Thursday, November 24, 2011

"Game of Your Life" and Nathan Kress!


   Reviewing the movie, "Game of Your Life", was such an amazing experience.  Not only was the movie entertaining and family friendly, it also had a message that all families can relate to.  Making good life choices are not always easy and family is very important in providing a touch point for the direction our lives take.  Which leads me to another exciting opportunity I had while reviewing this movie!
   Nathan Kress (of Nickelodeon's iCarly) stars in "Game of Your Life" as a brilliant but socially awkward student.  He really steals the show and it turns out that half of his lines were self created!  I found this out while chatting with him online during my second viewing of the movie.  My girls were so jealous!  Nathan just turned 19 last week and is quite a role model.  He was home schooled from 6th grade through high school and he's proud to say that he has never done any kind of drugs and is not interested in them.  Nathan is a huge fan of Lord of the Rings and dreams of starring with Denzel Washington in a movie someday.  On December 2nd he and his cast mates from "Game of Your Life" (who all became good friends during the 19 days of filming in Atlanta, GA) are planning on getting together to watch the movie.  I was quite impressed with Nathan Kress and am sure that we will be seeing lots of him in the future.:)


  If you can't be home on December 2nd at 8/7c (NBC), I recommend you set your DVR.  It's a movie your whole family will enjoy!  
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Tuesday, November 22, 2011

"Game of Your Life"- Mark your calendar!


   I love movies- especially ones I can enjoy with my family (without having to cover their eyes and ears!).  Proctor & Gamble and Wal Mart have joined together to create a fabulous and very entertaining movie called "Game of Your Life".  I was fortunate enough to be asked to review this movie and you are definitely going to want to mark your calendar!  The main character is Zach Taylor, a young college freshman, who has just begun studying to become a video game designer. He pairs up with a diverse group of classmates to complete the extremely challenging freshman class project. The team is extremely ambitious and sets out to create an ingenious social interactive game.  Everything seems to be going Zach's way until he is presented with an offer that could possibly compromise his whole future.  To make matters worse, Zach's father is struggling with financial issues at home.  Watch the movie trailer here- http://vimeo.com/31917601


   I don't want to give away too much of the storyline but you will not want to miss a second!  Loyalty, friendship, trust and family are all issues that are covered in "Game of Your Life".  I suggest enjoying the movie with your family and discussing the themes during commercial breaks. 
   Leah Thompson (Back to the Future) stars as one of Zac's professors and Nathan Kress (iCarly) shines as one of his clever, enigmatic roommates.  The movie is compelling and entertaining and the music is energetic and exciting.  I have watched the movie 3 times and can't wait to watch again on December 2nd at 8/7c:) NBC is the place to be!  Family Movie Night is back!
     
Website: http://www.familymovienight.com/game-of-  
your-life/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/familymovienight
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/fmnib


Disclaimer: I received online access to view this movie prior to its premiere so that I could share this review. I was not required to post a positive review, and I received no other compensation.
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Monday, November 21, 2011

Cooper and Me and the Winter Adventure review and giveaway!

**Tina is the winner!**

 



    Cooper and Me and the Winter Adventure! is one in a series of books written by Alexa Peters and Melissa Peterson.  They are a mother and daughter who create together.  Mom writes and daughter illustrates!  It's a wonderful story of two dogs, Cooper and Bella, who are very excited about winter and snow but they are not quite prepared for what will happen that day!  Not only is it an engaging story for the whole family with colorful pictures and fun rhymes... 
     
      So they got out their sled,
      prepared for the chill,
      and headed way out
      to the town's biggest hill.


it also has a very important message.  Cooper and Bella spend the day happily sledding, building snowmen and playing.  But what happens when they get lost in the snow?  Through this book you can gently explain to your child what to do if they ever get lost and what can be done to minimize the risk of such an event.  There is also an Information About ME! page where you can write down your child's name, address and emergency contacts.  What a perfect opportunity to teach/review your child's full name, parent's full names, phone number and address!:)  For further discussion, there are two pages of questions that include comprehension as well as feelings.  A few examples are: 1) What happens with the weather when they begin sledding on the big hill?  2) How do you think they (Cooper and Bella) feel when they don't know where they are?  This special section is called Learning Together.  It adds so much to the whole reading experience and I wish more books had this feature.


Cooper and Me and the Winter Adventure! sells for $12.99 and $1 of every Winter Adventure book sold will go to advance research & treatment of pancreatic cancer, via the Lustgarten Foundation 



Cooper & Me is offering an EXCLUSIVE DEAL for my readers!  If you make a purchase of $25 or more at CooperandMe.com you get FREE SHIPPING now through December 15th!  You must use this Code at Check Out: COOPERBLOG
Website:  http://www.cooperandme.com/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cooper-and-Me-
   Inc/214695101924101
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/#!/cooper_and_me
As a reading specialist I see a variety of important avenues to take these wonderful stories of Cooper and Me. I would use these delightful stories in kindergarten, in grade one and in grade two for "read-to" activities. They lend themselves to many feelings and situations that children at that age experience. I would also use the rhyming in each book to teach phonics. The colorful words and pictures will stimulate the children's desire to read.'

- Linda Lupario
Reading Specialist
Bethpage, New York
Not only are Cooper and Me books perfect for family/classroom discussion they are helpful in learning life lessons.  They would be a wonderful addition to any library.  Would you like to win a copy of Cooper and Me and the Winter Adventure! for your library?  Propeller has generously offered one for me to giveaway!:)  Here is what you need to do...


1) Leave a comment for one entry.
2) "Like" Cooper and Me on facebook for one entry.
3) Be a follower of my blog for one entry.
4) Blog or facebook about this giveaway for one entry.

*Please leave a separate comment for each entry.  Winner will be announced Monday, November 28th!*



 “Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or
services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it 
on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally 
and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance 
with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the 
Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”Cooperandme.com
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Thursday, November 17, 2011

Four Calling Birds...

   I was tickled to see that my Four Calling Birds bracelet was featured in an etsy treasury!  What a lovely way to start the day.:)

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Time Timer- TOS review

I was recently given the opportunity to review Time Timer.  It is a wonderful invention that's designed "to make every moment count".  Through the use of color, Time Timer shows the passing of time and how much time is left.  The picture below illustrates what I'm talking about.  As time passes, the color portion of the timer gets smaller.  It's perfect for all ages as you don't need to be able to tell time to use it!


   I was really excited to try this!  My daughter has Aspergers and *really* struggles with keeping track of time.  This makes completing tasks a daily challenge.  The Time Timer helped her to stay on task.  I was given the Time Timer iPad App. to review.  My daughter would set the timer for 10 minutes and then take the iPad up to her room.  Instead of disappearing for 30 minutes (or more!) she would be downstairs in 10 minutes!  It helped her to stay focused and accomplish what she'd set out to do.  
     I liked the fact that you could have more than one timer going at once with the iPad App. This is quite useful for keeping track of different children and activities.  I also liked that the Time Timer does not tick or have distracting sounds.  There is just a sound (of your choice) when time is completed.  Our iPad is used frequently by my husband so I am planning on purchasing the small timer for use in our home schooling and daily life skills. I am also considering the Time Timer watch for my daughter.
    I think it's important to mention that Time Timer's customer service is quite impressive.  I had a question about the iPad App. and emailed them on a Friday afternoon, after 5:00.  I was certain I would not hear anything until Monday.  I was very pleased when I received an answer within 15 minutes!:)  Very impressive and appreciated.
    I believe the Time Timer would be helpful to any family, not just individuals with special needs. It clearly shows how much time is left without constant reminders or questions. Read about some of the many uses including education and business here. 
   The Time Timer 3" timer sells for $30, the 8"- $35 and 12"- $40.  They also have a watch that sells for $40 and software that is $24.  There is even an App for the iPad and Iphone.  Orders placed in the U.S. and those which total $50 receive *free shipping*.


See what other TOS Crew thought about Time Timer here.


*I received the Time Timer Ipad App. in exchange for an honest review.  No other compensation was received.*
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Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Too Silly Sisters 12 Days of Christmas Collection and a GIVEAWAY!

**Dallas is the winner of the bracelet!**

My 12 Days of Christmas Collection.

4 Calling Birds bracelet...


                                             5 Golden Rings bracelet...


                                               3 French Hens bracelet...


                          A Partridge in a Pear Tree bracelet...


                                I am *so* in love with them!
                Each an original treasure.  
                Once they are gone, there will be 
                no more.
                $21.99 each + shipping.
                                      
If you would like a chance to win one of my 12 Days of Christmas bracelets this is what you need to do...


#1- Be a follower of my blog.
#2- Like "Too Silly Sisters" on facebook.
#3- Post about my giveaway on your blog or on facebook and include a link.


You can have up to 3 entries.  Please leave a separate comment for each entry.  Good luck!  I will announce the winner November 23rd...
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Monday, November 14, 2011

The Hunger Games - Movie Trailer

It will be here before we know it.:)

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Spas, lollipops and striped toes

Katie's 9th Birthday Party.
Almost two hands.  My heart aches.


                                Off to the spa with her besties!


                How cute is that card?  She even wrote a 
        poem inside.


             Nail polish is such fun.  I want one in every 
      color except yellow.  gross.


                These ladies were amazing.  They even put 
        stripes and hearts on nails! (I'm lucky to 
        keep the paint on my nails.)


                 Hello Kitty was there.  She even lights up.  
        Cool.


               Katie and her BFF.  They have *such* fun 
        together. :)


               The chairs are darling!  They even massage 
        you!  And the lights in the water change 
        color.
        Yes, ma'am.


                  Mandy was loving her massage.  Love the
         look on her face.:)


      Fans under the table to dry cute toes.  Genius.


             All I had to do was take pictures.  That is my 
      kind of party!


                               LEGO buddies.:)


                                It's hard to top a day at the spa.
          I'm not sure what I would have done if 
          I had had boys...
                                       

                            Katie and her other BFF.  They are
              precious!  And that toy is way too 
             much fun!  Katie has not stopped 
             playing with it!  You make pics on 
            special paper with a flashlight-like beam. 
            She keeps going in the pantry to create
            pictures.:)


                               Love the matching hair posies!


                Time to pass out goodie bags.  We almost 
        forgot them in the car!


              Wonder what we will do next year?  She 
       will be 10!!!

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