Who's The Boss?

Mechatar: Review and Giveaway

Remote-controled Battle-bots.

Need I say more?

Parents, this will be the hot holiday toy for boys ages 6-12.  Hands down.  The moment I heard about Mechatar - the latest invention by iLove Robots - I knew that my 7 year old would be in love.  The moment the box arrived for me to review it, Darius was all aflutter with excitement.  Too bad the kid had to wait a week to earn it.  That's what happens when my smart boy decides it's more fun to read at school rather than do (in his words: easy peasy) class work.

We've had our fair share of remote controlled toys.  The helicopter my brother bought at one of those kiosks in the mall?  Crashed and burned the second time out.  The ATV car that looked indestructible?  Lost two wheels when "off-roading" in my father-in-law's backyard.  I was a little hesitant to take on a new device, but so far this one has stood up to the ruthless beatings by a little boy.  Even now-walking baby Cooper wants in on the action.

 

Mechatars are a new, interactive play experience iLove Robots call “blended reality.” Brand-new and launching this fall, Mechatars combines the best of online gaming and RC robotic toys by connecting the physical world and online world through cloud computing.  Honestly, getting to play online at mechatar.com has become our new reward.  This replaced Wii Star Wars, y'all.  Three years of Wii Star Wars on the top and I never thought that we'd find something he'd love more.  Mechatars blew it out of the water.
 
Even young kids expect a high-level of tech sophistication and Mechatars meets them where they are playing. Accept missions in the physical world to traverse the terrain and then continue to battle it out online using strategic tactics to earn points to upgrade your weapons across the Eight Elements in the Mechaverse.  Parents love the affordable price point AND the significantly extended play. 

We haven't yet tried the Adventure mode - where you put your Mechatar into a real-life adventure.  But I do know that we'll be buying another Mechatar when they launch nationwide in Fall 2011 at stores like Target, Radio Shack, Amazon, Toys R’Us and iloveRobots.com (MSRP: $39.99).

But you don't have to wait for the launch.  One very lucky Who's the Boss? reader will get to win a Mechatar of their own!

How to Enter the iWant a Mechatar Giveaway:

• visit www.Mechatars.com
• Review the Mechatar lineup.  In order for you to see the Mechatar line up, you'll need to click on “play now” then “register” but no information needs to be submitted.
• Leave a comment on this post telling me which Mechatar you'd most like to win

Additional entries (each requires a separate comment):

1. Like Who's the Boss? on Facebook
2. Follow @whostheboss on Twitter
3. Tweet the giveaway: I entered to win a free Mechatar. Check it out here: http://whosthebossblog.com (via @whostheboss) #CleverRobot

NOTE: You can tweet once per day for additional entries - just remember for it to "count" you must leave a seperate comment below with the permalink.

A winner will be picked at random and will be announced on Monday, Ocotber 3, 2011. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE !!! Contest ends Sunday, October 2, 2011  at 11:00 PM (EDT). My standard contest rules apply.

COUPON CODE!

All Who's the Boss? readers (and their friends and family) can get 10% of the purchase of a Mechatar at iloverobots.com using the code: MECHMOM.  Coupon is valid until November 30, 2011.

Disclosure: I was selected to participate in this sponsored post series by Clever Girls Collective.

GIVEAWAY: $50 to Photo Card Creations

With email, Twitter, and Facebook, it seems like I rarely get a real card in the mail anymore.  Yet there is nothing more special than a card.  Whether it's a Thank You card from your friend's baby shower, a 1st Birthday Card for your special baby boy, or a Birthday Card from your Grandma who never forgets your birthday, it's always fun getting a special card in the mail.  Everyone loves getting mail.

One lucky Who's the Boss? reader will get to spread the love with a $50 gift certificate to Photo Card Creations. 

 
 
SPOILER: This may very well be Cooper's 1st Birthday invite

Photo Card Creations specializes in wedding, baby, party & holiday cards.   Started by a bride-to-be who is now a mom, the business has one simple goal: offer cool & unique products to other brides & moms!

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment on this post letting me know the best card/letter you've ever received.  Was it your acceptance letter to Harvard?  The invite to your best friend's wedding? A sweet thank you note from your Grandmother?  Share the love, people!

For additional entries (each requires a separate comment):

1. Take a look at the collections on Photo Card Creations and let me know which one you like the most.
2. Like PhotoCard Creations on Facebook.
3. Like Who's the Boss? on Facebook.
4. Follow Photo Card Creations on Twitter.
5. Follow @whostheboss on Twitter.
6. Tweet the giveaway: I entered the $50 #giveaway from PhotoCard Creations. Check it out here: http://whosthebossblog.com (via @whostheboss)

A winner will be picked at random and will be announced on Monday, August 1st 2011. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE !!! Contest ends Sunday, July 31st  at 11:00 PM (EDT). My standard contest rules apply.

Top blogger lists can suck it

As a blogger with an audience larger than my mom and Aunt Sue (hi mom and Aunt Sue), I belong to a few blogging networks.  At least twice a week, sometimes more, I get an email from a fellow blogger asking her entire frickin' network of bloggers, friends, and family to vote for her in some sort of contest slash top list slash award.  Even when I really like that blogger and think her blog is worthy of such contest slash top list slash award, I delete the email.  I don't vote.  I forgive her for spamming the inbox of everyone she knows. 

Why?

Lists and/or awards that are given to a writer based the highest number of votes are, in my not-so humble opinion, stupid.  We all know good writing when we read it.  We don't need to send web traffic over to a site just for the hopes of winning.

This week, I got an email from a website (no, I won't link it) congratulating me on making their list of Top 25 Baby Journals.  First, I rolled my eyes since I don't consider my blog a journal of my children but rather a journal of ME parenting those whipper snappers.  Even though I might have did a WTF at first, I was still flattered to be on a list that wasn't titled Top 25 Bloggers Who Should Stop Writing.  But then I read further.

See... I wasn't really on the list of Top 25 Baby Journals.  I was nominated to be on the list of Top 25 Baby Journals.  All I had to do was ask all of my blogging network, FaceBook friends, and anyone else I knew with an email address and access to the web to go over and VOTE FOR ME! to get onto the list of Top 25 Baby Journals.

You can see where this is going, right?

Email deleted. 

Then my friend Lia told me about Backpacking Dad's list of Top 25 Sexiest Mom Bloggers.  His post couldn't have been better timed. 

Shawn couldn't have written it better when he explained that a Top Anything List "ignores elements like quality of writing, helpfulness, sincerity, skill, morality, popularity, hilarity, and advocacy."

So bloggers that get bent out of shape over not making a list or spam everyone they know to vote for them, then those bloggers need to seriously take a chill pill and find their happy place.  Because we all know good writing when we read it.  Lists won't validate you.  It won't make you feel better.  It won't keep you warm at night.

Oh, and if you do feel like you just.can't.rest unless you finally.make.a.top.list then you really should read Shawn's list.  It just might be your lucky day.

GIVEAWAY: Beech-Nut Soft & Gentle Tote

While it's different for every culture, here in the US most babies start their first solid food on rice cereal.  When we started our boys on solids, we started with rice cereal.  While Darius pretty much hated rice cereal after he started eating fruits and veggies, Cooper loves the stuff.  Seriously.  The kid smiles between spoonfuls.  For a baby who makes you really work before he gives you a smile, that is saying something. 

Beech-Nut recently introduced Homestyle Cereals for baby, made with natural ingredients and no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. The Homestyle Cereals have a new gentle texture (made especially for baby), are Soy Free (with the exception of DHA) and are made with high quality ingredients, including 45% of the Daily Value of Iron and 25% of the Daily Value of Zinc & 7 B-Vitamins.

As a mom committed to making (most) of my own baby food, it was very important to me to find an all natural rice cereal.  While some experts agree that babies over six months can be fed homemade cereals, I plan on sticking with the Homestyle Cereal brand.

To celebrate Cooper's latest milestone, Beech Nut is giving one Who's the Boss reader a “Beech-Nut Soft & Gentle Tote." 

 

The organic cotton tote includes three soft all natural bibs, three organic cotton burp cloths, one knitted organic teething rattle and samples of the new Homestyle Cereals.  Having received one of this gift totes myself, I can tell you this would make an adorable baby shower gift. 

All you have to do is comment on this post before Monday, April 4th.  Please read my full contest rules for additional details. 

Disclosure: I did receive the tote bag with free Beech Nut Homestyle Cereal products.  However, that did not alter my opinion.  I wouldn't feed my baby a product I didn't trust.  I plan on continuing with the product line long after my free cereal runs out.

Review (and Giveaway): Dinosaurs Strike for Wii

I'm not much of a gamer.  And my older child seems to only be interested in games that involve Luke Skywalker or wii bowling, so I was in a conundrum when sent the latest game by Ubisoft.  Enter my teenage godson, Elijah.  He's a video game freak (read: a typical teenage boy).  He think it's so very cool that his Auntie Robyn gets sent video games for free and would love to get his hands on some Teen or Mature games to review.  Therefore, I invited Elijah over to test out Battle of Giants Dinosaurs Strike (rated E10+) and tell me what he thinks. Perhaps I'm starting Elijah career in video game reviews and in 10 years we can remember when we knew him before he was famous.  Or perhaps, I just kept a teenage kid busy for a couple of hours during Winter Break.

 

Dinosaurs Strike is a battle game of, you guessed it, dinosaurs. 

Things Elijah loved about Battle of Giants Dinosaurs Strike:

• Ability to customize your dinosaur.  You can use your creative juices to make the dinosaur of your dreams and of your opponent's nightmares.
• Easy to learn moves.  Unlike his old-fogey of an Aunt, Elijah didn't need to read the instruction manual.  He dived right in with easy menus and helpful hints.
• Decent graphics make it easy to keep score.  It was cool to see what moves caused what sort of damage on your opponent.

Things Elijah thought could be better:

• Playing against the computer is too hard.  While you can battle with up to four players (making the plyaing field more level for all beginners), playing against the computer was a tough match.  Elijah won the first few battles, but then got stuck with this tiny dinosaur that kept kicking his butt.  He felt like it shouldn't be so tough so soon (especially for younger players).
• Eliminate the codes to unlock features.  Spoken like a true gamer, Elijah hated that there were special codes to unlock features.  We get why companies do it (it makes you play longers), but he wanted full access from the very beginning. 

And now, since my kid heard "hard" he won't touch the game.  Honestly, I think if your kid is playing against another kid then the game would be a ton of fun.  And if I wasn't holding a newborn during most of Elijah's visit, I would have jumped in just for the chance to try to beat my teenage godson (who is officially at the age where he thinks grown up are dumb, out of touch, and easy to crush in the gaming world).  But I didn't get that chance.  My loss is your gain.

I'm giving away my review copy of Dinosaurs Strike to one very lucky Who's the Boss reader!

To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment on this post by 9am PST on Monday, January 10th. 

You can get an extra entry by following me (@whostheboss) and/or tweeting (or blogging) about the contest.  You do need to leave extra comments with your twitter handle or permalink URL for those entries to count. 

I'll be mailing the game out myself, so this contest is open to anyone where a regular first-class stamp will suffice.  Please give me three weeks to send the game - things are still crazy round these parts with an infant.

Disclosure: While Ubisoft provided me with this game to review, the opinions I've expressed here are solely my own and represent my honest viewpoint. Ubisoft, Clever Girls Collective and I promote Blog With Integrity.

Giveaway: Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along Event

 
Disney Home Entertainment and NCM Fathom have partnered to give little princes and princesses across the county the chance to sing along to one of their favorite movies with the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along Event, in high definition in movie theaters nationwide. 
 
The Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along Event is an exclusive two-day cinema event taking place on September 29 at 6:30 pm and October 2 at 12:00 pm. After 19 years, Disney’s #1 most requested title will be released from the Disney Vault for a limited time only and will make its grand re-appearance with this event. A transformation that reveals the magic, music, and majesty of the “Tale as Old as Time” as your children have never experienced it before.

Disney Home Entertainment and NCM Fathom are giving one very lucky Who's the Boss? reader FOUR tickets to the September 29th show at any theater, nationwide, where the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along Event is playing (check out www.fathomevents.com to find a theater near you).

To enter the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along Event giveaway, simply leave a comment on this post with your favorite Beauty and the Beast song.

For extra entries (you must leave a separate comment for each entry to count):

1. Follow @whostheboss on Twitter (leave your twitter handle in the comment)

2. Tweet the contest (leave the permalink in the comment)

• I entered the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along Event giveaway from @whostheboss You can enter too at http://tinyurl.com/2825oot
• You can tweet the contest and leave a new comment every hour!

All entries must be entered by 12:00pm PDT (3pm EDT) on Thursday, September 23, 2010.  The winner must provide their shipping address within 8 hours of receiving the winning email before a new winner will be picked.  Read my full contest rules for additional details.

Weekend Giveaway: $50 PlayStation Network Gift Card

As the Summer of Fun program with Sony winds down, our time with the PSP is just getting started.  There's games, movies, comic books, and more that we have yet to discover on the PlayStation Network.  I am just learning how to navigate all that the PSN has to offer and I'm impressed by the amount of content available for all ages.

To celebrate the program, Sony has also provided a $50 PlayStation Network giftcard to give away to one lucky Who's the Boss? reader good for any purchase on the PlayStation Network -- games, add-on packs, full-length movies, TV shows and more.

To Enter the PlayStation Network Giveaway:  Leave a comment on this post and share one situation where having your PSP (or PS3) was a lifesaver. This entry must be completed before any extra entries will count.

For extra entries, you can do any or all of the following after you submit the required entry. Please leave a separate comment on this post for each extra entry, with a way to verify the entry (i.e. tweet link).  One comment will equal one entry - multiple entries (comments) are accepted - but only ONE COMMENT PER HOUR. 

1. Leave a comment on this post and tell me which games or other content you would like to download from the PlayStation Store
2. Follow Who's the Boss? on Twitter and tweet this: "I entered the PSP Summer Family Fun giveaway from @whostheboss You can enter too at http://tinyurl.com/2dzs2oj #pspfamilyfun" (you must the leave a comment with the valid permalink to each tweet for this entry to count).

This giveaway ends at 9:00pm PST on Monday, August 2, 2010; I will draw the winner at random on August 3rd.  I will mail the giftcard via standard US mail to any address where one standard postage stamp will suffice.  Please read my full contest rules for more details. Good luck!

Weekend Giveaway: $25 for LikeWear.com

Can you believe that summer is already here?  Darius' last day of school was today.  But it literally feels like three weeks ago since I kissed him good-bye on his first day of Kindergarten with two apples in his backpack for his new teachers.  Now I'm arranging for time at Camp Grandparents while the integration at work becomes Priority Numero Uno for most of the summer.

Good thing I had the chance to grab some affordable, customized "camp" gear from likewear.com. The closest I can describe Like Wear is like a Tupperware-equivalent for fun fashions.  Like Wear sells a ton of licensed or trademarked images.  You can create custom orders by working with one of their sellers. Wouldn't that be adorable for a Scout troop, Little League Team, or your kids friends who are all going to the same camp?!  Or you can order what's in stock direct from their website.  Or save yourself some cash and host a trunk show (for hosting you get store credit to do your own shopping).

Loving the retro-ness of some of the images, I literally sat Darius in front of my laptop and let him pick out what he wanted.  My budding environmentalist chose the Give Peas a Chance image for one shirt.  But his inner sportsman also picked out a Wheaties shirt.  Who knows, maybe one day his image will be on a box.  Okay, probably only if we photoshop his image onto a box.  But a mom can dream that her son will strike it rich and then buy her a McMansion, right?  Boys love their mommas, after all.

Lucky you, Like Wear is giving $25 to a Who's the Boss? reader.  All you have to do is comment on this post with your favorite camp story by Monday, June 14th. Let it be funny, touching, embarrassing, whatever.  The first time you kissed a boy, got covered in mosquito bites that all got infected, went to "horseback riding" camp only to be treated like slave labor at the ranch.  Okay, maybe those are my stories. 

UPDATE:  Everyone's a winner!  Like Wear has given all of my readers the opportunity to save 25% on their merchandise (excludes sales items).  Just enter the coupon code WHOSTHEBOSSBLOG to get your instant savings. 

Weekend Giveaway: S2H Replay fitness watch

We are a competitive family.  Family Game Night can quickly turn into a impromptu trial over who's cheating.  Bike rides turn into who can ride the fastest the longest.  Leisurely days at the pool turn into family-sized Olympic races.  It's always in fun.  But there is always competition.

When S2H contacted me about reviewing their activity wrist band, I was excited to give it a try.  I've made a personal goal to get healthier.  What better way to help me keep that goal than to wear a fitness band that lets me know when I am moving and rewards me for every 60 minutes of activity.

The S2H Replay is a fitness watch.  In addition to telling time, it monitors your physical activity and rewards you with 1 point per minute of physical activity (you get a redeemable code every 60 minutes).  Once the code appears on the band, you log in to s2h.comto upload the points into your account.  When you have enough points, you can redeem them for all sorts of cool prizes like iTunes cards, gift certificates, even a Wii.

Weekend Giveaway: How to Train Your Dragon Wii Game

Last year for Darius' 5th birthday, I bought Lego Star Wars for Wii.  It was against my better judgment and I've regretted the day I caved in.  Darius has been talking about how a boy in his class had the Wii game.  Since he wouldn't be getting any gifts for his birthday (we held a pajama drive for a local battered women's shelter instead), I guilted myself into buying exactly what he wanted.

Big Mistake. 

You see the game is clearly marked as a game for ages 10+.  Darius was only five. Since he has to earn Wii time as a reward, the kid doesn't get to play much.  And when he does play, the game is so far advanced that he needed a parent to play along.  And since his parents aren't "gamers" either, Neville literally had to google YouTube videos of gamers who videotaped themselves playing  the game.  Instead of making fun of them, I felt like I needed to send them all flowers because without those videos we'd still be stuck on Level 1 a whole year later.

When Activision approached me about reviewing a copy of their new video game, How to Train Your Dragon, I was super hesitant because it was rated 10+.  But I am a sucker for free stuff knew that Darius would want to try the game since he absolutely loved the movie.  So I caved.  Boy, am I glad that I did.

Squee for Wii giveaway

Raise your hand if you bought a Wii this past Christmas.  I was a little jealous that Nintendo dropped their price of the Wii a year after we bought ours. Well, truth be told my dad bought ours as a family Christmas gift in '08.  We are definitely a Wii family.  While I made the mistake of buying one traditional video-game (damn you Lego Star Wars for invading my son's mind like a flesh-eating parasite), I am only interested in Wii games that 1) we can do as a family and 2) get us up off the couch to play. 

There's No Place like Home for the Holidays Cardstore Twitter Party!

The holiday season is upon us! You've survived Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday.  Or, if you're anything like me, you hid during the shopping weekend because it's just too crazy to shop.  The pressure to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list is just too much to handle! Getting ready for the holidays is like completing an Ironman Triathlon. There's preparing your holiday card list, sending out invites for holiday gatherings, getting your house in tip-top shape, tree decorating, cookie baking, fudge making, and eggnog drinking.  Whew, I'm wiped out just writing about it.

If you're feeling a stressed out and could use a few tips on how to make this holiday season memorable without having to up your blood pressure meds, let Cardstore's experts help you get a few things checked off of your list during our "There's No Place like Home for the Holidays Cardstore Twitter Party!" Cozy up to your computer, make that Irish Coffee a double, and get ready to breathe a collective sigh of relief with fellow moms!

Have you been naughty or nice?

I'll give you one guess who Darius is talking with on the phone.

The nice folks over at Santa Speaking sent me a code for a free call with Santa.   The cutest part, besides seeing my boys face light up, was getting a CD recording of the call.  Although most of what Darius said was "Good," "Yup,"  and "Ummmm."

We are big Santa believers in this house.  While I don't go overboard with the talks of Santa,  I do use Santa in my parenting toolkit.

Like when Darius asked for yet another Star Wars Legos set for Christmas.  The kid already has five sets. One morning I told him that, while he was sleeping, Santa called and told me that he has enough legos so to ask for something different this year.  The kid didn't even question it.

I'm pretty sure it makes me the best Room Mom ever

I just finished hosting a sneak preview for the new Curious George movie with almost half of Darius' kindergarten class.  In fact, Neville is still vacuuming up the leftover popcorn that has somehow managed to make it from the living room to the entire rest of the house. 

12 kids + 12 juice boxes + 12 bags of popcorn + 12 bananas = 1 very tired mother

The kids had a fab time and actually sat still and watched the movie for 40 minutes (the movie is just under an hour long) so I was a very happy host.  I figured the kids would be so distracted and hyped up to see each other outside of school that it would be an act of God to get them to sit still.

ohthankyouLordJesusChristforthismiracle.

I, of course, didn't actually watch the movie.  I was too busy refilling popcorn, replacing juice boxes, and reminding kids that if they wanted to keep their food they had to keep their little bodies off my couch. 

Getting prepared for the next "BIG ONE"

 I’m ashamed to admit that we’ve never discussed disaster preparedness or emergency plans with Darius.  I’m not sure if it is because, when he was little, it was OUR job to make sure he stayed safe if there was an earthquake or fire.  I’m also sure that we’ve gotten lazy and complacent.  Where we live in Northern California, there hasn’t been a big disaster since the ’89 Quake.  Yes, there’ve been fires – but not where we live.  There’s been mudslides – but not where we live.  The closest thing we’ve had to a disaster is losing our fence in a fierce storm two years ago and having a few hours without power every year during the first storm.

On Monday, I went to CityMama’s adorable apartment to hear from California Volunteers about Disaster Preparedness.  I was only a little ashamed that I haven’t done anything to be prepared.  It was a morning that was more informative and thought-provoking than I ever realized disaster preparedness could be.   And I learned that you don’t have to be a freakishly perfect to get it all done either. Simple things like:

Giveaway: Disney Umbrella Stroller

We've headed down to Disneyland this weekend.  We are celebrating Darius' birthday (yes, one month in advance) with 21 family members.  Yes, that's right... TWENTY ONE people that I know and personally love have decided to make the trip with us.  I am so very excited (and so very stressed).

 So what better way to get in the Disney spirit than have a Disney-themed giveaway! The Disney Umbrella Stroller Collection includes Disney Princess, Disney Fairies and Disney Pixar Cars umbrella strollers.  At $19.99 each, Delta's Disney Umbrella Strollers are an affordable, fun alternative to the mega full-size stroller.

 Darius was never much of a stroller kid - that's why I always loved a lighweight umbrella stroller.  It made lugging it around a breeze and didn't take up half of my trunk space.  We only travelled with an umbrella stroller which made navigating airport security a snap.

Delta Children's Products will send one lucky Who's the Boss? reader an umbrella stroller of your choice.   Cars, Fairies, Princesses, oh my.  Simply comment on this post before 11:59pm on Monday, May 11th to be entered to win.

 

Giveaway: Black Mountain Jewelry

UPDATED: Congrats to Cathy Doheny!You are the winner.

"The tree symbolizes my family, who stands strong and proud despite the storms of cancer and hardship. Because our foundation (the trunk of the tree) was strong, our branches remained intact, as we weathered the storm. The tree ultimately symbolizes survival!"

Be sure to check your email for instructions on how to place your order to get the Tree of Life.

Giveaway: Yummie Tummie

UPDATED: Congrats to Holly!  You are the winner.  Check your email soon for your gift certificate code.

Yummie Tummie is the new must-have garment for every mother.  Seriously, people.  And lucky for you, the fabulous people over at YT have given me a $100 gift certificate to give to one very lucky reader. 

Please vote for me

This is a sticky post and will remain at the top of Who's the Boss for the next week.  Scroll down to see new brilliant writing.

I was selected as one of ten finalists for the Mabel's Labels BlogHer 09 Contest.   My post about being a frazzled working mom who finds a community in blogging must have struck a cord.  Please head over to blogcontest.mabel.ca and vote for me. 

Voting closes on Monday February 23, 2009 at 12:00pm EST.
There is only 1 vote allowed per person.

Giveaway: Welch's AquaJuice

Congrats to DemMom for winning the AquaJuice giveaway.  Please email me your shipping address at whosthebossblogATgmailDOTcom to receive your free bottle.

We are a juice family.  Darius is a juice kid.  He's a milk kid too.  But juice - especially apple juice - is one of his staples. 

I've always been one of those moms who waters down the juice.  I don't like to give him a full cup of the straight stuff - especially knowing that he is going to drink it all and ask for more.  So I've been stealthily adding a little extra H2O to his sippy cup for years.

When I heard that Welch's had a new juice called AquaJuice, I was determined to get my hands on bottle.  It has no high fructose corn syrup, less calories, and no artificial sweeteners.  It's "less juice" than regular juice without compromising on the flavor or quality of the juice.  Come on, we all know that when we water down the juice on our own we end up watering down the flavor too. 

Community

It's hard for me to believe that I've been blogging for three years.  Three years ago, I didn't know what a blog was, had never read a blog, and didn't know that I'd ever have my own blog.  I was a busy corporate mom, working way too many hours, feeling out of sorts in both my professional world and my personal one.  My only source of "venting" was a daily call to my mother and emotionally unloading more on my spouse than should be allowed in a healthy relationship.

In a nut shell, I was struggling. 

I still remember the day that I received an email from an acquaintance of mine, Jill Asher.  We belonged to the same Mother's Club.  A club that I was desperately trying to make "work" in my life but wasn't feeling the support I needed.  Jill sent out an email on the Mother's Club calling for writers.  Jill was co-founding a blog for mothers in Silicon Valley and she needed mothers willing to write about their unique experiences mothering children in the land of high tech. 

And the winner is....

And the winner of the Leapfrog Didj is.... (drumroll please)

Nanette!

 

 

Darius and I pulled her name out of a hat.  I've used random.org in the past, but then noticed that it often pulled the same number whenever I ran a contest (one smack in the middle, if you are curious).  So I am relying on the old hat trick for a while. 

Also, I am moving all giveaways over to my review blog.  Betchya didn't know I have a review blog, eh?  It's grossly neglected.  Lots of cobwebs and dust and spiders over there.  Poor little neglected blog. 

To make it a shiny happy place, I'll be having a giveaway a week for the month of December starting with a free laptop skin from skinit.com.   Plus I just reviewed a fun toy that can keep your kids occupied for hours.  So come on over and check it out.

Giveaway: LeapFrog's Didj

 Now you don't have to stand in obnoxiously long lines on Black Friday to get this awesome new gaming system from LeapFrog.

 Didj is awesome.  Plain and simple.  You can customize the games to focus on specific needs of your child and track their progess on LeapFrog's Learning Path.    

One very lucky winner will get a brand-spanking new Didj and the fun Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends.  Total retail value is $120.

 

How to Enter the Didj Giveaway:

• Comment on this post before 11:59pm on Friday, November 28, 2008
• Leave your valid email address (without it, you be out of the running)
• You can get extra entries by:
  • Following me on Twitter
  • Posting this contest on your own blog (and leaving a link in the comments)

Winner will be announced on Monday, December 1st.

Bloggers Contest Round-Up

I love free stuff.  I especially love free stuff during this crappy economy.  Cool stuff that I don't have to pay for... well, that is right in my price range.  If you love free stuff too check out these contests and giveaways all over the blogosphere.

Darius received an I See Me book last year and it is still one of his favorite books.  The books are a unique gift for a special little someone in your life.  Plus MommyVents has a FREE SHIPPING CODE for any product you order - FSD13665.

Is your holiday spending budget non-existent this year?  Have no fear.  Check out HP's crafty holiday ideas.  You can make an adorable hand-made photo album for practically pennies on the dollar.  Don't want to print out the stuff?  No problem!  Enter to win a folder filled with HP crafts. 

Want a smartphone but don't have the budget for one?  Go enter to win a Nokia E-71 at Hormone-Colored Days.  Hurry - contest ends tonight!

I cut out my Starbucks for a good cause.  But no good deed goes unnoticed.  Over at Mummys Product Reviews you have a chance to win a $20 Starbucks card. 

If you are having a contest this week, let me know in the comments.  I'm happy to share the link love.

One Crafty Give-Away

Updated: Congrats to Geminigirl64 for winning the Crafty Giveaway. Look for an email from me in your inbox!  **Winner chosen by random at random.org

Last Thursday, I attended a fun Girl's Night Out hosted by Hewlett Packard and Maria Bailey.   I have to say, I am not a very crafty person.  I can knit and I can do beginner-skill embroidery - but I haven't done either of those since well before my mothering years.  I don't have time for that sort of thing.

Or so I thought.  In just 1 hour, I had made a whole assortment of crafty gifts (all which will be used this holiday season).  And since HP was so generous, now you can too.

I am a Crafty Momma Giveaway includes...

• Poinsetta Gift Card Holder
• Zen Garden Matchbook Photo Album
• 10 pages of gift tags - perfect for the holidays
• Glass paperweight that you can decorate and give away (mine is going to Nana)
• Shrinky-Dink Wine Glass Charms (6 for you to make at home and 4 already made for you). 
• 100 sheets of HP Brochure and Flyer paper (so you can make more of these for free on the HP website using your home printer)
• And... the brand spanking new almbum by Dana Parish

How to Enter this Crafty Contest:

• Follow me on Twitter
• Then comment on this post with your Twitter ID before 11:59pm on Friday, October 24, 2008
• Leave your valid email address (without it, you be out of the running)
• Winner will be announced on Monday, October 27th.

 **You can still enter if you don't have a Twitter account, make sure you let me know in the comments

Another Swag-a-licious Giveaway

UPDATED: Congrats to Lisa @ Twisted Noodles for winning the "This is MY Swag" Contest. 

When I came home with SIX bags of swag, I just knew that giveaways where in the future.  Last week, Marketing Mommy won the "Momma wants a Swag Bag" contest.  This week's contest doesn't have a single piece of kid-related swag.  Yes that means you don't have to share with the kids.  You get to keep it all for yourself (including the free underwear). 

"This is MY Swag" Contest includes:

HP laptop sticker

A free pair of panties (yes, underwear)

Emerita Massage oil

Merci Chocolate

Orville Redenbacher Microwave popcorn

Internet Password Organizer

TNT DVD with an episode of The Closer and Saving Grace plus wine glass jewelry

Weight Watcher's hard candies

Manicure Kit

A magic eightball

Plus much much more

Estimated Value: $100.00

How to Enter "This is MY Swag" Bag Contest:

• Comment on this Post before 11:59pm on Wednesday, August 6, 2008
• Leave your valid email address (without it, you be out of the running)
• Open to US Residents
• Winner will be announced on Thursday, August 7th.

Pick a Number

Me:  I'm having another contest on the blog

Darius:  Can I pick the winner?

Me:  Sure.  Pick a number between 1 and 18

Darius:  Any number?

Me:  Yes.

Darius: Four-tee-nine

Me:  Bubba, that isn't between one and eighteen. Pick a number between those numbers.

Darius:  But you said I could pick any number.

Me:  No, I said pick a number between one and eighteen. 

Darius:  But I want four-tee-four.

Me:  Are you gonna pick between one and eighteen or not?

Darius:  Fine.  I pick one and six.

Me:  Bubba, just one number.  You can only pick one number.

Darius:  Let's see.  Only one?  Ok.

Me:  Ok what?  What number is it?

Darius:   Six definitely six.

The Swag-alicious BlogHer Giveway

UPDATED: Congrats to MarketingMommy for winning the contest!  Everyone else, please come back next week when I'll be having another BlogHer08 Swag Contest.

In keeping with tradition, I am having a Swag Giveaway for those who did not make it to BlogHer (or for those who did and are a glutton for for swag).  It was hard to part with some of this wonderful stuff, but I'm spreading the swag-love. 

This Who's the Boss Swag In A Box was born from every single swag bag I received at BlogHer - The People's Party, the exclusive SV Mom's Bags, the BSM Media/Mom's Select Room, and the official Swag Bag of BlogHer08.

Included:

Wati Dress (size 4)

Brother's All Natural Fruit Crisps

Merci Chocolates

Busy Body Book

Leap Frog Water Bottle

Tail Wags Helment Cover

Mr. David children's music CD

Coupons for FREE Stoffer's Lasgana

JiDesign Note Cards

Red Scholastic Book Tote from the People's Party

...Much, much more

Estimated Value of Swag in A Box: $175

How to Enter Momma Wants a Swag Bag Contest

• Leave a Comment on this post before 11:59pm, Thursday, July 31st.
• One entry per person (leave a valid email address so that I can contact you if you win!)
• Open to residents of the US (and those internationally who can explain to me customs and pay for additional shipping). 
• Winner will be announced on Friday, August 1st.

If you don't win this contest, I'll be having a second Swag-a-licious Contest next week. 

I scream, You scream, We all scream for Baskin Robbins

Remember that little post over at Silicon Valley Mom's Blog about my not-so-great experience at Baskin Robbins?  Most of the commentors were throwing dirt at me for speaking up about a dysfunctional policy.  Well Baskin Robbins listened and sent me a very nice email clarifying their position AND apologized for their store's lack of customer service.  I really wasn't expecting anything from BR.  I just was blogging my opinion. 

So color me happy when in this afternoon's mail was a lovely hand-written note from Danielle, a PR Rep for Baskin Robbins and TEN $2.00 gift certificates.  That's twenty dollars for a replacement scoop.  Wow!  The power of blogging. 

With such a generous company, I have to pass on the generosity.  I mean, who doesn't want to enjoy a little ice-cream treat this summer? Therefore, Who's the Boss is having a summer ice-cream giveaway.  NINE lucky WTB Readers will win a $2.00 gift certificate for any delicious treat at Baskin Robbins.   Yes, that means we are keeping just one certificate.  In fact, Darius will finally be getting his replacement scoop tonight after dinner.  Thanks Baskin Robbins.

The Baskin Robbins Free Scoop Contest Rules:

1. Make sure that there is a Baskin Robbins in your area

2. Comment on this post with your favorite flavor of Baskin Robbins ice cream.  Don't forget to use a valid email address (if you win, I need to contact you!)

3. One entry per person.

4. Leave your comment by Monday, June 30th. 

Nine lucky winners will chosen at random and announced on July 4th.

Blogiversary Giveaway Winners

All winners were picked randomly by a draw.  Since there were so many giveaways, I drew based on the number which corresponded to the order in which the comments were entered.  I typically use random.org for to pick random winners, but found that it often picked the same number for each contest.  Weird, I know.   Darius had the honors of drawing the numbers out of a hat.

For the signed copy of Just Who Will You Be? , the winner is Allison

For healthy and yummy snacks, the winners are Laptop Television Mom and Beth

For the signed copy of Parenting, Inc the winner is Feener

For a box of the best chocolates, the winners are Lia and Dad's House

And for the grandprize of  the HP Photo Printer, the winner is Nicole/Wksocmom

I've tried contacting all of you via email so that I can get your shipping address.  If you haven't heard from me, please email me at whosthebossblog AT gmail DOT com.

Oh and if you live locally (psst Lia and Nicole), then I think a Mommy-Bloggers Night Out is the only way for you to redeem your prize.  wink wink

Giveaway: HP Photosmart Printer

One very lucky reader will win this very cool HP Photosmart A626 printer (a value of $150)

Put one-touch printing at your fingertips with the HP Photosmart A626 Compact Photo Printer.   It sports a 4.8" color touch screen that you can use with a stylus or on-screen keyboard for editing photos.

Plus you can:

• Make photos "scrapbook-ready" and design unique greeting cards using more than 200 borders, graphics, frames, and effects
• Do slide shows on the screen and print individual shots by simply touching them
• Print directly from a memory card, PictBridge-enabled camera, or PC
• Print wirelessly from Bluetooth-enabled devices
• Remove red eye, slim subjects, and enhance images, all without a computer
  

As my grand finale of a week of giveaways celebrating my 1 year anniversary of the blog, this contest will remain open for the entire weekend.  The same rules apply.  Just leave a comment by 11:59pm on Sunday, May 25th.

Giveaway: See's Candies

See's is my favorite chocolate.  A California company that is so deliciously scrumptious.  Growing up, my dad would get us a little box of chocolates for every special occassion.  It's a family tradition.  So to mark the anniversary of the blog, I'm giving two lucky readers a box of chocolates.

I have two gift certificates for a 1lb box of chocolate.  You can order online whatever type you want.   Or if you live in California, you can go directly to one of their shops to redeem your prize. 

My favorites are Raspberry Cream in Dark Chocolate - it's heaven in a single bite.  For a great variety, you can get one of their pre-packaged boxes.  Our fave is Nuts and Chews.

Read the rules and then comment on this post.

Giveaway: "Parenting, Inc." by Pamela Paul

Pamela Paul has generously donated a signed hard cover copy of her new book, Parenting, Inc. 

I absolutely loved this book and had the opportunity to interview Pamela, a fellow working mom, about the book.  This book is a must read for all parents.  Seriously. 

To enter this giveaway, go read the rules and then leave a comment on this post. 

Giveaway: Brother's All Natural Fruit & Potato Crisps

I love, love, love these snacks by Brother's All Natural.  I buy them in bulk and keep them in the back of the car for an anytime snack. 

If you haven't tried them before, now is your chance!  Two lucky readers will win four real-size, individual serving bags of their fruit crisps and new potato crisps.  I took one bite of the potato crisps and immediately hid the other sample from my family.  They are so frickin' tasty - kicks the ass of Lays baked chips.  And with only 45 calories and zero fat per individual serving bag, you will never feel guilty about eating chips.   Seriously, I think air has more calories than their snack bags.

To win, simply read the rules and then comment on this post.  And you too can love snacks that are packed with flavor and never feel bad about eating the whole bag again.

Giveaway: "Just Who Will You Be?" by Maria Shriver

When I met Maria Shriver in April, I made sure to sneak in an extra copy of her book for the signing.   She signed this copy for one lucky Who's the Boss Reader. 

This is a fun little book that may just change your attitude to help you change your life.  I gave copies to my mom and Grandma too.   Maria Shriver was an inspiration to meet.  And I think you'll love this book as much as I did. 

To enter, read the rules, and the leave a comment on this post.