Still Time to Enter America's Cutest Last-Minute Tax Deduction Contest!

Are you a new mom of 2009?  If so, enter the America's Cutest Last Minute Tax Deduction contest as you might win $5,000!

All Moms would agree that the joy that comes from having a new baby is priceless! The sweet sounds of cooing, chubby cheeks and the intimate bond between parent and child can make any family feel rich with love. But, as any new parents can attest, raising children can have an impact on your checkbook, as well as your heart. In fact, the typical family spends more than $221,000 raising a child through age 17.

Because MomSelect loves to bestow gifts on new moms, MomSelect is thrilled to pass along the news of a fun contest that might lighten the load of one lucky family! Thanks to TurboTax®, one "last-minute" baby will help his or her parents save a bundle.

TurboTax® the nation's No. 1 rated, best-selling tax preparation software from Intuit Inc. is conducting its third annual nationwide search for America's Cutest Last-Minute Tax Deduction. The parents of one lucky baby, born in December 2009, will win $5,000.

To enter, parents or legal guardians should submit a photo of their baby born between Dec. 1-31, to http://www.cutesttaxdeduction.com/. The deadline for submissions is January 7, 2010. Judges will select 10 finalists, and America will determine America's Cutest Last-Minute Tax Deduction and the $5,000 grand prize winner!

View some of the current entries at:  http://cutesttaxdeduction.com/view

Link Up Your Giveaways

Feel free to leave individual giveaways or a general giveaway linking to your site.  I'll tweet at various times as an extra bonus to random additions to the list.  Check out my tweets to see at stayingyoung2.

Want to post a special giveaway?  Send an e-mail to staying_younger@yahoo.com.

Happy New Year!

New at AdorableBabyClothing!

Not only does AdorableBabyClothing.com have the most adorable clothes for your babies and children, but they have gifts and now diaper cakes are available!

Some of the cute choices include:

The Royal Princess Diaper Cake is the Ultimate Gift for a new mom or mommy-to-be.

Our Royal Princess Diaper Cake makes an impressive baby shower centerpiece sitting atop a glass cake stand. Place it in the center of the gift table, then send it home with mommy-to-be after the shower. She'll remember it forever, and so will your guests.

The Royal Cake arrives wrapped in Pink Tulle with ingredient card attached and includes:

• 4 Baby Bath Items
• Velour Door Pillow
• Infant Brush & Comb
• Ceramic Castle Bank
• Body Spray for Mom
• 3 Piece Manicure Set
• 25 Newborn Size Pampers
• 2 Piece Luxury Blanket Set
• 2 Magnetic Ceramic Frames
• Little Princess Crown Rattle/Teether
• Little Princess Tee & Princess Pacifier
• Little Princess Embroidered Terry Cloth Bib

Cake arrives wrapped in Pretty Pink Tulle with ingredient card attached.

Blanket is 34" x 34", made of Cuddle Bubble and Winterfleece with matching Pillow Case. Case fits infant size pillow.

Our Baby Cake Supreme is as good as it looks. Impressively large (32" High) and loaded with many tasty ingredients, this is one cake that is sure to please everyone's appetite. Sweet blue bears adorn each layer, as well as all the things mommy needs for that new little one. A great baby shower centerpiece!

Our secret recipe:

• 100% Cotton Gown
• Hat
• Hooded Terry Towel
• Receiving Blanket
• Booties
• Bib
• Terry Toy
• 4 Diapers
• J&J Lotion
• Shampoo
• Powder
• Soap
• A Dash of Love

There are many other themes available along with price ranges.  Don't forget AdorableBabyClothing.com when you are looking for that great gift or outfit!  Their customer service is amazing!

See other past postings on AdorableBabyClothing's Tutus and Holiday Dresses.
Disclaimer:  I was not compensated in any way for this post on AdorableBabyClothing.com.

Thanks 1-800-FLOWERS!

After posting the 1-800-FLOWERS' great Toys for Tots/Secret Santa program, I received this beautiful arrangement of roses which the picture doesn't do it justice.  The fragrance is incredible and still puts me in the Christmas mood with the smells of pine and other floral scents.

Thank you, 1-800-FLOWERS!

See the original post HERE.

100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go by Susan Van Allen Book Review

Product Details:

• Author: Susan Van Allen
• Paperback: 422 pages
• Publisher: Travelers' Tales; 1st edition (October 20, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932361650
• ISBN-13: 978-1932361650

Product Description (from Amazon):

It's an undeniable fact that traveling to Italy is a dream for many women. While many travel guides offer dry lists of facts and can only guide travelers toward cookie-cutter tours, this female-centered guide allows women to create a personalized, fulfilling journey. Written in lively anecdotes and organized by vacation type, this book offers a range of possibilities for any budget, interest, and level of travel experience. A godsend for women looking to finally fulfill their Italian fantasies, vacation types include Hepburn s Roman Holiday and Venetian Carnevale, as well as additional information on great shopping, the best beaches, and culinary-themed jaunts. With passion, humor, and helpful details, 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go inspires travelers to discover masterpieces, sensual delights, and adventures in bell Italia.

My Review:

100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go is an excellent written guide to not only women but any travel lover and especially one that has a passion for Italy.  The book is broken up to include the not so famous landmarks and places to see which is a nice deviation to the usual tourist areas.  What I also liked about the book is the places of interest that can be found on the web.  Susan places the website address sideways on the edge of the applicable pages.  She also advises the best times to visit to avoid crowds which for me, is a huge bonus to the guide. 

The historical facts behind the recommended places is also very interesting.  For instance, the section on Italian shoes and how Salvatore Ferrabamo became the grandpapa of modern Italian shoe fashion.  The extra time Susan put forward in explaining the significance of these attractions adds to the allure. Susan even goes off the usual beaten touristy attractions to recommend places such as painting masks in Venice or create jewelry in Cortona. 

The size is perfect and easy to carry on the plane for planning as well as in a purse or small carrying bag for your glorious vacation in Italy. There's even a great page of resources.

This is an excellent, inspiring book for the novice traveler all the way to the seasoned traveler heading to Italy.  If you want to plan the perfect holiday, desire the chance to step off the beaten path and make profound memories, pick up a copy of 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go by Susan Van Allen as you won't be disappointed.

About the Author:

Susan Van Allen's love for Italy began from her time spent with her maternal grandparents.  They emigrated from Southern Italy and brought along the same traditions they had in Italy thus allowing Susan to be wrapped up in life the Italian way. She was born in Newark, New Jersey and took her first trip to Italy in 1976.  After spending the following years visiting Italy, she was able to write this great book.

Click on the link to see a view of the inside of the book:  100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go (Travelers' Tales)

Free Admission in 2010 for Servicemen at Anheuser-Busch Seven Theme Parks

"Here's to the Heroes," a program sponsored by Anheuser-Busch, provides free admission in 2010 for any active duty, active reserve, National Guardsman or ready reserve servicemember representing any of the five service branches and as many as three of his or her direct dependents. All servicemembers need to do is register online at http://www.herosalute.com/ or in the entrance plaza of a participating park, and show a Department of Defense (DoD) photo identification. Each pass is valid for a one-day admission per person per year to five of Anheuser-Busch's seven theme park brands.

Information from:  http://www.military.com/military-report/free-theme-park-admission

Family Fun Night & Great Hasbro Offer

We started a family tradition back in the fall of "Family Fun Night" and one of our family Christmas presents will help us to continue the new tradition.  We bought one of those bigger but small popcorn theater type popcorn makers and I just ordered the same popcorn, coconut oil and salts that the movie theaters use.  I think instead of a movie, we'll take advantage of Hasbro's great new offer.

Hasbro has Create Your Own Family Game Night special where you choose six games and get one free for only $13.99 a month (plus shipping and handling).  If you sign up for this, you will also get the bonus pack that includes:

• 2 free Dominos pizza coupons
• Family Game Night trophy (great idea for the kids!)
• Family Game Night Score Sheet

What makes it even more enticing, you don't know which game you will receive so it will be a surprise each month.  There are restrictions in choosing the games and they break it down to three groups but the games include:

• Monopoly
• Boggle
• The Game of Life
• Battleship
• Scrabble Upwords
• Sorry
• Clue
• Hungry Hungry Hippos
• Taboo
• Memory
• Chutes and Ladders and many, many others.

There is even a breakdown for bundles that simplifies the decision making based on children, new games, adult games, family fun and strategy based games.

Tips for Starting a Blog for Reviews and Giveaways

Need some tips for starting a blog or establishing relationships with Public Relations professionals for reviews and giveaways?  Check out my guest blog at SheBlogs:

http://www.sheblogs.org/2009/12/tips-for-starting-the-path-to-product-reviews-and-giveaways/#comments

Blogger Giveaways Available Outside of US?

I'm curious as to the blogger sites that allow giveaways for outside the US and what interests there are.  I notice on my Feedlink that I get hits from other countries and most giveaways are for US only.  Is there an interest for more products available outside the US?  Feel free to leave a comment or send me an e-mail at staying_younger@yahoo.com.

Thanks!

Higher Education Opportunity Act: Great News for Military Spouses & Dependents

The reauthorization of the Higher Education Opportunity Act of July 1, 2009 allows spouses and dependents of active duty service members for a period of more than 30 days will eligible for in-state tuition at public universities and colleges in the site where they reside OR where permanent residency is.  In addition, as long as the student is enrolled, they will continue to pay in-state tuition rates regardless of the next PCS.

This is great news!

Marcasite and Onyx Heart Sterling Silver Pendant Giveaway

This elegant Marcasite and Onyx Heart pendant is crafted of genuine sterling silver.

Specifications:

• Sterling silver locket and chain
• Heart-shaped locket features polished onyx stone and sparkling marcasite stones
• 18-inch-long box chain closes with a spring ring clasp
• Dimensions: 31mm H x 24 mm W
• Materials: Sterling Silver Marcasite and Onyx
  
• $55 value
  

Click HERE for the Gift Pack 4 Giveaway.

Current Valentine's Day Gift Pack Giveaways: More Coming Soon!

Current Giveaway Packages:


Gift Pack 1:

• Two Customized Chocomize Chocolate Bars
• $25 Zazzle Gift Certificate
• Chocolate:  A Love Story Hardcover Recipe Collecton

Gift Pack 2:

• Skinfood Skincare Three Products 
• $25 Kmart Gift Card
• 1 Mini Bottle of Estee Lauder Sensuous
• 1 Mini Bottle of Wild Honeysuckle
• 1 Mini Bottle Pure White Linen

Gift Pack 3:

• Sprig Toys Adventure Dino Set
• $10 Walmart Gift Card

Gift Pack 4:

• $25 Eden Fantasys Gift Card

Stay tuned for more giveaways, reviews and ideas!  Items will be added to gift packs as they come so you never know, a gift pack might end up with more items for each lucky winner!

Get Denise Austin’s new book, FREE!

Denise Austin has a new diet and fitness book designed to blast away fat and get you fit in no time. It’s called Denise’s Daily Dozen: The Easy, Every Day Program to Lose Up to 12 Pounds in 2 Weeks! To thank you for being a loyal Morning Stretch with Denise Austin subscriber, they’re giving away a FREE copy to the first 50 people who respond via e-mail.

Just send an email with your full name and mailing address* to giveaways@deniseaustin.com.

Imagine, over 300 pages of illustrated exercises, meal plans, recipes, success stories and more from Denise Austin – absolutely FREE!

Get ready to burn fat, boost metabolism, tone up and get into the best shape of your life!

Scarecrow Finds a Friend by Blume J. Rifken Book Review

Product Details:

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Whirlpool Press (August 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0979694809
• ISBN-13: 978-0979694806

Imagine a witch needing help to regain her flying powers from a scarecrow and you have this delightful children's story by author Blume J. Rifken.  Tally, who is a good witch, lost her power to fly and needs the help of Scarecrow to regain those powers.  Scarecrow met Tally at Halloween when she granted him a wish.  Tally grants many wishes and forgot that the very thing that gave her happiness could take away her abilities to fly.  Unknown to them, Scarecrow has a plan and the story gives the little ones a chance to see a true form of friendship and the rewarding outcome of helping one another.

This is a heartwarming story about friendship and teamwork.  It is a great read anytime but particularly a good choice during the fall.  Both my girls were delighted as I read the story to them and they enjoyed the illustrations by Carl Wenzel.

The author, Blume J. Rifken, is a former fashion illustrator and is the author of Silhouettes in America, 1790-1840: A Collector's Guide.  Scarecrow Finds a Friend was her first book inspired by her two grandchildren.

 

Military Spouses MyCAA Career Advancement Account

Are you taking advantage of the Department of Defenses' Military Spouse Career Advancement Account (MyCAA)?  If not, you should as it's $6,000 that can be paid towards a degree to include advanced degrees, educational training, counseling and license fees.  This is a program for spouses of active duty personnel and activated Reserve Components that started last May of 2009.

Call 1-800-342-9647 or click here for more information:  https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa/mosLogin.aspx.  There is a two week backlog per the site.

Disappointed Zhu Zhu Pet: Wheels Don't Turn

I wonder if others are having issues with their Zhu Zhu Pets?  I ended up buying three and gave one away as a giveaway in the spirit of Christmas and ended up keeping the one that ended up being broken much to the dismay of my six year old.  The wheels won't turn but the other one works. I haven't heard from my winner if their Zhu Zhu works.

I just wrote the toy company to see if there is anything they could do.

Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving: Take the Pledge

Take the pledge to not get behind the wheel even if you or someone you know is only buzzed as buzzed driving is drunk driving.  Impaired driving is no accident. It's a serious and deadly crime that kills every 30 minutes.  This holiday season, especially tomorrow night, New Year's Eve, is a particular time to ensure no one is injured or killed over drinking and driving.

Watch Emily's story on how Buzzed Driving affected her life:



The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA), the Ad Council and Global Influence wants everyone to drive smart all the time and especially tomorrow night.  Take the pledge, follow on Twitter (@buzzeddriving) and become a Facebook fan. 

In 2008, nearly 12,000 people in the U.S. were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes - and during the periods around Christmas and New Year's, this number was particularly high, with 316 people killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes. In 2007, 162,493 women were arrested for a DUI, an increase of almost 29% since 1998. 

I have not lost anyone fortunately to drunken driving and pray I never do.  It's such a tragic and senseless act to commit. 

Disclaimer:  I was not compensated for this post.  I am a member of the Global Influence who partnered with NHSTA and the Ad Council to spread awareness.

Merry Christmas!

I bought a Santa suit and had my daughter's boyfriend dress up to "catch" some surprise pictures for the younger one's of Santa placing the presents.  I woke up the six year old to quietly join in on the surprise but she was too tired to be coherent and didn't remember a thing this morning.  Luckily I had pictures to show her which she was tickled over.

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

12 Pearls of Christmas: Celebrate

What Really Matters
by Dawn Meehan

In the hustle and bustle and commercialism of Christmas, take time to remember the real reason why we celebrate - the birth of Christ, our Lord and Saviour. May you all have a blessed Christmas!

I had a VERY long day with the kids doing little but fighting. By the time we left for church, we were all short tempered, snapping at each other, and not at all in the Christmas spirit. Thankfully, once at church, we calmed down. Things were put in perspective for us. We sang Christmas songs and began to smile at one another again. The kids didn't fight once while we were there. Well, they did use their battery operated candles as light sabers for a minute, but we'll forget about that part.

I never sent out cards (sorry to all my family and friends). It just didn't happen this year. I don't think I ever completely finished my shopping, but it's a little late now. Several items I ordered online have been back ordered. I just realized that the kids have eaten all the cookies I've made and there are none to put out for Santa now. I encouraged them to leave him a glass of wine instead. And I failed to read the Christmas story to the kids before they went to bed.

But you know what? None of that matters. It really doesn't. Christmas is here! Christ is born! And He doesn't care if we sent out Christmas cards. He doesn't care if we ate all the cookies we baked. He doesn't even care if we never got around to baking a single cookie at all! He loves us no matter how much we screw up.

Now that's worth celebrating!

_____________________________

Dawn Meehan (aka mom2my6pack) grew up in Chicagoland where she began her writing career at the age of 5 with her widely praised, The Lucky Leprechaun, an epic tale of a leprechaun who is- yes, you guessed it, lucky.

Dawn has six children, basically because she didn't want seven. She is the author of Because I Said So and spends her days blogging at BecauseISaidSo.com, changing diapers, cleaning pudding off her ceiling, tackling insurmountable piles of laundry, and explaining to her kids why they can't have a pet squirrel or an indoor slip-n-slide.

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A three strand pearl necklace will be given away on New Year's Day. All you need to do to have a chance of winning is leave a comment here. Come back on New Year's Day to see if you won!

12 Pearls of Christmas Series and contest sponsored by Pearl Girls®. For more information, please visit http://www.pearlgirls.info/

The Coupon Mom Show!

In tough economic times, Coupon Mom comes to the rescue and helps stretch your dollars to the max!

Stephanie Nelson, better known as Coupon Mom™, has appeared on numerous television shows (The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Today Show, and others) to share her remarkable tips and tricks for getting the biggest bang for your buck without sacrificing on quality! Now you too can learn the tips and tricks of strategic shopping and see how to save big money with the Coupon Mom Show!

With one new episode posted weekly until late April, you’ll know everything about saving from shopping at grocery stores and drug stores to eating at restaurants inexpensively and even entertaining on a budget. There are even a lot of fun hands-on challenges and an intensive savings boot camp! Perfect for any real family learning to save money! If you're hoping to save 25% or 50% or even up to 75% this show can help!

About the Coupon Mom Show

The Coupon Mom Show teaches viewers how to save money by watching Stephanie Nelson work with real families to solve their savings challenges in a fun and entertaining way. In each episode, Coupon Mom addresses different financial challenges, from families that want to slash their grocery bills to those hoping to save on holiday meals, birthday parties or even school supplies and provides saving solutions for them. New episodes of the Coupon Mom Show will be airing every Thursday on YouTube and on the Coupon Mom Show website.

Have a question for Coupon Mom? Viewers can submit questions and challenges to the Coupon Mom Show forum.

About Coupon Mom

Stephanie Nelson has built a loyal following and has become a trusted source. She has been featured as an expert on Oprah Winfrey Show, The Today Show, The Early Show, Good Morning America, and profiled on MSN, AOL, Yahoo, and many other sites. Her site, http://www.couponmom.com/, attracts more than 1 million unique visitors per month, and she distributes her money saving newsletter to more than 1.5 million subscribers.

12 Pearls of Christmas: Slow Down, Pray & Give Thanks

All Decked Out For Christmas
by Maureen Lang

One of the reasons so many of us love the holiday season is that it's just so...pretty! Twinkling lights, shiny ornaments, packages that glisten with bows and fancy wrapping. Our houses are trimmed with wreaths and glowing trees, and the neighborhood lights up the night with strands of icicles and glimmering reindeer.

Even we get decked out for the holidays! Chances are most of us will attend at least one party this season, and if we don't usually don clothing or jewelry with a bit of sparkle, now's the time to take a chance with something that reflects the holiday.

Smiles are another reason this season is such a popular one. They accompany that familiar greeting-Merry Christmas! Smiles go with the gifts we give and with the gifts we receive. Smiles go with the old Christmas carols and classic movies we watch every year.

The holiday season is a time when everything can seem amplified. But what if we're all decked out on the outside, from the sparkling clothing to our best effort at a smile, and on the inside we're anything but happy? If life isn't what we expected it to be, the gap between reality and our happy, hopeful expectations seem wider when everyone around us is laughing through the season.

I know there are as many reasons to be unhappy as there are to be happy, and I wouldn't begin to have the answer to make this season bearable for everyone. But I do know a few things that have worked for me:

Slow down. What? During the busiest time of the year? Yep. I know when I feel completely overwhelmed it's because I'm pressuring myself to do too much. So I try to plan ahead, settle for less than perfection, do my best without driving myself and everyone around me crazy. Choose what's really important and let go of the other things. And I've adopted my aunt's favorite saying: "However it turns out, that's how we like it." Works wonders on attitude!

Pray. As my pastor reminded me this weekend from Psalm 34:18: the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. God may not deliver us from our troubles, but He promises to stay beside us-in fact, closer than when everything seems hunky-dory.

Find a moment to give thanks for what you do have (without looking around at those who have more).

This last point deserves a moment of reflection, and is something I'm still learning to do. I have a child severely handicapped by Fragile X Syndrome, a genetic form of mental retardation. For years I thought I'd accepted his condition. I obediently said to God, "thank you even for this," since it taught me many things about adjusting to the life I've been given rather than the one I might have chosen.

But as my son gets older, I see new forms of acceptance making that feeling of gratitude more genuine. I think I'm finally letting go of some of the hopes and dreams I had for him, my oldest son. I can no longer imagine him any other way than the way he is, even though I'd be first in line if a cure is ever found.

I still think it's a good thing to give thanks in all things, even if it begins out of obedience rather than tender gratitude for whatever thorn we live with. But realizing it's okay to grow into that gratitude was a blessing to me.

Maybe some of the bruises on our spirit seem tender during the holiday season, a reminder that all the glitter on the outside might not light us up on the inside. My prayer is trust Psalm 34:18. Let's lean on Him this season-He's right here beside us!

______________________________

Maureen Lang grew up loving to tell stories, and God has blessed her immeasurably to be able to tell them to a wider audience these days. For the latest goings-on, please check her blog!

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A three strand pearl necklace will be given away on New Year's Day. All you need to do to have a chance of winning is leave a comment here. Come back on New Year's Day to see if you won!

12 Pearls of Christmas Series and contest sponsored by Pearl Girls®. For more information, please visit http://www.pearlgirls.info/

12 Pearls of Christmas: Wondrous Mystery

Magnificat
by Anna Joujan

Holy. Holy. Holy is the Lord. The familiar catch of breath. The sting in the eyes. And the tears begin to flow with the falling rain. Or do the tears fall with the flowing rain. What is it in these words that I whisper that wrenches at my heart so? Why does Mary's prayer touch the core of my being, so many centuries after it was spoken?

I think it must be because I know that she was just a girl, just a human being, with a woman's heart like my own. And so, when I hear her wondering words, I can feel with her the emotion she must have felt. To bear the son of God-what wondrous mystery, what glorious honour! And she was, like me, just a young woman-much younger, in fact, than I am now. And so, no matter how often I hear the story and read her words, it still has the power to bring abrupt and unsought tears.

What a gracious God, to work wonders with such frail and faulty creatures as us!

__________________________________________

Anna G. Joujan was born in South Dakota, as a Canadian citizen, and was raised in Zambia, the child of missionary teachers. Since her family's move to the U.S., Anna spent her childhood and early adulthood traveling throughout the world thanks to various educational and work opportunities . . . France, China, Peru, and Jamaica being some of the stops in her journeys. Her undergraduate degree in French Literature led to a Masters in Information Sciences, and to work as a college and high school librarian, and a cross country coach. She has also returned to Zambia multiple times to teach for individual families and for local schools. All the while continuing pursuing her passions of writing, artwork, photography . . . and running to a fault. She blogs at Full of Grace.

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A three strand pearl necklace will be given away on New Year's Day. All you need to do to have a chance of winning is leave a comment here. Come back on New Year's Day to see if you won!

12 Pearls of Christmas Series and contest sponsored by Pearl Girls®. For more information, please visit http://www.pearlgirls.info/