Happy Halloween - Celebrate The Day of The Dead #BookOfLife, #DayoftheDead, and #DiadeMuertes

THE BOOK OF LIFE is a breathtaking animated comedy with a dazzling visual style unlike anything you’ve seen before. Torn between the expectations of his family and the desires of his heart, a young man named Manolo sets off on an epic quest that spans three spectacular worlds in order to reunite with his one true love and defend his village. Not your ordinary fairy tale, THE BOOK OF LIFE is a wondrous fantasy-adventure filled with magic, music and fun! THE BOOK OF LIFE Blu-ray™ brings culture and comedy into your home with unforgettable special features for parents and kids alike. Continue the fun with an all-new bonus short “The Adventures of Chuy”, highlighting the film’s lovable scene-stealing pet pig. Additionally, relive the musical hits from the film with the "Music Machine" featuring Latin-inspired versions of popular songs by Mumford & Sons, Radiohead, Elvis Presley, Rod Steward and more!

This is a great movie!
If you haven't seen it. SEE IT! You can see my review here.

Check out these fun assets. Click each one to enlarge

Carmax & Green Bay Packers Team Up

CARMA LABORATORIES TEAMS UP WITH THE GREEN BAY PACKERS….

Carmex® Scores Multi-Year Partnership at the “Frozen Tundra!”

Franklin, WI – October 30, 2015 – Carma Laboratories, Inc., the manufacturer of Carmex® Lip Balm and Carmex® Cold Sore Treatment today announced the beginning of a multi-year partnership with the Green Bay Packers. This new relationship brings together two strong Wisconsin businesses and officially identifies Carmex® as a trusted partner of the Green Bay Packers.

"We are excited to team up with the Green Bay Packers,” stated Jona Mancuso, Marketing Director for the Carmex® brand. “This is an incredible opportunity to connect Carmex with dedicated football fans across the nation. Football is one of the most popular sports in North America and our partnership with the Packers makes perfect sense as we continue to grow together. Also, given the cold weather conditions at Green Bay’s Lambeau Field, Carmex® products are perfect to have on hand to help relieve dry, chapped lips.”

In support of the partnership, Carmex® will help create fun and memorable fan experiences at three home games with a tent sent up offering Carmex giveaway items and a special appearance by the Carmex Mascot. Fans can also enter into the #CarmexSuperfan social media promotion by uploading a picture to Facebook, Instagram or Twitter that illustrates how their favorite Carmex® product helps them get ready for the big game.

Throughout the #CarmexSuperFan campaign, five winners will be selected randomly each week. Each weekly winner will receive a prize pack consisting of Carmex® lip balm products and a variety of Carmex® branded merchandise. At the end of the promotion, one photo will be selected as the Ultimate #CarmexSuperfan based on originality, quality, and brand appeal. The Ultimate #CarmexSuperfan will receive a $500 American Express gift card. All eligible photo entries submitted over the course of the promotion are automatically entered into the Ultimate #CarmexSuperfan photo contest.

Carmex® is accepting #CarmexSuperfan entries until November 22^nd, 2015. To enter via Facebook, visit the Carmex Facebook page, click on the “photo contest” tab and click “submit an entry.” To enter via Instagram or Twitter, make sure your profile is public, and post an eligible photo to your page with the hashtags #CarmexSuperfan and #Contest.

In addition to media, on-site activation, branding and hospitality at Lambeau Field, Carmex® and the Green Bay Packers will be working closely together to implement various promotional efforts over the course of the partnership. For more information, please visit: www.mycarmex.com.

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About Carmex® and Carma Laboratories, Inc.:

For more than 79 years, Franklin, Wisconsin-based Carma Laboratories, Inc., has manufactured Carmex® brand lip balms. Carma Laboratories, Inc. is a family owned and operated business that was founded in 1937 by Alfred Woelbing, the inventor of Carmex® lip balm. Today, the company continues to produce its original lip care formula in its trademark jars, and has expanded the line to include flavored lip balms, ultra hydrating lip care formulas and soothing skin care products. The carefully crafted lip balm has been #1 pharmacist-recommended for 17 years in a row*. For more information, visit www.mycarmex.com.

My New Copper Mule Mugs Make Me Smile

These Copper Mule Mugs are handcrafted and make my cold drinks even better because it keeps them cool longer.  I have been drinking much more water since using them. As someone who has always drank water more than any other drink I have spent the past month barely getting in one glass a day. Just the business of life.

The Copper mug keeps your drink cool but also it feels nice to to hold.  It is a beautiful copper with an easy to grip handle.

My dad in Florida is asking me to send him a set since seeing them while chatting with him on Skype. He said he remembers his uncle having a set when he was a kid and since I am always asking him what he wants for Christmas, he would love to have a set.

Easy enough! Merry Christmas Dad!

To Purchase

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary product for my honest opinion. No monetary compensation was offered.

My Pick For Christmas Gifts This Year #collagedotcom - ORDER NOW 64% DISCOUNT

Never have I ever seen a product that I wished I could get for everyone I know until now!

NO lie if I could, I would order one for everyone on my Christmas list from my grandparents right down to my kids and everyone in between.

Let me rewind for a moment.

Collage.com creates personalized gift that you feel good about giving. Whether you are thinking wall art, a comforter or a mug, Collage takes your cherished photos and transforms them into cherished heirlooms.

Like this blanket that was created from my photos.

I've never seen anything like this.

The detail of the photo is truly amazing. Each photo is on true color with the sharpest detail you can imagine.  I can see my son's beautiful mole, my nose ring and my daughters amazing sunlight hair.

You don't even need an amazing camera to get these. I didn't use my Canon 50D for any of these. They were all taken with my iPhone 4.

Collage is running a special right now on this very blanket for ONLY $45.00. Can you even imagine?! That's a 64% discount PLUS Free Shipping!!!

Pick your layout and run with it, filling it up like you would any collage. You can even put as many or as little photos as you want and then when you have them in, change the layout, position, size with easy, quick, movements. No learning curve necessary, easiest editing I have ever seen. Way easier than any photo book I have ever made. I can't wait to see what Collage's photo books are like.

Christmas is only a few weeks away. Stop shopping now and give them something they can use, will love and can be passed down for generations.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary product for my honest opinion. No monetary compensation was offered.

Christmas Activity Books - Are Great For Family Get Togethers

I love Activity Books for Kids. They are so much fun for kids and adults. In fact, just this week a friend came with her 6 year old daughter and while we were all talking, I placed a few colored pencils, crayons and activity books in front of her without missing a beat and she was busy the whole hour and a half we were talking. She loved it and we enjoyed our mommy break.

If you have family and friends visiting this holiday season invest in some Christmas Activity books and watch how it transforms a room.

My Big Book of Christmas Coloring, Songs & Activities: Holiday games, puzzles & activities for kids of all ages is great!

Here are some sample pages. There is such an variety of different challenges and coloring pages, everyone will be happy.

This book contains everything you need to get into the holiday spirit. Decorate your gifts in style, dress up for the occasion and deck your home with hand-crafted decorations. This book is sure to provide hours of festive fun.Christmas Crafts presents a fresh approach to seasonal activities by incorporating papercraft, painting, textiles and jewelry-making.All projects use readily-available materials and are carefully chosen to appeal to girls and boys alike. Readers of all abilities can get stuck in as each project is graded with a difficulty rating of 1 to 5.A special 'techniques and materials' section describes everything you need to get crafting, with handy hints on where to shop and how to recycle old material. This section also provides further information and tips on the techniques covered in the book.Also includes 10 reusable templates attached in a handy pocket at the back of the book.

I loved the simple to difficult (for me) crafts in this book. There are so many fun things to do and all of them are fun for the season.

Like this one which is probably my favorite in the book. How cute are those elves.

As you can see they give great detail instructions and colorful photos to make the craft completely idiot proof for people like me.

Adorable hand made clothing too!

You will love this book! You can even make your own holiday gifts this year!

Last but certainly not least is this Doodle Book.

There are so many prompts that will have you drawing like a pro in no time. Doodling is good for the soul and many of us do it without even knowing we are.

I highly suggest getting as many of these as you can, having them available on a table with a bunch of markers, crayons, pencils and let everyone do their thing.

To Purchase These Christmas Books

Great Christmas Eve Family Tradition: Read The Night Before Christmas

The #1 New York Times Bestseller

This lovely book is The Classic Edition of the poem written by Clement C. Moore. Most of us know this story without having to read it but there is nothing like reading it with your child and enjoying the beautiful illustratations. 

It's a nice lap size book with brilliantly colored illustrations.

 To Purchase:

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from Cider Mill Press Book Publishers for my honest opinion. No monetary compensation was offered or received.

All Charlie Wants For His Birthday Are Some Friends

I find it very interesting that today I decided to review this book. October is National Bullying Prevention Month and this book is told from the prospective of the bully.

Charlie’s Birthday Wish teaches children to consider how bullies can be misunderstood, remorseful, and even forgiven. It also explores the consequences faced by those who choose to be unkind. The story uses rhyme to open an age-appropriate conversation about unkindness and its implications, not only for the oppressed, but also for the oppressor himself.

 
My son as many of you know is on the spectrum. He is a very good boy however, he doesn't always know that the things he says can come across as bullying. In fact, this morning I was approached by someone in the school who wants to talk to me later on today. Mostly because they are worried about him saying the wrong thing to the wrong person and getting himself in trouble. My Handsome doesn't always know what he says is wrong. He sees the world in black and white and can't see outside those lines. So like Charlie he doesn't have ANY real friends. He doesn't know why.  From a mother's point of few this is very hard for me. I love him and know him to be a good boy but his disability makes it hard for kids his own age to understand him and know that what he is saying isn't always what he means to say. He is better with much younger or much older. The last things a mother wants is for her child to be THE bully or to not have good friends. 

Like Handsome, Charlie doesn't have any friends and it is because he has said or done things to make his friends not trust him anymore.  Unlike Handsome, Charlie knew what he was doing was wrong and now he needs to eat crow, confess to his mother and apologize for his hurtful ways.

This is a wonderful book for children or caregivers to read with a child (doing this with Handsome after school today).

To Purchase:

 

 
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy for my honest opinion. No monetary compensation was offered or received. 

Send Apuglogies Instead of Cards!

Don't say sorry. Apuglogize. Features 20 adorable apology cards (and photos of pugs!) to tear out, give and make amends.

Oh my gosh this is a cute book! I am not a Pug fan but my daughter and sister are. Even if you are not, these sweet faces can't be denied. 

This book comes with two sided tear out cards that you can send when the mood OR moment strikes.

Apuglogize about the holidays in advance
Apuglogize for forgetting a special day
One literally just says...OOOOPPPPPPSSSSSSS
And 17 other adorable reasons. 

We love them and think they make great stocking stuffers. Find this and more on our Holiday Gift Guide.

To Purchase:

 

 Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy for my honest opinion. No monetary compensation was offered or received.

Trick Your Brain With XSense

I have read research for years about how our sense of smell is tied to the emotional centers of the brain and how smelling can bring back many of our memories. I've tried smelling chocolate to make me feel full (never worked for me). Certain perfumes make me think of certain people or times in my life. Industries have built their entire empire around this very natural sense of smell that most of us have.

xSense recently debuted a new line of functional scents inspired by Nobel Prize-winning clinical research on how the brain reacts to scents. Each scent is specifically formulated with ingredients found to help people make the most out of their day-to-day activities.

Users simply apply one of xSense’s three scents, PlaySense, WorkSense, or RestSense, directly under the nose and allow the scent to help them exercise more efficiently, work better, and rest easier throughout the hectic holiday season and into the new year. Plus, the oil-based, alcohol-free scent is only detectable to the user, remaining unnoticeable to others.

xSense products can be purchased directly from xSenseWorld.com in the following sizes:

• Deluxe sample pack of 3 multi-use vials of PlaySense, WorkSense, and RestSense: $14
• 10 milliliter (0.3-oz) roller-applicator bottle of PlaySense: $45
• 3-pack of 10 milliliter bottles each of PlaySense, WorkSense, and RestSense: $95

The 411: 

You literally only put a small drop onto your fingertip and place your finger under your nose applying it there so it is available to smell until it dissipates. You are not to put it on your lips or inside your nose. Don't do that! I've tried the sample set over the past two weeks in fact right before I started typing this post I sniffed the WorkSense. It smells good. They all smell good but I can't tell you that it is strong enough to make me feel a certain way. The WorkSense is to help you learn new information faster, retain it better, and perform more accurately.

I love the concept. I will continue to try it and I am thinking about getting the roller applicator with more so I can continue to check it out.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary product for my honest opinion.