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!

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 Friday, August 6th 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.

So I’m working with a client right now called Lovin’ Scoopful. They’re a California based ice cream company co-owned by California’s First Lady, Maria Shriver. Not only are they a health conscious brand.. using milk from cows that are not treated with the growth hormone rBST.. and keeping their ice creams low in fat… but they are also community conscious. Lovin’ Scoopful’s mission is to donate 25% of their post tax profits… at a minimum of $50,000 per year, to amazing charities, like the Special Olympics.

Lovin’ Scoopful has 13 rich and creamy flavors that are so yummy, you won’t even know it’s got 1/2 the fat and fewer calories than the other brands.

With flavors like Mad About Mud Pie, Rockin’ Raspberry Cheesecake, Out of This World Chocolate and Super Duper Peanut Butter Cup… how can you go wrong?

We tried one of their flavors called What the Fudge… and it was super yummy! I don’t eat regular ice cream very often, and this was such a treat. My girls even asked for seconds…. so you know it has to be good.

On Memorial Day, I’m going to be hosting a BBQ and dessert is going to be sponsored by Lovin’ Scoopful. I can’t wait to see what everyone else thinks about it! I have a very strong feeling they’re going to love it as much as I do… Stay tuned for photos & video next week!

If you want to try Lovin’ Scoopful for yourself, they are giving my readers a chance to win a  Lovin’ Scoopful Ice Cream Package!!! This package will include 3 FREE ice cream coupons, a special Lovin’ Scoopful ice cream scoop, women’s Tee shirt and tote bag… Perfect for shopping, the pool or the beach!!!  All you have to do to enter is leave me a comment  telling me if you think Ice Cream is better on a cone or in a cup! I prefer sugar cones, myself!

Extra entries can be submitted for

* “Liking” Lovin’ Scoopful on Facebook

* Following Lovin’ Scoopful on Twitter

* Leaving a comment telling me what flavor you’d like to try!.. For flavor choices, check out Lovin’ Scoopful’s site!

Retweeting this giveaway either by writing your own tweet (@MommyBrain in your tweet) or by using the green Retweet button at the top of this post!

You may enter as many times as you’d like! Just be sure to enter before June 11, 2010!

*Winner must be resident of the USA as product is only available in the USA currently.

Good Luck!

* I am working with Lovin’ Scoopful on this campaign, and free product was provided to me by Lovin’ Scoopful for this review.

If you’ve been watching Celebrity Apprentice this season (I’ve been hanging on every episode), you’ll know that Mrs. Holly Robinson Peete was named a finalist alongside Bret Michaels. Both have been absolutely amazing players in this game. If you’ve been watching, you should also know that Holly is playing for her charity, the HollyRod4Kids Foundation- an organization dedicated to helping children with autism gain access to affordable treatments.

Why is she so passionate about helping children with autism and their families? Because this is personal. Her son, RJ, was diagnosed with autism at three years old, but Holly knew something was different about him long before a doctor confirmed her thoughts.

Holly, along with RJ’s twin sister Ryan Elizabeth Peete, wanted to tell their store, in hopes that they could bring awareness and understanding to other children and families, and help them be more accepting of those that do have autism. Together, Holly and Ryan wrote an awesome kids book called My Brother Charlie. an amazing and sweet story about a girl named Callie, and her twin brother Charlie- who has autism. The story is written from Callie’s point of view, and she tells about how Charlie sometimes plays like any other child, but sometimes, he gets very quiet, and his words get locked inside him. Like Holly, Charlie’s mom was told that Charlie would never do a few things, including actually say “I Love You”… and like RJ, Charlie proved those doctors wrong.

My Brother Charlie is a great book that helped me open up conversation with my girls. They are starting Kindergarten in the Fall, and they will more than likely meet peers with Autism at some point in their school career. I really think that this book should be a must read for kids and their parents. Autism is something that everyone should be aware of, and everyone should know that kids with autism are just like any other kid… they just need a little more time and patience sometimes.

The big Celebrity Apprentice finale is coming up and Holly has a great chance of winning big for her charity. She’s already won $350K! Even if she doesn’t win the final challenge, you can still help bring awareness for Autism and donate to the cause. Five percent of the royalty earnings for My Brother Charlie will be donated to the HollyRod4Kids Foundation, so every purchase helps!

I’m being given the opportunity to help bring awareness to Autism and this book through this review and a giveaway! If you’d like to win a copy of My Brother Charlie, all you have to do is leave me a comment! Really.. It’s that easy!

If you’d like an extra entry, please retweet this giveaway using the green button at the top of this post! Be sure to leave me a comment telling me you did so for proper entry!

Winner will be chosen at random on Monday, May 31st at 5pm EST. Winner must be a resident of the USA, and will have 48 hours to claim their prize!

Good Luck to all!

* I had the opportunity to meet Holly on a trip with EA SPORTS Active back in January 2010… and LOVED talking to her. You can tell she is very passionate about her children. She is a tough competitor on Celebrity Apprentice, and totally sweet in person… She’s an amazing woman!

** I was sent a copy of My Brother Charlie to review for this post. Links to Barnes & Noble are affiliate links! Please support MommyBrainReports by using them!

This giveaway is now closed!

We didn’t need a random number.. All 5 entrants will receive 2 coupons each!

Straight from the freezer Tyson Grilled and Ready Chicken Breast Filets and Grilled Chicken Breast Strips are lean, recipe‐ready protein that dramatically cut down on preparation time, giving busy families a faster, lighter and convenient dinnertime solution. Great for summer dishes and family favorite meals, Tyson Grilled and Ready Chicken Breast Filets and Grilled and Ready Chicken Breast Strips are an excellent source of protein that makes cooking light, delicious meals a snap.

Healthy and tasty, with less time spent in the kitchen. . . what busy person couldn’t use that?

Delicious fully cooked Tyson Grilled Meats go from your freezer to the table in minutes. A great way for consumers to enjoy tender and juicy grilled chicken that tastes like it came right off of the grill.

Collective Bias and Tyson gave us the chance to try their new Grilled and Ready Chicken Strips, and we were very pleased with them! I found them at my local Walmart here, but they are available in retailers nationwide. On nights where I have to run out to Taekwondo class as soon as my hubby gets home, the Tyson Grilled and Ready Chicken really comes in handy. They have no preservatives in them, which we really like since we are really watching what we eat now. It’s something I can give my kids and not worry about what they’re putting into their bodies.

The photo above is a quick dinner my hubby whipped up with the Tyson Grilled and Ready Chicken Strips. All he did was cook up some Whole Grain Angel Hair pasta and toss it with some Olive Oil, Oregano, Basil and Fresh grated Parmesan Cheese. He topped it with some of the Tyson Chicken and served with steamed broccoli. Easy, Fast, Fresh, Healthy… and our girls LOVED it. This chicken is also excellent on salad, on a sandwich, or just by itself!

If you want to check out the Tyson Grilled and Ready Chicken Breast Filets and/or Grilled and Ready Chicken Breast Strips for yourself, they are giving me the chance to give away 10 Coupons for free packages. These are sample packs either!!! Let’s give away 2 packages to 5 winners.. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling me what you’d like to try with the Tyson Chicken! Simple as that! You do have to be a resident of the USA though…

This giveaway will run until May 21st at 5pm EST.. so get those entries in! You may comment as many times as you’d like to enter!

For extra entries, please tweet out this giveaway using the green button at the top of this post! Make sure you leave me a comment telling me that you tweeted this out so you get your entry for it!!!

Good luck to everyone!

Congratulations to winner: 2bMD2013

Chosen via Random.org as today’s lucky winner!!!

Didn’t win? You still have 3 more chances!!! Visit the other participating blogs on their scheduled dates for your chance to win! Good Luck!

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

970
Timestamp: 2010-05-05 02:35:21 UTC