Thursday, February 27, 2014

The Book Thief (A Best Loved Book Is Now A Movie) Giveaway


Based on the beloved best-selling book comes an “extremely moving” (Leonard Maltin, Indiewire) story of a girl who transforms the lives of those around her during World War II, Germany.  When her mother can no longer care for her, Liesel (Sophie NĂ©lisse) is adopted by a German couple (OSCAR® Winner Geoffrey Rush* and OSCAR® Nominee Emily Watson**).  Although she arrives illiterate, Liesel is encouraged to learn to read by her adoptive father.  When the couple then takes in Max (Ben Schnetzer), a Jew hiding from Hitler’s army, Liesel befriends him.  Ultimately, words and imagination provide the friends with an escape from the events unfolding around them in this extraordinary, acclaimed film directed by Brian Percival (Downton Abbey).

While I have never read this book, I have heard about it. On March 11th you will have the chance to see this amazing journey that touched the heart of millions when the movie hits shelves everywhere.

It looks amazing. I cannot wait to see it! For your chance to win a copy, fill out the Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclaimer: No monetary compensation was received to host this giveaway courtesy of Fox Home Entertainment. I am part of the FHEInsider group.

Summer Seems Very Far Away In Parts Of The States Now But It Is Time To Start Thinking About Sun Protection



Keep Children Safe in the Sun with the New
Eclipse® Kids/Baby Comfy Sun Poncho

LONGMONT, CO (February 26, 2014) – Getting sunburned in childhood or adolescence more than doubles a person's chances of developing melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, later in life, according to the National Skin Care Foundation. One of the best ways to protect children from the sun is by covering them up with protective clothing. Eclipse® Sun Products has just introduced their new line of sun protective clothing made especially for babies and kids. The new Kids/Baby Comfy Sun Ponchos are an excellent alternative to slathering on layers of sunscreen, and deliver comfort and optimal coverage from the sun’s harmful UV rays.

“Children especially need to be protected from the sun’s UV rays as well as chemicals found in various sunscreens,” says Elise Champe, owner of Eclipse® Sun Products. “Most parents dread having to continuously layer on sunscreen every time their kids go outdoors. Our Kids/Baby Comfy Sun Ponchos are lightweight, comfortable, easy to get on and off, and protect against UV exposure even when wet. There is no other product out there like this,” she says.

The ponchos are available in two sizes, for 1-3 year olds and 4-7 year olds. The 4-7 year old size can fit a small adult. Here are 3 benefits of wearing the Eclipse® Kids/Baby Comfy Sun Poncho:

Optimal Coverage. The children’s poncho effectively covers the head, neck, shoulders, trunk, and arms. On an adult, it covers the chest, shoulder and upper arms for the most protection from harmful rays.

Comfortable. No more struggling to remember to apply sunscreen. The poncho is light and loose-fitting to keep the hot sun off your child’s skin while not constraining them from playing.

Protection. The ponchos provide UPF 50+ sun protection, minimizing the need for chemical sunscreens that may be harmful for some people.

“Parents will love the new ponchos for their convenience and protection,” says Champe. “They aren’t tight-fitting and the loose design makes them comfortable, even in the heat,” she says.

Eclipse Sun Products, which include sun sleeves and sun gloves, are being used by many people who spend a lot of time outdoors, including golfers, drivers, hikers, and bikers. They are UPF 50+, fashionable, finger-free, and made from patented sun guard fabric. They are made of Spandex to provide a non-slip fit. They also provide moisture wicking and cooling. For more information, visit the site at www.eclipseglove.com.  
Link to view baby sun poncho: http://groundreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/polkadotponcho.jpg. More images available upon request.

About Eclipse Sun Products
Based in Longmont, Colorado, Eclipse Sun Products creates a line of fashionable sun protection products. The product line includes UPF 50+ sun sleeves and sun gloves. The products, developed by a physical therapist, help outdoor enthusiasts to protect their hands and arms from dangerous sun exposure. They also have kids’ sun protection products, including a sun poncho and sun sleeves. For more information, visit the site at www.eclipseglove.com.  
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Source: National Skin Care Foundation. Sunburn. http://www.skincancer.org/prevention/sunburn

Think You Know The Differences Between Men And Women?




Not Mars vs. Venus, But One Well-Rounded World – Queendom.com Study Looks At Gender Differences In Values

What do men and women want in the 21st century? A study by Queendom using their Values Test reveals several similarities, and most notably, a return to more wholesome values.

Montreal, Canada – February 26, 2014 – News reports and dire warnings from doomsday enthusiasts suggest that the world is “going to hell in a handbasket;” an inevitable consequence of humanity’s obsession with wealth and power. But do these things really matter - either to men or women? Maybe not as much as one might think, according to research by Queendom.com.

Hunters and gatherers we were, but hunters and gathers we are no more – at least not in the traditional sense. Rather than collecting grains we collect companions; instead of hunting for meat we hunger for enlightenment and discovery. Using their Values Test, researchers at Queendom attempted to uncover what men and women cherish and appreciate; the principles they wish to uphold as humanity progresses through the 21st century. Queendom researchers assessed six major value types (Social, Aesthetic, Traditional, Theoretical, Realistic, and Political), which were further broken down into 34 subcategories. The following are the top ten values that men and women consider essential:

(Note: Scores range from 0 to 100 - the higher the score, the more important the value).

Top 10 Values for Women
1)      Empathy (Social Value) – score of 80
2)      Family & Friends (Social Value) – score of 79
3)      Altruism (Social Value) – score of 77
4)      Hard work/Diligence (Realistic Value) – score of 76
5)      Acceptance/Belonging (Social Value) – score of 76
6)      Stability (Traditional Value) – score of 75
7)      Community (Social Value) – score of 73
8)      Socializing (Social Value) – score of 73
9)      Ethics/Morals (Traditional Value) – score of 71
10)   Innovation (Theoretical Value) – score of 68
Top 10 Values for Men
1)      Hard work/Diligence (Realistic Value) – score of 70
2)      Empathy (Social Value) – score of 70
3)      Innovation (Theoretical Value) – score of 69
4)      Stability (Traditional Value) – score of 68
5)      Family & Friends (Social Value) – score of 68
6)      Intellectualism (Theoretical Value) – score of 66
7)      Acceptance/Belonging (Social Value) – score of 66
8)      Community (Social Value) – score of 65
9)      Altruism (Social Value) – score of 65
10)   Ethics/Morals (Traditional Value) – score of 64

“What we’re seeing here is a return to values we once treasured: the importance of connecting with other human beings, of hard work, integrity, and expanding our knowledge,” explains Dr. Jerabek, president of the company. “Men and women may disagree on a lot of things, but we all share similar values.  And notice what’s not on the list – power is not in the top ten, and neither is competitiveness or any form of self-interest. Even the desire for financial security is not as important, ranking 15th for men and 17th for women. The news may focus on countries battling for power and wealth, but at the core of most human beings is a desire to return to what’s truly important.”

Although Queendom’s study does show that the importance of power and recognition is stronger in younger age groups, the significance of these values decreases with age - and the desire for knowledge and the importance of scientific exploration increases. 

“More egocentric values, like pride, sense of entitlement, and the desire to compete and conquer become less and less important as people get older. It could be age cohort differences. It could also be that once these values have been fulfilled, we choose to move on to more altruistic or wholesome ones. Or perhaps the happy by-product of getting older is that we become wiser, and realize that life is so much more enjoyable when we put more energy into principles and actions that benefit the world rather than ourselves,” concludes Dr. Jerabek.
Interested in discovering your values? You can take the test at http://www.queendom.com/tests/take_test.php?idRegTest=3318

Professional users of this assessment (HR professionals, therapists, coaches and consultants) can request a free demo of this or any other tests from ARCH Profile’s extensive battery: http://hrtests.archprofile.com/testdrive_gen_1 

About Queendom.com
Queendom.com is a subsidiary of PsychTests AIM Inc. Queendom.com is a site that creates an interactive venue for self-exploration with a healthy dose of fun. The site offers a full range of professional-quality, scientifically-validated psychological assessments that empower people to grow and reach their real potential through insightful feedback and detailed, custom-tailored analysis.

About PsychTests AIM Inc.:
PsychTests AIM Inc. originally appeared on the internet scene in 1996. Since its inception, it has become a pre-eminent provider of psychological assessment products and services to human resource personnel, therapists, academics, researchers and a host of other professionals around the world. PsychTests AIM Inc. staff is comprised of a dedicated team of psychologists, test developers, researchers, statisticians, writers, and artificial intelligence experts (see ARCHProfile.com). The company’s research division, Plumeus Inc., is supported in part by Research and Development Tax Credit awarded by Industry Canada.

Monday, February 24, 2014

Del Monte Fruit Burst Squeezers and Del Monte Mango Pineapple Fruit Cups GIVEAWAY




My house is a big Del Monte® house. We have send the kids with fruit cups almost daily to school.  The kids and I love all the varieties. 

 Del Monte® Fruit Burst® Squeezers in two varieties: 
  • Simply Fruit (Strawberry, Mixed Berry and Apple Cinnamon)
  • Fruit + Veggie (Peach-Mango and Blueberry)

Goddess LOVES the squeezers. She thinks they are the best. I must admit they taste amazing!
 About Fruit Burst Squeezers

Made in the U.S.A., Del Monte® Fruit Burst®Squeezers contain 1 ½ servings of fruit or fruit and veggies and are an excellent source of vitamins A and C. In addition, Del Monte® Fruit Burst®Squeezers contain no artificial flavors or high fructose corn syrup.
                Fruit Burst® Fruit + Veggie Squeezers:
-          Peach-Mango: Pear puree concentrate, water, pumpkin juice concentrate, peach puree concentrate, pear juice concentrate, carrot juice concentrate, carrot puree, mango puree concentrate, natural flavors, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), citric acid.
-          Blueberry: Pear puree concentrate, water, pumpkin juice concentrate, pear juice concentrate, natural flavors, carrot puree, blueberry puree concentrate, fruit and vegetable extracts for color, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), citric acid.
Fruit Burst® Simply Fruit Squeezers:
-          Apple Cinnamon: Pear puree concentrate, water, apple puree concentrate, pear juice concentrate, natural flavors, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), cinnamon, malic acid.
-          Mixed Berry: Pear puree concentrate, water, pear juice concentrate, natural flavors, strawberry puree, red raspberry puree concentrate, blueberry puree concentrate, fruit and vegetable extracts for color, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), malic acid.
-          Strawberry: Pear puree concentrate, water, pear juice concentrate, strawberry puree concentrate, natural flavors, carmine, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), malic acid.

It is like baby food in a convenient package. I would totally feed this to a baby.


Mango Fruit Cup® Snacks
-          These rich and luscious mangos are a healthy way to add a little sweetness to your day - fat-free, cholesterol free, and high in Vitamin C - that you can enjoy anywhere.
Mango Pineapple Fruit Cup® Snacks:
-          Del Monte® Mango Pineapple Fruit Cup® Snacks combine two of the world’s most popular fruits: mango and pineapple. Made with rich and luscious mangos and pineapple, they contain no high fructose corn syrup and are a rich source of vitamin C.

This is the Mango Pineapple Fruit cup! let me tell you. It is amazing.
a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Disclosure: No monetary compensation was received. The Del Monte products, information, gift pack, and gift card have been provided by Del Monte