Free Cupcakes Saturday 11/17 Celebrating Georgetown Cupcake L.A. Grand Opening

Events
Giveaway details below post

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Moet Pink Champagne flowed and beautiful cupcakes were passed around by the tray full by handsome waiters last night at the private absolutely first-class and elegant media preview evening party I attended held ahead of the Grand Opening of the newest Georgetown Cupcake location. Guests were entertained by popular DJ Casey Connor while surrounded not only by edible art but also by an abundance of oversized fresh rose balls and crystals hanging in the shop's front windows.

This is the newest shop to join this famous stretch of tony Robertson Boulevard that reaches from Third Street to Santa Monica Boulevard in the L.A. Beverly Hills adjacent neighborhood that already hosts some of Hollywood celebrities' favorite haunts including Chanel, Kitson, 7 for All Mankind, and The Ivy.

Guests of honor -- and hosts -- on hand for the pre-opening fete were Katherine Kallinis Berman and Sophie Kallinis LaMontagne, sisters and co-owners of Georgetown Cupcake and stars of TLC's hit show DC Cupcakes. Joining the other guests and media attending were Lindsey Shaw (Pretty Little Liars), Taylor Spreitler (Melissa & Joey), Alex Newell (Glee), Alexandra Chando (The Lying Game), Kathryn Fiore (The Wedding Band), Shanola Hampton (Shameless), Emily Schuman (Blogger, Cupcakes & Cashmere).

This is the fifth store, joining the flagship shop in Georgetown in Washington, D.C., and Bethesda, New York - SoHo and Boston locales. The 2600 square foot space embraces the original location with its white Georgian style exterior and interior architecture elements. Of note is the open kitchen concept inviting customers to view cupcakes as they are being baked, frosted, and decorated.

The Georgetown Cupcake menu boasts more than 100 cupcake flavors -- 18 daily flavors plus a rotating monthly menu of seasonal and special varieties. Freshly baked cupcakes are both elegant and whimsical, made with fine ingredients such as Valrhona Cocoa and Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla. There is a full espresso bar and sit down seating so customers can enjoy all the delectable sweets offered in the shop's lovely setting. Customers not near a brick and mortar store will be happy to know that the company also ships its cupcakes nationwide.

Giveaway on Saturday, November 17th Only
The Grand Opening of the new Georgetown Cupcake shop starts at noon at 143 S. Robertson in Los Angeles. Everyone young and old is invited to stop by for a free cupcake all day to welcome the newest kid on the block. Also Georgetown Cupcake is deeply entrenched in social media and is always sharing deals and tips on their Twitter and Facebook pages to really in the know about everything Georgetown Cupcake that is going on at the new L.A. store as well as at the original store in Washington, D.C. and other locations.

FTC Disclosure: I attended the private media reception and received a Georgetown Cupcake gift bag. 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.

USB AC Outlet for Modern Wired Home Office

Technology

Giveaway

Earlier this week I did a review on an innovative new must-have product that's perfect for families living in today's digital age -- or for anyone with multiple wireless devices that need to be charged simultaneously -- called Power2U from NewerTechonology.

Look closely, this isn't a traditional electrical outlet. It's a double 3-prong AC wall outlet plus it has two USB ports built in to charge all your wireless devices directly from the electrical socket. This handy tool for tech savvy consumers retails for $24.95 and is available online and in stores. 

Our Power2U from Newer Technology review post has been so well-received that I'm excited to announce we're adding a giveaway of this solution to finally win the battle against all that countertop charger and cable clutter. That's right. You have a chance to WIN this very cool consumer tech gadget for home or office use in your choice of one of four decorator colors. Read on for details on how to enter this giveaway contest.

Power2U 
USB/AC Wall Outlet
$24.95 value

GIVEAWAY 

Ends 12/18/12

Winner's choice of 1 of 4 Power2U colors

HOW TO ENTER

Just leave a comment(s) below this post. Contest ends December 18, 2012 at 12 midnite PST and is open to legal residents of the continental U.S. only. One winner will win their choice of one of four colors of the Power2U USB/AC Wall Outlet, selected at random from all entries and will be notified via email. 

Required (Mandatory) Entry

Simply leave a comment below this blogpost saying what room in your home you'd like to win this prize for. 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 @mommyblogexpert on Pinterest

4. Follow @newertechnology on Twitter

5. Like @newertechnology on Facebook

***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 to copy and paste:

Power2U USB/AC gadget GIVEAWAY to combat wireless device charger chaos at home or office #family #USB #tech http://tinyurl.com/c3p76db 

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ENTER Them All 

FTC Disclosure: Newer Technology is providing the prize and shipping for this giveaway.  MommyBlogExpert 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.

Free Arthur Christmas Family Movie Event

Events

Screening, Live Band at The Grove LA, November 16

Arthur Christmas has made several appearances here on Mommy Blog Expert. First there's the Arthur Christmas DVD giveaway running on MBE right now celebrating the new 3D/Blu-ray and DVD releases by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. You can also read my big screen Arthur Christmas movie review. 

Now I'm pleased to share some more Arthur Christmas news: A special event invitation with those of you with kids who will be in Southern California this weekend -- and you're encouraged to bring your extended family, friends, and neighbors along for a free fun family friendly Friday night activity in Los Angeles.

MommyBlogExpert's DVD Giveaway, Ends 12/10/12

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Invites You To Attend A Special Holiday Screening of Arthur Christmas along with some live entertainment that moms, dads, and children of just about any generation will enjoy.  Get in the holiday spirit, take a peek at the lights and visit the big tree at The Grove.

• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Sony Pictures Animation with Street Food Cinema present a special holiday outdoor screening of Arthur Christmas 
• Live performance of The Sun Kings - A Beatles Tribute Band
• Loads of fun games and giveaways 
• Special street side dinner and treats available for purchase by Umami Burger, Cheesecake Factory and Dylan's Candy inside the event

Friday, November 16th

The Grove on Gilmore Lane

Los Angeles 

(Between American Girl & Marmalade Café)

5 pm Doors open

6 pm Band and Pre-Show Entertainment

7 pm Outdoor Movie Screening

This is a FREE Event but RSVP is required
Chairs will be provided - Space is limited
Reserve Tickets by emailing amy@tilpr.com

FTC Disclosure: MommyBlogExpert 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.

Organic Shea Butter Beauty Skin Hair Care Gift Box Set Review + Giveaway, Ends 12/15

Beauty 
Giveaway, details below review

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With colder, drier weather already here, it's more important now than ever to keep your skin and hair hydrated. The potential damage to skin and hair is even more of a threat if you spend a lot of time outside doing active winter sports like I do. For sure inside and in the great outdoors to look healthy and younger -- as I've learned by personal experience -- we all need to baby our bodies constantly no matter what the season. This involves not only choosing quality products but by turning using them into a morning and night daily ritual.

Protecting your skin in winter is a must since I ski

One of my latest finds is Yamerra, a natural organic personal skin and hair care line for women, men and children that's sized right and good to use both while traveling and at home. Created by Maryam Moma, a Tanzanian-Nigerian now living and working in New York, who is also a fashion model and woman entrepreneur, the line features 100% Organic Shea -- a natural fat extract from the African Shea tree that has been used in its homeland for centuries -- and was developed with both eco- and earth-friendly skincare and hair care and beauty and fashion in mind.

Yamerra's Gift Box includes 6 products, Image by Yamerra

The gift set by Yamerra you see pictured in this post, which I had the opportunity to try, is high in nutrients and is restorative for children, age 3+ and adults. It includes your choice of any of the five .5 ounce individual hair and body butters available plus the natural facial serum product and is beautifully packaged and boxed.

The Yamerra collection smells as beautiful as this orchid centerpiece

Here are some Yamerra products I tried

I slathered on all the butters I received one at a time to try them. Still, my favorite is the Tangerine Grapefruit Hair & Body Butter that not only smelled wonderful but also was a refreshing, energizing and moisturizing treat for both my skin and hair. The Yamerra Serum was really nice too and I noticed an improvement in my skin after using it for a short time. The serum does double duty hydrating for day wear and working as a night wear masque at night which is so important because when your sleeping your body is busy regenerating its cells.

Seven mini butters are offered to choose from including Honey Vanilla, Jasmine Sage, Lavender, Healing Lemongrass, Mango, Peach Peppermint, and Tangerine Grape. The beauty box reviewed would be great for yourself or to give to that fashionista on your holiday list. Available for $65 direct from yamerrastore.com.

Yamerra is providing one of their beautiful Gift Sets, valued at $65, for a Mommy Blog Expert giveaway and YOU have the chance to win it. Read on to learn how to enter.

Yamerra Beauty Gift Box
6-piece set, a $65 Value

GIVEAWAY

Ends 12/10/12

Yamerra Beauty Gift Box Giveaway, Image from Yamerra

HOW TO ENTER

Just leave a comment(s) below this post. Contest ends December 15, 2012 at 12 midnite PST and is open to legal residents of the continental U.S. only. One winner will receive the Yamerra Hair & Body Care Beauty Set pictured with your choice of products. The winner will be selected at random from all entries received 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 MBE on Twitter 

2. Like MBE on Facebook
3. Follow MBE on Pinterest
4. Subscribe to MommyBlogExpert

5. Follow Yamerra on Twitter
6. Like Yamerra on Facebook

***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 to copy and paste:

Enter the luxe Yamerra Organic Shea Butter Beauty Skin & Hair Beauty Gift Box Giveaway $65 value RT 2 WIN http://tinyurl.com/b3ogknc

About Yamerra
Yamerra was founded by Maryam Moma, a Tanzanian-Nigerian, fashion model and self-employed entrepreneur. The company offers quality skin and hair care products such as those featured in this review as well as shea body soaps that are all lovingly hand poured and packed by hand. The company's various soaps and butters are rich in pure essential oils and herbs, and vitamin A and E.

More Family-Friendly 

Mommy Blog Expert Giveaways

ENTER Them All HERE

Thanks to Online-Sweepstakes.com for including this contest in their directory of current giveaways.

FTC Disclosure: Yamerra is providing the prize and shipping for this giveaway.  I received a beauty gift box just like the one I'm giving away but MommyBlogExpert did not receive any other 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.

Toyota FJ Cruiser Family Car Review

Automotive

A Burst of Fun for City, Suburb, Country Families With Kids

First introduced as a concept car at the 2003 Chicago Auto Show, Toyota has been releasing a new FJ Cruiser model every year since 2007. Retro in style, it actually has its origins in the original FJ40 Land Cruiser that ceased production in 1984. Definitely reminiscent of the boxy shape vehicle body type that was so popular in the early to mid 1980s.

2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser that I test drove for this review

MBE partnered with Toyota for this post

Fun and practical. Rugged yet elegant. Playful but powerful. Retro and ultra modern all at the same time. These are just a few of the juxtaposed word pairings I'd use to describe the 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser. Based on the extended test drive Toyota provided for me to try this out, this SUV compact family friendly vehicle is most definitely a blast from the past, both aesthetically and to drive, whether you live in the city, suburbs or country.

See the newest model of the Toyota FJ Cruiser

FJ Cruiser Rear View

I took this vehicle for some drives around the rugged streets of Los Angeles where I live. We have hills, valleys, speed bumps galore as well as a surplus of pot holes in our neighborhood so this was the perfect place to do some city driving to test the four wheel drive which performed flawlessly. I also drove the FJ Cruiser on some of L.A.'s infamous freeways both at top speed (within the speed limit of course) and in stop and go traffic which unfortunately is a way of life here in the City of the Angels. I even took this peppy vehicle down to the beach to watch the sunset. I wasn't able to put this to the true test of taking it off road but everywhere else I drove it handled well.

FJ Cruiser Steering Wheel & Control Panel

FJ Cruiser with Four Wheel Drive System

On the outside the FJ Cruiser sports yesteryear features with lots of sharp angles -- think angular mid-century modern furniture to visualize this compact SUV's style. Built with a stocky body frame, some of the stand out design elements include a big bulky grill and headlight system in front with a 3-wiper windshield that's nearly stands up straight atop the dashboard. Above, the going-on-a-safari heavy pipe luggage carrier looks so stylish and equally practical for hauling luggage, ski gear or camping equipment on a road trip.

FJ Cruiser's bulky grill on the front end

Circular Mid Century Modern Headlights on FJ Cruiser 

Ready for a Safari heavy pipe roof rack

Check out the rear tail lights that are squared off and jut out of the back end, too. That little touch reminds me of the kind of car you might have found in the Jetson Family garage in the 1960s. Also very space-age looking: the rear opening driver and passenger access doors that create a cavernous rocket ship ambiance as you step inside. And while the doors are open you'll notice there's no central beam where the front and back doors join -- like in other SUVs on the market -- because Toyota employed a specially designed super strong steel that protects passengers from impact in the case of an accident. If you ask me, this car's overall sturdy feel brings an army tank to mind and a sense of feeling really safe while driving it.

Rocket style tail lights that jut out from them back

Front and passenger door open complete the spaceship look

Square wheel wells unique to FJ Cruiser

The driver's seat was comfortable and spacious for a 5'9" tall mom like me with the front seat view resembling an airplane cockpit, especially the trio of controls that sit front and center on top of the dashboard. In fact most of the controls on the panel are oversized and easily accessible for a reason: to aid driving especially when you are wearing gloves. The inside of the car also features heavy duty water resistant seat fabric to make cleaning it a snap if you are going on an four-wheel outing adventure or if you have kids that are constantly making a mess in your car like mine do. What's more is that there is a nice size cargo area for shlepping all your kids' gear all over town, too.

Over size controls with vertical front windshield feel like a plane cockpit

Our Miniature Pinscher Dexter takes in the Jetson-like back seat view

Huge square cargo area with side open back door

As with people looks aren't everything and it's what you find on the inside that really counts with this car. The FJ Cruiser comes in both 4x4  -- the model I drove for for this review -- as well as 4x2 WD. Under the hood there's the 4.0 liter 6-cylinder engine that was powerful enough to accelerate easily on L.A.'s freeway on ramps. With so much power I was surprised that this gets decent mileage for an SUV: a full 19.0 miles per gallon.

Guess that's why the 2012 FJ Cruiser has won so many awards including Best Overall Value of the Year and Highest Retained Value in its own class among many others.

Here's the school bus yellow FJ Cruiser

FJ Cruiser as yellow as a school bus

With all that I loved about this car, I have a couple of things on my wish list that could be improved upon. First, it seats only five people so it wouldn't be big enough for our family of six. Still for a family of five or less, I think this SUV would be great for in-town car pool duty as well as to drive on challenging terrain like a family road trip to go skiing this winter. The other thing is my kids and I both think the FJ Cruiser would be even more fun to drive if there was a sun roof either as a standard or factory option.

If you're in the market for a new family vehicle that's fun and functional consider giving the FJ Cruiser a test drive. Then you can judge for yourself if this is the right choice for you.

FTC Disclosure: I completed the extended test drive and review as a member of the Toyota Women Influencers Network TWIN community through a program with Clever Girls Collective. I did not receive any compensation for writing this post or payment in exchange for participating. The opinions expressed herein are mine, and do not reflect the views of Toyota or any of its brands. 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.