The Hallmark Room at BlogHer11

It is no secret that  I adore Hallmark cards. My mom and I used to go into Hallmark when Meg was in her stroller, and just read cards. We would pick one out and laugh and then insist that the other one read it…right now!  We would laugh until our sides hurt.  I hope that someday that will become a regular occurrence again.  Maybe once the kids are old enough not to trash Hallmark by pulling out all of the cards then putting them back in a totally different category.  I’m talking about school-age kids here, but I digress.

At BlogHer11 Hallmark had a lovely little room with fluffy comfy couches to rest upon. They had a selection of awesome cards that we could select and mail out or give to another attendee.  Purple is my favorite color and they were handing out purple shirts that said, “_______is a special occasion.”  We filled in the blanks. I wrote in that “Good Morning Hugs are a special occasion.”  I do love me some cuddling in the morning, stinky breath and all.

@OutnumberedMom

What I adore about this campaign is that it is so simple. We need to celebrate all of life’s little moments as well as the big ones. I am not an advocate for throwing an expensive party over a first lost tooth or having a pinata tournament for a first bicycle wreck, but a thought, a hug, an extra space of time to recognize how special life is:  I am all for.

To win your own purple shirt and a selection of Hallmark cards:

•  Leave a comment on this post saying what your special everyday occasion is!
• Like Hallmark on Facebook and tell me about you did it.
• Follow Hallmark on Twitter and tell me about it and leave you Twitter handle so I can follow you to!

That is three chances to win! Yippee :)  Giveaway runs from August 23rd to  August 29th noon.  Winner will be picked by Random.org.

Don’t forget to enter my TheraBreath Giveaway!  Ends 8/25

(Disclosure:  I received no compensation for this review of Hallmark or hosting a giveaway. I met the Hallmark people at BlogHer11 and got a purple t shirt and two free cards at that time.  My feelings for Hallmark are mine and not sponsored!)

Way back in February, during Black History Month I posted on some books I gave to my girls’ classrooms. I also mentioned that like to make sure the class rooms have the Mancala game in them. This new game  Path to the White House is a new one for the classrooms I am excited to give out.  When searching for ways to put Black History in my kid’s class rooms I find books, but not a lot of interactive things that actually teach facts.  I think this game will help me fill that gap in the older classrooms.

Path to the Presidency: From 1619 to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is for ages ten and up and 2-5 players can play at one time. There are four historic eras in this game: Slavery, Building Democracy, Civil Rights and the Modern Era.  There are also Adversity and Overcoming cards that effect the game as you try to move your pawn to the White House. 

The games cards are filled with history and trivia that is easy for kids to learn and remember. The Modern Era cards feature figures such as Serena Williams and Colin Powell while the Adversity cards tell of facts about things like Plessy V. Ferguson (1896 “Seperate but equal” is legal.”)   From Jamestown to Motown the trivia and facts cover a lot of territory.  The game board is covered with illistrations and pictures of Black History that are sure to get kids asking questions as well as identify with history they allready are familiar with. I think it is important that we teach our kids history, both black and white together.  Unfortunately the black education is rather lacking in our school books and a game such as this could help with that gap.

I like that this game is easy to play and makes learning about history enjoyable for kids. My three older girls really enjoy playing.  The age  range is 10 and up, but I have found that if they team up the eight year old is holding her own as well.  Playing with an adult helps to add some experience to the game as well.  You can also use the cards as trivia cards and forget the board game if you kids just want to learn some fun and easy facts.

The one drawback to the game is that from the packaging it looks like a game about President Obama. While I am more than fine with learning about our current President, I fear that many will overlook the game simply because of the emphasis of Obama. Whatever your feelings are for our President, Black History is important for us to learn.

Path to the Presidency can be bought here.

Pressman Toys is letting me give  four games away two games for two readers, one to keep at home and one to giveaway to a school or community center. You have two ways to enter: 1) Simply leave a comment on where you would donate your second game to.  2) Like Pressman Toys on Facebook and tell them FourAgainstTwo sent you and come back here to tell me you did this.  Winners will be chosen by Random.com.  Easy as pie! Make sure I have your correct email address.  Giveaway is from July 10th through July 15th 5pm.

(Disclosure:  Pressman Toys sent me two copies of the above game (one to play, one to donate to my daughters’ school) for an honest review of the game. They also are offering four copies to two winners on my blog, again one to keep at home and one to giveaway.  I recieved no other compensation.)

I do not have to have a mammogram just yet, but I will in five years.  I’m actually looking forward to it. I’ve heard all of the jokes about getting a mammogram. I’ve also heard the complaints. As a general rule I am not intimidated by medical procedures (see RN degree).  Since I’m also almost a certified Boobologist, aka Lactation Consultant, breasts and the tests of said subject only give me more experience to share with others. 

This October we will see waves of pink everywhere. People will wear pink, participate in walks and raise money for breast cancer research as well as breast cancer services.  There is something else you can do that is free and will help with future breast cancer research. Go to ArmyOfWomen.org and sign up to help. I did.  It is easy.  Just offer your information to a breast cancer research study if you qualify.  Not everyone will qualify to be a study participant, but you will be on the list for future studies. The goal is for 1 million women to sign up.  Be one in a million!

Win this set!

Watch this video and get motivated.

To honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month I am also giving away an AVON package of crusade socks and foot cream.  If you don’t win and still want them the cost of these are only $7.99 and $6.40 goes towards the AVON Breast Cancer Crusade campaign.

I must note here that we have a local AVON distribution center in our area and they have donated $50,000 to  Genesis HealthCare Systems (Hubby works there) to go towards  a Breast Cancer Nurse Navigator. A nurse navigator is invaluable to those who are diagnosed with this cancer and are trying to find treatment and care.  Thanks AVON!

So now you have three things to do:

1) Call your OB-GYN or family doctor if you have not had your yearly breast exam and make an appointment.  Now! I ‘m waiting!

2)  Sign up at ArmyOfWomen.org and offer your help for Breast Cancer Research.

3) Enter my giveaway!  There are three ways to win

* Leave a comment about how breast cancer has effected your life.
* Leave a comment telling me you have signed up at ArmyOfWoman.org
* Tweet or Facebook my post and leave a link/note in the comments.

Giveaway is open from October 1st through  October 15th, 2010.

(Disclosure: I am an independent AVON rep and the links above to AVON are to my store.  I do not profit from Breast Cancer Fund-raising products.)

As I mentioned last week, we have been doing a lot of shuffling around of clothing at my house, in preparation of the beginning of the new school year.  The clothing shuffle is never easy with four growing girls who all have different likes and body types. I am  a firm believer in hand-me-downs though so I make it work the best I can.

This year I have a new way of clothes sharing that I am really excited about:

ThredUP!

I first heard of ThredUP a few weeks ago at BlogHer10. They had a booth on the Expo floor asking parents to be more environmentally friendly this school year and trading clothing was one of their suggestions.

I soon plugged into the ThredUP site and was happy with how easy it was to manage my account. The first box I chose arrived in two days with clothing items my kids liked and could wear.

I quickly listed five boxes of our clothes that where in nice condition, but we didn’t need anymore and four boxes were picked the very next day giving me credits in my account since they were sizes the site needed at that time.

The basic membership is FREE and the pro membership is $29.99 a year/or $19.99 for six months. With the pro service, meaning you get all the bells and whistles that the site offers.  With my link you can have pro service free for one month!  This way you can feel out the site, list some boxes, maybe earn some credits and soon be a trading maven yourself.

Remember the site does not offer pictures of the clothes, just brief descriptions. I think it is important to remember that you are not shopping for Homecoming dresses and suits here. You are trading hand-me-downs to help out the budget!

Also, until August 30th, ThredUP will donate $1 to Cradles to Crayons for each transaction on the site.  Good deeds, good clothes equals good for everyone! The site is easy to understand and I encourage you all to go there and see for yourself.

One lucky reader will receive a years pro membership for free! This is a $29.99 service for twelve months to use and keep your kids in jeans for a while.  This contest runs from August 23 through August 31st  at midnight. (2010!)  The winner will be drawn via Random.org.

There are several ways to win:

1)  Leave a comment below about your favorite back to school moment. It can be about your children or from your own childhood.

2) Leave a comment below describing your child’s favorite outfit this year that you hate!

3)  Follow me on Twitter @FourAgainstTwo and leave me a comment that you are now following me.

4) Follow ThredUP on Twitter @ThredUP and leave a comment here that you did so.

5) Tweet the following tweet (once a day only) and leave a link to your tweet:

Win a membership to ThredUp with @FourAgainstTwo http://fouragainsttwo.com/index.php/2010/08/23/thredup-is-my-new-place-to-trade-give-away/

Good luck!

(Disclosure: I have not received any compensation for this post. I just thought a giveaway would be fun! I do get a month of Pro status when you sign up through me with ThredUP .)

Today Jenna at StopDropandBlog has the question of the day. Of course it is about pictures (!) as she is a photography among other things.

Meg in a Fire Truck

So here it is.  My favorite picture.  I took it last year at the local FireMan’s Festival (which fits in with Jenna’s theme well LOL!) and didn’t try to take it the way it turned out, it just happened. I love it.  I also won a $5 gift card to our local coffee hangout with it.  Wow am I lucky! 

So click on over to BlogHer and enter the question of the day…it is a real contest that you can win.   Enu wants to know why I won’t buy her ice cream with my winnings…I’m just stingy that way!

Photo Credit Mandy W. 2009