Saving Time With Frigidaire

If you've been following along with my Frigidaire posts, you already know about Frigidaire's "More Me Time" guarantee.

For my second update on my new Frigidaire Professional Dishwasher, I'm going to let you all know how Frigidaire has lived up to their guarantee.

There are several features the dishwasher has that help you save time, and energy:

· SpaceWise Organization System: Features adjustable racks so there's a place for virtually anything.

· Largest Silverware Basket*: There’s room for over 180 items in the multi-compartment silverware basket.

· Adjustable Upper Dish Rack: Flexible racking system lets you adjust the to rack to fit taller items.

· Quick Clean: Enjoy a quiet night with a book, extra time with your family or catch up on favorite shows with the Quick Clean to clean dishes faster.



My favorite time-saving feature is the SpaceWise Organization System. Being able to fit more dishes, pots and pans means less loads to run, and that's definitely a time-saver!

Click here for more information on the Frigidaire Professional Dishwasher. You can also follow along with all of the Frigidaire Moms over at Twitter with the hashtag #frigidairemoms.

And don't forget about Frigidaire's "Make Time for Change" campaign. You can log on to www.maketimeforchange.com for a chance to win prizes, including a new time-saving Frigidaire Affinity washer/dryer. Every day that you take a spin, Frigidaire donates $1 to Save the Children as part of their $250,000 commitment to this worthy cause.



Disclosure Notice: I wrote this review while participating in a Test Drive Campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Frigidaire and received a Frigidaire Dishwasher to facilitate my review.

* Among leading brands
** Based on published manufacturer specifications for plastic interior dishwashers.

Nadya Suleman (AKA "Octomom") On Today's Episode of The View

Today's episode of ABC's The View is sure to draw a lot of controversy and interest as Nadya Suleman, better known as "Octomom" makes an appearance on the show. Suleman, who famously gave birth to octuplets last year, will be making her first trip to NYC to chat live with the Women of the View.

“I am elated. I am honored," Suleman told ABC in an exclusive quote posted on The View's website. "I love The View and can’t wait to meet everyone, my heroes. I can’t wait to see New York.”



Author Danielle Steel will also be a guest, and the rest of the week promises even more fun. Here's the rest of the week's schedule:

Thursday, Feb 25: A one hour show themed “Trying to Have a Baby?” Guests include Giuliana And Bill Rancic.

Friday, Feb 26: Regis and Joy Philbin will perform a song from their new CD: Regis & Joy: Just you. Just me.

You can join me in discussing The View on my Twitter account, as I'll be tweeting about the show each day. You can also follow along in the discussion with other mom ambassadors and fans of The View with the Twitter hashtag #theviewmoms.

And don't forget the exciting contest being hosted by Mom Central for The View, where one lucky winner will be randomly selected to receive a trip to New York City to watch a taping of the show!

The sweepstakes is open until February 28th. Click here to fill out the sign-up survey to be entered.



Disclosure: I am a participant in a Mom Central campaign for ABC Daytime and will receive a tote bag or other The View branded items to facilitate my review.

Sing Along With Barbie - Giveaway

My littlest one has inherited my love of singing. When she was around 4 or 5, we were at a neighborhood party and there was a karaoke machine. The other kids played around with it, but when Natalie got the microphone, she started shouting out to the crowd to get their attention.

"Come on everybody! Put your hands together," she yelled. And then she started belting out whatever song it was at the top of her lungs. I, of course, was very proud!

She often sees me playing Singstar on Playstation and she'll sing along with me. But now she has her very own songs to perform with the Sing Along With Barbie DVD. How perfect that one of her favorite childhood toys can now serve as her singing partner?!



The DVD features 12 songs from popular Barbie movies of the past (also perfect, since Natalie loves and has watched each one). Easy-to-follow lyrics play on-screen on the off-chance your child doesn't remember the words. Whether your child likes "All for One" from Barbie & The Three Musketeers or "We're Gonna Find It" from Barbie & The Diamond Castle, they will find extended versions of many Barbie favorites to turn into family room performances.

Natalie's favorite song to perform is "I Am a Girl Like You," and I just might possibly enjoy it as much as she does. But don't tell anyone. ;)

Sing Along With Barbie makes a perfect gift, especially for those hosting slumber parties. Click here for more information and/or to purchase.

I have a brand-new copy of Sing Along With Barbie to giveaway to one lucky reader. To enter, simply leave a comment on this 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. Please also see my disclosure policy here.

You can receive additional entries by doing one or all of the following (one entry, one time, 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.soablondewalksintoareview.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:



Deadline to enter is 11:59 EST, Tuesday, March 2, 2010. Winner will be selected at random using Random.org. Good luck!

Disclosure: “I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Mattel. In addition, I received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

Want to ask General Hospital's Nancy Lee Grahn a Question?

If you watched ABC's General Hospital today, you may have noticed the new opening credits that were made in honor of the show's 12,000th episode. In case you missed it, here's a peek:



I LOVE the Cassadine castle in the background during Nikolas, Liz and Lucky's part. And of course, the final credit goes to Luke!

This week, Sonny’s trial for murder begins! Michael is tormented when his father takes the fall for him while Dante is called to stand to testify against his father. Ooooh, the drama!

Here's a look at what's to come:



As a General Hospital Mom Ambassador, I have the opportunity to send a question to actress Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis). The question must be personal and not storyline dictated, so if you have something you would like me to ask for you, let me know in the comments on this post. I have to have my question in by Thursday, so make sure you post right away! I'll be sure to share her answers in a follow-up post.

Don't forget that you can follow along with me on Twitter each day as I tweet about the show. You can also follow all of the discussion among mom ambassadors and fans with the hashtag #ghmoms and/or #generalhospitalmoms.

And if you haven't already, be sure to enter the exciting contest at Mom Central where one lucky winner will be randomly selected to receive a trip to Los Angeles to visit the set of General Hospital and have a walk-on role!!

The sweepstakes is open until February 28th. To enter, click here to fill out the sign-up survey. Good luck!



Disclosure: I am a participant in a Mom Central campaign for ABC Daytime and will receive a tote bag or other General Hospital branded items to facilitate my review.

Celtic Woman - Songs from the Heart

I am a huge music-lover, so I was very excited to have the opportunity to review the incredibly soothing and lyrical CD "Celtic Woman - Songs from the Heart." I played it as I fell asleep the other night and it was like listening to lullabies for adults.

The first track, a cover of Sting's "Fields of Gold" is my absolute favorite. That song was already relaxing, but Celtic Woman's cover is almost angelic. There's also a cover of Mariah Carey's "When You Believe" and Billy Joel's "Goodnight My Angel" and they're both as beautiful as "Fields of Gold." In total, there are 15 tracks that are perfect for relaxing and de-stressing to.



Celtic Woman is a 5-member, Irish, female ensemble known for putting a modern twist on the Celtic Sound. Their vocalists include Lisa Kelly, Chloe Agnew, Lynn Hilary and Alex Sharpe, and Mairead Nesbitt is the violinist.

The group is all over the Billboard charts, selling more than 3.8 million records in the U.S. alone, and has had 7 sold-out US Tours. They've performed on "Dancing With the Stars" and will also have a special coming out on PBS. Even the First Daughters are big fans of the group!



You can see when they'll be performing in your area here.

Thanks to Music Moms, I'll be attending their show at the Patriot Center in Virginia on March 17 (St. Patrick's Day! How perfect is that?), with a possible meet-and-greet. I'll be sure to do a post after the show to let you know how it was!



In the meantime, click here to check out Celtic Woman's gorgeous website, complete with videos, news, merchandise and more.

Disclosure: I received a copy of the CD "Celtic Woman- Songs from the Heart" as well as two tickets to their show as part of a blog campaign by Music Moms.

I'm a Brand Ambassador for The View!

As if the news that I was selected as a General Hospital Brand Ambassador wasn't exciting enough, I was overjoyed to be informed that I was also chosen by Mom Central to be a Brand Ambassador for The View!



I have been watching The View since the days that Meredith Vieira and Star Jones co-hosted (remember them?). The "Hot Topics" portion of the show is my favorite and I love listening to each host's take on whatever is happening in the news.

Being conservative, Elizabeth Hassleback is my favorite co-host. I'm so glad she's on the show to represent conservative thought on political matters, and I often root her on when the debates get heated.

As with the General Hospital campaign, I will be posting news on the latest happenings on The View here once a week. You can also check out my Twitter account daily, as I'll be tweeting about the show there as well. And you can follow along in the discussion with other mom ambassadors and fans of The View with the Twitter hashtag #theviewmoms.

Of course, a contest would make things even more exciting, right? Mom Central is hosting a contest for The View where one lucky winner will be randomly selected to receive a trip to New York City to watch a taping of the show!

The sweepstakes is open until February 28th. Click here to fill out the sign-up survey to be entered.

Disclosure: I am a participant in a Mom Central campaign for ABC Daytime and will receive a tote bag or other The View branded items to facilitate my review.

I'm a General Hospital Brand Ambassador!

I have really exciting news to share with all of you, especially if you're a fan of General Hospital like I am. Thanks to Mom Central, I am now an official General Hospital Brand Ambassador!



I have been watching GH for more than 20 years, and even drove with my daughter, who is also a fan, to West Virginia to meet Tyler Christopher (Nikolas Cassidine) in person. So I'm very passionate about being selected as a brand ambassador for the show.

For the next four weeks, I'll be posting the latest information on General Hospital, with about one post here per week. You can also check out my Twitter account daily, as I'll be tweeting about the show there as well. And for even more fun, follow along in the discussion with other General Hospital Mom Ambassadors and fans with the Twitter hashtag #generalhospitalmoms.

Best of all, there is an exciting contest at Mom Central where one lucky winner will be randomly selected to receive a trip to Los Angeles to visit the set of General Hospital and have a walk-on role!! Doesn't get much better than that!

The sweepstakes is open until February 28th. To enter, click here to fill out the sign-up survey.

Good luck and enjoy the show!

Disclosure: I am a participant in a Mom Central campaign for ABC Daytime and will receive a tote bag or other General Hospital branded items to facilitate my review.

NBC's Parenthood

If you're a fan of the box-office hit movie, "Parenthood," (I am!), then you'll be happy to know that NBC will be airing a new, 1-hour drama by the same name that's inspired by the movie. From Academy Award winners Ron Howard and Brian Grazer ("A Beautiful Mind," "Frost/Nixon") and from Jason Katims, the executive producer of NBC's "Friday Night Lights," "Parenthood" introduces audiences to the very large, very colorful and imperfect Braverman family.

I was able to screen the pilot episode (Emmy Award winner Thomas Schlamme of "The West Wing" is the director and executive producer of the pilot), and though it's cliche, I really was laughing and crying. Even though the show is a drama, there are so many parts that will make you laugh out loud (watch for the uni-bomber joke at the dinner table scene...SO hilarious!)



There are two particular storylines that I found touching, especially as a mother with a son. Sarah Braverman (Lauren Graham, "Gilmore Girls") is a struggling single mother to Amber (Mae Whitman, "In Treatment") and Drew (Miles Heizer, "ER). There is one scene between Sarah, Drew and Drew's absentee father that just broke my heart. You'll know what I mean when you see it.



The other storyline I found most compelling is that of Max (Max Burkholder, "Brothers and Sisters") and his family. I won't give away what happens but the scenes of his father, Adam Braverman (Peter Krause, "Six Feet Under") and Kristina (Monica Potter, "Trust Me") worrying about the well-being of their little boy were so touching to me as a mom. (His teenage sister, Haddie is played by Sarah Ramos from "American Dreams.")



This really is an all-star cast. At the head of the Braverman family is headstrong patriarch Zeek (Craig T. Nelson, "Family Stone," "Coach") and pillar-of-strength matriarch Camille (Bonnie Bedelia, "Heart Like a Wheel"). In addition to Sarah and Adam, their children include Julia (Erika Chrisensen, "Traffic") who is married to stay-at-home husband Joel (Sam Jaeger, "Eli Stone"), and Crosby (Dax Shephard, "Baby Mama") whose old flame Jasmine (Joy Bryant, "Antwone Fisher") shows back up in his life.



I've been a long-time fan of Dax Shepard's so I was really excited to see his character. And he really does deliver. I think he's the most funny character on the show.

In fact, the entire casts delivers and gives an excellent portrayal of a typical American family with all of its quirks and problems, and all of the love and support that carries them through it all.

Check out NBC's trailer for Parenthood below:



You can also see bios, videos, games and more at NBC’s Parenthood Website here. And, of course, be sure to tune into Parenthood on Tuesdays at 10, EST, starting March 2 on NBC!

My New, Sleek, Gorgeous Frigidaire Dishwasher

As you know from my previous post, I was selected by Mom Central to be a Frigidaire Test Drive Mom and I was chosen for Team Dishwasher. My brand new dishwasher, from Frigidaire's Professional Line, arrived a few weeks ago and I am in love with it!

First, let me show you a couple of pics from my old dishwasher, which was on its last leg and even stopped working at one point. We didn't even realize how icky it had become until our new one arrived.

There was a permanent stain on the door and on the inside of the dishwasher, which I suppose happens over time with a white interior:



And while there was a good amount of space inside:



the prongs had become broken and rusted and it really lacked a lot of space-saver features that our new dishwasher has.

Here's our new dishwasher right after it was installed:



Isn't it gorgeous? I love the stainless steel and Frigidaire's appliances have a protective coating that prevent fingerprints from showing, a problem I was concerned about after hearing about other stainless steel appliances being notorious for showing those.



The interior is much more roomy and the space saving features make it even more so. I also love the silver inside, rather than the white, which as you saw above, shows stains.

For this first post, I recorded a vlog to give you an overall feel for the features the dishwasher offers. Over the next few months, I'll be covering the features more in-depth and will keep you up to date on how it's running.



One thing I forgot to mention in the video is how quiet the dishwasher is. It's so nice not to have to try to shout over the sound of our old dishwasher!

As for Frigidaire's "More Me-Time Guarantee?" So far, they've lived up to that. With more dishes fitting into the dishwasher, I have less loads to do. And I find that most of the cycles are more quick due to the soil sensor.

More time for me is probably the best part of all!

Click here for more information on the Frigidaire Professional Dishwasher. You can also follow along with all of the Frigidaire Moms over at Twitter with the hashtag #frigidairemoms.

And don't forget about Frigidaire's "Make Time for Change" campaign. You can log on to www.maketimeforchange.com for a chance to win prizes, including a new time-saving Frigidaire Affinity washer/dryer. Every day that you take a spin, Frigidaire donates $1 to Save the Children as part of their $250,000 commitment to this worthy cause.

Disclosure Notice: I wrote this review while participating in a Test Drive Campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Frigidaire and received a Frigidaire Dishwasher to facilitate my review.

I Don't Want to Miss...

Whenever my kids don't want to wash their hands, I use the motto that our pediatrician once used on them...Would you rather puke, or wash your hands? I love that question because it drives home for them the consequences of not taking precaution against germs.

Right now, there is a campaign underway by Clorox to bring about awareness of this and other flu prevention methods. Clorox has teamed with American Idol finalist Danny Gokey on "I Don't Want to Miss" which gets teens and teachers actively involved in stopping the spread of H1N1 and seasonal flu.



Now in its second year, the program features a contest that invites school musical groups such as glee clubs and show choirs to develop a video performance of a song written by Berklee College of Music student Will Wells. The song is about the importance of flu prevention and all of the things teens don't want to miss out on when they're sick. The winning school gets to have a music class led by Gokey.

For my kids, there is SO much they wouldn't want to miss out on. In fact, H1N1 hit our house last fall and it lasted a few weeks. They were miserable being stuck at home and not being able to play with their friends (we homeschool, so we didn't have to worry about them missing school).

If you have a teenage child who would like their school to enter the contest, click here for more information. For each entry submitted, The Clorox Company will donate $100 (up to $10,000) to the Sophia's Heart Foundation, a charity founded by Gokey in honor of his late wife, Sophia, and dedicated to helping children achieve academic success via musical training and restoring musical dreams in children.

Be sure to check out Clorox's Facebook page as well for more information about flu prevention. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that children and teens over 6 months and up to age 18 get flu vaccinations. In addition to vaccination, the most important step in flu prevention, disinfecting frequently touched surfaces and washing hands often play an important role in prevention.

Stay well!

Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Clorox and received $20 thank-you gift certificate.

Winter Fun with Wii Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Mommy 2 Bears! Her name was selected at random as the winner of the Wii Family Party: 30 Great Games Winter Fun video game.

Thanks to all who entered, and to 47 for sponsoring this fabulous giveaway!

Pepsi Refresh Project

Imagine if you had the power to give up to $250,000 to a charity. Imagine if your own ideas for a better world had a chance to thrive and prosper. Imagine being able to make a difference with just a simple vote.

Pepsi is making such dreams a reality with their Pepsi Refresh Project, where YOU have the power to help move America forward.

The Pepsi Refresh Project, a groundbreaking effort to foster innovation in social good, will award more than $20 million this year to fund great ideas that refresh the world. Pepsi will fund projects that make a difference in six categories: Health, Arts & Culture, Food & Shelter, The Planet, Neighborhoods and Education.

Where do you come in? Right now, you can cast your vote at www.refresheverything.com for the consumer-generated ideas that you believe will make a positive impact on your community. This is the first of eleven opportunities for the public to win grants from $5,000 up to $250,000 throughout the year. The first voting session ends on February 28 and the ideas that receive the top votes will be announced on Monday, March 1, 2010.

You can also submit your own idea to be considered in the next round of voting. Submissions can be sent in starting at 12:00:01 a.m. ET on March 1st, 2010.



On Monday, Pepsi Refresh Project spokespersons Demi Moore and Kevin Bacon, kicked off the Pepsi Refresh Celebrity Challenge on the Today Show and joined college students to discuss great ideas in an interactive brainstorm that was viewed by thousands of others via a live stream on Facebook.

Here's a brief clip of Monday's event, as well as information on the Pepsi Refresh Project:

"The Pepsi Refresh Project puts the financial resources in the hands of those who are passionate about creating a better world. I am very pleased to be a part of this creative initiative to refresh our world," Demi Moore was quoted as saying in a press release.

Moore is campaigning in support of GEMS – Girls Educational & Mentoring Services. The grant would help GEMS reach out to women who have been victims of sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking. GEMS helps such women integrate back into society as healthy, safe, and productive individuals.

Recent Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild award winner, Kevin Bacon, is campaigning for SixDegrees.org, which will give thousands of people a $20 Good Card — a gift card for charity — which they can use to support their favorite cause.

"I applaud Pepsi for its commitment to fostering social good and its tremendous work in encouraging people to submit their ideas on how to improve our nation. I am optimistic that great changes will be made throughout 2010 as a result of this," Bacon stated in a press release.



Visit the Pepsi Refresh Project Facebook page to cast your vote by February 28 in the Pepsi Refresh Celebrity Challenge for Moore or Bacon’s idea. Pepsi will grant $250,000 to fund the idea that wins the most votes.

Be sure to visit the Pepsi Refresh Project as well to vote on your favorite idea there, and to submit your own for the next round of voting. You can also find info on the project by following Pepsi on Twitter and/or #pepsirefresh.

Take the Neosporin Lip Health 3-Day Challenge!

As someone who constantly battles to keep my lips from being chapped and dry, especially during the winter months, I was so excited to hear about the Neosporin Lip Health 3-Day Challenge. I've used Neosporin for our family's cuts and scrapes over the years and thus have a lot of respect for the brand.

Neosporin has two products to help keep your lips healthy and beautiful: Neosporin Lip Health Daily Hydration Therapy and Neosporin Lip Health Overnight Renewal Therapy.

Can these two products really restore your lips to a healthy state in just three days? I set out to find the answer after receiving them for review.

I applied the daily therapy two to three times a day and the overnight therapy once every evening. After the first day, I noticed that my lips began to peel slightly as the treatments sloughed off the top layer of dry skin. This is a GOOD thing and not painful at all. With mild exfoliation, more healthy and vibrant skin was revealed underneath as the dryer layer washed off.

By the third day, my lips retained their new, moisturized look without further peeling. I still apply both products each day, but unlike other products I have used, if I skip a treatment, my lips don't go back to being dry right away.



The secret to Neosporin's success lies in a patented combination of lipids, fatty acids, antioxidants, peptides, vitamins and emollients. While Neosporin Lip Health Overnight Renewal works to sooth, restore and hydrate your lips as you sleep, the Daily Hydration Therapy not only contains SPF 20 but also absorbs quickly. That's yet another advantage over the greasy, gooey products I've tried before.

You can see the clinical results, along with photos of participants, here. As of this writing, you can also register for free at NeoLips.com to get a $3 coupon towards either product.

Best of luck with YOUR 3-day challenge!

Disclosure Notice: "I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Neosporin and received a sample of the Lip Health Overnight Renewal Therapy and the Lip Health Daily Hydration Therapy to facilitate my review and a $20 thank-you gift certificate."