5" x 2" x 2" zippered pouch hold 17 essentials to make you prepared for a wide array of emergencies.  Shown in Cherry Red with a Chinese Symbol zipper pull, this kit is one of 10 styles available in the Good Luck Minimergency Kit collection (because who couldn't use a little extra good luck?), just one of many collections of emergency kits available for women, men, girls, moms, teachers, and more.  This particular kit contains lip balm, hair spray, a wrapped tampon, clear nail polish, breath freshener, nail polish remover, pain reliever, an emery board, an adhesive bandage, earring backs, clear elastics, a safety pin, a sewing/mending kit, Shemergency® tape, stain remover, a deodorant towelette, and dental floss.  These kits would make unique and thoughtful gifts for a teacher, a co-worker, or stocking stuffers for family members.  Refills for the various kits are also available for purchase.

To learn more about this and the many other Minimergency Kits available, visit www.pinchprovisions.com.


More unique fashion gift ideas will be added to this Holiday Gift Guide through December.  Remember to check back often and to follow @_Karen on Twitter to keep up with what's new!

Children are Never Disappointed with These Non-Candy Treats for Halloween, Party Favors, and Stocking Stuffers

Thank you to Moose Toys for providing complimentary product samples as non-candy treats for my children's classroom Halloween celebrations.  All opinions expressed are my own.

For the past two years, non-candy treats have been part of my children's Halloween fun.  In 2011, we had Trash Pack toys for trick-or-treaters who were 5 years and older.  In 2012, we sent in Trash Pack toys for classroom celebrations.  They were such a huge hit that we are thrilled to be able to do the same thing this year, except this year we will also be sending in the new Glitzi Globes as well.

In our school, there is a strict no-sweets policy for any type of celebration.  That means no candy on Halloween and no cupcakes on birthdays.  That coupled with all the various food allergies in each classroom, I find it much easier to send in non-food treats for all celebrations.  The Trash Pack were a huge hit last year, so I am happy to be able to be able to send them in again along with another fun new toy.

 If you are not familiar with them, The Trash Pack toys are small collectible figures that each come with their own trash can container.  Each figure is something you might find in the trash, but portrayed in a cute way.  All 3 of my children, both my sons and our daughter, love collecting Trashies.

Glitzi Globes are a fun new toy that are geared towards girls and also appeal to the collector.  They are little kits that come with everything you need to make a glitter globe.  All you need to do is add water!

Now the single pack samples I received to distribute are not available in-stores, but you can easily purchase multi-packs of The Trash Pack or Glitzi Globe toys and split them up to put in your treat bags or to just wrap each in cellophane and ribbon to hand out by itself.  I found 5-packs of the Series 4 Trash Pack here for just $4.79 each.  That's less than $1 per favor!  I have used these for non-candy treats in goody bags, in Easter baskets, for stocking stuffers, and to hand out on Halloween to trick-or-treaters and the reaction of the children have never disappointed me.

What other ideas do you have for non-candy treats?

The Magic and Romance Return with Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID Diamond Edition Blu-ray+DVD Combo Pack

Thank you to WDSHE for providing a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack for our contest prize and for also sending one to my family as a thank you for taking the time to participate in this campaign.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Do you remember the first magical romantic film you saw in the theaters?  Well, I do!  It was The Little Mermaid in 1989.  On October 1st, 2013, the Diamond Edition of this classic Disney animated film, which contains never-before-seen bonus features, will become available on Blu-ray, DVD, and digital download.  Although my daughter is familiar with Ariel the red-headed Disney Princess, I am anxious for her to get to know Ariel better.  After all, Ariel was the first of a long line of Disney Princesses who displayed strong will, courage, and a mind of her own.

Do you remember Prince Eric, Sebastian, and Flounder?

How about King Triton. Ursula, and Scuttle?

To share the fond memories and the fun with the next generation of Little Mermaid fans, visit Disney Movies - The Little Mermaid, where you can find video clips, games, crafts, and more.  You can pre-order (prior to October 1st) or purchase THE LITTLE MERMAID Diamond Edition 2-Disc Blu-ray+DVD Combo Pack with Digital Copy on Amazon.com, Walmart.com, and many other retailers where Disney movies are sold.

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Good luck in the drawing!

This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canadian entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. A random number drawing will be held shortly after the contest closing. The winner will be announced here and will be contacted via email. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new number will be drawn.

Silly Monkey Stories: Our Holiday Was Just Ducky!

It is widely known in our home that our daughter just loves ducks.  I was not sure if anyone outside of our little family knew this, so I tipped everyone off who was planning on shopping for her this Holiday.  Let us just say that our daughter was not disappointed because it turned out to be a very ducky Christmas for her.

The first duck of the day was from Santa.  He had tucked this adorable polka dotted rubber duck keychain in her stocking.  Santa must have done his homework because he somehow knew that our little girl has a love for ducks and a love for polka dots.  Way to go Santa!!!

(Click any photo to enlarge)

The next ducky surprise came from my parents who gave this floral plush duck pillow to our daughter.  She let out the hugest squeal when she unwrapped this gift.  She was one happy little girl!

The last surprise, which just delighted our daughter, came from my wonderful Aunt Pat.  She gave our daughter a My Pillow Pets Duck Blanket.  Our daughter didn't even know such a thing existed until she saw one on my computer a couple of months ago.  As if that wasn't enough, my aunt also included a family of rubber duckies in the gift!

I think our daughter will be talking about this Christmas for a long time.  She still talks about receiving the giant plush duck from us for her last birthday, which was almost a whole year ago.

I hope everyone's Holiday was just as ducky as ours was!

Click here to read all our Silly Monkey Stories!