All Mommy Bloggers Invited to a Cocktail Party Meet Up Hosted by TwitterMoms During BlogWorld

TwitterMoms.com is inviting all Mommy Bloggers attending BlogWorld in Las Vegas next week to a get-together.  This is an informal must-attend live happy hour cocktail party/meet-up that every mom who blogs should make every effort to participate in.

Pictured: Janis Brett Elspas of MommyBlogExpert & Megan Calhoun of TwitterMoms at another blogging event launching The Internet Mommy Book by Kimberley Clayton Blaine  in Santa Monica earlier this year

Enjoy a glass of wine or a cocktail (on TwitterMoms) while you meet Megan Calhoun and the rest of the members of the TwitterMoms team and get to know other TwitterMoms who are attending BlogWorld this year.

Friday, October 15, 2010 

5 - 7 pm

The American Fish at the Aria Hotel

3730 Las Vegas Boulevard
Las Vegas

RSVP Requested

Hosted by TwitterMoms

More information on this mom blogging network event here

FTC Disclosure:  I disclose that I am a TwitterMoms Elite Member, however this does not influence this blogpost.  In addition, 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.

Students and Teachers - This is Your Big Chance to Win Up to $100,000 for Your School in Bing's Giveaway

Additional Contest is Giving Money to Schools, Too

Thanks to an email I received today from MomCentral, one of the mom's blogging networks I am active in,  I've learned that Bing.com is giving away a chance to win up to $100,000 for your school.  This is too good to not share it with all my readers:  Bing will be giving away over $1 million through their new Our School Needs program.

With the current climate of Great Recession elevating the number of budget cuts in education at the national, state, and local levels, news about this contest is a God-send for any of us with school-age kids.  That's my four kids above on the first day of school of third and fifth grades a few years ago.

Students and teachers -- elementary, middle, and high school -- are invited to submit their entry requests on behalf of their schools.  Submissions will be accepted through October 22, 2010.  To participate, K-12 students can work individually, in small groups, as a classroom, or even a whole school to prepare their entry including

• A 500-800 Word Essay
• 3 to 5 Photos
• A Video, 3 minutes or less (Optional)

If you've been inside any public school lately, for sure, you know that just about every classroom is lacking in a major kind of way.  So, I'm sure most of you students and teachers can think of something your school needs desperately.  To enter, as well as for detailed contest rules and additional information on how to pitch your school's story and to see entry examples to inspire you, visit the official contest site Bing Our School Needs.

Special BONUS Giveaway from MomCentral
MomCentral.com is fueling the outreach effort not only by encouraging Mommy Bloggers like me to spread the news about Bing's contest.  They're also hosting an additional giveaway offering each of five random winners a $50 donation to use at DonorsChoice.org to support their local classroom!  

The best news is you don't have to be a student or teacher to enter this second giveaway -- anyone can submit for this contest that knows a school that needs help.  So, as a mom myself I've already entered on behalf of the public school district's Independent Study program that my four kids are attending.  Check out what I'm hoping to win for their school, or better yet, enter the related giveaway on MomCentral's site, for your own chance to win, by clicking HERE

Be sure leave a COMMENT below this post to share the #1 thing the classroom you know about needs most!

FTC Disclosure:  MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post.  However, as mentioned in this post I have entered MomCentral's giveaway myself.  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.

October is FREE Flavored POPCORN Month - Get A Yummy Sampler from The Popcorn Factory

HURRY -- While Supplies Last

Get 3 varieties of popcorn from The Popcorn Factory, a $10 value, FREE.  Gourmet popcorn flavors included in this deal are 1.6 oz Cheese, 1.5 oz Jalapeno, and 6 oz Caramel in 10”x 10”x 4” Bow Box Mailer.

According to this specialty company's website, their popcorn carries the O-U Kosher certification symbol.  For detailed nutritional information for this trio of edibles click on the nutrition link included with the product's description.

PLUS - Each The Popcorn Factory Try Me Trio Sampler will include a $10 Promo Code to use on your next purchase. All you pay is shipping for your FREE samples.

This special offer which ships to the 48 contiguous U.S. states only is in celebration of Popcorn Month and 31 years in the business.  More details & order yours during the month of October on ThePopcornFactory.com's website.

FTC Disclosure:  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.  

FREE Craft Ideas & A Moving Animated Card Build Breast Cancer Awareness During October

I don't think I've ever seen so much pink as there has been this October to spotlight Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 

Many of us have been touched directly by the disease within our own families or at least know someone who has been affected by this killer.  In fact, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS), an estimated 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed among women in the United States this year.  

Here's a fact that really surprised me that I didn't know until I wrote this post.  Approximately 1,910 of the new cases are expected to present themselves in MEN this year.  Simply put, Breast Cancer sadly has an impact on us all.  Let's do all we can to expedite a Cure!  More FAQs on Breast Cancer here

In the hope of spreading even more awareness, here are MommyBlogExpert's picks for the best FREE animated ecard and craft ideas online with Breast Cancer themes.  Immediately below you'll see that Ojolie is offering a complimentary animated card in honor of Breast Cancer Month.  You'll also see  some beautiful ideas for crafts you can make either for yourself, in memory of someone you love, or as a gift for someone that is currently battling this deadly disease.  There's also a wonderful down loadable Breast Cancer-themed gift tag you can print out at no charge.

First off, most definitely stop by Ojolie.com so you can send this complimentary, absolutely gorgeous FREE Chicka animated ecard that is all about helping to spread the word about Breast Cancer.  It can be customized with any message you choose, so consider using this for a variety of occasions.  According to Frederikek, the ecard 's designer, "I wanted to keep the story light and entertaining, despite the serious topic, but of course also sincere.   I don't particularly worry about what makes something art -- to me it is simply making a difference, no matter how big or small, to another human being."   Wouldn't you agree that this card brings across that sentiment beautifully?  View and send this Ojolie original ecard  here

Up next from Kaye Wood comes the stunning pieced and quilted Breast Cancer Pillow you see pictured at the top of this post.  Find the directions and free pattern to make this lovely item here

Also, be sure to visit Craftpals.com for a FREE download of the lovely printable Breast Cancer theme gift tag shown at left. Get yours here

More Breast Cancer Posts to Go Live This Month  

Have a craft idea promoting Breast Cancer Awareness to share? Then, feel free to leave a brief description and link to the project in the comment box below this post.

FTC Disclosure:  I did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this particular 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.  

Sorry! Revenge Card Game from Hasbro Makes MommyBlogExpert's Best of Kids' Traveling Games List

Part 3 of a 7-Part Series on Cool Tween/Teen Games That Also Travel Well

Don't forget to leave a comment below this post.  Parents:  What kinds of games do you remember playing in the car when you were a kid?

by Janis Brett Elspas

MommyBlogExpert.blogspot.com

Writer's Note:  This summer my family and I took a 4-week road trip across America.  As a mommy blogger I suggested each of my kids select from among all the games in the queue for review by MommyBlogExpert.  What they packed resulted in the original Traveling Fun on the Run Toy Box for Tweens/Teens actually created with a small rolling carry-on bag measuring a tiny 18" x 12" x 6" to hold everything pictured.  Anyone who has kids 12 & up knows how challenging taking any sort of vacation can be with that sometimes surly age group, don't we?  By trip's end, though, I can assure you, I was pleasantly surprised by this summer trip games-in-the car experience in general and, in particular, by the bonding that took place between us as a family during the weeks we traveled.

Among the three Hasbro games my family (triplets, age 13 and big brother 14) picked to bring on our most recent summer road trip was the Sorry! Revenge Card Game.  Choosing this game to bring along really was a no-brainer, considering the full-size board game Sorry! has always been a favorite at our house both with our own kids and their friends.  That's not even to mention that hubbie and I both remember playing many Hasbro games in the 1960s, too, so we are talking about a real classic here.  This is definitely on our family's play list for the annual Family Game Night this Wednesday, September 29, 2010. 

As those of you know who are following this MommyBlogExpert.blogspot.com family road trip series, our kids have been known to squabble now and then (like most other siblings).  They've even become quite adept at stirring things up a bit when mom is trying to do some serious long distance driving.  So, imagine my relief and the kids' joy when the miles passed by very quickly for us all -- thanks in part to the hours spent playing this compact, card-based game. 

Our younger son (pictured at left in the car with the game) who is also the youngest of the triplets, says that he liked this game best of the Hasbro trio that we tested.  He and his brother (just one year older) entertained themselves in our SUV and also sometimes brought this into the motel at night when we stopped to play some more.  

When I interviewed him about this he said in his very intelligent, unprompted own words, "This type of Sorry! is a great adaptation from board to card  game.  I really loved playing with it on the trip, not only because it was lots of fun but because we didn't have any plastic moving pieces to lose."  What's a mother not to love about that?

As I began typing his brilliant quote for this post, his older brother chimed in, "Don't forget to also mention that this game is awesome because there are so many different variations to play it to keep things interesting."

As for me I'd say Simply put, Sorry! Revenge is unlike any regular deck of cards we've every played with.  Well-designed and reminiscent of the big board game, this Hasbro card game version includes 109 cards along with instructions.  The family-friendly game is for kids (and parents) age 6 and up and you can play with 2-4 players.  Game play time averages just 15 minutes so this is ideal for playing multiple games during longer trips or from start to finish on short trips closer to home, such as driving the kids to or from school or activities. 

With a very affordable retail price of just $6.99, just about everyone can buy a set.  The Sorry! Revenge Card Game can be purchased online from HasbroToyShop.  It is also widely available elsewhere on the Internet and at various large and small brick-and-mortar stores where games are sold. 

Of course Hasbro still offers the original Sorry! board game ($17.99) as well as a variety of other related products inspired by the original Sorry! classic ranging from a Sorry! replacement game piece packet ($3.99) to the Sorry! Spin Game ($24.99), to the SpongeBob SquarePants Edition ($19.99) to Hasbro Family Game Night hi tech versions for Wii, XBOX Live, XBOX 360, and Nintendo 360 platforms ($9.99-$39.99), among other variations.

Parent Readers: This question's for you.  I recall playing "License Plates" on road trips with my family as a child.  How about you? What kind of games do you remember playing in the car when you were a kid? I'd also love to hear any vignettes about kids and moms/dads playing any of the Sorry! games together.  Please share your own stories in the comment box below.

FTC Disclosure: MommyBlogExpert's family received Sorry! Revenge Card Game from Hasbro to facilitate the test and review described but did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post.  Also we did not have the opportunity to test the other Sorry! products mentioned in this blog post, with the exception of the Sorry! board game mentioned that is from our family's own personal game collection.  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.