Kristin from Our Ordinary Life  is hosting an I am Ageless because… campaign. 

It asks the question… why are you Ageless?

 I. am. Ageless.

I refuse to leave this world without making some footprint in the sand. Whether it be who my children will be some day, or the smiles that I bring to those around me. I want to make a change, bring light into the dark, or be there to listen. Because being Ageless is about being here forever.

Go participate for your chance to win $200 cash (BlogHer or bust anyone?) or 1 of 4 bottles of the amazing smelling Ageless perfume. I can’t wait to hear why you are Ageless!

Small Size

The Creative Vado fits perfectly in the palm of your hand. It is not too small that the quality of the video lacks, though. It is a convenient size at 3.9″ x 2.2″ x 0.6″. It is thinner than a deck of cards and as light as your cell phone may be, so it’s perfect for on the go.

2 Hours of Video

Vado has internal memory built into the camera. You can record up to two hours (2 GB) of video. You will never need to purchase cards for it or cd’s to make more videos.

Rechargable Batteries

It can be said that this pocket camera is more eco-friendly because you do not need batteries! All you need to do is plug the camera into your computers usb port and charge it there! The only con to this is that if the battery dies on the go you will not be able to recharge it unless by a computer. Creative has found a way to help you with this, though, an additional changable battery can be purchased for only $14.99 for replacement on the go.

Ease of Use

It only took me about 30-seconds to figure out how to use the small video camera. Press the white box to record. Press the play button to watch it back. Press the + button to zoom out and the – to zoom back in. With a 2x digital zoom you can get closer to the object when you are far away, though the quality lacks as there is with optical zoom.

Plug, Play, and Upload

Plug the Creative Vado into your USB port using the flexible USB adapter, and it will prompt you to open the Creative Vado Central. This software built into the device allows you to view, delete, copy (to your computer), and upload directly to video sharing sites. The software, unfortunately does not include any video editing software, though it does it’s job for what I need! I am unsure if this is common but I find the upload time faster than when I upload videos from my standard digital camera from the computer to YouTube.

Win It

1. Tell us what you would do with the Vado by Creative Labs if you win. This is mandatory, if not done all other entries are null and void.
2. For a second entry you can tweet about this giveaway once a day until giveaway is closed. Leave a comment for each tweet – you can tweet twice daily and fill out the comment form on each site for more chances to win. “Win a Creative Vado during a Funfilled summer enter to win at http://www.mommasreview.com and http://www.aordinarylife.com”
3. Post about it on your blog and leave a comment here with the URL of your post and get five extra entries. Leave five comments for this extra entry opportunity.
4. For a final entry, subscribe to our RSS feed, leaving a comment here to tell us you’ve done so. We’ll be posting more giveaways on Momma’s Review soon so subscribing will be a great way for you to stay informed about all the great things you can win in the days and weeks to come.

The contest will close at 12:00 p.m. EST on Sundary June 16th.

This giveaway is open to all US Residents.

It is the 1st of June.

Summer is on it’s way, and fast!

To celebrate the fun in the sun, longer days, and beautiful weather we are kicking off the Funfilled Summer today! We are hosting this summery theme with Kristin @ An Ordinary Life. Over the next two weeks you will see reviews and giveaways on products for Summer Fun! We want to get the kids up, out, or having fun on rainy days.

See products from companies such as:

and more!

Stay tuned. Make sure you subscribe to both sites for some amazing chances to win!

Adapted from author Lois Duncan’s 1971 children’s book of the same name, director Thor Freudenthal’s Hotel for Dogs follows two mischievous orphans as they attempt to hide dozens of stray dogs in an abandoned hotel. Disheartened by their new guardians’ announcement that pets are strictly forbidden, 16-year-old Andi (Emma Roberts) and her younger brother, Bruce (Jake T. Austin), race to find a home for their loyal dog Friday. Fortunately for Friday, there’s an abandoned hotel just around the corner, and Bruce possesses just the kind of mechanical smarts needed to transform the rundown inn into a four-star retreat for canines. For a while, Friday and his friends have it made, but when the neighbors start to get suspicious, Andi and Bruce resort to every trick in the book in order to prevent their secret from being discovered. Don Cheadle, Emma Roberts, and Lisa Kudrow star in a family-friendly film penned by screenwriter Jeff Lowell. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

 Hotel for Dogs is a heart warming movie about two foster children who find a way to take care for not only one stray dog, Friday, but also a dozen other pooches who each have their own sweet personalities. Some things I like about this movie:

• As an adult there are times when watching a childrens movie can be barely tolerable. With Hotel for Dogs I genuinely liked watching it. The cast was adorable and though the children were not always the best of actors I wasn’t cringing while watching them.
• You’ll want to adopt all the dogs. Beware of that.
• I loved the concept that the group of kids were doing what they thought was right and stood up for what they believed in.
• I didn’t like that they broke the law multiple times and each time got away with it. This is not exactly a good morale for me to be teaching my kids.
• Sure, the movie is predictable but it does have a few unexpected twists and turns that made me smile.

One lucky reader can win Hotel for Dogs on DVD. Here’s how to enter:

1. Tell us which dog you would love to adopt (use your imagination if you’re not a dog person) that the Hotel for Dogs helps out.  To do so visit the Hotel for Dogs movie website and click on “Pick your pup” learn more about the pups from the movie there. This is mandatory, if not done all other entries are null and void.
2. For an extra entry, you can follow us on Twitter. Post a comment here with your Twitter username.
3. For a third entry you can tweet about this giveaway once a day until giveaway is closed. Leave a comment for each tweet. “Woof. Woof. Hotel for Dogs Movie giveaway going on now @mommasreview enter here: http://www.mommasreview.com”
4. Post about it on your blog and leave a comment here with the URL of your post and get five extra entries. Leave five comments for this extra entry opportunity.
5. Get emails from Mommas Review and receive an extra entry. Be sure to leave a comment with your email address for confirmation.
6. Post this giveaway on a forum, myspace, facebook or another social networking site. Link to it in a comment for extra entries.
7. For a final entry, subscribe to our RSS feed, leaving a comment here to tell us you’ve done so. We’ll be posting more giveaways on Momma’s Review soon so subscribing will be a great way for you to stay informed about all the great things you can win in the days and weeks to come.

The contest will close at 12:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday June 3rd.

This giveaway is open to all US Residents.

Create a character, explore the town, party with the MySims!

There’s so much fun to have with your friends in MySims™ Party! Explore the town with old friends Chaz and DJ Candy, and discover new ones at every turn! Create the house and village of your dreams starring your very own MySim! And discover robot-racing, snowboarding, and tons of other new adventures in this mini-game paradise!

Challenge your reflexes, strategy, smarts and speed with lots of games: Find the real mummy with a flashlight, slash a cannonball, flip bacon and more.

MySims’ unique talents: strength, endurance, speed and luck all play a part in how well they play. Choose a team of four for victory in every minigame!

Fast-Paced Festivals: play minigames one right after the other in fast-paced series to win the monuments! No more walking around a game board!

Great parties: any get-together turns into a party with up to four players playing more than 50 minigames (Wii™) and 40 (Nintendo DS™). Quickplay modes get you and your friends to the games fast.

MySims Party Website

My Insight

Finally a game my daughter can play for a longer period and she never bores of it. With 50 different mini games she can go back and forth and choose whatever she is in the mood for. Her favorite game is the one featured above, Dress for Success, where an adorable little girl thinks of the perfect outfit she wants to wear and you find it in the closet. Multiple people can play this and see who can find the outfit first.

All of the games are played well alone (against the computer) or in groups. This fun game will be played in our house for awhile to come. Sure, it’s not the best for adults as it is a bit juvenile - but for children, tweens and teens it is a fun game to be had!

Two lucky Mommas Review readers will win a copy of MySims Party for the Wii.  Here’s how to enter:

1. Visit the MySims Party website and tell us what Mini Game you would most want to try. This is mandatory, if not done all other entries are null and void.
2. For an extra entry, you can follow uson Twitter. Post a comment here with your Twitter username.
3. For a third entry you can tweet about this giveaway once a day until giveaway is closed. Leave a comment for each tweet. “Get your party on with MySims Party game for the Wii or the DS. Win a copy for the Wii at http://www.mommasreview.com”
4. Post about it on your blog and leave a comment here with the URL of your post and get five extra entries. Leave five comments for this extra entry opportunity.
5. Get emails from Mommas Review and receive an extra entry. Be sure to leave a comment with your email address for confirmation.
6. Post this giveaway on a forum, myspace, facebook or another social networking site. Link to it in a comment for extra entries.
7. For a final entry, subscribe to our RSS feed, leaving a comment here to tell us you’ve done so. We’ll be posting more giveaways on Momma’s Review soon so subscribing will be a great way for you to stay informed about all the great things you can win in the days and weeks to come.

The contest will close at 12:00 p.m. EST on Thursday June 4th.

This giveaway is open to all US Residents.

My three favorite are: 

The Suzy features a pleated neckline in brown striped fabric with a waist panel of matching fabric. The bodice and bottom are an apple and pear repeat pattern in pink, lime, yellow, and red on a blue background. 

The Rita features a pleated trim in pink striped fabric with a waist panel of matching fabric. The bodice and bottom are a flower pattern on a bright blue background.

The Betty features a ruffled trim in teal with a waist panel of matching fabric. The bodice and bottom are the bestselling skullfinity pattern.

We are giving away a Suzzi Homewreck Apron by Amanda Suzzi to one lucky winner.  Here is how to enter:

1. Visit Amanda Suzzi’s website and tell us what style of the Suzzi Homewrecker apron you love the most.. This is mandatory, if not done all other entries are null and void.
2. For an extra entry, you can follow us on Twitter. Post a comment here with your Twitter username.
3. For a third entry you can tweet about this giveaway once a day until giveaway is closed. Leave a comment for each tweet. “Look gorgeous and retro in the Suzzi Homewrecker Apron by Amanda Suzzi. Win it now  @ http://www.mommasreview.com”
4. For a final entry tell us a store you think that should sell this gorgeous apron. Leave a seperate comment for each store you tell us about. This could be large retailors or small boutiques.

This giveaway is open to US residents only!

The contest will close at 12:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday May 27th.

Stonyfield Farms now makes an organic Greek yogurt called Oikos. Although there are various brands of Greek yogurt on the market today, our Oikos Organic is the only organic Greek yogurt on the market. That means it’s made without artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners, and it’s made from organic milk produced without the use of toxic persistent pesticides, chemical fertilizers, antibiotics, or artificial growth hormones (ie rBST). It doesn’t seem to be in all the major grocery stores yet but I have seen it in our local Hannaford and word on the street is Shaws and some Stop and Shop chains carry it also. If none of those grocery stores are in your area you can check out the Oikos website which has a Store Finder that can get you to your nearest Oikos seller quickly.

How did Oikos compare to brands like Fage and Chobani? I sampled both a plain Oikos serving (with my own fruit preserves mixed in) as well as their blueberry flavor and couldn’t really tell the difference but my husband, who often eats the yogurt plain now says that the Oikos had a more acidic flavor that more closely resembled a plain yogurt than Fage or Chobani’s which he finds creamier in both texture and flavor.

If you are just jumping on the Greek band wagon and you are already a fan of plain yogurt, Oikos might really appeal to you. If you dislike plain yogurt but want to give Greek a shot, I highly recommend getting a flavored variety or mixing any of the brands with a fruit preserve or honey. Greek yogurt also makes an excellent cooking ingredient (click here for some great recipe ideas) as it’s less likely to curdle when heated. The straining process that gives Greek yogurt its creamy taste also makes it richer in protein than regular yogurt, and lower in lactose. Oikos Organic Greek Yogurt has 0% fat, just 90 calories per 5.3 oz. plain serving*, twice the protein of regular yogurt, and fewer carbohydrates.

Did you know that Stonyfield has teamed up with Energy Star to give one lucky winner $10,000 worth of ENERGY STAR-qualified Kenmore appliances from Sears?

“We want people to test their home energy use knowledge by taking our Home Energy Quiz,” says Stonyfield Farm President and CE-Yo Gary Hirshberg. “Even those who consider themselves experts in home energy efficiency might learn a thing or two, saving energy and the planet while saving money.”

The average American household spends more than $2,000 a year on energy bills, but the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR program can help reduce energy costs by over a third (about $700).

The ENERGY STAR-Qualified Appliance Sweepstakes is being promoted via Stonyfield Farm yogurt lids. Anyone can complete Stonyfield’s Home Energy Quiz to be entered into the sweepstakes for a chance to win $10,000 in Sears gift cards to be used to purchase ENERGY STAR-qualified Kenmore appliances – the nation’s leading appliance brand.

Check out the Home Energy Quiz and complete it online or by mail by June 15th for a chance to win. Complete rules and entry forms can be found at www.stonyfield.com or www.kenmore.com.

Find the best way to get there with the new MOTONAV TN20. With a 3.5 inch touch screen this is one of the smaller GPS’ that are out on the market. For the newer user this is perfect. My husband loved the smallness of it and that he could fit it easily on the windshield of his Jeep and it would not be too bulky.  

Motorola describes the TN20 as:

MOTONAV™ TN20 helps you find the best route with GPS accuracy. The text-to-speech feature provides turn-by-turn directions, in an easy to understand voice, including spoken street names eliminate second-guessing when making a turn. Locate a favorite restaurant, nearest bank, or see what is along your route. Save time and fuel, and leave getting lost to the past.

I was lucky enough to compare the TN20 with our current GPS. Some of the features that stood out to me were the fact that you could hear the spoken street names with the standard turn by turn directions. I loved how it would give you two directions ahead of time. For example, while driving through the city it was alot of quick turning. The device would say to us “Turn left in 500, then turn right onto Shrewsbury street.” This is not something our current GPS does so it was a cool feature. Especially since it prepared us to be in the right lane in the city.

If you get hungry along the way while traveling don’t worry you can search for restaurants, gas stations, banks and more. We used this feature to find a local Subway restaurant for lunch. I didn’t feel like eating in the city so I was able to put in the next town over and search there for a good place to stop.  

We noticed while driving little landmarks along the way on the GPS map. My husband and I were stumped by them so I reached over and touched the landmark on the screen. It told me what the location was and even allowed me to save it in case we want to go there in the future. This is by far one of my favorite features of the Motorola TN20.

A few more features to note:

• Preloaded maps of Continental US
• Automatic day/night mode adjustment
• 2D and 3D Map perspectives
• Zoom and move maps with your finger
• More than one million searchable points of interest
• No activation or monthly service fees

The Motorola MOTONAV TN20 (Retail 179.99) includes the GPS device, windshield mount, dash mount, and in-car charger. This GPS is perfect for a first time user. This is a great present for any Mommas who have a tendency to get lost, like me!

One lucky Momma (or Papa) will win the Motorola MOTONAV TN20 from Mommas Review. Here’s how to enter, be sure to leave a comment for each entry you do:

1. Tell us what you think you’ll like best about the Motorola MOTONAV T20. For more ideas visit the Motorola Store. This is mandatory, if not done all other entries are null and void.
2. Tell us another Motorola product you’d love to own.
3. Follow us on Twitter. Post a comment here with your Twitter username.
4. You can tweet about this giveaway, twice daily until contest is closed (up to 6 entries). “Enter to win a Motorola TN20 GPS for your Momma for Mothers Day. Visit http://www.mommasreview.com to enter”
5. Tell us about your Momma and why she deserves this GPS.
6. Post about it on your blog and get five extra entries. Leave five comments here with either the URL of your post
7. Subscribe to our RSS feed, leaving a comment here to tell us you’ve done so. We’ll be posting more giveaways on Momma’s Review soon so subscribing will be a great way for you to stay informed about all the great things you can win in the days and weeks to come.

This giveaway is open to US residents only.

The contest will close at 12:00 p.m. EST on Sunday May 10th – Mother’s Day 2009. Winner will be chosen by random on that day.

Drum roll please…

(Did anyone else just picture this video?)

Get Your Link On

Each Wednesday we will provide a place for you to come and post any of your current giveaways. Also, you can come on over and enter the listings.  Please list by typing the giveaway item, your sites name, and the end date for the giveaway like this: Serta Mattress – Mommas Review (Ends May 30)