Jenny On The Spot | Reviews and Giveaways

This is a compensated review by BlogHer and OxiClean.

My favorite clothes are new clothes. Why? On account of the fact they are so CLEAN! The whites are white and brights are bright! But a girl can’t only wear NEW clothes – nor can her children.

So what’s a girl to do? What is a MOM to do? Have you seen the things one’s offspring does to their clothes???! Some problem stains I have to deal with are:

• Preschool painting projects, chocolate pudding, chocolate milk, chocolate, dirt, markers, markers, markers, *whu?*, markers, lipstick, lip gloss, muck, grime, ketchup, mustard, lolipop-ness, poop (yes, poop), and even blood. Gotta love body fluids!

Stains are gross. They also often make me feel helpless.

Enter Oxiclean and the beloved “Power Pac”. My heart. I’m talkin’ pink puffy hearts all over for my Oxiclean. Oxiclean sent me a package of the “Power Paks” to test. *my new religion, and I am not kidding* But I didn’t need to test my pacs of awesome. Oxiclean has been a dear friend for many years. She even helped me get Sharpie – yes SHARPIE out of a jean jacket my toddler decided to “bling out”.

But the “Power Pac“… how can complete love become complete-er? PUT IT IN A PAC! Mama don’t have to scoop and pour… now Mama just pops a pac in the washer. Be it a sunrise, be it a power pac – both are beautiful to me. However a sunrise won’t get chocolate out of a 2nd grader’s white shirt. I know, what kind of mother puts her 2nd grader in a white shirt?

I do. Don’t be a hater.

Enter: the Max Force Gel Stick.

This shirt has a chocolate pudding stain. Oxiclean encourages one to immediately start treating the stain. In my world, “immediately” pans out to be 3-4 days later…

I have strategies — the Oxiclean Max Force Gel Stick, yo!

3…2…1…

*BAM!* and *HOLLAH!*

So, there is my testimony and here is the science as I understand it:

The Oxiclean Max Force Power Pac uses oxygen to fight stains… It works WITH your detergent to make whites whiter and brights brights. Oooh, bright brights – me likey! Allz ya gots to do is pop in a Pac in every load!

The Oxiclean Max Force Gel Stick… it’s a pre-treater. It’s applicator helps dig into the fibers to stick to those stains and go to battle… for the sake of the white… or the bright.

Guess what? I have some $100 Visa gift card action for you, thanks to Oxiclean! Just leave a comment and share about your toughest stains. Aaand there are now 7 other chances to win the $100 Visa gift cards PLUS a grand prize $300 sweepstakes — visit the the round-up page!

Rules:

• No duplicate comments.
• You may receive an additional entry by linking on twitter and leaving a link in the comments.
• You may receive an additional entry by blogging about this contest and leaving a link in the comments.
• This giveaway is open to US Residents, aged 18 and older
• Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail.
• You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

Contest runs from March 9, 2010 to March 31, 2010. Good luck! Visit the Official rules!

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This is a compensated review by BlogHer and Electrolux.

I am a huge fan of cake. I love cake so much I even created a group on Facebook called, “Girls Who Eat Cake By The Row“. In fact, my love of cake is so renowned, my friend Jenn of Momma on the Rocks pimped my tweet once…

You know when somebody “gets” you? Like, really GETS you? Jenn/@mommy_grrl… she gets me. *wipes tear*

I used to make fun cakes. I’ve made a Bob cake, a Larry cake,  pirate ship cake, a sunflower cake, a dinosaur cake… Funny thing about fun cakes… They’re a TON of work! So I moved onto cupcakes, smorecakes, cupcakes… And now I live my fancy cake dreams through my sister-in-law – Ace of Kerry as she creates cakes with legs…

And cakes that you’d swear were a real X-Box:

There’s more, but I don’t want her to get a big head. And also, I can’t compete with that! Not that SHE’S competing. It’s only competition when one has a worthy opponent. And I know my place. *bows in honor of the one who deserves high cake decorating praise*

But I do have something to offer. It’s a secret ingredient. I do not bake cakes or cupcakes from scratch. So, this is EASY… My girls and I are going to show you:

For an extra moist and delightful cake – just add a spoonful of mayonnaise! My mom taught me, and I have never made a box cake without adding a spoonful of mayo. I know. It sounds odd, but trust me. Just trust me. Try it sometime. You will thank me. But you don’t have to.

Oh, and here is the cake after it was cooked and frosted. It may not be on legs, but I can still eat a row’s worth! And is it MOIST!!! A confetti cake with blue frosting, sprinkled with snowflake candies and big sugar sprinkle-thingies.

You know who else is a big fan of cakes? Kelly Ripa. Maybe you’ve heard of her… Maybe she needs to join my Facebook group! Aaanywho…

Kelly Ripa has teamed up with Electrolux to launch a virtual campaign. Together they are offering a way to make a difference in the fight against OVARIAN CANCER, and raise money for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. Simply visit Kelly’s Cakery to decorate and send a special virtual cake to a friend, family member or loved one. Just think, no mixing to make this cake! For every cake sent, Electrolux will donate $1 to OCRF.

Check out the other sponsored stories and send a virtual cake to a friend! Just visit the BlogHer.com special offers page!

Visit the official site for more information: Kelly’s Cakery website

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This is a compensated review by BlogHer and Tom’s of Maine.

*Winner update: Congratulations to Audra… comment number 167 was the random number drawn at Random.org… Congratulations Audra!

Tom’s of Maine Silly Strawberry toothpaste… I mean, “Serious Strawberry” just doesn’t have that same ring, now does it? Getting kids to be motivated to brush their teeth is hard enough… we need a little silly involved! My kids really like music, so right now, to motivate the kids to brush long enough — they sing the alphabet twice… slowly. I know my youngest has been known to sing “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”. Another way I motivate my kids to get excited about brushing is new tooth brushes! The fun brushes are always a hit, but even just a new brush makes them giddy.

Of course, just having a big mirror in the bathroom is a pretty big motivation for my three. They are so full of themselves. Sometimes I peek in and watch them… watch themselves. My goofy, attention hungry fame seekers! They crack themselves up, and my middle daughter often stands in the mirror and works on her commercial making skills.

I captured video of MY 3 sillies trying out this toothpaste. Each had very different responses… but each, being MY offspring (lucky kids), managed to silly-it-up in their “I want to be famous” sort-of way. Currently all three are singing, acting and dancing in SCROOGE the Musical with the local children’s theater, and our level of dramatic and hunger for fame is at an all-time-high.

Additionally, their mother has an overly active appetite for fame as well, so… nature or nurture? Yes. And Yes.

Without further ado, I give to you… my children…

For more information, please visit the Tom’s of Maine official website.

Now folks, Tom’s of Maine is offering some lucky commenter here at Jenny on the Spot a $100 Visa gift card! BUT EVEN BETTER, there are 8 TOTAL chances to win! Just visit the BlogHer.com special offers page

To ente here, leave me a comment below and tell us how you get your kids to brush – or you may leave a link to your post on your own blog in the comments below. The contest will begin at 12/15/2009 and will end 1/15/2010. Make sure that the e-mail address you leave is correct.

Rules:

• No duplicate comments.
• You may receive an additional entry by linking on twitter and leaving a link in the comments.
• You may receive an additional entry by blogging about this contest and leaving a link in the comments.
• This giveaway is open to US Residents, aged 18 and older
• Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail.
• You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

Please see the official rules here: Official rules

Only one natural oral care company carries the ADA Seal of Acceptance for a children’s toothpaste, Tom’s of Maine Anticavity Children’s Silly Strawberry with Fluoride. And because we care as much as you do, we’ve never tested it on animals or added artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. It’s flavored with natural oils for a great strawberry taste they’ll love. Visit the official site for more information: Official site

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This is a compensated review by BlogHer and L’Bel.

*Winner Update! A BIG congratulations to Tammy Elrod! The random integer generator at Random.org chose #14, and that comment belonged to Tammy! Congratulations!

Beauty.

How complicated is that? Is it found inside? Is it about symmetry? Is it only in the eye of the beholder?

Golly. I hope beauty doesn’t soley rely on our physical appearance. I think I have more bad days than good when it comes to outer beauty… or not. It depends on the place, and who’s lookin’ at me.

L’Bel (the sponsor of this review) has asked me to tell about a place I have been has made me feel beautiful… You be thinking about this question too… I want YOU to answer it as well

I would have to say the place I feel most beautiful is when I am sharing life with the people I love… who love me…

It doesn’t matter what I look like, or how I feel inside… when I am sharing my time and life with people I love — I feel beautiful. They see past the physical imperfections (which are only a mere few, really…).

Even in my stress or sadness or struggle (times I consider my physical appreance the most unattractive… or after working-out, but then I stink too… I digress), my loved ones make me feel beautiful. I can have tear-stained cheeks… eyes red and puffy from crying. Yet I am beautiful to them.

Because they know Me, not just the blotchy cry-face girl sobbing on their shoulder. Or laughing. I cry when I laugh too.

I am a passionate woman.

I confess, if someone happens to think I am physically beautiful – I won’t chase THAT compliment away. I’m no fool! I’ll ask them to continue. I’m kidding. BUT I have come to realize my heart’s desire is to be considered a woman with a beautiful heart. A woman considered trustworthy, loyal, funny, deep… irresistible because of my sexy heart. My compassion. My wit. My girlish charm. My love and misguided passion… My quirky, sexy, beauty-filled heart.

That’s right. *two snaps up in a circle*

What about you? Tell me about a place you have been that makes you feel beautiful. Do and enter yourself for achance to win $500 worth of product from L’Bel Paris! I have been enjoying my new L’Bel moisurizing/cleansing products very much!

I have very dry skin and I have been using the L’Bel Essential moisturizing make-up remover, cleanser and toner. I can feel the moisturizer in the remover, cleanser AND even the toner! I was worried the moisturizer combo would not leave my skin feeling clean. There was no need to worry! What’s better… often after washing my face with most other cleansers, I rush to apply moisturizer. This cleanser and toner never left me feeling at all dry.

The Suprémacie Jour moisturizer and the Suprémacie Yeux eye cream are heavy enough for overnight use, and not too heavy for day wear. I have also also been using the facial treatment cream, but I am not noticing much change with that.

Something I am pretty picky about is scent. I have been delighted with the scent of each product, even the champagne scented body lotion. I was pleasantly surprised. Additionally, the facial products I have been using have a pretty scent, but is VERY light. I’d call it powdery, not at all perfumy. I am not a fan of flowery scents, so was a bit nervous, but I found L’Bel to be fresh and light!

Perhaps you’d like to try some L’Bel products for yourself? You have a chance to win $500 in L’Bel product!!! — Delyr, Bleu Intense, Resurgie Jour, Cellvivance , Pore Specialiste , Day Moisturizer, Night Moisturizer, Eye Cream, Makeup Remover (LOVE MINE!), Cleanser, Toner, Face Mask, Divenesse Lotion , Supremacie Mains, Lip Gloss , Mascara, and a Women’s handbag…

To enter, leave me a comment below and answer the question “What place have you been that makes you feel beautiful?” OR you may leave a link to your post on your own blog in the comments below. The contest runs from 12/9/2009 to 1/8/2010. Make sure that the e-mail address you leave is correct.

Rules:

• No duplicate comments.
• You may receive an additional entry by linking on twitter and leaving a link in the comments.
• You may receive an additional entry by blogging about this contest and leaving a link in the comments.
• This giveaway is open to US Residents, aged 18 and older
• Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail.
• You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
• Please see the official rules here: Official Rules

Be sure to check out the other reviews… that means you have 8 additional chances to win! BlogHer.com special offers page. Or you can visit the Official site here!

L’Bel Paris is a brand developed with the support of the prestigious Centre de Biodermatologie des Laboratoires Serobiologiques and Sederma Socete d’Etudes Dermatologiques. The latest scientific innovations are incorporated into each product, creating a beauty regimen for radiant skin that withstands the passage of time. Join us on Twitter for beauty tips and special offers @LBelParis.

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*Update… we have our winners!Thank you so much to Zelosport for your huge heart and giving extra to benefit 2 charities! Our winners are Bob and Eric. Bob’s choice charity is Common Era Ministries, and Erics choice charity is the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Washington State! You guys are awesome – Bob, Eric AND Zelosport! Here are the randon.org numbers:

I received an email from Zelosport asking if I’d like have my family try one of their table top games. I was all, “What? Fun? Bring it!”

Zelosport makes table top football, soccer, baseball, and golf games.

I decided we’d try out the football game, and got to choose our own team – of course I chose the Seahawks mat! We live in the Seattle area, and are therefore Seahawks fans.

Also, after my kids pass gas, instead of “excuse me”, they say “GO SEAHAWKS!” It’s true.

This is not my family. I didn’t want to show my messy house.

The Zelosport mat is a smooth and sturdy. The game comes with instructions, and the pieces needed for play (dice, foam ball, ring markers). Our family found it was a little complicated to fully integrate the rules… so we adjusted a bit and found it fun to flick around the foam football and zoom the rings and pieces… setting our own passing goals and whathaveyou.

If football is not your “thing”, Zelosport also has mats for baseball, soccer, golf… Visit Zelosports for more information! By the way if you decide one of these games might be a fun holiday gift – be sure to use this link or type the code “Jenny” at checkout — you will receive 10% off your own game purchase!

Hey! Would you like to win a game for yourself? Would you ALSO like to be able give away one of these games to a charity of your choice? It’s almost Christmas! Zelosports is giving a free game for two commenters AND a game for each winner’s charity of choice!

Contest Rules:

• No duplicate comments.
• In your comment, please leave the name of the charity to which you will be donating.
• You may receive an additional entry by linking on twitter and leaving a link in the comments (please leave Twitter link in a separate comment).
• Or receive an additional entry by blogging about this contest and leaving a link in the comments.
• This giveaway is open to US Residents, aged 18 and older.
• Winners will be selected via random draw (www.random.org), and will be notified by e-mail.
• You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
• Contest ends at noon PST on Friday December 11th!

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Keep up on the ridiculous, the insightful, the always digressive…

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This is a compensated review from BlogHer and LEGO^® DUPLO^®.

*Update! We have a winner!

Congratualtions Keeslermom of Keesler Chaos! I know you have a pefect kiddo in mind! Enjoy!

My 4 year old daughter, Lucy is undoubtedly a tactile/kinesthetic learner. I have learned that stopping to touch flowers and leaves and towels and clothing and toys and even cans in the canned food aisle are a huge deal to my daughter. Her favorite things to touch are soft things, and if she could go about life in her bare feet, she would. Even in at the park in 40 degree rain…

My little girl is a busy little girl… always looking for a new sensory experience.

She is an explorer and only recently has my maternal “light bulb” turned on. I am learning that I need to allow her time to touch, feel, smell and explore as we march through our day-to-day happenings.

Even something as simple as feeling the water temperature change when she gets ready to “do the dishes”. Yes, my 4 year old helps “clean” the dishes. I think she is drawn to the “slick” feeling that soap and other surfaces create. She loves the feel of the water running on her hands. Yesterday she approached me with a mushroom bouquet and squaled, “OH Mama! Feel! These are SOOOOOO soft!”

Her hands are ALWAYS moving… coloring, drawing, scribbling, building, cleaning, scratching, touching, feeling, touching…

We recently tore into our new LEGO^® DUPLO^® package… I made her wait a couple of days before we did, and she nearly came unglued.

Once the contents were emptied, there was no holding her back.

We worked together to build the rescue station. This was her first experience with full LEGO^® freedom. Her older brother has his Star Wars collection that she is allowed very limited access to. This little project was a very big deal… “Mama! Feel this!” There were a couple times the pieces she was playing with popped apart. She cried, “It broke-ed!”

I said, “Oh honey. These don’t break. Look!” And in a snap the “broke-ed” parts were repaired and after a couple of repairs, she got it. A little while later a piece came off. She giggled and said, “It’s not broke-ed”. I can fix it Mama!”

*****

LEGO^® DUPLO^® wants to encourage imaginative play in children. In keeping with this theme, they are offering a LEGO^® DUPLO^® prize pack to one of you! To enter for a chance at this prize pack, leave me a comment below and share how you get creative and stimulate development in your kids – or you may leave a link to your post on your own blog in the comments below. The contest will begin at 9:00 a.m. (PST) November 9, 2009 and will end 8:59 a.m. (PST) November 16, 2009.. Make sure that the e-mail address you leave is correct.

Rules:

• No duplicate comments.
• You may receive an additional entry by linking on twitter and leaving a link in the comments.
• You may receive an additional entry by blogging about this contest and leaving a link in the comments.
• This giveaway is open to US Residents, aged 18 and older
• Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.
• You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

Please see the official rules here: Official rules

Winner to be chosen via the Random Number Generator.

Be sure to check out the other reviews at BlogHer! You have 8 chances to win!:

Feel free to visit the official site for more information: Duplo official site

We got rid of television 2 months ago.

We did it to save money. 2 months ago we had a Direct TV bill. Today, we do not.

And I like it.

And I don’t miss TV.

Why?

Because of site like Fancast.

The skinny:

Fancast debuted in January 2008 and now has more than 10,000 hours of online video programming; with more than 60,000 videos available, including over 13,000 full-length shows (more are being added every day)

Fancast aggregates TV content from more than 100 sources (including Hulu by the way), and Fancast has more TV extras than any other site including: movies, pictorials, blogs, listings, live chats and Q&A’s with stars, and much more.

This means I can watch choice shows on my own timeline. I have access to more shows too. There are commercials, but they are limited.

You should check out Fancast. It’s free and easy. If you are a Mac user (like me), you will need to do a little download. It was quick and easy. No headache… all leading to free on-demand entertainment on the web. A great choice for busy families!

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For the FTC: A CD has been provided for this review. I get to keep it.

Brandi Carlile.

Never heard of her.

That’s no completely true. I went to a Seattle Storm game back in July and she was sitting in the row in front of me. And 10 seats to the left. I saw some really hot chick come in and sit down. I was all, “Not fair.” I want her arms. Not for me to gnaw on like a chicken leg cuz I was hungry… no, for me to attach to my body. You see, she has good arms. I have “guns”. I wanted to trade arms with her.

Then the guy who had the arena microphone (I also wanted the microphone, I was in a mood that night I suppose), took a moment during one of the time-outs to tell us a celeb was in day ha–ouse! I was all, “Whu? Me?” And he was all, “Singer and songwriter Brandi Carlile!” And I was all, “Great. She’s got great arms AND she’s famous. Double not fair.”
Continue reading ‘Give Up the Ghost by Brandi Carlile’

I received a copy of the following CD… to keep… and this is what I think:

Alright peeps. The FTC is cracking down on us bloggers, and I need to be VERY honest and upfront about my product reviews.

In all honesty…

I don’t think mah man Harry could do a thing wrong. The man… excuse me… *catching breath*…

So, when the opportunity to review his newest CD presented itself, I tore into ‘dat like a pirana to a bloody carcass. I really do have it THAT BAD. The man can do no wrong. Well, I am not speaking of his character, just his skillz of musical magic.

Sing to me Harry… I digress.

Ermmm… I’m sure he is a great guy too. Harry, if you are reading this… drop me a line — jennyonthespot [at] gmail [dot] com… We can chat over coffee, and then I can review your character as well. I am a public servant like that.

But only if you want, tho.

*bats eyelashes*

*applies fresh layer of lip gloss*
Continue reading ‘Review: My Heart Beats for Harry Connick Jr. and His New CD, Your Songs’

This is a compensated review from BlogHer and Wonder®

*Update! And the winner is…. Deb of the highly acclaimed Deb on the Rocks! Congratulations, Deb!

Do we have any bread lovers in the houuuuuuuse?

Me? I am a HUGE fan of bread. So is my family. Bread is a great vehicle for so many things… peanut-butter, jelly, meats, butter (oh sweet butter…) and let’s not forget a nice little cinnamon-sugar combo when one toasts up a slice of BREAD. Mmmm… yum… cinnamon toast…

We went through a lion’s share of bread this summer. We headed to a local beach quite a bit, and in an effort to save a few extra bucks, we packed sandwiches instead of swinging through a place that would serve us prepared food through a window. IfyouknowwhatImean. I might even go so far as to say we could call Summer 2009 “Our Summer of Sandwiches”.
Continue reading ‘Oh the Wonder of Wonder® Bread – Win a $100 Visa Gift Card!’