Duo Powered Atari Arcade for iPad – Review and Giveaway

December 28, 2012

I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season! We had a great Christmas and I enjoyed a nice break from work; spending time with my family. We have been playing with some of the goodies the kids received from Santa and family as gifts. This time of the year brings out the kid in me and I’ve been guilty of playing with some of the kids’ toys for a little longer than they’d like!

One new game in our house that’s been a hit is Atari Arcade for the iPad. Powered by Duo, the control unit works with the iPad 1, 2 and 3 and brings old school arcade favorites to your living room! We put together a video review to show you the game in action and some of the features. It stars my son and husband, who aren’t used to being behind the camera but I think did a great job!!

To recap, Duo Powered Atari Arcade features include:

  1. To use, you download Atari Greatest Hits game collection from the app store. You then choose a game and select duo in the control settings then you are ready to play!
  2. It works with iPads 1, 2 and 3.
  3. Games are for one to two players.
  4. Games included with the controller are Asteroids, Asteroids Deluxe, Missile Command and Lunar Landing.
  5. You can purchase different game packs which have four games included in them for 99 cents each but for just $9.99 you can buy all 100 games which include classics like Centipede, Maze Craze, Pong, Video Chess, Hangman, Yars Revenge and Tempest.

Sounds like fun, right? We loved that it is portable so we could bring it with us to Grandma’s house over the holidays to play and that 2 player feature lets both of my kids (or my husband!) to play together. You can purchase the game unit online and in stores and while it retails for $60; I saw it at www.amazon.com for $47.35 today!
A GIVEAWAY!
How about one for free?! One lucky Still Living The Dream reader will win one for their very own. It’s like Christmas all over again! All you have to do is leave a comment below telling me what your favorite Atari game is. A winner will be selected at random on January 4, 2013 at 11:59 p.m. CST.
More chances? YUP! Just leave a separate comment for each of the following you do.
  1. Follow Still Living The Dream on Pinterest
  2. Follow Still Living The Dream on Twitter
  3. Like Still Living The Dream on Facebook
  4. Tweet this: “I want to win an Atari Arcade #DuoGames accessory for the iPad @jpatrickcomm http://www.stilllivingthedream.com/2012/12/duo-powered-atari-arcade-for-ipad-review-and-giveaway.html”
I was given an Atari Arcade gaming accessory in order to review. No other compensation was received and all thoughts, opinions and low scores on Lunar Lander are my own!
Share
Filed Under: giveaways, review, things to do with your kids 36 Comments

Celebrating the Holidays with California Wine Club – Giveaway

December 5, 2012

Are you looking for a great present for a friend or family member who loves great wine?

I’ve got a great idea. The California Wine Club.

Last month I received and reviewed two bottles of Seven Brothers wine from The Robledo Family Winery and LOVED them. This month I got this pretty package in the mail from The California Wine Club.

In my shipment I received two bottles of Daniel Gehrs wine. Ed and I loved the bottle of 2011 Chenin Blanc. A gold, silver and bronze medal winning wine, Daniel Gehrs White Hills Vineyard Chenin Blanc is a dry, white wine with a hint of pear taste. This bottle was very refreshing and we enjoyed it before and along with our seafood dinner (which we’ve been eating a lot of lately. I’m up to 46 pounds lost since July! Wahoo!!!)

I love how being a part of the wine club has broadened my tastes. Before when I reached for a bottle of white wine, I wouldn’t have selected a Chenin Blanc and definitely wouldn’t have known to try a bottle from Daniel Gehrs. Thanks to the California Wine Club, I now know what I’ve been missing!

We are saving the second bottle that arrived this month, a 2009 Central Coast Merlot (a gold, double gold and silver medal winning wine) for a get together we are having later this month for our family. We have a merlot fan in our family and he has never tried Daniel Gehrs. I can’t wait to be the one to introduce him to a new wine from a smaller winery.

Since more than three-quarters of California’s 3,500+ wineries are small, boutique, mom-and-pop operations whose wines never travel beyond their local markets and private customer lists, it’s unlikely that without the wine club I would have encountered a Daniel Gehrs bottle. Now I get to share it with those I love (and look like quite the wine connieseur!)

The Benefits of Becoming a California Wine Club Member…

  1. Discovering smaller, award-winning wineries whose wines are not typically found in local stores or wine shops. You can read about recently featured wineries and the families behind their award-winning wines here!
  2. A fun and easy way to learn about wine and California’s wine scene with our informative and beautiful 12-page, full color newsletter, Uncorked.
  3. Convenient, “to your door” delivery.
  4. No more guessing, no hassle and no more bad wine.
  5. Your wines can be delivered monthly, every other month or even quarterly.
  6. No bulk, closeout or private label wines… ever!
  7. Three and four bottle shipments are available, and they’ll pay the extra cost of shipping.
  8. Winery Direct means no distributor, no middleman and the best choice of wine at the lowest possible price.
  9. Savings of up to 50% off normal retail when you reorder your favorites.
  10. Experienced wine consultants to assist you with your wine choices and questions.
  11. Wine Country Travel Experts…let them help you plan your next wine country getaway.

Give a Gift of Great Wine to Yourself or Someone You Love!

You can give the gift of a wine club membership to a friend or family member this season at an affordable price. Just be sure to act fast as the ground shipping deadline for Christmas is December 12th! All orders placed after December 12th will incur air charges to arrive by December 25th. Visit www.cawineclub.com online to begin your wine adventure today!

Win a $50 Gift Certificate to The California Wine Club!

How about a little Christmas “cash” to get you started on your journey with The California Wine Club?

One Still Living The Dream reader will win a $50 CWC Gift Certificate! Giveaway is only open to those in the U.S. and you must be 21 or older to be qualified. Sorry, they cannot deliver to Utah. A winner will be selected at random from comments below on December 12, 2012, at 11:59 CST. If you win, you can keep the gift certificate to use for yourself or give it as a gift!

To enter, just leave a comment below with your favorite type of wine. More chances? You got it! Leave a SEPARATE comment for each below that you do!

  1. Follow Still Living The Dream on Pinterest
  2. Follow Still Living The Dream on Twitter
  3. Like Still Living The Dream on Facebook
  4. Follow The California Wine Club on Twitter
  5. Like The California Wine Club on Facebook
  6. Tweet this: “I want to win a $50 gift certificate to The California Wine Club @cawineclub @jpatrickcomm http://www.stilllivingthedream.com/2012/12/celebrating-the-holidays-with-california-wine-club-giveaway.html”

This review was made possible by Mom Spark Media. Thoughts are my own. I received a 2 month Membership to the California Wine Club for the purpose of this review.

Share
Filed Under: giveaways, review 18 Comments

The Heart Of Christmas: Movie Review, Interview and Giveaway

November 28, 2012

Before I became a freelance writer and blogger, I worked for a national, non-profit organization for children with cancer and then later for the cancer center of a children’s hospital in Houston. I was inspired daily by the strength and love I witnessed from families faced with the illness and the doctors, nurses and other professionals who cared for them.

When I heard about the inspirational movie, The Heart of Christmas, which premiered last year and was released recently on DVD October 16, 2012, I knew I wanted to see it.

Starring Candace Cameron Bure (Make It or Break It, Full House), Burgess Jenkins (Remember the Titans, The Reaping), Kelsey Kingsbury, George Newbern (Father of the Bride, Justice League), Dendrie Taylor (The Fighter, Sons of Anarchy, True Blood), and GRAMMY®-nominated recording artist Matthew West, the movie tells the story of Austin and Julie Locke, who are devastated to learn that their one-year-old son, Dax, had been diagnosed with AML M7 leukemia.

After several failed treatments and experimental therapy, The Lockes were faced with the fact that their son would most likely die before Christmas. So in October 2009, they decorated their home for the holiday so Dax could enjoy the lights. When their neighbors saw their holiday decorations and learned about the reason why they set them out early, they rallied behind the family. As their story spread, soon the town of Washington was lit for Dax. His story appeared on CNN and captured the hearts of people around the world. Dax did live to see Christmas day but passed away soon after… on December 30, 2009.

You can watch the trailer here.

I had the opportunity to visit with Julie Locke to visit with her about the film and her experience. The movie, while certainly sad, is also incredibly uplifting. The message of hope and peace of God’s love is woven throughout the entire film…displayed through the relationships that the Lockes developed with other families fighting cancer at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the medical staff that never gave up on them.

Julie Locke

When I talked to Julie, she said that one of the greatest results from the movie so far is how it has positively impacted people’s lives.

“Many people have reached out to me after seeing the film to tell me how it made a difference in their own lives,” said Julie. “People have shared with me that they cherish their families more and most importantly, that they have built a relationship with God. I see clearly now that this movie was part of God’s plan,” she said.

The Lockes were approached by singer, Matthew West who wanted to write a song about their story. “I didn’t know who Matthew was at the time, but I just believe that you have to put yourself out there and let God work through others,” said Julie. “We’re not strong enough to do this on our own.” (West was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Original Music and Lyrics for his song about The Lockes “The Heart of Christmas” this year.)

As a mother, I know the fear that comes with every cold, fever or broken bone. To have your child  faced with an illness like cancer is unimaginable. When I worked at the hospital here in Houston, I remember asking my friend whose son was fighting the disease how she did it. She told me – you do it because you have to. You wake up each morning and you put your feet on the floor and you move forward because your child needs you.

But most parents at the hospital would tell me that you don’t have to (and really can’t) do it alone. For Julie, it was the strength and support of the families she met at the hospital, the caring doctors and staff at St. Jude…and God, that gave her the power and peace to move forward.

“I never had experienced that before Dax was sick…the true love of God. It really started when I met Elizabeth’s mom (a patient at St. Jude). I found God through the experience and learned that even when I wasn’t trusting Him, He trusted me,” said Julie.

The Lockes, like many others who have lost a loved one, miss Dax daily and struggle with his loss especially at the holidays. “I live for Dax by taking care of other people,” said Julie. “But during the holidays we really try to spend time together as a family, just us. Especially on the day he died…. taking time to cherish every moment we have together. It’s the most important thing.”

For those that are struggling with loss this Christmas, she says – “Lean on God. He loves you. Allow Him in your heart and surround yourself with His spirit. I did that in Memphis. Before that I had my walls up, but His love is so powerful.”

Julie and Austin Locke with their daughter, Madeline, on the set of The Heart of Christmas.

Today, Julie spends time fundraising for St. Jude and raising her two-year-old daughter, Madeline who was born after Dax passed away. It is the Lockes’ goal to raise $1.8 million dollars in Dax’s memory, the cost of running the hospital for one day. “I lived there for a year and never paid anything,” said Julie. “I remain so touched by what St. Jude does for patients and their families. They gave me 1 1/2 years with Dax.”

For more information about the film, visit The Heart of Christmas on the web. To learn more about the Lockes, their true story of hope and compassion and how you can get involved, visit the Dax Locke Foundation.

A Giveaway!

The Heart of Christmas is available at Target and Walmart and online at Walmart.com. However, two readers of Still Living The Dream will win a copy of the DVD. It’s my hope that you will watch the movie and share the story and the Lockes’ message “Cherish Every Moment” with as many people as you can. Just leave a comment telling me what you cherish the most. Two winners will be selected at random on December 5, 2012, at 11:59 p.m. CST.

Help spread the word about this important film and get another chance to win! I would love for Julie to get tons of tweets from people sharing her message of love.

  • Tweet this: “I will cherish every moment this Christmas in memory of Dax Locke @jpatrickcomm @JulieALocke #TheHeartofChristmas http://www.stilllivingthedream.com/2012/11/the-heart-of-christmas-movie-review-interview-and-giveaway.html”
You can get even more chances to win by leaving a separate comment for each additional item you do below.
  1. Follow me on Pinterest
  2. Follow me on Twitter
  3. Like Still Living The Dream on Facebook
  4. Like The Heart of Christmas on Facebook
I was given a copy of movie, The Heart of Christmas to review as well as the opportunity to visit with Julie Locke. No compensation was received and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Share
Filed Under: Christmas, giveaways, movie review 18 Comments

How I Came To Sparkle Again – Book Review, Author Interview and Giveaway!

November 26, 2012

 

I haven’t been reading as much as I like to lately. Life has gotten busy, which usually happens this time of the year. I have to remember to slow down and enjoy the holidays. One of my favorite ways to do that, besides spending time with my family, is to curl up on the couch by the Christmas tree with a fire going in the fireplace….reading a good book.

Before the mad rush to Thanksgiving started, I did get my hands on a great, newly released book and devoured it quickly. How I Came To Sparkle Again, by author Kaya McLaren who wrote Church Of The Dog and On The Divinity of Second Chances was released on October 2, 2012, and is getting great reviews from folks like best-selling authors Kristin Hannah, Susan Wiggs and Nancy Thayer. I can see why.

For me, good books are just like a yummy feast…they are food for my soul. This one has a lot to offer readers in terms of reframing a negative situation and starting over. There are a lot of hope-filled messages to pick up on in between the lines of an entertaining story.

Here’s the skinny:

Jill Anthony spent her young adulthood in the ski town of Sparkle, Colorado.  But more than a decade has passed since she left when, only weeks after a very late miscarriage, she finds her husband in bed with another woman, she flees Austin, Texas for the town she knows:  Sparkle. 

Lisa Carlucci wakes up one morning after another night of meaningless sex, looks in the mirror and realizes that she no longer wants to treat her body like a Holiday Inn. She’s going to hold out for love.  The only problem is, love might come in the form of her ski bum best friend, who lives next door with his ski bum friends in a trailer known as “the Kennel.” 

Cassie Jones, at age ten, has lost her mother to cancer and no longer believes in anything anymore.  She knows her father is desperately worried about her, and she constantly looks for messages from her deceased mother through the heart-shaped rocks they once collected in the streams and hills of Sparkle. 

So yeah, each of Sparkle’s main characters are going through quite a bit. Which may make you believe that the book is heavy. But it’s not. The relationships that develop between all three make for a pretty uplifting story and while it doesn’t have the suspense of a page-turning “who dunnit”, I found myself turning them quickly until I came to the end.

If you are a skier or fan of Colorado (like me!), you are going to love the setting of this book. I wanted to jump in the story on several occasions and soak in the beautiful, winter atmosphere.

I had the fabulous opportunity to ask author Kaya McLaren some questions about the book. If after you read through her answers you want to dive into the book yourself, you’ll be happy to hear this – I have two books to give away to Still Living The Dream readers just in time for the holidays!

Kaya McLaren, author of How I Came To Sparkle Again

Author Interview

1. Where did you find the inspiration for the main character, Jill?

I was living and teaching on the Jicarilla Apache Reservation, and by the spring of my first year, I’d pull into the driveway of the school each morning and cry because I didn’t know if I could make it through one more day with the really tough class I had that year. And then I rediscovered skiing. The next year, I got a season pass to Wolf Creek. There, a group of young guys took me under their wing and helped me be a better skier. They were such unlikely angels, but man, they pulled me out of a deep funk and brought me back to life. They absolutely were my angels. So I really wanted to write something that was a tribute to them– something that showed what good friends on snow could do for a girl’s spirit. Woven into that, I had a friend who was an OB/GYN nurse who had a miscarriage, and another friend whose parents were missionaries in Africa and would send out mass emails implying that she wasn’t going to be with them in heaven.

2. Why did you choose a skiing community in Colorado as a setting in the book?

One thing I love about skiing fast is that it forces me to be fully present in any given moment. If my mind wanders, I eat it. Bad. Really bad. So for people like me with really busy minds, doing something at really high speeds can force us to meditate and give us extended moments of peace. I think, too, that mountain communities have always been my home, and yet they are rarely the setting of books. It’s foreign to a lot of people. I wanted to write about my world. It’s full of really great characters– strong, adventurous, courageous people, crazy funny people… people who are stuck in an early moment of their life, and people who are growing.

3. You seem to be deeply moved by the environment. Why are Jill’s surroundings (the snow, change of seasons, small town) so crucial to her healing?

Life is full of cycles– good times and bad times, sickness and health, courage and fear, love and loss, rain and sun, the cycle of the seasons. Nothing lasts. Nature heals me over and over. This world we construct in our culture where we are so important is a little much. When I walk away from it and into nature, I’m reminded of my place in the grand scheme, and how small and temporary I really am. It puts everything else into perspective. Nature is the answer to most of my questions.

4. Tell me about the unique dynamic between Jill and Lisa and the Kennel boys. Is there any hope for guys like Eric and Hans to find love and a lasting relationship?

Occasionally it happens! I see it. It shocks me every time, but yes, it happens. All of the guys I skied with at Wolf Creek are married now. I did not see that coming. But you know, there are people who are damaged in different ways and their capacity to love may be different or take different forms. Who are we to say that lasting relationships are success and a semi-solitary life skiing with friends is not?

5. I found the descriptions and character views of “kidney love” versus “luv” so interesting. How did you come up with this perspective on male/female relationships? Have you experienced “kidney love”?!

I love really easily. Rather, I “luv” really easily. But generosity is more difficult for me. I have non-sexual, non-romantic kidney love for soul sisters and family members. None of the men in my life were around long enough to reach that point. Kidney love takes time.

6. Jill experienced a lot of loss and troubled relationships. Why was her struggle with her parents and the Mormon religion an important part of her story?

I think religious upbringing absolutely affects a person’s self-worth. And it could have been countless other denominations or religions. It’s about judgment and acceptance. When things go south, judgment never heals. Only love does. And love is accepting. I picked Mormon parents because I could easily model them after my friend’s parents and get the details right. If my friend had had Baptist parents, I would have picked that. I think it’s an interesting impasse we reach with people we love who think we are going to hell or who think we are brainwashed, or who think they have the answers. It’s heartbreaking. And the things they feel entitled to say in our lowest moments can be atrocious. When everything is going wrong in my friend’s life, a little part of her does question whether this is all happening because she left the church. I was surprised to hear that. I wasn’t raised with religion, so it fascinates me. Sometimes I wish I had the rituals and the community that comes with it, but my capacity for that kind of faith is limited. All the characters and their different approaches to faith are part of me though. Faith or the lack of it absolutely shapes our perceptions of what happens to us and what the opportunities are in any given situation. I think it can affect our resilience, as well as our understanding of what is within the realm of our control and what is not. I don’t know how to tell a story without dealing with a character’s faith. I try to be equal-opportunity about it, because I perceive that faith really works well for a lot of people. I think I’m usually pretty neutrally fascinated about it… unless someone crosses the line and starts talking about gay people going to hell. Many of my friends and family are gay and I assure you, they are good people and absolutely not going to hell.

7. I loved renaissance man and supporting character, Uncle Howard. Did you have an Uncle Howard in your life that this character was based on?

No. I am Uncle Howard. I am the one who over-thinks things, who leads a pretty solitary existence, who offers people books and unsolicited advice that they don’t understand (because advice wasn’t what was needed– after all judgment is an inherent piece of advice). I’m currently reading Siddhartha again because I was curious whether I’d get something entirely different out of it thirty years later. So far, nope. Maybe that means I haven’t grown as much as I thought I had.

8. Things wrapped up pretty neatly for most of the Sparkle characters. Did you consider taking a different approach to the book’s ending? Do you believe in happy endings?

In my original ending, Jill ends up single in her own house. Eric is her friend with benefits who does occasional home repair for her, and Mike is like her platonic husband with whom she has this unconventional family experience. That seemed more realistic to me. I really wanted her to end up single and happy like me. Yes, that’s what I wanted to do– write a book that told the world that you could be a happy, single woman like me. But it was strongly suggested to me that this would not be a satisfying ending to readers, and you know, there really wasn’t much plot in being a single, happy woman. And so now I have a book that says you need to have a man to have a happy ending. It made me really, really uncomfortable at first and I had to make my peace with it. I realized a couple things. First, that I perceived wanting that kind of a happy ending as ridiculous weakness. And only two days ago my friend and fellow author, River Jordan, said to me, “Well, when you’ve had your heart broken a lot, it CAN feel like weakness.” Epiphany. And I realized that everyone wants to be appreciated for who they uniquely are, and comforted, held, and loved, and everyone wants some sizzle in their life, so what is the problem with this ending? There’s no problem. All of that is part of the human experience. And if you read to escape (not everyone does and that’s okay), you want things wrapped up much more neatly than they are in your own life. So there you have it. It’s candy. Enjoy.

9. All your books contain a common theme….second chances. Did you get a second chance that changed your life?

Oh, no, that’s not it. I just think life is a series of mistakes and second chances.

A Giveaway!

How I Came To Sparkle Again is available to purchase at Barnes and Noble, but how about the chance to win a copy of your own?! All you have to do is leave a comment below about what you love about the holidays. Two winners will each receive a copy of the book to enjoy over the holiday season (Christmas tree, couch, cozy slippers and fire in the fireplace must be all provided by you!!) Two winners will be selected at random on 12/2/12 at 11:59 p.m. CST.

Life’s about second chances, right? How about five more chances to win?! You know the drill, leave a separate comment for each that you do below.

  1. Follow me on Pinterest
  2. Follow me on Twitter
  3. Like Still Living The Dream on Facebook
  4. Like author Kaya McLaren on Facebook
  5. Tweet this: “I want to win a copy of the book How I Came To Sparkle Again @jpatrickcomm http://www.stilllivingthedream.com/2012/11/how-i-came-to-sparkle-again-book-review-author-interview-and-giveaway.html”
I received a copy of the book for review purposes only. I did not receive compensation for this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Share
Filed Under: book review, Christmas, giveaways, good things 23 Comments

SAFESKIN Kids First Aid Antibacterial Gel – Review, Coupon and Giveaway

November 22, 2012

 As an active family, we get a lot of boo-boos! Soccer games, baseball games, camping trips with boy and girl scout troops, swim team and just playing outside at the park or on bikes and scooters all present the chance for a scrape or cut.

While most of our accidents are minor, even a little scrape can become a breeding ground for an infection if not cleaned or treated properly.

SAFESKIN* Kids Antibacterial Gel from Kimberly-Clark Professional is a new first aid topical antibacterial gel that provides a barrier to MRSA, the highly contagious staph bacteria that can infect skin, invade other parts of the body and is resistant to many antibiotics.

Available now at select Walmart stores, SAFESKIN* Kids Antibacterial Gel offers a long-lasting protective barrier on uninfected minor cuts, scrapes, and burns; up to 48 hours if the bandaged wound stays clean and dry. And the non-greasy formula helps bandages to stay in place better!

Soon after getting a tube to try out, Jackson scraped his knee. Pretty run-of-the-mill stuff. But I felt good having more than a band-aid and kiss to offer him in order to make it all better! He was back outside playing in just a few minutes and his boo-boo was better the next day.

A healthy and happy son, makes me a happy mama!

A Coupon!

Want to try it out for yourself? Click on the photo above to receive a $1.00 off coupon for SAFESKIN Kids Antibacterial Gel available at select Walmart stores.

A Giveaway!

Better yet, how about a tube for free? Just leave a comment below telling me what activities keep your kids busy. One lucky, Still Living The Dream reader will be selected at random to win a tube of SAFESKIN Kids Antibacterial Gel on November 30, 2012, at 11:59 p.m. CST.

More chances? Ok dokey! Leave a separate comment for each that you do below.

  1. Follow me on Pinterest
  2. Follow me on Twitter
  3. Like Still Living The Dream on Facebook
  4. Follow me on Instagram at jpatrickcomm.
  5. Tweet this: “I want to win SAFESKIN Kids Antibacterial Gel to help prevent MRSA, a highly contagious staph bacteria @jpatrickcomm http://www.stilllivingthedream.com/2012/11/safeskin-kids-first-aid-antibacterial-gel-review-coupon-and-giveaway.html”

I received a tube of Safeskin to try and review as well as a gift card to buy another as part of a promotional program with SAFESKIN* Kids Antibacterial Gel and MomSelect. No other compensation was received and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

 

 

 

 

Share
Filed Under: coupons, giveaways, review 2 Comments

Hill Country Holidays at The Westin La Cantera Hill Country Resort – Giveaway

November 19, 2012


I love Christmas.

I actually love the entire fall/winter season. The period between Halloween and New Years Day is my absolute favorite time of the year.

But it always goes by too quickly!

And if I’m not careful, I let holiday preparations (sending out Christmas cards, shopping for gifts, meal planning and food preparation, etc.) take over and I miss out on the actual joy of the holiday season itself.

Which is why we always try to do something special together as a family each December. Ideally, we try to get away from home because of all the “stuff” that always seems to need to be done. I step away from my Christmas lists and trying to figure out the perfect gift for everyone. I leave the stack of cards to be addressed on the dining room table and we go out to spend time together as a family.

Living in Houston, we are lucky. We are just a stone’s throw away from the beautiful Hill Country and there is so much to do in San Antonio. We love to go to SeaWorld and see the park decorated for Christmas. Sometimes we go camping and enjoy the outdoors and cooler weather.

This year we are going to the beautiful Westin La Cantera Hill Country Resort for their annual “Hill Country Holidays,” event – a unique holiday winter wonderland program that runs from November 22, 2012 through January 6, 2013. We can’t wait to see the resort come to life with Christmas lights and decorations and participate in a variety of activities right on the property like ice skating, arts and crafts, cookie decorating, carolers and (of course) a visit with Santa!
In addition to Frost; their synthetic outdoor skating rink, they will also have live shows by the Magik Theatre of San Antonio and The North Pole complete with an elves playland and magical snow fall!

We can’t wait!

With The Westin La Cantera Hill Country Resort’s special Holiday Package, it’s an affordable weekend getaway for the entire family. Rates start at $189.00 a night and the The Hill Country Holiday Package includes a $25.00 resort credit per night of stay which can be used to experience any of the Hill Country Holidays activities or  in any other resort amenity including the restaurants. To find out more, visit them online or call 800-WESTIN1 and mention ratecode “HCHPKG”.

A Giveaway!

Do you want to visit The Westin La Cantera Hill Country Resort this holiday season? How about for FREE! One lucky, Still Living The Dream reader will receive a prize that includes a one (1) night stay at the resort and tickets for Frost (the outdoor, synthetic ice skating rink) for a family of four (4).

All you have to do is visit  http://bit.ly/WLCholidays2012 and then come back here and leave a comment telling me what you what you like most about the Hill Country Holidays event. A winner will be selected randomly on Saturday, November 24, 2012 at 12:00 noon CST.

Want more chances to win (I always do!) Here they are. You know the drill. Leave a separate comment for each that do below.
  1. Follow me on Pinterest
  2. Follow me on Twitter
  3. Like Still Living The Dream on Facebook
  4. Like The Westin La Cantera Hill Country Resort on Facebook
  5. Tweet this: “I want to win a night @WestinLaCantera Resort for their Hill Country Holidays event. @jpatrickcomm http://www.stilllivingthedream.com/2012/11/hill-country-holidays-at-the-westin-la-cantera-hill-country-resort-giveaway.html”
I received a one-night stay at The Westin La Cantera Hill Country Resort for their HIll Country Holidays event, but received no other compensation. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 
Share
Filed Under: Christmas, Dreamy Places, giveaways, good things, things to do with your kids, traditions, Travel 120 Comments

Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker Ballet – A Giveaway!

November 16, 2012

It dawned on me today that there’s only 39 more days until Christmas! This time of the year goes by so quickly and if I don’t remind myself to stop and enjoy the season, it flies right by me.

A Christmas tradition in my family is to see The Nutcracker ballet. The music, the costumes, the dancing…it just brings the season to light. And when that Christmas tree grows on stage and Clara dances with the Nutcracker Prince and snow falls to the ground….magic!

I was SO excited to hear that I don’t have to travel far to see this holiday classic this year. On Monday, December 3, 2012,  at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM, Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, performed by the Mariinsky Ballet Theatre,  is being brought to movie theaters nationwide by NCM Fathom Events and More2Screen.

This is the first time ever it has been shown in select theater locations, and there are several locations in and around Houston including Cinemark 19 in Katy, Cinemark 18 in Webster, Cinemark in Spring, Cinemark 13 in Cypress, Memorial City Mall, and Houston Marq*E, so don’t miss your chance to see this timeless class in Real D 3D.

To purchase tickets before they sell out, visit the Fathom Events website.

A Giveaway!

Do you love The Nutcracker? Would you like to take a friend or family member to see this holiday classic to start celebrating the holiday season? Do you live within driving distance to the Cinemark 13 theatre in Cypress? I’ve got FOUR pairs of tickets to giveaway to four, lucky, Still Living The Dream readers for the December 3rd matinee showing at 2:00 p.m. at the Cinemark 13 in Cypress.

All you have to do is leave a comment stating what you love most about the Christmas season. That’s it, easy-peasy! Four winners will be selected at random on Wednesday, November 28, 2012, at 12:00 noon CST.

Want more chances to win? I know you do (and I’ve got em!) Leave a separate comment for each addition item you do below.

  1. Follow me on Pinterest
  2. Follow me on Twitter
  3. Like Still Living The Dream on Facebook
  4. Tweet this: “I want win tickets to see The Nutcracker Ballet @jpatrickcomm http://www.stilllivingthedream.com/2012/11/tchaikovsky’s-the-nutcracker-ballet-a-giveaway.html”

Disclaimer: Winners and their guests must arrive 10 minutes prior to redeem seats at the theatre (seats are 100 percent guaranteed until 10 minutes before show time). Winners will receive ticket vouchers to bring with them to the theatre. All federal, state and local regulations apply. A recipient of prizes assumes any and all risks related to use of prize, and accepts any restrictions required by prize provider. Fathom Events, Allied- THA, and their affiliates accept no responsibility or liability in connection with any loss or accident incurred in connection with use of prizes. Prizes cannot be exchanged, transferred or redeemed for cash, in whole or in part. Not responsible if, for any reason, winner is unable to use his/her prize in whole or in part. Not responsible for lost, delayed or misdirected entries. All federal, state and local taxes are the responsibility of the winner. Void where prohibited by law. No phone calls. 

I was given a pair of tickets in exchange for posting information about this great event on StillLivingTheDream.com but all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Share
Filed Under: Christmas, giveaways, good things, traditions 9 Comments

NeriumAD Age-Defying Night Cream Review and Giveaway

November 5, 2012

Life List item #49 – Get on a skin care regimen.

I’ve  been blessed with pretty good facial skin, especially since I’ve never really done much to take care of it. As I age (gracefully, I hope!) I’ve become more aware that I’m pushing my luck vis a vis healthy skin. Then I turned 40 (almost two years ago) and wrinkles, discoloration and lines started to appear. UGH!

So I started looking for a product that would help. But there are SO many on the market – it overwhelmed me. And to be honest, I’m pretty lazy when it comes to primping. I can’t seem to “stay on” regimens that require several steps. So while I tried several products, I never stayed with one.

Then I heard about NeriumAD.

Relatively new on the market, NeriumAD Age-Defying Treatment was formulated after more than 10 years of scientific research and clinical testing by scientists and medical professionals for Nerium SkinCare, Inc.

I like the fact that the company uses “evidence-based” product development to insure safety and efficacy. And that the company’s Scientific Advisor, Robert A. Newman, has worked at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center for the past 24 years as the Founder and Co-Director of the Pharmaceutical Development Center.

And people who use it, LOVE it. Look at this person’s results.

So I vowed to give it  the “old college try” for one month. After two weeks (for many people, results are seen much quicker) I noticed a difference in the way my skin both looked and felt. Lines have faded, my skin feels firmer and healthier and my color is more even.

The best part? It’s easy peasy to use. Just four or five squirts from the bottle (which lasts about one month) massaged into damp skin at night.

Done.

In the morning, I rinse off my face and then apply a light moisturizer with sun protection in it.

What do you think? My photos aren’t as dramatic as the results shown above, but I can tell a difference.

Photos taken before I started using Nerium about a month ago are on the left, photos taken today are on the right.

While certainly not inexpensive, compared to other skin care products on the market, Nerium is competatively priced. A single bottles retail for $110.00 but customers who purchase Nerium on a monthly auto-ship basis can purchase the product for $80.00. The company originally considered selling this product in spas and dermatologist offices, but would have had to charge about $250-$300 a bottle. So they took a relationship marketing approach to selling Nerium (through brand partners) which helps keep the price point down for consumers.

A Giveaway!

Would you like to give Nerium a try? How about for free? One lucky Still Living The Dream reader will be chosen at random on November 12, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. CST to receive a complimentary bottle of NeriumAD, valued at $110.00.

All you have to do is leave a comment below about why you want to try Nerium.

Want more chances to win? I know you do! Leave a separate comment for each of the following you do below as well.

  1. Follow me on Pinterest
  2. Follow me on Twitter
  3. Like Still Living The Dream on Facebook
  4. Tweet this: “I want to win NeriumAD anti-aging skin care for healthy and young looking skin! @jpatrickcomm http://www.stilllivingthedream.com/2012/11/neriumad-age-defying-night-cream-review-and-giveaway.html”

I was given a complimentary bottle of Nerium for the purposes of this review but received no other compensation. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This giveaway is sponsored by Kimberly Simmons, NeriumAD Brand Partner. For more information about Nerium and how to order, visit  http://www.kimsimmons.nerium.com/. Kimberly will be holding a separate drawing (run entirely by her) for another free bottle of Nerium for Still Living The Dream readers who purchase a bottle from her by the end of November 2012. Be sure to tell her Jennifer sent you so you can be entered! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share
Filed Under: giveaways, good things, Life List, Life List in Progress, review 136 Comments

Bake It Forward With Some Free Sugar (A Giveaway)

September 19, 2012

Many of you read my post about Imperial Sugar’s Bake It Forward Program and wanted to know what recipes I used to bake the cookies for my mom’s tin.

I found great oatmeal raisin and peanut butter cookie recipes from Weight Watchers.com. They were delicious and both types of cookies are only 2 points plus each! I’ve been on the Weight Watchers program since July and am making better food choices in order to loose weight. My mom has always been careful of what she eats, too…so while she’s not dieting like me, I knew she’d appreciate these goodies. (She loved them!)

I was so happy to hear that many of you wanted to Bake It Forward like I did for my mom. On the website, you’ll find information about the program, how to get and register your own tin, recipes, coupons and more.

As a special incentive to get you going, Imperial Sugar has given me free sugar vouchers for five of my readers!

A Giveaway!

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment to tell me who you are going to Bake It Forward to. (And if you want to share a great cookie recipe with us, too – please do!!)

Because the free vouchers expire at the end of this month, I want to get them in the mail to you soon – so this giveaway ends Friday, September 21, 2012, at noon CST. I’ll choose five readers at random who will each get vouchers for $8.00 towards Imperial sugar products of their choice.

Be looking for the name of the winners and check your email box Friday if you enter…because I’ll mail the vouchers to you as soon as I get your mailing address, giving you plenty of time to visit the grocery store before they expire!

Want an extra chance to win? Just leave me a separate comment for each of the following you do below!

  1. Follow me on Pinterest
  2. Follow me on Twitter
  3. Like Still Living The Dream on Facebook
  4. Tweet this: “I want to Bake It Forward with free @ImperialSugar from @jpatrickcomm http://www.stilllivingthedream.com/2012/09/bake-it-forward-with-some-free-sugar-a-giveaway.html”
Share
Filed Under: defining a movement, giveaways, good things 44 Comments

Back to School With Crayola and Giveaway

August 17, 2012

School is only nine days away. I’m not sure I’m ready to give up our loosey-goosey summer schedule but I’ve started to get stocked up on supplies my kids will need for the new school year.

For as long as I can remember, Crayola crayons have been both a back to school and all around art supply staple at my house. I can still remember getting my new box of crayons when I was a kid.

Of course, they offer A LOT more to help foster creativity and learning now then when I was young. I was given the opportunity to beef up our art supply drawer and try out some of the the cool, new Crayola products including fabric and window markers, dry erase crayons with wipe board, sticky notes, notepad and notecards.

 

 

Annie is gong into first grade and she’s ready to go with her reading and writing. And she loves to draw. She couldn’t wait to get her hands on the dry erase board and crayons. The board has a black and white side and the special crayons can be wiped off easily with the special cloth included in the set.

I can see her using this to practice sight words and spelling. But since it’s still summer, she wanted to get creative!

Ta-da!!!

Jackson is going into fifth grade and has laid claim to the wild notes sticky notes, notecards and notepad set.

I can’t wait to make some fun t-shirts for our girl scout troop with the fabric markers and plan to write messages with the window markers on the kids bathroom mirror like “good luck on your spelling test today” and on our kitchen sliding door such as  ”don’t forget to put your permission slip in your backpack”.

So fun!

So are your kids ready to go back to school? What do you have left to shop for? Want to score some goodies for FREE?!

A GIVEAWAY!!!

Win your own Crayola Back-to-School gift pack containing:

  • Crayola Bright Fabric Markers
  • Crystal Effects Window Markers
  • Crayola Window Mega Markers
  • Wild Notes Index Cards
  • Wild Notes Sticky Notes
  • Wild Notes 1 Subject Notebook

All you have to do is leave a comment to let me know what one Crayola product you are most excited to try this year. I’ll pick a winner at random on Friday, August 24th at 11:59 CST.

Want more chances? Just leave a separate comment for each that you do below to increase your chances of winning!

  1. Follow me on Pinterest
  2. Follow me on Twitter
  3. Like Still Living The Dream on Facebook
  4. Like Crayola on Facebook
  5. Tweet this: “I want to win a @Crayola prize package from @jpatrickcomm http://www.stilllivingthedream.com/2012/08/back-to-school-with-crayola-and-giveaway.html”

The information, products and additional Crayola Back-to-School gift pack was provided by Crayola® through MyBlogSpark. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Share
Filed Under: Craft projects, giveaways, review, things to do with your kids 28 Comments
« Older Posts
Newer Posts »

Current Giveaway

SPRING

Getting Relief From Spring Allergies (Giveaway)

Ah, Spring time in Houston….it can be a beautiful thing. The sun is shining, the weather is nice (not too hot, not too cold) … perfect for enjoying the outdoors with my family. Or is it?! Unfortunately my favorite time of the year brings along some of the worst allergens and my big, beautiful Oak [...]

Share

Latest Winners!

Serious Sleep Dohm Winners….

Congrats to winners of the Dohm White Noise Machine!  Jessica – who says the cars outside keep her up at night and Shannon – who is tired of the Doves cooing outside her window until the wee hours of the morning. You guys will be getting a Dohm….so get ready for some serious sleep! Congratulations!

Share

Winners!

Two great giveaways this week and here are the winners! 1. $50 to GetUncommon to purchase a case for your iPhone – Renee H. 2. $110 designer sunglasses to block out those allergens and look great doing it! – Jennifer W. Congrats lucky ladies!    

Share

Favorite Post

marathon finish line

From The Archives – My Marathon Experience

Has it really been 2 years since I started this little ol’ blog?! This post was one of my first…and people tell me it cracked them up. It’s long – but if you just got fired and you’re caught up on all the House and Sister Wives episodes – it’s not a bad way to [...]

Share

To the Top