Monday, September 28, 2009

CONTEST: Wendy's High School Heisman Scholarship Awards and Gift Card



My son is now a fresh-person in college, studying at our community college. He achieved the Florida Brightfutures Scholarship which provides considerable assistance, and we're so very proud of his accomplishments! The process can be daunting, but with perseverence - he really pulled his own and got the job done-all the while participating in high school soccer (GO GLADIATORS!, completing his volunteer assignments with the YMCA, and working part-time to help the fam and give himself a few extra $$$$. He seems to be enjoying the rigors of college study with the intention of completing his Associate's Degree at junior college and then moving to a larger state school to earn his Bachelor's in a chosen field....

With college admissions growing more and more selective, the Wendy's High School Heisman program presents a great opportunity to help those students who have managed to balance so much, stand out. This award celebrates high school seniors who excel in academics, athletics, and community involvement; in essence, recognizing them for all of the things they already do. Colleges want to see well-rounded students who demonstrate dedication and commitment, making this program especially relevant and accessible.

High school seniors who have a 3.0 average or higher, participate in a school-sponsored sport and contribute to their community can apply at www.WendysHeisman.com, or a high school educator, guidance counselor, or coach can nominate them. As a little reward, the first 41,100 applicants will receive a free Wendy's gift card in amounts ranging from $5 to $50. One male and one female from each high school will win the award and continue on in competition for state and national awards. Twelve national finalists will participate in Heisman Weekend festivities during an all-expenses-paid trip Dec. 11-13 to New York City. ESPN2 will feature all 12 national finalists during the Wendy's High School Heisman Awards Ceremony, which airs Dec. 13. The Wendy's High School Heisman website will display the names of all applicants and individual school winners on October 22, 2009.

Here's the scoop directly from their website - ACT TODAY SINCE THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS OCTOBER 1:

Criteria and How to Apply
For the past fifteen years, Wendy's Restaurants have teamed up with the Heisman Memorial Trophy Committee to create the Wendy's High School Heisman Award. The award honors both male and female high school students who excel in academics, athletics and student leadership.

Criteria for Application
We want applications from both male and female student athletes who exhibit excellence in the classroom, on the playing field, and within their communities. Eligibility for application is limited exclusively to men and women whose senior year of high school is the 2009–2010 academic year, who have at least a “B” grade average, and participate in at least one of 27 sports. We want to hear from all student athletes who work hard, are dedicated, and have become role models for underclassmen.

The Application Process
A student begins the application process by selecting Apply Now! An account must be created with name, address, and email information. It is here that students establish their own User ID and password, which will be required to log in, as often as needed prior to the deadline, to complete the application.

Once the account is created, the student can launch the online application. At the initial launch, the student must answer eligibility questions.

Eligible students will then proceed to the remaining sections of the application. They will describe their school involvement, athletic participation and leadership, and relate experiences from community involvement activities. In addition, the student must provide an accurate email address of a school official who will log in to review the application and its contents, and confirm its accuracy.

All of this must be done prior to 5:00 p.m., central time, October 1, 2009.

Applicants should plan on submitting their application in September to allow time for the review.
The reviewer must submit by 5:00 p.m., central time, on October 6.
Very Important Notes
Students must remember their User ID and password until October.
Save the application frequently while logged in.
Log out if you leave the computer.
Be assured your personal, private information will not be shared with anyone outside of the Wendy's High School Heisman Program and selection committee.
Security concerns prevent the use of bookmarks to return to pages within the application. It is recommended, however, to bookmark THIS page.
One of the common oversights is failure to submit prior to the deadline. Applications must be completed and submitted no later than 5:00 p.m., central time, on Thursday, October 1. Reviewers must submit their review no later than 5:00 p.m., central time, on Tuesday, October 6, in order for applications to be considered.

You can follow the selection results online at www.wendyshighschoolheisman.com.

I urge you to enter your college-bound candidate today! As a special incentive, I am also running a blog contest FOR A $20 WENDY'S GIFT CARD, COURTESY OF WENDY'S AND MOM CENTRAL:
Please post a comment below about your special High School Heisman candidate and receive an entry. Please be sure to include contact information.

For an extra entry: Follow me on Twitter: @OtterKim
and post a comment indicating that you have and you will receive an additional entry. Maximum 2 entries total per person. I will do a random draw from all eligible entries on October 4, 2009 12:00 midnight. The winner will be contacted for mailing of the prize - must be a US resident. Good luck!

Thank you for participating.


"I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Wendy’s and received a gift certificate to giveaway and to thank me for taking the time to participate."

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

The Circus Is Coming To Town....


Our Junior Girl Scout troop has reconvened for the school year, and now the girls are planning, voting, budgeting, and finalizing their learning experiences for the year - tickets for the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey® Circus are certainly on top of their list again this year! Our Girl Scout troop worked really hard this spring to sell LOTS of Cookies to raise the $$$!
I was thrilled to tell them that special discounts are now available, and I'm happy to share the code information with my readers...

Feld Entertainment's Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey® live performances provide edge-of-your-seat entertainment for the young and young at heart. Also, Feld Entertainment has created savings offers available by using customer codes for the Mom Central community. These offers enable us to create lifetime memories experiencing the excitement of Ringling Bros. ® with our families!

We enjoyed our Ringling Circus performance locally last winter - the costuming, performers and animal acts are all breath taking! The children were amazed at the incredible music and spectacle! It's a family tradition....


While each touring edition of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey is different, all feature amazing Asian elephants, fascinating tigers, family fun and so many thrills that you will be on the edge of your seat all night!


To enhance your night at the circus, you get two experiences in one. The All Access Pre-Show begins an hour before show time, live on the circus floor. The Pre-Show provides the opportunity for kids to interact with performers, try on costumes, and get up close and personal at The Greatest Show On Earth.

Mom Central is excited to extend the following special family offers; look for the box marked "MC Promotion" when purchasing tickets:

*Offer #1: Get 4 tickets for just $44 by entering the code "MOM" at select ticketing channels. Offer good on all weekday performances, which includes all weekday evening and Friday matinee performances; minimum purchase of 4 tickets required; additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each.
*Offer #2: All weekend performance tickets will be $4 off the original price.
Offer #3: Get the best Circus Celebrity, Front Row and VIP seats available – We have reserved seats in these sections just for you! Enter the code MOM. No discounts available on these sections.
* Not valid on Circus CelebritySM, Front Row or VIP seats and may not be combined with other offers including special Opening Night pricing. Other fees may apply.

The above offers are good in the following cities:
Denver: September 30 – October 11, 2009
Boston: October 14-18, 2009
St. Louis: October 15-18, 2009
Cleveland: October 21-26, 2009
Rosemont/Chicago: November 5 – 29, 2009 *available for purchase on Sept. 8. 2009
Auburn Hills: November 18-22, 2009
Charlotte: January 27-31, 2010 *available for purchase on Sept. 12, 2009
Atlanta: February 12-21, 2010 *available for purchase on Sept. 12, 2009
Cincinnati: March 10-14, 2010 *available for purchase on Sept. 21, 2009
Dayton: April 29 – May 2, 2010 *available for purchase on Sept. 21, 2009

Shows coming this fall & winter:

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents Over The Top, an all-new live entertainment extravaganza featuring the ultimate tug of war between Ringmaster Chuck Wagner and clown eccentric Tom Dougherty over a magical top hat that controls the circus. When the Ringmaster dons the hat he conjures stupendous spectacles for his circus, like the stunt riding Royal Cossack Cavalry while the clown uses the hat to summon silly and whimsical acts for his circus, such as a cavalry of goats riding on ponies in a Barnyard Bonanza. They continue to top one another until the Ringmaster and clown realize that the magic of the circus is not in the hat but in the hearts of everyone. The show culminates in an amazing display of gigantic glowing rainforest flowers surrounding Chinese acrobats swinging on vines and propelling through the air. Over the Top is two circuses in one providing excitement for the whole family.

Audiences will see nearly 100 animals including flying dogs, Asian elephants that skip, hop, and groove, miniature horses, llamas, pigs, and even a performing porcupine. In a daring feat, the courageous Daniel Raffo stands eye to eye with a pack of powerful Bengal tigers. Circus celebrities help rev-up the motorcycle madness featuring one cycle on a high wire and seven speeding riders in a Globe of Steel. Extraordinary aerial acts fill the arena sky with a rare double-decker trapeze and the Bombastic Bouncers who combine gigantic inner tubes and awe-inspiring acrobatics in a high-energy performance never before seen in America. And with the audience's participation, this circus really goes Over The Top!

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents ZING ZANG ZOOM®: Through the mystery of magic and the mastery of skill, audiences will be spellbound as Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents ZING ZANG ZOOM®, a thrill-filled, mind-blowing circus spectacular where family fun is no illusion.

Magical Zingmaster Alex and his assistant, the alluring Levitytia, lead audiences through a kaleidoscope of color and imagery revealing extraordinary worlds of fantasy, flight and phenomena that celebrates the uplifting spirit of the circus and wards off a cynical Mr. Gravity and his team of "heavies" who try to bring everyone down.

Be mesmerized when a four-ton elephant disappears before your eyes, and a gravity-inducing nemesis transforms across species into a ferocious tiger. Stand in awe as a dazzling trapeze artist performs a perilous, anatomically unimaginable one-arm speed-spin high atop the arena floor, and two formidable, female human cannonballs are blasted through the air in a daring, awe-inspiring display of bravery. Become electrified as the dangerous double wheel of steel, the gasp-inducing high wire and soaring gigantic swings defy both gravity and logic.

Fun-filled magic merges with traditional circus arts to create a world of infinite possibilities where apprentice illusionists levitate their parents with a wave of a wand, and audience spirits keep rising as the high flying circus is (literally) turned upside down. Perhaps the most magical of all, watch in amazement as an incomparable array of exotic animals including a herd of majestic Asian elephants, magnificent Bengal tigers and elegant Arabian and Friesian horses join forces with our human performers to create an experience that will surprise and delight Children of All Ages, rendering us speechless and reminding us that the magic of The Greatest Show On Earth® lives forever in our hearts and imaginations.

To learn more about Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey shows touring the country this year and to find shows in your area, visit the Ringling site at http://www.ringling.com. And don't forget to use the special discount code when purchasing tickets online!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Feld Entertainment. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Disney On Ice and Ringling Brothers Tours-Discount Tickets

With the onset of fall and winter upon us already, our Girl Scout troop begins their planning for special outings and activities. The girls are at the perfect age (Junior Scouts/ages 10-12) to do research, propose ideas, discuss, plan and budget for their troop's special events and trips.

On top of their list this year will be tickets to attend a local performance of Disney On Ice and the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. These fabulous family tours are wonderful experiences for children and adults alike that feature excellent value!

The excitement, drama and thrill of Disney On Ice features iconic Disney stories, characters and music teamed with world-class skating. With spectacular ice shows featuring the magic of Disney friends and princesses is pure delight! Featured shows on tour are Disney On Ice Presents Celebrations! and Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy....

Our friends at Mom Central is extending special family offers, look for the box marked "MC Promotion" when purchasing tickets:

*Offer #1: Get 4 tickets for just $44 by entering the code "MOM" at select ticketing channels. Offer good on all weekday performances, which includes all weekday evening and Friday matinee performances; minimum of 4 tickets required; additional tickets above 4 can be purchased for $11 each.
*Offer #2: All weekend performance tickets will be $4 off the original price.
Offer #3: Get the best Front Row and VIP tickets available - We have reserved seats in the Front Row and VIP sections just for you! No discounts available. Use the code "MOM".
(*Not valid on Front Row or VIP seats or combinable with other offers including opening night offers. Other fees may apply.)

These offers are good in the following cities:
St. Louis: September 3-6, 2009
Chicago: September 8-13, 2009
Sunrise: September 17-20, 2009
Dayton/Cincinnati: September 17-27, 2009
Miami: September 23-27, 2009
Auburn Hills: September 30-October 4, 2009
Charlotte: October 8-11, 2009
Philadelphia: October 14-18, 2009
Atlanta: October 14-18, 2009
Oakland/San Jose: October 14-25, 2009
Fairfax: October 21-25, 2009
Sacramento: October 28-November 1, 2009
Baltimore: October 28-November 1, 2009
Uniondale: November 10-15, 2009
Houston: November 11-15, 2009
NYC: November 17-22, 2009
East Rutherford: November 24-29, 2009
Denver/Broomfield: December 3-13, 2009 (avail for purchase on 9/12/09)
St. Paul: December 9-13, 2009
Los Angeles: December 17-20, 2009
Toronto: December 18-27, 2009
Anaheim: December 22-27, 2009
Philadelphia: December 23-January 3, 2010 (avail for purchase on 10/12/09)
Boston: December 26-29, 2009 (avail for purchase on 9/3/09)
Ontario: December 30-January 3, 2010
Cleveland: January 8-18, 2010 (avail for presale on 10/2/09)

Visit http://disney.go.com/disneyonice/ for more information about the shows.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Feld Entertainment. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Crazy Cleaning Confessions



I recently entered Kenmore's Crazy Cleaning Confessions Contest at YouTube.com/Kenmore. I described my fascinating take on cleaning including the use of those insane mop-slippers on my wood floors! I also tackle the bathrooms with vengence every week with full military regalia, complete with a commando bucket and work apron/product belt so I don't have to carry loose cleaning supplies! Wow, it takes some creativity to just cope with the routine mess, huh??? I have several Kenmore appliances in full swing use daily at our home - they are truly "workhorses" and I cherish their important contribution to our hectic lifestyle!

Anyway, the entries are funny - check them out at YouTube.com/Kenmore. Beginning September 11, fans can vote for your favorite confession and help three lucky finalists win new Kenmore appliances!!! Kenmore will also donate $5.00 for each video submitted and $.50 for each vote cast to the Jane Goodall Institute's Roots & Shoots Program - which is totally awesome!!! To read more about the rules/regs visit:
http://www.kenmore.com/shc/s/dap_10154_12604_DAP_Official+Rules!storid+10154^sid_YTxCCCx20090729XRULES&vName=Official+Rules&catalogind_DAP&catalogid_12604


These videos are so fun to watch and voting helps support such a worthwhile cause -

Just for fun, share with me about your Crazy Cleaning Confessions -
inquiring minds want to know....
Kenmore Takes the Crazy Out of Cleaning!

I wrote this post while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Kenmore and received a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

YOPLAIT WHIPS! FROZEN TREATS/CONTEST


Yoplait yogurt is delicious and nutritious at any time - but here's a really fun and cool treat for your fam~
Enjoy your Yoplait Whips! FROZEN.....
I received a "Summer Cool Down" giftbag from MyBlogSpark to have my family try some of the new delectable flavors and innovative summer treat idea. WE LOVE IT! My daughter can't get enough of the frozen yogurt treats in her fav flavors! It's a fun project to do together with no fuss!

Simply take your favorite flavor or two of Yoplait Whips! and pour it in some ice pop molds, then freeze overnight. After a few hours, they are ready to be enjoyed for a tempting frozen treat without the guilt!

Explore the Yoplait website for great info, recipes, and coupons at
http://www.yoplait.com/?tqnm=qgviewi17375040&o=56794&c=GM&p=kpAJaoVD&cl=&cp=&eb=&ci=1&bq=&r=&lang=&cista=0
I am pleased to announce that Blog Spark is providing me with A GIFT PACKAGE that includes TWO free coupons for Yoplait Whips!, a fun, star shaped freezer mold for 3 frozen treats plus color-changing spoons in a great cooler tote!!! Perfect for a family treat to go....

To enter, simply post a comment on this blog post about your favorite Yoplait Whips! flavor (single or combo style) and include your email addy so I may contact the WINNER to be selected at random. Entries must be received by September 26, 2009, 12 Midnight EST. One entry per person. Must be US resident. I will notify the winner at the email provided to follow up for additional mailing information, courtesy of MyBlogSpark.

GOOD LUCK and that you for participating in the contest!

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Act Fast! FishfulThinking Seeking New 1,000 Mom Members

Fishful Thinking is back and looking for NEW Ambassadors!


What you can expect:

The Fishful Thinking program will focus heavily on interactions and activities both online and offline
An increased amount of points earned for each quality Spark Report
New and improved prizing and incentives to reward more Ambassadors for the quality of their involvement
A fresh kit of program materials to distribute in your community
Updated Fishful Thinking content and activities
Timing is customized around an academic calendar to best fit your family’s schedule!
As a reminder, each Fishful Thinking Ambassador must commit to:

Seeking opportunities to share the Fishful Thinking program through online and offline activities
Driving traffic to FishfulThinking.com and other Fishful Thinking content online
Submitting Spark Reports to describe Fishful Thinking activities and interactions
Participating in polls, posting blogs and staying engaged on the Fishful Thinking Portal
Finally, Pepperidge Farm wants to give other mothers a chance to join the program, so we are opening up the community to hold another 1,000 Fishful Thinking Ambassadors! Before the recruitment period becomes public we want to give you an opportunity to help us find the best of the best by extending the invitation to your qualified friends, families and peers. All new Ambassadors will receive a free Welcome Kit filled with marketing materials to help them spread the word about Fishful Thinking.

Space is limited to the first 1,000 mothers who apply and meet the qualifications listed below:

Moms with at least one child at home between ages 4-12
Moms involved in an activity where Fishful Thinking conversations and events will be welcome i.e. PTA, book clubs, women’s group, community volunteer, etc.
Moms who enjoy sharing and connecting with other moms, online and offline.
Encourage your personal contacts to apply today at www.repnation.com/fishfulthinking.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Back to School Giveaways!

Starting this week, Mom Central will begin Back to School Giveaways for some of those items that may not have made the cut, but families would still love to have. Visit them at:
http://www.momcentral.com/ and go directly to the contest site at:

http://twurl.nl/3pr46x

Be sure to visit often and register for them throughout the contest period!
Each week they will post new giveaways for our Mom community and their families!

Three exciting giveaways include:
1. Lexmark Printer: Print out your student's book reports, history essays, and science labs with this top of the line Lexmark printer. Turn in those assignments in top form. Mom and Dad might also appreciate this giveaway as well!
2. Gymboree Gift Card: Keep your little one looking stylish this school year with a gift card to Gymboree. Gymboree carries adorable clothing from newborn sizes all the way up to age 12. As for one of my favorite holidays, their Halloween shop does not disappoint with some of the cutest costumes around!
3. Shred Sled: A great way for your kids to enjoy the autumn weather, the Shred Sled combines the movements of skateboarding and snowboarding together for a unique, fun, and healthy activity for the young—and the young at heart! With four inline wheels and a concave foot deck, the rider also has much more control than a traditional skateboard.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central. Mom Central entered my name in a random drawing to win a gift to thank me for taking the time to participate.

School's In Session! - MSN Homeroom

Wow! Did the summer just fly by or what????
I'll be posting our family's amazing "trip of a lifetime" photo journal from Cabo Mexico later this week! We had a fantastic experience that helped ease us back into reality of back-to-school....

I have already returned to our back-to-school toolkit of tricks and tips to help our family keep on schedule during the school week. This includes pre-setting the kitchen table for self-serve breakfast each morning. We set the table with bowls, glasses, mugs and utensils plus a variety of cold cereals, including Kellogg's Frosted Mini-Wheats. I prepare some fresh fruit toppings in the refrigerator and set the timer on the coffee maker for when we arise in the A.M. It's less stressful and crazed if it's done ahead and our sleepy family gets a healthy breakfast to start the right!

We're already going full speed with school, work, and activities and a new online resource is available to help busy families:
http://momshomeroom.msn.com/

The site is sponsored by Kellogg's Mini-Wheats and offers great online discussions, videos, tips and tools in an interactive and fresh format. I have already scoped out a number of the key topic areas including:
writing, back to school, reading, giving back, attentiveness, learning and memory
via articles, videos, episodes, and community boards

This week's featured article, "Writing as a Process: A Quiz for Young Authors" is informative and relevant. My daughter and I enjoyed learning together as she gears up for Fifth grade and considerable writing assignments for the school year.

Here's hoping each of our children enjoys a busy and successful school year filled with laughter and learning!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Kellogg's Frosted Mini-Wheats and received a sample to faciliate my candid review. In addition, Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate!

http://www.momcentral.com