Media | A Mom Less Ordinary

“Friends With Kids” Opening this week!

Can you have it all? Is the grass always greener on the other side? Well past my single days, now into my child-rearing, domesticated days, I often think back and wonder if things had turned out differently would I be so content? Or would I just be content in a different way? Needless to say, I've been anxious for this movie to come out, and it's nearly time! I've enjoyed Jennifer Westfeldt's films in the past, and the cast for Friends With Benefits is amazing, so that builds my anticipation even more :) If you haven't yet heard about this film, check out the trailer and synopsis below. Let me know what you think! Jennifer Westfeldt wrote, directed, and stars in the romantic comedy Friends with Kids. She plays Julie, a Manhattanite whose biological clock is about to run out, so she convinces her longtime platonic best friend, Jason (Adam Scott) to father a child with her. They seem to have a much easier time juggling the responsibilities of new parenthood without the … [Read more...]

March 5, 2012

Celtic Woman: Believe CD & DVD | Giveaway

In just a few short years, the unique musical ensemble known as Celtic Woman has emerged as both a spectacular commercial success and a genuine cultural phenomenon. The beloved ensemble’s evocative, uplifting music has transcended national and cultural borders to touch the hearts of a devoted fan base that spans the globe. Our family is no stranger to Celtic Woman, my dad is one of their biggest fans and my husband is knee-deep right now in all things Irish as he puts together his PhD dissertation. My daughter loves to watch their concerts whenever we catch them airing on PBS because she loves their voices "and dresses." Today marks the release of Celtic Woman's newest DVD, Believe. The extravagant production was filmed at The Fox Theatre in Atlanta, GA with a dazzling array of visual and musical effects including a 20 piece orchestra, 7 piece Celtic Woman Band, 16 piece Atlanta Bag Pipe Band; lush vocal harmonies from a 10 piece Aontas Choir, 30 member children’s choir and … [Read more...]

January 24, 2012

Who will you root for? The Pixie Hollow Games

My oldest daughter, Emma, loves all things Princess and Fairy. She mentioned to me a week or so ago that she was excited for the Pixie Hollow Games on the Disney Channel, but I didn't know what she was talking about! Well, now I do ;) If you haven't noticed, it's been Fairies month on Disney Channel, with special airings of all the Disney Fairies movies, like "Tinker Bell," "Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure," and "Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue." They've all been leading up to the Disney Channel special "Pixie Hollow Games" premiering this Saturday, November 19th at 7 et/pt. In the new special, Tinker Bell and all of her fairy friends are back for an all-new adventure that follow spirited newcomer, Cloe, as she prepares for the legendary Pixie Hollow Games, a tournament-style sporting event where all of the different fairy guilds compete in daring races and athletic challenges to see who will be named Champion of the Games. Determined not to let the Garden Fairies' … [Read more...]

November 15, 2011

Durflame: 1,000 Ways to Start Something Good

Duraflame wants to know how you start something good, in your own home or the environment around you. Do you have fond memories of family nights by the fire? Do you go out of your way to recycle? With the holiday season upon us, there's lots of opportunities to do good, at home and out of the home. By submitting best fireside experience or memory, or your most inspiring story of helping the environment to the contest tab on the Duraflame Facebook page (can be a written story, a video, or a photo), you will have a chance at winning one of two $5,000 cash prizes! The “1,000 Ways to Start Something Good” Facebook contest is in full swing and will run through February 29, 2012, and you not only have a chance to enter, but to vote as well. The Facebook community will vote on the best entry in both the Good Experience and Good Environment categories. The submission with the most “Likes” in each category will win $5,000 to use toward making more memorable experiences or donating … [Read more...]

November 3, 2011

Real Moms Love To Eat by Beth Aldrich

I found this last year in my daughter's notebook. I mostly laughed about it! My husband and I have done a lot of talking lately about the foods we eat and where we could cut back or improve. We both want to make healthier, whole food choices more of the time, but succumb to ease a little more than we would like. We're unashamed that we like to eat and enjoy indulging every now and then. For a few weeks now I've been following Beth Aldrich's blog, RealMomsLoveToEat.com, and appreciate her approach to food: "There is absolutely nothing wrong with loving food; it’s the type of food you choose to love that is the problem." Her blog is a wealth of recipes, thoughts on food and eating, and general Aldrich is soon releasing a book based on her blog, it's called "Real Moms Love to Eat: How to Conduct a Love Affair with Food and Still Look Fabulous," and it will be available from Amazon in early January. Aldrich is a certified healthy lifestyle and nutrition expert, public speaker, and … [Read more...]

October 30, 2011

Think switching to a natural deodorant is hard? Think again with Crystal Roll-On #CrystalRollOn #CBias

For some time now I've been on a journey to reasonably transition my family into a more organic, natural lifestyle that includes healthy food choices, environmental choices, as well as cosmetic choices. One of the most important and recent choices I have made personally, is to ditch antiperspirant deodorants and exclusively use a natural deodorant. Until a few months ago, I thought the only natural deodorant choice out there was the Crystal Rock that could only be purchased in natural food stores. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that natural deodorant choices are all around us - and can be as convenient to purchase as shopping at your nearest Walmart! I'm excited to share my experience with a new natural deodorant, Crystal Roll-On, thanks to #CrystalRollOn and #CBias, and how I didn't even have to go out of my way to get it ;) But, first, I want to tell you some things that are a little personal, but I share them so that you will understand why I am so passionate about … [Read more...]

October 27, 2011

Take the Wat-aah! Challenge ~ We did!

This year Emma and I accepted the Wat-aah! Challenge and made a little video chronicling our experience. As a Wat-aah! Challenge participant, we were asked to put the new lunchbox-friendly 10-ounce sized bottles of Wat-aah! in our fridge next to our kids' normal lunch drink and see which one they choose to take in their lunch. On this particular morning, as you will see in the video, Emma chose Wat-aah! and after school we had a little chat about whether or not she liked it! Fair warning - we were pretty "whispery" in the beginning because it was early morning and the rest of the house was sound asleep! Plus, listen for how she pronounces Wat-aah! It kills me. Emma is a funny girl. She took the "pink" Wat-aah! (the BODY version, made with pure spring water) to school but didn't care for it because she didn't think it tasted like water. *This is me scratching my head* Her friends at school, though, thought her Wat-aah! was pretty cool. Emma did, however, like the "blue" Wat-aah! … [Read more...]

October 22, 2011

Join Crizal and Combat the Enemies of Clear Vision with Captain Crizal | Giveaway

I love to enter contests and giveaways, and if I find a particularly fun and easy one, I like to share it with my readers. This is one of those times! Crizal lenses, the only no-glare eyeglasses lenses that eliminate the enemies of clear vision: glare, scratches, smudges, dust, water, is offering consumers a chance to play the “Combat the Enemies of Clear Vision with Captain Crizal” Facebook game and enter the sweepstakes! You can play by collecting Crizal Power Lenses, while dodging certain obstacles, in order to combat the enemies of clear vision. It's really a fun little game to play - although, I've now played it a handful of times and can't get even close to some of the high scores listed (score does not effect chances of winning)! The sweepstakes will offer one lucky grand prize winner a MOTOROLA XOOM™ with Wi-Fi, a $1,000 general use gift card and their very own Crizal lenses. The second place winner will receive a $1,000 gift card and Crizal lenses, and the third … [Read more...]

October 7, 2011

Please find the time to watch Lifetime’s movie FIVE on Monday, October 10th

October is one of my favorite months, for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that it is a month dedicated to celebrating life and education and recognizing the impact of breast cancer. Next Monday, Lifetime will air FIVE, an anthology of five short films exploring the impact of breast cancer on people’s lives directed by Jennifer Aniston, Alicia Keys, Demi Moore, Patty Jenkins and Penelope Spheeris and featuring well-known actresses in each. Through an interconnected story arc that uses humor and drama to focus on the effect breast cancer and its different stages of diagnosis have on relationships and the way women perceive themselves while searching for strength, comfort, medical breakthroughs and, ultimately, a cure. FIVE highlights the shared experience each short film’s title character – “Charlotte” (Ginnifer Goodwin), “Cheyanne” (Lyndsy Fonseca), “Lili” (Rosario Dawson), “Mia” (Patricia Clarkson) and “Pearl” (Jeanne Tripplehorn) – … [Read more...]

October 4, 2011

ABC’s “The Middle” Season 2 on DVD and Bluray now!

I've come to the conclusion that I'm too soft when it comes to punishing my kids. I threaten a lot, but seem unable to follow through. For instance, my daughter's closet got to the point where it looked like a bomb went off in it. When we spent the couple hours it took to clean it, I swore to her that if she let it get like that again I would just throw everything away. Well, guess what I did this weekend? I cleaned up that messy closet again and didn't throw everything away like I promised I would. I thought about that empty threat a lot during one of the episodes of The Middle on Season 2. The Heck's were having trouble getting their oldest son Axl to stop leaving his dirty socks around the house and finally his dad had enough and told Axl that his punishment would be that he couldn't play in his basketball team's final game. I think Mike (the dad) regretted giving that punishment afterward, but he felt like he needed to follow through with it otherwise the kids will never take … [Read more...]

October 2, 2011

Join the Life Foundation and “Insure Your Love”

As parents of young children, my husband and I have had to have a lot of "what if?" talks. The most important of which has been what if one, or both, of us passed, what would happen to our daughters? Having experienced the loss of a parent myself, I can tell you that the last thing you want to worry about is money or "business" matters. We don't want our children, extended family, or each other to bear any unnecessary burden in an unfortunate event like death. It's one of the reasons we are adamant about having life insurance. Last month was Life Insurance Awareness month, sponsored by the nonprofit group LIFE Foundation, is an effort to bring awareness to the growing problem of too many families not having adequate life insurance protection. According to an industry research study, 11 million households in the U.S. with children under the age of 18 have no coverage at all! Can you imagine the financial crisis that would result in the event of an accident or illness? The LIFE … [Read more...]

September 30, 2011

Catch Season 2 of The Middle on DVD tomorrow!

It has been so awesome to have new television shows on again! Last Wednesday night I settled in for the premiere of The Middle on ABC and I couldn't have been more content to spend an hour with the Heck family again. In one of last season's episodes, Brick shares Sue's room where they accidently knock a hole in her wall, which they try to fix, but only make it worse, after which they attempt to cover it up by putting a poster over it, which doesn't work, either. I'm am counting down the days until my kids do something like this. Thinking back, I'm pretty sure my oldest daughter has broken a thing or two and hid them so I wouldn't find out. I'm the type of person that can't live with the guilt of covering something up, so I will own up to any accident I may have caused. It's so much easier! That was one of the funny things on that episode, though, was Sue's guilt. She's such a good teenager! Have you ever been in a situation similar to Brick and Sue's? See how the Hecks … [Read more...]

September 26, 2011

Do you tell “little white lies?” The Middle: Season Two is on DVD and Available for Pre-order!

Parenting sometimes introduces the strangest predicaments. Like lying. I'm not a liar, by any means, but when it comes to my kids, I might stretch the truth every now and then. Santa? The Easter Bunny? The Tooth Fairy? Of course those aren't necessarily true. "Mom, are there any more cookies left?" "Uh, no, they're all gone." When in reality, I just wanted to save the last one for myself. Do you think things like that are okay? What if I tell a "little white lie" and in the end it blows up in my face big time? It hasn't happened yet *fingers crossed* and I honestly hope it never will. Have your kids ever caught you in a lie? Here's how Frankie, the loving wife and mother of three from ABC's The Middle handles her white lies when her youngest son becomes the wiser: Someday my kids are going to find out that Santa, etc. isn't real. I hope they'll understand! To see your worst parenting predicaments come to life, check out The Middle: Season Two DVD, pre-order your copy here today … [Read more...]

September 16, 2011

Monday is National Talk Like a Pirate Day! Celebrate with a special premiere of Jake and the Never Land Pirates

Next Monday, September 19th, is National Talk Like a Pirate Day and Disney Junior is here to help you celebrate! Not only will there be a marathon of Jake and the Never Land Pirates episodes that day, but more fun is planned! This is one of our very favorite Disney Junior shows so I wanted to share how you can celebrate you and your kids' inner pirate with Disney Junior next week. Included in the marathon of episodes, which starts at 6 am EST, is a brand-new Jake and the Never Land Pirates episode, "captain Hook's Parrot/Skybird Island is Falling," which will air at 8:30 am. You'll also want to take the opportunity to visit DisneyJunior.com for the special Talk Like a Never Land Pirate site! On Monday the 19th you can log-on to www.disneyjunior.com/pirate and activities that allow your child to create their own, unique animated video of Jake, Izzy, or Cubby saying on of their signature pirate catchphrases. Plus, Disney's Family Fun magazine has some more great ideas to have a … [Read more...]

September 13, 2011

Catch The Middle: The Complete Second Season on DVD and Bluray

I started watching The Middle on the WB in the middle (no pun intended!) of its first season. What drew me in and kept me watching was the nature of the Heck family. They were relatable, from their home to their clothes, from their jobs to their relationships, it made me laugh and I felt like it was a unique and interesting take on a sitcom family. Both parents, Frankie and Mike, work full-time jobs, and the kids all have after-school activities and interests. The oldest, Axl, has basketball, Sue, the middle child, has cross-country, and the youngest, Brick, would love to spend all his free time at the library. How do they make that work in a real-life fashion, and not just a sitcom "problem solved in half an hour" plot? Probably the same and you and me. Our kids are still pretty young, but this school year our toe has been dipped in the "too many activities" pool. My husband has grad school during the day and then evening performance rehearsal, my oldest daughter, Emma, has piano … [Read more...]

September 11, 2011

sneak peek of the fun bonus features on The Vampire Diaries: The Complete Second Season

I am so ready for fall TV to start! Catching myself up on The Vampire Diaries: The Complete Second Season has been great, and has only gotten me more excited about the new shows! If your interested in purchasing the new DVD set, you are in for a special treat because there's quite a few bonus features that have kept me entertained the last few days. I'm a sucker for gag reels and Second Bite (the gag reel for The Vampire Diaries: The Complete Second Season) did not disappoint. It's so funny to see these characters in such serious moments and then make a guffaw of some kind and totally start laughing. Some of the actors were so professional about it, some took the opportunity to really ham up the moment. I particularly liked the clip where Damon (played by actor Ian Somerhalder) was introducing himself to someone in a scene, but said, "I'm Ian," his real name instead of his characters name! My other favorite bonus feature is The Perfect Love Triangle: Vampires, Werewolves, … [Read more...]

September 9, 2011

Fooz Kids: A fun and safe internet experience for kids and their parents!

Thank you to Fooz Kids for providing me with an All-In-One pack to review. The opinions I've expressed here are solely my own and represent my honest viewpoint. My seven year-old daughter, Emma, loves to play on the computer. My husband and I are pretty good about monitoring her activity, making sure she only has access to certain websites, and that she is limited in how much time can be spent on the computer. Short of not standing behind her watching every move she makes, there is always still some concern over what happens when she's online. Fooz Kids has been a wonderful experience for us. It's a website that promotes safe internet browsing and communication, plus allows access for parents to monitor what content is available to their children and see what games and activities their kids like to play, as well as how well they are doing at them! The Fooz Kids Parental Dashboard is like a command central for me. After logging in at FoozKids.com I'm taken to my homepage where I … [Read more...]

September 8, 2011

Get The Vampire Diaries: The Complete Second Season on DVD and Bluray now!

My favorite time of the year is Halloween-time. Everything about it, from the cooler weather to the decorations, makes me feel excited. That's one of the draws of The Vampire Diaries, for me. It makes me feel like it's Halloween year-round. The town of Mystic Falls seems to me like a pretty awesome town to live in. The Vampire Diaries: The Complete Second Season is coming out on DVD and Bluray soon and I've been thinking recently of the season 2 finale episode and how so much happened, I am blown away by what to expect for season 3. For me, the finale was absolutely epic, from top to bottom. Now, if you haven't yet seen it, STOP READING as there are spoilers ahead... ;) The backdrop of the episode had the town out at a movie-in-the-park screening of Gone With The Wind, and Caroline had the best, most ironic line of the whole night, summing up the season and the finale, "We are going to take a page from Scarlet! We made it through the war and I know you guys have been through … [Read more...]

August 30, 2011

The Vampire Diaries: The Complete Second Season on Bluray and DVD!

Okay, I'm going to go ahead and admit right here that I am a sucker for vampire love stories. My husband teases me about it all the time, asking how I'm enjoying 7th grade, or that it must be great to be 12 years old again. Luckily I can take it ;) When The Vampire Diaries started on The WB a couple years ago I was hot off a Twilight obsession, so a weekly TV show really piqued my interest. I grew to really like the show and the characters. As the show grew into itself and began its second season, with more characters and more plot points, it still kept me coming back each week. I think because I'm a traditional/romantic person I have been really rooting for the Elena and Stefan relationship through the whole series so far. Especially, though, during Season 2 when another character tried relentlessly (not to spoil anything for those who haven't seen it yet, but if you have you know WHO I'm talking about!) to split them up. Though by the end of Season 2 things for Elena and Stefan got … [Read more...]

August 23, 2011

Denizen Jeans from Levi’s – Exclusively at Target (vlog)

dENiZEN jeans are a new line of denim made by Levi's and sold exclusively at Target. Our experience with them has been that it's everything you expect from a high-quality designer pair of jeans without the high price tag. In fact, I had my little Emma strut her stuff and show you how nice these dENiZEN jeans really are! Take a look at our vlog: Emma wore a pair of dENiZEN jeans in Girl’s Slim Boot which features a low rise waist and slim through the thigh fit with a boot cut leg opening in stretch denim, which is perfect for active girls like her. Regularly priced at $17.99, they are on sale often at Target and if you vista dENiZEN on Facebook you may just be able to score yourself a rebate or even a free pair! The dENiZEN line of jeans at Target features denim for the whole family, and you'll be able to find various fits and sizes for men, women, girls and boys. They're modern and fit well and I'm looking forward to purchasing a pair for myself I've been so impressed with … [Read more...]

August 14, 2011