The Ugly Duckling Dinosaur - Review and Giveaway

We are all familiar with the lovable tale of the Ugly Duckling and the positive message it passes along to children.  Cheryl Bardoe has taken this tale and put a fun new spin on it! As we anxiously await the emergence of 7 little ducklings from their eggs, we are shocked to discover a dinosaur hatching from one of those eggs!

Of course this dinosaur does not look like the ducklings. He stands out with his big teeth and large size. The illustrations by Roy D. Kennedy help to bring this story to life and show you just how different the dinosaur is. In this heartbreaking tale the dinosaur leaves the ducklings and goes off to try and make friends. But sadly they are all scared of how he looks and they run away. 

This story takes us on adventure and lets us know what it feels like to be different. It illustrates the sadness associated with not being accepted and teaches compassion. Fortunately, this dinosaur does find his happy ending  but you will have to read the book to find out how! The author also includes some fun facts about dinosaurs... so you can learn something new, too!

Giveaway: One lucky reader will win a copy of The Ugly Duckling Dinosaur!

HOW TO ENTER: Leave a separate comment for each entry and be sure to leave your e-mail address!

MANDATORY ENTRY: Tell me who you would like to win this for! 

EXTRA ENTRIES:
1. Enter another one of my current giveaways (1 entry each)
2. Follow my blog
3. Follow me on Twitter (1 entry) and tweet (1 entry per tweet - 1 tweet per day)
4. Fan me on Facebook
5. Grab my button and tell me where it is (3 entries)

This giveaway is open to US and Canada.
This giveaway ends on June 6, 2011 at 5:00 pm EST. One winner will be chosen by Random.org and notified by e-mail. Please respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected. Good Luck!

Winners!

Random.org has chosen our winners for the Ecomom, Little One Books, and Build a Dream Playhouses Giveaways!!

Ecomom - Waiting on confirmation from the company

Little One Books - #100 Flowerchild

Build a Dream Playhouses - #85 Jenerally Speaking

Congratulations to our winners! E-mail notifications have been sent. The winners will have 48 hours to respond or we will have to choose another winner.

Thank you to everyone who entered!

The Melting Pot - Westwood, NJ Review

This past weekend my husband and I had the fabulous opportunity to try the new Latin America Big Night Out menu at the Melting Pot in Westwood, NJ. Every time I dine at this location I know that I am in for more than a meal... I am going to be taking part in a dining experience. This is a big deal to parents of a toddler! I knew that we were about to experience a well paced meal that would allow us the time to talk and reconnect while enjoying exceptional food in an intimate environment. I was not disappointed!

The Latin America Big Night Out is a 4 course meal that truly introduces your taste buds to the Latin cuisine. My husband is an adventurous eater, while I am bit more reserved in my typical selections and willingness to try new things. I was grateful that we were dining together, as he encouraged me to step outside my usual comfort zone and try this menu as it was intended.

Our waitress was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu and walked us through each step. She was ready and willing to answer any questions we had and made the dining experience even that much more enjoyable.

First Course – Cheese Fondue
A fondue version of the classic Mexican dish, the first course, “Queso Fundido,” combines Fontina, Gruyere and Gran Queso cheeses with crumbled Chorizo sausage, fresh lime juice and fresh jalapeños. Chips are also included as dippers.
This was by far my favorite course. This cheese was to die for! You are able to choose whether you would like your cheese mild, medium, or hot in terms if spice. We opted for medium and it was the perfect balance. The chips complimented it very nicely. I  feel that this cheese should be added to their regular menu.. it's that good!

Second Course – Salad
The Shrimp Ceviche salad is a blend of citrus-marinated shrimp, avocado puree, tropical fruit pico de gallo and mixed greens tossed with lime vinaigrette. The citrus marinade that coats the shrimp consists of lime juice, jalapeños, lemon juice and cilantro.
The salad was light and refreshing. The dressing had a bit of a tang to it, but it all went together very nicely. I said to my husband, it's amazing how they can make a salad taste so good and so much not like a salad!

Third Course – Entrée
This dish features fresh meats and marinades including Chimichurri sirloin with influences from Argentina and Brazil, garlic Piri Piri shrimp, mole-marinated chicken breast, citrus-marinated pork tenderloin and fire-roasted corn salsa ravioli. The featured sauce served with the entrée is the Salsa Verde which is a green sauce consisting of tomatillos, jalapeños, lime juice, garlic, salt, pepper and cilantro.
Mmmm... I love this part of the meal. The vegetables cooking, trying a variety of meats, the incredible selection of sauces. We chose the Mojo cooking style to try and stay with the theme. This was first time trying this cooking style and we enjoyed it very much! You could smell and taste the garlic and citrus combination. 

Fourth Course – Chocolate Fondue
For dessert, Chef Shane created a new dark and dulce chocolate fondue. This is a classic flavor combination featuring bittersweet dark chocolate and sweet dulce de leche accented with coarse sea salt.
This comes in a close second to my favorite part of the meal. I am not usually a dark chocolate person, but I am glad I gave it a shot. The hint of sea salt really added to the flavor. We devoured all of our delicious dippers.

While we truly enjoyed the Latin Fusion Big Night Out, this menu option is only available for a limited time. You can take a look at the dinner menu here. Also, regular menu items may serve as substitutions in the Big Night Out menu to help you create your ideal meal.

The proprietors of the Westwood, NJ Melting Pot, Will and Carol Layfield, are also the proprietors of the Melting Pot restaurants in White Plains, NY and Darien, CT. While providing this fantastic style of dining for the tri-state area, they are also active in the community raising funds for several New Jersey based organizations. On this list is the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, which you all know is near and dear to my heart. I am thrilled to support the Layfield's restaurants due to the exceptional dining experience, as well as their contributions to deserving causes.

GIVEAWAY: FIVE Lucky Readers will receive a $25 DIP Certificate! These DIP Certificates are redeemable at the Westwood, NJ; White Plains, NY and Darien, CT locations.
 
HOW TO ENTER: Leave a separate comment for each entry and be sure to leave your e-mail address!

MANDATORY ENTRY: Like their Facebook Page and leave a comment letting them know Momma Drama sent you!

EXTRA ENTRIES:
1. Enter another one of my current giveaways(1 entry per giveaway)
2. Follow my blog
3. Follow me on Twitter and tweet (1 entry per tweet - 1 tweet per day)
4. Fan me on Facebook
5. Grab my button and tell me where it is (3 entries)

6. Follow The Melting Pot on twitter (2 entries)

7. Take a look at the menu and tell me one thing you would love to try!

This giveaway ends on June 2, 2011 at 5:00 pm EST. One winner will be chosen by Random.org and notified by e-mail. Please respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected. Good Luck!

Water Works

Next Tuesday my little girl will be turning two! Wow, I can't believe it. So I have been busy running around trying to get together the best "Tea for Two" party I possibly can. Her first birthday party was such a hit! I had a scrapbook of her first year and a slide show running all day. So I wanted to try and do that for this year, too. Well, I got the scrapbook done but I didn't get the slide show. So I pulled out the one from her first birthday to see if I could play it again.

I sat down at my computer and started to watch. Between the music, the pictures, and the memories I just couldn't handle it. I started to bawl. Literally. Uncontrollable sobs. But not even sad sobs so much. Just where did the time go sobs. I get so happy looking at those pictures of her when she was so tiny. Remembering her first steps, looking at the pictures of her sleeping on her daddy's chest, her first Christmas. It has been the best 2 years of my life.

The weird thing is I wouldn't trade who she is now for the little baby she was. I miss the little tiny baby stage, but I adore the funny, sweet toddler. It's strange how fast time can go and how much you can miss the good old days, but still be completely content in the moment.

When I first had her I asked a friend what stage was her favorite. She told me that every stage is amazing and it just keeps getting better. I couldn't imagine that being true with the amount of joy I was getting from my newborn. I thought, oh once she talks and becomes independent life will be different and not as special. But it's true... every stage is amazing. Every day is fun and exciting. Every stage is challenging in different ways.

Can anyone relate?

The Loud Book - Review and Giveaway

I have a toddler so my house is full of noise! all kinds of noise... good noise like laughing and squealing.... bad noise like things from my counter that I didn't know she could reach crashing to the floor.  Whatever the noise is it is always LOUD! We avoid places where quiet is expected because quiet is not really in our vocabulary at the moment. But what we are trying to do is to teach my daughter when being loud is ok. We talk about indoor voice and outdoor voice. We try to talk to her when she purposely drops things from high up in her chair simply to see and hear them crash. So "The Loud Book" is the perfect book for us.

Deborah Underwood wrote this fantastically sweet book filled with all kinds of "loud." She covers the good the bad and the embarassing. And with the help of the fabulous illustrations, done by Renata Liwska, the book really comes to life.

You can take a look at "good crash loud," which is a strike at the bowling alley. And then look at "bad crash loud," those pots and pans that we so often hear crashing to the floor. It really illustrates the many kinds of loud and how some kinds are great and fun and we should enjoy the noise! But also identifying the bad loud... for me.. the alarm clock!

This book is tons of fun and can really be an interactive story telling time with your child. When I read it to my daughter we made some of the sounds as we were reading along. And the fun little critters in the book are sweet and endearing. And all around great book for kids!

Giveaway: One lucky reader will win a copy of "The Loud Book!"

HOW TO ENTER: Leave a separate comment for each entry and be sure to leave your e-mail address!
MANDATORY ENTRY: Tell me who you would like to win this for!

EXTRA ENTRIES:
1. Enter another one of my current giveaways (1 entry each)
2. Follow my blog
3. Follow me on Twitter (1 entry) and tweet (1 entry per tweet - 1 tweet per day)
4. Fan me on Facebook
5. Grab my button and tell me where it is (3 entries)

This giveaway is open to US and Canada.
This giveaway ends on June 1, 2011 at 5:00 pm EST. One winner will be chosen by Random.org and notified by e-mail. Please respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected. Good Luck!

ScareMeNots Review and Giveaway

When you think of a child's number one fear what typically comes to mind? For me I always think afraid of the dark. I remember being small and being terrified of the dark and all the creepiness that comes along with it. Weird noises throughout the house, monsters under my bed or in my closet, the eerie quiet of the night. What are some things that can help a child through those tough, lonely nights? I had a night light and that brought some comfort. I had a friend who slept in her parents bed. Other slept with lights on or in a siblings bed. But I don't know of anyone who had a solution as fun and cool as the ScareMeNots!

ScareMeNots receive special training from ScareMeNot University. Their skills include being able to see in the dark, hanging from their tails, and staying awake all night long. They are then sent to the homes of small children who need them to help feel protected at night. Their Velcro tails make them easy to attach to doorknobs, bed rails, curtain rods, closets, or many other place's in a child's room.

With the knowledge of their training and the presence of this brave souls children will sleep better knowing someone is looking out for them and keeping them safe. What a brilliant and fun idea! Each ScareMeNot in the gang is different and special in their own way. With 9 to choose from you are sure to find the right companion for your child.

My daughter received "Fearless Fred"! Fearless Fred truly has his eye peeled for trouble and is the perfect protector. My daughter loves to snuggle him and knows exactly where he is at night looking after her. He is bigger than I imagined and very cuddly. He is built to last and I am sure he will have his place in her room for many years to come, helping her through tough nights and making her feel safe.

GIVEAWAY: One Lucky Reader will win a ScareMeNot of their choice!

HOW TO ENTER: Leave a separate comment for each entry and be sure to leave your e-mail address!

MANDATORY ENTRY: Visit the ScareMeNots website and tell me which one you would pick!

EXTRA ENTRIES:
1. Enter another one of my current giveaways(1 entry per giveaway)
2. Follow my blog
3. Follow me on Twitter and tweet (1 entry per tweet - 1 tweet per day)
4. Fan me on Facebook
5. Grab my button and tell me where it is (3 entries)
6. Subscribe to my blog via e-mail
7. Like ScareMeNots on Facebook
8. Follow ScareMeNots on Twitter

This giveaway is open to US only.
This giveaway ends on June 1, 2011 at 5:00 pm EST. One winner will be chosen by Random.org and notified by e-mail. Please respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected. Good Luck!

Boogie Wipes Review and Giveaway

As a mom of a toddler in school, one thing I have become very familiar with is the runny nose. Her nose seems to run from November to April. My pediatrician keeps telling me it's what I should expect and not to worry. So I'm not too worried about the constant flow, but I do worry about keeping her nose clean and avoiding the dreaded "wipe and smear into your eyes and then touch everything in site" mess that often come with these runny noses. Boogie Wipes to the rescue!

We love Boogie Wipes in our house. They are saline wipes invented for kids by moms. Brilliant if you ask me. It's the perfect way to avoid those poor dry, chapped noses. They also come scented and unscented, but for us we find the scented to be even more motivating for my daughter to want to wipe her nose.

We use them all the time at home, but then she comes home from school with that sore looking nose. How I wish they would use Boogie Wipes at school! Mabe now they will since Boogie Wipes has created the Boogie Wipes Teacher's Kit!
Boogie Wipes has created an exclusive Boogie Wipes Teacher Kit which contains: a poster with Save the Sleeve pledge guidelines, 50 Boogie Wipes samples, $.50 OFF coupons, 2 classroom canisters and 10 Free Boogs.Boogie Wipes are a unique saline nose wipe that are much softer and gentler on young noses than tissues, and the fun scents like Great Grape encourage children to remember the importance of not using their hand or sleeve to wipe a messy nose, keeping clothes clean and helping prevent the spread of germs.


GIVEAWAY: 1 Lucky Winner will receive 2 packs of 30-count wipes!
 
HOW TO ENTER: Leave a separate comment for each entry and be sure to leave your e-mail address!

MANDATORY ENTRY: Visit Boogie Wipes and tell me which scent you would love to try!

EXTRA ENTRIES:
1. Enter another one of my current giveaways(1 entry per giveaway)
2. Follow my blog
3. Follow me on Twitter and tweet (1 entry per tweet - 1 tweet per day)
4. Fan me on Facebook
5. Grab my button and tell me where it is (3 entries)
6. Follow Boogie Wipes on twitter
7. Like Boogie Wipes on Facebook
8. Join the Boogie Bunch

This giveaway is open to US only (no PO Boxes).
This giveaway ends on May 31, 2011 at 5:00 pm EST. One winner will be chosen by Random.org and notified by e-mail. Please respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected. Good Luck!

The Wild Thornberrys: Season 1 - Review

Do you remember The Wild Thornberrys? I do! This show premiered in September of 1998 and ran until 2004. You could then catch reruns on Nicktoons and CBS from 2002-2007. So I be lots of you remember this fun show! So you will be excited to learn that after years of anticipation you can finally own the first season on DVD.... available TODAY!

The Wildthornberrys are that quirky family that you wish you knew. They spend their time traveling around the word in their CommVee (Communcations Vehicle). They go on these wild adeventures to find rare animals to film. Their family dynamics are humorous and the siblings are so different you wouldn't even know they were related! But the star of show is probably Eliza. Eliza has the power to speak to animals, so she is always off on a new adeventure and meeting new friends.

This show provides you with so much more than just pure entertainment. Each episode takes you to someplace new and introduces you to new animals and environments. This is the perfect time to introduce your kids to an old favorite and let them have fun and learn with these wild adeventures.

We had a great time watching these episodes as a family. My daughter was really excited by the animals and I thought it was cool that she could learn about them through this show. They make the scenery very vivid and bright, really transporting you to someplace else.  It's a fun show that doesn't get on parent's nerves... which is a major plus!

The Wild Thornberrys: Season 1 is available in stores today! It is listed to retail for about $29.93 and offers a fantastic cast of voices and 20 action-packed episodes.

Birthday Bash - HEXBUG Review

As part of the Birthday Bash I was sent a really cool toy to check out. This toy would really make an awesome birthday gift as it is unique and fun! I've never seen anything quite like it. We were sent the HEXBUG Nano Habitat Set. Here is a little about it:

The HEXBUG Nano uses the physics of vibration and its small but powerful motor to explore its environment, determined to navigate any complex maze in its path. HEXBUG Nano owners cannow create a customizable playground for the industrious critters to traverse using the HEXBUG Nano Habitat Set. The set contains two extremely rare Nano mutations, four easy connect cruved pieces, three easy conenct straight pieces, and three easy connect hexagon pieces, offering users a variety of configurations.

This set reatils for about $29.99 can be found at most major retailers or at http://www.hexbug.com/.

We had a blast with this set! It is recommended for ages 3 and up, so we made sure that we played with my daughter while she was playing with it, and it really was fun for the whole family. My husband was having so much fun putting the habitat together and then changing it. And my daughter and I just found the Nano's to be so entertaining. Their little legsm ove so fast as they scurry around the habitat. They find their way through paths and into other rooms. We got wild and crazy and had 4 Nano's going at once. They would collide with each other and sometimes flip over. Then we would watch them wiggle and squirm until they got back on their feet.

I think HEXBUG's are really cool and kids of a variety of ages would have a blast with them. You can buy additional sets and really add onto your habitat for an extensive little maze for these guys! I think you should check them out!