Video Game Giveaway

ENTRY PERIOD IS NOW OVER!!!

It’s hard to believe that Christmas is almost upon us. Seems like only yesterday we were hiding Easter eggs. Where does the time go? Wow! And now we’re all out shopping for great deals, trying to find the best prices & searching for those hard to get toys, right?

I hope to lighten the load and enable you to scratch off one toy from your child’s Christmas list this year. I’m giving away 3 separate video games including: We Cheer! (Wii), GI Joe: The Rise Of Cobra (XBox 360), and Family Fun Football (Wii).

The views & opinions expressed in my reviews are simply mine. My views & opinions may differ from other consumers. I did not receive a cash payment or product sponsorship for this giveaway. Prizes were purchased with my own money.

Win It!!!

3 Winners will be chosen at random at the end of the entry period 12/11/09. You are welcome to enter to win all 3 but only 1 winner will win each game. Post a comment for each game you choose.

** MANDATORY entry: Tell me which video game you would like to win of the 3 listed! **

Extra Entries!

You can do any of these things for an extra entry. Make sure to leave a separate comment for EACH thing you do.

1.) Follow me via Twitter @MyBellaMia

2.) Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect.

3.) Follow my blog via NetworkedBlogs.

4.) Become a fan on  Facebook (please leave me your facebook username in a comment)

5.) Place my button on your blog. Please comment below with your blog URL so I can verify button placement.

6.) Tweet about this giveaway. You can Tweet an unlimited amount of times for extra entries every day but you must copy your status update URL and paste it in a comment below! You can copy & paste:

3 winners will win Video Games! Visit Bella So Savvy www.bellasavvy.net to enter! Ends 12/11/09.

*The retweet can be reworded but must include the url link to the giveaway & must spell out that the prizes are video games!

Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on December 11th when I will draw 3 winners at random. PLEASE leave your email address if it is not visible on your profile. I will notify the winners and they will have 48 hours to respond! If one or more winners do not respond an alternate winner will be chosen at random out of the remaining entries.

Open to US Only.

This is a giveaway only. No reviews were completed on any of these games.

Shopping On Black Friday

Shopping On Black Friday

You love it or you hate or maybe in between. It’s a love hate relationship. Right?

Everyone loves a great deal and that is what drives us out of our warm, cozy beds into the bitter cold & those dreadful lines. We dread it every year but yet we are ready to do it again every time. Yes, Black Friday, is what I’m talking about.

You can make it easier with a little help. I’ve listed some helpful tips below that might help you get through yet another stressful but yet fulfilling shopping season.

1.) Make a list of what you NEED or are hoping to find and from there search as many places as possible (websites provided and or newspapers) for those specific items and of course the best deals.

2.) STAY FOCUSED – do not let yourself stray. Stores will try and attract you for the special deal then hope you buy something else that is not such a great deal. Also, time is of the essence because of the EARLY BIRD prices at various stores.

3.) LISTS will be your best friend because you need to keep track of the TIMES stores open and which ITEMS you will be buying from each store…now be prepared for LINES: OUTSIDE of the store and INSIDE the store. If you have a person with you think about splitting up one in line the other racing to the item because it is chaos and there are multiple stores to get to in a short time.

Organizing Your Winter Wardrobe

Organizing Your Winter Wardrobe

Organizing your wardrobe for the winter shouldn’t have to be hard on your budget.  Fashion style and colors do change from season to season but as long as you have the basic colors you can add the new style pieces to what you already have. And that saves you lots of money in the long run.

Here’s some helpful tips to get you started:

1.) Take out your fall clothes, keep the items that can be transitioned from fall to winter like jeans, t-shirts, handbags , belts, and jewelry. Transitional pieces along with your accessories can form a base for you to build on.

2.) Shop for the fashions and colors that are in style for the winter season. Keep in mind which pieces you have and when buying new pieces choose ones you can wear them with other pieces you already have.

3.) Coordinate your accessories by choosing pieces that show your personality and your style, like a necklace, a bracelets, a purse, a belt, maybe a watch or sunglasses. Picking out your accessories should be easy.

Some other helpful tips when updating with new items and accessories:

• Have a shopping partner with you for second opinion
• Don’t over think, if it’s you and it works with other pieces choose it.
• Stay with a budget.

Lancôme Absolue Precious Cells review

Lancôme Absolue Precious Cells Advanced Regenerating and Reconstructing Cream SPF 15 ~ WOW, an amazing product!!!!

It is a powerful combination of the Reconstruction Complex and Pro-Xylane™  and has been shown to improve the condition around the stem cells, and stimulate cell regeneration to reconstruct facial skin to a denser quality. It launched in the US in October, 2009.

Some of the awesome benefits of this product is that it restores density, reduces wrinkles and regenerates radiance. Ladies this product really works and is so worth the cost.

Check out what current studies have shown:

Women see visible signs of younger skin:

90% skin seems denser
87% looks smoother
87% looks more radiant
95% has a more uniform complexion

I don’t know about you but at the age of 38, I want to preserve my skin as much as possible. It leaves my skin so soft, smooth and radiant. You only need a small amount, no “piling it on” to see results. If you have dull, dry skin, this product is for you! I highly recommend this product. A+

Absolue Precious Cells’ Day Cream with SPF 15 retails for $145,  Night Cream $145, and Eye Cream $95.

The views & opinions expressed in my reviews are simply mine. My views & opinions may differ from other consumers. I did not receive a cash payment for my review but did receive one container of Lancôme Absolue Precious Cells facial cream to test.

Simple Ways to Add Meaning to the Holiday Season

Simple Ways to Add Meaning to the Holiday Season

All the baking, buying, and burning the midnight oil can make the holiday season feel frenzied. To make this season more meaningful–not to mention serene–slow down and refocus on what makes this time of year so special: family, service, and spirituality.

Celebrate Family and Friends

Show your little ones how much relationships matter–and how joyful they can be–by spending the season connecting with loved ones near and far.

• Open holiday cards and letters with your children, making sure to talk about what your elementary school best friend was like in second grade or tell funny stories about Great-Aunt Shirley. Then let your little ones tape the enclosed photos on a map to mark where loved ones live–and help you remember them all season long.
• Choose holiday gifts that bring you closer. For instance, create a mini photo scrapbook of your kids for far-away grandparents. Have preschoolers create homemade storybooks about their relatives. Or offer gifts of time, like a promise to take a gaggle of cousins to the zoo.
• Dedicate a night to honoring your family’s cultural heritage with traditional holiday foods (like lechon if you’re Filipino, or a traditional Christmas pudding if your ancestors came from England) or by playing game.

Share Service

The simplest antidote to your children’s seasonal gimmes? Teach them to help others. The more they give, the less your kids will care about what they get.

• Create a construction-paper advent chain and write a simple good deed on each ring: pick up trash, phone a far-away relative, deliver a plate of cookies to a neighbor. For each day of December, rip off a link in the chain together and make time to help someone else.
• Set aside a small amount of money for your children to donate to charity. Help them research where to give, like an animal shelter or the local library. Little ones can use their cash for something concrete, like a new toy for a child in need or canned goods for the food pantry.
• When you catch your child lending a helping hand, place an ornament, like a snow globe or a bell, on her pillow. She can leave it for another family member she spies being kind. The pass-along prize motivates your kids to catch each other being good, so the holidays are happier for everyone.

Nurture Spirituality

Whether or not you regularly attend a house of worship, the holidays offer a chance to share your beliefs and values with your children–or just create a sense of peace and mindfulness.

• Unplug electronics and turn off all the lights, except the ones that glow on the Christmas tree or menorah. In the stillness, talk quietly about your blessings and share your favorite wishes for the holidays.
• Celebrate Three Kings Day (January 6, when the Magi supposedly visited baby Jesus) by leaving out a shoebox filled with hay (or, in a pinch, cookies) for the wise men’s camels to devour. In the morning, the hay will be gone, replaced with a few small gifts.
• Tune in your kids to some of the season’s sacred music, like Handel’s “Messiah.” Find a performance in your area, or check out internet radio stations for seasonal selections.

Copyright © 2009 Meredith Corporation.

Lancôme Absolue Precious Cells review

Lancôme Absolue Precious Cells Advanced Regenerating and Reconstructing Cream SPF 15 ~ WOW, an amazing product!!!!

It is a powerful combination of the Reconstruction Complex and Pro-Xylane™  and has been shown to improve the condition around the stem cells, and stimulate cell regeneration to reconstruct facial skin to a denser quality. It launched in the US in October, 2009.

Some of the awesome benefits of this product is that it restores density, reduces wrinkles and regenerates radiance. Ladies this product really works and is so worth the cost.

Check out what current studies have shown:

Women see visible signs of younger skin:

90% skin seems denser
87% looks smoother
87% looks more radiant
95% has a more uniform complexion

I don’t know about you but at the age of 38, I want to preserve my skin as much as possible. It leaves my skin so soft, smooth and radiant. You only need a small amount, no “piling it on” to see results. If you have dull, dry skin, this product is for you! I highly recommend this product. A+

Absolue Precious Cells’ Day Cream with SPF 15 retails for $145,  Night Cream $145, and Eye Cream $95.

Bright Starts™ Pretty In Pink™ Cradling Bouncer

Bright Starts™ Pretty In Pink™ Cradling Bouncer

Features a musical flower toybar soft fabrics and soothing vibrations.

* Flower toybar plays 4 fun melodies and is easy for baby to activate. Plush Flower also lights up with music.
* A Butterfly and Bumble Bee toy with fabric crinkle wings keep baby engaged in the fun
* Soothing vibrations help to soothe your baby
* Soft seat fabrics provide a comfortable place for your little one to relax

Additional Features:

* 3 point harness keeps baby secure
* Seat pad is machine washable

Age/Height/Weight Requirements:

Weight/Height: 6 lbs to 25 lbs
Age: Birth & Up

Battery Requirements:
3 AAA (Not Included)
2 C (Not Included)

This adorable bouncer is all about the play! A baby activated toy bar keeps her focused on the fun with lights and melodies that play from the large plush flower. Two additional toys also entertain your little one along with soothing vibrations. Cradling seat design and 3 point harness keeps baby secure and comfortable. Toy bar is removable for easy access and seat pad is machine washable. The only negative thing I can say about this product is that the lights & music do not run long enough. If baby does not pull on the self-activating toy he/she may get bored pretty quickly with this product. I would like to see a possible timer setting option for this feature. It would certainly be a major improvement & baby would love it even more!

Choosing the Correct Shoe for Your Height

Choosing the Correct Shoe for Your Height

The average height for a female used to be 5′4″ to 5′6″. Your shoes should be balanced to not add to or take away from you if you are over average or under average in height. The average height may or may not be the same now. The word “normal” seems to change all of the time but some people seem to be better at carrying or should I say “working” a certain style better than others.

The person of average height can wear more of a variety in the height of the shoe. In short, a person who is 5′6″ can get away with a four inch heel and likewise, she can get away with flats. I am 5′ 3″ and I myself prefer a heel on all of my shoes at least 2 1/2″ – 3″. Height for me provides the illusion of longer legs. That’s exciting for me!

However, the misnomer is that a much shorter person should wear ’stilts’ or what used to be termed ‘Tom Walkers’. They should not. A shorter person should wear only a couple of inches. The 4 or 5 inch heel would only give your body an imbalanced look rather than a taller look. And I for one am not looking to be a circus act. LOL

Likewise, the taller female should wear moderate to higher heels because the shorter heel will cause her am imbalanced look. Tall, long legs and higher heels are the rule.

A Pea In The Pod launches Spring/Summer 2010 Collection

A Pea In The Pod launches Spring/Summer 2010 Collection

Good news for those expecting! A Pea in the Pod is releasing their Spring/Summer 2010 collection of denim and other great spring clothes.

One of the highlights of the collection is the denim leggings, which can easily be paired with many of the looks from the collection. The line is crafted with the highest standards using fabrics from the world’s finest mills, A Pea in the Pod Collection delivers high-quality and high-fashion specially fit to the pregnant silhouette.

A Pea in the Pod is a favorite among Hollywood’s celebrity moms-to-be, they have dressed clients such as Heidi Klum, Nicole Richie, Rebecca Romijn, Angie Harmon, Naomi Watts, Cate Blanchett, Salma Hayek.

Article from PRnewswire.com

4 Steps to Potty Training During the Holidays

4 Steps to Potty Training During the Holidays

Travel, excitement and disruptions in routine are characteristic of the holiday season. And these factors make potty training your child more of a challenge than it would normally be. Plus, bulky winter clothes make getting undressed and into position more difficult, especially for little ones with an urgent need to go. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t or shouldn’t potty train at this time of year.

Although the holidays may seem like an inopportune time to start potty training, you can’t plan when your child’s readiness will strike. Your little one may start to wake up dry from naps or in the morning. He might become more anxious than normal when his diapers are dirty. And he may actually express a desire to start using the potty.

If your child is ready to potty train during the holiday season, use the following strategies to ensure your success:

1.) Stay Positive, Despite Stress
Holidays mean shopping for gifts, cleaning for company, sending cards, traveling long distances, preparing big meals and many other stressful activities. When you’re busy and stressed about all the things on your to-do list, you may not have as much patience for potty training as you would at other times of the year.

It’s hard not to get frustrated, but you have to stay positive. Give yourself a break from the hustle and bustle, and make time to focus on your child. Do something together, like re-reading your favorite potty book or talking about what a big boy or girl your child has become since last holiday season. Understand that your child needs your attention and support, and expressing your frustration will likely do more harm than good.

2.)  Make Potty Time Fun
Kids love new experiences and exciting adventures. If you can present potty time as something fun and special, then your child will be more interested. When you’re traveling or heading to holiday parties, prepare ahead of time by purchasing a portable toilet seat adapter that is easier to manage than a small potty that sits on the floor. You and your child can even decorate it with holiday stickers and give it a name, like your Special Holiday Potty.

Introduce the Christmas Potty at home two weeks before you’re traveling. Then practice outside the home in a kid-friendly place, like a favorite restaurant or toy store.

3.) Take Frequent Potty Breaks
Kids live for the holidays. And who can blame them – at that age holidays mean presents, parties and sweet treats. Your child may get wrapped up in the excitement of fun holiday activities, such as visiting Santa and attending parties, and forget about going to the bathroom until it’s too late.

Kids are easy to potty train when you catch them at the right minute. If you want to avoid accidents, you must take frequent bathroom breaks. Keep an eye on how much your child is drinking and make sure you ask if they need to go every 30 minutes to an hour. And remind them that if they need to go potty, they should let you know right away.

4.) Prepare for Accidents
No matter how well your child seems to be catching on to potty training, accidents are inevitable. The best way to handle the situation is to help your child understand that accidents are OK – and to be prepared.

Let your child know that everyone has accidents when they’re learning something new. When you’re away from home, pack extra clothes and a supply of toilet paper or wipes for cleanup. Don’t make a big deal out of accidents to avoid embarrassing your child when you’re at a holiday party. And just to be safe, consider dressing your child in disposable training pants when you’re visiting family and friends or when you’re on the road.

Although it may seem like too much to handle at this time of year, with a little preparation and understanding you and your child can accomplish anything you set out to do – even potty train. When you keep a cool head and use these tips for potty training during the hustle and bustle of the holidays, your child can enter the New Year diaper-free.

Avoid Holiday Accidents
Even the most motivated little ones can easily get wrapped up in holiday excitement and forget about potty breaks. To reduce the risk of accidents try following these tips.

1.) Before entering a long line, whether you’re waiting to see Santa or checking out at a store, always take a potty break even if your child says he doesn’t have to go.

2.) When you enter a mall or other large shopping center, stop at the directory and scope out the bathrooms. Then show your child where they are, so they can see and understand.

3.) Carry disposable training pants just in case restrooms are scarce or you run into unexpected delays.

Source Huggies