It’s not too often that I find myself looking forward to a particular movie to open. I don’t necessarily pay close attention to them any more because it seems like everything has been done before. That was, of course, until I was introduced to Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant.

After watching just the preview, I couldn’t wait to see it!

In theaters October 23^rd

Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant, based on the popular series of books by Darren Shan, is a fantasy-adventure about a teenager who unknowingly breaks a 200-year-old truce between two warring factions of vampires. Pulled into a fantastic life of misunderstood sideshow freaks and creatures of the night, one teen will vanish from the safety of a boring existence and fulfill his destiny in a place drawn from nightmares.

The Vampire’s Assistant Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/TheVampiresAssistant

CIRQUE DU FREAK has been rated PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned – Some Material May Be Inappropriate for Children Under 13) for sequences of intense supernatural violence and action, thematic elements and some language.

DETAILS ON THE BOOK RELEASE:

THE VAMPIRE’S ASSISTANT and Other Tales from the Cirque du Freak by Darren Shan

New movie edition features the first three books–Cirque Du Freak, The Vampire’s Assistant, and Tunnels of Blood– bound up in one volume!

Of course, living in the virtual CAVE of existence that I reside in, I had never heard of the books, but you can be sure I’ll be hitting B&N or Amazon as soon as this blog post is written! ~~But as soon as the movie hits theaters here in~~ ~~Martinsburg, I’ll be there!~~

UPDATED: My oldest son (13) and I went to see the movie and it was just as much fun as the previews. I love John C. Reilly and he never disappoints in his odd ways!

Besides letting you know about this really cool movie, though, I have a GREAT giveaway for you! and you… and YOU! and oh yeah, you over there too – the one with the pink furry bunny slippers!

THE VAMPIRE’S ASSISTANT

MOVIE GIVEAWAY

One (1) Grand Prize winner receives:

$50 Fandango.com Gift Card & a family friendly prize pack ($100 value!)

Four (4) Additional winners will receive:

A family friendly prize pack which includes a backpack, young adult t-shirt, locker mirror & book! ($50 value!)

Shipping Guidelines:

Prizing is only available to United States mailing address only. (International readers can enter if they have a friend in the States who can accept their prizes by mail.)

Didn’t I tell you this was a great giveaway?!

Since Zachary was a tiny tot, he’s been a Baby Einstein baby. I am convinced that Baby Einstein videos have helped to make him so bright! A 2-1/2 year old who can not only recite his numbers and letters, but IDENTIFY them on site? Totally a Baby Einstein baby!

The day that we received the new Baby Einstein dvd, World Animal Adventure, Zachary had been in a particularly difficult mood. He was mad that we had come into the house (he LOVES playing outside) and was throwing a fit. I’d sent Libby out to check the mail, and she came running in yelling "mama, you got a package!". I opened it, knowing what it was, and got all excited! I hardly had time to look at it when Libby snatched it back from me – she was a Baby Einstein baby too!

We quickly popped it into the dvd player and Zachary stopped crying the second he heard the familiar Baby Einstein music.

Within 10 minutes, all three of my kids were ensconced in the video. When it was over? They watched it again!

The World Animal Adventure DVD, which debuts September 29, brings animals from around the world home to your baby, presenting dozens of playful animals in their natural habitats. Set to original world music specially orchestrated for little ears, the DVD includes fun baby animal puppet shows and animals from each of the seven continents. The DVD also presents a Grow with Me feature, offering a second viewing mode with content that changes as your baby grows so that you can get more out of the DVD.

I LOVE this feature! (And just as soon as I can find the DVD remote, I’m going to switch it to that feature LOL!

If your kids love music – if your kids love animals – if your kids love puppets and funny faces and just everything that comes with those things – you NEED to get this DVD. Visit Baby Einstein.com and explore the numerous & fabulous products that have been a part of our family for 2 kids now. And tell them Dawn sent ya! LOL

My thanks, as always, to Mom Central. “I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Baby Einstein and received a World Animal Adventure DVD to facilitate my candid review.”

I moo for skinny cow

Product Review, review Comments Off

Jun 032009

One of the first things that people give up when they’re looking to lose weight are things like candy, cookies & ice cream. Obviously, those are the things that you’ll also miss the most. But Skinny Cow has come to the rescue!

I picked up Skinny Cow Mint ice cream sandwiches and was (frankly) a little skeptical. How could low fat ice cream possibly taste good? Reluctantly, I took a bite. I MOO’ed!

It was that good.

In all seriousness, at only 150 calories and 2 grams of fat, this was like heaven wedged between 2 chocolate cookies! It was delicious. The ice cream tasted like full-fat normal ice cream. The chocolate cookies were rich & chocolately and just simply a w e s o m e!

AND!

It’s Best Live Approved! That means that when I do my 30 Day Challenge on the Wii Active, I can still eat them! Woot!

Skinny Cow offers lots of varieties of yummy frozen treats, and they really are yummy.

Check them out – check out their site – and moo for yourself!

My thanks to Mom Central for allowing me to try them out and share their yummy goodness with you!

Electrolux & Going Green

Product Review Comments Off

Apr 132009

“GREEN” is a very popular concept right now. Everyone is going GREEN! Every THING is going GREEN! And now, so is Electrolux. They’ve partnered with Kelly Ripa to introduce to you their “Kelly GREEN” high-efficiency, front-loading washer & dryer.

Just in time for Earth day, Electrolux kicks off its virtual flower garden campaign to drive awareness and raise funds for Global Green USA. Starting today, when you go to http://www.electroluxappliances.com/ and plant a virtual flower for a friend, Electrolux will donate $1 to Global Green USA to support their healthy green schools initiatives across America. Everyone who logs on to the site and plants a virtual flower will be automatically entered for a chance to win a new eco-friendly Kelly Green front-load washer and dryer!

I have been using a new laundrymat that has high-efficiency washers and dryers and they’re amazing! They’re so fast, and only require 1/4 of the laundry soap, so it saves time AND money. How great would it be to actually WIN a set of Electrolux machines !?!?

So head on over to Electrolux’s virtual flower garden and plant a virtual flower and win a chance to win!

I have FOUND my new breakfast!

I must hide these from my kids.

I want them all for myself.

Isn’t that sad? LOL

But those are the thoughts that went through my head when I tried Kellogg’s new BakeShop Twists! With just the right amount of delicious (real fruit!) fruit filling and a light, flaky pastry, it wasn’t OVERLY sweet, and really did taste like I’d gotten it from a bakery, NOT the freezer.