Product description:In this gorgeous telling of The Nutcracker, Gail de Marcken brings E.T.A. Hoffmann’s richly enchanting world to life. With beautifully detailed illustrations, the story of THE NUTCRACKER AND THE MOUSE KING will become an instant classic . It’s a story readers of all ages will delight in.

E. T. A. Hofmann is the well-known German writer and composer. He pursued a career in law before turning his talents to composing music and writing stories. He is best known for his writing, and The Nutcracker and the Mouse King is one of his most famous stories. GAIL deMARCKEN is the acclaimed illustrator for many wonderful picture books such as Miss Hunnicutt’s Hat, The Quiltmaker’s Gift, and The Quiltmaker’s Journey, all written by Jeff Brumbeau; Clever Ali by Nancy Farmer; and Born to Pull by Bob Cary. Her artwork has won many prestigious awards. Ms. deMarcken has lived all over the world and currently lives with her husband in the woods near Ely, Minnesota.

**** This book is longer than a normal children’s book, but very enjoyable. My children loved learning about the Nutcracker and liked the Images of the Mouse King. This book is very colorful and a great holiday gift to any child.

pages: 56 pages

Retail: suggested $18.99

hardcover

Rating:7

Disclosure: I received product at no charge to me, in exchange for my review. all thoughts and views are my own.

Wordless Wednesday 11-18-09

November 17, 2009 - brandy3 5 Comments

Yes we are already getting ready for christmas

Handy Manny Motorcycle Adventure Giveaway(closed)

November 17, 2009June 2, 2020 - brandy3 120 Comments

In this road trip adventure, Manny decides to bring his friends and tools along for the ride to a fiesta grande – Manny’s family reunion. With everyone safely aboard his magnificent motorcycle, Manny helps the communities he passes through with fixes and repairs, and even has time to teach Pat the hammer that families come in all shapes and sizes. With quick teamwork and clever steering, Manny manages to rescue Pat, Squeeze, and Flicker who strayed from the group and get everyone to the reunion on time to partake in the exciting family festivities

I have one copy to giveaway

To enter tell me what is your favorite tool

Extra entries:

subscribe to my feed-10 entries

blog about this giveaway-11 entries

follow me on twitter-6 entries

tweet about this giveaway-8 entries(4 daily)

fav my technorati-4 entries

contest closes 12/4/09

Mickey’s Choo Choo Express Giveaway (closed)

November 17, 2009June 2, 2020 - brandy3 242 Comments

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Choo Choo Express stars the Fab Five: Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck and Goofy. While Professor Von Drake goes to the top of Mistletoe Mountain to create snow that never melts, the gang put together his old Clubhouse Choo Choo train.

To enter tell me who you would give this too.

extra entries:

Subscribe to my feed-10 entries

Blog about this-11 entries

tweet about this-8 entries(4 daily)

follow me on twitter-6 entries

fav my technorati-4 entries

contest closes 12/4/09

K’Nex Sesame Street Neighborhood Collection Building Sets Review

November 17, 2009June 2, 2020 - brandy3 2 Comments

The Sesame Street Neighborhood Collection lets your children build and play with Elmo, Cookie Monster and Ernie, your favorite Sesame Street friends.

There are four sets, that kids can build over and over again.

Ice Cream Truck Building Set-which works with the 123 Brownstone Building Set.
Police car Building Set-which works with the Police Station Building Set.
123 Brownstone Building Set
Police Station building Set

The Ice Cream truck and Police Car Building sets come with a buildable Elmo, dressed as an ice cream man or police officer. The sets also include wheels so the cars can be pushed easily.

I received the Police Station Building Set-

****This building set is very easy to put together, and perfect for little hands. Ernie and Elmo make it so much more fun with the kids. My children had so much fun playing with this building set.. Here are some of the things we built.

K’Nex is holding a contest where you can win $1,000 worth of K’Nex. Just make a video that showcases your childs K’Nex building skills and features your child building with select K’Nex products. Be creative and use your imagination.

Post the video on your blog or web site, submit the link along with entry form to [email protected]

ends 12/7/09 for more info go to www.knex.com

Retail-$9.99-$19.99

Rating:10

I wrote this review as part of a campaign with Team Mom, I received product for free in exchange for my review

Disney World Mom Party

November 16, 2009June 2, 2020 - brandy3

I got to throw a party in honor of moms for Disney World. Mom Select Sent me a box full of goodys for the party including balloons, goody bags for the kids, information for moms and so much more.

I have to admit that the party was just okay, it’s hard to talk to Moms about a trip to Disney World, when the economy is so bad and a lot of us can’t afford it.

it was fun but a lot of my guests were very camera-shy.

The kids really loved it.

for more information visit www.momselect.com/mickeymomsclub.com

Thanks to Momslect

Contests 11-16-09

November 16, 2009June 2, 2020 - brandy3

Moms focus online-hatley kids raincoat/11/16/09

No time mommy-coupon for a free butterball turkey/11/18/09

Quirky mama-childs hairbows and accessories/11/19/09

Mom knows it all-curious george prizepack/11/20/09

Pajama mommy community-pink stamp set/11/21/09

An island life-doras christmas cd/11/21/09

Here and there-sothys essential oils/11/21/09

Pajama mommy community-movie cash and cereal/11/21/09

Pajama mommy community-mrs freshley’s product coupons/11/21/09

Vals kitchen-chocolate a love story book/11/22/09

Vals kitchen-healthy bread cookbook/11/22/09

No time mommy-century of flavors cookbook/11/27/09

A frugal friend-kidorable umbrella/11/27/09

No time mommy-name your tune cd/11/27/09

Metropolitan mama-linksy router/11/27/09

Focus organic-thinksports bpa free water bottle/11/28/09

Mom knows it all-curious george prizepack/11/

No time mommy-year supply of viva paper towels/12/1/09

No time mommy-best baby products book/12/1/09

Rockin mama-mega bloks play n go table/12/1/09 10pm

No time mommy-mrs pauls and van de camp seafood/12/3/09

No time mommy-build a bear frosty the snowman/12/4/09

No time mommy-duncan hines muffins/12/5/09

No time mommy-unilever products/12/10/09

Win a Fantastic Voyage from the Bonnie Hunt Show

November 15, 2009November 16, 2009 - brandy3 2 Comments

Watch The Bonnie Hunt Show every day for your chance to win a 7-night cruise for you and 9 of your Facebook friends on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas, the world’s largest and most revolutionary cruise ship! Air travel provided by Southwest Airlines. Simply tune-in to The Bonnie Hunt Show, watch for the word of the day, and then enter online at www.bonniehunt.com/fantasticvoyage.

Each correct entry will be eligible to win the Grand Prize, as well as one of ten Bonnie Prize Packs that will be given away daily. Entry is limited to one per person per day during the promotion period (November 9 – 20, 2009).

As an added bonus, anyone who becomes a fan of The Bonnie Hunt Show on Facebook and shares the FAN-TASTIC Voyage Sweepstakes with their friends will be automatically entered to win a trip to Los Angeles to see a taping of the show.

Disclosure: I have been hired by the WB to promote the Bonnie Hubt Show

Whats your excuse for flaking out on a friend?

November 15, 2009June 2, 2020 - brandy3

The new season of The New Adventures of Old Christine is hilarious. In the latest episode Barb (Wanda Sykes) complains when Christine flakes out an important errand. Christine has lots of excuses but the reality is that she’s a flaky friend.

I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve had a friend flake out on me. The dumbest thing is it’s a lame excuse. I had a friend flake out on me during a playdate. She said she was watching cartoons.

In this episode Christine turns out to be the flaky friend with the lame excuse.

Don’t forget to visit http://www.cbs.com/primetime/old_christine/ for all the latest on the show.

Disclosure: This post was written for the WB, in which I have been hired by the WB to promote the show The New Adventures Of Old Christine.

No Time Mommy

CA Mom Blog, Life With Kids, Reviews, Giveaways and More

Holiday Gift Guide 2009

The Nutcracker and the Mouse king Book Review