Busy Mom Reviews

America's Biggest Sleepover is happening on November 7, 2009 and girls from everywhere are invited!

Sponsored by Always and Beinggirl.com, this nationwide, online event will bring together girls across the country for a night of fun, sleepover-themed activities.

America's Biggest Sleepover is hosted by American Idol's Jordin Sparks and she also performs a live, online concert and answer's questions from beinggirl.com members. You can also find sleepover party tips including recipes, fun games and hairstyles.

For every girl that signs up to participate on beinggirl.com, Always will donate $1 to the Protecting Futures program, which helps girls in developing regions stay in school, up to $25,000.

No compensation or products were received for this post.

From the editors of Klutz books (they taught me to juggle) comes the sequel to The Encyclopedia of Immaturity, The Encyclopedia of Immaturity Volume 2.

This is a book right up my alley (hey, what do you mean you,"already knew that"?) with instructions on such things as how to make rude noises, play indoor Frisbee golf, slip on a banana peel, make pickled elf bottoms (yes, it's true) and much more.

The Encyclopedia of Immaturity Volume 2 is an attractive spiral bound book with nice thick pages so you can refer to it over and over again, and it would make a great holiday gift.

Want one of your very own? I have one to give away.

How to enter:

1. Leave a comment telling me about something funny and immature you've done

2. Optional: Twitter about this contest and leave a separate comment with a link to your tweet.

3, Contest ends 10 pm CST on Tuesday, November 10, 2009.

4. Winner will be chosen from the comments by a random number generator.

This contest courtesy of the fine folks at Scholastic. No payment or compensation other than the product sample as described above and a copy for the winner was received for this post.

ADDED: I've had some terrible technical difficulties, so I'm extending this contest until Friday, November 20, 2009. Thanks!

In our quest to be "greener", this holiday, don't forget aboutReynolds Wrap® Foil from 100% Recycled Aluminum. It's a strong, food-safe foil and it's available in regular and heavy duty strengths.

Some green Thanksgiving tips from Reynolds:

* Saving water: cut back on water usage and make clean up easier, by lining pie pans with Reynolds Wrap® Foil from 100% Recycled Aluminum or using the product to catch any dripping from poultry

* Conserving energy: cook in the right size pots and selecting the air-dry option on your dishwasher

* Saving leftovers: store food in Reynolds Wrap® Foil from 100% Recycled Aluminum for a more eco-friendly way to enjoy Thanksgiving leftovers

I received some for review and didn't know what to expect, but it works the same way as the original variety. I thought it felt slightly different, but otherwise it's the same great product we all know and love and we are using it regularly.

You can find out more about Reynolds Wrap Foil from 100% Recycled Aluminum and get a coupon for 50 cents off.

Also, be sure to visit Reynolds Wrap Facebook page and tell them how you green your Thanksgiving.

No compensation other than the product sample as described about was received for this post.

It's kind of hard to believe, but the holidays are almost here! For us, Thanksgiving is around the corner and Christmas is not even 6 weeks away.

Sometimes, I have a tough time getting started when it's time to get in the spirit, and I depend on a few constants to get me in the spirit and make my holiday bright.

I really enjoy Christmas music, but I'm not one of those people that listens to it year round. So, when the time is right to me, usually early December, I crank it up and play my favorites and it really brightens the season for me.

Another signal that it's holiday time is our friend's annual Christmas caroling party. It's a long-standing tradition and has even been on the news as I think it's been going on for over 20 years. It's straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting (OK, a really chaotic Norman Rockwell painting, but still...), we meet, bundle up and go caroling in the neighborhood to raise money for a charity. Afterward, we go back to the house to thaw out and enjoy a chili dinner.

Finally, my holiday is literally bright the first time we light up the Christmas tree. I'm very particular about our tree lighting, possibly because we never had lights on the tree when I was growing up, I'm not sure, The decorations have to be completed before the lights are turned on, and I make the whole family watch the inaugural lighting.

When all those things take place, I feel like it's officially Christmas!

Tell me in the comments what makes your season bright, and you will be entered to win a $50 Target gift card. The winner will be chosen by a random number generator and announced next week.

This post sponsored by Target. For lots of fun festive stuff – including a gift finder gizmo and the chance to win a $500 Target gift card – check out Happy Holiday Help on DivineCaroline.

Fall and early winter brings football, holidays and parties. It's that time of year when you might need to feed a crowd or bring something to a potluck dinner. Velveeta has some great ideas for game day or any other gathering, or simply sandwich night at home.

If you haven't checked out Velveeta in a while, go beyond that college staple Rotel dip and branch out into Buffalo Chicken Dip or Southwestern Corn Dip.

Velveeta also has ideas to stretch your dinner budget. I made a simple Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli bake that turned out great and was gone in minutes:

Be sure to check out Velveeta and Velveeta's Facebook page for even more fun recipe ideas.

The giveaway

I have 4 Velveeta coupons good for one free 1lb. package:

1. Leave a comment for a chance to win.

2. Enter by November 20, 2009 10pm CST and 4 winners will be chosen randomly.

I received some Velveeta coupons, a small Velveeta paper cookbook, an apron and a casserole dish. No other compensation of any type was received. I am under no obligation to write anything positive or, actually to write anything at all. Hope you enjoy the giveaway the recipes.

Maghound is an online membership service that allows you to choose, change, and manage all the magazines delivered to your home.

You pay one monthly fee for all your magazines (number of magazines depends on membership tier) and you can even change the titles anytime. Mix it up! Get different titles each month if you'd like.

A Maghound gift subscription would make a great present!

The Giveaway:

Want to check out Maghound for yourself?

I have two (2) free one-year memberships to Maghound to give away:

1. Visit Maghound and leave a comment telling me your favorite magazine

2. For an extra entry, Twitter about this giveaway and leave me a separate comment

3. Contest ends Saturday, November 21, 2009 at 10pm CST and winners will be chosen by random number generator.

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Be sure to enter MagHound's Magnificent Makeover Sweepstakes for your chance to win a trip to New York to meet with a People StyleWatch editor who will help you with a hair and makeup makeover and a shopping spree at a retail store.

Grand prize: A "MAGnificent Makeover" Prize Package including airfare for 2 to New York, hotel, ground transportation, a Hair and Makeup makeover at a People StyleWatch Recommended Salon, a salon consultation, hair cut & color, make up application and eyebrow shaping, and a shopping spree with a People StyleWatch Editor who will advise on an outfit, trends etc. at a retail store. (ARV: $4,690)

1st Prizes (3): Winner's choice of a $100 Sephora Gift Card or Macy's Gift Card. (ARV: $100)

The sweepstakes began on Monday, November 2, 2009 at 12:01 AM Eastern Time and ends at 11:59 PM Eastern Time on Tuesday, December 15, 2009.

I received a year membership to Maghound and am really enjoying it so far. If you win the makeover contest and were referred by me, I win a trip, too!

I'm going to try to do more online shopping this year. I was better at it when the kids were really little, but I've fallen out of the habit.

When I was young, my favorite toy was a stuffed dog my mother received as a baby gift that I named (ever so creatively), Mr. Dog.

He wasn't especially fancy, and there weren't "high-tech" toys back then, but Mr. Dog still went everywhere with me. He survived countless slumber parties and summers at camp, and he went to college with me. Of course, he moved with me into our first house after I got married. While he may not have maintained his prominent place on my bed over the years, Mr. Dog has never been too far away and has seen me through good times and bad.

This holiday, why not take an extra few minutes to pick out something special for someone? Target makes it easy to get started with the Target Gift Finder. Mr. Dog may be just a stuffed animal, and I'm pretty sure I'm way too old to have one, but you never know when even a simple gift might have a lifetime of meaning for someone.

What was your favorite toy?

This post is sponsored by Target. For a chance to win a $500 Target gift card, check out Happy Holiday Help on Divine Caroline.