Star Wars fans are beginning to feel the Force as Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace returns to the big screen in spectacular eye-popping 3D this Friday February 10th!  From the thrilling Podrace to the final lightsaber battle,  audiences will be able to relive the epic first episode of the Star Wars Saga like never before!

To add to the excitement , General Mills Big G cereals is celebrating the 3D launch by featuring iconic character pens in participating cereals.

Specially marked boxes of Big G cereal will contain exclusive collectible pens from the first episode including:

Anakin Skywalker

R2-D2

C-3PO

Obi-Wan Kenobi

Yoda

Darth Maul

Queen Amidala

Jar Jar Binks

What is especially awesome about these pens is different color inks represent each of the characters!

Star Wars enthusiasts won’t have to go to a galaxy far, far away to bring the force to the breakfast table.  Warsies can collect all eight pens by simply purchasing participating Big G cereals,  which include Cinnamon Toast Crunch® (12.8 oz.), Lucky Charms®(11.5 oz.), Reese’s® Puffs (13 oz.), Cheerios® (14 oz.), and Cookie Crisp® (11.25 oz).

Big G cereals are nutrient dense, made with whole grain and are an excellent source of calcium, so your kiddos will have everything they need to start the day off right!

May the Force Be With You… Always!

My Thoughts!

It’s no secret we are enormous Star Wars fans in my home.  My son can be found running around the house dressed up like Darth Vader and reacting the lightsaber battles with his Star Wars geek dad.  We already love the Big G cereals, so the partnership between General Mills and Lucasfilm to promote Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace 3D with special packaging and collectible Star Wars goodies is a wonderful treat!  The pens are really cool and on the back of each cereal boxes is a word search to keep the youngsters busy at the breakfast table.

Big G Star Wars Prize Pack Giveaway!

General Mills, through MyBlogSpark, would like to give a reader a Big G Star Wars Prize Pack including:

• 2 Boxes of Big G cereal
• 4 Star Wars character pens
• Star Wars sticker sheet
• Star Wars magnets

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY PLEASE USE THE RAFFLECOPTER FORM INSTEAD OF LEAVING BLOG COMMENTS HERE. Any comments are welcomed below, but won’t count towards the giveaway. Only entries using the Rafflecopter form will be eligible for prize. Thank you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

“Disclosure:  Prize pack, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.”

Big G Bringing Star Wars Fun To The Breakfast Table & Exclusive Prize Pack Giveaway! is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

I’m a coffee addict.   I can’t function effectively or by any means unless of course I begin my morning with a decent cup of coffee. However, if the coffee is bitter, weak, and unflavorful—I’d rather sip dirt.  I know I can prevent the early morning java disappointment,   as well as the soil consumption,  by starting off my day with a cup full of Gevalia Kaffe. This is due to the Swedes knowing a thing or two about coffee.  They have been refining the art of luxurious coffee for longer than  150 years.   Since 1853,  Gevalia has upheld the uncompromising standards put forth by  founder, Victor Theodor Engwall, and thus only make it a habit of obtaining and blending  the finest Arabica coffee beans from locations all over the world.  The coffee is expertly made using carefully picked beans which are ground extra fine, to produce a rich coffee experience. The results aren’t your ordinary ‘cup of joe,’  but rather  a delightful cup of coffee you are able to savor sip after sip.   In fact,  the coffee is so delicious it is an official coffee of the Swedish Royal Court!

Previously available online only, Gevalia is now available at Safeway and U.S. coffee supermarket aisles nationwide in 10 varieties, including roast and ground, whole bean, flavored and decaffeinated varieties:

Gevalia Traditional Roast (ground and whole bean):
Gevalia Traditional Roast provides a perfectly balanced taste every time. Our most beloved blend – made of choice, mountain-grown Arabica beans – this coffee has a distinctive body and flavor with a lighter intensity. (Medium Roast).

Gevalia House Blend:
A Gevalia favorite, House Blend is a robust yet never bitter coffee. This roast has a captivating aroma that is only matched by its exceptional flavor. (Medium/Dark Roast).

Gevalia House Blend Decaf :
Delivering the same rich, never bitter flavor, House Blend Decaf has the same robust taste without all the caffeine. (Medium/Dark Roast).

Gevalia French Roast (ground and whole bean):
Gevalia French Roast is a coffee of impressive richness and dimension, expertly crafted from prized Arabica beans grown in Colombia and Brazil. Hints of aromatic smoke give this dark-roasted French Roast blend an intense, yet uniquely satisfying flavor. (Dark Roast).

Gevalia Colombia:
Grown high in the Colombian Andes, these beans produce a rich, bright and well-bodied Colombian coffee. This single origin classic is world-renowned, which is why we have sourced these beans for decades. (Medium Roast).

Gevalia Espresso Roast:
Gevalia Espresso Roast is made of premium, mountain-grown Arabica beans from East Africa and Central and South America. This roast is bold and full-bodied with a hint of caramel undertones. (Dark Roast).

Gevalia Vanilla:
This rich blend with vanilla flavor notes is crafted from choice mountain-grown Arabica beans, then roasted for exceptional body and flavor. Gevalia Vanilla is a flavorful and balanced experience with a heavenly aroma.

Gevalia Chocolate Mocha:
Gevalia Chocolate Mocha allows you to indulge your passion for decadent flavor. Rich, velvety chocolate flavor is blended with mountain-grown Arabica beans for a sweetly satisfying experience.

With its Swedish heritage and rich, never bitter taste, Gevalia is a premium coffee unlike any other.

Enjoy the best cup of coffee without having to step in a cafe shop and treat yourself to a unbelievably delicious cup of Gevalia!

Black Forest Coffee Recipe

Try this tasty coffee recipe to add a little kick to your morning!

Black Forest Coffee

6 ounces freshly brewed Gevalia Kaffe

2 tablespoons chocolate syrup

1 tablespoon Maraschino cherry juice

Whipped Cream

Shaved chocolate

1 Maraschino cherry

Directions:

Combine coffee, chocolate syrup, and Maraschino cherry juice in a mug; mix well.  Top with whipped cream, shaved chocolate, and a cherry.

Stay connected with Gevalia via these Social Media sites:

Follow Gevalia on Twitter

Like the Gevalia Facebook page

Visit the Gevalia website

View Gevalia on Youtube

Gevalia Kaffe Prize Pack Giveaway!

Kraft, through MyBlogSpark, would like to give a reader a Gevalia Kaffee Prize Pack containing:

• (1) sample of the House Blend from Gevalia Kaffe
• (1) sample of the French Roast Blend from Gevalia Kaffe
• A Gevalia Kaffe branded coffee mug

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY PLEASE USE THE RAFFLECOPTER FORM INSTEAD OF LEAVING BLOG COMMENTS HERE. Any comments are welcomed below, but won’t count towards the giveaway. Only entries using the Rafflecopter form will be eligible for prize. Thank you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

“Kraft Foods has provided sample product to me and is providing the prizes for this program at no cost to me.  This program is not administered or sponsored by Kraft Foods or its affiliates, but solely by A Happy Hippy Mom. In the event prizes are to be fulfilled by Kraft Foods, I will provide Kraft Foods with the necessary information (names and addresses) to enable Kraft to send prize(s) to the winner(s).”

Gevalia Kaffe- Not Your Average ‘Cup of Joe’ Review & Prize Pack Giveaway! is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

I have some fantastic prizes up for grabs this week!  Please take advantage of the extra entries to increase your chances of winning!  Also, keep a watch out for more giveaways coming soon!  Good luck and thank you so much for your participation!

Big G Cereals Prize Pack Giveaway

Prize: Boxes of Honey Nut Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Total, Lucky Charms, and Cheerios.

expires  Friday, February 10, 2012 @ midnight ET

PicturesOnGold Valentine’s Day Giveaway

Prize: Sterling Silver “Sweetheart” Heart Photo Locket (which holds 2 photos) and a Sterling Silver 18inch Box Chain ($156 Value)!

Open to residents of the U.S. 18+

expires  Friday, February 10, 2012 @ midnight ET

Discover Your Winter Cocktail Giveaway

Prize: Hendrick’s Gin Golf Umbrella and a $20 Crate & Barrel Gift Card

expires  Sunday, February 19, 2012 @ midnight ET

Don’t forget to link up at Post Your Giveaway Linky’s.com too!

Current Giveaways and Giveaway Mr. Linky For 2-06 Through 2-12 is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

Once the cold temperatures begins to nip at your nose and the snow starts biting on your toes,  it is time to curl up with your snuggie in front of the fireplace with a comforting winter cocktail.  Nothing can warm you from the inside out faster than a cozy Hot Buttered Rum cocktail or a Hot Toddy!

In celebration of the winter season, Robb Report presents the Discover Your Winter Cocktail  App. in which you are able to take a quick quiz to find out your winter cocktail, become familiar with a handful of little known cocktail facts, and obtain free tasty recipes for four classic cocktails with a winter twist.

I took the quiz and my suggested winter cocktail is “Homemade Irish Cream.”  here is the recipe..

Homemade Irish Cream
1 1/4 cups Irish whiskey
1 tablespoon espresso powder
14 ounces (1can) condensed sweetened milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon unsweetened coca powder
1 tablespoon real vanilla extract
1 teaspoon real almond extract
2 tablespoons honey

Blend all ingredients together in a blender.  Transfer mixture into a glass jar or bottle and seal.   Refrigerate for 2 hours.  Shake before serving.

Try these recipes below to get the heat flowing and to take the chill out!

Hot Buttered Rum
2 ounces dark rum
2 teaspoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Put the sugar and butter in a mug. Dissolve in about 2 ounces of boiling water, then add the rum. Garnish with grated nutmeg or a cinnamon stick.

Esquire Hot Toddy
2 – 2 ½ oz. Scotch
Lemon rind
Sugar cube
Cinnamon stick, broken in half
Cloves
Lemon slice
Boiling water

Heat a mug or toddy glass by filling with boiling water. Rub the sugar cube gently with the lemon rind, then empty the mug and place the lemoned cube in the bottom of it. Add booze and muddle the sugar. Toss in cinnamon. Top with boiling water to taste. Garnish with a lemon slice studded with cloves.

Hendrick’s Gin Golf Umbrella and a $20 Crate & Barrel Gift Card

To enter for the chance to win a Hendrick’s Gin Golf Umbrella and a $20 Crate & Barrel Gift Card take the Discover Your Winter Cocktail  quiz and let me know what cocktail is suggested for you.  TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY PLEASE USE THE RAFFLECOPTER FORM INSTEAD OF LEAVING BLOG COMMENTS HERE. Any comments are welcomed below, but won’t count towards the giveaway. Only entries using the Rafflecopter form will be eligible for prize. Thank you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Robb Report Discover Your Winter Cocktail & $20 Crate & Barrel Giveaway! is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

Coming from a woman’s point a view,  the more unique the pendant, locket, ring, necklace, earrings or bracelet is — the more I tend to remember the occasion it was given.  Over the years I have collected several pieces of jewelry, as I’m sure you have probably done as well.  I have a box filled with jewelry which was purchased to coordinate with  various outfits, but I hardly wear those items.  The jewelry I wear the most has some sentimental value behind it and touches my heart.

Recently I had the pleasure of being introduced to PicturesOnGold.com, a manufacturer providing an extensive variety of  fine men, women, and children’s photo jewelry designs in 14k Yellow Gold, 14k White Gold, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver, Platinum, and 14k Gold Filled Metals.  The company uses patented laser engraving technology to permanently laser-print full color, sepia, or black and white cherished photos onto lockets, pendants, bracelets, rings, and more!  All products can be personalized to include initials, fingerprints, clipart, names, or sayings!

PicturesOnGold.com offered to make me a customized Sterling Magic “Sweetheart” Heart Photo Locket which holds 2 photos on a Sterling Silver 18inch Box Chain.  I searched frantically through my photos to find something I assumed would be able to squeeze into a locket.  However, I didn’t need to due to the fact PicturesOnGold.com can take any size photograph and crop it down to fit flawlessly!  They even can bring two people closer together, remove backgrounds, touch up photos, and take out a person or object.  The entire process is remarkable and makes the most stunning and unforgettable heartfelt Valentine’s Day gift!

Here are the two photos I gave the PicturesOnGold.com trained computer experts to imprint inside the locket.

The turnaround time was astonishing!  I received the customized locket in the matter of no time!  The locket came beautifully packaged in this GORGEOUS high line jewelry box.

Take a look at the beautiful locket!  See how PicturesOnGold was able to move the pictures to make them fit?

The Sterling Silver is protected with a tarnish resistance to help it last for years without tarnishing and the best part—the pictures inside the locket are waterproof, scratchproof and age-proof.  Meaning, I don’t have to take off my locket when entering the shower!

On the outside of the locket I had the option of Script or Block Letters for the engraving on the front, or backside.  I selected Script and requested to have the saying ” Forever Within My Heart” engraved on the front.  The final results and workmanship are extraordinary. It really is a beautiful piece of jewelry I will treasure for ever!

PicturesOnGold.com provides quality jewelry gifts for any occasion and is able to transform a precious moment into a memory that will last a lifetime!  They also make customized Sports Jewelry, Fingerprint Jewelry, Police and Fire Department Jewelry, Medical Jewelry, and more!  There is something for everyone there! Check them out!

Save

Save 5% off your PicturesOnGold.com order when you apply the promo code patty13 at checkout!

Stay Connected With PicturesOnGold.com

Like PicturesOnGold.com on Facebook

Follow PicturesOnGold.com on Twitter

Sterling Silver “Sweetheart” Heart Photo Locket and Sterling Silver 18inch Box Chain Giveaway ($155.85)

PicturesOnGold.com would like to give one reader the most precious Valentine’s Day gift of a Sterling Silver “Sweetheart” Heart Photo Locket  (which holds 2 photos)  on a gorgeous  Sterling Silver 18inch Box Chain! TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY PLEASE USE THE RAFFLECOPTER FORM INSTEAD OF LEAVING BLOG COMMENTS HERE. Any comments are welcomed below, but won’t count towards the giveaway. Only entries using the Rafflecopter form will be eligible for prize. Thank you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

PicturesOnGold.com Sterling Magic “Sweetheart” Heart Photo Locket Review & Valentine’s Day Giveaway! is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

I currently have one giveaway in need of some entries!  Please keep watching for more giveaways coming this week!

Big G Cereals Prize Pack Giveaway

Prize: Boxes of Honey Nut Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Total, Lucky Charms, and Cheerios.

expires  Friday, February 10, 2012 @ midnight ET

Don’t forget to link up at Post Your Giveaway Linky’s.com too!

Current Giveaways and Giveaway Mr. Linky For 1-30 Through 2-05 is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

Were you aware ready-to-eat cereal is the leading whole grain source for Americans – and the top source of whole grain in children’s diets?  I know my son doesn’t consume very much bread or products containing whole grain besides cereal.  For this reason it’s essential for me to choose cereal products with whole grain listed as the first ingredient to help him get the maximum amount of whole grain within his diet as is possible. Eating adequate whole grain has been connected to healthier body weights, lowering the risk of heart related illnesses, and much more! I want to make certain my munchkin is getting as much as he should!

In all honesty, when I’m inside the store shopping and I’m scrambling to leave,  I don’t always check out the product labeling as often as I ought to.  Even so, I don’t need to worry when I’m selecting General Mills Big G cereals, since there is a big visible white check on the brand new product packaging expressing that whole grain is the first and most prevalent ingredient.  I should still make it a good habit to check the side panel, but the white check does make it much easier to spot the cereal containing whole grain in the grocery store aisle.  You can find over 50 cereal products with the white check including family favorites like Honey Nut Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Total, Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Cheerios.  Every General Mills Big G cereal features a minimum of nine grams of whole grain per serving, and more than 20 General Mills cereals provide 16 grams or more.  The wonderful news is although the cereals are packed with all that wholesome whole grain, they continue to have exactly the same great taste your family enjoys!

Here is what MyBlogSpark has to say about the importance of whole grain and how to easily include more of it in your diet.

According to Dr. Travis Stork, emergency room physician and host of “The Doctors,” identifying whole grain products can be challenging. Shoppers can look for nutritional cues on the front of the box, but they need to read the ingredient list to know if they are getting enough whole grain. Ingredient lists detail ingredients in order of prevalence, and if the words “whole grain” are followed by a grain like wheat or oats, it means the food contains more whole grain than any other single ingredient. Here’s how to determine if your cereals have whole grain as a first ingredient:

With all the health messages facing grocery store shoppers, it can be confusing to translate what appears on food labels into nutritional needs, and hard to determine which foods have a meaningful amount of whole grain. Dr. Stork has some additional recommendations to help you include whole grain easily into your diet. They include:

Start Early! The Dietary Guidelines recommend people get at least 48 grams of whole grain in their daily diets. Get a jump-start on the day’s nutrition by incorporating whole grain into your morning routine. For instance, when choosing cereal make sure whole grain is listed as the first ingredient. One easy choice is cereal with the white check, which have more whole grain than any other single ingredient.

Make Simple Swaps. Choose whole grain versions of the foods you love. Great options include whole wheat pasta and whole wheat bread or even whole grain crackers. Also, try different types of whole grain. Use brown rice instead of white rice as a side dish at dinner or popcorn, which is a whole grain, for a snack.

Don’t Judge a Food by Its Cover. The front of food packages provide good nutritional cues, but don’t forget to read the ingredients and check the nutrition label and side labels for additional health information. Cereals with the white check even include the amount of whole grain per serving on packaging.

Fast Lane for Whole Grain – Play and Enter To Win ALL 50 Big G Cereals!

To help people make clearer choices, Dr. Stork has partnered with General Mills to help with whole grain education, including introducing Fast Lane for Whole Grain, an online educational game. Consumers are challenged to quickly identify products that have whole grain as the first ingredient while shopping virtual grocery store aisles. Players have the option to enter a sweepstakes to win one of each of the more than 50 cereals with the white check. The sweepstakes runs through March 18, 2012 on www.WholeGrainNation.com and 50 winners will be selected during the 10-week sweepstakes.

Big G Cereals Prize Pack Giveaway!

General Mills would like to give a reader a prize pack containing cereals with the white check including Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Honey Nut Cheerios and Total.  TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY PLEASE USE THE RAFFLECOPTER FORM INSTEAD OF LEAVING BLOG COMMENTS HERE. Any comments are welcomed below, but won’t count towards the giveaway. Only entries using the Rafflecopter form will be eligible for prize. Thank you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

“Disclosure: The prize pack, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.”

Big G Cereals Have Whole Grain As First Ingredient & Prize Pack Giveaway! is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

This week’s giveaways include…

Reel Steal Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack Giveaway! NEW

Prize: Reel Steal Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack.

expires Sunday, January 29, 2012 @ midnight ET

Don’t forget to link up at Post Your Giveaway Linky’s.com too!

Current Giveaways and Giveaway Mr. Linky For 1-23 Through 1-29 is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

I have two giveaways in need of entries!  This week’s giveaways include:

Sam’s Club Return to School Giveaway!

Prize: $25 Sam’s Club Gift Card

expires Friday, January 20, 2012 @ midnight ET

Reel Steal Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack Giveaway! NEW

Prize: Reel Steal Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack.

expires Sunday, January 29, 2012 @ midnight ET

Don’t forget to link up at Post Your Giveaway Linky’s.com too!

Current Giveaways and Giveaway Mr. Linky For 1-16 Through 1-22 is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

DreamWorks Studios’ Action-Adventure With Heart, “REAL STEEL,” Starring Hugh Jackman, Enters the Home Entertainment Ring on

Blu-ray, DVD, Digital and On-Demand January 24, 2012

DreamWorks Studios’ REAL STEEL, starring Hugh Jackman, muscles its way into the Home Entertainment arena on Blu-ray™, DVD, Digital and On-Demand on January 24, 2012. This visually stunning action-adventure filled with heart and soul is a “must-add” to every home movie collection, delivering a premium in-home experience complete with knockout bonus materials that dive deeper into the action.

The Blu-ray Combo Pack, with its perfect picture and sound, delivers the ultimate punch, offering viewers a variety of supplemental bonus features that take them ringside with Director Shawn Levy on the making of the film. Exclusive features include a bare-knuckled exposé of the life story of Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman), deleted and extended scenes that go deeper into the film and storylines, and a riveting profile with legendary boxing champion Sugar Ray Leonard. Plus, the revolutionary Real Steel Second Screen app lets viewers sync their iPad or computer with the Blu-ray movie to peel back layers of effects with progression reels, check out 360-degree turnarounds of the robots, explore seamless branching pods that delve into the cutting-edge technology used to create the fights, and much more.

The #1 movie in the country for two consecutive weeks during its theatrical run, REAL STEEL is directed by Shawn Levy (Night At the Museum franchise, Date Night and What Happens in Vegas), produced by Steven Spielberg (Saving Private Ryan, Schindler’s List), with a screenplay by John Gatins (Coach Carter, Summer Catch). Set in the not-so-distant future where boxing has gone high-tech and 2000-pound, 8-foot-tall steel robots have taken over the ring, the film stars Hugh Jackman (X-Men franchise, Australia) as Charlie Kenton, Evangeline Lilly (TV’s Lost, The Hurt Locker) as Bailey Tallet, Dakota Goyo (Thor) as Max Kenton, Kevin Durand (I Am Number Four, X-Men Origins: Wolverine) as Ricky, and Anthony Mackie (The Adjustment Bureau, The Hurt Locker) as Finn.

REAL STEEL will be available to own and for in-home viewing as follows:

BONUS FEATURES:

3-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (1 Blu-ray Disc + 1 DVD + 1 Digital Copy)

All 2-Disc Blu-ray Bonus Features

All DVD Bonus Features

2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (1 Blu-ray Disc + 1 DVD)

REAL STEEL SECOND SCREEN

Countdown to the Fight—The Charlie Kenton Story

Sugar Ray Leonard: Cornerman’s Champ

Deleted and Extended Scenes with introductions by Shawn Levy

—Extended “Meet Ambush”

—Deleted “Butterfly” Storyline

PLUS All DVD Bonus Features

1-Disc DVD (1 DVD)

Making of Metal Valley

Building the Bots

Bloopers

HIGH-DEFINITION & STANDARD DEFINITION DIGITAL

Sugar Ray Leonard: Cornerman’s Champ

PLUS All DVD Bonus Features

FILM SYNOPSIS:

Balancing gritty action and emotional heart, “Real Steel” is an inspiring and visually stunning film that takes audiences on an action-packed journey. Washed-up boxer Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman) scrapes by as a small-time robot-fight promoter as he tries to make a comeback. Against all odds he eventually succeeds—at least in the eyes of his son Max (Dakota Goyo). “Real Steel” is spectacular family entertainment that will have everyone cheering again and again.

A Must See!

My family received an advanced Real Steel Blu-ray Combo pack.   From viewing the trailer I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect.  Let me tell you…the movie is incredible! The visual special effects are exceptional and the motion capture technology was mind blowing!

Being that it was rated PG13,  I was very hesitant to let my 4 year old watch it , as I was afraid there would be moments  inappropriate or frightening for his age.  Yet, most the violence in this movie was mild and consisted of robot fights with some intense action scenes, such as robots being dismembered.  Another possible disturbing scene in the beginning of the film was when Ambush (first robot in the movie) fought Black Thunder,  a bull belonging to Ricky (Kevin Durand).  Ambush was ripped apart and the bull was also roughly handled,  which could be scary for young eyes.  The worst violent scene was probably when Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman) was beaten by three men “within an inch of his life,” and his son was roughed up a little. It wasn’t overly graphic, but did contain some punching and blood. Otherwise, the language was rather gentle for a PG13 rating.  Not proud of saying this, but it wasn’t anything worse than what my son has heard at home a million times before.  I just recommend watching it first to be sure you think your youngster can handle it.  In my opinion the movie was an extremely soft PG13 and my son LOVED it.  He even already has two of the action robot figures (Atom and  Zeus) that are now his favorite toys.

Imagine,  if you will, the year is 2020 and the sport of boxing is no longer man vs man, but 8 foot tall steel robots bashing each other with humans controlling the action.  The thought of the concept alone is ingenious!  The movie opens with a small time fair in San Leandro County.  Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman), a washed-up fighter turned small-time promoter who lives out of his truck, is down on his luck,  and trying to make a comeback.  He makes a $20,000 bet that Ambush will win against Ricky’s bull.  Ambush gets destroyed and  Charlie loses the bet and makes a quick escape without paying Ricky.

Charlie learns his ex-girlfriend, Caroline Fallon, has died and that he must attend a hearing to decide the fate of his eleven year old son Max (Dakota Goyo).  At the hearing, he meets up with Max’s aunt Debra (Hope Davis) and her wealthy husband Marvin (James Rebhorn).  The two are wanting to adopt Max, which Charlie sees as prime opportunity to make some cash to buy Noisy Boy, a secondhand World Robot Boxing league robot that he purchases on the black market .  He makes a secret deal with Marvin to give Debra full custody of Max for $100,000, half in advance, on the condition that Charlie take care of Max for three months during the summer while the two vacation in Italy.  In August,  Charlie would receive the other half of the money upon returning Max in New York.

Charlie meets up with Max at Charlie’s childhood friend and love interest, Bailey Tallet (Evangeline Lilly). Baily runs Tallet’s Gym, a boxing gym of her deceased father who was Charlie’s old coach.  Noisy Boy is delivered to the gym and Charlie plus Max set out to fight him at this place called Crash Palace, which is owned by his friend named Finn.  Charlie arranges a fight with Finn to have Noisy Boy go against Midas.  The winner walks away with a guarantee of fifty thousand dollars. Max begs Charlie to take an undercard fight instead and walk out with a little cash.  Charlie dismisses Max’s suggestion and due to his overconfidence plus inexperience with Noisy Boy’s boxing combinations, Midas demolishes his robot.

Charlie,  saving what was left of Noisy Boy’s voice recognition board,  decides to sneak into the junkyard to steal some scrap metal to try and put together another robot.  At the junkyard, Max falls of a ledge where he is saved by an arm from an obsolete Generation 2 robot named Atom.  Charlie and Max set out with the unlikely G-2 sparring robot made in 2014 and amazingly beat the odds!

The movie is a father and son futuristic sports story that gets you up and cheering for the underdog.  Its fun, at times emotional, and highly entertaining.  A definite must see!

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Stay connected withREAL STEEL using these social media sites:

• “Like” the Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/RealSteelMovie
• Follow on Twitter at @realsteelmovie
• Visit the website at www.steelgetsreal.com
• View videos at www.YouTube.com/RealSteelMovie
• Connect with Facebook and Twitter via Real Steel Second Screen

About DreamWorks Studios:

DreamWorks Studios is a motion picture company formed in 2009 and led by Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider in partnership with The Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group. The company recently released The Help, which has resonated with audiences around the country and earned over $100 million at the U.S. box office. Upcoming releases include Steven Spielberg’s War Horse. DreamWorks Studios can be found on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/DreamWorksStudios and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/dw_studios.

Reel Steal Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack Giveaway!

Courtesy of DreamWorks Studios, one reader will win a Reel Steal Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack. TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY PLEASE USE THE RAFFLECOPTER FORM INSTEAD OF LEAVING BLOG COMMENTS HERE. Any comments are welcomed below, but won’t count towards the giveaway. Only entries using the Rafflecopter form will be eligible for prize. Thank you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

REAL STEEL Review & Giveaway! is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

This week’s giveaways include…

diViene.com Gemstone Rings Giveaway

Prize: Sterling Silver Carved Flower Ring and Sterling Silver Fun Stack Ring.

expires  Friday, January 13, 2012 @ midnight ET

Frosted Toast Crunch Prize Pack Giveaway 

Prize: Spilt Milk Bowl, Lickety spoon, Frosted Pitcher and box of Frosted Toast Crunch Cereal.

expires  Friday, January 13, 2012 @ midnight ET

Sam’s Club Return to School Giveaway! NEW

Prize: $25 Sam’s Club Gift Card

expires Friday, January 20, 2012 @ midnight ET

Don’t forget to link up at Post Your Giveaway Linky’s.com too!

Current Giveaways and Giveaway Mr. Linky For 1-09 Through 1-15 is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

Happy New Year!  Wow, can you believe the holidays are over and 2012 is already here?  Time sure does go by fast!  I wish all of you a very happy and prosperous New Year!  I’m definitely looking forward to some great changes this year and sure glad to say good riddance to 2011!  Most of you know last year was especially hard for my family,  as I had to have major surgery and my sister was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer.  Financially 2011 was a huge nightmare for us too and we are still trying to bounce back from medical bills plus the bad economy.  I’m praying 2012 brings everyone the happiness they are seeking, good health, financial bliss, and peace.  Thank you for being here and hope you continue to stay with me throughout this magnificent year!

Lets start the year off with the weekly giveaway linky and some fantastic prizes!  Here is what is currently available at ahappyhippymom.com.

diViene.com Gemstone Rings Giveaway

Prize: Sterling Silver Carved Flower Ring and Sterling Silver Fun Stack Ring.

expires  Friday, January 13, 2012 @ midnight ET

Frosted Toast Crunch Prize Pack Giveaway 

Prize: Spilt Milk Bowl, Lickety spoon, Frosted Pitcher and box of Frosted Toast Crunch Cereal.

expires  Friday, January 13, 2012 @ midnight ET

Career Mom Kit Giveaway ($75 value)! NEW

Prize:

Foldable flats and storage pouch

Dry Shampoo spray

Pocket Manicure set

Starbucks Ready Brew coffee

$10 iTunes Gift Card for Productivity apps

Pepperidge Farm Soft Baked Cookies

I Don’t Know How She Does It on DVD

expires Sunday, January 08, 2012 @ midnight ET

Sam’s Club Return to School Giveaway! NEW

Prize: $25 Sam’s Club Gift Card

expires Friday, January 20, 2012 @ midnight ET

Don’t forget to link up at Post Your Giveaway Linky’s.com too!

Happy New Year Wishes- Current Giveaways and Giveaway Mr. Linky For 1-02 Through 1-08 is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season?  I know it’s difficult to believe it is already the second day into 2012 and the kids are ready to return to school.  Now that the holiday hustle and bussle is over, the focus turns to getting the kiddos ready and out the door to continue the normal school schedule without a hitch!  However, there is no need to stress, because Sam’s Club is here to help and remind you to continue collecting Box Tops to help your school of choice.  Sam’s Club and Box Tops for Education want to make your life as easy as possible starting off the New Year with fantastic return-to-school deals and promotions!

• While purchasing some of your favorite General Mills brands you can also earn more cash for your local school with the Sam’s Club “6 Box Tops on a Pack” promotion.
• At least 6 Bonus Box Tops will be located on your favorite return-to-school brands such as Nature Valley Oats ‘N Honey Crunchy Granola Bars, Yoplait and Progresso.
• From groceries to computers to notebooks, Sam’s Club makes shopping for all of your return-to-school needs simple.

This January, be sure to visit your local Sam’s Club to find all your return-to-school necessities. To learn more about the Box Tops for Education Program and how you can help contribute to your school, visit www.BoxTops4Education.com.

I love shopping at Sam’s Club!  The closest Sam’s Club is approximately 25 miles away from our home,  so we go shopping there every two weeks for the kids’ favorite snacks, cereals, and frozen food.  I usually pick up the Totino’s Pizza Rolls Pizza Snacks, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Nature Valley Granola Bars, Scooby-Doo Fruit Flavored Shapes, cheese, fresh vegetables and fruit.  These items help keep my kids energized throughout their day and make my life easy by being able to prepare them fast during the busy week.  Buying them in bulk allows me to be sure I always have a good supply on hand plus saves me money and gas from having to make extra trips to the store. We have been very happy Sam’s Club members for 10 years and enjoy the great deals on the food, electronics, and home furnishings the club has to offer.  I highly recommend them to anyone!

Connect with Sam’s Club and Box Tops through these social media sites:

• Sam’s Club Website
• Sam’s Club Facebook
• Sam’s Club Twitter
• Box Tops Website

Sam’s Club Return to School Giveaway!

One lucky reader is going to win a $25 Sam’s Club Gift Card to help with your return to school shopping on your favorite items containing the Box Tops for Education label. TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY PLEASE USE THE RAFFLECOPTER FORM INSTEAD OF LEAVING BLOG COMMENTS HERE. Any comments are welcomed below, but won’t count towards the giveaway. Only entries using the Rafflecopter form will be eligible for prize. Thank you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

“Disclosure: The Sam’s Club gift card, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.”

Sam’s Club Return to School Promotions and $25 Gift Card Giveaway! is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

Anchor Bay Entertainment and The Weinstein Company announced today the Blu-ray and DVD release of the highly relatable romantic comedy, I DON’T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT, from director Douglas McGrath (Emma, Infamous) and producer Donna Gigliotti (The Reader, Let Me In). Sarah Jessica Parker (Sex and the City) leads a top-notch ensemble cast that includes Pierce Brosnan (Die Another Day), Greg Kinnear (Little Miss Sunshine), Christina Hendricks (“Mad Men”), Kelsey Grammer (“Boss”), Seth Meyers (“Saturday Night Live”), and Olivia Munn (“The Daily Show with Jon Stewart”). Based on Allison Pearson’s critically acclaimed bestseller, dubbed by Oprah Winfrey as “the national anthem of working mothers,” I DON’T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT heads to retail on January 3, 2012 for an SRP of $39.99 for the Blu-ray™ and $29.98 for the DVD

NBC’s ‘Moms & the City’ call I DON’T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT “a hilarious comedy about having it all” and “the perfect film for a girls night out!” The New York Daily News’ Elizabeth Weitzman describes the film as having “plenty of humor and poignancy”, while SHAPE magazine’s Karen Borsari calls it “hilarious!” Finally, New York Magazine’s David Edelstein proclaims, “Sarah Jessica Parker reminds you what an all-in, high-risk comic actress she can be.”

Trying to balance work and family is a non-stop juggling act for Kate Reddy (Sarah Jessica Parker). As a determined Boston-based finance executive, she devotes her day to her job and her night to her adoring husband Richard (Greg Kinnear) and their two young children. In between conference calls, meetings, deadlines, and her daughter’s school bake sale, Kate manages to survive on a daily basis. But when she gets handed a major new account that will require frequent trips to New York, and Richard also wins the new job he’s been hoping for, both will be spreading themselves even thinner. Complicating matters is Kate’s charming new business associate Jack Abelhammer (Pierce Brosnan), a handsome executive whose unexpected emotional support becomes a source of refuge.

The I DON’T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT Blu-ray and DVD bonus features include a conversation with bestselling author, Allison Pearson. Note: Special features are subject to change.

Learn more about I DON’T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT at: http://howshedoesitmovie.com/

ABOUT THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY

The Weinstein Company (TWC) is a multimedia production and distribution company launched in October 2005 by Bob and Harvey Weinstein, the brothers who founded Miramax Films in 1979. TWC also encompasses Dimension Films, the genre label founded in 1993 by Bob Weinstein, which has released such popular franchises as SCREAM, SPY KIDS and SCARY MOVIE. Together TWC and Dimension Films have released a broad range of mainstream, genre and specialty films that have been commercial and critical successes, including Tom Hooper’s THE KING’S SPEECH, winner of four 2011 Academy Awards®, including Best Picture.

Since 2005, TWC and Dimension Films have released such films as GRINDHOUSE; I’M NOT THERE; THE GREAT DEBATERS; VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA; THE READER; THE ROAD; HALLOWEEN; THE PAT TILLMAN STORY; PIRANHA 3D; INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS; A SINGLE MAN; BLUE VALENTINE; THE COMPANY MEN; MIRAL; SCRE4M; and SUBMARINE. Currently in release are DIRTY GIRL; I DON’T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT; OUR IDIOT BROTHER; APOLLO 18; SPY KIDS: ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD IN 4D; and SARAH’S KEY. Upcoming releases include MY WEEK WITH MARILYN, PIRANHA 3DD; THE ARTIST; W.E.; and THE IRON LADY.

TWC is also active in television production, with credits including the Emmy® nominated and Peabody Award winning reality series Project Runway, the VH1 reality series Mob Wives, and the critically acclaimed HBO comedy/crime series The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency which also received a Peabody Award. The company is currently producing After The Runway, Project Runway All Stars and Project Accessory. The company currently has 17 series in different stages of development, including Marco Polo, a scripted historical series about the great explorer, for Starz; and The Nanny Diaries, being adapted for ABC by Amy Sherman Palladino (Gilmore Girls).

ABOUT ANCHOR BAY ENTERTAINMENT

Anchor Bay Entertainment is the home entertainment division of Starz Media, LLC. It includes the Anchor Bay Films and Manga Entertainment brands. It distributes feature films, children’s entertainment, fitness, TV series, documentaries, anime and other filmed entertainment on DVD and Blu-ray™ formats. Headquartered in Beverly Hills, CA, Anchor Bay Entertainment has offices in Troy, MI, as well as Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. Starz Media (www.starzmedia.com) is a controlled subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation attributed to the Liberty Starz tracking stock group (NASDAQ: LSTZA).

Career Mom Kit Giveaway ($75)!

In celebration of Anchor Bay Entertainment’s January 3rd release of “I DON’T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT” I have been given the opportunity to give away an amazing kit for the ladies that do it all! This kit includes some of the best items to make a Career Mom’s life easier! Check it out!

The Career Mom Kit includes:

Foldable flats and storage pouch

Dry Shampoo spray

Pocket Manicure set

Starbucks Ready Brew coffee

$10 iTunes Gift Card for Productivity apps

Pepperidge Farm Soft Baked Cookies

I Don’t Know How She Does It on DVD

Value: $75

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY PLEASE USE THE RAFFLECOPTER FORM INSTEAD OF LEAVING BLOG COMMENTS HERE. Any comments are welcomed below, but won’t count towards the giveaway. Only entries using the Rafflecopter form will be eligible for prize. Thank you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I DON’T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT -Career Mom Kit Giveaway ($75 value)! is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

January is a time for making New Year’s resolution,  as well as a time for launching new products!  General Mills is  introducing NEW Frosted Toast Crunch, with the scrumptious taste of frosted vanilla, this cereal is totally yummy!  If you’re sick and tired of your same old  breakfast routine,  change it up in 2012 with crunchy squares baked with the wonderful taste of frosted coated artificially flavored vanilla and dusted with a delicious sprinkle of cinnamon.  Frosted Toast Crunch not just tastes incredible, it also delivers 11 grams of whole grain, 9 grams of sugar and is an excellent source of calcium.  So take your cereal to a higher level with this wholesome breakfast and present your taste buds with something to be excited about this upcoming year!

NEW Frosted Toast Crunch will be available in your local grocers early January, just in time for return-to-school!

NEW Frosted Toast Crunch Prize Pack Giveaway!

General Mills would like to give one reader a Frosted Toast Crunch Prize Pack containing:

Spilt milk bowl

Lickety spoon

Frosted pitcher

Frosted Toast Crunch cereal

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY PLEASE USE THE RAFFLECOPTER FORM INSTEAD OF LEAVING BLOG COMMENTS HERE. Any comments are welcomed below, but won’t count towards the giveaway. Only entries using the Rafflecopter form will be eligible for prize. Thank you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

“Disclosure: Frosted Toast Crunch, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.”

General Mills NEW Frosted Toast Crunch & Prize Pack Giveaway! is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

Did Santa give you cash, but forgot to leave the bling you wanted underneath the tree this Christmas? Why not begin the new year off in style by getting a gorgeous gemstone ring from diViene.com?  DiViene.com is a company based in sunny Los Angeles, California that specializes in handcrafted jewelry exclusively for you!  Every piece of jewelry is meticulously created from scratch by ingenious local artisans depending on the design, gem color or size you have chosen. Featuring an exceptional wide array of stackable rings, pendants, bracelets, necklaces as well as other fine jeweled creations, diViene.com has jewelry to satisfy  every single individual fashionista!

I was sent two stunning rings fresh from the diViene studio for review- Sterling Silver Carved Flower Ring in Mother of Pearl-Swiss Blue Topaz ($115) and Sterling Silver Fun Stack Ring Round Black Onyx in Twist-detail ($85).

Very first thing I noticed right away was the breathtaking presentation. The rings arrived in lovely jewelry boxes situated in a pretty white drawstring pouch lined with blue tissue paper.  I was impressed even with the attention that went into the product packaging of these rings!  It was so beautiful I ended up saving it!

The Flower Ring in Mother of Pearl-Swiss Blue Topaz is GORGEOUS!  It has five delicate looking carved mother-of-pearl gemstone petals in a luxurious vintage sterling silver setting.  In the heart of the flower petals contains a genuine Swiss Blue Topaz stone.  The white and blue contrast is spectacular and the ring in my opinion has a special antique appearance and feel.  It was my personal favorite out of the two rings.  I wore the ring over the holiday and received several compliments on it!  The ring’s center stone is also available in various gem colors including, Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, Champagne Diamond, Diamond, Emerald, Garnet, Iolite, Onyx, Orange Sapphire, Peridot, Pink Sapphire, Rhodolite, Ruby, Sapphire, Pink Tourmaline, White Topaz, and Yellow Sapphire.

The Sterling Silver Fun Stack Ring Round Black Onyx has a sizable 10mm round Onyx gemstone as the centerpiece and is set on a vintage twist-detailed sterling silver background.  I love the look of this ring and it is gorgeous on its own or even far more spectacular if worn with a set of twist-detailed oxidized sterling silver bands!  The ring is also available in  Swiss Blue Topaz, Green Amethyst, Lemon Citrine, Smoky Quartz, Ruby, and Sapphire.  You can pick your favorite color or stack them all for fun!

360-Day Warranty

“Each jewelry purchase is automatically covered by our 360-day Warranty for manufacturing defect. Each item shipped comes with our 360-day Warranty Certificate. “

diViene.com Gemstone Rings Giveaway!

DiViene.com has generously offered to give one lucky reader the same set of rings reviewed above-  Sterling Silver Carved Flower Ring in Mother of Pearl-Swiss Blue Topaz ($115) and Sterling Silver Fun Stack Ring Round Black Onyx in Twist-detail ($85).   TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY PLEASE USE THE RAFFLECOPTER FORM INSTEAD OF LEAVING BLOG COMMENTS HERE. Any comments are welcomed below, but won’t count towards the giveaway. Only entries using the Rafflecopter form will be eligible for prize. Thank you!

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

diViene.com Gemstone Rings Review & Giveaway ($200 Value)! is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

I have one giveaway currently accepting entries.  Keep watching for more coming soon!

Sam’s Club Chex Party Mix-Change Prize Pack Giveaway! 

Prize pack containing a $25 Sam’s Club gift card and box of Chex cereal.

expires  Wednesday, December 21, 2011 @ midnight ET

Don’t forget to link up at Post Your Giveaway Linky’s.com too!

Wikipedia: new definition: having recently come into existence. →

Current Giveaways and Giveaway Mr. Linky For 12-19 Through 12-25 is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

Only 12 days until Christmas!  Are you ready?  I’m not even close!  This year seems more difficult to find really good deals that make you want to buy and I still have tons of shopping plus baking to do.  I guess I need to put myself in holiday overdrive and get things in gear, so I can enjoy the last couple of weeks leading up to Christmas.

Here is this week’s available prizes and Mr. Linky to list your giveaways.

V-Tech Giveaway

Prize: V-Tech 2-in-1 Discovery Learning Table (ARV $39.99)

expires  Thursday, December 15, 2011 @ midnight ET

Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers Prize Pack Giveaway!

Prize:
2 Green Giant placemats
Broccoli stress reliever
32 oz. serving bowl
Surprise face serving spoon
VIP coupon for the new Valley Fresh Steamers with Pasta

expires  Thursday, December 15, 2011 @ midnight ET

Deepak Chopra’s Leela Giveaway.

Prize: Deepak Chopra’s Leela Xbox 360 Kinect Game (ARV. $50 )

expires  Monday, December 19, 2011 @ midnight ET

Sam’s Club Chex Party Mix-Change Prize Pack Giveaway! NEW

Prize pack containing a $25 Sam’s Club gift card and box of Chex cereal.

expires  Wednesday, December 21, 2011 @ midnight ET

Don’t forget to link up at Post Your Giveaway Linky’s.com too!

Current Giveaways and Giveaway Mr. Linky For 12-12 Through 12-18 is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

This week I’ll be posting a little less,  due to the upcoming holiday and Christmas cookie baking.  However, there is still plenty of great giveaways to enter!  Here is this week’s prizes and Mr. Linky to list your giveaways.  Good luck!

Beauty & The Beast: Belle’s Magical World Special Edition Giveaway!

Prize: Beauty & The Beast: Belle’s Magical World Special Edition DVD

expires  Wednesday, December 7, 2011 @ midnight ET

V-Tech Giveaway

Prize: V-Tech 2-in-1 Discovery Learning Table (ARV $39.99)

expires  Thursday, December 15, 2011 @ midnight ET

Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers Prize Pack Giveaway!

Prize:
2 Green Giant placemats
Broccoli stress reliever
32 oz. serving bowl
Surprise face serving spoon
VIP coupon for the new Valley Fresh Steamers with Pasta

expires  Thursday, December 15, 2011 @ midnight ET

Deepak Chopra’s Leela Giveaway.

Prize: Deepak Chopra’s Leela Xbox 360 Kinect Game (ARV. $50 )

expires  Monday, December 19, 2011 @ midnight ET

 SanDisk Memory Vault 20% Off Giveaway!

Prize: (4) 20% Off SanDisk Memory Vault Coupon Code

expires  Friday, December 9, 2011 @ midnight ET

Don’t forget to link up at Post Your Giveaway Linky’s.com too!

Current Giveaways and Giveaway Mr. Linky For 12-05 Through 12-11 is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

I roughly snap 100 pictures per month.  It isn’t just simply because I’m a blogger and that’s what I really like to do, but primarily due to the fact I’m a mom who’s endeavoring to capture every single cherished moment I’m able to of my children.  Having said that, I haven’t discovered a scapbooking niche and 95% of all of the photos I take never make it to print.  The digital images would be stashed virtually on a CD or perhaps in a file labeled “my pictures” on my laptop.  Both safe-keeping scenarios are extremely awful ideas.  I’ve lost countless pictures which can not be replaced from having my computer crash and the inability to restore the files.  The worst tragic photo loss occurred when my daughter made a decision to rifle through my cds and unintentionally split the main one containing the first three months worth of snap shots of my son’s life on it.  I  was devastated and pretty much cried for several days!  I still have the disc and praying one of these days there is going to be a method of fixing it so I can recover the precious pictures of him as an infant. Fortunately, I’ve learned my lesson and the days of storing  photos on cds and my computer hard drive are GONE!  NOW I preserve pictures and videos on a SanDisk Memory Vault.

SanDisk, a trusted leader and pioneer in the non-volatile memory market for over 23 years, has developed an archival memory system with the capability for long term data preservation.  The Memory Vault is a small stylish storage solution which allows users to store and preserve cherished photos, videos, and their most important memories for generations to come.  The easy to use storage device does not contain any movable parts that break down over time, but instead utilizes SanDisk’s Chronolock technology to digitally store photos and videos and keep them protected for up to 100 years.  Being so compact it can fit in the palm of your hand, the SanDisk Memory Vault can be easily easy stored in its black storage pouch (included with purchase) in a drawer, closet, or laptop bag.

How Does the SanDisk Memory Vault work?  The Memory Vault connects directly to your PC via the included USB 2.0 cable for quick and easy data transfer and saving. Once digitally stored inside the vault, your photos and videos are essentially locked in and protected, yet you can still easily access them.   To save your photos, select the images you desire for long-term preservation and simply drag-and-drop them into your SanDisk Memory Vault. You will know when the device is full by the blinking light.  As the light blinks faster, the closer you are to approaching the threshold.  When the drive enters “preserve-only” mode and is full, the indicator will cease blinking and remain lit. Once the SanDisk Memory Vault is filled up, put it away for safe keeping.   Simply take it out when you are ready to view or share the photos plus videos with family and friends.

The SanDisk Memory Vault is available in 16 gigabyte and 8GB capacities and can store thousands of images plus hours of HD video. The device carries MSRPs of $89.99 and $49.99 and includes a lifetime limited warranty.  The device would make an awesome gift this holiday season and can be purchased at shop.sandisk.com.

*SanDisk Memory Vault supports the following operating systems: – Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP – Mac OS® 10.4.11 or above.

Most Consumers Would Not Destroy Their Family Photos for One Million Dollars

SanDisk also issued results from an online survey conducted on its behalf by Harris Interactive from July 28-August 1, 2011 among 2,294 U.S. adults aged 18 and older2. The survey found that 79 percent of U.S. adults with digital photos plan on passing them down to future generations. Photos are so precious that 64 percent of U.S. adults would not consider destroying their family photo collection for any amount of money, not even for one million dollars.

SanDisk Memory Vault 20% Off Giveaway!

Our friends at SanDisk would like to bless 4 ahappyhippymom.com readers with a savings of 20% off a SanDisk Memory Vault!  The coupon codes will only be redeemable at the SanDisk online store (http://shop.sandisk.com) until December 31st. Because of the time constraint this is going to be a QUICK giveaway!  TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY PLEASE USE THE RAFFLECOPTER FORM INSTEAD OF LEAVING BLOG COMMENTS HERE. Any comments are welcomed below, but won’t count towards the giveaway. Only entries using the Rafflecopter form will be eligible for prize. Thank you!

“I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of SanDisk and received a product sample to facilitate my review, and coupons to giveaway.”

SanDisk Memory Vault -Preserve Your Most Precious Photos Review & Giveaway! is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom