Family Party Kraft Philadelphia Cream Cheese

Good Food

I'm so excited to share some great news I just received from House Party.  I've been selected by Kraft Philadelphia Cooking Creme who will be sponsoring our family-friendly Philly Dilly Ball Party at my house on March 12th.  I've already invited a group of our closest friends, including families with kids to join in the fun.

For this event -- since I'm a fan of family games -- I'm asking our friends to bring their kids over along with their family's favorite board games for a night of fun and family bonding.  While we play, we'll be snacking on dairy snacks courtesy of Philly which, for generations, has been best known for their delectable cream cheese.  I haven't planned exactly what recipes I'll make yet, but I'm definitely looking for suggestions.

Don't forget to follow this blog to follow the details as party planning progresses.

What's your favorite Philly recipe? Leave me a comment and if I choose yours, I'll feature you in one of the posts I write about this celebration.
 

FTC Disclosure:  Kraft Philadelphia Cooking Creme is hosting our family's party via HouseParty.  Together these companies are providing everything to make this party possible, from invitations, to host gifts, party favors, food, and other goodies.  MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post.  See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Barbie A Fairy Secret Giveaway

Giveaway

Entry details below for this multi-prize Barbie Fairy Giveaway

During the past months MommyBlogExpert has been thrilled to be among the chosen few blogs to host some really great family friendly Kidtoons giveaways.  These include Spookley Square Pumpkin,Care Bears: Share Bear Shines, and Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas in conjunction with their monthly screenings just for children in theaters nationwide.   These keep getting better, so don't miss out on entering the current giveaway as well as following MommyBlogExpert so you will be the first to know when next month's giveaway is announced. 

MBE partnered with Kidtoon Films for this post,

For the entire month of February: Get ready for Kidtoons Barbie A Fairy Secret showing in select theaters nationwide with recently reduced ticket prices at many locations.

In this amazing animated adventure with Barbie she discovers there are fairies living secretly all around us.

Then Ken is suddenly whisked away by some fairies to a magical secret fairy world not far away.  Barbie and her rival Raquelle take off with the fairy friends on an action-packed journey to bring him back.   Along the way they must stick together and learn that the real magic lies not just in the fairy world itself, but in the power of friendship.

Barbie A Fairy Secret

  GIVEAWAY CONTEST

To help Kidtoons celebrate this month's feature -- once again -- we're giving away a multi-prize package to one lucky family.  This month's sweepstakes includes a winning bundle of fun that any Barbie or Fairy fan will love.  The Barbie: A Fairy Secret prize package includes: 1 poster, 1 pony doll (style varies), 1 co-star doll (style varies), and 1 book

HOW TO ENTER

Leave one or more comments below this post.  Contest ends March 1, 2011 at 12 midnite PST and is open to legal residents of the U.S. only. 

For the Required (Mandatory) Entry
Simply leave a comment below this blogpost with your email address, Facebook or Twitter contact info so we may contact the winner.  In the event that you are the lucky one, MommyBlogExpert will contact you for your shipping address.  

For Additional Chances to Win

Get extra entries for following MommyBlogExpert and/or Kidtoons on Twitter and/or Facebook and for subscribing to this blog.  Remember: Be sure to return to MommyBlogExpert to leave an additional comment after each individual action you do to confirm them so we can record all your extra chances to win.

Follow @MommyBlogExpert (1 or 2 extra entries)
On Twitter 

On Facebook 

Follow @KidtoonFilms (1 or 2 extra entries)
On Twitter 
On Facebook 

In ADDITION to doing any or all of the extra entries above, you can earn one extra entry each time you Tweet the message exactly in the paragraph immediately below (limit 3 separate tweets for 3 extra entries per day).  Don't forget to return to leave a comment on this post with the direct link to right after every Tweet you do so you'll receive an entry for all your RTs.

 
Barbie: A Fairy Secret Movie GIVEAWAY @KidtoonFilms http://tinyurl.com/5rrzskb #barbie #fairy #kids #movie #contest RT 2 WIN

About Kidtoon Films 

Kidtoons mission is to showcase fun and affordable family-centric movies at participating theaters.  Every month a different entertaining children's film is screened at well over 100 neighborhood theaters across the U.S.  So, be sure to check where this is showing because more big screens where you can take your child to see this have been added recently .  

This concept brings parents and children together to enjoy kid-friendly characters, cartoons, music videos and sing-a-longs as well as giveaways for the kid audience members like stickers, activity books or toys after every film.  Everyone can get a FREE movie pass to a Kidtoon Films showing in your neighborhood on your child's birthday.  Sign up your kid(s) for the Birthday Club. 

FTC Disclosure:  Kidtoon Films has provided all the prizes for this giveaway.  However, MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post.  See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Essential Tips for Parents To Help Kids Fight Internet Cyber Bullying Online

Tweet

 Parenting

By Mary Kay Hoal, Founder, President & COO, Yoursphere

Guest Post for MommyBlogExpert.com

Mary Kay Hoal & Family
Photo by Yoursphere.com

It’s totally normal to feel overwhelmed when it comes to our children and their use of technology.  After all, they’re the digital natives and we’re the digital immigrants. They prove it each day when they show us something new about technology.

When it comes to cyber-bullying it’s easy to feel afraid for our children – particularly when the media is filled with stories of depression and suicide. 

But, fear not, there are 3 simple things you can do:

1. Understand the why

2. Understand the how

3. Understand the solution

The Why

Cyber-bullying is an unintended consequence of wonderful tools: the Internet, social media and technology. The Internet because it affords anonymity and the subsequent behavior; mainstream social networks since they offer a “free-for-all” culture where anything goes and members aren’t always held accountable for their actions; and technology because it provides our kids nearly unlimited access (cell phones, PDAs, computers) without consistent and enforced cyber-safety standards in place.

The How

Secondly, it’s just too easy for kids to get involved in cyber-bullying. They find false courage behind a keyboard. They also don’t understand the real-world consequences to their online actions and don’t see or feel the emotional havoc they wreak on their victims. And, perhaps most problematically, they take advantage of the fact that many parents haven’t a clue about what’s going on online with their childrens’ networks of so-called friends.

The Solution

However, as a parent you will be relieved to know that there are some simple things you can do to protect your child. First and foremost, become educated about the issue. Next, bully-proof your child. Finally, say no to the culture of disrespect and negativity that awaits your child online.

How to tell if your child is a victim of cyber-bullying

- Are they visibly upset after using the computer or cell phone?

- Are they acting withdrawn?

- Do they avoid going online?

- Do they seem nervous when they receive text messages, email or IMs?

Tips to Bully-Proof Your Child

• Tell them not to respond, and come to you first.
• Block the bully.
• Report all incidents, whether minor or ongoing
• Keep a written record of problems.
• Help the child choose a safe online community
• Hug him/her -- they need to feel loved.

Mary Kay Hoal

Photo by Yoursphere.com

About the Author

Mary Kay Hoal is a married mother of five children (both biological and adopted) from 6 to 19 years old.  She is founder of Yoursphere.com, a free, fun, and vibrant social networking site for kids and teens that is receiving wide acclaim from national cyber crime experts and child safety advocates for its verification methods and oversight.  The site has a zero tolerance for bullying and is uniquely rewards-based, content appropriate, age-relevant, and socially conscious.  Hoal also writes the related Internet and social networking safety blog for parents and child caregivers Yoursphere For Parents. 

FTC Disclosure:  I did not receive payment or any other compensation in association with this post.  See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.