Strawberry Shortcake Sky's The Limit

Movies

For the past year MommyBlogExpert has been thrilled to be among the chosen few blogs to host some really great family friendly monthly Kidtoons movie giveaways. These include Spookley Square Pumpkin, Care Bears: Share Bear Shines, Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas, Barbie Fairy Secret, and Little Engine That Could in conjunction with their monthly screenings just for children in theaters nationwide.

Kidtoons giveaways are different every month depending on the movie. But, they're always fun and wholesome for children, so don't miss out on entering the current giveaway as well as subscribing to MommyBlogExpert.com so you will be among the first to know when next month's giveaway is announced.

In Theaters Weekends in April
For the entire month of April it's Kidtoons' Strawberry Shortcake Movie: Sky's the Limit, showing in select theaters nationwide with recently reduced ticket prices at many locations.

Strawberry Shortcake: Sky's the Limit - The Plot
When a heavy storm plunks an even heavier boulder into a nearby stream, it stops the flow of water into Berry Bitty City! So, with help from long-winded Mr. Longface, the girls set out to find the legendary "geyser rock," which creates water from the ground! Their journey is rocky, and the story about the rock may not be very solid. But with teamwork, a careful plan and lots of girl power, the friends just might get their creativity - and water - flowing again!

Strawberry Shortcake: Sky's the Limit

Giveaway

To help Kidtoons celebrate this month's feature we're giving away a multi-prize package to one lucky family.

The Prize Pack Features

The Official Movie Poster
Strawberry Shortcake Doll
Strawberry Shortcake Playset

HOW TO ENTER

Leave one or more comments below this post. Contest ends May 3, 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)

@mommyblogexpert on Twitter

@mommyblogexpert on Facebook

Kidtoon Films (1 or 2 extra entries)

@kidtoonsfilms on Twitter

@kidtoonsfilms 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.

Strawberry Shortcake - Sky's the Limit @KidtoonFilms #GIVEAWAY http://tinyurl.com/3gujsrn #kids #movie #StrawberryShortcake 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.

FTC Disclosure: Kidtoon Films has provided the prizes for this giveaway. 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.

Family Vacation Travel Discounts Savings Deals at National Parks for National Park Week, April 16 - 24

National Parks

My family at Old Faithful in Yellowstone Park, 1966

That's me next to my mom in this vintage photo taken by my Dad

Everyone in my family is a huge fan of U.S. National Parks. As a baby boomer myself, I grew up going on road trips to many of America's greatest natural jewels.

Now, that I'm a mom with kids of my own I'm making sure that my children have the same opportunity to experience as many National Parks as possible as I did.

They didn't have these kinds of savings back when I was a kid. But, the good news is that starting this Saturday through Easter Sunday, there will be dozens of discounts, offers and deals valid during National Park Week (Apr. 16 – 24) for everyone to take advantage of thanks to the National Parks Promotion Council.

Old Faithful is but one of 100s of geysers at Yellowstone National Park

Pictured: Three of my kids in foreground with me in back row

1998 vintage photo by MommyBlogExpert's Hubbie

Just a few of the deals from National Park businesses you'll find

Angler's Inn, Jackson, Wyoming, $45 Dollars Per Night (Grand Teton)
Buy one adult ticket for West Rim Sunset Tour at full price, get another seat on the same tour for FREE (Grand Canyon)
Save 20% discount on Grizzly Bear Wolf Safaris, Day Hiking, Snowshoeing, Day Tours, and other activities (Yellowstone)
Stay at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites in Kanab, UT for 3 or more nights and they'll buy your National Parks Pass, an $80 value (Zion)
Plus many more deals at other National Parks

The offers above – made by park businesses and organizations – are in addition to free admission to all national parks provided by the National Park Service (NPS) on Fee-Free Days in 2011.

NPS Fee-Free Days in 2011 include

National Park Week in April
The first day of summer, June 21
Public Lands Day, Sept. 24
Veteran’s Day weekend, Nov. 11 – 13

What parks did you visit as a kid and which ones have you taken your own children to? Leave a comment and share your favorite family vacation memories.

FTC Disclosure: MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation related to 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 Premium Ice Cream Cones TODAY & May 10th - Ben & Jerry's and Haagen-Dazs

Ice Cream Giveaways

Photo from Dreamstime.com

I scream, you scream. As a matter of fact, all kids and adults scream for ice cream! Don't they?

I know my kids and I love just about any flavor and Ben & Jerry's and Haagen-Dazs are two of our all-time fave brands. So, when I heard about these two freebies, I wanted to pass them on to MommyBlogExpert's faithful readers.

It's actually free cone day today. This means that all Ben & Jerry's shops are passing out FREE ice cream cones April 12, from noon to 8 p.m., from coast to coast.

Miss today's Ben & Jerry's giveaway? Not to worry because Haagen-Dazs shops will be giving away their ice cream cones on May 10th. Visit their site to sign up for their Ice Cream Club also follow Haagen Dazs on Facebook to stay in the loop.

Jewish Holidays: What Would Moses Do for Passover Pesach in the Internet Age?

Celebrations

A decidedly modern twist on what the exodus from Egypt and the first Passover might have been like had Moses been alive today and communicating about Pesach with the world via cyberspace with Google, Twitter, Facebook and all the other hi tech ways news spreads these days.

Who doesn't need a little break from their Passover spring cleaning? I know I sure do! Hopefully you'll enjoy this 2 minute YouTube, that appears to be going viral, as much as I did.

Leave a comment below once you've watched and tell what you think about this clip.

FTC Disclosure: MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation related to 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.

6 Ways to BIG Family Savings - Extreme Couponing Like The Pro Shoppers on the TLC Show

As you can tell from the photo above, my own coupon habits are atrocious

iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

So, I think with the start of TLC's latest Extreme Couponing season this week, it's as good a time as any for me to review some basic tricks that these coupon pros use to save some pretty incredible amounts of cash. If you'd like some great ideas on managing your own blizzard of coupons around the house, you'll definitely like this post.

Consumer savings expert Andrea Woroch shares six really simple ways to save like an extreme couponer that I'd like to pass on to all my frugal and thrifty readers. Andrea, BTW, has been featured on NBC's Today Show, FOX & Friends, MSNBC, ABC News NOW and many more.

#1 Start Small

Don't go extreme all at once. Take it step by step, rather than show up at a checkout with 50 coupons and little idea what you're doing.

#2 Never Pay For Coupons

Paying someone to clip or organize your coupons defeats the purpose of living frugally. Instead, surf Sunday newspaper ad supplements for coupon savings and ask your neighbors for their unwanted papers. Maybe dive inside a recycled dumpster or two. Don't forget to check the many free online coupon sites like CouponSherpa.com that give consumers access to a multitude of coupon codes and printable coupons for lots of merchants.

#3 Get Organized

Create a shopping list and have your coupons and shopping strategy organized before you enter the store. Use an expandable coupon binder to sort coupon inserts by date, categories and expiration dates -- whatever makes sense to your shopping style. Before going on a specific trip, transfer to a small couponizer only those you'll need for that shopping venture.

#4 Location, Location, Location

Where you shop is key in making the best use of your time and coupons. Only shop at locations that allow coupon stacking and combining coupons with in-store offers. Don't be shy about calling and asking about policies before showing up.

#5 Loyalty Rewards

Always take advantage of club membership rewards. These programs are usually free and have many savings perks, like rewards points, cash back programs, and double points for every certain amount you spend.

#6 Don't Be Greedy

This is often where extreme couponers cross over into hoarding. Only shop for items you actually need, products you can stock up on that aren't perishable, and those you can donate. A bargain is only a bargain if you can actually use the purchase.

Are you as bad about coupons as me? Have some advice on other ways to manage the coupon deluge? What's the most money you've ever saved on a single shopping trip by using coupons? Leave a comment.

MOMMY BLOG EXPERT

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