Wordless Wednesday: Life is Not a Through Street - Stop, Smell & Enjoy The Images of Fall

Nature
Beauty in my neighborhood 

All iPhone Images in this Wordless Essay
by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

Life is... 

What kinds of beautiful natural things have you seen today where you live? Please leave a comment and share.

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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. 

Movies on Demand Holiday Video Releases

Movies

Eventhough my children have worked professionally in feature films and television with Academy Award winning actors and actresses like Nicolas Cage, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jessica Lange, Sissy Spacek, Catherine Keener, and many others, I never get tired of Hollywood and movies.

 

Sissy Spacek with me & one of my triplets

MBE Partnered with Movies on Demand for this post

I still love watching both on the big screen and at home. So, when I learned that Movies on Demand (MOD) makes it possible to access the films you want to see at the push of a button -- many available the same day as when they are released on DVD and some reportedly 28 days ahead of competing rental options like Netflix and Redbox -- I had to share the deets in a post for my readers. MOD is also providing this blog's readers to win a nice prize package that includes a $25 Visa Giftcard plus other prizes.

Giveaway Details below, Ends 12/20/11

Movies on Demand's Holiday Season lineup of new releases includes some really good movies that I know I'm going to want to see since I missed them in theaters.  You can stay up to date on the brand's new releases on the brand's constantly updated YouTube Channel.


Feature films released on MOD this week

• Cowboys & Aliens, 12/6
• The Hangover 2, 12/6
• The Help, 12/6
• Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom of Doom, 12/9

Leonard Maltin tells you more

So, what are you waiting for? Go grab some new releases today. But, before you do, be sure to enter the Movies on Demand giveaway Mommy Blog Expert is hosting. Scroll down for details on how easy it is for you to win.

Movies on Demand

 Holiday GIVEAWAY

Ends 12/20/11

The Movies on Demand prize package includes

• $25 Visa Giftcard
• Fast Five T-shirt
• Movies on Demand tote bag

HOW TO ENTER

 

Just leave a comment(s) below this post!  Contest ends December 20, 2011 at 12 midnite PST and is open to legal residents of the U.S. only. Winner will be selected at random from all entries and will be notified via email.

Required (Mandatory) Entry

Simply leave a comment below this blogpost saying why you want to win this prize.  Don't forget to include your email address, Facebook and/or Twitter contact info in the comment section so the winner can be contacted.

Optional Extra Entries

Earn extra entries to win for doing one or more of the easy options listed below.  Just be sure to return to MommyBlogExpert (MBE) to leave an additional comment after each individual extra action you do to confirm so we can record all your additional chances to win.

1.  Follow @mommyblogexpert on Twitter

2. Like @mommyblogexpert on Facebook

Super ***Bonus Entries***
You can earn even MORE chances to win each time you TWEET the message below, up to 3 times each day.  Don't forget to return to leave a comment on this post with the direct link right after every Tweet you do so you'll receive an entry for each of your RTs.

Tweet:
Visa Giftcard @MoviesonDemand #Giveaway ~ Easy entry, just Comment & UR entered to #WIN http://tinyurl.com/7wmb9p6 @momspark #movies RT
 

LOTS More Family-Friendly Giveaways!

ENTER Them All HERE

FTC Disclosure: This review was made possible by Mom Spark Media. I was compensated for my time investment and work on this campaign. Thoughts are my own. All prizing for MSM giveaways is handled by a third party unless otherwise noted. For this reason prize fulfillment can take upto 90 days after the winners information is received. See additional details on MommyBlogExpert's disclosure policy at the bottom of this and every page on this blog.

Say Anything Family Board Game Giveaway

Giveaway

MBE partnered with North Star Games, post contains affiliate links

WIN Say Anything from North Star Games, the award-winning family friendly board game featured in a recent Mommy Blog Expert review that gets everyone to think. This game is non-electronic, making it perfect entertainment and fun for kids and adults getting together at any holiday party and all year round at occasions when family or friends gather.

NorthStar Games

 Say Anything GIVEAWAY

Ends 1/2/12

HOW TO ENTER

 

Just leave a comment(s) below this post!  Contest ends January 2, 2012 at 12 midnite PST and is open to legal residents of the U.S. only. Winner will be selected at random from all entries and will be notified via email.

Required (Mandatory) Entry

Simply leave a comment below this blogpost saying why you want to win this prize.  Don't forget to include your email address, Facebook and/or Twitter contact info in the comment section so the winner can be contacted.

Optional Extra Entries

Earn extra entries to win for doing one or more of the easy options listed below.  Just be sure to return to MommyBlogExpert (MBE) to leave an additional comment after each individual extra action you do to confirm so we can record all your additional chances to win.

1.  Follow @mommyblogexpert on Twitter

2. Like @mommyblogexpert on Facebook

3. Follow @northstargames on Twitter

4. Like @northstargames on Facebook

Super ***Bonus Entries***
You can earn even MORE chances to win each time you TWEET the message below, up to 3 times each day.  Don't forget to return to leave a comment on this post with the direct link right after every Tweet you do so you'll receive an entry for each of your RTs.

Tweet:
GIVEAWAY Say Anything @NorthStarGames Family Friendly Board Game http://tinyurl.com/7oarjst #holidays #kids RT 2 #WIN

 

LOTS More Family-Friendly Giveaways!
 

ENTER Them All HERE

FTC Disclosure:  MommyBlogExpert received this game for review on a separate MBE post. NorthStar Games is providing the prize and shipping for this giveaway. I did not receive any other payment or  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.

Whimsical Paper Hanukkah Menorah Centerpiece Decoration - Easy DIY Kids Jewish Holiday Craft

Crafts

Chanukah, the Jewish Festival of Lights starts the night of December 21 and ends on December 28 this year. The menorah candelabra that Jews light each of the eight nights of the holiday -- adding an additional candle each evening -- is one of the most familiar symbols of this holiday. This craft idea from Crayola makes it possible for every child to make his or her own decorative paper menorah, one that makes a very beautiful table centerpiece that you can reuse year after year. Since it doesn't involve real candles it is not only safe, it's fun and easy to make and something that you and your child can craft together.

Photo from Crayola.com

Find free how-to directions by Crayola for this and several other really charming Hanukkah crafts that you can make together with younger kids and that older children can create on their own HERE

Feel free to add links to your own favorite Chanukah arts and crafts in a comment below.

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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. 

A Family Friendly Thinking Board Game That is Fun for Family & Friends or as a Holiday Party Icebreaker

Games

WIN this game! Details below post

Few family friendly board games are as fun or suitable for holiday gatherings and other celebrations for parents and kids where everyone knows each other as they are for those parties where people get together who may not necessarily know each other. Say Anything, an innovative game from NorthStar Games, is one of the rare examples of non-electronic entertainment products that actually appeals to both types of crowds. 

My daughter & I have a laugh at a house party
iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

Families and friends that play this who know each other well will be surprised at all they really don't know about how each other thinks.  While those meeting each other for the first time over this game will likely have just as good a time since this is the perfect ice breaker for parties, too.

For sure Say Anything is an amusing game whether you know the other players or not. I found this out first-hand by playing this game in both settings. 

Say Anything Family Edition Game
iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

The first time I participated in the game was at a party sponsored by NorthStar Games during SheCon New Media Expo in Miami earlier this year where I met many new people for the first time. Then just recently we played Say Anything at a party at home that I held for friends and my own kids in conjunction with the consumer food brand Sabra and House Party.
  

Big Kids Playing Say Anything at SheCon Expo in May

iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

As these situations demonstrate this game is entertaining no matter what the occasion. My fellow players and I were talking, laughing and having fun in no time whether it was a group of us adults playing this hilarious game together at a business party or a more casual gathering at home with a mixture of friends and family -- both adults and teens -- enjoying this.

The kids & adults loved playing Say Anything at our house

iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

For 3-8 players, ages 13 and up, this game is as easy as 1-2-3 to get up and running

1. Ask one of the 5 questions from the card you draw

2. Everyone else writes their answer on their dry erase board and turns it face up in the middle of the table

3. You then secretly pick the answer that you think is best, marking it on the spinner which you turn face down. Then everyone else bets on the answer they think you picked.

Luke Warren, NorthStar Games, SheCon Expo Exhibit Hall
iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

Learn more about Say Anything and watch the video of this game in action.

Nobody says it better than NorthStar Games, "So dig deep into your heart or just come up with something witty - this is your chance to Say Anything!"  
 

Say Anything Family Edition has a suggested retail price of $19.99 and the standard Say Anything is $24.99. Available at Barnes & Noble, Target, Toys R Us, and Amazon.

Enter to WIN This Game NOW

Also, LOTS More 

Family-Friendly Giveaways!

Currently Being Hosted by Mommy Blog Expert

Check Them All Out HERE

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FTC Disclosure:  I attended the SheCon Expo '11 party that NorthStar Games sponsored. In addition, the brand sent me the game to facilitate this review. 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.