Fun Activities & Prizes Planned at BlogHer for the Brawny Paper Towels Brand

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BlogHer '11

iPhone photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert

Dexter, our Miniature Pinscher  was a wee bit excited when the UPS man delivered a box the other day.  Inside the package from Brawny Paper Towels he was tail-wagging happy to discover a multi-package of product, a Brawny Man apron, and the most handsome potholder mit from Williams-Sonoma.

I loved the goody box the brand sent me, too, even more than our little guy did.  But I'm also looking forward to visiting the Brawny booth at BlogHer at the San Diego Convention Center August 4-6, 2011.

Lots of fun activities are planned for bloggers attending

• Get your photo taken with the Brawny Man at the booth
• Tweet for a chance to win some great prizes to keep and to give away to readers
• Compete against other attendees in the clean-up races to win 2 years supply of product

Subscribe to this blog now, so you don't miss the post scheduled to go live shortly about a really great Brawny-sponsored giveaway that MommyBlogExpert will be hosting for loyal readers.


FTC Disclosure:  MommyBlogExpert received the items pictured (except the little dog) from Brawny.  However, I did not receive any payment or other compensation directly 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.

Fisher-Price $10,000 Animal Sounds Sweepstakes Celebrates New Little People Product - ENDS 11/30/11

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Contest

Here's my first-born in his Fisher-Price High Chair

Vintage photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

I grew up with Fisher-Price in the 50s and in the past decade so have my 4 kids: a singleton and then triplets all born within a year.  Not surprisingly, this brand has been around now for 80 years, having been enjoyed by several other generations as well.

So I'm pleased to announce that Fisher-Price -- with celebrity zoologist and children's TV show host Jarod Miller -- is sponsoring a fun contest that kids, moms, and dads will want to know about.  This family friendly sweepstakes has just begun and runs through November 30.  The sweepstakes heralds in the newest addition to the company's toy lineup.  Called the Little People  Zoo Talkers Animal Sounds Zoo, this toddler-size play set is now on store shelves.

Watch this clip to hear more about this fun contest. Then read below for additional details and the link to submit your entry.

The grand prize winner will receive a $10,000 cash prize and a trip to Fisher-Price headquarters in East Aurora, New York, for a special photo shoot for your son or daughter.

Plus, 10 first prize winners will each win a Zoo Talkers toy prize pack.  

To top it off, all successful submissions will be entered for a chance to win one of 100 Zoo Talkers Safari Truck.

How to Enter

Entry is simple.  All parents have to do to participate is submit a video of your child (from 1 to 5 year old) making his or her favorite zoo animal sound.  It could be a howl, roar, screech, squawk or even the trumpeting of an elephant.

Just record a basic 20 seconds or less video (AVI, MOV, MPEG or WMV format and maximum of 30MB) of your child doing their best imitation animal sound of a lion, tiger, elephant, bear, penguin, , leopard, whale, polar bear, hippopotamus, monkey, seal, gorilla, alligator, zebra, giraffe, ostrich, dolphin, snake, or bird.

Next, submit your video entry by uploading it to the contest website or sending it using an iPhone App or Android App.  Then, share the website link provided with friends and family so they can visit the public gallery to vote

No purchase is required.  The Animal Sounds contest runs Aug. 1, 2011 through 11:59 p.m. EST on Nov. 30, 2011.  For more information, complete contest rules, and to enter visit the Animal Sounds Contest website.

About Fisher-Price

Fisher-Price, Inc., a subsidiary of Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAT) is one of the world's major brands of infant and preschool toys.  Some of their best-known classic toy brands include Little People(r), Power Wheels(r) and View-Master(r).  The company also markets baby gear such as infant swings, bouncers, and high chairs.

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

Sunday - It's Sometimes One of Those Days That Can't Pass Quickly Enough for Weary Moms

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Parenting

My Teens: Triplets (girl, boy, girl) & Big Brother

iPhone photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

Sunday usually is a day of productivity, a day to catch up before Monday arrives.  The relaxed atmosphere of the day, which typically starts out for me with sleeping in a little and lolling over the Sunday paper for several hours, is actually very energizing.

Apparently, that was not meant to be today.  From the moment I awoke until the minute before I finally was able to write this short post, there have been constant interruptions.  Try as I might, I couldn't seem to write even a sentence before someone would break my train of thought.  After all, with four teens in the house -- all born within a year, including triplets -- I guess I should expect this kind of chaos daily, right? 

I'll leave the details up to your imagination, because if you are a parent like me I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.  I mean picture mom and dad doing all the housework and errands today, while the kids play on the computer and watch TV, every room in our home is newly messed up even though the housekeeper was just here yesterday.

You get the idea: us parents are all in this together.  Raising kids is hard and constant work even when your children are 14 and 15 as mine are. 

So, when you ask me how was my weekend? I'll simply reply, And You?  Then, we'll look at each other knowingly.  I'm sure we will both smile smugly at each other, too, knowing that -- for us both we'll be really glad when Monday finally arrives and some normality returns to our existence as parents.

What are your savvy parenting tips for surviving weekends with one or more children home? Please share your advice generously here.

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

Where Does Mommy Go? A Story for Children Who Have Moms That Work - Book Review

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Books

Where Does Mommy Go? by Shelley Hallier and illustrated by Richele Collins is a hard cover illustrated children's book focused on bonding with mom.  

Hallier, a first-time author living in Missouri, is a mommy of three who spent 12 years working in a corporate job.  Right after her twins were born she wrote this book for other working moms to share with their kids.

Suited for reading to toddlers and preschoolers, this book is also fun for older children to read to a parent.  The colorful and whimsical prose and illustrations depict moms in all kinds of roles both extraordinary and ordinary -- from super hero to pediatrician -- that are certain to ignite a child's imagination and love for their mommy. 

The story also sets the stage for inspiring interactive dialogue so little ones can be reassured that though their moms work outside the home, they still are missed and loved.

The book's closing lines get the intended purpose across succinctly.

She could be working in an office, as busy as can be

But I know no matter where she is she'd rather be with ME.

Where Does Mommy Go? $14.99 is available on Amazon and directly from the author at WhereMommyGoes.com

Do you talk to your child about your job and what you do all day?   Does your son or daughter ever ask if you'd rather be with her or him than go to work?

FTC Disclosure:  I received the book from the author to facilitate this review.  However, MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation directly 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.

Social Moms Network Has Completely Reinvented Itself With Sleek New Site & Member Loyalty Program

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Mom Bloggers

Janis Brett Elspas (me) and Social Moms Founder, Megan Calhoun

At a book launch for mommy author Kimberley Blaine

iPhone photo courtesy of MommyBlogExpert.com

Just got a really exciting email from Megan and Sasha, Sally and Alysha of the SocialMoms team.  The SocialMoms 3.0 roll out, that's been in the works for almost a year, has finally launched and will be continuing to roll out new features in the weeks and months ahead.  

How perfectly timed this major mom blogging industry announcement is ahead of BlogHer 11, the largest blogging conference of the year for women like you and me who blog -- and the brands targeting us moms in particular!  Megan, I look forward to celebrating this major mommy blog leadership stepping stone in person next week in San Diego.

Effective immediately, the core networking site has moved from SocialMoms.com to the new site address which is  http://www.socialmoms.net.  For existing Social Moms members like me, I can tell you that your profile and settings will remain the same, since I just logged in to the new site just now to check it out. 

When you log in yourself, you'll see that you can easily get to the network by just clicking the network's tab in the navigation bar on top.  New members:  all you have to do is go to the brand new Social Moms site to sign up and join our community.

Based on my own initial experience today, I think the new site is sleekly designed and much easier to navigate than its predecessor.  New channels on the network include Tech, Health, Style, Green, Entertainment, Food, Money, Politics, and Reading.  This makes the new SocialMoms site, in my opinion, the CNN of the mom social media networking world.

How to Join the My SocialMoms Rewards Loyalty Program

It's as easy as going to SocialMoms and then from there connecting  to the network via your Facebook account to log in to the new site.  As promised, the whole process of signing up for the loyalty program, should only take you minutes.   All U.S. residents are invited to join today to start earning points that can be redeemed for Gift Cards, Paypal payments, charitable donations, and more.

Get started by simply liking Social Moms on Facebook or following them on Twitter and you will be immediately enrolled.  You can earn your first 500 points just by adding your profile info to the loyalty program.  Then continue earning more points by doing things such as sharing content by and for moms from Facebook and Twitter, writing quality articles for one of the new channels, by participating in their sponsored blogging opportunities and more.

Megan Calhoun, the founder of the original SocialMoms -- which gone through several major redesigns during the past few years -- says that the site is new so get ready for a few bumps as they grow.  She also explains that the ability to earn points for the SocialMoms Insider app will be expanding over the coming weeks and months. To stay up-to-date with all the activity and new opportunities, Megan's staff will be producing a weekly newsletter describing ways for you to earn My SocialMoms Rewards points.

FTC Disclosure:  I'm a long-time member of the SocialMoms community and just joined the My Social Moms Loyalty Program.  Also, Social Moms is an advertiser on this blog.  However, MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation directly 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.