Company: The Children’s Place / Norwegian Cruise Line
Item Reviewed: Children’s Place Outfit
Item Given Away: Norwegian Cruise Line “Bon Voyage” Package
Start Date: May 22
End Date: June 6

It is HOT! As summer is fast approaching it’s time to start thinking about taking a cruise. By entering The Children’s Place “A Place in the Sun” Sweepstakes, you can enter to win a 7 day cruise for four, to your choice of the Caribbean or Bermuda, with Norwegian Cruise Line. This unbelievable prize includes round trip air transportation, cruise ship accommodations for seven days and six nights in a Balcony stateroom and an all-inclusive meal plan for four!

With their newly redesigned, complimentary kids program, Splash Academy, and the equally engaging teen program, Entourage, young cruisers can explore and experience exciting activities with kids their own age on board an unforgettable Norwegian Cruise Line family vacation.

I love The Children’s Place, they just have the most adorable clothes for kids. My daughter was able to pick out an outfit that she would wear if we were going on a cruise. She chose pink shorts, a pink headband, a white tank top with sparkly roses on it and glitter red flip-flops. She says she is definitely ready for “fun in the sun” and said she can’t wait to swim and have her feet in the sand.

What are you waiting for? head on over and enter to win an amazing cruise today! In the meantime, I have been given the opportunity to host a giveaway where one lucky Dirty t Shirt reader will win a Norwegian Cruise Line “Bon Voyage” Package (which includes: Branded Beach Bag and Travel Mug). Please see rules below to enter to win today!

I have received free products as part of a promotional program from MomSelect and Norwegian Cruise Line.

Rules

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Company: Scholastic
Item Reviewed: May’s Mother-Daughter Book Selection
Item Given Away: Mother-Daughter Book Club Prize Pack
Start Date: May 21
End Date: June 5

Start a tradition of reading with your daughter with a Mother-Daughter Book Club! Scholastic’s monthly selections will help you choose books that you and your daughter will enjoy!

The book club launched May 1 with 4 titles: Glory Be by Augusta Scattergood, Pie by Sarah Weeks, The Boy on Cinnamon Street by Phoebe Stone, and Tomorrow Girls: Behind the Gates by Eva Gray, and there will be 2 new featured titles each month.

Along with book selections, the Mother-Daughter Book Club website also features discussion questions and snack suggestions for your book club meetings and a monthly Skype sweepstakes where you can enter to win a Skype visit from one of the authors at your next book club meeting. May’s sweepstakes author is Augusta Scattergood, author of Glory Be.

One of the most important things I will be taking with me when I move from Montana is my re-introduction to books. When I moved here last year I joined a book club that ignited my reading passion all over again, didn’t realize just how much I was missing by not reading on a regular basis. Because of how important it is to me I was thrilled to hear that Scholastic had a brilliant idea and has the Mother-Daughter Book Club. I love sharing books with my kids and I love this tradition even more because my tween and I can really spend some good quality time together.

I am so excited to be able to share this great idea with my readers.

One (1) winner will receive:

• $50 VISA gift card to host your own Mother-Daughter Book Club
• PLUS copies of all May and June book club titles!

Please see rules below to enter to win today!

May book selection provided to my daughter and I.

Rules

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Company: Walt Disney Studios / Studio Ghibli
Item Reviewed: The Secret World Of Arrietty Blu-ray

Discover The Secret World Of Arrietty where imagination comes to life! The studio that brought you Ponyo and the Academy Award-winning Spirited Away (2002, best animated feature) once again delivers a heartwarming tale of friendship and courage in beautiful animation – brilliantly presented through the magic of Blu-ray!

In a secret world hidden beneath the floorboards, little people called Borrowers live quietly among us. But when tenacious and tiny Arrietty is discovered by Shawn, a human boy, their secret and forbidden friendship blossoms into an extraordinary adventure.

Featuring the voices of the Disney Channel’s Bridgit Mendler, David Henrie, and comedic all-stars Will Arnett, Amy Poehler, and Carol Burnett, and based on the award-winning novel The Borrowers – The Secret World of Arrietty will delight families of all sizes.

My Thoughts

One of the most heart-felt movies my family and I have seen in a long time. My girls and I loved The Secret World of Arrietty, we were enthralled the entire 95 minutes, not even refilling our popcorn bowl. The story is great, one I know well, and it was such a visually stunning fun movie that I am so hapy that I got to share with my daughters. I really wish I could have seen it when it was playing in the theaters so I could have felt more immersed in the Borrowers world. This is my new favorite movie by the ever brilliant Hayao Miyazaki, who my entire family loves!

We loved watching the original Japanese Trailers and TV Spots as well as Bridgit Mendler’s Summertime video. My girls are both huge fans of hers and they both loved that she was a part of this movie. A must watch extra feature is the Arrietty’s Song music video, simply beautiful!

We all highly recommend The Secret World of Arrietty to everyone, I personally just can’t say enough about this movie other than I loved it!! Make sure to add this one to your movie library!

Company: Ubisoft
Item Reviewed: Funky Barn 3D game

Run your own 3D funky and frenzied farm! Ready to make some wool? Pop your sheep into The Shearing Machine and he will hilariously cannonball out, surprised but shorn. Ready to harvest your crops? Hook up the Flying FruitBox-Haybale-Copter that flies around crazily picking up boxes of fruit and grain. With tons of wacky contraptions and goofy animals, Funky Barn 3D, the first farm simulation game for the Nintendo 3DS, is not your average farm game.

Features:

Raise & manage quirky animals each with their own challenges & eccentric personalities, and that comically interact (i.e. cows love playing with pigs and will do anything to do so, even crash through fences)

Use new-fangled farm contraptions, such as:

• The Shearing Machine: grab full fleece sheep and throw them into the machine that spits them out shorn
• The Flying FruitBox-Haybale-Copter: flying machine that picks up boxes of fruit or grain
• The Egg Collector: looks like a giant egg with boots; collects and sells eggs

Hands-on farming: via touch screen, shake trees to make fruit fall, build gardens, throw unsuspecting cows into a milking machine, or even shake a cow while it’s eating a strawberry to create strawberry milk

Strategically build your infrastructure & manage your budget: build water pumps, lay down roads, balance your budget, purchase farm dogs to keep pests away, and keep pollution at bay by planting trees

Connect and share with friends: trade rare items & animals, send cyclones & lightning storms, stay connected with friends through the “Enhanced Tag Mode”, and interact with other farmers in-game

High replay-ability with lots of ways to play: create your own farm from the ground up, choose to work on a farm in a challenging geographic location, or revive an already out-of-control farm

Gyro gameplay + stunning 3D visuals: get up close and personal with your animals and farm (i.e. zoom in on your animals with the gyro)

My Thoughts

One of my favorite types of games are the ones where you build up your empire and run every aspect of it. In this case I am able to build up my farm and take control of it all. I will say that in the beginning I had a couple of chickens who rapidly got unsatisfied on a fairly regular basis but I soon learned why and jumped on making them happy with food and water. Soon the stork was delivering little lambs and my farm quickly grew.

Playing in 3D made the graphics come alive so that was pretty fun. But I will say that I did not like the shadowy layout on the bottom screen, the one you actually interact with. For me it didn’t seem to be visually attractive and just threw the game off. I would have liked to see that screen have the actual graphics on it. However, I still build my farm and play Funky Barn 3D during the evenings when I am relaxing. It is a fun game one that my youngest daughter likes to play around with too, although she can’t keep up with unhappy animals the way I can!

Thank you to Ubisoft for sponsoring this blog post. Please click here to learn more about Ubisoft. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions are my own. #UbiChamps

Now this is an exciting announcement that makes me wish I was still a student!

Microsoft Corp. is bringing back its successful student offer that allows students buying a qualifying Windows 7-based PC to also get a free Xbox 360 4GB console. The offer is available for current students while supplies last, starting May 20 at participating retailers in the U.S.; a similar offer will be available starting May 18 at participating retailers in Canada. Terms and conditions will vary by participating retailer. Students that purchase a new Windows PC for $699 or more, will get the free Xbox 360. For more information on the offer and to check out participating retails, visit the Windows Experience Blog or The Microsoft News Center.

Together, a Windows 7-based PC and an Xbox 360 console provide students the functionality they need for school while also helping them stay connected to friends and family far away. To take advantage of this offer, students or their parents must provide valid student identification as defined by the participating retailer. Participating retailers may change over the course of the promotion, but will include Best Buy, Fry’s Electronics, Dell.com, HPDirect.com, Microsoft Stores and NewEgg.com in the U.S., and Best Buy, Dell.ca, Future Shop, Staples and The Source in Canada.

Company: Hanes
Item Reviewed: New Men’s Products

Last month my husband fell in love with something else. His new Hanes. I will tell you that I have never heard him compliment anything as much as their new products. He stated how comfortable they were, how nice everything fit, how soft the shirts were, how quickly they dried when he sweat and he just went on and on. I had to smile because he was very happy to get these items, which allowed him to completely clear out all his older clothes and replace them with the comfy Hanes products. Below is a list of the things he received and loved!

ComfortBlend® Crew Neck

• 3 pack for 10.99
• Superior Softness
• Shrinks Less- Keeps Its Shape
• Quick Drying
• Lay Flat Collar
• Tagless®
• Open Structure Packaging
• 50/50 Cotton/Poly Blend

ComfortBlend®  Boxer Briefs

• 3 pack for $10.99
• Superior Softness
• Shrinks Less- Keeps Its Shape
• Quick Drying
• No Ride Up
• Tagless®
• Open Structure Packaging
• 50/50 Cotton/Poly Blend

ComfortBlend®  Briefs

• 3 pack for $10.99
• Superior Softness
• Shrinks Less- Keeps Its Shape
• Quick Drying
• No Ride Up
• Tagless®
• Open Structure Packaging
• 50/50 Cotton/Poly Blend

ComfortStretch Boxer Briefs (Traditional Leg)

• 3 Pack for $10.99
• Rib Knit and Spandex
• Freedom of Movement
• ComfortFlex®  Waistband with Unique Red Tipped Aesthetic
• No Ride Up
• Pouch and Fly Construction Enables Support While Maintaining Comfort
• Tagless®
• 3 Inch Inseam

Thank you Hanes for making the cool, comfortable clothing that you do, they are loved by all of us!!!

I am a member of the Hanes Comfort Crew and the products spoken about in this piece were provided for me. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Company: Kraft Foods, Inc.
Item Reviewed: Planters NUT•rition Men’s Health Recommended Mix

PLANTERS NUT•rition Men’s Health Recommended Mix gives you lots of good stuff – 6 grams of protein and 6 vitamins and minerals (9 grams of protein and 6 vitamin and minerals in the Convenience Packs), plus it’s a good source of fiber, low in sodium, and heart-healthy – all in a simple delicious snack!

Scientific evidence suggests but does not prove that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol and not resulting in increased caloric intake may reduce the risk of heart disease. See nutrition information for fat content.

Good source of the following:

• Protein
• Vitamin E
• Magnesium
• Fiber

The Evolving Man

Compared to five years ago, most men believe they are doing more:

• Grocery shopping (88%)
• Involved with household chores (86%)
• Cooking (85%)
• Stay at home dads (83%)
• Involved with child rearing/child care (82%)

Overall men are leading busier lives and believe their roles have become more demanding. They feel the most demanding roles in their lives are:

• Child rearing/child care (68%)
• Work/career (67%)
• Household chores (67%)

Men wish they had time to travel (61%) and pursue their hobbies and personal interests (54%). Only 40% of men wish they had more time for sex.

75% of men believe there should be more snacks that are heart healthy

More than two-thirds of men choose to eat nuts because they are:

• A convenient snack (67%) and
• A healthy snack (64%)

Men are taking steps to stay healthy:

• Exercise (62%)
• Eat home cooked meals (55%)
• Choose healthier snacks (53%)

My Husband’s Thoughts

As my husband gets older he is very aware of being more healthy both with eating better and exercising more. He is also somewhat of a nut fanatic, we always have peanuts around sometimes in bulk. So when I told him about the new Planters NUT•rition Men’s Health Recommended Mix he was excited to try it out. Three words for you…He Loves It! With the mix of almonds, pistachios (which he also loves) and peanuts he is in heaven. What’s more, he loves the fact that not only does the mix taste great but the amount of protein, fiber and vitamins and minerals it provides adds a much needed punch to his being healthier. He says having the canister at home is great but for the times he is on the road he loves the convenience of the take along packs. He has asked me to stick with purchasing the new mix and I am thrilled that he found something that he likes and is healthy for him.

Saturday, May 19, 2012 is the first annual ‘National Learn to Swim Day.’ The nationwide campaign, timed to National Water Safety Month (May) and the upcoming Memorial Day Weekend, is an effort to raise awareness about the importance of teaching children to swim, and provide resources to parents for teaching their kids the important skill.

According to the Red Cross, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1 to 14 years old. Additionally, statistics show that children ages 1 to 4 drown most often in home swimming pools.

“Unfortunately, there are many young children who can’t fully enjoy the water because they haven’t learned to swim,” said David Arias, president, SwimWays. “With Memorial Day – the unofficial start of summer – just around the corner, SwimWays created ‘National Learn to Swim Day’ as a way to encourage parents to take advantage of one of the many resources available to them to teach their children to swim.”

SwimWays will kick off the first annual National Learn to Swim Day with an event at the Greenbrier Family YMCA in Chesapeake, VA from 1-3 p.m. The event will be the grand opening of the YMCA’s outdoor pool for the summer, open to members and non-members, and feature a water safety clinic for local families.

SwimWays invites families across the country to participate in National Learn to Swim Day in their own way. Ideas for getting involved include introducing children to the water with at home swim instruction, hosting a group swimming lesson, visiting a community pool as a family, or enrolling children in swim lessons at a local YMCA or Boys & Girls Club. Additional resources, including information about pool safety, tips and products for teaching children to swim, and downloadable reward and progress charts for kids, are available on SwimWays’ newly re-designed TeachMeToSwim.com website.

My youngest is still in the process of learning how to swim and with SwimWays help I will be able to start her on her way and give me the peace of mind I need when she is around water.

Company: R+F Independent Consultant Jena Smith
Item Reviewed: None at this time
Item Given Away: R+F ANTI-AGE Hand Treatment Regimen
Start Date: May 18
End Date: June 2

Our hands are among the hardest working and most environmentally vulnerable parts of our bodies. That’s why the backs of people’s hands often look so much older than their faces. To protect and defend against the tell-tale signs of skin aging – brown spots, thin, creping skin, wrinkles and dryness – we created the ANTI-AGE Hand Treatment Regimen. It visibly brightens and evens skin tone, restores moisture content to improve elasticity and resiliency, reduces the appearance of wrinkles and crepey skin, and most important, won’t give away your age. Regimen includes ANTI-AGE Hand Brightening Treatment 50 mL/1.7 fl.oz and Age Shield Hand Balm SPF 30 30g/1.0 oz.

I distinctly remember a time in my life when I was younger someone complimenting me on how beautiful my hands were and that I could be a hand model. Looking down at my hands today I know that will never be said again. My hands look much older than I am due to the stuff I put them through like dish washing and cleaning. Since R+F ANTI-AGE products are working on my face these are the products I will be buying next and I can’t wait!

But you do not have to wait! R+F Independent Consultant Jena Smith is offering my readers the opportunity to win the ANTI-AGE Hand Treatment Regimen for themselves. Please see rules below to enter to win today!

Rules

a Rafflecopter giveaway

At the newly launched Hershey’s Kitchens channel you can find easy, how-to videos filled with baking tips and recipes as well as featured Hershey’s products.  New videos are frequently added on a variety of topics, including different kinds of cocoa, easy cheesecake recipes, and baking with Hershey’s Syrup. Be sure to visit http://www.youtube.com/hersheyskitchens for all of your baking and entertaining needs!

I know where my new YouTube hangout will be