So, reading has been a big topic here lately… Being a part of the VTech Voices campaign has me really getting the girls reading even more! They LOVED their latest VTech V.Reader book!

This V.Reader has been so much fun for the girls. They have loved all of the really cool and fun animated stories that they’ve been receiving in the mail this month. They race over to me to see what book arrived, and immediately sit down together to check it out. This V.Reader has been really helping us have longer story times, and as the girls get excited about reading with the V.Reader, they have been getting more and more excited to read their other books that they have on their bookshelf.

Something else we have done is take “special” trips to the bookstore. As a reward for chores well done, or encouragement for keeping them working on their workbooks, instead of that one pizza place with the games, the girls ask for their favorite book store.  We spend the next few days reading their new books over and over again. I’ll take it!

VTech is offering another one of my commenters the opportunity to win a VTech V.Reader (pink or blue) AND a book/game to go with it!! It’s awesome!! This is a QUICK giveaway… You have 24hours to enter! Leave me a comment telling me how you encourage your kids to read! One reader from all of the VTech Voices bloggers will also win a Grand Prize of a V.Reader and THREE books/games to go with it!!!

Must be a resident of the USA. Entries will be accepted until 4pm EST Tuesday July 27th!

Good Luck!

This giveaway is now closed! Congratulations to the winner!

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random integers, generated without replacement:

27

Timestamp: 2010-08-15 14:15:20 UTC

Getting ready for Back to School????

If you’ve never heard of Agoo.com before, then you need to check out their site! Agoo.com makes some really cute clothing and active wear for kids. Their active wear provides UPF50+ protection from UV rays and the fabrics they use are stain resistant. They couldn’t sound more perfect for my kids! I haven’t had the opportunity to review anything from them, but just looking at their clothing makes me want to see what I can get for my girls!

Agoo.com is also promoting their newest line of clothing just in time for Fall called Tushie Huggers! They are super cute and available for Boys & Girls!

Right now, Agoo.com is also holding a 50% off everything on their site sale with coupon agoo5050! This offer is only good while supplies last though, so act fast! You can also check out and “like” their facebook page for more deals and announcements!

Agoo.com is also offering readers of Mommy Brain Reports a chance to win a $50  gift certificate to their online store! What an awesome deal!

All you have to do is leave a comment! It’s that simple!

Tweet this giveaway or share on Facebook for extra entries! Just leave me a comment saying you did!

Winner must be a resident of the USA. Entries will be accepted until Saturday, August 14th at 1159pm EST.

Good Luck!

*This is not a review. This giveaway was sponsored by Agoo.com.

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

80

Timestamp: 2010-07-19 14:46:49 UTC

A quiet reading spot is a precious thing here in our family… Quiet is something that doesn’t happen often, especially when I’m actually awake enough to read! I have a few places where I really like to sit back and read, but my top two places are inside, on the chaise near the window, or outside on my deck on a sunny day. My hubby, well, he likes to read on the couch, or while I’m driving, and the girls… They can read pretty much anywhere. They like to sit on their beds and read, but I have found them in the middle of the living room floor, with books spread out all around them.

Well, this Summer, reading is going to get a little bit easier for all of us. I think I just got an idea for our next Christmas card! LOL. Mommy and Daddy have our Kindles, and now, thanks to VTech, my girls have their V.Readers! I’m very excited to be a VTech Voices Blogger! Over the next few weeks, I’ll get to bring you some information about the new VTech V.Reader! We are techies here, and this V.Reader is right up our alley.

What is the VTech V.Reader? It’s an electronic, animated, e-reader/learning tool for kids! It helps them read, helps them learn word recognition, and even has fun games for the books!  It’s available now at Target, and soon, at other retailers!

VTech has a Summer Reading Pledge that I think everyone should take a look at and sign! Keep your kids sharp over the break, and keep them reading! Check out the pledge & sign it!

Oh! I almost forgot! VTech is allowing me to give away a V.Reader in either pink or blue to one of my readers!!  Don’t miss out! Enter now!!!

All you have to do is leave me a comment telling me your favorite book as a kid!

Winner must be a resident of the USA. Entries will be accepted until July 16th at 11:59pm EST. Tweet this giveaway or share this giveaway on Facebook for extra entries. Just leave me a comment saying you did!!!

** I am a VTech Voices Blogger. VTech sends me product in exchange for participation in this program.

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

1

Timestamp: 2010-07-09 04:41:30 UTC

The Grammy® award winning, multi-platinum singer/songwriter is set to release her long awaited new album, LAWS OF ILLUSION on June 15th!

This marks Sarah’s first studio album of brand new material in 7 years.  In a career spanning more than two decades, Sarah has over 20 million career sales to date and every one of Sarah McLachlan’s studio and live albums has been certified gold, platinum, or multi-platinum by the RIAA

Check out Sarah  her new single “Loving You Is Easy” on Jay Leno and a medley of her hits on Dancing With The Stars.

LAWS OF ILLUSION

True to her Canadian roots, the album was recorded in Montreal and Vancouver with Sarah’s longtime collaborator/producer Pierre Marchand. Sarah’s new album LAWS OF ILLUSION will be released June 15th just weeks in advance of the kick off to the historic all women touring festival, founded by McLachlan (see below for more info on Lilith Fair).

The album’s first single “Loving You is Easy,” is a Top Ten hit at Adult Alternative radio and is available for sale at all digital providers. Order the album LAWS of ILLUSION on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

Check out Sarah candidly talking about the making of the album.  New videos will be put up on her site everyday.

Follow Sarah on Twitter

In a career spanning more than two decades, Sarah has over 20 million career sales to date and, every one of Sarah McLachlan’s studio and live albums has been certified gold, platinum, or multi-platinum by the RIAA!

Tracks:

• Awakenings
• Illusions of Bliss
• Loving You is Easy
• Changes
• Forgiveness
• Rivers of Love
• Love Come
• Out of Tune
• Heartbreak
• Don’t Give Up On Us
• U Want Me 2
• Bring on the Wonder

Win it:

Want to win it??? Just leave me a comment!!! Really! it’s that easy!!!

Winner must be a resident of the USA. Entries will be accepted until July 9th at 11:59pm EST. Tweet this giveaway or share this giveaway on Facebook for extra entries. Just leave me a comment saying you did!!!

Lilith Fair Summer Tour
The return of the historic all-female Lilith Fair festival this summer!  From 1997 through 1999, Lilith Fair was one of the highest grossing touring festivals in the world, with over 2 million fans in attendance and raising over $10 million dollars for national and local women’s charities.

Artists joining Sarah on the bill to include:
Colbie Caillat, Mary J. Blige, Sheryl Crow, Erykah Badu, Ke$ha, Norah Jones, Sugarland, Heart, Miranda Lambert, Beth Orton, Brandi Carlile, Cat Power, Chantel Kreviazuk, Corinne Bailey Rae, Emmylou Harris, Gossip, Indigo Girls, Ingrid Michaelson, Jill Scott, Loretta Lynn, Metric, Sara Bareilles, Tegan and Sara and more!

• Jun 27 Calgary, AB McMahon Stadium
• Jun 28 Edmonton, AB Northlands Spectrum
• Jul 1 Vancouver, BC, Canada Pitt Meadows Airport
• Jul 2 Portland, OR Sleep Country Amphitheatre
• Jul 3 Seattle/George, WA The Gorge Amphitheatre
• Jul 5 San Francisco, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre at Mountain View
• Jul 7 San Diego, CA Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre
• Jul 8 Phoenix, AZ Cricket Wireless Pavilion
• Jul 9 Las Vegas, NV Mandalay Bay Events Center
• Jul 10 Los Angeles, CA Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
• Jul 12 Salt Lake City, UT USANA Amphitheatre
• Jul 13 Denver, CO Comfort Dental Amphitheatre
• Jul 15 Kansas City, MO Capitol Federal Park @ Sandstone
• Jul 16 St. Louis, MO Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
• Jul 17 Chicago, IL First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
• Jul 18 Minneapolis, MN Canterbury Park
• Jul 20 Indianapolis, IN Verizon Wireless Music Center Indianapolis
• Jul 21 Detroit, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre
• Jul 23 Montreal, QC Parc Jean Drapaeu
• Jul 24 Toronto, ON Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
• Jul 27 Cleveland, OH Blossom Music Center
• Jul 28 Philadelphia, PA Susquehanna Bank Center
• Jul 30 Boston, MA Comcast Center
• Jul 31 New York, NY PNC Bank Arts Center
• Aug 1 Hartford, CT Comcast Theatre
• Aug 3 Washington, DC TBA
• Aug 4 Raleigh, NC Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek
• Aug 6 Charlotte, NC Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Charlotte
• Aug 7 Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena
• Aug 8 Atlanta, GA Aarons Amphitheatre at Lakewood
• Aug 10 West Palm Beach, FL Cruzan Amphitheatre
• Aug 11 Tampa, FL Ford Amphitheatre
• Aug 12 Birmingham, AL Verizon Wireless Music Center
• Aug 14 Austin, TX TBA
• Aug 15 Houston, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
• Aug 16 Dallas, TX Superpages.com Center

.

**Congratulations to Patricia Hill… She has 24 hours to claim her prize!

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

94

Timestamp: 2010-07-01 14:05:00 UTC

Summer time is here, and it’s Grillin’ Season! My hubby loves to spend time at the grill, making up all kinds of amazing meals for us, and for friends and family who come to visit us. A couple of products we use a lot here are bacon and hot dogs. Hot dogs are always a fan favorite when there’s going to be a lot of kids around too. When we’re shopping for a large crowd, we always look for food items that we can get for a great value, and Bar-S is definitely one of those brands. Their products taste great, and you get so much more for your money than you do with the other “premium priced” products. My hubby also makes some awesome jalapeño poppers that are wrapped in bacon… They’re such an awesome addition to our BBQ’s. Want to try them yourself? Here’s a quick and easy recipe!

Ryan’s Delicious Jalapeño Poppers

What you’ll need:

5-10 Fresh Jalapeños, 1 tub of cream cheese,  fresh pineapple, or other fruit you’d like to try. 1 package Bar-S Bacon

Directions:

Slice jalapeños in half lengthwise. Clean out the seeds and rinse them off.

Spoon cream cheese into the jalapeño halves.

Place a chunk of fresh pineapple in the center of the cream cheese.

Wrap each of the jalapeños in 1/2 slice of Bar-S bacon and set aside.

If you have a smoker (best idea) Place the poppers in the smoker for about an hour, or until the peppers start to wrinkle. If you have a bbq grill, place the poppers on the lowest heated area of the grill and keep an eye that you don’t burn the bacon!

Enjoy!

Hot dogs and bacon aren’t the only things that Bar-S has to offer though! They also have Lunchmeat, Smoked Sausage, Ham, and now Corn Dogs!!! I haven’t had a chance to try out the corn dogs yet, but if they’re anything like their other products, they’re going to taste great! I’m still waiting for this new product to make it into stores here in Jacksonville… In the meanwhile… You can enter this awesome giveaway sponsored by Bar-S

The Giveaway

Bar-S foods is offering a Brookstone Motorized Hot Dog Griller to one of my readers!!!

• Grill hot dogs and sausages perfectly every time, with no burn marks or waste, with a motorized BBQ rotisserie. No need to hover over your grill to ensure the hot dogs are done right—just use this automatic hot dog cooker. Built-in electric motor rotates hot dogs so they cook evenly all over, without scorch marks or cold spots. It’s also an ideal way to cook sausages, bratwurst, kielbasa and more.
• Generous 8 1/2″ x 12 1/2″ cooking surface lets you cook multiple hot dogs at once. Plus, the rotisserie frees up space on your grill for more chicken, burgers or ribs, making large summer BBQs easier to manage and stress-free. The rotisserie is easy to set up and clean, and fits virtually any grill.
• Enjoy grilled hot dogs and sausages all summer long, without any hassle—order your motorized rotisserie from Brookstone today!

Talk about a great way to quickly cook all of those Bar-S Hot Dogs & Sausages for a big backyard BBQ!  LOL

All you have to do is leave a comment telling me your favorite summer activity!

You can gain additional entries by retweeting this givaway or sharing it on facebook and leaving me a comment telling me you did!

Entries will be accepted until June 30, at 1159pm EST. Winner will be chosen via random.org. Winner must be a resident of the US. Void where Prohibited

Every single week Bar-S selects 2 fans from their facebook page to be featured as fans of the week and receive a week’s supply of Bar-S Bacon.

Bar-S’ Grilling Van weekend schedule is posted on Twitter weekly – follow us to find out where the van is going to be and fan us to win a free week of Bar-S Bacon!

I would also like to mention their June Sweepstakes!!  There are only 2 weeks left to win the $10,000 Grand Prize as well as other instant prizes.

** I did receive a free product coupon, but have not been able to use it.

You know that you need exercise, and your kids need exercise to stay happy and healthy… Did you know that your dog needs exercise too??? Sure, running around the back yard is ok… if you have a large yard… but would you like to run in circles or would you like to see new sights?

How about some incentive for the whole family to take Fido out for walk, or toss a ball in a park??

Get out over this holiday weekend and take your camera with you. Why??? Because! Dogasaur is hosting a photo contest and the prizes are pretty cool!

First Prize is an American Express $100 Gift Card, a Dogasaur T Shirt, and a Spot: Where’s Spot DVD… and a feature on Dogasaur.com making your dog an internet celebrity.

*** I was not compensated for this post.