Win an Autographed Copy of "The Break-Up Diet" by Annette Fix

If you've ever been through a tough breakup (and who hasn't) you'll definitely want to check out "The Break-Up Diet" by Annette Fix. The book is both hilarious and inspirational and makes a great gift for someone you might now who is currently going through a break-up. (I gave my copy to my 19-year-old daughter after I was done with it)

Click here to read an insightful guest post from the author and enter to win an autographed copy of the book.

Win a $25 Gift Certificate to Chic and Sassy Designs

I have a new look over at my personal site, So a Blonde Walks Into a Blog! And my fabulous blog designer, Zoe from Chic and Sassy Designs, has graciously offered to give away a $25 gift certificate toward her premade Blogger templates so that you can get a new look too. Just click here to enter. Good luck!

Make a Difference in a Child's Life Through the Fresh Air Fund

Does your family have room in your home, and in your hearts, to help make a difference in a child's life? The Fresh Air Fund, an amazing organization that provides inner-city children with free, "fresh air" summer vacations, is in need of host families for this summer. Host families are volunteers who open their hearts and home to a child from the city to give a fresh air experience that disadvantaged children never forget.

Here's a description of the program from the group's website:

"Every year, The Fresh Air Fund gives thousands of inner-city children the priceless gift of fun – and opens the door to a lifetime of opportunities.

Whether its a two-week trip to the country to visit a volunteer host family, or a fun-filled and educational stay at one of our camps, our programs make for unforgettable memories – and open a world of new friendships and fresh possibilities."

Take a minute to watch this short video, which briefly explains the difference The Fresh Air Fund makes in these children's lives:

For more information on hosting a child, click here. You can also help by donating to the Fresh Air Fund here.

Unwind with Zenses Rainforest

I recently had the privilege of reviewing Zenses Ocean and hosting a giveaway for this amazing, serene game. If you missed it, or entered but didn't win, now is your chance to get in on the relaxation with Zenses Rainforest.



Zenses Rainforest takes you away to a tropical paradise. You can explore the Amazon while playing games "infused with rain drops, exotic flowers, waterfalls and giant trees."

"Immerse yourself in Zenses while challenging the mind, body and spirit through relaxing puzzle and brain training games, soothing ambient sounds and authentic visuals that highlight the earth's natural wonders and beauty."

There are six, fun puzzles you can choose from: Treasure Spin, Stack Jack, Twist-'n-Turn, Flower Board, Sapphire Wheel and Solitaire.



My favorite of all the puzzles is Sapphire Wheel. The brightly colored gems are eye-catching and it's fun trying to strategically fit the geometric pieces into each space.

Zenses Rainforest comes with the following features and highlights:

• Allows players to escape from the stress of daily life while challenging the mind, body and spirit through relaxing puzzle games, soothing ambient sounds and authentic rainforest and oceanic visuals.
• Designed for casual play – whether it’s for three minutes or for a three-hour escape – and offers a collection of six easy to pick up, yet addictive puzzle/brain games that are as fun as they are challenging.
• A clean, fresh and “spa-like” interface and highlights the earth’s natural wonders and beauty.
• A pleasant mixture of 2D and 3D. Zenses is controlled using the stylus only. Not a single key press is necessary.
• Includes a high-quality, ambient soundtrack. Music from the game can be downloaded for free. Just click here and go to "Music Download."

Here are the specs for the game:

Release Date: November 2008
Genre: Puzzle
Platform: Nintendo DS™
Rating: Rating E for Everyone
Players: 1
Target: Female casual gamers
Languages: English, Spanish and French
Developer: Shin'en Multimedia
Publisher: The Game Factory/zenses
Price: $29.99 each
Where to Buy: Available now online and at retailers nationwide (Target, Wal-Mart, amazon.com, among others)

For more information on Zenses Rainforest, click here. While you're there, don't forget that you can download the game's fabulous spa-like music for free. You can also click on "Words of Wisdom" to view inspirational quotes.

Would you like to release the stress and tension in your life and have fun while doing it? Thanks to GameFactoryGames and r-west, one lucky reader will win Zenses Rainforest for themselves!

To enter, simply leave a comment on this post letting me know why you'd like to win Zenses Rainforest.

You can receive additional entries by doing one or all of the following (one entry for each step...if you already have my button, favorited in Techonarati, etc. just leave a separate comment letting me know for each step):

~Twitter with a link to this post. Then leave a separate comment here with your Twitter link.

~Blog about this contest with a link to this post. Then leave a separate comment here with the link to your post.

~Follow this blog. Simply click on "Follow this blog" found near the top of the sidebar to the right (under "The Blonde"). Then, leave a separate comment letting me know you are following.

~Post the button below on your blog and then leave a separate comment here letting me know it's posted and where. Here's the code for the button:



<a href="http://www.blondereviews.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="So A Blonde Walks Into A Blog" src="http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll303/BlondeBlogger/dawn_125button.gif"/></a>

~Add So a Blonde Walks Into a Review to your Technorati Favorites (just click the button below and follow the simple steps). Then, leave a separate comment here letting me know you've added this blog to your favorites:




Be sure that there is an email address for you that I can find, or your entry will have to be disqualified. By entering, you automatically agree to all the rules and disclaimers listed here.

Deadline to enter is 11:59 EST, Monday, March 2, 2009. Winner will be selected at random using Random.org. Good luck!

Zenses Ocean Winner

Congratulations to Nape! She was selected at random as the winner of the Zenses Ocean Giveaway.

Thanks to all who entered and to Game Factory Games and r-west for sponsoring this fabulous giveaway.

If you didn't win, don't despair. You'll have another chance at entering in the upcoming Zenses Rainforest giveaway. Stay tuned!

Dora the Explorer Live! Giveaway

If you missed out on the "Sesame Street Live!" at Madison Square Garden giveaway, don't despair. One lucky reader of So a Blonde Walks Into a Review will win a family four pack of tickets (Orchestra Live seating worth $224) to see "Dora the Explorer Live! Search for the City of Lost Toys" at Radio City Music Hall in New York City!

The show runs from April 8 – 12, 2009 and is filled with all of your favorite Dora characters:

"Come on! Vámonos! Nickelodeon's Dora the Explorer returns to the stage in DORA THE EXPLORER LIVE! Everyone's favorite Latina heroine stars in her own live adventure in 'Search for the City of Lost Toys.'

Dora, along with Boots, Swiper and all of her friends, need the help of the audience to solve puzzles and overcome obstacles to find her lost teddy bear. Come sing along and learn a little Spanish too! It's an exciting musical for the whole family!"

Readers of So a Blonde Walks Into a Review can take advantage of this special promotional discount: For $5 off select ticket purchases, simply click here (be sure to read the offer details on the main page) and then use the code WEBDORA when ordering.

To enter to win the family four pack of tickets, simply leave a comment on this post letting me know why you'd love to win. Be sure that there is an email address for you that I can find, or your entry will have to be disqualified. By entering, you automatically agree to all the rules and disclaimers listed here.

You can receive additional entries by doing one or all of the following (one entry for each step):

~Twitter with a link to this post. Then leave a separate comment here with your Twitter link.

~Blog about this contest with a link to this post. Then leave a separate comment here with the link to your post.

~Post the button below on your blog and then leave a separate comment here letting me know it's posted and where. Here's the code for the button:



<a href="http://www.soablondewalksintoareview.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="So A Blonde Walks Into A Blog" src="http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll303/BlondeBlogger/dawn_125button.gif"/></a>

~Add So a Blonde Walks Into a Review to your Technorati Favorites (just click the button below and follow the simple steps). Then, leave a separate comment here letting me know you've added this blog to your favorites:





Deadline to enter is 11:59 EST, Friday, March 6, 2009. Winner will be selected at random using Random.org. Good luck!

New URL

So a Blonde Walks Into a Review now has its own official domain! Please feel free to update your links to the new url: http://www.soablondewalksintoareview.com

No worries if you happen to come through the old url. You will automatically be redirected to the new domain. Thanks!

Protecting Our Children Online

As a mother of three, Internet safety is a huge worry of mine. As much as we think we as parents know, there is always more to learn. And sharing what we learn with our children and empowering them to protect themselves goes a long way in keeping them safe.

Perhaps the most trusted source for safety information, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children has developed NSTeens (a branch of their site NetSmartz) to help educate, engage, and empower kids as Internet users.

Through comics, videos, and bios of seven, teen, animated characters, NSTeens teaches kids about the consequences that online actions can have in the offline world. It also covers the topics of social networking and cyberbullying.

Here is one video from the site, titled "Post To Be Private," that shows why setting a social profile to "private" is only one step towards staying safe:

The interactive comic, How Much Is Too Much?" uses colorful animation and catchy tunes to get the message across that what kids do online can also affect their offline life. In a world where young kids often feel invincible, this message is so important.

Click on over to NSTeens today and share their tools and information with your kids. Here's to protecting our children!

Escape With Zenses Ocean

How many of you can relate to this scenario:

Me too. In fact, just the other day, I was stuck in Target waiting endlessly for a prescription to be filled when I remembered that my Nintendo DS was in my purse. I carry it around for times just like those.

Of course, I had my favorite game loaded in the DS: Zenses Ocean. As soon as I began playing, my tension was eased and the time just flew by.

I also suffer from insomnia and the game helps me to relax and unwind at night. The music is so soothing and the graphics take you away to another world. The clean, fresh look as well as the calming soundtrack reminds me of a spa getaway. Click here to see the trailer so you can watch and listen for yourself.

Zenses Ocean comes with the following highlights and features:

• Allows players to escape from the stress of daily life while challenging the mind, body and spirit through relaxing puzzle games, soothing ambient sounds and authentic rainforest and oceanic visuals.
• Designed for casual play – whether it’s for three minutes or for a three-hour escape – and offers a collection of six easy to pick up, yet addictive puzzle/brain games that are as fun as they are challenging.
• A clean, fresh and “spa-like” interface and highlights the earth’s natural wonders and beauty.
• A pleasant mixture of 2D and 3D. Zenses is controlled using the stylus only. Not a single key press is necessary.
• Includes a high-quality, ambient soundtrack. Music from the game can be downloaded for free. Just click here and go to "Music Download."

Here are the specs for the game:

Release Date: November 2008
Genre: Puzzle
Platform: Nintendo DS™
Rating: Rating E for Everyone
Players: 1
Target: Female casual gamers
Languages: English, Spanish and French
Developer: Shin'en Multimedia
Publisher: The Game Factory/zenses
Price: $29.99 each
Where to Buy: Available now online and at retailers nationwide (Target, Wal-Mart, amazon.com, among others)



Zenses Ocean transports me to my favorite place on the earth....the beach. The puzzles are "inspired by the movements of the tide, rippling water, riffs and corals, beach vegetation and sea life."

"An indulgent, soothing experience, Zenses Ocean includes high quality visuals and ambient sounds inspired by the natural sounds of the sea. Subliminal addictive puzzles such as Zen-Stones, Hot Spot, Shell Twirl, Turtle Turn, Pearl Diver and Wave Breaker were created to give players an escape from the stress of every day life."

Ahhhh! Just what my busy mind needs to unwind.



Shell Twirl is my favorite puzzle. There's just something soothing to me about dragging all of the pretty shells into their rightful places.

For more information on Zenses Ocean, click here. While you're there, don't forget you can download the spa-like music for free. You can also click on "Words of Wisdom" to view inspirational quotes.

Would you like to release the stress and tension in your life and have fun while doing it? Thanks to GameFactoryGames and r-west, one lucky reader will win Zenses Ocean for themselves!



To enter, simply leave a comment on this post letting me know why you'd like to win Zenses Ocean.

You can receive additional entries by doing one or all of the following (one entry for each step):

~Twitter with a link to this post. Then leave a separate comment here with your Twitter link.

~Blog about this contest with a link to this post. Then leave a separate comment here with the link to your post.

~Follow this blog. Simply click on "Follow this blog" found near the top of the sidebar to the right (under "The Blonde"). Then, leave a separate comment letting me know you are following.

~Post the button below on your blog and then leave a separate comment here letting me know it's posted and where. Here's the code for the button:



<a href="http://www.blondereviews.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="So A Blonde Walks Into A Review" src="http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll303/BlondeBlogger/dawn_125button.gif"/></a>

~Add So a Blonde Walks Into a Review to your Technorati Favorites (just click the button below and follow the simple steps). Then, leave a separate comment here letting me know you've added this blog to your favorites:




Be sure that there is an email address for you that I can find, or your entry will have to be disqualified. By entering, you automatically agree to all the rules and disclaimers listed here.

Deadline to enter is 11:59 EST, Saturday, February 21, 2009. Winner will be selected at random using Random.org. Good luck!

Lands' End Promo

For two days only, Lands’ End is offering 20 percent off all merchandise (excluding overstocks, shipping and services).

Simply enter the promo code and pin number below at checkout on www.LandsEnd.com and you will get 20 percent off your entire order.

Promo code is AMERICA

Pin number is 6289

The promotion starts at 12:01 am Sunday, Feb 15 and ends 11:59 pm Monday, Feb 16th. Enjoy!

Miracle Maps Winner

Congratulations to Meredith from The Merry Death! She has won Miracle Map's "Attracting Your Soulmate" in the Miracle Maps Giveaway.

Thanks to all who entered and to Miracle Maps and Southard, Inc. for sponsoring this fabulous giveaway.

Happy Valentine's Day to all!

Winners

Congratulations to Nicole Ibarrondo from "There Once Was a Girl..." and to Dierdra!

Nicole was selected as the winner of the Sesame Street Live giveaway and Dierdra won the Start Healthy, Stay Healthy With Gerber giveaway.

Thanks to everyone who entered and to the generous contest sponsors: Madison Square Garden, Gerber and New Media Strategies.

Stay tuned for more fabulous giveaways to come!

Oh No You Didn't!

Care.com, which helps you find a caregiver for almost any area in your life (childcare, pet care, special needs and more), has teamed up with the influential moms' network TwitterMoms for a fun "Oh No You Didn't!" contest.

I thought I'd join in the fun and share with you the rudest comment I've ever received regarding my parenting. I'd like to say that it came from a stranger, but it actually came from a family member (who shall remain nameless).

My husband and I were both super skinny as kids and grew much higher than we did wide. We passed those genes along to our kids and no matter how much they eat, their super-fast metabolism conquers any calories that might want to add a little meat to their bones.

There is one family member who operates under the assumption that all things can be solved with food. My youngest has a chronic illness that she believes can be solved with...wait for it....milk.

But the rudest comment was one made to my face when discussing my pre-teen son who is growing like a weed. He's always been extremely skinny and he eats non-stop, right up until bedtime. We never keep him from eating when he wants because we want him to get as many calories in as possible (but they always seem to disappear).

This relative actually looked me in the eye when discussing his weight and said to me, "Maybe if you put something like Cheerios and bananas out on the table, he might pick at it and get a little more food into his system."

Pick at it? My son can woof down an entire box of Little Debbie cakes in one sitting! Feeding him and getting him to eat is not an issue.

I've learned the best way to handle such comments, though, is to nod and smile nicely because no matter what I say, it will not change this person's mind. So it's not worth the hassle.

I think the next time my child spends the night at this relative's house, though, I should send him with 10 cases of those Little Debbie snacks. I bet they'd be gone after one weekend. Something tells me that still won't stop the "please don't starve your children" type comments, though.

Sesame Street Live at Madison Square Garden Giveaway

Thanks to the great folks at Madison Square Garden, I have a last minute giveaway opportunity to share with you all! One lucky reader will win a "Family Four Pack" of Ticket Vouchers, worth almost $150, to Sesame Street Live: Elmo Makes Music at Madison Square Garden's WaMu Theater in New York City.

"Sesame Street Live 'Elmo Makes Music' is coming to the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City!

Mark your calendar for a musical event like no other - monsters making music! Elmo, Zoe, Big Bird and all their Sesame Street friends are taking to the stage to share their love of music. Count along with The Count, visit Elmo's World, do the Crumb-A-Rumba with Rosita, and much more!"

The dates for the show are nearing so this giveaway will have a fast turnaround. Here is the schedule:

• Wed, February 11, 11:00 AM
• Thursday, February 12, 11:00 AM
• Friday, February 13, 11:00 AM & 2:00 PM
• Saturday, February 14, 10:30 AM, 2:00 PM & 5:30 PM
• Sunday, February 15, 10:30 AM, 2:00 PM & 5:30 PM
• Monday, February 16, 10:30 AM & 2:00 PM

Because the tickets are vouchers, the winner can go to the show of their choosing (depending on when the tickets are received).

To enter, simply leave a comment on this post. You can receive additional entries by doing one or all of the following (one entry for each step):

~Twitter with a link to this post. Then leave a separate comment here with your Twitter link.

~Blog about this contest with a link to this post. Then leave a separate comment here with the link to your post.

Be sure that there is an email address for you that I can find, or your entry will have to be disqualified. By entering, you automatically agree to all the rules and disclaimers listed here.

Deadline to enter is 11:59 EST, Wednesday, February 11, 2009. Winner will be selected at random using Random.org. Because of the fast turnaround, winner must respond to notification within 24 hours or another winner will have to be selected.

You can also take advantage of a special promotional offer. Simply click here and enter the code SSLEMM to receive 25% off your ticket order.

Miracle Maps Valentine's Giveaway

One of my most favorite books is "The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne. Reading about the power of positive thinking and the law of attraction has truly changed my life for the better.

Visualization is a key aspect to the law of attraction. If you can visualize your hopes and dreams, it's much easier to think positively about them and attract them to yourself. But, if you're as busy as I am, it's not always easy to create the tools you need to help you visualize your dreams, such as a vision board.

Now, there is a line of products available that makes it simple and easy to create your own, personal vision board. Inspired by the book, "The Secret," and heralded by celebrities such as Oprah, Miracle Maps contain the materials needed to create an inspirational vision board designed to help achieve definitive goals in life using the power of visualization.





I had the opportunity to review both of the Miracle Maps Sets: Achieving Prosperity and Attracting Your Soul Mate.

Each kit contains the following:

• Large magnetized tri-fold display board
• 100 full-color magnetized inspirational words and affirmation phrases
• 10 self-adhesive pieces to attach your own photos
• More than 100 “linking words” and blanks to allow you to customize the perfect visualization of your goals.
• Attractive keepsake box

Attracting Your Soul Mate is perfect for anyone who is still looking for "The One." I'm giving my kit to my 19-year-old daughter for Valentine's Day. The kit is made of sturdy, high-quality material and the box holds everything together even after you've created your board.



Achieving Prosperity is my favorite, especially in these difficult economic times. My focus is financial security, rather than vast millions, but you can tailor your board to whatever it is you want to attract. I also used some of the "travel" magnets and added my own picture of DisneyWorld because one of my dreams is to be able to go there with my family this summer.

Just as with Attracting Your Soul Mate, Achieving Prosperity is very appealing visually and made of durable, high-quality material. I keep my extra magnets in the storage bins (and can thus change my board around as I like) and my vision board folds up nicely and is stored inside of the attractive box.

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, what better time to look for YOUR soul mate if you haven't already found him/her? Or maybe you know someone who could use some help. Thanks to Miracle Maps and Southard, Inc., one lucky reader will win the Attracting Your Soulmate kit, worth $29.95!

To enter, simply leave a comment on this post.

You can receive additional entries by doing one or all of the following (one entry for each step):

~Twitter with a link to this post. Then leave a separate comment here with your Twitter link.

~Blog about this contest with a link to this post. Then leave a separate comment here with the link to your post.

~Follow this blog. Simply click on "Follow this blog" found near the top of the sidebar to the right (under "The Blonde"). Then, leave a separate comment letting me know you are following.

~Post the button below on your blog and then leave a separate comment here letting me know it's posted and where. Here's the code for the button:



<a href="http://www.blondereviews.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="So A Blonde Walks Into A Blog" src="http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll303/BlondeBlogger/dawn_125button.gif"/></a>

~Add So a Blonde Walks Into a Review to your Technorati Favorites (just click the button below and follow the simple steps). Then, leave a separate comment here letting me know you've added this blog to your favorites:





Be sure that there is an email address for you that I can find, or your entry will have to be disqualified. By entering, you automatically agree to all the rules and disclaimers listed here.

Deadline to enter is 11:59 EST, Friday, February 13, 2009. Winner will be selected on Valentine's Day at random using Random.org. Good luck!

Clorox Green Works Wipes

I've been a fan of Clorox Green Works products ever since they came onto the market. So I was very excited to hear that they have developed "Natural Biodegradable Cleaning Wipes."

I love cleaning wipes, as it is so easy to keep surfaces in your entire house clean with just a few swipes of the cloth. But with Clorox Green Works wipes, I have the added assurance that what I'm wiping my surfaces with is 99% natural and biodegradable. I feel so much better knowing that my kids' hands aren't going to come in contact with harsh chemicals after I've cleaned.

The wipes work on most non-wood surfaces, including acrylic, fiberglass and vinyl. My favorite place to use them is the bathroom, especially when you have unexpected company and need to do a quick touch-up.

Not only is it good for the home, it's also good for the environment. The wipes are made from 100% cellulose fibers and derived from renewable farm grown trees. Like all Green Works products, they are formulated using biodegradable ingredients, are packaged in recyclable canisters and not tested on animals.

Also, the new Green Works Natural Biodegradable Cleaning Wipes feature the Sierra Club logo on their package, marking the brand's financial commitment to support the organization's conservation efforts, and are recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for using environmentally preferred chemistry.

Click here to learn more about Green Works Natural Biodegradable Cleaning Wipes, and visit their main page to find fabulous and FREE tips on keeping your home natural.

You'll also find a "Green Heroes Grant Program" where you could be one of five "Green Heroes" who win a $10,000 grant to help your eco-friendly community project grow and flourish. Good luck!