I've mentioned before how much my kids love to sing and dance. Recently, they've been dancing and singing along to the catchy tunes of The Endangerbles.

The Endangerbles CD includes 10 songs that are intended to inspire children to respect all animals. It also promotes the message that some species are in danger of extinction, and we need to protect them with extra care. The songs are written by Fred Bogert, a musician and performer who's contributed to the folk-rock duo Trout Fishing In America.

My kids and I enjoyed the music of The Endangerbles. The CD cover is very cute and while some of the lyrics did not impress me, I am all for finding a fun way to educate children about endangered species. There is an Endangerbles website where kids (with parental supervision, of course) can register to become Official Deputy Endangerbles and read about endangered animals. They can also download a couple of wallpapers and several coloring pages for extra fun. In the future, there will be some games to play, too.

Everyone who registers and selects “SSA” as the option where they heard about The Endangerbles can download a free mp3 of the theme song, Extinction for Extinction.

The CD and several adorable plush animals are available for purchase at the Endangerbles store.

The Giveaway
One lucky reader will win The Endangerbles prize pack that includes a CD and a choice of plush (ARV $23)!

To enter, please share which Endangerbles plush animal you would choose* if you won. 

*The choices are Ulysses (Eagle), Milton (Orangutan), Sasha (Baby Seal), Bucksnort (Indian Rhino), Ms. Scarlet (Scarlet Macaw), or Khul (Tiger).

Disclosure / Disclaimer: No monetary compensation was obtained for this post. I received complimentary product sample to facilitate the review. The opinions expressed in this post are mine and may differ from yours.

My kids love to sing and dance. Until recently, a spoon or a marker made great pretend microphones. Thanks to Paper Jamz, now we can take our singing to the next level with their Pro Series Microphone!

The Paper Jamz Pro Microphone is a brand new musical toy that hit stores this month. It's a real mic that comes with a box acting as an amplifier and tuner. The toy uses pitch detection to transform the quality of your voice as you sing, with auto mode plus five different effects: Perfect Pitch, Vibrato, Chorus, Harmony, and Melody Match. Here's what you can do in each mode:

• Auto: adjusts vocal effects to make you sound like a pro;
• Perfect Pitch: adjusts your voice so that you are automatically in tune;
• Vibrato: adds real vibrato to your voice;
• Chorus: multiplies your voice to make it sound like more than one person is singing;
• Harmony: makes a copy of your voice at a different pitch and allows you to sing in harmony with yourself; 
• Melody Match: analyses and tunes your voice so you always sing a perfect melody.

The mic was a hit right out of the box. My kids happily sang along to the two songs that were already pre-loaded on the toy. Then they started improvising! I was the lucky audience of solos, duets, recitatives, even a book reading. This toy was the first one they wanted to play with in the morning. A winner!

My favorite feature is that I can connect the mic to the computer and transfer my favorite songs to it. The mic comes with a USB cable and the software can be downloaded for free (Windows or Mac version) from http://paperjamzpro.com/en/. The mic holds up to three songs at a time, and when I get tired of singing - or hearing - the same tunes, they can be replaced with others.

The Paper Jamz Pro Microphone retails for $29.99 - the fun it provides is priceless. The recommended age is 8+ but in my opinion, it works for anyone (yours truly included) who loves to belt out a tune. The mic comes in three styles: grey, pink (this is my daughter's favorite design) and neutral. It needs four AAA batteries - I suggest using rechargeables because the mic will be used A LOT. It is available now at Walmart stores nationwide, and later this summer will be sold at Target, too.

The Giveaway
One lucky U.S. reader will win a Paper Jamz Pro Microphone!

To enter, please comment below who in your family loves to sing, or share a funny story about your kids' musical talents.


This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to the winner, #3 lag110!


Disclosure / Disclaimer: No monetary compensation was obtained for this post. I received complimentary product sample to facilitate the review. The opinions expressed in this post are mine and may differ from yours.

Got giveaways? Please do share! My weekly linky is below. Good luck to those who enter, and everyone else - enjoy browsing!

Do you collect box tops for education? I have an envelope for them in my kitchen. I am always surprised how quickly we fill it up. My daughter loves taking our box tops to her school. She even counts the box tops herself.

Right now, Walmart offers up to 70 products that have not one but four box tops on their packages. Yesterday, I went to my local store to buy back to school items. I also stocked up on some of my family's favorites - Cheerios cereal, Nature Valley granola bars, Yoplait yogurt. It's great to see so many box tops on them! And collecting cash for our school takes as little effort as cutting out the box tops and placing them in an envelope. As every educator will tell you, every little bit counts to the schools.

To learn more about the Box Tops for Education program and how you can help contribute to your school, visit www.boxtops4education.com. Connect with Walmart on Twitter and Facebook to stay current on their latest offers and deals.

The Giveaway
Thanks to Walmart, General Mills and MyBlogSpark, one lucky U.S. reader will win a $25 Walmart gift card!

To enter, please comment below if you collect box tops for education, or what you'd buy with the gift card if you won.

This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to the winner, #621 Kelsey!

Disclaimer / Disclosure: No compensation was provided for this post. The opinions expressed here are mine and may differ from yours. I received a $25 Walmart gift card and the opportunity to host a giveaway courtesy of Walmart and General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

Got giveaways? Please do share! My weekly linky is below. Good luck to those who enter, and everyone else - enjoy browsing!

I have naturally wavy hair. On most days, that works well for me. Sometimes I wake up and every wavy strand has a mind of its own. Thanks to Conair, I can tame my waves into sleek elegance whenever I feel like it.

The Infiniti Pro by Conair Spin Air Brush looks like a typical 2-inch round hair brush that you’d use to do a blow-out. It is much more than that: the Spin Air brush combines two tools in one by blowing air through the rotating brush. How cool is that? The brush has tangle-free anti-static bristles and can be used with or without the spin function. The powerful ceramic heat distributes heat evenly for less damage, and an anti-frizz ionic generator releases up to 100x more ions than ions created from natural sources. I am not a hair pro but no frizz and no hair damage sound pretty good to me.

There are two heat settings plus a cool setting. Oh and the multi-directional rotation (right/left) makes the brush easy to use whether you are right- or left-handed. Do I like the Spin Air brush? I love it!

This clever brush retails around $59.99 and is available at retailers and drugstores, as well as at www.conairspinair.com. Happy styling!

The Giveaway
One lucky U.S. reader will win an Infiniti Pro by Conair Spin Air Brush!

To enter, please share in a comment what's your favorite hair tool.


This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to the winner, #57 - Raven In A Blue Room!


Disclosure / Disclaimer: No monetary compensation was obtained for this post. I received complimentary product sample to facilitate the review. The opinions expressed in this post are mine and may differ from yours.

I have great news for fans of historical romance - a triple blog tour and giveaway! This group tour is featuring three fantastic authors and their new books. I've read some of their earlier novels and can tell you that we are in for a real treat.

Book Description: Lady of Seduction by Laurel Mckee
It's a mad, ill-advised journey that leads the usually sensible Lady Caroline Blacknall to the legendary isle of Muirin Inish, off the windswept coast of Ireland. Even so, she doesn't expect to find herself shipwrecked and then rescued by a man she believed she would never see again. A man who, long ago, held her life in his hands . . . and with it, her heart.

Reformed rake Sir Grant Dunmore knew he could never forget the beautiful woman he once endangered nor will he ever forgive himself. But history seems doomed to repeat itself, for as long as Caroline stays on the island, she is trapped in a secret plot that could forever free Ireland - or turn deadly for all. And yet, now that she is in his arms again, how can he dream of ever letting her go?

Book Description: Tamed by a Highlander by Paula Quinn
A LOVER'S PROMISE
Connor Grant left his first love in the Highlands, vowing to return after serving in the king's army. Seven years later, he is still fighting for the crown, and his victories are legendary - both in the battlefield and in the bedroom. Yet he's never forgotten his bonnie lass. And he certainly never expected to see her amidst the splendor of the British royal court: beautiful, breathtaking, and tempting him past the point of no return.

A LADY'S DESTINY
The night he left, Mairi MacGregor banished Connor from her life forever. Now her heart belongs only to Scotland. As part of a secret alliance, she journeys to London in search of information . . . only to find herself face to face with the one man she swore she'd never trust again. Though Mairi's body still craves Connor's touch, she can't forgive his betrayal. But a traitor lurks in their midst and to protect her beloved Highlands, Mairi must make a leap of faith and join forces with Connor - even if it means losing her heart to him again.

Book Description: Temptation of a Highland Scoundrel by Sue-Ellen Welfonder 
The second book in the Highland Warriors trilogy, in which three heroes make a pact to insure that a rival clan doesn't take over their glen and cause destruction. At the same time, three women will plot to marry these heroes to help insure peace.

In Temptation of a Highland Scoundrel, Kendrew Macintosh's reputation precedes him: he wields an ax with deathly precision, strikes fear into his enemies, and lusts after beautiful women. But Kendrew has never met someone whose passion rivals his own-until an unexpected encounter with a mysterious woman. Unfortunately, he soon discovers that the vixen is Isobel Cameron, daughter of an enemy clansman. Their relationship is forbidden and Kendrew breaks away immediately. Isobel has her own scheme. She has lusted after Kendrew for some time and plans to draw the fierce warrior back into her arms. But in the darkness, villainous forces are at play - an enemy is determined to keep the two lovers apart, even if it means death.

The Giveaway
Thanks to publisher Hachette Book Group, I am hosting a giveaway for three (3) prize packs including all three books!

To enter, please comment below what's the last good book you've read.


This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to the winners: #241 Mariee, #272 elaing8, and #38 Bee W Bedard.

Got giveaways? Please do share! My weekly linky is below. Good luck to those who enter, and everyone else - enjoy browsing!

Book Description
In 1963, at the age of 17, Dwayne Hallston discovers James Brown and wants to perform just like him. His band, the Amazing Rumblers, studies and rehearses Brown's Live at the Apollo album in the storage room of his father's shop in their small North Carolina town. Meanwhile, Dwayne's forbidden black friend Larry--aspiring to play piano like Thelonius Monk--apprentices to a jazz musician called the Bleeder. His mother hopes music will allow him to escape the South.

A dancing chicken and a mutual passion for music help Dwayne and Larry as they try to achieve their dreams and maintain their friendship, even while their world says both are impossible. In THE NIGHT TRAIN, Edgerton's trademark humor reminds us of our divided national history and the way music has helped bring us together.

The Giveaway
Thanks to publisher Hachette Book Group, I am hosting a giveaway for three (3) copies of The Night Train by Clyde Edgerton.

To enter, please comment below what's the last good book you've read.

This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to the winners: #135 Patricia, #50 pmernick, and #13 andalene 


No compensation was provided for this post.

Book Description
With the ocean her home, an ochre sea star hunts for her morning meal. She folds over her rays and grips the rocky shore with sticky feet as she feasts on shellfish. When she takes too long, the tide flows back without her, and Sea Star becomes easy prey for a seagull. But she is built to survive and returns to the sea, although with one less ray.

Through inspiring words and stunning pictures, the fascinating world of a small but mighty sea creature is brought to light.

My Review
Star of the Sea is a non-fiction book for kids. It tells the fascinating true story of the star fish. The book follows this remarkable sea creature for one day - from her breakfast of shellfish to losing a ray to a hungry bird. My daughter and I learned quite a bit about the star fish, thanks to Janet Halfmann's new book. The illustrations are beautiful and perfectly complement the story.

If you are not familiar with Janet Halfmann's books for children, you should also check out Fur and Feathers and Good Night, Little Sea Otter. Her books are fun and educational and make a wonderful addition to our family library.

The Giveaway
One lucky US reader will win a copy of Star of the Sea: A Day in the Life of a Starfish by Janet Halfmann!

To enter, please visit Janet Halfmann's site and comment below with the title of another book that you'd like to share with the kids in your life.

For extra entries, feel free to do any or all of the following:

• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway – you can do this once a day, feel free to copy and paste: "#Win a copy of Star of the Sea by @JanetHalfmann! #Giveaway ends 7/28 @aitmama #contests #kids #books #sweeps http://tiny.cc/kedrx";
• tell us who would be enjoying the book if you won;
• follow @JanetHalfmann on twitter;
• if you are a friend of Janet Halfmann on Facebook, let me know below for an extra entry;
• go here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is July 28, 2011, 11:59pm EST. A winner will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or an alternate will be chosen. Open to those of age 18+ with mailing addresses in the U.S. The winner will receive their prize directly from the sponsor.

Disclaimer / Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy with no obligation for a positive review. No compensation - monetary or in kind - has been obtained for this post. Photo and book info courtesy of the publisher. 

Book Description
This is the extraordinary story of a nearly forgotten American superstar athlete.

Texas girl Babe Didrikson never tried a sport too tough and never met a hurdle too high. Despite attempts to keep women from competing, Babe achieved All-American status in basketball and won gold medals in track and field at the 1932 Olympics.

Then Babe attempted to conquer golf.

One of the founders of the LPGA, Babe won more consecutive tournaments than any golfer in history. At the height of her fame, she was diagnosed with cancer. Babe would then take her most daring step of all: go public and try to win again with the hope of inspiring the world.

A rollicking saga, stretching across the first half of the 20th century, WONDER GIRL is as fresh, heartfelt, and graceful as Babe herself.

The Giveaway
Thanks to publisher Hachette Book Group, I am hosting a giveaway for two (2) copies of Wonder Girl: The Magnificent Sporting Life of Babe Didrikson Zaharias.

To enter, please comment below what's the last good book you've read.

You may do any and all of the following for extra chances to win:

• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway, feel free to copy and paste: "Enter to #win Wonder Girl by Don Van Natta Jr! #Giveaway ends 7/27 @aitmama @HachetteBooks #contests #books #sweeps http://tiny.cc/v5ljg" – you may do this once a day;
• follow @HachetteBooks on twitter;
• go here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is July 27, 2011, 11:59pm EST. The winners will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or alternates will be chosen. Subject to this site's Official Rules. 

Open to residents 18+ of U.S. and Canada only. No P.O. box addresses, please. Winners will be subject to the one copy per household rule, which means that if they win the same title in two or more contests, they will receive only one copy of the title in the mail. Winners will receive their prizes directly from Hachette Book Group. Book information and image courtesy of the publisher. No compensation was provided for this post.

I love historical romance, and Vicky Dreiling is one of my favorite authors. About six months ago, I featured her novel How to Marry a Duke. Ms. Dreiling's exciting new book, How to Seduce a Scoundrel, came out this week - and you can win a copy right here! Read on...

Book Description
Miss Julianne Gatewick is in a pickle. It started when her brother's best friend-for whom she's long nursed a secret tendre-agreed to act as her guardian for the Season, only to seduce her with a risqué waltz. But when the music stopped and the expectant ton waited for Marc Darcett, Earl of Hawkfield, to claim her as his own, he made his disinterest clear. Rather than succumb to humiliation, Julianne does what any self-respecting, recently discarded young miss with a wicked sense of humor would do. She secretly pens a lady's guide to enticing unrepentant rakes . . . and it becomes the hottest scandal sheet in London.

Every honorable rake knows that friends' sisters are forbidden. But suddenly Julienne has a spark of mischief in her eyes that Hawk can't resist. Try as he might to push her away, he spends his days listening for her laughter and his nights dreaming of kissing her senseless. He's always avoided innocents and their marriage-minded mothers, but has the man least likely to wed finally met his match?

The Giveaway
Thanks to publisher Hachette Book Group, I am hosting a giveaway for three (3) copies of How to Seduce a Scoundrel by Vicky Dreiling.

To enter, please comment below what's the last good book you've read.

You may do any and all of the following for extra chances to win:

• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway, feel free to copy and paste: "Enter to #win How to Seduce a Scoundrel by @VickyDreiling! #Giveaway ends 7/26 @aitmama @ForeverRomance #contests #books http://tiny.cc/hutdc" – you may do this once a day;
• if you follow Vicky Dreiling on Facebook, comment below for an extra entry;
• follow @ForeverRomance on twitter;
• follow @VickyDreiling on twitter;
• go here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is July 26, 2011, 11:59pm EST. The winners will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or alternates will be chosen. Subject to this site's Official Rules. 

Open to residents 18+ of U.S. and Canada only. No P.O. box addresses, please. Winners will be subject to the one copy per household rule, which means that if they win the same title in two or more contests, they will receive only one copy of the title in the mail. Winners will receive their prizes directly from Hachette Book Group. Book information and image courtesy of the publisher. No compensation was provided for this post.

Congratulations to the randomly selected winners of the following giveaways:


Blush Tee Shirt Extender: #67 budletsmom.


Beg for Mercy: #124 winnie, #20 Mariee, #152 elaing8.


Groundswell: #69 Anonymous.


Habitat Spy: #52 janetfaye.


$30 GC to Chocolate.com: #220 ktgonyea.
Want to know who won in June? Check out the winners post here.

How would you like to win $5000 for a living room makeover? I would be thrilled! Recently we replaced our living room furniture with a few fab pieces but I have some great ideas that can use $5000.

Spot Shot, leading carpet stain remover and odor eliminator, was a sponsor of the 2011 Daytime Emmy Awards. To celebrate award show season, they are having $5,000 Living Room Makeover sweepstakes! We all love the suspense of award shows but no one likes the drama of carpet stains.

Enter online at http://www.spotshot.com/nominee-sweepstakes/ for a chance to win the $5,000 grand-prize (awarded via check) or a prize pack of coupons for Spot Shot, 2000 Flushes, X-14 and Carpet Fresh – all products that will help get your home sparkling clean!

The Giveaway
And one of my lucky U.S. readers will win a $25 Walmart gift card!

To enter, please share in a comment below whether your living room can use a makeover.

For extra entries, feel free to do any or all of the following:

• follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway – you can do this once a day, feel free to copy and paste: #Win $25 #giftcard to Walmart! #Giveaway ends 7/23 @aitmama #contests #sweeps #shopping http://tiny.cc/tjd2b";
• if you like Stain Fighting Community on Facebook, let me know below for an extra entry;
• go here for additional ways to get extra entries.

The deadline to enter is July 23, 2011, 11:59pm EST. A winner will be randomly selected and notified by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to get back to me, or an alternate will be chosen. Open to those of age 18+ with mailing addresses in the U.S. The winner will receive their prize directly from the sponsor.

Disclaimer / Disclosure: No compensation - monetary or in kind - has been obtained for this post. Photo and site info courtesy of the company or PR firm.

Got giveaways? Please do share! My weekly linky is below. Good luck to those who enter, and everyone else - enjoy browsing!


Beg for Mercy - 3 win 7/4