It’s that time again! What time you say? It’s time for me to pick winners! Love my job!

• Congrats to ACMommy3, Michelle, Kate,  Dagmar, and Emily on winning the ChicaPC-Shield Giveaway from Chicalogic!
• Congrats to Sara for winning the Real Steel prize pack!
• And the winner of the Who Says Moo? storybook app by Kneebouncers is…Sara!
• Summer and Elaine won the Happy Meal coupons! Congrats Summer and Elaine!
• And finally Deanna won the Sam’s Club Pink Spark Giveaway from My Blog Spark and General Mills.
• I gave away for a gift card to the Bean Bag Deli in Rockville, MD to Sara!

I’m updating this blog every day with my pics for the Musings from Me Holiday Gift Guide:

• UNO Roboto
• HTC Rhyme
• DaGeDar Marble Race Track
• Motorola Bionic
• Get Real About Food

More giveaways and reviews to come. I’m adding products to my Holiday Gift Guide daily!

I have come to terms with my love affair with food. For as long as I can remember I have loved food. It is both a joy to me and a curse. Over the years, I have learned to eat in moderation. I’m not happy, but eating in moderation is a step in the right direction on the road to good health. I slip up from time to time, but I would rather eat a little of many things than a whole lot of one single food item.

As moms we love resources on pretty much any aspect of parenting, educating, and raising our children. I devour resources and tips on anything parenting or family oriented. But, what about eating a healthy diet? I know I am not as likely to find resources. I will tell myself… “Uh, the food pyramid has changed and I don’t have time to find out what the new categories are” or “I used to know what to eat when I was cooking for one, but now that I am cooking for my family it is so hard to find a meal that everyone likes.” There I go again with the excuses. Just piling on one excuse after another. Sigh.

I recently heard about a book that I believe many of my readers will enjoy. I haven’t read the book yet, but I plan to once it is released. For now, I will share with you what I know about Real Moms Love to Eat: How to Conduct a Love Affair with Food, Lose Weight and Feel Fabulous by Beth Aldrich and Eve Adamson. I love the title of this book, don’t you?!

Here’s what I know about Real Moms Love to Eat

• The book is broken down in three sections.
• One of the sections is a fun and easy-to-follow 10-part plan for moms to implement to make gradual, life-long changes in their approach to food.
• Another section is a 21-day list of meal suggestions,tips, recipes, and lifestyle changes—all to help you continue your love affair with food to look fabulous.
• Moms will learn a lot about the food they eat and how it impacts their bodies and still have fun experiencing new foods and enjoying your life.
• The book has been described as a “love affair like no other–with huge rewards of looking fabulous.”
• Real Moms Love to Eat is THE source for “tasty, fresh, whole food meals, creative recipes, and food facts that will keep you looking fabulous and feeling energized and fulfilled.”

It seems that the author’s approach to healthy eating is realistic for busy moms. I know I don’t have time for a complicated recipe with 18 different ingredients requiring 42 kitchen gadgets and listing 23 steps to create the dish. Keep it simple and I will cook the meal.

Want to know more about Real Moms Love to Eat: How to Conduct a Love Affair with Food, Lose Weight and Feel Fabulous.

• Pre-order the book via a contest on Beth Aldrich’s site.
• Subscribe to the Real Moms Love to Eat blog.
• Like Real Moms Love to Eat on Facebook.
• Follow @RealMomsLuv2Eat on Twitter.
• Purchase the book on amazon.

And before I forget, you must check out the author’s unique Food Affairiate program for bloggers and those who love to eat!  Anyone who registers to be a Real Moms Love to Eat Food who writes a review will receive a digital copy of Real Moms Love to Eat. You must click here to participate in the Real Moms Love to Eat Food Affairiate Program.
I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Beth Aldrich — Real Moms Love to Eat blogging program, for a chance to get 3,000 My SocialMoms Rewards points. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Do you know what October is? Besides fall…pumpkins….hayrides…chilly weather…and Hershey’s Dark Chocolate. Hershey’s Dark Chocolate is my all-time favorite Halloween Candy…mmmm…oh where was I? Oh that’s right. October is National Book Month! October will be dedicated to reading and
focus on tips and advice to not only celebrate National Book Month,
but instill a love of reading at home.

National Book Month or not, I still read all the time. Although lately I spend most of my time reading on the computer…blogposts…reviews…and news reports. Besides the computer reading I do, I recently started subscriptions for 5 magazines. I’m so excited to be reading Time, Sports Illustrated, Popular Science, Sports Illustrated for Kids, and Entertainment Weekly. Fun times in our house. We haven’t had a magazine subscription that wasn’t a kids’ magazine in years. My kids are all avid readers, so I know the magazines will all be read. My son has a book log from school — as well as the books he reads he can read the magazines to vary his reading selections.

I finished Guernsey Literary & potato Peel Pie Society a few weeks ago. I loved it. I read it for my Book Club. I hosted Book Club, so I was glad that my selection was well received by the group. What are you reading? Leave a comment below. I am always on the lookout for a new book to read.

Kumon and Scholastic are all about reading. I know that you and your children will be reading in National Book Month and throughout the year. If you would like them to earn a free book…read on. And really who doesn’t love a free book!

Here’s how you and your child can participate in the Kumon Learn and Earn Program to earn free books:

• Download the READING and/or MATH activity sheets for your child’s age group.
• Have your child completes worksheet for her age group.
• Your child can earn two books if she completes the math activity sheet and the reading activity sheet. Or your child can earn one book if she completes the math OR the reading activity sheets.
• Download the reward redemption form. Print and complete all fields. Mail the form to Scholastic for the free books.

It’s that simple. And you know what I am going to do right now? Go to Kumon’s Learn and Earn site and print out the activity sheets for reading and math for my kids.

And a handy list of reading resources to help you get in the swing of back to school can be found here.

I was compensated by Kumon for this post. The views expressed in the post are my own. I follow the tenets of Blog With Integrity.

A new born is full of potential. You’ve heard people say this, I’m sure. A baby is open to any and all possibilities. Hearing a new book read by a parent. Tasting a new food. Who doesn’t love seeing the face of a toddler trying a lemon for the first time?! Smelling a scent of fall leaves. Toddlers can laugh out loud upon seeing a monkey at the zoo. Preschoolers love counting steps or jars or blocks. Grade schoolers will tell you that they want to be a ballerina one day and an astronaut the next. Endless possibilities.

As parents we want our children to reach their full potential. Will our little ones become doctors or lawyers or teachers or designers or computer scientists or bakers or paleontologists? The sky is the limit.

As parents, we want to nurture the potential in our children. My oldest was an out-of-the-box thinker from birth…probably. She looked at each problem from a different angle than I did. There were days when she had endless questions for me. Other days she would quietly play and create and innovate.

Over the years I have read many, many stories featuring these guys!

As a way to give my daughter opportunities, I read to her. More than just a book at bedtime, I read stacks of books at naptime, bedtime, and throughout the day. We read books on ants, trees, space, Disney princesses, bikes, being a big sister, sharing with friends. In fact, no matter what book we picked up from the library she and I devoured it. She would read to herself while sitting in bed. Waiting for dinner to be ready. She “read” books to the new baby. At playgroups, I would often find her reading books on the shelves in her little friends’ playrooms.

September is all about possibilities and potential. Kumon has partnered with Scholastic Books to encourage the development of the all-important reading and math skills. When your child completes MATH and READING activities, he can earn up to TWO FREE BOOKS from Scholastic. I don’t know about you, but I NEVER turn down a free book. Especially a book for my children!

Here’s how you and your child can participate in the Kumon Learn and Earn Program:

• Download the READING and/or MATH activity sheets for your child’s age group.
• Have your child completes worksheet for her age group.
• Your child can earn two books if she completes the math activity sheet and the reading activity sheet. Or your child can earn one book if she completes the math OR the reading activity sheets.
• Download the reward redemption form. Print and complete all fields. Mail the form to Scholastic for the free books.

It’s that simple. And you know what I am going to do right now? Go to Kumon’s Learn and Earn site and print out the activity sheets for reading and math for my kids.

And a handy list of reading resources to help you get in the swing of back to school can be found here.

Don’t forget that October is Reading and National Book Month!

I was compensated by Kumon for this post. The views expressed in the post are my own. I follow the tenets of Blog With Integrity.

I must admit that I avoid talking about bodily fluids. My days of diaper changing are over. In the day…the days of diapers and diaper changing…I was all about poop and how much and how messy and oh my what did this baby eat to make such a messy diaper. But, now those days are behind me. Thankfully.

My kids on the other hand are all about using “toilet language.” They know not to do it at the dinner table, but at any other time watch out!

Speaking of toilet words… My son and I have been reading the latest from Dav Pilkey. You will know him if you have kids who have read the Captain Underpants series of books. Captain U books are the type of books that a kid can read by himself. The books are recommended for 7+. By the age of 7, many kids are tired of the Stage 1, 2, 3 readers. Books read in school are mostly longer readers or chapter books. Kids at this age want to use their new-found reading skills, but might not be ready for the rigor of reading a chapter book. Graphic novels allow kids to read a little, look at pictures, but most importantly read on their own.

The Captain Underpants series are a departure from most books read by this age group. The books star the “tight-whitey-wearing superhero who fights for Truth, Justice, and all that is Pre-Shrunk and Cottony.” New to the series is a pair of books written by George and Harold.

I’m not certain if George & Harold are real people, but since the books are listed as being written by the creators of Captain Underpants I think I can safely say that your kids will love this new series. You on the other hand may cringe a little at the humor, but let your kids read away. If you have a reluctant reader, a book like this may get them reading.

I recently was sent a pair of books to review: The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby and Super Diaper Baby 2: The Invasion of the Potty Snatchers. I read through both books in one sitting. I like to at least skim through books my kids read. The books are cute. The illustrations look like they were drawn by a kid. The spelling is erratic. The chapters are short, with snappy dialogue, and a few tricks to keep kids reading. Our favorite feature is the use of the Flip Book. At least 5 times per book kids can place their thumb on the handy thumbprint and flip the book to see the characters do whatever it is that they do.

In fact, we loved the Flip Book feature so much that I wonder if the authors would consider making an entire book in the series a Flip Book. I can just visualize Super Diaper Baby and Super Diaper Dog flying to the rescue! In fact the Flip Book might look a bit like this video…

Want to win a Super Diaper Baby Prize Pack? I have 4 prize packs to give away to 4 lucky readers! [1 prize pack was awarded earlier. Congrats, Sara! Contest deadline extended to give people more time to enter.] The Super Diaper Baby Prize pack contains:

• Super Diaper Baby 2: The Invasion of the Potty Snatchers
• The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby
• Super Diaper Baby Ruler

How to enter? You know the drill, but if you are new here… You must leave a mandatory comment to be eligible to win the prize. You must include your e-mail in the comment, so that I can contact you if you win. You wouldn’t want to miss a chance to win would you? Once you have left a mandatory comment, you can leave one or more of the optional comments. Leave one comment for each entry.

Mandatory entry

Go to the Scholastic Store. Come back and tell me about a book you found on the site. Don’t forget to leave your e-mail address, so I can contact you when you win.

Optional entries

You must leave the mandatory comment for all other comments to count. Leave a comment for each optional entry.

• Follow me on twitter.
• Follow me on Facebook.
• Follow my blog on Facebook.
• Subscribe to my blog via reader.
• Subscribe to my blog via e-mail.
• Tweet this giveaway: @MusingsfromMe is giving away Super Diaper Baby @Scholastic prize pack! Enter to win > http://bit.ly/pLpZqn #giveaway #free #reading RT?

I was given the two Super Diaper Baby books to facilitate my review. The giveaway is open to U.S residents only. Giveaway ends September 21, at 11:59 p.m. The views expressed in this post are my own. I follow the tenets of Blog With Integrity.

Runaway Bunny.

Guess How Much I Love You?

Berenstain Bears Go to the Dentist

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

The books listed above are among my favorites. I have spent many hours reading books to my children. Do you love reading to your children? What is your favorite book to read to your child? Kids love books!

My oldest was about 18 months old. We were browsing in a bookstore. I was looking at books while she sat in the stroller. As I perused a book, I heard laughing coming from the vicinity of my stroller, I was astounded to see her laughing out loud at a book. She was giggling and chuckling. I had never seen a little child laughing about anything at that point…and never with such gusto. She has continued her love of books to this day.

Many families are well in to the school year. But perhaps your children are not quite ready for school. Whether your children are in school or daycare or at home, books are a key part of a child’s learning experience. I want to let yoou know about a fun partnership that is putting books first.

Reading Is Fundamental has teamed up with Buddig for the Be A Reader campaign. The Be A Reader campaign aims to get young readers “right back-to-school track.” Books are a key part of our household. From board books to chapter books to the children’s first dictionary, books can be found in every room of our home.

The Make a Sandwich and A Story Sweepstakes was launched earlier this month by Buddig and Reading Is Fundamental. To foster and nourish a love of reading, Buddig is giving away Scholastic children’s books and school supplies through the Make A Sandwich and A Story Sweepstakes.

The details of the The Make A Sandwich And A Story Sweepstakes:

• Sweepstakes ends on Oct. 30, 2011 at 11:59:59 (CST). So, you have plenty of time to enter!
• Enter the sweepstakes by looking for specially marked packages of Buddig lunchmeats, enter the code at Sandwich and a Story, and complete the entry form to enter the sweepstakes.
• Who can enter? The Buddig Make A Sandwich And A Story sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the 50 United States and District of Columbia who are 18 years of age or older at the time of entry.
• How often can you enter? 5 entries per person/email address per day.

Now for the information that everyone wants to know…what will you win!

• Five Grand Prize winners will receive a Scholastic book library plus a Buddig backpack filled with school supplies (ARV $200).
• 400 First Prize winners will receive a Buddig backpack (ARV $13.00).
• 118 winners each week beginning on August 22 will receive a free Scholastic book (ARV $10.00).
• The Total ARV of all prizes is $19,160.
• So, what are you waiting for…go enter!

More about Buddig and the Be A Reader campaign from Buddig:

“For more than 100 years Carl Buddig & Company has nourished families. Now Buddig is nourishing children’s minds as a proud supporter of Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) and the national Be A Reader campaign. Buddig believes that reading and literacy go hand-in-hand with good nutrition to support a lifelong love of learning.

Whether you are reading to your children at the library or telling a bedtime story after a busy day, you are fostering your child’s lifelong love of books. During the yearlong Be A Reader campaign, parents and their children are encouraged to create their own reading and literacy experiences wherever they may be. As a proud supporter of RIF, Buddig will provide a minimum of $100,000 through May 30, 2012 to help children across the nation discover the joy of reading.”

Like Buddig on Facebook. Now Liking the Buddig Facebook page will not help you win the Make A Sandwich and A Story Sweepstakes, but you could win a Motoroloa Zoom!

Find out about the range of Buddig products on Buddig.com. Perfect for school lunches, picnics, and seizing time with your family.

I was compensated for this post. The views expressed in this post are my own. I blog follow the tenets of Blog With Integrity.

The books are piled. Piled high. Beside the couch. Near the bookcase. In the bedrooms. Mostly on bookshelves. What am I going to do with all these books?

I move books all the time. My Teen’s books move from my Tween’s room to my Kid’s room. A handful of books are considered to be treasures. I save the “book treasures” in a box in the basement for future grandchildren. But, I’m still left with a whole lotta books.

My books from college are my treasures. My husband can’t part with his college textbooks. Now the beach novels? I am slowly…ever so slowly purging the beach reads. The process is a slow one for me. Even a book that I read once, but was so-so about is not a done deal when it comes to getting rid of it. I agonize over each book. I’ll hold the books in my hand…read the back cover…turn the book over in my hands…consider putting it back on the shelf…but I can’t save every book. Some have to go. I never throw books in the trash. Each book is given to charity. A rare handful make it to the consignment basket. I feel good about giving my books a second chance at life.

Books are special to me. I love receiving and getting books as gifts. I have fond memories of looking forward to opening the Christmas present that I knew to be books.

I love hearing about companies that value books as much as I do. Chrysler has a special program going on right now — the Five + Five Road to Literacy Test Drive. When you test drive an all-new Chrysler Town & Country through July 1st, Chrysler will donate books! That’s right, when you test drive a 2011 Town & Country, Chrysler will donate 5 books to the school of your choice and donate 5 books to a school in need. That’s 10 books in all! Awesome!!

Do you have time to do Five + Five Road to Literacy Test Drive? I’ll do just about anything to get a book in to the hands of a child. It makes me sad to think about schools with limited books. Find out more at Chrysler’s Facebook page.

I was compensated by Chrysler for promoting this campaign. The views expressed in this article, and my love (!) of books, are my own. I follow the tenets of Blog with Integrity.

Are you like me? Do you remember everything about your child’s first movie experience? Did you fret over whether your child was ready for a movie in a theater? I’ll bet you waited until your child would sit still for a movie at home. My daughter loved watching videos.

Some of the Golden Books videos were her favorites. But most of these were 30 minutes, 40 tops. My husband and I knew that most full-length movies were close to an hour. Our daughter at 3 had not asked to see a movie in the theater, much less requested to see Tarzan. But, we wanted to take her to the movies. Tarzan was the most recent release back in ’99. So, we took her to see it.

It was…not a good idea at all. We didn’t read any movie reviews. Now I would head to Commonsense Media to read up on what the movie was about and what age of child should see the movie. Back then we entered the movie theater blindly and were blindsided when Tarzan’s mother and father were killed — off screen but dead nonetheless — by a tiger. Our daughter did not register what had happened — a true blessing. We all got through the movie…just barely.

For our younger children, we waited until both were 4 years old for the first movie experience. Our younger daughter saw Lilo & Stitch. She loved it. Not scary. Good music. A successful experience for all of us. With our son, we weren’t on a timetable of any sort for his first theater movie experience. He was 4, but with sisters who were almost 5 and 7 years older than him he had watched many full-length movies at home.

One weekend while his sisters were at their grandparents we decided to treat him to a movie. He was starting to notice that his sisters got to do things that he didn’t get to do as he was not old enough…like stay overnight with the grandparents. We made a big deal out of the fact that we were taking him to a movie. We knew he would absolutely love Cars. What we didn’t know was how much we would love Cars. In fact, he talked about Cars so much that his grandparents took his sisters the next month. His grandparents wanted to see it as well!

My son is now 8. He’s talked about Cars 2 since I brought back some Cars Online stuff from Disney Online’s booth at Toy Fair ’10. In fact at this year’s Toy Fair, I saw a huge Lightning McQueen made out of thousands of Lego pieces.

Until Cars 2 releases, June 24, here’s a few things to keep you busy…

• Lightning Puzzle Book itunes app
• Enter to win in the State Farm Agents on a Mission Sweepstakes
• and finally here’s a Car 2 trailer

You know where we will be on June 24!

Books! We’re a book family through and through. I read to my kids from the time we arrived home from the hospital with each of them. I didn’t read to them in utero. My husband would grab a stack of boardbooks as he prepared our babies and toddlers for bed. He’d start with one large stack of unread board books on one side of the glider, and end up with a large stack of read books on the other side of the glider…and a sleeping baby.

My first memory of my oldest daughter’s burgeoning love for books happened in a mall bookstore. She was 18 months old, hanging out in the stroller while my husband and I browsed the racks. I was probably looking for a book on “how to get an 18-month-old to do what you want her to do.” I wonder which 18-month-old I had in mind?!

While I searched for answers to my hard-to-control toddler’s behavior, she reached for a board book. My husband and I turned around when we heard her laugh. She was roaring with laughter as she read Welcome to the Big Comfy Couch. Do you remember this show…with Loonette, Major BedHead, Snicklefritz, and the Clock Stretch? My husband and I looked at each as she was intently staring at each page. We were both thinking “How can an 18-month-old laugh at a book?” We soon realized that she was reading the book by looking at the pictures. Each page she turned had her laughing harder and harder. She had discovered her love of books!

Later, I learned that little ones “picture read” before they learn to read. I call it “pre-reading.” Is there a better term? I found a post on my friend @TeachMama’s blog about helping young children visualize what they are hearing while you read aloud.

Chrysler has a special program going on right now — the Five + Five Road to Literacy Test Drive.

When you test drive an all-new Chrysler Town & Country through June 1st, Chrysler will donate books! That’s right, when you test drive a 2011 Town & Country, Chrysler will donate 5 books to the school of your choice and donate 5 books to a school in need. That’s 10 books in all! Awesome!!

Can you spare some time to do Five + Five Road to Literacy Test Drive? I know I will! I’ll do just about anything to get a book in to the hands of a child. It makes me sad to think about schools with limited books.

Find out more on Chrysler’s Facebook page.

I was compensated by Chrysler for promoting this campaign. The views expressed in this article, and my love (!) of books, are my own. I follow the tenets of Blog with Integrity.

At #TypeAMom 09 there was one person I had to meet.

I was a new blogger. I decided to travel to Asheville, NC, at the last possible second. I found a roommate and a couple of travel buddies. I got not one, but two sponsors. Once at the conference I was a learning, promoting, and meeting people machine. I am not an extrovert by any means, but give me a purpose and I will meet as many people as I can.

When not chatting about all the cool activities kids and tweens (no adults allowed) can do on Yoursphere, I tried to meet as many bloggers as I could. I met the women behind MomCentral, MomSelect, MomBloggersClub, One2OneNetwork, Buzz Cooperative, and 5MinutesforMom. I met DC bloggers. I met bloggers from California and Washington.

One blogger I had to meet was @MomSpark. Amy AKA MomSpark let me guest post on her blog. I was her “Can’t Live Without It Saturday” person. I had to meet her. I was too shy to tweet her, but I did ask a couple of people to point me in the right direction.

On the morning of the second day, I found her. I was excited to finally put a face to a name I had only interacted with online. Amy was as sweet and encouraging in person as she is online.

I’m proud to say that, a year later, I am now working with Amy.  I moderate and promote her Momspark Forum. MomSpark Forum is a free discussion group for moms to post questions, promote their businesses, ask for comment love, and so much more. MomSpark Forum was the go-to place for BlogHer. Whether you are a newbie or a veteran blogger, finding friends with shared interests is essential before heading to a massive conference like BlogHer. Amy and her biz partner Haley connected many of us so that we had people we knew at BlogHer through connections made on MomSpark Forum.

Amy is not just a blogger. She now has a media company, which she founded with Haley. I am proud to be a member of MomSpark Media! Great people! Great company!

Here’s the skinny on MomSpark Media. The membership fee is $40 per year, but that works out to about $3.33 per month — which is very reasonable for what you get. As a Momspark Media member you get:

• Special access to Mom Spark Media Group Forum–members only
• Online blogging 101 courses and classes–taught by experts
• Product review opportunities
• In-home parties
• Sponsorship programs
• Survey & focus group services
• Blogger events
• One-on-one blogging consultation
• In-depth blogging and monetization tips
• Monthly member newsletter
• Blog & web design consultation
• Live streaming events
• Sponsored posts

Don’t miss out on this exciting experience…join me!