So many milestone celebrations feature photos and music. Everyone enjoys seeing a photo slide show set to music.
I am big on taking pictures. Of the kids, the world around me, of the kids. (Though without a camera since mine has met its untimely death), I am relying on the kindness of other’s photostreams.) There have been many times I have seen amazing slide shows and wished I could do something like that. I want to be able to send a DVD of pictures to my Dad and my sister. They don’t live close and it would be nice to share the big moments with them.
Now, I know just how to share these moments. Kodak has introduced the Kodak Picture Movie DVD.
And trust me when I say, it is so easy to do. If you go to a Kodak Picture Movie DVD kiosk in select CVS Pharmacies, you simply insert the medium (CD, memory card, memory stick, USB flash drive) with your pictures on it and just follow the simple instructions. It is so easy *I* can do it!
You can choose up to 60 photos and arrange them on the touch screen in any order
Choose title words or a brief opening description
Choose a song from one of the popular songs in their database from categories such as energetic, happy, inspirational, relaxing and romantic.
The DVD is created and your pictures are set to music with transitions
That’s it! Now, you know you can do that! I have smart readers. You are one of them!
The Kodak Picture Movie DVD is a quick and easy way to bring your pictures to life with music and share with others.
From July 27-August 2, 2008, when you order a DVD, you’ll get the same value back in “extra bucks” that can be used towards anything at CVS/pharmacy.
DVDs are $14.99 each after the promotion is over. (But that is still so worth it for the ease of creating something so wonderful to share with family and friends!)
I know that bloggers are huge on picture taking. This takes it one step further. Try it out. What do you have to lose?
Nothing. And so much to gain! I am glad I did it. My family will be, too.
Try it and let me know how you like it. I think it is a great idea and a great service.
One of my goals lately is to try to be more eco-friendly. Recycle what can be recycled. Use less. Rinse. Repeat. But with 3 kids, sometimes it can be hard. However, I do have them trained with soda cans, school papers and boxes. While trying to to instill how recycling helps the environment, I guess I never really thought about what actually happens once the recycling truck takes away our containers and recycled goods. (I am just thankful they are gone and I am teaching my kids their part in helping to be more eco-friendly.)
Enter Preserve and Recycline, an innovative, green home products company, which closes the recycling cycle.
The Preserve line takes recycled BPA and phthalate-free plastic, including yogurt cups, and re-recycles them into stylish, affordable, and eco-friendly toothbrushes. And when it’s time to get new toothbrushes for the family, you can print out a pre-paid postage label from Recycline’s website, send the used toothbrushes back to them and the plastic will live on as a deck, picnic table, or boardwalk. (How cool is that?!) The line also includes Preserve Jr. toothbrushes for kids, with animal colors and shapes, making it easy for us to get an early start when it comes to promoting eco-friendly habits. (Because we all know that healthy habits have everything to do with how cute your toothbrush and/or products are. At least according to my 7 year old daughter.)
When I was sent a Recycline Preserve Toothbrush, I was eager to try it. I am very picky about my toothbrushes. Truth is, I love it. The bonus? It will be recycled when I am finished using it. (After 3 months- or strep throat- according to my dentist.)
Also known as “the toothbrush made from yogurt cups,” the Preserve Toothbrush was designed by dentists and engineers to be an innovation in both oral care and eco-friendliness.
The dentist-recommended 45° curved handle and soft bristles guarantee a thorough and even cleaning of your teeth. Available in seven vivid colors, the handle is made from recycled plastic, including Stonyfield Farm® yogurt cups, meaning that fewer natural resources are used to get your teeth sparkling. Combine that with the Preserve’s stylish design and reusable travel case and you’re not only living green, you’re living happy.
When it is time to replace your toothbrush (dentists recommend switching it every three months) send the toothbrush and case back to Preserve using our postage-paid label to be re-processed into plastic lumber for picnic tables, boardwalks and decks.
Features:
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Handle is made from 100% recycled plastic, including Stonyfield Farm® yogurt cups
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Curved, easy to grip handle makes it easy to reach every part of your teeth and gums
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Soft, virgin nylon bristles placed in a tri-level configuration with softer outer rows to protect your gums and tooth enamel
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Available in Medium, Soft, and Ultrasoft
Interested? (Yes, you are as a matter of fact.) Preserve toothbrushes are available at Target stores nationwide for only $2.04 and I have coupons for you! Just go to this site and get your own Recycline Preserve toothbrush coupon and try this bad boy out. Your teeth will thank you. So will the environment.
If you are interested in how all of this works, check out this really informative (and cool!) video on how they do it all. Education is key to clean teeth. Or not. But the video is interesting on Recycline and how it came about and what it is all about.
I must admit, when it comes to new Nintendo DS games, I usually fight my kids to play them first. (Truth be told, I usually lose that fight and have to go second.) The new game for Nintendo DS, Go Pets, Vacation Island was no exception. So as my daughter ripped into it and started, I watched eagerly over her shoulder for my turn to play.
GoPets is based on the online PC game GoPets. It brings the most advanced virtual pets created on the Internet to the most popular hand held entertainment system.
It is both a social network for kids and a cirtual univers, where pets created by each child feel like they are really alive- they have likes and dislikes when it comes to food (just like kids!). In addition you can watch you pet travel in real time between players all over the world!
My daughter loved creating her pets and naming them and treating them as real pets. (That I don’t have to clean up after. Bonus!)
It is also a great learning experience! Kids can win “shells” for performing acts of kindness to their pet or the pet of one of their buddies, allowing them to learn the value of good deeds. And in today’s world, that is a great quality for all of us to have!
The pets in the gam, either a dog or a cat, can be chosen randomly or matched to your child based on their interests. The pets names and appearanc, however, is completely up to your child. As your child amkes his way around the island, caring for his pets and meeting friends, he or she can trade purple shells he earns for different toys and pet suppoles. Your child can also interact with other characters and compete in mini games. Kids can also befriend new islanders, exchange gifts, and even unlocknew places to visit, all while increasing their ranking and the goal of acquiring the title of BIG KAHUNA, the most influential resident of Vacation Island.
Truth be told, I don’t know who had more fun with it, my daughter or me. All I do know for sure is that is it GAME ON in my house to see who can become the Big Kahuna first. My bet is on her, but my hope is with me.
This is a great game for kids as well as adults. It teaches children how to make friends online safely (which is a huge deal for me!) and they can add up to 250 players to their buddy list. I am not sure what it says that she has more friends that I do, but we both have made friends.
I highly recommend this game for anyone who enjoys their DS and virtual pets.
Other features that are a blast to enjoy:
Customize and dress up your dog, cat, or pony in cute, funky outfits
Collect over 700 world decorations, pet accessories, and food items
Build a buddy list of up to 250 friends to exchange messages and gifts with
Send your pet traveling when you’re not using your Nintendo DS, introducting you to more friends
Create and send graphical IKU messages to other characters and players
Play fun mini-games to earn bonus collectibles
Chat and play with your friends in party mode
Now, I am off to buy my own copy. I can’t have HER become the Big Kahuna first, now can I?
Some days it feels my life is lived online. At least a majority of my work is online. What is not online is on my computer. From the freelance articles I write, to rough drafts of my book to photos and videos of my family. I have my life saved of my hard drive. So, what would happen if I was “robbed” of my online life? I would be devastated. Just as my home has a burglar alarm, I know how important it is for my computer to have the equivalent.
Enter Norton 360 Version 2.0.
It is an all-in-one security solution that helps comsumers feel safe and secure when conducting daily computing activities. Norton 360 combines Symantec’s leading security and tuneup technologies with Identiity Protection and automated Backup technologies to help guard against online fraud and protect personal data. From securing against online threats, such as viruses, spyware and hackers to protecting irreplaceable files, photos, and music.
Some key features:
Defends your PC against a broad range of threats from drive-by downloads being stopped before hitting your computer to multi-levels of protection and a smart firewall
Safeguards against online identity theft: One way is by allowing customers to control how their personal information is shared with Web sites
Protects important files from loss: More ootions for backup destinations, knowledge your files were backedup and easily adding files for backup.
Keeps your PC tuned up for peak performance: Includes registry file cleanup, automatic shut down, diagnostic reports and Firefox compatability with its Internet cleanup.
Provides a hassle-free user experience
Protects against the latest online threats
One-click access to expert support right from your Norton 360 product
1 year protection for up to 3 PCs
So what does all of that mean to you and me? It means you can chill out and relax knowing that your computer is safe. That your life online and on your computer is being protected with Norton 360 Version 2.0. Trust me when I say that I am very paranoid when it comes to online security. Norton gives me peace of mind.
In the interest in full disclosure, I was given the opportunity to review this product for myself courtesy of Mom Central.
I admit it. I am a photo junkie. However, when it comes to pictures, both of my boys have a photo album of their early years and my daughter has a photo file on the computer. I am great at taking the pictures. Horrible at printing them out. Until now. Enter HP and their HP Photo Books and their HP Photosmart A626 compact photo printer. I am in love!
HP is committed to helping Moms quickly and easily record their family memories through digital photos. If you are interested, we will send you the Photo Book software and sample product. These new photo books are an easy and fun way for moms to create customized, professional-quality photo books at home. Everything moms need to make an affordable and unique photo book with any inkjet printer is included – a 12 sheet book, software, and photo paper. To create a photo book, mom simply loads the software, selects a design, chooses her photos, adds optional text, and prints.
Now I can print as many photos as I want and immediately slip those buggers into cloth-bound HP Photo Books. (MY daughter has a photo album now. That gives me great mommy points, doesn’t it?) Not to mention the fact that I don’t have to wrestle with the plastic sleeves of most photo albums. Easy. I love easy! I even got a bit creative and used the scrapbook feature on the printer and made some of the pictures even more personal. (I am not a scrapbooking, but with this I can pretend to be!)
Even before I printed out my pictures, I used the function that edits out red eyes on the touchscreen. (Either I have a knack for getting red eyes in pictures or my kids are possessed!) I found the red-eye removal function to be far superior than any I have used before.
The HP Photosmart A626 compact photo printer is what I would dream of if I were to dream up the perfect printer for myself. It really is so tiny and compact but with so many features. Now the clutter on my desk doesn’t have to compete with a huge printer. It is small enough to hide behind my monitor. Big plus for a cluttered desk.I just pull it out when I need it. Perfect! I can do things from basic photo printing (from a memory card or USB cable connection) to editing my photos all on this itty bitty printer. (Good things DO come in small packages!)
It gets better. I am giving away two of these HP Photo Books to two of you. Just email or leave a comment. It is that easy! I will contact the winners by email. You know you want them!
I have 3 kids– two of them in the “teen boy phase”– a girl who plays like there is not tomorrow and a Doberman. Can I just tell you how much I love Febreeze? My van really loves Febreeze! I was sent a sample of Febreeze To Go. I love the idea. Want to know a secret? I actually carried around a full size bottle of Febreeze in my van before this. (Boys? Doberman? Need it!) So now, I pop it in my hand dandy glove box and always have a small size with me. For those times when the kids spilled those french fries, but forgot to tell you and now your car really needs a fast cleansing smell. You can also keep it in your gym bag because we all know there is gym funk in your clothes after a work-out.
BUT, I can also travel with it. I can fly and not be thrown off on a airplane of have to throw my beautiful travel size away. It’s regular Febreeze in a TSA compliant 2.8 travel size. It’s great to be able to travel with in case you have something horrific smelling in your hotel room that has infected your clothes, like say bad cheese.
It retails for around $2.00 a bottle, and, is available where you get the regular sized Febreze.
Try it out! If you have kids, you owe it to yourself.
When the good people over at the Parent Bloggers Network asked me to review Nozin, my first thought was Why not? I get sick too often from my germ infested school-bound kids. Okay, in reality, my first thought was I have stick stick a what up my where? Relax. It was just a swab in my nostril.
Nozin is a nasal sanitizer that helps reduce the risk of infection. You know how you get into crowded rooms and that fool person beside you sneezes and you can practically see the germs racing their way towards you? Well, with a a swab of Nozin in your nose, you can fee more protected against those germs.
From the package:
"Nozin is proven to be safe and effective. Apply before entering crowded areas: Planes, - Trains- Theaters- Work- School. Works up to 8 hours. Kills 99.9% of most common disease-causing germs."
Seeing as I was about to go on vacation, I gave it a try. Just a little flick of the swab until it appeared cloudy, bend it until a snap was heard, a tiny squeeze of the solution to saturate the tip and then swap that bad boy around the rims of my nostrils. I was afraid of these things smelling medicinal and icky, but surprisingly, they had a nice orange-like scent. I was very thankful seeing as I have super human powers of smell. I gag at strong smells easily! It’s kind of a clean smell.
Not hard. Nothing to lose. Then I went on vacation to stay in a house with 18 other people.
I did not get sick.
Was it Nozin? Was it because no one else was sick? I have no idea. The point is, I can tell you for sure that I did not get sick while using Nozin. It is worth a shot. If you don’t trust me, go to their site and get the travel pack and give it a try. If you think it is working, get more and keep those noses healthy!
The best thing about Nozin? "It is not an antibiotic so germs will not build resistance. NOZIN is non habit-forming and there were no important adverse events
in the small numbers of subjects with limited exposure to the
treatments in our study."
It worth a shot. I mean, if you are going to be playing with your nose, you might as well have a purpose behind it. Nozin it, baby.
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Some days it feels my life is lived online. At least a majority of my work is online. What is not online is on my computer. From the freelance articles I write, to rough drafts of my book to photos and videos of my family. I have my life saved of my hard drive. So, what would happen if I was “robbed” of my online life? I would be devastated. Just as my home has a burglar alarm, I know how important it is for my computer to have the equivalent.
