Cheekeyes Winner

CONGRATULATIONS

TO

Cindi H.  Winner of the Cheekeyes Giveaway!   She chose the African Animal Set!

Check back often for more great ideas, musings and giveaways on DoubleBugs!

Long day

I love the Christmas holidays, but it sure can be tiring when you are a mommy. I wish that I was Mary Poppins some days lol. Don’t you just wish you could wiggle your nose and the house would be cleaned, the laundry done and put away, a full course meal on the table, dishes done, gifts wrapped, shopping done? A girl can dream cant she? If only there were about ten more hours in my day, I think I could get it done and have time for a long bath, a massage and a 4 hour nap. This sounds good, but then somebody pinched me.

Joobles to Delight Your Little One This Holiday

I often  think that simple toys are the better choice for little kids.   It allows them to use their imagination and they don’t tend to overstimulate their little brains.   Sometimes less is better.   I am a huge fan of eco-friendly toys, not only because they are safer for the environment, but more importantly, safe for our children.   I think this world is exposed to enough chemicals!

I am always eyeballing all those cute little knit toys that I see.  Some of them are just too expensive for my budget, or are poorly made.   I was recently introduced to Joobles, and they are adorable!   Each with a little personality of their own, these cute and cuddly critters are a perfect snuggle companion for your special little someone.   Bubs, the youngest of my twin boys, is my snuggle bug and the one who takes his blanky to bed.   When I first got “Cally the Cat” he was very quick to give it a nice big hug.  I love Joobles!, they are soft, and so squishy which makes snuggling up with them irresistible.  They have just the right amount of stuffing, and are so well made and you can just tell they were handcrafted with all the important details.

About Joobles

Where do Joobles come from? Started by a Peruvian family — a mom, a dad, and their daughter — this company provides work and hope to hundreds of rural and urban Peruvians all over the country. Small groups of impoverished workers are trained to run their own small businesses making hand-knit clothing and accessories.  In addition to providing much needed employment, they train workers throughout Peru in such valuable skills as quality control and production planning. Fair Indigo also works with this company’s charitable arm by donating free breakfasts and school supplies to children of the workers

Each incredibly soft animal is made with eco-friendly dyes and organic cotton grown in Peru. Calley the Cat stands 11” tall (as all the friends do) with adorable whiskers and a huggable green and yellow body. For parents hunting for eco-friendly toys, all of the Joobles are made with cotton grown without the use of pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, fertilizers, or other chemicals. Eliminating these chemicals is not only better for baby, but also for workers and for the environment.

PowerPump Gas Rewards and one-stop shopping at Safeway

I know with us officially being in a recession, that money is tight with a whole lot of people.    I know that I am out scouring the papers for coupons, checking the internet for coupon codes, and trying to eek every drop of gas out of my tank before I have to fill up again.  Thankfully, the gas prices have dropped a little bit.

I know a lot of the grocery stores in my area offer fuel perk rewards and such, for your purchases and many of these stores allow you to buy gift cards to your favorite shopping places and in turn you earn money off your gas purchases.

Safeway has some of these great ways to save money!  Safeway and its family of grocery stores (Vons, Dominick’s, Tom Thumb, Randalls, Pavilions, Carrs and Genuardi’s) are helping to make this holiday season a little easier on the pocket book. Shopping with Safeway’s Club Card offers the opportunity to earn gas rewards whenever you grocery shop, buy prescriptions, and even gift cards.   Most significantly, you can earn double Power Pump Gas Rewards for every $100 in gift cards purchased with your Club Card at Safeway stores. This is perfect for the holidays because you can give gift cards to people’s favorite places and save yourself a little money at the pump.   This is especially useful if you are like my family and do a lot of travel during the holidays.

Check it out and see if there is a Safeway store near you and keep your credit cards from smoking this year.

Delgo, When two worlds collide

Experience A Little Peace & Goodwill This Holiday Season – Animated Style Delgo brings messages to life in fantasy action adventure

This movie looks like it might be a good film to take some of the teenagers too this holiday season.   The animation looks pretty cool and the characters remind me of Shrek.   The first thing that came to mind when I watched the trailer is Lord of the Rings meets animation.   I had to chuckle a few times during the preview because the movie does have some humor thrown in.   This one will be an interesting one to see!  You can view the trailer here.

About the Movie

Releasing in theaters December 12, Delgo’s impressive voice cast includes Freddie Prinze, Jr. (Delgo), Jennifer Love Hewitt (Princess Kyla), Anne Bancroft (exiled Empress Sedessa) as well as Chris Kattan (Filo), Val Kilmer (Bogardus), Lou Gossett Jr. (Nohrin King), Michael Clarke Duncan (Lockni Stonesage Council), Kelly Ripa (Kurrin), Burt Reynolds (Delgo’s Father) and Sally Kellerman (Narrator).

The story takes place in the magical land of Jhamora which is divided between two cultures – the Nohrin, winged masters of the skies, and the Lockni, the terrestrial tribe who harness the mystical powers of the land.  When Delgo (Freddie Prinze, Jr.), a reckless Lockni teenager, forms a forbidden friendship with the spunky Nohrin Princess Kyla (Jennifer Love Hewitt), hostilities between the two peoples escalate, setting the stage for an exiled empress (Anne Bancroft) to exact her revenge and reclaim her rule.

Falsely imprisoned, Delgo and his best friend, Filo (Chris Kattan), must put aside their differences to join forces with a sworn enemy, Bogardus (Val Kilmer), and travel to the mysterious land of Perran to rescue Princess Kyla.  Here they encounter fanciful creatures and discover more than just a kidnapped princess, they learn the value of different cultures and the importance of working together.

About Fathom Studios

Atlanta-based Fathom Studios has been creating award-winning computer animation since 1991. A division of the interactive agency Macquarium Intelligent Communications, the studio focuses on developing original content for television, film and the Internet through passion and creativity. Delgo is an independent movie and Fathom Studios’ first animated feature. The film was recently awarded “Best Feature Film” at Anima Mundi 2008 by an audience of approximately 100,000. Delgo is rated PG and has a running time of 90 minutes.

Cute Cuddly and Smart…Smart-E Bear

My boys are just at the age where they are interested in music and singing songs and are growing leaps and bounds in their development. Sometimes with their short attention span it is hard to hold their interest to any one thing for very long, before they are on to the next. So any toy that holds their interest for longer than a few minutes is simply at the top of my list.

I am a huge fan of toys that inspire imagination or toys that actually teach the boys something so it is a learning experience. So many toys today have batteries but I swear they are there only to annoy parents rather than provide anything useful. I was recently introduced to SmartE Bear and I instantly fell in love with him and everything about this soft, smart, cute and cuddly bear. This bear is simply brilliant (literally!).  Designed by Intellitoys in a joint effort with Kids Preferred, SmartE Bear combines a little bit of the traditional with technology and brings your child a fun and interactive toy that can tell stories, play simon says, or even sing them to sleep. Together they created the newest software tucked in a very soft bear, dog and cat. These technology-friendly pals are simple to program and easy to customize.  You simply connect SmartE to your computer and you can download songs, stories and a whole lot more!

One of the boys’ favorite songs is “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” so I went in and downloaded it onto the bear and played it for them. Neither one of them wanted to put it down after that, and well when I put “Jingle Bells” on there, Mommy had a hard time getting the bear away long enough to adjust the volume.

This one is definitely a keeper and well I found myself playing with SmartE well after they went to bed.  It is just so much fun!  This would make a really fantastic gift for the holidays and is sure to put a huge smile on any kids face.   I know my two just love it!

Smart-e-bear • $79.99 • Ages 2+
Designed primarily for non-reading 2 to 6 year olds, smart-e-dog, cat or bear encourages children to discover and explore through a library of literally thousands of award-winning songs, interactive stories, educational games and other content that parents can selectively purchase through the Internet and download to the toy with a super-easy USB connection. Measuring 13” tall, this plush pal utilizes electronics about the size of a deck of cards. The squeezable, adorable animals will enchant little ones with their “smarts” from hearing a song to reading a story to playing a game. There’s always something for kids to discover as the software changes and grows with the child’s interests from the nursery to kindergarten.

DoubleBugs is offering its readers the chance to win a SmartE Bear, Dog or Cat of their choice!

All you have to do is visit SmartE, take a little tour in the Learn more section and check out all the fun things you can download.  Come back here and leave me a comment on what you would download if you won a SmartE and which one you would choose.

Leave me an email so I can contact you if you win

Good Luck

Deadline is December 17, 2008

His First Solo

The boys are now starting to sing songs and it is soo adorable to listen to them. I thought I would share a little clip of Bubs singing his absolute favorite song “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” Enjoy!

Mom Central Holiday Gift Guide

I know with Christmas fast approaching, I am in a scramble to get everyone’s gifts. And usually my problem is what to get everyone and I am almost inevitably searching for the perfect gift idea. And with having twin two year olds to look after in the mix, it can make finding gifts even more stressful. That’s why it is so nice to have a place where you have gift ideas all in one place for everyone!

Mom Central has done all the brain racking work of finding the perfect gift in their 2008 Gift Guide. They have reviewed hundreds of products for everyone on your list right down to your favorite furry friends in your life. You are sure to find something that will put a smile on that special someone’s face this holiday season. Mom Central will also give away thousands of dollars worth of prizes in multiple daily drawings!

To be eligible to win the daily prizes, participants must register on Mom Central, log-in, and leave a comment on the post. In addition, if participants tweet or email friends about the giveaway, they can earn another entry! In order to earn the entry, they simply go back to the Mom Central Review blog and leave a second comment letting them know.  Plus, Mom Central is such a cool place to be a part of!

Head on over to Mom Central and save your sanity by making your holiday gift buying a breeze!

Simon & Schuster Books “Jon Scieszka’s Trucktown: Melvin Might?”

My boys just love to sit with my husband and I and read. We usually read throughout the day, and have a stack of books by the bed and they get to pick a couple before bed. One of their most favorite series of books published by Simon and Schuster, has to be “Jack Truck” as they call it. If you don’t know who “Jack Truck” is, he is one of the characters from author Jon Scieszka’s Trucktown series of books. Both of my boys are in love with these books! They know all the characters by name and simply adore all the bright and colorful illustrations.

One of the newest releases “Melvin Might?” Is about Cement Mixer Melvin, Trucktown’s fretful worry wort. Both of my boys always point this out whenever we read the book that Melvin is afraid or worried. It is so cute to hear them make that correlation. Whenever we are out and about, if they see a cement mixer, they call it “Melvin” or if they see a loader they call it “Payloader Pete!” They always amaze me at how quickly they pick up on these things and they are only two!  These books are a whole lot of fun, especially if your little one is into cars and trucks like my two are.

Melvin Might?

(Jon Scieszka’s Trucktown)

By Jon Scieszka
Illustrated by David Shannon and David Gordon and Loren Long

This Edition: Hardcover
Publication Date: October 28, 2008
Price: $16.99

Description
Cement Mixer Melvin worries a lot. He worries he might get dirty. He worries he might get stuck. He even worries he might get worried. But one fateful day Rescue Rita is in need of a little rescuing, and Trucktown’s biggest worrywart is the only one who can save the day. There’s just one problem: He worries he can’t. Jon Scieszka’s latest racing and rollicking installment to the Trucktown franchise is a hilarious (and maybe even a little heartwarming) look at all the things a cement mixer can do…no matter how much he worries!

This is suck a cute series of books and is sure to put a smile on your little one’s face especially if they are into big trucks.   This book would make a perfect gift along with all the other “Trucktown” series of books!

Avon Beauty For You and Your Home

I have always been a huge fan of Avon products.  I can remember them from when I was child, so they have been around for a long time which tells you something about their products.   I love to get their catalogs and especially during the holidays, because they offer such a wide variety of things that can be given as gifts or just to pamper yourself.   The prices are reasonable too, which is a big plus, when you are on a tight budget.   They have things for the home, cosmetics, stuff for the kids and for the men in your life.

Around this time of the year, I am a huge fan of all the sights and smells that surround the holiday season, and I have always been a fan of lighting candles throughout my home.   I have just recently been introduced to the reed diffusers, and have always seen them in the stores but have never tried them personally.  I was very excited to try Avon’s Botanical Reed Diffuser (19.99).  Natural bamboo reeds absorb scented oil and diffuse fragrance throughout your home and the scent isn’t too overpowering.   I love the Summer Blossom scent.  It actually brings warmth into the home when it’s cold outside.   Avon’s reed diffuser, is perfect for a housewarming gift, a gift to yourself, or for holiday giving.

Not only can you beautify your home, but  you can have all your personal beauty essentials all in a compact location with Jillian Dempsey for AVON Essential Beauty Palette ($7.99). This fabulous palette includes 2 lip colors, 2 eyeshadows, 1 blush and a 2 sided applicator and mirror. This is perfect for your purse and for those quick touch ups when you are on the run. They are available in both cool and warm palettes. They are also great for gift giving and stocking stuffers!

DoubleBugs would like to offer it’s readers, the chance to win Avon’s Botanical Reed Diffuser and an Essential Beauty Palette! Also for all your shopping needs by entering the code JINGLE30 you will be entitled to free standard shipping with a $30 order when you shop with an eRepresentative. This offer expires on January 1, 2009.

Here’s all ya gotta do:

Visit the Avon site and let me know what your favorite product or products are and leave me a commant here.

Please leave me an email or way to contact you if you win.

If the chosen winner does not respond in two days, a new winner will be chosen.

Contest starts December 2,2008 and ends December 16, 2008.

Good Luck!

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